WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.120 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.540 --> 00:00:09.540 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:15.300 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:22.679 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:34.920 Today's scripture reading is from 1 John, chapter 2, verses 1 to 14, as printed in the liturgy. 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:40.140 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. 00:00:40.579 --> 00:00:45.399 But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:52.159 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:56.939 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 00:00:57.859 --> 00:01:04.140 Whoever says, I know him, but does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:08.780 But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:11.480 By this we may know that we are in him. 00:01:12.019 --> 00:01:16.180 Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 00:01:16.900 --> 00:01:19.879 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:22.679 but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. 00:01:23.339 --> 00:01:25.920 The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:29.840 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, 00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:31.920 which is true in him and in you, 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:34.500 because the darkness is passing away, 00:01:34.939 --> 00:01:37.000 and the true light is already shining. 00:01:38.099 --> 00:01:41.879 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:45.379 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:47.799 and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:51.179 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness, 00:01:51.480 --> 00:01:52.459 and walks in the darkness, 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:54.640 and does not know where he is going, 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:56.959 because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 00:01:57.780 --> 00:01:59.640 I am writing to you, little children, 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:02.519 because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 00:02:03.159 --> 00:02:04.659 I am writing to you, fathers, 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:07.019 because you know him who is from the beginning. 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:09.519 I am writing to you, young men, 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:11.599 because you have overcome the evil one. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:13.780 I write to you, children, 00:02:14.139 --> 00:02:15.139 because you know the Father. 00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:17.259 I write to you, fathers, 00:02:17.579 --> 00:02:19.479 because you know him who is from the beginning. 00:02:19.979 --> 00:02:21.599 I write to you, young men, 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:22.739 because you are strong, 00:02:23.019 --> 00:02:24.899 and the word of God abides in you, 00:02:25.059 --> 00:02:26.819 and you have overcome the evil one. 00:02:27.239 --> 00:02:28.739 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:29.399 --> 00:02:30.439 Thanks be to God. 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:33.759 Well, thank you for that scripture reading, Catherine. 00:02:33.819 --> 00:02:34.899 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:37.359 My name is Andrew, one of the pastors here, 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:39.979 and we're glad to be worshiping with you together 00:02:39.979 --> 00:02:41.639 this last Sunday of Easter, 00:02:41.779 --> 00:02:42.739 this Ascension Sunday. 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:44.740 So before we get into God's word, 00:02:44.820 --> 00:02:46.100 will you join me in prayer? 00:02:50.100 --> 00:02:52.900 Lord God, we come before you 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:55.820 looking to hear from you 00:02:55.820 --> 00:02:57.680 a fresh word 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:01.640 about how to live in this broken world. 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:04.640 God, we come before you 00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:07.939 lamenting the wickedness 00:03:07.939 --> 00:03:09.480 that we continue to witness 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:12.840 this 27th school shooting 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:14.840 just this year in this country, God. 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:18.859 And you know that this is not 00:03:18.859 --> 00:03:20.139 the way things were meant to be. 00:03:20.219 --> 00:03:22.060 We know this is not the way 00:03:22.060 --> 00:03:23.099 things were meant to be, 00:03:23.179 --> 00:03:24.679 so we come before you 00:03:24.679 --> 00:03:26.299 and ask that you would show up, 00:03:27.699 --> 00:03:29.739 that you would make a difference, 00:03:30.679 --> 00:03:31.739 make a change. 00:03:33.099 --> 00:03:34.459 And would you start with us, God? 00:03:34.460 --> 00:03:36.800 Would you start with us 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:39.200 as we listen to what you have to say, 00:03:39.820 --> 00:03:42.159 as we consider our responsibility, 00:03:42.920 --> 00:03:45.319 our complicity with the darkness 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:47.420 that we witness all around us? 00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:50.280 Would you bring us to repentance, God? 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:52.560 And as we repent, 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:54.040 would we come to know 00:03:54.040 --> 00:03:55.060 the beautiful grace 00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:57.020 that you love to show us in Christ? 00:03:58.219 --> 00:04:00.840 And would we be messengers of that grace 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:02.900 in this world that sorely needs it, 00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:05.219 that sorely needs your transformation 00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:07.159 and healing, God? 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:09.040 We pray for the families 00:04:09.040 --> 00:04:12.159 who've lost so much this week 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:14.379 and then the weeks before as well, God. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:17.840 We thank you that you're the God 00:04:17.840 --> 00:04:18.540 of all comfort, 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:21.019 you're the God of hope, 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:24.040 and you're the God of transformation. 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:26.800 Lord, make us a people 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:28.519 who are about all that you are 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:31.199 because that's what the world needs. 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:34.099 So would you, 00:04:35.159 --> 00:04:36.399 even as we come before you 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:37.259 with heavy hearts, 00:04:38.159 --> 00:04:39.459 impress upon us 00:04:39.459 --> 00:04:43.039 the importance of following you 00:04:43.039 --> 00:04:44.439 and listening to you 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:46.259 and walking in your way 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:49.120 because every other way is death, Lord. 00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:51.179 And we want to live 00:04:51.179 --> 00:04:53.819 in your life, light, and love. 00:04:54.579 --> 00:04:55.199 Hear our prayers 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:55.939 in the name of Jesus. 00:04:56.819 --> 00:04:57.120 Amen. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:57.240 Amen. 00:04:58.500 --> 00:04:59.740 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:00.819 Again, I'm Andrew, 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:03.240 and it's good to worship with you 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:05.079 on this last Sunday of Easter. 00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:08.019 You know, I was really proud of myself 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:09.500 this past Monday. 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:11.340 I usually don't start my sermon 00:05:11.340 --> 00:05:13.819 until like Wednesday or Thursday, 00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:15.560 but I was really proud of myself 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:17.259 because this Monday, Monday night, 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:19.160 I had my introduction done, 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:20.120 I had my three points, 00:05:20.180 --> 00:05:21.100 we were ready to go. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:23.199 Eric had his songs lined up, 00:05:23.280 --> 00:05:24.120 they were very celebratory, 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:24.800 celebratory, 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:26.280 and we were going to celebrate 00:05:26.280 --> 00:05:27.379 this last Sunday of Easter, 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:28.939 this Ascension Sunday. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:30.420 We were going to continue our series 00:05:30.420 --> 00:05:31.560 in 1 John. 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:32.819 I knew exactly what I was going 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:33.819 to talk to us about. 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:37.319 And then Tuesday happened, right? 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:39.180 These tragic events on Tuesday. 00:05:39.300 --> 00:05:40.860 22 people, right, 00:05:40.939 --> 00:05:42.160 made in the image of God, 00:05:42.840 --> 00:05:43.100 killed. 00:05:43.840 --> 00:05:45.079 19 children, 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:46.459 third and fourth graders, 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:48.840 two elementary school teachers. 00:05:48.939 --> 00:05:50.699 My sister's an elementary school teacher, 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:51.379 and of course, 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:53.220 the shooter himself, 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:54.140 deeply troubled. 00:05:55.100 --> 00:05:56.960 And after the events of Tuesday, 00:05:57.200 --> 00:05:57.320 you know, 00:05:57.380 --> 00:05:59.520 I just couldn't read this text 00:05:59.520 --> 00:06:00.220 the same way. 00:06:00.760 --> 00:06:01.780 And I knew I couldn't preach 00:06:01.780 --> 00:06:03.020 this text the same way. 00:06:03.580 --> 00:06:04.740 And we scrapped the songs 00:06:04.740 --> 00:06:05.620 that we were going to sing 00:06:05.620 --> 00:06:06.860 because we couldn't sing the song, 00:06:06.900 --> 00:06:07.360 we couldn't sing, 00:06:07.440 --> 00:06:08.460 oh, for a thousand tongues 00:06:08.460 --> 00:06:09.980 to sing my great Redeemer's praise, 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:11.180 not because he's not praiseworthy, 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:11.940 but just because 00:06:11.940 --> 00:06:13.640 that's not the moment. 00:06:13.820 --> 00:06:15.320 This is not the moment for that. 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:18.480 So I'm coming before you, 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:19.560 having scrapped my sermon, 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:21.260 started over on Wednesday, 00:06:21.259 --> 00:06:23.420 because I just couldn't read the text 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:24.480 in the same way. 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:25.599 And you know, 00:06:25.659 --> 00:06:28.139 this text that Catherine read for us 00:06:28.139 --> 00:06:29.779 is a text about knowing God, 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:30.740 and it's about knowing 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:32.459 that we know God. 00:06:32.539 --> 00:06:33.399 And we're definitely going to 00:06:33.399 --> 00:06:34.459 touch upon that today, 00:06:34.599 --> 00:06:36.180 and especially as we go on 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:36.599 in this letter, 00:06:36.659 --> 00:06:37.659 because that's a huge theme 00:06:37.659 --> 00:06:39.579 in the letter of 1 John. 00:06:40.579 --> 00:06:41.279 But today, 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:42.139 I'm going to take it 00:06:42.139 --> 00:06:44.219 in a slightly different direction. 00:06:45.039 --> 00:06:45.480 And you know, 00:06:45.599 --> 00:06:46.360 in seminary, 00:06:46.599 --> 00:06:47.800 I'd probably get an F 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:49.779 for how I'm about to handle this text. 00:06:49.779 --> 00:06:51.679 And I don't want to encourage us 00:06:51.679 --> 00:06:52.699 to just read the Bible 00:06:52.699 --> 00:06:54.339 however we want, right? 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:55.459 However it just 00:06:55.459 --> 00:06:57.619 makes us feel good, 00:06:58.159 --> 00:06:59.979 or makes it feel relevant to us. 00:07:00.039 --> 00:07:00.919 I want us to read the Bible 00:07:00.919 --> 00:07:02.359 as it calls us to read it. 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:03.139 But I also believe 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:03.759 that the Scriptures 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:05.479 are infinitely rich, 00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:07.379 and full of applications 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:08.219 that are worthy 00:07:08.219 --> 00:07:09.739 of pausing to explore, 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:10.779 even in some of the 00:07:10.779 --> 00:07:11.939 minor details. 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:12.639 All right, 00:07:12.679 --> 00:07:14.179 so with that big caveat, 00:07:14.299 --> 00:07:14.719 I want to start 00:07:14.719 --> 00:07:15.579 by drawing our attention 00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:16.779 to verse 1, 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:17.919 where it says, 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:20.839 my little children. 00:07:22.039 --> 00:07:23.319 My little children. 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:25.099 I could not read that this week 00:07:25.099 --> 00:07:26.959 in the same way anymore. 00:07:27.740 --> 00:07:29.699 My little children. 00:07:30.539 --> 00:07:31.579 Now when we read that 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:32.459 in verse 1, 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:33.099 what do you sense? 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:34.240 You hear the tenderness, right? 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:35.620 You hear the affection, 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:36.799 a glimpse of the heart 00:07:36.799 --> 00:07:37.620 behind the writing 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:38.740 of 1 John. 00:07:39.219 --> 00:07:39.899 There's this sense 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:40.680 of a fatherly 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:41.719 or a motherly 00:07:41.719 --> 00:07:42.659 responsibility 00:07:42.660 --> 00:07:44.140 that the apostles have 00:07:44.140 --> 00:07:45.040 extending beyond 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:46.939 their own biological children. 00:07:47.080 --> 00:07:47.880 They see themselves 00:07:47.880 --> 00:07:49.460 as parents that long 00:07:49.460 --> 00:07:50.320 for all the people 00:07:50.320 --> 00:07:51.180 under their care 00:07:51.180 --> 00:07:52.240 to thrive. 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:54.020 And while this was probably 00:07:54.020 --> 00:07:55.640 written in a church context 00:07:55.640 --> 00:07:57.040 where the writer felt 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.160 parental responsibility 00:07:58.160 --> 00:07:59.300 for this particular 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:00.500 community of faith 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:01.740 comprised of all kinds 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:01.980 of people, 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:02.680 not just children, 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:03.680 people of all ages 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:04.840 calling them children though, 00:08:05.400 --> 00:08:06.720 I still think it's fair 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:08.440 to draw a particular 00:08:08.440 --> 00:08:09.480 point of application 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:10.260 and it's this. 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:12.000 God's people 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:13.579 ought to be marked 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:14.660 by a concern 00:08:14.660 --> 00:08:15.600 for children 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:16.540 who aren't our own. 00:08:17.779 --> 00:08:18.720 God's people 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:19.420 ought to be marked 00:08:19.420 --> 00:08:20.160 by a concern 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:21.040 for children 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:22.839 who are not our own. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:24.560 That's important to us 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:25.279 here at Christ Church. 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:26.100 That's why we've committed 00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:27.120 12 grand 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:28.399 to Harbor House this year 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:29.220 to serve the children 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:30.540 of Oakland. 00:08:30.660 --> 00:08:31.759 We're trying to serve them 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:33.340 meals at their summer camp 00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:33.879 this summer. 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:34.899 This is why we love 00:08:34.899 --> 00:08:35.539 to partner with 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:36.419 Foster the City 00:08:36.419 --> 00:08:38.500 and we have families 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:39.159 in this church 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:40.399 supporting foster families 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:41.440 in the Bay Area. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:42.080 This is why 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:43.060 Christ Church 00:08:43.060 --> 00:08:43.920 loves to, 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:44.920 we've given thousands 00:08:44.920 --> 00:08:45.460 of dollars, 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:46.500 committed lots of time 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:47.040 to shopping 00:08:47.040 --> 00:08:48.240 and organizing 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:48.940 and praying for 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:49.500 and listening to 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:50.080 other families 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:50.800 trying to help them 00:08:50.800 --> 00:08:52.380 stay out of the foster system 00:08:52.380 --> 00:08:52.760 through our 00:08:52.760 --> 00:08:53.620 care portal ministry. 00:08:53.780 --> 00:08:54.680 This is why many of us, 00:08:54.780 --> 00:08:54.880 what, 00:08:55.060 --> 00:08:55.620 we support 00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:57.020 Compassion International. 00:08:57.160 --> 00:08:57.520 We give 00:08:57.520 --> 00:08:58.680 and we support children, 00:08:58.840 --> 00:08:59.040 right? 00:08:59.140 --> 00:09:00.000 Even one of our elders, 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:00.780 Karen Weslowski, 00:09:00.880 --> 00:09:01.420 is on the board 00:09:01.420 --> 00:09:02.440 of Compassion International. 00:09:02.920 --> 00:09:03.880 This is about, 00:09:04.160 --> 00:09:05.300 this is what we're about here. 00:09:05.400 --> 00:09:06.440 We love children 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:07.080 but guess what, 00:09:07.160 --> 00:09:07.560 Christ Church, 00:09:07.660 --> 00:09:08.540 our work is not done. 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:10.260 Our work is not done. 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:11.279 On Tuesday's events 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:11.980 have made it clear 00:09:11.980 --> 00:09:12.980 that there's still 00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:14.580 far more to do 00:09:14.580 --> 00:09:15.799 for the children 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:17.139 of our society. 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:18.819 And I think 00:09:18.819 --> 00:09:20.139 we all intuitively 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:21.740 felt that this past week 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:22.799 when we heard 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:23.659 the tragic news, 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:23.960 right? 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:25.379 Oh God, 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:25.740 no, 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:26.759 not the children, 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:29.840 not our children. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:31.100 See, 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:31.299 we, 00:09:31.419 --> 00:09:32.200 the children of God, 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:33.159 we must care 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:34.340 about the children 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:35.399 of our society 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:36.899 who are not our own. 00:09:36.899 --> 00:09:38.500 both the overlooked children 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:39.699 inside the womb 00:09:39.699 --> 00:09:40.720 and the rest 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:41.539 of the children 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:42.579 outside of the womb. 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:43.439 These children outside 00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:43.899 of the womb 00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:45.360 for whom firearms, 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:47.519 not car accidents, 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:48.240 not COVID, 00:09:48.459 --> 00:09:49.360 not illnesses, 00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:50.720 but guns 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:52.059 are the leading 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:53.139 cause of death 00:09:53.139 --> 00:09:54.620 in this country. 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:56.819 It is ridiculous. 00:09:57.899 --> 00:09:59.539 It is unacceptable. 00:09:59.539 --> 00:10:01.799 And we have got 00:10:01.799 --> 00:10:03.039 to care about this. 00:10:04.199 --> 00:10:04.819 And we have got 00:10:04.819 --> 00:10:06.199 to care in prayer 00:10:06.199 --> 00:10:08.339 as people on our knees 00:10:08.339 --> 00:10:09.059 saying, 00:10:09.219 --> 00:10:09.519 God, 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:10.819 we are helpless 00:10:10.819 --> 00:10:12.240 and apart from you 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:12.919 we can do 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:14.179 no good thing. 00:10:14.519 --> 00:10:15.279 So help us 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:15.860 because we 00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:16.519 and our world 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:17.779 are in a hopeless 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:19.259 downward spiral. 00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:20.039 We must care 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:20.659 in prayer. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:22.980 We must also care 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:23.959 in action, 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:24.639 Christ Church. 00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:25.679 Not just folding 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:26.719 our hands in prayer, 00:10:26.819 --> 00:10:27.419 but extending 00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:28.099 our hands 00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:29.100 in care. 00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:30.779 Loving our neighbors 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:31.820 in the name of Jesus 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:33.879 and in his sacrificial manner. 00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:34.740 Giving our time, 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:35.500 our talent, 00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:36.259 and our treasures. 00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:37.580 Investing in the children 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:38.680 of our society. 00:10:38.860 --> 00:10:39.620 Raising our voices 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:40.899 in their silence. 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:42.060 Stewarding our influence 00:10:42.060 --> 00:10:43.159 for their good. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:44.259 Building and modeling 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:45.560 strong families 00:10:45.560 --> 00:10:46.360 and inviting those 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:47.180 with no families 00:10:47.180 --> 00:10:48.820 into our own. 00:10:49.540 --> 00:10:50.279 We must take 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:51.440 civic responsibility. 00:10:51.680 --> 00:10:52.139 We must take 00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:53.000 our civic responsibility 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:53.940 so seriously. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:55.100 We must study 00:10:55.100 --> 00:10:56.180 the intricacies 00:10:56.180 --> 00:10:57.120 of public policy 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:59.039 and make informed votes. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:00.919 Not so easily swayed 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:01.720 by the simplistic 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:03.480 tribalistic partisanship 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:04.120 that is tearing 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:04.960 our nation apart. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:06.440 And we must also 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:07.179 not vote out of 00:11:07.179 --> 00:11:08.480 mere self-preservation 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:10.060 or self-protection, 00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:11.200 but for the greater good 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:12.539 of our communities. 00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:14.820 And then on a personal level, 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:15.740 we also need to keep 00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:16.360 our eyes out 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:18.019 for those amongst us. 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:18.960 Those who are 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:19.940 on the margins. 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:20.740 Those who are 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.500 at risk 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:22.360 and unsupported. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:23.480 Possibly hurting more 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:24.279 than we can see 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:25.379 on the surface. 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.779 We must pursue people 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:28.100 with compassion 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.419 and curiosity 00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:30.779 and interest. 00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:32.059 The ministry 00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:33.360 of just being a friend. 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:34.899 Because you know, 00:11:34.980 --> 00:11:35.799 it's not just 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:37.399 the murdered children 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:38.460 that came to my mind 00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:38.980 as I read 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:40.480 this opening verse 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:41.840 and contemplated 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:42.519 the tenderness 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:43.000 of this 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.759 my little children. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:45.659 I also thought about 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:47.220 the shooter himself. 00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:49.580 Salvador Ramos, right? 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:50.679 And I wondered 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:51.899 who, if anyone, 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:52.700 ever spoke 00:11:52.700 --> 00:11:54.660 to him so tenderly 00:11:54.660 --> 00:11:56.520 and with such affection. 00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:57.460 Whoever took ownership 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:58.220 of him 00:11:58.220 --> 00:11:59.720 as their beloved child. 00:12:00.560 --> 00:12:01.100 Yes, there are 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:03.020 a ton of complex, 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:03.820 multi-layered 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:04.780 and interrelated 00:12:04.780 --> 00:12:05.300 dimensions 00:12:05.300 --> 00:12:06.100 to this tragedy, 00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:06.740 but I couldn't help 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:08.020 notice the profile 00:12:08.020 --> 00:12:09.420 of this shooter 00:12:09.420 --> 00:12:10.900 who seemed 00:12:10.900 --> 00:12:11.780 not to have much 00:12:11.780 --> 00:12:13.000 of a fatherly presence 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:13.660 in his life. 00:12:14.180 --> 00:12:14.920 Whose family 00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:16.460 has a background 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:17.600 of trauma 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:18.820 and brokenness 00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:19.980 and drug use 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:21.000 and felony. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:23.120 And it just made me wonder, 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:23.460 you know, 00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:23.759 like, 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.399 whoever spoke tenderly 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:26.139 to him? 00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:28.080 Whoever called him 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.019 their own? 00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:30.019 Whoever wrote him 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:31.039 love letters, 00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.139 affectionate letters, 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:32.759 longing for him 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:33.200 to thrive, 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:33.899 running to him 00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:34.879 in order that he 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:36.200 might not sin? 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:38.799 Verse 1, 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:39.820 my little children, 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:41.179 I am writing 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:41.899 these things 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:42.799 to you 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:43.679 so that you 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:44.980 may not sin. 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.740 See, this thing 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:47.259 that we do 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:47.980 when we open up 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:48.399 the scriptures, 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:49.200 when we open up 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:49.639 these letters, 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:50.500 this letter here 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:51.080 in 1 John, 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:52.179 this opening up 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:53.139 of God's word 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:53.840 when we preach it, 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:55.879 when we encourage you 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.879 to dig into 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.639 these Bible plans 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:58.100 that we have, 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:58.679 you know, 00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.259 I'm not saying 00:12:59.259 --> 00:12:59.919 that reading the Bible 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:00.779 is some magic button 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:01.679 that's gonna get rid 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:02.559 of sin altogether, 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:03.699 but could it be 00:13:03.699 --> 00:13:05.439 that when we open up 00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:06.439 these scriptures, 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:08.120 when we look at a letter 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:08.860 like 1 John, 00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:09.419 could it be that 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:10.019 the stakes 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:11.220 are higher 00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:12.439 than we realize 00:13:12.439 --> 00:13:13.759 when we open up 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:14.340 God's word 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.679 and it calls us 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:16.419 away from sin? 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:18.179 Could it be 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:18.939 that this repeated 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:19.599 message we hear 00:13:19.599 --> 00:13:20.859 over and over 00:13:20.859 --> 00:13:21.699 and over again 00:13:21.699 --> 00:13:22.399 from the Bible 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:23.419 to not sin, 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:24.299 this super basic 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:25.019 message, right? 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:26.399 Could it be 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:26.979 that that might 00:13:26.979 --> 00:13:27.620 actually be 00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:28.620 the voice of God 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:29.519 trying to get 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:30.359 our attention? 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.239 Yeah, okay, 00:13:32.339 --> 00:13:33.239 pastor, I know, 00:13:33.339 --> 00:13:33.979 I know I'm not 00:13:33.979 --> 00:13:34.759 supposed to sin, 00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:36.159 but do we 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:37.819 really know? 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:40.039 Do we really 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:41.479 realize the stakes 00:13:41.479 --> 00:13:42.379 of sin? 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:44.159 No, even for myself, 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:44.899 I normally 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:45.779 am not stirred 00:13:45.779 --> 00:13:46.699 by a verse 00:13:46.699 --> 00:13:47.139 like this 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:47.600 because it just 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:48.419 seems so cliche, 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:49.319 right? 00:13:49.319 --> 00:13:49.839 So cliche, 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.039 oh, of the Bible 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.120 telling me not to sin? 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:53.639 Shocking, right? 00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:56.319 But then Tuesday 00:13:56.319 --> 00:13:56.839 happened, 00:13:57.720 --> 00:13:58.139 and I was like, 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.299 maybe that we 00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:00.519 should not sin 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:02.159 isn't so basic, 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:03.659 isn't so common 00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:05.360 sense after all. 00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:07.039 Like thinking 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:07.679 about this shooter, 00:14:08.439 --> 00:14:09.139 contemplating the 00:14:09.139 --> 00:14:10.019 reality of my 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:11.139 own potential 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:12.720 for egregious 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:13.079 sin, 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:14.699 that is in me 00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:15.200 as well. 00:14:17.020 --> 00:14:18.060 It made me think, 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:19.280 what if this is 00:14:19.280 --> 00:14:20.560 exactly what we 00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:21.080 need to hear? 00:14:21.520 --> 00:14:22.080 And often, 00:14:22.920 --> 00:14:23.660 my little children, 00:14:23.800 --> 00:14:24.320 I am writing 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.200 these things to you 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:26.060 so that you 00:14:26.060 --> 00:14:27.040 may not sin. 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:27.500 Like what if 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.220 what we needed 00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:30.220 was someone 00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:31.140 lovingly calling 00:14:31.140 --> 00:14:31.759 us their own 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:33.140 children and 00:14:33.140 --> 00:14:34.200 tenderly persuading 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:35.800 us to not sin? 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:36.300 Maybe that's 00:14:36.300 --> 00:14:37.180 exactly what we 00:14:37.180 --> 00:14:38.360 need after all, 00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:38.580 right? 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:39.920 Yeah, we all know 00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:40.800 the Ten Commandments, 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.460 we all know, 00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:42.180 everyone knows, 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:43.120 thou shalt not 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:43.780 murder. 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:44.779 Who needs to 00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:45.579 be told that, 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:45.919 right? 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.199 Well, apparently, 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.720 we, our society, 00:14:51.319 --> 00:14:51.980 still very much 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:53.679 needs that message. 00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:55.559 See, Tuesday's 00:14:55.559 --> 00:14:56.379 tragic events 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:57.480 should open up 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:59.459 our eyes to see 00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:00.959 that a line like 00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:01.179 this, 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:01.720 I am writing 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.379 these things to 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:02.980 you so that you 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:03.559 may not sin. 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:04.459 It isn't about 00:15:04.459 --> 00:15:05.299 just modifying 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.019 some religious 00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:06.539 behavior. 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:07.720 It isn't about 00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:08.500 restrictions on 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:08.980 your pleasure, 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:10.379 fun, and freedom. 00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.399 This is life and 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.299 death stuff. 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:15.019 Yes, some sin 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.919 is more heinous 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.959 than other sin. 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.240 And not all sin 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.419 leads to immediate 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:20.439 death, but all sin 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.360 does lead to 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.860 eventual death 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.839 in one way 00:15:24.839 --> 00:15:25.559 or another. 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.399 So we need to 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:27.759 remember. 00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:29.179 We need to remember 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:30.319 even as we think, 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:31.000 we already know, 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.980 okay, okay, okay, 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:32.899 I know I'm not 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:33.539 supposed to sin. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.740 We need to sober up 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:36.419 and remember that 00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.559 these things aren't 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:38.720 written to just get 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:39.220 us to be better 00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:39.980 rule followers. 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.419 Goody two-shoes, 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:42.019 these things are 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:43.259 written because 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.399 the way of sin 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.799 is the way of 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:46.139 death. 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:47.699 The way of sin 00:15:47.699 --> 00:15:48.179 is the way of 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:48.479 death. 00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:49.819 And the reality 00:15:49.819 --> 00:15:50.759 is that there is 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.919 sin in each and 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:54.019 every one of us. 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:55.539 Yeah, sure, there is 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.679 definitely a lot of 00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:58.639 blame and fault that 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:00.019 we can identify and 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:00.819 cry out against 00:16:00.819 --> 00:16:01.579 outside of us. 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.339 Yes, I'm going to 00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:02.779 admit that. 00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:03.379 We should hold 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.439 people and 00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:05.980 institutions accountable. 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:07.700 And we can talk 00:16:07.700 --> 00:16:08.300 about how better 00:16:08.300 --> 00:16:09.240 gun control or 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.460 red flag laws or 00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:11.779 law enforcement or 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:12.899 healthy thriving 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:13.360 families. 00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:14.039 We can talk about 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.460 responsible parenthood 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.340 and poverty relief 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.180 and mental health 00:16:17.180 --> 00:16:18.420 services or even 00:16:18.420 --> 00:16:19.200 just friendship and 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:19.820 kindness on the 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.600 playground, right? 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.200 We can talk about 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:22.259 all the millions of 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:24.120 factors that could 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:24.940 have led and 00:16:24.940 --> 00:16:25.860 contributed to a 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:27.060 far less tragic day 00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.340 this past Tuesday 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.399 in Uvalde. 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:31.580 But even as we 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.440 seek to call out 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:33.980 injustice in this 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.139 world and even as 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:36.159 we seek to demand 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.960 that other people 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:38.799 and other 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:40.439 institutions change, 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:42.439 Michael Jackson had 00:16:42.439 --> 00:16:42.819 it right. 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.639 We need to start 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.159 with the man in 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:46.519 the mirror. 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.120 Our pursuit of 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.860 justice, it needs 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:52.179 to always include 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:53.919 critical self- 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.460 examination and a 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.460 pursuit of justice 00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.960 and righteousness in 00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:58.860 our own hearts and 00:16:58.860 --> 00:16:59.779 in our own lives 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:01.120 before our God. 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:03.500 It's true that we 00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.339 don't even have 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:04.859 enough fingers. 00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:05.599 We don't even have 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.339 enough fingers to 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:08.819 point at all that 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:09.759 went wrong, all the 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.419 things that went 00:17:10.419 --> 00:17:11.459 wrong leading up to 00:17:11.459 --> 00:17:12.419 all the shootings in 00:17:12.419 --> 00:17:13.359 Buffalo and Laguna 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:14.479 Woods and Uvalde. 00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.659 But at the very least, 00:17:16.699 --> 00:17:17.740 let us not forget to 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.699 use each of our two 00:17:18.699 --> 00:17:20.579 thumbs to consider 00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:22.000 our responsibility, 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.959 our complicity in 00:17:23.959 --> 00:17:25.559 all the darkness and 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.699 in all the tragedy in 00:17:26.699 --> 00:17:27.179 this world. 00:17:28.459 --> 00:17:30.079 Salvador Ramos' sin is 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:31.599 his sin for sure, 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:34.019 but it is our nation's 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.859 sin as well. 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.679 It is mine and it is 00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:37.099 yours. 00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:38.259 And no, maybe it 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.199 wasn't your mean, 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:41.019 bullying words that 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:43.659 put these specific 00:17:43.659 --> 00:17:44.599 shooters on their 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:45.059 paths. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.079 Maybe it wasn't your 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:48.219 prejudices that 00:17:48.219 --> 00:17:49.139 influenced them. 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.480 Maybe it wasn't the 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.899 drugs that you enjoyed 00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:53.839 in college that came 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:54.779 from the same source 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:56.399 as the source that got 00:17:56.399 --> 00:17:58.159 Ramos' mother hooked. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:00.019 But imagine what 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.300 kinds of toxic effects 00:18:01.300 --> 00:18:03.000 our many instances of 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.180 unkindness and 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.620 prejudice and reckless 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:07.300 consumption may actually 00:18:07.300 --> 00:18:08.740 have had that we just 00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.660 have no idea about. 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.860 It's like dumping trash 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:13.400 and pollution into the 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.000 ocean, right? 00:18:14.560 --> 00:18:15.840 We may never know the 00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:17.460 full effects of our sin 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:19.040 and our selfishness and 00:18:19.040 --> 00:18:20.680 our negligence on every 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.300 sea creature. 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.560 We might not see that 00:18:22.560 --> 00:18:24.019 turtle that goes into 00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:25.700 that plastic thing that 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.840 holds the cans, right? 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:28.179 We might never see the 00:18:28.179 --> 00:18:29.419 turtle suffer from that. 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.819 We might never see the 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.740 rest of the world suffer 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.119 because we threw some 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:34.159 trash into the sea. 00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:36.099 We may never know how 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.220 much our unkind words 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:38.259 have influenced our 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:39.839 children and how they've 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.919 harmed others on the 00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:41.199 playground. 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:43.139 We may never know how 00:18:43.139 --> 00:18:44.439 much we've perpetuated 00:18:44.439 --> 00:18:46.359 toxic masculinity and 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.759 the objectification and 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.879 trafficking of human 00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:49.759 bodies when we view 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.379 pornography. 00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:53.279 But God's word tells us 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:55.139 that our sin is not 00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:56.800 without effect. 00:18:57.800 --> 00:18:59.000 Probably way more 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.380 devastating, probably way 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:01.860 more corrupting than we 00:19:01.860 --> 00:19:02.440 could imagine. 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.460 Even if they have not 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:06.280 led to mass school 00:19:06.280 --> 00:19:08.840 shootings, our sins, our 00:19:08.840 --> 00:19:10.800 failure to live God's way 00:19:10.800 --> 00:19:12.480 and to love our neighbors 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:14.200 has left our world 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:16.640 drastically, drastically 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.240 damaged. 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.560 And events like Tuesdays 00:19:19.560 --> 00:19:21.900 have to sober us up to 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:22.600 this reality. 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:24.659 We cannot be cool with 00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:24.939 sin. 00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:27.079 We cannot be cool with 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:27.359 sin. 00:19:27.439 --> 00:19:28.699 To quote the 17th century 00:19:28.699 --> 00:19:29.799 Puritan theologian from 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:32.079 Oxford, John Owen, we 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:34.480 must be killing sin or sin 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.919 will be killing us. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.500 Because that's what we're 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.639 witnessing happen in these 00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:38.919 shootings. 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:42.039 Sin is killing us. 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:44.939 This exhortation to not 00:19:44.939 --> 00:19:45.839 sin, this is not a 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.659 religious game. 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:49.019 This is an exhortation to 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:51.179 not participate in death. 00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:53.420 This is an invitation to 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.140 life. 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:56.240 I mean, so serious is sin, 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.000 as it says in verse 2, 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.500 it demands propitiation. 00:19:59.140 --> 00:20:00.200 It demands the satisfaction 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.820 of justice and the 00:20:01.820 --> 00:20:03.019 appeasement of wrath 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.120 against all that 00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:05.400 dishonors God and 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:06.860 destroys this world. 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.980 It is right to be furious 00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:10.100 at the evil that happened 00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:10.660 on Tuesday. 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.600 It is in alignment with 00:20:12.600 --> 00:20:13.600 the heart of God whose 00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:15.460 wrath burns against 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.299 injustice. 00:20:17.560 --> 00:20:18.200 But guess what? 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:20.019 There is a wrath against 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:22.059 each of our sins too. 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:24.140 For all the havoc that 00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:25.480 our sins have wreaked upon 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:27.160 this world that God made 00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:28.340 and that God loves. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.840 So as we go through this 00:20:30.840 --> 00:20:32.400 letter, 1 John, for the 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:33.299 rest of the summer, please, 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:35.220 Christ Church, please hear 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.200 these words and take them 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:36.519 to heart. 00:20:36.620 --> 00:20:38.559 My little children, I am 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.940 writing these things to you 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:42.660 so that you may not sin. 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.759 And if you're like me, 00:20:44.840 --> 00:20:46.059 you're like, oh shoot, 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:47.899 well too late, right? 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.119 I already did. 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:50.579 I already do. 00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:52.220 And I know I will again. 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:53.940 Well then hear the rest of 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:56.000 the verse in 1 and verse 1 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.359 and 2. 00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:57.879 Because this is the gospel. 00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:58.379 It says, 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.679 But if anyone does sin, 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.799 we have an advocate with 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:04.659 the Father, Jesus Christ, 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.480 the righteous. 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:07.960 He is the propitiation for 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.099 our sins and not for ours 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.940 only, but also for the sins 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.879 of the whole world. 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.960 And this is the good news 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:14.559 of redemption in Christ. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.799 Like honestly, and I don't 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.819 mean to over-psychologize, 00:21:18.919 --> 00:21:19.759 I admit I have no idea 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.879 what was going on in that 00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:22.000 deranged mind of the 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.299 shooter in Texas. 00:21:23.659 --> 00:21:26.200 But I do wonder, what if he 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:26.980 had known this? 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.779 After shooting his 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:30.539 grandmother in the face, 00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:33.179 what if he had known that 00:21:33.179 --> 00:21:35.859 even for him, even for a 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.759 sin so wicked as shooting 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.740 the grandmother who is 00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:40.720 housing you in the face, 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:43.500 what if he had known that 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.960 there was still someone 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:46.920 willing to advocate for 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:47.180 him? 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.819 Someone willing to pay the 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:52.440 price of propitiation for 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.819 all the wrath he'd begun to 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:55.480 stir up against himself? 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:58.940 Might this truth about Christ 00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:01.500 as advocate and propitiation, 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:03.859 might it have freed him from 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:05.400 feeling like he might as well 00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:07.039 just go all the way, give 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:08.740 himself completely to the way 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:10.339 of death and visit Robb 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.500 Elementary School? 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:14.539 See, I'm not up here trying 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.220 to convince you of a 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:15.519 religion. 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:17.099 I'm not trying to modify 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:18.259 behavior up here. 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:20.440 I'm not here to just share a 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.880 mythological feel-good story. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:23.099 This is real-life stuff. 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.279 This is divinely inspired 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.799 truth that has the power to 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:28.279 transform and change the 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.960 world and to save lives both 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:32.119 now and into eternity. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.700 All right. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:37.440 I hope I've made clear the 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:39.640 seriousness of sin and the 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:41.800 glory of God's grace in Jesus 00:22:41.800 --> 00:22:42.160 Christ. 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.440 And I hope you can see that 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:45.580 if this is all true, then it 00:22:45.580 --> 00:22:47.320 is of the utmost importance 00:22:47.320 --> 00:22:50.180 that we know this God, that we 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:52.000 know this Jesus person as our 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:54.500 advocate and as our propitiation, 00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.340 that there's nothing more 00:22:56.340 --> 00:22:58.500 important than knowing Jesus in 00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.860 this personal way, nothing more 00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:00.980 important than being, as it says 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:02.360 in verse 5, in him. 00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:03.220 There's nothing more important 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:04.860 than being united with Jesus. 00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:07.060 And you know, 1 John is written 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.960 to help people discern whether 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.339 they really did know Jesus, 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:12.399 whether they really did belong 00:23:12.399 --> 00:23:13.019 to him. 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:14.919 It was written to help people 00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:16.240 know whether or not they really 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.940 had an advocate, whether or not 00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:20.119 they really had propitiation for 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:20.619 their sins. 00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:22.700 It was written to show them what 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:24.799 it looks like to know God. 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.700 See, one thing that you need to 00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:28.519 know about this letter, 1 John, is 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.480 that it's written to a Christian 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:31.259 community that's seen some 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.720 attrition. 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:34.279 In chapter 2, verse 19, the letter 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.700 refers to some people who it says, 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:37.840 went out from us, but they were 00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:38.740 not of us. 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.480 For if they had been of us, they 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.819 would have continued with us, but 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:43.539 they went out that it might become 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:46.500 plain that they all are not of us. 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:48.700 So what 1 John is, is a letter to 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:51.240 those who have remained but are sad 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:53.740 and hurt and confused because of all 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:55.480 the losses they've seen in their 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:55.920 community. 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:58.140 Especially because those who left 00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.920 were saying and teaching and 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:02.000 believing things quite different from 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.600 what these readers were taught from 00:24:03.600 --> 00:24:04.039 the beginning. 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.920 Those who had left believed different 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:07.259 things about who Jesus was. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.799 Those who had left believed different 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.980 things about what was sin and 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.220 darkness and about what was 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.700 righteousness and light. 00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:14.339 And so you can imagine all the seeds 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:16.700 of confusion and distraction and 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:18.899 doubt sown among this church. 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:21.740 So a big theme in this letter, 1 John, 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.740 the purpose of this letter, as we'll 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:25.019 see throughout, is what does it look 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.899 like to really know God? 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:29.359 How do I know that I am in a right 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.799 and proper relationship with Him? 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:33.539 How do I know that Jesus is actually 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:35.879 advocating for me and that His blood 00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:38.720 is the propitiation for my sins too? 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:41.440 1 John wants to make clear how we can 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:43.919 know that we know God. 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.359 And here's the answer in verse 3. 00:24:47.159 --> 00:24:49.480 And by this we know that we have come 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:53.119 to know Him, drum roll, if we keep 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:53.639 His commandments. 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:56.559 If we keep His commandments. 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:59.079 We know Him if we keep His commandments. 00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:00.779 If we do not sin. 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:02.039 Verse 4. 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:04.339 Whoever says, I know Him, but does not 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:06.079 keep His commandments, is a liar. 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:08.039 And the truth is not in him. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:10.159 But whoever keeps His word, in Him 00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:12.200 truly the love of God is perfected. 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:15.079 By this we may know that we are in Him. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:17.599 Whoever says he abides in Him ought to 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:21.079 walk in the same way in which He walked. 00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:24.500 We know that we know God when we walk 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:26.599 in His way, when we obey His commandments. 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.799 Now there are two things I want to say 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.480 about that though. 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:32.440 First, we need to be clear what this is 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.200 not saying. 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:34.819 This is not saying that you need to 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:37.220 obey God perfectly in order to have 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:39.299 a real relationship with Him. 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.779 This is not saying that obedience is 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.700 the grounds for union with God. 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:43.940 No. 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:46.480 Obedience to God's commandments, keeping 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:48.119 His word, and walking in the same way 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:50.779 as Jesus are not what establish our 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.680 relationship with God. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:54.180 They are evidences of our relationship 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.580 with God. 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:56.620 They are not the cause but the effects 00:25:56.620 --> 00:25:59.120 that demonstrate we actually know Him. 00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:01.920 So he's not saying obey so that you 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.299 can have a relationship with God. 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:06.460 He's saying obey because you already 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.940 have a relationship with God. 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.660 Look at verses 12 to 14. 00:26:09.820 --> 00:26:10.120 He says, 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:12.179 I'm writing to you not to sin because 00:26:12.179 --> 00:26:14.139 your sins have been forgiven. 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:16.539 Because you already know God, the 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.579 Father who is from the beginning. 00:26:17.719 --> 00:26:19.379 Because God's word is already in you 00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:20.939 and in Christ and by His Spirit you've 00:26:20.939 --> 00:26:22.359 already overcome the evil and the 00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:23.679 victory is already yours. 00:26:23.739 --> 00:26:25.059 He's already said it is finished. 00:26:25.879 --> 00:26:28.479 We do not earn a relationship with God 00:26:28.479 --> 00:26:29.399 through obedience. 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:31.859 We live out our relationship with God 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.819 through obedience. 00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:35.000 Alright, but now the second thing I want 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:37.359 to say is that while the grounds of 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:39.399 our union with God is faith alone. 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:42.959 A genuine faith is never alone. 00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:45.679 A genuine faith is always accompanied 00:26:45.679 --> 00:26:47.479 by the pursuit of obedience. 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:50.179 For how can we say we know God in a 00:26:50.179 --> 00:26:52.899 personal and intimate way as the maker 00:26:52.899 --> 00:26:55.079 and sustainer and redeemer of the world 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:59.240 and not walk in His way and have no 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:00.439 desire to submit to Him? 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:03.419 How can we say we know Jesus and abide in 00:27:03.419 --> 00:27:05.079 Him and admire Him as the way and the 00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:07.740 truth and life and yet not walk in His 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.460 way of life? 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:11.519 Now the Spirit of God who united us with 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:13.319 Christ in the first place and who 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:15.519 continues to dwell within us, He is too 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:17.919 powerful and He is too loving to allow 00:27:17.919 --> 00:27:19.399 for such dissonance. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:21.439 And I know that this talk about 00:27:21.439 --> 00:27:23.519 obedience, right, it might seem like so 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:26.679 dutiful, right, and so unromantic, so 00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:28.419 far from how we understand love. 00:27:29.399 --> 00:27:30.659 But I want to challenge us to think about 00:27:30.659 --> 00:27:30.919 it. 00:27:31.199 --> 00:27:33.099 Because if you think about it, there is no 00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:35.740 such thing as real love apart from 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:38.639 covenantal commitment and submission. 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:41.319 There's no such thing as real love apart 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:43.639 from covenantal commitment and submission. 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.519 Think about marriage. 00:27:45.399 --> 00:27:49.179 If I say that I know and I love my wife 00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:51.279 and that I'm invested in my union with 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:54.579 her, does that mean I should have no 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:57.599 duty or obligation to consider what she 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:59.179 desires and asks of me? 00:27:59.180 --> 00:28:02.940 No, in fact, it is because I love her that 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:04.580 even when she asks me to clean the 00:28:04.580 --> 00:28:07.259 toilets and change the diapers, in a 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:10.380 truly loving relationship, fulfilling my 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:12.720 duty to her and doing things I don't want 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:16.100 to do is beautifully transformed into 00:28:16.100 --> 00:28:16.860 delight. 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:19.900 And that's the thing that grows love. 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:22.299 And I think Jesus Himself understood this 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.759 and He wanted this for us when He said, 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:27.039 If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.059 That's what Jesus said. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:31.460 If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:34.039 So 1 John is unambiguous. 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:37.299 If we know and love God, we will obey God. 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:40.200 If we are united with Jesus, we will walk in 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:42.379 His way and we will keep His word. 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:44.980 And thus God's love, which brought us to 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:49.200 Himself in the first place, God's love will 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:52.460 continue to work itself out in us unto the 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:54.840 perfection of all that we were meant to be. 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.120 And this is good news. 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.759 This is good news because this is the very 00:28:58.759 --> 00:29:01.640 process by which God is making us people of 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:04.519 love, people who walk in life, light, and love. 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:07.480 And this brings me to verses 7 through 11. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.440 God wants us to be people of love. 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:11.700 1 John makes explicit what the way of Jesus 00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:14.220 is and what the ultimate command is that 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:16.559 evidences our relationship with God. 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:17.980 Verse 7. 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:22.299 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:24.759 but an old commandment that you had from the 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.099 beginning. 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:28.200 The old commandment is the word that you have 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.519 heard. 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:31.220 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:33.920 writing to you, which is true in him and in you 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:36.579 because the darkness is passing away and the true 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.779 light is already shining. 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:40.579 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his 00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:42.240 brother is still in darkness. 00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:45.839 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:48.159 and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:51.159 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness 00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:54.379 and walks in the darkness and does not know where he 00:29:54.379 --> 00:29:57.519 is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 00:29:57.559 --> 00:29:59.299 How do we know we know God? 00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:02.240 What does it look like to walk in the light? 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:05.259 What is the command we must obey that demonstrates our 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:06.579 union with Christ? 00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:09.199 Well, it's the old command we've known from the 00:30:09.199 --> 00:30:12.399 beginning that we must love our neighbors as 00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:12.859 ourselves. 00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:17.740 An old command and a new command, finally fulfilled and 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:21.740 freshly mandated in Christ, who is the light of the 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:24.419 world, who came into our darkened dwelling to love his 00:30:24.419 --> 00:30:25.419 neighbors, even us. 00:30:25.979 --> 00:30:29.819 Not simply through charity or random acts of kindness or in 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:32.459 some kind of fleeting romantic way, but with his whole 00:30:32.459 --> 00:30:36.519 life poured out for us unto death on a cross to be our 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:39.159 advocate and to be our propitiation. 00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:44.160 See, in Jesus, this old and crusty and hard to obey command of 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:48.680 loving our neighbors as ourselves, it becomes fresh and it 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:52.480 becomes new and it becomes inspiring for us to obey. 00:30:53.400 --> 00:30:57.420 First John will later say, we love because he first loved us. 00:30:58.380 --> 00:31:00.220 We love because he first loved us. 00:31:01.140 --> 00:31:04.480 So Christ Church, the question for us is, will we? 00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:06.900 Will we love? 00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:12.380 Will we love or will we walk in darkness, blind and having no 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:15.960 real idea where we are going, stumbling around to our own 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:18.900 destruction and the destruction of others? 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:24.079 Do we believe that we've been loved first by a God who so loved the 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:26.880 world that he gave us his only son? 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:32.059 Do we believe in a heavenly father who voluntarily opted to identify 00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:38.220 with a pain and an anguish, not unlike those 22 grieving families in 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:42.159 Uvalde, a God who did so in order to redeem this world? 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:48.940 And if we believe that he loved us at this great a cost, well then how 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:52.879 then can we do anything but love him and our neighbors? 00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:57.940 And what effect might that have on this broken world? 00:31:57.940 --> 00:32:01.700 Christ Church, how will we love this week? 00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:06.620 How will we love this week and so prove to be Christ's disciples? 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:12.759 How will we love this week and thus bear witness to the power of God's love for us 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:14.240 and for our world? 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:21.360 May we see his love perfected in us and in every object of the love we pour out 00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:22.980 in his precious name. 00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:24.680 Will you pray with me? 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:24.740 Amen. 00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:37.200 Lord God, we want to be these people of love that you called us to be. 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:43.420 We find it hard though because mostly we just love ourselves. 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:52.840 So would you place before us, would you cause us to behold the love of Christ? 00:32:52.839 --> 00:33:03.859 The one who loved us, who gave himself for us, the one who showed us the greatest act of love. 00:33:05.459 --> 00:33:06.939 And would that change us? 00:33:08.179 --> 00:33:15.359 Would that change and transform us in such a way that changes and transforms the world around us, 00:33:15.439 --> 00:33:17.419 this world that is so devoid of love? 00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:19.560 Start with us, Lord. 00:33:20.580 --> 00:33:22.580 Start with us gazing upon the Savior. 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:28.320 And transform us into the people of life, light, and love that you want us to be. 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:32.960 For your glory and for the good of our world, we pray. 00:33:33.820 --> 00:33:34.180 Amen. 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:34.279 Amen. 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:34.320 Amen. 00:33:34.320 --> 00:33:34.340 Amen. 00:33:34.340 --> 00:33:34.380 Amen. 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:34.400 Amen. 00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:34.420 Amen. 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:34.460 Amen. 00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:34.500 Amen. 00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:34.519 Amen. 00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:34.560 Amen. 00:33:34.560 --> 00:33:34.580 Amen.