WEBVTT

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 God is.

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 So today, God is spirit.

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 They're the words that Jesus said, aren't they?

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 John 4, 24.

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 He's speaking with a woman in the middle of a very hot day in Samaria at a well.

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 It's a place that Jewish people didn't normally go to visit.

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 They kind of avoided it, but Jesus deliberately goes to that place.

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 It's full of people that weren't kosher.

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 The Jewish people thought that Samaritans, they were mixed breeds.

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 They had no time for them.

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 They were people that were sort of Jewish, but not really.

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 And Jesus has this conversation with a woman who's there in the middle of the day because of her shame.

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 And Jesus makes this statement in verse 24, God is spirit.

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 God is spirit.

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 So Jesus said it, and so we believe it.

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 And that settles it.

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 But what does it mean?

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 If Jesus said it, it must be true.

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 It must be important.

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 But what does it mean that God is spirit?

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 And so what I want to do this morning is talk about what it means that God is spirit and what it means for us.

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 Three things on that first point.

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 What does it mean?

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 God is, first of all, the original uncreated spirit.

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 He's the original uncreated spirit.

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 There are other spirits.

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 God is not the only spirit.

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 According to the Bible, angels are spirits.

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 We have spirits.

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 You and I have human bodies.

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 And we have spirits as well as bodies.

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 We are not just bodies, are we?

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 Angels are created.

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 And we are created.

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 We're not uncreated.

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 But God, in contrast, God is uncreated.

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 You and I were born into existence.

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 And we were born, angels were created.

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 There was a time when angels didn't exist.

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 God made them, but nobody made God.

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 There has never been a time when God did not exist.

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 Have you thought about that?

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 I remember thinking about that when I was a little boy.

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 And I've tried to think about it this week.

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 And it blows my mind.

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 My mind can't cope with it.

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 My mind can't comprehend something that didn't have a beginning.

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 If you try to think about it now, it's impossible.

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 It's impossible for us to comprehend.

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 But it's not impossible for it to be true.

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 Because it is true.

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 It is true of God.

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 God has no beginning.

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 God owes his existence to nobody else.

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 You and I, we owe our existence under God to our parents.

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 God owes his existence to nobody.

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 So there are other spirits.

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 Angels are spirits.

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 We have spirits.

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 But God is unique.

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 There's nobody like him.

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 He is the uncreated, original spirit.

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 In the letter of Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 9, he's called the father of spirits.

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 In other words, he is the one who created all spirits.

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 And so that's the first thing Jesus is saying when he says God is spirit.

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 He's saying God is the original uncreated spirit from whom all other spirits come.

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 Secondly, when Jesus says God is spirit, he's telling us that God has no body.

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 God has nothing material, physical about him at all.

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 Do you remember the time after Jesus' resurrection when he appears to his disciples after the resurrection?

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 It's Luke chapter 24 and verse 39.

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 And they're gathered in a room and they are confused.

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 They're really discouraged.

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 And Jesus appears in the middle of them.

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 And he stands with them in the middle of the room.

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 And in the conversation, he asks for something to eat.

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 Why did he do that?

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 He was hungry.

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 Well, yes.

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 But he did that to prove to them and to you and I that he was really risen.

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 He was bodily risen from the dead.

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 He said to them this.

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 He said, a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.

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 So Jesus is saying he wasn't just spirit.

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 But he is telling us there, isn't it, what a spirit is.

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 A spirit does not have flesh and bones.

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 A spirit has nothing physical about it.

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 God has no body.

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 And so we must banish and put away in our thoughts any thinking that God has bodily parts like you and I do.

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 He has no limbs.

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 He has no head.

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 He has no face.

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 He has no inner organs.

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 Nothing of that kind.

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 He is spirit, as Jesus says.

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 Now that is very difficult, isn't it?

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 Difficult for you and I to really get our minds around.

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 And to think of God in that way because we don't really know what a spirit is.

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 But it's clear from scripture, from that verse in Luke 24 and elsewhere, that a spirit has nothing physical.

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 Nothing material about it at all.

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 That's what God is.

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 God is spirit.

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 So when the Bible speaks of God's hands, as it does, and speaks of his fingers, and speaks of his arm, and speaks of his eyes, and speaks of his heart,

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 the Bible uses all those terms, doesn't it, about God.

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 You don't have to look very far to find the Bible using those terms about God.

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 What is it doing?

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 The Bible is using human terms to tell us something true about God, but it's not speaking literally.

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 We're not to think literally that God has a hand, or that God has an arm.

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 We say Jesus is seated at the right hand of God.

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 We're not to literally think that there's a massive great arm in heaven that Jesus is sitting by.

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 The Bible speaks about God's eyes searching us and searching the earth.

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 And we're not to think literally of God with eyes.

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 What the Bible means when it uses that kind of language is that God's arm is his strength.

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 It's talking about his strength and his power.

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 When it talks of his fingers, it is talking about the intricacy of how he made us.

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 It's talking about his skill in creation.

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 When it talks about God's hand, it's talking about God's action.

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 It's saying God is at work.

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 Or when it speaks of God's eyes, it's speaking of his knowledge of what's happening, his knowledge of us.

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 When it speaks of God's heart, it speaks of his plans and intentions and so on.

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 And so when you read those things in the Bible, don't take them absolutely literally true.

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 And think, well, God has those things.

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 He has a kind of massive eye like Sauron.

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 But understand, the Bible is using those terms to speak to us in ways that we can understand.

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 God is a spirit.

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 He doesn't actually have physical properties.

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 Neither does he, strictly speaking, have feelings in the way that we do.

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 Feelings belong to the body, don't they?

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 And when you love somebody, when you hate something, it produces a feeling in you because you're physical.

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 Because you've got a body.

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 The feeling you have when you love someone, that feeling is not actually the essence of love.

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 I hope you understand that love is much more than a feeling.

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 I know a lot of people talk about love just as a feeling.

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 And so sometimes people come to see me and they say, well, I don't feel like I love my wife anymore.

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 I want to say to them, I couldn't get less.

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 Love is not feelings.

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 And if you lose your feelings, you think, well, I've lost my love.

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 You realize that's nonsense, isn't it?

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 Love is much deeper.

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 Love is much richer.

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 Love is much more solid than a feeling.

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 Love is much more solid than a feeling.

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 We have feelings because we love others.

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 And we have those feelings because we have bodies.

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 The physical part of us produces those feelings.

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 But God does not have a body.

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 And so he does not have feelings in the way that we have them.

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 Now, that doesn't mean that he doesn't love, of course.

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 It doesn't mean that God doesn't show mercy or hate sin or pity us in our difficulties.

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 But when we think of God in these terms, strictly in relation to God, we are talking about something greater, richer, deeper than just feelings.

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 When we talk, when we read about God's love, what we're saying is, what the Bible is saying, God has this settled determination within him.

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 This absolute determination that he is going to do you good.

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 That's what love is.

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 And he's going to do good for his people.

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 And God loves his church.

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 And he has a love for those for whom he died.

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 And that love indicates to us, if you are a Christian this morning, that should give you great comfort and satisfaction in the knowledge that whatever happens,

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 if you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's settled determination is that he is for you.

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 That's what Romans 8 is teaching us.

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 He is for you.

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 And all that happens is under God's control and authority.

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 And ultimately, however horrible it may seem this morning, God is saying, ultimately, this will work out for your good.

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 And I don't say that lightly.

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 Because it's not just about feelings.

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 It's much deeper and richer than that.

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 When I say that God does not have feelings, you must not jump in your mind to think, oh, well, Paul is saying that God must be like a stone.

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 That God is cold.

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 It's quite the opposite.

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 God's love burns eternally and infinitely for his people.

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 Just as his righteousness results in terrible judgment.

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 He has an eternal hatred of sin.

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 And so when Jesus says God is spirit, we're saying that he is the original uncreated spirit.

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 But we're saying he does not have a body like we do.

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 Thirdly, it tells us, the Bible tells us that he is invisible.

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 That clearly follows, isn't it?

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 If you haven't got a body,

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 if you don't have any physical parts,

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 then you can't be perceived.

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 You can't be seen by us.

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 The Bible tells you very, very clearly that God is invisible.

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 And Colossians chapter 1 verse 15 speaks of the invisible God.

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 It uses that expression.

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 1 Timothy 1 verse 17, when Paul is in a doxology praising God,

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 he says, God is the king of the ages, immortal.

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 That means he will never die.

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 Invisible.

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 So he can't be seen.

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 And so God can't be perceived by human sense at all.

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 God can't be seen.

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 God can't be touched.

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 God can't be tasted.

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 There is no way in which we can physically perceive God.

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 The Bible says in John chapter 1 and verse 18,

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 no man has seen God.

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 Why?

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 Because he's invisible.

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 Because he is spirit.

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 Now if you read your Bible,

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 you've got some questions in your mind,

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 you think, well, what about those times in the Old Testament

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 when God appeared?

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 So in the Garden of Eden, we're told that God walked with Adam in the cool of the day.

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 Adam is obviously able to see him in some way.

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 Or think of Abraham.

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 If you read Genesis 18 really carefully,

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 you can see that those men met God and they gave him a meal.

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 That was the Lord.

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 Or Joshua, at the beginning of the book of Joshua,

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 meets the commander of the Lord's army,

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 and it's very clear that he's met the Lord himself.

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 What's happening there?

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 Paul, you're saying that God is invisible,

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 but in those instances, it's clear God appears to people,

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 and he can be seen.

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 What's happening?

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 Well, yes, God appears.

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 He takes on, in those cases, a human appearance,

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 a human form.

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 Not in the way that Jesus did when he was born, of course,

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 as a baby, as a true human being,

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 but God takes on a human form so that he can be seen.

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 But in himself, he is invisible.

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 They are simply appearances of God.

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 They are simply a form that God takes for those purposes.

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 The Lord takes a form for those purposes,

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 to speak and deal with individuals at that particular time.

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 But it's not how he truly is.

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 It's not how he really is.

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 God is truly invisible and cannot be seen.

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 He is the original uncreated spirit.

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 He has no bodily parts.

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 He has no body, and he is invisible.

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 And then fourthly and finally on this,

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 we need to say this, don't we?

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 Jesus Christ, who is God,

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 became flesh,

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 became human.

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 And so fourthly,

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 Jesus Christ has revealed God to us.

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 So I quoted that verse from John 1

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 that I mentioned a moment ago,

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 no one has seen God.

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 No one has seen God.

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 At any time, okay, he's invisible,

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 but then it goes on to say, isn't it,

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 but the only begotten?

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 Jesus Christ has declared him.

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 Jesus Christ came into this world

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 to show us God.

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 He reveals God to us

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 in a way that has not been revealed before.

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 The Old Testament tells us about God.

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 It tells us who God is.

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 It tells us what he's like.

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 It tells us a great deal about him.

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 But now, Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

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 has come into our world

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 to show us what God is like,

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 to switch the lights on.

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 And he shows us what God is like

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 in the way that he lived,

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 in the things that he did.

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 He is God made flesh.

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 He's God become flesh.

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 He has taken on,

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 added to himself,

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 a human nature for our sakes.

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 He is the final revelation of God to us.

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 You will not find anything more about God

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 than you find in Jesus Christ.

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 And so, other religions,

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 there's no point in looking to them

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 because they will not tell you the truth

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 there may be elements of truth in them,

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 but there's a great deal of false.

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 But they will tell you nothing

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 that you will not find in Jesus Christ.

00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.240
 Philosophy, your own reason,

00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.019
 your experiences,

00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:13.600
 none of those things will add

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.100
 to what you will find about God in Jesus Christ.

00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:20.120
 In fact, they're likely to lead you astray

00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.220
 and they will deceive you.

00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:23.319
 And so, if you want to know what God is like,

00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:24.779
 you look at Jesus Christ.

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:27.179
 And you look at him

00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:28.840
 as he is revealed to us in the scriptures.

00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:33.980
 Do not think that you need a vision of Jesus

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:36.200
 or dreams about Jesus.

00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:38.000
 Now, I know some of you have had that.

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:41.439
 And I know that God can use those things

00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:44.080
 to bring you to himself amazingly.

00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.879
 I don't deny that.

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.860
 But the Bible's really clear.

00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:50.700
 If you want to know what God is like,

00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:52.799
 you read about Jesus Christ in the scriptures,

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.819
 in the gospels,

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.740
 as he's prophesied in the Old Testament,

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:59.279
 as the apostles speak to him,

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:01.019
 speak of him in their letters,

00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.380
 they read the scriptures

00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:06.740
 and what they teach you about Jesus

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:09.160
 because in Jesus you see God

00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:12.799
 because Christ has become,

00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:14.559
 has been made flesh.

00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:17.159
 And so you look at Jesus

00:17:17.159 --> 00:17:17.700
 and what do you see?

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.279
 You see his love.

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.879
 You read the gospels and you see his love.

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:22.240
 You go to this story in John 4

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:26.059
 and you'll see that Jesus wants to do her good.

00:17:26.159 --> 00:17:27.139
 She comes to the well.

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:29.579
 He's got no reason to talk to her.

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:32.039
 In fact, in that culture,

00:17:32.159 --> 00:17:33.819
 for a man to talk to a Jewish woman

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.899
 who's got a pretty shady past,

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:38.279
 it was unthinkable in lots of ways.

00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:39.700
 But he does speak with her.

00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.420
 He cares for her.

00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:40.700
 Why?

00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.740
 Because he wants to do her good.

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:46.279
 And that tells you something about God this morning.

00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:47.579
 Whoever you are,

00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:49.240
 however low you may feel this morning,

00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:53.359
 however you might feel that others in this room

00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:54.579
 take no notice of you

00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:58.519
 or want nothing to do with you

00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:02.180
 or no one can help you in your problems,

00:18:02.619 --> 00:18:03.920
 that's not true of Jesus Christ.

00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:07.960
 Jesus cares for you as he cared for this woman.

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.539
 And he wants to do you good.

00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:11.660
 And that tells you something about God.

00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:13.259
 It tells you that God cares for you.

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:15.099
 That whatever others may think,

00:18:16.099 --> 00:18:18.539
 however others may feel about you,

00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:19.680
 makes no difference

00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.980
 because God cares for you

00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:22.259
 and he wants to do you good

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:24.480
 if you will listen to him and respond to him.

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.759
 And so as you read the gospels,

00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.980
 we see, don't we, again and again,

00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:30.099
 Christ's compassion

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:31.879
 for those who are in trouble

00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:32.839
 and in life's difficulties.

00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.359
 For those who are ill.

00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:37.599
 For those who have children

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.579
 where there just seems to be

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:40.039
 no answer for their condition.

00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.480
 For those who are struggling

00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.779
 and battle with anxiety.

00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:45.000
 For those who are weighed down with sin.

00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.639
 How does Christ deal with them?

00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:48.079
 He pities them.

00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:50.500
 And he shows compassion to them.

00:18:51.199 --> 00:18:52.740
 For those who are weighed down

00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:54.099
 with guilt and sin.

00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:58.319
 He shows love to them.

00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:01.819
 And when he sees the crowds,

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:04.000
 when he's exhausted,

00:19:04.399 --> 00:19:05.079
 do you know what it's like

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.079
 to be exhausted, isn't it?

00:19:06.159 --> 00:19:06.819
 When you're tired.

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.359
 If you're anything like me,

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:11.539
 when you're really tired

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.299
 and you're really exhausted,

00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:13.099
 you don't want to see anyone.

00:19:14.179 --> 00:19:15.299
 You want to kind of disappear

00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:16.720
 into a screen or a book.

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.919
 You want to be on your own and recover.

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.720
 But when Jesus is in that condition,

00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:22.159
 when he's absolutely spent,

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:23.939
 he's had a day full of people

00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.539
 and ministry.

00:19:26.120 --> 00:19:27.519
 He'd taken off from his disciples

00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:28.259
 to be alone.

00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:30.039
 And suddenly the crowds

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.960
 find out where he is

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.640
 and they come.

00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:33.340
 And the Bible says,

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.460
 when he saw these crowds

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.559
 as an exhausted man,

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.600
 this is how he responded.

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.600
 He didn't say,

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.620
 oh, good grief.

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.340
 I need to get away

00:19:39.340 --> 00:19:39.840
 from these people.

00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:42.480
 It says he had compassion on them.

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.000
 He felt for them.

00:19:45.100 --> 00:19:46.220
 He looked at this crowd

00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:47.559
 when he's absolutely spent

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:47.940
 and he says,

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:48.840
 they are like sheep

00:19:48.840 --> 00:19:49.740
 without a shepherd.

00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:52.200
 And they had nobody

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.000
 to provide for them.

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.660
 nowhere else to go.

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.740
 And so he is kind,

00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.160
 doesn't he?

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:03.400
 This woman in John chapter 4,

00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.259
 go home and read it.

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.440
 Read between the lines.

00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:07.200
 It's obvious that Jesus

00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.180
 could have ignored her.

00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.240
 He could have brushed her off.

00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.640
 But he's kind to her.

00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:12.900
 He speaks gently with her.

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.940
 He wants to help her.

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.319
 And you see that all the way

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:17.099
 through the Gospels.

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.700
 And you want to know

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.539
 what God is like?

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.099
 God is kind.

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.119
 Again,

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.619
 this morning,

00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:25.160
 you might feel

00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.920
 you're very down

00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.799
 and you're very low.

00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.420
 And you might feel,

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:30.559
 well,

00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.400
 nobody's helping me.

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:34.039
 Well,

00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:35.720
 God is kind.

00:20:37.140 --> 00:20:38.420
 And if you will come to him,

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.299
 you will find

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:40.619
 that he is a kind God

00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.559
 who will help you

00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:43.460
 in a way that you cannot imagine

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.539
 or get from anyone else.

00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:47.539
 you see Christ's righteousness.

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.700
 You see,

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:51.000
 Jesus in the Gospels angry.

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:54.119
 He's angry with religious hypocrisy.

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.039
 He's angry with those

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.579
 in the temple

00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:56.700
 who are using

00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:57.579
 kind of God's house

00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:58.200
 to make money.

00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.599
 They are defiling

00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:01.759
 the place of God's holiness.

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.460
 They're using

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.399
 what is for God.

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.700
 They come to a place of worship

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.399
 and they turn it

00:21:07.399 --> 00:21:08.359
 into a way of making money.

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:09.980
 And Jesus has got

00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.240
 some very strong things

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.159
 to say to people like that.

00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:14.800
 He's angry with them

00:21:14.800 --> 00:21:16.100
 because he is righteous and holy.

00:21:17.800 --> 00:21:19.000
 We see Jesus weeping

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.860
 over the city of Jerusalem

00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:21.060
 because of their hardness of heart

00:21:21.060 --> 00:21:22.259
 and their refusal to trust him.

00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:25.080
 And we see him at a graveside

00:21:25.080 --> 00:21:27.200
 going to a friend's grave

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.880
 and weeping bitter tears

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.000
 and he loves

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.700
 the bereaved family.

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.860
 And even though he knows

00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.620
 he's going to raise

00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:36.420
 the dead man from the grave,

00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:38.860
 he sees his friends grieving

00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:39.940
 and he weeps with them.

00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:42.220
 And maybe this morning

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.980
 you've been bereaved

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:44.120
 and you've lost someone you love

00:21:44.120 --> 00:21:44.960
 and Jesus knows

00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:46.140
 and he has compassion

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.940
 with you

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:48.259
 if you will come to him.

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.960
 And he will provide comfort

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.720
 and help to you.

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.320
 In all of this,

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.880
 what I'm trying to get through to you

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:56.299
 is this.

00:21:57.340 --> 00:21:58.940
 We are seeing God

00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:00.420
 as we see Jesus

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.059
 in the scriptures.

00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:05.279
 And if you're a Christian,

00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:08.039
 if you're a believer this morning,

00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:12.019
 one day our hope is to see God,

00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:12.440
 isn't it?

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:14.000
 It's what the Bible tells us.

00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:17.299
 One day we will see God.

00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:20.000
 1 Corinthians 3 verse 2,

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.379
 we shall see him as he is.

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.799
 Sorry, 1 John 3, 2.

00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:25.259
 1 Corinthians 13, 12

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.720
 says we will see him face to face

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:30.539
 and I will be known

00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.500
 as I am known.

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:34.059
 But I've taught you

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.779
 that God is invisible.

00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:35.839
 So who will we see?

00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:38.000
 We will see Jesus.

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.759
 There's not some God

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.539
 hiding behind Jesus.

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.380
 No, when we see Christ,

00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.220
 we see God.

00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.240
 Jesus himself said,

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.539
 doesn't it,

00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.339
 he who has seen me

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.019
 has seen the Father.

00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:55.180
 And in glory,

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:55.779
 we will see

00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:58.680
 Jesus Christ,

00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.599
 God in his fullness.

00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.639
 God is a spirit

00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:01.259
 without body,

00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:01.959
 without parts,

00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:03.259
 without passions,

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.639
 as the old confession puts it.

00:23:04.939 --> 00:23:05.659
 He is invisible.

00:23:06.699 --> 00:23:08.259
 But he's revealed himself to us

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.240
 fully and finally

00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.059
 in the Lord Jesus,

00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.839
 the incarnate Son of God.

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.579
 Now what does this mean?

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.279
 Three things

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.379
 that it means.

00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:18.819
 First of all,

00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.179
 it means this.

00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.059
 It means that you and I

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:21.919
 can begin to understand ourselves.

00:23:24.219 --> 00:23:25.359
 And we need to know

00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.399
 this about God

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:29.740
 so that we understand ourselves.

00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:32.500
 People today

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.560
 in the city in which we live,

00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.680
 they don't understand themselves.

00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:38.860
 You have this problem like me,

00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:39.180
 I think,

00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:39.960
 that there are times

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:41.259
 when we do something

00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:43.460
 that we are absolutely shocked by.

00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.800
 Or we find ourselves

00:23:45.800 --> 00:23:46.759
 saying something

00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.820
 and we find,

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.340
 I don't even understand myself.

00:23:51.340 --> 00:23:52.360
 What makes me tick?

00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:55.379
 We don't understand ourselves

00:23:55.379 --> 00:23:56.199
 and so much of our problems

00:23:56.199 --> 00:23:56.819
 but actually

00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:58.379
 in our culture today,

00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:59.399
 if you go to school

00:23:59.399 --> 00:24:00.099
 or college,

00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.879
 you'll come up against this.

00:24:01.939 --> 00:24:02.619
 It'll be the same

00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:04.199
 with people in work.

00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:05.500
 They think of themselves

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.319
 just as bodies.

00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.199
 Nothing more.

00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:11.099
 We said at the beginning,

00:24:11.199 --> 00:24:12.039
 we are spirits

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.859
 as well as bodies.

00:24:15.719 --> 00:24:16.839
 People tend not to believe that.

00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:17.419
 They think of themselves

00:24:17.419 --> 00:24:17.919
 as bodies

00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:19.479
 and just chemicals,

00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:20.279
 physical properties.

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:24.000
 And if you press them

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.759
 and drive them

00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.480
 to the conclusion,

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.680
 they may well say,

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.379
 well, everything you feel,

00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.059
 everything you do,

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.079
 it's really the result

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:30.019
 of a chemical reaction

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:32.839
 and a kind of electric phenomenon.

00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:35.019
 The physical effects

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.579
 on your body,

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.759
 the elements that make up

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.019
 your body

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:38.160
 can be explained in that way.

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.480
 But if that is true,

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.440
 that's really depressing.

00:24:42.899 --> 00:24:43.359
 And in fact,

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.259
 no one really actually

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:44.899
 lives like that.

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:49.339
 If that's all you are,

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.059
 there's no reason

00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:50.879
 for you to do anything good.

00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:52.720
 Because what does

00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.480
 good or evil mean

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:55.139
 if we're just a collection

00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:55.839
 of chemicals

00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.899
 or electrical impulses?

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.579
 You've got nothing

00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:59.059
 to hope for.

00:24:59.159 --> 00:25:00.099
 Hope makes no sense

00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:01.119
 if you're just a bundle

00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:02.019
 of physical particles.

00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.199
 Life has no meaning

00:25:04.199 --> 00:25:04.939
 or no significance

00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:05.839
 if that's all we are.

00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:06.519
 If you're just

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.519
 a chemistry experiment,

00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:08.939
 well,

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:09.559
 what's the point?

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.879
 But in fact,

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.799
 everybody knows

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.419
 that that's not true,

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:13.720
 don't they?

00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:13.779
 Okay.

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.259
 In fact,

00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:17.859
 as you listen to me,

00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.000
 you think,

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.179
 no,

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.099
 that can't be true.

00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:21.399
 You have plans.

00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.199
 You are able

00:25:22.199 --> 00:25:22.859
 to say to yourself,

00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:23.519
 I have hopes.

00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:23.959
 There are things

00:25:23.959 --> 00:25:24.480
 that I want to do.

00:25:24.539 --> 00:25:24.879
 There are people

00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:25.379
 I want to meet.

00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:26.859
 There are things

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:27.339
 I want to see.

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.240
 There are things

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.879
 I want to achieve

00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:29.459
 in life.

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.480
 There is good

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.139
 and there is evil

00:25:32.139 --> 00:25:32.720
 and you know it.

00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:34.879
 And you know

00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:35.419
 that there are things

00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:35.859
 that are good.

00:25:35.959 --> 00:25:36.339
 You know that there are

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.319
 things that you ought to do

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.559
 and you don't always do them.

00:25:39.659 --> 00:25:40.099
 But you know

00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.799
 you ought to do them.

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:42.839
 And there are things

00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.179
 that you know

00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:43.859
 that you should not do

00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.699
 but you end up doing them.

00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:48.519
 You are more than chemicals.

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.299
 What are you?

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.619
 Well, you are spirit

00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:51.240
 as well as body.

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.240
 There is more to you.

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.240
 There is more to you

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:57.119
 than just your physical components.

00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:59.079
 You are made,

00:25:59.139 --> 00:25:59.740
 the Bible tells you,

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.539
 in the image of God.

00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.859
 And what that means

00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:04.099
 is not that physically

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:05.420
 we look like God,

00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:05.900
 not at all.

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:06.400
 No,

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:06.900
 our spirits,

00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.579
 in our spirits,

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.879
 we have a resemblance to God.

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.940
 And that resemblance

00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:11.700
 has been spoiled

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.599
 and it has been ruined

00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:13.139
 by our sin

00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:13.599
 but nevertheless

00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.759
 it remains to some extent.

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.279
 We are made

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.980
 in the image of God

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.980
 and we have spirits.

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.079
 You have spirits.

00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.119
 That's why you think

00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.019
 some things are good

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:23.079
 and some things are evil,

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.140
 some things are right

00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.980
 and some things are wrong.

00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.319
 Because you have

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.259
 this resemblance to God

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.259
 who is the source

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.039
 of all good

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:30.460
 and who opposes all evil.

00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:31.920
 And that's why

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.619
 you can be happy

00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:34.000
 and why you can be miserable

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:35.640
 and why you can love

00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.099
 some things

00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:36.900
 and hate other things.

00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.559
 That's why you can be

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.339
 very content

00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.019
 and peaceful

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.000
 and it's why you can be

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.440
 agitated in your spirit.

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:44.960
 because your spirit is real.

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.600
 And that's your experience.

00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:51.539
 That's why you can say

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:51.960
 I.

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.720
 That's why you can say

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.600
 that you know

00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:56.240
 that you exist

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.740
 in distinction

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.360
 from other people.

00:26:58.340 --> 00:26:59.160
 You have a sense

00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.420
 that you are you

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.960
 because you have a spirit.

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:03.240
 It is not just

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.059
 physical chemicals

00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:04.580
 and so on.

00:27:05.640 --> 00:27:06.920
 You wouldn't have that sense.

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.420
 You are conscious

00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:11.140
 of yourself.

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:12.880
 You are spirit

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.259
 as well as body

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.900
 because you are made

00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:15.520
 in the image of God.

00:27:17.280 --> 00:27:17.940
 So we need

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:19.020
 this truth about God

00:27:19.020 --> 00:27:19.740
 to help us understand

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.320
 ourselves

00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:21.700
 that we're spirits.

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:25.180
 We are like God

00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:26.080
 although we're very different

00:27:26.080 --> 00:27:27.220
 from him

00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.860
 in many senses

00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:28.820
 but in that sense

00:27:28.820 --> 00:27:29.360
 we are like him.

00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:29.900
 We have a spirit

00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.460
 as well as a body.

00:27:30.560 --> 00:27:30.940
 Now number two

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:32.320
 we need to understand this

00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:33.300
 to understand our sin.

00:27:36.280 --> 00:27:37.440
 Can you see that sin

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.120
 disobedience

00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:39.300
 begins inside of us?

00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:41.660
 If you like

00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.420
 in our spirits

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:44.440
 sin is not just

00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.040
 a matter of doing

00:27:45.040 --> 00:27:45.560
 wrong things.

00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.460
 Sometimes we think that

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:46.780
 don't we?

00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:47.320
 Telling lies

00:27:47.320 --> 00:27:48.040
 committing adultery

00:27:48.040 --> 00:27:48.860
 those are things

00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.180
 that we do

00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:49.960
 with our bodies.

00:27:50.540 --> 00:27:51.000
 They are sin

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.780
 but if we understand

00:27:51.780 --> 00:27:52.820
 what we're thinking

00:27:52.820 --> 00:27:53.380
 about this morning

00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:54.200
 we'll see these things

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.680
 begin within us.

00:27:56.020 --> 00:27:57.480
 They don't start

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.140
 with our bodies.

00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.180
 They start in our spirits.

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.060
 It's why Jesus says

00:28:01.060 --> 00:28:02.640
 out of the heart

00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:04.220
 comes evil thoughts

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:04.520
 murder

00:28:04.520 --> 00:28:05.300
 adultery

00:28:05.300 --> 00:28:06.020
 sexual immorality

00:28:06.020 --> 00:28:06.440
 theft

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.400
 false witnesses

00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.060
 lying

00:28:08.060 --> 00:28:08.580
 slander.

00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.460
 They're actions.

00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:11.780
 That is described

00:28:11.780 --> 00:28:12.440
 in those lists.

00:28:15.840 --> 00:28:16.780
 It's a list of things

00:28:16.780 --> 00:28:17.440
 that we do

00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.380
 but they come

00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:18.820
 from the heart.

00:28:20.540 --> 00:28:21.240
 And when he says

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.920
 heart he doesn't mean

00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.640
 internal organ

00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:23.500
 that pumps blood around.

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.660
 He means your inner self.

00:28:27.340 --> 00:28:28.400
 He means your spirit.

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.880
 That's where those evil

00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:31.460
 actions and thoughts

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:31.900
 come from.

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.740
 And God sees all that

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.560
 because God is spirit.

00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.880
 And if your spirit is wrong

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.860
 and God is a spirit

00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:40.740
 he sees our spirit

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:43.080
 and he looks within us

00:28:43.080 --> 00:28:44.220
 and he sees us clearly

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:45.140
 exactly as we are.

00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:47.620
 Not just in what we do

00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:49.040
 but in our thoughts

00:28:49.040 --> 00:28:50.420
 in our plans

00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.200
 in our imaginations

00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:51.780
 in our desires

00:28:51.780 --> 00:28:52.420
 and it's not difficult

00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:52.920
 for him to see.

00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:54.980
 It's not a problem for him.

00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:56.060
 We are laid bare

00:28:56.060 --> 00:28:56.660
 before him.

00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:58.920
 It's what the psalmist

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.540
 said isn't it?

00:28:59.580 --> 00:29:00.580
 You discern my thoughts

00:29:00.580 --> 00:29:01.260
 from afar.

00:29:02.040 --> 00:29:02.520
 It's not difficult

00:29:02.520 --> 00:29:03.020
 for God to do.

00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:05.020
 He can see what you're

00:29:05.020 --> 00:29:05.540
 thinking now.

00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:06.240
 He can see how bored

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:06.700
 you are now.

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.740
 It's not a problem for him.

00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:10.319
 David says in that same

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.140
 word doesn't he?

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.099
 He says even before

00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.980
 a word is on my tongue

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.880
 Lord you know it completely.

00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.660
 How does he know that?

00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.700
 How does he know that?

00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.480
 Well he knows the future.

00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.240
 He knows everything

00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:21.839
 that's going to happen

00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:22.620
 but it's more than that.

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.240
 David is saying

00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.039
 he knows your spirit.

00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.279
 He knows what's in you

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.039
 and Jesus says

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:29.000
 it's from your heart

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:30.279
 that comes out

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.900
 these terrible things.

00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.460
 He knows this morning

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.039
 what you're going to say

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.720
 before you say it.

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:35.539
 He knows the thoughts

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.259
 before you think them.

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.500
 Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12

00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.319
 says the living word

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:41.619
 of God

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.279
 that is Christ

00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:44.279
 penetrates the division

00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:45.119
 of soul and spirit

00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:46.839
 of joints and marrow

00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.659
 discerns the thoughts

00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:48.619
 and attentions of the heart.

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.500
 Christ knows

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.359
 all that we are

00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:50.980
 in every way

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.440
 to the very depths

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:52.839
 of our being.

00:29:54.879 --> 00:29:55.519
 Christ knows you

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.480
 better than you know yourself.

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:59.079
 He knows that all

00:29:59.079 --> 00:29:59.940
 is in our spirits

00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:00.399
 inwardly.

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.200
 Nothing is hidden.

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.480
 That's where our sin

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.059
 originates.

00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.680
 That's why we're

00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:07.299
 fallen creatures

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:08.059
 because sin

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.019
 is in the very depths

00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.500
 of our being.

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.519
 That's why we're

00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.759
 unacceptable to God.

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.460
 It's why thinking about God

00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.200
 makes us uncomfortable

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:19.839
 because we become conscious

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.339
 of our sin.

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.720
 And the more

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.639
 we understand this

00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:24.279
 the more we understand

00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:25.480
 how terrible my sin is

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.240
 in the sight of God

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:28.399
 and why I need a saviour.

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:30.960
 why I need a saviour

00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:31.880
 who can truly

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.620
 wash me

00:30:32.620 --> 00:30:33.380
 from my sin

00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:34.100
 who can take away

00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:34.400
 the sin

00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.000
 at the very depths

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:35.600
 of my being

00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:37.280
 and not just my

00:30:37.280 --> 00:30:38.100
 outside actions

00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:38.560
 but he can deal

00:30:38.560 --> 00:30:39.100
 with my heart

00:30:39.100 --> 00:30:39.720
 and he can create

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.160
 a new heart

00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:40.640
 within me.

00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.080
 And it's only the blood

00:30:43.080 --> 00:30:43.519
 on the cross

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:44.280
 that can do that.

00:30:45.780 --> 00:30:46.820
 Your self-help

00:30:46.820 --> 00:30:47.800
 your kind of reformation

00:30:47.800 --> 00:30:48.519
 isn't going to help you.

00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.280
 And that's why

00:30:51.280 --> 00:30:52.040
 the Bible says to you

00:30:52.040 --> 00:30:52.480
 really clearly

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.360
 you must trust him.

00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:55.179
 You must come

00:30:55.179 --> 00:30:55.839
 to Jesus Christ

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.319
 for forgiveness

00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.399
 of sins, yes

00:30:57.399 --> 00:30:59.259
 but for a washing

00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:00.319
 from the inward

00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:01.259
 filth of your heart.

00:31:02.959 --> 00:31:03.819
 And if you come

00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.079
 to him

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.959
 and you will find

00:31:04.959 --> 00:31:06.319
 if you put your

00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:07.079
 trust in him

00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:09.679
 that you will find

00:31:09.679 --> 00:31:10.459
 he cleanses

00:31:10.459 --> 00:31:11.000
 your spirit.

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.179
 And I know

00:31:13.179 --> 00:31:13.959
 people in our society

00:31:13.959 --> 00:31:14.899
 they think this is nonsense

00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:15.679
 they think this is just

00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:16.659
 made up to make us

00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:17.279
 feel better

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.559
 but the Bible

00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.319
 has taught us this

00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:20.259
 for thousands of years

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.459
 and millions of people

00:31:21.459 --> 00:31:22.479
 have found it to be

00:31:22.479 --> 00:31:23.259
 true around the world

00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:23.740
 it's true.

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:25.660
 That if you come

00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:26.220
 to Christ

00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:26.980
 you will find

00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.420
 forgiveness

00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.980
 for all your sins

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:30.839
 and you will find

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.660
 that inwardly

00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.779
 as well as outwardly.

00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.839
 You can be cleansed

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.240
 from your sin

00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:35.640
 and forgiven

00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.359
 and reconciled

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:36.680
 with God

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.039
 so you need

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.660
 to understand this.

00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:38.460
 Lastly

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:40.900
 we need to understand

00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:41.220
 this

00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:42.079
 we need this

00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:43.039
 so that we might

00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.640
 be those who

00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.599
 worship in spirit

00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:45.279
 and in truth.

00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.039
 Can you see

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.779
 there's a connection

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.480
 here between

00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.759
 what we're thinking

00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:51.599
 and what we're doing

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.140
 this morning

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:53.019
 worshipping God.

00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.359
 Our worship of God

00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:55.879
 as we gather

00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:56.359
 in this way

00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:56.980
 on the Lord's Day

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.799
 your worship of God

00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:59.039
 is to be spiritual.

00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.660
 True worship of God

00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.240
 doesn't require

00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:03.019
 a beautiful building

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:04.539
 or architecture

00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.180
 it doesn't require

00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:05.799
 great clothing

00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:06.400
 or choirs

00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:07.240
 or all the rest of it.

00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.819
 It is to be orderly

00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:09.200
 yes

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:11.000
 it is good

00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.460
 to have somewhere

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.200
 reasonably comfortable

00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:12.539
 to meet

00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.960
 and safe

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:16.140
 but true worship

00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:16.819
 does not require

00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:17.859
 beauty in those things.

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:19.659
 the essence

00:32:19.659 --> 00:32:20.179
 of worship

00:32:20.179 --> 00:32:20.740
 true worship

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.319
 is inward

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:23.659
 it's the state

00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:24.399
 of your heart

00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:25.039
 as you come

00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.539
 this morning.

00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.619
 That's not to say

00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.000
 that the things

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.379
 that we do

00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:29.719
 and the things

00:32:29.719 --> 00:32:30.339
 that we say

00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.059
 outwardly

00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:31.879
 and how we do it

00:32:31.879 --> 00:32:32.619
 is completely irrelevant

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.679
 don't misunderstand me

00:32:33.679 --> 00:32:35.439
 but it begins

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:35.979
 in the heart.

00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.619
 The heart of true

00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:38.899
 worship

00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:39.439
 is inward

00:32:39.439 --> 00:32:41.539
 and God

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:42.319
 is a spirit

00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:42.819
 and those who

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.299
 worship him

00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.759
 Jesus says

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.679
 must worship him

00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.100
 in spirit

00:32:45.100 --> 00:32:45.799
 and in truth.

00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:48.880
 We've thought of

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:49.240
 the fact that

00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:49.840
 God is invisible

00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.180
 if you think

00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:51.259
 of the second commandment

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:52.460
 it forbids us

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.360
 to make any image

00:32:53.360 --> 00:32:53.759
 of God.

00:32:54.860 --> 00:32:55.539
 We're not to have

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.100
 any pictures

00:32:56.100 --> 00:32:56.860
 or representations

00:32:56.860 --> 00:32:57.560
 of God

00:32:57.560 --> 00:32:58.100
 of any kind

00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:59.100
 it's a direct

00:32:59.100 --> 00:32:59.740
 transgression

00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.519
 of the commandment.

00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:02.460
 It's why many

00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.640
 Christians over the

00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:03.940
 centuries

00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.600
 have taken that

00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:05.019
 to mean that

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.740
 pictures of Jesus

00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.460
 should be forbidden

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:08.539
 because he is God

00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.039
 we're not to make

00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:10.980
 any image of God.

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.740
 We're to take

00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:14.120
 our ideas about God

00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:14.899
 not from pictures

00:33:14.899 --> 00:33:15.899
 or paintings

00:33:15.899 --> 00:33:18.299
 but from his word.

00:33:19.699 --> 00:33:20.199
 And we're to worship

00:33:20.199 --> 00:33:20.799
 him in spirit

00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.379
 and in truth

00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:21.859
 and the truth

00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:22.439
 of God's word

00:33:22.439 --> 00:33:23.659
 informs our worship

00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:25.199
 and it tells us

00:33:25.199 --> 00:33:25.799
 what he's like

00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.319
 and so when we

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:26.899
 come to worship

00:33:26.899 --> 00:33:27.619
 whether it's privately

00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:28.539
 at home as families

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.339
 or whether it's

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:30.199
 a gathering like this

00:33:30.199 --> 00:33:31.339
 it's our hearts

00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:33.500
 and in our minds

00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:34.019
 that we come

00:33:34.019 --> 00:33:34.879
 to prepare to worship.

00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.399
 And we come

00:33:37.399 --> 00:33:38.379
 confessing our sin

00:33:38.379 --> 00:33:39.519
 acknowledging our guilt

00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:40.919
 because if we're

00:33:40.919 --> 00:33:41.479
 not doing that

00:33:41.479 --> 00:33:42.059
 we're not actually

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:43.000
 worshipping in truth.

00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:45.299
 We're not recognising

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.159
 who we truly are

00:33:46.159 --> 00:33:46.939
 in the sight of God.

00:33:47.679 --> 00:33:48.659
 We're not recognising

00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:49.139
 his holiness

00:33:49.139 --> 00:33:49.859
 and his righteousness

00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:50.739
 and so we come

00:33:50.739 --> 00:33:52.099
 humbly focusing on God

00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:53.899
 remembering that

00:33:53.899 --> 00:33:54.459
 we're coming to him

00:33:54.459 --> 00:33:55.719
 the creator of all things

00:33:55.719 --> 00:33:56.259
 without beginning

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.799
 without end

00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:57.419
 with all power

00:33:57.419 --> 00:33:58.000
 and knowledge

00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.899
 who rules all things.

00:34:01.679 --> 00:34:02.299
 And so when we come

00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:02.719
 on a Sunday morning

00:34:02.719 --> 00:34:03.500
 we're not primarily

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.059
 coming to meet

00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:04.479
 with each other

00:34:04.479 --> 00:34:05.119
 although it's great

00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:05.719
 to meet together.

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:07.839
 We're coming

00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:08.940
 first of all to God

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:11.099
 and so we need

00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:11.460
 to remember

00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:12.400
 when we gather

00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:12.980
 on a Sunday morning

00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.880
 get your head

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.619
 and your mind

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.500
 in that right condition

00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.019
 of humility

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.720
 and reverence

00:34:16.720 --> 00:34:17.780
 before our holy God.

00:34:19.680 --> 00:34:20.599
 That's why formality

00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.539
 is such a plague

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.380
 in worship isn't it?

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:24.300
 Because you might look

00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:25.039
 like on the outside

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.880
 you're singing with gusto

00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:26.579
 but in your heart

00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.059
 you're thinking about

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.420
 what you're doing

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:27.980
 during the week.

00:34:30.200 --> 00:34:31.460
 Your heart's not engaged.

00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.980
 It can look

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:35.059
 can't it really lively

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.480
 or it can look

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:36.099
 really sombre

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.740
 but the same problem

00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:37.220
 can be there.

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:39.539
 And we're to worship

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.519
 in spirit and truth.

00:34:44.779 --> 00:34:45.599
 When we read

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.119
 the Bible

00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:48.480
 we listen

00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.000
 and we remember

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.699
 that God is speaking.

00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.119
 That it's not just

00:34:52.119 --> 00:34:52.679
 the person

00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:54.159
 the minister

00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:55.159
 reading the scriptures

00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:55.759
 it is God

00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:56.440
 speaking to us.

00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:58.460
 And when you listen

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.079
 to the sermon

00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:00.500
 our mind's fully

00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.539
 engaged

00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.199
 it's not elsewhere

00:35:02.199 --> 00:35:03.039
 because it's the Lord

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:03.500
 Jesus Christ

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.079
 speaking to us.

00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:07.360
 Formal worship

00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:08.460
 doesn't engage

00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:09.260
 the heart and mind.

00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.320
 And that's the problem

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:11.599
 with it

00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:12.400
 and it's an abomination

00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:12.820
 of God.

00:35:14.099 --> 00:35:14.559
 Worship is

00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:15.179
 to be in spirit

00:35:15.179 --> 00:35:15.559
 and truth

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.119
 because God

00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:16.500
 is spirit.

00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:18.260
 He's invisible.

00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:21.920
 The son of God

00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:24.000
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.980
 took upon himself

00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:25.619
 a human nature.

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:27.119
 He became man

00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:27.840
 to show us God

00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:29.440
 and what he's like.

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:32.059
 That we can know

00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:33.320
 God in our current condition.

00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:35.480
 Jesus Christ

00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.380
 died on the cross

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:37.300
 so that you could

00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:38.620
 be washed from your sin

00:35:38.620 --> 00:35:39.260
 inwardly

00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:41.200
 and thoroughly

00:35:41.200 --> 00:35:41.960
 and completely

00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:43.880
 once and for all

00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:45.640
 if your faith

00:35:45.640 --> 00:35:46.060
 and trust

00:35:46.060 --> 00:35:46.560
 is in him

00:35:46.560 --> 00:35:49.039
 and we are to

00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.620
 trust him

00:35:49.620 --> 00:35:51.860
 to trust in Jesus Christ

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.640
 and his death

00:35:52.640 --> 00:35:53.320
 at Calvary

00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:54.200
 for salvation

00:35:54.200 --> 00:35:54.920
 and reconciliation

00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:55.660
 with him.

00:35:57.160 --> 00:35:58.100
 God who is spirit

00:35:58.100 --> 00:35:58.840
 who is so wonderful

00:35:58.840 --> 00:35:59.480
 so kind

00:35:59.480 --> 00:36:00.180
 so compassionate

00:36:00.180 --> 00:36:02.800
 and yet he hates

00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.300
 sin.

00:36:03.580 --> 00:36:04.680
 He hates your sin

00:36:04.680 --> 00:36:05.500
 with all of his being.

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:07.920
 but to trust Christ

00:36:07.920 --> 00:36:08.659
 and be saved

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.239
 from our sin

00:36:09.239 --> 00:36:09.820
 and from death

00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:10.360
 and from hell.

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:11.900
 Let's pray.

00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:12.000
 Amen.

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000


00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:12.000