WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:29.280 Today's Old Testament lesson is from the book of Genesis. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:31.840 Please follow along in your liturgy. 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:36.759 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:00:37.219 --> 00:00:39.399 Now the earth was formless and empty. 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:45.160 Darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:47.859 And God said, Let there be light. 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:49.020 And there was light. 00:00:49.859 --> 00:00:58.480 Then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:04.920 over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:08.099 So God created mankind in his own image. 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:10.400 In the image of God, he created them. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:12.640 Male and female, he created them. 00:01:13.260 --> 00:01:14.879 God blessed them and said to them, 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:17.299 Be fruitful and increase in number. 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:19.259 Fill the earth and subdue it. 00:01:19.739 --> 00:01:26.099 Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. 00:01:26.979 --> 00:01:29.959 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:33.219 And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. 00:01:33.819 --> 00:01:37.879 Thus, the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:42.259 By the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing. 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:45.619 So on the seventh day, he rested from all his work. 00:01:46.219 --> 00:01:53.420 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. 00:01:53.420 --> 00:02:01.140 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. 00:02:01.579 --> 00:02:03.859 And the man became a living being. 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:10.539 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden, and there he put the man he had formed. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:15.900 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:17.340 The Lord God said, 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:22.319 It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:32.379 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:38.599 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 00:02:38.939 --> 00:02:39.780 The man said, 00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:43.580 This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:47.699 She shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:54.979 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:59.520 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:01.960 The grass withers and the flowers fade. 00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:04.780 Forever. 00:03:05.639 --> 00:03:06.500 Good morning. 00:03:06.500 --> 00:03:06.539 Good morning. 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:36.539 Good morning. 00:03:36.539 --> 00:03:37.699 Good morning. 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:37.699 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:45.319 we wonder to ourselves, you know, what kind of power could produce something so achingly beautiful 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:49.739 that it reduces you to sheer wordless wonder? 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:54.579 Did all this beauty really happen by chance? 00:03:55.799 --> 00:03:59.639 And how did life begin without life to create it in the first place? 00:04:00.579 --> 00:04:03.099 Why is there anything here at all? 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:06.939 Why is there something and not nothing? 00:04:07.699 --> 00:04:14.939 Did you know that there are 300 billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone? 00:04:16.159 --> 00:04:21.360 And that there are 2 trillion galaxies, which means that there are more stars in the universe 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:24.360 than there are grains of sand on all the beaches on planet Earth. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:33.719 Did you know that our star, our sun's energy, its energy output every second is equivalent 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:38.240 to the explosion of 91 billion hydrogen bombs every second? 00:04:39.780 --> 00:04:47.120 And that if one out of six, out of the six physical constants that holds our fine-tuned universe together, 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:52.160 if even one of those is off by even the smallest amount, 00:04:52.960 --> 00:04:56.340 our universe as it exists would cease to even be. 00:04:56.339 --> 00:05:01.359 You know, and it's not just these larger things that are truly remarkable, 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:03.399 it's the smaller things in life as well. 00:05:04.799 --> 00:05:11.899 You know, the most extraordinary thing in the universe is actually inside your head. 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:19.279 This marvelous, complex brain that can process in 30 seconds more information 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:23.239 than the Hubble Space Telescope has processed in the last 30 years. 00:05:24.060 --> 00:05:24.879 In 30 seconds. 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:30.959 That your eye can distinguish 7 to 10 million colors, 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:36.759 and that that eye sends 100 billion signals to your brain every second. 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:44.919 Did you know that there are 75,000 miles of blood vessels crammed inside of you? 00:05:46.500 --> 00:05:49.740 And there are at least 50 trillion cells. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:55.699 And that if you were to take all the DNA contained in your cells, 00:05:55.779 --> 00:05:57.159 and you were to stretch them out, 00:05:57.160 --> 00:06:00.340 they would reach 10 billion miles away, 00:06:00.400 --> 00:06:02.540 all the way past Pluto, 00:06:02.700 --> 00:06:05.200 which actually means that there's enough of you here today 00:06:05.200 --> 00:06:07.340 to go outside of our solar system, 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:09.520 if you could find a way to do it. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:12.980 You are amazing. 00:06:14.440 --> 00:06:15.980 You are a work of art. 00:06:17.200 --> 00:06:19.140 And if you saw something of that, 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:21.800 that's that stunning in a portrait gallery. 00:06:22.900 --> 00:06:25.700 If you heard something that beautiful in a concert hall, 00:06:25.699 --> 00:06:28.319 you would instinctively ask yourself, 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:30.399 where did it come from? 00:06:31.599 --> 00:06:32.639 Who created it? 00:06:33.779 --> 00:06:36.519 And if someone were to tell you that this incredible painting, 00:06:36.659 --> 00:06:37.699 this amazing symphony, 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.699 that it just came together by itself, 00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:43.439 without any author to create it, 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:45.459 would you believe them? 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:50.019 You know, the opening line of our book tells us 00:06:50.019 --> 00:06:51.740 who the artist is, 00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:54.839 who created the massive universe that we live in, 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:56.779 the marvelous bodies that we inhabit. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:01.500 And what I'm about to attempt to do is so crazy, 00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:02.219 it's so stupid, 00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:06.359 to try to preach one sermon on the whole text that we just read. 00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:07.259 But I'm going to do that. 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:11.359 And what we are going to ask ourselves 00:07:11.359 --> 00:07:12.379 is three simple questions. 00:07:12.459 --> 00:07:13.599 Who is the one true God? 00:07:14.799 --> 00:07:17.579 Who are God's one special people? 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:22.959 And what is the one future that God has for his world? 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:25.319 Who is the one true God? 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:27.259 Who are his one special people? 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:31.259 And what is the one future that God has for his world? 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:33.039 So first of all, 00:07:33.079 --> 00:07:34.039 who's the one true God? 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:35.199 Verse one says that, 00:07:35.299 --> 00:07:35.680 in the beginning, 00:07:35.799 --> 00:07:38.120 God created the heavens and the earth. 00:07:38.159 --> 00:07:39.000 And we should say that, 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:40.000 right off the bat, 00:07:40.219 --> 00:07:41.279 science and theology 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:44.899 are neither strangers nor enemies, 00:07:45.339 --> 00:07:47.759 but they are friends and they are partners. 00:07:48.599 --> 00:07:48.679 Right? 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:51.239 Science deals with the what and the how. 00:07:51.479 --> 00:07:53.419 Theology deals with the who and the why. 00:07:54.659 --> 00:07:56.959 And what Moses is giving us 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:59.539 is not science but theology. 00:08:00.579 --> 00:08:03.379 What Moses is giving us is not deductive reasoning. 00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:05.119 He's giving us divine revelation. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:08.899 And what Moses tells us is that 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:11.300 the central subject of all reality 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:12.939 in the first line of the Bible 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:14.199 is God himself. 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:17.180 Forty-six times God is mentioned 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:18.360 in these first two chapters. 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:22.740 God created, it says in verse one. 00:08:22.840 --> 00:08:25.240 God's spirit is moving, it says in verse two. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:26.699 God said in verse three. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:28.220 It's all about God. 00:08:29.420 --> 00:08:31.180 From the very opening sentence, 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:32.720 the Bible reveals this God 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:35.820 who is both absolute and personal. 00:08:35.920 --> 00:08:37.220 If we could bring up this slide 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:39.660 and just keep this slide up here 00:08:39.660 --> 00:08:41.360 until this point is over. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.540 I want you to consider this. 00:08:45.420 --> 00:08:46.980 What does it mean in verse one 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:50.040 that God is just inexplicably there? 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:52.779 He just is. 00:08:53.180 --> 00:08:54.600 He just was. 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:55.639 He just will be. 00:08:56.660 --> 00:08:58.680 And that he's creating everything out of nothing. 00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:01.860 It means that he's an absolute God 00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:04.500 who is infinitely and eternally great. 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:07.440 He's overwhelmingly majestic and almighty. 00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:09.759 That's the deep theology 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:12.100 that's crammed into the very first line of the Bible. 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:14.639 And what does it mean in verse two 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:16.480 where it says God's spirit is moving 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:19.600 and that without strain, without fatigue, 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:22.659 he brings formlessness to form. 00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:24.879 He brings emptiness to fullness. 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:28.060 It means that he's self-existent, 00:09:28.139 --> 00:09:29.120 that he's all-powerful, 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.919 that he does not need anything or anyone, 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:33.779 that nothing's difficult for him, 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:35.860 nothing's impossible for him, 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:37.399 that he's an absolute God. 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:40.480 What does it mean in verse three 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:42.000 when God's first words are, 00:09:42.560 --> 00:09:43.299 let there be light? 00:09:44.560 --> 00:09:46.779 It means that God himself is light 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:49.639 and in him is no darkness at all. 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:52.279 It means that he exercises his authority 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:53.279 and his control 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:57.100 to accomplish his will through his word. 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:59.279 And that out of the fullness 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:00.159 and the abundance 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:01.700 of God's life-giving 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:03.639 and life-creating presence, 00:10:04.060 --> 00:10:05.759 he makes and sustains 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:07.680 every square inch of space, 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:10.100 every nanosecond of time, 00:10:10.220 --> 00:10:11.920 every molecule of matter, 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:13.200 and he says over it all, 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:14.460 it's mine. 00:10:17.040 --> 00:10:19.080 The God that's being presented to us 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:20.320 is an absolute God, 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.379 a transcendent God. 00:10:23.040 --> 00:10:24.440 But he's not just that. 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:26.000 He's also a personal God. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.760 He's an imminent God. 00:10:28.780 --> 00:10:30.360 What does it mean in verse 31 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:32.340 where it says God saw all that he made 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:34.180 and it was very good? 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:37.980 It means that God himself is very good. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:40.560 And that as a personal God, 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:42.520 he wants to share the abundant overflow, 00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:44.640 the infinite goodness of himself 00:10:44.640 --> 00:10:46.300 with his creatures. 00:10:47.900 --> 00:10:50.620 Or what does it mean in Genesis 2, 2, 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:52.900 where it says that God blessed one day in seven 00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:55.899 and he set it apart as a time of holy rest 00:10:55.899 --> 00:10:57.299 for each and every one of us? 00:10:59.059 --> 00:11:01.100 Or when it says in chapter 2, verse 8, 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:02.959 that he planted a garden called Eden. 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:04.000 Eden means pleasure. 00:11:04.199 --> 00:11:05.360 Eden means delight. 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:08.360 And he put us in that place 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:09.980 to make that our home 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:13.500 and to provide food for us in that place. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:16.379 Or what does it mean in Genesis 2, 18, 00:11:16.459 --> 00:11:19.819 where it says that he made a family for us? 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:21.560 He put us in a community. 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:25.580 You know, if you study the origin stories 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:26.560 of the Babylonians, 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:28.700 the epic of Gilgamesh, 00:11:29.420 --> 00:11:30.420 the Enuma Elish, 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:33.540 you'll find these gods in these stories 00:11:33.540 --> 00:11:35.420 that are actually quite needy. 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:37.660 They're fickle. 00:11:38.760 --> 00:11:42.060 They are deeply conflicted and violent 00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:43.360 and at war with one another. 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:46.940 They actually depend on the humans that they make 00:11:46.940 --> 00:11:49.200 to give them food and to give them rest. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.040 And very often they're either indifferent 00:11:52.040 --> 00:11:53.280 to the humans they've made 00:11:53.280 --> 00:11:54.880 or they're hostile to the humans they've made. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:59.500 And from the very first sentences of our Bible 00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:01.080 and throughout the Bible, 00:12:01.420 --> 00:12:03.580 repeatedly it says that the one true God 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:05.440 is emphatically not like that. 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:11.420 That every experience you've ever had of light, 00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:14.799 every experience you've ever had of beauty 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:16.539 or of goodness 00:12:16.539 --> 00:12:18.139 or of pleasure 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:19.759 or of rest 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:21.559 or of feeling at home, 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:25.019 it all comes from the one true God. 00:12:26.299 --> 00:12:28.120 And every single one of those experiences 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:29.139 is an invitation 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:31.179 from the heart of reality, 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:32.459 from this sublime 00:12:32.459 --> 00:12:33.240 and exalted 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.240 and unfathomable 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.439 and absolute God 00:12:35.439 --> 00:12:37.899 who wants to be in a personal 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.679 and intimate relationship 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.279 with you 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.519 as his beloved creature. 00:12:43.079 --> 00:12:44.419 He wants you to experience 00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:45.919 his covenant presence 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:47.340 as a source of all blessing 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:47.980 and life 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:48.899 and joy 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:49.500 and peace. 00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:51.439 And he knows 00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.139 that your heart 00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:52.980 is going to be restless 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:54.519 until it finds his rest 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:56.019 right there with him. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.939 So how might we apply 00:12:58.939 --> 00:13:00.759 this to our lives 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:01.179 this week? 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:01.980 Well, first of all, 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:03.899 what story 00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:05.759 will you wake up 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:06.779 telling yourself tomorrow? 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:09.419 What story 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:10.139 will you wake up 00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:11.679 living in all day, 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:12.699 Monday through Saturday 00:13:12.699 --> 00:13:13.279 this week? 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:16.220 Who will be the central subject 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:16.980 of that story? 00:13:18.539 --> 00:13:19.919 Is the opening line 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:20.459 of that story 00:13:20.459 --> 00:13:21.220 all about you 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:23.419 or is it about God? 00:13:24.959 --> 00:13:25.819 If your story 00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:26.620 is all about you, 00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:27.659 then your story 00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:29.019 is way too small. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:30.939 Right? 00:13:30.939 --> 00:13:31.419 If your story 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:32.319 is all about you 00:13:32.319 --> 00:13:33.419 and your family, 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:34.779 your ethnicity, 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:35.600 your class, 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.360 your gender, 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:38.580 your vocational field, 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:39.879 your political tribe, 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:40.960 your nation, 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:41.800 any of that, 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:43.720 your story is way too narrow 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.919 and way too cramped. 00:13:47.220 --> 00:13:48.100 If your story 00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:48.800 is not about 00:13:48.800 --> 00:13:49.600 this absolute 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.720 yet personal God 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:51.659 who created everything 00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:52.180 in the beginning 00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:53.919 and who sustains 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.379 everything day by day 00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.039 and who's directing 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:56.879 all of nature 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.820 and all of history 00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:58.980 to his own purposes 00:13:58.980 --> 00:14:00.259 and goals, 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:02.799 then the invitation 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:04.080 of Genesis 1 and 2 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.179 is to get 00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:06.840 your little story 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:08.120 connected up 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:09.220 with his larger story 00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:11.559 and to give yourself 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:12.000 to the one 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:12.659 who's actually been 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:13.840 authoring your story 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:14.419 all along 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:17.460 and to say 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:18.139 to this God, 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:18.439 you know, 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:20.419 you do not exist for me, 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.419 I exist for you 00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:25.480 and you are my highest 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:26.600 good that could 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:27.620 possibly be imagined 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:30.340 and I want you 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.960 from today 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:32.879 going forward 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:34.419 to be the object 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:35.120 of my worship 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.620 and the theme 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.320 of my song 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:38.000 and the strength 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.940 of my life 00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:40.019 because I realize today 00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.019 that from you 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.620 and through you 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.259 and to you 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:43.560 are all things. 00:14:45.560 --> 00:14:45.700 See, 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:46.279 Genesis 1 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:46.940 is an invitation 00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:47.620 for you to have 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:49.360 your story re-narrated 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.919 starting today. 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.120 Second application 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:53.600 is 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:55.480 how will you engage 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:56.039 with the power 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:56.840 of God's word 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:58.720 when you start 00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.660 your days this week? 00:15:01.280 --> 00:15:01.460 You know, 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.580 UC Berkeley's motto 00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:04.139 since 1883 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:04.780 has been 00:15:04.780 --> 00:15:05.940 Fiat Lux 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:09.200 from Genesis 1-3 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:09.800 and God said 00:15:09.800 --> 00:15:10.500 let there be light 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.259 and there was light. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.300 God 00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:15.259 sovereignly 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:15.980 and majestically 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:16.860 created the universe 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.899 by his powerful 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:19.180 and authoritative word 00:15:19.180 --> 00:15:21.540 and when Israel 00:15:21.540 --> 00:15:22.480 would later receive 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.639 the word of the Lord 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.120 they knew 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:24.519 that it was 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.280 that same 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.059 powerful 00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:27.019 and authoritative 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.259 Fiat Lux 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:30.139 of the creator God 00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:31.620 who calls things 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.439 into existence 00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:33.519 that are not. 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:37.120 It is the word of God 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.799 that formed 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:38.639 the chaos 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.439 into a cosmos. 00:15:39.959 --> 00:15:40.720 It's the word of God 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.639 that turned the darkness 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.699 into light. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.579 It's the word of God 00:15:43.579 --> 00:15:44.860 that called into existence 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.500 an ordered 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.620 and harmonious 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.759 and fruitful creation. 00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:49.500 And isn't that 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:49.959 what you want 00:15:49.959 --> 00:15:50.879 your life to be? 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.360 Ordered, 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.620 harmonious 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:54.659 and fruitful. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:57.519 That's what God's word does. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.220 How could I possibly 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:03.519 if God's 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.820 creative 00:16:04.820 --> 00:16:05.759 and redemptive work 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.320 is accomplished 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.659 through his powerful word 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.720 how could I possibly 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.759 ignore 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.659 or neglect 00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:12.820 or even resist 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:14.740 the word of God 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.779 as he's given it to us 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:16.300 in the scriptures? 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.060 Friends, 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:20.379 if you give yourself 00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.580 on a daily basis 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:24.179 to your creator's word 00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:25.100 and you submit 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:26.539 yourself to his will 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.139 and you attune 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.659 your way 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.399 to his way 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:30.460 and you order your life 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:31.259 according to his 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:32.759 divine ordering 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.980 you can rest assured 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.179 that your story 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:36.000 is going to continue 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.139 in the fiat lux 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:37.740 in the light 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.299 of God 00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:41.139 all of your days. 00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:45.779 Psalm says 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:46.320 your word 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.019 is a lamp 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.500 for my feet 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.200 and it's a light 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.539 on my path. 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:52.500 Third application 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.120 is this. 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:54.740 Many people 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.279 in the Bay Area 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:55.620 say, 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:55.919 you know, 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.419 I don't believe 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:56.879 in God 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:59.120 and if somebody 00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.799 trusts you enough 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.360 to say that 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.720 you need to be prepared 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.039 to say, 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:02.720 well tell me about 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:03.120 this God 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:04.019 you do not believe in 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.680 because I probably 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.420 do not believe 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:06.980 in him either. 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:09.680 Is your God 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.400 absolute 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.299 but not personal? 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:13.960 Is your God 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.440 personal 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:15.720 but not absolute? 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:18.099 Is your God 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.599 holy 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.720 but not loving? 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:21.540 Is your God 00:17:21.540 --> 00:17:22.080 kind 00:17:22.080 --> 00:17:23.000 but not powerful? 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:24.580 See, 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:24.980 I don't believe 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.440 in any of those 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:25.960 gods either. 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:28.300 So what we can do 00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:28.740 right now 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.380 is connect 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.280 over our mutual 00:17:30.280 --> 00:17:31.120 disbelief 00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:32.460 in these false 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:32.880 gods. 00:17:35.620 --> 00:17:36.300 Fourth point 00:17:36.300 --> 00:17:36.920 of application 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.620 is every student 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:39.320 here from middle 00:17:39.320 --> 00:17:39.680 school 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.760 to PhD 00:17:40.760 --> 00:17:41.280 candidate 00:17:41.280 --> 00:17:42.920 I want you 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:43.260 to remember 00:17:43.260 --> 00:17:43.680 that the 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.440 absoluteness 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.000 of God 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.800 is the basis 00:17:46.800 --> 00:17:47.860 of all science 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:48.459 and mathematics 00:17:48.459 --> 00:17:50.459 and I want 00:17:50.459 --> 00:17:50.819 you to remember 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.139 that the 00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:51.799 personalness 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.139 of God 00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:52.679 is the basis 00:17:52.679 --> 00:17:53.199 of all 00:17:53.199 --> 00:17:53.879 the arts 00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:54.079 and the 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:54.500 humanities 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:56.699 and that it's 00:17:56.699 --> 00:17:57.339 this God 00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:57.799 who gives 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.539 legitimacy 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.599 and credibility 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:02.159 to all 00:18:02.159 --> 00:18:03.399 rational inquiry 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:05.580 and your job 00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:06.000 as a student 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.460 this week 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:06.960 is to go 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.060 study your 00:18:08.060 --> 00:18:08.500 rear end 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.019 off to the 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.660 glory of God. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:10.700 Amen? 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.580 All right. 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.259 That's point one. 00:18:14.320 --> 00:18:14.759 Who's the one 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.180 true God? 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.259 See, 00:18:17.320 --> 00:18:17.640 I told you 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:18.120 this was the 00:18:18.120 --> 00:18:18.720 dumbest idea 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.240 to try to do 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:19.540 all this 00:18:19.540 --> 00:18:20.100 in one sermon. 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:21.680 All right. 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.519 Who are God's 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:24.040 one special people? 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:24.700 Who are God's 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.680 one special people? 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:27.640 The secular 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.060 vision 00:18:28.060 --> 00:18:29.900 of humanity 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:31.039 is a 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.720 disenchanted 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.100 vision. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.980 It's a 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.960 materialist 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.880 and naturalist 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:36.180 vision. 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.900 And what it 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:38.480 tells us 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:38.900 is that we 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.640 are lucky mud. 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.620 That you 00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.259 are a random 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.940 collocation 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.519 of atoms. 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.080 A brain 00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:45.680 with legs. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.500 You're a 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.039 meat suit 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:49.680 walking around. 00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:50.400 You came 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.299 from insignificance. 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:51.820 You're going 00:18:51.820 --> 00:18:52.980 to insignificance. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.259 And that your 00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:55.000 final destiny 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.660 is to become 00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.519 food for worms 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.080 and fertilizer 00:18:57.080 --> 00:18:57.940 for flowers. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.340 And the 00:19:00.340 --> 00:19:00.759 question is 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:01.160 what if 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:01.960 there's more 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.300 to you 00:19:02.300 --> 00:19:02.779 than that? 00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:04.440 What if 00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:04.920 there's more 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.600 to life 00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:06.120 than that? 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.200 I want to 00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:08.500 point out 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:08.980 this strange 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.620 detail in the 00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.800 text and 00:19:10.800 --> 00:19:11.340 invite you to 00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:11.820 notice it 00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:12.519 in verse 26. 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:12.940 It says, 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:13.960 then God 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.420 said, 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.360 let us 00:19:15.360 --> 00:19:16.259 make mankind. 00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:18.279 And that 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:18.740 let us 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.140 we call 00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:19.720 the royal 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:19.980 we. 00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:20.340 It's a 00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:20.980 plural of 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.440 majesty. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.140 It's God 00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:22.980 speaking to 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.060 his royal 00:19:24.060 --> 00:19:24.640 heavenly 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.100 court of 00:19:25.100 --> 00:19:25.500 angels. 00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:27.040 But in 00:19:27.040 --> 00:19:27.420 hindsight, 00:19:27.820 --> 00:19:28.400 it's also 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.800 a little 00:19:29.800 --> 00:19:30.460 hint for 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.680 us of 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.160 the unity 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.940 and diversity 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.600 in the 00:19:33.600 --> 00:19:33.860 supreme 00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:34.440 being of 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:34.620 God 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:34.960 himself. 00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:36.320 If we 00:19:36.320 --> 00:19:36.580 could bring 00:19:36.580 --> 00:19:36.960 up another 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.420 slide. 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:39.480 Psalm 33 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.300 6 says, 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.259 by the word 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.660 of the Lord 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.080 the heavens 00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:43.540 were made, 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.540 their starry 00:19:44.540 --> 00:19:45.120 host by the 00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:45.540 breath of 00:19:45.540 --> 00:19:46.060 his mouth. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.980 That sounds 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:49.540 just like the 00:19:49.540 --> 00:19:49.920 first three 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.420 verses of the 00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:50.900 Bible where it 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:51.140 says, 00:19:51.300 --> 00:19:51.960 God created 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:52.380 and the 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:52.800 spirit was 00:19:52.800 --> 00:19:53.560 moving and 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.079 God said 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:54.379 with his 00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:54.659 word. 00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:56.859 It's 00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.619 through these 00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:58.440 means of 00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.079 his word 00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.399 and his 00:19:59.399 --> 00:19:59.879 breath that 00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:00.279 the Lord 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.179 makes the 00:20:01.179 --> 00:20:01.740 universe. 00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:03.579 And the 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.000 New Testament 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.460 says that 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.240 Jesus is the 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.839 word of God 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.519 made flesh. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:07.859 And that the 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:08.599 Holy Spirit is 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.200 the breath of 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.379 God breathed 00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:10.679 out. 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:11.820 So what 00:20:11.820 --> 00:20:12.120 does it 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:12.560 mean if 00:20:12.560 --> 00:20:13.080 the Trinity, 00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:14.680 if this 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.279 one God 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:15.680 and three 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.180 persons, 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:16.700 the Father, 00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:16.980 Son, 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.360 and Holy 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:17.680 Spirit, 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.259 the Lord, 00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:18.840 the word, 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.140 and the 00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:19.539 breath, 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.019 what if 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.500 he's the 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.600 one who 00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:23.000 created 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.340 you? 00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.279 Verse 26 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.660 says, 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.380 6 says, 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.299 then God 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.519 said, 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.140 let us make 00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:30.180 human beings 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:30.460 in our 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:30.820 image, 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.120 in our 00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:31.660 likeness, 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:32.220 so that 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.620 they may 00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:33.380 rule over 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.259 everything. 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:34.740 And verse 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.620 27 says, 00:20:35.820 --> 00:20:36.340 so God 00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:37.060 created human 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:37.940 beings in 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.320 his own 00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:38.600 image, 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:38.960 in the image 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.259 of God, 00:20:39.320 --> 00:20:39.740 he created 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.259 them male and 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.519 female, 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.240 he created 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:41.960 them. 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.359 What you 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:44.740 need to know 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.299 is that in 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:45.700 the ancient 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.299 Near East, 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.240 only the 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.420 king was 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:48.799 the image 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:49.200 of God. 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.460 Only the 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.339 king was 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:52.619 the image 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:52.980 of God. 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:54.799 But the 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.400 very first 00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:56.420 page of 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:56.960 our book 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.960 says that 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:00.000 all of you 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.359 have been 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:01.079 stamped with 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:01.720 the royal 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:04.259 image of 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.660 the one 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.240 who from 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:05.819 eternity 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:07.879 past has 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.400 been pouring 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.519 glory and 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.079 love, 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:11.160 from the 00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:11.740 father to 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.220 the son 00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.579 and to 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:12.960 the holy 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.379 spirit, 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:14.500 each into 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:14.940 the other 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.339 in this 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.019 delightful 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:17.119 dance of 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:17.539 mutual 00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:18.619 self-giving. 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:21.279 You were 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.019 made from 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.900 love and 00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:23.779 for love. 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:25.779 You were 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.339 not made 00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:27.019 by someone 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:28.160 who needed 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:28.839 to have 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.059 you. 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:30.640 You were 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.019 made by 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.900 somebody who 00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.779 wanted you. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:34.940 Think about 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.119 that. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.619 What does it 00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:35.939 mean? 00:21:35.939 --> 00:21:37.000 You were 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.679 not made 00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:39.019 from a 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.019 unipersonal 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.659 God of 00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.779 raw power 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:44.379 who needs 00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:44.959 you in order 00:21:44.959 --> 00:21:45.579 for himself 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.000 to be 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.479 complete. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.459 But rather 00:21:48.459 --> 00:21:48.799 you were 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.659 made from 00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.379 this 00:21:50.379 --> 00:21:51.079 tri-personal 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:51.579 God of 00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.399 pure love 00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:54.079 who wants 00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.479 you to 00:21:54.479 --> 00:21:56.079 enjoy the 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:56.839 fullness of 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.479 his being 00:21:57.479 --> 00:21:58.219 and presence, 00:21:59.179 --> 00:21:59.699 the trinity 00:21:59.699 --> 00:22:00.759 of these 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.519 persons in 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.099 relationship. 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.039 What does that 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.319 mean? 00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:04.839 It means that 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.279 you cannot 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:06.319 know who 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:06.680 you are. 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.019 If you want 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.279 to know 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.700 who you 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:07.980 are, you 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.579 cannot know 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.000 who you 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:10.319 are apart 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:10.740 from this 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.559 triune love. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.659 But that if 00:22:13.659 --> 00:22:14.480 you do enter 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.220 into that 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.200 triune mystery 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:17.639 then it will 00:22:17.639 --> 00:22:18.200 change how 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:18.740 you relate to 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.319 yourself and 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.039 everybody else. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.319 So how can 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:23.099 we apply this 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.039 practically? 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:24.720 Well first of 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:26.440 all, you 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:26.940 have an 00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:27.460 objective, 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.460 intrinsic, 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.420 irreducible, 00:22:30.659 --> 00:22:32.019 inestimable glory 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.799 about yourself. 00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:33.379 That you 00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.880 are significant, 00:22:35.100 --> 00:22:35.380 that you 00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:36.080 are valuable, 00:22:36.320 --> 00:22:36.680 that you 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:38.020 are worthy 00:22:38.020 --> 00:22:38.500 and that you 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:38.940 matter. 00:22:41.060 --> 00:22:41.740 Genesis 2 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.840 7 says this, 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.240 then the 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.600 Lord God 00:22:44.600 --> 00:22:45.260 formed a man 00:22:45.260 --> 00:22:45.760 from the dust 00:22:45.760 --> 00:22:46.180 of the ground 00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:46.420 and he 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.020 breathed into 00:22:47.020 --> 00:22:47.580 his nostrils 00:22:47.580 --> 00:22:48.080 the breath 00:22:48.080 --> 00:22:49.060 of life and 00:22:49.060 --> 00:22:49.380 the man 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:50.500 became a 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.040 living being. 00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.440 You see as 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.160 a potter 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.940 forms a 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.300 lump of 00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:53.700 clay, 00:22:54.840 --> 00:22:55.900 this humble 00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:56.420 creature of 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.440 the dust is 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.160 crafted by 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:58.740 God into 00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.300 a work of 00:22:59.300 --> 00:23:00.780 art and 00:23:00.780 --> 00:23:01.040 then he's 00:23:01.040 --> 00:23:01.360 given the 00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:02.140 divine breath, 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.580 the divine 00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:03.100 life, 00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:04.440 through this 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.640 moment of 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:06.380 face-to-face 00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:07.320 intimacy, 00:23:07.560 --> 00:23:08.140 this divine 00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:09.040 kiss, 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:12.060 this amazing 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:12.540 act of 00:23:12.540 --> 00:23:13.060 self-giving 00:23:13.060 --> 00:23:13.560 love. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:15.840 And what 00:23:15.840 --> 00:23:16.160 does that 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.420 mean? 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:16.720 Well it 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.300 means first 00:23:17.300 --> 00:23:17.700 of all that 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.320 you are the 00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:19.400 image of 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:19.700 God, 00:23:20.780 --> 00:23:21.260 that you're 00:23:21.260 --> 00:23:21.720 not God, 00:23:21.800 --> 00:23:22.380 you're dust. 00:23:23.520 --> 00:23:24.040 So don't 00:23:24.040 --> 00:23:24.300 think of 00:23:24.300 --> 00:23:24.760 yourself more 00:23:24.760 --> 00:23:25.200 highly than 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:25.600 you ought. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.280 But it 00:23:27.280 --> 00:23:27.740 also means 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.000 that you're 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.400 the image 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:29.000 of God, 00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:30.800 that you 00:23:30.800 --> 00:23:31.660 share in the 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.100 divine 00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:32.860 likeness, 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.259 so do 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.680 not think 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.160 of yourself 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.759 less than 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.240 you ought. 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:38.840 That's 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.200 point number 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.480 one. 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.220 Application 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.660 number one. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.080 Application 00:23:42.080 --> 00:23:42.840 number two 00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:44.720 is that 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.380 basic human 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:45.920 rights and 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.400 equality, 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.720 which we're 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:48.980 kind of 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.380 starting to 00:23:49.380 --> 00:23:49.779 lose our 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.300 grip on 00:23:50.300 --> 00:23:51.320 in the 00:23:51.320 --> 00:23:51.980 western world. 00:23:53.060 --> 00:23:53.840 Basic human 00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:54.300 rights and 00:23:54.300 --> 00:23:54.740 equality, 00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.480 the sanctity 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.080 of life, 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:57.900 none of this 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.600 is predicated 00:23:58.599 --> 00:24:00.299 on age or 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.119 status or 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:02.139 achievements or 00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:03.399 class or 00:24:03.399 --> 00:24:03.879 race. 00:24:05.639 --> 00:24:06.419 No, the 00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:07.079 imago 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.799 Dei that's 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.500 imprinted on 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.019 you and on 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.779 everyone else 00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:13.279 requires us to 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.859 take all 00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:15.439 people absolutely 00:24:15.439 --> 00:24:16.059 seriously. 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:17.919 And it 00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:18.719 requires something 00:24:18.719 --> 00:24:19.500 even more than 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:19.679 that. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.599 It requires us 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:22.099 to protect the 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:23.339 poor and the 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:24.419 sick and the 00:24:24.419 --> 00:24:25.679 old and the 00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:26.980 disabled and the 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:28.399 newborn and the 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:28.800 unborn. 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.240 Secular people 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:34.860 want to talk 00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:36.060 about human 00:24:36.060 --> 00:24:36.740 rights but they 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.840 actually have 00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:38.400 cut themselves 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:39.220 off from, 00:24:40.300 --> 00:24:40.780 they've cut the 00:24:40.780 --> 00:24:41.640 limb off of the 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.540 tree for which 00:24:42.540 --> 00:24:43.180 they used to make 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:43.980 that argument. 00:24:44.100 --> 00:24:44.800 You cannot make 00:24:44.800 --> 00:24:45.820 an argument for 00:24:45.820 --> 00:24:47.440 transcendent universal 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.420 human rights without 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:49.160 the transcendent 00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:50.540 universal God from 00:24:50.540 --> 00:24:51.220 whom they come. 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:55.140 Secular people have 00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:55.560 to say, you know, 00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:56.600 the ground of rights 00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:57.060 is in our 00:24:57.060 --> 00:24:57.700 capacities. 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.960 And what we can 00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.299 do. 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.720 But can you imagine 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.600 Martin Luther King 00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.580 showing up in 00:25:03.580 --> 00:25:04.700 Atlanta or 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.620 Birmingham or 00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:06.259 Montgomery and 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:06.559 saying, you know, 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:07.279 the basis of our 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.759 human rights is our 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:10.080 ability to reason and 00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:11.160 our self-consciousness. 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:11.480 No. 00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:13.640 He showed up 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:14.500 quoting Moses. 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.519 He showed up 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.279 quoting Jesus. 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.480 He wasn't 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.200 quoting Buddha. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:22.799 He wasn't 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.720 quoting Aristotle. 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:26.240 He said in a 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.339 sermon on July 4th, 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.600 1965, he said, 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.600 there are no 00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.960 gradations in the 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:31.579 image of God. 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.299 Every man from a 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.559 treble white 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:38.680 to a bass black 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:40.759 is significant on 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.460 God's keyboard 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.400 precisely because 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:44.519 every man is made 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.160 in the image of 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:45.460 God. 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.200 And one day we 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.640 will all learn 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:48.920 that. 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:51.920 third point of 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:54.019 application is 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.660 that as the 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:55.440 image of God, 00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:56.800 you are called to 00:25:56.800 --> 00:25:57.480 reflect and 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.279 represent the glory 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:59.180 of God into the 00:25:59.180 --> 00:25:59.460 world. 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:02.460 Like a mirror with 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:02.980 the sunshine. 00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:05.920 You are meant to 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.480 capture the 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.680 sunshine of God's 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:09.800 character and his 00:26:09.800 --> 00:26:10.539 goodness and his 00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.420 light and his life 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:13.039 and his love and 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.880 reflect it out into 00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:14.300 the world. 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:16.619 And that is an 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.500 awesome privilege and 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:17.960 an awesome 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.899 responsibility. 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.440 It's a high honor 00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:23.359 that implies a 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:25.019 code of living. 00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:25.819 It implies an 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:27.599 expectation to 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.799 imitate God in your 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.480 daily life. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.720 It says that you're 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.659 designed for dignity 00:26:32.659 --> 00:26:33.919 and therefore God 00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:34.799 designed you to act 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.399 dignified. 00:26:37.059 --> 00:26:38.039 And that means that 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.639 we have to ask 00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.460 ourselves as the 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:39.940 image of God, 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.839 should I be thinking 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:42.259 this or saying 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.639 that? 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:44.820 As the image of 00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:45.420 God, should I be 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:47.000 watching this or 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.820 wearing that? 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.700 As the image of 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.360 God, should I be 00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:51.740 doing this thing or 00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.980 acting that way? 00:26:54.780 --> 00:26:55.680 You're made to 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:56.580 reflect and represent 00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:57.360 the image of the 00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:58.440 triune God's own 00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.380 self-giving and 00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:00.300 mutual respect that 00:27:00.300 --> 00:27:01.100 he has within 00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:01.640 himself. 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.380 But of course the 00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:05.160 image of God is 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:07.580 broken in me and 00:27:07.580 --> 00:27:08.580 it's broken in you, 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.040 isn't it? 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:12.580 Sin has twisted 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:14.319 and tarnished the 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.000 image of God in 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.259 us. 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.399 Self-centeredness has 00:27:16.399 --> 00:27:17.519 come and shattered 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.659 and soiled the 00:27:18.659 --> 00:27:19.759 image of God in us. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.379 And next Sunday 00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.399 we'll explore how 00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:23.439 Adam and Eve failed 00:27:23.439 --> 00:27:25.039 to be the covenant 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.799 partners that they 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.500 were meant to be. 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.819 And really what we're 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.359 going to see is that 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:30.379 the whole drama of 00:27:30.379 --> 00:27:31.099 Genesis, the whole 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:32.000 drama of the whole 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.980 Bible is that the 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:33.839 family of Abraham 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:35.599 and the nation of 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.599 Israel were called 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.579 to be a new 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:38.579 humanity within the 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.240 old humanity. 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.319 humanity. 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.039 That God so loved 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.579 the world that he 00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:43.299 gave Abraham. 00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.120 God so loved the 00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.660 world he gave 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.220 Israel. 00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.819 But they failed in 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.220 the same way. 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.319 They failed to be the 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.420 image of God reflecting 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.799 the light of God to 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:53.720 the nations of God. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:57.000 And finally after long 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.740 years of waiting, 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.319 Jesus, the Son of 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:01.240 God, stepped out of 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.839 heaven and onto the 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.620 earth as the true 00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.299 human being. 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:06.559 And that's why the 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.339 New Testament calls 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.279 Jesus the second 00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:09.899 Adam, the last Adam. 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:11.359 He's the ultimate and 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.500 greater Adam. 00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:13.940 He's the genuine 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:15.099 Israelite. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.700 All that the sons of 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.740 Abraham were meant to 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:17.859 be. 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:19.279 All that the sons of 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:20.500 David were meant to 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:20.859 be. 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.639 Jesus is the true 00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:24.159 image bearer of God. 00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.639 The only perfect image 00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:26.079 of God. 00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:28.279 Who's come to rescue 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:30.019 and restore us to our 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:32.299 intended identity and 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:33.720 dignity. 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:37.079 He came to fulfill 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.859 God's design for us 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.879 to be all that we 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.839 were meant to be but 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.559 could not be. 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.279 And he himself became 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:44.700 broken. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.299 He had his image broken 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:50.419 on the cross in order 00:28:50.419 --> 00:28:51.299 that the image of God 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.740 might be made whole 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.680 again. 00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:55.899 And this is why the 00:28:55.899 --> 00:28:57.200 Apostle Paul says things 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:57.740 like this. 00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:59.079 He says the Son is the 00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:00.159 image of the invisible 00:29:00.159 --> 00:29:00.639 God. 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.639 And God predestined us to 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:05.780 be conformed to the 00:29:05.780 --> 00:29:06.740 image of his Son. 00:29:08.580 --> 00:29:09.360 And therefore you're to 00:29:09.360 --> 00:29:10.440 put on the new self in 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:11.240 Jesus Christ. 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.340 Which is being renewed in 00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:15.400 the knowledge and the 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:17.520 image of its creator to 00:29:17.520 --> 00:29:18.640 be like God in true 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.780 righteousness and true 00:29:19.780 --> 00:29:20.759 holiness. 00:29:22.600 --> 00:29:23.700 See that's why Jesus 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.420 came. 00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:25.420 That is what Jesus, 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.720 God's one special person, 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:30.019 made it possible for you to 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:32.059 be and to become. 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.880 So who's the one true God? 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:39.079 Who are God's one special 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.480 people? 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:43.140 And last thing is what is 00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:45.279 God's one future for his 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.620 world? 00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:48.400 What is God's one future for 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:48.860 his world? 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.460 I'll be quick. 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:52.880 The secular vision of the 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:56.880 future says that this life 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.680 is all there is. 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.940 And that everything is 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.799 eventually going to burn 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:03.100 up in the death of the sun 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:03.920 and the solar system. 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.860 And that no one after that 00:30:06.860 --> 00:30:07.819 is going to be around to 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.840 remember anything that 00:30:08.840 --> 00:30:09.860 happened and that everyone 00:30:09.860 --> 00:30:10.600 will be forgotten. 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.720 And that nothing we do will 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.559 make a difference and that 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:15.019 all of our endeavors, even 00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:16.000 the best, will come to 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.319 naught. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:19.599 And therefore, on the 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.899 basis of that, we should 00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:22.539 fight poverty. 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.359 Therefore, on the basis of 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:27.039 that, we should seek for 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:28.200 nuclear disarmament so we 00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:29.299 don't destroy ourselves. 00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:34.519 Maybe that's part of the 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.379 reason why there's such a 00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:37.579 rise in anxiety and 00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.039 depression. 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:40.000 Because people don't know 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.799 why they're here. 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.559 They don't know what the 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.639 future of the world is all 00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:43.919 about. 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:46.600 And Genesis 1 and 2 says 00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:48.480 actually, no, God exists and 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.480 he has a plan, he has a 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:50.519 purpose, he has a pattern 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.840 for the image of God. 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:52.340 And what is that? 00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:53.779 He says, well, it's to put 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:54.779 men and women together. 00:30:56.220 --> 00:30:57.519 It's to put us together in 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:58.700 families and extended 00:30:58.700 --> 00:31:01.580 communities in order to 00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:03.000 help each other serve God 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.000 as his representatives in 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.360 the world. 00:31:06.120 --> 00:31:07.180 And what is the work that 00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:08.259 God's calling us to do in 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:09.259 these extended families? 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:12.200 Well, it says in 128, 00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:14.440 God blessed them and said 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.319 to them, be fruitful and 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.500 increase in number, fill the 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:18.720 earth and subdue it and rule 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.420 over everything. 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:22.500 And then in chapter 2, verse 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.879 15, it says the Lord God 00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:25.000 took the man and put him in 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:26.500 the garden of Eden to work 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:28.019 it and take care of it. 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.900 So I want you to underline 00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.740 some words. 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.759 Underline the word increase 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.379 and fill. 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.839 Underline the word subdue and 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:39.899 rule and underline the words 00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:42.159 work and take care. 00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:46.619 What is the image of God? 00:31:46.699 --> 00:31:47.919 What is the human family 00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:49.980 meant to do with this garden 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.919 he's put us in? 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.459 Well, the essence of 00:31:53.459 --> 00:31:54.319 gardening is just to 00:31:54.319 --> 00:31:55.879 rearrange and reorder raw 00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:57.139 materials to bring forth 00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:58.439 new products for human 00:31:58.439 --> 00:31:59.459 flourishing and well-being. 00:32:01.439 --> 00:32:02.679 And so that means that you 00:32:02.679 --> 00:32:04.259 are to participate with God 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:06.039 as a steward and a sub 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:10.059 creator to cultivate all the 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:12.500 soil and all the seeds that 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:14.639 are inherent potentialities 00:32:14.639 --> 00:32:17.659 in that garden of law and 00:32:17.659 --> 00:32:20.119 medicine, of family and 00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:22.879 education, of the arts and 00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:24.960 sciences, of finance and 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:27.399 technology, of trade and 00:32:27.399 --> 00:32:28.940 commerce, of the market and 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:29.480 the state. 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:30.879 We're to take all that there 00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:33.500 is in that garden and all of 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:35.259 its potentiality and to 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:37.200 unfold it and to cultivate it 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.720 according to the way that God 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.720 subdues and God rules his 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:43.879 creation so that more and 00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:45.799 more of it will reflect the 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:47.059 beauty of who God is. 00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.519 And you want to know what 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:53.180 fascinates me about verse 15? 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:56.160 Verse 15, those words work it 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:58.119 and take care of it are mostly 00:32:58.119 --> 00:33:00.039 used in the priestly texts. 00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:03.599 They're especially used to 00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:04.740 describe the responsibilities 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:06.720 that the Levites, the priests 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:08.879 have in the tabernacle in the 00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:09.559 temple of God. 00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:12.359 And if you go on and you study 00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:13.500 the Torah, you study the first 00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:15.099 five books of the Bible, 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.519 Genesis to Deuteronomy, you'll 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:18.639 realize that a good deal of it is 00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:20.240 about what we're supposed to do in 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:21.599 the tabernacle of God, in the 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:22.759 temple of God. 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:25.399 It's this place where heaven and 00:33:25.399 --> 00:33:27.359 earth, the twin halves of God's 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:29.240 good creation come together, they 00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:30.740 intersect and they overlap and 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:32.479 it's where God's presence and his 00:33:32.479 --> 00:33:33.319 power dwells. 00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:35.119 It's where his Shekinah glory 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:36.159 resides. 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:41.019 And the point is that that holy 00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:42.139 temple is meant to be a 00:33:42.139 --> 00:33:43.779 microcosm of the whole creation. 00:33:45.379 --> 00:33:47.559 And that's why when it is 00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:50.199 constructed, it's constructed with 00:33:50.199 --> 00:33:51.699 the images of angels and the 00:33:51.699 --> 00:33:52.459 heavenly lights. 00:33:53.419 --> 00:33:55.339 It's constructed with palm trees 00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:57.119 and open flowers, with lilies, 00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.559 and pomegranates. 00:34:00.179 --> 00:34:02.799 And that when God takes his 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:05.259 image-bearing human beings and he 00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:09.159 puts them in this garden temple as 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:12.440 royal priests, and he uses this 00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:14.719 priestly language of take care of 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:19.159 it and work it, what he's telling 00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:20.920 them is I want you to go out and I 00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:23.420 want you to turn all of creation into 00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:24.859 a holy temple. 00:34:24.860 --> 00:34:28.079 Did you know that's why you exist? 00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:32.700 You exist to turn all of creation into 00:34:32.700 --> 00:34:33.500 a holy temple. 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:38.620 Your home, your classroom, your 00:34:38.620 --> 00:34:42.079 office, your neighborhood, every 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:43.800 place where you live and work and 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:46.720 play, God wants you to make those into 00:34:46.720 --> 00:34:48.360 holy places that are filled with his 00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.840 presence and his power. 00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:54.400 Strangely enough, Jesus comes along 00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:59.780 and he says, destroy this temple and 00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:01.019 now we'll raise it up again in three 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.340 days. 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:04.660 Why is he talking about the temple? 00:35:04.659 --> 00:35:07.559 Because he's read his Bible. 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.539 Because he's saying that the whole 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:13.539 creation is summed up right here in me. 00:35:14.779 --> 00:35:17.119 And that all of humanity has to find 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:19.960 its new starting place right here in me, 00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:21.719 in this temple that's standing before you. 00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:24.679 And everything that God intended for 00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:26.579 human identity and for human work is 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:28.539 being fulfilled in me. 00:35:28.619 --> 00:35:31.339 In my destroyed yet raised up body, I'm 00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:33.579 going to make this whole world into a 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:35.440 temple of the living God. 00:35:38.100 --> 00:35:40.539 And Jesus intends to make your body 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:41.200 into a temple. 00:35:42.100 --> 00:35:44.019 He intends to make your marriage into a 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.220 temple. 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:47.519 He intends to make your family and your 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:49.600 community, your workplace, into a 00:35:49.600 --> 00:35:49.840 temple. 00:35:51.180 --> 00:35:53.039 So that all of it's a place where heaven 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:55.120 and earth can come and meet together in 00:35:55.120 --> 00:35:57.380 the presence and the power of God can be 00:35:57.380 --> 00:36:00.200 known and can dwell among us. 00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:05.000 And now you know why the last two 00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:08.160 chapters of the Bible are written to 00:36:08.160 --> 00:36:09.579 mirror the first two chapters of the 00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:09.780 Bible. 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:13.280 And I'll just close by quoting it. 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:17.820 Revelation 21 says, I did not see a 00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:19.280 temple in the city because the Lord 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:20.840 God Almighty and the Lamb are its 00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:21.100 temple. 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:24.660 The city does not need the sun or the 00:36:24.660 --> 00:36:26.240 moon to shine in it for the glory of 00:36:26.240 --> 00:36:27.880 God gives it light and the Lamb is its 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.180 lamp. 00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:32.940 The nations will walk by its light and 00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:34.639 the kings of the earth will bring their 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:35.719 splendor into it. 00:36:36.719 --> 00:36:38.679 The glory and honor of the nations be 00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:40.480 brought into it and only those whose 00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:42.139 names are written in the Lamb's book of 00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:45.019 life will enter in to it. 00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:49.019 So friends, let's join Jesus. 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:55.579 Let's join the ultimate Adam in all that 00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:58.199 he's doing to turn the whole of created 00:36:58.199 --> 00:37:02.800 reality into a temple, into a place where 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:07.699 we can finally worship and serve God as he 00:37:07.699 --> 00:37:08.400 made us to do. 00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:11.159 In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy 00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:12.579 Spirit, amen. 00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:13.400 Amen. 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:13.400 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:43.380 Thank you.