WEBVTT

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 And we're reading Ephesians chapter 1 and verses 1 to 14.

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 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

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 to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus,

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 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

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 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,

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 that we should be holy and blameless before him.

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 In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ,

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 according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace,

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 with which he has blessed us in the beloved.

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 In him we have redemption through his blood,

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 the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

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 which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight,

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 making known to us the mystery of his will,

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 according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

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 as a plan for the fullness of time,

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 to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

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 In him we have obtained an inheritance,

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 having been predestined according to the purpose of him

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 who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

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 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ

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 might be to the praise of his glory.

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 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth,

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 the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him,

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 were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

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 who is the guarantee of our inheritance,

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 until we acquire possession of it,

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 to the praise of his glory.

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 Well, good morning, everyone.

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 Why don't we pray as we come to God's word?

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 Lord, we praise you for your nature,

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 that you tell us that a bruised reed you will not break

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 and a smouldering wick you will not snuff out.

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 Lord, we thank you for your gentleness and your patience with us

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 when we struggle to be sure that we are even a Christian.

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 Thank you that you are for us in your gentle nature.

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 Please reassure our hearts this morning by your word.

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 In his name, amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, one of the lovely images that the Lord gives us

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 so that we can have confidence that we will receive a warm welcome into heaven

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 is that of a heavenly book, a book.

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 I'm not sure if you're into books or not,

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 but this book you will be into.

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 It's called the Book of Life,

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 with each and every name listed of those

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 who are going to receive a warm welcome into heaven.

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 One place we see this book appear is in Revelation 20 at the Last Judgment,

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 the picture of the Last Judgment,

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 where each individual person has their own book,

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 a record of everything they've done.

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 Now, that is a terrifying thought,

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 but then onto the scene comes this other book,

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 the Book of the Lamb who was slain.

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 And it's those who are written in that book,

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 not their own book of what they've done,

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 but the Lamb's book.

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 They're the ones who have the warm welcome into heaven.

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 It's a very personal image, this book.

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 Your name is written.

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 And it's a permanent image.

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 You don't write something down to forget it.

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 It's to remember it.

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 It's permanent.

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 It is written there.

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 For all those who put their hope in Christ,

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 the Lord reassures our hearts that your name,

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 my name is written in this book of life.

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 Now, this divine guarantee of salvation

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 is what our series in the Doctrins of Grace has been about, really.

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 The Lord wants us to be secure in his arms.

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 Now, just to recap the series,

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 because in a sense we're kind of finished

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 the Doctrins of Grace.

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 There's an acronym to remember the five points,

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 the five doctrines.

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 It's called CHULIP.

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 So you might want to write this down

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 if you haven't heard this before.

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 So like the flower, CHULIP,

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 let's quickly run through what we've covered so far.

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 So it's not the order we did it in in our series,

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 but here goes.

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 So T.

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 Actually, let's get some audience participation.

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 Can anyone tell me?

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 What's T?

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 Total depravity,

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 or another name is total inability.

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 That, you know,

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 born in Adam,

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 we are dead towards God,

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 Ephesians 2.

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 It's not total depravity

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 in the sense of

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 we're as evil as we possibly could be,

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 but it's total in the sense

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 that sin has infected us

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 in every faculty,

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 in our mind,

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 in our desires,

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 in our abilities.

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 In and of ourselves,

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 we're unable to want God

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 and seek God.

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 Okay, you.

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 What's you?

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 Anyone?

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 Heard these before?

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 Joel?

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 Help.

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 Unconditional election.

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 Unconditional election,

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 what we looked at last week.

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 The only election that matters.

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 The only election.

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 Yeah.

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 Thanks for that political comment.

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 The only election that matters.

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 In eternity past,

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 the Father chose,

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 by his mercy alone,

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 those sinners

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 he would adopt as his sons.

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 Unconditional.

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 Nothing in and of ourselves

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 did he look at us and go,

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 you're worthy of my choosing.

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 It's not about that.

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 It's unconditional.

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 It's his mercy alone.

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 Okay, L.

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 Limited atonement.

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 Another name for it

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 is particular redemption.

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 So,

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 it's not that Jesus died for the whole world

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 and goes,

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 whoever wants to take up my offer,

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 come and get it.

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 It's that God,

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 the Father,

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 sent Jesus into the world

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 with a particular mission

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 to save his people.

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 And he did it.

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 He actually redeemed.

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 He didn't just make it possible.

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 He saved his sheep.

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 He died for his sheep.

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 Okay, I.

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 Irresistible grace.

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 While we're still dead towards God,

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 God intervenes.

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 The Holy Spirit works inside us

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 to make the gospel message

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 effective in our hearts,

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 making us new on the inside,

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 opening our blind spiritual eyes

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 to see Christ

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 and so put our trust in him.

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 It's irresistible.

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 The Holy Spirit just go,

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 just makes us want

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 to put our trust in Christ.

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 Okay, last one, P.

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 Yeah, so,

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 perseverance of the saints

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 or better still,

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 as Don said,

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 preservation of the saints.

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 That God is working,

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 is totally committed

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 to finishing what he starts.

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 He's working in us

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 to keep us for heaven

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 and therefore,

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 we're going to persevere

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 because God is working

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 to get us home.

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 So these are beautiful truths.

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 Some start to finish.

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 Our salvation is resting

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 in the sovereign grace of God,

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 the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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 It's a free and utter gift.

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 It's all him.

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 So, in a sense,

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 we kind of finished our series,

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 but there are some common questions

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 that come up

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 to do with God's sovereignty

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 and salvation.

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 And we just didn't have time

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 in each of the sermons

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 to deal with these

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 important questions properly.

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 So, we're going to change gear a bit

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 and try and address

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 four of these common questions.

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 And those questions

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 that we're going to cover

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 over the next four weeks are,

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 can I be sure

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 I'm one of God's elect?

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 We're going to do that one today.

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 And then,

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 can a Christian lose their salvation?

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 Does predestination mean

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 that evangelism and prayer

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 are pointless?

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 And do the doctrines of grace

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 really matter in 2021?

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 Like, can't we just

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 put them to the side?

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 Do they really matter?

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 Okay.

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 So, that's where we're going.

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 So, it's a bit different

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 in these next four weeks,

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 but let's get into the first one.

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 Can I be sure

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 I am one of God's elect?

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 There was this one wedding

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 where Emma and I

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 and some friends

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 we thought were invited to.

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 Emma and I

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 weren't as confident,

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 but our friends

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 weren't sure

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 if they were invited or not.

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 So, they went to the reception

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 before the bridal party arrived

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 and they went up to that list

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 of table place names

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 and checked out

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 is their name there?

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 No, it wasn't.

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 So, they rushed out again.

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 I tell that

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 because I imagine

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 when I talked about

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 this book in heaven,

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 those who are asking

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 this question

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 at a personal level

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 this morning,

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 can I be sure

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 I am one of God's elect?

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 Are probably feeling like

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 those friends

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 who went to the wedding reception

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 going,

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 I really don't think

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 my name's going to be there.

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 This is a very personal question.

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 It is an agonising question

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 to wrestle with.

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 It's a restless place to live.

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 You're stuck between

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 the beauty of the gospel

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 that God is absolutely

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 sovereign in salvation

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 and yet you're also,

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 but then you think

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 God is angry at you

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 because of your sin.

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 The very one you want to rest in

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 is the one who's angry

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 at your sin

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 and you're just stuck in between.

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 Which one is it?

00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:28.960
 Amen.

00:10:31.579 --> 00:10:32.059
 Now,

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 I want to say from the outset

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 that I do not expect

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 this sermon

00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:37.059
 to be a quick fix.

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 It could even be dangerous

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 because if in tomorrow

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 or during the week

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 you wake up in despair again,

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 you might think,

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 well,

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 that didn't help.

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 I'm even more stuck.

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 What do I do now?

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 I don't expect this sermon

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 to be a quick fix.

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 Unlike what Simon says,

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 I don't have all the answers.

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 But I do want to hopefully

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 give you some tools

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 to go away with.

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 Some new perspectives

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 that you can keep preaching

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 to yourself

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 whenever this fear arises

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 within you.

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 So the five perspectives

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 I want to touch on this morning,

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 you'll see it in the outline.

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 The first one has to do

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 when it comes to passages

00:11:23.300 --> 00:11:23.820
 in the Bible

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 that seem to question

00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:27.259
 our security of salvation.

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 So,

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 when you come to those,

00:11:30.660 --> 00:11:32.180
 we need to be asking ourselves,

00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:33.180
 am I sure

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 that this is what God

00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:34.960
 is saying here?

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 The second thing

00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:39.280
 you need to keep asking yourself

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 is when doubt arises,

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.139
 doubt your doubt.

00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:46.220
 Ask questions of your doubt.

00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:47.899
 Why are you doubting?

00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:50.180
 The third is,

00:11:50.920 --> 00:11:52.920
 is this even a good question

00:11:52.920 --> 00:11:53.500
 to be asking?

00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:56.220
 What is God's question of you?

00:11:57.800 --> 00:11:59.420
 The fourth perspective is,

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:01.019
 when you look inside yourself

00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:02.540
 and you see the muck

00:12:02.540 --> 00:12:03.240
 of your sin,

00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:05.460
 don't live there.

00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:07.920
 You need an external

00:12:07.920 --> 00:12:08.800
 reference point.

00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:11.720
 You need to look to Christ.

00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:13.920
 And the last one is,

00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.080
 don't dwell on yourself,

00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:17.580
 dwell on what God has done.

00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:18.519
 So,

00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:19.560
 let's just go through

00:12:19.560 --> 00:12:20.139
 each of these

00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:20.820
 one at a time.

00:12:23.540 --> 00:12:23.980
 Okay,

00:12:24.040 --> 00:12:25.320
 what about those troubling texts?

00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:26.759
 Am I sure

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.759
 that I've understood

00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:28.620
 the text correctly?

00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:28.899
 So,

00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.560
 we're going to use

00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:31.920
 2 Peter 1.10

00:12:31.920 --> 00:12:32.800
 as a case study.

00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:33.720
 We don't have time

00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:35.160
 to go to the text

00:12:35.160 --> 00:12:38.720
 that can really trouble people.

00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:40.660
 But 2 Peter 1.10,

00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:40.980
 gee,

00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:41.480
 that's it.

00:12:41.699 --> 00:12:42.319
 This one's,

00:12:42.319 --> 00:12:43.740
 this one's up there

00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:45.179
 as one that troubles people.

00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:47.480
 Could you turn there

00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.019
 with me actually

00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:49.299
 because we'll spend

00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:50.079
 a few minutes here.

00:12:50.579 --> 00:12:50.719
 So,

00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:51.839
 2 Peter 1.

00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.059
 And we'll come back

00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:54.659
 to Ephesians

00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:56.519
 towards the end.

00:12:58.839 --> 00:12:59.259
 So,

00:12:59.319 --> 00:13:00.480
 here's 2 Peter 1.10

00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.719
 and I'll read

00:13:01.719 --> 00:13:02.399
 verse 11 as well.

00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:02.740
 Therefore,

00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:03.240
 brothers,

00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:04.139
 be all the more

00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:04.860
 diligent

00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:06.000
 to confirm

00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:07.720
 your calling

00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:08.459
 and election.

00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:10.620
 For if you practice

00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:11.639
 these qualities,

00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:13.399
 you will never fall.

00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:15.419
 For in this way,

00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:15.840
 there will be

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:16.860
 richly provided

00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:17.320
 for you

00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:18.379
 an entrance

00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.279
 into the eternal

00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:20.740
 kingdom

00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:22.360
 of our Lord

00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:23.120
 and Saviour

00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:24.399
 Jesus Christ.

00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:26.019
 So,

00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:26.740
 it's talking about

00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:27.500
 an entrance

00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:29.060
 and falling

00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:31.259
 and it's saying

00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:32.039
 be diligent

00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:32.940
 to confirm

00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:33.820
 your calling

00:13:33.820 --> 00:13:34.460
 and election.

00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:36.280
 now,

00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:36.740
 if you read

00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:37.040
 that,

00:13:37.420 --> 00:13:38.259
 it just jumps

00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:38.860
 out at you

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:40.240
 and it

00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:40.620
 sounds like

00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:41.340
 you must

00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:42.019
 confirm it.

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:42.840
 It's up to you.

00:13:43.900 --> 00:13:44.720
 If you've got

00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:45.360
 to be diligent

00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:46.300
 to confirm it,

00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:47.900
 then it mustn't

00:13:47.900 --> 00:13:48.400
 be settled.

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:51.200
 If I don't,

00:13:51.300 --> 00:13:52.019
 then I fall

00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:54.000
 and not enter

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.879
 the eternal kingdom.

00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:57.000
 And you think,

00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:57.639
 okay,

00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:58.200
 what are these

00:13:58.200 --> 00:13:58.899
 qualities I'm

00:13:58.899 --> 00:13:59.240
 meant to be

00:13:59.240 --> 00:13:59.679
 putting into

00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.059
 practice?

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:00.500
 And you go

00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:01.200
 back and read,

00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:02.399
 supplement your

00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:02.899
 faith with

00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:03.600
 virtue and

00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.179
 virtue with

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:04.799
 knowledge and

00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:05.299
 knowledge with

00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.299
 self-control and

00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:07.000
 self-control with

00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:08.059
 steadfastness and

00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:09.019
 steadfastness with

00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:10.240
 godliness and

00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:10.860
 godliness with

00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:12.240
 brotherly affection and

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.080
 brotherly affection with

00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:13.379
 love.

00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:15.000
 And that list just

00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.080
 hits you hard,

00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:16.519
 doesn't it?

00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:17.860
 Virtue?

00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.500
 I can list a

00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.700
 dozen things I've

00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:21.700
 stuffed up this

00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:22.659
 week or today

00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:23.100
 alone.

00:14:23.300 --> 00:14:23.560
 And then

00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:24.019
 knowledge.

00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:25.279
 I don't read the

00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.019
 Bible as much as

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.600
 I want to.

00:14:27.300 --> 00:14:28.139
 Self-control,

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:28.800
 my lust,

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:29.680
 my impatience,

00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:30.279
 my anger,

00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.840
 steadfastness.

00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:32.860
 I waver in and

00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.639
 out of faith all

00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:34.159
 the time.

00:14:34.300 --> 00:14:34.740
 Godliness,

00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.379
 brotherly affection.

00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:37.919
 That list just

00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:38.560
 hits you.

00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.279
 You come to the

00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:42.720
 conclusion,

00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:43.360
 I must be

00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.399
 failing the test.

00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:47.200
 Maybe I'm not

00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:47.620
 elect.

00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:52.700
 When a passage has

00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:53.639
 this effect on you,

00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:56.039
 the emotions just

00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.220
 are strong.

00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:58.320
 They're very

00:14:58.320 --> 00:14:58.960
 strong.

00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:02.300
 Those strong

00:15:02.300 --> 00:15:03.060
 emotions I think

00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:04.019
 can make you think

00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.840
 you've interpreted

00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.940
 it correctly but

00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:07.039
 can I encourage you

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.720
 to pause,

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:08.879
 take a deep

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.220
 breath,

00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:10.779
 maybe even get

00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.300
 the help of

00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:11.980
 another believer

00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:13.279
 and make sure

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:15.240
 you've understood

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:16.139
 what God is

00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:16.840
 saying correctly.

00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:16.940
 slowly.

00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:19.660
 Slow down

00:15:19.660 --> 00:15:21.780
 and re-read.

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.300
 Look at the

00:15:22.300 --> 00:15:22.820
 details.

00:15:24.040 --> 00:15:24.780
 Let's do that

00:15:24.780 --> 00:15:25.080
 together.

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.160
 I'm not going to

00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:28.180
 leave you hanging.

00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:29.259
 Let's do that

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.000
 together in this

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.340
 case.

00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:35.680
 firstly, look at

00:15:35.680 --> 00:15:36.720
 verse 5,

00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.960
 the start of this

00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:38.720
 little section.

00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:40.899
 It starts with

00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:42.019
 for this very

00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.560
 reason.

00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:45.000
 For this very

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.360
 reason,

00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:46.960
 it goes on to

00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:47.220
 say,

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.240
 confirm your

00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:48.680
 calling in

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:48.960
 election.

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.220
 So it should

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:50.620
 indicate,

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:51.120
 well,

00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:51.700
 what's the

00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:52.000
 reason?

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.200
 Where's this

00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:53.720
 coming from?

00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:55.960
 So let's

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:56.500
 go back.

00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:57.980
 Verses 1 and

00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:58.200
 2.

00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.379
 To those who

00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.100
 have obtained

00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:01.960
 a faith of

00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:03.000
 equal standing

00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.740
 with ours by

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.379
 the righteousness

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.259
 of our God

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.759
 and Saviour

00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.580
 Jesus Christ.

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.340
 Now we

00:16:08.340 --> 00:16:08.940
 elevate the

00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:09.940
 apostles and

00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.519
 they do have

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:10.960
 an authority

00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.620
 because they

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.120
 saw the

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.720
 risen Christ

00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:15.480
 but if we

00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:15.940
 trust in

00:16:15.940 --> 00:16:16.340
 Christ we

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:16.660
 have the

00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:17.620
 same standing

00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:18.899
 of faith as

00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:19.420
 the apostles

00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:21.360
 in the sight of

00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:21.600
 God.

00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.100
 How does

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:22.360
 that come

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:22.620
 about?

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.139
 By the

00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:23.580
 righteousness

00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.040
 of our

00:16:24.040 --> 00:16:24.500
 God and

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:24.820
 Saviour

00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:25.560
 Jesus Christ.

00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.700
 That's an

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.420
 encouraging verse

00:16:28.420 --> 00:16:29.600
 but verse 2.

00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.379
 Why is Peter

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.019
 writing this

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:31.279
 letter?

00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:33.080
 May grace

00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:34.019
 and peace

00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:35.980
 be multiplied

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.680
 to you in

00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:37.080
 the knowledge

00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:37.700
 of God and

00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:38.159
 of Jesus

00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:38.980
 our Lord.

00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:40.320
 Grace and

00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:40.740
 peace.

00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:41.440
 He wants us

00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.240
 to have grace

00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.860
 and peace.

00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:46.139
 I think even

00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:46.879
 there that

00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.300
 should make

00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:47.639
 you think

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:49.360
 that's a funny

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.080
 way to give

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:50.700
 you peace

00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:51.440
 to then

00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:51.880
 make you

00:16:51.880 --> 00:16:52.500
 question

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:52.840
 whether

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.380
 you're

00:16:53.380 --> 00:16:54.500
 one of

00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:54.760
 God's

00:16:54.760 --> 00:16:55.260
 people or

00:16:55.260 --> 00:16:55.480
 not.

00:16:57.180 --> 00:16:58.420
 Even there

00:16:58.420 --> 00:16:58.840
 it's like

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.880
 I'm not

00:16:59.880 --> 00:17:00.340
 sure I've

00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:00.620
 read this

00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:01.060
 correctly.

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.260
 But then

00:17:02.260 --> 00:17:03.240
 we go on.

00:17:03.660 --> 00:17:03.960
 Keep

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.660
 analysing the

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:04.960
 detail.

00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:05.640
 Verses 3

00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:06.080
 and 4.

00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:07.500
 What's the

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.620
 truth for

00:17:08.620 --> 00:17:09.140
 this very

00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:09.480
 reason

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:09.980
 confirming

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.140
 you're

00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:10.620
 calling an

00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:10.860
 election?

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.420
 What is

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:11.900
 that reason?

00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:12.759
 We find

00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:12.980
 it in

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.600
 verse 3

00:17:13.600 --> 00:17:14.059
 and 4.

00:17:16.820 --> 00:17:17.299
 His,

00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.000
 God's,

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.200
 divine power

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:20.400
 power,

00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:20.880
 has granted

00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:21.340
 to us

00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:21.920
 all things

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.360
 that pertain

00:17:22.360 --> 00:17:23.019
 to life

00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:24.299
 and godliness

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:24.819
 through the

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:25.400
 knowledge of

00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:25.900
 him who

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:26.580
 called us

00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:26.980
 to his

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.779
 own glory

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.519
 and excellence

00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:30.059
 by which

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:30.360
 he has

00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:30.900
 granted to

00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.240
 us his

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:31.720
 precious

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.340
 and very

00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:32.680
 great

00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.160
 promises

00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:34.720
 so that

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.380
 through them

00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:35.819
 you may

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.519
 become

00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.299
 partakers

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:37.819
 of the

00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:38.360
 divine

00:17:38.360 --> 00:17:39.460
 nature,

00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:40.940
 having

00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.519
 escaped

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:41.920
 from the

00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.279
 corruption

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:42.620
 that is

00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:42.880
 in the

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.160
 world

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:43.820
 because

00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.400
 of sinful

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:44.940
 desire.

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:46.980
 God's

00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:47.759
 divine

00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.560
 power

00:17:48.560 --> 00:17:50.080
 is given

00:17:50.080 --> 00:17:50.560
 to you

00:17:50.560 --> 00:17:50.920
 and me

00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:52.820
 for all

00:17:52.820 --> 00:17:53.360
 things,

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.000
 for life

00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:54.560
 and godliness.

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:56.820
 Growing

00:17:56.820 --> 00:17:57.140
 in the

00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:57.380
 knowledge

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:57.800
 of him,

00:17:58.580 --> 00:17:59.160
 he's given

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.680
 us his

00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.080
 precious

00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:00.580
 promises

00:18:00.580 --> 00:18:02.140
 that we

00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:03.200
 might partake

00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:03.560
 of his

00:18:03.560 --> 00:18:04.000
 divine

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.420
 nature.

00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.400
 All

00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:07.700
 God's

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.100
 power

00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:08.600
 is at

00:18:08.600 --> 00:18:08.940
 work

00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.920
 to save

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.160
 you,

00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:11.180
 to transform

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:11.779
 you

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:13.099
 into his

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:13.799
 likeness.

00:18:15.639 --> 00:18:16.279
 So for

00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:16.740
 this very

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.119
 reason,

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.180
 God is

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:18.839
 at work

00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:19.119
 in you.

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:19.660
 You have

00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.500
 all his

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:20.920
 help

00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:24.279
 to become

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.399
 like him.

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:26.799
 So for

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.379
 this reason,

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.279
 add virtue,

00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:29.740
 knowledge,

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:30.819
 brotherly love

00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.379
 and so on.

00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.420
 He's at

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:34.779
 work,

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.639
 therefore

00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:39.079
 add these

00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:39.440
 things,

00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:39.980
 do these

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.259
 things.

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:40.299
 things.

00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:41.579
 That's

00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.099
 the basis,

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.000
 what he

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.500
 has done.

00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.740
 And then

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.359
 if you

00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:47.599
 go,

00:18:47.879 --> 00:18:48.319
 look on

00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:48.640
 the other

00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:49.039
 side of

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.379
 the text,

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.140
 verse 12.

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.500
 Therefore

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.140
 I intend

00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.740
 always to

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.279
 remind you

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:55.539
 of these

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:55.940
 qualities,

00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:56.480
 though you

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.180
 know them

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:57.980
 and are

00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.920
 established

00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:00.079
 in the

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.460
 truth you

00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:00.700
 have.

00:19:00.900 --> 00:19:01.460
 He's not

00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.099
 talking to

00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.700
 people who

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.420
 are out of

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:03.819
 the faith,

00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:04.259
 he's saying

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:04.720
 you're in

00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:04.940
 it.

00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:06.559
 God's

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.180
 power is

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:07.619
 at work,

00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:08.439
 therefore

00:19:08.439 --> 00:19:09.359
 join him

00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.599
 in that

00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:11.179
 transformation

00:19:11.179 --> 00:19:12.159
 process.

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.539
 All this

00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.579
 should make

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.299
 us re-examine

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.079
 verse 10.

00:19:19.239 --> 00:19:19.599
 Have we

00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.139
 understood it

00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:20.500
 correctly?

00:19:20.719 --> 00:19:21.199
 Is it a

00:19:21.199 --> 00:19:21.939
 test that

00:19:21.939 --> 00:19:22.459
 you pass

00:19:22.459 --> 00:19:23.000
 or fail?

00:19:26.739 --> 00:19:27.419
 I don't

00:19:27.419 --> 00:19:27.659
 think it

00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:27.859
 is.

00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:28.539
 It's not.

00:19:30.479 --> 00:19:31.239
 Because if

00:19:31.239 --> 00:19:31.599
 it is a

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.019
 test,

00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:32.859
 it would

00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.479
 be demanding

00:19:33.479 --> 00:19:34.139
 perfection.

00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:38.840
 And no

00:19:38.840 --> 00:19:39.140
 one can

00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:39.640
 pass that.

00:19:41.280 --> 00:19:41.900
 It's not

00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:42.400
 a test,

00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:43.280
 it's a

00:19:43.280 --> 00:19:43.840
 road map.

00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.540
 It's a

00:19:45.540 --> 00:19:46.040
 road map

00:19:46.040 --> 00:19:46.560
 of what we

00:19:46.560 --> 00:19:46.880
 should be

00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:47.380
 striving

00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:47.960
 towards.

00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:50.660
 Having been

00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:51.500
 saved through

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.380
 the faith in

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.060
 God's promises,

00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:53.860
 having God's

00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:54.560
 power on

00:19:54.560 --> 00:19:55.420
 our side,

00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.100
 verse 10

00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:57.580
 is saying

00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:58.800
 join God

00:19:58.800 --> 00:20:00.240
 in working

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.880
 towards that

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.720
 same goal

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.980
 that he

00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.920
 is calling

00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.480
 you towards,

00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:04.819
 that he

00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:05.500
 is working

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.360
 you towards.

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.539
 It doesn't

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:11.900
 mean you

00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.400
 have to take

00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.740
 great strides

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:15.299
 each day in

00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.839
 becoming more

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.420
 like Christ,

00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:16.920
 but if you're

00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.779
 stumbling in

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.620
 that direction,

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.279
 that same

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.759
 direction,

00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.720
 that's evidence

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.660
 that God is

00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:24.200
 at work

00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:25.120
 bringing you

00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.860
 towards

00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.299
 himself.

00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:31.359
 I think we

00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:31.659
 can get

00:20:31.659 --> 00:20:32.259
 confused here

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:33.259
 because when

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.579
 the Bible

00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:34.119
 talks about

00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:34.680
 salvation,

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:35.619
 it can talk

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.119
 about it in

00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:37.279
 three ways,

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.539
 past,

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.259
 present and

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:39.599
 future.

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.680
 So some

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.200
 verses are

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.859
 saying you

00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.480
 have been

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:43.879
 saved,

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.740
 Christ has

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.419
 saved you,

00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.200
 you are

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.619
 saved.

00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.379
 Other verses

00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:47.859
 are saying

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:48.460
 when Christ

00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.059
 returns you

00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.659
 will be

00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.079
 saved.

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.299
 Here is an

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:54.039
 example where

00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.659
 a passage is

00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.240
 saying you

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.000
 are being

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.680
 saved.

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.120
 And we're

00:20:59.120 --> 00:20:59.440
 meant to be

00:20:59.440 --> 00:20:59.980
 active in

00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.660
 that process.

00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.559
 God is

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.259
 saving you

00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:04.039
 to transform

00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:04.620
 us to

00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:05.220
 become like

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.460
 him,

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:06.059
 sharing in

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.420
 the divine

00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:06.759
 nature,

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:08.079
 so let's

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.579
 be active

00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:08.980
 in doing

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.240
 that.

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.700
 That's what

00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.200
 verse 10

00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:12.680
 is saying.

00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:14.779
 Get on

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:15.279
 board with

00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.819
 what God

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.460
 is already

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.279
 doing inside

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.500
 you.

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.559
 It's not

00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.140
 a test,

00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:20.740
 it's a

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.579
 roadmap to

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:22.380
 say keep

00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:24.059
 striving towards

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.339
 that.

00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:28.000
 An

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.660
 unbeliever

00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:30.920
 doesn't have

00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.259
 that as

00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:31.779
 the goal.

00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.059
 But if

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.579
 you want

00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:35.920
 that,

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:36.920
 even though

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.400
 you're so

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:38.240
 aware of

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.480
 failing that

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.140
 so often,

00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:41.279
 if that's

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.000
 your trajectory,

00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.599
 even though

00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:42.900
 you might

00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.720
 stumble one

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:43.920
 day,

00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:44.259
 you might

00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:44.799
 even stumble

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.299
 for a

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:45.700
 period of

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.259
 years,

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:47.000
 but if

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.680
 your overall

00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.620
 trajectory is

00:21:48.620 --> 00:21:48.940
 that you

00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.480
 want to

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.220
 be with

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.720
 God and

00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.200
 like him,

00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.759
 that is

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.960
 great evidence

00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.539
 that God

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:54.859
 is at

00:21:54.859 --> 00:21:55.319
 work in

00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:56.700
 you to

00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.059
 bring you

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:57.599
 to himself.

00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.680
 So I

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.039
 hope that

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.500
 demonstrates

00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.119
 that when

00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:02.579
 texts

00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.200
 trouble you,

00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.420
 just slow

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:04.879
 down,

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.140
 pray,

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:06.680
 get the

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.019
 help of

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.220
 other

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:07.680
 Christians,

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.220
 and just

00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.119
 make sure

00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:10.879
 you're

00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.160
 actually

00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:11.819
 hearing God

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.299
 correctly.

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:17.180
 So that's

00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:17.500
 the first

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:17.700
 one,

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.059
 troubling

00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.639
 texts.

00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:20.839
 Another

00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.379
 perspective

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:21.859
 that can

00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:22.559
 help someone

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:22.779
 who's

00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.059
 wrestling

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.419
 with this

00:22:23.419 --> 00:22:23.740
 question

00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.099
 is

00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:25.559
 doubting

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.639
 your

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.059
 doubt.

00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.200
 Now,

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.399
 how do

00:22:31.399 --> 00:22:31.639
 you do

00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:31.879
 that?

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.500
 Just ask

00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.079
 questions of

00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.500
 where is

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.759
 this question

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.619
 coming from?

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:36.940
 So for

00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.099
 me,

00:22:37.159 --> 00:22:37.419
 it makes

00:22:37.419 --> 00:22:37.779
 me think,

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.339
 what kind

00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:38.899
 of person

00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:40.299
 asks this

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:40.680
 question?

00:22:40.859 --> 00:22:41.319
 Can I

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:41.960
 be sure

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.600
 that I

00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.120
 am one

00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.559
 of the

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:43.960
 elect?

00:22:44.340 --> 00:22:45.120
 This isn't

00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:46.500
 a theoretical

00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.019
 question.

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.519
 I.

00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.640
 Can I

00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.140
 be sure

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:49.680
 that I

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:49.980
 am one

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.180
 of the

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.480
 elect?

00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:51.720
 It's

00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:52.079
 someone who

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.579
 wants to

00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.140
 be saved.

00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:55.200
 But it's

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:55.720
 someone who

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:57.180
 for some

00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:57.620
 reason

00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:59.600
 thinks they're

00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.279
 not elect.

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.340
 And the

00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:01.799
 only thing I

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.120
 can think

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.579
 of is

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.299
 that they're

00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:04.299
 so aware

00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.299
 of their

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.579
 own

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.160
 failings.

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.259
 Now,

00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:09.819
 who would

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.700
 be aware

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:11.360
 of their

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:11.579
 own

00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.059
 failings?

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.539
 Someone

00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:16.519
 who doesn't

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.059
 want God

00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:18.559
 or someone

00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.119
 who does?

00:23:19.959 --> 00:23:20.259
 It's

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:20.619
 someone who

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:20.979
 does,

00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.139
 who would

00:23:22.139 --> 00:23:22.659
 be aware

00:23:22.659 --> 00:23:22.959
 of their

00:23:22.959 --> 00:23:23.159
 own

00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:23.659
 failings.

00:23:24.959 --> 00:23:25.479
 Or you

00:23:25.479 --> 00:23:25.779
 could ask

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.240
 the question,

00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:26.959
 what does

00:23:26.959 --> 00:23:27.359
 a person

00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.000
 already

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.959
 believe in

00:23:28.959 --> 00:23:29.679
 order to

00:23:29.679 --> 00:23:30.059
 ask the

00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:30.439
 question,

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:32.219
 am I

00:23:32.219 --> 00:23:32.459
 one of

00:23:32.459 --> 00:23:32.879
 the elect?

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.279
 They

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:33.599
 already

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.359
 believe that

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.259
 the Bible

00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:35.699
 is the

00:23:35.699 --> 00:23:36.939
 authority on

00:23:36.939 --> 00:23:37.399
 this matter,

00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:40.240
 God's

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:40.720
 word is

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:40.860
 the

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:41.340
 authority

00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:42.220
 on whether

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.460
 you're

00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:42.940
 saved or

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.140
 not.

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.259
 They

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.440
 already

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:44.900
 believe in

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.300
 sin,

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.180
 that sin

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.700
 is real

00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:48.140
 and that

00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:48.420
 it's a

00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.100
 big problem

00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:51.080
 that you're

00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:51.360
 going to be

00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:51.920
 saved or

00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.200
 not.

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:52.920
 They

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.200
 already

00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.840
 believe in

00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:54.400
 their sin

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:54.920
 that they

00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:55.580
 need a

00:23:55.580 --> 00:23:56.000
 saviour.

00:23:57.320 --> 00:23:57.519
 They

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:57.800
 already

00:23:57.800 --> 00:23:59.200
 believe in

00:23:59.200 --> 00:23:59.540
 this is

00:23:59.540 --> 00:23:59.940
 they already

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.380
 believe in

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:00.720
 Jesus,

00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.280
 that he

00:24:01.280 --> 00:24:01.860
 is the

00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.220
 saviour.

00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:04.039
 and they

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.299
 already

00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:04.759
 believe that

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.220
 their only

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.940
 hope is if

00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:06.240
 God

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.059
 sovereignly

00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.700
 works to

00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.120
 elect.

00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:10.059
 That's a

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.440
 lot of

00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:11.059
 truths that

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.519
 you're already

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.799
 believing to

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.440
 even ask

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.079
 this question.

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.940
 How else

00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:18.259
 can you

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.660
 doubt your

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.019
 doubt?

00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.380
 I'm looking

00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:22.819
 at the word

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.600
 sure there.

00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.299
 Can I be

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.259
 sure that I

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:25.620
 am one of

00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.120
 God's elect?

00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:27.279
 How would

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:27.839
 you go about

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.980
 proving that?

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.200
 What evidence

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:30.700
 would you look

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:32.059
 to to go,

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.960
 okay, I'm

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.319
 looking at

00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:35.039
 that, I'm

00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.120
 sure I'm

00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.440
 one of the

00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:36.900
 elect now.

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.660
 It's got to

00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.360
 be irrefutable.

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.160
 It's got to

00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:41.460
 be absolutely

00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.240
 rock solid.

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.839
 If you're

00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:47.279
 looking to

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:47.680
 your own

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:49.920
 fruit, then

00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.720
 you would

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.660
 need 100%

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.900
 good fruit

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.640
 for you to

00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.460
 be sure

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.000
 you're one

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.200
 of the

00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:55.799
 elect, if

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.880
 fruit is the

00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.799
 measure of

00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.420
 being sure.

00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.079
 But then you

00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:00.640
 already know

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.559
 that's not the

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:01.880
 gospel.

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:04.059
 you know it's

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:05.059
 not by works,

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:05.920
 but by

00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.339
 trusting.

00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:09.600
 So if it's

00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:10.240
 not our own

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.240
 fruit, what

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:12.740
 else could

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.140
 make you

00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:13.420
 sure?

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.440
 There's only

00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:14.920
 one thing

00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.440
 really that

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.079
 could make

00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:16.420
 you sure

00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:16.759
 that you're

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.100
 elect.

00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.019
 That's if

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.640
 God says,

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:20.500
 you are

00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:20.860
 elect.

00:25:22.120 --> 00:25:22.720
 I think

00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.000
 that's the

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.660
 only place

00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.100
 that would

00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:24.880
 be solid

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:25.420
 enough for

00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:25.680
 you to

00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.480
 go, I

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:26.799
 must be

00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.100
 elect.

00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:27.919
 God says

00:25:27.919 --> 00:25:28.179
 so.

00:25:30.219 --> 00:25:30.980
 Which then

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.679
 just pushes

00:25:31.679 --> 00:25:32.339
 us towards

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.079
 faith.

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.779
 Trusting,

00:25:35.939 --> 00:25:36.539
 not what

00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.279
 we do, but

00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.119
 him saying

00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:38.399
 so.

00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.679
 So there's

00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:41.099
 just a few

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.719
 ways to

00:25:41.719 --> 00:25:43.139
 just doubt

00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:44.159
 your doubt.

00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:45.319
 Your doubt

00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:46.079
 can feel so

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:46.740
 strong, but

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.519
 when you ask

00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:47.779
 a few

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.339
 questions of

00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:50.939
 it, it's

00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:51.359
 not as

00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.119
 strong as

00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:52.559
 you think.

00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:55.639
 Only

00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:56.519
 someone in

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.219
 the arena

00:25:57.219 --> 00:25:57.859
 of faith

00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.799
 actually cares

00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.199
 about this

00:25:59.199 --> 00:25:59.539
 question.

00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:00.359
 You're

00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.219
 believing so

00:26:01.219 --> 00:26:01.659
 much of

00:26:01.659 --> 00:26:02.139
 the Bible

00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:03.000
 by even

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.739
 asking this

00:26:03.739 --> 00:26:04.119
 question.

00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:06.379
 And it

00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:07.139
 drives you

00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.739
 towards not

00:26:07.739 --> 00:26:08.139
 looking at

00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:08.579
 your fruit,

00:26:09.699 --> 00:26:10.119
 but what

00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:10.819
 God says

00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:11.439
 is true.

00:26:13.479 --> 00:26:14.199
 So doubt

00:26:14.199 --> 00:26:14.719
 your doubt.

00:26:17.639 --> 00:26:18.159
 A third

00:26:18.159 --> 00:26:19.939
 way to be

00:26:19.939 --> 00:26:20.719
 thinking is

00:26:20.719 --> 00:26:21.959
 well,

00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:23.519
 maybe this

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.119
 question isn't

00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:24.399
 a good

00:26:24.399 --> 00:26:24.939
 question.

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.879
 Does God

00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.479
 want me to

00:26:28.479 --> 00:26:28.859
 ask this

00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.179
 question?

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.799
 Can I be

00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.399
 sure that I'm

00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:32.719
 one of the

00:26:32.719 --> 00:26:33.059
 elect?

00:26:33.699 --> 00:26:34.179
 Is that

00:26:34.179 --> 00:26:34.539
 God's

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.119
 question of

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.379
 you and

00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:35.579
 I?

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:36.959
 When we

00:26:36.959 --> 00:26:37.299
 hear the

00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:37.679
 gospel,

00:26:38.939 --> 00:26:39.159
 are we

00:26:39.159 --> 00:26:39.419
 meant to

00:26:39.419 --> 00:26:39.579
 think,

00:26:39.739 --> 00:26:39.899
 okay,

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:42.059
 now I

00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.379
 need to

00:26:42.379 --> 00:26:42.819
 work out,

00:26:42.899 --> 00:26:43.239
 God wants

00:26:43.239 --> 00:26:43.479
 me to

00:26:43.479 --> 00:26:43.939
 work out,

00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:44.879
 is my

00:26:44.879 --> 00:26:45.319
 name written

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.579
 in the

00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:45.959
 book or

00:26:45.959 --> 00:26:46.279
 not?

00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:47.339
 Am I

00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:47.799
 elect or

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.019
 not?

00:26:48.199 --> 00:26:48.919
 Is God

00:26:48.919 --> 00:26:49.539
 asking us

00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.099
 that question?

00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:53.599
 Well,

00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:54.199
 where in

00:26:54.199 --> 00:26:54.679
 his word

00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:55.019
 does he

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.559
 ask us

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:55.979
 to work

00:26:55.979 --> 00:26:56.459
 that out

00:26:56.459 --> 00:26:56.939
 or not?

00:26:58.939 --> 00:26:59.679
 I can't

00:26:59.679 --> 00:27:00.019
 think of

00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.319
 anywhere.

00:27:01.979 --> 00:27:02.659
 You can

00:27:02.659 --> 00:27:03.259
 correct me

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:03.859
 if I'm

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.099
 wrong,

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.819
 but every

00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.519
 time election

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.059
 is mentioned,

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.039
 it's spoken

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.799
 as words of

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.619
 love from

00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:09.899
 God,

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.119
 saying to

00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:11.719
 reassure

00:27:11.719 --> 00:27:11.959
 you,

00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.659
 you are

00:27:12.659 --> 00:27:13.839
 one of my

00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.159
 people.

00:27:14.939 --> 00:27:15.279
 And it's

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:15.779
 spoken like

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.219
 we saw in

00:27:16.219 --> 00:27:16.619
 2 Peter,

00:27:16.719 --> 00:27:17.399
 because you're

00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:17.739
 one of my

00:27:17.739 --> 00:27:18.000
 people,

00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:19.339
 strive to

00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:21.779
 become holy

00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.459
 like me,

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.480
 because I'm

00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:23.959
 at work in

00:27:23.959 --> 00:27:24.099
 you.

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.019
 It's never

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.619
 spoken in

00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:26.980
 the Bible

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.159
 as work

00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:28.579
 out if

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:28.759
 you're

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.179
 elect or

00:27:29.179 --> 00:27:29.379
 not.

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.019
 Now,

00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.379
 why would

00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:32.779
 that be?

00:27:33.459 --> 00:27:34.139
 That's because

00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:34.819
 election is

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.480
 God's business,

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.179
 that's his

00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:37.459
 divine business,

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.119
 that's what he

00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:38.619
 does in

00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.099
 salvation,

00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:40.559
 that's not

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.379
 our responsibility.

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.579
 And he

00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:45.199
 tells us

00:27:45.199 --> 00:27:45.799
 about that,

00:27:46.459 --> 00:27:47.819
 not for us

00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.139
 to do

00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:48.619
 anything with

00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:48.759
 it,

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:50.139
 except be

00:27:50.139 --> 00:27:51.480
 reassured and

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.259
 motivated to

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.819
 keep striving.

00:27:55.459 --> 00:27:56.139
 So what

00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:57.240
 question does

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:58.000
 God ask us

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.419
 to answer?

00:27:58.599 --> 00:27:59.099
 What's our

00:27:59.099 --> 00:27:59.639
 responsibility?

00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.480
 And this is

00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.319
 where we come

00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:05.500
 to Simon's

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.819
 question that

00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.279
 you guys were

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.740
 discussing

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:09.939
 before I

00:28:09.939 --> 00:28:10.339
 started.

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:10.980
 So when it

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.419
 comes to the

00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:11.899
 doctrines of

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.319
 grace,

00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.419
 these are

00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:15.439
 wonderful truths

00:28:15.439 --> 00:28:16.139
 of the Bible.

00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:17.740
 They are

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.819
 central in the

00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:19.119
 Bible.

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:19.939
 They are

00:28:19.939 --> 00:28:20.959
 central in

00:28:20.959 --> 00:28:21.500
 understanding

00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.079
 salvation.

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.439
 And so as a

00:28:23.439 --> 00:28:23.859
 church, we

00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:24.399
 want to keep

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:25.079
 them central.

00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:25.779
 They're

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.879
 beautiful truths

00:28:26.879 --> 00:28:28.259
 that we can

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.019
 rest in God's

00:28:29.019 --> 00:28:29.699
 sovereignty in

00:28:29.699 --> 00:28:30.339
 our salvation.

00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.539
 But do you

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.299
 need to believe

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.319
 in total

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.220
 depravity to be

00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:35.619
 saved?

00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:39.980
 No.

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:42.420
 believe in

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:47.960
 sin, you

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.539
 don't need to

00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.420
 believe that to

00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:49.960
 be saved.

00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.180
 Do you

00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:52.420
 need to

00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:52.819
 believe in

00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.940
 the irresistible

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.700
 call of the

00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:55.420
 Holy Spirit to

00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:55.920
 be a Christian?

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.940
 The call of the

00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.799
 gospel, yes,

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:00.900
 but the

00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:01.620
 irresistible

00:29:01.620 --> 00:29:02.640
 call, no,

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.480
 you don't have to

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.360
 believe that to be

00:29:04.360 --> 00:29:04.740
 a Christian.

00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:07.380
 Do you

00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:07.620
 need to

00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:08.019
 believe in

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.420
 Christ's

00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.140
 particular

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.019
 redemption to

00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.319
 be a

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:10.579
 Christian?

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.339
 That Christ is

00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:15.339
 the only way to

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.900
 be redeemed,

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:18.400
 yes, but in

00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:19.400
 particular redemption,

00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:19.880
 no.

00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:22.700
 Do you

00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.599
 need to believe in

00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:24.940
 the preservation of

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.700
 the saints to be

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.079
 saved?

00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:28.699
 that a

00:29:28.699 --> 00:29:29.259
 Christian needs

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.000
 to make it to

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.399
 the end

00:29:30.399 --> 00:29:31.379
 believing, yes,

00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:33.480
 but that that's

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.779
 guaranteed, you

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.699
 don't actually have

00:29:35.699 --> 00:29:36.579
 to believe that to

00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.000
 be saved.

00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:40.399
 Do you

00:29:40.399 --> 00:29:41.059
 need to believe in

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.720
 unconditional

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.720
 election to be a

00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.579
 Christian and be

00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:43.980
 saved?

00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:45.779
 No.

00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:49.439
 Now let me

00:29:49.439 --> 00:29:51.579
 reiterate, these

00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:52.119
 are beautiful

00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:52.639
 truths.

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.419
 I wouldn't give

00:29:54.419 --> 00:29:55.579
 them up in a

00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:55.859
 moment.

00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:57.879
 I pray anyway.

00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.539
 These are

00:29:59.539 --> 00:30:00.159
 beautiful truths.

00:30:00.219 --> 00:30:00.639
 We want to keep

00:30:00.639 --> 00:30:01.500
 them central in

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.019
 our church.

00:30:03.919 --> 00:30:04.679
 But there are

00:30:04.679 --> 00:30:05.339
 other Christians,

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:05.939
 evangelical

00:30:05.939 --> 00:30:06.619
 Christians, who

00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.299
 don't believe

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:07.959
 these points.

00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:10.979
 Now that, and

00:30:10.979 --> 00:30:11.519
 we should call

00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.139
 them brothers and

00:30:12.139 --> 00:30:12.679
 sisters because

00:30:12.679 --> 00:30:13.219
 they look to

00:30:13.219 --> 00:30:14.039
 Jesus' death and

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.099
 resurrection alone

00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:16.240
 to save them.

00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:16.979
 They are

00:30:16.979 --> 00:30:17.419
 Christians.

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.539
 Now that should

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.819
 make us stop and

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.839
 think, is

00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:23.000
 wondering if I'm

00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:23.919
 elect or not, is

00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:25.079
 that a good

00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.500
 question?

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:27.619
 question or what

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.200
 is the most

00:30:28.200 --> 00:30:29.559
 fundamental question

00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:30.519
 that God is

00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:31.480
 asking us to

00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:33.940
 answer when we

00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.619
 hear the gospel?

00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.759
 Let's look at a

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:40.460
 few passages to

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:44.000
 illustrate what that

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.200
 question is, what's

00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.900
 our responsibility.

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:48.299
 So Acts 13, 48.

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:51.099
 Paul is preaching to

00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:53.480
 a crowd about who

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.460
 Jesus is, what he

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.319
 has done, and then

00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.059
 Luke makes this

00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.559
 observation.

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.759
 When the Gentiles

00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:58.960
 heard this, they

00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:00.339
 began rejoicing and

00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:01.779
 glorifying the word of

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:03.240
 the Lord, and as

00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.019
 many as were

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:05.220
 appointed to eternal

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:07.200
 life, believed.

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:13.319
 Now, these non-Jews who

00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.740
 believed, were they

00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.799
 asked to work out if

00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:17.039
 they were appointed to

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.759
 eternal life?

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:19.799
 No, I doubt they were

00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:21.000
 even aware of that at

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.500
 this stage.

00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:25.000
 That's Luke's divinely

00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:26.600
 inspired interpretation of

00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.580
 why they believed.

00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.200
 What was their

00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:30.259
 responsibility to work

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:30.480
 out?

00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:33.880
 They heard from Paul who

00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:35.540
 Jesus is, what he has

00:31:35.540 --> 00:31:35.840
 done.

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.380
 The question they

00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:38.400
 needed to work out was,

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:40.080
 will I believe this or

00:31:40.080 --> 00:31:40.300
 not?

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:42.700
 Will I trust this?

00:31:44.760 --> 00:31:46.140
 How will you respond

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.800
 to Jesus?

00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:49.780
 That's the question that

00:31:49.780 --> 00:31:51.060
 you and I have to ask.

00:31:52.060 --> 00:31:53.240
 That's the question God

00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:54.320
 asks of us and we have

00:31:54.320 --> 00:31:54.780
 to answer.

00:31:56.300 --> 00:31:57.340
 Or consider the thief on

00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:57.760
 the cross.

00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:59.540
 He has minutes to live.

00:32:00.760 --> 00:32:02.040
 What question is he

00:32:02.040 --> 00:32:03.000
 confronted with, with

00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.519
 Jesus hanging beside

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:04.759
 him?

00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:07.039
 He doesn't have time to

00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:08.180
 go into the depths of

00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:09.019
 God's sovereignty and

00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:09.519
 salvation.

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.680
 Yet Jesus says, today

00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.680
 you'll be with me in

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.039
 paradise.

00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.579
 From this man's words,

00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:18.119
 we hear that he says

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:18.779
 two things.

00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:22.359
 Remember me when you

00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:23.380
 enter your kingdom.

00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.380
 Your kingdom.

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.660
 He recognises that

00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:27.000
 Jesus is king and he

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.799
 asks for mercy.

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.880
 Remember me.

00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:30.140
 I deserve to die.

00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:30.940
 Remember me.

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:31.880
 Give me mercy.

00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:33.420
 Jesus is king.

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.380
 Give me mercy.

00:32:36.840 --> 00:32:37.840
 That's the question.

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:39.260
 He was responding,

00:32:40.260 --> 00:32:40.780
 what are you going to

00:32:40.780 --> 00:32:41.680
 do with Jesus, says

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.000
 God.

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:42.880
 And the thief on the

00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:44.420
 cross says, you are

00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:44.700
 king.

00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:46.080
 Please give me mercy.

00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:47.960
 That's the question of

00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.420
 the gospel.

00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:50.820
 Not are you elect?

00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:51.760
 What are you going to

00:32:51.760 --> 00:32:52.340
 do with Jesus?

00:32:55.280 --> 00:32:56.720
 Or John 5, 24.

00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:58.640
 Truly, truly, truly, I

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.500
 say to you, whoever

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.579
 hears my word and

00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.700
 believes him who sent

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:03.600
 me has eternal life.

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.500
 This is Jesus speaking.

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:07.660
 He does not come into

00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:09.680
 judgment, but has passed

00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:11.900
 from death to life.

00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:19.000
 He who believes has

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:20.380
 crossed from death to

00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:22.539
 life based on believing.

00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:26.579
 So the question of the

00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:28.339
 gospel isn't, are you

00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:28.680
 elect?

00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:29.440
 The question of the

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:31.279
 gospel is, what are you

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:31.980
 doing with Jesus?

00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.480
 Are you trusting him?

00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.519
 Are you looking to him as

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.379
 your only hope?

00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:40.039
 Because if you are, you

00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:41.379
 have crossed over from

00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:43.159
 death to life.

00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:50.000
 So that's the third way we

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:50.759
 need to be talking to

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.140
 ourselves.

00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:53.320
 What question is God

00:33:53.320 --> 00:33:53.840
 asking us?

00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:55.180
 Am I, how am I

00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:56.040
 responding to Jesus?

00:33:58.680 --> 00:34:00.180
 The fourth one is to do

00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:02.400
 with self-reflection,

00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:05.000
 self-evaluation.

00:34:07.320 --> 00:34:08.519
 When we look inside

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:10.159
 ourselves into our mind and

00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:11.659
 desires and feelings, and

00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:13.059
 when we look, we just don't

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:14.460
 see much excitement for

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:16.559
 God, but instead we just

00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.980
 see all this sinful muck.

00:34:18.299 --> 00:34:19.400
 What do we do with that?

00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:21.179
 What do we do?

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:24.380
 At first we can

00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:25.460
 rationalise that and go,

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:27.179
 well, I'm a sinner and

00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:27.900
 therefore I need to be

00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.219
 saved.

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.500
 But if we keep our eyes

00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.679
 fixed on ourselves and

00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:33.519
 just see all the muck, it

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.699
 just becomes overwhelming.

00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.559
 You're not seeing any

00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:38.299
 change.

00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:41.219
 If your gaze is just

00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:44.199
 fixed within yourself, you're

00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:45.299
 so desperate to want

00:34:45.299 --> 00:34:45.859
 improvement.

00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:48.659
 But the problem is, because

00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:50.179
 you want improvement, you're

00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:52.839
 just so sensitive to your own

00:34:52.839 --> 00:34:53.439
 failings.

00:34:54.459 --> 00:34:55.279
 What do we do?

00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:57.839
 Is there a better way to be

00:34:57.839 --> 00:34:58.679
 self-reflective?

00:34:58.679 --> 00:35:02.759
 Because I think doing that is

00:35:02.759 --> 00:35:04.460
 like sitting in a dark room,

00:35:05.639 --> 00:35:08.139
 straining your eyes to see some

00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:09.619
 skerrick of light within

00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:10.099
 yourself.

00:35:11.739 --> 00:35:12.500
 But it's not going to come.

00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:13.359
 All you're going to find is

00:35:13.359 --> 00:35:15.119
 darkness if you just stay here.

00:35:16.899 --> 00:35:18.119
 There's got to be a better way to

00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:18.460
 do it.

00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:20.099
 The better way is to open a

00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:20.399
 window.

00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:23.079
 I'm not sure if this picture is

00:35:23.079 --> 00:35:23.719
 going to work or not.

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:25.679
 Open a window and let some

00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:26.119
 light in.

00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:27.819
 In other words, don't use

00:35:27.819 --> 00:35:29.039
 yourself as the reference

00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:29.339
 point.

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:31.219
 You need an external reference

00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:31.559
 point.

00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:35.500
 You need God's grace to speak

00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:38.400
 into you, not just keep

00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:39.139
 looking at yourself.

00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:41.940
 The Lord doesn't want us to

00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:45.199
 stay staring at our own failings

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:46.219
 of faith or obedience.

00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:47.960
 He wants us to look at the

00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:51.339
 light, at Christ, his

00:35:51.339 --> 00:35:52.980
 forgiveness, his divine help,

00:35:53.239 --> 00:35:54.460
 his relational warmth.

00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:56.440
 We need him pouring into us.

00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:00.780
 Now, can I pause and say that

00:36:00.780 --> 00:36:02.139
 some people don't look inside

00:36:02.139 --> 00:36:02.539
 enough.

00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:08.280
 Some people just almost make a

00:36:08.280 --> 00:36:09.639
 habit of not looking inside.

00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:12.019
 Their problem will be a

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:13.960
 superficial understanding of sin

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:15.340
 and of God's holiness and

00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:16.800
 therefore of God's wonderful

00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:17.260
 grace.

00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:19.519
 But that's not this person's

00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:21.119
 problem if you're asking this

00:36:21.119 --> 00:36:21.940
 question this morning.

00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:25.679
 We should be looking inside.

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:28.340
 The light of the gospel exposes

00:36:28.340 --> 00:36:29.679
 more darkness within us.

00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:32.179
 But don't live there.

00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:34.480
 Don't stay there.

00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:36.039
 Don't set up camp within

00:36:36.039 --> 00:36:36.460
 yourself.

00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:38.840
 When you see darkness, that's

00:36:38.840 --> 00:36:40.200
 meant to drive us to want

00:36:40.200 --> 00:36:40.960
 light.

00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:44.260
 So don't have yourself as the

00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:44.820
 reference point.

00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:46.039
 Have Christ as the reference

00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:46.360
 point.

00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:50.079
 And we do that by his word

00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:51.140
 pouring into us.

00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:52.720
 And I think his word can pour

00:36:52.720 --> 00:36:54.019
 into us through the community

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:55.280
 of the church and his word,

00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:57.260
 obviously, his written word.

00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:00.660
 We need his light flooding

00:37:00.660 --> 00:37:01.220
 into us.

00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:03.120
 So don't just live within

00:37:03.120 --> 00:37:03.579
 yourself.

00:37:06.260 --> 00:37:07.800
 We need to be feeding off his

00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:09.440
 word, his promises, his

00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:09.820
 gospel.

00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:12.180
 So let's do that for the

00:37:12.180 --> 00:37:13.180
 remaining time, shall we?

00:37:13.179 --> 00:37:15.899
 We've come to the last

00:37:15.899 --> 00:37:16.219
 point.

00:37:17.299 --> 00:37:18.719
 Don't dwell on what you have

00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:19.299
 or haven't done.

00:37:19.419 --> 00:37:20.960
 Dwell on what God has done.

00:37:21.899 --> 00:37:23.179
 That's the reference point.

00:37:24.399 --> 00:37:25.859
 That's the light that floods

00:37:25.859 --> 00:37:26.159
 in.

00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:29.039
 So please turn back to

00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:30.519
 Ephesians as we finish.

00:37:31.919 --> 00:37:33.440
 We'll spend our remaining time

00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:33.699
 here.

00:37:33.699 --> 00:37:37.879
 So just jumping to verse 3.

00:37:38.299 --> 00:37:39.799
 Blessed be the God and

00:37:39.799 --> 00:37:41.079
 Father of our Lord Jesus

00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:43.159
 Christ, who has blessed us

00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:45.159
 in Christ with every

00:37:45.159 --> 00:37:47.799
 spiritual blessing in the

00:37:47.799 --> 00:37:49.719
 heavenly places.

00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:53.460
 Paul starts not by looking

00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:54.759
 within ourselves, but looking

00:37:54.759 --> 00:37:56.000
 to what God has done.

00:37:56.079 --> 00:37:57.179
 This is a...

00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:58.179
 I love this passage.

00:37:58.179 --> 00:37:59.419
 If you're allowed to have

00:37:59.419 --> 00:38:01.259
 favourites, I think this is my

00:38:01.259 --> 00:38:02.759
 favourite chapter in the Bible.

00:38:02.760 --> 00:38:03.760
 It's...

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:04.760
 It's...

00:38:04.760 --> 00:38:05.760
 It's...

00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.560
 It's awesome.

00:38:08.720 --> 00:38:10.440
 Now, every spiritual

00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:10.900
 blessing...

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:12.020
 I used to think, okay,

00:38:12.300 --> 00:38:13.320
 that's cool.

00:38:13.720 --> 00:38:15.180
 I've got this undefined

00:38:15.180 --> 00:38:16.680
 spiritual blessing somewhere

00:38:16.680 --> 00:38:18.740
 up there that I suppose I'll

00:38:18.740 --> 00:38:19.380
 see one day.

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:21.320
 I don't know what that is.

00:38:21.960 --> 00:38:22.960
 That's not what Paul's

00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:23.360
 saying here.

00:38:23.500 --> 00:38:25.060
 He goes on to define what

00:38:25.060 --> 00:38:27.260
 we have, what that blessing

00:38:27.260 --> 00:38:28.100
 we've received.

00:38:28.200 --> 00:38:29.220
 Verses 4 to 14.

00:38:29.219 --> 00:38:33.059
 At this point, I want to

00:38:33.059 --> 00:38:34.079
 hand it over to you.

00:38:35.279 --> 00:38:36.459
 Not talking to the person

00:38:36.459 --> 00:38:37.899
 next to you, but I want to

00:38:37.899 --> 00:38:40.299
 practice focusing on letting

00:38:40.299 --> 00:38:41.199
 the light in.

00:38:42.359 --> 00:38:44.279
 So, I'm going to give you a

00:38:44.279 --> 00:38:45.980
 minute just to write down,

00:38:47.419 --> 00:38:48.439
 and we'll start with that

00:38:48.439 --> 00:38:49.379
 first question on the

00:38:49.379 --> 00:38:49.739
 outline.

00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.839
 I want you to list all the

00:38:51.839 --> 00:38:53.019
 ways the Father has given

00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:54.379
 you every spiritual blessing.

00:38:55.339 --> 00:38:56.719
 How has the Father blessed

00:38:56.719 --> 00:38:56.980
 you?

00:38:58.339 --> 00:38:59.319
 Just list it.

00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:00.599
 So, let me give you a

00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:01.399
 minute to do that.

00:39:04.879 --> 00:39:06.539
 Okay, I'd love to hear...

00:39:06.539 --> 00:39:07.419
 Let's just do this really

00:39:07.419 --> 00:39:07.739
 quickly.

00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:09.679
 I'd love to hear some input

00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.339
 from some...

00:39:10.339 --> 00:39:10.659
 Whoever.

00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:12.839
 Let's just work through

00:39:12.839 --> 00:39:13.299
 this together.

00:39:13.739 --> 00:39:14.539
 What has he done?

00:39:14.919 --> 00:39:15.739
 What has the Father done,

00:39:15.939 --> 00:39:16.339
 given us?

00:39:18.399 --> 00:39:19.199
 Just call out.

00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:21.619
 Verse 4.

00:39:21.699 --> 00:39:24.219
 He chose us before the

00:39:24.219 --> 00:39:25.139
 foundation of the world.

00:39:25.139 --> 00:39:27.179
 He chose us.

00:39:27.259 --> 00:39:28.099
 It was his initiative.

00:39:28.379 --> 00:39:28.920
 Okay, what else?

00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:31.119
 Sorry, Will.

00:39:31.299 --> 00:39:32.259
 I'm just going to go with

00:39:32.259 --> 00:39:33.219
 the first one, adoption.

00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:36.839
 Yes, he's adopted us as

00:39:36.839 --> 00:39:37.659
 his sons.

00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:41.179
 He's called us to the praise

00:39:41.179 --> 00:39:42.239
 of his glorious grace.

00:39:42.839 --> 00:39:43.779
 Can I go back there?

00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:45.319
 He's predestined us.

00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:46.859
 He's decided beforehand,

00:39:47.119 --> 00:39:48.759
 I'm going to save you.

00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:50.839
 You're going to be on a path

00:39:50.839 --> 00:39:52.400
 of destruction, but I'm going

00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:52.960
 to intervene.

00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:55.220
 You are going to be adopted.

00:39:56.099 --> 00:39:57.179
 You're going to be one of mine.

00:39:57.860 --> 00:40:00.220
 And even before that, that we

00:40:00.220 --> 00:40:01.519
 should be holy and blameless

00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:02.139
 before him.

00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:04.780
 I think we can feel pressure

00:40:04.780 --> 00:40:05.079
 there.

00:40:05.360 --> 00:40:06.679
 I need to be holy and blameless.

00:40:06.860 --> 00:40:07.980
 That's true, but this is a

00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:08.699
 commitment here.

00:40:09.119 --> 00:40:12.119
 God is determined to make us

00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:12.860
 holy and blameless.

00:40:13.860 --> 00:40:16.240
 This is more a promise here than

00:40:16.240 --> 00:40:16.519
 anything.

00:40:18.119 --> 00:40:18.920
 Okay, what else?

00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:19.460
 Verse 7.

00:40:19.460 --> 00:40:20.559
 Thank you, Will.

00:40:20.699 --> 00:40:22.639
 I'm just trying to get lots of

00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:22.960
 input.

00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:24.199
 Verse 7.

00:40:24.440 --> 00:40:25.880
 He's redeemed us through his

00:40:25.880 --> 00:40:26.220
 blood.

00:40:26.860 --> 00:40:28.500
 We were caught in sin.

00:40:29.019 --> 00:40:29.940
 He's bought us.

00:40:30.199 --> 00:40:31.179
 We belong to him now.

00:40:31.260 --> 00:40:33.400
 He's redeemed us through his

00:40:33.400 --> 00:40:33.679
 blood.

00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:35.960
 Okay, forgiveness of our

00:40:35.960 --> 00:40:38.159
 trespasses.

00:40:38.679 --> 00:40:39.340
 Verse 9.

00:40:40.059 --> 00:40:41.659
 Yeah, he's made known to the

00:40:41.659 --> 00:40:42.619
 mystery of his will.

00:40:43.159 --> 00:40:45.840
 He's told us where the world's

00:40:45.840 --> 00:40:48.039
 heading, that everything is going

00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:49.259
 to be united in Christ.

00:40:49.400 --> 00:40:50.980
 We're not aimless and purposeless

00:40:50.980 --> 00:40:51.500
 in this world.

00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:52.779
 We know where it's heading.

00:40:53.480 --> 00:40:55.219
 He's got a good plan and we

00:40:55.219 --> 00:40:55.699
 know it.

00:40:56.300 --> 00:40:58.340
 We can live in line with that.

00:40:59.139 --> 00:41:00.279
 We can get on board with it.

00:41:00.719 --> 00:41:01.420
 Yeah, verse 6.

00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:02.619
 Accepted in the beloved.

00:41:02.820 --> 00:41:02.960
 Yep.

00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:04.420
 Okay, verse 11.

00:41:06.659 --> 00:41:07.759
 Obtained an inheritance.

00:41:08.900 --> 00:41:09.579
 Again, we've got that

00:41:09.579 --> 00:41:10.320
 predestined.

00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:14.380
 I think verse 12 there.

00:41:14.380 --> 00:41:16.059
 To the praise of his glory.

00:41:16.239 --> 00:41:17.619
 I think that's a gift as well.

00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:19.599
 We have a great purpose.

00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:23.340
 It's a purpose outside ourselves.

00:41:23.500 --> 00:41:25.320
 It's to the praise of his glory.

00:41:26.199 --> 00:41:27.360
 Even that is a gift.

00:41:28.099 --> 00:41:29.519
 What about verse 13?

00:41:30.099 --> 00:41:31.460
 Yeah, we're not alone, are we?

00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:35.460
 The word here is, it's like a

00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:35.980
 pledge.

00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:40.960
 It's like God has given us a down

00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:42.639
 payment of eternal life.

00:41:42.639 --> 00:41:44.619
 His Holy Spirit himself.

00:41:46.119 --> 00:41:47.420
 Eternal life has begun.

00:41:48.039 --> 00:41:52.039
 I would argue as well in verse 13

00:41:52.039 --> 00:41:53.400
 that when you heard the word of

00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:55.059
 truth, even hearing the word of

00:41:55.059 --> 00:41:57.019
 truth, I would argue from other

00:41:57.019 --> 00:41:58.940
 parts of scripture that God sends us

00:41:58.940 --> 00:41:59.460
 the gospel.

00:42:00.380 --> 00:42:01.460
 Even that is a gift.

00:42:02.719 --> 00:42:02.900
 Okay.

00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:05.500
 Let's do that again.

00:42:05.659 --> 00:42:06.519
 Can I give you another minute?

00:42:06.779 --> 00:42:08.539
 What part does Jesus have to play in

00:42:08.539 --> 00:42:08.840
 all this?

00:42:08.840 --> 00:42:11.680
 And you're going to see in him, through him.

00:42:11.900 --> 00:42:13.360
 I would really love you to write it down

00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:14.160
 every single time.

00:42:15.900 --> 00:42:17.320
 So can I give you another minute?

00:42:17.940 --> 00:42:19.640
 What part does Jesus have to play?

00:42:20.240 --> 00:42:21.360
 Okay, there's probably not quite a minute.

00:42:22.240 --> 00:42:23.920
 I'm conscious of the time here.

00:42:25.380 --> 00:42:28.079
 Instead of getting responses, I'm just going to

00:42:28.079 --> 00:42:29.000
 read all the times.

00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:33.659
 I'm not going to read all the verses, but in him,

00:42:35.960 --> 00:42:40.599
 through Jesus Christ, blessed us in the beloved.

00:42:41.480 --> 00:42:42.920
 In him, we have redemption.

00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:49.980
 Through his blood, we know the plan that he set forth in

00:42:49.980 --> 00:42:50.360
 Christ.

00:42:50.480 --> 00:42:52.300
 Christ is the one bringing about this plan.

00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:55.640
 And Christ is the object of our faith.

00:42:55.780 --> 00:42:58.460
 In him, we are included.

00:43:01.400 --> 00:43:03.120
 That we hope in Christ.

00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:05.580
 It's just in him, through him.

00:43:05.660 --> 00:43:07.060
 It's just all about Christ.

00:43:07.060 --> 00:43:11.400
 It's everything we receive from the Father is in Jesus.

00:43:13.260 --> 00:43:15.820
 It doesn't come to us by another means.

00:43:15.920 --> 00:43:16.539
 It's in Jesus.

00:43:16.880 --> 00:43:18.820
 Okay, one last one, and this one should be really

00:43:18.820 --> 00:43:19.080
 quick.

00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:21.280
 What part do we have to play in all this,

00:43:21.280 --> 00:43:22.320
 in salvation?

00:43:22.540 --> 00:43:23.620
 What part do we have to play?

00:43:23.780 --> 00:43:28.280
 I can only see two things in verses 12 and 13.

00:43:29.580 --> 00:43:33.940
 Put our hope in Christ and believe the gospel.

00:43:33.940 --> 00:43:36.660
 I think they're describing the same reality there.

00:43:38.700 --> 00:43:39.660
 It's all him.

00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:42.519
 It's just putting our hope in him.

00:43:44.940 --> 00:43:46.260
 It's a beautiful passage.

00:43:46.640 --> 00:43:48.280
 Salvation is by God.

00:43:48.280 --> 00:43:53.160
 Dwell on what he has done, not what we have or haven't done.

00:43:53.420 --> 00:43:54.340
 Let the light in.

00:43:56.640 --> 00:44:02.519
 If you are sure, in and of yourself, you have no hope of

00:44:02.519 --> 00:44:04.660
 entering heaven based on what you do.

00:44:05.200 --> 00:44:08.980
 If you have any hope, it's got to be only what God gives you in

00:44:08.980 --> 00:44:09.320
 Jesus.

00:44:11.900 --> 00:44:15.860
 Then whether you believe it or not, whether you feel confident or not,

00:44:16.240 --> 00:44:21.679
 in a sense, it doesn't matter whether you feel confident or not in that.

00:44:22.340 --> 00:44:25.860
 But if your only hope is in Jesus, God says,

00:44:25.980 --> 00:44:27.820
 your name is written in the book of life.

00:44:27.820 --> 00:44:35.580
 This might plague you, but know God's love.

00:44:35.760 --> 00:44:37.580
 He speaks these words of love for us.

00:44:37.700 --> 00:44:40.900
 Your name is written in the book of life.

00:44:41.300 --> 00:44:42.780
 You will receive a warm welcome.

00:44:44.539 --> 00:44:45.640
 Why don't we pray to finish?

00:44:45.780 --> 00:44:46.100
 Would you pray?

00:44:46.099 --> 00:44:55.719
 Lord, we praise you for just your goodness, your patience with us,

00:44:55.880 --> 00:45:00.880
 that you are the one who guarantees that we'll make it home to glory.

00:45:01.920 --> 00:45:06.440
 Lord, I pray again that you would be comforting the hearts of those

00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:09.739
 who are really wrestling with this personally.

00:45:09.739 --> 00:45:15.599
 Lord, we know that no one can snatch us out of your hand.

00:45:16.339 --> 00:45:17.699
 Your hand is too strong.

00:45:18.659 --> 00:45:21.679
 So I pray that you might, in your good time,

00:45:21.759 --> 00:45:23.699
 give them peace and rest in you.

00:45:24.879 --> 00:45:30.739
 But Lord, we thank you that ultimately it doesn't come down to our sense of

00:45:30.739 --> 00:45:35.879
 assurance, but it comes down to the fact that you are a faithful God

00:45:35.880 --> 00:45:39.800
 in that we do, that we are secure.

00:45:40.440 --> 00:45:41.780
 So we praise you for that.

00:45:42.059 --> 00:45:43.300
 In Jesus' name, amen.