WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.260 Bible, let's turn to Genesis chapter 3. 00:00:03.240 --> 00:00:08.599 Genesis chapter 3, as a lot of high school and college students do, 00:00:09.620 --> 00:00:12.160 I spent my summers working odd jobs. 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:16.920 And one summer I worked at a small upholstery company 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:21.559 in a man's garage in his backyard, a converted garage. 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:23.740 Now don't get excited, I didn't learn anything. 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:28.100 I learned how to tear up furniture and to stuff pillows. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.560 And while there I did learn two pretty amazing truths. 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:39.840 One of them is that my co-worker, the ex-convict, 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:44.299 could shoot his belly with a staple gun and not get hurt. 00:00:45.179 --> 00:00:46.799 And he wasn't even drunk. 00:00:47.900 --> 00:00:50.659 At the time, it was impressive. 00:00:50.879 --> 00:00:53.240 I mean, I was like Gomer Powell, Shazam, you know. 00:00:54.659 --> 00:00:57.700 The other thing I learned was when you reupholster, 00:00:57.700 --> 00:01:00.460 you almost remake furniture. 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:04.820 And if you want to get a piece of furniture reupholstered, 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:06.219 it better be a good piece of furniture. 00:01:06.340 --> 00:01:08.960 Because when you rip all those insides out, 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:12.840 there's hardly anything left except the frame. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.460 And if the frame's not built right, it's not going to amount to much. 00:01:17.600 --> 00:01:21.700 It was not until I got down to the fundamental basics 00:01:21.700 --> 00:01:27.159 that I really understood how furniture was made. 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:33.359 Well, Genesis 3 gets us down to the basics 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:37.640 about us and about sin. 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:44.879 And we'll continue down that to see the slippery slope of sin 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:48.260 when we continue in Genesis after Easter. 00:01:48.260 --> 00:01:51.840 But these three truths stand out to me. 00:01:52.260 --> 00:01:53.160 The first one is this. 00:01:53.460 --> 00:01:56.000 Sin is a foolish and selfish trap. 00:01:57.060 --> 00:02:00.760 After being tempted, Adam and Eve tried to pass the blame. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:04.500 And they also wanted to be their own God. 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:07.840 That's what Genesis 3 verse 5 tells us. 00:02:08.840 --> 00:02:12.560 Not only that, but understand that sin causes alienation 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:13.740 and it causes shame. 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:18.620 After sinning, they were ashamed and they hid from God. 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:26.080 This whole emphasis on having pride in our society 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:27.480 and all that goes with it, 00:02:28.320 --> 00:02:32.640 it's an attempt to avoid the shame of sin, quite honestly. 00:02:33.700 --> 00:02:36.300 And if you're proud of your sin and you're not ashamed of it, 00:02:36.320 --> 00:02:37.480 then it must not be sin. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:39.160 That's the idea. 00:02:40.340 --> 00:02:43.000 It's kind of an attempt to rewrite the script, if you will. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:46.580 And the script never changes the reality 00:02:46.580 --> 00:02:51.120 because sin causes alienation, causes shame. 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:53.419 The third truth is this. 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:56.520 Sin comes with horrible consequences. 00:02:57.580 --> 00:03:01.840 It lowers us to the lowest level of life, to the dust. 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:07.759 It leads us to be a victim of a manipulative devil, 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:09.400 striking your heel. 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:13.640 It brings burdens to blessings, increases pain of birth. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:18.620 It causes strains in relationships, desire but struggle in relationships. 00:03:18.920 --> 00:03:21.460 It brings toil into the triumphs of life, 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.480 the thorns and the thistles that's mentioned. 00:03:23.860 --> 00:03:27.140 It brings difficulty and burden to the fruitfulness of life. 00:03:27.379 --> 00:03:30.480 That's what working the ground is talking about in Genesis chapter 3. 00:03:30.860 --> 00:03:34.920 And this morning we look at the only hope that a sinful humanity has. 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:40.839 We actually see a foretaste of a wonderful and real salvation 00:03:40.839 --> 00:03:43.139 that can only come through Christ. 00:03:43.839 --> 00:03:49.079 In Genesis chapter 3, beginning in verse 20, and it says this, 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:54.100 The man called his wife's name Eve because she was the mother of all living. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:04:00.300 And the Lord God made for Adam and his wife garments of skin and clothed them. 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:02.720 Then the Lord God said, 00:04:02.939 --> 00:04:06.900 Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:13.520 Now lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:20.400 Therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:26.439 He drove out the man and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed a chair upon him 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:34.400 and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to this tree of life. 00:04:35.420 --> 00:04:41.960 When we look at this passage, we see in reality the love that the Father has for us. 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:44.759 Despite the fact that we turned against him, 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:47.299 and not only did Adam and Eve do that, 00:04:47.399 --> 00:04:51.500 but Romans 3.23 tells us that we've all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:04:51.579 --> 00:04:53.239 So we've all turned against him. 00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:56.259 In his love though, he provides a way. 00:04:56.919 --> 00:05:01.560 The traits of God that we see here are the same traits that make up our hope. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:06.620 And this passage, I believe, is just a foretaste of our salvation. 00:05:07.779 --> 00:05:11.759 Notice first the mercy of God. 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:16.000 It's found in Genesis chapter 2 verse 16 and 17 and it says, 00:05:16.359 --> 00:05:18.599 And the Lord God commanded the man saying, 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:22.519 You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:25.379 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat. 00:05:25.979 --> 00:05:29.899 For in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die. 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:35.500 God said in the day that they would eat of it, they would die. 00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:37.699 Did they? 00:05:37.699 --> 00:05:37.740 Did they? 00:05:37.740 --> 00:05:43.439 Yes and no. 00:05:44.780 --> 00:05:46.259 What is death? 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:50.699 Well, biblically, death is separation. 00:05:52.460 --> 00:05:57.220 Death comes in a lot of different ways, not just physical death. 00:05:57.220 --> 00:05:57.300 Death. 00:05:59.540 --> 00:06:01.840 Relationships die. 00:06:04.260 --> 00:06:05.760 Dreams die. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.080 Opportunities die. 00:06:10.260 --> 00:06:14.960 And in Genesis chapter 3 verse 6, there was a spiritual death. 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:18.920 Their relationship with God was divided. 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:26.759 There was, as Jesus refers to at one point, a chasm between them and God. 00:06:27.300 --> 00:06:28.500 They hid from God. 00:06:28.840 --> 00:06:30.840 They no longer walked with him in the cool of the day. 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:32.560 They were ashamed of who they were. 00:06:33.300 --> 00:06:34.700 And now separated. 00:06:36.700 --> 00:06:41.040 Without some hope of God, we have no hope of renewal. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:44.740 They went from walking with him to hiding from him. 00:06:44.840 --> 00:06:47.500 They went from shame to covering themselves. 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:51.280 They went from blessing to curse because of their sin. 00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:52.360 And don't misunderstand. 00:06:52.640 --> 00:06:55.200 Physical death entered in the world at that time. 00:06:56.340 --> 00:07:03.620 Adam and Eve did die one day, but God in his mercy did not eliminate humankind. 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:10.040 In Genesis chapter 3 verse 15, in the midst of their curse, God also gave them a promise. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.319 And it's a promise that's easily missed, and I want you to get it. 00:07:14.420 --> 00:07:22.040 It says in Genesis 3 verse 15, I will put in between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. 00:07:23.420 --> 00:07:27.920 He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. 00:07:28.180 --> 00:07:29.500 You know what the promise is? 00:07:29.860 --> 00:07:30.420 Offspring. 00:07:31.259 --> 00:07:32.800 This ain't all there is. 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:36.340 With Adam and Eve, they messed up. 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:41.040 They died spiritually right there when they bit that fruit. 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:48.160 But the reality is, it was there, they were there, and they would have offspring, and that would show that there'd be new life. 00:07:48.600 --> 00:07:50.300 Life would not stop. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:55.300 In other words, in his mercy, God allowed the life of humanity to continue on. 00:07:55.660 --> 00:07:58.100 We see this pattern often in the Old Testament. 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:00.399 God will raise up a prophet. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:04.539 A prophet will send a message of doom upon people. 00:08:04.739 --> 00:08:09.359 That if they do not repent and turn from their ways, they will die. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:11.959 And through that prophet, that promise will come. 00:08:12.299 --> 00:08:18.239 But with repentance, new opportunities come for them when they repent. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:24.280 Verse 20 tells us that God does not throw up his hands and disgust when we fail. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:27.600 He does not abandon his crown creation. 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:30.259 Instead, he offers newness of life. 00:08:30.340 --> 00:08:37.340 And in this woman, the lineage began that produced Christ, who is the hope of our salvation. 00:08:37.340 --> 00:08:47.379 With our innocence gone, and our rebellious sin obvious, and our death deserved, God preserved us. 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:49.940 It's nothing but the mercy of God. 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:54.259 But I also want you to see the forgiveness of God. 00:08:55.580 --> 00:08:58.600 For verse 21 speaks of the forgiveness of God. 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:02.580 Because when sin entered in, so did shame. 00:09:03.680 --> 00:09:08.680 And in a hapless, helpless effort, they tried to cover themselves. 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:10.600 And they're not the only ones. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:15.659 When we are found in sin, we each try to find our way to cover our sin. 00:09:16.300 --> 00:09:18.180 We try to hide our sin. 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:21.019 We somehow try to make it go away. 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:27.579 In Shakespeare's classic, Lady Macbeth tried to wash her hands of the murder, but she couldn't do it. 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:34.079 When Pilate was standing before that trial with Christ, he tried to wash his hands of it. 00:09:34.100 --> 00:09:35.419 But he couldn't wash his hands of it. 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:37.480 He's the one that held the power to make the decision. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:39.980 With our sin comes shame. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:42.139 With our sin comes embarrassment. 00:09:42.579 --> 00:09:44.220 With our sin comes insecurity. 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:45.740 And we try to cover it up. 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:46.620 How? 00:09:46.740 --> 00:09:47.960 We do it a lot of ways. 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:52.080 Sometimes we do it by trying to act like it never happened. 00:09:52.560 --> 00:09:52.800 Huh? 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:54.800 I don't know what you're talking about. 00:09:57.019 --> 00:09:59.759 Sometimes we try to cover up our sin by justifying it. 00:10:00.180 --> 00:10:02.680 Well, if you only knew my circumstances, you'd understand. 00:10:04.160 --> 00:10:05.800 Sometimes we do it like we saw here. 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:07.480 We point fingers at other people. 00:10:09.160 --> 00:10:12.820 Sometimes we try to justify it by trying to pay it back ourselves. 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:17.440 And the reality is, folks, all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:19.100 And we can't pay it back. 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:21.440 We can't pay the price. 00:10:23.660 --> 00:10:30.500 Verse 21 teaches us that when physical death is the cost of the sin, God always will provide that pardon. 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:39.800 And these animal skins that they put on that God provided for them for clothing, that is a foreshadow of the sacrificial system. 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:45.639 And the sacrificial system of the Old Testament is the foreshadowing of the coming of Christ. 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:53.899 While Adam and Eve are knitting their own fig leaves, trying to make an inadequate covering, the reality is they needed God's intervention. 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:58.779 And he provided the sacrifice that would cover their shame. 00:10:58.899 --> 00:11:06.240 And that is a foreshadowing of the whole sophisticated system of sacrifices that are covered in Leviticus. 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:11.340 And if you're doing the Bible recap, congratulations, you got through Leviticus. 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:16.700 The details of all of that are pertinent. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:22.460 Because God wanted to show us the weight of our sin. 00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:30.560 As those fig leaves were knit by men and were inadequate, so are our works. 00:11:32.800 --> 00:11:38.120 God provided a sacrificial system as a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Christ. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:45.000 What Christ did one time covered what priests did every year. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:49.340 I want you to hear this passage, but I don't really want you to hear it. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:50.700 I hope you get it. 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:55.500 It's in Hebrews chapter 10, verse 11, and it says this, 00:11:55.500 --> 00:12:03.820 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sin. 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:11.879 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:18.580 waiting for the time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:24.679 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:27.620 The point is this, folks. 00:12:28.439 --> 00:12:31.759 It takes a work of God to cover our sin. 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:40.759 When the runaway son came home, it was his father who came and covered his tattered clothes with his best robe. 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:45.480 In the same way, God has covered the first sinners. 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:51.580 And in the same way, Christ shed his blood to cover our sins. 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:54.360 Hebrews 9, verse 22 says, 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:57.840 Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:01.200 I'm thankful today for the forgiveness of God. 00:13:02.319 --> 00:13:07.460 But not only do we see the forgiveness of God here in this passage, but we also see the holiness of God. 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:13.500 I want you to see this because God knows us well and he knows exactly what we need. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.639 And God knows the horrible devastation of sin. 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:20.960 He knows that when we try to go without him that we're doomed. 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:23.980 He never made us to sin. 00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:27.620 Your bodies don't hold up to sin. 00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:33.000 He wanted us to avoid sin because it tears at our bodies. 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.340 It tears at our world. 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:40.740 And when we wanted to become our own God, and that's what happens when we sin against God. 00:13:40.860 --> 00:13:43.340 We choose our way instead of his way. 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:45.379 Notice the temptation. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:51.159 Verse 5 says, Satan says, you will be like God. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:53.779 That's what led her away. 00:13:53.779 --> 00:13:58.519 But truthfully, every time we sin, we do just that. 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:01.000 We're saying that we want to be our own God. 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:02.939 We want to do it our way. 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:10.339 And God has made us to have abundant life with his leadership in submission to him. 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:13.379 And outside of that, we have no hope, folks. 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:19.659 In reality, the knowledge of good and evil really is a curse. 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:22.079 Think about it for a moment. 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:29.940 When we sin against God, we find out about stuff we didn't even need to know. 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:44.920 When we walk away from him and do our own thing, we learn things that separate us from God. 00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:47.680 That strain at our lives. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:54.899 When we take over our own lives, we'll always be led away from him. 00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:56.919 Therefore, what does God do? 00:14:58.779 --> 00:15:00.279 He puts us in our place. 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:04.399 Verse 23 says, he drove them out of the garden and made them toil with the land to get by. 00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:09.199 Because when we rebel against God, he'll remind us from whence we came. 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:09.719 Why? 00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:11.139 Because he's a holy God. 00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:13.639 He does not tolerate sin. 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:16.259 Psalm 24, verse 3 through 5 says this. 00:15:16.699 --> 00:15:19.299 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:22.500 And who shall stand in his holy place? 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:25.360 He who has clean hands and a pure heart. 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:28.340 Who does not lift up his soul to what is false. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:31.360 And does not deceive, swear deceitfully. 00:15:31.699 --> 00:15:37.659 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness for the God of our salvation. 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:43.919 We see here not only his mercy, his forgiveness, we also see his holiness. 00:15:45.319 --> 00:15:50.819 And lastly and most thankfully, we see our hope in God. 00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:58.740 We see our hope in God in verse 24 when it says, 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:01.920 He drove out the man and at the east of the Garden of Eden, 00:16:02.020 --> 00:16:07.740 he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:10.840 It says he put a cherubim there. 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:20.820 In the Old Testament, we see that the cherubim are angels and they're angelic guardians of the holy places. 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:28.540 In the tabernacle, they were stitched into the curtain that entered into the holy of holies. 00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:34.519 Not only that, but they sat atop the mercy seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant. 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:37.519 The most holy place. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:41.720 When the temple was built in the inner sanctuary of the temple, 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:50.340 there were olive wood statues, two of them, 15 feet high with a wingspan of 15 feet wide. 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:53.480 Cherubim guard, the holy place. 00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:59.779 And here the cherubim are blocking the center from the paradise of God. 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:06.079 And between the cherubim on the mercy seat, God said he would meet us. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:12.039 All of that means that our only hope is in the Lord. 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:16.960 Our only hope is salvation in Christ. 00:17:18.379 --> 00:17:20.379 He is all that we have. 00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:24.279 And he is all the hope that we need. 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:31.119 Outside of his covering, the way to eternal life is guarded by his holiness. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:34.539 It does not come from our good deeds. 00:17:36.179 --> 00:17:38.119 It does not come from our church attendance. 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:40.279 Although, man, I'm glad you're here. 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:44.399 It does not come from our baptism. 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:51.539 Although baptism is a mandatory step for obedience to God when you come to him in Christ. 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:56.579 It does not come from our family heritage. 00:17:57.859 --> 00:18:02.460 Although, if you've been raised with godly folks, you ought to thank him for it. 00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:04.599 What a privilege and a treasure it is. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:10.480 It does not come from our knowledge of the word as much as we ought to know the word of God 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:14.200 and live the word of God and read and apply the word of God. 00:18:14.659 --> 00:18:16.920 Our salvation does not come from that. 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:20.480 It only comes through his death. 00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:27.900 And our response is what matters to us personally. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:31.240 Do we give our lives over to Christ? 00:18:32.560 --> 00:18:34.100 We have to decide that. 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:39.300 Do we give him priority of those things that we like to hold on to? 00:18:40.800 --> 00:18:44.460 Do we enthrone him as Lord of our lives? 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:49.000 Let me be personal this morning. 00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:54.420 Has there ever been a time in your life 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:59.720 when you've asked the Lord Jesus to forgive you of your sins, 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:05.120 to come into your life and change you? 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:09.519 Lord, I can't do it myself anymore. 00:19:11.060 --> 00:19:12.340 I need your help. 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.980 I need you to guide me. 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.019 I need you to guide me. 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:22.220 And if you have, are you where you need to be this morning? 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:25.420 I'm not talking about our location. 00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:29.100 I'm talking about with him. 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:40.820 Since his death, he has told us to remember him by taking part in the body and the blood of Christ. 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:45.460 We'll close the service today with the Lord's Supper. 00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:49.980 And that Lord's Supper is a time to commemorate the cross of Christ. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:54.179 It's a time to reflect upon our future hope in him. 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.059 But listen to me. 00:19:56.460 --> 00:20:01.500 It's also a time to analyze where we are now in our walk with him. 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:05.180 It's a special thing. 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:09.220 It's only to be taken by those who've been biblically baptized by immersion 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:11.779 and have openly confessed their faith in Christ. 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.980 It's not a snack. 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.759 It's not a ritual. 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.380 I don't like rituals. 00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:21.660 It's a reflection 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:24.960 and a remembrance. 00:20:28.300 --> 00:20:31.300 And we need to be right when we take it. 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:36.080 And he tells us to take it regularly 00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:38.680 because we need to be right. 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:42.660 So believer, 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:48.060 confess and repent of your sin before doing this. 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:51.700 And if you can't walk away from your sin, 00:20:51.820 --> 00:20:52.900 walk away from the table. 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:57.500 This invitation proceeds 00:20:57.500 --> 00:21:01.519 always do it before the Lord's Supper 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:05.259 so that we can be right for the Lord's Supper. 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:10.779 So I ask you today, 00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:14.140 what do you need to do 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:16.799 to be obedient to the Lord today? 00:21:18.580 --> 00:21:19.620 What do you need to do? 00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:23.220 If you've never given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:24.420 you need to surrender your life to him. 00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:26.200 He'll change you forever. 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:29.519 The eternal life he gives kicks in immediately. 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.539 And not only do you live forever, 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.400 but thank God 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:35.759 there's an uptick in your life. 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:38.580 Not only does the quantity 00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:40.579 of the years of your life change, 00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:42.259 but the quality of your life changes. 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:44.619 He's come to give you life 00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:45.699 and give it more abundantly. 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:47.339 You surrender your life to him, 00:21:47.379 --> 00:21:48.059 he'll change you. 00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:50.619 Maybe you're here and you have done that, 00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:52.579 but you've never been baptized as a believer. 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.639 You've never done that. 00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:56.159 We plan to baptize in coming days. 00:21:57.199 --> 00:21:58.119 So I encourage you, 00:21:58.159 --> 00:21:59.720 if you've never been baptized as a believer, 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:01.819 to come, make that right. 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.500 Without doing that, 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:05.480 it's a step of hindrance, I'll tell you. 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.920 It's a step of disobedience 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:09.200 to not do that as a believer. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.980 And maybe you are a believer 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:13.259 and you've been baptized as a believer, 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.480 but the reality is 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:17.360 there's things not right in your life. 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:20.400 I encourage you, 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.339 whether it be at this altar, 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.599 whether it be in your place, 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:24.680 don't just sing through this invitation. 00:22:24.860 --> 00:22:25.799 Get your heart right. 00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:29.779 Make it right with the Lord. 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:33.379 If God's drawing you to this church, 00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:36.259 you feel led to be a part of us, 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.079 don't let something special this morning 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:41.379 take away from what God's leading you to do. 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:41.920 You come. 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.279 We'll work all that out. 00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.059 I promise. 00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:47.619 I just want you to obey God today. 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:51.000 Let's come before the table in the right way 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.480 and honor God. 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.720 Remember his death until he comes. 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.500 Let's pray together. 00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:58.500 Lord Jesus, I love you and I thank you. 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:02.559 For the opportunity that you give us this morning 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:04.380 to worship you, 00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:07.559 to give you honor. 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:10.440 And I ask right now, dear God, 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:12.920 that you'll work and move in our lives. 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:16.019 Help us, Lord, to simply be obedient 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:18.359 to do exactly what you would have us do. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:22.019 And it's only in Christ's name that we pray. 00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:22.740 Amen.