WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.540 What gets you in and what gets you out? 00:00:03.540 --> 00:00:12.099 You see, back in the day, I remember that crocs were all the trend. 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:13.759 They were all arranged. 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:16.179 You'd wear socks with crocs. 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:21.240 And the thing is, for me, crocs made you out. 00:00:21.379 --> 00:00:22.039 Crocs weren't cool. 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:23.059 Bourbon socks were easy. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:25.219 You'll see me a lot of the time wearing Bourbon socks. 00:00:25.339 --> 00:00:28.740 In fact, I heard someone ask their parent recently, 00:00:28.739 --> 00:00:30.679 and that's a new shoe. 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:33.799 It got to the point where, even today, 00:00:33.979 --> 00:00:37.739 I was at another youth group preaching, 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:40.539 and I was talking about crocs and how old they were, 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:42.679 and everyone looked at the person, and they were like, 00:00:42.780 --> 00:00:46.420 crocs are the best thing because crocs are in acrimony. 00:00:47.659 --> 00:00:51.519 I remember when I was wearing puffy jackets, 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:55.359 my friends said that I did not look cool. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:00:57.700 And it was only something that old people would wear. 00:00:57.700 --> 00:00:58.579 But guess what? 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:02.700 Crocs are in, and so are puffy jackets. 00:01:02.940 --> 00:01:06.200 It's what the young adults have been wearing for the last decade. 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:08.260 You see, in today's passage, 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:14.780 the Pharisees are about who is in and who is out. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:18.640 The Pharisees were so caught up in whether people were clean, 00:01:18.820 --> 00:01:20.000 holy by their standards, 00:01:20.340 --> 00:01:23.260 and the people who were in were the people who were clean 00:01:23.260 --> 00:01:25.800 and following their religious and cultural traditions. 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:29.819 And the people who weren't clean were out. 00:01:29.819 --> 00:01:35.000 During this period, the Pharisees were seen as the most holy people, 00:01:35.279 --> 00:01:39.519 the ones who knew God and went above and beyond to follow his law, 00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:42.919 to adhere to these cleanliness customs. 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:46.079 You would be of the same level of the Pharisees. 00:01:46.379 --> 00:01:48.640 So why wouldn't you keep these customs? 00:01:49.780 --> 00:01:54.500 Well, in this passage, the Pharisees have observed that Jesus and his disciples 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:58.500 were not practicing these Jewish religious traditions, 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:00.359 and they tried to trap him. 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:04.079 So for today's sermon, you can open up to the St. Paul's app, 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:07.599 or you can write four points that will follow along our sermon. 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:09.360 Number one, the trap. 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:12.540 Number two, Jesus' correction. 00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:15.660 Number three, what is our trap? 00:02:16.040 --> 00:02:19.860 And number four, what is Jesus' solution? 00:02:20.860 --> 00:02:21.720 Well, number one, the trap. 00:02:22.220 --> 00:02:24.680 Let's look exactly what is going on in verse one. 00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:25.560 Have your Bibles open. 00:02:25.660 --> 00:02:26.120 It says, 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:28.680 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law, 00:02:29.040 --> 00:02:30.360 who had come from Jerusalem, 00:02:30.840 --> 00:02:34.100 gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:35.720 with hands that were defiled. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:37.840 That is, unwashed. 00:02:38.659 --> 00:02:40.560 Now, Mark goes further. 00:02:40.740 --> 00:02:43.980 He writes some little backstory for his initial audience, 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:48.300 who most likely were non-Jews and were unfamiliar with these customs. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:50.840 It was just what the Jews did. 00:02:51.659 --> 00:02:53.020 It says in verse three, 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:55.819 The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat 00:02:55.819 --> 00:02:58.379 unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:00.240 holding to the tradition of the elders. 00:03:00.699 --> 00:03:02.280 And when they come from the marketplace, 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:05.240 they do not eat unless they wash. 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:07.320 And they observe many other traditions, 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:08.520 such as the washing of cups, 00:03:08.980 --> 00:03:10.460 pitchers and kettles. 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:13.760 What Mark is doing here is helping us understand 00:03:13.760 --> 00:03:18.580 that the tradition Jesus and his disciples were breaking 00:03:18.580 --> 00:03:23.280 were not from God's word. 00:03:24.040 --> 00:03:24.920 When you read the Bible, 00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:27.740 often you'll see little letters that refer to footnotes. 00:03:27.820 --> 00:03:28.900 And in these footnotes, 00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:30.520 you'll see other Bible references 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:34.860 when a quote or an idea relates to other Bible passages. 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:37.020 And that's actually to encourage us 00:03:37.020 --> 00:03:40.240 to actually get some context 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:43.820 and to see how the Bible is unified in its message. 00:03:44.640 --> 00:03:45.680 In here, 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:50.100 notice that there are no references to other texts, 00:03:50.640 --> 00:03:53.080 no references to biblical laws. 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:54.840 In other words, 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:57.560 what the Pharisees were actually catching Jesus on 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:01.000 were things from man and not from God. 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:03.200 They added a blanket rule 00:04:03.200 --> 00:04:05.000 on what it meant to be God's people, 00:04:05.600 --> 00:04:08.100 but not listen to God's word himself. 00:04:09.020 --> 00:04:10.220 The term in verse three, 00:04:10.340 --> 00:04:12.260 the tradition of the elders, 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:14.140 refers to Jewish traditions 00:04:14.140 --> 00:04:16.560 passed on from generation to generation 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:18.759 from the authority of each teacher of the law. 00:04:19.520 --> 00:04:21.060 That has become their authority. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:23.680 In other instances, 00:04:24.220 --> 00:04:28.920 this term would refer to not a tradition that's passed on, 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:34.340 but what the authoritative contemporary Pharisees held. 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:37.920 But it is not the authority of God. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:40.379 It's why we are in this series, 00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:43.680 because we believe that the Bible is God's word, 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:45.759 that it is ultimate authority. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:47.779 It is trustworthy and necessary. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:49.660 It's clear and final. 00:04:49.660 --> 00:04:52.620 And we're encouraged to go deeper into God's word 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:54.939 to submit to God's authority. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:58.160 And what the Pharisees are really doing 00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:00.820 is like us making a policy book here at St. Paul's 00:05:00.820 --> 00:05:02.640 and say that the people who are in 00:05:02.640 --> 00:05:06.200 are only people who wear summer clothing in winter at church 00:05:06.200 --> 00:05:07.540 or only have cold showers. 00:05:08.080 --> 00:05:10.440 We already know that I will probably win one of those. 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:14.579 Sometimes we might link it to, 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:18.199 oh, it's because we want to be uncomfortable 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:20.839 to know that our comfort truly is in Jesus. 00:05:21.699 --> 00:05:22.160 Guess what? 00:05:22.219 --> 00:05:24.560 That is not a policy that we have here. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:27.120 And that would be a man-made thing. 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:31.339 The original intention of this cultural custom 00:05:31.339 --> 00:05:35.740 was that they recognize that God cared about cleanliness. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:37.959 But boy, did they get it wrong. 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:40.259 So how does Jesus correct them? 00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:45.019 Jesus answers two questions we might have for the text. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:46.979 Number one, where did the Pharisees go wrong? 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:51.859 And then number two, how then are we in? 00:05:52.839 --> 00:05:54.939 How then are we made clean? 00:05:56.279 --> 00:05:57.759 So where did the Pharisees go wrong? 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:00.599 Jesus corrects them in verse six to eight. 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:06.439 He replied, Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, hypocrites. 00:06:07.379 --> 00:06:10.420 As it is written, these people honour me with their lips, 00:06:10.780 --> 00:06:12.740 but their hearts are far from me. 00:06:13.460 --> 00:06:14.740 They worship me in vain. 00:06:15.260 --> 00:06:17.600 Their teachings are merely human rules. 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:20.960 You have let go of the commands of God 00:06:20.960 --> 00:06:23.460 and are holding on to human traditions. 00:06:23.459 --> 00:06:28.259 Jesus, who loves God's word, he knows it. 00:06:28.479 --> 00:06:31.419 He uses it as a defence against temptation. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:35.259 He recognises that the Pharisees are those who want the identity 00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:37.000 of being godly and religious. 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:42.179 And he noticed how he characterises the Pharisees, 00:06:42.539 --> 00:06:44.719 the lip service, the vain worship. 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:46.939 They're just holding on to human traditions. 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:51.839 And it characterises them as those of the world and of themselves. 00:06:52.259 --> 00:06:55.959 And it is as if these external observances 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:58.319 are what makes them God's people. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:01.819 In fact, Jesus later makes it known in verse nine to 13 00:07:01.819 --> 00:07:05.439 that it's not just clinging to human tradition as the problem, 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:08.019 but in fact, their human traditions, 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:10.360 the things that they're putting their pride in, 00:07:10.659 --> 00:07:13.259 make it actually impossible to follow God's word. 00:07:13.259 --> 00:07:17.319 Verse 13, that they in fact nullify the word of God 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:20.379 by your tradition that you have handed down. 00:07:21.459 --> 00:07:24.539 And this is not the only time they do so. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:27.819 Cleanliness by God's standards, 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:32.399 being in with the crowd of God, 00:07:32.939 --> 00:07:34.719 has never been about how you look, 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:37.199 never been about the food you consume. 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:41.079 God, from the very beginning, 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:43.279 has always been about the heart. 00:07:44.099 --> 00:07:46.560 1 Samuel 16 verse 7 tells us this. 00:07:47.039 --> 00:07:49.439 Although man might look to the external, 00:07:51.139 --> 00:07:52.899 the Lord looks into the heart. 00:07:53.860 --> 00:07:55.740 And Jesus says later in verse 15, 00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:59.079 nothing outside of the person can defile them 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:01.019 by going into them. 00:08:01.500 --> 00:08:04.419 Rather, it is what comes out of the person 00:08:04.419 --> 00:08:05.459 that defiles them. 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:08.759 For later in verse 20, he says that the things, 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:11.039 that the unclean things that come out of a person, 00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:13.639 comes from an unclean heart. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.199 We're in MasterChef season right now, 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:19.099 and I hope you're watching because it's just amazing. 00:08:19.599 --> 00:08:23.319 But there are so many times when contestants cook things 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:26.740 and the judge finds the tiniest thing to go on and say, 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:27.959 nah, I can't eat it at all. 00:08:28.659 --> 00:08:30.099 There might be a raw component, 00:08:30.579 --> 00:08:31.979 maybe there's a speck of dirt. 00:08:32.519 --> 00:08:35.019 If you didn't know, I didn't know because I eat it. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:36.039 Shock horror. 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:40.620 In a prawn, there is an excrement vein in them. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:45.240 And you can see the judge's refusal to eat in their faces. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:48.459 They're just like pulling divisively, 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:50.980 oh, there's this thing, therefore I can't eat it. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:57.480 But we need a solution to our unclean heart. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:02.680 Any little bit is unacceptable to God 00:09:02.680 --> 00:09:04.639 because he's perfect, he's pure. 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:07.000 We can't just do more clean things. 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:08.980 It's already unclean. 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:11.000 It's useless washing our hands. 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:13.440 Once it's made dirty, it's unacceptable. 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:17.920 But the transformed heart is something that God promises his people 00:09:17.920 --> 00:09:19.320 way back in the Old Testament. 00:09:19.560 --> 00:09:21.960 He promises in Ezekiel 36, 26, 00:09:22.140 --> 00:09:26.320 that one day he will give them a new heart, a new spirit. 00:09:27.300 --> 00:09:29.980 The hope for us comes in Hebrews 10. 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:33.120 The writer talks about Old Testament sacrifices 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:35.280 and their purpose before Jesus. 00:09:36.100 --> 00:09:38.040 It was the way to be made right with God, 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:42.159 but by Christ's sacrifice on the cross, 00:09:42.779 --> 00:09:48.480 verse 22 is our battle song against our unclean hearts. 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:49.399 It says, 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:52.740 Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart 00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:54.699 and with the full assurance that faith brings, 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:58.959 having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience 00:09:58.959 --> 00:10:02.039 and having our bodies washed with pure water. 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:05.699 Faith in Christ makes us in. 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:09.800 Faith in Christ purifies our heart. 00:10:12.020 --> 00:10:17.200 Friends, it is possible that we fall into the Pharisees trap too. 00:10:18.020 --> 00:10:20.520 We too can fall for human traditions 00:10:20.520 --> 00:10:24.100 or we might even distort truths of God's word 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:29.340 or even his gospel and deceive ourselves like the Pharisees. 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:32.080 We may not collectively do that as a church. 00:10:32.180 --> 00:10:34.400 We don't require scribal traditions 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:35.860 or have an additional law book. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:40.579 However, we have some subsumed ideologies for our culture 00:10:40.579 --> 00:10:42.439 that we put as a priority 00:10:42.439 --> 00:10:46.079 or even some self-talk that diminish the reality 00:10:46.079 --> 00:10:48.279 of the gospel in our lives. 00:10:49.579 --> 00:10:51.379 An awesome kids ministry Bible teacher 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:53.279 named Jack Klumpenhower puts it this way. 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:56.299 Take this torch light on the screen. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:58.159 Imagine this torch 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:02.539 is someone who's discovered God's light. 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:06.399 The beam of light will point to two things. 00:11:07.199 --> 00:11:10.839 Number one, the glory of God, his holiness. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.659 Number two, the knowledge of sin, 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:17.279 missing the mark of his glory in the law. 00:11:18.079 --> 00:11:19.539 And that's how we start our journey 00:11:19.539 --> 00:11:21.299 as followers of Jesus, right? 00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:24.439 We discover the wonder of Christ and the glory of God. 00:11:24.579 --> 00:11:27.099 Wow, there's something about him that's so cool. 00:11:27.699 --> 00:11:30.059 But we also have the spirit 00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:32.519 who convicts us of our sin 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:34.219 and we recognise our sinfulness. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.719 When a person becomes a Christian, 00:11:38.459 --> 00:11:41.599 they discover that what bridges the gap 00:11:41.599 --> 00:11:43.199 is the gospel. 00:11:44.339 --> 00:11:47.399 The gospel reconciles the two ends 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:50.559 of the spectrum of God's holiness and our sin. 00:11:51.439 --> 00:11:53.100 And when we grow in our faith, 00:11:53.319 --> 00:11:54.959 we discover more about God 00:11:54.959 --> 00:11:57.419 and we realise our imperfections even more. 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.939 So the beam widens 00:11:58.939 --> 00:12:03.539 and so we have a gap in our faith. 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:06.299 And if our understanding of the totality 00:12:06.299 --> 00:12:08.519 of Christ's accomplishment and the cross 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:10.759 does not grow alongside this, 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.259 we will fill these gaps with anything else. 00:12:14.939 --> 00:12:16.779 We'll fill it with things of this world, 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:20.199 or we'll say things to ourselves like, 00:12:21.199 --> 00:12:23.939 if our knowledge and love of the gospel hasn't grown, 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:27.459 we will fill the gap to reach the holy standard of God. 00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:31.079 Well, all that matters 00:12:31.079 --> 00:12:34.799 is that I personally think that I have a good heart 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:37.559 or I'm doing my bit for society. 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:40.100 I'm not perfect, 00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:44.100 but surely God recognises that I'm serving, 00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:47.600 that I'm coming to church. 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:50.560 Surely God is good with my little obedience 00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:53.759 or following all the Bible is impossible. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.420 In other words, 00:12:56.540 --> 00:12:58.800 we lower God's standard 00:12:58.800 --> 00:13:03.139 or make less of the creator of the universe. 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:05.399 I know I have done that. 00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:09.199 But we will also fill the gap 00:13:09.199 --> 00:13:10.639 when we realise that our sin 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:12.460 is way too deep. 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:14.399 You might say or think that 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:17.699 I just need to hide my sin from others 00:13:17.699 --> 00:13:18.620 or 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:20.279 I might 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:22.600 look like a good Christian to others 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:23.039 and surely 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:24.259 that will be okay. 00:13:24.939 --> 00:13:26.000 Maybe we get defensive 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:28.100 when we are called out on our sin. 00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:30.779 Maybe my sin isn't so horrible. 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:34.220 And in these situations, 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:38.120 you and I fall in the same trap as the Pharisees. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:40.180 We've made it about man 00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:41.620 and not about God. 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:44.779 See, the only solution 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:46.840 is when the gospel grows 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:49.240 alongside our understanding of God's law 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:50.240 and our sin. 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:52.759 Last week, we were reminded by John 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:56.060 that we are all on the journey as Bible students. 00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:58.639 And naturally, what will happen is 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:01.259 we will realise that God is so gracious, 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:03.000 glorious and merciful. 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:06.259 Remember that the only solution, 00:14:06.479 --> 00:14:08.179 rather than be ashamed in your sin 00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:09.379 or hide from God, 00:14:09.439 --> 00:14:11.539 is when the cross grows alongside everything else. 00:14:12.339 --> 00:14:14.479 The gospel makes you ever more certain 00:14:14.479 --> 00:14:16.659 about your status being forgiven, 00:14:17.500 --> 00:14:19.759 adopted and totally accepted. 00:14:20.579 --> 00:14:22.619 You'll no longer fall into legalism 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:25.139 or be given into yourself, 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:27.179 free licence to live your own way. 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:29.620 It's the grace that keeps on giving. 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:33.259 Because Jesus himself valued God's word. 00:14:33.560 --> 00:14:34.259 He affirms it all. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:35.379 He doesn't ignore it. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.320 He doesn't say, 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.879 don't worry about the Old Testament. 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:40.659 Steve pointed to us early in the series 00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:43.100 that Jesus in Luke 24, 27 says 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:45.500 that the whole scriptures point to himself. 00:14:46.060 --> 00:14:49.299 Every single story we read from the Old Testament, 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:51.439 the law, the prophets, the songs, 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:54.059 they are filled with God's glory 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:55.759 and his promises for his people. 00:14:56.699 --> 00:14:57.639 And friend, for you, 00:14:58.479 --> 00:14:59.859 they have never been more true, 00:15:00.219 --> 00:15:01.259 more realised, 00:15:01.959 --> 00:15:04.000 better than ever in Jesus. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:08.179 When you read Psalm 32 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:11.839 about how God is our hiding place in tribulation, 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:14.599 you recall to how Colossians 3, 3 says 00:15:14.599 --> 00:15:16.839 that our hiding place is in Jesus. 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:20.940 It's even easy for me 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:24.280 to get confused about a book like Leviticus 00:15:24.280 --> 00:15:26.759 when it's talking about sacrifices, worship. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:29.300 But you recall to mind, 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:30.399 the core of the gospel 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.480 is that Jesus is our Passover lamb 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.280 who was sacrificed, 00:15:34.660 --> 00:15:36.340 who took away the sin of the world. 00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:38.019 When you come across the pages 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:39.600 about David and Goliath, 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:41.280 you don't go and read that God 00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:43.540 will help you against your impossible giants. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:46.240 No, you look to Jesus. 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:50.379 The pioneer and perfecter of your faith 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.440 who says that even though 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:53.620 you can never reach the glory of God 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:54.700 on your own, 00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:57.759 Luke 18, 27 says directly to that matter 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.800 that nothing is impossible for God 00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:00.980 and through Jesus, 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:03.300 you can receive forgiveness and freedom 00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:04.780 that was seemingly impossible. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:07.360 But the gospel does not just have the power 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:09.120 to change your Bible reading, 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:12.720 but in every high and low of your life. 00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:14.659 See, what the gospel does 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:17.720 is make the law not a bar that we can attain 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:19.320 because we've established already 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:21.620 what makes us clean is the blood of Jesus. 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:24.320 What the gospel does, 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:27.200 it makes us look to Jesus even in our life. 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:29.080 The law is no longer a means 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.840 to be legalistic and tick a box, 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.799 but one that is aspirational, 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:33.919 that by the Holy Spirit, 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:35.839 you are becoming more like Jesus. 00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:37.159 For example, 00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:41.339 if I'm in a perpetual state of people pleasing, 00:16:41.459 --> 00:16:43.259 my boss, my family, my parents, 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.199 but I know that Jesus 00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:47.740 is my saviour, 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:50.319 I have an audience of one. 00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:53.379 I live to worship the Lord 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:55.179 knowing he already deeply affirms me 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.559 because I am his child. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.159 If you're a parent 00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.819 who feels like you need to be striving 00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:00.719 harder and harder 00:17:00.719 --> 00:17:01.699 for your child's happiness 00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:03.079 or for their achievement, 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:04.940 hit the brakes. 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.500 Know that your value doesn't come 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:09.679 from being class parent of the year, 00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:12.240 but that you are loved as a child of God. 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.879 If you're making a priority 00:17:13.879 --> 00:17:15.379 to nurture a home 00:17:15.379 --> 00:17:17.919 for your kids to know and love Jesus, 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.879 you are already doing 00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:20.700 what God calls you to do as a parent. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.519 And this is regardless of whether 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:25.440 your child trusts in Jesus at the end. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.580 That is God's work, not yours. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:30.320 If you're single and want to be married, 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:34.039 married is a wonderful gift. 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.740 It is right to be desired. 00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:38.220 But marriage isn't your solution. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.880 The gospel solution is knowing 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.820 that in Jesus, 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:44.160 you are never alone. 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:46.779 For the spirit that rose Jesus Christ 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:48.340 from the dead is in you 00:17:48.340 --> 00:17:50.580 and that your marital status now 00:17:50.580 --> 00:17:52.500 reflects the marital status 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.500 of all Christians in eternity. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:57.100 That we will all be single. 00:17:57.320 --> 00:17:58.460 Those who are married right now 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:01.100 will all be single in eternity, 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.920 solely committed to God. 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:05.620 When you look at your own sin 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:07.600 and keep wondering why you aren't changing 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:08.279 and you feel like, 00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:09.980 maybe God's forgotten about me. 00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:12.860 No, he hasn't. 00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:16.160 For Jesus became defiled 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.920 by your sin 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:20.460 so that you might have a clean heart, 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:22.100 so that you can be confident 00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:23.620 in the promise of Philippians 00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:25.940 that God is doing a good work in you 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:27.319 and will carry it to completion 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:28.480 when Jesus returns. 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:29.920 Friends, 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:33.819 the gospel is gold for all. 00:18:34.620 --> 00:18:36.340 Do you see how every narrative 00:18:36.340 --> 00:18:37.579 in the Bible, 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.400 old and new, 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.539 familiar and foreign, 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.039 they weave in together 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:42.519 and it all converges 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.980 to the climax of the cross. 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:45.259 Every story, 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.160 longing, 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.160 triumph 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:49.279 and problem in your life 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.640 is and can be met 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:53.360 and fulfilled in Jesus. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:56.339 As we've been opening the Bible, 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.900 we've seen that it commands us 00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:59.140 to value the scriptures 00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:01.319 as God's authoritative word. 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.920 To not just glance at it 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:03.700 and be ready 00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.700 to gaze, 00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:06.079 but be ready 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.180 to gaze at 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:08.220 God's grace 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.799 and glory. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:11.440 So what I want us to do 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:12.659 is to consider 00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:14.099 some questions 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:14.899 for both 00:19:14.899 --> 00:19:16.159 our life 00:19:16.159 --> 00:19:17.919 and times we read the Bible. 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:18.619 Number one, 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:20.079 when it comes to your Bible reading, 00:19:20.379 --> 00:19:21.259 here are three 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.539 really simple questions 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:23.079 to help you 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.980 every time you read. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.259 Number one, 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.059 what is God doing 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:27.740 for his people 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.379 in this story? 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.200 Number two, 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.579 how does he do 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.680 the same for us 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:34.599 but better 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.379 in Jesus? 00:19:36.859 --> 00:19:37.419 Number three, 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.379 how does believing 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:39.260 this change 00:19:39.260 --> 00:19:40.800 how we live? 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.500 And here are three questions 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:45.020 to reflect on your own 00:19:45.020 --> 00:19:46.340 about your life. 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:49.380 What is the deepest longing 00:19:49.380 --> 00:19:50.120 in your life 00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:51.160 you wish to be resolved? 00:19:52.360 --> 00:19:53.720 How does Jesus address 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.580 the deepest longing 00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:55.140 in the gospel? 00:19:57.040 --> 00:19:58.320 What from God's word 00:19:58.320 --> 00:19:59.080 brings you 00:19:59.080 --> 00:19:59.960 this comfort? 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:01.460 I want to give you 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.000 a few moments 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.020 to jot down right now 00:20:03.020 --> 00:20:03.720 these questions. 00:20:04.760 --> 00:20:05.600 Maybe just answer 00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:06.500 the first question 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.840 and get your calendars out 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.759 to reflect on 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.519 how the gospel 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.339 is the solution 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.699 to your deepest need. 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:12.859 Take a photo of the screen 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:15.059 but if your heart 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.919 has been stirred, 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.199 do something. 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.779 I would hate 00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:19.599 for us to be 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:21.379 like the man 00:20:21.379 --> 00:20:22.539 who looks in the mirror 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:24.159 then forgets 00:20:24.159 --> 00:20:25.079 what he looks like. 00:20:25.899 --> 00:20:26.759 I'll pray in a bit. 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:30.939 Heavenly Father, 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.419 we thank you 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.400 for your word. 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.700 We thank you 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.560 that the pinnacle 00:20:36.560 --> 00:20:37.300 of scripture 00:20:37.300 --> 00:20:39.200 aligns our hearts 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.300 to see the gospel 00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:40.840 clearer. 00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.640 We thank you 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.960 for Christ crucified. 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.580 We thank you 00:20:45.580 --> 00:20:46.920 for the risen Lord Jesus 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:49.680 that in trusting 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.500 in him 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:52.519 we have a gospel 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.539 that does not just 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.180 have the power 00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:54.960 to save 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:56.320 but to change. 00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.220 We pray 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.779 that we might 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.740 trust you 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.500 as the one 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.660 who changes hearts. 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.960 We know we cannot. 00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:05.500 So Lord, 00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:06.900 give us your spirit 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:08.460 to renew us 00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:10.200 and renew the joy 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.140 of our salvation 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:12.559 but we pray as well 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.579 that you might give us 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.319 a new heart, 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:15.779 a clean 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:17.000 and contrite heart. 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:18.279 Amen. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.720 Amen. 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:20.819 Amen. 00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.079 Amen. 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:21.660 Amen. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:21.960 Amen. 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.279 Amen. 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:22.400 Amen. 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:22.980 Amen.