WEBVTT

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 Please take out your copy of God's Word. Turn with me to the book of Ephesians, chapter 1.

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 I ask also at the same time that you take out the handout that was given to you on the way in.

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 I hope it was that we managed to pull that off.

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 If not, it's okay. That won't be detrimental to your study.

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 The intention there is to give you a summary statement for the sermon today

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 that you might mark it up, take a pen out and write, write additional notes.

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 I would encourage you to take the text that I provided for you,

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 not because I don't want you to have a copy of God's Word open in front of you.

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 I don't want to remove things from their context.

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 It's not what we're trying to accomplish by handing this printed out to you,

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 but I want you to be able to mark on it.

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 I want you to have the same translation that I'm using, which is the ESV,

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 which is not an inspired translation.

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 It's just a good one.

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 It's okay if you have another, but this way you'll have those words there in front of you.

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 If you're new to our fellowship, we typically do verse-by-verse exposition,

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 and we have been as of late working through the book of Acts.

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 This has been the great labor in front of us.

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 We are on the cusp of starting chapter 11,

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 but because we have just started as a church another church,

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 we've multiplied into two congregations.

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 Christ Family Church has become Christ Family Church Dahlonega.

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 Welcome.

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 And Christ Family Church Oakwood meeting really kind of flowery branch,

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 but we're calling it CFC Oakwood,

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 and they're meeting this morning even now.

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 And we thought it would be good to take some time to focus and refocus,

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 make sure that we're all on the same page,

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 and we're all moving forward together into this next year.

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 Just as a precursor to this,

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 I really don't enjoy topical preaching.

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 I enjoy preaching.

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 I enjoy teaching things systematically,

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 or having you at least understand things systematically.

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 But it is a real work,

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 because we come to a topic like gospel identity.

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 Who are we in Christ?

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 And there is so much to say.

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 Even just listening to the three songs that we've sung,

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 there's different things I'm going,

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 oh, we could talk about that,

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 and we could talk about it.

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 And my head is starting to rewrite the sermon that I've already written.

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 So I'll do my best this morning.

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 We're going to look at Ephesians 1, verses 3-14.

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 And I know for some of you, that really gets you excited.

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 Ephesians 1.

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 We are not going to look at it in every bit of detail.

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 And if that dramatically disappoints you,

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 then I would suggest you care a bit too much about soteriology.

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 Possibly.

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 Possibly.

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 But before I read it,

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 let me start by reading to you the summary statement for this morning

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 about our gospel identity,

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 which reads as follows,

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 By grace alone, through faith alone,

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 in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone,

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 we are justified before God,

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 forgiven and adopted by Him.

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 This gospel identity is our great motivation for worship.

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 Now Ephesians 1, the word of the Lord,

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 beginning in verse 3.

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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

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 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,

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 that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

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 In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,

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 according to the purpose of His will,

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 to the praise of His glorious grace,

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 with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.

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 In Him we have redemption through His blood,

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 the forgiveness of our trespasses,

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 according to the riches of His grace,

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 which He lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight,

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 making known to us the mystery of His will,

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 according to His purpose,

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 which He set forth in Christ

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 as a plan for the fullness of time

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 to unite all things in Him,

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 things in heaven and things on earth.

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 In Him we have obtained an inheritance,

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 having been predestined according to the purpose of Him

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 who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

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 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ

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 might be to the praise of His glory.

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 In Him you also,

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 when you heard the word of truth,

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 the gospel of your salvation,

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 and believed in Him,

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 were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

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 who is the guarantee of our inheritance

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 until we acquire possession of it,

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 to the praise of His glory.

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 Beloved, this is God's word to us.

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 It was written for His glory and for our good.

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 We would all do well to listen to it

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 in order to believe its promises

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 and obey its commands.

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 Now, before I break down the summary statement,

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 I want to just take a few moments to look at verse 3.

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 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

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 who has blessed us in Christ

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 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

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 And you see this word root here being blessed.

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 Blessed, blessed, and blessing.

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 And I want to just point out to us very quickly

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 that just in verse 3,

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 we note that there is a blesser,

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 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 You will note that I read that word,

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 blessed.

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 I say blessed be.

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 Not blessed be, but blessed be.

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 And then when we get to who has blessed,

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 we tend to read that differently.

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 And the reason for that

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 is because they are not the same Greek word.

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 It's important to note this.

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 The Greek word here translated,

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 blessed be,

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 is eulogio,

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 which means blessed one or praised one.

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 We get the word eulogy from this Greek word.

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 A word of commendation.

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 Typically, you think of a eulogy

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 being preached at a funeral.

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 All of the praise that's given to the person

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 that has passed.

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 All of the reasons that we love this person

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 and the reasons that we will miss this person.

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 Here, Paul is not communicating

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 that God needs our blessing,

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 but that He is already the blessed one.

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 He is worthy of praise.

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 He is worthy of honor.

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 And He is the blesser.

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 He has blessed us in Christ.

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 So who are those who are blessed?

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 Here meaning joyful, enriched.

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 Those who are in Christ.

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 Those who have believed in Christ

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 are blessed by God.

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 Apart from faith in Christ,

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 a person is in a grievous state.

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 Romans 3.23-26 reads,

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 All have sinned and fall short

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 of the glory of God.

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 There's no one exempt from this.

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 Everybody in the world

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 is the condition of man.

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 Apart from Christ,

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 all have sinned.

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 They all fall short.

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 They all fail to measure up

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 to the holiness required of God

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 on our behalf to be pleasing before Him.

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 And this puts us in this grievous state

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 because God hates sin.

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 And because God hates sinners,

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 they are an affront to His character.

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 The person who is in the state of sin

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 openly and willingly rejects God as king.

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 Good king.

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 Given to us a good word

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 and we disregard it.

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 And we have it as our own.

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 It's a saying that God hates sin

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 but loves the sinner.

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 And that's so true in part,

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 but it's not completely true.

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 Let me show you why.

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 Psalm 11.5 says,

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 The Lord tests the righteous,

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 but His soul hates the wicked

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 and the one who loves violence.

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 The person who has not placed their faith in Christ

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 is in a grievous state

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 because the wrath of God

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 is being stored up for them.

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 Beloved, we must understand this.

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 I hear on a regular basis

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 about people who come and visit

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 and why they won't come back.

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 And some of you might find yourselves

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 in that place this morning.

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 One of my favorite complaints

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 is that I don't make people

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 feel good about themselves.

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 building up your self-esteem.

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 Be damned if you'll be damned.

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 Care about your souls.

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 This is a weighty thing that we do.

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 Considering the truth of God

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 and what it means for our lives

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 matters.

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 Doctrine matters.

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 The truth opened up to you.

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 This is why I say every Sunday,

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 this is God's Word to us.

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 You would do well to listen to it.

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 Believe His promises.

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 Obey His commands.

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 You must understand

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 that God hates sin.

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 And God hates sinners.

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 He will punish sinners.

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 But the wonderful truth of the Gospel

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 is that at the same time,

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 God loves sinners.

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 Praise Him.

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 I was loved by God

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 and saved by God

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 as a sinner.

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 So the statement,

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 God hates sin but loves the sinner

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 is partially true.

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 It should say,

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 God hates sin and hates the sinner

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 and loves the sinner.

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 And it's a difficult thing

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 for us to comprehend that

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 because we're not God.

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 God.

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 And we fail so often

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 to understand God

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 by His revealed Word

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 because we want to put ourselves

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 in His shoe.

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 How dare we?

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 We can't possibly understand

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 how it is that God

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 can both hate and love

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 at the very same time,

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 but He does.

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 And there's a beautiful picture

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 of this.

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 The great high point of redemption,

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 the cross of Christ.

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 where He loves us

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 as He hates us.

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 He pours out His wrath

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 on Jesus.

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 The hatred towards us.

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 Jesus takes us.

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 Propitiation.

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 He takes on our sin

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 and He pours His wrath

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 out on it.

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 It's a great loving act

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 on His part.

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 Verse 24.

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 Romans 3.

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 And are justified

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 by His grace as a gift

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 through the redemption

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 that is in Christ Jesus,

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 whom God put forward

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 as a propitiation,

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 a blood sacrifice replacement

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 to be received by faith.

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 This was to show

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 God's righteousness,

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 God's perfection,

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 because in His divine forbearance,

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 He had passed over

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 former sins.

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 It was to show His righteousness

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 at the present time

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 so that He might be just

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 punishing sin in Christ

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 and the justifier

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 of the one who has faith

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 in Jesus.

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 If you have believed in Christ,

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 you are saved by God

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 from God to God.

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 God is the blesser.

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 Those who have placed faith

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 in Christ are the blessed.

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 What is the blessing?

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 Paul here writes

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 that we're blessed

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 with every spiritual blessing

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 in the heavenly places.

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 And there's much

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 that could be said

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 at this point.

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 But the idea of it being

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 a spiritual blessing

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 speaks not to the extent

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 of the blessing

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 or the particular outworking

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 of the blessing.

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 Paul's not here

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 talking about spiritual

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 gifting in its entirety.

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 What he's speaking to

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 is the source

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 of the blessing.

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 It comes from God Himself.

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 We are blessed spiritually

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 because God is Spirit

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 and has given us blessing.

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 Not only that,

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 but He's given us

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 every spiritual blessing.

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 We have all the power

00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:46.399
 that we need

00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:47.199
 to love as we should,

00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:48.559
 to have peace and joy,

00:12:48.959 --> 00:12:49.959
 to find contentment,

00:12:50.079 --> 00:12:52.000
 to be obedient in all things,

00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:54.199
 etc., etc., etc.

00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.800
 And He has blessed us

00:12:55.800 --> 00:12:56.580
 with every spiritual blessing

00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:58.720
 in the heavenly places

00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:00.720
 which refers to the domain

00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:02.140
 of God.

00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:03.680
 Not just future blessing,

00:13:03.780 --> 00:13:04.740
 although future blessing

00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:06.040
 is included in this,

00:13:06.140 --> 00:13:08.379
 but present blessing now

00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.080
 as those of us

00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:10.180
 who have placed faith in Christ

00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:12.800
 are part of God's kingdom.

00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.860
 If you have believed in Christ,

00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:18.220
 you are blessed in Christ

00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:19.840
 with a new identity.

00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:22.800
 A gospel identity.

00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:25.439
 which I have summarized

00:13:25.439 --> 00:13:26.459
 with a portion of today's

00:13:26.459 --> 00:13:27.099
 summary statement,

00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.559
 the middle portion of it,

00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:31.139
 we are justified before God,

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.120
 forgiven,

00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:34.599
 and adopted by Him.

00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:36.679
 And I'll speak at length

00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:37.359
 to the portion

00:13:37.359 --> 00:13:38.079
 of the summary statement,

00:13:38.199 --> 00:13:39.359
 but let's take the statement

00:13:39.359 --> 00:13:40.279
 in its written order

00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:42.179
 and ask the question first,

00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:44.979
 what is the cause

00:13:44.979 --> 00:13:46.740
 of our gospel identity?

00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.939
 If you have placed faith

00:13:48.939 --> 00:13:50.039
 in the personal work

00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:50.799
 of Jesus Christ,

00:13:50.959 --> 00:13:52.259
 you are justified before God,

00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:53.419
 forgiven and adopted by Him,

00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:55.159
 but what is the cause

00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:58.319
 of this gospel identity?

00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:00.100
 The first part of our statement,

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:00.939
 by grace alone,

00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:01.960
 through faith alone,

00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:03.120
 in the personal work

00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:05.539
 of Jesus Christ alone.

00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.720
 Beloved, we undoubtedly

00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:12.340
 must believe in Christ.

00:14:12.819 --> 00:14:14.340
 I like the clarification.

00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:15.740
 You have heard me

00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:16.799
 or you will hear me

00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:17.759
 if you stick around,

00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:19.919
 in the person and work

00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:21.039
 of Jesus Christ.

00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.039
 I think my head's tallied

00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:22.959
 at least a dozen times.

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.819
 I've said it already

00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:24.419
 this morning.

00:14:25.219 --> 00:14:26.120
 In the person

00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.279
 and the work,

00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.139
 to believe that Jesus

00:14:28.139 --> 00:14:29.179
 is who He said He was,

00:14:29.199 --> 00:14:30.219
 that He is the Son of God,

00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.599
 and that He lived

00:14:31.599 --> 00:14:32.539
 a perfect life,

00:14:32.599 --> 00:14:34.139
 that He died a sinner's death,

00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:34.919
 that He was raised

00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.620
 on the third day,

00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:36.279
 that He's ascended

00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:37.479
 and seated with the Father.

00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.879
 We must believe these things.

00:14:38.939 --> 00:14:39.879
 When we say we must believe

00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.719
 in Christ,

00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:41.479
 it means that we believe

00:14:41.479 --> 00:14:43.299
 all of those things.

00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:43.799
 It doesn't mean

00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.279
 that we believe

00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.879
 that Jesus was a good teacher,

00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:48.759
 but that He was the Son of God.

00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:51.659
 That we place our faith in Him

00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:54.279
 for the remediation of our sin.

00:14:55.139 --> 00:14:56.840
 Not just that we believe

00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:58.879
 that He could be our buddy.

00:14:59.439 --> 00:15:00.659
 There's specifics about

00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:01.620
 what we must believe

00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:02.960
 about Christ

00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:04.879
 to be saved by Him.

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:05.980
 But undoubtedly,

00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:08.000
 we must believe.

00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:09.399
 Paul writes in Romans 10.9,

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.639
 if you confess with your mouth

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.559
 that Jesus is Lord

00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:13.019
 and believe in your heart

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:13.860
 that God raised Him

00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:15.080
 from the dead work,

00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:18.220
 you will be saved.

00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.779
 Our text this morning

00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:22.180
 confirms this.

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:24.419
 You can look at verse 12

00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:26.759
 and verse 13.

00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.879
 I underline these

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.700
 with squiggly marks

00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:29.340
 on my page.

00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:32.680
 So that we who were the first

00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:33.779
 to what?

00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:36.500
 Hope in Christ.

00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:38.000
 There's a work on our part.

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.000
 We hoped in Christ.

00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.460
 In verse 13,

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:43.420
 in Him you also,

00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:45.420
 when you heard the word of truth,

00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.519
 the gospel of your salvation,

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:51.440
 and believed in Him.

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:53.220
 So something happens.

00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:54.400
 Something takes place

00:15:54.400 --> 00:15:55.080
 in our conversion.

00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:57.019
 We place faith

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.960
 in the person and work

00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.660
 of Jesus Christ.

00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.400
 So you could say

00:16:01.400 --> 00:16:02.680
 that our faith is the cause

00:16:02.680 --> 00:16:04.740
 of our gospel identity.

00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:06.080
 That would be accurate.

00:16:06.300 --> 00:16:07.820
 Our faith is the cause

00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:08.600
 of our gospel identity,

00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:11.480
 but what is the cause

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.720
 of our faith?

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:15.920
 What made dead people

00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:17.600
 who were bent against

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.200
 the worship of God

00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:21.180
 suddenly decide

00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:23.320
 to worship God?

00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.500
 Our text this morning

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.379
 speaks to this.

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:29.220
 I don't intend at this moment

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.159
 to make a complex

00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:31.480
 soteriological argument.

00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:32.139
 If you don't know

00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:33.100
 what soteriology is,

00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:34.399
 that's probably okay.

00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:35.580
 It's the study

00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.420
 of the doctrines

00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:37.060
 of salvation.

00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:37.839
 I hope you're familiar

00:16:37.839 --> 00:16:38.459
 with the doctrines

00:16:38.459 --> 00:16:39.299
 of salvation though.

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.759
 I don't care to work out

00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.879
 all the intricacies

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.859
 of such doctrines,

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:46.059
 precious though they are,

00:16:47.099 --> 00:16:48.119
 but for the sake

00:16:48.119 --> 00:16:49.299
 of your understanding

00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:51.159
 of your gospel identity.

00:16:51.979 --> 00:16:52.699
 If you've placed faith

00:16:52.699 --> 00:16:53.239
 in Christ,

00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.419
 person and work,

00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:56.799
 you need to see

00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:59.219
 that God is the cause

00:16:59.219 --> 00:17:00.739
 of your faith.

00:17:01.479 --> 00:17:02.659
 It's very important

00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:04.119
 to see the way

00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:05.700
 in which God brings

00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.920
 things about faith

00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.920
 in the life

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.940
 of a believer.

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.660
 I don't want

00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.360
 to get into

00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:12.680
 a debate about this.

00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:14.600
 These doctrines

00:17:14.600 --> 00:17:15.480
 are taught to you

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.240
 to give you

00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:17.100
 a pillow

00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:18.640
 to rest your head on

00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:19.640
 and I want to show you

00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:20.420
 why.

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.000
 Note with me

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.759
 some phrases

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:25.100
 and some verses

00:17:25.100 --> 00:17:26.140
 in our text.

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:28.580
 I put these in parentheses

00:17:28.580 --> 00:17:29.799
 if you're marking

00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:30.220
 yours up.

00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:32.259
 verse 4,

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:33.640
 He,

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.740
 being God,

00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:36.779
 chose us

00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:38.200
 in Him,

00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.500
 being Jesus Christ,

00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:40.160
 when?

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:42.400
 Before the foundation

00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:44.319
 of the world.

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.420
 Don't make this

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:47.420
 too complex, beloved.

00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:48.740
 Paul's not trying

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.980
 to pull some

00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:52.000
 semantical tricks

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.120
 on us here.

00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:55.120
 Read it as it reads.

00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:55.680
 It's the doctrine

00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.079
 of the clarity

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:56.480
 of Scripture.

00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:58.000
 He chose us in Him

00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.799
 before the foundation

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.940
 of the world.

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:01.539
 Before all of this

00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.160
 came to be,

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.559
 before original sin,

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.359
 there was a plan

00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:04.819
 in place.

00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.779
 Christ was always

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.900
 plan A.

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.799
 Never a plan B.

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:10.119
 And God chose us

00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:10.759
 in Christ

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.220
 before the foundation

00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:13.660
 of the world.

00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.119
 Very last part

00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.819
 of verse 4

00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:16.759
 and verse 5.

00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.480
 I don't understand

00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:18.400
 why the numbers

00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:19.619
 fall this way.

00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.460
 In love,

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.940
 He predestined

00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:24.779
 us

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:26.299
 according

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.960
 to the purpose

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:30.079
 of His will.

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.160
 Again,

00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:33.340
 according to His purpose

00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:35.039
 in verse 9.

00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.940
 Verse 11.

00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.240
 Having been

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.660
 predestined

00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.579
 according

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:42.000
 to the purpose

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.400
 of Him

00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:42.920
 who works

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.640
 all things

00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.120
 according

00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:45.519
 to the counsel

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:48.180
 of His will.

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.039
 It's very difficult

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.880
 to get around this.

00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:51.299
 And I know

00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:51.900
 that for some of you,

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.620
 your brains

00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.500
 are racing out

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.059
 implications.

00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:54.980
 Stop.

00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:56.620
 Calm down

00:18:56.620 --> 00:18:57.140
 for a minute

00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.040
 and look at

00:18:58.040 --> 00:18:58.440
 what Paul's

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.180
 trying to

00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:00.180
 communicate to us.

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.060
 He's simply

00:19:01.060 --> 00:19:01.800
 trying to say

00:19:01.800 --> 00:19:02.480
 that our faith

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:03.360
 was brought about

00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:04.460
 by God.

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.900
 Why is that

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.680
 going to be important?

00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:07.259
 I'll tell you

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.300
 momentarily.

00:19:09.040 --> 00:19:09.900
 Don't get away

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.600
 from this.

00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.160
 The word

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.320
 predestined

00:19:13.320 --> 00:19:14.420
 is such a scary

00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:15.820
 word this day.

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.620
 But I'll tell you

00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:17.280
 what it means.

00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:17.940
 In Greek,

00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:18.640
 it means

00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.840
 decided beforehand

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:22.679
 or predetermined.

00:19:23.959 --> 00:19:24.720
 Paul's statement

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.359
 in verse 4

00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.579
 so beautifully

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.819
 defines the word

00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.959
 for us.

00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:30.379
 Chose us in Him

00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:32.379
 before the foundation

00:19:32.379 --> 00:19:32.980
 of the world.

00:19:33.699 --> 00:19:34.179
 Predetermined.

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:36.059
 Decided beforehand

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:37.220
 that we would

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:40.519
 believe in Christ.

00:19:40.659 --> 00:19:41.459
 So what is the cause

00:19:41.459 --> 00:19:43.299
 of our gospel identity?

00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:43.980
 Ultimately,

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.139
 God.

00:19:45.459 --> 00:19:46.019
 Specifically,

00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:47.399
 God's grace to us.

00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:49.180
 In His loving kindness,

00:19:50.100 --> 00:19:50.920
 He brought about

00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:52.080
 faith in us.

00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:52.580
 If you look just

00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:53.280
 a little further on

00:19:53.280 --> 00:19:54.519
 in Ephesians 2,

00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.640
 beginning in verse 8,

00:19:55.780 --> 00:19:56.400
 Paul says,

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.759
 For by grace

00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:59.240
 you have been saved

00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.580
 through faith.

00:20:01.560 --> 00:20:02.640
 And this is not

00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.480
 your own doing.

00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:04.800
 Paul's referring here

00:20:04.800 --> 00:20:05.660
 to the faith,

00:20:05.820 --> 00:20:06.600
 not to the grace.

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.960
 And this is not

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.540
 your own doing.

00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:10.800
 It is the gift

00:20:10.800 --> 00:20:12.019
 of God.

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.840
 Not a result

00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:15.060
 of works.

00:20:15.280 --> 00:20:15.720
 Why?

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:17.640
 So that no one

00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:19.059
 may boast.

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.380
 Oh, proud me,

00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:24.839
 I have faith.

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:27.420
 Oh, poor pitiful me,

00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.880
 I would not have faith

00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.420
 apart from Christ.

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.140
 Oh, Christ

00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:33.000
 is to be praised.

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.279
 Why is this doctrine

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:36.940
 important to your

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.480
 understanding

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:39.339
 of your gospel identity?

00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:41.120
 It's important

00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.259
 because your identity

00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:44.619
 is secure.

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.619
 It was wrought

00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:48.019
 by God.

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.339
 He brought it about

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:51.220
 and He will not

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:53.200
 change His mind.

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:54.519
 God made you

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:56.440
 and He will keep you.

00:20:57.779 --> 00:21:00.339
 Numbers 23, 19.

00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:02.039
 God is not man

00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.980
 that He should lie

00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.500
 or of son of man

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.319
 that He should change

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:05.900
 His mind.

00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.339
 Has He said

00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.839
 and will He not do it?

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:10.359
 Or has He spoken

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:11.720
 and will He not

00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:13.259
 fulfill it?

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.319
 Paul says in Romans 8,

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.859
 verse 29 and 30,

00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:20.619
 for those whom He foredo,

00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.879
 He also predestined

00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:23.039
 to be conformed

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.279
 to the image of a son

00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.059
 in order that He might

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:26.019
 be the firstborn

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:27.559
 or preeminent

00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:29.459
 among many brothers.

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.679
 And those whom He predestined,

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.279
 He also called.

00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:33.079
 And those whom He called,

00:21:33.419 --> 00:21:34.159
 He also justified.

00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:35.759
 And those whom He justified,

00:21:36.159 --> 00:21:37.599
 He also glorified.

00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.500
 Future tense,

00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:39.639
 one day we will be made

00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:40.859
 entirely perfect

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.899
 and be in His presence

00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:42.599
 forever.

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.879
 So who has brought about

00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:46.639
 this gospel identity

00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:48.279
 that we're speaking about today?

00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:50.240
 It's God, beloved.

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.480
 You may not know this,

00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.500
 but I call you beloved.

00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:56.199
 I'm hoping that I'm referring

00:21:56.199 --> 00:21:58.219
 to everyone in the room.

00:21:58.379 --> 00:21:59.279
 When I say beloved,

00:21:59.399 --> 00:22:00.439
 I'm referring to Christians.

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:03.879
 Jesus calls His own Son,

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.879
 God calls His own Son,

00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:07.059
 Jesus, beloved.

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.839
 And that's a title

00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.980
 passed on to us,

00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.799
 loved in Christ.

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.319
 Adopted sons and daughters

00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.579
 of the Most High.

00:22:17.159 --> 00:22:19.619
 So what is our gospel identity?

00:22:19.919 --> 00:22:20.699
 Again, here we are,

00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.379
 middle of the phrase,

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:23.959
 we are justified before God,

00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:27.740
 forgiven and adopted by Him.

00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:30.339
 We are justified before God.

00:22:30.419 --> 00:22:32.279
 To be justified before God

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:35.019
 means to be declared righteous

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:37.940
 before God as our judge.

00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:41.079
 It's a courtroom term.

00:22:41.879 --> 00:22:43.379
 Standing before a judge

00:22:43.379 --> 00:22:44.819
 and the judge not only

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:47.839
 dismisses our offense,

00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:50.180
 our sin has been forgiven,

00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:54.119
 but also declares us perfect.

00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:57.379
 There's two sides to justification.

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:58.060
 Right?

00:22:58.580 --> 00:23:00.520
 Verse 4 says that we should be holy

00:23:00.520 --> 00:23:03.460
 and blameless before Him.

00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:05.720
 If you are in Christ,

00:23:05.800 --> 00:23:07.520
 if you have believed in Him,

00:23:07.600 --> 00:23:10.400
 you stand before God justified.

00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:12.580
 And there's really not another great word

00:23:12.580 --> 00:23:14.560
 for this word.

00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.820
 Two sides of the coin.

00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.700
 Debt canceled

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:21.440
 and a deposit has been made.

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:23.360
 Christ took your sin.

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.900
 The debt has been canceled.

00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:27.620
 Christ gave you His righteousness.

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:31.440
 You're seen as perfect before God.

00:23:32.080 --> 00:23:33.700
 We are justified, beloved.

00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:36.160
 Important, important doctrine

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:39.440
 to understand who we are.

00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.920
 We've been forgiven.

00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:42.840
 Verse 7,

00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:44.480
 in Him we have redemption

00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.780
 through His blood,

00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.600
 the forgiveness of our trespasses.

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:49.680
 We have been adopted.

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.259
 Verse 5,

00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.900
 He predestined us for adoption

00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:56.259
 as sons through Jesus Christ.

00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.580
 And ladies,

00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:59.960
 it's okay that Paul is using this terminology

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:01.160
 because culturally,

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.040
 you want to be a son.

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.880
 Sons got inheritance.

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:09.019
 Sons took over the Father's place.

00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:10.220
 Women at this time

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:12.500
 had very little rights to inheritance.

00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.620
 Very little.

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:15.220
 They needed to marry into family

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:16.519
 to have those things.

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.240
 So, to call you a son of God

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:20.200
 is not a gender offense

00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.560
 in this way.

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:23.720
 We've been adopted as sons

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.700
 through Jesus Christ.

00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.480
 And I fear in my own mind

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.319
 and sometimes then

00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:28.440
 in your minds

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:30.099
 that here as we

00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:32.319
 hold high God

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.159
 and we present Him

00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:34.500
 as sovereign King,

00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:35.359
 as ruler,

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.940
 as creator and sustainer,

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.539
 which He is,

00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.579
 all of those things

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.859
 that we sometimes forget

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:42.019
 to call Him Father.

00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:44.480
 And as we talk about Christ

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.339
 as the prophet,

00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:45.879
 priest,

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.759
 and king,

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:49.000
 supreme in all things,

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:50.960
 we forget to call Him

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.220
 friend.

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:55.019
 Our relationship is

00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:56.660
 deep and intimate

00:24:56.660 --> 00:25:00.079
 with the Lord of the universe.

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:02.619
 And this is an astounding reality.

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:04.619
 J.I. Packer,

00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.680
 in his work entitled

00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.980
 Knowing God,

00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:07.980
 which you should read,

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:10.200
 wrote the following,

00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:12.360
 that justification

00:25:12.360 --> 00:25:13.539
 by which we mean

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.420
 God's forgiveness

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.319
 of the past

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.819
 together with His acceptance

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.480
 for the future

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:19.099
 is the primary

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:20.839
 and fundamental blessing

00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.480
 of the gospel

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.759
 is not in question.

00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.160
 Justification

00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:25.500
 is the primary blessing

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.279
 because it meets

00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.920
 our primary spiritual need.

00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:29.920
 We all stand by nature

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:31.120
 under God's judgment.

00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:33.099
 His law condemns us.

00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:35.180
 Guilt gnaws at us,

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.759
 making us restless,

00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.480
 miserable,

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:39.200
 and in our lucid moments

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.839
 afraid.

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:41.400
 We have no peace

00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:42.000
 in ourselves

00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.279
 because we have no peace

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.519
 with our Maker.

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.460
 So we need the forgiveness

00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:47.160
 of our sins

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:47.819
 and assurance

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:49.039
 of a restored relationship

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.559
 with God

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.599
 more than we need

00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.160
 anything else

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:51.740
 in the world.

00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:52.779
 And this,

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.359
 the gospel offers us

00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.640
 before it offers us

00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:57.000
 anything else.

00:25:58.180 --> 00:26:00.140
 But contrast this now

00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:01.619
 with adoption.

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:04.400
 Adoption is a family idea

00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:06.740
 conceived in terms of love,

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:08.099
 and viewing God

00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.059
 as Father.

00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.579
 In adoption,

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.379
 God takes us

00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:12.339
 into His family

00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.160
 and fellowship.

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.839
 He establishes us

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.779
 as His children

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:17.079
 and heirs.

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.500
 Closeness,

00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:19.460
 affection,

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.740
 and generosity

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.599
 are at the heart

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.720
 of the relationship.

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:25.160
 To be right with the God,

00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.079
 the judge,

00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:27.200
 is a great thing.

00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.599
 But to be loved

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.859
 and cared for by God,

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:30.859
 the Father,

00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.460
 is greater.

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:35.440
 this is who we are

00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:37.039
 in Christ.

00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:39.100
 Accepted by God

00:26:39.100 --> 00:26:39.980
 and drawn into

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:42.259
 a familial relationship

00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:43.380
 with Him.

00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.039
 And beloved,

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.600
 this is based

00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:47.960
 in His work

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:49.620
 before the foundation

00:26:49.620 --> 00:26:50.240
 of the world

00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:52.120
 that we might have faith

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:53.039
 and believe

00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:54.259
 in the personal work

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.440
 of Jesus Christ.

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.600
 I hope that even

00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:58.220
 if that's a strange doctrine

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:58.640
 to you,

00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.400
 that you could see

00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:00.279
 the beauty of it.

00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:01.759
 I hope to say,

00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:04.299
 I can rest in that.

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.460
 That in the midst

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.899
 of all of the best

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.920
 that I am,

00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:10.440
 I am God's

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.879
 in Christ.

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.960
 That's our gospel identity.

00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.500
 That's what He's done

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:18.759
 on our behalf.

00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:22.180
 And it should rightly

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.279
 have some effect

00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:24.160
 in our lives.

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:27.639
 If you are Christ's,

00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:29.920
 you don't have the option

00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.820
 from to be merely

00:27:30.820 --> 00:27:31.539
 your Savior

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.720
 and not also

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:34.220
 your Lord.

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.620
 He said,

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.820
 those who love me

00:27:36.820 --> 00:27:39.240
 keep my commandments.

00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.640
 It becomes the natural

00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.560
 response

00:27:42.560 --> 00:27:43.620
 of the heart

00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.279
 that's been turned

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.480
 to God in Christ

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.900
 to follow Him.

00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:48.920
 To be His disciples.

00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:50.720
 And far too long,

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.640
 we've had presented

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.320
 in America

00:27:52.320 --> 00:27:54.259
 a complacent Christianity

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.240
 that says,

00:27:55.340 --> 00:27:56.620
 it's just okay

00:27:56.620 --> 00:27:58.060
 that you show up

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:59.019
 and you consume.

00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.220
 We're just happy

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.799
 you're here.

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.419
 We're happy you're here

00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:04.539
 because we want you

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.539
 to be engaged

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.419
 in obedience

00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:07.319
 to Christ

00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:08.259
 in the world.

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:10.240
 It's good for the world

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:12.259
 and it's good for you.

00:28:13.419 --> 00:28:14.819
 How dare we not

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:16.339
 press obedience

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.919
 on the people of God?

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.500
 How dare we not

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.179
 show them

00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:21.039
 the great joy

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.139
 that's found in Christ

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:23.420
 and obedience

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:24.520
 to Him?

00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.960
 We won't be doing

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.780
 that here anymore.

00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:29.820
 You're either

00:28:29.820 --> 00:28:30.759
 going to get caught up

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.820
 in the mission of God

00:28:31.820 --> 00:28:32.860
 because you're His

00:28:32.860 --> 00:28:34.800
 or you're going to get

00:28:34.800 --> 00:28:35.759
 really uncomfortable

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.759
 around here.

00:28:38.520 --> 00:28:39.640
 What is

00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.980
 the effect

00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:42.240
 of our gospel

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:43.040
 identity?

00:28:44.040 --> 00:28:45.000
 Last sentence

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:46.180
 of our summary statement.

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:48.400
 This gospel identity

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:50.900
 is our great motivation

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:53.019
 for worship.

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.660
 Because of what God

00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:56.120
 has done for us

00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.500
 in Christ,

00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:59.019
 we worship Him.

00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:01.600
 I am not simply

00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:02.600
 referring to

00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:03.840
 congregational singing.

00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:04.880
 I appreciate it.

00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.880
 It's been said a few times

00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:07.540
 already this morning.

00:29:08.540 --> 00:29:10.820
 It's a poor nomenclature

00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:11.620
 that we call

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.820
 singing in church

00:29:12.820 --> 00:29:13.519
 worship.

00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.680
 It is worship,

00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:15.560
 but it's not all

00:29:15.560 --> 00:29:16.360
 that worship is.

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.620
 I think that some people

00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.220
 begin to think

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.220
 that that's the extent

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:20.059
 of it all.

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.400
 It's a type of worship.

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:24.180
 Musical worship.

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.480
 But worship,

00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:27.059
 beloved,

00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:28.539
 is all that we do.

00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:29.980
 It extends into

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:31.140
 every aspect

00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:32.120
 of our lives.

00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:33.299
 It is sharing

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:33.860
 the gospel.

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.140
 It is showing up

00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.819
 on Sunday morning

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:37.259
 and singing songs.

00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.140
 It is listening

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:39.360
 to sermons preached.

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:41.220
 It is preaching sermons.

00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.140
 But it is also

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:43.720
 washing dishes

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:45.519
 and changing diapers

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:47.500
 and vacuuming floors.

00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:49.180
 All of those things

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.720
 in life

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.880
 are done

00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:52.759
 to the honor

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.380
 and glory

00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:54.160
 of God.

00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:56.099
 This is also

00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:58.319
 worshipped.

00:29:59.119 --> 00:29:59.920
 Your purpose

00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:01.859
 as a justified,

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:03.119
 redeemed,

00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:04.700
 and adopted person

00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:06.240
 is to live

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:07.680
 as a holy person

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.839
 in all things

00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:11.160
 to the praise of God.

00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:11.200
 God.

00:30:12.800 --> 00:30:14.120
 I say to my sons,

00:30:14.300 --> 00:30:14.680
 those of you

00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.140
 who don't know me,

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.580
 I have three sons now.

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.560
 I have a six-year-old,

00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.460
 a four-year-old,

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.400
 and an almost

00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.140
 four-month-old.

00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:21.820
 So to the older two,

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.800
 I say,

00:30:23.800 --> 00:30:24.220
 boys,

00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.019
 my sons

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.080
 obey their father.

00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:28.500
 Are you acting

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.120
 like my sons

00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:29.600
 right now?

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.180
 And they go,

00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:33.519
 well, you are my sons,

00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:33.960
 aren't you?

00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:35.100
 My sons

00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:36.600
 obey their father.

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.100
 And when they're

00:30:37.100 --> 00:30:37.620
 punished,

00:30:37.620 --> 00:30:38.980
 when I discipline them,

00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:39.980
 I get a spanking

00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:40.539
 and they're sent

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.299
 off to their room

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:43.019
 to lay in their bed.

00:30:43.120 --> 00:30:44.279
 We reconcile afterward

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.360
 and I always say,

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.700
 you're my son

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.500
 and I love you

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:51.140
 and that's why

00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:52.120
 I want you to

00:30:52.120 --> 00:30:53.039
 obey.

00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:55.160
 Your father is good

00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:56.519
 and he cares about you.

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.599
 He is concerned.

00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.500
 And let me tell you

00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.380
 that I fail

00:30:59.380 --> 00:31:00.700
 so often at this,

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:02.279
 but God never fails

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.720
 to give us good

00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:04.200
 and right

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.259
 and proper commandment

00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:06.099
 for us

00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:06.660
 to live

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.440
 and flourish

00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:08.579
 under his

00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:09.539
 rule.

00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.679
 You hear me say

00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:12.179
 to the kids

00:31:12.179 --> 00:31:12.960
 on Sunday mornings,

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.539
 I love you,

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:13.879
 which is why

00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:14.419
 I want to remind you

00:31:14.419 --> 00:31:15.399
 that God loves you,

00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.220
 which is why

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:16.740
 he gave you

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:18.339
 parents that love you,

00:31:18.639 --> 00:31:19.240
 which is why

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.720
 you should

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:21.159
 obey them.

00:31:22.679 --> 00:31:24.279
 We glorify God

00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:25.559
 when we act

00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:27.199
 in appropriate response

00:31:27.199 --> 00:31:28.059
 to who we are

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.599
 in Christ.

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.059
 We bring him

00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:31.819
 great honor.

00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:32.919
 Not that he needs it

00:31:32.919 --> 00:31:34.220
 bestowed upon him,

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.579
 but we show him

00:31:35.579 --> 00:31:37.619
 for who he actually is

00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:38.759
 when we live

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.259
 in accordance

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.079
 with what he's

00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:40.659
 done for us

00:31:40.659 --> 00:31:41.719
 in Christ.

00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:42.859
 Note this

00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:43.619
 in our text.

00:31:43.739 --> 00:31:44.479
 Ephesians 1,

00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:46.119
 verse 6,

00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:46.759
 you'll see the phrase.

00:31:47.699 --> 00:31:48.959
 I did a big scribbly

00:31:48.959 --> 00:31:49.839
 circle around these

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.159
 phrases.

00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:52.779
 To the praise

00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:54.819
 of his glorious grace.

00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:56.039
 Verse 12,

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.859
 to the praise

00:31:57.859 --> 00:31:59.299
 of his glory.

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.439
 Verse 14,

00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:02.639
 to the praise

00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:04.400
 of his glory.

00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:07.300
 There are two types

00:32:07.300 --> 00:32:08.000
 of magnification.

00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:08.820
 This is a classic

00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:09.440
 John Piper.

00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:12.200
 Type of magnification

00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:13.200
 that a microscope does

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.600
 where it makes something

00:32:14.600 --> 00:32:15.759
 very, very tiny.

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:16.400
 It looks bigger

00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:17.000
 than it is.

00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:17.940
 Many people think

00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:19.120
 of glory in that way.

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:19.880
 Glorifying God

00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:20.640
 in that way.

00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:22.400
 This is not the case

00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:22.720
 at all.

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:24.560
 The type of magnifying

00:32:24.560 --> 00:32:25.120
 we do

00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:27.060
 is making something

00:32:27.060 --> 00:32:28.100
 that's huge

00:32:28.100 --> 00:32:28.940
 and massive

00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:30.000
 and far off

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.599
 and distant

00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:32.180
 look much more

00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:33.980
 like it actually is.

00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.539
 And in obedience

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.180
 we do this.

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.160
 We magnify God

00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:38.319
 in that way.

00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:39.039
 We show him

00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.579
 to be king

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.099
 and ruler

00:32:40.099 --> 00:32:42.200
 in our hearts.

00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:44.480
 In Matthew 7,

00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:45.640
 verses 17 and 18,

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.339
 Jesus says,

00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.059
 So,

00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:49.420
 every healthy tree

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:52.400
 bears good fruit.

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:54.660
 But the diseased tree

00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:56.039
 bears bad fruit.

00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:57.339
 Good trees bear good fruit.

00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.380
 Bad trees bear

00:32:59.380 --> 00:33:00.580
 bad fruit.

00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.100
 Verse 18,

00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:01.800
 A healthy tree

00:33:01.800 --> 00:33:03.640
 cannot bear bad fruit

00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:05.700
 nor can a diseased tree

00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:07.940
 bear good fruit.

00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:10.040
 We are changed

00:33:10.040 --> 00:33:11.000
 by God

00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.800
 from a bad tree

00:33:12.800 --> 00:33:14.680
 only producing evil

00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:17.100
 to a good tree.

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.720
 This reality

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.780
 is the doctrine

00:33:20.780 --> 00:33:22.740
 of regeneration.

00:33:23.540 --> 00:33:25.060
 This is the new birth.

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:26.280
 We're not the same

00:33:26.280 --> 00:33:27.420
 anymore.

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:29.779
 We're made new.

00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:31.539
 We're not changed

00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:32.340
 in degree.

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:34.560
 We don't encounter Christ

00:33:34.560 --> 00:33:35.039
 and we're made

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.840
 a little better.

00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:36.560
 We're changed

00:33:36.560 --> 00:33:38.220
 in kind.

00:33:40.860 --> 00:33:41.380
 Subliminally,

00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:41.380
!

00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:41.900
 Subtly,

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.820
 maybe not so much.

00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.500
 The church has a new logo.

00:33:47.060 --> 00:33:48.460
 The astute amongst you

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:50.200
 have noticed this.

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:51.200
 We had a bunch of trees

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.539
 before.

00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:52.539
 It's a single tree now.

00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:53.519
 Mostly Facebook

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.900
 and Instagram

00:33:54.900 --> 00:33:55.900
 that's forcing everything

00:33:55.900 --> 00:33:56.980
 into circles and squares

00:33:56.980 --> 00:33:58.400
 is causing this.

00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:58.819
 But,

00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:02.819
 when you see this logo,

00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:04.759
 I want you to think

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.480
 good tree.

00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.599
 Who am I

00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:09.380
 in Christ?

00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.840
 In Christ,

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.679
 I'm a good tree.

00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:12.880
 What do good trees do?

00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:14.719
 Good trees produce

00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:16.199
 good fruit.

00:34:16.300 --> 00:34:17.019
 On the front of your bulletin,

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.519
 you'll see a

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.920
 Spurgeon

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:20.259
 quote.

00:34:20.260 --> 00:34:22.060
 I do this

00:34:22.060 --> 00:34:23.020
 because I want to

00:34:23.020 --> 00:34:24.180
 connect you to history.

00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.520
 I want to connect you

00:34:25.520 --> 00:34:26.160
 to the church

00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:27.780
 that existed before.

00:34:28.040 --> 00:34:28.220
 These are

00:34:28.220 --> 00:34:30.200
 blessed brothers.

00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:31.260
 We stand on their shoulders.

00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:32.360
 They have so much wisdom.

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.760
 And Spurgeon says things

00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:34.800
 so much better than I do.

00:34:35.620 --> 00:34:35.940
 He wrote,

00:34:36.060 --> 00:34:37.280
 God works in man

00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:38.440
 a change so great

00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.620
 that no reformation

00:34:39.620 --> 00:34:40.700
 can even so much

00:34:40.700 --> 00:34:42.620
 as thoroughly imitate it.

00:34:42.680 --> 00:34:42.800
 So,

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:44.080
 no change a man can do

00:34:44.080 --> 00:34:44.860
 can even imitate

00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:46.180
 the change that God

00:34:46.180 --> 00:34:47.280
 brings about in a man.

00:34:47.580 --> 00:34:48.900
 It is an entire change.

00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:50.160
 A change of the will

00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:50.920
 of the being

00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:51.819
 of the desires

00:34:51.819 --> 00:34:52.639
 of the hates

00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:53.960
 of the disliking

00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.059
 and of the likings.

00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.599
 In every respect,

00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.839
 the man becomes new

00:34:57.839 --> 00:34:59.139
 when divine grace

00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.679
 enters into his heart.

00:35:01.859 --> 00:35:03.480
 Our gospel identity

00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:06.639
 produces obedience,

00:35:07.299 --> 00:35:10.839
 but we do not become

00:35:10.839 --> 00:35:13.539
 perfectly obedient,

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.659
 do we?

00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:16.480
 Oh, I wish we did.

00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:18.480
 We do not become

00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:21.280
 perfectly obedient.

00:35:21.280 --> 00:35:22.139
 And I think we can

00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:23.139
 muse about the why

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:24.880
 of that at length.

00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:26.280
 I think one of the

00:35:26.280 --> 00:35:27.659
 primary reasons for it

00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:29.179
 is that we still have

00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:30.199
 our flesh

00:35:30.199 --> 00:35:31.500
 and we carry that around.

00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:32.420
 And I have to tell you

00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:32.920
 that for me,

00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:34.440
 I sympathize deeply

00:35:34.440 --> 00:35:35.699
 with lost people

00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:36.679
 because I see

00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:37.900
 the vileness

00:35:37.900 --> 00:35:39.240
 of my sin.

00:35:39.740 --> 00:35:40.599
 I step back

00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:42.639
 into my old self-functioning

00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.559
 and I remember

00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:44.380
 how miserable

00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:46.280
 I was before Christ.

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.360
 My heart goes out

00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.340
 to people who don't

00:35:48.340 --> 00:35:49.059
 know him

00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:50.099
 because I still

00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:51.039
 need him.

00:35:53.140 --> 00:35:54.720
 There's a concept,

00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.960
 a biblical concept,

00:35:56.160 --> 00:35:57.559
 first systematized

00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:58.440
 by Augustine

00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:59.380
 called the fourfold

00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:00.079
 state of man.

00:36:00.180 --> 00:36:00.880
 I think we have a slide

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:02.220
 for this.

00:36:02.680 --> 00:36:03.880
 It was later made popular

00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:06.360
 in a book entitled

00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:07.160
 Human Nature

00:36:07.160 --> 00:36:08.460
 in Its Fourfold State

00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.519
 by a man named

00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.280
 Thomas Boston.

00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:11.680
 He was a 17th century

00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:12.859
 Scottish pastor

00:36:12.859 --> 00:36:13.980
 and theologian.

00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:16.139
 So this is a biblical concept.

00:36:16.399 --> 00:36:17.379
 It's taught in the scriptures.

00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:18.579
 I'm going to show it

00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:19.299
 to you in Latin.

00:36:19.779 --> 00:36:20.259
 And not again,

00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.759
 I'm not doing this.

00:36:21.819 --> 00:36:22.519
 I don't quote people

00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:22.960
 and do this

00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:23.539
 because I want you

00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:24.460
 to think that I'm smart

00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:25.099
 because I'm not.

00:36:25.779 --> 00:36:26.919
 I steal everything

00:36:26.919 --> 00:36:27.719
 that I present to you.

00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:28.980
 There's nothing new

00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:29.579
 under the sun.

00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:32.480
 I'm just a mockingbird.

00:36:33.379 --> 00:36:34.159
 For me,

00:36:34.399 --> 00:36:35.299
 Latin helps me

00:36:35.299 --> 00:36:35.919
 remember things.

00:36:36.019 --> 00:36:36.500
 And that may not be

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:37.159
 the case for you,

00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:37.839
 but getting phrases

00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:38.579
 in my mind in Latin

00:36:38.579 --> 00:36:39.299
 helps me remember things.

00:36:39.379 --> 00:36:40.159
 But in addition to that,

00:36:40.379 --> 00:36:41.319
 I want you to be comfortable

00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:42.640
 in some respect with Latin

00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:43.480
 because if you read

00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:44.580
 the guys you should be reading,

00:36:44.640 --> 00:36:45.420
 the old dead guys,

00:36:45.740 --> 00:36:46.920
 they do this a lot.

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.200
 They just throw Latin phrases

00:36:48.200 --> 00:36:49.480
 into the mix of things.

00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:50.740
 And you need to know

00:36:50.740 --> 00:36:51.340
 that it's Latin

00:36:51.340 --> 00:36:52.260
 and you need to try

00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:53.160
 to start figuring out

00:36:53.160 --> 00:36:54.660
 what these things mean.

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:55.519
 With no explanation,

00:36:55.640 --> 00:36:56.500
 they'll just use a Latin phrase

00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.260
 and keep on going.

00:36:57.780 --> 00:36:58.640
 So I want you to get

00:36:58.640 --> 00:36:59.880
 comfortable around Latin.

00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:00.660
 So you're going to see it

00:37:00.660 --> 00:37:02.039
 a bit more

00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:03.620
 in our meetings together.

00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:04.620
 But the fourfold state of man

00:37:04.620 --> 00:37:05.539
 is a biblical concept,

00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:07.360
 systematic theology here

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:08.220
 being brought together.

00:37:08.360 --> 00:37:09.780
 The very first state

00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:12.360
 is the state of innocence.

00:37:12.540 --> 00:37:13.980
 This is the pre-fall state.

00:37:14.200 --> 00:37:15.500
 Only two people ever lived

00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:16.660
 in the pre-fall state,

00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:17.360
 the state of innocence,

00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.560
 Adam and Eve.

00:37:19.780 --> 00:37:20.320
 Adam and Eve.

00:37:21.180 --> 00:37:22.300
 And in that state,

00:37:22.740 --> 00:37:23.360
 they had

00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:25.720
 passe non pecare,

00:37:26.380 --> 00:37:28.180
 et passe pecare.

00:37:28.720 --> 00:37:28.820
 Right?

00:37:29.100 --> 00:37:29.900
 The power

00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:31.780
 not to sin,

00:37:32.100 --> 00:37:32.800
 passe non pecare,

00:37:33.740 --> 00:37:34.300
 and

00:37:34.300 --> 00:37:36.540
 et the power to sin,

00:37:36.680 --> 00:37:37.800
 passe pecare.

00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:38.539
 They had both.

00:37:38.640 --> 00:37:39.240
 They could do either.

00:37:39.340 --> 00:37:40.200
 And we see that picture.

00:37:41.080 --> 00:37:41.780
 Genesis chapter 2

00:37:41.780 --> 00:37:42.360
 into the beginning

00:37:42.360 --> 00:37:43.660
 of Genesis chapter 3.

00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:44.740
 They commanded not to eat

00:37:44.740 --> 00:37:45.640
 of a tree.

00:37:46.080 --> 00:37:46.640
 And what did they do?

00:37:47.240 --> 00:37:47.820
 They eat of the tree.

00:37:48.560 --> 00:37:49.680
 They didn't have to eat of the tree.

00:37:50.100 --> 00:37:50.580
 They had the power

00:37:50.580 --> 00:37:51.240
 to do either.

00:37:52.240 --> 00:37:53.080
 Passe non pecare,

00:37:53.220 --> 00:37:54.320
 et passe pecare.

00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:56.280
 And they immediately,

00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:58.600
 and all that have followed them

00:37:58.600 --> 00:37:59.360
 at birth,

00:37:59.880 --> 00:38:00.720
 enter into

00:38:00.720 --> 00:38:02.500
 what's secondly called

00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:04.300
 the state of nature.

00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:06.260
 The state of nature.

00:38:06.640 --> 00:38:08.140
 The post-fall,

00:38:08.740 --> 00:38:11.140
 pre-conversion state.

00:38:11.780 --> 00:38:12.980
 If you are not in Christ

00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:13.500
 this morning,

00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:14.780
 if you know people

00:38:14.780 --> 00:38:15.539
 who are not in Christ,

00:38:15.640 --> 00:38:16.820
 this is where they function.

00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:18.519
 And in this state,

00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:20.260
 people only have

00:38:20.260 --> 00:38:21.059
 the power

00:38:21.059 --> 00:38:22.180
 to sin.

00:38:22.460 --> 00:38:23.680
 Passe pecare.

00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:25.799
 Even things that we would deem

00:38:25.799 --> 00:38:27.259
 as good activity

00:38:27.259 --> 00:38:29.659
 are not rightly motivated

00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:30.379
 by faith

00:38:30.379 --> 00:38:31.239
 through the glory of God

00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:31.879
 and therefore

00:38:31.879 --> 00:38:33.039
 they're sin.

00:38:34.399 --> 00:38:36.000
 Passe pecare.

00:38:37.239 --> 00:38:37.719
 Thirdly,

00:38:37.779 --> 00:38:39.159
 you have the state of grace.

00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:40.619
 The converted state.

00:38:40.739 --> 00:38:41.379
 If you're in Christ,

00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:42.500
 this is where we find ourselves.

00:38:42.759 --> 00:38:43.599
 Gospel identity

00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:44.339
 is what we're talking about.

00:38:44.419 --> 00:38:45.639
 So this is where we land

00:38:45.639 --> 00:38:46.779
 in the third state,

00:38:46.879 --> 00:38:48.460
 the state of grace.

00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:49.519
 And we once again

00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.659
 return to

00:38:50.659 --> 00:38:52.199
 the nature

00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:53.659
 of the state of innocence.

00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:55.339
 Passe non pecare

00:38:55.339 --> 00:38:56.739
 et passe pecare.

00:38:56.859 --> 00:38:57.619
 We have the power

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.960
 not to sin.

00:38:59.359 --> 00:39:00.159
 Praise God

00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:01.440
 by the work of the Spirit.

00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:02.739
 We're made new.

00:39:02.879 --> 00:39:03.579
 We have the power

00:39:03.579 --> 00:39:04.799
 not to sin.

00:39:05.799 --> 00:39:06.279
 And

00:39:06.279 --> 00:39:07.940
 we have the power

00:39:07.940 --> 00:39:08.279
 to sin.

00:39:08.940 --> 00:39:09.779
 We still choose

00:39:09.779 --> 00:39:11.399
 to be disobedient.

00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.079
 And then fourthly,

00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:13.879
 and praise God

00:39:13.879 --> 00:39:14.460
 for the fourth,

00:39:14.559 --> 00:39:15.480
 the eternal state,

00:39:15.919 --> 00:39:17.960
 the glorified state,

00:39:18.279 --> 00:39:19.000
 when we will

00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:20.819
 only have power

00:39:20.820 --> 00:39:23.100
 not to sin.

00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:25.320
 Passe non pecare.

00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:26.840
 We long for that day.

00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:29.080
 Passe non pecare

00:39:29.080 --> 00:39:30.800
 is the truth.

00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:31.140
 So,

00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:33.320
 we find that living

00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:35.940
 as a holy person

00:39:35.940 --> 00:39:38.039
 for the praise of God

00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:39.500
 in the state of grace

00:39:39.500 --> 00:39:41.360
 takes effort.

00:39:42.600 --> 00:39:44.559
 Our salvation is monergistic.

00:39:44.660 --> 00:39:45.700
 It's a work of God.

00:39:46.080 --> 00:39:47.340
 God works.

00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:48.720
 We're saved.

00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:50.939
 Our sanctification,

00:39:51.239 --> 00:39:52.399
 the process of becoming

00:39:52.399 --> 00:39:53.659
 like Christ,

00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:55.699
 is a synergistic process.

00:39:56.399 --> 00:39:56.939
 We work

00:39:56.939 --> 00:39:58.559
 and God works.

00:39:59.359 --> 00:40:00.919
 Wonderful proof text for this

00:40:00.919 --> 00:40:01.619
 is Philippians 2,

00:40:01.699 --> 00:40:02.379
 12 and 13.

00:40:02.939 --> 00:40:03.339
 Paul writes,

00:40:03.419 --> 00:40:04.159
 Therefore, my beloved,

00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:05.899
 as you have always obeyed,

00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:06.719
 so now,

00:40:07.379 --> 00:40:08.599
 not only as in my presence,

00:40:08.699 --> 00:40:10.259
 but much more in my absence,

00:40:10.959 --> 00:40:13.339
 work out your own salvation

00:40:13.339 --> 00:40:15.000
 with fear and trembling.

00:40:15.679 --> 00:40:16.439
 Verse 13,

00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:17.039
 for

00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:18.840
 this is the reason

00:40:18.840 --> 00:40:19.539
 for the fear and trembling,

00:40:19.719 --> 00:40:19.940
 for

00:40:19.940 --> 00:40:22.320
 it is God who works in you

00:40:22.320 --> 00:40:23.659
 both to will

00:40:23.659 --> 00:40:24.960
 and to work

00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:26.440
 for His good pleasure.

00:40:26.619 --> 00:40:26.840
 So,

00:40:27.500 --> 00:40:28.239
 you work,

00:40:28.719 --> 00:40:29.119
 God

00:40:29.119 --> 00:40:30.800
 works.

00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:33.059
 And too often, beloved,

00:40:33.159 --> 00:40:33.559
 those who

00:40:33.559 --> 00:40:34.559
 hold dear

00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:35.559
 the sovereignty of God,

00:40:35.820 --> 00:40:36.980
 those who understand

00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:37.800
 our need

00:40:37.800 --> 00:40:38.820
 of grace

00:40:38.820 --> 00:40:40.500
 become complacent

00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:41.039
 and lazy

00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:42.079
 as if we're waiting

00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:43.139
 to be compelled

00:40:43.139 --> 00:40:44.219
 to obedience,

00:40:45.279 --> 00:40:45.840
 animated,

00:40:45.840 --> 00:40:46.740
 I should even say

00:40:46.740 --> 00:40:47.800
 to obedience.

00:40:48.640 --> 00:40:50.539
 I hear so much

00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:51.700
 from you.

00:40:52.700 --> 00:40:54.519
 This is what I want to do.

00:40:54.620 --> 00:40:56.100
 I really desire to do.

00:40:56.720 --> 00:40:57.980
 But then you don't do it.

00:40:59.500 --> 00:41:00.900
 If the desire is genuine,

00:41:01.059 --> 00:41:01.920
 you will go.

00:41:02.620 --> 00:41:03.780
 You will do the thing

00:41:03.780 --> 00:41:04.320
 that you said

00:41:04.320 --> 00:41:05.180
 you would do.

00:41:06.620 --> 00:41:07.559
 I think sometimes

00:41:07.559 --> 00:41:08.940
 you desire me to think

00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:10.700
 that you desire to do

00:41:10.700 --> 00:41:12.120
 the things you're supposed to do.

00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:14.500
 we will be obedient

00:41:14.500 --> 00:41:15.699
 and it takes effort

00:41:15.699 --> 00:41:16.639
 on our part.

00:41:16.759 --> 00:41:17.679
 It takes work

00:41:17.679 --> 00:41:19.420
 on our part.

00:41:20.259 --> 00:41:21.019
 Our sanctification,

00:41:21.719 --> 00:41:22.159
 biblically,

00:41:22.519 --> 00:41:23.279
 biblical sanctification

00:41:23.279 --> 00:41:24.059
 is progressive.

00:41:24.259 --> 00:41:24.659
 We've got a slide

00:41:24.659 --> 00:41:25.599
 for this one as well.

00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:26.839
 You've heard me say this before.

00:41:27.099 --> 00:41:28.279
 You can see it in picture now

00:41:28.279 --> 00:41:29.319
 because it's

00:41:29.319 --> 00:41:30.819
 going to astound you.

00:41:30.820 --> 00:41:37.140
 I know, right?

00:41:38.640 --> 00:41:39.840
 Yay for visuals.

00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:41.519
 You need to see, right?

00:41:41.640 --> 00:41:43.420
 Moving towards holiness, right?

00:41:43.460 --> 00:41:44.740
 Away from unrighteousness,

00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:45.580
 towards righteousness.

00:41:45.580 --> 00:41:47.260
 Looking more like Christ.

00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:48.620
 Across time,

00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.780
 we progress.

00:41:50.059 --> 00:41:51.280
 We still sin, right?

00:41:51.380 --> 00:41:52.600
 There's downward spikes

00:41:52.600 --> 00:41:53.220
 in this.

00:41:53.480 --> 00:41:54.280
 But we keep working

00:41:54.280 --> 00:41:55.500
 our way upward

00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:56.780
 by the grace of God

00:41:56.780 --> 00:41:58.740
 toward Christ's likeness.

00:41:58.739 --> 00:41:59.839
 longing one day

00:41:59.839 --> 00:42:00.579
 for glorification

00:42:00.579 --> 00:42:01.539
 where we will be

00:42:01.539 --> 00:42:02.779
 made perfect,

00:42:02.919 --> 00:42:03.279
 complete.

00:42:03.379 --> 00:42:04.879
 That process will be over.

00:42:05.039 --> 00:42:05.959
 Progressive sanctification.

00:42:06.379 --> 00:42:07.239
 And there are a lot

00:42:07.239 --> 00:42:08.399
 of erroneous views

00:42:08.399 --> 00:42:09.279
 on sanctification.

00:42:09.419 --> 00:42:10.019
 I don't have time

00:42:10.019 --> 00:42:10.959
 for it today,

00:42:11.159 --> 00:42:12.459
 but there are popular

00:42:12.459 --> 00:42:14.199
 erroneous views.

00:42:16.819 --> 00:42:17.259
 Methodism

00:42:17.259 --> 00:42:18.679
 is a dangerous one.

00:42:18.759 --> 00:42:19.219
 If you grew up

00:42:19.219 --> 00:42:19.619
 a Methodist,

00:42:19.639 --> 00:42:20.459
 you may not even think

00:42:20.459 --> 00:42:20.839
 this way.

00:42:20.919 --> 00:42:21.359
 You may think

00:42:21.359 --> 00:42:22.399
 the proper biblical way

00:42:22.399 --> 00:42:23.119
 about sanctification,

00:42:23.279 --> 00:42:23.979
 but many Methodists

00:42:23.979 --> 00:42:25.279
 have a skewed version.

00:42:26.019 --> 00:42:27.379
 Wesleyan sanctification

00:42:27.380 --> 00:42:29.059
 is not biblical sanctification.

00:42:30.019 --> 00:42:31.039
 Tezik sanctification

00:42:31.039 --> 00:42:31.780
 is another one

00:42:31.780 --> 00:42:32.960
 you need to watch out for.

00:42:33.559 --> 00:42:34.380
 And both of them

00:42:34.380 --> 00:42:35.180
 suggest that we have

00:42:35.180 --> 00:42:36.420
 spikes in our life

00:42:36.420 --> 00:42:37.260
 where we suddenly

00:42:37.260 --> 00:42:39.099
 become holy.

00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:40.539
 And then we live

00:42:40.539 --> 00:42:41.800
 that existence out.

00:42:42.920 --> 00:42:43.880
 I've never talked

00:42:43.880 --> 00:42:44.539
 to a Methodist,

00:42:44.579 --> 00:42:44.980
 for example,

00:42:45.059 --> 00:42:45.940
 that's ever said that

00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:46.380
 to me

00:42:46.380 --> 00:42:47.220
 and ever seemed

00:42:47.220 --> 00:42:48.000
 to believe that.

00:42:49.079 --> 00:42:50.280
 I've heard a tale

00:42:50.280 --> 00:42:53.000
 of some older Methodists

00:42:53.000 --> 00:42:53.720
 that have claimed

00:42:53.720 --> 00:42:54.320
 to be perfect

00:42:54.320 --> 00:42:55.340
 for decades.

00:42:55.960 --> 00:42:56.480
 They've reached

00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:56.960
 that point.

00:42:56.960 --> 00:42:58.619
 that point of perfection

00:42:58.619 --> 00:42:59.800
 and they've moved on

00:42:59.800 --> 00:43:00.699
 from there.

00:43:01.019 --> 00:43:04.260
 All the offense

00:43:04.260 --> 00:43:04.920
 to the Gospel

00:43:04.920 --> 00:43:05.940
 that that is.

00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:07.900
 Sanctification is

00:43:07.900 --> 00:43:08.780
 progressive

00:43:08.780 --> 00:43:10.639
 and it's synergistic.

00:43:11.920 --> 00:43:12.880
 And we're going

00:43:12.880 --> 00:43:13.519
 to begin talking

00:43:13.519 --> 00:43:14.079
 as a church

00:43:14.079 --> 00:43:15.340
 about four areas

00:43:15.340 --> 00:43:16.320
 of sanctification.

00:43:17.619 --> 00:43:18.800
 Four areas

00:43:18.800 --> 00:43:20.220
 of good fruit bearing

00:43:20.220 --> 00:43:21.659
 if you prefer.

00:43:22.280 --> 00:43:23.320
 Four areas

00:43:23.320 --> 00:43:25.880
 of Christian living.

00:43:25.880 --> 00:43:27.619
 and we're going

00:43:27.619 --> 00:43:28.280
 to talk about those

00:43:28.280 --> 00:43:29.579
 in the next four weeks.

00:43:30.539 --> 00:43:31.680
 I want it to be a thing

00:43:31.680 --> 00:43:32.420
 that you're talking

00:43:32.420 --> 00:43:33.260
 about together.

00:43:33.480 --> 00:43:34.420
 You can structure

00:43:34.420 --> 00:43:35.559
 all of your Christian

00:43:35.559 --> 00:43:36.220
 meetings around

00:43:36.220 --> 00:43:36.740
 these things

00:43:36.740 --> 00:43:37.320
 to be sure

00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:38.240
 that this activity

00:43:38.240 --> 00:43:39.119
 is happening

00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:40.480
 in one another's lives.

00:43:40.720 --> 00:43:41.400
 These things

00:43:41.400 --> 00:43:42.640
 are disciplines

00:43:42.640 --> 00:43:43.599
 of grace to us.

00:43:43.680 --> 00:43:43.940
 They're things

00:43:43.940 --> 00:43:44.960
 we must work at

00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:46.000
 and lean into.

00:43:46.680 --> 00:43:47.260
 They're places

00:43:47.260 --> 00:43:49.140
 that we experience Christ.

00:43:49.139 --> 00:43:50.719
 We're so motivated

00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:51.539
 and our joy

00:43:51.539 --> 00:43:52.679
 when we get to be

00:43:52.679 --> 00:43:53.339
 caught up

00:43:53.339 --> 00:43:53.980
 in His work

00:43:53.980 --> 00:43:54.579
 in the world.

00:43:55.259 --> 00:43:56.019
 They matter.

00:43:56.119 --> 00:43:56.539
 And there's different

00:43:56.539 --> 00:43:57.279
 ways to structure this

00:43:57.279 --> 00:43:57.719
 but we're going to

00:43:57.719 --> 00:43:58.099
 structure it

00:43:58.099 --> 00:43:58.779
 in the following way.

00:43:58.879 --> 00:43:59.319
 Number one,

00:43:59.639 --> 00:44:00.039
 conviction.

00:44:01.159 --> 00:44:01.799
 Those of you who are

00:44:01.799 --> 00:44:02.299
 members and got

00:44:02.299 --> 00:44:03.119
 the member health survey,

00:44:03.779 --> 00:44:04.940
 this has been subtly

00:44:04.940 --> 00:44:06.299
 getting interjected as well.

00:44:06.440 --> 00:44:07.500
 We asked you questions

00:44:07.500 --> 00:44:08.420
 based on these four

00:44:08.420 --> 00:44:09.500
 different areas

00:44:09.500 --> 00:44:10.239
 and we'll be talking

00:44:10.239 --> 00:44:11.159
 about some of the results

00:44:11.159 --> 00:44:12.019
 of that survey

00:44:12.019 --> 00:44:13.599
 in the coming weeks.

00:44:13.679 --> 00:44:14.099
 Conviction.

00:44:14.259 --> 00:44:14.779
 What do we believe

00:44:14.779 --> 00:44:15.480
 to be true

00:44:15.480 --> 00:44:16.099
 about God,

00:44:16.199 --> 00:44:16.819
 about ourselves,

00:44:16.820 --> 00:44:18.380
 about Christ?

00:44:18.519 --> 00:44:19.400
 How well do we know

00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:19.880
 the scripture

00:44:19.880 --> 00:44:20.780
 and how does that

00:44:20.780 --> 00:44:22.840
 turn us to prayer?

00:44:23.500 --> 00:44:24.440
 My suggestion is

00:44:24.440 --> 00:44:24.880
 that if we have

00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:25.660
 proper convictions

00:44:25.660 --> 00:44:27.500
 we will pray a lot

00:44:27.500 --> 00:44:28.920
 and we'll pray properly.

00:44:29.720 --> 00:44:30.240
 So conviction.

00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:30.780
 Second,

00:44:30.900 --> 00:44:31.220
 community.

00:44:32.500 --> 00:44:34.140
 We've been given

00:44:34.140 --> 00:44:34.940
 to a community.

00:44:35.059 --> 00:44:35.460
 We've been saved

00:44:35.460 --> 00:44:36.280
 certainly as individuals

00:44:36.280 --> 00:44:37.080
 but we've been saved

00:44:37.080 --> 00:44:38.000
 as a people.

00:44:38.559 --> 00:44:39.760
 Community is a grace

00:44:39.760 --> 00:44:40.500
 to us.

00:44:42.019 --> 00:44:43.000
 Young people,

00:44:43.160 --> 00:44:44.000
 college students,

00:44:44.340 --> 00:44:45.539
 freshmen up here

00:44:45.539 --> 00:44:47.659
 don't neglect this grace.

00:44:47.980 --> 00:44:48.860
 Too many college students

00:44:48.860 --> 00:44:50.320
 have gone asunder

00:44:50.320 --> 00:44:51.139
 as a result.

00:44:52.239 --> 00:44:52.639
 A thirdly,

00:44:52.679 --> 00:44:53.079
 character.

00:44:54.539 --> 00:44:55.219
 Who are we supposed

00:44:55.219 --> 00:44:56.480
 to be both in private

00:44:56.480 --> 00:44:57.239
 and in public

00:44:57.239 --> 00:44:58.179
 as a result?

00:44:58.320 --> 00:44:59.900
 What are the things

00:44:59.900 --> 00:45:00.679
 that characterize

00:45:00.679 --> 00:45:01.840
 the Christian?

00:45:02.840 --> 00:45:03.420
 And fourthly,

00:45:03.460 --> 00:45:03.860
 commission.

00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:05.579
 We cannot say

00:45:05.579 --> 00:45:06.159
 that we're disciples

00:45:06.159 --> 00:45:06.860
 of Jesus Christ

00:45:06.860 --> 00:45:07.519
 if we're not on

00:45:07.519 --> 00:45:09.340
 the mission of Christ,

00:45:09.440 --> 00:45:09.960
 the redemption

00:45:09.960 --> 00:45:11.340
 of His people

00:45:11.340 --> 00:45:12.840
 in the world.

00:45:12.960 --> 00:45:13.320
 And so we're going

00:45:13.320 --> 00:45:14.259
 to be pressing

00:45:14.259 --> 00:45:14.980
 at these things.

00:45:14.980 --> 00:45:15.760
 We're going to be

00:45:15.760 --> 00:45:18.059
 ramping up the expectations

00:45:18.059 --> 00:45:18.699
 on members

00:45:18.699 --> 00:45:19.480
 and just kind of

00:45:19.480 --> 00:45:20.079
 trying to draw

00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:20.559
 those of you

00:45:20.559 --> 00:45:21.139
 who aren't members

00:45:21.139 --> 00:45:23.539
 into what we're doing.

00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:24.659
 And we'll be talking

00:45:24.659 --> 00:45:25.679
 about these things

00:45:25.679 --> 00:45:27.440
 at length

00:45:27.440 --> 00:45:28.880
 in these four areas.

00:45:29.420 --> 00:45:30.440
 I really hope

00:45:30.440 --> 00:45:31.059
 in a year

00:45:31.059 --> 00:45:32.320
 you are just

00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:33.079
 sick and tired

00:45:33.079 --> 00:45:33.740
 of hearing about

00:45:33.740 --> 00:45:34.460
 the four C's

00:45:34.460 --> 00:45:35.840
 but that it's changed

00:45:35.840 --> 00:45:36.719
 the way you live

00:45:36.719 --> 00:45:38.059
 by grace.

00:45:39.300 --> 00:45:40.240
 What is happening

00:45:40.240 --> 00:45:41.039
 when we sin

00:45:41.039 --> 00:45:42.599
 is a failure

00:45:42.599 --> 00:45:43.519
 to remember

00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:45.019
 who we are?

00:45:45.639 --> 00:45:45.940
 Beloved,

00:45:46.019 --> 00:45:46.420
 it always goes

00:45:46.420 --> 00:45:47.199
 back to identity.

00:45:48.019 --> 00:45:49.099
 You have failed

00:45:49.099 --> 00:45:49.900
 to believe

00:45:49.900 --> 00:45:50.539
 in the moment

00:45:50.539 --> 00:45:51.340
 that you sin

00:45:51.340 --> 00:45:52.619
 the wondrous truth

00:45:52.619 --> 00:45:53.139
 of the Gospel.

00:45:53.259 --> 00:45:53.920
 You have forgotten

00:45:53.920 --> 00:45:55.279
 who you are.

00:45:55.380 --> 00:45:56.219
 My sons forget

00:45:56.219 --> 00:45:57.500
 that they're my sons

00:45:57.500 --> 00:45:59.440
 when they're disobedient.

00:46:00.900 --> 00:46:03.099
 The Gospel-centered Christian,

00:46:03.320 --> 00:46:03.860
 the person who's

00:46:03.860 --> 00:46:04.539
 recognizing

00:46:04.539 --> 00:46:05.920
 who they are in Christ,

00:46:05.920 --> 00:46:07.579
 is humble

00:46:07.579 --> 00:46:09.019
 before God.

00:46:09.720 --> 00:46:11.480
 I am failing you

00:46:11.480 --> 00:46:12.519
 if you leave this place

00:46:12.519 --> 00:46:13.619
 feeling good about yourself.

00:46:14.760 --> 00:46:15.579
 I don't want you

00:46:15.579 --> 00:46:16.680
 to feel good about yourself

00:46:16.680 --> 00:46:17.260
 but I want you

00:46:17.260 --> 00:46:18.420
 to feel good about Christ

00:46:18.420 --> 00:46:20.440
 and then who you are in Him.

00:46:21.500 --> 00:46:22.360
 Don't walk out of here

00:46:22.360 --> 00:46:23.119
 with your head hung low

00:46:23.119 --> 00:46:25.559
 but recognize

00:46:25.559 --> 00:46:26.880
 who you once were

00:46:26.880 --> 00:46:28.619
 and who you still tend to be

00:46:28.619 --> 00:46:29.860
 and praise God

00:46:29.860 --> 00:46:30.800
 for what He's done for you

00:46:30.800 --> 00:46:32.300
 in Christ.

00:46:33.220 --> 00:46:33.840
 The Gospel-centered Christian

00:46:33.840 --> 00:46:34.820
 is humble before God,

00:46:34.820 --> 00:46:36.340
 recognize that they

00:46:36.340 --> 00:46:37.780
 could do no good thing

00:46:37.780 --> 00:46:39.080
 to gain God's favor,

00:46:40.059 --> 00:46:41.140
 is motivated

00:46:41.140 --> 00:46:42.380
 by their Gospel identity

00:46:42.380 --> 00:46:43.100
 to obedience.

00:46:44.140 --> 00:46:45.100
 In their failures,

00:46:45.320 --> 00:46:46.480
 they repent quickly,

00:46:47.080 --> 00:46:47.840
 confess to the Lord

00:46:47.840 --> 00:46:49.660
 and get back into the race,

00:46:49.820 --> 00:46:51.860
 straining for what lies ahead.

00:46:52.340 --> 00:46:53.500
 The Gospel-centered Christian

00:46:53.500 --> 00:46:55.980
 boasts only in the cross

00:46:55.980 --> 00:46:57.800
 of Jesus Christ.

00:46:58.480 --> 00:46:58.920
 Paul says,

00:46:59.000 --> 00:46:59.820
 Galatians 6.14,

00:46:59.920 --> 00:47:00.660
 but far be it from me

00:47:00.660 --> 00:47:01.960
 to boast except in the cross

00:47:01.960 --> 00:47:03.360
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:47:03.360 --> 00:47:04.380
 by which the world

00:47:04.380 --> 00:47:05.380
 has been crucified to me

00:47:05.380 --> 00:47:07.440
 and I to the world.

00:47:08.099 --> 00:47:09.680
 Gospel-centered Christianity,

00:47:10.039 --> 00:47:10.260
 right?

00:47:10.700 --> 00:47:12.140
 Recognizing our identity

00:47:12.140 --> 00:47:13.440
 and working as a result

00:47:13.440 --> 00:47:15.059
 out of that.

00:47:15.160 --> 00:47:16.440
 And as so many Christian doctrines

00:47:16.440 --> 00:47:17.180
 are this way,

00:47:17.440 --> 00:47:18.500
 there's a tight rope

00:47:18.500 --> 00:47:19.280
 to walk on

00:47:19.280 --> 00:47:20.519
 and we try to get

00:47:20.519 --> 00:47:21.559
 right down the middle,

00:47:21.840 --> 00:47:22.780
 but there's always

00:47:22.780 --> 00:47:24.660
 two ways to fall off.

00:47:24.700 --> 00:47:25.860
 And I want to just expose you

00:47:25.860 --> 00:47:26.640
 to those two ways

00:47:26.640 --> 00:47:27.640
 and I want to ask you

00:47:27.640 --> 00:47:28.200
 to consider

00:47:28.200 --> 00:47:30.460
 if you fall into these,

00:47:30.460 --> 00:47:32.659
 which one you fall into.

00:47:32.740 --> 00:47:33.699
 You do at times.

00:47:34.480 --> 00:47:35.179
 I'm assured.

00:47:35.500 --> 00:47:35.960
 The first

00:47:35.960 --> 00:47:40.139
 is the self-loving Christian.

00:47:40.760 --> 00:47:41.960
 Self-loving Christians.

00:47:42.460 --> 00:47:43.179
 Self-loving Christians

00:47:43.179 --> 00:47:44.800
 find themselves justified

00:47:44.800 --> 00:47:47.019
 by their obedience.

00:47:47.280 --> 00:47:48.179
 Find themselves justified

00:47:48.179 --> 00:47:49.280
 by works.

00:47:50.179 --> 00:47:51.980
 They're self-righteous.

00:47:52.059 --> 00:47:54.039
 They're always good enough.

00:47:54.420 --> 00:47:55.300
 They view God

00:47:55.300 --> 00:47:56.340
 as loving them

00:47:56.340 --> 00:47:58.000
 just as they are.

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.679
 They view God

00:47:58.679 --> 00:48:00.300
 as properly loving them

00:48:00.300 --> 00:48:01.800
 as if He's saying,

00:48:02.239 --> 00:48:03.800
 why wouldn't I love you?

00:48:04.159 --> 00:48:05.800
 You're doing so good.

00:48:06.599 --> 00:48:07.559
 These people always have

00:48:07.559 --> 00:48:08.780
 an outward trapping

00:48:08.780 --> 00:48:09.980
 of having it put together.

00:48:10.719 --> 00:48:11.760
 Never question

00:48:11.760 --> 00:48:13.280
 their own motivations

00:48:13.280 --> 00:48:14.079
 for why they do

00:48:14.079 --> 00:48:15.719
 the things that they do.

00:48:16.159 --> 00:48:18.199
 They believe that they deserve

00:48:18.199 --> 00:48:19.519
 God's grace,

00:48:19.599 --> 00:48:20.320
 which is an oxymoron.

00:48:23.179 --> 00:48:24.320
 The other side

00:48:24.320 --> 00:48:24.960
 of that tightrope

00:48:24.960 --> 00:48:25.760
 to fall off of

00:48:25.760 --> 00:48:27.980
 and just knowing our church

00:48:27.980 --> 00:48:29.300
 most of us

00:48:29.300 --> 00:48:30.659
 find ourselves here

00:48:30.659 --> 00:48:33.240
 is the self-hating Christian.

00:48:34.320 --> 00:48:35.300
 Self-hating Christian

00:48:35.300 --> 00:48:36.039
 knows that they will

00:48:36.039 --> 00:48:37.179
 never be justified

00:48:37.179 --> 00:48:38.539
 by their obedience.

00:48:39.219 --> 00:48:39.679
 So,

00:48:40.460 --> 00:48:41.880
 they try to be justified

00:48:41.880 --> 00:48:43.619
 by their penance.

00:48:44.880 --> 00:48:46.079
 They know they can't ever

00:48:46.079 --> 00:48:46.920
 do enough work.

00:48:47.000 --> 00:48:48.400
 They get that doctrine right.

00:48:48.500 --> 00:48:49.420
 But rather than placing

00:48:49.420 --> 00:48:50.760
 their identity in Christ

00:48:50.760 --> 00:48:51.860
 and His righteousness,

00:48:52.679 --> 00:48:54.460
 they seek to

00:48:54.460 --> 00:48:55.980
 beat themselves up

00:48:55.980 --> 00:48:57.280
 over their sin.

00:48:57.280 --> 00:48:58.420
 not true repentance,

00:48:58.660 --> 00:49:00.220
 but just penance.

00:49:00.660 --> 00:49:01.620
 Walking around

00:49:01.620 --> 00:49:02.980
 with a head hung low,

00:49:03.320 --> 00:49:04.240
 not remembering

00:49:04.240 --> 00:49:05.420
 that they've been

00:49:05.420 --> 00:49:07.260
 forgiven and adopted.

00:49:07.380 --> 00:49:08.620
 They stand before God

00:49:08.620 --> 00:49:11.720
 justified in Christ.

00:49:13.080 --> 00:49:13.900
 Self-hating Christians

00:49:13.900 --> 00:49:15.360
 are never good enough.

00:49:15.740 --> 00:49:16.280
 They view God

00:49:16.280 --> 00:49:16.600
 as unable

00:49:16.600 --> 00:49:18.140
 to love someone

00:49:18.140 --> 00:49:19.100
 as wretched

00:49:19.100 --> 00:49:20.700
 as them.

00:49:21.560 --> 00:49:22.440
 There's two ways

00:49:22.440 --> 00:49:23.240
 to fall off

00:49:23.240 --> 00:49:24.159
 rather than coming

00:49:24.159 --> 00:49:25.200
 back to the center

00:49:25.200 --> 00:49:27.619
 saying that we're

00:49:27.619 --> 00:49:28.800
 to be humble before Him.

00:49:29.320 --> 00:49:29.980
 No good

00:49:29.980 --> 00:49:31.559
 in and of myself.

00:49:32.139 --> 00:49:33.340
 Nothing I could do

00:49:33.340 --> 00:49:34.579
 to earn God's favor,

00:49:34.700 --> 00:49:35.880
 but praise be to God

00:49:35.880 --> 00:49:37.059
 that in Christ

00:49:37.059 --> 00:49:38.579
 He has loved me.

00:49:39.119 --> 00:49:40.460
 He has justified me.

00:49:40.720 --> 00:49:41.860
 He has forgiven me.

00:49:41.860 --> 00:49:43.159
 He has adopted me.

00:49:43.320 --> 00:49:44.820
 I am His.

00:49:45.059 --> 00:49:46.559
 This is His work.

00:49:47.519 --> 00:49:48.380
 And I fail

00:49:48.380 --> 00:49:49.019
 to live for Him

00:49:49.019 --> 00:49:49.579
 as I ought,

00:49:49.659 --> 00:49:50.820
 but praise the Lord,

00:49:50.960 --> 00:49:52.779
 my sins were wiped away

00:49:52.779 --> 00:49:54.519
 the cross of Calvary.

00:49:55.420 --> 00:49:56.759
 What a motivation

00:49:56.759 --> 00:49:58.159
 to act

00:49:58.159 --> 00:49:59.159
 and to move

00:49:59.159 --> 00:50:00.599
 and to want to honor Him

00:50:00.599 --> 00:50:01.719
 with the way that I live.

00:50:03.119 --> 00:50:03.639
 Confession

00:50:03.639 --> 00:50:05.079
 for the gospel-centered

00:50:05.079 --> 00:50:05.980
 Christian

00:50:05.980 --> 00:50:07.099
 goes quickly.

00:50:07.480 --> 00:50:08.039
 We repent,

00:50:08.119 --> 00:50:09.039
 we turn from sin,

00:50:09.099 --> 00:50:09.960
 and we move.

00:50:11.019 --> 00:50:12.059
 Oh, again.

00:50:12.539 --> 00:50:13.440
 Oh, this thing

00:50:13.440 --> 00:50:14.299
 that keeps coming up

00:50:14.299 --> 00:50:15.059
 in my heart.

00:50:15.059 --> 00:50:16.719
 This thing that doesn't belong

00:50:16.719 --> 00:50:18.659
 is not as it ought to be.

00:50:18.759 --> 00:50:19.779
 Lord, I confess,

00:50:20.079 --> 00:50:21.380
 this is an offense to You.

00:50:21.559 --> 00:50:22.360
 I know that,

00:50:22.420 --> 00:50:23.219
 and I hate it.

00:50:24.360 --> 00:50:25.579
 Help me to put it to death.

00:50:26.360 --> 00:50:27.699
 Help me to live righteously

00:50:27.699 --> 00:50:28.619
 for You,

00:50:28.679 --> 00:50:29.340
 and then we go.

00:50:30.279 --> 00:50:31.099
 We act.

00:50:31.219 --> 00:50:31.840
 We do.

00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:33.880
 We're obedient.

00:50:35.219 --> 00:50:36.139
 So it comes back

00:50:36.139 --> 00:50:38.059
 to how we walk,

00:50:38.119 --> 00:50:39.000
 what we understand,

00:50:39.299 --> 00:50:40.019
 by grace alone

00:50:40.019 --> 00:50:40.739
 through faith alone.

00:50:41.279 --> 00:50:42.159
 In the person and work

00:50:42.159 --> 00:50:43.259
 of Jesus Christ alone,

00:50:43.259 --> 00:50:44.019
 we are justified

00:50:44.019 --> 00:50:44.980
 before God.

00:50:45.440 --> 00:50:45.920
 Forgiven

00:50:45.920 --> 00:50:47.440
 and adopted by Him.

00:50:48.019 --> 00:50:49.940
 This gospel identity

00:50:49.940 --> 00:50:51.799
 is our great motivation

00:50:51.799 --> 00:50:52.259
 for worship,

00:50:52.380 --> 00:50:53.320
 and I look forward

00:50:53.320 --> 00:50:55.579
 to bringing out

00:50:55.579 --> 00:50:56.400
 the implications

00:50:56.400 --> 00:50:57.079
 of the way

00:50:57.079 --> 00:50:57.920
 that carries out

00:50:57.920 --> 00:50:59.199
 in our lives

00:50:59.199 --> 00:51:00.880
 over the next four weeks.

00:51:00.960 --> 00:51:01.480
 Let's pray together.

00:51:01.920 --> 00:51:01.920


00:51:01.920 --> 00:51:01.920


00:51:01.920 --> 00:51:01.920


00:51:01.920 --> 00:51:01.920


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00:51:01.920 --> 00:51:01.920