WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.100 When Sam asked me to choose a week to preach, 00:00:03.940 --> 00:00:05.719 I just chose any week that was free. 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:08.480 I didn't realize it was going to be on Hagar and Sarah. 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:10.580 It's a pretty difficult passage. 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:14.160 And I also remembered about three months ago, 00:00:14.900 --> 00:00:20.839 at heartbeat, Steve said that we should really dig into the Bible. 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:23.679 And he read through the passage in Hagar and Sarah 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:26.080 and found out something that he never found out before. 00:00:27.019 --> 00:00:29.219 So I've got double pressure now. 00:00:29.219 --> 00:00:33.240 Hard passage and Steve saying that he understood this clearly. 00:00:34.119 --> 00:00:36.659 So I feel a bit intimidated right now. 00:00:37.619 --> 00:00:41.939 I think it's more important that it's not just because that is a hard passage 00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:45.280 or what Steve has understood, because it's God's Word. 00:00:45.379 --> 00:00:49.519 So let us pray to help us understand it and help us to live in light of it. 00:00:49.620 --> 00:00:49.960 Let's pray. 00:00:51.379 --> 00:00:52.739 Dear God, we thank you for your Word. 00:00:53.460 --> 00:00:55.960 Pray that we will submit before your Word. 00:00:56.239 --> 00:00:58.099 Pray that you can help me to speak clearly 00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:00.039 and be faithful to your Word. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:02.859 And that we will live in light of what you say 00:01:02.859 --> 00:01:04.359 and believe in what it says. 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:06.359 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:01:07.019 --> 00:01:07.280 Amen. 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:09.079 Okay. 00:01:09.540 --> 00:01:11.480 So one of the great things about telling the Gospel 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:14.780 to people that have never heard the Gospel before 00:01:14.780 --> 00:01:18.359 is that they have a very refreshingly different perspective. 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:22.579 So I'll recall a time I was doing student ministry in China. 00:01:23.420 --> 00:01:26.359 I've just learned Mandarin for about three months or so. 00:01:27.060 --> 00:01:30.739 I was sharing the Gospel with a uni student in China. 00:01:31.659 --> 00:01:35.379 And then I read through a Gospel tract with him 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:39.079 and I basically shared with him how you can become a Christian 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:41.659 and probably quoted John 3.16 00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:45.379 and told him that if you believe this honestly 00:01:45.379 --> 00:01:47.899 and pray it in your heart with me 00:01:47.899 --> 00:01:49.259 then you can become a Christian. 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:50.500 He says, 00:01:50.620 --> 00:01:52.479 I can't pray this and become a Christian. 00:01:53.019 --> 00:01:53.780 I can't believe in Jesus. 00:01:53.899 --> 00:01:54.500 I can't pray this. 00:01:55.039 --> 00:01:56.019 And I asked him why. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:01:57.159 And he said, 00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:59.219 because I have a lecture at 3 p.m. 00:01:59.219 --> 00:01:59.679 I said, 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:03.519 how does a lecture at 3 p.m. 00:02:04.039 --> 00:02:06.140 affect your decision of becoming a Christian? 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:07.640 He says, 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:10.579 doesn't it say in your tract that 3.16, right, 00:02:10.740 --> 00:02:14.199 that you have to pray to believe in Jesus at 3.16? 00:02:15.539 --> 00:02:21.379 So you can actually see that maybe a few things. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:23.000 One thing is that I didn't tell the Gospel clearly. 00:02:23.939 --> 00:02:27.520 The other thing is that non-Christians 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.640 or young Christians are very eager 00:02:30.640 --> 00:02:33.480 to pick up anything about the Christian faith. 00:02:34.180 --> 00:02:36.260 And we have to be clear in our communication. 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:38.660 Sometimes it is Gospel 00:02:38.660 --> 00:02:42.100 and sometimes it's just my bad habits being transferred to him. 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:45.600 So hopefully we need to communicate the Gospel clearly. 00:02:46.379 --> 00:02:49.780 But this is some of the pressures that the Galatians are facing. 00:02:50.660 --> 00:02:51.580 Remember the Galatians, 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:53.740 they just believed in the Gospel, 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:56.719 but they've been facing pressure 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:58.359 from a group of false teachers 00:02:58.359 --> 00:02:59.240 from the Jewish background. 00:03:00.359 --> 00:03:02.180 They've been telling these Galatians 00:03:02.180 --> 00:03:04.199 that you have to be circumcised 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:07.479 and you have to observe various fluid laws 00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:10.120 in order to receive God's promises. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:13.579 So it's under this background 00:03:13.579 --> 00:03:15.379 that Paul is preaching, 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:18.199 writing this message. 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:20.280 And just like a good sermon, 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:22.680 this passage is in three parts. 00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:25.900 So I'll just break down each part for us 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:26.939 and walk through it. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:29.479 So the first part of this passage 00:03:29.479 --> 00:03:32.300 is the history of Hagar and Sarah. 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:35.840 We can see that in verses 22 to 23, 00:03:36.920 --> 00:03:39.699 where Paul recounts the history of Hagar and Sarah. 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:42.240 And we know that he's recounting history 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:44.560 by the way he introduces these verses. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:47.139 At the start of verse 22, he says, 00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:48.599 it has been written. 00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:51.359 So if you know your New Testament well, 00:03:51.459 --> 00:03:52.519 this is how Jesus 00:03:52.519 --> 00:03:54.619 and other New Testament writers 00:03:54.619 --> 00:03:56.519 quote the Old Testament. 00:03:57.459 --> 00:04:00.019 So they want us to look at the Bible carefully, 00:04:00.179 --> 00:04:02.799 so let's look through Genesis chapter 16 00:04:02.799 --> 00:04:04.599 and chapter 21. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:06.759 Before we read that on the screen, 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:08.779 I'll just tell you a little bit of backstory 00:04:08.779 --> 00:04:11.179 of what led up to these passages. 00:04:11.180 --> 00:04:13.879 So in Genesis chapter 12, 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:18.120 we recall that God made a promise to Abram 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:21.280 saying that he will bless Abram 00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:23.920 and have a great nation through him. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:27.079 And Abram is challenged by that message 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:28.980 because he doesn't have any kids. 00:04:29.840 --> 00:04:31.560 And in chapter 15, 00:04:32.259 --> 00:04:34.840 he basically had some doubts 00:04:34.840 --> 00:04:37.720 because God reaffirmed the promises to Abraham, 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:40.760 but Abram said, 00:04:40.900 --> 00:04:43.080 I only have adopted heir, Eliezer. 00:04:43.940 --> 00:04:45.980 So I can't build a nation through that, right? 00:04:46.640 --> 00:04:47.900 But God reassured him 00:04:47.900 --> 00:04:49.740 and in chapter 15, verse 6, 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:50.940 it's a very famous verse. 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:53.020 Abraham believed in God 00:04:53.020 --> 00:04:55.960 and it was credited to him as righteousness. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:04:59.120 So let's look at what Abram did 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:00.640 after that chapter. 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:03.940 I'll read the first half of Genesis chapter 16. 00:05:03.939 --> 00:05:08.319 I'll start from Genesis chapter 16, verse 1. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.740 Now Sarah, Abram's wife, 00:05:11.259 --> 00:05:12.420 had borne him no children, 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:15.399 but she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 00:05:16.339 --> 00:05:17.459 So she said to Abram, 00:05:18.339 --> 00:05:20.139 the Lord has kept me from having children. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:22.279 Go sleep with my slave. 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:25.040 Perhaps I can build a family through her. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:28.560 Abram agreed to what Sarah had said. 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:32.360 So after Abram had been living in Canaan for 10 years, 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:34.160 Sarah, his wife, 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:36.540 took the Egyptian slave Hagar 00:05:36.540 --> 00:05:39.439 and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 00:05:40.460 --> 00:05:42.819 He slept with Hagar and she conceived. 00:05:44.020 --> 00:05:46.040 When she knew that she was pregnant, 00:05:46.400 --> 00:05:48.020 she began to despise her mistress. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:50.540 Then Sarah said to Abram, 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:53.520 you are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. 00:05:54.220 --> 00:05:55.840 I put my slave in your arms 00:05:55.840 --> 00:05:57.980 and now that she knows that she is pregnant, 00:05:57.980 --> 00:05:59.360 she despises me. 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:01.960 May the Lord judge between you and me. 00:06:03.340 --> 00:06:04.639 Your slave is in your hands, 00:06:04.740 --> 00:06:05.240 Abram said. 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:07.720 Do with her whatever you think best. 00:06:08.520 --> 00:06:10.040 Then Sarah mistreated Hagar, 00:06:10.520 --> 00:06:11.699 so she fled from her. 00:06:12.660 --> 00:06:14.259 The angel of the Lord found Hagar 00:06:14.259 --> 00:06:15.600 near a spring in the desert 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:19.120 and it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:20.759 And he said, 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:22.460 Hagar, slave of Sarah, 00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:24.220 where have you come from 00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:25.280 and where are you going? 00:06:26.080 --> 00:06:28.040 I'm running from my mistress, Sarah, 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:28.860 she answered. 00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:32.160 Then the angel of the Lord told her, 00:06:32.580 --> 00:06:34.720 go back to your mistress and submit to her. 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:36.080 The angel added, 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:39.240 I will increase your descendants so much 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:41.120 that there will be too numerous to count. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:42.680 And we will stop the reading there. 00:06:43.460 --> 00:06:45.420 So one of the things that we should notice there 00:06:45.420 --> 00:06:48.639 is that God made a promise to Hagar 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:52.580 that a great nation will be also built through her 00:06:52.580 --> 00:06:55.340 because she is the wife of Abram. 00:06:55.339 --> 00:06:59.919 So if you look at the history of Ishmael 00:06:59.919 --> 00:07:02.379 and you look at Islam in particular, 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:05.539 Ishmael is recognised as the forefather of Mohammed. 00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:10.439 And Ishmael is head of several Arabian tribes. 00:07:11.239 --> 00:07:14.319 So you can actually see from one act of disobedience, 00:07:14.979 --> 00:07:17.059 not only did it cause family's drive 00:07:17.059 --> 00:07:18.939 between Sarah and Hagar and Abraham, 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.599 it actually had a huge impact for the world, 00:07:23.019 --> 00:07:24.319 which we experience right now. 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:28.339 Let's read through Genesis chapter 21. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:30.560 I'll start from the first one again. 00:07:31.719 --> 00:07:33.679 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah, 00:07:34.239 --> 00:07:35.179 as he has said, 00:07:35.659 --> 00:07:37.899 and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 00:07:38.899 --> 00:07:41.459 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:42.439 in his old age. 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:45.079 And at the very time God has promised him, 00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:48.959 Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:52.199 When his son Isaac was eight days old, 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:53.919 Abraham circumcised him, 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:55.759 as God commanded him. 00:07:56.599 --> 00:07:58.219 Abraham was a hundred years old 00:07:58.219 --> 00:07:59.939 when his son Isaac was born to him. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:02.019 Sarah said, 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:03.319 God has brought me laughter, 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:06.879 and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:08.560 And she added, 00:08:09.299 --> 00:08:10.539 Who would have said to Abraham 00:08:10.539 --> 00:08:12.479 that Sarah would nurse children, 00:08:13.019 --> 00:08:16.159 yet I have born him a son in his old age? 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:19.960 The child grew and was weaned. 00:08:20.820 --> 00:08:22.380 And on the day that Isaac weaned, 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:23.880 Abraham held a great feast. 00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:27.220 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:29.100 had born to Abraham was mocking. 00:08:29.980 --> 00:08:31.040 And she said to Abraham, 00:08:31.760 --> 00:08:33.519 Get rid of the slave woman and her son, 00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:35.940 for that woman's son will never share 00:08:35.940 --> 00:08:37.800 in the inheritance with my son Isaac. 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:43.359 You can see Hagar and Ishmael is driven away once again. 00:08:45.019 --> 00:08:46.019 And just as an aside, 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:47.439 before we go back to Galatians, 00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:51.639 we actually want to look at this story as a side note. 00:08:52.179 --> 00:08:54.699 We can look at the story of Abraham and Sarah. 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:59.179 The Bible isn't ashamed to hide their flaws. 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:03.419 Abraham is the father of many nations, 00:09:03.719 --> 00:09:05.120 is called a man of faith. 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:06.799 But yet in these passages, 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:09.960 we can see that Sarah is the one wearing the pants. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:12.360 She told Abraham what to do. 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:14.639 She told him to sleep with Hagar 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:17.360 and take her as his wife. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:19.279 And she drove her away 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:21.440 when things didn't work out. 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:24.600 So if you were to write the Bible 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:26.320 of one of your founding fathers, 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:28.600 if I was to write the account, 00:09:29.180 --> 00:09:31.460 I would just write all the stuff, 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:32.279 good stuff about him 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:34.279 and just leave out all the bad stuff 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:35.459 because it's embarrassing. 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:37.860 But that's not what the Bible does. 00:09:38.079 --> 00:09:41.459 The Bible isn't ashamed to hide these flaws. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:44.299 And this is one of the many, many factors 00:09:44.299 --> 00:09:47.519 that contribute to the historicity 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:48.799 and the realism of the Bible. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.480 So the Bible is true. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:53.139 So if you have questions about the Bible, 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:55.159 please talk to me or Sam 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:56.120 and one of the other leaders. 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:58.179 And one of the things that you can talk to, 00:09:58.399 --> 00:09:59.700 talk to Ko as well. 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:02.500 Ko loves talking about the historicity of the Bible. 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:04.519 I talked to him a few weeks ago. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:05.399 He talked to me. 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:06.779 I just sat there and listened for 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:08.019 maybe 10 minutes or so. 00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:10.899 And I talked to him just before the service 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:12.560 and listened a bit more again. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:14.399 So he loves to talk about the Bible. 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:15.399 Please ask him. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.019 And he would love to tell you 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:18.179 why the Bible is true. 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:21.159 And throughout the series, 00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:22.100 let's go back to Galatians. 00:10:22.560 --> 00:10:23.299 Throughout the series, 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:25.779 we've been talking a lot about the false teachers 00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:28.339 and what they have done to the Galatians. 00:10:28.479 --> 00:10:30.139 But we have not really explored 00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:32.699 their cultural heritage or their motives. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:36.000 So let's borrow from our vision series 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:38.399 and I'll get the AV team to bring up the iceberg. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:41.419 The iceberg is, 00:10:41.839 --> 00:10:42.740 this is one of the things 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:44.559 that hopefully we'll be exploring 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:45.659 in the vision series. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.199 So one can use an iceberg 00:10:49.199 --> 00:10:51.839 to represent what people do. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:53.460 If you see people's behaviour, 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:55.820 it's like the tip of the iceberg. 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:58.220 It's just a tiny, tiny bit of 00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:01.899 what makes them tick. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.200 But beneath that, 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:06.740 there are values and worldviews and beliefs. 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:10.960 And it's those things that drive a person. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.519 So if you look at Genesis 00:11:14.519 --> 00:11:16.340 and look at the brief snapshot 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:19.100 of what the false teachers are like, 00:11:19.100 --> 00:11:21.639 you can sort of basically tell 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:22.620 what they've been doing. 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:25.000 They've been pressuring the Galatians 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:27.700 to circumcise and observe fruit laws. 00:11:27.800 --> 00:11:29.779 But let's explore why they do that. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:32.399 They would have believed 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:34.200 that they were God's chosen people 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:37.440 because they were descended from Abraham. 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:40.500 They are Jews that are circumcised. 00:11:41.060 --> 00:11:43.000 Now they have believed in Jesus. 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:44.840 So in some sense, 00:11:44.920 --> 00:11:46.779 you can almost imagine them saying 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:48.459 that we are doubly blessed. 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:50.339 We've got the best of the old 00:11:50.339 --> 00:11:51.419 and the best of the new. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:53.100 We've got both mixed together. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:54.500 So they believe that they've got 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:56.199 a mix of Judaism and Christianity 00:11:56.199 --> 00:11:58.059 that they want to tell other people. 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:00.000 They believe that that is the way 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.720 to be blessed. 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.600 And they don't want the Galatians 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:03.120 to miss out. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:05.279 They want them to be circumcised 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:07.059 and observe these laws. 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.600 And on the flip side, 00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:09.759 they would have thought possibly 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:13.100 that those that didn't undergo circumcision 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:16.100 or observe the fruit laws, 00:12:16.939 --> 00:12:18.379 they would have been missing out on things, 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:21.240 missing out on God's promises and blessings. 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:24.340 So it is to this background 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:26.899 that Paul is writing to the Galatians. 00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:30.759 And the way that he helps them to understand 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:33.720 is to interpret the historical facts 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:35.299 that we have read in Genesis 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:38.799 as an allegory in verses 24 to 27. 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:42.039 So when I heard the word allegory, 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:43.459 I was a little bit shocked 00:12:43.459 --> 00:12:44.919 when I first read it 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:47.339 as a Christian about 20 years ago. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:49.199 Because I've been taught that 00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:51.459 the right way to read the Old Testament 00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:52.699 is biblical theology. 00:12:53.219 --> 00:12:54.919 You have to read the Bible in context 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:56.679 and you have to read the history 00:12:56.679 --> 00:13:00.639 and how it's real and fulfilled through Jesus 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.219 and how this is real for us now. 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:05.460 But why is Paul using an allegory? 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:07.560 Is he reading the Bible wrong? 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:09.519 So I guess the answer is, 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:11.379 well, it's probably me, not him. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.899 So let's work out what this means for us. 00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:16.860 So let's put this allegory together 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:20.480 and compare Hagar and Sarah side by side. 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:24.320 We have two women, Hagar and Sarah. 00:13:25.200 --> 00:13:28.160 Two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:32.080 And this is a story we've just read about 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.820 in Genesis 16 and 21. 00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:36.759 We also have two covenants, 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:37.700 old and new. 00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:41.639 And there are two types of people, 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:42.540 slaves and free. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:47.000 So Paul, if you look at the book of Galatians, 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.600 Paul has already touched on 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:51.360 what the old and new covenants are 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:53.740 in Galatians chapters 2 and 3. 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:56.659 The old covenant is for those 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:58.519 that want to be right before God 00:13:58.519 --> 00:13:59.419 by observing the law. 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:02.460 And it says in Galatians chapter 2 verse 10 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:05.000 that clearly no one is justified 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:05.940 from observing the law. 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:08.740 In fact, those that are trying 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.879 to establish a relationship with God 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:11.560 through the law 00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:14.480 are cursed and are slaves to the law. 00:14:16.180 --> 00:14:18.100 The new covenant is through Jesus 00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:20.840 and what he has done for you on the cross, 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:22.360 which gives us freedom. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:27.940 So imagine what the Jewish false teachers 00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:30.759 would have heard when they heard this allegory. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:33.080 They would have agreed with all these points. 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.700 Yes, Hagar and Sarah, 00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:35.740 the first four points, 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:36.879 Ishmael, Isaac, 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:38.940 slave and free, 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:39.879 old and new. 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:43.779 If we were to say that there were two cities, 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.340 what would you have thought 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:48.320 their expected answer would be? 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:50.139 They would have expected Paul to say 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:51.840 and there are also two cities, 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:54.679 one in Arabia and one in Jerusalem. 00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.639 The ones that are from Hagar, 00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.399 they're outside of God's promise. 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:01.820 Whereas the ones that are descended from Sarah, 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:05.419 they're the ones that are truly God's people. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.539 But that's not what Paul says in this passage. 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:10.879 The last contrast is that 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:12.679 there's the earthly Jerusalem 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:14.139 and the heavenly Jerusalem. 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:18.759 Those people that were the Jewish false teachers 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:21.519 would have been shocked by this comparison. 00:15:23.339 --> 00:15:24.699 Because after all, 00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:26.319 if you think about their worldview, 00:15:26.579 --> 00:15:27.319 if you look at the iceberg, 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:30.839 they would have believed truly about Judaism. 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:33.019 They believe that they are God's people 00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:35.899 and they believe they are the free ones, 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.779 they're the blessed ones. 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:38.720 But what is Paul saying? 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.079 The ones that are observing these laws 00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:44.259 are in fact slaves. 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:46.779 They are not God's people. 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.659 So that's exactly opposite 00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:51.559 of what they were expecting. 00:15:53.059 --> 00:15:55.459 Paul is implying that their belief system 00:15:55.459 --> 00:15:56.539 is completely false. 00:15:58.419 --> 00:16:01.019 And so if we understood this passage properly, 00:16:01.839 --> 00:16:05.259 we can see that Paul didn't interpret the Bible wrongly 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.620 or forget his biblical theology. 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:09.340 Rather, he's using concepts 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:12.840 that are close to the hearts of these false teachers 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:15.840 and what is said by them probably, 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:20.419 that he's using these concepts 00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:22.679 to communicate to the Galatians 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.519 and the false teachers 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:25.700 and to tell them that 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:28.159 what the false teachers have been preaching is wrong. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:31.919 So this is not bad exegesis. 00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:34.199 It's not bad understanding of the Bible. 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:36.240 In fact, it's actually good communication. 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:38.839 Paul is using things that are close 00:16:38.839 --> 00:16:40.419 to the Jewish people's hearts 00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:42.639 and turning it on them 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.959 to make them understand the gospel. 00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:48.360 So having a look at what it means 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:51.879 for the meaning of the allegory, 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.220 let's have a look at what it means for the Galatians. 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:57.680 Paul returns to plain language 00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:59.500 in verses 29 to 31. 00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:01.820 He's not using the allegory anymore 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:05.180 and he just tells the Galatians plainly what to do. 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.839 Paul tells the Galatians 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:09.319 to get rid of the false teachers 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:12.740 and to get rid of the false teachings 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:14.819 that they have been bringing to the Galatians. 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:19.279 He quotes Genesis chapter 21, verse 10, 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.600 in verse 30. 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:23.079 Get rid of the slave woman and her son, 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:25.659 for they will never share in the inheritance 00:17:25.659 --> 00:17:26.819 with a free woman's son. 00:17:28.199 --> 00:17:30.839 We can see that Paul is very serious here. 00:17:31.919 --> 00:17:33.179 He doesn't want the Galatians 00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:36.159 to mix Judaism and Christianity together. 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:40.500 He doesn't want them to rely on both the law and Christ. 00:17:42.179 --> 00:17:43.539 So having had a look at, 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:45.299 had a really brief snapshot 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:47.059 of having a look at what it means for the Galatians, 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:49.359 let's look at what it means for us. 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:51.639 So the way that we can help us 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:52.879 to understand what something is, 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.659 is to look at the flip side 00:17:54.659 --> 00:17:56.219 and to understand what it is not. 00:17:57.199 --> 00:17:58.879 So this passage, 00:17:59.079 --> 00:17:59.839 I think one of the things 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:01.119 that it is not telling us to do 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:04.079 is to get rid of our culture completely. 00:18:06.139 --> 00:18:07.139 Paul is not saying that 00:18:07.139 --> 00:18:08.039 to become a Christian, 00:18:08.199 --> 00:18:12.839 you must stop being Chinese or Australian or etc. 00:18:13.199 --> 00:18:13.719 I don't know. 00:18:14.199 --> 00:18:15.259 Yeah, I should say etc. 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.720 But yeah, 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.759 Paul is not saying for us 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.819 to abandon our culture. 00:18:21.099 --> 00:18:21.640 After all, 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.740 Galatians chapter 3, 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:23.200 verse 28, 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:26.720 says that there's neither male or female, 00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:27.960 Jews or Greek, 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.019 slaves or free. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:30.440 We are all one in Christ Jesus. 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:33.220 We are not to abandon our culture 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.160 when we believe in Jesus, 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:36.680 but we are to be joined together as one body. 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:39.559 And it's also not telling us 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.720 to abandon our history. 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.440 He's not saying that 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.640 the old covenant is bad 00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.720 because it's just old 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.900 and the new covenant is good 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:46.460 because it's new. 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:48.180 If that was true, 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.640 I think our last series 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:51.200 is not very useful. 00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:52.440 We celebrated history. 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:54.440 We celebrated the history 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:55.299 of the Reformation. 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:57.519 We celebrated the gospel truth 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.360 that we've been preserving 00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:59.579 for the last 500 years. 00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:02.759 What this passage is saying though 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:04.279 is there's one encouragement 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:06.259 and one rebuke. 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:09.500 So the encouragement here is that 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:11.500 just like the Galatians, 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:12.819 we are not Jewish, 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.440 I don't think. 00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:14.779 We don't have a Jewish background. 00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:18.079 So what that means is that 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:20.000 just like the Galatians, 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.819 if you believe in the gospel, 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:25.019 you can be just like Sarah's children. 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:27.339 You will belong to the heavenly Jerusalem. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.380 You'll be part of God's people 00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:30.079 with his blessing. 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:33.240 And I want to expand this point 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.039 a little bit more 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:36.599 by telling you of the stories 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.559 that I've encountered 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.720 when I've been running through 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:41.679 the Investigating Christianity course, 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:43.299 both once there 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.359 and I've been running 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:46.220 another instance on Friday nights. 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:48.259 There have been quite a few ESL students 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.200 that have been bringing their kids 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.279 to Friday youth 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.839 and their parents have been hanging around 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:54.339 and they really want to hear the gospel, 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:54.980 which is really great. 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:55.919 That's why I've been running 00:19:55.919 --> 00:19:57.480 the course on Friday nights 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.059 in the office. 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:01.139 And both the September course 00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:01.619 and that one, 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:03.139 most of the people 00:20:03.139 --> 00:20:05.079 are from a Chinese background, 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:06.119 from mainland China, 00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.779 and they have the same question. 00:20:09.179 --> 00:20:09.619 We think, 00:20:09.939 --> 00:20:11.619 they phrase a question like this. 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:12.819 We think that 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:14.460 the Christian faith 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.599 is a Western religion. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.460 We from China 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.740 have no exposure to this. 00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:20.039 We come from an atheist background 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:21.759 and we have our Buddhism 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.659 and Taoism 00:20:22.659 --> 00:20:23.519 and Confucianism. 00:20:24.679 --> 00:20:25.980 And I think it's just 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:27.899 you have your Christian faith 00:20:27.899 --> 00:20:28.460 for the West 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.439 and we have our own faith 00:20:29.439 --> 00:20:29.899 in the East. 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.539 And it's really hard for us 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.299 to believe in the gospel. 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:34.859 The encouragement 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:35.440 from this passage 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:35.799 is that 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.919 no matter 00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:38.720 what your ethnicity 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.159 or your background, 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.799 the Christian faith 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.619 is for you. 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.899 All you have to do 00:20:43.899 --> 00:20:44.720 is to believe 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.859 in what Jesus has done 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.359 for you. 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.639 So if you want to know more 00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:49.419 about what it means 00:20:49.419 --> 00:20:50.059 to believe in Jesus, 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.059 please talk to me 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.339 or put it on the 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:53.200 communication card. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.519 I would love to talk to you 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.639 more about this. 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.339 And it is that simple. 00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.919 No matter what your background is, 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:01.259 you can come to know Christ. 00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:04.339 With this news, 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.079 there's also, 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:05.740 on the flip side, 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:07.440 there's a reminder 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.139 and a rebuke. 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.539 So one of the things 00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:13.180 that Paul reminds the Galatians 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.639 to think about 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.960 is to get rid of the slave woman 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:17.519 and to get rid of 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:19.460 the false teachings 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:21.079 and the false teachers. 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.859 And one of the things 00:21:22.859 --> 00:21:23.759 that we can do is, 00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.960 if you look at the iceberg, 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:26.480 which has always been there, 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:29.440 is that it's easy for us 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.880 to have Christian behaviours. 00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:33.360 We'll go to church, 00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.900 we'll go to Bible study, 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.799 and we'll pray 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.580 and read the Bible. 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:40.259 But sometimes we have to ask us, 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.420 what is the worldview 00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:43.000 beneath all these things? 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.460 We might even have 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.460 some of the values, 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.559 like core values 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.180 in this church, 00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:48.400 they're on the wall, 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.700 outside the church. 00:21:50.320 --> 00:21:51.200 If you're going to pass away, 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.460 you'll hear about the core values. 00:21:53.100 --> 00:21:53.740 These are important 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.440 to our church 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:55.640 and important to us. 00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:58.600 But we have to actually ask us, 00:21:58.860 --> 00:21:59.480 right at the bottom, 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:00.500 our worldview. 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:02.100 What is real for us? 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.160 Because the great danger 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.120 is for us 00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:05.940 to mix 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:07.299 our Christian faith 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.440 with something 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.160 that we believe in. 00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:11.200 And I'll actually bring 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.240 an illustration from, 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.539 I've got one from 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.840 the Chinese congregation 00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:15.680 I used in the morning. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.320 So, 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.980 this is a story 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.160 about a pastor, 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.600 he's a Canadian Chinese, 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:23.039 and his mum 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.419 who is involved 00:22:24.419 --> 00:22:25.240 in ancestor worship. 00:22:26.399 --> 00:22:26.480 And, 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:28.259 actually this is, 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.459 like, 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.139 the matter of ancestor worship 00:22:30.139 --> 00:22:31.799 and paying respect 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.240 to the elders 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.679 is not that far 00:22:33.679 --> 00:22:34.679 from me. 00:22:35.459 --> 00:22:36.379 When I do certain ministry 00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:36.819 in China 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:38.240 or when I have to go 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.039 to funerals 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.699 for non-Christians 00:22:40.699 --> 00:22:41.339 in Hong Kong, 00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:43.359 we will be pressured 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:44.740 to pay respect 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:45.500 to our ancestors 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.799 and to worship 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:49.339 ancestors in the past. 00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:51.439 So, 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:53.379 this particular pastor 00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:54.619 has a mum 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:57.419 and his mum 00:22:57.419 --> 00:22:59.319 has lots of, 00:22:59.319 --> 00:22:59.579 like, 00:22:59.939 --> 00:23:00.980 Chinese idols 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.659 and, 00:23:01.659 --> 00:23:02.519 like, 00:23:02.679 --> 00:23:03.179 a lot of ancestor 00:23:03.179 --> 00:23:04.000 worship places. 00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:04.679 I'm not sure 00:23:04.679 --> 00:23:05.399 whether you've seen them. 00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:07.099 The little red things 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:08.379 with the glowing lights 00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.559 and you put, 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:09.779 like, 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.279 rose pig 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:10.980 and oranges 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.079 and other things. 00:23:14.419 --> 00:23:14.819 And, 00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:17.139 she became a Christian 00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:18.879 but she didn't want 00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:19.679 to get rid of her, 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.500 all her idols 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.339 and all these 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:22.859 worship places. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:23.960 And, 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:25.019 she told her son 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.740 this story. 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.119 Imagine, 00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.640 if you've known 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.420 your old friend 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.339 for a long time 00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:32.059 and you've met 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:32.660 a new friend 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.319 who is better. 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.019 Jesus is this 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.680 better friend 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:37.460 and, 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.859 it would be really 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.900 disloyal of you 00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:40.900 just to abandon 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.839 all your old friends 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.000 just because 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.519 you've got a 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.500 better friend. 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:45.960 the best way 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.339 to do it 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:46.740 is to, 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.400 why don't you 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:49.140 just spend time 00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:50.000 with your old friends 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.559 and spend time 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.279 with your new friends 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.660 and they'll be 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.259 all fine. 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.099 And, 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.099 that's the way 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:55.700 she thought about 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.240 Christianity. 00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:57.920 And, 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.079 although we won't 00:23:59.079 --> 00:23:59.920 laugh at this, 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:01.059 we actually need 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.900 to ask ourselves, 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.420 is Christ 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.480 just a little bit 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:04.880 better 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.339 on what you rely on? 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:07.779 Or, 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:08.539 is Christ 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.759 at the centre 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.460 of your world view? 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.559 If Christ 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.360 is at the centre, 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.620 it will affect 00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:15.840 everything else 00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:16.400 that you will do. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.079 The values 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:18.559 that we have 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.400 outside at the church, 00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.500 it won't be 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.860 just 00:24:21.860 --> 00:24:23.660 something you put on, 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.460 it's not something 00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.640 that we are asked 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:25.940 to do, 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.680 it will be flowing 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.400 out of your heart. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.000 If Christ 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.940 is at the centre 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.539 of your world view, 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.259 what is said 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.380 in Galatians chapter 2 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.180 will be true. 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.259 It is not 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.799 I that live 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.319 but Christ 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:36.960 that lives in me. 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:39.220 If it is true, 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.700 our behaviours 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.360 isn't just something 00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:41.960 that we do 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.579 on Sundays. 00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:43.759 We wouldn't just 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.579 come to church 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:46.400 and at the first second 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:46.920 we will just 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.559 dash out the door. 00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:48.799 I remember 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.259 there was a 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.900 traditional church 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:50.500 I went to 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:52.799 about 20 years ago. 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:53.779 The pastor 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.360 is just standing 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:54.700 at the door 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:55.339 greeting people. 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.000 He's expecting 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.700 people to leave. 00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.319 People are 00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.259 wanting to get 00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.720 out of the church 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.120 and spending 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:01.440 time to do 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.059 their own things. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.079 But if we are 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:04.880 keen for the gospel, 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.759 we would want 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.700 to encourage 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.579 our brothers and sisters. 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.720 We would want 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.839 to tell people 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.460 within church 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:10.900 that doesn't 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.680 know the gospel yet 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.960 how they can 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.799 encounter Jesus. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.240 So I actually 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.420 want to ask us, 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.259 is there anything 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:18.900 that you are 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.839 placing along 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:21.019 with Christ 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.019 right at the 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.420 bottom of the 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:22.860 iceberg 00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:24.460 that is real 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:24.880 for you? 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:25.920 It's not, 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:26.700 you're just thinking 00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.140 that Christ 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.680 is a little bit 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.339 better than 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:28.759 what you have 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.019 here. 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.740 If there is, 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:31.920 Paul would 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.640 probably ask you 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:33.380 to do the same 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:33.579 thing. 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.200 Get rid of 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.720 these things. 00:25:34.860 --> 00:25:35.220 Get rid of 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:35.759 these things 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.500 so that you 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:36.879 can hold 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.460 on to Christ. 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:38.640 Believe in 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:38.879 Christ, 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.279 hold on to 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:39.700 Christ so 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.720 that the 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.059 things that 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.500 we value, 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:41.859 the things 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.039 that we 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.460 believe, 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.400 the things 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:43.559 that we 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.480 do is 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:44.700 actually 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:46.000 flowing from 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.640 what you 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.440 hold dear 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:47.700 in your 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:47.960 heart. 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:48.859 And I hope 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.160 that God 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:49.640 can help 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:49.920 us to do 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.119 that.