WEBVTT

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 Well, friends, we're looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 15 this morning.

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 And as I was thinking about this passage this week, I was reminded of an experience we had

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 in the youth ministry a few years ago.

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 So every fall, we plan a fall retreat.

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 And instead of going to one of these retreat centers that sort of does it all for you,

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 we, for some strange reason, decide to just pull one off ourselves.

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 So we plan all the music and all the food and all the games and all the talks.

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 And we basically just go to a place that will give us a warm place to sleep at night

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 and a nice clean open area where we can do all that crazy stuff.

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 And this one year, we were packing up all of our things.

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 And we were doing a really good job as a leadership team of making good lists of everything we had to bring.

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 So, you know, we had our sound system, the portable sound system, check.

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 We had the instruments check.

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 We had the mic cables check and the microphones check and the stands check.

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 We even brought the projector and the screen and the music sheets and everything.

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 We had it all set up.

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 And then one of our youth leaders said,

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 Hey, where's the power cable to the projector?

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 We forgot this one thing, this one little element.

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 And pretty much everything that we hoped to do during our kind of gathered worship times on the retreat

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 was totally foiled because we didn't bring this one little thing.

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 Everything else, it seemed, was in vain because we were missing the power cable.

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 Well, thankfully we, I forget what we ended up doing.

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 I'll have to talk to Andrew afterward how we actually solved that problem.

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 I think we might have borrowed a projector from the camp or something like that.

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 But maybe you've had a similar sort of experience or you can think of a similar example in your own life.

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 You know, that time you tried driving your car just a little bit further even though the fuel light was on

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 only to find that you ran out of gas.

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 And now every time you pushed the pedal, it was nothing but doing it in vain.

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 Or maybe that time you were almost done with the recipe.

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 You had everything you needed, but then you discovered you were out of eggs.

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 And it was all in vain.

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 Well, friends, I've been thinking about this text this morning.

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 I've been wondering, and I think this text causes us to ask,

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 what if the same thing could be true in our spiritual lives?

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 Is there something without which, if this one thing is missing, then the whole thing is in vain?

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 Is there such an essential ingredient to Christianity, to true spirituality?

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 And if there is something like that, do you know what it is?

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 And do you know whether you have it?

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 Well, as I said, I think that's what our text today is all about.

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 The one thing that everything hangs on.

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 The one essential thing that you have to have spiritually.

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 Or else everything else is in vain.

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 Looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

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 If you want to turn there in the Pew Bible, the page number is in your bulletin.

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 We're going to look at verses 12 through 19.

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 Let me read this for us.

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 Now, if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,

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 how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

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 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

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 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.

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 We are even found to be misrepresenting God because we testified about God that he raised Christ,

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 whom he did not raise, if it is true that the dead are not raised.

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 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.

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 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins.

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 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

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 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

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 Let's pray together as we consider this text.

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 Our Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would help us to understand with our minds

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 and grasp with our hearts the truth of this passage

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 and the way in which it reveals, Lord, critical, essential things for our life in you.

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 God, we ask that you would soften our hearts and open our ears

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 to hear, Lord Jesus, what you would have us to hear today.

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 In your name we pray. Amen.

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 Well, so it seems from this paragraph, and as you look at the whole of 1 Corinthians 15,

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 as we started last week, it seems that some of the Corinthians

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 were having a hard time believing in what Paul calls the resurrection of the dead.

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 Or sometimes we say the resurrection of the body,

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 which is sort of the same way of saying the same thing.

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 Paul asks in verse 12, do you notice there,

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 how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?

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 Some of the members of this church who believed the gospel

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 were then turning around and saying,

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 I don't think there is anything like the resurrection of the dead.

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 Now, what does that mean?

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 I think it's safe to say that these Corinthian Christians

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 had no problem probably believing in what we might call the immortality of the soul.

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 Corinth, after all, was a Greek city steeped in Greek thinking

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 and belief in an immortal soul was in the water all around them.

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 That's not what they had trouble grasping.

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 What they had a much harder time wrapping their minds around

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 was this incredible biblical promise

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 that we see echoed in the Psalms and in the prophets.

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 This incredible biblical promise that God will raise us

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 to bodily life on the last day.

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 That our ultimate future state in God's new creation

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 is a physical bodily one.

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 In Acts 17, Paul is preaching there in Athens,

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 just down the road from Corinth.

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 And as he's presenting the gospel,

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 he comes to the resurrection part.

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 And at that moment, Luke, the author of Acts, says,

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 a good number in the crowd just outright mocked him

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 when they heard him talk of the resurrection of the dead.

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 So in the first century, culturally,

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 this was a hard idea to accept.

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 In fact, virtually none, I would imagine,

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 of the Corinthians' pagan friends and neighbors

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 would have believed in the resurrection of the body.

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 Which, if I were to take a poll,

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 is probably exactly like us today in the 21st century.

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 Today, we can spend all sorts of time

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 thinking up how we might survive

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 a potential zombie apocalypse.

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 For instance,

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 if there were an onslaught of the undead,

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 we have lots of bumper stickers and video games

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 and blogs to sort of playfully think about

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 how we might deal with that reality.

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 But we'll never for a moment

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 think about the possibility

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 of the resurrection of the dead.

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 The resurrection of the body.

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 It seems like it's something

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 that's just completely off the radar for us.

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 But what we see here,

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 in this whole chapter actually,

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 is that this is not an area

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 for Christians to be fuzzy about.

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 Paul is going to use

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 some sort of relentless logic

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 in our little paragraph here

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 to get us to think clearly here.

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 Because as he says in verse 13,

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 if there's no resurrection of the dead,

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 then not even Christ has been raised.

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 And if Christ hasn't been raised, friends,

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 well, that has simply massive implications.

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 And there are at least two.

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 And we see them both listed

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 at the end of verse 14.

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 And let's take some time

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 meditating on both of these things

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 together this morning.

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 First, without the resurrection of Jesus,

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 Paul says,

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 our preaching is in vain.

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 Now, in the first 11 verses of our chapter,

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 Paul has been showing

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 how the death and resurrection of Jesus

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 are central components of the gospel.

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 Look again at verses 3 through 5.

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 For I delivered to you

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 as of first importance

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 what I also received.

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 This is the message,

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 the apostolic message

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 that has been preached

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 and handed down

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 in these early decades of the church.

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 That Christ died for our sins

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 in accordance with the scriptures,

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 that he was buried,

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 that he was raised on the third day

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 in accordance with the scriptures,

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 and that he appeared

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 to Cephas, that's Peter,

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 then to the twelve,

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 and then on to many others.

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 So on the one hand,

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 we have Christ's death

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 and burial,

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 the burial proving

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 that he actually died.

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 And on the other hand,

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 we have Christ's resurrection

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 and the appearances,

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 the appearances proving

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 that he actually had been raised.

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 And now here in verse 14,

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 Paul is saying essentially,

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 look,

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 if you take away half

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 of the gospel message,

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 if you take away

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 the resurrection of Jesus,

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 if you deny the resurrection

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 of the dead,

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 if you take away

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 half of the gospel,

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 friends,

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 you have no gospel at all.

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 A half gospel

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 is no gospel.

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 Our preaching in that case

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 would be utterly in vain.

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 It would be empty.

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 It would be ineffectual.

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 It would get nothing done.

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 Just think for a moment.

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 Let's pause on this fact

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 that Paul is pointing us towards here.

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 What would Christian preaching be

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 without the resurrection of Jesus?

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 Friends,

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 I think the reality is

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 that we wouldn't have much to say.

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 Perhaps we could look to Jesus

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 as a good moral teacher.

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 One who believed in his ideals

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 so strongly

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 that he was willing to die for them.

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 A good moral teacher.

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 But then,

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 wouldn't Christian preaching

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 just end up being

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 more or less

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 moral instruction?

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 Jesus was a very good man

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 who taught very good things,

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 so we ought to now

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 follow his example

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 and try to do these good things

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 as well today.

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 Full stop.

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 But friends,

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 realize that Jesus'

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 moral instruction

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 was actually not radically

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 that different

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 than what the Old Testament

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 had been teaching

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 for thousands of years.

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 Yes,

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 Jesus took the Old Testament

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 seriously

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 in all its implications.

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 He was willing

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 to take it all the way down

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 to the heart level

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 and say things like,

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 you've heard it said,

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 do not murder.

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 My battery's died

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 right in the middle

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 of my point.

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 Look at that.

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 Jonathan,

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 can I just use the pulpit mic?

00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:12.659
 Okay,

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 that means I can't sway

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 back and forth.

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 All right.

00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:18.879
 Jesus would say things like,

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 you've heard it said,

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 don't murder.

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 And then how does

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 the rest of that passage go?

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 I say,

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 even anger in your heart

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 amounts to the same thing.

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 So there's Jesus

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 not teaching something

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 different than the Old Testament,

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 but taking the Old Testament

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 seriously

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 in all of its

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 heart level implications.

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 Exactly how the prophets

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 before him had done.

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 But he wasn't offering

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 anything that was

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 radically new.

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 Do you remember

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 the rich young man

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 who comes up to Jesus

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 and says,

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 good teacher,

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 what must I do

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 to be saved?

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 This young guy

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 apparently had heard

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 rumors about Jesus.

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 Jesus was growing

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 in popularity,

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 so he comes thinking,

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 what new innovative thing

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 could this rising star

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 teacher Jesus

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 tell me

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 about gaining eternal life?

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 And what does Jesus say

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 to this eager young man

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 thinking he's going

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 to get something new?

00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.060
 Jesus says,

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 you know the commandments.

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 Do not murder.

00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:15.000
 Do not commit adultery.

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 Do not steal.

00:13:17.020 --> 00:13:18.080
 Do not bear false witness.

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 Do not defraud.

00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.240
 Honor your father and mother.

00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:22.240
 Do not steal.

00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:23.240
 Do not steal.

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 Do not steal.

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 Basically, he starts listing

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 the ten commandments.

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 So the point is,

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 if we're looking to Jesus

00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:35.139
 merely as a great moral teacher,

00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:37.680
 we basically find

00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:39.200
 what all the other great

00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:40.419
 moral teachers have propounded.

00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:44.560
 And so if our preaching, then,

00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:46.860
 is just the ethics,

00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:48.220
 the morality of Jesus,

00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:50.860
 then I would submit

00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:51.540
 that we really aren't

00:13:51.540 --> 00:13:52.320
 preaching anything

00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:53.240
 worthwhile at all.

00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:54.200
 You can find it

00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:55.120
 anywhere else.

00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:58.720
 We don't have anything

00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:00.560
 to say that's worth saying.

00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:03.980
 Now, perhaps your experience

00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:05.000
 of Christian teaching

00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:05.560
 and preaching

00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.279
 hasn't amounted

00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:06.940
 to much more

00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.700
 than what feels like

00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:10.060
 lots of moral instruction.

00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.399
 Maybe when you think

00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:13.019
 of Christianity,

00:14:13.820 --> 00:14:15.279
 you think of basically

00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.500
 just a call,

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:18.539
 a sort of exhortation

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:20.179
 to live a better life.

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.580
 But again,

00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:24.679
 let me suggest to you, friend,

00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:26.340
 that that isn't

00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:28.720
 real Christianity at all.

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:30.700
 Yes,

00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:32.419
 Christianity presents

00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.980
 a vision of life

00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.940
 that is good

00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:35.600
 and beautiful

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.360
 and compelling.

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:41.279
 But that's not the only thing

00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.200
 and that's not

00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:42.899
 the central thing.

00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:44.480
 And if all you've heard

00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.740
 is good moral teaching

00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:47.820
 in the name of Christianity,

00:14:47.920 --> 00:14:48.259
 then, friend,

00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:48.879
 you've heard

00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:50.620
 only a hollow version

00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.320
 of the real thing.

00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:53.860
 Because the real thing

00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:55.980
 isn't a long list

00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:57.000
 of things to do,

00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.659
 but a great thing

00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:02.019
 that God has done.

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:06.620
 Our preaching is vain

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:08.159
 without the resurrection.

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:11.079
 But Paul goes on

00:15:11.079 --> 00:15:11.620
 to say that

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.240
 our preaching

00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.480
 is not just empty,

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.319
 it's not just vain,

00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:15.459
 but it's actually

00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:17.219
 also a bit dishonest

00:15:17.219 --> 00:15:18.639
 if Christ has not been raised.

00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:19.899
 Look again at verse 15.

00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.079
 We're even found

00:15:21.079 --> 00:15:23.600
 to be misrepresenting God

00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:24.959
 because we testified

00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:25.679
 about God

00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:26.679
 that he raised Christ,

00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:27.939
 whom he did not raise

00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:28.439
 if it is true

00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:28.839
 that the dead

00:15:28.839 --> 00:15:29.339
 are not raised.

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.480
 Now, the language

00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.939
 Paul is using here

00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:33.439
 is language

00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:35.179
 of the law court.

00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:38.039
 When we hear the word

00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:39.739
 testify or testimony

00:15:39.739 --> 00:15:40.679
 in a church setting,

00:15:41.079 --> 00:15:42.299
 don't we often think

00:15:42.299 --> 00:15:43.000
 of someone

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:45.199
 sharing a personal experience

00:15:45.199 --> 00:15:46.339
 of something

00:15:46.339 --> 00:15:47.539
 that God has done

00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.079
 in their life?

00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:50.500
 And that's a good thing.

00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:51.059
 We want to hear

00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:52.000
 lots of that at Trinity.

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.000
 Come on down.

00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:54.719
 But,

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.019
 when Paul is using

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.439
 the language

00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:58.819
 of testimony here,

00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.299
 we need to imagine

00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:01.599
 not the church gathering,

00:16:02.459 --> 00:16:03.979
 but the courtroom

00:16:03.979 --> 00:16:04.839
 in session.

00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:07.859
 there is the judge,

00:16:08.599 --> 00:16:09.519
 there is the jury,

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.099
 and the witnesses

00:16:11.099 --> 00:16:13.179
 are brought to the stand

00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:15.099
 to give their testimony

00:16:15.099 --> 00:16:16.559
 so that a verdict

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.599
 might be made.

00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:20.799
 Paul and the other apostles

00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.739
 were witnesses

00:16:21.739 --> 00:16:23.779
 in that sense,

00:16:24.239 --> 00:16:26.059
 witnesses of an event.

00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:28.699
 They saw something happen

00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:29.519
 in history.

00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.339
 Just like if you walked

00:16:33.339 --> 00:16:34.099
 outside today

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.840
 and witnessed

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.720
 a car accident,

00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.680
 you would be a witness.

00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:39.019
 Perhaps you would be

00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:39.600
 summoned to give

00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.700
 a testimony in court

00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.580
 about what you saw.

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:43.180
 The apostles saw

00:16:43.180 --> 00:16:44.899
 the risen Lord Jesus.

00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:45.940
 He appeared to them,

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:47.300
 spent time with them,

00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:48.540
 ate with them,

00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:49.519
 taught them.

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.340
 Back in chapter 9,

00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:52.840
 Paul writes,

00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:53.980
 am I not an apostle?

00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:55.320
 Have I not seen

00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:56.060
 Jesus,

00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:57.000
 our Lord?

00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.600
 Seeing the resurrected

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.899
 Jesus was the critical thing

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:03.620
 that made an apostle

00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:04.220
 an apostle.

00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:07.160
 The apostles could testify

00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:07.920
 in a courtroom

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.620
 before the bar

00:17:08.620 --> 00:17:09.480
 that they had met

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.539
 the risen Jesus,

00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:11.860
 that God had raised him

00:17:11.860 --> 00:17:12.500
 from the dead.

00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:16.000
 In Acts chapter 2,

00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.640
 at the climax

00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.960
 of his great sermon

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.799
 at Pentecost,

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:20.240
 Peter sums it up this way,

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.920
 this Jesus,

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.819
 God raised up,

00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.640
 and of that

00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:26.900
 we are all witnesses.

00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:31.480
 And so you see,

00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:32.440
 if Christ then

00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.980
 hasn't been raised,

00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.900
 if there's no such thing

00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:35.579
 as the resurrection

00:17:35.579 --> 00:17:36.440
 of the dead,

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:38.920
 then the apostles

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.859
 are all

00:17:39.859 --> 00:17:40.920
 false

00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.059
 witnesses.

00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:44.919
 That's what the word

00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:45.960
 misrepresented

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.940
 literally means here.

00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:49.299
 A pseudo witness.

00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.139
 In other words,

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:51.879
 they're all committing

00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:53.079
 perjury.

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.159
 But not just perjury.

00:17:58.639 --> 00:17:59.500
 Because they're being

00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.179
 false witnesses

00:18:00.179 --> 00:18:01.159
 of God,

00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:04.139
 then they're knowingly

00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:04.559
 committing

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.720
 blasphemy.

00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:08.059
 Telling the world

00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.319
 lies

00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:10.819
 about who God is

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:12.139
 and what he's done.

00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:18.379
 Without the resurrection,

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:19.899
 our preaching

00:18:19.899 --> 00:18:21.579
 is in vain.

00:18:22.939 --> 00:18:23.659
 So think of all

00:18:23.659 --> 00:18:24.159
 the sermons

00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:25.059
 that have been preached

00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:26.399
 throughout the ages

00:18:26.399 --> 00:18:28.539
 by the great role

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.659
 of Christian preachers,

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:31.339
 the Chrysostoms

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.720
 and the Luthers

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:34.000
 and the Whitfields

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.759
 and the Wesleys

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.539
 and the Spurgeons.

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.720
 And then think of all

00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:40.039
 the great written works

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.519
 of Christian life

00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:42.079
 and thought

00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:43.079
 that have been penned

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:45.099
 by the Augustans

00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:45.839
 and the Aquinas'

00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:46.980
 and the Calvins

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.759
 and the Edwards.

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.159
 And then consider

00:18:50.159 --> 00:18:51.000
 all the missionaries

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.519
 who've traveled

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.319
 across the world

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.059
 to herald

00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:54.359
 the risen Christ,

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.519
 the William Careys

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.680
 and the Hudson Taylors

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:58.059
 and the Lottie Moons

00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:59.579
 and the Amy Carmichael's.

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:02.019
 All of that preaching

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.359
 by countless men

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:03.779
 and women

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.899
 throughout Christian history,

00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:06.380
 all of it

00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:08.560
 was in vain

00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:11.320
 without the resurrection

00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:11.920
 of Jesus.

00:19:13.320 --> 00:19:13.840
 Nothing

00:19:13.840 --> 00:19:15.220
 but empty,

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:18.140
 even dishonest

00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:19.280
 words.

00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:25.140
 And so you see, friends,

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:27.060
 the resurrection of Jesus

00:19:27.060 --> 00:19:27.960
 is essential.

00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.540
 Essential to our preaching.

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.100
 Without it,

00:19:31.140 --> 00:19:32.320
 we really have nothing to say.

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:34.000
 Christianity would be

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.000
 just another moral code,

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:35.539
 nothing more.

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.039
 And even worse,

00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:37.379
 without the resurrection,

00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.259
 what we are saying

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:38.779
 would be nothing

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.740
 but a false testimony

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.399
 about God.

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.319
 But that's not all.

00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.460
 Not only is our preaching

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:48.879
 in vain,

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.259
 Paul here keeps

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:52.119
 driving the logic

00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:52.779
 further

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:54.000
 to its uncomfortable

00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:56.259
 logic conclusion.

00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:58.640
 without the resurrection

00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.059
 of Jesus,

00:19:59.180 --> 00:19:59.579
 he says,

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:02.099
 not just our preaching

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:02.680
 is in vain,

00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:05.079
 but your faith

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.879
 is in vain.

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.500
 And in verses 17 and 18,

00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:11.220
 Paul teases this out.

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:13.539
 There we find two reasons

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.779
 why that's the case.

00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.819
 Why is our faith in vain?

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:16.180
 First,

00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.819
 if Christ has not been raised,

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.420
 Paul says,

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.279
 very categorically,

00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:20.440
 you are still

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.420
 in your sins.

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.220
 You know,

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:24.940
 we often don't think

00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.860
 about the resurrection

00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:27.580
 as being essential

00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:28.160
 to the forgiveness

00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.680
 of sins,

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.000
 do we?

00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.400
 Perhaps,

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.120
 rightfully so,

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.240
 our minds go more

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.779
 naturally to the cross.

00:20:34.820 --> 00:20:35.460
 After all,

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.779
 Christ died

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.600
 for our sins

00:20:37.600 --> 00:20:38.000
 in accordance

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.559
 with the scriptures

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.340
 as we just read

00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:39.980
 in verse 3.

00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.440
 But Paul is telling us here

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.799
 that Christ's resurrection

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:47.160
 is no less essential.

00:20:50.580 --> 00:20:51.559
 On the one hand,

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.799
 the resurrection proves

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:54.159
 that the one

00:20:54.159 --> 00:20:55.099
 who did die

00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:55.960
 on that cross

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:57.159
 was not a mere

00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:58.680
 teacher or even prophet,

00:20:58.819 --> 00:20:59.839
 but the king of glory.

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.799
 But more than that,

00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:06.079
 the fact that Christ

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.899
 was raised

00:21:06.899 --> 00:21:08.019
 on the third day,

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:08.500
 friends,

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:11.359
 is the great sign

00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:14.460
 that he had paid

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:16.059
 our debt of sin

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:17.599
 in full.

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:21.859
 The raising

00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:22.539
 of Jesus,

00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.219
 the raising

00:21:23.219 --> 00:21:23.939
 of Christ

00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:25.279
 was God the Father's

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.119
 approval.

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.240
 It was his

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:28.959
 perfect verdict

00:21:28.959 --> 00:21:30.779
 that the work

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.240
 of Jesus

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.959
 was complete,

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:33.039
 that the sacrifice

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:34.199
 was totally sufficient,

00:21:34.459 --> 00:21:35.179
 that the penalty

00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:35.799
 was paid

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.719
 once and for all.

00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.699
 Think of it,

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:41.139
 when a prisoner,

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:41.819
 when a criminal

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:43.859
 does his full sentence,

00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:46.539
 when he or she

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.639
 undergoes the months

00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.480
 or even the years

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.159
 that their crime

00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:50.159
 deserved in prison,

00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:50.720
 in a cell,

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.039
 whatever.

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.720
 And then,

00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.680
 their sentence

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.279
 is served

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:57.319
 when they've

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.279
 completed their time.

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.539
 What do they do?

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.700
 They leave the cell.

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.399
 They walk out

00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:05.879
 of the prison.

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.519
 They go out

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.379
 into the light of day.

00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:11.200
 With that penalty

00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.759
 no longer

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:14.099
 hanging over them,

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.899
 they go out

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:15.720
 free because it's

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.640
 been paid

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.540
 in full.

00:22:18.100 --> 00:22:18.640
 They've done it.

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.220
 And what was

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.680
 the sentence

00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.259
 that hung

00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.720
 over us

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:27.220
 for breaking

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:27.980
 God's law?

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.340
 Again and again,

00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.380
 the Bible is clear

00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:33.040
 on this point

00:22:33.040 --> 00:22:35.180
 that the wages

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:36.060
 of sin

00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:37.620
 is death.

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.920
 God warned

00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.380
 Adam and Eve

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.240
 from the very start

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.040
 that if they rebelled

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:44.039
 against his word

00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:45.839
 and chose to be

00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.579
 their own gods

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.379
 and their own rulers

00:22:47.379 --> 00:22:48.240
 and they ate the fruit

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:48.839
 from the tree

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:50.680
 that they would die.

00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.879
 And each one of us

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.819
 from that day on,

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.079
 having fallen

00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.819
 into sin,

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.319
 having chosen

00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:00.180
 our own way

00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:01.119
 apart from God,

00:23:02.139 --> 00:23:03.079
 faces that same

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.720
 penalty

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:05.159
 of death.

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:06.940
 God

00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:09.440
 So you see,

00:23:09.540 --> 00:23:09.980
 when Christ

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:11.040
 died

00:23:11.040 --> 00:23:12.380
 for our sins,

00:23:12.800 --> 00:23:14.240
 he was

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.320
 paying

00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:16.380
 that

00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:17.480
 judicial

00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.400
 penalty

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.840
 that our sins

00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:20.360
 deserved.

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.360
 But of course,

00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:23.940
 he wasn't paying

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:25.140
 for his own sins.

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.300
 Christ had no sins.

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.400
 There was no sentence

00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.779
 hanging over his head.

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.700
 No,

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.120
 when Jesus

00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:31.940
 died

00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.960
 for our sins,

00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.660
 he was acting

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:35.320
 as our substitute.

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:36.960
 The death

00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.240
 he died,

00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:38.820
 the penalty

00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:39.279
 of sin

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:39.960
 he paid

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:41.120
 was for us

00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:43.440
 in our place.

00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.440
 But you know,

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.019
 if Christ

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.960
 had stayed

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.180
 in the grave,

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:56.060
 had he not

00:23:56.060 --> 00:23:57.140
 been raised,

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.860
 it would be

00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:00.620
 as if

00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:02.539
 he were still

00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:03.919
 paying the debt.

00:24:04.919 --> 00:24:05.819
 As if there

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.439
 were still

00:24:06.439 --> 00:24:07.759
 something left

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.579
 of the sentence

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.199
 that needed

00:24:09.199 --> 00:24:10.539
 to be served.

00:24:10.899 --> 00:24:11.659
 That something

00:24:11.659 --> 00:24:12.799
 about the cross

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.619
 wasn't

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.519
 quite

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.619
 enough.

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.399
 And so,

00:24:17.139 --> 00:24:17.899
 we would still

00:24:17.899 --> 00:24:18.819
 be in our

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.819
 sins.

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:25.099
 That's the first

00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:25.979
 reason our faith

00:24:25.979 --> 00:24:27.139
 is in vain

00:24:27.139 --> 00:24:28.819
 without the resurrection.

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.899
 We're still

00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:30.779
 in our sins.

00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:31.500
 The penalty

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:33.079
 hasn't fully

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:34.759
 been paid.

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.939
 The second

00:24:38.939 --> 00:24:39.460
 reason is in

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.179
 verse 18.

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.939
 If Christ

00:24:42.939 --> 00:24:43.559
 has not been

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.000
 raised,

00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:44.879
 then those

00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.480
 also who have

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.179
 fallen asleep

00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:46.899
 in Christ

00:24:46.899 --> 00:24:48.839
 have perished,

00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.379
 Paul says.

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.480
 Those

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:52.960
 Christians

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.399
 who have

00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:54.319
 gone before us,

00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:55.839
 those who

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.539
 have died

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.339
 in the faith,

00:24:59.119 --> 00:24:59.819
 they are

00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.839
 lost

00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:02.619
 if Christ

00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:02.940
 has not

00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:03.440
 been raised.

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:06.619
 I mean,

00:25:06.659 --> 00:25:06.799
 again,

00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.819
 think about it.

00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.019
 Logically,

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:10.279
 if the Lord

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.920
 in whom

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:11.379
 they put

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:12.079
 their trust

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.859
 was not

00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.559
 strong enough

00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.200
 to save

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.339
 himself from

00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:15.599
 death,

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.319
 how could

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:16.700
 he save

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:16.920
 others?

00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:17.579
 How could

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.039
 he save

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.379
 them?

00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:25.140
 when I'm

00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:25.620
 looking for

00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.000
 financial

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.520
 advice,

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.860
 I don't

00:25:28.860 --> 00:25:29.180
 go to

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.700
 folks who

00:25:29.700 --> 00:25:30.880
 are repeatedly

00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.800
 claiming

00:25:31.800 --> 00:25:32.320
 bankruptcy.

00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:33.840
 No,

00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.400
 I go to

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.700
 those who

00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.880
 know how

00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:37.200
 to walk

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.920
 that path,

00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:40.040
 who have

00:25:40.040 --> 00:25:40.460
 the wisdom

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.000
 and the

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:42.160
 strength to

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:42.660
 be able to

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.000
 see me

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.260
 through.

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:48.579
 And friends,

00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:48.900
 the reality

00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.420
 is if our

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:50.720
 faith can't

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.299
 help us

00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.279
 in the face

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:52.799
 of death,

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:53.960
 then quite

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.319
 honestly,

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:54.839
 what good

00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.200
 is it?

00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.079
 Of course,

00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:03.480
 there are

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:03.900
 always,

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.339
 and perhaps

00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:04.839
 always will

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.119
 be,

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.680
 a handful

00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.319
 of scholars

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:06.920
 and pastors

00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.259
 who will

00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:07.559
 try to

00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:07.740
 make

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.160
 Christianity

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.680
 meaningful

00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.240
 without the

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.500
 bodily

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.039
 resurrection.

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.519
 No longer

00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.099
 convinced

00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:13.799
 that God

00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:15.000
 raised Jesus

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.379
 from the

00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:15.779
 dead or

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.079
 that God

00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.519
 could do

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.440
 something like

00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.160
 resurrection.

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:20.619
 These

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.879
 scholars and

00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:22.579
 pastors try

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.400
 to salvage

00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.200
 some kind

00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.839
 of meaningful

00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:25.339
 faith.

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.720
 One way

00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.039
 they do

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.480
 this is

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:28.740
 kind of

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:28.980
 what we've

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.160
 already

00:26:29.160 --> 00:26:29.559
 seen.

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:29.960
 They try

00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.539
 to emphasize

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.240
 the moral

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.779
 principles

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.920
 of Jesus.

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:33.339
 That is,

00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:33.879
 if we strip

00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:34.500
 away those

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.000
 things that

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.299
 we just

00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:35.859
 can't believe

00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.279
 in anymore,

00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:36.859
 then surely

00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.779
 we still have

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.160
 a meaningful

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.920
 moral framework

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.480
 in which to

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:39.740
 live our

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.019
 lives,

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.339
 don't we?

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:40.759
 Isn't that

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.359
 enough?

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:41.759
 Isn't that

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.119
 what really

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:42.500
 matters?

00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:46.220
 But you

00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:46.339
 know,

00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.019
 show me

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.379
 friends,

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:47.920
 show me

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:48.460
 someone who

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.319
 is genuinely

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.539
 trying to

00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.660
 actually live

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.819
 up to the

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.200
 way of

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.519
 Jesus,

00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.240
 to his

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:54.700
 commands,

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:58.180
 and I

00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.619
 will show

00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:59.099
 you someone

00:26:59.099 --> 00:26:59.940
 who knows

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.720
 that they

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.400
 need more

00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.339
 than a

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.099
 moral framework,

00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:06.019
 that they

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.779
 need forgiveness.

00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:10.759
 If

00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:10.960
 Christianity

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.299
 needs nothing

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.740
 more than a

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:11.960
 set of

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.480
 rules to

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:12.779
 follow,

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.319
 rules that

00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:13.539
 Jesus

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.039
 embodied,

00:27:14.340 --> 00:27:15.059
 then anyone

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.980
 with half

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:16.680
 an ounce

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.660
 of self-awareness

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.380
 knows that

00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:18.799
 they fall

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.460
 short over

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.059
 and over

00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.620
 and over

00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:21.120
 again.

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.240
 But Jesus

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.579
 taught the

00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.180
 way of love

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.799
 and forgiveness,

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.380
 they say.

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:26.819
 Yes,

00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:27.600
 indeed he did,

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.259
 and it's a

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.019
 beautiful thing.

00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.340
 But to be blunt,

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.120
 how are you doing

00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:33.600
 with forgiving

00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:34.180
 others these

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.519
 days?

00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:34.600
 Yes.

00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:34.640
 Yes.

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:39.180
 have you really

00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:39.820
 let go of that

00:27:39.820 --> 00:27:40.220
 hurt and

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.500
 bitterness?

00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:43.200
 Have you really

00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:43.920
 stopped playing

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.860
 that video over

00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.420
 and over in

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.060
 your mind,

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.259
 the one where

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.000
 you finally

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.980
 tell them off

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.660
 and give them

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:49.940
 what they

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.280
 deserve?

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:53.080
 Have you

00:27:53.080 --> 00:27:54.160
 really taken

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.900
 steps down

00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:55.540
 the hard road

00:27:55.540 --> 00:27:56.220
 of reconciliation

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.120
 with them?

00:27:57.119 --> 00:28:01.519
 If we're

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.339
 serious about

00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:03.219
 following Jesus'

00:28:03.459 --> 00:28:04.259
 commands,

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:07.500
 friends,

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:07.979
 then we need

00:28:07.979 --> 00:28:08.559
 to know

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:11.259
 not just

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.519
 what he

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:11.859
 commands,

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.339
 but we need

00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:12.659
 to know that

00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:13.159
 our sins

00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:13.679
 can be taken

00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:14.339
 care of.

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.359
 Because the

00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.039
 more we follow

00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.319
 Jesus'

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.839
 commands,

00:28:17.939 --> 00:28:18.259
 the more

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.659
 we'll see

00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:19.319
 how far

00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:19.759
 we fall

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.179
 short

00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:21.199
 and that

00:28:21.199 --> 00:28:21.599
 we need

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:21.979
 someone

00:28:21.979 --> 00:28:22.659
 to save

00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:23.079
 us.

00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:27.199
 So that

00:28:27.199 --> 00:28:27.879
 moralistic

00:28:27.879 --> 00:28:28.579
 kind of

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:29.519
 resurrectionless

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.079
 Christianity

00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.619
 is certainly

00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.179
 a dead end,

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.899
 but there's

00:28:31.899 --> 00:28:32.359
 another way

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:32.699
 some will

00:28:32.699 --> 00:28:33.019
 try to

00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.259
 make it

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:33.539
 work.

00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:35.500
 Jesus'

00:28:35.699 --> 00:28:36.039
 resurrection,

00:28:36.179 --> 00:28:36.480
 they'll say,

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.039
 wasn't a

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.639
 bodily event,

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:37.939
 no,

00:28:38.159 --> 00:28:38.559
 but it

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.519
 points us

00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.279
 to a

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:40.799
 spiritual

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.279
 truth,

00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.119
 a spiritual

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:42.720
 reality.

00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:44.639
 Jesus'

00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.879
 spirit is

00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.259
 with the

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.539
 Father,

00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:46.980
 that's what

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.379
 it means,

00:28:47.439 --> 00:28:47.699
 and his

00:28:47.699 --> 00:28:48.339
 spirit is

00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:48.980
 with us,

00:28:49.419 --> 00:28:49.679
 something

00:28:49.679 --> 00:28:50.240
 like that.

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:53.079
 But you

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.180
 know,

00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:53.819
 this attempt

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.880
 to make

00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:55.279
 a meaningful

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.779
 Christianity

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.279
 without the

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:56.599
 resurrection

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:57.220
 fails as

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:57.480
 well.

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.519
 Why?

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.279
 Because isn't

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.539
 it clear,

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:02.740
 friends,

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:02.980
 that in

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.599
 this version,

00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:06.559
 death

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.620
 still wins.

00:29:10.279 --> 00:29:10.940
 You see,

00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:11.180
 friends,

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.240
 God created

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.099
 our world

00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:13.519
 in all of

00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.420
 its material,

00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:15.259
 physical

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:15.980
 reality.

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.259
 He created

00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.599
 it in that

00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:19.220
 way and

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.740
 called it

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.460
 good.

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.079
 We were

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.839
 meant to

00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:23.460
 live lives

00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.480
 bodily,

00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:25.599
 physically,

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:25.980
 that are

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.759
 free from

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.500
 decay and

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.000
 pain and

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.279
 disease.

00:29:28.359 --> 00:29:28.640
 But when

00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.500
 sin entered,

00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.920
 death entered,

00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:31.559
 and along

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:31.900
 with it,

00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.539
 suffering and

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.019
 pain and

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.620
 decay and

00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:34.140
 disease.

00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:36.120
 And so,

00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:36.380
 you see,

00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:36.980
 to say that

00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:37.819
 God's redeeming

00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:38.059
 work,

00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:38.480
 to say that

00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.039
 the resurrection

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.640
 will only

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.220
 involve some

00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.579
 kind of

00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.440
 spiritual

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.039
 salvation,

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.839
 is to say

00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.480
 that God

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.579
 is unable

00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:44.940
 or at

00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.839
 least unwilling

00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.660
 to actually

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.019
 go the

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:47.519
 whole way

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.599
 and fully

00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.720
 redeem his

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.640
 fallen creation.

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.160
 It's to say

00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:51.720
 that God

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.640
 is willing

00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.440
 to let

00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.720
 death win.

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.259
 That he's

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:58.759
 willing to

00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.460
 let sin

00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:00.539
 and death

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.860
 colonize

00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:02.960
 and corrupt

00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:03.579
 his good

00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.120
 creation

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.720
 forever.

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.900
 It is to

00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.220
 say that

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:09.259
 God will

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:09.620
 turn his

00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:10.799
 back on

00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.779
 his good

00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.259
 creation

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:13.019
 and just

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:14.000
 move on.

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:18.039
 God

00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:18.180
 is to

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.299
 know

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:18.500
 that's

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:18.799
 not how

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.220
 the story

00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:19.619
 goes.

00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.460
 That's

00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:22.839
 not

00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:24.140
 what God

00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.519
 has revealed

00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:25.059
 to us

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.759
 about his

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.019
 saving

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.480
 purposes.

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.559
 The

00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:28.900
 resurrection

00:30:28.900 --> 00:30:29.420
 of Jesus,

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:29.799
 you see,

00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:30.359
 isn't

00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.039
 some

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.460
 supernatural

00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.920
 magic trick

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.619
 in the

00:30:34.619 --> 00:30:34.920
 middle of

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.339
 history

00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:36.259
 to shock

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:36.619
 and awe.

00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:37.619
 the

00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:40.139
 resurrection

00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:40.759
 of Jesus

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.439
 is the

00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:41.979
 beginning

00:30:41.979 --> 00:30:43.439
 of God's

00:30:43.439 --> 00:30:44.000
 plan

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.939
 for the

00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:45.399
 whole

00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:46.119
 universe.

00:30:47.219 --> 00:30:47.739
 It's a

00:30:47.739 --> 00:30:48.799
 foretaste

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.739
 of what's

00:30:49.739 --> 00:30:50.339
 to come.

00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:53.699
 God

00:30:53.699 --> 00:30:55.079
 will renew

00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:56.299
 his

00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:56.819
 creation.

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.720
 He will

00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.199
 remove

00:30:59.199 --> 00:30:59.679
 death

00:30:59.679 --> 00:31:00.659
 and sickness

00:31:00.659 --> 00:31:01.659
 and sin.

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.039
 He will

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.779
 heal

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.539
 and redeem

00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:04.659
 and recover

00:31:04.659 --> 00:31:05.339
 what's broken,

00:31:05.439 --> 00:31:06.399
 not abandon it.

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:08.559
 Creation

00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.139
 is going to be

00:31:09.139 --> 00:31:09.879
 regained

00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:11.119
 and repaired

00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:13.419
 and even

00:31:13.419 --> 00:31:14.240
 transfigured

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:14.939
 so that it's

00:31:14.939 --> 00:31:15.619
 endlessly,

00:31:16.179 --> 00:31:17.079
 stoplessly

00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:18.399
 good again.

00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.980
 the

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.359
 resurrection

00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:22.959
 body of

00:31:22.959 --> 00:31:23.179
 Jesus

00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:23.559
 is the

00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:24.000
 pledge

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.919
 that God

00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:25.359
 will not

00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:25.819
 let death

00:31:25.819 --> 00:31:26.079
 win

00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:27.779
 and that

00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.159
 one day

00:31:28.159 --> 00:31:28.519
 through

00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:28.859
 Jesus

00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.399
 all

00:31:29.399 --> 00:31:29.919
 creation

00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:30.159
 will

00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:30.819
 participate

00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.319
 in that

00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:31.619
 great

00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:32.039
 renewal

00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:32.379
 that's

00:31:32.379 --> 00:31:32.859
 begun

00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:33.299
 in

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:33.959
 him.

00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.619
 So you

00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:38.799
 see,

00:31:38.919 --> 00:31:39.439
 even that

00:31:39.439 --> 00:31:40.359
 spiritual

00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:41.299
 version

00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:41.980
 of

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.959
 resurrectionless

00:31:42.959 --> 00:31:43.879
 Christianity

00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:46.220
 isn't much

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:46.799
 worth believing

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.039
 in.

00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:49.839
 It's a bit

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.179
 better than

00:31:50.179 --> 00:31:50.699
 the moralistic

00:31:50.699 --> 00:31:50.959
 version,

00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:51.279
 I'll give

00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:51.639
 you that,

00:31:52.179 --> 00:31:52.759
 but it's

00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.179
 still pretty

00:31:53.179 --> 00:31:53.559
 hollow

00:31:53.559 --> 00:31:57.079
 because it's

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.559
 still a faith

00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:57.980
 that can't

00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.500
 actually

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.779
 rescue us.

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:01.500
 You see,

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:01.740
 if the

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.220
 moralistic

00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:02.980
 version can't

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:03.459
 deal with

00:32:03.459 --> 00:32:03.919
 our sin

00:32:03.919 --> 00:32:04.339
 and our

00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:04.639
 guilt,

00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:05.519
 this

00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.099
 spiritualistic

00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:06.799
 version can't

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.480
 deal with

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:07.980
 the reality

00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.259
 of our

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.939
 physical death

00:32:08.939 --> 00:32:09.339
 and decay.

00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:09.740
 It might

00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.019
 offer

00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.939
 escape,

00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.720
 but it

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.240
 doesn't offer

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.799
 redemption.

00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:13.940
 salvation.

00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:19.539
 And so

00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:19.919
 Paul says

00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:20.200
 in verse

00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:20.539
 19,

00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:20.819
 if in

00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:21.180
 Christ we

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.460
 have hope

00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:21.720
 in this

00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:22.159
 life only,

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:22.700
 we're of

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.019
 all people

00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:23.399
 most to

00:32:23.399 --> 00:32:23.940
 be pitied.

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.099
 If those

00:32:26.099 --> 00:32:26.440
 who believe

00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:26.859
 in Christ

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:27.799
 perish upon

00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.159
 death,

00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:28.659
 if Christianity

00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:29.000
 is nothing

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.519
 but a good

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:30.419
 way to

00:32:30.419 --> 00:32:30.819
 live in

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.119
 the here

00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:31.519
 and now,

00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:31.940
 then Paul

00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.359
 says we're

00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:32.740
 the most

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.659
 pitiable

00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:34.639
 people the

00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:35.180
 world has

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:35.819
 ever seen.

00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:38.119
 Not just

00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:38.579
 because we've

00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.139
 been deluded

00:32:39.139 --> 00:32:39.619
 and believed

00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:40.119
 a lie,

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.639
 but also

00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:42.200
 because we've

00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.899
 suffered hardship

00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.340
 in the faith

00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:43.880
 for nothing.

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:44.740
 We'll see

00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.060
 that a little

00:32:45.060 --> 00:32:45.480
 later in

00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:46.120
 chapter 15.

00:32:47.360 --> 00:32:48.000
 Because we've

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.580
 denied earthly

00:32:48.580 --> 00:32:49.140
 pleasures in

00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:49.420
 the faith

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.019
 for nothing.

00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.600
 We'll also

00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:51.080
 see that.

00:32:53.560 --> 00:32:53.960
 And perhaps

00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:54.360
 we've even

00:32:54.360 --> 00:32:54.920
 missed out on

00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.640
 finding something

00:32:55.640 --> 00:32:56.080
 or someone

00:32:56.080 --> 00:32:56.460
 else that

00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:56.880
 could have

00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:57.400
 rescued us

00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:57.840
 instead.

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:03.519
 Without the

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:03.880
 resurrection,

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.340
 our preaching

00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:04.840
 is in vain

00:33:04.840 --> 00:33:05.380
 and our faith

00:33:05.380 --> 00:33:05.900
 is in vain.

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.259
 And so,

00:33:10.380 --> 00:33:10.480
 friends,

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:10.920
 as we draw

00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.400
 these verses

00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:11.800
 together,

00:33:11.920 --> 00:33:12.300
 we see that

00:33:12.300 --> 00:33:12.720
 Christianity

00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:13.460
 without the

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:13.860
 resurrection

00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:14.680
 is indeed

00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:15.180
 empty.

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.839
 It's an

00:33:16.839 --> 00:33:17.700
 empty message

00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:18.640
 producing an

00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:19.240
 empty faith.

00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:19.620
 In other

00:33:19.620 --> 00:33:19.920
 words,

00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:20.779
 Christianity

00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:22.140
 stands or

00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:23.220
 falls with

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.779
 the reality

00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:24.160
 of the

00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:24.500
 resurrection.

00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:25.539
 Everything

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:27.539
 rides on

00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.339
 this.

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.759
 And that's

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.440
 a stark

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.259
 claim.

00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:38.039
 If you've

00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:38.539
 been exploring

00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.059
 Christianity

00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:39.759
 or you're just

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.360
 starting to

00:33:40.360 --> 00:33:41.039
 learn about it,

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:42.279
 this might

00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:42.879
 make Christianity

00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.420
 seem pretty

00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.240
 unattractive to

00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:44.440
 you,

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:44.740
 even.

00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.220
 I mean,

00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:48.539
 if it all

00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.379
 hangs on

00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:49.879
 this one

00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:50.319
 thing,

00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:50.700
 I mean,

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:51.559
 what if that

00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:52.079
 one thing

00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.740
 isn't actually

00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.240
 true?

00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:55.980
 If a

00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:56.759
 resurrectionless

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.279
 Christianity

00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:57.759
 ends up being

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.440
 futile,

00:33:58.639 --> 00:33:59.279
 why even

00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.319
 consider it?

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.319
 It seems like

00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:02.180
 a pretty risky

00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:03.039
 gamble to

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:03.420
 take.

00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:06.259
 why not

00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:06.800
 just stay

00:34:06.800 --> 00:34:07.100
 where you

00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:07.360
 are?

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:08.119
 Why risk

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:08.960
 jumping into

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.440
 something that

00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:09.740
 could end

00:34:09.740 --> 00:34:10.039
 up,

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:10.800
 without the

00:34:10.800 --> 00:34:11.159
 resurrection,

00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.599
 being totally

00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:13.159
 in vain?

00:34:18.200 --> 00:34:18.740
 Well, I

00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:19.159
 wonder if you'd

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.619
 be willing to

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:19.940
 think of it

00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:20.400
 this way.

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.619
 It is

00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:25.500
 true that a

00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.240
 resurrectionless

00:34:26.240 --> 00:34:27.440
 Christianity is

00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:27.780
 empty.

00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:31.980
 but friend,

00:34:32.560 --> 00:34:33.840
 is your

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:35.180
 resurrectionless

00:34:35.180 --> 00:34:35.980
 worldview

00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:37.620
 truly any

00:34:37.620 --> 00:34:37.860
 better?

00:34:42.540 --> 00:34:43.340
 If you think

00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:44.019
 hard about it,

00:34:44.080 --> 00:34:44.560
 isn't your

00:34:44.560 --> 00:34:45.600
 resurrectionless

00:34:45.600 --> 00:34:47.380
 belief not

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:48.260
 also, at the

00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:48.640
 end of the

00:34:48.640 --> 00:34:50.040
 day, a

00:34:50.040 --> 00:34:50.920
 vain thing?

00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:55.620
 What does it

00:34:55.620 --> 00:34:56.360
 really offer

00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:57.680
 you for your

00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:58.500
 greatest needs?

00:35:00.139 --> 00:35:00.960
 Maybe some

00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:03.500
 morals, but

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:03.980
 nothing to

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.359
 deal with

00:35:04.359 --> 00:35:04.839
 your guilt.

00:35:06.819 --> 00:35:07.599
 Maybe some

00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:08.059
 spirituality

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:10.559
 even, but

00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:11.019
 nothing that

00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.579
 really deals

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.259
 with death.

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.419
 If there's no

00:35:16.419 --> 00:35:16.899
 resurrection,

00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:17.399
 yes,

00:35:17.779 --> 00:35:18.159
 Christianity

00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:19.639
 is empty.

00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:21.379
 It doesn't

00:35:21.379 --> 00:35:21.919
 get you much

00:35:21.919 --> 00:35:22.480
 farther than

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:22.819
 your own

00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:23.719
 beliefs where

00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:24.599
 you are right

00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:24.919
 now.

00:35:27.679 --> 00:35:28.239
 But what

00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:28.579
 if it's

00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:29.059
 true?

00:35:32.279 --> 00:35:32.819
 What if

00:35:32.819 --> 00:35:33.579
 the claim

00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.239
 Christianity

00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:35.079
 offers, the

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.659
 claim of

00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:37.019
 resurrection, that

00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:37.859
 claim that's not

00:35:37.859 --> 00:35:38.659
 really on offer

00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:39.799
 anywhere else, what

00:35:39.799 --> 00:35:41.359
 if that claim is

00:35:41.359 --> 00:35:41.759
 true?

00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.159
 How would you

00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:46.699
 know if it's

00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:46.919
 true?

00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:48.219
 How would you

00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:48.899
 find out?

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.900
 what if it's

00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:49.920
 true?

00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:50.900
 What if it's

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:50.920
 true?

00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.559
 What if it's

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:51.920
 true?

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.760
 Well, friend, you'd

00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:53.160
 look at the

00:35:53.160 --> 00:35:53.639
 evidence.

00:35:54.860 --> 00:35:55.840
 Paul's been urging

00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:56.480
 us through this

00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:57.960
 whole paragraph to

00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:59.240
 use our brains and

00:35:59.240 --> 00:36:00.559
 to think, think about

00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:01.720
 the logic, think about

00:36:01.720 --> 00:36:02.400
 the implications.

00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:04.420
 And you know, we can

00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:05.660
 do the same thing with

00:36:05.660 --> 00:36:07.039
 the evidence for the

00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.180
 resurrection of Jesus.

00:36:10.180 --> 00:36:11.079
 After all, how do you

00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:12.440
 explain historically the

00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:12.920
 beginning of the

00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:13.539
 Christian movement?

00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:15.579
 Have you thought

00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.039
 about that?

00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:18.639
 Around 30 AD, a

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.639
 young Jewish rabbi was

00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.380
 crucified by the

00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.219
 Romans under charges

00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:22.059
 of treason, just like

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:22.739
 a lot of other young

00:36:22.739 --> 00:36:23.599
 Jewish rabbis have been

00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:24.739
 crucified around 30 AD

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.699
 for charges of treason

00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:26.320
 under the Romans.

00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:29.199
 It was sort of what

00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:29.619
 they did.

00:36:32.039 --> 00:36:33.579
 But why within months

00:36:33.579 --> 00:36:34.539
 of this particular

00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:36.139
 gruesome death was

00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:36.639
 there a growing

00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:37.679
 movement of devout

00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:38.619
 Jewish men and women

00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.360
 claiming that this

00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:41.259
 crucified rabbi was

00:36:41.259 --> 00:36:42.619
 now Israel's Messiah,

00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:43.679
 their king?

00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:46.839
 That is very strange,

00:36:47.179 --> 00:36:48.000
 you have to admit.

00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:50.099
 And why do these men

00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:50.739
 and women keep on

00:36:50.739 --> 00:36:51.899
 making this claim,

00:36:51.960 --> 00:36:52.639
 even though they face

00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.659
 increasing persecution

00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:54.500
 and death for making

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:54.739
 it?

00:36:55.359 --> 00:36:56.179
 And why, if the

00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.819
 religious authorities

00:36:56.819 --> 00:36:58.119
 are so offended by

00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:59.500
 this movement, why

00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.219
 don't they just go to

00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:01.279
 the gravesite, unearth

00:37:01.279 --> 00:37:02.219
 the body, and end the

00:37:02.219 --> 00:37:03.239
 controversy once and for

00:37:03.239 --> 00:37:03.500
 all?

00:37:04.179 --> 00:37:05.599
 And why is the language

00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.960
 that we find in the

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:08.079
 earliest Christian

00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:11.139
 documents not language

00:37:11.139 --> 00:37:12.219
 about how this once

00:37:12.219 --> 00:37:13.980
 crucified king, this

00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:15.379
 teacher they loved, was

00:37:15.379 --> 00:37:16.919
 now merely spiritually

00:37:16.919 --> 00:37:18.219
 present to God and to

00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:18.579
 their hearts?

00:37:18.699 --> 00:37:19.019
 No.

00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:20.500
 Why do they consistently

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:22.500
 the whole way down, as

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:23.699
 far as you can go in the

00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:25.119
 historical record, why do

00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:27.459
 they say that God raised

00:37:27.459 --> 00:37:29.639
 him bodily from the dead,

00:37:29.819 --> 00:37:31.539
 even when they knew, just

00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:33.719
 like us, that dead bodies

00:37:33.719 --> 00:37:35.019
 stay dead?

00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:36.959
 And even though they had

00:37:36.959 --> 00:37:38.579
 no prior expectation that

00:37:38.579 --> 00:37:39.919
 God would do anything

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.920
 like that.

00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:44.880
 Friends, have you

00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:48.180
 considered seriously the

00:37:48.180 --> 00:37:48.659
 evidence?

00:37:50.260 --> 00:37:52.220
 It's worth the time to

00:37:52.220 --> 00:37:53.000
 think it through.

00:37:53.800 --> 00:37:54.880
 Because if Christianity

00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:56.840
 without the resurrection is

00:37:56.840 --> 00:37:58.579
 to be pitied, and I grant

00:37:58.579 --> 00:38:01.300
 you that, isn't Christianity

00:38:01.300 --> 00:38:02.940
 with the resurrection

00:38:02.940 --> 00:38:05.840
 something to be envied?

00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:09.980
 Think of the preaching.

00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:13.300
 Here is a message of what

00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:15.400
 God has done in history, so

00:38:15.400 --> 00:38:17.440
 powerful, so new, so

00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:18.840
 life-changing, that the

00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:20.480
 only word they could think

00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:22.500
 of to put on it was the

00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:24.840
 gospel, the good news.

00:38:24.940 --> 00:38:26.460
 A message like nothing else

00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.000
 on offer.

00:38:27.780 --> 00:38:29.559
 A message of a God who came

00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:33.760
 in his own person and lived

00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:35.420
 and died for us to redeem

00:38:35.420 --> 00:38:36.860
 his fallen creation and

00:38:36.860 --> 00:38:38.180
 bring it back from exile

00:38:38.180 --> 00:38:38.960
 home to himself.

00:38:41.720 --> 00:38:42.540
 And not just the preaching,

00:38:42.680 --> 00:38:43.440
 think of the faith.

00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:45.560
 Here is actually the

00:38:45.560 --> 00:38:47.060
 forgiveness of sins.

00:38:49.760 --> 00:38:50.680
 Have you ever had one of

00:38:50.680 --> 00:38:52.960
 those dreams at the end of

00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.480
 a semester?

00:38:55.120 --> 00:38:56.500
 You just finished all your

00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:57.840
 exams, you're just done,

00:38:57.980 --> 00:38:59.220
 you're at your first day of

00:38:59.220 --> 00:39:00.500
 summer vacation, and you're

00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:02.040
 sleeping soundly, and what do

00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:02.739
 you dream of?

00:39:04.199 --> 00:39:05.900
 You still have a paper to

00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:06.199
 write.

00:39:06.460 --> 00:39:08.119
 You still have an exam that

00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:08.960
 needs to be written.

00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:11.199
 You're not done.

00:39:12.860 --> 00:39:14.279
 And all night you're just

00:39:14.279 --> 00:39:17.119
 aching, and it nags at you,

00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:18.840
 and it claws at your mind.

00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:21.519
 But then you wake up,

00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:24.960
 and it's summer.

00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:28.960
 Friends, isn't our sin the

00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:29.440
 same way?

00:39:31.240 --> 00:39:32.599
 That ache that follows you

00:39:32.599 --> 00:39:33.920
 around, that soul sickness

00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:35.480
 that never seems to go away,

00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:37.480
 that something still needs to

00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:38.920
 be done, that something still

00:39:38.920 --> 00:39:40.880
 needs to be paid, that

00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:42.059
 something still needs to be

00:39:42.059 --> 00:39:42.920
 put right.

00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:47.860
 Friends, here's the remedy

00:39:47.860 --> 00:39:50.500
 that you can wake up.

00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:54.480
 You can awaken to new

00:39:54.480 --> 00:39:55.740
 spiritual life, and your

00:39:55.740 --> 00:39:57.159
 conscience can be cleansed,

00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:58.480
 and your heart can be put

00:39:58.480 --> 00:39:59.599
 right with your creator.

00:40:01.619 --> 00:40:03.699
 Because Jesus died, and he

00:40:03.699 --> 00:40:05.739
 rose again to prove that it's

00:40:05.739 --> 00:40:07.699
 all been paid for you.

00:40:10.599 --> 00:40:11.819
 And not just the forgiveness

00:40:11.819 --> 00:40:14.039
 of sins, but even the defeat

00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:14.519
 of death.

00:40:16.399 --> 00:40:18.859
 Notice how tightly our passage

00:40:18.859 --> 00:40:20.859
 has tied together the

00:40:20.859 --> 00:40:22.279
 resurrection of Christ and the

00:40:22.279 --> 00:40:23.259
 resurrection of the dead.

00:40:23.260 --> 00:40:26.540
 It almost seems poor

00:40:26.540 --> 00:40:26.980
 writing.

00:40:27.060 --> 00:40:28.240
 Again and again, Paul says

00:40:28.240 --> 00:40:29.580
 it, verse 12, verse 13,

00:40:29.660 --> 00:40:31.140
 verse 15, verse 16, if

00:40:31.140 --> 00:40:32.200
 there's no resurrection of

00:40:32.200 --> 00:40:33.300
 the dead, then not even

00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:34.500
 Christ has been raised.

00:40:35.400 --> 00:40:36.460
 And you know, Paul isn't just

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:38.120
 making a logical point here,

00:40:38.200 --> 00:40:40.400
 but more, he's making a

00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:41.400
 theological point.

00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:43.100
 Actually, to be more

00:40:43.100 --> 00:40:44.060
 precise, he's making a

00:40:44.060 --> 00:40:45.520
 Christological point.

00:40:48.160 --> 00:40:50.020
 He's pointing to the fact that

00:40:50.019 --> 00:40:52.500
 what God has done in Jesus,

00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:55.400
 he will surely do for all

00:40:55.400 --> 00:40:57.019
 who are united to him in

00:40:57.019 --> 00:40:57.360
 faith.

00:40:58.139 --> 00:41:00.900
 What's true of one must be

00:41:00.900 --> 00:41:01.539
 true of the other.

00:41:01.820 --> 00:41:03.719
 So deeply so that if there's

00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:05.420
 no resurrection for those who

00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:06.320
 are in Christ, then not even

00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:07.440
 Christ has been raised.

00:41:10.759 --> 00:41:12.420
 Just as God broke the bars of

00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:13.840
 death for his own son, so he

00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:16.159
 will break the bars of death for

00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:17.279
 all who trust in his son.

00:41:19.819 --> 00:41:21.099
 God's not going to let death

00:41:21.099 --> 00:41:22.000
 have the final words.

00:41:22.460 --> 00:41:23.719
 And those who die in Christ

00:41:23.719 --> 00:41:25.000
 will rise with him when God

00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:26.099
 makes all things new.

00:41:29.799 --> 00:41:30.960
 Friends, the resurrection is

00:41:31.859 --> 00:41:32.279
 essential.

00:41:33.420 --> 00:41:35.359
 It is the key ingredient.

00:41:35.539 --> 00:41:37.259
 Without it, everything is in

00:41:37.259 --> 00:41:37.539
 vain.

00:41:37.879 --> 00:41:39.119
 And yes, we are most to be

00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:43.440
 pitied, but with it, with it,

00:41:43.440 --> 00:41:47.900
 it's all that your heart has

00:41:47.900 --> 00:41:48.700
 been looking for.

00:41:52.380 --> 00:41:55.159
 How can some of you say there

00:41:55.159 --> 00:41:57.539
 is no resurrection of the

00:41:57.539 --> 00:41:57.800
 dead?

00:41:59.619 --> 00:42:01.320
 Christ has been raised.

00:42:03.099 --> 00:42:05.059
 And we will be with him.

00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:06.599
 Let's pray.

00:42:06.599 --> 00:42:14.539
 Lord, we ask one thing this

00:42:14.539 --> 00:42:14.839
 morning.

00:42:16.259 --> 00:42:17.980
 That the reality of the

00:42:17.980 --> 00:42:20.579
 resurrection, that its

00:42:20.579 --> 00:42:26.860
 essential nature, that its

00:42:26.860 --> 00:42:29.259
 greatness and its goodness

00:42:29.259 --> 00:42:32.579
 would be impressed upon our

00:42:32.579 --> 00:42:33.119
 hearts.

00:42:33.119 --> 00:42:37.000
 Lord, if there are any here who

00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:40.000
 are seeking you and unsure

00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:43.420
 about religious things, would

00:42:43.420 --> 00:42:45.199
 you open their minds to at

00:42:45.199 --> 00:42:50.059
 least explore this reality, to

00:42:50.059 --> 00:42:51.139
 give it a chance?

00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:56.099
 For those of us who are

00:42:56.099 --> 00:42:57.279
 believers in you, help this

00:42:57.279 --> 00:42:58.719
 truth to sink more deeply into

00:42:58.719 --> 00:43:00.259
 our hearts and produce love and

00:43:00.259 --> 00:43:01.000
 hope and joy.

00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:04.079
 And help us, Father, as a

00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:07.340
 community, to be a people of

00:43:07.340 --> 00:43:10.199
 the resurrection, to hold fast

00:43:10.199 --> 00:43:13.960
 to our hope, and to be

00:43:13.960 --> 00:43:15.019
 confident to the end.

00:43:15.380 --> 00:43:16.760
 We ask this in Jesus' name.

00:43:17.139 --> 00:43:17.460
 Amen.