WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.419
 Well, good morning everyone, great to be in church with you this morning.

00:00:02.760 --> 00:00:05.580
 Let me pose you with a bunch of questions as we kick off this series.

00:00:06.060 --> 00:00:07.960
 Is the Bible true?

00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:12.599
 I'm not asking if there is truth in it,

00:00:13.200 --> 00:00:18.320
 say the way that there is truth in Moby Dick or Plato's Republic

00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:20.740
 or the Lord of the Rings.

00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:24.980
 Aspects of truth can be found virtually everywhere.

00:00:24.980 --> 00:00:29.039
 What I'm asking is this, is the Bible completely true?

00:00:29.779 --> 00:00:30.399
 All of it.

00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:35.460
 Is it so trustworthy then all that it teaches

00:00:35.460 --> 00:00:41.179
 that it can function as the test of all other claims to truth?

00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:45.320
 That's a quote from John Piper's book, A Peculiar Glory.

00:00:45.939 --> 00:00:51.239
 A phenomenal book if you want to investigate further these particular issues,

00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:54.439
 which Dan and I are currently reading through at the moment.

00:00:54.980 --> 00:00:56.000
 It's a fantastic book.

00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:02.340
 Those are great questions that all of us sit somewhere

00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:04.760
 with the answers to that question.

00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:09.120
 All of us sit somewhere to those questions,

00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:13.420
 even if we're not aware that we're sitting somewhere with those questions.

00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:17.760
 In the same way, all of us sit somewhere in reality to gravity,

00:01:17.960 --> 00:01:19.460
 even if we've never thought about it.

00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:24.359
 All of us sit somewhere in response to those questions.

00:01:24.619 --> 00:01:26.839
 Some of us, no, of course not.

00:01:26.979 --> 00:01:30.699
 Some of us, well, it sort of contains some truth

00:01:30.699 --> 00:01:32.979
 and some other things which are a little bit confusing

00:01:32.979 --> 00:01:36.839
 or a bit things for a bit, for, you know, a day once upon a time.

00:01:37.199 --> 00:01:40.139
 And some of us say, well, it's entirely true.

00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:42.480
 It's completely the word of God

00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:45.900
 because that's what we're being brought up to hear and believe.

00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:50.379
 And yet, rarely pick it up.

00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:55.280
 That is, functionally, we might agree that it's true

00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:57.599
 and yet operationally in our day-to-day existence,

00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:01.180
 it's clearly not true, has no relevance to our lives.

00:02:01.180 --> 00:02:07.880
 And I make that point carefully, but also intentionally.

00:02:09.640 --> 00:02:15.159
 I've been a pastor now for more than 25 years

00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:18.659
 in churches that will be characterised

00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:20.960
 as what you would call Bible-believing churches.

00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:26.060
 And in every single Bible-believing church that I've been in,

00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:27.860
 including this one for 15 years,

00:02:27.860 --> 00:02:31.840
 I have always struggled to get people to pick up their Bibles.

00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:36.560
 When I say, open your Bibles now,

00:02:38.100 --> 00:02:40.600
 this is what happens.

00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:43.320
 No one reaches for one.

00:02:45.480 --> 00:02:50.040
 And it happens again and again and again and again and again.

00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:55.680
 Or when we're arguing about a particular point,

00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:57.900
 when I say arguing, I mean in discussing a particular point,

00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:01.700
 very few people will reference the Scriptures in their life

00:03:01.700 --> 00:03:02.500
 to make their point.

00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:06.740
 So we might declare that the Bible is true,

00:03:08.260 --> 00:03:12.260
 but how really true is it to us in day-to-day

00:03:12.260 --> 00:03:16.020
 in our actual relationship with God?

00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:19.840
 Now, the thrust of this particular series on the Bible

00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:22.460
 is that yes, it is.

00:03:22.460 --> 00:03:27.180
 The Bible is completely true in its entirety.

00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:28.980
 I'm going to get there in a moment.

00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:33.300
 But that has not always been my view.

00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:37.819
 Last Tuesday, that is less than a week ago,

00:03:38.460 --> 00:03:42.260
 was the 31st anniversary of me becoming a Christian.

00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:46.520
 I was 23 years old.

00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:49.439
 I grew up in a God-fearing family

00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:53.400
 with a long heritage in Christian things.

00:03:54.920 --> 00:03:57.680
 Some of my earliest memories were associated

00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:00.100
 with doing things like the kids are out there doing now

00:04:00.100 --> 00:04:01.379
 in kids' church.

00:04:02.480 --> 00:04:05.740
 The Bible, if you like, was an ever-present reality.

00:04:06.460 --> 00:04:08.620
 There were Bible verses, you know,

00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:13.360
 you know, on walls, you know,

00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:15.819
 like in frames and things, you know,

00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:16.780
 things like that.

00:04:19.579 --> 00:04:22.480
 The Bible was an ever-present reality.

00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:25.519
 I was encouraged to read it and to know it.

00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:29.019
 And I, before I became a Christian,

00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:31.040
 I had read through it several times.

00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:34.920
 On the most part, I found it confusing.

00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:43.180
 On the most part, I couldn't reconcile

00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:45.879
 what I would perceive as being inconsistencies.

00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:51.820
 But I feared the consequences of not reading it

00:04:51.820 --> 00:04:55.360
 and not doing my best to try to obey it.

00:04:55.360 --> 00:05:00.740
 And so it was one of those duties,

00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:04.460
 arduous duties to read the Bible

00:05:04.460 --> 00:05:07.540
 and to skim through it, you know,

00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:08.639
 like with the mentality,

00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.980
 a chapter a day keeps the devil away kind of thing.

00:05:12.080 --> 00:05:15.220
 This led to a very frustrating life of uncertainty

00:05:15.220 --> 00:05:16.879
 and a lack of clarity.

00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:21.300
 And that frustration for me boiled over

00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:24.080
 in my early 20s,

00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:27.479
 where I recall specifically

00:05:27.479 --> 00:05:30.180
 praying to God,

00:05:30.719 --> 00:05:33.979
 if you exist at all

00:05:33.979 --> 00:05:36.860
 and this Bible is true,

00:05:37.539 --> 00:05:39.039
 as I've been told,

00:05:40.019 --> 00:05:42.039
 then I need you to show me.

00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:45.120
 I need you to reveal yourself to me

00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:47.639
 because frankly, I'm fed up.

00:05:47.719 --> 00:05:49.699
 If you exist, make it clear.

00:05:50.299 --> 00:05:53.799
 Otherwise, I'm entirely changing tact in my life

00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:54.800
 and going somewhere else.

00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:57.960
 That was in my very early 20s.

00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:02.680
 Then it eventually happened to me

00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:04.340
 one Friday night,

00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:06.120
 Friday evening,

00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:07.699
 sitting in a shed in Katoomba,

00:06:07.900 --> 00:06:10.660
 31st of April,

00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:13.540
 31 years ago, 1993.

00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:17.240
 I can't describe to you what happened.

00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:19.180
 I wasn't looking for it.

00:06:19.980 --> 00:06:22.640
 Didn't think I even needed it in many ways.

00:06:23.760 --> 00:06:26.520
 But I knew it happened when it happened.

00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:31.200
 It changed the whole course of my life.

00:06:31.259 --> 00:06:33.460
 And here I am, 31 years later,

00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:35.500
 looking back on that event,

00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:39.360
 not being able to understand it in the time,

00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:41.279
 but over time,

00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:43.240
 I've come to realise what's happened,

00:06:43.740 --> 00:06:44.860
 what happened to me.

00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:49.740
 What I didn't know at that time

00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:52.399
 was that prior to 31 years ago,

00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:55.879
 I had a bunch of details and facts

00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:59.379
 about God,

00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:00.379
 about Jesus.

00:07:00.379 --> 00:07:06.319
 I could even argue some of those facts and details.

00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.759
 What I did not have

00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:12.920
 was sight.

00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:17.480
 I couldn't see the glory,

00:07:17.659 --> 00:07:18.139
 the beauty,

00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:19.040
 the majesty,

00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:19.860
 the wonder

00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:22.019
 of those facts and details.

00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:24.939
 I knew that Jesus was significant.

00:07:26.219 --> 00:07:28.019
 I knew that he was a key factor.

00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:28.319
 In fact,

00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:29.759
 I would argue at that point

00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.339
 that he was the son of God.

00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:34.920
 But I never saw the beauty

00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:36.920
 or the majesty of that

00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:40.579
 and what it meant for me.

00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:45.339
 And so increasingly so

00:07:45.339 --> 00:07:47.159
 over the past three decades,

00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:51.219
 I've been gifted by God

00:07:51.219 --> 00:07:53.300
 to see more and more glory

00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:54.060
 and majesty

00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:56.060
 in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:57.759
 What happened to me on that

00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:59.920
 first night

00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:02.139
 31 years ago

00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:04.560
 is that up until that point,

00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:06.159
 I'd been looking at the Bible

00:08:06.159 --> 00:08:09.240
 as if it was a picture

00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:10.659
 hanging on a wall

00:08:10.659 --> 00:08:12.219
 of a great landscape.

00:08:15.099 --> 00:08:16.659
 Marvelling at this thing occasionally,

00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:17.800
 walking past it,

00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:18.579
 having a gasp,

00:08:18.659 --> 00:08:18.920
 you know,

00:08:18.980 --> 00:08:19.839
 it's a good picture.

00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:23.819
 And then God,

00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:25.500
 by his spirit,

00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:27.399
 31 years ago,

00:08:28.099 --> 00:08:29.739
 opened up the landscape

00:08:29.739 --> 00:08:31.139
 and helped me to see

00:08:31.139 --> 00:08:32.819
 that it's actually a window

00:08:32.819 --> 00:08:34.019
 that I'm looking through

00:08:34.019 --> 00:08:36.139
 to see real,

00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:36.980
 live glory.

00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:40.740
 I'm not looking at a masterpiece.

00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:42.100
 I'm looking through a window.

00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:44.639
 God wants me to see

00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:46.339
 majesty and glory.

00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:49.060
 That's what he wants me to see.

00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.580
 So one of the aims

00:08:53.580 --> 00:08:55.620
 that I want us to do

00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:56.620
 through this series

00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:58.580
 is to awaken us

00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:00.240
 to a passion

00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:01.500
 for the sheer existence

00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:03.560
 of truth.

00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:06.320
 And particularly so

00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:07.940
 in a day and age

00:09:07.940 --> 00:09:10.620
 where everything you read

00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:11.320
 and see

00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:12.340
 will tell you

00:09:12.340 --> 00:09:13.900
 that truth does not exist.

00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:17.120
 truth is what you make it to be.

00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:18.860
 Truth is true for you.

00:09:20.579 --> 00:09:22.139
 All that is doing

00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:23.439
 is preparing

00:09:23.439 --> 00:09:24.699
 future generations

00:09:24.699 --> 00:09:27.360
 of this country

00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:28.379
 and our society

00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:29.340
 and our world

00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:30.439
 for prison cells.

00:09:32.819 --> 00:09:33.579
 As we,

00:09:34.079 --> 00:09:35.279
 more and more people,

00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:37.159
 individually declare

00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:38.379
 that they can live life

00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:40.159
 any way they choose to be.

00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:43.059
 chaos and anarchy

00:09:43.059 --> 00:09:44.480
 is the only thing

00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:45.259
 and we're starting to see

00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:46.299
 in our society already.

00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:49.100
 And so to awaken us

00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:50.579
 for the sheer existence

00:09:50.579 --> 00:09:51.740
 of truth

00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:53.600
 and to embrace

00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:54.240
 that truth

00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:55.299
 for our joy.

00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:58.179
 So my hope

00:09:58.179 --> 00:09:58.839
 in this series

00:09:58.839 --> 00:10:00.240
 is that we would know

00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:01.819
 and we would see

00:10:01.819 --> 00:10:03.939
 and that we would experience

00:10:03.939 --> 00:10:04.659
 that the God

00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:05.339
 who defines

00:10:05.339 --> 00:10:06.339
 all things,

00:10:06.839 --> 00:10:07.500
 the God

00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:08.360
 who has created

00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:09.379
 all things,

00:10:09.379 --> 00:10:09.860
 the God

00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:10.559
 who rules

00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:11.419
 all things,

00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:12.379
 the God

00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:13.059
 who has

00:10:13.059 --> 00:10:14.840
 worked to save

00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:15.879
 all things,

00:10:15.980 --> 00:10:16.919
 that this God

00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:18.919
 throughout all of history

00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:20.399
 has spoken.

00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:24.600
 And he has spoken loud

00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:26.559
 and he has spoken clearly

00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:28.480
 and with more authority

00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:30.799
 than any other voice

00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:31.899
 in this world.

00:10:31.899 --> 00:10:35.620
 and he has spoken

00:10:35.620 --> 00:10:36.679
 clearly and loudly

00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:37.439
 and with authority

00:10:37.439 --> 00:10:39.399
 about every single thing

00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:40.259
 that we face

00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:40.980
 in this world.

00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:45.519
 And what he has spoken

00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:47.600
 has been recorded

00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:48.340
 for us

00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:49.519
 in the scriptures.

00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:51.399
 So my three points today

00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:54.240
 is God speaks the truth,

00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:55.960
 Jesus is the truth,

00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:56.879
 and the truth

00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:59.240
 is what sets you free.

00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:00.899
 So let's take a moment

00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:01.060
 there.

00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:01.440
 I want to see

00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:02.060
 the connection

00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:03.200
 between God's word

00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.000
 and the authority

00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.000
 over our lives.

00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:07.360
 So Psalm 119,

00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:08.799
 grab your Bibles,

00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:10.220
 don't do it out of guilt

00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:11.240
 but I do encourage you

00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:11.960
 to grab your Bibles.

00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:16.700
 Turn to Psalm 119,

00:11:17.180 --> 00:11:18.860
 James read this out for us.

00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.580
 Don't feel guilty

00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:21.879
 if you have not got

00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:23.019
 your Bible in front of you.

00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:24.940
 Maybe feel somewhat guilty

00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:25.820
 that you didn't actually

00:11:25.820 --> 00:11:26.980
 bring it with you to church.

00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:30.480
 Salvation

00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:33.180
 is far from the wicked

00:11:33.180 --> 00:11:35.480
 for they do not seek

00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:36.639
 your degrees.

00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:39.899
 Your compassion is great,

00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:40.379
 O Lord.

00:11:40.519 --> 00:11:42.080
 Preserve my life

00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:43.960
 according to your laws.

00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:45.860
 Many are the foes

00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:46.980
 who persecute me

00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:48.379
 but I have not turned

00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:49.940
 from your statutes.

00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:52.220
 I look on the faithless

00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:53.240
 with loathing

00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:54.420
 for they do not obey

00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:55.700
 your word.

00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:58.139
 See how I love

00:11:58.139 --> 00:11:59.480
 your precepts.

00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:01.000
 Preserve my life,

00:12:01.139 --> 00:12:01.600
 O Lord.

00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.360
 According to your love,

00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:05.360
 all your words

00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:06.320
 are true,

00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:09.200
 all your righteous laws

00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:09.980
 are eternal.

00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:11.680
 I'm just saying earlier

00:12:11.680 --> 00:12:12.259
 to the team

00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:12.920
 that we get together

00:12:12.920 --> 00:12:13.420
 to pray,

00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:14.779
 Psalm 119,

00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:16.420
 the entire Psalm 119,

00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.279
 the longest chapter

00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.220
 in the entire Bible

00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:19.080
 is all about

00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:19.860
 the word of God

00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:21.779
 and all of it

00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:23.139
 except for three verses

00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:25.300
 of 170 something verses,

00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:26.539
 all but three

00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:28.080
 make specific reference

00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.779
 to God's word.

00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:33.200
 Now notice

00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:34.039
 that these verses

00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:34.740
 are therefore

00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:35.980
 are talking about

00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.180
 God communicating

00:12:37.180 --> 00:12:37.800
 decrees,

00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:38.139
 laws,

00:12:38.300 --> 00:12:38.700
 statutes,

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.039
 word,

00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:39.779
 precepts.

00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:40.919
 Then it says

00:12:40.919 --> 00:12:42.600
 in verse 160

00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:44.460
 that what God

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:46.360
 speaks is true.

00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:47.759
 What he speaks

00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:48.440
 is righteous.

00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:49.279
 What he speaks

00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:50.540
 is eternal.

00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:51.659
 The word

00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:53.000
 at the very beginning

00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.399
 of verse 160,

00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:54.860
 the word

00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:55.940
 all there

00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:58.879
 in its original

00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.759
 language

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:01.560
 which is Hebrew

00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:03.120
 means head.

00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:04.600
 The word

00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:04.920
 we got

00:13:04.920 --> 00:13:05.940
 all there

00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:07.560
 in its original

00:13:07.560 --> 00:13:07.899
 language

00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:08.500
 means head.

00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:09.240
 It means

00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:09.879
 the head

00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.460
 of a body

00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:10.940
 or the head

00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:11.500
 of a river

00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:11.960
 or the head

00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:12.700
 of a tribe

00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:13.420
 or the head

00:13:13.420 --> 00:13:14.120
 of a family

00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:14.420
 or head

00:13:14.420 --> 00:13:15.080
 of a nation.

00:13:17.040 --> 00:13:18.320
 Two other places

00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.139
 it's used

00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.300
 in the Old Testament

00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:21.680
 Exodus 30

00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:22.420
 and Numbers

00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:23.180
 chapter 1

00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:24.860
 and both

00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.620
 Exodus 30

00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:26.780
 and Numbers 1

00:13:26.780 --> 00:13:28.060
 translate

00:13:28.060 --> 00:13:29.740
 that word

00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.560
 their head

00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:32.160
 as census.

00:13:33.660 --> 00:13:34.680
 What this verse

00:13:34.680 --> 00:13:35.379
 is saying

00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.300
 is that if

00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:37.240
 you took

00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:38.259
 a census

00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:39.340
 a survey

00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:41.639
 of the word

00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:42.360
 of God

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:44.080
 if you

00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.639
 investigate

00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:45.500
 the facts

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.139
 then the

00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:46.800
 conclusion

00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:47.480
 would be

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:48.180
 that the

00:13:48.180 --> 00:13:49.160
 sum total

00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:50.000
 of the word

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.540
 of God

00:13:50.540 --> 00:13:51.759
 is truth.

00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:55.080
 The totality

00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:56.360
 of the Bible

00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:57.980
 is truth.

00:13:58.700 --> 00:13:59.820
 Not a truth

00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:01.740
 the truth.

00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:03.700
 But notice

00:14:03.700 --> 00:14:04.280
 the second half

00:14:04.280 --> 00:14:05.120
 of verse 160

00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.360
 all

00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:07.220
 same word

00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:07.980
 all

00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:08.919
 your righteous

00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:10.060
 laws

00:14:10.060 --> 00:14:11.379
 are

00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:12.259
 eternal.

00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:13.580
 That is

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.019
 it's not just

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:14.200
 the

00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:16.139
 total

00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:17.460
 of it

00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:17.840
 that is

00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:18.620
 truth

00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:19.980
 it's all

00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:20.779
 the individual

00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.799
 parts

00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:22.560
 of it

00:14:22.560 --> 00:14:23.560
 that are

00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:24.399
 truth.

00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:25.500
 The census

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.659
 would reveal

00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:28.060
 that the whole

00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:29.240
 and the parts

00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:30.440
 are all

00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:31.220
 truth.

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:31.980
 That is

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:32.840
 when God

00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:33.340
 speaks

00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:33.460
 truth.

00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:33.600
 And what

00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:34.080
 we have

00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:34.420
 here

00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:35.019
 in his

00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:35.540
 word

00:14:35.540 --> 00:14:36.480
 what we

00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:36.879
 have

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.379
 is

00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:38.519
 truth.

00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:39.680
 He speaks

00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:40.460
 truth.

00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:41.220
 Truth is

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:41.820
 what God

00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:42.660
 communicates.

00:14:43.040 --> 00:14:43.340
 He can

00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:44.360
 only ever

00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:45.120
 communicate

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.160
 that which

00:14:46.160 --> 00:14:46.840
 is true

00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:47.740
 which is

00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:48.240
 right

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:48.759
 which is

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.259
 eternal.

00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.060
 And the

00:14:51.060 --> 00:14:52.000
 reason why

00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:53.080
 God's word

00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:53.840
 is ultimate

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.460
 truth

00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:55.960
 is that

00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:57.300
 the overruling

00:14:57.300 --> 00:14:58.540
 and final

00:14:58.540 --> 00:14:59.100
 authority

00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.940
 in all

00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:00.600
 things

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:02.860
 his word

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:03.620
 is

00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:04.080
 so

00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:04.440
 is

00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:04.879
 such

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:05.639
 because

00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:05.920
 that

00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:06.460
 God

00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:07.340
 himself

00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:08.779
 is

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.320
 ultimate

00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:10.019
 reality.

00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.220
 So what

00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:12.399
 he

00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.399
 communicates

00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:13.720
 is

00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:14.180
 ultimate

00:15:14.180 --> 00:15:14.840
 reality.

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:15.860
 That is

00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:16.159
 God

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:16.340
 is

00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.279
 absolute.

00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:18.300
 There is

00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:18.920
 nothing

00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:19.580
 higher

00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:20.740
 than

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:21.279
 God.

00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:22.540
 There is

00:15:22.540 --> 00:15:23.080
 no one

00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:24.279
 no thing

00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:24.860
 equal

00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:25.860
 with God.

00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:26.540
 It's not

00:15:26.540 --> 00:15:27.200
 his opinion

00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:27.700
 against

00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:28.160
 another

00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:28.620
 opinion.

00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:31.940
 there was

00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:33.039
 no reality

00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:33.600
 before

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.139
 God.

00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:36.860
 It was

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.320
 all

00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:37.899
 void.

00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:39.539
 It was

00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:39.799
 all

00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:40.659
 formless.

00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.340
 God

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:42.659
 we are

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:42.980
 told

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:43.419
 is from

00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:43.960
 everlasting

00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.759
 to everlasting.

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.139
 No

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:45.519
 beginning

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.259
 no end.

00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:47.100
 He stands

00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:47.740
 outside of

00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.560
 all things

00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:49.159
 created.

00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:50.259
 Never

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:50.700
 beginning

00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:51.779
 never

00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.299
 ending

00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:53.220
 never

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:53.720
 becoming

00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.120
 never

00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:54.840
 improving

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.600
 simply

00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.259
 and

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:56.960
 absolutely

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.519
 there to

00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.019
 be dealt

00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.419
 with on

00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:58.679
 his

00:15:58.679 --> 00:15:59.179
 terms

00:15:59.179 --> 00:15:59.639
 or

00:15:59.639 --> 00:15:59.879
 not

00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:00.019
 at

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:00.360
 all.

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:02.699
 The

00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:03.039
 one

00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:03.240
 who

00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:03.500
 never

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:03.720
 had

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:03.819
 a

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.159
 beginning

00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:04.720
 but

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.259
 always

00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:05.620
 was

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:05.819
 and

00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:06.120
 is

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:06.360
 and

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:06.559
 will

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:06.840
 be

00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:07.419
 he's

00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:07.559
 the

00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:07.779
 one

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:07.980
 who

00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.559
 creates

00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:08.819
 all

00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:09.159
 things.

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:09.679
 He's

00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:09.799
 the

00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:09.960
 one

00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:10.139
 who

00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:10.860
 defines

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.199
 all

00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:11.600
 things.

00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:12.059
 When

00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:12.379
 God

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.120
 speaks

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:13.600
 the

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:13.939
 Bible

00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:14.179
 when

00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:14.379
 God

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:14.679
 speaks

00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:14.860
 through

00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.000
 the

00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:15.179
 word

00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:15.620
 he's

00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:15.779
 not

00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:16.600
 interpreting

00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:17.079
 history

00:16:17.079 --> 00:16:17.439
 for

00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:17.819
 us.

00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:19.000
 He

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.460
 is

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.139
 creating

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.120
 history

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.720
 when

00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:22.960
 he

00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:23.500
 speaks.

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:27.259
 therefore

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:27.720
 what

00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.200
 matters

00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:28.480
 above

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:28.879
 all

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.279
 things

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:29.539
 in

00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:29.980
 life

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.320
 is

00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:30.639
 this

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.259
 God.

00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:34.019
 I

00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:34.440
 cannot

00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:35.100
 escape

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:35.379
 the

00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:35.799
 simple

00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.059
 and

00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:36.460
 obvious

00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:37.000
 truth

00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:37.519
 that

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:37.899
 God

00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:38.179
 must

00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:38.379
 be

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:38.620
 the

00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.000
 main

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:39.460
 thing

00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:39.820
 in

00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:40.419
 life

00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:43.480
 because

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:43.700
 he

00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:44.139
 defines

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:44.360
 all

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:44.779
 things.

00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:47.159
 That

00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:47.500
 means

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:47.639
 that

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:47.860
 this

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.299
 gathering

00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:48.659
 right

00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.039
 now

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.340
 has

00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:49.539
 to

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:49.799
 do

00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:50.099
 with

00:16:50.099 --> 00:16:50.579
 God

00:16:50.579 --> 00:16:51.059
 because

00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.019
 life

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:52.620
 has

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:52.779
 to

00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:52.959
 do

00:16:52.959 --> 00:16:53.219
 with

00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:53.620
 God

00:16:53.620 --> 00:16:54.139
 and

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:54.279
 the

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:54.599
 life

00:16:54.599 --> 00:16:54.819
 has

00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:54.959
 to

00:16:54.959 --> 00:16:55.059
 do

00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:55.240
 with

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.519
 God

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:55.779
 because

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.019
 all

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.120
 of

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.279
 the

00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:56.679
 universe

00:16:56.679 --> 00:16:57.019
 has

00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:57.159
 to

00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:57.279
 do

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:57.439
 with

00:16:57.439 --> 00:16:57.759
 God

00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:00.439
 because

00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:00.899
 every

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.339
 atom

00:17:01.339 --> 00:17:01.579
 and

00:17:01.579 --> 00:17:01.799
 every

00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.439
 emotion

00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:02.819
 and

00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:03.099
 every

00:17:03.099 --> 00:17:03.839
 soul

00:17:03.839 --> 00:17:04.519
 of

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.639
 every

00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.859
 angelic

00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.180
 and

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:07.680
 demonic

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.139
 and

00:17:08.139 --> 00:17:08.480
 human

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:08.839
 being

00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.379
 belongs

00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:09.619
 to

00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.000
 God

00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.399
 the

00:17:10.399 --> 00:17:10.819
 one

00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.119
 who

00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:12.059
 absolutely

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:13.119
 is.

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:16.379
 You

00:17:16.379 --> 00:17:16.759
 and I

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:16.919
 are

00:17:16.919 --> 00:17:17.779
 defined

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:19.599
 by

00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:20.819
 our

00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:21.480
 experiences

00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.019
 and

00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.339
 by

00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:22.740
 our

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.240
 connection

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:23.480
 to

00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.000
 things.

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:25.440
 I

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:25.839
 have

00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.139
 a

00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:26.399
 mom

00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:26.599
 and

00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:26.759
 a

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.139
 dad.

00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:27.440
 I

00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:27.759
 have

00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.099
 a

00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:28.339
 wife.

00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:28.500
 I

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:28.639
 have

00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:29.119
 children.

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:29.319
 I

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:29.460
 have

00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:29.619
 a

00:17:29.619 --> 00:17:29.960
 job.

00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:30.539
 I

00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.420
 wear

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:31.799
 particular

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.220
 clothes.

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:32.379
 I

00:17:32.379 --> 00:17:32.720
 live

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:32.960
 in

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:33.319
 a

00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:33.639
 particular

00:17:33.639 --> 00:17:34.079
 area.

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.000
 God

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.399
 exists

00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:37.420
 beyond

00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:37.859
 all

00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:38.160
 other

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:38.779
 definitions.

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:43.980
 He

00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:44.420
 stands

00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:44.720
 outside

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:44.980
 of

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.539
 everything

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:45.819
 that's

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.240
 created.

00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:50.319
 as

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:50.639
 Romans

00:17:50.639 --> 00:17:50.920
 11

00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.359
 36

00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:51.680
 says

00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.079
 from

00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:52.420
 him

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:52.680
 and

00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:52.960
 through

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:53.339
 him

00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:54.079
 and

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:54.359
 to

00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:54.639
 him

00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:55.079
 are

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.500
 all

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.079
 things

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:56.259
 to

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:56.460
 him

00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:56.619
 be

00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:56.839
 glory

00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.220
 forever.

00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.160
 Reality

00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:01.579
 is

00:18:01.579 --> 00:18:02.119
 created,

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.599
 it is

00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.119
 determined,

00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:04.700
 it is

00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.099
 defined

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:05.779
 by God

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.740
 and

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.519
 truth

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.740
 is the

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.299
 communication

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.379
 of

00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:10.859
 that

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.579
 reality,

00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:12.339
 the

00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:13.019
 display

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.480
 of

00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:13.759
 that

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.460
 reality.

00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:14.799
 reality.

00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:15.660
 It

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.000
 is

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.240
 the

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:16.579
 way

00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:17.240
 things

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.940
 actually

00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.799
 are.

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:23.220
 For

00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:23.539
 something

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.000
 to be

00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:24.480
 true,

00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.480
 it

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:26.880
 must

00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.519
 represent

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.140
 reality.

00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:30.440
 If it

00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:30.880
 doesn't

00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:31.299
 represent

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:31.940
 reality,

00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:33.160
 what we

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:33.759
 call that

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.319
 nowadays

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.940
 is a

00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:35.240
 myth

00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.740
 or we

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.180
 call it

00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:37.940
 a lie.

00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:39.920
 When

00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:40.319
 God

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.079
 speaks,

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:41.480
 he

00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.259
 reveals

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.259
 reality

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:45.240
 because

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:45.640
 he

00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.579
 is

00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:47.619
 reality.

00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.740
 Left to

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.160
 our own

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:50.680
 devices,

00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:51.140
 we would

00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:51.539
 have no

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:52.019
 ability

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.859
 to discover

00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:53.440
 reality

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.160
 and truth.

00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.160
 But

00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:55.579
 God

00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:55.920
 is the

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.400
 one who

00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:56.539
 has

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.160
 revealed

00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:57.579
 the way

00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:57.960
 things

00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.359
 simply

00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:58.839
 are.

00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:00.680
 The

00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.259
 one who

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:01.500
 is

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:02.559
 inapproachable,

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.200
 exists

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.079
 outside of

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.460
 us,

00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.140
 not

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:06.660
 defined

00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.700
 by us,

00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:08.599
 has

00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:09.099
 come to

00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:09.660
 us and

00:19:09.660 --> 00:19:09.980
 revealed

00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.359
 himself

00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:10.700
 to

00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.240
 us.

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.680
 And

00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:13.920
 that's

00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:14.079
 my

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:14.359
 second

00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:14.740
 point.

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:15.740
 The

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.180
 place

00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:16.420
 where

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.180
 reality

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.359
 and

00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:18.680
 the

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.339
 communication

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:19.980
 of

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.480
 reality

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:20.859
 or the

00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.319
 representation

00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:21.819
 of

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.259
 reality

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:23.079
 come

00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.480
 together

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.000
 in the

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.299
 most

00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:24.859
 profound

00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.379
 way

00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:26.119
 is in

00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:26.299
 the

00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:26.700
 person

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:26.920
 of

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.200
 Jesus

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:27.779
 Christ.

00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.500
 Firstly,

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:29.960
 because

00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.339
 Jesus

00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:30.799
 himself

00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.180
 speaks

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:31.680
 truth.

00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:32.839
 Jesus

00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.200
 says

00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:33.519
 this

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:33.799
 in

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.039
 John

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.519
 18

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:34.779
 verse

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.299
 37,

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.140
 for

00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:36.519
 this

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:36.799
 I

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.140
 came

00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:37.440
 into

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:37.619
 the

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:37.839
 world

00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:38.059
 to

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.460
 testify

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:38.759
 to

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:38.920
 the

00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.339
 truth.

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:40.920
 Everyone

00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.279
 on the

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.500
 side

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:41.640
 of

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:41.900
 truth

00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:42.259
 listens

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.440
 to

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:42.720
 me.

00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:44.340
 Jesus

00:19:44.340 --> 00:19:44.780
 is saying

00:19:44.780 --> 00:19:45.180
 there that

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:45.700
 he speaks

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.200
 truth.

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.160
 He came

00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:47.759
 to testify

00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.420
 to truth.

00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:48.920
 If you

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:49.140
 want to

00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:49.300
 know

00:19:49.300 --> 00:19:49.680
 truth,

00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.000
 what he

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.220
 says

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:50.620
 there is

00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:50.720
 you

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:50.920
 must

00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:51.200
 listen

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:51.320
 to

00:19:51.320 --> 00:19:51.519
 me.

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:51.900
 You

00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:52.060
 want to

00:19:52.060 --> 00:19:52.180
 know

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.560
 reality,

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:52.680
 you

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:52.800
 want to

00:19:52.800 --> 00:19:53.000
 know the

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.120
 way

00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:53.380
 things

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:53.560
 are,

00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:53.720
 you

00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.060
 must

00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:54.340
 listen

00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:54.480
 to

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:54.740
 me.

00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:56.100
 But

00:19:56.100 --> 00:19:56.620
 what he

00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:57.140
 says

00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:58.080
 a little

00:19:58.080 --> 00:19:58.240
 bit

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:58.940
 later in

00:19:58.940 --> 00:19:59.300
 John

00:19:59.300 --> 00:19:59.780
 14

00:19:59.780 --> 00:20:00.040
 verse

00:20:00.040 --> 00:20:00.540
 6

00:20:00.540 --> 00:20:01.340
 is

00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:01.720
 even

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.160
 more

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:02.740
 profound.

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:13.900
 He

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.319
 says

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:14.740
 not

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:14.920
 that

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.079
 he

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.420
 just

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:16.200
 speaks

00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.480
 what

00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:16.680
 is

00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.140
 true,

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.660
 but

00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:17.880
 that

00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.140
 he

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.779
 is

00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.200
 what

00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:19.420
 is

00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:19.799
 true.

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.259
 He

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:21.859
 is

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.160
 the

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:22.420
 truth,

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:22.640
 he

00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.180
 is

00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:24.099
 reality,

00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:24.539
 he

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:24.960
 is

00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.120
 the

00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.319
 way

00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:25.660
 things

00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:26.140
 actually

00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:26.559
 are.

00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.399
 The

00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:28.079
 most

00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:28.599
 ultimate

00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.059
 reason

00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.440
 why he

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:29.599
 could

00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:29.960
 say

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.220
 that

00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:30.399
 he

00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:30.659
 was

00:20:30.659 --> 00:20:31.159
 truth

00:20:31.159 --> 00:20:31.720
 is

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:31.859
 that

00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.039
 he

00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.519
 himself

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:32.940
 is

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.500
 God.

00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:34.159
 And

00:20:34.159 --> 00:20:34.480
 that's

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:34.700
 what

00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.019
 John

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.379
 1

00:20:35.379 --> 00:20:35.899
 affirms

00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:36.059
 for

00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.319
 those

00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:36.419
 who

00:20:36.419 --> 00:20:36.539
 were

00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:36.740
 here

00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:36.919
 on

00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:37.220
 Thursday

00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.559
 night

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:37.720
 when

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:37.839
 I

00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.099
 preached

00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:38.299
 on

00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:38.539
 John

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:38.879
 1.

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:39.819
 In

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:39.980
 the

00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:40.259
 beginning

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.539
 was

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:40.700
 the

00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:40.940
 word,

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:41.139
 that

00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:41.319
 is

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:41.460
 he

00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.000
 existed

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.440
 before

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.980
 anything

00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.299
 was

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:43.759
 made.

00:20:44.919 --> 00:20:45.259
 The

00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:45.579
 word

00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:45.899
 here

00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.179
 is

00:20:46.179 --> 00:20:46.539
 Jesus

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.099
 Christ.

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:47.819
 And

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:47.980
 the

00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.220
 word

00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:48.440
 was

00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:48.700
 with

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.139
 God

00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:49.379
 and

00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:49.519
 the

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:49.740
 word

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.159
 was

00:20:50.159 --> 00:20:50.579
 God.

00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.099
 He

00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.299
 was

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:51.559
 with

00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:05.179
 Now,

00:21:05.659 --> 00:21:06.460
 for

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:06.700
 those

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:06.819
 who

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:06.899
 are

00:21:06.899 --> 00:21:07.039
 here

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.279
 on

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:07.879
 Thursday

00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.220
 night,

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:08.960
 I'm

00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.059
 going

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.179
 to

00:21:09.179 --> 00:21:09.339
 say

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:09.579
 something

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:09.779
 I

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.299
 said

00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:10.579
 on

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:10.859
 Thursday

00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:11.179
 night.

00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:12.460
 John

00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:12.599
 when

00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:12.740
 he

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.139
 writes

00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:13.419
 this

00:21:13.419 --> 00:21:13.799
 referring

00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.019
 to

00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:14.339
 Jesus

00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:14.700
 saying

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:15.019
 something

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:15.700
 incredibly

00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.299
 profound.

00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:17.899
 He

00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:18.559
 refers

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:18.799
 to

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.099
 Jesus

00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:19.539
 as

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:19.960
 the

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.440
 word.

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:21.539
 In

00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:21.679
 the

00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:21.899
 Greek

00:21:21.899 --> 00:21:22.299
 language

00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:22.500
 it's

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:22.639
 the

00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:22.819
 word

00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.220
 logos.

00:21:24.159 --> 00:21:24.399
 And

00:21:24.399 --> 00:21:24.519
 the

00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:24.740
 word

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.200
 logos

00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:25.839
 in

00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.179
 Greek

00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.840
 philosophy

00:21:26.840 --> 00:21:27.500
 and

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:27.799
 Greek

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.360
 life

00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:28.820
 was

00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:29.320
 massive.

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:29.640
 It

00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:29.779
 was

00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:29.960
 a

00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.240
 massive

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:30.720
 word.

00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:32.160
 It's

00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:32.380
 a

00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:32.900
 word

00:21:32.900 --> 00:21:33.480
 that

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.299
 means

00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:34.960
 that

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:35.220
 the

00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:35.519
 Greeks

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.279
 believed,

00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:36.620
 the Greek

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:36.900
 philosophers

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.360
 believed,

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:37.759
 the Greek

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.140
 cultures

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.440
 believed,

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:38.640
 which

00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:38.920
 Western

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.420
 civilization

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:40.060
 is built

00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.360
 on,

00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:40.799
 and

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.480
 Eastern

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.420
 civilizations

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:42.940
 have the

00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.160
 same

00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:43.740
 concept,

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.840
 that behind

00:21:44.840 --> 00:21:45.519
 the order

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:45.880
 of the

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.519
 universe

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:49.200
 is a

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.440
 divine,

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.299
 a being,

00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.200
 a logic

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.920
 of the

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.360
 universe,

00:21:53.560 --> 00:21:54.860
 a structure,

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.860
 a design,

00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:56.680
 of the

00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:57.039
 universe

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.460
 that

00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:57.799
 makes

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.039
 the

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.500
 universe

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.100
 work.

00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:00.460
 What

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:00.779
 John

00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.160
 says

00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:01.539
 here

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.000
 is

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.200
 that

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.400
 that

00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.019
 logos,

00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:04.080
 that logic

00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:04.460
 of the

00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:04.840
 universe,

00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.560
 that structure,

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.120
 design,

00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:06.960
 that purpose,

00:22:07.060 --> 00:22:07.660
 that reason

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.000
 for the

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.480
 universe,

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.259
 is a

00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:09.880
 person.

00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:11.580
 And

00:22:11.580 --> 00:22:11.840
 it's

00:22:11.840 --> 00:22:12.160
 Jesus

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.740
 Christ.

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.320
 And

00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:15.740
 down in

00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:15.940
 verse

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.620
 14,

00:22:17.080 --> 00:22:17.799
 we see

00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.140
 something

00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:18.920
 startling.

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:20.900
 That

00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.120
 the

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:21.519
 word,

00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:21.799
 the

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.140
 logos,

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:22.720
 became

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.400
 flesh and

00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:23.840
 made his

00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:24.600
 dwelling amongst

00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:25.000
 us.

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.019
 We have

00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.639
 seen his

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.079
 glory,

00:22:27.159 --> 00:22:27.579
 the glory

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:27.819
 of the

00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:28.099
 one and

00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:28.399
 only,

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.259
 who came

00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.619
 from the

00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:29.879
 Father,

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.659
 full of

00:22:30.659 --> 00:22:31.299
 grace and

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:31.759
 truth.

00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.519
 So,

00:22:33.699 --> 00:22:34.139
 who is

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:34.699
 this word?

00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.039
 Who is

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.359
 God?

00:22:35.419 --> 00:22:35.619
 Who is

00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:35.919
 full of

00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:36.319
 grace and

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:36.559
 truth?

00:22:36.659 --> 00:22:37.359
 Verse 15,

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:39.379
 John testifies

00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.139
 concerning him.

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:40.959
 He cries out

00:22:40.959 --> 00:22:41.240
 saying,

00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.919
 this was he

00:22:42.919 --> 00:22:43.439
 of whom I

00:22:43.439 --> 00:22:43.740
 said,

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:44.379
 he who

00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:45.059
 comes after

00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:45.419
 me has

00:22:45.419 --> 00:22:46.019
 surpassed

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.259
 me,

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.339
 because he

00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:47.939
 was before

00:22:47.939 --> 00:22:48.339
 me.

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:49.119
 From

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.839
 the fullness

00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:51.339
 of his

00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:51.719
 grace,

00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:52.059
 we have

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.699
 all received

00:22:52.699 --> 00:22:53.339
 one blessing

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:53.959
 after another,

00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:54.799
 for the

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.559
 law was

00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:55.819
 given

00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.079
 through

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.559
 Moses,

00:22:57.299 --> 00:22:58.139
 grace and

00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:59.319
 truth came

00:22:59.319 --> 00:22:59.959
 through Jesus

00:22:59.959 --> 00:23:00.439
 Christ.

00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.279
 Jesus

00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:04.939
 doesn't

00:23:04.939 --> 00:23:05.299
 just,

00:23:05.439 --> 00:23:05.720
 he's not

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.079
 just a

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.899
 prophet who

00:23:07.899 --> 00:23:09.019
 speaks God's

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.359
 word with

00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:11.000
 more clarity

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.539
 than other

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.139
 religious leaders

00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:12.619
 and prophets.

00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:14.399
 He doesn't

00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:14.659
 just,

00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.599
 he hasn't

00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:15.959
 just got

00:23:15.959 --> 00:23:16.699
 more things

00:23:16.699 --> 00:23:18.000
 right than

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.699
 other prophets

00:23:18.699 --> 00:23:19.279
 and religious

00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:19.720
 leaders.

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:19.860
 others.

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:22.240
 He is

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.380
 the truth

00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.019
 in itself.

00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:25.559
 And only

00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:26.360
 Jesus made

00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:26.920
 that claim

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.299
 of all

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.420
 other major

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.319
 world religions,

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:31.079
 only Jesus

00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:31.620
 made the

00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:32.339
 claim that

00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:33.640
 I am God

00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.500
 and I am

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.160
 the truth.

00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.920
 All others

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.460
 just said,

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.400
 believe me

00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:39.700
 and I'll

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.100
 point you

00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:40.339
 in the

00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:40.660
 direction

00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.079
 of it.

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:46.160
 Jesus

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:46.960
 is the

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.600
 God of

00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:48.039
 the burning

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:48.700
 bush in

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.600
 Exodus 3.

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.339
 who when

00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.120
 asked by

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:52.720
 Moses,

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.759
 you know,

00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:54.900
 God,

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.220
 you know,

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.460
 when I

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:55.880
 get off

00:23:55.880 --> 00:23:56.259
 down to

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:56.839
 Egypt to

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.440
 tell Pharaoh

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:57.839
 to let my,

00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:58.539
 it'd be great

00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.019
 if I've got a

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.460
 name, a

00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.039
 reference here,

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.420
 you know,

00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:00.839
 give me a

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:01.240
 reference.

00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:02.740
 Who do I

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.980
 tell Pharaoh

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.920
 has sent

00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.319
 me?

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.339
 And God

00:24:08.339 --> 00:24:08.920
 says to

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.259
 him,

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:12.759
 I am.

00:24:15.620 --> 00:24:16.100
 How's

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.519
 that helpful?

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.160
 You know,

00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:18.660
 I would

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.320
 never imagine

00:24:19.320 --> 00:24:20.000
 saying that

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.480
 to someone.

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.640
 I just

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.300
 simply

00:24:23.300 --> 00:24:23.940
 am.

00:24:25.800 --> 00:24:26.160
 And so

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:26.660
 the place

00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:27.300
 where ultimate

00:24:27.300 --> 00:24:28.340
 reality and

00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:28.960
 the representation

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.800
 of ultimate

00:24:29.800 --> 00:24:31.040
 reality come

00:24:31.040 --> 00:24:31.740
 together most

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.480
 profoundly is in

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.320
 the person of

00:24:33.320 --> 00:24:34.140
 Jesus Christ.

00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:35.420
 And Jesus

00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.680
 himself endorsed

00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.820
 the message of

00:24:37.820 --> 00:24:39.220
 Psalm 119,

00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.279
 where all of

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:40.880
 your words are

00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.820
 true and all

00:24:41.820 --> 00:24:42.560
 of your righteous

00:24:42.560 --> 00:24:43.519
 laws are eternal,

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.759
 when he says in

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.619
 Matthew 5,

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.339
 do not think

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:46.660
 that I've

00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:46.980
 come to

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.619
 abolish the

00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:48.180
 law or the

00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.599
 prophets,

00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.700
 that is the

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.319
 Old Testament.

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.079
 I've not

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.519
 come to

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.099
 abolish them,

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.379
 but to

00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:54.039
 fulfill them.

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:55.180
 I tell you

00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.619
 the truth,

00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.140
 until heaven

00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:56.480
 and earth

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:56.960
 disappear,

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:57.660
 not the

00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.160
 smallest

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:58.619
 letter,

00:24:59.400 --> 00:24:59.779
 not the

00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.240
 least stroke

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:01.960
 of a pen

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:04.140
 will by any

00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:05.000
 means disappear

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.559
 from the

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.879
 law until

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:08.720
 everything is

00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.279
 accomplished.

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:09.500
 accomplished.

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.079
 And in

00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:12.779
 Luke 24,

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:13.619
 Jesus is

00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.279
 walking the

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.639
 road to

00:25:14.639 --> 00:25:15.259
 Emmaus,

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:15.940
 and he

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.680
 showed the

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.480
 disciples in

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.160
 that moment

00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.019
 how the

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.200
 entire Old

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.660
 Testament

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.799
 pointed to

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.139
 him.

00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:25.399
 The Bible,

00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.759
 as the

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.139
 word of

00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:27.500
 God,

00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.220
 is where we

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.819
 have God

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.720
 revealing the

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.559
 way things

00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.039
 are.

00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:31.920
 The 66

00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.639
 books of

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.139
 the Bible,

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.000
 with Jesus

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.539
 at the

00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:34.859
 center,

00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:36.279
 is truth.

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.240
 And

00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:38.519
 therefore,

00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.259
 the authority

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:40.079
 by which all

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.579
 things are

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:40.859
 measured.

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.900
 The Bible

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.420
 is where God

00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.180
 speaks what

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.799
 is real and

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.240
 absolute,

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.400
 and so it

00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:46.920
 is true.

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:47.359
 The Bible

00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:47.779
 is the way

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.099
 God,

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:48.759
 the ultimate

00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.039
 and all

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.859
 important

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.460
 reality,

00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.299
 reveals himself

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:52.920
 to us with

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.660
 clarity and

00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.440
 authority today.

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.420
 The Bible,

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.019
 with his

00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.480
 spirit,

00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.160
 is how he

00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:57.920
 mediates his

00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:59.140
 presence in

00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.119
 his world

00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:00.579
 today.

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.700
 And so,

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.500
 if God is

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.099
 more important

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.700
 than anything

00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.559
 as the great

00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.480
 reality of all

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:06.920
 things,

00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:07.920
 then the Bible

00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.779
 is more important

00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.259
 than anything

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:09.899
 but God.

00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.240
 What we

00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:13.619
 need to

00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:14.240
 embrace,

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.000
 particularly in

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.420
 a day and

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.180
 age where

00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:17.539
 God's word

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.500
 is mocked

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:21.180
 and ridiculed,

00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.599
 what we need

00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:23.160
 to embrace and

00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:23.599
 be confident

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:23.960
 in,

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:25.139
 is that the

00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:25.700
 whole word

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.099
 of God

00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:27.279
 is truth,

00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.399
 and that the

00:26:28.399 --> 00:26:28.899
 Lord Jesus

00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:29.660
 Christ is the

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.200
 center of that

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.599
 truth.

00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:32.440
 That the God

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:32.920
 who made

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.379
 everything,

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.000
 controls

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.519
 everything,

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.220
 has a purpose

00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.700
 for everything,

00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:36.900
 this God

00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.640
 has spoken

00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.360
 to us.

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:38.980
 As James

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.480
 read out to

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:39.779
 us from

00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:41.100
 2 Timothy,

00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:41.900
 all scripture

00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.779
 is God

00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:43.640
 breathed and

00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.240
 is useful for

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.519
 teaching,

00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.019
 rebuking,

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.400
 correcting,

00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:45.880
 and training

00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:46.440
 in righteousness.

00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:50.200
 In what he

00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:51.140
 has revealed,

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.600
 we are not

00:26:52.600 --> 00:26:53.680
 left without a

00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.140
 knowledge of

00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:54.779
 his will.

00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:56.160
 We are not

00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:57.220
 left with a

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:59.319
 knowledge of

00:26:59.319 --> 00:26:59.900
 him at,

00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.140
 sorry, we are

00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:01.600
 left with a

00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:01.960
 knowledge of

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.600
 work in the

00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:02.880
 world.

00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:05.060
 we are not

00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:05.600
 left without

00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.080
 wisdom.

00:27:06.800 --> 00:27:07.260
 We are not

00:27:07.260 --> 00:27:08.260
 left without a

00:27:08.260 --> 00:27:08.960
 revelation of

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.340
 the way of

00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:09.860
 salvation.

00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.260
 And this,

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.600
 my friends,

00:27:13.780 --> 00:27:15.060
 is absolutely

00:27:15.060 --> 00:27:16.000
 priceless.

00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.480
 Absolutely

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.120
 priceless.

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.580
 If we could

00:27:23.580 --> 00:27:24.320
 awaken in our

00:27:24.320 --> 00:27:24.760
 hearts and

00:27:24.760 --> 00:27:25.300
 minds of the

00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:25.960
 confidence that

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.660
 this is so,

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.720
 just imagine

00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.300
 how we would

00:27:29.300 --> 00:27:29.940
 navigate our

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.180
 lives.

00:27:30.280 --> 00:27:30.780
 Just imagine

00:27:30.780 --> 00:27:31.300
 how we would

00:27:31.300 --> 00:27:32.220
 navigate the

00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:33.339
 complexity of

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.380
 life in this

00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:34.799
 world.

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.920
 The implication

00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.559
 for our lives

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:36.880
 would be

00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.539
 countless and

00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:37.880
 viable.

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.539
 The Bible is

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.940
 God's provision

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:43.019
 for us and

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.799
 it is sufficient

00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:44.660
 for all that

00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.240
 we need to

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.880
 know in life

00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.539
 and salvation.

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.319
 Every single

00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.100
 thing we face

00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:50.700
 in life is

00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.299
 touched by the

00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:51.559
 Bible.

00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.180
 It is either

00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.000
 directly touched

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.620
 because it is

00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.200
 in the Bible

00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.180
 or indirectly

00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.759
 touched because

00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.140
 the Bible

00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.860
 shapes all the

00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:58.460
 attitudes and

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.799
 the criteria in

00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.360
 which we deal

00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:00.700
 with it.

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:02.120
 the Bible

00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:03.559
 ought to be

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.759
 the sun in

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.220
 the solar

00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:05.920
 system of

00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.519
 all of our

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.860
 learning in

00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:08.400
 his world.

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.460
 It gives

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.059
 light, it

00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:10.700
 gives perspective,

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.120
 it gives

00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:11.500
 meaning.

00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:13.620
 It will not

00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:14.279
 be just one

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.759
 book among

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.340
 many books

00:28:15.340 --> 00:28:15.640
 in our

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.180
 shelves, it

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:16.660
 will be the

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:17.340
 central book.

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.960
 Every idea

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.580
 that we face

00:28:19.580 --> 00:28:20.100
 in the world

00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:21.220
 will be judged

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.080
 by this book.

00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.059
 This book

00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.799
 must be known

00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.620
 first and

00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:25.279
 known better

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.220
 than all

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.759
 other books

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.380
 and ideas

00:28:27.380 --> 00:28:28.220
 and information.

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:30.720
 and the

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.819
 whole aim,

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:34.539
 the whole

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.279
 aim in

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.200
 knowing our

00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:36.700
 Bibles

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:41.120
 is to know

00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:41.579
 the God

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:41.839
 who has

00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:42.160
 given it

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.740
 to us.

00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.720
 Our aim

00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.339
 in seeking

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:47.079
 to see

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.860
 Jesus,

00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:50.519
 to be led

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.299
 to Jesus

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:53.200
 and being

00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:53.819
 led to him

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.559
 have life.

00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:56.759
 our concern

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:58.980
 must be

00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:00.319
 to enlargen

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:00.859
 our

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:02.119
 acquaintance

00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:02.460
 with the

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.000
 God who

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.799
 defines all

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.179
 things,

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:04.779
 to walk

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.299
 with him

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:07.240
 day in

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.599
 and day

00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:07.980
 out.

00:29:08.919 --> 00:29:09.379
 So one

00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:10.279
 quick tip

00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:13.119
 from the

00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:13.419
 great

00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:13.980
 J.I.

00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.500
 Packer

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:16.500
 and how

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:16.980
 to turn

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.779
 our knowledge

00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:19.079
 about God

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.579
 from his

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.700
 word into

00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.440
 a knowledge

00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:21.980
 and intimate

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.559
 relationship

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.399
 with God.

00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.759
 how to

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.380
 shift from

00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:25.640
 the

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.700
 masterpiece

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.240
 if you

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:27.500
 like

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.040
 to seeing

00:29:28.040 --> 00:29:28.420
 through a

00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:28.720
 window

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.280
 of a

00:29:29.280 --> 00:29:29.519
 world

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:29.759
 that's

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.100
 alive

00:29:30.100 --> 00:29:30.259
 and

00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.680
 active.

00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:32.519
 I think

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.000
 it's both

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.540
 demanding

00:29:33.540 --> 00:29:34.259
 and simple

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.560
 at the

00:29:34.560 --> 00:29:35.080
 same time

00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:35.460
 but here's

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:35.880
 the point.

00:29:36.820 --> 00:29:36.980
 Turn

00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:37.580
 every

00:29:37.580 --> 00:29:38.360
 truth

00:29:38.360 --> 00:29:38.900
 that we

00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:39.200
 learn

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:39.519
 about

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.040
 God

00:29:40.040 --> 00:29:41.120
 into

00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:41.720
 a matter

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.100
 of

00:29:42.100 --> 00:29:42.840
 meditation

00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:43.640
 before

00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.240
 God

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:46.180
 that is

00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:46.780
 with God

00:29:46.780 --> 00:29:47.180
 communication

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:48.160
 with God

00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:49.240
 leading to

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:49.800
 obedience

00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:50.740
 of God

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.740
 and prayer

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.480
 and praise

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.220
 to God.

00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:55.040
 I'll say

00:29:55.040 --> 00:29:55.340
 it again

00:29:55.340 --> 00:29:56.220
 turn every

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.720
 truth that

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.140
 we learn

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:57.900
 about God

00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:58.320
 into a

00:29:58.320 --> 00:29:58.720
 matter of

00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.220
 meditation

00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.280
 before God

00:30:00.280 --> 00:30:01.759
 leading to

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.240
 obedience

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.120
 of God

00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:04.600
 and prayer

00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:05.060
 and praise

00:30:05.060 --> 00:30:05.660
 to God.

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:07.840
 Meditation

00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.380
 is the

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.060
 activity of

00:30:09.060 --> 00:30:09.540
 calling to

00:30:09.540 --> 00:30:10.000
 mind and

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.620
 lingering over

00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:11.060
 and dwelling

00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:11.560
 on and

00:30:11.560 --> 00:30:12.940
 applying to

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.860
 ourselves

00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:14.680
 that what we

00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.320
 have engaged

00:30:15.320 --> 00:30:15.660
 with in

00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:16.400
 God's word

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:17.340
 about the

00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:17.660
 works,

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.060
 the ways,

00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:18.540
 the purposes,

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.080
 the promises

00:30:19.080 --> 00:30:19.400
 and the

00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:19.900
 character of

00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:20.160
 God.

00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:20.840
 God

00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:21.620
 and the

00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:22.400
 effect will

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:24.500
 be to

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.320
 humble us

00:30:25.320 --> 00:30:26.180
 as we

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.779
 contemplate

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.100
 God's

00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:27.460
 greatness

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.060
 and glory

00:30:28.060 --> 00:30:28.500
 and our

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.779
 own

00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.259
 smallness

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.400
 and

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:29.860
 sinfulness

00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.860
 to

00:30:30.860 --> 00:30:31.240
 challenge

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.700
 us,

00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.800
 to change

00:30:32.800 --> 00:30:33.000
 us,

00:30:33.060 --> 00:30:33.500
 to encourage

00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:33.820
 us and

00:30:33.820 --> 00:30:34.100
 comfort

00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:34.980
 us and

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.720
 to reassure

00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.279
 us as we

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.680
 contemplate the

00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.440
 unsearchable

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.019
 riches of

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.600
 God's mercy

00:30:39.600 --> 00:30:40.200
 to us.

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.920
 I said to

00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:42.759
 my community

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.059
 group on

00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.720
 Friday night

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:45.220
 that I'm

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:45.720
 now into

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.380
 the fourth

00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:47.080
 year of

00:30:47.080 --> 00:30:47.799
 a five-year

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.600
 program to

00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:49.180
 read through

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.620
 the Bible

00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:50.360
 every year,

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.860
 the Old

00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.559
 Testament once,

00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.100
 New Testament

00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:53.480
 twice,

00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:54.180
 Psalms twice

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.759
 in a year.

00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.039
 And so I'm

00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:56.700
 up to year

00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:57.360
 number four.

00:30:58.980 --> 00:31:00.700
 And there's

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.299
 two things

00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:01.620
 that I've

00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:02.120
 gained from

00:31:02.120 --> 00:31:02.299
 it.

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:04.200
 One so

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.080
 far is

00:31:05.080 --> 00:31:08.420
 a sense

00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:09.299
 of the

00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.180
 scope,

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.080
 of scripture,

00:31:12.080 --> 00:31:12.539
 of where

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:12.960
 everything's

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.259
 fitting.

00:31:14.100 --> 00:31:14.440
 I can

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.220
 quickly recall

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.640
 where I've

00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:17.200
 been over

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:17.779
 the last

00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.180
 number of

00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:18.460
 years.

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.100
 But the

00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:20.920
 second profound

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.480
 thing that it's

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.039
 done in terms

00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:22.580
 of changing

00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:25.080
 me is

00:31:25.080 --> 00:31:25.440
 that I've

00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.100
 walked away

00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:26.940
 each year

00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:27.660
 and gone,

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.680
 God is

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.920
 just bigger

00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:32.539
 and bigger

00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:34.240
 and bigger

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:36.319
 and I am

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:37.539
 smaller and

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.380
 smaller and

00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:38.900
 smaller.

00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:40.440
 for my

00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:40.759
 joy.

00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:43.400
 I've

00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:43.940
 said to

00:31:43.940 --> 00:31:44.340
 the guys

00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:44.700
 on Friday

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.000
 night,

00:31:45.040 --> 00:31:45.280
 I can tell

00:31:45.280 --> 00:31:45.580
 you one

00:31:45.580 --> 00:31:45.960
 thing that's

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.400
 changed in

00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:46.560
 me.

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.259
 Having read

00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:48.680
 through the

00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.900
 scriptures so

00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:50.620
 much in the

00:31:50.620 --> 00:31:51.140
 last four

00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:53.400
 years, I am

00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:54.200
 so much more

00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:54.900
 settled than I've

00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.560
 ever been in

00:31:55.560 --> 00:31:55.940
 life.

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.340
 So much more

00:31:58.340 --> 00:31:58.620
 settled,

00:31:59.540 --> 00:32:00.280
 more content,

00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:04.559
 consciously so.

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.339
 Not anxious,

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.859
 consciously so.

00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:13.160
 And that's

00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:14.819
 because the

00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:16.399
 truth sets

00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:16.899
 us free.

00:32:19.399 --> 00:32:20.259
 And that's

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.960
 why I want to

00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.720
 encourage you to

00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:22.220
 pick up your

00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:23.480
 Bibles, because

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.660
 the truth sets

00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:25.200
 us free.

00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:27.000
 Jesus said,

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.660
 and another

00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.420
 astounding thing

00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:28.860
 in John's

00:32:28.860 --> 00:32:29.220
 Gospel,

00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.360
 chapter 8,

00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:31.960
 if you hold

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.640
 to my teaching,

00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.259
 you are really

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.960
 my disciples,

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.680
 and then you

00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.299
 will know the

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:36.620
 truth, and the

00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.380
 truth will set

00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:37.860
 you free.

00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:40.720
 Know Jesus,

00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.160
 and you know

00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:42.840
 true freedom.

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.660
 The reason why

00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:44.400
 this is so

00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:44.940
 important,

00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.180
 because in our

00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:48.080
 day and age,

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:50.680
 the culture that

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.380
 we're marinating

00:32:51.380 --> 00:32:53.200
 in, a

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:54.020
 culture that

00:32:54.020 --> 00:32:55.420
 wants to get

00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:56.360
 rid of any

00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:57.440
 absolute truth

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.140
 claims, doesn't

00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:58.640
 matter who it

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:58.980
 is.

00:32:59.560 --> 00:33:00.160
 I mean, you

00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:01.080
 probably heard

00:33:01.080 --> 00:33:02.940
 the statement,

00:33:03.120 --> 00:33:03.820
 there is no

00:33:03.820 --> 00:33:04.860
 absolute truth

00:33:04.860 --> 00:33:05.420
 out there by

00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:05.960
 which we must

00:33:05.960 --> 00:33:06.580
 live our lives

00:33:06.580 --> 00:33:06.860
 by.

00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.540
 The irony is

00:33:08.540 --> 00:33:09.360
 that itself a

00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:10.300
 statement is a

00:33:10.300 --> 00:33:10.660
 statement of

00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.380
 absolute truth in

00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:11.720
 itself.

00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:12.580
 That's an

00:33:12.580 --> 00:33:13.500
 irony, but let's

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:13.940
 leave that to

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:14.440
 one side.

00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:14.840
 Why don't I

00:33:14.840 --> 00:33:15.560
 pick that for

00:33:15.560 --> 00:33:16.060
 the time being?

00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:20.560
 But the

00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:22.079
 reason why our

00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:22.759
 culture says

00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.179
 there's no

00:33:23.179 --> 00:33:24.240
 absolute truth

00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.559
 is because of

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.419
 the assumption

00:33:26.419 --> 00:33:27.879
 that any

00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:29.059
 truth claim,

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:30.119
 absolute truth

00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:31.759
 claim, results

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.619
 in oppression.

00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:34.859
 It oppresses

00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.940
 others.

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.099
 And I want to

00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:38.859
 say the truth

00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:39.960
 claim that Jesus

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:41.500
 is the truth,

00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:42.079
 the way, the

00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.579
 truth, and the

00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:44.000
 life is a

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:44.919
 truth that sets

00:33:44.919 --> 00:33:45.659
 you free.

00:33:47.399 --> 00:33:48.259
 And therefore,

00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:48.980
 we should pursue

00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.259
 it.

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.919
 no Jesus

00:33:51.919 --> 00:33:52.619
 and no

00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:53.019
 freedom.

00:33:53.119 --> 00:33:53.639
 There is no

00:33:53.639 --> 00:33:55.059
 freedom, ironically,

00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:56.099
 outside of

00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:56.419
 Jesus.

00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:58.859
 The person who

00:33:58.859 --> 00:33:59.619
 says there is no

00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:00.759
 absolute truth

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:03.279
 and I am the

00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.259
 full determiner of

00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:05.059
 my truth,

00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:07.519
 you are not

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:07.980
 free.

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.559
 You have

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.059
 lumbered

00:34:10.059 --> 00:34:11.139
 yourself with a

00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:11.940
 burden that it's

00:34:11.940 --> 00:34:13.179
 impossible for you

00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:14.199
 to carry the

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:14.679
 weight of,

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.699
 to determine

00:34:16.699 --> 00:34:18.279
 yourself how the

00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:18.900
 world should

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.320
 work.

00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:23.940
 Jesus promises

00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.519
 here the very

00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.199
 thing that we

00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:25.980
 are striving in

00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.480
 our secular

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.719
 individual society,

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:29.019
 striving to

00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:29.559
 achieve.

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:31.960
 I take it that

00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.559
 every single

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.340
 person in this

00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:33.960
 room wants to

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:34.980
 be free in the

00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:35.619
 deepest, fullest

00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:36.139
 sense.

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.820
 If the opposite

00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.639
 is bondage and

00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:39.400
 slavery, no one

00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:39.900
 wants to go

00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.219
 there.

00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:42.920
 Although it's

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.659
 possible to be

00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.759
 enslaved to some

00:34:44.759 --> 00:34:45.440
 habits that are

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.559
 very pleasurable in

00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:47.820
 the sense that it's

00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:48.759
 possible to love

00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:49.560
 your slavery,

00:34:51.080 --> 00:34:52.800
 even so, all of

00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:53.600
 us would rather be

00:34:53.600 --> 00:34:54.520
 happy in freedom

00:34:54.520 --> 00:34:55.840
 rather than a

00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:56.880
 slave to pleasant

00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:57.520
 addictions.

00:34:58.680 --> 00:34:59.520
 We all want to be

00:34:59.520 --> 00:35:00.200
 truly free.

00:35:02.260 --> 00:35:03.360
 And Jesus makes

00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:04.080
 this walloping

00:35:04.080 --> 00:35:05.300
 statement, if you

00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:06.000
 hold to my

00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:06.860
 teaching, you are

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.420
 really my

00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:09.040
 disciples and then

00:35:09.040 --> 00:35:09.920
 you will know the

00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:11.260
 truth and the

00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:12.900
 truth will set you

00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.720
 free.

00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:13.819
 free.

00:35:15.759 --> 00:35:16.439
 And the people

00:35:16.439 --> 00:35:17.659
 answered him, just

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.219
 as some of us

00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:18.859
 might do right

00:35:18.859 --> 00:35:19.480
 now, what are you

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.019
 talking about,

00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:20.299
 Jesus?

00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.500
 I'm not a slave to

00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:21.779
 anyone.

00:35:22.299 --> 00:35:23.019
 I'm completely

00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:23.379
 free.

00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:26.619
 That's what they

00:35:26.619 --> 00:35:27.079
 said, we are

00:35:27.079 --> 00:35:27.919
 Abraham's descendants

00:35:27.919 --> 00:35:29.779
 have never been

00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:30.619
 slaves of anyone.

00:35:30.819 --> 00:35:31.399
 How can you say

00:35:31.399 --> 00:35:32.159
 that you're going to

00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:32.719
 set us free?

00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:34.319
 I mean, the irony of

00:35:34.319 --> 00:35:35.159
 that statement is

00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:36.219
 they'd hardly ever

00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:37.059
 known a time when

00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.439
 they were not

00:35:37.439 --> 00:35:38.219
 enslaved to someone.

00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:42.159
 They're thinking

00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:42.839
 about just one

00:35:42.839 --> 00:35:43.759
 aspect of freedom,

00:35:44.439 --> 00:35:45.099
 but Jesus is

00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.359
 thinking about

00:35:45.359 --> 00:35:46.179
 something entirely

00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:47.159
 different and he

00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:48.239
 immediately clarifies,

00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.159
 I tell you the

00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:50.179
 truth, everyone

00:35:50.179 --> 00:35:51.359
 who sins is a

00:35:51.359 --> 00:35:52.139
 slave to sin.

00:35:53.359 --> 00:35:53.959
 That's the

00:35:53.959 --> 00:35:54.579
 walloping statement

00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:55.199
 right there.

00:35:56.279 --> 00:35:57.019
 It would take

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:58.299
 ages to unpack

00:35:58.299 --> 00:35:59.239
 the implications of

00:35:59.239 --> 00:36:00.000
 that for us.

00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:01.339
 But to put it

00:36:01.339 --> 00:36:02.859
 briefly, Jesus is

00:36:02.859 --> 00:36:04.559
 saying that everyone

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:05.980
 sins and therefore

00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:07.419
 everyone is

00:36:07.419 --> 00:36:08.199
 enslaved.

00:36:08.219 --> 00:36:09.039
 to sin.

00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:14.799
 This means that

00:36:14.799 --> 00:36:16.579
 sin is not just

00:36:16.579 --> 00:36:18.179
 a bad act, it

00:36:18.179 --> 00:36:20.039
 is a power over

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:21.500
 our hearts and

00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.859
 over our lives

00:36:22.859 --> 00:36:24.699
 that makes us do

00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:26.419
 bad acts and sets

00:36:26.419 --> 00:36:27.399
 us against God

00:36:27.399 --> 00:36:28.319
 and other people.

00:36:30.719 --> 00:36:31.759
 There are many

00:36:31.759 --> 00:36:32.719
 kinds of freedoms

00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:33.759
 that we can make

00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:34.519
 for ourselves, but

00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.819
 we cannot make

00:36:35.819 --> 00:36:36.919
 this freedom for

00:36:36.919 --> 00:36:37.399
 ourselves.

00:36:38.219 --> 00:36:47.039
 sin enslave us

00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:48.259
 by making anything

00:36:48.259 --> 00:36:48.859
 look more

00:36:48.859 --> 00:36:49.679
 desirable than

00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:50.519
 knowing Jesus.

00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.119
 It also

00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:53.239
 enslaves us

00:36:53.239 --> 00:36:54.819
 by eventually

00:36:54.819 --> 00:36:55.879
 damning us

00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:59.099
 and it will enslave

00:36:59.099 --> 00:37:00.780
 us into hell

00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:02.119
 until someone or

00:37:02.119 --> 00:37:03.340
 something intervenes.

00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:06.000
 Jesus says in

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:08.079
 verse 36, if the

00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:09.740
 son sets you

00:37:09.740 --> 00:37:11.220
 free, you will

00:37:11.220 --> 00:37:11.960
 be free indeed.

00:37:12.160 --> 00:37:13.480
 The son who is

00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:14.840
 Jesus, who is the

00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:15.720
 truth in verse

00:37:15.720 --> 00:37:17.680
 32, is the one who

00:37:17.680 --> 00:37:18.480
 sets us free.

00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:21.440
 He frees us from the

00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:22.880
 damnation of slavery

00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:24.039
 by becoming damned

00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:26.420
 for us in his death

00:37:26.420 --> 00:37:28.420
 on the cross as our

00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:28.860
 substitute.

00:37:28.860 --> 00:37:30.840
 He frees us from the

00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:32.599
 dominion of a sin

00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:33.780
 over our hearts by

00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:34.840
 changing our hearts

00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:37.579
 to see him as more

00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:39.140
 desirable than

00:37:39.140 --> 00:37:39.720
 anything.

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.840
 So that we are free

00:37:42.840 --> 00:37:43.880
 to truly love him and

00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.820
 free to love others.

00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:49.240
 Only Jesus, the son of

00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:50.519
 God who came, died and

00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:51.579
 rose for us, can set us

00:37:51.579 --> 00:37:52.519
 free and make us happy

00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:52.920
 forever.

00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:56.119
 If Jesus sets you

00:37:56.119 --> 00:37:57.039
 free, you'll be free

00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.519
 indeed.

00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:01.059
 And unbeknownst to me,

00:38:01.139 --> 00:38:01.780
 that's what happened to

00:38:01.780 --> 00:38:03.000
 me 31 years ago.

00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:06.260
 For the very first time

00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:08.639
 in my life, it's like

00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:10.700
 God moved the

00:38:10.700 --> 00:38:12.680
 masterpiece and helped

00:38:12.680 --> 00:38:15.800
 me gaze to the window

00:38:15.800 --> 00:38:16.599
 that it was hiding.

00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:22.380
 The landscape showed

00:38:22.380 --> 00:38:23.500
 me the reality that

00:38:23.500 --> 00:38:24.799
 was behind it, a God

00:38:24.799 --> 00:38:25.599
 who was behind it.

00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:29.920
 I want to say that

00:38:29.920 --> 00:38:31.239
 31 years ago, I

00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:33.059
 discovered, increasingly

00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:34.239
 so over these past

00:38:34.239 --> 00:38:36.019
 three decades, that the

00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:37.179
 Bible was not so much

00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:39.299
 an instruction manual on

00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:42.079
 how to live life as a

00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:43.219
 letter that revealed a

00:38:43.219 --> 00:38:44.500
 good and majestic and

00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:45.619
 beautiful and glorious

00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.059
 God.

00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:49.880
 It is a letter to us

00:38:49.880 --> 00:38:50.739
 from the creator of the

00:38:50.739 --> 00:38:51.299
 universe.

00:38:52.779 --> 00:38:53.940
 In that sense, the

00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:55.739
 Bible is deeply,

00:38:56.299 --> 00:38:57.159
 deeply personal.

00:38:58.839 --> 00:39:00.339
 It is designed to

00:39:00.339 --> 00:39:02.079
 deeply connect us to the

00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:04.199
 heart and the mind of

00:39:04.199 --> 00:39:04.819
 the writer.

00:39:09.440 --> 00:39:10.900
 So friends, let me just

00:39:10.900 --> 00:39:12.059
 say, for those of you

00:39:12.059 --> 00:39:13.920
 who are Christian,

00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:17.260
 Christian, we have no

00:39:17.260 --> 00:39:19.320
 sure sight of God's

00:39:19.320 --> 00:39:20.360
 excellencies, his

00:39:20.360 --> 00:39:21.740
 beauty, his majesty,

00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:25.860
 his wonder, except

00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:28.780
 through the word, the

00:39:28.780 --> 00:39:29.139
 Bible.

00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:33.240
 When we pick up the

00:39:33.240 --> 00:39:34.260
 Bible in our daily

00:39:34.260 --> 00:39:36.119
 devotions or study it in

00:39:36.119 --> 00:39:37.680
 our community groups or

00:39:37.680 --> 00:39:38.599
 hear it preach, the

00:39:38.599 --> 00:39:39.680
 church or youth group,

00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:41.719
 we are dealing with the

00:39:41.719 --> 00:39:43.339
 creator of the universe

00:39:43.339 --> 00:39:45.139
 and the book that he

00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:47.519
 inspired as a gift for

00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:48.699
 all peoples of the

00:39:48.699 --> 00:39:51.639
 world, that we might

00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:54.779
 know the truth, him the

00:39:54.779 --> 00:39:57.339
 truth, the only one who

00:39:57.339 --> 00:39:58.279
 can set us free.

00:39:58.280 --> 00:40:02.560
 to know the God of all

00:40:02.560 --> 00:40:04.840
 truth, to see and

00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:06.720
 savour the God of all

00:40:06.720 --> 00:40:08.220
 truth, to delight in the

00:40:08.220 --> 00:40:09.620
 God of all truth.

00:40:11.040 --> 00:40:12.800
 Not just simply an

00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:14.440
 artwork on a wall to be

00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:15.860
 marvelled as we walk by,

00:40:16.720 --> 00:40:18.100
 occasionally stare at, but

00:40:18.100 --> 00:40:19.260
 mostly just have a general

00:40:19.260 --> 00:40:22.400
 presence around, but to

00:40:22.400 --> 00:40:24.820
 have the window opened to

00:40:24.820 --> 00:40:25.360
 reality.

00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:30.579
 to see the God behind

00:40:30.579 --> 00:40:31.620
 all things.

00:40:35.120 --> 00:40:36.900
 I know of no greater

00:40:36.900 --> 00:40:40.340
 quest in life than to

00:40:40.340 --> 00:40:43.200
 search it, to know it,

00:40:44.539 --> 00:40:46.460
 and in knowing it, in

00:40:46.460 --> 00:40:48.980
 increasing measure, seeing

00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:51.640
 the beauty and worth and

00:40:51.640 --> 00:40:55.340
 glory and majesty of the

00:40:55.340 --> 00:41:00.360
 God who is true, who is

00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:02.920
 true and who wants to be

00:41:02.920 --> 00:41:05.100
 known and can be known in

00:41:05.100 --> 00:41:05.840
 increasing measure.