WEBVTT

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 Okay, good morning. It's wonderful to be with you again, and I'm very excited to continue this series that we've called The Splendor in the Furnace as we journey through 1 Peter together.

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 For those of you that are back from summer vacation, welcome back. It's good to have you.

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 For those of you that are visiting, welcome. We're so pleased that you're with us this morning.

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 Now, last week, Chris kicked off fantastically this series going through the book of 1 Peter.

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 And he reminded us of what's going on here.

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 Peter is writing to a bunch of Christians in the northeast part of modern-day Turkey, and he's writing to them because they are discouraged.

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 They are being persecuted, they are being discriminated against, and they are being ostracized.

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 And it was around this time that Nero is emperor of Rome.

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 A few years later, three or four years later, Nero is going to crucify Christians, hang them up on crosses in his garden,

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 set them alight to burn as entertainment for his guests when he has parties in his royal gardens.

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 So the Romans were, and Nero in particular, was adamantly against the Christians.

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 And if the Christians weren't being directly persecuted, they were being discriminated against, ostracized,

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 because they wouldn't honor the cultural gods.

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 The company had things against them, their colleagues would ostracize them,

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 or the family would discriminate against them because they brought shame and dishonor on the family.

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 They wouldn't honor the family gods.

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 And so Peter writes this very, very important letter to them.

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 And this is his main point.

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 He says, don't be surprised when this happens to you.

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 Don't think that something strange is happening to you,

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 because this is what it means to be a Christian.

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 This world is not your home.

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 You are a different people, and you belong to a different home.

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 Your true home and your true people are where Christ is.

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 And so in this time, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

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 And so as Chris reminded us last week, he said, you are a different people.

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 You live with a different hope, a hope which does not perish, spoil, or fade.

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 And therefore, you have a different view of suffering and hardship.

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 And as a result of this, you live with a different anticipation of joy.

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 A joy that's not based on circumstances or the situation around us, but who we are in Christ.

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 And so that framework is going to shape this whole letter and our understanding of hope and suffering and hardship.

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 And we live in an age of great entitlement.

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 Many people think we are entitled to a comfortable and easy life.

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 And one of the consequences of that is in our day and age, most people feel like a victim.

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 Does that make sense?

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 And politicians love to exploit this.

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 On the campaign trail, you deserve a better life.

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 A better life for all.

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 Politicians love to exploit the fact that so many people these days feel like a victim.

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 But as Christians, we're not tricked by that rhetoric.

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 We know that our life and our hope isn't found in this life, but it's found in Christ and who He is.

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 And if you're a Christian, you're life in Him.

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 And so that was kind of introduction and last week.

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 Now, the question is, what does that actually mean?

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 How does that shape the way that you go to work tomorrow or you pursue a relationship or you parent your kids or you engage on the sports field?

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 What does that actually mean for our everyday life?

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 And so in light of this, Peter's going to give us two instructions today.

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 First one is a short one.

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 We'll spend most of the time on the second one.

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 So, first thing, first instruction, we're going to look at verse 13 to 25 is this.

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 Fight for hope.

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 Okay?

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 Fight for hope.

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 One of the things that's good to know as we read through the book of Peter is that Peter's obviously a Jewish believer.

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 And so in his mind, the whole Old Testament is right there as he's writing this letter.

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 And particularly the image of the Exodus.

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 The fact that the people of God were delivered from Egypt, as slaves from Egypt, set free by the blood of the Lamb, and became sojourners, pilgrims, exiles out of Egypt on the way to the Promised Land.

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 And so Peter's got this imagery in his mind as he writes this letter.

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 And he applies this.

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 And throughout the book, he's going to refer to Christians as sojourners, exiles, pilgrims on their way to their inheritance.

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 And so in verse 13, he says this.

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 Therefore, therefore, in light of everything that we've said about our hope and our home being in heaven and not in this world, therefore, preparing your minds for actions, being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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 Now, that phrase, prepare your minds for action, it literally means gird up your loins.

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 Okay?

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 And the picture here is back in the day, I guess even in the Middle East today, men and I guess everyone used to wear these long robes, right?

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 And so the men, if you had to be prepared to go somewhere or to run or to move quickly, you would tie up your long robes and tuck them into your belt so that your legs were free so that you could run.

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 Okay?

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 Does that make sense?

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 You get the picture?

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 And so that phrase was, gird up your loins, tie up your robes, tuck them into your belt, get ready for action.

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 And so Peter says, gird up the loins of your minds.

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 Get ready.

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 Be prepared.

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 And the phrase he's quoting is Exodus chapter 12, which is the night before the people of God leave Egypt.

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 Moses comes to the people of God and he says, tonight is Passover night.

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 Tonight the blood of the lamb is going to be shed.

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 Tonight Pharaoh is going to set you free.

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 Gird up your loins and get ready to leave Egypt.

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 And so Peter's quoting Exodus 12 and he's saying this.

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 Be prepared.

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 Get ready.

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 Set your minds for action.

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 In other words, be ready for who Christ is and what he's calling you to do.

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 And secondly, he says, be sober minded.

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 In other words, don't just go with the flow.

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 Don't just see where your emotions take you or how you feel about life today or tomorrow.

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 In light of the fact that your hope is not in this world, be prepared, be intentional, be diligent.

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 Set your minds on what?

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 The hope that is in Christ Jesus.

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 Friends, in our culture, every day our culture is intoxicating us with a message of where to put our hope.

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 If our children get the right education, get into the right schools, the right university, their future will be secure and we can be at peace.

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 Every day our culture is telling us that if you work hard enough and get that promotion, you'll be somebody.

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 Every day our culture is telling us that if we do enough overtime, our bosses will look favorably upon us and our career will be on track.

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 If we buy the right clothes, wear the right accessories, shop at the right places, we'll be recognized as someone sophisticated, someone in the know, someone acceptable.

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 And Peter's telling us that if we set our hope, if we set our identity, if our heart's rest is found in these things, it is what he calls futility.

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 It's like putting all your life savings in the stock of a company which you know is about to go bust.

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 It's not only futile, it's going to lead to heartache.

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 And so Peter says, what should we do?

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 Be prepared.

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 Be sober-minded.

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 Set your heart fully on the grace that will be yours in Jesus Christ.

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 Okay, so there's the first command.

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 In light of everything that Chris told us, in light of the fact that our hope is not in this world, but it's in the coming Christ, set your hope on that Christ.

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 Second command, and this is the main thing we're going to look at today, is pursue holiness.

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 Pursue holiness.

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 Look at verse 14 with me.

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 It says, because we are a different people with a different home and a different hope, therefore pursue holiness.

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 Verse 14.

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 Sorry, let me just find it here.

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 I'm in the wrong book.

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 1 Peter.

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 There we go.

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 I was wondering why this looked different in my Bible today.

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 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but just as he who called you is holy, so you also be holy in all of your conduct.

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 Since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy.

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 Now, what does this word holy mean?

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 Well, as Christians, and if you've been in church circles, you probably would have heard this word a lot.

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 When we think of holy or holiness, we sometimes think of somebody who's very pious, somebody who's very religious.

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 Maybe somebody who has a certain air about them, someone who looks down at others, or someone who thinks that they are better than other people.

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 But in the Old Testament, which is the seed of the gospel, the basis of the gospel, and the scriptures that these people would have had, if something was holy, it meant two things.

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 Firstly, it meant something was set apart, something was distinctive, different from that which was ordinary, particularly different from that which was dirty, or unclean, or evil.

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 So there was something distinctive about it, set apart for it.

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 But secondly, it was set apart for God, for his glory, for the praise of his name.

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 To somehow make a statement that God is different, and therefore this is meant to be a picture, resembles something of God's distinctiveness.

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 So for instance, in the Old Testament, the Sabbath day is regarded as holy.

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 It's set apart, it's different from the endeavors on the other days of the week, and it's set apart to glorify God, for the worship of his name.

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 In the Old Testament, the priests were considered holy.

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 They were set apart, there was something distinctive about them, different from just the rest of the community.

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 They were set apart for the praise of God's name.

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 And the pinnacle of this is where, in Deuteronomy 14, God says to his people, the nation of Israel,

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 you are a holy people to the Lord your God.

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 The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the earth to be his chosen, treasured possession.

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 So the nation of Israel, there's something distinctive about them, set apart from the rest of the nations.

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 Not that they were better than, or more moral than, not that they were more righteous in and of themselves.

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 There's something about them that God said, I want you to be distinctive to make a statement about who I am.

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 Now look at what Peter says here.

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 If you are a Christian, this morning, a follower of Jesus, as he who called you is holy, you be holy in all of your conduct.

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 Know that this world is not your home.

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 Know that your hope is not found in the things around you.

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 Because your true home is found in Christ and your inheritance with him in the Lord.

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 And therefore, he calls you to be devoted, set apart, distinctive, to give yourself wholly to the Lord.

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 See, we live in a city that unashamedly demands our devotion, right?

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 Are they right?

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 Your workplace demands your devotion.

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 Your family demands your devotion.

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 Either your children or your parents or both at the same time, right?

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 If you're part of a sports team, that probably demands your devotion as well.

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 Or, and let's be honest, church can do that as well, right?

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 Sometimes you might feel like, hey, work's all right, but church, they're asking a lot of me.

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 Anyone feel like that?

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 Okay, you don't need to lift up your hands.

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 That's not what Peter's asking for here.

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 Peter's not saying, hey, work asks for a lot.

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 Family asks for a lot.

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 Now, give a lot to church to make sure that you're a well-balanced, well-rounded individual.

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 That's not what he's saying.

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 He's saying, lift your sights higher than that.

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 In everything that you do, in all of your conduct, whether you're at the office, whether you're negotiating a deal with a supplier,

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 whether you're at CG, whether you're on the sports field, whether you're going on a date with someone,

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 in everything that you do, go into that situation with this realization,

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 realization, I am set apart, I am distinct, devoted to Christ in this moment.

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 And so, friends, what would it look like if tomorrow you go to the office,

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 and while you're there at your desk working, or you're at the negotiating table,

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 in the back of your mind, you're thinking, I'm set apart for Christ in this moment.

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 What would it look like to go on a date with someone, and you like them, and you hope that they like you,

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 and in that moment, you know, I belong to Christ.

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 I'm set apart, I'm distinct for His glory.

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 Even here at the dining, the dinner table.

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 What would it look like to go after a job or a promotion,

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 and knowing that this thing doesn't define me, but actually in my heart, I'm set apart for Christ.

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 I'm devoted fully to Him.

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 What would it look like to handle money, either the way we spend it, or the way we save it,

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 knowing that you're set apart for Christ.

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 And so Peter says, in your life, as you travel as an exile in this life, as you go on this pilgrimage,

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 whatever you do, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

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 when you didn't know who God was and who you are in God,

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 but rather, just as He who called you is holy, so you be holy.

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 Be set apart, distinct for Christ, since it is written,

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 you shall be holy, for I am holy.

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 And Peter here quotes a little phrase from the book of Leviticus, Leviticus chapter 19,

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 be holy, for I am holy.

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 Now, the book of Leviticus is a tricky book, right?

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 I remember when I was probably seven or eight years old, one morning,

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 I've got a clear memory in my head, coming downstairs, and it was about half past five in the morning,

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 I walked past the lounge, and I saw my dad there,

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 in the same position my dad was in every morning at half past five.

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 He was on his knees, the Bible opened to him in prayer.

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 And so I went to him, and I was interrupting him, and I thought, let me be like my dad.

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 And so I got a Bible and said, Dad, I want to read the Bible.

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 What should I read?

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 For some reason, he told me to read Leviticus.

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 I don't remember a single bit of it, reading it,

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 but for some reason, he thought that was a good idea.

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 But actually, I don't know how much sense it makes to an eight-year-old,

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 but actually, Leviticus is an amazing book of the Bible.

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 It's a difficult book to get our head around,

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 because it seems like there's lots of laws, but it's a brilliant book.

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 And the main theme of Leviticus is this.

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 Chris helped me with it this week.

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 God wants to set apart his community through his word,

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 that they will be a distinctive community from every other nation in the known world.

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 Tim Chester and Steve Timmis write it like this.

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 It's quite a long quote, but it's good.

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 Let's listen to this.

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 They say,

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 Leviticus was intended to create this distinctive people,

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 shaping every aspect of life, both individually and corporately.

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 It was not just about what people did in the temple.

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 It's about what they did in the marketplace.

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 This distinctiveness, this holiness, knows no boundaries.

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 It defined relationships, marriage, work, finances, leisure, and politics.

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 Holiness is as much about what you do on a Monday morning on the factory floor

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 as it is what you do on a Sunday morning in the church service.

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 Holiness is as much about the kind of neighbor you are

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 as it is about the kind of church member you are.

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 Holiness, distinctiveness, is as much about who you are

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 when you're holding a steering wheel as it is when you're holding a Bible.

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 Just like Leviticus,

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 Peter spells out what it means for the church to be distinctive in every area of life.

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 But the headline is this.

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 Be holy because I am holy.

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 Be distinctive because I am distinctive.

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 And so for those of us who are Christ followers,

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 this is what it means to be exiles.

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 Not to be holier than thou.

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 Not to be arrogant or bigoted.

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 It's to see that God has got a calling to be distinctive

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 and to reflect something of Him in our world.

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 Be holy because He is holy.

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 Now, in the rest of the passage,

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 Peter gives us three reasons why we should do this.

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 Three reasons to pursue holiness.

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 But before we get there, I want you to take notice of something.

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 Not one of these three reasons

00:16:28.719 --> 00:16:32.860
 has anything to do with earning your acceptance before God.

00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:34.899
 Peter doesn't once say,

00:16:35.319 --> 00:16:36.679
 be holy, be distinct,

00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:39.059
 and then God will look upon you favorably.

00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:40.659
 Or God will be pleased with you.

00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:42.359
 Or God will then accept you.

00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:44.259
 You see, the difference between Christianity

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:45.659
 and every other religion,

00:16:45.979 --> 00:16:46.979
 every religion says,

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:49.619
 be holy and then the gods will accept you.

00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:51.039
 Do right things.

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:53.000
 Follow the eightfold noble path.

00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:54.939
 Follow this Dharma, this teaching.

00:16:55.459 --> 00:16:56.000
 Be holy.

00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:56.919
 Do the right things

00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:59.039
 and the gods will accept you because of your holiness.

00:16:59.839 --> 00:17:00.719
 Jesus Christ says,

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.219
 come to me in faith and repentance.

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.239
 I will accept you.

00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:05.579
 And then, go and be holy like me.

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.659
 See the difference?

00:17:07.300 --> 00:17:08.400
 So Peter's going to encourage us

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.880
 to pursue a life of holiness,

00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:11.660
 but not because he wants us

00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:13.880
 to earn our acceptance before God.

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.500
 That we get from Jesus

00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:17.380
 because we believe that he died on the cross.

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.940
 But once we do that,

00:17:19.040 --> 00:17:21.140
 he says, now come and be like God.

00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:21.900
 Pursue holiness.

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.840
 Does that make sense?

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:23.700
 Okay.

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.660
 So three reasons to pursue holiness.

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:27.019
 First is this.

00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.900
 Because you have a new father.

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:29.880
 Is that what I said?

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:31.140
 Because you've got a new father.

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.400
 Okay.

00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:33.720
 So Peter's already told us,

00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:35.080
 as Chris mentioned last week,

00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.519
 you have a new home.

00:17:36.820 --> 00:17:38.060
 This world is not your home.

00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.560
 Now he's going to tell us,

00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:41.680
 you have a new heritage as well.

00:17:42.040 --> 00:17:43.180
 You have a new family.

00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:46.720
 Look at what he says in verse 14.

00:17:46.840 --> 00:17:47.200
 He says,

00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:49.120
 as obedient children,

00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:49.980
 okay,

00:17:50.060 --> 00:17:51.220
 there's the important word children,

00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.800
 do not be conformed

00:17:52.800 --> 00:17:54.460
 to the passions of your former ignorance,

00:17:54.860 --> 00:17:56.620
 but just as he who called you is holy,

00:17:57.360 --> 00:17:58.280
 you also be holy.

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.480
 And then in verse 17,

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.019
 he says,

00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.779
 and if you call on him as father,

00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:05.099
 conduct your life with holiness.

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.259
 As Asians,

00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.420
 I want to say we,

00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:11.120
 because I consider myself a Hong Konger,

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:11.759
 we,

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.680
 but you,

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:18.839
 understand this better than many people from the West,

00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:19.160
 right?

00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:21.160
 That something of your family,

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:24.920
 your family shapes who you are,

00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.299
 right?

00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:27.539
 Who you become as a person

00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:30.339
 is instinctively tied to your family

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.680
 and your family background.

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:36.259
 In biblical language,

00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:37.779
 to be somebody's child

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:40.200
 doesn't just mean that they brought you

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.559
 into the world biologically.

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:44.159
 It means that they've shaped who you become.

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.500
 It means that you are like them.

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.659
 You take after them,

00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:47.139
 okay?

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.319
 So for instance,

00:18:48.399 --> 00:18:49.539
 in John chapter eight,

00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.480
 Jesus is discussing some stuff

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.639
 with some religious leaders.

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.619
 And Jesus says to them,

00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:56.359
 you're speaking just like your father.

00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:58.099
 And they say to him,

00:18:58.239 --> 00:18:58.359
 well,

00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:59.599
 Abraham is our father.

00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:01.119
 See what they're doing there?

00:19:01.479 --> 00:19:03.699
 They're claiming solidarity with Abraham.

00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.419
 They're saying,

00:19:04.479 --> 00:19:05.339
 Abraham's our father.

00:19:05.419 --> 00:19:06.500
 We are children of Abraham.

00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:08.079
 We are just like Abraham.

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.619
 They recognize that,

00:19:09.739 --> 00:19:12.739
 that the one that you claim solidarity with,

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.539
 the one who you say,

00:19:13.659 --> 00:19:14.579
 we are his children,

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.119
 that,

00:19:15.239 --> 00:19:17.179
 that means you like that person,

00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:17.479
 okay?

00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.039
 And so they say,

00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:19.279
 Abraham is our father.

00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.439
 We are just like him.

00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:23.539
 And Jesus then gives them the ultimate insult

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.279
 because he says,

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:26.380
 if Abraham was your father,

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:28.620
 you would do the same things that Abraham did.

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:29.820
 But actually,

00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:31.720
 you're children of your father,

00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.539
 who's the devil.

00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:35.160
 And your will is to do your father's desires.

00:19:36.120 --> 00:19:37.380
 And the next thing that happens,

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:39.880
 they pick up stones to stone him.

00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:40.860
 See,

00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:43.000
 Jesus has just said something radical.

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:45.059
 He's given them the ultimate insult.

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.460
 He said,

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.519
 you're just like your father.

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.940
 You think your father,

00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:49.140
 you're children of Abraham.

00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:50.560
 You think you're just like him.

00:19:51.020 --> 00:19:53.000
 Don't you realize from your conduct

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.320
 and the condition of your heart

00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:56.500
 that actually you're children of the devil

00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:58.120
 and they are riled.

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.900
 They want to get stones and kill him.

00:20:00.540 --> 00:20:01.000
 Now friends,

00:20:01.060 --> 00:20:02.020
 look what Peter says here.

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.000
 He says,

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:04.020
 let your conduct,

00:20:04.360 --> 00:20:06.040
 not only be that of exiles,

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.120
 that from another world,

00:20:07.560 --> 00:20:09.259
 but that of obedient children

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.620
 to your true father.

00:20:10.840 --> 00:20:11.560
 In verse 17,

00:20:12.020 --> 00:20:13.540
 if you call on him as father,

00:20:14.020 --> 00:20:15.720
 then let your conduct be like him.

00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:16.560
 And,

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.720
 and this is what God has always said to his people.

00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.500
 That as Christians,

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.860
 not only is this world,

00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.700
 not our home,

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:23.299
 not only do we have a new home,

00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:24.380
 but we have a new heritage.

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.819
 We have a new family.

00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:28.220
 We are born again into a new family

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:29.220
 with a new father

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:31.200
 and we have a new DNA inside of us.

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:31.920
 And therefore,

00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:34.740
 the nature and the character of this God,

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.579
 of this father,

00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:37.620
 should become something of our nature

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.539
 and our character.

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.600
 And what is this father like?

00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:41.319
 Well,

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.100
 he's many things.

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.880
 He's supremely just.

00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:45.960
 He's sovereign over everything.

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:48.000
 He is glorious and majestic,

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:51.160
 but he is supremely holy.

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:53.000
 Absolutely holy.

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.860
 He is utterly distinctive.

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:57.579
 He is set apart in a class by himself.

00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:58.779
 Unequaled,

00:20:59.340 --> 00:21:00.180
 unrivaled.

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:02.140
 1 Samuel chapter 2 says,

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:04.840
 there is no holy one like the Lord our God.

00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:06.680
 There is no one besides him.

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:07.600
 Friends,

00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:09.480
 this is the staggering claim of the Bible.

00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:11.920
 That there is one true God.

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:14.620
 He's not just one of a plethora of gods.

00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:15.379
 Little with here,

00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:16.299
 Jesus here,

00:21:16.419 --> 00:21:16.939
 others there.

00:21:17.179 --> 00:21:18.679
 There is one true God.

00:21:18.959 --> 00:21:21.399
 And he is distinct from all other gods,

00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.599
 all other religions,

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.679
 in all creation.

00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:25.719
 There is no one and nothing like him.

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.059
 Unrivaled,

00:21:27.439 --> 00:21:28.159
 unequaled.

00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:31.039
 He is not slightly better than us,

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:32.719
 slightly more intelligent than us,

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.979
 slightly more powerful.

00:21:34.479 --> 00:21:36.819
 This God is not made in our image.

00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:39.479
 He is not a pious old man with good morals.

00:21:39.939 --> 00:21:41.819
 He is utterly and gloriously,

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.879
 supremely,

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.540
 holy.

00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:45.380
 And he has no equal.

00:21:46.020 --> 00:21:47.280
 He is ultimate reality.

00:21:47.560 --> 00:21:49.160
 Everything else will fade away.

00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:51.260
 Everything else will come to pass.

00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.880
 Everything else is finite.

00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.740
 But not Yahweh.

00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:57.400
 He is from everlasting to everlasting.

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:59.800
 And there is no God like him.

00:22:00.520 --> 00:22:01.480
 He is utterly holy.

00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:02.440
 And one day,

00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:04.940
 every single knee

00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:06.600
 will bow down

00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:07.620
 in the face

00:22:07.619 --> 00:22:08.899
 of his holiness.

00:22:11.199 --> 00:22:12.419
 And Peter says,

00:22:12.919 --> 00:22:14.619
 if you are his children,

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:16.459
 be holy

00:22:16.459 --> 00:22:18.359
 like your father is holy.

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.500
 Now,

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:21.099
 does that mean we must be distinctive,

00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:22.619
 that we are unrivaled

00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:23.259
 and unequal

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.259
 and we are infinite?

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:24.919
 No,

00:22:24.979 --> 00:22:25.679
 of course not.

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:27.199
 But it does mean

00:22:27.199 --> 00:22:28.379
 that something of our nature

00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:29.179
 and our character

00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:30.119
 is distinctive.

00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.519
 It's set apart,

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.799
 that we reflect something

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.539
 of his character,

00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:34.500
 that we don't live

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.859
 for the things of this world,

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.779
 but that we know

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.619
 that our hope

00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:38.900
 and our home

00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:40.079
 is with him.

00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:42.539
 Friends,

00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.119
 for those of us

00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.240
 that are Christians this morning,

00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:45.779
 do you and I live this way?

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.680
 Do we go to work

00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.779
 or social gatherings

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.859
 with this conviction

00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:50.759
 that we are children

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.779
 of a holy God?

00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:54.160
 Do we go wholly devoted

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.900
 to him?

00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:56.099
 Friends,

00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:57.319
 does the distinctiveness

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.380
 of the holy God

00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.019
 drive

00:22:59.019 --> 00:23:00.519
 and our motivations

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.799
 shape our dreams

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.779
 and our desires?

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:04.920
 Are there some practices,

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:05.859
 some habits,

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.980
 which more closely resemble

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:09.019
 our former ignorance?

00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:10.660
 For those of you

00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.420
 that are not Christians

00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:11.980
 this morning,

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:12.680
 I want to ask you,

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.139
 how would this change your life

00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:15.019
 if you were to become

00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:16.539
 a child of this father?

00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.440
 How would it change your life

00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.319
 if you were to become

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:21.119
 a child of the one true God,

00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.279
 of ultimate reality,

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.799
 of truth himself?

00:23:24.639 --> 00:23:25.720
 How would it change your life

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:27.399
 if you were to come

00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:28.059
 to know him?

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.460
 Friends,

00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.920
 today Christ is inviting you

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.759
 to become a child

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.619
 of the living God,

00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:33.659
 of the one true holy God

00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:34.839
 and to come and find

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.379
 your hope

00:23:35.379 --> 00:23:36.379
 and your home

00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:37.479
 in him.

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.059
 First reason,

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.359
 if you call on him

00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:40.799
 his father,

00:23:40.919 --> 00:23:41.439
 be holy

00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:42.399
 for he is holy.

00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.479
 Second thing is this,

00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:44.679
 be holy

00:23:44.679 --> 00:23:45.959
 because you were bought

00:23:45.959 --> 00:23:46.719
 with a price,

00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:48.139
 bought with a price.

00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:50.879
 In Genesis chapter 3

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:52.739
 in the Garden of Eden,

00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:54.599
 remember Satan comes

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:56.739
 to our forefathers,

00:23:56.939 --> 00:23:57.559
 our grandparents,

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.519
 Adam and Eve,

00:23:58.519 --> 00:24:00.400
 and he says many things

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:00.599
 to them

00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.359
 and one of the things

00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.359
 he says is,

00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:03.559
 he says,

00:24:03.639 --> 00:24:04.700
 I know God said to you

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:06.279
 don't eat of this tree

00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.379
 and don't eat this fruit

00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.319
 but come on,

00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:08.960
 let's be real.

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.279
 He says the reason

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.059
 God said that

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.980
 is he doesn't want

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.660
 you to be happy.

00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.079
 He doesn't want you

00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.700
 to be free.

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.799
 If you really want

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.279
 to be free

00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.039
 and you really want

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.599
 to be happy,

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.420
 just take a bite.

00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:19.879
 It's not going

00:24:19.879 --> 00:24:20.559
 to do any harm.

00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.139
 Well, Adam and Eve

00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:23.039
 believed the lie

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.000
 and they gave themselves

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.099
 to their own glory.

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.480
 They devoted themselves

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.200
 to what they thought

00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.039
 would make them happy.

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:30.299
 And what would give them freedom

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.799
 but the consequences

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.839
 were catastrophic.

00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.480
 The result is that

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.539
 rather than being free,

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.700
 they became slaves

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.599
 to their own desires,

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.000
 slaves to sin,

00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:40.700
 slaves to destructive

00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.680
 patterns of behavior.

00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.460
 Rather than becoming happy,

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.319
 they were miserable.

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:46.019
 Rather than becoming

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:47.019
 full of life,

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.879
 they became children

00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:48.420
 of death.

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.119
 But not only that,

00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:51.299
 because they were

00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.279
 our forefathers

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.579
 of all humanity,

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:56.200
 everybody who's born

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.980
 is born as children

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.539
 of theirs

00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.660
 under their headship

00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.259
 and therefore

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:01.960
 we walk in their footsteps.

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.500
 We follow their same conduct.

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.860
 And so we are caught up

00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:05.400
 in their sin,

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.319
 we are their children

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.140
 and our lives

00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:08.460
 follow their same patterns.

00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:09.860
 And so listen to how

00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:11.460
 Ephesians chapter 2

00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.319
 describes it.

00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:13.740
 This describes me and you

00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:15.220
 before coming to Christ.

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:15.580
 It says,

00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:31.779
 You see, friends,

00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.919
 the problem with sin

00:25:32.919 --> 00:25:34.000
 is not just that

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.599
 one day we will face judgment

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:37.439
 or one day we will go to hell

00:25:37.439 --> 00:25:38.960
 or one day we will pay

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.919
 the price for our sin,

00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.720
 though those things

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.359
 are all true.

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:43.159
 That's not the only problem of sin.

00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:44.500
 The problem of sin

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:46.359
 is that today it enslaves us.

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:48.099
 Today we become children

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.000
 of our forefathers.

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:51.680
 Today we become enslaved

00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:54.380
 to our destructive patterns

00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:54.940
 of behavior

00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:56.680
 and to our own desires.

00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.759
 What Peter calls

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:59.359
 are futile ways of living.

00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.400
 We become children

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.400
 of disobedience.

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.819
 And so the hope

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.480
 of the gospel

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.559
 is not just that

00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.940
 we get out of jail

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.619
 free card

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.819
 for one day down there.

00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:09.119
 The hope of the gospel

00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:10.480
 is not just life insurance

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.519
 to keep us out of hell

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.420
 one day there.

00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.140
 That is true.

00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:14.440
 The hope of the gospel

00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.300
 is that today

00:26:15.300 --> 00:26:16.800
 you get a new father,

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:18.140
 you get a new life,

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.200
 but you're also bought

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.020
 out of slavery.

00:26:20.520 --> 00:26:21.800
 Look at what Peter says here.

00:26:21.860 --> 00:26:22.220
 He says,

00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:24.420
 live with fear and trembling,

00:26:24.780 --> 00:26:25.640
 live devotedly,

00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:26.280
 purposely,

00:26:26.520 --> 00:26:28.600
 knowing that you were ransomed

00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:30.140
 from the futile ways

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:30.740
 inherited

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:32.759
 from your forefathers.

00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:34.580
 You know what a ransom is, right?

00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:35.920
 A ransom is someone

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.400
 that is caught,

00:26:38.040 --> 00:26:38.480
 enslaved,

00:26:39.100 --> 00:26:40.560
 and you pay a whole pile

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:42.039
 of money to set them free.

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:42.960
 Peter says,

00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:43.919
 you were ransomed

00:26:43.919 --> 00:26:45.500
 from your former way of life.

00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:47.000
 You're set free.

00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:48.019
 You are a new person.

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:48.940
 Friends,

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.859
 the Bible tells us

00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:51.179
 that in our heart of hearts

00:26:51.179 --> 00:26:52.099
 we are just like

00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.859
 our forefathers.

00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:54.579
 We followed in their footsteps.

00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:56.019
 We live for our own glory.

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.720
 We pursue the high life

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.619
 and now the high life

00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:59.839
 catches up with us.

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:01.139
 And the consequence

00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:02.639
 is that we are slaves to sin.

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.839
 We are trapped.

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.119
 I don't know

00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:06.259
 if you ever feel like this.

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.879
 I echo Paul's words

00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:08.639
 in Romans 7

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:09.060
 where he says,

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.160
 the things I want to do

00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:10.980
 I cannot do

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:12.080
 and the things I don't want to do

00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:12.920
 I end up doing.

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.440
 Who will deliver me

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.820
 from such a body of death?

00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.720
 Thanks be to God.

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:20.160
 And so Peter says here,

00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.720
 we were ransomed

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.780
 from that futile

00:27:22.780 --> 00:27:23.840
 and destructive way

00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:25.460
 inherited from our forefathers.

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:25.920
 How?

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:28.080
 Not with perishable things

00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:28.880
 such as silver

00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:30.100
 or gold

00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:31.460
 or stock options

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.320
 or houses

00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:33.980
 but with the precious blood

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:34.500
 of Jesus.

00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:35.720
 Friends,

00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:36.920
 Jesus Christ

00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:37.540
 didn't just pay

00:27:37.540 --> 00:27:38.440
 our parking ticket.

00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:39.720
 Jesus Christ

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.259
 didn't just pay

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.280
 that restaurant bill.

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.440
 Jesus Christ

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.060
 didn't just pay

00:27:43.060 --> 00:27:43.580
 what you owe

00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:44.620
 to the inland

00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.800
 revenue department.

00:27:46.520 --> 00:27:47.200
 He paid,

00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.000
 he bought

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.980
 our lives

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.759
 out of death

00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.780
 and he paid it

00:27:50.780 --> 00:27:51.460
 with his blood.

00:27:52.120 --> 00:27:53.620
 Maybe an analogy

00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.220
 will help you.

00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.680
 Imagine this.

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.620
 Imagine you come

00:27:56.620 --> 00:27:58.240
 from a very wealthy family.

00:27:58.540 --> 00:27:59.520
 Your parents

00:27:59.520 --> 00:28:00.759
 are oil barons.

00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.300
 They're worth

00:28:01.300 --> 00:28:02.200
 tens of billions

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:02.720
 of dollars

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:04.600
 and you've got

00:28:04.600 --> 00:28:05.360
 a younger sister

00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:07.339
 and your younger sister

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.539
 likes to live it up,

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:08.839
 right?

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.139
 And so she's always

00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:11.519
 out clubbing

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.979
 and at these parties

00:28:12.979 --> 00:28:14.139
 and those parties

00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:16.099
 and someone comes to you

00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:16.500
 and says,

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:18.659
 the people that your sister

00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:19.579
 hangs out with

00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.959
 aren't the best kind

00:28:20.959 --> 00:28:21.719
 of people in the world

00:28:21.719 --> 00:28:22.279
 and I think,

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:22.899
 you know,

00:28:22.959 --> 00:28:24.099
 there's rumors

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:24.740
 that they're involved

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.939
 in narcotics trade

00:28:25.939 --> 00:28:27.359
 and human trafficking

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:28.759
 and I think you should

00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:29.619
 speak to your sister

00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:30.219
 and warn her.

00:28:30.719 --> 00:28:31.319
 And so you do,

00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.240
 you go and speak to her

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:33.519
 and she doesn't want

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:33.899
 to listen,

00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.219
 right?

00:28:35.199 --> 00:28:36.939
 And so you're keeping

00:28:36.939 --> 00:28:37.379
 an eye on her

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.759
 but one day she goes out,

00:28:39.459 --> 00:28:40.339
 she doesn't come back

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:40.879
 that night,

00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.419
 the next day you're

00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:42.959
 looking for her

00:28:42.959 --> 00:28:43.399
 frantically,

00:28:43.659 --> 00:28:44.279
 going everywhere

00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.599
 where she likes to go,

00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:46.659
 you're calling her friends,

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.659
 calling her phone,

00:28:48.219 --> 00:28:49.179
 can't get hold of her.

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:50.459
 You go to the police station

00:28:50.459 --> 00:28:51.019
 one day,

00:28:51.459 --> 00:28:52.139
 two days,

00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.219
 three days,

00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.359
 on the fourth day

00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.359
 you get a ransom note.

00:28:55.979 --> 00:28:57.079
 We have your sister

00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:59.240
 we want a hundred million dollars.

00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:00.759
 Okay?

00:29:01.199 --> 00:29:02.220
 Your first response,

00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.579
 this is ridiculous,

00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.579
 we don't negotiate

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.319
 with terrorists,

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.619
 you say all the usual things,

00:29:06.679 --> 00:29:06.919
 right?

00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:08.779
 But pretty soon you realize

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.740
 this isn't the movie,

00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:10.699
 this is real life.

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.359
 And so you sell

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:13.319
 a couple of extra barrels

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:13.740
 of oil,

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.460
 sell some stock options,

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.579
 you get the money together,

00:29:17.159 --> 00:29:18.159
 you wire the transfer

00:29:18.159 --> 00:29:19.439
 into a Swiss bank account

00:29:19.439 --> 00:29:20.519
 and tell you

00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.460
 where your sister is

00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.579
 and you go

00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.339
 and you find her

00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:24.740
 and she's set free.

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.099
 She's fine.

00:29:26.459 --> 00:29:27.379
 You ransom her

00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.579
 from slavery.

00:29:29.379 --> 00:29:30.119
 Now tell me this,

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.359
 that next weekend,

00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:32.699
 are you going to go

00:29:32.699 --> 00:29:33.519
 to your sister and say,

00:29:34.179 --> 00:29:34.319
 hey,

00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:34.879
 are you going to hang out

00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.619
 with your friends again?

00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:36.659
 Do you want me to drive you

00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.419
 down to town?

00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:38.459
 I'm sure you're missing

00:29:38.459 --> 00:29:38.919
 your friends

00:29:38.919 --> 00:29:39.619
 and you haven't seen them

00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.119
 for a while.

00:29:40.519 --> 00:29:41.039
 I know they're not

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.740
 the greatest people

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.379
 but do you want to go

00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:43.240
 hang out with them again?

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.719
 Of course not,

00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.019
 right?

00:29:45.439 --> 00:29:46.119
 And if your sister

00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:46.839
 comes to you and says,

00:29:46.899 --> 00:29:46.980
 hey,

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.799
 will you just take me

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.599
 to my friend's house?

00:29:48.699 --> 00:29:49.539
 I think I'm sure

00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.500
 it was some bad mistake,

00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.359
 I'm just going to hang out

00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:52.119
 with them again.

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:52.759
 You're going to say,

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.459
 are you joking?

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.660
 You're never going to see

00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.299
 those people,

00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:55.700
 right?

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:56.640
 Why?

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:58.380
 Because you've been ransomed

00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.519
 from that way of life.

00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.380
 You've been saved.

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.000
 You've been bought

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.700
 out of slavery.

00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:03.600
 You don't dare go back there.

00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:05.019
 You're a new person

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:06.180
 and now you give yourself

00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.740
 to a new way of life.

00:30:08.100 --> 00:30:08.400
 Friends,

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.539
 this is what Peter's saying.

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:11.279
 You are a distinctive people.

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.799
 You are a holy people.

00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.720
 You've been bought

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.460
 with a price,

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.759
 bought out of your

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.680
 former way of life.

00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.899
 Don't go back there.

00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:19.759
 Don't go back there.

00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:20.799
 Friends,

00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.460
 if you're a Christian

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.000
 this morning,

00:30:22.139 --> 00:30:23.579
 hell was once your destiny

00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.680
 but now you're a child

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.940
 of the holy living God

00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:27.619
 welcomed into his family

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:29.159
 with an imperishable hope

00:30:29.159 --> 00:30:30.379
 and eternal home

00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:31.240
 welcomed for you

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:33.159
 and everything you are

00:30:33.159 --> 00:30:34.619
 and everything you have

00:30:34.619 --> 00:30:36.220
 is because of him.

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.119
 Because of him.

00:30:38.699 --> 00:30:38.939
 Friends,

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.659
 the reason you and I

00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:40.619
 can go to work tomorrow

00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:42.019
 with hope in our hearts,

00:30:42.479 --> 00:30:43.539
 the reason that you and I

00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:44.339
 can survive

00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:45.479
 when a loved one

00:30:45.479 --> 00:30:46.779
 passes away,

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.219
 friends,

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.299
 the reason that you and I

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:49.699
 don't need to be crushed

00:30:49.699 --> 00:30:51.139
 by a bad medical report,

00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:51.399
 friends,

00:30:51.459 --> 00:30:52.639
 the reason why you and I

00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:53.919
 can joyfully and wonderfully

00:30:53.919 --> 00:30:55.339
 give ourselves to Christ

00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:57.439
 is because everything we have

00:30:57.439 --> 00:30:58.500
 if you're a follower of Jesus

00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.759
 and everything you are

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.899
 is because of him.

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:02.319
 He's paid the price.

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.819
 He's bought your soul

00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.519
 and you're free.

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.779
 Remember the words

00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:06.459
 of that old hymn.

00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:07.960
 When I surveyed

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.920
 the wondrous cross

00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:10.860
 on which the prince

00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:12.079
 of glory died,

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.259
 my richest gain

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.340
 I count but loss

00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:15.980
 and poor contempt

00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:17.019
 on all my pride.

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:19.200
 And so were the whole realm

00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:20.120
 of nature mine

00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:21.799
 that were an offering

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.240
 far too small,

00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.900
 love so amazing,

00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:26.259
 so divine,

00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:28.100
 demands my life,

00:31:28.600 --> 00:31:29.360
 my soul,

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.620
 my all.

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.519
 Friends,

00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.500
 this is what Peter's urging

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.160
 his listeners.

00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.560
 And this is still

00:31:34.560 --> 00:31:35.500
 God's word to us today.

00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.060
 That we will be those

00:31:37.060 --> 00:31:38.200
 who live with a different hope,

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.660
 who walk to a different drumbeat,

00:31:40.060 --> 00:31:41.080
 who put our confidence

00:31:41.080 --> 00:31:41.840
 not in the things

00:31:41.840 --> 00:31:42.480
 of this world

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.580
 but in our eternal home

00:31:43.580 --> 00:31:45.200
 because Christ has purchased us

00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:46.080
 and bought it for us

00:31:46.080 --> 00:31:47.220
 and secured it for us.

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:48.779
 Be holy because

00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:49.740
 you're bought to the price.

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:50.720
 Third thing and finally,

00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:52.720
 be holy because

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:54.180
 your life will bear fruit.

00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.080
 Look at verse 22

00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:57.880
 to 25 with me.

00:31:57.880 --> 00:32:01.380
 Peter now is going to give us

00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:02.980
 one specific application

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:03.980
 of this phrase,

00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:05.560
 be holy for God is holy.

00:32:06.040 --> 00:32:06.180
 Okay?

00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:07.620
 And this is what he says.

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.000
 He says,

00:32:08.080 --> 00:32:09.520
 having purified your souls

00:32:09.520 --> 00:32:10.480
 by your obedience

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.400
 to the truth

00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:14.460
 for a sincere brotherly love,

00:32:14.780 --> 00:32:16.420
 love one another earnestly

00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:17.680
 from a pure heart.

00:32:17.820 --> 00:32:18.080
 Okay?

00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:18.900
 So he says,

00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:19.720
 you want to be holy

00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.700
 like God is holy?

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:22.240
 Love one another

00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.220
 sincerely,

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:23.860
 earnestly

00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.920
 from a pure heart.

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:25.620
 Okay?

00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.780
 Is there any other way

00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:27.980
 to be more like God

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:29.240
 than to love one another?

00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:30.119
 Remember Jesus,

00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.099
 the greatest command,

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.500
 love the Lord your God

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.379
 with all your heart,

00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:33.819
 soul,

00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:34.779
 mind and strength.

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:36.220
 And the second greatest

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:36.899
 is like it,

00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:37.759
 love your neighbor

00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.460
 as yourself

00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:40.160
 for on these two commands

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:41.319
 hang all the law

00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:41.859
 and the prophets.

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:43.379
 You want to be like God?

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.700
 Love other people.

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.160
 Okay?

00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:45.799
 Sincerely,

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.240
 earnestly.

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.359
 So Peter gives

00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.559
 a specific application.

00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:50.259
 Be holy like God is holy.

00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:50.980
 How?

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.399
 Love one another

00:32:52.399 --> 00:32:53.680
 earnestly and sincerely.

00:32:54.399 --> 00:32:55.139
 Then he says,

00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:56.960
 then he gives the reason.

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.080
 For,

00:32:58.300 --> 00:32:59.140
 or since,

00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:00.840
 you have been born again,

00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:02.940
 born to a new family,

00:33:03.120 --> 00:33:03.780
 the new father,

00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:05.420
 not of a perishable seed,

00:33:05.540 --> 00:33:06.920
 but an imperishable one,

00:33:07.040 --> 00:33:08.360
 one that will never perish

00:33:08.360 --> 00:33:09.520
 through the living

00:33:09.520 --> 00:33:11.060
 and abiding word of God.

00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:12.140
 For,

00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.900
 all flesh is like grass

00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:14.720
 and its glory

00:33:14.720 --> 00:33:15.540
 is like the flower

00:33:15.540 --> 00:33:16.200
 of the grass.

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.320
 The grass withers,

00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:18.280
 the flowers fail,

00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.800
 but the word of the Lord

00:33:19.800 --> 00:33:20.640
 remains forever.

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:22.700
 And this word

00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.520
 is the good news

00:33:23.520 --> 00:33:24.440
 that is preached to you.

00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:24.840
 Okay?

00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:26.640
 Almost coming to an end now.

00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:28.259
 Peter here quotes

00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.380
 Isaiah chapter 40.

00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:31.220
 In the book of Isaiah,

00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:33.100
 the nation of Israel

00:33:33.100 --> 00:33:34.600
 are in exile.

00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:35.740
 They're away from

00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.580
 the promised land.

00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:37.539
 Things are not going

00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.620
 particularly well for them.

00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:40.019
 They wish they could be back

00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:40.799
 with God's people

00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:41.580
 and God's land.

00:33:42.080 --> 00:33:42.900
 And while they're there,

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:43.680
 they're wondering,

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:44.299
 God,

00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:45.779
 is your word unfaithful?

00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:47.160
 Are you not able

00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:47.960
 to keep us

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.940
 like your word said?

00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:50.180
 We thought you were faithful.

00:33:50.820 --> 00:33:51.080
 God,

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.240
 should we trust you?

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.259
 Are you really going

00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:53.819
 to do with us

00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.680
 what you said you would?

00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:56.640
 And so Isaiah writes them

00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:57.460
 in chapter 40.

00:33:57.599 --> 00:33:57.940
 He says,

00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:58.460
 comfort,

00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.920
 comfort for my people

00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:00.599
 in exile.

00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:01.920
 And then he says,

00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:03.440
 all other kingdoms,

00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:04.920
 all other words

00:34:04.920 --> 00:34:05.519
 are going to fail.

00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:07.400
 You trust Nebuchadnezzar,

00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:08.519
 that word is going to fail.

00:34:08.679 --> 00:34:09.760
 You trust Babylon,

00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:11.260
 that word is going to fail.

00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:13.039
 You trust your own expertise,

00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:14.420
 that word is going to fail.

00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.980
 All other kingdoms

00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.960
 is like the grass

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.519
 of the field.

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.599
 Here today,

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.780
 tomorrow is going to be

00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:20.420
 thrown in the bin.

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:22.320
 But the word of the Lord

00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:23.120
 proves true.

00:34:23.660 --> 00:34:24.600
 So while the people

00:34:24.600 --> 00:34:25.240
 are in exile,

00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:26.940
 Isaiah says,

00:34:27.560 --> 00:34:28.180
 God is faithful.

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.519
 You can bank your life

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:29.840
 in it.

00:34:30.280 --> 00:34:30.900
 Trust him.

00:34:31.580 --> 00:34:32.300
 Now Peter writes

00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:32.920
 the same thing.

00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:33.360
 And he says,

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.280
 don't you realize

00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:35.080
 you're in exile?

00:34:35.700 --> 00:34:36.860
 You're exiles in this world.

00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:38.180
 This world is not your home.

00:34:38.620 --> 00:34:39.700
 You're being persecuted,

00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.900
 you're being ostracized,

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.360
 you're being discriminated against.

00:34:42.700 --> 00:34:43.620
 But don't lose hope.

00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:45.019
 Because every other word

00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:45.760
 is like the grass

00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.200
 of the field.

00:34:46.200 --> 00:34:46.960
 It's going to fail.

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:48.680
 But there is a word

00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:50.239
 that you can bank your life on.

00:34:50.579 --> 00:34:51.779
 The word of the Lord

00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:52.899
 remains true.

00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:54.599
 And so this is what he's saying.

00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:56.259
 So in this world,

00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:57.279
 pursue holiness.

00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:59.500
 Be distinctive like your father.

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:01.239
 Love one another earnestly.

00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.960
 And when it seems like

00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:04.319
 this is a hopeless endeavor,

00:35:04.879 --> 00:35:05.799
 when it seems like

00:35:05.799 --> 00:35:06.319
 this pursuit

00:35:06.319 --> 00:35:08.079
 is never going to bear any fruit,

00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:09.559
 when it seems like

00:35:09.559 --> 00:35:11.539
 it would be far more expedient

00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:13.259
 to blend into culture,

00:35:13.399 --> 00:35:14.359
 to take a shortcut,

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:16.399
 to look after yourself,

00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:18.619
 to not be distinctive for God,

00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.779
 but just to look after

00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:20.539
 your own interests,

00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:21.960
 remember this.

00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:24.419
 This word will not fail.

00:35:24.919 --> 00:35:26.219
 This word may look like

00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:27.319
 a tiny seed.

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.319
 It may look like

00:35:28.319 --> 00:35:29.159
 nothing impressive.

00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:30.480
 But this seed

00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.940
 is imperishable.

00:35:32.299 --> 00:35:34.099
 It will never fail.

00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.719
 Remember Mark chapter 4,

00:35:35.839 --> 00:35:36.759
 Jesus says this.

00:35:37.399 --> 00:35:37.659
 He says,

00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:38.500
 The kingdom of God

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.779
 is like a grain

00:35:39.779 --> 00:35:40.579
 of mustard seed.

00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:41.019
 I think we've got

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.779
 a little picture there.

00:35:42.419 --> 00:35:42.619
 Which,

00:35:43.319 --> 00:35:44.319
 when sown on the ground,

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.199
 is the smallest

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:46.319
 of all the seeds

00:35:46.319 --> 00:35:46.899
 in the earth.

00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:47.760
 And yet,

00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:48.300
 when it's sown,

00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:49.000
 it grows up

00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.880
 and becomes larger

00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:51.460
 than all the garden plants.

00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:52.920
 Jesus says,

00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:53.940
 Don't you realize

00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:55.079
 your life is like a seed

00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.980
 that's got to be planted

00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:56.519
 in the soil?

00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:58.160
 It's got to die there.

00:35:58.680 --> 00:35:59.559
 It's got to become obsolete.

00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:01.440
 But it will bear fruit.

00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:02.760
 It will bear fruit.

00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:03.180
 And friends,

00:36:03.240 --> 00:36:04.220
 this is what Peter's saying.

00:36:04.300 --> 00:36:04.920
 When you're tempted

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:05.539
 to give in

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.680
 and blend into culture,

00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:07.840
 don't do it.

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:08.780
 When you're tempted

00:36:08.780 --> 00:36:09.380
 to give in

00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:10.160
 to your desires

00:36:10.160 --> 00:36:10.840
 which are counted

00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.559
 to God's will,

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.660
 don't do it.

00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:13.579
 When you're tempted

00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.579
 to live for yourselves,

00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:15.800
 don't do it.

00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:17.380
 Pursue holiness

00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:19.039
 because you've been born again,

00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:20.539
 born of a new life.

00:36:20.580 --> 00:36:21.980
 And it may seem insignificant.

00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:23.700
 At times,

00:36:23.780 --> 00:36:24.440
 it may seem like

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.320
 it's holding you back

00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:25.880
 in your career.

00:36:26.260 --> 00:36:26.740
 At times,

00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:27.480
 it may seem like

00:36:27.480 --> 00:36:28.039
 this seed

00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:29.640
 is never going to bear fruit.

00:36:30.240 --> 00:36:30.440
 Friends,

00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:31.600
 every other word

00:36:31.600 --> 00:36:32.360
 that you're tempted

00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:33.400
 to bank your life on

00:36:33.400 --> 00:36:34.340
 is like the grass

00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:34.960
 or the field.

00:36:35.100 --> 00:36:35.860
 It's like a flower

00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:36.400
 in a vase

00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:37.060
 that next week

00:36:37.060 --> 00:36:37.460
 is going to be

00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:38.120
 thrown in the bin.

00:36:38.620 --> 00:36:39.400
 But the word

00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:39.940
 of the Lord

00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:40.580
 proves true.

00:36:41.220 --> 00:36:41.780
 You can bank

00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:42.420
 your life on it.

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:44.180
 It will bear fruit.

00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:48.039
 Friends,

00:36:48.240 --> 00:36:49.060
 this is what Peter

00:36:49.060 --> 00:36:49.380
 is saying

00:36:49.380 --> 00:36:50.660
 to these first century Christians

00:36:50.660 --> 00:36:51.740
 and this is what Christ

00:36:51.740 --> 00:36:52.400
 is saying to us

00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:52.940
 in Hong Kong.

00:36:53.560 --> 00:36:54.420
 They were persecuted,

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:55.780
 discriminated against,

00:36:56.140 --> 00:36:56.980
 ostracized.

00:36:57.820 --> 00:36:58.519
 They may have been

00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:59.560
 tempted to sell out,

00:37:00.160 --> 00:37:00.800
 may have been tempted

00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:01.640
 to blend in,

00:37:02.160 --> 00:37:03.320
 pursue a comfortable life.

00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:04.280
 Peter says,

00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.039
 don't do it.

00:37:05.620 --> 00:37:06.460
 Don't sell out.

00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.840
 Don't give up.

00:37:08.360 --> 00:37:08.720
 Christian,

00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.539
 you fight

00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:10.300
 the fight

00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:11.160
 for hope.

00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:11.960
 Christian,

00:37:12.140 --> 00:37:12.680
 you fight

00:37:12.680 --> 00:37:14.260
 to pursue holiness

00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:15.400
 because you have

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.060
 a new father

00:37:16.060 --> 00:37:16.460
 in heaven

00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:17.060
 and he's called

00:37:17.060 --> 00:37:17.880
 you to be like him

00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:19.180
 because he's bought

00:37:19.180 --> 00:37:19.920
 you with a price,

00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:20.740
 the precious blood

00:37:20.740 --> 00:37:21.220
 of Jesus

00:37:21.220 --> 00:37:23.000
 and because this word,

00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:23.720
 this seed

00:37:23.720 --> 00:37:25.100
 is an imperishable seed.

00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:26.320
 It will not fail.

00:37:26.520 --> 00:37:27.440
 It will not falter.

00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:28.860
 It will not give up on you.

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.900
 You've been born again

00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:31.120
 of an imperishable word

00:37:31.120 --> 00:37:32.220
 and the gospel

00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:32.700
 gives you

00:37:32.700 --> 00:37:33.780
 an imperishable hope

00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:34.900
 because of that word.

00:37:35.240 --> 00:37:36.120
 It may look small.

00:37:36.680 --> 00:37:37.780
 It may look insignificant.

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.640
 But you can bank

00:37:39.640 --> 00:37:40.320
 your life on it.

00:37:40.380 --> 00:37:41.200
 You can hope on it.

00:37:41.680 --> 00:37:42.440
 Don't give up.

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:43.700
 Don't sell out.

00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:45.240
 Don't pursue comfort.

00:37:45.820 --> 00:37:46.440
 Fight the fight

00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:46.940
 of holiness

00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:48.139
 until you reach

00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:49.360
 your true home.

00:37:50.300 --> 00:37:51.380
 Let's pray together.

00:37:58.800 --> 00:37:59.940
 Oh, Father God,

00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:02.019
 we confess, God,

00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:04.880
 that it's so easy

00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:06.380
 to listen to the word

00:38:06.380 --> 00:38:07.139
 of our culture,

00:38:08.139 --> 00:38:09.079
 to be intoxicated

00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:09.960
 by its message.

00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:10.420
 But God,

00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:11.059
 you call us

00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:11.739
 to be sober.

00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.340
 You call us

00:38:13.340 --> 00:38:14.239
 to fix our eyes

00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:14.820
 and our hearts

00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:15.519
 on you, God.

00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:16.880
 Oh, God,

00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:18.019
 as a church community,

00:38:18.219 --> 00:38:18.900
 we pray,

00:38:19.079 --> 00:38:19.559
 won't you,

00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:20.940
 won't you

00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:21.940
 by the Holy Spirit,

00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:22.199
 God,

00:38:22.279 --> 00:38:23.519
 come and open our eyes

00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.940
 to see you freshly,

00:38:25.739 --> 00:38:26.900
 to fight for hope

00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:28.539
 and to pursue holiness, God.

00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:29.420
 I pray that we

00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:30.559
 as a church

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.559
 and every Christian

00:38:31.559 --> 00:38:32.039
 in Hong Kong

00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:33.019
 will be distinctive.

00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:34.440
 Oh, God,

00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:35.199
 come and help us

00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:35.699
 to be holy.

00:38:36.500 --> 00:38:37.219
 I pray we'll be

00:38:37.219 --> 00:38:37.980
 set apart

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:39.079
 for the praise

00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:40.179
 of your name, God.

00:38:40.639 --> 00:38:41.579
 I pray that,

00:38:42.079 --> 00:38:42.920
 God,

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:44.259
 we're not better than,

00:38:44.739 --> 00:38:46.319
 more morally superior.

00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:47.179
 I pray there'll be

00:38:47.179 --> 00:38:47.880
 something about

00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:48.619
 our devotion,

00:38:48.799 --> 00:38:49.759
 that we give ourselves

00:38:49.759 --> 00:38:50.980
 to you wholeheartedly.

00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:52.480
 We walk to a different

00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.099
 drumbeat.

00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:55.819
 God,

00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:56.519
 come and help us,

00:38:56.559 --> 00:38:56.900
 I pray.

00:38:57.799 --> 00:38:58.179
 God,

00:38:58.219 --> 00:38:58.659
 won't you come

00:38:58.659 --> 00:38:59.279
 and dislodge

00:38:59.279 --> 00:38:59.840
 the idols

00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:00.840
 in our hearts, God.

00:39:02.539 --> 00:39:02.940
 God,

00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:04.039
 I pray that those things

00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:06.199
 that are holding us back,

00:39:06.279 --> 00:39:06.639
 those things

00:39:06.639 --> 00:39:08.039
 that are telling us

00:39:08.039 --> 00:39:08.920
 to trust in them.

00:39:09.099 --> 00:39:09.339
 God,

00:39:09.420 --> 00:39:10.279
 won't you loosen

00:39:10.279 --> 00:39:12.500
 the grip on our hearts?

00:39:13.719 --> 00:39:15.319
 Won't you melt them away,

00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:15.819
 little God,

00:39:15.859 --> 00:39:17.019
 that we can trust you?

00:39:19.480 --> 00:39:19.879
 Friends,

00:39:19.960 --> 00:39:20.539
 some of you here

00:39:20.539 --> 00:39:21.000
 this morning

00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:22.179
 maybe are not Christians.

00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:25.339
 You've never become

00:39:25.339 --> 00:39:25.839
 a child

00:39:25.839 --> 00:39:26.799
 of this glorious

00:39:26.799 --> 00:39:27.659
 Holy Father.

00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:29.900
 You may think

00:39:29.900 --> 00:39:30.559
 you're a child

00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:32.400
 of your own ideas.

00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:33.119
 You may think

00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:34.699
 yourself an independent thinker.

00:39:34.819 --> 00:39:35.599
 Don't you realize

00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.139
 you're a child

00:39:36.139 --> 00:39:36.779
 of your culture.

00:39:37.619 --> 00:39:38.460
 You've been shaped

00:39:38.460 --> 00:39:39.159
 by your culture

00:39:39.159 --> 00:39:40.000
 and your society.

00:39:41.319 --> 00:39:41.719
 Friends,

00:39:41.759 --> 00:39:42.480
 if you're not a Christian

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:43.059
 this morning,

00:39:43.179 --> 00:39:44.239
 the one true God

00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:45.059
 is calling you

00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:45.900
 and inviting you

00:39:45.900 --> 00:39:46.480
 to Himself

00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:48.199
 to put your hope

00:39:48.199 --> 00:39:48.559
 in Him.

00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:51.279
 He's inviting you

00:39:51.279 --> 00:39:51.539
 to,

00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:53.159
 He's offering

00:39:53.159 --> 00:39:53.960
 to pay the ransom

00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:54.659
 for your soul,

00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:56.539
 to buy you

00:39:56.539 --> 00:39:57.480
 out of a futile

00:39:57.480 --> 00:39:58.199
 way of living,

00:39:59.119 --> 00:40:00.759
 to give you

00:40:00.759 --> 00:40:01.319
 a new hope

00:40:01.319 --> 00:40:02.019
 and a new home,

00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:02.940
 a new family

00:40:02.940 --> 00:40:03.779
 and a new heart.

00:40:03.780 --> 00:40:05.740
 Why don't you

00:40:05.740 --> 00:40:06.220
 come and do it

00:40:06.220 --> 00:40:06.720
 this morning?

00:40:09.200 --> 00:40:09.820
 Maybe He's been

00:40:09.820 --> 00:40:10.320
 calling you

00:40:10.320 --> 00:40:11.240
 for a long time.

00:40:14.600 --> 00:40:15.780
 Maybe today's the day.

00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:17.080
 Come and surrender.

00:40:20.380 --> 00:40:20.740
 Friends,

00:40:20.760 --> 00:40:21.220
 for those of us

00:40:21.220 --> 00:40:21.800
 that are Christians,

00:40:21.960 --> 00:40:22.560
 maybe the areas

00:40:22.560 --> 00:40:23.080
 of our lives

00:40:23.080 --> 00:40:24.200
 we've been holding on to,

00:40:25.580 --> 00:40:25.960
 why don't you

00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:26.640
 come and surrender

00:40:26.640 --> 00:40:27.700
 those to King Jesus.

00:40:27.699 --> 00:40:30.559
 ask Him to

00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:32.199
 let His holiness

00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:33.179
 come and permeate

00:40:33.179 --> 00:40:33.960
 even that area

00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:34.480
 of your life.

00:40:34.879 --> 00:40:35.399
 Your relationship

00:40:35.399 --> 00:40:36.159
 with your parents,

00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:38.039
 your relationship

00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:38.759
 with your children,

00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:40.879
 your relationship

00:40:40.879 --> 00:40:41.460
 with money.

00:40:45.219 --> 00:40:45.619
 Christ,

00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:46.559
 come and make us holy.

00:40:46.699 --> 00:40:47.799
 Come make us set apart.

00:40:48.159 --> 00:40:48.980
 Make us distinctive

00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:49.719
 for your glory,

00:40:49.859 --> 00:40:50.299
 we pray.

00:40:50.299 --> 00:40:50.419
 Amen.

00:40:50.419 --> 00:40:50.460
 Amen.

00:40:50.460 --> 00:40:50.480
 Amen.

00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:50.519
 Amen.

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:50.579
 Amen.

00:40:50.579 --> 00:40:50.599
 Amen.

00:40:50.599 --> 00:40:50.659
 Amen.

00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:50.699
 Amen.

00:40:50.699 --> 00:40:50.759
 Amen.

00:40:50.759 --> 00:40:50.839
 Amen.

00:40:50.839 --> 00:40:50.879
 Amen.

00:40:50.879 --> 00:40:50.919
 Amen.

00:40:50.919 --> 00:40:50.960
 Amen.

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:51.000
 Amen.

00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:51.039
 Amen.

00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:51.059
 Amen.

00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:51.159
 Amen.

00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:51.179
 Amen.