WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.540 We're reading from Matthew 16, verse 13 to 23. 00:00:07.640 --> 00:00:12.679 Now, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:13.820 he asked the disciples, 00:00:14.859 --> 00:00:17.160 Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:20.559 And they said, Some say John the Baptist, 00:00:21.240 --> 00:00:24.300 others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 00:00:25.080 --> 00:00:28.420 He said to them, But who do you say that I am? 00:00:28.420 --> 00:00:30.820 Simon Peter said, 00:00:31.360 --> 00:00:34.859 You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:00:35.560 --> 00:00:36.740 And Jesus answered him, 00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:39.179 Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:41.760 for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, 00:00:41.800 --> 00:00:43.340 but my Father who is in heaven. 00:00:44.040 --> 00:00:48.780 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, 00:00:48.859 --> 00:00:51.340 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:54.700 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, 00:00:54.760 --> 00:00:57.460 and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. 00:00:57.460 --> 00:01:00.480 and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:05.379 And he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 00:01:06.759 --> 00:01:10.939 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem 00:01:10.939 --> 00:01:15.099 and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes 00:01:15.099 --> 00:01:17.640 and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:21.199 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, 00:01:21.859 --> 00:01:23.359 Far be it from you, Lord. 00:01:23.679 --> 00:01:25.319 This shall never happen to you. 00:01:25.319 --> 00:01:27.639 But he turned and said to Peter, 00:01:27.919 --> 00:01:29.559 Get behind me, Satan. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:31.679 You are a hindrance to me. 00:01:32.699 --> 00:01:34.899 For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, 00:01:34.979 --> 00:01:36.219 but on the things of man. 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:39.479 Well, good morning. 00:01:39.639 --> 00:01:40.399 My name is Dave. 00:01:40.579 --> 00:01:42.839 I'm one of the pastors, if I haven't met you before. 00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:46.979 Why don't we pray as we come to God's word? 00:01:46.980 --> 00:01:53.980 Yeah, Father, as we just sung, let me echo that, 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:57.900 the prayer of that song, that we need you to speak to us. 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:03.560 Lord, if whatever storms are raging in our life, 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:10.819 we need to be preoccupied and set our eyes on the Lord Jesus, 00:02:10.819 --> 00:02:15.979 because it is in him that we have hope and life and blessing. 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:21.319 So please reveal your son to each one of us through your word. 00:02:22.019 --> 00:02:22.979 In his name I pray. 00:02:23.219 --> 00:02:23.459 Amen. 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:31.959 Well, I've had a few important questions 00:02:31.959 --> 00:02:35.039 that have shaped my life to this point. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:39.560 I've had to sign a contract with the bank 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:41.039 about where I'm going to live, 00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:43.120 and there was a lot of conditions there 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:45.519 that I had to agree to. 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:49.840 I've had to sign a contract with this place of work 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:52.599 about the things I'm going to do, 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:55.620 and I made public promises about the things I'm going to do. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:57.019 I had to answer a bunch of questions. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:00.899 And perhaps more fundamental again 00:03:00.900 --> 00:03:05.420 is when Martin Shadwick married Emma and I, 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:08.900 he asked, do you take... 00:03:08.900 --> 00:03:10.759 Oh, wait, what did he ask? 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:11.620 What's the question? 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:15.259 I forgot the wording of it. 00:03:15.659 --> 00:03:16.460 Oh, how awful. 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:21.020 Yeah, anyway, I gave consent. 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:21.840 I promise I did. 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:24.020 Pete did a video. 00:03:24.200 --> 00:03:24.780 I can play it. 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:25.480 I can prove it. 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:30.939 Now, these things have really shaped my life. 00:03:32.299 --> 00:03:34.519 And there's probably other questions too 00:03:34.519 --> 00:03:37.159 that are important in your life. 00:03:37.979 --> 00:03:41.799 But we're coming to a passage that is confronting us 00:03:41.799 --> 00:03:45.060 and telling us there is one ultimate question 00:03:45.060 --> 00:03:48.659 that defines who you are and your future. 00:03:49.519 --> 00:03:51.259 It defines whether you have hope, 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:52.939 whether you have blessing, 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:54.560 whether you have life. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:56.699 There is one ultimate question. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:06.300 And that question has nothing to do with you or me. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:08.620 It's got nothing to do with what you do 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:10.120 and what you're agreeing to. 00:04:12.140 --> 00:04:14.259 Jesus is asking each one of us 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:16.600 through the words of Matthew here, 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:18.600 who do you say that I am? 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:21.439 I think this question, 00:04:22.460 --> 00:04:24.860 we wrestle with it because, 00:04:25.640 --> 00:04:28.420 or I wrestle with it precisely because 00:04:28.420 --> 00:04:30.020 it's got nothing to do with me 00:04:30.020 --> 00:04:31.540 and what I can do. 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:36.379 The Word of God says that 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:38.600 based on the answer to this question, 00:04:40.300 --> 00:04:43.260 our eternity weighs in the balance, 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:45.180 whether we are right with God, 00:04:45.180 --> 00:04:49.459 whether we have blessing forever in his kingdom or not. 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:53.100 Romans 10, 9 and 10 says, 00:04:53.180 --> 00:04:56.139 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord 00:04:56.139 --> 00:04:58.460 and believe in your heart 00:04:58.460 --> 00:05:01.560 that God raised him from the dead, 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:02.720 you will be saved. 00:05:05.220 --> 00:05:05.879 That's it. 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:07.420 You will be saved. 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:10.000 Based on the answer to this question. 00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:13.939 So this passage, 00:05:14.060 --> 00:05:16.620 it marks a climax and a turning point 00:05:16.620 --> 00:05:19.600 in Matthew's account of the life of Jesus so far. 00:05:20.300 --> 00:05:22.319 His purpose hasn't been to give us 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:24.780 a whole bunch of isolated stories 00:05:24.780 --> 00:05:25.900 like a children's book, 00:05:25.960 --> 00:05:27.680 which we can pick and choose our favourite 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:30.400 and just get spiritual lessons from them, 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:32.280 like they're fables or something. 00:05:32.700 --> 00:05:34.819 His purpose from the very first sentence 00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:38.740 is to paint a picture of the Jesus that people met. 00:05:39.659 --> 00:05:41.240 He's assembling the evidence. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:43.159 He could have put way more in here, 00:05:43.699 --> 00:05:44.839 but he's chosen this 00:05:44.839 --> 00:05:47.459 and he's brought us to this point 00:05:47.459 --> 00:05:50.180 and he's basically telling us, the reader, 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:52.759 you've seen enough. 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:56.420 It's time to decide. 00:05:57.319 --> 00:05:58.839 You need to start deciding. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:03.739 At the passage just prior, 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:06.199 the Pharisees had already come to their conclusion. 00:06:07.539 --> 00:06:10.199 They demand an irrefutable sign 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:12.560 that he is sent from heaven, 00:06:13.599 --> 00:06:15.120 which sounds very godly, 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:17.339 as if they're going to respond based on the evidence, 00:06:17.459 --> 00:06:18.620 but what are they actually doing? 00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:21.159 What they're doing is dismissing everything 00:06:21.159 --> 00:06:22.219 they've heard and seen. 00:06:22.479 --> 00:06:23.620 It is not godly at all. 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:27.539 So what about us? 00:06:27.540 --> 00:06:29.660 After all we have heard and seen, 00:06:30.520 --> 00:06:33.000 are we going to demand more 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:34.980 and bring our own questions, 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:38.220 demands for Jesus to answer? 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:42.000 He doesn't dance to their tune. 00:06:43.620 --> 00:06:46.379 He won't answer according to their criteria. 00:06:46.520 --> 00:06:48.020 He won't answer according to ours. 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.280 He's asking us to look at him 00:06:50.280 --> 00:06:51.939 and what he has said and done. 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:57.219 In verse 13, 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:00.779 we are told that Jesus and the Twelve 00:07:00.779 --> 00:07:03.259 are far north of Galilee. 00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:06.060 They're far away from Jerusalem, 00:07:06.899 --> 00:07:08.540 in the heart of Gentile territory. 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:11.680 It's almost a visual representation, I think, 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:15.360 that he's taken his disciples 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.500 away from the religious leaders, 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:19.639 away from this religious thinking, 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:22.860 for them to come up with their conclusion 00:07:22.860 --> 00:07:24.599 about who he is. 00:07:26.099 --> 00:07:27.539 And just before this, 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:28.779 we have a warning. 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:31.120 Beware of the teaching 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:33.139 of these religious leaders. 00:07:33.599 --> 00:07:35.079 Beware of this kind of teaching. 00:07:35.219 --> 00:07:36.419 Just a little bit of it 00:07:36.419 --> 00:07:38.439 can spread through the whole. 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:41.039 If you think like this, 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:43.479 it will blind you to who I am 00:07:43.479 --> 00:07:45.379 and God's salvation. 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:49.860 Human criteria, 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:51.259 religious criteria, 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:55.060 will keep us blind to God's salvation. 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:58.259 What I mean by religious criteria 00:07:58.259 --> 00:07:59.740 is anything that presumes 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:02.319 that God blesses or curses 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:06.139 based on what you do or don't do. 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:13.560 So, 00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:16.319 we have three groups of people 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:18.039 and three responses to Jesus. 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:21.560 The first group is the religious leaders. 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:24.919 We know their conclusion already. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:28.479 They're determined to destroy Jesus. 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:30.539 They want nothing to do with him. 00:08:32.019 --> 00:08:33.799 They want him out of their lives. 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:36.299 They've concluded 00:08:36.299 --> 00:08:38.199 he can't be from God. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:40.819 He's not religious enough. 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:42.379 How about that? 00:08:42.699 --> 00:08:44.259 Jesus isn't religious enough. 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:48.639 His lineage is of no account. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:50.799 He defiles himself 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:52.279 by being a friend of sinners 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:55.219 and tax collectors and Gentiles. 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:56.779 He doesn't keep the traditions 00:08:56.779 --> 00:08:58.000 of the elders of the law. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:00.740 He claims authority above the law, 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:01.599 breaking the Sabbath. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:04.040 He makes himself equal with God, 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:05.680 claiming to be able to forgive sins. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:06.740 Like, 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:07.460 this guy, 00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:10.320 we've got to get rid of him. 00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:11.920 He's not religious enough 00:09:11.920 --> 00:09:13.080 and he's arrogant. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:16.879 Their conclusion, 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:17.759 he's a fraud. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:22.179 Then we've got the crowds. 00:09:23.819 --> 00:09:25.019 What about the crowds? 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:25.519 Well, 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:27.819 the crowds have a much higher view of Jesus, 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:28.860 don't they? 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:29.259 Which 00:09:29.259 --> 00:09:31.879 probably isn't surprising 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:32.399 since 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.460 they've 00:09:33.460 --> 00:09:35.639 seen so many miracles 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:36.319 and wonders, 00:09:36.419 --> 00:09:37.200 all the healing 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:39.179 of their family members 00:09:39.179 --> 00:09:40.600 and their community. 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:42.559 They've got a higher view of Jesus. 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.559 And their responses 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:45.620 are really thoughtful. 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:47.440 They're respectful. 00:09:50.200 --> 00:09:51.139 They're believing 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:52.720 he does have divine authority. 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:54.960 John the Baptist, 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:57.519 like the prophets of old, 00:09:58.179 --> 00:10:00.480 he spoke with the authority of God, 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:02.399 urging repentance from sin, 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:07.000 willing to oppose kings 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:08.000 for their ungodliness. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:10.799 Maybe they saw a bit of that 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:11.460 in Jesus. 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:14.899 Maybe they saw something like Elijah 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:16.220 who demonstrated 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:17.539 a faithfulness to God 00:10:17.539 --> 00:10:19.159 when the whole nation 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:20.299 wasn't faithful. 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:22.940 Or the working wonders 00:10:22.940 --> 00:10:24.500 and miracles that Elijah did, 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:25.940 raising the dead 00:10:25.940 --> 00:10:26.980 and cleansing lepers. 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:28.659 But now it's just on a, 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:30.360 it's just been amplified 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:32.159 the amount of miracles 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:32.919 Jesus does. 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:34.759 Or maybe they saw 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:35.860 something of the suffering 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:38.019 of the prophet Jeremiah 00:10:38.019 --> 00:10:38.579 and Jesus. 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:39.879 The confrontation 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:41.379 with the religious leaders. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:42.240 Maybe they saw something 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:43.000 of his suffering. 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:46.299 These are all 00:10:46.299 --> 00:10:48.059 the very thoughtful 00:10:48.059 --> 00:10:49.419 answers, 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.819 respectful answers. 00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:55.400 But Matthew 00:10:55.400 --> 00:10:56.400 has showed us 00:10:56.400 --> 00:10:56.960 a picture 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:58.560 of Jesus 00:10:58.560 --> 00:10:59.760 that yes, 00:10:59.920 --> 00:11:00.920 he occupies 00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:02.300 the category of prophet, 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:03.640 a messenger from God, 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:05.320 but there's just 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:06.300 something about him 00:11:06.300 --> 00:11:08.020 that breaks 00:11:08.020 --> 00:11:09.180 that box. 00:11:12.180 --> 00:11:13.800 There's words and deeds 00:11:13.800 --> 00:11:15.340 that he is creating 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:16.680 a whole new category 00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:17.300 for himself. 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:21.219 So the Pharisees, 00:11:21.319 --> 00:11:22.799 they are so far away 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:23.519 from the truth 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:25.500 and the crowds 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:27.139 are so much closer 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:27.939 to the truth. 00:11:29.599 --> 00:11:30.759 But the problem is 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:32.919 whether you are drowning 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:34.339 100 kilometres 00:11:34.339 --> 00:11:35.379 out to sea 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:36.620 or drowning 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:37.620 100 metres 00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:38.799 from the shore, 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:40.259 you are still 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:41.259 in grave danger. 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:47.139 The context 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:47.799 suggests 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:49.819 a reason 00:11:49.819 --> 00:11:50.360 for these 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:51.460 dangerous conclusions 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:53.419 which is 00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:53.840 Jesus' 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:55.100 warning of 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:56.379 beware 00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:57.139 of the religious 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:58.159 teaching. 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:00.059 Anything 00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:00.919 that presumes 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:01.740 that God 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:02.620 blesses 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:04.139 or doesn't bless 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:04.779 based on 00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:05.799 what you do. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:08.419 I think 00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:09.200 that explains 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:10.819 the crowd's 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:11.200 conclusion 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:11.820 of the prophet. 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:13.440 See, 00:12:13.540 --> 00:12:14.020 a prophet 00:12:14.020 --> 00:12:15.040 tells you 00:12:15.040 --> 00:12:16.460 who God is 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:17.060 and what he 00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:18.040 wants from you. 00:12:20.300 --> 00:12:21.260 We need 00:12:21.260 --> 00:12:21.740 more than 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:22.160 a prophet. 00:12:22.640 --> 00:12:23.140 We need 00:12:23.140 --> 00:12:23.760 more than 00:12:23.760 --> 00:12:24.600 someone saying 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:26.060 this is true 00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:26.600 and this is 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:27.100 what you should 00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:27.400 do. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.540 He's not 00:12:30.540 --> 00:12:31.020 just 00:12:31.020 --> 00:12:32.360 a good 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:32.800 teacher 00:12:32.800 --> 00:12:33.540 and example 00:12:33.540 --> 00:12:34.040 to follow. 00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:37.260 If that's 00:12:37.260 --> 00:12:37.700 the case, 00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:38.200 that's just 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:39.100 religious thinking. 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:40.440 Beware 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:40.840 of that. 00:12:41.400 --> 00:12:41.780 I'm going 00:12:41.780 --> 00:12:41.960 to give 00:12:41.960 --> 00:12:42.320 a modern 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:43.040 example of 00:12:43.040 --> 00:12:43.540 it because 00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:45.460 to hopefully 00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:46.980 help us 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:47.640 grasp this 00:12:47.640 --> 00:12:48.360 for us 00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:48.640 today. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:49.900 I'm not 00:12:49.900 --> 00:12:50.440 sure if 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:50.620 you've 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:50.860 heard of 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:51.280 this guy 00:12:51.280 --> 00:12:52.560 or if 00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:52.900 you listen 00:12:52.900 --> 00:12:53.200 to him 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:53.460 or not. 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:53.680 I know 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:53.960 a few 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:54.580 people have 00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:55.300 read some 00:12:55.300 --> 00:12:55.540 of his 00:12:55.540 --> 00:12:55.840 books. 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:56.800 Jordan 00:12:56.800 --> 00:12:57.260 Peterson, 00:12:57.540 --> 00:12:59.260 he does 00:12:59.260 --> 00:12:59.600 a lot of 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:00.020 podcasts 00:13:00.020 --> 00:13:00.560 and speaks 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:00.800 a lot. 00:13:01.760 --> 00:13:02.300 I've heard 00:13:02.300 --> 00:13:02.640 him say 00:13:02.640 --> 00:13:03.740 incredible 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:04.340 statements. 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:05.879 He reads 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:06.139 the 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:06.620 Gospels 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:07.220 and he 00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:08.519 finds it 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.019 hard to 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:09.340 believe 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:10.060 that it 00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:10.500 was just 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.540 humans who 00:13:11.540 --> 00:13:12.420 wrote this 00:13:12.420 --> 00:13:13.940 because Jesus 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:14.399 is too 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:15.320 clever is 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.000 basically his 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:16.300 point. 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:18.160 That's a 00:13:18.160 --> 00:13:18.639 profound 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.120 statement. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.399 He often 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:22.160 refers to 00:13:22.160 --> 00:13:23.280 Christ as 00:13:23.280 --> 00:13:24.019 the ultimate 00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:25.399 example of 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:26.960 virtue, of 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:27.800 goodness, of 00:13:27.800 --> 00:13:29.580 beauty, who 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:30.120 we should be 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:30.680 imitating. 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:30.819 him. 00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:33.039 They're 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:33.519 incredible 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.059 statements. 00:13:36.199 --> 00:13:36.979 But that's 00:13:36.979 --> 00:13:37.399 the problem. 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:38.620 He stops 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.059 there. 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.620 Yes, Jesus 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.059 might be 00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:43.120 someone to 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.739 imitate but 00:13:44.739 --> 00:13:45.099 he never 00:13:45.099 --> 00:13:46.639 says that 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.279 he is 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:49.199 king to 00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:49.799 whom we 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:51.219 must give 00:13:51.219 --> 00:13:51.679 our lives. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.099 He never 00:13:52.099 --> 00:13:53.139 says he 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.879 is saviour 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:55.240 because I'm 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:56.179 a sinner in 00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:56.819 great need. 00:13:58.699 --> 00:13:59.419 That's the 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.059 danger of 00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:00.219 it. 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:00.680 It can 00:14:00.680 --> 00:14:01.460 sound so 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:02.139 respectful, 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:03.960 so close 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:04.259 to the 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:04.860 truth and 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:06.940 yet so 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:07.600 far away. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:10.899 Because of 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:11.500 our sin, 00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:13.240 because of 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.000 the curse 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.379 of living 00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.040 in a broken 00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:16.639 world that 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.220 we're wrestling 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:17.660 with every 00:14:17.660 --> 00:14:18.580 day, because 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:19.720 death is 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:20.620 the wages 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:21.500 of sin and 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.580 hangs over 00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:23.360 all of us 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.420 like a dark 00:14:24.420 --> 00:14:26.259 cloud, we 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:26.720 need a 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:27.160 saviour. 00:14:27.300 --> 00:14:27.660 We don't 00:14:27.660 --> 00:14:28.240 just need a 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.160 prophet, we 00:14:29.160 --> 00:14:29.560 need a 00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:29.960 saviour. 00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:31.360 We need a 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:31.680 king. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.100 So to 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:36.740 see Christ 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.019 for who 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:37.580 he is, we 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.000 need to be 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.860 emptied of 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.480 this religious 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:39.980 thinking. 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:42.620 And we 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.080 need to come 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:43.420 to the 00:14:43.420 --> 00:14:44.379 gospel portrait 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:44.980 of Jesus 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:45.879 that Matthew 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:46.440 has showed 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:46.960 us and let 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.379 him define 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:48.840 himself. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:51.639 So that 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.560 brings us to 00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:52.980 the third 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:53.420 group, the 00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:53.920 disciples. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.019 disciples. 00:14:57.219 --> 00:14:57.959 So verse 00:14:57.959 --> 00:14:59.000 15, the 00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.899 question here, 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:01.259 but who do 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.139 you say that 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:02.500 I am? 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:05.139 It's important 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.079 we know that 00:15:06.079 --> 00:15:06.799 the you there 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.479 is plural. 00:15:08.199 --> 00:15:08.500 We don't 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.139 really have a 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.899 way of saying 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.199 that in 00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:10.599 English. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.479 Who do you 00:15:11.479 --> 00:15:12.139 say that I 00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:12.279 am? 00:15:12.339 --> 00:15:13.000 Who do y'all 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:14.279 say that I 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:14.439 am? 00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:16.199 It's plural. 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:17.440 So we can 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:18.120 take Peter's 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:18.860 response here 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.900 as representing 00:15:19.900 --> 00:15:21.580 the 12. 00:15:25.180 --> 00:15:26.100 You are 00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:26.900 the Christ, 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:29.160 the king, 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:31.400 the son of 00:15:31.400 --> 00:15:31.740 the living 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.240 God. 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.360 Now all 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:35.040 the gospels 00:15:35.040 --> 00:15:36.580 agree with 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.600 slight variations 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:38.180 on this 00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:38.660 conclusion. 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.320 So Mark 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:39.780 says you 00:15:39.780 --> 00:15:40.100 are the 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:40.660 Christ. 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:42.000 Luke, the 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:42.680 Christ of 00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:43.140 God. 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:44.320 John's 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:44.900 gospel, the 00:15:44.900 --> 00:15:45.700 Christ, the 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:46.120 son of 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.420 God. 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.000 This 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:50.460 confession, 00:15:51.520 --> 00:15:51.879 this 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.900 expression of 00:15:52.900 --> 00:15:54.140 belief is 00:15:54.140 --> 00:15:55.080 what qualifies 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:55.660 you to be a 00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:56.280 Christian, to 00:15:56.280 --> 00:15:56.960 belong to 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.520 Jesus and 00:15:57.520 --> 00:15:58.100 be saved. 00:15:59.900 --> 00:16:00.840 Full stop. 00:16:02.900 --> 00:16:03.680 We want to 00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:04.340 add to that 00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:06.000 because I 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.500 think we're so 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.200 prone to that 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.000 religious thinking. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.000 Full stop. 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:11.100 If this is 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:11.820 your confession, 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:14.340 you are 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:14.740 saved. 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:17.480 there's no 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:17.860 more to 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:18.100 it. 00:16:21.420 --> 00:16:21.820 Jesus' 00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:22.879 declaration to 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.600 Peter belongs 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.200 to you as 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:24.420 well. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:25.840 Blessed are 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.080 you. 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.720 You are 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.120 blessed. 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:28.640 You may not 00:16:28.640 --> 00:16:29.259 feel blessed 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:30.060 with things 00:16:30.060 --> 00:16:30.600 going on in 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:30.980 your life. 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:31.580 You are 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:33.180 blessed if 00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:33.680 you can make 00:16:33.680 --> 00:16:34.360 this confession 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:34.460 salvation. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.440 Because all 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.500 God's promises 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:40.659 of heaven, of 00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.759 relationship with 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.740 him are 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:44.620 yours because 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.680 you have the 00:16:45.680 --> 00:16:45.940 son. 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.700 But it's the 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.759 father who 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:56.200 reveals the 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:56.860 son to us. 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:58.620 We can't work 00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.519 this out in our 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.240 own intelligence, 00:17:00.420 --> 00:17:00.759 our own 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.139 wisdom. 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.240 wisdom. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.139 The father 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.879 reveals the 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.079 son. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.339 The one who 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:05.900 created the 00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.779 son to shine 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.819 brightly also 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.799 needs to give 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.259 eyes so that we 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:10.980 can see that 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.339 light. 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.799 Same too 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:13.379 spiritually. 00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:15.180 The father has 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:15.940 revealed the 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.960 son for all the 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.519 world to see. 00:17:17.639 --> 00:17:18.259 We have the 00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:18.599 Bible. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.259 We have 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.079 teachers across 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.819 the world in 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:21.259 all different 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:22.500 churches teaching 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.160 this gospel. 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:23.220 people. 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:26.019 It's been 00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.540 revealed. 00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:29.000 But the 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.220 father must also 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:31.560 give you eyes 00:17:31.560 --> 00:17:32.640 spiritually speaking 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:33.160 to see. 00:17:36.560 --> 00:17:38.380 We are all in 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:40.600 darkness in our 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:41.620 natural state, in 00:17:41.620 --> 00:17:42.620 our religious 00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:44.220 assumptions. 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:44.420 actions. 00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:49.880 So if you can 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:50.759 see Jesus' 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:54.299 light, don't 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:55.000 credit your own 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.480 knowledge. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.940 Don't credit 00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:58.700 your own wisdom 00:17:58.700 --> 00:17:59.380 for working it 00:17:59.380 --> 00:17:59.579 out. 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.279 Don't even 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:00.980 credit your own 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:02.440 humility for 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:03.620 accepting that you 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:04.259 need a saviour. 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.240 There's only one 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.279 reason you can 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.059 see and that's 00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:09.019 because the 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.900 father has 00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:11.880 shared his 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:12.660 view of his 00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:13.860 son to you, 00:18:13.859 --> 00:18:14.559 he's opened 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.339 your eyes. 00:18:15.939 --> 00:18:16.699 It's purely 00:18:16.699 --> 00:18:17.240 grace. 00:18:17.479 --> 00:18:18.119 Not even this 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:18.979 confession is 00:18:18.979 --> 00:18:19.459 your doing. 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.879 He created 00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:22.159 it. 00:18:24.219 --> 00:18:25.039 If you are 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.759 struggling to 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.399 see Jesus, 00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:27.879 then the 00:18:27.879 --> 00:18:28.539 answer is 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.959 ask God 00:18:29.959 --> 00:18:31.879 to open 00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:32.359 your eyes. 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.000 He's only 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.699 too ready to 00:18:37.699 --> 00:18:38.179 answer that 00:18:38.179 --> 00:18:38.519 kind of 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:38.779 prayer. 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:43.119 So 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:43.739 understanding 00:18:43.739 --> 00:18:44.119 what it 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:44.659 means for 00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:45.139 Jesus to 00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:45.459 be the 00:18:45.459 --> 00:18:45.879 Christ, 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:46.939 we must 00:18:46.939 --> 00:18:47.359 also 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.059 understand 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:50.939 what content 00:18:50.939 --> 00:18:51.539 to put in 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:54.199 that and 00:18:54.199 --> 00:18:55.139 what he 00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:55.599 came to 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.099 do, his 00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:56.579 mission. 00:18:58.439 --> 00:18:59.079 And we're 00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.619 told that in 00:18:59.619 --> 00:18:59.919 the next 00:18:59.919 --> 00:19:00.419 verse, his 00:19:00.419 --> 00:19:01.699 mission is 00:19:01.699 --> 00:19:02.739 to build the 00:19:02.739 --> 00:19:03.259 church. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.819 The church, 00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:06.179 not just the 00:19:06.179 --> 00:19:06.699 institution, 00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:07.399 talking the 00:19:07.399 --> 00:19:08.500 people, his 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:08.939 people. 00:19:09.199 --> 00:19:09.819 He came to 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.319 build his 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:10.740 people. 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.039 And notice 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:15.179 Christ himself 00:19:15.179 --> 00:19:16.299 is the 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:16.579 builder. 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.259 I will 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.119 build my 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:18.539 church. 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:19.740 We might 00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.359 think it's 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:21.099 the 00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:21.599 Christian's 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:21.779 job. 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:22.159 Yes, we've 00:19:22.159 --> 00:19:22.559 got a role 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.019 to play in 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:23.220 that. 00:19:23.439 --> 00:19:23.819 But no, 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.939 it's Christ 00:19:24.939 --> 00:19:25.480 who builds 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.000 the church. 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.179 Now, 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:30.799 surprisingly, 00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.419 he says, 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:33.000 now for you 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.319 who like 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:33.899 puns, and 00:19:33.899 --> 00:19:34.259 I'm thinking 00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.639 of you, 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.240 Joel Kelsey, 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:37.779 Peter, 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.000 Greek 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.680 Petros, 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:40.859 can both 00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:41.279 mean a 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.359 rock and 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.380 is a 00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:44.359 male name. 00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.019 So, 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:45.819 there's the 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.039 pun. 00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:46.579 You, 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.059 Peter, 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:49.859 on this 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.779 rock I 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:51.299 will build 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.039 my church 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.759 and the 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.200 gates of 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:53.940 hell shall 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:54.980 not prevail 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.920 against it. 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.380 Now, 00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:58.980 these verses 00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.660 are hotly 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.539 debated and 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.620 so I'm 00:20:01.620 --> 00:20:01.960 going to 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.500 use the 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.059 excuse of 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:04.380 time to 00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.740 just do 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.080 a pretty 00:20:06.080 --> 00:20:06.560 cursory 00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:08.080 summary of 00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:08.700 the options 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:10.540 and I'll 00:20:10.540 --> 00:20:10.960 share what 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.380 I think 00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.840 that I 00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.360 encourage you 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:13.720 to talk 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.160 more over 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:14.660 morning tea. 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.020 So, 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.020 assuming that 00:20:18.020 --> 00:20:19.860 Jesus isn't 00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.420 just cracking 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:20.900 a joke, 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.340 a pun, 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:23.140 he wants 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:23.540 to make a 00:20:23.540 --> 00:20:24.080 point here. 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:25.220 What is 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.780 the rock? 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.020 What is 00:20:27.020 --> 00:20:27.820 the bedrock 00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:28.280 of the 00:20:28.280 --> 00:20:28.960 foundation 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.580 of the 00:20:29.580 --> 00:20:29.880 church? 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:32.760 Well, 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:33.740 the Catholic 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.080 view, 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:34.980 this verse 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.919 is critical 00:20:35.919 --> 00:20:36.319 to the 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:36.599 Catholic 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.079 view of 00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:37.480 having a 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:37.720 Pope, 00:20:38.619 --> 00:20:39.500 having a 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.019 representative 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.819 of Christ 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.399 on earth, 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.359 a successor 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:43.199 to Peter, 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:45.039 linking that 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.460 with verse 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:45.919 19. 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.339 I'm going 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:46.559 to give 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:46.839 you the 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:47.480 keys of 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:47.619 the 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:47.839 kingdom 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.279 of heaven. 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.500 But, 00:20:50.939 --> 00:20:51.960 there's 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.279 nothing 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:52.659 mentioned 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.359 here about 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:53.980 a successor 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.480 to Peter. 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.159 While 00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:59.799 Acts and 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.259 the epistles 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.819 show that 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.779 Peter is 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.339 something, 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.460 along with 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:03.920 James and 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:04.180 John, 00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.059 something of 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:05.500 a first 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.259 among equals 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:06.579 of the 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.180 early church, 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.879 he's never 00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:09.819 painted as 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.720 having exclusive 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.379 authority. 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.440 There's no 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:14.240 circumstance 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.480 where his 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.500 final judgment 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.440 is the 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.059 authority on 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.399 the matter. 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.359 An example 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:19.759 there is 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.619 Acts 15, 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.440 where they 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.000 had the 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.660 council in 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.099 Jerusalem. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.339 Peter doesn't 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:24.680 give the 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.440 final verdict. 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.619 I think you 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.139 would expect 00:21:27.139 --> 00:21:28.019 that if 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.839 Peter was the 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.220 head of the 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.120 church in 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:30.500 a pope 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:30.900 sense. 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.279 Nor is 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.420 Peter infallible, 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:35.519 like we see 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:35.900 that in the 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.539 very next 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.500 paragraph. 00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.160 And Paul 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:39.579 had to 00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.200 rebuke 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:41.279 Peter publicly 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.839 because he 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.339 was acting 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:43.779 in a way 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.420 that undermined 00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:44.839 the gospel. 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.400 So he's not 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:45.980 infallible 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.319 either. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.319 So there's 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.160 a whole bunch 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:49.579 of reasons 00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.880 why that 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.620 Catholic view 00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.440 of a 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:52.980 successor, 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:53.559 head of 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.100 the church, 00:21:55.100 --> 00:21:55.620 a pope 00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:55.960 view, 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:58.319 doesn't stand 00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:58.720 the weight 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:58.899 of 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.200 scripture. 00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:02.000 So what 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.159 are the 00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:02.339 other 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:02.740 options? 00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:04.879 Broadly 00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.240 taken, 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.720 maybe Peter 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.139 here is 00:22:07.139 --> 00:22:07.599 representing 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.480 all believers. 00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.379 So he's 00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:09.759 just the 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.720 first stone 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:12.299 laid as 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:12.659 Jesus 00:22:12.659 --> 00:22:13.319 builds his 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:14.039 church, 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.859 person by 00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.200 person. 00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.779 Or some 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.179 other 00:22:18.179 --> 00:22:19.859 significance 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.220 of the 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:20.579 fact that 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.279 Peter is 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.779 addressed 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.319 personally, 00:22:22.919 --> 00:22:23.299 so maybe 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:23.879 just the 00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.319 leader of 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:24.639 the early 00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.059 church. 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:27.960 Or is 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.119 he 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.559 representing 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:28.779 the 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.259 twelve 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.139 apostles? 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.919 Or another 00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:32.559 option is 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.220 that it's 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.879 not Peter 00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:34.339 who's the 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:34.559 rock, 00:22:34.679 --> 00:22:34.940 but it's 00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.779 the confession 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.980 Peter makes. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.220 You are 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.899 the Christ. 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:40.819 That is 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.240 the rock 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.440 of the 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:41.759 church. 00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.500 Okay, 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:44.879 there's the 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.159 options. 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:45.460 I'm not 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:45.759 going to go 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.139 into it 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:46.500 too much 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:46.819 more. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.159 You guys 00:22:48.159 --> 00:22:48.639 can debate 00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:48.980 it over 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.519 morning tea. 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:49.879 I'm just 00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:50.079 going to 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:50.359 show you 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:50.740 where I'm 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.079 up to. 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.259 If Peter 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.000 is the 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.480 representative 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.079 of the 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:55.420 twelve 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:55.759 when he 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.220 makes that 00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:56.700 confession, 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:57.620 you are 00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:57.799 the 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.240 Christ. 00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:58.519 He's 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:58.839 speaking 00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.259 on behalf 00:22:59.259 --> 00:22:59.539 of the 00:22:59.539 --> 00:22:59.860 twelve. 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.640 Then maybe 00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:02.960 he's also 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.640 representing 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.160 the twelve 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.299 when Jesus 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.819 speaks to 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.240 him here. 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:07.079 So it's 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:07.819 the apostles 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.440 who are 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:08.920 the rock, 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.839 the foundation 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.140 of the 00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:10.440 church. 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:11.880 Now I 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:12.360 like that 00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:13.160 in my 00:23:13.160 --> 00:23:13.680 current 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.160 thinking 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.680 because 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:16.339 that 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.539 aligns 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:17.860 with other 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:18.220 pictures 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:18.720 of God. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:19.799 Like 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:21.259 Ephesians 2, 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:22.539 the apostles 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:22.980 are the 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.759 foundation of 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.160 the temple 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:25.540 or Revelation 00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:26.300 22. 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.019 They are the 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.740 foundation of 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.160 the city 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:28.660 of God 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.100 that we're 00:23:29.100 --> 00:23:29.680 hoping for. 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.019 To me 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.600 I think 00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.120 this fits 00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:35.180 because 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:36.759 your confession, 00:23:36.860 --> 00:23:37.600 if you're a 00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:37.880 believer, 00:23:38.040 --> 00:23:38.779 your confession 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.380 of Jesus, 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.380 what is it 00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:40.900 based on? 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.320 It's not 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:44.180 based on 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:44.519 other 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.060 Christians 00:23:45.060 --> 00:23:45.620 primarily 00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.240 telling you 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.680 the gospel. 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:47.880 It's based 00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.320 on 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:51.359 what the 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:51.819 apostles 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.839 have told 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.059 us, 00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:53.319 their 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:53.859 eyewitness 00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:54.339 testimony 00:23:54.339 --> 00:23:55.119 in their 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:55.639 confession. 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.019 So that's 00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.980 why I'm 00:23:57.980 --> 00:24:00.079 saying I 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.539 think the 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.439 rock represents 00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:02.059 the twelve. 00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.460 Our 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.039 confession 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.079 is based 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:07.379 on this 00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.359 first confession 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:09.179 of the twelve. 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:13.420 So I'll 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:13.740 leave that 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.080 with you. 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.100 Then we 00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:15.420 have a 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:15.779 wonderful 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.320 promise. 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:17.960 The gates 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.580 of hell 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.460 shall not 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.320 prevail against 00:24:20.320 --> 00:24:21.680 the church. 00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:24.279 Now gates 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.100 here can 00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:25.320 mean 00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:27.820 fortifications, 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.500 so the 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.360 full forces, 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:29.799 the full 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:31.000 army of 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.160 hell or 00:24:32.160 --> 00:24:32.700 Hades, 00:24:32.820 --> 00:24:33.200 the place 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:33.580 of the dead. 00:24:34.060 --> 00:24:34.500 So I think 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.680 RSV translation 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.740 can help us. 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.900 the powers 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:38.559 of death 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.960 shall not 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.259 prevail against 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.539 it. 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.160 And I 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:42.660 think this 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.559 is incredible 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:45.740 because let's 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.299 face it, 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:47.640 death prevails 00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.140 against 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:49.079 everything. 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.019 Doesn't 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.220 it? 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:52.859 Isn't 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:53.359 that why 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:54.279 life is so 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.720 painful? 00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:56.819 Death 00:24:56.819 --> 00:24:57.660 prevails 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.200 against 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.019 everyone 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.400 and 00:24:59.400 --> 00:24:59.920 everything. 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.980 But 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.660 death is 00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.059 not just 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.579 the natural 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.460 life cycle, 00:25:08.920 --> 00:25:09.400 it's the 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.039 wages of 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.420 sin. 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.480 This is 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:14.920 crucial to 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.620 know how 00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.559 Jesus builds 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:17.400 his church. 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:18.860 He must 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.599 take the 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.299 curse on 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.019 sin that 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.720 we deserve. 00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:24.000 Death 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.900 won't prevail 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:25.839 against his 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.920 church because 00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:28.360 death didn't 00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:29.640 prevail against 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:30.019 him. 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.799 He took 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.519 that curse, 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.420 paid it in 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.539 fall and 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.200 raised from 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.620 the dead. 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.220 There's 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:37.539 nothing, 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:39.340 there's no 00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:39.980 wages to 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:40.560 pay anymore. 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.840 It didn't 00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.519 prevail against 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:46.500 him, so 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.100 all who 00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.640 are united 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:49.400 him, it 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.080 won't prevail. 00:25:52.360 --> 00:25:53.140 Nothing is 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.539 able to 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.320 separate us 00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:55.539 from the 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:55.900 love of 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:56.440 God in 00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.060 Christ Jesus 00:25:57.060 --> 00:25:57.640 our Lord. 00:25:57.640 --> 00:26:01.980 God, what a 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.600 wonderful hope 00:26:02.600 --> 00:26:03.040 we have. 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.420 And if you 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.020 don't yet know 00:26:09.020 --> 00:26:09.560 this kind of 00:26:09.560 --> 00:26:10.400 hope, then I 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.020 would urge you 00:26:11.020 --> 00:26:12.160 to keep 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:12.960 wrestling with 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.540 this ultimate 00:26:13.540 --> 00:26:14.580 question because 00:26:14.580 --> 00:26:15.060 that's where 00:26:15.060 --> 00:26:15.520 you'll find 00:26:15.520 --> 00:26:15.820 hope. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.220 Who do you 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.700 say that I 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:17.920 am? 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:22.440 Well, so 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:22.800 far we've 00:26:22.800 --> 00:26:23.340 been focusing 00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:23.720 on what 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.800 Christ does. 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.320 He will 00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:25.680 build the 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.660 church, he 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:27.500 will make 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.039 sure death 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.380 doesn't 00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:28.800 prevail. 00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:30.820 Then we 00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:31.759 get a 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.600 surprising 00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.480 role given 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:33.980 to the 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.820 apostles and 00:26:34.820 --> 00:26:35.140 to the 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:35.500 church. 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.259 I will 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:37.740 give you 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.500 the keys 00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:38.860 of the 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.420 kingdom of 00:26:39.420 --> 00:26:39.740 heaven. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.060 Now, I 00:26:42.060 --> 00:26:42.259 don't know 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.720 about you, 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.120 but my 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.580 reaction to 00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:45.019 that is, 00:26:45.300 --> 00:26:45.660 hang on, 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.279 don't do 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.000 that, not 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.240 a good 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.620 idea. 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.259 Jesus, are 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.680 you sure 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.160 you want 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.560 to put 00:26:50.560 --> 00:26:51.640 that kind 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.160 of authority 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.880 in people's 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.160 hands? 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.140 Because the 00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:57.640 keys is a 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.000 picture 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.519 representing 00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.840 like you 00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.480 can unlock 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.300 the door and 00:27:01.300 --> 00:27:01.820 let people 00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.820 in to the 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.240 kingdom of 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:03.960 heaven or 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.279 you can 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:04.820 shut it. 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:09.519 And there's 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:09.940 a guarantee 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.380 given, 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:10.960 whatever you 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.500 bind on 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.180 earth shall 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.660 be bound 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.080 in heaven, 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.019 whatever you 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.759 loose on 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.539 earth shall 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.140 be loosed 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.759 in heaven. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:20.940 I think 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.320 what helps 00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:21.600 us to 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.120 understand 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:22.420 these 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:23.000 keys is 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.320 to look 00:27:23.320 --> 00:27:23.720 at a 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.060 negative 00:27:24.060 --> 00:27:24.640 example 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.180 of the 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.740 keys in 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.920 Luke 11 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:28.779 52 and 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.240 then Matthew 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.320 23, 13. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.680 So let me 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:31.900 read. 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.320 say, Jesus 00:27:32.320 --> 00:27:33.019 saying to the 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.500 teachers of 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:33.860 the law, 00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.080 woe to 00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:35.759 you lawyers, 00:27:36.860 --> 00:27:37.480 for you 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.420 have taken 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.060 away the 00:27:39.060 --> 00:27:39.500 key of 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:39.980 knowledge. 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:40.920 You did 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:41.620 not enter 00:27:41.620 --> 00:27:42.740 yourselves and 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.540 you hindered 00:27:43.540 --> 00:27:44.820 those who 00:27:44.820 --> 00:27:45.280 were entering. 00:27:45.280 --> 00:27:47.140 And then the 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.880 Matthew equivalent 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.500 of that verse, 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.400 woe to you 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:49.920 scribes and 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:51.040 Pharisees, you 00:27:51.040 --> 00:27:51.880 hypocrites, for 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.800 you shut the 00:27:52.800 --> 00:27:53.420 kingdom of 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.019 heaven in 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.860 people's faces, 00:27:55.860 --> 00:27:56.600 for you neither 00:27:56.600 --> 00:27:57.600 enter yourselves 00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:58.980 nor allow those 00:27:58.980 --> 00:28:00.380 who would enter 00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:01.299 to go in. 00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.380 Now how did 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:04.880 they have the 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.240 keys? 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:05.740 They had the 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.299 keys because 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.640 they were 00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.160 teachers. 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.339 And what they 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:09.980 were teaching 00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.880 wasn't true 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.480 knowledge. 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:12.819 It was 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:13.339 religious, 00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:14.880 focused on 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.960 self, not 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.680 focused on 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.460 trust in what 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.220 God can do. 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.180 And so they 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:19.880 were shutting 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:20.680 the door of 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.360 heaven for 00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:21.720 people. 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:24.480 That's the 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.220 negative example. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.660 So I think 00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:27.180 that helps us 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:27.980 understand what 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.920 Jesus is saying 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.160 here. 00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:29.940 Based on this 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.519 confession, 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.620 apostles and 00:28:31.620 --> 00:28:33.440 church, you 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:34.180 can open the 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.860 door to heaven 00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:36.039 for people by 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:37.420 professing this 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:38.680 gospel that 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.559 Jesus is the 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.680 Christ, the 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.360 Son of God. 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.579 In as much as 00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.259 we can get that 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.620 across, we are 00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:46.640 opening a door 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.500 for people to 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:47.960 come in. 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:52.360 What an 00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:52.779 incredible 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.240 privilege. 00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.240 Again, it's 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.799 Christ who 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.220 builds his 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.720 church, but 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.100 he's going to 00:28:57.100 --> 00:28:57.960 do it through 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.940 this confession 00:28:58.940 --> 00:29:00.140 that every 00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:00.819 Christian has. 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:01.880 I'm not 00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:02.860 talking evangelism 00:29:02.860 --> 00:29:03.120 here. 00:29:03.380 --> 00:29:04.579 I'm saying if 00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:04.860 you're a 00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:06.340 Christian, you 00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:07.160 confess Christ. 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:07.720 That's what it 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.279 is to be a 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.519 Christian. 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:11.880 And as much 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:12.620 as your life 00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:13.200 and your words 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.000 can show that, 00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:16.200 we have the 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:16.840 privilege of 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:19.259 having the 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.959 keys of the 00:29:19.959 --> 00:29:20.220 kingdom. 00:29:20.939 --> 00:29:21.459 We have the 00:29:21.459 --> 00:29:21.980 gospel to 00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.240 share. 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:27.980 So how 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.500 exciting this 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.259 moment must 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.879 have been for 00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.379 the apostles. 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:32.879 Here they 00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:33.779 have this 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:35.199 special relationship 00:29:35.199 --> 00:29:35.799 with the king 00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:36.359 of the world, 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:39.079 promising that 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.519 they are 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.240 blessed, they 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:40.759 are part of 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.319 his people, 00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:42.699 that they 00:29:42.699 --> 00:29:43.059 have the 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:43.980 father as 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.299 well. 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:46.699 Simply on the 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.279 basis of 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:48.160 seeing and 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:48.940 confessing who 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.920 he is, that 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.580 they have 00:29:51.580 --> 00:29:52.819 hope that 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.420 death will 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.019 not prevail, 00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.799 and they've 00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.500 given such a 00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.400 privileged role 00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:58.920 in proclaiming 00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:01.140 this confession 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:02.039 of faith to 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.700 others also. 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:06.080 Now it's 00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:07.000 precisely because 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.580 of their 00:30:07.580 --> 00:30:08.319 conviction that 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.299 Jesus is the 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:09.900 Christ that 00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.900 when he started 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:11.600 to lay out 00:30:11.600 --> 00:30:12.779 his plan for 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:14.039 ascending the 00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.519 throne, that's 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:15.940 what brings 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.460 about this 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.799 reaction, or 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.579 part of it 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:18.879 at least. 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.359 Okay, we're 00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.000 going to go to 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.500 Jerusalem. 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.740 Fantastic. 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.180 That's where we 00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:24.500 should go. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:25.779 I'm going to 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.119 suffer. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.660 Okay, not so 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.420 good, but I 00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.519 suppose we 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:30.819 shouldn't have 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.460 expected it to 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:31.859 be easy. 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.940 At the hands of 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.879 elders and chief 00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:34.420 priests and 00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:34.960 scribes. 00:30:36.579 --> 00:30:37.680 I was expecting 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.700 Roman army there, 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:40.299 but I don't know 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:41.059 why you'd submit 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:42.200 to those guys 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:43.139 and be killed. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.659 Hang on. 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.299 They probably 00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:49.139 barely heard the 00:30:49.139 --> 00:30:49.839 next part about 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.539 being raised. 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:53.019 Peter, on the 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.559 one hand, the 00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.259 first part of the 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:55.119 passage, he is 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:56.339 thinking God's 00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:57.279 thoughts about the 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.339 Christ because the 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.179 Father had revealed 00:30:59.179 --> 00:31:00.139 it to him, and 00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:01.879 here he now 00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:03.319 arrogantly presumes 00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:04.960 that he knows 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.700 God's plan, God's 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.559 will, better than 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.220 the Christ. 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:11.700 that's not the 00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.100 plan. 00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.940 As if he's just 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:16.680 saying to the 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.259 Christ he's 00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:19.200 confessed, hang 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:19.940 on, I'm not sure 00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.880 you understand what 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:21.700 Lord means. 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.720 It doesn't mean 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.059 that. 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:30.180 I don't know 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:30.620 about you, but 00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:31.160 don't we have the 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:31.860 same reaction? 00:31:34.360 --> 00:31:37.000 Most days, I'm 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.900 spilling over into 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:38.500 next week's 00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.120 passage, but 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:41.400 Jesus told his 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:42.040 disciples, if 00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:42.720 anyone would come 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.620 after me, he must 00:31:43.620 --> 00:31:44.660 deny himself and 00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:45.700 take up his cross 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.480 and follow me. 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:49.380 I can relate to 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:50.400 Peter's reaction 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.500 here when 00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:54.140 discipleship means 00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:55.200 following the 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.180 path of suffering. 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.740 That's not the 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.180 plan. 00:31:58.540 --> 00:31:58.860 Don't you 00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.920 understand, Lord, 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:01.100 what it means to 00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:01.620 be Lord? 00:32:03.800 --> 00:32:04.480 But anyway, we'll 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.120 come to that next 00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:05.440 week. 00:32:06.040 --> 00:32:07.040 We need to first be 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.879 gripped by what 00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:09.099 Jesus does on our 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:10.220 behalf before we 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:11.299 look at what it 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:11.960 means to follow 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.180 him. 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.720 Peter thinks he 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.299 can contribute 00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:19.980 something, that he 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.920 has a better way, 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.819 that maybe he could 00:32:22.819 --> 00:32:23.960 fight for the king. 00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:27.319 But this rock's 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:28.579 contribution just 00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.599 becomes a stumbling 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:30.019 block. 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.079 book. 00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.879 It's only after the 00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:34.639 resurrection that 00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:35.639 Peter really 00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:38.980 understands the 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.279 full picture of 00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:41.500 who Christ is. 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:42.200 It's genuine 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.519 belief here, but 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:44.500 it's partial. 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:45.779 He doesn't fully 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.180 get it. 00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:50.180 And Jesus sees the 00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:51.379 same temptation he 00:32:51.379 --> 00:32:52.680 received after his 00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:54.139 baptism and the 00:32:54.139 --> 00:32:55.160 same temptation he's 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.940 going to face in the 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:56.819 garden of Gethsemane. 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:58.279 He sees that same 00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:59.319 temptation through the 00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:00.059 words of Peter. 00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.779 You can be king 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:05.439 without going to the 00:33:05.439 --> 00:33:05.799 cross. 00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:09.960 Now here's the 00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.579 beautiful thing. 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:12.759 Look at the king we 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:13.139 have. 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.279 He doesn't for a 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:18.619 moment entertain 00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:20.599 that temptation. 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:25.500 He is determined to 00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:26.719 be trusting his 00:33:26.719 --> 00:33:28.159 father and trusting 00:33:28.159 --> 00:33:30.259 his father's plan to 00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.279 take the path of 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:32.519 suffering, to take 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:35.199 the death for our 00:33:35.199 --> 00:33:36.099 sake, for our 00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:36.659 salvation. 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:42.000 Peter contributes 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.579 nothing to this plan. 00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:44.699 If anything, he's an 00:33:44.699 --> 00:33:45.500 obstacle to it. 00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:47.639 You and I contribute 00:33:47.639 --> 00:33:49.039 nothing to our 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.539 salvation. 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:53.099 We don't even need a 00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:54.419 complete understanding 00:33:54.419 --> 00:33:55.019 of Jesus. 00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:57.279 Yes, you need to 00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:58.259 understand he died for 00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:59.419 sins and was raised, 00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:02.119 but can we really have a 00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:03.279 complete understanding of 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:03.480 that? 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:07.179 You don't even need a 00:34:07.179 --> 00:34:10.360 consistent trust in 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:10.739 Jesus. 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:16.659 Even if you're a 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.319 Christian, if you 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:22.019 declare faith, even 00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:23.519 that has been given 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.300 to you by the 00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:25.200 Father opening your 00:34:25.200 --> 00:34:28.059 eyes, we contribute 00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:30.440 nothing to our 00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:30.900 salvation. 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:34.019 It's his faith to 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.480 his father. 00:34:34.620 --> 00:34:36.680 It's his faithfulness to 00:34:36.680 --> 00:34:38.720 his father's plan that 00:34:38.720 --> 00:34:39.340 saves us. 00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:45.500 this king is so full of 00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:45.980 grace. 00:34:46.700 --> 00:34:48.460 All he wants is for us 00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.720 to stop thinking in 00:34:49.720 --> 00:34:51.039 terms of what we do. 00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:52.500 Stop looking at that. 00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:55.760 Look to him, who he is, 00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:57.019 what he has done. 00:34:58.660 --> 00:35:00.460 That all the death, the 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:01.900 curse of sin for our 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:03.019 unfaithfulness that you and 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:05.220 I do deserve, he takes it. 00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:08.559 All of heaven's blessings 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:10.919 because of his faithfulness 00:35:10.919 --> 00:35:11.659 that you and I don't 00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:13.439 deserve, he gives it. 00:35:16.339 --> 00:35:17.839 We contribute nothing. 00:35:20.339 --> 00:35:22.399 Which makes this question 00:35:22.399 --> 00:35:24.239 the only ultimate question 00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:24.839 in life. 00:35:25.959 --> 00:35:27.379 Because it's not about what 00:35:27.379 --> 00:35:28.919 you can contribute, it's 00:35:28.919 --> 00:35:30.259 about who he is and what 00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:30.759 he has done. 00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:34.920 Can I urge you, don't 00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:36.380 rest until you can answer 00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:36.660 it. 00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:40.640 Rejoice if you can and 00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:41.800 give glory to the 00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:43.080 father's grace in giving 00:35:43.080 --> 00:35:44.140 you eyes to see. 00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:46.760 Keep coming back to it 00:35:46.760 --> 00:35:47.840 when your perspective 00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:49.320 turns in on yourself 00:35:49.320 --> 00:35:50.600 again and again. 00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:51.780 Keep coming back to it. 00:35:53.080 --> 00:35:55.400 And realise the privilege 00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:56.760 and calling we have that 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:58.220 we have the keys to open 00:35:58.220 --> 00:35:59.280 up heaven for people. 00:36:00.760 --> 00:36:02.340 Inasmuch as we profess 00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:04.220 that Jesus is the 00:36:04.220 --> 00:36:06.300 Christ, the son of the 00:36:06.300 --> 00:36:07.520 living God in whom is 00:36:07.520 --> 00:36:08.680 hope and blessing in 00:36:08.680 --> 00:36:08.960 life. 00:36:10.160 --> 00:36:10.960 Let me pray. 00:36:11.160 --> 00:36:11.460 Let's pray. 00:36:16.240 --> 00:36:19.620 Father, thank you for 00:36:19.620 --> 00:36:21.440 sending your son and 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:24.620 Lord Jesus, thank you for 00:36:24.620 --> 00:36:29.920 coming and choosing to 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:30.360 going to go to the 00:36:30.360 --> 00:36:30.720 cross. 00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:33.159 Not because you had to 00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:34.639 but because you delighted 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:38.079 to trust your father and 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:38.860 obey your father. 00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:42.159 Thank you, Holy Spirit, for 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:44.280 opening our eyes so that we 00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:46.139 can confess Jesus as Lord 00:36:46.139 --> 00:36:46.880 and be saved. 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:48.880 And Lord, I pray that you 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:51.019 would be continuing to 00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.940 build your church. 00:36:52.599 --> 00:36:53.599 Lord, if there's anyone here 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.840 today who doesn't know you, 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:57.139 use my weak words to do 00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:59.539 powerful things in their 00:36:59.539 --> 00:36:59.900 heart. 00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:01.559 And Lord, for all of us, 00:37:01.699 --> 00:37:02.819 please help us to keep 00:37:02.819 --> 00:37:03.819 coming back again and 00:37:03.819 --> 00:37:05.699 again to who you are and 00:37:05.699 --> 00:37:06.940 what you have done and not 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.359 ourselves. 00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:09.400 In Jesus' name, amen.