WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.640 Lord. 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:13.980 So keeping in mind those two readings from the Old Testament, that image of God summoning 00:00:13.980 --> 00:00:17.679 a people, daughters and children from the north, south, east, and west. 00:00:18.460 --> 00:00:23.140 Isaiah 45, where God says, look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth, for 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:24.640 I am God and there is none else. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:30.660 That open invitation that God is giving to all nations and all peoples to come to him, 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:34.020 the only true God, the righteous God and Savior. 00:00:34.659 --> 00:00:41.019 Let's turn now to John's Gospel, which if you're keeping track probably is my favorite book 00:00:41.019 --> 00:00:41.579 in the Bible. 00:00:42.400 --> 00:00:45.560 John's Gospel, and I'd like to read the opening 14 verses. 00:00:47.019 --> 00:00:54.620 Just as an aside, if you're considering the person of Jesus, the Gospel of John has a 00:00:54.619 --> 00:00:57.719 has no predecessor, has no precedent in ancient literature. 00:00:58.339 --> 00:01:01.679 It appeared without any parallel. 00:01:02.539 --> 00:01:04.979 It's written by a first century fisherman. 00:01:04.979 --> 00:01:14.900 And as you read this book, ask yourself, what kind of influence, what kind of subject prompted 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:17.799 a fisherman to write this book? 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:24.359 It reminds us that as Jesus walks across the page of human history, he walks across uniquely. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:26.599 There is none like him. 00:01:27.340 --> 00:01:32.679 And the impact that he had then and the impact that he has now is without parallel, without 00:01:32.679 --> 00:01:33.340 precedence. 00:01:33.759 --> 00:01:38.579 You cannot compare him to any other figure in human history. 00:01:39.539 --> 00:01:41.879 John's Gospel, chapter 1, verse 1. 00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:47.179 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:01:47.819 --> 00:01:49.280 He was with God in the beginning. 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:51.879 Through him all things were made. 00:01:52.500 --> 00:01:55.359 Without him nothing was made that has been made. 00:01:55.979 --> 00:02:00.560 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 00:02:02.019 --> 00:02:05.819 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:02:06.620 --> 00:02:10.659 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:17.400 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 00:02:18.359 --> 00:02:20.079 He himself was not the light. 00:02:20.579 --> 00:02:23.359 He came only as a witness to the light. 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:27.800 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 00:02:28.859 --> 00:02:34.759 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:35.180 him. 00:02:35.740 --> 00:02:40.240 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 00:02:40.659 --> 00:02:47.979 Yet, to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right 00:02:47.979 --> 00:02:51.479 to become children of God. 00:02:52.139 --> 00:02:58.699 Children born, not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born 00:02:58.699 --> 00:02:59.579 of God. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:04.099 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 00:03:04.099 --> 00:03:06.419 We have seen his glory. 00:03:06.419 --> 00:03:16.539 The glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:03:19.419 --> 00:03:26.240 The late theologian J.I. Packer encouraged, and to this I have to credit our own minister 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:31.700 for pointing these things out to me, J.I. Packer said, there are six things that you should 00:03:31.700 --> 00:03:33.800 say to yourself every morning. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:38.260 And maybe I would add to that, say the same six things to yourself every night before you 00:03:38.260 --> 00:03:38.820 go to bed. 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:41.600 I am a child of God. 00:03:42.140 --> 00:03:43.580 God is my Father. 00:03:44.200 --> 00:03:45.840 Heaven is my home. 00:03:46.420 --> 00:03:48.379 Every day is one day nearer. 00:03:48.379 --> 00:03:50.859 My Savior is my brother. 00:03:51.719 --> 00:03:53.599 Every Christian is my brother. 00:03:54.299 --> 00:03:56.039 And my sister, too. 00:03:56.840 --> 00:04:04.039 And that first phrase, I am a child of God, is our theme this evening under the big heading 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:05.319 of identity. 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:12.919 So if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are God's child. 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:18.539 Jesus, your elder brother, and every Christian brother and sister. 00:04:19.379 --> 00:04:21.939 This is a remarkable statement. 00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:26.759 And in fact, is a fulfillment of those promises that we read. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:32.300 Promises that were written almost 800 years before the arrival of Jesus. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:37.480 That a day was coming when God was going to gather his family. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:39.879 But this is no ordinary family. 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:44.019 You see, this family is spread throughout the world. 00:04:44.659 --> 00:04:47.719 This family is not a small family, but a big family. 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:51.540 And God is gathering his family together. 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:55.240 He's gathering his sons, and he's gathering his daughters. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:56.579 Some of them are near. 00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:57.759 Some of them are far. 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:04.399 Some of them are coming from very unlikely, very unusual backgrounds. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:13.399 And with you this evening, I'd like to explore what we mean when we say that I am a child of God. 00:05:13.779 --> 00:05:18.859 And that you, too, are a child of God if Jesus is your Savior, God is your Father. 00:05:19.339 --> 00:05:24.819 And you, too, are part of this big and growing family. 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:30.439 A word of personal story, which I hope may be illustrative. 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:35.459 The 13th of October 1966 was a good day. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:38.980 On that day, I entered into the world. 00:05:39.980 --> 00:05:43.240 And I was named, not surprisingly. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:45.600 But my name was Thomas Gilroy. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:54.560 And if you like, I've got a birth certificate that says Thomas Gilroy, born in Atlantic City, the 13th of October 1966. 00:05:55.820 --> 00:05:58.220 Now, I have two birth certificates. 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:03.660 The second birth certificate, which was dated in March 1967, reads, 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:09.760 Robert John Aykroyd was born on the 13th of October 1966. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:16.639 His father was Dennis Aykroyd, Jr., and his mother was Ruth Evelyn Spooner Aykroyd. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:18.599 Two birth certificates. 00:06:20.039 --> 00:06:23.839 Well, many of you who know me will know that I was adopted as a baby. 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:25.680 I was adopted at six months old. 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:32.899 And latterly, maybe just a few years ago, we were able to get original copies of the original birth certificate. 00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:36.759 But it's interesting that this copy has a watermark. 00:06:37.219 --> 00:06:45.159 So that if you try to photocopy it or if you present it, it says not eligible for legal identification. 00:06:46.479 --> 00:06:49.979 Normally, a birth certificate is eligible for legal identification. 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:51.379 You want to get a driver's license. 00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:53.060 You want to get a marriage license. 00:06:53.179 --> 00:06:54.519 You want to get a passport. 00:06:55.099 --> 00:06:57.899 Your birth certificate is a great form of identification. 00:06:57.899 --> 00:07:06.579 But this document is not valid because the person called Thomas Gilroy no longer exists. 00:07:07.739 --> 00:07:13.799 You see, that person doesn't exist because that legal person has been transformed or translated. 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:17.759 That actually Thomas Gilroy doesn't exist, but Bob Aykroyd does. 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:22.839 There's been a change of name, a change of status, a change. 00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:30.399 So that this old birth certificate is not a legal record because that legal person no longer exists. 00:07:30.899 --> 00:07:32.000 So keep that in the back of your mind. 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:33.199 I'll refer to that in a moment. 00:07:34.099 --> 00:07:40.719 As we look at John's gospel, these opening 14 verses, we could take a lot of time to go through each verse. 00:07:41.579 --> 00:07:45.599 But I'm going to suggest that the key here is the theme of relationship. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:52.820 In fact, throughout these 14 verses, there's at least four distinct relationships that are described here. 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:58.080 The first relationship is the relationship between the Son and the Father. 00:07:58.700 --> 00:08:01.000 The Son and the Father. 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:10.220 There's a relationship between Jesus, the Son of God, and between God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:08:10.220 --> 00:08:13.500 We see this relationship in the first three verses. 00:08:14.400 --> 00:08:20.680 That in the beginning, that language of Genesis, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:08:21.280 --> 00:08:24.600 He was with God in the beginning, and through Him all things were made. 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:27.600 Without Him nothing was made that has been made. 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:31.840 Well, you can only say that about God Himself, can you not? 00:08:32.680 --> 00:08:35.639 Only God is the creator of all things. 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:43.179 And if the language of one to three seems a bit puzzling, verse 14 kind of ties it all together. 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:47.860 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:55.639 We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:58.580 So there is a Father and there is a Son. 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:03.679 And there's a relationship here that is the foundation of all relationships. 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:07.539 God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son. 00:09:08.239 --> 00:09:11.699 If you want to round out our understanding of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, 00:09:11.839 --> 00:09:16.359 and He'll be introduced on the page of John's Gospel not too far ahead. 00:09:17.579 --> 00:09:20.779 The Father and the Son have a unique relationship. 00:09:21.599 --> 00:09:27.039 And it's described here and made clear that the Son now becomes a human being. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:31.419 He makes His dwelling among us so that we can now see God. 00:09:31.419 --> 00:09:33.459 We see God in the flesh. 00:09:33.819 --> 00:09:35.259 We hear God speak. 00:09:35.599 --> 00:09:37.240 We see God act. 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:38.939 We see Him act in power. 00:09:39.079 --> 00:09:40.159 We see Him act in grace. 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:41.319 We see Him act in mercy. 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:42.779 We see His miracles. 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:44.919 We hear His teaching, His parables. 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:47.620 God in the flesh. 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:51.179 So there's a relationship between Jesus and His Father. 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:58.679 The second relationship we see here is the relationship between Jesus and John. 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:01.059 They are biologically related. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:03.979 They're within the same family unit. 00:10:04.859 --> 00:10:07.799 But Jesus and John have a different role. 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:13.519 Jesus, we're told, was life and light. 00:10:14.419 --> 00:10:18.299 Jesus was light coming into the dark world. 00:10:18.979 --> 00:10:24.379 Whereas John was a witness or a herald or a signpost. 00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:37.539 Whenever I am in the west of the country, if I'm ever in the city of Glasgow, the signpost that I am looking desperately to see is M8 East. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:41.059 Because at that point, I'm ready to come home. 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:43.500 And I always get lost in the big city. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:47.700 But when I see M8 East, I follow that sign. 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:50.419 Because I know the M8 East will take me home. 00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:53.899 And that's the relationship between Jesus and John. 00:10:54.439 --> 00:10:55.839 Jesus is the light. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:57.879 Jesus is the life. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:00.179 And John is the signpost. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:02.079 He is not the light. 00:11:02.479 --> 00:11:04.379 But he is a witness. 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:08.779 So John has a key speaking role. 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:15.799 But he enters the scene and exits the scene relatively early in the ministry of Jesus. 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:18.319 John's role is significant. 00:11:18.959 --> 00:11:20.740 But John's role diminishes. 00:11:21.459 --> 00:11:25.539 So that Jesus gets the credit, the glory, the honor. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:29.879 If you look later in John chapter 1, we're told John says of Jesus, 00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:36.439 Behold, look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:39.479 So that's the second relationship we see in these opening verses. 00:11:39.479 --> 00:11:45.459 The third relationship is the relationship between Jesus and the world. 00:11:46.339 --> 00:11:49.899 We've already said from verse 3 that the world was made through him. 00:11:50.699 --> 00:11:54.479 Everything that we see was made through Jesus. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:57.219 If you look at the opening verses of Hebrews, 00:11:57.419 --> 00:12:01.439 we're told that everything that was made is also sustained by Jesus. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:02.919 So he's the maker. 00:12:03.479 --> 00:12:04.579 He's the sustainer. 00:12:04.579 --> 00:12:12.599 And the Bible tells us that he is the redeemer, the saver, the savior of all things. 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:14.859 So he's created the world. 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:19.899 So you would think that there would be a harmonious relationship, would you not? 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:21.320 He's the creator. 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.480 He's the sustainer. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:25.360 Everything owes its origin to him. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:31.980 But now like any good author, the tension is introduced. 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:33.759 The conflict is introduced. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.720 The problem is introduced. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:41.879 And we see in verse 9, the true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:46.919 And what you would naturally think that the world would welcome the light. 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:49.279 The world would welcome the life. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:53.519 The world would welcome its creator, its sustainer, its redeemer. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:57.059 However, he was in the world. 00:12:57.059 --> 00:13:04.079 And though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:05.479 Didn't get it. 00:13:06.339 --> 00:13:07.000 Didn't see. 00:13:07.859 --> 00:13:08.639 Didn't comprehend. 00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:13.519 Couldn't grasp who this Jesus was, the creator of all things. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.259 The sustainer of all things. 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:21.679 The redeemer of all things came into the world that he created. 00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:28.379 Back in the 1960s, early 60s, Disneyland was new. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:31.419 So Disneyland originally was only in California. 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:35.019 And there was a group of people walking around Disneyland. 00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:38.179 And there are huge queues. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:41.339 All the rides, all the attractions. 00:13:42.079 --> 00:13:45.240 But this group always went to the head of the queue. 00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:48.939 And they went right on to the rides, right on to the attractions. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:53.399 And at one point, those that had been standing in the queue for an hour said, 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:55.819 Hey, who do you think you are? 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:56.659 Walt Disney? 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:56.779 Walt Disney? 00:13:57.740 --> 00:14:01.659 And the older man turned back and said, Yes, I am. 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.299 That's who I am. 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:04.639 I own this place. 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:05.879 This is mine. 00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:08.620 So if I want to, I can go to the front of the queue. 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:12.120 I can go, you know, because this is my place. 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:15.899 Jesus came into the world that was his. 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.419 He created it. 00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:18.199 He sustained it. 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:22.299 And the world looked and did not recognize him. 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:27.079 Verse 11 brings it even closer to home. 00:14:27.779 --> 00:14:32.019 Because not only is there this cosmic truth that he created the world, 00:14:32.479 --> 00:14:37.179 but that Jesus was the long-anticipated savior of a people. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:41.259 So you would think of this vast globe and all of its people, 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:45.459 that there would be at least one people that would get it. 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:46.479 They're waiting. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.839 They're looking forward. 00:14:48.219 --> 00:14:50.339 He's written on the pages of their book. 00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:54.620 Look, verse 11, he came to that which was his own, 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.920 his own people, his own family. 00:14:57.720 --> 00:15:01.360 You go to your family home and you arrive at the front door 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:04.060 and you're waiting for the door to be flung open 00:15:04.060 --> 00:15:07.600 and the door is slammed in your face. 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:10.200 He came to that which was his own, 00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:13.480 but his own did not receive him. 00:15:14.060 --> 00:15:18.080 So the opening verses of John tell us that there is a tension, 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:19.520 there is a conflict. 00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:22.840 The creator, the sustainer, the redeemer has come, 00:15:23.400 --> 00:15:24.680 but people don't see. 00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:26.660 They don't recognize. 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:28.160 They don't welcome. 00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:32.700 And that's why John says later in chapter 1, 00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:36.720 behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:40.440 There is a cosmic tension between the world and its creator. 00:15:40.900 --> 00:15:44.120 The world in John's gospel is presented wholly negatively. 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:48.159 The world is characteristic of sin, characteristic of ignorance, 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:50.000 characteristic of indifference. 00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:52.820 And Jesus came into this world to save 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:54.919 and the world said, we don't know who you are. 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:56.519 We don't know where you're from. 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:57.840 We don't know why you're here. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.779 And you might say, well, that's the end of the story. 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:02.560 But not so. 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:05.799 Because the fourth and final relationship 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:07.580 that is described to us here 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:09.840 is where we come into the picture. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:15.180 Because the fourth relationship is Jesus' relationship to us. 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:18.440 Relationship one, Jesus' relation to his father. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.440 Relationship two, Jesus' relationship to John. 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:25.120 Relationship three, Jesus' relationship to the world. 00:16:25.280 --> 00:16:29.259 And now, Jesus' relationship to us, to people. 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:32.379 Ordinary people from ordinary backgrounds. 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.379 Relationship three, Jesus' relationship to us. 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:37.939 Now, I, when I went to school a long time ago, 00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:41.299 the subject that I loved most was math. 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:42.439 Maths. 00:16:42.939 --> 00:16:45.019 We're here in Scotland, so when in Rome, 00:16:45.439 --> 00:16:48.059 mathematics, maths was my favorite subject. 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:50.879 And what we have here in verse 12 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:54.539 is a truth that's presented almost as an equation. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.820 Because what does Jesus say, 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.519 or what does John say of Jesus? 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:00.299 Yet to all who did receive him, 00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:02.459 to those who believed in his name, 00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:06.559 he gave the right to become children of God. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:09.319 You see, there are two things that are required here. 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:12.779 And those two things bring with them a guarantee. 00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:15.659 The first one is receive. 00:17:16.659 --> 00:17:19.180 Yet to all who did receive him. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:22.079 By and large, the people of Jesus, 00:17:22.159 --> 00:17:24.500 the people that Jesus came for, 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:26.720 his own people said no, but some did. 00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:28.299 Some did receive him. 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:31.839 The outsiders who had no background, no knowledge. 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:34.659 Some of them received him. 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:37.000 But to those who received him, 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.399 to those who believed in his name. 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:43.220 This is the two elements. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:45.379 You know, A plus B equals C. 00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:50.419 Receive plus believe equals become. 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:54.200 And this is where we come into a relationship here. 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.880 If we receive Jesus. 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:59.900 So the idea was that when Jesus arrived, 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.440 his own people said no, thank you. 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:04.259 You know, if you get an unsolicited, 00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:05.580 you know, somebody comes to your door 00:18:05.580 --> 00:18:09.420 and asks if you want your driveway power washed, 00:18:09.580 --> 00:18:10.100 or whatever. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.680 They come and you say, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.600 actually, no thanks. 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:13.900 I'm not really interested. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.660 You know, you're not receiving them. 00:18:16.100 --> 00:18:17.779 But if somebody comes to your door, 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:20.120 like John Green who's here tonight. 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:21.640 John Green came to my door today. 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:23.600 John, come in. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.460 I don't leave my friends on the doorstep. 00:18:26.520 --> 00:18:27.580 I bring my friends in. 00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.860 I receive them. 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:31.020 And you see, when we receive Jesus, 00:18:31.100 --> 00:18:32.460 we don't leave him on the doorstep. 00:18:32.540 --> 00:18:33.580 We welcome him in. 00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:35.300 We welcome him into our home. 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:36.900 We welcome him into our heart. 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:38.800 To all who received him. 00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:44.140 The second is to those who believe in his name. 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:46.320 So if you receive Jesus, 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.520 you welcome him in. 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:50.879 And if you believe in his name. 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:54.619 And you see, the key here is name in the Bible 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:58.339 is not just Robert John Ackroyd. 00:18:58.379 --> 00:18:59.400 That's my name. 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:02.900 But the name of God captures the nature of God, 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:04.240 the character of God. 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:08.139 The name of Jesus captures the person and his work. 00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.639 So that's why Paul, 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.359 when he was summarizing his ministry, 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:11.920 he said, 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:15.759 we preach Christ and him crucified. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:19.080 Who he is and what he has done. 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:21.900 So when we believe in the name of Jesus, 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:25.500 we don't just believe that a person called Jesus existed, 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.400 which he did. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:29.160 We don't just believe that a person named Jesus 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:31.320 did certain things, which he did. 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:34.800 But we are placing our faith and our trust 00:19:34.800 --> 00:19:36.779 and our hope in him. 00:19:37.560 --> 00:19:38.539 You know, this looks like a, 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.680 I don't want to stand on it, 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:41.920 but you know, this looks like a sturdy piece of wood. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.920 Even there, I've got to be careful 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:46.080 because I've put too much forward pressure on it. 00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:46.840 This will topple. 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:49.960 But the idea here is that you put all your weight. 00:19:50.580 --> 00:19:54.039 Faith is placing all your weight on something or someone. 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:58.220 And by faith, we place all of our weight on him. 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.440 So you receive Jesus. 00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:01.759 You don't leave him on the doorstep. 00:20:01.840 --> 00:20:02.840 You welcome him in. 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:05.539 And you believe in his name. 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:07.199 That he is savior. 00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.899 That he is Lord. 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.699 That he is God. 00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:12.000 That he is human. 00:20:12.339 --> 00:20:13.299 That he lived. 00:20:13.439 --> 00:20:14.259 That he died. 00:20:14.379 --> 00:20:16.159 And that he rose again. 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:19.679 Now here's the promise. 00:20:21.679 --> 00:20:26.579 He gave the right to become children of God. 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:29.159 So when J.I. Packer says in the morning, 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:30.579 begin every morning by saying, 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.000 I am a child of God. 00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:33.199 How do you know you're a child? 00:20:33.699 --> 00:20:36.199 You're a child of God because you've received Jesus. 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:38.000 You're a child of God. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.500 You've believed in his name. 00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:43.559 And he says that you are his child. 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.419 Age six months, I couldn't speak. 00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:49.199 Age six months, I had very little awareness 00:20:49.199 --> 00:20:50.460 of what was going on. 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:54.680 But there is a legal document that said Robert Aykroyd 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:57.440 is now the son of Dennis and Ruth. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.539 I had a change of name. 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:01.539 I had a change of address. 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.539 I had a complete change of life. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:07.420 And that happens when each one of us 00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.980 comes into this new relationship. 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:11.120 You see, this is a relationship 00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:13.400 which the Bible describes as adoption. 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:19.420 Jesus the son is God's only begotten son. 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:21.440 There's a unique relationship 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.900 between the father and the son. 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:25.279 But when we come to believe Jesus, 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.580 when we come to receive Jesus, 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:27.980 when we become a child of God, 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:30.519 we join this family by adoption. 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.580 John goes on to say, 00:21:34.060 --> 00:21:36.019 children born not of a natural descent 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:38.440 nor of human decision or a husband's will, 00:21:38.560 --> 00:21:40.400 but born of God. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:42.840 When we become part of God's family, 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.759 two things happen. 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:46.039 We have a change of status. 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:48.279 We have a new name, 00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:49.460 a new location. 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:53.839 21 Windwood Road was our family home. 00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:56.440 And I never knocked on the door. 00:21:57.139 --> 00:21:57.879 Never once. 00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.859 Didn't need to knock on the door. 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.379 That was my home. 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:03.440 I opened the door and walked in. 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:05.519 If I went to my friend's house, 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.460 I knocked on the door 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.759 because it's not my house. 00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:09.940 But when I went to my family home, 00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:13.099 I walked in because that was my family home. 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:14.740 I was a member of that family. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.859 So there's a change of status, 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:19.939 but there is also a change of nature, 00:22:20.199 --> 00:22:21.359 a change of character. 00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:25.179 So not only did I have the name Ackroyd, 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:29.279 but I became like my parents. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.199 You might say, 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:31.719 but they're not biologically your parents. 00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:32.119 No. 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:34.619 But you spend enough time in somebody's company, 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:36.779 you take on qualities and characteristics. 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:41.079 So I can see characteristics of my dad 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:42.799 and characteristics of my mom 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:44.599 in me and in my sister. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.680 Maybe it's not surprising my mother was a teacher. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:48.399 I'm a teacher. 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.460 My sister's a teacher. 00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:52.339 These things get passed on in families, 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.339 and that's what we were. 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.200 We were a family. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:55.139 We are a family. 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.259 And you see, 00:22:56.539 --> 00:22:58.839 mom adopted me and mom adopted Nancy. 00:22:58.960 --> 00:22:59.660 So you know what? 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.599 Me and Nancy are brother and sister. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:04.000 We don't have a shared biology, 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:07.440 but we have a shared set of parents. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:07.940 So therefore, 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:10.039 we have a relationship now with each other. 00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:13.160 So if you are a child of God, 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.900 and I'm a child of God, 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:17.200 you and I are brother and sister. 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:19.339 And whether we like that 00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:20.880 is of no matter whatsoever 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:22.519 because that's a decision 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:24.779 that's been taken out of our hands. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:27.299 If we're both adopted into the same family, 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:29.119 we better get on now 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.140 because we're going to spend 00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:31.660 all of eternity together. 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:34.340 I am a child, 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:37.580 and you are a child of God 00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:38.920 if you receive, 00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:40.360 if you believe, 00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:42.980 the Bible tells you that you've become. 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:46.400 And this idea of born of God, 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:50.080 born not of natural descent, 00:23:50.580 --> 00:23:51.820 nor of human decision, 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.960 or a husband's will, 00:23:53.040 --> 00:23:54.440 but born of God. 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.900 Jesus picks up this theme 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:58.180 a few chapters later. 00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:59.200 You see, 00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:00.560 Jesus says to us, 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:03.200 we must be born again. 00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:06.200 We need a new start. 00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.960 We need a new beginning. 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:10.420 The change of status 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:12.279 and the change of nature. 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:15.180 These are things that God 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:17.200 and God alone can do. 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.420 He gives us the right. 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:21.440 He makes us born again 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.640 into this living hope. 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:26.140 He changes us from the inside out. 00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:29.020 And if you realize your status, 00:24:29.800 --> 00:24:31.280 you now have a relationship 00:24:31.280 --> 00:24:32.540 with God the Father 00:24:32.540 --> 00:24:33.980 that you never had before. 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.420 You have a relationship 00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.680 with Jesus the Son 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.780 that you never had before, 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.140 and you have a relationship 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:40.780 with all of God's children. 00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.240 And isn't it true 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:44.140 that when you meet fellow Christians, 00:24:44.800 --> 00:24:45.660 different cultures, 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.700 different backgrounds, 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:48.000 different life experiences, 00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:50.700 when you meet a genuine child of God, 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.280 you know it. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.460 You connect. 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.640 You interact. 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.120 You realize, okay, 00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.800 we speak different languages 00:24:55.800 --> 00:24:56.800 or from different cultures, 00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:58.100 but we have a shared parent. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.120 We have a shared father. 00:24:59.280 --> 00:25:00.680 We have a shared elder brother. 00:25:01.060 --> 00:25:04.080 And we are part of this big family. 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:09.720 Back in the middle of the 1600s, 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.740 a long time ago, 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.740 there was a theologian 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.940 who was a big deal. 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:16.520 He spent most of his time in Oxford. 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.500 His name was John Owen. 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:20.460 And John, he had a way 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:23.619 of unpacking a lot of these truths. 00:25:24.420 --> 00:25:28.079 And he, in describing the gift of adoption, 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:31.019 he said he wanted to highlight five things, 00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:32.380 and I'll close with these five 00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.799 because I think they're quite remarkable. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:37.000 In order for adoption to be true, 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:41.119 that you and I actually have to be part 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:43.579 by right of another family. 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:46.419 So I was part of the Gilroy family. 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.839 I don't know much about the Gilroy family, 00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:49.579 but I was part of the Gilroy family. 00:25:49.939 --> 00:25:53.199 That was my family by right or by birth. 00:25:54.679 --> 00:25:57.179 The second point that Owen makes is this. 00:25:57.939 --> 00:25:59.859 He said that there is another family 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:03.740 to which you have no right to be a part, 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:05.179 naturally. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.500 So I'm part of the Gilroy family. 00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:10.559 I'm not naturally a part of the Aykroyd family. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:13.700 So if Denny and Ruth didn't adopt me, 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:16.139 and 20 years later I knock on the front door 00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:17.000 and said, here I am, 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:19.159 they would say, who are you? 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.480 We don't know who you are. 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:23.000 You're not part of this family. 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:25.259 So there's a family that I'm a part of. 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:27.519 There's a family that I'm not a part of. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.440 The third point that he makes, 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.279 and this is key, 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:34.940 is that there is an authoritative translation, 00:26:35.159 --> 00:26:36.839 an authoritative change 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:39.799 by someone who has the power 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:42.839 to take you from the family that you belong to 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:44.619 and put you into a family 00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:46.799 that you do not naturally belong to. 00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:49.500 In my case, it was the state of New Jersey. 00:26:50.159 --> 00:26:52.480 The state of New Jersey had authority 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:56.619 to take someone from one family 00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:59.099 and to legally place them in another. 00:26:59.099 --> 00:27:02.859 But Owen said there were two applications 00:27:02.859 --> 00:27:04.779 or two implications of this, 00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:06.519 and this is for our benefit 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.619 and for our encouragement. 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:10.059 He said, first of all, 00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.459 when this happens, 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:13.019 you're not part of this family. 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.899 You are part of family A. 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.179 You're not part of family B. 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.439 Someone with authority 00:27:17.439 --> 00:27:18.659 takes you from family A 00:27:18.659 --> 00:27:19.639 and puts you into family B. 00:27:19.699 --> 00:27:20.679 He says two things happen. 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:22.299 The first thing is this, 00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:24.980 is that any previous debts, 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:27.019 any previous obligations 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.960 that you have to the old family 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.960 have now been cancelled. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:33.119 I'm 56 years old. 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:35.980 If members of the Gilroy family 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.319 were to contact me 00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:38.879 and say, Bob, Thomas, 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:41.000 you're part of our family. 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:43.519 We've fallen on hard times. 00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:45.359 You've done well for yourself. 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:47.859 We need you to help us. 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:50.920 Well, I would say, I'm sorry, 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:54.039 but I'm not part of your family anymore. 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:56.879 And any obligations or any debts 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:58.380 that belong to the old family 00:27:58.380 --> 00:28:00.120 have now been released. 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:01.760 I have no debt. 00:28:02.080 --> 00:28:03.100 I have no obligation. 00:28:03.520 --> 00:28:04.960 Now, out of the goodness of my heart, 00:28:05.260 --> 00:28:07.000 if I did meet the Gilroy family 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.820 and I could help, 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.960 as a Christian, 00:28:09.300 --> 00:28:10.240 this morning we heard 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.200 about the Good Samaritan. 00:28:11.280 --> 00:28:12.920 If you find people in need, 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.800 you should help people in need. 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:16.780 But there is no legal obligation 00:28:16.780 --> 00:28:17.820 for me to do so. 00:28:18.280 --> 00:28:19.580 We have now been freed 00:28:19.580 --> 00:28:20.800 from all those debts. 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:23.000 But the good news is this. 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:26.559 We have now become beneficiaries 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:30.019 of all blessings 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:32.119 that belong to the new family. 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:34.599 So when Denny and Ruth died, 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.400 my sister and I, 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.200 Nancy and I, 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.279 became beneficiaries 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.799 of their estate. 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:43.019 Mom and Dad gave their stuff 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.880 to their children. 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.160 And who are their children? 00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:47.059 The two children that they adopted. 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:49.359 We become part of God's family. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:52.799 Every blessing and every benefit 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:54.939 that belongs to the children of God 00:28:54.939 --> 00:28:56.039 belong to you. 00:28:56.459 --> 00:28:57.459 Not by right, 00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:58.939 but by adoption. 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.219 Eternal life. 00:29:01.979 --> 00:29:04.139 Joy, peace, abundant life. 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.619 However you want to describe it. 00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:07.179 Justification, sanctification, 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:07.740 new birth. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:09.099 All of these privileges 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.719 belong to all of God's children. 00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:12.479 Not because you deserve them, 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:14.099 but because you have been taken 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:15.159 from one family, 00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.699 brought into a new, 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:18.539 and given these privileges. 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:20.319 And those privileges 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:21.699 are not just for time, 00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:23.079 but those privileges 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:25.299 are for eternity. 00:29:25.959 --> 00:29:27.000 So this is the beginning 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.799 of a series 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:29.219 where we're going to explore 00:29:29.219 --> 00:29:32.579 who we are in Christ. 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:35.819 I am a child of God. 00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:37.399 God is my Father. 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.599 Heaven is my home. 00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:41.439 Every day is one day nearer. 00:29:41.939 --> 00:29:43.599 My Savior is my brother. 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:47.119 Every Christian is my brother too. 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:48.919 I hope we can all say 00:29:48.919 --> 00:29:49.899 those words together. 00:29:50.399 --> 00:29:51.139 Let's pray. 00:29:52.179 --> 00:29:53.419 Father, we come to you 00:29:53.419 --> 00:29:55.259 in the powerful personal name of Jesus. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:57.819 We recognize that we have no right 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.739 to these privileges. 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:01.039 We have no right to this access, 00:30:01.199 --> 00:30:03.199 but you in your grace and mercy 00:30:03.199 --> 00:30:05.399 and in your power and your authority. 00:30:06.239 --> 00:30:08.159 By faith in Jesus, 00:30:08.699 --> 00:30:10.019 by receiving him 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.439 and believing in his name, 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:14.139 we have now become your children. 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:16.100 You have given us a new status. 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.380 You've given us a new standing. 00:30:17.520 --> 00:30:18.560 You've given us a new nature. 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.880 You've given us a new birth. 00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:22.100 And in that, we give you thanks. 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:24.580 And I pray that you would remind us 00:30:24.580 --> 00:30:26.800 that the identity that we now possess 00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:28.900 is not an identity 00:30:28.900 --> 00:30:30.640 that can ever be lost. 00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:32.240 We thank you. 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.500 We praise you. 00:30:33.860 --> 00:30:36.020 And we ask that we would now live 00:30:36.020 --> 00:30:37.080 as your children, 00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:39.140 that we would love one another, 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:41.740 and that we would love this world 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:43.060 in which you have placed us, 00:30:43.540 --> 00:30:45.220 a world that did not recognize, 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.759 a world that did not receive. 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.900 Help us in turn to be 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.620 something that we have.