WEBVTT

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 Please do have a seat.

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 It is so lovely to see all of you here this morning.

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 We're going to continue our series in 1 John.

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 This is the second one.

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 And we're really hoping that God will speak to each of us,

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 encourage each of us, challenge each of us as we open and sit under his word.

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 For that to happen, we need God's help.

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 We need God's spirit.

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 So why don't we pray together?

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 Father God, your son, the Lord Jesus would say,

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 if you who are evil know how to give good gifts,

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 how much more will your father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?

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 And so, Lord, we're here together this morning.

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 Bibles, open hearts, open minds, focused ears, unstopped.

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 And we're praying that you would send your spirit to make this word alive.

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 That we might discern your voice amidst all the voices crowding in on our lives.

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 And, Father, that we would see Jesus afresh for the first time again.

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 Father, bless us and help us.

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 We have the audacity to ask in Jesus' glorious name.

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 Amen.

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 This is Anders Ericsson.

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 He wrote a paper called The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance.

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 In this paper, he comes up with a rule that is generally agreed,

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 that to become an expert in something takes 10,000 hours of practice.

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 So, if you want to be a master of playing the oboe,

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 then 10,000 hours.

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 If you practice for 10,000 hours, you might be on the bill at the Usher Hall,

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 the Festival Theatre.

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 You might even make it to Carnegie Hall in the States.

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 Or perhaps you were inspired by the New Horizon Explorer,

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 and you saw pictures of Pluto when you thought,

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 I'd really like to be an astrophysicist.

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 10,000 hours of reading books,

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 looking in telescopes,

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 listening to lectures,

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 and you'll have mastered it.

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 Or, you want to be a chess grandmaster.

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 I play chess every Friday morning at Basics Bank,

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 and I haven't yet won.

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 I need more practice,

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 but if I spent 10,000 hours,

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 chances are Gary Kasparov would have a run for his money,

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 as well as the clients that we see on Friday morning.

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 But what about your Christian life?

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 Have you managed to master that yet?

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 Have you got it nailed?

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 Have you got it down?

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 Are you an expert in both knowing about

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 and living out the Christian life?

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 Well, let's see, shall we?

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 An increasing Bible knowledge.

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 Well, I dare say you're doing quite well.

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 You've turned up to a morning service

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 where we're going to open 1 John,

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 and we're hoping we might learn something,

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 so give yourself a tick.

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 What about increasing attendance and commitment at church?

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 Well, again, it's Sunday morning.

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 There's a plethora of things you could be doing.

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 You could be watching England get humiliated at cricket.

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 You could be watching a blank golf course in St. Andrews

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 with people longing to play,

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 but you came to church, so give yourself a tick.

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 A deepening relationship with God.

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 Well, we hope so, don't we?

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 That the more we learn about God

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 through our increased Bible knowledge,

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 the more we hang out with people

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 who believe the same stuff,

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 we're praying that that relationship might deepen.

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 Give yourself a tick,

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 you're almost on the way to being an expert.

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 But what about a major decrease in sinfulness?

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 A major decrease in falling short of the glory of God,

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 but living up to the standard that he commands

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 and requires and desires for our lives.

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 Now we're all a little bit more,

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 less confident.

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 We're all incredibly

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 up to speed.

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 We're all incredibly conscious

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 that despite having been Christians

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 for maybe years and years,

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 there is still indwelling, ingrained sin

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 in our lives.

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 10,000 hours is 59 and a half weeks.

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 Many of us have been Christians

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 for longer, much longer than that.

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 And yet we're still aware

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 of the ongoing fight against sin

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 in our lives.

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 It still shows up from time to time.

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 Very conscious how we continually

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 fall short, mess up.

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 And sin, we don't do the things

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 that we should do,

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 and we do do the things

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 that we shouldn't do.

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 Isn't that the most familiar

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 statement made by the world

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 about the church?

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 Well, they're just a bunch of hypocrites.

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 They talk a lot about sin,

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 and yet we see it so prevalent

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 in their lives.

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 Sin, despite our very best efforts,

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 is still a dominant force

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 in our lives,

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 whether we like to admit it or not.

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 It's not just us, though.

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 The Apostle Paul,

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 writing at the end of his life,

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 a man who has done more

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 for the furtherance of the gospel

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 than any other human being

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 in history,

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 says in Romans 7,

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 I don't do what I do want to do,

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 and I find myself doing

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 what I don't want to do.

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 that even he is incredibly conscious

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 that sin is still prevalent

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 in his life.

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 And yet, I wonder if you ever

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 feel like me.

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 Do you feel like you should be

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 doing better?

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 You should be winning more

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 and losing less.

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 You should be making greater

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 and bigger strides

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 towards holiness.

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 Perhaps in your darkest

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 moments,

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 you think,

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 well, I must be doing

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 something wrong.

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 Or perhaps,

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 am I a Christian at all?

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 Because I wouldn't keep

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 doing this if I was.

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 Perhaps I don't really know God,

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 after all.

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 It's all been

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 a bit tokenistic.

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 Perhaps

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 God's patience

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 has finally run out

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 and forgiveness

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 is no longer

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 available.

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 How can I be a Christian

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 and still struggle

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 with sin?

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 Well, if you've ever felt

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 like that,

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 and I'm sure we all have,

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 then 1 John

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 in this letter

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 has got some incredibly

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 encouraging things

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 to tell for us.

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 Some super encouraging

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 stuff.

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 And so I'd invite you

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 to open

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 your Bibles

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 to 1 John.

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 Chapter 1,

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 we're going to read

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 from verse 5.

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 John is writing

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 to an unsettled

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 church congregation

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 where a group

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 have left

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 saying that we can't

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 hang out with you

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 anymore,

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 you're spiritually

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 babyish.

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 They have a group

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 of people claiming

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 that they're winning

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 the war against sin.

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 And it's unsettled

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 those who remain.

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 And so John

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 writes this letter

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 to reassure them

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 that if they remain

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 in the apostolic gospel,

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 they have the whole truth,

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 nothing but the truth.

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 He'll also start

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 to confront

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 the false teachers

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 and show why

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 they're wrong.

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 These people claiming

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 sinlessness

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 and perfection.

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 So let's read

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 1 John 1,

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 verse 5

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 to chapter 2,

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 verse 2.

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 This is what

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 John says.

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 This is the message

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 we have heard

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 from him

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 and declare to you,

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 God is light.

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 In him,

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 there is no darkness

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 at all.

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 If we claim

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 to have fellowship

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 with him

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 and yet walk

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 in the darkness,

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 we lie

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 and do not live

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 out the truth.

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 But if we walk

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 in the light

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 as he is in the light,

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 we have fellowship

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 with one another.

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 And the blood

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 of Jesus,

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 his son,

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 purifies us

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 from all sin.

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 If we claim

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 to be without sin,

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 we deceive ourselves

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 and the truth

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 is not in us.

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 If we confess

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 our sins,

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 he is faithful

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 and just

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 and will forgive

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 us our sins

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 and purify us

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 from all unrighteousness.

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 If we claim

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 we have not sinned,

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 we make him

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 out to be a liar

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 and his word

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 is not in us.

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 My dear children,

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 I write this to you

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 so that you will not sin.

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 But if anybody does sin,

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 we have an advocate

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 with the Father,

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 Jesus Christ,

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 the righteous one.

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 He is the atoning sacrifice,

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 the propitiation

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 for our sins.

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 And not only for us,

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 but also for the sins

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 of the whole world.

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 This is such

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 an encouraging passage

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 for each of us

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 this morning.

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 Let me show you

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 how it's structured.

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 You need good eyesight.

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 In this passage,

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 John writes three times,

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 if we claim,

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 if we claim,

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 if we claim.

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 Now when we get

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 to chapter two,

00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:45.640
 he's going to stare

00:09:45.640 --> 00:09:46.740
 these false teachers,

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 these departed

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 in the eye,

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 but it seems very clear

00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:51.480
 that there are people

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 that are claiming this.

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 Particularly those

00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:55.420
 who have left.

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 So he's going to confront

00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:57.899
 this head on.

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 He's going to talk about

00:09:58.979 --> 00:10:00.219
 sin and forgiveness

00:10:00.219 --> 00:10:01.099
 and Jesus

00:10:01.099 --> 00:10:04.839
 in a really great way.

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 So I think what we see

00:10:05.939 --> 00:10:07.199
 from this passage

00:10:07.199 --> 00:10:08.500
 is there's three ways

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 we can try to deal with sin.

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 Three ways.

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 The first two are false.

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 I'll just put that out there now

00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:16.419
 before you start changing

00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:17.919
 the way that you live

00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:19.360
 on account of those first two.

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 Here's the first.

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 Chapter one, verse six.

00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:25.480
 Sin doesn't matter.

00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:27.379
 If we claim to have

00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:28.200
 fellowship with him

00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:29.620
 and yet walk in the darkness,

00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:31.920
 we lie and do not

00:10:31.920 --> 00:10:33.040
 live out the truth.

00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:35.500
 This idea that,

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 oh yes,

00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:37.660
 I can have fellowship with God,

00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:39.200
 but I can live how I like.

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 I can have fellowship with God

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 and yet walk in the darkness.

00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:48.700
 To say sin really doesn't matter.

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 It's not anything

00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:51.759
 in the Christian life.

00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:52.700
 You can have both.

00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:54.600
 You can be sinful

00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:57.159
 and have fellowship with God.

00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:00.779
 So I go to one of these churches

00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:02.080
 that are teaching this

00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:03.759
 and I sit down with the counselor

00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:04.259
 and I say,

00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:05.779
 look, I've messed up again.

00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:09.279
 This sin that has been habitual

00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:11.440
 and plaguing me for so long,

00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:12.399
 I've done it again

00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:13.320
 and can you help?

00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:16.440
 And the counselor passes me

00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:17.620
 a jelly baby and says,

00:11:17.700 --> 00:11:18.139
 don't worry.

00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.779
 It's not an issue.

00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.559
 You can have both.

00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:22.960
 You can have fellowship with God

00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:25.059
 and keep on living

00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:27.360
 exactly how you like.

00:11:28.059 --> 00:11:29.779
 God is much more chilled out

00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:30.539
 than you imagine.

00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:32.980
 When he writes things in his book

00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:34.919
 about the wages of sin being death,

00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.379
 he's just kidding on.

00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:38.559
 Sin is not a big deal,

00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:40.679
 says these false teachers.

00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:43.879
 It's the opinion of our world,

00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:44.240
 isn't it?

00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:46.059
 That sin isn't actually cosmic treason

00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:47.219
 before a holy God.

00:11:48.179 --> 00:11:49.839
 It's just a bit of self-indulgent,

00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:51.259
 well-earned naughtiness

00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:52.819
 on the side.

00:11:54.319 --> 00:11:55.199
 There's not many people

00:11:55.199 --> 00:11:56.119
 in Brunsfield today

00:11:56.119 --> 00:11:57.019
 who are worried about

00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:58.539
 the problem of sin in their life.

00:12:01.239 --> 00:12:01.679
 Sin,

00:12:02.539 --> 00:12:04.059
 say these people,

00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:05.059
 doesn't matter.

00:12:06.339 --> 00:12:07.000
 Tragically though,

00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.039
 it's not just our world

00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:09.519
 that thinks you can do this.

00:12:10.459 --> 00:12:11.659
 There's many in churches

00:12:11.659 --> 00:12:13.579
 who will say,

00:12:13.719 --> 00:12:14.439
 God is love,

00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:15.500
 live how you like.

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:18.039
 As long as you're a good person,

00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:19.519
 it'll go well in the end.

00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:21.879
 As long as you've done

00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:22.779
 a few good things

00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:24.379
 that outweigh a few bad things,

00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:25.899
 chill out.

00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:28.259
 Eat, drink, and be merry.

00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:31.399
 And it will go well.

00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:31.480
 Well.

00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:38.360
 Well, you have to say

00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:40.180
 that if verse 5 is true,

00:12:41.300 --> 00:12:42.460
 that is ridiculous.

00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:44.300
 And it's also dangerous.

00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:47.100
 If God is light,

00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:49.240
 and in him there is no darkness at all.

00:12:49.539 --> 00:12:50.840
 Literally, God is light,

00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:52.000
 in him darkness,

00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:53.740
 no, none whatsoever.

00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:56.180
 If that is really true,

00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:57.840
 that God is absolute light,

00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:00.519
 then he can have absolutely no fellowship

00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:01.960
 with darkness.

00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:05.500
 Light, speaking of God's absolute purity,

00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:08.120
 his goodness,

00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:10.519
 the fact that he's fully disclosed himself,

00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:14.179
 that light and darkness cannot coexist.

00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:15.720
 You go into a dark room,

00:13:16.439 --> 00:13:18.079
 and you turn on the light,

00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:20.159
 the darkness is dispelled,

00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.460
 because they can't coexist.

00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:26.539
 They can't live together.

00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:29.099
 So on a beautiful,

00:13:29.599 --> 00:13:30.579
 this needs some imagination,

00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:32.659
 on a beautiful Scottish summer day,

00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:34.139
 it's a Saturday,

00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:36.980
 and me and Aileen decide we'll go shopping.

00:13:37.079 --> 00:13:38.519
 Well, Aileen decides that we'll go shopping,

00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.439
 I just tag along,

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:40.799
 because it's what I'm supposed to do.

00:13:40.839 --> 00:13:42.179
 And we walk along Princess Street,

00:13:43.079 --> 00:13:44.019
 and it's very hot,

00:13:44.059 --> 00:13:45.620
 and we get all the way to House of Fraser.

00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:47.820
 And Aileen says,

00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:49.340
 well, we need to turn and go back.

00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:50.759
 And she says,

00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:52.460
 I really want to work on my tan some more,

00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.240
 but I'm grumpy,

00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:54.480
 and hot and bothered.

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:55.379
 And I say,

00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:56.799
 well, I want to walk on the shop side,

00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.600
 where it's shady.

00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.960
 So we go our separate ways.

00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:01.200
 We cannot walk together,

00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:02.600
 if one is in the light,

00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:04.100
 and one is in the darkness,

00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:06.019
 and that is exactly what John is saying.

00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:09.480
 You cannot walk with God,

00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.340
 who is light,

00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:12.240
 if you're walking in the darkness.

00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:18.120
 Saying sin doesn't matter is a complete lie.

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:20.120
 Saying we can have fellowship with God,

00:14:20.180 --> 00:14:20.799
 who is light,

00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:23.840
 while walking in and towards darkness is impossible.

00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:28.700
 We lie to others about our relationship with God,

00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:29.440
 that it's real.

00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:31.279
 And our life is a lie,

00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:33.240
 because we do not practice the truth.

00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:38.200
 In the Christian faith,

00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:39.759
 how we live and what we believe,

00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:41.840
 are intrinsically meshed together.

00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:44.799
 What we believe about Jesus,

00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:48.279
 is to affect the way that we live in his world.

00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:53.120
 And so this is picked up by Jesus in John's gospel.

00:14:54.060 --> 00:14:55.080
 This is the verdict,

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.639
 light has come into the world,

00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:59.500
 but people love darkness instead of light,

00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:00.799
 because their deeds were evil.

00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:03.299
 This idea of darkness being synonymous,

00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:04.220
 in John's language,

00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:05.299
 for sin and evil.

00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:08.620
 Everyone who does evil hates the light,

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:10.379
 and will not come into the light,

00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:13.139
 for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:16.919
 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light,

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:19.279
 so that it may be plainly seen,

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:21.840
 may be seen plainly,

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:23.759
 that what they have done,

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.360
 has been done,

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:26.820
 in the sight of God.

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:27.799
 God is light.

00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:30.500
 And to walk towards him,

00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:32.360
 is to live in the light.

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:35.259
 And to walk away from him,

00:15:35.300 --> 00:15:36.080
 towards sin,

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:37.519
 is darkness.

00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:39.779
 So we cannot say,

00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.639
 that sin doesn't matter,

00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:42.360
 but their second option,

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.820
 is to say that sin doesn't exist.

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.100
 Look at verse 8 with me,

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.399
 and then verse 10.

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:48.620
 If we claim to be without sin,

00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:49.680
 we deceive ourselves,

00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.200
 and the truth is not in us.

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:53.440
 If we claim we have not sinned,

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:54.960
 we make him out to be a liar,

00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:57.600
 and his word is not in us.

00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:00.759
 Well, if God is absolutely pure and light,

00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:02.899
 then the way I can have fellowship with him,

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.080
 is to proclaim myself,

00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:06.300
 to be absolutely sinless,

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.800
 and light.

00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:10.500
 If he is light,

00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:11.159
 then saying,

00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:11.759
 I am light,

00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.659
 we can be joined together.

00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:15.460
 If I fake my credentials,

00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:18.500
 if I bury my sin out of sight,

00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:19.700
 that'll do, won't it?

00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:21.180
 A sinner?

00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:21.620
 No.

00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.259
 Not me.

00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.360
 Stories told of Spurgeon,

00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:27.779
 speaking at a rally,

00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.279
 and being confronted by a man,

00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:30.759
 who claimed to be without sin.

00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:32.860
 Intrigued,

00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:33.899
 Charles Haddon Spurgeon,

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:34.680
 invited the man,

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.740
 to have dinner with him.

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:38.200
 Spurgeon interrogated the man,

00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:39.759
 further about his attainment,

00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:40.399
 of perfection.

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.539
 Halfway through,

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:44.000
 one of the man's answers,

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:46.200
 Spurgeon picked up his glass of water,

00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.879
 and threw it in the man's face.

00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:50.360
 Surprised and furious,

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:51.940
 about being treated that way,

00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.300
 Spurgeon's guest,

00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.180
 expressed himself,

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.100
 very forcefully,

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.940
 and crudely,

00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:57.640
 about the lack of courtesy,

00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:58.400
 and disrespect,

00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.860
 shown by his host.

00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:02.320
 To which the wise preacher,

00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:03.280
 simply responded,

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.700
 Ah, you see,

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.900
 the old sinful man,

00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:07.759
 your sinful self within you,

00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.480
 is not dead.

00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.840
 He had simply fainted,

00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:12.000
 and could easily be revived,

00:17:12.100 --> 00:17:13.220
 with a big glass of water.

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.559
 If we want fellowship with God,

00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.360
 who is light,

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.620
 we cannot fake it,

00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:21.840
 and pretend that we're,

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.559
 living in sinless perfection,

00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.359
 in light,

00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.839
 as he is.

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.759
 Even if we can fool others,

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:31.339
 about our perfectionism,

00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:31.679
 God,

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.259
 who is light,

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.159
 will expose,

00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:35.200
 the true reality,

00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:36.619
 of what lurks deep down,

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:38.179
 in our hearts,

00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.039
 and our lives.

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:41.039
 So I get up in the morning,

00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:41.679
 I'm late,

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.480
 it's a Sunday,

00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.279
 and I wander into the bathroom,

00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.319
 and I look in the mirror,

00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:46.680
 and I think,

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.160
 you'll do.

00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:49.099
 Not too shabby.

00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:52.039
 And then I turn on the light,

00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:53.039
 and think that things need,

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.140
 a radical change.

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:58.079
 That if we live in darkness,

00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:00.319
 we hide what we're really like,

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.660
 when we come into the light,

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:03.580
 all our deficiencies,

00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:04.220
 defects,

00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:05.000
 and failures,

00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:08.240
 are on full display.

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:09.880
 If we say,

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.900
 sin doesn't exist,

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.480
 verse 8,

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.660
 we deceive ourselves.

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.400
 Verse 10,

00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.060
 if we say,

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.259
 we have not sinned,

00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:17.720
 we make God out to be a liar.

00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:20.220
 If we say,

00:18:20.340 --> 00:18:21.120
 I'm not a sinner,

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:23.019
 God couldn't have a problem with me,

00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:24.360
 we need to look again,

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.380
 and fully understand,

00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.360
 what sin is.

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:29.060
 John Piper defines sin,

00:18:29.060 --> 00:18:30.300
 as the ultimate outrage,

00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:31.040
 of the universe,

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:32.500
 it is sin,

00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.500
 not first and foremost,

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.839
 because it hurts people,

00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:37.460
 but because it blasphemes God.

00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:38.899
 He says,

00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.720
 sin is,

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:41.180
 the glory of God,

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:41.859
 not honored,

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.480
 the holiness of God,

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.059
 not revered,

00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:45.079
 the greatness of God,

00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:45.940
 not acknowledged,

00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.299
 the power of God,

00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:47.879
 not praised,

00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:48.759
 the truth of God,

00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.500
 not esteemed,

00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.940
 the beauty of God,

00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.619
 not treasured,

00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.579
 the goodness of God,

00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.299
 not savored,

00:18:53.639 --> 00:18:54.920
 the faithfulness of God,

00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:55.559
 not trusted,

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:57.099
 the promise of God,

00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:58.039
 not relied upon,

00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:59.519
 the commandments of God,

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.279
 not obeyed,

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.579
 the justice of God,

00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:02.299
 not respected,

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.339
 the wrath of God,

00:19:03.399 --> 00:19:03.859
 not feared,

00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.839
 the grace of God,

00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:05.599
 not cherished,

00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:07.700
 the presence of God,

00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.559
 not prized,

00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:09.839
 the person of God,

00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:10.539
 not loved.

00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:11.779
 Well,

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.399
 if that is,

00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.680
 what sin is,

00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:15.140
 then we truly cannot say,

00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:17.519
 that we've made the mark,

00:19:17.560 --> 00:19:19.400
 and lived up to that standard.

00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:22.140
 Verse six,

00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:22.540
 it says,

00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:23.780
 we lie to others.

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.680
 Verse eight,

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.759
 we lie to ourselves.

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.420
 Verse 10,

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.700
 we make God out to be a liar.

00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:29.740
 There's no mileage,

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:32.240
 in saying sin doesn't exist,

00:19:32.340 --> 00:19:33.540
 or that sin doesn't matter.

00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:37.519
 So what is the answer?

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:42.180
 A problem of sin cannot be resolved,

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:45.220
 or there's no solution in those two phrases.

00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:46.240
 So what do we do?

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:48.240
 What is the answer?

00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:48.500
 Well,

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.200
 here it is.

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:52.980
 Sin needs cleansing.

00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.500
 Sin needs cleansing,

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:57.539
 present continuous tense.

00:19:57.539 --> 00:20:01.539
 It needs to be cleansed.

00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.619
 Verse seven,

00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.519
 but if we walk in the light,

00:20:05.559 --> 00:20:06.579
 as he is in the light,

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:08.159
 we have fellowship with one another,

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.680
 and the blood of Jesus,

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.200
 his son,

00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:12.539
 purifies us from all unrighteousness.

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:15.000
 To walk in the light,

00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:16.079
 in John's language,

00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:17.740
 is not to walk in sinlessness.

00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:20.319
 We've already seen that that's futile.

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:23.299
 To walk in the light,

00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:25.299
 is to align our lives,

00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:27.440
 in the presence of God's beam,

00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:29.519
 of pure radiance.

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.319
 And to keep,

00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:33.599
 despite our stumbles and failings,

00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:36.119
 to keep walking towards him,

00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:36.779
 with him.

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:40.740
 That is what it means to walk in the light.

00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:43.339
 It is not running from God in shame,

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:46.420
 or denying it before a God who knows,

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:49.019
 but walking towards God in faith.

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:52.579
 That is what it means to walk in the light.

00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:54.119
 Why is that a good thing?

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:55.319
 Because if we do that,

00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:59.039
 the blood of Jesus cleanses us,

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:01.759
 purifies us,

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.259
 of all sin.

00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:06.480
 That blood,

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:08.819
 which is like a celestial das ultra,

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:13.379
 that removes every ingrained transgression,

00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:15.519
 every stubborn iniquity,

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.740
 every speck,

00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:17.240
 trace,

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.319
 and iota of sin.

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:21.339
 It's not like when you spill red wine,

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:22.019
 on the carpet,

00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:23.960
 you need to go and buy a rug.

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.720
 You just cover it over.

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.179
 The blood of Jesus,

00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.579
 washes it away,

00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.619
 cleanses us,

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:32.419
 removes it from us.

00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:36.100
 It's about saying,

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.880
 my sin is a massive problem.

00:21:38.320 --> 00:21:40.200
 It is a clear and present danger,

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:42.860
 and it's rushing toward Jesus who cleanses us.

00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:46.100
 See what it says?

00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:48.220
 It brings us into fellowship with one another.

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.320
 Suddenly,

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.519
 I don't have to pretend.

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:55.559
 I don't have to put on my Sunday face,

00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:55.920
 and say,

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.259
 sin,

00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.660
 that's not a problem for me.

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.539
 But I can be open,

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:01.160
 and honest about my struggles.

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:03.420
 I don't need to spend all my energy,

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:05.019
 hiding my hypocrisy,

00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:06.680
 or airbrushing over my sin.

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.480
 Suddenly,

00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.559
 I'm free to admit,

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:11.000
 I've messed up again.

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.440
 Would you help me,

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.579
 align my life again,

00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.920
 into the glorious beam,

00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.500
 of cleansing light,

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.180
 that is God.

00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:22.519
 It also humbles us under grace.

00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:25.200
 We're not here on our own merit.

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:26.820
 None of us are here,

00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:28.420
 because we've got it sorted out.

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.120
 We're all here,

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.220
 because we failed,

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.060
 and we're failures,

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.320
 but we're looking to Jesus,

00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:34.820
 who's a glorious,

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.039
 cleansing success.

00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.620
 Verse nine,

00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:40.440
 what does walking in the light look like?

00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:41.860
 Well,

00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:43.200
 it looks like when we mess up,

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:46.060
 not keeping quiet about it,

00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:47.420
 but confessing it to God.

00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:49.259
 Being open,

00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:49.860
 and honest,

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.580
 and real.

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:53.100
 See that it is sins,

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:55.100
 if we confess our sins.

00:22:55.300 --> 00:22:56.680
 He's not talking about sin,

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.420
 in general.

00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:59.960
 He's talking about specific sins.

00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.880
 That whatever they are,

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.960
 no matter how big,

00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.019
 or how small,

00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:07.320
 if we confess them to him,

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:11.000
 he will forgive us our sins,

00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:13.639
 and purify us from all unrighteousness.

00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:14.839
 See as well,

00:23:14.919 --> 00:23:16.139
 it's not like coming before

00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:17.859
 a whimsical headmaster,

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.159
 who might forgive you or not,

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:20.439
 depending on what sort of night

00:23:20.439 --> 00:23:21.480
 he had the night before.

00:23:21.939 --> 00:23:23.559
 It says he is faithful.

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:27.439
 He is always light.

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:29.019
 He is always unchanging.

00:23:29.179 --> 00:23:30.859
 He continuously deals with us,

00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:32.759
 in the way that he unfailingly promises.

00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:34.359
 It's a guarantee.

00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:37.059
 It's not conditional.

00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:39.019
 If you've done this,

00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:40.299
 then I might forgive you.

00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:42.180
 If you've tidied your room,

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.579
 then I might let you off.

00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:47.200
 If we come and confess honestly and openly,

00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:49.259
 he will forgive us.

00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:52.859
 He will always forgive us.

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.819
 Isn't that great?

00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:57.500
 As we started when we thought

00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:59.759
 how short we fall,

00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.960
 time and time again,

00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:03.799
 and yet we have this reservoir of forgiveness

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:05.200
 in the Lord Jesus

00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:06.700
 that will never run out.

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:09.799
 If we confess our sins before God,

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.700
 it is guaranteed.

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:14.740
 But look closely at verse 9 again.

00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:16.480
 If we confess our sins,

00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:19.119
 he is faithful and just.

00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:21.839
 He is righteous.

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:25.299
 Well, how can we square that?

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.619
 That when we sin,

00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:29.019
 God can't simply just say,

00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:29.980
 oh, it doesn't matter.

00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:32.879
 Because that's exactly what someone

00:24:32.879 --> 00:24:34.000
 who was unjust

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:36.459
 or unrighteous would do.

00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:39.500
 So how can God both be just

00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.359
 and yet forgiving?

00:24:40.939 --> 00:24:43.299
 How can God let the guilty go free

00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:45.879
 if he's going to uphold his justice?

00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:49.339
 Well, I think that's where chapter 2,

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:51.879
 verses 1 and 2 are unbelievable.

00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.279
 He starts,

00:24:54.399 --> 00:24:55.480
 my dear children,

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.919
 I write to you

00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:58.240
 so that you will not sin.

00:24:58.579 --> 00:25:00.339
 So because forgiveness is available,

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.839
 that's not carte blanche,

00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:04.039
 a blank check to just go out

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:05.480
 and go wild.

00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:08.899
 He's saying you need to fight against sin.

00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:11.199
 I write this to you

00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:12.799
 so that you will not sin.

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:16.119
 But if you do,

00:25:17.399 --> 00:25:19.460
 but if you do,

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:21.879
 we have an advocate

00:25:21.879 --> 00:25:23.859
 before the Father.

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:25.799
 We have legal defense.

00:25:25.919 --> 00:25:27.599
 We have someone who stands with the Father

00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:29.700
 and speaks up for us.

00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:33.119
 And not just anyone,

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.899
 but Jesus Christ,

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:36.079
 the righteous one.

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.259
 God himself,

00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.259
 who became man,

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.819
 who lived a perfect life,

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.440
 stands before God,

00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:44.460
 so that when John Gemmel messes up,

00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.779
 Jesus speaks up,

00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:46.420
 if I confess.

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:49.700
 There's not better legal representation

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:51.400
 before a holy God than that.

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:57.580
 He is the atoning sacrifice

00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:58.539
 for our sins.

00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:01.100
 He is the propitiation.

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:03.320
 He is the one who absorbs

00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:05.820
 God's wrath on our behalf,

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:08.220
 taking the punishment that we deserve,

00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:10.480
 dying the death that we deserve,

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.140
 so that we can get treated

00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:13.599
 like we'd won,

00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.880
 like Jesus did.

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:18.240
 So every time I mess up,

00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.799
 I have the Lord Jesus

00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:21.120
 standing next to the Father

00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:22.539
 with nails in his hands,

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.279
 saying,

00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:24.039
 I paid for that.

00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.759
 I paid for that.

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:29.960
 Because they put their faith in me,

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:32.539
 and my grace is sufficient for them.

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:35.720
 They don't need to be punished

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.879
 because I was

00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:38.680
 in their place

00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:41.379
 for their sin.

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.740
 That's how the circle gets squared.

00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:46.519
 Sin really does matter,

00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:48.619
 but Jesus really does solve that problem

00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:51.899
 by taking our sin in our place.

00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:54.500
 It's the best news ever.

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:57.700
 I am a sinful,

00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:59.660
 perpetually failing failure

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:01.039
 who has no right

00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.220
 to have fellowship with God

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:04.279
 as one shrouded in and by darkness.

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:06.259
 Yet Jesus Christ,

00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:07.380
 the light of the world,

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:09.000
 stepped down into the world

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.859
 and was snuffed out in my place

00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:13.019
 so that my darkness

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:15.039
 might be dealt with forever.

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.500
 See how it ends,

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.759
 not just for my sins,

00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:19.920
 but also for the sins

00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:21.039
 of the whole world.

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:24.339
 It is efficacious for everyone.

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:28.379
 There's no bar we need to get over.

00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:30.259
 There's only a bar we need to crawl under

00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.699
 in confession and repentance

00:27:31.699 --> 00:27:33.519
 and saying,

00:27:33.679 --> 00:27:34.679
 Jesus, I need you.

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:36.539
 Will you forgive me?

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:39.439
 You see, sin really does matter,

00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.980
 and sin really does exist

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.279
 in my life and yours,

00:27:43.959 --> 00:27:46.679
 and the only answer is Jesus,

00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:49.079
 the one who forgives,

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:51.339
 cleanses, purifies,

00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:54.259
 who took our place for our sins,

00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:56.220
 and welcomes everyone

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.500
 into that forgiving,

00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:59.319
 glorious fellowship of light

00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.439
 and joy,

00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:02.459
 and a second chance

00:28:02.459 --> 00:28:04.519
 if we would just say,

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.639
 Jesus, I need you.

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:08.339
 Come and be part of my life.

00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:10.539
 So, five things.

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:13.299
 Sin is a massive problem.

00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:15.939
 Do not die in your sins.

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:17.139
 It will not go well.

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:20.580
 Do not die in your sins.

00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:21.759
 It will not go well.

00:28:22.520 --> 00:28:24.259
 Somebody will pay the penalty

00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.980
 for your sin.

00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:27.000
 You'll either trust that Jesus has

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:28.259
 or you yourself will.

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:29.680
 There's no third way.

00:28:29.780 --> 00:28:30.800
 There's no gray area.

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.660
 It is binary.

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.540
 Faith in Jesus

00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:34.880
 and life and joy forever

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:36.400
 or dying in your sin

00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.660
 and being punished for it.

00:28:38.800 --> 00:28:40.480
 Sin is a massive problem.

00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:41.540
 Number two,

00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:43.140
 beware going soft on sin.

00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:46.040
 The minute we go soft on sin,

00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:48.220
 we detract from the glory

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.860
 and honor

00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:50.860
 and grace of the Lord Jesus.

00:28:52.080 --> 00:28:53.440
 The minute we say,

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.320
 sin doesn't matter,

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.820
 we no longer need a cross,

00:28:56.060 --> 00:28:57.660
 we no longer need a savior,

00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:59.280
 and Jesus becomes

00:28:59.280 --> 00:29:00.720
 superfluous to requirements.

00:29:03.300 --> 00:29:05.500
 Beware going soft on sin.

00:29:05.580 --> 00:29:06.140
 Number three,

00:29:06.820 --> 00:29:08.280
 sin isn't disqualifying.

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.340
 That is good news.

00:29:10.199 --> 00:29:10.959
 That this week,

00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:11.759
 as you go out

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:13.379
 and you stumble and fall again,

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.679
 it does not mean

00:29:14.679 --> 00:29:15.579
 you're not a Christian.

00:29:18.659 --> 00:29:20.480
 It means that this day,

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.339
 as every day,

00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:22.139
 we need Jesus.

00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:24.779
 We need to come to him

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:26.299
 and confess that we need him

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:28.399
 and trust that he cleanses us.

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:32.359
 But we must be fighting against sin.

00:29:33.399 --> 00:29:35.159
 Warring against it in our lives.

00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.959
 My dear children,

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.980
 I write this to you

00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:38.619
 so that you will not sin.

00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:40.139
 This is not cheap grace.

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:43.639
 This costs the most precious shedding

00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:45.099
 of that most precious blood

00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:46.219
 that we might know forgiveness.

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.739
 And as we prize that

00:29:47.739 --> 00:29:48.759
 and are thankful for it,

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:50.279
 we find newfound power

00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:53.039
 to fight sin.

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.779
 And lastly,

00:29:55.879 --> 00:29:57.219
 we don't need to pretend.

00:29:59.439 --> 00:30:00.919
 We don't need to pretend.

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:03.639
 We can be honest about our struggles.

00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:06.439
 We don't need to put on a mask

00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.740
 to come to church.

00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:10.000
 We all have a constant,

00:30:10.320 --> 00:30:11.240
 perpetual need

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:13.059
 and dependence on Jesus.

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.980
 We have a constant

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.960
 and absolute need

00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:19.340
 of the gospel every day.

00:30:20.100 --> 00:30:21.759
 And if we all say that

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.299
 honestly and openly together,

00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:24.279
 then we'll get on.

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:26.820
 And we'll get moving

00:30:26.820 --> 00:30:28.039
 towards that light.

00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:30.359
 and keep orientating

00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.720
 our lives around grace

00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:33.559
 and keep declaring

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.539
 our absolute need

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.139
 of the gospel.

00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:37.740
 This is such an encouraging passage.

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.819
 As one who stumbles

00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:40.819
 and falls all the time,

00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:42.019
 I have one who picks me up

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:43.480
 and keeps me going.

00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.420
 Let's pray.

00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:50.720
 Father God,

00:30:50.800 --> 00:30:51.700
 thank you that today

00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:52.519
 we need Jesus.

00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.519
 Thank you that yesterday

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.600
 we needed Jesus.

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:56.920
 Father,

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.720
 thank you tomorrow

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.960
 we'll need him again.

00:30:59.800 --> 00:31:00.600
 And thank you

00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:01.960
 that he always cleanses,

00:31:02.080 --> 00:31:03.100
 always forgives,

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.700
 always purifies.

00:31:06.300 --> 00:31:06.860
 So Lord,

00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.580
 we're not here

00:31:07.580 --> 00:31:09.039
 because we've got it all sorted,

00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:10.140
 but we're here

00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:11.320
 because he has.

00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:13.619
 And so Lord,

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.099
 this week,

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:15.099
 may we be so thankful

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:15.879
 for him,

00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:17.639
 the price he paid for us,

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:19.519
 the sacrifice he made for us,

00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:21.319
 and the role that he now has

00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:22.779
 in standing in our defense.

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.899
 And would that put new strength

00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:25.859
 in our stride

00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:27.639
 as we fight against sin.

00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:29.139
 And Father,

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.319
 for those here

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.359
 that don't know

00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:32.099
 your forgiveness,

00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:34.039
 that have no experience

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:35.099
 of your grace,

00:31:35.879 --> 00:31:36.099
 Lord,

00:31:36.159 --> 00:31:37.500
 would you speak to them now

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:39.720
 and would they turn to Jesus?

00:31:40.419 --> 00:31:41.299
 Would they face

00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:43.139
 his glorious cleansing light

00:31:43.139 --> 00:31:44.940
 and know

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:47.159
 that you've forgiven them

00:31:47.159 --> 00:31:48.180
 because of him?

00:31:49.319 --> 00:31:49.839
 Father God,

00:31:49.919 --> 00:31:50.700
 be at work

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:52.440
 in the remainder of this service

00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.639
 in the rest of this day.

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.259
 And Lord,

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:56.839
 when we stumble and fall this week,

00:31:56.899 --> 00:31:58.019
 may we look to Jesus

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.399
 and say,

00:31:59.519 --> 00:31:59.799
 Jesus,

00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:00.639
 we need you.

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.740
 Cleanse me from my sin

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:06.460
 because you paid the price.

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:07.960
 Amen.