WEBVTT

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 Gracious Lord, I pray that you would help us through your word tonight

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 and by your spirit, give us a glimpse of not just our present life,

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 but our future.

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 And I pray that we would walk out of here transformed, changed,

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 and deeply in love with the Lord Jesus.

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 And we ask it for your glory. Amen.

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 Keep your fingers in 2 Corinthians 5.

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 And also, if you can flip back a couple of books into Romans 2,

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 that would be really helpful.

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 A young police cadet was taking his final exam

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 at Hendon Police College in North London

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 before being unleashed on the British public.

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 And one of the questions in this exam paper was,

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 you're out on a patrol in outer London

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 when an explosion occurs in a gas main in a nearby street.

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 Upon investigation, you discover that a large hole

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 has been blown in the footpath

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 and a nearby block of flats is on fire with people trying to escape.

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 Beside the blast site is an overturned van.

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 Inside the van, there is a strong smell of marijuana.

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 The occupants of the van, a man and a woman,

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 are half naked and injured.

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 You'd notice that the woman is the wife of your divisional inspector

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 who happens to be away at the moment in the United States.

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 A passing motorist stops to offer assistance

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 and you recognise him as a suspect in an armed robbery case.

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 Then suddenly, a man runs out of a nearby house

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 shouting that his wife, who was expecting a baby,

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 has gone into labour due to the explosion.

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 Another man, who's been blown into the adjacent canal,

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 is crying out for help because he can't swim.

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 And by now, a crowd of onlookers has formed

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 and there's a risk of a second explosion.

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 Then comes the question.

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 Bearing in mind the provision of the Mental Health Act,

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 describe in a few words what actions you would take.

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 The officer thought for a moment

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 and then picked up his pen and wrote,

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 I would take off my uniform and mingle with the crowd.

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 Let me just get a little bit serious with you just for a moment.

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 2 Corinthians 4 and 5,

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 which we've been looking at in our mission month

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 over the last three weeks and today the fourth week,

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 is designed by the Apostle Paul through God

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 for us Christians not to take off our uniform

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 and mingle with the crowd.

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 He doesn't want us to lose heart.

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 That's the purpose of 2 Corinthians 4 and 5.

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 You see there, you can imagine it,

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 the stakes are pretty high when in a moment like that,

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 a police officer takes off their uniform

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 and decides to mingle with the crowd.

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 And I think what the Apostle Paul has been trying to tell us

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 in 2 Corinthians 4 and 5 is the stakes are astronomical

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 if the Christian takes off their uniform

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 and decides to mingle with the crowd.

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 That is, if we lose heart.

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 We got a glimpse of exactly how high the stakes were last week.

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 We only looked at it very quickly in chapter 5, verse 10.

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 And I've included it again this week.

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 And I want to dig a little bit deeper

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 because the stakes are enormous when you look at this verse.

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 So if you've got your Bibles open, have a look at it there.

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 2 Corinthians 5, verse 10.

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 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ

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 that each one may receive what is due him

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 for the things done while in the body,

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 whether good or bad.

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 That's how high the stakes are.

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 It's saying there that God will hold us accountable

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 for how we've lived.

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 Notice that the judgment seat of Christ is universal.

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 It says, we must all appear.

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 That is, everyone.

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 No exceptions.

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 We will all give an account to the Lord Jesus for our lives.

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 And notice too that while it is everyone,

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 we'll all be judged individually.

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 Notice that each one must give an account.

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 That is, it won't be me sort of being able to hide in the crowd

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 at that point.

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 It will be me and God,

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 no one else giving an account for my life.

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 All of my life will be brought to bear.

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 And you won't be there to say,

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 stand with me in that moment

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 and sort of prop me up and put an arm and say,

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 look, he wasn't such a bad bloke after all.

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 Romans 2, if you've got your finger in that,

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 just flick over there

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 because I think it gives a vivid account

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 of what that day will look like.

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 A little bit clearer than verses,

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 chapter 5 and 10 here.

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 It says in verse 5 to 11,

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 because of your stubbornness

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 and your unrepentant heart,

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 you were storing up wrath against yourself

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 for the day of God's wrath

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 when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

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 God will give to each person

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 according to what he has done.

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 There's the connection with 2 Corinthians 5 and 10.

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 And then we read that there are only two outcomes

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 for the final reckoning with the Lord Jesus.

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 Verse 7,

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 To those who by persistence in doing good

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 seek glory, honor, and immortality,

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 he will give eternal life.

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 But for those who are self-seeking

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 and who reject the truth and follow evil,

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 there will be wrath and anger.

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 There will be trouble and distress

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 for every human being who does evil,

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 first for the Jew,

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 then for the Gentile.

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 But glory, honor, and peace

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 for everyone who does good.

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 I see the description there.

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 It says,

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 Stubbornness and your unrepentant heart,

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 self-seeking,

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 who reject the truth and follow evil.

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 And that is, I think,

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 a really helpful description

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 of what the Bible calls sin.

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 Sin is a universal problem.

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 It's not just, if you like,

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 for the so-called bad people.

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 It is a problem for everyone,

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 even us clean, middle-class people

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 who are deeply committed to nice boy,

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 good girl, wickedness,

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 of pride and unbelief

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 and indifference and ingratitude

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 and impurity of mind

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 and personal ambition.

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 God will hold us accountable for that.

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 And that is why Romans 3 says

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 that everyone has sinned

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 and fallen short of what God requires.

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 No one has lived a perfect life

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 except Jesus.

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 And the terrible consequence

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 of a life of sin

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 is what Romans 2, 8

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 calls wrath and anger from God.

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 And that is referring there

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 to eternal punishment.

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 And in all the reading

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 that I have done,

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 let me say that no one

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 has overstated the terrors

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 of what wrath and anger

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 from God actually mean.

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 Last week,

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 the Apostle Paul painted a picture

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 from early in 2 Corinthians 5

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 painted a picture of eternal life.

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 Eternal life is infinitely wonderful

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 to imagine.

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 Eternal life in the presence of Jesus

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 is infinitely beautiful to contemplate.

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 And it's hard for us to get a glimpse of it,

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 but think of a moment in your life

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 when you were bursting

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 because you were so happy.

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 Think of a moment.

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 Surely there's at least one.

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 And multiply that a thousand times

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 and let it increase continually

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 for all of eternity

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 and you got just some sort of a notion

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 of what eternal life with Jesus

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 would be like.

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 And so if eternal life with God

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 is the most glorious reality

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 that we could even hope to imagine,

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 eternity without God

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 is the most appalling reality

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 that you could possibly imagine.

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 If heaven means that I'm raised

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 with a body fit for life

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 of joy and peace

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 and painlessness and beauty

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 that will never end

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 in the presence of God,

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 then hell means that I'm raised

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 with a body fit for eternity

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 of torment away from God.

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 The suffering will never kill the body.

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 It will just go on and on and on and on

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 and no horror of suffering

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 in human history

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 will be compared with it at all.

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 That's as close as I can get to it,

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 what it will mean.

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 Revelation 14.11

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 is probably the most graphic

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 New Testament judgment,

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 a statement, sorry,

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 of the eternal suffering

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 of those who are unrepentant sinners.

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 It says,

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 The smoke of their torment

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 rises forever and ever.

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 There is no rest,

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 day or night.

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 The point of all this

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 is that when we read

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 2 Corinthians 5.10,

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 we're not just meant

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 to sort of skim over it.

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 We're actually meant

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 to feel something

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 and we're meant to shudder

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 is really what we're meant to do.

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 To paraphrase a quote

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 from John Piper,

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 he says,

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 we need to feel

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 that we were once

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 as close to hell

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 as we are in the seats

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 that we're now sitting on

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 even closer.

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 Its darkness like vapor

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 had entered the soul

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 and was luring us down.

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 We must believe and feel

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 that just like a rock climber

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 who has slipped

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 and perilously hangs

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 on the edge of a cliff

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 with his fingertips,

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 so we used to hang over hell

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 a mere heartbeat

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 from eternal torment.

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 The Bible says,

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 it is a dreadful thing

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 to fall into the hands

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 of the living God

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 and for the first 22 years

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 of my life,

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 I was but a heartbeat

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 from that.

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 For half of my life,

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 I was a heartbeat

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 from that.

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 And so it says

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 in verse 11,

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 since then we know

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 what it is to fear the Lord.

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 He's speaking to people

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 who are Christians here.

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 He says,

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 we try to persuade men.

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 The fear of God

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 is a right motivation,

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 but it isn't our only motivation.

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 The fear of hell and God

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 is no proof

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 that you actually love Christ.

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 But if we do not believe

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 in our hearts

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 the awful truth

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 of the enmity

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 that is between God

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 and us

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 and all the terrifying

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 consequences

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 that go along with that,

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 then our love for Christ

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 will be shallow

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 and it will be flawed.

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 Without the fear

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 my love for Christ

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 will be taken for granted.

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 It will be passionless.

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 And all those joys

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 that I spoke about last week

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 of the eternal kingdom

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 in the presence of God,

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 I'll just come to expect it

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 to be the next thing.

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 It's kind of a given

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 that that's the next thing

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 that I'm going to get.

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 And so let us believe

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 and feel the horror

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 of eternal condemnation

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 and flee from it

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 into the loving arms of Jesus

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 where there is no condemnation.

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 We are told in verse 14

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 that fear of judgment

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 is not Paul's only motive.

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 He says,

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 because Christ's love compels us.

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 And these verses

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 that flow on from that

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 are just rich

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 with the wonder

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 of the love of Christ for us.

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 Verse 18,

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 have a look at it.

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 God,

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 who reconciled us to himself

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 through Christ.

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 And again in verse 19,

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 God was reconciling the world

00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:21.719
 to himself in Christ.

00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:22.860
 To reconcile

00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:25.300
 is to render two parties

00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:26.960
 to be no longer

00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:28.279
 opposed to one another.

00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.399
 It is to win over

00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:31.540
 from hostility

00:11:31.540 --> 00:11:32.540
 and enmity

00:11:32.540 --> 00:11:33.680
 into friendship

00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:34.240
 is to make

00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.700
 two opposites

00:11:35.700 --> 00:11:37.040
 consistent

00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:37.980
 and compatible.

00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:39.279
 And these verses

00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:40.240
 say that God

00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:41.320
 took the initiative

00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:43.519
 so that we would not

00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:44.100
 be rendered

00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:45.580
 separated from one another

00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:46.600
 for all of eternity.

00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:48.580
 God took the initiative

00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:49.480
 to reconcile

00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.580
 us to himself.

00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.320
 It is all the work of God.

00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:53.500
 See it there in verse 18.

00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:55.940
 All this is from God.

00:11:56.300 --> 00:11:57.440
 See it in verse 19.

00:11:58.060 --> 00:11:59.400
 God was reconciling

00:11:59.400 --> 00:12:00.080
 the world to himself.

00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:01.460
 Again in verse 21,

00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:03.000
 God made him

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.620
 who had no sin

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.580
 to be sin for us.

00:12:05.180 --> 00:12:06.280
 What it's saying there is

00:12:06.280 --> 00:12:07.980
 that we are opposed

00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:08.700
 to God

00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:11.340
 living a life of sin,

00:12:11.660 --> 00:12:12.620
 living for ourselves

00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:14.220
 and God took the initiative.

00:12:14.640 --> 00:12:16.400
 It was the initiative,

00:12:16.540 --> 00:12:16.960
 the momentum,

00:12:17.180 --> 00:12:17.960
 the purpose

00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:18.740
 of reconciliation

00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:21.060
 are all from God.

00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:23.700
 God does something

00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:24.800
 about the sin

00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:25.980
 that has caused

00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:26.620
 the enmity

00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:27.780
 between us and him.

00:12:28.180 --> 00:12:28.960
 Verse 19

00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:29.879
 is the preliminary

00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.780
 explanation

00:12:30.780 --> 00:12:32.720
 of how this reconciliation

00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:33.780
 is brought about.

00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:34.720
 Have a look at it.

00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.100
 God was reconciling

00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:37.180
 the world to himself

00:12:37.180 --> 00:12:38.040
 in Christ,

00:12:38.540 --> 00:12:39.700
 not counting men's

00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:40.500
 sins against them.

00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:41.879
 And verse 21

00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:42.800
 describes

00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:44.379
 how it is possible

00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.879
 that God doesn't

00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:46.720
 count our sins

00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.400
 against us.

00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:48.019
 It says,

00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:49.179
 God made him

00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:50.799
 who had no sin

00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:52.579
 to be sin for us

00:12:52.579 --> 00:12:53.980
 so that in him

00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:55.139
 we might become

00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:55.720
 the righteousness

00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:56.399
 of God.

00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:58.939
 The end of verse 19

00:12:58.939 --> 00:13:00.579
 says that God

00:13:00.579 --> 00:13:01.659
 doesn't want to count

00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:02.399
 our sins

00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:03.419
 against us.

00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:05.000
 Frankly,

00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:06.159
 we don't want God

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:06.939
 to count our sins

00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:07.740
 against us.

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:10.680
 And so picture here

00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:11.180
 if you like

00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:12.000
 an account book.

00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.180
 The account book

00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:16.019
 has written in it

00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:17.600
 everything that I've said,

00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:18.740
 everything that I've done,

00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:20.600
 everything that I've thought,

00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.379
 all that I am,

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.180
 everything.

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:26.440
 That's a pretty frightening

00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:27.259
 thought really.

00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:29.939
 And verse 21

00:13:29.939 --> 00:13:31.360
 says that

00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:32.340
 my sin

00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:34.159
 is not put

00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.620
 into my account book

00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:36.860
 but it's put

00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:37.679
 into Jesus'

00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:38.399
 account book

00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:39.000
 instead.

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.159
 My account

00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:43.819
 of sin

00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:44.580
 has been put

00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:45.259
 by God

00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:46.860
 to the account

00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.480
 of his

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:48.519
 sinless son.

00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.179
 Jesus has taken

00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:51.000
 my place

00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:51.939
 and he's borne

00:13:51.939 --> 00:13:52.620
 my sin

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.259
 in his body

00:13:53.259 --> 00:13:54.039
 on the cross.

00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:55.120
 It means

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.219
 that Jesus

00:13:56.219 --> 00:13:57.860
 has been judged

00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:58.799
 for my error,

00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.319
 for my sin.

00:14:02.839 --> 00:14:04.179
 He was made sin,

00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.000
 the sin of the world,

00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.639
 that terrible burden

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.679
 and offence to God,

00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:09.019
 all the hostility

00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:09.639
 and enmity

00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.599
 and filth

00:14:10.599 --> 00:14:11.899
 that separates

00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:12.839
 me from God

00:14:12.839 --> 00:14:14.339
 and for all of us

00:14:14.339 --> 00:14:14.860
 from God.

00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:17.379
 Everything that is

00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.980
 the reason

00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:20.000
 that I deserve

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.159
 eternal punishment

00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:22.439
 has been placed

00:14:22.439 --> 00:14:23.000
 by God

00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.699
 onto his son

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.360
 the Lord Jesus

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.920
 and the Lord Jesus

00:14:25.920 --> 00:14:27.140
 willingly accepts

00:14:27.140 --> 00:14:27.980
 all that wrath

00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.400
 and anger

00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:28.940
 from God.

00:14:29.280 --> 00:14:30.160
 He is judged

00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:31.020
 for my

00:14:31.020 --> 00:14:32.200
 and for our sin.

00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:34.480
 On the cross

00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:35.300
 he suffered

00:14:35.300 --> 00:14:35.960
 the torment

00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:37.800
 and cried out,

00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:38.259
 my God,

00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:38.820
 my God,

00:14:38.920 --> 00:14:39.780
 why have you

00:14:39.780 --> 00:14:40.640
 forsaken me

00:14:40.640 --> 00:14:42.840
 so that I might

00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:43.660
 not never

00:14:43.660 --> 00:14:44.840
 have to utter

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.620
 those words

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.660
 for all of eternity?

00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:51.719
 but not only

00:14:51.719 --> 00:14:52.559
 is my sin

00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:53.719
 put into his account

00:14:53.719 --> 00:14:55.039
 but his

00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:56.039
 perfect

00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.259
 unblemished

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.399
 righteousness

00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:00.139
 is put into

00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:01.240
 my account.

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:06.179
 I can't be

00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:06.759
 condemned

00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:08.459
 if I trust

00:15:08.459 --> 00:15:09.039
 in Jesus

00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:09.879
 because there

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.059
 is no proof.

00:15:11.699 --> 00:15:12.860
 There is no debt,

00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:13.419
 there is no

00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:15.120
 badness and sin

00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:15.799
 written up

00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:16.580
 in my book.

00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:19.620
 I open the book

00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:20.539
 on the day of judgment

00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.440
 and it reads

00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:23.320
 perfect righteousness.

00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.519
 No wrong.

00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:29.159
 The only thing

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:29.940
 that I contribute

00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.860
 to my reconciliation

00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:31.659
 with God

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.399
 is the sins

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.179
 for which I must

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.919
 be redeemed.

00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:37.259
 In a trivial way,

00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.580
 it's kind of like

00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:40.659
 the day I married Nat,

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.679
 not that that

00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.259
 was trivial.

00:15:44.319 --> 00:15:45.740
 As I exchanged

00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:46.699
 rings with Nat,

00:15:47.439 --> 00:15:49.659
 I got a ring

00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:50.639
 and I put the ring

00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:51.219
 on her finger

00:15:51.219 --> 00:15:52.000
 and I said,

00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:52.419
 Natalie,

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.120
 with this ring

00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:53.759
 I wed you.

00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:55.379
 With all that I am

00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.740
 and all that I have,

00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:57.779
 I honour you.

00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:00.279
 What I'm saying

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.139
 there in that moment

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:02.519
 is that everything

00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.600
 that's mine

00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.959
 is now yours.

00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:09.480
 The problem

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.680
 with that was

00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:12.320
 after five years

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.160
 as a student,

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:14.040
 that included

00:16:14.040 --> 00:16:14.960
 a hex debt,

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:17.100
 a car loan

00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:19.160
 and $2,000

00:16:19.160 --> 00:16:20.019
 that I had to borrow

00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.900
 from my father-in-law

00:16:20.900 --> 00:16:21.400
 in order to have

00:16:21.400 --> 00:16:21.820
 a honeymoon.

00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:24.040
 And I said to Nat,

00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:25.800
 it's now all yours.

00:16:28.420 --> 00:16:29.740
 All that I have,

00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.180
 all that debt

00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:32.120
 is now yours.

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:34.560
 That's a trivial way

00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:35.360
 of putting it,

00:16:35.560 --> 00:16:36.139
 if you like.

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.899
 That's what happens

00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:38.679
 when you become a Christian

00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:39.799
 or another moral,

00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.879
 realistic way

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.399
 of putting it,

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.360
 it's like getting

00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.539
 Nathan Tinkler's

00:16:44.539 --> 00:16:45.460
 bank account

00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:47.620
 and changing

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.120
 the name

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.039
 at the top of it

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.580
 with Bill Gates

00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:52.159
 and getting

00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.100
 Bill Gates'

00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:53.980
 bank account

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.480
 and putting

00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.519
 Nathan Tinkler's

00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.480
 name at the top of it,

00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.659
 a big swap

00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:58.320
 has happened.

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.560
 All the debt

00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:01.680
 and the bankruptcies,

00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:02.879
 nearly there,

00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:05.519
 has been swapped.

00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.299
 So that Bill Gates

00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.460
 takes the bankruptcy

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:10.619
 and Nathan Tinkler

00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:11.619
 gets the bank account

00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:12.740
 and the richest man

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.240
 in the world.

00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.319
 That's what happens

00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:15.819
 when you become

00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.279
 a Christian.

00:17:16.919 --> 00:17:18.240
 You bring all your sin

00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.119
 and moral bankruptcy

00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:19.579
 to him

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.659
 and he receives it

00:17:20.659 --> 00:17:22.179
 and he counts them,

00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:23.799
 God counts

00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:24.940
 all of that stuff

00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.960
 to the Lord Jesus

00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:27.119
 and Jesus'

00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.139
 perfect record

00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:29.039
 is given to me.

00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:30.179
 And my friends,

00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:31.539
 if you're a Christian,

00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:32.880
 it is to fill you

00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:33.660
 with the wonder

00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:34.560
 and the gratitude

00:17:34.560 --> 00:17:36.019
 and the thankfulness

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.200
 and the humility

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.340
 that the death

00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:39.500
 of one man,

00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.480
 the God-man,

00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:41.400
 Jesus Christ,

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:43.299
 would bear the infinite penalty

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:44.799
 as a substitute

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.799
 for everyone

00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:46.920
 who repents

00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:47.960
 and trusts in him.

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:51.840
 and it is essential

00:17:51.840 --> 00:17:52.900
 for your confidence

00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:54.500
 in his finished work

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:56.079
 of reconciliation

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:57.180
 that we see

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.140
 the centrality

00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:59.579
 of the Lord Jesus

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.480
 in it all.

00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:02.019
 Notice in verse 18,

00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.059
 it is all through Christ.

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:04.819
 Verse 19,

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.259
 it is in Christ.

00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:07.340
 The reconciliation

00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:08.720
 of the world

00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.500
 to God

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.660
 happens through

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.160
 the death

00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:11.720
 and resurrection

00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.319
 of Christ.

00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:13.319
 It is something

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:14.000
 that has happened

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.620
 in history.

00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.479
 It is something

00:18:15.479 --> 00:18:16.439
 that is finished

00:18:16.439 --> 00:18:17.899
 and we have no part

00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:18.179
 of it.

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:20.099
 And the word world

00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:21.500
 in verse 19

00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:23.099
 is staggering.

00:18:24.239 --> 00:18:24.779
 It says

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.799
 that what God did

00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.539
 through the death

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.379
 of the Lord Jesus

00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:28.219
 on a hill

00:18:28.219 --> 00:18:29.599
 outside the city walls

00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:30.219
 of Jerusalem

00:18:30.219 --> 00:18:31.939
 in around 30 AD

00:18:31.939 --> 00:18:32.619
 concerns

00:18:33.199 --> 00:18:33.619
 the reconciliation

00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:36.019
 of the entire

00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:37.439
 human race

00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:38.759
 to its maker.

00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:43.160
 It is the extraordinary

00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:44.539
 claim of the New Testament.

00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:45.579
 It is the claim

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:47.299
 of verses 14 and 15

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:49.000
 in 2 Corinthians 5.

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.519
 We are convinced

00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:51.599
 that one died

00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.519
 for all

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:54.619
 and therefore

00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:55.259
 all died

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:57.019
 and he died

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.879
 for all.

00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:00.379
 Jesus' death

00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:01.759
 has universal significance.

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.839
 He is

00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:04.220
 the reconciler.

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.420
 There is

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.200
 no reconciliation

00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:08.200
 with God

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:09.279
 outside of Jesus.

00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.759
 You don't need

00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.680
 anything more

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.200
 than Jesus

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:12.920
 but you can't

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:13.500
 have anything

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.519
 less than Jesus.

00:19:17.600 --> 00:19:18.600
 And this message

00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.240
 of reconciliation

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:20.039
 with God

00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.660
 through the Lord

00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.340
 Jesus Christ

00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:22.640
 is our message

00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:23.120
 for the city

00:19:23.120 --> 00:19:23.680
 of Chatswood

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.140
 and beyond.

00:19:25.080 --> 00:19:25.420
 That's what

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:25.880
 mission month

00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.380
 is all about.

00:19:28.360 --> 00:19:28.940
 The stakes

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.500
 couldn't be high

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.120
 my friends.

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.400
 Separation

00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:31.900
 from God

00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:32.759
 for all of eternity

00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.319
 and torment

00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:34.200
 or coming to Christ

00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:35.100
 and living for him.

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.840
 Eternal life

00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:38.019
 in his presence

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:39.639
 and he calls us

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.559
 with a real sense

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.199
 of urgency

00:19:41.199 --> 00:19:42.339
 in 2 Corinthians 5

00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:42.980
 and 6

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.240
 to attend

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.039
 to this matter.

00:19:48.179 --> 00:19:48.939
 If you're not

00:19:48.939 --> 00:19:49.720
 someone who trusts

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.539
 in the Lord Jesus

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:52.539
 then I want to say

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:54.099
 with all humility

00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:55.259
 and with gentleness

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:57.059
 but with deliberateness

00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:57.740
 the stakes

00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.599
 could not be higher

00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.519
 for you right now.

00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.879
 As chapter 2

00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:04.299
 verse

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.740
 chapter 6

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.779
 verse 2 says

00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:08.720
 now is the time

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.399
 of God's favour

00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:10.899
 now is the day

00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.899
 of salvation

00:20:11.899 --> 00:20:13.799
 and I implore you

00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:14.779
 as the Apostle Paul

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.599
 does for us

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:17.659
 in these verses

00:20:17.659 --> 00:20:19.740
 to be reconciled

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.599
 with God.

00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:21.819
 If he has

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.440
 at all

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.480
 twinged your heart

00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:23.859
 tonight

00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:24.919
 do not ignore it.

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.460
 Come and speak

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:27.859
 to me

00:20:27.859 --> 00:20:28.779
 or speak to Sam

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.299
 or Rob

00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:30.159
 or a friend

00:20:30.159 --> 00:20:30.779
 who's brought you

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.359
 here tonight.

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.440
 Attend to the matter

00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.160
 right now.

00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:37.799
 So the message

00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:38.480
 of reconciliation

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.200
 of what God

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.740
 has done

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.640
 and can only

00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.779
 do through Christ

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:44.259
 the ministry

00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:45.000
 of reconciliation

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.039
 on the other hand

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.680
 is what God

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.320
 can only do

00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:48.100
 through us.

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.640
 And so this bit

00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:51.440
 is for those

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:52.180
 who receive

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:53.380
 the message

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.120
 of reconciliation.

00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.559
 This is what

00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.500
 God is calling you

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:57.820
 to.

00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.420
 The message

00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:00.840
 doesn't just

00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:02.000
 shape our future

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.059
 it actually

00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:03.640
 shapes our

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.700
 present as well.

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.119
 So verse 20

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:07.839
 we are therefore

00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.859
 Christ's ambassadors

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:10.200
 as though God

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.619
 were making

00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.140
 his appeal

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.799
 through us.

00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:13.400
 The main thrust

00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:13.980
 of verse 20

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.440
 and onwards

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.380
 is that what

00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.000
 Christians

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:18.079
 the ones who

00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:18.299
 have been

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.079
 reconciled

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.200
 must do

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.039
 if the message

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.720
 of reconciliation

00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:22.980
 is to be heard.

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.680
 That is the message

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.460
 of reconciliation

00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:27.220
 is our ministry

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.940
 of reconciliation

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.279
 to the city

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:29.839
 of Chatswood

00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.699
 and beyond.

00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:31.659
 This is what

00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:32.199
 God does

00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:32.699
 through us.

00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.419
 Verse 18

00:21:33.419 --> 00:21:34.379
 All this is

00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:34.799
 from God

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.539
 who reconciled

00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.459
 us to himself

00:21:36.459 --> 00:21:37.159
 through Christ

00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:38.939
 and gave us

00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:39.740
 the ministry

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.299
 of reconciliation.

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.599
 The ministry

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:43.059
 is given to us

00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.740
 it's not given

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.199
 to Christ

00:21:44.199 --> 00:21:44.720
 it's not given

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.379
 to the angels.

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.779
 Verse 19

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.819
 And he is

00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:49.139
 committed to us

00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:49.740
 the message

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.399
 of reconciliation.

00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:52.000
 It's given to us

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.939
 not Christ

00:21:52.939 --> 00:21:53.919
 not the angels.

00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:54.500
 Verse 20

00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.380
 We are therefore

00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:56.859
 Christ's ambassadors

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:58.000
 as though God

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.920
 were making his appeal

00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:00.000
 through us.

00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.519
 He does it through us

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.119
 not Christ

00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:03.059
 not the angels.

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.160
 Then again

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.799
 in chapter 6

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.400
 verse 1

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:06.680
 As God's fellow workers

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:08.000
 we urge you

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.319
 not to receive

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:09.940
 God's grace

00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.480
 in vain.

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.940
 We do the urging

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.700
 not God

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.619
 yes God does it

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.720
 through the Holy Spirit

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:16.400
 but it is

00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.460
 our responsibility

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.440
 it is our task

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.359
 it is our voice

00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:20.740
 it is our tongue.

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.039
 Verse 20

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:25.920
 makes our ministry

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:26.519
 very clear

00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:28.079
 we are Christ's ambassadors.

00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.759
 And as an ambassador

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:33.119
 that job is

00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:34.480
 quite distinguished

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.379
 as an ambassador

00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:37.240
 the honour

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.500
 of the Lord Jesus

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:40.240
 is at stake

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.399
 that is an

00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:42.680
 overwhelming thought.

00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:45.899
 In his death

00:22:45.899 --> 00:22:47.359
 Jesus represents us

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:49.299
 and in his absence

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:51.099
 we represent him.

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:55.099
 And so if you have

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:56.079
 received the message

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.899
 of reconciliation

00:22:56.899 --> 00:22:59.399
 then the ministry

00:22:59.399 --> 00:23:00.200
 of reconciliation

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.519
 is yours.

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:02.779
 It's not just

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.519
 reserved for people

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.099
 like me.

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.819
 It's yours.

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.680
 Everyone who's

00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:07.879
 received the message

00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.619
 of reconciliation

00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:11.279
 has been given

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.740
 the ministry

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.339
 of reconciliation.

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:15.180
 See the connection

00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:16.039
 in verse 15?

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.019
 He

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:17.720
 Christ

00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:19.000
 died for all

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.379
 that those who live

00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:21.019
 should no longer

00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:22.139
 live for themselves

00:23:22.139 --> 00:23:23.799
 but for him

00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.759
 who died for them

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.779
 and was raised again.

00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.500
 As a recipient

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.660
 of the message

00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.379
 of reconciliation

00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:31.599
 my whole life

00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.579
 has now been

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.319
 redeployed

00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.400
 for diplomatic service.

00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:37.119
 I speak

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:37.539
 and I live

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.180
 in such a way

00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.099
 that makes Jesus

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:40.259
 look like the treasure

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.579
 that he actually is.

00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:45.579
 And Paul shows us

00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:46.200
 in chapter 6

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.200
 verses 3 to 10

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.680
 that being an ambassador

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.799
 is hard work.

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:51.079
 So when I talk

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.099
 about diplomatic service

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.700
 don't think of

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.240
 High Commissioner

00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:53.819
 in New Zealand

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.419
 for instance.

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:56.919
 Think of being sent

00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:57.460
 to a hostile

00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.339
 foreign country

00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:59.319
 to speak on behalf

00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:00.480
 of your sovereign government.

00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:01.919
 Let's have a look

00:24:01.919 --> 00:24:02.259
 at it there

00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.359
 in verses 3 and 4.

00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:05.119
 We put no stumbling block

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:06.279
 in anyone's path

00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.859
 so that our ministry

00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:09.039
 will not be discredited.

00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.119
 Remember

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:11.740
 we represent

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.440
 the Lord Jesus.

00:24:13.159 --> 00:24:13.919
 Our lifestyle

00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:14.819
 and our message

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.879
 are to be consistent

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:16.619
 with each other.

00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:18.379
 It is absolutely essential

00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.880
 because if the ministry

00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:20.700
 is discredited

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:22.140
 the message

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.900
 is discredited

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.420
 which means

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:25.120
 that the Lord Jesus

00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:25.900
 is discredited.

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.880
 That's an overwhelming thought.

00:24:29.280 --> 00:24:29.680
 Verse 4

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.040
 rather

00:24:30.040 --> 00:24:30.980
 that is rather than

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:31.840
 being a stumbling block

00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:32.500
 and discrediting

00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.000
 the ministry

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.580
 and discrediting

00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:34.260
 the Lord Jesus

00:24:34.260 --> 00:24:36.340
 as servants of God

00:24:36.340 --> 00:24:37.380
 we commend ourselves

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:38.300
 in every way

00:24:38.300 --> 00:24:39.920
 and how does he

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.560
 commend himself

00:24:40.560 --> 00:24:41.300
 in his service?

00:24:42.300 --> 00:24:43.580
 By taking off

00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.500
 his uniform

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.020
 and mingling

00:24:45.020 --> 00:24:45.660
 with the crowd?

00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:47.240
 Have a look

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:48.440
 in great endurance

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:49.519
 in troubles

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.420
 hardship

00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.840
 and distresses

00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:52.279
 etc.

00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:52.720
 etc.

00:24:52.820 --> 00:24:53.120
 etc.

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.460
 As one

00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.720
 former minister

00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:59.580
 or current minister

00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:00.340
 actually said

00:25:00.340 --> 00:25:02.240
 the ministry

00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:02.960
 of reconciliation

00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:04.620
 is sheer

00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:06.180
 hard work.

00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:08.580
 Claypot expectations

00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:10.240
 from earlier on.

00:25:10.800 --> 00:25:11.840
 Sheer hard work.

00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:13.840
 It's not being

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.439
 an ambassador

00:25:14.439 --> 00:25:15.500
 for the Lord Jesus

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.679
 when it feels right

00:25:16.679 --> 00:25:17.899
 or when it seems

00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:18.799
 like the correct time

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.740
 or when you think

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.199
 people are going

00:25:20.199 --> 00:25:20.659
 to receive

00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:21.039
 what you're going

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.519
 to say

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.799
 favourably

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:24.819
 or when a

00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:26.179
 positive response

00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:26.819
 is guaranteed

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:28.099
 or when it's convenient

00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:29.199
 it shapes

00:25:29.199 --> 00:25:30.319
 your whole life.

00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.240
 I loved

00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:35.039
 hearing the story

00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.919
 recently

00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:36.459
 of an elderly

00:25:36.459 --> 00:25:37.279
 Christian man

00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.839
 who was dying

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.459
 of cancer

00:25:38.459 --> 00:25:40.259
 and his main

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.879
 concern

00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:42.520
 was to die

00:25:42.520 --> 00:25:43.500
 so well

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.380
 around his

00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:44.880
 carers

00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.500
 and his nurses

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.200
 and his doctors

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.020
 and his families

00:25:47.020 --> 00:25:48.880
 that Jesus

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:50.020
 looked great

00:25:50.020 --> 00:25:50.540
 to them.

00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.520
 That's what

00:25:52.520 --> 00:25:53.280
 shaped his life.

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.500
 An ambassador

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.540
 of the Lord Jesus

00:25:55.540 --> 00:25:57.520
 right to the end.

00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:00.960
 He hadn't

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.660
 lost heart

00:26:01.660 --> 00:26:02.259
 in the troubles

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.039
 and distresses

00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:03.460
 and hardships

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.079
 of life.

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.299
 He hadn't

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.759
 taken off

00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.279
 his uniform

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.299
 and mingled

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.960
 with the crowd.

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:09.779
 And so

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.539
 friends

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.700
 St. Paul's

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:13.579
 I want to

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.319
 ask you

00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:16.660
 do the

00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.099
 ministries

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.559
 and particularly

00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.599
 this is for you

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:18.940
 if you're

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:20.240
 in leadership

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.019
 in any

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.799
 capacity

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.519
 at St. Paul's

00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:24.839
 do the

00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:25.400
 ministries

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.319
 of this church

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.399
 make clear

00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:28.200
 the need

00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:28.639
 and the

00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:28.939
 message

00:26:28.939 --> 00:26:29.679
 of reconciliation.

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.579
 I'm not

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.139
 asking

00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:33.579
 did they

00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.139
 start

00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:34.559
 with the

00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.039
 purpose

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.480
 of the

00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:36.819
 ministry

00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.559
 being clear

00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.220
 I'm asking

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:38.740
 has it

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.299
 continued

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.839
 or has

00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:41.240
 there been

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.679
 a loss

00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.299
 of heart

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:42.960
 along the

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.439
 way

00:26:43.439 --> 00:26:45.299
 maybe

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.079
 the

00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:46.799
 relationship

00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.519
 connection

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.500
 has become

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.839
 central

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.039
 rather than

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:51.500
 the message

00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.240
 of reconciliation

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:54.279
 or maybe

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:54.879
 the maintenance

00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:55.500
 of the ministry

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.179
 structure

00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.680
 has in fact

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.420
 consumed the

00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:58.920
 focus.

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.539
 I can tell

00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.120
 you that for

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:02.560
 me

00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:03.160
 one of the

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:04.140
 sure signs

00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:04.640
 that I'm

00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:05.320
 starting to

00:27:05.320 --> 00:27:05.980
 disrobe my

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.380
 uniform

00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:09.500
 is

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:11.960
 when I

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.600
 go about

00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:13.460
 activities of

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:13.900
 ministry

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:15.660
 and I

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.140
 don't shed

00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.539
 a tear

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.080
 for those

00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:17.299
 who are

00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:17.799
 lost

00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:17.859
 Christ.

00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.740
 Or it's

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.599
 possible to

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.740
 year in

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.139
 and year

00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:26.419
 out

00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:27.000
 just keep

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.259
 the

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:28.180
 clogs

00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:28.779
 moving

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:30.259
 balancing

00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:30.519
 the

00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.039
 budgets

00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:32.159
 making sure

00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:32.559
 people are

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.099
 turning up

00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:34.200
 running out

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:35.000
 the programs

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.379
 week in

00:27:36.379 --> 00:27:37.159
 week out

00:27:37.159 --> 00:27:37.839
 week in

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.519
 week out

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:40.460
 and we

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.039
 do it

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.659
 to make

00:27:41.659 --> 00:27:42.079
 ourselves

00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:42.759
 comfortable

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.399
 rather than

00:27:44.399 --> 00:27:44.940
 do it for

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.399
 those who

00:27:45.399 --> 00:27:45.859
 need to hear

00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:46.359
 Christ.

00:27:53.199 --> 00:27:53.719
 Where we

00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:54.179
 can be more

00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:54.799
 concerned about

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.319
 the look of

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:55.859
 this thing

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:57.199
 and the fact

00:27:57.199 --> 00:27:57.539
 that it's

00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.279
 probably got

00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.079
 three tons of

00:27:59.079 --> 00:27:59.639
 water in it

00:27:59.639 --> 00:28:00.479
 on a wooden

00:28:00.479 --> 00:28:01.219
 structure and

00:28:01.219 --> 00:28:01.479
 will it

00:28:01.479 --> 00:28:02.219
 possibly stand

00:28:02.219 --> 00:28:02.719
 up and put a

00:28:02.719 --> 00:28:03.139
 hole in the

00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:04.939
 building than

00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:05.240
 what it's

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:05.759
 actually here

00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:07.619
 for and

00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:08.339
 celebrating what

00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:08.859
 happened tonight.

00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:12.379
 friends our

00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:13.079
 mission statements

00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.639
 written on the

00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.179
 back wall of

00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:14.639
 our church

00:28:14.639 --> 00:28:15.740
 there tells

00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.219
 us that we

00:28:16.219 --> 00:28:17.139
 exist for

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.959
 this message

00:28:17.959 --> 00:28:18.699
 and for

00:28:18.699 --> 00:28:19.519
 this ministry.

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.319
 St. Paul's

00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:23.019
 exists to know

00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.579
 Jesus, to

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.219
 treasure Jesus

00:28:24.219 --> 00:28:24.759
 and represent

00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:26.119
 Jesus and it

00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:26.679
 is not just

00:28:26.679 --> 00:28:27.119
 meant to be

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.799
 written on the

00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.500
 walls, it's

00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:28.859
 meant to be

00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:29.240
 written in

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.039
 our hearts

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.839
 and to be

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.399
 shaping our

00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:32.939
 lives.

00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:34.859
 I believe the

00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:35.379
 more deeply

00:28:35.379 --> 00:28:36.799
 we feel how

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:38.019
 undeserved and

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.980
 free was the

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.480
 grace of the

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:39.980
 Lord Jesus

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.299
 Christ that

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.000
 plucked someone

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.900
 like me at

00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:43.619
 the age of

00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:46.339
 23 from the

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:46.960
 flames of

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.940
 eternal misery

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:49.619
 the more we

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:50.400
 will treasure the

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.339
 Lord Jesus and

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:52.319
 the gift of

00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:52.900
 grace that we

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.500
 have in him.

00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:54.660
 And the more

00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:55.420
 that we treasure

00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.180
 the Lord Jesus

00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:57.119
 I believe the

00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:58.220
 harder we'll

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:59.920
 work, the

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.920
 less we'll

00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:01.940
 regard everyone

00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.980
 from a worldly

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.700
 point of view,

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.599
 we will see them

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.200
 as people in

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.740
 need of Christ

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:08.059
 and the

00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:08.779
 freer our

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.519
 love will be

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.299
 in representing

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:11.140
 the Lord Jesus

00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:13.120
 to those who

00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:13.720
 need to

00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.660
 experience his

00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.079
 mercy.

00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:18.440
 Let's pray.

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.099
 Gracious

00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:21.900
 Father I pray

00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:22.660
 that you would

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.559
 reshape our

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.559
 priorities as we

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:24.980
 have gone

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:26.019
 through 2

00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.660
 Corinthians 4

00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.259
 and 5

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:28.859
 over this

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.700
 month of

00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.799
 refocusing

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.799
 again on

00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:32.980
 your global

00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:33.620
 agenda and

00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:34.259
 your plans,

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:34.720
 the mission

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.039
 that you've

00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:35.680
 entrusted to

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.060
 us.

00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:37.880
 Lord if we

00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.259
 have been

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.460
 tempted either

00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.380
 individually or

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:42.940
 corporately to

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.820
 take off our

00:29:43.820 --> 00:29:44.700
 uniform and

00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.279
 mingle with the

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:47.480
 crowd, encourage

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.340
 us in heart I

00:29:48.340 --> 00:29:49.840
 pray as again

00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:50.460
 we hear the

00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:50.920
 message of

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.519
 reconciliation.

00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.100
 Help us Lord

00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:54.880
 to be humbled,

00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.500
 to see that

00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.460
 we've contributed

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.060
 nothing.

00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.320
 There's no good

00:30:01.320 --> 00:30:02.220
 and better people

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:03.420
 but that we're

00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:03.940
 all in deep

00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:04.320
 need of

00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:04.819
 reconciliation

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.700
 with you

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.579
 and we

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.200
 thank you for

00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.659
 what you've

00:30:07.659 --> 00:30:08.279
 done for us

00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.839
 in the Lord

00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:09.220
 Jesus.

00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:11.079
 May it shape

00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.679
 our lives we

00:30:11.679 --> 00:30:12.279
 pray day by

00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:12.599
 day.

00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:13.399
 Amen.