WEBVTT

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 All right, friends, let's go ahead and begin.

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 Let me say a prayer as we dive in this morning.

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 Father, thank you for this morning.

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 Thank you that we can be here in your house, gathered as your people,

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!

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 to consider all of what you've revealed about yourself and your word,

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 so that we might know you, so that we might love you,

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 and so that we might find our deepest joy in you.

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 God, we pray for your help this morning as we conclude our class on the doctrine of creation.

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 Would you be magnified and glorified as we bring this class to its fitting conclusion?

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 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 All right, well, it is fitting that here we are at the last week on our class about the doctrine of creation,

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 and we're taking up the topic of the purpose or the goal of creation.

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 In other words, what is the end for which God created the world?

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 Why did God create all things?

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 You know, we've spent a lot of time talking about the details and the how

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 and the sort of relationship between the creation narratives and science

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 and between different interpretations.

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 We've talked about the doctrine of humanity and bearing God's image.

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 Now we're taking a step back and asking,

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 what was God's grand design and aim in doing this thing that we've been talking about,

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 creating us in all things?

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 Now before we look at what Scripture has to say about this topic,

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 I thought it might be worthwhile to consider first,

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 why is that question even important or worthwhile?

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 Does it really matter whether we can articulate the purpose or the goal of creation,

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 or is that just kind of like, you know, curious speculation that you do on a Sunday morning at nine o'clock

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 when you don't have anything better to do, you know, and you've made it here despite the road race?

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 So it's like, oh, let's pontificate.

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 Well, I would suggest that knowing the purpose or the goal of God's work of creation is very,

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 very utterly vital for a life of flourishing in this created world.

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 You know, imagine being handed the keys to a beautiful new car,

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 but having no idea about the purpose or the goal of what a car is, right?

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 So rather than driving the car and enjoying kind of going down the highway with the windows down

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 and your hair blowing in the breeze,

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 which is something I've not experienced in a long time,

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 you know,

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 you say, wow, that's a nice, you know, object with space in it.

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 I think I'll use it to, you know, store some old papers and clothes.

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 My closet's a little full, so I'll just put them in that car thing, right?

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 What a loss! What a loss!

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 And in the same way, knowing the purpose of creation,

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 the goal of creation,

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 God's intended end for creation,

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 it will help us live in creation well.

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 But even more importantly,

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 as we've been talking about the last two weeks,

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 as we've considered the doctrine of humanity,

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 what have we seen?

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 That we humans, we don't just live in and among God's creation,

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 we also are God's creatures, right?

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 So knowing the purpose or the goal of creation

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 is to know what it means not just to live a flourishing life in God's creation,

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 but as God's creation.

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 To know the purpose or goal of creation

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 is to begin to see how to live with the grain, as it were,

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 of your very existence, right?

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 Are there any woodworkers here?

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 None.

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 Okay, so a piece of wood, right,

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 has a grain to it, right?

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 And if you're trying to create something out of that piece of wood

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 and you try to cut it or sand it or shape it against the grain of that wood,

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 it's very difficult.

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 In fact, the whole project can be botched if you try to do that.

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 Rather, if you're a very talented woodworker,

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 you try to work with the grain of the wood.

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 And knowing the goal or the purpose of creation

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 is to know the very grain of our existence

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 so that we can live in line with it

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 and live a life of beauty.

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 So I think this topic then isn't just sort of curious speculation.

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 It's about finding our deepest purpose as humans

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 in the world that God has made.

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 So with that being said,

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 as we consider the purpose or the goal or the end of creation,

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 I think the first thing we want to consider

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 as we approach this topic is this.

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 One, the triune God

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 created the world

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 in freedom.

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 The triune God created the world in freedom.

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 You know, we might ask the question,

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 was the creation of the world a necessity for God?

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 Did God have to create?

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 Now, outside of Christianity,

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 that is often taken to be true.

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 That the world is somehow necessary for God.

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 That God needs to create the world,

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 whatever we understand God to be.

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 And usually when that kind of thinking is afoot,

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 two options or two possibilities have often come up.

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 In the first, you know,

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 well, I won't list them here because they're not true.

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 In the first kind of way of seeing creation as necessary,

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 God is sort of pictured as so,

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 so kind of super abundantly full and rich

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 that he just can't contain himself, right?

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 He lacks power over his own being

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 so that the world just sort of has to flow out of him,

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 like a stream from a source

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 or like sort of water spilling over the edge

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 of an overfull picture, right?

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 So that's one way of thinking about the creation

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 sort of being necessary,

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 that God had to do it.

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 The other way is actually kind of the opposite,

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 that God has to create the world

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 because in himself,

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 God is so empty.

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 God is so poor, right?

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 He brings the world into existence

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 to supply something for himself

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 because he lacks something, right?

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 You know, a popular way of putting that

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 is that God is lonely

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 and needs the world

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 to sort of express his goodness and love.

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 Maybe a more philosophical way of putting that

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 is that without the world,

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 God is only sort of potentiality, right?

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 And in order to be actual,

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 God has to create the world

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 and become fully God

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 through some sort of process

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 with that which is not God.

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 Now, either of those views

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 fall short of what the Bible teaches us.

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 Neither of those views

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 is a biblical view of God

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 and God's creation.

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 According to the Bible,

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 creation is not sort of a spontaneous,

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 uncontrolled overflow or emanation of God,

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 nor did God have to create

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 out of a lack or loneliness.

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 In fact, according to the Bible,

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 God didn't have to create at all.

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 Consider who the Bible presents God to be.

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 How does God reveal himself in Scripture?

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 Well, God reveals himself as the triune God, right?

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 Father, Son, and Spirit from all eternity.

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 That is his very nature.

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 One God, eternally existing in three persons,

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 Father, Son, and Spirit.

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 And the three persons of the Trinity

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 relate with perfect love,

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 perfect joy,

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 and perfect bliss from all eternity.

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 There's no lack in God.

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 There's no need for a world

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 apart from the triune God

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 to make God more God, right?

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 God is perfect love in God's self

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 without the world

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 as the Father and the Son and the Spirit

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 exist in perfect love, right?

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 So God doesn't need the world

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 to be a loving God

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 or to express his love.

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 Yeah, Ivor, did you have a question there?

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 When do the angels come in?

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 Yeah, that's a really good question.

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 Luke, you're the expert on Genesis 1.

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 When do the angels come in?

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 Well, they are...

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 It depends on who you ask.

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 So somebody like Augustine

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 would say that

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 he takes the creation of the light

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 of day one

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 to be referring to the creation of the angels.

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 And that's a pretty popular view

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 in the early church.

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 But I think most

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 modern commentators

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 and others would say

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 it just is not mentioned.

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 Yeah, Genesis 1 doesn't mention it.

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 Yeah, that's right.

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 But when Genesis 1 says

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 God created the heaven and the earth,

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 it's talking about

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 all of created existence,

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 both that which we can see

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 and that which we cannot see.

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 And then as Genesis 1,

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 as Luke said,

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 kind of narrows in

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 on sort of telling us

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 what we need to know

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 about that creation week,

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 whether that's taken literally,

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 metaphorically,

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 figurative, or whatever,

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 it sort of zooms in

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 on what we kind of...

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 what the author of Genesis

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 wants us to know

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 about the orderliness

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 and the fullness of creation.

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 Yeah, that's right.

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 But the point is

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 that even without the angels,

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 God is perfectly complete

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 in himself.

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 Perfect joy,

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 perfect bliss.

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 God is the fullness

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 of life and goodness,

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 utterly independent of the world.

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 He doesn't need the world

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 to be God.

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 And the world

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 adds nothing

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 to God.

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 Huh?

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 Right?

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 You know,

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 imagine walking up to

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 someone who's just

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 fabulously wealthy,

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 right,

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 and handing them

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 like a sugar packet.

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 What has that added

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 to their wealth,

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 right?

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 Give Jeff Bezos $10.

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 What has that added

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 to his wealth?

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 Nothing.

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 Absolutely nothing.

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 I mean,

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 you know,

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 he would blow his nose

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 on $100 bills.

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 You know,

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 it doesn't matter to him,

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 right?

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 Now,

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 so given that God is,

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 the triune God,

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 is perfect love

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 and joy in life

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 in God's self,

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 does this mean

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 that creation then

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 is the kind of

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 spontaneous,

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 uncontrolled overflow

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 of God?

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 God.

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 Sometimes Christians

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 can actually speak

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 that way.

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 But does

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 the triune God

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 necessarily

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 kind of

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 emanate

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 the creation

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 like water

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 spilling over the top

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 of an overfull glass?

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 Well,

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 think about it.

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 If that were the case,

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 then

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 what would be true

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 of creation?

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 It will have had

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 to exist

00:10:47.420 --> 00:10:48.320
 from all eternity,

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 right?

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 Because if God

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 is just overflowing,

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 then creation

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 must have always

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 been overflowing.

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 But scripture

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 is very clear

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 that the world

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 had a definite

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 beginning.

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 In the beginning,

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 God created.

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 And regardless

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 of where Christians

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 fall,

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 when it comes

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 to the age

00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:04.120
 of the earth

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 or the age

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 of the universe,

00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:06.819
 all Christians

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 believe that the

00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:08.299
 universe is not

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 eternal,

00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:10.720
 that God brought

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 it into being

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 deliberately

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 and consciously.

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 Besides,

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 I mean,

00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:17.600
 consider,

00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:18.379
 the God of the

00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:19.039
 Bible is not

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 ever subject

00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:21.799
 to accidents

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 or uncontrolled

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 consequences,

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 right?

00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:25.500
 We humans

00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:26.379
 might lose control.

00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:27.120
 We might spill

00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:27.939
 over in anger

00:11:27.939 --> 00:11:28.639
 or in happiness

00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:29.379
 or in sadness.

00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.139
 But God,

00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:32.120
 in perfect love,

00:11:32.219 --> 00:11:32.339
 joy,

00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:32.699
 and bliss,

00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:33.799
 is also perfect

00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:34.860
 in power

00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:35.399
 and wisdom

00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:36.039
 and righteousness.

00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:39.120
 Psalm 115.3

00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:39.419
 says,

00:11:39.599 --> 00:11:40.039
 Our God

00:11:40.039 --> 00:11:40.699
 is in the heavens.

00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:42.179
 He does

00:11:42.179 --> 00:11:43.099
 all that

00:11:43.099 --> 00:11:44.179
 He pleases.

00:11:45.319 --> 00:11:45.799
 Right?

00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:47.399
 Or Psalm 135.6,

00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:48.339
 Whatever the Lord

00:11:48.339 --> 00:11:48.860
 pleases,

00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:49.719
 He does.

00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.059
 In heaven

00:11:51.059 --> 00:11:51.659
 and on earth,

00:11:52.099 --> 00:11:52.699
 in the seas

00:11:52.699 --> 00:11:53.599
 and all the deeps.

00:11:54.719 --> 00:11:55.599
 In other words,

00:11:55.699 --> 00:11:56.019
 we,

00:11:56.659 --> 00:11:56.980
 humans,

00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:57.579
 along with the

00:11:57.579 --> 00:11:58.559
 entire created order,

00:11:58.659 --> 00:11:59.399
 are not

00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:00.279
 the sort of

00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:00.779
 accident

00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:02.240
 of God's overflow,

00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.120
 but we are

00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:04.899
 the freely

00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:06.399
 and deliberately

00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:07.240
 chosen

00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:09.039
 act of God's

00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:09.599
 will.

00:12:10.599 --> 00:12:11.879
 The triune God

00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:13.179
 created us

00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:14.679
 in freedom.

00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:16.120
 Now,

00:12:16.199 --> 00:12:16.740
 we see this

00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:17.599
 truth affirmed

00:12:17.599 --> 00:12:18.459
 again and again

00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:18.959
 in Scripture

00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:20.280
 when it speaks

00:12:20.280 --> 00:12:20.920
 of God

00:12:20.920 --> 00:12:21.900
 creating all

00:12:21.900 --> 00:12:22.879
 things according

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.120
 to His will,

00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.180
 according to

00:12:25.180 --> 00:12:26.320
 His good pleasure.

00:12:27.400 --> 00:12:28.080
 Consider a verse

00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:28.560
 like Romans,

00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:29.519
 sorry,

00:12:29.660 --> 00:12:30.840
 Revelation 4,

00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:32.400
 verse 11.

00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:33.759
 Revelation 4,

00:12:33.800 --> 00:12:34.820
 11 says,

00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:36.160
 Worthy are you,

00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:37.720
 our Lord and God,

00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:39.160
 to receive honor

00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:39.620
 and glory

00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.120
 and power,

00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.840
 for you created

00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:42.700
 all things,

00:12:42.700 --> 00:12:44.640
 and by your

00:12:44.640 --> 00:12:45.259
 will

00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:46.480
 they existed

00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:47.800
 and were created.

00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:49.920
 Or Psalm 33,

00:12:50.060 --> 00:12:50.620
 6 says,

00:12:51.020 --> 00:12:51.780
 By the word

00:12:51.780 --> 00:12:52.580
 of the Lord

00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:53.379
 the heavens

00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:53.920
 were made

00:12:53.920 --> 00:12:55.400
 and by the

00:12:55.400 --> 00:12:56.200
 breath of His mouth

00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:57.200
 all their hosts.

00:12:58.320 --> 00:12:59.259
 Or Psalm 33,

00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:00.120
 8 through 9,

00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:01.259
 Let all the earth

00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.160
 fear the Lord,

00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:03.680
 let all the inhabitants

00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:04.220
 of the world

00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:05.080
 stand in awe

00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:05.600
 of Him,

00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:07.200
 for He spoke

00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:08.580
 and it came to be.

00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:10.100
 He commanded

00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:11.700
 and it stood firm.

00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:13.600
 Or again,

00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:14.420
 Jeremiah 10,

00:13:14.540 --> 00:13:15.139
 verse 12,

00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:16.840
 It is He

00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:17.500
 who made

00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:17.940
 the earth

00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:18.960
 by His power,

00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:20.500
 who established

00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.000
 the world

00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:22.139
 by His wisdom

00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:23.720
 and by His

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.580
 understanding

00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:25.220
 stretched out

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:25.659
 the heavens.

00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:28.040
 Or one

00:13:28.040 --> 00:13:29.080
 from the New Testament,

00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:30.259
 Ephesians 1,

00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:30.560
 11,

00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.379
 Paul says that

00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.259
 God is the one

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.240
 who works

00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:34.680
 all things

00:13:34.680 --> 00:13:36.340
 according to

00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:36.600
 what?

00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:38.500
 The whims

00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.259
 of His necessity.

00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:39.560
 No,

00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:40.619
 according to

00:13:40.619 --> 00:13:41.459
 the counsel

00:13:41.459 --> 00:13:42.959
 of His will.

00:13:45.359 --> 00:13:45.959
 So,

00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:47.059
 consider first then

00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:47.500
 as we think about

00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:47.819
 the purpose

00:13:47.819 --> 00:13:48.699
 or goal of creation

00:13:48.699 --> 00:13:50.079
 that God

00:13:50.079 --> 00:13:51.459
 did not

00:13:51.459 --> 00:13:52.459
 have to

00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:53.819
 create us.

00:13:55.199 --> 00:13:56.079
 Our being

00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:57.199
 is not necessary

00:13:57.199 --> 00:13:59.039
 and it's not forced.

00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:00.979
 Which means

00:14:00.979 --> 00:14:01.659
 that we

00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:02.339
 are

00:14:02.339 --> 00:14:03.139
 and everything

00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:03.679
 is

00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:05.439
 completely

00:14:05.439 --> 00:14:06.179
 contingent,

00:14:06.319 --> 00:14:06.779
 completely

00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:07.599
 dependent,

00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:08.859
 utterly

00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:10.360
 upon God's

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.080
 own freedom

00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:12.360
 and God's

00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:12.980
 own will.

00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.259
 Acts 17,

00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:17.360
 24 through 25

00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:17.919
 says,

00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:19.680
 The God

00:14:19.680 --> 00:14:20.419
 who made the world

00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:20.860
 and everything

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.300
 in it,

00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:22.300
 being Lord

00:14:22.300 --> 00:14:22.680
 of heaven

00:14:22.680 --> 00:14:23.159
 and earth,

00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:24.039
 does not live

00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:24.480
 in temples

00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.279
 made by man,

00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:25.700
 nor is He

00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.800
 served by human

00:14:26.800 --> 00:14:27.480
 hands as though

00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:28.500
 He needed anything

00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:29.580
 since He

00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:30.279
 Himself

00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.360
 gives to

00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:32.200
 all mankind

00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:33.420
 life

00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:34.720
 and breath

00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.759
 and everything.

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:39.620
 But,

00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.220
 if this means

00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:40.480
 that we

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:40.980
 didn't have

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.620
 to exist,

00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:41.960
 right?

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:42.500
 If it was

00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:43.240
 part of God's

00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:44.040
 own free

00:14:44.040 --> 00:14:45.580
 good pleasure

00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.340
 that He

00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:47.139
 bring the world

00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:47.820
 into existence

00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:48.340
 out of no

00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:48.879
 necessity,

00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:51.639
 that also means

00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.420
 not just are we

00:14:52.420 --> 00:14:53.220
 totally dependent

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:53.899
 upon God,

00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:55.399
 but it means

00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:56.300
 that we are not

00:14:56.300 --> 00:14:57.480
 an accident,

00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.120
 right?

00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:00.600
 that we are

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:02.200
 the free creation

00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:04.080
 of the deliberate

00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:04.940
 will of God.

00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:06.820
 We are the work

00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:07.399
 of His own

00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.299
 good pleasure.

00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:10.500
 When we say

00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.159
 that God did not

00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:12.100
 have to create,

00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:12.860
 but rather that God

00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:13.600
 created simply

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.519
 out of His own will,

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.200
 His own counsel,

00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:15.940
 His own good pleasure,

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:17.799
 that is not to say

00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:19.580
 that God's act

00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:19.919
 of creation

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.840
 was arbitrary

00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:21.779
 or indifferent,

00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:22.700
 right?

00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.259
 It's not as if

00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:24.639
 God's sort of

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.120
 walking along His way,

00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:25.639
 eh, whatever,

00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:26.740
 I guess I'll create today.

00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:27.860
 And then He sort of

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:28.399
 walks away,

00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:28.940
 right?

00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:31.039
 No, no.

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:33.279
 God's will to create,

00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.240
 though it is exercised

00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:34.899
 in perfect freedom,

00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:35.740
 it's not arbitrary.

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.100
 It's not sort of

00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:38.000
 an afterthought

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.300
 or an indifferent act,

00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:40.700
 right?

00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:43.919
 Remember how in

00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:44.519
 Genesis 1,

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.860
 God purposefully

00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.320
 speaks all of

00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:48.060
 the created order

00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:49.019
 into existence,

00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:49.860
 right?

00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:51.899
 Genesis 1

00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.539
 speaks of an

00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.100
 ordering,

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:54.159
 a harmony,

00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.700
 and an intentionality

00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:56.940
 to God's creative work.

00:15:56.940 --> 00:15:58.460
 And at the climax

00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:59.380
 of that story,

00:15:59.640 --> 00:16:00.520
 when God creates

00:16:00.520 --> 00:16:01.060
 humanity,

00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.360
 the triune God

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:03.520
 explicitly

00:16:03.520 --> 00:16:04.680
 deliberates,

00:16:04.760 --> 00:16:04.980
 right?

00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:06.680
 Let us make man

00:16:06.680 --> 00:16:08.020
 in our own image.

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:09.620
 Purpose,

00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.740
 intentionality,

00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:11.740
 love,

00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:12.860
 goodness

00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.620
 expressed

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.680
 in this act.

00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:16.740
 Psalm 104,

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.460
 24 says,

00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.160
 O Lord,

00:16:18.160 --> 00:16:18.160


00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:19.060
 how manifold

00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:19.759
 are your works.

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.080
 In wisdom

00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:22.259
 have you made

00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:22.660
 them all.

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.160
 The earth is full

00:16:24.160 --> 00:16:24.820
 of your creatures.

00:16:26.420 --> 00:16:27.040
 And of course,

00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:27.560
 when we turn to

00:16:27.560 --> 00:16:28.200
 the New Testament,

00:16:28.800 --> 00:16:29.900
 the deliberate

00:16:29.900 --> 00:16:30.920
 wisdom of God's

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:31.600
 work in creation

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.560
 is even more unveiled

00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.300
 when we see

00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:34.980
 that God the Father

00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:35.960
 made all things

00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:36.800
 through his Son

00:16:36.800 --> 00:16:37.700
 by his Spirit.

00:16:38.160 --> 00:16:38.700
 That creation

00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:39.420
 is a work

00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:40.940
 of the triune God,

00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:42.540
 right?

00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:42.980
 Genesis,

00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:43.879
 sorry,

00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.659
 John 1,

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.460
 1 through 3,

00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:46.939
 in the beginning

00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:47.580
 was the Word,

00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:48.000
 and the Word

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.720
 was with God,

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.080
 and the Word

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.779
 was God.

00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:50.759
 He was in the

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.439
 beginning with God.

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.539
 All things were

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.620
 made through him,

00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:55.080
 and without him

00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:56.000
 was not anything

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.259
 made that was made.

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.679
 That the bringing

00:16:58.679 --> 00:16:59.299
 of creation

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:00.000
 into existence

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.019
 out of God's

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.379
 freedom

00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:03.480
 is a complete

00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.039
 and intentional

00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.700
 act of the

00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.500
 triune God.

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:08.000
 So the triune God

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.700
 creates freely

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.740
 by the counsel

00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.500
 of his own will

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.779
 and his own

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.799
 sovereign good pleasure.

00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:14.880
 Okay.

00:17:15.820 --> 00:17:16.700
 So then,

00:17:16.800 --> 00:17:17.700
 we're led to ask,

00:17:17.820 --> 00:17:17.920
 well,

00:17:18.020 --> 00:17:19.300
 what goal did

00:17:19.300 --> 00:17:20.200
 God have in mind

00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:20.920
 then as he did

00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:22.120
 this free act

00:17:22.120 --> 00:17:22.740
 of his own

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.720
 good pleasure?

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.380
 And that brings us

00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:26.580
 to our second point

00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:26.840
 then.

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:32.800
 That the triune God

00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:39.380
 created

00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:41.960
 the world

00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.760
 in freedom

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:46.879
 for his own

00:17:46.879 --> 00:17:47.379
 glory.

00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:55.539
 That the triune God

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.119
 created the world

00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:56.559
 in freedom

00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:58.180
 for his own

00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.799
 glory.

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.740
 So,

00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:01.480
 in other words,

00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.140
 the purpose

00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:03.099
 or the goal

00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:04.059
 or the end

00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.740
 of creation

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:06.660
 is for God's

00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.319
 own glory

00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:09.140
 to resound

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:09.779
 and redound.

00:18:09.779 --> 00:18:10.779
 God's glory

00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.779
 is for God's

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:11.779


00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:11.619
 Now,

00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.639
 what is God's glory?

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.279
 Well,

00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:14.879
 you know,

00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.819
 we might say

00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:18.059
 that God's glory

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:20.299
 is his knowledge,

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.720
 his love,

00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:22.980
 and his joy.

00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.599
 To have

00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.379
 that

00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:28.099
 which is

00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:29.079
 not God

00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:30.319
 resound

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:32.019
 and reverberate

00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:33.299
 with the knowledge

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:33.839
 of God,

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.839
 the love of God,

00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.599
 and the joy

00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.179
 of God,

00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:39.279
 for the manifold

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.639
 perfection of God

00:18:40.639 --> 00:18:41.339
 to be reflected

00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:42.579
 back to God

00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.159
 for God's

00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:44.000
 own sake

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.659
 because God

00:18:45.659 --> 00:18:46.500
 is supremely

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:46.939
 worthy.

00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.939
 That

00:18:48.939 --> 00:18:50.359
 is the purpose

00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:50.959
 of creation.

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:53.779
 That's your purpose

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:55.699
 and that's my purpose.

00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:59.019
 Listen to Psalm 19,

00:18:59.100 --> 00:18:59.539
 verse 1.

00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.100
 The heavens

00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:02.400
 declare

00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.519
 the glory

00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.080
 of God.

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.100
 The sky above

00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:07.000
 proclaims

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.940
 his handiwork.

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.940
 What are

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.380
 the heavens?

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.080
 And by extension,

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:12.620
 the rest of the

00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.140
 created order.

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.380
 Ultimately,

00:19:15.580 --> 00:19:16.200
 they are the

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:16.880
 symphony

00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.819
 of God's glory

00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:19.460
 declaring

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.420
 and radiating

00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.460
 God's infinite

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.220
 majesty

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.960
 and worth.

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.620
 Every star,

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.519
 a string,

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:27.019
 in the symphony

00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.900
 of God's glory.

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:29.660
 Okay,

00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.440
 but what about us?

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.539
 What about human beings?

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.480
 Well, Isaiah 43,

00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.259
 6-7,

00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:34.779
 talking about

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.799
 God's redeemed people,

00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:36.220
 but of course,

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:36.680
 by extension,

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.319
 all of humanity,

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:37.860
 he says,

00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:40.460
 I will say to the north,

00:19:40.580 --> 00:19:40.980
 give up,

00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.580
 and to the south,

00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.319
 do not withhold,

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.600
 bring my sons from afar

00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:44.160
 and my daughters

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.920
 from the ends of the earth,

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.980
 everyone who is called

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.740
 by my name,

00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:48.460
 who I created

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:50.279
 for my glory,

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.100
 whom I formed

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.580
 and made.

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.559
 God created you

00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:57.559
 for his glory.

00:19:59.179 --> 00:20:00.000
 Which means that

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.659
 you and I

00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:02.639
 are not

00:20:02.639 --> 00:20:03.700
 the center

00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:05.359
 of creation's

00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:05.960
 story.

00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:09.059
 God doesn't exist

00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:10.339
 for our sake.

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:11.659
 Right?

00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.440
 We exist

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.359
 for his sake.

00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:14.799
 God is the center.

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.419
 He's the reason.

00:20:17.579 --> 00:20:18.099
 In other words,

00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:19.440
 God doesn't sort of exist

00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.480
 to make much of us.

00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:21.720
 Right?

00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.740
 We exist

00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.460
 to make much

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:23.960
 of God.

00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:27.240
 In that regard,

00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:28.200
 consider Psalm 8,

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:29.000
 which expresses

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.920
 kind of the exalted

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.960
 place that we humans

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.079
 have in the created order.

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.720
 But listen to how

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.440
 that psalm begins

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:34.839
 and ends,

00:20:34.860 --> 00:20:35.200
 and I'll read

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:35.900
 the whole psalm.

00:20:37.600 --> 00:20:38.480
 Psalm 8 says,

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.120
 O Lord,

00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.740
 our Lord,

00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:41.279
 how majestic

00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:42.860
 is your name

00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:43.839
 in all the earth.

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.460
 You have set

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.120
 your glory

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:47.240
 above the heavens.

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:48.880
 Out of the mouth

00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:49.779
 of babies and infants

00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.360
 you've established

00:20:50.360 --> 00:20:51.279
 strength because of

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.220
 your foes to still

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:53.259
 the enemy and the avenger.

00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.579
 When I look at

00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:55.019
 the heavens,

00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.019
 the work of your fingers,

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:57.079
 the moon and the stars

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:57.700
 which you have set

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.200
 in place,

00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.539
 what is man

00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.579
 that you are mindful

00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.000
 of him

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:02.660
 and the son of man

00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.620
 that you care for him?

00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:05.019
 Yet,

00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.480
 you have made him

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.039
 a little lower

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.960
 than the heavenly beings

00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:08.620
 and crowned him

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.500
 with glory and honor.

00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:11.099
 You have given him

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.099
 dominion over the works

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:12.680
 of your hands.

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.440
 You've put all things

00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:14.140
 under his feet,

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.480
 all sheep and oxen

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.160
 and also the beasts

00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:16.720
 of the field,

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.819
 the birds of the heavens

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.660
 and the fish of the sea,

00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.779
 whatever passes along

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.720
 the paths of the sea.

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.299
 O Lord,

00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:22.740
 our Lord,

00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:24.319
 how majestic

00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.819
 is your name

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.339
 in all the earth.

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:29.319
 You see,

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:30.660
 the psalm begins

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:32.380
 in worship and wonder

00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:33.400
 at God's majesty

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:35.819
 and then sort of utters

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.079
 almost surprise

00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:38.679
 and sort of humble praise

00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:39.539
 for putting humanity

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:41.439
 in such an exalted position

00:21:41.439 --> 00:21:42.899
 and then it ends

00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.599
 where it began,

00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:44.759
 praising God

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.919
 for his majesty.

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.179
 That whatever glory

00:21:48.179 --> 00:21:49.039
 we have

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:50.740
 is meant to

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:52.139
 resound

00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:52.939
 and reflect

00:21:52.939 --> 00:21:54.079
 back to an even

00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.799
 greater degree

00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:55.359
 the glory

00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:56.359
 that God is.

00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.839
 Turning to the New Testament,

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.419
 Romans 11, 36 says,

00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.580
 for from him

00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:04.440
 and through him

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:06.100
 and to him

00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:07.860
 are all things.

00:22:08.600 --> 00:22:09.220
 To him

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.140
 be glory

00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.920
 forever.

00:22:11.820 --> 00:22:12.080
 Amen.

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.440
 God's not just

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:14.940
 the beginning

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.940
 or the origin

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.620
 of creation.

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.180
 Not only are all things

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:18.840
 from him

00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:19.840
 and through him,

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.680
 but God is also

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.320
 the goal

00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:23.160
 and the end

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:23.700
 of creation.

00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.440
 All things

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.440
 are to him.

00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:28.039
 Everything exists

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:29.080
 to find its end

00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:30.079
 and goal

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.000
 and him

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.639
 for his end,

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:33.679
 for his purpose

00:22:33.679 --> 00:22:34.519
 to display

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.599
 God's manifold

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.399
 perfections.

00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.199
 His goodness

00:22:38.199 --> 00:22:38.740
 and love.

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.279
 His righteousness

00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:40.879
 and holiness.

00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:41.639
 His wisdom

00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:42.199
 and power.

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.240
 But you know

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.720
 the New Testament

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.960
 puts an even finer

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.699
 point on it

00:22:46.699 --> 00:22:47.259
 than this.

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.460
 Just as the Father

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.639
 created all things

00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:51.679
 through the Son

00:22:51.679 --> 00:22:53.259
 by the Spirit,

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.879
 so all things

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.500
 exist

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.439
 for the sake

00:22:56.439 --> 00:22:57.000
 of the Son.

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:59.220
 Listen to Colossians

00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.880
 1.16

00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:01.220
 which speaks

00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:02.160
 of the eternal Son

00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.880
 who became flesh

00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.579
 in the incarnation,

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:05.599
 Jesus Christ

00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:05.980
 our Lord.

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.359
 It says,

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.940
 for by him

00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:09.319
 all things

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:09.940
 were created

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.180
 in heaven

00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:12.240
 and on earth,

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.940
 visible and invisible,

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.859
 whether thrones

00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:15.559
 or dominions

00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:15.940
 or rulers

00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:16.480
 or authorities.

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:16.960
 There's those

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.640
 heavenly beings

00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.039
 that we were

00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.759
 talking about earlier.

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.180
 God created

00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.519
 all them

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.700
 through the agency

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.259
 of the Son.

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:22.640
 The Father

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.319
 created all those

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:23.779
 things through

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.279
 the Son.

00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.819
 All things,

00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.339
 Paul goes on

00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.659
 to say in verse 16

00:23:27.659 --> 00:23:28.279
 of Colossians 1,

00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.240
 all things

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.740
 were created

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.480
 through him

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:33.039
 and for him.

00:23:34.959 --> 00:23:35.899
 All things

00:23:35.899 --> 00:23:36.399
 were created

00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:37.119
 through him

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.819
 and for him.

00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:41.679
 You were created

00:23:41.679 --> 00:23:43.919
 for Jesus Christ,

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.859
 the second person

00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:46.359
 of the Trinity,

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.139
 the eternal Son

00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:47.579
 of the Father.

00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:49.220
 You exist

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.199
 for him.

00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:52.539
 Your purpose

00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.439
 is to magnify

00:23:53.439 --> 00:23:53.980
 the glory

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.419
 and beauty

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.279
 of who he is

00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:55.960
 and all

00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.400
 that he has

00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:56.680
 done.

00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.080
 Now,

00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.400
 it's natural

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.300
 when we consider

00:24:01.300 --> 00:24:01.779
 scripture

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:03.100
 continuing to tell us

00:24:03.100 --> 00:24:03.940
 that over and over

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.539
 and over again,

00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:04.800
 right?

00:24:05.080 --> 00:24:05.560
 It's natural

00:24:05.560 --> 00:24:06.060
 to raise a few

00:24:06.060 --> 00:24:06.480
 questions,

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:06.860
 isn't it?

00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:07.920
 When we hear

00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.440
 scripture say

00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.000
 over and over

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.560
 that the purpose

00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:10.220
 and end of creation

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.080
 is not ultimately

00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.920
 our glory

00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.400
 or our exaltation

00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:14.320
 or our happiness,

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:14.700
 right?

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.240
 But ultimately

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.060
 God's glory

00:24:16.060 --> 00:24:17.300
 and God's supreme

00:24:17.300 --> 00:24:18.380
 delight in himself

00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:19.200
 and his perfection,

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.600
 we kind of think

00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:21.000
 at first,

00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:21.539
 wait a minute,

00:24:22.060 --> 00:24:22.300
 right?

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:24.559
 I thought we just

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.319
 spent a whole point

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:25.819
 saying that God

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.659
 didn't need anything,

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.180
 right?

00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.639
 That he didn't need

00:24:28.639 --> 00:24:29.440
 creation for anything

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.139
 but here it sounds

00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:30.819
 like God's kind of

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.639
 hungry for his own

00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:32.000
 glory,

00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:32.339
 right?

00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.299
 It sounds like he

00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:34.539
 needs us to glorify him,

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.619
 that he needs us

00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:36.579
 to make him seem great,

00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.539
 like he kind of forgot,

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.200
 you know?

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:40.419
 But again,

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.799
 God's purpose

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:45.279
 in glorifying himself

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.919
 in creation

00:24:45.919 --> 00:24:47.000
 is not because

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.859
 he lacks

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.839
 this glory

00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:49.539
 in himself.

00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:51.559
 Listen to what

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.039
 Jesus says

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.799
 in John 17,

00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:53.279
 verse 5.

00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:53.879
 Jesus is looking

00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.599
 ahead to his death,

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.000
 resurrection,

00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:55.480
 ascension,

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.079
 his return to the

00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.359
 Father,

00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.359
 and he says,

00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:57.759
 and now,

00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.139
 Father,

00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:00.019
 glorify me

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:01.460
 in your own

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.039
 presence

00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:03.599
 with the glory

00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.659
 that I had with you

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.559
 before the world

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.059
 existed.

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.819
 God doesn't need

00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.139
 the world

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:09.779
 or you or me

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:10.440
 for his glory

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.159
 to be perfectly

00:25:11.159 --> 00:25:11.779
 and utterly

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.960
 known and loved

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.720
 and rejoiced in.

00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:14.740
 In fact,

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:15.539
 if you think about it,

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.720
 only God

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.839
 can glorify God

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.159
 fully.

00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.480
 Why?

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:21.080
 Because only God

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:22.320
 really knows

00:25:22.320 --> 00:25:23.100
 God in fullness.

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.880
 Jesus says

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:24.540
 in Matthew 11

00:25:24.540 --> 00:25:25.460
 that only the Father

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.460
 truly knows the Son

00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.980
 and only the Son

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.940
 truly knows the Father.

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.600
 And in 1 Corinthians 2,

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.140
 we're told that

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:33.580
 no one comprehends

00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:34.400
 the thoughts of God

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.880
 except the Spirit of God.

00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:38.200
 So only Father,

00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:38.500
 Son,

00:25:38.540 --> 00:25:38.900
 and Spirit

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.100
 can possibly

00:25:40.100 --> 00:25:41.320
 know,

00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.259
 love,

00:25:42.340 --> 00:25:42.920
 and rejoice

00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.900
 in one another

00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.460
 fully.

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:47.019
 and that is

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:47.799
 exactly what

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:49.039
 God has done

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.860
 and will do

00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.600
 from and for

00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:51.220
 all eternity.

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.559
 Father,

00:25:52.660 --> 00:25:53.400
 glorify me

00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.440
 in your own

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:54.759
 presence

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.460
 with the glory

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.039
 that I had

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.480
 with you

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.620
 before the world

00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:58.100
 existed.

00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.759
 So we must not

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:00.640
 think that God's

00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.579
 creation of the world

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:02.740
 for his own glory

00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:04.420
 means that God

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.920
 is some insecure,

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.620
 ego-hungry deity

00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.319
 in need of a little

00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.700
 boost,

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.180
 right?

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:10.799
 No,

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:11.519
 God's utterly

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.340
 resplendent

00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:13.200
 in knowledge

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.560
 and love

00:26:13.560 --> 00:26:13.860
 and joy

00:26:13.860 --> 00:26:14.360
 and glory.

00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:17.340
 So then the

00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:18.000
 second question

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.480
 comes,

00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:18.920
 the second

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.519
 maybe objection

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.279
 even comes,

00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.460
 that when we say

00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.160
 that God creates

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.500
 all things

00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.580
 for his glory,

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.640
 it sort of

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.160
 sounds like

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:26.039
 it kind of

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:27.500
 devalues us

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:29.200
 as his creatures.

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.240
 Does this

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.279
 emphasis on

00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.660
 God's glory,

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.519
 this radical

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:36.160
 God-centeredness

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:36.980
 of the purpose

00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:37.799
 of creation

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:39.759
 this emphasis

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.519
 on God's glory

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.359
 is the final

00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:42.180
 goal of all

00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:42.619
 creatures?

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.319
 Does that mean

00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:44.259
 that we have

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:46.039
 lost our

00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.440
 dignity?

00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:47.940
 Does it mean

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.539
 that we as humans

00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.279
 are just kind of

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.539
 some means

00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:51.319
 to an end?

00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.180
 And yet,

00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:59.819
 what greater

00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:01.339
 end

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:03.659
 could there be

00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:04.259
 for us

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.240
 as God's

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.519
 creatures?

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.740
 that we

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.500
 would grasp

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.960
 through God's

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.399
 self-revelation

00:27:12.399 --> 00:27:13.919
 something of

00:27:13.919 --> 00:27:14.440
 the knowledge

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:14.960
 of God

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.579
 who is

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.319
 truth itself.

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.619
 To behold

00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.159
 through God's

00:27:20.159 --> 00:27:20.639
 self-giving

00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:21.299
 the holiness

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.859
 and love

00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.359
 of God

00:27:22.359 --> 00:27:24.180
 that is to be

00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:24.919
 drawn into

00:27:24.919 --> 00:27:25.279
 the one

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.740
 who is

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.079
 goodness

00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:26.639
 itself

00:27:26.639 --> 00:27:28.220
 and to find

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.819
 our deepest

00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:29.419
 delight and

00:27:29.419 --> 00:27:30.059
 praise there.

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.200
 And what

00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:34.819
 finally could be

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.259
 greater to

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.139
 experience again

00:27:36.139 --> 00:27:36.559
 through God's

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.319
 own self-giving

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.619
 to us

00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:38.119
 the very

00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:38.799
 joy of

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.159
 God?

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.359
 What greater

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:41.839
 end could

00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:42.319
 there be?

00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.599
 Right?

00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.599
 If we are

00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:47.159
 to be means

00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:47.839
 to an end,

00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:49.559
 I'd take that

00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:49.839
 end.

00:27:50.419 --> 00:27:51.000
 Wouldn't you?

00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:54.399
 The fact

00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:54.899
 that God

00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.500
 called us

00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.139
 into existence

00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:57.599
 so that we

00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.000
 could,

00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:59.159
 in our

00:27:59.159 --> 00:28:00.279
 creaturely way,

00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:01.240
 reflect his

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.579
 infinite

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.519
 perfections back

00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:02.919
 to him

00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:04.320
 and enjoy

00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:05.300
 the communication

00:28:05.300 --> 00:28:06.200
 and communion

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:06.920
 of his

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.500
 supreme

00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.380
 worth?

00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:09.900
 Oh,

00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.259
 how could

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.820
 we question

00:28:10.820 --> 00:28:11.220
 that?

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:13.039
 At the end

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.420
 of the day,

00:28:13.560 --> 00:28:13.920
 finally,

00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:14.740
 our greatest

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.120
 good.

00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:17.620
 What greater

00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.320
 end is worth

00:28:18.320 --> 00:28:19.039
 living for?

00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.160
 If your

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.380
 life and my

00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:23.980
 life reflect

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.740
 something of

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.380
 the majesty

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.180
 of Jesus,

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.180
 the one who

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:28.960
 all the heavenly

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.539
 hosts adore,

00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:29.920
 the one who

00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:30.500
 called all

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:30.980
 things into

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.600
 being out of

00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:31.899
 nothing,

00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.599
 if our

00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:33.500
 lives reflect

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:33.859
 some of

00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.319
 that glory

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:34.759
 back to

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.179
 God from

00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:35.480
 whom it

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:35.699
 came,

00:28:35.959 --> 00:28:36.259
 if we

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:36.939
 experience

00:28:36.939 --> 00:28:37.480
 that,

00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.019
 would that

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.539
 not be the

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:39.980
 highest and

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.619
 most satisfying

00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.079
 way to

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.379
 live?

00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.699
 Are you

00:28:44.699 --> 00:28:45.319
 really telling

00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:45.679
 me that

00:28:45.679 --> 00:28:46.659
 building a

00:28:46.659 --> 00:28:47.259
 giant bank

00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:48.000
 account and

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:49.399
 crushing it

00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:50.099
 at work and

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.799
 having everyone

00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.319
 bow at your

00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.339
 feet is better

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.919
 than experiencing

00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:55.439
 eternal joy,

00:28:55.959 --> 00:28:57.079
 exploding communion

00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.419
 with the

00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.299
 trying God

00:28:58.299 --> 00:28:59.259
 and reflecting

00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.079
 his glory back

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:00.439
 to him?

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:06.159
 I think the

00:29:06.159 --> 00:29:06.719
 fact that we

00:29:06.719 --> 00:29:07.480
 wrestle with

00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:09.079
 this, and I

00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:09.639
 wrestle with

00:29:09.639 --> 00:29:11.159
 it too, it's

00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:12.039
 just evidence

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:15.399
 of how small

00:29:15.399 --> 00:29:15.879
 our thoughts

00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:16.459
 are of God

00:29:16.459 --> 00:29:18.679
 and how much

00:29:18.679 --> 00:29:19.639
 we need God

00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:20.559
 to continue to

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.459
 show himself to

00:29:21.459 --> 00:29:21.959
 us in his

00:29:21.959 --> 00:29:22.299
 grace.

00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.919
 Now, lest we

00:29:25.919 --> 00:29:27.599
 think that this

00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:29.419
 purpose in

00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:30.800
 creation to

00:29:30.800 --> 00:29:31.700
 glorify God

00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:33.840
 means somehow

00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:34.820
 a devaluing of

00:29:34.820 --> 00:29:35.660
 creation, right?

00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.779
 Well, how do we

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.560
 go about glorifying

00:29:37.560 --> 00:29:38.240
 God, right?

00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:39.560
 I mean, listen

00:29:39.560 --> 00:29:40.480
 though, listen to

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.519
 what God says

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.600
 in Genesis

00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.300
 1.31.

00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:45.039
 God saw

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:46.039
 everything that

00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.620
 he made,

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.019
 and behold,

00:29:48.100 --> 00:29:49.060
 it was very

00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:49.539
 good.

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.460
 We have to

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.240
 continue to

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.740
 keep in our

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:54.400
 view the

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.740
 very goodness

00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:56.640
 of creation.

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.220
 God has

00:29:59.220 --> 00:29:59.960
 pronounced the

00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:00.440
 created order

00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.220
 very good,

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:01.880
 which means that

00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:03.180
 our glorifying

00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:04.319
 God, right,

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:06.440
 is not detached

00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.279
 or removed

00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.099
 from

00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:10.339
 participation in

00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:10.920
 this material

00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.519
 creation.

00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:13.259
 creation, the

00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.240
 enjoyment of

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:14.839
 what God has

00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:16.059
 made, the

00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:16.900
 proper use and

00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:17.839
 cultivation of

00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:18.379
 creation, like

00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:18.839
 we talked about

00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:19.539
 last week when

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.099
 John took us

00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:20.779
 through a

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.460
 biblical theology

00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.139
 of culture.

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.359
 These things

00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.200
 are all central

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.240
 and vital to

00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.019
 glorifying God.

00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:26.680
 Glorifying God

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.119
 does not mean

00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:28.359
 escaping or

00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.500
 rejecting or

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.500
 removing ourselves

00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.220
 from all this

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.400
 created order, but

00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.180
 enjoying it and

00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:34.579
 experiencing it and

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.539
 rejoicing in it and

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.819
 glorifying God with

00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:37.460
 it fully.

00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:40.700
 in 1 Timothy 4,

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.140
 3-5, Paul says

00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:43.700
 that at some

00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.400
 point some people

00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:45.120
 will come along

00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:46.480
 who, as he says

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.100
 there in verse 3,

00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:48.019
 who forbid marriage

00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.340
 and require abstinence

00:30:49.340 --> 00:30:50.779
 from foods that God

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.680
 created to be received

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.019
 with thanksgiving by

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.759
 those who believe and

00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:55.660
 know the truth, right?

00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.400
 It's very easy to

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.880
 think, well, if we're

00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:59.000
 meant to glorify God,

00:30:59.100 --> 00:31:00.220
 then we have to just

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.500
 abstain from everything

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.319
 down here, right?

00:31:02.340 --> 00:31:02.799
 Because all this

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:04.220
 murky, evil, created

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:05.180
 stuff is bad.

00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.319
 No, Paul says.

00:31:06.840 --> 00:31:07.240
 He says,

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.180
 that sort of

00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.900
 rejection of

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:09.579
 created goods is

00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.340
 not the way to

00:31:10.340 --> 00:31:11.039
 honor and glorify

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.420
 God, our creator.

00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:14.539
 He says in verse 4,

00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:15.340
 for everything

00:31:15.340 --> 00:31:16.620
 created by God

00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:17.380
 is good.

00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:19.380
 Nothing is to be

00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:21.000
 rejected if it is

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.539
 received with

00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:23.279
 thanksgiving, for it

00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:24.200
 is made holy by the

00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:24.880
 word of God in

00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:25.259
 prayer.

00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.559
 And the word of

00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:28.240
 God there is most

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.240
 likely referring back

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.539
 to that word that

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.380
 God spoke in Genesis

00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.700
 1, declaring creation

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:33.840
 very good.

00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:36.720
 So it's this

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:38.039
 fact that God

00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:39.360
 created the world

00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:40.240
 for his own glory

00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:41.440
 does not lead

00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.480
 to a kind of

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:44.140
 asceticism or a

00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:45.559
 kind of rejection

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.299
 of the created

00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:48.180
 world, but a full

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:48.819
 enjoyment and

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.519
 embrace of it.

00:31:49.640 --> 00:31:50.600
 Yes, a proper

00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:51.240
 use of it.

00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:52.039
 There are improper

00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:53.400
 ways we can go about

00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:54.180
 enjoying the created

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:55.039
 order, of course.

00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:57.480
 But we are meant to

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:59.160
 receive it with

00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:00.720
 thanksgiving, as

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:01.220
 Paul says.

00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:01.960
 Now, later in that

00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:03.180
 same letter, Paul's

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.680
 going to warn

00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:05.120
 against just

00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:06.080
 amassing material

00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:06.980
 things for their

00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.640
 own end.

00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:09.060
 In 1 Timothy

00:32:09.060 --> 00:32:12.960
 6, verse 17, he

00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:13.340
 says,

00:32:13.820 --> 00:32:14.480
 As for the rich in

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.299
 this present age,

00:32:15.820 --> 00:32:16.620
 charge them not to

00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.840
 be haughty, nor to

00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:18.560
 set their hopes on

00:32:18.560 --> 00:32:19.299
 the uncertainty of

00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:20.480
 riches, but on

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:20.860
 God.

00:32:21.580 --> 00:32:22.920
 Okay, that's right,

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.200
 right?

00:32:23.900 --> 00:32:24.779
 Lest we set our

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.480
 hopes on the created

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.440
 things of this world,

00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.940
 we need to be

00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.920
 reminded, no, set

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.580
 your hopes on the

00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:30.279
 triune God.

00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.819
 But then Paul says

00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:33.539
 this, who richly

00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:35.019
 provides us with

00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:36.940
 everything to enjoy.

00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:39.279
 There's that same

00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:39.819
 note again.

00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:41.779
 God richly provides

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.779
 us with everything to

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.339
 enjoy.

00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:44.879
 We're meant to

00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:45.899
 receive God's good

00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:46.920
 gifts and enjoy them

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.879
 with thanksgiving and

00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.839
 gladness in our hearts

00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.399
 towards Him.

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.240
 Do you remember that

00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.480
 passage in Acts 2 that

00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:52.200
 describes the early

00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:52.460
 church?

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.200
 They broke bread in

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:54.559
 their homes with joy

00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.500
 and gladness in their

00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:57.440
 hearts, receiving those

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.879
 good creaturely gifts

00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:00.240
 gifts and praise to

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.820
 their Creator.

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.780
 So part of glorifying

00:33:03.780 --> 00:33:04.480
 God our Creator is

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:06.400
 agreeing with God that

00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:07.420
 even though sin has

00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:08.020
 entered the world,

00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.380
 creation itself remains

00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:11.020
 good and treating

00:33:11.020 --> 00:33:12.140
 creation as if it is

00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:14.180
 good and receiving and

00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:15.080
 caring for it and

00:33:15.080 --> 00:33:16.000
 cultivating it and

00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.560
 stewarding it with

00:33:17.560 --> 00:33:18.780
 thanksgiving and honor

00:33:18.780 --> 00:33:19.700
 towards the Creator.

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:23.660
 So what is the end for

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.520
 which God created the

00:33:24.520 --> 00:33:24.840
 world?

00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:27.000
 It's His own glory.

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:30.180
 God creates for

00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.579
 Himself.

00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:35.220
 And rather than that

00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:35.980
 being a purpose that

00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:37.140
 diminishes or degrades

00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:37.940
 us, it's just the

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.279
 opposite.

00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:39.900
 It's the highest form of

00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:41.880
 privilege to behold and

00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:43.079
 reflect the glory of God.

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.259
 And by the grace of

00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.900
 Christ, we who have

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.819
 fallen short of the

00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.579
 glory of God through

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:50.900
 sin, through the grace

00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:51.720
 of Christ can be

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.920
 reconciled to God.

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.839
 And by the Spirit we can

00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:56.000
 fulfill this calling to

00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:57.799
 reflect His glory once

00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.079
 again.

00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:00.140
 And you know, this

00:34:00.140 --> 00:34:02.980
 calling to magnify God

00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:04.880
 and to enjoy God for

00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:06.319
 all that God is and to

00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.779
 exalt Him as God through

00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:10.159
 that, that calling is

00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:11.300
 never going to reach its

00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:11.519
 end.

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:12.199
 You know, there's never

00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:14.179
 going to be a day, even

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:14.980
 in the new heavens and

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:16.739
 new earth, even when sin

00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.980
 and death are no more in

00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:19.460
 the created order, even

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.500
 when we see God face to

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:21.460
 face, there's never going

00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:23.059
 to be a day when we will

00:34:23.059 --> 00:34:24.860
 say that we have finally

00:34:24.860 --> 00:34:26.420
 glorified God for all He

00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:26.740
 is.

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:27.820
 Right?

00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:29.480
 You know, have you ever

00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:30.300
 listened to a piece of

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:31.140
 music that you really

00:34:31.140 --> 00:34:31.500
 love?

00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:32.740
 And then you listen to it

00:34:32.740 --> 00:34:33.500
 and listen to it and

00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.420
 listen to it and listen to

00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:35.059
 it and then finally you're

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:36.800
 sort of like, I think I'm

00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:36.980
 done.

00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:37.700
 Right?

00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:38.140
 You know?

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:41.539
 I think I've digested the

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:41.960
 whole thing.

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.220
 You know?

00:34:42.240 --> 00:34:43.120
 I'm ready to move on.

00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:44.019
 You know?

00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:48.079
 But, in communion with the

00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:52.440
 infinite, eternal, triune God

00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:55.579
 of freedom and love, there

00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.119
 will always be more to know,

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:59.679
 always be more to love,

00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:02.159
 always be more to enjoy.

00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:04.980
 There will always be a

00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:07.259
 further up and a farther in,

00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.340
 as Lewis said at the end of

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:09.380
 the Chronicles of Narnia.

00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:11.680
 And this life will just be

00:35:11.680 --> 00:35:13.260
 the cover and title page.

00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:15.400
 Or as Jonathan Edwards said

00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:16.200
 at the end of his

00:35:16.200 --> 00:35:18.019
 dissertation concerning the

00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:19.059
 end for which God created

00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:20.960
 the world, he said,

00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:23.700
 let the most perfect union

00:35:23.700 --> 00:35:26.180
 with God be represented by

00:35:26.180 --> 00:35:27.599
 something at an infinite

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.619
 height above us.

00:35:30.140 --> 00:35:32.619
 And the eternally increasing

00:35:32.619 --> 00:35:34.380
 union of the saints with God

00:35:34.380 --> 00:35:35.780
 by something that is

00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:38.160
 ascending constantly towards

00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:39.159
 that infinite height,

00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:41.199
 moving upwards with a

00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:42.039
 given velocity.

00:35:42.299 --> 00:35:43.139
 You have to love how they

00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:44.759
 spoke in the 18th century,

00:35:44.839 --> 00:35:45.039
 right?

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:50.339
 And that is to continue

00:35:50.339 --> 00:35:53.399
 thus to move to all

00:35:53.399 --> 00:35:54.399
 eternity, he says.

00:35:55.659 --> 00:35:57.159
 That like infinite lines

00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:58.079
 approaching each other,

00:35:58.159 --> 00:36:00.399
 we'll never fully be able

00:36:00.399 --> 00:36:01.819
 to plumb the depths of God

00:36:01.819 --> 00:36:03.159
 in God's majesty and

00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.920
 greatness and beauty.

00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:07.879
 What a gift that God has

00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.780
 made us for that.

00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:11.280
 That we would have the

00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:13.340
 privilege as utterly

00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:15.059
 dependent contingent

00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:17.280
 creatures on him to get

00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:18.500
 to glorify him forever.

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.800
 Okay, let's pause there.

00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.800
 We have a little extra time

00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:27.619
 for questions this morning.

00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:29.440
 So feel free, we can talk

00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:30.780
 about the end for which God

00:36:30.780 --> 00:36:32.119
 created the world, or we can

00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:32.900
 kind of talk about anything

00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:33.500
 in this class.

00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:34.840
 Luke's here, thankfully, so he

00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:35.519
 can answer all the hard

00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:35.940
 questions.

00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:40.079
 But what comments or

00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:41.340
 questions or thoughts do you

00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:42.639
 have as we kind of wrap up

00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:44.320
 this class on the doctrine

00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:44.880
 of creation?

00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:46.440
 We can spend the next 10,

00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.840
 15 minutes just talking.

00:36:47.940 --> 00:36:48.280
 Yeah, Beth?

00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:52.259
 Where does suffering fit in

00:36:52.259 --> 00:36:52.659
 this picture?

00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:54.400
 Yeah, where does suffering

00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:55.059
 fit in this picture?

00:36:55.179 --> 00:36:55.380
 Right.

00:36:55.840 --> 00:36:57.039
 Yeah, well, I think Scripture

00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:58.019
 says a couple things about

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:59.019
 suffering, doesn't it?

00:36:59.219 --> 00:37:00.739
 You know, one, it does admit

00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:02.400
 that suffering is part of the

00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:03.420
 fall, right?

00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:05.980
 But that even suffering

00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:07.840
 doesn't fall outside of God's

00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:09.460
 purposes of glorifying himself

00:37:09.460 --> 00:37:12.280
 and us glorifying God, right?

00:37:12.700 --> 00:37:14.159
 I think this is the beauty of

00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:16.920
 the biblical worldview, that even

00:37:16.920 --> 00:37:20.300
 suffering doesn't sort of negate,

00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:22.220
 right, the ultimate purpose for

00:37:22.220 --> 00:37:23.139
 which God created the world.

00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.519
 Because God will ultimately

00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:25.960
 redeem even those things for his

00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:26.700
 glory, right?

00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:31.960
 I wonder if it's related, but I'm

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:33.279
 thinking, you know, if you're

00:37:33.279 --> 00:37:35.719
 talking to a non-believer, right?

00:37:35.859 --> 00:37:36.059
 Yeah.

00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:39.399
 And he's near, he says, you know,

00:37:39.419 --> 00:37:40.859
 hey, what's the purpose?

00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:41.679
 Why are we here?

00:37:41.799 --> 00:37:42.379
 Why are we here?

00:37:42.399 --> 00:37:42.659
 Yeah.

00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:45.119
 And you say, point two, well,

00:37:45.199 --> 00:37:47.539
 it's, you know, God's glory.

00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.939
 That would need some translation,

00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:49.399
 wouldn't it?

00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:49.779
 Right.

00:37:49.839 --> 00:37:50.079
 Yeah.

00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:51.779
 And a non-believer saying, are you

00:37:51.779 --> 00:37:52.799
 getting to look around?

00:37:52.839 --> 00:37:53.099
 Yeah.

00:37:53.339 --> 00:37:54.139
 Things are awful.

00:37:54.139 --> 00:37:54.539
 Yeah.

00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:55.019
 Right.

00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:57.659
 So, what's your response to that?

00:37:58.059 --> 00:37:58.900
 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:37:59.199 --> 00:38:00.259
 I think that's really good.

00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:03.599
 I think people seeing the

00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:06.279
 brokenness of the world is such a

00:38:06.279 --> 00:38:08.099
 good entree into understanding

00:38:08.099 --> 00:38:09.659
 the scriptural storyline, right?

00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:11.779
 Because what suffering tells us,

00:38:11.819 --> 00:38:14.500
 what evil tells us, right, is that

00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:17.219
 our relationship with God is

00:38:17.219 --> 00:38:18.679
 deeply broken and needs to be

00:38:18.679 --> 00:38:20.019
 fixed, right?

00:38:21.339 --> 00:38:23.699
 It just screams that, that

00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:26.219
 something is broken and needs to be

00:38:26.219 --> 00:38:28.879
 fixed, that somehow we're

00:38:28.879 --> 00:38:31.199
 separated from God and need to be

00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:31.960
 united to him.

00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:35.619
 And that is exactly what

00:38:35.619 --> 00:38:38.500
 Christianity is all about, that God

00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:40.739
 was willing to come into a world of

00:38:40.739 --> 00:38:43.099
 suffering and pain and brokenness and

00:38:43.099 --> 00:38:47.339
 to actually bear that into himself so

00:38:47.339 --> 00:38:48.699
 that we can be brought back to him

00:38:48.699 --> 00:38:51.699
 without our own suffering and

00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:52.199
 wickedness.

00:38:52.859 --> 00:38:54.000
 All the ways in which we

00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:56.759
 contribute to that, God's willing to

00:38:56.759 --> 00:38:58.059
 come and bear the consequences that

00:38:58.059 --> 00:39:01.419
 for us so that we can be reunited to

00:39:01.419 --> 00:39:04.319
 him, so we can start to live in new

00:39:04.319 --> 00:39:07.439
 communities where we kind of push back

00:39:07.439 --> 00:39:08.559
 the darkness, right?

00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:09.879
 Which is kind of what we're meant to be

00:39:09.879 --> 00:39:10.739
 doing as the church.

00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:13.339
 But it's also a promise, right?

00:39:13.339 --> 00:39:15.439
 What we see in Jesus is also a promise

00:39:15.439 --> 00:39:17.519
 that the suffering and evil of the world

00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:20.239
 won't last forever, that it will come to

00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:20.960
 an end one day.

00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:24.599
 That God's purpose in creation isn't

00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:25.559
 going to be stopped.

00:39:27.300 --> 00:39:27.900
 But it is.

00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:30.000
 You know, the problem of suffering is

00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:31.599
 one of those, I mean, it's probably one

00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:33.139
 of the top, like, three questions,

00:39:33.219 --> 00:39:34.519
 right, that we have when talking to

00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:35.119
 non-believers.

00:39:36.139 --> 00:39:38.739
 But I have found that just, even in my

00:39:38.739 --> 00:39:40.039
 own heart, thinking of it that way,

00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.639
 that, man, when I see evil and

00:39:41.639 --> 00:39:43.039
 brokenness in the world, is that not a

00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:44.980
 sign that our relationship with this

00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:47.539
 God has been fractured deeply.

00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:52.159
 In a very, in a deep way we probably

00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:53.759
 don't even really understand the depths

00:39:53.759 --> 00:39:53.960
 of.

00:39:55.139 --> 00:39:57.380
 And yet God is acting and has acted

00:39:57.380 --> 00:40:00.079
 supremely to bridge that chasm for us.

00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:01.259
 Yeah.

00:40:01.579 --> 00:40:02.019
 Yeah, Susan.

00:40:02.019 --> 00:40:05.059
 So I have observed in this

00:40:05.059 --> 00:40:10.519
 short lifetime that when I refuse to

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:17.440
 accept reality, I, when I concoct an

00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:19.840
 alternate reality, even over a small

00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:23.340
 thing, smaller thing, I do myself

00:40:23.340 --> 00:40:23.639
 hard.

00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:26.880
 If I get laid off from a job that I refuse

00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:29.179
 to accept that I've been laid off, and I

00:40:29.179 --> 00:40:30.860
 don't do anything to look for the next

00:40:30.860 --> 00:40:33.860
 job, or I keep going to that place when

00:40:33.860 --> 00:40:35.219
 I've been locked out of it.

00:40:36.059 --> 00:40:39.599
 So if it is true that there's a

00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:42.639
 created a fraud, coming to live God,

00:40:42.920 --> 00:40:45.000
 who's actively described in the Bible,

00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:49.920
 it's in my own self-interest to

00:40:49.920 --> 00:40:51.880
 conform my life to that reality.

00:40:52.059 --> 00:40:55.059
 I'm just fighting my time, dooming

00:40:55.059 --> 00:40:55.619
 myself.

00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:56.179
 Yeah.

00:40:56.519 --> 00:40:59.219
 If I don't come and choose sin.

00:40:59.519 --> 00:40:59.799
 Yeah.

00:41:00.519 --> 00:41:00.519


00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:03.519
 And isn't this sort of like cascading of

00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:06.279
 brokenness in the world, like, okay,

00:41:06.360 --> 00:41:08.099
 there are natural disasters in the

00:41:08.099 --> 00:41:09.619
 world, granted, right?

00:41:10.619 --> 00:41:17.019
 But, I mean, I would posit that 99.9%

00:41:17.019 --> 00:41:19.119
 of the real suffering in the world is

00:41:19.119 --> 00:41:20.880
 due to human beings trying to glorify

00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:23.199
 themselves and live for their own glory

00:41:23.199 --> 00:41:25.699
 and not live for the glory of God,

00:41:25.819 --> 00:41:30.039
 which has to then cascade out into the

00:41:30.039 --> 00:41:31.739
 love of others, right?

00:41:31.739 --> 00:41:33.799
 The reason why there's suffering and

00:41:33.799 --> 00:41:35.639
 poverty in so many parts of the world

00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:40.079
 today is because evil, selfish human

00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:44.039
 beings are glorifying themselves and not

00:41:44.039 --> 00:41:46.799
 taking their responsibility as humans or as

00:41:46.799 --> 00:41:48.719
 leaders, thankfully.

00:41:49.459 --> 00:41:49.699
 You know?

00:41:49.699 --> 00:41:53.579
 Yeah.

00:41:55.379 --> 00:41:57.159
 Because we're part of the system, right?

00:41:58.159 --> 00:41:58.599
 Exactly.

00:41:58.980 --> 00:42:00.239
 Even so come, Lord Jesus.

00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:01.059
 Yeah, exactly.

00:42:01.339 --> 00:42:02.159
 Yeah, Luke, go ahead.

00:42:02.159 --> 00:42:05.440
 I've thought about this problem of, like,

00:42:06.519 --> 00:42:08.500
 this feeling, this intuition that we have

00:42:08.500 --> 00:42:12.839
 that for God, the purpose of creation for God,

00:42:13.519 --> 00:42:15.920
 for it to be God's own glory, that intuition

00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:17.920
 that we have is like, oh, it's kind of selfish.

00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:18.299
 Yeah.

00:42:18.440 --> 00:42:19.779
 Is there a selfishness there?

00:42:20.259 --> 00:42:23.219
 But I think what's helped me is I think about,

00:42:25.079 --> 00:42:27.440
 so I think about, hey, what would I rather it be?

00:42:28.039 --> 00:42:28.299
 Yeah.

00:42:28.300 --> 00:42:29.480
 What would the alternative be?

00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:29.700
 Yeah.

00:42:29.940 --> 00:42:32.720
 What would I want God to, you know, like,

00:42:32.820 --> 00:42:35.480
 what do I want a good person to do?

00:42:35.539 --> 00:42:38.400
 I want them to be, I want them to serve justice

00:42:38.400 --> 00:42:41.560
 and love and, you know, maybe you ask somebody

00:42:41.560 --> 00:42:43.580
 else in the world, like, okay, if the purpose

00:42:43.580 --> 00:42:45.820
 of life isn't glorify God, what is the purpose

00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:46.320
 of life?

00:42:46.720 --> 00:42:49.800
 It's like to be a good person, like, in that sense,

00:42:49.880 --> 00:42:51.480
 serve immorality or whatever.

00:42:52.480 --> 00:42:56.880
 But I think one of the issues is when we think

00:42:56.880 --> 00:42:59.720
 of God as being on our level, we think of things

00:42:59.720 --> 00:43:03.519
 like morality and justice and love as being

00:43:03.519 --> 00:43:06.059
 some kind of standard above which God himself

00:43:06.059 --> 00:43:11.119
 must submit, when in reality, God is the love.

00:43:11.700 --> 00:43:12.780
 God is the justice.

00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:13.940
 God is the goodness.

00:43:14.079 --> 00:43:16.480
 So it's like anything that anybody else can come

00:43:16.480 --> 00:43:18.980
 up with, a good thing about the creative world

00:43:18.980 --> 00:43:23.099
 that is a worthy thing that we should submit

00:43:23.099 --> 00:43:26.000
 our life to or whatever, it's only just one part

00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:28.779
 of what God is in himself.

00:43:29.159 --> 00:43:32.119
 So it's like, it's not enough that you serve justice

00:43:32.119 --> 00:43:33.599
 as the ideal of your life.

00:43:33.739 --> 00:43:38.539
 Justice is a person and that person is also love

00:43:38.539 --> 00:43:39.719
 and goodness and everything else.

00:43:39.940 --> 00:43:44.360
 So by glorifying God, you're not only glorifying

00:43:44.360 --> 00:43:46.159
 those things that we naturally feel like,

00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:50.159
 oh, we should live for, but also everything else

00:43:50.159 --> 00:43:52.920
 that's good and the wrong get bundled up and it's not

00:43:52.920 --> 00:43:55.779
 even, you know, it's just a portion of what,

00:43:56.099 --> 00:43:57.480
 you know, I don't care about the same portion,

00:43:57.619 --> 00:44:02.460
 but, you know, it's only a little taste of what God is

00:44:02.460 --> 00:44:03.500
 in itself, right?

00:44:03.500 --> 00:44:03.639
 Yeah.

00:44:04.219 --> 00:44:06.279
 So I think that's been helpful for me.

00:44:06.539 --> 00:44:07.719
 Yeah, that's really helpful, Luke.

00:44:07.719 --> 00:44:08.039
 Thanks.

00:44:08.139 --> 00:44:08.279
 Yeah.

00:44:08.759 --> 00:44:09.899
 Let's see, Matt, you had your hand up

00:44:09.899 --> 00:44:10.480
 and then we'll go over here.

00:44:11.619 --> 00:44:13.739
 I don't know what Chris meant when he asked

00:44:13.739 --> 00:44:14.299
 this question.

00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:14.599
 Yeah.

00:44:14.599 --> 00:44:17.460
 What I thought that Chris asked this question was,

00:44:18.139 --> 00:44:22.460
 if somebody, you know, asks, you know,

00:44:22.799 --> 00:44:26.519
 the big question or what sounds like a big question,

00:44:27.279 --> 00:44:31.259
 if I don't feel comfortable handling that,

00:44:31.480 --> 00:44:33.759
 you know, if I wrestle with, oh, the purpose

00:44:33.759 --> 00:44:35.940
 and everything is, you know, the glory of God,

00:44:36.519 --> 00:44:41.839
 what I could say is, you know,

00:44:41.840 --> 00:44:43.700
 there are some things that are beyond me,

00:44:43.820 --> 00:44:46.059
 you know, and I'm not sure how to answer that question,

00:44:46.539 --> 00:44:50.539
 but here is what I do understand.

00:44:51.940 --> 00:44:57.579
 And then taking it down to, you know,

00:44:57.640 --> 00:45:02.220
 given evil, you know, how can God use that for good?

00:45:02.219 --> 00:45:11.159
 And I think of Romans 8, 29 or so.

00:45:11.279 --> 00:45:11.939
 Sure, sure.

00:45:12.719 --> 00:45:14.959
 What is God's purpose in salvation?

00:45:15.219 --> 00:45:18.699
 That Jesus would be the firstborn among many brethren.

00:45:19.019 --> 00:45:19.500
 That's right.

00:45:19.980 --> 00:45:26.419
 That, you know, my purpose here is to become more like God

00:45:26.420 --> 00:45:33.119
 and serve the purpose of having dominion

00:45:33.119 --> 00:45:36.480
 that God originally intended.

00:45:37.680 --> 00:45:38.500
 That's good, man.

00:45:38.720 --> 00:45:39.079
 Yeah, that's good.

00:45:39.079 --> 00:45:42.720
 So all of that clearly shows that a lot of things are beyond me.

00:45:44.019 --> 00:45:50.079
 But focusing on what I think by God's grace I do understand,

00:45:50.079 --> 00:45:55.900
 you may actually get more accurately what people were talking to.

00:45:55.900 --> 00:45:56.260
 Sure.

00:45:56.980 --> 00:45:58.119
 Yeah, that's helpful, Matt.

00:45:58.139 --> 00:45:58.440
 Thanks.

00:45:58.880 --> 00:45:59.460
 Yeah, let's go over here.

00:45:59.820 --> 00:46:02.099
 How would you respond to other Christians

00:46:02.099 --> 00:46:05.180
 who claim that certain nations suffer,

00:46:05.760 --> 00:46:09.700
 or that God intentionally makes certain nations suffer more than others

00:46:09.700 --> 00:46:12.920
 due to the sins of the people from that nation?

00:46:13.200 --> 00:46:14.780
 I don't know if I'm phrasing it correctly,

00:46:14.780 --> 00:46:17.280
 but like other Christians,

00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:21.660
 other people who claim that God is intentionally choosing

00:46:21.660 --> 00:46:23.740
 to make certain nations suffer,

00:46:23.739 --> 00:46:27.879
 because they claim that the people kind of,

00:46:28.659 --> 00:46:29.439
 I don't know,

00:46:29.579 --> 00:46:33.139
 like they claim that the people turned away from God.

00:46:33.279 --> 00:46:33.559
 Sure.

00:46:33.639 --> 00:46:34.259
 And so this is,

00:46:34.659 --> 00:46:37.059
 their suffering is as a result of their own actions.

00:46:37.319 --> 00:46:38.679
 Yeah, yeah.

00:46:39.779 --> 00:46:42.500
 Yeah, how would we respond as Christians

00:46:42.500 --> 00:46:44.559
 if someone, a fellow Christian says like,

00:46:44.559 --> 00:46:45.859
 well, those people over there,

00:46:45.959 --> 00:46:46.559
 that nation over there,

00:46:46.639 --> 00:46:49.819
 they're suffering because they're particularly bad sinners.

00:46:49.820 --> 00:46:50.140
 Right?

00:46:50.340 --> 00:46:50.740
 Right?

00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:51.240
 Yeah.

00:46:51.320 --> 00:46:54.820
 It's interesting that there was a moment in Jesus's life

00:46:54.820 --> 00:46:56.340
 when people came to him and said,

00:46:57.620 --> 00:46:59.860
 oh, did you hear about the tower that fell

00:46:59.860 --> 00:47:01.380
 on all those people and they died?

00:47:01.780 --> 00:47:02.960
 Did you hear about that?

00:47:04.059 --> 00:47:05.360
 And Jesus says,

00:47:05.760 --> 00:47:08.260
 do you think that those people are worse sinners

00:47:08.260 --> 00:47:10.559
 because they died in that accident?

00:47:12.059 --> 00:47:13.000
 And then he says,

00:47:13.140 --> 00:47:15.600
 I tell you, unless you repent,

00:47:15.820 --> 00:47:17.220
 the same thing will happen to you.

00:47:17.219 --> 00:47:22.099
 So Jesus himself does not kind of play the game

00:47:22.099 --> 00:47:24.899
 of like, who's the worst sinner

00:47:24.899 --> 00:47:27.439
 and that's why bad things are happening to them.

00:47:28.119 --> 00:47:30.819
 In fact, Jesus will even look at the man born blind

00:47:30.819 --> 00:47:32.759
 and said, this wasn't because of his sin

00:47:32.759 --> 00:47:33.539
 or his parents' sin.

00:47:33.819 --> 00:47:36.039
 He was born blind so that I could get the glory

00:47:36.039 --> 00:47:36.699
 in healing him.

00:47:37.559 --> 00:47:37.659
 Right?

00:47:38.119 --> 00:47:40.799
 So the reality is,

00:47:40.839 --> 00:47:41.759
 is that according to the Bible,

00:47:41.939 --> 00:47:44.159
 we're all sinners in desperate need of salvation

00:47:44.159 --> 00:47:47.119
 and that none of us is in the place of God

00:47:47.119 --> 00:47:49.699
 to say why certain historical events

00:47:49.699 --> 00:47:50.980
 are or are not happening.

00:47:52.039 --> 00:47:53.139
 With that being said,

00:47:53.799 --> 00:47:56.339
 you know, we do reap what we sow, right?

00:47:56.539 --> 00:47:58.859
 Like if there is a nation

00:47:58.859 --> 00:48:00.539
 where the leader of that nation

00:48:00.539 --> 00:48:03.519
 decides to like slaughter its own people,

00:48:03.759 --> 00:48:04.059
 right?

00:48:04.539 --> 00:48:07.239
 Is that because those people were sinners?

00:48:07.500 --> 00:48:08.940
 No, it's because that person

00:48:08.940 --> 00:48:10.179
 is doing something that's wicked.

00:48:10.179 --> 00:48:11.379
 Wicked, right?

00:48:12.679 --> 00:48:14.139
 That's clear, right?

00:48:14.199 --> 00:48:17.779
 And God is against that wickedness, right?

00:48:18.299 --> 00:48:21.179
 But I just think we need to be very careful

00:48:21.179 --> 00:48:24.379
 to sort of look at another group of people

00:48:24.379 --> 00:48:26.159
 or another nation state

00:48:26.159 --> 00:48:29.000
 that's undergoing duress or trial or suffering

00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:31.299
 and sort of draw a direct line between that

00:48:31.299 --> 00:48:33.799
 and particular sins that we might see, right?

00:48:34.099 --> 00:48:35.940
 I think the scriptures would have us look

00:48:35.940 --> 00:48:37.960
 more towards ourself and our own communities

00:48:37.960 --> 00:48:40.280
 and say, how do we need to be repenting?

00:48:40.619 --> 00:48:43.539
 And then how do we need to be loving them well

00:48:43.539 --> 00:48:45.699
 even if there are quote unquote enemies?

00:48:47.340 --> 00:48:47.500
 Yeah.

00:48:47.800 --> 00:48:48.920
 Matt, did you want to jump in on that?

00:48:49.639 --> 00:48:51.780
 I think everything you said is right,

00:48:52.400 --> 00:48:53.940
 but I think it's helpful

00:48:53.940 --> 00:48:56.000
 if somebody's thinking in that way

00:48:56.000 --> 00:48:57.760
 to acknowledge that at times

00:48:57.760 --> 00:49:00.659
 the Bible, you know, reveals historically

00:49:00.659 --> 00:49:03.699
 that yes, the reason why these people were punished

00:49:03.699 --> 00:49:05.320
 was because of their sin.

00:49:05.320 --> 00:49:05.780
 Yeah, sure.

00:49:05.840 --> 00:49:06.539
 That's true.

00:49:06.860 --> 00:49:07.039
 Yeah.

00:49:07.100 --> 00:49:09.519
 But the Bible revealed that directly.

00:49:10.059 --> 00:49:10.200
 Mm.

00:49:10.800 --> 00:49:11.440
 And then...

00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:12.280
 Very well said, yeah.

00:49:12.300 --> 00:49:12.559
 On the other hand,

00:49:12.640 --> 00:49:14.820
 as we look at a situation today

00:49:14.820 --> 00:49:16.559
 to acknowledge we're not,

00:49:16.640 --> 00:49:18.460
 just like you said, we're not God.

00:49:20.080 --> 00:49:20.960
 Yeah, that's right.

00:49:21.019 --> 00:49:21.320
 That's right.

00:49:21.360 --> 00:49:22.640
 Yeah, there are instances in the Old Testament

00:49:22.640 --> 00:49:25.660
 where God does send judgment on nations,

00:49:25.800 --> 00:49:26.580
 but, you know.

00:49:27.080 --> 00:49:28.660
 And revelation saying...

00:49:28.660 --> 00:49:29.260
 That's correct.

00:49:29.600 --> 00:49:30.039
 That's right.

00:49:30.100 --> 00:49:30.600
 That's right.

00:49:30.780 --> 00:49:31.640
 Yeah, that's right.

00:49:31.720 --> 00:49:31.880
 Good.

00:49:31.960 --> 00:49:32.360
 Thank you, Matt.

00:49:32.400 --> 00:49:32.660
 That's good.

00:49:33.039 --> 00:49:33.760
 Javani, yeah.

00:49:33.760 --> 00:49:35.740
 Yeah, so there are some traditions,

00:49:35.880 --> 00:49:36.780
 some Christian traditions

00:49:36.780 --> 00:49:38.040
 that emphasize a lot

00:49:38.040 --> 00:49:39.580
 the role of creation,

00:49:40.140 --> 00:49:41.500
 like the goal of creation

00:49:41.500 --> 00:49:43.240
 as being united with God

00:49:43.240 --> 00:49:44.400
 as its final...

00:49:44.400 --> 00:49:44.600
 Yeah, yeah.

00:49:44.920 --> 00:49:45.400
 Yeah.

00:49:46.060 --> 00:49:46.740
 Yeah, sure.

00:49:46.940 --> 00:49:47.360
 Sure, sure, sure.

00:49:47.540 --> 00:49:47.720
 Yeah.

00:49:47.720 --> 00:49:49.500
 And I was thinking, like,

00:49:50.160 --> 00:49:53.120
 what is the green thing

00:49:53.120 --> 00:49:54.220
 and also the danger

00:49:54.220 --> 00:49:56.040
 of taking this, like,

00:49:56.140 --> 00:49:57.200
 union with God

00:49:57.200 --> 00:49:58.220
 as the final...

00:49:58.220 --> 00:49:58.760
 Yeah.

00:49:59.100 --> 00:49:59.540
 ...goal?

00:49:59.920 --> 00:50:00.380
 Yeah.

00:50:00.380 --> 00:50:00.500
 Yeah.

00:50:00.500 --> 00:50:01.220
 I feel like that

00:50:01.220 --> 00:50:02.320
 merks a little bit

00:50:02.320 --> 00:50:03.380
 the distinction between...

00:50:03.380 --> 00:50:03.680
 It can.

00:50:03.740 --> 00:50:04.099
 ...creator,

00:50:04.099 --> 00:50:07.160
 but it's also a beautiful...

00:50:07.160 --> 00:50:07.519
 It is.

00:50:07.660 --> 00:50:07.980
 Yeah, yeah.

00:50:08.220 --> 00:50:08.800
 Peter says this.

00:50:08.900 --> 00:50:09.740
 Peter says this much,

00:50:09.840 --> 00:50:10.360
 that we're meant to be

00:50:10.360 --> 00:50:11.320
 partakers of the divine nature.

00:50:11.800 --> 00:50:11.980
 Yeah.

00:50:12.440 --> 00:50:14.260
 Yeah, well, I think you've landed

00:50:14.260 --> 00:50:16.220
 right upon the danger of that,

00:50:16.300 --> 00:50:17.280
 that one would need

00:50:17.280 --> 00:50:18.200
 to be careful of

00:50:18.200 --> 00:50:18.800
 in picking up

00:50:18.800 --> 00:50:19.680
 that biblical thread

00:50:19.680 --> 00:50:21.059
 to not blur

00:50:21.059 --> 00:50:22.440
 the distinction

00:50:22.440 --> 00:50:23.740
 between creator

00:50:23.740 --> 00:50:24.400
 and creature.

00:50:25.000 --> 00:50:26.880
 And Eastern Orthodoxy

00:50:26.880 --> 00:50:29.079
 does not actually blur

00:50:29.079 --> 00:50:29.740
 that distinction,

00:50:29.739 --> 00:50:32.359
 or at least in its best forms,

00:50:32.439 --> 00:50:33.799
 in its actual, like,

00:50:34.379 --> 00:50:36.079
 canonical dogmatic statements

00:50:36.079 --> 00:50:37.439
 does not blur that distinction.

00:50:37.559 --> 00:50:39.159
 It's not saying that we become

00:50:39.159 --> 00:50:42.239
 literally the triune God, right?

00:50:43.500 --> 00:50:44.819
 So in the West,

00:50:44.879 --> 00:50:46.059
 we found other ways

00:50:46.059 --> 00:50:47.799
 of talking about that, right?

00:50:48.959 --> 00:50:50.599
 But the benefit, I think,

00:50:50.639 --> 00:50:52.199
 of talking about union with God,

00:50:52.259 --> 00:50:54.839
 not just that it's a biblical theme,

00:50:55.420 --> 00:50:56.620
 but also, I think,

00:50:56.700 --> 00:50:57.019
 isn't it,

00:50:57.240 --> 00:50:59.079
 it's just a wonderful thing

00:50:59.079 --> 00:51:00.760
 to think that our communion

00:51:00.760 --> 00:51:01.420
 with God

00:51:01.420 --> 00:51:02.940
 is going to be so intimate,

00:51:03.360 --> 00:51:04.300
 so permanent,

00:51:05.160 --> 00:51:05.900
 that it,

00:51:06.600 --> 00:51:08.019
 Jesus himself says

00:51:08.019 --> 00:51:09.000
 that the Spirit

00:51:09.000 --> 00:51:10.019
 will come and live in us,

00:51:10.660 --> 00:51:11.700
 that he will come

00:51:11.700 --> 00:51:12.320
 and dwell in us,

00:51:12.340 --> 00:51:12.900
 that the Father

00:51:12.900 --> 00:51:13.539
 will come and make

00:51:13.539 --> 00:51:14.420
 his home in us, right?

00:51:14.539 --> 00:51:15.940
 That we do have

00:51:15.940 --> 00:51:18.140
 this union with God

00:51:18.140 --> 00:51:18.860
 that is intimate,

00:51:19.019 --> 00:51:19.760
 that is real,

00:51:19.920 --> 00:51:20.300
 that is deep,

00:51:20.360 --> 00:51:22.380
 that is transformative, right?

00:51:22.600 --> 00:51:23.820
 And I think it actually,

00:51:23.820 --> 00:51:24.440
 you know,

00:51:24.480 --> 00:51:25.280
 when you press into

00:51:25.280 --> 00:51:26.120
 some of these themes,

00:51:26.220 --> 00:51:27.780
 you find that a lot of times

00:51:27.780 --> 00:51:29.539
 theologians and traditions

00:51:29.539 --> 00:51:31.100
 are oftentimes saying

00:51:31.100 --> 00:51:32.539
 a lot of the same things,

00:51:32.740 --> 00:51:33.820
 just kind of coming at it

00:51:33.820 --> 00:51:34.660
 from different angles.

00:51:35.280 --> 00:51:36.519
 Because if one were to ask

00:51:36.519 --> 00:51:38.019
 someone like Edwards

00:51:38.019 --> 00:51:39.500
 in the Western tradition,

00:51:39.920 --> 00:51:40.100
 well,

00:51:40.300 --> 00:51:42.380
 how does God glorify himself?

00:51:42.620 --> 00:51:43.580
 He's going to start to talk

00:51:43.580 --> 00:51:44.700
 a lot about our union

00:51:44.700 --> 00:51:46.260
 and communion with God, right?

00:51:46.559 --> 00:51:47.420
 If you ask someone

00:51:47.420 --> 00:51:48.160
 in the Eastern tradition,

00:51:48.320 --> 00:51:48.400
 well,

00:51:49.019 --> 00:51:49.900
 towards what goal

00:51:49.900 --> 00:51:51.220
 is that union and communion?

00:51:51.360 --> 00:51:51.960
 It's going to be

00:51:51.960 --> 00:51:52.940
 for our own good,

00:51:53.019 --> 00:51:53.620
 for our own joy,

00:51:53.619 --> 00:51:54.339
 but ultimately

00:51:54.339 --> 00:51:57.139
 for the glory of God, right?

00:51:57.159 --> 00:51:57.599
 We're going to start

00:51:57.599 --> 00:51:58.579
 talking about the same things,

00:51:58.639 --> 00:51:59.039
 I think.

00:51:59.219 --> 00:51:59.920
 There are differences.

00:52:00.079 --> 00:52:00.900
 I don't want to collapse

00:52:00.900 --> 00:52:02.299
 all of the distinct

00:52:02.299 --> 00:52:02.960
 Christian traditions

00:52:02.960 --> 00:52:03.920
 into one thing,

00:52:04.139 --> 00:52:05.259
 but I do think

00:52:05.259 --> 00:52:05.759
 a lot of times

00:52:05.759 --> 00:52:06.299
 we end up

00:52:06.299 --> 00:52:07.299
 in some similar places

00:52:07.299 --> 00:52:08.339
 and can learn from each other

00:52:08.339 --> 00:52:09.440
 and how we speak

00:52:09.440 --> 00:52:10.380
 about those things, yeah.

00:52:11.739 --> 00:52:12.259
 Beth, yeah,

00:52:12.299 --> 00:52:12.619
 back to you.

00:52:12.619 --> 00:52:13.480
 I actually,

00:52:14.019 --> 00:52:14.880
 Luke's comment,

00:52:15.019 --> 00:52:15.900
 and Drew Boney's comment,

00:52:16.119 --> 00:52:16.579
 kind of,

00:52:16.859 --> 00:52:18.219
 or my thoughts were as well,

00:52:18.359 --> 00:52:18.839
 that like,

00:52:19.039 --> 00:52:20.619
 what you were teaching

00:52:20.619 --> 00:52:21.460
 teaching it

00:52:21.460 --> 00:52:22.339
 for a dhamdhamme

00:52:22.339 --> 00:52:23.039
 that like,

00:52:23.099 --> 00:52:23.980
 to be creative

00:52:23.980 --> 00:52:24.699
 with the capacity

00:52:24.699 --> 00:52:26.079
 to be in relationship

00:52:26.079 --> 00:52:26.659
 with God

00:52:26.659 --> 00:52:27.440
 or to be in union

00:52:27.440 --> 00:52:27.799
 with God.

00:52:28.400 --> 00:52:29.500
 We actually have to live

00:52:29.500 --> 00:52:29.960
 in the tension

00:52:29.960 --> 00:52:30.839
 between autonomy

00:52:30.839 --> 00:52:31.539
 and dependency.

00:52:31.839 --> 00:52:32.019
 Yeah.

00:52:32.019 --> 00:52:33.079
 And it's not just

00:52:33.079 --> 00:52:33.599
 the ability

00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:34.300
 to like,

00:52:34.719 --> 00:52:35.579
 choose sin

00:52:35.579 --> 00:52:36.340
 or choose God

00:52:36.340 --> 00:52:36.960
 or choose to be

00:52:36.960 --> 00:52:37.500
 our own God

00:52:37.500 --> 00:52:38.179
 or to choose God,

00:52:38.239 --> 00:52:39.179
 but to have a capacity

00:52:39.179 --> 00:52:40.219
 to engage

00:52:40.219 --> 00:52:41.820
 with God's otherness.

00:52:42.400 --> 00:52:43.519
 We have to be able

00:52:43.519 --> 00:52:43.920
 to,

00:52:44.460 --> 00:52:45.099
 at minimum,

00:52:45.360 --> 00:52:46.599
 imagine the idea

00:52:46.599 --> 00:52:47.480
 of otherness

00:52:47.480 --> 00:52:48.380
 and yet imagine

00:52:48.380 --> 00:52:49.199
 the idea

00:52:49.199 --> 00:52:49.880
 of like,

00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:51.699
 being like,

00:52:51.840 --> 00:52:53.380
 this self-contained

00:52:53.380 --> 00:52:54.099
 being.

00:52:54.960 --> 00:52:55.920
 And I think

00:52:55.920 --> 00:52:56.539
 that living

00:52:56.539 --> 00:52:57.320
 in that tension

00:52:57.320 --> 00:52:59.420
 is almost this like,

00:53:00.059 --> 00:53:01.019
 building capacity

00:53:01.019 --> 00:53:01.800
 to be a sinner.

00:53:02.759 --> 00:53:06.219
 And to be broken,

00:53:06.539 --> 00:53:06.759
 right?

00:53:06.900 --> 00:53:07.619
 But it's also

00:53:07.619 --> 00:53:08.559
 that same capacity

00:53:08.559 --> 00:53:09.659
 that allows us

00:53:09.659 --> 00:53:10.119
 to be

00:53:10.119 --> 00:53:11.699
 identifiers of God

00:53:11.699 --> 00:53:12.679
 and to actually

00:53:12.679 --> 00:53:14.300
 in union with God.

00:53:14.380 --> 00:53:14.739
 That's right.

00:53:15.139 --> 00:53:15.800
 Yeah, that's right.

00:53:16.159 --> 00:53:16.599
 Yeah.

00:53:17.000 --> 00:53:18.280
 We wouldn't want to say

00:53:18.280 --> 00:53:19.500
 that creation

00:53:19.500 --> 00:53:20.360
 is sort of

00:53:20.360 --> 00:53:21.119
 preloaded

00:53:21.119 --> 00:53:22.019
 or predetermined

00:53:22.019 --> 00:53:22.539
 to sin,

00:53:23.079 --> 00:53:23.360
 right?

00:53:24.480 --> 00:53:25.619
 But the fact

00:53:25.619 --> 00:53:26.340
 that we are

00:53:26.340 --> 00:53:27.599
 distinct from

00:53:27.599 --> 00:53:28.259
 and yet dependent

00:53:28.259 --> 00:53:28.960
 on God,

00:53:29.840 --> 00:53:31.000
 God did create

00:53:31.000 --> 00:53:31.719
 Adam and Eve

00:53:31.719 --> 00:53:32.519
 with the freedom

00:53:32.519 --> 00:53:33.480
 to not obey,

00:53:33.799 --> 00:53:34.099
 right?

00:53:34.699 --> 00:53:35.599
 And they actually

00:53:35.599 --> 00:53:36.639
 took that path,

00:53:36.719 --> 00:53:37.019
 right?

00:53:37.399 --> 00:53:38.739
 But how much more

00:53:38.739 --> 00:53:39.879
 will God be glorified

00:53:39.879 --> 00:53:40.739
 in redeeming us

00:53:40.739 --> 00:53:41.179
 from that

00:53:41.179 --> 00:53:42.199
 so that we can

00:53:42.199 --> 00:53:43.419
 then live

00:53:43.419 --> 00:53:44.679
 that dependent

00:53:44.679 --> 00:53:45.939
 freedom

00:53:45.939 --> 00:53:46.959
 that we have

00:53:46.959 --> 00:53:47.480
 in God

00:53:47.480 --> 00:53:48.539
 to his glory,

00:53:48.899 --> 00:53:49.219
 right?

00:53:49.719 --> 00:53:50.059
 You know,

00:53:50.119 --> 00:53:50.639
 why did God

00:53:50.639 --> 00:53:51.379
 allow the fall?

00:53:51.380 --> 00:53:52.820
 Augustine will say

00:53:52.820 --> 00:53:53.800
 because God

00:53:53.800 --> 00:53:54.740
 wanted to be glorified

00:53:54.740 --> 00:53:55.619
 not just as creator

00:53:55.619 --> 00:53:56.340
 but as redeemer.

00:53:59.340 --> 00:53:59.780
 Right.

00:54:00.579 --> 00:54:01.019
 Yeah.

00:54:01.019 --> 00:54:01.099
 Yeah.

00:54:07.099 --> 00:54:07.220
 Yeah.

00:54:07.720 --> 00:54:08.119
 Yeah.

00:54:08.880 --> 00:54:09.519
 Okay, friends,

00:54:09.559 --> 00:54:10.360
 we should close there.

00:54:12.360 --> 00:54:13.200
 Next week,

00:54:13.640 --> 00:54:14.440
 bring your friends.

00:54:14.640 --> 00:54:15.059
 We're going to be

00:54:15.059 --> 00:54:15.900
 talking about work

00:54:15.900 --> 00:54:17.800
 on your day off.

00:54:17.800 --> 00:54:18.220
 No,

00:54:18.300 --> 00:54:18.620
 we're going to,

00:54:18.940 --> 00:54:19.539
 isn't it great

00:54:19.539 --> 00:54:19.820
 that,

00:54:19.900 --> 00:54:20.039
 you know,

00:54:20.080 --> 00:54:20.880
 we just started

00:54:20.880 --> 00:54:21.920
 to touch on this theme

00:54:21.920 --> 00:54:22.440
 of being made

00:54:22.440 --> 00:54:23.039
 in God's image,

00:54:23.140 --> 00:54:24.080
 being culture bearers.

00:54:24.220 --> 00:54:25.280
 For the next eight weeks,

00:54:25.300 --> 00:54:25.820
 we're going to talk

00:54:25.820 --> 00:54:26.380
 about work

00:54:26.380 --> 00:54:27.320
 and vocation

00:54:27.320 --> 00:54:28.320
 and the gospel

00:54:28.320 --> 00:54:29.220
 and how the gospel

00:54:29.220 --> 00:54:30.080
 can help inform

00:54:30.080 --> 00:54:31.019
 and shape

00:54:31.019 --> 00:54:31.980
 how we go about

00:54:31.980 --> 00:54:33.060
 these vocations

00:54:33.060 --> 00:54:33.720
 and callings

00:54:33.720 --> 00:54:34.420
 and tasks

00:54:34.420 --> 00:54:34.900
 and labors

00:54:34.900 --> 00:54:35.539
 that we have.

00:54:35.680 --> 00:54:36.820
 So let me pray quickly

00:54:36.820 --> 00:54:37.440
 and then we'll go.

00:54:37.720 --> 00:54:38.080
 Father,

00:54:38.180 --> 00:54:38.900
 we praise you

00:54:38.900 --> 00:54:39.940
 as our creator.

00:54:40.680 --> 00:54:41.860
 We confess

00:54:41.860 --> 00:54:42.340
 with the church

00:54:42.340 --> 00:54:42.960
 of all ages

00:54:42.960 --> 00:54:44.060
 that we believe

00:54:44.060 --> 00:54:44.539
 in God,

00:54:44.600 --> 00:54:45.500
 the Father almighty,

00:54:45.660 --> 00:54:46.300
 creator of heaven

00:54:46.300 --> 00:54:46.700
 and earth

00:54:46.700 --> 00:54:48.060
 and that brings us

00:54:48.060 --> 00:54:48.720
 great joy

00:54:48.720 --> 00:54:49.680
 and confidence,

00:54:49.940 --> 00:54:50.800
 happiness in you,

00:54:50.900 --> 00:54:51.120
 God.

00:54:51.660 --> 00:54:51.860
 Lord,

00:54:51.920 --> 00:54:52.500
 help us to rest

00:54:52.500 --> 00:54:52.820
 in you,

00:54:52.900 --> 00:54:53.300
 our creator,

00:54:53.420 --> 00:54:53.900
 this week

00:54:53.900 --> 00:54:54.580
 and give you

00:54:54.580 --> 00:54:55.200
 much praise.

00:54:55.880 --> 00:54:56.100
 Amen.