WEBVTT

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 our hearts to sing praise to God. Let us hear first of all these few words from the Bible.

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 Give thanks to the God of heaven for his steadfast love endures forever. Let us together worship him

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 in song from Psalm 122 from the Scottish Psalter, page 416 in our Blue Psalm books, Psalm 122,

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 singing from the beginning of this psalm. We'll sing the whole psalm to the tune free church.

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 I joy to enter the house of God, go up they said to me, Jerusalem within thy gates our feet shall

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 standing be. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the tribes go up,

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 the tribes of God go thither. Psalm 122, the whole psalm to the praise of God.

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 I joy went to the house of God, go up they said to me, Jerusalem within thy gates our feet shall

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 sound in me. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the tribes go up,

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 the tribes of God go up they said to me. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the

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 of the world of God. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the

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 the built-in thing and the protection of wherever the jerseys came from peace or the travelling

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 of Christ. Specifically, what worship seems to be so spoiled and to that place the

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 of Christ still remains true. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the

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 of Christ still remains peaceful within thy bones remain. Before worship may return high Him for the

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 And ever may thy goddesses prosperity retain.

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 Now for thy chains and reverence it is thee in thee I'll say.

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 And for the house of God our Lord I'll seek thy good always.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Gracious God our loving Heavenly Father how these words stir our hearts.

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 How it is we enjoy and rejoice in having this time together in worship this morning.

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 On the beginning of a new week on this your day in your house to sing praise to your name.

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 And may it be Lord today that this psalm would be our portion, our experience, our motto.

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 That we would truly in our hearts be full of joy in coming in here together today to worship before you.

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 Lord our God go before us in what we do here.

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 And we pray that in this morning's service of worship by word and by sacrament your name would be glorified.

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 The gospel of Jesus Christ would be upheld.

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 The wonder of Jesus would be extolled before us and within us.

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 And that the kingdom of righteousness would expand in our hearts and through our witness.

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 Be with us Lord as we spend this time together before you.

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 We bow in worship.

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 We acknowledge you.

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 We adore you.

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 We sing praise of your holiness, your justice, your goodness, your truth and above all.

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 We give thanks this morning for Jesus Christ, your son, the one who came into this world.

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 Having covenanted from all eternity to redeem a people to himself, he came.

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 And in that hour of suffering and as the hour of the cross loomed heavy upon him,

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 as the darkness closed in, as impending judgment came closer and closer,

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 we hear our Savior saying, Father, if it be your will, let this cup pass from me.

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 Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.

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 And so we say today, Hallelujah.

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 What a Savior.

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 Be with us as we remember the cost of our salvation.

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 Be with us as we remember what it cost our Redeemer

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 to secure the forgiveness of sin

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 that sets us aright with you, the living God,

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 that brings us from darkness and enmity to light and life,

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 that brings us from being far off and strangers of the commonwealth of Israel

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 and aliens to the promises of God,

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 right in to the very family of God.

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 What a Savior.

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 And we pray today that our songs of praise would unite our hearts,

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 that our sense of purpose and joy would be evident and felt amongst us and between us.

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 And when we go from here, we pray, Lord, then that you would draw near to us,

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 that you would bless your word to our hearts,

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 that you would undertake for us as we study together the scriptures

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 and as we remember the death of our Lord and Savior.

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 Be pleased, Lord, to bless us with your presence and your grace.

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 By word and sacrament, Lord, we come to you,

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 hungering and thirsting after righteousness.

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 So here as we pray this morning, young and old alike,

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 you know, Lord, our thoughts.

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 You know our concerns.

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 You know the things that worry us and leave us anxious,

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 that rob us of sleep and keep us from feeling a sense of peace in life.

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 Sometimes, Lord, life itself is so heavy.

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 And we pray today for any who are burdened and weighed down.

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 We pray, Lord, for those who are struggling in life,

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 who are experiencing difficulty, hardship, ill health,

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 unemployment, financial pressure and strain.

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 For those, Lord, who in these days and months have felt loneliness.

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 For those, Lord, struggling today with brokenness and addiction,

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 we pray, Lord, for them all.

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 That you would remember our communities, our island, our nation at this time.

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 We pray especially, Lord, for any joining with us today online,

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 those who are watching from home.

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 And we pray, Lord, for them.

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 We pray for those who cannot be with us.

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 And we pray, Lord, that above all, that your word would be blessed,

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 that the word would run free in hearts and lives,

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 and that Christ would be glorified,

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 the one who was lifted up,

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 that he might draw all men to him.

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 Hear us this morning, we pray,

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 as we seek forgiveness for our sin.

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 Cleanse us and renew us, we pray,

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 for Jesus' sake.

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 Amen.

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 Now, boys and girls,

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 I just want to say something to you today about choices.

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 Choices.

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 Got here a little menu card.

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 That's a little thing that comes very often to the post

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 for weddings.

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 And this wedding menu is sent along to people invited.

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 And what you have to do nowadays is you make your choices

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 and you send it back.

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 So that they know before you turn up

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 the meal that you're looking to have.

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 So I don't know, boys and girls,

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 what you would choose if you were given this menu.

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 This is what the choice you would have.

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 For the starter,

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 you could have either

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 homemade lentil soup

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 or salmon.

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 You would tick one of them

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 if you wanted a starter.

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 Then you'd be on to the main course

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 and you could have top side of beef

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 or chicken

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 Balmoral.

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 I'm sure there'd be another

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 vegetarian option somewhere

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 if that was your choice.

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 You would tick the box

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 and that would be served to you

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 on the day of the wedding.

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 And then the best bit,

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 desserts.

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 That's what it's all about, isn't it?

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 You could have meringue

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 with cream and berries

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 or you could have

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 strawberry cheesecake.

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 You would tick your choice,

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 you would put your name on the card,

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 in it goes,

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 and on the day of the wedding,

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 the choices you make

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 are served to you.

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 Isn't that nice?

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 It's good planning, isn't it?

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 You're making your choice

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 nice and early.

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 And the thing about choices

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 is that sometimes

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 you don't get much warning.

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 You have to make a decision

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 on the spot

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 and you make a choice.

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 And this is when it gets quite difficult.

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 If you're having a bad day,

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 if you've been told

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 to do your homework,

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 if you've been told

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 it's your turn for the dishes,

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 if it's your turn

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 to cut the grass

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 or wash the car

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 or walk the dog

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 and you don't want

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 to do any of these things,

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 well, you're faced with a choice.

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 Do what you've been asked to do

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 by mum or dad

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 or granny or granddad

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 or don't.

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 What are you going to do?

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 And I want to tell you today,

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 boys and girls,

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 that sometimes

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 it's good to prepare for choices

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 and we can do that

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 by asking God to help us.

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 The Bible says,

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 seek first

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 the kingdom of God.

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 We put them first

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 in our choices,

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 in little things like menus

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 and particularly in days

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 that are difficult

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 or trying,

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 if big brother's

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 getting on your nerves,

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 if little sister's

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 going off with your favorite object

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 and you're going to make

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 a choice to cause chaos

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 or just be a good brother

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 or sister,

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 that's another choice

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 you're going to have to make.

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 Ask yourself at that time,

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 what choice would God

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 want me to make?

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 And if we ask that question

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 as we make choices,

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 we are in a far better position

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 than if we don't

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 and we are really close

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 to God

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 and if we're close to God,

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 we're going to want to,

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 please him.

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 So the next time

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 choices come your way,

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 next time there's a decision

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 to be made,

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 say to yourself,

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 what choice would God

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 want me to make?

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 Well, let's read together

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 from God's word this morning

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 two passages

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 from the New Testament.

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 First of all,

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 from the Gospel of John.

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 The Gospel of John.

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 We'll read from chapter 10

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 and verse 7

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 and then we'll turn forward

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 in our Bibles

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 to 1 Corinthians

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 and chapter 15.

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 Reading first of all

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 into the Gospel of John

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 chapter 10

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 and verse 7.

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 So Jesus again said to them,

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 Truly, truly,

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 I say to you,

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 I am the door of the sheep.

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 All who came before me

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 are thieves and robbers,

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 but the sheep

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 did not listen to them.

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 I am the door.

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 If anyone enters by me,

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 he will be saved

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 and will go in and out

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 and find pasture.

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 The thief comes

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 only to steal

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 and kill and destroy.

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 I came that they may have life

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 and have it abundantly.

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 I am the good shepherd.

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 The good shepherd

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 lays down his life

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 for the sheep.

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 He who has a hired hand

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 and not a shepherd,

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 who does not own the sheep,

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 sees the wolf coming

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 and leaves the sheep

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 and flees

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 and the wolf snatches them

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 and scatters them.

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 He flees

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 because he's a hired hand

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 and cares nothing

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 for the sheep.

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 I am the good shepherd.

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 I know my own

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 and my own know me.

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 Just as the Father knows me

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 and I know the Father

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 and I lay down my life

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 for the sheep

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 and I have other sheep

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 that are not of this fold,

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 I must bring them also

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 and they will listen

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 to my voice

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 so there will be one flock,

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 one shepherd.

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 For this reason,

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 the Father loves me

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 because I lay down my life

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 that I may take it up again.

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 No one takes it from me

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 but I lay it down

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 of my own accord.

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 I have authority

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 to lay it down

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 and I have authority

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 to take it up again.

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 This charge

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 I have received

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 from my Father.

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 There was again

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 a division among the Jews

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 because of these words.

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 Many of them said,

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 He is a demon

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 and is insane.

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 Why listen to him?

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 Others said,

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 These are not the words

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 of one who was oppressed

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 by a demon.

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 Can a demon

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 open the eyes?

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 of the blind?

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 I'm turning forward

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 to 1 Corinthians

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 in chapter 15,

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 reading this chapter

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 from the beginning.

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 Paul's letter

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 to the Corinthians,

00:14:28.359 --> 00:14:29.139
 his first letter,

00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.199
 chapter 15,

00:14:30.599 --> 00:14:31.539
 reading this chapter

00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:32.559
 from the beginning.

00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:35.959
 Now I would remind you,

00:14:36.079 --> 00:14:36.319
 brothers,

00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:37.879
 of the gospel

00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.379
 I preached to you,

00:14:39.579 --> 00:14:40.639
 which you received

00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:41.839
 and which you stand

00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:44.399
 and by which you are being saved

00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:46.000
 if you hold fast

00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:46.579
 to the word

00:14:46.579 --> 00:14:47.639
 I preached to you

00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:49.739
 unless you believed in vain.

00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:51.739
 For I delivered to you

00:14:51.739 --> 00:14:53.159
 as of first importance

00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:54.879
 what I also received,

00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:57.679
 that Christ died for our sins

00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:59.259
 in accordance with the Scriptures,

00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:00.939
 that he was buried,

00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:02.100
 that he was raised

00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:02.960
 in the third day

00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:03.919
 in accordance

00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:04.720
 with the Scriptures,

00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.059
 and that he appeared

00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:06.860
 to Cephas,

00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:07.879
 then to the twelve.

00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:09.019
 Then he appeared

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:10.600
 to more than 500 brothers

00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.460
 at one time,

00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:12.379
 most of whom

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.379
 are still alive,

00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.080
 though some

00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:15.419
 have fallen asleep.

00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:16.799
 Then he appeared

00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.379
 to James

00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.480
 and to all the apostles.

00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:19.840
 Last of all,

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:21.340
 as to one untimely born,

00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.960
 he appeared also to me,

00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:24.439
 for I am the least

00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:25.319
 of the apostles,

00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:26.720
 unworthy to be called

00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.240
 an apostle,

00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:28.660
 because I persecuted

00:15:28.660 --> 00:15:29.700
 the church of God.

00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:32.139
 But by the grace of God

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:33.240
 I am what I am,

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.879
 and his grace toward me

00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:35.879
 was not in vain.

00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:36.960
 On the contrary,

00:15:37.040 --> 00:15:37.740
 I worked harder

00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:38.480
 than any of them,

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.639
 though it was not I,

00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.980
 but the grace of God

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:42.180
 that was with me.

00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:43.800
 Whether then it was I

00:15:43.800 --> 00:15:44.279
 or they,

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.840
 so we preach,

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.060
 and so you believed.

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:49.060
 Amen.

00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:50.820
 May God bless his word

00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:51.920
 to our hearts,

00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:53.100
 and to his name

00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.080
 be the praise.

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.960
 I'll sing again

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.440
 to the praise of God

00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.700
 from Sing Psalms

00:15:58.700 --> 00:16:00.720
 and the 23rd Psalm.

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:02.259
 On page 28

00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.340
 in our blue psalm books,

00:16:04.020 --> 00:16:04.860
 Sing Psalms

00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.620
 and Psalm 23.

00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:08.460
 We'll sing this whole psalm

00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.460
 together to the tune

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.259
 Tarwathi.

00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:11.139
 The Lord

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:12.680
 is my shepherd,

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.600
 no want shall I know.

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.520
 He makes me lie down

00:16:16.520 --> 00:16:17.900
 where the green pastures grow.

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.580
 He leads me to rest

00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:21.600
 where the calm waters flow.

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.200
 Psalm 23,

00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.480
 we will sing together

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.460
 to God's praise.

00:16:26.140 --> 00:16:26.700
 Amen.

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:34.180
 The Lord is my shepherd,

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:37.879
 no want shall I know.

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:41.379
 He makes me lie down

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:44.980
 where the green pastures grow.

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:48.980
 He leads me to rest

00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:52.980
 where the calm waters flow.

00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:57.980
 My wandering steps,

00:16:57.980 --> 00:17:01.920
 he brings back to his way.

00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:04.720
 Hence they pass off

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:06.400
 my justness,

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:09.200
 making me safe.

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:12.200
 and this he has done

00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:14.420
 this great day

00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:16.200
 to display.

00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:20.799
 Though I walk in death,

00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:23.799
 how he hurt our messes near.

00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:29.039
 He wants you are with me,

00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:31.799
 no evil I fear.

00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:35.799
 your God and yourself

00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:39.799
 bring me comfort and cheer.

00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:44.799
 In the sight of my enemies,

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.799
 and the evil you spread.

00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:56.079
 The oil of rejoicing you pour on my head,

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:58.200
 my cup,

00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:59.079
 O earth,

00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:03.619
 those hand and graciously fed.

00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:08.619
 So surely your covenant,

00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:11.619
 and mercy and grace,

00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:15.619
 will follow me closely

00:18:15.619 --> 00:18:19.619
 in all of my ways.

00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:21.619
 I will go to heaven

00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:22.619
 in the highest

00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:24.619
 of the Lord

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:27.619
 all my days.

00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:34.299
 We'll bow in prayer together.

00:18:34.419 --> 00:18:35.019
 Let us pray.

00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:40.719
 Lord, we bow this morning together.

00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:44.179
 We sing praise to your name.

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:46.379
 We acknowledge your holiness in prayer.

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:48.279
 We bring to you our petitions

00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:50.559
 and our supplications

00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.859
 with thanksgiving.

00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.859
 We pour out our hearts to you, Lord,

00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:57.839
 conscious of that great declaration

00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.579
 of the Christian church.

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:03.879
 The Lord is my shepherd.

00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:06.359
 We pray this evening as we,

00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:09.079
 today as we reflect on

00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:10.740
 the truth of the gospel.

00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:13.579
 As we reflect on

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:15.559
 the cost of our salvation.

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:18.740
 As we remember our Lord

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.599
 till he come again.

00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:22.379
 That you would be here with us.

00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:24.799
 We thank you that as we open

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.399
 the scriptures,

00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:27.019
 we hear you speak.

00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.720
 We have before us

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:30.940
 the very word of the living God.

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:33.359
 And we pray today that that word

00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:34.879
 would take root

00:19:34.879 --> 00:19:36.539
 in our hearts and lives.

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.759
 That we would grow in grace,

00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:40.759
 deepen our faith,

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:43.480
 and further grow up into him,

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.640
 the head of the church,

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.920
 our King and Saviour.

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.180
 Be with us, Lord,

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:51.700
 today we pray through word and sacrament.

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.279
 Our need is great.

00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:55.160
 And so we come, Lord,

00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:57.279
 seeking your blessing and filling.

00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:58.900
 We would seek you

00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.700
 with our whole heart today.

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:02.700
 And we would ask that you would

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:04.440
 address us

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:06.279
 at the deepest point of our needs.

00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:08.660
 and that the Spirit would move

00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:09.559
 amongst us,

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.180
 teaching us and leading us

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.240
 to see the one

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.799
 who gave himself for us.

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:16.259
 Jesus, our King and friend.

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:18.359
 The one who is the door.

00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.019
 The one through whom

00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:21.460
 we are bid come

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.460
 and enter onto

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:26.639
 the highway of holiness.

00:20:27.639 --> 00:20:29.099
 May we do so, Lord,

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:31.680
 humbly and expectantly.

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.299
 And so, Lord,

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.639
 we gather in anticipation.

00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:36.580
 We look upward.

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:38.340
 We look to Christ.

00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:40.660
 We come to the throne of grace

00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:42.180
 via the cross,

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:44.640
 where we go for the forgiveness

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:45.820
 of sin

00:20:45.820 --> 00:20:47.840
 that so often besets us

00:20:47.840 --> 00:20:49.180
 and entangles us.

00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.560
 Lord, we are conscious

00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:52.520
 this morning

00:20:52.520 --> 00:20:55.000
 of the gospel's declaration

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.460
 that the wages of sin

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.320
 is death.

00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:59.440
 But the gift of God

00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:00.660
 is eternal life

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:02.220
 through Christ Jesus,

00:21:03.020 --> 00:21:03.640
 our Lord.

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:05.620
 So, Lord,

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.700
 come among us.

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.740
 Bless us and do us good.

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.840
 Open our hearts and minds

00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:12.300
 and bless us

00:21:12.300 --> 00:21:13.759
 by your word this morning

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.160
 and the sacrament

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:17.000
 as we share this meal

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.020
 together at the table.

00:21:18.540 --> 00:21:19.880
 In Jesus' name we ask it.

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.200
 Amen.

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:20.380
 Amen.

00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:25.520
 The death of Christ

00:21:25.520 --> 00:21:26.960
 in our place

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.480
 to satisfy

00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:29.759
 the demands

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.040
 of divine justice

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:32.920
 and appease

00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:34.399
 the wrath of God

00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:36.819
 is of the very substance

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.859
 of the gospel.

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.519
 And that's what we find

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.440
 when we turn together

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.200
 in our Bibles

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.440
 to 1 Corinthians

00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.579
 in chapter 15

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:45.359
 where the apostle,

00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:48.059
 in writing to this church

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:49.420
 that he was so intimately

00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.460
 aware of

00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:52.539
 and wanting to encourage them

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.519
 and build them up

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.559
 and keep them

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.779
 on the right path,

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:57.180
 that's what he's been doing

00:21:57.180 --> 00:21:59.480
 these previous 14 chapters,

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.299
 teaching

00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.399
 and pleading

00:22:01.399 --> 00:22:02.279
 and exhorting

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.299
 that they would

00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.799
 again appreciate

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:06.160
 and come to a deeper

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.980
 understanding

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.779
 of the gospel of God.

00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:09.319
 And so,

00:22:09.399 --> 00:22:10.000
 we find him here

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.899
 in chapter 15

00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:12.720
 beginning to wrap things up

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:14.039
 and draw his conclusions.

00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:14.940
 And so,

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.420
 he says,

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.960
 now I would remind you,

00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:17.480
 brothers,

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:18.980
 and that word there,

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.599
 brothers,

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.359
 adelphoi,

00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:23.119
 was a plural term

00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:24.279
 used in the ancient

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.019
 Greek tongue

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.879
 to refer to

00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:26.939
 brothers and sisters.

00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:28.139
 And so,

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.699
 to read it

00:22:28.699 --> 00:22:29.899
 perhaps more accurately

00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:30.359
 would be,

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.339
 now I remind you,

00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.299
 brothers and sisters

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.179
 of the gospel

00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:34.139
 I preached to you

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:35.399
 which you received

00:22:35.399 --> 00:22:36.959
 in which you stand

00:22:36.959 --> 00:22:38.619
 and by which you are

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.739
 being saved

00:22:39.739 --> 00:22:41.559
 if you hold fast

00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.239
 to the word

00:22:42.239 --> 00:22:43.859
 I preached to you

00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:45.699
 unless you believed

00:22:45.699 --> 00:22:46.139
 in vain.

00:22:46.239 --> 00:22:47.659
 Why speak like that,

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:47.959
 Paul?

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.179
 Because there were

00:22:49.179 --> 00:22:50.399
 tensions here

00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:50.899
 and there were

00:22:50.899 --> 00:22:51.919
 divisions

00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:53.180
 and people were saying,

00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:53.600
 well,

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.440
 Paul's not much

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:54.980
 of a preacher,

00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.440
 is he?

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.500
 And in that,

00:22:56.560 --> 00:22:57.080
 they were going after

00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:58.039
 the messenger.

00:22:58.820 --> 00:22:59.140
 And then you had

00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:00.019
 other schools of thought

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.440
 that were saying,

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:00.800
 well,

00:23:01.300 --> 00:23:02.300
 if you're saved,

00:23:02.800 --> 00:23:03.240
 retire.

00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.840
 Just live off

00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:05.740
 whoever's got money.

00:23:05.800 --> 00:23:06.360
 You don't need to do it.

00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:07.400
 You're a child of God.

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.240
 Sit down.

00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:08.860
 You don't need to do

00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.279
 anything else.

00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:09.759
 And so,

00:23:09.800 --> 00:23:10.580
 what was happening there

00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:12.039
 was it wasn't the messenger

00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:12.700
 being attacked,

00:23:12.860 --> 00:23:13.860
 it was the message.

00:23:14.300 --> 00:23:15.960
 And this pincer movement

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.400
 was coming against the church

00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:18.480
 as it is today.

00:23:19.060 --> 00:23:20.200
 Nothing has changed.

00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:21.800
 The devil will attack

00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.639
 messengers

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:24.359
 and the message

00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.680
 in his attempt,

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.879
 in his ferocious

00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:28.839
 enmity toward the gospel

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:30.659
 to try and drive the gospel

00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:32.180
 out of hearts and lives

00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:33.240
 and keep sinners

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.899
 from coming

00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:35.039
 to a knowledge

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.960
 of their need

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.919
 to be born again.

00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.000
 And so,

00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:39.339
 Paul is pleading here

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.819
 that they would stand fast

00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.779
 or hold fast

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.819
 to the word

00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.980
 I preach to you,

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.440
 the gospel of grace.

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.440
 And there's a wonderful

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.519
 and very famous

00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.680
 description of

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.579
 what he did

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.519
 when he came among them

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.480
 back there in chapters

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:52.419
 one and two

00:23:52.419 --> 00:23:54.139
 of this wonderful letter.

00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:57.220
 Chapter one and two

00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.159
 of first Corinthians.

00:23:58.559 --> 00:23:59.359
 It would help if I didn't

00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.559
 turn to chapter one

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.240
 of Romans.

00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:03.119
 And in first Corinthians two,

00:24:03.199 --> 00:24:03.519
 he says,

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.920
 I came to you,

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.920
 brothers and sisters,

00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.299
 I did not come proclaiming

00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:08.299
 to you the testimony

00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.980
 of God with lofty speech

00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.759
 of wisdom,

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.279
 for I decided to know

00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.539
 nothing among you

00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:15.359
 except Jesus Christ

00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:16.559
 and him crucified.

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:17.980
 And I was with you

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.579
 in weakness,

00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.359
 in fear,

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.259
 in much trembling.

00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:21.259
 And my speech

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.220
 and my message

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.400
 were not implausible

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.220
 words of wisdom,

00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.299
 but in demonstration

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.379
 of the spirit

00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:27.460
 and of power,

00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.559
 that your faith

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.339
 might not rest

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.579
 in the wisdom of men,

00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:32.919
 but in the power of God.

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.159
 And so he zeroes in

00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:36.059
 on the focus

00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:37.439
 Christian men and women

00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:39.099
 need to retain

00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:40.379
 and work at

00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:41.139
 and develop

00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:42.179
 and our focus

00:24:42.179 --> 00:24:43.000
 must be

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.179
 the cross of Christ.

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.399
 Who died there?

00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:48.339
 Why he died there?

00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:48.939
 And what it means

00:24:48.939 --> 00:24:49.839
 for us all today.

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.240
 And so he says

00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.879
 in verse three,

00:24:52.139 --> 00:24:52.819
 as he continues

00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:54.039
 to drive home

00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.379
 the need to get this right

00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:56.460
 and be specific

00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.839
 and zeroed in

00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:59.379
 on what the gospel is.

00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.240
 Verse three,

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.420
 chapter 15,

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.819
 for I delivered to you

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:04.700
 as of first importance

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.559
 what I also received,

00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.279
 that Christ

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:10.220
 died for our sins

00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.599
 in accordance

00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.259
 with the scriptures.

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:14.039
 And he was buried

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:15.480
 and he was raised

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.500
 on the third day

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:18.079
 in accordance

00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.980
 with the scriptures.

00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.680
 The message

00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.920
 was under attack

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.660
 in Corinth.

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.200
 The message

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.359
 is under attack

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.599
 in Stornoway today.

00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:30.379
 this message

00:25:30.379 --> 00:25:32.159
 of Jesus Christ

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:32.759
 the righteous,

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.019
 the Son of God

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.299
 who came into the world

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.899
 to do what?

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:37.299
 To seek and to save

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.519
 the lost.

00:25:38.879 --> 00:25:39.699
 How did he do it?

00:25:40.699 --> 00:25:42.179
 He gave himself

00:25:42.179 --> 00:25:44.359
 for us.

00:25:45.139 --> 00:25:46.399
 So that statement

00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.559
 really does come

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.079
 into its own

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.539
 when we say

00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:50.000
 the death of Christ

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.679
 in our place

00:25:51.679 --> 00:25:52.879
 to satisfy

00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:53.659
 the demands

00:25:53.659 --> 00:25:54.699
 of divine justice

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.779
 and appease

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.319
 the wrath

00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:56.960
 of God

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.400
 is the very

00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:59.100
 substance

00:25:59.100 --> 00:26:00.140
 of the gospel.

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:02.440
 It's good news.

00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.799
 It's good news

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.960
 for Stornoway today.

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:05.880
 It's good news

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:07.120
 for Scotland today

00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:08.620
 that there is

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.539
 a saviour.

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:10.620
 And of course

00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.480
 the good news

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:13.100
 follows the declaration

00:26:13.100 --> 00:26:14.059
 that there's

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:15.100
 bad news.

00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:15.400
 And you see,

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:15.840
 that's the thing

00:26:15.840 --> 00:26:16.759
 about the gospel.

00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:17.880
 The gospel

00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:19.440
 is neither a discussion

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:21.019
 nor a debate.

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:23.039
 It is a declaration.

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.940
 I would remind you

00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:26.139
 brothers and sisters

00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:27.200
 of the gospel

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.519
 I preach to you.

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.940
 This is the apostolic

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.359
 message,

00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.359
 the apostolic

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.440
 preaching of the cross,

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.400
 the apostolic

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.680
 emphasis of our need

00:26:34.680 --> 00:26:36.240
 to be born again

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.279
 by repentance

00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:38.920
 and faith in Christ

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:40.920
 by coming to him

00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:43.539
 and trusting in him

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:45.619
 as Lord and Saviour.

00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.339
 It's a wonderful simplicity

00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.799
 and yet an incredible

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.819
 depth to what Paul

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.619
 goes on here to see

00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.599
 in verses 3 and 4.

00:26:52.239 --> 00:26:53.139
 I deliver to you

00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:54.879
 as a first importance.

00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:56.259
 See where he started

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.339
 with what they needed

00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:58.839
 to know most of all.

00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.719
 But then notice

00:26:59.719 --> 00:27:00.899
 that he delivered to them

00:27:00.899 --> 00:27:02.119
 what he received.

00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.399
 And that tells us

00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:03.959
 there's a wonderful

00:27:03.959 --> 00:27:05.439
 balance to be struck here.

00:27:05.699 --> 00:27:06.539
 And that balance

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:08.179
 is that the gospel

00:27:08.179 --> 00:27:11.119
 is supreme.

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.859
 The gospel is not

00:27:12.859 --> 00:27:14.779
 subject to the church

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.839
 or authenticated

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:17.059
 by the church.

00:27:17.159 --> 00:27:18.000
 It's not the invention

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.039
 of the church.

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.659
 The church of Christ

00:27:20.659 --> 00:27:21.299
 is subject

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.220
 to the gospel

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.019
 of Christ.

00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:23.819
 We are here

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.899
 to declare him,

00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.500
 to point to him,

00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:28.960
 to say he is the one

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.899
 through whom

00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:30.839
 men and women

00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:31.759
 and boys and girls

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.579
 are saved.

00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.619
 This is the wonderful

00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:37.139
 gospel of Jesus Christ.

00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:38.599
 So I want us to think

00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:39.639
 today about what Paul

00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.720
 says here in this

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.579
 summary,

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.619
 this revision,

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.339
 this calling

00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:44.559
 the Christian men

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:44.879
 and women,

00:27:45.179 --> 00:27:46.740
 back to the fundamentals

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.480
 of the gospel,

00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.819
 keeping them zeroed

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:50.700
 in on the cross,

00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:53.399
 lest they fade away

00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:54.399
 and drift away

00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:56.299
 into uncertainty

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:58.099
 and ambiguity

00:27:58.099 --> 00:28:00.460
 and agnosticism

00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.899
 and all these awful

00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.700
 things that are

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:04.000
 doing the rounds

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.099
 today as they were

00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:05.839
 back then.

00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.599
 And why do we find

00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.720
 this emphasis here

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.000
 on the death

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.819
 of Christ?

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.000
 Christ.

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:13.200
 Because he was

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.419
 writing to a

00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:15.500
 Christian congregation

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:17.339
 in a Greek city

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:19.200
 some 2,000 years ago

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:21.639
 that was full of

00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.559
 philosophy

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:24.139
 and culture

00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:25.359
 and thinking

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.379
 and teaching

00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:27.539
 and schools of thought

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.119
 that utterly rejected

00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.579
 any concept of

00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:32.220
 resurrection from the dead.

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.220
 It was in the DNA

00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:35.079
 of the city.

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.919
 And that's where

00:28:36.919 --> 00:28:37.939
 the Christian church

00:28:37.939 --> 00:28:38.960
 had been planted,

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.480
 that's where the

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.619
 congregation had grown,

00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:42.019
 and began to experience

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.240
 difficulty and troubles

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:44.720
 and hard times.

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:46.319
 And so Paul writes them

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:47.579
 and he zeroes in

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:50.039
 on this essential truth

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.939
 that I think it was

00:28:50.939 --> 00:28:52.139
 John Stott that spoke

00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:52.359
 about,

00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:54.200
 the irreducible minimum

00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:55.579
 of the Christian gospel,

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:56.899
 the death

00:28:56.899 --> 00:28:58.039
 and resurrection

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.960
 of Christ

00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:00.500
 in the place

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.779
 of sinners.

00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:04.460
 Verse 12

00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:05.139
 in this chapter

00:29:05.139 --> 00:29:07.179
 indicates the thinking

00:29:07.179 --> 00:29:08.099
 there that's

00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:09.179
 perhaps hindering

00:29:09.179 --> 00:29:09.799
 the Christians

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.460
 from progressing.

00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:11.819
 If Christ is proclaimed

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.799
 as raised from the dead,

00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:14.159
 how can some of you say

00:29:14.159 --> 00:29:15.240
 there is no resurrection

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.059
 of the dead?

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.859
 So the thinking

00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:19.279
 that surrounded the church,

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:21.079
 the thinking in culture

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:22.019
 and philosophy

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.240
 and schools of thought

00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.759
 that surrounded the church

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.579
 was beginning

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.539
 to make its way

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.399
 into the church.

00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:28.559
 The world

00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.940
 was beginning

00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:30.720
 to penetrate

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.980
 into the thinking

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.700
 and therefore

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.419
 the theology

00:29:33.419 --> 00:29:34.119
 and therefore

00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:34.879
 the practice

00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.620
 of the Christian church.

00:29:37.820 --> 00:29:39.140
 It was ever thus.

00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:41.160
 It is a constant

00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:43.400
 source of attack

00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:45.020
 that we must be vigilant of,

00:29:45.580 --> 00:29:46.500
 that we don't allow

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.320
 culture

00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:48.840
 to set the tone

00:29:48.840 --> 00:29:50.260
 for what we do

00:29:50.260 --> 00:29:51.860
 and what we believe

00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:53.100
 and how we operate

00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:54.840
 as the church of Christ.

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.620
 Only Jesus does that

00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.820
 by and through

00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:59.000
 his word.

00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:01.200
 So let's think

00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.779
 about this

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:03.140
 as we prepare

00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:04.400
 to share together

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.279
 in our Lord's Supper

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:05.920
 and remember

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.440
 the death of Christ

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.559
 till they come again.

00:30:08.660 --> 00:30:09.220
 What does Paul

00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:10.259
 want us to

00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:12.319
 take to heart today?

00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.579
 Verse 3 tells us,

00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.319
 first of all,

00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.420
 that the death

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.039
 of Jesus

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:19.140
 was promised.

00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:21.160
 The death of Jesus

00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:22.140
 was promised.

00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:24.640
 I delivered to you

00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:26.020
 as of first importance

00:30:26.020 --> 00:30:27.180
 what I also received

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.180
 that Christ

00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:30.240
 died for our sins

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.980
 in accordance

00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:33.620
 with the Scripture.

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.820
 And so Paul,

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.400
 having said

00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:38.160
 that this message

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.060
 is authenticated

00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:40.140
 by its source,

00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:42.200
 the Almighty God

00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:43.680
 who gave his Son

00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:45.240
 that we might live,

00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:47.800
 so he has now

00:30:47.800 --> 00:30:48.640
 stipulated

00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:49.620
 that not being

00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:50.080
 a master

00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:50.920
 over the message

00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.560
 but a servant

00:30:51.560 --> 00:30:52.360
 of the message

00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:52.920
 of Christ,

00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:53.800
 he is now

00:30:53.800 --> 00:30:54.640
 underlining

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.400
 this declaration

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:58.300
 that Christ Jesus

00:30:58.300 --> 00:30:59.400
 came into the world

00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:01.440
 to save sinners.

00:31:02.800 --> 00:31:03.740
 Places the Bible

00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.860
 right at the center

00:31:04.860 --> 00:31:05.920
 of what he's about

00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.340
 to say,

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:06.780
 doesn't he?

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.880
 He says twice,

00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.940
 he uses that phrase

00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.980
 in accordance

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.020
 with the Scriptures.

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.940
 And that is a bedrock.

00:31:15.860 --> 00:31:16.220
 Again,

00:31:16.320 --> 00:31:16.900
 it's a bedrock

00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:18.020
 that we face

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.980
 being under attack

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:19.839
 and being undermined

00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.279
 today.

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:22.079
 He can't believe that.

00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.619
 Surely you don't need

00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:25.039
 all this Old Testament

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.700
 narrative.

00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:27.139
 You don't really need

00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:27.759
 these passages

00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.460
 in Romans

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:30.000
 that questions

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.879
 and challenges

00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:31.980
 our morality

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.920
 and that addresses

00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:34.099
 issues of sexuality,

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.940
 that speaks about marriage,

00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.639
 it speaks about

00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:37.900
 how we conduct ourselves.

00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:38.779
 No,

00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:39.500
 sure,

00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.480
 that's up to us.

00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.900
 We try our best.

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.220
 We do what we are

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.559
 to be upstanding people

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.559
 in society.

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:47.079
 And so what we find

00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:47.940
 constantly

00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:49.339
 is the world

00:31:49.339 --> 00:31:50.859
 chipping away

00:31:50.859 --> 00:31:52.679
 at this very phrase,

00:31:53.159 --> 00:31:54.639
 that our declaration,

00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:55.679
 which is made

00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:56.419
 in accordance

00:31:56.419 --> 00:31:57.179
 with the Scriptures,

00:31:58.099 --> 00:32:00.419
 that's out of sync today.

00:32:00.659 --> 00:32:02.099
 That's unpopular today.

00:32:02.159 --> 00:32:03.139
 That's old school.

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.799
 That's Reformation.

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:05.399
 Knox,

00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:06.079
 don't talk to us

00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:06.679
 about John Knox.

00:32:06.919 --> 00:32:07.480
 He was surely,

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.099
 he was a bigot,

00:32:08.159 --> 00:32:08.960
 he was a secretarian,

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:09.559
 he was a misogynist.

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.339
 And so they destroy

00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:12.240
 the character

00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:13.379
 of the messenger

00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:15.179
 and then go after

00:32:15.179 --> 00:32:15.799
 the message.

00:32:16.179 --> 00:32:18.059
 You can't say that to me.

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.839
 You can't tell me

00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:20.759
 I'm a sinner.

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.240
 And yet,

00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:22.200
 what does God ask

00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:23.440
 of his church today?

00:32:24.099 --> 00:32:25.460
 Why has God raised up

00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:27.000
 and placed his church

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.679
 on earth,

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.879
 the church militant,

00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:30.179
 to assert,

00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.079
 maintain,

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.099
 and defend?

00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:33.519
 And unless

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.700
 and until

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:36.639
 we are born again,

00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.059
 we remain

00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:39.440
 under the wrath

00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.519
 and curse of God.

00:32:41.919 --> 00:32:42.879
 And so we share

00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:43.579
 this message

00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.779
 in patience

00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:46.500
 and humility.

00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:48.619
 We share this message

00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:49.279
 in love

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.460
 again

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.359
 and again

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:51.960
 and again.

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.019
 And we refuse

00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:54.099
 to allow the world

00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:54.819
 to undermine

00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:56.440
 our grasp of Scripture

00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.579
 and our reverence

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.299
 of Scripture

00:32:58.299 --> 00:32:59.319
 because it is from

00:32:59.319 --> 00:32:59.799
 the Scripture

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.539
 that the Gospel

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.359
 has been declared

00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:02.079
 to the world.

00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:03.099
 And that message

00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:04.220
 is Christ died

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.500
 for our sins

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:07.000
 in accordance

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.700
 of the Scripture.

00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:08.120
 You see,

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:08.720
 everything we know

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.779
 of Christ today,

00:33:10.080 --> 00:33:10.960
 it comes from

00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:12.019
 God's Word.

00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.400
 It's a proclamation

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:14.580
 that we find

00:33:14.580 --> 00:33:15.420
 long ago

00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:16.340
 at many times

00:33:16.340 --> 00:33:17.240
 and in many ways

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.900
 God spoke to our fathers

00:33:18.900 --> 00:33:19.920
 by the prophets,

00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:21.580
 but in these last days

00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:23.420
 he has spoken to us

00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:24.759
 by his Son.

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:26.920
 All Scripture

00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.620
 is breathed out

00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.220
 by God

00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:29.080
 and profitable

00:33:29.080 --> 00:33:29.819
 for teaching,

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.460
 reproof,

00:33:30.580 --> 00:33:31.019
 correction,

00:33:31.120 --> 00:33:31.620
 and training.

00:33:32.080 --> 00:33:33.539
 This death of Jesus

00:33:33.539 --> 00:33:34.380
 was promised.

00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:35.380
 In the Old Testament,

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.740
 we have anticipation

00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:38.460
 and straining forward

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.940
 and looking forward.

00:33:40.320 --> 00:33:41.040
 God is saying

00:33:41.040 --> 00:33:41.920
 in the Old Testament

00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.460
 Scriptures,

00:33:42.800 --> 00:33:44.060
 I will send

00:33:44.060 --> 00:33:44.720
 a Redeemer.

00:33:45.360 --> 00:33:45.920
 And then we come

00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:46.960
 into the New Testament

00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:48.400
 and we're looking back

00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.660
 and through the New Testament

00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:50.580
 we hear God saying,

00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.020
 I have sent you,

00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:52.940
 my Son.

00:33:53.840 --> 00:33:55.240
 This is my beloved.

00:33:56.140 --> 00:33:57.560
 Hear Him.

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:59.500
 And so we assert,

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.139
 maintain,

00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:00.940
 and defend

00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:02.059
 on the basis

00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:03.519
 of being a Bible-based,

00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.919
 Spirit-filled,

00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:07.339
 Christ-centered church

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:09.840
 that the death of Jesus

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:11.380
 was promised.

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.679
 We write at the beginning

00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:14.340
 of the Scripture,

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.719
 we find the promise

00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:18.420
 that God will send

00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:19.619
 His Son

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:21.579
 into this world.

00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.400
 And the New Testament

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:24.719
 furnishes us

00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.559
 with the understanding

00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.880
 we need

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:28.279
 as to the importance

00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:29.900
 and absolute centrality

00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:31.980
 of the death of Christ

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.739
 in our place.

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:33.539
 Secondly,

00:34:33.699 --> 00:34:33.920
 this,

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.059
 the death was promised.

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:36.659
 This death was real.

00:34:37.779 --> 00:34:38.940
 His death was real.

00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:40.940
 Verse 4

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:42.420
 puts it as plainly

00:34:42.420 --> 00:34:43.440
 as is possible.

00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:46.980
 He was buried.

00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:51.480
 He was buried.

00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:53.960
 The Christian gospel

00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.599
 is a message

00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.980
 of deliverance

00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:58.699
 that comes

00:34:58.699 --> 00:34:59.760
 through the death

00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:01.079
 of the deliverer.

00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:03.619
 No other world religion

00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:04.840
 comes close to this.

00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:07.139
 No other world religion

00:35:07.139 --> 00:35:08.420
 even begins

00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.179
 to approach

00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:10.139
 the magnitude

00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:11.320
 of these words,

00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:12.719
 the solemnity

00:35:12.719 --> 00:35:13.340
 and depth

00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:13.980
 and wonder

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.719
 and beauty

00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:16.079
 of what we're told here.

00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:17.340
 The Son of God,

00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:19.340
 the Lamb of God,

00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:20.740
 the Lord of glory,

00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:21.599
 through whom

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:23.659
 all things were made.

00:35:24.219 --> 00:35:24.779
 The one who is

00:35:24.779 --> 00:35:26.239
 altogether sufficient.

00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:27.439
 The one who is

00:35:27.439 --> 00:35:30.399
 the rose of share

00:35:30.399 --> 00:35:31.659
 and the lily of the valley.

00:35:32.439 --> 00:35:33.879
 The one that is

00:35:33.879 --> 00:35:35.639
 the apple of God's eye.

00:35:35.819 --> 00:35:36.779
 What do we read here?

00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:39.439
 He was buried.

00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:41.819
 This is the gospel.

00:35:42.339 --> 00:35:43.559
 This is the good news.

00:35:43.859 --> 00:35:45.500
 That just as the babe,

00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:45.959
 Jesus,

00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:47.199
 was laid in the manger,

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:49.299
 so the torn

00:35:49.299 --> 00:35:50.739
 and bloody body

00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:51.319
 of Jesus

00:35:51.319 --> 00:35:52.859
 in his early 30s

00:35:52.859 --> 00:35:54.199
 was laid

00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:55.179
 in a grave

00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:57.239
 without life

00:35:57.239 --> 00:35:58.799
 outside

00:35:58.799 --> 00:35:59.779
 Jerusalem.

00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.439
 What happened

00:36:01.439 --> 00:36:02.239
 on the cross

00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:04.079
 is abundantly clear

00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:05.939
 and you would need

00:36:05.939 --> 00:36:06.639
 to have

00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:08.500
 a heart of stone

00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:10.199
 and a mind

00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.579
 that resembles stone

00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:12.019
 to say,

00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:12.440
 well,

00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:13.500
 the Bible

00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:14.539
 doesn't say

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:16.039
 that Jesus

00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:16.659
 died.

00:36:17.659 --> 00:36:18.639
 That is the

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.599
 response

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:21.500
 of the

00:36:21.500 --> 00:36:22.960
 Islamic world

00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:24.179
 to the claims

00:36:24.179 --> 00:36:24.840
 of the gospel.

00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:26.019
 They

00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:27.639
 revere Jesus.

00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:28.880
 They honor Jesus.

00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:30.019
 They say

00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:31.420
 Jesus was a great man.

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:33.559
 But he didn't

00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:34.480
 really die.

00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:36.559
 And even if he did die,

00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:37.199
 he certainly

00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:37.659
 was not

00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.559
 the Son of God.

00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:40.960
 What happened

00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:41.659
 on the cross?

00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:42.440
 The Bible

00:36:42.440 --> 00:36:43.679
 says otherwise.

00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.279
 His vital

00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:47.139
 functions

00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:48.259
 shut down.

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:50.039
 His heart

00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:50.819
 straining

00:36:50.819 --> 00:36:52.079
 for six hours

00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:52.639
 to pump

00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.699
 deoxygenated blood

00:36:53.699 --> 00:36:54.399
 around his body

00:36:54.399 --> 00:36:55.519
 finally arrested.

00:36:56.980 --> 00:36:57.699
 And ultimately,

00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.819
 after six hours

00:36:58.819 --> 00:36:59.579
 of suffering,

00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:01.119
 Jesus' breath

00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:01.899
 gave out

00:37:01.899 --> 00:37:03.420
 and he died.

00:37:05.299 --> 00:37:06.299
 With all his

00:37:06.299 --> 00:37:07.179
 vital functions

00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:08.099
 having stopped,

00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:09.219
 even then,

00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:09.799
 the world

00:37:09.799 --> 00:37:10.419
 was not finished

00:37:10.419 --> 00:37:10.779
 with him

00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:12.039
 because a Roman

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.859
 soldier under

00:37:12.859 --> 00:37:13.940
 instruction thrust

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.759
 a spear into

00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:15.579
 his chest

00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:17.059
 to confirm

00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:18.159
 death

00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:19.219
 had done

00:37:19.219 --> 00:37:19.879
 its work.

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:21.559
 The death

00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:22.119
 of Jesus

00:37:22.119 --> 00:37:24.119
 was real.

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.199
 Why do we

00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:27.339
 reflect on this?

00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.219
 What did Jesus

00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:30.539
 tell us to do?

00:37:31.759 --> 00:37:32.899
 Do this

00:37:32.899 --> 00:37:34.059
 in remembrance

00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.579
 of me.

00:37:35.879 --> 00:37:36.599
 The bread

00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:37.380
 and the wine

00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:37.739
 that we're

00:37:37.739 --> 00:37:38.380
 about to share

00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:38.920
 together

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:40.719
 speak powerfully

00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:42.099
 and vividly

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:43.579
 of this moment.

00:37:44.219 --> 00:37:44.960
 And they say

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.559
 to each one

00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:46.000
 of us

00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:47.179
 as we

00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:48.279
 take our bread

00:37:48.279 --> 00:37:49.339
 and as we

00:37:49.339 --> 00:37:50.219
 drink our wine

00:37:50.219 --> 00:37:51.799
 that the cost

00:37:51.799 --> 00:37:52.839
 of our salvation

00:37:52.839 --> 00:37:54.099
 was nothing

00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:54.719
 less

00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:55.739
 and nothing

00:37:55.739 --> 00:37:56.239
 other

00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:58.420
 than the life

00:37:58.420 --> 00:37:59.299
 of Jesus Christ,

00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:00.119
 the Son of God.

00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:00.940
 He

00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:01.839
 was

00:38:01.839 --> 00:38:02.980
 buried.

00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:04.539
 his death

00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:05.940
 was real.

00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.639
 What else

00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:10.179
 can we say

00:38:10.179 --> 00:38:10.740
 of this?

00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:12.179
 We must say

00:38:12.179 --> 00:38:12.820
 this as we

00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:13.420
 move on.

00:38:14.159 --> 00:38:14.460
 That for

00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:15.099
 Christianity

00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:16.139
 to be genuine,

00:38:16.699 --> 00:38:17.380
 for the hope

00:38:17.380 --> 00:38:18.079
 of the gospel

00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:18.719
 to be held

00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:19.519
 out as a

00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.539
 life-transforming

00:38:20.539 --> 00:38:21.179
 message of

00:38:21.179 --> 00:38:21.960
 grace and

00:38:21.960 --> 00:38:22.860
 splendor and

00:38:22.860 --> 00:38:23.800
 wonder and

00:38:23.800 --> 00:38:24.380
 forgiveness,

00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.539
 it utterly

00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:27.059
 depends upon

00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:27.760
 the death of

00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:28.360
 Jesus being

00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:28.800
 genuine.

00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:30.680
 And it

00:38:30.680 --> 00:38:31.260
 begins to

00:38:31.260 --> 00:38:31.740
 push us

00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:32.200
 back from

00:38:32.200 --> 00:38:32.300
 that.

00:38:32.380 --> 00:38:32.480
 You say,

00:38:32.539 --> 00:38:32.660
 well,

00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:33.440
 why?

00:38:33.880 --> 00:38:34.360
 Why the

00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:34.800
 cross?

00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:35.460
 Why this

00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.320
 awful death?

00:38:36.580 --> 00:38:37.260
 Why was it

00:38:37.260 --> 00:38:37.680
 that he

00:38:37.680 --> 00:38:38.280
 breathed his

00:38:38.280 --> 00:38:39.000
 last on that

00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:39.600
 cross and

00:38:39.600 --> 00:38:39.980
 laid his

00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:40.300
 head and

00:38:40.300 --> 00:38:40.660
 gave up

00:38:40.660 --> 00:38:41.019
 his life?

00:38:41.160 --> 00:38:41.480
 As you

00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:41.920
 read there

00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:42.760
 in John's

00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:43.420
 gospel and

00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:44.220
 chapter 10,

00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:44.800
 for this

00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:45.300
 reason the

00:38:45.300 --> 00:38:45.960
 father loves

00:38:45.960 --> 00:38:46.240
 me,

00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:46.880
 because I

00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:47.519
 lay down

00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:48.280
 my life

00:38:48.280 --> 00:38:48.840
 that I

00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.280
 may take

00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:49.539
 it up

00:38:49.539 --> 00:38:49.940
 again.

00:38:50.260 --> 00:38:50.580
 No one

00:38:50.580 --> 00:38:51.039
 takes it

00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:51.760
 from me,

00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:52.260
 but I

00:38:52.260 --> 00:38:52.700
 lay it

00:38:52.700 --> 00:38:53.180
 down of

00:38:53.180 --> 00:38:53.519
 my own

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:54.100
 accord.

00:38:54.420 --> 00:38:54.640
 I have

00:38:54.640 --> 00:38:55.420
 authority to

00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:55.760
 lay it

00:38:55.760 --> 00:38:56.500
 down and

00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:56.720
 I have

00:38:56.720 --> 00:38:57.420
 authority to

00:38:57.420 --> 00:38:57.660
 take it

00:38:57.660 --> 00:38:58.140
 up again.

00:38:58.800 --> 00:38:59.519
 charge I

00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:00.280
 have received

00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:00.880
 from my

00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:01.500
 father.

00:39:02.539 --> 00:39:02.880
 Jesus

00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.800
 himself

00:39:03.800 --> 00:39:05.480
 affirms in

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:06.140
 these words,

00:39:06.600 --> 00:39:07.280
 his death

00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:08.400
 was real.

00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:10.460
 The Christ

00:39:10.460 --> 00:39:10.780
 of the

00:39:10.780 --> 00:39:12.160
 Bible was

00:39:12.160 --> 00:39:12.600
 buried

00:39:12.600 --> 00:39:13.740
 without

00:39:13.740 --> 00:39:15.060
 life.

00:39:16.560 --> 00:39:17.000
 His death

00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:17.320
 then was

00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:18.400
 promised and

00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:18.960
 his death

00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:20.039
 was real,

00:39:20.200 --> 00:39:21.019
 but we

00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:21.880
 don't fixate

00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:22.240
 on it.

00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:22.580
 We don't

00:39:22.580 --> 00:39:23.280
 stay there.

00:39:23.700 --> 00:39:24.060
 We don't

00:39:24.060 --> 00:39:24.560
 stay in the

00:39:24.560 --> 00:39:24.920
 graveyard.

00:39:25.440 --> 00:39:25.760
 We don't

00:39:25.760 --> 00:39:26.220
 stay at

00:39:26.220 --> 00:39:26.440
 the foot

00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:26.680
 of the

00:39:26.680 --> 00:39:27.039
 cross.

00:39:27.539 --> 00:39:28.120
 We don't

00:39:28.120 --> 00:39:28.600
 reflect

00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:29.500
 constantly

00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:30.519
 and permanently

00:39:30.519 --> 00:39:30.900
 with the

00:39:30.900 --> 00:39:32.360
 fixation on

00:39:32.360 --> 00:39:33.099
 the graphic

00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:33.799
 scene of

00:39:33.799 --> 00:39:34.219
 the cross.

00:39:34.319 --> 00:39:34.460
 Yes,

00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:34.980
 we survey

00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:35.339
 it.

00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:36.880
 We study.

00:39:37.819 --> 00:39:38.500
 We do

00:39:38.500 --> 00:39:39.360
 so humbly.

00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:40.500
 We do

00:39:40.500 --> 00:39:41.400
 so with a

00:39:41.400 --> 00:39:41.880
 sense of

00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:42.480
 awe and

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:42.960
 wonder.

00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:44.420
 When we

00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:45.119
 survey that

00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:45.759
 scene and

00:39:45.759 --> 00:39:46.480
 see there

00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:47.779
 nothing other

00:39:47.779 --> 00:39:48.759
 than the

00:39:48.759 --> 00:39:49.199
 Son of

00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:49.759
 God

00:39:49.759 --> 00:39:51.759
 dead on

00:39:51.759 --> 00:39:52.319
 the cross

00:39:52.319 --> 00:39:52.799
 outside

00:39:52.799 --> 00:39:53.219
 Jerusalem,

00:39:53.819 --> 00:39:54.420
 this is the

00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:54.880
 message of

00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:55.519
 good news.

00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.739
 I think

00:39:56.739 --> 00:39:57.039
 it was

00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:57.400
 that

00:39:57.400 --> 00:39:58.079
 sentiment

00:39:58.079 --> 00:39:58.759
 that

00:39:58.759 --> 00:39:59.259
 perhaps

00:39:59.259 --> 00:39:59.599
 moved

00:39:59.599 --> 00:40:00.059
 McShane

00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:00.480
 to write

00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:00.739
 these

00:40:00.739 --> 00:40:01.079
 words

00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:01.639
 in one

00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:01.900
 of his

00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.360
 hymns.

00:40:03.420 --> 00:40:03.739
 When I

00:40:03.739 --> 00:40:04.480
 stand before

00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:05.079
 the throne

00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:05.659
 dressed in

00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:06.280
 beauty not

00:40:06.280 --> 00:40:06.800
 my own,

00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:07.639
 when I

00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:08.340
 see thee as

00:40:08.340 --> 00:40:08.920
 thou art,

00:40:09.420 --> 00:40:09.980
 love thee

00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:10.940
 with unsinning

00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:11.420
 heart,

00:40:11.800 --> 00:40:12.099
 then,

00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:12.920
 Lord,

00:40:13.300 --> 00:40:13.719
 shall I

00:40:13.719 --> 00:40:14.539
 fully know

00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:15.500
 not till

00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:16.960
 then how

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.460
 much I

00:40:17.460 --> 00:40:17.699
 owe.

00:40:17.699 --> 00:40:20.739
 we owe

00:40:20.739 --> 00:40:21.079
 him

00:40:21.079 --> 00:40:21.759
 everything

00:40:21.759 --> 00:40:23.159
 because he

00:40:23.159 --> 00:40:23.739
 gave

00:40:23.739 --> 00:40:24.679
 everything.

00:40:25.439 --> 00:40:25.960
 He gave

00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:26.639
 himself

00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:27.759
 for us,

00:40:28.179 --> 00:40:29.099
 not just

00:40:29.099 --> 00:40:29.659
 by taking

00:40:29.659 --> 00:40:30.219
 on the

00:40:30.219 --> 00:40:31.739
 flesh of

00:40:31.739 --> 00:40:32.399
 the incarnation

00:40:32.399 --> 00:40:33.139
 and being

00:40:33.139 --> 00:40:33.659
 a good

00:40:33.659 --> 00:40:34.179
 man.

00:40:35.899 --> 00:40:36.299
 Jesus

00:40:36.299 --> 00:40:37.539
 was truly

00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:38.639
 man and

00:40:38.639 --> 00:40:39.779
 truly God

00:40:39.779 --> 00:40:41.359
 and he

00:40:41.359 --> 00:40:42.059
 died on

00:40:42.059 --> 00:40:42.859
 that cross

00:40:42.859 --> 00:40:43.599
 that the

00:40:43.599 --> 00:40:44.079
 sins of

00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:44.679
 the world

00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:45.579
 might be

00:40:45.579 --> 00:40:46.279
 taken away.

00:40:46.280 --> 00:40:47.740
 He gave

00:40:47.740 --> 00:40:48.040
 what the

00:40:48.040 --> 00:40:48.900
 Bible calls

00:40:48.900 --> 00:40:50.200
 propitiation

00:40:50.200 --> 00:40:51.220
 to the

00:40:51.220 --> 00:40:52.680
 Father and

00:40:52.680 --> 00:40:53.100
 of our

00:40:53.100 --> 00:40:54.060
 sin he

00:40:54.060 --> 00:40:54.700
 effected

00:40:54.700 --> 00:40:55.720
 expiation.

00:40:56.420 --> 00:40:57.019
 He removed

00:40:57.019 --> 00:40:57.760
 our sin

00:40:57.760 --> 00:40:58.900
 by bearing

00:40:58.900 --> 00:40:59.660
 its guilt

00:40:59.660 --> 00:41:01.040
 on himself

00:41:01.040 --> 00:41:02.440
 and he

00:41:02.440 --> 00:41:02.860
 paid the

00:41:02.860 --> 00:41:04.180
 price by

00:41:04.180 --> 00:41:04.620
 giving his

00:41:04.620 --> 00:41:05.060
 life.

00:41:05.260 --> 00:41:05.660
 His death

00:41:05.660 --> 00:41:06.200
 was real.

00:41:07.420 --> 00:41:07.800
 But then

00:41:07.800 --> 00:41:08.460
 there's this,

00:41:09.240 --> 00:41:10.060
 Paul's

00:41:10.060 --> 00:41:11.680
 summation,

00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:12.880
 his calling

00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:13.540
 the Corinthian

00:41:13.540 --> 00:41:13.960
 Christians,

00:41:14.240 --> 00:41:14.940
 his calling

00:41:14.940 --> 00:41:15.560
 us today

00:41:15.560 --> 00:41:15.920
 by the

00:41:15.920 --> 00:41:16.280
 providence

00:41:16.280 --> 00:41:16.760
 of God

00:41:16.760 --> 00:41:17.559
 to just

00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:18.260
 reflect on

00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:18.780
 the heart

00:41:18.780 --> 00:41:19.059
 of the

00:41:19.059 --> 00:41:20.300
 gospel and

00:41:20.300 --> 00:41:20.900
 this glorious

00:41:20.900 --> 00:41:21.519
 message of

00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:21.800
 grace.

00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:22.820
 Yes,

00:41:22.900 --> 00:41:23.119
 there's

00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:24.139
 death here,

00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:25.780
 but death

00:41:25.780 --> 00:41:26.920
 did not

00:41:26.920 --> 00:41:27.700
 have the

00:41:27.700 --> 00:41:28.599
 last word

00:41:28.599 --> 00:41:29.460
 with Jesus

00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:30.280
 of Nazareth.

00:41:31.280 --> 00:41:32.000
 Joseph of

00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:32.599
 Arimathea

00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:34.019
 and Nicodemus

00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:35.039
 did not

00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:35.880
 in their

00:41:35.880 --> 00:41:36.860
 act of

00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:37.840
 devotion and

00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:38.420
 tenderness

00:41:38.420 --> 00:41:39.139
 and service

00:41:39.139 --> 00:41:39.840
 have the

00:41:39.840 --> 00:41:40.820
 last say

00:41:40.820 --> 00:41:41.840
 on the

00:41:41.840 --> 00:41:42.599
 life of

00:41:42.599 --> 00:41:43.420
 Jesus of

00:41:43.420 --> 00:41:43.980
 Nazareth.

00:41:44.300 --> 00:41:44.720
 For verse

00:41:44.719 --> 00:41:45.339
 four goes

00:41:45.339 --> 00:41:45.659
 on,

00:41:45.879 --> 00:41:47.079
 he was

00:41:47.079 --> 00:41:48.919
 raised on

00:41:48.919 --> 00:41:49.399
 the third

00:41:49.399 --> 00:41:50.599
 day in

00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:51.819
 accordance with

00:41:51.819 --> 00:41:52.500
 the scriptures.

00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:53.480
 And so this

00:41:53.480 --> 00:41:54.599
 tells us thirdly

00:41:54.599 --> 00:41:55.539
 that the death

00:41:55.539 --> 00:41:56.599
 of Jesus was

00:41:56.599 --> 00:41:57.299
 victorious.

00:41:58.339 --> 00:41:58.959
 Victorious.

00:42:00.139 --> 00:42:00.699
 You see,

00:42:01.199 --> 00:42:02.719
 death could

00:42:02.719 --> 00:42:03.259
 not hold

00:42:03.259 --> 00:42:03.459
 him.

00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:05.399
 And this is

00:42:05.399 --> 00:42:06.039
 where the good

00:42:06.039 --> 00:42:06.919
 news takes

00:42:06.919 --> 00:42:07.599
 on such

00:42:07.599 --> 00:42:08.419
 incredible

00:42:08.419 --> 00:42:09.480
 significance

00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:10.980
 and wonder.

00:42:11.880 --> 00:42:12.360
 The wages

00:42:12.360 --> 00:42:13.019
 of sin

00:42:13.019 --> 00:42:14.199
 is death,

00:42:14.740 --> 00:42:15.240
 but the

00:42:15.240 --> 00:42:15.719
 gift of

00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:16.380
 God is

00:42:16.380 --> 00:42:16.880
 eternal

00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:18.059
 life through

00:42:18.059 --> 00:42:18.980
 Christ Jesus

00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:19.639
 our Lord.

00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:20.199
 And that

00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:21.099
 empty tomb

00:42:21.099 --> 00:42:22.199
 that followed

00:42:22.199 --> 00:42:23.000
 the cross on

00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:23.460
 the third

00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:24.059
 day, that

00:42:24.059 --> 00:42:24.980
 first Easter

00:42:24.980 --> 00:42:25.519
 morning,

00:42:26.240 --> 00:42:27.079
 is evidence

00:42:27.079 --> 00:42:27.940
 in God's

00:42:27.940 --> 00:42:28.659
 declaration

00:42:28.659 --> 00:42:29.740
 to the

00:42:29.740 --> 00:42:31.059
 world that

00:42:31.059 --> 00:42:33.280
 the sacrifice

00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:33.800
 of his

00:42:33.800 --> 00:42:34.579
 son in a

00:42:34.579 --> 00:42:35.260
 room instead

00:42:35.260 --> 00:42:36.360
 was pleasing

00:42:36.360 --> 00:42:37.579
 and acceptable.

00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:38.840
 And so he

00:42:38.840 --> 00:42:39.460
 came, as he

00:42:39.460 --> 00:42:40.160
 says to us

00:42:40.160 --> 00:42:40.579
 in John

00:42:40.579 --> 00:42:41.059
 in chapter

00:42:41.059 --> 00:42:42.059
 10, that

00:42:42.059 --> 00:42:43.059
 I laid

00:42:43.059 --> 00:42:43.660
 down my

00:42:43.660 --> 00:42:44.300
 life of

00:42:44.300 --> 00:42:44.720
 my own

00:42:44.720 --> 00:42:45.240
 accord.

00:42:45.480 --> 00:42:45.840
 I have

00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:46.559
 authority to

00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:46.900
 lay it

00:42:46.900 --> 00:42:47.860
 down and

00:42:47.860 --> 00:42:48.059
 I have

00:42:48.059 --> 00:42:48.740
 authority to

00:42:48.740 --> 00:42:48.980
 take it

00:42:48.980 --> 00:42:49.500
 up again.

00:42:49.800 --> 00:42:50.559
 This charge

00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:50.780
 I have

00:42:50.780 --> 00:42:51.519
 received from

00:42:51.519 --> 00:42:52.240
 my father.

00:42:53.059 --> 00:42:53.500
 And so we

00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:54.220
 survey this

00:42:54.220 --> 00:42:54.640
 wondrous

00:42:54.640 --> 00:42:55.260
 cross on

00:42:55.260 --> 00:42:55.900
 which the

00:42:55.900 --> 00:42:56.380
 prince of

00:42:56.380 --> 00:42:57.340
 glory died.

00:42:58.099 --> 00:42:58.360
 We are

00:42:58.360 --> 00:42:58.940
 humbled.

00:42:59.599 --> 00:42:59.880
 We're

00:42:59.880 --> 00:43:00.800
 awestruck.

00:43:01.620 --> 00:43:01.860
 We think,

00:43:01.940 --> 00:43:02.500
 how can it

00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:04.340
 be that he

00:43:04.340 --> 00:43:05.000
 was pierced

00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:05.460
 there for

00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:06.340
 our transgressive

00:43:06.340 --> 00:43:06.579
 possessions?

00:43:08.519 --> 00:43:09.320
 And then we

00:43:09.320 --> 00:43:10.680
 read on and

00:43:10.680 --> 00:43:11.180
 the gospel

00:43:11.180 --> 00:43:11.920
 moves on.

00:43:12.160 --> 00:43:12.620
 The gospel

00:43:12.620 --> 00:43:13.180
 moves from

00:43:13.180 --> 00:43:13.840
 the cross

00:43:13.840 --> 00:43:14.539
 and the

00:43:14.539 --> 00:43:15.000
 cemetery

00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:16.360
 into the

00:43:16.360 --> 00:43:16.940
 world.

00:43:17.120 --> 00:43:17.700
 It moves

00:43:17.700 --> 00:43:18.240
 from a

00:43:18.240 --> 00:43:18.700
 message of

00:43:18.700 --> 00:43:19.220
 the reality

00:43:19.220 --> 00:43:20.200
 and vitality

00:43:20.200 --> 00:43:20.640
 of Jesus'

00:43:21.019 --> 00:43:21.960
 death to

00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:22.640
 what impact

00:43:22.640 --> 00:43:23.220
 it has and

00:43:23.220 --> 00:43:23.640
 what meaning

00:43:23.640 --> 00:43:24.140
 it has for

00:43:24.140 --> 00:43:24.559
 you and I

00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:24.960
 today.

00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:26.780
 That he

00:43:26.780 --> 00:43:27.500
 was raised

00:43:27.500 --> 00:43:27.920
 on the

00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:28.519
 third day

00:43:28.519 --> 00:43:29.440
 in accordance

00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:30.079
 with the

00:43:30.079 --> 00:43:30.500
 scriptures.

00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:32.740
 There was

00:43:32.740 --> 00:43:33.880
 this thought

00:43:33.880 --> 00:43:35.180
 that maybe

00:43:35.179 --> 00:43:35.859
 maybe it's

00:43:35.859 --> 00:43:36.480
 not true.

00:43:36.639 --> 00:43:37.059
 Maybe there

00:43:37.059 --> 00:43:37.639
 isn't such a

00:43:37.639 --> 00:43:38.319
 resurrection and

00:43:38.319 --> 00:43:39.519
 maybe death

00:43:39.519 --> 00:43:40.179
 is death and

00:43:40.179 --> 00:43:40.599
 that's it.

00:43:40.679 --> 00:43:40.940
 We're all

00:43:40.940 --> 00:43:41.279
 finished.

00:43:41.639 --> 00:43:42.460
 Chapter 15

00:43:42.460 --> 00:43:43.119
 and verse 20

00:43:43.119 --> 00:43:43.480
 says,

00:43:43.619 --> 00:43:44.119
 in fact,

00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:45.339
 Christ has

00:43:45.339 --> 00:43:45.940
 been raised

00:43:45.940 --> 00:43:46.239
 from the

00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:46.519
 dead,

00:43:46.799 --> 00:43:47.359
 the first

00:43:47.359 --> 00:43:47.980
 fruits of

00:43:47.980 --> 00:43:48.679
 those who

00:43:48.679 --> 00:43:49.279
 have fallen

00:43:49.279 --> 00:43:50.159
 asleep.

00:43:51.599 --> 00:43:52.480
 If in this

00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:53.299
 life only we

00:43:53.299 --> 00:43:53.719
 have hoped

00:43:53.719 --> 00:43:54.279
 in Christ,

00:43:54.379 --> 00:43:54.619
 we are of

00:43:54.619 --> 00:43:55.199
 all people

00:43:55.199 --> 00:43:55.899
 most to be

00:43:55.899 --> 00:43:56.399
 pitied.

00:43:57.399 --> 00:43:58.099
 If the

00:43:58.099 --> 00:43:58.460
 message

00:43:58.460 --> 00:44:00.319
 stayed in

00:44:00.319 --> 00:44:00.859
 the cemetery,

00:44:01.859 --> 00:44:02.339
 if the

00:44:02.339 --> 00:44:02.779
 message was

00:44:02.779 --> 00:44:03.259
 just about a

00:44:03.260 --> 00:44:03.780
 good man

00:44:03.780 --> 00:44:04.260
 dying,

00:44:05.640 --> 00:44:05.920
 there would

00:44:05.920 --> 00:44:06.260
 be no

00:44:06.260 --> 00:44:06.680
 saviour

00:44:06.680 --> 00:44:08.280
 today because

00:44:08.280 --> 00:44:09.180
 a dead

00:44:09.180 --> 00:44:11.380
 saviour can

00:44:11.380 --> 00:44:11.960
 save nobody.

00:44:13.560 --> 00:44:14.000
 And so we

00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:15.020
 say today that

00:44:15.020 --> 00:44:16.440
 Jesus was

00:44:16.440 --> 00:44:17.740
 dead and

00:44:17.740 --> 00:44:18.160
 now is

00:44:18.160 --> 00:44:18.740
 alive.

00:44:19.420 --> 00:44:19.720
 And that's

00:44:19.720 --> 00:44:20.000
 how this

00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:20.920
 chapter goes

00:44:20.920 --> 00:44:21.680
 on as Paul

00:44:21.680 --> 00:44:22.660
 brings this

00:44:22.660 --> 00:44:23.260
 wonderful

00:44:23.260 --> 00:44:24.120
 reflection to

00:44:24.120 --> 00:44:24.980
 this glorious

00:44:24.980 --> 00:44:25.780
 conclusion.

00:44:26.160 --> 00:44:26.880
 Toward the

00:44:26.880 --> 00:44:27.480
 end of the

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:27.980
 chapter in

00:44:27.980 --> 00:44:28.780
 verse 56,

00:44:29.040 --> 00:44:29.600
 he speaks of

00:44:29.600 --> 00:44:30.200
 death being

00:44:30.200 --> 00:44:31.080
 swallowed up in

00:44:31.080 --> 00:44:31.400
 victory.

00:44:31.780 --> 00:44:32.320
 Death, where

00:44:32.320 --> 00:44:32.700
 is your

00:44:32.699 --> 00:44:33.119
 victory?

00:44:33.419 --> 00:44:33.899
 O death,

00:44:33.980 --> 00:44:34.399
 where is

00:44:34.399 --> 00:44:35.019
 your sting?

00:44:35.259 --> 00:44:35.779
 The sting

00:44:35.779 --> 00:44:36.259
 of death

00:44:36.259 --> 00:44:36.939
 is sin,

00:44:37.179 --> 00:44:37.539
 and the

00:44:37.539 --> 00:44:37.980
 power of

00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:38.339
 sin is

00:44:38.339 --> 00:44:38.939
 the law.

00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:39.779
 But thanks

00:44:39.779 --> 00:44:40.460
 be to

00:44:40.460 --> 00:44:41.539
 God who

00:44:41.539 --> 00:44:42.159
 gives us

00:44:42.159 --> 00:44:42.739
 the victory

00:44:42.739 --> 00:44:44.019
 through our

00:44:44.019 --> 00:44:44.939
 Lord Jesus

00:44:44.939 --> 00:44:45.719
 Christ.

00:44:46.199 --> 00:44:47.059
 He died

00:44:47.059 --> 00:44:47.779
 that we

00:44:47.779 --> 00:44:48.199
 might be

00:44:48.199 --> 00:44:48.579
 forgiven.

00:44:49.519 --> 00:44:50.019
 He died

00:44:50.019 --> 00:44:50.519
 to make

00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:51.000
 us good,

00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:52.379
 that we

00:44:52.379 --> 00:44:52.799
 might go

00:44:52.799 --> 00:44:53.239
 at last

00:44:53.239 --> 00:44:53.759
 to heaven,

00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:55.419
 saved by

00:44:55.419 --> 00:44:56.159
 his precious

00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:56.619
 blood.

00:44:58.079 --> 00:44:58.659
 The death

00:44:58.659 --> 00:44:59.219
 of Jesus

00:44:59.219 --> 00:45:01.119
 is victorious.

00:45:01.119 --> 00:45:02.799
 the

00:45:02.799 --> 00:45:03.380
 women who

00:45:03.380 --> 00:45:03.880
 came in

00:45:03.880 --> 00:45:04.039
 their

00:45:04.039 --> 00:45:04.799
 devotion and

00:45:04.799 --> 00:45:05.299
 love and

00:45:05.299 --> 00:45:06.400
 brokenheartedness

00:45:06.400 --> 00:45:06.940
 that first

00:45:06.940 --> 00:45:07.619
 Easter morning

00:45:07.619 --> 00:45:08.819
 with arointments

00:45:08.819 --> 00:45:09.460
 and oils

00:45:09.460 --> 00:45:10.299
 seeking to

00:45:10.299 --> 00:45:11.460
 pay homage

00:45:11.460 --> 00:45:11.900
 and show

00:45:11.900 --> 00:45:12.960
 respect out

00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:13.579
 of pure

00:45:13.579 --> 00:45:14.460
 devotion and

00:45:14.460 --> 00:45:15.339
 sadness.

00:45:16.279 --> 00:45:16.599
 They had

00:45:16.599 --> 00:45:17.199
 nothing to

00:45:17.199 --> 00:45:17.539
 do, they

00:45:17.539 --> 00:45:18.199
 were redundant.

00:45:18.940 --> 00:45:19.579
 The oils and

00:45:19.579 --> 00:45:20.239
 the spices,

00:45:20.759 --> 00:45:22.059
 the pastes that

00:45:22.059 --> 00:45:22.639
 they were going

00:45:22.639 --> 00:45:23.420
 to anoint the

00:45:23.420 --> 00:45:24.339
 body with that

00:45:24.339 --> 00:45:25.039
 morning in the

00:45:25.039 --> 00:45:25.900
 tomb, they

00:45:25.900 --> 00:45:26.299
 were left

00:45:26.299 --> 00:45:26.759
 behind.

00:45:26.900 --> 00:45:27.099
 There was

00:45:27.099 --> 00:45:27.619
 nothing to

00:45:27.619 --> 00:45:28.359
 anoint because

00:45:28.360 --> 00:45:29.019
 the body

00:45:29.019 --> 00:45:29.559
 was not

00:45:29.559 --> 00:45:29.840
 there.

00:45:30.079 --> 00:45:30.720
 The grave

00:45:30.720 --> 00:45:31.420
 was empty

00:45:31.420 --> 00:45:31.900
 and the

00:45:31.900 --> 00:45:32.660
 angel said

00:45:32.660 --> 00:45:32.840
 to him,

00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:33.760
 why do you

00:45:33.760 --> 00:45:34.280
 seek the

00:45:34.280 --> 00:45:35.559
 living among

00:45:35.559 --> 00:45:36.380
 the dead?

00:45:38.220 --> 00:45:38.820
 Jesus'

00:45:39.140 --> 00:45:39.900
 death was

00:45:39.900 --> 00:45:40.740
 victorious.

00:45:41.059 --> 00:45:41.320
 It's the

00:45:41.320 --> 00:45:42.360
 pivotal point

00:45:42.360 --> 00:45:43.240
 in the

00:45:43.240 --> 00:45:44.039
 history of

00:45:44.039 --> 00:45:44.820
 God's

00:45:44.820 --> 00:45:45.480
 redemption.

00:45:46.500 --> 00:45:47.099
 He raised

00:45:47.099 --> 00:45:47.980
 his son from

00:45:47.980 --> 00:45:48.440
 the dead.

00:45:48.500 --> 00:45:49.120
 In this act

00:45:49.120 --> 00:45:49.800
 of resurrection,

00:45:50.599 --> 00:45:51.680
 satisfaction has

00:45:51.680 --> 00:45:52.340
 been rendered

00:45:52.340 --> 00:45:53.300
 and the

00:45:53.300 --> 00:45:53.760
 father's

00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:55.360
 declaration is

00:45:55.360 --> 00:45:55.860
 clear.

00:45:56.140 --> 00:45:56.500
 In Acts

00:45:56.500 --> 00:45:57.420
 chapter 2,

00:45:57.780 --> 00:45:58.300
 as Peter

00:45:58.300 --> 00:45:59.900
 preached to

00:45:59.900 --> 00:46:00.679
 those around

00:46:00.679 --> 00:46:02.079
 him, he

00:46:02.079 --> 00:46:02.880
 said God

00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:03.559
 raised him

00:46:03.559 --> 00:46:04.360
 up, loosing

00:46:04.360 --> 00:46:04.940
 the pangs

00:46:04.940 --> 00:46:05.420
 of death

00:46:05.420 --> 00:46:06.679
 because it

00:46:06.679 --> 00:46:07.039
 was not

00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:07.800
 possible for

00:46:07.800 --> 00:46:08.179
 him to be

00:46:08.179 --> 00:46:08.900
 held by

00:46:08.900 --> 00:46:09.119
 it.

00:46:09.480 --> 00:46:10.360
 This Jesus

00:46:10.360 --> 00:46:11.659
 God raised

00:46:11.659 --> 00:46:12.539
 up and

00:46:12.539 --> 00:46:13.579
 of that

00:46:13.579 --> 00:46:15.179
 we are

00:46:15.179 --> 00:46:16.139
 witnesses.

00:46:17.380 --> 00:46:18.059
 It's good

00:46:18.059 --> 00:46:18.639
 to remember

00:46:18.639 --> 00:46:20.360
 today that

00:46:20.360 --> 00:46:21.559
 we too,

00:46:21.659 --> 00:46:21.960
 like the

00:46:21.960 --> 00:46:22.619
 apostles on

00:46:22.619 --> 00:46:23.000
 the day of

00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:23.699
 Pentecost,

00:46:23.840 --> 00:46:24.579
 in our way,

00:46:25.139 --> 00:46:25.880
 right here,

00:46:25.880 --> 00:46:26.519
 right now,

00:46:26.559 --> 00:46:26.860
 at this

00:46:26.860 --> 00:46:27.260
 moment,

00:46:27.800 --> 00:46:28.579
 are witnesses

00:46:28.579 --> 00:46:29.519
 to the

00:46:29.519 --> 00:46:30.039
 truth of

00:46:30.039 --> 00:46:30.800
 this message

00:46:30.800 --> 00:46:31.640
 having taken

00:46:31.640 --> 00:46:32.079
 root in

00:46:32.079 --> 00:46:32.579
 our hearts

00:46:32.579 --> 00:46:33.320
 and lives.

00:46:34.119 --> 00:46:34.640
 And so we

00:46:34.640 --> 00:46:35.700
 acknowledge that

00:46:35.700 --> 00:46:36.440
 Christ is our

00:46:36.440 --> 00:46:36.900
 Lord and

00:46:36.900 --> 00:46:37.200
 Savior.

00:46:37.599 --> 00:46:38.119
 We take our

00:46:38.119 --> 00:46:38.940
 place at

00:46:38.940 --> 00:46:39.539
 his table,

00:46:39.680 --> 00:46:40.360
 not because

00:46:40.360 --> 00:46:41.079
 we're perfect

00:46:41.079 --> 00:46:41.820
 and wonderful,

00:46:42.079 --> 00:46:42.539
 great and

00:46:42.539 --> 00:46:43.320
 without problems.

00:46:44.220 --> 00:46:44.820
 We take our

00:46:44.820 --> 00:46:45.360
 place at his

00:46:45.360 --> 00:46:45.880
 table in

00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:46.300
 faith,

00:46:46.940 --> 00:46:47.500
 looking unto

00:46:47.500 --> 00:46:47.940
 him, the

00:46:47.940 --> 00:46:48.480
 author and

00:46:48.480 --> 00:46:49.320
 finisher of

00:46:49.320 --> 00:46:49.740
 our faith.

00:46:49.900 --> 00:46:50.519
 We take our

00:46:50.519 --> 00:46:51.140
 place at his

00:46:51.140 --> 00:46:52.059
 table because

00:46:52.059 --> 00:46:52.980
 we're sinners

00:46:52.980 --> 00:46:53.660
 in need of

00:46:53.660 --> 00:46:54.119
 forgiveness.

00:46:54.119 --> 00:46:54.420
 forgiveness.

00:46:54.940 --> 00:46:55.579
 And we have

00:46:55.579 --> 00:46:56.179
 found that

00:46:56.179 --> 00:46:57.059
 forgiveness not

00:46:57.059 --> 00:46:57.519
 in our own

00:46:57.519 --> 00:46:58.159
 strength and

00:46:58.159 --> 00:46:58.579
 in our own

00:46:58.579 --> 00:46:59.599
 works, not

00:46:59.599 --> 00:47:00.500
 because of the

00:47:00.500 --> 00:47:01.440
 righteousness that

00:47:01.440 --> 00:47:02.179
 we have acted

00:47:02.179 --> 00:47:02.699
 and therefore

00:47:02.699 --> 00:47:03.880
 earned God's

00:47:03.880 --> 00:47:04.539
 grace, no,

00:47:04.719 --> 00:47:05.739
 because God's

00:47:05.739 --> 00:47:06.599
 grace is poured

00:47:06.599 --> 00:47:07.440
 out in our

00:47:07.440 --> 00:47:08.239
 hearts.

00:47:09.359 --> 00:47:10.039
 And we have

00:47:10.039 --> 00:47:10.579
 come to know

00:47:10.579 --> 00:47:12.259
 Jesus Christ as

00:47:12.259 --> 00:47:13.980
 our Lord and

00:47:13.980 --> 00:47:14.739
 as our Savior.

00:47:16.460 --> 00:47:17.079
 Paul would

00:47:17.079 --> 00:47:17.819
 later write to

00:47:17.819 --> 00:47:18.500
 the church in

00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:19.859
 Rome, and in

00:47:19.859 --> 00:47:20.619
 chapter 5 and

00:47:20.619 --> 00:47:21.139
 verse 1 he

00:47:21.139 --> 00:47:21.739
 puts it this

00:47:21.739 --> 00:47:21.960
 way,

00:47:21.960 --> 00:47:23.199
 therefore, since

00:47:23.199 --> 00:47:23.800
 we have been

00:47:23.800 --> 00:47:24.920
 justified by

00:47:24.920 --> 00:47:25.960
 faith, we

00:47:25.960 --> 00:47:27.220
 have peace with

00:47:27.220 --> 00:47:28.900
 God through

00:47:28.900 --> 00:47:30.599
 our Lord Jesus

00:47:30.599 --> 00:47:31.240
 Christ.

00:47:32.519 --> 00:47:33.380
 And so this

00:47:33.380 --> 00:47:34.199
 morning we

00:47:34.199 --> 00:47:36.519
 pause, we

00:47:36.519 --> 00:47:38.780
 reflect, we

00:47:38.780 --> 00:47:40.300
 remember, do

00:47:40.300 --> 00:47:42.019
 this in

00:47:42.019 --> 00:47:44.019
 remembrance of

00:47:44.019 --> 00:47:44.360
 me.

00:47:44.940 --> 00:47:45.579
 We remember

00:47:45.579 --> 00:47:46.639
 that the best

00:47:46.639 --> 00:47:47.619
 news the world

00:47:47.619 --> 00:47:48.659
 has ever heard

00:47:48.659 --> 00:47:49.699
 God comes

00:47:49.699 --> 00:47:50.480
 from a

00:47:50.480 --> 00:47:51.259
 graveyard.

00:47:52.199 --> 00:47:52.679
 Our faith

00:47:52.679 --> 00:47:53.699
 today is fixed

00:47:53.699 --> 00:47:54.480
 in a living

00:47:54.480 --> 00:47:56.019
 Jesus, one who

00:47:56.019 --> 00:47:57.279
 did die on

00:47:57.279 --> 00:47:58.000
 that cross and

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.839
 one who was

00:47:58.839 --> 00:48:00.480
 physically buried,

00:48:00.639 --> 00:48:01.359
 but he has been

00:48:01.359 --> 00:48:02.639
 raised from the

00:48:02.639 --> 00:48:03.759
 dead and he is

00:48:03.759 --> 00:48:04.319
 Lord.

00:48:05.319 --> 00:48:06.379
 And we profess

00:48:06.379 --> 00:48:07.139
 our faith in

00:48:07.139 --> 00:48:07.859
 him, we

00:48:07.859 --> 00:48:08.480
 acknowledge that

00:48:08.480 --> 00:48:09.279
 we love him,

00:48:09.559 --> 00:48:10.399
 we trust him,

00:48:10.500 --> 00:48:10.980
 and we will

00:48:10.980 --> 00:48:12.159
 follow him, for

00:48:12.159 --> 00:48:13.219
 he gave his

00:48:13.219 --> 00:48:14.879
 all for us and

00:48:14.879 --> 00:48:15.799
 now says to

00:48:15.799 --> 00:48:16.579
 each one of us,

00:48:16.579 --> 00:48:17.400
 follow me,

00:48:18.239 --> 00:48:19.119
 follow me.

00:48:19.579 --> 00:48:19.860
 And the

00:48:19.860 --> 00:48:20.460
 wondrous thing

00:48:20.460 --> 00:48:21.119
 is that Christ

00:48:21.119 --> 00:48:21.739
 doesn't then

00:48:21.739 --> 00:48:22.559
 disappear over

00:48:22.559 --> 00:48:23.639
 the horizon into

00:48:23.639 --> 00:48:24.420
 the distance.

00:48:24.840 --> 00:48:25.719
 He says, lo, I

00:48:25.719 --> 00:48:26.440
 am with you

00:48:26.440 --> 00:48:28.739
 always to the

00:48:28.739 --> 00:48:30.219
 very end of

00:48:30.219 --> 00:48:30.819
 the age.

00:48:31.840 --> 00:48:32.319
 And so we

00:48:32.319 --> 00:48:33.199
 remember a dead

00:48:33.199 --> 00:48:34.239
 saviour can save

00:48:34.239 --> 00:48:35.259
 no one but a

00:48:35.259 --> 00:48:36.239
 living, personal,

00:48:36.440 --> 00:48:37.400
 reigning saviour.

00:48:37.440 --> 00:48:38.059
 That changes

00:48:38.059 --> 00:48:38.679
 everything.

00:48:39.480 --> 00:48:39.980
 And that's why

00:48:39.980 --> 00:48:41.279
 the language in

00:48:41.279 --> 00:48:42.259
 this section, it

00:48:42.259 --> 00:48:43.059
 goes, Christ

00:48:43.059 --> 00:48:44.659
 died, he was

00:48:44.659 --> 00:48:45.980
 buried, he rose

00:48:45.980 --> 00:48:46.480
 again.

00:48:46.579 --> 00:48:47.900
 He was seen.

00:48:48.259 --> 00:48:48.599
 And the

00:48:48.599 --> 00:48:49.460
 Christian church

00:48:49.460 --> 00:48:50.559
 for these 2,000

00:48:50.559 --> 00:48:51.599
 years has been

00:48:51.599 --> 00:48:52.539
 proclaiming this

00:48:52.539 --> 00:48:53.799
 wondrous message,

00:48:54.539 --> 00:48:55.940
 this good news

00:48:55.940 --> 00:48:57.319
 that has been

00:48:57.319 --> 00:48:58.599
 passed on to us

00:48:58.599 --> 00:48:59.719
 and we focus in

00:48:59.719 --> 00:49:00.340
 on what has been

00:49:00.340 --> 00:49:01.960
 given of first

00:49:01.960 --> 00:49:03.139
 importance, that

00:49:03.139 --> 00:49:04.420
 Christ died for

00:49:04.420 --> 00:49:05.579
 our sins in

00:49:05.579 --> 00:49:06.179
 accordance with

00:49:06.179 --> 00:49:06.679
 the scriptures.

00:49:06.799 --> 00:49:07.360
 The only

00:49:07.360 --> 00:49:08.460
 explanation for

00:49:08.460 --> 00:49:09.819
 the cross, the

00:49:09.819 --> 00:49:10.819
 only explanation

00:49:10.819 --> 00:49:11.960
 that holds water,

00:49:12.079 --> 00:49:13.079
 that makes sense,

00:49:13.199 --> 00:49:14.659
 that joins up,

00:49:14.659 --> 00:49:16.619
 is the seriousness

00:49:16.619 --> 00:49:18.359
 of sin, the

00:49:18.359 --> 00:49:19.639
 awfulness of sin.

00:49:20.159 --> 00:49:21.039
 And that sin had

00:49:21.039 --> 00:49:22.000
 created a barrier

00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:22.759
 between us and

00:49:22.759 --> 00:49:23.839
 God that was

00:49:23.839 --> 00:49:24.579
 impassable.

00:49:24.679 --> 00:49:25.059
 We couldn't get

00:49:25.059 --> 00:49:26.199
 round it, through

00:49:26.199 --> 00:49:26.920
 it, over it, or

00:49:26.920 --> 00:49:27.460
 under it.

00:49:28.460 --> 00:49:29.779
 And that left us

00:49:29.779 --> 00:49:33.239
 lost, lost, and

00:49:33.239 --> 00:49:34.460
 far off from God.

00:49:34.460 --> 00:49:36.360
 I wonder if you've

00:49:36.360 --> 00:49:37.340
 noticed how Paul

00:49:37.340 --> 00:49:39.079
 opens his letter

00:49:39.079 --> 00:49:39.940
 to the Romans,

00:49:40.119 --> 00:49:41.139
 that incredible

00:49:41.139 --> 00:49:42.420
 letter that goes

00:49:42.420 --> 00:49:43.300
 on to deal with

00:49:43.300 --> 00:49:44.460
 many of the deep

00:49:44.460 --> 00:49:45.519
 things of God.

00:49:45.639 --> 00:49:47.559
 But notice the

00:49:47.559 --> 00:49:48.699
 first sentence in

00:49:48.699 --> 00:49:49.380
 this incredible

00:49:49.380 --> 00:49:49.820
 letter.

00:49:50.019 --> 00:49:50.980
 Paul, a servant

00:49:50.980 --> 00:49:52.019
 of Christ Jesus,

00:49:52.420 --> 00:49:53.099
 called to be an

00:49:53.099 --> 00:49:55.059
 apostle, set

00:49:55.059 --> 00:49:57.280
 apart for the

00:49:57.280 --> 00:49:58.340
 gospel of God,

00:49:58.740 --> 00:49:59.639
 which he promised

00:49:59.639 --> 00:50:01.220
 beforehand through

00:50:01.220 --> 00:50:03.099
 his prophets in the

00:50:03.099 --> 00:50:04.000
 holy scriptures

00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:05.299
 concerning his

00:50:05.299 --> 00:50:05.940
 son who was

00:50:05.940 --> 00:50:06.619
 descended from

00:50:06.619 --> 00:50:07.860
 David according to

00:50:07.860 --> 00:50:09.059
 the flesh, and

00:50:09.059 --> 00:50:10.000
 was declared to be

00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:10.819
 the son of God

00:50:10.819 --> 00:50:12.039
 in power according

00:50:12.039 --> 00:50:12.960
 to the spirit of

00:50:12.960 --> 00:50:15.259
 holiness by his

00:50:15.259 --> 00:50:17.519
 resurrection from

00:50:17.519 --> 00:50:18.039
 the dead.

00:50:18.940 --> 00:50:21.199
 Jesus Christ, our

00:50:21.199 --> 00:50:23.079
 Lord, through whom

00:50:23.079 --> 00:50:24.799
 we have received

00:50:24.799 --> 00:50:25.420
 grace.

00:50:26.519 --> 00:50:27.380
 That wonderful

00:50:27.380 --> 00:50:28.179
 phrasing there,

00:50:28.339 --> 00:50:29.239
 set apart in

00:50:29.239 --> 00:50:30.679
 verse 1, set

00:50:30.679 --> 00:50:31.599
 apart for the

00:50:31.599 --> 00:50:32.619
 gospel of God.

00:50:33.219 --> 00:50:34.000
 It's a word that

00:50:34.000 --> 00:50:35.279
 speaks of being

00:50:35.279 --> 00:50:36.719
 marked out by a

00:50:36.719 --> 00:50:37.179
 boundary.

00:50:38.559 --> 00:50:38.819
 Isn't that

00:50:38.819 --> 00:50:39.279
 wonderful?

00:50:39.599 --> 00:50:40.039
 That today,

00:50:40.159 --> 00:50:40.940
 Christian friend,

00:50:41.819 --> 00:50:42.920
 God has set a

00:50:42.920 --> 00:50:43.360
 boundary.

00:50:44.739 --> 00:50:45.900
 And that boundary

00:50:45.900 --> 00:50:46.980
 marker has one

00:50:46.980 --> 00:50:47.500
 word,

00:50:48.880 --> 00:50:49.319
 redeemed.

00:50:50.839 --> 00:50:51.360
 Redeemed.

00:50:52.259 --> 00:50:52.799
 And you have

00:50:52.799 --> 00:50:53.739
 been set apart

00:50:53.739 --> 00:50:55.639
 for the gospel of

00:50:55.639 --> 00:50:56.159
 God.

00:50:57.279 --> 00:50:57.759
 Redeemed.

00:50:58.400 --> 00:50:59.079
 And it's as

00:50:59.079 --> 00:50:59.880
 redeemed we

00:50:59.880 --> 00:51:00.579
 gather at this

00:51:00.579 --> 00:51:00.980
 table.

00:51:01.380 --> 00:51:01.819
 It's as

00:51:01.819 --> 00:51:02.500
 redeemed that

00:51:02.500 --> 00:51:03.579
 we reflect on

00:51:03.579 --> 00:51:04.360
 how we came to

00:51:04.360 --> 00:51:05.539
 be on God's

00:51:05.539 --> 00:51:06.219
 side of the

00:51:06.219 --> 00:51:07.159
 boundary marker.

00:51:07.519 --> 00:51:08.159
 How it is we

00:51:08.159 --> 00:51:08.699
 came to be

00:51:08.699 --> 00:51:09.440
 marked out as

00:51:09.440 --> 00:51:10.779
 redeemed by

00:51:10.779 --> 00:51:11.319
 putting our

00:51:11.319 --> 00:51:12.619
 trust in Christ.

00:51:13.019 --> 00:51:13.500
 And that

00:51:13.500 --> 00:51:15.079
 alone, nothing

00:51:15.079 --> 00:51:15.599
 else.

00:51:16.119 --> 00:51:16.539
 There's no

00:51:16.539 --> 00:51:18.299
 other way but

00:51:18.299 --> 00:51:19.920
 to trust and

00:51:19.920 --> 00:51:20.299
 obey.

00:51:21.900 --> 00:51:23.059
 And so Paul

00:51:23.059 --> 00:51:24.219
 zeroes in here.

00:51:24.559 --> 00:51:25.340
 And he reminds

00:51:25.340 --> 00:51:26.259
 us that the

00:51:26.259 --> 00:51:27.000
 death of Jesus

00:51:27.000 --> 00:51:28.199
 is victorious and

00:51:28.199 --> 00:51:29.019
 that victory has

00:51:29.019 --> 00:51:29.860
 resulted in God

00:51:29.860 --> 00:51:30.480
 setting a

00:51:30.480 --> 00:51:31.200
 marker, a

00:51:31.200 --> 00:51:32.500
 boundary around

00:51:32.500 --> 00:51:33.180
 you, Christian

00:51:33.180 --> 00:51:34.880
 friend, that is

00:51:34.880 --> 00:51:35.579
 marked out as

00:51:35.579 --> 00:51:36.140
 redeemed.

00:51:37.180 --> 00:51:37.620
 And so we

00:51:37.620 --> 00:51:37.920
 look in

00:51:37.920 --> 00:51:38.960
 anticipation to

00:51:38.960 --> 00:51:40.579
 this supper to

00:51:40.579 --> 00:51:41.220
 receive more

00:51:41.220 --> 00:51:43.039
 grace in a

00:51:43.039 --> 00:51:44.220
 special, effective

00:51:44.220 --> 00:51:45.440
 way, remembering

00:51:45.440 --> 00:51:46.599
 that the cost of

00:51:46.599 --> 00:51:47.260
 that boundary

00:51:47.260 --> 00:51:48.019
 marker being

00:51:48.019 --> 00:51:49.220
 placed upon us

00:51:49.220 --> 00:51:50.160
 and around us

00:51:50.160 --> 00:51:51.280
 was nothing

00:51:51.280 --> 00:51:51.940
 other than the

00:51:51.940 --> 00:51:52.720
 death of Jesus,

00:51:53.660 --> 00:51:54.539
 the Son of God.

00:51:55.260 --> 00:51:55.840
 And this is the

00:51:55.840 --> 00:51:56.340
 last thing.

00:51:56.340 --> 00:51:57.340
 The death of

00:51:57.340 --> 00:51:58.039
 Jesus is

00:51:58.039 --> 00:51:58.500
 saving.

00:51:59.660 --> 00:52:00.460
 Our Savior who

00:52:00.460 --> 00:52:01.160
 was dead and

00:52:01.160 --> 00:52:01.760
 now is alive

00:52:01.760 --> 00:52:02.460
 through each one

00:52:02.460 --> 00:52:03.079
 of us today

00:52:03.079 --> 00:52:04.180
 says that we

00:52:04.180 --> 00:52:04.900
 are to proclaim

00:52:04.900 --> 00:52:05.620
 his death till

00:52:05.620 --> 00:52:05.980
 he come.

00:52:06.019 --> 00:52:06.559
 How do we do

00:52:06.559 --> 00:52:06.900
 that?

00:52:07.100 --> 00:52:07.720
 We take our

00:52:07.720 --> 00:52:08.280
 place at the

00:52:08.280 --> 00:52:08.620
 table.

00:52:09.539 --> 00:52:09.960
 We share

00:52:09.960 --> 00:52:10.559
 together the

00:52:10.559 --> 00:52:11.140
 bread and the

00:52:11.140 --> 00:52:11.740
 wine and we

00:52:11.740 --> 00:52:12.980
 look up.

00:52:13.700 --> 00:52:14.100
 And as we

00:52:14.100 --> 00:52:14.900
 look up, we

00:52:14.900 --> 00:52:15.440
 look out.

00:52:15.519 --> 00:52:16.079
 We look away

00:52:16.079 --> 00:52:16.760
 from our sins.

00:52:16.860 --> 00:52:17.340
 We look away

00:52:17.340 --> 00:52:17.660
 from the

00:52:17.660 --> 00:52:18.039
 struggles.

00:52:18.380 --> 00:52:18.820
 We look away

00:52:18.820 --> 00:52:19.519
 from the faults

00:52:19.519 --> 00:52:20.220
 and the failings

00:52:20.220 --> 00:52:21.059
 and we look away

00:52:21.059 --> 00:52:21.720
 from the sin that

00:52:21.720 --> 00:52:22.780
 so often entangles

00:52:22.780 --> 00:52:23.440
 us and trips

00:52:23.440 --> 00:52:23.900
 us up.

00:52:24.820 --> 00:52:25.560
 We cry out for

00:52:25.560 --> 00:52:26.700
 mercy and grace

00:52:26.700 --> 00:52:27.460
 to help us in

00:52:27.460 --> 00:52:28.220
 time of need.

00:52:28.820 --> 00:52:29.519
 And we cry out

00:52:29.519 --> 00:52:30.180
 for God's

00:52:30.180 --> 00:52:30.760
 strengthening.

00:52:31.260 --> 00:52:31.860
 And we remember

00:52:31.860 --> 00:52:32.519
 that the victory

00:52:32.519 --> 00:52:33.300
 is ours through

00:52:33.300 --> 00:52:35.380
 Jesus Christ who

00:52:35.380 --> 00:52:36.440
 gave himself for

00:52:36.440 --> 00:52:36.920
 us.

00:52:37.600 --> 00:52:38.240
 And we press

00:52:38.240 --> 00:52:38.580
 on.

00:52:39.740 --> 00:52:40.620
 We press on.

00:52:42.120 --> 00:52:43.280
 We cannot say

00:52:43.280 --> 00:52:44.480
 today that God

00:52:44.480 --> 00:52:45.600
 forgives us because

00:52:45.600 --> 00:52:46.480
 he is some kind

00:52:46.480 --> 00:52:48.580
 of light force

00:52:48.580 --> 00:52:49.500
 of love,

00:52:50.019 --> 00:52:50.860
 some kind of

00:52:50.860 --> 00:52:51.840
 blur in the

00:52:51.840 --> 00:52:52.280
 sky.

00:52:52.280 --> 00:52:53.200
 So many people

00:52:53.200 --> 00:52:54.140
 today, if they

00:52:54.140 --> 00:52:54.960
 even get close to

00:52:54.960 --> 00:52:55.440
 thinking about

00:52:55.440 --> 00:52:56.480
 God, that's about

00:52:56.480 --> 00:52:57.140
 as far as they

00:52:57.140 --> 00:52:57.420
 get.

00:52:57.640 --> 00:52:58.220
 They never open

00:52:58.220 --> 00:52:58.880
 his word.

00:52:59.160 --> 00:52:59.660
 But what do

00:52:59.660 --> 00:53:00.120
 they read?

00:53:00.780 --> 00:53:01.380
 They read you

00:53:01.380 --> 00:53:01.780
 and I.

00:53:02.620 --> 00:53:03.100
 They read our

00:53:03.100 --> 00:53:03.660
 lives.

00:53:03.840 --> 00:53:04.660
 They see us.

00:53:05.700 --> 00:53:06.280
 And so may it

00:53:06.280 --> 00:53:07.300
 be that as we

00:53:07.300 --> 00:53:08.760
 conduct ourselves,

00:53:09.060 --> 00:53:09.920
 this message

00:53:09.920 --> 00:53:10.540
 would shine

00:53:10.540 --> 00:53:10.960
 through.

00:53:12.100 --> 00:53:12.640
 That the light

00:53:12.640 --> 00:53:13.280
 of Christ would

00:53:13.280 --> 00:53:14.780
 be seen in how

00:53:14.780 --> 00:53:15.380
 we conduct

00:53:15.380 --> 00:53:15.800
 ourselves.

00:53:16.120 --> 00:53:16.500
 As he said

00:53:16.500 --> 00:53:17.040
 this morning to

00:53:17.040 --> 00:53:17.460
 the children,

00:53:17.680 --> 00:53:18.300
 in the choices

00:53:18.300 --> 00:53:18.900
 we make,

00:53:19.420 --> 00:53:20.100
 in the decisions

00:53:20.100 --> 00:53:21.700
 that form us,

00:53:21.699 --> 00:53:22.599
 in what we do

00:53:22.599 --> 00:53:23.339
 on Monday and

00:53:23.339 --> 00:53:23.980
 Tuesday and

00:53:23.980 --> 00:53:24.500
 Thursday and

00:53:24.500 --> 00:53:25.419
 each day in

00:53:25.419 --> 00:53:26.759
 work, private,

00:53:26.980 --> 00:53:27.799
 the family and

00:53:27.799 --> 00:53:28.399
 the community,

00:53:28.559 --> 00:53:29.099
 over the fence

00:53:29.099 --> 00:53:29.359
 with the

00:53:29.359 --> 00:53:29.739
 neighbours,

00:53:30.539 --> 00:53:30.859
 when we're at

00:53:30.859 --> 00:53:31.319
 home with our

00:53:31.319 --> 00:53:31.679
 children.

00:53:32.679 --> 00:53:33.599
 May it be that

00:53:33.599 --> 00:53:34.980
 it would be

00:53:34.980 --> 00:53:36.799
 evident that we

00:53:36.799 --> 00:53:37.759
 love the Lord

00:53:37.759 --> 00:53:39.019
 and that his

00:53:39.019 --> 00:53:39.519
 mark of

00:53:39.519 --> 00:53:40.619
 redeemed is

00:53:40.619 --> 00:53:41.439
 upon us.

00:53:41.960 --> 00:53:42.919
 Not to make us

00:53:42.919 --> 00:53:44.039
 special, not to

00:53:44.039 --> 00:53:44.699
 lord it over

00:53:44.699 --> 00:53:45.000
 anyone.

00:53:45.079 --> 00:53:45.739
 Of course not.

00:53:46.159 --> 00:53:46.819
 It's the opposite,

00:53:46.939 --> 00:53:47.319
 isn't it?

00:53:48.059 --> 00:53:48.820
 We're so aware

00:53:48.820 --> 00:53:49.500
 of sin.

00:53:50.000 --> 00:53:50.940
 We're so keenly

00:53:50.940 --> 00:53:51.700
 aware of sin.

00:53:51.760 --> 00:53:52.220
 That's what the

00:53:52.220 --> 00:53:53.100
 tender conscience

00:53:53.100 --> 00:53:53.700
 does.

00:53:54.220 --> 00:53:55.140
 It makes us so

00:53:55.140 --> 00:53:56.240
 awake to sin and

00:53:56.240 --> 00:53:57.400
 aware of sin that

00:53:57.400 --> 00:53:57.960
 we wouldn't dare

00:53:57.960 --> 00:53:58.460
 lord it over

00:53:58.460 --> 00:53:59.000
 anybody.

00:53:59.880 --> 00:54:00.660
 We are saved by

00:54:00.660 --> 00:54:01.280
 grace and through

00:54:01.280 --> 00:54:02.080
 faith and not of

00:54:02.080 --> 00:54:02.480
 ourselves.

00:54:02.660 --> 00:54:03.500
 It is the gift of

00:54:03.500 --> 00:54:03.760
 God.

00:54:03.840 --> 00:54:04.559
 Let's any of us

00:54:04.559 --> 00:54:05.140
 should boast.

00:54:05.300 --> 00:54:05.920
 There's no room

00:54:05.920 --> 00:54:07.100
 for pride in the

00:54:07.100 --> 00:54:07.980
 kingdom of heaven.

00:54:08.840 --> 00:54:09.780
 No room for pride

00:54:09.780 --> 00:54:10.480
 in the church of

00:54:10.480 --> 00:54:11.039
 Christ.

00:54:12.620 --> 00:54:13.320
 There's only room

00:54:13.320 --> 00:54:14.260
 for humility and

00:54:14.260 --> 00:54:14.820
 dependence.

00:54:14.820 --> 00:54:16.140
 sins because

00:54:16.140 --> 00:54:16.780
 were it not for

00:54:16.780 --> 00:54:17.680
 Jesus, every

00:54:17.680 --> 00:54:18.780
 single one of us

00:54:18.780 --> 00:54:20.240
 would still be

00:54:20.240 --> 00:54:21.400
 under the wrath

00:54:21.400 --> 00:54:22.080
 of God.

00:54:23.340 --> 00:54:23.880
 And so we give

00:54:23.880 --> 00:54:25.380
 thanks today that

00:54:25.380 --> 00:54:26.320
 this message of

00:54:26.320 --> 00:54:27.440
 hope and this

00:54:27.440 --> 00:54:28.800
 message of faith,

00:54:28.900 --> 00:54:29.620
 this message of

00:54:29.620 --> 00:54:31.800
 life revolves

00:54:31.800 --> 00:54:33.780
 around the

00:54:33.780 --> 00:54:37.280
 central event of

00:54:37.280 --> 00:54:37.940
 the death of

00:54:37.940 --> 00:54:38.440
 Christ.

00:54:39.280 --> 00:54:40.580
 He tasted its

00:54:40.580 --> 00:54:42.800
 awfulness and

00:54:42.800 --> 00:54:43.680
 disarmed it.

00:54:44.820 --> 00:54:45.800
 He felt its

00:54:45.800 --> 00:54:47.580
 sting and

00:54:47.580 --> 00:54:49.680
 defeated it for

00:54:49.680 --> 00:54:50.100
 us.

00:54:51.300 --> 00:54:52.559
 So our song in

00:54:52.559 --> 00:54:53.500
 our hearts is

00:54:53.500 --> 00:54:55.460
 hallelujah what a

00:54:55.460 --> 00:54:55.780
 savior.

00:54:56.660 --> 00:54:57.420
 He is risen from

00:54:57.420 --> 00:54:58.400
 the dead, he is

00:54:58.400 --> 00:54:58.820
 Lord.

00:54:59.480 --> 00:55:00.940
 He died that we

00:55:00.940 --> 00:55:01.760
 might be forgiven.

00:55:02.640 --> 00:55:03.600
 He died to make

00:55:03.600 --> 00:55:05.059
 us good that we

00:55:05.059 --> 00:55:05.980
 might go at last

00:55:05.980 --> 00:55:07.720
 to heaven, saved

00:55:07.720 --> 00:55:09.420
 by his precious

00:55:09.420 --> 00:55:10.180
 blood.

00:55:11.140 --> 00:55:12.039
 This is our king

00:55:12.039 --> 00:55:12.780
 and lord and

00:55:12.780 --> 00:55:13.620
 savior that we

00:55:13.619 --> 00:55:15.079
 now remember

00:55:15.079 --> 00:55:15.500
 together.

00:55:16.460 --> 00:55:17.219
 This is our king

00:55:17.219 --> 00:55:17.900
 and lord and

00:55:17.900 --> 00:55:18.980
 savior who bids us

00:55:18.980 --> 00:55:19.719
 come.

00:55:20.719 --> 00:55:21.500
 This is our king

00:55:21.500 --> 00:55:22.299
 and lord and

00:55:22.299 --> 00:55:23.699
 savior who says

00:55:23.699 --> 00:55:24.859
 of his table and

00:55:24.859 --> 00:55:26.239
 his supper, all

00:55:26.239 --> 00:55:27.679
 things are now

00:55:27.679 --> 00:55:28.059
 ready.

00:55:29.039 --> 00:55:30.779
 Do this in

00:55:30.779 --> 00:55:32.319
 remembrance of

00:55:32.319 --> 00:55:32.559
 me.

00:55:33.079 --> 00:55:34.019
 Let's pray together

00:55:34.019 --> 00:55:34.579
 for a moment.

00:55:34.579 --> 00:55:42.319
 our gracious lord, how

00:55:42.319 --> 00:55:43.259
 can we take in the

00:55:43.259 --> 00:55:43.679
 scene of the

00:55:43.679 --> 00:55:44.079
 cross?

00:55:44.659 --> 00:55:45.599
 How can we take in

00:55:45.599 --> 00:55:46.279
 the scene of an

00:55:46.279 --> 00:55:46.980
 empty tomb?

00:55:47.599 --> 00:55:48.579
 How can we take in

00:55:48.579 --> 00:55:49.340
 the meaning and

00:55:49.340 --> 00:55:50.380
 significance of

00:55:50.380 --> 00:55:51.179
 Golgotha?

00:55:51.619 --> 00:55:52.440
 And yet, lord, we

00:55:52.440 --> 00:55:53.420
 bless you for the

00:55:53.420 --> 00:55:53.840
 garden.

00:55:54.319 --> 00:55:55.259
 We bless you that

00:55:55.259 --> 00:55:55.900
 there in the

00:55:55.900 --> 00:55:57.039
 graveyard there was

00:55:57.039 --> 00:55:58.159
 no body to

00:55:58.159 --> 00:55:58.579
 anoint.

00:55:58.579 --> 00:55:59.880
 There was only an

00:55:59.880 --> 00:56:02.099
 angelic guard set on

00:56:02.099 --> 00:56:03.219
 the tomb to tell

00:56:03.219 --> 00:56:04.360
 those early

00:56:04.360 --> 00:56:06.119
 followers, why do

00:56:06.119 --> 00:56:07.219
 you seek the living

00:56:07.219 --> 00:56:08.659
 among the dead?

00:56:09.199 --> 00:56:10.639
 For he has risen, as

00:56:10.639 --> 00:56:12.519
 he said, come see the

00:56:12.519 --> 00:56:14.079
 place where he lay.

00:56:15.239 --> 00:56:16.380
 Lord, our God, we

00:56:16.380 --> 00:56:17.259
 bless you that at the

00:56:17.259 --> 00:56:17.860
 center of the

00:56:17.860 --> 00:56:18.579
 Christian message

00:56:18.579 --> 00:56:20.159
 today is the message

00:56:20.159 --> 00:56:21.440
 of a savior who

00:56:21.440 --> 00:56:22.940
 loved us and gave

00:56:22.940 --> 00:56:24.900
 himself for us even

00:56:24.900 --> 00:56:26.639
 to death on a cross.

00:56:26.639 --> 00:56:29.019
 How can we begin to

00:56:29.019 --> 00:56:29.940
 comprehend in our

00:56:29.940 --> 00:56:30.779
 lifetime the

00:56:30.779 --> 00:56:32.460
 significance and

00:56:32.460 --> 00:56:33.779
 wondrous depth of

00:56:33.779 --> 00:56:34.639
 that message?

00:56:35.699 --> 00:56:36.639
 And so, lord, in

00:56:36.639 --> 00:56:37.539
 faith, we gather

00:56:37.539 --> 00:56:39.799
 today, we follow the

00:56:39.799 --> 00:56:40.879
 instruction of our

00:56:40.879 --> 00:56:41.859
 lord in simple

00:56:41.859 --> 00:56:43.639
 obedience, reverently

00:56:43.639 --> 00:56:45.139
 and humbly.

00:56:45.639 --> 00:56:46.859
 And we come to this

00:56:46.859 --> 00:56:47.980
 table to be fed.

00:56:48.599 --> 00:56:49.359
 We come to be

00:56:49.359 --> 00:56:50.000
 nourished.

00:56:50.420 --> 00:56:51.379
 We come to be

00:56:51.379 --> 00:56:52.579
 enlivened.

00:56:52.920 --> 00:56:54.480
 We come for grace.

00:56:55.119 --> 00:56:56.119
 So be with us, we

00:56:56.119 --> 00:56:56.460
 pray.

00:56:56.900 --> 00:56:57.719
 In his precious

00:56:57.719 --> 00:56:58.179
 name.

00:56:58.659 --> 00:56:58.960
 Amen.

00:57:01.539 --> 00:57:03.579
 Now, before we share

00:57:03.579 --> 00:57:04.279
 together in the

00:57:04.279 --> 00:57:05.219
 Lord's Supper, we'll

00:57:05.219 --> 00:57:06.339
 sing again to God's

00:57:06.339 --> 00:57:06.759
 praise.

00:57:07.359 --> 00:57:08.779
 We'll turn to Psalm

00:57:08.779 --> 00:57:10.199
 118 in the Psalter.

00:57:10.920 --> 00:57:13.059
 Psalm 118 in the

00:57:13.059 --> 00:57:15.440
 Psalter, page 398.

00:57:16.940 --> 00:57:18.639
 And we'll sing from

00:57:18.639 --> 00:57:19.440
 verse 15.

00:57:20.099 --> 00:57:20.960
 And we'll sing to

00:57:20.960 --> 00:57:22.739
 verse 21, to God's

00:57:22.739 --> 00:57:23.319
 praise, to the

00:57:23.319 --> 00:57:24.259
 tuned coal sill.

00:57:24.260 --> 00:57:26.800
 Psalm 118, singing

00:57:26.800 --> 00:57:28.360
 from verse 15.

00:57:28.740 --> 00:57:30.420
 If anyone is still

00:57:30.420 --> 00:57:31.240
 in the church

00:57:31.240 --> 00:57:32.900
 present who loves

00:57:32.900 --> 00:57:33.560
 the Lord Jesus

00:57:33.560 --> 00:57:35.080
 Christ and who is in

00:57:35.080 --> 00:57:36.440
 full communion with

00:57:36.440 --> 00:57:37.240
 their own church and

00:57:37.240 --> 00:57:38.260
 is perhaps visiting or

00:57:38.260 --> 00:57:39.560
 otherwise detained,

00:57:39.640 --> 00:57:40.240
 so come into the

00:57:40.240 --> 00:57:41.200
 table and invite you

00:57:41.200 --> 00:57:42.220
 to take your place at

00:57:42.220 --> 00:57:43.800
 the Lord's table as we

00:57:43.800 --> 00:57:44.680
 sing these verses.

00:57:44.860 --> 00:57:46.440
 This is the table of

00:57:46.440 --> 00:57:47.680
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:57:47.920 --> 00:57:49.000
 It is not the table of

00:57:49.000 --> 00:57:49.780
 the free church.

00:57:49.780 --> 00:57:51.180
 And so you're welcome

00:57:51.180 --> 00:57:52.740
 in our Saviour's name

00:57:52.740 --> 00:57:53.640
 to join us.

00:57:54.140 --> 00:57:54.740
 We'll sing then from

00:57:54.740 --> 00:57:56.260
 verse 15 to verse

00:57:56.260 --> 00:57:56.800
 21.

00:57:57.000 --> 00:57:57.740
 And dwellings of the

00:57:57.740 --> 00:57:58.600
 righteous has heard

00:57:58.600 --> 00:58:00.380
 the melody of joy and

00:58:00.380 --> 00:58:00.720
 health.

00:58:00.800 --> 00:58:02.100
 The Lord's right hand

00:58:02.100 --> 00:58:03.980
 doth ever valiantly.

00:58:04.440 --> 00:58:05.640
 These verses to God's

00:58:05.640 --> 00:58:06.000
 praise.

00:58:06.000 --> 00:58:18.639
 of joy and health.

00:58:18.639 --> 00:58:20.940
 The Lord's right hand

00:58:20.940 --> 00:58:24.920
 doth ever valiantly.

00:58:24.920 --> 00:58:40.480
 Of joy and hell the Lord's right hand doth ever valiantly.

00:58:40.480 --> 00:58:57.480
 The right hand of the mighty Lord exalted is on high.

00:58:57.480 --> 00:59:12.139
 The right hand of the mighty Lord doth ever valiantly.

00:59:12.139 --> 00:59:29.279
 I shall not die but live and shall the works of God discover.

00:59:29.280 --> 00:59:47.380
 The Lord doth me just, I said so, but not to death give no heart.

00:59:47.380 --> 01:00:01.780
 O set ye open unto me the gates of righteousness.

01:00:01.780 --> 01:00:19.780
 Then will I enter into them, and I the Lord will bless.

01:00:19.780 --> 01:00:35.780
 This is the gate of God by it, that thou shalt enter in.

01:00:35.780 --> 01:00:52.080
 Thee will I please for thy leaders, and as my safety be.

01:00:52.079 --> 01:00:52.719
 Amen.

01:01:00.639 --> 01:01:06.360
 We gather at the Lord's table to share in his supper.

01:01:07.019 --> 01:01:13.940
 This opportunity that he provides to his church to receive his grace in this special way.

01:01:14.059 --> 01:01:16.759
 To remember his death till he come again.

01:01:16.760 --> 01:01:24.560
 We read from 1 Corinthians 11, words that we refer to as our warrant for why we do what we do here.

01:01:24.700 --> 01:01:28.640
 In verse 23, I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you.

01:01:29.260 --> 01:01:32.200
 The Lord Jesus in the night when he was betrayed took bread.

01:01:32.840 --> 01:01:35.200
 And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,

01:01:35.360 --> 01:01:37.360
 This is my body which is for you.

01:01:37.920 --> 01:01:39.600
 Do this in remembrance of me.

01:01:40.220 --> 01:01:42.940
 In the same way also he took the cup after supper, saying,

01:01:42.940 --> 01:01:45.300
 This cup is the new covenant in my blood.

01:01:45.300 --> 01:01:49.100
 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.

01:01:49.420 --> 01:01:52.860
 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,

01:01:53.360 --> 01:01:57.660
 you proclaim the Lord's death until he come.

01:01:58.940 --> 01:02:01.720
 And so we proclaim his death.

01:02:02.380 --> 01:02:05.820
 We proclaim that he was dead and now is alive.

01:02:06.400 --> 01:02:10.420
 We proclaim he is our hope, our joy, our peace,

01:02:10.960 --> 01:02:13.260
 as we share together in this supper.

01:02:13.260 --> 01:02:15.180
 Let us first of all pray together.

01:02:15.300 --> 01:02:21.340
 O Lord, we come in anticipation to your table.

01:02:22.460 --> 01:02:29.500
 We come to be fed, to be nourished, to be blessed, to receive grace.

01:02:30.600 --> 01:02:34.060
 And so we pray, Lord God, that through this bread and this wine,

01:02:34.980 --> 01:02:37.440
 set apart in your ordinance,

01:02:37.440 --> 01:02:40.599
 and by your providence and by your providence and in your mercy,

01:02:40.599 --> 01:02:43.119
 that they would be to us a feast.

01:02:43.599 --> 01:02:45.920
 They would be to us this day a banquet.

01:02:46.599 --> 01:02:49.460
 They would be to us nourishment to our souls,

01:02:49.960 --> 01:02:53.659
 that we be replenished and refreshed and revived in our spirit

01:02:53.659 --> 01:02:57.200
 by sharing together in this supper.

01:02:57.199 --> 01:03:00.659
 As we take the bread and as we take the wine,

01:03:01.279 --> 01:03:03.960
 as we share together at this table, at this meal,

01:03:04.679 --> 01:03:07.699
 we ask, Lord, for a sense of worship and wonder,

01:03:08.339 --> 01:03:10.379
 a sense of oneness and purpose,

01:03:11.099 --> 01:03:13.719
 a sense of drive and a sense of determination,

01:03:14.359 --> 01:03:18.399
 as we in your grace and mercy are enabled here

01:03:18.400 --> 01:03:22.780
 to proclaim our Lord's death till they come again.

01:03:23.360 --> 01:03:24.780
 Here as we pray in his name.

01:03:25.539 --> 01:03:25.980
 Amen.

01:03:29.220 --> 01:03:30.920
 Before I serve these elements,

01:03:31.039 --> 01:03:32.800
 let me just share with you these words

01:03:32.800 --> 01:03:35.639
 written by Gregory of Nazianzus,

01:03:35.780 --> 01:03:37.360
 a fourth century church leader

01:03:37.360 --> 01:03:41.920
 who wrote magnificently on who Jesus is

01:03:41.920 --> 01:03:43.800
 and what Jesus has done.

01:03:44.400 --> 01:03:46.860
 He began his ministry by being hungry,

01:03:47.480 --> 01:03:48.720
 yet is the bread of life.

01:03:49.519 --> 01:03:51.579
 He ended his ministry by being thirsty,

01:03:52.200 --> 01:03:53.240
 yet is the living water.

01:03:53.960 --> 01:03:56.700
 He was weary, yet is our rest.

01:03:57.160 --> 01:03:59.220
 He paid tribute, yet is the king.

01:03:59.700 --> 01:04:01.140
 He was accused of being a demon,

01:04:01.240 --> 01:04:02.500
 yet cast out demons.

01:04:03.019 --> 01:04:06.260
 Jesus wept, yet he wipes away our tears.

01:04:06.260 --> 01:04:09.580
 Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver,

01:04:10.020 --> 01:04:11.300
 yet he redeemed the world.

01:04:12.260 --> 01:04:14.220
 Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter,

01:04:14.980 --> 01:04:16.180
 yet he is the good shepherd.

01:04:17.380 --> 01:04:20.380
 Jesus died, yet by his death,

01:04:21.040 --> 01:04:24.500
 he destroyed the power of death.

01:04:27.260 --> 01:04:29.260
 This is my body which is for you.

01:04:29.940 --> 01:04:32.840
 Do this in remembrance of me.

01:04:32.840 --> 01:04:41.160
 The initiative in our redemption

01:04:41.160 --> 01:04:42.920
 comes from God the Father.

01:04:43.680 --> 01:04:45.579
 For that we give thanks and we praise him.

01:04:46.440 --> 01:04:48.200
 He's given me long enough to speak to you today,

01:04:48.280 --> 01:04:49.960
 so I just want to read the last verse

01:04:49.960 --> 01:04:51.940
 in the chapter we were thinking about this morning,

01:04:52.120 --> 01:04:55.120
 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 58.

01:04:55.980 --> 01:04:57.800
 Where in light of what we've thought about,

01:04:57.980 --> 01:04:59.440
 in light of the grace we've received,

01:04:59.440 --> 01:05:02.039
 at this table we hear these words,

01:05:02.920 --> 01:05:06.099
 therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters,

01:05:06.480 --> 01:05:08.760
 be steadfast, immovable,

01:05:09.539 --> 01:05:12.019
 always abounding in the work of the Lord,

01:05:12.440 --> 01:05:17.280
 knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

01:05:17.940 --> 01:05:19.039
 May he bless us,

01:05:19.400 --> 01:05:21.460
 as together we serve him

01:05:21.460 --> 01:05:24.840
 and share something of the unsearchable riches of Christ

01:05:24.840 --> 01:05:26.700
 with the people around us,

01:05:27.280 --> 01:05:29.760
 professing to them that he is our Savior,

01:05:30.260 --> 01:05:33.000
 our Lord, our King, and our Friend,

01:05:33.720 --> 01:05:36.720
 and that through faith he can be that to everyone

01:05:36.720 --> 01:05:38.019
 who comes to him.

01:05:38.600 --> 01:05:40.780
 We're going to close our service this morning

01:05:40.780 --> 01:05:42.460
 by turning to the Psalter

01:05:42.460 --> 01:05:44.780
 and singing from Psalm 72,

01:05:45.720 --> 01:05:48.440
 words of adoration and proclamation,

01:05:48.940 --> 01:05:50.460
 words of praise and wonder.

01:05:50.460 --> 01:05:52.980
 His name forever shall endure,

01:05:53.159 --> 01:05:54.639
 last like the sun it shall,

01:05:55.159 --> 01:05:56.699
 men shall be blessed in him,

01:05:57.139 --> 01:05:59.980
 and blessed all nations shall him call.

01:06:00.099 --> 01:06:02.300
 Psalm 72, we'll sing to the end,

01:06:02.320 --> 01:06:04.340
 and if you give me a moment to get to the front door,

01:06:04.500 --> 01:06:05.720
 please, at the end of the service,

01:06:06.139 --> 01:06:07.340
 that would be appreciated.

01:06:07.500 --> 01:06:10.699
 Psalm 72 from verse 17 to the end.

01:06:10.699 --> 01:06:24.059
 His name forever shall endure,

01:06:25.199 --> 01:06:31.659
 last like the sun it shall,

01:06:31.659 --> 01:06:38.679
 men shall be blessed in him,

01:06:38.679 --> 01:06:49.159
 and blessed all nations shall them call.

01:06:49.159 --> 01:06:58.859
 Now blessed be the Lord our God,

01:06:59.199 --> 01:07:04.659
 the God of Israel,

01:07:04.659 --> 01:07:15.440
 for he alone doth wondrous works

01:07:15.440 --> 01:07:21.659
 in glory that excel.

01:07:21.659 --> 01:07:33.440
 And blessed be his glorious name,

01:07:33.440 --> 01:07:39.139
 to all eternity.

01:07:39.139 --> 01:07:50.139
 the whole earth let his glory fill.

01:07:50.139 --> 01:07:57.139
 Amen, so let it be.

01:08:09.139 --> 01:08:18.139
 Amen.

01:08:18.139 --> 01:08:20.139
 Amen.

01:08:20.139 --> 01:08:22.139
 Amen.

01:08:22.519 --> 01:08:24.420
 Amen.

01:08:24.420 --> 01:08:26.340
 Amen.

01:08:28.300 --> 01:08:29.139
 Amen.

01:08:29.680 --> 01:08:30.479
 Amen.

01:08:32.420 --> 01:08:35.099
 Amen.

01:08:35.599 --> 01:08:37.019
 Amen.

01:08:37.019 --> 01:08:37.920
 Amen.

01:08:37.920 --> 01:08:38.260
 Amen.