WEBVTT 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:06.860 Father, your Son has just warned us that there's different ways for us to hear your Word. 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:10.800 And Father, we know the devil never misses church. 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:18.500 And so, Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask that he would be silenced and bound this morning in our midst. 00:00:19.100 --> 00:00:23.080 And we ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would enter into our lives, 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:31.939 that your Holy Spirit would make us good soil so that as your words enter into our lives, 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:36.060 you will turn our hearts into honest and good hearts, 00:00:36.299 --> 00:00:43.560 and that you would use your Word in our life to bear much fruit for your world to your great glory. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:48.359 And this we ask in Jesus' name, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:00:49.099 --> 00:00:50.000 Please be seated. 00:00:53.079 --> 00:01:01.179 So, I didn't receive the original thing myself directly, 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:10.900 but I became aware of, through an email, of somebody who heard something that our church was doing, 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.340 and they basically completely and utterly condemned us. 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:17.759 Well, more me, because you folks, me and a couple of others, 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:19.920 because most of you aren't directly involved with it. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:26.840 But from the sounds of it, it was a full-scale condemnation of me 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:30.320 and, I guess, a couple of other leaders who were involved in this particular thing. 00:01:31.099 --> 00:01:39.180 And, you know, in a sense of being a conversation which condemned me and several others, 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:44.300 it means that charges were made against us, 00:01:44.300 --> 00:01:47.460 we were found guilty, 00:01:47.800 --> 00:01:51.880 and our judgment was, in a sense, spelled out, 00:01:52.300 --> 00:01:56.560 and all in a very, very hostile and emotional type of way, 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:01.180 and not pleasant for the person who had to be the immediate receiver of this. 00:02:01.180 --> 00:02:08.800 Why is it that often Christians seem to be so prone to condemn each other? 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:14.200 Like, why is it that we often seem to be so prone to condemn each other? 00:02:14.260 --> 00:02:17.640 Because this condemnation came from people who went to another church. 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:22.579 Now, in fact, you know, if you think about it for a second, 00:02:22.679 --> 00:02:25.959 I think, and I don't know, we have people here, you know, 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:30.699 praise God from all sorts of different stages in their walk with Jesus, 00:02:31.019 --> 00:02:33.759 and maybe there are people here who are just trying to figure out 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:37.399 who this Jesus person is and what Christianity is all about. 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:41.319 But for many people in the world, if they think of Christians, 00:02:41.399 --> 00:02:42.639 many people in Canada nowadays, 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:44.539 they think of Christians, 00:02:44.539 --> 00:02:47.299 they think of people who are very quick to condemn, 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:53.219 that, in fact, condemnation of others' behavior is part of our DNA. 00:02:53.339 --> 00:02:57.339 That would be a very common, I'd say, stereotype of Christians, 00:02:57.539 --> 00:03:01.039 but as sometimes happens with stereotypes, there's some truth. 00:03:01.799 --> 00:03:05.759 Probably every single one of us here has been the recipient 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:09.479 of great condemnation from other people in the church. 00:03:11.779 --> 00:03:14.819 Maybe, hopefully, not this church, but maybe from other Christians. 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:18.120 So the Bible passage that we're going to look at today 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:21.139 has a lot to say about this topic of condemnation. 00:03:22.079 --> 00:03:24.519 And, you know, one of the things about condemnation, 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:26.419 just before we get into the text, 00:03:26.539 --> 00:03:28.479 it's going to be Romans 8, verse 1, 00:03:28.519 --> 00:03:31.759 if you want to sort of try to find it in your Bibles, Romans 8, 1. 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:34.079 But one of the things about condemnation 00:03:34.079 --> 00:03:38.120 is that often those of us who are very, very prone 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:42.539 to have a great condemnation of others are blind to it ourselves. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:47.240 In fact, many of us, by this introduction, 00:03:47.379 --> 00:03:48.860 we're probably thinking of times 00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:52.620 that we have received this condemnation, 00:03:53.020 --> 00:03:55.920 but probably very few of us think of the times, 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:58.480 maybe even just within the last 24 hours, 00:03:58.640 --> 00:04:02.719 when we've unleashed condemnation on others. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:05.000 Like, it's a very curious thing about us 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:06.259 and our human hearts, isn't it? 00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:08.340 That we often immediately, when we think of this, 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:09.939 think of the times that we've been the victim. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:12.759 But we probably rarely think of the times 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:15.000 that we've been the perpetrator of condemnation. 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:20.759 And in fact, not to put too much of a point on it, 00:04:21.420 --> 00:04:24.759 the problem of condemning others is a human problem. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.579 It's not a particularly Christian problem. 00:04:27.579 --> 00:04:31.639 It's very clear if you read The Citizen or The Post 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:32.459 or other newspapers, 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:34.620 that there seems to regularly be complaints 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:37.800 about how with social media and Twitter and other things 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:40.279 that people who make some odd comment 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:43.639 can be flooded and overwhelmed 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:48.199 with hateful, condemning rhetoric. 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:51.740 And yet, at the same time that people do this, 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:52.899 outside the church, 00:04:53.740 --> 00:04:56.219 they often don't realize that they themselves 00:04:56.220 --> 00:04:57.900 maybe are filled with condemnation. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.380 Maybe even condemning Christians, 00:04:59.540 --> 00:05:01.580 they've passed judgment on you and me, 00:05:02.260 --> 00:05:05.280 but they somehow think that they're doing that 00:05:05.280 --> 00:05:07.000 is not a sign of condemnation, 00:05:07.080 --> 00:05:08.200 it's somehow accurate. 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:10.740 And in other words, 00:05:10.820 --> 00:05:12.720 that we can pass condemnation on others 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.160 and be blind to the fact that we've done it 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:17.080 and only see ourselves as victims. 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:20.240 Don't you think that's really a human problem? 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:24.840 So the Bible's going to say some real wisdom about this 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:27.500 for those of us who are prone to condemn others 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:30.039 yet see ourselves only as victims. 00:05:31.359 --> 00:05:33.099 And yet, at the same time, 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.919 we often live with great wounds of condemnation 00:05:35.919 --> 00:05:37.639 that have been leveled against us. 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:39.439 So it would be a great help to me 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:40.539 if you open your Bibles 00:05:40.539 --> 00:05:43.659 and you turned in your Bibles to Romans 8, 00:05:43.859 --> 00:05:45.559 and we're going to begin at verse 1. 00:05:46.479 --> 00:05:48.039 Romans 8, verse 1. 00:05:48.159 --> 00:05:49.599 And I know it's sort of in the middle of the book, 00:05:49.659 --> 00:05:51.239 and it's been, I think, six or seven weeks 00:05:51.239 --> 00:05:52.199 since we've looked in Romans. 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:54.599 I'll give you a bit of a background in a moment. 00:05:54.719 --> 00:05:59.620 But let's at least start with this stark opening phrase. 00:06:01.659 --> 00:06:03.240 In fact, actually, Andrew, could you put it up? 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:05.500 Or Rebecca, could you put it up on the screen? 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:07.719 I'd like you to all read this with me. 00:06:08.659 --> 00:06:11.360 Nope, that's Romans 8, 1. 00:06:13.039 --> 00:06:14.319 Could you say this with me? 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:18.339 There is therefore now no condemnation 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:20.919 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:23.979 I can't remember how many words it is in the Greek. 00:06:24.379 --> 00:06:25.639 Thirteen words in English. 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:29.479 These are very, very, very, very powerful words. 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:32.819 And most of us either forget it in a Christian life 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:35.139 or we, in fact, think it's wrong. 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:38.959 But if you get nothing else out of this sermon 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:41.479 other than to have this stick in your head, 00:06:42.139 --> 00:06:43.120 then this is a good thing. 00:06:43.179 --> 00:06:44.219 Can you say it with me again? 00:06:44.220 --> 00:06:48.460 There is therefore now no condemnation 00:06:48.460 --> 00:06:51.440 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:06:52.220 --> 00:06:56.680 It's a very, very, very powerful, powerful text. 00:06:57.440 --> 00:06:59.340 Now, you'll notice it says 00:06:59.340 --> 00:07:01.100 there is therefore now no condemnation. 00:07:01.220 --> 00:07:02.300 It's chapter 8, verse 1. 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:04.240 That means there's been seven chapters beforehand. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:07.440 And I don't expect people to always remember these things. 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:09.240 It's hard enough for me to remember them myself. 00:07:09.380 --> 00:07:11.360 But the way the book of Romans is written, 00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:13.280 and we're going through the book of Romans, 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:14.819 is that the way the book of Romans is written 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:16.459 is Paul is writing this letter, 00:07:16.919 --> 00:07:20.459 which is now considered to be scripture from God, the Bible, 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:22.879 and he wrote it around the year 56 or 57. 00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:26.039 So he wrote it about 35 years or so, 00:07:26.459 --> 00:07:29.599 25 years or so after the death and resurrection of Jesus. 00:07:30.059 --> 00:07:33.319 And he's writing it to a group of churches, 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:35.199 a group of Christians in churches 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:37.799 in the capital city of the empire in Rome. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:40.019 And Paul knows a few of these people, 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:41.539 but he's never actually been to Rome. 00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:43.580 So he doesn't know most of the people. 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:46.280 And so in this letter, 00:07:46.460 --> 00:07:49.700 he sets up the great themes of the Christian faith, 00:07:49.780 --> 00:07:51.080 the great themes of the gospel. 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:52.300 And the way he writes the letter 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:54.300 is in the first six or seven verses, 00:07:54.420 --> 00:07:55.600 he gives a very standard, 00:07:55.939 --> 00:07:59.060 well, extended form of the standard greeting 00:07:59.060 --> 00:07:59.900 in Roman letters, 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:01.820 grace and peace, et cetera, et cetera. 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:04.759 And then he goes and he spends about seven or eight verses, 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:07.620 basically just saying a few things about himself. 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:10.540 You know, I'm sort of finishing up some stuff here. 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:12.579 I've always meant to see you and come and visit you. 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:14.879 And I hope to be going somewhere else. 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:16.560 And on my way to going somewhere else, 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:17.639 I hope to drop in on you. 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:19.259 And then Paul does something 00:08:19.259 --> 00:08:21.879 which is a bit unique in the ancient world. 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:24.720 He writes in verses 16 and 17, 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:28.480 he writes what we would now call an abstract 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.139 or a praesi of the entire rest of the letter. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:33.080 Those of you who are still in school 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:35.259 or those of you who remember when you were in school 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:38.120 in academic papers, in journal articles, 00:08:38.280 --> 00:08:40.580 there usually is an abstract that goes with it. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:44.300 And the abstract describes the content of the paper. 00:08:45.160 --> 00:08:46.480 In fact, when I was in university, 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:49.840 I had friends who wanted to pad their bibliography. 00:08:50.800 --> 00:08:53.020 Basically, they pad their bibliography 00:08:53.020 --> 00:08:55.020 by reading a whole pile of abstracts 00:08:55.020 --> 00:08:56.500 and then listing it in their bibliography 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:58.259 as if they'd read the entire article, 00:08:58.840 --> 00:09:00.720 which I'm not encouraging you folks to do 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:02.879 to pretend you've read articles that you haven't. 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:06.039 But that's how a lot of modern papers are. 00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:08.519 And that's how Paul actually writes the book of Romans. 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:10.460 He, in verses 16 and 17, 00:09:11.059 --> 00:09:14.100 he sets out a praesi of everything 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:15.939 he's going to talk about for the rest of the letter. 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:18.519 In fact, actually, could you put this up 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:19.939 and why don't we say it together again? 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:21.740 Because this is going to be important. 00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:23.379 Romans 1, 18. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:24.879 There we go. 00:09:24.980 --> 00:09:26.179 Can you just say this with me? 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:29.419 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, 00:09:29.419 --> 00:09:32.539 for it is the power of God for salvation 00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:34.299 to everyone who believes, 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:37.459 to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 00:09:37.799 --> 00:09:39.199 For in the gospel, 00:09:39.479 --> 00:09:41.579 the righteousness of God is revealed 00:09:41.579 --> 00:09:42.959 from faith to faith. 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:44.339 As it is written, 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:46.819 the righteous shall live by faith. 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:49.339 And as I'm going to tell you about in a moment, 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:50.620 we're going to see how this fits in. 00:09:50.699 --> 00:09:52.159 But Paul then writes, 00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:54.279 he tells us that's a whole book 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:56.379 is all going to be an unpacking of this phrase. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:58.419 And then immediately he goes in verse 18 00:09:58.419 --> 00:09:59.779 to try to sell the problem. 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:02.439 Why is it that we need a power of God 00:10:02.439 --> 00:10:04.100 to make us right with himself? 00:10:04.579 --> 00:10:06.419 And then he describes what Jesus does 00:10:06.419 --> 00:10:07.839 upon the cross for us. 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:10.319 And that sort of goes from the last half of chapter 3 00:10:10.319 --> 00:10:12.399 up until the end of chapter 6. 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:14.579 He describes the positive and negative aspects 00:10:14.579 --> 00:10:16.299 of what Jesus does for us on the cross. 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:17.860 And then in chapter 7, 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:18.860 he talks a little bit about 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:20.139 what it means to be human. 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:23.860 And then he comes to chapter 8, verse 1, 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:25.819 after having talked about all of these things, 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:26.500 and he begins. 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:28.220 Could you put verse 1 up again? 00:10:28.319 --> 00:10:29.639 Chapter 8, verse 1. 00:10:29.699 --> 00:10:30.819 Could you put that up again, Rebecca? 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:32.919 You're having to really work hard this morning. 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:34.460 Can you say this with me again? 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:38.319 There is therefore now no condemnation 00:10:38.319 --> 00:10:41.059 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:49.080 Most Christians don't really believe this. 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:56.580 Most of us believe that we're maybe tourists 00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:59.960 in this place where there is no condemnation, 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:03.939 but that once we've come to be in Jesus, 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:07.460 that it actually describes the entire rest of our life 00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:10.939 that we can never be out of condemnation, 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:17.000 that we are always in a land, in a place, in a realm 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:18.500 where there is now, 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:22.100 there is therefore now no condemnation 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:25.700 if we have put our faith and trust in Jesus. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:29.580 There might still be people who condemn us, 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:34.279 but God who sees every human heart 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:35.879 and sees us perfectly 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:38.320 and knows everything there is to know about us, 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:43.000 with nothing left over. 00:11:43.540 --> 00:11:45.420 And every act of evil, 00:11:45.640 --> 00:11:47.560 whether done something that we've done 00:11:47.560 --> 00:11:50.420 or every good thing that we should have done 00:11:50.420 --> 00:11:51.400 that we didn't do, 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:52.640 which is also wrong, 00:11:53.760 --> 00:11:57.879 that every act of evil 00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:59.720 is also an act against God 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:01.639 and he is the true judge 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:03.720 who knows us truly and perfectly 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:05.840 and completely and thoroughly. 00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:07.480 He knows the times 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:09.220 that we really have done something wrong. 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:10.220 He knows those times 00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:11.620 when we've been doing something right, 00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:13.440 but while it's technically right, 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:15.040 we've been doing it so we can boast 00:12:15.040 --> 00:12:16.019 or for our own glory 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:17.100 or for our own power 00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:18.340 or to manipulate people, 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:19.560 which is another day of power. 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:21.259 And he knows every single thing 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:22.480 there is to know about us, 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:25.720 but that when we are in Christ Jesus by faith, 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:32.240 there is no condemnation ever, 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:35.860 ever, 00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:39.080 for all eternity. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:42.000 That's what this text says. 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:48.920 So Paul immediately sort of goes into 00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:51.940 a little bit of just going to unpack it. 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:52.980 The rest of chapter 8, 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:54.300 he's going to continue to, 00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:57.719 to describe what that means 00:12:57.719 --> 00:12:59.740 and the power and the importance of this 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:00.939 in the Christian life. 00:13:01.859 --> 00:13:02.939 But if you listen, 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:03.339 he goes, 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:05.379 there is therefore now no condemnation 00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:07.039 for those who are in Christ Jesus, 00:13:07.339 --> 00:13:09.519 for the law of the spirit of life 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:12.559 has set you free in Christ Jesus 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:14.699 from the law of sin and death. 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:17.859 For God has done what the law, 00:13:18.479 --> 00:13:19.479 weakened by the flesh, 00:13:19.599 --> 00:13:20.379 could not do 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:23.039 by sending his own son 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:24.919 in the likeness of sinful flesh. 00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:26.599 And for sin, 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:29.719 he condemned sin in the flesh 00:13:29.719 --> 00:13:32.519 in order that the righteous requirement 00:13:32.519 --> 00:13:35.039 of the law might be fulfilled in us 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:37.899 who walk not according to the flesh, 00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:39.799 but according to the spirit. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.299 I'm just going to read this again. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:45.059 Remember that the big point, 00:13:45.199 --> 00:13:46.799 the shocking point, 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:48.740 I'm not encouraging people 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:49.639 to get tattoos, 00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:52.059 but if you got a tattoo, 00:13:52.819 --> 00:13:54.059 maybe 8 verse 1 00:13:54.059 --> 00:13:54.979 would be a good thing 00:13:54.979 --> 00:13:56.120 to get tattooed 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.859 somewhere on your body 00:13:57.859 --> 00:13:59.299 so you could read it for yourself. 00:14:01.179 --> 00:14:02.779 There is therefore now 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:04.659 no condemnation 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:07.179 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:14:07.839 --> 00:14:08.579 And then it says, 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.799 for the law of the spirit of life 00:14:11.339 --> 00:14:12.500 has set you free 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:14.019 in Christ Jesus 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.419 from the law of sin and death. 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:17.599 And this version of the Bible 00:14:17.599 --> 00:14:18.219 that I'm reading, 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:19.719 it likes to keep 00:14:19.719 --> 00:14:20.799 the same Greek word 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:22.099 the same Greek word 00:14:22.099 --> 00:14:23.779 all the way through a text. 00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:26.419 But in the book of Romans, 00:14:26.579 --> 00:14:27.379 the word law 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:29.079 actually has different types 00:14:29.079 --> 00:14:29.599 of meanings 00:14:29.599 --> 00:14:30.799 depending on the context. 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:33.059 And in this particular case, 00:14:33.099 --> 00:14:33.879 it doesn't mean 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:35.120 a set of rules 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.159 of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:36.879 What it means 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.099 is it means 00:14:38.099 --> 00:14:39.459 that there's a type of logic 00:14:39.459 --> 00:14:40.719 and power 00:14:40.719 --> 00:14:42.059 to the work 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:43.139 of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.480 A type of logic 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.259 and power 00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:45.960 of the work 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:46.820 of the Holy Spirit 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:48.580 and that this law, 00:14:48.800 --> 00:14:49.860 this sort of logic 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:51.639 of how the Holy Spirit works, 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.779 this power 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:54.279 of how the Holy Spirit works 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:55.279 is that the Holy Spirit 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:56.200 always works 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:57.279 in such a way 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.039 that the Holy Spirit, 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:01.340 even before you are a Christian, 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:02.379 the Holy Spirit 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:04.220 is working in your life 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:05.120 to come, 00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:05.899 to try to get you 00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:07.060 to come to a place 00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:08.580 where you will put 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:09.740 your faith and trust 00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.440 in the person 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:11.379 and the work of Jesus. 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:13.279 who he is 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:13.879 and what he did 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.820 for you on the cross. 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.879 And the logic 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.759 and the power 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:18.779 of the Holy Spirit 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:19.759 to lead you 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.120 to this faith 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.019 in Jesus 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:22.639 and what he does 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.539 for you on the cross, 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:25.360 it's not just a logic 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:26.480 and a power 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.019 that works 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.000 until you become 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.620 a Christian 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:30.000 and then after 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.840 you've given your life 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:31.340 to Jesus, 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.860 it has some other plan. 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.439 Paul is saying here 00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:34.879 that throughout 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.700 your entire Christian life, 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.000 the logic 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.440 and the program 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:40.480 and the power 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.600 of the Holy Spirit 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:43.600 will always continually 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.860 be bringing you back 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:46.080 to the person of Jesus 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:47.340 and what it is 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:47.820 that he does 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:48.820 for you on the cross. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:49.840 That that's what 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:52.120 the Holy Spirit's project is, 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.159 its first and primary 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:55.740 and recurrent project 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:57.139 in our lives. 00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.700 And then in verse 3 00:15:58.700 --> 00:15:59.080 it says, 00:15:59.220 --> 00:16:00.600 for God has done 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:02.340 what the law, 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:05.399 and now here he means law 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.919 as a set of perfect rules. 00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:08.459 See, he's taking it 00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:08.979 for granted 00:16:08.979 --> 00:16:10.279 that in what we call 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:11.099 Genesis, Exodus, 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.039 Leviticus, Numbers, 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.799 and Deuteronomy 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:14.319 that that comes from God 00:16:14.319 --> 00:16:15.879 and that it's a perfect 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.719 set of rules 00:16:16.719 --> 00:16:18.099 to prepare people 00:16:18.099 --> 00:16:18.979 to understand 00:16:18.979 --> 00:16:20.059 their need for Jesus 00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:20.899 and how it is 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:21.599 that they are to live 00:16:21.599 --> 00:16:22.919 in covenant with God. 00:16:23.459 --> 00:16:24.139 And he's saying, 00:16:24.479 --> 00:16:25.240 for God has done 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:26.699 what a perfect law 00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:28.639 weakened by the flesh 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.779 could not do 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:32.399 by sending his own son 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:33.740 in the likeness 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.939 of sinful flesh 00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:36.420 and for sin 00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:37.920 he condemned 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:39.600 sin in the flesh. 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.740 Remember I told you 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:43.020 just before the sermon began 00:16:43.020 --> 00:16:44.140 I asked you to pray for me 00:16:44.140 --> 00:16:45.180 because the book of Romans 00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:47.300 is so stretching 00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:49.300 and I don't know 00:16:49.300 --> 00:16:50.340 if I can even do justice 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:50.820 to it here 00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:52.100 but it's something 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:52.900 that can't be 00:16:52.900 --> 00:16:54.800 just gulped down. 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:56.840 It keeps demanding us 00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:57.540 to pay attention 00:16:57.540 --> 00:16:58.400 to the details. 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.340 And so what the text 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.320 is saying is this. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:04.539 Okay, here's the thing. 00:17:07.340 --> 00:17:08.420 We all know 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:10.559 that knowing better rules 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.220 doesn't help you 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.259 to live a better life. 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.700 I mean, every one of us 00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:17.880 knows that maybe 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:19.400 the other night 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.580 I passed out to people 00:17:20.580 --> 00:17:21.539 in my family 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.559 those little tiny bags 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.140 of chips. 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:24.660 They'd been on sale 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.279 at Costco. 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.000 And, you know, 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:28.420 each one of them 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:28.720 you know, 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.400 there's a little tiny 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.180 I don't know if you've ever seen them. 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:30.920 You get a big box 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:32.039 of small bags 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:32.580 of Doritos 00:17:32.580 --> 00:17:33.480 and potato chips 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.060 and Cheetos. 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.259 And, you know, 00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:37.580 some of us just ate one 00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:38.500 and some of us ate 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.860 way north of one. 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:43.120 And everybody knows 00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:44.000 that it's not healthy 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.019 to eat way north 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.200 of three. 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:48.620 I'm giving you 00:17:48.620 --> 00:17:49.480 a little bit of leeway. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.299 You know, 00:17:50.360 --> 00:17:50.900 you don't need to have 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:52.519 a big flashing sign 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.259 in the living room 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:53.960 that comes up 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.160 you know, 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:54.680 or the kitchen. 00:17:55.060 --> 00:17:55.720 Eating more than 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:56.980 three bags of Cheetos 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.720 in one sitting 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:59.000 is probably not wise 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:00.120 for your waistline 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:01.620 your cholesterol levels 00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:02.400 you know, 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.519 blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.700 We all know that. 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.140 We don't need 00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:06.339 a flashing light 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.039 to tell us that 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.839 but it's so easy 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.700 to do it, isn't it? 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.220 I mean, 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.039 many of us know 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:11.700 how we could be 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.700 better off financially. 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:13.299 We all know 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:13.980 many of us know 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.519 how we could be 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.339 better off physically. 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:16.100 Many of us know 00:18:16.100 --> 00:18:16.600 how we could be 00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:17.360 better off spiritually. 00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.460 We don't need more laws. 00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:19.620 There's something about us 00:18:19.620 --> 00:18:21.000 that even when laws 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.200 are very, very wise 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:23.100 and rules and advice 00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:23.940 is very, very wise 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:25.100 that we just can't keep it. 00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:27.219 And Paul has shown earlier 00:18:27.219 --> 00:18:28.980 that what the purpose 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.819 of these things is 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:31.059 is to try to make us 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:31.759 come to the point 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.480 to say one moment 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.659 it can't be that religion 00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:34.399 and spirituality 00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:35.339 has to be about 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:35.959 more and better 00:18:35.959 --> 00:18:37.099 and more perfect laws 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:38.619 because there's something 00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:39.559 in me 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:41.000 that just can't 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.439 keep these laws. 00:18:43.899 --> 00:18:44.699 And unless 00:18:44.699 --> 00:18:46.659 God does something 00:18:46.659 --> 00:18:48.539 I can't keep 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:50.240 doing these things. 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:52.419 And I can't 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:54.100 leave myself 00:18:54.100 --> 00:18:55.920 to fix myself. 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.340 And it doesn't matter 00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:58.039 if there's 00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:59.019 a hundred 00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.980 or a thousand 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:01.600 or a thousand million 00:19:01.600 --> 00:19:03.180 or several billion 00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:03.720 people 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.200 who are all 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.600 exactly like me. 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.680 You multiply 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.779 people like me. 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:08.420 You just get 00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:09.960 more of like me. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.380 And you can't just 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:12.740 unless 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:14.720 God does something 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:19.200 I can't 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.500 fix myself 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.160 in terms of 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:21.880 my relationship 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:22.420 with him. 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:24.019 I just cannot 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.039 unless God 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.779 does something. 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.779 And so here it says 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.740 for God has done 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.440 what the law 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.599 what perfect laws 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.700 weakened by 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.640 who we are 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.240 the flesh 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.279 we could not do it. 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:34.920 And what did he do? 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:36.819 He sent his own son 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.799 in the likeness 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.859 of sinful flesh 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:40.119 and for sin 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:41.200 he condemned 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.099 sin 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:43.220 in the flesh 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.160 in order 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.900 that the righteous 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:45.980 requirement of the law 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.940 might be fulfilled 00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:47.799 in us. 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:49.099 And what does this mean? 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:50.500 it means 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:52.139 if you go back 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:52.500 and you read 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.459 the gospel of John 00:19:53.459 --> 00:19:54.179 later you'll see 00:19:54.179 --> 00:19:54.919 that the very very 00:19:54.919 --> 00:19:55.699 first time 00:19:55.699 --> 00:19:56.199 that Jesus 00:19:56.199 --> 00:19:57.439 comes into the story 00:19:57.439 --> 00:19:58.819 that it's John 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.419 the Baptist 00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:00.759 the greatest 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.419 and the last 00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:02.259 of all the prophets 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.740 and he points to 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.799 he's with his friends 00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:05.439 his disciples 00:20:05.439 --> 00:20:06.740 and he points to Jesus 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:08.139 who's walking along 00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:08.539 and he says 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.959 behold the Lamb of God 00:20:09.959 --> 00:20:10.719 who takes away 00:20:10.719 --> 00:20:11.539 the sin of the world. 00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:13.299 That's how Jesus 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.039 is introduced. 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:16.119 Behold the Lamb of God 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:16.599 that guy 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.119 right over there 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:17.359 yeah yeah 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.319 the guy with the hair 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:18.899 down you know 00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:20.079 halfway down his back 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:20.379 yeah I know 00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:21.079 he needs a haircut 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:22.279 and the beard 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:25.039 behold the Lamb of God 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.019 who takes away 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.939 the sin of the world. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.119 And in this text 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:30.839 what it's saying 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.799 is that God 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:33.959 sends his son 00:20:33.959 --> 00:20:35.039 the second person 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:35.579 of the Trinity 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:36.819 and the second person 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:37.199 of the Trinity 00:20:37.199 --> 00:20:38.319 while remaining God 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.939 he takes into himself 00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:40.899 our human nature 00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:42.240 and he comes 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.359 and walks amongst us 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:43.799 and he lives 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.759 a perfect life. 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:46.599 he's made 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:48.220 of the same stuff 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:50.379 both body and soul 00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:51.039 of you and me. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:54.099 He's made a man. 00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:55.980 Likeness here 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:57.099 is a technical 00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:58.200 philosophical term. 00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:58.819 It doesn't just mean 00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:00.019 he appears to look human 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:01.480 it's actually a way of 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.640 a technical way 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.299 of describing 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:04.920 that he's both 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:05.980 fully human 00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:08.519 but at the same time 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.279 that he's 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.759 it's creating 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.140 a little bit 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.660 of a distance 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.259 from the fact 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:12.839 that he's going to 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.319 whether or not 00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.400 he's going to sin or not. 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.319 And so it's saying here 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:17.279 that Jesus comes 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.779 and lives a fully human life 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:20.079 and the purpose 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:21.359 of his coming 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.680 to earth 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:23.700 is to die 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.640 for sin. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.319 Notice that in verse 3 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.680 For God has done 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.119 what the law 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.980 weakened by the flesh 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.619 could not do 00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:31.019 by sending his own son 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.680 in the likeness 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.460 of sinful flesh 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.579 and for sin. 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.220 Some of your versions 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:35.859 there might say 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.119 and as a sin offering 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.319 and it's 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:38.619 it's what 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.839 it's a technical word 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:41.940 and in the Old Testament 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:44.160 for the Jewish people 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:44.759 who are familiar 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.140 with this 00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:46.279 and all of the pagans 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.000 even if they weren't 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.259 familiar with the Old Testament 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.320 they understood 00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:50.580 the nature of sacrifice 00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:53.240 and it's a technical language 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:53.799 of a type 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.840 of offering 00:21:54.840 --> 00:21:58.160 and imagine here 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.019 that I have a nice 00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:00.120 imagine here 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:00.640 that I have a nice 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.380 little lamb 00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:03.779 and in the Old Testament 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.580 it would require 00:22:04.580 --> 00:22:05.320 that there is 00:22:05.320 --> 00:22:06.019 a lamb 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.820 that's perfect 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.659 in terms of 00:22:07.659 --> 00:22:08.480 it has no blemishes 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:10.899 and the lamb comes 00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:12.279 and there's this offering 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.679 where you put your hands 00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:15.619 I would put my hands 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.659 on the head of the lamb 00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:19.859 and then the lamb 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:21.419 would be sacrificed 00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:22.259 and would die 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:24.740 and the image 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:26.679 is that in a sense 00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:29.720 when I put my hands 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.539 on the lamb 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:32.559 all of the things 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:34.539 for which I can be condemned 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.819 all of the things 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.319 that I've done 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.099 that are wrong 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:38.299 all of the right things 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.960 that I should have done 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.799 that I didn't do 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:42.240 everything that keeps me 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.159 far from God 00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:44.720 every part of my project 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.220 to be like God myself 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.740 I in a sense 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:49.220 by touching the lamb's head 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:52.299 that is transferred 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.039 from me 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.939 to the lamb 00:22:53.939 --> 00:22:56.379 and at the same time 00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:57.480 there's something else 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.279 that goes on 00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.859 is that as I touch 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:00.960 the lamb's head 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.559 and in a sense 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:03.939 I'm giving the lamb 00:23:03.939 --> 00:23:05.139 all of the things 00:23:05.139 --> 00:23:05.619 that I've done 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.279 that are wrong 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:08.139 the lamb's 00:23:08.139 --> 00:23:09.399 innocence 00:23:09.399 --> 00:23:11.439 is transferred 00:23:11.439 --> 00:23:12.079 to me 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:14.939 and so that 00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:16.159 when the lamb dies 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:18.679 the lamb dies 00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:20.799 bearing the punishment 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:21.619 that I deserve 00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:23.500 and I walk away 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.939 bearing the innocence 00:23:24.939 --> 00:23:26.759 that was the lamb's 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:29.719 and so what the bible 00:23:29.719 --> 00:23:30.659 is saying here 00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:31.679 it's reminding us 00:23:31.679 --> 00:23:32.599 how when Jesus 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.259 was introduced 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.420 is the lamb of God 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:35.099 who takes away 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:35.940 the sin of the world 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:38.279 Paul is hoping 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:39.379 that people understood 00:23:39.379 --> 00:23:40.940 that sacrifices 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:42.000 are pointers 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.799 to something 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:44.220 that only God 00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:45.839 that God needs to do 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.599 that we can't do 00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:47.319 for ourselves 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:49.059 because we have to 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:49.559 keep going 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.680 and doing these sacrifices 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.759 time and time 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.240 and time 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.039 and time again 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.700 but Paul is saying 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:56.160 what if God 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:57.440 provided the lamb 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:00.059 what if God 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.039 provided the lamb 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.860 and God 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.519 in a sense 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.320 is shameless 00:24:04.320 --> 00:24:07.120 when I gave 00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:08.059 my life to Jesus 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:09.259 when I was in grade 12 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:10.960 I didn't really 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:12.360 understand any of this 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:14.140 all I understood 00:24:14.140 --> 00:24:15.100 was that there was 00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:15.779 this great 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.700 lack 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:18.059 and inadequacy 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.500 and 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.640 bentness 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.259 in me 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:22.819 and that 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:24.180 Jesus would 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.160 accept me 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:26.299 and he would 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:26.940 deal with it 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.440 that's sort of 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:27.940 all I really 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.700 sort of understood 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:31.119 but what the bible 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:32.099 is saying here 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.940 is that God 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.519 is shameless 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.220 when we 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.799 in a sense 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.539 come to the point 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.500 where we realize 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:38.099 that unless God 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.839 does something 00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:40.039 we 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:42.640 have no real hope 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.440 that we need 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.220 God to do 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.640 what I cannot 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:45.940 do 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.579 and only he 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.059 can do 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:48.359 that it doesn't 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:48.839 matter about 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:49.599 my rituals 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.419 my spirituality 00:24:50.419 --> 00:24:51.399 my rules 00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:52.419 my membership 00:24:52.419 --> 00:24:54.159 I'm going to die 00:24:54.159 --> 00:24:54.960 and I'm separate 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.539 and distant 00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.159 from him 00:24:57.159 --> 00:24:58.779 and so I reach 00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.700 out to Jesus 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:01.059 and call for Jesus 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:03.500 and what this text 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.039 is saying 00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:05.099 is that Jesus 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:06.259 then reaches 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.299 down to me 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:09.359 and he 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:10.779 puts his hands 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.399 in mine 00:25:11.399 --> 00:25:12.960 and when 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.980 my hands 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.859 go in the hands 00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.519 of Jesus 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:17.000 and the hands 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.500 of Jesus 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.920 go in my hands 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:20.579 even though 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.880 I don't understand 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.700 maybe 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.720 that he is 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.599 the Lamb of God 00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.359 who takes away 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.200 the sin of the world 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:28.839 I am touching 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:30.539 the Lamb of God 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.839 the Lamb of God 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.440 who takes away 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.160 the sin of the world 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:34.500 is touching me 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:37.200 and at that moment 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.859 even though 00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.880 I am not complete 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.759 and I am not aware 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.220 of it at all 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.140 maybe some of you are 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:42.000 but many of us 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.039 are not even aware 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.480 of it 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.960 it is exactly 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.680 the same 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.580 as if I have 00:25:46.580 --> 00:25:47.620 placed my hands 00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.840 in that image 00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.779 on the Lamb 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:51.299 and at that moment 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.640 that I put my hands 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:53.259 out to Jesus 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:54.200 and he reaches 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.920 across that 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.840 infinite distance 00:25:55.840 --> 00:25:57.000 to put his hands 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.539 in mine 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:57.980 and take 00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:59.340 his hands 00:25:59.340 --> 00:25:59.759 in mine 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.519 and my hands 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.140 are in his 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:02.600 at that moment 00:26:02.600 --> 00:26:03.279 there is 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.480 an exchange 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:07.299 and his purity 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.320 and innocence 00:26:08.320 --> 00:26:09.900 becomes mine 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:12.840 and my 00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:14.220 all that 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.460 I can be condemned 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:15.960 for 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:17.780 becomes his 00:26:17.780 --> 00:26:20.440 and that 00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:21.420 Jesus' death 00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.300 upon the cross 00:26:22.300 --> 00:26:23.660 is not just 00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.640 an act 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.240 in history 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:25.880 that happened 00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:26.480 once 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.640 but because 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.240 Jesus 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.060 is 00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:31.060 God 00:26:31.060 --> 00:26:31.640 the Son 00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.300 of God 00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:34.140 it is 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.960 an act 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.620 that is 00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:36.320 always 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:38.379 available 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.379 for every 00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:40.079 human being 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.960 even those 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.460 who come 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:41.980 after 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:46.339 and so 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:46.939 it is 00:26:46.939 --> 00:26:47.700 and could you 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.119 put up the 00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:48.740 first point 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:49.720 Rebecca 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:52.779 Jesus 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.599 was the Lamb 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.039 of God 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.559 who takes 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.059 away the 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.480 sin of the 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:55.759 world 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.859 so by 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:57.460 faith in 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:57.740 him 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.939 there is 00:26:58.939 --> 00:26:59.399 therefore 00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.039 now 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.899 no 00:27:00.899 --> 00:27:02.480 condemnation 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:08.579 there is 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:08.880 therefore 00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:09.160 now 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.420 no 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:10.220 condemnation 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:13.579 if I 00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:13.960 preach a 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.160 good 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:14.559 sermon 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.259 there is 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.579 therefore 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:15.900 now 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.140 no 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.860 condemnation 00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:17.799 if I 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.099 have done 00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:18.380 a really 00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:18.700 poor 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.039 job 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.299 this 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:19.620 morning 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.620 there is 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:20.980 therefore 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.240 now 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.400 no 00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:22.240 condemnation 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.339 if I 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:27.779 do a 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:27.980 really 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.220 really 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.480 really 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:28.720 good 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.019 job 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:29.180 of 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:29.559 resisting 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:29.940 sin 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.200 this 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.420 week 00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:30.779 there is 00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.059 therefore 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:31.339 now 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:31.579 no 00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.319 condemnation 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:36.139 If I do a poor job, there is therefore now no condemnation. 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:40.579 If I go through a period of great depression, 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:44.939 in a couple of months, a season of darkness, 00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:47.720 there is therefore now no condemnation. 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:53.059 If I go through a season of profound apparent success in ministry, 00:27:53.919 --> 00:27:55.919 there is therefore now no condemnation. 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:59.399 No matter what you want to put before or after, 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:02.580 when you put your hands in the hands of Jesus, 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:05.480 and he takes your hands in his, 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:11.740 there is therefore now no condemnation. 00:28:14.560 --> 00:28:15.120 Forever. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.480 That is the gospel. 00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:23.700 Could you put that up for us? 00:28:23.800 --> 00:28:24.540 Could we say it together? 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:26.700 Could you put up verse 8-1? 00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:29.860 Could you say it with me? 00:28:30.600 --> 00:28:36.519 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:42.900 So what on earth does this mean in terms of how we live our lives? 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:48.280 In verse 5, which comes after what we've just read, 00:28:50.800 --> 00:28:54.700 the Holy Spirit causes Paul to write something which is both 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:57.400 a description of how we live our lives 00:28:57.400 --> 00:29:03.540 and a litmus test as to whether or not we've put our hands in the hands of Jesus. 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:06.839 It's a very, very clever type of thing 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:10.799 because, of course, it's easy for some of us to hear this 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:16.039 and take it in a way which really actually doesn't mean that we're calling out to God, 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:18.460 but we're presuming upon God. 00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:25.480 Let's read it, and then I'll try to give you an analogy to explain it. 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:25.819 Could you? 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.339 We'll read it. 00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:27.059 It's verse 5. 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:30.700 In fact, if out of this sermon you only get two things, 00:29:31.179 --> 00:29:34.899 if you memorize chapter 8, verse 1 and memorize chapter 8, verse 5, 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.819 you've done a good thing. 00:29:36.899 --> 00:29:41.019 The rest of chapter 8 is going to try to start to continually unpack verse 5, 00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:45.899 but this verse 5 is both a litmus test and also a description. 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:47.859 Here's how it goes. 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:54.299 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, 00:29:54.599 --> 00:29:59.279 but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:03.679 And here the word flesh doesn't mean like sex. 00:30:04.919 --> 00:30:06.799 You know, often we refer to sins of the flesh, 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:09.939 and we really mean that you drink too much and look at pornography 00:30:09.939 --> 00:30:12.639 or do naughty things in that direction. 00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:17.119 I'm not saying that drunkenness isn't a sin or that pornography is not a sin. 00:30:17.179 --> 00:30:17.779 I'm not saying that. 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:24.179 What I'm just saying is that the devil uses that language to make us blind to our pride, 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:31.079 arrogance, anger, envy, condemnation, hypocrisy, greed, laziness, etc., etc. 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:34.659 We can become completely and utterly blind to all of these other sins 00:30:34.659 --> 00:30:35.819 because we can become... 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:38.479 The devil uses it to get us fixated on a couple. 00:30:38.639 --> 00:30:42.659 But here the word flesh means basically from an earthly perspective, 00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:47.379 from the perspective of just the way that people just generally talk. 00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:50.700 And that if our minds are set on this, 00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:56.280 the logical consequence will be that it will just continue to get what the earth gets, 00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.080 which is death. 00:30:57.079 --> 00:31:00.819 But if our minds are set on the Holy Spirit, 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:05.480 it will end up leading to life and to peace. 00:31:06.919 --> 00:31:11.460 Increasing peace with God, experienced and lived, and increasing life. 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:14.799 And the rest of it's going to work. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:17.960 It's going to explain a little bit more about what that means. 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:20.440 But what's going on here with the text? 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:23.680 Well, the first thing is... 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:26.059 Could you put up the next point for me, please? 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:33.860 The Bible isn't saying that when we put our hands in the hands of Jesus 00:31:33.860 --> 00:31:38.340 that we stop becoming human beings and now live perfect lives. 00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:43.079 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:45.240 As I tried to give it with an illustration, 00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:46.859 if it means I perform... 00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:49.199 If I, Lord, have mercy upon me, 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:52.799 if I do some horrible act of sin next month, 00:31:53.199 --> 00:31:55.339 there is therefore now no condemnation. 00:31:55.799 --> 00:32:01.039 If I do some unbelievable act of generosity and spiritual sacrifice 00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:03.319 that leads to great glory to God, 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:06.599 well, there is therefore now no condemnation. 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:12.399 The Bible doesn't say that when we put our hands in the hands of Jesus 00:32:12.399 --> 00:32:17.500 that Jesus now instantly turns us into something other than a human being. 00:32:18.459 --> 00:32:26.079 Chapter 7 has shown that we live in the already-not-yet 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:28.959 with a divided and contradictory self. 00:32:29.719 --> 00:32:33.500 We live in the already-not-yet with a divided and contradictory self. 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:35.799 That even before we become a Christian, 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:39.659 the already-not-yet means that Jesus is risen from the dead and he's going to come again. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.799 That's the already-not-yet. 00:32:40.919 --> 00:32:42.099 It means other things as well. 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:45.019 And the divided and contradictory self is, as we say, 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:47.659 on one hand, we maybe know that we should lose some weight, 00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:50.419 save more money, be more generous. 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:52.440 You can make a whole long list of different things. 00:32:52.579 --> 00:32:53.680 Even if you're not a Christian, 00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:55.779 you know that there's a whole pile of these things, 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:57.839 but you also know that there's forces within you 00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:59.119 that make you want to do the opposite, 00:32:59.119 --> 00:33:01.359 and that even after the Holy Spirit, 00:33:01.459 --> 00:33:03.899 the logic of the Holy Spirit starts to work in your life, 00:33:03.979 --> 00:33:06.419 there's a bringing you to Jesus, 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:09.099 and there's going to be like a type of pressure to walk with Jesus, 00:33:09.219 --> 00:33:10.099 but at the same time, 00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:12.899 I'm living with a divided and contradictory self, 00:33:12.939 --> 00:33:14.919 and I'm going to have a divided and contradictory self 00:33:14.919 --> 00:33:16.359 until Jesus comes again. 00:33:16.359 --> 00:33:20.799 It's going to be just the way I am. 00:33:21.959 --> 00:33:26.000 And that's why when you take these two things together, 00:33:26.879 --> 00:33:32.740 it's to deliver us from the play-acting of Christian legalism, 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:37.939 whereby we can pretend that everything is all right and all perfect, 00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:39.839 and we're living perfect lives, 00:33:40.179 --> 00:33:41.759 all by our own efforts. 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:47.299 And you can also be protected from this tendency to just say, 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:49.660 well, it doesn't matter if I'm doing all of these bad things 00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:51.799 because there's therefore now no condemnation. 00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:57.460 It's protecting us from this type of legalism 00:33:57.460 --> 00:34:00.140 and just dispensing with all human laws. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:02.940 But I said verse 5, 00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:05.059 remember I said verse 5 was like a litmus test. 00:34:05.379 --> 00:34:06.859 For those who live according to the flesh 00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:08.480 set their minds on the things of the flesh, 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.980 but those who live according to the Spirit 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.820 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:15.119 It's possible to hear this, 00:34:15.240 --> 00:34:16.679 there is therefore now condemnation, 00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.740 by just responding 00:34:17.740 --> 00:34:20.840 that I can do whatever bad things I want. 00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:25.440 And if that is how we respond, 00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:29.119 it's a litmus test that we haven't really called out to God 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:31.599 for him to do what we cannot do. 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:38.300 Maybe here's a bit of an illustration. 00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:39.280 I have to watch my time. 00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:42.719 I've been a minister for quite a few years 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:45.719 and one of the things I've discovered about being a minister 00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:47.780 is I can't predict when I do a marriage 00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:50.099 whether the marriage will somehow hold 00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:51.619 or whether it will break up and divorce. 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:54.320 I've done marriages where I thought this is, 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.579 you know, I've even told my wife, 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:57.019 this is a really great young couple. 00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:58.780 They really seem to be deeply in love. 00:34:59.320 --> 00:35:00.920 They seem to be really keen. 00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.820 And then a year later, 00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:04.059 the marriage is broken up. 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:08.099 I can think of one preeminent marriage that I did. 00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:10.079 And this is quite a few years ago 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:11.239 when I was in another city. 00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.719 And I met this, 00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:14.699 the young woman went to my church 00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:16.920 and this fellow didn't. 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:21.079 And he was a bouncer at one of the roughest bars 00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:22.739 in the entire Ottawa Valley. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.659 Not making up, 00:35:24.839 --> 00:35:26.699 a bouncer at one of the roughest, 00:35:26.839 --> 00:35:27.599 toughest, 00:35:27.839 --> 00:35:31.480 regularly big fights. 00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:32.659 He was a bouncer there. 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.500 And when we met, 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:36.119 he, 00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:37.599 I mean, 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:39.059 he swore and cursed 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:40.139 and used foul language 00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:41.240 all the way through our meeting. 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:41.719 I mean, 00:35:41.740 --> 00:35:42.500 he was really, 00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.139 really rough. 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.679 And I, 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:46.059 and she was this like 00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:48.159 really sweet young thing. 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:49.360 And I, 00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:50.320 I went home to Louise 00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:50.740 and I said, 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:50.940 wow, 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.139 I don't, 00:35:51.219 --> 00:35:51.820 I just can't, 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:53.240 I can't understand this. 00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:53.860 Like this is, 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.059 this is a disaster. 00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:57.920 20 some odd years later, 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.719 they're still married. 00:35:58.719 --> 00:36:00.679 And, 00:36:00.799 --> 00:36:01.119 um, 00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:04.799 he was completely transformed. 00:36:06.319 --> 00:36:09.019 Like when he entered into the marriage vows, 00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:10.079 he meant it. 00:36:12.619 --> 00:36:13.480 And he, 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:15.639 he stopped being a bouncer. 00:36:15.839 --> 00:36:17.219 He set up several businesses. 00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:19.119 He became relatively prosperous. 00:36:19.879 --> 00:36:21.339 And the foul language 00:36:21.339 --> 00:36:22.559 and all of that other stuff, 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:23.239 it all started, 00:36:23.379 --> 00:36:24.859 it didn't change overnight, 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.939 but there started to be 00:36:25.939 --> 00:36:26.779 the, 00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:27.119 the, 00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:27.539 the, 00:36:27.779 --> 00:36:28.179 the, 00:36:28.179 --> 00:36:28.399 the, 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:30.280 the importance of the marriage vow 00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:31.780 and the importance of that woman 00:36:31.780 --> 00:36:34.059 started to change him. 00:36:38.300 --> 00:36:38.740 See, 00:36:38.820 --> 00:36:39.380 some people 00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:41.380 take the marriage vows 00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:42.680 as an excuse 00:36:42.680 --> 00:36:44.500 that they no longer have to try. 00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:47.280 Well, 00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:48.079 we're married, 00:36:48.180 --> 00:36:49.440 you can't do anything about it, 00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:51.559 so I can be just as big a jerk as I want. 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:54.460 And other people, 00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:55.800 not, 00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:56.079 I mean, 00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:57.539 obviously everybody has times 00:36:57.539 --> 00:36:58.180 when things are bad, 00:36:58.179 --> 00:36:59.219 but the marriage vows 00:36:59.219 --> 00:37:03.000 somehow become a means 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:06.199 by which our life starts to change 00:37:06.199 --> 00:37:06.799 for the better. 00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:10.679 And that's what Paul is saying here. 00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:12.460 Because remember, 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:14.159 what the Holy Spirit does, 00:37:14.259 --> 00:37:16.379 the logic or the power of the Holy Spirit 00:37:16.379 --> 00:37:19.639 is it leads us to a faith in Jesus. 00:37:19.639 --> 00:37:29.960 it leads us to this point where we realize that I need God to do what only God can do. 00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:30.960 I have come to the end of the Lord, 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.960 I have come to the end of the Lord, 00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.880 I have come to the end of my rope. 00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:35.639 And you call out to Jesus. 00:37:36.280 --> 00:37:41.440 And Jesus reaches down across that infinite space that we cannot bridge ourselves. 00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:44.960 And he takes our outstretched hands symbolically. 00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:45.179 I mean, 00:37:45.220 --> 00:37:47.659 we probably don't maybe necessarily reach our arms out, 00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:50.940 but he takes our outstretched hands in his, 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:53.099 and he takes us to himself. 00:37:54.859 --> 00:37:59.819 And he has been our sin offering when he died upon the cross. 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:03.580 He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:38:04.840 --> 00:38:07.460 And even though I do not realize it, 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:09.800 when my hands go in his, 00:38:11.080 --> 00:38:14.019 all of the condemnation that is due on me 00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:15.400 has fallen on him. 00:38:16.220 --> 00:38:18.840 And all of his purity and life and innocence 00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:21.500 is somehow bestowed upon me. 00:38:22.220 --> 00:38:25.380 And there is therefore now no condemnation. 00:38:25.380 --> 00:38:33.360 And the Holy Spirit will continually lead us back to the gospel. 00:38:34.780 --> 00:38:38.440 And as the Holy Spirit leads us back to the gospel, 00:38:38.740 --> 00:38:42.800 and as we become disciples of Jesus who are gripped by the gospel, 00:38:43.619 --> 00:38:45.500 the gospel starts to become, 00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:48.200 and the other teachings in light of who it is that Jesus is 00:38:48.200 --> 00:38:49.480 and what he's done for us on the cross, 00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:53.320 it becomes the ground upon which we start to live 00:38:53.320 --> 00:38:55.000 and how we understand things. 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:58.460 And the actual gospel itself starts to shape us. 00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:01.960 And as the gospel grips us, 00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:03.079 and as it grounds us, 00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.380 and it starts to shape us, 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:06.280 and it starts to nudge us to do things 00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:07.940 that we hadn't thought of doing before, 00:39:08.260 --> 00:39:10.000 and it draws us to do things 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:11.519 that we hadn't thought of doing before. 00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:14.380 And as we think about the fact that 00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:18.019 in Jesus there is now therefore no condemnation, 00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:20.860 and all of a sudden as that starts to grip us, 00:39:20.860 --> 00:39:21.640 we start to realize, 00:39:21.740 --> 00:39:23.680 we know maybe I shouldn't condemn others. 00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:28.440 As the gospel grips us, 00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:31.019 and knowing that Jesus died upon the cross, 00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:33.180 and this profound act of generosity, 00:39:34.119 --> 00:39:34.800 you know what? 00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:36.900 Maybe I should be a bit more generous. 00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:42.800 And as we realize that all of the things 00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:45.160 that we've done that are wrong have been laid on him, 00:39:45.159 --> 00:39:48.879 and his purity and goodness is given upon us, 00:39:49.039 --> 00:39:50.319 then all of a sudden, 00:39:50.699 --> 00:39:52.539 the shape of maybe living a life 00:39:52.539 --> 00:39:53.839 where we forgive others 00:39:53.839 --> 00:39:55.219 starts to make some sense, 00:39:55.279 --> 00:39:56.519 that we're drawn to that, 00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:57.679 that we're nudged by that, 00:39:57.739 --> 00:39:58.940 that we're standing in a place 00:39:58.940 --> 00:40:00.359 by which we can understand 00:40:00.359 --> 00:40:02.239 that maybe forgiveness, 00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:04.719 and turning the other cheek, 00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:07.519 and being one that swallows evil, 00:40:07.619 --> 00:40:10.339 and be the place where the cycle of evil stops, 00:40:10.340 --> 00:40:12.360 that maybe that makes sense. 00:40:15.920 --> 00:40:18.780 That maybe if God, 00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:20.100 through Jesus, 00:40:21.680 --> 00:40:23.400 that he, 00:40:23.700 --> 00:40:26.680 Jesus sets aside all of his riches, 00:40:26.820 --> 00:40:27.360 so to speak, 00:40:27.400 --> 00:40:29.640 in heaven to become poor for me, 00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:32.880 well, maybe this odd thing of tithing, 00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:34.600 maybe that starts to make sense. 00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:37.119 Maybe that makes sense. 00:40:41.619 --> 00:40:42.940 And so you see, 00:40:43.159 --> 00:40:44.639 like in those marriage examples, 00:40:45.860 --> 00:40:48.460 it could be that when we hear 00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:50.199 what Jesus has done for us on the cross, 00:40:50.259 --> 00:40:50.880 we think, oh good, 00:40:50.900 --> 00:40:51.839 I can do whatever I want, 00:40:51.880 --> 00:40:52.579 which is wrong, 00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:55.039 and God's not going to do anything about it. 00:40:55.699 --> 00:40:56.759 And all that means is that 00:40:56.759 --> 00:40:58.519 we really haven't given our lives to Jesus. 00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:02.319 And others of us, 00:41:02.320 --> 00:41:05.660 as our minds are set on 00:41:05.660 --> 00:41:07.900 what the Holy Spirit's mind is set on, 00:41:07.980 --> 00:41:08.820 which is first of all, 00:41:08.920 --> 00:41:10.900 Jesus and what he's done for us on the cross, 00:41:11.860 --> 00:41:13.920 it starts to free us. 00:41:15.559 --> 00:41:17.100 It starts to free us. 00:41:18.720 --> 00:41:20.160 And we start to have peace. 00:41:22.620 --> 00:41:24.220 Now, some of you might say, 00:41:24.500 --> 00:41:24.920 George, 00:41:26.039 --> 00:41:27.280 do you know, 00:41:27.420 --> 00:41:29.400 I've been a Christian all these years, George, 00:41:29.480 --> 00:41:31.300 and do you know what goes through my mind? 00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:32.940 Do you know sometimes 00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:35.640 the violent and dark thoughts that I have? 00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:37.580 Do you know sometimes, 00:41:37.740 --> 00:41:38.340 George, I don't know, 00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:39.200 I'm not like you, 00:41:39.280 --> 00:41:40.420 you look like you think about 00:41:40.420 --> 00:41:41.580 all these holy things, 00:41:41.680 --> 00:41:42.880 and you read all these books, 00:41:43.060 --> 00:41:46.640 and if you just saw the rage I have, 00:41:47.420 --> 00:41:49.340 if you just saw how angry I am, 00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:52.780 if you just knew the hold that money had on, 00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:53.980 if you just know, 00:41:54.300 --> 00:41:56.200 if you just knew how I sometimes 00:41:56.199 --> 00:41:57.219 can't sleep at night 00:41:57.219 --> 00:42:00.559 because I just can't get my mind 00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:04.399 off of what that person said to me, 00:42:06.279 --> 00:42:07.639 can you put the scripture back up? 00:42:09.159 --> 00:42:10.259 You know what I have to say? 00:42:10.519 --> 00:42:11.439 Why don't you say it with me? 00:42:11.839 --> 00:42:13.679 There is therefore now 00:42:13.679 --> 00:42:15.259 no condemnation 00:42:15.259 --> 00:42:17.839 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:42:18.739 --> 00:42:20.079 Say it with me again. 00:42:20.939 --> 00:42:22.359 There is therefore now 00:42:22.360 --> 00:42:23.860 no condemnation 00:42:23.860 --> 00:42:26.180 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:42:27.320 --> 00:42:29.660 If you're really, really, really successful 00:42:29.660 --> 00:42:31.599 at dealing with all of these things, 00:42:32.599 --> 00:42:34.640 there is therefore now 00:42:34.640 --> 00:42:35.780 no condemnation 00:42:35.780 --> 00:42:37.180 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:42:38.519 --> 00:42:40.019 If you're having a real problem 00:42:40.019 --> 00:42:41.280 with rage or greed 00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:44.700 after you've given your life to Jesus, 00:42:45.240 --> 00:42:46.300 there is therefore now 00:42:46.300 --> 00:42:47.320 no condemnation 00:42:47.320 --> 00:42:48.680 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:51.460 the Holy Spirit 00:42:51.460 --> 00:42:53.219 is going to keep bringing you back 00:42:53.219 --> 00:42:54.099 to that. 00:42:57.699 --> 00:42:59.319 I've run out of time in my sermon. 00:43:01.679 --> 00:43:03.219 The other points I was going to say, 00:43:04.219 --> 00:43:04.559 we can, 00:43:05.199 --> 00:43:06.619 it'll be online, but 00:43:06.619 --> 00:43:13.559 this verse 5 00:43:13.559 --> 00:43:14.819 isn't just saying 00:43:14.819 --> 00:43:16.559 that if you don't do it perfectly, 00:43:16.559 --> 00:43:18.199 you're not in Christ Jesus. 00:43:18.679 --> 00:43:21.119 it's telling you 00:43:21.119 --> 00:43:22.839 that whether it's just 00:43:22.839 --> 00:43:24.359 every once in a while, 00:43:24.399 --> 00:43:25.619 you just realize 00:43:25.619 --> 00:43:26.500 that it's, 00:43:26.539 --> 00:43:29.059 it's telling us 00:43:29.059 --> 00:43:30.139 this bit of a mystery 00:43:30.139 --> 00:43:34.659 that setting our minds 00:43:34.659 --> 00:43:35.639 on the Spirit is, 00:43:35.739 --> 00:43:36.980 I mean, we should call out in God, 00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:37.500 we should say, 00:43:37.579 --> 00:43:38.559 Father, please make me 00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:39.419 a disciple of Jesus 00:43:39.419 --> 00:43:40.339 gripped by the gospel 00:43:40.339 --> 00:43:41.339 who's living for your glory. 00:43:41.899 --> 00:43:42.259 Father, 00:43:42.419 --> 00:43:44.239 my mind is completely 00:43:44.239 --> 00:43:45.739 and utterly fixated 00:43:45.739 --> 00:43:47.019 on this lust, 00:43:47.019 --> 00:43:48.199 on this anger, 00:43:48.400 --> 00:43:49.380 on this rage, 00:43:49.679 --> 00:43:50.079 on this, 00:43:50.179 --> 00:43:52.380 on this desire for revenge, 00:43:52.699 --> 00:43:54.659 on this wound from the past. 00:43:54.800 --> 00:43:55.880 My mind is complete. 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:56.219 Lord, 00:43:56.340 --> 00:43:57.840 help me to set my mind 00:43:57.840 --> 00:43:58.440 on the things 00:43:58.440 --> 00:43:59.679 that the Holy Spirit's mind 00:43:59.679 --> 00:44:00.219 has set on. 00:44:00.840 --> 00:44:01.579 That the thing is, 00:44:01.659 --> 00:44:01.860 it's, 00:44:01.860 --> 00:44:02.880 it's not telling us 00:44:02.880 --> 00:44:04.639 that unless we keep this perfectly, 00:44:05.139 --> 00:44:06.559 we're under condemnation. 00:44:06.559 --> 00:44:08.320 everything in the text, 00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:09.920 even this thing 00:44:09.920 --> 00:44:11.219 to call out for God 00:44:11.219 --> 00:44:11.900 to help us 00:44:11.900 --> 00:44:12.840 to have our mind 00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:13.299 on the thing, 00:44:13.500 --> 00:44:15.239 everything in the text 00:44:15.239 --> 00:44:16.900 flows from 00:44:16.900 --> 00:44:19.079 there is therefore 00:44:19.079 --> 00:44:22.079 now no condemnation 00:44:22.079 --> 00:44:23.480 for those who are 00:44:23.480 --> 00:44:24.860 in Christ Jesus. 00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:28.380 It's always about 00:44:28.380 --> 00:44:29.440 the power of God. 00:44:30.920 --> 00:44:32.079 The Christian life grows 00:44:32.079 --> 00:44:35.539 out of humble gratitude. 00:44:36.440 --> 00:44:37.440 The Holy Spirit 00:44:37.440 --> 00:44:38.139 will lead us 00:44:38.139 --> 00:44:39.019 increasingly 00:44:39.019 --> 00:44:40.019 not to think 00:44:40.019 --> 00:44:41.059 of how profound 00:44:41.059 --> 00:44:43.039 we are as spiritual athletes, 00:44:43.940 --> 00:44:46.319 but how we are beggars 00:44:46.319 --> 00:44:48.460 in need for that 00:44:48.460 --> 00:44:49.980 which only God can do. 00:44:51.719 --> 00:44:52.619 Please stand. 00:45:00.619 --> 00:45:02.019 Bow our heads in prayer. 00:45:02.079 --> 00:45:07.119 Father, 00:45:07.219 --> 00:45:08.159 if there are any here 00:45:08.159 --> 00:45:10.039 who have never put 00:45:10.039 --> 00:45:10.599 their hands 00:45:10.599 --> 00:45:11.679 in the hands of Jesus, 00:45:13.099 --> 00:45:13.480 Father, 00:45:13.659 --> 00:45:14.619 silence the devil 00:45:14.619 --> 00:45:15.420 from telling them 00:45:15.420 --> 00:45:16.139 that they should think 00:45:16.139 --> 00:45:17.000 about this more 00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:18.199 before they put their hands 00:45:18.199 --> 00:45:19.259 in the hands of Jesus 00:45:19.259 --> 00:45:20.619 and may your Holy Spirit, 00:45:20.759 --> 00:45:21.380 the logic 00:45:21.380 --> 00:45:22.119 and the power 00:45:22.119 --> 00:45:23.019 of the Holy Spirit 00:45:23.019 --> 00:45:24.719 come upon each one 00:45:24.719 --> 00:45:26.079 so that they know 00:45:26.079 --> 00:45:27.960 there is no time better 00:45:27.960 --> 00:45:28.840 than right now 00:45:28.840 --> 00:45:29.500 to call out 00:45:29.500 --> 00:45:30.440 to the Lamb of God 00:45:30.440 --> 00:45:31.139 who takes away 00:45:31.139 --> 00:45:31.980 the sin of the world. 00:45:33.079 --> 00:45:34.420 To take their hands 00:45:34.420 --> 00:45:36.599 in his hands. 00:45:36.860 --> 00:45:37.539 And we thank you, 00:45:37.619 --> 00:45:37.860 Jesus, 00:45:38.039 --> 00:45:39.599 that you know 00:45:39.599 --> 00:45:40.940 every single thing 00:45:40.940 --> 00:45:41.659 there is to know 00:45:41.659 --> 00:45:42.279 about us. 00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:43.519 You know everything 00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:44.679 about our past. 00:45:44.980 --> 00:45:45.819 You know what our life 00:45:45.819 --> 00:45:47.079 was like even in the womb. 00:45:47.940 --> 00:45:48.340 You know, 00:45:48.539 --> 00:45:48.719 Father, 00:45:48.840 --> 00:45:50.119 what terrible things 00:45:50.119 --> 00:45:51.460 were visited upon us 00:45:51.460 --> 00:45:52.039 in the womb. 00:45:52.039 --> 00:45:53.460 and you know everything 00:45:53.460 --> 00:45:54.679 that happens to us 00:45:54.679 --> 00:45:56.119 every moment of our life. 00:45:56.219 --> 00:45:56.759 That you know 00:45:56.759 --> 00:45:57.679 even the dreams 00:45:57.679 --> 00:45:58.579 that we have at night 00:45:58.579 --> 00:45:59.539 that we don't remember 00:45:59.539 --> 00:46:00.400 when we wake up. 00:46:00.759 --> 00:46:02.019 And you know everything 00:46:02.019 --> 00:46:03.019 about our future. 00:46:03.159 --> 00:46:04.039 You know whether we are 00:46:04.039 --> 00:46:05.599 going to live another 70 years 00:46:05.599 --> 00:46:06.320 or whether we aren't 00:46:06.320 --> 00:46:06.820 going to live 00:46:06.820 --> 00:46:08.039 another seven days. 00:46:08.400 --> 00:46:08.900 And you know 00:46:08.900 --> 00:46:10.019 every single thing, 00:46:10.320 --> 00:46:10.400 Father, 00:46:10.500 --> 00:46:11.279 about everything 00:46:11.279 --> 00:46:12.139 that we've done 00:46:12.139 --> 00:46:12.940 and haven't done. 00:46:12.940 --> 00:46:13.820 That you know 00:46:13.820 --> 00:46:15.119 every single thing 00:46:15.119 --> 00:46:15.719 there is to know 00:46:15.719 --> 00:46:16.159 about us, 00:46:16.279 --> 00:46:16.380 Father. 00:46:16.500 --> 00:46:17.320 And we thank you 00:46:17.320 --> 00:46:18.160 and praise you 00:46:18.160 --> 00:46:19.680 that in Jesus 00:46:19.680 --> 00:46:21.039 those are all dealt with. 00:46:21.120 --> 00:46:21.519 That he, 00:46:21.740 --> 00:46:22.000 Father, 00:46:22.080 --> 00:46:22.740 we thank you 00:46:22.740 --> 00:46:24.180 that he is the Lamb of God 00:46:24.180 --> 00:46:24.940 who takes away 00:46:24.940 --> 00:46:25.740 the sin of the world. 00:46:26.140 --> 00:46:26.880 We thank you, 00:46:27.019 --> 00:46:27.240 Father, 00:46:27.320 --> 00:46:28.039 that there can be 00:46:28.039 --> 00:46:29.120 nothing in our future 00:46:29.120 --> 00:46:30.100 that catches you 00:46:30.100 --> 00:46:30.900 by surprise. 00:46:31.400 --> 00:46:32.059 We thank you 00:46:32.059 --> 00:46:33.180 that when we put our hands 00:46:33.180 --> 00:46:34.280 in the hands of Jesus 00:46:34.280 --> 00:46:36.460 that he takes our hands 00:46:36.460 --> 00:46:37.720 and that there is 00:46:37.720 --> 00:46:38.680 therefore now 00:46:38.680 --> 00:46:40.480 no condemnation 00:46:40.480 --> 00:46:41.280 for us. 00:46:41.720 --> 00:46:42.200 We ask, 00:46:42.539 --> 00:46:42.580 Father, 00:46:42.700 --> 00:46:43.880 that your Holy Spirit 00:46:43.880 --> 00:46:45.200 would move in our lives 00:46:45.200 --> 00:46:46.300 to make us disciples 00:46:46.300 --> 00:46:46.940 of Jesus, 00:46:46.940 --> 00:46:48.220 gripped by the gospel, 00:46:48.599 --> 00:46:49.659 learning to live 00:46:49.659 --> 00:46:50.300 for your glory, 00:46:50.539 --> 00:46:51.599 learning to live 00:46:51.599 --> 00:46:52.539 by grace, 00:46:53.059 --> 00:46:54.200 learning to live 00:46:54.200 --> 00:46:54.880 and be fed 00:46:54.880 --> 00:46:55.980 by your grace. 00:46:56.200 --> 00:46:56.579 Father, 00:46:57.079 --> 00:46:58.519 pour out your Holy Spirit 00:46:58.519 --> 00:46:59.280 upon us 00:46:59.280 --> 00:47:01.960 and make us disciples 00:47:01.960 --> 00:47:02.579 of Jesus, 00:47:02.800 --> 00:47:03.720 gripped by the gospel, 00:47:03.880 --> 00:47:04.320 who are learning 00:47:04.320 --> 00:47:05.260 to live for your glory. 00:47:05.360 --> 00:47:05.960 This we ask 00:47:05.960 --> 00:47:07.059 in Jesus' name. 00:47:07.599 --> 00:47:07.920 Amen.