WEBVTT

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 George Herbert Wells, known as H.G. Wells in all of history, was an English writer popular

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 at the end of the 19th century through 20th century.

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 He was prolific in many genres.

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 He wrote more than 50 novels and dozens of short stories.

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 He was someone who started life sympathetic towards God and religion, but ended life self-confessing

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 as an atheist.

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 He started life as someone who was hopeful, particularly hopeful that humanity would eventually

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 solve all of its problems, but ended life despondent and in fact, really near the end

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 of his life, declaring that he was close to suicide.

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 We see this transition for him in his short history of the world.

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 He wrote,

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 What an optimistic view of humanity in 1937.

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 Nine years later, after the awful carnage of World War II and just before he died, he

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 wrote this in his final work,

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 The cold-blooded massacres of the defenceless, the return of deliberate and organised torture,

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 mental torment and fear to a world from which such things had seemed well nigh banished,

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 has come near to breaking my spirit altogether.

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 It's hard to avoid the conclusion that there is something fundamentally wrong with our world.

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 If you have not yet come to that conclusion, there's nothing I can do for you, I'm afraid.

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 Every worldview and philosophy from Christianity through to secular atheism has to come to terms with that issue.

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 What is fundamentally wrong with our world?

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 H.G. Wells goes from a person of hope to hopelessness.

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 Christianity, on the other hand, goes from hopelessness to hope.

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 These days, what we tend to do in struggling with the difficulty of our world is we have a tendency to look outside of ourselves

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 and we tend to blame the world's issues on institutions, on governments, on other people, on particular races, on lack of education, religion itself.

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 According to the Christian faith, it's been mentioned multiple times, we've just sung about it multiple times,

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 the problem is sin.

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 It's not outside of ourselves, it's something that's inside of us.

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 It's a concept that is often viewed as ludicrous today and even offensive.

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 And although Christianity declares that sin is the big problem, it also reveals the solution,

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 which in turn gives us a new hope as we navigate this life with all its ups and downs.

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 So there's three things I want to get to this morning from those Bible passages that Aidan read out to us.

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 What is this problem?

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 What's the new solution to it?

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 And what is this new hope?

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 So first of all, the old problem.

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 The first three verses of Ephesians 1, which were just read out to us, are a comprehensive panoramic picture of the human condition outside of God.

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 We are dead in transgressions and sins.

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 That's pretty devastating for the human condition.

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 Death in Ephesians 1 is not a figure of speech.

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 These people that are referred to here are dead.

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 He's not describing here some decadent, depraved segment of society.

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 He's describing all of humanity from top to bottom.

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 What is sin?

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 This thing that is leading to death of all of humanity.

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 It's a whole lot more than just breaking some moral code, which is the common view nowadays.

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 It's just breaking a moral code.

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 The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard saw it as a despairing refusal to find our deepest identity in our relationship and service to God.

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 The God who made us.

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 Another way of putting that is it is creating an identity for ourselves apart from our creator.

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 Another way of putting that, in the words of 5th century philosopher and theologian, St. Augustine,

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 sin is not just doing bad things, it's making good things into ultimate things.

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 Whatever those things are that we get our identity from, they are not God.

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 And that will mean, according to Augustine, will ultimately enslave us, because those things can never be God for us.

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 They can never, ever satisfy the deepest longing of the heart.

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 And so look back there in Ephesians chapter 1.

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 Notice the words followed.

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 It's used in verses 2 and verse 3.

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 That word followed there, which is used in verse 2 and 3,

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 comes from a word that means mastered by.

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 To be controlled by.

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 The reason the writer of the Ephesians here describes these people as dead in transgression and sin

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 is that they are helpless.

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 They are controlled.

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 They're as helpless as a dead body.

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 Completely controlled.

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 Totally mastered.

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 Unable to move or to act on their own.

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 And the key idea is, verse 3,

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 gratifying the cravings of our flesh

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 and following its desires and thoughts.

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 The term our flesh in verse 3

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 doesn't mean, you know, this stuff.

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 Human flesh and bones.

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 It's referring to self-centered human nature.

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 The things that drive us,

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 master us, control us.

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 According to the Bible,

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 according to the Christian faith,

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 the reason we are slaves to sin

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 is because the human heart is profoundly self-centered.

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 Profoundly self-centered.

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 The 16th century church reformer and theologian,

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 Martin Luther,

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 put the condition of the human heart quite succinctly.

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 He described it as curved in on itself.

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 Curved in on itself.

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 Absorbed in itself.

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 Looking into itself.

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 Self-centered.

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 That is what it means to be human apart from God.

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 Luther said that our nature is so deeply curved in on itself.

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 He described it as wickedly,

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 curvedly and viciously seeks to use all things,

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 even God himself,

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 for our own sake.

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 Our hearts and our minds

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 are constantly analyzing

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 every person,

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 every object,

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 every interaction,

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 every event,

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 every setting.

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 Constantly analyzing

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 what is in this for me.

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 And when we don't get what we want,

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 we get angry

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 and we blame it on someone else.

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 Everything is being analyzed

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 by how it benefits my happiness,

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 my glory,

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 my reputation,

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 my comfort,

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 my control of things.

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 How does it help me?

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 How does it fit with my interests?

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 How does this make me happy?

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 And everyone else

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 who does not provide the filling up

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 of my sense of self,

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 I have to tear them down.

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 It's obvious to most of us

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 that self-centeredness

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 can make you a pretty cruel person.

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 You know,

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 look at history

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 and all the tyrants of the world.

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 More often though,

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 self-centeredness

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 makes you a moral person.

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 More often than not,

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 self-centeredness

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 will make you into a good person.

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 If everything is about my need

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 to feel good about myself,

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 then there is no better way

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 for me to feel good about myself

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 than to be a good and moral person.

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 Self-centeredness drives most people

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 into being good,

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 trying hard to serve the needy,

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 being a good child to parents

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 and even being a good parent

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 to my children.

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 A good friend

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 who assists

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 whenever I am asked.

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 And what lies beneath

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 is a self-centeredness

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 where ultimately

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 I'm doing it for myself.

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 I'm helping for my sake.

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 I want my kids

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 to be compliant

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 for my sake.

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 We do good things

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 to be noticed by people

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 to receive the applause of others.

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 It's so we can feel like

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 we've got a meaningful life

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 and feel like a good person.

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 Now I suspect most of you

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 would remember

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 one of the greatest Hollywood classics

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 of the last century,

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 the movie Rocky,

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 starring Sylvester Stallone.

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 He's an underrated actor

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 who should have won

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 an Academy Award by now.

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 His love interest

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 in the movie

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 asked him,

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 Rocky,

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 why are you fighting

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 the world champion?

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 It was a spectacle fight

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 that he was not meant to win.

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 Why are you fighting

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 the world champion?

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 And his reply

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 was profound

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 for Sylvester Stallone.

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 I just want to go the distance

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 and then I'll know

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 I'm not a bum.

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 Deep down inside,

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 if we ever allow ourselves

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 to go there

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 and I would invite you

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 to go there

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 this Good Friday,

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 we all feel like bums.

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 we're all trying

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 to do something

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 to convince the world

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 and ourselves

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 that we are good

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 and that we are worthy.

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 Yeah, sure,

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 self-centeredness

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 can make you into a tyrant,

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 but self-centeredness

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 can make you a really good

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 and moral person.

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 But self-centeredness

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 and beware of this

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 of those who are gathering online

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 and here to now,

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 self-centeredness

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 can also make you

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 a very religious person.

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 We can devote ourselves

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 to obeying God

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 and turning up to church

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 and reading the Bible

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 and praying and giving,

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 doing the sorts of things

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 that we're doing now,

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 all good and right things to do.

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 But how do I know

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 when I'm doing it all for me?

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 One of the answers to that is

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 you just do the bare minimum

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 to make you feel good

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 about yourself.

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 And when things aren't going well

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 in your life,

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 you start pulling away

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 from those good things.

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 And it's because

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 we're doing these things

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 to use God.

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 We do good things

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 and expect God

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 to come through for us

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 in the ways that we want him to.

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 And so when things aren't going well,

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 he doesn't appear

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 to be coming through

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 in the way we want him to.

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 Well, then we start pulling back.

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 And that means it's all about us.

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 Just trying to paint a picture here

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 that self-centeredness clings to

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 every single thing in our lives.

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 Verse 3 uses the word craving

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 to describe it.

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 It's a word in the original language

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 means an inordinate desire.

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 It means that our egos

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 are so, so addictive.

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 It means that we are living

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 for our own glory.

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 It means that we will never be enough.

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 No amount of praise

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 will ever be enough.

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 Our hearts and our minds

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 are in overdrive,

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 running evaluations consistently

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 about no amount of glory,

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 no amount of acclaim,

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 no amount of recognition,

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 no amount of comfort,

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 no amount of good experiences,

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 no amount of material possessions

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 will ever, ever be enough.

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 No amount of cocaine

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 is ever enough for an addict.

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 It's addictive.

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 Our egos are so addictive,

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 but they're never satisfied.

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 And it makes us miserable.

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 I think it's profound

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 that wealthy countries

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 in the West

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 have a lower, lower,

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 lower satisfaction in life

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 than the poor people of Bangladesh.

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 That is profound.

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 C.S. Lewis, the Oxford professor,

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 wrote that there is nothing more

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 enslaving and miserable

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 than self-centeredness.

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 He wrote that it is a hell begun in us

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 that will eventually take us to hell.

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 That is what he's saying.

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 There is a desire to live for ourselves

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 will ultimately be handed over to us forever.

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 The framework that every human being begins with

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 without Jesus is that

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 you, God, give your life for me.

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 You, people, give your life for me

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 because it's ultimately about me.

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 The Bible's view of sin

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 is that every part of the human condition

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 is tainted.

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 The consequence at the end of verse 3

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 is so shocking to our modern context

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 that assumes that we can just do

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 whatever we like

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 without any consequences.

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 We are not only dead in our sin

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 but we're also condemned.

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 Like the rest,

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 we were by nature deserving of wrath.

00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:44.139
 The concept of wrath

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:46.259
 is so offensive in our day and age

00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:50.080
 and yet the Bible's concept of God's anger

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.860
 is not like your anger

00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:54.080
 where you are just ticked off.

00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.740
 It's not like my anger

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:57.379
 where I just get ticked off with someone.

00:16:57.379 --> 00:17:00.580
 God's anger is not a bad temper.

00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:02.740
 It is not spite.

00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.599
 It is not malice.

00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:06.359
 It is not animosity.

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:08.339
 It is not revenge.

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.759
 It's not arbitrary.

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.680
 It is not governed by mood.

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.579
 It's not governed by whim.

00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:16.779
 It is God's personal,

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:17.839
 righteous,

00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:21.240
 constant hostility to evil,

00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.680
 to injustice,

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.079
 and sin.

00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:27.359
 It is his settled refusal

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:29.220
 to compromise with it

00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:32.559
 and his resolution to condemn it.

00:17:34.439 --> 00:17:36.039
 And it's this wrath

00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:38.839
 that we need rescuing from.

00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:41.579
 And that is what makes this good day,

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.599
 Good Friday,

00:17:42.879 --> 00:17:43.799
 a great day.

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:47.759
 The amazing news

00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:49.819
 of Good Friday

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.879
 and Christianity

00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:51.879
 is simple

00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:52.980
 but is profound

00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:55.299
 and that we have a substitute

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:57.299
 who has stood in for us.

00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.259
 It's a substitute

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:02.279
 who has rescued.

00:18:02.419 --> 00:18:04.500
 God has done something amazing

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.519
 in Jesus Christ.

00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:07.700
 1 Peter 3, verse 18,

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:09.359
 which Aidan read out to us,

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.940
 puts it so succinctly,

00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:14.460
 for Christ also suffered

00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:15.900
 once for sins,

00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:18.120
 the righteous for the unrighteous

00:18:18.120 --> 00:18:20.340
 to bring you to God.

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.840
 Ephesians 2 unpacks

00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:24.080
 the implications for us.

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.180
 Because of his great love for us,

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:28.320
 talking about Jesus on the cross,

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:30.420
 God who is rich in mercy,

00:18:30.820 --> 00:18:32.460
 made us alive with Christ

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.519
 even when we're dead

00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:33.940
 in transgressions.

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.799
 It is by grace

00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.700
 you've been saved

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:38.759
 and God raised us up

00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.400
 with Christ

00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:40.840
 and seated us with him

00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:42.160
 in the heavenly realms

00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:43.320
 in Christ Jesus.

00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:46.360
 Verse 6 says

00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:48.100
 that God has raised us up

00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:48.920
 with Christ

00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:50.160
 and seated us

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:51.460
 in the heavenly realms.

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.120
 Now this was first of all

00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:57.080
 written into the first century

00:18:57.080 --> 00:18:58.640
 Middle Eastern context.

00:18:59.060 --> 00:19:00.620
 It was the Roman world

00:19:00.620 --> 00:19:02.259
 and in the Roman world

00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:03.620
 the conquering warrior

00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:05.060
 who returned from

00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:06.640
 a great victory

00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.900
 was given the greatest place

00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:09.460
 of honour

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:12.180
 upon their return

00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:12.900
 to the capital.

00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:14.720
 And the greatest place

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.180
 of honour

00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:16.540
 on return to the capital

00:19:16.540 --> 00:19:18.120
 was they were seated

00:19:18.120 --> 00:19:19.740
 at the right hand

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.580
 of the Caesar

00:19:20.580 --> 00:19:24.120
 for all people to see.

00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:28.540
 This man is to be greatly honoured.

00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:30.640
 Jesus died,

00:19:31.580 --> 00:19:32.700
 was raised again

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.940
 and given the place

00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:35.320
 of greatest honour.

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.599
 The seat

00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.839
 at the throat

00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:38.980
 right hand of God

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:40.259
 in the heavenly realms

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:42.139
 it is the most honourable seat

00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:43.139
 in the universe.

00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:45.639
 And verse 6 tells us

00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:47.759
 verse 6 is a past tense.

00:19:48.179 --> 00:19:49.480
 It's saying that the Christian

00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:51.700
 is already seated there

00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.639
 with Jesus.

00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.259
 Legally

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:57.099
 seated there with Jesus.

00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:59.220
 When we trust

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.559
 in Jesus Christ

00:20:00.559 --> 00:20:02.519
 all our sins

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:04.819
 all our self-centeredness

00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:05.940
 is so hidden

00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:07.460
 so covered

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.700
 so forgiven

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:10.279
 that we are treated

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:11.700
 as if we have done

00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:13.200
 everything that Jesus

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.859
 has done.

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:16.900
 That is astonishing.

00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:20.839
 Through Jesus

00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:22.420
 and his achievement

00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:23.379
 on the cross

00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:24.839
 God delights

00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.420
 and honours

00:20:25.420 --> 00:20:26.039
 and accepts

00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.819
 and rejoices

00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.539
 over us

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.519
 in the way

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.379
 that he outdoes

00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:30.440
 his own son.

00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:35.180
 how can that be

00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:38.320
 when we have

00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:39.440
 been so

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.340
 self-centered

00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:41.860
 when we've

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.420
 treated him

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:43.400
 so badly

00:20:43.400 --> 00:20:46.039
 verse 7

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.640
 is the key

00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:48.860
 he might show

00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:49.720
 the incomparable

00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.200
 riches

00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.380
 of his grace

00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:53.180
 expressed in his

00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:53.519
 kindness

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:53.980
 to us

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.940
 in Christ Jesus.

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.940
 kindness

00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:57.140
 the word

00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:57.700
 kindness

00:20:57.700 --> 00:21:01.019
 is a lot

00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.460
 more than

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.220
 the we would

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:02.940
 generally say

00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.700
 he's a kind

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.120
 person

00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:05.980
 it's not

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.500
 it's a lot

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.519
 it actually means

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.820
 costly action

00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:11.600
 the first three

00:21:11.600 --> 00:21:12.720
 verses tells us

00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.900
 the essence of sin

00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:15.000
 is putting ourselves

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.840
 where only God

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.420
 should be

00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:18.039
 the centre

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.840
 of our lives

00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:19.539
 on the throne

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.200
 of our lives

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:20.779
 in control

00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.620
 of our lives

00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:23.500
 sin

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.919
 is us

00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:25.779
 putting ourselves

00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.879
 where only God

00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:27.959
 deserves to be

00:21:27.959 --> 00:21:29.899
 salvation

00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:31.459
 is God

00:21:31.459 --> 00:21:32.319
 putting himself

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.079
 where only

00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.439
 we deserve

00:21:34.439 --> 00:21:34.939
 to be

00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:37.199
 dying

00:21:37.199 --> 00:21:38.199
 because of

00:21:38.199 --> 00:21:38.799
 our sin

00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.919
 and that is

00:21:39.919 --> 00:21:40.759
 what Good Friday

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.919
 is all about

00:21:41.919 --> 00:21:44.339
 Jesus Christ

00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:45.239
 took the

00:21:45.239 --> 00:21:46.099
 just punishment

00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.739
 from God

00:21:46.739 --> 00:21:47.739
 that we deserve

00:21:47.739 --> 00:21:48.359
 by putting

00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:48.859
 ourselves

00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:49.659
 in the place

00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.519
 where only God

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.159
 belongs

00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.600
 at the centre

00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:53.340
 of our lives

00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:56.060
 I'll say it again

00:21:56.060 --> 00:21:58.000
 one person

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.400
 has put it

00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.340
 really succinctly

00:21:59.340 --> 00:21:59.840
 the essence

00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:00.440
 of sin

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.920
 is us

00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:01.540
 substituting

00:22:01.540 --> 00:22:01.880
 ourselves

00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:02.580
 for God

00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:03.560
 while the

00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:03.860
 essence

00:22:03.860 --> 00:22:04.519
 of salvation

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.040
 is God

00:22:05.040 --> 00:22:05.779
 substituting

00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.100
 himself

00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:06.880
 for us

00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:08.279
 that

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:09.180
 is what

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:09.880
 Good Friday

00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:11.140
 is all about

00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:13.720
 Jesus

00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:15.019
 saved us

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.080
 by doing

00:22:16.080 --> 00:22:17.300
 the absolute

00:22:17.300 --> 00:22:18.259
 opposite

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.380
 of us

00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:21.460
 he saved

00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:21.860
 us

00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:22.320
 through the

00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:22.600
 most

00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:23.260
 radically

00:22:23.260 --> 00:22:24.480
 unselfish

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:24.960
 thing

00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.720
 anyone

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:26.260
 has

00:22:26.260 --> 00:22:27.020
 ever

00:22:27.020 --> 00:22:27.380
 done

00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:29.460
 though

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:29.880
 equal

00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:30.400
 with God

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:30.960
 the Father

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.140
 he emptied

00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.520
 himself

00:22:32.520 --> 00:22:32.920
 of his

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.420
 glory

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:33.960
 he came

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.280
 down

00:22:34.280 --> 00:22:34.560
 and took

00:22:34.560 --> 00:22:35.060
 the place

00:22:35.060 --> 00:22:35.380
 of a

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:35.660
 servant

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.760
 he traded

00:22:36.760 --> 00:22:37.500
 his life

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.260
 for ours

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:40.160
 and the

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.579
 contrast

00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.339
 in these

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:41.819
 verses

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.960
 in Ephesians

00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:43.259
 2

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.319
 is startling

00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:45.700
 the very next

00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.299
 words after

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:46.799
 telling us

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.440
 in verse 3

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.900
 that we are

00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.460
 deserving of

00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.019
 God's wrath

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:49.779
 we read

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.759
 but because

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.480
 of his

00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.039
 great love

00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.420
 for us

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:52.879
 God

00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:53.160
 who is

00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:53.420
 rich

00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:53.960
 in mercy

00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:54.700
 made us

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.200
 alive

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:55.819
 with Christ

00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.460
 even when

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:56.799
 we were

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.319
 dead

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.660
 in transgressions

00:22:58.660 --> 00:22:59.240
 it is by

00:22:59.240 --> 00:22:59.799
 grace

00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.619
 you have

00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.399
 been saved

00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:02.599
 the God

00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:02.960
 who is

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.339
 rich

00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:04.139
 in mercy

00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:05.319
 has intervened

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.160
 our condition

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.879
 was hopeless

00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:07.460
 but God

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:08.259
 intervened

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.519
 in grace

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.839
 from hell

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.559
 to heaven

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.279
 bondage

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:12.879
 to freedom

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.700
 gloom

00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.379
 to light

00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:14.920
 despair

00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.559
 to hope

00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.079
 wrath

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.720
 to glory

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.180
 death

00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:17.899
 to life

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:20.160
 that is

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.320
 the greatness

00:23:21.320 --> 00:23:21.800
 of Good

00:23:21.800 --> 00:23:22.180
 Friday

00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:24.860
 the glory

00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.259
 of Good

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.600
 Friday

00:23:25.600 --> 00:23:26.480
 his

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.940
 selflessness

00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:30.560
 has overcome

00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:31.680
 our selfishness

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:34.200
 and when we

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.640
 see him

00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.320
 doing that

00:23:35.320 --> 00:23:37.500
 his mercy

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.200
 his love

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:38.960
 his grace

00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:40.340
 then it

00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:40.940
 finally helps

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.660
 us to see

00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:43.140
 that our

00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:43.820
 sense of

00:23:43.820 --> 00:23:44.259
 self

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.320
 our egos

00:23:45.320 --> 00:23:46.220
 are finally

00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:46.960
 filled up

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.259
 by him

00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:50.579
 we have

00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.140
 all the

00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:51.740
 acclaim

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:53.100
 in Jesus

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:54.019
 all the

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:54.340
 honour

00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:54.980
 all the

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.500
 approval

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.640
 all the

00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.279
 acceptance

00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:57.700
 we could

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.400
 ever want

00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:02.340
 the Christian

00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:03.220
 faith declares

00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.100
 paradoxically

00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:04.720
 that we are

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.319
 more sinful

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:05.920
 and flawed

00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:06.559
 than we ever

00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.140
 realise

00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:08.440
 and more

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:08.860
 loved and

00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:09.259
 accepted

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.579
 than we

00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:10.279
 could possibly

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.960
 imagine

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.600
 or dream

00:24:11.600 --> 00:24:13.000
 at exactly

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.480
 the same

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:13.819
 time

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:18.019
 and so

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.299
 therefore

00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:18.519
 Good

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:18.759
 Friday

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.259
 is about

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.799
 this new

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.159
 hope

00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:21.839
 a whole

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.519
 new life

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:24.519
 and this

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:24.839
 is what

00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.399
 this life

00:24:25.399 --> 00:24:25.980
 brings us

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.419
 into

00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.200
 verse 8

00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.640
 for it

00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:28.900
 is by

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:29.279
 grace

00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:29.480
 you've

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:29.620
 been

00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:29.980
 saved

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.259
 through

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:30.740
 faith

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.019
 and this

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.360
 is not

00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:31.559
 from

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.000
 yourselves

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.360
 this is

00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:32.640
 a gift

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.160
 from God

00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.960
 not by

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.299
 work

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.620
 so that

00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:34.960
 no one

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.440
 can boast

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:35.920
 for we

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.740
 are God's

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.640
 handiwork

00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.779
 created in

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.400
 Christ Jesus

00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:39.980
 to do good

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.500
 works which

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.220
 God prepared

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.100
 in advance

00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:42.580
 for us

00:24:42.580 --> 00:24:43.039
 to do

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.900
 his salvation

00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:45.819
 is a gift

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:48.380
 the new

00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.000
 life

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.120
 is a gift

00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:50.960
 hope

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.620
 is a gift

00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:52.319
 and once

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.000
 we get

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.539
 this gift

00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.080
 we start

00:24:54.080 --> 00:24:54.900
 seeing everything

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.440
 in life

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.080
 as a gift

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.960
 the life

00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.419
 that God

00:24:57.419 --> 00:24:57.960
 wants us

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:58.559
 to have

00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.159
 is a life

00:24:59.159 --> 00:24:59.559
 where we

00:24:59.559 --> 00:24:59.879
 see

00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:00.720
 everything

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.919
 as a gift

00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:03.899
 a Christian

00:25:03.899 --> 00:25:04.599
 therefore

00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.539
 is a person

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.480
 who's at rest

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:08.179
 they're

00:25:08.179 --> 00:25:08.799
 characterised

00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.179
 by what

00:25:09.179 --> 00:25:09.799
 verse 9

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.139
 says

00:25:10.139 --> 00:25:10.720
 no longer

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.299
 boasting

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:12.419
 the Christian

00:25:12.419 --> 00:25:12.980
 life brings

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.439
 an end

00:25:13.439 --> 00:25:13.919
 to placing

00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:14.480
 confidence

00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.319
 in our

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.119
 fickle

00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:16.639
 personal

00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:17.079
 hope

00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:17.899
 everything

00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:18.720
 every single

00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.059
 one is

00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.599
 looking around

00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.159
 for something

00:25:20.159 --> 00:25:20.659
 to boast

00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:20.779
 in

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.099
 to have a

00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:21.480
 confidence

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:21.819
 in

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.419
 to have a

00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:22.699
 trust

00:25:22.699 --> 00:25:22.839
 in

00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.259
 to rest

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:23.419
 in

00:25:23.419 --> 00:25:23.799
 to face

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.059
 life

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.319
 something

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:24.639
 that will

00:25:24.639 --> 00:25:25.119
 help them

00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:25.799
 face

00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.740
 the complexities

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.680
 of life

00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:30.180
 for H.G.

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.579
 Wells

00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.240
 it was

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:31.720
 the hope

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.419
 of humanity

00:25:32.419 --> 00:25:33.299
 and science

00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.659
 and other

00:25:33.659 --> 00:25:34.000
 things

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.940
 to eventually

00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:36.200
 educate humanity

00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:37.119
 in such a way

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.899
 that we will

00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:39.159
 improve our lives

00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:40.220
 for future generations

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:42.619
 what is it that you

00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.539
 put your hope in

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:47.680
 some of us

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.519
 look to careers

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.759
 some to

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.460
 our salary

00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:50.980
 some to

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.779
 moral decency

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.579
 some to

00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.559
 religious performance

00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.480
 a life

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:54.500
 a life

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.139
 looking for

00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:55.480
 things

00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:56.079
 to boast

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.279
 in

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:56.619
 is a

00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:56.980
 life

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.159
 of

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:57.879
 scrambling

00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.579
 constantly

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.379
 for identity

00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.819
 scrambling

00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.379
 for self

00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:01.839
 worth

00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.159
 and it

00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:03.539
 is

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.599
 exhausting

00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:06.619
 the new

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.299
 life that God

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.960
 offers us

00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.619
 is a gift

00:26:08.619 --> 00:26:10.779
 and because

00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.399
 it is a gift

00:26:11.399 --> 00:26:11.899
 from God

00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.759
 we are set

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.220
 free

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:15.419
 liberated

00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:16.179
 from trying

00:26:16.179 --> 00:26:16.639
 to find

00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.139
 a boast

00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:18.039
 a confidence

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:19.480
 from within

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.019
 ourselves

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.440
 to pin

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:20.879
 our hopes

00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:21.180
 on

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:23.180
 verse 10

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.640
 is a wonderful

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.340
 vision of this

00:26:25.340 --> 00:26:25.940
 new life

00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:27.140
 we are God's

00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:27.700
 handiwork

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.480
 created in

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.100
 Christ Jesus

00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:29.720
 to do good

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.140
 works

00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:31.020
 which God

00:26:31.020 --> 00:26:31.640
 prepared in

00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.280
 advance for us

00:26:32.280 --> 00:26:32.980
 to do

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:35.460
 God's

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.260
 handiwork

00:26:36.260 --> 00:26:37.980
 his artwork

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.480
 his

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.700
 masterpiece

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:41.560
 no longer

00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:42.120
 dead

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:44.100
 but remade

00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:44.800
 and set free

00:26:44.800 --> 00:26:45.520
 to do good

00:26:45.520 --> 00:26:46.080
 works

00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:47.000
 without the

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.560
 constant

00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:48.480
 calculation

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.360
 of whether

00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:50.040
 I've done

00:26:50.040 --> 00:26:50.380
 enough

00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:50.820
 to get

00:26:50.820 --> 00:26:51.000
 the

00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.600
 applause

00:26:51.600 --> 00:26:52.300
 that I

00:26:52.300 --> 00:26:52.580
 so

00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:53.260
 desperately

00:26:53.260 --> 00:26:53.960
 desire

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:57.020
 God's

00:26:57.020 --> 00:26:57.440
 greatest

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.160
 masterpiece

00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.920
 is not

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.400
 the Swiss

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:00.880
 Alps

00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:02.540
 or the

00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:03.040
 vastness

00:27:03.040 --> 00:27:03.280
 of the

00:27:03.280 --> 00:27:03.500
 depths

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:03.760
 of the

00:27:03.760 --> 00:27:04.180
 ocean

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:06.500
 God's

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:06.860
 greatest

00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.480
 masterpiece

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.740
 is humanity

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.480
 saved

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.180
 from

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.180
 condemnation

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:12.200
 made

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.800
 alive

00:27:12.800 --> 00:27:14.180
 set free

00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:14.740
 from

00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.400
 slavery

00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:16.800
 set free

00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.500
 to serve

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.180
 and love

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.860
 with free

00:27:18.860 --> 00:27:19.480
 abandon

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.819
 and the

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.240
 message of

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.380
 good

00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:21.700
 Friday

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.200
 is that

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.460
 whatever

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:22.880
 you've

00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.240
 done

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:24.099
 whatever

00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:25.059
 you've

00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:25.839
 become

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:27.759
 Jesus

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.599
 is your

00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:30.120
 substitute

00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:31.200
 so that

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.680
 you might

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.160
 have new

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.799
 life and a

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.220
 new hope

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.640
 in him

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:35.140
 and so I

00:27:35.140 --> 00:27:35.360
 want to

00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:36.140
 encourage you

00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:37.319
 this day

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.900
 to make

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.460
 this good

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.019
 Friday the

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.380
 day that

00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:39.980
 you come

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.700
 to Jesus

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:42.360
 and experience

00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:43.120
 his grace

00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:44.420
 his mercy

00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.700
 his love

00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:47.680
 make this

00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:48.220
 the day you

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:48.700
 go from

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.319
 hell to

00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:49.600
 heaven

00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:50.340
 from bondage

00:27:50.340 --> 00:27:50.900
 to freedom

00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:52.039
 from gloom

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:52.840
 to light

00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:54.039
 from despair

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:55.080
 to hope

00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:56.180
 from wrath

00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.900
 to glory

00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:58.120
 from death

00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:59.140
 to life

00:27:59.140 --> 00:28:00.480
 the essence

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.519
 of salvation

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.680
 is God

00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:04.100
 substituting

00:28:04.100 --> 00:28:04.519
 himself

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.500
 for us

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:07.460
 this is the

00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:08.200
 glory of

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:08.819
 good Friday

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:10.220
 and it is the

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.779
 hope of

00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.299
 humanity

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:15.119
 in reality

00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:16.480
 you