WEBVTT

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 If you would open up your Bibles to Colossians chapter 1, we're going to be looking at verses 15 through 20 this morning.

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 And as you're turning there, I just want to let you know what my family and I watched last night on TV.

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 The 1964 claymation classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

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 You know it.

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 Rudolph, with his nose so bright, remember he was a misfit from the start.

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 Yukon Cornelius, do you remember Yukon Cornelius?

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 That greatest prospector of the north.

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 And he's very quirky.

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 And then there was that elf named Hermie.

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 He didn't like building toys.

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 He wanted to be a dentist.

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 Well, the story goes that these misfits are trying to find their place in life.

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 And eventually, Rudolph, Yukon, and Hermie, they come across a body of water to a land of misfit toys.

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 Odd toys that no child would ever want.

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 Living in exile on the island of misfit toys.

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 The greatest desire of these toys is to be loved by a child.

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 And eventually, Rudolph and his gang, with the help of Santa Claus, of course, they take action.

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 And they reconcile these misfit toys to the children who would love them unconditionally.

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 Now, I think we can all identify with being a misfit.

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 We've all got our unique quirks, don't we?

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 And we all desire to be loved despite our quirks and oddities.

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 So we're all misfits in one sense.

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 But we're not misfit toys, are we?

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 Now, God in his word takes our misfitness.

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 And he takes it one step further than this 1964 claymation special.

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 Yes, God acknowledges our quirks.

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 But God in his word says we have a deep, dark, deadly disobedience problem called sin.

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 Sin is rebellion against God.

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 It's a prideful unwillingness to obey him, to live for him.

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 And so, in light of that, humanity is one big island of misfit sinners living in rebellion to the God who created us.

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 It's also known as the world.

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 Our sin has separated us from the God who created us.

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 Sin ruptured our relationship with the one true God.

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 And because of our sin, hostility entered our experience.

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 God is hostile towards our sin.

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 And not only was sin affecting our relationship with God, sin ruptured our experience of ourselves.

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 Have you ever heard someone say, I hate myself?

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 And it's not just within ourselves, it's relationships with other people.

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 Sin ruptures relationships.

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 Do you know why the holidays are often hard for people being with their family?

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 Because sin has ruptured relationships.

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 And of course, sin has ruptured our relationship with the rest of creation.

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 Adam and Eve, in the garden, they work the land with ease and peace.

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 But after they sinned, it was toil and hostility, sweat and threat.

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 As sinners, our disobedience to God has resulted in a comprehensive hostility in all of our relationships.

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 It's got a cosmic reach.

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 But the very God who we sinned against, out of an unconditional love for us,

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 God's plan to reconcile sinners back to himself took a decisive step 2,000 years ago.

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 I don't know how much the baby Jesus weighed when he was born.

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 Six pounds?

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 Seven pounds?

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 Maybe eight pounds?

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 But when that seven pound baby was born to a virgin in a town six miles outside of Jerusalem,

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 it was a turning point in history.

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 When that baby was born, God's plan took a decisive turn.

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 What child is this?

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 What child is this born unto us?

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 If you're looking at Colossians 1, verses 15 through 20,

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 Paul says this is who this child is.

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 Let me read it for us.

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 He is the image of the invisible God,

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 the firstborn of all creation,

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 for by him all things were created in heaven and on earth,

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 visible and invisible,

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 whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities,

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 all things were created through him and for him.

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 And he's before all things.

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 And in him all things hold together.

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 What child is this?

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 And he is the head of the body, the church.

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 He's the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,

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 that in everything he might be preeminent.

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 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

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 and through him to reconcile to himself all things,

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 whether on earth or in heaven,

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 making peace by the blood of his cross.

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 Verses 15 through 20 are known as a hymn that exalts Christ.

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 And Paul has placed it here at the beginning of Ephesians,

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 Colossians, to help this Colossian Christians

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 understand rightly who this Christ is

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 so that they can discern false teaching.

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 There are two moves, two main parts to this hymn

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 in verses 15 through 20.

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 The first is Christ is the creator of all.

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 We see that in verses 15 through 17.

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 And the second part is Christ is the reconciler of all.

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 And then we see that in verses 18 through 20.

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 Another way you can say it is this.

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 Christ is Lord of all.

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 He's the creator of all.

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 He's the reconciler of all.

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 He's preeminent over all.

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 He's Lord of all.

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 Now, this morning I want to ask you a question.

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 Do you know who this child is born in the manger,

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 born in this stable,

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 this dark-haired baby boy,

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 born in some stable for animals in Bethlehem?

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 Do you not realize who he is?

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 He's the creator of all, your creator.

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 He's the reconciler of all.

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 He made a way for you to be at peace with God.

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 What child is this?

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 He's Lord of all.

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 Is he your Lord?

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 Let's look at this first part.

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 He's the creator of all, verses 15 through 17.

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 Now, I'm going to point you to two titles

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 and a handful of prepositions.

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 Okay, you ready?

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 Let's look at it.

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 He is the image of the invisible God.

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 That's the first title.

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 He is the image of the invisible God.

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 When you read that, that word image,

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 it actually is a translation of a Greek word.

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 And I'm going to teach it to you this morning.

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 It's the Greek word icon.

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 Can you say that?

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 Say icon.

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 One, two, three.

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 Icon.

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 And it is referring back to the Son.

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 In Colossians 1, 13, and 14, we read,

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 God has delivered us from the domain of darkness

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 and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son

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 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

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 This beloved Son, he is the icon of the invisible God.

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 Now, back in the day when I was working on my computer,

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 you know, maybe 10 years ago,

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 we didn't call them apps.

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 What we saw on the computer screen, we called icons,

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 and they were visible representatives

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 of the programs running on your computer.

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 So if you wanted to open it,

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 you clicked on the icon and you got to your program.

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 So it's possible to think here

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 that Jesus is the visible representation of God.

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 He's the icon of the invisible God.

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 And that's true.

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 But it goes beyond that.

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 Jesus is not just a visible representation of God.

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 He is fully God in the flesh.

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 Just take a look at verse 19.

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 We read,

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 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.

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 Now look at chapter 2, verse 9.

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 We read this.

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 For in him, Christ,

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 the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.

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 The image of the invisible God,

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 the icon of God,

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 is God himself in the flesh.

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 And so how is this being used?

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 Well, icon is a title.

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 And it's got a lot of similarities

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 with what the passage we were looking at last week.

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 John chapter 1,

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 talking about the Word.

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 In the beginning was the Word,

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 and the Word was with God,

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 and the Word was God.

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 That was a title.

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 Word.

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 So when Paul talks about Jesus

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 as the image of the invisible God,

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 the icon of God,

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 he is saying that Jesus

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 is the physical embodiment

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 of all the fullness of God.

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 He is the invisible God made visible.

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 It would be akin to what John says

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 in John 1.18,

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 where the Word is described as

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 making known the Father

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 who has never been seen.

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 So Jesus is the ultimate image of God.

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 When you become a Christian,

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 when you put your faith in Jesus,

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 when you turn from sin

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 and turn to Christ,

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 God calls you

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 to become more and more like Jesus.

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 to be more and more

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 formed into His image.

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 If you look at just chapter 3, verse 10,

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 you read this.

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 And put on the new self,

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 which is being renewed in the knowledge

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 after the image of its creator,

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 the creator being Jesus.

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 Jesus.

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 This first title

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 kind of unpacks the relationship

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 Jesus has to God the Father.

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 He's the second person of the Trinity.

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 Jesus is the visible manifestation

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 of the invisible God,

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 fully divine,

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 fully human.

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 Now let's look at the second title.

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 He is the firstborn of all creation.

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 See that?

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 He's the image of the invisible God,

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 the firstborn of all creation.

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 In verses 15 through 16,

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 there's a repeated word.

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 It's the word creation or created.

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 He's the firstborn of all creation.

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 For by Him all things were created.

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 And then at the end of 16,

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 all things were created through Him

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 and for Him.

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 Paul is focusing on the relationship

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 between the second person of the Trinity

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 made incarnate

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 to the rest of creation.

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 And he moves from talking about

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 Jesus as the icon of the invisible God

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 to the firstborn of all creation.

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 And we've got to be clear

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 on what Paul means by firstborn.

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 Because it's possible

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 that when you read

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 the firstborn of all creation,

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 you can conclude

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 that Jesus,

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 the second person,

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 is the first to be created

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 in all of creation.

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 But that would be a mistake.

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 And that's not a mistake

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 that's just made today

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 by Jehovah's Witnesses,

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 for example.

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 It's a mistake that was made

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 back in the fourth century

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 by a guy named Arius

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 who taught this.

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 This is a quote.

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 He said of Jesus,

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 there was a time

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 when the Son was not.

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 So Arius denied the Trinity

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 on the basis that Jesus,

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 the Son,

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 was a created being.

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 And so what he taught

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 became known as the

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 Arian heresy,

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 which just simply means

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 false teaching.

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 And the Council of Nicaea,

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 it's a church council

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 in 325,

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 they denounced it.

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 And out of that council

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 came what's called

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 the Nicene Creed.

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 And the Nicene Creed

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 is just a restatement

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 of biblical truth

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 for the good of God's people.

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 And this is,

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 let me just read you

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 a little part

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 of the Nicene Creed.

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 It says,

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 I believe in one God,

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 the Father Almighty,

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 maker of heaven and earth,

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 and of all things

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 visible and invisible,

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 and in one Lord,

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 Jesus Christ,

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 the only begotten

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 Son of God,

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 begotten of the Father

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 before all worlds,

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 God of God,

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 light of light,

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 very God of very God,

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 begotten,

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 not made,

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 being of one substance

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 with the Father

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 by whom all things

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 were made,

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 who, Jesus,

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 for us,

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 men of our salvation,

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 came down from heaven

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 and was incarnate

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 by the Holy Spirit

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 of the Virgin Mary

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 and was made man

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 and was crucified

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 also for us

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 under Pontius Pilate.

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 He suffered

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 and was buried

00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:39.480
 and on the third day

00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:40.240
 he rose again

00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:41.240
 according to the Scriptures

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:42.360
 and ascended into heaven

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:44.120
 and sits on the right hand

00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:44.700
 of the Father

00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:45.860
 and he shall come again

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:46.580
 and with glory

00:14:46.580 --> 00:14:47.560
 to judge the quick

00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:48.000
 and the dead

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:48.520
 whose kingdom

00:14:48.520 --> 00:14:49.740
 shall have no end.

00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.740
 When Paul speaks

00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:54.280
 of Jesus

00:14:54.280 --> 00:14:55.320
 as the firstborn

00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:56.220
 of all creation,

00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.000
 he's not saying

00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:57.600
 that Jesus,

00:14:57.800 --> 00:14:58.520
 the Son of God,

00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:59.620
 was the first

00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.560
 to be created

00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:01.640
 of all creation.

00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:02.540
 No,

00:15:02.640 --> 00:15:03.720
 what Paul is doing

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.560
 is he's giving

00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.860
 him a title.

00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:08.539
 He is the firstborn

00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:10.039
 of creation.

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:11.419
 If you would open up

00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:13.500
 your Bible to Psalm 89,

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:15.919
 flip back to Psalm 89

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.960
 and we're going to look

00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:18.100
 at verse 27.

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:24.259
 Paul is using this title,

00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.159
 firstborn,

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.460
 in the same way

00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:28.180
 that God uses it

00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:30.399
 in Psalm 89, 27

00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:31.139
 when he speaks

00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.879
 of the Messiah.

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:38.779
 speaking of the Messiah,

00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.419
 God says this,

00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:44.759
 and I will make him

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:46.259
 the firstborn,

00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.000
 the highest

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.600
 of the kings

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.399
 of the earth.

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.639
 When God says

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.799
 he's making the Messiah

00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:57.059
 the firstborn,

00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.679
 he's not talking

00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:58.980
 about creating him,

00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.320
 he's talking about

00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:01.759
 installing him.

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:03.259
 in the office,

00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:05.519
 with the title

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.860
 of firstborn.

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.819
 So Paul is using

00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:13.259
 this title,

00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:13.759
 firstborn,

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.559
 the same way

00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.700
 that God uses it

00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:17.220
 in Psalm 89, 27.

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:19.019
 So as the icon

00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:20.759
 of the invisible God,

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.519
 he's not the first

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.299
 to be created,

00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:24.600
 but rather is given

00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.139
 the title,

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:25.779
 the firstborn

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.559
 of all creation.

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.840
 He's not a created being.

00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.480
 He's the uncreated one

00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.920
 who creates all.

00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.899
 In verses 16 through 17,

00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:37.860
 Paul shows us

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:39.220
 how the eternal son

00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:41.639
 exercises his supremacy

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.480
 over all creation.

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.180
 You see that title,

00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:45.940
 firstborn?

00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:48.620
 It means to be supreme over.

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:51.840
 Supreme over all creation.

00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:54.000
 And here's where I want

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.060
 to show you some prepositions.

00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:55.940
 You ready?

00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:59.019
 For by him

00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.899
 all things

00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.879
 were created.

00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:03.379
 For by him

00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:04.279
 all things

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:06.100
 were created.

00:17:07.840 --> 00:17:08.340
 Now,

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.579
 you might see that word

00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:09.980
 by

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.900
 and you start thinking,

00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:11.340
 oh yeah,

00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.680
 it's by Jesus,

00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:13.579
 the agent

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.700
 of creation

00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.500
 that all things

00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:15.980
 were made.

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.759
 But,

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:18.400
 in all honesty,

00:17:18.620 --> 00:17:19.420
 that word by

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.799
 is better translated

00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:21.920
 in.

00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:22.960
 Like,

00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:23.339
 Jesus

00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:25.860
 is the sphere

00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:26.740
 in which

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.440
 all things

00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.240
 were created.

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:31.279
 And what he's getting

00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.000
 at is this.

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.920
 Jesus is the

00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:35.819
 founder

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.900
 and author

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:38.759
 of all things

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.860
 that were created.

00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:42.240
 He thought it all up.

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:45.460
 every created thing

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.240
 in heaven and earth.

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.380
 He thought it up.

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.700
 He thought up

00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.400
 black holes.

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.240
 He thought up

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:55.940
 supernovas.

00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:00.000
 He thought up

00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.880
 cells

00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:04.000
 and mitochondria.

00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:07.500
 All created things

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.059
 seen and unseen

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.960
 come from him.

00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:12.079
 He's the source

00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:12.579
 of it all.

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.240
 All things

00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.679
 were created

00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:15.679
 in him.

00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:19.399
 And it includes

00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:21.179
 angelic beings.

00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:23.379
 In verse 16,

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:23.859
 we read,

00:18:24.699 --> 00:18:25.220
 he created,

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:25.839
 all things

00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.439
 were created

00:18:26.439 --> 00:18:27.619
 by him

00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:28.019
 in heaven

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.439
 and earth,

00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.299
 visible and invisible,

00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.319
 whether thrones

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.159
 or dominions

00:18:31.159 --> 00:18:31.679
 or rulers

00:18:31.679 --> 00:18:32.419
 or authorities.

00:18:33.159 --> 00:18:33.859
 Paul's talking

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.299
 right there

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.639
 about angels.

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.039
 Different kinds

00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.659
 of angels.

00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:38.819
 And you might

00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.220
 be thinking,

00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:39.439
 well,

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.119
 why is he talking

00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:40.699
 about angels

00:18:40.699 --> 00:18:41.119
 right there?

00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:41.719
 Well,

00:18:41.719 --> 00:18:42.219
 that's part

00:18:42.219 --> 00:18:42.679
 of the false

00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:43.159
 teaching that

00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:43.639
 was happening

00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.439
 to this church

00:18:44.439 --> 00:18:45.219
 way back in the

00:18:45.219 --> 00:18:45.779
 first century.

00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:46.779
 There were false

00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.879
 teachers teaching

00:18:47.879 --> 00:18:48.579
 these people

00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.559
 that not only

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:49.939
 do they need

00:18:49.939 --> 00:18:50.299
 Jesus,

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.759
 they need angels

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.639
 as well

00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.739
 to help them

00:18:53.739 --> 00:18:55.219
 in their pursuit

00:18:55.219 --> 00:18:56.039
 of God.

00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.459
 And what

00:18:58.459 --> 00:18:59.879
 Paul is saying

00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:00.299
 is,

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.139
 no,

00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:04.620
 Jesus is the

00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:06.180
 creator of them

00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:06.400
 all.

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.280
 All created

00:19:10.280 --> 00:19:11.160
 things seen

00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:11.720
 and unseen,

00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:13.700
 including spiritual

00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.640
 beings that

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.300
 have been created

00:19:15.300 --> 00:19:16.860
 by God the

00:19:16.860 --> 00:19:17.180
 Son.

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:17.880
 All things

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:19.240
 created in

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:19.759
 him.

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.580
 And then we

00:19:20.580 --> 00:19:20.980
 read,

00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:21.940
 all things were

00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:23.420
 created through

00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:23.900
 him.

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.120
 He is not

00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:27.980
 only the source,

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.740
 but the means

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.599
 of creation.

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.839
 He did the

00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:32.279
 creating.

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:33.720
 All things

00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.180
 are created

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:35.019
 by him.

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.180
 Not only

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:37.980
 is he like the

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.779
 architect that

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.360
 thought up the

00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:39.700
 plan,

00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.099
 he's the

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:41.880
 contractor who

00:19:41.880 --> 00:19:42.279
 put it into

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:42.700
 practice,

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.240
 put it into

00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.559
 play.

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.140
 He did it.

00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:47.420
 And not only

00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:48.180
 were all things

00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:48.960
 created through

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.240
 him,

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.259
 all things were

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:51.779
 created for

00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.160
 him.

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.140
 You see that?

00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:54.780
 all things

00:19:54.780 --> 00:19:55.240
 were created

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:55.800
 through him

00:19:55.800 --> 00:19:57.200
 and for

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.680
 him.

00:19:58.920 --> 00:19:59.480
 Creation

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.720
 exists for

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.340
 the glory

00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:01.900
 of his

00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:02.400
 name.

00:20:05.040 --> 00:20:05.960
 In him,

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.060
 by him,

00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.180
 for him.

00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:08.960
 Those are the

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.660
 prepositions I

00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.100
 want you to

00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:10.340
 see.

00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.259
 And they all

00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:11.960
 point to him

00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.620
 being the

00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:13.980
 Lord of all

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:14.620
 creation.

00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:15.620
 But then Paul

00:20:15.620 --> 00:20:16.100
 throws in a

00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:16.500
 couple other

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:16.880
 things.

00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.600
 Look at

00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:20.800
 verse 17,

00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:21.300
 and he is

00:20:21.300 --> 00:20:22.100
 before all

00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:22.500
 things.

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:23.559
 That word

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.400
 before can

00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.660
 mean before

00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:26.480
 like as in

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.160
 preeminent

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:27.880
 importance,

00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.700
 or it can

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.279
 mean before

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:29.940
 just in terms

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.740
 of time.

00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.700
 I came here

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.480
 before my

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.160
 wife came

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:33.420
 here.

00:20:35.140 --> 00:20:36.019
 Every time

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.579
 that Paul

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.400
 uses that

00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.180
 word before

00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:38.720
 in the New

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.119
 Testament,

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:39.779
 it has a

00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.700
 temporal sense,

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.519
 which means

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:41.859
 this.

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:42.519
 He's talking

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.119
 about time.

00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:44.039
 So do you

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.339
 know what he's

00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:44.900
 saying here?

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:45.859
 He's saying

00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.420
 that Jesus

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.799
 is before all

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.099
 things.

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:48.940
 He's talking

00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.680
 about the

00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:51.019
 preexistence of

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.420
 the second

00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:52.099
 person of the

00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:52.380
 Trinity.

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.880
 that the

00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.500
 second person

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:54.720
 of the

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.079
 Trinity has

00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.880
 always existed.

00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:56.599
 He is

00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.819
 before all

00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:58.279
 things.

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:00.819
 And not

00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.180
 only is he

00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.119
 before all

00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:04.519
 things, he

00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.779
 holds all

00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.880
 things together.

00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.440
 It's getting

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.279
 at the present

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:11.440
 role of the

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.259
 second person of

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:12.559
 the Trinity,

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:14.039
 Jesus, in

00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:15.000
 holding the

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.880
 whole universe

00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:16.380
 together.

00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:16.420
 together.

00:21:17.060 --> 00:21:17.680
 If you flip

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.140
 over to

00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:18.780
 Hebrews

00:21:18.780 --> 00:21:19.760
 chapter 1,

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.060
 the author

00:21:22.060 --> 00:21:22.700
 of Hebrews

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.400
 says this

00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:23.760
 in a

00:21:23.760 --> 00:21:24.160
 beautiful

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:24.600
 way.

00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:24.700
 And

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:35.960
 long ago,

00:21:36.040 --> 00:21:36.720
 at many times,

00:21:36.760 --> 00:21:37.160
 and in many

00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:37.640
 ways,

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.180
 chapter 1,

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:39.900
 verse 1,

00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.540
 God spoke

00:21:40.540 --> 00:21:40.900
 to our

00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:41.440
 fathers by

00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:41.980
 the prophets,

00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:42.380
 but in

00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:42.860
 these last

00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:43.300
 days he

00:21:43.300 --> 00:21:43.720
 has spoken

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.040
 to us

00:21:44.040 --> 00:21:44.500
 by his

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:44.820
 son,

00:21:45.340 --> 00:21:45.759
 whom he

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.460
 appointed the

00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:46.980
 heir of all

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.440
 things,

00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.400
 through whom

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.080
 also he

00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:49.920
 created the

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.320
 world.

00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:51.000
 Verse 3,

00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:51.720
 he's the

00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.540
 radiance of

00:21:52.540 --> 00:21:53.120
 the glory of

00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:53.640
 God and the

00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:54.600
 exact imprint

00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:55.120
 of his

00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:55.500
 nature,

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:56.800
 and he

00:21:56.800 --> 00:21:58.019
 upholds the

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.120
 universe by

00:21:59.120 --> 00:21:59.740
 the word of

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.380
 his power.

00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:02.360
 Do you want

00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:02.740
 to think of

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.840
 something amazing?

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.339
 When Jesus

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.240
 was one

00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.000
 year old

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.879
 as a boy,

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:09.119
 he, as

00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:10.039
 the God in

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.619
 the flesh,

00:22:10.939 --> 00:22:11.980
 was upholding

00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.839
 the universe

00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.639
 with the word

00:22:13.639 --> 00:22:14.299
 of his power.

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.699
 Does that

00:22:15.699 --> 00:22:16.119
 blow your

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:16.459
 mind?

00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.419
 It blows

00:22:18.419 --> 00:22:19.159
 my mind.

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.699
 He holds

00:22:21.699 --> 00:22:22.339
 all things

00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:22.679
 together,

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:23.019
 and he

00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.720
 doesn't sweat

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.259
 about it.

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.199
 It's all

00:22:26.199 --> 00:22:26.720
 powerful.

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.939
 What child

00:22:29.939 --> 00:22:30.459
 is this?

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.819
 Who is this

00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.599
 seven-pounder

00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:34.819
 in the

00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.079
 manger?

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:38.539
 He's the

00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:38.980
 Lord of all

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.519
 creation.

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:42.939
 He created

00:22:42.939 --> 00:22:43.319
 it all.

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.480
 In him,

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.379
 by him,

00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:47.259
 for him.

00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:48.399
 He's before

00:22:48.399 --> 00:22:48.980
 all things,

00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.599
 hold all

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.259
 things together.

00:22:53.399 --> 00:22:53.879
 But,

00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:55.220
 let me just

00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:55.579
 ask this

00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:56.500
 question aloud.

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.439
 What,

00:22:59.119 --> 00:22:59.859
 why would

00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:00.220
 he come?

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.179
 Why would

00:23:03.179 --> 00:23:03.480
 he become

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:03.839
 a man?

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:05.860
 What's the

00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:06.099
 deal?

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.960
 Why would

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.819
 the second

00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:11.420
 person of

00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:11.819
 the Trinity

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.440
 who created

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.039
 everything

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:16.200
 take on

00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:16.839
 human flesh?

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.140
 Well,

00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.660
 something went

00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.360
 terribly wrong

00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.160
 with his

00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.720
 creation.

00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.160
 When Adam

00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:25.400
 and Eve

00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:26.059
 sinned against

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.380
 God,

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.920
 there were

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.759
 cosmic

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:30.099
 repercussions

00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:31.279
 of a

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.219
 comprehensive

00:23:32.219 --> 00:23:33.279
 nature.

00:23:35.879 --> 00:23:36.240
 Rupture.

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.119
 Rupture

00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:38.740
 in

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.459
 relationship

00:23:39.459 --> 00:23:40.199
 to God.

00:23:40.699 --> 00:23:41.019
 Rupture

00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.659
 in your

00:23:41.659 --> 00:23:42.099
 relationship

00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.879
 with yourself.

00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:43.679
 Rupture

00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:44.439
 in our

00:23:44.439 --> 00:23:44.959
 relationships

00:23:44.959 --> 00:23:45.759
 with others.

00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:46.659
 Rupture

00:23:46.659 --> 00:23:47.319
 in our

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:47.939
 relationship

00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:49.819
 to creation.

00:23:50.379 --> 00:23:50.959
 All that

00:23:50.959 --> 00:23:51.359
 the second

00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:51.879
 person of

00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:52.299
 the Trinity

00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:53.139
 had created

00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:53.819
 in beauty

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.599
 and peace,

00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:55.539
 sin

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.699
 distorted

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:57.600
 and made

00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.400
 dangerous.

00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.620
 So the

00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.160
 second person

00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.440
 of the

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:02.660
 Trinity

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:03.200
 became a

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.460
 man.

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.039
 He took

00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:05.460
 on human

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:05.920
 flesh

00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:08.400
 to reclaim

00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:10.460
 that

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.779
 which is

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.920
 rightfully

00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:14.259
 his

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:16.160
 because he

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.960
 created it

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.240
 all.

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:21.059
 even more

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.579
 amazing is

00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.059
 how he

00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:22.720
 claims it.

00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:24.579
 His

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.400
 claiming of

00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:26.240
 all creation

00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.339
 is a

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.120
 work of

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.160
 reconciliation

00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.740
 that is by

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.240
 the blood

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:31.559
 of his

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.140
 cross.

00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.539
 So when we

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.380
 sing joy to

00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:36.079
 the world,

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.799
 the Lord

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.519
 has come,

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.859
 our creator

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:41.220
 has come

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.220
 to redeem

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:43.480
 us as

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.200
 far as

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.660
 the curse

00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.079
 is found.

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:48.559
 Whether

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.059
 that's

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.720
 God's

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.380
 hostility

00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:50.779
 towards

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.059
 our

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.539
 sin,

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.539
 he came

00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:53.880
 to make

00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:54.480
 his blessings

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.079
 flow.

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.579
 In a

00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:57.000
 relationship

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.779
 with others,

00:24:58.099 --> 00:24:58.460
 he came

00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:58.839
 to make

00:24:58.839 --> 00:24:59.859
 his blessings

00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.759
 flow as

00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.099
 far as

00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:01.460
 the curse

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.640
 is found.

00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.859
 Distortions

00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:07.559
 of cancer

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.079
 on the

00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.140
 microcellular

00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:09.660
 level,

00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:12.259
 he came

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.960
 to reclaim

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.299
 it.

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.180
 The

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.860
 cosmic

00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:18.100
 collisions

00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:19.200
 of galaxies

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:19.759
 that you

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.340
 can witness

00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:20.720
 through the

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:20.980
 Hubble

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.820
 space

00:25:21.820 --> 00:25:22.380
 telescope,

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.539
 he came

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:27.140
 to make

00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.640
 peace

00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.700
 on a

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.160
 cosmic

00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:29.960
 level.

00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:31.860
 What

00:25:31.860 --> 00:25:32.279
 child is

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.539
 this?

00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.840
 He is the

00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:34.640
 creator and

00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.720
 sustainer of

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.640
 all things

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.700
 who came

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.860
 to reconcile,

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.779
 to make

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.720
 peace

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:42.320
 with the

00:25:42.320 --> 00:25:42.860
 things that

00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:43.400
 sin has

00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:43.900
 ruptured.

00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:45.080
 And so

00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:45.340
 we've

00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:45.960
 looked at

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.160
 he is

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:47.680
 the

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.180
 creator

00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:48.740
 of all,

00:25:48.820 --> 00:25:49.000
 verses

00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.980
 17 through

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.340
 15 through

00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:51.720
 17.

00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:52.300
 Now let's

00:25:52.300 --> 00:25:52.720
 look at

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.840
 he is the

00:25:53.840 --> 00:25:54.900
 reconciler of

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.120
 all,

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.460
 verses

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.259
 18 through

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.640
 20.

00:25:56.780 --> 00:25:57.100
 Again,

00:25:57.540 --> 00:25:58.000
 this time

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.300
 we have

00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:59.160
 three titles

00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.000
 in a bunch

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.759
 of prepositions.

00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:01.400
 You ready?

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:03.720
 Title

00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:03.940
 number

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.259
 one.

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:09.220
 And he

00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:09.579
 is the

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:09.940
 head of

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.099
 the

00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:10.500
 church,

00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.039
 the body,

00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:11.700
 the church.

00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.720
 It's a

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:13.980
 title.

00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.220
 When the

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:15.759
 Bible talks

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.180
 about the

00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:16.559
 church,

00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:17.779
 we're

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.400
 talking about

00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:18.799
 God's

00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.319
 people,

00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.339
 God's

00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:20.940
 new covenant

00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.480
 people,

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.519
 the people

00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:23.839
 that Jesus

00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.359
 has individually

00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.259
 bought with

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.920
 his blood.

00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:27.640
 Those

00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.319
 individual

00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:30.259
 people comprise

00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.759
 his body,

00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.019
 the church.

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.240
 And so

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.680
 what we see

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:35.200
 happening in

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:35.940
 verse 18

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.879
 is Paul

00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:37.619
 making a

00:26:37.619 --> 00:26:37.920
 pivot.

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:38.660
 He is

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.319
 pivoting from

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.220
 creation of

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:41.119
 all things

00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:42.240
 to the

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.460
 reconciliation

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.379
 of all

00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:44.660
 things,

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:46.420
 the new

00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.339
 creation of

00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:47.940
 all things

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.660
 in Christ.

00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.579
 He moves

00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.059
 from being

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:51.740
 Christ,

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.559
 from showing

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.220
 us Christ

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.779
 as Lord

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.299
 of all

00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:54.960
 in creation

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.539
 to now

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.220
 showing us

00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.480
 Christ as

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:57.900
 the Lord

00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.599
 of all

00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.259
 redemption,

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.960
 the reconciler

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.539
 of all.

00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:02.579
 So,

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.579
 I think

00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:03.819
 here's

00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:04.000
 what's

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.440
 going on.

00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:06.779
 At the

00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.000
 end of

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.960
 verse 17

00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:08.579
 we see

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.160
 that the

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.720
 second person

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.000
 of the

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.319
 Trinity

00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.460
 is holding

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.440
 all things

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:12.940
 together.

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:14.720
 And then

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.319
 Paul turns

00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.680
 in verse

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.980
 18 to

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.660
 Jesus is

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.259
 the head

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.480
 in whom

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.319
 the body

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:21.079
 is held

00:27:21.079 --> 00:27:21.700
 together.

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.740
 The body

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.460
 of Christ,

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.819
 the church,

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.379
 is one of

00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:30.160
 Paul's favorite

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:30.900
 ways to talk

00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.480
 about God's

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.200
 people in the

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.599
 New Testament.

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:35.079
 individual,

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.240
 interdependent

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.500
 members.

00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:36.980
 What I love

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.299
 about the

00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:37.980
 nine people

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:39.519
 that became

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.180
 members this

00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:40.579
 morning,

00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.480
 as elders

00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:42.900
 we sat

00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.259
 down and

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.559
 we listened

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:43.940
 to each

00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.160
 of their

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:44.900
 testimonies

00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.920
 and we

00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.599
 got a sense

00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:46.960
 of their

00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.379
 burdens

00:27:47.379 --> 00:27:48.319
 and giftings

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.579
 and it's

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.400
 such a delight

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:51.039
 to think

00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.639
 about how

00:27:51.639 --> 00:27:52.079
 God is

00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:52.279
 going to

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:52.879
 use these

00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:53.960
 nine for

00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.339
 the building

00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:54.859
 up of

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.940
 this local

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.859
 body under

00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.900
 the head

00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.440
 of Jesus.

00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:58.640
 Jesus.

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.700
 But here's

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:02.920
 what you

00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:03.140
 need to

00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:03.759
 know about

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.519
 these people

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:04.980
 coming to

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.279
 Jesus,

00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:06.259
 becoming a

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:06.559
 Christian.

00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:08.440
 In 2 Corinthians

00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:10.880
 5, Paul

00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.559
 talks about it

00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.059
 as a new

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.640
 creation.

00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.320
 When somebody

00:28:14.320 --> 00:28:14.799
 puts their

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.340
 trust in

00:28:15.340 --> 00:28:16.320
 Jesus, the

00:28:16.320 --> 00:28:16.860
 old has

00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.700
 gone and the

00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:18.120
 new has

00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:18.420
 come.

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:18.759
 There are

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.600
 new creations

00:28:19.600 --> 00:28:20.279
 in Jesus.

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:21.980
 And so

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.640
 his body

00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.559
 is a

00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:25.220
 group of

00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.920
 Christians,

00:28:26.080 --> 00:28:26.940
 new creations

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:28.200
 in him

00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:28.680
 that he's

00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.279
 brought about.

00:28:29.600 --> 00:28:29.980
 And Jesus

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.500
 is the

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:30.820
 head.

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.660
 And when

00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.220
 we talk

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.620
 about the

00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:34.620
 head being

00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:35.360
 Jesus, we're

00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:35.900
 talking about

00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:37.120
 authority and

00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:37.640
 source of

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.000
 life.

00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:38.680
 The body,

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.539
 his body,

00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.519
 is under

00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.740
 and dependent

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:43.140
 upon the

00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:44.180
 head of

00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:44.519
 Jesus.

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:45.740
 And so

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.279
 Paul has

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.880
 pivoted from

00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:47.480
 talking about

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.440
 Christ's

00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:49.320
 preexistent

00:28:49.320 --> 00:28:49.840
 work of

00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:51.220
 creation to

00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.519
 Christ's

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.539
 incarnational

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.299
 work of

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.980
 making all

00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.580
 things new.

00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:56.779
 Salvation.

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:59.320
 So that's

00:28:59.320 --> 00:28:59.660
 the first

00:28:59.660 --> 00:28:59.940
 title.

00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:00.400
 He's the

00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:00.620
 head of

00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:00.980
 the body.

00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:01.840
 Now the

00:29:01.840 --> 00:29:02.500
 second title

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.120
 is in

00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.880
 verse 18.

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:05.380
 He is

00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:06.000
 the beginning.

00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:08.360
 The

00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:08.860
 beginning of

00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:09.180
 what?

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.460
 Now if

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:11.820
 Paul had

00:29:11.820 --> 00:29:12.480
 placed this

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.220
 title up in

00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:13.900
 verses 15

00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:14.500
 through 17,

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.259
 we'd be

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:15.740
 thinking, oh

00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.120
 yeah, he's

00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:16.600
 the beginning,

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.059
 he's the

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.799
 creator of

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:19.200
 all, all

00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:19.580
 things were

00:29:19.580 --> 00:29:20.120
 made by

00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:21.720
 him, and

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:21.940
 that would

00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.420
 be true

00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:22.880
 because it

00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.420
 is true.

00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:25.779
 But Paul

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.460
 didn't place

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:27.080
 that there.

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.660
 Paul placed

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.880
 this title,

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.400
 he's the

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:32.720
 beginning, after

00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.360
 he's the

00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:35.000
 head of the

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.460
 church.

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.980
 Paul doesn't

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.680
 have the old

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.420
 creation of

00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:39.800
 heaven or

00:29:39.800 --> 00:29:40.120
 earth in

00:29:40.120 --> 00:29:40.320
 mind.

00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:41.180
 He's got the

00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:42.060
 new creation

00:29:42.060 --> 00:29:43.200
 of all things

00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:43.880
 in heaven and

00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:44.160
 earth.

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.060
 Christ is the

00:29:46.060 --> 00:29:46.660
 beginning of

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.000
 the new

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.519
 creation.

00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:50.180
 He is

00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:52.500
 salvation.

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.400
 And the

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.039
 next title

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.720
 makes that

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.299
 point even

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:56.799
 further.

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.100
 Look at

00:29:58.100 --> 00:29:59.900
 verse 18.

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.100
 He is the

00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:02.480
 beginning, the

00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:04.700
 firstborn from

00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.700
 the dead.

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.660
 Now we've

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.240
 already encountered

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.700
 that word

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.240
 firstborn,

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:09.720
 haven't we?

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.500
 And verse 15,

00:30:11.580 --> 00:30:11.840
 he's the

00:30:11.840 --> 00:30:12.400
 firstborn of

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.039
 all creation.

00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:14.580
 And what

00:30:14.580 --> 00:30:15.440
 Paul meant

00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.039
 by that

00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.680
 title is that

00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.320
 Christ is

00:30:17.320 --> 00:30:18.420
 supreme over

00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:19.279
 all creation.

00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:19.759
 All things

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.160
 were created

00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:20.900
 in him, by

00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.240
 him, and

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.660
 for him.

00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.440
 So what does

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:23.980
 Paul mean

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.400
 now?

00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:26.300
 Firstborn from

00:30:26.300 --> 00:30:26.840
 the dead?

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:28.920
 Well, it's a

00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.240
 title.

00:30:30.860 --> 00:30:31.300
 And that

00:30:31.300 --> 00:30:31.980
 phrase, from

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.560
 the dead, is

00:30:32.560 --> 00:30:33.759
 the reference

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.720
 to which Christ

00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.540
 is supreme

00:30:35.540 --> 00:30:36.220
 over.

00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.480
 He reigns

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.840
 over from

00:30:39.840 --> 00:30:40.340
 the dead,

00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.019
 whatever that

00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:41.420
 means.

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:42.940
 You know

00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.160
 what that

00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:43.400
 means?

00:30:45.320 --> 00:30:45.880
 He's

00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:46.300
 referencing

00:30:46.300 --> 00:30:48.279
 resurrection.

00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:51.559
 being made

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.240
 alive from

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.680
 the dead.

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.480
 Jesus is the

00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:56.379
 firstborn of

00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:57.399
 the resurrection

00:30:57.399 --> 00:30:57.940
 and understood

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.599
 as a title.

00:30:59.059 --> 00:30:59.519
 He is

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:01.160
 supreme over

00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.639
 all things

00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.559
 being made

00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.799
 new, being

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.879
 brought to

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:07.039
 life from

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.720
 the dead.

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.420
 Supreme over

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:10.680
 the new

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.420
 creation from

00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:11.779
 the deadly

00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.319
 effects of

00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:12.599
 sin.

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.299
 Do you

00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:14.240
 remember in

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:14.940
 John chapter

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:15.700
 11, the

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.519
 whole situation

00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.400
 with Lazarus?

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:19.059
 Jesus shows

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:20.039
 up late to

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:21.059
 Bethany and

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.880
 Martha has an

00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:22.440
 issue with

00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:22.620
 him.

00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:22.980
 He's like,

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:23.600
 where were

00:31:23.600 --> 00:31:24.059
 you?

00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:24.740
 And he's

00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.779
 like, well,

00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.340
 I'm here.

00:31:26.840 --> 00:31:27.259
 And she's

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:27.660
 like, well,

00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:28.880
 if you were

00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:29.340
 here, you

00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:29.860
 could have

00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:30.460
 kept him

00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:31.140
 from dying.

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.500
 And Jesus

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:32.920
 says, well,

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:33.180
 he'll be

00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:33.799
 raised in the

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.440
 last day.

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.080
 And she

00:31:35.080 --> 00:31:35.600
 said, well,

00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.299
 you can pray

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.100
 to God now

00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:37.660
 and he'll be

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.259
 raised.

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.740
 And Jesus

00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.480
 says to her,

00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.380
 I am the

00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:43.259
 resurrection and

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.799
 the life.

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:46.900
 I am the

00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.980
 firstborn from

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.539
 the dead.

00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:50.700
 I reign over

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.059
 it.

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:52.539
 And do you

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:52.860
 remember what

00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:53.299
 he did in

00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:53.580
 order to

00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:54.460
 demonstrate his

00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.120
 authority over

00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:55.420
 death?

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.740
 Lazarus come

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.220
 forth.

00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.080
 He came

00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:00.440
 forth.

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.500
 And if that

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:02.960
 weren't enough,

00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:04.820
 Jesus said,

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.420
 not only would

00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:05.940
 he die, but

00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:06.620
 he would be

00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:07.000
 raised.

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.120
 And he was

00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:09.700
 raised from

00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:10.140
 the dead.

00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:13.000
 In his own

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.640
 resurrection,

00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:14.820
 resurrection,

00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:15.900
 just verifies

00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:18.880
 his title as

00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:19.960
 being supreme

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:22.600
 over death.

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.560
 The firstborn

00:32:24.560 --> 00:32:25.480
 from the dead.

00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:27.980
 In verse 18,

00:32:28.080 --> 00:32:28.620
 there's a word

00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:29.280
 that.

00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.060
 He's the

00:32:30.060 --> 00:32:30.600
 beginning, the

00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:31.220
 firstborn from

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:31.880
 the dead, that

00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:32.960
 in everything he

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.540
 might be

00:32:33.540 --> 00:32:34.160
 preeminent.

00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:35.180
 His own

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:35.960
 resurrection from

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.860
 the dead declares

00:32:36.860 --> 00:32:38.940
 him supreme over

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.800
 the dead.

00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:42.200
 to show that

00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.579
 in every way,

00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:44.200
 whether in

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:45.559
 creation or in

00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:47.180
 redemption, he

00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:49.059
 is Lord of all,

00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:50.480
 preeminent over

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.059
 everything.

00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:54.740
 That's who this

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.359
 baby is.

00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:59.119
 He's the Lord of

00:32:59.119 --> 00:32:59.639
 everything.

00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.200
 That he might be

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:02.879
 preeminent,

00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:04.639
 matchless.

00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:08.740
 Remember that

00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.620
 Christ is supreme

00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:10.860
 over all creation

00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.860
 because all things

00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:12.880
 were created in

00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:13.660
 him, by him, and

00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:13.980
 for him.

00:33:14.040 --> 00:33:14.540
 Remember those

00:33:14.540 --> 00:33:15.160
 prepositions?

00:33:15.820 --> 00:33:16.920
 Those prepositions

00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:17.840
 show up again.

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:21.580
 They show up in

00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:24.180
 Jesus' firstborn

00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:25.759
 from the deadness.

00:33:27.820 --> 00:33:28.940
 In him.

00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.680
 Look at verse 19.

00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:34.080
 For in him all

00:33:34.080 --> 00:33:34.700
 the fullness of

00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:35.580
 God was pleased to

00:33:35.580 --> 00:33:35.840
 dwell.

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.860
 Paul is circling

00:33:37.860 --> 00:33:39.400
 back to Jesus'

00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:40.539
 relationship to

00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:40.799
 God.

00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:41.519
 He's the second

00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.380
 person of the

00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:42.799
 Trinity.

00:33:43.660 --> 00:33:44.519
 Fully God.

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.160
 Fully man.

00:33:46.840 --> 00:33:48.240
 Again, chapter 2,

00:33:48.320 --> 00:33:49.259
 verse 9, we read

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.640
 this.

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:51.100
 For in him, Jesus,

00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.100
 the whole fullness

00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:53.180
 of deity dwells

00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.660
 bodily.

00:33:54.660 --> 00:33:55.720
 So let me ask you

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.140
 a question.

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.440
 When did all the

00:33:58.440 --> 00:33:59.620
 fullness of God

00:33:59.620 --> 00:34:00.600
 come to dwell

00:34:00.600 --> 00:34:01.420
 bodily?

00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:02.740
 In Jesus.

00:34:05.320 --> 00:34:06.240
 Merry Christmas.

00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.940
 It's a reference

00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:10.680
 to the incarnation

00:34:10.680 --> 00:34:11.360
 of the second

00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:11.980
 person of the

00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.240
 Trinity.

00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.300
 But it's in the

00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:14.900
 context of

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.380
 salvation.

00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:18.360
 Christmas is about

00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:19.340
 the incarnation of

00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:19.700
 Jesus.

00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:20.599
 And the incarnation

00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.880
 of Jesus is all

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.539
 about our

00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:23.900
 reconciliation to

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.320
 God.

00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.820
 Him making peace

00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:27.659
 by the blood of

00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:28.360
 his cross.

00:34:29.639 --> 00:34:30.480
 Christ is supreme

00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.260
 over salvation.

00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.639
 Because salvation

00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:34.319
 is in him.

00:34:35.219 --> 00:34:35.960
 He's the perfect

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.639
 go-between.

00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.359
 God and man.

00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:39.599
 Because he's fully

00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.339
 God and fully

00:34:40.339 --> 00:34:40.659
 man.

00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:42.299
 That's why he came.

00:34:42.739 --> 00:34:44.019
 To make peace.

00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:46.980
 To reconcile all

00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:48.319
 of his creation.

00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:51.059
 salvation is in no one

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.440
 else.

00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:51.860
 That's why he came.

00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:52.800
 That's why he came.

00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:53.300
 That's why he came.

00:34:53.300 --> 00:34:53.360
 That's why he came.

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:53.860
 That's why he came.

00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:54.620
 No other name under

00:34:54.620 --> 00:34:55.440
 heaven has been given

00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.080
 among men

00:34:56.080 --> 00:34:59.019
 by which we must

00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:01.059
 be saved.

00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:02.220
 There's only one.

00:35:03.300 --> 00:35:04.180
 There's only one.

00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:06.600
 Salvation is in no one

00:35:06.600 --> 00:35:06.940
 else.

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.500
 It's in him.

00:35:09.059 --> 00:35:10.059
 Because in him

00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:11.240
 is the fullness of God

00:35:11.240 --> 00:35:12.180
 pleasing to dwell.

00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:16.139
 So we've seen that this

00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:17.739
 reconciliation is in him

00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:20.659
 and it's also through him.

00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:23.279
 When we talk about

00:35:23.279 --> 00:35:25.719
 reconciliation, we're

00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:26.399
 talking about the

00:35:26.399 --> 00:35:27.339
 reuniting of people.

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:30.139
 We're talking about the

00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:31.219
 reuniting of two people

00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:33.159
 or two people groups who

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:33.940
 have experienced

00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:34.919
 disruption.

00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:38.260
 Do you remember the

00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:39.480
 island of misfit toys?

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:44.039
 The exiled unwanted toys?

00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:47.599
 Reconciliation took place

00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:48.820
 when Rudolph reunited

00:35:48.820 --> 00:35:49.820
 these toys with the

00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:50.680
 help of Santa to the

00:35:50.680 --> 00:35:51.559
 boys and girls who would

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.400
 love them forever.

00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:53.900
 Aw.

00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:59.460
 Here we're reading this.

00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:02.780
 For in him all the

00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:03.860
 fullness of God was

00:36:03.860 --> 00:36:05.480
 pleased to dwell.

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:07.660
 And that word pleased

00:36:07.660 --> 00:36:09.260
 carries into the next

00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:09.940
 verb.

00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.800
 And was pleased to dwell

00:36:11.800 --> 00:36:13.960
 and pleased through him

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:16.000
 to reconcile to himself

00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:17.960
 all things.

00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:21.200
 Here Paul is saying that

00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:22.480
 it pleased God to

00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:24.039
 reconcile all things

00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:26.039
 through Jesus.

00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:29.660
 Jesus is the

00:36:29.660 --> 00:36:31.820
 source of reconciliation

00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:33.039
 reconciliation and he is

00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:34.860
 the means of

00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:35.580
 reconciliation.

00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:37.120
 He's the one that

00:36:37.120 --> 00:36:38.660
 brings peace between

00:36:38.660 --> 00:36:39.500
 sinners and a holy

00:36:39.500 --> 00:36:39.900
 God.

00:36:40.760 --> 00:36:41.340
 Now how did that

00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:41.660
 happen?

00:36:41.920 --> 00:36:42.880
 If you look at the end

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:44.280
 of verse 20, we're

00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:46.320
 told making peace by the

00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:48.160
 blood of his cross.

00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.340
 The reconciliation God

00:36:50.340 --> 00:36:51.600
 brought about came at an

00:36:51.600 --> 00:36:53.500
 extremely high price to

00:36:53.500 --> 00:36:54.700
 God incarnate.

00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:56.860
 He shed his blood on a

00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:57.880
 cross in order to make

00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:59.080
 peace between God and

00:36:59.080 --> 00:36:59.460
 sinners.

00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:02.639
 To bring shalom, peace

00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:04.579
 to his creation.

00:37:05.260 --> 00:37:07.559
 Specifically to men and

00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:08.380
 women, boys and girls.

00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:12.000
 It's through him.

00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:14.099
 And through him alone.

00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:17.179
 The separation and

00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:19.179
 hostility that exists between

00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:21.420
 God and sinners can only

00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:26.780
 be removed by the blood of

00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:27.740
 his cross.

00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:29.580
 It's the only way.

00:37:32.580 --> 00:37:34.540
 The blood of his cross.

00:37:35.580 --> 00:37:37.000
 Just to be crystal clear,

00:37:37.780 --> 00:37:40.800
 the blood that Paul is

00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:43.040
 talking about is the

00:37:43.040 --> 00:37:46.760
 blood of the baby boy that

00:37:46.760 --> 00:37:48.960
 was born six miles outside

00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:50.720
 of Jerusalem 2,000 years

00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:51.019
 ago.

00:37:51.460 --> 00:37:52.560
 That's the blood.

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:52.599
 blood.

00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:54.579
 It's the blood of the

00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.219
 God man.

00:37:56.579 --> 00:37:58.360
 God incarnate shed his

00:37:58.360 --> 00:38:00.380
 blood on his cross.

00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:01.579
 The cross is a reference

00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:02.420
 to his death.

00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:03.460
 That's where he died.

00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:06.639
 He was crucified as a

00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:08.659
 common criminal in order

00:38:08.659 --> 00:38:10.860
 to reconcile common

00:38:10.860 --> 00:38:12.779
 sinners like you and me to

00:38:12.779 --> 00:38:14.279
 an uncommon God.

00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:17.440
 It's all part of God's

00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:18.480
 loving plan from the

00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.500
 foundation of the world.

00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:21.980
 not only would the second

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:22.840
 person of the Trinity

00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:25.340
 become a man, but the

00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:26.099
 second person of the

00:38:26.099 --> 00:38:28.300
 Trinity, after becoming a

00:38:28.300 --> 00:38:31.619
 man, would brutally die on

00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:33.400
 a Roman cross.

00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:38.260
 And he did it voluntarily.

00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:42.920
 He did it for you and for

00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.320
 me.

00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:46.539
 He died in our place.

00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:49.940
 It was my sin that

00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:51.960
 disrupted my relationship

00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:52.480
 with God.

00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:54.539
 It's your sin that

00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:56.400
 ruptured your relationship

00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:57.440
 with God.

00:38:57.739 --> 00:38:59.360
 And because of that, God

00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:01.800
 justly condemns you and me

00:39:01.800 --> 00:39:03.300
 because of our sin to an

00:39:03.300 --> 00:39:04.119
 eternal death.

00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:09.079
 But Jesus, born in a stable,

00:39:10.279 --> 00:39:11.679
 so that through his death on

00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:14.019
 the cross, he could reconcile

00:39:14.019 --> 00:39:14.940
 you and me to God.

00:39:14.940 --> 00:39:19.659
 He made peace by the blood of

00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:20.280
 his cross.

00:39:21.639 --> 00:39:23.940
 God's wrath poured out on

00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:26.019
 Jesus so that we can

00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:27.900
 experience peace.

00:39:30.619 --> 00:39:32.460
 No more hostility between God

00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.940
 and sinners, those who

00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:34.300
 believe.

00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:37.800
 He's the perfect mediator.

00:39:39.179 --> 00:39:41.019
 Only his death could pay for

00:39:41.019 --> 00:39:43.280
 all your sin and everyone

00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:44.860
 else who would one day

00:39:44.860 --> 00:39:45.600
 believe in him.

00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:48.560
 And that's all you need to

00:39:48.560 --> 00:39:49.360
 do to respond.

00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:53.400
 Jesus became a man and

00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:54.960
 died on a cross in order to

00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:56.960
 bring everlasting peace to

00:39:56.960 --> 00:39:57.700
 those who believe.

00:39:58.420 --> 00:40:00.320
 And that's how you respond.

00:40:01.120 --> 00:40:02.140
 You can't earn it.

00:40:03.140 --> 00:40:04.100
 You receive it.

00:40:04.940 --> 00:40:06.300
 You receive it as a gift.

00:40:06.300 --> 00:40:09.480
 The birth of Jesus was the

00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:10.160
 first Christmas.

00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:12.880
 But the greatest Christmas

00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:14.480
 gift that God is offering

00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:16.880
 today is the salvation that

00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:18.580
 Jesus has made available through

00:40:18.580 --> 00:40:20.100
 the blood of his cross.

00:40:21.180 --> 00:40:22.680
 He makes it available to

00:40:22.680 --> 00:40:23.160
 everyone.

00:40:27.160 --> 00:40:29.840
 Our reconciliation is in him and

00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:32.120
 through him and it is to him.

00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:35.480
 We read that in verse 19.

00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:37.559
 For in him all the fullness,

00:40:37.739 --> 00:40:39.599
 excuse me, 20, in him all the

00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:40.579
 fullness of God who is pleased

00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:41.980
 to dwell and through him to

00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:44.299
 reconcile to himself all

00:40:44.299 --> 00:40:44.799
 things.

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:49.359
 The himself is most likely a

00:40:49.359 --> 00:40:50.480
 reference to God the Father

00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:51.480
 because whenever the New

00:40:51.480 --> 00:40:52.460
 Testament talks about

00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:54.239
 reconciliation, we're being

00:40:54.239 --> 00:40:55.719
 reconciled to the Father.

00:40:57.559 --> 00:40:58.539
 But here's what I want you to

00:40:58.539 --> 00:40:58.880
 notice.

00:40:58.880 --> 00:41:00.920
 It's the scope.

00:41:02.200 --> 00:41:03.500
 It's the scope of his

00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:04.740
 reconciling work.

00:41:07.420 --> 00:41:10.000
 Verse 20, and through him to

00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:12.780
 reconcile to himself all

00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:13.340
 things.

00:41:14.380 --> 00:41:15.180
 All things.

00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:18.500
 Christ's death is his reclaiming

00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:21.160
 of all that he created that was

00:41:21.160 --> 00:41:23.039
 brutalized by the effects of sin.

00:41:23.320 --> 00:41:24.860
 At the cross, Jesus is saying,

00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:25.599
 it's all mine.

00:41:26.119 --> 00:41:27.220
 I'm reclaiming it.

00:41:27.380 --> 00:41:28.160
 It's all mine.

00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:32.860
 It's the decisive turning point

00:41:32.860 --> 00:41:35.039
 in history in which Jesus comes

00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:37.599
 and reclaims his own and not

00:41:37.599 --> 00:41:38.880
 just sinners, but all of

00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:39.400
 creation.

00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:43.099
 So the salvation that Jesus

00:41:43.099 --> 00:41:44.519
 accomplished through his death on

00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:46.559
 the cross has a cosmic reach

00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:49.340
 for as the curse is found.

00:41:50.140 --> 00:41:52.059
 So he will eventually recreate the

00:41:52.059 --> 00:41:53.700
 heavens and the earth with the

00:41:53.700 --> 00:41:55.900
 result of a full and lasting peace.

00:41:55.900 --> 00:41:58.800
 No more hostility for as the curse is

00:41:58.800 --> 00:41:59.059
 found.

00:41:59.059 --> 00:42:00.059
 Joy to the word.

00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:04.240
 So this work of peace which began at

00:42:04.240 --> 00:42:06.480
 the incarnation and was accomplished at

00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:09.639
 the cross, it will culminate when Jesus

00:42:09.639 --> 00:42:11.820
 comes back the second time.

00:42:12.360 --> 00:42:14.059
 His second advent.

00:42:14.059 --> 00:42:17.599
 When he returns and makes all things right.

00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:20.259
 When he comes to judge the world.

00:42:21.679 --> 00:42:23.039
 Every knee will bow.

00:42:23.279 --> 00:42:26.820
 Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

00:42:26.900 --> 00:42:29.380
 He comes back as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

00:42:30.539 --> 00:42:34.519
 You see, when he comes back, he will bring peace.

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:39.780
 He will pacify all who oppose him.

00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:47.199
 When he returns in righteous authority and judgment,

00:42:48.059 --> 00:42:51.199
 all who were unwilling to bow to him on earth

00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:54.780
 will bow to him then.

00:42:56.199 --> 00:42:59.000
 He will establish a comprehensive and lasting peace

00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:00.800
 for the entire cosmos.

00:43:00.800 --> 00:43:06.460
 This morning we've seen that Christ is the creator of all

00:43:06.460 --> 00:43:07.900
 and the reconciler of all.

00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:09.680
 In short, you could say he's Lord of all.

00:43:11.660 --> 00:43:12.740
 What child is this?

00:43:13.600 --> 00:43:15.780
 What child is this in the manger and the stable?

00:43:17.039 --> 00:43:18.100
 He's the creator.

00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:20.180
 He's the peacemaker.

00:43:21.539 --> 00:43:24.460
 So this Christmas, worship him for who he is

00:43:24.460 --> 00:43:25.900
 in all of his fullness.

00:43:26.860 --> 00:43:30.019
 Your creator came as a man to make peace with you

00:43:30.019 --> 00:43:31.960
 by the blood of his cross.

00:43:33.139 --> 00:43:33.719
 And you know what?

00:43:34.639 --> 00:43:35.960
 That's worth telling others about.

00:43:37.400 --> 00:43:38.739
 Go tell it on the mountain.

00:43:39.940 --> 00:43:40.400
 Let's pray.

00:43:43.679 --> 00:43:47.840
 God, thank you so much for Colossians 1, 15 through 20.

00:43:49.139 --> 00:43:51.480
 God, thank you that your word gives us

00:43:51.480 --> 00:43:55.320
 a high and glorious view of our Savior and Lord.

00:43:55.320 --> 00:43:59.400
 God, would you press into our hearts

00:43:59.400 --> 00:44:02.860
 a worshipful delight in Christ,

00:44:03.059 --> 00:44:05.380
 our creator and reconciler.

00:44:05.500 --> 00:44:06.800
 And it's in his name we pray.

00:44:07.480 --> 00:44:07.820
 Amen.

00:44:07.820 --> 00:44:07.960
 Amen.

00:44:08.440 --> 00:44:08.840
 Amen.

00:44:08.840 --> 00:44:09.920
 Amen.

00:44:09.920 --> 00:44:10.039
 Amen.

00:44:10.039 --> 00:44:10.100
 Amen.

00:44:10.100 --> 00:44:10.580
 Amen.

00:44:10.580 --> 00:44:10.920
 Amen.

00:44:10.920 --> 00:44:11.059
 Amen.

00:44:11.059 --> 00:44:11.620
 Amen.

00:44:11.620 --> 00:44:11.940
 Amen.

00:44:11.940 --> 00:44:12.300
 Amen.

00:44:12.300 --> 00:44:12.320
 Amen.

00:44:12.320 --> 00:44:12.480
 Amen.

00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:13.000
 Amen.

00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:13.059
 Amen.

00:44:13.059 --> 00:44:13.080
 Amen.

00:44:13.080 --> 00:44:13.160
 Amen.

00:44:13.160 --> 00:44:13.180
 Amen.

00:44:13.180 --> 00:44:13.240
 Amen.

00:44:13.240 --> 00:44:13.260
 Amen.

00:44:13.260 --> 00:44:13.320
 Amen.

00:44:13.320 --> 00:44:15.320
 Amen.

00:44:15.320 --> 00:44:17.320
 Amen.

00:44:17.320 --> 00:44:25.300
 Amen.