WEBVTT

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 Well, in turning to the letter of Paul to the Galatians in chapter 1, we come to one of the

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! the earliest of the apostles' writings, and we notice that he's writing to encourage young Christians,

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! new congregations, churches planted in the first and second missionary journeys, who have began to feel

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 pressure and heat from the world, and there's danger beginning to circle. Indeed, we notice that

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 the gospel is spreading. Churches are taking root, hearts and lives are being changed in towns and

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 cities across the ancient world, but as that spread of conversions takes place, as the gospel is preached

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 and men and women and boys and girls are saved, there's a rising opposition, a pressure, a hardship.

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 There's danger without, there's the intolerance of the world, but there's also danger from within,

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 because as we know, if we're familiar with the New Testament story, that as the apostles preached and

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 taught and planted churches and showed forth the praises of Jesus in their life and in their ministry,

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 false teachers dogged their steps, it seems, at every turn, and these Galatian Christians are no

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 different, and there's this quite stunning turn of phrase. By the time we come to verse 6, the very

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 opening of this letter, I am astonished you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace

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 of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. We'll explore a little bit of that this evening.

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 So what Paul is seeking to do is he's identifying a threat, he's identifying a difficulty and a danger,

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 and what he's doing, he's not looking out with the church, he's focusing in the church. And so we find

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 him here speaking about a different gospel, a distorted gospel, and a contrary gospel.

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 And this word here, to distort, to distort the gospel is to change something beyond recognition.

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 And so what was going on was the false teachers had come in and they started to say, we like Paul,

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 we admire the apostles. It's wonderful what's happening with the spread of the message of Christ,

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 but don't forget circumcision. Don't forget the laws and the rules of the Judaism. And what we

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 begin to find is a gospel plus and a gospel minus, as they began to add to what would be, have what had

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 been proclaimed to them, freedom in Christ. And we find right throughout this letter in every chapter,

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 there's a focus on the cross, and there's a very clear emphasis, chapter 5, verse 1, on the liberty we

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 find through faith in Christ. And what's happened is these false teachers have come along and they've

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 started to distort the gospel, to preach a different gospel, a gospel that is contrary to what they've

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 heard before. And what happens, of course, is that the people are troubled. You are quickly deserting

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 him who called you. Not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to

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 distort the gospel of Christ. So what's happened is the devil has come in and he's sowing tears among

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 the wheat. He's trying to disrupt and destroy. At the very outset, these new churches as they take

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 root in towns and cities around the ancient world. And he's coming in there saying, I might not bring

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 persecution first, but let's bring a false gospel, a false hope, a gospel of, a message of gospel plus.

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 Let's try and bring them back to their Judaic roots and let's try and insist on circumcision. And so the

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 false teachers come and the pressure grows and the people don't know whether to turn to the left or

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 turn to the right. And so we find them beginning to turn away. They are quickly deserting him. We call you

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 the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. They're being led astray. And so Paul identifies

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 this problem and he sees that what these false teachers have done is they've brought trouble into

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 the hearts of the Lord's people. And this word trouble is to experience unrest, which is the exact

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 opposite of what the gospel brings. And we notice in verse 3 that what the gospel brings is grace and peace.

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 So Paul is calling out these false teachers and he's planting himself full square on the cross.

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 And he says, don't forget, this is the gospel that drew you from darkness to light, that took you from

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 death to life. And he focuses on that gospel and that cross and that saviour right to this letter, as we will

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 for a few moments this evening. So this letter is a response to the danger that Paul has discerned that's

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 beginning to stalk these early churches, these brand new Christians, and he wants their focus to be on

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 the cross and on Christ because there is our source tonight, friends, for grace and peace.

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 That is what Christ brings. That is what Christ gives. That is what Christ loves to give. And that is

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 what he promises to those who would come to him in repentance and faith. And so before he even gets to

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 the warnings, which kick off in verse 6, we have this wonderful emphasis on the gospel, God's plan of

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 salvation. Grace to you and peace in verse 3 from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave

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 himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father,

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 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. So here then is the focus, first of all, on the heart of the

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 gospel. The heart of the gospel. Now we know and can understand that these young converts were the fruit

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 of Paul's labours in his first and second missionary journeys. And so what he's doing here is he's reminding

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 them of what they heard when he first came into their towns and their cities and their villages,

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 and he brought them the message of Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us.

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 What a wonderful summary that is of the grace and peace of the gospel. How do we receive and know the grace

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 and peace of the gospel? It is all of Christ who is the heart of this message. He gave himself for our sins.

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 There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God's own Son. And that sets the tone for all six chapters to come. And as this letter

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 focuses on the cross, so must we this evening to consider what? Not just what this message is. That's one thing.

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 Of course it is. But there's something far more important this evening. And that's the question. What is this message to you

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 and to me? How have we responded to this Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins?

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 And what Paul reminds us of here tonight is that it is in Christ we find forgiveness. He gave himself

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 for our sins to deliver us. Full and free forgiveness is set forth in and through the person and work of

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 Jesus Christ, the Son of God. So to the Christian tonight, the message is, do not wander from this

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 message. Do not drift from the cross. Do not be tempted away down a blind alley or a sidetrack.

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 Stay full square focused on the one who gave himself for you there. And to those who are yet unsaved,

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 the one we may describe you this evening as a seeker, and I hope and pray that's an accurate

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 description, he says, do not neglect so great a salvation. Don't turn away from not just this message,

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 but this Savior who in his grace and mercy and forbearance again in the gospel is saying, come to me

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 and I will give you rest. Grace and peace from Christ. He gives us what no one else can give us.

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 He gives us what the world doesn't come close to giving us. Peace of heart, peace of mind,

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 and the love of God, undeserving, unearned, and yet ours through the Lord Jesus, our Savior.

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 This message then is all about a person, and we notice that right away. Paul, an apostle, not from

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 men, not through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father. He puts Christ front and center,

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 and that sets the tone for what comes right through this epistle. He's saying, where are you going?

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 What are you doing? I am astonished you are so quickly deserting him who called you. Then chapter

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 three, oh foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? Why would you turn from the cross? And if you go

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 through the letter, you'll find at each chapter a wonderful clear focus on the cross of Christ

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 and the one who gave himself there. This then is a wonderful message, and it also in that very brief

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 phrase brings us to not just what the gospel is, but what the gospel does. He gave himself for us,

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 for our sins, to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

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 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Why did Jesus give himself to that cross and to that death?

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 Peter puts it so beautifully when he writes, the purpose to bring us to God. What no one else could do,

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 what nothing else could achieve, he died, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God.

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 Jesus Christ is the heart of the gospel, and the church tonight must not deny or dilute this message.

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 We must not seek to take away from God's plan of salvation. We must not seek to come up with our

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 own agendas, our own ploys, our own plans, our own strategies, thinking, oh, that might get us

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 somewhere. We must tonight stay fully focused on what this message is and who this saviour is,

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 the Lord Jesus Christ, who in song it is put of him this way, his love has no limit,

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 his grace has no measure, his power has no boundary known unto man. For out of his infinite riches in

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 Jesus he giveth and giveth and giveth again. And what does he give? Grace and peace, which is ours

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 through the forgiveness of our sin, which we seek through and in him and in him alone, the heart

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 of the gospel. And so the question, if this is the message, and this is the man at the heart of this

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 message, this Jesus of Nazareth, how have you and how have I responded? And what does he mean to you

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 this evening? I guess that the ultimate question is, if you're going home tonight, are you going home a

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 child of God? Or are you going home tonight still unconvinced, still unconverted? Why is that?

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 Ask that question of yourself. I don't know what the answer might be, but you will. Why is it tonight,

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 if you're here worshiping the Lord and singing psalms, standing and sitting and opening the Bible,

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 what is it you've done with the message we read of here and the saviour we meet here? What

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 have you done with him? That's what matters most of all. The heart of the gospel is here in verse 4.

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 Secondly, there's this, there's the source of this gospel. He gave himself for our sins to deliver us

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 from the present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever

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 and ever. Amen. This message is one thing, but it's crucial to remember the source of this message

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 is God himself. Three times already, by the time we get into the first few sentences,

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 Paul thanks God the Father for what he has done, for his provision, for his grace toward us,

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 for all his goodness and for what he has provided for, as in his Son. And in hearing one phrase,

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 in all its glory and grace, is the plan of redemption, God's plan. He gave himself according

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 to the will of our God and Father. And yet people in Stornow tonight will be saying, what's God ever

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 done for me? He's not done enough for me. Never answered the last time I prayed. I didn't get what I,

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 he's got nothing for me. He doesn't give me this. He hasn't done that for me. What's he ever done?

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 And they are oblivious to what he's already done, that he sent his only begotten Son,

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 so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. He gave everything in

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 giving his Son. And so the answer is again, or the question is again, what have you done

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 with this provision that we meet in the gospel, the provision of Christ? This plan of redemption was

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 formed in the Godhead from all eternity between Father and Son and Holy Spirit. There was a determination,

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 a commitment, a covenant agreement that God would save a people to himself. And the empty grave tonight

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 is the declaration of God's plan being fulfilled in and through Jesus. He is an apostle, not through man,

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 but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead. There again, right in the first sentence

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 is the resurrection front and centre. He was dead and now is alive. Christianity sometimes, it seems, down through the

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 centuries and generations has had a problem with this and has seemed to squirm and move around and try to

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 come around this in some other way. And of course the other faiths in the world will come along and say,

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 well, was he really dead? Maybe he revived. Maybe he was a good man. But they deny his divinity. They focus

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 on his humanity. They say he revived in the cool of the grave and somehow slipped away. Anything but a dead

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 Jesus of Nazareth. Why? Because here is the greatest test. When we come beyond the cross to the grave

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 and going to the cemetery, the world wants us to think that the bones of Jesus of Nazareth are still

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 there, somewhere in the dirt around Jerusalem. They want him dead. They want him consigned to the history

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 books, leaving him there as a good man, a great man, but not the God man. But that's not what the

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 scripture says. And here we see that in the very first sentence, Jesus Christ and God the Father

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 who raised him from the dead. We worship tonight a living, risen, reigning Saviour. To God be the glory.

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 Great things he has done. The source of the gospel, the plan of redemption is God's plan.

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 And we see it here in Jesus. The gospel's source is nothing else and nothing less than the amazing

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 grace of God. And so we have here the heart of the gospel and the source of the gospel in these first

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 few sentences because there is a battle for the survival of the soul of these early churches,

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 these Christians who were being dragged away from these great truths, who are being brought to think

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 of what rules and regulations they should incorporate and what traditions they need to adopt and maintain

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 and the place of circumcision and the place of the temple in Jerusalem. And they were being dragged back

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 into the shadows that pointed to liberty in Christ. And Paul says, no, don't go there. That's not for a

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 year to go. You've been set free by Christ in Christ. Why would you then take on the yoke

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 of slavery to yourselves when Christ has set you free? The heart of the gospel and the source of

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 the gospel. Thirdly, we see the scope of the gospel. I am astonished, he says in verse 6,

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 you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different

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 gospel. Not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel

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 of Christ. And so we have these two phrases, the grace of Christ, the gospel of Christ. Wonderful

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 language that should thrill our hearts tonight as we think of the wonderful provision that we have

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 and not just the heart of the gospel and the source of the gospel. Now we can think about the scope of

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 the gospel. Who is this message for? It's for you, friends, and me. It's for Stornoway, Lewis, Scotland.

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 For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son. Here is a message of grace and peace to those

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 who would seek forgiveness for sin in Christ.

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 This is why the hymn is so accurate as it puts it, how deep the Father's love for us,

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 how vast beyond all measure, that he should give his only son to make a wretch his treasure.

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 Sometimes perhaps the language, we may find it a bit jarring, a bit coarse, a bit rough, but friends,

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 the scripture describe us in ways of the way of sin is to be lost, darkness, chaos, lawlessness,

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 children of wrath. We are indeed a wretch, but in Christ that wretchedness is transferred to being

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 a treasure. We have then this scope of the gospel. Its scope is the authority for what we come to

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 describe as the free offer of the gospel. And the apostles' preaching is very clear in this. As you go

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 through the acts of the apostles, you'll find time and again from the very beginning as to begin to

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 declare the gospel. Let me read to you just a few examples of the apostles declaring Christ.

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 Peter said to them, to the thousands who gathered around him on the day of Pentecost, repent and be

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 baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

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 The day of Pentecost, as the apostolic preaching of the cross begins. There it is, the free offer of

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 the gospel, calling sinners to repent and believe in Jesus. Chapter 2, verse 38. Then we turn into

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 chapter 3 and we read in verse 19 these words, repent therefore and turn again that your sins may

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 be blotted out. We go into chapter 4 and we read in verse 2 that the Sadducees and the priests and the

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 captain of the temple came upon the apostles greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and

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 proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. What a picture of the church that is.

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 And that is our heritage. That is one we must accept wholeheartedly that we are teaching the people

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 and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. As then so now. The church of the first century

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 setting the tone and the agenda for the church of every century. And here we seek to balance ourselves

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 and hold the mirror up and assess how do we compare? How are we getting on in the mission and ministry

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 that we have received? That we have inherited? What is our heritage? But this very same thing. Teach the

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 people and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. That's what they were doing in the temple courts that day.

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 And then again in chapter 4 and verse 12. The clarion called through Peter again. There is salvation

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 in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

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 Saved. Saved. But to be saved we need a saviour. And if we need a saviour that means we need to be

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 saved from something. And what we are saved from is being under the wrath and judgment of God.

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 Sinners. Lost. Without hope. Needing grace and peace. The language is so specific in the apostles

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 preaching but also in the preaching of our Lord himself. You know well the words that he said come to me.

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 All you who labour and are heavy laden. And I will give you rest. It was that personal appeal that the

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 apostles pick up on and replicate as must we. The Philippian jailer falling on his knees in

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 desperation crying out what must I do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be

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 saved. The devil would have you believe tonight you need to complete a PhD in biblical studies before

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 you could be converted. Don't you believe a word of it. He's a liar. He's a deceiver and a trickster.

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 And he will try to take your heart and mind away from this and fill you with ideas and concepts that

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 are completely unbiblical. And he'll spread them and sprinkle them with some biblical truths just to add

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 to the confusion. And he'll say you need this and you need that. You should feel this and you should

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 know that. All you need to know friends tonight is that you're a sinner in need of a saviour and that

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 in Christ the saviour is revealed. And in his grace and mercy he is saying come to me and I will give you

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 rest. Would you tonight put your trust in Christ who is the source and scope and heart of the gospel?

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 Because friends while we talk about his giving himself for our sins to deliver us. His work upon

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 the cross. His finished work upon the cross. Unless and until we come to him personally and unreservedly

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 that sacrificial atonement is ineffectual for us. And we remain lost. We remain under the wrath and

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 judgment of God. And that wrath and judgment is imminent. And so there is this urgency, this personal

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 invitation to life, liberty, and the gospel. That's why Paul was so pained when the news reached him that

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 these false teachers have come in and they're trying to enslave these converts. For freedom Christ has set us

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 free. Stand firm therefore and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. Keep in step with the spirit

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 because the world out there will not and does not. And so we look to the gospel, the heart of it,

00:23:05.820 --> 00:23:13.020
 the source of it, and the scope of it. And we see here wonderful provision. We see in the gospels Christ

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:19.139
 himself. The recounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and John. And we see Christ himself there preaching,

00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:27.839
 assuring, warning, revealing the way of salvation. What provision! What provision! And we read of men

00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:35.500
 and women responding. But we also read of men and women turning away. And we hear so little of them

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:42.160
 ever again. They walk off the pages of scripture and we hear nothing of so many. Friends, I wonder

00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:49.940
 tonight where you stand. This is the question the gospel brings home to us, the need for a personal

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:57.839
 commitment to Christ that is wholehearted, that is unreserved.

00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:05.799
 One final thing to make here this evening, to note this evening, that is the effect of the gospel,

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:11.759
 the impact of the gospel. We only read these first few verses and you'll notice that when he comes down

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:18.899
 to verse 10 again, he reasserts that he's not seeking the approval of men. He's not concerned what

00:24:18.899 --> 00:24:26.079
 people think of him. Am I trying to please man? No. If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:33.359
 servant of Christ. So you see the impact the gospel has had in his heart. He's not concerned too much

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:39.019
 about what people think of him. He's more concerned what his master thinks of him. And so he wants to

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:45.679
 serve him wholeheartedly and unreservedly. He wants to fight the good fight. He wants to run the race.

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:50.839
 He wants to look unto Jesus and encourage others to do so. And that's exactly what he's doing here

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:57.039
 when he calls out this different, distorted, contrary gospel. This message that is contrary to the one we

00:24:57.039 --> 00:25:05.639
 preach to you. Let them be accursed. For they were bringing a false hope and they were destroying and

00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:13.959
 they were undoing and such was the impact of what they were doing. They were distorting this message

00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:22.220
 beyond recognition. And Paul is calling them out. So we close with this impact, the impact or effect of

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:30.759
 the gospel. As these truths and as the Lord himself takes root in our heart and control of our lives,

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:39.460
 we are changed from the inside out. That's what grace and peace does. There's a new set of rules now

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:47.740
 dominating. There's a new set of perspectives. There's a new desire. A hungering and thirsting after righteousness.

00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:53.620
 A longing to be at worship. A longing to be at the prayer meeting. A longing to be with the Lord's people.

00:25:54.019 --> 00:26:00.420
 A love for the word. And a longing for the lost to come to know the saviour you have come to know.

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:06.800
 All these things are marks of this newness of life that we experience through Christ.

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:15.039
 It's what came to be called in years past the effect of the tender conscience.

00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:18.600
 A conscience that's been tenderised by the Holy Spirit.

00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:24.700
 That sets our inner compass to Christ and his honour and his glory.

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:30.640
 rather than the prevailing culture around us. And these last few verses focus on the need to live out

00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:37.840
 what God has worked in. And we notice that specifically in a couple of ways. We notice that

00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:44.420
 in the language of verses 2 and 11, we have, he writes of the brothers. Verse 2,

00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:49.180
 all the brothers who are with me. And then again in verse 11, I would have you know,

00:26:49.580 --> 00:26:53.420
 brothers, that the gospel that was preached to me is not man's gospel.

00:26:53.420 --> 00:27:02.019
 So this word there, adelphoi, in the Greek context, was a word used always in a familial context.

00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:06.980
 And so what Paul is, we could write, and all the brothers and sisters who are with me.

00:27:07.300 --> 00:27:11.240
 It would be nice if the ESV had done that, but it's called the extremely safe version for a reason.

00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:16.580
 It stuck to brothers. But it's a word that in its original context had the impact and meaning of

00:27:16.580 --> 00:27:20.140
 brothers and sisters. He's addressing all believers in Christ.

00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:26.280
 And he's calling them to understand that they too are servants of Christ.

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:34.200
 We are one in him. And so we are to work out what God has worked in.

00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:37.940
 There's a single-mindedness here, a determination here.

00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:40.660
 But there's also a stress on unity.

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:43.800
 Christians, you are in this together.

00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:48.600
 He delivers his people by setting us free to live to his glory.

00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:56.880
 And the truth of the gospel is that in Christ, we have not just union, but unity.

00:27:58.140 --> 00:28:01.340
 Christian friends, it's your calling to work together,

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.519
 to pray together,

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:05.559
 to worship together,

00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:07.879
 to witness together,

00:28:07.879 --> 00:28:10.039
 to stick together.

00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:13.759
 Especially when there's a vacancy in the mix.

00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:18.660
 That word always has potential to cause,

00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:21.059
 have an impact, all of its own,

00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:24.740
 in a congregation, in our system, in our Presbyterian world.

00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.339
 Vacancy.

00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:27.379
 Who? What? When? Why?

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:29.159
 Where's it going? What's happening next?

00:28:29.439 --> 00:28:30.379
 Not hearing anything.

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.639
 We hear all these phrases,

00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:33.299
 but let me say right away,

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.740
 if anything's happening,

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:36.119
 you'll be the first to know.

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:38.839
 If you don't think you know what's going on,

00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:40.559
 it's because there's nothing going on.

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:44.359
 The work of trying to fill the vacancy is going on.

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:47.519
 Friends, we need to pray and work

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:51.379
 and worship and witness and stick together.

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:53.339
 It's so important.

00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:55.339
 For the witnessing of the gospel

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:58.579
 from you as a congregation

00:28:58.579 --> 00:29:00.319
 throughout and across the town

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.099
 in the community,

00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:02.419
 in homes, in the workplace.

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:05.139
 All one in Christ Jesus.

00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.279
 I want to tell you a story.

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:08.399
 Maybe some of you are aware of this story.

00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:11.799
 There's a story of Marcus and Narcissa Wittman

00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:14.899
 and Henry and Eliza Spaulding.

00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:16.240
 It's a remarkable story.

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.619
 It's an epic story.

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:19.419
 Maybe they've made a movie of this

00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:20.799
 because it's quite remarkable.

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.939
 In the 1830s,

00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:23.640
 these two couples traveled

00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:25.620
 from the east coast of the United States

00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:27.240
 across to the west coast

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:29.000
 or the northwest coast.

00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.180
 They were commissioned

00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:30.920
 and committed missionaries

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.620
 and the American Missionary Board

00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:34.860
 had sent them out

00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:38.340
 to work among the Indian peoples of Oregon

00:29:38.340 --> 00:29:39.759
 in the northwest Pacific region.

00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:42.120
 And the Wittmans wrote these words,

00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:46.159
 We are devoted to saving souls among the heathen.

00:29:47.419 --> 00:29:48.159
 What a commitment.

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:49.500
 What a mission statement that is.

00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.000
 What a vision.

00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:52.239
 And they showed their commitment

00:29:52.239 --> 00:29:54.559
 by traveling for seven months together.

00:29:54.979 --> 00:29:57.159
 3,000 miles in the 1830s.

00:29:57.239 --> 00:29:58.519
 It's an epic tale.

00:29:58.659 --> 00:29:59.739
 There's tragedy.

00:30:00.139 --> 00:30:01.979
 There's all sorts in this story.

00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:04.179
 But I just want to tell you one thing about it.

00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:06.479
 When they actually arrived

00:30:06.479 --> 00:30:08.419
 or by the time they arrived in Oregon,

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:11.320
 they were barely on speaking terms.

00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:15.539
 And this, friends, is human nature.

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:18.279
 It is the disruptor in chief.

00:30:19.060 --> 00:30:20.480
 And we need to be aware of it.

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:22.180
 We need to watch for it.

00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:24.720
 We need to eagerly and earnestly

00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:27.180
 defend and protect and nurture

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.940
 the unity of the spirit

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:29.960
 and the bond of peace,

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:32.580
 especially in a time of vacancy.

00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:35.960
 That's a story very much worthwhile reading.

00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:38.279
 Sadly, as the two couples arrived

00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:39.779
 in Oregon country,

00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:43.099
 because they had fallen out so badly

00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:45.000
 over these few months of traveling together

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:46.379
 that they separated.

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:50.399
 And they spent their years in mission work

00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:51.679
 hundreds of miles apart.

00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.720
 They couldn't even work together

00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:56.099
 for the cause of Christ and the gospel,

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.179
 such as the fallout.

00:30:57.180 --> 00:31:00.960
 So I want to raise that tonight

00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.279
 as we draw things to a close,

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:05.680
 conscious of the current situation

00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.360
 of the congregation

00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:08.140
 working toward filling the vacancy

00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:11.620
 since Jimmy retired some 14 months ago.

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.380
 And let's notice that

00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:16.860
 the distinct kind of circumstance

00:31:16.860 --> 00:31:18.200
 that you are dealing with there,

00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:21.140
 we address it in terms of the unity of the gospel

00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:22.180
 and the bond of peace.

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:25.000
 The brothers and sisters who are with me,

00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.819
 says Paul,

00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:28.160
 is right into the church of Galatia,

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:29.259
 but he doesn't hold back, does he?

00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:31.380
 He pulls him back to the center ground.

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:33.359
 Don't stray, don't drift,

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.980
 stay focused on the cross.

00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:39.980
 That is where the blessing will come.

00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:42.880
 Because our message is one of salvation

00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:45.099
 and we want to be conscious

00:31:45.099 --> 00:31:49.259
 of the potential for the disruptor

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:51.380
 of human nature.

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:54.339
 The Wittmans and the Spauldings,

00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:55.659
 they fell out so badly.

00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.720
 Let's take a lesson from them

00:31:57.720 --> 00:32:00.720
 and try to avoid the mistake that they made.

00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:03.139
 I'm going to close by just reading to you

00:32:03.139 --> 00:32:06.199
 from a passage that our own,

00:32:06.679 --> 00:32:09.199
 to be reading from this book on a Sunday

00:32:09.199 --> 00:32:10.539
 is a bit of a shock

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:12.439
 in my own understanding as well.

00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:14.839
 But there's a passage in our blue book

00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.859
 that speaks about,

00:32:17.159 --> 00:32:19.980
 or gives guidance and advice

00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.339
 and encouragement to congregations

00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:24.000
 such as yours in the situation

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:25.720
 of trying to fill a vacancy.

00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:26.659
 This is what it says.

00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:28.299
 I read this back in July,

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:29.419
 but that's so far gone.

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.019
 I'm going to read it again.

00:32:30.419 --> 00:32:31.220
 Brothers and sisters,

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:34.159
 you are to bear and forbear with each other

00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:37.059
 as you seek the combined result

00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:39.319
 of congregational opinion.

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:41.799
 This process is to be conducted

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:44.819
 in a spirit worthy of the religion you profess,

00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:47.000
 worthy of Christ in whose name

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.980
 you are associated

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:50.880
 and in a way that promotes unity

00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:52.720
 and brotherly love.

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:56.259
 So, strive after that love

00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:58.819
 that seeketh not its own

00:32:58.819 --> 00:33:01.759
 and be willing to give consideration

00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:04.039
 to the preferences of others,

00:33:04.619 --> 00:33:07.059
 resolving to protect the unity

00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:08.140
 of the congregation

00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:11.160
 to which you belong.

00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:15.579
 Working at unity can be tough.

00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:18.759
 can be sacrificial.

00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.519
 Can be demanding.

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:23.059
 There are no shortcuts here.

00:33:24.179 --> 00:33:25.639
 If we try a shortcut,

00:33:26.179 --> 00:33:27.079
 it's not going to end well.

00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:30.000
 What are we thinking about

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:32.039
 when it comes to unity

00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:35.039
 within the congregation

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.679
 in a time of vacancy?

00:33:37.460 --> 00:33:39.259
 All we're looking at there is,

00:33:39.599 --> 00:33:41.359
 I'm reflecting on in these few minutes,

00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:44.359
 is the desire of the saviour for his church.

00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:46.639
 Read John 17.

00:33:47.479 --> 00:33:48.740
 The night he was betrayed,

00:33:49.459 --> 00:33:51.779
 how our Lord poured out his heart

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:53.740
 in prayer that they may be one,

00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:55.979
 as you, Father, are in me

00:33:55.979 --> 00:33:56.679
 and I in you,

00:33:56.879 --> 00:33:58.740
 that the world may know

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.819
 that you sent me.

00:34:00.719 --> 00:34:02.399
 The unity of a congregation,

00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:03.819
 our union in Christ,

00:34:03.919 --> 00:34:05.419
 the unity that flows from that

00:34:05.419 --> 00:34:06.539
 and binds us together

00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:07.799
 in cords of love

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:09.460
 is a powerful weapon,

00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:12.380
 a powerful gospel weapon

00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.619
 in our witnessing,

00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:14.960
 in our outreach,

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:16.480
 in our evangelism,

00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:18.760
 in our making Jesus known.

00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:21.260
 And that's why the devil goes after it.

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:23.740
 That's why he wants to tear it down

00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:25.800
 and rob you of your unity.

00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:27.500
 He doesn't want you to be

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:30.179
 enjoying the blessings of Adelphoi,

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:31.720
 brothers and sisters together.

00:34:32.260 --> 00:34:33.960
 He doesn't want you reflecting

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:35.599
 and reveling in your servant

00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.920
 or your service

00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:38.360
 of your Lord and Master.

00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:40.519
 He wants you on each other's throats.

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.559
 He wants you arguing,

00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:42.240
 bickering,

00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:43.820
 finding fault

00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:45.000
 and picking on each other.

00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:46.559
 That's what the devil wants

00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:48.440
 because that will undermine

00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.559
 the cause of Christ.

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:51.420
 So we resist him.

00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:52.820
 We call him out.

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:54.659
 We refuse to go that way.

00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:55.740
 We face him

00:34:55.740 --> 00:34:57.139
 wearing the full armour of God,

00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.599
 trusting in our saviour,

00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:00.280
 who is the heart of the gospel,

00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:02.220
 the source of the gospel,

00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:04.140
 the scope of the gospel,

00:35:04.620 --> 00:35:05.480
 and as himself,

00:35:05.600 --> 00:35:06.840
 the impact of the gospel

00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:08.100
 and how we live and move

00:35:08.100 --> 00:35:08.860
 and have our being.

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.980
 And the great question again,

00:35:13.060 --> 00:35:14.460
 what is this Christ to you?

00:35:16.060 --> 00:35:18.620
 What is this Jesus of Nazareth to you?

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.440
 To many here tonight,

00:35:20.560 --> 00:35:22.400
 he is Lord and saviour,

00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:23.600
 king and friend.

00:35:24.600 --> 00:35:25.500
 To others,

00:35:26.540 --> 00:35:27.800
 I fear he is a stranger,

00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:30.100
 an uncertain figure,

00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:32.620
 someone spoken of,

00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:34.180
 someone you may

00:35:34.180 --> 00:35:36.120
 have heard about

00:35:36.120 --> 00:35:37.660
 and know about,

00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:40.500
 but you feel you don't know him yourself.

00:35:42.160 --> 00:35:43.200
 Well, to you, friend,

00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:44.640
 tonight the gospel call

00:35:44.640 --> 00:35:45.500
 is made.

00:35:46.720 --> 00:35:47.840
 Christ himself

00:35:47.840 --> 00:35:49.460
 in his grace

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:51.000
 and forbearance

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:52.180
 and mercy and love

00:35:52.180 --> 00:35:52.960
 has seen to it

00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.460
 that there be

00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:56.240
 yet another opportunity given

00:35:56.240 --> 00:35:57.080
 on mercy's ground

00:35:57.080 --> 00:35:58.080
 for you to consider

00:35:58.080 --> 00:35:59.240
 where you stand tonight.

00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:02.080
 in relation to him.

00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:03.620
 And what is he saying to you?

00:36:04.580 --> 00:36:05.360
 Come to me

00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:07.540
 and I will give you rest.

00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:10.000
 That is what he is saying to sinners

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:12.120
 lost and in need of a saviour.

00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:14.900
 And may by grace and mercy this evening,

00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:15.860
 you find it

00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:17.420
 in your heart

00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:18.280
 to seek him

00:36:18.280 --> 00:36:20.200
 until you find him.

00:36:20.199 --> 00:36:22.239
 Let's pray for a moment together.

00:36:23.859 --> 00:36:24.799
 Lord, our God,

00:36:24.859 --> 00:36:25.679
 we pray tonight

00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:27.139
 that you would be with us,

00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.559
 that, Lord,

00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:29.980
 you would undertake for us.

00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:32.239
 We bless and praise your name tonight

00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:33.879
 that we have

00:36:33.879 --> 00:36:36.839
 in this letter to the Galatians

00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:39.420
 such a clarion call

00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:40.720
 to stand firm

00:36:40.720 --> 00:36:41.980
 in the liberty

00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:43.559
 that is ours in Christ.

00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:44.920
 We thank you

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:46.120
 that he gave himself

00:36:46.120 --> 00:36:47.460
 for our sins

00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:48.620
 in accordance

00:36:48.620 --> 00:36:49.600
 with the plan

00:36:49.600 --> 00:36:50.360
 of redemption

00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:52.660
 that was envisaged

00:36:52.660 --> 00:36:53.500
 by Father,

00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:53.880
 Son,

00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:54.500
 and Spirit

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.920
 from before the world was.

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.480
 May that

00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:58.120
 thrill our hearts

00:36:58.120 --> 00:36:58.860
 in you tonight

00:36:58.860 --> 00:37:00.180
 as we go into the week ahead.

00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:00.460
 Lord,

00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:01.360
 bless and watch over

00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:02.059
 your people here,

00:37:02.120 --> 00:37:02.519
 we pray.

00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:04.000
 Bless and protect

00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:05.239
 and guide the congregation

00:37:05.239 --> 00:37:06.400
 in all the work

00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:07.360
 that comes to their hand

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:08.079
 and go before us,

00:37:08.199 --> 00:37:08.320
 Lord,

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:09.079
 in the days ahead,

00:37:09.159 --> 00:37:11.019
 we pray for Jesus' sake.

00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:11.739
 Amen.

00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:16.159
 So we'll turn

00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:17.760
 to sing Psalms

00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:18.199
 this evening

00:37:18.199 --> 00:37:19.239
 to close our service.

00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:21.920
 We'll sing from Psalm 126,

00:37:22.760 --> 00:37:24.300
 Psalm 126,

00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:26.119
 page 171

00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:28.179
 in our blue Psalm books.

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:30.400
 When Zion's fortunes

00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:31.159
 God restored,

00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:32.460
 it was a dream come true.

00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:33.619
 Our mouths were them

00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.679
 with laughter filled

00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:35.359
 our tongues

00:37:35.359 --> 00:37:37.019
 with songs anew.

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:38.219
 Psalm 126,

00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:39.339
 we'll sing the whole psalm,

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:40.179
 we'll stand together.

00:37:40.179 --> 00:37:40.679
 Amen.

00:37:44.679 --> 00:37:48.480
 When Zion's fortunes

00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.980
 all his joy,

00:37:50.319 --> 00:37:54.779
 it was a dream come true.

00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:58.059
 Our mouths were them

00:37:58.059 --> 00:38:00.480
 with laughter filled,

00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:02.079
 our tongues

00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:03.079
 songs anew.

00:38:03.079 --> 00:38:06.900
 Our tongues

00:38:06.900 --> 00:38:09.079
 with laughter filled,

00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:11.940
 our tongues

00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:15.139
 with songs anew.

00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:17.719
 Our nations

00:38:17.719 --> 00:38:18.719
 said,

00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:22.739
 the Lord has done great things

00:38:22.739 --> 00:38:23.719
 for Israel.

00:38:23.719 --> 00:38:30.279
 The Lord did mighty things

00:38:30.279 --> 00:38:31.419
 for us,

00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:34.039
 and joy our hearts

00:38:34.039 --> 00:38:35.899
 new well.

00:38:35.899 --> 00:38:40.219
 The Lord did mighty things

00:38:40.219 --> 00:38:41.199
 for us,

00:38:41.359 --> 00:38:43.939
 and joy our hearts

00:38:43.939 --> 00:38:46.359
 new well.

00:38:46.360 --> 00:38:48.019
 holy holy holy

00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:57.079
 Snow and fortune's gracious roar, like streams in desert soil.

00:38:57.079 --> 00:39:07.360
 A joyful harvest will reward the weeping soar's toil.

00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:17.099
 A joyful harvest will reward the weeping soar's toil.

00:39:18.019 --> 00:39:28.300
 A man who bidding, seated so, goes out with cheers of thee.

00:39:28.300 --> 00:39:38.440
 Will come again with songs of joy, bidding his harvest shee.

00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:48.720
 Will come again with songs of joy, bidding his harvest shee.

00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:58.199
 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

00:39:58.199 --> 00:39:58.299
 Amen.

00:39:59.000 --> 00:40:01.000
 Amen.

00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:05.000
 Amen.

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