WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.459 and great to be with you in church this morning. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:03.100 My name's Steve. 00:00:03.180 --> 00:00:04.020 I've not met you before, 00:00:04.139 --> 00:00:05.419 senior pastor here at St Paul's. 00:00:06.560 --> 00:00:09.259 We are, as Asha said, we're in a series on the Bible. 00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:11.919 It's good to be with you specifically in church. 00:00:12.019 --> 00:00:14.480 Last week, I wasn't with the staff team. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:16.420 We were away on retreat. 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:19.640 I'm in Bathurst, and you saw me preaching on the screen. 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:21.300 I just want to clear out one thing. 00:00:22.059 --> 00:00:23.519 If you were here last week, 00:00:23.740 --> 00:00:25.019 you would have seen fireworks. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:29.000 The fireworks were unplanned. 00:00:29.859 --> 00:00:31.519 We don't know where they came from. 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:36.140 Nick and I have got no idea what happened with that moment, 00:00:36.340 --> 00:00:37.920 but take it as an act of God. 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:42.200 And so if you've not listened to that sermon yet, 00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:44.179 you might want to go back and do that now. 00:00:45.780 --> 00:00:49.780 So let me pray as we launch in to this morning 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:52.280 that there would be genuine fireworks in the heart. 00:00:53.179 --> 00:00:55.760 Gracious God, we are grateful for you. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:57.879 We are grateful for you, 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:02.039 the one who is the instigator of all things, 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:04.980 the one who created all things by the power of your word. 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:07.299 You speak and things happen. 00:01:08.179 --> 00:01:10.039 We are grateful that you, 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:11.739 the almighty, the everlasting, 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:13.180 the one who never had a beginning, 00:01:13.500 --> 00:01:14.739 never has an end, 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:15.939 you have spoken, 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:19.099 and you have spoken with clarity 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:23.000 so that we are not left without a knowledge of your will, 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:25.359 understanding of who we are, 00:01:25.899 --> 00:01:26.819 who you are, 00:01:26.939 --> 00:01:28.659 and the way to salvation. 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:30.179 We are grateful to you, God, 00:01:30.219 --> 00:01:32.379 and I pray that your word will be clear to each of us 00:01:32.379 --> 00:01:34.299 as we explore it this morning, 00:01:34.419 --> 00:01:37.619 but as we explore it ourselves individually 00:01:37.619 --> 00:01:38.799 in relationship with you. 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:39.759 Amen. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:42.120 Now there's an ancient parable 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:45.320 that's found in both Hindu and Buddhist texts. 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:48.560 It is known as the parable of the blind man and the elephant. 00:01:49.620 --> 00:01:52.900 A group of blind men heard that a strange animal 00:01:52.900 --> 00:01:56.080 called an elephant had been brought to town 00:01:56.080 --> 00:01:57.700 and they found it 00:01:57.700 --> 00:01:59.920 and they were feeling around to work out 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:01.920 what is this strange animal. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:04.420 The first person grabbed hold of the trunk 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:04.840 and said, 00:02:04.960 --> 00:02:07.080 well, it's actually clearly a big, thick snake. 00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:09.359 Another one grabs hold of the ear, 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:12.020 thought it seemed like some kind of fan. 00:02:12.939 --> 00:02:15.719 Another blind man had his arms wrapped around the leg 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:16.159 and said, 00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:18.199 elephants are like tree trunks. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:22.659 The blind man who placed his hand on the side of the elephant 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:22.919 said, 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:24.740 no, no, it's a great wall. 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:27.539 Another who felt its tail says, 00:02:27.659 --> 00:02:29.740 no, it's actually a rope is what it is. 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:31.639 The point of the parable, 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:33.000 it's an ancient parable, 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:34.060 the point of it is that 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:36.199 all people are blamed 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:40.139 when it comes to the things of the divine, 00:02:40.299 --> 00:02:41.199 when it comes to God. 00:02:42.139 --> 00:02:42.859 We know, 00:02:43.099 --> 00:02:45.000 we might know part of him, 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:49.239 but we don't really know all of God. 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:51.079 We don't know all of the divine 00:02:51.079 --> 00:02:53.839 and we can only ever know a little bit. 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:55.699 And so the conclusion is, 00:02:56.259 --> 00:02:57.280 for all of humanity, 00:02:57.280 --> 00:02:58.979 must tread carefully 00:02:58.979 --> 00:03:02.579 when discussing anything to do with God. 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:06.000 and basically a whole great deal of humility. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:09.500 So you don't call anything truth, 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:11.160 you just have perceptions, 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:12.820 is all you have. 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:15.300 Now there are two major problems with the parable. 00:03:16.200 --> 00:03:17.140 Two major problems. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:17.620 Firstly, 00:03:18.380 --> 00:03:19.460 the whole parable 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:22.040 is told from the standpoint 00:03:22.040 --> 00:03:23.820 of someone 00:03:23.820 --> 00:03:25.720 who says that 00:03:25.720 --> 00:03:27.560 they can see the entire elephant. 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:30.780 That's the first problem with it. 00:03:31.640 --> 00:03:33.539 While the parable is making the point 00:03:33.539 --> 00:03:35.680 that no one has the whole picture, 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:37.420 the narrator himself 00:03:37.420 --> 00:03:38.819 clearly sees the whole picture 00:03:38.819 --> 00:03:41.060 and says, 00:03:41.340 --> 00:03:43.439 therefore no one has ultimate truth. 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:46.159 The second problem 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:47.480 is somewhat more serious. 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:49.420 While the parable 00:03:49.420 --> 00:03:51.199 is perfectly good description 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:52.340 of human inability 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:53.860 in matters of the divine, 00:03:53.860 --> 00:03:56.800 it doesn't consider 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:58.220 a paradigm 00:03:58.220 --> 00:04:00.280 shattering question. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:03.580 What if the elephant speaks? 00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:07.340 What if the elephant speaks? 00:04:07.860 --> 00:04:09.460 What if the elephant could talk? 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:11.760 What if he was to tell the blind man 00:04:11.760 --> 00:04:14.160 exactly who he is 00:04:14.160 --> 00:04:15.220 or what he is? 00:04:18.740 --> 00:04:20.660 Tell them who they are in fact 00:04:20.660 --> 00:04:22.400 because they can't see the world. 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:26.020 Tell them what the world is like. 00:04:26.900 --> 00:04:27.840 Would the blind man 00:04:27.840 --> 00:04:28.720 in that moment 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:30.439 be considered humble 00:04:30.439 --> 00:04:33.139 by ignoring the elephant 00:04:33.139 --> 00:04:34.020 who says, 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:36.340 trees have got trunks 00:04:36.340 --> 00:04:37.319 and they are green 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:38.439 with leaves? 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:41.580 Would they be considered humble 00:04:41.580 --> 00:04:42.620 to ignore the elephant 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:43.259 at that point? 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:46.080 And so today 00:04:46.080 --> 00:04:47.000 we're looking at 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:49.000 another attribute 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:50.180 of the word of God, 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:51.699 namely the clarity of scripture. 00:04:51.699 --> 00:04:54.259 this is 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:55.860 the doctrine 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:56.719 of the clarity of scripture 00:04:56.719 --> 00:04:57.740 is primarily 00:04:57.740 --> 00:04:59.680 about God's character. 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:02.240 Is God 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:03.439 wise enough 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:05.300 to make himself known? 00:05:06.099 --> 00:05:07.420 Is he good enough 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:09.099 to make himself 00:05:09.099 --> 00:05:09.779 accessible? 00:05:10.899 --> 00:05:12.759 Is he gracious enough 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:14.079 to communicate 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:14.699 in ways 00:05:15.379 --> 00:05:16.699 that are understandable 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:18.959 to the meek 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:19.919 and the lowly 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:21.040 and the broken? 00:05:22.640 --> 00:05:23.980 Or does God 00:05:23.980 --> 00:05:25.199 give us commands 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:26.980 that we cannot 00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:27.840 understand 00:05:27.840 --> 00:05:30.360 and a self-revelation 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:31.000 that reveals 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:31.960 more questions 00:05:31.960 --> 00:05:32.879 than answers 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:34.460 about life? 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:36.100 This is primarily 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:36.860 about the character 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:37.300 of God 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:38.020 and who he is. 00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:41.740 So this is the third 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:42.240 attribute 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:43.139 of the Bible 00:05:43.139 --> 00:05:43.939 that we're looking 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:44.859 at this morning. 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:47.099 God's word 00:05:47.099 --> 00:05:47.639 is clear. 00:05:48.799 --> 00:05:50.000 So I've got three points 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:50.519 I'm running through 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:51.139 this morning. 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:52.779 Clearing up clarity, 00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:54.000 the Bible's clarity 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:54.779 and the Bible's 00:05:54.779 --> 00:05:55.799 difficult clarity. 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:57.379 So clearing up clarity. 00:05:57.799 --> 00:05:58.279 The clarity 00:05:58.279 --> 00:05:58.899 of scripture 00:05:58.899 --> 00:05:59.740 historically 00:05:59.740 --> 00:06:01.319 this doctrine 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:01.939 has been known 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:02.899 as the perspicuity 00:06:02.899 --> 00:06:03.759 of scripture 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:04.859 which isn't 00:06:04.859 --> 00:06:05.939 a very clear word 00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:07.060 to mean clarity. 00:06:07.060 --> 00:06:09.399 But this is how 00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:10.000 the Westminster 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:10.759 Confession 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:12.160 of Faith 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:13.199 describes 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:13.720 the clarity 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:14.199 of scripture. 00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:15.720 All things 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:16.259 in scripture 00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:17.199 are not alike 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:18.360 plain in themselves 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:19.079 nor alike 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:21.300 clear unto all 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:21.840 and yet 00:06:21.840 --> 00:06:22.540 those things 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:23.399 which are necessary 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:24.240 to be known 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:24.800 believed 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:25.639 and observed 00:06:25.639 --> 00:06:26.439 for salvation 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:28.019 are so clearly 00:06:28.019 --> 00:06:28.660 propounded 00:06:28.660 --> 00:06:29.720 and open 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:30.540 in some place 00:06:30.540 --> 00:06:30.879 of scripture 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:31.579 or another 00:06:31.579 --> 00:06:33.939 that not only 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:34.439 learned 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:36.160 but the unlearned 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:37.959 in a Jew's 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:38.500 set use 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:39.139 of the ordinary 00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:39.719 means 00:06:39.719 --> 00:06:40.879 may attain 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:41.899 unto a sufficient 00:06:41.899 --> 00:06:42.719 understanding 00:06:42.719 --> 00:06:43.139 of them. 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:45.959 Which basically 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:46.839 means that last 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:47.939 section is that 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:49.279 it's accessible 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:50.040 to everyone 00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:51.000 if you use 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:51.560 the normal 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:52.480 means of reading. 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:54.060 That's basically 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:54.779 what that means. 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:56.500 Now there's a few 00:06:56.500 --> 00:06:57.279 nuances there 00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:57.800 which are really 00:06:57.800 --> 00:06:58.139 helpful. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:06:58.860 So let me just 00:06:58.860 --> 00:06:59.860 quickly hit you 00:06:59.860 --> 00:07:00.420 with the nuances. 00:07:00.659 --> 00:07:00.959 Firstly, 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:01.859 some bits 00:07:01.859 --> 00:07:02.439 of the Bible 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:03.000 are clearer 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:03.719 than others. 00:07:04.719 --> 00:07:05.299 Not every 00:07:05.299 --> 00:07:05.819 verse or 00:07:05.819 --> 00:07:06.739 every section 00:07:06.739 --> 00:07:08.779 has a simple 00:07:08.779 --> 00:07:10.099 or an obvious 00:07:10.099 --> 00:07:10.560 meaning. 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:12.139 Secondly, 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:13.060 the main things 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:13.539 that we need 00:07:13.539 --> 00:07:14.079 to know, 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:14.699 we need to 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:15.099 believe 00:07:15.099 --> 00:07:16.319 and we need 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:16.959 to do 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:18.379 are clearly 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:19.279 seen in 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:19.579 scripture. 00:07:20.620 --> 00:07:21.259 Thirdly, 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:22.479 though the 00:07:22.479 --> 00:07:23.519 essential doctrines 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:24.199 of Christianity 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:25.060 are not 00:07:25.060 --> 00:07:26.779 equally clear 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:27.779 in every 00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:28.759 passage of 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:29.199 the Bible, 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.779 they are 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:31.439 all made 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:31.959 clear 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:32.860 somewhere 00:07:32.860 --> 00:07:33.219 in the 00:07:33.219 --> 00:07:33.519 Bible. 00:07:34.899 --> 00:07:35.399 Fourthly, 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:36.599 that which 00:07:36.599 --> 00:07:37.459 is necessary 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:38.319 for salvation 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:39.360 can be 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:39.979 understood 00:07:39.979 --> 00:07:40.800 by even 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:42.079 the uneducated. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:43.459 Lastly, 00:07:43.659 --> 00:07:43.980 the most 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:44.800 important point 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:45.180 in the 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:45.519 Bible 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:46.360 may not 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:47.060 be understood 00:07:47.060 --> 00:07:47.839 perfectly 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:49.199 but they 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:49.599 can be 00:07:49.599 --> 00:07:49.959 understood 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:50.599 sufficiently. 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:51.719 That's the 00:07:51.719 --> 00:07:52.399 nuances that 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:52.779 are in there 00:07:52.779 --> 00:07:53.279 in the Westminster 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:53.819 Confession. 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:54.579 So the best 00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:55.099 way forward 00:07:55.099 --> 00:07:55.500 for us is 00:07:55.500 --> 00:07:55.919 to just jump 00:07:55.919 --> 00:07:56.240 into the 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:56.740 second point 00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:57.279 and have 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:57.680 a look at 00:07:57.680 --> 00:07:58.659 one passage 00:07:58.660 --> 00:07:58.960 in the 00:07:58.960 --> 00:07:59.300 Bible, 00:07:59.500 --> 00:07:59.840 the one 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:00.260 that Anne 00:08:00.260 --> 00:08:00.660 just read 00:08:00.660 --> 00:08:01.020 out, 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:02.460 which talks 00:08:02.460 --> 00:08:02.920 about the 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:03.400 clarity of 00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:03.760 scripture and 00:08:03.760 --> 00:08:04.220 the simplicity 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:04.700 of scripture. 00:08:06.080 --> 00:08:06.820 So let's 00:08:06.820 --> 00:08:07.140 jump into 00:08:07.140 --> 00:08:07.439 that one, 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:07.760 the book 00:08:07.760 --> 00:08:09.080 of Deuteronomy. 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:09.420 So we're 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:10.180 into Deuteronomy 00:08:10.180 --> 00:08:10.620 30, 00:08:10.700 --> 00:08:10.940 if you want 00:08:10.940 --> 00:08:11.560 to open 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:12.000 your Bible. 00:08:12.100 --> 00:08:12.300 In fact, 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:12.740 I'd encourage 00:08:12.740 --> 00:08:12.960 you to open 00:08:12.960 --> 00:08:13.300 your Bible 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:13.560 at this 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:13.740 point, 00:08:13.820 --> 00:08:14.140 Deuteronomy 00:08:14.140 --> 00:08:14.540 30. 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:16.780 The book 00:08:16.780 --> 00:08:17.540 of Deuteronomy 00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:20.100 records the 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:20.960 second giving 00:08:20.960 --> 00:08:21.400 of the law 00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:21.940 of God, 00:08:23.020 --> 00:08:23.960 just as the 00:08:23.960 --> 00:08:24.920 Israelites are 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:26.040 there on the 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:27.040 brink of 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:27.840 entering the 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:28.699 promised land. 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:29.899 So let me 00:08:29.899 --> 00:08:30.879 just work our 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:31.599 way backwards 00:08:31.599 --> 00:08:33.059 in Deuteronomy 00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:34.519 just to give 00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:34.939 us a little bit 00:08:34.939 --> 00:08:35.399 of clarity 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:35.740 of what's 00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:36.120 going on 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:36.360 here. 00:08:37.959 --> 00:08:39.620 In chapter 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:41.779 34 records 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:42.279 the death 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:43.000 of Moses. 00:08:43.819 --> 00:08:44.159 Chapter 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.860 33, the 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:46.860 final blessing 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:47.699 of Moses. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:49.179 Chapter 00:08:49.179 --> 00:08:50.839 32, the 00:08:50.839 --> 00:08:51.659 song of 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:52.860 Moses before 00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:54.259 the blessing. 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:56.519 chapter 31, 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:57.480 the selection 00:08:57.480 --> 00:08:58.480 of Joshua 00:08:58.480 --> 00:08:58.980 to take 00:08:58.980 --> 00:08:59.639 over from 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:00.220 Moses when 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:01.039 he dies. 00:09:02.659 --> 00:09:02.779 And 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:03.620 chapters 1 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:04.279 to 30 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:06.120 is basically 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:07.980 just one 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:08.779 really long 00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:09.139 sermon. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:10.039 Don't ever 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:10.600 complain about 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:10.960 mine. 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.039 Just one 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:14.259 really long 00:09:14.259 --> 00:09:14.919 sermon or 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:16.220 a bunch of 00:09:16.220 --> 00:09:16.519 sermons. 00:09:16.700 --> 00:09:17.120 Let's have a 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:17.399 five minute 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:18.019 break, stand 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:18.319 up, sit 00:09:18.319 --> 00:09:19.080 down, and 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:19.379 then we can 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:19.939 jump back in 00:09:19.939 --> 00:09:20.220 the next 00:09:20.220 --> 00:09:20.419 one. 00:09:20.419 --> 00:09:21.139 That's a 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:21.799 really long 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:22.159 sermon. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:23.319 And it's 00:09:23.319 --> 00:09:23.980 a covenant 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:24.779 renewal 00:09:24.779 --> 00:09:25.419 ceremony 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:27.439 spoken by 00:09:27.439 --> 00:09:28.779 God through 00:09:28.779 --> 00:09:29.240 the mouth 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:29.600 of his 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:29.899 servant 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:30.299 Moses. 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:32.019 So 00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:32.519 chapters 00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:33.379 29 and 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.039 30 is 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:35.939 the climax. 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:37.299 It's the 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:38.360 conclusion of 00:09:38.360 --> 00:09:38.659 Moses' 00:09:38.919 --> 00:09:39.159 sermon. 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:40.019 And more 00:09:40.019 --> 00:09:40.679 specifically, 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:42.460 chapter 30 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:43.120 verses 11 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:44.399 to 20 is 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:45.439 the final 00:09:45.439 --> 00:09:46.759 appeal. 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:49.279 It's the 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:50.120 landing point, 00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:50.840 the appeal. 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:53.500 Moses is 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:54.500 imploring the 00:09:54.500 --> 00:09:55.100 people to 00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:56.840 choose life, 00:09:57.299 --> 00:09:58.259 not death, 00:09:58.399 --> 00:09:59.120 choose life. 00:10:00.059 --> 00:10:00.939 And choose 00:10:00.939 --> 00:10:01.480 life by 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:01.960 keeping the 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:02.620 commandments and 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:03.259 the statutes 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:03.899 of the law. 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:05.159 That's 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:06.439 verses 15 00:10:06.439 --> 00:10:07.000 to 20. 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:09.360 And right 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:10.159 there in 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:11.159 15 to 20 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:11.679 of chapter 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:13.740 30 is the 00:10:13.740 --> 00:10:14.779 entire point 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:15.580 that Moses 00:10:15.580 --> 00:10:16.679 has been 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:17.700 working towards 00:10:17.700 --> 00:10:18.080 in the 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:18.840 previous 30 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:19.319 chapters. 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.680 verses 15 00:10:21.680 --> 00:10:22.420 is the 00:10:22.420 --> 00:10:22.760 key. 00:10:23.760 --> 00:10:24.080 I 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:24.820 command you 00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:26.080 today to 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:26.580 love the 00:10:26.580 --> 00:10:27.040 Lord your 00:10:27.040 --> 00:10:27.960 God, to 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:28.440 walk in 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:29.280 obedience to 00:10:29.280 --> 00:10:30.400 him and 00:10:30.400 --> 00:10:30.860 to keep 00:10:30.860 --> 00:10:31.780 his commands, 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:33.260 decrees and 00:10:33.260 --> 00:10:34.480 laws, and 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:35.100 then you will 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:35.980 live and 00:10:35.980 --> 00:10:37.760 increase and 00:10:37.760 --> 00:10:38.340 the Lord your 00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:38.820 God will 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:39.379 bless you in 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:39.879 the land you 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:40.280 are entering 00:10:40.280 --> 00:10:40.920 to possess. 00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:41.039 promise. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:43.099 It's a call 00:10:43.099 --> 00:10:43.799 really to 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:44.839 commitment, it's 00:10:44.839 --> 00:10:45.299 a call to 00:10:45.299 --> 00:10:45.719 covenant 00:10:45.719 --> 00:10:46.299 renewal. 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:48.000 It's a 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:48.339 deeply 00:10:48.339 --> 00:10:50.379 personal and 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.559 whole of 00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:52.759 life transforming 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:53.959 relationship is 00:10:53.959 --> 00:10:55.740 what Moses is 00:10:55.740 --> 00:10:56.979 calling Israel to 00:10:56.979 --> 00:10:57.639 at this point. 00:10:58.839 --> 00:10:59.759 And it's a 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:01.519 very basic 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:02.719 and straightforward 00:11:02.719 --> 00:11:04.299 appeal, very 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:04.779 simple. 00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:06.759 and just 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:07.439 before he 00:11:07.439 --> 00:11:08.259 issues this 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.240 final appeal, 00:11:10.459 --> 00:11:11.559 he makes it 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:12.279 clear to 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.720 them that 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:14.759 the appeal 00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:16.620 itself and 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:17.319 all that's 00:11:17.319 --> 00:11:18.139 required of 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.819 them is 00:11:19.819 --> 00:11:20.740 not beyond 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.120 them. 00:11:21.939 --> 00:11:22.600 Verse 11 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:23.419 to 14, 00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:24.879 just read out 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:25.319 to us by 00:11:25.319 --> 00:11:26.600 Anne, makes 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:27.519 it clear that 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:28.839 God's word, 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:29.980 all of his 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:31.220 statutes, all 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:32.240 of his commands 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:33.839 is not beyond 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:35.960 them and 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:38.560 therefore life 00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:40.120 itself is not 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:40.860 beyond them, 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:43.680 not out of 00:11:43.680 --> 00:11:44.360 their reach. 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:46.680 Moses says 00:11:46.680 --> 00:11:47.040 it's really 00:11:47.040 --> 00:11:47.759 clear, you 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.580 don't have to 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:49.379 go up to 00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:49.860 heaven to 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:50.500 get God's 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:52.800 word, God's 00:11:52.800 --> 00:11:53.560 word is not 00:11:53.560 --> 00:11:54.200 out of reach, 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:54.700 you don't need 00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:55.620 to get in a 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:56.399 spaceship and 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:57.139 launch up to 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:57.759 the Netherlands 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:58.320 to try and 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:01.379 find answers. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:03.660 Verse 13, 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:05.620 nor is it 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.180 beyond the 00:12:06.180 --> 00:12:07.360 sea so 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:07.879 that you 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:08.519 have to 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:09.420 ask who 00:12:09.420 --> 00:12:09.920 will cross 00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:10.500 the sea to 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:10.980 get it and 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:11.620 proclaim it 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:12.680 to us so 00:12:12.680 --> 00:12:13.240 that we may 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:13.980 obey it. 00:12:15.560 --> 00:12:16.139 In the 00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:16.860 Bible, the 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:17.620 sea is a 00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:18.000 symbol of 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:18.560 chaos and 00:12:18.560 --> 00:12:19.120 destruction. 00:12:20.540 --> 00:12:20.759 In fact, 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:21.379 Paul quotes 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:22.500 this verse 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:23.980 in Romans 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:24.800 chapter 10 00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:25.920 and he 00:12:25.920 --> 00:12:26.560 calls it 00:12:26.560 --> 00:12:27.480 the abyss. 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:28.720 Revelation 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.060 9 calls it 00:12:30.060 --> 00:12:30.940 the abyss. 00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:32.160 It's the 00:12:32.160 --> 00:12:33.280 place of 00:12:33.280 --> 00:12:34.840 destruction, 00:12:35.280 --> 00:12:36.060 of death, 00:12:36.660 --> 00:12:38.140 of torment. 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:40.620 In 00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:41.820 ancient times, 00:12:42.420 --> 00:12:42.960 the sea 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:43.680 represented 00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:44.740 death and 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:45.320 destruction. 00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:48.300 Death was 00:12:48.300 --> 00:12:49.340 sinking into 00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:50.040 the abyss. 00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:51.960 And the 00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:52.820 great stories 00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:53.620 of ancient 00:12:53.620 --> 00:12:54.980 cultures were 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.760 the stories of 00:12:55.760 --> 00:12:56.880 adventures taking 00:12:56.880 --> 00:12:58.720 on the seas to 00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.920 discover new 00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:00.480 worlds and 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.940 explore uncharted 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:02.600 lands. 00:13:04.300 --> 00:13:05.279 What Moses 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:06.200 is saying here 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:07.120 with these 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.920 images is we 00:13:08.920 --> 00:13:09.860 do not relate 00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:10.639 to God like 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:10.940 that. 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:13.240 It's not that 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:13.700 hard. 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:15.879 We don't have 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:16.759 to search the 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:17.060 heavens. 00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:18.220 We don't have 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:18.820 to go on a 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:19.879 quest over the 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:20.440 seas. 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.759 God has 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:24.759 communicated to 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:25.200 us. 00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:25.980 He says God 00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:27.100 has come near 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:28.000 to us. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.100 All ancient 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:35.860 cultures, 00:13:36.540 --> 00:13:38.440 all ancient 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.080 cultures, 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:39.720 where the 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:40.519 divine secrets, 00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:41.259 the mysteries of 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:41.740 how to live 00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:42.259 life, the 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:42.659 secrets of 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.360 the universe, 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.720 defined 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:47.899 things known 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.680 only to the 00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:49.180 gods. 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:51.420 And it was 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:52.420 only a very 00:13:52.420 --> 00:13:53.500 few courageous 00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:56.200 people in 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:56.940 those cultures 00:13:56.940 --> 00:13:57.300 who were 00:13:57.300 --> 00:13:57.900 willing to 00:13:57.900 --> 00:13:58.879 go on the 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:00.780 quest beyond 00:14:00.780 --> 00:14:01.700 civilized 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:03.440 lands to 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.080 connect with 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:04.840 the gods and 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:05.780 to bring back 00:14:05.780 --> 00:14:06.920 the secrets of 00:14:06.920 --> 00:14:07.520 the universe. 00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:10.080 And Moses 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.000 doesn't buy into 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:11.960 that at all 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:13.860 in any way. 00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:16.560 Deuteronomy 00:14:16.560 --> 00:14:17.440 says the God 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:18.460 to whom highest 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.220 heaven cannot 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:22.160 contain has 00:14:22.160 --> 00:14:23.000 descended to 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.540 us. 00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:23.639 earth. 00:14:24.539 --> 00:14:25.039 He came 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:26.219 down to 00:14:26.219 --> 00:14:27.099 Mount Sinai 00:14:27.099 --> 00:14:27.539 and he 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.199 spoke. 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:30.519 To access 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.179 the secret 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:32.179 universe, 00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:33.500 you do not 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.379 need to be 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:34.919 an elite 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.439 scientist. 00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:39.539 You don't 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:40.279 need to be a 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:40.980 gifted artist. 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.579 You don't 00:14:43.579 --> 00:14:44.459 need to be a 00:14:44.459 --> 00:14:45.620 regular attendee 00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.539 at an exclusive 00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:47.360 retreat in the 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:47.679 rainforest. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.279 You don't 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:51.159 need to climb 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:52.379 to the top of 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:52.899 the highest 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:53.659 mountain or 00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:54.340 dive into the 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:54.740 depths of 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:55.259 the sea. 00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:57.379 The secrets 00:14:57.379 --> 00:14:57.820 of the 00:14:57.820 --> 00:15:00.620 universe have 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.659 traditionally been 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:02.340 virtually in 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:03.299 every hotel 00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:03.899 room in the 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:04.600 Western world. 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.240 Just sitting 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:07.799 beside the 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:08.720 bed in a 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.439 drawer, top 00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:10.059 drawer normally. 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:13.500 Placed there 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:13.840 by the 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:14.299 Gideons. 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:18.439 It's in the 00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:20.019 Bible and the 00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:20.539 Bible is 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.099 everywhere. 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:22.339 With 00:15:22.339 --> 00:15:23.359 estimated total 00:15:23.359 --> 00:15:24.620 sales of 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.319 over five 00:15:25.319 --> 00:15:26.199 billion copies, 00:15:26.959 --> 00:15:27.579 the Bible is 00:15:27.579 --> 00:15:27.919 the best 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.779 selling publication 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.579 of all time. 00:15:30.979 --> 00:15:32.139 It has had a 00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:33.559 profound influence. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.319 In fact, it has 00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:36.099 shaped both 00:15:36.099 --> 00:15:37.099 Western culture 00:15:37.099 --> 00:15:37.879 and history 00:15:37.879 --> 00:15:40.039 and most 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:40.840 cultures around 00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:41.299 the globe. 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.379 And to 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.179 date, it is 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:45.159 translated or 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.799 currently being 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:46.580 translated into 00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:47.279 about half of 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:47.700 the world's 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.100 languages. 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.759 The secret of 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:52.379 the universe is 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.720 right under our 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.960 noses and it 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.000 is accessible. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.659 For sure, there 00:15:58.659 --> 00:15:59.259 are some hard 00:15:59.259 --> 00:15:59.740 things to 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.399 understand. 00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:01.659 But the 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.600 core message of 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.600 the Bible is 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.220 unbelievably 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.220 accessible. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.159 It is right 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:07.580 there. 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:09.019 What God 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.960 wants of us 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:10.700 is not hidden, 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.559 it's not far 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.439 off, it's not 00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:13.299 locked up into 00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:13.980 some vault. 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.240 The word of 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.139 God can be on 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.939 our lips and 00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:17.600 taught to our 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.000 children. 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.939 It is right 00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:21.539 in front of 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:23.179 us, ready to 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:23.939 be understood 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:25.039 and obeyed. 00:16:27.580 --> 00:16:28.519 And yet, 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:29.600 this 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.799 accessibility and 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:32.940 simplicity can 00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:33.480 be quite 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.320 deceptive. 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.620 Because 00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:37.759 modern people 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:39.179 have the 00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:39.840 same problem 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.919 as ancient 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:41.439 people. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.039 We tend to 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.340 think that if 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.500 any insight to 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.240 be really 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.100 important, 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.720 then it has to 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.519 be brilliant, 00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:51.819 it has to be 00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:52.460 sophisticated, 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:53.939 it has to be 00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:54.379 new. 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:56.100 And the Bible's 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:57.279 not any of 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.019 those things. 00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.120 things. 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:01.899 And so let me 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.399 just say, if 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:02.899 you are 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.460 exploring 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:03.919 Christianity 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.980 right now, 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:08.440 don't be 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.539 offended by 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.379 the simplicity 00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:11.259 and the 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.039 ordinariness 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.579 of the 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:12.879 Bible. 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:15.680 Even 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.279 Christians 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:16.960 struggle with 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.599 the simplicity 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:18.779 of their 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:20.240 faith and 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:20.759 the Bible. 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:20.819 people. 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:24.220 The Old 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.099 Testament says 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:25.460 we are 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.160 saved by 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:27.099 God's grace 00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:29.299 to be his 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:29.720 special 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:30.220 possession. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.359 That's the 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:32.900 summary of the 00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.500 Old Testament, 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.779 saved by God's 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:36.180 grace to be 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:36.940 his special 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.519 possession. 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:38.819 And the New 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.680 Testament adds 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.619 that this is 00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:41.279 done and 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.180 completed in 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.879 the person of 00:17:42.879 --> 00:17:43.700 Jesus Christ. 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.000 It's as 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.359 simple as 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:45.559 that. 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:50.259 So why 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.720 is it so 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.079 hard? 00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:52.139 Let's move 00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:52.460 to the 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.079 final point, 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:53.720 the difficulty, 00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:54.819 the Bible's 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.299 difficult 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:55.819 clarity. 00:17:57.159 --> 00:17:58.119 The clarity 00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:58.819 and simplicity 00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.419 of God's 00:17:59.419 --> 00:18:02.440 word is 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:02.879 in fact 00:18:02.879 --> 00:18:03.079 its 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.619 difficulty. 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.740 The reason 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.759 we don't 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.720 need to 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.500 ascend to 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.619 heaven or 00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.179 cross the 00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:12.159 abyss is 00:18:12.159 --> 00:18:12.819 because God 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:14.460 is near and 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:14.919 that means 00:18:14.919 --> 00:18:15.519 his word 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.099 to us 00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:16.779 is near. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.779 God has 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.519 made himself 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.180 and the 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:19.559 way of 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.099 salvation 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:20.900 known to 00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:22.180 us simply 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.599 and clearly. 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:24.960 These 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.839 analogies 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:27.099 that Moses 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:28.379 uses is a 00:18:28.379 --> 00:18:29.039 roundabout way 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.379 of saying 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.059 that relationship 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:30.839 with God 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.900 is not 00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:32.740 something that 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.799 we have to 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.579 pursue and 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:35.420 achieve 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:36.460 ourselves. 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:36.920 We don't 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:37.440 go on a 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.680 quest to 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:40.700 connect with 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.259 the divine 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.639 in order to 00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:41.819 have a 00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:42.180 relationship 00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:42.759 with him. 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.799 The analogy 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:45.839 Moses uses 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.919 here is 00:18:46.919 --> 00:18:47.500 to reveal 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.220 that God 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.859 comes to 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:50.039 us and 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.700 he saves 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.220 us by 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.220 his grace. 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.299 Relationship 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:54.819 with him is 00:18:54.819 --> 00:18:55.259 something that 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.319 we receive, 00:18:56.639 --> 00:18:57.279 not something 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:57.700 that we 00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:58.440 achieve. 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:00.180 We also 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:00.639 see in the 00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:01.180 second half of 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.700 the passage 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.299 that Moses 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.139 seems to 00:19:03.139 --> 00:19:03.500 contradict 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.159 himself in 00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:04.639 these verses. 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.379 How can 00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:06.099 Moses say 00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:07.039 things like 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:09.059 the commandment 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.319 is not 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:09.839 too hard 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.299 for you 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:10.740 in verse 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:12.379 11 and 00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:13.099 that you 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.599 can do 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:14.379 it in 00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:15.440 verse 14. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.659 You don't 00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.019 need to go 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.240 up to 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.460 heaven, 00:19:17.639 --> 00:19:17.859 you don't 00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:18.119 need to 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:19.059 cross the 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.460 sea, 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.039 it's right 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.440 in front 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:20.799 of you. 00:19:20.919 --> 00:19:21.200 But then 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:21.839 he says 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:22.619 in verse 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.399 17, 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:25.460 but if 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:25.900 your heart 00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.759 turns away 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.840 and you 00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:28.160 are not 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:29.420 obedient and 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:29.700 if you 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.160 are drawn 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:30.820 away to 00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:31.280 bow down 00:19:31.280 --> 00:19:31.800 to other 00:19:31.800 --> 00:19:32.360 gods and 00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:33.180 worship them, 00:19:33.820 --> 00:19:34.460 I declare to 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.060 you this day 00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:35.500 that you will 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.160 certainly be 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.640 destroyed. 00:19:37.780 --> 00:19:38.040 You will 00:19:38.040 --> 00:19:38.500 not live 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.160 long in 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.560 the land 00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:39.900 you are 00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:40.460 crossing the 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:40.880 Jordan to 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.259 enter and 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:41.500 possess. 00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:43.220 This day I 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:43.540 call the 00:19:43.540 --> 00:19:43.920 heavens and 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.420 the earth 00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:45.080 as witnesses 00:19:45.080 --> 00:19:45.980 against you 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.140 that I have 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:47.720 set before 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.560 you life and 00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:48.920 death, 00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.280 blessings and 00:19:50.280 --> 00:19:50.800 curses, 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:52.580 now choose 00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:53.320 life. 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:55.759 So if 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.440 it's entirely 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:57.160 by God's 00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:57.580 work to 00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:58.040 establish 00:19:58.040 --> 00:19:58.759 relationship 00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.540 with us, 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:02.220 why does 00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.980 he include 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.600 that? 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.720 Because on 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:06.120 the surface 00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:06.400 when you 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.040 read that it 00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:07.660 sounds very 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.100 much like 00:20:08.100 --> 00:20:08.620 striving. 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.380 It sounds 00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:10.880 very much 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:13.160 like put 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.519 your socks 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:13.800 up and 00:20:13.800 --> 00:20:14.100 keep them 00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:14.519 pulled up, 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.300 otherwise 00:20:15.300 --> 00:20:16.519 you're done. 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:19.180 It seems 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:19.660 to contradict 00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:20.140 the first 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.100 half of 00:20:21.100 --> 00:20:22.420 the passage, 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.420 but it 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:23.779 doesn't. 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.980 The clue 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.560 in 00:20:26.560 --> 00:20:27.320 understanding 00:20:27.320 --> 00:20:29.440 this is 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.300 in fact the 00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:31.100 entire 00:20:31.100 --> 00:20:32.539 sermon of 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.340 Deuteronomy 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:37.100 is almost 00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:37.779 the last 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.120 thing he 00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:38.980 says in 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:39.680 chapter 30. 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:40.880 It's in 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:41.420 verse 20. 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.320 For the 00:20:43.320 --> 00:20:44.580 Lord is 00:20:44.580 --> 00:20:46.120 your life. 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.980 Not you 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.620 are your 00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.259 life, not 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:49.960 your obedience 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.380 is your 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.600 life, the 00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:52.539 Lord is 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.259 your life. 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.019 That is, 00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:55.819 they have 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.940 life already, 00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.000 so this 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.480 must be 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.319 referring to 00:20:59.319 --> 00:20:59.840 something a 00:20:59.840 --> 00:21:00.279 bit more 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:00.720 than just 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.039 the fact 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.480 that they're 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.539 alive, it's 00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.140 referring to 00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:03.819 spiritual life, 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.360 it's referring 00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.640 to eternal 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:06.200 life. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.660 Up to this 00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:08.279 point in 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.940 Deuteronomy, 00:21:09.600 --> 00:21:10.299 life is 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:10.819 connected to 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.340 obedience, 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.559 death is 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.120 connected to 00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:13.980 disobedience. 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.079 obedience. 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:18.019 The Bible 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:19.559 is clear, it 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.460 is simple, it 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.180 is accessible, 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.279 and God 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.099 expects it to 00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.980 be obeyed. 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:24.920 And so 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:25.440 life is 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:25.940 connected to 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.640 obedience and 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.019 death is 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.519 connected to 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.220 disobedience. 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.819 And yet, 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.200 they've already 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.360 failed multiple 00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.099 times. 00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:35.720 There's not a 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:36.339 single person 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.039 who's righteous, 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:37.839 Romans chapter 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.360 three. 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:41.659 because the 00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.519 Bible also 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:44.899 reveals our 00:21:44.899 --> 00:21:46.959 inability, our 00:21:46.959 --> 00:21:48.500 powerlessness, it 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.679 reveals our 00:21:49.679 --> 00:21:50.959 sin, our lack 00:21:50.959 --> 00:21:51.559 of righteousness. 00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:54.000 So verse 20 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.279 is not saying 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.019 that if you 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.859 obey God, he 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.639 will give you 00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:58.119 life. 00:21:59.419 --> 00:22:00.659 It is saying 00:22:00.659 --> 00:22:03.339 he is your 00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:03.839 life. 00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:07.079 And Paul 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:08.000 explains it. 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:09.839 in Romans 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.539 chapter 10 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:10.799 when he 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.219 picks up 00:22:11.219 --> 00:22:11.699 Deuteronomy 00:22:11.699 --> 00:22:12.139 30. 00:22:14.379 --> 00:22:15.059 As he's 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.740 proclaiming the 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.519 good news of 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.219 salvation in 00:22:17.219 --> 00:22:18.099 Jesus Christ to 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.679 the church in 00:22:18.679 --> 00:22:18.959 Rome. 00:22:19.399 --> 00:22:19.979 I'm going to 00:22:19.979 --> 00:22:20.439 read it to 00:22:20.439 --> 00:22:20.679 you. 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.679 Christ is the 00:22:22.679 --> 00:22:23.479 culmination of 00:22:23.479 --> 00:22:24.579 the law so 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.059 that there may 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.799 be righteousness 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:27.019 for everyone 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.859 who believes. 00:22:30.179 --> 00:22:31.279 Moses writes 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.319 this about the 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.159 righteous that is 00:22:33.159 --> 00:22:34.740 by the law. 00:22:35.459 --> 00:22:36.139 The person 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:36.859 who does 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:37.899 these things 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:38.440 will live 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:39.180 by them. 00:22:39.580 --> 00:22:39.860 But the 00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:40.759 righteous that 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.480 is by faith 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.600 says, do 00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.180 not say in 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.640 your heart, 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.040 who will 00:22:44.040 --> 00:22:44.700 ascend into 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.220 heaven? 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.460 That is to 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.040 bring Christ 00:22:48.040 --> 00:22:48.480 down. 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.680 Or who 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.380 will descend 00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:51.240 to the deep? 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:52.500 That is to 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.000 bring Christ 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.560 up from the 00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:53.860 dead. 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.440 But what 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.180 does it say? 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:58.560 The word is 00:22:58.560 --> 00:22:59.519 near you. 00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.720 It is in your 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.519 mouth and in 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.200 your heart. 00:23:02.780 --> 00:23:03.480 That is the 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.380 message concerning 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:05.220 faith that we 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:05.700 proclaim. 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.380 If you 00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:07.120 declare with 00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.700 your mouth 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.380 Jesus is 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.080 Lord and 00:23:09.080 --> 00:23:09.600 believe in 00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.019 your heart 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.440 that God 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.080 raised him 00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:11.460 from the 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.440 dead, you 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.180 will be 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.779 saved. 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.640 What he 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.279 says there in 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.120 Romans 10 is 00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:17.819 that Jesus 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:20.039 is the end 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:20.840 of the law 00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.660 of righteousness. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.039 The law 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:25.059 still exists 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:26.480 to please 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.299 God and to 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:27.819 change your 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.920 life, but it 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.840 is never meant 00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:30.620 to be and 00:23:30.620 --> 00:23:31.380 never will ever 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.660 meant to be a 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.779 means to stand 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.680 before God 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.619 justified and 00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:36.019 accepted. 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.779 Why? 00:23:39.899 --> 00:23:41.299 Because Jesus 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:43.180 came from 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:45.700 heaven to 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:47.359 us and 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:47.799 then not 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.759 just to us 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:50.359 but went 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:50.779 to the 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.759 abyss of 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.660 chaos and 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.960 destruction and 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:55.259 death to 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:56.379 bring eternal 00:23:56.379 --> 00:23:57.039 life to 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.839 everyone who 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.339 will accept 00:23:59.339 --> 00:23:59.680 him. 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:02.799 And that's 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.180 threatening. 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:05.160 It is so 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:05.940 simple. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.600 The message 00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.560 of the Bible 00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:10.680 is so 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.880 simple. 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:14.060 Every bit 00:24:14.060 --> 00:24:15.100 of it screams 00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:16.120 out, look to 00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:17.120 Jesus, look to 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:18.240 Jesus, every 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.860 bit of it. 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.360 And yet it 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:23.180 is so, so 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:24.240 hard. 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.799 So complex. 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:29.680 So 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.299 threatening. 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.779 Because what 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.879 kind of God 00:24:34.879 --> 00:24:36.220 has a bar of 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.159 salvation that 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:38.819 is so low? 00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:41.099 What kind of 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.799 God does 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.139 that? 00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.940 A God of 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.440 grace who 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.359 allows anyone 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:48.960 to come. 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.500 A bar so 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.000 low that 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.819 anyone can 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:53.559 step over 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:53.859 it. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.059 Because it's 00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:56.559 a bar of 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.359 grace, not a 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:57.700 bar of 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.160 works. 00:25:01.600 --> 00:25:02.240 And yet 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.600 it's not 00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.200 such a low 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.660 bar, is 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:03.860 it? 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:06.259 Not 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.600 really. 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.180 It 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:10.860 demands that 00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:11.319 we lose 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.019 our pride. 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:15.920 It 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.420 demands that 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:16.819 we lose 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.360 our pride 00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:17.600 and the 00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:17.980 right to 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:18.360 look down 00:25:18.360 --> 00:25:18.880 on any 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:19.580 other human 00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:20.019 being. 00:25:21.100 --> 00:25:21.700 It also 00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.380 demands that 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:22.860 we surrender 00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:23.559 control of 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.180 our life. 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:24.259 life. 00:25:25.560 --> 00:25:26.240 If we 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.720 are not 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:28.000 prepared to 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.539 let go of 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:29.100 ourselves, 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.860 we discover 00:25:30.860 --> 00:25:31.220 that the 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.820 bar is in 00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:32.360 fact far 00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:32.840 too high 00:25:32.840 --> 00:25:33.500 for us. 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.539 Far too 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:35.840 high. 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.660 This is the 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.200 threatening 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:41.519 costliness of 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:41.960 the free 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.500 grace of 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:42.900 God. 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.480 The message 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:44.820 of the 00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:45.480 Bible is 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.779 so, so 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.259 simple. 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.620 It is so 00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.120 clear. 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:51.440 And yet it is 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.039 so difficult 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.640 to take. 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.720 If you're 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.140 exploring 00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:56.900 Christianity, 00:25:58.340 --> 00:26:00.259 understand the 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:01.759 difficulty of 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.500 the simplicity 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.740 of the 00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.059 Christian 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:04.539 faith. 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.500 However, 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:08.680 however, 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.320 grasping the 00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:11.539 simplicity of 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.140 the Christian 00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:13.880 faith as 00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:14.519 it is 00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.519 proclaimed in 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.100 the Bible, 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.840 in all of 00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:18.480 its difficulty, 00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:20.620 is in fact how 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.239 you become a 00:26:21.239 --> 00:26:21.559 Christian. 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:24.359 In that 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:24.919 moment, 00:26:26.239 --> 00:26:27.059 the moment the 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.859 clarity and 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:28.500 the simplicity 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.479 of the message 00:26:29.479 --> 00:26:30.039 of God's 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:30.619 grace in 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.399 Jesus Christ 00:26:31.399 --> 00:26:32.579 hits you 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:34.179 and you 00:26:34.179 --> 00:26:34.679 are willing 00:26:34.679 --> 00:26:35.500 to pay 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.959 the cost of 00:26:36.959 --> 00:26:37.659 surrendering your 00:26:37.659 --> 00:26:39.099 pride and 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:39.699 control of 00:26:39.699 --> 00:26:40.459 your life, 00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:42.739 is the 00:26:42.739 --> 00:26:43.619 moment that 00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.299 you enter 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.019 into a 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.619 relationship 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.119 with the 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:46.579 God who 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.179 holds all 00:26:47.179 --> 00:26:47.659 the secrets 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:47.979 of the 00:26:47.979 --> 00:26:48.399 universe. 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.899 It really 00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:52.759 is that 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:55.679 simple and 00:26:55.679 --> 00:26:56.159 it really 00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:56.919 is that 00:26:56.919 --> 00:26:57.439 difficult. 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.819 You see, 00:27:01.939 --> 00:27:02.559 this clarity, 00:27:02.959 --> 00:27:03.639 this doctrine 00:27:03.639 --> 00:27:03.899 that we're 00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:04.299 looking at 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:04.679 this morning, 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.219 the clarity 00:27:05.219 --> 00:27:05.839 of Scripture, 00:27:05.959 --> 00:27:06.399 historical 00:27:06.399 --> 00:27:06.879 document, 00:27:07.699 --> 00:27:08.979 is so 00:27:08.979 --> 00:27:09.739 far, 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:11.379 so far 00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:12.559 from some 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.359 dry 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:14.159 biblical 00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:14.739 teaching, 00:27:15.419 --> 00:27:15.699 Christian 00:27:15.699 --> 00:27:16.099 teaching. 00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:16.799 There is 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:18.019 so much 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.719 at stake 00:27:18.719 --> 00:27:19.099 on the 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.619 clarity of 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:19.919 Scripture. 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:22.159 It insists 00:27:22.159 --> 00:27:23.119 that even 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:24.019 the simplest 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.259 disciple can 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.099 understand the 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:26.579 message of the 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.839 Bible and be 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.240 saved. 00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:30.599 The Bible 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.399 isn't just 00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:32.059 for pastors 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.799 and scholars 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:34.139 with a working 00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:34.740 knowledge of 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.279 Hebrew and 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:35.659 Greek. 00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.039 You don't 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.679 need to know 00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:38.399 about Second 00:27:38.399 --> 00:27:39.500 Temple Judaism. 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:40.740 You don't 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.480 need to know 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:43.079 about Greco-Roman 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.939 customs nor 00:27:43.939 --> 00:27:44.879 ancient Near East 00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.399 religion. 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:46.779 Nor do you 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.299 need to be 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:47.919 schooled in 00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.379 redaction 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:48.959 criticism, 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:49.359 source 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:49.819 criticism, 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.159 form 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:50.679 criticism, 00:27:50.919 --> 00:27:51.439 and all 00:27:51.439 --> 00:27:51.899 that other 00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:52.259 stuff I 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.579 had to 00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:52.939 do. 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.019 And still 00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.399 trying to 00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:58.859 work out. 00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:01.319 God is 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:02.099 not the 00:28:02.099 --> 00:28:02.480 God of 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.179 the smarty 00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:04.259 pants only, 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:07.099 as much as 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:07.779 we might want 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.319 to make him 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:08.980 such on the 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.319 North Shore 00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:09.719 of Sydney. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.480 The clarity 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.379 of Scripture 00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:15.839 reveals so 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.399 much about 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:16.939 the character 00:28:16.939 --> 00:28:17.519 of God. 00:28:18.919 --> 00:28:19.799 What kind 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.279 of God 00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:20.980 would reveal 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.799 his love? 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:23.779 What kind 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.220 of God 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.859 would reveal 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.619 his redemption 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:26.500 in terms so 00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:28.879 technical and 00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:29.879 concepts so 00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:31.819 profound that 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.740 only an elite 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.240 group of 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.119 professional scholars 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.679 could possibly 00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:35.439 understand them? 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.779 Not the God 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.339 of the Bible. 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.599 Relationship 00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.099 with him 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.939 is accessible 00:28:43.939 --> 00:28:45.659 to all. 00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:51.719 And so 00:28:51.719 --> 00:28:52.240 if you are 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.819 a Christian, 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:57.000 say, 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.139 well, 00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:57.480 I know the 00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:57.679 gospel, 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.099 I don't need 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:59.159 to know 00:28:59.159 --> 00:28:59.579 anything more, 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.279 I've got to 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.679 clear on the 00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:00.959 gospel, 00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:01.779 that's about 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.240 it I need. 00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:03.679 If that is 00:29:03.679 --> 00:29:04.439 your response, 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.319 you do not 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.819 yet know 00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.319 the gospel. 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:10.539 You do 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:10.960 not yet 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.339 know the 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:11.659 gospel. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.139 You must 00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:14.960 mind the 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.379 depths, 00:29:15.939 --> 00:29:16.619 the depths 00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.079 of Scripture 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.419 to get 00:29:17.419 --> 00:29:17.960 clearer and 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.460 clearer picture 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:18.740 of who 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:19.339 God is. 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.039 The majesty 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:21.480 of this 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:21.819 God. 00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:28.939 William 00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:29.619 Tindall's 00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:30.099 life 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:32.299 was often 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:32.839 in danger 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.359 because of 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:33.879 his efforts 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.600 to translate 00:29:34.600 --> 00:29:35.200 the Bible 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.260 into the 00:29:36.260 --> 00:29:36.660 language of 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:36.980 the common 00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:37.440 people. 00:29:37.580 --> 00:29:37.920 It was his 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.540 goal in 00:29:38.540 --> 00:29:39.120 life was 00:29:39.120 --> 00:29:39.460 to make 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:39.940 sure that 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.480 the Bible 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.660 was accessible 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.800 to every 00:29:42.800 --> 00:29:44.040 person in 00:29:44.040 --> 00:29:44.560 the English 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.460 speaking world. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.260 He was 00:29:47.260 --> 00:29:47.860 once in 00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:49.100 dispute with 00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:49.560 what he 00:29:49.560 --> 00:29:50.220 called a 00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:51.180 learned man 00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:52.300 about all 00:29:52.300 --> 00:29:52.920 people having 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.640 access to 00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:54.200 God's word 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.500 and this 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.060 learned man 00:29:55.060 --> 00:29:55.320 said, 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:55.860 no way, 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.220 that's 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.980 ridiculous, 00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.440 it's just 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.040 for the 00:29:58.040 --> 00:29:58.680 pastors and 00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.160 the preachers 00:29:59.160 --> 00:29:59.400 and the 00:29:59.400 --> 00:29:59.720 priests. 00:30:00.860 --> 00:30:01.060 And he 00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:01.360 said to 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:01.640 him what 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:01.920 is now 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.880 famous words, 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:04.000 if God 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.600 spare my 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:05.480 life before 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.380 many years 00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:06.680 I will 00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.320 cause a 00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:08.020 boy that 00:30:08.020 --> 00:30:08.800 drives the 00:30:08.800 --> 00:30:09.220 plough, 00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:10.540 that he 00:30:10.540 --> 00:30:10.840 will have 00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:11.760 more knowledge 00:30:11.760 --> 00:30:12.080 of the 00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:12.680 scriptures than 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.140 the Pope 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:13.640 himself. 00:30:17.040 --> 00:30:17.640 Tindall's 00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.420 pursuit of 00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:19.000 the clarity 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.540 of scripture 00:30:19.540 --> 00:30:20.080 for all 00:30:20.080 --> 00:30:20.900 people ended 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.440 up costing 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:21.880 him his 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.340 life. 00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:24.220 As he 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.660 died, 00:30:26.280 --> 00:30:27.040 his final 00:30:27.040 --> 00:30:28.100 cry out, 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:28.560 the final 00:30:28.560 --> 00:30:29.000 thing he 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.620 said was 00:30:29.620 --> 00:30:30.400 effectively a 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:30.780 prayer, 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:31.960 it was a 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.259 prayer, 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:32.860 Lord, 00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:34.519 open the 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.240 king of 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.000 England's 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.600 eyes. 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.420 And I'm 00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:41.220 assuming it's 00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:41.880 because of 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.240 what I 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:42.920 preached last 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:43.279 week, 00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.039 open his 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.460 eyes that 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:44.819 he might 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.299 see the 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.059 majesty and 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.680 the glory 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.299 of God 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:48.420 in 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:48.880 scripture. 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:52.019 The God 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.519 of grace 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.120 in scripture. 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.579 And so we 00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:54.840 pray, 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.460 yes Lord, 00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:56.100 open our 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:56.880 eyes too, 00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:58.019 that we 00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.680 might see the 00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.480 power and 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.160 the privilege 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:00.759 that we 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.860 have in 00:31:01.860 --> 00:31:02.340 reading the 00:31:02.340 --> 00:31:02.920 Bible in 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.440 a language 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:03.840 that we 00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:04.019 can 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.640 understand. 00:31:06.320 --> 00:31:07.000 Open our 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.300 eyes, 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:07.600 Lord, 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.160 so that we 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.920 might see 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:10.560 clearly the 00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:11.720 wonderful things 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.060 that are in 00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:12.640 your word. 00:31:12.800 --> 00:31:13.259 Open our 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.940 eyes to the 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:15.600 truth of 00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:16.759 salvation by 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.759 grace through 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.660 Christ alone 00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.820 that you have 00:31:19.820 --> 00:31:20.800 clearly revealed 00:31:20.800 --> 00:31:21.480 to us in 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.580 every page of 00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:22.920 scripture. 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.000 Open our 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.259 eyes, 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:25.480 Lord, 00:31:25.540 --> 00:31:25.779 that we 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.220 might see 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.940 your majesty 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:27.759 and your 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.340 meekness 00:31:28.340 --> 00:31:30.240 for our 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.539 joy. 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:31.740 Amen.