WEBVTT

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 Father, we ask that you would gently but deeply pour out your Holy Spirit upon us at this time.

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 We confess that, Father, we confess before you that parts of our minds are always,

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 and our heart and our will is always in rebellion against you, that we want to pick at things.

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 We want to reject things. We want to be critical of things.

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 And, Father, we confess before you that part of that is the leading of your Holy Spirit,

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 moving us to ask questions, and part of it, Father, is just that bit of rebellion in us.

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 And so, Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would gently but deeply fall upon us,

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 that your Holy Spirit would help us to use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts

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 and the best of our wills to think about your word.

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 And at the same time, Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would humble our hearts,

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 humble our minds, humble our wills, to recognize that we need your Holy Spirit

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 to bring the truth home to us deeply.

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 So, Father, do this wonderful and gracious work inside of us as we think about your word.

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 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Thank you.

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 And I read this big, big, big, fat academic commentary.

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 It's like this fat, really.

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 It's in volume two and small print.

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 And I had it open and I have my Bible and I'm working on it.

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 And this fellow comes up to me and says, what are you doing?

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 And I thought I'd have this little bit of a teaching moment with him.

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 And I said, well, you know, this guy Luke, he lived about 30, 35 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

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 He went around and gathered accurate information.

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 And he wrote down these eyewitness reports, et cetera, et cetera.

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 And I'm starting to say this.

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 And he said, there's no such thing as valid eyewitness reports.

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 You're completely and utterly wasting your time.

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 And by the way, I just raised my voice for this.

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 This fellow, one of the things he likes to do to embarrass me in Starbucks is to raise his voice

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 so that the whole Starbucks can hear him when he sort of comes after me.

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 He doesn't do it all the time.

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 But I think if he thinks he has a winning point, the volume goes up.

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 And he went on and he said, you know, that terrorist who came and attacked Parliament Hill,

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 he shot the soldier and went there.

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 He said, there's been like 15 different eyewitness reports.

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 And they all say completely and utterly different things.

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 And if they can't get something like that right, your attempt to read the gospel and Luke and believe that's eyewitness,

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 that's complete and utter waste of time, eyewitness stuff.

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 It just doesn't happen.

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 It has no value or worth.

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 Now, I wish I could share with you that I had this unbelievably witty, cutting, or not cutting, response to beat him.

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 If there was a videographer going around videotaping my life, which would be really boring, by the way,

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 this would not be in my highlight reels in terms of my response to the fellow.

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 You know, I said something.

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 I can't even remember what I said.

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 I sort of sputtered away at something.

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 And he went and sat down in his seat.

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 Well, about a month later, which is maybe a month and a half, two months ago,

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 once again, he came in.

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 And I'm working with the big, fat commentary, my Bible open.

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 And he comes.

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 And he says, oh, you're still trying to look at that book and the eyewitness testimony.

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 And remember, the guy, the terrorist, it doesn't work.

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 But, you know, when you try to share the faith with people, you're not always going to hit home runs.

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 In fact, a lot of times, you won't even hit singles.

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 In fact, many times, you're going to strike out in three pitches, laying the ball just go by.

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 And you strike out.

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 And that's fine.

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 It's not the end of the world.

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 So when it happened the first time, I thought about it and I prayed about it.

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 And I realized something that I would say to him.

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 And I said, God, please give me another opportunity to talk to him.

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 So a month later, I get this opportunity.

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 He goes into his rent.

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 And I said, I stop him and I say, this is true.

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 I realized what he did for a living.

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 I said, your whole living involves swearing affidavits of witnesses of what went on and arguing them in court.

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 I said, the day that you quit your job and write an essay in the Globe and Mail saying that you have been perpetrating lies for the last 30 years of your life and that it's all bunk and nonsense, the day you do that, I'm going to listen to what you have to say about evidence.

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 You can see why I have so many friends, by the way.

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 Anyway, he got a bit red.

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 He sputtered and went back down.

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 And he's not said anything to me about historical evidence since then.

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 So I mention all of this because, you know, what I'm going to look at, the title of the sermon is called First Witness.

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 And on one level, what we're going to look at today isn't actually, from one point of view, it's not the first witness.

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 The text that I was just reading from John, that's the very first witness, in a sense, it tells the very first people who found out that the tomb was empty.

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 And it also will tell you just after that who the very first person was to see that Jesus had risen from the dead.

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 But if you have Bibles with them, you turn to the book of Galatians, we're going to look at the very first historical record of evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.

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 And it sort of looks funny because it looks like a holy book.

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 This used to have sort of gold on the edge, but it's getting battered around and it doesn't anymore.

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 And it looks like it's a holy book.

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 But before Galatians 1 started as a holy book, it was a circular letter.

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 It was a circular letter written by a man named Paul.

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 And at the time, he was probably in Antioch of Syria.

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 And he wrote a letter to a group of former Jewish people and former pagans who had become Christians who were living in what we now call southern Turkey.

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 And we don't know precisely when Jesus died.

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 It was probably either in the year 30 or the year 33.

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 A lot of scholars believe that he died in the spring of the year 33.

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 And this that we're looking at was written somewhere between the year 47 and 48.

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 So it was written 14 to 15 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

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 And it was originally written as a letter.

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 He didn't sit down to write a holy book.

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 He just wrote a letter.

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 And so from the point of view of history, because this letter has been preserved over time and it's now in this book,

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 this is actually from an historical point of view, potentially the very first piece of written documents or evidence of people's belief that Jesus had risen from the dead.

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 Now, some of you might say, one moment, George.

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 14 or 15 years later?

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 Okay, you sort of had me a little bit with that guy.

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 You know, because, you know, by the way, that terrorist thing, if you just imagine for a second, you know, my friend who was saying you can't believe eyewitness accounts.

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 You know, if we had, if one of us after this service or on Easter Monday, if we were to go to Parliament Hill and have a little table and say that the soldier never died at the war memorial and that there was no terrorist, that he never shot any bullets,

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 if we were to say that, we would be mocked if not having people actually be very angry at us.

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 That would just, there's just too many people who saw it.

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 But 14 or 15 years, do you think it would matter if we did that 14 years from now?

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 Well, maybe it would.

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 Maybe there'd not be that many people around.

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 But imagine, there's something very significant that gripped an entire city 14 years ago this September, and it was the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center in New York.

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 September 11, 2001.

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 That's 13 and a half, almost 14 years ago.

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 How do you think it would work if one of us was to go to New York and set up a booth and have a self-published book or a circular letter that said that the World Trade Towers never existed,

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 that nobody died in this spot?

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 How do you think we would be responded to?

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 You know, the evidence here that's talking about, it's not 14-year-old evidence as to whether Jesus was wearing a robe that came to here or came to there.

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 You'd say, oh, gosh, who's going to remember that?

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 Well, actually, some people remember clothing, and they might remember that, but that's a separate matter.

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 You know, or whether his eyes were a certain color, another type of color.

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 But this is talking about an astonishing event.

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 One of the things which is so interesting about the death and resurrection of Jesus is, you know how the Muslims,

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 one of the pillars of the Islamic faith is that they're to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

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 And so once a year in particular, there's thousands and thousands, tens of thousands of people who gather at Mecca.

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 And one of the things about the death and resurrection of Jesus is it happened at, like, in a sense,

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 the Jewish equivalent of the pilgrimage to Mecca.

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 It happened during the Passover.

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 And so the city of Jerusalem was vastly, vastly, vastly swollen with pilgrims who had come from the entire known world.

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 And the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was a public, citywide, acknowledged event.

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 And it was a controversial event.

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 Quite a few years ago, George Bush came to Ottawa, and he was at the height of his unpopularity here in Canada.

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 And it was talked about everywhere.

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 You couldn't watch television.

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 You couldn't listen to the radio.

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 You couldn't read the newspaper without knowing that George Bush was going to come.

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 He was really funny about it.

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 He said that the people of Ottawa were very friendly.

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 They were always waving at him all of the time.

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 And occasionally, people waved with all five fingers.

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 And so it was like a public event.

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 And so Jesus didn't sort of just die.

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 It's not like he was somebody, you know, dying in some odd terrorist, you know, cell.

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 And we're not even sure if he's dead or alive or something like that.

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 He entered in a public way.

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 His death was a public death.

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 It was so public, they had to describe the charges against him in three different languages.

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 And the tomb wasn't in some obscure spot locked up.

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 It was in a public place.

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 It had public access that anybody could come to.

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 And what is it cannot be denied at all at any point in time, you know, historically, is that the Christian faith did not spread because of political power.

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 It did not spread because of violence.

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 In fact, it spread despite political opposition, despite cultural opposition, despite murderous opposition.

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 Once again, just maybe the final mention of Islam.

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 It cannot be doubted that historically what contributed to the spread of Islam was the military success of Muhammad and his followers.

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 The murderous, in fact, the murder was committed.

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 And caravans were raided and cities were raided.

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 And they were very, very successful.

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 But the Christian story is the complete and utter opposite of that.

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 Stephen is killed very shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

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 And he's killed because he proclaims that Jesus had died, that the tomb is empty, the body can't be found, and that Jesus appeared to witnesses to show that he was alive.

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 James dies very early.

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 In fact, Paul was so energized by having Stephen put to death, he wanted to get in on the campaign to imprison early Christians and to persecute early Christians and potentially even to kill early Christians.

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 And so what accounts for this early explosive rise of the Christian faith, despite the fact they had no political power, no cultural power, and that in fact the power of the politics and culture and even the powers of violence were constantly used against them instead of for them?

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 Well, not only was the grave empty, but many people, hundreds and hundreds of people, claimed that they had seen Jesus alive and that he had risen from the dead.

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 And this is the first bit of historical evidence.

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 This had written 14 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

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 It might, where people still could go and say, did they ever find the body of Jesus?

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 Like, what, didn't they, did they find that body?

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 People could still go and inquire about that, but it's not just the empty tomb, it's that Jesus appears.

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 And here's how it goes, verse 1.

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 Paul, an apostle, not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead, and all the brothers who are with me.

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 To the churches of Galatia, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Now, I'm going to say some more things about it, but I want to pause here for a second, just to sort of, and I'm going to worry some of you by this first point.

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 But I'd like to, Andrew, if you could put this first point up on the screen, and then we're just going to talk around it a little bit before we sort of, I'm going to look back at these verses and then talk about a few other verses in chapter 1.

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 Sort of like a big idea for you to understand what's happening here, and also to maybe understand why my friend, who was so critical of evidence, like what was partially driving his hostility to evidence in regards to religion.

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 And here's the first point.

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 The spiritual myth, what we long for, became fact.

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 The Messiah lived, died, and was resurrected in knowable history.

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 That's what's at work here.

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 I'm going to show you why it's at work here.

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 But that's what's at work here in this piece of historical evidence.

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 Because the historical evidence, not only does it talk about Jesus actually being raised and resurrected, but the fellow who's saying this is also making a bigger type of claim in this text.

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 Which I articulate, the spiritual myth, what we long for, became fact.

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 But the Messiah lived, died, and was resurrected in knowable history.

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 And some of you very devout Christians are very worried.

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 He's an Anglican.

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 Does that mean he believes the Old Testament is all myth?

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 Well, we're going to get to that in a second.

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 I don't.

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 But if you look again at the text, notice the way that he refers to Jesus.

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 Look again at verse 1.

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 Paul, an apostle, not from men, nor through men, but through Jesus Christ, Messiah.

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 That's what Christ means.

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 It means Messiah.

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 Look again at verse 3.

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 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Messiah.

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 And then if you go through, if you read the rest of the letter, you'll see that he constantly refers to Jesus as the Messiah.

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 The Messiah.

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 That's who he is.

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 He's the Messiah.

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 For 2,000 years, there have been poets and lawmakers and prophets and visionaries and just ordinary Joes who have had and heard of this idea that someday God would send the Messiah.

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 And in the entire ancient world and even in the modern world, there's this belief.

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 There's this belief in the spiritual.

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 And there's this belief in a sense that we have these ideas that we have longings for things.

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 And what Paul is saying when he says that the Messiah died and was raised, he's opening up the entire Old Testament.

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 He's opening up the witness of poets and visionaries and mystics and lawmakers and people who wrote history and philosophers.

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 He's talking about rituals.

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 He's talking about ceremonies.

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 And he's talking about all of these things that we so easily just think of as spiritual things but are not real.

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 And he's saying that the witness of all of these things have been going on for 2,000 years, that these things are not just spiritual myth, idea, out there things.

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 It became fact.

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 It became fact when he calls Jesus Messiah.

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 And that this Messiah, the stories of Jesus, the prophecies, the poems, the longings, the visions, these became fact.

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 And he walked among us.

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 And he died upon the cross.

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 And then the tomb was empty.

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 And he arose and was seen.

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 I mean, if you think about it for a second, as Jeremiah was sharing earlier about Islam, Muhammad is an ordinary man who has these spiritual visions from God.

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 Like, what is Buddhism?

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 Buddhism is about a man who believes that he has found enlightenment.

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 And he talks about it.

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 And he gives advice.

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 He talks about the things that he's seen.

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 What is Hinduism?

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 Hinduism is, in a sense, just the cultural and popular religion of the Indian people.

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 But it's all about stories.

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 And it's about myths.

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 And it's about ideas.

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 And it's about spiritual things.

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 And what is it that we think in our culture?

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 We talk about spirituality.

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 And we talk about longings.

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 And we talk about all of these types of things.

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:48.000
 And out of all of this world, this early writer is written to people who believed, originally, before they became Christian, in Greek myths.

00:18:48.199 --> 00:18:50.720
 And nobody thinks that these Greek myths actually happen.

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.299
 And nobody thinks it actually matters.

00:18:52.299 --> 00:19:15.359
 And Paul is saying that in a world that has myth and has longing and has the spiritual and has, in all of the world, a particular people who also have prophecies and laws and rituals, that in the midst of all of this stuff, which just seems to be something which comes from our head and from our heart, that all of these things, that it actually becomes fact and walks amongst us in knowable history.

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:18.899
 And he does it when he says Christ.

00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.819
 He opens the door.

00:19:22.159 --> 00:19:27.259
 You see, in our culture, I'm reading a novel right now by an author by the name of Thomas Perry.

00:19:28.219 --> 00:19:31.539
 And he has a recurring character in some of his novels.

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:37.319
 And she's a Seneca, which I think is one of the Iroquois tribes.

00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:44.839
 And he mixes a lot of sort of Iroquois religion and spirituality into his novels.

00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:57.539
 And this particular novel, it's one of the things which sort of goes through the novel, is her inner struggle with the fact that most of her life, she believes the science that she learned in high school and university.

00:19:57.539 --> 00:20:02.259
 And that she knows that that's like the most true.

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:08.460
 But on the other hand, she sort of has this feeling that there must be something that's sort of spiritual.

00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:13.319
 That there must be something to these stories and this idea of wisdom.

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:21.639
 And you see, in our culture, just as it's been the case throughout most of history, there's this idea that there's like things that actually happen.

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:28.639
 Like there's tables that you can knock on and chairs that you can sit on and food that you can eat and money that you can count.

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:30.539
 And then there's spiritual things.

00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:37.700
 And in fact, in our culture, if you were to really go after this author and say, oh, come on, you can't act.

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.879
 I mean, really, it's science.

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:40.139
 You can't believe these things.

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:43.339
 I mean, she knows that she has, in a sense, in the novel.

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:48.119
 The novelist knows that there's no basis to believe in these mystical things, that science is true.

00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:52.720
 But on the other hand, it sure seems like there should be something mystical, which is already there.

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:56.839
 And in such a world, the mystical becomes fact.

00:20:58.059 --> 00:21:00.000
 The mystical becomes fact.

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.720
 In knowable history.

00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:05.099
 That's what Paul is claiming.

00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:19.019
 And in fact, it's actually, you see, it's because of Jesus that now we realize that the real God deals with real people by revealing real truth and doing real things.

00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:26.940
 The real God deals with real people by giving real truth and doing real things.

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:30.779
 And that it's not just an anomaly here in the New Testament.

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:38.160
 That, in fact, in light of the gospel, that we can go back and we can read Deuteronomy and Joshua and Judges.

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:43.660
 And we can see that God has always been doing real things and revealing real truth to his people.

00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:54.700
 And that what we now know of as the Old Testament is not just spiritual things, but are also often historical accounts of God doing actual things with actual people.

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.700
 Because that's the living God.

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:57.700
 Because that's the living God.

00:21:57.700 --> 00:22:02.940
 And he knows that real people need real truth and God to do real things.

00:22:03.080 --> 00:22:10.819
 And the pinnacle of all of this is when Jesus dies upon the cross after having lived a public ministry for three years.

00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:14.439
 And his death upon the cross and his death upon the cross and his death upon the cross and a tomb which is really empty.

00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:19.000
 And real appearances that make no mistake.

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:28.039
 You have to go beyond this to other historical witnesses that Jesus was able to eat fish, that he could be touched, that a range of other things that this really happened.

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:51.379
 And so this is a mind-blowing idea that in the face of the longings and the myths and the spiritual things in the world that we inhabit, that myth, that longings, that they become fact.

00:22:51.380 --> 00:23:00.400
 And that's what Paul's claiming when he says, Paul, an apostle, not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Messiah and God the Father.

00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:08.540
 And all the brothers and sisters who are with me to the churches of Galatia, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Messiah.

00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:14.860
 The spiritual myth, what we long for, became fact.

00:23:15.260 --> 00:23:18.920
 The Messiah lived and died and was resurrected in knowable history.

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:25.940
 Now, some of you might say, okay, George, let's say that's true.

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.900
 Let's say it actually happened.

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:29.740
 So what?

00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:41.200
 I actually had that happen to me in a, I thought I'd give this knockdown, I had this like half an hour conversation with this smart young man in a Starbucks.

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.259
 Maybe it was half an hour, it was like 20 minutes.

00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:48.200
 And I thought, wow, I really, I was thinking I really nailed this, you know, in terms of the evidence.

00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:50.059
 And at the end of it, he just said, so what?

00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.920
 So what?

00:23:54.100 --> 00:24:00.420
 Once again, not one of my better moments if they were videotaping George's triumphs at witnessing in Starbucks.

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:07.819
 That would be in the blooper section, not the, here's what, it's the before picture, not the after picture.

00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:16.700
 And I have to confess, I was so focused on the fact that I, you know, I eventually did come up with something that sort of struck him by it.

00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:30.919
 In fact, I told him that if all he cared about, if all he cares about is what to eat, what to wear, who to sleep with, and how to make money,

00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:35.539
 then nothing in the Bible will make even the least sense to him.

00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:41.900
 But if he has any sense at all of longings, if he has any concern at all about the reality of death,

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:46.720
 if he has any concern about the meaning of life, then this is where you've got to go.

00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:49.600
 Which made him pause.

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:57.559
 At the end of the day, I think he actually really is only concerned with who he can sleep with, what he can eat, what he can drink,

00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:59.259
 how he will make money, and what he'll wear.

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:02.839
 That it hasn't struck him that he needs to think about anything more.

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:06.759
 But the question can be, so what?

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.440
 So what?

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:15.440
 There's a famous skeptic about the resurrection who said, so what if God did a conjuring trick with bones?

00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.640
 Like, what does that matter to us?

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:28.440
 Well, imagine for a second that your family is having some type of trouble.

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:30.580
 You know, that never happens to families that they have trouble.

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:36.420
 And you bring in a family counselor, and you get the different family members together,

00:25:36.420 --> 00:25:43.740
 and she has some group sessions, and then she meets privately with each of the individual family members.

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:48.920
 And often in counseling sessions, what you often try to do is they often want to get a particular event

00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:52.740
 that they can look at as a way to try to get at what's going on.

00:25:53.360 --> 00:25:57.960
 And so let's say the counselor comes in, and after listening to the different people,

00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:01.900
 she tells you, well, you know, in this story, it's this event that we're looking at,

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.380
 you did this and this and this and this,

00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:06.720
 and you did these things because of this and this and this and this.

00:26:07.260 --> 00:26:08.960
 This is what you were trying to do.

00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:10.900
 This is why you were doing it.

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.500
 This is the meaning of what you did.

00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:15.180
 And if she did that to you, you'd go,

00:26:16.060 --> 00:26:16.840
 one moment,

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:20.480
 you haven't asked me

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:22.800
 what I thought I was doing.

00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:27.260
 Like, you haven't listened to me.

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:32.980
 Surely, unless you're claiming that I'm just a liar or that I'm deluded,

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:39.799
 surely what I say that I was thinking and what I was trying to do,

00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:44.240
 surely that has to have some bearing on the meaning of what was going on.

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:47.180
 Like, you can't just listen to other people.

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.859
 And that would just be fair.

00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:55.419
 You know, unless the person's lying or deceiving.

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:57.439
 I'm watching a series on Netflix.

00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.599
 I think it's called Bloodline.

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:01.500
 And one of the things which is curious about it

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:03.519
 is that there's family dynamics.

00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:05.279
 And a lot of times,

00:27:05.619 --> 00:27:08.219
 somebody is actually being deceptive.

00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:11.339
 And when they're sort of called about what they were doing,

00:27:11.479 --> 00:27:13.079
 they try to deceive.

00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:15.299
 And so, you know, it can be.

00:27:15.419 --> 00:27:17.919
 It isn't always just up to the individual person

00:27:17.919 --> 00:27:19.579
 to determine what they've done.

00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:21.960
 Because sometimes we lie.

00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:22.919
 Sometimes we deceive.

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:25.039
 Sometimes we are confused about what we've done.

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:28.819
 But what Paul is going to say here

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:30.439
 is that surely,

00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:34.519
 if in fact Jesus willingly died,

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:38.839
 and if he predicted to everybody

00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:40.919
 that he was going to die upon the cross for other people,

00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:43.379
 and if he said that he did this out of love for us,

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:45.240
 and it was going to cost him something,

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:47.079
 and there's no particular benefit

00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:49.119
 that he gets out of being so badly treated,

00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:51.299
 and if he actually rose from the dead,

00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:52.939
 doesn't it make sense

00:27:52.939 --> 00:27:56.179
 that we should listen to what he said

00:27:56.179 --> 00:27:57.599
 the meaning of the events are?

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:01.379
 In fact, that's what goes on here in the text.

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.500
 Paul goes on to say

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:04.539
 that the meaning of the event

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:07.479
 isn't something that he's thought up,

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:11.859
 that he's invented or imposed on events,

00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:14.139
 that all he's done

00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:17.819
 is received from Jesus

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:20.059
 the meaning of the events.

00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:22.059
 In fact,

00:28:22.459 --> 00:28:26.259
 he says that if he was just to think it up himself,

00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:27.539
 it wouldn't be worth anything.

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.679
 Let's look at the text.

00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.500
 Verse 11 of chapter 1.

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:33.639
 Verse 11 of chapter 1.

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:35.660
 For I would have you know,

00:28:35.780 --> 00:28:36.540
 brothers and sisters,

00:28:36.540 --> 00:28:38.700
 that the gospel that was preached by me,

00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:41.460
 that's the gospel means sort of the account

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:42.800
 of what happened on the cross,

00:28:43.300 --> 00:28:45.000
 is not man's gospel.

00:28:45.080 --> 00:28:45.460
 In other words,

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:47.100
 it didn't come from human beings.

00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:50.840
 For I did not receive it from any man or woman,

00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:52.660
 nor was I taught it,

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:56.820
 but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.500
 In other words,

00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:58.299
 you know,

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:58.899
 in a sense,

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:02.139
 every time we reveal what's going on

00:29:02.139 --> 00:29:03.939
 inside of our heads,

00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.960
 it's a bit of a revelation.

00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:07.019
 Like if I was to say,

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:09.099
 if I was to close my eyes

00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:12.859
 and then I'm going to think about something,

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:14.799
 and if I was to ask every one of you,

00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:14.939
 okay,

00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:16.019
 what was I thinking about?

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.519
 You'd go,

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:20.980
 I don't know.

00:29:21.939 --> 00:29:22.139
 Well,

00:29:22.159 --> 00:29:24.220
 I can tell you I'm thinking about a really nice,

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.200
 I was thinking about a really,

00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:27.799
 really nice older lady by the name of Ruth Jo Barton,

00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:28.799
 who's now dead,

00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:30.360
 whose cottage we used to go to.

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.880
 I need to reveal that to you,

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.279
 don't I?

00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:36.259
 And it's the same often

00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:38.319
 when we're trying to understand the meaning of events

00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.900
 is the person has to let you know

00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.900
 what's going on in their mind,

00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:41.500
 in their heart.

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.480
 And that's what Paul says.

00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:46.220
 That when he tells everybody

00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.840
 not only the fact of the resurrection

00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:49.039
 and the meaning of the resurrection,

00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:50.340
 it's not something he invented.

00:29:50.580 --> 00:29:51.420
 He actually goes,

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.759
 he asks Jesus,

00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:54.880
 Jesus tells him the meaning of the event.

00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.700
 Let's continue.

00:29:56.840 --> 00:29:57.460
 Verse 13.

00:29:58.140 --> 00:30:00.279
 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism,

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:02.840
 how I persecuted the church of God violently

00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:04.279
 and tried to destroy it.

00:30:05.120 --> 00:30:06.779
 And I was advancing in Judaism

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:09.200
 before many of my own age among my people.

00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:10.840
 So extremely zealous was I

00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:12.440
 for the traditions of my fathers.

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:15.140
 Notice how he understands the distinction

00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:16.860
 between learning things from others

00:30:16.860 --> 00:30:18.740
 and human beings

00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:20.059
 and learning them from Jesus.

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.039
 He understands that.

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:23.399
 In fact, he goes on to say,

00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.059
 as you can see,

00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:25.359
 if there was anybody

00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:26.960
 that you wouldn't want to trust

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:29.759
 to understand the significance of Jesus,

00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:32.059
 you wouldn't want to trust me.

00:30:33.659 --> 00:30:35.720
 Like, we don't know what everybody thought

00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:37.059
 when they saw Stephen,

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:38.159
 the first Christian martyr,

00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:39.039
 stoned to death.

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:41.299
 But what we know from the historical record

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:44.159
 is that Stephen being stoned to death

00:30:44.159 --> 00:30:48.039
 did not cause Paul to be repulsed.

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:50.759
 It gave him an idea for a new career

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:53.079
 to kill more.

00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:57.019
 And so Paul said,

00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:58.159
 listen, if you're thinking

00:30:58.159 --> 00:31:00.339
 that it's I figured this stuff out,

00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:02.440
 whoa, no.

00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:05.019
 In fact, if it was up to me,

00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:06.960
 you'd want to run from me.

00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:09.240
 Verse 15.

00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:11.720
 But when he who had set me apart

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.639
 before I was born

00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:14.759
 and who called me by his grace

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:17.839
 was pleased to reveal his son to me

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:19.180
 in order that I might preach him

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:20.000
 among the Gentiles,

00:31:20.079 --> 00:31:22.259
 I did not immediately consult with anyone,

00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.980
 nor did I go up to Jerusalem

00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.700
 to those who were apostles before me.

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:27.480
 But I went away into Arabia

00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:29.099
 and returned again to Damascus.

00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:30.519
 Then after three years,

00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.519
 I went up to Jerusalem

00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.460
 to visit Cephas

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.980
 and remain with him 15 days.

00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:35.500
 But I saw none of the other apostles

00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:37.019
 except James, the Lord's brother.

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:39.079
 In what I am writing to you before God,

00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:41.359
 I do not lie.

00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:43.519
 Then I went into the regions

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.699
 of Syria and Cilicia

00:31:44.699 --> 00:31:46.339
 and I was still unknown in person

00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:47.459
 to the churches of Judea

00:31:47.459 --> 00:31:48.219
 that are in Christ.

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.819
 They were only hearing it said,

00:31:50.139 --> 00:31:51.740
 he who used to persecute us

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:53.339
 is now preaching the faith

00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:54.939
 he once tried to destroy

00:31:54.939 --> 00:31:56.459
 and they glorified God

00:31:56.459 --> 00:31:57.379
 because of me.

00:31:58.899 --> 00:32:00.319
 So here's the second point,

00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:02.079
 sort of the big idea in the text.

00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.939
 The true meaning of the death

00:32:03.939 --> 00:32:06.019
 and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth

00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:07.439
 came from Jesus

00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:10.479
 before and after his resurrection.

00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:13.319
 The true meaning of the death

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:15.339
 and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth

00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.679
 came from Jesus

00:32:16.679 --> 00:32:18.740
 before and after his resurrection.

00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:22.500
 Those of you who have been coming

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.299
 to the other church,

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.740
 you know, prior to this,

00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:25.359
 we've been going through

00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:26.079
 the book of Luke

00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:28.379
 and we're just about to come up

00:32:28.379 --> 00:32:29.619
 to the crucifixion actually

00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:30.319
 in the book of Luke

00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:32.559
 and we've been tracking along with it.

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.699
 We see how many times

00:32:33.699 --> 00:32:35.219
 that Jesus predicted

00:32:35.219 --> 00:32:36.740
 that he was going to die upon the cross

00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:38.679
 and told the disciples the meaning

00:32:38.679 --> 00:32:40.359
 of why he was going to die upon the cross.

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:42.559
 And now Paul is saying

00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:43.979
 he didn't necessarily hear

00:32:43.979 --> 00:32:45.019
 all of that at first,

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:46.599
 but what he does know

00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:48.079
 is that it was after Jesus

00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:49.819
 was resurrected from the dead

00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:51.059
 because I saw him,

00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:53.459
 he explained to me

00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:55.839
 the meaning of his death

00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:56.699
 upon the cross

00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:57.659
 and his resurrection.

00:32:58.699 --> 00:33:00.240
 You see, that's why,

00:33:00.479 --> 00:33:01.879
 that's part of the reason why,

00:33:01.959 --> 00:33:02.519
 it's like some of you

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:03.500
 might have been really bothered.

00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:05.119
 Like, why is it that Paul

00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:06.380
 seems to be so mean

00:33:06.380 --> 00:33:07.720
 to people who disagree with him?

00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:09.099
 Were some of you bothered by that?

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.519
 Look up at verse 6

00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.900
 where you see Paul

00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:13.480
 being apparently very mean.

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:15.059
 I am astonished

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:16.079
 that you are so quickly

00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:17.400
 deserting him who called you

00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:18.180
 in the grace of Christ

00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.980
 and are turning

00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:19.960
 to a different gospel.

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.920
 Not that there is another one,

00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.160
 but there are some

00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:23.900
 who trouble you

00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:24.720
 and want to distort

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.640
 the gospel of Christ.

00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.859
 But even if we,

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.779
 that's himself,

00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:30.140
 or an angel from heaven

00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:31.039
 should preach to you

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:32.039
 a gospel contrary

00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:33.180
 to the one we preached to you,

00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:34.440
 let him be accursed.

00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.379
 As we have said before,

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.859
 so now I say again,

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.259
 he wants to make sure

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:41.579
 he wasn't misheard.

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.960
 If anyone is preaching

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:43.559
 to you a gospel

00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:44.519
 contrary to the one

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.019
 you received,

00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:45.920
 let him be accursed.

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:47.659
 For am I now seeking

00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:49.159
 the approval of man or of God

00:33:49.159 --> 00:33:50.599
 or am I trying to please man?

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:51.920
 If I were still trying

00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.599
 to please man,

00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:55.180
 I would not be a slave of Christ.

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.740
 So some of you might say,

00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:59.720
 George, why is accursed?

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:01.600
 Why is that so harsh?

00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.860
 Why is that so harsh?

00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:06.120
 Well, think about it

00:34:06.120 --> 00:34:07.180
 for two seconds.

00:34:08.220 --> 00:34:09.199
 Just two things about it.

00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:10.139
 The first thing is this.

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.340
 Remember that story

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:11.840
 I told you again?

00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.659
 Imagine your family

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.860
 is in some type of crisis

00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.940
 and you bring in

00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:15.900
 a family counselor.

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:18.340
 Wouldn't you be really angry

00:34:18.340 --> 00:34:19.980
 if the counselor

00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:21.639
 completely and utterly

00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:23.960
 disregarded everything you said

00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:25.420
 about the meaning of your act

00:34:25.420 --> 00:34:27.619
 and took it that everybody else

00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.619
 was telling the truth?

00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:30.099
 Wouldn't you be upset?

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.679
 And Paul is saying here,

00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:33.779
 listen, this is nothing

00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.880
 personal about me.

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:36.400
 In fact, he includes himself

00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:37.880
 that if I go off the rails

00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:39.039
 and start saying something,

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.799
 don't listen to me.

00:34:41.619 --> 00:34:42.599
 He's saying, listen,

00:34:43.359 --> 00:34:45.099
 the one who died

00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:46.500
 and the one who rose

00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:47.079
 from the dead,

00:34:47.359 --> 00:34:49.119
 he told us

00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:51.299
 the meaning of what happened.

00:34:53.619 --> 00:34:54.619
 Don't we want to just

00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.699
 extend to Jesus

00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.759
 the same thing that we want

00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:58.080
 want to extend to ourselves?

00:34:59.320 --> 00:35:00.380
 And that's why Paul is saying,

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.580
 but it's even more that

00:35:01.580 --> 00:35:02.460
 because remember I said

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.300
 that of course

00:35:03.300 --> 00:35:04.200
 if you think about it,

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.920
 so here's the first thing

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.720
 that in the gospel,

00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:08.220
 Paul by using the word Messiah

00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.080
 is saying that in a sense

00:35:09.080 --> 00:35:10.420
 myth becomes fact,

00:35:10.700 --> 00:35:12.320
 the spiritual becomes real

00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:13.360
 and knowable history.

00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.300
 And then he said,

00:35:14.560 --> 00:35:15.920
 in terms of the so what question,

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:17.440
 well, to even start to understand

00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:18.540
 what the so what question is,

00:35:18.680 --> 00:35:20.380
 we don't just go to our attempts

00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.760
 to impose meaning on this.

00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:22.920
 Let's listen to what

00:35:22.920 --> 00:35:24.300
 the person who rose

00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:25.060
 from the dead

00:35:25.060 --> 00:35:26.600
 explained as the meaning

00:35:26.600 --> 00:35:27.160
 of the text.

00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:27.820
 And in fact,

00:35:27.900 --> 00:35:28.780
 if there's anybody

00:35:28.780 --> 00:35:30.100
 that you should believe,

00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:31.080
 it would be somebody

00:35:31.080 --> 00:35:31.880
 who could be raised

00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:32.340
 from the dead,

00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.660
 who's defeated death.

00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:34.520
 Because that's what

00:35:34.520 --> 00:35:35.140
 resurrection means,

00:35:35.200 --> 00:35:36.280
 he's defeated death

00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:37.920
 and that which causes death

00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:39.740
 and all powers

00:35:39.740 --> 00:35:41.000
 of death,

00:35:41.720 --> 00:35:42.420
 all of them,

00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:43.020
 he's defeated.

00:35:44.200 --> 00:35:45.220
 So the first thing

00:35:45.220 --> 00:35:45.980
 Paul is just saying,

00:35:46.080 --> 00:35:46.920
 it makes sense for him

00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:47.980
 to be so concerned about this

00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:48.500
 because the meaning

00:35:48.500 --> 00:35:49.120
 is coming from

00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:50.679
 Jesus himself

00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:51.359
 who was raised.

00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:52.199
 But the other thing

00:35:52.199 --> 00:35:53.500
 is what is the meaning

00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:54.719
 which we haven't said yet.

00:35:54.819 --> 00:35:54.920
 Well,

00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:56.980
 what was the simple summary

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.440
 of the meaning?

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.420
 Let's go to verses

00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.500
 one to five again.

00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:00.819
 Paul,

00:36:00.900 --> 00:36:01.380
 an apostle,

00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.259
 not from men

00:36:02.259 --> 00:36:03.139
 nor through man

00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:04.799
 but through Jesus Messiah

00:36:04.799 --> 00:36:06.039
 and God the Father

00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:07.659
 who raised Jesus

00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:08.679
 from the dead

00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:09.839
 and all the brothers

00:36:09.839 --> 00:36:11.079
 and sisters who are with me

00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:12.579
 to the churches of Galatia.

00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:13.759
 Here's the meaning.

00:36:13.859 --> 00:36:13.980
 I mean,

00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:14.659
 the first meaning

00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:15.739
 is it's the Messiah

00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:17.359
 who died.

00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.619
 It's the Messiah

00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:20.339
 who rose from the dead.

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.779
 It's the Messiah

00:36:21.779 --> 00:36:23.599
 who entered knowable history.

00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:26.179
 And then the meaning?

00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.739
 Grace to you

00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:28.739
 and peace

00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:30.279
 from God our Father

00:36:30.279 --> 00:36:32.259
 and the Lord Jesus Messiah

00:36:32.259 --> 00:36:34.319
 who gave himself

00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:36.699
 for our sins

00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:38.900
 to deliver us

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:42.299
 from the present evil age

00:36:42.299 --> 00:36:44.299
 according to the will

00:36:44.299 --> 00:36:45.900
 of our God and Father

00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:48.340
 to whom be the glory

00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:49.180
 forever

00:36:49.180 --> 00:36:50.280
 and ever.

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.240
 Amen.

00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:53.619
 That's the meaning

00:36:53.619 --> 00:36:55.619
 from Jesus

00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:58.160
 who is the Messiah

00:36:58.160 --> 00:37:02.059
 who died

00:37:02.059 --> 00:37:03.720
 and rose again.

00:37:04.059 --> 00:37:04.880
 That is the meaning.

00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:06.160
 Andrew,

00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:06.980
 if you could put it up

00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:08.059
 the next point.

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:10.079
 The living God

00:37:10.079 --> 00:37:11.739
 has always rejected

00:37:11.739 --> 00:37:13.179
 human pride,

00:37:13.860 --> 00:37:14.779
 human boasting,

00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:16.519
 and self-salvation.

00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:17.599
 Instead,

00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:19.659
 he provided the person

00:37:19.659 --> 00:37:21.099
 and work of his Son

00:37:21.099 --> 00:37:23.500
 to truly rescue us

00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.539
 and bring us

00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:25.239
 to life

00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.139
 and freedom

00:37:26.139 --> 00:37:27.820
 in God himself.

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:30.639
 The living God

00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:32.400
 has always rejected

00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.679
 human pride,

00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:35.079
 human boasting,

00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.619
 and self-salvation.

00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:37.579
 Instead,

00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:39.219
 he provided

00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:40.179
 the person

00:37:40.179 --> 00:37:40.920
 and work

00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.659
 of his Son

00:37:41.659 --> 00:37:43.980
 to truly rescue us

00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:45.079
 and bring us

00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:45.719
 to life

00:37:45.719 --> 00:37:46.639
 and freedom

00:37:46.639 --> 00:37:48.359
 in God himself.

00:37:51.059 --> 00:37:52.539
 Look at what it says

00:37:52.539 --> 00:37:53.420
 again in verse 3

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.099
 and 4.

00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.219
 Grace to you

00:37:55.219 --> 00:37:55.759
 and peace

00:37:55.759 --> 00:37:57.460
 from God our Father

00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:59.019
 and the Lord Jesus Messiah

00:37:59.019 --> 00:38:00.920
 who gave himself

00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:04.159
 for our sins

00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:06.819
 to deliver us.

00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:09.559
 He didn't come

00:38:09.559 --> 00:38:10.359
 to add value

00:38:10.359 --> 00:38:11.259
 to our lives.

00:38:12.699 --> 00:38:13.659
 He didn't come

00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:14.480
 to be a therapist.

00:38:15.299 --> 00:38:16.019
 He didn't come

00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:17.139
 to give advice.

00:38:18.379 --> 00:38:19.539
 He did something

00:38:19.539 --> 00:38:20.679
 radically different.

00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:21.980
 That whether we recognize

00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:22.639
 it or not,

00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:23.619
 it would be as if

00:38:23.619 --> 00:38:24.980
 we go swimming

00:38:24.980 --> 00:38:27.639
 off of an outcrop

00:38:27.639 --> 00:38:28.239
 in the ocean

00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:29.519
 and we don't know

00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:31.079
 that there's powerful currents

00:38:31.079 --> 00:38:33.019
 and we're starting

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.599
 to drown.

00:38:35.239 --> 00:38:36.099
 And in a sense,

00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:37.340
 what this is saying

00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:39.739
 is that all religion

00:38:39.739 --> 00:38:41.779
 and all spirituality

00:38:41.779 --> 00:38:44.299
 and all secular

00:38:44.299 --> 00:38:46.099
 and non-religious attempts

00:38:46.099 --> 00:38:47.759
 to find human meaning

00:38:47.759 --> 00:38:49.880
 are really just advice.

00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:52.099
 It's as if people

00:38:52.099 --> 00:38:53.079
 seeing us

00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:54.039
 drowning

00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:55.719
 in the ocean,

00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:57.299
 they throw books

00:38:57.299 --> 00:38:57.840
 at us.

00:38:58.139 --> 00:38:58.980
 Read this.

00:38:58.980 --> 00:38:59.860
 It tells you

00:38:59.860 --> 00:39:00.659
 how to swim.

00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:03.539
 You shouldn't have

00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:04.440
 swam in there.

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:06.000
 You're a bad person.

00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:08.119
 Here,

00:39:08.240 --> 00:39:09.260
 you do this,

00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:11.159
 you know,

00:39:11.340 --> 00:39:12.559
 and we yell

00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:13.159
 at them

00:39:13.159 --> 00:39:13.940
 or maybe we're

00:39:13.940 --> 00:39:14.679
 very kind

00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:15.719
 or whisper to them.

00:39:16.380 --> 00:39:17.079
 Maybe we say,

00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:18.500
 I'm going to be up here

00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:19.740
 thinking good thoughts

00:39:19.740 --> 00:39:20.760
 that you get better.

00:39:23.380 --> 00:39:24.900
 And what the Bible

00:39:24.900 --> 00:39:25.699
 is saying

00:39:25.699 --> 00:39:27.219
 is that all,

00:39:27.719 --> 00:39:28.440
 it's God

00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:29.119
 seeing our

00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:30.380
 complete and other need

00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:31.539
 that all

00:39:31.539 --> 00:39:32.720
 of our pride,

00:39:32.820 --> 00:39:33.240
 whether it's

00:39:33.240 --> 00:39:34.059
 religious pride,

00:39:34.240 --> 00:39:35.059
 spiritual pride,

00:39:35.260 --> 00:39:36.179
 secular pride,

00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:38.000
 atheistic pride,

00:39:38.280 --> 00:39:39.159
 all boasting,

00:39:39.300 --> 00:39:39.720
 whether it's

00:39:39.720 --> 00:39:40.579
 religious boasting,

00:39:40.800 --> 00:39:41.840
 spiritual boasting,

00:39:42.280 --> 00:39:43.139
 atheist boasting,

00:39:43.380 --> 00:39:44.220
 secular boasting,

00:39:44.599 --> 00:39:45.300
 boasting in terms

00:39:45.300 --> 00:39:46.519
 of sexual conquest

00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:47.639
 and money in the bank

00:39:47.639 --> 00:39:48.460
 or how many

00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:49.960
 awards your kids

00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:50.340
 have made

00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:50.740
 because you're

00:39:50.740 --> 00:39:51.900
 the best soccer mom

00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:52.599
 in the city,

00:39:52.900 --> 00:39:53.539
 in the universe,

00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:54.420
 in the galaxy,

00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:55.940
 that whatever boasting

00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:56.420
 that we have,

00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:57.280
 whatever attempts

00:39:57.280 --> 00:39:58.720
 to save ourselves

00:39:58.720 --> 00:40:00.000
 through earning money,

00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:01.260
 through being successful

00:40:01.260 --> 00:40:02.059
 in relationships,

00:40:02.300 --> 00:40:03.780
 through doing rituals,

00:40:04.180 --> 00:40:06.400
 through knowing mantras,

00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:07.000
 through knowing

00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:07.840
 how to be enlightened,

00:40:08.139 --> 00:40:08.940
 whatever type of

00:40:08.940 --> 00:40:09.980
 self-salvation,

00:40:10.240 --> 00:40:11.360
 boasting or sin,

00:40:11.840 --> 00:40:13.159
 God has always

00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:14.260
 rejected that

00:40:14.260 --> 00:40:15.440
 and he sees

00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:16.740
 that we are drowning

00:40:16.740 --> 00:40:18.360
 and Jesus

00:40:18.360 --> 00:40:19.680
 does not primarily

00:40:19.680 --> 00:40:20.820
 come to throw

00:40:20.820 --> 00:40:21.980
 a book at us

00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:22.700
 or say,

00:40:22.860 --> 00:40:23.639
 do this.

00:40:23.639 --> 00:40:25.759
 the gospel says

00:40:25.759 --> 00:40:26.699
 is that the meaning

00:40:26.699 --> 00:40:27.319
 of the death

00:40:27.319 --> 00:40:27.879
 and resurrection

00:40:27.879 --> 00:40:28.619
 of Jesus

00:40:28.619 --> 00:40:29.799
 in knowable history

00:40:29.799 --> 00:40:31.099
 is that Jesus

00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:32.879
 jumps in the water

00:40:32.879 --> 00:40:36.460
 with a rope around him

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:38.539
 and grabs us

00:40:38.539 --> 00:40:40.379
 when we cannot swim anymore

00:40:40.379 --> 00:40:41.299
 and the current

00:40:41.299 --> 00:40:42.359
 and the waves

00:40:42.359 --> 00:40:43.619
 are about to drown us

00:40:43.619 --> 00:40:46.699
 and he brings us

00:40:46.699 --> 00:40:48.519
 out to life

00:40:48.519 --> 00:40:49.679
 and freedom

00:40:49.679 --> 00:40:50.539
 and health.

00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:53.539
 that is what

00:40:53.539 --> 00:40:54.759
 the Savior

00:40:54.759 --> 00:40:55.840
 did.

00:40:56.739 --> 00:40:58.139
 That is what

00:40:58.139 --> 00:40:59.179
 he can do

00:40:59.179 --> 00:41:00.039
 for you.

00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:02.159
 That

00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:03.440
 is the meaning

00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:04.519
 of his death

00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:05.759
 and resurrection.

00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:06.980
 That

00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:07.880
 is why

00:41:07.880 --> 00:41:08.779
 it is called

00:41:08.779 --> 00:41:09.759
 the gospel

00:41:09.759 --> 00:41:10.940
 good news.

00:41:11.179 --> 00:41:11.880
 That is why

00:41:11.880 --> 00:41:12.579
 it is not

00:41:12.579 --> 00:41:13.759
 good advice,

00:41:14.219 --> 00:41:15.119
 good rituals,

00:41:15.860 --> 00:41:17.079
 good techniques,

00:41:17.079 --> 00:41:21.860
 good observations.

00:41:22.639 --> 00:41:23.759
 It is good news.

00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:25.319
 This is what

00:41:25.319 --> 00:41:25.940
 Jesus did.

00:41:26.119 --> 00:41:27.139
 Grace to you

00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:27.940
 and peace

00:41:27.940 --> 00:41:29.059
 from God our Father

00:41:29.059 --> 00:41:29.739
 and the Lord

00:41:29.739 --> 00:41:30.980
 Jesus Messiah

00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:32.420
 who gave

00:41:32.420 --> 00:41:33.360
 himself

00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:35.400
 for our sins

00:41:35.400 --> 00:41:36.860
 to deliver us

00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:38.259
 from the present

00:41:38.259 --> 00:41:39.400
 evil age

00:41:39.400 --> 00:41:40.559
 according to the will

00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:41.119
 of our God

00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:41.579
 and Father

00:41:41.579 --> 00:41:42.319
 to whom be the glory

00:41:42.319 --> 00:41:43.059
 forever and ever.

00:41:43.420 --> 00:41:43.659
 Amen.

00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:44.659
 Why is it called

00:41:44.659 --> 00:41:45.319
 an evil age?

00:41:45.320 --> 00:41:46.180
 It is an age

00:41:46.180 --> 00:41:47.400
 where we will all die.

00:41:47.760 --> 00:41:48.480
 It is an age

00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:50.140
 where no human utopia

00:41:50.140 --> 00:41:51.700
 will ever be created

00:41:51.700 --> 00:41:52.700
 because there is

00:41:52.700 --> 00:41:53.740
 something bent

00:41:53.740 --> 00:41:55.080
 and wrong within us.

00:41:55.320 --> 00:41:56.039
 It is an age

00:41:56.039 --> 00:41:57.680
 marked by political power.

00:41:58.000 --> 00:41:58.640
 It is an age

00:41:58.640 --> 00:42:00.059
 marked by our desire

00:42:00.059 --> 00:42:01.680
 to tower over others

00:42:01.680 --> 00:42:02.760
 and when we cannot

00:42:02.760 --> 00:42:03.400
 succeed

00:42:03.400 --> 00:42:04.559
 that we cower

00:42:04.559 --> 00:42:05.600
 under others.

00:42:05.860 --> 00:42:06.400
 And this

00:42:06.400 --> 00:42:07.440
 is what marks

00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:08.120
 our age.

00:42:08.380 --> 00:42:09.000
 And in the midst

00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:09.820
 of such age

00:42:09.820 --> 00:42:10.740
 people merely

00:42:10.740 --> 00:42:11.320
 give us

00:42:11.320 --> 00:42:12.100
 advice.

00:42:12.460 --> 00:42:13.039
 And Jesus

00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:13.680
 came

00:42:13.680 --> 00:42:14.720
 and defeated

00:42:14.719 --> 00:42:15.459
 in his death

00:42:15.459 --> 00:42:16.239
 upon the cross

00:42:16.239 --> 00:42:17.279
 and in his resurrection

00:42:17.279 --> 00:42:18.599
 all boasting

00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:19.699
 all pride

00:42:19.699 --> 00:42:20.799
 all ritual

00:42:20.799 --> 00:42:22.839
 all political power

00:42:22.839 --> 00:42:23.859
 all sin

00:42:23.859 --> 00:42:24.919
 all of the things

00:42:24.919 --> 00:42:25.439
 that keep us

00:42:25.439 --> 00:42:26.179
 separate from God

00:42:26.179 --> 00:42:26.959
 all of the things

00:42:26.959 --> 00:42:27.480
 that are bent

00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:28.239
 and broken in us

00:42:28.239 --> 00:42:29.299
 that we can never

00:42:29.299 --> 00:42:31.219
 possibly fix ourselves

00:42:31.219 --> 00:42:32.939
 he delivered us

00:42:32.939 --> 00:42:34.099
 from this

00:42:34.099 --> 00:42:35.000
 in his death

00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:35.779
 upon the cross

00:42:35.779 --> 00:42:36.799
 and in his resurrection.

00:42:38.239 --> 00:42:39.579
 That is the meaning.

00:42:41.779 --> 00:42:42.939
 One final thing

00:42:42.939 --> 00:42:44.299
 after the so what question

00:42:44.300 --> 00:42:45.580
 the final question

00:42:45.580 --> 00:42:46.200
 is now what?

00:42:47.220 --> 00:42:47.800
 Now what?

00:42:49.039 --> 00:42:49.780
 Now what?

00:42:50.980 --> 00:42:52.500
 Look at these key words

00:42:52.500 --> 00:42:53.460
 again in verse 3

00:42:53.460 --> 00:42:54.420
 and 4 and 5.

00:42:54.940 --> 00:42:55.680
 Grace to you

00:42:55.680 --> 00:42:56.700
 and peace

00:42:56.700 --> 00:42:58.480
 from God our Father

00:42:58.480 --> 00:43:00.000
 and the Lord Jesus Christ

00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:01.340
 who gave himself

00:43:01.340 --> 00:43:02.600
 for our sins

00:43:02.600 --> 00:43:03.660
 to deliver us

00:43:03.660 --> 00:43:05.120
 from the present

00:43:05.120 --> 00:43:05.980
 evil age

00:43:05.980 --> 00:43:07.039
 according to the will

00:43:07.039 --> 00:43:08.120
 of our God and Father

00:43:08.120 --> 00:43:08.680
 to whom

00:43:08.680 --> 00:43:09.980
 be the glory

00:43:09.980 --> 00:43:10.640
 forever

00:43:10.640 --> 00:43:11.360
 and ever.

00:43:11.700 --> 00:43:12.000
 Amen.

00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:14.280
 Grace.

00:43:14.780 --> 00:43:16.119
 God's unmerited

00:43:16.119 --> 00:43:16.940
 favor

00:43:16.940 --> 00:43:18.420
 made real

00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:19.719
 to transform

00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:20.760
 peace

00:43:20.760 --> 00:43:21.760
 to be

00:43:21.760 --> 00:43:22.639
 restored

00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:24.119
 and reconciled

00:43:24.119 --> 00:43:24.900
 and in proper

00:43:24.900 --> 00:43:25.500
 relationship

00:43:25.500 --> 00:43:26.539
 to the creator

00:43:26.539 --> 00:43:27.920
 the sustainer

00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:29.099
 of all things

00:43:29.099 --> 00:43:29.900
 the end

00:43:29.900 --> 00:43:31.079
 of all things

00:43:31.079 --> 00:43:31.820
 to be

00:43:31.820 --> 00:43:32.639
 properly

00:43:32.639 --> 00:43:34.019
 restored to him

00:43:34.019 --> 00:43:35.119
 not on the basis

00:43:35.119 --> 00:43:36.400
 of our own accomplishments

00:43:36.400 --> 00:43:37.860
 but because

00:43:37.860 --> 00:43:39.019
 the Jesus

00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:40.220
 dying upon the cross

00:43:40.220 --> 00:43:40.960
 is a power

00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:41.860
 for salvation

00:43:41.860 --> 00:43:43.320
 that is graciously

00:43:43.320 --> 00:43:44.480
 and powerfully

00:43:44.480 --> 00:43:45.059
 effectively

00:43:45.059 --> 00:43:46.099
 come to us

00:43:46.099 --> 00:43:47.260
 that we receive

00:43:47.260 --> 00:43:48.240
 like beggars

00:43:48.240 --> 00:43:51.000
 not weighing our merits

00:43:51.000 --> 00:43:52.260
 but pardoning our offenses

00:43:52.260 --> 00:43:53.700
 that makes us

00:43:53.700 --> 00:43:54.579
 at peace with God.

00:43:55.139 --> 00:43:55.519
 Andrew if you could

00:43:55.519 --> 00:43:56.500
 put up the final point

00:43:56.500 --> 00:43:57.720
 this isn't original

00:43:57.720 --> 00:43:58.320
 to me

00:43:58.320 --> 00:44:00.400
 now what?

00:44:00.599 --> 00:44:01.940
 I have been saved

00:44:01.940 --> 00:44:03.400
 I am being saved

00:44:03.400 --> 00:44:05.760
 and I will be saved

00:44:05.760 --> 00:44:07.160
 by grace alone

00:44:07.160 --> 00:44:08.519
 through faith alone

00:44:08.519 --> 00:44:09.860
 in Christ alone

00:44:09.860 --> 00:44:14.019
 now what?

00:44:14.240 --> 00:44:15.079
 You put your faith

00:44:15.079 --> 00:44:15.700
 in Jesus

00:44:15.700 --> 00:44:17.019
 you put your faith

00:44:17.019 --> 00:44:17.500
 in Jesus

00:44:17.500 --> 00:44:18.300
 and then that's just

00:44:18.300 --> 00:44:19.260
 something from the past

00:44:19.260 --> 00:44:19.800
 and then you live

00:44:19.800 --> 00:44:20.619
 the rest of your life

00:44:20.619 --> 00:44:21.440
 on your own power

00:44:21.440 --> 00:44:22.559
 by your own accomplishments

00:44:22.559 --> 00:44:24.200
 by your own self

00:44:24.200 --> 00:44:25.180
 salvation

00:44:25.180 --> 00:44:26.519
 your own pride

00:44:26.519 --> 00:44:27.680
 your own boasting

00:44:27.679 --> 00:44:29.099
 well that's in fact

00:44:29.099 --> 00:44:29.859
 why we have to

00:44:29.859 --> 00:44:31.460
 weekly and daily repent

00:44:31.460 --> 00:44:33.099
 Father

00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:35.239
 I'm just so sorry

00:44:35.239 --> 00:44:36.199
 for the fact

00:44:36.199 --> 00:44:36.839
 that today

00:44:36.839 --> 00:44:38.559
 pride and boasting

00:44:38.559 --> 00:44:39.500
 and self salvation

00:44:39.500 --> 00:44:40.199
 has characterized

00:44:40.199 --> 00:44:41.279
 my life in this way

00:44:41.279 --> 00:44:41.699
 in this way

00:44:41.699 --> 00:44:42.019
 in this way

00:44:42.019 --> 00:44:43.279
 it's poisoned my relationship

00:44:43.279 --> 00:44:44.079
 with my wife

00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:44.819
 with my kids

00:44:44.819 --> 00:44:45.619
 with my boss

00:44:45.619 --> 00:44:46.500
 with my neighbor

00:44:46.500 --> 00:44:48.779
 and I ask your forgiveness

00:44:48.779 --> 00:44:50.219
 Father grip me

00:44:50.219 --> 00:44:51.000
 with the gospel

00:44:51.000 --> 00:44:52.039
 help me Father

00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:53.239
 to live out of the truth

00:44:53.239 --> 00:44:54.739
 that I am saved

00:44:54.739 --> 00:44:56.179
 only by grace

00:44:56.179 --> 00:44:57.980
 only by putting my faith

00:44:57.980 --> 00:44:59.059
 and trust in Jesus

00:44:59.059 --> 00:45:00.039
 alone

00:45:00.039 --> 00:45:01.519
 and that that Father

00:45:01.519 --> 00:45:03.639
 help me to be so gripped

00:45:03.639 --> 00:45:04.079
 by this

00:45:04.079 --> 00:45:05.119
 to know that I have been

00:45:05.119 --> 00:45:06.359
 saved in the past

00:45:06.359 --> 00:45:07.579
 that even today

00:45:07.579 --> 00:45:09.579
 I need to be so gripped

00:45:09.579 --> 00:45:10.379
 with the gospel

00:45:10.379 --> 00:45:11.440
 by what you have done

00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:12.659
 for me on the cross

00:45:12.659 --> 00:45:14.259
 by the gift of the Holy Spirit

00:45:14.259 --> 00:45:14.960
 that comes in me

00:45:14.960 --> 00:45:16.119
 and constantly brings me

00:45:16.119 --> 00:45:16.960
 back to Jesus

00:45:16.960 --> 00:45:17.819
 again and again

00:45:17.819 --> 00:45:19.839
 and that my final glorification

00:45:19.839 --> 00:45:21.179
 Father everything

00:45:21.179 --> 00:45:22.659
 is an act of grace

00:45:22.659 --> 00:45:24.099
 that I am to have a faith

00:45:24.099 --> 00:45:24.679
 in Jesus

00:45:24.679 --> 00:45:25.039
 in

00:45:25.039 --> 00:45:26.860
 and only in him

00:45:26.860 --> 00:45:28.940
 and that Father

00:45:28.940 --> 00:45:30.059
 as I am gripped

00:45:30.059 --> 00:45:30.659
 by the fact

00:45:30.659 --> 00:45:31.759
 that I have been saved

00:45:31.759 --> 00:45:32.759
 I am being saved

00:45:32.759 --> 00:45:33.920
 and I will be saved

00:45:33.920 --> 00:45:34.219
 by

00:45:34.219 --> 00:45:34.800
 by

00:45:34.800 --> 00:45:35.920
 by

00:45:35.920 --> 00:45:36.179
 by

00:45:36.179 --> 00:45:39.000
 by grace alone

00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:39.699
 through faith alone

00:45:39.699 --> 00:45:40.440
 and Christ alone

00:45:40.440 --> 00:45:40.960
 that as

00:45:40.960 --> 00:45:42.300
 as this grips me

00:45:42.300 --> 00:45:42.500
 it

00:45:42.500 --> 00:45:43.820
 it pushes me

00:45:43.820 --> 00:45:45.019
 into confronting

00:45:45.019 --> 00:45:45.719
 my pride

00:45:45.719 --> 00:45:46.219
 and boasting

00:45:46.219 --> 00:45:47.279
 and self-salvation

00:45:47.279 --> 00:45:48.940
 the knowledge

00:45:48.940 --> 00:45:49.259
 that

00:45:49.259 --> 00:45:51.460
 that it's by grace alone

00:45:51.460 --> 00:45:52.219
 by

00:45:52.219 --> 00:45:53.639
 faith alone

00:45:53.639 --> 00:45:54.400
 and Christ alone

00:45:54.400 --> 00:45:55.840
 it pulls me

00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:56.680
 and draws me

00:45:56.680 --> 00:45:57.440
 into trying things

00:45:57.440 --> 00:45:58.079
 I would have never

00:45:58.079 --> 00:45:59.300
 never done

00:45:59.300 --> 00:46:01.400
 when I think about changes

00:46:01.400 --> 00:46:02.780
 it grounds me

00:46:02.780 --> 00:46:03.559
 to know that this is

00:46:03.559 --> 00:46:04.820
 myth become fact

00:46:04.820 --> 00:46:05.680
 and it's not just

00:46:05.680 --> 00:46:07.760
 another therapeutic story

00:46:07.760 --> 00:46:09.500
 it grounds me

00:46:09.500 --> 00:46:10.800
 something to stand on

00:46:10.800 --> 00:46:11.119
 as I

00:46:11.119 --> 00:46:12.200
 as I start to look

00:46:12.200 --> 00:46:12.900
 in gratitude

00:46:12.900 --> 00:46:13.680
 for the things

00:46:13.680 --> 00:46:15.000
 which I'm being pushed to

00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:15.660
 and then pulled to

00:46:15.660 --> 00:46:16.680
 and as I

00:46:16.680 --> 00:46:17.340
 and as I

00:46:17.340 --> 00:46:18.280
 and as I think

00:46:18.280 --> 00:46:19.240
 and I'm gripped upon

00:46:19.240 --> 00:46:20.760
 the fact that it's by grace alone

00:46:20.760 --> 00:46:21.820
 through faith alone

00:46:21.820 --> 00:46:22.700
 in Christ alone

00:46:22.700 --> 00:46:24.000
 that I've been saved

00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:24.700
 I'm being saved

00:46:24.700 --> 00:46:25.680
 and I will be saved

00:46:25.680 --> 00:46:27.400
 it shapes how I'm to understand

00:46:27.400 --> 00:46:28.640
 how my mind is to work

00:46:28.640 --> 00:46:30.059
 and how my will is to work

00:46:30.059 --> 00:46:31.500
 and my heart is to work

00:46:31.500 --> 00:46:32.800
 and my lips are to work

00:46:32.800 --> 00:46:34.460
 and my memories are to work

00:46:34.460 --> 00:46:35.780
 and my longings are to work

00:46:35.780 --> 00:46:36.160
 and how to

00:46:36.160 --> 00:46:37.160
 how to deal with

00:46:37.160 --> 00:46:38.380
 with my fears

00:46:38.380 --> 00:46:39.760
 and how to deal with

00:46:39.760 --> 00:46:40.820
 my relationships

00:46:40.820 --> 00:46:41.680
 and how even

00:46:41.680 --> 00:46:42.740
 I should have a heart

00:46:42.740 --> 00:46:43.340
 for the city

00:46:43.340 --> 00:46:44.080
 and the world

00:46:44.080 --> 00:46:44.880
 that as

00:46:44.880 --> 00:46:45.340
 as it

00:46:45.340 --> 00:46:45.880
 as it

00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:47.019
 as it grips me

00:46:47.019 --> 00:46:48.220
 as I first

00:46:48.219 --> 00:46:49.719
 hear the gospel

00:46:49.719 --> 00:46:51.299
 and put my faith

00:46:51.299 --> 00:46:52.239
 in this thing

00:46:52.239 --> 00:46:53.139
 in what Jesus

00:46:53.139 --> 00:46:53.839
 has done for me

00:46:53.839 --> 00:46:54.319
 in the cross

00:46:54.319 --> 00:46:54.779
 and as I

00:46:54.779 --> 00:46:55.879
 as I'm reminded

00:46:55.879 --> 00:46:56.419
 of the gospel

00:46:56.419 --> 00:46:57.259
 again and again

00:46:57.259 --> 00:46:58.039
 that that's

00:46:58.039 --> 00:46:58.699
 that that's

00:46:58.699 --> 00:46:59.480
 it's out of that

00:46:59.480 --> 00:47:00.000
 that I live

00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:00.719
 it's out of that

00:47:00.719 --> 00:47:01.399
 that I have a hope

00:47:01.399 --> 00:47:02.419
 for glory

00:47:02.419 --> 00:47:04.179
 that that's the now what

00:47:04.179 --> 00:47:06.000
 that's the now what

00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:06.859
 for you friends

00:47:06.859 --> 00:47:09.059
 and some of you

00:47:09.059 --> 00:47:09.899
 for the first time

00:47:09.899 --> 00:47:10.379
 in your life

00:47:10.379 --> 00:47:11.119
 there's no time

00:47:11.119 --> 00:47:11.939
 better than today

00:47:11.939 --> 00:47:13.119
 to say

00:47:13.119 --> 00:47:14.439
 Jesus

00:47:14.439 --> 00:47:15.579
 I have lived

00:47:15.579 --> 00:47:16.119
 in rebellion

00:47:16.119 --> 00:47:16.819
 against you

00:47:16.820 --> 00:47:17.640
 I want to be

00:47:17.640 --> 00:47:21.160
 you are the end

00:47:21.160 --> 00:47:21.860
 of my longings

00:47:21.860 --> 00:47:22.800
 the end of my yearnings

00:47:22.800 --> 00:47:23.559
 and you're true

00:47:23.559 --> 00:47:24.200
 and you're real

00:47:24.200 --> 00:47:26.019
 and I acknowledge

00:47:26.019 --> 00:47:26.720
 that you alone

00:47:26.720 --> 00:47:27.500
 will rescue me

00:47:27.500 --> 00:47:28.400
 can rescue me

00:47:28.400 --> 00:47:29.140
 rescue me

00:47:29.140 --> 00:47:29.460
 Jesus

00:47:29.460 --> 00:47:30.800
 I need to be rescued

00:47:30.800 --> 00:47:32.820
 and some of you

00:47:32.820 --> 00:47:33.539
 the day is the

00:47:33.539 --> 00:47:35.280
 this might be the first day

00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:36.320
 you ever say that prayer

00:47:36.320 --> 00:47:36.940
 from your heart

00:47:36.940 --> 00:47:37.880
 and there's no better time

00:47:37.880 --> 00:47:38.760
 than today to do it

00:47:38.760 --> 00:47:40.580
 but for those of us

00:47:40.580 --> 00:47:41.260
 who've done it

00:47:41.260 --> 00:47:41.940
 boy

00:47:41.940 --> 00:47:43.460
 if you're at all like me

00:47:43.460 --> 00:47:45.000
 you so need

00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:45.760
 to be reminded

00:47:45.760 --> 00:47:46.519
 of the gospel

00:47:46.519 --> 00:47:48.679
 and to be reminded

00:47:48.679 --> 00:47:49.539
 once again

00:47:49.539 --> 00:47:51.759
 that I have been saved

00:47:51.759 --> 00:47:53.259
 I am being saved

00:47:53.259 --> 00:47:54.800
 I will be saved

00:47:54.800 --> 00:47:56.759
 by grace alone

00:47:56.759 --> 00:47:58.059
 through faith alone

00:47:58.059 --> 00:47:59.460
 in Christ alone

00:47:59.460 --> 00:48:01.719
 there's no better time

00:48:01.719 --> 00:48:02.139
 than today

00:48:02.139 --> 00:48:02.579
 to say

00:48:02.579 --> 00:48:03.940
 precious Jesus

00:48:03.940 --> 00:48:05.000
 Father

00:48:05.000 --> 00:48:06.420
 pour out your Holy Spirit

00:48:06.420 --> 00:48:07.000
 upon me

00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:07.579
 and make me

00:48:07.579 --> 00:48:08.920
 a disciple of Jesus

00:48:08.920 --> 00:48:10.219
 gripped by the gospel

00:48:10.219 --> 00:48:11.519
 who lives for your glory

00:48:11.519 --> 00:48:12.900
 please stand

00:48:12.900 --> 00:48:23.960
 Father I just ask

00:48:23.960 --> 00:48:24.680
 that you would pour out

00:48:24.680 --> 00:48:25.380
 your Holy Spirit

00:48:25.380 --> 00:48:25.960
 upon us

00:48:25.960 --> 00:48:26.900
 continue to pour out

00:48:26.900 --> 00:48:27.440
 your Holy Spirit

00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:27.980
 upon us

00:48:27.980 --> 00:48:30.059
 Father if there are

00:48:30.059 --> 00:48:31.039
 those here

00:48:31.039 --> 00:48:31.780
 who are

00:48:31.780 --> 00:48:33.340
 thinking that maybe

00:48:33.340 --> 00:48:34.519
 today is the time

00:48:34.519 --> 00:48:35.700
 that your Holy Spirit

00:48:35.700 --> 00:48:37.019
 is pressing upon them

00:48:37.019 --> 00:48:38.360
 to turn to you

00:48:38.360 --> 00:48:39.160
 to be their Savior

00:48:39.160 --> 00:48:39.559
 and Lord

00:48:39.559 --> 00:48:39.980
 Father

00:48:39.980 --> 00:48:42.340
 help them with the words

00:48:42.340 --> 00:48:44.400
 Father help them

00:48:44.400 --> 00:48:45.059
 just to say

00:48:45.059 --> 00:48:46.519
 Jesus be my Savior

00:48:46.519 --> 00:48:47.380
 and my Lord

00:48:47.380 --> 00:48:49.179
 I hold nothing back

00:48:49.179 --> 00:48:50.039
 Father help them

00:48:50.039 --> 00:48:50.940
 just to say that

00:48:50.940 --> 00:48:51.740
 to you honestly

00:48:51.740 --> 00:48:53.199
 Jesus be my Savior

00:48:53.199 --> 00:48:53.860
 and my Lord

00:48:53.860 --> 00:48:55.920
 I hold nothing back

00:48:55.920 --> 00:48:57.639
 live in me forever

00:48:57.639 --> 00:48:58.900
 Father help them

00:48:58.900 --> 00:48:59.500
 and guide them

00:48:59.500 --> 00:49:00.599
 to cry out to you

00:49:00.599 --> 00:49:01.280
 with those words

00:49:01.280 --> 00:49:02.199
 their own words

00:49:02.199 --> 00:49:03.019
 from their heart

00:49:03.019 --> 00:49:03.519
 to you

00:49:03.519 --> 00:49:04.880
 they don't have to be

00:49:04.880 --> 00:49:05.559
 perfect Father

00:49:05.559 --> 00:49:06.139
 we know that

00:49:06.139 --> 00:49:07.199
 because you do the work

00:49:07.199 --> 00:49:08.679
 and you just look

00:49:08.679 --> 00:49:10.619
 for some call

00:49:10.619 --> 00:49:12.099
 out from their heart

00:49:12.099 --> 00:49:12.879
 from our heart

00:49:12.879 --> 00:49:13.259
 to you

00:49:13.259 --> 00:49:14.699
 and then you cross

00:49:14.699 --> 00:49:15.659
 that infinite distance

00:49:15.659 --> 00:49:16.259
 and fill them

00:49:16.259 --> 00:49:17.079
 with grace and peace

00:49:17.079 --> 00:49:17.639
 your Son

00:49:17.639 --> 00:49:18.579
 with the Holy Spirit

00:49:18.579 --> 00:49:20.079
 and Father

00:49:20.079 --> 00:49:21.239
 for the rest of us

00:49:21.239 --> 00:49:22.199
 the Holy Spirit

00:49:22.199 --> 00:49:23.699
 as he convicts us

00:49:23.699 --> 00:49:24.899
 Father pour out

00:49:24.899 --> 00:49:25.519
 your Holy Spirit

00:49:25.519 --> 00:49:25.960
 upon us

00:49:25.960 --> 00:49:26.599
 pour out

00:49:26.599 --> 00:49:27.379
 your Holy Spirit

00:49:27.379 --> 00:49:27.960
 upon us

00:49:27.960 --> 00:49:30.579
 make us disciples

00:49:30.579 --> 00:49:31.259
 of Jesus

00:49:31.259 --> 00:49:32.579
 gripped by the gospel

00:49:32.579 --> 00:49:33.799
 who live for your glory

00:49:33.799 --> 00:49:36.239
 bring home to us

00:49:36.239 --> 00:49:37.239
 in a deep way

00:49:37.239 --> 00:49:39.159
 that we have been saved

00:49:39.159 --> 00:49:40.219
 are being saved

00:49:40.219 --> 00:49:41.219
 and will be saved

00:49:41.219 --> 00:49:42.159
 by grace alone

00:49:42.159 --> 00:49:43.359
 through faith alone

00:49:43.359 --> 00:49:46.059
 in Jesus Christ alone

00:49:46.059 --> 00:49:47.459
 and this we ask

00:49:47.459 --> 00:49:48.459
 in Jesus' name

00:49:48.459 --> 00:49:49.379
 Amen