WEBVTT

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 Who am I? Who are we? This question of identity is perhaps one of the most important questions a

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 person can ever ask, isn't it? That's the question that really drives the passage that we're looking

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 at together today. Our text this morning is 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 1 through 9.

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 That's page 952 in the Pew Bible. If you're new to the Bible, the big numbers are the chapters

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 and the small numbers are the verses. That'll help you find your way around. We're starting a new

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 sermon series today in this book of 1 Corinthians. And if you're new to Trinity, our typical practice

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 on Sundays is to pick a book of the Bible and simply teach straight through it, section by

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 section, pulling no punches, leaving no verse left unturned. One of the most basic claims of

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 Christianity is that Jesus continues to lead and guide his church through scripture. That God,

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 in fact, continues to speak through the words of the Bible. So teaching through whole books is a way to

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 ensure that we hear everything that God is saying for our good. And that we don't just hit the parts

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 that me or Matt or Greg or anyone else thinks might be helpful. You don't really want to hear what I

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 have to say. Trust me. If you're curious to learn more about what the Bible is and why Christians

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 understand it the way they do, check out the new Sunday school class that just started at 9 a.m.

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 before the service downstairs in the fellowship hall. Well, 1 Corinthians 1, 1 through 9.

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 Let's read this. Let me read this for us. And before we do, let's pray together. God, we thank you for

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 your word. We thank you for this time that we get to attend to your word. Oh God, we pray that you would

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 continue to show yourself faithful to speak to us through this word that you, Jesus, have given to your

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 church. By your spirit, we pray that you would give us hearts that are receptive and understanding.

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 Lord, to truly behold you and your glory this morning. Amen.

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 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus and our brother

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 Sosthenes. To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus,

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 called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus

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 Christ, both their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

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 that in every way you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony

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 about Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any gift. As you wait for the

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 revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain us to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus

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 Christ. God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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 God is faithful by whom youfort your God not.

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 He says, I can only answer the question, what am I to do?

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 if I can answer the prior question

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 of what story or stories do I find myself apart?

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 I can only answer the question, what am I to do

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 if I can answer the prior question

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 of what story or stories do I find myself apart?

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 You remember J.R. Tolkien's great trilogy,

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 The Lord of the Rings?

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 Well, how does that story open?

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 It opens with the hobbits, right?

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 Living their simple lives in the shire,

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 not really worried much

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 about what's happening beyond their borders,

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 happy to keep carrying on with life as usual,

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 enjoying their long pipes and sharing their many meals

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 and gossiping about their extended families, right?

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 But what they don't realize

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 is that the shire is actually caught up,

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 actually enmeshed in this larger story,

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 this story of epic proportions,

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 a story the unfolding of which will determine

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 not just the fate of the shire,

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 but the fate of everyone in Middle Earth.

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 Tolkien's story is about one hobbit,

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 or actually really a group of hobbits, right?

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 Frodo and Sam and Mary and Pippin,

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 this group of friends who together,

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 as this epic story unfolds,

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 begin to realize who they really are

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 and what story they are a part of

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 and what it is they have to do.

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 When the Apostle Paul wrote the letter of 1 Corinthians

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 sometime in the early 50s,

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 he was writing to a church

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 that had lost track of who they really were

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 and what story they were really a part of,

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 and so they had lost track of what it was

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 they were meant to be doing in the first place.

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 Which is to say,

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 they were experiencing the same danger

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 that you and I face today.

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 There are probably few books in the New Testament

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 that feel as current or relevant as 1 Corinthians.

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 The church was dealing with all sorts of problems,

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 and many of these feel immensely practical

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 and even urgent to us today.

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 Questions about worship,

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 and questions about sex,

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 and marriage, and singleness,

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 and questions about our rights,

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 and how do we express them,

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 and do we give them up?

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 There are even some in the church

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 facing severe intellectual doubts

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 about some of the core tenets of the faith,

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 and we'll be walking through these issues

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 one by one in the months to come,

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 but maybe the primary reason

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 why 1 Corinthians feels like such a practical book

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 is because at the end of the day,

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 it's all about being the church

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 in the midst of a pragmatic,

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 pluralistic, achievement-dominated culture

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 just like ours.

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 You see, friends,

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 Corinth was the fast lane of the ancient world.

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 It was a port city

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 and an economic powerhouse.

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 And because of its geography,

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 it was a city where east and west met.

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 The main commercial shipping routes

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 connected eastern and western ends of the empire

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 that connected the eastern and western ends of the empire

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 ran straight through Corinth.

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 And so people of vastly different cultures,

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 and classes, and languages, and religions

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 all came there,

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 and they all met there,

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 and they all lived together.

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 Think of some of the world's fastest-growing cities today,

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 like Dubai or Shanghai.

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 Corinth was fast,

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 and it was new,

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 and most of all,

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 it was where you went to make it.

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 If you wanted to climb the ladder

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 and make a name for yourself,

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 where did you go?

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 You went to Corinth.

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 And that's why 1 Corinthians is such a relevant book for us,

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 and why we'll be spending such a big chunk of time studying it,

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 because it teaches us

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 not just what to believe about the gospel,

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 not just to believe the gospel,

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 but it teaches us how to live the gospel,

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 and how to live the gospel in a world

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 just like ours,

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 where style

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 often matters more than substance,

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 and where what works

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 often takes precedence over what's true,

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 how to live the gospel in a world

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 where the dominant plot line,

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 the dominant shaping narrative

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 of our lives

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 basically says that

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 the road to happiness is found

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 through achievement

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 and through fulfilling your desires.

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 And very interestingly,

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 what we'll find along the way

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 is that as each of these individual topics comes up,

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 we'll see that Paul's response

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 isn't

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 so much like our response often is.

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 Paul's response isn't,

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 look, here's the rule book,

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 just do it.

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 No.

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 Paul goes deeper than that.

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 He goes down to the heart.

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 Yes, there are principles,

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 and there are rules,

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 and they're there for our good,

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 but deeper than that,

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 this book's going to remind us

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 again and again and again

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 not to forget who we are,

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 and not to forget whose story

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 we're a part of.

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 That's what Paul's up to

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 even in these opening verses.

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 Of course, on the surface,

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 it looks like just a standard opening

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 to a first century letter, right?

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 You've got who it's from

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 and who it's to,

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 and then there's a nice little word of thanks

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 before you really get down to business.

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 But you know, actually,

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 when you look again,

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 you realize that Paul has taken

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 these first century conventions

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 and used them.

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 He's transformed them even

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 into a vehicle

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 for laying the groundwork

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 of the whole letter.

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 As we'll see in a minute,

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 almost every major theme

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 is actually anticipated

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 in these first nine verses.

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 It's quite stunning.

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 But more than that,

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 right from the start,

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 Paul's getting down

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 to the heart of the issue.

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 And as we've seen,

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 this issue is our issue too.

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 We face conflict

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 and questions and doubts.

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 We wonder what it is

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 we're supposed to do.

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 We wonder how exactly

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 are we supposed to live.

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 But first,

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 you have to remember

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 who you are.

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 And you have to remember

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 whose story you're a part of.

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 And so along those lines,

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 there are four reminders

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 in this passage

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 about the real identity

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 of the church of God.

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 Four things that are true

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 about the community

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 that God has called

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 into the fellowship

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 of his son,

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 as verse nine says.

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 So let's look through these

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 one at a time.

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 The first is that the church

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 is sanctified in Christ.

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 Look again at verse two.

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 To the church of God

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 that is in Corinth.

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 To those sanctified

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 in Christ Jesus.

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 Now sanctified is a word

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 that needs some explanation, right?

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 Popularly when we hear language

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 like sanctified and saint,

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 which is from the same root word,

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 we typically think of what?

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 Someone who's really moral

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 and really religious, right?

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 Saints, after all,

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 they're the spiritual all-stars.

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 They're up here.

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 And then there's the JV squad

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 of you and me,

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 everybody else down here.

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 You know, like you're not

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 ever going to find

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 a stained glass window of me

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 in the back of the church.

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 Obviously that's not

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 what Paul means here, right?

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 Just start reading

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 1 Corinthians

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 and you'll realize

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 that that can't be

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 what Paul means.

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 This church is messed up.

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 He's not saying,

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 oh, you are the spiritual all-stars.

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 You get it all right.

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 No, that's not what he means.

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 So that popular meaning

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 isn't exactly going to help us.

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 So what does it mean?

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 Well, in the New Testament,

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 sanctification language

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 is used in one of two ways.

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 Stick with me for a second.

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 On the one hand,

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 sanctification can be a process

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 whereby we become

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 more and more like Christ

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 after we believe.

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 That's sometimes called

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 progressive sanctification.

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 And that's how sanctification

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 is often used

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 in theological conversations, right?

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 But,

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 the New Testament

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 will also talk about

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 sanctification in another way.

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 And this way

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 is actually a lot more frequent

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 in the Bible.

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 It will use this word

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 to describe

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 what has happened

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 to all believers

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 once and for all

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 through their union

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 with Christ by faith.

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 That is,

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 in Christ,

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 they have been

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 utterly and completely

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 cleansed

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 of the guilt of sin.

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 And now,

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 they are set apart

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 for God's own purpose.

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 This is sometimes

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 what's called

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 positional

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 or definite

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 sanctification.

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 You see,

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 one of the ways

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 that the Bible

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 describes sin

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 is as a stain.

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 And doesn't that metaphor

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 immediately ring true?

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 When you lie to someone,

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 when you lash out in anger,

00:13:06.739 --> 00:13:08.079
 when you give in to lust,

00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:09.779
 you feel that,

00:13:09.859 --> 00:13:10.259
 don't you?

00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:13.179
 Like you're somehow dirty

00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:14.859
 or unclean.

00:13:16.599 --> 00:13:17.459
 And that if someone

00:13:17.459 --> 00:13:18.899
 would now look at you,

00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:20.179
 really look at you,

00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:21.620
 they might not like

00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.599
 what they see.

00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:23.379
 And so,

00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:25.419
 you feel shame,

00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:27.059
 that sense of worthlessness

00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:28.599
 and ugliness.

00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:30.359
 And the worst of all

00:13:30.359 --> 00:13:31.159
 is that these stains

00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:32.659
 don't seem to go away.

00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:33.000
 And so,

00:13:33.099 --> 00:13:34.159
 we hide from one another.

00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:36.199
 And we hide from God.

00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:39.919
 But friends,

00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:41.039
 here is the stunning

00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:42.479
 good news

00:13:42.479 --> 00:13:43.779
 of Christianity.

00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:46.919
 That God has made a way

00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.539
 for us

00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:51.219
 covered in stains

00:13:51.219 --> 00:13:53.299
 to be clean again.

00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:55.500
 You see,

00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:56.679
 when Jesus died

00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:57.679
 on the cross,

00:13:57.859 --> 00:13:59.219
 he took the punishment

00:13:59.219 --> 00:14:00.779
 for our sin.

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.019
 And now,

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:02.859
 as the guilt

00:14:02.859 --> 00:14:03.719
 is lifted

00:14:03.719 --> 00:14:04.939
 from us

00:14:04.939 --> 00:14:05.939
 through his cross,

00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:07.240
 our stain

00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:07.719
 of guilt

00:14:07.719 --> 00:14:08.359
 is removed.

00:14:09.319 --> 00:14:09.899
 Our record

00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:11.120
 is now completely clean.

00:14:11.179 --> 00:14:11.559
 Our stains

00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:12.599
 are washed away.

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:13.240
 And God

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.500
 demonstrates this,

00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.240
 that our record

00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.039
 has been made clean

00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:17.219
 by raising Jesus

00:14:17.219 --> 00:14:17.899
 from the dead.

00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:21.819
 Maybe you're here

00:14:21.819 --> 00:14:22.379
 and you're exploring

00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:22.860
 Christianity.

00:14:23.079 --> 00:14:24.000
 Maybe you came

00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.500
 with a friend

00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:25.120
 and you're wondering

00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:25.659
 what Christianity

00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:26.459
 is really all about.

00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:26.620
 Well,

00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:26.819
 friend,

00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.100
 this is it.

00:14:29.939 --> 00:14:30.980
 That God,

00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:32.079
 through Jesus,

00:14:32.319 --> 00:14:33.299
 has done something

00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:34.559
 for you

00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:37.120
 to cleanse you

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.500
 of your guilt

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.500
 and shame

00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:41.519
 and to bring you

00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:42.899
 holy welcome

00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.379
 to himself.

00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:46.700
 In other words,

00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:47.039
 Christianity

00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:48.279
 is not at root

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:48.759
 about trying

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.500
 to clean up

00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.659
 and do better.

00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:53.939
 It's about trusting

00:14:53.939 --> 00:14:54.600
 the one

00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:56.500
 who has cleansed us

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.220
 by grace

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:58.439
 and giving your life

00:14:58.439 --> 00:14:59.159
 wholly to him

00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.059
 in love

00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:01.220
 and in trust.

00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:02.820
 And then,

00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:05.320
 watching him

00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:06.600
 make you new.

00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:11.059
 But you know,

00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:11.779
 we need to remember

00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:13.899
 that Paul is writing

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.539
 this letter

00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:15.019
 to people

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:15.899
 who are already

00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.379
 Christians,

00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:16.720
 right?

00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:18.299
 That Christians,

00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:18.799
 too,

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:20.240
 need to be reminded

00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:20.840
 that we need

00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:21.459
 to remember

00:15:21.459 --> 00:15:21.980
 that we've been

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.620
 made clean

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.340
 in Christ

00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:24.419
 and that God

00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:25.279
 has set us apart

00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.079
 for his own

00:15:26.079 --> 00:15:27.240
 noble purpose

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:27.819
 in the world.

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.439
 In chapters 5

00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:30.840
 through 7,

00:15:30.939 --> 00:15:31.860
 Paul will return

00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:32.759
 to this theme

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.379
 of holiness,

00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:34.939
 of sanctification.

00:15:35.579 --> 00:15:36.299
 And his argument

00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:37.279
 there will be,

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.399
 don't you see?

00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:40.779
 This is his argument.

00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:42.059
 Don't you see,

00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:42.319
 friends,

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.059
 you've already

00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:43.779
 been cleansed

00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.299
 in Christ.

00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.299
 All your guilt,

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.179
 all your shame,

00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:46.939
 it's done with.

00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:47.379
 Now,

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:50.459
 be who you are.

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.659
 Live the holy life

00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:55.559
 that Christ

00:15:55.559 --> 00:15:56.039
 has already

00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:56.839
 welcomed you into.

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:57.759
 Let nothing

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.179
 of your past

00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:00.100
 hinder you.

00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:04.939
 In the early

00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:05.519
 18th century,

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:05.899
 the young

00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.879
 Jonathan Edwards

00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:08.039
 began keeping

00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.679
 a notebook

00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.779
 of theological

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:10.459
 reflections

00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:11.460
 that he called

00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:11.480
 that he called

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.560
 his miscellanies.

00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:13.639
 And he wrote

00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.060
 something like

00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:14.879
 1300 of them

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.340
 in his life

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:15.820
 because he was

00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:16.259
 a machine.

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.379
 And the very

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.259
 first one

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:21.960
 that he wrote

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:23.200
 was about

00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:23.759
 this topic

00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.460
 of holiness.

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:30.200
 holiness is a

00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:30.960
 most beautiful

00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.080
 and lovely

00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:32.480
 thing.

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:34.100
 It makes

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.620
 the soul

00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.340
 like a delightful

00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:36.500
 field or garden

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.639
 planted by God

00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:39.560
 where the sun

00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:40.540
 is Jesus Christ,

00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:41.759
 where the

00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.480
 blessed beams

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.440
 and calm breeze

00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:43.940
 are the Holy

00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:44.440
 Spirit,

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.840
 and where the

00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:46.780
 sweet and

00:16:46.780 --> 00:16:47.960
 delightful flowers

00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:49.080
 are the

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.440
 Christian

00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:49.840
 grises.

00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:54.759
 Christian,

00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:55.139
 how do you

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.780
 view yourself

00:16:55.780 --> 00:16:56.399
 this morning?

00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.540
 A failure?

00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:02.420
 A second

00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:03.259
 rate follower

00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.140
 of Jesus?

00:17:05.500 --> 00:17:06.220
 Someone who's

00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:06.840
 messed up

00:17:06.840 --> 00:17:08.420
 so many times

00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.059
 that you can't

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:09.579
 be of any

00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.340
 real use

00:17:10.340 --> 00:17:10.880
 to God?

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.220
 Friend,

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:14.799
 hear the word

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.140
 of God

00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:15.600
 this morning

00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:16.220
 that none

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.620
 of that is

00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:16.860
 true.

00:17:18.120 --> 00:17:18.620
 You are

00:17:18.620 --> 00:17:19.100
 washed.

00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:19.939
 you are

00:17:19.939 --> 00:17:20.779
 sanctified.

00:17:21.199 --> 00:17:21.480
 You are

00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.079
 justified

00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.219
 in the name

00:17:23.219 --> 00:17:23.599
 of the Lord

00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.379
 Jesus Christ

00:17:24.379 --> 00:17:25.240
 and by the

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.619
 Spirit of

00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:26.159
 our God.

00:17:27.419 --> 00:17:28.119
 That's what

00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:28.719
 Paul will say

00:17:28.719 --> 00:17:29.819
 in chapter 6

00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.819
 verse 11.

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.799
 First and

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.199
 foremost,

00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.319
 that's who

00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:35.759
 you are.

00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.500
 And God

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.399
 has a

00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:38.819
 glorious

00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.779
 purpose

00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.779
 for you.

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.019
 The next

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.319
 thing that

00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:46.699
 Paul wants

00:17:46.699 --> 00:17:47.179
 to remind

00:17:47.179 --> 00:17:47.619
 us of

00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.899
 is that

00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:49.000
 we're

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.379
 not just

00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:49.899
 sanctified

00:17:49.899 --> 00:17:50.479
 in Christ

00:17:50.479 --> 00:17:51.439
 but we're

00:17:51.439 --> 00:17:51.699
 also

00:17:51.699 --> 00:17:52.379
 united

00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:53.739
 with a

00:17:53.739 --> 00:17:54.599
 worldwide

00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:55.879
 movement.

00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:57.259
 Look again

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:57.939
 at verse 2.

00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:00.359
 Called to be

00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:00.959
 saints

00:18:00.959 --> 00:18:01.899
 together

00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:03.219
 with all

00:18:03.219 --> 00:18:03.619
 those

00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:04.159
 who in

00:18:04.159 --> 00:18:04.979
 every place

00:18:04.979 --> 00:18:05.719
 call upon

00:18:05.719 --> 00:18:06.000
 the name

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.239
 of our

00:18:06.239 --> 00:18:06.619
 Lord Jesus

00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:07.019
 Christ

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.479
 both

00:18:07.479 --> 00:18:08.279
 their Lord

00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.239
 and ours.

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.000
 Paul is

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.859
 saying lift

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.439
 up your

00:18:11.439 --> 00:18:12.019
 gaze

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:13.000
 for just

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.859
 a moment.

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:14.839
 Lift up

00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:15.500
 your eyes

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:15.919
 from your

00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:16.299
 local

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.919
 concerns

00:18:16.919 --> 00:18:17.399
 and the

00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:17.699
 petty

00:18:17.699 --> 00:18:18.500
 squabbles

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.119
 that you're

00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:19.759
 having with

00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.139
 each other

00:18:20.139 --> 00:18:20.980
 and realize

00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:21.399
 that you're

00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:21.779
 a part of

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.519
 something so

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.500
 much bigger

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.279
 and so

00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.480
 much broader.

00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:28.899
 Do you see

00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:29.399
 what it does

00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:29.659
 when you

00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:30.779
 remember that

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.299
 we as the

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:31.720
 church are

00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.359
 part of a

00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:32.839
 global

00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:34.000
 worldwide

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.240
 international

00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.579
 movement of

00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:36.959
 God?

00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:39.179
 Puts

00:18:39.179 --> 00:18:39.599
 things in

00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.119
 perspective

00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:40.740
 doesn't it?

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.859
 In chapters

00:18:42.859 --> 00:18:43.380
 1-4

00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:43.980
 of 1 Corinthians

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:44.359
 Paul is

00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:44.720
 going to

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.700
 tackle this

00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.279
 issue of

00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:46.980
 church unity

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:48.079
 and jealousy.

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:48.720
 There are

00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.519
 divisions growing

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.039
 in the church.

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:50.599
 People are

00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.019
 saying I

00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:51.539
 follow this

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:51.980
 leader and

00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:52.380
 I follow

00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.000
 that leader

00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.640
 and that

00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:53.980
 makes me

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.339
 pretty much

00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:54.880
 better than

00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:55.299
 you.

00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.799
 And Paul is

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.160
 saying it's

00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.140
 such a small

00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:02.259
 and petty

00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:03.099
 understanding

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:04.039
 of what it

00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:04.960
 means to be

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.660
 the church.

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.059
 You are

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.519
 part of a

00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.220
 global

00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:11.860
 family of

00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:12.279
 faith.

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.140
 Bigger than

00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:13.600
 any one

00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:13.920
 leader.

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:14.900
 Certainly

00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:15.460
 bigger than

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:15.920
 any one

00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.400
 congregation.

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.259
 Why are

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.900
 you trying to

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.640
 puff up

00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:20.339
 your own

00:19:20.339 --> 00:19:21.279
 ego and

00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:21.720
 grow your

00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:22.259
 own little

00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:23.299
 tribe when

00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:23.660
 there's a

00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:24.480
 worldwide

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.400
 advance of

00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:25.900
 the gospel

00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.880
 happening as

00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.160
 we speak?

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:28.940
 That God's

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.539
 glory is

00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:29.900
 spreading to

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.440
 the ends

00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:30.700
 of the

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.019
 earth.

00:19:31.100 --> 00:19:31.400
 That people

00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.120
 are calling

00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:32.759
 on the

00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.200
 name of

00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:33.579
 the Lord

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.140
 Jesus in

00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:35.220
 every corner

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:35.920
 of the

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.360
 globe.

00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:38.420
 Friends,

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.740
 catch a

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.279
 vision.

00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:42.000
 Catch a

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.519
 vision for

00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:44.120
 extending his

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:45.740
 kingdom globally

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:48.000
 instead of

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.380
 spreading your

00:19:49.380 --> 00:19:50.480
 own petty

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.579
 little fiefdom

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:53.900
 in Corinth or

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:54.539
 in New Haven

00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.920
 or wherever you

00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.480
 may be.

00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.740
 Lift up your

00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:01.180
 eyes and lose

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:02.519
 yourself in a

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.720
 mission that is

00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.440
 as big as the

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:04.799
 world.

00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.120
 Remember that you

00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:07.980
 belong to a

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.579
 global movement.

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.700
 Let's keep

00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.220
 going and look at

00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:13.579
 the third

00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:13.880
 thing.

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.420
 Paul wants us

00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:14.940
 to remember

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.839
 about who we

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:15.940
 are.

00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.500
 He wants us to

00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.920
 remember that

00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.720
 we are a

00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.779
 people who are

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.180
 not just

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:21.579
 sanctified, not

00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:22.740
 just worldwide,

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.680
 but are

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.880
 enriched by

00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.360
 grace.

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:25.839
 Pick up at

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.559
 verse 3.

00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:27.799
 Grace to you

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.680
 and peace from

00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.360
 God our Father

00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:29.700
 and the Lord

00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.299
 Jesus Christ.

00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:31.380
 I give thanks

00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:31.920
 to my God

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.900
 always for you

00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:33.640
 because of the

00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.599
 grace of God

00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.079
 that was given

00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.620
 you in Christ

00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:35.900
 Jesus.

00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:37.000
 that in every

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:37.780
 way you were

00:20:37.780 --> 00:20:39.100
 enriched in him

00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:40.000
 in all speech

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.620
 and all knowledge

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.140
 even as the

00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:41.740
 testimony about

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.200
 Christ was

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.820
 confirmed among

00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:43.280
 you so that

00:20:43.280 --> 00:20:43.680
 you're not

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.460
 lacking in any

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.880
 gift as you

00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:46.320
 wait for the

00:20:46.320 --> 00:20:46.980
 revealing of our

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.420
 Lord Jesus

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:47.960
 Christ.

00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.180
 Now perhaps the

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.759
 first observation

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.720
 to make here is

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.380
 that for all the

00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.620
 problems in

00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:53.380
 Corinth, Paul

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.820
 could still be

00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:55.880
 genuinely thankful

00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:56.600
 to God for

00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:56.840
 them.

00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.460
 Isn't that

00:20:59.460 --> 00:20:59.740
 amazing?

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.460
 Of course there

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.120
 may be a hint

00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.459
 of irony here.

00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:06.619
 We'll learn

00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.019
 later in

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.479
 chapters 12

00:21:07.479 --> 00:21:08.079
 through 14

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.559
 that the

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:09.979
 Corinthians

00:21:09.979 --> 00:21:11.279
 use or their

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.099
 misuse of their

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:12.939
 so-called spiritual

00:21:12.939 --> 00:21:13.739
 gifts was actually

00:21:13.739 --> 00:21:14.339
 causing some

00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:14.799
 problems.

00:21:15.739 --> 00:21:16.599
 I'm so thankful

00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:17.159
 that you're so

00:21:17.159 --> 00:21:17.939
 enriched Corinthians.

00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:20.939
 But even if there

00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.439
 is a hint of

00:21:21.439 --> 00:21:22.819
 irony I still

00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.419
 think Paul is

00:21:23.419 --> 00:21:24.179
 giving genuine

00:21:24.179 --> 00:21:24.779
 thanks.

00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:27.779
 Which is a

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.399
 lesson for us

00:21:28.399 --> 00:21:28.799
 isn't it?

00:21:30.219 --> 00:21:31.039
 Even if things

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.779
 aren't exactly

00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.979
 how you wish

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.019
 they were

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:36.079
 in your

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.519
 marriage

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:38.220
 or in your

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:38.539
 friendships

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:40.079
 or in your

00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.700
 small group

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:42.019
 or in your

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.700
 church family

00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:45.099
 for all that

00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:46.500
 isn't there

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.259
 still ample

00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.500
 room for

00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.120
 thanksgiving?

00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:51.539
 Are you

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.460
 thankful friends

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.519
 for what is

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.819
 rather than

00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.360
 being simply

00:21:55.360 --> 00:21:56.200
 critical of

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:56.940
 what is not?

00:21:56.940 --> 00:22:01.480
 And Paul

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:01.960
 here thanks

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.900
 God for

00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:03.160
 what?

00:22:03.620 --> 00:22:04.120
 For the

00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:04.700
 grace they've

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.080
 been shown.

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.539
 And that

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.740
 grace enriches

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.420
 them in every

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.100
 way he says.

00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.059
 And of course

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.860
 grace by

00:22:11.860 --> 00:22:12.759
 definition is

00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.299
 something you

00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.880
 don't deserve.

00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:15.059
 It's a sheer

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:17.140
 unmerited gift

00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:18.200
 and we too

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:18.960
 need to remember

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.940
 that today.

00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.279
 That it's

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.860
 grace

00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:23.980
 not our own

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.620
 doing that

00:22:24.620 --> 00:22:25.360
 brings us to

00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:25.699
 God.

00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:28.019
 And that

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:28.859
 means that

00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.479
 our life

00:22:29.479 --> 00:22:30.479
 together as

00:22:30.479 --> 00:22:31.240
 a church

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.779
 grace

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.879
 enriched

00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:34.879
 grace

00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:35.639
 enriched

00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:37.500
 should not

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.579
 make much

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.339
 of ourselves

00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:41.240
 but should

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.719
 make much

00:22:41.719 --> 00:22:42.399
 of Christ

00:22:42.399 --> 00:22:43.599
 the giver

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:43.899
 of the

00:22:43.899 --> 00:22:44.259
 grace.

00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:45.519
 That's what

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:45.919
 Paul's getting

00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:46.319
 at in verse

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.839
 six isn't

00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:46.979
 he?

00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:47.799
 They've been

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.319
 given these

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:48.699
 gifts of

00:22:48.699 --> 00:22:49.599
 speech and

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.559
 knowledge not

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.139
 to demonstrate

00:22:51.139 --> 00:22:51.740
 how great and

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.259
 spiritual they

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.219
 themselves are

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.880
 but in order

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.620
 to confirm

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.480
 the testimony

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.100
 the message

00:22:56.100 --> 00:22:57.240
 about Christ

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.819
 and to

00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.920
 display how

00:22:58.920 --> 00:22:59.559
 great he

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.120
 is.

00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:01.940
 Remembering

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.519
 this grace

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.079
 will cause us

00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.759
 to exalt

00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.440
 Christ all

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:04.880
 the more

00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:05.799
 and especially

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.299
 when remember

00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:06.700
 that it's not

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.839
 a miserly grace

00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.180
 that God

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.680
 extends.

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.019
 He's not

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:09.460
 sort of

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.500
 doling it

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.140
 out quarter

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.900
 by quarter.

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.279
 Now he

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:15.339
 enriches us.

00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.400
 He lavishes

00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:16.839
 us.

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:17.980
 There's no

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.100
 lack of

00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:19.519
 grace.

00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.140
 It's an

00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:21.900
 abundant grace

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.120
 that he

00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:22.540
 pours out.

00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:22.880
 A grace

00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:23.720
 that saves

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.380
 us and

00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:24.980
 then equips

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.440
 us to do

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:25.780
 his work

00:23:25.780 --> 00:23:25.960
 and to

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.259
 make much

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:26.640
 of Jesus.

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.120
 And when

00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:27.800
 we remember

00:23:27.800 --> 00:23:28.140
 that we're

00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:29.120
 recipients of

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:29.660
 grace it

00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.180
 also does

00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:30.600
 this.

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.240
 It produces

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.800
 in us a

00:23:32.800 --> 00:23:33.860
 love for

00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:34.400
 one another.

00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:36.920
 After all

00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.600
 doesn't grace

00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:38.259
 mean nothing

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.360
 more than

00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:39.700
 that we've

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.320
 been loved

00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:41.180
 with an

00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:42.300
 undeserved

00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:43.040
 love?

00:23:45.080 --> 00:23:45.759
 And when

00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.480
 that hits

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:46.820
 home,

00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:50.720
 when it hits

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.440
 home that you

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:51.820
 have been

00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.740
 loved with

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.380
 an undeserved

00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.960
 love, you

00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:56.340
 will in

00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:57.460
 turn love

00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:57.880
 others.

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.140
 Especially when

00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:00.840
 you realize that

00:24:00.840 --> 00:24:02.340
 those others are

00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:03.320
 loved by Christ

00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:03.940
 himself.

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.720
 Loved ones for

00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.680
 whom he died so

00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.120
 that he might

00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:07.680
 extend them

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.059
 grace.

00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:11.759
 You know, in

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.160
 fact, it's a

00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.140
 bit odd, isn't

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.340
 it?

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:15.000
 It's a bit odd

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.799
 when you sort of

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.519
 compare this to

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:16.980
 Paul's other

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:18.360
 letters that love

00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:19.160
 isn't mentioned

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:20.220
 here, isn't

00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.400
 it?

00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.740
 Most other

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.140
 churches that

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.560
 Paul writes

00:24:22.560 --> 00:24:23.080
 to, he gives

00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:24.460
 thanks for the

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:24.940
 love that they

00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:25.200
 show.

00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:27.900
 But in

00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:30.019
 Corinth, there's

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.540
 a strange

00:24:30.540 --> 00:24:31.220
 silence.

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:33.880
 In this

00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:34.980
 thanksgiving, love

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:36.080
 is absent.

00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:38.940
 When you read

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.560
 ahead, it begins

00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:40.240
 to make sense.

00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.040
 Eventually, you

00:24:42.040 --> 00:24:42.540
 come to 1

00:24:42.540 --> 00:24:43.560
 Corinthians 13,

00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:45.320
 the famous love

00:24:45.320 --> 00:24:46.400
 chapter that we've

00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:47.019
 all heard read at

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:48.140
 weddings, right?

00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:51.460
 Actually, a

00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:51.860
 friend of mine

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.400
 told me a funny

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.020
 story once.

00:24:53.340 --> 00:24:53.840
 This isn't in my

00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.259
 notes, I'm going

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.520
 to share it

00:24:54.520 --> 00:24:54.759
 anyway.

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:55.740
 A friend of

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.000
 mine from

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.640
 Australia where

00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.060
 they don't

00:24:57.060 --> 00:24:57.500
 really know the

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.880
 Bible that

00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:58.960
 well was at a

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.640
 wedding and the

00:24:59.640 --> 00:24:59.980
 person was

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.480
 supposed to read

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.820
 1 Corinthians 13,

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.860
 but the reader

00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.360
 wasn't really

00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:03.860
 familiar with the

00:25:03.860 --> 00:25:04.340
 Bible, so they

00:25:04.340 --> 00:25:04.740
 ended up reading

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:06.460
 1 Chronicles 13.

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.020
 That was pretty

00:25:10.020 --> 00:25:10.300
 awesome.

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:15.680
 But you know,

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.399
 when you read

00:25:16.399 --> 00:25:17.619
 1 Corinthians 13

00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:20.859
 in context, in

00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:21.500
 the context of

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.559
 chapters 12 and

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.379
 chapters 14, what

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:24.000
 do you realize?

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.579
 You realize that

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.460
 1 Corinthians 13

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.319
 isn't sort of

00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.200
 commending the

00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.859
 Corinthians for

00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.720
 their great display

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.299
 of love.

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.819
 It's this scathing

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:34.159
 critique for their

00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:35.180
 lovelessness.

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:38.480
 the most

00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.700
 essential thing, he

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.120
 says, you're

00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:41.019
 totally missing.

00:25:42.600 --> 00:25:43.420
 And that's the

00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:43.799
 problem.

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:46.900
 And you know, if

00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:47.640
 we tie that later

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.740
 critique back to

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.920
 this strange absence

00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.820
 in these opening

00:25:50.820 --> 00:25:52.519
 verses, we can

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.160
 guess that their

00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:54.019
 lovelessness was

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.860
 due to the fact

00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:55.500
 that the

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.240
 Corinthians had

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.779
 forgotten about

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.279
 grace.

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.640
 Paul is reminding

00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:02.940
 them and us that

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.820
 the spiritual gifts

00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:05.100
 they had and

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.079
 everything else that

00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:06.859
 they've received

00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.899
 were just that,

00:26:08.699 --> 00:26:09.059
 gifts.

00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:12.240
 Gifts to be used

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.459
 in the service of

00:26:13.459 --> 00:26:13.839
 love.

00:26:16.719 --> 00:26:17.779
 And briefly, before

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.419
 we move to our

00:26:18.419 --> 00:26:19.579
 final point, do you

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.619
 see why this is why

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:22.159
 we can't celebrate

00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:23.759
 grace enough as a

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.099
 church?

00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:25.859
 Because if we

00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:27.679
 really internalize

00:26:27.679 --> 00:26:30.019
 this biblical grace,

00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.399
 that is the costly

00:26:31.399 --> 00:26:33.079
 fulfilling the law

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.279
 in my place,

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.779
 unmerited grace of

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.819
 Jesus Christ, if we

00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:39.299
 get that, we will

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.660
 be a loving church.

00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.420
 Preaching and

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.599
 believing real gospel

00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.420
 grace won't make us

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.680
 lazy, it won't make

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:46.819
 us indifferent to

00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:47.879
 good works, just the

00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:48.200
 opposite.

00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.480
 It'll make us people

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:51.099
 who actually love.

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.660
 And love will motivate

00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:54.480
 all kinds of good

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.920
 works.

00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:55.920
 grace.

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:58.259
 Remember who you are,

00:26:58.340 --> 00:26:58.740
 friends.

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.320
 Sanctified,

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.640
 worldwide,

00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:05.180
 grace lavished.

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:08.920
 And the last point

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.740
 that Paul drives home

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:11.340
 is an extension of

00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.160
 that grace and love.

00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:14.000
 We need to remember

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:15.039
 last of all that we're

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.279
 a people headed towards

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.640
 a future full of hope.

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.580
 Let's pick up in verse

00:27:18.580 --> 00:27:18.799
 seven.

00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.519
 So that you're not

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:21.140
 lacking in any gift as

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.740
 you wait for the

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.660
 revealing of our Lord

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:24.120
 Jesus Christ who will

00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:25.660
 sustain you to the end,

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.940
 guiltless in the day of

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.940
 our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:31.340
 God is faithful by whom

00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:32.200
 you were called into the

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:33.220
 fellowship of his son,

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:35.140
 Jesus Christ our Lord.

00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:37.400
 As the church, we look

00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:38.799
 forward to the future,

00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:41.180
 not with fear, not with

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:43.900
 worry, not with anxiety,

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:45.620
 but with confidence.

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.579
 Why?

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:49.259
 Because we know that the

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:50.380
 God who created all

00:27:50.380 --> 00:27:51.559
 things will one day

00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:53.680
 triumph in righteousness

00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:55.960
 over sin and death and

00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.980
 brokenness and that

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:58.880
 Christ will return in

00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:00.519
 glory and be the perfect

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:02.600
 judge and he will put all

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.419
 things right.

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.459
 And the church looks

00:28:05.459 --> 00:28:06.079
 forward to that day with

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.579
 confidence because as

00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:08.759
 Paul says here, he will

00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:10.579
 sustain us to the end.

00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:11.779
 And because of Christ's

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.219
 death and resurrection for

00:28:13.219 --> 00:28:14.579
 us, there will be no

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:16.000
 charge on that day to be

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.159
 laid against us.

00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:19.000
 Those who have put their

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:20.639
 trust in Christ, those who

00:28:20.639 --> 00:28:22.019
 are found in him.

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:25.279
 Because any charge, any

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:27.079
 condemnation has already

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:29.159
 been removed by the cross

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:31.120
 once and for all.

00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:34.400
 And the verdict on that

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:36.279
 day, when our lives are

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:40.160
 laid open before him, the

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.200
 verdict for those who are

00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:42.480
 in Christ, Paul says here,

00:28:42.560 --> 00:28:46.380
 will be guiltless, innocent,

00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:49.120
 accepted, approved.

00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:53.859
 Of course, the idea of a

00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:55.639
 final judgment may seem

00:28:55.639 --> 00:28:57.359
 more than a bit strange to

00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:57.679
 you.

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:01.039
 But think about it,

00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:02.099
 friends, could there be any

00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:05.059
 greater affirmation of the

00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:07.500
 value and meaningfulness of

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.419
 this life?

00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.939
 You and I live as if the

00:29:11.939 --> 00:29:13.899
 things we do matter, as if

00:29:13.899 --> 00:29:15.219
 they make a difference, as

00:29:15.219 --> 00:29:16.819
 if they're not just absurd

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:18.259
 blips on the ways of cosmic

00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:18.940
 nothingness.

00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:21.259
 We go to work, we build

00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:22.759
 relationships, we dream and

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:24.359
 plan, we laugh and we

00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:24.859
 grieve.

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.960
 To believe in a God who

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.819
 judges perfectly in the end

00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:31.119
 is to believe that every

00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:33.640
 single moment of your life is

00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:36.619
 charged with significance and

00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:38.359
 that no second of your life is

00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:41.519
 a waste, that it all, all of

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:44.900
 it matters to God in the end.

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:50.539
 And besides, if what the Bible

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:52.400
 says about God's creative work

00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:55.720
 is true, that he made us and

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:58.180
 loves us and orders all things

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.859
 for his glory, is it so hard to

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:01.920
 believe that he will put things

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.759
 right in the end?

00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:07.660
 That he will value and dignify his

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:10.279
 creation by affording it his

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:12.440
 perfect regard and perfect

00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:12.900
 justice?

00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:17.820
 You know, there's one way to

00:30:17.820 --> 00:30:20.800
 show someone that you don't like

00:30:20.800 --> 00:30:21.000
 them.

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.480
 It's not to correct them.

00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:25.019
 It's not to judge them.

00:30:26.040 --> 00:30:27.080
 It's not to consider them.

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.840
 It's to ignore them.

00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:33.580
 Friends, God loves the world too

00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:35.580
 much to ignore it in the end.

00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:40.699
 So friend, how will you stand

00:30:40.699 --> 00:30:41.859
 before God on that day?

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:45.379
 When your life is laid open

00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:45.980
 before him?

00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:49.299
 When he affords you the dignity

00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:51.759
 of you in your whole life?

00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.899
 How will you stand before him?

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:58.359
 Are you going to stand in your own

00:30:58.359 --> 00:31:00.419
 shaky righteousness?

00:31:01.419 --> 00:31:02.819
 Are you going to stand in your own

00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.220
 record?

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:06.059
 Are you going to say I tried?

00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:11.579
 Are you going to stand in Christ?

00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:15.779
 The one who has become for us,

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:19.400
 Paul will say, righteousness and

00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:21.220
 sanctification and redemption.

00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:25.000
 The one who becomes for us a

00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:26.860
 perfect record and a perfect

00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:27.360
 righteousness.

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:31.620
 And friends, if you're standing in

00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:34.619
 that day is Christ, then you look

00:31:34.619 --> 00:31:37.500
 forward to the future with hope.

00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:42.339
 In chapter 15, Paul will return to

00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:44.919
 this theme of hope as he draws his

00:31:44.919 --> 00:31:45.959
 whole letter together.

00:31:47.199 --> 00:31:48.659
 And he there will show us how the

00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:50.459
 Christian understanding of the future

00:31:50.459 --> 00:31:52.299
 is more glorious than anything

00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:55.299
 anyone has conceived ever before.

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:59.440
 God's faithfulness and our fellowship

00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:01.799
 with his son, as he says in verse 9,

00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:05.559
 all that will mean that even in God's

00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:08.379
 redemptive consummating work, that even

00:32:08.379 --> 00:32:11.759
 our material bodies will be rescued from

00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:14.500
 death and liberated from decay on the day

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.879
 when Christ returns in glory.

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:20.300
 And if you think that that element of our

00:32:20.300 --> 00:32:23.680
 identity in Christ doesn't affect how we

00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:28.720
 live now, friends, keep coming back because

00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:30.400
 the hope of the resurrection changes

00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:31.060
 everything.

00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:35.640
 So this is who we are.

00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:40.760
 The sanctified, worldwide, grace-enriched,

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:44.619
 hope-filled church of God.

00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:50.379
 But as much as who we are,

00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:54.339
 perhaps it's most important to see

00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:55.200
 whose we are.

00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.759
 And it's obvious, isn't it?

00:32:58.839 --> 00:33:02.379
 Ten times in nine verses, who is the

00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:04.140
 center of this passage?

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:06.759
 To whom does the church belong?

00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:09.759
 To the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:14.079
 It's really his story that matters the most.

00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:18.799
 The true story of God the Son,

00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.879
 the second person of the Trinity,

00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:23.920
 taking on flesh for us and for our

00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.900
 salvation to fulfill all the promises

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:29.920
 God made to Israel, to be crucified for

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:32.819
 sinners, to be risen in power, to ascend

00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:35.039
 to the Father's right hand, to pour out

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:37.720
 his spirit, to call the world to himself

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:40.680
 in grace, and to come again in glory to

00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:41.559
 make all things new.

00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:43.839
 His is the story of which we find

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.640
 ourselves apart.

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:50.079
 What does it mean to live the gospel?

00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:51.460
 What does it mean to have our lives

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:54.200
 replotted, reshaped around his?

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:57.120
 That's what 1 Corinthians is all about.

00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:59.160
 Yes, it's about unity.

00:33:59.880 --> 00:34:00.900
 Yes, it's about holiness.

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:02.000
 Yes, it's about love.

00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.900
 Yes, it's about hope.

00:34:02.900 --> 00:34:04.300
 But ultimately, it's about him.

00:34:06.580 --> 00:34:10.340
 Living in fellowship together with Jesus Christ,

00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:11.240
 our Lord.

00:34:13.160 --> 00:34:15.059
 Put yourself in that story.

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:17.660
 Put yourself in the story of grace,

00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:19.740
 the story of the world headed towards justice,

00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:22.500
 the story of God's Son, Jesus Christ.

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:24.000
 Put yourself in that story,

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:26.920
 and you will never be the same.

00:34:28.340 --> 00:34:30.099
 And our church will never be the same.

00:34:31.780 --> 00:34:32.340
 Let's pray.

00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:38.619
 God, thank you for your word and its clarity.

00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:41.059
 And God, how you remind us

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:43.420
 of all that we have in Christ.

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:46.840
 Lord, I pray that as we meditate

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:49.480
 on these first nine verses in the coming week,

00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:52.099
 that the picture of who you've made us in him

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:56.559
 will stretch us and cause us to be in awe

00:34:56.559 --> 00:35:00.159
 and give us great confidence and hope

00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:01.460
 in the world in which we live.

00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:06.319
 God, seal these things in our hearts, we pray.

00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:07.319
 Amen.

00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:11.319
 Well, friends, it's right to respond

00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:14.059
 to God's word with praise.

00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:17.360
 So let's stand, and we're gonna sing a hymn,

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:20.480
 Christ is made the sure foundation.

00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:22.000
 Isn't that what we've been saying this morning

00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:23.619
 that Christ is at the center of it all?

00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:26.139
 So let's use these words as a vehicle

00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:27.800
 for praising God together.

00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:28.900
 Amen.

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.400
 Amen.

00:35:29.400 --> 00:35:29.460
 Amen.

00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:29.539
 Amen.

00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:29.559
 Amen.

00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:29.579
 Amen.

00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:29.619
 Amen.

00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:29.639
 Amen.

00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:29.659
 Amen.

00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:29.719
 Amen.

00:35:29.719 --> 00:35:30.139
 Amen.

00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:30.159
 Amen.

00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.179
 Amen.

00:35:30.179 --> 00:35:30.219
 Amen.

00:35:30.219 --> 00:35:30.260
 Amen.

00:35:30.260 --> 00:35:30.280
 Amen.