WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.800 Back in November 2013, three women were rescued from a 30 year ordeal. They'd been kept prisoners in a house in South London, it was an ordinary South London street. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:28.440 ! They'd been kept there, probably by cult leaders, imprisoned, enslaved, seldom allowed out, excluded from normal society, constantly living in fear, having to try and please the people 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:43.359 who had kept them slaves. Now I can't imagine what that ordeal must have been like, but I can imagine they would never choose to go back to it. I can imagine they would never want to go back to being slaves again. 00:00:43.480 --> 00:00:55.859 Although I also can imagine that after 30 years of other people dominating your life, to suddenly have freedom would be a very strange thing, and a hard thing to get used to. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:01:01.740 And no doubt they'd still live with the fears of those days, and the traumas of those days, for a long time to come. 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:10.719 And perhaps at times they would, they'd perhaps default to some of the behaviour they had when they were slaves, perhaps seeking approval of others. 00:01:11.900 --> 00:01:19.039 What Paul is telling us, and telling the Galatians here, is that if you have faith in Christ, then you have been set free. 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:25.019 Like those women rescued from that house. You are no longer a slave, but you are free. 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:31.500 The trouble is for the Galatians, they were being tempted to go back into slavery. 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:36.340 They were being tempted to feel like they had to earn the right to be God's people. 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:40.700 That they had to do things to get closer to God, to get more secure. 00:01:41.739 --> 00:01:43.659 I think actually that's a temptation for all of us. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:47.859 We're so conditioned by our culture to think you don't get something for nothing. 00:01:48.500 --> 00:01:50.500 We have to work for everything, don't we? 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:56.700 I was in a coffee shop just now, sitting next to some poor guy with his headphones on, reading an A-level chemistry textbook. 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:59.079 I think I know what he's slaving away for. 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:01.540 Brings back memories of a long, long time ago. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:05.980 But we know we have to earn to achieve, in most cases. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:10.180 And so often we can behave like that towards God as well. 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:15.159 We find it hard to trust that God's good promises in Christ are really unconditional. 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:19.299 And I think part of that is an underlying form of pride. 00:02:20.259 --> 00:02:22.079 Actually we want to achieve something. 00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:24.479 We want to feel like we've contributed. 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:32.939 We had a young lady come to our door a few weeks ago, trying to sell one of these fancy food delivery company things. 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:38.960 And the basic idea was, for a small sum of money, more than we could pay, 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:44.480 we could have these fresh ingredients, already chopped up, delivered to us. 00:02:45.140 --> 00:02:46.379 Why do companies do that? 00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:52.460 It's so we feel we've prepared our own food, even though actually somebody else has measured it all out, 00:02:52.540 --> 00:02:53.840 weighed it all up, chopped it all up. 00:02:54.060 --> 00:02:56.219 We can feel virtuous, because we cook the food. 00:02:56.680 --> 00:03:00.860 Well, you feel less virtuous, you just shove it, the Tesco's ready meal, into your microwave and press it. 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:01.980 Start, don't you? 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:03.780 See, it's pride. 00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:05.319 We want to feel we've achieved something. 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:08.159 There's two things, pride and fear. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:12.040 It can be ruinous for us. 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:13.939 And that's what Paul is getting at here. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:17.560 He wants us to show that simply through faith in Christ, 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:20.260 simply through trusting what Jesus has done, 00:03:20.700 --> 00:03:24.600 God gives us great blessings, great promises. 00:03:25.860 --> 00:03:28.740 In fact, to sum up these two particular blessings here in two words. 00:03:29.200 --> 00:03:30.900 Inclusion and adoption. 00:03:31.700 --> 00:03:33.740 See, inclusion in verses 25 to 29, 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:36.640 and adoption in verses 1 to 7. 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:38.939 We all want to be included, don't we? 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:40.439 None of us wants to be an outsider. 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:44.839 That's why we often hear that we are supposed to be an inclusive society. 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:46.159 No one's left out. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:48.359 Of course, that's not true. 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:50.199 Secularism never manages to do that. 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:51.679 It always excludes some people. 00:03:52.399 --> 00:03:56.119 But here we find in Christ, all are included, who trust in him. 00:03:56.359 --> 00:03:59.039 A sense of both inclusion and adoption, if you look at verse 25. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:06.959 But now that faith, that is Christ, the object of our faith, has come and lived and died for us, 00:04:07.359 --> 00:04:10.259 now faith has come, we're no longer under a guardian, 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:14.280 we've no longer got the law to tell us what to do, 00:04:15.379 --> 00:04:19.500 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. 00:04:19.500 --> 00:04:23.980 So through faith and faith alone we have inclusion and adoption. 00:04:24.779 --> 00:04:25.920 Let's look at inclusion first. 00:04:26.019 --> 00:04:27.620 We're part of a new community, 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:31.879 where once we were prisoners, enslaved, now we belong. 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:34.439 Look at verse 26, summed up there. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:38.040 Paul says, starts at verse 26, 00:04:38.379 --> 00:04:41.920 for in Christ you are all sons of God through faith. 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:43.839 What does it mean to be in Christ? 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:47.419 To be in Christ means to be joined to him, 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:50.899 to be planted into him. 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:54.259 It means that what is true of Jesus becomes true of us. 00:04:54.699 --> 00:04:57.579 So Jesus died and was raised to life. 00:04:57.919 --> 00:05:00.679 So our old selves have died, 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:02.319 and we've been raised to new life. 00:05:02.419 --> 00:05:04.899 We are new people if we've trusted in Christ. 00:05:05.799 --> 00:05:07.879 Paul gives us two little pictures in verse 27, 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:10.399 what being in Christ means, 00:05:10.559 --> 00:05:11.459 or how it comes about. 00:05:11.779 --> 00:05:13.000 So verse 27, 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:15.779 for as many as you were baptised into Christ 00:05:15.779 --> 00:05:17.319 have put on Christ. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:21.699 Being baptised in water is a sign 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:26.560 and a seal of being a member of God's covenant people. 00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:29.540 It's a sign of being united to Christ. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:32.560 It's a physical outward sign 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:35.180 of a spiritual inward reality. 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:38.579 And it's interesting what Paul says here. 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:40.980 He doesn't say baptism is a sign 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:42.779 that you told the world you believed in Jesus. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:45.819 He says, no, baptism is a sign 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:47.339 of what God has done to you. 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:50.420 It's not a public declaration of your faith, 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:52.000 rather it's a public demonstration 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:53.300 of God's promises. 00:05:53.899 --> 00:05:55.079 That you've trusted in him, 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:57.600 you've been washed and sealed 00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:59.519 and united to Christ. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:03.479 So baptism is a sign, 00:06:03.479 --> 00:06:04.539 a picture of that. 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:06.180 Paul also goes on to say, 00:06:06.359 --> 00:06:07.839 put on Christ, 00:06:07.979 --> 00:06:08.719 verse 27. 00:06:10.120 --> 00:06:11.060 Put on Christ. 00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:12.519 Where I live in Isleworth, 00:06:12.599 --> 00:06:13.519 I'm not too far from 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:15.539 Austley Underground Station, 00:06:15.659 --> 00:06:16.719 quite often we see people 00:06:16.719 --> 00:06:17.740 walking down our road 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:19.419 in blue uniforms, 00:06:20.419 --> 00:06:21.120 I don't mean police, 00:06:21.539 --> 00:06:22.959 dragging little 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:24.500 trolleys behind them, 00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:26.839 little wheelie bags behind them, 00:06:26.839 --> 00:06:27.859 and they're clearly 00:06:27.859 --> 00:06:28.859 British Airways staff. 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:29.779 They're clothed in 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:30.659 British Airways uniform, 00:06:31.039 --> 00:06:32.159 they're obviously on their way 00:06:32.159 --> 00:06:32.679 to Heathrow. 00:06:33.659 --> 00:06:35.039 The clothes they put on, 00:06:35.119 --> 00:06:36.859 tell us who they belong to. 00:06:37.919 --> 00:06:39.419 They're clothed in British Airways, 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:40.239 that's their identity. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:43.800 That's their identity. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:46.000 And think about clothes. 00:06:47.340 --> 00:06:49.000 What is the closest thing to you? 00:06:49.579 --> 00:06:50.860 It's your clothes, isn't it? 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:53.319 I got an extra jumper just now 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:53.920 because I realised I had 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:55.199 coffee spilled all over my shirt. 00:06:56.519 --> 00:06:57.560 Clothes cover you, don't they? 00:06:57.639 --> 00:06:59.540 Clothes are what people see. 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:01.480 They're also close to you. 00:07:02.139 --> 00:07:03.360 So being in Christ means 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:04.620 that is your identity, 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:05.960 like those British Airways staff. 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:07.720 It means you're close to Christ, 00:07:07.780 --> 00:07:08.460 you're covered with him. 00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:11.500 It means that's your character, 00:07:11.599 --> 00:07:12.259 it's what people see 00:07:12.259 --> 00:07:13.199 as they look at you. 00:07:14.979 --> 00:07:16.519 And this is a great change. 00:07:17.500 --> 00:07:19.079 When we trust in Christ, 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:20.759 formerly we were imprisoned. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:22.759 Verse 23, Paul said that. 00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:24.359 We couldn't be free, 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:25.439 we were slaves, 00:07:25.479 --> 00:07:26.299 like those poor women 00:07:26.299 --> 00:07:27.719 rescued from that house 00:07:27.719 --> 00:07:28.399 in South London. 00:07:29.139 --> 00:07:31.000 But now we are included in Christ, 00:07:31.099 --> 00:07:32.139 included in Christ, 00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:33.919 and therefore included 00:07:33.919 --> 00:07:35.259 in Christ's people, 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:36.279 this new community. 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:37.199 Look at verse 28. 00:07:38.459 --> 00:07:40.279 Here there is neither Jew nor Greek, 00:07:40.599 --> 00:07:42.339 there is neither slave nor free, 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:43.819 there is no male or female, 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:47.099 for you're all one in Christ Jesus. 00:07:47.799 --> 00:07:49.279 Paul is saying you're now included 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:50.299 in this new community. 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:53.039 All the old social divisions 00:07:53.039 --> 00:07:54.379 are broken down. 00:07:56.039 --> 00:07:56.919 Jew and Greek, 00:07:57.060 --> 00:07:58.799 Jew and Gentile was the biggest division 00:07:58.799 --> 00:08:00.779 in the world of Paul's day. 00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:03.099 Male and female was a big division. 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:05.360 A first century Jewish man 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:06.500 would pray every day, 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:08.439 thanking God that he was not born 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:09.379 a Gentile, 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:09.939 a dog, 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:10.620 or a woman. 00:08:11.820 --> 00:08:13.540 Now Paul said all those old distinctions 00:08:13.540 --> 00:08:15.180 are all gone. 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:17.500 You're all united in Christ. 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:19.420 The gender distinctions, 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:21.240 the socio-economic differences, 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:24.439 the racial differences, 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:25.240 no longer matter. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:27.560 Now let's be clear for what this 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:28.620 doesn't mean. 00:08:28.620 --> 00:08:30.780 It doesn't mean 00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:32.080 everyone is the same 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:32.980 in Christ Jesus. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:36.080 Jews still spoke Aramaic, 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:37.320 Greeks still spoke Greek. 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:39.120 Today, in this room, 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:40.159 many of us come from 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:41.480 different nations, 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:42.320 different backgrounds. 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:45.179 The cultures that we grew up in 00:08:45.179 --> 00:08:46.480 are still part of this. 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:48.419 It's not that those differences 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:49.000 disappear. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:50.120 Equally, 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:51.740 there are still differences 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:52.620 between men and women. 00:08:53.659 --> 00:08:54.720 And in the Bible story, 00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:56.240 and in the biblical teaching, 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:57.259 there are different roles 00:08:57.259 --> 00:08:57.860 for men and women. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:08:59.100 It doesn't mean 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:00.580 we're not equally valid 00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:01.980 and equally loved by God, 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:02.720 but it does mean 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:03.460 there is a distinction 00:09:03.460 --> 00:09:04.300 in our roles. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:06.399 So that's what it doesn't mean. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:07.519 What it does mean 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:09.180 is that no one 00:09:09.180 --> 00:09:10.120 is excluded 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:11.980 because of their race, 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:12.779 because of their 00:09:12.779 --> 00:09:14.139 socio-economic class, 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:15.320 because of their gender. 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:17.379 So the Galatians 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:18.080 were being taught 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:18.800 that they had to obey 00:09:18.800 --> 00:09:20.019 a whole lot of Jewish laws. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:20.919 If they really wanted 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:21.860 to be close to God, 00:09:22.060 --> 00:09:22.680 if they really wanted 00:09:22.680 --> 00:09:23.379 to be secure, 00:09:23.680 --> 00:09:24.420 they had to go and obey 00:09:24.420 --> 00:09:25.519 the Old Testament law. 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:27.300 And what that did 00:09:27.299 --> 00:09:27.639 was created 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:30.500 at least a two-tier system 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:31.740 that the Jews 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:32.599 were really in 00:09:32.599 --> 00:09:33.359 and really loved 00:09:33.359 --> 00:09:34.679 and the others 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:35.559 who weren't. 00:09:35.599 --> 00:09:36.079 They weren't quite 00:09:36.079 --> 00:09:36.699 up to standard. 00:09:37.779 --> 00:09:38.479 Paul was saying, 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:38.959 no, 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:40.500 we are all one 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:41.240 in Christ Jesus. 00:09:41.359 --> 00:09:42.039 All his distinctions 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:42.519 are God 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:43.779 because what matters now 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:44.879 is faith in Christ. 00:09:47.479 --> 00:09:47.879 Now, 00:09:47.939 --> 00:09:48.819 what about us today? 00:09:49.859 --> 00:09:50.579 We maybe don't think 00:09:50.579 --> 00:09:51.120 we have to obey 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:51.879 the Jewish laws 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:52.559 to be more loved 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:53.179 by God. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:55.439 But do you think 00:09:55.439 --> 00:09:56.100 that some types 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:56.879 of people are 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.899 closer to God 00:09:57.899 --> 00:09:58.480 than you are? 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:00.360 More loved, 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:00.980 more accepted? 00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:04.179 See, here's a test. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:05.039 Do you look at some people 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:05.439 and think, 00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:07.019 oh, they're much better 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:08.000 Christians than I am. 00:10:08.939 --> 00:10:09.600 They must be 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:10.659 more loved by God. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:12.799 Or do you despair 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:13.360 sometimes 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:13.779 that there's something 00:10:13.779 --> 00:10:14.580 in your life 00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:16.740 that means you just 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:17.179 haven't, 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:18.299 you're just not 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:19.039 quite good enough. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:19.759 you could never 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:20.599 make the grade. 00:10:21.599 --> 00:10:21.919 Or perhaps 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:23.159 something in your 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:23.799 background 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:25.399 makes you feel 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:27.000 inferior in some way. 00:10:28.819 --> 00:10:29.620 Or do you look 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.519 at other churches 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:31.019 other than the one 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:31.500 you go to 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:31.860 and think, 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:33.699 they don't really 00:10:33.699 --> 00:10:34.179 have it. 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:34.919 You know, 00:10:35.099 --> 00:10:35.639 their theology 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:36.199 isn't as good 00:10:36.199 --> 00:10:36.699 as ours. 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:38.059 They do some 00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:38.620 really weird 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:39.839 and wacky things. 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:42.240 So you think 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:42.899 like that, 00:10:43.179 --> 00:10:43.919 if we think like that, 00:10:43.959 --> 00:10:44.539 I think we probably 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:45.339 haven't really got 00:10:45.339 --> 00:10:46.500 what Paul is saying here. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:48.679 What matters 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:49.399 to be accepted 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:50.259 by God. 00:10:51.219 --> 00:10:51.719 What matters 00:10:51.719 --> 00:10:52.379 to be included 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:53.179 in his people 00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:54.500 is not what 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:55.120 we've done, 00:10:55.199 --> 00:10:55.679 not how good 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:56.919 our theology is, 00:10:58.059 --> 00:10:58.899 not our 00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:00.500 socioeconomic status, 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:02.120 but what Christ 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:02.500 has done. 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:03.359 There's no advantage 00:11:03.359 --> 00:11:04.519 or disadvantage 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:05.179 in being a Jew 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:05.659 or a Greek, 00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:06.319 in being British 00:11:06.319 --> 00:11:06.919 or American, 00:11:07.459 --> 00:11:07.959 in being a man 00:11:07.959 --> 00:11:08.479 or a woman, 00:11:09.079 --> 00:11:09.519 in being rich 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.079 or poor, 00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:11.620 in being middle 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.539 class or working 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:12.959 class. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:13.620 All these 00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:14.279 distinctions are 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:15.039 transcended by 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:15.879 this new reality. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:17.579 We have faith 00:11:17.579 --> 00:11:18.259 in Christ, 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:18.819 we are one 00:11:18.819 --> 00:11:19.580 in Christ Jesus. 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:21.100 We are included. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:23.039 We are included 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.399 in God's people. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:26.159 And that, 00:11:26.319 --> 00:11:26.620 by the way, 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.559 is the one mark 00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:28.580 of being included 00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:29.340 in God's people. 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.379 That ties into 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:32.819 Christ, 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:34.460 faith in Christ. 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:37.379 So Paul is saying, 00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:37.679 do you want to 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:38.340 enjoy the privilege 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:38.919 of belonging 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:40.000 to the one truly 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:41.139 multicultural society 00:11:41.139 --> 00:11:41.539 on earth? 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:43.059 Then you need to 00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:44.220 just trust in Jesus. 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:46.019 Don't try and add 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:46.600 to what Jesus 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.100 has done. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.159 Don't try and 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.039 make yourself 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:49.740 better and more 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:50.480 loved by obeying 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.279 certain rules. 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:52.419 Don't trust in 00:11:52.419 --> 00:11:53.199 your own performance 00:11:53.199 --> 00:11:53.799 or your own 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:55.079 niceness or your 00:11:55.079 --> 00:11:55.799 own church gang. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:56.860 Trust in Christ 00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:57.240 alone. 00:11:58.079 --> 00:11:58.860 It is in him 00:11:58.860 --> 00:11:59.679 that we are 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:00.259 included. 00:12:02.199 --> 00:12:02.980 This is the first 00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:03.779 privilege we have 00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:04.600 through faith in 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:04.899 Christ, 00:12:05.019 --> 00:12:05.740 is inclusion. 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:07.379 Included in Christ, 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:08.840 included in Christ's 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:09.199 community. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:09.919 We are connected 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:11.019 to one another, 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:12.519 united to him. 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:14.220 That is the first 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:15.159 privilege to enjoy. 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:16.419 The second 00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:17.079 privilege then is 00:12:17.079 --> 00:12:18.679 adoption into a 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:19.279 new family. 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:20.360 We will go down 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.419 to verses 1-7. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.340 See the people 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:24.819 from a Jewish 00:12:24.819 --> 00:12:25.659 background in these 00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:26.860 days could have 00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:27.240 thought there was 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:27.919 something special. 00:12:28.579 --> 00:12:29.439 So we were given 00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:29.840 the law. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:31.439 We have all this 00:12:31.439 --> 00:12:32.039 Old Testament 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:32.939 history behind us. 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.720 You Gentile 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:35.600 believers, you 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:35.919 people who have 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:36.579 only just believed 00:12:36.579 --> 00:12:37.519 this gospel message 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:38.399 about Jesus Christ, 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:39.960 you are a 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:40.579 benufferian. 00:12:40.580 --> 00:12:41.800 you are not 00:12:41.800 --> 00:12:42.320 quite as good 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:42.620 as us. 00:12:42.680 --> 00:12:43.100 That is why you 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:43.600 need to live up 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:44.360 to our standards. 00:12:45.020 --> 00:12:45.400 But look what 00:12:45.400 --> 00:12:46.060 Paul says, 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.660 even about the 00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:47.060 Jews. 00:12:47.540 --> 00:12:48.120 Chapter 4, 00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:48.680 verse 1. 00:12:49.300 --> 00:12:49.879 I mean that the 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:50.800 heir, as long 00:12:50.800 --> 00:12:51.639 as he is a child, 00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:52.440 is no different 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:53.320 from a slave, 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:54.420 even though he is 00:12:54.420 --> 00:12:55.259 the owner of 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:55.860 everything. 00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:57.240 Now Paul is 00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:57.580 using an 00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:58.200 illustration that 00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:58.500 would have been 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.740 well understood 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:00.300 by the people 00:13:00.300 --> 00:13:00.860 of his day. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.120 In the Roman 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:03.379 world, a son 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:03.860 in a wealthy 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:05.280 family would 00:13:05.280 --> 00:13:06.060 stand to 00:13:06.060 --> 00:13:06.840 inherit everything. 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:09.460 Inherit a house, 00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:09.980 inherit all the 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:10.320 slaves, 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:11.260 inherit all the 00:13:11.260 --> 00:13:11.660 land, 00:13:12.140 --> 00:13:12.480 inherit the 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:12.900 business. 00:13:14.260 --> 00:13:14.660 So there's a 00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:15.120 sense that she 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:15.620 had everything 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.160 coming to him, 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:17.160 but while he 00:13:17.160 --> 00:13:17.960 was a child, 00:13:18.780 --> 00:13:19.180 he didn't 00:13:19.180 --> 00:13:20.080 actually own 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:20.600 anything. 00:13:21.020 --> 00:13:21.300 In fact, 00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:21.720 while he was 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.080 a child, 00:13:22.160 --> 00:13:22.440 he had a 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:23.480 slave assigned 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:24.220 to him as 00:13:24.220 --> 00:13:24.740 his guardian, 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.100 as his 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:25.480 teacher. 00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:27.060 And that's 00:13:27.060 --> 00:13:27.500 what Paul is 00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:27.980 referring to 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:28.300 back in 00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:29.680 verse 24, 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:31.620 when he says 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.100 that so then 00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:32.660 the law was 00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:33.320 our guardian 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:34.000 until Christ 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:34.420 came. 00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:35.380 So this 00:13:35.380 --> 00:13:36.220 guardian slave 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:36.920 would be there 00:13:36.920 --> 00:13:37.680 to teach and 00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:38.440 instruct and 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.100 train up the 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.440 child. 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:40.660 Paul says 00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:41.120 the law 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:41.340 that was 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:41.660 given to 00:13:41.660 --> 00:13:42.120 Israel was 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:42.860 just that. 00:13:43.520 --> 00:13:43.960 It was a 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:45.220 guardian sent 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:45.960 to instruct, 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:46.820 to show 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:48.260 Israel their 00:13:48.260 --> 00:13:49.200 need for a 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:49.940 true saviour. 00:13:52.020 --> 00:13:52.580 That's why he 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:53.720 goes on to 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:54.100 carry on in 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:55.000 chapter 4. 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:58.000 Paul says, 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:58.840 this child is 00:13:58.840 --> 00:13:59.600 unbegadians 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:00.059 and marriages 00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:00.480 until the 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:01.120 date set by 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:01.620 his father. 00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:02.580 In the same 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:03.379 way we also, 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:04.000 when we were 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:04.440 children, 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.659 were enslaved 00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:06.059 to the 00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:06.480 elementary 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:07.580 principles of 00:14:07.580 --> 00:14:08.320 this world. 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:09.899 See, 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:10.200 Paul's saying 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:10.940 even the 00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:11.480 old Jewish 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:11.899 law, 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:12.580 where people 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.019 tried to 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:13.799 follow it, 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:15.559 ignoring Christ 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:16.419 and thinking 00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:16.740 they could 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.220 earn their 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:17.799 way to God, 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:18.279 they were 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:18.700 actually just 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:19.440 being slaves 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:19.820 to the 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:20.279 elementary 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:21.600 principles of 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:22.159 this world. 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:22.840 What are 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:23.480 those elementary 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.159 principles of 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:24.519 the world? 00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:25.559 Well, 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:25.839 they're the 00:14:25.839 --> 00:14:26.579 basic religious 00:14:26.579 --> 00:14:28.079 ideas that 00:14:28.079 --> 00:14:28.579 you find in 00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:29.240 any culture 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:29.679 around the 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:30.019 world. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.659 The basic 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:32.600 religious idea 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:33.639 that to be 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:34.240 accepted, 00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:35.360 to be on 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.199 God's side, 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:36.980 you need to 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:37.559 achieve, 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:38.100 you need to 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:38.699 do certain 00:14:38.699 --> 00:14:39.079 things, 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:39.459 you need to 00:14:39.459 --> 00:14:41.019 live up to 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.459 what God 00:14:41.459 --> 00:14:41.980 wants. 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:43.939 And that 00:14:43.939 --> 00:14:44.419 ends up in 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:45.259 slavishly 00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:45.659 trying to 00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:46.339 keep rules 00:14:46.339 --> 00:14:47.500 which we 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:47.839 can never 00:14:47.839 --> 00:14:48.220 keep. 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.459 See, 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:49.819 that Old 00:14:49.819 --> 00:14:50.120 Testament 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:50.779 law was 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.299 never supposed 00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:52.419 to perform 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:53.079 that function. 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:53.959 It was 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:54.400 always supposed 00:14:54.400 --> 00:14:55.259 to teach 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:55.680 the people 00:14:55.680 --> 00:14:56.160 of Israel 00:14:56.160 --> 00:14:57.139 that they 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:57.759 were sinners, 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.100 they could 00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:58.740 never be good 00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.180 enough for 00:14:59.180 --> 00:14:59.500 God. 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:00.280 It was to 00:15:00.280 --> 00:15:00.720 teach them 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.560 that they 00:15:01.560 --> 00:15:02.280 needed someone 00:15:02.280 --> 00:15:03.780 that sin, 00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:04.720 rebellion against 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.040 God, 00:15:05.180 --> 00:15:05.740 failing to live 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.300 up to God's 00:15:06.300 --> 00:15:06.660 standards, 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:07.860 always deserved 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:08.400 death. 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:09.519 And it was to 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.000 teach them they 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.620 needed somebody 00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.580 else to die 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:13.080 so they could 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:14.220 have the life 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:14.740 and promises 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.980 God gave. 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:19.080 But it was 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:20.019 often misused. 00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:21.220 So instead 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:21.700 they used it 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:22.139 as a way of 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:23.460 feeling they 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:23.939 could earn 00:15:23.939 --> 00:15:24.659 God's favour. 00:15:25.699 --> 00:15:26.159 Paul says 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:26.460 that is 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:26.980 nonsense. 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:27.419 Why? 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:28.039 Well look at 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:28.600 verse 4. 00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:29.720 When the 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.159 fullness of 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:30.559 time had 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:30.840 come, 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:31.759 God sent 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.279 forth his 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:32.699 son, 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:33.699 born of 00:15:33.699 --> 00:15:34.000 woman, 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:34.899 born under 00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.299 the law, 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.120 to redeem 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:36.620 those under 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:37.059 the law, 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:38.740 so that we 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.299 might receive 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:39.860 the adoption 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:41.080 as sons. 00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:42.120 See, 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:42.419 the fullness 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:42.919 of time 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.500 refers to 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.639 that illustration 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:45.080 again. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:45.980 The father 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.500 would set a 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.319 date when 00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:47.980 his child 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.539 could inherit 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.019 everything. 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:50.899 And God 00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:52.360 finally sent 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.120 his own 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:53.419 son, 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:53.679 the Lord 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:53.980 Jesus, 00:15:54.199 --> 00:15:54.740 at just 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.120 the right 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.599 time. 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:56.419 Born of 00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:56.759 a woman, 00:15:56.919 --> 00:15:57.579 Paul says, 00:15:57.899 --> 00:15:58.399 an echo 00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:58.819 of the very 00:15:58.819 --> 00:15:59.740 first great 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.419 promise back 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:00.860 in Genesis 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.559 chapter 3 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:02.339 verse 15, 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.279 when God 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:03.839 had promised 00:16:03.839 --> 00:16:05.240 Adam and 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.459 Eve that 00:16:06.459 --> 00:16:07.079 one day 00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:07.659 someone would 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.459 come who 00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:09.259 would end 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.139 Satan's reign 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:10.639 on the world, 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.139 he would be 00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.599 born of a 00:16:11.599 --> 00:16:11.839 woman. 00:16:12.839 --> 00:16:13.179 And Paul 00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:13.419 adds, 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.120 born under 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.599 the law. 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:15.379 In other 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:15.519 words, 00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.639 Jesus was 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.339 born in 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:17.879 Nazareth, 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.100 in Palestine, 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:19.899 born as a 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.180 Jew, 00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:21.820 circumcised on 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.139 the eighth 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:22.480 day, 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:23.420 keeping that 00:16:23.420 --> 00:16:24.180 law all 00:16:24.180 --> 00:16:24.740 his life. 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:25.519 But unlike 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:26.720 every other 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:27.440 human being, 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.320 he kept it 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:28.840 perfectly. 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.040 His life was 00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:31.580 marked by 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.399 obedience to 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:32.840 that law. 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.019 And that is 00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:34.540 why, 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.440 Paul says, 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:36.080 he could 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:36.920 redeem those 00:16:36.920 --> 00:16:37.160 who are 00:16:37.160 --> 00:16:37.639 under the 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:37.879 law. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.300 See, 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.120 Jesus fulfilled 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:40.500 all the 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.019 obligations. 00:16:41.920 --> 00:16:42.300 He loved 00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:42.700 God with 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:42.940 all his 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:43.280 heart, 00:16:43.400 --> 00:16:43.620 mind, 00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.080 soul and 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.420 strength. 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:44.900 He loved 00:16:44.900 --> 00:16:45.400 his neighbours 00:16:45.400 --> 00:16:46.060 himself. 00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:47.319 He kept 00:16:47.319 --> 00:16:47.679 the law 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.259 perfectly, 00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:49.099 which all 00:16:49.099 --> 00:16:49.399 of us 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:49.799 fail to 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:50.079 do. 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.419 And then 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:51.819 he took 00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:52.399 the curse, 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.059 the punishment 00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:54.839 for breaking 00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:55.259 the law, 00:16:55.339 --> 00:16:55.679 which you 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:55.959 and I 00:16:55.959 --> 00:16:56.359 deserve. 00:16:57.699 --> 00:16:57.979 Let me 00:16:57.979 --> 00:16:58.219 put it 00:16:58.219 --> 00:16:58.739 like this, 00:16:59.099 --> 00:16:59.859 Jesus lived 00:16:59.859 --> 00:17:00.319 the life 00:17:00.319 --> 00:17:00.859 that you 00:17:00.859 --> 00:17:01.199 and I 00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:01.699 could never 00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:02.139 live, 00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:03.599 and he 00:17:03.599 --> 00:17:04.000 died the 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.440 death that 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:04.740 you and 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.379 I deserve 00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:05.960 to die. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:09.779 And in 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.159 doing so, 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.019 he redeemed 00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.259 us, 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:11.940 he rescued 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.700 us from 00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:13.159 the curse 00:17:13.159 --> 00:17:13.440 of the 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:13.700 law. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.559 Like the 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.160 police going 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:15.460 into that 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:15.880 house in 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:16.480 South London, 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:17.420 getting those 00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:18.220 women out. 00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.220 Jesus entered 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:20.720 into our 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.120 world, 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:21.920 took our 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.360 punishment, 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:23.360 and got 00:17:23.360 --> 00:17:23.980 us out. 00:17:25.080 --> 00:17:25.240 See, 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:25.539 we needed 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:25.819 Jesus' 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:26.259 perfect 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.900 obedience to 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:27.380 fulfil the 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:27.480 law, 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:27.840 we needed 00:17:27.840 --> 00:17:28.120 Jesus' 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:28.620 death to 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:28.900 take the 00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:29.259 curse of 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:29.539 the law 00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:29.980 for us. 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:30.680 And what's 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:31.039 the result 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.319 of all 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:31.600 that? 00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:32.740 Look at 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.440 verse 5, 00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:34.360 the end 00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:34.640 of it. 00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:35.500 So that 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.140 we might 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:36.600 receive 00:17:36.600 --> 00:17:37.279 adoption 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.059 as 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:38.600 sons. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:40.019 No 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.299 longer 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:40.960 slaves, 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:41.440 no 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:41.779 longer 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.279 imprisoned, 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.559 but adopted 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:44.740 as sons. 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:45.759 Now what 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:46.220 happens when 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.220 a child is 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:47.619 adopted? 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.420 What happens 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:50.859 when a child 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:51.299 is adopted? 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:52.740 Well for a 00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.119 start they 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:53.440 suddenly have 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:53.879 a family 00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:54.399 where once 00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:55.279 presumably 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.779 they may 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:55.980 have been 00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:56.539 in care, 00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.180 maybe living 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.779 in an orphanage 00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.099 somewhere. 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:00.740 They receive 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.420 a new name, 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:02.579 they take 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:03.059 the family 00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:03.379 name, 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.559 they get a 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.359 new identity, 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:05.899 a new 00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:06.440 security, 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.480 they're loved, 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:07.899 they're indeed 00:18:07.899 --> 00:18:08.980 chosen by 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.599 their parents. 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:10.779 Instead of 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.660 being excluded, 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.420 now they're 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.019 loved and 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:14.639 brought in. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.240 And any 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.180 disadvantages of 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.680 their natural 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.519 circumstances 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:20.079 are done 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:20.700 away with. 00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.079 If they 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:22.920 were born 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.579 into poverty 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:25.160 or born 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:26.099 unwanted 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.980 and deprived, 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.299 whatever. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:29.740 Suddenly 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.799 those problems, 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:31.399 those natural 00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:32.039 consequences 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:32.819 are being 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.299 dealt with, 00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:34.019 may take time 00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:34.740 for that to 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.240 work itself 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:35.539 out, 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.099 but they 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:36.539 are dealt 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:36.740 with, 00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.000 they have 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.519 a fresh 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.299 and wonderful 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.059 new start. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:40.779 And so 00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.039 it is for 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.420 Christians. 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:42.480 When we 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:42.960 trust in 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.339 Christ, 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:43.940 we're 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.279 immediately 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.119 adopted by 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:45.539 the Father. 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.399 That's 00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:47.700 his whole 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:48.200 purpose. 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:49.799 He wants 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.359 to adopt 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:50.920 us into 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:51.519 his family. 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:52.480 And that 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:52.779 is the 00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.200 wonderful 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.940 truth of 00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.240 the good 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:54.639 news. 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.359 If we've 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:56.960 trusted in 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.440 Christ, 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.279 we're 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:58.720 adopted. 00:18:59.480 --> 00:18:59.859 We have 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:00.420 a Father 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.139 who loves 00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:01.539 us. 00:19:02.899 --> 00:19:03.339 Can I 00:19:03.339 --> 00:19:03.619 ask you, 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.159 how do you 00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:04.619 think of 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:04.940 God? 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.740 How do you 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.180 think of 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:07.519 God? 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.799 Do you 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.000 have this 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:09.339 image in 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:09.740 your mind 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.480 of a 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.160 distant, 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:11.900 stern, 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.799 taskmaster 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.240 who needs 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:13.440 to be 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:14.000 obeyed, 00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:15.160 who gets 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:15.559 fed up 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:15.799 with you 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:16.139 a lot? 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.460 Is that 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:19.720 how you 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.039 think of 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.200 him? 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.559 Paul is 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.000 telling us 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.359 here we 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:23.799 can think 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.119 of him 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:24.619 as our 00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:25.420 Father in 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:25.740 Heaven. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:26.940 Now I 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:27.279 know some 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:27.579 of us in 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:27.859 this room 00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.119 have had 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:28.599 terrible 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:29.000 fathers. 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:30.680 Maybe they 00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:31.160 ran away, 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:31.559 maybe they 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:31.819 took no 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.299 responsibility, 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.220 maybe they 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:33.660 were abusive. 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:35.660 But even 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:35.940 if you've 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.379 had a bad 00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:36.639 father, 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.020 you know 00:19:37.020 --> 00:19:37.240 what a 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:37.660 good father 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:37.940 should have 00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:38.300 looked like, 00:19:38.340 --> 00:19:38.640 don't you? 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:39.860 At every 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:40.240 point you 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:40.680 would critique 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.060 your own 00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:41.360 father, 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.320 you know 00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:42.500 what a 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:42.880 good father 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:43.380 should look 00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:43.700 like. 00:19:44.520 --> 00:19:44.900 And here 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:45.400 we have a 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:45.920 father in 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.160 Heaven, 00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.220 if we've 00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:47.720 trusted in 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.000 Christ, 00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:48.560 the perfect 00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:48.960 father. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:50.680 We do 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.000 not need 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.700 to own 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.460 his love, 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:53.940 rather he's 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:54.320 given his 00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:55.020 own son, 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.040 so you can 00:19:56.040 --> 00:19:56.560 be adopted 00:19:56.560 --> 00:19:57.600 as his 00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:57.960 child. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:19:59.480 So those 00:19:59.480 --> 00:19:59.940 women who 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.360 were freed 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:01.520 back in 00:20:01.520 --> 00:20:01.820 November 00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:02.480 2013, 00:20:04.340 --> 00:20:04.820 they had a 00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:05.380 lot to get 00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:06.020 used to, 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.520 freedom in 00:20:07.520 --> 00:20:07.840 the new 00:20:07.840 --> 00:20:08.320 world. 00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:09.640 But they'd 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:10.020 gone from 00:20:10.020 --> 00:20:10.759 being imprisoned 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.680 and kept 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.740 apart from 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.140 society, 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.640 now they're 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:14.060 included. 00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.380 They'd gone 00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:15.720 from being 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.340 slaves to 00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:17.000 being free. 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:20.660 Maybe they 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:22.600 weren't quite 00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:23.200 adopted because 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.520 they were all 00:20:23.520 --> 00:20:24.000 adults. 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.120 Perhaps they 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.340 were at least 00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:25.980 adopted into 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.640 some communities 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:26.900 that would 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:27.400 look after 00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:27.620 them. 00:20:29.100 --> 00:20:29.400 This is 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:29.900 what freedom 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.440 means. 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:30.840 It means 00:20:30.840 --> 00:20:31.440 freedom from 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:31.900 fear of 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:32.800 rejection because 00:20:32.800 --> 00:20:33.080 of our 00:20:33.080 --> 00:20:33.480 failure. 00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:35.220 Freedom to be 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.019 included and 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.600 adopted and 00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:36.860 loved. 00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:37.539 Not because 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.100 of what we've 00:20:38.100 --> 00:20:38.440 done but 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:38.740 because of 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.180 what Christ 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.640 has done. 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.160 It means 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:41.680 freedom from 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.100 our habits 00:20:42.100 --> 00:20:42.720 and failings. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:42.980 Look at 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.100 verse 6. 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:45.120 What does 00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:45.600 Paul say 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:45.880 there? 00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.160 Because you 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:47.600 are sons, 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.059 God has 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.500 sent the 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.000 spirit of 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.299 his son 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:49.680 into our 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.079 hearts, 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:50.799 crying, 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.259 Abba, 00:20:51.360 --> 00:20:51.759 Father. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:52.839 The Holy 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.680 Spirit changes 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.860 us and 00:20:54.860 --> 00:20:55.559 enables us to 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:56.440 know we 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.120 are adopted 00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.799 by God. 00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:58.720 It also 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.480 means freedom 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.660 from fear 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.039 about the 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:01.819 future for 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.380 a real hope 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:02.799 of the future. 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.100 Look at 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:03.620 verse 7. 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.179 If you're 00:21:04.179 --> 00:21:04.500 no longer 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.019 a slave 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.419 but a 00:21:05.419 --> 00:21:05.679 son, 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.239 and if 00:21:06.239 --> 00:21:06.779 a son, 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.459 then an 00:21:07.459 --> 00:21:08.039 heir through 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.579 God. 00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:10.159 An heir. 00:21:10.459 --> 00:21:10.699 You have 00:21:10.699 --> 00:21:11.279 an inheritance 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.719 to look 00:21:11.719 --> 00:21:12.299 forward to. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:13.859 A future 00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:15.439 living forever 00:21:15.439 --> 00:21:16.579 in God's 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.359 place with 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.019 all God's 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:18.339 people, 00:21:18.459 --> 00:21:18.699 the new 00:21:18.699 --> 00:21:19.179 family you're 00:21:19.179 --> 00:21:19.859 included into 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:21.039 with our 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.419 Lord Jesus 00:21:21.419 --> 00:21:21.879 Christ, 00:21:21.959 --> 00:21:22.279 our big 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:22.599 brother, 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.579 in that new 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.039 creation. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.019 That is the 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.459 inheritance. 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.059 And how 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.359 does all 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:27.839 this come? 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.899 Through our 00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:30.279 own hard 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:30.619 work, 00:21:31.459 --> 00:21:31.859 through our 00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.500 own niceness, 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:32.579 Jesus. 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:33.920 Now look 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.140 at those 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:34.700 last two 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.119 words of 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:35.660 verse 7. 00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:37.039 It comes 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:39.400 through 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:40.319 God, 00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:41.839 through what 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:42.200 he has 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:42.480 done. 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.359 Let's 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:43.619 pray.