WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.120 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.540 --> 00:00:09.540 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:15.439 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:22.660 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.679 Today's scripture lesson comes from three places. 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:38.659 The first one, Old Testament lesson, a reading from the book of Genesis. 00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:42.259 Genesis chapter 1, verse 1 to 4. 00:00:42.259 --> 00:00:47.179 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:50.359 Now the earth was formless and empty. 00:00:51.060 --> 00:00:53.960 Darkness was over the surface of the deep. 00:00:54.420 --> 00:00:57.240 And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 00:00:57.240 --> 00:01:00.320 And God said, Let there be light. 00:01:00.660 --> 00:01:01.579 And there was light. 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:07.140 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 00:01:07.780 --> 00:01:10.400 The grass withers and the flowers fade. 00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:17.500 The second comes from the Gospel of John. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:22.180 John chapter 1, verse 1 to verse 5. 00:01:23.180 --> 00:01:26.300 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. 00:01:26.299 --> 00:01:27.619 And the Word was God. 00:01:27.759 --> 00:01:29.319 He was with God in the beginning. 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:31.739 Through him all things were made. 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:34.799 Without him nothing was made that has been made. 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:39.200 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:44.439 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:46.599 This is the Gospel of the Lord. 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:48.819 Praise to you, Lord Christ. 00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:54.319 And the third New Testament lesson, a reading from John's first epistle. 00:01:54.919 --> 00:01:58.059 First John chapter 1, verse 1 to 4. 00:01:58.060 --> 00:01:59.060 Verse 1 to 5. 00:01:59.060 --> 00:02:04.620 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, 00:02:04.740 --> 00:02:07.420 which we have looked at, and our hands have touched. 00:02:07.939 --> 00:02:10.599 This we proclaim concerning the word of life. 00:02:11.180 --> 00:02:12.180 The life appeared. 00:02:12.379 --> 00:02:14.460 We have seen it and testified to it. 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:20.340 And we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:26.180 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. 00:02:26.580 --> 00:02:31.020 And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 00:02:31.259 --> 00:02:34.099 We write this to make our joy complete. 00:02:34.580 --> 00:02:36.060 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:44.280 Thank you, Amy. 00:02:44.480 --> 00:02:45.719 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:49.460 I want to echo Amy's greetings and her happy Mother's Day. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:54.139 It's good to be with you this Mother's Day, this cold Mother's Day, and this Lord's Day. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:57.099 We come and worship our God and King. 00:02:57.740 --> 00:02:59.159 Will you join me in prayer? 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:12.460 Our Father, we want to come into this place, into this time, 00:03:12.460 --> 00:03:16.560 desperate for your voice, 00:03:17.320 --> 00:03:19.040 wanting to encounter you, 00:03:20.040 --> 00:03:22.080 the one who is from the beginning. 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:25.680 We want to encounter your Son, Jesus Christ, 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:29.460 who came in the flesh, who was seen and heard and touched and beheld. 00:03:29.540 --> 00:03:30.840 And we want to behold him, too. 00:03:30.920 --> 00:03:33.060 Would you help us to do that by your Spirit? 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:37.659 Help us to see the goodness of the good news of the incarnate Christ 00:03:37.659 --> 00:03:40.580 come to be our God. 00:03:40.580 --> 00:03:46.940 Come to make us his own and to give us the completeness of joy that we all long for. 00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:48.280 God, give us that joy. 00:03:49.060 --> 00:03:50.640 Help us to see as we ought to see. 00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:52.240 And we pray these things in the name of Jesus. 00:03:52.939 --> 00:03:53.200 Amen. 00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:58.439 Well, I hope that everyone enjoyed our guest preacher last week, 00:03:58.540 --> 00:04:00.920 Christine Ingrid Bretzen from Foster the City. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:05.439 I always love her unique, you know, her passion and her authenticity and her warmth. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:07.139 And, of course, we love her ministry, right? 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:12.099 Foster the city as we are a church trying to lead people into deeper relationships with Christ, 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:16.399 ultimately for the good of our city, especially by caring for children. 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:21.019 And, you know, with these guest preachers who are going to be coming this summer, 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:24.379 we have, I think, six more, if you include Amy as one of them. 00:04:24.379 --> 00:04:29.219 And it's important for me to say that it's not just about me getting a breather, okay? 00:04:29.339 --> 00:04:34.800 We really hope and pray that these guest preachers come in and help us as a church 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:39.219 to have a wider view of what God's doing in the Bay Area and beyond, 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:41.899 a glimpse of the wider family of Jesus Christ. 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:44.939 And, yeah, they're going to come and they're going to be different. 00:04:45.060 --> 00:04:47.240 They're going to have different voices and different styles. 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:50.379 They'll be coming from various traditions and personal backgrounds 00:04:50.379 --> 00:04:53.280 and from serving in different ministry contexts. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:55.300 And they might make us feel uncomfortable. 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:56.540 One of them even warned me. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:04:57.480 He's like, I'm going to bring it. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:58.540 I said, go for it, man. 00:04:58.620 --> 00:04:59.280 Just bring it. 00:05:01.100 --> 00:05:02.420 They might make us feel uncomfortable. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:06.519 And they might emphasize things and talk about things differently. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:10.519 But what I want to encourage us to do throughout this summer, 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:14.639 throughout the next 16 weeks, is to lean in with charity 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:18.659 and most of all with attention to the beauty of how God is diversely working 00:05:18.659 --> 00:05:22.839 in ways beyond these tiny little walls of Christchurch East Bay. 00:05:22.979 --> 00:05:25.399 And he's doing that to fulfill his perfect purposes. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:26.439 All right, so can we lean in? 00:05:26.539 --> 00:05:27.639 Can you promise me we'll do that? 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:29.060 All right, thank you. 00:05:29.539 --> 00:05:30.759 But anyway, today you got me. 00:05:31.459 --> 00:05:33.659 And so feel free to scrutinize to your heart's content 00:05:33.659 --> 00:05:37.860 and to be as uncharitable as possible because I'm your pastor, right? 00:05:37.899 --> 00:05:39.339 And you know I'll always love you. 00:05:42.039 --> 00:05:44.479 But today we're kicking off a new sermon series. 00:05:44.899 --> 00:05:47.439 While our guest preachers are going to come and just bring the topics 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:49.479 and passages that are on their hearts, 00:05:49.919 --> 00:05:53.180 what I'll be preaching is the New Testament letter of 1 John. 00:05:53.719 --> 00:05:56.500 So here at Christchurch, we try to orient our sense of time 00:05:56.500 --> 00:06:00.419 not just around, you know, our Hallmark calendars, 00:06:00.539 --> 00:06:02.899 our national calendars, our kids' school calendars, 00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:06.039 but we try to orient our time around the historical events of Jesus. 00:06:06.180 --> 00:06:08.539 And that's why we follow the Christian liturgical calendar. 00:06:08.539 --> 00:06:12.339 That's why from Christmas to Easter, we are always in one of the four Gospels. 00:06:12.339 --> 00:06:14.579 Most recently, we were in John's Gospel. 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:18.039 And that's why now in this Easter season and going forward, 00:06:18.119 --> 00:06:20.159 we're going to continue in an epistle, 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:24.179 in a letter written to the church after the events of Jesus' life. 00:06:24.239 --> 00:06:27.299 And we're going to be in the particular epistle of 1 John, 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:31.979 which many people believe was written by the same person who wrote the Gospel of John. 00:06:32.599 --> 00:06:36.279 And so in this transition from a Gospel account to a letter to a church, 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:37.899 we're going to consider the what next, right? 00:06:37.899 --> 00:06:40.899 The what next of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:41.479 What next? 00:06:41.539 --> 00:06:43.719 Like, how then shall we live as the church? 00:06:43.919 --> 00:06:46.459 How then shall we live in the Spirit of Christ? 00:06:47.219 --> 00:06:50.859 All right, so the title of our sermon series in 1 John is going to be 00:06:50.859 --> 00:06:52.739 Life, Light, and Love. 00:06:52.819 --> 00:06:53.459 Three L words. 00:06:53.599 --> 00:06:55.079 Life, Light, and Love. 00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:57.339 Three words you're going to see a lot in this letter 00:06:57.339 --> 00:07:05.199 as the author is constantly pointing us to the eternal abundant life that God wants for us. 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:08.519 He's constantly pointing us to the light that God's shown, 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.579 that we might know this pure life, 00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:16.539 and also the love that's produced and practiced by those who walk in the life and light of Christ. 00:07:16.719 --> 00:07:18.059 All right, Life, Light, and Love. 00:07:18.099 --> 00:07:21.199 And today what we're going to focus on is that first L word, Life. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:25.419 We're going to talk about Life Revealed, Life Proclaimed, and Life Enjoyed. 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:28.400 Life Revealed, Proclaimed, and Enjoyed. 00:07:28.420 --> 00:07:30.300 So first, let's start with Life Revealed. 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:33.580 You know, just the other week, a woman here in our church, 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:36.460 she asked me quite earnestly, she said, 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:38.180 what is the meaning of life? 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:40.180 What is the meaning of life? 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:41.759 And you know, reflecting on that moment, 00:07:41.840 --> 00:07:46.420 I am struck by how much of an honor it was for her to ask me that question. 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:49.420 How much of an honor it was for me to be asked such a question. 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:53.600 Like, consider how humble and open someone needs to be 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:58.680 to earnestly seek another's opinion on a matter of such ultimate significance, right? 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:02.379 Especially on a matter so greatly contested in our world. 00:08:02.520 --> 00:08:05.420 Honestly, as a fellow fallible human being, 00:08:05.640 --> 00:08:08.260 I had no business answering that question, 00:08:08.700 --> 00:08:09.740 even wearing my collar. 00:08:10.740 --> 00:08:14.080 At least not from any inherent authority of my own, right? 00:08:14.520 --> 00:08:18.960 Like really, who am I to tell someone what the meaning of their life is? 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:22.699 Or to tell them more generally what the meaning of all of life is? 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:28.019 Who is anybody to definitively answer that question for others, 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:29.459 or even really for ourselves? 00:08:30.539 --> 00:08:31.459 Who is worthy? 00:08:32.939 --> 00:08:35.079 But see, that also raises a problem for us, right? 00:08:35.579 --> 00:08:39.179 Because even as none of us is worthy to answer that question, 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:40.439 what is the meaning of life? 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:42.860 We all desperately need an answer, don't we? 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:47.159 The choked up woman I was having this conversation with, 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:48.159 she needed an answer. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:49.879 I need an answer. 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:51.879 You need an answer. 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:55.940 But the thing is, as we're all searching for this definitive word, 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:59.740 this transcendent interpretation concerning what life is, 00:08:59.800 --> 00:09:02.960 and what life is about, and how to live life rightly, 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.920 where might we find the true word of life? 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:11.240 Well, 1 John would indicate that we start at the beginning. 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:13.100 So look with me at verse 1. 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:15.580 The author of 1 John writes, 00:09:15.740 --> 00:09:16.899 that which was from the beginning, 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:20.379 this we proclaim concerning the word of life. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:21.440 The author here is saying, 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:23.539 that which was from the beginning, 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:24.340 the very beginning. 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:26.860 Like in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:28.860 That beginning, that which was from the beginning, 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:31.700 we proclaim concerning the word of life. 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:34.639 Not a word of life, but the word of life. 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:37.480 See, the author of 1 John understands, 00:09:37.560 --> 00:09:39.000 and wants us readers to understand, 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.940 that only the one who was there at the beginning, 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:44.419 only the one who began the beginning, 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:46.500 only the author of life, 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:49.720 has the authoritative word of life. 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:51.580 The apostles here are saying, 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:54.559 for us to understand anything about life, 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:58.960 we need an understanding of what was at the beginning of life. 00:09:59.059 --> 00:10:01.960 We need to know life's true origin story. 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:04.399 But that leaves us in a conundrum, right? 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:08.379 Because again, there are multiple competing words of life, 00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:10.019 competing origin stories, 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:13.000 and none of us is able to get back into a time machine 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:14.519 to see what really happened. 00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:17.500 And you might say that that's what's wrong with this world. 00:10:17.579 --> 00:10:19.000 We can't agree with one another 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.039 about which story is the true story 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:23.159 about life and life's meaning. 00:10:24.019 --> 00:10:25.679 I mean, look at our nation today, 00:10:25.819 --> 00:10:28.419 fighting furiously about what life is, 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:29.740 and when life begins, 00:10:29.939 --> 00:10:31.919 and whose lives matter more. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:36.539 But see, that's why the apostle writing 1 John 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:39.139 is marveling at what has happened 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:41.319 through the coming of the Son of God, 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:43.360 Jesus Christ, in the flesh. 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:45.500 See, 1 John acknowledges that 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:47.459 even though we all should have known 00:10:47.459 --> 00:10:49.439 and we all should have been able to see the truth 00:10:49.439 --> 00:10:50.959 about life from the beginning, 00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:55.259 and even though we chose to pursue life apart from God, 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:57.679 and all our understandings of life 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:01.120 have been darkened as we've moved away from God's light, 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:03.139 the good news of 1 John 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:05.080 is that that which was from the beginning, 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:08.139 this word of life which we in our sin 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:10.100 and our darkness suppressed 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:12.840 and were blinded from seeing because of our arrogance, 00:11:13.460 --> 00:11:14.539 this truth about life 00:11:14.539 --> 00:11:16.840 that we foolishly exchanged for a lie, 00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:18.919 seeking life from created things 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:19.960 rather than the creator, 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:21.440 the good news of 1 John 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:24.560 is that this word of life that we refuse to see, 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:26.940 God still revealed. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:31.440 God still made to appear once again in Christ. 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:33.900 And this is the gospel that God, 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:35.240 the author of life, 00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:36.360 the giver of light, 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:38.740 graciously sent forth his word of life 00:11:38.740 --> 00:11:40.600 to appear once again 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:43.780 to a sinful, self-blinding humanity 00:11:43.780 --> 00:11:45.080 in the flesh. 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:46.900 As it says in verse 1, 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:48.259 to be heard with real ears 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:49.820 and seen with real eyes 00:11:49.820 --> 00:11:51.600 and touched with real hands 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:54.480 and ultimately be held with jaws dropped. 00:11:55.300 --> 00:11:56.259 And this is the gospel 00:11:56.259 --> 00:12:00.160 that when we all like sheep went astray, 00:12:01.180 --> 00:12:03.639 seeking life in poisonous pastures, 00:12:04.040 --> 00:12:05.879 blind to our own destruction, 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:08.000 that that which was from the beginning, 00:12:08.180 --> 00:12:10.720 God himself who had every reason to give up on us 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:13.300 and to leave us in our darkness and our death, 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:15.460 he said, let there be light again. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:19.480 He said, let there be life again. 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:21.279 Again. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.120 By his pure and abundant grace, 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.540 this God sent to us the light 00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:27.060 and life of the world in the flesh, 00:12:27.420 --> 00:12:28.139 Jesus Christ. 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.519 That's what we confess here at Christ's church. 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:32.379 Though we never, 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.960 though the world never deserved it, 00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:37.480 the author of 1 John is marveling 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.639 that as it says in verse 2, 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:41.360 the life appeared and we have even seen it 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.879 and testify to it. 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:44.639 And not just any life. 00:12:44.699 --> 00:12:45.399 It says in verse 2, 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:47.559 and we proclaim to you the eternal life, 00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:49.399 which was with the Father 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.419 and has appeared to us. 00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:52.960 This isn't some mere life that appeared 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.100 like some temporary, 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:57.860 biological, material existence before death. 00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:58.899 The life that appeared, 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:01.159 the life God wanted to show the world once again, 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:04.120 the life he wanted us to hear and see and touch 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:07.019 and behold was the eternal life 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:09.460 that existed with the triune God, 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:11.819 Father, Son, and Spirit from all eternity, 00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:13.840 enjoyed, perfect, and complete. 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:17.340 And it's the life that was graciously offered to us, 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:19.639 sinful creatures like you and me. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:23.679 This is the kind of life that 1 John is talking about. 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.419 This is the kind of life we all long for. 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:28.319 The very reason we even bother to ask such profound questions 00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:29.500 as what is the meaning of life 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:31.299 is because we were made by the one 00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:33.340 who is eternal life himself. 00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:36.080 And the one who wants this eternal life, 00:13:36.280 --> 00:13:38.360 this abundant life for us. 00:13:39.160 --> 00:13:41.320 This is what Jesus was getting at when he said, 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:43.240 I have come that you might have life 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.940 and life to the full, abundant life. 00:13:45.160 --> 00:13:47.259 Or when he said, this is eternal life, 00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:49.360 that you know God the Father. 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:52.440 1 John begins with this announcement, right? 00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.960 That the word of life, 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:55.280 which was at the beginning of history, 00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:58.100 has graciously come again 00:13:58.100 --> 00:14:00.940 into history in the flesh. 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:04.300 And 1 John exists because the apostles cannot help 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:06.960 but proclaim and write about this eternal life 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:09.780 they've physically encountered and experienced, 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.580 and that's forever changed their lives for the better. 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:16.440 This experience, this life that they've encountered 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:19.780 that they know can forever change the world for the better. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:22.480 That's what they're here to do in 1 John, 00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:23.880 to proclaim this life. 00:14:24.420 --> 00:14:25.320 So let's talk about that. 00:14:25.380 --> 00:14:27.560 Let's talk about life proclaimed, point number two. 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:29.759 Now there's something I want us to notice 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:31.839 about how 1 John opens up. 00:14:31.959 --> 00:14:35.159 This apostle is making a huge universal claim here 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:37.239 that changes everything if it is true, 00:14:38.119 --> 00:14:40.539 that the eternal word of life that was at the beginning 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:43.059 was physically revealed to the apostles. 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:44.379 It's a huge claim. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.799 He's pretty much claiming that to know this eternal life 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:50.579 is to listen to what these apostles have to say 00:14:50.579 --> 00:14:52.799 about this eternal life that they've witnessed 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:53.899 with their very own eyes. 00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:57.000 It's a huge, huge claim of ultimate significance, 00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:59.399 and yet, notice how this letter, 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:02.279 it doesn't present as defensive, does it? 00:15:03.579 --> 00:15:07.539 These apostles, they don't launch into philosophical defenses 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:09.759 of this eternal life. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:12.299 They don't try to make rational arguments. 00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:15.480 They don't supply mounds of technical evidence 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:17.240 that they surely must have had, right? 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:21.860 What they do in 1 John is simply tell their story, 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:24.919 simply proclaim what they believe to be the best news 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:26.039 that they ever heard, 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:28.460 and simply invite others to just come and see. 00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:29.580 Just come and see. 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:31.659 They aren't fearful and apologetic. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:33.860 They aren't scheming and devising arguments. 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.720 They are simply being themselves 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:38.980 and telling their stories and sharing their good news. 00:15:39.060 --> 00:15:40.800 Really what all the rest of us do, 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:42.200 religious or not religious, 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:44.120 whether we recognize it or not, 00:15:44.180 --> 00:15:46.120 we're all bearers of whatever we believe 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:47.279 to be good news, right? 00:15:47.300 --> 00:15:48.740 It's just what humans do. 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:52.419 And I think this is a word for the Christians in the room 00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:55.180 who maybe are embarrassed to tell our friends 00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:56.360 and our family and our colleagues 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:58.039 and our neighbors about Jesus 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:00.039 and this abundant life that we have 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:02.060 that they could actually have too. 00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:04.159 I think we need this reminder 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:06.500 that it's not a matter of having all the answers. 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:08.960 Sharing the good news about Jesus 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.879 is not a matter of winning arguments. 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:13.779 It's not a matter of imposing our beliefs 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:16.279 and colonizing others' minds. 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:18.259 Friends, being obedient disciples of Jesus 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:20.720 who seek to make disciples of Jesus 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:23.179 is simply about talking about him 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:26.480 and why he's good news to us personally, 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.360 why he's our source of abundant life. 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:30.959 It's just about being authentic. 00:16:31.459 --> 00:16:33.279 It's just about being who we are. 00:16:34.079 --> 00:16:35.059 Nothing more. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:38.919 Again, if you have good news, why not share it? 00:16:39.339 --> 00:16:41.179 Or is it not that good to you? 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:44.799 You know, when I worked at a cancer center 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:45.899 in Southern California 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:48.459 right after I finished my undergrad at UC Irvine. 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:50.259 I worked there two years 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:53.359 and one of my jobs was to call our patients 00:16:53.359 --> 00:16:55.179 and to let them know that the doctor 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.279 had seen their lab work 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:58.679 and that maybe he needed to see them again, 00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:00.120 which meant the lab work wasn't good. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.079 But most of the time, 00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.359 I got to just tell them, 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.559 it looks good and you should celebrate. 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:08.259 And I remember on one occasion with one patient, 00:17:08.419 --> 00:17:10.819 he'd finish his radiation therapy with us. 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:12.559 I remember seeing him every day for, I don't know, 00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.599 six weeks in a row. 00:17:14.419 --> 00:17:18.200 And it'd been a year of good lab results. 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:20.399 And I remember the doctor said to me, 00:17:20.439 --> 00:17:21.460 you can call him now, 00:17:21.579 --> 00:17:22.659 tell him the labs look good 00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:25.539 and tell him you're cancer free. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.359 You're cancer free. 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.839 You get to say that to him. 00:17:29.619 --> 00:17:32.000 And do you think I was hesitant to make that call? 00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:35.339 Do you think I was skittish or embarrassed? 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:35.839 No. 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:39.559 I had good news for this man, this friend. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.319 Do you think I had to fake happiness 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:44.980 for this patient that I got to see every day? 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.319 No. 00:17:46.139 --> 00:17:47.480 I just had to be me. 00:17:48.199 --> 00:17:49.699 I just had to be human. 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:53.099 So my brothers and sisters in Christ in this room, 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.559 let's be more human. 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:57.579 Let's be good news bearers 00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:59.919 in the same way that we bear the good news 00:17:59.919 --> 00:18:01.000 of our favorite podcast 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:04.599 or that bomb chocolate chip cookie recipe 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:05.459 that we've discovered 00:18:05.459 --> 00:18:08.139 or that binge-worthy Netflix series. 00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:10.779 Let's just be good news bearers. 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:13.039 And you know, for those in the room 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.159 who aren't Christians, 00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:16.599 I really hope that that's what you encounter 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:19.439 and sense in this community of faith here. 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:22.159 We're not here to sell you anything, 00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:24.379 to cram anything down your throats 00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:26.339 or to shame you out of unbelief 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.619 and into proper belief. 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:29.619 We just want to keep it real with you. 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:33.299 We just want to invite you to see what we see, 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:36.579 that knowing Jesus is eternal life. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:39.319 And honestly, while we do believe 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.639 that there is compelling 00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:43.180 and what we believe to be indicative evidence 00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:45.740 concerning Jesus as the word of life, 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:48.859 and while we truly do love to reason together, 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:50.599 we had to ask me anything last week 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:53.599 and we welcome all questions and doubts here. 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:55.639 Let me be up front with everyone 00:18:55.639 --> 00:18:57.019 and say I cannot prove, 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.519 I cannot prove Christianity. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.879 I cannot prove Christianity. 00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:03.779 And actually, Christianity doesn't even claim 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:06.559 to be provable in our modern sense of the word. 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:10.339 In fact, to prove something of such significance 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:13.160 as if what God has already revealed and said 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:15.720 was not already trustworthy in and of itself, 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:18.500 well, that would actually contradict our very faith. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.920 That would actually contradict 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:23.279 God's very essential sovereignty and ultimacy. 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:26.420 See, God, at least the God of the Scriptures, 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:28.240 revealed to us in Jesus, 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.340 by his very nature, 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:32.500 he can neither be proved nor disproved 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:35.060 by mere mortal creaturely means. 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:38.480 So ultimately, just like everything else, 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:41.019 whether we're an atheist or an agnostic 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:42.800 or hold to some other religious tradition, 00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:44.000 including Christianity, 00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:46.060 it's going to come down to faith. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.980 And while we do think 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:49.580 that the Christian faith is reasonable, 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:53.340 Christ's church, Christ's church exists, 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:55.899 Christ's church doesn't primarily exist 00:19:55.899 --> 00:19:58.759 to convince people that Christianity 00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.980 is merely reasonable. 00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:03.679 Christ's church exists to lead people 00:20:03.679 --> 00:20:07.379 into deeper, life-giving relationships with Christ 00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:09.019 and his living church 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.839 through life-on-life community 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:13.659 and for the abundant life of the city. 00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:15.220 That's why we exist. 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.799 Here at Christ's church, as it says in verse three, 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:21.720 we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:24.599 so that you also may have fellowship with us 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:26.879 and our fellowship is with the Father 00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:29.299 and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:31.279 The author of 1 John is simply saying, 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:32.899 this is what we've seen and heard 00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:34.599 and we've got to tell you about it. 00:20:34.639 --> 00:20:34.879 Why? 00:20:35.419 --> 00:20:38.019 Because we want you to have fellowship with us 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:40.819 and also with the one true God. 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.599 That's what we're about here. 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:45.399 We want people to come into deeper relationships 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:47.820 with the one true triune God 00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:49.700 revealed to us in Jesus Christ. 00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:54.280 Now that may not excite you like it excites me, 00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:55.820 like it excites our staff, 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:58.280 like it excites our elders here at this church. 00:20:59.060 --> 00:21:01.360 A few weeks ago, we were talking with some of the youth 00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:03.600 about how Jesus has this amazing good news 00:21:03.600 --> 00:21:06.400 when he says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:09.160 No one comes to the Father except through me. 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.320 But one of our youth was like, 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.720 well, you know, real talk. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:15.640 What if none of my friends wants the Father? 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:18.960 What if no one wants a relationship with God? 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:22.460 What if no one even believes in God? 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:26.019 How is that good news that Jesus is the way to the Father 00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:27.980 if people don't even believe in the Father 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:30.200 or people don't even want God? 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:32.259 And that's real talk in our increasingly, 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:34.420 you know, post-Christian society. 00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:37.059 Maybe that describes you this morning. 00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:40.279 Even some of us Christians here who feel distant from God 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:42.980 and maybe we're getting to be okay with that. 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:47.680 What's so good about fellowship with these ancient apostles 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:49.720 who wrote this New Testament letter? 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:52.019 What's so good about fellowship with Christians? 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:54.420 What's so good about fellowship with the church? 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:57.839 What's so good about fellowship with the Christian God? 00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.759 With our remaining time, 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.039 I want to try to convey to us 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:05.379 the uniquely life-giving joy of fellowship, 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:07.559 of Christian fellowship with the triune God. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:09.899 And so this is my last point, life enjoyed. 00:22:10.919 --> 00:22:13.500 See, ultimately, this letter is written 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:15.659 and Jesus Christ in the flesh is proclaimed 00:22:15.659 --> 00:22:16.919 by these apostles, 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:19.639 not just so that people might have fellowship 00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:21.639 with the apostles and with the triune God, 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:24.059 but as it says here in verse four, more generally, 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:28.279 we write this to make our joy complete. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:32.220 That is the ultimate motivation of this letter. 00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:33.279 It's joy. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.759 Joy. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:37.599 And I know this might seem counterintuitive 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:39.779 to some of us who tend to think of religion 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:41.279 or of God or Christianity 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:45.099 and God's words as limitations on our pleasure. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:48.740 Just last week, during our Ask Me Anything lunch, 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.539 we talked about this. 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:51.700 Part of our discussion, it got honest 00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:54.319 about how Christianity can seem like 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:57.740 a limiting and prohibitive burden on our life. 00:22:57.740 --> 00:23:00.160 But my question was, 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:02.680 well, what if what we thought was a limitation 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:06.039 in our sinful, darkened understanding, 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.839 what if it was actually freedom 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:10.440 in the light of God's wisdom? 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.279 Like, think about it. 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:15.620 Had Adam and Eve not sinned in the garden, 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:19.599 perhaps we would not have needed to be told 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:21.859 to not murder and not steal 00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:23.859 and not lie and commit adultery. 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.839 What if God's way of life and joy 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:28.179 only seem counterintuitive 00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:31.859 because that's how far we've strayed from God's light? 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:35.039 I think some of us need to hear this morning 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:37.119 from 1 John that the God of the Scriptures 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:40.819 is a God who truly wants your joy. 00:23:41.659 --> 00:23:43.679 The God of the Scriptures revealed to us in Christ, 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:45.659 He truly wants your joy, truly, 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:48.659 even more than you want it, truly. 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:52.540 And it's only found, though, in fellowship with Him. 00:23:53.040 --> 00:23:54.640 It's only found in the very source 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:56.519 of eternal life and joy. 00:23:57.960 --> 00:24:00.340 You know, this woman who I just alluded to 00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:02.240 who asked me that question the other week, 00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:03.900 what is the meaning of life? 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:07.240 Well, me being the totally insensitive 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:10.560 and uncaring pastor of care that I am here, 00:24:11.100 --> 00:24:13.160 I have to be honest that my first impulse 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:14.980 was just to give a textbook answer 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:17.400 from our church's doctrinal standards. 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:19.300 So, elders, please don't fire me, 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:21.300 but I'm embarrassed to admit 00:24:21.300 --> 00:24:23.500 that I threw the catechism at her. 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:28.019 I cited the Westminster Shorter Catechism 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:30.019 question and answer number one, 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:32.500 which asks and answers, 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.640 what is the chief end of man? 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:37.500 And answers, the chief end of man 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:41.220 is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. 00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:43.340 And she was like, 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:46.340 uh, thank you for that textbook answer. 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:48.980 And I was super embarrassed. 00:24:50.300 --> 00:24:52.960 But, you know, I don't mean to vindicate myself. 00:24:53.040 --> 00:24:54.180 That was poor pastoral care. 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.980 That's not what I hope our deacons do here. 00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:59.420 But if we take a second to dwell on this answer, 00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:02.980 the chief end of man 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:05.160 is to glorify God 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:08.040 and to enjoy God forever. 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:12.180 If we can get ourselves to see this statement 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:14.819 not just as a textbook answer 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.700 written by, you know, 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:18.500 a bunch of 17th century British men, 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.759 it's actually quite beautiful. 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:23.859 It's actually quite beautiful. 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.720 An eternal truth 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:28.779 that the glorious almighty God 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:30.819 who deserves all our worship 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.920 and all our praise 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:33.000 and all our honor, 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:35.740 our holy, holy, holy creator 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:37.120 before whom it only makes sense 00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:40.259 to bow down in submission and service. 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:41.980 That He not only created us 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:44.240 to glorify Him as we should, 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:47.420 but to enjoy Him forever. 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:50.160 Isn't that beautiful? 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:54.519 Isn't that kind of our God? 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:56.039 That the glorious God 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:57.299 who enjoyed perfect joy 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.740 and fulfillment 00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:00.079 and abundant life 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:01.480 and wholeness from all eternity 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:03.200 as Father, Son, and Spirit, 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.480 He designed us creatures 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:06.099 to engage in 00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:08.220 and participate with Himself 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:11.539 in the mutually inclusive activity 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:16.079 of glorifying and enjoying Him forever. 00:26:17.860 --> 00:26:19.480 Now, in case you remain unconvinced 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:22.059 and don't find it believable 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:23.380 or compelling 00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:25.579 that the triune creator 00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:27.799 to whom you owe your life 00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:29.960 created you, 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:31.340 that He created you 00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:33.120 to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him, 00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:35.600 in case you still find it 00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:36.600 not very compelling 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.360 or convincing 00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:38.380 that the kind of fellowship 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:40.700 that the eternal, divine Father, Son, 00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:42.259 and Spirit perfectly enjoyed 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.120 without need of you 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:43.840 from all eternity 00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:45.400 has been offered to you. 00:26:46.340 --> 00:26:47.200 I'm not sure 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.000 that there's much more 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.720 than I can say, 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.620 but I do want to close 00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:51.360 by pointing us 00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:52.059 to the fruit 00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:53.880 produced by this rich 00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:55.480 Christian soil, 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.779 the fruit produced 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:59.000 from this unique joy 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:00.000 of Christian fellowship 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.220 with the triune God. 00:27:02.380 --> 00:27:02.960 Again, look with me 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.619 at verse 4. 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.299 We write these things 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:08.980 to make our joy complete. 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.460 We write these things 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:11.680 to make our joy complete. 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.480 Now, this might sound 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.920 like selfish at first. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.779 Like, we're just telling you 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.559 what we saw and heard 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.759 for our own joy, 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:17.099 that is, 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:18.759 for the author's joy 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.440 to be complete. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.960 But actually, 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:22.299 when it says our joy, 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:24.220 and this is based on some nerdy, 00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:25.380 textual, critical evidence 00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:25.940 that I don't have time 00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.500 to get into, 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:28.079 but when he says our joy, 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:28.779 I actually think, 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.359 and many, 00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.920 most New Testament scholars 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.400 think as well, 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.079 that this hour 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:33.920 is an inclusive hour, 00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:35.400 designating not just 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:35.980 the authors, 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.799 but the readers as well. 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.599 So what it's saying 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.579 is we apostles 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.920 write this not just 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:43.559 to make our joy complete, 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.740 but to make both our joy 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:47.640 and your joy complete, 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.359 both the writers 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.900 and the readers together. 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.480 And forgive me 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.059 for getting into 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.940 this little detail 00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:54.539 at the end of the sermon, 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.259 but chew on that 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.799 for a second. 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.460 Chew on it for a second. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.140 This is quite 00:27:58.140 --> 00:27:59.420 an incredible concern 00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:00.579 for others, 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:02.099 if you think about it. 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:04.160 It's quite an incredible 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:06.460 radical neighborly mutuality 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:08.220 that's being shown here, 00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.140 this conviction 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:10.720 that I can't have joy 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.200 unless you have it. 00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:14.500 I can't be complete 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.700 unless you are. 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.579 I want us to be struck 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:19.539 by how profound this is. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:20.980 Like, what if we lived 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.380 in a world 00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:21.920 where everyone 00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:23.240 truly believed this 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.480 and lived every second 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.299 of their lives 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:26.319 in this way 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.579 and with this urgency? 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:29.480 My joy won't be complete 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:31.500 unless my neighbor's is. 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:34.299 Isn't that the kind of world 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.480 you'd want to live in, 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:37.220 but know that you don't live in? 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:39.419 And isn't this the kind of life 00:28:39.419 --> 00:28:40.240 you want to live, 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:42.279 but know that you don't live? 00:28:43.659 --> 00:28:44.659 The question I want us 00:28:44.659 --> 00:28:45.700 to consider in closing 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:47.539 is what could possibly 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:49.680 engender such incredible 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.799 concern for others, 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:53.919 such radical neighborly mutuality, 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:54.980 such a harmonious union 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.720 and sharing of fellowship 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:58.500 where the joy of others 00:28:58.500 --> 00:29:01.359 is integrally wrapped in our own? 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:04.079 Well, might we find a clue 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:06.299 in the gospel of Jesus Christ? 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:09.099 Like, might we find a clue 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.899 in the archetypal pattern 00:29:10.899 --> 00:29:12.019 of the triune God 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:13.399 in which the Father 00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:14.039 and the Son 00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.839 and the Spirit 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:16.039 have given themselves 00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:17.440 to glorifying one another 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:19.740 in mutual and harmonious joy 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.880 from all eternity 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:22.120 and then have graciously 00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:24.019 invited us into it, 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.080 their creatures, 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:26.400 into their joyous, 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:29.100 eternal fellowship of life? 00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:31.480 Or might we find a clue 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.860 in the Son of God 00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:35.080 who voluntarily entered 00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:36.880 into history in the flesh 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:39.080 and became a fellow human, 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:40.279 a fellow brother, 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.320 the one who, 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.740 for the joy set before Him, 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:44.140 endured the cross, 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.400 dying in the place of sinners 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:48.019 to secure their eternal resurrection life 00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:49.220 and joy forever? 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.660 The one who gave Himself 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:54.060 body and blood for us 00:29:54.060 --> 00:29:55.600 because He wanted us, 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.460 body and soul, 00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.800 for Himself. 00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.880 This is the gospel, 00:30:01.800 --> 00:30:03.660 the good news of fellowship 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.600 in Christ 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:05.600 with the Father 00:30:05.600 --> 00:30:06.460 and the Son 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.380 and the Spirit. 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:08.780 And friends, 00:30:08.860 --> 00:30:10.200 we are all invited 00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:11.660 and so are our neighbors 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:13.060 and so are our friends 00:30:13.060 --> 00:30:14.240 and so are our colleagues. 00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:15.200 We're all invited 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.680 for our joy, 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.860 for their joy, 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.559 and for God's joy. 00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:21.660 And that's good news 00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:23.080 worth proclaiming. 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.980 And that's what we're going to be about here 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:26.440 at Christ Church East Bay. 00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:27.860 Will you pray with me? 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:34.819 Lord, would you open our eyes 00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:37.600 to see joy for what it really is? 00:30:40.340 --> 00:30:41.880 Would you open our eyes 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:43.380 to see the counterfeit joys 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:44.860 that we so often pursue 00:30:44.860 --> 00:30:46.900 when we pursue sources of life 00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.740 outside of you? 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:51.280 And would you restore unto us 00:30:51.280 --> 00:30:52.620 the joy of our salvation 00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:55.160 that you said, 00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:56.740 let there be light again. 00:30:57.840 --> 00:30:59.360 You said to us sinners, 00:30:59.540 --> 00:31:01.260 let there be life again. 00:31:01.760 --> 00:31:02.840 Even if it costs me 00:31:02.840 --> 00:31:04.960 my own precious son's life, 00:31:05.840 --> 00:31:08.320 let them have joy again. 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:10.339 we thank you 00:31:10.339 --> 00:31:11.259 that you are a God 00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.460 who, 00:31:13.419 --> 00:31:14.559 although sufficient 00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.819 in and of yourself, 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.899 enjoying joy 00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:18.519 apart from us, 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.740 came to us 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.799 in the person of Christ 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.519 to give us a joy 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:25.159 that we forfeited. 00:31:28.759 --> 00:31:30.200 Strike us with this good news, 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:30.960 God, we pray. 00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:33.159 Restore unto us 00:31:33.159 --> 00:31:34.599 the joy of our salvation 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:36.480 and renew a right spirit 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.179 within us. 00:31:37.719 --> 00:31:38.659 In the name of Jesus, 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:39.619 Amen.