WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.519 ! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:18.280 Today is the last sermon in our summer series on tough questions. 00:00:19.100 --> 00:00:27.379 These are hard topics and I, for one, will be relieved to get back to preaching through a book of the Bible as usual. 00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:31.280 Even if that means revelation here shortly. 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:39.939 But in all sincerity, this study has been really helpful for my faith. 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:44.100 I pray that the same is true for you. 00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:52.359 And I pray that in addition to your own faith being strengthened, that you'll be encouraged to listen to, 00:00:52.460 --> 00:01:00.840 to engage with friends and neighbors because these questions we're talking about really are fundamental to life. 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:03.300 A foundational to eternity. 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:08.640 We've talked about suffering and science and the Bible and hell. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:13.920 But today we close with a question that a lot of people ask. 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:19.200 Is Jesus really the only way to God? 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:24.500 And I want us to turn to Acts chapter 17 together. 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:29.680 There are passages that answer this question more simply and directly. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:42.880 But I really love this passage where Paul is in Athens and he's engaging with the philosophers of the day about such significant and eternal issues. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:54.539 I'd encourage you, if you're not personally wondering about the question for today, think of someone who is. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:57.459 Put yourself in their shoes. 00:01:57.579 --> 00:01:59.060 Think of someone you know, perhaps. 00:01:59.060 --> 00:02:04.820 Let's read God's word in Acts 17 at verse 22. 00:02:04.819 --> 00:02:17.919 With Paul standing in the center of the city's social discussion, underneath the shadow of the Parthenon and speaking to the crowds gathered there about Jesus. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:23.419 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said, 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:27.979 Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 00:02:28.659 --> 00:02:35.239 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:38.319 To the unknown God. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:45.259 What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:52.439 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 00:02:52.819 --> 00:02:56.120 Nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything, 00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:01.680 Since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:07.479 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, 00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:12.659 Having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 00:03:13.299 --> 00:03:19.560 That they should seek God in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. 00:03:20.079 --> 00:03:23.099 Yet he is actually not far from each one of us. 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:28.239 For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:30.659 For we are indeed his offspring. 00:03:30.659 --> 00:03:39.699 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:43.219 An image formed by the art and imagination of man. 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:51.199 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:58.239 Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, 00:03:59.019 --> 00:04:03.859 And of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. 00:04:04.899 --> 00:04:08.099 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:11.739 But others said, We will hear you again about this. 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:16.439 So Paul went out from their midst, but some men joined him and believed, 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:23.280 Among them Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. 00:04:24.379 --> 00:04:27.420 This is God's word, let's ask for his help. 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:34.160 Father, what an incredible day when Paul spoke, 00:04:34.160 --> 00:05:02.700 Would you do that now? 00:05:02.699 --> 00:05:08.959 Would that be true again as we speak of this same Jesus with our friends and our neighbors and those we love? 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:11.180 That your same spirit would be at work? 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:16.959 Give us that hope in the resurrected, living, powerful Savior. 00:05:18.159 --> 00:05:19.560 We ask you in his name. 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:20.659 Amen. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:31.079 The nuns are on the rise in our culture, surveys tell us. 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:35.979 The nuns are not an order of Catholic women, 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:43.779 but rather those who describe themselves as having no religion at all. 00:05:44.699 --> 00:05:49.740 Some of you in this room think of yourself that way. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:06:01.860 One of the interesting things is less than 20% of the nuns in America say that they are atheists. 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:09.579 In other words, the large majority of them are open to the idea of God. 00:06:09.699 --> 00:06:14.480 They're asking some honest questions about what God would be like. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:17.920 Questions like the ones we've asked this summer. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:25.400 And one of the benefits of asking such questions, if you're one who's prone to doing that, 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:34.920 one of the benefits of having an open mind is that many people are there interested in answers. 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:40.120 As G.K. Chesterton once quipped, 00:06:40.960 --> 00:06:44.060 an open mind is like an open mouth. 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:50.800 The purpose of its being open is to close it on something substantial. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:56.379 What I mean is, in different words, 00:06:56.500 --> 00:07:00.800 we're all actually worshiping something, all of us. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:03.900 Whether or not we would use that word worship. 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:10.620 Most of us are looking for some centering principle for our lives, 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:13.540 something that helps us understand our place, 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:16.080 our significance in the world, 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:19.340 that gives us meaning and purpose each day. 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:22.860 Even if some wouldn't call it God, 00:07:23.259 --> 00:07:28.420 we're looking for something bigger than ourselves to be a part of. 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:32.720 If you don't believe me, go to a college football stadium on a Saturday this fall. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:38.560 It may be freedom that we're looking to, 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:41.340 being true to myself, right? 00:07:41.980 --> 00:07:44.960 It may be success, professional advancement, 00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:47.500 or money will make me somebody. 00:07:48.960 --> 00:07:50.340 Or it may be pleasure. 00:07:50.700 --> 00:07:55.340 Maybe happiness will satisfy me deep inside. 00:07:55.339 --> 00:07:59.879 But we're all looking for something that we can live for. 00:08:01.359 --> 00:08:08.139 And this is where Paul makes his connection with the intellectual elite in Athens. 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:12.519 Athens long, the philosophical center of the world. 00:08:14.099 --> 00:08:18.519 Paul's going to answer yes to our question, 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:22.159 is Jesus really the only way to God? 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:27.020 But he wants to connect with his hearers first. 00:08:27.260 --> 00:08:34.759 He wants to help them understand Jesus as answer to questions they ask. 00:08:34.899 --> 00:08:39.700 That they too ask questions to which Jesus is the answer. 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:42.399 That's what happens here in this interaction. 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:45.860 Paul sees this altar, right? 00:08:46.300 --> 00:08:49.440 To an unknown God. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:53.760 God, you've got questions, he says. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:59.800 Amidst this Greek pantheon of gods and idols, 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.860 they had plenty of them. 00:09:02.120 --> 00:09:03.980 There's one for crops, right? 00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:05.680 There's one for your family. 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:07.260 There's one for love. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:09.840 There's one more here. 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:13.640 To an unknown God, you know, to cover their bases 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:17.759 because they weren't sure that they had life figured out. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:21.259 That they'd covered everything. 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:25.439 There was no one God that could handle all of it. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:30.480 But Paul doesn't leave them just with open minds, right? 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:34.419 Searching for answers, not caring where they find them. 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:37.659 No, Paul has more in his heart for them. 00:09:39.179 --> 00:09:42.039 He says, you worship. 00:09:43.059 --> 00:09:44.120 You worship. 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:47.559 What you worship as unknown, 00:09:48.579 --> 00:09:52.379 this I proclaim to you. 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:57.600 For our purposes, Paul says three things. 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:06.000 First, there is a God who made all this world, including us. 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:08.279 That's where he starts, right? 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:10.179 Paul says, there's a God, 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:13.059 not one tribal deity among many, 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:16.379 but the one supreme over all. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:22.120 He does not depend on people to serve him like your gods do. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:26.220 But he makes the world and all people. 00:10:27.139 --> 00:10:28.360 On top of that, 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:31.779 this God is involved in the world. 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:34.519 Now, here's where it starts to get a little bit different 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:36.019 from what they would have expected. 00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:39.659 Some of them would have expected there was a God. 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:44.919 But this God, he says, is involved in the world. 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:47.379 Where people live and when they move 00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:49.939 and every other piece of society, 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:52.059 this God is involved. 00:10:52.599 --> 00:10:54.219 And that's new information. 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:56.519 But see, they loved new ideas. 00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:58.659 That's what they gathered to talk about. 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:00.879 It would be new to them 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:03.659 because their leading philosophies, 00:11:03.939 --> 00:11:06.620 Stoicism and Epicureanism, 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:08.259 are mentioned in verse 18. 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:13.019 They were both functionally naturalistic, 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:16.100 like many in our culture today. 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:17.679 In other words, 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:21.480 if there was a God outside this world, 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.960 and maybe they weren't sure, 00:11:23.299 --> 00:11:24.379 but if there was, 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:26.639 he didn't get involved here. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:30.659 So you were stuck dealing with yourself, 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:32.299 your desires, 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:33.679 your emotions, 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:34.259 either way. 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:37.439 Paul says this true God 00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:39.819 is different from that. 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:42.240 He's inside and involved. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:43.879 In fact, 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.659 there's a reason, Paul says, 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:47.799 this true God 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:49.600 is so intimately involved 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:51.100 in this world. 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:54.080 This God is personal, 00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:56.980 and he wants a relationship 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:58.819 with us. 00:12:00.179 --> 00:12:01.899 Track there in verse 26, 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:03.620 why did he make them 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:05.159 and put them 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:06.579 in this time, 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:07.959 in this place, 00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:09.279 verse 27, 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:12.419 that they might seek God 00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:14.419 and find him 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:17.720 since he's actually close to us. 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:19.039 So he says, 00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:19.860 listen, listen, 00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:22.139 don't think that this true God 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:24.779 is made of stone by men. 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.740 Don't think, friend, 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:28.960 that life's centering principle 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:30.960 is something that we invent, 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:32.580 that we could come up with, 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:34.480 that we could concoct. 00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:34.800 No, 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:37.240 he made us 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:39.440 and is personal. 00:12:41.280 --> 00:12:43.200 And that speaks to his reality. 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.900 This is important to follow. 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:46.280 See, 00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:50.800 if God is just some man-made God of gold, 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:52.920 then you can pretend 00:12:52.920 --> 00:12:54.240 whatever you'd like 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.160 about who it is 00:12:56.160 --> 00:12:57.860 and what he does. 00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:59.220 You could pretend 00:12:59.220 --> 00:13:00.620 that he'll hear you 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:02.019 if you dance longer 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:04.120 or reward you 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:06.019 if you say the magic words 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:08.740 or that he'll satisfy you 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:10.300 if you mix in other pursuits 00:13:10.300 --> 00:13:12.580 and you learn some calming postures. 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.460 Whatever. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.039 You get to make it up 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:18.200 if you made the God. 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:21.759 But if God is personal, 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:25.039 then like you or me, 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:26.539 you have to know him 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:28.600 for who he really is. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:30.319 That's what it means 00:13:30.319 --> 00:13:31.360 to be a person. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.179 Paul says, 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.139 truth is a person, 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:35.559 someone you know 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:36.779 in relationship. 00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:37.500 So, 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:39.059 you should not say, 00:13:39.319 --> 00:13:39.480 well, 00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:39.720 you know, 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:41.539 I like to think of God 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:43.840 as a vengeful warrior 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:48.300 or a heavenly Santa Claus 00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:51.639 or a cosmic cheerleader 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:54.399 who supports whatever I want to do. 00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:56.040 No, no, no, no. 00:13:56.540 --> 00:13:58.980 Even if you really like the idea 00:13:58.980 --> 00:14:02.120 of God being like one of those things, 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:04.560 it doesn't make him that. 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.720 He's a person. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:10.279 You can think of Will Spink 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:12.379 as a gifted auto mechanic 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:14.480 who hates people 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.120 and loves cooked spinach. 00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:17.820 You can, 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.220 but you'd be wrong 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:21.899 on all counts. 00:14:23.540 --> 00:14:24.060 In fact, 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:25.060 if you really, 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.860 sincerely believe those things, 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:28.980 you are really, 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.700 sincerely wrong. 00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:32.480 See, 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.080 truth, 00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:33.759 God says, 00:14:33.800 --> 00:14:34.940 is a person 00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:36.340 you can know 00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:37.740 in relationship. 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:38.960 Truth, 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:39.240 then, 00:14:39.280 --> 00:14:39.880 is based 00:14:39.880 --> 00:14:41.380 not on sincerity 00:14:41.380 --> 00:14:44.400 but on reality. 00:14:45.380 --> 00:14:46.920 Because God 00:14:46.920 --> 00:14:48.660 can actually be known 00:14:48.660 --> 00:14:50.120 because he wants 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:51.740 relationship with us, 00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:53.900 because he's a personal being, 00:14:54.140 --> 00:14:55.640 you can be sincere 00:14:55.640 --> 00:14:57.060 in your thoughts about him 00:14:57.060 --> 00:14:59.280 and be sincerely wrong. 00:15:00.300 --> 00:15:00.480 Right? 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:02.520 That's what Paul's saying. 00:15:03.900 --> 00:15:04.540 And by the way, 00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:06.199 any other kind of God, 00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:07.379 a distant one, 00:15:07.579 --> 00:15:08.879 an impersonal one, 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:11.699 you got nothing to do with, 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:12.139 right? 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:14.079 And nothing to worry about 00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:14.779 from anyway, 00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:16.279 so don't bother 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:17.159 with that option. 00:15:19.819 --> 00:15:20.899 One side note 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:22.419 before we move on 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:23.399 to Paul's punchline. 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.939 I hope that you, 00:15:26.099 --> 00:15:27.459 just if you grabbed this verse 00:15:27.459 --> 00:15:28.959 and thought, 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:29.139 man, 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:29.980 this isn't even really 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:31.240 what Paul's building to, 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:33.139 but I hope you can stop here 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:33.799 and remember 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:36.120 how much God wants to be 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:38.179 in relationship with you. 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:40.019 Can you see that there 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:40.919 in verse 27? 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.659 Why he's doing 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.580 all of these things 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.100 in history? 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.519 When we talk about 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:47.299 our faith priority, 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:49.299 the importance of owning 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:51.519 our relationship with God, 00:15:52.059 --> 00:15:53.519 we don't mean 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.720 that it's up to us 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.699 to figure it out 00:15:55.699 --> 00:15:56.679 and make our way 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:57.519 up the mountain 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.299 to God 00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:59.200 to finally get 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:00.440 to where he is. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.280 No, 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:03.120 he has made us 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.259 and he has placed us 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.400 when we are 00:16:06.400 --> 00:16:08.080 and where we are 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:11.060 that we might know him. 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:13.920 He made you 00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:15.160 and placed you 00:16:15.160 --> 00:16:16.800 in Huntsville, 00:16:17.140 --> 00:16:19.440 in the 21st century, 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.879 in your school, 00:16:21.140 --> 00:16:22.220 in your friendships, 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.860 in your neighborhood, 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:26.600 today at Southwood Church. 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:27.440 Why? 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.399 Why are you here? 00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:32.800 That you might know him 00:16:32.800 --> 00:16:33.980 because he wants 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.200 to know you 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.060 and he wants you 00:16:36.060 --> 00:16:37.259 to know him. 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.019 I hope that encourages you. 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:40.220 I hope that warms 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.420 your heart to him 00:16:41.420 --> 00:16:42.940 to making a priority 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:44.820 out of that relationship 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:45.920 as he makes 00:16:45.920 --> 00:16:47.659 a priority out of it. 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:51.059 If that doesn't do it, 00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:53.199 how about the fact 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:55.360 that he came after you 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:57.399 for that relationship? 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.539 God became man 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:03.639 to fix our broken relationship. 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.220 This is where I want us 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:05.940 to slow down. 00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:09.139 It's Paul's climactic point. 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:14.400 Jesus' resurrection 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.420 demonstrates 00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:18.520 that he uniquely 00:17:18.520 --> 00:17:20.180 is the key 00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:22.200 to this relationship. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.040 It's what DJ 00:17:25.040 --> 00:17:26.300 was just singing about, right? 00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:30.000 It's a living hope. 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:31.940 See verse 30, 00:17:32.300 --> 00:17:34.200 God commands all people 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:36.140 everywhere to repent, 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:38.080 to turn back to him 00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:39.420 as the true God, 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:41.060 not just one among many, 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:42.440 not just take your pick 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.400 today or this week, 00:17:43.520 --> 00:17:44.759 to turn back to him 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:45.680 as the true God 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:46.040 because, 00:17:46.940 --> 00:17:47.700 verse 31, 00:17:48.280 --> 00:17:50.240 God has fixed a day 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.700 on which he will judge 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:53.180 the world in righteousness 00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:54.980 by a man 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.500 whom he has appointed. 00:17:57.780 --> 00:17:58.560 And of this, 00:17:58.620 --> 00:17:59.700 he has given assurance 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.400 to all 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:02.320 by raising him 00:18:02.320 --> 00:18:04.140 from the dead. 00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:06.380 boom. 00:18:08.320 --> 00:18:09.560 Paul has moved 00:18:09.560 --> 00:18:10.200 immediately 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.400 and starkly 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.700 from philosophical 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:15.000 to practical, 00:18:15.780 --> 00:18:17.220 from theoretical 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.680 to tangible, 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:20.180 from hypothetical 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:22.040 to historical, 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:23.180 right? 00:18:23.840 --> 00:18:25.320 Why is Jesus 00:18:25.320 --> 00:18:27.660 the only way to God, 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:28.480 Paul says? 00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:29.759 Why, 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:31.000 if God so wants 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.200 to have this relationship 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:32.700 with us, 00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:33.500 are there not just 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.400 a million ways 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.220 and you can get to him 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:36.340 any way you please? 00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:37.860 Because God 00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:39.380 is a person 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:41.460 and no other person 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.600 has ever risen 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:43.380 from the dead 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:44.059 like this 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:45.640 but God has 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.920 in the person 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.259 of Jesus. 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.880 So to finish 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.819 Paul's argument, 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:52.819 that got interrupted 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.660 there in Athens, 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.539 the unknown God 00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:58.120 is unknown 00:18:58.120 --> 00:18:59.279 no longer 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:00.839 but has made 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:02.200 himself known 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:03.819 in Jesus, 00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:04.940 crucified 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.319 and risen 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:07.559 from the dead. 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.720 He's how you know 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.440 God. 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:10.339 Yahweh, 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:12.139 his personal name, 00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:13.639 has sent 00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.299 his son 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.460 and he's the way 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.559 that you know 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.500 God. 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.420 See, 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:19.819 the point 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:21.240 Paul is making 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.940 is there's a lot 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.559 of philosophical 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.599 things you can talk 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:24.960 about 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:25.980 but in 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.799 an objective 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.519 human history, 00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:29.660 Jesus 00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:31.259 either rose 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.980 from the dead 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:33.779 or he didn't. 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:34.840 Right? 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:36.000 It's not like, 00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:36.420 well, 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.180 kind of 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:37.559 and maybe 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.740 he either rose 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.539 from the dead 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.700 or he didn't. 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.880 It is a debated, 00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.259 admittedly, 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:46.059 historical fact 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.680 that makes 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.600 a significant 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:49.299 statement 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.840 about who 00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.920 God is 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.900 and this 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:53.539 is why 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:55.060 saying 00:19:55.060 --> 00:19:55.660 that all 00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:56.140 roads 00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:56.940 lead to 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.420 God 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.019 while 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.060 perhaps 00:19:59.060 --> 00:20:00.000 well intended 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.539 by some 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.660 actually does 00:20:02.660 --> 00:20:03.800 not respect 00:20:03.800 --> 00:20:04.980 any religion 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.560 except 00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:07.580 the one 00:20:07.580 --> 00:20:08.480 belief system 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.240 that embraces 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.940 that particular 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.519 theory. 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.860 That's not 00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.400 the teaching 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:13.940 of Buddha. 00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:15.560 That's not 00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:16.000 the teaching 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.560 of Muhammad. 00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:17.320 That's not 00:20:17.320 --> 00:20:17.740 the teaching 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.560 of Confucius. 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:19.200 That's not 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:19.700 the teaching 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.360 of Jesus. 00:20:20.580 --> 00:20:21.120 They all 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:21.719 present 00:20:21.719 --> 00:20:23.299 unique ways 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:25.000 to experience 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.039 the divine. 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.239 And by the 00:20:28.239 --> 00:20:28.419 way, 00:20:28.479 --> 00:20:29.679 only one 00:20:29.679 --> 00:20:30.279 of those 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:30.819 founders 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:32.119 claims to 00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:32.899 have died 00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:35.079 and then 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.799 risen from 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.439 the dead. 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:36.959 You can 00:20:36.959 --> 00:20:37.500 visit 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.419 Muhammad's 00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:39.219 grave site 00:20:39.219 --> 00:20:40.379 today. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:43.279 The resurrection 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.079 of Jesus 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.659 is where 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.359 all these 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:45.899 roads 00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.799 diverge, 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.319 isn't it? 00:20:48.879 --> 00:20:49.399 See, 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:49.839 Muslims 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.779 talk a whole 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.319 lot about 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:51.839 Jesus, 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.879 but they 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:53.420 don't believe 00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:53.720 that he 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.200 died. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.660 Jews 00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:57.639 talk a lot 00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:58.319 about Jesus, 00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.879 but they 00:20:59.879 --> 00:21:00.759 don't believe 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.519 that he 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.559 rose from 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.099 the dead. 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:04.879 Christians 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:06.480 understand 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.379 that both 00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:08.279 the death 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.839 of Jesus 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.899 and the 00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:10.319 resurrection 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:11.740 of Jesus 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.720 are essential 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.599 for our 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:14.099 salvation, 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:14.839 for our 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.480 relationship 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.180 with God 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.740 to be 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.319 restored. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.159 the life 00:21:18.159 --> 00:21:18.480 giver 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.359 must pay 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:19.720 our 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.240 penalty 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.759 and then 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.439 conquer 00:21:22.439 --> 00:21:23.259 death 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.019 once 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.139 and for 00:21:25.139 --> 00:21:25.740 all. 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:26.419 And what 00:21:26.419 --> 00:21:26.639 does he 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:26.759 do? 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.059 Jesus 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.679 appears 00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:28.799 to hundreds, 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.879 starting with 00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:31.099 women who 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:31.579 wouldn't have 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.279 been legal 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:32.720 witnesses. 00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:34.339 He appears 00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:34.939 to hundreds 00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:35.379 and hundreds 00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:35.879 on different 00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:36.299 occasions. 00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:36.919 In fact, 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.679 many of his 00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.339 followers who 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.019 see him 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.619 then end up 00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:40.220 giving their 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.619 lives to 00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.279 defend the 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:42.879 truth of the 00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.200 resurrection 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:43.799 that they 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.640 saw with 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:45.140 their own 00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:45.819 eyes. 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:46.819 None of the 00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.100 religious 00:21:47.100 --> 00:21:47.640 authorities, 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.340 none of the 00:21:48.340 --> 00:21:49.140 Roman authorities 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:50.080 who desperately 00:21:50.080 --> 00:21:50.880 wanted to 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.539 stamp out 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.259 this movement 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.319 could produce 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.059 his body 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:55.779 days or even 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.960 months after 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.799 his public 00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:59.080 crucifixion. 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:01.460 If you think 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:01.640 of the 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.360 resurrection as 00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:02.880 something that 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.120 Jesus' 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.279 followers made 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.220 up to pretend 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.980 that he was 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.580 God, 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:07.500 and he really 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.460 didn't think 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:08.720 that, 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.120 now just 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:09.779 remember all 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.299 the things 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.319 Jesus himself 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.380 said and 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:12.819 did to 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.379 demonstrate 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.099 his self 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:14.779 understanding 00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.439 that he 00:22:15.439 --> 00:22:15.899 was the 00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.439 divine 00:22:16.439 --> 00:22:17.379 son of 00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:17.819 God. 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.339 What does 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:18.799 Jesus do? 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.059 Jesus forgives 00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:20.819 sins. 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:22.839 Jesus accepts 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.460 worship. 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:24.899 Jesus commands 00:22:24.899 --> 00:22:25.579 creation. 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.799 Jesus speaks 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.980 of the unity 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.639 that he has 00:22:28.639 --> 00:22:29.059 with his 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.519 father, 00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.359 and then he 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:30.799 says in 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.759 John 14, 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.799 I am the 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.119 way, 00:22:34.919 --> 00:22:35.519 the truth, 00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:36.779 and the 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.259 life. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.480 No one 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.079 comes to 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:39.740 the father 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:41.960 except through 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.279 me. 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:44.839 undeniably 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:46.539 an exclusive 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.720 claim. 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:48.939 Right or 00:22:48.939 --> 00:22:49.339 wrong, 00:22:50.879 --> 00:22:51.799 an exclusive 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.339 claim. 00:22:52.439 --> 00:22:53.279 One echoed by 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:53.839 the apostle 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:54.700 Peter in 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:56.019 Acts 4 as 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.279 he says of 00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.039 Jesus, 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.039 salvation is 00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.759 found in no 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.339 one else, 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.179 for there is 00:23:01.179 --> 00:23:02.119 no other name 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:02.740 under heaven 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.460 given to 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.039 men by 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.619 which we 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.720 must be 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.960 saved. 00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:08.679 He said 00:23:08.679 --> 00:23:09.339 the Bible's 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:09.779 answer, 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.779 answer, 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.399 Jesus' 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.180 answer, 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.680 the apostles' 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.379 answer to 00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:16.240 the question of 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.220 how to live a 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.460 meaningful life. 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.359 How do people 00:23:20.359 --> 00:23:21.759 separate it from 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.579 the God who 00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.639 created them 00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:25.519 in his image 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.559 to have a 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:28.240 purpose for 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.019 which he made 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.160 them? 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.819 How do they get 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.460 back into 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.960 relationship to 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:32.839 have that image 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:34.500 restored completely 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:36.119 from cover to 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:36.559 cover? 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.599 the answer to 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.399 that question 00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:40.059 is Jesus. 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:40.819 Right? 00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.480 The death of 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.379 the sacrificial 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.240 lamb. 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.639 The life of 00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:47.559 the resurrected 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.720 king. 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.539 Jesus is the 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.519 way you find 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.779 the purpose and 00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.779 significance that 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.339 you feel deep 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.220 inside but you 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.379 can't live up to, 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.720 that you struggle 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:00.419 to explain in 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:01.460 the real world. 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:03.359 Jesus is the 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:05.960 way to God. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.059 God. 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.819 Now that can be 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:10.460 good news. 00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:12.940 That you today 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:14.579 can respond to 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:16.279 that with joy 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:18.500 and embrace 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.539 and believe in 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.720 him but I 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.639 understand that 00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:23.759 often statements 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.759 like that Jesus 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.859 is the only way 00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:26.679 to God are more 00:24:26.679 --> 00:24:27.539 of a shock to 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.220 our system. 00:24:28.919 --> 00:24:29.759 Especially with 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:31.359 our modern 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.220 sensibilities. 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:35.259 People often ask 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.920 our question 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.579 this morning 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.299 because the 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.519 exclusive claims 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.140 of Jesus 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:40.759 sound to 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:42.160 them narrow 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:42.740 minded 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:45.720 or intolerant 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:47.559 or arrogant. 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.220 You may have 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:50.240 heard those 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.359 words in that 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:52.059 context. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.599 It's important 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.240 to say that 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.920 sometimes the 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.960 way we hold 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.059 these truths 00:24:59.059 --> 00:25:00.559 is arrogant. 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.859 Right? 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.279 Shame on us. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.079 Father forgive 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:05.539 us for 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.779 ever being 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.619 like that. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.879 Actually 00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:10.559 properly 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:11.359 understood 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:12.680 the claims 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.220 of Jesus 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:13.779 should make 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.139 us not 00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:14.839 arrogant but 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:16.700 humble. 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.420 Eager to 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.099 see others 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:21.059 as better 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:21.920 than ourselves. 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:22.879 Empowered 00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:23.779 to love 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.660 sacrificially 00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.319 since that's 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.660 what the 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.319 Savior at the 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:26.799 center of 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.160 Christianity 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.279 is and 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.059 does. 00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:29.940 Those are 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.859 resources that 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.220 no other 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.240 religion has. 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.880 We ought to 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:34.680 live like that. 00:25:35.240 --> 00:25:35.759 But if the 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.259 claims of 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.779 Jesus are 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.460 true, 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:38.880 demonstrated by 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.620 his rising 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.400 from the 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:40.900 dead so 00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.140 that we 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:41.680 can trust 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.500 everything else 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.160 he says, 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.600 then sharing 00:25:44.600 --> 00:25:45.400 them in 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:47.120 love is 00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:48.140 not arrogant 00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:49.700 or intolerant. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.579 I've told you 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.559 before of this 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.880 evening that I 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:55.880 was on some 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.960 nearby trails 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.819 and starting 00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.559 to get really 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.840 confused about 00:26:00.840 --> 00:26:01.779 where I was. 00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:02.259 I was turned 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.539 around, 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.180 I walked in 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.620 circles, 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.819 it was starting 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.720 to get dark, 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:06.880 I decided to 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.660 run some but 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:07.900 I didn't know 00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.120 if I was 00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:08.519 running in the 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.140 right direction, 00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:09.880 I walked 00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:10.600 back a little 00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:10.799 bit, 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.559 tried different 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.000 trails. 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.180 I was urgently 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.940 needing to 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:15.120 get back to 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:15.960 the safety of 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.720 my car. 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.180 When I walked 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:19.380 past an old 00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.860 sign that 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:21.660 said parking 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:23.259 lot this 00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.680 way and it 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:26.420 pointed to a 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:26.779 trail. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.440 Now that 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:30.680 trail was not 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.620 one that 00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:32.259 looked very 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.580 bright, 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.300 it was getting 00:26:33.300 --> 00:26:34.019 quite dark 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.759 and looking 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.180 down the 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:35.560 trail I 00:26:35.560 --> 00:26:35.900 could not 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:36.360 see the 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:37.019 parking lot. 00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:39.200 There were 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.640 actually a 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.060 couple other 00:26:40.060 --> 00:26:40.820 trails nearby 00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:42.300 that looked a 00:26:42.300 --> 00:26:42.660 little bit 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:44.620 brighter but I 00:26:44.620 --> 00:26:45.700 followed the 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.560 trail within a 00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:47.140 few minutes, 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:48.560 made it back to 00:26:48.560 --> 00:26:49.740 the safety and 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:51.640 rest of my 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.060 car. 00:26:54.080 --> 00:26:54.480 Now listen, 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:56.400 that sign was 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.360 not arrogant 00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:58.920 because it 00:26:58.920 --> 00:26:59.740 told me the 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:01.440 one trail that 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.160 led to my 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:03.060 car, right? 00:27:04.360 --> 00:27:05.240 And it would 00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.840 not have been 00:27:05.840 --> 00:27:07.300 loving to 00:27:07.300 --> 00:27:08.460 label all of 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.400 the trails with 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.700 the same sign 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.700 when some of 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.040 them were 00:27:12.040 --> 00:27:13.100 actually loops 00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:13.960 that I could 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.440 have walked 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.360 around all 00:27:15.360 --> 00:27:16.480 night and 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.660 never found 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.940 my car. 00:27:19.580 --> 00:27:20.720 The only way 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.720 that the trail, 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.640 the way, 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.980 doesn't matter 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:25.759 matter is if 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:26.480 the destination 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.360 doesn't matter, 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:28.339 right? 00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:31.299 But if there 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.180 is a personal 00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:33.120 God, if there 00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:33.880 is a true 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:34.720 source of 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.319 safety and 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.599 rest, then we 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.440 follow the sign 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.000 to Him and we 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.519 know we can 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.839 trust Him. 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.620 Think about it 00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.720 this way, I 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.819 hardly hesitated 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.579 when I saw 00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.720 that sign. 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:48.920 I was looking 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.759 for a sign to 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.360 follow, right? 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:51.919 But to be 00:27:51.919 --> 00:27:52.799 honest, it was 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:53.539 kind of an old 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:56.459 sign and I 00:27:56.459 --> 00:27:57.099 do know some 00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:58.419 kids who have 00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:59.539 sometimes in 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.219 their boredom or 00:28:00.219 --> 00:28:01.159 mischievousness 00:28:01.159 --> 00:28:02.079 decided to mess 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.879 with a sign and 00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:04.459 point it down a 00:28:04.459 --> 00:28:05.240 wrong trail. 00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:05.740 Maybe they were 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.519 messing with me. 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.139 I couldn't be 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:08.479 sure that that 00:28:08.479 --> 00:28:09.559 trail would get 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.759 me to my car just 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.619 because the sign 00:28:11.619 --> 00:28:12.159 was there. 00:28:13.979 --> 00:28:14.859 But what if there 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.599 was a person 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:17.419 standing there 00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:18.259 instead of an 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.000 old sign? 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.160 What if there 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:21.000 was a person 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.119 saying, I've 00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:23.599 just come from 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.579 the parking lot 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:25.700 and I've got a 00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.940 headlamp that's 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.940 really bright. 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:29.700 Jump on my 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.720 back, in fact, I 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.980 will carry you 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.779 there to the 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.180 parking lot. 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:33.619 Wouldn't that be 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:34.160 even better? 00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:38.000 Jesus is the 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:39.960 person who came 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.519 as the way to 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:42.619 safety and 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.559 security and 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:45.259 joy and hope 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.819 and life with 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.420 your heavenly 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.480 Father that you 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.400 may never have 00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:50.500 personally met. 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.700 Jesus says, I 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.900 am the light of 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.360 the world. 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.460 Whoever follows 00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:56.700 me will never 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.759 walk in darkness 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:59.140 but will have the 00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:01.160 light of life. 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.640 He is the way, 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:03.980 the truth, and 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.400 the life. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.640 He's the door of 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.740 the sheep because 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.259 he is the 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.799 resurrection and 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:09.259 the life. 00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:10.740 We need no other 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.339 way. 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:13.599 Jesus saves. 00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.839 That's our hope. 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:14.980 God. 00:29:17.419 --> 00:29:18.699 One other concern 00:29:18.699 --> 00:29:19.639 that causes some 00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:20.799 people to ask this 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:22.919 question is their 00:29:22.919 --> 00:29:24.439 genuine care for 00:29:24.439 --> 00:29:25.079 those who have 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:26.099 never heard the 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.139 good news of 00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:27.519 Jesus. 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:31.359 I love the heart 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:32.419 of that concern. 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:35.000 A couple of things 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.539 I want to say 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:35.980 briefly. 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.980 First, the Bible 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:40.379 says that creation 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:42.240 itself testifies 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.520 to God. 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:45.340 It's a way, 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.560 all of creation 00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:47.400 is, that God 00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:49.220 generally reveals 00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:50.420 himself and his 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.720 character to all 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.140 people. 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:54.280 So there's always a 00:29:54.280 --> 00:29:55.240 sign pointing to 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.180 God near everyone 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:57.620 who has ever lived 00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.960 and who knows all 00:29:58.960 --> 00:29:59.600 of the ways that 00:29:59.600 --> 00:30:00.900 God might use this 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.840 sign to point them 00:30:01.840 --> 00:30:02.420 to Jesus. 00:30:02.800 --> 00:30:03.560 I don't know. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.780 But we do know 00:30:05.780 --> 00:30:06.980 the most common 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:09.020 way that God does 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.960 that and that's 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.879 that God sends 00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:12.339 you and me to 00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:12.639 them. 00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.799 That's the message 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:16.099 of Paul in Romans 00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.500 10. 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.339 How will they 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.220 believe in him 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:18.819 of whom they 00:30:18.819 --> 00:30:19.720 have not heard 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:20.859 and how will they 00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:21.879 hear without 00:30:21.879 --> 00:30:23.319 someone preaching? 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.500 If that's a 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.480 burden on your 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.420 heart, how is 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.259 God sending you 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.920 to be a part of 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:28.480 that mission? 00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:29.460 Sharing the good 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:31.000 news, translating 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.859 his word, equipping 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.639 others to share 00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.339 the good news with 00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:34.420 people you'll never 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:34.839 reach? 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.339 Who are you going 00:30:35.339 --> 00:30:36.079 to meet this week 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.819 that you can share 00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.099 with? 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:39.359 So there's 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:39.839 creation. 00:30:40.939 --> 00:30:41.740 There's God's 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:43.079 people as 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:44.000 ambassadors of 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.299 Jesus. 00:30:45.679 --> 00:30:46.459 And my single 00:30:46.459 --> 00:30:47.799 greatest hope by 00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:49.219 far is God 00:30:49.219 --> 00:30:49.799 himself. 00:30:50.199 --> 00:30:52.000 God's grace that 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.619 is bigger than 00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:54.919 any of us can 00:30:54.919 --> 00:30:55.659 grasp. 00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.439 Let's contemplate 00:30:58.439 --> 00:30:59.519 this glorious truth 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:01.139 as we come to 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:01.639 this table. 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.319 It's what I call 00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:04.319 inclusive 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:06.099 exclusivity. 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:09.240 people complain 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.740 about the 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.399 exclusivity of 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:12.000 Christianity, 00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:13.039 claiming to be the 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:14.339 only way to God. 00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.759 But listen, many 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.619 religions and 00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:17.779 approaches to life 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:19.579 require a lot of 00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:20.639 proper performance 00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:22.079 from you to 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:23.659 approach God, to 00:31:23.659 --> 00:31:24.279 get anywhere near 00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:26.019 him, to have any 00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:27.240 opportunity to be 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:28.259 pleasing to him. 00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:29.019 There's often a 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:30.079 long list. 00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.359 Some require, in 00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:32.119 fact, multiple 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:33.980 lifetimes of good 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:34.500 deeds. 00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:35.419 Try that. 00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:38.019 others offer 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:39.300 preference based 00:31:39.300 --> 00:31:40.039 on race, 00:31:41.820 --> 00:31:42.500 finances, 00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:45.220 or physical 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.680 sacrifice, even 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:47.720 harming yourself 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.600 or others. 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:51.880 Still others 00:31:51.880 --> 00:31:52.900 insist on inner 00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:54.500 peace from long 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:55.920 practice of getting 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:57.200 there just right. 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.240 that. 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.559 Listen, only Jesus 00:32:01.559 --> 00:32:04.500 says, God so 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.319 loved the world 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.640 that he didn't 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.880 send a long list 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:09.080 of things to do 00:32:09.080 --> 00:32:10.039 to get near to 00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:11.080 him, but in fact 00:32:11.080 --> 00:32:13.200 he gave his 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.660 only son, the 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:16.319 exclusive only 00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.900 son, that 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:20.200 whoever believes 00:32:20.840 --> 00:32:22.220 in him will not 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:23.620 perish but have 00:32:23.620 --> 00:32:24.759 everlasting life. 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:26.400 whoever just does 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:26.640 what? 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:28.220 Believes. 00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:30.140 Whoever follows 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:31.559 the light of the 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.720 world will never 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:34.160 walk in darkness. 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.680 If you are hearing 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:37.400 my voice right now, 00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:38.720 you are invited 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.720 in, not excluded 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:42.420 from, the family 00:32:42.420 --> 00:32:44.240 of God, the hope 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:45.299 of Jesus, the 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.680 Savior who's big 00:32:46.680 --> 00:32:48.299 enough for you. 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:50.519 God is so gracious, 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.339 y'all, that his 00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:52.900 family is made up 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.960 of people from 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:55.140 every tribe and 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:56.480 tongue and language 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:58.200 and nation, Jew 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.960 and Gentile, rich 00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:01.540 and poor, tight 00:33:01.540 --> 00:33:02.780 laced rule follower 00:33:02.780 --> 00:33:04.340 types and go with 00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:05.740 the flow, partiers 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:07.120 are all in his 00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:07.640 family. 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.620 I mean, just 00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:09.940 think it's amazing 00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:12.040 to consider the 00:33:12.040 --> 00:33:13.040 different ways people 00:33:13.040 --> 00:33:14.100 encounter Jesus and 00:33:14.100 --> 00:33:14.920 the different lengths 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:15.759 of time they 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:17.160 actually spend 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:18.180 following him. 00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:20.140 The way to God. 00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:21.120 Right? 00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:21.820 Isn't it the same 00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:22.460 for everybody? 00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:23.119 Don't we all have 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:23.939 the same experience? 00:33:24.159 --> 00:33:24.899 We do not. 00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:27.200 Some never remember 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:27.939 a day they didn't 00:33:27.939 --> 00:33:28.659 trust Jesus. 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:31.119 Baptized before they 00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:31.919 can remember but 00:33:31.919 --> 00:33:33.259 prayed to trust Jesus 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:33.919 in the church, 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:35.700 nursery or VBS or 00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.839 their home at three 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:37.519 years old. 00:33:38.899 --> 00:33:39.659 Others met Jesus 00:33:39.659 --> 00:33:40.599 on a retreat as a 00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:41.000 teenager. 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:42.819 Others spent years 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.579 sowing their wild 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.439 oats before a friend 00:33:44.439 --> 00:33:45.119 told them about a 00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:45.720 Savior who would 00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.659 forgive all those 00:33:46.659 --> 00:33:48.019 sins and show them 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:49.019 the path of true 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.639 life. 00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:51.960 Still others 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:53.320 wrestled painfully 00:33:53.320 --> 00:33:54.300 through intellectual 00:33:54.300 --> 00:33:55.720 questions and 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.880 discussed things 00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.840 with friends and 00:33:57.840 --> 00:33:59.320 others and then 00:33:59.320 --> 00:34:00.300 Jesus met them as 00:34:00.300 --> 00:34:01.480 an adult over 00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:04.280 coffee and they 00:34:04.280 --> 00:34:04.680 surrendered. 00:34:06.620 --> 00:34:07.440 Increasingly these 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.300 days I hear stories 00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:09.220 of a man in white 00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:11.300 who appeared in a 00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:12.900 vision to introduce 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.900 himself to people 00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:14.700 before they knew 00:34:14.700 --> 00:34:15.420 his name. 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:19.320 And yet others are 00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:20.260 like the thief on 00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:21.400 the cross who 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:23.880 doesn't follow Jesus 00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:25.539 a single day in his 00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:27.820 life here but 00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:30.880 spends eternity with 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:33.059 Jesus in paradise. 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:33.800 Not because he knew 00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:35.000 enough, not because he 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.940 did enough, but 00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:37.119 because God's grace 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:38.619 saves people that you 00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.840 know didn't deserve 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:41.099 it and never thought 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:42.099 would encounter Jesus 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:43.260 personally at all. 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:44.059 That's what God's 00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:44.960 grace is like so you 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:46.320 keep praying, you 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:47.719 keep sharing, you 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:49.099 keep praying. 00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:50.539 What greater hope 00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:51.699 could there be than 00:34:51.699 --> 00:34:52.759 a God whose gracious 00:34:52.759 --> 00:34:54.099 character brought him 00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:55.099 from the comforts of 00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:56.340 heaven to the pain of 00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:57.719 a cross and the shame 00:34:57.719 --> 00:34:59.820 of a tomb for us? 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:02.739 Yes, Jesus is the only 00:35:02.739 --> 00:35:04.840 way to God but anyone, 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:07.980 yes him, yes her, yes 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:10.539 you can come to God 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.799 through Jesus. 00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:13.080 Jesus, praise the Lord. 00:35:13.640 --> 00:35:14.780 This may be your first 00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:15.940 day in church and you 00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.820 may think you are the 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:18.039 worst person in here. 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:19.420 You're not. 00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:22.260 But Jesus is alive for 00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:23.840 you regardless. 00:35:24.820 --> 00:35:25.940 You may think you have 00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:27.120 nothing to do with 00:35:27.120 --> 00:35:28.940 religion, with lists of 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:30.460 rules, it's just anathema 00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:32.180 to you, with hypocritical 00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:33.260 people like you're 00:35:33.260 --> 00:35:34.820 surrounded by right now. 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:36.960 Well then listen, come 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:38.800 not to us, come to 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:40.900 Jesus who brings you 00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:42.140 straight into a 00:35:42.140 --> 00:35:43.720 relationship with God 00:35:43.720 --> 00:35:45.220 because he's the way, 00:35:45.340 --> 00:35:46.380 the truth, and the life 00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:48.740 risen from the dead. 00:35:49.180 --> 00:35:50.480 You have options. 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:53.480 You can mock like some 00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.760 did that day to Paul. 00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:57.900 You can ask to talk more. 00:35:59.539 --> 00:36:00.500 We would love that 00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:01.140 opportunity. 00:36:01.720 --> 00:36:02.680 We'll even do it after 00:36:02.680 --> 00:36:03.320 the service. 00:36:03.320 --> 00:36:06.600 You also have the 00:36:06.600 --> 00:36:08.019 option to join the man 00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:09.780 Dionysius on the 00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:12.059 philosopher's council or 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:13.059 the woman Damaris. 00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:15.640 Among others, you can 00:36:15.640 --> 00:36:17.160 hear the good news of 00:36:17.160 --> 00:36:19.780 Jesus and believe and 00:36:19.780 --> 00:36:23.059 find life in him today. 00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:25.460 I want you to hear the 00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:27.179 invitation straight from 00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:28.019 the lips of Jesus. 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:31.019 Come to me, all who 00:36:31.019 --> 00:36:32.360 labor and are heavy 00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:34.880 laden, and I will give 00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:35.860 you rest. 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:38.039 I am the way and the 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:39.340 truth and the life. 00:36:39.739 --> 00:36:41.259 No one comes to the 00:36:41.259 --> 00:36:44.039 Father except through me. 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:46.199 And whoever comes to me, 00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:48.820 I will never drive away. 00:36:48.820 --> 00:36:52.960 Jesus sat with his 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:54.000 disciples the night he 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:54.900 was betrayed and he 00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:58.059 took bread and he broke 00:36:58.059 --> 00:36:59.460 it and he gave it to 00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:00.680 them as I am ministering 00:37:00.680 --> 00:37:01.280 in his name. 00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:02.440 Give this bread to you. 00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:04.380 He said, take and eat. 00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:06.340 This is my body given 00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:07.720 for you. 00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:09.860 Do this in remembrance of 00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:10.140 me. 00:37:11.320 --> 00:37:12.260 Then after supper, he 00:37:12.260 --> 00:37:13.559 took the cup saying, 00:37:13.720 --> 00:37:14.900 this cup is the new 00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:16.320 covenant in my blood. 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:18.519 My blood shed for many. 00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:20.440 For the forgiveness of 00:37:20.440 --> 00:37:22.780 sins, drink from it, all 00:37:22.780 --> 00:37:23.220 of you. 00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:25.140 Do this. 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.460 Eat this. 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:30.180 Drink this as long as 00:37:30.180 --> 00:37:31.820 you're remembering Jesus 00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:34.059 as you do. 00:37:35.580 --> 00:37:37.000 If your hope is not in 00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:39.680 Jesus, don't come and 00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:42.140 perform a religious ritual 00:37:42.140 --> 00:37:44.000 that your heart is not 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:44.380 in. 00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:46.220 We're warned against 00:37:46.220 --> 00:37:47.700 acting like that. 00:37:48.679 --> 00:37:49.559 Instead, would you 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:51.359 consider the offer of 00:37:51.359 --> 00:37:53.339 Jesus to bring you to 00:37:53.339 --> 00:37:55.099 God, to be the person 00:37:55.099 --> 00:37:56.379 at the center of your 00:37:56.379 --> 00:37:57.119 life that gives you 00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.699 hope and peace and 00:37:58.699 --> 00:38:00.659 purpose that you so long 00:38:00.659 --> 00:38:01.179 for? 00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.299 Jesus is offering you 00:38:03.299 --> 00:38:03.839 that today. 00:38:05.779 --> 00:38:07.059 And for those of you who 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:08.639 have found him to be just 00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:10.359 that, even though you 00:38:10.359 --> 00:38:11.619 struggle, even though you 00:38:11.619 --> 00:38:12.759 may have wandered after 00:38:12.759 --> 00:38:13.960 idols, but you're coming 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:15.960 back right now to the one 00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:17.079 in whom you found life. 00:38:17.220 --> 00:38:18.460 You've been baptized in 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:19.119 his name. 00:38:20.099 --> 00:38:22.320 You're part of his family 00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:24.199 at any church that 00:38:24.199 --> 00:38:25.960 preaches the good news of 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:27.780 salvation by grace alone, 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:29.179 through faith alone, in 00:38:29.179 --> 00:38:30.199 Christ alone. 00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:32.179 Come and eat then with the 00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:35.539 one who comes first to set 00:38:35.539 --> 00:38:37.179 the table and to eat with 00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:37.460 you. 00:38:37.780 --> 00:38:38.780 Let's pray and we'll do that 00:38:38.780 --> 00:38:39.119 together. 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:43.960 Father, Jesus, we're so 00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:46.359 grateful for you, for your 00:38:46.359 --> 00:38:50.380 salvation, for the hope 00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:52.000 that we have because you 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:53.859 died instead of us and you 00:38:53.859 --> 00:38:56.019 live so that we will live 00:38:56.019 --> 00:38:56.519 with you. 00:38:56.719 --> 00:38:58.619 Would you use very normal 00:38:58.619 --> 00:39:02.259 bread and wine to remind our 00:39:02.259 --> 00:39:05.319 hearts afresh that we have 00:39:05.319 --> 00:39:06.500 life in you? 00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:09.480 We ask it in your name. 00:39:10.039 --> 00:39:10.340 Amen. 00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:13.880 For more information, visit 00:39:13.880 --> 00:39:14.820 us online at 00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:15.579 southwood.org. 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:15.739 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:45.719 Thank you.