WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning. If you have your Bibles, would you please turn with me to Colossians chapter 2.

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! And if you don't know who I am, my name is Daniel Shear.

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! I've been able to serve as the intern here for the past five months or so.

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 And I've actually had the privilege of being here for nine years as well, even before being an intern.

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 And I'm currently a student at Cedarville, getting my master's degree, the MDiv, which is a ministry degree.

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 And I just want to say, like, it's good to see you all here today.

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 And it's good to be here and have the privilege of opening up the Word with you all and just worshiping God together.

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 I was told to tell you about the prayer cards this morning as well.

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 So this month, as a church, we want to focus on prayer.

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 Not that we aren't supposed to be praying the rest of the year, but this month in particular,

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 we want to just come together as a church and just consider and think about the importance of prayer in our lives as believers, as the church.

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 And as we continue to study through Colossians, just thinking about how we can memorize the book together or parts of the book

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 and be in prayer through the book, praying God's words back to him and just desiring to just have a love for God

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 and a love for his people and a love for the gospel in the world that needs the gospel.

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 And so if you just—there should be cards out by the doors and also at the Welcome Center.

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 So if you haven't already, please go ahead and grab one of these cards.

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 You can put them in your pocket.

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 You can put them in your wallet.

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 Whatever else you can think of, just put this somewhere just to remind you of prayer throughout the week and throughout the day.

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 There's some prompts on the back to just keep in mind as well.

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 So it can be just a helpful tool for us to just—this month in particular—to think about prayer together.

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 So let me just go ahead and open us up with another word of prayer.

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 God, we recognize that we are completely dependent on you.

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 Would you please open up our ears to hear your word?

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 And may we come and worship you together as your people.

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 May we know you and may we know what your Son has done for us.

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 And through that, may we also be assured and stand firm in our faith, knowing what you have done on our behalf.

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 May we believe in the gospel and live out the gospel.

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 And may we be encouraged as well by the truth that your Son, Christ, dwells in us.

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 In your name I pray. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, as I was a camp counselor just a couple years ago,

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 and one thing that I recognized about the pattern of how the speakers would come in

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 is they would start on the first day, so on Sunday night,

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 they would start with a gospel presentation.

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 And after this gospel presentation, they would have this altar call

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 and try to get everyone on the same page that this is the gospel, you must believe it.

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 And then throughout the week, they would go through their topic until they got to Wednesday.

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 Wednesday night, they would have a talk about assurance of salvation.

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 They wanted all the kids, after making a profession of faith,

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 and those who had already believed in the gospel,

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 to then know that they can be assured of their salvation.

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 And I recognize that this is an important discussion for us as the church and believers

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 to affirm as well, is we can have assurance in salvation.

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 Although I may not agree with some of the camp speakers and how they presented assurance,

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 they would sometimes fall short in some aspects.

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 Some camp speakers would talk about how all you needed to do was believe in the gospel

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 and everything else doesn't matter.

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 You know, you can live however you want, you can listen to do whatever you want,

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 you can do whatever you want, and no one could even know that you're a Christian,

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 but since you said that you believed in the gospel, then you're fine.

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 And on the other hand, there were some speakers who fell short because they only focused on,

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 well, just look at the fruit of your life.

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 Look at all the actions that you're doing.

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 Are you reading the Bible every day?

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 Are you praying every day?

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 Are you memorizing scripture?

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 Are you saying the right things?

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 Are you going to church?

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 Church, just look at the fruit of your life, and then you'll know that you're saved.

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 And not all the speakers did that, but it was unfortunate to see how many people fell

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 into either one of those two categories.

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 And as we read through this passage, we're going to be reading Colossians 2, 1 through 10.

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 Paul talks about assurance of salvation for the believer.

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 What the assurance of salvation is, and what it does for us.

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 And so I'm just going to go ahead and begin by reading those first 10 verses of chapter 2.

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 So if you have your Bibles, please turn there.

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 If you have the Pew Bible in front of you, you can find it on page 983.

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 And it just says this.

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 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea,

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 and for all who have not seen me face to face,

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 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love,

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 to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery,

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 which is Christ, in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

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 I say this in order that you may not be deluded with plausible arguments.

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 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit,

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 rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

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 Therefore, as you receive Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

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 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith,

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 just as you were taught abounding in thanksgiving.

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 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit,

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 according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world,

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 and not according to Christ.

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 For in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily,

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 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

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 I think we can all agree that we want some sort of consistency in our life.

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 I know growing up, I loved having my seat, my designated seat at the dinner table,

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 and whenever I didn't get that designated seat, I was a little upset.

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 Or even at school, like a lot of my classmates, we want to have our assigned seats,

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 you know, in each of the classes.

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 And when that order is messed up, we kind of are like confused.

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 But if you know anything about this world, you know that it's not consistent.

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 For even someone as young as I am, I know that just a couple of years ago,

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 the fads and the traditions and the words that were used are now no longer used.

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 You know, like the 6-7, is that a new thing, right?

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 I've heard about that.

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 Don't know what it means, but, you know.

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 And for those who are older, you don't even know what that means.

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 Like the world is constantly changing.

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 The terminologies that people use are changing.

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 Even technology, it wasn't even a thing before I was born,

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 and now, like, it's taken off.

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 And so everyone has a phone.

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 And so the world has changed so much.

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 But Paul says here that we can have assurance.

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 We can have a firmness in our faith.

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 And why is that the case?

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 It's because it's not based on the world and the teachings of the world,

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 but we have firmness and assurance because our assurance is in Christ

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 and in what he has done and in who he is.

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 Christ does not change.

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 What he has done has not changed.

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 And therefore, we can have assurance.

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 So I just want to walk us through this progression in the passage.

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 It kind of follows this.

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 I say this.

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 You receive this.

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 Do not be deceived.

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 And so he begins a passage by saying, I say this.

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 And then he moves on to, like, talking about what we have received

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 and how we should walk.

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 And then he'll end by talking about, do not be deceived.

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 And so for each of those progressions, I'll give us a point.

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 And so for that first point, it is that no, like, no Christ.

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 We have assurance by knowing Christ.

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 And when we read this passage, he talks about, I say this.

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 Like, what is this?

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 What are you talking about, Paul?

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 What are you referring to?

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 What have you said?

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 And the purpose of what he says is that we may not be deluded by plausible arguments.

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 And so to look at the context, I want to walk through chapter 1 really quick

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 and just point out, like, the first, like, verses 3 through 14,

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 he kind of talks about knowledge of God.

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 In his prayer for them, starting in verse 9, he says that,

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 And then this knowledge of God's will will lead them to walking in a particular manner,

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 in a manner that is worthy of the Lord,

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 walking in a way that desires to please God in all things.

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 And not only that, but they are also to increase in bearing fruit,

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 and then increase in their knowledge of God.

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 So again, Paul is praying that this church would know God,

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 that they would increase in their knowledge of God,

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 and that God would strengthen them so that they're able to endure with joy,

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 endure through the trials and temptations that they face.

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 And then he talks about in verses 11, sorry, verses 12,

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 saying giving thanks to the Father.

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 So again, he continues to expound on this knowledge of God.

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 What has the Father done for you?

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 Well, he has qualified us to share in the inheritance with the saints in light.

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 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness,

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 and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.

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 So we are no longer like the world,

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 given over to the domain of darkness.

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 But God has saved us, he has redeemed us,

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 and has set us into this new kingdom,

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 with his Son as the head and king.

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 And his Son has somehow made redemption possible,

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 the forgiveness of sins possible.

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 And so the second part of chapter 1 talks about knowledge of Christ.

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 Who is Christ?

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 Well, Christ is the image of the invisible God.

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 So if you want to know God, you have to know Christ.

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 And then it says that Christ is the creator of all things.

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 For through him and for him, all things were created.

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 He holds all things together.

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 He is before all things.

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 He is the preeminent one.

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 And Christ is the head of the body, the church.

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 And so Paul talks about this knowledge of God,

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 and this knowledge of Christ,

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 who is God, who reveals God.

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 And then he talks about this knowledge of the gospel,

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 which, again, is Christ.

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 He'll say that the mystery that was revealed to us,

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 to the saints, to the church,

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 is that Christ dwells in us.

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 He talks about in verses 21 through 23,

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 that Christ has redeemed us,

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 he has reconciled us.

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 We who were hostile in mind and alienated,

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 we were separated from the promise,

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 the inheritance that God has given,

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 being with him in heaven for eternity.

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 We were separated from that.

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 But he has brought us in to this relationship.

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 He has reconciled us.

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 He made enemies friends.

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 And this is not just for the Jews any longer.

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 It's for the Gentiles.

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 Everyone who believes in the name of the Lord will be saved.

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 And so Paul, in chapter 2,

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 says that he struggles for the church.

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 He wants them to be encouraged.

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 He wants their hearts to be knit together in love

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 to reach full assurance.

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 Paul doesn't want them to be confused about their status before God.

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 He wants them to know for sure the gospel.

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 And he says in verse 3,

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 this assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery,

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 which is Christ,

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 in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

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 So if you want to know God,

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 if you want to be assured,

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 you must know Christ.

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 And so Paul says,

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 I say this,

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 right,

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 that you might have assurance

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 in the knowledge of Christ.

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 I say that

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 in order that you may not be deluded

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 by plausible arguments.

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 So if we know and understand Christ,

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 what he has done for us,

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 who he is,

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 and that he dwells in us,

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 we are guarded and have full assurance.

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 And if you look back at the culture of Colossae,

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 there were a lot of,

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 the main form of entertainment was rhetoric.

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 So you'd have a lot of speakers

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 who were very skilled

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 in grabbing people's attention

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 and having a flow of logic

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 and being able to captivate an audience

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 in the way that they were communicating.

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 And so people would actually listen to them

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 not because of the content of what was said,

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 but because of the way that it was said,

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 because of the oratory devices that were used.

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 And so Paul's concerned

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 that the Church of Colossae

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 would also be captivated

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 by these plausible arguments,

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 this lofty speech

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 that these speakers,

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 these orators would use.

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 And this is also relevant

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 to us today too.

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 I know that there are many forms of entertainment

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 that we also give ourselves to,

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 such as movies,

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 or music,

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 or social media,

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 or different forms of news.

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 And each of these mediums

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 and modes of entertainment

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 are trying to grab our attention,

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 not because of the content

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 with which they're trying to give us,

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 but because they just want to buy us.

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 They want to buy our attention

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 and just feed whatever we're willing

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 to listen to.

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 I was reading a book

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 for one of my classes

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 called Scrolling Ourselves' Death.

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 And in one of the chapters,

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 it was titled,

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 Now This.

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 And he was talking specifically

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 about news

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 and how it changed

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 to a now this kind of culture.

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 Right?

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 For one news article,

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 you may read about

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 an earthquake in the Philippines

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 and the devastation

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 that has come upon

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 so many people there.

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 And then the Now This,

00:16:06.160 --> 00:16:06.700
 the next article,

00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:08.860
 is about Gatorade and Cheetos

00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:11.100
 getting a new natural dye makeover.

00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:12.500
 I read that last night

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:14.420
 just to try to find some examples.

00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:18.000
 And it's crazy about how fast

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.200
 they want us to just grab our attention

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:22.140
 from one devastating event

00:16:22.140 --> 00:16:25.700
 to a makeover on Gatorade and Cheetos.

00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:29.720
 And the way that they are trying

00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:32.080
 to just inundate us

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:33.580
 and teach us

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:34.980
 what they think is important,

00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:37.120
 and so then we actually lose sight

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:39.540
 of what is truly important.

00:16:40.540 --> 00:16:41.560
 Paul was concerned

00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:43.520
 that the church of Colossae

00:16:43.520 --> 00:16:45.460
 would also be captivated

00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:47.360
 by this lofty speech

00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.640
 to be deluded.

00:16:48.900 --> 00:16:49.540
 And again,

00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:51.340
 to be deluded is to be led astray

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.440
 by false beliefs.

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.160
 He didn't want them

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:56.879
 to be captivated by this speech

00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:58.500
 that may have grabbed their attention

00:16:58.500 --> 00:17:00.159
 and be a form of entertainment

00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:02.059
 that actually caused them

00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:03.939
 to believe false doctrine.

00:17:05.899 --> 00:17:08.240
 And so Paul wanted them

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.379
 to have full assurance.

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:11.379
 And where does full assurance come from?

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:13.139
 Well, it comes from knowing Christ.

00:17:15.159 --> 00:17:16.779
 Full assurance comes

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:19.099
 from knowing Christ.

00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:21.519
 All wisdom and knowledge

00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:23.740
 are hidden in Christ.

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.140
 So these teachers

00:17:25.140 --> 00:17:26.080
 who claim to have

00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:27.380
 this special knowledge,

00:17:28.060 --> 00:17:29.440
 they claim to know

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.800
 something beyond

00:17:30.800 --> 00:17:32.460
 what Christ has already revealed

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:34.540
 to kind of grab our attention.

00:17:36.040 --> 00:17:37.480
 Paul says that that's not true.

00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:39.920
 You must go to the word.

00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:43.000
 You must go to knowing Christ,

00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.860
 what I've already taught you,

00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:46.400
 in order to be assured.

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:52.220
 I think it's important for us

00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.280
 to also consider

00:17:53.280 --> 00:17:54.140
 and think about

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.420
 the voices

00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.500
 that we're listening to.

00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:59.960
 What is the music

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:01.100
 that we're listening to?

00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:02.420
 Each of those have a message.

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.759
 I was just driving

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.980
 with a bunch of non-believers

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.700
 to Indiana and back,

00:18:06.860 --> 00:18:07.900
 and just listening to some

00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.340
 of the music

00:18:08.340 --> 00:18:09.320
 that they listened to

00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:09.880
 is like,

00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:11.400
 it was kind of sad

00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:13.360
 because you could hear

00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:14.600
 the hopelessness

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.659
 of the artists.

00:18:16.659 --> 00:18:17.799
 And even the way

00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.519
 that they're trying

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:20.259
 to captivate your attention

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:22.459
 and tell you this message

00:18:22.459 --> 00:18:24.059
 that was apart from Christ.

00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:26.240
 And I know a lot of believers

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:28.219
 who listen to that same kind of music.

00:18:28.699 --> 00:18:30.439
 They're listening to these voices.

00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.779
 Again, the movies we watch

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.439
 do matter.

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.599
 We can't just move on quickly

00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:37.500
 from one form of entertainment

00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.439
 to another

00:18:38.439 --> 00:18:40.099
 without considering

00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:40.879
 what they're trying

00:18:40.879 --> 00:18:41.740
 to teach us.

00:18:42.379 --> 00:18:43.559
 We must evaluate it

00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:46.000
 with God's word

00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.199
 and what we know about Christ.

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.319
 And then Paul,

00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.839
 after saying this,

00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:54.119
 reminds the church,

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:55.659
 for even though

00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:56.899
 I am absent in body,

00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.379
 yet I am with you

00:18:58.379 --> 00:18:58.959
 in spirit,

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.519
 in order to see,

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.799
 rejoicing to see

00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.879
 your good order

00:19:03.879 --> 00:19:05.739
 and the firmness

00:19:05.739 --> 00:19:06.339
 in your faith

00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:06.839
 in Christ.

00:19:08.159 --> 00:19:09.279
 Paul tries to continue

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.739
 to connect this church

00:19:10.739 --> 00:19:11.899
 with the universal

00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:13.319
 body of Christ.

00:19:13.419 --> 00:19:14.000
 He doesn't want them

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.939
 to think that they're alone.

00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:16.399
 They're not crazy

00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:17.559
 for believing the gospel,

00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.879
 but they are

00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:21.439
 a part of something

00:19:21.439 --> 00:19:22.219
 that's going on

00:19:22.219 --> 00:19:22.719
 that's bigger.

00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.000
 He already mentions

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.940
 in chapter 1,

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:26.559
 verse 23,

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.759
 that the gospel

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.720
 that they received

00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:32.039
 has been proclaimed

00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:33.180
 in all of creation.

00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:34.279
 Right?

00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:35.319
 And even earlier

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.120
 in chapter 1,

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:37.160
 he mentions that

00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:38.460
 just as the gospel

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.380
 is taking root

00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:40.920
 in the church of Colossae,

00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:42.299
 it's also taking root

00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:43.860
 and increasing

00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:45.000
 in the whole world.

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.799
 And so this church

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.420
 is not alone.

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.960
 And Paul wants them

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.279
 to know that

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.819
 there's not only

00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:52.160
 other local bodies

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:52.779
 around them,

00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:53.920
 but that he wants to,

00:19:54.040 --> 00:19:54.980
 he's there with them too.

00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:56.140
 Even though he's not able

00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:57.580
 to be there present

00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:58.220
 in body,

00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:59.160
 he wants to be there

00:19:59.160 --> 00:19:59.680
 with them

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.640
 and encourage them

00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.240
 through this letter

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.700
 and through his prayers.

00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:03.620
 He's there with them

00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:04.200
 in spirit.

00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.779
 And as I was reflecting

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.340
 on this

00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:10.180
 and how it relates

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:11.040
 to us as well,

00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:12.420
 I was even just encouraged

00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.240
 and thanking God

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.580
 that we have leaders

00:20:14.580 --> 00:20:15.860
 who are present with us.

00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.600
 They're not just

00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:19.880
 there spiritually,

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.380
 but they're there

00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:22.440
 with us shepherding us

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:22.960
 physically.

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:25.080
 And so just thinking

00:20:25.080 --> 00:20:25.600
 about the way

00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:26.200
 that God uses

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:26.720
 our leaders

00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.440
 and our church

00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:29.320
 to just help encourage us

00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:29.820
 and point us

00:20:29.820 --> 00:20:30.540
 to the truth.

00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:32.440
 They're guarding us

00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:33.800
 from false doctrine.

00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:35.400
 And so just another way

00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:36.460
 to be thankful

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:37.520
 for what God has done

00:20:37.520 --> 00:20:38.700
 in our church

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.480
 here at Maranatha.

00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:42.440
 And also thinking

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.580
 about the universal church,

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.820
 like how we can be present

00:20:44.820 --> 00:20:46.740
 with those around us

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:48.220
 in our universal church.

00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:48.259
 church.

00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:50.319
 We have several

00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.200
 different missionaries

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.900
 we support.

00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:54.240
 And so as we're thinking

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.100
 about prayer together

00:20:55.100 --> 00:20:55.700
 as a church,

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:57.720
 like I would encourage you

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:59.680
 to consider praying,

00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:01.200
 like picking a missionary

00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:02.259
 and praying for them

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:03.000
 that we support.

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.519
 Pray for their church.

00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:06.319
 Participate with them

00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.620
 in spirit.

00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:07.920
 You know,

00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:08.880
 as Paul desired

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.759
 and agonized

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.620
 over this church

00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.940
 and prayed for them,

00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:13.460
 like why don't we

00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.140
 be a church

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:14.799
 who desires

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.759
 to pray for

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:17.600
 people and believers

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.199
 that we haven't

00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:18.879
 ever even met.

00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:21.119
 Desiring for their

00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:22.359
 good order in the faith

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:24.740
 and desiring for God

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.339
 to keep them

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:25.799
 in their faith

00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:26.199
 because we know

00:21:26.199 --> 00:21:26.740
 that that's a work

00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.679
 that God can do.

00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:31.119
 And so moving on

00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.019
 to our second point,

00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:36.699
 we must walk

00:21:36.699 --> 00:21:37.839
 in Christ.

00:21:40.139 --> 00:21:41.519
 The progression

00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.339
 of the passage again

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:42.619
 is,

00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:45.720
 I say this,

00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.759
 you receive this,

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.659
 do not be deceived.

00:21:47.959 --> 00:21:48.720
 And so what we have

00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:49.079
 received,

00:21:49.179 --> 00:21:50.279
 we also have to walk in.

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.019
 And so Paul says

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.839
 in chapter 2,

00:21:53.899 --> 00:21:54.799
 verses 6 and 7,

00:21:54.799 --> 00:22:16.740
 Paul reminds the Colossians

00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:18.180
 church that they have

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:19.339
 already received Christ.

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:20.879
 He's not questioning

00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:21.819
 their salvation here.

00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:24.700
 And so for all

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.819
 who have received Christ

00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.819
 and have accepted Christ,

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.799
 our encouragement

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.319
 from God's word

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.079
 is that we may also

00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:31.980
 walk in him.

00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.240
 And so as I was

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.659
 studying this,

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.419
 I just took a moment

00:22:35.419 --> 00:22:37.079
 to reflect my own

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:37.539
 conversion,

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.460
 thinking about what

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.439
 God has done

00:22:40.439 --> 00:22:41.139
 for me.

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.939
 That without God,

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:45.019
 I would not be

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.899
 where I am at right now.

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.399
 I was thinking

00:22:48.399 --> 00:22:49.980
 about Romans 5,

00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.759
 8 through 10,

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:52.259
 where it says,

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.319
 but God

00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:55.160
 shows his love for us

00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.019
 and that while we were

00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.099
 still sinners,

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:59.099
 Christ died for us.

00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:00.460
 Since therefore

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.200
 we have now been

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:02.339
 justified by his blood,

00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.539
 much more shall we

00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.420
 be saved from the

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.119
 wrath of God.

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.700
 For if while we were

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.720
 reconciled to God

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.940
 by the death of his son,

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.379
 much more now

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:11.879
 that we are reconciled

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.779
 shall we be saved

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.680
 by his life.

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.839
 And then Ephesians 2

00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:17.759
 also speaks

00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.720
 that we were dead

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.620
 in the trespasses

00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.360
 and sins in which

00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:21.140
 we once walked,

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.460
 following the course

00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:22.940
 of the world

00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.860
 and following the prince

00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:24.319
 of the power

00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:24.980
 of the air.

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:25.980
 Right?

00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:26.779
 We were dead,

00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.440
 but for some reason

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.519
 God,

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:31.039
 in his grace

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.839
 and in his love

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.460
 for us,

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.660
 made us alive

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.519
 together in him.

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.360
 There is a particular

00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.539
 gospel that we received.

00:23:39.600 --> 00:23:40.660
 Let us not question

00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:42.220
 that.

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.819
 Let us not allow

00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.700
 the teachings

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:45.539
 of this world

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:48.359
 dilute us

00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:50.200
 and lead us

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:50.779
 astray

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.419
 from what God

00:23:52.419 --> 00:23:53.139
 has taught us

00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:53.740
 in his word.

00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.679
 We must believe

00:23:55.679 --> 00:23:57.220
 and hold firm

00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.279
 to the faith

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.299
 that we have received,

00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.579
 the gospel

00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:01.519
 that comes

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.419
 in God's word.

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:07.019
 But also recognizing

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:09.079
 that when we walk,

00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:10.720
 we're not walking

00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.500
 as those

00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:12.279
 who have,

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.100
 who can do this

00:24:14.100 --> 00:24:14.700
 on our own.

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.480
 This is not a work

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.380
 that we do of our own.

00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.860
 This is a work of God.

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:19.180
 Just as we receive Christ

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.160
 by the work of God

00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.100
 from death

00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:21.880
 to life,

00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.579
 so also we walk

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.660
 by the power

00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.299
 of God.

00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:27.160
 When Paul was

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:27.519
 confronting

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.559
 the Galatians church,

00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.319
 there were

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:31.559
 teachers in that church

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.160
 that were telling them

00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.680
 that they had

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.059
 to receive circumcision,

00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:35.000
 these works

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.620
 of the law,

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.360
 in order

00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.559
 to be saved.

00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.839
 That even though

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.740
 they received Christ

00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:40.319
 in one way,

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.140
 that they had

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:41.900
 to be sanctified

00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:43.000
 and be perfected

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.839
 in the faith

00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:45.380
 through their own works.

00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.079
 And a similar thing

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.480
 is happening

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.059
 to this church

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.620
 in Colossae.

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.140
 There's teachers

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:50.079
 who are claiming

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.579
 that they have

00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:51.720
 to do a bunch

00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.120
 of works

00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:52.440
 in order

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.079
 to maintain

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.759
 their salvation.

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.720
 But Paul says

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.380
 in chapter 3

00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.200
 in Galatians,

00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.799
 O foolish Galatians,

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.339
 who has bewitched you?

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.000
 Are you so foolish,

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.059
 having begun

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:06.039
 by the Spirit,

00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:06.779
 are you now

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.720
 being perfected

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.720
 by the flesh?

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:09.940
 Right?

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.759
 It's so,

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:12.380
 it's almost stupid

00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:13.259
 for us to think

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:14.279
 that being,

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.339
 by beginning

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:16.920
 our faith

00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:17.380
 in Christ

00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.140
 through the work

00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:19.180
 of God

00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:19.980
 on our behalf,

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.460
 that we could

00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:22.579
 somehow receive

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.339
 sanctification

00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:25.539
 and perfection

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:27.039
 through our own works.

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.500
 That is,

00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.600
 it's not possible

00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.940
 to be sanctified

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.960
 without God's

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.039
 working in us.

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:35.220
 We are completely

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.220
 dependent upon

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.860
 His work.

00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:40.420
 I was also

00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:41.220
 just thinking

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.100
 about the fact

00:25:42.100 --> 00:25:42.740
 that we can never

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.980
 get past the gospel.

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.960
 We can't ever

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:48.180
 get past the gospel.

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.059
 I have a friend

00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.620
 at Cedarville,

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.140
 his name is Fletcher,

00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:54.279
 and I just remember

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.900
 a couple times

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.799
 just talking with him

00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.100
 and telling him

00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:58.079
 about what I was learning

00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:58.600
 in the Bible

00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.579
 and mentioned,

00:25:59.720 --> 00:25:59.839
 like,

00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:01.100
 kind of briefly mentioned

00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:01.900
 passing over

00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:03.460
 a fact about the gospel

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.039
 to move on

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:04.880
 to my main point.

00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.340
 But he would stop me

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:08.600
 and his demeanor

00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:09.140
 would change

00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:10.080
 and he would just think,

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.020
 wow,

00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:11.980
 isn't that such

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:13.060
 a wonderful truth

00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:14.060
 that you just said

00:26:14.060 --> 00:26:14.980
 about the gospel?

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.880
 That our sins

00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.540
 were forgiven?

00:26:18.280 --> 00:26:18.580
 Like,

00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:19.500
 wow,

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:19.760
 like,

00:26:19.780 --> 00:26:20.660
 that's so amazing.

00:26:20.760 --> 00:26:20.880
 Like,

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.720
 how could God

00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.420
 allow us

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.760
 to be forgiven

00:26:23.760 --> 00:26:24.520
 of our sins?

00:26:25.260 --> 00:26:26.180
 How could He allow us

00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:26.920
 to have this hope

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:28.140
 of being with Him

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.560
 in heaven?

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.680
 I could just imagine

00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.540
 Paul doing the same thing

00:26:31.540 --> 00:26:32.000
 when he was writing

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.380
 this letter.

00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:32.500
 Or,

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.340
 you know,

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.720
 through chapter 1

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.040
 all the way up

00:26:35.040 --> 00:26:35.520
 to this point

00:26:35.520 --> 00:26:37.000
 where it's like,

00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:38.000
 wow,

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.420
 like giving thanks

00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:39.900
 to the Father

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:41.200
 who has transferred us

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.620
 from the domain

00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.040
 of darkness

00:26:43.040 --> 00:26:44.280
 to the kingdom

00:26:44.280 --> 00:26:45.080
 of His beloved Son.

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:45.300
 Like,

00:26:45.800 --> 00:26:46.760
 I can't believe

00:26:46.760 --> 00:26:47.440
 God would do

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:49.020
 such a wondrous thing.

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.100
 That man,

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:51.860
 Christ,

00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.780
 has redeemed us.

00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:55.780
 He has offered us

00:26:55.780 --> 00:26:56.880
 forgiveness of sins.

00:26:58.300 --> 00:26:58.780
 Wow,

00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.860
 Christ is the image

00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:01.220
 of the invisible God.

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:01.299
 God,

00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:03.839
 if I know Christ,

00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:04.759
 I get to know God.

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.600
 And that same Christ

00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.460
 who is preeminent,

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:09.180
 He dwells in me.

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.000
 Like,

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:11.240
 how can that even be true?

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.600
 Like,

00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:13.539
 we cannot get past

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.079
 the gospel.

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.740
 I know so often

00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:17.559
 I can open up

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.059
 God's Word

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:19.000
 and just quickly

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.819
 read through it

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:23.640
 and not be

00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:25.039
 astounded

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:26.000
 by the wonder

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.700
 of the truths

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.740
 written within it.

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:30.380
 but

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:32.120
 just as you receive Christ,

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.480
 we must also walk in Him.

00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.000
 So just as amazing

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.019
 as the truths were

00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:37.200
 when we first believed,

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.880
 those same truths

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.579
 apply to us

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.660
 as we seek to walk

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.460
 faithfully

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.059
 as believers.

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:44.259
 And the gospel

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.980
 hasn't changed,

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.539
 so that's why

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.480
 we can have assurance

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.660
 in our walk

00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:48.259
 in Christ.

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:50.259
 Not just looking

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:51.019
 at the fruits

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:52.519
 that we have

00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:52.920
 in our life,

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.799
 but knowing that

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:56.220
 God helps us

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.460
 grow.

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.680
 God is the one

00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.519
 who produces

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.379
 fruit in our lives

00:28:00.379 --> 00:28:00.919
 as we grow

00:28:00.919 --> 00:28:01.579
 in a knowledge

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.059
 of Him.

00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:04.399
 And so,

00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.500
 I'm just also

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.119
 thinking about

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.619
 how Paul says

00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:09.299
 in 1 Corinthians

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.299
 15,

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.240
 1 and 2,

00:28:11.659 --> 00:28:12.720
 I would remind you,

00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.000
 brothers,

00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:13.740
 of the gospel

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.639
 I preached to you.

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.460
 And this is the gospel

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.659
 by which you received

00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:20.579
 and in which you stand

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.859
 and by which you are

00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:22.680
 being saved.

00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:25.200
 If you hold fast

00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.839
 to the word I preached

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.119
 to you,

00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:26.799
 unless you believed

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.139
 in vain.

00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:27.659
 Again,

00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:28.839
 the gospel

00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:30.899
 remains the same.

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.619
 The same gospel

00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.240
 that we received

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:33.240
 is the same gospel

00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.399
 by which we are standing

00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:35.919
 and by which we are

00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:36.779
 being saved.

00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:37.619
 There's a past,

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.000
 present,

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.720
 and future reality

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.139
 of the gospel

00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:40.200
 that we received.

00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.000
 And so,

00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.899
 Paul explains

00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:45.279
 using three

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.700
 passive participles

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:49.319
 that we are rooted

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.720
 in Him,

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:53.000
 we are built up

00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.960
 in Him,

00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:55.279
 and we are established

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.880
 in the faith.

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.480
 Those are all

00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:58.279
 passive realities

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:59.460
 that are true

00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:00.059
 of believers

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.460
 who walk in Christ.

00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.279
 And I think

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:03.819
 it's interesting

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.860
 that he uses

00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:05.779
 this passive

00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:08.460
 tense

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:11.000
 to help us

00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.400
 recognize

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:12.200
 that this is not

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:12.720
 something that

00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.920
 we are actively doing.

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:16.019
 Our walking in Christ

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.839
 is not dependent

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:19.000
 upon our striving,

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.539
 but it's dependent

00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.359
 upon the work

00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.199
 that Christ has done.

00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:23.980
 So,

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.480
 the first participle

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.379
 is rooted

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:27.740
 in Him.

00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.819
 And it's just

00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:30.659
 helping give

00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:31.339
 this agricultural

00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:33.480
 sense of firmness.

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:33.699
 You know,

00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.079
 I think about

00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:35.019
 the Psalm 1 man

00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:36.799
 who does not walk

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.939
 in the counsel

00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:38.399
 of the wicked.

00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:39.539
 He does not stand

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.379
 in the way of sinners.

00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.619
 He does not

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.939
 sit in the seat

00:29:42.939 --> 00:29:43.699
 of scoffers.

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:44.539
 Like,

00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:45.259
 this man

00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.720
 does not follow

00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.140
 the ways

00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:47.799
 of this world,

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:50.200
 but he delights

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.579
 in the law

00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.059
 of the Lord.

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:53.019
 And on God's law

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.599
 he meditates

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.099
 day and night.

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.420
 So,

00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.259
 there's a consistency.

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.359
 There's a rootedness

00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.720
 in God's word.

00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:58.759
 And so,

00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.359
 he says that

00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.220
 this man

00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:00.779
 is like a tree

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.579
 planted by streams

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.039
 of water.

00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:03.980
 God gives him

00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:04.579
 what he needs.

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.779
 He sustains him.

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.660
 This is also a,

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.379
 this word

00:30:09.379 --> 00:30:10.900
 is in a perfect tense.

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:11.299
 So,

00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:11.960
 it means that

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:13.319
 it happened

00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.000
 one time.

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.299
 So,

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.640
 he had been rooted.

00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:16.940
 Which means

00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:18.900
 that it doesn't change.

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.279
 Our rootedness

00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:20.880
 in the gospel

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.740
 does not change.

00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:22.880
 Once we accept Christ,

00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:25.420
 we now live

00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.279
 as those

00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.519
 who have accepted Christ.

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:28.420
 Again,

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.440
 that's another sense

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.160
 of the assurance

00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:30.960
 that we have.

00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:32.900
 And then,

00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.519
 the second sense

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.420
 is that we are built up.

00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:35.740
 This one's in the present tense.

00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:35.900
 So,

00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:36.779
 it has this continuous

00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:38.440
 sense.

00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:38.940
 And so,

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.720
 as we are continuing

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.900
 to grow

00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.500
 and continuing

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.299
 to learn

00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:43.259
 and continuing

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.440
 to know God,

00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.599
 we are built up

00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.220
 in him.

00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.259
 So,

00:30:48.359 --> 00:30:49.079
 not only have we been

00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.900
 rooted in him,

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.680
 but we are also

00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.480
 built up.

00:30:51.859 --> 00:30:52.380
 We grow

00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:53.079
 in our knowledge

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.500
 of him.

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.619
 And as we grow

00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:55.099
 in our knowledge

00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:55.400
 of him,

00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.259
 we're able to walk

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:56.900
 in him.

00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:59.039
 The last one

00:30:59.039 --> 00:30:59.779
 is talking about

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.839
 that we are established

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.700
 in our faith.

00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.079
 So,

00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:04.720
 there is a necessity

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:06.660
 of being established

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:08.279
 in our faith.

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:10.940
 Again,

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.720
 this is not dependent

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:12.500
 on our own work.

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.399
 It's not based

00:31:13.399 --> 00:31:14.639
 on aimlessly striving,

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:15.519
 but we have a goal.

00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:16.200
 We have a message

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:17.180
 that we can believe in

00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:18.220
 and know

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:19.039
 that God

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:20.200
 will be faithful.

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.480
 And then,

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.480
 that last element

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:24.680
 found in the end

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.259
 of verse 7,

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:25.700
 it says,

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.119
 just as you were taught

00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:28.079
 abounding

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:28.740
 in thanksgiving.

00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.139
 So,

00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.299
 again,

00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:30.819
 just as we're not

00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.319
 supposed to move

00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:32.180
 past the gospel,

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:34.119
 we must respond

00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:34.660
 appropriately

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.460
 to the gospel.

00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:37.200
 Not just walking

00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:37.579
 in him,

00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:38.819
 but abounding

00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:39.599
 in thanksgiving

00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.799
 for all that

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.500
 he has done.

00:31:43.639 --> 00:31:43.919
 You know,

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:46.119
 in 1 Thessalonians 5,

00:31:46.179 --> 00:31:47.039
 he says that we must

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.480
 give thanks

00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.259
 in all circumstances.

00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.519
 It's a pretty well-known

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.740
 phrase.

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.339
 And sometimes

00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:52.939
 I wonder,

00:31:53.179 --> 00:31:53.199
 like,

00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:53.399
 okay,

00:31:53.399 --> 00:31:54.099
 how can I give thanks

00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:55.079
 in all circumstances?

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.059
 Like,

00:31:56.199 --> 00:31:56.699
 you didn't know

00:31:56.699 --> 00:31:57.359
 what happened to me

00:31:57.359 --> 00:31:57.779
 yesterday,

00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.379
 you know,

00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.439
 or tomorrow is Monday.

00:31:59.539 --> 00:31:59.699
 Like,

00:31:59.899 --> 00:32:00.339
 how am I supposed

00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.059
 to be thankful then?

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:03.980
 But,

00:32:04.159 --> 00:32:06.339
 we can be thankful

00:32:06.339 --> 00:32:07.439
 in all circumstances

00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:08.259
 because God

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.179
 does not change.

00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.259
 What he has done

00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.919
 for us

00:32:11.919 --> 00:32:14.439
 does not change.

00:32:15.199 --> 00:32:15.980
 And so,

00:32:16.199 --> 00:32:17.799
 we can be

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:19.199
 thankful

00:32:19.199 --> 00:32:20.439
 in all things

00:32:20.439 --> 00:32:21.119
 because we know

00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:21.599
 that God

00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.480
 is in control

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.139
 of all things.

00:32:23.399 --> 00:32:24.059
 He's not dependent

00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:25.000
 on our circumstances.

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:25.740
 So,

00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.379
 our thanksgiving

00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:27.379
 is not dependent

00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.819
 on our circumstances

00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:29.240
 either.

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:30.959
 And so,

00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.039
 God uses our thanksgiving

00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.859
 and our contentment

00:32:32.859 --> 00:32:34.000
 in every situation

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.059
 to help keep us

00:32:35.059 --> 00:32:36.279
 in the faith as well

00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.980
 and help remind us

00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.640
 of our need

00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.400
 for God

00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:40.559
 and what he is doing

00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.099
 for us.

00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:41.920
 Helping us

00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.900
 keep attentive

00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:44.099
 to God's work

00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:46.160
 and God's power.

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:48.680
 And so,

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.500
 that last point

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.720
 is that we are

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.880
 being filled

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:53.319
 in Christ.

00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:56.039
 We must not be deceived

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.619
 because

00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.960
 we are being filled

00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:58.500
 in Christ.

00:32:59.619 --> 00:33:00.359
 It says,

00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.380
 in verses 8-10,

00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:02.540
 see to it

00:33:02.540 --> 00:33:03.560
 that no one

00:33:03.560 --> 00:33:04.300
 takes you captive

00:33:04.300 --> 00:33:05.740
 by philosophy

00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.840
 and empty deceit

00:33:06.840 --> 00:33:07.820
 according to

00:33:07.820 --> 00:33:08.620
 human tradition,

00:33:09.280 --> 00:33:09.720
 according to

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.620
 the elemental spirits

00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.200
 of the world

00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:12.220
 and not according

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:12.700
 to Christ.

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:14.140
 For in him

00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:15.500
 the whole fullness

00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.000
 of deity

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.880
 dwells bodily.

00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:18.660
 And you have been

00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:19.440
 filled in him

00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:20.280
 who is the head

00:33:20.280 --> 00:33:20.940
 of all rule

00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.640
 and authority.

00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:26.520
 I think it's interesting

00:33:26.520 --> 00:33:27.340
 right off the bat.

00:33:28.260 --> 00:33:29.320
 He begins by saying

00:33:29.320 --> 00:33:30.660
 being taken captive.

00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:31.760
 So,

00:33:31.840 --> 00:33:32.640
 there's this contrast

00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:33.320
 between

00:33:33.320 --> 00:33:34.900
 you have received

00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:35.400
 Christ

00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:36.500
 but then

00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.380
 don't be taken

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:37.940
 captive

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:39.640
 by these philosophies.

00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.700
 The philosophies

00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.240
 of this world

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:42.900
 and from these

00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:43.340
 teachers,

00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.780
 they're trying to

00:33:44.780 --> 00:33:46.600
 steal believers

00:33:46.600 --> 00:33:47.240
 from the church.

00:33:47.320 --> 00:33:47.760
 They're trying to

00:33:47.760 --> 00:33:48.200
 steal them

00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:48.700
 and take them

00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.160
 captive

00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:50.060
 from what they

00:33:50.060 --> 00:33:50.600
 have received

00:33:50.600 --> 00:33:50.940
 already.

00:33:52.340 --> 00:33:53.120
 The gospel

00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:53.820
 has been freely

00:33:53.820 --> 00:33:54.580
 given.

00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:55.900
 We have

00:33:55.900 --> 00:33:57.580
 freely received

00:33:57.580 --> 00:33:57.900
 it.

00:33:57.900 --> 00:33:59.140
 So,

00:33:59.180 --> 00:33:59.740
 we must be

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.259
 careful

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:00.700
 not to be

00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:01.720
 taken captive

00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:03.660
 by the

00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:04.100
 teachings

00:34:04.100 --> 00:34:05.100
 of this

00:34:05.100 --> 00:34:05.420
 world.

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.700
 I don't think

00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:08.260
 it means like

00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:08.660
 when he talks

00:34:08.660 --> 00:34:09.240
 about not

00:34:09.240 --> 00:34:09.660
 being taken

00:34:09.660 --> 00:34:10.099
 captive by

00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:10.539
 philosophy

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.700
 that philosophy

00:34:11.700 --> 00:34:12.220
 is inherently

00:34:12.220 --> 00:34:12.579
 evil.

00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:14.440
 There are

00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.079
 many church

00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:15.760
 leaders who

00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:16.420
 were trained

00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:17.160
 in philosophy

00:34:17.160 --> 00:34:18.700
 and so

00:34:18.700 --> 00:34:19.460
 what I mean

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:19.980
 by that is

00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.599
 reason is

00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.639
 God-given

00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:23.519
 but reason

00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.299
 that stems

00:34:24.299 --> 00:34:25.639
 from our

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.099
 self

00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:26.799
 and from

00:34:26.799 --> 00:34:27.420
 this world

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.819
 is empty

00:34:28.819 --> 00:34:29.440
 deceit.

00:34:30.179 --> 00:34:30.659
 Reason

00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:31.139
 that comes

00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:31.699
 from God,

00:34:31.819 --> 00:34:32.099
 knowledge

00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:32.539
 and wisdom

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:32.879
 that comes

00:34:32.879 --> 00:34:33.460
 from God

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.960
 is heavenly

00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.940
 and can

00:34:35.940 --> 00:34:36.460
 provide us

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.039
 with assurance.

00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:38.179
 Right?

00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:38.519
 We're not

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.159
 called as

00:34:39.159 --> 00:34:39.500
 believers

00:34:39.500 --> 00:34:40.019
 to not

00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:40.579
 think

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:42.039
 but

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:43.639
 we must

00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.259
 be aware

00:34:44.259 --> 00:34:45.559
 and evaluate

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.920
 the philosophy

00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:47.739
 of this world

00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:48.819
 that is teaching

00:34:48.819 --> 00:34:50.119
 empty deceit.

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:50.879
 It's teaching

00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:51.700
 us to trust

00:34:51.700 --> 00:34:52.539
 in and be

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.019
 assured in

00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:53.559
 ourselves.

00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:56.099
 If you see

00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:56.640
 the explanation

00:34:56.640 --> 00:34:57.099
 he gives,

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.059
 this philosophy

00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:58.360
 and empty

00:34:58.360 --> 00:34:59.119
 deceit

00:34:59.119 --> 00:34:59.980
 is according

00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:00.380
 to human

00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:00.760
 tradition,

00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:01.900
 it's according

00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.360
 to the human

00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:02.760
 tradition,

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:03.760
 it's according

00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:04.160
 to the elemental

00:35:04.160 --> 00:35:04.760
 spirits of the

00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:05.000
 world

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:06.300
 and it is not

00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:06.840
 according

00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:07.780
 to Christ.

00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:12.800
 And so

00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:13.980
 it's important

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.640
 for us to

00:35:14.640 --> 00:35:15.320
 evaluate

00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:17.099
 the philosophies

00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:17.820
 of this world.

00:35:19.240 --> 00:35:20.039
 I was even

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:20.480
 just reminded

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:20.940
 of some

00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:21.139
 of the

00:35:21.139 --> 00:35:21.440
 professors

00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:21.780
 I had

00:35:21.780 --> 00:35:22.240
 at Cedarville

00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:23.039
 who were

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.519
 philosophy

00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:23.920
 majors

00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:26.000
 and they

00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.219
 were just

00:35:26.219 --> 00:35:26.539
 telling me

00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:27.440
 some stories

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:27.780
 about their

00:35:27.780 --> 00:35:28.340
 classmates

00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:29.800
 who just

00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:30.300
 had no

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:30.780
 hope.

00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:31.599
 They didn't

00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:31.920
 even know

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.699
 what reality

00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.300
 was

00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:34.519
 because they

00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:34.880
 were so

00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:35.380
 caught up

00:35:35.380 --> 00:35:35.679
 in their

00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.139
 thoughts

00:35:36.139 --> 00:35:36.480
 and in

00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:36.639
 their

00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:37.639
 imaginations

00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:38.000
 and in

00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:38.840
 the conceptual

00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:39.300
 that they

00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:39.659
 couldn't even

00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:40.340
 think about

00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:41.420
 what reality

00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:42.119
 could be.

00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:44.719
 And so

00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:47.099
 we must

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.799
 be aware

00:35:47.799 --> 00:35:49.599
 of the

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:50.599
 things that

00:35:50.599 --> 00:35:51.239
 seem to

00:35:51.239 --> 00:35:51.920
 be wise,

00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:52.559
 that seem

00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:52.980
 to make

00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:53.440
 sense,

00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:54.699
 but are

00:35:54.699 --> 00:35:55.259
 not according

00:35:55.259 --> 00:35:55.679
 to the

00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:55.940
 word.

00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:56.980
 Because

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:58.000
 philosophy

00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:59.659
 that has a

00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:00.359
 source other

00:36:00.359 --> 00:36:01.000
 than Christ

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:03.239
 leads to

00:36:03.239 --> 00:36:03.779
 deceit

00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:05.179
 and it

00:36:05.179 --> 00:36:05.579
 leads us

00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:06.079
 to emptiness.

00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:09.619
 the reason

00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:10.299
 that Paul

00:36:10.299 --> 00:36:10.819
 gives for

00:36:10.819 --> 00:36:11.219
 why we

00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:11.539
 should not

00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:11.920
 be taken

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.299
 captive

00:36:12.299 --> 00:36:13.840
 is because

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:15.219
 in Christ

00:36:15.219 --> 00:36:18.099
 the whole

00:36:18.099 --> 00:36:18.759
 fullness of

00:36:18.759 --> 00:36:19.000
 deity

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.719
 dwells bodily.

00:36:23.799 --> 00:36:24.519
 These

00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.039
 philosophers

00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:27.039
 and teachers

00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:27.799
 of the day

00:36:27.799 --> 00:36:29.759
 assume that

00:36:29.759 --> 00:36:30.139
 they have

00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:31.380
 this special

00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:32.059
 knowledge that

00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:32.539
 can give

00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:33.819
 people a

00:36:33.819 --> 00:36:35.199
 higher sense.

00:36:35.699 --> 00:36:35.799
 You know,

00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:36.700
 I can name

00:36:36.700 --> 00:36:37.220
 a bunch of

00:36:37.220 --> 00:36:37.940
 people that

00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.420
 I've talked

00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:38.980
 to that

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:40.100
 believed in

00:36:40.100 --> 00:36:40.740
 this higher

00:36:40.740 --> 00:36:41.500
 reality that

00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:41.940
 if they just

00:36:41.940 --> 00:36:42.420
 lived a

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:43.220
 certain way

00:36:43.220 --> 00:36:44.180
 that they

00:36:44.180 --> 00:36:44.900
 could become

00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:46.440
 more spiritual.

00:36:46.900 --> 00:36:47.120
 And it was

00:36:47.120 --> 00:36:50.300
 very undefined

00:36:50.300 --> 00:36:51.240
 characteristics.

00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.160
 It didn't

00:36:54.160 --> 00:36:54.720
 really have an

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:55.300
 end goal in

00:36:55.300 --> 00:36:55.600
 mind.

00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:58.300
 But Christ

00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:59.860
 already is

00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:00.560
 the fullness

00:37:00.560 --> 00:37:01.060
 of God.

00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:02.600
 We don't have

00:37:02.600 --> 00:37:03.200
 to go anywhere

00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:03.580
 else.

00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:04.080
 There's no

00:37:04.080 --> 00:37:04.640
 other source

00:37:04.640 --> 00:37:05.220
 that we need.

00:37:06.099 --> 00:37:06.919
 Christ is

00:37:06.919 --> 00:37:07.359
 the fullness

00:37:07.359 --> 00:37:08.299
 of God.

00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:10.819
 And he

00:37:10.819 --> 00:37:12.339
 has filled

00:37:12.339 --> 00:37:12.579
 us.

00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:12.980
 We have

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.699
 been filled

00:37:13.699 --> 00:37:15.000
 in Christ.

00:37:15.859 --> 00:37:16.500
 So we

00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:16.759
 don't have

00:37:16.759 --> 00:37:17.079
 to go

00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:17.379
 anywhere

00:37:17.379 --> 00:37:17.799
 else.

00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.259
 And so

00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:23.719
 just thinking

00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:24.939
 about what

00:37:24.939 --> 00:37:25.539
 this means

00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.219
 for us

00:37:26.219 --> 00:37:27.419
 this week.

00:37:27.420 --> 00:37:29.519
 how do we

00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:32.079
 consider and

00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:33.440
 evaluate the

00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:33.920
 voices that

00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:34.119
 we are

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:34.700
 listening to?

00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:36.079
 How do we

00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:36.659
 consider and

00:37:36.659 --> 00:37:38.960
 evaluate the

00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:39.619
 hope that we

00:37:39.619 --> 00:37:39.980
 have, the

00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:40.500
 assurance that

00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:40.960
 we have in

00:37:40.960 --> 00:37:41.340
 Christ?

00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:42.659
 You know, the

00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:43.260
 last song that

00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:44.579
 we sang talked

00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:45.880
 about, I set my

00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:46.559
 hope in Jesus.

00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:48.240
 You know, even

00:37:48.240 --> 00:37:49.159
 when the doubts

00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:50.460
 remain or when

00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:51.119
 we're tempted by

00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:52.079
 sin or when

00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:52.880
 we're discouraged,

00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:55.700
 where is our

00:37:55.700 --> 00:37:56.180
 assurance?

00:37:56.660 --> 00:37:57.180
 Where is the

00:37:57.180 --> 00:37:57.740
 firmness of our

00:37:57.740 --> 00:37:58.400
 faith placed in?

00:37:59.119 --> 00:37:59.539
 Where are we

00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:01.760
 going to churn on

00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:02.460
 Monday morning when

00:38:02.460 --> 00:38:02.920
 we don't want to

00:38:02.920 --> 00:38:03.300
 wake up?

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:04.400
 Where are we

00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:05.480
 going to churn when

00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:06.160
 we're tempted by

00:38:06.160 --> 00:38:08.280
 sin on Thursday

00:38:08.280 --> 00:38:09.240
 afternoon, whatever

00:38:09.240 --> 00:38:09.900
 it may be?

00:38:12.099 --> 00:38:14.340
 Do we turn to the

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:14.980
 teachings of this

00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.599
 world and just

00:38:15.599 --> 00:38:16.480
 trying to put our

00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:17.340
 earbuds in and

00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:19.160
 just keep walking

00:38:19.160 --> 00:38:20.240
 until we go to

00:38:20.240 --> 00:38:20.720
 bed at night?

00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:23.140
 Or are we going

00:38:23.140 --> 00:38:24.420
 to take the

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:26.140
 moment to plead

00:38:26.140 --> 00:38:26.740
 with God for

00:38:26.740 --> 00:38:27.039
 help?

00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:28.500
 Are we going to

00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:29.100
 turn to the

00:38:29.100 --> 00:38:29.680
 assurance in the

00:38:29.680 --> 00:38:31.740
 gospel and walk

00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:32.559
 in Christ?

00:38:35.160 --> 00:38:36.320
 Again, Christ

00:38:36.320 --> 00:38:36.980
 offers us

00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:37.539
 assurance.

00:38:38.740 --> 00:38:39.180
 And so as we

00:38:39.180 --> 00:38:39.760
 turn to his

00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:40.380
 word, as we

00:38:40.380 --> 00:38:41.160
 turn to the

00:38:41.160 --> 00:38:41.800
 believers that

00:38:41.800 --> 00:38:42.460
 God has given

00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:44.360
 to us, that we

00:38:44.360 --> 00:38:45.660
 can be kept

00:38:45.660 --> 00:38:46.260
 accountable,

00:38:47.340 --> 00:38:51.220
 we're then able

00:38:51.220 --> 00:38:52.120
 to then walk

00:38:52.120 --> 00:38:54.380
 in Christ, rooted

00:38:54.380 --> 00:38:55.860
 and built up in

00:38:55.860 --> 00:38:56.059
 him.

00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:57.059
 We don't have to

00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:57.740
 doubt, we don't

00:38:57.740 --> 00:38:58.480
 have to wonder,

00:38:59.100 --> 00:39:00.840
 but we can

00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:02.079
 worship and praise

00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:03.300
 God, abounding in

00:39:03.300 --> 00:39:04.960
 thanksgiving, knowing

00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:05.400
 that we have been

00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:06.340
 filled in Christ and

00:39:06.340 --> 00:39:07.079
 he has a plan and

00:39:07.079 --> 00:39:07.960
 purpose for us.

00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:10.019
 Let me go ahead and

00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:10.780
 just close this in a

00:39:10.780 --> 00:39:11.220
 word of prayer.

00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:16.680
 Dear Lord,

00:39:17.340 --> 00:39:19.340
 I know, again, that

00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:20.160
 we are desperately

00:39:20.160 --> 00:39:21.680
 in need of you, but

00:39:21.680 --> 00:39:22.440
 we're also so

00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:24.579
 thankful for the

00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:25.079
 work that you have

00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:25.660
 done on our

00:39:25.660 --> 00:39:26.000
 behalf.

00:39:26.600 --> 00:39:27.900
 Thank you for the

00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.360
 fact that you have

00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:30.480
 sent your son to

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.720
 live on this earth.

00:39:32.620 --> 00:39:34.840
 Your son who was

00:39:34.840 --> 00:39:35.740
 fully God.

00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:39.039
 He lived a bodily

00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:41.700
 life and died a

00:39:41.700 --> 00:39:44.420
 bodily death and rose

00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:45.180
 again, defeating

00:39:45.179 --> 00:39:45.659
 death.

00:39:47.099 --> 00:39:48.619
 And in him are

00:39:48.619 --> 00:39:49.539
 hidden all wisdom

00:39:49.539 --> 00:39:50.559
 and knowledge.

00:39:51.379 --> 00:39:52.099
 And so as we turn

00:39:52.099 --> 00:39:53.859
 to Christ, we can

00:39:53.859 --> 00:39:55.139
 have assurance in

00:39:55.139 --> 00:39:57.719
 our salvation, but

00:39:57.719 --> 00:39:59.059
 only if we believe in

00:39:59.059 --> 00:39:59.899
 what you have done

00:39:59.899 --> 00:40:00.440
 for us.

00:40:00.679 --> 00:40:01.539
 Only if we believe in

00:40:01.539 --> 00:40:02.019
 the gospel.

00:40:03.379 --> 00:40:04.519
 Help us to not move

00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:06.039
 past the gospel, but

00:40:06.039 --> 00:40:06.899
 to worship you for

00:40:06.899 --> 00:40:07.559
 what you have done.

00:40:08.699 --> 00:40:09.639
 That you have

00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:10.699
 delivered us from

00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:11.480
 this domain of

00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:12.259
 darkness and have

00:40:12.259 --> 00:40:12.919
 transferred us to

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:13.820
 this kingdom of

00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:14.460
 your beloved son.

00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:15.340
 Thank you so much

00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:16.019
 for the redemption,

00:40:16.700 --> 00:40:17.440
 the forgiveness of

00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:17.960
 sins that is

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:18.960
 possible through your

00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:20.579
 son, and for the

00:40:20.579 --> 00:40:21.360
 inheritance that you

00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:23.500
 have given to us, and

00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:24.320
 for the redemption and

00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:25.659
 reconciliation that you

00:40:25.659 --> 00:40:27.280
 have bought with the

00:40:27.280 --> 00:40:28.099
 blood of Christ.

00:40:29.680 --> 00:40:32.280
 And so help us to be

00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:33.220
 aware of the false

00:40:33.220 --> 00:40:34.059
 teachings of this

00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:35.059
 world that seek to

00:40:35.059 --> 00:40:36.340
 delude us and lead us

00:40:36.340 --> 00:40:36.760
 astray.

00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:39.599
 And may we fill our

00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:41.119
 minds with truth.

00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:41.179
 faith.

00:40:42.099 --> 00:40:43.000
 May you use your

00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:44.500
 church, your body, to

00:40:44.500 --> 00:40:45.500
 encourage one another.

00:40:46.199 --> 00:40:47.359
 May we seek to exhort

00:40:47.359 --> 00:40:48.359
 one another every day as

00:40:48.359 --> 00:40:49.259
 long as it is called a

00:40:49.259 --> 00:40:50.779
 day, so that we may not

00:40:50.779 --> 00:40:54.440
 be deceived by, may we

00:40:54.440 --> 00:40:55.900
 not be led astray by the

00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:56.699
 deceitfulness of sin.

00:40:57.779 --> 00:40:58.659
 In your name I pray.

00:40:59.199 --> 00:40:59.440
 Amen.

00:41:00.500 --> 00:41:01.299
 Hey, thank you all for

00:41:01.299 --> 00:41:01.500
 coming.

00:41:01.639 --> 00:41:02.799
 It's a pleasure to have

00:41:02.799 --> 00:41:04.319
 you here, and thank you

00:41:04.319 --> 00:41:04.980
 for the opportunity to

00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:05.219
 preach.

00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:12.779
 God bless you.

00:41:12.779 --> 00:41:12.779


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