WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:06.440 Well, let's take our Bibles and open them up this morning to the Gospel of John. 00:00:07.339 --> 00:00:09.960 The Gospel according to John. 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:13.339 Last week we began our sermon series in the Gospel of John, 00:00:13.419 --> 00:00:19.240 and this morning we're going to pick right back up where we left off in verse 6 of chapter 1. 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:25.339 If you're using the Pew Bibles there in front of you, you can find that on page 833 of those Bibles. 00:00:25.339 --> 00:00:31.399 If you didn't bring your own Bible, I'd invite you to take that Bible and turn to page 833. 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:37.579 And we're going to read from verse 6 through to verse 13 this morning. 00:00:37.700 --> 00:00:39.920 John 1, verses 6 through 13. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:47.019 Follow with me as I read. 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:54.799 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 00:00:55.340 --> 00:01:01.560 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light that all might believe through him. 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:06.320 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 00:01:07.100 --> 00:01:11.740 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:18.320 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:23.340 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 00:01:23.340 --> 00:01:34.540 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:42.219 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:44.060 Let's pray once more. 00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:51.599 Lord, this is your holy word, and we pray now that you would bless the preaching of your word. 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:54.799 May it fall on fertile soil in our hearts, we ask. 00:01:55.260 --> 00:01:57.340 In Christ's name, amen. 00:01:57.340 --> 00:02:13.180 In January 1947, that's 76 years ago now, one of the greatest songs in country music history was born. 00:02:14.980 --> 00:02:21.340 A woman by the name of Miss Lilybell Williams was driving home from a dance in Fort Deposit, Alabama, 00:02:21.340 --> 00:02:25.140 and the back seat of her car was her youngest son, Hank. 00:02:26.420 --> 00:02:32.259 Hank had had a good time that night, and he was in an altered state of mind, as the story goes. 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:38.780 He was attempting to sleep it off in the back seat of the car, and as they made their way to the house, 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:43.599 they passed by a beacon light from the nearby airport. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:48.939 And so Miss Lilybell Williams called to the back seat of the car to wake up her son, saying, 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:54.340 Wake up, Hank. We're nearly home. I just saw the light. 00:02:56.519 --> 00:03:02.019 Legend has it that as Miss Lilybell Williams bore witness to the light, 00:03:02.180 --> 00:03:07.419 between there and his home, Hank Williams penned the words to the now famous song, 00:03:08.019 --> 00:03:09.959 I Saw the Light. 00:03:09.959 --> 00:03:12.819 You know the words? I'm not going to sing it. 00:03:13.599 --> 00:03:16.780 I saw the light. I saw the light. 00:03:17.019 --> 00:03:19.180 No more darkness. No more night. 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:21.879 Now I'm so happy. No sorrow in sight. 00:03:22.019 --> 00:03:23.759 Praise the Lord. Help me out. Come on. 00:03:24.079 --> 00:03:25.620 I saw the light. Okay. 00:03:27.500 --> 00:03:31.519 Well, this morning, as we come to the Gospel of John again, 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:34.099 continue our look here in this text, 00:03:34.099 --> 00:03:38.439 we meet a man who truly saw the light. 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:42.780 He came as a witness to the light, 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:45.699 bearing witness to the light of the world. 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:48.659 He bore witness to a lost and a broken world, 00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:51.780 calling them to respond in faith. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:54.139 So when you look at this text, 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:59.699 verses 6 through 8 show us a witness to the light. 00:03:59.699 --> 00:04:07.919 Verses 9 through 13 show us two responses to the light. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:10.139 This will be our outline this morning. 00:04:10.299 --> 00:04:12.459 If you're following along, taking notes, 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:16.060 one witness, two responses. 00:04:17.439 --> 00:04:20.800 One witness, two responses. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:24.699 First, verses 6 through 8. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:27.780 First, we see a witness to the light. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:29.120 Look there to verse 6 with me. 00:04:29.220 --> 00:04:32.139 John the Apostle, who is writing this book, 00:04:32.420 --> 00:04:36.639 he's introducing us to another man who goes by the name of John, 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:38.840 who we call John the Baptist. 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:40.439 So he says in verse 6, 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:43.660 There was a man sent from God, 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:45.759 whose name was John. 00:04:46.300 --> 00:04:49.279 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:51.480 that all might believe through him. 00:04:51.899 --> 00:04:53.339 He was not the light, 00:04:53.779 --> 00:04:57.379 but came to bear witness about the light. 00:04:57.459 --> 00:04:58.779 And at first read, 00:04:58.899 --> 00:05:01.220 this is a little bit jarring, isn't it? 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:03.139 If you're reading straight through, 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:04.920 this doesn't really seem to fit. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:07.139 It doesn't really seem to flow nicely 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:09.000 from verses 1 through 5. 00:05:09.060 --> 00:05:13.039 If you try to read this introduction to John's gospel 00:05:13.039 --> 00:05:15.339 in a linear fashion, 00:05:15.699 --> 00:05:18.120 you're probably going to get a little bit confused 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:20.759 because he doesn't speak in a straight line. 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:23.579 He doesn't speak like we would normally speak. 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:26.339 He kind of goes around in circles a bit. 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:29.919 And so we're introduced to John the Baptist here 00:05:29.919 --> 00:05:32.240 for the first time in verses 6 through 8, 00:05:32.339 --> 00:05:34.800 but then he picks him back up in verse 15. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:37.840 Then he picks him back up in verse 19 00:05:37.840 --> 00:05:41.180 before eventually beginning the narrative there. 00:05:41.280 --> 00:05:44.480 He's just kind of running right by him quickly here. 00:05:44.579 --> 00:05:47.199 So let me tell you what I think is going on here. 00:05:47.960 --> 00:05:51.720 This introduction, verses 1 through 18 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:53.360 of the gospel of John, 00:05:54.160 --> 00:06:00.379 is a beautiful mixture of theology and poetry. 00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:04.699 It is theology and poetry. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:07.139 You can't read it in a straight line. 00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:10.379 It's truth communicated in a poetic way. 00:06:11.159 --> 00:06:13.219 Many in the early church called this a hymn 00:06:13.219 --> 00:06:15.379 of the incarnate Word. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:17.800 So these verses in poetic, 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:20.759 theologically rich, beautiful, 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:23.740 sometimes confusing ways, 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:26.779 they show us who Jesus is. 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:29.659 But why does John just skirt by 00:06:29.659 --> 00:06:32.379 and throw in John the Baptist the way that he does? 00:06:32.479 --> 00:06:33.559 I have a few reasons. 00:06:33.719 --> 00:06:36.879 One reason, one reason I believe 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:41.659 is that he is rooting these events in human history. 00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:45.539 One reason why John is drawing our attention 00:06:45.539 --> 00:06:46.679 to John the Baptist here 00:06:46.679 --> 00:06:50.559 is that he's rooting these events in human history. 00:06:50.699 --> 00:06:52.079 So verses 1 through 5, 00:06:52.159 --> 00:06:53.059 you remember last week, 00:06:53.060 --> 00:06:55.699 it showed us the greatness of Christ 00:06:55.699 --> 00:06:57.240 being one with the Father, 00:06:57.379 --> 00:06:58.819 creating all things. 00:06:59.100 --> 00:07:01.980 But now we're brought down to earth, 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:02.959 so to speak, 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:05.699 to see that these events 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:08.019 that we're reading about in this letter, 00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:08.980 in this gospel, 00:07:09.220 --> 00:07:11.720 are rooted in human history. 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:12.879 They happen. 00:07:13.100 --> 00:07:14.660 These aren't fairy tales. 00:07:14.819 --> 00:07:16.139 They are real. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:17.060 There was a man. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:18.800 He was named John. 00:07:18.899 --> 00:07:20.019 He was sent by God. 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:21.639 He witnessed these things 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:23.799 as a living, breathing witness. 00:07:24.039 --> 00:07:27.339 He's validating the historical reality 00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:30.379 of the events in this book. 00:07:30.479 --> 00:07:31.120 But also, 00:07:31.979 --> 00:07:35.519 he's rooting them in redemptive history. 00:07:37.099 --> 00:07:38.779 Redemptive history. 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:43.459 The Old Testament prophesied the coming Messiah. 00:07:43.699 --> 00:07:45.899 It foretold the coming Messiah, 00:07:45.899 --> 00:07:51.719 and it prophesied a forerunner to the Messiah, 00:07:52.599 --> 00:07:54.299 one who would come before him 00:07:54.299 --> 00:07:56.219 and proclaim his arrival. 00:07:56.419 --> 00:07:59.060 And so the last chapter of the last book 00:07:59.060 --> 00:08:00.039 of the Old Testament, 00:08:00.239 --> 00:08:01.560 Malachi chapter 4, 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:04.599 400 years before John the Baptist 00:08:04.599 --> 00:08:05.839 pops onto the scene, 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:07.079 it says this. 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:07.399 It says, 00:08:07.479 --> 00:08:08.099 Behold, 00:08:08.299 --> 00:08:10.519 I will send Elijah the prophet 00:08:10.519 --> 00:08:13.500 before the great and awesome day 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:15.480 of the Lord comes. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:17.079 And Jesus, 00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:19.439 in Matthew chapter 11, 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:20.759 he says, 00:08:21.019 --> 00:08:23.879 John is that prophet. 00:08:24.699 --> 00:08:26.180 He says in Matthew 11, 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:26.540 he says, 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:28.319 All the prophets and the law 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:30.480 prophesied until John, 00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:32.899 and if you are willing to accept it, 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:36.500 he is Elijah who is to come. 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:38.480 In other words, 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:39.679 this John the Baptist 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:43.239 is the last prophet of the Old Covenant. 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:47.299 He is the promised forerunner of the Messiah. 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:49.659 He serves as the hinge 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:51.059 between the Old Covenant 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:52.500 and the New Covenant. 00:08:52.719 --> 00:08:54.019 So John the Apostle 00:08:54.019 --> 00:08:56.099 is helping us to see 00:08:56.099 --> 00:08:59.679 where we are in this story of redemption. 00:08:59.939 --> 00:09:02.099 And he says the forerunner is here, 00:09:02.599 --> 00:09:05.219 which means the Messiah is here, 00:09:05.219 --> 00:09:07.919 and his name is Jesus. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:10.839 But you know what else he's doing? 00:09:12.939 --> 00:09:16.759 As significant as John the Baptist is, 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.039 by skipping right by him 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:20.459 the way that he does, 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:21.699 John the Apostle 00:09:21.699 --> 00:09:25.659 is keeping the focus on Christ. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:29.379 He's the main focus here, isn't he? 00:09:29.459 --> 00:09:30.399 John the Baptist 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:32.599 is almost an afterthought, 00:09:32.699 --> 00:09:33.980 and as soon as he draws 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:35.319 our attention to John, 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:35.860 what does he do? 00:09:35.860 --> 00:09:37.180 Right away, 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:39.320 he makes sure that we know 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:43.259 that John is not the Christ. 00:09:44.539 --> 00:09:46.600 There was a man, 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:47.600 not God, 00:09:48.340 --> 00:09:50.139 not the eternal word, 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:52.159 a man sent by God. 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:53.700 He came as a witness, 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:55.580 to bear witness about the light, 00:09:55.700 --> 00:09:56.580 not the light, 00:09:57.060 --> 00:09:59.279 came to bear witness about the light, 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:00.259 the true light. 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:02.300 He's the focus of this book. 00:10:02.420 --> 00:10:04.259 He's the focus of this story. 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:05.340 Let's talk about him. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:08.600 See, John is fixing our attention 00:10:08.600 --> 00:10:11.740 on the main focus of the book. 00:10:11.819 --> 00:10:14.700 He's fixing our attention on Christ. 00:10:14.939 --> 00:10:16.919 And if you know anything about John the Baptist, 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:19.759 you know that he would read these words 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:20.159 and say, 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:20.519 Amen. 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:24.559 This was John's message, 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:25.340 wasn't it? 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:27.580 He must increase, 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:28.399 I must, 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:28.620 what? 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:29.299 What does he say? 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.879 I must decrease. 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:32.259 He says, 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:33.759 I am not the light. 00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:35.019 He is the light. 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:36.060 Don't look at me. 00:10:36.179 --> 00:10:37.679 Behold the Lamb of God. 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:42.019 John is a witness to the light. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:43.799 And here's the application for us, 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:44.620 church. 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:48.000 While you and I cannot 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.480 represent and imitate his position 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:55.600 as the God-appointed forerunner 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.600 to the Messiah, 00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:58.920 we can and we must 00:10:58.920 --> 00:11:01.039 imitate his posture 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:03.759 and carry on his proclamation. 00:11:05.680 --> 00:11:08.180 We must imitate his posture 00:11:08.180 --> 00:11:11.700 and carry on his proclamation. 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:15.139 Does your posture look like John's? 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:20.800 A posture that's just allergic to attention 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:21.339 that says, 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:22.120 Not me. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.479 Don't look at me. 00:11:23.579 --> 00:11:24.539 Don't think about me. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.639 Don't make it about me. 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:26.919 Don't give me the credit. 00:11:27.059 --> 00:11:28.299 Don't give me the glory. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.839 Look to Jesus. 00:11:30.959 --> 00:11:31.059 See, 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:32.839 one of the things that I love most 00:11:32.839 --> 00:11:33.719 about John the Baptist 00:11:33.719 --> 00:11:35.399 is that he is a living, 00:11:35.859 --> 00:11:37.419 breathing rebuke 00:11:37.419 --> 00:11:39.439 to our natural bent 00:11:39.439 --> 00:11:41.559 towards self-exaltation. 00:11:41.699 --> 00:11:42.359 What does he say? 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:44.379 He must increase. 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:46.279 I must decrease. 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:48.859 Imitate that posture 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:52.680 and imitate his proclamation. 00:11:54.680 --> 00:11:58.360 How will our lost friends 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:00.740 and family members 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:02.500 and neighbors 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:04.180 and co-workers 00:12:04.180 --> 00:12:07.940 see the light of Christ? 00:12:08.800 --> 00:12:11.200 The way that God has chosen 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.680 to cause sinners to see the light 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:14.680 and be saved 00:12:14.680 --> 00:12:17.060 is by using men and women 00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:18.459 like you and me 00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:20.019 to bear witness 00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:22.000 to the light. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:25.000 To proclaim the glory of God 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:27.059 in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:12:27.059 --> 00:12:27.459 And so, 00:12:27.579 --> 00:12:29.059 so we must carry on 00:12:29.599 --> 00:12:31.859 this Christ-exalting witness 00:12:31.859 --> 00:12:34.039 of John the Baptist. 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:37.219 when we lived in, 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:38.139 when we, 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:40.059 when we lived in Charlotte, 00:12:40.699 --> 00:12:43.240 we had the opportunity 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:45.159 to go to the Billy Graham Museum. 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:46.980 And Billy Graham, 00:12:47.459 --> 00:12:49.139 as I'm sure you all are, 00:12:49.219 --> 00:12:50.219 are all aware, 00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:53.759 he was one of the greatest witnesses 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.399 to the glory of Christ 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:58.379 in modern Christian history. 00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:58.879 He was, 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:00.899 was a powerful witness. 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:02.539 And we walked through this exhibit 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:03.360 after exhibit, 00:13:03.439 --> 00:13:04.079 after exhibit, 00:13:04.079 --> 00:13:04.360 of, 00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:05.539 of his witness 00:13:05.539 --> 00:13:06.899 to the glory of Christ. 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.259 And as the tour ended, 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:09.679 we walked out, 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:10.779 one of the workers there 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:11.919 noticed that the gentleman 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:13.120 behind me 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:15.500 was wearing a LeBron James t-shirt. 00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:17.220 And on the front of it, 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.159 it said, 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:19.199 witness. 00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:21.659 LeBron 00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:23.879 had a whole clothing line, 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.240 shoes, 00:13:24.439 --> 00:13:24.699 shirts, 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:25.879 a whole marketing campaign 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.759 behind this idea 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:27.000 that, 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:28.720 that we are all witnesses 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:30.460 to his greatness. 00:13:30.800 --> 00:13:30.980 Well, 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:32.860 as we came out, 00:13:33.540 --> 00:13:34.480 the worker, 00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:37.040 he looked at that man 00:13:37.040 --> 00:13:38.160 and he saw 00:13:38.160 --> 00:13:39.160 what was on his shirt 00:13:39.160 --> 00:13:40.300 and he simply said, 00:13:41.060 --> 00:13:42.500 witness to what? 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:45.680 And you could tell 00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:47.740 that after walking through 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.120 that whole building 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.680 dedicated to a witness 00:13:50.680 --> 00:13:51.700 of the glory 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:53.399 and greatness of Christ, 00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:55.019 that that man wished 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.600 that he had worn 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:56.320 a different shirt 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:57.300 that day. 00:13:57.299 --> 00:14:00.099 But church, 00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:02.899 we are so quick, 00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:03.799 aren't we? 00:14:04.839 --> 00:14:06.039 To bear witness 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:07.359 to the greatness 00:14:07.359 --> 00:14:10.099 of all sorts of things. 00:14:10.839 --> 00:14:11.479 Athletes, 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:12.859 musicians, 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.459 food that we eat, 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:16.779 people that we know, 00:14:16.959 --> 00:14:18.179 we bear witness 00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:19.159 to greatness 00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.359 when we see it. 00:14:21.319 --> 00:14:22.899 How much more quick 00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:23.679 ought we to be 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:24.759 to bear witness 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:25.819 to the greatness 00:14:25.819 --> 00:14:26.599 of Christ? 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:29.379 we have seen 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:30.379 the light 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:32.479 and if we have seen it, 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:34.000 then we must 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.419 share it. 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:37.519 And as we do, 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:38.419 what we'll see 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:39.159 is that people 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:40.079 will respond 00:14:40.079 --> 00:14:41.819 in one of two ways. 00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:44.139 Two possible responses 00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:45.299 to the light. 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:45.740 We'll see this 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:47.199 in verses 9 through 13. 00:14:47.459 --> 00:14:47.639 Here, 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:49.199 we see two responses 00:14:49.199 --> 00:14:50.019 to the light 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:50.479 of the world. 00:14:50.579 --> 00:14:51.779 There are two 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:53.339 and only two 00:14:53.339 --> 00:14:54.659 possible responses 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:55.719 to the gospel. 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:57.420 rejection 00:14:57.420 --> 00:14:59.639 or reception. 00:15:00.800 --> 00:15:02.399 There is no middle ground. 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:05.040 There is no such thing 00:15:05.040 --> 00:15:06.300 as a safe, 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.639 neutral spot. 00:15:07.800 --> 00:15:08.500 There are no 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:10.279 fence-riding Christians. 00:15:10.800 --> 00:15:12.080 We have either 00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.700 accepted 00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:13.860 or rejected 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:15.240 the Messiah. 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.259 The first response 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:17.060 we see here 00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:18.700 is to reject 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:19.779 the light. 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.300 Look to verses 00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:21.120 9 through 11. 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:24.379 John says, 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.359 the true light, 00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:26.199 which gives light 00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:26.879 to everyone, 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:27.559 was coming 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:28.959 into the world. 00:15:29.479 --> 00:15:30.899 He was in the world 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:31.539 and the world 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.219 was made 00:15:32.219 --> 00:15:33.099 through him, 00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:34.519 yet the world 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:36.039 did not know him. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:38.000 He came to his own 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.559 and his own people 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.259 did not receive him. 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:45.980 I hope you see 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:48.019 how absolutely 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:49.179 absurd 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:50.720 this is. 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.899 Do you see this? 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:54.539 We move so quickly 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.700 here in these verses 00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:57.360 from the astonishing 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.840 to the absurd. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:01.179 The astonishing, 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.879 the astounding truth 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:03.879 is that the eternal 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.460 word of God, 00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:06.480 the one through whom 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:08.080 all things were created, 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:10.000 the light of the world 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.759 was stepping 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:12.360 into the world. 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:14.759 This should astound us 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.940 that the creator himself 00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:18.080 was entering 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:19.840 into his creation. 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:21.379 The one who exists 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.759 outside of time 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:24.320 and outside of space 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:25.740 was now entering 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.919 into time. 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.120 The author of history 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.679 was writing himself 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.320 into the story. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:33.299 But how was he received? 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.360 He wasn't. 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:38.379 He was rejected 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.460 by his own creation. 00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.980 The world did not 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.279 know him. 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.740 This is the 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:48.939 absolute absurdity 00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:51.299 of rejecting God. 00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:52.519 This is the depth 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:54.899 of spiritual blindness. 00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:57.480 And this is what sin is. 00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:58.759 We need to know 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.700 and see this 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.500 for what it is. 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:03.320 It is foolish absurdity. 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:08.620 Sin is a rejection 00:17:08.620 --> 00:17:10.600 of God 00:17:10.600 --> 00:17:13.320 and his rightful rule 00:17:13.320 --> 00:17:15.440 over all things 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.680 including me 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:19.400 and including you. 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:22.580 It is blindness 00:17:22.580 --> 00:17:25.160 to the reality of God 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:26.559 that he is creator 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.160 of all things, 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:30.039 everything in the universe. 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:32.039 It is blindness 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:34.279 to the rule of God 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.500 that he is Lord 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:37.159 that we belong to him 00:17:37.159 --> 00:17:38.500 that we are accountable 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.259 to him 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:40.220 that we will all 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.980 give account to him. 00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:44.000 It is blindness 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.200 to the reach 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.519 of God. 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:48.940 Now he is 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:50.139 through the witness 00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.339 of nature, 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:53.079 through the witness 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:54.180 of the scriptures, 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.200 through the witness 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:56.599 of Christ himself 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:58.019 in the incarnation, 00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:59.619 reaching out 00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:01.299 and communicating 00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:03.039 who he is 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.279 so that we are all 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.180 without excuse. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.799 The psalmist says, 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:12.480 the fool says 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.279 in his heart, 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:15.759 there is no God. 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.079 Look what John 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.500 is saying here. 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.440 Look what John 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.240 is showing us. 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.980 John is showing us 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.400 that it is just 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.019 as absurd 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.519 to deny that 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:28.859 Jesus is God. 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:31.539 This is John's message 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:31.980 here. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:33.500 The light has come, 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:35.039 our creator has come, 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:36.559 the Messiah has come, 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:38.420 and he was rejected. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.720 This was a rejection 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.259 of God. 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:43.940 John wants us 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.400 to know 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:47.619 that to see Jesus 00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:49.579 is to see God. 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.680 To hear the words 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.379 of Christ 00:18:52.379 --> 00:18:53.119 is to hear 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:54.099 the words of God. 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:55.079 To touch him 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.519 is to touch God. 00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.639 To be near him 00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.879 is to be near God. 00:18:58.959 --> 00:19:00.359 And to reject him 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:05.359 is to reject God. 00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:09.240 We see this is exactly 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:11.639 what the Jewish people did. 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:12.819 Look at verse 11. 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:15.779 John says in verse 11, 00:19:15.919 --> 00:19:18.519 he came to his own people, 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:20.759 and his own people 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:23.480 did not receive him. 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.079 Even if the rest 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:26.900 of the world 00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:28.079 wouldn't recognize 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:29.039 God in the flesh, 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:29.859 surely, 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:31.240 surely the people 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:31.980 of God 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:33.460 would know him. 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:36.559 This Jewish Messiah 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.599 promised to Jewish people, 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.299 spoken of 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:40.400 through Jewish prophets, 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.640 came into the world 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:42.900 as a Jewish baby, 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.339 grew up, 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:44.879 and lived, 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.400 and walked, 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:45.980 and learned 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.160 in Jewish culture, 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.279 began to speak, 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.339 and to teach, 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:50.059 and explain 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:51.339 from the Jewish scriptures 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.439 that he was 00:19:52.439 --> 00:19:53.679 the long-awaited 00:19:53.679 --> 00:19:54.659 Jewish Christ, 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:55.740 and how did they 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.740 respond to him? 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.619 They murdered him. 00:20:00.639 --> 00:20:01.679 They hung him 00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:03.480 on a cross. 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:06.480 He came to his own, 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.139 and his own people 00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:10.159 did not receive him. 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.959 This is the tragic 00:20:11.959 --> 00:20:14.759 absurdity of sin. 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:16.299 And to this day, 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:19.879 some 2,000 years later, 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.859 what has changed? 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:25.099 Many ethnic Jews 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:26.700 still reject him. 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.619 Many who are of 00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.339 Jewish heritage, 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:28.899 sadly, 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.680 to this day, 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.899 are still rejecting 00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:31.899 Christ, 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.980 still waiting for 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:34.019 the Messiah to come, 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:34.799 still believing 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.940 that they are okay 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:37.000 with God 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.480 while they deny 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.659 and despise 00:20:39.659 --> 00:20:40.819 his son. 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:41.599 But hear me, 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.980 because this is 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.699 John's point. 00:20:45.419 --> 00:20:46.359 No one 00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:47.480 is okay 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.339 with God 00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:49.859 if they deny 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:50.459 his son. 00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:53.539 No one 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.939 is okay 00:20:54.939 --> 00:20:55.659 with God. 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.119 Jew 00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:57.619 and Gentile 00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:58.119 alike, 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:58.899 no one, 00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.759 no matter how 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.679 kind, 00:21:01.199 --> 00:21:02.039 no matter how 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.779 generous, 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:03.779 no matter how 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.659 spiritual, 00:21:04.899 --> 00:21:05.459 no matter how much 00:21:05.459 --> 00:21:06.039 they speak 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.179 about God, 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:08.539 no one 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.519 can claim 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.299 God 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.759 while denying 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.580 or ignoring 00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:15.580 Christ Jesus. 00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.660 We need to be 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:20.580 careful, 00:21:21.380 --> 00:21:21.779 church. 00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:24.060 In our witness, 00:21:24.320 --> 00:21:25.759 as we share 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.440 the gospel 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.460 with our neighbors, 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.460 with our friends, 00:21:28.560 --> 00:21:29.140 in our witness, 00:21:29.340 --> 00:21:30.420 that we are not 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:31.279 content to see 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:31.940 people give 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:33.140 appearance of love 00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:34.039 for God, 00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:35.380 but zero evidence 00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:36.519 of faith in Christ. 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:36.599 Christ. 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.519 That's not enough. 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.440 Apart from 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.519 faith in 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.559 Jesus Christ, 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:43.539 no one 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.420 can know 00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:44.940 God, 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.519 no matter how 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.460 religious or 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.440 devout they may 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.019 seem. 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.319 Even as we 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.700 consider our 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.440 own personal 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.220 relationship 00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:54.500 with God, 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.660 don't bypass 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:56.859 Christ on the 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.500 way to God. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.500 You can't. 00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.160 Jesus says, 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.220 I am the way 00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:01.379 and the truth 00:22:01.379 --> 00:22:02.319 and the life. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.099 No one 00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:03.879 comes to the 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.819 Father except 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.500 by me. 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:07.980 The more 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.759 you understand 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.639 that all 00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:09.980 of your 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.539 relationship 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.279 with God 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.940 is in 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.559 Christ, 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:14.059 through Christ, 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:15.059 by Christ, 00:22:15.139 --> 00:22:15.859 the deeper 00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.779 and the more 00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:17.660 profoundly 00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:18.700 beautiful you 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.220 will see 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.079 your relationship 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.980 with God 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.940 to be. 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.960 Even as we 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.559 consider our 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.480 own practices 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:28.160 here as a 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:28.639 church, 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.799 as a family, 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.799 we exist 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.940 to magnify 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.599 the glory 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.339 of God 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.119 in what? 00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.480 In the 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:35.919 gospel 00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:37.459 of Jesus 00:22:37.459 --> 00:22:38.559 Christ. 00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:40.099 I was told 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:41.000 by an old 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.819 mentor to 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.719 never preach 00:22:42.719 --> 00:22:43.259 a sermon 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.359 that I could 00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:44.779 go and 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.439 preach at a 00:22:45.439 --> 00:22:45.740 synagogue. 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.399 You understand 00:22:48.399 --> 00:22:48.859 what he's saying? 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.379 Never preach 00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:50.859 a sermon 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:52.179 that I could 00:22:52.179 --> 00:22:52.599 go and 00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:53.439 preach in a 00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:54.139 synagogue and 00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:55.099 not be booed 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.980 out of the 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.379 room. 00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:58.280 every text, 00:22:58.760 --> 00:22:59.720 every sermon, 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.520 every message, 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.760 every lesson, 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.380 preach Christ. 00:23:05.280 --> 00:23:05.900 Bear witness 00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:06.480 to the 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:06.920 light so 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:07.600 that everyone 00:23:07.600 --> 00:23:08.300 in the 00:23:08.300 --> 00:23:08.780 room is 00:23:08.780 --> 00:23:09.440 now faced 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:09.940 with the 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.420 decision, 00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:11.300 will I 00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:12.500 reject him 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.600 or will 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:15.220 I receive 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.000 him? 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.560 There's 00:23:19.560 --> 00:23:19.820 another 00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:20.580 response 00:23:20.580 --> 00:23:21.220 here. 00:23:22.300 --> 00:23:22.740 Second 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.660 response in 00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.220 this passage 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.220 is to 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.339 receive 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.440 the 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:27.920 light. 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.920 John the 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.640 Baptist came 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.640 bearing witness 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.220 to the 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:32.559 light. 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:32.980 Why? 00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:33.680 Verse 7, 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.100 why? 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.059 That all 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:36.100 might believe 00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:37.519 through him. 00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:38.039 We'll see in 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.700 this book that 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.779 John has a lot 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.620 to say about 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.200 believing. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.160 This is the 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:42.779 first time that 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.259 we see that 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:43.940 word here. 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.539 We're going 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.140 to see that 00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:45.839 one word 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:47.200 97 more 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.240 times in 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:48.519 the book 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.120 of John. 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.079 His aim 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:51.940 in writing, 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:52.880 our aim 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.880 in witnessing, 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.559 our aim 00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.120 in gathering, 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:55.700 here and 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.640 singing and 00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.420 praying and 00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:58.120 preaching this 00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:58.980 word is that 00:23:58.980 --> 00:23:59.620 all might 00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:01.819 believe in 00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:03.279 Christ Jesus 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:05.680 and live in 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.559 light of that 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.720 faith in the 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:08.039 Son. 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:09.299 Look here to 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.180 verse 11 again. 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:10.539 It says, 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:11.160 He came to 00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:11.620 his own, 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.039 his own 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.620 people did 00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.380 not receive 00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:13.620 him, 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:15.440 but to 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:15.960 all who 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:17.259 did receive 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.600 him, 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.940 who believed 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.579 in his 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.019 name, 00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:21.160 he gave 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.799 the right 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.759 to become 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:24.240 children of 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:24.720 God, 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.839 who were 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:26.420 born not 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.460 of blood, 00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.000 nor of the 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.339 will of 00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:28.880 the flesh, 00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.339 nor of the 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:29.799 will of 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.339 man, 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:32.000 but of 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.160 God. 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.059 John is 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:37.700 showing us 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.380 here the 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:41.059 unfathomable 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:42.839 richness of 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:44.920 grace toward 00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:45.740 those who 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.440 believe. 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.700 all who 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.580 deny him, 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.259 Jew and 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.320 Greek alike, 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.620 are denying 00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:52.460 God and 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.259 are separated 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.100 from him, 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.259 but all who 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.200 receive him, 00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:56.880 Jew and 00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.779 Greek alike, 00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.100 man and 00:24:59.100 --> 00:25:00.080 woman alike, 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.000 rich and 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.960 poor alike, 00:25:02.120 --> 00:25:02.820 boys and 00:25:02.820 --> 00:25:03.820 girls alike, 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:04.880 people from 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:06.000 every tribe, 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.519 tongue, 00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:07.320 and nation 00:25:07.320 --> 00:25:08.279 alike, 00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:09.680 to all who 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.759 did receive 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.039 him, 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:11.860 he gave 00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.519 an 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.740 unchangeable, 00:25:14.459 --> 00:25:15.719 irrevocable, 00:25:16.199 --> 00:25:16.919 eternity 00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:17.899 changing 00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:20.679 right to 00:25:20.679 --> 00:25:21.000 become 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.839 children of 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.399 God. 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:26.419 How much 00:25:26.419 --> 00:25:26.919 do you 00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:30.299 make of 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:30.759 the fact 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.259 that through 00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:31.859 faith in 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.479 Christ you 00:25:32.479 --> 00:25:33.000 have been 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.659 made a 00:25:33.659 --> 00:25:35.279 child of 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.639 God? 00:25:37.139 --> 00:25:38.000 J.I. 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.500 Packer, 00:25:38.919 --> 00:25:39.679 he says, 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.099 if you want 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.779 to judge how 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.379 well a 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.600 person understands 00:25:42.600 --> 00:25:43.280 Christianity, 00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.960 find out how 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.680 much he makes 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.260 of the thought 00:25:46.260 --> 00:25:46.840 of being 00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:47.840 God's child 00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:49.560 and having 00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:50.300 God as 00:25:50.300 --> 00:25:50.900 his father. 00:25:51.780 --> 00:25:52.660 If this is 00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.180 not the 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.720 thought that 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.540 prompts and 00:25:54.540 --> 00:25:55.360 controls his 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.820 worship and 00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:58.380 prayers and 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:58.880 his whole 00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.800 outlook on 00:25:59.800 --> 00:26:01.380 life, it 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:02.140 means that he 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.740 does not 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.400 understand 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.080 Christianity 00:26:04.080 --> 00:26:05.240 very well 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.140 at all. 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:07.920 See, 00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:09.880 this right 00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:10.440 is an 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.140 incredible 00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:12.280 gift. 00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:12.640 If you 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:13.300 are in 00:26:13.300 --> 00:26:13.940 Christ, 00:26:14.020 --> 00:26:14.300 if you 00:26:14.300 --> 00:26:14.759 have been 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.420 given this 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:15.880 right to 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:16.720 become a 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.660 child of 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:18.500 God, you 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:18.820 have been 00:26:18.820 --> 00:26:19.780 united to 00:26:19.780 --> 00:26:20.520 Christ by 00:26:20.520 --> 00:26:21.600 faith, you 00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:22.180 have been 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.640 given the 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.080 right to 00:26:23.080 --> 00:26:23.640 become his 00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:26.300 child, and 00:26:26.300 --> 00:26:26.680 you have been 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.460 given all the 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.440 rights of 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.600 being his 00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:30.240 child. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:30.740 Think about 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.180 this with 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.360 me. 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.820 Think about 00:26:31.820 --> 00:26:32.180 this. 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.360 Because as I 00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:33.880 was studying 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:34.460 this passage 00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:35.180 this week, I 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:35.900 could not get 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:37.259 past the depth 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.119 of this word 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.660 right. 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:40.839 He gave us 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:42.079 the right to 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.140 become his 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.640 children. 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.119 Those who 00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.940 receive him are 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.359 given the 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:45.740 right. 00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:46.039 He didn't 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.740 just make us 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.500 his child, he 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.079 gave us the 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.240 right to 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.879 become his 00:26:49.879 --> 00:26:50.319 children. 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.579 We make so 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.839 much out of 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:55.019 our rights, 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.440 don't we? 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:55.879 Especially as 00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:56.519 Americans, my 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.779 goodness. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:00.119 We hold these 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.900 truths to be 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:02.160 self-evident, that 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:02.879 all men are 00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.900 created equal, 00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:05.220 that they are 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.980 endowed by 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.600 their creator 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.400 with certain 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:08.540 unalienable 00:27:08.540 --> 00:27:10.000 rights, that 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.840 among these are 00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:12.460 life, liberty, 00:27:13.040 --> 00:27:13.860 and the pursuit 00:27:13.860 --> 00:27:15.400 of happiness. 00:27:17.280 --> 00:27:19.500 I want to 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.400 very gently 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:23.780 poke a hole 00:27:23.780 --> 00:27:24.440 in that, 00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:27.700 because that's 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.220 simply not 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.540 true. 00:27:31.040 --> 00:27:32.220 In relation 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:34.000 to fellow 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.860 man, 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.480 horizontally 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.779 speaking, in 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.539 relation to 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.519 one another, 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.240 man to 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.720 man, yes, 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:43.460 of course, 00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:45.200 we have to 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:45.880 protect and 00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.920 uphold certain 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:48.019 man to man 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.420 horizontal rights 00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.240 in order to 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.740 function as a 00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:52.440 society. 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.640 It is not for 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.720 man to take 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.360 what is only 00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:56.380 God's to give 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:57.740 and to take. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.440 So yes, 00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:59.920 horizontally, amen. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:02.460 But vertically, 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:05.740 before God, 00:28:06.800 --> 00:28:08.620 we need to 00:28:08.620 --> 00:28:09.060 know that we 00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:09.880 have no such 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:10.340 rights. 00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:13.960 Who among us 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:15.940 can look at 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:17.300 God and claim 00:28:17.300 --> 00:28:18.380 a right to 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:18.960 life? 00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:22.160 You forfeited 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:22.980 your right to 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.580 life when you 00:28:23.580 --> 00:28:24.440 first sinned 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.440 against God. 00:28:26.300 --> 00:28:26.920 What does 00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:27.720 Romans tell us? 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.819 The wages of 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.819 sin is 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.900 death. 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:31.819 It's by his 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:33.100 mercy alone 00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:33.839 that we are 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.700 breathing right 00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:35.600 now, not by 00:28:35.600 --> 00:28:36.059 right. 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:39.019 You forfeited 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.779 your right to 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.660 liberty when you 00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.839 became a slave 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:42.720 to sin. 00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:45.360 You squandered 00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:46.539 your pursuit 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.279 of happiness 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:47.759 when you 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.440 pursued it 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:49.720 outside of 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.259 the only 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:51.000 source of 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.640 true and 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.579 lasting joy 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.319 and happiness. 00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:54.640 What right 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.539 can anyone 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.720 claim before 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.380 God? 00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.600 No one 00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:00.240 who has 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.900 rejected 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:02.279 Christ can 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.039 claim before 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:04.200 God any 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.160 right to 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:06.279 life, to 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:07.500 liberty, to 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.660 happiness, to 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.579 anything 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:10.640 whatsoever. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:11.819 But 00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:17.079 John tells 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:18.180 us those 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:18.980 who have 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.799 received 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.700 Christ 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:22.960 have been 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:23.480 given a 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:23.860 right 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:25.819 right to 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.159 become 00:29:26.159 --> 00:29:27.579 children of 00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.159 God. 00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:30.259 And as 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:30.740 his 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.439 children, 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.519 they have 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:35.000 an irrevocable 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.859 right to 00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:37.879 eternal life, 00:29:38.419 --> 00:29:40.240 to freedom 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.119 from sin, 00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:43.240 to pleasures 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:45.039 forevermore 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.839 in the 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.839 presence of 00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.979 God, their 00:29:47.979 --> 00:29:48.459 father. 00:29:49.139 --> 00:29:49.479 Do you see 00:29:49.479 --> 00:29:50.019 what a blessing 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.740 it is to be 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.379 called a child 00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:51.880 of God? 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:53.840 What a 00:29:53.840 --> 00:29:54.340 privilege. 00:29:55.760 --> 00:29:56.220 That's not 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.120 shared with 00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.760 everyone 00:29:57.760 --> 00:29:58.640 everywhere. 00:29:58.900 --> 00:29:59.760 Not everyone 00:29:59.760 --> 00:30:01.000 is a child 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.760 of God. 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.140 This is 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:04.200 no one's 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.840 natural 00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:05.780 right to 00:30:05.780 --> 00:30:06.360 be his 00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:06.800 children. 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.380 Yes, we 00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:07.740 are all 00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.620 his creation, 00:30:09.040 --> 00:30:10.240 but no, we 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.100 are not all 00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:12.160 his children. 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:13.280 To call 00:30:13.280 --> 00:30:13.800 God 00:30:13.800 --> 00:30:14.840 father 00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:16.320 is a 00:30:16.320 --> 00:30:16.700 precious 00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.460 right. 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:17.500 right. 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.360 So how 00:30:21.360 --> 00:30:21.640 do we 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.019 get in 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.620 on this? 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.220 That's the 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.940 question, isn't 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.160 it? 00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.480 How is 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.579 anyone given 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:31.039 this right? 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.480 Well, we 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:32.960 see, John 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.460 tells us, 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.059 it's not of 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.500 blood. 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:36.720 It cannot 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:38.279 be earned 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:39.480 by a natural 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.840 belonging to 00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:41.980 any earthly 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:42.980 race, to 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.900 any earthly 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:44.880 family, to 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:45.740 any earthly 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.720 nation, to 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.539 any earthly 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.360 culture. 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.319 You cannot 00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:50.019 be born 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:51.460 naturally into 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:51.960 the kingdom 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.559 of God. 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.559 God has no 00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.160 grandchildren, 00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:56.360 only children. 00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.220 This was a 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.160 problem for 00:30:59.160 --> 00:30:59.640 the Jews. 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.180 It may be a 00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:00.600 problem for 00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:01.160 some of you. 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.839 You are not 00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.539 his child 00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:04.319 simply because 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:04.759 you were 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.440 raised in a 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.259 Christian home 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.140 or because 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.759 you were born 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.220 into a 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:08.839 nominally 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.440 Christian 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.059 culture. 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:10.940 John says 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:12.339 no one is 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:13.259 his child 00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.819 by blood. 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:14.859 God. 00:31:16.919 --> 00:31:17.799 We see, it 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:18.599 is not of 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.059 the will 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.579 of the 00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:20.079 flesh. 00:31:21.659 --> 00:31:21.939 This 00:31:21.939 --> 00:31:23.339 right cannot 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.000 be earned 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.659 by our 00:31:24.659 --> 00:31:25.299 doing. 00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.079 It is not 00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:27.720 by works 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:28.319 so that no 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:28.899 one may 00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:29.299 boast. 00:31:29.419 --> 00:31:29.799 You cannot 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.659 work your 00:31:30.659 --> 00:31:31.500 way into 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.139 the family 00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:32.679 of God. 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.000 You may 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.839 have gone 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.259 to church 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:34.720 your whole 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.259 life, 00:31:36.159 --> 00:31:36.759 come and 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.200 sung the 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:37.679 songs, 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.220 prayed the 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:38.599 prayers, 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.259 walked an 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.639 aisle, 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.759 and still 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:41.599 not get 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:41.919 it. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:43.960 There are 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.519 so many 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:46.500 who think 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:46.920 that if 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.259 they are 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.160 just good 00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.840 enough, 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.080 they are 00:31:49.080 --> 00:31:50.140 not as 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:51.200 far gone, 00:31:51.300 --> 00:31:51.620 not as 00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:52.039 bad as 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.420 some other 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:52.720 people, 00:31:52.800 --> 00:31:53.060 that they 00:31:53.060 --> 00:31:53.640 know that 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:54.019 they are 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.779 fine in 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.259 the sight 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.120 of God. 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:57.680 This is a 00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.060 lie. 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.120 You cannot 00:31:59.120 --> 00:32:00.080 work your 00:32:00.080 --> 00:32:01.200 way into 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:01.920 the family 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:03.380 of God. 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:06.080 It is 00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:06.940 not of 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.620 the will 00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:08.940 of man, 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:09.980 John says. 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:12.140 this right 00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:13.000 cannot be 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.779 earned by 00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.299 our 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:15.160 willing. 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.559 He gave 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.000 the right 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.380 to become 00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.000 children of 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.519 God who 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:20.059 were born 00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:20.620 not of 00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:21.059 blood, 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.539 nor of 00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:21.940 the will 00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.279 of the 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:22.640 flesh, 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.140 nor of 00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:23.640 the will 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.440 of man, 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.839 but of 00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:27.200 God. 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.599 There are 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:31.200 so many 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.680 professing 00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:33.640 Christians who 00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.460 when you 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.380 begin to 00:32:35.380 --> 00:32:36.620 peel back 00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.559 the layers 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.279 of their 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:38.960 relationship 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.819 with God 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.299 at the 00:32:40.299 --> 00:32:40.740 bottom, 00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.220 at the 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:41.960 foundation, 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.519 what you 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.299 find is 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.920 not the 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.819 saving grace 00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:45.640 of God 00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:46.019 and the 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.720 will of 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.160 God, 00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:47.720 it is 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.620 their 00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.660 will. 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.299 John says, 00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:52.640 no, 00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:55.100 the foundation 00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:56.120 of your 00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:56.860 new birth 00:32:56.860 --> 00:32:57.200 as a 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.799 child of 00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:58.259 God is 00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.480 not your 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.039 will, 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:02.079 but God's. 00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:03.819 John is 00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:05.120 laying the 00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:05.700 groundwork 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.220 here for a 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:06.700 topic that 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:06.940 he's going 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.180 to come 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:07.640 back to 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.220 again and 00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:08.740 again and 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.160 again, 00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:09.940 which is, 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.440 as he says 00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:10.860 later, 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:11.240 that a 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.100 person cannot 00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:13.200 receive even 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:14.299 one thing 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:14.940 unless it is 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:15.500 given to 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.620 him from 00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:17.019 heaven. 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.860 This is a 00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:18.660 right given 00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:19.860 from God. 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:20.779 So how is 00:33:20.779 --> 00:33:21.240 it given? 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.279 It's given 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:26.360 simply through 00:33:26.360 --> 00:33:27.000 the gift 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:28.620 of faith. 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.539 To all 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:32.460 who received 00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:32.839 him, 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:34.980 who believed 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.700 in his 00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.099 name, 00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:37.779 he gave 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.420 the right 00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:39.620 to become 00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.099 children 00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:42.019 of God. 00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:44.120 Sounds 00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:44.660 almost too 00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:45.039 simple, 00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:45.839 doesn't it? 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:47.960 You and I, 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:48.460 we're so 00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:50.019 hardwired, 00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.180 aren't we? 00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:52.519 To want to 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.420 work for 00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:53.880 what we 00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:54.180 get. 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.519 To want to 00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:57.519 try to earn 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.380 our keep, 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:58.980 to try to 00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.839 work and 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.380 to labor 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:01.660 and to 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:03.440 strive and 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.080 to do and 00:34:04.080 --> 00:34:04.640 to do and 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:05.200 to do and 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.680 to do. 00:34:06.820 --> 00:34:07.640 John says 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.160 you can't 00:34:08.160 --> 00:34:08.920 earn this. 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:11.160 This is 00:34:11.160 --> 00:34:11.619 given, 00:34:12.180 --> 00:34:12.660 simply 00:34:12.660 --> 00:34:14.340 received by 00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:15.180 genuine 00:34:15.180 --> 00:34:16.680 faith in 00:34:16.680 --> 00:34:17.260 the Son of 00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:17.680 God, 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:19.340 Jesus Christ. 00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:23.440 Do you 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.380 believe that 00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:25.140 Jesus is 00:34:25.140 --> 00:34:25.400 God? 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:28.599 Do you 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:29.280 believe that 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:30.039 he is 00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:31.940 worthy of 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.579 your worship? 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.059 Do you 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:33.599 believe that 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.559 he's risen 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.219 from the 00:34:35.219 --> 00:34:35.559 grave, 00:34:35.759 --> 00:34:36.119 that he 00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:36.500 and he 00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:37.019 alone can 00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:38.079 conquer and 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:38.699 save you 00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:39.199 from your 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:39.599 sin, 00:34:39.659 --> 00:34:39.980 that he's 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.400 defeated 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:40.940 death, 00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.239 that he 00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:42.059 stands to 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.840 intercede 00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:43.519 between you 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:43.820 and the 00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:44.119 Father, 00:34:44.199 --> 00:34:44.440 that he 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:45.420 brings us 00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:45.960 back into 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.940 right relationship 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.800 with God? 00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:49.079 If so, 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:50.579 rejoice 00:34:50.579 --> 00:34:52.500 and rest. 00:34:53.659 --> 00:34:54.199 You have 00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:54.679 been made 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.519 his child. 00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:57.460 And if 00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:57.940 not, 00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:59.840 the time 00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.260 has come 00:35:00.260 --> 00:35:00.500 for you 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:00.960 to stop 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.539 rejecting 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.320 God 00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:04.179 and to 00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:04.639 turn, 00:35:05.200 --> 00:35:06.139 to believe 00:35:06.139 --> 00:35:06.619 and to 00:35:06.619 --> 00:35:07.519 receive him 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:09.019 by faith. 00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:12.519 Last week, 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.700 we got to see 00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:14.400 three of our 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:15.740 members baptized. 00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.460 I call that a 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:16.980 low country 00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.579 baptism, 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:17.960 y'all. 00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:19.420 Outside, 00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:20.559 in the rain, 00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:21.940 in my church 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.420 clothes, 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:22.860 in the hot 00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.220 tub, 00:35:23.219 --> 00:35:24.179 that's a 00:35:24.179 --> 00:35:24.639 low country 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.159 baptism. 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.739 I don't 00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:29.259 know if you 00:35:29.259 --> 00:35:30.359 could hear 00:35:30.359 --> 00:35:31.079 the questions 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:31.419 that I 00:35:31.419 --> 00:35:31.639 could, 00:35:31.859 --> 00:35:32.199 I was 00:35:32.199 --> 00:35:32.839 asking them 00:35:32.839 --> 00:35:33.480 over the 00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:33.959 rain and 00:35:33.959 --> 00:35:34.579 the noise. 00:35:34.839 --> 00:35:35.339 I asked 00:35:35.339 --> 00:35:35.659 them a 00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:36.619 series of 00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:37.419 questions. 00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:37.759 I said, 00:35:37.859 --> 00:35:38.239 do you, 00:35:38.379 --> 00:35:38.779 do you 00:35:38.779 --> 00:35:39.419 believe that 00:35:39.419 --> 00:35:39.679 you have 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.079 sinned 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:40.480 against a 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.099 holy God? 00:35:42.459 --> 00:35:43.099 That you've 00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:44.279 offended him 00:35:44.279 --> 00:35:44.980 with your 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.259 sin, 00:35:45.319 --> 00:35:45.599 that your 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.059 sin has 00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:47.159 earned you 00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:48.119 his wrath, 00:35:48.179 --> 00:35:48.799 every one of 00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:49.059 them, 00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:49.619 all three? 00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:50.480 Yes, 00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:50.839 I do. 00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:52.900 Have you 00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:53.839 trusted in 00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:54.799 Christ Jesus 00:35:54.799 --> 00:35:55.799 alone for 00:35:55.799 --> 00:35:56.679 the salvation 00:35:56.679 --> 00:35:58.400 from your 00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:58.880 sins, 00:35:58.980 --> 00:35:59.759 the light of 00:35:59.759 --> 00:36:00.199 the world, 00:36:00.259 --> 00:36:00.859 that he has 00:36:00.859 --> 00:36:01.839 lived perfectly 00:36:01.839 --> 00:36:02.299 where you 00:36:02.299 --> 00:36:02.880 have failed, 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.219 that he 00:36:03.219 --> 00:36:04.139 suffered and 00:36:04.139 --> 00:36:04.719 died in 00:36:04.719 --> 00:36:05.599 your place 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:05.960 on the 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.279 cross, 00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:06.699 that he 00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:07.539 bore the 00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.000 wrath of 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.480 God that 00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.460 you deserve 00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:09.960 for your 00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:10.319 sin? 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.079 Yes, 00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:12.519 I have. 00:36:12.599 --> 00:36:12.779 Yes, 00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.159 I do. 00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:15.480 And do you 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.539 commit now 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.859 to live out 00:36:17.859 --> 00:36:18.619 the Christian 00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:19.339 faith by 00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:19.980 the power 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:20.640 of the 00:36:20.640 --> 00:36:21.640 Holy Spirit, 00:36:21.640 --> 00:36:22.120 to put 00:36:22.120 --> 00:36:22.680 sin to 00:36:22.680 --> 00:36:23.200 death and 00:36:23.200 --> 00:36:23.720 to walk 00:36:23.720 --> 00:36:24.460 by the 00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:25.440 power of 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:25.980 the Spirit 00:36:25.980 --> 00:36:26.700 and newness 00:36:26.700 --> 00:36:27.559 of life? 00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:29.120 Yes, 00:36:29.160 --> 00:36:29.539 I do. 00:36:32.120 --> 00:36:32.680 Church, 00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:33.019 I want to 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.320 see more 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:33.760 people in 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:34.039 the hot 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.300 tub. 00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:37.300 Don't 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:37.500 you? 00:36:39.320 --> 00:36:40.039 I want 00:36:40.039 --> 00:36:40.320 to see 00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:41.460 more and 00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:42.539 more and 00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:43.519 more come 00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.420 into the 00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:44.840 kingdom. 00:36:45.700 --> 00:36:46.220 I want to 00:36:46.220 --> 00:36:46.920 see more 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.780 and more be 00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:48.680 given eyes 00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:49.699 to see 00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:50.619 the glory 00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.699 of Christ. 00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.079 I want to 00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:53.639 see more 00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:54.460 given this 00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.359 unchangeable 00:36:55.359 --> 00:36:55.980 right to 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:56.799 become children 00:36:56.799 --> 00:36:58.319 of God. 00:36:58.319 --> 00:36:59.500 How will 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.539 that happen 00:37:00.539 --> 00:37:02.199 unless we 00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:03.659 go and 00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:04.519 bear witness 00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:05.419 to the 00:37:05.419 --> 00:37:05.779 light? 00:37:06.879 --> 00:37:07.819 Let's pray. 00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:15.680 Lord, the 00:37:15.680 --> 00:37:16.620 decision is 00:37:16.620 --> 00:37:17.440 placed before 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:19.720 us, not 00:37:19.720 --> 00:37:20.880 just now, not 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:22.440 just once, but 00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:23.140 every moment. 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:23.840 Will we 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:25.440 receive you? 00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:27.580 Will we 00:37:27.580 --> 00:37:28.400 believe upon 00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:28.700 you? 00:37:29.740 --> 00:37:30.620 Will we live 00:37:30.620 --> 00:37:31.019 as your 00:37:31.019 --> 00:37:31.440 children? 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:31.519 children? 00:37:33.220 --> 00:37:34.139 We pray, 00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:35.099 Father, that 00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:35.880 if there are 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:36.480 any here who 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:37.179 don't know 00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:37.679 you, who 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.440 are standing 00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:39.220 and living in 00:37:39.220 --> 00:37:40.320 rejection to 00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:41.000 Christ, would 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:41.460 you change 00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:41.980 that right 00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:42.240 now? 00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:43.300 Give them 00:37:43.300 --> 00:37:43.760 eyes to 00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:44.000 see. 00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:45.340 And for 00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:45.900 those who 00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:46.940 know you, 00:37:47.139 --> 00:37:47.579 Father, as 00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:48.099 your children, 00:37:48.240 --> 00:37:48.820 we pray that 00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:49.260 our eyes would 00:37:49.260 --> 00:37:50.059 be open to 00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:51.320 understand the 00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:52.179 depth of 00:37:52.179 --> 00:37:52.980 that gift, 00:37:53.099 --> 00:37:53.440 that we've 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:54.220 become children 00:37:54.220 --> 00:37:55.380 of God. 00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:57.000 Lead us to 00:37:57.000 --> 00:37:57.880 live in light 00:37:57.880 --> 00:37:59.119 of that glorious 00:37:59.119 --> 00:37:59.639 truth. 00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:01.759 And Father, 00:38:01.839 --> 00:38:02.579 we pray that 00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:03.259 as we go from 00:38:03.259 --> 00:38:04.019 this place, 00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:05.739 would we take 00:38:05.739 --> 00:38:07.559 something of a 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:09.079 witness to 00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:09.719 share the good 00:38:09.719 --> 00:38:10.359 news of Christ 00:38:10.359 --> 00:38:11.579 with those around 00:38:11.579 --> 00:38:12.000 us. 00:38:12.879 --> 00:38:13.699 We pray all 00:38:13.699 --> 00:38:14.199 this in Jesus' 00:38:14.379 --> 00:38:14.539 name. 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:15.719 Amen.