WEBVTT

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 Take out your copy of God's Word. I hope you have it with you today. Romans chapter 7.

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 As you're doing so, I'd like to say welcome to our guests. It's really good to have you here this morning.

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! I hope that your family time is precious as you're visiting the area.

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 We've been working our way together as a church through the book of Romans, verse by verse, as we love to do.

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 But before I read Romans chapter 7, verse 1 through 6, I'm going to tell you that we're not going to spend a lot of time in it this morning.

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 As a preacher, I've been doing this for a while, and there are times in my preparation that I'm led to do something a bit different than what the original plan was.

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 I have notes actually prepared. I can scroll on down and see them for this text.

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 This morning, though, as I was reviewing them, I was led elsewhere.

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 So we're going to read this together. It doesn't totally depart from the text and the meaning of the text,

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 but we're going to spend a little bit of time in the book of Luke this morning.

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 Let's begin this morning by reading verses 1 through 6 of chapter 7.

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 Let's read some of those.

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 And if she marries another man, she is not an adulteress.

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 Likewise, my brothers, you have also died to the law through the body of Christ,

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 so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead,

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 nor that we may bear fruit for God.

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 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions aroused by the law

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 were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.

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 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive,

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 so that we serve in the new way of the spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Father God, I thank you very much for this morning, and I thank you for your written word.

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 And I pray, Father, this morning you will add to us knowledge and understanding

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 that yields itself in wisdom for righteous living.

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 We look to you for these things.

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 We are incapable of speaking your word, of understanding it, of applying it,

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 knowing it whatsoever apart from you.

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 So we look to you to intervene this morning.

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 We pray this in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 Well, not to completely neglect our text this morning,

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 we have been led up to this point by Paul through a rather logical and linear argument

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 to essentially say to us that there is a law of God given to man to expose our sinfulness.

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 We worship a holy God who is entirely set apart, who dwells in righteousness.

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 And the law was given to us to show us how short we come of that righteousness.

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 I told you last week that the law demands two things of us.

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 It demands fulfillment and it demands condemnation.

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 It demands fulfillment and it demands condemnation.

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 Look at Romans chapter 2, verse 12 through 15.

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 First part of 15.

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 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law.

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 And all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

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 So those with the Mosaic law, those without the Mosaic law.

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 Anyone who sinned will die by that law.

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 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God,

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 but the doers of the law who will be justified.

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 For when Gentiles who do not have the law by nature do what the law requires,

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 they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

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 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts.

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 So we have working here throughout Romans two different types of law, if you'll allow me.

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 The Mosaic law, those ten commandments and the commandments surrounding it

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 that were given to Moses on Mount Sinai to give to the people of Israel.

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 But we also have what's been commonly called the moral law.

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 Those things that are written on our hearts.

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 Those things we know are right and those things that we know are wrong.

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 Interestingly, there's no article in the original language.

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 We read all through the book of Romans, the law, the law, the law.

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 There is no article, but in order for it to make sense in English, we must add an article to it.

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 So he's simply saying law, speaking generally of both types of law.

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 And both types demand fulfillment and condemnation.

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 Just because we have to place our faith in Christ doesn't mean that the law doesn't need to be fulfilled any longer.

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 Understand that the law must be kept.

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 But it's kept in Christ.

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 I'll explain that a bit more in a bit.

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 But also because the law has been transgressed.

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 It demands condemnation.

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 Those who have transgressed the law must pay the due punishment for that transgression.

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 Now this is the beauty of the person and work of Christ.

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 Because he meets both of those requirements on our behalf.

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 Because he lived a perfect life.

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 It's so important to our Christology that we understand that Christ lived a perfect, blameless life.

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 But he fulfilled the law.

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 And because he died and bore the wrath of God for the sins of the church,

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 he also met the requirement of the condemnation of the law.

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 Now for us it's impossible.

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 We can not fulfill the law on our own.

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 Nathan, I can work my darndest.

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 I could spend all of my time trying to obey the law.

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 And it is impossible.

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 Because of the sinful inclination of my heart that I inherited from Adam.

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 Impossible.

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 I will not accomplish it.

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 But in Christ, my faith placed in Christ, it has been fulfilled.

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 Such a beautiful, beautiful truth.

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 2 Corinthians 5.21

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 Paul writes,

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 For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin,

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 so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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 Christopher Hitchens, you guys know who that is.

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 An outspoken atheist.

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 I think he actually at one point called himself a militant anti-Christian.

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 Very well known for much of what he said against Christianity.

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 Passed away this week.

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 And you get online, there's some wonderful, wonderful articles written about that.

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 But he believed that Christianity was immoral.

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 He believed that for us as Christians to place our guilt upon the shoulders of Christ is immoral.

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 That we ought not give away what is rightly ours to bear.

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 The guilt of our sin against God.

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 It's a man that doesn't believe in God, which is ironic in that case.

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 So that Christianity is immoral.

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 But the problem with this thinking is that he believes that we cast our guilt on Christ's shoulders.

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 And the reality of it is that Christ took it from us.

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 You have no choice in that matter.

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 If you are his, he took it from you.

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 Oh, what a Christ we praise.

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 So as I was thinking about these truths, as we see in Romans chapter 7,

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 that we have been set free from service to the law and we've been bound up with another.

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 That is Christ.

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 In him.

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 To serve him.

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 And that in that, we will live righteous lives.

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 As I'm thinking about this, my mind is just pulled to my favorite parable.

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 And that's where I want to spend our time today.

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 In Luke chapter 15, the parable of the prodigal son.

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 So if you'll please turn there with me.

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 Because the intention to do this this morning came to me at about 645.

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 I don't have notes.

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 So this will be a new experience for you and for me.

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 I'm just going to stop as we read through this together and give you my own commentary to it.

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 And we'll sum it up at the end.

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 But I want to start by having you look at the beginning of chapter 15 at verse 2.

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 Because this is the stage that's set for this parable to be told.

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 It actually comes after two parables before it.

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 Verse 2 says,

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 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying,

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 This man received sinners and eats with them.

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 They've got a group of people that were very religious for our terms.

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 They believed that they followed the law to the letter.

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 They believed that their righteousness was found in their effort to keep the law.

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 And they gather around Jesus and they say,

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 Look at this man.

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 He eats with sinners.

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 How dare he?

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 How could he possibly make himself unclean by even associating with people such as these?

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 And these parables are the parables that Jesus tells in response to that.

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 And so read with me, beginning in verse 11.

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 And he said, Jesus,

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 There was a man who had two sons.

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 And the younger of them said to his father,

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 Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.

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 This story was a shock and awe story.

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 For the group he was speaking to.

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 And I'm going to show you along the way why it would have been that way.

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 But here's the first point.

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 As these Jewish people are gathering around him.

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 The son says to the father,

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 Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.

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 In Jewish culture, this would have been him saying to his father,

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 Father, I wish you were dead.

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 There is something due me when you die, but I want it now.

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 In Jewish culture, that would have been him saying,

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 I hate you.

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 I wish you were dead.

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 I wish you would just go ahead and kick off so I could have what is mine.

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 Got your attention?

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 And the father, he divided his property between them.

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 Not many days later, the young son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country.

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 And there he squandered his property in reckless living or licentious living or prodigal living.

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 It simply means extravagant.

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 He spent it, boy.

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 We see later, the other son points out that he spent it on prostitutes.

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 Verse 14.

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 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country and he began to be in need.

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 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

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 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate.

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 And no one gave him anything.

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 Now understand at this point in the story, once again, the shock that would have come upon these Jewish listeners to this story.

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 He had brought himself so low that in their society, he got the lowest possible job.

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 The worst job you could have.

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 I'm not going to list jobs in our society because somebody may have that job here.

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 But think of the worst possible job in your mind to have in our society.

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 That's the one he had.

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 He had been brought so low as a son of Israel.

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 He had gone to another country and hired himself out to feed pigs.

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 And he was in such desperate need that he wanted what the pigs were eating.

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 Now the pods that the pigs were eating is something that we couldn't even digest.

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 They were fed to the pigs because the pigs have a special, I don't know, stomach.

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 Pigs are special in this way and they can consume all kinds of stuff that we cannot consume.

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 And these pods were one of those things.

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 He was so desperately hungry that he even wanted to eat that to fill his stomach.

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 Verse 17, but when he came to himself, and this is such an interesting phrase in the original language,

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 literally means when his mind was made right.

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 When his mind was made right.

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 He said, how many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread,

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 but I perish here with hunger.

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 I will arise and go to my father and I will say to him,

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 Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

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 I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

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 Treat me as one of your hired servants.

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 And he arose and came to his father.

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 He was brought so low, but when his mind was made right,

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 what does he say?

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 I have a father who's so generous,

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 whose mercy abounds to his servants.

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 It would be better for me to be one of them.

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 And he humbles himself.

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 His mind is right.

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 Father, I have sinned against you and God.

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 And he goes to his father.

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 But while he was still a long way off,

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 his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced and kissed him.

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 Third shock moment for the Jewish culture.

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 This man was a wealthy man,

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 which meant that he would have had a house in town.

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 And he also would have had a house out in the country.

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 He would have had a place that the servants stayed out in the country to tend for his fields.

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 But he would have had a house in town where he could trade and be a well-to-do and have parties

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 and people would know him.

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 And he could be social in that way.

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 What's implied here is that while the son was returning,

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 the father was watching for him.

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 That the father cared enough for him

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 that he was pacing the front porch of his town home

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 looking for him to come.

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 Otherwise, why would he have seen him coming from a long way off?

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 And what does he do?

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 He has compassion and he runs to him.

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 Rich people didn't run.

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 In this day.

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 You did not run.

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 You had servants that ran for you.

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 You said, go run and grab me my ledger.

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 And they were the lowly ones that took off running.

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 This man would have been wearing a long robe.

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 In order for him to run,

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 he would have had to pull it up,

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 hike it up high enough for him to run.

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 And he ran.

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 He disgraced himself for the sake of his son.

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 You guys getting who the father is in the story?

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 He's Jesus Christ.

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 He's Jesus Christ who disgraced himself on the cross for us,

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 who was stripped naked and beaten and hung as a spectacle for all to see on our behalf.

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 Also in this culture,

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 you know the Jews had, by Mosaic law,

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 had the right to stone to death a disobedient child?

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 Children, you hear that?

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 They had the right to do it.

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 The child was disobedient.

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 They could take him outside the gate and they could stone him to death.

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 Now, very few, I would even venture to say,

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 no parents actually did that.

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 I believe the law was in place to show the children how important it was to obey your parents.

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 However, a very common practice for a disobedient child

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 was to lock them in the town square in stocks.

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 You've seen that in the medieval times.

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 Head goes through a hole, hands through a hole, and they get locked.

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 And they become a spectacle, a disgrace.

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 The father would put his son on display for everyone to see.

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 Disobedient child.

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 Look at this son that I have that doesn't obey me.

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 This father disgraces himself,

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 and he runs out of the town to meet his son

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 before any disgrace can be delivered to him.

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 Before any of the town folk,

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 who I'm sure knew by now what had happened,

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 jested and jeered at him,

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 demanded that he be locked in the stocks.

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 He runs out beforehand and meets him.

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 As he's coming in.

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 Look at the joy that the father has to see him too,

00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:51.519
 as he's waited for him for all this time.

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.559
 Run out to embrace him.

00:17:54.219 --> 00:17:55.299
 And to kiss him.

00:17:56.979 --> 00:17:57.839
 Verse 21.

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.359
 And the son said to him,

00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:00.439
 as he had planned to,

00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:03.459
 Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:06.500
 I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:09.740
 But the father said to his servants,

00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:13.359
 bring quickly the best robe and put it on him.

00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:18.099
 And put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet.

00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:20.899
 And bring the fattened calf and kill it.

00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:22.819
 And let us eat and celebrate.

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:25.679
 For this my son was dead and is alive again.

00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:27.839
 He was lost and is found.

00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.699
 And they began to celebrate.

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:34.220
 So he has a servant run back to town.

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.080
 Bring out of town,

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.440
 before he escorts him in,

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.740
 the best robe.

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:40.420
 Clothes him.

00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.880
 In that thing that would have said to everybody,

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:46.400
 this is still my son.

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:49.440
 He will not be locked in the stocks.

00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:51.140
 He will not be made a disgrace of.

00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:53.020
 Because he is mine.

00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:55.520
 Put on him a ring.

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.280
 The significance here would have been

00:18:57.280 --> 00:18:58.540
 that it would have been one of his rings.

00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.920
 A signet ring.

00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:02.280
 That ring that had his stamp,

00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.440
 his seal in it.

00:19:04.340 --> 00:19:05.500
 So when he wrote a letter

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:07.420
 and sealed it with wax

00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:09.780
 and stamped his sign in that,

00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:11.900
 people knew this is a message

00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:13.660
 from the rich man.

00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:15.560
 He placed that ring

00:19:15.560 --> 00:19:16.960
 on the son's finger.

00:19:17.540 --> 00:19:18.460
 The ring that would have said,

00:19:18.800 --> 00:19:20.980
 this son speaks for me.

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:24.640
 And then he put shoes on his feet.

00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.940
 It was a sign of wealth.

00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:29.779
 Welcome back to the family's son.

00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:32.200
 And they take the fattened calf.

00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:34.160
 A rich man always had a calf

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.519
 hanging out.

00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:37.540
 Doing no activity.

00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:40.500
 But being fed very well.

00:19:41.320 --> 00:19:43.080
 Those of you steak lovers out there know,

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:45.220
 how good meat is

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.160
 when it's being prepared

00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.220
 to be eaten.

00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:49.040
 For no other reason

00:19:49.040 --> 00:19:49.900
 but to eat it.

00:19:50.820 --> 00:19:52.460
 It's much better that way.

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:54.160
 And he would have had this fattened calf.

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:54.680
 It would have been

00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:56.779
 kept waiting

00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:58.860
 for a big celebration.

00:19:59.040 --> 00:19:59.840
 The biggest thing

00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:00.560
 that could have happened.

00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:02.120
 Possibly the older son

00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:03.240
 being married.

00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:03.759
 That could have been

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:05.080
 why it was being prepared

00:20:05.080 --> 00:20:05.960
 that the older son

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:09.040
 was approaching that age.

00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:10.600
 But it was slaughtered

00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:11.140
 for the sake

00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:13.040
 of the prodigal son.

00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:15.460
 And they began to celebrate.

00:20:16.060 --> 00:20:16.960
 Verse 25.

00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:19.940
 Now his older son

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.660
 was in the field

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:22.880
 and he came and drew near to the house.

00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.800
 He heard music

00:20:23.800 --> 00:20:24.640
 and dancing.

00:20:25.080 --> 00:20:26.460
 And he called one of the servants

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.440
 and asked what

00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:28.880
 these things meant.

00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.660
 And he said to him,

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.560
 Your brother has come

00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:32.759
 and your father has killed

00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.940
 the fattened calf

00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:35.600
 because he has received him back

00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.660
 safe and sound.

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.160
 But he was angry

00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:39.340
 and refused to go in.

00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:41.220
 His father came out

00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.180
 and entreated him.

00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.200
 But he answered his father,

00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:44.519
 Look, these many years

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.579
 I have served you

00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.600
 and I never disobeyed

00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.059
 your command.

00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:48.539
 Yet you never gave me

00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.339
 a young goat

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:50.220
 that I might celebrate

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:51.120
 with my friends.

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:53.200
 But when the son of yours came

00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:54.059
 who has devoured

00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.759
 your property

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:56.440
 with prostitutes,

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.700
 you killed the fattened calf

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.200
 for him.

00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.120
 And he said to him,

00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:00.660
 Son,

00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:02.059
 you are always with me

00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:03.339
 and all that is mine

00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:03.839
 is yours.

00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:06.019
 It was fitting to celebrate

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.619
 and be glad

00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.399
 for this your brother

00:21:07.399 --> 00:21:08.500
 was dead and is alive.

00:21:08.939 --> 00:21:09.759
 He was lost

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:11.099
 and is found.

00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:12.439
 So here we see the older son

00:21:12.439 --> 00:21:13.079
 who isn't even willing

00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:14.199
 to approach the house.

00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:16.659
 His father is throwing a party

00:21:16.659 --> 00:21:18.299
 and he's not going to go

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.419
 to his father to ask why.

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.439
 He asks one of the servants,

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.240
 What does this mean?

00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.579
 What is going on at the house?

00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:23.039
 Why?

00:21:23.699 --> 00:21:24.639
 Such a charade

00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.879
 going on there.

00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:27.740
 And he's mad.

00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:32.539
 He's furious

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.599
 at what has happened.

00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:36.720
 His father comes out to him.

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:37.839
 Note that.

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.099
 His father comes out

00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:39.779
 of the house to him

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.000
 and says,

00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:41.179
 Please, come in.

00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:43.119
 Join us in the celebration.

00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:44.539
 My joy would be complete

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:46.319
 if my sons were together.

00:21:46.939 --> 00:21:47.619
 Once again,

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:49.859
 he says,

00:21:49.919 --> 00:21:50.079
 Father,

00:21:50.199 --> 00:21:51.339
 all these years

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.159
 I have served you.

00:21:52.439 --> 00:21:53.559
 And what have you done for me?

00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.720
 Nothing.

00:21:57.399 --> 00:21:58.240
 But yet,

00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.759
 you'll give everything

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:01.299
 to the son.

00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:04.980
 What a picture

00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.599
 this is

00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:08.419
 of grace to us.

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:11.259
 What a beautiful,

00:22:11.679 --> 00:22:12.519
 beautiful story

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.839
 it is.

00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:15.419
 And my question for you

00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:15.879
 this morning

00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:16.779
 is,

00:22:17.159 --> 00:22:18.359
 which of the characters

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.519
 are you

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.759
 in the story?

00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:22.419
 I believe there are

00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:22.720
 three

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.639
 you can be.

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:27.259
 You can be the

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.820
 prodigal version

00:22:28.820 --> 00:22:29.940
 of the younger son.

00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.180
 You can be that person

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:33.240
 that says to God,

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.440
 I hate you.

00:22:35.580 --> 00:22:36.560
 I wish you were dead.

00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:37.800
 Just give me what is mine.

00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:39.259
 Let me go on my way.

00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.300
 Your ways

00:22:41.300 --> 00:22:42.540
 mean nothing to me.

00:22:44.020 --> 00:22:44.980
 Your law

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.740
 given to me,

00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.540
 that's not the way

00:22:47.540 --> 00:22:48.340
 for me to be happy.

00:22:49.300 --> 00:22:49.840
 I'm going to follow

00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:50.920
 my own philosophy

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:52.000
 of happiness

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.680
 in this life.

00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.480
 I'm going to chase it

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.900
 with all that I am.

00:22:57.800 --> 00:22:58.759
 If you're that person,

00:22:58.860 --> 00:22:59.600
 I would say to you,

00:23:00.320 --> 00:23:01.480
 you're going to be

00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.019
 brought low.

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.380
 Whether in this life

00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:05.100
 now

00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:06.180
 or

00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.140
 eternally,

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.360
 certainly eternally,

00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:10.480
 you will be brought low.

00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:12.560
 You will

00:23:12.560 --> 00:23:13.900
 beg to be satisfied

00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:14.480
 on things that

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.840
 will not satisfy you.

00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:20.079
 are you the

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:21.399
 prodigal son

00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:22.759
 returned?

00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:24.220
 It's the

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:24.799
 second

00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:26.119
 person you could be.

00:23:26.199 --> 00:23:27.000
 The prodigal son

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.439
 returned.

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.899
 Have you placed

00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:32.559
 your faith

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.220
 in Christ?

00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:34.259
 Have you said

00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:35.299
 humbly

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:35.899
 of yourself,

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:37.679
 I have sinned

00:23:37.679 --> 00:23:38.480
 against you.

00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.799
 I'm not

00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:40.240
 even

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.220
 worthy

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.799
 to be called

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.779
 your son.

00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:45.700
 but yet

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.180
 you have found

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.720
 yourself

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:48.019
 clothed

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.220
 in the

00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.500
 righteousness

00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.180
 of Christ.

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:50.859
 You've been

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.819
 given a ring

00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:54.000
 that you might

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.139
 speak on behalf

00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:56.420
 of him

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.259
 who has loved you

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.819
 with such a

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.460
 magnificent

00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.859
 love.

00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:01.660
 I hope that's

00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.019
 where we all

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.599
 find ourselves

00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.200
 this morning.

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.099
 That's the place

00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:05.819
 we want to be

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:07.680
 with our identity

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.619
 wrapped up

00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:09.740
 in the personal

00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.519
 work of Christ

00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:12.000
 because Christ

00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.119
 is the

00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:13.900
 only

00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.960
 person

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.519
 that can

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:16.920
 meet the

00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.460
 demands

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:17.839
 of the

00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.099
 law.

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.119
 Are you

00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:24.180
 the older

00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:24.519
 son?

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.200
 I'm the

00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:28.579
 older son

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.079
 sometimes.

00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.799
 I hope

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.099
 not all

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:31.420
 the time.

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:31.940
 I hope

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.700
 not the

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.079
 majority

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:33.420
 of the

00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:33.639
 time.

00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.299
 But I'm

00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:35.559
 the older

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:35.900
 son.

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:36.779
 I believe

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.220
 I have

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.539
 some

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.119
 right

00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:39.299
 to the

00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:39.660
 things of

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:39.920
 God.

00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.940
 I believe

00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:42.120
 that I

00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.279
 have

00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.039
 earned

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.519
 that.

00:24:45.820 --> 00:24:46.380
 And I

00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.200
 get mad

00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.600
 when I

00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:47.880
 see him

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.140
 merciful

00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:48.440
 towards

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:48.620
 other

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:48.940
 people.

00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:49.800
 God,

00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.360
 look at

00:24:50.360 --> 00:24:50.800
 all that

00:24:50.800 --> 00:24:51.100
 I do

00:24:51.100 --> 00:24:51.779
 for you.

00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:52.640
 What do

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:52.920
 I get

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:53.340
 in return?

00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.680
 I don't

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:54.980
 even get

00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.340
 a goat

00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:55.740
 to party

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.060
 with my

00:24:56.060 --> 00:24:56.500
 friends,

00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:56.880
 and yet

00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.160
 you've

00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:57.340
 killed

00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:57.500
 the

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.800
 fattened

00:24:57.800 --> 00:24:58.160
 calf

00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.080
 for him

00:24:59.080 --> 00:24:59.860
 or for

00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:00.140
 her.

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.960
 I believe

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.120
 that the

00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.600
 job of

00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:06.720
 the

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:06.920
 older

00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.360
 son

00:25:07.360 --> 00:25:08.940
 in this

00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.279
 story

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.099
 should

00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.240
 have

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.519
 been

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.079
 to

00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:11.379
 pursue

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:11.559
 the

00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:11.799
 younger

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.139
 son.

00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.579
 To

00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:14.980
 love

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.160
 the

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.480
 things

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:15.619
 that

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:15.779
 his

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.259
 father

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.119
 loves.

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.099
 To

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.220
 have

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:19.319
 been

00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.619
 about

00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.019
 that

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.440
 work.

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:20.720
 Here's

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:20.879
 his

00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:21.139
 father

00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.740
 pacing

00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.619
 the

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:22.940
 porch

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.579
 of the

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:23.819
 town

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.099
 home.

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.660
 The

00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:26.819
 son

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:26.960
 should

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.039
 have

00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.119
 been

00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.299
 out

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:27.500
 there

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.559
 finding

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:28.819
 the

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.039
 younger

00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.440
 son,

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.299
 reminding

00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:31.579
 him

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:31.819
 of how

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.399
 merciful

00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:33.019
 his

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.259
 father

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.720
 is,

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.039
 and

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.440
 bringing

00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:34.839
 him

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.680
 home.

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:38.560
 too

00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:38.840
 often

00:25:38.840 --> 00:25:39.019
 we

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.140
 don't

00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:39.360
 do

00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:39.680
 that.

00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.640
 We

00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:41.980
 hold

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.920
 holy

00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.279
 club

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:43.720
 meetings.

00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.799
 We

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:48.400
 feel so

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.140
 entitled

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.180
 to so

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:51.220
 much

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.259
 as

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.680
 Christians

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.680
 rather

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.039
 than

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.759
 saying,

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.220
 Father,

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:55.860
 I have

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:56.160
 sinned

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:56.420
 against

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:56.680
 you,

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.240
 and I

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.840
 do not

00:25:58.840 --> 00:25:59.299
 deserve to

00:25:59.299 --> 00:25:59.620
 be called

00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:00.060
 your son,

00:26:01.060 --> 00:26:02.160
 but I

00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:02.720
 praise you

00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.000
 that I

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.220
 am,

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.680
 that you

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:04.759
 have

00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.180
 clothed

00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:05.420
 me in

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.600
 this

00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:05.819
 way,

00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.079
 that you

00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.200
 have

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.420
 given

00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:06.620
 me

00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:06.799
 your

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:06.980
 way,

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.200
 that you

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.279
 have

00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.400
 put

00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:07.740
 shoes

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:07.860
 on

00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.019
 my

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.339
 feet.

00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:09.799
 What

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.380
 a

00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:10.900
 blessing

00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.259
 that

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.579
 is.

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.140
 Look up

00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:14.460
 a bit

00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:14.759
 in

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.079
 chapter

00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:15.620
 15

00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:18.559
 to the

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:18.779
 parable

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.039
 of the

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.259
 lost

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.519
 sheep.

00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.039
 This

00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:21.279
 is how

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.420
 he

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:21.960
 immediately

00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:22.360
 answers

00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:22.559
 that

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:22.960
 question.

00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.240
 This

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.500
 man

00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:23.980
 receives

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:23.980


00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.279
 sinners

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:24.519
 and

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:24.759
 eats

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:24.960
 with

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.220
 them.

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:25.940
 He

00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.220
 says,

00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:26.680
 so

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:26.779
 he

00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:26.940
 told

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.059
 him

00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.220
 this

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:27.500
 parable,

00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:27.799
 what

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.240
 man

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.680
 of

00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:28.940
 you,

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:29.819
 having

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.000
 a

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.240
 hundred

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.620
 sheep,

00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:30.979
 if he

00:26:30.979 --> 00:26:31.119
 has

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.539
 lost

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:31.939
 one

00:26:31.939 --> 00:26:32.079
 of

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:32.219
 them,

00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:32.399
 does

00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:32.579
 not

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:32.979
 leave

00:26:32.979 --> 00:26:33.119
 the

00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:33.599
 ninety-nine

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:33.759
 in

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:33.879
 the

00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:34.119
 open

00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:34.519
 country

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.099
 and

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.399
 go

00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:35.679
 after

00:26:35.679 --> 00:26:35.839
 the

00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.079
 one

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:36.259
 that

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.379
 is

00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:36.759
 lost

00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.019
 until

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.179
 he

00:26:37.179 --> 00:26:37.500
 finds

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:37.719
 it.

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.439
 And

00:26:38.439 --> 00:26:38.539
 when

00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:38.599
 he

00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:38.739
 has

00:26:38.739 --> 00:26:39.039
 found

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.199
 it,

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:39.359
 he

00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:39.719
 lays

00:26:39.719 --> 00:26:39.839
 it

00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:39.939
 on

00:26:39.939 --> 00:26:40.059
 his

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:40.399
 shoulders,

00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:41.279
 rejoicing.

00:26:41.959 --> 00:26:42.119
 And

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:42.239
 when

00:26:42.239 --> 00:26:42.339
 he

00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:42.659
 comes

00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:42.879
 home,

00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:43.019
 he

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.339
 calls

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.599
 together

00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:43.779
 his

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.039
 friends

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.159
 and

00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:44.279
 his

00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:44.479
 neighbors,

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:44.819
 saying

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:44.979
 to

00:26:44.979 --> 00:26:45.199
 them,

00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:45.819
 rejoice

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.239
 with

00:26:46.239 --> 00:26:46.439
 me,

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:46.599
 for

00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:46.699
 I

00:26:46.699 --> 00:26:47.019
 found

00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.259
 my

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:47.539
 sheep

00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:47.719
 that

00:26:47.719 --> 00:26:47.879
 was

00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:48.319
 lost.

00:26:48.919 --> 00:26:49.259
 Just

00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.659
 so I

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:00.819
 people

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:00.979
 who

00:27:00.979 --> 00:27:01.259
 didn't

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.459
 need

00:27:01.459 --> 00:27:01.839
 repentance.

00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:02.939
 He

00:27:02.939 --> 00:27:03.139
 doesn't

00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:03.379
 mean

00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:03.699
 that.

00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.059
 What

00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:05.199
 he's

00:27:05.199 --> 00:27:05.439
 talking

00:27:05.439 --> 00:27:05.739
 about

00:27:05.739 --> 00:27:05.859
 are

00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:06.019
 these

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.939
 Pharisees,

00:27:07.739 --> 00:27:08.459
 these

00:27:08.459 --> 00:27:08.679
 people

00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:08.839
 who

00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:09.059
 didn't

00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.479
 think

00:27:09.479 --> 00:27:09.659
 they

00:27:09.659 --> 00:27:09.899
 needed

00:27:09.899 --> 00:27:10.339
 repentance,

00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:12.439
 who

00:27:12.439 --> 00:27:13.459
 sought

00:27:13.459 --> 00:27:14.319
 to reach

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:14.839
 to God

00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:15.579
 by obeying

00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.139
 the law.

00:27:17.239 --> 00:27:17.379
 There's

00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:18.099
 no rejoicing

00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:18.599
 over heaven

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.219
 for them.

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.519
 There's

00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:20.919
 great

00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:21.439
 rejoicing

00:27:21.439 --> 00:27:22.539
 for that

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:22.859
 person

00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.099
 who

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.799
 realizes

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.139
 through

00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:25.619
 faith

00:27:25.619 --> 00:27:26.019
 that they

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.779
 can't

00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.939
 and

00:27:27.939 --> 00:27:28.739
 believes

00:27:28.739 --> 00:27:29.919
 by

00:27:29.919 --> 00:27:30.500
 grace

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.460
 that

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:31.819
 Jesus

00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.579
 can

00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.720
 on

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:33.859
 their

00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:34.400
 behalf.

00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.619
 I

00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.039
 want

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.339
 us

00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:38.619
 to be

00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:38.779
 a

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.240
 church.

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.140
 Those

00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:41.359
 of you

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:41.579
 who are

00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:41.940
 guests,

00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:42.400
 wherever

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:42.640
 you

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:42.920
 go,

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.480
 I

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.660
 want

00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:44.799
 us

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.180
 to be

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:46.200
 believers

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:48.700
 who

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.079
 act as

00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:49.259
 the

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:49.500
 son

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:49.819
 upon

00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.019
 his

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.420
 return,

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.900
 who

00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:51.980
 are

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.339
 about

00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:52.559
 the

00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:52.859
 work

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.400
 of

00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:53.539
 our

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:53.900
 father.

00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.200
 I

00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:56.380
 don't

00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:56.559
 want

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:56.779
 Christ

00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:56.960
 Family

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.220
 Church

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:57.460
 to be

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:57.599
 a

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:57.859
 club.

00:27:59.220 --> 00:27:59.740
 In

00:27:59.740 --> 00:27:59.960
 so

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.200
 many

00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:00.440
 ways,

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:00.660
 it's

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:00.920
 not,

00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.160
 but

00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:01.259
 in

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:01.420
 some

00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:01.660
 ways,

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.160
 it is.

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.400
 We

00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:04.480
 need to

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:04.640
 be

00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:04.980
 searching

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.240
 our

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:05.720
 hearts,

00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:07.740
 asking

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.140
 God to

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:08.839
 expose

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.980
 the

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.359
 sinfulness

00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:10.859
 of them,

00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.380
 that we

00:28:11.380 --> 00:28:11.740
 might come

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.160
 together in

00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.559
 this way.

00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:15.640
 Our

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:15.960
 text,

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.660
 Romans 7,

00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.240
 1-6,

00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:18.559
 which we

00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.279
 will get

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:19.759
 back to

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:22.500
 probably

00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:22.799
 after

00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.259
 Christmas.

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.400
 Verse 4

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.339
 says that

00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.480
 we've been

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.880
 bound to

00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:29.160
 Christ,

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.400
 that we

00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:29.840
 belong

00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:30.060
 to

00:28:30.060 --> 00:28:30.400
 another

00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.080
 in

00:28:31.080 --> 00:28:31.300
 order

00:28:31.300 --> 00:28:31.460
 that

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:31.580
 we

00:28:31.580 --> 00:28:31.779
 may

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.019
 bear

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.480
 fruit

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.080
 for

00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:33.440
 God.

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.200
 And in

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.580
 Galatians

00:28:35.580 --> 00:28:36.200
 5.13,

00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:36.720
 Paul wrote,

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:37.380
 For you

00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:37.880
 were called

00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.600
 to freedom,

00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:39.220
 brothers,

00:28:39.560 --> 00:28:40.180
 set free

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.500
 from the

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:40.920
 bondage

00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.660
 of sin.

00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.620
 Only do

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.060
 not use

00:28:44.060 --> 00:28:44.500
 your freedom

00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:44.779
 as an

00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.259
 opportunity

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:45.880
 for the

00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:46.320
 flesh,

00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:47.279
 but through

00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:47.980
 love

00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:49.040
 serve

00:28:49.040 --> 00:28:50.279
 one

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.560
 another.

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.679
 of

00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679


00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:52.679