WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.940 Thank you very much. Great to be with you, both in person and at home. Hello. 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:14.060 Last time I was with you, I think, was the Church Away Day over in Musselburgh, which was a really lovely time to be with you. 00:00:14.820 --> 00:00:20.000 A lot warmer than today, that's for sure, but just as much of a precious time. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.980 And it's great now to be with you again. And this evening we're thinking about Christmas, of course, 00:00:24.980 --> 00:00:31.679 and particularly the reasons and the purposes behind, of course, the biblical explanation for Christmas. 00:00:32.120 --> 00:00:36.520 And as I'm sure you see on your TVs and as sure as you see around you, 00:00:36.859 --> 00:00:43.280 every business, every company right now is working a way of harnessing some sort of good Christmas campaign. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:48.820 Yeah, they always try to work it out so they can twist it in to raise some profit. 00:00:48.939 --> 00:00:52.900 And this popped through my door this week. The Bowdoin Clothing Magazine. 00:00:52.899 --> 00:01:00.500 Feel how you wish about Bowdoin. But it's quite an interesting way they've gone about selling Christmas and their clothing this year. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.620 It says, if ever there was a year that needed Christmas, this is it. 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:08.900 I realise I've got my mask on. I don't need it on, do I? What a privilege. Look at that. 00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:15.859 That's cool. I feel free. Right. Great. If ever there was a year that needed Christmas, this is it. 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:22.500 I wonder if you agree or disagree. Clever, yeah? Let's be honest. Of course, this year has been different. 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:27.700 Hard for many. Different for everyone. And you get what they're getting at here, yeah? 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:34.640 Christmas is often associated with positive things. Time off work. Great food. Games with the family. 00:01:35.420 --> 00:01:39.060 Maybe that's how you feel and you can't wait for a few weeks' time. 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:44.859 And so you see what they're saying. Look, if ever there was a moment, if ever there was a time, 00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:51.159 if ever there was a year that needed all the things that Christmas can bring, this is it. 00:01:51.659 --> 00:01:59.859 This is the time. And it's with that in mind, we're going to be thinking about the time where God brought about the first Christmas. 00:01:59.859 --> 00:02:09.479 Christmas. And I put it to you this evening that we have needed Christmas every year from that first one right through until today with equal value and importance. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:12.020 So please, if you have your Bible there, keep it open. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:19.780 And we're going to particularly look down at verses four and five and really think about what the Apostle Paul is trying to teach us. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:22.139 Let me read those two verses again to us. 00:02:22.139 --> 00:02:39.199 Right. Some big words in there, some unfamiliar words. What is it all about? 00:02:39.299 --> 00:02:41.859 Here's the first thing I want us to understand. Point one this evening. 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:45.259 Christmas happened on God's watch. 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:48.919 Christmas happened on God's watch. 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:55.959 You see what he's saying? He's saying that there was a time when God decided to send his son into the world. 00:02:56.039 --> 00:02:57.099 It was a set time. 00:02:57.659 --> 00:03:01.459 Another Bible version says that in the fullness of time has come. 00:03:01.779 --> 00:03:03.179 God sent his son. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:07.339 A particular moment in time, space and history. 00:03:07.339 --> 00:03:18.279 God, the God of the universe, as Archie prayed earlier, decided he would step foot on planet Earth and be with his created. 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:21.060 People. Please don't let this pass you by this evening. 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.539 Whether you call yourself a Christian or not, don't let this pass you by. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:34.180 Christmas happened, according to the Bible, because God planned for it and proactively engaged with his created world. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:44.920 I'm not a scientist, but I did a bit of reading and scientists estimate that there's around 100 million, million, million planets orbiting the universe right now. 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:51.459 Within our little solar system, the Earth is the fifth largest planet within our solar system. 00:03:52.899 --> 00:03:56.739 But we orbit, of course, around our megastar, the sun. 00:03:56.899 --> 00:04:00.619 The sun is said to be our largest of stars. 00:04:00.780 --> 00:04:06.839 And the Earth, you could fit around one million Earths inside the size of the sun. 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:18.199 And yet the sun in the whole universe is deemed to be one of the medium-sized stars compared to some of the others, like the big red giant, what was it called? 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:19.079 Belita guys. 00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:20.280 I hope I've said that right. 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:23.920 Which is around apparently 700 times bigger than the sun. 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:26.560 Just to blow your mind on a Sunday evening, hey? 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:36.120 Yet considering all of that, the vastness of creation, the vastness of the universe, considering all of that, what did God do? 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:44.779 He decided, according to his plan for the universe, to step down into our world. 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:52.040 Sending his son from the glorious holiness of heaven to the grubby, dusty streets of Bethlehem. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:54.459 It happened on his watch. 00:04:54.459 --> 00:04:56.759 Remarkable, isn't it? 00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:59.219 When you stop and think about it for a moment. 00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:02.120 Absolutely remarkable. 00:05:03.159 --> 00:05:03.579 Why? 00:05:05.259 --> 00:05:07.719 Well, because we needed him to. 00:05:07.799 --> 00:05:08.560 That's point two. 00:05:09.060 --> 00:05:12.699 Christmas happened because we needed it to happen. 00:05:13.179 --> 00:05:15.139 Christmas happened because we needed it. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.939 Look at verse 4 and 5 again with me if you can. 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:23.719 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:29.820 to redeem those under the law that we might receive adoption to sonship. 00:05:30.140 --> 00:05:34.240 See, Jesus came not just to reveal God to us, which is amazing in and of itself, 00:05:34.460 --> 00:05:37.740 but he came with a real purpose and a real goal in mind. 00:05:37.840 --> 00:05:41.580 Verse 5, to redeem those under the law. 00:05:41.940 --> 00:05:42.200 Right. 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:43.459 What's that all about? 00:05:43.539 --> 00:05:45.420 What is Paul getting at in this moment? 00:05:45.539 --> 00:05:51.259 Well, it links with the wider purpose, really, of why he's writing this letter to the church in Galatia at the time. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:55.959 Let's flashback just for a few moments why we're at the point we are within this letter. 00:05:56.680 --> 00:06:01.000 Paul, on one of his journeys where he was taking the gospel to various towns and cities, 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:03.319 he goes to this place called Galatia. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:05.459 He tells them the good news about Jesus. 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:05.800 Yeah. 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:11.079 There Jesus is coming to the earth, his death, his resurrection, all that it means to follow him. 00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:14.280 And amazingly, people receive that news positively. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:15.819 They give their lives to Jesus. 00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:16.600 They follow him. 00:06:16.660 --> 00:06:20.020 That's what it means to be a Christian if you're exploring the Christian faith. 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:23.540 But as Paul moves on and he goes on to other towns and cities, 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:28.920 what happens at that point is some of the other religious folk within Galatia and their surrounding areas come on in. 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:33.520 And they start teaching extra teaching. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:38.439 You might call it additional teaching, which is essentially them turning around and saying that, 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:42.660 listen, if you really want to be a Christian, if you really want to be a part of God's family, 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:46.360 well, then, yes, believe in Jesus, but you've got to do a little bit more. 00:06:46.900 --> 00:06:48.840 You've got to obey the special law. 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:51.200 And if you're a bloke, you've got to be circumcised. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:54.620 That's what it means, really, to be a Christian. 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:59.060 And they held really firmly on to this promise made to their forefather, Abraham. 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:03.259 If you're not too familiar with the Bible, you find this promise in the Old Testament, 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:06.040 which is the first half of the Bible in a book called Genesis. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:11.160 And in it, you see God making a promise to Abraham that he will have a son. 00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:15.259 And subsequently from his son and all the generations that flow from that, 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:22.540 God would establish his kingdom, his nation, sorry, his family would come through this seed. 00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:27.520 And so this is a really significant promise for the Jewish people. 00:07:27.760 --> 00:07:32.460 And for the Jews at the time, the Judaizers speaking to these new Galatian Christians, 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:34.400 they made much of it. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:38.700 And they wanted to say that essentially, if you did not keep the law, 00:07:39.400 --> 00:07:44.420 if you're a bloke and you had not been circumcised, really, you're not in. 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:46.460 You're not in God's family. 00:07:46.700 --> 00:07:47.860 You cannot be sure of it. 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:49.220 And you're not included. 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:52.600 And so this is why Paul writes this letter. 00:07:53.020 --> 00:08:00.760 He writes to urge them and remind them of the gospel and to refute some of these additional arguments that are being made. 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:05.480 And just in the verses before, the four and five that we've read a couple of times, 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:10.300 he really starts to explain why Christmas happened. 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:12.400 Why it's so important. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:17.379 And he says two things in regards to the law that are just important for us to understand. 00:08:17.679 --> 00:08:18.620 So zone in here. 00:08:18.719 --> 00:08:22.759 Two things he really wanted us to understand, or he wanted them to understand, and us today. 00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:23.959 Firstly, this. 00:08:24.219 --> 00:08:28.739 The law was never there to fully save people and bring them into God's family. 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:30.979 Yeah, it was almost like a guardian. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:37.120 It was this law given to them at a period of time in their history to guard them and protect them. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:46.019 And he uses this analogy of an heir who in Roman citizen times would have been the child of a elderly, of a senior person, 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:48.259 who would have had this guardian look after them. 00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:50.399 And they would have watched them and protected them. 00:08:50.460 --> 00:08:51.299 They would have taught them. 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:58.279 And that guardian would have been with them for a period of time until they were ready to move into adulthood. 00:08:58.940 --> 00:08:59.700 See, I don't know. 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:01.659 It's much like when we learn to drive, yeah? 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:03.060 You've got to drive an instructor. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:06.399 You've got a parent who's patient enough to sit with you and teach you how to drive. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:07.179 What do they do? 00:09:07.439 --> 00:09:08.299 They guard you. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:09.100 They protect you. 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:13.240 They help you drive according to the laws of the road until you're ready, 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:17.759 until you've passed your test to be able to go in and be able to drive freely yourself. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:20.879 This was one of the purposes of the law, Paul is saying. 00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:26.039 It's there for a period of time to guard you and protect you and to help you. 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:28.639 Under God's plan, it was never there to save you. 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:30.340 And why? 00:09:30.439 --> 00:09:33.819 Because this is the second reason that Paul really refutes this. 00:09:33.819 --> 00:09:36.240 Because the law, you couldn't keep it. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:39.559 They just couldn't keep it. 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:48.679 Whether they were a Jew or not, and whether we are Jews or not today, we can't keep God's standards. 00:09:50.819 --> 00:09:52.039 We can't do it. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:53.480 And Paul knew that. 00:09:53.480 --> 00:10:02.120 And instead of people living up to God's laws and fulfilling all that he wants for them as they're created people by their heavenly father, 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:03.279 what have people done? 00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:06.580 They've rejected him and they fail to be able to live his ways. 00:10:06.580 --> 00:10:12.920 And so Paul uses verse three really as a real summary of the condition of the human heart. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:13.520 Look at it again. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:14.259 Look at it with me. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:24.400 He says, so also when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:25.960 That's pretty meaty language. 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:27.500 What's he saying here? 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:31.259 He's saying, look, flick on the BBC News. 00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:34.519 Over here a conversation out on a walk. 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:35.860 What do you see? 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:40.059 You see a world that is not functioning in the way it should be. 00:10:40.820 --> 00:10:41.080 Right? 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.160 It's not hard for us to see it these days. 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:46.360 The world is not functioning in the way it should be. 00:10:46.420 --> 00:10:52.080 Whether you call yourself a Christian or not, if this is all that we've got, something's probably gone wrong at some point along the way. 00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:52.360 Yeah? 00:10:52.980 --> 00:11:00.900 And that is why one of the things Paul is really saying here is that all of us, instead of putting God at the number one podium spot of our lives, 00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:04.420 have at various times and in various ways put ourselves there. 00:11:04.680 --> 00:11:09.500 And we bump God down a second or third or a lot of people don't even want him in the race of their own life. 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:11.480 And this is serious. 00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:13.559 Really serious. 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:16.700 And see the word he uses? 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:17.340 Look at it. 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:19.200 What does he say people are? 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:24.679 They are under the law or they are under the forces of the world. 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:27.720 This is a real deliberate choice of word from Paul. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:29.620 Hear what he's saying. 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:31.179 People are under. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.779 They're trapped. 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:35.779 They are captured. 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:39.659 By the forces of the world. 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:42.319 I wonder how that makes you feel. 00:11:44.100 --> 00:11:46.220 Potentially, for some people that's a bit random. 00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:48.019 Potentially quite offensive. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:53.339 A random Welsh bloke telling you that you're under the forces of the world might be something you're not expecting to hear. 00:11:53.459 --> 00:11:54.740 But here's the reality. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:58.279 Whether you believe in all of this or not, the Bible says that you are not free. 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:02.639 If you do not know God, you are not free. 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:04.299 You are trapped. 00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:06.819 You are locked down. 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:09.819 You're under another master. 00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:13.939 And yes, some people might find that offensive. 00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:17.740 But I wonder, maybe you do feel that at times. 00:12:19.079 --> 00:12:20.759 Christian or not, we feel it, hey? 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:24.580 Do you ever find you've got to keep up an appearance? 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:30.080 You've got to be a certain way because you don't want to be the odd one out amongst friends or colleagues or neighbors? 00:12:31.179 --> 00:12:38.299 I don't know, find yourself saying stuff because everyone else says it or you're liking stuff because everyone else is because you don't want to be the person that's excluded. 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.279 That's pressure. 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:42.659 That's the world and the culture telling you you've got to be a certain way. 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:46.779 Ever find yourself wanting the latest gossip or wanting the latest gadget? 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.259 That's pressure. 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:50.639 That's the world telling you to be a certain way. 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:52.059 That's you trapped. 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:55.759 Captured. 00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:59.919 See, our culture says make yourself number one, yeah? 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:01.480 Make yourself number one. 00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:02.980 But do you know what that often brings? 00:13:03.299 --> 00:13:06.279 Is this pursuit of trying to prove yourself. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:08.399 Trying to gain acceptance. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:09.960 Trying to fit in. 00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:13.620 When you make yourself number one, you spend your life failing. 00:13:14.939 --> 00:13:17.439 And the Bible says this is really serious. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:20.760 Because without realizing it, you know what you start to do? 00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:23.600 You start to just march to the beat of the world. 00:13:24.900 --> 00:13:26.580 You're trapped, verse 3 says. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:31.740 Enslaved to the forces of the world. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:33.660 This is why we need set free. 00:13:34.140 --> 00:13:36.320 This is why we need redeemed. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.480 This is why Jesus came. 00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:40.080 This is why we've got Christmas. 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:48.000 God sending his son back into this world to bring us back to him. 00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:51.620 See, not only does Jesus come to deal with that problem of enslavement, 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:55.620 enslavement, more than that, he offers us a new start. 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:57.379 A brand new start. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:01.019 I caught up with an old friend of mine recently. 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:05.440 We haven't spoke for probably about five years, but we were at university together. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:08.899 And then we did an internship program together for two years after that. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.600 So we were in each other's lives a long time. 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:12.840 But as you do, as you move around, we lost touch. 00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.200 And we phoned up. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:17.620 And within a few moments of us doing the formalities of hey and all of that, 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:18.740 I said, how are you doing? 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:21.299 And then he says, oh, gosh, some exciting news for you, Dave. 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:27.779 My wife and I are about to adopt two 22-month twin boys on Thursday. 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:29.419 My jaw dropped. 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:31.539 I said, do you know what you're getting yourself in for? 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:33.779 He says, yes, and we can't wait. 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:35.659 He was no stopping. 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:37.519 He was smiling from ear to ear. 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:41.500 And he was thrilled because, I mean, he couldn't tell me an awful lot about their circumstances, 00:14:41.500 --> 00:14:42.659 but they were not good. 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:47.560 And he and his wife were so excited to give them a new start in life, 00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:51.479 to welcome them into their family. 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:55.519 And see, this is now the third point we've got to get our heads around. 00:14:55.599 --> 00:14:58.919 Not only does Jesus come to redeem us, what does he do? 00:14:58.939 --> 00:15:00.619 He comes to give us a new start. 00:15:00.619 --> 00:15:05.779 In God's grand plan, he is the one who takes the first step. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.159 Why? 00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:08.459 To welcome us in. 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:10.119 Point three, if you're a note taker. 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:14.100 Christmas happened to bring us back to God. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:23.820 Christmas happened to bring us back to God, to receive adoption into his family. 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.279 How? 00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:27.799 Through the life of his son. 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:32.879 See, the Christmas story doesn't just start and stop at a crib around a manger scene and a stable. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:38.460 No, the true Christmas story is foretold and promised way before Jesus arrives, 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:42.299 starts at a crib, ends at a cross, and goes on to glory forever. 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:44.299 That's the true Christmas story. 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:47.659 And if you've never read it, I would so urge you, 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.700 if you've never read the Bible for yourself as an adult, 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:51.919 I would really strongly encourage you to do it. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.120 Look at the life of Jesus. 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.939 Ask a Christian friend. 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:57.120 Remind yourself if you have read it, 00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:00.159 because Jesus is like no other. 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:01.219 You know what it is. 00:16:01.219 --> 00:16:02.860 When you look at it for yourself, what do you see? 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:07.179 You see Jesus having this incredible relationship with his heavenly father, don't you? 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:11.579 You see Jesus doing stuff that no one has ever seen before, 00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:16.079 teaching in ways that our world and our culture has never heard before, 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:20.199 showing love, care, compassion to people around him, 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:24.639 backing up everything he does with incredible glory and power, 00:16:24.959 --> 00:16:27.039 doing miraculous acts and signs. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:29.980 But at the same time as all of that, what do you see? 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:36.100 You see Jesus' life coming to an abrupt end around the age of 33, 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:44.179 as he is captured, as he is murdered, as he is crucified to a Roman cross. 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:52.959 See, the Lord Jesus was sent to redeem us and to grant us adoption into God's family. 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.579 How does he do it? 00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:59.399 Through dying in our place and exchanging his position with us. 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:01.639 He's the son, yeah? 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:04.420 He's in God's family already. 00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:06.660 Bible says he was there right at the beginning, 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:09.779 watching and helping his father create us. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:10.980 He was there. 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:13.139 Bible says he knows the end already. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.900 He knows how it's all going to wrap up. 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.740 He knows what we are going to face. 00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:17.440 He knows that. 00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.099 That's Jesus. 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.680 He's in the family, yeah? 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:23.759 He knows a world with no more pain or suffering or viruses. 00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:24.920 He already knows that. 00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:30.400 He knows a much better place of joy and happiness and life in all its fullness. 00:17:30.820 --> 00:17:32.400 He ate the best food. 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.680 He's got the best clothes. 00:17:33.800 --> 00:17:36.759 He knows it all because he's God's son. 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:40.000 And see what he's saying? 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:44.460 He offers you an exchange. 00:17:45.379 --> 00:17:51.920 Jesus is the most glorious son, the son of God. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:57.320 There's a story of a father and a son, actually, from a few years ago, 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:04.120 who together had a real passion for art and collected many different wonderful art pieces, 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:06.480 from Van Gogh to Rembrandt. 00:18:06.860 --> 00:18:12.480 And they would sit there and they would admire these wonderful art collections that they had together. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:20.460 But a time came when the Vietnam War erupted and the son was called to duty to go and fight in the war. 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:25.519 And he was a very brave and heroic soldier and he helped many people. 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:31.140 But upon helping one of his comrades, sadly, he was shot in the chest and he died. 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:35.620 The father learned of this and was grieved deeply. 00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:43.139 A few weeks after finding out the news, the father had a rattle on the door, opened the door, 00:18:43.219 --> 00:18:46.139 and a young man stood before him with a parcel in his hand. 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:52.939 And he says, hello, you don't know me, but I wanted to come and say to you that your son was a real hero. 00:18:53.319 --> 00:19:03.359 As he was carrying me off of the war site, he got shot in the chest, but I managed to live. 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:06.139 And the father was quite taken aback by this. 00:19:06.219 --> 00:19:08.319 And he said, I've got something for you. 00:19:08.679 --> 00:19:10.219 And he handed him the parcel. 00:19:10.679 --> 00:19:15.639 The father opens up the parcel and within it is a portrait of his son. 00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:21.479 He says, I'm sorry, I'm not much of an artist, but I know your son would have wanted you to have had this. 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:25.599 And the young soldier has painted this portrait of the son. 00:19:25.679 --> 00:19:27.679 And the father is overwhelmed. 00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:30.459 He stares at it and stares at it. 00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:33.019 And tears start to roll down his eyes. 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:34.660 He says, thank you so much. 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:36.299 What can I give you for it? 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:40.180 The young man says, you don't need to give me anything. 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:42.059 Your son gave his life for me. 00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:44.000 This is a gift for you. 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:46.460 Well, the father loved it and cherished it. 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:48.379 He put it above the mantelpiece. 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:53.779 And for the weeks that followed, anyone who came to their father's house to see the other artwork, 00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:57.079 the father insisted, you've got to come and see the son first of all. 00:19:57.139 --> 00:19:58.359 You've got to come and see it. 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:03.939 And every person would come in and they'd be made to see the son before they could see the other bits of collections. 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:14.180 Well, a few months later, around Christmas time, the father sadly died himself and his entire estate and all of the art collections were put up for auction. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:24.240 And so the day came when the auction came round and everyone poured in, many wanting to get their hands on some of the great collections of art that they had managed to accumulate over the years. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:26.980 Excited, hustle and bustle and waiting. 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:36.519 And as they piled into the room, the auctioneer walked up and the first picture that was on the stage for the auction to kick off was the portrait of the son. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:38.120 And he says, welcome along. 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:39.299 We'll start our auction. 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:43.160 First bid, please, for this portrait of the father's son. 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:44.960 Silence. 00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.259 Anybody? 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.059 First bid? 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.599 No, we didn't come for that one. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.059 We came for the good ones. 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.700 Let's move on. 00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:55.460 A voice shouts out from this crowd. 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.879 The auctioneer persists. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.879 No, we'll start with this one. 00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.539 Thank you very much. 00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:00.480 Anybody, anybody. 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.679 $100, $200. 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.859 Anyone want to kick us off? 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.599 Silence. 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:07.019 This place starts to murmur a little bit. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:09.399 Another person heckles, shouts out. 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.220 No, we don't want to. 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:11.079 Move on, move on. 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:12.599 He says, no, the son. 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:13.119 The son. 00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:15.119 Will anybody take the son? 00:21:17.159 --> 00:21:18.159 Silence continues. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:21.899 The auctioneer starts to get a bit edgy and doesn't quite know what to do. 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:22.779 A few more murmurs. 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.920 One more heckle comes out. 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.440 He says, fine. 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:25.980 Anybody. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.899 And suddenly this voice shouts in the back. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:33.779 It's the gardener who's looked after the estate and knows the father and son. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.819 And he's feeling a bit sorry for the situation. 00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.579 He's not a wealthy man at all. 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:39.879 And he says, I'll give you $10 for it. 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.579 Thank you very much. 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:40.879 $10. 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:41.519 You've got $10. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:41.940 Anybody? 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:42.460 $20. 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:45.619 $20, the auctioneer thinks is about to get going. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.519 Nothing. 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:49.639 Eventually the auctioneer just has to accept. 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.940 He says, okay, go in once. 00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.039 Go in twice. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.359 Sold. 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:55.879 $10 to that man there. 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:59.559 This sigh of relief fills the room at last. 00:21:59.660 --> 00:21:59.839 Right. 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:02.980 And they all start getting excited, ready for the next one to come out. 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:06.799 And with that, the auctioneer puts down his mallet and he says, thank you very much. 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.799 That's the auction over. 00:22:08.659 --> 00:22:10.599 The place erupts. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:11.899 What? 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.759 What about the other ones? 00:22:14.300 --> 00:22:15.040 That's why we've come. 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:15.420 We didn't come. 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.240 What are you doing? 00:22:16.320 --> 00:22:16.820 What are you doing? 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:23.480 Auctioneer steps back up and he says, well, there was one stipulation that I was not allowed 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:26.400 to tell you before this evening, this afternoon's auction. 00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:31.600 And this was it, that the only painting that was actually being auctioned off today was the 00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:37.500 portrait of the son, because the father insisted that whoever got the son got the rest of the 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:39.320 collections and the entire estate. 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:43.919 And so that man, he gets the lot. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:47.039 Whoever gets the son gets it all. 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:51.399 See, what's Paul saying here in Galatians? 00:22:52.939 --> 00:22:57.379 He's saying that whoever trusts God's son gets it all. 00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:07.159 Whoever gives their life to this son who was sent by God, trusts him wholeheartedly, 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:12.279 is redeemed and they can receive adoption into God's family. 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:16.259 You can be a son or a daughter of God this evening. 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:22.080 And this brings about two wonderful, incredible realities for you if you do that this evening 00:23:22.080 --> 00:23:23.480 and if you have already. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.779 Here's the first reality. 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.519 Verse six. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:30.299 Look, you now are welcomed into an intimate relationship with the father. 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:35.720 The spirit of Jesus lives in you and you can cry out the word Abba, father. 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:38.480 It's translated this intimate daddy. 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:43.920 A God who knows you, who loves you, who wants the best for you, that will never forsake you 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:47.319 and never leave you and watches over every single step of your life. 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:50.200 That is now your father in heaven. 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:53.759 When you receive adoption into his family. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.220 Here's the second reality. 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.059 Verse seven. 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:58.019 You become an heir. 00:23:59.319 --> 00:24:01.900 As you accept Jesus as your savior, what happens? 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.460 You get the full rights of his status. 00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:05.799 That exchange happens. 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:09.200 When God sees you, he doesn't see you the way you are right now. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.299 How does he see you? 00:24:10.580 --> 00:24:12.680 Just as his son, Jesus. 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:23.100 And all that Jesus has and will have and will inherit remarkably, unfathomably becomes ours. 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:28.960 And we will inherit an eternal life with him forever. 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:36.279 With no more masks, no more spaces, no more coronavirus, no more rubbish things that happen, 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:39.920 but eternal joy and satisfaction. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:49.640 See, we will taste and see the full inheritance of God when we trust and receive this wonderful adoption. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:53.120 So what's Christmas all about? 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:55.620 Well, Christmas happened on God's watch, that's for sure. 00:24:56.580 --> 00:24:58.820 Christmas happened because we needed it to. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:03.060 And Christmas happened to bring us back to God. 00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:05.460 And so I reckon you're right, Bowdoin. 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:09.820 If ever there's a year that needed Christmas, this year we need it. 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:13.519 But we've needed it ever since the first one, don't you agree? 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:19.100 We need Christmas every year because what is Christmas actually all about? 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:26.259 It's about Jesus' son sent on God's plan and timing, on his watch to redeem us. 00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:31.120 So that we might receive adoption into his family. 00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:32.680 Let me pray. 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:40.279 Oh, Father God, Father, Abba, Daddy. 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:45.600 Oh, we come to you this evening with such gratitude and thankfulness. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:49.699 Thank you that you sent your son. 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:54.620 In your grand plan of salvation, you sent him to this earth. 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:58.059 And he was willing to die in our place. 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:09.360 Exchange his righteousness with our unrighteousness to forgive us of all of our wrong and set us free to know you for ourselves. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:12.459 Oh, Father God, we thank you for that this evening. 00:26:12.459 --> 00:26:19.279 And we pray that this Christmas time we will worship you and thank you and remember what it is all about. 00:26:19.719 --> 00:26:22.839 I pray we have a wonderful Christmas and we can all enjoy it. 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:34.819 But, Father, I pray more than that, we might all receive this gift of new life through Jesus and cherish it above all else. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:37.740 And we pray these things in your name. 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:38.899 Amen.