WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.320 Well, thank you, Paul, for your kind welcome. 00:00:07.459 --> 00:00:10.179 It's a pleasure to be with you this morning. 00:00:10.179 --> 00:00:14.859 It was a delight to share in Gethin and Katie's wedding. 00:00:14.859 --> 00:00:15.820 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.280 But God is rich in mercy and is long-suffering, and we're just delighted to share in the happy occasion. 00:00:41.960 --> 00:00:52.659 I'd like this morning to consider with you profound words that we read in verse 17 of John chapter 10. 00:00:52.659 --> 00:01:05.459 For this reason, the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:10.840 For this reason, the Father loves me. 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:22.920 Augustine, the remarkable early church father, late 4th, early 5th century, preached through the Gospel of John, 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:25.659 and he stated on one occasion, 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:34.359 the Gospel of John is shallow enough for a child to paddle in and deep enough for an elephant to swim in. 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:40.719 And when you read through the Gospel of John, you immediately understand what Augustine meant. 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:52.420 You read beautifully crafted narratives that just sweep you along with their simplicity, their richness, their evocativeness. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:58.100 Think of Jesus' encounter with the woman in John chapter 8. 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:02.879 It's vivid, it's powerful, it's imaginative. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:08.900 And Augustine himself, as he comes to the conclusion of his exposition, says, 00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:13.680 there remained but two, misery and mercy. 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:21.840 And all of the encounters that the Lord Jesus has are so simple at one level. 00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:26.219 They just sweep you along with their beautiful simplicity. 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:35.000 And then also you have these remarkable egocentric statements of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:39.560 Jesus was uninhibitedly egocentric. 00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:43.379 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:02:44.180 --> 00:02:46.879 No one comes to the Father except by me. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:50.500 I am the light of the world. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:56.360 Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 00:02:56.360 --> 00:03:09.900 And so when you read through John's Gospel, you quickly discover that you can read this Gospel to your children in their almost infancy 00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:18.880 and confront them with the beauty, the simplicity, the richness of language that you find throughout John's Gospel. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:27.840 But then, of course, there are places in John where you find yourself utterly out of your depth. 00:03:28.579 --> 00:03:37.060 Think of the opening words of the Gospel, which really are the window through which we are to read the whole Gospel. 00:03:37.680 --> 00:03:42.259 John has written his Gospel, you remember, at the end of chapter 20, 00:03:42.259 --> 00:03:50.759 so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that by believing we may have life in his name. 00:03:50.759 --> 00:04:01.439 The Gospel of John is an evangelistic tract, 15,635 words long, at least in the Greek text. 00:04:02.739 --> 00:04:10.019 And so from beginning to end, John is out not simply to inform us, but to persuade us. 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:18.680 And right at the outset, he confronts us with profundity that takes us totally out of all our comfort zones. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:22.199 In the beginning was the Word. 00:04:22.980 --> 00:04:24.960 The Word was with God. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:28.480 The Word was God. 00:04:29.220 --> 00:04:32.920 He was in the beginning with God. 00:04:33.460 --> 00:04:39.620 And John deliberately, right at the outset of his Gospel, confronts us with profundity. 00:04:40.019 --> 00:04:42.579 Almost to make us gasp. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:48.139 And to leave us wondering, who is this Jesus? 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:54.639 And so Augustine really, I think, is profoundly right when he says, 00:04:54.819 --> 00:04:58.539 the Gospel is shallow enough for children to paddle in, 00:04:59.159 --> 00:05:03.799 but it's deep enough for elephants to swim in. 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:11.460 And it's this out-of-our-depth passage in verse 17 in particular 00:05:11.460 --> 00:05:15.220 that I want to reflect on with you this morning. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:22.600 For this reason, the Father loves me 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:29.500 because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:40.480 Now, from times eternal, the Son of God was the adoring object of his Father's love. 00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:48.060 Think of how the Lord God Almighty punctuates history on three occasions 00:05:48.060 --> 00:05:53.780 to declare, this is my beloved Son. 00:05:55.180 --> 00:06:02.780 There was never a time when the Son was not beheld in love by his Father. 00:06:03.740 --> 00:06:06.980 The Holy Trinity is a communion of love. 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:08.180 God is love. 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:12.300 God is not a solitary monad as in Islam. 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:19.740 He is a communion, a community, a fellowship, a triad of love. 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:26.120 And from times eternal, the Father beheld the Son 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:31.560 with a love that had no beginning and that had no ending. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.780 This is Christianity 101. 00:06:36.660 --> 00:06:38.240 It's so basic, isn't it? 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:45.740 It's where we begin our thinking about the gospel of God. 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:50.199 Now read verse 17. 00:06:51.960 --> 00:06:54.379 For this reason the Father loves me, 00:06:55.259 --> 00:07:02.060 because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:05.460 I've often pondered these words. 00:07:05.459 --> 00:07:07.579 I remember, I can't remember when it was, 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:10.620 it must be many, many, many, many, many years ago now 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:12.039 that I first read them, 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.019 and was arrested immediately by them. 00:07:15.239 --> 00:07:18.379 For this reason the Father loves me? 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:21.719 But surely you were loved, Lord Jesus, 00:07:22.179 --> 00:07:24.919 as the Son of the Father from times eternal. 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:26.500 What do you mean, 00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:30.759 for this reason the Father loves you? 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:36.159 How are we to understand Jesus' words here? 00:07:37.779 --> 00:07:40.060 Well, very simply in this way, 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.839 that God the Father's love for his Son 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:48.579 is multi-dimensional, multifaceted. 00:07:51.099 --> 00:07:54.099 First of all, as I've already said, 00:07:54.740 --> 00:07:57.800 there is his love of eternal complacency, 00:07:57.800 --> 00:08:01.660 his love of sheer delight 00:08:01.660 --> 00:08:06.220 in who his Son is. 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:09.840 The Son is autotheos. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.660 He is God in himself. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:15.620 He doesn't owe his Godhead to the Father, 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:18.960 but he is the Son of the Father. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:25.979 And as the Father beheld his equal, 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:28.639 but the Son, 00:08:29.359 --> 00:08:32.059 who eternally was begotten of him, 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:37.379 he ever beheld him in love. 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:41.460 The Son needed to do nothing 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:44.919 to merit the love of his Father. 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:48.719 By virtue of who he is, 00:08:50.719 --> 00:08:53.439 the heart of the Father, 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:55.059 if I can use such language, 00:08:55.179 --> 00:08:56.459 the heart of the Father 00:08:56.459 --> 00:09:00.839 was ever traveling to his Son. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:04.439 Beholding the Son 00:09:04.439 --> 00:09:08.419 was the Father's delight in eternity. 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:10.620 If you like, 00:09:10.719 --> 00:09:13.579 this is the love of withness 00:09:13.579 --> 00:09:16.479 that John has hinted at 00:09:16.479 --> 00:09:18.219 right at the beginning of his Gospel. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:20.339 In the beginning was the Word. 00:09:20.459 --> 00:09:23.279 The Word was with God. 00:09:23.899 --> 00:09:24.899 Literally, almost, 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:27.459 the Word was face to face with God. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.519 And the Word was God. 00:09:29.599 --> 00:09:32.279 There was an eternal withness 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:35.240 to the relationship of the Father 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:37.919 and of the Son. 00:09:38.939 --> 00:09:40.139 And so there is, first of all, 00:09:40.199 --> 00:09:43.759 then, this love of eternal complacency. 00:09:44.439 --> 00:09:45.519 But secondly, 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:47.100 and it's this that Jesus 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:50.319 is speaking about here, 00:09:51.199 --> 00:09:52.679 there is the Father's love 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:55.079 of responsive admiration. 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:57.980 He loved the Son 00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:59.560 from times eternal 00:09:59.560 --> 00:10:02.400 by virtue of who he is. 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:04.960 But here, 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:09.800 there is a new dimension unfolding 00:10:09.800 --> 00:10:13.520 in the Father's love to the Son. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:18.560 The love of responsive admiration. 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:21.060 Because Jesus here is speaking 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:24.599 in his anointed 00:10:24.599 --> 00:10:27.179 and appointed capacity 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:29.479 as the mediator, 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:32.019 the redeemer of God's elect. 00:10:33.419 --> 00:10:37.439 He is here in his holy humanity, 00:10:38.099 --> 00:10:41.259 giving to the Father 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:45.359 that obedience that he had pledged to him 00:10:45.359 --> 00:10:46.679 in times eternal 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:48.579 in the covenant of redemption. 00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:52.160 Here I am. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:55.680 I delight to do your will, 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:56.740 O God, 00:10:56.920 --> 00:10:58.900 as we find it in the 40th Psalm. 00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:02.100 He has come into the world 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:04.960 in obedience to his Father. 00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:08.780 And that obedience that he pledged 00:11:08.780 --> 00:11:10.020 in times eternal 00:11:10.020 --> 00:11:12.940 was an obedience that would take him 00:11:12.940 --> 00:11:15.820 from glory to Golgotha. 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:21.360 Now, you must not think 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:23.000 that in times eternal, 00:11:24.260 --> 00:11:26.540 the Son of God 00:11:26.540 --> 00:11:29.120 understood 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:32.780 what it would mean for him 00:11:32.780 --> 00:11:35.720 to become flesh 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:39.400 and take that holy humanity 00:11:39.400 --> 00:11:41.900 to the cross of Calvary. 00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:45.659 that's why in the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:47.220 as the horror 00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:49.939 of what awaited him 00:11:49.939 --> 00:11:52.220 approached him inexorably, 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:54.259 and as his human soul 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:55.899 began to taste 00:11:55.899 --> 00:11:58.139 what it would mean for him 00:11:58.139 --> 00:12:00.579 to be obedient unto death, 00:12:01.139 --> 00:12:02.480 he shrank back. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:03.439 Father, 00:12:03.699 --> 00:12:04.819 if it is possible, 00:12:05.819 --> 00:12:07.039 take this cup 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.159 from me, 00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:11.939 but not my will, 00:12:13.459 --> 00:12:14.419 but yours 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:15.839 be done. 00:12:17.579 --> 00:12:19.259 Here he stands 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:21.459 in his holy, 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:22.839 fragile, 00:12:23.579 --> 00:12:24.099 frail 00:12:24.099 --> 00:12:25.299 humanity, 00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:28.959 and he is standing 00:12:28.959 --> 00:12:29.699 as the one 00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:31.079 who is pledged 00:12:31.079 --> 00:12:32.719 in love to the Father 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:35.100 to be obedient 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:36.399 unto death, 00:12:37.100 --> 00:12:37.899 a death 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:40.259 that would be 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:41.300 for him 00:12:41.300 --> 00:12:43.060 the death 00:12:43.060 --> 00:12:43.720 of a sinner. 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:45.720 He himself 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:47.480 in himself, 00:12:47.660 --> 00:12:48.019 holy, 00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:48.899 harmless, 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:49.960 undefiled, 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.540 separate from sinners, 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.160 but in our place 00:12:53.160 --> 00:12:54.019 he would stand 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:55.399 cursed and condemned. 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:59.179 he would bear 00:12:59.179 --> 00:13:01.559 the wrath of God, 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:02.840 the righteous 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:04.159 wrath of God 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:04.939 that our sin 00:13:04.939 --> 00:13:05.500 deserved. 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:09.620 And as the Father 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:11.860 watches the obedience 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:13.699 of his Son, 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:15.600 the Son that he loved 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:17.019 from times 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:17.819 eternal, 00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:20.039 a new 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:21.379 love 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.519 bursts 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:23.559 forth 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:24.539 from God 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.120 the Father. 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:26.799 the love 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.779 of a Father's 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:28.699 admiration 00:13:28.699 --> 00:13:30.959 for an obedient, 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.059 loving 00:13:32.059 --> 00:13:33.000 Son. 00:13:34.759 --> 00:13:36.019 And this is what 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:36.439 Jesus 00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:38.059 is speaking about 00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:38.360 here. 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.559 For this reason 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:40.100 the Father 00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:40.659 loves me 00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:42.179 in my capacity, 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:43.720 in my ordained, 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:45.139 anointed capacity 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:46.459 as the Redeemer 00:13:46.459 --> 00:13:47.620 of God's elect, 00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:49.919 as the one 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.639 who had come 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.439 into the world 00:13:51.439 --> 00:13:52.399 to be the Savior 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.139 of the world. 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.079 who would die 00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:56.699 the just 00:13:56.699 --> 00:13:57.639 for the unjust 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:58.500 to reconcile 00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.759 sinners to God. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:02.480 In that capacity, 00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:06.059 new love 00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:07.059 bursts 00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:08.000 forth 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.100 from heaven. 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.639 Now perhaps 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.740 you're thinking 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:16.679 as you listen 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:17.319 this morning, 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:19.780 well Ian, 00:14:20.060 --> 00:14:21.240 how then 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:21.540 are we 00:14:21.540 --> 00:14:22.700 to understand 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:23.660 the deafening 00:14:23.660 --> 00:14:24.320 silence 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.140 of heaven 00:14:25.140 --> 00:14:27.320 as the Lord 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:28.220 Jesus Christ 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:28.700 hung 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:30.379 on Calvary's 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:30.900 cross? 00:14:32.900 --> 00:14:34.060 My God, 00:14:34.140 --> 00:14:34.720 my God, 00:14:34.780 --> 00:14:35.220 why 00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.340 have you 00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:37.980 forsaken me? 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:40.000 And he 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:40.940 was truly 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:41.940 forsaken me. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:42.759 He wasn't 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.519 imagining 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.060 being forsaken. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:45.899 He said, 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.120 why have you 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.320 forsaken me? 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:49.139 He was 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:49.840 forsaken 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:50.700 of God 00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:52.820 as he 00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:53.360 became 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.340 our sin 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:55.100 atoning, 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:55.879 wrath 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:56.500 quenching 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.300 sacrifice 00:14:57.300 --> 00:14:58.740 in our 00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.320 place 00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:00.639 on Calvary's 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:00.980 cross. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:01.759 How are we 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:02.539 to understand 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.180 the deafening 00:15:03.180 --> 00:15:03.940 silence? 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.620 Certainly 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.220 he was 00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:07.840 forsaken. 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:11.399 but not 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:12.300 for 00:15:12.300 --> 00:15:13.159 one 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:14.480 moment 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:16.039 was he 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:16.759 unloved. 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:22.019 I'm 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:22.600 persuaded 00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.100 that the 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:23.720 father's 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.519 love 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.620 for his 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:25.960 son, 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.200 his love 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:28.180 of responsive 00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:29.340 admiration 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.039 for his 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:30.360 son, 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.519 reached its 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:32.680 omega point, 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:33.519 its highest 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:34.159 point. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.740 As he 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:38.460 forsook 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:39.039 his son 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:41.399 on Calvary's 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:41.919 cross. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.500 I remember 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.259 yet some 00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:45.799 years ago 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:46.379 now a good 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:46.820 friend of 00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:46.960 mine 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:47.399 preaching 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:49.080 and he 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:49.360 said, 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:49.899 even as 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.560 the father 00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:51.980 was laying 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.799 upon him 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:53.680 the iniquity 00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:54.460 of us all, 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.960 he was 00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:56.500 saying, 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:58.860 if ever I 00:15:58.860 --> 00:15:59.799 loved thee, 00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:02.120 my Jesus, 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.580 tis now. 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:07.780 as the 00:16:07.780 --> 00:16:08.280 father 00:16:08.280 --> 00:16:10.080 beholds the 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:10.480 son, 00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:13.100 as our 00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:14.440 appointed 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:15.500 representative, 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:18.060 about to 00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:18.580 be offered 00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:19.060 up 00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:20.920 as an 00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:21.340 atoning 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.080 sacrifice 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:22.960 for sin, 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.200 the love 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.720 of responsive 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.840 admiration 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:30.620 bursts forth 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.259 from heaven. 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:35.899 Now, 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:36.240 what I 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:37.019 really want 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:37.840 to focus 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.379 on with 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:38.840 you this 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.259 morning, 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:40.320 with that 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:40.840 as the 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.539 prelude, 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.379 is to 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:45.320 make this 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:47.060 profound 00:16:47.060 --> 00:16:47.759 point, 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:48.519 I think, 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.899 that this 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:51.360 pattern of 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.580 eternal love 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:54.019 and responsive 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:55.919 admiring 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:56.500 love 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:58.960 is reflected 00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.659 in the 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.220 love that 00:17:00.220 --> 00:17:00.659 the Lord 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:01.159 Jesus 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:03.100 has for 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:04.380 his people. 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.000 If you 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.440 turn over 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:06.900 to John 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.839 chapter 15, 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.400 you'll see 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.019 the point, 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:09.640 I hope. 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.500 John 15 00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:17.920 at verse 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.299 9. 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.220 As the 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:22.940 father has 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.859 loved me, 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:26.160 so have 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:26.680 I loved 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.100 you, 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:28.660 abide 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:30.160 in my 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:30.840 love. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:32.440 If you 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:33.560 keep my 00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:34.320 commandments, 00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:35.940 you will 00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:36.560 abide in 00:17:36.560 --> 00:17:37.240 my love, 00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:38.380 just as I 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:38.860 have kept 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:39.820 my father's 00:17:39.820 --> 00:17:40.380 commandments, 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.360 and abide 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:44.120 in his 00:17:44.120 --> 00:17:44.519 love. 00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:47.060 Just as 00:17:47.060 --> 00:17:47.740 the father's 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.240 love for 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:48.800 his son 00:17:48.800 --> 00:17:49.120 is 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:50.779 multidimensional, 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:52.779 so the 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.279 son's 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.500 love for 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.200 his people 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:55.519 is 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:57.180 multidimensional. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.100 We have 00:17:58.100 --> 00:17:58.840 been loved 00:17:58.840 --> 00:18:00.059 in Christ 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:00.880 from times 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:01.480 eternal. 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.400 Gerhardus 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:04.799 Voss, 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:05.180 the 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:06.920 remarkable 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:07.799 Dutch 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.220 biblical 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.019 theologian, 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.259 put it 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.860 astonishing 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:12.460 when he 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:12.759 said, 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:13.440 the reason 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.420 God will 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.380 never stop 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:16.120 loving you 00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:17.180 is because 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.860 he never 00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:18.640 began 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.559 to love 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:19.840 you. 00:18:20.580 --> 00:18:21.059 I have 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.680 loved you, 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.720 Jeremiah 31, 00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:23.180 with an 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:23.799 everlasting 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.440 love. 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.080 He has 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:25.560 loved us 00:18:25.560 --> 00:18:25.880 with a 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:26.220 love that 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:26.600 is no 00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:27.039 beginning 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.700 and that 00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.120 has no 00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:28.580 ending. 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:29.600 And the 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:30.120 reason he 00:18:30.120 --> 00:18:30.600 will never 00:18:30.600 --> 00:18:31.640 stop loving 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:32.320 his people 00:18:32.320 --> 00:18:34.880 is because 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.440 he never 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:37.519 began to 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.039 love them. 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:42.059 electing 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.680 gracious, 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.339 sure, 00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:44.440 certain, 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.539 unchanging 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:45.960 love. 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:46.420 But, 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.819 along with 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.079 this 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:48.859 unchanging 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.460 love, 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:51.779 there is 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:52.159 a love 00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:53.180 of responsive 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.539 admiration. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:56.819 Jesus 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.339 says, 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:58.559 we will 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.259 abide in 00:18:59.259 --> 00:18:59.740 his love 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.879 if you 00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:01.779 keep my 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.559 commandments, 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.019 just as I 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:04.480 have kept 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.359 my father's 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:05.819 commandments 00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.460 and abide 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:06.819 in his 00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.099 love. 00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:08.460 If Jesus 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.639 had deviated 00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:10.679 one iota 00:19:10.679 --> 00:19:11.240 from his 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:11.859 pledged 00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:12.759 obedience to 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.359 the father, 00:19:14.679 --> 00:19:15.220 he would 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.259 have forfeited 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.079 the father's 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:17.939 love of 00:19:17.939 --> 00:19:18.720 responsive 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.659 admiration. 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:20.720 That's what 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:21.379 he says. 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.299 If you 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:23.819 keep my 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:24.359 commandments, 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:25.179 just as I 00:19:25.179 --> 00:19:25.619 have kept 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:26.379 my father's 00:19:26.379 --> 00:19:26.819 commandments, 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.859 and abide 00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.359 in his 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:28.759 love. 00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:31.159 Now, 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.639 here is the 00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:32.059 point I 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:32.759 really want 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.500 to leave 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:33.960 with you 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:34.220 and with 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:34.980 myself this 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.359 morning. 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.500 The Lord 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.159 Jesus never 00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:39.019 stops loving 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.619 his people 00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:41.279 in our 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.899 weakness, 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.500 in our 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.240 fragility, 00:19:44.679 --> 00:19:45.539 in our 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.139 failures. 00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:48.220 He never 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.200 stops loving 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:49.480 us. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:49.899 We are 00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:50.519 bone of 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.059 his bone 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:51.740 and flesh 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.099 of his 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:52.679 flesh. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.039 We have 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.799 been united 00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.359 to him 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:56.720 indissolubly 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:57.659 by the 00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:58.439 Holy Spirit. 00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.559 He will 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:02.980 never 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.359 stop 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.299 loving 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:05.819 us. 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.099 But, 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.399 his love 00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:10.939 can be 00:20:10.939 --> 00:20:11.539 grieved 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.119 by our 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:12.599 sin. 00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:16.279 His love 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.779 can be 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.299 grieved. 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:18.799 I can 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.379 never read 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:19.819 what Paul 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:20.459 writes in 00:20:20.459 --> 00:20:21.679 Ephesians 4 00:20:21.679 --> 00:20:22.519 about grieving 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.079 the Holy 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:24.099 Spirit without 00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:25.179 stopping and 00:20:25.179 --> 00:20:26.000 pausing and 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.639 thinking, 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:27.079 Lord, 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.699 does someone 00:20:28.699 --> 00:20:29.539 like me, 00:20:29.659 --> 00:20:30.519 a worm of 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.119 the earth? 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:31.740 Am I 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.460 able to 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.039 grieve 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.779 God? 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:35.960 Am I 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.599 able to 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.960 disappoint you 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.579 and grieve 00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:38.940 you, 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:40.440 the unchanging, 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.539 unchangeable, 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.740 triune God 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.220 who is from 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.099 everlasting to 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:44.660 everlasting? 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.660 Yes, 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.440 the Bible 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.220 tells me 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.599 so. 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.099 Philosophically, 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:52.500 you might 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:52.779 say, 00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:53.160 ah, 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.639 but Ian, 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:54.440 Ian, 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.379 Ian, 00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:57.900 God is 00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.700 impassable. 00:20:58.700 --> 00:21:01.940 who would 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.539 deny it? 00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:04.960 I am the 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.380 Lord, 00:21:05.580 --> 00:21:06.319 I change 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:06.819 not. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:09.880 That I 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.200 read in 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.640 his word, 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.039 I can 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:11.740 grieve 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.059 his spirit. 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:16.420 In all 00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.360 our afflictions, 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:17.819 the Bible 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.620 tells me he 00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:19.420 is afflicted. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.180 I would 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.680 rather live 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:23.140 by the 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:23.700 text of 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.000 Holy 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.480 Scripture 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.779 than by 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:25.980 the 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:26.500 logical, 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.519 philosophical 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.500 teachings of 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:30.480 Thomas Aquinas. 00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:32.639 There's a 00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.500 mystery here, 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:33.839 there's a 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.960 profundity here, 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.480 but we are 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.359 to live on 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:38.920 the basis 00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.379 of the 00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:39.799 revealed 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.359 word of 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:40.660 God. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:43.000 God can 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.720 be grieved 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.240 by our 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.480 sin, 00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:44.900 and in 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:45.440 the same 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.019 way, 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.119 his love 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:47.759 can be 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.299 heightened 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.720 by our 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.299 loving, 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.440 wholehearted 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.279 obedience. 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:55.160 as the 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:55.759 Father has 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.299 loved me, 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.039 so have 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.539 I loved 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:57.899 you. 00:21:58.139 --> 00:21:58.619 Notice the 00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.399 parallelism, 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.599 abide in 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.180 my love, 00:22:01.399 --> 00:22:02.240 and if you 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:02.899 keep my 00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:03.420 commandments, 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.319 you will 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.920 abide in 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.960 my love. 00:22:07.139 --> 00:22:07.839 This is all 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:08.680 simply to say 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.200 this, if you 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.839 take anything 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.420 away with you 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:10.980 this morning, 00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:11.539 take this 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:11.980 away with 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.160 you. 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:16.819 Our 00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:18.279 Savior 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:20.240 takes a 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:20.960 special 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.639 delight 00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:23.639 in his 00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:24.460 people's 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.059 loving 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:26.259 obedience. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.879 Now, 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:30.680 obedience in 00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.059 no way 00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:31.920 contributes to 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:32.660 our salvation, 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.099 we know 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:33.500 that. 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.019 It is all 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.740 of grace, 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.639 from beginning 00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:37.339 to end. 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.059 As Paul 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:39.440 prayed, 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.500 even the 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.200 faith with 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.720 which we 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:42.359 believe, 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.299 that even 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.259 that trembling 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.660 faith is 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.379 itself the 00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.039 very gift 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.639 of God's 00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:48.139 grace. 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:51.539 obedience 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.720 contributes 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:54.379 nothing to 00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:55.079 our standing 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:56.019 before God, 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:58.559 but your 00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.200 heart 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.480 obedience can 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:02.039 delight your 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.460 God. 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:04.720 And so the 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.299 question I 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.940 really want to 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.500 ask this 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.240 morning is 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.500 very simple. 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:10.940 Do you 00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:11.619 not want to 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.539 delight the 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:12.879 Lord? 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.879 Do you 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.799 not want to 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.659 please him? 00:23:18.659 --> 00:23:21.000 Do you 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.779 not want to 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.559 show in 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.299 your life 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:25.200 that he 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.000 is your 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.139 greatest 00:23:27.139 --> 00:23:27.619 good? 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.940 That he 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:31.359 is the 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:32.180 king before 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:32.799 whom you 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.180 bow, 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.700 the savior 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.299 whom you 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.059 embrace? 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:39.220 Do you 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.419 not want to 00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:41.759 delight him 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.599 and please 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:42.859 him? 00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.819 for this 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.619 reason the 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:45.500 father loves 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:45.839 me? 00:23:46.919 --> 00:23:47.619 Because I 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.339 lay down 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:48.959 in obedience 00:23:48.959 --> 00:23:49.539 to him 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.319 my life 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.579 for my 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.000 sheep. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.519 Loving 00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.000 obedience 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:58.039 is the 00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.479 new 00:23:58.479 --> 00:23:59.419 lifestyle 00:23:59.419 --> 00:24:00.819 of the 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.219 Christian 00:24:01.219 --> 00:24:01.699 believer. 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:03.819 It is the 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.639 new lifestyle 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.719 that every 00:24:05.719 --> 00:24:06.259 Christian 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:06.879 believer 00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:08.479 is brought 00:24:08.479 --> 00:24:09.279 into 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.179 through the 00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:10.639 gospel. 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.080 And do you 00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.620 know why? 00:24:12.560 --> 00:24:13.120 I'm sure 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.660 already you 00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:14.540 anticipate my 00:24:14.540 --> 00:24:15.200 next statement. 00:24:15.600 --> 00:24:16.200 Because what 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.520 does the 00:24:16.520 --> 00:24:17.380 gospel do? 00:24:18.040 --> 00:24:18.940 It unites 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.620 us to the 00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.200 Lord Jesus 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:20.860 Christ. 00:24:21.280 --> 00:24:21.700 And who 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.160 is this 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.759 Lord Jesus 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.900 Christ to 00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.900 whom we 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.259 have been 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.140 united as 00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:26.920 branches to 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:27.420 the vine? 00:24:28.100 --> 00:24:28.780 He is the 00:24:28.780 --> 00:24:29.300 obedient, 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:30.460 loving son 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:30.800 of the 00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:31.180 father. 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.080 And the 00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:33.800 obedient, 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.780 loving nature 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.420 of the 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:36.759 God 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.379 man 00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:39.160 flows 00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:40.759 by the 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.420 ministry of 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:41.980 the spirit 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.680 into our 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.359 lives. 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:44.960 And we 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.319 are being 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.139 changed from 00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:46.859 one degree 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.539 of glory 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.180 to another. 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:48.920 And what 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:49.639 are these 00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:50.500 degrees of 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.039 glory? 00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:52.440 They are 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.299 degrees of 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.819 loving 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.519 obedience 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.980 to the 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.720 holy will 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.079 of the 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.500 father 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.379 revealed 00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:59.619 in his 00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.519 word. 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:04.599 There's a 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:04.980 wonderful 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:05.579 statement 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.359 Paul makes 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:07.480 in Romans 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.079 6. 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:08.819 You'll 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.500 come to 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:09.700 it. 00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:09.980 We've 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.160 been 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:10.579 following 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:10.960 a little 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.480 these 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.559 services, 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.119 Joan and 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:13.500 I, and 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.359 just love 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:14.839 being with 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.680 you on a 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.019 number of 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.420 occasions 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:17.079 through Romans. 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.339 You'll 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:17.660 come to 00:25:17.660 --> 00:25:18.400 Romans 6, 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:20.079 17, where 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:21.299 Paul uses 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.220 very striking 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:22.819 language. 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:24.079 He says 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.019 that through 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.720 the gospel 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.180 we have 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:27.099 been poured 00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:28.059 into a 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.579 mold. 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:32.460 And that 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.279 mold is the 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.039 person of 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.579 the Son of 00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:34.960 God. 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.579 It's not a 00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.339 doctrinal 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.019 mold. 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.259 Well, it is a 00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:40.079 doctrinal mold, 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:40.480 but the 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.079 doctrine is 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:41.859 embedded in 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.400 the person 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:42.799 of the 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.079 Son. 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.299 You never 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.379 separate the 00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:46.160 doctrines of 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:46.759 the gospel 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.879 from the 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:48.619 one who 00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:49.539 is himself 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.240 the doctrine 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.639 of the 00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:51.099 gospel, 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:51.579 Jesus 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.220 Christ. 00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:53.799 And Paul 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.299 says the 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.119 gospel comes 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:55.480 and it 00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:56.200 pours us 00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.960 idiosyncratically. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.680 We don't 00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.379 all become 00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.240 clones of 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.819 one another. 00:26:01.120 --> 00:26:01.400 We are 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:01.920 to become 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.779 clones of 00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.299 the God 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:03.640 man, 00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.019 Jesus 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.660 Christ, 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.420 in our 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.720 own 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.799 idiosyncratic 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.559 humanity. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.460 And as 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.120 we seek 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:14.819 to live 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.859 out our 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.819 lives of 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.099 loving 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.799 obedience, 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.079 bursts 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:21.579 of 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.759 responsive, 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.640 admiring 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:26.180 love 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.700 comes from 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.000 heaven. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.680 God 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:30.680 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:30.819 that 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:30.819 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:30.819 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:31.599 only 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:33.220 does 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:33.420 the 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.779 father 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.200 say 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:34.539 this 00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:34.720 is 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.099 my 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.599 beloved 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.120 son. 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.099 Do 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.279 you 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.700 see 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.660 the 00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:38.960 loving 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.500 obedience 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.160 that he 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.359 is 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:40.700 giving 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.039 me 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:41.579 even 00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:42.200 unto 00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:42.339 the 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:42.799 death 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.099 of a 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.519 cross 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:43.920 that he 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.339 cannot 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:45.099 yet 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:46.400 mentally, 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.799 emotively, 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:48.980 spiritually 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.799 comprehend? 00:26:49.799 --> 00:27:01.299 end. Take that to ourselves. I've little doubt. Remember with Job, God says to Satan, 00:27:01.899 --> 00:27:09.500 behold my servant Job. Would you not want the father to be saying to the angelic hosts 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:18.740 this morning, behold that daughter of mine, do you see? The loving obedience that she 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:28.359 unreservedly gives to me. Do you see that devoted little boy, girl who is seeking in the simplicity 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:38.200 of their union with Christ to please me? We've been loved with an everlasting love. 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:46.420 It has no beginning, it will have no end, but embedded within that there are bursts 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:55.580 of heavenly admiration. I think it's one of the hallmarks of the new birth. 00:27:57.880 --> 00:28:05.519 How do I know I've been born again? Because, you know, some of your mothers, some births are dramatic, 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:15.720 not so many actually, most, well what do I know? But I've had four, I've watched four births. One was 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:20.779 pretty dramatic and the other three just happened to appear. Well don't ask Joan that, but they can 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:29.960 have happened to appear. And you say, well how do I know I've been born again? Well let me simply ask 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:41.380 you. In your heart of hearts, do you long to please the Lord? 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:52.540 Lord, I've been tempted to live a life that will bring forth from him bursts of loving admiration. 00:28:52.539 --> 00:29:02.519 The reason the Father loves me, who had loved me from times eternal, but the reason he now loves me 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:17.759 is that I lay down my life for my sheep. Loving, unreserved obedience brings forth bursts 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:21.960 of heavenly admiration.