WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Good morning, everyone. I did notice that today's the day that we're talking about our sin, 00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:20.940 and yours truly has to talk about it. I reckon I may be the only person in here with a professorship 00:00:20.940 --> 00:00:28.000 in sin. And I had, I want to say this just before I start, I mean, obviously, there's 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:35.780 a sense in which this message is severe. And I'm not giving this message because I want to upset 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:42.820 anybody. I want just to try and teach you the truth of what Scripture says. When I was in local 00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:48.780 church ministry, I had this novel idea, which I drummed into my staff, that people should leave 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:56.299 church on a Sunday feeling better about life than before they arrived. And when you get a message 00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:02.079 like this to preach, that can't be guaranteed. So I'm not warning you or anything like that. This is 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:10.319 not a trigger warning. This is just simply to say that a message like this forces you, some of you, 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:16.500 to be more honest with yourselves and with God than you've ever been. 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:27.519 And in doing that, you will find the kind of freedom that Liz was talking about when she prayed 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:35.740 so powerfully just a few moments ago. So let's pray together, shall we, before I begin. 00:01:35.739 --> 00:01:50.780 Lord, we are so conscious that you are an amazingly gracious God. And Lord, in your grace and in your mercy, 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:59.879 you can forgive our sins. Lord, that in itself is unbelievable to us. So often we find it difficult 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:09.539 to forgive ourselves. But Lord, we can't comprehend the depth and the height and the depth of your grace. 00:02:10.539 --> 00:02:18.840 But Lord, we know we need it because even if we follow you, we know that we're not perfect. 00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:24.659 And we constantly need to plug into that source of grace and forgiveness. 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:34.479 And Lord, we pray that you'd help us be better disciples, better witnesses for you. 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:40.780 So come, Holy Spirit, and bring us under healthy conviction. 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:45.879 And give us the courage to do something about it. 00:02:46.460 --> 00:02:50.500 And we pray these things in Jesus' name. And the people who agreed, say it together. 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:51.759 Amen. 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:59.099 So my text this morning is from Romans chapter 3 and verse 23. 00:02:59.359 --> 00:03:06.879 For all have sinned, wrote St. Paul, and fall short of the glory of God. 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:09.060 All have sinned. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:18.159 Many years ago in the 20th century, G.K. Chesterton wrote into the Times newspaper 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:22.439 and the subject of the correspondence during that time was, 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:24.180 what's wrong with the world? 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:28.159 G.K. Chesterton just wrote a very short letter. 00:03:28.259 --> 00:03:29.819 It said, dear sir, I am. 00:03:30.579 --> 00:03:33.079 You're sincerely G.K. Chesterton. 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:37.800 As you know, G.K. Chesterton was a convert to the Catholic faith. 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:43.400 And I think like a lot of people, when they first become Christians, 00:03:43.760 --> 00:03:48.140 feel very burdened with the kind of life they've been living. 00:03:48.480 --> 00:03:55.880 And very grateful that God's grace is great enough to cover our sins. 00:03:57.720 --> 00:04:04.080 But first, if I may, just a very quick thumbnail print of what the Epistle to the Romans is about. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:07.440 Now, it's about salvation. 00:04:08.580 --> 00:04:12.600 It's about how we can be saved, what salvation is, 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:19.639 and most importantly, how you can have assurance that you are saved. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:24.300 I imagine there are a lot of people in church today, 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:27.259 kind of, if they think about salvation, 00:04:27.900 --> 00:04:29.780 and they think about the end of their lives, 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:31.759 which would be pretty rare in itself, 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:34.279 but if you did do that, 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:37.639 you'd probably be a kind of fingers crossed thing, 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:39.740 you know, maybe I've done enough good in my life 00:04:39.740 --> 00:04:42.159 to kind of get me past the finishing post. 00:04:44.180 --> 00:04:47.259 God doesn't want you to think like that. 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:49.939 God wants you to know, 00:04:50.939 --> 00:04:53.259 if you trust in Christ, that you are saved. 00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:55.620 John, in his epistle, wrote this. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.699 He said, we write these things. 00:04:57.699 --> 00:05:01.539 He's been writing about the salvation of God in Christ. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:03.519 We tell you these things, he said, 00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:05.639 so that you may know, 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:09.959 you may know that you have eternal life. 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:12.500 Let me ask you this. 00:05:12.779 --> 00:05:15.319 Would you feel a little more inspired or less inspired 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:17.379 if you left this church this morning 00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:21.899 and you knew that you were saved for eternity? 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:24.420 Think about it. 00:05:24.420 --> 00:05:31.759 Basically, in Romans, we're told that the wrath of God, 00:05:31.840 --> 00:05:33.140 and some of you would say, hang on, 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:35.740 how can such a loving God be wrathful? 00:05:35.900 --> 00:05:37.480 Well, any of you who are parents know 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:40.680 that loving parents can indeed be wrathful, 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:43.580 and I would argue need to be wrathful on occasions. 00:05:43.579 --> 00:05:50.439 That the wrath of God extends to the godless, 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:53.599 and it might be good homework for you to go away 00:05:53.599 --> 00:05:55.839 and read chapter one of Romans, 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:59.099 because if you read it and you understand it, 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:00.120 you'll be very clear, 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:04.279 you should not be surprised by the way the world is going. 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:07.399 What chapter one is about is that the godless 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:10.060 will be the sufferers of God's wrath, 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:12.120 and the world will go south. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:15.639 It will become idolatrous. 00:06:15.819 --> 00:06:17.639 It will become narcissistic. 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:20.100 It will become sexualized. 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:21.959 It will become everything 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:25.439 that healthy civilizations really don't want to be. 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:30.779 And Paul has a kind of framework 00:06:30.779 --> 00:06:32.420 that he's working with here, 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:35.199 and that is, Paul is trying to tell us 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:38.720 what the diagnosis of our humanity is. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:40.060 What is wrong with us? 00:06:41.780 --> 00:06:43.500 Second, he's trying to tell us 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:47.760 what the prognosis of that diagnosis is. 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:49.760 This is what will happen 00:06:49.760 --> 00:06:55.080 if you don't accept the diagnosis. 00:06:56.540 --> 00:06:58.920 And the third thing is, of course, 00:06:59.900 --> 00:07:01.800 Paul tells us about the cure. 00:07:04.380 --> 00:07:05.540 Amazing epistle. 00:07:06.220 --> 00:07:07.760 And, I mean, the mad thing is, 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:09.539 you know, when we write letters, 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.099 A, most of our letters aren't as long as Paul's, 00:07:12.099 --> 00:07:12.420 are they? 00:07:12.459 --> 00:07:13.259 Let's be honest. 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:15.659 And secondly, they're not quite as serious. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:18.459 You know, and Paul, I think, 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:20.399 only once in all of his epistles write, 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:21.779 wish you were here. 00:07:24.779 --> 00:07:26.819 You know, Paul's a serious-minded, 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:28.740 pharisaical rabbi 00:07:28.740 --> 00:07:31.120 who's converted to Jesus Christ. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:34.160 And because of the way the letter is, 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:36.079 I mean, we don't normally get letters 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.019 and just focus on one paragraph 00:07:38.019 --> 00:07:39.980 as we are doing today. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:42.560 I tend to read it from start to finish. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:46.699 So, what we're talking about today 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:48.639 is the diagnosis. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:50.120 All have sinned 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:53.459 and fall short of the glory of God. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:56.120 If you ask yourself the question, 00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:57.479 what is sin? 00:07:57.620 --> 00:07:59.099 I wonder what your answer would be. 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:00.479 I mean, some people start 00:08:00.479 --> 00:08:04.239 kind of expressing 00:08:04.239 --> 00:08:06.339 a false security 00:08:06.339 --> 00:08:08.000 because their first thought is, 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:09.979 go to the Ten Commandments. 00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:11.279 And most of us, 00:08:11.339 --> 00:08:12.379 at any one time, 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:14.319 are scoring about seven out of ten 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:15.039 in our favor. 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:16.879 I don't know about you, 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:18.319 but on my finals paper, 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.879 I would have happily settled for 70%. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:23.000 We kind of think, 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:24.219 that's enough. 00:08:24.579 --> 00:08:25.899 And yet, St. Paul tells us 00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:27.719 that when we break the law 00:08:27.719 --> 00:08:30.180 in just one tiny bit, 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:32.860 we break the whole of the law. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:35.779 There is no security in thinking, 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:37.659 seven out of ten of the commandments 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:38.899 is fine by me. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:42.879 Basically, what sin is, 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:46.460 is when I make the decision 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:49.280 openly or subliminally 00:08:49.280 --> 00:08:52.360 to go my way 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:54.840 rather than go God's way. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:59.000 At its very basic level, 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:00.480 that is what sin is. 00:09:00.800 --> 00:09:01.960 When I decide, 00:09:02.160 --> 00:09:04.160 either openly or inwardly, 00:09:04.280 --> 00:09:05.360 to go my way 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.519 rather than God's way, 00:09:06.800 --> 00:09:09.040 I am, as far as God is concerned, 00:09:09.560 --> 00:09:09.940 in sin. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.600 That's why Paul can so confidently say, 00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:14.420 all have sinned. 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.639 I guarantee 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:19.980 that if I said to you, 00:09:20.300 --> 00:09:22.259 is there anybody in church this morning 00:09:22.259 --> 00:09:23.420 who's never sinned? 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:27.540 None of you would put your hand up, 00:09:27.660 --> 00:09:28.440 and if you did, 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:29.740 the rest of us would be thinking, 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:30.400 liar. 00:09:34.400 --> 00:09:35.460 All have sinned, 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:36.100 because 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:39.040 from our birth, 00:09:39.139 --> 00:09:41.440 we've had this inward thing 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.500 to make ourselves 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:43.139 the center 00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:44.899 of the universe. 00:09:45.059 --> 00:09:45.500 We are, 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:47.340 as Richard Dawkins put it, 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:48.960 survival machines. 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:52.200 And the interesting thing was, 00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:53.480 the analysis, 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:55.980 the Judeo-Christian analysis 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:56.919 of humanity, 00:09:57.139 --> 00:09:58.220 that all have sinned 00:09:58.220 --> 00:09:58.980 and fall short 00:09:58.980 --> 00:09:59.980 of the glory of God, 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:01.399 held sway 00:10:01.399 --> 00:10:02.620 for centuries. 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:06.039 People didn't quibble with it. 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:07.940 They might not like it. 00:10:07.940 --> 00:10:09.320 They may not adhere 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:11.340 to the ramifications of it, 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:12.000 but 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.880 they believed 00:10:13.880 --> 00:10:15.160 that human beings 00:10:15.160 --> 00:10:16.700 were basically flawed. 00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:18.920 And then, 00:10:19.180 --> 00:10:20.680 in the 18th century, 00:10:21.560 --> 00:10:22.680 appeared this man, 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:24.780 Jean-Jacques Rousseau. 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:27.920 His theory was 00:10:27.920 --> 00:10:29.120 the mirror opposite. 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:31.400 And it was this. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:32.639 No, 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:33.939 that Judeo-Christian 00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:35.000 mumbo-jumbo 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:35.679 is not right. 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:36.240 No, 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:37.899 we are basically good, 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:39.840 but it is the totality 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:42.100 of our experiential environment 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:43.720 which spoils us. 00:10:45.899 --> 00:10:46.620 Ultimately, 00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:50.539 this is very wrong-headed thinking. 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:52.360 But the problem 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:54.120 with a lot of wrong-headed thinking 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:54.600 is, 00:10:55.439 --> 00:10:57.379 it has some half-truths. 00:10:58.340 --> 00:11:00.480 It is quite clearly true 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.019 that our experiential environment, 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:04.539 the way we're treated, 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:05.399 the way we are, 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.700 the things that we are 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:09.240 exposed to in our lives, 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:10.519 can impact 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:11.899 our personality 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:13.080 and the way we are. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:15.080 What do I mean by that? 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:15.360 Well, 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:16.519 of course, 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:18.680 if you've had appalling parents, 00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:22.120 you will really struggle with that 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:23.800 at some point in your life. 00:11:24.800 --> 00:11:25.659 If you've had 00:11:25.659 --> 00:11:27.620 terrible experiences 00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:28.539 in your life, 00:11:29.300 --> 00:11:30.120 you've been bullied, 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:31.299 or you've been abused, 00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:33.100 blah, blah, 00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:33.419 you know, 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:34.480 the list could go on, 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:36.759 then you will be 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:38.060 impacted by that. 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:39.299 Trust me, 00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:40.259 I have worked 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:41.879 with so many people 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:43.299 who were bullied 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:44.720 when they were in school 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.460 who have never got past it. 00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:47.940 Never. 00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:48.019 Never. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:50.919 Or if you feel 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:51.659 you've been treated 00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:52.620 on the wrong end 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:53.440 of inequality, 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:53.700 you know, 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.399 of equality. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:58.059 There's a program 00:11:58.059 --> 00:11:59.340 on Netflix 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:00.740 at the moment 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:02.899 which is called 00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:04.259 The Sex Life 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.259 of Adolf Hitler. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:07.360 And, you know, 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.379 I'm not recommending it, 00:12:08.459 --> 00:12:08.639 but 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.159 really what it is, 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:12.019 is a kind of 00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:13.659 psychological profile 00:12:13.659 --> 00:12:15.279 of this dreadful man 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:16.959 who did dreadful things. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:20.580 And, 00:12:20.940 --> 00:12:23.379 basically, 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:23.900 I mean, 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:25.220 this man's parents, 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:26.420 his mother was 00:12:26.420 --> 00:12:27.780 totally over-doting, 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:29.100 understandably in a way, 00:12:29.180 --> 00:12:29.860 because she lost 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:30.600 two sons 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:32.040 before Adolf, 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:32.920 the young Adolf, 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:33.519 was born. 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:36.120 So she 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:37.360 over-doted on him. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.040 His father 00:12:38.040 --> 00:12:39.420 was a drunken, 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:41.180 violent bully. 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:44.839 And out of 00:12:44.839 --> 00:12:45.799 that mix 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:47.639 appears 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:48.779 this horror story 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.319 of a man 00:12:49.319 --> 00:12:51.179 called Adolf Hitler. 00:12:51.739 --> 00:12:52.299 Rousseau 00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:53.699 did have a point 00:12:53.699 --> 00:12:54.179 that 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:54.599 our 00:12:54.599 --> 00:12:56.139 experiential 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:56.679 environment 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:57.899 does affect us. 00:12:58.139 --> 00:12:59.359 But the idea 00:12:59.359 --> 00:13:01.219 that we're just 00:13:01.219 --> 00:13:02.259 spoiled by 00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:04.039 that environmental 00:13:04.039 --> 00:13:05.139 experience 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:07.339 tends to suggest 00:13:07.339 --> 00:13:08.240 that there's no way 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:08.979 back from it. 00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:11.159 Tends to suggest 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:13.279 that we are more 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:14.500 sinned against 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:15.719 than sinning. 00:13:16.839 --> 00:13:17.759 That's why 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.939 you can understand 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:19.519 why it's such 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:20.500 a popular theory 00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.000 today. 00:13:21.959 --> 00:13:23.039 Drives a lot 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:23.860 of politics. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:25.779 We're basically 00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:26.240 good, 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:27.719 but it's the 00:13:27.719 --> 00:13:28.679 totality of our 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:29.959 experience alone 00:13:29.959 --> 00:13:31.759 which spoils us, 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:32.620 which ruins us. 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:32.980 No, 00:13:33.079 --> 00:13:33.679 says Scripture. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:35.779 We were 00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:38.139 objects of 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:38.939 God's wrath 00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:39.779 by nature, 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:40.500 said Paul 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.620 in Ephesians 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.460 chapter 2. 00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:45.720 I find it 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:47.259 a really 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.220 disturbing 00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:49.259 idea 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:51.779 that we are 00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:52.539 simply 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:54.659 the prisoners 00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:56.679 of our past. 00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:56.799 past. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:13:59.519 If that were 00:13:59.519 --> 00:13:59.919 true, 00:14:00.219 --> 00:14:00.699 you would 00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:01.439 indeed be 00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:02.079 people 00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:03.479 without hope. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:05.379 If there 00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:06.500 is no way 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.479 out of that 00:14:07.479 --> 00:14:09.799 other than 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:10.519 years of 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.239 psychotherapy, 00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:11.899 and I'm not 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:12.620 saying that 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:13.620 that's unhelpful, 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.719 but if there 00:14:15.719 --> 00:14:16.379 is no way 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:16.819 out, 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:18.299 I'm just 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.379 left on my 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:20.579 own with the 00:14:20.579 --> 00:14:21.579 totality of my 00:14:21.579 --> 00:14:22.659 experiential 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:23.419 environmental 00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:25.120 history, 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.039 that would 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:27.679 indeed 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:28.819 be without 00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:29.319 hope. 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:31.379 Rousseau 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.360 believed that 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.259 the only way 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:34.019 you could set 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.759 human beings 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.899 free was to 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.379 get rid of 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.000 all law. 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.459 Rousseau would 00:14:38.459 --> 00:14:39.019 have loved 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:40.539 the activist 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:41.259 line that we 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:41.620 should be 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.439 defunding the 00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:43.059 police at the 00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:43.360 moment. 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:44.399 That would 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:44.679 have been 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:45.539 right up his 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:45.819 alley. 00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:49.300 And you've 00:14:49.300 --> 00:14:50.080 seen on 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:50.780 your television 00:14:50.780 --> 00:14:51.780 what happens 00:14:51.780 --> 00:14:54.120 when the 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:54.780 police stand 00:14:54.780 --> 00:14:56.860 back at a 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.780 demonstration, 00:14:58.040 --> 00:14:58.560 and the next 00:14:58.560 --> 00:14:59.940 minute people 00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:00.660 are looting, 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.160 people are 00:15:02.160 --> 00:15:02.920 violent. 00:15:04.180 --> 00:15:04.960 No, if we 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:05.340 didn't have 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:06.200 police, I 00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:06.640 think our 00:15:06.640 --> 00:15:07.620 society probably 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.660 would be more 00:15:08.660 --> 00:15:09.400 of a pigsty 00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:10.300 than it often 00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:11.340 seems today. 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:16.120 We were 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.000 by nature 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.379 objects of 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.259 God's wrath, 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.399 wrote St. 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:20.879 Paul in 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.440 Ephesians 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:22.160 chapter 2, 00:15:22.280 --> 00:15:22.879 yet we are 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.399 stained. 00:15:25.540 --> 00:15:26.120 And you 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:26.580 will never 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.519 understand what 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:28.019 the Bible 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.920 teaches about 00:15:28.920 --> 00:15:29.720 the amazing 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.420 nature of 00:15:30.420 --> 00:15:31.639 God, unless 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.740 you understand 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:33.420 what the 00:15:33.420 --> 00:15:34.379 Bible teaches 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.759 about our 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.440 humanity, 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:39.800 about the 00:15:39.800 --> 00:15:40.420 terrifying 00:15:40.420 --> 00:15:41.280 outcomes, 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:42.360 when a 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.399 society becomes 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:43.920 godless, 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.840 self-centered, 00:15:45.420 --> 00:15:46.540 materialistic, 00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:48.440 and sexualized. 00:15:51.780 --> 00:15:52.639 All have 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.680 sinned and 00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:54.560 fall short of 00:15:54.560 --> 00:15:55.100 the glory of 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:55.240 God. 00:15:55.300 --> 00:15:55.620 Does it 00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:55.960 matter? 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:57.960 Well, if you 00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:58.360 think it 00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.200 doesn't matter, 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.360 then the 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.040 problem is, 00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:02.660 you're in a 00:16:02.660 --> 00:16:03.860 rather complacent 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.759 situation. 00:16:06.400 --> 00:16:06.820 Isn't it 00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:07.879 true that we 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.940 so often say 00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:09.680 to ourselves, 00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:10.300 when we 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.679 hear about 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:12.679 somebody who's 00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.439 done something 00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:14.219 terrible to 00:16:14.219 --> 00:16:15.019 another person, 00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:16.039 oh, they're 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:17.259 only human. 00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:19.379 Well, of course, 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:20.019 there's a truth 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.459 in there. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:22.819 When we say to 00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:23.599 ourselves, a 00:16:23.599 --> 00:16:24.079 little bit of 00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:24.959 this and a 00:16:24.959 --> 00:16:25.459 little bit of 00:16:25.459 --> 00:16:26.379 that never did 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.159 anybody any 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:28.240 harm. 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.120 Everything in 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.439 moderation, and 00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:33.779 yet, how 00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:34.399 often does 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.179 moderation 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:37.419 lead to 00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:37.879 addiction? 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.739 I never 00:16:40.739 --> 00:16:41.319 met an 00:16:41.319 --> 00:16:42.239 addict yet 00:16:42.239 --> 00:16:44.219 who set out 00:16:44.219 --> 00:16:44.599 when they 00:16:44.599 --> 00:16:45.000 took their 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:45.620 first drag 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.259 of a spliff 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:46.599 or their 00:16:46.599 --> 00:16:47.339 first glass 00:16:47.339 --> 00:16:48.120 of alcohol, 00:16:49.239 --> 00:16:49.579 or the 00:16:49.579 --> 00:16:50.099 first time 00:16:50.099 --> 00:16:50.759 they slept 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.559 with somebody, 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:52.459 thought to 00:16:52.459 --> 00:16:52.839 themselves, 00:16:52.959 --> 00:16:53.259 you know 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:53.859 what a 00:16:53.859 --> 00:16:54.479 great end 00:16:54.479 --> 00:16:54.979 game would 00:16:54.979 --> 00:16:55.659 be if I 00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:56.219 got addicted 00:16:56.219 --> 00:16:56.699 to this 00:16:56.699 --> 00:16:57.079 stuff. 00:16:58.099 --> 00:16:58.599 I never 00:16:58.599 --> 00:16:59.719 met anybody 00:16:59.719 --> 00:17:00.379 who wanted 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.059 to be like 00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:01.279 that. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.299 Online 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:03.120 gambling at 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:03.599 the moment. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.059 Nobody 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.980 plates their 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:07.539 first bet 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.180 for a tenner 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:08.859 on something 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:09.680 thinking, 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.740 it'd be great 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.099 one day, 00:17:11.159 --> 00:17:11.720 I'll be so 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.480 addicted to 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.240 this, I'll 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:13.759 be owing 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.379 millions. 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:17.539 No, we 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:17.960 need to be 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.599 careful with 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.519 sin, not 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:19.919 to be 00:17:19.919 --> 00:17:20.639 complacent. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:22.759 And of 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.599 course, the 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.519 big deal is 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.180 that the 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.039 scripture tells 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:28.680 us in the 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.399 book of the 00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:30.460 prophet Isaiah 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:32.279 that what 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:32.779 our sin 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.599 does is it 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.579 separates us 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.180 from God. 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:37.619 Separates 00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:37.940 us. 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:40.599 You ever 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:40.920 have the 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.819 feeling, God 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:43.859 seems a 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:44.420 little remote 00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:44.839 to me? 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.180 When I was 00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:47.700 in local 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.359 church ministry, 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:48.980 I had people 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.639 come and see 00:17:49.639 --> 00:17:50.180 me, and 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:50.559 they say 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.240 stuff like, 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:52.359 you know 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:52.680 what, I'm 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.440 feeling a 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.059 little distant 00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:54.579 from my 00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:55.359 wife at 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:55.839 the moment. 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:58.420 Oh, why 00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:58.759 would that 00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.000 be? 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.339 Well, you 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:00.980 know, things, 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.099 I'm working 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:02.519 hard to 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:02.740 work. 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.079 I said, 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:06.859 can I 00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:07.299 just ask 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:07.519 you a 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:07.899 question? 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:11.039 Is the 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:11.619 fact that 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.199 you're feeling 00:18:12.199 --> 00:18:12.839 remote from 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:13.919 your wife a 00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:14.679 cause or a 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:15.000 symptom? 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:15.539 What do you 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:15.740 mean? 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.959 Tell me what 00:18:18.959 --> 00:18:19.719 your relationship 00:18:19.719 --> 00:18:20.480 with God is 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.039 like at the 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:21.319 moment. 00:18:22.919 --> 00:18:23.519 Oh, well. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.339 You know, 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.099 things are not 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.419 great. 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.179 What do you 00:18:27.179 --> 00:18:27.399 mean? 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:27.919 There's a 00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:28.599 secretary at 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:28.919 work. 00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.519 You know, 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.219 she's young 00:18:32.219 --> 00:18:32.719 and she's 00:18:32.719 --> 00:18:33.639 very interested 00:18:33.639 --> 00:18:34.099 in my 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:34.759 life and 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.740 we've had a 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.119 couple of 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:36.539 lunches 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:37.000 together. 00:18:38.459 --> 00:18:39.059 I'm like, 00:18:39.179 --> 00:18:39.500 whoa, 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:41.500 whoa, 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:41.719 whoa, 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.019 whoa. 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.639 He said, 00:18:44.699 --> 00:18:45.099 what, do 00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:45.459 you have any 00:18:45.459 --> 00:18:46.099 advice for 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.279 me? 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.219 I said, 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:47.980 where do 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.339 you meet 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.759 this woman? 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.059 He said, 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:49.519 we travel 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.119 together on 00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:50.619 the commuter 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:51.219 train every 00:18:51.219 --> 00:18:51.679 morning. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.339 Do you have 00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:52.899 any advice? 00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.240 I said, 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:53.740 yeah, change 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.179 trains. 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:57.360 change trains 00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:59.240 and he did 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:00.720 and his 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.080 marriages 00:19:01.080 --> 00:19:01.820 survived. 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.539 Does sin 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:04.779 matter? 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:05.560 Of course it 00:19:05.560 --> 00:19:06.320 does because 00:19:06.320 --> 00:19:07.160 it separates 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:07.840 us from 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:08.240 God. 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.580 Is there 00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:13.860 a soul 00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:14.600 in church 00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:15.380 this morning 00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:17.460 who doesn't 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.100 know that to 00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:18.740 be true for 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.259 themselves? 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.740 When we do 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.519 stuff that we 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.460 know is wrong, 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.220 even when we 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:24.900 do stuff that 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.279 we're not 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:25.900 sure whether 00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.539 it's wrong, 00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:28.579 our relationship 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.259 with God 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:29.799 suffers. 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.180 And this, 00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:31.880 my friends, 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.079 is the season 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:33.740 of Lent. 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:37.079 Forty days 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:38.799 of fasting 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.799 and repenting. 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:40.380 I know we 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:40.819 don't do it 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.700 for forty days, 00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:43.380 but that's the 00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:44.160 idea of it, 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:44.720 that we're 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.380 supposed to 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.100 turn inward 00:19:46.100 --> 00:19:46.860 on ourselves 00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:47.500 for forty 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:49.900 days and 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.799 examine our 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.440 relationship 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.180 with God. 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:55.180 in the 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.200 early church 00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:56.880 part of 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.640 Lent was 00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:59.140 that if 00:19:59.140 --> 00:19:59.660 you committed 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.420 a sin and 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:01.079 it was publicly 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.840 known about, 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.160 right? 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.420 I mean, 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:03.860 you'd be 00:20:03.860 --> 00:20:04.559 thanking God 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.039 you were not 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:05.660 part of that 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.340 early church. 00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:06.880 I'll tell you 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:07.200 why. 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:08.960 Because if they 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.579 committed a 00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.200 serious sin, 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:10.840 they had to 00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.360 come up to 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:11.880 the front of 00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:12.460 the church 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.519 and tell the 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.019 rest of the 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.660 church about 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:14.940 it. 00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.400 Then the 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:16.920 priest would 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.519 pray a prayer 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.220 of absolution 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:18.600 on them 00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:19.279 and then 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.539 he would 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:19.900 give them 00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:20.440 penances. 00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:22.420 Go and 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.279 recite the 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.799 Hail Mary 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.640 a few times 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:26.180 or give 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:26.640 the church 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.120 a bit more 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:27.480 money. 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.440 Only ministers 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:30.819 are in 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.259 favour of 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:31.440 that. 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:35.360 And that's 00:20:35.360 --> 00:20:35.759 what Lent 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.100 was. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.720 During the 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.339 forty days 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:37.900 of Lent, 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.680 repentant 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.839 sinners were 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:42.000 excommunicated, 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:42.759 not allowed to 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.620 receive communion 00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.460 for those forty 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:44.980 days, and 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.600 then on Easter 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:47.439 Sunday, the 00:20:47.439 --> 00:20:47.799 day of 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.399 resurrection, 00:20:49.139 --> 00:20:49.419 they'd be 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.099 allowed back 00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.319 in. 00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:51.159 Imagine that. 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:51.859 Imagine the 00:20:51.859 --> 00:20:53.179 joy of a 00:20:53.179 --> 00:20:54.119 repentant sinner 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:54.819 being allowed 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:56.579 back into 00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.099 the faith 00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:57.779 community. 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.579 What we 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.299 don't have in 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:01.819 our church 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.759 today is 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.579 any sense 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:04.480 that when we 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:04.879 sin as 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:05.519 individuals, 00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:06.179 we're letting 00:21:06.179 --> 00:21:06.639 the side 00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:06.939 down. 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.199 This is 00:21:10.199 --> 00:21:10.899 your family. 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.599 This should 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:14.259 hurt you 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.399 like when 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:16.000 your kids 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.720 misbehave, 00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:17.300 etc., 00:21:17.300 --> 00:21:17.680 etc. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.600 And now, 00:21:20.780 --> 00:21:21.259 friends, to 00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.000 end, a 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.060 spoiler alert. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:25.500 Because I'm 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:25.900 not talking 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.460 about sin. 00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.280 Next week, 00:21:27.780 --> 00:21:28.360 you're going 00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:28.940 to get a 00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:30.100 better exposition 00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:30.960 of the 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:33.340 cure, the 00:21:33.340 --> 00:21:33.860 cross. 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.560 Paul wrote 00:21:38.560 --> 00:21:39.540 this in 00:21:39.540 --> 00:21:40.100 Ephesians 00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:40.840 chapter 1, 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.640 in him, 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.340 in Jesus, 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.420 we have 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.060 redemption 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.279 through his 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:45.599 blood, 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.299 the forgiveness 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.159 of sins 00:21:47.159 --> 00:21:48.379 in accordance 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:48.940 with the 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:50.299 riches of 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.039 his grace. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.299 Those Jews 00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.480 of old had 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.460 a very simple 00:21:59.460 --> 00:21:59.859 idea. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:00.379 You remember 00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:00.879 in the Old 00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:01.539 Testament how 00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:01.980 you read 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:03.119 about sacrifice. 00:22:04.419 --> 00:22:05.139 As if you're a 00:22:05.139 --> 00:22:05.799 rich person, 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.480 you take a 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.859 full-grown bull 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.819 without blemish 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.579 and have it 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.240 slaughtered on 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:10.659 the altar. 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.160 If you didn't 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:11.640 have so much 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.460 money, you 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:12.980 could take a 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:13.360 couple of 00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:13.680 pigeons. 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:15.600 And the 00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.560 idea behind 00:22:16.560 --> 00:22:17.440 that sacrificial 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.920 system was a 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:20.480 life for a 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:20.900 life. 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.340 I know that 00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:24.140 you animal rights 00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:24.900 activists won't 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.880 like that system 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.700 whatsoever. 00:22:28.040 --> 00:22:28.700 But that's what 00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.259 they thought. 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.200 That's why when 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:32.480 Paul is writing 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.420 in Ephesians 1, 00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:34.580 he uses that 00:22:34.580 --> 00:22:35.320 rather strange 00:22:35.320 --> 00:22:35.759 language. 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:37.420 In Jesus, we 00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.200 have redemption 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.360 through his 00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:42.640 blood, through 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:45.759 his death on 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.380 the cross of 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:46.920 Calvary. 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:50.000 Bearing shame 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:52.519 and scoffing 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.660 rude, in my 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:57.080 place, condemned 00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:57.759 he stood. 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.000 You know, 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.180 St. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:02.319 Paul described 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.000 himself, this 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.720 man who we 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.319 put in stained 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.319 glass windows and 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.279 venerate over the 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.680 centuries. 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.200 St. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:08.960 Paul described 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.860 himself as the 00:23:09.860 --> 00:23:10.720 chief of 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.160 sinners. 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.460 I have only 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.180 one quibble with 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:15.980 that and I 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.759 might be able to 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.460 challenge him on 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:17.940 that point. 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:22.740 Friends, it's 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.160 Lent. 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.500 Take your 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.519 relationship with 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.920 God a notch 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.400 further. 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.340 Think about what 00:23:32.340 --> 00:23:33.240 you've heard this 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.620 morning. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:35.100 Not my ideas, 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:36.299 the ideas of 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.759 this book, 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:37.720 inspired by the 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.339 Holy Spirit, 00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:38.960 for our 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.460 edification, 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:40.099 for our 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.539 rebuke, 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.259 and for our 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:42.099 sanctification, 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.200 to make us 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.099 more like 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:45.119 Jesus Christ. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.319 All, for 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.940 all have 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.659 sinned, and 00:23:50.659 --> 00:23:52.240 fall short of 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.259 the glory of 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.639 God. 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:57.460 I wonder if 00:23:57.460 --> 00:24:00.059 you have any 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.680 sense of 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.740 personal conviction 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.680 this morning. 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:05.580 I wonder if 00:24:05.580 --> 00:24:06.240 this Lent 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.100 could be a 00:24:07.100 --> 00:24:08.360 moment when 00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.460 you stand up 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:09.980 for Jesus 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.200 and stand in 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.900 front of him, 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:13.820 metaphorically 00:24:13.820 --> 00:24:14.320 speaking, 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:14.799 naked, 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.240 leave your 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:15.820 clothes on, 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:19.640 and you 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.060 just, 00:24:20.820 --> 00:24:21.240 in the 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:21.840 silence of 00:24:21.840 --> 00:24:22.279 your own 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:22.640 heart, 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.820 tell him the 00:24:25.820 --> 00:24:26.240 truth. 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.640 Tell him what 00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:30.460 it is you 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.259 would love to 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.279 be saved from, 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.299 and know 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.619 the power, 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:39.119 the power of 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:39.859 his redeeming 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:41.160 blood in your 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.539 life.