WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.500 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:32.820 The New Testament lesson this morning is a reading from the first letter of John, 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:39.880 chapter 1, verses 5-10, and chapter 2, verses 1 and 2. 00:00:40.480 --> 00:00:44.060 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:49.380 that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 00:00:49.380 --> 00:00:53.740 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, 00:00:54.120 --> 00:00:56.980 we lie and do not practice the truth. 00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:01.280 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, 00:01:01.660 --> 00:01:03.300 we have fellowship with one another, 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:07.760 and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 00:01:09.099 --> 00:01:12.219 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 00:01:12.740 --> 00:01:14.400 and the truth is not in us. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:17.960 If we confess our sins, he is faithful, 00:01:17.959 --> 00:01:20.959 and just to forgive us our sins, 00:01:21.140 --> 00:01:23.280 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:01:24.039 --> 00:01:25.819 If we say we have not sinned, 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:27.119 we make him a liar, 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:29.199 and his word is not in us. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:32.139 My little children, 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:34.159 I am writing these things to you, 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:35.459 so that you may not sin. 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:37.759 But if anyone does sin, 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:39.780 we have an advocate with the Father, 00:01:40.219 --> 00:01:41.560 Jesus Christ the righteous. 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:44.879 He is the propitiation for our sins, 00:01:45.299 --> 00:01:47.400 and not only for ours only, 00:01:47.859 --> 00:01:50.200 but for the sins of the whole world. 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:55.579 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:56.540 --> 00:01:57.780 You can take your seats. 00:01:59.180 --> 00:02:02.879 So, I just want to introduce our guest preacher today. 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:04.240 His name is John Kong. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:07.480 For those of you who aren't familiar with the history of our church, 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:09.300 we started in 2006, 00:02:09.860 --> 00:02:11.300 and part of the heart of this church 00:02:11.300 --> 00:02:14.240 has been to engage the college students 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:16.420 just two blocks down the street 00:02:16.420 --> 00:02:18.180 from where we worship. 00:02:18.840 --> 00:02:20.539 And so, when this church was started, 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:22.120 they came with two founding pastors 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:24.219 and what's called an RUF minister, 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:26.000 a Reformed University Fellowship minister, 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:27.500 basically a campus minister 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:29.620 to help us reach the students at Cal. 00:02:29.780 --> 00:02:32.240 And so, that happened all the way in 2006. 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:35.659 Since then, that original founding RUF minister 00:02:35.659 --> 00:02:37.819 has gone and planted his own church in Oakland, 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:39.159 and they're good friends with us. 00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:43.039 And now we are at our third RUF minister here at Cal, 00:02:43.419 --> 00:02:46.180 and Christ Church is happy to be supporting this ministry, 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:49.359 very excited about what God is doing in this ministry. 00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:51.199 Amy and myself have been able to visit 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.439 and serve this ministry a few times, 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:55.840 and we just always love spending time with the students 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:58.460 and hearing the stories of what God's up to 00:02:58.460 --> 00:03:01.659 at this super formative time in the life of students. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:03.400 So, I'm going to invite John Kong up, 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:05.319 and he's going to deliver the word today. 00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:07.039 And we're so thankful to have you, John. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:07.699 Thanks, Pat. 00:03:13.239 --> 00:03:14.780 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:03:14.979 --> 00:03:17.139 It is such a privilege to be here 00:03:17.139 --> 00:03:19.239 and have an opportunity to worship with you all 00:03:19.239 --> 00:03:21.039 and share God's word with you all this morning. 00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:22.579 As Andrew mentioned, 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:24.579 I'm the campus minister for RUF Berkeley, 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:26.699 so I bring greetings to you from RUF Berkeley. 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:29.359 I really appreciate all the prayers 00:03:29.359 --> 00:03:30.840 and support from this church. 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:32.359 And if you would love to learn more 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:34.480 about what God is doing in Berkeley 00:03:34.480 --> 00:03:35.580 through the ministry of RUF, 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:37.140 I'd love to chat with you afterwards. 00:03:37.220 --> 00:03:39.340 So please come find me after worship and say hi. 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:41.400 But as you just heard, 00:03:41.480 --> 00:03:42.740 Carrie read our passage. 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:44.160 We're looking at this morning. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:46.500 It's 1 John 1, verses 5, 00:03:46.620 --> 00:03:48.220 through chapter 2, verse 2. 00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:49.880 It's a very familiar, 00:03:50.140 --> 00:03:51.780 it's a pretty familiar passage to, 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:52.780 I think, most of us, 00:03:52.780 --> 00:03:55.000 especially maybe in verse 9 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:56.039 that you just heard read. 00:03:56.379 --> 00:03:57.539 It's often quoted 00:03:57.539 --> 00:03:59.520 when we're talking about forgiveness of sins, 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:02.139 assuring us of God's forgiveness. 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:05.960 There's a lot going on in this passage, 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:09.280 but the main thing that John wants to tell us 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:10.280 in this passage 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:11.900 is how as Christians, 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:14.900 you and I are to walk in the light. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:16.980 And I think that is a timely 00:04:16.980 --> 00:04:18.459 and important reminder for us. 00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:20.959 Andrew prayed this during our time of confession, 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:22.719 but we don't have to look too far 00:04:22.719 --> 00:04:25.779 to see how broken and how dark our world is. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:27.599 You turn on the news, 00:04:28.459 --> 00:04:31.079 pull up whatever news app on your phone, 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:32.819 and you will get inundated with news 00:04:32.819 --> 00:04:34.979 about the brokenness of our world, 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:36.620 from natural disasters, 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:38.120 to shootings, 00:04:38.479 --> 00:04:40.979 to wars that are going on across the globe. 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:43.019 In fact, actually, 00:04:43.039 --> 00:04:44.519 you and I don't have to turn on the news. 00:04:45.039 --> 00:04:46.979 We just have to walk around our city of Berkeley. 00:04:47.479 --> 00:04:49.399 I just have to walk around the campus of Berkeley. 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:51.799 And you come pretty quickly face-to-face 00:04:51.799 --> 00:04:53.259 with the homeless problem, 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:55.519 the drug crisis that can ravage our city. 00:04:57.419 --> 00:04:59.379 Those are just some of the things 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:01.639 that make this world dark. 00:05:02.139 --> 00:05:04.500 They don't even include the darkness 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:05.939 that is within our own hearts. 00:05:07.239 --> 00:05:08.500 All of us sitting here this morning 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:09.579 have dark secrets 00:05:09.579 --> 00:05:11.159 that we don't want anyone else knowing. 00:05:11.979 --> 00:05:15.239 All of us struggle to walk in the light. 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:18.900 But John wants to assure you that, 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:21.720 yes, even though you and I are sinners, 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:22.740 because of Jesus, 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:24.600 our sins have been forgiven. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:25.920 And because of Jesus, 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:27.620 we can have fellowship with God 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:29.259 and we can walk in the light. 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:31.680 That is the gospel. 00:05:31.780 --> 00:05:32.660 That is the good news 00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:35.079 that should bring us tremendous comfort and joy. 00:05:35.160 --> 00:05:35.920 And so we're going to look at that 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:37.079 through this passage this morning. 00:05:37.259 --> 00:05:38.240 But before we dive in, 00:05:38.280 --> 00:05:39.939 would you pray with me one more time? 00:05:39.960 --> 00:05:40.300 Let's pray. 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:41.920 Dear Heavenly Father, 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:43.819 you tell us that your word 00:05:43.819 --> 00:05:45.160 is a lamp to our feet 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:46.740 and a light to our path. 00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:49.000 And so give us humble and teachable hearts 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:50.560 as we receive your truth today. 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:51.939 And may your word 00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:53.920 not only encourage and edify us, 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:55.460 but also give us the strength 00:05:55.460 --> 00:05:56.939 to do what you've commanded. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:58.360 It's in Christ's name we pray. 00:05:58.639 --> 00:05:58.840 Amen. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:03.000 I want to imagine you at a grocery store 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:04.699 buying groceries for the week. 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:07.160 And let's say you have a dietary restriction. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:08.819 Maybe you can't eat gluten. 00:06:08.819 --> 00:06:10.139 You're vegan. 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:11.639 Maybe you don't like, 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:12.519 you can't eat dairy. 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:15.319 And so if you're at a grocery store 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:17.120 and you're buying groceries, 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:18.259 you probably are spending 00:06:18.259 --> 00:06:19.040 a good amount of time 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:19.980 looking at ingredients. 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:23.060 Looking to see if the food you are by 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:24.899 is safe for you to eat. 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:28.399 I mean, obviously companies know this. 00:06:28.659 --> 00:06:30.339 And so a lot of the marketing 00:06:30.339 --> 00:06:31.680 that companies will do, 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:32.159 the branding, 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:33.740 the packaging that they will put on their food 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:35.579 is they will put in big bold letters 00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:37.480 a statement about this food. 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:39.060 For example, that this food is gluten-free. 00:06:39.580 --> 00:06:41.000 This food is dairy-free. 00:06:41.140 --> 00:06:42.660 This food is vegan-friendly. 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:44.379 So you will know right from the outset 00:06:44.379 --> 00:06:48.280 that this food is safe for you to buy and eat. 00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:50.120 They put that in big bold letters. 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:52.300 It's a message for their consumer. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:56.160 What John is doing in this passage, 00:06:56.460 --> 00:06:58.259 he's doing something kind of similar, 00:06:58.939 --> 00:07:01.900 which is he is putting in big bold letters 00:07:01.899 --> 00:07:04.479 a message about God, right? 00:07:05.099 --> 00:07:06.599 John is putting in big bold letters 00:07:06.599 --> 00:07:07.519 a statement about God. 00:07:07.539 --> 00:07:09.979 And that statement is that God is light, 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:12.799 that he is darkness-free. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:16.019 That's the main message that John wants to share. 00:07:16.219 --> 00:07:18.060 If you go back with me, look at verse five, 00:07:18.139 --> 00:07:19.359 the first verse of our passage. 00:07:19.739 --> 00:07:20.799 John says this. 00:07:21.899 --> 00:07:24.500 This is the message we have heard from him 00:07:24.500 --> 00:07:25.519 and proclaim to you. 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:26.500 This is the message. 00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:30.079 In the first four verses of this letter, 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:31.240 we didn't read that this morning, 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:33.139 but John is preparing you for this message. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:34.199 It's kind of like an intro. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:36.019 Because in those first four verses, 00:07:36.180 --> 00:07:37.399 John has been saying that he's heard 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:38.759 and he saw and he's touched Jesus. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:40.259 He's had fellowship with them. 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:41.540 He's gotten to know him. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:42.500 He's been with Christ. 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:44.240 And he wants to tell you something 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:47.660 that he has learned from that time he spent with Jesus. 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:49.740 And then in verse five, 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:51.579 the first verse of our passage today, 00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:53.360 he finally comes out and says it. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:53.879 And he says, 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:59.120 God is light and in him is no darkness at all. 00:08:00.659 --> 00:08:01.779 This is the message. 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:05.600 This is the news that John wants to share with us. 00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:09.459 In the first four verses again, 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.800 John has kind of said as an introduction 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:13.699 that you and I can have fellowship with God. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:16.120 And now in verse five, 00:08:16.180 --> 00:08:17.600 he says that God is light, 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:20.899 which means that for us to have fellowship with God, 00:08:20.899 --> 00:08:24.379 you and I have to walk in the light. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:27.799 But therein lies our problem. 00:08:28.539 --> 00:08:29.539 We are not in the light. 00:08:30.179 --> 00:08:31.679 We are unfortunately in darkness. 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:33.259 Light and darkness can't coexist. 00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:35.740 And so what do we do? 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:38.600 How do we react to this message? 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:41.480 For some of you, maybe you hear that 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:41.980 and you think, okay, 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:43.199 I need to work really hard 00:08:43.199 --> 00:08:46.120 to cleanse myself of the darkness inside me. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:47.139 But then you realize, 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:48.299 try as hard as you might, 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:49.299 you can't do it. 00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:50.799 And you despair. 00:08:52.479 --> 00:08:53.419 And others of you, 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:54.339 maybe you hear that 00:08:54.339 --> 00:08:54.740 and you think, 00:08:54.819 --> 00:08:55.879 okay, well then what's the point? 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:58.839 I'm just going to live my life how I want 00:08:58.839 --> 00:09:01.259 because there is no hope for me 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:04.000 to get rid of this darkness inside myself. 00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:05.319 There's no point in trying. 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:08.459 And John wants to dispel 00:09:08.459 --> 00:09:10.439 both those notions in his message today. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.319 He wants to tell us 00:09:12.319 --> 00:09:15.379 that because Christ confronted the darkness for you, 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:18.199 you and I can walk in the light. 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:18.800 Right? 00:09:19.520 --> 00:09:21.620 That because Christ confronted the darkness 00:09:21.620 --> 00:09:23.300 for you and for me, 00:09:23.420 --> 00:09:26.140 you and I can walk in the light. 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:27.060 And we want to look at this 00:09:27.060 --> 00:09:28.259 through three points this morning. 00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:30.180 And the first is God is light. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:32.960 Second is that we need light. 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:35.660 And third is Christ brings light. 00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:36.560 Right? 00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:37.259 God is light. 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:38.759 We need light. 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:40.280 And Christ brings light. 00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:41.420 And so first, God is light. 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:45.360 When you think about the concept of light, 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:48.360 when that word gets used, 00:09:48.459 --> 00:09:50.659 what images go through your mind? 00:09:51.959 --> 00:09:53.139 Maybe for some of you, 00:09:53.199 --> 00:09:55.919 you think of like a warm, sunny day at the beach. 00:09:56.419 --> 00:09:59.679 You're enjoying the sun rays, the sunshine. 00:09:59.959 --> 00:10:02.120 And so light has the idea of warmth 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:04.059 and beauty and life. 00:10:04.059 --> 00:10:06.799 For others of you, 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.839 maybe you like backpacking. 00:10:09.859 --> 00:10:10.619 Like Melissa just said, 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:11.479 she came back from vacation. 00:10:11.619 --> 00:10:12.239 She was in nature. 00:10:13.619 --> 00:10:15.079 And you think of light as like, 00:10:15.179 --> 00:10:17.119 it's nighttime, it's dark, 00:10:17.179 --> 00:10:18.319 and light is like a flashlight, 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:21.359 lighting your way back to where you're staying. 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:23.879 And so light then has the idea of safety, 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.079 of security. 00:10:26.459 --> 00:10:28.219 Or maybe continue on with that camping thing. 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:29.619 Maybe you think of light as like 00:10:29.619 --> 00:10:31.679 roasting marshmallows by a fire, 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.399 making s'mores with your family and friends. 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:37.500 And so light there has the idea of friendship 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:39.779 and love and family. 00:10:41.659 --> 00:10:43.059 Those are all concepts 00:10:43.059 --> 00:10:44.719 that can be associated with light. 00:10:44.839 --> 00:10:46.759 And they all convey something different. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:50.139 But they also all have one common thread 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:51.359 that runs through them. 00:10:51.479 --> 00:10:55.479 And that common thread is that light is good. 00:10:57.099 --> 00:10:58.799 And so that's what John wants to tell us. 00:10:58.839 --> 00:11:01.279 The first thing that John wants to tell us, 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:02.360 he wants to proclaim, 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:04.480 he wants to emphasize to his hearers, 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:07.439 is that God is good. 00:11:10.339 --> 00:11:11.500 If someone comes to you, 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:12.699 maybe you have a friend or a neighbor 00:11:12.699 --> 00:11:13.379 who's not a Christian, 00:11:13.439 --> 00:11:14.899 they say, hey, you believe in God, 00:11:14.939 --> 00:11:16.600 can you tell me what God is like? 00:11:17.459 --> 00:11:18.559 I don't know what adjective 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:20.439 comes to your mind first 00:11:20.439 --> 00:11:21.559 when you're describing God. 00:11:22.539 --> 00:11:23.899 My guess is for most of us, 00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:24.879 if we were to describe God, 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:26.159 we'd describe him as powerful, 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:27.539 as holy, 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:28.620 as righteous, 00:11:28.620 --> 00:11:29.360 as just, 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.080 as wise. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:32.180 And yes, 00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:33.620 God is all those things. 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:34.500 It is important 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:36.240 that he is all those things. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:40.019 But how far down the list of adjectives 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:40.860 would it take 00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:41.919 before you came 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:43.039 to describe God 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:44.000 as good? 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:47.620 It's not that difficult, 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:47.940 I think, 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:48.779 for people who 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:50.539 believe that there is a God 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:51.940 to also accept 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:52.639 that that God 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:53.500 has to be 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:54.039 holy 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:55.500 and powerful 00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:57.099 and wise even. 00:11:58.419 --> 00:11:59.240 But when it comes 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:00.299 to God being good, 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:01.500 that is harder 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.279 for us sometimes 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:02.740 to believe, 00:12:02.839 --> 00:12:03.279 isn't it? 00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:05.980 When you look 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:06.919 around and see 00:12:06.919 --> 00:12:07.759 some of the injustices 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.279 that go on 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:08.959 in this world, 00:12:09.319 --> 00:12:10.779 I'm sure some of you 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:11.539 have asked the question, 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:12.199 where is God? 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:14.000 Does he care? 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:16.379 When you hear 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:17.379 that a friend of yours 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:18.339 or a family member 00:12:18.339 --> 00:12:19.079 has been diagnosed 00:12:19.079 --> 00:12:20.659 with a debilitating illness, 00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:22.339 or worse yet, 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:22.860 when you hear 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:23.539 that that friend 00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.259 or family member 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.519 has passed away 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:26.659 all too early, 00:12:26.839 --> 00:12:28.419 do you question 00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:29.100 the goodness 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:30.120 of God? 00:12:32.299 --> 00:12:33.419 Scripture reminds us 00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.199 in a lot of places 00:12:34.199 --> 00:12:35.579 that God is good. 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:37.339 1 Chronicles 16, 00:12:37.439 --> 00:12:38.379 give thanks to the Lord 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.879 for he is good, 00:12:40.079 --> 00:12:41.360 his mercy endures forever. 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:43.339 Psalm 34, 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:44.480 taste and see 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:46.179 that the Lord is good. 00:12:47.939 --> 00:12:49.500 In James chapter 1, 00:12:49.819 --> 00:12:50.379 James says, 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:51.919 every good gift 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:53.559 comes from above, 00:12:53.719 --> 00:12:54.399 coming down 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.219 from the Father 00:12:55.219 --> 00:12:56.559 of lights. 00:12:57.579 --> 00:12:58.079 Right there, 00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:58.379 again, 00:12:58.459 --> 00:12:59.319 God is associated 00:12:59.319 --> 00:13:00.299 with being light 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:01.519 and with good. 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:03.719 And so similarly, 00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:05.019 John wants to remind 00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.639 his hearers, 00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:06.899 he wants to remind you 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:08.100 that God is good. 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:10.279 He wants to reassure you 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:10.959 that even though 00:13:10.959 --> 00:13:11.699 this world 00:13:11.699 --> 00:13:13.259 is often dark, 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:15.019 that your Heavenly Father 00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:15.559 is not. 00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:17.539 He is light, 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:19.100 he is good, 00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:20.399 right? 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:20.980 That's the message 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:22.200 John saw with Jesus. 00:13:22.540 --> 00:13:23.680 That's what Christ reveals 00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:24.840 when he comes to this earth 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.659 and that's what John 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:26.480 wants to proclaim 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:27.840 for you and I 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:28.800 to hear. 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.320 So the first thing 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:32.620 for it, 00:13:33.040 --> 00:13:34.300 the first thing it means 00:13:34.300 --> 00:13:35.200 for God to be light 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.000 is that God is good. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.159 But this light imagery 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:39.560 also has another aspect 00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:39.879 to it, 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:40.360 doesn't it? 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:43.100 Maybe instead of imagining 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:44.500 a campfire 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:46.019 roasting marshmallows, 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:47.139 you imagine light 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:48.720 as like wildfires 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.159 burning through acres 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:51.079 and acres of land 00:13:51.079 --> 00:13:52.159 and so light there 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.159 has the idea 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:53.939 of being maybe even 00:13:53.939 --> 00:13:55.039 dangerous and destructive. 00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.860 Maybe instead of 00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:58.579 like a flashlight 00:13:58.579 --> 00:13:59.439 lighting your way 00:13:59.439 --> 00:14:01.100 back to the campground, 00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:03.539 you imagine light 00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:04.500 or you think of light 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.720 as like a police light 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:07.500 shining behind you 00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.419 when they've pulled you 00:14:08.419 --> 00:14:09.039 over on the side 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:09.460 of the road 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:11.059 and so light there 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:12.340 has the idea 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:13.399 of embarrassment 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.559 and shame. 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:17.179 Perhaps instead of 00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:18.179 like a sunny day 00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:18.939 at the beach, 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:20.980 you picture light 00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:21.620 as like one of those 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.279 heat waves 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:23.120 that we've been having 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.159 and so instead of 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:25.459 warm sunshine, 00:14:26.079 --> 00:14:27.039 you imagine light 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:27.779 with the feeling 00:14:27.779 --> 00:14:28.980 of uncomfortableness, 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.899 maybe even of pain. 00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:34.179 When John says 00:14:34.179 --> 00:14:34.879 that God is light, 00:14:34.959 --> 00:14:35.879 he adds a phrase 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:36.720 that in him 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.519 is no darkness at all. 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:40.360 Light gets rid 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:40.799 of darkness, 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.620 the two are opposite 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.240 of one another, 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:44.259 God is a good God. 00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:45.060 His goodness 00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:45.740 is better than 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.799 anything you or I 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:48.120 can ever dream of. 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.060 But that also means 00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:50.659 that darkness 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:52.460 cannot have fellowship 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:53.919 with the light. 00:14:56.100 --> 00:14:57.120 Now that's good 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:57.779 in one sense. 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.279 We want a God 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:00.259 who can get rid 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.680 of darkness. 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:02.379 We want a God 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.039 who is righteous 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:03.940 and just 00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:05.220 and makes things fair. 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:07.220 Right? 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:07.820 If you're driving 00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:08.600 down on the highway 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.279 and you see someone 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:10.419 driving past you 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:11.740 way too fast, 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.460 weaving in and out 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:12.919 of traffic, 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:14.360 you want the police 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:15.460 officer to pull 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.320 that person over 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:17.240 so that the streets 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.320 are safe to drive again. 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:20.840 If you are in school 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:21.639 and you get an email 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.379 from your professor 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.139 saying there's been 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:23.860 a lot of you 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.799 in this class 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.759 who have been caught 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.120 cheating, 00:15:26.560 --> 00:15:27.360 you don't want 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:27.840 your professor 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:28.980 to let them off the hook. 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:29.600 You want him 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.240 to be fair. 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.299 We want a God 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:34.019 who won't put up 00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.360 with sin. 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:35.180 We want a God 00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:36.440 who won't be affected 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:37.200 by the darkness 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:38.240 and instead 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.460 will remove it. 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:43.100 We want all those things 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:45.200 until we are the ones 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.100 speeding down 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:46.740 the interstate, 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.720 until we are the ones 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.860 who are caught cheating. 00:15:51.140 --> 00:15:52.460 We want the light 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:53.600 until we realize 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:54.460 that we ourselves 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:55.240 are not in the light. 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:55.879 We're actually 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.860 in darkness 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:57.940 and that's the problem 00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:58.580 we have. 00:15:58.580 --> 00:16:02.460 I don't know 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:02.920 if you noticed 00:16:02.920 --> 00:16:03.960 in our passage today 00:16:03.960 --> 00:16:05.900 but starting in verse 6 00:16:05.900 --> 00:16:06.660 there is a lot 00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:07.740 of if statements. 00:16:08.780 --> 00:16:09.660 John has proclaimed 00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:10.259 this message, 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:10.879 God is light 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.160 and then he works out 00:16:12.160 --> 00:16:13.000 the implications 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:13.920 of that for us 00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:14.840 in these conditional 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.920 if statements 00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:17.000 and in verse 6 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.340 he says, 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.000 if we say 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.620 we have fellowship 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:19.120 with him 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.020 while we walk 00:16:20.020 --> 00:16:20.540 in darkness 00:16:20.540 --> 00:16:21.580 we lie 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.759 and do not practice 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:23.280 the truth. 00:16:24.280 --> 00:16:25.200 So John first says 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:25.780 you and I 00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:26.900 can't live in both worlds. 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:28.819 You can't live in darkness 00:16:28.819 --> 00:16:29.439 and have fellowship 00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:30.059 with the light. 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:31.919 John doesn't beat 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:32.360 around the bush. 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:33.459 He says if you say that 00:16:33.459 --> 00:16:35.139 he calls you a liar. 00:16:37.319 --> 00:16:37.740 Now some of you 00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.199 might think, 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:38.919 okay well then 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:40.100 perhaps I'm not 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:40.899 actually walking 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.579 in darkness. 00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:43.000 I'm not perfect 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.299 but I'm not walking 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:44.899 in darkness. 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:45.740 There's plenty of people 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:46.240 out there who are 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.079 doing worse things 00:16:47.079 --> 00:16:47.480 than me. 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:48.799 They're really walking 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:49.399 in darkness. 00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:50.579 I'm not. 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:53.539 But John is dismissing 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:54.059 that notion. 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.360 In God 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:57.800 there is no darkness 00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:58.560 at all. 00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.960 Not even a smidge. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.200 Unless you are living 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:03.220 a perfect life. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.720 Unless there is no 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:06.319 iota of sin in you 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.000 then you are not 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:07.860 walking in the light. 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.220 You do not have 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:09.980 fellowship with God 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:11.000 and if you say you do 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.099 then you lie. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:14.920 Well then some of you 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.539 might say fine. 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.620 It's impossible. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.799 I'm going to be honest. 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:19.079 Say I can't live perfectly. 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:19.980 I'm just going to live 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.579 how I want to live. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.759 And John anticipates 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.240 that too. 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:25.200 Look at verse 7 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:25.660 with me. 00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:27.219 Verse 7 00:17:27.219 --> 00:17:27.759 John says 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.059 but if we walk 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:29.799 in the light 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:31.240 as he is in the light. 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.599 Do you notice 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:35.399 John doesn't make a case? 00:17:35.479 --> 00:17:36.539 He doesn't even try 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.579 to make a case 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.759 about whether or not 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.679 you can walk 00:17:39.679 --> 00:17:40.179 in the light. 00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:42.039 He just assumes 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:42.779 that it's possible. 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.539 John knows 00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.519 that our default reaction 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.339 as people who sin 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.459 as people who are not perfect 00:17:48.459 --> 00:17:49.799 is to hide from the light. 00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.139 John knows this 00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:52.379 because he heard it 00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:52.859 from Jesus. 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:56.119 In the gospel of John 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:57.379 John chapter 3 00:17:57.379 --> 00:17:58.679 verses 19 through 21 00:17:58.679 --> 00:17:59.579 this is right after 00:17:59.579 --> 00:17:59.979 the famous 00:17:59.979 --> 00:18:01.240 John 3 16 passage. 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:01.719 Right? 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:02.659 God so loved the world 00:18:02.659 --> 00:18:03.500 he gave his only son. 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:05.159 Right after that passage 00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:06.459 this is what Jesus says. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.339 Listen to what 00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:08.359 he says. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:09.839 The light has come 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.500 into the world 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:11.579 and people love 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.399 the darkness 00:18:12.399 --> 00:18:13.819 rather than the light 00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:14.799 because their works 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.259 were evil. 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:16.479 For everyone 00:18:16.479 --> 00:18:17.479 who does wicked things 00:18:17.479 --> 00:18:18.099 hates the light 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:18.679 and does not come 00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:19.139 to the light 00:18:19.139 --> 00:18:20.119 lest his works 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:20.859 should be exposed. 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:22.979 but whoever does 00:18:22.979 --> 00:18:23.639 what is true 00:18:23.639 --> 00:18:24.879 comes to the light 00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:26.119 so that it may be 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:26.939 clearly seen 00:18:26.939 --> 00:18:27.899 that his works 00:18:27.899 --> 00:18:29.019 have been carried out 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:29.799 in God. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.639 We hide from the light 00:18:32.639 --> 00:18:33.199 because we fear 00:18:33.199 --> 00:18:34.179 the light will expose 00:18:34.179 --> 00:18:34.740 our darkness. 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:37.500 We fear being fully known. 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.879 We fear all of our deepest 00:18:39.879 --> 00:18:41.019 and darkest secrets 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:42.379 being shined 00:18:42.379 --> 00:18:43.299 under a spotlight 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:45.019 because we fear 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.699 being rejected. 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:47.459 We fear being canceled. 00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:50.199 We fear the guilt 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.340 and the shame 00:18:51.340 --> 00:18:52.120 that it would bring 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:52.720 on us. 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.759 And yet we are also 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.539 somehow drawn 00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.220 to the light. 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:59.480 We want to be able 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:01.160 to walk in the light 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.340 to not walk in darkness. 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.519 And John says 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.559 that we can. 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.420 And that leads me 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.080 to my second point. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:08.920 We need light. 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.080 More specifically 00:19:10.080 --> 00:19:11.140 we need to walk 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:11.940 in the light. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:13.000 Right? 00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.240 If God is light 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.759 and we want fellowship 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.299 with the light 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:17.140 then we have to walk 00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:17.700 in it. 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:19.039 And the question 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.600 is how. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.100 And John highlights 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:22.259 here at least three things 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:23.380 that we should see 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:24.140 happen 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:25.160 when we walk 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:25.680 in the light. 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.220 And the first 00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:27.940 is confession. 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.420 Walking in the light 00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:31.279 means living 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:31.799 a life 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.580 of confession. 00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.340 We see that starting 00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:35.080 in verse 8 00:19:35.080 --> 00:19:35.880 and 9. 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.500 In verse 8 00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.180 it starts another 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.100 conditional statement 00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:39.180 similar to verse 6. 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.039 He says, 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.819 If we say 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:41.600 we have no sin 00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:42.600 we deceive ourselves. 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:44.779 If verse 6 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.620 wasn't clear enough, 00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:46.519 if John had not 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.459 convinced you yet 00:19:47.459 --> 00:19:47.859 that you were 00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:48.639 walking in darkness 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:49.519 he makes it 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.459 crystal clear here. 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:53.399 You have sinned. 00:19:54.919 --> 00:19:56.079 Now for those of you 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.339 sitting here this morning 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:58.059 who are Christians 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.939 you know this. 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:00.000 You believe this. 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.899 You confess this. 00:20:01.699 --> 00:20:02.659 But I want to talk 00:20:02.659 --> 00:20:03.139 to perhaps 00:20:03.139 --> 00:20:04.139 any non-Christians 00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:04.579 in the room 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.319 here this morning 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:05.899 for a second. 00:20:06.179 --> 00:20:06.759 If you're not 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.599 a Christian here today 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.319 maybe you're here 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:08.939 because you're curious 00:20:08.939 --> 00:20:09.719 about the claims 00:20:09.719 --> 00:20:10.299 of Christianity. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:11.679 Maybe a friend 00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:12.500 has invited you 00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.619 and you've come 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.000 this morning 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.619 to check it out 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:15.239 and you've been 00:20:15.239 --> 00:20:15.859 listening to me 00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.719 harp on sin 00:20:16.719 --> 00:20:17.819 for the last 10 minutes 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.579 and you're regretting 00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.019 your decision 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:19.939 to spend Sunday morning 00:20:19.939 --> 00:20:20.259 here. 00:20:20.939 --> 00:20:21.839 Let me first say 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.979 we are so glad 00:20:22.979 --> 00:20:23.299 you're here. 00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:24.019 I'm so glad 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.379 you're here. 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.759 It really does mean 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.579 a lot to us 00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.079 that you're willing 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:28.359 to spend part 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.019 of your Sunday morning 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.539 here with us. 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.000 We don't take it 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.379 for granted. 00:20:31.419 --> 00:20:32.719 But I also want 00:20:32.719 --> 00:20:34.259 to speak with you 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.539 honestly for a second. 00:20:36.219 --> 00:20:36.879 To tell you 00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:37.619 what our world 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.879 and what our culture 00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:39.879 will not tell you. 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:41.719 Because if you 00:20:41.719 --> 00:20:42.559 maintain the belief 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.619 that you have no sin 00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:45.259 then you are self-deceived. 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.759 You are in darkness. 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.099 Our world is all 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:49.859 about being authentic. 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:50.239 Right? 00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:51.819 Being true to ourself. 00:20:51.959 --> 00:20:52.659 True to our heart. 00:20:53.199 --> 00:20:54.500 Being true to who you are. 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:56.879 Well unfortunately 00:20:56.879 --> 00:20:57.899 if you claim 00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:58.919 you have no sin 00:20:58.919 --> 00:20:59.939 that is the most 00:20:59.939 --> 00:21:01.179 unauthentic act 00:21:01.179 --> 00:21:02.019 you could commit 00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.799 against yourself. 00:21:04.679 --> 00:21:05.279 This is why 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:06.299 John says in verse 9 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.199 if we confess 00:21:07.199 --> 00:21:07.939 our sins. 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.199 Again, 00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.699 John is not 00:21:09.699 --> 00:21:10.339 questioning whether 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:11.219 or not you have sinned. 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:11.920 He's just questioning 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.480 whether or not 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.980 you have confessed it. 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:17.079 Verse 9 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.500 is probably 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:17.980 one of the most 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.819 comforting verses 00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.960 not just in the book 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.640 of 1 John 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.019 but in the whole Bible. 00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:24.559 John wants to assure you 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.500 that when you confess 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.559 your sins to God 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.779 he forgives you. 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.000 He cleanses you 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:31.240 from all unrighteousness. 00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:32.819 Right? 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.420 This builds off 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.140 of what John says 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:34.740 in verse 7 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.759 that the blood of Jesus 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.740 cleanses you 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.680 from sin. 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:41.299 I think confession 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.480 is a scary concept 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.320 for us 00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:44.100 because we often 00:21:44.100 --> 00:21:44.620 are not sure 00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:45.580 what happens to us 00:21:45.580 --> 00:21:46.560 after we confess 00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:47.180 our sins. 00:21:49.060 --> 00:21:49.799 And if any of you 00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:51.080 have been pulled over 00:21:51.080 --> 00:21:52.140 by a police officer 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:52.580 before 00:21:52.580 --> 00:21:53.519 and you're sitting there 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.420 on the side of the road 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.700 and the police lights 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.460 are shining 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.580 in your rear view mirror 00:21:57.580 --> 00:21:59.320 the cop comes up 00:21:59.320 --> 00:22:00.259 you pull down 00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:00.680 your window 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:02.140 and the cop asks 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:02.920 do you know why 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.940 I've pulled you over? 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.940 Maybe some of you 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.539 are like me. 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:08.500 Maybe some of you 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.000 are like me 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.920 and when that happens 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.319 you say 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.779 I'm so sorry officer 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.559 I know why 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.279 you pulled me over 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.039 I was speeding 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:15.240 I was going too fast 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:16.359 I promise I will 00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.980 never ever do that again. 00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:20.359 What am I doing? 00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:21.960 I'm confessing. 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.200 I'm confessing 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.940 my transgression 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.859 and the question is 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:25.099 why? 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.159 Why am I doing that? 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:26.839 And it's because 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.480 I'm hoping 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:29.700 that the police officer 00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.920 will let me off 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.839 with a warning. 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:34.319 And sometimes 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.319 it does work 00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:35.960 you get lucky 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.680 you get let off 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.220 with a warning 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:39.059 but sometimes 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:40.160 a few weeks later 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.700 in the mail 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.539 you get 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.480 a big 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.319 fat 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.180 fine. 00:22:46.860 --> 00:22:47.860 Well John here 00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:48.400 is saying that 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.380 when you confess 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:49.840 your sin 00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:50.819 you do not have 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.440 to worry 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.380 about whether 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:52.799 or not 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.559 you'll be forgiven. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.079 Jesus has paid 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.860 the penalty for you 00:22:56.860 --> 00:22:57.279 his blood 00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.759 has already 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:59.039 cleansed your sin. 00:22:59.120 --> 00:22:59.460 It's like 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.440 if you got pulled over 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.259 for a speeding ticket 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.500 and the cop 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.279 did not let you off 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:03.759 with a warning 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.379 but actually 00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:05.039 gave you 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.859 a ticket 00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:07.759 but instead 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.720 a few weeks later 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:10.180 instead of getting 00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:10.779 a large fine 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.119 in the mail 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.819 you get a letter 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.539 saying that 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.220 that fine 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:14.420 has been paid 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:15.259 in full. 00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.379 Friends, 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.519 God did not 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.779 shed his son's blood 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.779 to withhold 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:22.119 that from you. 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.920 Come to Jesus 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:26.460 confess your sins 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.160 and be assured 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:27.799 that his blood 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.240 washes over your sin 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.720 again 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.640 and again 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.559 and again 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.400 and again. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.620 So walking 00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.200 in the light 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.779 for us 00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.960 first means 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.599 living a life 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:40.359 of confession 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:40.880 but the second 00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:41.660 thing we should see 00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:42.279 we see 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.980 is having fellowship 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.160 with one another. 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:46.799 This goes back 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.339 to verse 7 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:47.779 John says 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.319 if we walk 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.720 in the light 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.539 we have fellowship 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.859 with one another. 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.900 When God calls us 00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:53.480 out of darkness 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.900 and into light 00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.620 he doesn't just 00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:56.279 call you out 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:56.819 individually 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:58.539 he calls you 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.379 into the light 00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:01.200 with one another. 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:03.899 Because if you 00:24:03.899 --> 00:24:04.599 can imagine 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.439 if you are walking 00:24:05.439 --> 00:24:05.819 in the light 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.579 by yourself 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:08.480 surrounded by darkness 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:10.299 that can be lonely 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:12.619 that can be a scary place. 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.519 But John here 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:14.720 is saying 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.519 that you are not alone 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.399 that walking 00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:16.819 in the light 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.579 means having people 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.279 around you 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.279 walking with you 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.279 being there with you 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:21.179 helping you 00:24:21.179 --> 00:24:22.159 when you falter. 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.759 And that 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.980 should make sense 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:27.380 especially if our life 00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.140 is already 00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:28.680 characterized 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.680 by one 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.539 of confession. 00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.579 Because when you 00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.259 and I do life 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:33.620 together 00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:34.299 we unfortunately 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.400 sin against one another 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:36.680 because we're sinners. 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.579 But when we 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.339 confess our sins 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:39.759 to God 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.539 we should also 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.680 confess our sins 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.660 to one another. 00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:45.039 God has given us 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.400 each other 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.400 to bear one another's 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:46.700 burdens 00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:48.920 to assure one another 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:50.259 of God's promise 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.980 of forgiveness 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.039 he has for us. 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:54.579 Don't bear the weight 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.659 of your sin 00:24:55.659 --> 00:24:56.399 by yourself 00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:57.579 but live a life 00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:58.480 of confessing 00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.359 and forgiving 00:24:59.359 --> 00:24:59.960 one another 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.439 as God forgave you. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.019 The third thing 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.839 that walking 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.279 in the light 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:06.679 means 00:25:06.679 --> 00:25:08.319 is living a life 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.859 that dies 00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:10.519 to sin 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.319 and lives 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:11.879 to righteousness. 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.859 And I get this 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:14.159 from chapter 2 00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:14.740 verse 1 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.199 John says 00:25:15.199 --> 00:25:15.899 I am writing 00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:16.839 these things to you 00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.779 so that you 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:20.079 may not sin. 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:23.439 John lays out 00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:23.879 the purpose 00:25:23.879 --> 00:25:24.619 of this section 00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:25.439 he has been saying 00:25:25.439 --> 00:25:26.759 all these things 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.720 so that we 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.720 might live a life 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.740 walking in the light 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.839 which means 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:32.259 leaving the darkness. 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.439 John 00:25:34.439 --> 00:25:35.019 and more importantly 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.339 God 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:36.439 wants us to walk 00:25:36.439 --> 00:25:37.319 in righteousness 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.859 because sin is destructive 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:40.740 it dishonors God 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:42.399 and it hurts us. 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.419 Now you might be thinking 00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:47.639 alright 00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:48.419 I know that 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:49.920 one God is light 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.480 and because he is light 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.500 two I need to walk 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.000 in the light 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.620 by confessing my sins 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.600 by having fellowship 00:25:55.600 --> 00:25:56.120 with one another 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:57.120 by living righteously 00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:59.539 but man 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.019 that is 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:01.200 that is so hard 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.940 that is so difficult 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:05.300 where am I going to find 00:26:05.300 --> 00:26:06.000 the strength 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.440 where am I going to find 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.060 the motivation 00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:08.820 where am I going to find 00:26:08.820 --> 00:26:09.480 the endurance 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:11.039 to live like this 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.460 that leads me to my last point 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:12.980 Christ 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.920 brings 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.660 light. 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:17.140 John anticipates 00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:17.680 that question 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.640 of where you are going 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.600 to find that motivation 00:26:19.600 --> 00:26:20.860 to walk in the light 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:22.200 and he answers that 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.299 also in verse 1 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.000 of chapter 2 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:25.160 after he said 00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:26.259 he wants them not to sin 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.620 he says 00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:28.340 but if anyone does sin 00:26:28.340 --> 00:26:29.900 we have an advocate 00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:30.680 with the Father 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.900 Jesus Christ 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.759 the righteous 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:35.000 and so one way 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.880 Christ brings us 00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:36.539 into the light 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.880 is by being 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:39.000 our advocate 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:41.880 when we think 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:42.820 of the word advocate 00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:43.720 we think of someone 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.720 who is on our side 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:46.799 someone who supports us 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.480 who expresses our thoughts 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.259 and our feelings 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.000 and our dreams 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.779 to others 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:54.259 advocate has all those connotations 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.579 but here the word advocate 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:57.319 also has a legal connotation 00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:58.720 kind of like a lawyer 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:00.440 John is saying 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.039 in one sense 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:01.559 Christ 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:03.659 is like our legal representation 00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:07.359 I don't know how many of you 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:08.579 might have followed this news 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.960 but around two years ago 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.740 around this time 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.919 one of the biggest news items 00:27:11.919 --> 00:27:12.440 was when 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.339 the actor 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.079 Johnny Depp 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:14.759 and the actress 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.460 Amber Heard 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:17.000 were in like a defamation trial 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:18.179 lawsuit against one another 00:27:18.179 --> 00:27:19.519 I don't know if you guys 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:19.960 remember this 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.439 or how many of you 00:27:20.439 --> 00:27:21.039 followed this 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.960 it was all over social media 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.539 at the time 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:25.740 but if you did not follow 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.659 that trial 00:27:26.659 --> 00:27:28.339 one of the things 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:28.859 that came out 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:29.240 was that 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:31.039 one of Johnny Depp's lawyers 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:31.919 her name was 00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:32.679 Camille Vasquez 00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:34.579 she became super famous 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:36.119 and she became super famous 00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:37.480 because of the way 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.339 she advocated 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.119 for Johnny Depp 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.879 she was calm 00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:41.599 cool and collected 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:43.240 she asked tough questions 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:44.039 on the other side 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.659 she made sure 00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.500 that Johnny's name 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.099 and reputation 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:46.779 were not dragged 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.319 through the mud 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:50.419 now just as a disclaimer 00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:51.599 I'm not trying to make a stance 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.159 one way or another 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:53.219 on what ended up 00:27:53.219 --> 00:27:53.799 in that trial 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.619 both celebrities 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.519 have a lot of issues 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.240 both of them 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.459 seem to be walking 00:27:57.459 --> 00:27:57.980 in darkness 00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:59.240 given a lot of the testimony 00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:01.539 I don't 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:03.259 I didn't know 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.059 all the details 00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:05.359 of the cases myself 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:05.779 but 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:07.019 the point 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.779 of bringing up 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.319 this illustration 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:08.859 is because 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:09.959 public consensus 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:11.360 was that Camille 00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.400 did a much better job 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.539 defending Johnny Depp 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:15.420 than the other side 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:17.480 and at the end 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.259 of the trial 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.620 Camille did such a good job 00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:21.220 she did such a good job 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:21.880 that she actually 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:22.360 got promoted 00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:22.980 to being partner 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.519 of her firm 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:24.680 but she did such a good job 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.319 because instead of 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.079 making Johnny Depp 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:26.480 pay like 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:28.019 I think 20 million dollars 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.319 in damages 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:29.960 the judge ruled 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.460 that Johnny 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.799 only had to pay 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.940 like 1 million dollars 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:34.500 she reduced that fine 00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.059 by like almost 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:37.180 19 million dollars 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:40.060 but that means 00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:40.779 that Johnny Depp 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.860 still had to pay 00:28:41.860 --> 00:28:43.759 a 1 million dollar fine 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:46.019 so can you imagine 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:47.680 if after the ruling 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.920 Camille then went up 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.539 to the judge 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:49.900 and said 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.440 your honor 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.840 instead of Johnny Depp 00:28:51.840 --> 00:28:52.860 having to pay the fine 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:54.299 I will pay the fine 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.940 for him 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:56.720 right 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.420 no lawyer 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.460 in their right mind 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.060 would ever do that 00:28:59.060 --> 00:29:00.259 not even the best lawyers 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:01.060 in the world 00:29:01.060 --> 00:29:02.340 would ever do that 00:29:02.340 --> 00:29:04.519 but that's what 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.620 Jesus did for us 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:08.379 Jesus is not only 00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.539 the best lawyer 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.919 the best advocate 00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:12.099 we could ever ask for 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:13.959 but he also went above 00:29:13.959 --> 00:29:15.039 and beyond 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:16.819 and paid our penalty 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.539 for us 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:20.399 and that's what is meant 00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:21.019 by that word 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:22.259 propitiation there 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:23.439 in verse 2 00:29:23.439 --> 00:29:24.199 of chapter 2 00:29:24.199 --> 00:29:25.059 right 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.919 Jesus brings us 00:29:25.919 --> 00:29:27.119 into the light 00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:28.439 first by being our advocate 00:29:28.439 --> 00:29:29.159 but secondly 00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:30.759 by being the propitiation 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.179 for our sins 00:29:32.179 --> 00:29:33.199 and propitiation 00:29:33.199 --> 00:29:33.879 that's a big 00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:35.079 nice vocab word 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:36.279 what it means 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:38.460 is to appease anger 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:39.619 and in this case 00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.819 it means to appease 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:42.059 God's anger 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:46.419 imagine if you 00:29:46.419 --> 00:29:47.259 parked your car 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.559 here around Berkeley 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.799 and you left 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.480 your wallet 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.240 in your car 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.919 and you walk 00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:53.919 back to your car 00:29:53.919 --> 00:29:54.619 and there's been 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.659 a smash and grab 00:29:55.659 --> 00:29:56.659 and your wallet 00:29:56.659 --> 00:29:57.460 is stolen 00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:59.779 the first thing 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.299 you might feel 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.279 is you might be distraught 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.559 right 00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.839 how could this thing 00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.619 happen to me 00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.959 but pretty closely 00:30:04.959 --> 00:30:06.219 the next emotion 00:30:06.219 --> 00:30:07.059 you might feel 00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:08.139 is anger 00:30:08.139 --> 00:30:08.559 right 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:11.719 you'd be angry 00:30:11.719 --> 00:30:12.539 that someone 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.139 would do this 00:30:13.139 --> 00:30:13.599 to you 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:15.079 and even if 00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:15.639 the perpetrator 00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:16.259 was caught 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:18.399 even if the perpetrator 00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:19.759 fixed your car 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.899 replaced all 00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:21.819 of the contents 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.839 in your wallet 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:24.599 you 00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:26.219 could still be angry 00:30:26.219 --> 00:30:26.539 right 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:29.099 what would it take 00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:30.299 for your anger 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:31.619 to go away 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:33.879 would the perpetrator 00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:35.240 need to spend 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.240 some time in jail 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.719 for what they did 00:30:37.719 --> 00:30:39.559 would the perpetrator 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.599 maybe need to pay 00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:41.699 for the counseling 00:30:41.699 --> 00:30:42.439 you now need 00:30:42.439 --> 00:30:43.119 because now you're 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:43.799 traumatized 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.339 and are afraid 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:45.199 to drive in Berkeley 00:30:45.199 --> 00:30:47.819 whatever the case 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.279 may be 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.459 something would need 00:30:49.459 --> 00:30:50.099 to be done 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:51.959 in order for your 00:30:51.959 --> 00:30:52.399 anger 00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:53.740 to be removed 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:56.119 well that's what 00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:57.399 Jesus does for us 00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:59.200 when we sin against God 00:30:59.200 --> 00:30:59.880 when we walk 00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:00.620 in the darkness 00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.400 we not only have 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:02.640 the guilt of that sin 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:04.060 but we also bring about 00:31:04.060 --> 00:31:05.519 God's righteous anger 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.640 because of it 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:08.840 and so when Christ 00:31:08.840 --> 00:31:09.640 died on the cross 00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:10.320 for your sins 00:31:10.320 --> 00:31:11.460 his blood not only 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.600 washed away the guilt 00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:15.040 but he also removed 00:31:15.040 --> 00:31:16.240 God's wrath 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.180 for you 00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:20.080 it's no coincidence 00:31:20.080 --> 00:31:20.660 that when Jesus 00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:21.519 died on the cross 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.860 the whole land 00:31:22.860 --> 00:31:23.980 was covered in darkness 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.700 Jesus Christ 00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.620 the light of the world 00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:27.839 he brought his light 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:29.019 into the world 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.819 and he faced 00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.459 the ultimate 00:31:30.459 --> 00:31:32.000 darkness of death 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.379 for you and me 00:31:33.379 --> 00:31:34.199 the darkness 00:31:34.199 --> 00:31:34.859 that you and I 00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:35.559 should have faced 00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:37.039 so that you might 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:38.239 be brought into the light 00:31:38.239 --> 00:31:39.579 so that you 00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:40.699 could walk 00:31:40.699 --> 00:31:41.699 in the light 00:31:41.699 --> 00:31:44.939 right that's 00:31:44.939 --> 00:31:45.639 the gospel 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:46.659 that is good news 00:31:46.659 --> 00:31:47.739 you and I can be free 00:31:47.739 --> 00:31:48.799 to confess our sins 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.399 to one another 00:31:49.399 --> 00:31:50.159 because we know 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.419 Jesus has paid the penalty 00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:52.679 and removed God's wrath 00:31:52.679 --> 00:31:53.199 for us 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:54.720 you and I 00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.500 can strive to live 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:56.299 a life that dies 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:56.620 to sin 00:31:56.620 --> 00:31:57.620 and lives to righteousness 00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:59.640 because Jesus Christ 00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:00.779 the righteous one 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:02.180 has already closed us 00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:03.100 with his righteousness 00:32:03.100 --> 00:32:05.000 you and I 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.640 can have confidence 00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.740 knowing that we are 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.500 already walking 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:08.100 in the light 00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:09.620 because he has brought 00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.360 his light 00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:11.360 in exchange 00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:12.580 for our darkness 00:32:12.580 --> 00:32:15.640 do you remember 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.340 in the very beginning 00:32:16.340 --> 00:32:17.759 I said 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.900 that God is good 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:19.259 right 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:21.140 well one reason 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:21.940 that he is good 00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:23.519 is because God 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.720 sought out a solution 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.879 for you 00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:26.640 to get you 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:27.440 out of walking 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:27.980 in darkness 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:29.640 and into his 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.440 glorious light 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:32.019 right 00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.839 the goodness of God 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.640 was manifested 00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.200 in Jesus 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:34.960 when he became 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.740 the propitiation 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.539 for your sins 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.940 when he rose 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:38.460 and ascended 00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:38.980 into heaven 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.420 and is even now 00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.700 your advocate 00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:43.119 before the Father 00:32:43.119 --> 00:32:45.140 my friends 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:45.759 be assured 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.539 of that goodness 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:48.319 find joy 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.439 in that goodness 00:32:49.439 --> 00:32:50.700 and walk 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.919 in that goodness 00:32:51.919 --> 00:32:52.220 amen 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:53.619 let's pray 00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:55.119 dear heavenly Father 00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:55.740 thank you 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:57.179 for being a good 00:32:57.179 --> 00:32:58.099 good Father 00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:59.939 for sending your Son 00:32:59.939 --> 00:33:01.079 to face the darkness 00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:02.159 so that we can walk 00:33:02.159 --> 00:33:02.839 in your light 00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:04.559 Jesus thank you 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.500 for not only appeasing 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.179 God's wrath 00:33:06.179 --> 00:33:06.879 towards our sin 00:33:06.879 --> 00:33:07.819 but for continually 00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:09.299 advocating for us 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.240 even now 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.000 in heaven 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.480 Holy Spirit 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.460 apply these truths 00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:14.339 to our lives 00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:15.259 so that we might 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.919 walk in them 00:33:15.919 --> 00:33:16.759 it's in Christ's name 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.099 we pray 00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:17.779 amen 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:19.939 thank you 00:33:19.939 --> 00:33:32.259 God 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:34.299 Him 00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:34.919 grenade 00:33:34.919 --> 00:33:34.980 thank you 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.859 forising