WEBVTT

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 Was that hymn familiar to you?

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 Marvelous Grace.

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 If you grew up in the church,

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 a church like I grew up in,

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 and you sang that a lot,

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 and you probably also sang Amazing Grace,

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 there's just a lot of hymns

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 with the word grace in it, right?

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 And I wonder if we tend to forget what grace means,

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 or I wonder if we've ever really understood it

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 in the first place.

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 So let me ask you, what does grace mean?

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 Just in your minds right now,

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 just define it, see if you can define it.

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 If you're struggling with that,

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 let me help you by giving you a different word.

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 So in Greek, we use,

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 in English, there's two translations

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 of one Greek word, charis.

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 We use the word grace,

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 and we use the word gift.

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 And oftentimes, they are interchangeable,

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 and there's semantic overlap between those two words.

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 It's a simpler word, I think,

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 one that we're more familiar with.

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 So why don't we try defining the word gift?

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 See if you can, in your mind,

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 think what a gift really is.

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 What's the definition of the word gift?

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 Now, children, when you think of the word gift,

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 what do you think of?

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 You probably think of a box with shiny wrapping paper

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 and a bow that you open up at Christmas

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 or on your birthday.

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 Adults, how about you?

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 I wonder if you defined it

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 how I would probably define it, okay?

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 This would have been my definition of gift

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 up through this week.

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 I would have defined it.

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 A gift is a thing given generously to someone

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 without any expectation of return.

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 That sounds about right, right?

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 A gift is a thing given to someone generously

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 without any expectation of getting something back.

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 Now, that's probably a similar definition

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 that a lot of you had,

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 that a lot of you had,

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 but in studying Romans 5,

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 it's made me question that definition.

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 So we're gonna keep that attempt

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 at a definition in mind

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 as we look at Romans 5 together,

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 the Romans 5 which Ellen read for us.

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 And we're gonna do an overview of this passage

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 and then we'll home in on this word gift.

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 And then we're going to explore

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 the implications on our lives

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 of God's grace to us.

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 Before we do that, let's pray.

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 Lord, we hear that word of grace all the time

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 and perhaps it doesn't marvel us.

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 Perhaps it doesn't amaze us.

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 Perhaps we have been marveled

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 or amazed at your grace

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 and it's not like that for us anymore.

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 We've grown accustomed to it.

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 Lord, I would ask that

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 for these next few minutes,

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 you would amaze us,

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 surprise us,

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 particularly me, Lord.

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 Amaze me, astound me at your grace.

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 Lord, I ask you would forgive the sins

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 of the preacher

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 and may your word be clearly heard

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 as we look at Romans 5 together.

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 We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

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 So before we dive in,

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 I wanna first address the children.

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 Children, you should have received packets

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 as you checked in

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 and perhaps you have hopefully pens and pencils.

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 All right, there's lots of activities,

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 but there's also three,

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 there should be three blank sheets of paper.

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 Is this sounding about right?

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 Everyone has packets of paper?

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 Kids, can you hold yours up for me?

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 Show them to me.

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 There, oh, thank you.

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 Thanks, Judd.

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 Judd's gonna put it to good use.

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 All right, so find something to draw

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 because I have three things

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 I need you to draw, right?

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 And the first is this.

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 I want you to draw

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 on one side of this piece of paper

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 a mountain, okay?

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 And on the other side,

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 I want you to draw a molehill.

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 I don't know if you've heard your parents say,

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 you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

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 Well, hopefully this will help

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 understand the difference.

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 Draw a mountain is really big, all right?

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 Include lots of details,

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 snow caps, trees, bears, whatever you want.

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 And on the other side, draw a molehill

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 and you can have like a mole peeking out.

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 But this is your challenge.

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 You need to draw them to scale, okay?

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 Mountain needs to be as big

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 as it should be compared

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 to the little tiny molehill.

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 That's what you need to do, all right?

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 You ready?

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 Go.

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 And Judd, you can do that too.

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 All right, so adults,

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 let's explore chapter five,

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 verses one through 11 really quick.

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 Many of Paul's letters were written

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 to churches that Paul helped to found.

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 But the church in Rome,

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 he wasn't there for the founding.

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 What we think happened,

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 what is a likely explanation

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 for why a church developed in Rome

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 is after Pentecost,

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 when the gospel was preached

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 to people of all tribes and nations,

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 Jews went home to Rome

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 and founded a church there.

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 And over time,

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 Gentiles came into the church.

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 But in 49 AD,

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 the Jews in Rome were expelled.

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 Over time,

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 the Jewish Christians returned to this church

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 probably to find that it had

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 a distinctly Gentile flavor to it.

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 And so one could imagine

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 the sharp differences

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 between the attitudes and beliefs

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 and practices of those Jewish Christians

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 and those Gentile Christians.

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 And so Paul's writing

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 to both resolve these differences

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 and also to address the suffering

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 that they had probably endured

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 and would undoubtedly face in the future.

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 So that's the letter to the Romans.

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 Now in chapter five,

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 Paul explains that their comfort,

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 as they face troubles

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 and trials and suffering,

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 their comfort comes from having been justified.

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 In other words,

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 they are found right with God.

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 Their justification comes with two benefits.

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 One is in the present

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 and one is in the future.

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 The present benefit of justification

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 is reconciliation.

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 As members of the human race,

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 we find ourselves

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 in rebellion against God.

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 This rebellion has made us his enemies.

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 But through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross,

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 we now have present peace and reconciliation.

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 We are reconciled to the Father.

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 The other benefit comes in the future.

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 If we're at peace with God now,

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 then our future with him is secure.

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 Christians need not fear a future wrath.

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 So Christians have reconciliation with God in the present

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 and we have hope for the future.

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 We access this reconciliation

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 and this hope by faith.

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 In other words,

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 we trust in God's promises

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 that we are reconciled and saved by his grace.

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 There's that word again,

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 God's grace.

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 We saw that in verse two of Romans chapter five.

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 So before we talk about grace,

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 I have another assignment for the children.

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 How did the ocean and,

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 no,

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 how did the Mountain Mole Hill project work for you?

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 Okay,

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 I have another assignment

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 on another sheet of paper.

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 I need you to do another drawing, kids.

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 In the summer,

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 if you weren't aware,

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 we have the kids with us in the service.

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 So on one side of the piece of paper,

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 you need to draw an ocean.

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 Okay.

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 You can include a lot of details in the ocean,

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 fish,

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 coral,

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 mermaids that sing

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 and obey their parents.

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 And on the right side,

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 on the right side of the piece of paper,

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 you need to draw a puddle.

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 Okay.

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 And again,

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 it needs to be to scale.

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 Okay.

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 A really huge ocean

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 and a really tiny puddle.

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 Go.

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 Go.

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 All right.

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 Back to the adults.

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 Like I said earlier,

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 one word in Greek

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 is translated both grace and gifts.

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 So I'm gonna use those words interchangeably.

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 But for now,

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 I'm focusing on the word gift.

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 I'm gonna ask,

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 what makes a gift a gift?

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 What makes a gift different than,

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 say,

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 a loan

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 or a tax

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 or a salary?

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 What does Paul mean

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 when he uses the word gift?

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 And does that differ

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 from how everyone else

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 in his day used the word?

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 And do we use it the same way as Paul?

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 We're gonna explore all that.

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 But first we need to

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 kind of figure out what gift is.

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 And so we're gonna turn to a scholar

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 named John Barclay.

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 He explored the meaning of the word gift

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 in his book,

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 Paul and the Gift.

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 And he examines the word,

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 excuse me,

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 he examines the works

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 of anthropologists

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 who have studied

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 this concept of gift

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 across different ages

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 and different cultures.

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 And Barclay identifies

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 six of what he calls

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 perfections of gift.

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 That is six different meanings of gift

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 that are taken to

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 their logical extreme.

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 So I think it'd be helpful

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 to look at all six

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 because it's gonna clarify

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 some things later.

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 So we're gonna look

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 at this first one here.

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 It's called superabundance.

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 All right?

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 This idea refers to

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 the content of a gift.

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 Excuse me,

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 not the content of a gift,

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 but to the scale of a gift.

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 In ancient times,

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 big men would prove

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 their superior status

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 by the overwhelming scale

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 of their gifts to people.

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 All right?

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 Superabundance.

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 Next is singularity.

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 This refers to the gift giver

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 and not the gift.

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 It's when the gift giver's

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 sole and exclusive mode

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 of operation

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 is benevolence

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 and generosity.

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 The third is priority.

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 That is grace

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 or a gift

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 is especially gracious

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 when the gift is given

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 prior to the initiative

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 of the recipient.

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 All right?

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 We see this most clearly

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 in the parent-child relationship.

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 Parents give to you

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 and provide for their children

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 before the child

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 has an awareness

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 to ask for a gift

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 or to give thanks

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 for the gift.

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 Okay?

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 The fourth is incongruity.

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 Incongruity refers

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 to a gift given

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 without regard

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 to the worth

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 of the recipient.

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 Fifth is efficacy.

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 A perfect gift

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 is one that does

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 what it's designed to do.

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 It achieves its purpose.

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 An extreme example of this

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 is if you were to show

00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:14.019
 the gift of saving

00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:14.939
 somebody's life,

00:11:15.299 --> 00:11:15.519
 right?

00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:16.439
 Well, then,

00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:18.059
 that life that's been saved

00:11:18.059 --> 00:11:20.080
 is accomplishing its purpose

00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:21.799
 because they're living.

00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.740
 Sixth is non-circularity.

00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:25.480
 Okay?

00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.100
 This is the aspect of gift

00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:30.139
 that my earlier definition

00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:30.799
 incorporated.

00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:31.659
 Do you remember that?

00:11:31.659 --> 00:11:32.679
 A gift given

00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:33.959
 without any expectation

00:11:33.959 --> 00:11:34.579
 of return.

00:11:34.699 --> 00:11:35.279
 In other words,

00:11:35.719 --> 00:11:36.719
 we are to expect

00:11:36.719 --> 00:11:38.399
 a circularity of giving

00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.259
 and that non-circularity

00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:43.319
 is what makes a gift a gift.

00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:43.799
 Now,

00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:45.559
 I was surprised to learn

00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:46.579
 that this is actually

00:11:46.579 --> 00:11:48.980
 a pretty modern notion

00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:51.000
 of the understanding

00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.819
 of what a gift is.

00:11:53.699 --> 00:11:54.779
 From ancient times,

00:11:54.959 --> 00:11:56.559
 when a gift was given,

00:11:57.100 --> 00:11:58.740
 one was expected in return.

00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:00.919
 It didn't mean it wasn't a gift.

00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:04.059
 A gift didn't make the recipient

00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:05.439
 a debtor to the giver

00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:07.759
 because gifts were understood

00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:11.439
 to strengthen social bonds

00:12:11.439 --> 00:12:12.079
 and relationships.

00:12:13.219 --> 00:12:13.979
 For instance,

00:12:14.099 --> 00:12:15.439
 a leader of a large clan

00:12:15.439 --> 00:12:16.500
 would give a gift

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:17.039
 to the leader

00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.079
 of a smaller clan.

00:12:18.959 --> 00:12:19.839
 And that leader

00:12:19.839 --> 00:12:20.719
 would want to strengthen

00:12:20.719 --> 00:12:21.360
 the relationship

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.360
 to the larger clan

00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.179
 so he would give

00:12:23.179 --> 00:12:24.360
 a gift in return.

00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.659
 not as a debtor

00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:28.039
 but as a member

00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:28.860
 of a relationship.

00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.060
 All right.

00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.919
 Tracking all of those.

00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:34.159
 I'm gonna put all six

00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:35.200
 on the board here

00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.440
 and then give the children

00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.220
 one last assignment.

00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:38.659
 Okay?

00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:39.940
 You need to draw

00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:41.539
 the sun on one side

00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:42.840
 and the light bulb

00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:43.279
 on the other

00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:43.940
 and it needs to be

00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:44.340
 to scale.

00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:44.720
 Okay?

00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.399
 All right?

00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:46.100
 Can you do that?

00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:47.139
 The solar flares

00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:48.120
 and the solar spots

00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:48.700
 and all that stuff.

00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:49.399
 The sun

00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.379
 and the light bulb.

00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:51.699
 Okay.

00:12:52.699 --> 00:12:53.120
 All right.

00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.419
 So we have these six facets

00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:55.919
 of gift or grace.

00:12:57.139 --> 00:12:58.059
 Now I'm gonna read

00:12:58.059 --> 00:13:00.079
 Romans 5 verses 6 to 8 again

00:13:00.079 --> 00:13:01.279
 what Ellen read earlier

00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:03.659
 and see if you can hear

00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:05.220
 which of these facets

00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:07.259
 Paul has in mind.

00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.500
 For while we were still weak

00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:13.939
 at the right time

00:13:13.939 --> 00:13:16.379
 Christ died for the ungodly.

00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:19.939
 For one will scarcely die

00:13:19.939 --> 00:13:21.019
 for a righteous person

00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:22.799
 though perhaps

00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:23.820
 for a good person

00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:25.740
 one would dare even to die.

00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:28.259
 But God shows

00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:29.340
 his love for us

00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:30.419
 in that while we were

00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:31.220
 still sinners

00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:33.100
 Christ died for us.

00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.240
 What did you hear?

00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:39.740
 I heard two of these.

00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:41.940
 The last one I heard

00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:43.539
 was priority, right?

00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:45.320
 While we were still sinners

00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.480
 Christ died for us.

00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:48.700
 But the big one here

00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:50.640
 is incongruity.

00:13:51.260 --> 00:13:52.220
 There's nothing about

00:13:52.220 --> 00:13:53.440
 non-circularity here.

00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:56.020
 For Paul

00:13:56.020 --> 00:13:57.220
 grace

00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:59.920
 is incongruous.

00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:03.520
 It's the central feature

00:14:03.520 --> 00:14:04.420
 of God's grace.

00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.940
 It doesn't exclude

00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.480
 the others per se.

00:14:08.780 --> 00:14:09.820
 But this understanding

00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:10.720
 of God's grace

00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:11.680
 would be both

00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:12.960
 counter-cultural

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.560
 and scandalous

00:14:14.560 --> 00:14:16.519
 to his contemporaries.

00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:19.720
 And this is why.

00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:22.920
 In honor and shame cultures

00:14:22.920 --> 00:14:23.680
 like we find

00:14:23.680 --> 00:14:25.940
 in the ancient

00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:27.820
 Greco-Roman world

00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:29.820
 it would be

00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:30.780
 not just

00:14:30.780 --> 00:14:32.500
 morally acceptable

00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:33.920
 but it would be

00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:35.240
 morally good

00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:36.800
 for the rich

00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:37.720
 and noble

00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:38.740
 to safeguard

00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:39.379
 their worth.

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:41.200
 Does that make sense?

00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:42.460
 Like when honor

00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:43.800
 is the highest good

00:14:43.800 --> 00:14:44.759
 to safeguard

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.660
 one's honor

00:14:45.660 --> 00:14:46.840
 is a good thing.

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.960
 To us it looks like

00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.980
 self-aggrandizement

00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:51.440
 or selfishness

00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:52.540
 but back then

00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:53.400
 it was a virtue.

00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:56.360
 Therefore

00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:58.620
 it would be

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.080
 virtuous

00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:00.480
 for the noble

00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.660
 to draw attention

00:15:01.660 --> 00:15:02.540
 to

00:15:02.540 --> 00:15:03.580
 and magnify

00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:04.259
 their status.

00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:05.960
 And therefore

00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.700
 care had to be shown

00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:08.520
 to whom

00:15:08.520 --> 00:15:09.259
 the noble person

00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.060
 gave their gifts.

00:15:10.059 --> 00:15:13.759
 in his

00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:15.019
 Nicomachean

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.659
 ethics

00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:16.939
 Aristotle

00:15:16.939 --> 00:15:17.959
 observed that

00:15:17.959 --> 00:15:19.439
 a generous person

00:15:19.439 --> 00:15:20.239
 will give

00:15:20.239 --> 00:15:21.239
 lavishly

00:15:21.239 --> 00:15:23.199
 but certainly

00:15:23.199 --> 00:15:24.339
 not indiscriminately.

00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:26.879
 In other words

00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:29.000
 and I quote

00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.019
 so he can give

00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:30.939
 to the right people

00:15:30.939 --> 00:15:31.979
 at the right time

00:15:31.979 --> 00:15:33.079
 and where it is

00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:34.039
 noble to do so.

00:15:35.339 --> 00:15:35.479
 Okay.

00:15:36.479 --> 00:15:36.899
 Aristotle

00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:37.679
 also said

00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:38.279
 that the person

00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:38.919
 who wants to be

00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:39.659
 magnificent

00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:41.519
 will not waste money

00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.620
 on objects

00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:43.899
 of small importance.

00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.219
 In other words

00:15:45.219 --> 00:15:46.740
 there was expected

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:48.259
 a certain congruity

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.419
 between the giver

00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.399
 and the recipient

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.860
 that was virtuous.

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.399
 That was the virtuous

00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.039
 thing to do.

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:55.319
 Therefore

00:15:55.319 --> 00:15:56.240
 incongruity

00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:57.480
 refers to a gift

00:15:57.480 --> 00:15:57.959
 given

00:15:57.959 --> 00:15:59.360
 without regard

00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:00.000
 to the worth

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.620
 of the recipient.

00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:02.120
 and that's what we find

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.060
 in Romans 5

00:16:03.060 --> 00:16:04.740
 and all throughout

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.560
 Paul's writings.

00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:07.419
 What makes

00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:08.759
 God's grace

00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:10.240
 amazing

00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:12.879
 is the difference

00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:13.620
 in the worth

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.600
 between the giver

00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:16.679
 and the recipient.

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:18.939
 that difference

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:19.899
 is vaster

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:21.259
 than a mountain

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:21.899
 and a molehill

00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.639
 it's wider

00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.319
 than an ocean

00:16:24.319 --> 00:16:24.979
 and a puddle

00:16:24.979 --> 00:16:27.039
 it's more extreme

00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.559
 between a star

00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:30.219
 and a light bulb.

00:16:31.219 --> 00:16:32.139
 The giver

00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:33.639
 the creator

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.419
 and sovereign

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.379
 over all

00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.159
 perfect

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.259
 in purity

00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:38.799
 in wisdom

00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:40.159
 and justice

00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.500
 and love

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:43.959
 and the recipients

00:16:43.959 --> 00:16:45.579
 rebels.

00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:47.480
 slaves

00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:48.560
 to sin

00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:49.660
 and death.

00:16:50.520 --> 00:16:51.960
 This is what made

00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:53.400
 Paul's grace

00:16:53.400 --> 00:16:54.660
 his

00:16:54.660 --> 00:16:56.020
 preaching

00:16:56.020 --> 00:16:57.280
 of God's grace

00:16:57.280 --> 00:16:59.060
 sound so

00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:00.020
 foolish

00:17:00.020 --> 00:17:01.720
 to the Greeks

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.360
 and the Romans

00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:03.840
 made it sound

00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:06.120
 scandalous.

00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:10.220
 So let's bring

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.380
 this incongruity

00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.700
 of God's grace

00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:14.319
 into focus.

00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:14.900
 Okay?

00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:17.279
 Imagine that

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.119
 you're a slave

00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:19.359
 in the Roman Empire

00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.179
 you were born

00:17:20.179 --> 00:17:21.039
 into slavery

00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:22.319
 somewhere on the

00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.779
 geographical fringes

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.939
 of the empire

00:17:24.939 --> 00:17:26.279
 and you've been

00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:26.839
 caught up

00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.460
 in a rebellion

00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:29.419
 and you're undoubtedly

00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:30.639
 guilty of this crime

00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:31.819
 so you've been

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.179
 sentenced

00:17:32.179 --> 00:17:33.220
 to death

00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.539
 and because

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.639
 you're a slave

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:37.399
 it's death

00:17:37.399 --> 00:17:38.740
 by crucifixion

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.919
 that's the penalty

00:17:39.919 --> 00:17:41.000
 that's been given

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.480
 to you.

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:43.720
 the purpose

00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.640
 of crucifixion

00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:45.539
 is threefold.

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.420
 First

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:47.440
 the death

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:49.039
 is unimaginably

00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.380
 excruciating.

00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.819
 You'll most likely

00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:52.339
 be whipped

00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:52.860
 with a cat

00:17:52.860 --> 00:17:53.740
 of nine tails

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:57.519
 you'll carry

00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.160
 your cross

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:58.480
 beam

00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.019
 to the place

00:17:59.019 --> 00:17:59.759
 of execution

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:02.660
 and there

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.640
 the executioners

00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:04.279
 will fasten

00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.339
 you to a pole

00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:08.059
 either by impaling

00:18:08.059 --> 00:18:08.440
 you

00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:10.159
 by hanging

00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:10.480
 you up

00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.039
 with ropes

00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:13.200
 or by nailing

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.000
 you to the post

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.819
 in a cross beam

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:16.960
 and this is

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.879
 the chance

00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:18.399
 for Roman

00:18:18.399 --> 00:18:19.500
 executioners

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.059
 to be

00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:20.879
 especially

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.639
 creative

00:18:21.639 --> 00:18:22.740
 with their

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.099
 cruelty

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:23.859
 and so your

00:18:23.859 --> 00:18:24.500
 body could be

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:24.940
 twisted

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:26.960
 in knots

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.639
 turned upside

00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:28.079
 down

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.619
 in all kinds

00:18:28.619 --> 00:18:29.139
 of positions

00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:30.299
 for the fun

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:30.740
 and amusement

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.179
 of the

00:18:31.179 --> 00:18:32.480
 executioners.

00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:36.359
 The fleshy

00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:36.919
 parts of your

00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:37.619
 body will serve

00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:38.239
 as a meal

00:18:38.239 --> 00:18:39.559
 for swarming

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.379
 birds

00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:42.399
 and there

00:18:42.399 --> 00:18:43.000
 you'll hang

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:44.279
 constantly writhing

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:44.699
 in pain

00:18:44.699 --> 00:18:45.379
 until you die.

00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.119
 This could take

00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:47.659
 days

00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:48.639
 and the only

00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:49.299
 mercy that you

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:49.679
 could hope

00:18:49.679 --> 00:18:50.019
 for

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:51.179
 was the

00:18:51.179 --> 00:18:51.799
 executioners

00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:52.179
 to break

00:18:52.179 --> 00:18:52.779
 your legs

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.679
 so that somehow

00:18:53.679 --> 00:18:54.500
 you could suffocate

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:55.000
 and die

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.619
 ahead of schedule.

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.079
 The second

00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.599
 purpose of

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.459
 crucifixion

00:19:00.459 --> 00:19:02.399
 is humiliation

00:19:02.399 --> 00:19:04.000
 and in Roman

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.639
 society

00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.859
 this was viewed

00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:06.899
 as just

00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:08.000
 as terrible

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.259
 as the

00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.620
 physical

00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.080
 suffering.

00:19:10.600 --> 00:19:11.060
 It's a

00:19:11.060 --> 00:19:11.280
 death

00:19:11.280 --> 00:19:11.720
 reserved

00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.200
 for the

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:12.540
 lowest

00:19:12.540 --> 00:19:13.000
 of the

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.180
 low

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:13.820
 in society.

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.300
 Your

00:19:15.300 --> 00:19:15.820
 suffering

00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:16.420
 and death

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.060
 would be

00:19:17.060 --> 00:19:17.680
 elevated

00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.519
 for people

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.100
 to gawk

00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:19.400
 at.

00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.500
 Onlookers

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:20.680
 would

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:22.620
 mercilessly

00:19:22.620 --> 00:19:23.600
 jeer

00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:24.759
 and insult

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.800
 and curse

00:19:25.800 --> 00:19:26.259
 you and

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.720
 laugh at

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.019
 you.

00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.560
 Archaeologists

00:19:29.560 --> 00:19:30.460
 haven't discovered

00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:31.140
 many physical

00:19:31.140 --> 00:19:31.780
 remains of

00:19:31.780 --> 00:19:32.680
 crucifixions but

00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:33.060
 they have

00:19:33.060 --> 00:19:34.440
 found one

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.299
 in Palestine

00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:35.840
 and another

00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:36.620
 in England.

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.140
 Interestingly

00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.380
 the images

00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:39.980
 that we think

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:41.000
 of a crucifixion

00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.360
 the way

00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.019
 the feet

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.740
 are transfixed

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.180
 are different

00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:43.480
 than what

00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:43.940
 they found.

00:19:44.039 --> 00:19:44.340
 We think

00:19:44.340 --> 00:19:45.160
 of the feet

00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:45.539
 in front

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:45.960
 of the

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.720
 victim

00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.840
 with the

00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:48.580
 legs crossed

00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:50.340
 but evidence

00:19:50.340 --> 00:19:50.860
 showed that

00:19:50.860 --> 00:19:51.220
 the nails

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:51.860
 go through

00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:52.820
 the heels

00:19:52.820 --> 00:19:53.279
 and ankles

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:53.720
 on either

00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.180
 side

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:54.640
 so that

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.960
 the legs

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.180
 are on

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.980
 either side

00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.620
 of the

00:19:57.620 --> 00:19:57.880
 post

00:19:57.880 --> 00:19:58.120
 and the

00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:58.500
 body is

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.240
 hanging out.

00:19:59.580 --> 00:20:00.100
 And remember

00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:01.799
 the victim

00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.740
 is completely

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.099
 naked.

00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:03.959
 So imagine

00:20:03.959 --> 00:20:04.639
 the humiliation.

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.039
 Imagine

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.619
 the humiliation.

00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:09.399
 The suffering

00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:10.079
 and humiliation

00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.339
 serve the

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.299
 third purpose

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:14.259
 of crucifixion

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.079
 and that's

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.879
 to reinforce

00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:16.719
 the social

00:20:16.719 --> 00:20:17.319
 structures

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:18.259
 in Roman

00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:18.839
 society.

00:20:19.939 --> 00:20:20.639
 This kind

00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:21.219
 of execution

00:20:21.219 --> 00:20:22.779
 would deter

00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:23.659
 slaves from

00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:24.259
 trying to

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.099
 rise above

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.539
 their rank.

00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.839
 So let's

00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.179
 bring it back

00:20:28.179 --> 00:20:28.519
 to you.

00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.399
 You're a

00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:29.659
 condemned

00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.140
 slave.

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:30.759
 This is

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.019
 what you

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:31.560
 can expect

00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:31.820
 as you

00:20:31.820 --> 00:20:32.180
 languish

00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:32.640
 in prison

00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.000
 awaiting

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.200
 your

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.660
 execution.

00:20:34.300 --> 00:20:34.820
 But then

00:20:34.820 --> 00:20:35.160
 something

00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:35.680
 happens.

00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:36.779
 You get

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.540
 word that

00:20:37.540 --> 00:20:37.840
 you've been

00:20:37.840 --> 00:20:38.420
 pardoned.

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:39.960
 The jailer

00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:40.420
 comes,

00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:41.400
 opens the

00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:41.660
 door,

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.000
 takes the

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.540
 chains off

00:20:44.540 --> 00:20:46.200
 your wrists

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.519
 and your

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:46.759
 feet,

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.300
 and you're

00:20:48.300 --> 00:20:48.640
 free to

00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.120
 walk out.

00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:51.440
 Imagine

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:51.900
 the release

00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:52.600
 of emotions.

00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.300
 Along

00:20:56.300 --> 00:20:56.580
 with the

00:20:56.580 --> 00:20:57.040
 shackles,

00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:57.400
 you've been

00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:57.779
 set free

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.100
 from the

00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:58.720
 fear and

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.300
 anxiety.

00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.720
 And terror

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.540
 that you

00:21:01.540 --> 00:21:02.160
 were feeling

00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:02.900
 awaiting for

00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.320
 a most

00:21:03.320 --> 00:21:03.960
 terrible death.

00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:05.640
 That would

00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:06.580
 be an

00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:07.420
 amazing gift,

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:07.960
 yes?

00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.100
 But that's

00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:10.380
 not the

00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:10.720
 grace of

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:10.980
 God.

00:21:11.540 --> 00:21:12.380
 You're fully

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.240
 pardoned,

00:21:13.300 --> 00:21:13.560
 but you're

00:21:13.560 --> 00:21:13.980
 still a

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.400
 slave.

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:15.600
 And as you

00:21:15.600 --> 00:21:16.100
 walk out of

00:21:16.100 --> 00:21:16.320
 jail,

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:16.940
 you're informed

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.300
 that the

00:21:17.300 --> 00:21:17.720
 governor,

00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.100
 he's granted

00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:19.920
 you citizenship

00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:21.960
 in the empire.

00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:22.740
 So now you're

00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.759
 no longer a

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.180
 slave.

00:21:24.580 --> 00:21:25.019
 You're

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:26.160
 completely free.

00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.620
 You've been

00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:27.440
 both unshackled

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.779
 physically and

00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.420
 socially.

00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:30.440
 That's an

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.019
 amazing gift,

00:21:31.080 --> 00:21:31.460
 isn't it?

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.540
 But that's not

00:21:32.540 --> 00:21:33.080
 the grace of

00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:33.360
 God.

00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:36.120
 You might be a

00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:37.840
 citizen, but you

00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:38.580
 have nothing to

00:21:38.580 --> 00:21:39.100
 your name.

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.120
 No possessions,

00:21:40.860 --> 00:21:41.940
 no real status,

00:21:42.320 --> 00:21:43.300
 no prospects.

00:21:44.560 --> 00:21:45.220
 But then after

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.900
 learning you've been

00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:46.820
 granted citizenship,

00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.680
 you're escorted to

00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.240
 a palace.

00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.820
 It's the palace of

00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:51.240
 the governor.

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:52.800
 He welcomes you

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.859
 in and he

00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.899
 gives you a

00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:55.180
 ring.

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:57.319
 It's his ring.

00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:58.759
 He's just

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.539
 adopted you.

00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.659
 He had a son

00:22:01.659 --> 00:22:02.319
 who died and

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.180
 he's given you

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.200
 that son's

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:04.919
 status.

00:22:05.419 --> 00:22:06.259
 So now you

00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:06.779
 become the

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.319
 firstborn,

00:22:07.659 --> 00:22:08.599
 you become his

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:08.960
 heir,

00:22:09.399 --> 00:22:10.460
 you receive his

00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.180
 son's name,

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.059
 you sleep in his

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.379
 bed,

00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:13.480
 you even wear his

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.019
 clothes.

00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:15.039
 Not only has your

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.779
 current status

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.259
 changed,

00:22:16.419 --> 00:22:17.359
 but your future

00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.119
 has changed.

00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.240
 You will always

00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:20.279
 be an heir to a

00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.059
 fortune and you

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:22.059
 will always bear

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:23.220
 his name.

00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.359
 That's an amazing

00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:24.980
 gift, right?

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:26.200
 But that's not the

00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:26.799
 grace of God.

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.879
 Because you know

00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.799
 what justice is.

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.980
 And you've gotten

00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.700
 to learn how your

00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.279
 father,

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.559
 your new

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.659
 governor father,

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.859
 is both merciful

00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:41.460
 and he's just.

00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:44.099
 So how was it

00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:45.399
 then that you

00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:46.059
 could just go

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:46.399
 free?

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.419
 Did your just

00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:50.500
 father not care

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.139
 about the law?

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:53.539
 did he think

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.220
 himself above

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.639
 the law?

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.720
 So you dig

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.980
 deeper and you

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.480
 learn the whole

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:58.899
 story.

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.399
 You learn what

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.000
 happened to the

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:01.940
 governor's deceased

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.480
 son.

00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.159
 While you were in

00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:05.200
 jail, the father

00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.359
 decided to save you

00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:07.359
 and it's the son

00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:08.119
 that made the way.

00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.740
 Without you ever

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.679
 having met him,

00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.940
 the son volunteered

00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:12.919
 to receive the

00:23:12.919 --> 00:23:13.899
 judgment and

00:23:13.899 --> 00:23:14.779
 execution that

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.980
 belonged to you.

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.079
 The heir to a

00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:18.299
 fortune endured the

00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:19.319
 lashings, the

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.159
 nails, the

00:23:20.159 --> 00:23:21.240
 suffering, and the

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.019
 utter humiliation

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.859
 of a slave's

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.759
 death so that you

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.539
 could have a seat

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.519
 at the father's

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:25.799
 table.

00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:27.720
 Now that's the

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.200
 grace of the

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.420
 father.

00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:31.180
 That's amazing.

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.839
 Incongruous grace.

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.599
 So what now?

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:39.900
 What is your

00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:40.400
 response?

00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:43.120
 If you were told

00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:43.960
 you don't have to

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.779
 do anything in

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.500
 response, if you

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.740
 were told that gift

00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.880
 is non-circular,

00:23:48.380 --> 00:23:49.980
 what would you

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.299
 say?

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:51.160
 Like you're crazy.

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.400
 How can I not

00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.059
 spend the rest of

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.859
 my days in

00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:55.079
 gratitude and

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:56.140
 obedience to this

00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:57.019
 most amazing

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.420
 person?

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:01.000
 This father wouldn't

00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.880
 want that for you.

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:03.339
 The father wants to

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.759
 be close to you and

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.620
 you to him.

00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.700
 He wants you to

00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.319
 thank him in

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:08.900
 response to him and

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:10.259
 to obey him in

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.880
 response.

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.400
 And take the love

00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.099
 he's shown you and

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:13.599
 to show it to

00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.440
 others in response.

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.779
 His love for you

00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.680
 does not depend on

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.680
 your response, but

00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.519
 your connection to

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.019
 him does.

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.700
 You see, that

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:27.160
 sixth aspect of the

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:29.320
 gift, non-reciprocity,

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:31.259
 is a very new

00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:32.400
 definition of the

00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:32.880
 word gift.

00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.000
 Gifts have always

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.820
 been understood as

00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:35.259
 reciprocal.

00:24:36.320 --> 00:24:37.240
 Because one of the

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.120
 primary purposes of

00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:38.640
 a gift is to

00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:39.180
 strengthen and

00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.700
 solidify the

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.640
 relationship between

00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.700
 the two parties.

00:24:42.080 --> 00:24:43.000
 Our gifts back to

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.080
 God are very

00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:45.019
 incongruous with the

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.420
 gifts that he

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.039
 shows us.

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.600
 Of course they

00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:47.779
 are.

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:50.220
 How could we ever

00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:50.900
 repay God?

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.279
 But it's that

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:54.779
 incongruity between

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.880
 the worth of the

00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:57.039
 giver and the

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:59.019
 recipient, between

00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.779
 the worth of his

00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.340
 gifts and what we

00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:02.560
 could give back that

00:25:02.560 --> 00:25:05.019
 serves as fuel for

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.539
 our obedience.

00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:08.100
 It fuels our

00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:08.720
 response.

00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:11.940
 The late Sim

00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:12.700
 Keller wrote,

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:14.100
 you will love

00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:15.620
 Christ and commit to

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.900
 him to the degree

00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:18.380
 you see the depth

00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:19.299
 of your own sin

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:21.039
 and the application

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.019
 of the cross to

00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:23.299
 that sin being

00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:23.660
 final.

00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:26.299
 Did you hear the

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.140
 incongruity there?

00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:28.880
 And how it's the

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.580
 fuel for our

00:25:29.580 --> 00:25:29.860
 obedience?

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.840
 Let me read it

00:25:30.840 --> 00:25:31.100
 again.

00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:32.340
 You will love

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:33.759
 Christ and commit

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:35.220
 to him to the

00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.380
 degree you see the

00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:37.259
 depth of your own

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.840
 sin, right?

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:40.539
 And the application

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.419
 of the cross to

00:25:41.419 --> 00:25:42.859
 that sin being

00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.279
 final.

00:25:44.699 --> 00:25:45.559
 So because

00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:47.039
 incongruous grace

00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.699
 is our fuel, we

00:25:48.699 --> 00:25:49.319
 keep this

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:50.859
 incongruity at the

00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.399
 center of our

00:25:51.399 --> 00:25:52.000
 worshiping life

00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.319
 together.

00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:54.119
 We proclaim God,

00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:54.659
 at the beginning of

00:25:54.659 --> 00:25:55.119
 the service, we

00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:55.899
 proclaim God as

00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:57.299
 Father, Son, and

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.000
 Holy Spirit.

00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.720
 We read his law and

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.639
 we ask him to show

00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:01.099
 us mercy.

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.879
 We confess that we

00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:04.079
 sin in thought,

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.859
 word, and deed.

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.019
 And remember that

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.139
 his incongruous grace

00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:09.180
 grants us forgiveness

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:10.920
 and eternal life.

00:26:11.800 --> 00:26:12.540
 We come to his

00:26:12.540 --> 00:26:13.700
 table not trusting in

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:14.500
 our own righteousness

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.960
 but in your what?

00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:18.980
 Abundant mercies.

00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:22.680
 We remember that

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.660
 we're not worthy to

00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.759
 gather up the crumbs

00:26:24.759 --> 00:26:26.020
 from under his

00:26:26.020 --> 00:26:27.460
 table, but remember

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.820
 it's in God's

00:26:28.820 --> 00:26:30.180
 character to always

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.860
 show mercy.

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.200
 And because of the

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.600
 circularity of grace,

00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:35.800
 he sends us out in

00:26:35.800 --> 00:26:36.980
 the power of his

00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:38.100
 Holy Spirit to

00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:39.000
 live and work for his

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.699
 praise and glory.

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:42.000
 So incongruous grace

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.259
 has been the fuel for

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.019
 the church's obedience

00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:45.959
 since the very

00:26:45.959 --> 00:26:46.279
 beginning.

00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.659
 It's been the fuel for

00:26:48.659 --> 00:26:49.500
 caring for the poor,

00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:51.219
 the refugee,

00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:52.859
 the widow,

00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:54.500
 the orphan,

00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.039
 the unborn,

00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:59.159
 and those in prison.

00:27:00.439 --> 00:27:01.699
 It's been the fuel for

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.960
 Christians to dismantle

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:05.100
 slavery and racism

00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:07.360
 and to work for justice.

00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.960
 Incongruous grace

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:11.400
 has been the fuel for

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:12.900
 men and women as they

00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:14.259
 consider how to live out

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:16.680
 their vocations Monday

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:18.960
 through Friday with Jesus

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.759
 as their king.

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:24.279
 More locally,

00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:27.140
 incongruous grace has been

00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:28.340
 the fuel for our people as

00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:29.359
 we serve in the city

00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:31.139
 working with DC 127,

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.619
 Little Lights,

00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.199
 Antioch Ministry,

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:35.839
 Refugee Ministry.

00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:38.799
 This summer we're seeing

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:41.039
 several of our families

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.720
 move away,

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:43.539
 families that have been

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:45.899
 part of the vibrancy of

00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.699
 this church and its

00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:47.059
 leadership.

00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:48.839
 They've all played key

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:51.439
 roles in serving here

00:27:51.439 --> 00:27:52.500
 and loving our city

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.339
 long term.

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.639
 I'm thinking of

00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:55.879
 Karina Asal,

00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:56.760
 the Holbys,

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:57.560
 the Sayos,

00:27:58.020 --> 00:27:58.740
 Daniel Hall and Brittany

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.260
 Netzel,

00:27:59.600 --> 00:28:00.360
 the Grutzmachers,

00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:01.100
 and there's others.

00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:03.000
 And who is going to

00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.660
 fill their shoes?

00:28:05.280 --> 00:28:06.460
 Who is going to respond

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.780
 to God's incongruous

00:28:07.780 --> 00:28:10.300
 grace by bringing the

00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:11.360
 love of Jesus to this

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.740
 parish and to our city?

00:28:15.560 --> 00:28:16.620
 I'm going to close with

00:28:16.620 --> 00:28:17.760
 a scene from one of my

00:28:17.760 --> 00:28:18.460
 favorite films.

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:19.500
 It's Ben-Hur,

00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:21.240
 the real one that was

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.320
 with Charles and Heston.

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.660
 I haven't seen the new

00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:24.300
 one, forgive me.

00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.100
 I'm sure it's fine.

00:28:25.880 --> 00:28:28.380
 But in Ben-Hur,

00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:31.840
 Ben-Hur is a Jewish

00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:32.180
 noble.

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:34.760
 He becomes a slave on a

00:28:34.760 --> 00:28:36.420
 galley in a battle.

00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:37.860
 He's set free from his

00:28:37.860 --> 00:28:38.380
 chains.

00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:41.180
 He sets free his fellow

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.160
 prisoners and then he

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:44.300
 sets free the guy in

00:28:44.300 --> 00:28:45.200
 charge, Arius.

00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:49.000
 Arius is tempted to kill

00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.440
 himself.

00:28:50.320 --> 00:28:51.740
 Ben-Hur rescues him from

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:53.180
 that, saves his life,

00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:54.500
 perserves his life.

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:56.859
 They get rescued and then

00:28:56.859 --> 00:29:00.039
 Arius adopts Ben-Hur.

00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.819
 And Ben-Hur goes from

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:04.339
 slave to son.

00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:07.240
 And he's given a ring.

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:09.559
 He's given his father's

00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:09.779
 ring.

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.319
 And this is what Ben-Hur

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:13.680
 says.

00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:17.460
 It's a strange destiny that

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:18.700
 brought me to a new life,

00:29:19.580 --> 00:29:21.779
 a new home, a new father.

00:29:22.560 --> 00:29:23.740
 It brought me here.

00:29:25.100 --> 00:29:26.680
 It may take me away, but

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:28.640
 wherever I may be, I shall

00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:30.980
 always try to wear this ring as

00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:33.320
 a son of Arius should, with

00:29:33.320 --> 00:29:36.680
 gratitude and affection and

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:37.620
 honor.

00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:37.679
 forever.

00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:43.599
 So may we, as recipients of

00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:45.639
 God's incongruous grace, always

00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:48.419
 be aware of the vast distance

00:29:48.419 --> 00:29:50.939
 God traveled to make us his

00:29:50.939 --> 00:29:51.399
 heirs.

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:54.299
 And may we bear his name with

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:57.779
 gratitude, affection, and

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.099
 honor.

00:29:59.239 --> 00:30:00.679
 In the name of the Father and the

00:30:00.679 --> 00:30:02.579
 Son and the Holy Spirit, let's

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:02.779
 pray.

00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:12.619
 Lord, we would respond to your

00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.460
 grace with gratitude.

00:30:13.699 --> 00:30:14.220
 We thank you.

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.759
 We thank you.

00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:21.639
 We thank you for rescuing us,

00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.720
 loving us,

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.799
 adopting us.

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:30.679
 We thank you for the benefits of

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:32.700
 our justification of being

00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:36.259
 reconciled with you and hope of

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.019
 eternal life.

00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.799
 Lord Jesus, that is our prayer,

00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:44.539
 that we would bear your name with

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:47.720
 gratitude, affection, and honor.

00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:49.080
 Amen.