WEBVTT

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 We're going to read today's Bible passage now from Colossians chapter 2, starting at verse 6 and through to verse 23 at the end of the chapter.

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 So starting at Colossians chapter 2, verse 6.

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 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

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 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to the human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

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 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been fulfilled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

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 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

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 And you who were dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.

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 This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

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 He disarmed the rulers and authorities, and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him.

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 Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.

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 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

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 Let no one disqualify you insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the head from which the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

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 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations?

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 Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch, referring to things that all perish as they are used, according to human precepts and teachings.

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 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they have no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

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 Well, good morning, everyone.

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 Question to get you thinking this morning.

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 Is Australian culture, do you think, less religious, less spiritually shaped than it was, say, 50 or 100 years ago?

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 Is it more anti-Christian?

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 Now, I suspect, seeing the responses of some of you, you might be thinking to yourself, is he serious?

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 Of course it's much less religious.

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 Not only is it less religious, but it's aggressively anti-religious and specifically anti-Christian.

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 And you can understand that because hardly a day passes without hearing on the news or on papers or wherever you get your news feeds from.

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 Hardly a day passes without somebody claiming that religion is always the problem.

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 It's never the solution.

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 It's a bit of a catch cry almost.

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 A go-to position for so many so quickly.

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 Well, you know, in spite of all that, I would argue that the cultural air we breathe in Australia is more religious than it's been in the past.

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 It's more spiritually shaped than it has ever been, I would argue.

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 And that's true even as it increasingly and aggressively rejects historic Bible-based Christianity.

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 So, Christianity is on the nose.

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 Bible-based Christianity is on the nose.

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 But that doesn't make us any less religious as a nation.

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 In fact, I think we're more religious.

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 So, a little bit, if you come with me in a little bit of a word study.

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 The word religion comes from the Latin word re-ligari.

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 It's printed in your outline there, if you can't pick up my accent.

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 And the word re-ligari means to rebind, to tie back together something that's become disconnected, separated.

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 And the reason why you re-ligari is so it becomes complete and healthy again.

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 It restores well-being.

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 And in the middle of that word re-ligari is the word that we get the word ligament from.

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 A ligament is a strong sinew that holds bonds together to give our skeletons structure and integrity.

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 So, religion, therefore, is a person's search for reconnection into our universe in a way that's meaningful.

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 It gives purpose, meaning.

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 It gives ultimate well-being.

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 And it gives completeness as a person.

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 So, using that definition of religion, hopefully you're starting to think,

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 Oh, actually, I can see that now.

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 People are very religious.

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 That's very much a front of mind task for people.

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 Most commonly, it's a search to connect the human and the divine.

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 So that a person can die without fear of being rejected by God.

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 But it's not always like that.

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 Some people refuse to admit or even countenance the idea of a supreme being that we would call God.

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 But even they create their own form of religion.

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 Because they also are on the search for meaning and purpose and well-being and completeness.

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 They might reject any notion of a supreme being, but they're going to create their own form of religion.

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 And that religion might well be a passion for science.

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 That's where I find my meaning and purpose and well-being.

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 Or it might be shopping.

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 You can see all around Australia today, people are in the temples worshipping with a passion.

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 The shopping centres.

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 It could be travel.

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 It could be sex.

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 It could be volunteering.

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 It could be animal and human rights causes.

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 It could be social media, self-promotion, so you make yourself your God and worship yourself.

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 Or it could be a thousand other things.

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 But they're all religions in the sense that people are passionately committed to them and engaged in them

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 because they hope that those things will deliver meaning and purpose and a sense of well-being and completeness in life.

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 But many still, of course, look to supernatural beings.

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 They might reject the God of the Bible, but they still look to a host of supernatural beings.

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 Some of them are just fanciful.

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 But people want a beating heart at the centre of our universe.

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 They don't want just a mechanistic world, the world of science.

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 They want something warm, relational.

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 And so they reject the God of the Bible, but they're still looking for some sort of supreme being out there that they can relate to.

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 And, of course, that's how long is a piece of string once you start to go down that rabbit hole.

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 But whatever form it takes, I would also suggest this.

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 That at a practical level, self-made religion is like a bucket full of holes.

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 It leaks.

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 And it constantly needs to be topped up.

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 And I think that describes and explains why our society is so restless, so discontent,

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 so constantly focused and absorbed and expending our energy in the new experience.

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 That thing that's going to be better and better replaces that which has been in the past.

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 People always looking and needing for a top-up, some new expression, some new affirmation of meaning and purpose.

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 Because the bucket we put our hopes in leaks.

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 And leaks badly.

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 And into this smorgasbord or buffy approach to life where people grab a bit of this and a bit of that in the search for completeness or authenticity,

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 finding true self, whatever that is,

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 into that we see in sharp contrast to it,

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 God's gospel message.

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 Which is

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 that Jesus

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 is the person

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 every person is looking for.

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 Jesus

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 is the ligament

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 which connects us back into relationship with God

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 and delivers the meaning and purpose and the well-being and the completeness

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 that we're all searching for

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 in one form or another.

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 But I need to add quickly here,

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 the gospel is not another religion.

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 That's the uniqueness of the gospel.

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 It's not about what people do for God

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 or to try and allay our fear for God by things we do.

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 No, the gospel is about what God does for us.

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 It's the total opposite of religion.

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 It's about what God has done for me

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 and continues to do in me

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 through Jesus.

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 And the gospel says,

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 and we'll see it now as we jump into Colossians,

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 the gospel said that

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 God in Jesus has done everything

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 needed for me and you

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 and anybody else in this world

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 to reconnect

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 to God perfectly

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 and forever.

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 The gospel of Jesus, therefore,

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 is a full bucket

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 full to the brim

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 with no leaks,

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 no holes.

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 We respond simply by living

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 in the light of his promise and grace.

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 And that's what Paul wants

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 these believers at Colossae

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 to understand.

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 And so throughout his letter,

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 and we're well into it now,

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 throughout his letter,

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 he's just saying this one thing

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 over and over again.

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 I've used the illustration of a diamond

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 with all the facets in a diamond.

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 There's one gospel diamond

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 Paul wants us to understand.

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 But as he goes through,

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 his repetition isn't complete.

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 He just turns the diamond

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 each time he goes through the cycle

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 and another facet of the gospel

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 shines and glitters and strikes us.

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 And we see the same

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 as we jump into verse 6 of chapter 2

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 where Paul says,

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 therefore,

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 so that's a summary

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 based on what I've already said,

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 says Paul.

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 Therefore,

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 as you received Christ Jesus the Lord,

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 so walk in him

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 or so live in him.

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 Now,

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 we've seen this pattern right through.

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 Paul starts with

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 what is already true

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 based on the past,

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 what God has already done

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 for them in Christ.

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 And on the basis of that,

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 then he says,

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 this is what it means

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 for now and for the future,

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 for how you live.

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 Their walk

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 or their daily lifestyle

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 now and into the future,

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 says Paul,

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 ought to be in total sync

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 with the beginnings

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 of your spiritual walk,

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 your spiritual life.

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 When you became a believer

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 in Jesus,

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 that very,

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 the very same things

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 that are important then

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 ought now

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 to be the things

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 that are important

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 in your daily life.

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 It was grace

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 and faith

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 back then,

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 grace and faith

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 now

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 and into the future.

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 Taking God

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 at his word

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 back then,

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 believing as promises

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 of forgiveness

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 and renewal

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 from the inside out.

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 That's how you became

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 a Christian.

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 That's what it is

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 to live as a Christian.

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 And verse 7,

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 Paul uses two metaphors

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 or two picture words

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 to make us point powerfully.

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 The first one is

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 rooted in Christ.

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 It's an agricultural picture.

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 In other words,

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 in the past,

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 says Paul,

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 by God's grace

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 and through Jesus' death

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 and resurrection,

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 you were organically

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 joined to Jesus

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 as inseparably

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 as roots are

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 to a tree.

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 The secret of thriving now

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 is knowing

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 that you're rooted

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 in Jesus

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 and he is the source

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 of life

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 and vitality.

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 And then the second metaphor

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 is built up in him.

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 It's a construction metaphor.

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 In the past,

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 Jesus became

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 the foundation.

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 When they became Christians,

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 Jesus became

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 their foundation

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 upon which

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 they now rest

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 and the superstructure,

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 which is the house,

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 is emerging,

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 is building

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 and growing.

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 And of course,

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 we know

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 that the shape

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 of the foundations

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 ultimately shape

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 and define

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 the building

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 that grows on them

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 or is put on them.

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 And then Paul

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 goes on and says,

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 established in the faith

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 just as you were taught.

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 Again,

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 he's pulling those

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 two picture words

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 together

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 and he's saying,

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 look,

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 everything you are

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 as a believer,

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 everything you are

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 as a believer

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 was actually settled

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 in the past

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 when you became

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 a believer.

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 when you first

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 heard and responded

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 to the truth

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 of the gospel

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 and remember

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 back in chapter 1,

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 that truth

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 was presented to them

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 by Epaphras

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 and Paul's now

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 affirming

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 and standing

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 alongside Epaphras

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 and said,

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 yeah,

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 there only is one

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 gospel truth.

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 Epaphras told you,

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 I'm telling you again.

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 and that includes

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 both the unseen

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 spiritual realities

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 of being organically

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 connected to Christ

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 and the visible

00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:27.620
 practical outworking

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.500
 of that reality

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.779
 in this daily life

00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:30.659
 as the building

00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.980
 emerges and grows.

00:15:33.420 --> 00:15:33.960
 Everything

00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:38.240
 is in Jesus.

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.560
 All of God's grace,

00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.759
 all of God's renewing

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.340
 power to them

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:42.840
 in Jesus,

00:15:43.660 --> 00:15:44.259
 prompted them,

00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.820
 the last verse 7,

00:15:47.540 --> 00:15:48.379
 to abound

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.420
 or the word

00:15:49.420 --> 00:15:50.100
 is overflow.

00:15:50.660 --> 00:15:51.200
 Same idea.

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.160
 Well, the word's abound

00:15:52.160 --> 00:15:52.759
 but the picture

00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:53.500
 is overflow, sorry.

00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:55.360
 It just,

00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:57.379
 when you grasp this,

00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:57.899
 says Paul,

00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:00.080
 you yourselves

00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:01.259
 know the response.

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.980
 You just overflow

00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:04.620
 with thanksgiving.

00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:09.759
 You recognize

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.700
 you're enjoying

00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.400
 the fullness

00:16:11.400 --> 00:16:12.320
 or the completeness

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.100
 which is yours

00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:14.140
 in and through Jesus.

00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:15.540
 Your saviour

00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:16.280
 and your lord

00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:17.580
 and thanks

00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:19.620
 and thanksgiving

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:22.660
 is just the natural response.

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:24.220
 God has done it for you.

00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:24.960
 You've received it

00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:25.460
 as a gift.

00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:26.700
 Wow.

00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:31.500
 So Jesus was

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.680
 their complete saviour.

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.300
 So they can now say,

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.600
 our reality

00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.860
 as believers

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.720
 is that we are

00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.680
 in Christ.

00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:43.700
 His work for them

00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:44.879
 in his death

00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.639
 and resurrection

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.800
 was totally sufficient.

00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.920
 Totally sufficient

00:16:50.920 --> 00:16:51.360
 as we've seen

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:51.960
 in past weeks

00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:53.000
 to transfer them

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:53.700
 from the domain

00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.220
 of darkness

00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:55.560
 into the kingdom

00:16:55.560 --> 00:16:56.320
 of his light,

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.279
 of his son

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.500
 in light and life.

00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:03.399
 To qualify them now

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:04.779
 to have an inheritance

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:06.200
 with Christ

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:06.920
 in heaven.

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:09.620
 That's how sufficient

00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:10.740
 the work of Jesus was.

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:11.940
 Totally sufficient

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:13.720
 for everything they need

00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:15.060
 to be back

00:17:15.060 --> 00:17:15.900
 in perfect

00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:18.120
 forever relationship

00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:18.800
 with God.

00:17:19.800 --> 00:17:20.300
 He was their

00:17:20.300 --> 00:17:21.340
 complete saviour.

00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.259
 But also,

00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.460
 going back to chapter 1,

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:25.140
 he was their absolute lord.

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.220
 So that they could say

00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:30.259
 as we saw last week,

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.460
 not only am I in Christ,

00:17:32.580 --> 00:17:33.820
 but Christ is in me.

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:38.339
 In other words,

00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.119
 Jesus has taken up

00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:40.659
 residence

00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:41.859
 in his renewed people.

00:17:42.159 --> 00:17:43.159
 Marie demonstrated

00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:44.139
 it wonderfully there

00:17:44.139 --> 00:17:45.059
 with colour and water

00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.519
 this morning.

00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:46.439
 Jesus has taken up

00:17:46.439 --> 00:17:46.939
 residence

00:17:46.939 --> 00:17:48.439
 in his renewed people

00:17:48.439 --> 00:17:49.559
 through his Holy Spirit

00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:52.099
 so that his saved people

00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:53.480
 are forever united

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.519
 with Christ.

00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:59.159
 And that union

00:17:59.159 --> 00:17:59.619
 with Christ

00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.899
 is so complete

00:18:00.899 --> 00:18:02.119
 that as we saw

00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:02.799
 in past weeks,

00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.680
 God now views us

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:06.319
 as being like Christ

00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:08.379
 and promises

00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:09.159
 that when we finally

00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:09.980
 get to be home

00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:10.460
 with Christ,

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.379
 we will be

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.839
 completely like Christ

00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:13.659
 and free from

00:18:13.659 --> 00:18:15.119
 every vestige of sin.

00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:17.220
 Now,

00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:18.019
 I just want to pause

00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:18.539
 there for a moment

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:20.700
 because those two things

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.839
 have to go together.

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.339
 If we said

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.779
 that Christ's death

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.480
 was sufficient

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.779
 for everything we needed,

00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:31.180
 but wasn't applied

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:31.619
 to us

00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:32.739
 and guaranteed to us

00:18:32.739 --> 00:18:34.659
 by union with Christ,

00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:36.139
 then the sufficiency

00:18:36.139 --> 00:18:36.739
 of Christ

00:18:36.739 --> 00:18:38.579
 would not give us

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.759
 any great comfort

00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:40.359
 or security.

00:18:42.479 --> 00:18:43.659
 We need them both.

00:18:44.139 --> 00:18:45.139
 If, on the other hand,

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.079
 we said,

00:18:46.199 --> 00:18:46.299
 well,

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:46.959
 we've got union

00:18:46.959 --> 00:18:47.639
 with Christ,

00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:48.779
 but then there's

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.559
 a question over

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:51.459
 how sufficient

00:18:51.459 --> 00:18:52.359
 and how complete

00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.159
 Christ's death

00:18:53.159 --> 00:18:54.199
 was to deal with sin

00:18:54.199 --> 00:18:55.159
 and restore us

00:18:55.159 --> 00:18:56.019
 to a relationship

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:56.799
 with God,

00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:57.459
 then there would also

00:18:57.459 --> 00:18:59.299
 be uncertainty for us.

00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:00.480
 But you see,

00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:01.200
 we've got both.

00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.960
 We're united with Christ

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.879
 whose death

00:19:03.879 --> 00:19:05.039
 was totally sufficient

00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:05.519
 for us,

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:06.859
 Saviour and Lord,

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.480
 the complete package

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:12.899
 or fullness in him,

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:14.519
 as the verses

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:16.019
 9 and 10 say.

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.399
 Paul's emphasis

00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:22.039
 could not be stronger.

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:24.659
 And the practical

00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:25.559
 outworking of that

00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:25.940
 is,

00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:28.220
 as you began,

00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.920
 as you have begun

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.000
 your new life

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:31.339
 in Jesus

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:32.099
 in the past,

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.839
 so you're to continue

00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:36.359
 to grow in Jesus.

00:19:37.639 --> 00:19:39.119
 You began with Jesus,

00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:40.960
 grace and faith.

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.839
 You continue with Jesus,

00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:44.980
 grace and faith.

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:49.140
 Now,

00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:49.799
 as believers,

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.019
 I think we're often

00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:53.360
 guilty of focusing

00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:54.599
 more on becoming

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.180
 a Christian,

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.099
 focusing on Jesus

00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:00.039
 as Saviour

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:02.539
 rather than on

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.480
 continuing

00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:05.360
 in Christ,

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.640
 demonstrating

00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:09.000
 Jesus as Lord.

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:14.940
 I think we actually,

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.740
 for various reasons,

00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.380
 which I don't have time

00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:17.960
 to get into this morning,

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:19.519
 we actually might like

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.500
 the notion of Saviour

00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:22.500
 because of what it offers us

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:25.599
 more than the concept

00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:27.039
 of Lord,

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:29.119
 which demands of us.

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:34.000
 But the two are inseparable.

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:40.019
 Paul won't allow

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.700
 a separation.

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.640
 Becoming a believer,

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.799
 complete Saviour,

00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:49.000
 is not the end of the road,

00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:49.859
 it's just the start

00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:50.319
 of the road

00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:52.140
 of living under

00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:53.960
 the absolute Lord.

00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:58.920
 And that leads us

00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.720
 into the second question.

00:20:59.900 --> 00:21:02.200
 Each week in this series

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:03.400
 we've been repeating

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.019
 a question,

00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.980
 a second question.

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.779
 What prevents us

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.920
 from experiencing

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.779
 fullness

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:08.899
 fullness

00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:10.500
 or completeness

00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.019
 in Christ?

00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:13.599
 Well, each week

00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:14.000
 we've seen

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.519
 the answer is actually

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.440
 relatively simple

00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.220
 to understand.

00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:19.240
 A bit more tricky

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.619
 to apply in our lives,

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.339
 but simple to understand.

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.339
 Given what Paul said

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:26.059
 in 6 and 7,

00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:27.099
 the answer has to be

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:29.099
 not living,

00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.460
 what prevents us

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.579
 from experiencing

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:31.920
 fullness?

00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.240
 Well,

00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.519
 not living

00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:35.480
 in the light of

00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:37.119
 who we are

00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.839
 in Jesus.

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:40.500
 not utilizing

00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.399
 the resources

00:21:41.399 --> 00:21:42.599
 which are already ours

00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.500
 by virtue of

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.859
 being in Christ

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.740
 and Christ

00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.440
 in us.

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.879
 But positively,

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.779
 the life of faith

00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.539
 is staying

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.220
 totally focused

00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.160
 on Jesus

00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.660
 for our fullness

00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.480
 and completeness.

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.860
 in other words,

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:07.460
 keeping clear

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:07.960
 in our mind

00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:09.200
 that the bucket

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.940
 we have,

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:10.960
 the gospel bucket

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.500
 of Jesus

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:13.440
 is full to the brim

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.700
 and doesn't leak.

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:25.100
 we don't need

00:22:25.100 --> 00:22:26.319
 to add something

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:26.880
 to Jesus.

00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:29.200
 We don't need

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.039
 to wander off

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:31.140
 down some other path

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:31.819
 which seems to be

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.860
 the case in Colossae

00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:33.360
 where there was

00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:34.480
 some group saying,

00:22:34.580 --> 00:22:34.720
 well look,

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:35.940
 no you need a new

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.920
 and better experience.

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.840
 Well Jesus was great

00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:38.360
 to start with,

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:38.980
 but somehow

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.140
 you need to move

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.000
 beyond that

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.880
 to a deeper

00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:43.080
 experience,

00:22:43.260 --> 00:22:44.060
 perhaps a separate

00:22:44.060 --> 00:22:44.660
 experience,

00:22:44.860 --> 00:22:45.900
 a second experience.

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:46.960
 Paul says,

00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:47.280
 no,

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.680
 your bucket's

00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.600
 already full.

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.200
 And here's

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:57.040
 the problem we see.

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.200
 If

00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:01.140
 with this picture language

00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:01.740
 the bucket's

00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.600
 already full

00:23:02.600 --> 00:23:04.520
 because of what

00:23:04.520 --> 00:23:05.640
 Jesus has done

00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:06.260
 for us

00:23:06.260 --> 00:23:06.880
 and is doing

00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:07.300
 in us,

00:23:08.540 --> 00:23:09.500
 then as we try

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.460
 to add something

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.160
 to that bucket

00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:14.000
 we actually

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.779
 displace

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.600
 something that's

00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.200
 already in it.

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.040
 So if we try

00:23:21.040 --> 00:23:21.900
 and add something

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.640
 to the gospel

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.540
 bucket of what

00:23:23.540 --> 00:23:24.500
 Jesus has done

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:24.980
 for us

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.620
 and continues

00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:26.200
 to do in us,

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.360
 then we're actually

00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:28.540
 displacing some

00:23:28.540 --> 00:23:29.340
 aspect of what

00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:29.860
 Jesus has already

00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:30.880
 done or is doing

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.140
 in us,

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.259
 which is essentially

00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.500
 to trash the gospel.

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.300
 Diminish God's

00:23:39.300 --> 00:23:39.600
 gospel.

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:41.279
 And Paul warned

00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.980
 against this in

00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.639
 verses 8 through

00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:43.119
 23.

00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.599
 And a lot of

00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:47.259
 this is illustrative,

00:23:47.419 --> 00:23:47.980
 so I'm going to

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.659
 cover it very,

00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.059
 very quick.

00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:49.279
 Well,

00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:50.619
 do I do anything

00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.139
 very quickly,

00:23:51.219 --> 00:23:51.379
 you say.

00:23:51.659 --> 00:23:52.219
 I'm going to try

00:23:52.219 --> 00:23:52.740
 and cover it as

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.439
 quickly as I can.

00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:56.559
 As we've said

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.159
 over the last few

00:23:57.159 --> 00:23:57.319
 weeks,

00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.259
 as Christians,

00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:58.980
 I've said that to

00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:00.219
 myself more recently.

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.759
 I have to keep

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.980
 remembering to preach

00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:04.079
 the gospel to myself

00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:05.319
 because I forget it.

00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:06.459
 I forget the basics.

00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:08.200
 How quickly do I

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:08.900
 forget the basics

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:10.120
 and how extremely

00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:10.980
 do I forget the

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.340
 basics?

00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:13.680
 And that's what

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.360
 Paul's doing in

00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:15.140
 these verses 8

00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:15.819
 through to 23.

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.140
 So I'm turning

00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:18.759
 into a couple of

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.240
 questions.

00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:21.819
 8 through to 15.

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.779
 Who captivates

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.519
 your walk

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:27.240
 or your life?

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.039
 If you look at

00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.480
 verse 8,

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.460
 Paul says,

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.720
 say to it that

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.740
 no one takes you

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:33.100
 captive by philosophy

00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:35.000
 and empty deceit

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:37.180
 according to human

00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.700
 tradition,

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.180
 according to the

00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:40.100
 elemental spirits

00:24:40.100 --> 00:24:40.620
 of the world

00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:42.120
 and not

00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:43.400
 according to

00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:43.779
 Christ.

00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:51.019
 Whose pathway

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.960
 are you walking?

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.220
 Paul gives us

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:53.960
 only two options

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.200
 here.

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.840
 Either you're

00:24:57.840 --> 00:24:58.759
 walking in the

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.539
 light of who you

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.359
 already are in

00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:00.779
 Christ,

00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:02.839
 filled to the

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.039
 brim,

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:03.799
 totally filled,

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.720
 satisfied and

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.640
 focused on Jesus'

00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.140
 promises,

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:11.480
 or you're

00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.259
 cutting your own

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:14.359
 pathway according

00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:16.099
 to tradition and

00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:16.660
 the things of the

00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:16.920
 world.

00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.799
 Pretty stark

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.180
 options,

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.559
 aren't they?

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:28.039
 either we're

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:29.119
 wandering along,

00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.859
 trusting our own

00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.220
 wisdom,

00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.240
 and of course,

00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:33.759
 if you've done

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.679
 any bushwalking,

00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:37.759
 Alice and I,

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.220
 even when we were

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.879
 last holidays,

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.480
 we were chatting

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:39.960
 away and we were

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.700
 walking and suddenly

00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:42.700
 I realized we were

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.379
 following an animal

00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:43.700
 track.

00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.359
 It wasn't a form

00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:44.960
 track at all.

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.579
 We were just

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.079
 wandering,

00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:50.099
 trusting Alison's

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.359
 wisdom.

00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:53.119
 And I suddenly

00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.000
 realized she'd got

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.500
 me lost,

00:25:54.939 --> 00:25:56.559
 even though I was

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:56.959
 in front.

00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:58.599
 You can do that

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.119
 when you're Irish.

00:25:59.219 --> 00:25:59.740
 It's follow me,

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.500
 I'll be right behind

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:00.740
 you.

00:26:00.959 --> 00:26:02.019
 That works when

00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.399
 you're Irish.

00:26:04.219 --> 00:26:05.199
 You just get more

00:26:05.199 --> 00:26:05.740
 and more lost,

00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:06.399
 and when you're

00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:06.679
 wandering,

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.199
 you don't even

00:26:07.199 --> 00:26:08.019
 realize how lost

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.379
 you are.

00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:11.039
 Or,

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.039
 allowing ourselves

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:13.199
 to be deceived,

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:15.960
 we can be taken

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:19.039
 captive by some

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.779
 other interesting

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.640
 or convincing

00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:22.400
 religious notion

00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:24.259
 about where to

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:25.200
 find an authentic,

00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:27.039
 satisfying life.

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.259
 It's crazy when

00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.640
 Paul puts the

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.420
 options like that.

00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:37.759
 Verses 9 and 10.

00:26:39.100 --> 00:26:40.580
 It's crazy to try

00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:41.460
 to cut your own

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.440
 pathway to God

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:44.600
 because we already

00:26:44.600 --> 00:26:45.559
 have fullness.

00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.539
 We already share

00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.140
 his character.

00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.380
 We already share

00:26:48.380 --> 00:26:48.900
 in all he has

00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.700
 done for us.

00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.980
 We already share

00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.480
 in all he has

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.380
 won for us,

00:26:53.840 --> 00:26:54.860
 including victory

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:56.120
 over the guilt

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:57.160
 and power of sin

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:58.180
 and demonic forces

00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:59.980
 who would try

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:01.380
 and make us

00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:01.920
 take our eyes

00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:02.519
 off Jesus

00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:04.880
 and put them

00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.579
 onto our daily

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.600
 sin and failures.

00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:08.519
 With the object

00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.019
 of that being

00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.740
 that we live

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.420
 in fear

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.980
 that our sin

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.619
 will keep us

00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:13.920
 from God

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.619
 and we'll

00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.480
 experience God's

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.299
 ultimate rejection.

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.259
 Look at

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.039
 verses 9 and 10.

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:20.579
 For in him

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:21.779
 the whole fullness

00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.359
 of deity

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.279
 dwells bodily

00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:25.200
 and you have

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:25.819
 been filled

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.259
 in him

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:27.980
 who is the

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:29.500
 head of all

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.059
 rule and

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.460
 authority.

00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:31.460
 In him,

00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:31.940
 oh that's,

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.220
 yeah,

00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.639
 alright,

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.559
 there you go.

00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:34.720
 Again,

00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:35.900
 it would be crazy

00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.480
 to cut your

00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.259
 own pathway

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.680
 trying to

00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:39.220
 create for

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.540
 yourself,

00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:39.940
 trying to

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.380
 fill the

00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:40.759
 bucket for

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.100
 yourself

00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:41.500
 when Jesus

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:41.700
 said,

00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:41.940
 hey,

00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:43.320
 I've already

00:27:43.320 --> 00:27:43.800
 given you

00:27:43.800 --> 00:27:44.100
 a bucket,

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.620
 so it's

00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.080
 full to the

00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:45.300
 brim.

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:54.660
 Verse 11,

00:27:54.780 --> 00:27:55.080
 12.

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.019
 The imagery

00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.580
 here gets a

00:27:58.580 --> 00:27:59.060
 little bit more

00:27:59.060 --> 00:27:59.920
 complicated at

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.400
 first glance,

00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:00.800
 but I think

00:28:00.800 --> 00:28:01.380
 I'm going to

00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:01.800
 take a very

00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:02.500
 simple line

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.019
 to cut through

00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:03.180
 it.

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:05.100
 it's crazy

00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:05.720
 to try and

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.360
 cut your own

00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:07.100
 pathway to

00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:07.560
 God,

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:09.840
 because in

00:28:09.840 --> 00:28:10.460
 Jesus we

00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:11.259
 already have

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:12.120
 the closest

00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:13.460
 form of

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.380
 identity and

00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:15.019
 relationship

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.500
 and being

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.160
 set apart.

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.160
 We've already

00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:18.440
 been,

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.240
 as the text

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.680
 here says,

00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:20.820
 circumcised

00:28:20.820 --> 00:28:21.740
 spiritually.

00:28:22.320 --> 00:28:22.720
 Paul says,

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.279
 in him also

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.380
 you were

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.100
 circumcised

00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:26.600
 with a

00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:27.140
 circumcision

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:28.259
 made without

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.799
 hands,

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:30.279
 by putting

00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:30.700
 off the

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.060
 body of

00:28:31.060 --> 00:28:31.539
 flesh by

00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.340
 the circumcision

00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:33.060
 of Christ.

00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:34.779
 having been

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.380
 buried with

00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:35.660
 him in

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.019
 baptism,

00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:36.519
 in which

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:36.779
 you are

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.400
 also raised

00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:37.700
 with him

00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.320
 through faith

00:28:38.320 --> 00:28:39.440
 in the

00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:39.960
 powerful

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.740
 working of

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.140
 God,

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.100
 who raised

00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:42.560
 him from

00:28:42.560 --> 00:28:42.920
 the dead.

00:28:47.320 --> 00:28:47.880
 Circumcision

00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:48.519
 for God's

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.660
 people before

00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:51.240
 Jesus was

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.980
 the visible

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.820
 mark of

00:28:52.820 --> 00:28:53.600
 being God's

00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.060
 specially

00:28:54.060 --> 00:28:55.759
 loved and

00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:56.320
 accepted

00:28:56.320 --> 00:28:57.400
 person,

00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:57.980
 being in

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.299
 God's

00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:58.759
 community

00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.880
 and safe.

00:28:59.880 --> 00:28:59.960
 life.

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:02.620
 Well,

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:02.960
 Paul's

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.120
 saying,

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.400
 look,

00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.100
 why would

00:29:04.100 --> 00:29:04.400
 you cut

00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:04.820
 your own

00:29:04.820 --> 00:29:05.460
 pathway to

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.640
 safety and

00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.360
 identity when

00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:08.300
 you have it

00:29:08.300 --> 00:29:08.780
 in Christ

00:29:08.780 --> 00:29:09.220
 already?

00:29:12.100 --> 00:29:12.860
 Verses 12

00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:13.560
 through to 15.

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.360
 Again,

00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:14.860
 they pick up

00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:15.420
 the baptism

00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:15.880
 thing in

00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:16.440
 verse 12.

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:18.180
 and you

00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:18.580
 who were

00:29:18.580 --> 00:29:19.039
 dead in

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.200
 your

00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:19.799
 trespasses

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.360
 and sin

00:29:20.360 --> 00:29:20.779
 and the

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.420
 uncircumcision

00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:21.740
 of your

00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.000
 flesh.

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:22.980
 God made

00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.799
 alive together

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.240
 with him

00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:24.960
 have forgiven

00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:26.180
 us all our

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.759
 trespasses,

00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:27.380
 all our

00:29:27.380 --> 00:29:27.980
 trespasses,

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.940
 by cancelling

00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.680
 the record of

00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:31.460
 debt that

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.059
 stood against

00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:32.440
 us with

00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:33.000
 its legal

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.500
 demands.

00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.640
 This he set

00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.100
 aside,

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:36.680
 nailing it

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.140
 to the

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:37.539
 cross.

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.700
 He disarmed

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.500
 the rulers and

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.039
 authorities and

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.660
 put them to

00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.380
 open shame

00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.820
 by triumphing

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.799
 over them

00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:46.339
 in him.

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:51.079
 It's crazy

00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:52.119
 to try and

00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:52.779
 cut your own

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.460
 pathway to

00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:54.079
 God because

00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:54.960
 in Christ

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:57.139
 all need

00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:58.019
 for religious

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.859
 activity

00:29:58.859 --> 00:30:01.259
 in the hope

00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:01.599
 of making

00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:01.960
 yourself

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:02.960
 acceptable to

00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:04.019
 God is

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.480
 removed.

00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.859
 Why would

00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:08.240
 you go down

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.639
 the rabbit

00:30:08.639 --> 00:30:09.240
 hole of some

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.559
 sort of

00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.059
 religious

00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.579
 activity?

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.159
 Things I

00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:11.419
 do,

00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.019
 things I

00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:12.299
 say,

00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.139
 places I

00:30:13.139 --> 00:30:13.439
 go,

00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:15.019
 festivals I

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.240
 keep,

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.119
 when Jesus

00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:17.439
 has done

00:30:17.439 --> 00:30:17.740
 it all

00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.259
 for you

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.519
 on the

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:18.939
 cross.

00:30:21.939 --> 00:30:22.700
 We don't

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.740
 need to

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.399
 do more

00:30:24.399 --> 00:30:25.799
 because his

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.299
 death is

00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:26.720
 sufficient.

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.439
 We just

00:30:29.439 --> 00:30:29.819
 need to

00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.679
 accept and

00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:31.579
 understand and

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.139
 live in the

00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:32.700
 light of.

00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.460
 Baptism was

00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:39.099
 a picture of

00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:39.619
 identification

00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.779
 and renewal.

00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:42.339
 The person

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:42.720
 goes down

00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.079
 into the

00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.379
 water,

00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:46.579
 it's a

00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.039
 picture of

00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:47.939
 being washed

00:30:47.939 --> 00:30:48.619
 or even

00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:49.319
 more extreme

00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:50.159
 dying as

00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:50.460
 you go into

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:50.819
 the water.

00:30:51.439 --> 00:30:51.919
 The end of

00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:52.799
 this particular

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.519
 orientation of

00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:53.779
 life.

00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:54.399
 Then you

00:30:54.399 --> 00:30:54.919
 come back up

00:30:54.919 --> 00:30:55.179
 out of the

00:30:55.179 --> 00:30:55.720
 water and

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.000
 it's a

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.399
 picture of

00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:56.980
 newness of

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:58.359
 life or

00:30:58.359 --> 00:30:59.179
 an orientation

00:30:59.179 --> 00:30:59.939
 no longer

00:30:59.939 --> 00:31:00.480
 connected to

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:00.759
 the old

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.099
 life.

00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:01.679
 The two

00:31:01.679 --> 00:31:01.919
 have been

00:31:01.919 --> 00:31:02.339
 completely

00:31:02.339 --> 00:31:02.859
 separated.

00:31:03.419 --> 00:31:03.579
 You've

00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:03.960
 moved from

00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:04.460
 one arena

00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:04.700
 to the

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:04.819
 other.

00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:05.399
 That's

00:31:05.399 --> 00:31:06.079
 what we

00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.720
 already have

00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:06.960
 in the

00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.279
 gospel.

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.279
 Move from

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:08.779
 the domain

00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.419
 of darkness

00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:09.740
 and the

00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.139
 guilt of

00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:12.179
 sin and the

00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:13.080
 accusation

00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:13.620
 that would

00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.140
 rightly have

00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:14.560
 been leveled

00:31:14.560 --> 00:31:14.940
 against us.

00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.140
 You've got a

00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:16.580
 big problem

00:31:16.580 --> 00:31:17.240
 before God.

00:31:17.840 --> 00:31:18.620
 Now in

00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.060
 Jesus,

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.539
 no accusation.

00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:21.180
 I don't have a

00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:21.580
 problem in

00:31:21.580 --> 00:31:22.000
 God because

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.620
 Jesus has

00:31:22.620 --> 00:31:23.039
 dealt with

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.240
 it.

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.900
 We've got

00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:31.460
 complete

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.080
 identification

00:31:32.080 --> 00:31:32.820
 with God.

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:33.720
 Total

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.220
 disconnect

00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:34.720
 from our

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.259
 old life

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:35.820
 of rebellion.

00:31:36.320 --> 00:31:36.740
 Completely

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.160
 new

00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:37.680
 identification,

00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.180
 new

00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:38.799
 orientation,

00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:39.600
 new life

00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:41.259
 in and

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:41.859
 for God.

00:31:43.899 --> 00:31:44.799
 My friends,

00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:45.819
 the bucket's

00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:46.119
 full.

00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:47.659
 There's

00:31:47.659 --> 00:31:48.599
 nothing else

00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:48.919
 we can

00:31:48.919 --> 00:31:49.299
 add

00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:52.199
 without

00:31:52.199 --> 00:31:52.899
 displacing

00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:53.480
 something that

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.119
 Jesus already

00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:54.679
 put there.

00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:59.199
 So keep

00:31:59.199 --> 00:32:00.199
 your eyes

00:32:00.199 --> 00:32:01.079
 on Jesus.

00:32:03.699 --> 00:32:04.259
 Follow

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:04.759
 his

00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:05.419
 footprints.

00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:09.480
 don't

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:09.680
 get

00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:09.980
 yourself

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.620
 lost

00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:12.140
 wandering

00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:12.660
 around.

00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.380
 Trusting

00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:13.759
 your own

00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.480
 wisdom is

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:14.920
 better than

00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.320
 what Jesus

00:32:15.320 --> 00:32:15.900
 already said

00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.140
 to you.

00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:16.980
 Don't

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:17.580
 allow others

00:32:17.580 --> 00:32:18.380
 to run

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:18.820
 you off

00:32:18.820 --> 00:32:19.160
 the road

00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:19.519
 and cause

00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:19.759
 you to

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.259
 crash and

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:21.539
 burn because

00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:22.180
 they're trying

00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:22.720
 to add

00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.200
 things to

00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.500
 the bucket

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:23.820
 that's

00:32:23.820 --> 00:32:24.120
 already

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:24.539
 full.

00:32:29.840 --> 00:32:30.240
 The

00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:30.560
 second

00:32:30.560 --> 00:32:31.840
 question

00:32:31.840 --> 00:32:32.100
 then,

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:32.440
 out of

00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:32.680
 this

00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:33.200
 second

00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:33.600
 question,

00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:35.599
 whose

00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:36.339
 rules do

00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:36.859
 you measure

00:32:36.859 --> 00:32:37.439
 your

00:32:37.439 --> 00:32:38.000
 spiritual

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.439
 health

00:32:38.439 --> 00:32:38.839
 and

00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.259
 maturity

00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.599
 by?

00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.639
 Picking

00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:41.019
 up verse

00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.639
 16 through

00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:42.199
 to 23.

00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.279
 How do

00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:46.740
 you measure

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.000
 your

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.399
 spiritual

00:32:47.399 --> 00:32:47.839
 health,

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.099
 your

00:32:48.099 --> 00:32:48.519
 maturity?

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.359
 This

00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:51.099
 question is

00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.599
 the one

00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.359
 that torpedoes

00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:53.219
 so many

00:32:53.219 --> 00:32:54.319
 of us as

00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:54.859
 Christians from

00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.219
 time to

00:32:55.219 --> 00:32:55.480
 time.

00:32:55.959 --> 00:32:56.240
 And I can

00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:56.559
 tell you,

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.599
 it's one

00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.039
 that's

00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.779
 torpedoing,

00:32:58.959 --> 00:32:59.199
 causing

00:32:59.199 --> 00:33:00.699
 Christians here

00:33:00.699 --> 00:33:01.199
 this morning

00:33:01.199 --> 00:33:01.980
 to crash and

00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.639
 burn on a

00:33:02.639 --> 00:33:03.319
 daily basis.

00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:05.759
 whose

00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.419
 rules are

00:33:06.419 --> 00:33:06.959
 you measuring

00:33:06.959 --> 00:33:07.259
 your

00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:07.719
 spiritual

00:33:07.719 --> 00:33:08.219
 health and

00:33:08.219 --> 00:33:08.639
 well-being

00:33:08.639 --> 00:33:08.899
 by?

00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:13.359
 Again,

00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.240
 Paul offers

00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:14.699
 only two

00:33:14.699 --> 00:33:15.159
 options.

00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:17.659
 Either

00:33:17.659 --> 00:33:19.439
 spiritual

00:33:19.439 --> 00:33:20.359
 health will

00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:20.799
 be measured

00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.279
 by what

00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:22.519
 so-called

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.259
 wise

00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:23.859
 religious

00:33:23.859 --> 00:33:24.759
 people demand,

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:25.839
 and we'll

00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.319
 see the

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:26.799
 details of

00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:27.000
 that in

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.459
 these verses,

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:30.519
 or it's

00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:30.899
 measured

00:33:30.899 --> 00:33:31.559
 according to

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:32.299
 what Christ

00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:33.079
 says,

00:33:33.200 --> 00:33:33.720
 what Jesus

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.099
 says.

00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:37.659
 And again,

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.419
 the contrast

00:33:38.419 --> 00:33:39.240
 means it's

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.059
 Paul saying,

00:33:40.399 --> 00:33:41.059
 look, it's

00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.379
 absolutely

00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:43.619
 crazy to

00:33:43.619 --> 00:33:44.159
 submit

00:33:44.159 --> 00:33:44.799
 yourself to

00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.639
 a spiritual

00:33:45.639 --> 00:33:47.419
 audit from

00:33:47.419 --> 00:33:47.740
 those who

00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.399
 might sound

00:33:48.399 --> 00:33:48.799
 super

00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:49.359
 spiritual,

00:33:49.899 --> 00:33:50.579
 but who

00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.159
 really have

00:33:51.159 --> 00:33:51.940
 no substance

00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:52.440
 at all,

00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:54.279
 who are

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:55.099
 focused on

00:33:55.099 --> 00:33:55.480
 things that

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:55.819
 are on the

00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.399
 outside,

00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.480
 things that

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:57.919
 in the end

00:33:57.919 --> 00:33:58.339
 can never

00:33:58.339 --> 00:33:58.980
 get to our

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.579
 real problem

00:33:59.579 --> 00:33:59.819
 of our

00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.220
 hearts.

00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:01.680
 So that

00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:01.960
 would be

00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.460
 crazy.

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:03.680
 You polish

00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.019
 up the

00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.400
 outside,

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:04.660
 says,

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:04.900
 Paul,

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.180
 so what?

00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.400
 It's

00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:07.920
 useless,

00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:08.699
 puts you

00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:09.000
 through a

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.220
 lot of

00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:09.480
 pain,

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:09.840
 a lot of

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.039
 trouble,

00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:10.539
 but it

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:10.720
 does

00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:11.519
 nothing to

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:11.840
 change

00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:11.980
 your

00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.320
 heart,

00:34:12.720 --> 00:34:12.960
 and it's

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.139
 our

00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:13.720
 heart that

00:34:13.720 --> 00:34:14.019
 the Lord

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.599
 looks at.

00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:18.300
 So you'd

00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:19.159
 be crazy to

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.659
 go down that

00:34:19.659 --> 00:34:20.099
 pathway.

00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:21.260
 It might

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:22.179
 sound terrific,

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.039
 it might give

00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.559
 you some sense

00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:23.940
 of control,

00:34:24.059 --> 00:34:24.119
 well,

00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:24.960
 these people

00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:25.119
 say,

00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:25.480
 if I do

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:25.780
 this and

00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:26.019
 this and

00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.179
 this,

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.260
 then I'm

00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:27.840
 in control

00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.280
 of my own

00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:28.699
 destiny.

00:34:28.699 --> 00:34:29.719
 Well,

00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:31.599
 it's a

00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:31.960
 shadow,

00:34:32.379 --> 00:34:32.819
 says Paul.

00:34:33.259 --> 00:34:33.739
 There's no

00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:34.399
 substance to

00:34:34.399 --> 00:34:34.619
 that.

00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:35.559
 There's no

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.159
 value in

00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:36.319
 it.

00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:41.779
 Your

00:34:41.779 --> 00:34:42.179
 bucket's

00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:42.439
 already

00:34:42.439 --> 00:34:42.799
 full.

00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:42.900
 God.

00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:53.460
 Why go

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:54.100
 to these

00:34:54.100 --> 00:34:54.500
 people,

00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:57.180
 verse 19,

00:34:58.060 --> 00:34:58.380
 when you

00:34:58.380 --> 00:34:58.700
 can go

00:34:58.700 --> 00:34:59.360
 straight to

00:34:59.360 --> 00:34:59.780
 the top,

00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:00.880
 go straight

00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.200
 to the

00:35:01.200 --> 00:35:01.519
 head,

00:35:02.220 --> 00:35:02.760
 and get

00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:03.160
 it from

00:35:03.160 --> 00:35:03.940
 his lips,

00:35:04.200 --> 00:35:04.680
 get the

00:35:04.680 --> 00:35:05.220
 real

00:35:05.220 --> 00:35:06.539
 spiritual

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:07.420
 audit from

00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:07.980
 his lips.

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.120
 Why?

00:35:08.120 --> 00:35:08.260
 Why?

00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:08.300
 Why?

00:35:08.300 --> 00:35:08.320
 Why?

00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:08.360
 Why?

00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:08.420
 Why?

00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:08.820
 Why?

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:08.860
 Why?

00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.360
 Why?

00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:09.420
 Why?

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:09.860
 Why?

00:35:09.860 --> 00:35:10.360
 Why?

00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:10.460
 Why?

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.360
 Why?

00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:12.360
 Why?

00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:12.780
 Why?

00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:13.280
 Why?

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.500
 Why?

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:14.780
 Who better

00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:15.280
 to know what

00:35:15.280 --> 00:35:15.700
 the body

00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:16.580
 needs than

00:35:16.580 --> 00:35:16.980
 the head?

00:35:17.600 --> 00:35:18.019
 We're back

00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:18.320
 to this

00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:18.740
 organic

00:35:18.740 --> 00:35:19.260
 connection

00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:19.539
 again.

00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:20.060
 Jesus

00:35:20.060 --> 00:35:20.440
 is actually

00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:21.260
 described there

00:35:21.260 --> 00:35:22.100
 through its

00:35:22.100 --> 00:35:22.600
 joints and

00:35:22.600 --> 00:35:22.940
 ligaments.

00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:24.519
 The body

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.300
 has structure

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:26.340
 because

00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:27.860
 Jesus is

00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:28.480
 the ligament

00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.920
 that connects

00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:30.780
 us to

00:35:30.780 --> 00:35:31.160
 the head,

00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:31.600
 which is

00:35:31.600 --> 00:35:32.380
 the fullness

00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.039
 of deity

00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:33.560
 living in

00:35:33.560 --> 00:35:33.920
 Christ.

00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:36.460
 It's a

00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.080
 picture of

00:35:37.080 --> 00:35:37.660
 complete

00:35:37.660 --> 00:35:38.740
 structural

00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:39.380
 integrity,

00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:40.340
 a complete

00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:40.940
 healthy

00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:43.099
 body.

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.559
 Pleasing

00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:48.220
 God and

00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:48.860
 growing steadily

00:35:48.860 --> 00:35:49.500
 to maturity.

00:35:50.820 --> 00:35:51.260
 Friends,

00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:51.760
 this is such

00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:52.280
 an important

00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:52.740
 point,

00:35:53.619 --> 00:35:54.099
 such an

00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:54.400
 important

00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:54.740
 point,

00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:55.280
 but you

00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:55.659
 know what?

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:56.980
 And I say

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.539
 this for

00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.019
 myself as

00:35:58.019 --> 00:35:58.159
 well.

00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:01.019
 Obviously,

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:01.519
 we haven't

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.019
 yet taken

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.280
 it on

00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:02.579
 board,

00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:04.079
 not

00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:04.599
 consistently.

00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.340
 And the

00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:05.720
 reason I

00:36:05.720 --> 00:36:06.119
 know that

00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:06.480
 in my own

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:06.880
 life is

00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:08.200
 because of

00:36:08.200 --> 00:36:08.579
 the things

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:09.159
 that distract

00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:09.340
 me,

00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:09.700
 the things

00:36:09.700 --> 00:36:10.180
 I worry

00:36:10.180 --> 00:36:10.539
 about,

00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.300
 I'm

00:36:17.300 --> 00:36:17.720
 trying to

00:36:17.720 --> 00:36:18.019
 fill a

00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:19.539
 bucket that's

00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:20.039
 got leaks

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.720
 in it,

00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:21.519
 rather than

00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:22.920
 just looking

00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:23.220
 at that

00:36:23.220 --> 00:36:24.019
 bucket brimming

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:24.420
 full,

00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.220
 the overflowing

00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:26.260
 that's already

00:36:26.260 --> 00:36:26.820
 mine in

00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:27.160
 Christ.

00:36:28.680 --> 00:36:29.400
 So I'll just

00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:30.100
 finish with a

00:36:30.100 --> 00:36:30.420
 couple of

00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:31.019
 encouragements.

00:36:33.579 --> 00:36:34.360
 In this,

00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.320
 these last

00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:36.780
 few verses,

00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:37.420
 there's a play

00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:38.079
 on shadows

00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:38.739
 and substance.

00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:42.059
 Well, I

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:42.340
 say to you

00:36:42.340 --> 00:36:42.659
 this morning,

00:36:42.779 --> 00:36:43.579
 don't live

00:36:43.579 --> 00:36:43.819
 in the

00:36:43.819 --> 00:36:44.139
 shadows.

00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:46.279
 Don't live

00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:46.500
 in the

00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.799
 shadows when

00:36:47.799 --> 00:36:48.079
 we can

00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:48.380
 live in

00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:48.860
 the substance

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.440
 of Jesus.

00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.679
 Don't live

00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:52.599
 as a

00:36:52.599 --> 00:36:53.119
 derelict

00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:54.659
 in a

00:36:54.659 --> 00:36:55.059
 slum,

00:36:55.719 --> 00:36:56.559
 thinking that

00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:57.299
 you have

00:36:57.299 --> 00:36:57.639
 to be

00:36:57.639 --> 00:36:58.219
 religious,

00:36:59.119 --> 00:36:59.579
 thinking that

00:36:59.579 --> 00:37:00.059
 you have to

00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:00.960
 work constantly

00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:01.679
 to reconnect

00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:02.299
 yourself to

00:37:02.299 --> 00:37:02.500
 God,

00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:03.139
 to top up

00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:03.579
 the bucket,

00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:06.379
 to create

00:37:06.379 --> 00:37:06.739
 the good

00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:07.239
 life of

00:37:07.239 --> 00:37:07.940
 completeness.

00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:10.799
 When Christ

00:37:10.799 --> 00:37:11.420
 says to you,

00:37:12.559 --> 00:37:13.099
 what are you

00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:13.319
 doing?

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:14.219
 Even if you

00:37:14.219 --> 00:37:15.139
 did that for

00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:15.480
 the rest of

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:15.819
 your life,

00:37:15.859 --> 00:37:16.219
 it would never

00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:16.960
 be enough to

00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:17.379
 make yourself

00:37:17.379 --> 00:37:18.039
 acceptable to

00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:18.299
 God.

00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:19.000
 And besides

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:19.460
 that,

00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.559
 why would you

00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:20.900
 do that

00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.379
 whenever I

00:37:21.379 --> 00:37:21.960
 want to give

00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.500
 you a full

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:23.239
 bucket as a

00:37:23.239 --> 00:37:23.879
 free gift?

00:37:23.880 --> 00:37:31.900
 more

00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.460
 personally,

00:37:33.240 --> 00:37:34.180
 don't live

00:37:34.180 --> 00:37:34.460
 in the

00:37:34.460 --> 00:37:35.039
 shadows,

00:37:36.140 --> 00:37:37.160
 fearful that

00:37:37.160 --> 00:37:38.140
 your ongoing

00:37:38.140 --> 00:37:39.200
 sin and

00:37:39.200 --> 00:37:40.740
 failure means

00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:41.380
 you're not

00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:41.860
 saved.

00:37:45.720 --> 00:37:46.360
 There are

00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:46.920
 folk here this

00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:47.300
 morning who

00:37:47.300 --> 00:37:47.660
 are just

00:37:47.660 --> 00:37:48.700
 traumatized by

00:37:48.700 --> 00:37:49.400
 that day

00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:49.860
 and night,

00:37:50.240 --> 00:37:50.680
 maybe more

00:37:50.680 --> 00:37:51.220
 so at night.

00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:55.019
 Don't live

00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:55.240
 in the

00:37:55.240 --> 00:37:55.500
 shadows,

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:57.140
 fearful that

00:37:57.140 --> 00:37:58.019
 your ongoing

00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:58.480
 sin and

00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:59.039
 failures mean

00:37:59.039 --> 00:37:59.539
 you're not

00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:00.019
 saved.

00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.099
 Don't live

00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:01.280
 in the

00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:01.480
 shadows

00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:02.599
 despairing

00:38:02.599 --> 00:38:03.320
 because you're

00:38:03.320 --> 00:38:04.019
 not sorry

00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:04.539
 enough for

00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:04.980
 your sin.

00:38:05.960 --> 00:38:06.860
 Don't live

00:38:06.860 --> 00:38:07.059
 in the

00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:07.320
 shadows

00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:08.280
 thinking that

00:38:08.280 --> 00:38:08.920
 because your

00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:09.440
 thoughts of

00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:09.940
 God are not

00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:10.720
 pure enough

00:38:10.720 --> 00:38:12.180
 and your

00:38:12.180 --> 00:38:12.840
 trust in God

00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:13.140
 is not

00:38:13.140 --> 00:38:13.920
 strong enough

00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.860
 and your

00:38:14.860 --> 00:38:15.360
 knowledge of

00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:15.820
 God is not

00:38:15.820 --> 00:38:16.460
 big enough.

00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:22.380
 Look at

00:38:22.380 --> 00:38:22.820
 the bucket.

00:38:23.880 --> 00:38:25.160
 filled to the

00:38:25.160 --> 00:38:25.480
 brim.

00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:27.160
 Sufficiency

00:38:27.160 --> 00:38:27.800
 of your

00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:29.340
 Savior and

00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:30.240
 the absoluteness

00:38:30.240 --> 00:38:30.579
 of your

00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.840
 Lord who

00:38:31.840 --> 00:38:32.260
 says,

00:38:33.240 --> 00:38:33.860
 you are my

00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:34.360
 beloved

00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:35.079
 child.

00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:44.240
 So the

00:38:44.240 --> 00:38:44.640
 problem with

00:38:44.640 --> 00:38:45.160
 doing that

00:38:45.160 --> 00:38:46.019
 is that the

00:38:46.019 --> 00:38:46.680
 bucket that's

00:38:46.680 --> 00:38:47.599
 already full,

00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:49.220
 you think you're

00:38:49.220 --> 00:38:49.860
 going forward

00:38:49.860 --> 00:38:50.180
 but you're

00:38:50.180 --> 00:38:50.640
 actually going

00:38:50.640 --> 00:38:51.059
 backwards

00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:53.400
 because the

00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:53.820
 more you

00:38:53.820 --> 00:38:54.539
 try to add

00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:55.239
 stuff to the

00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:55.779
 full bucket

00:38:55.779 --> 00:38:56.259
 of the

00:38:56.259 --> 00:38:56.619
 gospel,

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.539
 the more

00:38:58.539 --> 00:38:59.739
 you're

00:38:59.739 --> 00:39:00.579
 displacing what

00:39:00.579 --> 00:39:00.960
 Jesus has

00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:01.420
 already done.

00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:08.360
 And

00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:08.719
 finally,

00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:10.420
 more of a

00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:11.239
 church application,

00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:11.960
 church family

00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:12.539
 application.

00:39:14.940 --> 00:39:15.619
 Church family,

00:39:15.799 --> 00:39:16.659
 don't live in the

00:39:16.659 --> 00:39:17.940
 shadows with a

00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:18.320
 sense of

00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:19.840
 embarrassment or

00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:20.840
 inferiority

00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:23.220
 because our

00:39:23.220 --> 00:39:23.840
 church family

00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:24.460
 doesn't have all

00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:25.240
 the bells and

00:39:25.240 --> 00:39:25.980
 whistles that

00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:28.220
 other groups

00:39:28.220 --> 00:39:29.360
 might have and

00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:30.420
 promote as the

00:39:30.420 --> 00:39:31.280
 evidence of a

00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:31.599
 healthy,

00:39:31.800 --> 00:39:32.619
 mature church.

00:39:35.420 --> 00:39:36.340
 They might be

00:39:36.340 --> 00:39:36.639
 healthy,

00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:37.360
 mature churches

00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:38.300
 but not because

00:39:38.300 --> 00:39:38.940
 of the bells and

00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.480
 whistles they

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:40.000
 promote.

00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:47.420
 don't live in

00:39:47.420 --> 00:39:48.159
 that shadow,

00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:49.719
 fearful or

00:39:49.719 --> 00:39:50.400
 embarrassed or

00:39:50.400 --> 00:39:51.099
 with a sense of

00:39:51.099 --> 00:39:51.800
 inferiority.

00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:52.980
 When Jesus

00:39:52.980 --> 00:39:54.000
 tells us from

00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.360
 his word

00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:55.980
 clearly that

00:39:55.980 --> 00:39:56.699
 the truly

00:39:56.699 --> 00:39:57.699
 healthy church

00:39:57.699 --> 00:39:59.059
 is the one

00:39:59.059 --> 00:39:59.900
 where Jesus

00:39:59.900 --> 00:40:00.619
 is taught

00:40:00.619 --> 00:40:02.199
 and lived

00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:04.340
 out before

00:40:04.340 --> 00:40:04.900
 one another

00:40:04.900 --> 00:40:05.519
 in love,

00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:06.159
 we saw that

00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:06.639
 from the very

00:40:06.639 --> 00:40:07.340
 first week back

00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:07.960
 in chapter 1

00:40:07.960 --> 00:40:08.840
 verse 6 and 7

00:40:08.840 --> 00:40:10.000
 and that's a

00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:10.579
 tough gig to

00:40:10.579 --> 00:40:11.140
 live that out

00:40:11.140 --> 00:40:12.500
 in love and

00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:13.539
 to live it out

00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:14.079
 before a

00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:14.680
 watching world

00:40:14.680 --> 00:40:15.039
 so the

00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:15.519
 watching world

00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:15.840
 thinks,

00:40:16.440 --> 00:40:16.640
 wow,

00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:17.700
 I don't know

00:40:17.700 --> 00:40:18.079
 what makes

00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:18.640
 those Christians

00:40:18.640 --> 00:40:19.579
 tick but I

00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:20.079
 want a part

00:40:20.079 --> 00:40:20.340
 of it.

00:40:25.140 --> 00:40:25.780
 Don't live in

00:40:25.780 --> 00:40:26.280
 the shadows

00:40:26.280 --> 00:40:28.300
 when the

00:40:28.300 --> 00:40:29.140
 spotlight's on

00:40:29.140 --> 00:40:29.480
 Jesus.

00:40:30.840 --> 00:40:31.180
 Pray with

00:40:31.180 --> 00:40:31.320
 me.

00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:31.380
 Amen.

00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:31.440
 Amen.

00:40:31.440 --> 00:40:31.900
 Amen.

00:40:31.900 --> 00:40:31.960
 Amen.

00:40:31.960 --> 00:40:32.000
 Amen.

00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:32.019
 Amen.

00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:32.460
 Amen.

00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:32.500
 Amen.

00:40:32.500 --> 00:40:33.460
 Amen.

00:40:33.460 --> 00:40:33.600
 Amen.

00:40:33.600 --> 00:40:33.960
 Amen.

00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:34.019
 Amen.

00:40:34.019 --> 00:40:34.460
 Amen.

00:40:34.460 --> 00:40:35.519
 Amen.

00:40:35.519 --> 00:40:35.600
 Amen.

00:40:35.600 --> 00:40:35.960
 Amen.

00:40:35.960 --> 00:40:35.980
 Amen.

00:40:38.840 --> 00:40:39.840
 Amen.

00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:40.280
 Amen.

00:40:40.280 --> 00:40:42.240
 Lord, just fill our

00:40:42.240 --> 00:40:42.800
 hearts with this

00:40:42.800 --> 00:40:44.120
 stuff that probably

00:40:44.120 --> 00:40:44.880
 for most of us is

00:40:44.880 --> 00:40:47.860
 so familiar and yet

00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:49.160
 we struggle to hang

00:40:49.160 --> 00:40:49.620
 on to it.

00:40:52.100 --> 00:40:53.200
 Help us just to keep

00:40:53.200 --> 00:40:54.800
 that picture of

00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:55.740
 things together that

00:40:55.740 --> 00:40:57.460
 you, that we sort

00:40:57.460 --> 00:40:58.260
 of normally want to

00:40:58.260 --> 00:40:59.019
 separate, that you

00:40:59.019 --> 00:41:00.660
 are both a sufficient

00:41:00.660 --> 00:41:02.820
 savior and a

00:41:02.820 --> 00:41:05.240
 gracious, powerful

00:41:05.240 --> 00:41:05.740
 Lord.

00:41:05.739 --> 00:41:09.959
 that we have a full bucket

00:41:09.959 --> 00:41:12.119
 in Christ

00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:16.959
 that not only are we in Christ

00:41:16.959 --> 00:41:18.259
 but he is in us

00:41:18.259 --> 00:41:19.679
 by his Holy Spirit

00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:22.539
 and that therefore Lord

00:41:22.539 --> 00:41:26.639
 we do truly and completely have life

00:41:26.639 --> 00:41:30.079
 help us to live in the light of it

00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:32.859
 with confidence

00:41:32.859 --> 00:41:35.519
 and abounding in thanksgiving

00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:37.219
 Amen