WEBVTT

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 Okay, well, good morning, everyone. It's lovely to see you. My name is Graeme. I'm the pastor here at the church and we're going to turn to God's word now.

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 So why don't you turn, if you have a Bible, to the book of Galatians. We're in at chapter five today. If you don't have a Bible, then there's ones on the pews. You can even grab your own this morning at the back.

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 We've got a ton of them just to give away every Sunday. We want to get God's word into as many people's hands as possible.

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 So you can grab one of them on your way out this morning, or you can even scroll on your phone. We'll let you away with that one.

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 But whatever you need to do to get the Bible, God's word open in front of you, make sure that you do it.

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 And Galatians chapter five is where we are today. But why don't we just pray before we get into this passage together.

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 Father, truly you are the holy God, the matchless one, the incomparable one, the eternal one.

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 And Lord, like we sang at the start, who are we? Who are we to come into your presence?

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 Father, thank you that the initiative, as we'll see this morning, is all yours.

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 The invitation that you make us through Christ to come and know forgiveness, have life, and to call on you and know you as Father.

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 And so Lord, we pray that as we turn to Galatians chapter five today, that the words of Psalm 19 verse 10 would be true.

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 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold.

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 They are sweeter than honey, than honey from your honeycomb.

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 Lord, may we know the sweetness of your word today, we pray.

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 In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, folks, here's what we need to do with this text, if we're to really get it,

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 is we need to kind of enter its atmosphere.

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 Here's what I mean by that.

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 If we're to understand this, the clue is all in its tone.

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 All in its tone.

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 You know, when our little girl Grace was little, one of the things that she used to do,

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 we used to love to do as a family, was to go to the little transparent bridge

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 that is just underneath the castle that kind of goes over the train lines at Waverly.

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 The transparent bridge was one of her favorite things to do because she loved to look at the trains coming and going

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 and get a wave from the train driver.

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 It was her favorite thing to do.

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 I remember one Saturday we went, though, and there was a gate put in front of this little,

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 the entrance to this transparent bridge.

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 And the sign on the gate just said,

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 Warning, danger, falling rocks.

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 Danger, danger, falling rocks.

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 And despite the protestations, Dad, can we not just claim it?

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 As a parent, you know that you've got to be the grown-up in the room

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 and you realize that that sign is telling you something that you need to wake up and see,

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 that this is not a suggestion, this is not a top tip,

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 the brevity tells you everything, that this is a warning.

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 Venture here, venture beyond this, you're in some serious danger.

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 Friends, this is a warning text.

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 See what he writes at verse 2.

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 Mark my words.

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 You ever said that?

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 You ever written that?

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 Mark my words suggests, anytime I've ever used that phrase,

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 that what I'm about to say, I really, really mean it.

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 Here is Paul the pastor deeply concerned about the souls of the Galatian people.

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 And we've got to work out and ask ourselves,

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 what is the thing that he's so concerned about?

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 So why don't we read this together?

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 It's Galatians chapter 3.

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 Sorry, Galatians chapter 5.

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 See if you can spot his tone.

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 See if you can spot the thing that he's warning them about.

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 It is for freedom, says Paul, that Christ has set us free.

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 Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

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 Mark my words.

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 I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,

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 Christ will be of no value to you at all.

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 Again, I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised,

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 that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

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 You who are trying to be justified by the law

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 have been alienated from Christ.

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 You've fallen away from grace.

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 For through the Spirit,

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 we eagerly await by faith

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 the righteousness for which we hope.

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 For in Christ Jesus,

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 neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.

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 The only thing that counts

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 is faith expressing itself through love.

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 You're running a good race.

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 Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?

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 That kind of persuasion

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 does not come from the one who calls you.

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 A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.

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 I'm confident in the Lord that you will take no other view.

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 The one who is throwing you into confusion,

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 whoever that may be,

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 will have to pay the penalty.

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 Brothers and sisters,

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 if I'm still preaching circumcision,

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 why am I still being persecuted?

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 In that case,

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 the offense of the cross has been abolished.

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 As for those agitators,

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 I wish they would go the whole way

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 and emasculate themselves.

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 Friends, if nothing else,

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 hold on for that bit.

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 Now, what is up for grabs in Galatia

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 and what's up for takes this morning

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 is the words that you get in verse one,

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 the word that we thought about last week,

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 and it's this word,

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 freedom.

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 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

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 Stand firm.

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 That's the imperative there.

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 Stand firm.

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 And blink,

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 and you might miss the two little details at verse one.

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 Notice the image.

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 One that he's taken from everyday agricultural life.

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 The yoke being the wooden beam

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 that you put around the neck of two animals

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 that binds them together.

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 Paul says,

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 uses the image,

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 yoked to slavery.

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 Striking, isn't it?

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 Notice the image,

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 but notice the word.

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 Again, blink,

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 and you might miss this.

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 What is the word?

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 Again.

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 You see it?

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 Again.

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 Now, do you know what that tells us?

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 And this is one of the big themes

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 we'll carry through this sermon this morning.

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 It tells us

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 that there's more than one way

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 that you can be a slave.

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 More than one way

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 that you and I can be a slave.

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 Now, the Galatians,

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 remember,

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 we thought about this last week,

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 these guys,

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 the majority, I imagine,

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 would have grown up in a Gentile background,

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 knew nothing of the gods

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 of the Old Testament,

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 as it were.

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 Their former way of life

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 was chasing and spending themselves

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 worshiping idols.

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 Paul's called those idols

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 back at chapter four,

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 weak and miserable forces.

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 These things that they were chasing,

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 they were giving themselves

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 to pursuing,

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 thinking

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 that at some point,

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 if I keep on

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 giving myself to this,

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 it's going to be like

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 the pinata of my dreams,

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 that at some point,

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 I'm going to whack it

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 and all the goodies

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 are going to come

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 and fall on my head.

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 And that's what they thought.

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 But in the end,

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 all of those things

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 that they were giving themselves to

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 were just black holes

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 of emptiness

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 that were always leaving them

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 wanting more,

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 never satisfying,

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 never fulfilling.

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 And that's what an idol is.

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 We can look at this and think,

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 well, just miniature shrines,

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 perhaps that's one side of it.

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 The other side

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 is just something in our lives

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 that we worship

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 because we think

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 it's going to give us

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 the ultimate lasting thing.

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 Something that we give ourselves to

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 because we've been duped

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 into thinking

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 that if only we can get

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 our hands on that,

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 if only we manage to find

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 and get for ourselves that,

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 then we will be complete.

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 And the Bible says

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 the reality

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 is that even though

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 we think we are sipping

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 on martinis,

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 in actual fact, friends,

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 we're guzzling salt water.

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 You know that famous line

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 by John D. Rockefeller,

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 do you remember this line

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 that he gave,

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 richest American at the time?

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 How much money does it make

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 to make a man happy?

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 Just one more dollar.

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 Man who literally

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 had everything

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 and yet do those sound to you

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 like the words of a free man.

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 When we make a good thing,

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 friends,

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 when we make a good thing

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 into a God thing,

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 it is a recipe for disaster.

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 And Paul's saying

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 that God in Christ,

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 and this is

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 all of our stories,

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 isn't it?

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 He has saved us

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 out of that hollow

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 way of life.

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 Friends,

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 I dread to think

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 what my life would be

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 if Jesus hadn't

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 got involved.

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 The things that I would

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 be pursuing,

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 thinking that life

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 is all about these things.

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 He has saved us

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 out of that hollow

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 way of life,

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 out of slavery,

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 and he's saved us

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 to walk in freedom

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 as we know him.

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 To know Christ.

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 But here's the thing

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 that Paul perceives

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 that maybe the Galatians,

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 maybe we don't even

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 perceive it in our own lives.

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 They are in grave danger

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 of just swapping

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 one form of slavery

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 for another.

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 And Paul calls out

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 the issue

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 for the first time

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 in this letter.

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 He's going to dance

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 around it a little bit

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 named it.

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 But here he names it.

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 What is the thing?

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 It is circumcision.

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 That's the presenting issue.

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 Acts 15

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 gives us the mantra

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 of these false teachers.

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 Rocking up in Galatia,

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 this is what they're peddling.

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 Unless you are circumcised,

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 this is what they're saying,

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 according to the custom

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 taught by Moses,

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 you cannot be saved.

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 Do you see how ultimate

00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:22.779
 that is?

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 And Paul says,

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 if you adopt that

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 as your life thesis,

00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:29.240
 Galatians,

00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:30.240
 you are declaring

00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.679
 that what Jesus did

00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:33.200
 for us on the cross

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 wasn't wholly sufficient.

00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:38.799
 And allow that mindset

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 to slither in the door

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 of your life.

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 Verse 2.

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 See what he says.

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 Not only will Christ

00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:47.180
 be of no value to you,

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 but verse 3,

00:11:49.779 --> 00:11:50.579
 you'll find yourselves

00:11:50.579 --> 00:11:51.259
 in a place

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 where you'll need

00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:54.319
 to obey the whole law.

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 And he summarizes it

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 in verse 4.

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 And I always think

00:11:59.179 --> 00:11:59.979
 this is just like

00:11:59.979 --> 00:12:00.579
 the films

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 when you see

00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:03.379
 somebody just pull the pin

00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:04.059
 between the two

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 train carriages

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 and they just begin

00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:06.599
 to drift,

00:12:06.699 --> 00:12:08.059
 they become untethered.

00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:09.819
 Paul says,

00:12:09.939 --> 00:12:10.879
 you adopt this

00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:13.320
 and you'll be

00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:14.980
 detached,

00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:16.840
 alienated from Christ

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 and everything

00:12:17.500 --> 00:12:18.480
 that he's won for you,

00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:19.559
 everything that's yours

00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:20.320
 because of him,

00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:21.919
 it will no longer

00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:22.500
 be yours.

00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:26.840
 Now at this point

00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:27.299
 you may be thinking

00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:28.159
 one of two things.

00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:31.340
 Number one,

00:12:31.439 --> 00:12:32.000
 why is Paul

00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:33.100
 getting so worked up

00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:34.200
 over a minor male

00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:35.340
 surgical operation?

00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:38.379
 Surely there's

00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:39.500
 bigger fish to fry.

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.059
 Surely there's

00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:41.559
 bigger things

00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:42.340
 to go after.

00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.500
 Number two thing

00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:46.200
 you might be thinking,

00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:47.419
 honestly,

00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:48.759
 I just don't care.

00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:52.039
 A trivial

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.919
 first century

00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:54.240
 theological debate.

00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:54.980
 I gave up

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.919
 a Sunday morning

00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.519
 for this.

00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.720
 I gave up

00:12:57.720 --> 00:12:58.539
 a 10 o'clock

00:12:58.539 --> 00:12:58.860
 off,

00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:59.639
 10 o'clock

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.799
 tea off time

00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:01.320
 for this.

00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:02.419
 I gave up

00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:04.100
 watching Laura Kusenberg

00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:05.279
 on Sunday morning

00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:05.820
 television

00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:06.539
 for this.

00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:07.700
 Are you kidding me?

00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:10.460
 Friends,

00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.179
 here's why this

00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:11.820
 is so much

00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:12.460
 more relevant

00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:12.980
 than we might

00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:13.620
 think it is

00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.419
 at first glance.

00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.600
 In a sense,

00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:17.419
 the issue

00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.940
 isn't circumcision.

00:13:20.059 --> 00:13:21.019
 In a sense.

00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:22.879
 The issue

00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.980
 is why

00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:25.220
 these Galatians

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.559
 feel the need

00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:28.340
 to be circumcised

00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:29.200
 in the first place.

00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:30.200
 Christians

00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:31.440
 and Christian

00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.080
 or non-Christian,

00:13:32.180 --> 00:13:32.520
 it doesn't matter

00:13:32.520 --> 00:13:33.040
 who you are

00:13:33.040 --> 00:13:33.800
 here this morning,

00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:35.400
 you might be

00:13:35.400 --> 00:13:36.300
 tempted to think

00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:37.280
 this is how it

00:13:37.280 --> 00:13:38.060
 works when it

00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:38.720
 comes to how

00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:40.000
 we relate to

00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.400
 and live with

00:13:41.400 --> 00:13:42.480
 the God

00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.120
 of the universe.

00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:45.100
 And the umbrella

00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:46.180
 term for what

00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:46.980
 Paul is talking

00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:47.759
 about here

00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:50.660
 is legalism.

00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:53.320
 It is a mindset

00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:54.240
 that at its

00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:55.879
 core thinks

00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:57.159
 that we can

00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:57.759
 somehow

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.639
 win

00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.659
 God's

00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.439
 love,

00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:01.980
 earn

00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:02.539
 God's

00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:03.139
 favor

00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:04.659
 by our

00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:05.320
 performance.

00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:07.939
 And Paul

00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:08.279
 says,

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:08.879
 you swallow

00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.340
 that,

00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:09.679
 friends,

00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:10.000
 it is

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:10.639
 deadly.

00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:12.559
 And it's

00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:13.100
 not the

00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:13.500
 gospel.

00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:15.460
 And I

00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:15.899
 just want us

00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.320
 to see from

00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:16.840
 this passage

00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.580
 how legalism

00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:18.159
 does three

00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:18.939
 things to us.

00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:20.600
 And we've

00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:21.080
 got to ask

00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:21.379
 ourselves,

00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:21.620
 friends,

00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:22.440
 do we see

00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:23.240
 any of these

00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:23.720
 things

00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:25.279
 in our

00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:25.740
 lives?

00:14:29.040 --> 00:14:29.560
 And there's

00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:29.960
 three of these

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.160
 things.

00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:30.700
 The first one's

00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:31.120
 a lot longer

00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.600
 than the other

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:31.820
 two,

00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:32.240
 just so you

00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:32.700
 can hang

00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:33.019
 on in

00:14:33.019 --> 00:14:33.259
 there.

00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.320
 But let's

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:34.779
 ask ourselves,

00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:35.259
 do we see

00:14:35.259 --> 00:14:35.700
 any of these

00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:36.200
 three things

00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:36.440
 in our

00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:36.600
 lives?

00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:36.960
 Here's the

00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:37.420
 first thing

00:14:37.420 --> 00:14:37.940
 legalism

00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:38.279
 does.

00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:39.519
 It steals

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.540
 our assurance.

00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:42.200
 Steals

00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.000
 our assurance.

00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:43.960
 Have a look

00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:44.259
 at verse

00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.560
 five.

00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:44.960
 Come with

00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:45.200
 me.

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:48.680
 Paul's

00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:49.259
 telling us

00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:49.879
 there that as

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:50.460
 he lives

00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.279
 his life in

00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:51.920
 the present,

00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:53.819
 he does

00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:54.360
 so with

00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:54.899
 one eye

00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:55.179
 on his

00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:55.559
 future.

00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:56.120
 That's what

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:56.479
 he's saying.

00:14:57.599 --> 00:14:57.979
 Live my

00:14:57.979 --> 00:14:58.240
 life in

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.659
 the present

00:14:58.659 --> 00:14:59.539
 with one

00:14:59.539 --> 00:14:59.899
 eye on

00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:00.399
 the future.

00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:01.319
 And it

00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:01.719
 is his

00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:02.379
 confidence

00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.099
 about the

00:15:03.099 --> 00:15:03.379
 future,

00:15:03.479 --> 00:15:03.799
 just work

00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:03.979
 it the

00:15:03.979 --> 00:15:04.219
 other way

00:15:04.219 --> 00:15:04.500
 around,

00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:04.779
 his

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:05.259
 confidence

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:05.919
 about the

00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:06.199
 future

00:15:06.199 --> 00:15:06.659
 that gives

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.240
 purpose

00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.299
 and meaning

00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:09.860
 and rest

00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:11.439
 in his

00:15:11.439 --> 00:15:12.079
 presence.

00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:15.199
 So friends,

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:15.740
 if you seek

00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.159
 to earn

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:16.559
 your way

00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:16.980
 to God,

00:15:17.079 --> 00:15:17.480
 here's the

00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:17.939
 problem that

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:18.539
 you'll soon

00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:19.159
 encounter,

00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:21.860
 is that

00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:22.240
 you have

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.559
 no idea

00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:25.100
 whether what

00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:25.600
 you are

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.139
 doing and

00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:26.799
 how often

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:27.240
 you are

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:27.839
 doing it

00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:28.459
 is going

00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:28.980
 to be good

00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:29.399
 enough in

00:15:29.399 --> 00:15:29.759
 the end

00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.299
 for God.

00:15:31.339 --> 00:15:31.559
 You've

00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:31.839
 got no

00:15:31.839 --> 00:15:32.179
 idea.

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:32.819
 How do

00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:33.259
 you know?

00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:34.699
 How do

00:15:34.699 --> 00:15:35.079
 you know?

00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:37.959
 And this

00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:38.299
 is one of

00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:38.740
 the most

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.819
 unique features

00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:40.139
 of the

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:40.439
 Christian

00:15:40.439 --> 00:15:40.899
 faith.

00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:42.939
 There's a

00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:45.139
 guy that

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:45.480
 cuts my

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:45.980
 hair just

00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.559
 up the

00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.899
 road from

00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:48.139
 me,

00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:48.519
 cuts my

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.100
 hair every

00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:49.379
 time I

00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:49.700
 go in

00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:49.879
 there.

00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:51.540
 Always

00:15:51.540 --> 00:15:51.779
 have a

00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.120
 really good

00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:52.360
 chat.

00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:52.620
 He's from

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.000
 Iran.

00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:53.779
 Always

00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:53.960
 have a

00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:54.259
 really good

00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:54.560
 chat about

00:15:54.560 --> 00:15:55.139
 life and

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.720
 about kids.

00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:56.080
 He's about

00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:56.259
 to have

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:57.620
 his first

00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:57.980
 child.

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:58.360
 Always

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:58.620
 have a

00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.000
 chat about

00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.360
 things.

00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:00.220
 But every

00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:00.480
 time I

00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:00.720
 go in,

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:00.899
 I always

00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:01.139
 go in at

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:01.560
 nine o'clock

00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:01.960
 after the

00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:02.360
 school run,

00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:02.759
 go in and

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.180
 he cuts my

00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:03.500
 hair and

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:03.779
 he just

00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:04.279
 puts on

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:04.519
 the

00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.080
 television

00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:06.120
 the

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:06.639
 YouTube

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.320
 playlist

00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.360
 of the

00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:08.800
 Islamic

00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:09.259
 call to

00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:09.540
 prayer.

00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:11.240
 So I'm

00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:11.680
 listening to

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:11.840
 this.

00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.139
 It's always

00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.580
 dangerous.

00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:12.940
 You pick

00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:13.060
 your

00:16:13.060 --> 00:16:13.540
 conversation

00:16:13.540 --> 00:16:13.940
 when someone

00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:14.160
 is at

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:14.480
 your hair

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:14.699
 with

00:16:14.699 --> 00:16:15.100
 scissors.

00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.199
 But I

00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:16.779
 just ask

00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.139
 him this

00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:17.659
 time round,

00:16:17.719 --> 00:16:17.939
 I said,

00:16:18.319 --> 00:16:18.839
 listen mate,

00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:19.179
 can you

00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:19.959
 just translate

00:16:19.959 --> 00:16:20.339
 for me

00:16:20.339 --> 00:16:20.860
 what's being

00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:21.319
 said?

00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:23.419
 And he

00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:23.919
 listens to

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.240
 it for a

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:24.459
 minute and

00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:24.759
 here's what

00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.240
 he says.

00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:27.740
 The person

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.360
 is singing

00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:29.179
 and praying

00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:30.179
 that God

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:30.639
 would be

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.480
 merciful.

00:16:32.699 --> 00:16:33.259
 And then

00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:33.500
 he did

00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:33.799
 this.

00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:35.860
 Merciful,

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:36.759
 merciful,

00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:38.240
 merciful.

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:38.720
 And here's

00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.120
 the thing.

00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:41.360
 We want to

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:41.740
 ask our

00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:41.980
 Muslim

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.919
 friends is

00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.339
 how do

00:16:44.339 --> 00:16:44.740
 you know?

00:16:47.219 --> 00:16:47.879
 How do

00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.299
 you know?

00:16:50.219 --> 00:16:50.479
 Friends,

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:50.939
 we've come in

00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:51.279
 here this

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:51.500
 morning,

00:16:51.599 --> 00:16:52.079
 we've sang

00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:52.519
 about how

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.199
 Jesus has

00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:53.559
 done

00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:55.000
 everything.

00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:57.059
 He's done

00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:57.799
 everything.

00:16:59.199 --> 00:16:59.959
 How do

00:16:59.959 --> 00:17:00.519
 you know?

00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:00.819
 Friends,

00:17:01.099 --> 00:17:02.299
 assurance is

00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:03.199
 the birthright

00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:04.039
 of every

00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.000
 child of

00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.299
 God.

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.200
 And it

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:07.500
 changes

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.220
 everything

00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:08.799
 about how

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.440
 you live

00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.879
 the Christian

00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:11.839
 life.

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:11.879
 life.

00:17:13.639 --> 00:17:14.179
 Why is

00:17:14.179 --> 00:17:14.699
 Paul so

00:17:14.699 --> 00:17:15.599
 confident in

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.259
 contrast to

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:16.779
 my barber

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.199
 friend?

00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:18.119
 Why is

00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:18.480
 he so

00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.019
 eagerly

00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:19.740
 expectant

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.259
 about the

00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:20.699
 future?

00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.419
 Because the

00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:21.859
 righteous

00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:24.679
 verdict that

00:17:24.679 --> 00:17:25.419
 Christ has

00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:26.019
 won for

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:26.639
 him and

00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:27.519
 shares with

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.000
 him and

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:28.720
 he knows

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.259
 by faith

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.639
 now will

00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:31.500
 be visibly

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:33.099
 declared over

00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:34.319
 him by

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:34.799
 God the

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.359
 Father when

00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:36.299
 Christ returns.

00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:38.059
 The righteous

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:38.699
 verdict that we

00:17:38.699 --> 00:17:39.299
 have now that

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:40.179
 we are justified

00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:40.720
 because of

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.120
 what Jesus

00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:41.560
 has done

00:17:41.560 --> 00:17:42.160
 for us and

00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:42.880
 that alone

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.900
 is the

00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.620
 sure proof

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.560
 of the fact

00:17:45.560 --> 00:17:45.860
 that it will

00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:46.299
 be declared

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.000
 over us in

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.480
 the end when

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.220
 Christ returns.

00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:49.000
 What a day

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.700
 to have God

00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.519
 declare over

00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:50.860
 us not

00:17:50.860 --> 00:17:51.539
 because of a

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:52.340
 single thing

00:17:52.340 --> 00:17:52.779
 that we've

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.100
 done.

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.320
 You are

00:17:54.320 --> 00:17:55.019
 righteous.

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:56.880
 You are

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:58.080
 justified.

00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.460
 So we can

00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.460
 look confidently

00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.360
 towards that

00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:01.980
 day knowing

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:02.360
 that the

00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:03.080
 verdict is

00:18:03.080 --> 00:18:03.500
 coming.

00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:05.060
 It changes

00:18:05.060 --> 00:18:05.799
 everything about

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.299
 your Christian

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:06.980
 walk in life.

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:09.000
 I was

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.420
 listening to a

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.079
 great interview

00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:10.759
 recently with

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.420
 a man called

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:12.400
 John Lennox.

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.140
 Three things

00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:14.559
 about John

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:14.900
 Lennox.

00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.539
 Number one,

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.140
 he's the

00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:17.519
 emeritus,

00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:19.779
 professor of

00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:20.640
 mathematics at

00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:21.559
 Oxford University.

00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:22.279
 He's a

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:23.000
 Christian and

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.319
 he's now

00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:23.920
 81.

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.279
 So this

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:25.819
 interview was

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.460
 all about how

00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:28.140
 he is looking

00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:28.740
 forward to the

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:28.980
 future.

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.279
 What's he

00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:29.740
 thinking about?

00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.140
 How does he

00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:31.180
 finish this race

00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:31.519
 well?

00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:31.980
 And here's what

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:32.480
 he said and I

00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.039
 thought this was

00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.799
 fascinating.

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:35.360
 He said that

00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:36.120
 he looks at so

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:36.720
 many of his

00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:37.660
 peers and his

00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:38.299
 friends who

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:38.759
 are the same

00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.480
 age as him

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.920
 and about how

00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:41.900
 they're not

00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:42.579
 trusting in

00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:44.059
 Jesus and

00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:44.319
 how it's

00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:44.819
 beginning to

00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.400
 dawn on

00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:45.759
 them that

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.519
 all the

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.180
 accolades

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:47.579
 that they

00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.299
 have, all

00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:48.900
 the letters

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.539
 after their

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.799
 names, all

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.360
 the material

00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:52.180
 possessions that

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.100
 they have, all

00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:54.120
 the status and

00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:54.640
 comfort that

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:56.019
 they enjoy is

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:56.660
 going to one

00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:58.120
 day disappear.

00:18:59.240 --> 00:18:59.819
 And how in

00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:01.400
 their mindset

00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:02.180
 it is going

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.200
 from years

00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.100
 to months

00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:06.360
 to weeks

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.219
 to days

00:19:07.219 --> 00:19:08.259
 and their

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:08.879
 whole life

00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.819
 is shrinking

00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.419
 in front of

00:19:10.419 --> 00:19:10.979
 their eyes.

00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.099
 And he

00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:12.519
 said in

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.279
 contrast it

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:13.799
 feels like

00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:14.500
 my life is

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.240
 the opposite.

00:19:16.419 --> 00:19:16.979
 It feels

00:19:16.979 --> 00:19:17.359
 like because

00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:17.959
 I'm looking

00:19:17.959 --> 00:19:18.479
 at Jesus,

00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:18.859
 I'm getting

00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.459
 to know him

00:19:19.459 --> 00:19:20.000
 every day.

00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:21.679
 As my mental

00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:22.639
 faculties fade,

00:19:22.699 --> 00:19:23.059
 as everything

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:23.579
 else goes on

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:24.000
 in my life,

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.759
 my world is

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.579
 opening up

00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:29.059
 because I know

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:29.759
 what's ahead.

00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:31.519
 I eagerly

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.679
 await it,

00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:33.820
 that righteousness

00:19:33.820 --> 00:19:34.320
 that God

00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:34.840
 will declare

00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:35.340
 on me in

00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:35.680
 the end.

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.220
 My life

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:36.799
 feels like

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.320
 it's opening

00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:37.580
 up.

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:37.840
 And do you

00:19:37.840 --> 00:19:38.180
 know what?

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.259
 That's exactly

00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:39.840
 what assurance

00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:40.519
 does to us.

00:19:43.560 --> 00:19:44.539
 We can look

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.259
 ahead confidently

00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:46.920
 knowing that

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:48.000
 assurance is the

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.940
 rocket fuel of

00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:49.220
 hope.

00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.019
 Friends,

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.480
 don't let

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.480
 legalism steal

00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.299
 your assurance.

00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:54.779
 Here's the

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.480
 second thing it

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:55.799
 does.

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:57.140
 It dilutes

00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:58.200
 our love.

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.759
 Have a look

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.099
 at verse

00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:01.480
 six,

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:02.519
 where Paul

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:02.960
 essentially

00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.460
 says,

00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:03.900
 if I can

00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:05.039
 spin Shakespeare,

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.980
 to circumcise

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.500
 or not to

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.140
 circumcise,

00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:07.660
 that is not

00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.259
 the question.

00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:10.740
 He's saying

00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:11.400
 whatever route

00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.279
 you go down,

00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.400
 neither have

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.000
 the ability

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.720
 to change

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.160
 a life

00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:16.879
 because neither

00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:17.740
 have the power

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.500
 to truly

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.480
 transform a

00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.039
 human heart.

00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:20.379
 That's what

00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:20.839
 he's saying.

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:21.819
 It's not the

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:22.200
 issue.

00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.000
 But his

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.539
 gospel,

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.480
 Jesus alone,

00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:26.640
 it does

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.680
 because the

00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.319
 Holy Spirit

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:29.279
 impacts us

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.200
 in the deepest

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.140
 places and

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.660
 in the most

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.740
 profoundest

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.980
 of ways.

00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:34.539
 And how

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.000
 do you

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.660
 recognize

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:37.120
 a transformed

00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.620
 life?

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.360
 How can

00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:38.880
 you tell?

00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.120
 It's that

00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.620
 faith

00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.759
 expresses

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.500
 itself

00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:47.120
 in love.

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.019
 And we're

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.180
 going to

00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:50.460
 think a bit

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:50.819
 more about

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:52.519
 that next

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:52.819
 week.

00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:53.940
 Christ has

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.500
 saved us

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.880
 from something

00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:56.500
 but for

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:56.940
 something.

00:20:57.100 --> 00:20:57.660
 This is how

00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:58.080
 we're called

00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:58.660
 to live now,

00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.120
 by loving

00:20:59.120 --> 00:20:59.539
 each other.

00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.159
 But what

00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:00.519
 does a

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.200
 legalistic

00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.639
 mindset

00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:02.379
 do when

00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:02.680
 it comes

00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:03.079
 to how

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:03.619
 we relate

00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.099
 to other

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:04.559
 people?

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.920
 Think about

00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.139
 it.

00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:07.819
 It's about

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.339
 us earning.

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:09.220
 It's about

00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:10.220
 us doing.

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:12.720
 We're no

00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:12.940
 longer

00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:13.720
 interested in

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.399
 serving people.

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.420
 Actually,

00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.119
 we're interested

00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:17.740
 in beating

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.240
 people.

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.200
 They've not

00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.720
 done what?

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:24.639
 They're

00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.200
 associating

00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:25.559
 with who?

00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.480
 They're

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:27.759
 struggling

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.359
 with that?

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:31.000
 I'm

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.339
 better than

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:31.639
 that.

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.299
 And we

00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:34.700
 begin to

00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:34.940
 subtly

00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.259
 promote

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.599
 ourselves

00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:35.879
 to the

00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:36.240
 position

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.799
 of judge

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.480
 and jury

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.019
 or the

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:38.779
 flip might

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.119
 happen.

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:39.740
 We look

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.200
 at people

00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:40.940
 and it

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:41.359
 becomes a

00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:41.920
 competition.

00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:42.899
 I'm not

00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.299
 as good

00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:43.899
 as them.

00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.480
 I need

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:45.799
 to live

00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.119
 up to

00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:46.740
 so-and-so.

00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:47.339
 I need

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:47.659
 to live

00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:47.960
 for the

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.519
 approval

00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:48.839
 of them.

00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.079
 I need

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.319
 to get

00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.059
 in with

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.700
 that group.

00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.039
 And you

00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:51.339
 see what

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:51.720
 it does?

00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.339
 Legalism

00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:52.940
 slowly

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:54.440
 begins to

00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:54.920
 dilute

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.920
 our love

00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.519
 and neither

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:56.940
 of those

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.560
 things are

00:21:57.560 --> 00:21:58.200
 us living

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.620
 in the

00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.180
 freedom

00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:00.740
 that Jesus

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.240
 has won

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.940
 for us.

00:22:04.820 --> 00:22:05.380
 Whereas

00:22:05.380 --> 00:22:05.740
 when we

00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.120
 get that

00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:06.400
 Jesus

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:07.380
 has saved

00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:07.800
 us

00:22:07.800 --> 00:22:09.660
 by grace

00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:09.980
 alone

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.340
 and we

00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:11.039
 are secure

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.420
 in that

00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:11.800
 we will

00:22:11.800 --> 00:22:12.600
 live a

00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.300
 life of

00:22:13.300 --> 00:22:14.440
 serving

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:14.920
 others

00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.259
 the one

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:15.580
 that God

00:22:15.580 --> 00:22:16.019
 has called

00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.460
 us to.

00:22:17.600 --> 00:22:18.180
 Faith

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:18.720
 expressing

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.220
 itself

00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.720
 in love.

00:22:20.840 --> 00:22:21.259
 And the

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.740
 third thing

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.019
 that it

00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.279
 does,

00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:22.940
 legalism,

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:23.960
 friends,

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.779
 it stifles

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.420
 our joy.

00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.160
 You see

00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:28.480
 what Paul

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:28.799
 says at

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.240
 verse 8

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.519
 there?

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.279
 He wants

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:30.880
 the Galatians

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.279
 to see

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.640
 that this

00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.599
 persuasion,

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:35.960
 this argument

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.859
 is not

00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:38.740
 from God.

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.559
 But notice

00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.160
 what he

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:42.019
 calls God

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.359
 there.

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.460
 He calls

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:43.940
 God the

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.740
 one who

00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:46.019
 called

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.339
 them.

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:47.880
 And that

00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.220
 is a

00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:48.620
 reference

00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:49.220
 to the

00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.000
 unmerited

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.620
 favor

00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.739
 of the

00:22:51.739 --> 00:22:52.519
 God who

00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.339
 wrote our

00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.039
 names in

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:54.699
 his book

00:22:54.699 --> 00:22:55.559
 of life

00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:56.639
 before the

00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:57.399
 foundation of

00:22:57.399 --> 00:22:57.939
 the world.

00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:00.159
 And who

00:23:00.159 --> 00:23:01.019
 called us

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.919
 in time

00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:03.359
 as he

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:03.879
 sent his

00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.359
 son who

00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:04.839
 died for

00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:05.219
 our sin,

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.699
 who rose

00:23:05.699 --> 00:23:06.039
 again,

00:23:06.239 --> 00:23:06.679
 he sent

00:23:06.679 --> 00:23:07.039
 his spirit,

00:23:07.159 --> 00:23:07.879
 he called

00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.419
 us in

00:23:08.419 --> 00:23:08.939
 time on

00:23:08.939 --> 00:23:09.639
 his terms,

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.359
 not ours.

00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:13.979
 And the

00:23:13.979 --> 00:23:14.619
 initiative in

00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.299
 salvation was

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:16.719
 all of

00:23:16.719 --> 00:23:17.379
 God's.

00:23:19.739 --> 00:23:20.259
 And Paul's

00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:20.859
 concerned that

00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:21.319
 the Jesus

00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:21.920
 plus what

00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.299
 we do

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.079
 ethic is

00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:23.319
 going to

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:23.839
 work its

00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.259
 way through

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.000
 their lives.

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:25.660
 Do you see

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.099
 the image

00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:26.640
 there again

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.119
 like a bit

00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:27.579
 of yeast

00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.039
 spreads

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.119
 through and

00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:29.599
 eventually

00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.640
 dominates the

00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.579
 entire batch

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.259
 of dough.

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.640
 We might

00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:35.220
 think it's a

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:35.759
 little thing,

00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.779
 but you take

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.500
 this mindset

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.460
 and it begins

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.680
 to permeate

00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.799
 everything.

00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.539
 Because

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.279
 legalism's

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.000
 default mode

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.379
 is

00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:47.059
 tick

00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:47.400
 box.

00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:50.259
 if I

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.880
 do this,

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.280
 then God

00:23:51.280 --> 00:23:51.820
 will somehow

00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.820
 be happier

00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:53.540
 with me

00:23:53.540 --> 00:23:54.600
 than if I

00:23:54.600 --> 00:23:55.420
 don't do

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:55.900
 this.

00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:58.820
 Whether

00:23:58.820 --> 00:23:59.100
 it's

00:23:59.100 --> 00:23:59.680
 prayer,

00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:00.220
 whether it's

00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.820
 attendance,

00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:01.580
 whether it's

00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:02.160
 serving,

00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:02.900
 whether it's

00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:03.640
 even our

00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:05.140
 Bible reading.

00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:06.620
 Friends,

00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:06.880
 they're all

00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.980
 wonderful things,

00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:08.460
 but if we

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.140
 think that

00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:10.220
 by doing

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:10.620
 them we

00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.120
 are somehow

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:12.180
 earning God's

00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:12.700
 love or his

00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.480
 favor like he

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.220
 looks on us

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:15.840
 disapprovingly

00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:16.420
 if we somehow

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:16.960
 have a bad

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.480
 night's sleep

00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:17.880
 and we

00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:18.640
 miss it.

00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:19.480
 Do you

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:19.779
 see how

00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:21.100
 subtly we

00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:22.640
 can slip

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.420
 into

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:25.220
 legalism's

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:25.620
 mindset?

00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:29.059
 How easy

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:30.380
 delight in

00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:31.120
 the channels

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.620
 of grace,

00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:32.319
 the way God

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.759
 blesses us

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.019
 and we

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.960
 receive delight

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.400
 for our

00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:35.980
 souls can

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.600
 drift

00:24:36.600 --> 00:24:37.860
 into

00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:38.519
 duty.

00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:41.620
 You know,

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.140
 that's one of

00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.160
 my favorite

00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.799
 Bible in a

00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:44.819
 year plans

00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.340
 that I do.

00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:45.900
 Many of you

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.840
 might do

00:24:46.840 --> 00:24:47.240
 this one

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.640
 as well

00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.320
 is by

00:24:48.320 --> 00:24:48.740
 a Scottish

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.420
 pastor from

00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.060
 years and

00:24:50.060 --> 00:24:50.440
 years ago

00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.060
 called Robert

00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.420
 Murray

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:51.980
 McShane.

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:52.640
 He does

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.120
 this Bible

00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:53.400
 in a

00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:53.620
 year

00:24:53.620 --> 00:24:56.019
 program and

00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.500
 it's a

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.040
 wonderful thing

00:24:57.040 --> 00:24:57.480
 to try and

00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:57.800
 read the

00:24:57.800 --> 00:24:58.220
 Bible and

00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:58.900
 get scripture

00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.720
 into our

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.140
 systems,

00:25:00.280 --> 00:25:00.640
 but here's

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:00.920
 what he

00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.720
 perceived.

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.380
 You can

00:25:02.380 --> 00:25:02.700
 read the

00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.080
 quote on

00:25:03.080 --> 00:25:03.580
 the screen.

00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:04.420
 Being a

00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.100
 good pastor

00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:05.700
 of people,

00:25:05.820 --> 00:25:06.280
 a student

00:25:06.280 --> 00:25:06.640
 of the

00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.340
 human heart,

00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.440
 is that he

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:08.980
 always wrote

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.519
 this in his

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.480
 preface to

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.040
 his much

00:25:11.040 --> 00:25:11.580
 loved and

00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:12.340
 used plan.

00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:12.759
 Do you see

00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:12.960
 it?

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.960
 He writes,

00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.640
 some may

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.799
 find conscience

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.880
 dragging them

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:18.440
 through the

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.700
 appointed task

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:21.000
 without any

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.860
 relish of the

00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:22.640
 heavenly food.

00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:24.940
 If this be the

00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.779
 case with any,

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.100
 throw aside the

00:25:27.100 --> 00:25:28.819
 fetter and

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.799
 feed it liberty

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.720
 in the sweet

00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.720
 garden of God.

00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:33.700
 And here's the

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.019
 line,

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.980
 my desire is

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.960
 not to cast

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.539
 a snare

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.420
 upon you,

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:40.619
 but to be a

00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.700
 helper of your

00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:43.039
 joy.

00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.460
 Friends,

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.180
 we come to

00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:47.779
 God's word

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:49.019
 not as a

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:51.379
 duty,

00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:54.400
 but as a

00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.980
 child desperately

00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.619
 needing to

00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:57.440
 hear the

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.639
 voice of the

00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.359
 father who

00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:00.079
 loves us.

00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.619
 And as a

00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:02.139
 deep sea

00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:03.019
 diver going

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.819
 in search

00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.759
 of pearls,

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.099
 do you see

00:26:06.099 --> 00:26:06.759
 the difference?

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.480
 Paul's

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:11.940
 telling them

00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:12.799
 there's more

00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.379
 than one way

00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:13.859
 to be a

00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.200
 slave.

00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:16.019
 More than

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.519
 one way to

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:16.980
 be a slave.

00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.279
 And of

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.500
 course,

00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:17.720
 if you

00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.220
 think about

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.480
 it,

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.119
 it's

00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:21.900
 exactly the

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:23.220
 strapline to

00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.240
 the parable

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.539
 of the

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:24.940
 prodigal

00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.240
 son.

00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:26.680
 You ever

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.000
 thought about

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.259
 that?

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.639
 Which really

00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.019
 should be

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:30.279
 called the

00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:31.099
 parable of

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.680
 the seeking

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.099
 father,

00:26:32.099 --> 00:26:32.679
 but we'll

00:26:32.679 --> 00:26:33.019
 run with

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.179
 it.

00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:33.939
 The parable

00:26:33.939 --> 00:26:34.219
 of the

00:26:34.219 --> 00:26:34.619
 prodigal

00:26:34.619 --> 00:26:35.019
 son.

00:26:35.179 --> 00:26:35.419
 You know

00:26:35.419 --> 00:26:36.000
 the story?

00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:36.639
 Son number

00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:37.299
 one, Luke

00:26:37.299 --> 00:26:38.859
 15, runs

00:26:38.859 --> 00:26:39.980
 away, parties

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.539
 hard.

00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:41.799
 Dad, I want

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.219
 your money,

00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:42.799
 not you,

00:26:42.959 --> 00:26:43.319
 believing that

00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:43.659
 the good

00:26:43.659 --> 00:26:44.240
 life is to

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.699
 be found

00:26:44.699 --> 00:26:45.399
 away from

00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:45.980
 the father.

00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:47.379
 That's one

00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:47.980
 form of

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.559
 slavery.

00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:50.079
 But son

00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.839
 number two,

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:51.759
 in that

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.559
 parable, where

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.199
 is son number

00:26:53.199 --> 00:26:53.659
 two the

00:26:53.659 --> 00:26:54.399
 whole time?

00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:56.740
 He's at

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.119
 home.

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.219
 But son

00:27:00.219 --> 00:27:00.659
 number one

00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.200
 returns.

00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.000
 He's shown

00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.560
 incredible

00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:03.920
 grace and

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.740
 it comes

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.200
 out of

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.700
 son number

00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:08.160
 two, the

00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:09.380
 words, I've

00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.300
 been slaving

00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:11.360
 for you this

00:27:11.360 --> 00:27:12.120
 whole time.

00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:13.720
 In other

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.040
 words, I

00:27:14.040 --> 00:27:14.740
 deserve you

00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.279
 love, I

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:15.860
 deserve your

00:27:15.860 --> 00:27:16.519
 favor because

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.420
 I've worked

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:18.080
 for it.

00:27:18.300 --> 00:27:18.779
 And in the

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.400
 sting of the

00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:20.180
 parable is

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:20.900
 that both

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:22.860
 sons miss

00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:23.759
 the father.

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:23.799
 father.

00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:27.420
 It's just

00:27:27.420 --> 00:27:27.960
 another form

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.420
 of slavery.

00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:31.000
 What's the

00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.839
 solution then?

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.279
 We're going to

00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.640
 think more

00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:33.119
 about this in

00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:33.559
 the weeks to

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:33.759
 come.

00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.539
 The solution

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.740
 is not to

00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.960
 just try

00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.720
 really hard,

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.440
 the opposite

00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:38.960
 of which is

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.700
 just try not

00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:40.420
 really hard.

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.160
 Neither of

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.619
 those things

00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:42.140
 miss it.

00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:44.539
 To be

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.519
 completely

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.519
 secure in

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.200
 the fact that

00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:47.879
 Jesus has

00:27:47.879 --> 00:27:48.599
 done it all

00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.099
 for us,

00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:49.400
 to be

00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:49.980
 completely

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:51.920
 secure in

00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:52.580
 who he

00:27:52.580 --> 00:27:53.200
 is and

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.759
 his love

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.460
 for us.

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:55.940
 That's what

00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.660
 transforms it.

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:58.960
 Paul says

00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.240
 you were

00:27:59.240 --> 00:27:59.940
 running well,

00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:00.700
 take no

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.680
 other view.

00:28:03.800 --> 00:28:04.680
 It's not

00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:05.500
 too late

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:07.800
 for you to

00:28:07.800 --> 00:28:08.560
 say no to

00:28:08.560 --> 00:28:09.440
 legalism and

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.300
 get back to

00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:11.480
 reveling in

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:11.980
 who Jesus

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.580
 is and your

00:28:12.580 --> 00:28:13.160
 unity to

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.400
 him.

00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:15.880
 And let

00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:16.440
 God remind

00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:16.880
 us in his

00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:17.620
 word today

00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:19.759
 as we see

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.440
 Paul writing

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.180
 here at

00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.580
 verse

00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.179
 11,

00:28:23.699 --> 00:28:25.079
 that the

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.779
 cross will

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.419
 always be

00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:26.980
 an offense

00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.319
 to the

00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:27.619
 world.

00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:30.859
 Why?

00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.779
 Because it

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.319
 took the

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.500
 real death

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:35.960
 of the

00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.699
 real Son

00:28:36.699 --> 00:28:37.179
 of God

00:28:37.179 --> 00:28:37.639
 on a

00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.419
 real Roman

00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:39.139
 cross to

00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:39.559
 deal with

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:41.019
 my real

00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.480
 sin.

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:43.759
 The cross

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.699
 declares to

00:28:44.699 --> 00:28:45.559
 us that we

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.419
 need a

00:28:46.419 --> 00:28:46.919
 saviour,

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.240
 no matter

00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.960
 how good

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.399
 you think

00:28:48.399 --> 00:28:48.939
 you are,

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:49.639
 no matter

00:28:49.639 --> 00:28:50.159
 what you

00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:50.539
 try and

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:50.879
 do with

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.560
 your positive

00:28:51.560 --> 00:28:52.200
 mindset,

00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.520
 the cross

00:28:53.520 --> 00:28:55.120
 declares in

00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:56.820
 history that

00:28:56.820 --> 00:28:57.460
 you and I

00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.400
 cannot deal

00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:59.260
 with our

00:28:59.260 --> 00:29:00.340
 sin on

00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:01.280
 our own.

00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.360
 And if we

00:29:02.360 --> 00:29:03.720
 try and do

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.640
 so outwith of

00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.560
 Jesus, the

00:29:05.560 --> 00:29:06.480
 wrath of God

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.340
 remains on

00:29:07.340 --> 00:29:07.500
 us.

00:29:07.580 --> 00:29:08.380
 The cross

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.720
 says no

00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.380
 matter what

00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:11.180
 you're doing,

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.860
 no matter how

00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:13.660
 religious you

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:15.620
 feel, you

00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:17.580
 need a

00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.200
 saviour.

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:21.799
 and to

00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:22.380
 some that

00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:22.840
 will be the

00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:23.299
 smell of

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:23.620
 death.

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:23.920
 There will

00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.460
 have anything

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.160
 to do with

00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.559
 that, but

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.259
 to others

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:26.620
 do you

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.279
 see how

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:27.840
 the fact

00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:29.240
 the cross

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.580
 is the

00:29:29.580 --> 00:29:30.340
 very place

00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:30.720
 where we

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.500
 find forgiveness

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.080
 in life,

00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:32.580
 if only we

00:29:32.580 --> 00:29:33.019
 will humble

00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.600
 ourselves.

00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:36.660
 So let's

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.019
 not be

00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:37.640
 surprised.

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:38.740
 I always

00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.240
 find it in my

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.980
 conversations with

00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.380
 people, you

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:40.980
 can talk about

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.920
 God, everyone's

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.539
 happy with that,

00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.180
 but you start

00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:43.740
 talking about

00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.640
 Jesus and

00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.319
 things get a

00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:45.779
 little bit more

00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.339
 frosty.

00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:48.420
 And this text

00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.140
 tells you why.

00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.819
 You need a

00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.220
 saviour.

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.880
 You need a

00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:56.140
 saviour.

00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:56.579
 And I think

00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.200
 that's what is

00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:58.220
 going on, if

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.359
 you were

00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:58.839
 hanging in

00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.140
 there for

00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:01.000
 this, with

00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.880
 the emasculate

00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:02.519
 language there,

00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.039
 just in case

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.559
 you're wondering.

00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:05.779
 Right at the

00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.019
 end there.

00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.480
 Now Paul's

00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.059
 playing on the

00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.559
 circumcision

00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.539
 language clearly.

00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:09.259
 You're thinking,

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:09.779
 has the guy

00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.480
 lost the plot?

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:10.900
 Is he just

00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:11.299
 having an

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:11.819
 outburst of

00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.099
 anger,

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.620
 frustration?

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.160
 What's going

00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.620
 on here?

00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.180
 I think

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.339
 there's

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:14.559
 something

00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.120
 deeper going

00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:15.559
 on here.

00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:17.900
 In line

00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:18.299
 of that

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.380
 chain of

00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:19.799
 thought about

00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.259
 needing a

00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:20.640
 saviour.

00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.319
 To

00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:24.099
 emasculate

00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:25.480
 oneself, to

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:26.120
 remove the

00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:26.960
 male genitals,

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.299
 would in

00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:30.559
 effect be

00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:31.240
 to become a

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.660
 eunuch.

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.599
 And the

00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:35.319
 law stated,

00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:36.279
 and remember

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:36.839
 these guys are

00:30:36.839 --> 00:30:37.359
 all about the

00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.380
 law, keeping

00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:38.960
 the law,

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.039
 the law

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.980
 stated that a

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.420
 eunuch was

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.900
 someone who

00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:42.539
 was prohibited

00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.299
 from entering

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:43.940
 the assembly

00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.279
 of the

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:44.539
 Lord.

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.960
 So to

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.539
 become a

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.039
 eunuch, if

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.399
 they were to

00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:48.700
 go the

00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.440
 whole hog,

00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.139
 law keepers

00:30:50.139 --> 00:30:50.480
 that they

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.559
 are, it

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.240
 would become

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.599
 obvious to

00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.279
 them, physically

00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:55.279
 obvious to

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:57.259
 them, and

00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.859
 to everyone

00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:58.240
 who was

00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:58.940
 looking on,

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.700
 that they

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.259
 were not

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.079
 inside,

00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:05.039
 but they

00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.919
 were outside

00:31:05.919 --> 00:31:07.940
 the presence

00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:09.539
 of God.

00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:12.960
 And they

00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.640
 would see

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:15.779
 that they

00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:18.000
 need a

00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.440
 saviour.

00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:22.500
 So let me

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:22.900
 just try and

00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:23.279
 land this,

00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:23.759
 friends, just

00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.039
 as we

00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.460
 close.

00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:27.799
 You know,

00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.240
 just a few

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:28.700
 years back,

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:28.900
 I remember

00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.420
 Alex and I

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:29.799
 had a few

00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.259
 nights away

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.580
 in North

00:31:31.580 --> 00:31:32.019
 Queensfield,

00:31:32.120 --> 00:31:32.380
 just the

00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:32.759
 other side

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:32.980
 of the

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:33.299
 bridge.

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:35.279
 And for

00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:35.659
 the first

00:31:35.659 --> 00:31:35.960
 time in

00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:36.480
 our life,

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:39.000
 we walked

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:39.740
 across the

00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:40.279
 fourth road

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.579
 bridge.

00:31:40.659 --> 00:31:40.799
 You ever

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.240
 done that?

00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.139
 Walked across

00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:42.500
 the fourth

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:42.980
 road bridge a

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.519
 lot, lot

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:43.980
 longer than

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.319
 I thought

00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:44.700
 it was going

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:44.879
 to be.

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.139
 I thought

00:31:45.139 --> 00:31:45.339
 we'd be

00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:45.680
 there and

00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.039
 back in

00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.359
 an hour.

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.639
 Boy, was

00:31:47.639 --> 00:31:48.039
 I wrong.

00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:49.980
 They've

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.359
 closed down

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:50.700
 that bridge

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.419
 to cars,

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:51.839
 haven't they?

00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:52.039
 And you

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.500
 begin to

00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.079
 walk over

00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:53.500
 it and you

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.579
 understand why.

00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:56.019
 Because it's

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.700
 only open to

00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:57.359
 lorries now.

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:57.839
 And we were

00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:58.519
 walking along

00:31:58.519 --> 00:31:59.379
 this bridge and

00:31:59.379 --> 00:31:59.619
 it was a

00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:00.200
 really peaceful

00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.879
 experience,

00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:01.899
 but every so

00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:02.419
 often a

00:32:02.419 --> 00:32:02.799
 lorry would

00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.480
 come past.

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.500
 And it

00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.200
 felt like

00:32:05.200 --> 00:32:05.579
 the whole

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.059
 bridge was

00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:06.419
 shaking.

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.059
 And we

00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:09.539
 turned around

00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.000
 thinking there

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.299
 was this

00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.299
 kind of

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.079
 horde of

00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:12.599
 buses that

00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:12.940
 were coming

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.220
 at the

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:13.559
 back and

00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:13.859
 we turned

00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.220
 around and

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.559
 see this

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:14.879
 little

00:32:14.879 --> 00:32:15.279
 minivan.

00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:18.419
 And all

00:32:18.419 --> 00:32:18.599
 of a sudden

00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:19.019
 you realise

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:20.159
 why they

00:32:20.159 --> 00:32:21.019
 felt the

00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.500
 need to

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.119
 build this

00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:22.980
 new bridge

00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.659
 for all

00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:24.480
 the traffic.

00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.519
 And that

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:25.980
 new bridge

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.319
 you'll see

00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:26.680
 on the

00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.139
 screen is

00:32:27.139 --> 00:32:27.460
 joined

00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.079
 together by

00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:28.940
 three big

00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:29.419
 stone

00:32:29.419 --> 00:32:29.899
 towers.

00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:31.279
 And if

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:31.700
 you're like

00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.059
 me and

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.619
 you're geeky,

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.059
 you go on

00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:33.519
 the bridges

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.239
 website,

00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:34.759
 what you

00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.419
 will read

00:32:35.419 --> 00:32:36.359
 is that

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:36.839
 to get

00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:37.579
 those towers

00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:38.559
 in place,

00:32:38.699 --> 00:32:39.559
 they drilled,

00:32:40.719 --> 00:32:41.759
 pumped concrete

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.599
 down underneath

00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.359
 that bridge,

00:32:43.439 --> 00:32:43.859
 getting those

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.479
 things in

00:32:44.479 --> 00:32:44.779
 place,

00:32:44.819 --> 00:32:45.019
 and it

00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.379
 took them

00:32:45.379 --> 00:32:46.959
 15 days

00:32:46.959 --> 00:32:48.919
 of drilling,

00:32:49.419 --> 00:32:50.599
 of making

00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.119
 sure the

00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:52.119
 foundations were

00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:52.459
 right,

00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.039
 because they

00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:53.899
 knew that

00:32:53.899 --> 00:32:54.239
 when the

00:32:54.239 --> 00:32:54.919
 wind comes,

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.359
 and boy,

00:32:55.419 --> 00:32:55.699
 does it

00:32:55.699 --> 00:32:56.419
 come if you

00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:56.919
 cross that

00:32:56.919 --> 00:32:57.219
 bridge,

00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:57.579
 and the

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.619
 storms come,

00:32:58.619 --> 00:32:59.439
 and the

00:32:59.439 --> 00:32:59.859
 ice

00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.379
 gathers,

00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:01.219
 and when

00:33:01.219 --> 00:33:01.899
 the waves

00:33:01.899 --> 00:33:02.679
 batter it,

00:33:02.739 --> 00:33:03.119
 and as the

00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:04.119
 traffic rallies

00:33:04.119 --> 00:33:04.819
 across it,

00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:05.539
 the bridge is

00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.139
 only going to

00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:06.639
 be able to

00:33:06.639 --> 00:33:08.159
 stand against

00:33:08.159 --> 00:33:08.819
 what comes

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.459
 against it,

00:33:09.459 --> 00:33:09.819
 if it's

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.719
 built on

00:33:10.719 --> 00:33:12.959
 a solid

00:33:12.959 --> 00:33:14.539
 foundation.

00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:19.220
 And this

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:19.859
 is our

00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:21.059
 foundation as

00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:21.720
 believers.

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:24.859
 Justification

00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:26.200
 by faith

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:26.599
 alone.

00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.920
 Jesus has

00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:29.519
 done it

00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.240
 all.

00:33:30.899 --> 00:33:31.460
 Foundation.

00:33:33.899 --> 00:33:34.460
 Grace

00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:34.819
 alone,

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:35.539
 faith

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:35.899
 alone,

00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:36.599
 Christ

00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:36.859
 alone,

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:37.279
 and the

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.680
 thing is,

00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.500
 all sorts

00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:38.940
 of things

00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:39.359
 will come

00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:39.680
 at us

00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:40.200
 in life.

00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:42.940
 I've done

00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.279
 this job

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.759
 long enough

00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:43.940
 now,

00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:45.380
 with some

00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:45.640
 of you

00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:45.920
 through the

00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:46.820
 most horrific

00:33:46.820 --> 00:33:47.559
 of things.

00:33:49.840 --> 00:33:50.360
 Illness,

00:33:50.580 --> 00:33:51.299
 bereavement,

00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.340
 redundancy,

00:33:52.640 --> 00:33:53.019
 recess,

00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:54.100
 disappointment,

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.140
 persecution,

00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:55.860
 relational

00:33:55.860 --> 00:33:56.799
 breakdowns,

00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:57.680
 all of these

00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.039
 things will

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.559
 come at us.

00:33:58.600 --> 00:33:58.840
 We're not

00:33:58.840 --> 00:33:59.480
 promised a

00:33:59.480 --> 00:33:59.920
 pain-free

00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:00.460
 life when

00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:00.840
 we follow

00:34:00.840 --> 00:34:01.259
 Jesus,

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.400
 but if we

00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.360
 build our

00:34:03.360 --> 00:34:04.900
 lives here,

00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:06.980
 if we

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:08.019
 stand firm

00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:09.000
 on this,

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.760
 in the

00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:10.159
 end,

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:10.960
 Christ the

00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.740
 solid rock,

00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:12.139
 friends,

00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:13.079
 we will

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:13.500
 be

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.739
 standing.

00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:18.519
 And so

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:19.440
 Paul says,

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.679
 verse 2,

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:21.420
 mark my

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:21.719
 words,

00:34:21.820 --> 00:34:22.219
 there's the

00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:22.539
 warning,

00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:23.300
 but here's

00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:23.940
 the imperative,

00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.420
 stand

00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:28.039
 firm then.

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:30.519
 Remember your

00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.000
 foundation,

00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:31.840
 stand firm

00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:32.139
 then,

00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:32.880
 and do

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.500
 not let

00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.039
 yourselves

00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:35.199
 be burdened

00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:35.639
 again

00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:37.719
 by a

00:34:37.719 --> 00:34:38.139
 yoke

00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:40.159
 of slavery.

00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:41.119
 let me

00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.420
 pray.

00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.199
 And so

00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:46.399
 Father,

00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:46.879
 we thank

00:34:46.879 --> 00:34:47.199
 you so

00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:47.799
 much today

00:34:47.799 --> 00:34:48.139
 that we

00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:48.619
 have your

00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:49.039
 ear,

00:34:49.839 --> 00:34:50.799
 we have

00:34:50.799 --> 00:34:51.579
 your heart,

00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:53.339
 because we

00:34:53.339 --> 00:34:53.940
 come to

00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.359
 you in the

00:34:54.359 --> 00:34:54.659
 name of

00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:54.960
 Jesus.

00:34:56.759 --> 00:34:57.099
 And so

00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:57.399
 Lord, I

00:34:57.399 --> 00:34:58.000
 pray that as

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:58.420
 your word has

00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:58.980
 gone forth

00:34:58.980 --> 00:34:59.420
 today,

00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.719
 Father, I

00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.480
 pray that your

00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.099
 spirit would

00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:03.699
 be bringing

00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:05.339
 challenge,

00:35:06.279 --> 00:35:06.779
 would he be

00:35:06.779 --> 00:35:07.659
 bringing comfort,

00:35:07.659 --> 00:35:09.259
 would he be

00:35:09.259 --> 00:35:09.980
 bringing a

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.920
 greater view

00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:11.239
 of the

00:35:11.239 --> 00:35:11.799
 sweetness of

00:35:11.799 --> 00:35:12.519
 Jesus and

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.159
 the assurance

00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:13.699
 that we

00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:14.500
 now enjoy

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.699
 and have

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:17.139
 in him.

00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:19.460
 So Father, I

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:19.879
 thank you that

00:35:19.879 --> 00:35:20.719
 your spirit is a

00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.239
 much better

00:35:21.239 --> 00:35:22.059
 pastor than I

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.599
 could ever

00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.299
 hope to be.

00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:24.139
 And so I

00:35:24.139 --> 00:35:24.759
 pray that he

00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.059
 would be

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:26.179
 applying this

00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:26.980
 truth today

00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:29.199
 right down

00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:29.719
 into our

00:35:29.719 --> 00:35:30.239
 souls,

00:35:30.899 --> 00:35:31.399
 into the

00:35:31.399 --> 00:35:32.119
 places where

00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.579
 we need to

00:35:32.579 --> 00:35:33.199
 hear this.

00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:33.879
 Thank you,

00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:34.460
 Lord, that

00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.759
 your word is

00:35:35.759 --> 00:35:36.420
 a solid

00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:37.119
 foundation

00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:37.239
 foundation.

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.019
 Thank you

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.719
 that you

00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:39.179
 tell us

00:35:39.179 --> 00:35:39.480
 things that

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:39.779
 we just

00:35:39.779 --> 00:35:40.019
 wouldn't

00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:40.480
 believe are

00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:40.880
 true if

00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.199
 it weren't

00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:41.599
 the case,

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:41.880
 that you

00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:42.400
 have spoken

00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:42.819
 them over

00:35:42.819 --> 00:35:43.460
 our lives.

00:35:45.819 --> 00:35:46.059
 And so

00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:46.440
 Father, we

00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:47.019
 pray that as

00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:47.639
 we finish our

00:35:47.639 --> 00:35:48.119
 time here

00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:49.900
 today, that

00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.339
 what we've

00:35:50.339 --> 00:35:51.000
 gazed at this

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.480
 morning and

00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:52.059
 what we'll

00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:53.019
 build towards

00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:53.639
 as we work

00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:54.099
 towards the

00:35:54.099 --> 00:35:54.500
 end of this

00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.000
 letter would

00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:55.799
 resonate in

00:35:55.799 --> 00:35:56.319
 our minds

00:35:56.319 --> 00:35:56.739
 and our

00:35:56.739 --> 00:35:57.059
 hearts.

00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:57.559
 Thank you

00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:57.900
 that in

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:59.119
 Jesus we

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.239
 can say

00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:01.019
 confidently

00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:02.079
 that we

00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.940
 are eagerly

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:04.000
 awaiting the

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.359
 future.

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:06.179
 Father, thank

00:36:06.179 --> 00:36:06.519
 you for your

00:36:06.519 --> 00:36:06.980
 love for us.

00:36:06.980 --> 00:36:07.280
 we just

00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:07.760
 commit these

00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.240
 things to

00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:08.460
 you.

00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:09.119
 In Jesus'

00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:10.059
 wonderful name

00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.539
 we pray.

00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:11.519
 Amen.

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:11.619
 Amen.