WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.320 The scripture reading today comes from 1st and 2nd Corinthians. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.560 Please follow along the screen or in your bulletin. 00:00:08.140 --> 00:00:12.439 Starting from in 1st Corinthians 15 verse 1 we read, 00:00:13.060 --> 00:00:15.439 Now I will remind you, brothers of the gospel, 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:21.140 I preach to you which you receive, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved. 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:25.980 If you hold fast to the word I preach to you, unless you believe in vain. 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:30.980 For I deliver to you as of first importance what I receive, 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:34.420 that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scripture, 00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:40.020 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance to the scriptures, 00:00:41.120 --> 00:00:47.299 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:50.840 then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:54.719 most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:58.799 Then in 2nd Corinthians 12 verse 9, 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:01.640 But he said to me, 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:05.259 My grace is sufficient for you, 00:01:05.759 --> 00:01:08.159 for my power is made perfect in weakness. 00:01:08.679 --> 00:01:12.079 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:15.920 so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 00:01:16.379 --> 00:01:19.560 For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, 00:01:20.019 --> 00:01:22.799 insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.120 For when I am weak, then I am strong. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:27.420 This is the word of God. 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:29.960 Great. Thank you, Kristen. 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:33.400 Thanks, Kristen. 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:37.359 Let's pray together briefly as we come to this passage. 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:40.219 Heavenly Father, as we come to your word this morning, 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:42.400 we want to hear you speak to us. 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:44.700 We want to be encouraged in the gospel. 00:01:45.460 --> 00:01:48.060 We want to encounter you in a real way. 00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:51.859 God, I pray that as we look at your word, God, 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:54.740 you will speak to each one of us in a deep and a profound way. 00:01:54.739 --> 00:02:00.399 Lord, won't you open our eyes to see the depth of the beauty of what you did on the cross for us. 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:03.759 Reassure us, God, of your love and our standing in you. 00:02:04.060 --> 00:02:08.039 And help us, God, to live these lives that really are centered on you. 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:09.539 We pray this in your awesome name. 00:02:10.340 --> 00:02:10.620 Amen. 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:10.740 Amen. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:12.439 Okay. 00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:16.520 Let's start off playing a little word association game. 00:02:16.700 --> 00:02:16.819 Okay. 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:17.819 So I'm going to say a word. 00:02:18.259 --> 00:02:23.539 And I want you to think of the first word that comes to your mind when you hear the word that I'm going to say. 00:02:23.640 --> 00:02:23.759 Okay. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:25.120 You can say it out loud if you want. 00:02:25.200 --> 00:02:26.759 Or you can just say it under your breath. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:27.620 It's up to you. 00:02:27.620 --> 00:02:32.219 But when I say the word sport, what's the first thing? 00:02:32.480 --> 00:02:32.620 Okay. 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:33.420 Tennis. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:34.300 Netflix. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:37.080 Okay. 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:38.439 Food. 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:42.020 Burger. 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:42.340 Okay. 00:02:44.180 --> 00:02:44.920 Hong Kong. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:45.939 Okay. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:47.060 You don't have to say that if you want. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:48.280 Celebrity. 00:02:50.200 --> 00:02:50.640 Home. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:54.200 Watermark. 00:02:54.200 --> 00:02:54.280 Watermark. 00:02:57.620 --> 00:03:10.599 If you are new to Watermark Church, when I say Watermark, one of the first things that comes to mind might be church or Ebenezer or the 970 bus or something like that. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:18.740 But if you have been part of our church for a little while, some of the words you might say, you might say friendly, hopefully. 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:21.420 Hopefully you'd say that, not unfriendly. 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:22.180 That would be a problem. 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:26.439 But you might say, my guess is one of two words comes to mind. 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:28.159 One is probably community. 00:03:28.819 --> 00:03:29.020 Yeah. 00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:29.939 I don't know how many of you thought of that. 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:32.219 The other one is maybe the word gospel. 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:34.280 I don't know if anyone thought of that. 00:03:34.939 --> 00:03:38.620 In fact, in our mission statement, yeah, Marilyn just pointed it out. 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:42.800 We talk about our three values, our gospel, community, and mission. 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:52.879 And our mission statement talks about seeing the growth of gospel communities, disciples of Jesus raised up and released to impact Hong Kong for the glory of God. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:04:06.439 And about 20 or 30 years ago, in kind of Christian circles, there was this movement called the gospel-centered movement, where suddenly everybody started talking about the gospel and being gospel-centered, right? 00:04:06.439 --> 00:04:16.439 And it seems like every church around the world, if you wanted a sign of authenticity, all you had to do was put the word gospel somewhere in your website or on your brochure. 00:04:16.899 --> 00:04:20.980 And the more times you said the word gospel, the more kind of authentic or legitimate you were. 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:21.800 Does that make sense? 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:23.819 Anyone recognize that? 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:24.819 Okay. 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:33.139 And then Christian authors, right, they wanted to sell lots of books, so you had to have the word gospel in your title somewhere, and then you would sell lots of books. 00:04:33.259 --> 00:04:42.839 In fact, if you wanted to sell anything, right, duvet covers, coffee mugs, underwear, you just put the word gospel on there somewhere, and some Christian out there is going to buy it. 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:53.539 But the word gospel became this kind of like Christian buzzword, that everything Christians spoke about was just gospel, gospel, gospel. 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:57.759 And maybe if you come to Watermark for a while, you feel like that's true of us as well. 00:04:57.819 --> 00:04:59.359 That's all we ever talk about. 00:05:00.500 --> 00:05:03.899 Well, we're doing this four-part series called Why Do We Do That? 00:05:03.979 --> 00:05:06.979 And last week, Chris looked at why do we come to church on Sundays. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:11.579 Today, I want us to look at the question, why do we talk about the gospel so much? 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:17.259 And in order to do that, let's just go and define some of our terms. 00:05:17.479 --> 00:05:17.560 Okay. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:24.139 So the word gospel in the Greek is the word evangelion, where we get the word evangelist or evangelical from. 00:05:24.599 --> 00:05:30.799 And in original languages, it meant the announcement of some good news. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:31.259 Okay. 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:34.360 So it was used in the ancient world of a town crier. 00:05:34.659 --> 00:05:36.799 So the emperor has a son. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:40.860 There is a next one in line in the throne, and he will cry out in the town. 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:43.939 I have some good news, some gospel, some evangelion. 00:05:44.180 --> 00:05:45.560 The emperor has had a son. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:53.100 Or maybe your armies go off to war, and they are victorious, and someone comes back heralding the good news. 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:55.080 Our forces have won the battle. 00:05:55.699 --> 00:05:57.720 Victory has been determined. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:05:58.000 Right? 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:01.000 So it is the announcement of some good news. 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:04.540 And as we've often said in this church, it's not good advice. 00:06:04.939 --> 00:06:06.759 It's not telling you what to do. 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:12.779 It is the proclamation or the announcement of something that has happened that is very good news. 00:06:12.779 --> 00:06:16.319 Well, what is the good news that the Bible talks about? 00:06:16.839 --> 00:06:18.719 Well, our passage today tells us. 00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:21.259 So look at 1 Corinthians 15 with me again. 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:22.379 Paul writes and he says, 00:06:22.379 --> 00:06:28.100 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel, this evangelion, the good news, 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:34.180 that I preached to you, which you received and which you stand, by which you are being saved, 00:06:34.860 --> 00:06:37.439 if you hold fast the word that I preached to you. 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:41.639 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, 00:06:41.639 --> 00:06:45.339 that Christ Jesus died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:50.019 that he was buried, he was raised on the third day, also in accordance with the Scriptures, 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:54.079 and that he appeared to see first, then the twelve, and then the five hundred. 00:06:55.239 --> 00:06:59.319 So here in our passage, Paul actually defines what he means by the gospel. 00:07:00.039 --> 00:07:00.459 He says, 00:07:00.459 --> 00:07:06.059 I announced it to you that Christ Jesus died for our sins, 00:07:06.179 --> 00:07:10.379 that he was buried and he raised again on the third day. 00:07:10.379 --> 00:07:16.079 Now, we could spend many weeks unpacking this and looking at many elements of it, 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:20.120 but one of the things I want us to see here is that according to Scripture, 00:07:20.300 --> 00:07:24.319 the gospel, the good news, is not just a worldview, 00:07:24.699 --> 00:07:27.439 it's not just a philosophy, even though it will shape your worldview, 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:32.139 it's not just some wisdom or advice, though it will make you wise. 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:35.420 The gospel is a historical event. 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:38.000 It's something that has happened. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:41.560 Something that has happened that changes the course of human history, 00:07:41.740 --> 00:07:45.800 that changes the course of the history of those that believe it and receive it. 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:47.740 And what is this event? 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:51.620 Well, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man, 00:07:51.779 --> 00:07:52.920 fully man and fully God, 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:57.839 came to earth as a man and died on a Roman cross on Easter Friday. 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:00.139 He was buried in a tomb, 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:01.800 but he didn't stay dead. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:05.420 He rose again on Easter Sunday. 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:08.580 This is the good news, the gospel. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:11.480 Now, why is this good news? 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:14.520 I mean, that's maybe an unfortunate event. 00:08:14.900 --> 00:08:16.259 Maybe it's a miraculous event. 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:20.620 But how does that help us today, you and I, in 21st century Hong Kong? 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:23.860 Well, as you said, I'm so glad you asked that question. 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:26.020 I've got four answers for us. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:33.039 Four reasons why this historical event of something that happened to Jesus 2,000 years ago 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:36.919 in Palestine, in the Middle East, is good news for you and I today. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:40.980 Firstly, the gospel is good news for sinners. 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:45.539 Look again at verse 3, I think it is, in our passage. 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:47.500 I left something out. 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:53.179 Jesus died on the cross not just as an example of selflessness and servant-heartedness. 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:58.199 Jesus died on the cross not just as suffering, as a political martyr. 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:02.960 He didn't just die to demonstrate the brutality of the Roman Empire. 00:09:03.660 --> 00:09:04.900 Now, look at what it says. 00:09:05.520 --> 00:09:08.300 Jesus died for our sins. 00:09:09.520 --> 00:09:13.500 Jesus' death on the cross is what the Bible calls an atoning sacrifice. 00:09:14.520 --> 00:09:19.400 Now, if you're new to church or you're new to Christianity, this may be unusual for you, 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:25.559 but the Bible's diagnosis for the problem with our world, the Bible's assessment, 00:09:26.019 --> 00:09:29.240 is not just that mankind is selfish. 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:31.699 I mean, that is true, but that's not the main problem. 00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:36.639 It's not just that, you know, corruption in the world. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:41.519 It's not just economic inequality, that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.500 It's not just that we marginalize and abuse the poor in our world, 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:48.059 or that we take advantage, don't steward our world. 00:09:48.059 --> 00:09:52.199 It's not just the education problem, though that may be a challenge, 00:09:52.299 --> 00:09:54.399 or mental health or social media. 00:09:55.199 --> 00:09:59.279 The Bible says that all these problems in the world that we experience, 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:05.119 is actually, these are symptoms of a far deeper problem, a far deeper root problem. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:07.539 It's like when you go to the doctor, right, and you say, 00:10:07.579 --> 00:10:09.419 I've got this pain in my chest. 00:10:10.319 --> 00:10:13.559 Well, a poor doctor would just give you an aspirate, 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:15.519 or give you something just to take away the pain. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.879 And a good doctor would say, let's go under the surface, let's do an MRI, 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:21.079 let's see what's happening underneath there. 00:10:21.699 --> 00:10:26.740 The root cause for the symptoms of my world is that God, 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:30.840 who created us for Himself to know Him and love Him and trust Him 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:33.419 and walk with Him and be in relationship with Him, 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:35.559 we've rejected Him. 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:37.460 We've rebelled against Him. 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:41.240 Rather than loving and trusting and serving Him and knowing Him 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:42.580 and being in relationship with Him, 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:44.960 rather than finding our identity in Him, 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:49.259 we've pushed Him aside and we've wanted to love and trust and serve 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:51.400 created things rather than the Creator. 00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:55.480 We put our hope and identity in things around us, 00:10:55.560 --> 00:10:59.460 whether people or people's approval or the praise of man or ourselves. 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:04.580 The world is working against its design and its designer. 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:08.720 We've rebelled against God and we've set ourselves up as our own gods. 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:11.320 And the Bible calls this sin. 00:11:12.180 --> 00:11:17.940 Sin in the Bible is not just lying or stealing or doing something you shouldn't do. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:20.620 Actually, the Bible says those again are symptoms. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:24.900 The root cause is that we've wanted to set ourselves up as our own God. 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:27.320 Do you remember Martin Luther famously said, 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:29.940 No one breaks any of the Ten Commandments, 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:32.600 like not honoring your parents or lying or stealing, 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:35.000 without first breaking the first commandment, 00:11:35.060 --> 00:11:37.580 which is to have no other gods before me. 00:11:38.640 --> 00:11:40.980 And so what the Scripture says is that 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:44.720 despite our sinfulness, that all of us are in this category, 00:11:45.300 --> 00:11:49.500 God has made a way to rescue us, to redeem us, 00:11:49.580 --> 00:11:51.560 to restore that which is broken. 00:11:52.020 --> 00:11:55.120 God has made a way for those that are unrighteous, 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:58.100 that's me and you, to be counted righteous. 00:11:58.299 --> 00:12:01.580 Those that are rebels to be brought back into relationship with God. 00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:07.220 Those that are declared in rebellion and guilty of sin to be declared innocent. 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:10.740 Those who are at enmity with God to be reconciled. 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:12.960 And how does this happen? 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:16.399 Well, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:19.539 came to earth as a man, died on the cross, 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:22.959 took our penalty for us, in our place, 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:26.579 so that we don't have to bear the penalty for our sin, 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:29.319 that we are no longer counted unrighteous, 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:32.340 but are considered righteous in God's sight. 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:36.299 Jesus died in our place so that we don't have to. 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:38.659 Jesus took the penalty of our sin. 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:40.319 Jesus bore our sin. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:43.960 And Jesus was counted unrighteous instead of us. 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:47.640 By receiving Christ's atoning death as our own, 00:12:47.760 --> 00:12:51.200 by receiving His sacrificial death as our own, 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:54.200 we are reconciled to God. 00:12:54.800 --> 00:12:57.540 It's like our sin is completely done away with, 00:12:57.660 --> 00:12:58.520 washed away. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:01.120 I think it's in Micah, 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:04.060 it says that our sin is cast into the depths of the sea, 00:13:04.060 --> 00:13:07.260 removed as far as the east is from the west. 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:09.880 We are reconciled to God. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:11.980 Do you remember what John the Baptist says 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:14.040 when he sees Jesus across the Jordan? 00:13:14.140 --> 00:13:14.360 He says, 00:13:14.780 --> 00:13:18.080 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 00:13:18.300 --> 00:13:19.760 And how would Jesus do that? 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:22.340 Well, He wouldn't just sweep them under the rug. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.640 He wouldn't just redefine sin and say, 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:26.200 Well, let's talk about this. 00:13:26.680 --> 00:13:27.660 He wouldn't just say, 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:29.940 Let's go for some inner healing. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:30.780 No, no. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.760 Jesus went to the cross. 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:37.980 Jesus had the sins of the world poured out on Him. 00:13:37.980 --> 00:13:39.700 The wrath of God poured out on Him. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:43.300 So that all who come to Him will be justified, 00:13:43.520 --> 00:13:45.680 set free, reconciled. 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:48.440 Jesus, the author of life, would die 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:50.780 so that we who are dead in our sins 00:13:50.780 --> 00:13:53.200 may be made alive together. 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:55.680 And why did He do this? 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:58.100 Well, Cynthia read it for us earlier. 00:13:58.520 --> 00:13:59.300 Ephesians 2. 00:13:59.640 --> 00:14:01.120 As for you, as for me, 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:02.820 we who are dead in our sins, 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:05.300 but God who is rich in mercy 00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:07.940 because of His profound love for us, 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:11.820 made us who are dead in our sins alive in Christ. 00:14:12.260 --> 00:14:15.160 It's because of His love for people like you and I. 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.440 It's because of His profound love for us. 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:20.560 Friends, God's love for us is not a feeling. 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:24.779 It's a commitment, a devotion, a dedication to us. 00:14:26.099 --> 00:14:29.539 In the modern world, we tend to think of love as a feeling, right? 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.399 When I feel in love, then I love you. 00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:33.699 But in the Bible, love is a decision. 00:14:33.859 --> 00:14:34.500 It's a devotion. 00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:35.859 It's a dedication. 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:39.080 Because of His profound love for us, 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:41.960 Jesus went to the cross. 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:46.159 And did Jesus go to the cross because you're on the right track 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:47.180 or you're a good person? 00:14:47.800 --> 00:14:48.379 No, no, no. 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:50.399 When we were God's enemies, 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:55.080 He loved us by sending His Son to die on the cross. 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:58.460 Friends, this is the gospel. 00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:00.340 This is the good news. 00:15:00.920 --> 00:15:04.320 Jesus died on the cross for sinners like us. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:06.920 I don't know if you know the words of that old hymn, 00:15:07.280 --> 00:15:08.040 Man of Sorrows. 00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:09.879 Man of Sorrows, what a name. 00:15:10.780 --> 00:15:12.240 For the Son of God who came, 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:14.460 ruined sinners like me, like you, 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:17.080 to reclaim, oh, what a Savior. 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:19.700 Bearing shame and scoffing ruin, 00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:22.800 in my place condemned He stood. 00:15:23.400 --> 00:15:26.800 By His, sealed my pardon with His blood. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:29.460 Hallelujah, what a Savior. 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:32.580 Friends, why do we talk about the gospel so much? 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:35.920 Because the gospel is good news for sinners. 00:15:36.400 --> 00:15:37.879 For people like you and me, 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.180 people who are at enmity with God, 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:44.280 Jesus reconciles us and brings us into His family. 00:15:45.680 --> 00:15:48.740 But if that is true, and it is true, 00:15:49.540 --> 00:15:52.820 you can understand why we talk about it out there, right? 00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:54.940 In the marketplace, in schools, 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:57.500 why maybe somebody wants to tell his neighbor 00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:59.179 or his colleagues or his friends 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:01.200 about the good news of the gospel? 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:04.519 But why do we talk about it in here so much? 00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:07.600 I mean, my guess would be that many of us 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:09.299 would have already believed that, 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.919 understood that, received that, 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:11.720 accepted that. 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:13.620 Why is it that we as a church, 00:16:13.899 --> 00:16:16.019 those of us that have already received the gospel, 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:17.899 why do we talk about it so much? 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:21.460 Well, look at what our passage says again 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:22.399 in 1 Corinthians. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:25.600 Look at what Paul says here in verse 1. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:26.639 He says, 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.860 I would remind you, brothers and sisters, 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:32.379 of the gospel I preached to you, 00:16:32.959 --> 00:16:34.019 which you received, 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.720 in which you stand, 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:38.600 and by which you are being saved. 00:16:39.079 --> 00:16:41.319 Now, who's Paul writing to here? 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:44.759 He's writing to the Corinthians, 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.639 that's true, 00:16:45.959 --> 00:16:47.559 to Christians, 00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:49.819 those who have come to put their faith in Christ. 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:51.420 They're already Christians. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.980 They're already born again and saved, 00:16:54.140 --> 00:16:55.180 reconciled, redeemed. 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.879 And yet he writes to them 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:58.540 to remind them of the gospel. 00:16:59.300 --> 00:17:01.980 In fact, we see this throughout the New Testament. 00:17:02.180 --> 00:17:03.400 In the book of Romans, 00:17:03.540 --> 00:17:04.019 Paul writes, 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:06.080 and look what he says in Romans chapter 1. 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.100 He says, 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:09.820 To all you in Rome who are loved by God, 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:11.080 called to be saints. 00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:12.660 Okay, the word saints there 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:15.120 doesn't just mean those that are very righteous 00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:16.140 and very wonderful, 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:18.920 like Niels and Chris and Claire. 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.560 Okay, okay. 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:21.380 Those that have got it all together 00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:22.680 and don't make any mistakes. 00:17:23.360 --> 00:17:24.580 The word saints actually means 00:17:24.580 --> 00:17:26.019 anyone that is a Christian. 00:17:26.560 --> 00:17:28.300 Anyone who loves and trusts Jesus, 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.519 who has been reconciled. 00:17:29.600 --> 00:17:30.259 So Paul writes here, 00:17:30.320 --> 00:17:30.480 he says, 00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:31.960 To all who are in Rome, 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:33.259 who are loved by God, 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:35.160 okay, that's the motivation for the gospel, 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:36.800 and called to be saints, 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:40.120 I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:42.480 because your faith is proclaimed 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.500 throughout all the world. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.900 So here's a church that's pretty mature. 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:48.820 Their faith is so mature 00:17:48.820 --> 00:17:51.120 that actually it's got a track record. 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:53.040 It's talked about throughout the known world. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:53.940 He says, 00:17:54.040 --> 00:17:55.100 I long to see you, 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:57.660 that I may impart to you some spiritual strength. 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.920 I'm eager to come to you 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:03.440 to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome. 00:18:04.540 --> 00:18:06.980 Why does Paul want to go to these Christians 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.900 and share the gospel with them? 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.740 I mean, surely Paul should go to places 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:12.080 where they don't know the gospel 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:14.039 and tell them the good news of Jesus. 00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:16.259 Why does he want to write to Christians? 00:18:17.639 --> 00:18:18.699 Well, the reason is 00:18:18.699 --> 00:18:21.679 because the gospel is not only good news for sinners, 00:18:22.179 --> 00:18:24.559 it's also good news for saints. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:30.059 When you look at the New Testament, 00:18:30.899 --> 00:18:32.439 the evidence is overwhelming 00:18:32.439 --> 00:18:36.339 that the apostles are constantly writing 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:38.599 and applying to believers 00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:41.859 the gospel again and again and again. 00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:43.699 If you look at the book of Romans, 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:45.539 one of Paul's greatest books, right? 00:18:45.679 --> 00:18:47.019 16 chapters long. 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:49.319 The first 11 chapters 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.679 are all about 00:18:50.679 --> 00:18:54.319 the multifaceted wonder of the gospel. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.259 So Paul writes and says, 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:57.339 well, let's consider it from this angle. 00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.859 And he applies it to their life. 00:18:58.939 --> 00:18:59.259 And he says, 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:01.279 well, but your objection might be this. 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:03.259 So let's see how the gospel deals with that. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:03.839 Oh wait, 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:06.319 well, let's see how the gospel deals with this issue. 00:19:06.659 --> 00:19:07.659 Oh wait, you got a problem here? 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:09.560 Let's see how the gospel deals with it 00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:10.320 from that issue. 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.759 Paul spends 11 chapters 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:14.500 writing to these Christians 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.660 who are mature, 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:19.000 showing them how the multifaceted dimension 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:21.900 of the gospel speaks to every area of their life, 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.380 even as Christians. 00:19:24.560 --> 00:19:24.840 Now, 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:27.680 one of the reasons we often say this 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.120 is because the gospel 00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:31.960 is not just the way into the kingdom of God, 00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:34.460 it's the way of the kingdom of God. 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:37.100 It's not just the doorway or the entrance, 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:38.379 it's how you become a Christian, 00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:40.819 it's the pathway you walk along 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:42.539 until you get to glory. 00:19:43.419 --> 00:19:44.539 And so what that means is that 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.119 if you're a Christian here this morning, 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:48.539 one of the ways that you're going to grow 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.259 as a Christian 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:51.980 is to keep on applying the gospel 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:54.119 ever deeper into your heart 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:55.980 and to the challenges you face. 00:19:57.439 --> 00:19:59.299 Why do we keep on talking about the gospel? 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.359 Well, 00:20:00.459 --> 00:20:01.379 one of the reasons 00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:03.000 is because we forget. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:05.339 Look at what Paul says here in verse 1. 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:06.519 He says, 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:09.119 Now I want to remind you, 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.480 brothers, 00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:10.419 of the gospel. 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.599 We spoke about this two weeks ago 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:14.259 when we looked at Deuteronomy 6, right? 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.199 Remember Deuteronomy, 00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:15.639 Paul, 00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.339 not Paul, 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.559 Paul wasn't born yet, 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.039 Moses, 00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:18.579 okay? 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:20.240 Wrong testament. 00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:22.579 Moses writes and he says, 00:20:23.459 --> 00:20:23.740 He says, 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.699 Love the Lord your God 00:20:24.699 --> 00:20:25.359 with all your heart, 00:20:25.439 --> 00:20:25.579 soul, 00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:25.879 mind, 00:20:25.939 --> 00:20:26.139 strength. 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.259 Teach this to your children. 00:20:27.379 --> 00:20:27.899 And then he says, 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:30.140 when you go into the promised land 00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:31.800 and you count these houses 00:20:31.800 --> 00:20:32.540 and vineyards 00:20:32.540 --> 00:20:33.840 and everything is wonderful, 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:36.180 take care lest you forget 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:37.080 the Lord your God 00:20:37.080 --> 00:20:38.400 who delivered you out of Egypt. 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:40.040 And we spoke about the fact 00:20:40.040 --> 00:20:40.800 that in the Bible 00:20:40.800 --> 00:20:42.000 to forget 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:44.000 doesn't mean to have a lapse of memory. 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:46.540 It means you start to assume something. 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:48.620 You start to take it for granted. 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.180 What was once 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:51.720 front and central in your mind 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:53.500 starts to move to the periphery. 00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:53.780 And you say, 00:20:53.820 --> 00:20:53.960 Yeah, 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.100 yeah, 00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:54.940 I understand that, 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.220 right? 00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:56.420 Well, 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.240 Paul writes to remind them 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.920 of the gospel 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:00.860 because he wants to bring it 00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:01.880 front and central 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:03.440 to their lives. 00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:04.539 Friends, 00:21:04.600 --> 00:21:06.279 when we tend to 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:08.420 assume the gospel, 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.400 take it for granted, 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.200 we tend to think that 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:13.339 God saved us from our sins 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:14.299 but then salvation 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:16.480 is a means of self-help. 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:18.640 Like God just giving us a help up. 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:19.420 God, 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:19.640 God, 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:21.539 we need some of His help. 00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:22.819 We don't quite have it all together 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.759 and so we need God 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:25.160 just to help us get our lives 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:25.440 together. 00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:27.420 We need God to help heal us 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:27.980 from our hurts 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:30.000 or we need God to help us 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.040 sort out this area of our lives. 00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:34.019 In other words, 00:21:34.060 --> 00:21:36.160 what we do is we start to trust ourselves 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.080 for our salvation 00:21:37.080 --> 00:21:38.320 along with God. 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.300 But when we do that, 00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:42.620 we rob the gospel of its power. 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:45.580 It becomes like a shell 00:21:45.580 --> 00:21:47.019 of what it originally was. 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.220 In Romans 1, 00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:48.759 Paul says, 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.519 I'm not ashamed of the gospel 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:52.120 for it's the power of God 00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:52.740 for salvation. 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:53.859 It has the power 00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.940 to change your life, 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:56.299 to revolutionize your life. 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.960 But when we think of the gospel 00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:59.920 as a means to self-help, 00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:01.220 as good advice 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.559 rather than good news, 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:04.859 it disempowers the gospel 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.779 of its very essence, 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.519 its power. 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:08.079 And it becomes just 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:09.220 the advice 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.400 of how to live our lives. 00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:11.940 And so the one reason 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:13.460 we keep on talking about it 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.960 is because we tend to forget. 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.940 But the other reason 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.819 is because, 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:18.980 as I alluded to earlier, 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.799 the gospel is also the way 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:22.519 you grow as a Christian. 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:25.059 For those of us 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:26.279 that are already Christians, 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.000 justified, 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.599 forgiven, 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:29.620 we need to keep on hearing 00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:30.839 the good news of the gospel 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.640 and ever dive into 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.200 the richness of the treasure 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.559 of who Jesus is 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:36.240 and what he's done 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:36.839 on the cross 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:38.420 in order to grow 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.339 and mature 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:40.880 as Christians. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.080 Christians. 00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:43.340 We see this 00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:44.920 throughout the New Testament. 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.840 The Apostle Paul 00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:47.420 is constantly applying 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:47.920 the gospel 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:49.720 to every area of life. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.000 In other words, 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:52.800 Paul in Ephesians chapter 5, 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:53.600 he wants to help 00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:54.540 some of the Christians 00:22:54.540 --> 00:22:55.340 with their marriages. 00:22:56.040 --> 00:22:57.020 And so what does he say? 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.660 He writes and he says, 00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.620 Husbands, 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:01.120 love your wives 00:23:01.120 --> 00:23:02.540 just as Christ 00:23:02.540 --> 00:23:03.620 loved the church. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.100 Well, how did Christ 00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:05.740 love the church? 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:07.480 He gave himself up for her, 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:09.240 laying down his life 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.080 on the cross. 00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:11.579 Paul wants to help 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.480 people who are not 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.460 getting along so well 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.559 to get along in the church. 00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:15.339 And so what does he do? 00:23:15.439 --> 00:23:15.759 He says, 00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:17.000 Have this mind 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.720 which is yours 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.599 in Christ Jesus 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:20.259 who though he was God 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.699 didn't count equality 00:23:21.699 --> 00:23:22.119 with God 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:23.220 something to be grasped 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.919 but emptied himself 00:23:24.919 --> 00:23:26.019 becoming a man, 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.240 humbling himself 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.599 to the point of servanthood, 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.379 even death on the cross. 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.359 You see, 00:23:31.419 --> 00:23:32.019 when there's conflict 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.599 in the church, 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.740 Paul doesn't just say, 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.259 Listen, 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:34.939 you've been Christians 00:23:34.939 --> 00:23:35.500 for 10 years, 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.659 sort yourselves out now. 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:37.799 What does he do? 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:38.579 He says, 00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:40.059 Remember the humility 00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.700 of Jesus 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.619 and let that 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.299 humble you 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.259 of your pride 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.879 so that you can receive 00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:46.200 and love one another. 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.960 Later on in Ephesians, 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.539 Paul writes 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.619 and he wants to help 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.279 two Christians 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.319 forgive each other 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:51.879 who are struggling 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:52.720 to forgive each other. 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.440 And he says this, 00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:54.759 Let all bitterness 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.519 and anger 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.759 be put away from you. 00:23:57.139 --> 00:23:58.339 Be kind to one another, 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.200 tenderhearted, 00:23:59.399 --> 00:24:00.599 forgiving one another 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:02.859 just as God 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:04.000 in Christ 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:05.240 forgave you. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.559 Friends, 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.359 isn't that amazing? 00:24:08.159 --> 00:24:08.399 Let's say, 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:08.819 Claire and I 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:10.460 are not getting along 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.899 so well. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.879 Marriage is hard. 00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:13.720 Paul doesn't just say, 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.299 Kevin, 00:24:14.419 --> 00:24:14.899 you're the man, 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.899 sort yourself out. 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:16.720 Okay? 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.639 Have you guys seen 00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.139 that skit 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:19.299 where the counselor 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:19.940 says, 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.619 I've got two words 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:20.919 for you. 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.480 He says, 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.220 just stop it. 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.599 Someone comes in 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:24.000 and says, 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:25.039 I've got a problem. 00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:25.359 He says, 00:24:25.399 --> 00:24:25.599 okay, 00:24:25.659 --> 00:24:26.339 just stop it. 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:28.579 That's not what Paul does. 00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:29.500 He says, 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:29.859 Kevin, 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.019 I could tell you 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.660 to stop it. 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.559 But remember 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:35.240 how Christ treated you 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:37.039 when you were his enemy, 00:24:37.139 --> 00:24:37.900 when you were shaking 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:38.879 your fists at him, 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.539 when you were saying, 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.119 stuff you, 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:40.420 God, 00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.940 I want to be my own God. 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:44.160 How did Christ forgive you? 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.139 He went to the cross. 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:48.879 Let that melt your heart 00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:50.599 and forgive the one 00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:52.339 that has hurt you. 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.139 When Paul wants to help 00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:55.139 Christians be generous 00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:55.740 with their money, 00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.400 what does he do? 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.460 He says, 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.480 remember Jesus 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:00.079 who was infinitely rich 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:00.539 in heaven 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:02.220 and yet for your sake 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:02.960 became poor 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:04.519 so that you who are poor 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:06.119 have become infinitely 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:07.299 rich in him. 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:10.500 Paul massages 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:12.379 the kindness of Jesus, 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:14.180 the grace of Jesus, 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:16.159 the indestructible love 00:25:16.159 --> 00:25:16.779 of Jesus 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.859 into the hearts 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:18.619 of those that are 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.420 followers of Jesus 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.980 and he applies it 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.279 to the exact area 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:23.180 of their lives 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.139 where they are struggling. 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:26.339 But did you notice, 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.759 for Paul, 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:28.500 the gospel 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:30.119 is not just a theory 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:31.299 of atonement 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.419 or of how, 00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:32.799 you know, 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.599 Paul doesn't just say, 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:35.019 let me tell you 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.619 the doctrine 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.639 of propitiation, 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:37.139 okay? 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.299 He doesn't just 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:38.959 throw a textbook 00:25:38.959 --> 00:25:39.239 at them. 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.959 What does he do? 00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:41.279 The gospel 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.139 is always 00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:43.659 a person. 00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:44.979 You see, 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.859 it's the love 00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.579 of Christ 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:47.759 that secures 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.739 our anxious hearts. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:50.199 It's the forgiveness 00:25:50.199 --> 00:25:50.939 of Christ 00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:51.599 that helps us 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.399 to forgive one another. 00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:53.719 It's the gentleness 00:25:53.719 --> 00:25:54.519 and kindness 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.159 of Jesus 00:25:55.159 --> 00:25:56.619 that melts our hearts. 00:25:56.699 --> 00:25:56.959 Remember, 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.840 Romans 2 says, 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.220 it is the kindness 00:25:59.220 --> 00:25:59.799 of God 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.400 that leads us 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.039 to repentance. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.140 As Paul massages 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:03.980 the wonder 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.840 of Jesus 00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:06.059 and who Christ is 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.240 and what Jesus 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:08.160 did on the cross, 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.500 it so melts 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.059 the hearts 00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.440 of those 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.559 that are receiving it 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.500 that it actually 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.360 changes them 00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.940 from the inside out. 00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:16.340 In other words, 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.420 the more we come 00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:18.100 to see 00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:19.000 and realize 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.180 the depth 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:21.039 of the chasm 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:21.799 that lay between 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.660 us and God, 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.539 how utterly hopeless 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:25.859 our situation was, 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.759 how despairing 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.440 and desperate 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.359 our situation was 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:30.019 apart from 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.039 the mercy of Christ, 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.480 the more we see 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:32.960 that, 00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:34.399 the more our hearts 00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:34.799 will melt, 00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:35.319 the more we'll 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.420 understand the love 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.480 of Christ for us, 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.980 the more that God 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.059 will change you. 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:42.819 Friends, 00:26:42.879 --> 00:26:43.480 when we see 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.480 the wonder of Jesus 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.319 and the good news 00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.980 of the gospel, 00:26:46.859 --> 00:26:47.940 let me put it this way, 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.460 when that is not 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:51.500 vivid and real to us, 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.559 when it's not 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.259 clear to us, 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.379 when we assume 00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.000 the gospel 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:56.359 rather than treasure 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.500 who Jesus is 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.339 and what he's done, 00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.819 what happens 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:00.799 when things 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.619 come into your life? 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.960 What happens 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.900 when you come up 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:05.539 against issues 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.140 in our life? 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:08.099 I know what happens 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:08.559 in my life, 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:09.379 I get defensive. 00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:10.759 I start to say, 00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:11.039 well, 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:12.160 it's not my fault. 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.920 If that person 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.579 hadn't done that, 00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.180 I wouldn't have 00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:16.240 acted this way. 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.700 When the gospel 00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:18.519 is not real to me, 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.460 I find someone else 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:19.940 to blame. 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:22.140 I start to come up 00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:22.660 with all sorts 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.320 of excuses 00:27:23.320 --> 00:27:24.300 why things 00:27:24.300 --> 00:27:24.920 that have gone wrong 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:25.300 in my life 00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:26.160 are not my fault. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.920 It's my parents' fault. 00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:29.640 It's the government's fault. 00:27:30.100 --> 00:27:31.460 It's global warming's fault. 00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:33.240 It's the church's fault, 00:27:33.320 --> 00:27:33.580 right? 00:27:34.020 --> 00:27:34.940 It's Claire's fault. 00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:38.480 But when the wonder 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.040 of Jesus 00:27:39.040 --> 00:27:40.020 and what he's done 00:27:40.020 --> 00:27:40.740 for me, 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.240 that I, 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:42.720 a sinner, 00:27:44.060 --> 00:27:44.920 he rescued, 00:27:45.300 --> 00:27:45.860 ransomed, 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.660 healed, 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:47.259 forgiven, 00:27:48.060 --> 00:27:48.900 that when I was 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.780 at my worst, 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:51.400 Christ went to the cross 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:51.700 for me. 00:27:52.540 --> 00:27:53.560 It gives me 00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:54.340 an identity. 00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:56.320 It changes me. 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:57.480 It makes me 00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.259 the kind of person 00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:58.920 that can face 00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.720 my flaws 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:01.759 and my flaws 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.920 no longer define me 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:03.800 because I'm defined 00:28:03.800 --> 00:28:04.940 by the love of Christ. 00:28:06.340 --> 00:28:06.780 Friends, 00:28:06.820 --> 00:28:07.820 if you're a Christian today, 00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.220 you, 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:08.880 like me, 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.440 need to appropriate 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.000 the gospel 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.780 ever deeper 00:28:11.780 --> 00:28:12.660 into your heart 00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.420 in order to grow. 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:14.759 Friends, 00:28:14.800 --> 00:28:15.360 are you a Christian 00:28:15.360 --> 00:28:15.940 and you've become 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:17.640 stagnant in your faith? 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.100 Are you no longer 00:28:19.100 --> 00:28:20.040 growing in your faith? 00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:20.960 Have you become 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:22.059 bored and blasé? 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.340 Have you, 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.259 maybe you became 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:25.299 a Christian a few years 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:26.240 ago and your life 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.039 changed and God 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:28.000 blew up your life 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.900 and it was all amazing, 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.259 but over the last few 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:30.920 years you've just 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.940 plateaued and you 00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.579 walk with God. 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.460 You don't need to 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.340 just understand 00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:35.900 more stuff 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.740 or read more books. 00:28:36.840 --> 00:28:38.180 You need to marvel 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.900 at the wonder 00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:40.019 of what Jesus did 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.960 on the cross for you. 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.259 That you, 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:42.620 a sinner, 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.920 condemned and unclean, 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.140 could be welcomed 00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:45.799 and ransomed, 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:47.019 healed and restored 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:48.500 because Christ 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.740 loves you. 00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:51.299 Grapple with, 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:52.180 marvel with, 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.819 wonder, 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.420 preach the gospel 00:28:54.420 --> 00:28:55.539 to yourself. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:57.079 Okay, 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:00.920 quick story. 00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.980 C.S. Lewis, 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:03.720 I only discovered 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.420 this two weeks ago. 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.059 C.S. Lewis, 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:06.279 the great C.S. Lewis, 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.039 the guy who wrote 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:08.200 Narnia and 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.059 Mere Christianity 00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:10.440 and Screwtape Letters 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:10.839 and all these 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.460 wonderful books, 00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:12.539 became a Christian 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.359 in 1931. 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.940 He grew up 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.600 in a Christian home. 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.779 He rejected his faith 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.740 in his 20s, 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:19.100 became an ardent atheist 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.559 and he was friends 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.640 with J.R.R. Tolkien, 00:29:21.860 --> 00:29:22.380 the guy who wrote 00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:23.080 The Lord of the Rings 00:29:23.080 --> 00:29:24.220 at university. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.380 Tolkien was a Christian 00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:26.880 and Tolkien preached 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:27.759 the gospel to him 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:29.500 and led him 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.360 to faith in Christ. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.000 And so he became 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:32.440 a Christian in 1931. 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.500 And he wrote 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.500 these amazing books 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.240 like Narnia 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:35.940 and C.S. Lewis 00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:37.019 and Screwtape Letters. 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.840 20 years later, 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.059 on the 21st of April, 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.360 1951, 00:29:42.100 --> 00:29:43.900 he has a life-transforming 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.500 encounter. 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:47.460 the realization 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.640 of the forgiveness 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.740 of God's sin 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:51.360 became real to him 00:29:51.360 --> 00:29:51.880 in a way 00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:52.640 that had never 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.440 become real 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.539 previously. 00:29:55.299 --> 00:29:55.920 And even though 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.660 he had been a Christian 00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.960 for 20 years, 00:29:58.100 --> 00:29:59.799 as the depth 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.559 and the wonder 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.279 of the gospel 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:02.360 became real to him 00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:02.620 in a way 00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:03.320 that it had never 00:30:03.320 --> 00:30:03.960 been real, 00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:05.299 it changed his life. 00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.799 Listen to how 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.880 he describes it. 00:30:08.580 --> 00:30:09.400 He writes to 00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:11.140 some lady 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:11.880 three years later, 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.519 1954, 00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.360 he says, 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.899 he had this 00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.639 experience, 00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:16.699 he says, 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.419 perhaps this is 00:30:17.419 --> 00:30:18.099 the most blessed 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:18.659 thing that has 00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:19.199 ever happened 00:30:19.199 --> 00:30:19.599 to me. 00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:20.299 Oh, 00:30:20.399 --> 00:30:21.339 how little people 00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:22.379 know of Christianity, 00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:23.319 those who think 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:24.359 the story ends 00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:25.159 with conversion. 00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.500 Two years later, 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:27.159 1956, 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.059 he's writing 00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:28.679 another letter 00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.179 and he says, 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:30.759 I'd always believed 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.440 in my mind 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:31.960 the doctrine 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.460 of God's 00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.320 forgiveness of sins 00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:33.799 and I said 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.480 I believed it 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.440 but then 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.720 one blessed day 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.660 it suddenly 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.380 came to me 00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.400 and it made me 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.180 realize that 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:40.779 previously 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.420 what I had 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.360 called belief 00:30:42.360 --> 00:30:43.720 was absolutely 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.279 unreal. 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.480 Two years later, 00:30:45.580 --> 00:30:46.180 1958, 00:30:46.380 --> 00:30:47.019 he writes this, 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.000 I had been a 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:48.779 Christian for many 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:50.019 years before I 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:51.440 really believed 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.480 God's love for me 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.039 in the forgiveness 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.680 of sins 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.799 or more strictly 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.779 before my 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:57.240 theoretical belief 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.920 became a reality 00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.460 to me. 00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:00.779 Friends, 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.720 is that true for you? 00:31:02.359 --> 00:31:02.859 Maybe you've been 00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:03.740 a Christian for 20 00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.160 years. 00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:04.900 So yes, 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.759 I know Jesus died 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.019 for me, 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.240 yes, 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.120 I know he loves me 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:08.880 but has the gospel 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.779 captured your heart? 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:10.839 Is it changing you? 00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.120 Is it today, 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:12.799 this week, 00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:13.680 reassuring you 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.319 of God's love? 00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.319 Is it melting 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:15.900 the pride 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:16.480 and the ego? 00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:17.960 Is it destroying 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.700 the defensiveness? 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.759 Is it making you 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.299 more lovely 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:20.859 and kind 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:21.420 and gracious? 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:22.799 Is the gospel 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.680 real to you? 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:24.660 Friends, 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.299 why do we always 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:26.099 talk about the gospel? 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.220 Because it's 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.259 not only for sinners, 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:29.740 it's also for saints. 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.079 Now, 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.420 I've got two very 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:33.460 quick things to say 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:33.759 as well. 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.480 This is not going 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.000 to be too long. 00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.079 Thirdly, 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.120 the gospel is not 00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:37.759 only for sinners, 00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:39.400 not only for saints, 00:31:39.860 --> 00:31:41.259 it's also for sufferers. 00:31:43.100 --> 00:31:44.019 Every religion, 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.500 every secular worldview 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.160 will tell you 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:47.180 that it's the strong, 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:47.860 the devoted, 00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:48.920 those that have 00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:49.779 got it all together 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:51.180 that obtain the favor 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.839 of the gods 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:53.079 or make a success 00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:53.759 in life. 00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:55.440 But Jesus says, 00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:56.680 it's those of us 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.360 who come to him 00:31:57.360 --> 00:31:57.900 in weakness, 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.140 those who come 00:31:59.140 --> 00:32:00.120 to the end of ourselves, 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:01.420 those who are despairing 00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.440 that find the grace 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:02.920 of God. 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:05.060 Chris reminded me 00:32:05.060 --> 00:32:07.060 of this this week, 00:32:07.279 --> 00:32:08.180 that what makes 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:09.960 suffering so intolerable 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:11.140 is not just 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:12.160 the suffering itself, 00:32:12.220 --> 00:32:12.960 that's part of it, 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.960 but it's the stories 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.660 we believe 00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.560 about our suffering. 00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:16.960 When you're suffering, 00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:18.820 the story in your mind 00:32:18.820 --> 00:32:19.279 that says, 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.100 I'm suffering 00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.660 because I've done 00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:21.299 something wrong, 00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:22.560 because I must have 00:32:22.560 --> 00:32:23.080 done something 00:32:23.079 --> 00:32:23.919 to earn this 00:32:23.919 --> 00:32:25.720 displeasure of God. 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:27.019 Or maybe we tell 00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.699 ourselves that 00:32:27.699 --> 00:32:28.519 this suffering 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.679 will make me unlovable, 00:32:29.879 --> 00:32:31.000 I'm now damaged goods, 00:32:31.199 --> 00:32:32.379 no one will ever love me. 00:32:32.659 --> 00:32:33.240 Or we think 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:33.839 this is the way 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.679 it will always be. 00:32:34.939 --> 00:32:35.799 Or we take that on 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:36.659 as our identity. 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:38.599 But Jesus Christ 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:39.839 came with the broken world, 00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:41.659 suffered unbelievable, 00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:42.819 infinite rejection, 00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:44.579 not only by his disciples, 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.679 not only by the Romans, 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.759 but by his father 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.500 on the cross. 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:49.539 Jesus suffered 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.579 in order to give 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.160 you and I 00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:52.000 an identity 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:54.000 that does not change 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.799 with our successes 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.720 or our failures. 00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:57.220 That does not change 00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:58.359 when life is amazing 00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:59.519 or when life is suffering. 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:00.920 Jesus gives you 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:01.440 an identity 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.359 that is based 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.440 on his profound 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.420 love for you. 00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.319 And so look at 00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:06.160 what Paul says here 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:06.779 in 2 Corinthians. 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.240 He says, 00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:08.859 God said to me, 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:09.579 Paul's going through 00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:10.720 his sorrow time, 00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:12.140 suffering unbelievably. 00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.799 He cries out to God 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.019 and says, 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:15.039 God, is this ever 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:15.740 going to change? 00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:16.859 And look at what God says. 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.779 My grace is sufficient 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.259 for you. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:21.679 My power is made perfect 00:33:21.679 --> 00:33:22.659 in your weakness. 00:33:23.439 --> 00:33:23.759 Therefore, 00:33:23.919 --> 00:33:24.279 says Paul, 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.979 I will boast 00:33:24.979 --> 00:33:25.879 all the more gladly 00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:26.759 of my weaknesses 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:28.379 so that the power 00:33:28.379 --> 00:33:29.179 of Christ 00:33:29.179 --> 00:33:30.439 may rest upon me. 00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:32.079 For the sake of Christ, 00:33:32.179 --> 00:33:32.319 then, 00:33:32.439 --> 00:33:33.299 I am content 00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:34.079 with weakness, 00:33:34.419 --> 00:33:34.979 insults, 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:35.479 hardships, 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.559 calamities. 00:33:36.979 --> 00:33:38.459 When I am weak 00:33:38.459 --> 00:33:39.859 because of Christ 00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.459 and the gospel, 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:42.559 then I am strong. 00:33:43.619 --> 00:33:44.059 Friends, 00:33:44.139 --> 00:33:45.139 no one likes suffering. 00:33:45.719 --> 00:33:46.159 None of us 00:33:46.160 --> 00:33:46.920 choose suffering. 00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:48.740 But Jesus' death 00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:49.440 and resurrection 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.800 transform suffering 00:33:50.800 --> 00:33:51.800 from a sentence 00:33:51.800 --> 00:33:53.720 into a steward 00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:55.200 that will lead you 00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:56.300 to the grace of God. 00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:57.920 Just this week, 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:59.500 I was sitting with a man 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:01.019 who is going through 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:02.380 unbelievable suffering. 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:03.680 The kind of suffering 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:04.600 that I hope 00:34:04.600 --> 00:34:05.900 I will never experience 00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:06.640 in my lifetime. 00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:08.680 And as I sat across 00:34:08.680 --> 00:34:09.900 the room from him 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:11.159 with tears streaming 00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:12.059 down his face, 00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:13.400 he said to me, 00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:14.619 this is the hardest thing 00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.619 I've ever gone through 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.760 in my entire life. 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.340 And yet, 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.820 I would not change it 00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:20.420 for the world 00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:22.280 because in this hardship, 00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.820 I have experienced 00:34:23.820 --> 00:34:24.760 the intimacy 00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:25.559 and the closeness 00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:26.099 of Christ 00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:27.039 that I never thought 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.680 was possible. 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.400 Friends, 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.039 are you suffering 00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:32.480 this morning? 00:34:32.660 --> 00:34:32.920 Yes, 00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:33.579 you're in a battle, 00:34:33.680 --> 00:34:34.160 but the battle 00:34:34.160 --> 00:34:35.160 doesn't define you. 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:36.720 Jesus' death 00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:37.320 and resurrection 00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:38.280 gives you an identity 00:34:38.280 --> 00:34:39.260 that defines you. 00:34:40.120 --> 00:34:40.900 Your battle 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.940 will be won 00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:43.180 because the ultimate battle 00:34:43.180 --> 00:34:44.480 was won on the cross. 00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:45.980 Yes, 00:34:46.140 --> 00:34:47.280 destruction and danger 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:48.060 and even death 00:34:48.060 --> 00:34:48.880 will come close, 00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:50.540 but they won't consume you. 00:34:50.620 --> 00:34:51.800 They won't overwhelm you 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:53.020 if you're in Christ 00:34:53.020 --> 00:34:53.960 because Christ's death 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.640 and resurrection 00:34:54.640 --> 00:34:56.480 changes suffering 00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.820 from a sentence 00:34:57.820 --> 00:34:58.780 into a servant. 00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.300 But then, 00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:01.720 not only is the gospel 00:35:01.720 --> 00:35:02.500 good news for sinners, 00:35:02.660 --> 00:35:03.600 not only is it good news 00:35:03.600 --> 00:35:04.020 for saints, 00:35:04.140 --> 00:35:05.000 not only is it good news 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:05.660 for sufferers, 00:35:05.740 --> 00:35:06.280 it's good news 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:07.280 for sojourners. 00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:08.360 I'm sorry about 00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:09.100 the four S's, 00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:09.420 but, 00:35:09.779 --> 00:35:10.059 you know. 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:12.880 You see, 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:14.159 the good news 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:14.599 of the gospel 00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.000 is that, 00:35:15.239 --> 00:35:15.460 yes, 00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.599 Christ is with us 00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.460 in our suffering. 00:35:18.339 --> 00:35:19.279 He's with us. 00:35:19.299 --> 00:35:20.339 He doesn't abandon us. 00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:21.339 But actually, 00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:22.480 the ultimate good news 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.219 is that one day 00:35:23.219 --> 00:35:24.480 our suffering will end. 00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:27.179 If you're new 00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:28.039 to church this morning, 00:35:28.199 --> 00:35:29.019 the Bible talks 00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.579 about Christians 00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:31.059 as being sojourners 00:35:31.059 --> 00:35:32.000 or pilgrims. 00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.179 And what that means 00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:34.059 is that this world 00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:34.839 is not our home. 00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:36.460 We are kind of pilgrims 00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.339 in this world 00:35:37.339 --> 00:35:38.659 as we make our way 00:35:38.659 --> 00:35:40.000 towards our final home, 00:35:40.319 --> 00:35:41.279 which is glory 00:35:41.279 --> 00:35:42.659 for all eternity 00:35:42.659 --> 00:35:43.399 in Christ. 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.299 You see, 00:35:44.359 --> 00:35:44.920 as wonderful 00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:45.539 and as precious 00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:46.159 as it is 00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:47.279 that the risen Lord 00:35:47.279 --> 00:35:47.920 Jesus Christ 00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:48.659 is with you 00:35:48.659 --> 00:35:49.440 in your suffering, 00:35:49.799 --> 00:35:50.659 the Bible says 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:52.079 there is coming a day 00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:53.739 when every bit 00:35:53.739 --> 00:35:54.319 of suffering, 00:35:54.819 --> 00:35:56.079 every bit of brokenness, 00:35:56.239 --> 00:35:57.399 every bit of wickedness, 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.359 every tear 00:35:58.359 --> 00:35:59.199 that you encounter 00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.119 in this world 00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:01.679 will be done away with 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.519 if you're in Christ. 00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:04.019 There is a world 00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:04.579 that is coming 00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.460 that is your true 00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:06.320 and lasting home, 00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.659 your final home 00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:09.480 where there will be 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.260 no more tears, 00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:11.159 no more pain, 00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.039 no more death, 00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:12.880 no more sorrow, 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:13.880 no more suffering, 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.019 no more agony. 00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:16.900 Friends, 00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:17.679 the day you become 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:18.199 a Christian, 00:36:18.519 --> 00:36:19.840 God saves you 00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.860 from the penalty 00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.360 of sin. 00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:22.920 In this lifetime, 00:36:23.079 --> 00:36:24.139 God is saving you 00:36:24.139 --> 00:36:25.400 from the power 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:26.099 of sin in your life. 00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:27.240 There is coming a day 00:36:27.240 --> 00:36:28.420 when God will deliver you 00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:29.460 from even the very presence 00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:31.840 of sin and brokenness 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.880 and wickedness 00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:33.460 in our world. 00:36:34.179 --> 00:36:34.980 And so Paul goes on 00:36:34.980 --> 00:36:35.340 and he says, 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:36.460 if we are Christians, 00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:38.079 he says, 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:38.760 if as Christians 00:36:38.760 --> 00:36:39.480 we have hope 00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:40.539 in this life only, 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:42.079 but then after this life 00:36:42.079 --> 00:36:43.000 that's just the end, 00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:44.340 we of Christians 00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:45.740 are the most of all people 00:36:45.740 --> 00:36:46.559 to be pitied. 00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:47.659 But in fact, 00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:48.760 Christ died 00:36:48.760 --> 00:36:50.219 and raised from the dead 00:36:50.219 --> 00:36:51.539 so we also 00:36:51.539 --> 00:36:52.860 will raise with him 00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:54.579 when he comes again. 00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:55.860 Friends, 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:56.699 for those of us 00:36:56.699 --> 00:36:57.300 that are Christians, 00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.880 as it was with Christ, 00:36:58.960 --> 00:36:59.900 so it will be with you. 00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:00.800 Yes, 00:37:00.840 --> 00:37:01.400 you will suffer 00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:02.119 in this world. 00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:03.159 Jesus said, 00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:03.699 in this world 00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:04.559 you will have hardship 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.239 and difficulty. 00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:07.440 But just as Jesus died 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:08.239 and rose again, 00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:09.279 if you are in Christ, 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:10.139 that is going to be 00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:11.000 your story too. 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:15.219 Because Jesus will give us 00:37:15.219 --> 00:37:15.880 an identity, 00:37:16.360 --> 00:37:16.920 a hope, 00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:17.860 a home, 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:18.400 a glory 00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:19.279 that no one 00:37:19.279 --> 00:37:19.880 and nothing 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:21.619 can take away from you. 00:37:22.299 --> 00:37:22.579 Friends, 00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.500 this is why we talk 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.139 about the gospel. 00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.860 This is why we sing, 00:37:26.279 --> 00:37:26.579 pray, 00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:27.340 delight, 00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:29.719 celebrate the gospel. 00:37:29.719 --> 00:37:29.799 gospel. 00:37:30.439 --> 00:37:31.859 This is why we are not ashamed 00:37:31.859 --> 00:37:33.079 to call ourselves 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:33.879 gospel-centered. 00:37:34.599 --> 00:37:35.000 Friends, 00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:36.399 I pray that at Watermark, 00:37:36.899 --> 00:37:37.859 when in years to come 00:37:37.859 --> 00:37:38.779 you think of Watermark, 00:37:38.879 --> 00:37:39.679 you don't just think of 00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:40.639 a friendly church. 00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:41.919 You don't just think of 00:37:41.919 --> 00:37:42.399 community, 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:43.619 as wonderful as that is. 00:37:43.959 --> 00:37:44.919 You don't just think of 00:37:44.919 --> 00:37:45.699 gospel-centered 00:37:45.699 --> 00:37:46.459 because that is on 00:37:46.459 --> 00:37:47.819 everything we ever write. 00:37:48.259 --> 00:37:49.319 But I pray that 00:37:49.319 --> 00:37:50.500 as you think of Watermark, 00:37:50.619 --> 00:37:51.279 you will think of 00:37:51.279 --> 00:37:52.919 the wonder of God's love. 00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:54.679 That though you were a sinner, 00:37:55.299 --> 00:37:56.899 lost and dead in your sins, 00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:59.039 because of His profound 00:37:59.039 --> 00:37:59.960 love for you, 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:02.260 Jesus Christ went to the cross, 00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:04.119 took your sin upon Himself, 00:38:04.700 --> 00:38:05.619 that you can be 00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:06.619 rescued, 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:08.340 healed, 00:38:09.160 --> 00:38:09.619 restored, 00:38:10.400 --> 00:38:10.700 forgiven. 00:38:11.740 --> 00:38:13.019 I would remind you, 00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:13.820 brothers and sisters, 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:14.539 of the gospel 00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:15.660 that I preached to you, 00:38:15.680 --> 00:38:16.139 says Paul, 00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:17.720 in which you received, 00:38:18.180 --> 00:38:19.300 in which you stand, 00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:21.119 by which you are being saved, 00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:22.539 as you hold fast 00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:23.760 to the word of life. 00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:25.059 Let's pray together. 00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:29.960 Lord Jesus, 00:38:30.240 --> 00:38:32.740 I do pray, 00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:33.200 God, 00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:34.300 for us as a church, 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:34.559 Lord. 00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:36.180 I pray that 00:38:36.180 --> 00:38:37.280 one of the marks 00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:38.220 of Watermark Church 00:38:38.220 --> 00:38:39.320 is that we will be 00:38:39.320 --> 00:38:41.240 so rooted and anchored, 00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:41.880 that we will 00:38:41.880 --> 00:38:43.480 not just know 00:38:43.480 --> 00:38:44.300 the good news 00:38:44.300 --> 00:38:45.360 of the gospel in our head, 00:38:45.740 --> 00:38:46.639 but that it will 00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:48.200 infiltrate every area 00:38:48.200 --> 00:38:48.700 of our lives. 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:49.360 It will shape 00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:50.780 every area of our lives. 00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:52.099 It will change us, 00:38:52.160 --> 00:38:52.300 God, 00:38:52.340 --> 00:38:53.180 that we will be so 00:38:53.180 --> 00:38:55.019 anchored and grounded 00:38:55.019 --> 00:38:55.900 and established 00:38:55.900 --> 00:38:57.980 in the profound 00:38:57.980 --> 00:38:58.599 good news 00:38:58.599 --> 00:38:59.240 of what you did 00:38:59.240 --> 00:38:59.800 on the cross, 00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:01.039 that God, 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:02.160 we will be a taste 00:39:02.160 --> 00:39:03.240 of heaven on earth, 00:39:03.780 --> 00:39:05.660 that in this little community 00:39:05.660 --> 00:39:06.800 and as we spread out 00:39:06.800 --> 00:39:07.400 into Hong Kong, 00:39:07.500 --> 00:39:07.880 that we, 00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:08.220 God, 00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:10.519 will be almost 00:39:10.519 --> 00:39:11.280 an enclave 00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:12.139 of heaven on earth. 00:39:12.300 --> 00:39:12.680 Christ, 00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:13.099 I pray, 00:39:13.220 --> 00:39:13.940 come and do that. 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:14.880 Lord, 00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:16.099 I pray for those of us here 00:39:16.099 --> 00:39:17.079 that are maybe 00:39:17.079 --> 00:39:17.900 not even Christians. 00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:18.900 We've never come 00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.780 to experience 00:39:19.780 --> 00:39:20.840 the life-transforming 00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:22.720 power of God. 00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:23.700 God, 00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:24.380 won't you come 00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:25.039 and open eyes 00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:25.800 to see the gospel. 00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:26.300 Won't you come 00:39:26.300 --> 00:39:27.219 and help us 00:39:27.219 --> 00:39:28.199 to see what you did 00:39:28.199 --> 00:39:28.739 for us, 00:39:29.279 --> 00:39:29.800 that your death 00:39:29.800 --> 00:39:30.279 on the cross 00:39:30.279 --> 00:39:30.980 wasn't just 00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:32.239 a historical event, 00:39:32.840 --> 00:39:34.420 it was a power. 00:39:35.139 --> 00:39:36.239 It was an event 00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:37.279 to change the course 00:39:37.279 --> 00:39:38.000 of human history 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:38.559 and to change 00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:39.380 our lives too. 00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:41.300 Christ, 00:39:41.380 --> 00:39:42.199 come and have your way 00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:43.000 in our lives 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:43.800 and in our church, 00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:44.800 we pray. 00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:46.340 Amen.