WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:05.440 Good morning folks, great to see you. Let me encourage you to have Romans chapter 5 open in front of you. 00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:10.080 And we're going to be dipping in and out of these verses this morning. 00:00:10.580 --> 00:00:15.679 But just to get us thinking, maybe read those verses and you think, why on earth are we going back to Genesis? 00:00:15.939 --> 00:00:21.179 What does Romans mean? To get us on the right track this morning, I want you to turn to your neighbour for 30 seconds. 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:28.480 And I want you to ask them who, in their opinion, is the most influential person who exists today. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:34.299 Okay, not powerful, influential. Who is the most influential person in our world today? 00:00:34.380 --> 00:00:36.219 And see what you come up with, okay? Go for it. 00:00:41.120 --> 00:00:48.100 Excellent. I'd love to hear the variety of answers that people said, but in the interest of time we'll move on. 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:55.560 I don't know if you've ever read Time Magazine. Time Magazine is one of the most influential publications of our day. 00:00:55.560 --> 00:01:01.040 And every year Time Magazine publishes a thing which they call the Time 100. 00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:10.920 And the Time 100 is a list of the hundred people who, in their opinion, are the greatest influencers in our world today. 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:15.879 So let me just give you some names that have cropped up over the last few years in the Time 100. 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:21.560 And see if these, I don't know whether they will or not, but see whether these names are some of the names that you said. 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:26.780 So, we've got names like this. We've got Michelle Obama. Anyone say Michelle? 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:32.200 No? One? Yeah, Michelle Obama. Here's the next one. Tiger Woods. 00:01:34.020 --> 00:01:38.079 Tiger Woods. It's been a good year for Tiger, hasn't it? Who saw that coming? I didn't. 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:44.719 Tiger Woods. We also have Kate Middleton. Yeah? No? No sticking Kate. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:49.299 Okay. Here else we've got. We've got Mark Zuckerberg. Influential. No? 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.640 Clearly we don't read Time Magazine, do we? There we go. 00:01:53.379 --> 00:01:56.420 Give me a few more. We have George Clooney. 00:01:57.420 --> 00:02:00.939 These are influencers, remember? People who are influencing people in our culture. 00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:02.960 People who are looking to. We've got Oprah. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:05.560 They said Oprah. 00:02:06.420 --> 00:02:08.939 Let's see who else we've got. Queen Bee. There she is. 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:09.639 Beyoncé. 00:02:09.639 --> 00:02:13.739 And another one that we have. Well, we've got two more. Actually, let me give you this one. 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:14.859 Mo Salah. Okay? 00:02:15.519 --> 00:02:17.479 Good week for Mo Salah, let me tell you. 00:02:18.500 --> 00:02:22.599 Last one that we have, and believe it or not, this individual has made it to the list. 00:02:22.679 --> 00:02:25.099 We'll see how this goes down. We have. We have Taylor Swift. 00:02:26.539 --> 00:02:30.479 So, these are the people that Time Magazine have identified 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:36.379 as being some of the greatest influencers in our world today. 00:02:36.379 --> 00:02:40.419 So, these are the people, according to them, are the people that influence people 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:43.919 and who people look to and who people take their cue off. 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:49.599 And here's what I want to say to you about Romans chapter 5 as we head into it this morning, 00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:56.340 is that in Romans chapter 5, we're going to meet two of the most influential people in the world. 00:02:57.479 --> 00:02:59.740 The two most influential people in the world. 00:02:59.819 --> 00:03:01.939 This is Romans chapter 5. Let me introduce you to them. 00:03:01.939 --> 00:03:08.079 In the one corner, we've got Adam, the very first human being, as we'll come on to see, 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:09.680 that God made in his image. 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:11.159 In the other corner, we've got Jesus. 00:03:12.419 --> 00:03:16.500 The two most influential people our world has ever seen. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:23.020 And so influential are these two individuals that every single human being 00:03:23.020 --> 00:03:26.000 who has ever lived or who will ever live, 00:03:26.880 --> 00:03:30.180 finds themselves in one of these two teams, 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:37.360 finds themselves living the whole of their lives under the influence of one of these two individuals. 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:40.860 Now, it was Puritan Thomas Goodwin who said this. 00:03:40.920 --> 00:03:42.680 This was his observation of Romans 5. 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:46.719 In God's sight, there are only two men, Adam and Jesus Christ. 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:51.800 And these two men have all other men hanging at their girdle strings. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:56.840 So he's identifying the fact that the whole of humanity finds themselves in one of these two teams. 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:00.639 And what we're going to do today is we're going to think about these two men. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:03.099 And we're going to think about what they did. 00:04:03.180 --> 00:04:05.840 We're going to think about the influence that they have. 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:08.719 We're going to think about the difference that each of them makes to us. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:12.259 And what we'll see is that these two individuals, Adam and Jesus Christ, 00:04:12.340 --> 00:04:17.160 are the greatest influencers our world will ever know. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:21.740 And if you've got Romans 5 there, verse 19, put it on the screen for us. 00:04:21.779 --> 00:04:23.379 This is kind of where the money is, right? 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:24.980 This is the memory verse. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:27.620 If you're into memory verses, it's a dying art, but I love it. 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:30.480 This is the one that's going to take us right to the heart of this message. 00:04:33.220 --> 00:04:35.300 So let me tell you about Adam. 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:39.740 And particularly, let me tell you about Team Adam's problem. 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:45.939 And someone pointed out to me this week, and I heard my little girl singing it this morning, 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:50.420 Adam's story, if you think about it, is a lot like Humpty Dumpty's. 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:52.920 Okay, I've not lost the plot, stick with me. 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:55.960 Adam's song is a lot like Humpty Dumpty. 00:04:56.080 --> 00:04:59.639 So if you just take Humpty Dumpty and you replace it with the original Adam, 00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:01.120 you'll begin to see what I mean. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:03.759 Right, if you don't believe me, let's go and we'll see how this works. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:06.060 Here's how Adam's story goes. 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:09.860 Original Adam sat on a wall, right? 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:16.659 So things started so well for Adam, the very first human being that God made in his image. 00:05:16.779 --> 00:05:19.860 God takes him, God creates him in the Garden of Eden, 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:24.560 sets him there to develop, to care for the world which God made. 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:30.959 And in the Garden of Eden, we have this glorious, harmonious relationship between creator and creation, 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.259 between God and man. 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:36.199 Glorious harmony. 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:41.220 And so God creates Eve, the very first woman, who together with Adam, 00:05:41.379 --> 00:05:44.980 forming this complementary team, God declares this is very good. 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:46.600 This is brilliant. 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:48.259 This brings me glory. 00:05:48.340 --> 00:05:49.579 And it was, it was glorious. 00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:49.859 Yes. 00:05:50.359 --> 00:05:53.479 And as we heard earlier, there's one stipulation from God. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:58.120 God said, out of all the beautiful trees in the garden, 00:05:58.759 --> 00:06:01.459 there's one tree which I don't want you to eat from. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:04.199 It's called the knowledge of good and evil. 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:05.120 That's why I've called this tree. 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:06.439 And I don't want you to eat from it. 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:08.299 Don't want you to touch it. 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:13.139 And here, as it were, was God saying to his dream team, Adam and Eve, 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:16.500 here he is saying, I want you to show me that you love me. 00:06:17.139 --> 00:06:22.340 I want you to show me that you trust me because I want you to obey what I'm telling you to do. 00:06:22.379 --> 00:06:23.000 Because then I'll know. 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:24.060 Right? 00:06:24.259 --> 00:06:27.080 And this is the heart of true biblical obedience. 00:06:27.080 --> 00:06:31.780 It stems from a true love for God, a deep love of God that's just got all of us. 00:06:31.779 --> 00:06:37.259 And it flows from this new desire that God has given us with these new hearts that beat for him, 00:06:37.359 --> 00:06:38.859 that wants to do his will. 00:06:40.839 --> 00:06:43.599 So God says, that's how I want you to show me that you love me. 00:06:43.679 --> 00:06:44.799 Just obey what I'm saying. 00:06:46.339 --> 00:06:50.339 And of course, along comes Satan who sows that seed of doubt in Eve's mind. 00:06:51.500 --> 00:06:53.519 And he says, did God really say that? 00:06:54.059 --> 00:06:55.179 Did God really say that? 00:06:55.659 --> 00:06:58.199 I mean, no matter where you put the emphasis on in that verse, 00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:02.719 he's got that feeling of somebody trying to sow the seed of doubt in Eve's mind. 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:04.420 Did God really say that? 00:07:04.459 --> 00:07:05.579 Did God really say that? 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:06.920 Did God really say that? 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.420 Did God really say that? 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:09.860 Did God really say that? 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:12.439 And we see what he's doing. 00:07:13.719 --> 00:07:14.879 Can you really trust him? 00:07:14.919 --> 00:07:16.139 Is he not giving you a raw deal? 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:17.079 Who is this God? 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:18.379 Do you think you really know him? 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:21.319 Because if he did, surely he wouldn't put this stipulation in your path. 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:25.659 So here's the choice that Adam faces at this point in the story. 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:28.640 It's the one task with taking the lead here. 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:30.980 Will it be God's way or will it be my way? 00:07:31.140 --> 00:07:31.900 That's the choice. 00:07:32.840 --> 00:07:34.960 Will it be God's way or will it be my way? 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:38.320 And of course, Adam goes for my way. 00:07:40.440 --> 00:07:42.300 And original Adam had a great fall. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.020 The two of them, they're banished from the garden. 00:07:47.200 --> 00:07:48.000 And that's what Paul means. 00:07:48.080 --> 00:07:49.940 Have you got the text there, verse 12, when he says, 00:07:49.940 --> 00:07:55.060 Through Adam and because of his disobedience, sin entered the world. 00:07:56.640 --> 00:07:58.920 It's funny because after this point in the Bible story, 00:07:59.020 --> 00:08:03.520 As you read on after Genesis 3, we start to get words like shame, 00:08:04.820 --> 00:08:10.200 And guilt, and murder, and envy, and rage. 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:11.740 It's the entire world. 00:08:11.820 --> 00:08:13.000 This is what the author is trying to tell us. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:14.980 The entire world, not just Adam and Eve, 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:18.060 The entire world feels the effect of this brokenness. 00:08:18.280 --> 00:08:21.300 All stemming from that broken relationship with its creator. 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:24.259 And when you put it like that, all of a sudden, 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:26.400 You begin to see that we're entering our world now. 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:28.680 This is the world in which we live. 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:32.460 And Adam's mindset, do you see it in verse 12? 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:35.200 It's spread to all people. 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:39.379 This is a biblical theologians call original sin. 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:40.560 It's spread to all people. 00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:42.820 Now, if you needed proof of that, 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.879 Let me tell you about a tweet that I read this week. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:47.919 From the co-op funeral directors. 00:08:49.659 --> 00:08:52.500 And apparently in 2018, for the first time ever, 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:53.720 According to them, 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:57.960 A hymn wasn't the most requested song to be played at a funeral. 00:08:59.100 --> 00:08:59.799 Do you know what it was? 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:00.639 The winner? 00:09:02.019 --> 00:09:03.559 Frank Sinatra song, 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:05.960 I Did It My Way. 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:09.139 That is the most played song, according to them, at their funerals. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:10.379 This is what their clients want. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:12.059 I Did It My Way. 00:09:12.059 --> 00:09:14.859 And how tragically ironic is that? 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:18.639 Because what this passage tells us 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:22.979 Is that the reason death so painfully exists in the first place 00:09:22.979 --> 00:09:25.139 Is because we wanted it our way. 00:09:27.099 --> 00:09:27.899 And our world, doesn't it, 00:09:27.939 --> 00:09:29.919 It dresses up death in phrases like 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:32.059 They're now sleeping with the angels. 00:09:32.719 --> 00:09:34.419 Or they are in a better place. 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:36.819 Or aren't they looking down on us from the stars. 00:09:37.779 --> 00:09:41.139 All the while trying to dress up death as if it's natural. 00:09:42.779 --> 00:09:44.339 And God would tell us in His Word, 00:09:44.439 --> 00:09:46.639 How loving of Him to give us His Word, 00:09:46.699 --> 00:09:47.559 That we could know this, 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:49.319 That death is anything but natural. 00:09:51.859 --> 00:09:52.719 But you see, friends, 00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:54.359 By very nature, we're all in this team. 00:09:55.299 --> 00:09:57.139 By very nature, we are all in this team. 00:09:57.199 --> 00:09:58.599 The consequences, look at it here. 00:09:58.699 --> 00:09:59.319 Verse 16. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:01.399 Condemnation. 00:10:03.459 --> 00:10:04.979 Guilty before our Creator God. 00:10:06.479 --> 00:10:06.839 Hopeless. 00:10:06.979 --> 00:10:07.939 Deserving of His judgment. 00:10:08.339 --> 00:10:09.119 That's what it says. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:12.360 And as a result, the destination for all of us, 00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:13.620 Verse 12, by nature, 00:10:14.560 --> 00:10:15.179 Is death. 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:17.600 Spiritual death. 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:20.480 Because we are separated from our God, 00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:21.840 From our Creator because of our sin. 00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:24.240 Which leads ultimately to physical death. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:28.320 And it's the thing that will happen to 100% of us here today. 00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:30.840 And 100% of the people who live, 00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:33.340 We rub shoulders with every day in our world. 00:10:33.560 --> 00:10:35.960 And it's the thing that causes so much pain, 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:37.080 Tears and heartache. 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:42.100 I remember when I worked at a law firm down south, 00:10:42.160 --> 00:10:44.320 Every month, the entire staff team, 00:10:44.400 --> 00:10:45.400 We were sent this email, 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.180 And we had to vote on a charity of the month 00:10:47.180 --> 00:10:48.100 Who we wanted to support. 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:50.500 So they gave us a short list of five or six, 00:10:50.560 --> 00:10:52.259 And we had to vote for the one that we wanted to choose. 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:54.080 And nine times out of ten, 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:56.860 The charity of the month was a medical charity. 00:10:57.180 --> 00:10:58.120 Nine times out of ten, 00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:59.200 Always a medical charity. 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:01.500 So, Cancer Research UK, 00:11:02.020 --> 00:11:02.740 Marie Curie, 00:11:03.060 --> 00:11:04.220 Bristol Children's Hospital, 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:05.080 Wonderful organisations, 00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:06.759 Doing wonderful work. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:08.620 But it's, 00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:10.200 I remember looking at it and thinking, 00:11:10.300 --> 00:11:13.379 That is so telling to me, 00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:18.300 That death is something that we feel the effects of every day, 00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:20.240 And it's a thing that we would love a cure to. 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:22.759 But the thing is, 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:23.960 That left to ourselves, 00:11:24.180 --> 00:11:24.540 We have, 00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:26.060 Try as we might, 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:27.379 And by God's common grace, 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:29.259 We pray that there are advances in medicine, 00:11:29.800 --> 00:11:30.720 But left to ourselves, 00:11:30.800 --> 00:11:32.840 There's no answer to that question. 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:36.440 I was speaking to a friend of mine recently, 00:11:36.580 --> 00:11:37.759 Who works in medical research, 00:11:38.300 --> 00:11:40.100 And he was telling me that, 00:11:41.180 --> 00:11:41.820 How at the minute, 00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:43.379 He's feeling greatly unenthused, 00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:44.120 About what he does. 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:45.840 And the reason was, 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:47.240 Because no lack of funding, 00:11:47.800 --> 00:11:49.200 Or no lack of opportunities, 00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:50.840 According to him, 00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:51.820 As he can view it, 00:11:52.060 --> 00:11:53.100 That no one's coming up, 00:11:53.180 --> 00:11:55.080 With any significant breakthroughs. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:56.540 Now let's, 00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:57.360 Don't hear me wrong, 00:11:57.400 --> 00:11:58.480 I'm not talking about medical research, 00:11:58.480 --> 00:11:59.139 Being a bad thing, 00:11:59.160 --> 00:11:59.900 It's a great thing, 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:01.620 And we pray by God's common grace, 00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:02.079 That we would, 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.779 Make advances in that field. 00:12:05.659 --> 00:12:06.240 But friends, 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:07.340 If that's where your hope is, 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:08.439 If that's what it is, 00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:09.819 In medical research, 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:10.659 Making a breakthrough, 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:13.039 Then this passage would tell you, 00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:14.379 That you're looking in the wrong place. 00:12:16.459 --> 00:12:17.959 That is Team Adam's problem, 00:12:18.819 --> 00:12:20.980 That all the king's horses, 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:23.019 And all the king's men, 00:12:24.019 --> 00:12:26.039 Couldn't put original Adam, 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.439 Together again. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:30.940 And so as we reach this point, 00:12:31.020 --> 00:12:31.520 In the passage, 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:33.160 The passage screams at us, 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:35.480 Is there anyone, 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.900 Who can put us back together again? 00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:39.620 Is there a cure, 00:12:39.800 --> 00:12:40.920 To sin and to death, 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:41.600 And to heartache? 00:12:41.660 --> 00:12:42.580 Is there a place? 00:12:43.780 --> 00:12:44.800 For there are no tears, 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:45.480 There are no, 00:12:45.520 --> 00:12:47.080 There are no more pain, 00:12:47.560 --> 00:12:49.460 Because sin has been dealt with, 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:50.760 And it's a banished memory. 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:51.840 Well the wonderful news, 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.560 Of these verses, 00:12:53.020 --> 00:12:55.180 Is that God has provided a cure, 00:12:55.640 --> 00:12:57.180 Because he's provided a person, 00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:58.259 He's provided his son, 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:00.279 And so let me tell you about Jesus, 00:13:01.479 --> 00:13:02.219 And in particular, 00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:03.299 Let me tell you about, 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:04.659 Team Jesus's privilege, 00:13:05.859 --> 00:13:07.000 Because follow with me, 00:13:07.059 --> 00:13:07.739 At verse 19, 00:13:07.839 --> 00:13:08.819 If Paul's drawn attention, 00:13:08.979 --> 00:13:10.779 To Adam's one act of disobedience, 00:13:10.859 --> 00:13:11.359 Do you see it? 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.319 He also draws attention, 00:13:13.319 --> 00:13:15.239 To Jesus's one act of obedience, 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:17.720 And although his whole life, 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:18.639 Was one of obedience, 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:20.879 Joyful obedience to the Father, 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:21.919 The one act, 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:23.159 That Paul's talking about here, 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:24.860 The pinnacle of Jesus's obedience, 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:26.620 Was his decision, 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:27.399 His choice, 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.379 As we've been singing earlier, 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:29.440 To go to the cross, 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:32.960 The place where he shed his blood, 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.940 He counted the cost, 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:35.960 He paid the penalty, 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:37.000 He took the death, 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:38.299 That our disobedience deserved, 00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:38.699 Why? 00:13:39.339 --> 00:13:40.659 To deal with the problem, 00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:42.319 To deal with our condemnation, 00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:43.479 To deal with the judgment, 00:13:43.599 --> 00:13:44.500 That he deserved, 00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:46.059 And to win a people for himself, 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:48.299 And here's the key difference, 00:13:48.339 --> 00:13:49.079 Between these two men, 00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:49.519 Do you see it? 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:50.859 If Adam's mindset was, 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.120 My way God, 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.179 Not your way God, 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.500 Do you see what the difference is, 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.459 In terms of the mindset? 00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:57.819 Because Jesus's mindset, 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:00.199 Is not my way God, 00:14:00.599 --> 00:14:02.000 Is your way God, 00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:03.879 Verse 17, 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:05.659 Who's in team Jesus? 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:09.120 All those who would receive him by faith, 00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:09.960 Do you see that word receive? 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:11.539 Take, 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:12.820 It's mine, 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.379 Grasping it with both hands, 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:15.360 This is who this is for, 00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:16.720 This is who is in team Jesus, 00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:18.480 Those who would live by faith, 00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:19.779 And trust in him, 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:21.220 Those who would take Jesus, 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.679 As their saviour and their king, 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:24.860 And what is that? 00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.519 Word in the passage, 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.299 Beginning with G, 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:28.620 Two G's are going to take us, 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.220 To the heart of this, 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:29.460 Okay, 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.320 Here's the first one, 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.200 It's a gift, 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:32.419 Do you see that word? 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:34.219 Four times we get it, 00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.599 In verses 15 to 17, 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:36.579 It's a gift, 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:37.959 Right? 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:38.699 Christ, 00:14:39.219 --> 00:14:39.799 A gift, 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:40.879 From God, 00:14:41.479 --> 00:14:43.500 Four times in verses 15 to 17, 00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:46.199 And you see how it's qualified, 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:47.000 Just before it, 00:14:47.059 --> 00:14:47.679 With the word, 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:48.659 Free, 00:14:50.099 --> 00:14:50.419 Free, 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.779 I once heard somebody tell, 00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:53.099 A Englishman, 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:53.759 Irishman, 00:14:53.959 --> 00:14:54.699 Scotsman joke, 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:55.459 And the punchline, 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.519 The question was, 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.579 Why do you love grace? 00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.819 And the punchline was, 00:14:59.879 --> 00:15:00.559 The Scotsman said, 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.799 I love it because it's free, 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:05.139 But we have that saying, 00:15:05.219 --> 00:15:05.699 In our culture, 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:06.099 Don't we? 00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:07.000 That there's no such thing, 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.819 As a free lunch, 00:15:07.839 --> 00:15:08.659 And it's often the case, 00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.179 That it's true, 00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:11.279 Because our experience, 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.679 Tells us that there's always a catch, 00:15:12.719 --> 00:15:13.759 When we read about a good deal, 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.000 Right? 00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:15.779 I'll give you a couple of, 00:15:15.839 --> 00:15:17.319 I've encountered the last few months, 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.159 One month's free subscription, 00:15:19.319 --> 00:15:20.139 For BT Sport, 00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:21.000 And I'm rubbing my hands, 00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:21.259 Thinking, 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.159 Champions League, 00:15:22.219 --> 00:15:22.839 Here we come, 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:23.399 What does it say? 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:23.579 No, 00:15:23.579 --> 00:15:23.699 No, 00:15:23.699 --> 00:15:23.819 No, 00:15:23.819 --> 00:15:23.979 No, 00:15:23.979 --> 00:15:25.459 Only when you sign up, 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.099 For 12 months, 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:27.039 Do you get that month's free, 00:15:27.479 --> 00:15:29.259 Or I think about it, 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:30.120 A free coffee, 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:30.959 At Cafe Nero, 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:31.420 And you're thinking, 00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:32.460 Give me some of that sweet, 00:15:32.540 --> 00:15:33.160 Sweet caffeine, 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.300 And then you realise, 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:35.440 No, 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.800 But you have to collect 10 stamps, 00:15:36.900 --> 00:15:37.840 And then you get your free coffee, 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.120 You think, 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:38.420 Oh, 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.240 What is the catch? 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:39.400 Well, 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:40.600 Do you see God's gift, 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.600 Free gift to us, 00:15:41.660 --> 00:15:42.480 Comes in Christ, 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:43.420 And do you see the gift, 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:44.480 It's the gift of righteousness, 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:48.019 That status we have in Jesus, 00:15:48.160 --> 00:15:48.900 Of being right, 00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:51.280 In God's sight, 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.560 Now we thought about that word last week, 00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:55.300 As we found it in verse 1 of chapter 5, 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.060 Justified, 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.820 Treated not simply, 00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:59.080 As if we didn't sin, 00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:00.820 But in God's sight, 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.639 Because of Christ, 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.139 Treated, 00:16:02.180 --> 00:16:02.820 And get this, 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:04.379 As if we were Jesus, 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.080 In God's sight, 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:07.020 Get that, 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:08.920 Messy me, 00:16:10.040 --> 00:16:11.320 All my baggage, 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:11.620 Me, 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.620 All my faults, 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:12.920 Me, 00:16:13.020 --> 00:16:13.800 All my failures, 00:16:14.020 --> 00:16:14.400 Me, 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.600 Perfect in God's sight, 00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:17.580 How can that be? 00:16:19.180 --> 00:16:19.560 Well, 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:20.420 The answer to this passage, 00:16:20.540 --> 00:16:21.280 Screams back at us, 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.720 It can be true, 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:24.300 And it is true in God's sight, 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:25.860 Because we are in Christ, 00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.420 But how you say, 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:29.440 Where's the catch? 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.580 Where's the catch? 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.519 What do I need to do? 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:33.680 Do I need to read my Bible five times a day? 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:36.259 Do I need to pray for ten minutes every hour? 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:38.220 Do I need to do a hundred press-ups every day, 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:38.800 And say Father, 00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:39.040 Son, 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:40.100 And Spirit in between each one? 00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:41.040 What is the catch? 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.120 Get this, 00:16:44.160 --> 00:16:44.879 There's no catch. 00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:47.399 There's no catch. 00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:47.660 How? 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:50.600 Because of that other word, 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:51.299 That other G, 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.980 That appears five times in these verses, 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:54.799 Follow with me, 00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:55.539 You've got to see this, 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:56.799 Twice at verse 15, 00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:59.039 Verse 20, 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:00.039 Verse 17, 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.759 Verse 21, 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.360 What's the word? 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:02.039 It's grace. 00:17:03.959 --> 00:17:04.960 At its core, 00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:07.500 It is getting something that we, 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.680 Definitely do not deserve. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:13.240 The undeserved favour that God shows us, 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.339 And giving us Jesus, 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:17.480 Who is the one who's described in John chapter 1, 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:19.259 Is the one who's full of grace and truth. 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:23.620 And the one who holds his arms wide open, 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:23.940 And says, 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:24.620 Come to me, 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.180 Child, 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.980 Come to me, 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:27.720 And know life, 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.059 And know forgiveness. 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.140 Now, 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:31.779 With me, 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:32.420 Today, 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.440 You'll know it, 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.279 And gloriously, 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.079 And supremely, 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:36.640 And fully, 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:37.819 That day, 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.019 When I take you, 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:41.500 With me, 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.960 To my glorious kingdom. 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.079 It's grace, 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.640 This is the heart of this passage, 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.259 It's grace. 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.559 And it's why, 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:48.440 I don't know if you've noticed it, 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:51.079 So many of the hymns and songs, 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.500 That we've sang down the years, 00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.299 As the church, 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.779 Are all about grace. 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.779 They're all about grace. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:57.279 Right? 00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.059 Here's a little challenge, 00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:59.819 Think about how many songs you can think of, 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.200 Right now, 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.740 Off the top of your head, 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.440 That talk about grace. 00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:04.500 They talk about amazing grace, 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:06.000 They talk about sufficient grace. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.220 It's all about grace. 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:09.839 Because what God has done for us, 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:10.640 In his son, 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:12.400 It should leave us ever praising him, 00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:13.839 Ever praising him, 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:15.000 Ever singing about him. 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:18.440 And do you see in these verses, 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.259 How God's grace, 00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:20.500 That he's shown to us in Christ, 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:22.819 Do you see how, 00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:24.119 It's not just cancelled out our sin. 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:26.380 Do you see him, 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.259 Try and convey to us, 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:27.960 That God's grace, 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:29.200 Has not just matched our sin. 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:31.019 God's grace in Christ, 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:32.500 Has blown our sin out of the water. 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:35.119 We are ever covered. 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:37.140 Do you see him, 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:37.839 Try and convey that, 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:39.119 Verse 15 and 17. 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.160 That this grace is what, 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.460 Is overflowed to us. 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.960 Verse 20, 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.900 What has this grace done? 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:47.019 It has abounded to us. 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:49.000 One of my favourite songs, 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.579 That we sing here, 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:50.819 Is that song by Matt Redman, 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:51.460 That says, 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.440 You alone can rescue. 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:52.720 And it, 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:53.380 You know, 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.840 Who the Lord could save themselves? 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.299 I don't know if you ever, 00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:57.460 Ask yourself questions, 00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:58.480 As we sing songs, 00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.480 With a question mark at the end. 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.519 Who the Lord could save ourselves? 00:19:00.600 --> 00:19:00.900 Well who? 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.079 I couldn't. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:05.579 Their own soul could heal. 00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.700 I know it's a rhetorical question, 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.360 But I'm always asking, 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.660 Of course I couldn't do that. 00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:11.019 And the truth that our shame, 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.180 Was deeper than the sea, 00:19:12.300 --> 00:19:12.980 And I feel that, 00:19:13.040 --> 00:19:13.700 I know that, 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.800 As a Christian, 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.420 As a husband, 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.080 As a father, 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.460 But thank you, 00:19:17.800 --> 00:19:18.400 Lord Jesus, 00:19:18.540 --> 00:19:20.000 That your grace is deeper still. 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.720 Because nothing humbles us, 00:19:22.840 --> 00:19:23.420 More than grace, 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:23.820 Does it? 00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:25.600 Nothing humbles us, 00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:27.320 More than grace, 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:27.860 Knowing that we've, 00:19:27.860 --> 00:19:29.080 We've contributed nothing, 00:19:29.080 --> 00:19:29.880 To our salvation, 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.700 Other than our sin. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.920 Presumably this is why, 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:33.580 Paul wrote it, 00:19:33.600 --> 00:19:33.720 You know, 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.820 If this is a background here, 00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:35.960 Of a church full of Jews, 00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:36.820 And Gentiles, 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.100 Each with their own baggage, 00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:39.480 Each with their own traditions, 00:19:39.659 --> 00:19:40.779 And ways of doing things, 00:19:41.399 --> 00:19:42.059 Then surely, 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:44.079 The answer to the friction, 00:19:44.219 --> 00:19:44.839 That they're feeling, 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.779 In their congregation, 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.839 Is for each of them, 00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:48.059 To know what grace is. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:50.079 Because we are all, 00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:51.579 Undone at the cross, 00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:52.659 If we are all, 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.399 Coming to God, 00:19:53.439 --> 00:19:54.519 Because of his grace, 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.519 Then none of us, 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.119 Should be boasting, 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.559 About a superiority complex. 00:19:57.699 --> 00:19:58.759 Surely that's the answer, 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.500 To their humility. 00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:03.099 Nothing humbles us more, 00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:04.539 Than knowing that Jesus did it all. 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.859 Nothing humbles us more, 00:20:05.859 --> 00:20:06.939 But do you understand, 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:08.699 How nothing honours Jesus more, 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.099 Than saying, 00:20:10.219 --> 00:20:10.859 It's all about him. 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.740 It's all about him. 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:16.559 It's all about his free gift of grace, 00:20:17.479 --> 00:20:18.799 That he loved me, 00:20:18.879 --> 00:20:19.979 When I wasn't looking for him. 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:20.959 He pursued me, 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.799 When I was his enemy. 00:20:21.939 --> 00:20:23.099 It's all about him. 00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:27.439 This is team Jesus' privilege. 00:20:28.479 --> 00:20:29.799 Now let me just make two comments, 00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:31.599 Just as we work towards a close this morning, 00:20:31.639 --> 00:20:32.759 As we leave chapter five, 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:35.299 And speak pastorally just for a minute, 00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:36.539 Because we've called this series, 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:38.379 The building blocks of the Christian life, 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.740 Or the Christian life. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.440 An idea behind it, 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.920 Is that because in these chapters, 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:44.119 Five, six, seven, eight, 00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:45.440 What we get, 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.500 Are some of the, 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.920 Absolute foundations of our faith, 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.940 That we can build upon. 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:52.619 And the one that we get in chapter five, 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:54.799 Is the one marked grace. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.440 Right? 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:56.240 Grace. 00:20:56.359 --> 00:20:57.559 This is what this is saying to us. 00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:59.240 The building block of the Christian life, 00:20:59.299 --> 00:20:59.579 Grace. 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.319 Look what Paul writes, 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:02.000 At verse three. 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.779 Looked at this last week, 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:06.000 But this kind of holds it together. 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:06.819 Do you see what he says? 00:21:06.899 --> 00:21:07.960 What do we do with this grace? 00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:09.200 What are we doing with this grace? 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.960 We are standing on it. 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.839 In other words, 00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.839 We're camping out here. 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.460 Right? 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.879 We're building our lives here. 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:17.099 This is the foundation, 00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:18.220 Which we build upon. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.179 And we never move on from here. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:20.879 Grace. 00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:22.299 You know the truth, 00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:24.460 That we are saved by grace alone, 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.339 Through faith alone, 00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.200 And Christ alone. 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.740 We never move on from that. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.639 And let me just ask you two questions, 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.140 When it comes to grasping grace. 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.660 Here we go. 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.040 Firstly, 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:34.180 Have you grasped it? 00:21:35.280 --> 00:21:35.480 Right? 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.900 That you are not right with God, 00:21:38.020 --> 00:21:40.060 And you need to listen to what this passage is telling us. 00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:41.100 We are not right with God, 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:42.120 Because of how we perform. 00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:43.380 Right? 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.520 Where would you and I be, 00:21:44.580 --> 00:21:45.380 If that were the case? 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.620 We're not right with God, 00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.460 With how we perform. 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:49.140 We are right with him, 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.620 Solely because of grace. 00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:51.920 You know, 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:52.980 Ben was telling us earlier, 00:21:53.020 --> 00:21:54.180 And I was thinking of him this week, 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.020 About the changes, 00:21:55.020 --> 00:21:56.400 That are happening in his life. 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:57.660 Right? 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.680 The new start, 00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:00.400 That he's working towards, 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.180 The new challenge. 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:02.580 And I wonder if he said that, 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:04.580 I wonder if many of us identified with that. 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.180 You know, 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:07.820 We're at crossroads places in our lives. 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:09.180 You're a student, 00:22:09.320 --> 00:22:09.820 Student guys, 00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:11.040 You're going home for the summer. 00:22:12.080 --> 00:22:12.900 Maybe student guys, 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:13.400 You're leaving, 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:13.940 You're graduating, 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:15.180 You're going on to a new job. 00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:16.980 Maybe you're, 00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:18.200 You're a worker, 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:20.220 Who's starting a new job. 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:20.820 Maybe you're a worker, 00:22:20.820 --> 00:22:21.640 At the other end of the thing, 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.580 You're thinking about retirement, 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.500 What am I going to do? 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.039 Young folks, 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:25.279 Guys, 00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:26.660 Maybe you guys are starting school, 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:28.019 Or you're finishing school, 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:28.880 You're going to college. 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.000 I don't know about you, 00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:32.500 But I've always found those moments of change in my life. 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.240 Right? 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:35.099 Those points where we hit crossroads, 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:35.839 And everything's up in the air, 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:36.380 Everything changes. 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:38.579 I've always found those points in life, 00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:41.140 To be the ones that are the most emotionally, 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.359 And spiritually difficult. 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.099 Every time. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:45.559 Every time. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.440 And what I mean by that, 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:50.079 Is that it is so easy for me to get distracted, 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.299 By all the changes going on, 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:53.380 That I take my eyes off the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.680 And what happens is, 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.599 When I fall, 00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:59.119 And I stumble, 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:02.279 My inclination is to run towards me, 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.400 Not to run towards him. 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.559 And I drift, 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.559 Spiritually speaking, 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.279 I drift from him. 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:09.259 And when I stumble and fall again, 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:10.579 The more and more I drift, 00:23:10.660 --> 00:23:11.059 And I drift, 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:11.539 And I drift, 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.039 And I drift, 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.579 And because of the shame of my sin, 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.380 Because of the guilt, 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.519 Because I don't know what to do, 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.759 I run from Jesus, 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:17.839 Rather than towards him. 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:19.880 And listen friends, 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:20.740 You might be here today, 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:22.299 And that's exactly where you are. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:23.700 You're drifting, 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:24.859 And you're drifting, 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:25.879 And you're drifting. 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:28.519 And each time it becomes harder, 00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:29.039 And harder, 00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:29.419 And harder. 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.240 And you might come back, 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:32.059 Because Satan is sowing that lie. 00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:33.819 The same one he sowed in Genesis 3. 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:34.899 Did God really say that? 00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:37.079 Did God really say it was free? 00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:38.819 Did God really say it was nothing to do with you? 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:40.379 Who are you to come before him? 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.659 And you hide in your shame, 00:23:43.139 --> 00:23:44.879 And you're weighed down by your guilt, 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.680 And you're left thinking, 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.940 Maybe the devil is right. 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:49.400 Who am I to represent God? 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:51.880 Who am I to have Jesus as my saviour? 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:55.840 Friends, that's why it's so important, 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:57.259 That we know the truth, 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:59.680 That we're saved by grace alone, 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.940 Through faith alone, 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:02.400 In Christ alone. 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:04.940 And it's so important that we know, 00:24:05.040 --> 00:24:06.080 That this is the Jesus, 00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:07.160 That we're dealing with here. 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.240 He's not like the parent, 00:24:08.320 --> 00:24:09.080 With that teenager, 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.380 Who goes out late at night, 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.720 Sitting by the door, 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.700 Before they come in, 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.060 And say, 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.840 Tapping or watching, 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.920 What time do you call this? 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.220 Right? 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.460 What time do you call this? 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.100 Where were you? 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.220 Care to explain yourself? 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.160 What's going on? 00:24:19.860 --> 00:24:21.800 This isn't the saviour that we have. 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:23.560 We have one who, 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.220 Says you're mine. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.860 I bought you with my precious blood, 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:29.019 I paid for your sin. 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:32.859 On you, Satan cannot make your sin stick. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:35.059 Because I paid for it all. 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:37.220 And every time he does that, 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.700 I am there at the right hand of the Father, 00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:40.259 Jumping to your defence. 00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:43.059 Do you see how Jesus is the best defence lawyer, 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:44.279 We can ever have? 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.779 Objection my Lord, 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.819 Objection my Lord, 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.740 Objection my Lord, 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.379 Every time. 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:48.720 Why? 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.920 Because of my blood. 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.960 I paid for that sin, 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:53.019 I paid for that sin, 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.220 I paid for that sin, 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.940 In his past, 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.559 In his future, 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.259 And in his present. 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:56.900 He's mine. 00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.920 And we are right with God, 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.240 Friends, 00:24:59.299 --> 00:25:00.599 Not because of what we do, 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:02.940 We are right because of him. 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:05.119 And he says, 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.000 Come to me, 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.960 And no forgiveness, 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.059 And no life, 00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:09.779 And no grace abundant, 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.519 And get this, 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:12.279 The grace that is sufficient for you, 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.839 Every hour of every day. 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:18.160 Because we're ever dependent on the Lord Jesus, 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:19.000 And in his grace. 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.440 He's not like, 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:22.079 And this is what happened to me in the car recently, 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.500 The battery went dead, 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:25.700 What I had to do was call a man to come out, 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.599 Because I didn't have the jump leads, 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.299 And he jumped it, 00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:28.059 And went cheerio. 00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:28.919 Right? 00:25:29.699 --> 00:25:30.959 We don't have a jump lead Jesus. 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.319 He doesn't come along, 00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:35.379 Get our spiritual battery started again, 00:25:35.439 --> 00:25:35.919 And now says, 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.399 Cheerio, 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:38.539 It's over to you to drive yourself home. 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:41.039 He is not the fourth emergency service. 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:41.599 Right? 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:42.779 He is there, 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.959 What is the song that we sing? 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:46.799 It's grace that has brought me safe thus far. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.439 And it's grace that what? 00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:49.779 Sees me through to 34, 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.379 Nope. 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.779 Sees me through to 64, 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.199 Nope. 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:55.059 It's the grace that will see me home. 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.559 It will see me home. 00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:00.440 That there is never coming a day in our lives, 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:03.019 Where we don't desperately need the Lord Jesus. 00:26:03.620 --> 00:26:04.240 And get this, 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:05.840 There's never coming a day in our lives, 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.059 Where we don't have the Lord Jesus. 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.680 Have you grasped it? 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.240 And secondly, 00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:12.279 And there will be two more minutes, 00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:12.720 I promise. 00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:13.480 Secondly, 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.580 Have we grasped it? 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:18.200 Because do you see how understanding grace, 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.740 Grace, 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:20.039 It frees us, 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:21.180 As a church, 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.819 To take the masks off, 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:26.600 And stop pretending we have this life sussed. 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.740 Stop pretending we have it sorted. 00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:31.319 And you see how this doctrine, 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.319 This truth, 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.700 This individual, 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:36.819 How it invites us to put our hands up, 00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.220 And say, 00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:39.580 I so desperately need Jesus. 00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:41.840 I need him. 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:43.920 He outed me as a failure on the cross. 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:46.100 And I loved it how Zoe said at her baptism, 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:47.240 You can remember that for you, 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.099 Whenever that was, 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:48.779 Is that September? 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.259 I don't know. 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.079 She said, 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:51.759 I can never out sin the cross. 00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.319 Sam Albury, 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.980 Anglican minister down south, 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:56.740 Puts it like this, 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.900 I don't need to look good, 00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:59.279 So that Jesus can look good. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.819 I need to be honest, 00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:03.279 About my colossal spiritual need, 00:27:03.620 --> 00:27:05.660 So that he can look all sufficient. 00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:07.819 Friends, 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:09.380 This is the kind of community, 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.259 That we want to be, 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:10.640 Isn't it? 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.359 It is. 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.059 A community of grace, 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.620 Where we're real with one another, 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:18.579 And we share life's burdens with one another. 00:27:20.139 --> 00:27:20.359 You know, 00:27:20.419 --> 00:27:21.059 I don't know about you, 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:22.319 But as I've reflected on it this week, 00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:23.819 My fear for us as a church, 00:27:24.699 --> 00:27:27.079 And my fear for myself as your pastor, 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.959 Is that, 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:32.519 We get to the finishing line of life, 00:27:33.979 --> 00:27:35.159 And we find out, 00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:36.739 From our obituaries, 00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:39.000 That some of us were, 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:40.720 Bearing burdens, 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:42.440 And suffering from scars, 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.680 Our entire lives, 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.839 And we never knew, 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:50.279 Because we've shared a building together, 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:52.380 For tons of years, 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.119 Many years, 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.299 But we never shared life, 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:57.480 And this call this morning, 00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.960 Is to come to Jesus, 00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.339 And give him masks off, 00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:01.160 All the glory, 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.519 And to walk side by side, 00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.240 With one another, 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.640 Carrying burdens, 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.500 Sharing life, 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.980 Rejoicing when we're rejoicing, 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.039 And weeping when we're weeping, 00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:12.019 And to help each other walk home, 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.480 All the while, 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.900 Pointing one another to Jesus, 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.579 Every time, 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.640 Look at him, 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:18.779 Look at him, 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.680 Don't look at yourself, 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.359 Look at him, 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.640 Because he is the all loving, 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.900 All knowing, 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:25.440 All sufficient, 00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.799 Shepherd of his sheep, 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.380 That is team Jesus, 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.039 His privilege, 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.680 We have him, 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:33.960 So friends, 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.039 Here are the two, 00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:36.060 Most individual, 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.880 Two most influential, 00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:38.660 Individuals, 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:39.420 There's a tongue twister, 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.279 Influential individuals, 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.940 The world has ever known, 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.340 And that the world will ever know, 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.980 In one corner, 00:28:47.080 --> 00:28:47.799 We've got team Adam, 00:28:49.080 --> 00:28:50.100 Death, 00:28:50.680 --> 00:28:51.299 Condemnation, 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:51.759 Judgment, 00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:53.360 And on the other hand, 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.380 We have team Jesus, 00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:55.799 Grace, 00:28:56.560 --> 00:28:56.860 Gift, 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:57.860 Life, 00:28:57.859 --> 00:29:00.579 And if you've not given your life, 00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:01.599 To the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:29:01.639 --> 00:29:02.099 This morning, 00:29:02.679 --> 00:29:03.899 Then feel his hand, 00:29:04.439 --> 00:29:05.359 Outstretched to you, 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:05.899 In these verses, 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:07.019 In Romans chapter 5, 00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:08.279 And saying, 00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.099 Come to me child, 00:29:09.179 --> 00:29:09.719 Come to me, 00:29:10.979 --> 00:29:12.059 And if you want to pray, 00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:12.979 About anything friends, 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:13.619 Prayer should be, 00:29:13.719 --> 00:29:14.879 The most natural thing, 00:29:14.959 --> 00:29:15.679 We do as Christians, 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:16.659 This should be the atmosphere, 00:29:16.659 --> 00:29:17.299 That we live in, 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.000 It's just prayer, 00:29:18.479 --> 00:29:19.379 So maybe you want to do, 00:29:19.479 --> 00:29:20.439 As we respond to this, 00:29:20.459 --> 00:29:21.719 As you reflect in your own heart, 00:29:22.219 --> 00:29:23.199 Maybe you just want to ask, 00:29:23.219 --> 00:29:24.319 The person next to you, 00:29:24.439 --> 00:29:25.019 Really simply, 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:25.740 How can I help? 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:27.839 How can I pray for you this week? 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:29.179 And be amazed, 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.679 The answers you'll get back, 00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:32.099 Because this is the community, 00:29:32.199 --> 00:29:32.699 We want to be, 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:32.919 Isn't it? 00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:33.379 A community, 00:29:33.959 --> 00:29:34.500 Of grace, 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.019 So friends, 00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:35.519 Let me ask you, 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.019 Last line, 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:36.439 Promise, 00:29:36.639 --> 00:29:37.439 Which team are you in? 00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:39.299 Which team are you in? 00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:41.699 So let's just have a minute of silence, 00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:42.859 And then I'll pray, 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:44.139 And then we'll close our service. 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.559 Oh to grace, 00:29:49.679 --> 00:29:50.799 How great a debtor, 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:53.599 Daily I'm constrained to be, 00:29:54.179 --> 00:29:55.459 Let that grace now, 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.459 Like a fetter, 00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.839 Bind my wand, 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.899 Wandering heart to thee, 00:29:58.899 --> 00:30:00.679 Prone to wander, 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.599 Lord I feel it, 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:04.679 Prone to leave the God I love, 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.720 Here's my heart, 00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.419 Oh take and seal it, 00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:09.899 Seal it for thy courts above, 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:12.220 Lord Jesus, 00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.159 We love you, 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:16.079 And Lord I pray that you would turn 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:18.179 Our wandering hearts back to you this morning, 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:20.099 And find in you 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:21.619 Our all in all, 00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:23.359 Would you help us, 00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.599 Heavenly Father, 00:30:24.739 --> 00:30:27.399 To stand in this grace, 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:30.459 And help us to know you more, 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:33.719 And we ask this in the Lord Jesus' 00:30:33.959 --> 00:30:35.439 Precious and worthy name, 00:30:36.139 --> 00:30:36.439 Amen. 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.340 That's right, 00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:39.440 Amen. 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:43.299 Good day. 00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.259 K forgiveness, 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:53.860 I love you, 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.340 I love you. 00:30:54.380 --> 00:30:55.340 Hello 00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:57.460 You