WEBVTT

00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:03.580
 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church.

00:00:04.219 --> 00:00:08.000
 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication,

00:00:08.380 --> 00:00:13.780
 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church.

00:00:14.140 --> 00:00:21.140
 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org.

00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:27.199
 Join me in prayer.

00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:36.420
 Father, would you speak to us and would we hear, not just with our ears but with our hearts,

00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:43.060
 and would our hearts be open and tender to the way that your Spirit wants to mold us into the image of your perfect Son.

00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:50.359
 Convince us, Lord, that true freedom is slavery to you, slavery to righteousness.

00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:55.600
 Would we delight in you as our Lord, you as our Master.

00:00:55.740 --> 00:00:59.400
 There is no greater Master, no one who has loved us like you have.

00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:05.679
 Would you convince us of that even more deeply than we already think we might be convinced of that truth.

00:01:05.739 --> 00:01:09.700
 Today we pray in the preaching of your Word, in Jesus' name. Amen.

00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:17.120
 All right, so we are still in Romans and we're still in chapter 6 of Paul's letter to the church in Rome.

00:01:17.180 --> 00:01:23.420
 And last week we looked at Paul's response to pretty much the biggest objection that his message faced.

00:01:23.560 --> 00:01:25.579
 And that objection goes something like this.

00:01:25.579 --> 00:01:32.319
 If we are justified, if we are righteous in the eyes of God by faith and apart from our good works,

00:01:33.039 --> 00:01:36.519
 then what's going to keep us from continuing in a bunch of wicked works?

00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:43.620
 Like, Paul, if the gospel you preach is true, how is this not a license to sin?

00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:48.079
 And we heard last week that Paul answered this objection in the first 14 verses.

00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:50.040
 And he ends and he caps it off saying,

00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:55.439
 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

00:01:56.900 --> 00:02:00.640
 But then today we find that he raises pretty much the same objection, right?

00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:02.659
 The same objection comes up again, verse 15,

00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:07.340
 because he knows that what he preaches is so radical, so counterintuitive,

00:02:07.479 --> 00:02:10.520
 so unlike anything anyone else has ever preached.

00:02:10.819 --> 00:02:15.460
 Whenever the gospel is preached and the scandal of God's free gift of grace is heard,

00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:20.139
 Paul knows that the question will arise again and again and again,

00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:22.719
 like, how is this not a license to sin?

00:02:23.379 --> 00:02:27.840
 So here in verse 15 we find Paul posing pretty much the same objection he just answered,

00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:29.379
 but he puts it in a different way.

00:02:29.379 --> 00:02:30.419
 Verse 15,

00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:43.119
 But this time he applies, he supplies a second reason.

00:02:43.279 --> 00:02:44.679
 So we're going to look at that second reason today,

00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:49.119
 whereas the first reason he gave pointed us to Christ's past work,

00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:53.619
 the second reason he gave points us to our present identity.

00:02:53.779 --> 00:02:56.299
 The first reason he gave for why we should not go on sinning

00:02:56.299 --> 00:02:59.399
 was our union with Christ and his death to sin.

00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:03.460
 And now the second reason he gives for why the church should not go on sinning

00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:06.540
 is our identity, our identity in Christ.

00:03:07.200 --> 00:03:09.659
 And notice how he describes our identity in Christ, though.

00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:12.640
 Verse 16, what does he call us?

00:03:13.099 --> 00:03:13.840
 We are slaves.

00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:18.400
 Don't you know that when you offer yourself to someone as obedient slaves,

00:03:19.300 --> 00:03:20.980
 you are slaves of the one you obey,

00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:23.060
 whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death,

00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:25.939
 or to obedience, which leads to righteousness.

00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:29.560
 The number two reason Paul gives for why we should not sin,

00:03:29.620 --> 00:03:31.180
 even when we are under grace,

00:03:32.340 --> 00:03:34.359
 is because we are all slaves.

00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:37.079
 Even if we've been freed from slavery to sin, he says,

00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:38.819
 we are still slaves.

00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:40.520
 And we're going to talk about that,

00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:41.819
 what it means to be slaves to God,

00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:43.120
 slaves to righteousness.

00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:44.400
 But before we talk about that,

00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:47.960
 I want to first bring your attention to the beauty of Paul's reasoning here.

00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:51.280
 See, just like he refuses to motivate us

00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:55.060
 by, you know, dangling a carrot like heaven or happiness

00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:58.740
 or threatening punishment upon us like heartbreak and hell.

00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:01.159
 For Paul, and I think this is the heart of God himself,

00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:04.060
 the main reason for us to not sin

00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:07.060
 isn't about following rules or being good versus being bad.

00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:10.099
 For Paul, it's always been about being real.

00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:12.539
 It's always been about being authentic

00:04:12.539 --> 00:04:14.879
 to our highest and our truest identities.

00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:16.680
 And that's why he says,

00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:18.180
 by no means.

00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:19.439
 By no means.

00:04:19.500 --> 00:04:20.579
 We aren't going to go on sinning,

00:04:20.740 --> 00:04:22.120
 not just because it's bad for us,

00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:23.480
 but because it defies the truth

00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:26.400
 about who we are and what is real about us

00:04:26.400 --> 00:04:27.759
 in God's eyes.

00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:30.540
 In Christ, we are dead to sin.

00:04:30.600 --> 00:04:33.759
 And that is why we cannot live in it any longer, he says.

00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:35.840
 And here in verse 15 and following,

00:04:35.899 --> 00:04:38.100
 he reminds us of another reality about who we are,

00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:40.600
 and that is we are slaves of righteousness

00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:43.500
 if we're united to Christ by faith.

00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:45.699
 As I heard one of our past pastors,

00:04:45.840 --> 00:04:47.620
 Pastor Quinn, she used to say,

00:04:47.620 --> 00:04:49.600
 you know, God is not interested

00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:51.680
 in shitting all over us, all right?

00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:54.000
 Like, you should do this, you should do that,

00:04:54.139 --> 00:04:56.060
 you should not do this, you should not do that.

00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:57.160
 No, time and time again,

00:04:57.560 --> 00:05:00.600
 what God is most interested in speaking to us

00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:02.060
 is who we are.

00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:04.899
 Who we are, because everything else flows from that,

00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:06.240
 from our identity.

00:05:06.819 --> 00:05:08.139
 So in Genesis 1, right,

00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:09.980
 when God creates the heavens and the earth,

00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:10.800
 he says to Adam and Eve,

00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:12.840
 you are the crown of my creation.

00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:15.860
 I have made you in my image, in my likeness,

00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:18.160
 therefore, be fruitful, right?

00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:22.420
 Or to his own son at his baptism in the Jordan River,

00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:24.580
 before he sends him out into the wilderness,

00:05:24.740 --> 00:05:26.319
 before he sends him out to teach

00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:27.660
 and to do all his miracles,

00:05:27.780 --> 00:05:29.759
 what does the father say to his son at the Jordan River?

00:05:29.980 --> 00:05:32.580
 He says, this is my son whom I love.

00:05:33.180 --> 00:05:35.560
 With him I am well pleased.

00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:38.280
 See, it's only when we accept the reality

00:05:38.280 --> 00:05:40.520
 of our identities before God

00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:43.079
 that any of us will ever do the things

00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:44.219
 we should be doing

00:05:44.219 --> 00:05:48.039
 or stop doing the things we shouldn't be doing.

00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:51.519
 Again, God's primary task is not to should all over us,

00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:53.199
 it's to tell us who we are to him

00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:56.039
 and what we are to believe about ourselves

00:05:56.039 --> 00:05:59.019
 if we would just see ourselves through his eyes

00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:01.560
 in order that we might live accordingly.

00:06:02.099 --> 00:06:04.159
 And that's why I left verses 11 through 14

00:06:04.159 --> 00:06:04.859
 in our text today,

00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:05.979
 even though we went through them last week,

00:06:05.979 --> 00:06:08.299
 because it's so important how we count ourselves.

00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:09.660
 It's so important how we count ourselves,

00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:12.020
 it's so important that we count,

00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:13.259
 how God counts.

00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:13.840
 Verse 11,

00:06:14.579 --> 00:06:17.340
 in the same way count yourselves dead to sin

00:06:17.340 --> 00:06:20.100
 but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:21.879
 So in a sense we could say

00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:23.879
 that a question underneath Paul's question here

00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:25.300
 in verse 15,

00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:26.960
 shall we sin because we are under grace?

00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:29.759
 Another question that Paul is provoking here is,

00:06:29.980 --> 00:06:31.860
 well, who are we fundamentally?

00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:34.000
 Particularly Christians,

00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:35.480
 how should we count ourselves?

00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:37.000
 What is our identity?

00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:37.120
 identity?

00:06:37.939 --> 00:06:39.600
 And how might that actually be the key

00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:41.899
 to all of our actions and our behaviors

00:06:41.899 --> 00:06:43.279
 in the first place?

00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:46.420
 You know, I have two girls, four and three,

00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:49.040
 and my goal is to raise them

00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:50.899
 to be beautiful women of God

00:06:50.899 --> 00:06:53.720
 who are secure in themselves before God

00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:54.560
 and in this world.

00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:57.319
 And so I tell them that that's what they are,

00:06:57.699 --> 00:06:58.740
 that they are beautiful

00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:01.680
 and that their only comfort in life and in death

00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:04.379
 is that they belong to Jesus.

00:07:04.379 --> 00:07:07.240
 Like more than telling them what to do, right,

00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:08.719
 in order to be beautiful

00:07:08.719 --> 00:07:10.699
 or what to do to belong,

00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:12.920
 I tell them who they are to me

00:07:12.920 --> 00:07:15.519
 and to their mommy and to God

00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:17.199
 that they are beautiful

00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.139
 and that they already do belong.

00:07:20.159 --> 00:07:21.040
 I don't say to them,

00:07:21.159 --> 00:07:23.180
 try hard to be beautiful or else,

00:07:23.339 --> 00:07:24.379
 or else you won't belong.

00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:27.759
 But you are beautiful and you do belong,

00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:30.879
 therefore live like the beauty that you are.

00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:34.420
 Because I want them to have so deep inside of them,

00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.699
 I want them to trust this reality in their hearts

00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:38.939
 to know and believe the truth about themselves

00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:40.879
 so that when those days come,

00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:44.000
 when they are tempted to not believe

00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:44.800
 that they are beautiful

00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:47.920
 or that they don't belong to anyone of any significance.

00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:49.719
 And those days have come,

00:07:49.819 --> 00:07:50.879
 actually the days have already arrived.

00:07:50.939 --> 00:07:52.360
 One of our daughters some months ago,

00:07:52.719 --> 00:07:54.180
 she said this to us,

00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:54.579
 she said,

00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:57.159
 I wish I had my little sister's eyes

00:07:57.159 --> 00:07:59.479
 because they're prettier than mine.

00:08:00.479 --> 00:08:00.899
 She said that,

00:08:00.979 --> 00:08:01.839
 and you might think

00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:04.919
 that this was just some minor sibling rivalry jealousy,

00:08:05.039 --> 00:08:07.680
 but to me this was a lie from the devil himself,

00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:09.779
 tempting my daughter to believe

00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:11.360
 that she's not enough,

00:08:12.039 --> 00:08:13.099
 that she's not beautiful enough,

00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:14.120
 that she's not pretty enough,

00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:16.279
 she's not desirable enough.

00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:18.379
 And is this temptation really so unlike

00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:19.500
 what the rest of us face?

00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:20.719
 No.

00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:22.660
 My daughters need to know.

00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:25.560
 We all need to know our true identities

00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:27.140
 in the eyes of God.

00:08:27.160 --> 00:08:28.600
 If we ever want a chance

00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:31.180
 at living and experiencing

00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:33.800
 the beautiful lives of belonging

00:08:33.800 --> 00:08:35.540
 that God wants for us,

00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:37.279
 we can see our identity,

00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:37.940
 who we are,

00:08:38.420 --> 00:08:40.399
 who we understand ourselves to be

00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:43.460
 will ultimately dictate how we live.

00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:45.700
 But again, the question is,

00:08:46.180 --> 00:08:46.980
 well, who are we?

00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:48.220
 Who are we?

00:08:48.560 --> 00:08:49.600
 And to this, Paul says,

00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:51.519
 well, if you've been justified by faith

00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:54.200
 and if sin is no longer your master

00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:56.680
 and you are now under grace,

00:08:57.540 --> 00:08:57.980
 guess what?

00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:00.820
 You're still slaves, he says.

00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:02.040
 You're still slaves

00:09:02.040 --> 00:09:04.399
 and that's why you should not sin.

00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.860
 He even gives thanks for this in verse 17,

00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:08.279
 but thanks be to God

00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:10.580
 that though you used to be slaves to sin,

00:09:10.680 --> 00:09:12.720
 you have come to obey from your heart

00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:13.800
 the pattern of teaching

00:09:13.800 --> 00:09:15.399
 that has now claimed your allegiance.

00:09:15.779 --> 00:09:17.480
 You have been set free from sin

00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:19.580
 and have become slaves to righteousness.

00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:21.539
 No longer under the dominion of sin,

00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:24.620
 but now under the reign and rule of Jesus Christ.

00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:25.460
 See, for Paul,

00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:27.759
 even for those who are under grace,

00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:30.000
 you see, they are still under something.

00:09:31.180 --> 00:09:32.480
 Yes, set free from sin,

00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:34.300
 but now slaves to righteousness.

00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:36.200
 For Paul, it's not a matter of

00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:37.980
 whether or not we're slaves,

00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:40.519
 but whether we're slaves to sin

00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:41.980
 or to righteousness.

00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:43.200
 Just as it says in verse 19,

00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:44.700
 we are either offering ourselves

00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:45.900
 as slaves to impurity

00:09:45.900 --> 00:09:47.840
 and to ever-increasing wickedness

00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:48.900
 or we are offering ourselves

00:09:48.900 --> 00:09:50.120
 as slaves to righteousness

00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:51.860
 leading to holiness.

00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:53.879
 For Paul, there is no third alternative.

00:09:54.800 --> 00:09:55.540
 As Jesus said,

00:09:55.640 --> 00:09:57.200
 you cannot have two masters

00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:58.360
 no matter what we are slaves,

00:09:58.440 --> 00:09:58.680
 he says,

00:09:58.740 --> 00:09:59.520
 either slaves to sin

00:09:59.520 --> 00:10:00.360
 or to righteousness,

00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:01.840
 to the devil or to God.

00:10:03.160 --> 00:10:04.200
 And now, maybe,

00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:05.840
 you find this offensive, right?

00:10:06.400 --> 00:10:08.780
 To speak of people as Paul does,

00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:10.460
 as slaves to sin.

00:10:10.560 --> 00:10:12.920
 Maybe you even disagree with Paul here

00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:13.679
 because aren't people

00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:14.919
 like more complex than that?

00:10:15.339 --> 00:10:16.779
 For us to categorize them

00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:18.120
 into just slaves to sin

00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:19.919
 and slaves to righteousness.

00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:21.979
 But what Paul means here

00:10:21.979 --> 00:10:22.899
 is not that some people

00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:24.860
 can only do utterly wicked things

00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:25.719
 and others, you know,

00:10:25.939 --> 00:10:26.860
 Christians are the best

00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:27.979
 and they can only do righteous things.

00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:28.919
 We all know that's not true.

00:10:29.719 --> 00:10:29.959
 No.

00:10:30.479 --> 00:10:31.819
 What Paul is talking about

00:10:31.819 --> 00:10:33.240
 are the two different domains

00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.339
 and directions

00:10:34.339 --> 00:10:35.879
 that people are in

00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:38.159
 with respect to the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:10:38.339 --> 00:10:39.819
 See, slaves to sin

00:10:39.819 --> 00:10:41.199
 might do some great things,

00:10:41.299 --> 00:10:41.899
 feed the hungry,

00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:43.079
 donate to charities,

00:10:43.459 --> 00:10:44.980
 advance our society

00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:46.860
 with technological innovations

00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:47.879
 just like the descendants

00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:48.939
 of Adam and Eve's

00:10:48.939 --> 00:10:50.980
 wicked murderer son, Cain, right?

00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:51.659
 They were the ones.

00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:52.600
 Cain's descendants

00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:53.459
 were the ones who what?

00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.279
 They made music

00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:55.519
 and they developed tools

00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:56.620
 and they built cities

00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:58.559
 and developed livestock, right?

00:10:59.019 --> 00:11:00.079
 But the question is,

00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:02.399
 for what and for whom

00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.379
 and to what end?

00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:06.500
 Was it truly unto the glory of God,

00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:08.600
 unto the glory of the kingdom of Christ,

00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:10.840
 or was it to the glory of Babel?

00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:12.740
 Let us build a city

00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:15.600
 and a tower with its top in the heavens

00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:18.300
 and let us make a name for ourselves,

00:11:18.420 --> 00:11:18.860
 they said.

00:11:19.680 --> 00:11:21.080
 See, when Paul talks about

00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:21.800
 slaves to sin

00:11:21.800 --> 00:11:23.279
 versus slaves to righteousness,

00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:24.379
 what he's saying

00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:26.779
 is that apart from liberation in Christ,

00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:28.100
 we are all slaves to sin.

00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:30.379
 As Paul writes earlier in chapter three,

00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:31.460
 quoting from the Hebrew Scriptures,

00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.620
 there is no one righteous,

00:11:33.040 --> 00:11:33.980
 not even one.

00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:35.800
 There is no one who understands.

00:11:36.300 --> 00:11:37.660
 There is no one who seeks God.

00:11:37.900 --> 00:11:39.040
 All have turned away.

00:11:39.160 --> 00:11:40.460
 They have together become worthless.

00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:42.320
 There is no one who does good,

00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:43.300
 not even one.

00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:44.620
 And listen to what he says

00:11:44.620 --> 00:11:45.280
 at the end of this list.

00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.400
 There is no fear of God

00:11:47.400 --> 00:11:48.840
 before their eyes.

00:11:48.900 --> 00:11:50.780
 For Paul, you can do

00:11:50.780 --> 00:11:52.139
 and achieve some pretty impressive

00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:52.759
 and good things,

00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:54.080
 but if there is no fear of God

00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:55.180
 in your eyes,

00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:57.240
 if you do not have a relationship with God,

00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:58.660
 if you're living your life

00:11:58.660 --> 00:12:00.720
 not in a Godward direction,

00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.379
 for the glory of Jesus Christ,

00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:02.960
 and I'm sorry,

00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:04.860
 but as good as whatever it is

00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:05.620
 you're doing is,

00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:07.420
 it is still tainted by sin.

00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:08.840
 And that's how the prophet Isaiah

00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:09.759
 can say things like,

00:12:10.180 --> 00:12:11.200
 all of our righteous deeds

00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:12.200
 are like filthy,

00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.560
 bloody menstrual rags

00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:14.680
 before the Lord.

00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:16.540
 And this is what it means

00:12:16.540 --> 00:12:17.960
 to be a slave to sin,

00:12:18.040 --> 00:12:19.500
 to not live Godward,

00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:22.560
 to not live unto and under Christ,

00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:24.820
 but with something or someone else

00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:26.000
 as our master.

00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:28.240
 And if this describes you

00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:29.220
 and you are not living

00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:31.220
 unto or under Christ,

00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:32.160
 he invites you today

00:12:32.160 --> 00:12:33.860
 to at least consider

00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:37.060
 what or who your master really is.

00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:38.779
 He invites you to consider

00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:39.580
 a different yoke,

00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:41.519
 a different bondage,

00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:42.279
 a different master,

00:12:42.420 --> 00:12:43.680
 slavery to righteousness,

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:46.560
 slavery to God through Christ.

00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:49.320
 Now maybe for some others of us,

00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:50.379
 it's precisely this

00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.580
 slave to righteousness,

00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:52.680
 slave to God stuff

00:12:52.680 --> 00:12:54.300
 that sounds so offensive

00:12:54.300 --> 00:12:56.160
 and unappealing, right?

00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.240
 And maybe that's what some of us

00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:59.339
 either hate about being Christians

00:12:59.339 --> 00:13:00.819
 or for those of us

00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:01.299
 who are hesitant

00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:02.799
 to become Christians,

00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:03.480
 this is why.

00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:04.379
 Like, see, I knew it.

00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:05.779
 You Christians are always

00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:06.639
 talking about how,

00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:08.779
 oh, I can be free from my sin,

00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:09.839
 but here you are

00:13:09.839 --> 00:13:10.679
 just pitching another

00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:11.379
 kind of slavery,

00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:12.879
 so no thank you.

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.399
 And honestly,

00:13:14.579 --> 00:13:16.240
 I deeply resonate with this.

00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:17.579
 Growing up,

00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.219
 I've shared about

00:13:18.219 --> 00:13:19.240
 my best friend, right?

00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:20.579
 Both of us grew up

00:13:20.579 --> 00:13:21.079
 in the church

00:13:21.079 --> 00:13:21.899
 from the days

00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.519
 that we were born.

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.500
 He was born

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:24.539
 just 10 days before me.

00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.199
 Both of us grew up

00:13:25.199 --> 00:13:25.659
 in the church.

00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.019
 Both of us got baptized

00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:28.259
 together on the same day

00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:29.339
 as sixth graders.

00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:30.279
 We went to the same

00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:31.519
 Sunday school classes,

00:13:31.959 --> 00:13:32.980
 the same Christian school

00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:33.759
 from kindergarten

00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:34.899
 to 12th grade.

00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:36.159
 Both of us went off

00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:36.539
 to college

00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:37.339
 and became involved

00:13:37.339 --> 00:13:38.039
 in our churches

00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:39.319
 very heavily.

00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:40.240
 We loved theology.

00:13:40.439 --> 00:13:41.299
 We loved apologetics.

00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:42.559
 We loved studying the Bible,

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:44.179
 and yet I've become a pastor,

00:13:44.939 --> 00:13:46.279
 and my best friend now lives

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:48.019
 a life apart from God,

00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:48.959
 apart from Christ,

00:13:49.079 --> 00:13:51.059
 in unbelief and skepticism.

00:13:51.959 --> 00:13:53.159
 And I've shared this before,

00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:54.360
 but we used to play

00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:55.299
 this game as kids,

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:56.459
 this game called,

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.899
 Man, If I Weren't a Christian,

00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:00.019
 and he'd be like,

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.779
 Man, If I Weren't a Christian,

00:14:01.939 --> 00:14:03.000
 I'd totally ditch church

00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:03.759
 and Sunday school,

00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:04.740
 and we'd be outside

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.980
 working on our jump shots.

00:14:06.839 --> 00:14:07.799
 And I'd be like,

00:14:07.959 --> 00:14:09.139
 Man, yeah, that's right, man.

00:14:09.299 --> 00:14:09.980
 And yeah, man,

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.019
 if I weren't a Christian,

00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.980
 I'd have so much more money

00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:14.219
 because I wouldn't be tithing,

00:14:14.699 --> 00:14:15.620
 and that would be awesome.

00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:18.279
 And we'd go on and on and on

00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:21.000
 fantasizing about the happiness

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.440
 and the freedom that we'd enjoy

00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:25.779
 if we were not Christians,

00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:28.759
 if we were not slaves to God.

00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.860
 And you know, looking back

00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.779
 and reflecting on where

00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:33.440
 both of us are now today,

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:36.299
 I wonder if what has happened

00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:37.720
 is that both of us rightly understood

00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:39.860
 that Christianity does involve

00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:41.340
 a kind of slavery,

00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.500
 slavery to God,

00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:43.820
 slavery to righteousness,

00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:45.640
 a commitment to denying ourselves

00:14:45.640 --> 00:14:47.040
 and following Jesus.

00:14:48.140 --> 00:14:49.879
 But I wonder if what has happened

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:51.080
 is maybe one of us

00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:52.760
 has had our eyes opened

00:14:52.760 --> 00:14:55.500
 to the beauty of being a slave to God,

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.420
 while the other has yet

00:14:58.420 --> 00:14:59.540
 to have his eyes open

00:14:59.540 --> 00:15:03.260
 to the beauty and the true freedom

00:15:03.260 --> 00:15:05.300
 that are found in slavery

00:15:05.300 --> 00:15:06.700
 to righteousness,

00:15:06.900 --> 00:15:08.040
 slavery to God,

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:10.140
 to being under the rule and reign

00:15:10.140 --> 00:15:11.960
 of a good master and Lord,

00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.620
 King Jesus.

00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:15.840
 Now, I get why you might be skeptical.

00:15:16.140 --> 00:15:17.680
 Like, how is Christianity

00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:19.180
 not just another power play

00:15:19.180 --> 00:15:20.120
 on my life,

00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:22.480
 just an extra external authority

00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:24.420
 here to limit and restrict

00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:26.000
 my happiness and freedom?

00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:27.320
 And honestly, you're not wrong

00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:28.980
 that God wants you to be free.

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:30.520
 You're not wrong to want to be free.

00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:31.379
 We all want to be free.

00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:33.340
 God put this desire into us.

00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.540
 But see, the real question, though,

00:15:34.540 --> 00:15:35.879
 is what does it mean to be free?

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.160
 What does it mean to be free?

00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:39.980
 And I want to suggest,

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.039
 according to the scriptures,

00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:43.379
 that the truest freedom,

00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.839
 the highest freedom,

00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:45.919
 is actually,

00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:47.819
 is subversively

00:15:47.819 --> 00:15:49.279
 only found

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.959
 in being a slave

00:15:50.959 --> 00:15:51.860
 to God.

00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:53.679
 You see, our modern,

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:54.299
 secular,

00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.259
 Western world

00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:55.799
 will tell you

00:15:55.799 --> 00:15:56.559
 that true freedom

00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:57.259
 is the absence

00:15:57.259 --> 00:15:58.799
 of all restraints.

00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.799
 All restraints.

00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:01.620
 That we are cheetahs

00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:03.319
 whose most fundamental need

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:04.600
 is to get out of our cage

00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:06.700
 and to be untamed, right?

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.440
 The modern Bay Area

00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.779
 definition of freedom

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:10.340
 is that freedom

00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:11.320
 is antithetical

00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:12.920
 to any and every

00:16:12.920 --> 00:16:14.480
 binding limitation.

00:16:14.680 --> 00:16:15.120
 That freedom

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:15.639
 is freedom

00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:17.120
 from all such restrictions

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:17.820
 and freedom

00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:18.399
 to pursue

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.320
 whatever it is

00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:20.279
 that we want.

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.700
 And you're not free

00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:22.320
 unless you can do

00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:23.120
 whatever you want

00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.500
 and no one can tell you

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.259
 what to do

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.220
 or what not to do.

00:16:27.560 --> 00:16:28.820
 But is this truly freedom?

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.600
 Is it?

00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:32.240
 To be able to do

00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:33.480
 whatever we want.

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:35.620
 To have every option

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.720
 in the world.

00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:38.120
 Tell me,

00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.800
 are you free

00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:40.399
 when you turn on

00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.080
 Netflix at home

00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:42.180
 and you have

00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:43.220
 a million options

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:43.879
 before you?

00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.340
 A million options

00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.340
 of what you could watch

00:16:46.340 --> 00:16:47.519
 but you spend

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.460
 half an hour,

00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:49.500
 right,

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.120
 deciding

00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.600
 what that is

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.379
 that you want to watch

00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:54.060
 and even after you decide

00:16:54.060 --> 00:16:55.899
 for the first five minutes

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:56.680
 you're thinking to yourself,

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.060
 do I want to keep going

00:16:58.060 --> 00:16:59.080
 or do I want to switch back,

00:16:59.139 --> 00:16:59.340
 right?

00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.440
 Is that freedom?

00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:03.480
 In his book,

00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:04.420
 The Paradox of Choice,

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:06.200
 this Swarthmore psychologist,

00:17:06.320 --> 00:17:06.960
 Barry Schwartz,

00:17:07.080 --> 00:17:08.580
 he actually is a visiting scholar

00:17:08.580 --> 00:17:09.380
 here at Cal.

00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:10.019
 He wrote,

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.840
 actually a greater variety

00:17:11.840 --> 00:17:12.380
 of choices

00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:14.100
 actually makes us feel worse.

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.039
 He actually advises,

00:17:16.340 --> 00:17:17.120
 choose less

00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:18.539
 and feel better.

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:20.320
 And you know,

00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:20.940
 Paul would agree

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.920
 that sure,

00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.779
 maybe this is

00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.600
 a kind of freedom

00:17:23.600 --> 00:17:25.440
 but is it

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.080
 the kind of freedom

00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:26.559
 we want?

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:27.660
 Is it?

00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.299
 Verse 20,

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.100
 look at verse 20.

00:17:29.099 --> 00:17:29.579
 In verse 20,

00:17:29.619 --> 00:17:30.579
 he begins to describe

00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:32.000
 and remind his readers

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.019
 of what it was like

00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.659
 when they were once

00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:34.339
 slaves to sin

00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:35.199
 and lived to make

00:17:35.199 --> 00:17:36.459
 all the God-free choices

00:17:36.459 --> 00:17:38.159
 that they pleased.

00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:39.439
 And he recognizes

00:17:39.439 --> 00:17:40.059
 that it was

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.859
 a kind of freedom,

00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:42.799
 a freedom from control

00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.939
 but freedom from whose control?

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.519
 Verse 20,

00:17:45.719 --> 00:17:46.759
 when you were slaves to sin,

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:48.099
 you were free

00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:49.659
 from the control

00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:50.919
 of righteousness.

00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:52.719
 Paul says,

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.019
 yes,

00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:53.959
 there is freedom

00:17:53.959 --> 00:17:55.240
 apart from God

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:55.659
 but he says,

00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:56.899
 is this the kind of freedom

00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:58.079
 you want to be free

00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:58.960
 from what is right

00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.799
 and good

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.460
 and pure

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.240
 and true

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.720
 and beautiful.

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.399
 And then he asked

00:18:03.399 --> 00:18:03.939
 his readers

00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:05.279
 to consider the fruit,

00:18:05.419 --> 00:18:06.240
 the fruit of that kind

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.679
 of a freedom

00:18:06.679 --> 00:18:07.359
 from the control

00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:07.919
 of righteousness.

00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:08.599
 Verse 21,

00:18:08.939 --> 00:18:09.599
 what benefit

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.460
 did you reap

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.319
 at that time

00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:12.379
 from the things

00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:13.480
 you are now ashamed of?

00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.299
 Those things

00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:15.579
 result in death.

00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:17.259
 He's basically asking,

00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:18.299
 where did that freedom

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.399
 from all restraints,

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.299
 where did that lead?

00:18:20.399 --> 00:18:21.339
 What did it produce?

00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:22.319
 What kind of a person

00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.079
 did it make you?

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.619
 Someone who is proud

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.159
 of themselves

00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:25.859
 or someone

00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:26.699
 who is ashamed

00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:27.299
 of themselves?

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.599
 I'm listening

00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.480
 to this audio book

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.039
 right now,

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.659
 this book on Audible,

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:32.919
 it's a New York Times

00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:33.679
 bestseller called

00:18:33.679 --> 00:18:34.339
 Tweak,

00:18:34.399 --> 00:18:35.240
 it's by someone

00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.059
 here from the Bay Area,

00:18:36.179 --> 00:18:36.759
 Nick Sheff,

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.159
 and it's a memoir

00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:39.059
 of his life

00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:40.159
 and his struggle

00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:40.799
 with addiction

00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.039
 to meth.

00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:44.599
 And even as a

00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:45.740
 very gifted person,

00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.539
 someone from a very

00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:47.399
 privileged background,

00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:47.699
 you know,

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.199
 they had a house

00:18:48.199 --> 00:18:48.619
 in the city

00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.279
 in San Francisco,

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.059
 they had a weekend

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.419
 house up in Point Reyes,

00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:53.119
 his family loved him,

00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:55.359
 he had a great life.

00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.359
 And I'm only a few

00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:56.779
 chapters in,

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:57.639
 but it's really,

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.420
 it's a riveting,

00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:00.119
 wonderfully written memoir.

00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:00.779
 And basically,

00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.819
 it's Nick's sober retelling

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.539
 of the stronghold

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:06.259
 of meth on his life.

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.220
 A retelling

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.279
 of how ashamed

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:08.660
 he is

00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.879
 of his many decisions

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.639
 as someone

00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:11.859
 under the control

00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:13.359
 of meth.

00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.139
 And early on

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:15.480
 in the book,

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.059
 he recounts how

00:19:16.059 --> 00:19:16.759
 not long after

00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.579
 his first stint

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.519
 in rehab,

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.700
 he comes home again,

00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:20.799
 but he's suffering

00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.079
 from withdrawals, right?

00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:22.480
 And so,

00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.220
 the first chance

00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.460
 he gets,

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.339
 he gets out of the house

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.779
 away from his parents

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.859
 and he leaves

00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:27.759
 and he finds himself

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.659
 all of a sudden

00:19:28.659 --> 00:19:29.899
 unconscious again.

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.339
 And so,

00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:32.259
 he tells about how,

00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:32.439
 yeah,

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.039
 he has no idea

00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:33.799
 what happened that week,

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.439
 but all of a sudden

00:19:34.439 --> 00:19:35.179
 he wakes up

00:19:35.179 --> 00:19:36.299
 from his blackout,

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.879
 he's back in his parents' home,

00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:39.240
 and what wakes him up,

00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:39.439
 though,

00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.579
 is this commotion

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:41.539
 that's going on

00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.779
 in the house,

00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:43.559
 a commotion between

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:44.179
 his little brother

00:19:44.179 --> 00:19:45.099
 and his little sister.

00:19:45.159 --> 00:19:45.659
 His little brother

00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:46.259
 is crying,

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.220
 where is it?

00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:47.899
 Where is it?

00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:49.059
 Where is my five dollars?

00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.299
 You took it,

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.679
 he's saying to the little sister.

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.059
 And she says,

00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:52.319
 no,

00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:52.859
 I didn't take it,

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:53.619
 and they're both crying

00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:55.039
 and this wakes Nick up.

00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.539
 This wakes him up

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:57.460
 and in that moment,

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.299
 Nick says,

00:19:59.200 --> 00:19:59.720
 I didn't remember

00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.359
 taking the money,

00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:01.899
 but I knew I had.

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.019
 So,

00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:03.779
 he begins to

00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.799
 pack his stuff up,

00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.579
 he heads toward the door,

00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:06.399
 he can only look down

00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:07.339
 at the floor in shame,

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.619
 but his parents stop him.

00:20:09.179 --> 00:20:10.220
 His parents stop him

00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.599
 and they're all red in the face,

00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:12.439
 their heart broken,

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.819
 and they block his exit

00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.700
 and they confront him.

00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:15.639
 They say,

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.259
 where are you going?

00:20:16.919 --> 00:20:17.200
 Nick,

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:19.099
 we know you're using again.

00:20:19.939 --> 00:20:20.639
 And Nick says,

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:20.960
 yeah,

00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:21.899
 I'm not coming back.

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:23.220
 But they slam the door

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:24.180
 and his dad says,

00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.460
 you can't just leave

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.920
 with tears running down his face,

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:27.640
 you can't just leave,

00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.519
 we'll get you help,

00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:28.860
 Nick.

00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:30.259
 And Nick says,

00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:30.660
 no,

00:20:30.800 --> 00:20:31.440
 I have to,

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.440
 I have to do this,

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.620
 I have to leave.

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.900
 And at this point,

00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.800
 his dad says no

00:20:35.800 --> 00:20:36.680
 and he tries to physically

00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:37.580
 stop Nick

00:20:37.580 --> 00:20:38.440
 from leaving the door,

00:20:38.540 --> 00:20:39.560
 but Nick pushes his dad

00:20:39.560 --> 00:20:40.500
 really hard

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.140
 and Nick says,

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.060
 what the hell

00:20:42.060 --> 00:20:42.880
 are you doing?

00:20:43.320 --> 00:20:44.259
 Jesus Christ,

00:20:44.580 --> 00:20:45.220
 you people

00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:46.880
 are suffocating me.

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:49.240
 you people

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.220
 suffocate me.

00:20:51.320 --> 00:20:52.260
 And in this moment,

00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.240
 Nick is basically

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.180
 screaming to his parents,

00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:55.300
 let me be free,

00:20:55.620 --> 00:20:56.480
 get out of my way,

00:20:56.800 --> 00:20:57.980
 untie my bonds

00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:59.220
 from this family

00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:00.220
 that loves me

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.460
 so I can be free

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.780
 to do what I want,

00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:03.460
 so I can be free

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.460
 to do what I know

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.320
 that I need.

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:06.780
 But you know,

00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:07.800
 he's writing in retrospect,

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.100
 right,

00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:08.740
 this is a memoir,

00:21:09.080 --> 00:21:10.100
 and as he recounts this moment,

00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:11.400
 he also writes in his memoir,

00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:12.940
 the truth was,

00:21:13.820 --> 00:21:14.820
 I didn't want to stop.

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.799
 It's not like I enjoyed

00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.279
 stealing or hurting my dad,

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.379
 I was just so scared

00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.859
 of coming off the drugs.

00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.559
 It was like this

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:22.679
 horrible, vicious cycle,

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.700
 the more I used,

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.919
 the more I did things

00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:25.859
 I was ashamed of,

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:27.279
 and the more I had to use

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:29.960
 so I never had to face them.

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:32.500
 And my question for us is,

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:34.939
 was Nick truly pursuing freedom

00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:37.019
 when he accused his parents

00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:38.439
 of suffocating him?

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.019
 Was he free

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.139
 the moment he left the house

00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:42.319
 and started getting out

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:42.799
 on the streets,

00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.619
 driving around,

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.799
 shooting up again and again,

00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:46.119
 hiding in bathrooms,

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.220
 missing veins,

00:21:47.379 --> 00:21:48.799
 blood running down his arms,

00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:50.279
 hanging out in filthy hotels

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.559
 with stained mattresses

00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:53.000
 and trash all over the place?

00:21:53.139 --> 00:21:53.859
 Was Nick free

00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.480
 when he fled

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.740
 the alleged suffocation

00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:56.799
 of his parents?

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:59.039
 Or was he fleeing

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.779
 from their love,

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.319
 trying to free himself

00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:02.279
 from their love,

00:22:02.379 --> 00:22:02.980
 free himself

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:04.460
 from true liberation?

00:22:06.179 --> 00:22:06.559
 You know,

00:22:06.639 --> 00:22:07.899
 the reason Paul celebrates

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:09.519
 our slavery to God

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.539
 and to righteousness

00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.839
 is because freedom

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.619
 from any and all restraints

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.859
 and authorities

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.839
 and commitments

00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:17.500
 isn't freedom at all.

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:19.199
 It's just another kind

00:22:19.199 --> 00:22:19.799
 of bondage.

00:22:20.739 --> 00:22:20.899
 I mean,

00:22:20.939 --> 00:22:21.619
 and think about it.

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.939
 Is the freedom we seek

00:22:22.939 --> 00:22:23.779
 apart from God

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:25.339
 not actually a greater burden,

00:22:25.699 --> 00:22:26.619
 a heavier yoke

00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:28.439
 than the one Jesus invites us

00:22:28.439 --> 00:22:29.179
 to take up

00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:30.119
 alongside of himself?

00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:31.759
 You know,

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.839
 all around us

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.500
 in the Bay Area,

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.259
 we are advised,

00:22:34.459 --> 00:22:35.819
 we are even commanded,

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.239
 right,

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.940
 to be true to ourselves.

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.720
 True to ourselves,

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.019
 right?

00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.519
 But in his book,

00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.220
 You Are Not Your Own,

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.339
 which I highly recommend,

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.960
 Alan Noble writes,

00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.700
 how can you ever be sure

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.279
 that you are being

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.000
 true to yourself?

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:49.779
 How can you ever know

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:51.019
 if you are being authentic?

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:53.120
 You are utterly alone

00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:53.799
 in your judgment,

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:54.539
 sovereign,

00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:55.680
 but alone.

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.599
 And to make matters worse,

00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.859
 you cannot trust yourself.

00:22:58.960 --> 00:22:59.500
 The human mind

00:22:59.500 --> 00:22:59.900
 is capable

00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:01.819
 of tremendous self-deception.

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.839
 Maybe you are least

00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.519
 true to yourself

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.200
 when you are trying

00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:05.120
 to be like yourself.

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:07.000
 And he writes,

00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:07.460
 the freedom

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:09.200
 of sovereign individualism

00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:10.559
 comes at a great price.

00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.259
 Once I am liberated

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.319
 from all social,

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.100
 moral,

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:15.840
 natural,

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.920
 and religious values,

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:18.080
 I become responsible

00:23:18.080 --> 00:23:19.740
 for the meaning

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.600
 of my own life.

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.200
 With no God

00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.440
 to judge or justify me,

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.039
 I have to be

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.860
 my own judge

00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.720
 and redeemer.

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.340
 This burden

00:23:27.340 --> 00:23:28.319
 manifests as

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.100
 a desperate need

00:23:29.100 --> 00:23:30.080
 to justify our lives

00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:31.559
 through identity crafting

00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.660
 and expression,

00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.720
 but because everyone

00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.920
 else is also

00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:35.759
 working frantically

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.940
 to craft

00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.700
 and express

00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.819
 their own identity,

00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.420
 society becomes

00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:41.000
 a space

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.259
 of vicious competition

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.920
 between individuals

00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.579
 all vying

00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.360
 for attention

00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:46.259
 and meaning

00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.700
 and significance.

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:49.480
 So you see,

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:49.839
 the freedom

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.500
 that so many of us

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.059
 are pursuing

00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.319
 apart from God

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:54.299
 is far more burdensome

00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.660
 than we realize,

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:57.339
 even leading to death.

00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:57.539
 Like,

00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.700
 what if a fish said,

00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:00.100
 I'm not free

00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:00.720
 unless I can get

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.460
 out of this water

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:03.519
 and get onto dry land?

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:06.160
 How would that turn out?

00:24:06.600 --> 00:24:07.039
 Horribly.

00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:08.000
 Horribly, right?

00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:08.759
 Because a fish

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:10.100
 seeking to be liberated

00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:10.960
 from the ocean

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.880
 onto dry land

00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:12.480
 is a fish

00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.319
 that's denying

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:14.559
 its own God-given

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.299
 identity and purpose.

00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.480
 But what God wants

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:18.840
 for us

00:24:18.840 --> 00:24:20.380
 is to be liberated fish.

00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.180
 Dolphins.

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.519
 He wants us

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.160
 to be dolphins.

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:22.759
 Alright?

00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:23.900
 Swimming free

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:24.799
 in the vastness

00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.720
 of His ocean.

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.500
 God's word

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.120
 is saying to us

00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:28.559
 that there is

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.259
 a better freedom,

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.640
 a better slavery,

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.079
 one that leads

00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:32.740
 to wholeness

00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.440
 and holiness

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.200
 and eternal life.

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.819
 Verse 22.

00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:38.839
 But now that you

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.559
 have been

00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.920
 set free from sin

00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:42.480
 and have become

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.519
 slaves of God,

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.279
 the benefit you reap

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.279
 leads to holiness

00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.839
 and the result

00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:49.980
 is eternal life.

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.480
 God wants

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.220
 this slavery for us.

00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:51.879
 I know this sounds

00:24:51.879 --> 00:24:53.440
 daunting and scary

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.240
 and restricting,

00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.140
 but what if freedom

00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:56.039
 is not what you thought?

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.579
 What if freedom

00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:58.500
 is not the absence

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.619
 of all restrictions

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.819
 but life within

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.259
 the right,

00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.019
 proper,

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.480
 God-given restrictions?

00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.660
 What if true freedom

00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:06.180
 was the freedom

00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:07.039
 to be who you

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.740
 were meant to be

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:09.339
 according to your maker?

00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.599
 Freedom to be your best

00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.759
 and most ideal self.

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.880
 Freedom from every

00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:15.220
 other alternative path

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.880
 other than the narrow road

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.940
 that Jesus wants you

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.779
 to follow Him in.

00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:20.019
 What if freedom

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.859
 was not found

00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:22.779
 in being unbound

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.220
 by God,

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.319
 but in being bound

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.500
 within a holy

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.579
 and loving relationship

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.440
 with this God?

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.640
 See, the essence

00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:29.720
 and the beauty of love

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.620
 is not liberation

00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:31.640
 from one another, right?

00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:32.960
 It's being bound

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.580
 to one another.

00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:35.600
 I officiated a wedding

00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:36.080
 yesterday.

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.640
 Two people became one.

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.360
 They covenanted

00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:39.500
 with each other

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:42.059
 to belong to each other.

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:44.180
 And this wasn't sad, right?

00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.840
 It was beautiful

00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:47.080
 because the truest intimacy,

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.660
 the truest intimacy

00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:49.400
 and experience

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.740
 of love and delight,

00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:51.620
 the truest sense

00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.820
 of purpose

00:25:52.820 --> 00:25:53.759
 and calling

00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:55.380
 that you will ever experience

00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:57.480
 is only ever going to be

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:59.200
 in a binding relationship

00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:00.520
 that requires

00:26:00.520 --> 00:26:01.340
 your commitment.

00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:02.860
 And see,

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.820
 this is the antidote

00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:05.500
 to the paralyzing paradox

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:07.140
 of unlimited choice.

00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.940
 It's covenantal commitment.

00:26:11.060 --> 00:26:11.700
 And that's what God

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.400
 wants for us.

00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:13.700
 That's what God wants

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.600
 for us when He calls us

00:26:14.600 --> 00:26:15.300
 to be slaves

00:26:15.300 --> 00:26:16.220
 to righteousness.

00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:17.060
 He's calling us

00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:17.880
 to something good,

00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:19.080
 to something pure,

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.220
 to something holy,

00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:21.220
 something liberating

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.980
 and delightful

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.920
 all at the same time.

00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:24.400
 Take my yoke upon you,

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.579
 Jesus says.

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:27.299
 Take my yoke upon you.

00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:28.339
 And yes, it's a yoke.

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.079
 But what if the point

00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.100
 is not that our necks

00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.799
 are under a yoke?

00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:32.440
 What if the point

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.240
 is not the yoke

00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:35.019
 but who we are yoked to?

00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.059
 What if the point

00:26:37.059 --> 00:26:38.200
 is that we've been invited,

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.839
 we can be yoked

00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:41.299
 right up next to Jesus,

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.920
 the Son of God Himself

00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.700
 who's willing

00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:45.420
 to bear our burdens.

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:45.740
 And see,

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.519
 this is the gospel.

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.000
 This is the gospel.

00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:48.860
 This is the good news

00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:50.319
 that while every other master

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:52.359
 pays a terrible wage,

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:54.599
 there is a better master,

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:56.019
 a loving Lord,

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.399
 who promises

00:26:57.399 --> 00:26:58.539
 not to pay you

00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.299
 what you deserve,

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:01.339
 but who wants to give you

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.220
 a free gift

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:04.159
 at His own expense.

00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:05.720
 Verse 23,

00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:07.879
 for the wages of sin

00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:09.319
 is death.

00:27:10.159 --> 00:27:12.319
 But the gift of God

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.980
 is eternal life

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:15.339
 in Christ Jesus,

00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:16.960
 our Lord.

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.799
 So Christ Church,

00:27:18.919 --> 00:27:19.500
 choose today.

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:21.359
 recognize that

00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.500
 we're all slaves

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.819
 and what matters

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.639
 more than anything

00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:27.419
 is who we are a slave to.

00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.919
 A master who pays us

00:27:28.919 --> 00:27:30.099
 the wage of death

00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:33.059
 or a Lord who dies for us,

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.980
 a Lord who's risen again,

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.779
 a Lord who offers us

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.519
 the free gift

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.119
 of eternal

00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:39.240
 and abundant life,

00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.720
 a life free from freedom

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.599
 for freedom's sake

00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.259
 and bound

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:44.000
 within the loving arms of God.

00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:45.220
 For really,

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:45.759
 what's better?

00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:47.139
 What is better?

00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.820
 to be forever free

00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:49.640
 from our maker,

00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:50.660
 sustainer,

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.640
 and redeemer

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:53.820
 or to be permanently

00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:55.560
 and inseparably bound

00:27:55.560 --> 00:27:58.240
 within His warm embrace?

00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.960
 Will you pray with me?

00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:10.380
 Father, would you convince us

00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:12.960
 that it is better

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:13.660
 to be bound

00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.660
 within the loving arms

00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.100
 of Jesus

00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:17.259
 than free from Him?

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:22.100
 Show us the beauty

00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:23.340
 of who you are

00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:24.240
 as a loving Lord

00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.340
 and Master.

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.420
 And oh God,

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.019
 thank you

00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.220
 that you are not

00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.619
 a master

00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:30.480
 who pays us

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:30.920
 the wages

00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.660
 that we deserve,

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.960
 but you are a master

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.980
 who wants to give us

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:35.059
 a gift

00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:35.960
 and the ultimate gift

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.539
 of yourself,

00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.519
 of eternal life,

00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:39.859
 abundant life

00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:40.960
 with you

00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.700
 in Christ

00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.539
 forever and ever.

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.460
 Make us a people

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.240
 who treasure that

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.700
 and who live

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.519
 out of that identity

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:49.259
 that we belong to Jesus.

00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.859
 It's in His name we pray.

00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:51.920
 Amen.

00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.019
 Amen.

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.079
 Amen.