WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.299 Please have a seat and open up to Ephesians chapter 2 again. 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:11.599 And over the next few weeks we're just going to be looking at a few verses per week. 00:00:11.740 --> 00:00:15.620 So we're going to do a slow-mo replay of Ephesians 2, 1-10. 00:00:15.740 --> 00:00:20.219 And today I want us to do a slow-mo replay of just verses 4 and 5. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:21.039 Let me read them. 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:28.839 But God, being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:35.480 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:39.780 I used to be on Facebook. 00:00:40.259 --> 00:00:41.500 I'm not on Facebook anymore. 00:00:41.620 --> 00:00:42.320 Sorry, you can't add me. 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:47.359 But when I was on it, I used to follow the Thames Valley Police Facebook page. 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:49.219 Don't ask me why. 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:56.179 And now and again, they would post recent convictions of criminals and describe their crimes. 00:00:56.179 --> 00:01:02.519 At one time, a post came up of a criminal who had done some pretty disgusting things. 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:05.420 And they had caught and convicted him. 00:01:06.299 --> 00:01:10.159 And a woman commented just below on the Facebook post. 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:11.859 And I saved these words. 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:13.400 This is word for word, copy and paste. 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:15.000 She wrote this. 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:21.799 I just don't understand how so many people not only have these thoughts, 00:01:22.299 --> 00:01:25.900 but the urge is so intense, they know it's wrong, 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:29.819 and still feel the need to pursue the urge and break the law. 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:33.219 Surely there has to be a reason for it. 00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:38.120 I just can't come to terms with the amount of people being born like this. 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:41.320 Something must happen to cause this. 00:01:41.859 --> 00:01:43.740 It's just so wrong. 00:01:46.060 --> 00:01:50.420 Now that woman has an excellent insight into the human condition. 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:53.740 And she asks a big question. 00:01:53.960 --> 00:01:55.260 What causes this? 00:01:57.100 --> 00:02:01.200 And we can look around at the world right now and be wondering exactly the same. 00:02:01.500 --> 00:02:02.800 If you've been watching the news, 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:07.620 the names Constance Martin and Mark Gordon raises the same question. 00:02:09.219 --> 00:02:10.500 What causes this? 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:14.439 Or you can look at the wars in the headlines right now. 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:16.359 You can look on the streets of Ealing. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:19.519 You can wonder about this question in your office. 00:02:19.519 --> 00:02:23.319 You can agonize over this question as you struggle with your family. 00:02:24.620 --> 00:02:30.340 Or maybe you're here tonight looking into your own heart and wondering the same thing. 00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:31.900 What causes this? 00:02:33.580 --> 00:02:37.380 Well last week we saw what the cause of all this is. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:41.000 It is something to do with the human condition. 00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:43.740 That the cause is it's deep within. 00:02:44.140 --> 00:02:45.000 Look at verse 1. 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:50.040 Without Christ, without God's grace, by nature we are what? 00:02:50.540 --> 00:02:52.300 Dead in our sins. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:56.660 So take away grace from the human condition. 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:00.220 And there is only spiritual deadness. 00:03:00.219 --> 00:03:04.719 Only an opposition to God and his law. 00:03:05.099 --> 00:03:09.460 That Facebook post was coming face to face with this deadness. 00:03:09.460 --> 00:03:17.120 But Ephesians doesn't point the finger at the convicts in the headlines to say, 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:19.180 well that's the deadness over there. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:23.560 No, Ephesians speaks to the Christian. 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:26.680 To you and me brothers and sisters. 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:31.300 And says, this is what we were like without God's grace. 00:03:31.300 --> 00:03:38.060 You may not have been in the headlines, but our situation is far worse than we think. 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:45.000 Before Christ, we are by nature down to the very core, dead. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:52.539 Running from God and following the world, the flesh and the devil and heading straight off a cliff. 00:03:53.659 --> 00:04:04.280 So if you did a super powered x-ray of the human heart without Christ, we are spiritually, morally dead. 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:07.699 This is the problem of the world. 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:09.259 It's not a lack of role models. 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:11.060 It's not just a lack of education. 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:15.900 By nature, you can think of the world, it's a stinking corpse. 00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:22.699 We are by nature a stone cold body lying in a mortuary. 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:29.719 So that Facebook post can actually be pointed to any one of us. 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:35.219 I just can't come to terms with the amount of people being born like this. 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:37.399 Yeah, that's me. 00:04:38.719 --> 00:04:41.000 We are all born like this. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:48.519 By nature, in all of us, there is a whole reservoir of evil ready to be unleashed. 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:56.339 But it's not good enough to just ask why. 00:04:57.979 --> 00:05:03.099 It's no use to just ask what causes this and then leave it there. 00:05:04.359 --> 00:05:10.759 We need to ask a just as perplexing question, but just as important question. 00:05:11.039 --> 00:05:16.259 Not just what causes this, but how can you change this? 00:05:16.259 --> 00:05:20.779 How can you even fix people like this? 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:26.399 These wars, these politicians, look at these thefts and burglaries. 00:05:26.719 --> 00:05:29.439 Look at my colleagues and my family and my school. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:31.539 Look at the way the world is going. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:34.379 The world feels like it's going to hell in a handbasket. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:38.379 How on earth can you fix something like that? 00:05:39.060 --> 00:05:42.819 Something so entrenched and ingrained into who we are. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:47.099 How can you fundamentally change the dead human condition? 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:50.579 Well, there's only one answer. 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:55.180 And Ephesians 2 couldn't be any clearer about it. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:57.040 How do you change the dead human condition? 00:05:58.379 --> 00:06:01.439 God needs to make us alive. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:08.939 We have in these verses tonight the answer that you and this world is crying out for. 00:06:09.660 --> 00:06:13.180 We're doing a slow-mo replay of Ephesians 2 over the next few weeks. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:17.300 And this is the slow-mo replay of salvation. 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:23.360 The slow-mo of how this unfixable world can be fixed. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:27.079 How the dead human condition can really be changed. 00:06:27.079 --> 00:06:34.439 And as we watch this replay, we see something extraordinary. 00:06:35.699 --> 00:06:38.120 The change has already begun. 00:06:39.779 --> 00:06:42.039 In fact, it's already begun where? 00:06:42.599 --> 00:06:43.959 Who's this being written to? 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:46.439 It's begun in the Christian. 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:50.979 How can you fundamentally change the dead human condition? 00:06:50.979 --> 00:06:52.779 Well, Paul is writing here to say, 00:06:53.459 --> 00:06:56.279 Christian, look to your own life. 00:06:57.079 --> 00:07:01.259 And you will see God made us alive. 00:07:02.919 --> 00:07:04.919 And this is my first point I want us to see today. 00:07:05.019 --> 00:07:06.060 God made us alive. 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:10.099 It's my first big point and then two shorter points after that. 00:07:10.159 --> 00:07:11.139 God made us alive. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:14.079 Let's look at verse 4. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.979 Verse 4 is the turning point of this whole passage. 00:07:18.919 --> 00:07:21.799 In fact, this is the turning point of the whole human condition. 00:07:22.339 --> 00:07:23.500 And can you see that turning point? 00:07:23.599 --> 00:07:24.659 How does this verse start? 00:07:25.060 --> 00:07:25.579 Verse 4. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:26.740 But. 00:07:28.740 --> 00:07:30.379 It starts with a contrast. 00:07:31.219 --> 00:07:32.879 But is a turning point. 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:34.759 Not that. 00:07:35.359 --> 00:07:35.719 But. 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:37.060 Instead this. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:41.439 So you know when you see the word therefore in the Bible? 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:42.299 Have you heard? 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:44.500 When you see the word therefore, you need to ask, 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:46.060 what is the therefore? 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:46.759 Therefore. 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:48.920 Well, here's another one. 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:50.899 A but butts in. 00:07:51.699 --> 00:07:51.839 Right? 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:53.920 A but butts in. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:56.420 A but changes something's direction. 00:07:56.980 --> 00:07:58.240 It's a turning point. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:03.360 And so when you see the word but, you need to ask, what is it butting into? 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:04.780 What came before this? 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:06.840 What could have been? 00:08:08.220 --> 00:08:11.980 Well, it butts into what we were before Christ. 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:17.860 It's the turning point of a fallen humanity by nature on its own. 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:19.620 And what were we like? 00:08:19.700 --> 00:08:20.200 Verse 1. 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:21.060 Hear it again. 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:29.220 Leave this world on its own. 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:33.299 Step back and leave us to our own devices. 00:08:33.299 --> 00:08:37.939 Let each of our lives just play out and run their course. 00:08:38.459 --> 00:08:41.479 And we will just follow the devil off a cliff. 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:46.419 This is the way that the world would just flow on its own. 00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:47.599 No hope. 00:08:47.859 --> 00:08:48.379 No life. 00:08:48.579 --> 00:08:48.899 Nothing. 00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:51.099 But. 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:53.879 Something happens. 00:08:55.059 --> 00:08:56.500 Something butts in. 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:57.079 Verse 4. 00:08:57.599 --> 00:08:58.039 But. 00:08:58.919 --> 00:08:59.519 God. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:02.559 The world. 00:09:02.819 --> 00:09:04.439 We were only going in one direction. 00:09:04.980 --> 00:09:05.819 But God. 00:09:05.939 --> 00:09:06.699 Did something. 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:08.799 But God. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:10.899 Didn't leave a world on its own. 00:09:11.939 --> 00:09:12.779 And what did he do? 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:14.639 What is the thing that he did? 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:16.039 Well, we need to jump. 00:09:16.299 --> 00:09:18.100 Just jump ahead to verse 5 to see that. 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:18.659 Verse 5. 00:09:19.939 --> 00:09:21.620 When we were dead in our trespasses. 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:23.500 God. 00:09:24.220 --> 00:09:25.019 Made us. 00:09:25.659 --> 00:09:26.139 Alive. 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:30.580 This is the turning point of history. 00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:33.139 This is the turning point of the human condition. 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:35.580 You were lost. 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:40.360 Christian, you were following the world, the flesh and the devil. 00:09:40.819 --> 00:09:41.659 Back to God. 00:09:41.939 --> 00:09:43.240 Middle finger up to him. 00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:45.000 But God. 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:46.960 Reached down. 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:48.639 Picked you up. 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:50.100 Turned you around. 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:51.779 Brought you to himself. 00:09:51.779 --> 00:09:54.319 And made you alive. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:59.280 Look again at the slow-mo replay of this world. 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:04.700 God has reached down and brought the dead back to life. 00:10:07.400 --> 00:10:10.320 And as you experience the deadness of this world. 00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:12.360 As you see it in the headlines. 00:10:13.160 --> 00:10:14.060 And in work. 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:14.879 And at school. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:15.680 And in your family. 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.280 And maybe tonight you even see it in yourself. 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:20.620 We know. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:22.580 We know we need something drastic. 00:10:22.580 --> 00:10:25.780 Seminars don't end wars. 00:10:26.660 --> 00:10:29.759 Role models don't stop these urges inside of us. 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:30.259 No. 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:31.660 What do the dead need? 00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:34.680 What does someone like Putin need? 00:10:35.680 --> 00:10:37.620 Putin needs to be made alive. 00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:41.800 Constance Martin needs to be made alive. 00:10:43.060 --> 00:10:46.860 Your colleague you pray for needs to be made alive. 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:50.539 If you're not in Christ here tonight. 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:52.740 You need to be made alive. 00:10:54.820 --> 00:10:56.659 And this is what salvation is. 00:10:57.639 --> 00:10:58.860 To become a Christian. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:01.659 It's not just a lifestyle update. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:04.519 This isn't just a new hobby. 00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:07.379 Christianity is not our attempt. 00:11:08.019 --> 00:11:10.419 To get our lives back on track. 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:11.060 No. 00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:12.379 To become a Christian. 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:13.500 To be saved. 00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:16.639 Is God doing something in you. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:21.159 It is God raising you from the dead. 00:11:21.819 --> 00:11:24.620 When we were dead in our trespasses. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:27.379 God made us alive. 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:32.179 If you're trusting in Christ here today. 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:35.779 Then something has actually happened to you. 00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:38.819 There is a point in your life. 00:11:39.299 --> 00:11:41.460 Where you were dead in your sin. 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.279 And God came down to you. 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.799 And he made you alive. 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:49.000 We often call this conversion. 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:51.859 From our own experience. 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:54.959 It's the point when we stopped following the world. 00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:55.839 The flesh and the devil. 00:11:56.479 --> 00:11:58.039 And we started following God. 00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:02.179 And we don't always know when this point is. 00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:04.539 It might have been in the womb. 00:12:05.859 --> 00:12:07.939 Maybe it was when you were three seconds old. 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:10.780 You might look back at your life. 00:12:11.060 --> 00:12:12.620 And you've always believed. 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:14.400 That's the case for me. 00:12:14.520 --> 00:12:15.340 I can't. 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:15.840 I look back. 00:12:15.920 --> 00:12:17.480 And I can't pinpoint a moment. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:19.080 Of conversion. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.240 Maybe it was in the womb. 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:21.200 I don't really know. 00:12:21.260 --> 00:12:22.360 I can't pinpoint it. 00:12:23.920 --> 00:12:24.900 Or maybe you can. 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:25.899 It was in the womb. 00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:25.899 00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:26.360 It was in the womb. 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:27.659 And you look back. 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:30.519 And you're pretty sure it was during that sermon. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:33.720 Or you think, you know. 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:36.720 Yeah, it's probably when I was praying on that walk. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:40.120 Or when you were just alone that one night. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:41.439 Or when you were reading the Bible. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.120 And the light bulbs just went on. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:47.500 Or maybe you can't pinpoint it. 00:12:47.580 --> 00:12:49.940 But you know it was kind of around that time. 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:52.240 It was kind of that year probably. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.500 But you can't figure out the moment. 00:12:53.620 --> 00:12:54.620 Things were kind of gradual. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.679 But you know things weren't the same again. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.320 Well, whenever it was. 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:01.919 Whether you know it or not. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:05.159 There is a moment when something happened to you. 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:08.399 You were stone cold dead. 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:12.399 And then God made you alive. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:18.220 And if you got a super powered MRI scanner on you in that moment. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.240 At that point. 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:22.539 And you could scan your spiritual self. 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:28.899 You will see your inner heart go from no pulse to beating. 00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:38.039 You will see that the texture of your heart go from stone to flesh. 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:45.259 You will see the temperature chart go from stone cold toward God. 00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:49.179 To warmth and love toward the Lord. 00:13:49.179 --> 00:13:55.359 And this is what the Bible sometimes calls being born again. 00:13:57.319 --> 00:13:58.319 Remember that woman? 00:13:59.059 --> 00:14:00.359 What she wrote on Facebook? 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:06.500 I just can't come to terms with the amount of people being born like this. 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:08.299 Exactly. 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:10.779 So what do we need? 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:13.419 We need to be born again. 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:16.759 Salvation. 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:20.100 It's not only about the forgiveness of sins. 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:22.440 And it is about the forgiveness of sins. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:27.399 But it's not only about the record of our sin being wiped out. 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:33.059 But at heart salvation is about you being brought back from the dead. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:40.240 Salvation is God reaching down into the mortuary and making you alive. 00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:48.519 And so this means that for those in Christ, something has actually changed in you. 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:51.179 Because just think about it. 00:14:51.579 --> 00:15:01.539 If we were dead, and deadness means, do you remember last week, following the world, the flesh, and the devil, being ruled by those things. 00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:04.519 Our hearts went in that direction. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:10.039 If that's what being dead is, then what does being made alive mean? 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:13.879 It means going in the other direction. 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:20.000 When God makes you alive, you begin to resist the course of this world. 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:27.740 This is why, Christian, this is why you feel the flow of the world push hard against you right now. 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:34.580 This is why standing up for Christ at school or at work, it's not only awkward, it's painful. 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:43.159 This is why, when the world is celebrating law changes and lifestyle choices, 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:45.679 that we're lamenting over. 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:50.720 This is why we don't feel at home here anymore. 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:55.960 This is why you cannot escape that deep down longing for heaven. 00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:59.000 You are now not following the course of this world anymore. 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:06.360 And so being alive, it also means you've stopped following the devil. 00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:12.480 The lies of the devil, the lie that we are fine without God, that's his big lie. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:15.420 We realize how untrue that is. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:20.320 We hear the gospel and we realize, no, that's nonsense. 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:25.360 And what about the desires of the flesh? 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:34.720 Well, that warmth that you saw in that MRI, those are new desires in you. 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:40.580 When God makes you alive, he puts new desires in your heart. 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:42.420 He gives you a new heart. 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:49.620 With desires now to love God and obey him and worship him. 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:56.019 To come to church and be with God's people and love and serve and forgive really hard things. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:59.659 Things that you could have never done before. 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:03.319 That is God bringing new life into your heart. 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:06.559 So don't take that for granted. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:11.339 Those desires that you have, that they may be small, you may be young in your faith, 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:13.819 but those desires are not a small thing. 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:17.599 That is God raising the dead. 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:28.519 Now, we do need to say that those old desires that pulled us away from God, 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:32.359 that those old desires, they don't disappear entirely. 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:36.779 This side of heaven, we will wrestle with sin. 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.480 And so if you're a Christian here tonight, 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:43.620 and you're struggling with desires that you know aren't right, 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:48.099 and you recognize them, and you're frustrated by them, 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:52.140 and you just want to love God and lead a faithful life, 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:55.200 but you see these desires and you think, 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:59.319 you think no Christian should have these desires that you're feeling. 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:05.579 I want you to realize, if there is a pull of desires in you, 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:08.680 don't think that's because you're dead. 00:18:08.680 --> 00:18:10.420 It's because you're alive. 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:16.360 It's like a fish swimming against the flow of a river. 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:18.400 So think about that. 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:22.100 If you see a fish floating at the top of a river, 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:25.100 just going downstream, just going with it, 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:26.880 what do you know about that fish? 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:29.039 That fish is dead, isn't it? 00:18:29.860 --> 00:18:31.640 It's floating, just going with the flow. 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.940 There's no fight in it. 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:38.080 But when you see a fish fighting against that current, 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:41.180 what do you know about that fish? 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.160 It's alive. 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:48.140 Well, to have the desire to even fight what you're fighting, 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:50.539 that is because God has made you alive. 00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:56.819 When God saves you, something actually changes in you. 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:01.659 And maybe you can see exactly that in your life. 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:05.440 You look back and you can see that turning point. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:08.960 You were completely lost at uni. 00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:10.440 You were just going with the crowd. 00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:12.420 You were heading down a scary road. 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:15.779 But God changed everything. 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:19.460 You were working the nine to five. 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.399 You didn't realize that there was anything else. 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:24.200 You were blinded to anything past this world. 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:27.139 But God shook you out of it. 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:30.379 You were in that relationship. 00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:33.420 Your desires were pulling you there. 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:35.279 You didn't realize where you were heading. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:37.720 But God made you alive. 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:42.240 And if you're feeling that deadness today, 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:45.119 if you're wondering if there is any hope for this world, 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:48.200 any hope for you, speak to any Christian here. 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.519 The answer is yes. 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:53.180 God can make you alive because he made me alive. 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:56.960 So what does this world need? 00:19:58.039 --> 00:20:01.039 What does your school need, your colleagues, your family? 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:03.820 We need something to butt in. 00:20:05.340 --> 00:20:07.360 God needs to make us alive. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:10.039 The dead cannot make themselves alive. 00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:13.960 Go to a graveyard and stand by a tombstone 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:17.140 and tell that body underground to make themselves alive. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:17.920 But what's going to happen? 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:19.259 Nothing. 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:24.039 Well, what is going to happen to this dead world without God? 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:26.819 If God just stepped back 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:31.700 and there was no grace, no gospel, no God, no action, nothing, 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:35.400 then this world, every one of us, 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:38.960 would stay dead in our sins and fall off that cliff edge. 00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:43.140 But God didn't do that. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.920 He made us alive. 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:49.460 And how? 00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:52.100 How did he make us alive? 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:54.480 He made us alive with Christ. 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.660 It's my second point today. 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.279 It's going to be shorter. 00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:59.560 God made us alive with Christ. 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.779 God made us alive with Christ. 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.720 There's something key 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:08.860 to how the dead human condition can be made alive. 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.960 Do you see that in verse 5? 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:13.120 God made us alive together 00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:15.100 with Christ. 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:18.379 Now those two words, 00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:19.980 with Christ, 00:21:20.219 --> 00:21:21.699 this means what it says it means. 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:24.000 Along with Christ. 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:26.500 Side by side with Christ. 00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:28.179 When I was made alive, 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:30.079 I wasn't on my own. 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:32.759 Someone else was made alive as well. 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:35.000 I was made alive 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.659 with Christ. 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.500 So have a think. 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.699 And this isn't a trick question. 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.119 When did that happen? 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:45.799 When was Christ 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:47.279 raised from the dead 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.479 and God made him alive? 00:21:49.679 --> 00:21:51.839 This is talking about the resurrection. 00:21:52.899 --> 00:21:54.779 That first Easter Sunday. 00:21:55.939 --> 00:21:57.539 And Ephesians is saying 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:59.539 when Jesus' body 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:01.839 was laying still in that tomb, 00:22:02.959 --> 00:22:04.899 when his heart was silent 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:08.259 and his veins were ice cold, 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:10.099 but then 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:13.000 his heart started pumping. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.000 Blood 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.640 flowed through his veins. 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:17.980 Resurrection life 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.619 surged through him. 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:21.000 He took that 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.400 deep first breath. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.579 He opened his eyes, 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:25.519 sat up, 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:27.319 folded those grave clothes. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:29.400 The tombstone 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:30.240 rolled away 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.779 and he stepped out 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:33.359 into that Sunday morning light. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.480 Ephesians is saying 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:37.180 when that happens, 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:39.039 you Christian, 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:41.700 you left the tomb there 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.299 with him. 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:45.640 You took those first steps 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.039 with him. 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.759 God made us alive 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:49.279 with Christ. 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.680 But you might ask, 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:52.940 how? 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:55.099 I wasn't there. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:57.120 That was 2,000 years ago. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.559 How was I with him? 00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:58.919 Well, 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.919 when God made you alive 00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:03.599 last year 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:05.500 or 10 years ago 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.899 or when you were 6 years old 00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:08.019 or when you were in the womb 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:09.440 or whenever it may be, 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:11.079 when God made you alive, 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:13.240 that was you 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.879 sharing in Easter Sunday. 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:18.559 The same resurrection power 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:20.139 that surged through Jesus 00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:21.019 on that Sunday morning, 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.399 that same power 00:23:22.399 --> 00:23:23.919 is what surged through you 00:23:23.919 --> 00:23:24.559 in that moment. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:26.859 And in fact, 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.980 it's what's in you 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:28.700 right now. 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.279 And so when you look 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.279 at the Thames Valley Police 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.319 Facebook page, 00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:36.759 how can those people change? 00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:39.440 What do our leaders need? 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.679 What does Putin need? 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.379 What do your colleagues need? 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.919 What do your school friends need? 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:45.940 If you're not a Christian, 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:46.819 what do you need? 00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:49.179 This world needs 00:23:49.179 --> 00:23:50.619 to be with Jesus. 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:54.719 That is the only way 00:23:54.719 --> 00:23:56.500 life comes into this dead world. 00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:59.519 You need to be with him, 00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:00.679 united to him. 00:24:02.199 --> 00:24:03.339 So take it from someone 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:03.919 who was dead 00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.759 but is now alive, 00:24:04.939 --> 00:24:06.099 trust in the Lord Jesus 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:08.239 and you will be with him. 00:24:10.439 --> 00:24:12.099 This is why we run 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:13.099 Holiday Bible Club. 00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.299 This is why we have 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:15.859 Hope Explored. 00:24:15.959 --> 00:24:17.519 This is why the language classes, 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:19.579 this is why your prayers 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.500 aren't in vain. 00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:23.139 This world is so 00:24:23.139 --> 00:24:24.239 desperately dead 00:24:24.239 --> 00:24:25.839 and only in Christ 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.000 can the dead be made alive. 00:24:28.919 --> 00:24:30.659 This is what salvation is. 00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:32.679 This is how God 00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:34.219 butted into this world. 00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.599 He reached down 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.539 into the mortuary 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:38.559 and made us alive 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.299 with Christ. 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.959 But I want us to finish 00:24:43.959 --> 00:24:44.519 by asking, 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.219 why? 00:24:46.219 --> 00:24:46.299 Why? 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:49.059 Why all of this? 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:51.319 If we were dead 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:51.980 in our sins, 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:53.079 if we hated God, 00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:54.559 if justice demands 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:56.000 that God's anger 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:57.440 should be on us, 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.819 if this is the natural flow 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.539 of this world 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.240 and in sin 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.679 we want this, 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:04.279 if this world is dead, 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.839 why is there 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.960 a but God? 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:10.159 Why doesn't Ephesians 2 00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:11.200 just end 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.579 at verse 4? 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:15.099 Why does God, 00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.980 why has God 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:17.559 done anything 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.399 at all 00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:19.720 in this undeserving world? 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:21.619 Why isn't this world 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:22.579 in an instant 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.859 just plunging down 00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:24.539 into hell? 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.679 Well, the reason 00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:29.839 is found in God. 00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:32.159 Look again at verse 4. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:34.420 But God 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:36.779 being rich 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:38.019 in mercy 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:40.800 because of the great love 00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:41.960 with which he loved us 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.160 even when we were dead 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:44.100 in our trespasses 00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:45.680 made us alive 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.160 together 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.240 with Christ. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:51.400 There is only a but God 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:53.540 because God 00:25:53.540 --> 00:25:55.360 is rich in mercy. 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.800 And it's my final point today. 00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:59.080 God is rich in mercy. 00:25:59.079 --> 00:26:02.419 Now, mercy means 00:26:02.419 --> 00:26:04.679 not giving us 00:26:04.679 --> 00:26:05.359 what we deserve. 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.980 That's what mercy means. 00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:07.519 Mercy means 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.539 not giving us 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.179 what we deserve. 00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:12.199 So justice alone, 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.599 cold hard justice alone 00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.960 demands that God 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.779 step back 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.460 from this world. 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.460 That we just live 00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.039 our lives 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:21.480 and just let this world 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.839 head off that cliff. 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:25.099 That's fair, okay? 00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:26.759 That's what we deserve. 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:29.319 But mercy, 00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:31.359 mercy 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:33.119 is God 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.619 not letting that happen. 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.259 Mercy is God 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.539 not giving us 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.200 what we deserve. 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.920 Mercy is God 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:42.640 butting into our lives. 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:45.059 It is this 00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:46.180 kindness, 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.799 this goodness, 00:26:49.059 --> 00:26:49.900 a love 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.759 toward the undeserving, 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:51.759 the love 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:52.900 with which 00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:53.900 he loved us. 00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:57.360 so look back 00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:57.920 at your life. 00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:59.440 Why can I say 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:01.060 I was lost 00:27:01.060 --> 00:27:02.100 when I was a teenager 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:03.060 but God found me? 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.920 Why can you say 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.940 I was heading down 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.660 a dark path 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:09.040 but God pulled me back? 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.640 Why can we say 00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:13.040 I was going to hell, 00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:14.640 I deserved it 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:16.600 but God gave me heaven? 00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:19.899 Why any of this at all? 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.699 Why is there 00:27:20.699 --> 00:27:21.639 a but God? 00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.719 Well look what comes 00:27:22.719 --> 00:27:23.319 after it 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:24.599 but God 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:26.819 being rich 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.879 in mercy. 00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:31.639 You can look back 00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:32.500 at your life tonight 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:34.359 and you can see 00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:35.119 what could have been, 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:36.279 see where you were, 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.759 you can see 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.859 how you came alive 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:39.839 and you can know 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:41.500 that is because 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:43.199 God had mercy on me. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:46.000 He chose 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.900 to love me. 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.940 He chose 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:50.420 to not give me 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.259 what I deserve 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.259 but instead 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.299 give me everything 00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:53.940 I don't. 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.519 And why does God 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.340 show us this mercy? 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.940 It's not anything 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:01.420 in us. 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.200 It's not because 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.160 we were a little bit 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:04.759 more deserving 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.220 than others. 00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:06.100 No, the reason 00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:07.080 is not in us. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.319 No, look again, 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.019 God 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:11.100 being rich 00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:11.720 in mercy. 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:14.799 We can only 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.700 be here today 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.880 because God 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:18.640 in his being 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:20.400 who he is 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.480 our God 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.299 is rich 00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:22.860 in mercy. 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.539 And I want us 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:25.960 to notice 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.420 something about 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:26.779 this phrase. 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.059 Firstly, 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.720 do you notice 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:29.400 it does not say 00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:31.880 despite who God is 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:33.240 he happened 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:33.920 to be merciful 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.500 to us. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.860 It does not say 00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:38.519 although it is 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.440 out of the character 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:39.839 of God 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.539 to be merciful 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:42.079 yet he had 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.500 mercy. 00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.619 No, it says 00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:46.000 God 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.519 who is 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.519 rich in mercy 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:50.319 made us 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.299 alive with Christ. 00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:54.200 It is in the 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:55.480 character of God 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.379 to have mercy. 00:28:58.379 --> 00:28:59.159 When God 00:28:59.159 --> 00:28:59.819 reveals himself 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.379 to Moses 00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:00.980 in Exodus 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.279 reveals who he is. 00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:02.779 Do you remember 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.240 how God 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:03.980 announces himself? 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.079 Do you remember 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.599 those words? 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.220 He says 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.940 the Lord, 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.720 the Lord, 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:09.940 a God 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.700 merciful 00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.299 and gracious. 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:14.319 Our God 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.839 is not 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:16.140 this mechanical 00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:16.680 robot 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.360 who knows 00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:18.000 all facts 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.319 and just 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:18.940 dishes out 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.440 justice 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:19.960 like a 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:20.680 maths equation. 00:29:21.860 --> 00:29:22.000 No, 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:22.640 a God 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.160 like that 00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:24.059 steps back 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.720 from a dead 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.019 world 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.019 but that is 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.539 not who God 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:26.860 is. 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.579 Our God 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.400 being rich 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.039 in mercy 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:32.000 reached down 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.680 to a dead 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:33.019 world, 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:33.880 reached down 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.620 to you 00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.740 and me 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.560 and gave 00:29:36.560 --> 00:29:37.000 the dead 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.520 life. 00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.260 You are 00:29:39.260 --> 00:29:39.780 alive 00:29:39.780 --> 00:29:41.220 not despite 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:42.000 who God 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.340 is 00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.520 but because 00:29:43.520 --> 00:29:43.820 of who 00:29:43.820 --> 00:29:44.260 God is. 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.540 So if you 00:29:47.540 --> 00:29:48.140 know anyone 00:29:48.140 --> 00:29:49.220 whose name 00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:49.740 is Mercy 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.260 tonight 00:29:50.260 --> 00:29:51.520 they need 00:29:51.520 --> 00:29:51.720 to know 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:51.960 that they 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.360 are named 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:52.740 after a 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.080 wonderful 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:53.460 thing. 00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:56.440 And secondly 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.400 notice how 00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:58.040 merciful he 00:29:58.040 --> 00:29:58.180 is. 00:29:58.260 --> 00:29:58.520 God is 00:29:58.520 --> 00:29:59.560 rich in 00:29:59.560 --> 00:29:59.900 mercy 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:02.180 and that 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:02.580 is because 00:30:02.580 --> 00:30:03.680 big sin 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.920 requires 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.279 rich 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:05.660 mercy. 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.240 The bigger 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:07.779 the sin 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.740 the richer 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.299 the need 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:09.759 for mercy. 00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:11.860 And how 00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:12.259 big was 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.560 our sin? 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.160 How big 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.500 was our 00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:13.980 deadness? 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.140 Big enough 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:16.500 that the 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:16.880 Son of 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:17.200 God 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:17.980 needed to 00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.380 die for 00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:18.539 it. 00:30:20.340 --> 00:30:21.420 The cross 00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.539 is proof 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.080 that sin 00:30:23.080 --> 00:30:23.680 is big 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:26.140 but that 00:30:26.140 --> 00:30:27.039 means the 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.500 cross is 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:27.880 proof of 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.440 something else. 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.240 The cross 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:30.900 is proof 00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:32.320 that God 00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:33.060 is rich 00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.720 in mercy. 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:35.799 If the 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.259 Son of 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:36.779 God gave 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.200 his life 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:37.559 for me 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.139 if that 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.440 is how 00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:38.899 big my 00:30:38.899 --> 00:30:39.379 sin was 00:30:39.379 --> 00:30:40.139 then my 00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:40.700 God is 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.339 rich in 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:41.679 mercy. 00:30:44.879 --> 00:30:45.539 I was 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:45.960 speaking to 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.200 another 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:46.819 Christian once 00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.200 about their 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.599 salvation 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:49.200 and they 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.759 were reflecting 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.079 on their 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:51.079 past and 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.460 how God 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:52.099 saved them 00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:53.339 and they 00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:54.000 just asked 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.619 why me? 00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:57.359 Of all 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:57.700 people 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.379 why me? 00:30:58.380 --> 00:31:00.700 it is a 00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.160 good question 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:01.580 to ask 00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:01.960 and we 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:02.260 can even 00:31:02.260 --> 00:31:02.600 add 00:31:02.600 --> 00:31:04.500 why any 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:04.900 of us? 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.820 Why did 00:31:06.820 --> 00:31:07.300 God make 00:31:07.300 --> 00:31:08.320 any of us 00:31:08.320 --> 00:31:09.040 alive with 00:31:09.040 --> 00:31:09.420 Christ? 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:11.440 Well do you 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:11.660 know? 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.820 Because God 00:31:13.820 --> 00:31:14.780 is rich in 00:31:14.780 --> 00:31:15.120 mercy. 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.640 How do we 00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:18.080 have any 00:31:18.080 --> 00:31:18.680 right to be 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.320 here, to be 00:31:19.320 --> 00:31:19.580 alive? 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.200 We have no 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.520 right. 00:31:21.520 --> 00:31:22.280 We deserve 00:31:22.280 --> 00:31:23.060 none of this 00:31:23.060 --> 00:31:23.740 and that's 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.500 exactly the 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.820 point. 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:26.240 we don't. 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:28.460 But God 00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:30.519 is rich 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.019 in mercy. 00:31:32.679 --> 00:31:33.399 Let's pray.