WEBVTT

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 Well, please do have a seat and a very good morning to you.

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 As I said, I've been on a Christians in Sport camp all week.

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 I felt 30.

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 Felt unfit.

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 Hands up here if you've done a bleep test.

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 Do you remember doing that at school?

00:00:17.219 --> 00:00:18.800
 The fitness test called the bleep test.

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 There's a fitness test that we do, and we did it at Christians in Sport on the last day of the camp.

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 Leaders in, campers in, everybody in.

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 Ross and Daniel beat me.

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 And I'd love to say that that didn't bother me, but I'd be absolutely lying.

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 I am not 16 anymore.

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 I'm 30.

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 Here we go.

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 If you have a Bible, why don't you turn to 1 John chapter 2.

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 We're in it verses 3 to 14 this morning.

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 1 John, one of the books of the Bible, quite easy to find.

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 If you go to Revelation right at the back of your Bibles and flick back a few, you'll find it there.

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 So 1 John chapter 2, verses 3 to 14.

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 Why don't we pause just before we begin and let's pray together.

00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:05.259
 Let's pray.

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 Father God, we've just been singing about the deepness of your love for us.

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 That all-excelling, costly, sacrificial love.

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 And so we ask now that you would come and you would move that truth from our lips down to our hearts.

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 That as we turn to look at your words now, your spirit would come and would help us to learn and would help us to love the Lord Jesus and the truth about him.

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 And so it's in his name that we pray.

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 Amen.

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 So before diving into this passage this morning, why don't we just take a minute just to remind ourselves of the situation into which John is writing this letter.

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 So John is writing to a very unsettled church congregation.

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 Unsettled because they've witnessed a lot of people leave their church.

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 Now I wonder at this side of the room, I wonder if I could ask you just to stand up for a minute.

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 And I want you to turn and I want you to face the rest of the church.

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 Now imagine John and I, first thing on Monday morning, we get an email from these guys collectively.

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 And it says that they are resigning their memberships and they're leaving the church.

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 So we're courteous.

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 We ask them why.

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 Why are they leaving the church?

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 Maybe they've got a job somewhere else in the country.

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 Maybe they're moving away.

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 Maybe they've got a job somewhere else in the city and they just want to go and be part of a local church.

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 Why are they leaving?

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 And we get an email back and it says, actually we're leaving because, and it's got nothing to do with relocation.

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 But we're leaving because you guys are actually holding us back in our Christian walk.

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 You guys are the spiritual kindergarten.

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 And to be honest, we pity you really.

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 And we've moved on to greater things.

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 In the email that comes back to us, they use phrases like,

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 we've got an inside track on hearing from God that the rest of you don't have.

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 We don't struggle with sin like the rest of you do.

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 In fact, we've written a book called Ten Ways to Avoid Sin.

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 Here's a signed copy of it.

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 We know God.

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 You don't.

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 And so with a superiority complex in the minds,

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 they wave goodbye

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 to the church

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 and

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 out of the door they head.

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 And they move

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 into Burrowmure High School,

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 just across the road there,

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 and they start meeting, calling themselves

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 the true Brunsfield Evangelical Church.

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 You can sit down now.

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 But that is the situation

00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:48.099
 into which John is writing.

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 That's what's gone on in the church

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 behind the scenes of this letter.

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 Now question,

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 if you were

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 one of the ones that were staying in the church

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 and you witnessed

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 all of this go on in front of you,

00:04:01.180 --> 00:04:02.659
 you heard what they were saying

00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:04.959
 about the rest of you,

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 what is the question

00:04:06.939 --> 00:04:08.039
 that would be

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 front and centre in your mind?

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 What's the question?

00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:14.919
 So if I were

00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:16.000
 sitting in the pew,

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 the question in my mind would be,

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 are they right?

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 Are they right?

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 As I sit in the pew

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 each Sunday morning,

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 as I come to meet

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 with my fellow believers

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 during the week

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 in a small group

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 or whatever it is,

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 how do I know

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 that I'm right

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 and they are wrong?

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 How do I know

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 that I'm backing

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 the right team

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 and have not just

00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:40.500
 completely misunderstood

00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:41.619
 this Christian thing?

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 Maybe there is

00:04:43.119 --> 00:04:44.659
 a natural higher progression

00:04:44.659 --> 00:04:45.279
 from the gospel

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 that I'm missing out on.

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 The question,

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 front and centre

00:04:51.479 --> 00:04:52.339
 of their minds,

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 would be,

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 how do I know

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 that I know God?

00:04:56.239 --> 00:04:57.419
 How do I know

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 when I witness this going on,

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 how do I know

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 that my faith

00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:02.579
 is the real deal?

00:05:02.579 --> 00:05:02.859
 You see,

00:05:02.919 --> 00:05:03.659
 that is the question

00:05:03.659 --> 00:05:04.359
 that's in the pews

00:05:04.359 --> 00:05:05.219
 behind this letter.

00:05:06.599 --> 00:05:07.519
 It is a massively

00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:09.099
 unsettling time

00:05:09.099 --> 00:05:10.219
 for this church family.

00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:12.039
 Confidence shaking,

00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:14.000
 certainty bruised,

00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:15.620
 assurance flagging

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 and probably lacking.

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 How do I know,

00:05:18.899 --> 00:05:19.939
 how can I be sure

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 that I'm a genuine,

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 bona fide,

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 real deal Christian?

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 Now,

00:05:27.139 --> 00:05:27.899
 before our daughter

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 Chloe was born,

00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:31.039
 Alex and I

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 had a good spring

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 clean of her flat,

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 we needed to make room

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 for her room

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 and one of the things

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 that we found

00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:38.319
 when we were going

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 through all lots of clothes

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 and throwing stuff out,

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 I found my old watch.

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 I found the watch

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 that my dad had given me

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 as a skinny 17 year old.

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 I thought I'd lost it,

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 I was absolutely delighted

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 that I found it.

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 But the thing is,

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 when my dad,

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 I remember when my dad

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 gave me it

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 as a 17 year old,

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 I'll be honest,

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 I didn't think

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 it was a big deal.

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 Thanks dad.

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 But now as a 30 year old,

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 when I come to find

00:06:02.099 --> 00:06:02.599
 this watch,

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 I'm intrigued.

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 I want to know

00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:05.159
 how this watch works,

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 I want to know

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 the mechanics of it.

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 I want to know

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 if it's the real deal.

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 So I'm a 21st century man,

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 I googled it,

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 and lo and behold,

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 what came up

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 to test if your church,

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 sorry,

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 test if your watch

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 is the real deal,

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 what you look for

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 is the word

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 Swiss made

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 on your watch.

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 Tiny,

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 tiny little letters,

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 Swiss made.

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 That's what separates

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 a true watch

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 from a false watch.

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 That's how you know

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 you've got the real deal

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 and not just a pretender

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 to the watch world.

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 And lo and behold,

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 I looked at my watch

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 and there it was,

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 Swiss made,

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 tiny little letters.

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 And I felt good

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 because my dad

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 hadn't slipped me a fake.

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 But you see,

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 that is what John

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 is trying to do

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 in this section

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 this morning.

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 You see,

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 these people that are

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 still in this church,

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 the comments

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 from this group

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 have left them

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 massively unsure

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 about their faith.

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 Is it the real deal?

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 And what John

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 is doing this morning

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 is he's writing to them

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 and he's saying,

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 when I look at your lives,

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 when I see how you behave,

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 when I see your faith

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 in action,

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 you've got no need

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 to question your faith.

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 You have got Swiss made

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 rent all over your lives.

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 This is all about

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 assurance this morning.

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 And we've got to ask,

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 how does John know that?

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 Is he just kind of

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 hopefully saying that

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 to kind of cheer them up?

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 How does he know that

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 for sure?

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 Answer,

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 because their knowing

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 is showing.

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 Their knowing

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 is showing.

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 Their Christian lives

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 are displaying

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 certain traits

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 that those who are

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 the pretenders

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 aren't showing.

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 And what John

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 is doing all the way

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 through this section

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 and through this letter

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 as a whole,

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 he's got a dual aim

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 in mind.

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 He's seeking to

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 unmask and expose

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 the pretenders

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 and at the same time

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 he's seeking to give

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 great reassurance

00:08:03.280 --> 00:08:05.000
 to the rest of the church.

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 And the proof of the pudding

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 this morning

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 in our verses

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 that John identifies

00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:11.480
 is that they

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 obey Jesus.

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 They obey Jesus.

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 And most particularly

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 what they do

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 is that they love

00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:21.160
 the fellow brothers

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 and sisters

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 in the church.

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 Their knowing

00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:26.060
 is showing.

00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:27.060
 Look at what he says

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 about obedience

00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:28.420
 to Jesus

00:08:28.420 --> 00:08:29.680
 verses 3 to 6.

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 John writes this,

00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:35.299
 we know

00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:36.500
 that we have come

00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:37.080
 to know him.

00:08:37.159 --> 00:08:37.960
 Do you see that phrase

00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:38.179
 there?

00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:38.659
 We know.

00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:40.480
 We know that we have

00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:41.080
 come to know them

00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:41.820
 if we keep

00:08:41.820 --> 00:08:42.720
 his commands.

00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:45.200
 Whoever says

00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:46.000
 I know him

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 but does not do

00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:48.080
 what he commands

00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:48.700
 is a liar

00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:50.120
 and the truth

00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:51.320
 is not in that person.

00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:53.200
 But if anyone

00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:54.379
 obeys his words

00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:55.920
 love for God

00:08:55.920 --> 00:08:56.700
 is truly made

00:08:56.700 --> 00:08:57.480
 complete in them.

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 This is how we know

00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:00.259
 that we are in him.

00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:01.860
 Whoever claims

00:09:01.860 --> 00:09:02.600
 to live in him

00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:03.840
 must live

00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:04.780
 as Jesus

00:09:04.780 --> 00:09:05.600
 did.

00:09:06.920 --> 00:09:08.200
 So the logic there

00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:09.120
 if you follow it

00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:09.960
 is quite simple

00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:10.340
 isn't it?

00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:12.200
 You claim to know God

00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:14.100
 you do as he says.

00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:15.820
 You claim to be

00:09:15.820 --> 00:09:16.640
 living in the truth

00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:18.259
 then you'll follow

00:09:18.259 --> 00:09:19.159
 the one who is

00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:19.699
 the truth

00:09:19.699 --> 00:09:20.960
 Jesus Christ.

00:09:21.419 --> 00:09:21.639
 You see

00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:22.639
 true love for God

00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:23.220
 says John

00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:24.059
 shows itself

00:09:24.059 --> 00:09:24.860
 not in mystical

00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:25.639
 experience

00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:27.419
 not in theological

00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:27.980
 talk

00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:29.220
 not in sentimental

00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:30.100
 language

00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:31.179
 but true love

00:09:31.179 --> 00:09:31.960
 shows itself

00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:33.460
 in nitty gritty

00:09:33.460 --> 00:09:34.759
 self denying

00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:35.980
 all encompassing

00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:36.480
 obedience

00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:37.120
 to what God

00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.819
 has said.

00:09:39.399 --> 00:09:40.319
 Look with me

00:09:40.319 --> 00:09:41.080
 notice the speech

00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:41.759
 marks around

00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:42.659
 I know him

00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:43.559
 at verse 4.

00:09:45.019 --> 00:09:45.960
 Notice the phrases

00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:47.200
 like whoever says

00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:48.580
 or whoever claims

00:09:48.580 --> 00:09:50.040
 at verse 4 and 6.

00:09:51.180 --> 00:09:52.040
 If that's what you're

00:09:52.040 --> 00:09:52.639
 hearing out of

00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:53.460
 someone's mouth

00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:54.759
 I imagine that's

00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:55.560
 the precise claim

00:09:55.560 --> 00:09:56.080
 that this group

00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:56.700
 are making.

00:09:57.660 --> 00:09:58.460
 If that's what you

00:09:58.460 --> 00:09:59.240
 hear out their mouth

00:09:59.240 --> 00:09:59.940
 but you see something

00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:00.780
 completely different

00:10:00.780 --> 00:10:01.300
 in action

00:10:01.300 --> 00:10:01.820
 then you know

00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:02.259
 you're dealing

00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:02.940
 with a fake.

00:10:05.300 --> 00:10:06.139
 What does he say?

00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:06.780
 He's a liar.

00:10:07.400 --> 00:10:08.100
 A strong language

00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:08.500
 isn't it?

00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:09.480
 He's a liar

00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:10.940
 in whom the truth

00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:11.740
 does not reside.

00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:13.860
 You listen to him

00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:14.840
 you obey.

00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:16.419
 You talk the talk

00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:17.300
 you back it up

00:10:17.300 --> 00:10:17.800
 with the walk.

00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:19.039
 That's how you'll know.

00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:20.159
 That's how you know.

00:10:20.940 --> 00:10:22.399
 You know God.

00:10:24.560 --> 00:10:25.360
 I used to live

00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:25.840
 down in Bristol

00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:26.620
 for a few years

00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:27.800
 and I had a friend

00:10:27.800 --> 00:10:28.320
 down in Bristol

00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:29.039
 who used to work

00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:30.860
 for UCCF

00:10:30.860 --> 00:10:33.740
 the University College

00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:34.779
 Christian Fellowship

00:10:34.779 --> 00:10:35.259
 and he told me

00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:36.220
 this story one time

00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:36.919
 about an American

00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:38.460
 student mission team

00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:40.440
 and they went up

00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:41.300
 to the north of England

00:10:41.300 --> 00:10:41.620
 somewhere

00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:42.519
 I think it was Durham

00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:44.399
 and they were intent

00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:45.539
 on sharing the good news

00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:46.039
 of the gospel

00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:47.240
 all around campus

00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:50.059
 and the guys

00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:50.960
 from UCCF

00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:52.120
 once the American team

00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:52.980
 were back in America

00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:53.840
 they phoned them

00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:54.639
 and they asked

00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:55.299
 for some feedback.

00:10:55.439 --> 00:10:56.000
 How had it gone?

00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:58.480
 And amazingly

00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:00.259
 the American team

00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:00.980
 reported that

00:11:00.980 --> 00:11:02.279
 revival had hit Durham.

00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:04.679
 All around the campus

00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:05.500
 people were becoming

00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:05.939
 Christians

00:11:05.939 --> 00:11:07.840
 and the guys

00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:08.559
 from UCCF

00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:09.259
 looked at each other

00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.100
 they heard this

00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:10.919
 and they thought

00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:12.039
 somebody's forgot to

00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:12.879
 tell me

00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:14.259
 it's not what they were

00:11:14.259 --> 00:11:14.740
 seeing happen

00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:15.360
 in front of them

00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:16.759
 and do you know

00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:17.299
 what had happened?

00:11:17.959 --> 00:11:19.319
 The American mission team

00:11:19.319 --> 00:11:20.639
 had gone around campus

00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:22.699
 with a religious

00:11:22.699 --> 00:11:24.059
 identification survey

00:11:24.059 --> 00:11:25.599
 so all it said was

00:11:25.599 --> 00:11:26.459
 which religion

00:11:26.459 --> 00:11:27.159
 would you describe

00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:27.819
 yourself as?

00:11:28.439 --> 00:11:29.299
 Now you can picture that

00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:29.659
 can't you?

00:11:29.719 --> 00:11:30.059
 Hindu

00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:31.000
 Sikh

00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:31.959
 Muslim

00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:33.179
 Christian

00:11:33.179 --> 00:11:34.799
 you can imagine

00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:35.399
 what most people

00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:35.679
 think

00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:37.459
 so the report

00:11:37.459 --> 00:11:38.120
 had gone around

00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:38.779
 when they got back

00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:39.279
 to America

00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:39.939
 that revival

00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:40.540
 had hit

00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:42.480
 but actually

00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.020
 the guys in Durham

00:11:43.020 --> 00:11:43.420
 knew that was

00:11:43.420 --> 00:11:44.520
 a very different thing

00:11:44.520 --> 00:11:46.060
 they ticked

00:11:46.060 --> 00:11:46.880
 the Christian box

00:11:46.880 --> 00:11:47.780
 but I dare say

00:11:47.780 --> 00:11:48.380
 not all of those

00:11:48.380 --> 00:11:49.460
 who ticked the Christian box

00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:50.300
 would actually be

00:11:50.300 --> 00:11:51.100
 committed followers

00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:52.640
 of the Lord Jesus

00:11:52.640 --> 00:11:54.800
 now the question

00:11:54.800 --> 00:11:55.940
 how would you identify

00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:57.840
 the true followers

00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:58.340
 committed

00:11:58.340 --> 00:12:00.040
 to the Lord Jesus?

00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:01.840
 Well you'd look

00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:02.540
 for something akin

00:12:02.540 --> 00:12:03.320
 to what John is

00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:04.460
 outlining here

00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:04.960
 would you not?

00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:06.460
 Obedience

00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:08.060
 a heart

00:12:08.060 --> 00:12:09.460
 inclination

00:12:09.460 --> 00:12:10.240
 and a desire

00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:11.100
 that wants to go

00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:11.720
 with God

00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:12.500
 that wants to obey

00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:13.220
 his commands

00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:15.320
 not live like the world

00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:15.860
 lives

00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:17.280
 somebody who is seeking

00:12:17.280 --> 00:12:18.340
 to glorify God

00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:18.980
 every day

00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:19.840
 in their lives

00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:21.420
 they're saying no

00:12:21.420 --> 00:12:22.120
 to the desires

00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:22.620
 of the world

00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:23.220
 they're saying no

00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:23.879
 to themselves

00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:25.000
 and they're saying yes

00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:25.980
 to God

00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:27.220
 and his commands

00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:29.400
 someone who is seeking

00:12:29.400 --> 00:12:30.360
 to walk in the light

00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:31.240
 and not persisting

00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:32.340
 to walk in the darkness

00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:32.620
 obedience

00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:34.800
 that's how you'll know

00:12:34.800 --> 00:12:35.780
 a Swiss made

00:12:35.780 --> 00:12:36.920
 real deal believer

00:12:36.920 --> 00:12:38.980
 really simple

00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:39.840
 if you know him

00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:40.940
 you'll obey

00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:44.420
 and you see John

00:12:44.420 --> 00:12:45.660
 as we move on here

00:12:45.660 --> 00:12:46.639
 John doesn't leave them

00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:47.300
 to figure out

00:12:47.300 --> 00:12:47.960
 what that's going to look

00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:49.040
 like in their situation

00:12:49.040 --> 00:12:49.740
 remember this church

00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:50.639
 situation that's going

00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.560
 he tells them exactly

00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:53.480
 what obedience

00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:54.660
 will look like

00:12:54.660 --> 00:12:56.440
 and he sharpens his focus

00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.220
 it was quite general

00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:58.060
 in that first section

00:12:58.060 --> 00:12:58.440
 wasn't it?

00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:59.360
 if you love him

00:12:59.360 --> 00:12:59.780
 you'll obey

00:12:59.780 --> 00:13:01.340
 now he focuses right in

00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:02.580
 this is a sharp end

00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:03.500
 of this section here

00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.720
 what is it going

00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:05.379
 to look like?

00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:07.259
 well love

00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:08.160
 is the commandment

00:13:08.160 --> 00:13:08.780
 that John's got

00:13:08.780 --> 00:13:09.420
 in view here

00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:10.560
 and I think particularly

00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:12.480
 in thinking of that

00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.680
 verse from John 13

00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:14.340
 that John read

00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.040
 for us earlier

00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:18.080
 he's thinking of this

00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:18.920
 a new commandment

00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:19.800
 I give to you

00:13:19.800 --> 00:13:21.720
 love one another

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:23.700
 as I have loved you

00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:24.680
 so you must love

00:13:24.680 --> 00:13:25.420
 one another

00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:26.759
 by this

00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:27.660
 everyone will know

00:13:27.660 --> 00:13:28.759
 that you are my disciples

00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:30.340
 if you love

00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:31.220
 one another

00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:34.639
 so let's read

00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.660
 verses 7 to 11

00:13:35.660 --> 00:13:36.500
 let's see how he works

00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:37.040
 that one out

00:13:37.040 --> 00:13:40.220
 John writes this

00:13:40.220 --> 00:13:42.560
 dear friends

00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:43.440
 I am not writing

00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:44.440
 to you a new command

00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:45.320
 but an old one

00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.580
 which you have had

00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:47.279
 since the beginning

00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:48.980
 this old command

00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:49.700
 is the message

00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:50.519
 you have heard

00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:52.220
 yet I am writing

00:13:52.220 --> 00:13:53.160
 you a new command

00:13:53.160 --> 00:13:54.460
 its truth

00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:55.560
 is seen in him

00:13:55.560 --> 00:13:56.300
 and in you

00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:57.139
 because the darkness

00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:58.000
 is passing

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.360
 and the true light

00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:00.360
 is already shining

00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:02.320
 anyone who claims

00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.019
 to be in the light

00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.779
 but hates a brother

00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.279
 or sister

00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.340
 is still in darkness

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:07.500
 anyone who loves

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.379
 their brother and sister

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:09.220
 lives in the light

00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:10.120
 and there is nothing

00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.840
 in them to make them stumble

00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:14.220
 but anyone who hates

00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:15.080
 a brother or sister

00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:16.480
 is in the darkness

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.500
 and walks around

00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:18.180
 in the darkness

00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:19.620
 they do not know

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:20.360
 where they are going

00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.620
 because the darkness

00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:23.220
 has blinded them

00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:25.540
 so these people

00:14:25.540 --> 00:14:25.920
 who have

00:14:25.920 --> 00:14:27.060
 who have waved cheerio

00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:27.899
 to the church

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.139
 this group here

00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:29.700
 who are claiming

00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:30.540
 to walk in the light

00:14:30.540 --> 00:14:31.800
 but want nothing

00:14:31.800 --> 00:14:33.460
 to do with this church

00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:33.940
 family

00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:35.480
 who they don't get on

00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:35.840
 with

00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.220
 John makes it crystal

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:37.660
 clear that

00:14:37.660 --> 00:14:38.759
 that doesn't add up

00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:40.960
 that's not how it works

00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:42.300
 you cannot claim

00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:43.379
 to walk in the light

00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:44.139
 and yet walk

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:44.879
 in the darkness

00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.639
 you cannot claim

00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:47.460
 to love God

00:14:47.460 --> 00:14:48.779
 and love his people

00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:50.060
 and then have no regard

00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:52.019
 for God's children

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:54.279
 and see the strong

00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:55.139
 language that John

00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:56.379
 uses there at verse 11

00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:57.220
 it's a strong word

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:57.620
 isn't it

00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:58.980
 it's one that we tell

00:14:58.980 --> 00:15:00.039
 our children not to use

00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:00.419
 hate

00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:03.159
 and I think as John

00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:03.980
 watches this scene

00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:05.659
 unfolds in this church

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.659
 he sees that as the

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.519
 true reason that

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:08.600
 these people have left

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.639
 because to be honest

00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.319
 they can't be bothered

00:15:10.319 --> 00:15:11.179
 with the rest of you

00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:12.939
 you're holding them back

00:15:12.939 --> 00:15:14.600
 and John is saying

00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.340
 if that's what's truly

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:16.860
 going on in somebody's life

00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.919
 if that's what's going

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:18.899
 on in their heart

00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:20.960
 then that's a telltale sign

00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:21.759
 that they are not

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.879
 people who know

00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.740
 God

00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:25.740
 they're walking

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.539
 in the darkness

00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:27.319
 and not

00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:28.620
 in the light

00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:30.019
 you see

00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:31.039
 true light

00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.200
 true knowledge

00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:32.659
 of God

00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:33.500
 a true heart

00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.220
 that knows God

00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:34.980
 will be marked

00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.620
 by a radical love

00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:37.220
 for others

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:39.220
 and I think that's

00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:39.759
 what he means

00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.480
 by this whole

00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.220
 old commandment

00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:41.860
 new commandment

00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:42.200
 language

00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:42.779
 it's a little bit

00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:43.580
 confusing at first

00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:43.960
 isn't it

00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:45.860
 but the command

00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:46.879
 to love God

00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.679
 and others

00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.819
 like we've sung

00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:50.140
 it's always been

00:15:50.140 --> 00:15:51.100
 part of the DNA

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:51.800
 of God's family

00:15:51.800 --> 00:15:52.240
 isn't it

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.140
 but now in the Lord

00:15:54.140 --> 00:15:54.480
 Jesus

00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:55.320
 not only did he

00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:56.460
 call it a new command

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.760
 but actually he

00:15:57.760 --> 00:15:58.720
 invested in it

00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.440
 such a deeper

00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.440
 and richer meaning

00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:02.460
 and he embodied it

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:04.320
 and the definition

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:04.980
 of love now

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:06.460
 is cross shaped

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:08.440
 and it's this love

00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.220
 that is to mark

00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:10.460
 the Christian community

00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:11.879
 and so here

00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.700
 it's a big challenge

00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:13.220
 to all of us

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:13.480
 isn't it

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.120
 we need to see

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.700
 the link

00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:16.100
 the inseparable link

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.560
 between our relationship

00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.240
 with God

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.779
 and our relationship

00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.360
 with others

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.740
 you want to put it

00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.460
 another way

00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.300
 I'm quite simple

00:16:23.300 --> 00:16:24.300
 this is how I understand

00:16:24.300 --> 00:16:24.440
 it

00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:25.480
 my this way relationship

00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:28.040
 should be the same

00:16:28.040 --> 00:16:28.960
 as these way relationships

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.980
 you cannot separate

00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.659
 your relationship

00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.159
 with God

00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:32.899
 and your relationships

00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:33.500
 with your brothers

00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:34.759
 and sisters in Christ

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:36.920
 the two are interconnected

00:16:36.920 --> 00:16:38.180
 like Frank Sinatra said

00:16:38.180 --> 00:16:38.879
 love and marriage

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.580
 they go together

00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:42.019
 but that's what he's saying

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:44.980
 the gospel

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.659
 joins us together

00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:48.420
 and the gospel

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:49.600
 compels us

00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:51.000
 to love one another

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.720
 as Christ has loved us

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.240
 do you see

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.180
 we are connected

00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.539
 in Christ

00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:57.480
 as a church family

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:57.960
 the gospel

00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:58.940
 has connected us

00:16:58.940 --> 00:16:59.920
 in Christ

00:16:59.920 --> 00:17:00.740
 therefore

00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:02.519
 we care for one another

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:04.339
 we love one another

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.799
 we stick with

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.740
 one another

00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.940
 we support one another

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.440
 why?

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.500
 because Jesus

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.059
 loves you

00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:12.940
 and it's really

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.660
 as simple as that

00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.000
 isn't it

00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:15.299
 if you love him

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.579
 then you'll obey

00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:19.140
 so there it is

00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:19.819
 plain and simple

00:17:19.819 --> 00:17:20.339
 from John

00:17:20.339 --> 00:17:20.940
 those who walk

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.539
 in the darkness

00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.140
 will be those

00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:22.799
 who don't obey

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:23.460
 God's commands

00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.480
 and who hate the brothers

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.240
 that's what you'll see

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.940
 in front of you

00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.319
 that's how you'll know

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:27.920
 someone who truly

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.559
 knows God

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:32.539
 that's how you'll know

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:32.740
 him

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:35.480
 so what about these guys

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.619
 who've stayed in the church

00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:38.640
 because it's been quite

00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.619
 general up to this point

00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.259
 hasn't it

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.000
 if this

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:42.000
 then this

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.460
 if this

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.200
 then this

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.920
 how does he

00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:45.519
 diagnose

00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.119
 these guys

00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:46.619
 who are left

00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:47.339
 in the church

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:49.859
 well at this section

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:51.259
 verses 12 to 14

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:52.319
 we get a cascade

00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:54.299
 of reassurance

00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:55.119
 and confidence

00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:57.119
 are they the real deal

00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:57.960
 remember that's the question

00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:58.380
 we're asking

00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:59.559
 are they the real deal

00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:01.160
 you bet they're the real deal

00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:01.700
 says John

00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:03.259
 and I think what he's doing here

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.500
 is pulling a lot of the strands

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.799
 together from this first section

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.500
 that we've been looking at

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:08.200
 over the first few weeks

00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:10.340
 this is the real Swiss made

00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:11.559
 section of this passage

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.860
 verses 12 to 14

00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:14.299
 let's read it together

00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:16.460
 and see how this works out

00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:18.740
 John writes this

00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:21.519
 I am writing to you

00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:22.180
 dear children

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.559
 because your sins

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.960
 have been forgiven

00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.039
 on account of his name

00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:28.539
 I am writing to you

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:28.940
 fathers

00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:30.220
 because you know him

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.620
 who is from the beginning

00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:33.600
 I am writing to you

00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:34.220
 young men

00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:34.900
 because you have

00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:36.400
 overcome the evil one

00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:38.200
 I write to you

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:39.000
 dear children

00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:40.180
 because you know

00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:40.740
 the father

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.320
 I write to you

00:18:42.320 --> 00:18:42.620
 fathers

00:18:42.620 --> 00:18:43.380
 because you know

00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:44.160
 him who is from

00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:44.620
 the beginning

00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:46.360
 I write to you

00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:46.980
 young men

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.080
 because you are strong

00:18:48.080 --> 00:18:49.519
 and the word of God

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.420
 lives in you

00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.360
 and you have

00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:52.140
 overcome

00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:53.420
 the evil one

00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:56.620
 now here's what I think

00:18:56.620 --> 00:18:58.200
 John is trying to do here

00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:59.740
 we've got three groups

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.660
 of people in this

00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:01.580
 little section here

00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:03.019
 you'll notice that

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.759
 we've got children

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.380
 we've got fathers

00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:06.980
 we've got young men

00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:08.540
 and he addresses them

00:19:08.540 --> 00:19:09.360
 twice doesn't he

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:11.000
 now that's quite unusual

00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:12.860
 and I think when we see that

00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:13.740
 in our Bibles

00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.880
 when we see repetition

00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:15.800
 when we see authors

00:19:15.800 --> 00:19:16.820
 trying to do stuff like that

00:19:16.820 --> 00:19:17.160
 it's

00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:18.520
 we've got to hit the pause button

00:19:18.520 --> 00:19:20.340
 why is he doing that

00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:22.360
 why does he mention it twice

00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:23.560
 does one not suffice

00:19:23.560 --> 00:19:27.060
 well here's what I think

00:19:27.060 --> 00:19:27.700
 he is doing here

00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:29.220
 he's talking to the family of faith

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:31.460
 and the reason he does this

00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.380
 is because what he's about

00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:32.980
 to say here

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.940
 is something that they need

00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:36.080
 to stop and think about

00:19:36.080 --> 00:19:37.380
 and grasp

00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:38.640
 this is important

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:41.440
 he's talking to the family of faith

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.140
 so by children

00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:43.880
 I think he's thinking of new Christians

00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:45.920
 children in the faith

00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:47.799
 by young men

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.160
 I think he's addressing those

00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:49.980
 who are developed

00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.980
 in the faith

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.920
 by fathers

00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:54.100
 I think he's thinking of those

00:19:54.100 --> 00:19:55.259
 seasoned and mature

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.140
 in their faith

00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:58.019
 so he's writing to the family of God

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.900
 now if you're struggling to picture

00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.720
 what that looks like

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.380
 just look around

00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:03.380
 is that not true

00:20:03.380 --> 00:20:04.540
 of the family here

00:20:04.540 --> 00:20:05.420
 do we not have people

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.720
 who've been Christians

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.780
 for maybe two months

00:20:07.780 --> 00:20:09.100
 maybe you've been a Christian

00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:09.860
 for two years

00:20:09.860 --> 00:20:10.640
 maybe you've been a Christian

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.580
 for two decades

00:20:11.580 --> 00:20:14.400
 it's the family of God

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.120
 isn't it

00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:19.640
 and just look at with me

00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:21.320
 because I think what we need to see

00:20:21.320 --> 00:20:21.680
 is

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.280
 who he's addressing

00:20:23.280 --> 00:20:24.080
 but more importantly

00:20:24.080 --> 00:20:25.480
 what is he saying to them

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.880
 and look with me

00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.760
 at some of the statements

00:20:27.760 --> 00:20:29.280
 he makes to these groups

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:31.639
 your sins have been forgiven

00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.480
 on account of his name

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:34.339
 you know him

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.740
 who is from the beginning

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.639
 you have overcome

00:20:37.639 --> 00:20:38.420
 the evil one

00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:39.960
 you know

00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:41.019
 the father

00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:42.740
 you know him

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.720
 who is from the beginning

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:45.539
 the word of God

00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.579
 lives in you

00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:48.460
 you have overcome

00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.819
 the evil one

00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:51.819
 now just think about that

00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.279
 for a minute

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:54.119
 remember the situation

00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:56.200
 he's writing to this group

00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:56.720
 of Christians

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.160
 who've remained in this church

00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:59.720
 who are unsettled

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.000
 who are questioning

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.720
 their faith

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.580
 who are questioning

00:21:02.580 --> 00:21:04.320
 whether they can really trust

00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:05.920
 the apostles gospel message

00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.700
 that they've heard

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:08.240
 do we know God

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.940
 well look what he's saying

00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:12.519
 he says to the family of faith

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.480
 regardless of whether

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.100
 you've been a Christian

00:21:14.100 --> 00:21:14.940
 ten years

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.960
 ten minutes

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.860
 one year

00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:19.840
 because your trust is in Jesus

00:21:19.840 --> 00:21:21.880
 you've confessed your sins

00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:23.140
 you're walking in the light

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:24.220
 you're loving

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.500
 your brothers and sisters

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.800
 you are the real deal

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:28.980
 you have it all

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.799
 forgiveness

00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:33.399
 fellowship with God

00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:34.759
 his word

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:36.180
 living in you

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:38.339
 victory over the evil one

00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:40.659
 wonderful truths

00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.119
 are they not

00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:42.339
 imagine what it must have been like

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.359
 for that church family

00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:45.799
 and then John writes this

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:48.059
 what wonderful assurance

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:49.279
 the benefits

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.639
 the truths

00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:51.700
 of what it means

00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.299
 to abide

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.700
 in Christ

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:55.299
 your life

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.819
 says John

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.720
 is tied up

00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.660
 with his

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:59.360
 and these truths

00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.700
 these glorious truths

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.440
 are yours

00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:02.100
 because you are

00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:03.559
 in Christ

00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:04.759
 don't let anyone

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.000
 tell you that the gospel

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.380
 is not enough

00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:09.299
 and what he's doing here

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:09.860
 is he's saying

00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:11.019
 here is the test

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:12.539
 of what it looks like

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.539
 to live in the light

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:15.039
 and not in darkness

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:17.059
 and these guys over here

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.440
 the guys who have left

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.180
 they've failed

00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:20.940
 you've passed

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:24.120
 you're the real deal

00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:26.660
 what a wonderful assurance

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.840
 these words must have been

00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:28.559
 I don't think we can

00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.960
 fully understand it

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:32.019
 what wonderful assurance

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.420
 can you feel the confidence

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.880
 draining back into this church

00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.120
 you've watched all this happen

00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:39.320
 but what does this mean for us

00:22:39.320 --> 00:22:43.000
 well I think just as we come to

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.620
 close this morning

00:22:43.620 --> 00:22:44.580
 there's two applications

00:22:44.580 --> 00:22:45.779
 that I want us to take away

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.660
 from this passage

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:48.720
 now I like the letter C

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.600
 I don't know why

00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:51.500
 but both of these applications

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.940
 begin with the letter C

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.900
 there's a challenge

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:55.779
 in this passage

00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:57.259
 and there's a great comfort

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.559
 in this passage

00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.740
 firstly the challenge

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:01.720
 John is telling this group

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.220
 of Christians

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.160
 that he's confident

00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:04.240
 that the real deal

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.720
 why?

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.839
 because their knowing

00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.700
 is showing

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:09.079
 and it begs the question

00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:09.539
 doesn't it?

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.920
 is our knowing

00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:12.620
 showing?

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:14.940
 with people who

00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.720
 look in at our lives

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.000
 people from outside the church

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.120
 as they look at our lives

00:23:20.120 --> 00:23:20.900
 would they see

00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:21.600
 do they see

00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.799
 a living faith

00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.700
 in the Lord Jesus?

00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.620
 are we people

00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:26.620
 who are striving to be

00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.420
 not those who just

00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.700
 tick the Christian box

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:30.200
 but actually those

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.240
 whose hearts tick

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.500
 with the sound of the gospel?

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:34.579
 are we those

00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:36.200
 who live lives radically

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:38.460
 that are cross shaped?

00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.860
 are we radical

00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.759
 in our obedience

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.500
 to the Lord

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.380
 even when it doesn't

00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.180
 make sense?

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.220
 even when we add it up

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.799
 it doesn't make sense

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.960
 even when it doesn't

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.579
 look pretty

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:51.420
 even when it costs us

00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:52.920
 are we those

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:53.980
 who are staking it all

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.500
 to follow Jesus?

00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.680
 and notice that word

00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.400
 that he uses there

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.100
 at verse 6

00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:03.200
 abide

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:06.960
 and I ask myself

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.740
 as I read this

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:09.100
 and prepared for this week

00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:10.839
 am I one

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:12.140
 who is making

00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:13.059
 every effort

00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:14.319
 to abide

00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.720
 in Christ?

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:15.839
 Christ

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.839
 now what does that

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.400
 look like?

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.240
 would you want to know

00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:19.880
 something that I found

00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:20.420
 out this week?

00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.819
 I don't know whether

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.880
 I'm coming ridiculously

00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.620
 late to the party

00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:24.200
 here or not

00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.480
 but I found out

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.500
 what HMB stands for

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:29.480
 does anyone know

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.660
 what HMB stands for?

00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.680
 put your hands up

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:33.400
 right so I am coming

00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.259
 late to the party here

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.519
 right

00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.680
 every day is a school day

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.880
 it's great

00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:38.680
 so I never knew

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.779
 what HMB stood for

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.500
 but it stands for

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.420
 his master's voice

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:41.900
 doesn't it?

00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:43.039
 and again

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.019
 googled it

00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.099
 what does it mean?

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.420
 well here's the logo

00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:47.940
 it's the dog

00:24:47.940 --> 00:24:48.579
 and the gramophone

00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:50.279
 and the story goes

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.180
 that the dog's name

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:51.740
 is Nipper

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:53.220
 it's a great name

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.619
 it has to be said

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:55.740
 and the story goes

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.660
 that Nipper's owner

00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.579
 Mark died

00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:59.559
 and his brother

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.180
 Francis

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.740
 from Mark

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.180
 inherited three things

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:05.359
 he inherited the dog

00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:07.259
 he inherited the gramophone

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:09.720
 and he inherited some recordings

00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.819
 of Mark

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.660
 when he used to sing

00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:13.480
 and

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:15.519
 Francis noticed

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.799
 that when he put

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.839
 the recordings

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.480
 on

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.240
 on the gramophone

00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.900
 the dog would drop

00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:21.480
 everything

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:23.319
 and would come and sit

00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.940
 and listen

00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:26.940
 he just loved being there

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:28.400
 and that's where HMB

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:29.079
 comes from

00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:29.839
 I didn't know that

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:31.660
 but it's a great

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.660
 illustration isn't it?

00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.619
 because

00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:35.000
 let's ask ourselves

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.660
 this morning

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:37.220
 are we listening

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.299
 to the master's voice?

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.500
 is there

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.759
 a loving

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.279
 relationship

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.700
 there

00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.279
 of obedience?

00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:45.700
 if

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:47.240
 when there's all

00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.400
 the noises in life

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.440
 when it comes down

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.400
 to the crunch of it

00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:52.059
 where would you want to be?

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.160
 are you somebody

00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:54.380
 who wants to be

00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:55.940
 right at the master's feet?

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.660
 listening to the

00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.519
 master's voice?

00:25:58.519 --> 00:26:00.700
 are you reading

00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.299
 your bible

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.960
 to hear

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.579
 what God

00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.180
 is saying

00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.960
 in his words?

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.480
 are you exposing

00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:06.680
 yourself to his voice

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.579
 at every single

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.680
 given opportunity?

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:09.940
 because in order

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.500
 to obey

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.700
 we need to know

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.420
 what he's saying

00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:12.839
 don't we?

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.480
 you see the people

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.160
 who have left

00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:16.700
 this church

00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.460
 they're like dogs

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.859
 who are running

00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.759
 after novelties

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.619
 even though they

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.279
 claim to be

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.339
 listening to the master

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:23.279
 John knows

00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:23.740
 that they're not

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.700
 because if they were

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.720
 they'd be obeying

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.400
 what he was saying

00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:28.160
 I know

00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.800
 that you are

00:26:28.800 --> 00:26:29.519
 listening to the

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.259
 master's voice

00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:30.920
 because not only

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.860
 are you there

00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.780
 listening to it

00:26:32.780 --> 00:26:33.860
 but you're obeying

00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:34.120
 him

00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:36.400
 are we those

00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.180
 who are abiding

00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:38.340
 in Jesus?

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:38.880
 are we making

00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:39.820
 every effort

00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:41.320
 to abide in him?

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.800
 is our knowing

00:26:42.800 --> 00:26:43.600
 showing?

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:45.040
 and I think especially

00:26:45.040 --> 00:26:46.860
 let's kick it up

00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.140
 a gear

00:26:47.140 --> 00:26:48.220
 especially in the way

00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:48.660
 that we are

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.380
 with one another

00:26:49.380 --> 00:26:51.800
 are we those

00:26:51.800 --> 00:26:52.480
 who demonstrate

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.759
 this radical love

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:55.400
 to each other

00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.380
 that Jesus spoke about?

00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:58.220
 would the world

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.340
 looking in at us

00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:00.160
 would they see us

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.960
 as the real deal

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:02.519
 by the way that we love

00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.700
 and we care for one another

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:05.480
 by the way that we stick

00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.740
 with one another

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.620
 through thick and thin

00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:08.700
 by the way that we

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:10.200
 encourage one another

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.720
 you know I was challenged

00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.220
 this week

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:14.120
 do I play it safe

00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:14.980
 with the way I love?

00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:19.580
 when somebody in this family

00:27:19.580 --> 00:27:20.420
 when they rub you up

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:20.980
 the wrong way

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.820
 what's your reaction?

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.860
 do you run a mile?

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.880
 or do you stick with them?

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.440
 do you love them?

00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:28.220
 do you pray for them?

00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:29.160
 do you care for them?

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.200
 and do you love them again?

00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:32.300
 simply because

00:27:32.300 --> 00:27:33.100
 they are your brother

00:27:33.100 --> 00:27:33.820
 and sister

00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:34.960
 in Christ

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.580
 you know when was the last time

00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.380
 on a Sunday morning

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:38.500
 you spoke to somebody

00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.480
 who was not like you?

00:27:41.280 --> 00:27:42.220
 you spoke to them

00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:43.400
 and the primary motivation

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.400
 for you speaking to them

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.360
 was simply that you wanted

00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:46.040
 to love them

00:27:46.040 --> 00:27:47.120
 and encourage them

00:27:47.120 --> 00:27:48.120
 and to spur them on

00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:50.859
 John knows that this church

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.719
 they walk in the light

00:27:51.719 --> 00:27:52.639
 because they listen

00:27:52.639 --> 00:27:53.619
 and they obey

00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.859
 their loving

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.739
 is showing

00:27:55.739 --> 00:27:57.359
 so there's the first scene

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.639
 second scene

00:27:58.639 --> 00:27:59.619
 and we'll finish with this

00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:01.319
 see the comfort

00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:02.879
 that these verses are to us

00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:04.359
 John is writing

00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:04.979
 to this church

00:28:04.979 --> 00:28:05.599
 and he's saying

00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:07.299
 no matter what's being said

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:07.859
 over here

00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:09.359
 you've got everything

00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:09.939
 in Jesus

00:28:09.939 --> 00:28:11.859
 what the departed

00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:12.399
 are claiming

00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:13.099
 let's be honest

00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:14.199
 it looks quite impressive

00:28:14.199 --> 00:28:14.799
 doesn't it?

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:16.740
 victory over sin

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:19.339
 new insights into God

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.680
 higher spiritual knowledge

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.240
 of God

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:23.480
 victory over sin

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.319
 I mean that sounds

00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.299
 impressive

00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:28.180
 and I bet those who stayed

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:29.639
 they looked at their own lives

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:30.899
 having hearing all this

00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.960
 they looked at their own lives

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.839
 and they felt

00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.859
 seriously deflated

00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:36.319
 I long for that

00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:38.039
 and I wonder if that's true

00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.859
 in your own life

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:40.000
 as well

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:41.839
 do you

00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:43.200
 feel that

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.359
 in your Christian life?

00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.459
 let's take it on a

00:28:45.459 --> 00:28:46.679
 global sense first

00:28:46.679 --> 00:28:49.019
 do you look at the church

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:50.799
 in Edinburgh?

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.059
 do you look at the 2%

00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.119
 of this population

00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:54.539
 that goes to an evangelical church

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.639
 under the scent of the gospel?

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.059
 and then do you look

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.379
 at the size of the city?

00:28:59.479 --> 00:29:00.179
 do you look at the size

00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:00.879
 of the nation

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:02.079
 of Scotland?

00:29:02.219 --> 00:29:02.759
 and you think

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:04.519
 boy we are seriously

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.959
 not impressed

00:29:05.959 --> 00:29:08.740
 do you look then

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.779
 at your own life

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:12.299
 and you still struggle

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.559
 with sin?

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.599
 you are so aware

00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.480
 of it in your life

00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.319
 you know where you want

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.679
 to be in your Christian walk

00:29:17.679 --> 00:29:19.179
 but you can never seem

00:29:19.179 --> 00:29:19.839
 to get there

00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:22.339
 and you think to yourself

00:29:22.339 --> 00:29:23.559
 why can I not

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:23.960
 just

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:25.819
 shrug this one off?

00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.839
 I wonder if you feel like that

00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:29.919
 do you feel deflated

00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:30.639
 in your faith?

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:32.119
 let me ask you a simple question

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:33.619
 are you more aware

00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.940
 or are you less aware

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.740
 of your sin

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:37.139
 since you became a Christian?

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:39.580
 I don't know if you're like me

00:29:39.580 --> 00:29:41.100
 I am massively more aware

00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:41.700
 of my sin

00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:43.200
 of my shortcomings

00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:44.680
 now that I'm a Christian

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.500
 than I was before

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:48.420
 and we can feel deflated

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.700
 but I think the assurance

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.540
 in this passage

00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:52.440
 is if you feel like that

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:54.060
 then that is what it looks like

00:29:54.060 --> 00:29:54.920
 to be in the light

00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:56.660
 because you see

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.960
 this isn't about us

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:59.000
 being perfect

00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.000
 this is about Jesus

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:02.220
 this isn't about me

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:03.180
 this is about him

00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:04.620
 this isn't about my kingdom

00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:06.380
 this is about his kingdom

00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:08.920
 and Christ is all we need

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:11.100
 he is all sufficient

00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:12.400
 he is all powerful

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:14.000
 it is all about him

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.860
 because Jesus

00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:17.840
 he isn't just a good start

00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:18.840
 in your Christian walk

00:30:18.840 --> 00:30:22.560
 actually he's the every breath

00:30:22.560 --> 00:30:24.200
 of your Christian walk

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:27.300
 we have everything in him

00:30:27.300 --> 00:30:27.920
 forgiveness

00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:29.640
 fellowship with God

00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:31.080
 his spirit living in us

00:30:31.080 --> 00:30:32.120
 final victory

00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:34.260
 all in him

00:30:34.260 --> 00:30:35.880
 because we abide in Christ

00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:38.080
 now maybe you're here

00:30:38.080 --> 00:30:38.580
 this morning

00:30:38.580 --> 00:30:39.060
 and actually

00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:40.500
 you're not

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.860
 abiding in Jesus

00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:43.640
 well can I just point out

00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:44.880
 to you from this passage

00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:45.640
 lovingly

00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.800
 that actually

00:30:46.800 --> 00:30:47.940
 outside of him

00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:48.880
 there is no assurance

00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:50.560
 there is no forgiveness

00:30:50.560 --> 00:30:51.940
 there is no final victory

00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:53.960
 and you need to repent

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:56.300
 you need to stop

00:30:56.300 --> 00:30:57.140
 and you need to turn

00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:57.920
 and you need to start

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.860
 walking towards him

00:30:58.860 --> 00:30:59.840
 you need to put your faith

00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.420
 in him

00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:01.860
 and you need to follow

00:31:01.860 --> 00:31:02.620
 Jesus

00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:05.519
 but if you are

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.279
 trusting in him

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.739
 this morning

00:31:06.739 --> 00:31:07.679
 then see the wonderful

00:31:07.679 --> 00:31:09.000
 assurance that we have

00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:09.739
 from these verses

00:31:09.739 --> 00:31:11.919
 and see to it

00:31:11.919 --> 00:31:13.059
 that you never move on

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.899
 from the glorious

00:31:13.899 --> 00:31:15.539
 gospel of Christ

00:31:15.539 --> 00:31:16.899
 Charles Spurgeon

00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:17.839
 one of my heroes

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:19.099
 he said this

00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:20.099
 we hope to understand

00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:21.000
 the truth better

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:22.479
 but we shall never

00:31:22.479 --> 00:31:23.619
 discover better truth

00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:26.579
 let me ask you

00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.439
 honestly as we come

00:31:27.439 --> 00:31:27.939
 to a close

00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:28.579
 does Jesus

00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:29.599
 does the gospel

00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.139
 does it still

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:31.099
 thrill your heart

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:33.259
 does Jesus

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.339
 still move your heart

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.000
 to sing

00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:37.539
 have you grown cold

00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:39.099
 in your affection

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.699
 for him

00:31:39.699 --> 00:31:40.779
 in your understanding

00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.619
 of the gospel

00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:43.119
 are you tempted

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:44.099
 to move on

00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:45.159
 to seemingly

00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:46.500
 greater things

00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:48.639
 have you become

00:31:48.639 --> 00:31:49.159
 distracted

00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:50.599
 by something else

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.519
 and allowed it

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.439
 to push the gospel

00:31:52.439 --> 00:31:53.359
 from the centre

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:54.139
 of your life

00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:55.559
 well can I

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.299
 encourage you

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:56.919
 as we close

00:31:56.919 --> 00:31:59.019
 we never move on

00:31:59.019 --> 00:31:59.659
 from the gospel

00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:02.040
 we never move on

00:32:02.040 --> 00:32:02.560
 from the gospel

00:32:02.560 --> 00:32:03.360
 but we do

00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:04.880
 gaze deeper

00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.800
 into it

00:32:05.800 --> 00:32:07.759
 it is glorious

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:09.060
 not that we are

00:32:09.060 --> 00:32:09.440
 glorious

00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.259
 but that he

00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.840
 is glorious

00:32:11.840 --> 00:32:14.519
 now we're going to

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.380
 stand in just a second

00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:16.580
 and finish

00:32:16.580 --> 00:32:17.800
 by singing

00:32:17.800 --> 00:32:20.120
 all glory be to Christ

00:32:20.120 --> 00:32:20.740
 let me just read

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.380
 some of the lyrics

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:21.759
 to you

00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.320
 and then we'll stand

00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:23.300
 to sing this together

00:32:23.300 --> 00:32:26.100
 all glory be to Christ

00:32:26.100 --> 00:32:26.740
 our king

00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:28.440
 all glory be to Christ

00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:30.420
 his rule and reign

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.640
 will ever sing

00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:34.279
 all glory be to Christ

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.559
 his will be done

00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:37.180
 his kingdom come

00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:37.820
 on earth

00:32:37.820 --> 00:32:38.920
 as is above

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:40.759
 who is himself

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.940
 our daily bread

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:43.039
 praise him

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.080
 the lord

00:32:44.080 --> 00:32:45.120
 of love

00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:45.920
 all glory

00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:47.039
 be to Christ

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:47.620
 our king

00:32:47.620 --> 00:32:49.200
 all glory be to Christ

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:50.539
 his rule

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.360
 and reign

00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.480
 will ever sing

00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.600
 all glory

00:32:53.600 --> 00:32:55.100
 be to Christ

00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:55.460
 amen

00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.660
 amen

00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:57.640
 let's pray together

00:32:57.640 --> 00:33:00.600
 oh father god

00:33:00.600 --> 00:33:01.480
 we are so thankful

00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:03.440
 so thankful

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.160
 for our time

00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:05.100
 together this morning

00:33:05.100 --> 00:33:06.000
 as we've gazed

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.380
 at the glorious gospel

00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.860
 as we've gazed

00:33:08.860 --> 00:33:10.160
 at the glorious Christ

00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:12.060
 and it's our prayer

00:33:12.060 --> 00:33:12.460
 this week

00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:13.480
 that you would help us

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.640
 to be those

00:33:14.640 --> 00:33:15.360
 who live

00:33:15.360 --> 00:33:16.620
 and love

00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:17.519
 as those who

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:18.460
 truly treasure

00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.200
 Jesus Christ

00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:19.920
 in our lives

00:33:19.920 --> 00:33:21.040
 may we seek

00:33:21.040 --> 00:33:22.279
 your kingdom first

00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:24.519
 so help us lord

00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:25.440
 to be ever looking

00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:26.059
 to him

00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:27.460
 and his victory

00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:29.139
 and to find our identity

00:33:29.139 --> 00:33:30.180
 in him this week

00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.639
 we pray

00:33:30.639 --> 00:33:31.660
 amen

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:36.840
 peace

00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:37.259
 rem露

00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:39.140
 and

00:33:39.140 --> 00:33:40.779
 amen

00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.340
 why

00:33:41.340 --> 00:33:45.400
 and

00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:45.500
 so

00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:49.560
 and

00:33:49.560 --> 00:33:50.440
 so

00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:54.019
 you

00:33:54.019 --> 00:34:00.600
 ah