WEBVTT

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 Revelation 21 to 22 verse 5.

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 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

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 And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

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 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.

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 He will dwell with them, and they will be his people.

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 And God himself will be with them as their God.

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 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.

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 Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.

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 And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new.

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 Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.

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 And he said to me, It is done.

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 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

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 To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

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 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

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 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral,

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 sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars,

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 their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

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 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues,

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 and spoke to me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

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 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain,

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 and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

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 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper clear as crystal.

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 It had a great high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels,

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 and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed.

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 On the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.

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 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

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 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls.

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 The city lies four square, its length the same as its width.

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 And he measured the city with his rod, twelve hundred stadia.

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 Its length and width and height are equal.

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 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits, by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement.

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 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold like clear glass.

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 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel.

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 The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx,

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 the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase,

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 the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

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 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl.

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 And the street of the city was pure gold like transparent glass.

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 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God, the Almighty and the Lamb.

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 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives its light,

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 and its lamp is the Lamb.

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 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.

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 And its gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there.

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 They will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations.

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 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false,

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 but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

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 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal,

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 flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city.

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 Also on either side of the river, the tree of life, with its twelve kind of fruit,

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 yielding its fruit each month.

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 The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

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 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,

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 and his servants will worship him.

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 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

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 And night will be no more.

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 They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light,

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 and they will reign forever and ever.

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 Well, how have you experienced your world, our world, this week?

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 I guess I already know the answer to that question for every one of us,

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 and that is, we'd have to say it's a mix.

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 It's always a mix, isn't it?

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 So, on the one hand, you're aware of stunning beauty in the physical world,

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 yet incredible harshness and uncertainty,

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 climate change, devastating natural disasters, disease, plagues.

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 It's such a mix.

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 It's like the same in our relational world.

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 From time to time, we catch glimpses of the loving, secure, satisfying, selfless relationships

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 that each one of us crave.

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 But mostly, we're just struggling to keep our relationships together.

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 We're struggling just through dysfunction and brokenness.

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 Our brokenness and dysfunction impacting others,

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 and the brokenness and dysfunction of others impacting on us.

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 And I think it would be safe to say, without being called Eeyore this morning,

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 that I think most of us at the end of the week just feel a bit battered,

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 and bruised, and tired.

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 That's life, isn't it?

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 And then when we switch on our TVs,

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 if you still use a TV, or your iPad, whatever it is,

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 you get your news service on,

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 at global village level,

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 well, the picture's just the same, only much bigger,

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 much more severe.

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 Brutal conflict erupting every which way.

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 Hatred in countless forms.

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 Lies.

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 Ruthless exploitation.

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 We talk about man's inhumanity to man,

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 but that's just a cliche, isn't it, for what we see.

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 That reality, I think,

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 is very, very much to the fore in explaining why,

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 hope is basic to every person.

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 It's hope in the middle of a very, very heavy,

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 dysfunctional, broken world.

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 It's hope

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 that keeps a person from being stuck

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 in the awfulness of the past,

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 or the present.

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 Because hope gives promise of a better future.

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 Hope is such a powerful thing in each of us.

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 Hope is a really powerful thing in society.

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 In fact, it's so powerful

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 that I think it's not too much to say

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 that hope is the last thing we lose in life.

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 Once that's gone,

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 then it's gone.

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 Life's gone.

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 We cannot continue to live meaningfully

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 without hope.

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 It's that powerful.

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 It's that important.

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 Now, of course,

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 when we look at our world,

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 then we see

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 that the more hopeless people feel,

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 the more they experience that sense of brokenness

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 and dysfunction in the world,

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 as they observe it and experience it,

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 the more they demand hope.

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 And what we see in our world, I believe,

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 is that we keep recycling

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 the same old hopeless forms of hope.

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 Despair.

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 Black depression.

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 And that's an epidemic proportion

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 in our society at the moment.

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 Or, go to the other extreme,

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 there's escapism,

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 self-indulgence.

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 We entertain ourselves to death

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 at the old retail therapy,

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 binging Netflix,

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 endless entertainments,

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 home renovations,

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 personal pampering,

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 and so the list could go on and on and on.

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 It's all about escapism.

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 It's all about self-indulgence.

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 It's all about creating

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 a sense of paradise and security

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 and meaningfulness

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 in among the dysfunction and the brokenness.

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 And then there's bland optimism.

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 Our world seems to be

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 still holding on to that.

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 Positive thinking.

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 Hard to know how

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 after generations of war

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 and destruction.

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 But it seems like

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 a lot of people still,

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 contrary to all evidence,

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 believe that inherently

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 people are good.

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 And that if we can just deliver

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 the right educational,

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 economic, and social conditions,

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 then we can actually build

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 that earthly paradise

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 we all crave.

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 And that if we can just deliver

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 and that's more positive

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 in positive thinking

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 than I can manage,

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 let me tell you.

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 In sharp contrast to that,

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 there is Christian hope.

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 That is,

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 Christian hope is the past,

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 present, and future

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 connected in Jesus.

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 So the Christian hope,

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 as I introduce that term,

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 is just another way of speaking

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 about the Christian worldview,

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 which is spelled out

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 in the Bible.

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 And the worldview,

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 I've used this idea before,

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 the worldview is just like

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 a pair of glasses.

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 A worldview is the lens

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 by which we observe

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 and understand our world,

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 what our world is,

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 where our world came from,

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 and our place in the world.

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 The biblical worldview

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 gives us a framework

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 to understand

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 the frustration

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 and brokenness

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 we observe

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 in ourselves

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 and in our world.

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 The biblical worldview

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 gives us a framework

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 to understand

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 the sense of futility

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 and meaninglessness

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 which threatens

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 to overwhelm us

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 from time to time.

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 The Christian worldview

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 is a compelling

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 historical explanation

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 which guarantees

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 we're not stuck

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 in the past

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 or the present

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 because it explains

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 precisely how

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 and why

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 the future

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 will be better.

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 In the Christian worldview,

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 history is linear,

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 not circular,

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 as in many

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 Eastern religions

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 and philosophies.

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 that is,

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 in the Christian worldview,

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 history,

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 or what we know

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 as space and time,

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 actually had

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 a precise start.

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 It was created

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 out of nothing

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 by God

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 when he created

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 our universe.

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 And history,

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 space and time,

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 will have

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 a precise,

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 finite ending

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 at some point

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 in the future.

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 Also determined

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 by God.

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 and in between

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 those two points,

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 history is us

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 moving inexorably

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 towards that

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 final point

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 in time.

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 And the Christian worldview,

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 most importantly,

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 explains to us

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 that we experience

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 the world

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 not as it was

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 created to be,

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 but we experience

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 the world

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 having been subjected

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 to frustration

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 and futility.

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 And that fits,

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 doesn't it?

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 That fits with our sense

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 of what we're observing

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 in ourselves

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 and experiencing

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 in our world.

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 We just think

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 to ourselves,

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 there's got to be

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 something better.

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 This can't be

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 what we were made for.

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 We see that most clearly

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 at death.

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 We just want to cry,

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 no,

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 no,

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 no,

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 this is not right.

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 We were made

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 for better things.

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 But equally true,

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 the Christian worldview

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 explains that God's future

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 is already breaking

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 into the present.

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 Both God's image bearers

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 and God's physical world

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 will be restored

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 to God's original design

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 and plan.

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 Because it is

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 God's design

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 and plan.

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 And Jesus,

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 we're told

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 in the biblical worldview,

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 is the center

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 of history

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 and the Bible.

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 Every aspect

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 of the past,

00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:39.860
 present,

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.779
 and future

00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:42.799
 is tied

00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.759
 inseparably

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.659
 to Jesus

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.720
 and God's kingdom.

00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.159
 And

00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:50.460
 so as Christians,

00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.100
 as believers,

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.319
 those in Christ,

00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:53.779
 we have the link,

00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:55.019
 the vital piece

00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:56.980
 that puts it all together.

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:59.120
 That is the Christian hope.

00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.379
 And Jesus himself

00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.980
 was very much aware of this.

00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:05.120
 His mission in the world,

00:15:05.439 --> 00:15:06.699
 he says in Mark 1,

00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:07.279
 verse 15,

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.059
 you can check that out

00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:09.059
 for yourself at a later time,

00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:10.840
 his mission in the world

00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:12.699
 was to establish

00:15:12.699 --> 00:15:14.039
 the kingdom of God.

00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:16.819
 That is,

00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.699
 in the context,

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.279
 he's saying,

00:15:19.439 --> 00:15:20.539
 as God's Messiah,

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.480
 as God's promised

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.559
 king and savior,

00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.399
 I will do

00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.879
 everything necessary

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:27.079
 to restore

00:15:27.079 --> 00:15:27.899
 the kingdom of God.

00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:29.000
 What's the kingdom of God?

00:15:29.099 --> 00:15:29.860
 Well, the kingdom of God,

00:15:29.939 --> 00:15:30.959
 we've seen over the last few weeks

00:15:30.959 --> 00:15:31.899
 from Genesis 1 to 3,

00:15:32.059 --> 00:15:32.339
 is

00:15:32.339 --> 00:15:33.559
 God's people,

00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:35.419
 God's special people,

00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:36.839
 in God's place,

00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:39.639
 under God's rule

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.240
 and blessing.

00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.240
 God's

00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:41.519
 under God's rule

00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.240
 and blessing.

00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:45.399
 In John 5,

00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:46.099
 verse 39,

00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:46.419
 again,

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.299
 you can check it out later,

00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.240
 Jesus is clear

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.339
 that all scripture,

00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:51.379
 that which we call

00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:51.959
 the Old Testament,

00:15:52.459 --> 00:15:53.259
 all scripture

00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:54.579
 is written about him.

00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.139
 And in that context,

00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:57.419
 he actually connects that

00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:58.799
 to eternal life.

00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:00.419
 So if you want to know

00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:02.939
 how to find eternal life,

00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:04.019
 what eternal life is,

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.339
 then you read

00:16:05.339 --> 00:16:06.719
 the Old Testament scripture

00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:08.399
 in the light of Jesus.

00:16:09.219 --> 00:16:10.399
 He brings it to fulfillment.

00:16:10.579 --> 00:16:11.399
 He makes it real.

00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.360
 He delivers

00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:14.899
 all those Old Testament promises.

00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:17.139
 The same in Luke chapter 27,

00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:18.820
 verses 44 to 46,

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.340
 after his resurrection,

00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:21.340
 and he was walking

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.039
 on the Emmaus Road

00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:22.720
 with his disciples.

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.779
 And he reveals himself

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.899
 and then tells them

00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:26.980
 that, again,

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:27.600
 the same thing,

00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:29.180
 everything written about him

00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:29.779
 in the scriptures,

00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:30.460
 the Old Testament,

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.300
 as we call it,

00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:34.039
 was about him.

00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:35.720
 Again,

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:36.700
 he is the one

00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:37.519
 who fulfills

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.840
 every promise

00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:40.559
 made by God

00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.639
 as part of God's

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.480
 salvation plan.

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:44.840
 So friends,

00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.659
 Jesus literally

00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:47.759
 is the key

00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.939
 to understanding

00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:49.720
 the whole Bible.

00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.559
 We can only

00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:55.240
 understand properly

00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:55.860
 what we read

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:56.579
 in the Old Testament

00:16:56.579 --> 00:16:57.899
 when we understand

00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:59.000
 it through Jesus.

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.720
 So for example,

00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:01.460
 if we just took

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.879
 the idea of sin

00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.740
 we saw last week

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.559
 in Genesis chapter 3,

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.960
 we can see it's awful,

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:07.279
 but it's not

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:07.960
 until we see

00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:09.720
 what Jesus has to pay

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.799
 to undo the effect

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.160
 of sin

00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:11.840
 that we understand

00:17:11.840 --> 00:17:12.980
 how awful it is.

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.299
 Nothing less

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:17.920
 than the life

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.880
 of God's own son

00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.160
 was going to be

00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:20.860
 sufficient to deal

00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:21.180
 with it.

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:24.779
 And so,

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.100
 things that we see

00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:27.200
 in the early part

00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:27.779
 of scriptures,

00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.319
 we actually see

00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.299
 develop throughout

00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:30.799
 scripture,

00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:32.299
 and then finally

00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.440
 the last piece

00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:34.079
 fits in place

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.380
 and we think,

00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:34.860
 wow,

00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:36.279
 so that's

00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:36.599
 what it was

00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.279
 all leading to.

00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:39.459
 Jesus is doing

00:17:39.459 --> 00:17:39.979
 this.

00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.619
 Now it all

00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.299
 makes sense.

00:17:47.199 --> 00:17:48.179
 Every aspect

00:17:48.179 --> 00:17:48.740
 of Jesus'

00:17:48.919 --> 00:17:49.219
 ministry

00:17:49.219 --> 00:17:49.859
 is shaped

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:51.159
 and defined

00:17:51.159 --> 00:17:52.199
 by the problems

00:17:52.199 --> 00:17:52.959
 and issues

00:17:52.959 --> 00:17:53.799
 of the past

00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:55.339
 as he

00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:56.819
 brings God's

00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:57.299
 future

00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:58.479
 into

00:17:58.479 --> 00:18:00.019
 time and space.

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.139
 Jesus.

00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:04.339
 So,

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.460
 in the remainder

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.079
 of my time,

00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:06.619
 I just want

00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:07.160
 to have a quick

00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:07.859
 walk through

00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:08.519
 the Bible's

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.119
 plot line

00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:09.579
 of God's

00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:10.379
 salvation plan

00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:10.839
 in Jesus.

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:12.960
 And it's going

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.579
 to be very quick.

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.000
 It's actually

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.279
 going to be

00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:15.000
 more like a gallop.

00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.720
 So,

00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:18.359
 over the past

00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:18.900
 three weeks,

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.720
 we've explored

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.119
 Genesis 1-3

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.599
 and we've

00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:23.200
 explored that

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.299
 under the headings

00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.839
 of explanation

00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:27.240
 for why we

00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.440
 observe and

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.680
 experience the

00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.539
 world as we

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:30.740
 do.

00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:33.299
 And we

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:33.759
 started in

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.360
 Genesis 1

00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.320
 with a notion

00:18:35.320 --> 00:18:35.880
 that God

00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:36.340
 created.

00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:37.700
 And we saw

00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.360
 there the

00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:39.200
 world as it

00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:39.820
 was designed

00:18:39.820 --> 00:18:40.279
 to be.

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.340
 And we

00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:42.740
 just made

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.279
 some notes

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:43.740
 in passing.

00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:44.680
 The universe

00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:46.200
 is God's

00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.240
 created place.

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:47.880
 The universe

00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:48.759
 is a home

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.420
 for God's

00:18:49.420 --> 00:18:49.840
 glory.

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.519
 Demonstrating

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.000
 his creative

00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.620
 power and

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.000
 goodness.

00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.420
 And it's

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.460
 in Genesis

00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.519
 1 and 2

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:57.940
 and 3

00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.200
 that we

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.700
 see the

00:18:58.700 --> 00:19:00.059
 pattern of

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.440
 God's

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:00.740
 kingdom.

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:02.799
 So,

00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.240
 Adam and

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.519
 Eve were

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.100
 God's

00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:06.059
 special people

00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:08.059
 in God's

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:08.799
 special place,

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.360
 the garden.

00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:12.740
 Created as

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.519
 image bearers

00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:14.100
 to reflect

00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:14.920
 God's glory,

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:15.940
 they were

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.580
 the first

00:19:16.580 --> 00:19:16.980
 of the

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.680
 human race,

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.000
 set apart

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.740
 from all

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.440
 other living

00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.100
 creatures

00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.600
 to enjoy

00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.200
 unique

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.920
 personal

00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.500
 relationship

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.100
 with God

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:26.480
 and rule

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:26.919
 God's

00:19:26.919 --> 00:19:27.679
 world on

00:19:27.679 --> 00:19:28.000
 God's

00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.439
 behalf.

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.439
 And they

00:19:33.439 --> 00:19:34.099
 were gladly

00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:35.139
 under God's

00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:36.459
 rule as

00:19:36.459 --> 00:19:37.139
 Genesis 2,

00:19:37.219 --> 00:19:37.459
 as they

00:19:37.459 --> 00:19:38.039
 lived all

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:38.579
 of life

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.839
 in obedience

00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.519
 to God's

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.619
 word and

00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:41.879
 as they

00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:42.419
 lived all

00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:42.819
 of life

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.539
 as worship

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.240
 of God.

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.559
 And in

00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:46.919
 turn,

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.240
 enjoying the

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:49.719
 good life

00:19:49.719 --> 00:19:50.339
 of blessing,

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.199
 abundance,

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:53.059
 and rest,

00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:53.579
 as it's called

00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.259
 in Genesis 2,

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.000
 or security.

00:19:56.939 --> 00:19:57.619
 God was

00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:57.919
 created,

00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:58.819
 then the

00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.379
 next step

00:19:59.379 --> 00:19:59.919
 is that

00:19:59.919 --> 00:20:00.319
 God has

00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:00.879
 rejected

00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:01.879
 chapter 3.

00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:04.579
 And the

00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.079
 world is

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.839
 subjected to

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.839
 frustration and

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.339
 futility.

00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:08.539
 So,

00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:09.159
 there you

00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:09.740
 have God's

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.599
 people in

00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:11.379
 God's place

00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:12.119
 under God's

00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:12.339
 rule.

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:13.779
 Well,

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.599
 chapter 3,

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:15.919
 God's

00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:16.740
 special people

00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.480
 choose to

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.699
 disobey God

00:20:18.699 --> 00:20:20.099
 and act

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.839
 independently

00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:21.319
 of him.

00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:25.220
 And the

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.919
 consequences

00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:27.039
 were disastrous

00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:27.980
 both for

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.339
 them,

00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:28.779
 Adam and

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.019
 Eve,

00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.079
 and for

00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:31.240
 every generation

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:31.539
 that has

00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.099
 followed them

00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:32.539
 since.

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.559
 No longer

00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.419
 God's special

00:20:37.419 --> 00:20:38.439
 people in

00:20:38.439 --> 00:20:38.960
 God's special

00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.480
 place because

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.859
 they've been

00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:40.399
 banished.

00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:41.480
 They were

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.159
 shut out of

00:20:42.159 --> 00:20:42.819
 God's garden.

00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:44.839
 They turned

00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:45.279
 away from

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.639
 God.

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.000
 God turned

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.359
 away from

00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:47.639
 them.

00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:53.240
 And they

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.860
 were forced

00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:55.240
 into that

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.060
 very thing

00:20:56.060 --> 00:20:57.000
 which they

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.440
 wanted in

00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:58.900
 their action.

00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.259
 That is,

00:20:59.520 --> 00:21:00.000
 they wanted

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.480
 to live

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.140
 independently

00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:01.620
 of God.

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:01.960
 That was

00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.300
 why they

00:21:02.300 --> 00:21:02.860
 chose what

00:21:02.860 --> 00:21:03.259
 they did.

00:21:04.020 --> 00:21:04.560
 And guess

00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:04.860
 what?

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.800
 They got it

00:21:05.800 --> 00:21:06.180
 as God

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:06.740
 closed them

00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.020
 out of the

00:21:07.020 --> 00:21:07.600
 garden and

00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:08.080
 locked them

00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:08.280
 out.

00:21:09.060 --> 00:21:09.400
 They were

00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.620
 forced to

00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.740
 experience life

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.880
 independently of

00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.160
 God.

00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:14.880
 And we see

00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:15.259
 in Genesis

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.980
 4 to 11

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.420
 that that

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:16.880
 life was

00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.900
 just horrendous

00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:19.540
 as the

00:21:19.540 --> 00:21:20.340
 depth and

00:21:20.340 --> 00:21:21.080
 nature of

00:21:21.080 --> 00:21:22.100
 sin spread

00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:22.540
 from the

00:21:22.540 --> 00:21:23.180
 generation to

00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:23.760
 the generation.

00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:29.940
 No longer

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.840
 God's special

00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:31.200
 people.

00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.780
 No longer

00:21:32.780 --> 00:21:33.260
 in God's

00:21:33.260 --> 00:21:34.000
 special place.

00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.600
 No longer

00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:36.220
 under God's

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:36.620
 rule and

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.180
 enjoying God's

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.500
 blessing.

00:21:38.020 --> 00:21:38.380
 Now,

00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:39.900
 they were

00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.520
 experiencing

00:21:40.520 --> 00:21:41.440
 God's wrath,

00:21:42.040 --> 00:21:42.760
 God's judgment,

00:21:43.020 --> 00:21:44.060
 albeit partial.

00:21:45.780 --> 00:21:46.660
 But they were

00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.180
 seeing an

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:47.759
 aspect of

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.060
 God's

00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:48.660
 character they'd

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.200
 never come

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.019
 across before

00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:52.259
 until they

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.820
 disobeyed.

00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:55.279
 And their

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.960
 life was

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.620
 subjected to

00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:59.700
 restlessness in

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.560
 comparison to

00:22:00.560 --> 00:22:01.040
 rest,

00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:04.100
 frustration in

00:22:04.100 --> 00:22:04.759
 comparison to

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.680
 delight and

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.160
 ease,

00:22:06.860 --> 00:22:07.279
 toil,

00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:08.460
 futility,

00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:09.560
 rebellion,

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.160
 and most of

00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:11.779
 all and most

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.620
 destructive of

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:12.820
 all,

00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:13.920
 self-worship.

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.080
 They stopped

00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.819
 worshipping God.

00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:16.399
 Who did they

00:22:16.399 --> 00:22:16.759
 start to

00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:16.980
 worship?

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.179
 Themselves.

00:22:19.679 --> 00:22:20.039
 They had

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:21.099
 put themselves

00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:22.419
 as creators.

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:23.419
 They had

00:22:23.419 --> 00:22:24.339
 inverted God's

00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:24.679
 order.

00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.000
 God created,

00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:30.139
 God rejected,

00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.059
 and then God

00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:34.299
 mirac...

00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.859
 Oh, no,

00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:35.699
 I've lost my

00:22:35.699 --> 00:22:35.859
 word.

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:39.619
 God provides.

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.419
 Sorry.

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.799
 I'm sorry about

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:41.960
 that.

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:43.000
 God provides

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.519
 for his

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.259
 rebellious

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.600
 people.

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.039
 I don't

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.299
 know what

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:45.779
 happened there.

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.700
 God created,

00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:49.440
 God rejected,

00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:49.779
 and God

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:51.079
 provides for

00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.740
 his rebellious

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.059
 people.

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.620
 The situation

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.039
 at the end of

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.720
 chapter 3,

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.539
 on one reading,

00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.079
 just looks

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:58.440
 hopeless.

00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:02.140
 But in

00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:02.819
 amongst all

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.680
 the hopelessness,

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.120
 we see that

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:06.039
 God is

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:08.160
 determined to

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:08.740
 restore his

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.019
 kingdom.

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.319
 God is

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.119
 determined once

00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.639
 again to

00:23:11.639 --> 00:23:12.099
 have his

00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:12.839
 special people

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.819
 in his

00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.660
 special place,

00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.180
 gladly under

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:16.740
 his robe,

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.559
 and enjoying

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.660
 the blessing

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.059
 that comes

00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.379
 with that.

00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.400
 And so God

00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.740
 commits to

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.599
 acting towards

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.180
 his rebellious

00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:24.819
 people in

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:26.200
 love and

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:26.740
 undeserving

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.279
 generosity.

00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:28.740
 And the

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.420
 first promise

00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.519
 of that is

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.000
 tied to

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.680
 someone in

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.379
 Genesis 2,

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:32.819
 15.

00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.319
 Dave looked

00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:33.859
 at this last

00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:34.099
 week.

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:34.839
 Again, go back

00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.299
 and check out

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:35.680
 the verse.

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.099
 I'm going to

00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.819
 call that person

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.400
 the bruiser.

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.779
 Because the

00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.619
 prophecy was

00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.579
 that this

00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:43.519
 descendant of

00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.420
 Eve would

00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:44.879
 come and

00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:46.400
 bruise Satan's

00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:46.660
 head.

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.680
 But in that

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.379
 action,

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:50.339
 would himself

00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.079
 be bruised.

00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:55.059
 The bruiser.

00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:57.099
 What was his,

00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:58.059
 what was the

00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.660
 promise of the

00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.279
 bruiser from

00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.660
 the God?

00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.960
 Well, the

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.240
 bruiser, at

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.420
 considerable cost

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.079
 to himself,

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:06.019
 would defeat

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.319
 Satan and

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:08.759
 undo the

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.480
 effects of

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:09.879
 sin and

00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:10.819
 rebellion and

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:12.619
 therefore restore

00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:14.299
 God's people to

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:16.119
 God's place under

00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:16.839
 God's rule and

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.419
 blessing once

00:24:17.419 --> 00:24:17.679
 again.

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:24.240
 So that once

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.539
 again, God's

00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:27.960
 world would do

00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.939
 what God designed

00:24:28.939 --> 00:24:29.559
 his world to do,

00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.059
 and that is

00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:32.139
 perfectly reflect

00:24:32.139 --> 00:24:33.200
 his glory.

00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:37.279
 perfectly demonstrate

00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.220
 his power,

00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:41.059
 his aloneness in

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:42.299
 terms of his

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:43.580
 being and his

00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.480
 presence in the

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:44.920
 universe.

00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:48.580
 Now, as I said

00:24:48.580 --> 00:24:49.180
 before, Genesis

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.900
 4 to 11 records the

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:52.180
 horrendous consequences

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.380
 as sins spread from

00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:54.259
 one generation to the

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.759
 next, and they are

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.200
 horrendous.

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.819
 Look through those

00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.240
 chapters.

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.700
 It just beggars

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.220
 belief.

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:01.759
 It's a

00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:04.160
 but then hope

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:06.039
 surfaces again as

00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:07.539
 God promises Abraham,

00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.700
 Genesis 12 we're up

00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:10.480
 to now, he says one

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.400
 of your descendants

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.440
 will, essentially he

00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:12.980
 doesn't use this

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:14.539
 language, but one of

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.519
 your descendants will

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.200
 be the bruiser.

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.080
 That is, the promise

00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:19.220
 to Abraham was in

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.960
 turn of land, nation

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.519
 and blessing.

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:23.500
 God's people in

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.519
 God's place in

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.059
 God's rule.

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.500
 And so if you're

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.420
 looking at the

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.420
 second page in the

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:31.940
 bullet and you can

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.539
 see this little

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.819
 schematic thing, the

00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:34.920
 diagram thing, we

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:36.139
 see that Genesis 1

00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:37.859
 to 11, the whole of

00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.579
 the world is on

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.659
 focus, it's on view,

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.779
 and then in Genesis

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:42.200
 12 with the promise

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.700
 to Abraham, we sort

00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:45.079
 of narrow down and

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.659
 for the next

00:25:45.659 --> 00:25:47.440
 generations we have

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.559
 the history of God's

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.500
 salvation plan as

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.119
 it's worked out

00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:52.220
 through national

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.099
 Israel, the Jews.

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.639
 And then when we get

00:25:54.639 --> 00:25:55.859
 to Jesus, then we

00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.460
 open up and the

00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.420
 whole world's back on

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:57.879
 view again.

00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.539
 And finally we get to

00:25:59.539 --> 00:25:59.980
 the end.

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:01.960
 And so it's

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.420
 symmetrical.

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.740
 But the rest of the

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:10.079
 Old Testament is

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:12.339
 basically God working

00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.319
 out his plan of

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:14.900
 salvation that once

00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:15.779
 again he would have

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:17.360
 his special people in

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.380
 his special place

00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:20.200
 under his rule and

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:21.680
 enjoying his

00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:22.960
 unrestricted blessing.

00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:25.259
 Now, how do we see

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.460
 that?

00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:26.960
 Well, if I had another

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.759
 three or four hours I

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.460
 would take you through

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.120
 all the different

00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:31.000
 genres of literature in

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.759
 the Old Testament, but

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.480
 I'm not going to do

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.039
 that this morning.

00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.980
 I just want to, at

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.840
 risk of being

00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:37.319
 simplistic, and this

00:26:37.319 --> 00:26:38.160
 probably will annoy

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:39.860
 some of you, just

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.940
 talk about this

00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:43.480
 massive period in a

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.200
 couple of sentences,

00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:46.259
 a few sentences, and

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.420
 say it, cast it like

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:47.660
 this.

00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:48.960
 So the pattern from

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:50.100
 Genesis 12 until we

00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:51.600
 get to Jesus is a

00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:52.900
 pattern of waiting for

00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:53.960
 the bruiser to come.

00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:56.080
 And so what happens

00:26:56.080 --> 00:26:56.460
 is this.

00:26:56.860 --> 00:26:57.720
 As we track through

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:59.140
 and we get introduced

00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:00.320
 to the next big

00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:02.080
 character in God's

00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:03.000
 salvation history,

00:27:04.280 --> 00:27:06.000
 then the anticipation

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.720
 soars.

00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:09.640
 Abraham, Isaac,

00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:10.820
 Jacob, each time the

00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:11.940
 anticipation soars.

00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:14.259
 Perhaps this one is the

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.660
 bruiser.

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:18.400
 Perhaps he'll do what

00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.240
 nobody else has been

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.060
 able to do before him,

00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:21.300
 undo the effects of sin

00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:22.160
 and restore the

00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:22.700
 Garden of Eden

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.920
 conditions, bring

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:24.820
 God's people back

00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:25.600
 into God's place and

00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:26.180
 under God's rule.

00:27:27.040 --> 00:27:27.920
 And the expectation

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.160
 soars and then

00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:30.560
 crashes.

00:27:32.340 --> 00:27:33.460
 Because we see that

00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:35.240
 successively, each of

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.300
 these big figures,

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.680
 although they do

00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:39.320
 great work for the

00:27:39.320 --> 00:27:40.360
 Lord in that sense,

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.160
 each of them is still

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:43.200
 part of the problem.

00:27:44.560 --> 00:27:44.800
 Sin.

00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:48.360
 And sin trips them

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:50.240
 up and we crash

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.000
 and burn again.

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:54.000
 And we wait again

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.720
 in history for God

00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.359
 to bring the next

00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:56.599
 one.

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.819
 Expectation soars

00:27:58.819 --> 00:28:01.220
 and we crash and

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:01.400
 burn.

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.859
 And so the pattern

00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:04.839
 continues right

00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:07.799
 through until Jesus.

00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:11.380
 Finally, we get to

00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:11.740
 Jesus.

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:14.859
 And once again, hope

00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.319
 surges.

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:17.259
 Now, if you read in

00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:17.940
 the early chapters of

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:19.220
 Luke's gospel, you'll

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:20.120
 find people like

00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:21.099
 Zechariah and

00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:23.380
 Elizabeth, Anna the

00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:25.380
 prophetess and others

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:27.620
 who are described as

00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.480
 people who are

00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.839
 faithfully waiting for

00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.779
 the consolation of

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.099
 Israel.

00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:32.440
 That is, they were

00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:33.039
 people who were

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.759
 living in hope, hope

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.579
 of the bruiser

00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:37.279
 finally coming, hope

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:38.160
 that God would

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:39.279
 finally send his

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.099
 Messiah, the one who

00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:41.500
 would undo the effects

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:42.619
 of sin and restore

00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.259
 the world to what

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:43.940
 it was meant to be.

00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.480
 They too were feeling

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.779
 bruised and battered

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.319
 and tired.

00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.519
 And they couldn't

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:50.400
 wait for God to act

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.259
 and send the bruiser.

00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.359
 Expectations were

00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:01.319
 soaring again.

00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:03.059
 Anticipation was

00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.440
 soaring.

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:07.359
 Only this time, we

00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:08.019
 stay up there.

00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:08.579
 There's no

00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.059
 disappointment.

00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.339
 No crash and burn.

00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:12.980
 Jesus was the bruiser.

00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.980
 Finally arrived.

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:19.919
 And he got busy doing

00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:21.339
 what was promised in

00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.859
 Genesis 2.15.

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.659
 But he did it in the

00:29:24.659 --> 00:29:25.839
 most surprising of

00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.220
 ways.

00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:28.939
 The redemption of

00:29:28.939 --> 00:29:30.099
 God's people, that is

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:32.419
 the restoration, the

00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:33.339
 undoing of the effects

00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.599
 of sin and bringing

00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:35.599
 God's people back into

00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.679
 perfect relationship with

00:29:36.679 --> 00:29:37.220
 God, that's what

00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:37.839
 redemption is.

00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:40.039
 The redemption of God's

00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.319
 people came as he was

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:43.399
 bruised on the cross

00:29:43.399 --> 00:29:45.879
 and in death.

00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:51.119
 But his death did undo

00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:52.099
 the effects of sin.

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:54.879
 His death did restore

00:29:54.879 --> 00:29:56.619
 God's people to God's

00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.879
 special place, that is,

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.539
 in Jesus.

00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.779
 Relationship, personal,

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.980
 intimate relationship with

00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.299
 Jesus.

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:04.599
 It renewed them from the

00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:05.980
 inside out so that once

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:07.180
 again they're delighted to

00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:08.480
 live all of life under

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:10.539
 God's rule, to live all of

00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:13.059
 life as worship and to

00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:15.640
 enjoy all the blessings of

00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:17.660
 being in God's family, in

00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.960
 God's place, in the Lord

00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:21.400
 Jesus, as they were created

00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:21.920
 to do.

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:31.960
 But not even Jesus brings the

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:33.800
 story to the end, in that

00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:34.160
 sense.

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:37.560
 Salvation or redemption as we

00:30:37.560 --> 00:30:40.240
 experience it is very much

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.700
 real.

00:30:42.560 --> 00:30:44.840
 We already have God's future

00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:46.100
 reaching into the present

00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.440
 now.

00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:47.620
 We are in Christ.

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:50.420
 We are holy in Christ.

00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.960
 We are in relationship with

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.220
 Christ.

00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:54.640
 We are already being made

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.400
 perfect, made suitable for

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:56.640
 heaven.

00:30:59.340 --> 00:31:01.039
 But it's not yet complete,

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.440
 we're told, in the New

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:02.800
 Testament.

00:31:05.060 --> 00:31:06.860
 We are a new creation in

00:31:06.860 --> 00:31:09.200
 Christ, 2 Corinthians 5, 17.

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.700
 Ephesians 1, 1 to 14.

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:13.580
 We have every possible

00:31:13.580 --> 00:31:14.700
 blessing in Christ.

00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:18.320
 Our inheritance is real.

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:22.980
 But it's not yet fully

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:26.159
 experienced or appreciated or

00:31:26.159 --> 00:31:28.240
 enjoyed, is what we're told in

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:30.240
 Ephesians 1, 12 to 14.

00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:34.960
 So in spite of the fact that we

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:36.359
 already experienced so much

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:37.679
 renewal, restoration and

00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:39.379
 blessing in Christ, in spite of

00:31:39.379 --> 00:31:40.399
 the fact, therefore, that God's

00:31:40.399 --> 00:31:42.779
 future has already come into us

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:45.639
 in the present, then I can tell

00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:47.759
 you this morning, my friends, and

00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.940
 I'm excited about this if you're

00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:51.400
 not, the best is yet to come.

00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:54.240
 The best is yet to come.

00:31:58.500 --> 00:32:00.440
 And to think of the best being

00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:02.319
 yet to come takes us to the end

00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:05.319
 of history and the new heavens

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.259
 and the new earth.

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:09.660
 And those, whatever else they are,

00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:13.799
 are just pictures of renewal and

00:32:13.799 --> 00:32:15.359
 complete restoration.

00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:19.619
 For all the points we might trip

00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:20.859
 over some of the details of the

00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:22.839
 pictures, just come with me at that

00:32:22.839 --> 00:32:23.119
 point.

00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:25.259
 It's just a picture of complete

00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:27.720
 restoration where once again we see

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:29.220
 what it will be like to be God's

00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:31.440
 special people in God's special

00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:34.079
 place under God's rule and enjoying

00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:36.039
 his blessing in a way that's no

00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:39.740
 longer restricted and inhibited by our

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:42.319
 finiteness and by our remaining sin.

00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:48.039
 And it's a picture that's tantalizing,

00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:49.519
 to say the least.

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:53.220
 So turn with me now to Revelation 21

00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:53.759
 and 22.

00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:58.640
 These are pictures and they are

00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:01.019
 profound pictures and yet clear

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:03.440
 pictures and I say to you, let's not

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:05.140
 make them too complicated.

00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:06.559
 I think they're just meant to be

00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.379
 simple pictures.

00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:17.819
 And notice we do that, that we

00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:20.220
 started the Bible, this series in

00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:22.639
 Genesis 1, with God's word.

00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:24.519
 The first page of the Bible is God's

00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:26.159
 word and creation.

00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:30.319
 The last page of the Bible is God's

00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.839
 word and new creation.

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:35.960
 And in between that is Jesus.

00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:39.299
 God's word and Jesus working out God's

00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.059
 salvation plan.

00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:43.159
 Now that's a worldview, my friends,

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:47.000
 that is so, so good to have when we're

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:48.659
 feeling battered and bruised and weary.

00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:55.659
 Mark Twain said history never repeats

00:33:55.659 --> 00:33:57.019
 itself, but it does rhyme.

00:33:59.339 --> 00:34:02.679
 He was even more Eorish than me because

00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:03.560
 what he was really saying.

00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:07.039
 That was meant to be rhetorical, Liz.

00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:10.079
 What he's saying is that, look, nothing

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.119
 ever changes in history.

00:34:11.200 --> 00:34:12.980
 It just goes round and round and

00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.300
 round.

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:16.159
 That's a dreadful place to be.

00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:24.619
 In Revelation chapter 20, very difficult,

00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:26.840
 complicated things.

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:28.619
 Christians have argued over this for years

00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:29.980
 and will continue to argue that in the

00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.400
 generations.

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:32.559
 But let me just touch you down very briefly

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:35.000
 in Genesis 20, verses 11 through to 15.

00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:39.239
 Essentially this, that Genesis 20, 11 through to 15,

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:41.359
 and you can read this for yourself, is God's

00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:43.940
 final action in history.

00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.980
 That is the final judgment.

00:34:46.319 --> 00:34:48.359
 And again, that parallels Genesis 3.

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:53.640
 God brought a first judgment, but it was only

00:34:53.640 --> 00:34:54.140
 partial.

00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:57.599
 There was always going to be an expectation of

00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:02.000
 a second, final judgment if God's justice was to

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.400
 be displayed in God's glory.

00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:08.120
 Well, that second, final judgment that brings

00:35:08.120 --> 00:35:11.360
 history to an end is talked about in Revelation

00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:12.640
 20, 11 through to 15.

00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:15.900
 But what then?

00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:21.900
 That was an event that had no fear for Christ's

00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:25.400
 people because their names are written in the

00:35:25.400 --> 00:35:27.320
 Lamb's book of life, as John talked about.

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.720
 It was a momentous occasion.

00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:31.619
 It will be a momentous occasion, sorry.

00:35:32.200 --> 00:35:34.780
 But it has no fear for God's people.

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:37.019
 But what then?

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:40.800
 Well, remember the structure of Genesis 1?

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:44.740
 Six days of action by the Lord on the seventh day.

00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:46.000
 It didn't end.

00:35:47.919 --> 00:35:49.559
 Revelation is structured in the same way.

00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:51.599
 I don't think, coincidentally, I think it's

00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:52.539
 deliberately by John.

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:56.839
 He works through six scenes or six cycles of

00:35:56.839 --> 00:35:57.199
 history.

00:35:57.479 --> 00:35:58.259
 Each has a start.

00:35:58.379 --> 00:35:59.039
 Each has a finish.

00:35:59.139 --> 00:36:01.679
 It's a perspective of God's world over the

00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.019
 ages.

00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:05.179
 But then this last scene doesn't end.

00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:05.919
 It continues.

00:36:06.979 --> 00:36:08.579
 Theoretically, it should end at the end of

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:10.859
 chapter 20 because that's the end of history.

00:36:10.959 --> 00:36:12.339
 But no, it continues.

00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:15.180
 What's left after God's final action of history?

00:36:17.680 --> 00:36:22.019
 God's people in God's place under God's rule.

00:36:22.180 --> 00:36:23.059
 It's a picture of heaven.

00:36:24.160 --> 00:36:25.600
 It's a picture of heaven.

00:36:26.260 --> 00:36:27.780
 And what a picture it is.

00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:35.840
 All the things lost and spoiled by sin and rebellion

00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:39.920
 now restored and perfected by Jesus

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:43.780
 so that they can never be lost again.

00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:49.640
 So the Bible starts with the Garden of Eden.

00:36:50.780 --> 00:36:54.000
 And it ends with a picture of the Garden of Eden.

00:36:56.060 --> 00:36:59.380
 But far better than the first Garden of Eden.

00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:00.320
 We'll get to that in a minute.

00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.300
 Far more secure.

00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:06.019
 Finally, the picture, as we move into these pictures,

00:37:06.200 --> 00:37:10.500
 finally as Christ's people will experience in full what we

00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:11.699
 long for daily.

00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:15.300
 Revelation 21, verses 1 to 8.

00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:20.500
 I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:22.920
 For the first heaven and earth had passed away.

00:37:23.659 --> 00:37:24.159
 And the sea.

00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:27.559
 By the way, here the sea represents a chaos

00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:31.039
 and disorder in the world.

00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:34.059
 But there won't be any of that in heaven.

00:37:34.139 --> 00:37:35.239
 So the sea doesn't exist.

00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:36.860
 It's picture language.

00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:37.340
 Remember that?

00:37:37.340 --> 00:37:37.380
 Remember that?

00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:41.619
 And I saw the holy city.

00:37:42.660 --> 00:37:45.000
 New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven for God.

00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:46.099
 Prepared as a bride.

00:37:46.940 --> 00:37:47.900
 Adorned for her husband.

00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:49.660
 The new city is actually a community.

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:50.119
 People.

00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:51.660
 The church.

00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:54.340
 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

00:37:55.780 --> 00:37:58.599
 Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.

00:38:00.760 --> 00:38:02.099
 He will dwell with them.

00:38:02.680 --> 00:38:03.960
 And they will be his people.

00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:07.900
 And God himself will be with them as their God.

00:38:09.199 --> 00:38:09.980
 God's people.

00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:13.179
 Names in the Lamb's Book of Life.

00:38:13.300 --> 00:38:14.000
 Redeemed people.

00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.900
 In God's place.

00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:18.400
 Right there with God.

00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:21.420
 As he walked with Adam in the garden.

00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:23.139
 We're back to that picture again.

00:38:24.320 --> 00:38:25.220
 Under God's rule.

00:38:25.840 --> 00:38:26.720
 The good life.

00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:28.260
 The eternal life.

00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:29.300
 The abundant life.

00:38:29.300 --> 00:38:29.360
 The abundant life.

00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:36.880
 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:38.519
 And death shall be no more.

00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:41.280
 Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.

00:38:42.180 --> 00:38:44.180
 For the former things have passed away.

00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:50.860
 Friends, don't we just long to be free from the awfulness of life?

00:38:50.860 --> 00:38:55.200
 The older I get, the more I long for it.

00:38:57.900 --> 00:39:00.059
 Don't we just long for a new home.

00:39:00.340 --> 00:39:01.579
 A place of security.

00:39:02.620 --> 00:39:04.599
 A place that's deeply satisfying.

00:39:04.940 --> 00:39:07.420
 A place that's restful.

00:39:07.660 --> 00:39:08.680
 A place that sin.

00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:11.200
 And I speak about my own sin or the sin of others.

00:39:11.720 --> 00:39:12.900
 That can't intrude.

00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.820
 It can't spoil.

00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:16.820
 Nor do we need to be anxious about it.

00:39:17.559 --> 00:39:18.559
 Intruding or spoiling.

00:39:18.559 --> 00:39:21.699
 That's the picture of heaven.

00:39:24.799 --> 00:39:25.980
 Heaven will be perfect.

00:39:27.659 --> 00:39:31.519
 There will be none in heaven, verse 8, who seek to live independently of God.

00:39:33.380 --> 00:39:35.840
 And heaven is God's place of security and beauty.

00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:39.420
 And blessing for God's people.

00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:46.099
 In verses 9 through to 27, there's a series of four, again, pictures.

00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:49.739
 John is showcasing God's people.

00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:50.599
 Christ's bride.

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:51.539
 The holy city.

00:39:51.739 --> 00:39:52.440
 The new Jerusalem.

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:57.659
 And all of these are different symbols and different pictures of the same thing.

00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:02.159
 That is, they're all describing God's people in every edge.

00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:09.679
 And so, John uses these pictures, I think, to describe what he knows to be indescribable.

00:40:10.059 --> 00:40:12.879
 It's beyond his finite ability just to capture it.

00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:16.920
 And so, he's just searching for things and piling them up.

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:25.399
 And so, he starts by saying, verse 11 and verses 18 to 21, he uses the imagery of precious stones.

00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:33.920
 And so, he sort of visualizes God's people as just this massive, massive chasm full of the most precious stones you can imagine.

00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:36.360
 Everywhere you look, God's people are sparkling.

00:40:36.680 --> 00:40:37.400
 Why do they sparkle?

00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:39.059
 Because Christ has made them new.

00:40:41.500 --> 00:40:43.860
 He's restored them to true image bearers.

00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:49.220
 What a beautiful picture to crave and long for.

00:40:50.380 --> 00:40:56.220
 And then, verses 12 to 14, he goes on and uses what you might call a more military metaphor of picture.

00:40:56.940 --> 00:40:59.700
 He describes God's people like a fortress.

00:41:00.340 --> 00:41:02.840
 And this is an amazingly huge fortress.

00:41:03.260 --> 00:41:07.019
 You can't dig under the waters, the walls, because there's 12 foundations.

00:41:07.400 --> 00:41:10.760
 You can't knock the doors down because they're miles thick.

00:41:10.760 --> 00:41:13.019
 You can't get over the top because it's so high.

00:41:13.019 --> 00:41:16.099
 It is a perfectly safe, secure place.

00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:17.800
 And it dominates the horizon.

00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:18.400
 Why?

00:41:19.480 --> 00:41:24.860
 Because it's God's people in God's place enjoying the blessings of God's rule.

00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:30.059
 And he goes on then to use a mathematical picture.

00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:32.840
 God's people are like a perfect cube.

00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:35.420
 You know, the same this way, this way, and that way.

00:41:37.980 --> 00:41:41.719
 It was just seen to be perfection in that day when it was written.

00:41:43.019 --> 00:41:46.139
 And he describes all these things.

00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:49.179
 And then, verses 22 through to 27, he's sort of still despairing.

00:41:49.259 --> 00:41:50.579
 He just can't quite get it.

00:41:50.639 --> 00:41:53.119
 Like an artist who can't quite capture what's before him.

00:41:53.579 --> 00:41:57.460
 And then he sort of backtracks and says, well, actually, let's just go back to what's really simple.

00:41:58.039 --> 00:42:02.420
 Heaven is God's people gathered around Jesus.

00:42:02.420 --> 00:42:10.880
 Those people who've been thirsty all their lives.

00:42:10.880 --> 00:42:11.740
 Verse 6.

00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:18.059
 To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

00:42:18.059 --> 00:42:25.119
 The Samaritan lady was so thirsty when she came to the well.

00:42:25.659 --> 00:42:27.460
 She thought she was thirsty for water.

00:42:28.079 --> 00:42:30.039
 But Jesus told her, no, no, no.

00:42:30.079 --> 00:42:32.139
 Behind that thirst, there's an even deeper thirst.

00:42:32.840 --> 00:42:34.279
 You're thirsting for life.

00:42:34.360 --> 00:42:35.619
 You don't know where to look for it.

00:42:36.159 --> 00:42:36.960
 But I do.

00:42:37.320 --> 00:42:39.059
 Look to me for life, says Jesus.

00:42:39.179 --> 00:42:41.519
 And your thirst will be quenched forever.

00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:44.420
 Can you imagine that?

00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:54.039
 Well, that which we can only sort of grasp for in the depths of our minds with as many pictures as we can imagine,

00:42:54.619 --> 00:42:58.119
 that will be the reality for us in the future.

00:42:58.280 --> 00:43:05.539
 That is God's future that we now enjoy in part, but which will be delivered in fullness to us in the future.

00:43:07.179 --> 00:43:08.539
 All right, I've got carried away here.

00:43:08.559 --> 00:43:09.119
 I need to stop.

00:43:09.119 --> 00:43:14.460
 So, heaven, in summary, then, is Eden restored, only much better.

00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:20.039
 In chapter 22, verse 1 to 5, you can see the pictures of Eden again.

00:43:20.859 --> 00:43:23.619
 Once again, the river of life flows freely.

00:43:24.299 --> 00:43:27.819
 Once again, it's a land of abundance and beauty and delight.

00:43:28.659 --> 00:43:31.619
 Once again, the tree of life is available with no restrictions.

00:43:32.259 --> 00:43:34.980
 The tree of the fruit of good and evil isn't there anymore.

00:43:34.980 --> 00:43:41.980
 And I presume that's because there'll be no more craving independence that everybody will be happy to live under the Lord.

00:43:42.519 --> 00:43:43.519
 And gladly so.

00:43:44.579 --> 00:43:47.500
 Once again, God looks at what he's created and says it's good.

00:43:48.780 --> 00:43:52.780
 Once again, there's uninterrupted blessing and fellowship between the Lord and his people.

00:43:52.780 --> 00:43:56.760
 How is it better than Eden?

00:43:57.760 --> 00:44:06.200
 Because our righteousness and obedience is now sourced from Christ's work on our behalf.

00:44:06.920 --> 00:44:09.880
 And in God's Spirit who has taken up residence in us.

00:44:10.860 --> 00:44:15.900
 We have the genetic code of the second man.

00:44:16.620 --> 00:44:17.800
 The last man.

00:44:18.260 --> 00:44:19.000
 The true Adam.

00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:19.060
 Adam.

00:44:19.060 --> 00:44:19.120
 Adam.

00:44:19.120 --> 00:44:19.180
 Adam.

00:44:19.180 --> 00:44:19.200
 Adam.

00:44:19.200 --> 00:44:19.260
 Adam.

00:44:19.260 --> 00:44:19.720
 Adam.

00:44:19.720 --> 00:44:21.120
 Adam.

00:44:21.119 --> 00:44:23.639
 Adam.

00:44:23.639 --> 00:44:29.960
 Friends, knowing the end from the beginning is the basis of the Christian hope.

00:44:31.659 --> 00:44:32.880
 Make it more personal.

00:44:33.420 --> 00:44:39.940
 Knowing our end from our beginning is what gives us hope for the future.

00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:48.779
 And it's only when we have hope for the future that we have the capacity to live well in the present.

00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:55.480
 to live well now in this broken, dysfunctional world

00:44:55.480 --> 00:44:57.460
 with broken, dysfunctional bodies,

00:44:58.599 --> 00:45:02.159
 knowing that what we have in Christ is real,

00:45:02.859 --> 00:45:04.619
 but the best is yet to come.

00:45:07.119 --> 00:45:08.420
 And the question then as I wind up,

00:45:08.420 --> 00:45:13.019
 do you believe that?

00:45:13.099 --> 00:45:15.059
 Do you believe that is your inheritance?

00:45:17.819 --> 00:45:19.859
 Do you believe this is your identity?

00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:27.339
 Do you crave God as your ultimate expression of beauty?

00:45:30.460 --> 00:45:33.119
 This is what we shall be in the age to come.

00:45:34.819 --> 00:45:37.699
 This is what we are in a very real sense,

00:45:37.699 --> 00:45:40.019
 this is what we are in a very real sense already now.

00:45:45.279 --> 00:45:47.400
 So the question then is,

00:45:47.400 --> 00:45:51.280
 why would we look longingly at the things,

00:45:51.460 --> 00:45:54.440
 the hopeless forms of hope our world offers us?

00:45:56.519 --> 00:45:59.460
 When true hope that understands our world

00:45:59.460 --> 00:46:02.019
 and understands our brokenness

00:46:02.019 --> 00:46:05.539
 is to be found in relationship with Jesus.

00:46:07.539 --> 00:46:09.380
 In the terms of Genesis 1-3,

00:46:09.380 --> 00:46:13.640
 why would we keep trying to build our own paradise

00:46:13.640 --> 00:46:15.960
 here in this earth under our own resources

00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:22.519
 to try and answer the deep thirst of our soul

00:46:22.519 --> 00:46:25.680
 when Jesus says,

00:46:26.099 --> 00:46:27.539
 come to me and drink freely

00:46:27.539 --> 00:46:29.440
 with no payment.

00:46:29.440 --> 00:46:33.000
 Friends,

00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:35.860
 let's set ourselves this week

00:46:35.860 --> 00:46:38.240
 to live in the light of heaven,

00:46:38.780 --> 00:46:42.900
 not to live as those were stuck in the past

00:46:42.900 --> 00:46:44.179
 or the present

00:46:44.179 --> 00:46:46.240
 in our brokenness and dysfunction.

00:46:48.340 --> 00:46:49.659
 Pray with me, please.

00:46:49.659 --> 00:46:54.239
 Lord,

00:46:54.359 --> 00:46:56.440
 we thank you for pictures.

00:46:58.859 --> 00:46:59.259
 Pictures,

00:46:59.539 --> 00:47:00.039
 as they say,

00:47:00.179 --> 00:47:02.119
 paint a thousand words,

00:47:02.239 --> 00:47:03.259
 capture a thousand words.

00:47:04.799 --> 00:47:06.039
 And the pictures of Revelation,

00:47:06.199 --> 00:47:06.299
 Lord,

00:47:06.379 --> 00:47:08.139
 capture many, many more words than that

00:47:08.139 --> 00:47:10.059
 and yet we can scarcely even

00:47:10.059 --> 00:47:11.779
 comprehend the pictures.

00:47:14.879 --> 00:47:15.319
 Lord,

00:47:15.599 --> 00:47:17.039
 our thirsty souls

00:47:17.039 --> 00:47:19.559
 do long for that

00:47:19.559 --> 00:47:23.119
 soul-satisfying water of life

00:47:23.119 --> 00:47:24.860
 that you've already poured into us

00:47:24.860 --> 00:47:25.940
 in the Lord Jesus Christ

00:47:25.940 --> 00:47:26.739
 and in your spirit.

00:47:26.980 --> 00:47:28.219
 And we long for that, Lord,

00:47:28.279 --> 00:47:29.980
 to be topped up to full measure

00:47:29.980 --> 00:47:31.659
 in the age to come.

00:47:33.980 --> 00:47:34.920
 And so, Lord,

00:47:34.960 --> 00:47:35.779
 in the brokenness

00:47:35.779 --> 00:47:37.219
 and the dysfunction of this world

00:47:37.219 --> 00:47:38.519
 and in my own brokenness

00:47:38.519 --> 00:47:39.079
 and dysfunction,

00:47:39.659 --> 00:47:41.639
 knowing the best is yet to come,

00:47:42.779 --> 00:47:43.820
 I just simply say,

00:47:43.960 --> 00:47:44.920
 come, Lord Jesus.