WEBVTT

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 Father, you have given to us wonderful gifts.

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 You have given to us the gift of your word,

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 inspired by you, written down,

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 so that we can read it and hear your voice to us today.

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 And thank you that you have given to us also the gift of your Holy Spirit

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 to open up our minds,

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 that we may understand not just intellectually,

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 but we may understand spiritually the things that you are teaching us and showing us.

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 And we ask for his help,

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 that we may understand what it is to be your people.

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 And we ask, Father, that through our study this morning,

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 we would be encouraged,

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 and we would be built up together,

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 and that we would live well as your people in this world.

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 We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 So what comes to mind when you hear the word church?

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 Perhaps a worship service you attend on a Sunday morning.

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 Maybe it's an old building with beautiful architecture and stained glass windows.

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 Maybe you see church as an outdated institution that's no longer relevant.

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 Or perhaps church stirs up emotions of fear and hate,

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 memories of abuse and hurt.

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 It's important then for us when we think about church

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 to understand what we mean by church.

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 Well, in the Bible, the word simply means

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 a gathering of God's people.

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 In fact, the whole story of the Bible is God's plan

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 and God's promise to create a people for himself,

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 a people who are gathered around the Lord Jesus.

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 So at the very beginning of our Bibles,

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 in Exodus 6 verse 7, it says this.

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 I think it's all on your notes there.

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 I will take you as my own people

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 and I will be your God.

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 So God's promise to his people Israel

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 to gather them to himself, to rescue them,

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 and they would be his people.

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 And then at the very end of the Bible,

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 in Revelation chapter 21,

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 we get the fulfillment of that promise

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 and that plan.

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 where it says,

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 look, God's dwelling place is now among the people.

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 They will be his people

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 and God himself will be with them

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 and be their God.

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 So God's plan from before the creation of the world

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 is to create a people for himself

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 and he is fulfilling that throughout history.

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 And one day,

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 that will come to its ultimate fulfillment

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 as we are gathered around the Lord Jesus

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 in the new heavens and the new earth.

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 So first, when we come to think about church,

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 we need to see it as a who,

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 not a what.

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 Church is not a building.

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 This is not church.

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 This is the community center.

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 The church may be in this building,

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 but it's not the building itself.

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 It's not a service

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 or it's not an institution.

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 It is a people who are saved by God

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 and are belonging to God.

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 So look, for example,

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 how Paul writes his letter to the church

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 in Ephesus chapter 1, verse 1.

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 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus

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 by the will of God,

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 to God's holy people in Ephesus,

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 the faithful,

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 that is those who have faith in Christ Jesus.

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 And then at the end of the letter,

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 the very last couple of verses,

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 chapter 6, verse 23 and 24,

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 he says,

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 Peace to the brothers and sisters.

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 And love with faith from God,

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 the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ

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 with an undying love.

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 So the church is a people,

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 brothers and sisters,

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 united together in their faith in Christ

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 and their love for Christ.

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 They are God's holy people

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 who have been called out

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 from the world to himself.

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 So when we think about church,

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 we think who,

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 not a what.

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 Second, when we think of church,

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 we need to see it as both

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 a local gathering

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 and a heavenly gathering.

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 So again, go back to chapter 1, verse 1.

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 So we're thinking of church as a who,

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 it's a people,

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 but it's also a local gathering

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 and a heavenly gathering.

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 So verse 1, he says,

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 to God's holy people in Ephesus.

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 It's a local gathering of God's people

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 in the city of Ephesus.

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 And that's how Paul writes many of his letters.

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 So he writes to the church of God in Corinth.

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 Or to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi.

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 To God's holy people in Colossae.

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 So the church is a local gathering of believers in Christ.

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 And this is what this gathering is here.

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 It's a local gathering of believers in Christ,

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 in Carigalline.

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 But it's much more than just a local gathering of believers.

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 Ralph referred to this earlier on,

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 just before we sang.

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 So chapter 2, verse 6.

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 So the believers are a local gathering,

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 but also, chapter 2, verse 6,

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 And God raised us up with Christ

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 and seated us with him

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 in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

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 So where is the church now?

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 Well, it's a local gathering,

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 but in verse 6, chapter 2, verse 6,

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 it's also saying that we are already seated

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 with Christ in the heavenly realms.

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 Now, we don't fully experience that yet

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 in all its fullness,

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 but from God's perspective,

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 as he looks at the church now,

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 we are already part of the eternal heavenly gathering.

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 You see, the church is not just this temporary thing we do

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 until we get to heaven

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 and then we dump church and put it to one side.

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 No, heaven is church in all its fullness.

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 It's a continuation.

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 We don't stop being the church

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 when Christ comes again.

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 We continue as the church for all eternity.

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 You see, the local church,

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 this gathering of believers here in this location,

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 is a visible manifestation.

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 It's a picture of the eternal heavenly gathering

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 that is to come.

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 John Stott, a well-respected writer and pastor,

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 put it like this.

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 You have it on your notes.

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 Follow along with me.

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 He explains it like this.

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 He says,

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 The church lies at the very centre of the eternal purpose of God.

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 It is not a divine afterthought.

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 It's not an accident in history.

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 On the contrary, the church is God's new community.

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 For his purpose, conceived in past eternity,

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 being worked out in history,

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 and to be perfected in a future eternity,

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 is not just to save isolated individuals

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 and so perpetuate our loneliness,

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 but rather to build his church.

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 That is, to call out of the world

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 a people for his own glory.

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 So the church isn't just this made-up idea.

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 It is God's plan and purpose from before time began,

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 which will reach its fulfilment

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 when all God's people

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 from all lots of local churches

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 from around the world

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 will be gathered together with him.

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 God's church is at the very centre

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 of his plan and promise for the world.

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 So let's unpack this a little bit more

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 under two headings.

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 First, defining who the church is.

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 Defining who the church is.

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 We've seen that the church is a who.

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 It's a people.

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 It's also a local gathering,

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 which is a visible expression

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 of our eternal heavenly gathering.

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 But who is the church?

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 Is everybody here in this room

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 or in this building

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 part of the church?

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 Can anyone be part of the church?

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 I mean, how do you become

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 part of the church?

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 Well, hopefully, the Bible gives us

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 a great image for the church,

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 the head and the body.

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 So have a look at chapter 1,

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 verse 21.

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 Ephesians chapter 1, verse 21.

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 So here, Paul has been talking about

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 how God had raised Christ from the dead.

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 And he tells us Christ was raised,

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 verse 21,

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 far and above all rule and authority,

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 power and dominion,

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 and every name that is invoked,

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 not only in the present age,

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 but also in the one to come.

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 And God placed all things

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 under Christ's feet

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 and appointed him to be head

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 over everything for the church.

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 So Christ is the head.

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 Christ is the ruler of the church.

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 He has absolute power

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 and supreme authority

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 over all people

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 and over all things,

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 over everything in this universe.

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 He is over it all

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 for the good of the church.

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 I don't own the church.

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 I may be pastor of this local church,

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 but I don't own it.

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 We don't own the church.

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 The church belongs to Christ.

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 He is the head.

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 He is the supreme one

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 over all things.

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 Now read on.

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 The church, verse 23,

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 which is his body,

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 the fullness of him

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 who fills everything

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 in every way.

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 So the church,

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 Christ is the head.

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 The church is the body.

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 We're under the head.

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 We submit to the head.

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 But more than that,

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 the head is our source of life.

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 That's what I think is meant

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 by that little phrase,

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 the fullness of him

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 who fills everything

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 in every way.

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 Not only is the church

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 an expression of Christ,

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 the body of Christ,

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 but all of Christ

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 is in his people.

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 So he is the source

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 of true life.

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 And without the head,

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 there is no life.

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 So if Christ is the head

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 and the church,

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 the people,

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 are the body,

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 well, we're still back

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 to the same question.

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 Who is part of the body?

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 Who gets to make up

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 the body of Christ?

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 Well, two things.

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 First,

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 the body

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 are sinners

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 who are saved

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 by grace.

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 The body

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 are sinners

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 saved by grace.

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 So chapter 2,

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 verse 1.

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 As for you,

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 he's talking to

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 the local church,

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 as for you,

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 you are dead

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 in your transgressions

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 and sins.

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 Now that leaves us

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 in a dangerous position.

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 To be dead in our sin

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 is not a good place to be.

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 It's not just living

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 as we please.

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 It puts us in danger.

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 We see that at the end

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 of verse 3.

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 Because of our sin,

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 end of verse 3,

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 like the rest,

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 we were by nature

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 deserving of wrath.

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 Because of our rebellion,

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 because of our turning

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 against God,

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 we're under

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 his just judgment.

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 And that's a dangerous

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 place to be

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 because to stand

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 before God's judgment

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 means to be

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 separated from him

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 for all eternity,

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 not as the gathered

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 people of God

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 in the new heavens

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 and the new earth,

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 but separated

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 from the people of God

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 and from God himself

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 in hell.

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 But thankfully,

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 God kept his promise

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 to gather a people

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 to himself.

00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:03.019
 So, verse 4,

00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:05.039
 but because of his

00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:06.179
 great love for us,

00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:07.620
 God, who is rich

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.740
 in mercy,

00:14:08.939 --> 00:14:09.799
 made us alive

00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:10.539
 with Christ

00:14:10.539 --> 00:14:12.120
 even when we were

00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:15.379
 dead in transgressions.

00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:17.000
 It is by grace

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.779
 you have been saved.

00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:20.679
 God has intervened

00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:22.460
 into our lives

00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.699
 by his Son,

00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:24.840
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:26.019
 He has saved,

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:27.059
 he has rescued

00:14:27.059 --> 00:14:27.840
 his people

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.960
 by taking upon himself

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.740
 the judgment

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.799
 they deserve,

00:14:32.180 --> 00:14:33.220
 the wrath of God

00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:34.680
 has fallen on Christ

00:14:34.680 --> 00:14:37.120
 and in its place

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:37.799
 they are given

00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:38.899
 new life

00:14:38.899 --> 00:14:40.159
 with Christ.

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.360
 And that gift

00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.200
 of salvation

00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:45.580
 is for all those

00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.779
 who will trust in him.

00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:47.139
 So,

00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:48.279
 if today

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.060
 you are here

00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:50.200
 and your faith

00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.580
 is in Jesus Christ,

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.600
 you are saved.

00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:55.240
 It's by grace.

00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.000
 It's not because

00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:57.159
 of something you've done.

00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:58.240
 It's not because

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.060
 of your background

00:14:59.060 --> 00:14:59.980
 or your heritage

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.060
 or your family

00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:02.019
 who you belong to.

00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.920
 It's by God's

00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:04.800
 gracious gift.

00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:05.720
 You are no longer

00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:06.340
 dead.

00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:08.120
 You are no longer

00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:09.460
 under God's wrath

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.000
 and judgment

00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.159
 but you are now

00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:11.980
 living under

00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:13.120
 your new head,

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.639
 your new ruler,

00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.980
 Jesus Christ.

00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:18.379
 Verse 6,

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.659
 And God has raised

00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.840
 us with Christ

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.620
 and seated us

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.120
 with him

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.259
 in the heavenly realms

00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.879
 in Christ Jesus.

00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:29.320
 So,

00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:30.240
 those who are

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.120
 in the body,

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:32.200
 those who are part

00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:33.360
 of the body of Christ

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.500
 are sinners

00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.159
 who have been

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:37.220
 saved by grace

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.960
 and are now,

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:39.580
 as it were,

00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.100
 gathered with the

00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:41.720
 Lord Jesus

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:43.779
 in the heavenly realms.

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.320
 But not only

00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:47.080
 are those saved

00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:47.840
 by grace,

00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:49.799
 they are now

00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.340
 members

00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:52.139
 of one body.

00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:53.360
 So,

00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:53.919
 have a look at

00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:54.740
 chapter 3,

00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:56.059
 verse 6.

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.539
 Those who are

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:58.979
 saved by grace

00:15:58.979 --> 00:16:00.979
 become members

00:16:00.979 --> 00:16:03.379
 of the one body.

00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.740
 Chapter 3,

00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:06.299
 verse 6.

00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:07.579
 This mystery,

00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.099
 so the mystery

00:16:09.099 --> 00:16:10.139
 he's been talking

00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:11.379
 about is not

00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:12.219
 something that's

00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:12.559
 secret,

00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.599
 it has now been

00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:15.019
 revealed by God,

00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.719
 his plan and promise

00:16:16.719 --> 00:16:17.699
 to make a people

00:16:17.699 --> 00:16:18.459
 for himself.

00:16:18.699 --> 00:16:19.719
 That's the mystery

00:16:19.719 --> 00:16:20.740
 that has been

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.219
 revealed.

00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:21.779
 So,

00:16:21.819 --> 00:16:22.419
 he tells us,

00:16:22.419 --> 00:16:23.259
 this mystery,

00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:24.679
 is that through

00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:25.419
 the gospel,

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:27.159
 the Gentiles,

00:16:27.339 --> 00:16:28.279
 Gentiles are people

00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.599
 who are not Jews,

00:16:29.959 --> 00:16:31.299
 are heirs together

00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:32.579
 with Israel.

00:16:32.959 --> 00:16:34.159
 Members together

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:35.939
 of one body

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:37.860
 and sharers together

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.979
 in the promise

00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:40.679
 in Christ Jesus.

00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:41.659
 So,

00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:42.659
 through the gospel,

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.699
 through the good news

00:16:43.699 --> 00:16:44.719
 of Jesus Christ,

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:46.219
 as that good news

00:16:46.219 --> 00:16:47.559
 spread to all

00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.319
 different peoples

00:16:48.319 --> 00:16:49.079
 from all different

00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:49.679
 backgrounds,

00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:53.239
 they were achieving

00:16:53.239 --> 00:16:54.319
 God's plan

00:16:54.319 --> 00:16:54.899
 and promise

00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:55.939
 which was to bring

00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:57.079
 a people together

00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:57.959
 for himself.

00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.039
 They would become

00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.339
 members of one

00:17:00.339 --> 00:17:01.120
 body,

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:02.359
 the body of Christ.

00:17:03.219 --> 00:17:03.679
 So,

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.399
 no matter what

00:17:04.399 --> 00:17:05.299
 your race is,

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:06.519
 no matter what

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.259
 your culture,

00:17:07.679 --> 00:17:08.319
 or what your

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:08.799
 background,

00:17:09.179 --> 00:17:09.980
 it doesn't matter

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.599
 whether you are

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.859
 Jew or Gentile,

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.339
 rich or poor,

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:13.859
 whether you are

00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:15.079
 male or female,

00:17:15.879 --> 00:17:17.139
 through faith in

00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:17.620
 Christ,

00:17:18.020 --> 00:17:19.080
 we become

00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:20.720
 members of

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:21.580
 the body of

00:17:21.580 --> 00:17:22.040
 Christ.

00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.259
 Or as it has

00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:24.700
 at the end

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.420
 of verse 6,

00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:27.220
 we are sharers

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.280
 together in the

00:17:28.280 --> 00:17:29.860
 promise in

00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:30.720
 Christ Jesus.

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:32.460
 We are incorporated

00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:34.060
 together as

00:17:34.060 --> 00:17:34.940
 God's people.

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:36.900
 So,

00:17:37.280 --> 00:17:38.060
 the body

00:17:38.060 --> 00:17:40.020
 are sinners

00:17:40.020 --> 00:17:41.160
 saved by grace

00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:42.640
 who become

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.780
 members of

00:17:43.780 --> 00:17:44.660
 that one body.

00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.440
 And if we are

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.200
 members of the

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.140
 body of Christ,

00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:50.080
 that is expressed

00:17:50.080 --> 00:17:52.019
 in two ways.

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.320
 It's expressed

00:17:54.320 --> 00:17:55.440
 through baptism

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:57.140
 and the Lord's

00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:57.400
 Supper.

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:58.440
 So,

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.019
 let's take

00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.340
 each one in

00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:00.600
 turn.

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.080
 First,

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.740
 baptism.

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.940
 You can turn

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.600
 to this if you

00:18:04.600 --> 00:18:04.840
 like,

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.420
 but I think

00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.340
 it's on your

00:18:06.340 --> 00:18:06.720
 notes.

00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:08.860
 In Acts 19,

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:09.860
 Luke,

00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:10.440
 the author,

00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.160
 gives an

00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:11.840
 account of

00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:12.420
 when Paul

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.220
 first went

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.799
 to Ephesus.

00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:14.200
 So,

00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:15.160
 before there

00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:15.779
 was a church,

00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:16.340
 before there

00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:17.039
 was a gathering

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.639
 of God's

00:18:17.639 --> 00:18:17.959
 people,

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.039
 Paul went

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.220
 there,

00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.679
 others had

00:18:19.679 --> 00:18:20.039
 been there,

00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:20.419
 they'd been

00:18:20.419 --> 00:18:21.179
 teaching and

00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:21.799
 sharing the

00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.240
 good news

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.839
 of Christ.

00:18:23.699 --> 00:18:24.059
 And as

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:24.619
 Paul went

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:24.839
 there,

00:18:24.919 --> 00:18:25.179
 they had

00:18:25.179 --> 00:18:25.779
 been talking

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.519
 about John

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.099
 the Baptist.

00:18:28.619 --> 00:18:29.119
 And they

00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:29.759
 talked about

00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.439
 the baptism

00:18:30.439 --> 00:18:30.959
 of John

00:18:30.959 --> 00:18:31.459
 the Baptist.

00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:32.939
 And Paul

00:18:32.939 --> 00:18:33.779
 responds to

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.599
 their discussions

00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:35.319
 and he says

00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:36.019
 this in Acts

00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:36.699
 19,

00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.980
 verses 4 and

00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:38.259
 5.

00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:38.939
 He told,

00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.119
 Paul told

00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:40.720
 the people

00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.899
 to believe

00:18:41.899 --> 00:18:42.500
 in the one

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.419
 coming after

00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:43.720
 him.

00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:44.519
 that is the

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.160
 one coming

00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:46.240
 after John

00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:46.819
 the Baptist,

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:48.160
 that is in

00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:48.600
 Jesus.

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.660
 And as they

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.240
 heard about

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.880
 Jesus on

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.700
 hearing this,

00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:53.460
 they were

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.779
 baptized into

00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.380
 the name of

00:18:56.380 --> 00:18:56.799
 the Lord

00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.200
 Jesus.

00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:59.339
 They heard

00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.460
 the gospel,

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.460
 they believed

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.579
 the gospel,

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:04.500
 and in

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.220
 response,

00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.120
 they were

00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:07.579
 baptized into

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:09.380
 the name of

00:19:09.380 --> 00:19:09.779
 the Lord

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.700
 Jesus Christ.

00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.299
 So they

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.559
 effectively,

00:19:13.360 --> 00:19:14.120
 when we

00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:14.720
 are baptized,

00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:15.400
 when they

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.019
 were baptized,

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.559
 they were

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:16.900
 saying,

00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:17.360
 yes,

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:17.880
 on the one

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.100
 hand,

00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:18.940
 I believe

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.620
 in Christ,

00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.340
 I believe

00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:21.000
 in Jesus,

00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:22.840
 but yet I

00:19:22.840 --> 00:19:23.680
 also belong

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.120
 to his

00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:24.700
 family,

00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.240
 to the

00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.400
 body of

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:26.779
 Jesus,

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:28.400
 to Christ's

00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:28.740
 family.

00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.519
 So when

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.080
 we're being

00:19:31.080 --> 00:19:31.539
 baptized,

00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.880
 it is both

00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:33.580
 a commitment

00:19:33.580 --> 00:19:34.500
 to Christ

00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:34.900
 to say,

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.200
 yes,

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:35.720
 I believe

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.380
 in Christ,

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.740
 but it is

00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.340
 also a

00:19:38.340 --> 00:19:39.160
 commitment to

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.779
 the church

00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.140
 saying,

00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:40.960
 yes,

00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:41.600
 I am

00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:42.200
 now part

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:42.900
 of God's

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.540
 family.

00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:47.940
 And second,

00:19:48.280 --> 00:19:49.020
 the Lord's

00:19:49.020 --> 00:19:49.320
 Supper.

00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:53.840
 I think

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:54.160
 we need

00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:54.860
 to go to

00:19:54.860 --> 00:19:55.740
 1 Corinthians

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.759
 chapter 11

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.920
 for this.

00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.480
 When we

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.120
 think about

00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:00.580
 church,

00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.080
 it's not

00:20:01.080 --> 00:20:01.680
 that there's

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:03.280
 one particular

00:20:03.280 --> 00:20:04.000
 letter or

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.780
 one particular

00:20:04.780 --> 00:20:05.580
 passage in

00:20:05.580 --> 00:20:06.100
 the Bible

00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:06.640
 which says

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.380
 this is what

00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:07.920
 church is

00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.500
 all about.

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.920
 it's taught

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:10.599
 throughout in

00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:11.279
 many different

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.880
 ways.

00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:12.880
 So let's

00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:13.220
 go to

00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:13.779
 1 Corinthians

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.579
 chapter 11.

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.099
 It's back

00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:15.420
 a few

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:15.960
 pages.

00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.640
 1 Corinthians

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.680
 chapter 11.

00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.200
 So in

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.299
 this section

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.180
 chapter 11,

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.700
 the second

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.279
 half of it

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:34.980
 is all about

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.880
 the Lord's

00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:36.140
 Supper.

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:38.520
 chapter 11,

00:20:38.520 --> 00:20:39.140
 but there's

00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:39.600
 been a problem

00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:39.620
 in the church.

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.640
 So chapter 11,

00:20:42.780 --> 00:20:43.720
 verse 18.

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.420
 And he's

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.000
 responding,

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.460
 Paul's

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.200
 responding to

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:47.680
 the problem

00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.220
 in the church.

00:20:48.300 --> 00:20:48.560
 He says,

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.080
 in the first

00:20:49.080 --> 00:20:49.520
 place,

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.680
 I hear that

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.300
 when you come

00:20:51.300 --> 00:20:52.220
 together as

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:52.840
 a church,

00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:53.880
 now isn't

00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.680
 that significant?

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.520
 He's writing

00:20:55.520 --> 00:20:56.160
 to a church

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.440
 and he's

00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:56.580
 saying,

00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:56.759
 look,

00:20:57.060 --> 00:20:57.960
 as you come

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.400
 together,

00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.280
 as you meet

00:20:59.280 --> 00:21:00.040
 together as

00:21:00.040 --> 00:21:00.880
 God's people,

00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:02.820
 there are

00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:03.860
 divisions among

00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:04.160
 you.

00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:05.600
 And to some

00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:05.920
 extent,

00:21:06.040 --> 00:21:06.660
 I believe

00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:06.960
 it.

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.100
 You see,

00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:09.780
 the Lord's

00:21:09.780 --> 00:21:10.840
 Supper was

00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:11.440
 to be a

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.040
 meal to

00:21:12.040 --> 00:21:12.540
 remember

00:21:12.540 --> 00:21:13.340
 Christ's

00:21:13.340 --> 00:21:13.680
 death,

00:21:14.040 --> 00:21:14.740
 which was

00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.280
 also an

00:21:15.280 --> 00:21:16.140
 expression of

00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:16.860
 their unity

00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.880
 in Christ.

00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:18.800
 But that's

00:21:18.800 --> 00:21:19.460
 not how they

00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.360
 were celebrating

00:21:20.360 --> 00:21:20.760
 it.

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:21.500
 Look at

00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.180
 verse 20.

00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:24.020
 He says,

00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:24.480
 so then,

00:21:24.580 --> 00:21:24.940
 when you

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.760
 come together,

00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:27.280
 it is not

00:21:27.280 --> 00:21:27.940
 the Lord's

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.400
 Supper you

00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:28.740
 eat.

00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:29.980
 For when

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.660
 you're eating,

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.759
 some of

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.079
 you go

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.259
 ahead with

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.680
 your own

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.140
 private

00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:34.519
 supper.

00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:34.940
 So,

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.579
 you can

00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.220
 imagine this

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.000
 church gathering,

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.859
 there's people

00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.420
 who are very

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.480
 rich and

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.279
 wealthy and

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.799
 they've got

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.180
 their own

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.720
 homes and

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.099
 things are

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.620
 going well

00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:43.099
 for them and

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:43.839
 then there's

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.319
 people who

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:44.819
 aren't so

00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.500
 well off and

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.200
 it seems

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:46.640
 they've kind

00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.460
 of divided

00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.460
 themselves and

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.740
 the wealthy

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.420
 ones are all

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:50.940
 off together

00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.440
 having a

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.279
 great time and

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.160
 they're forgetting

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:53.700
 those who

00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.079
 don't have

00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.460
 anything.

00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:56.220
 So,

00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:57.019
 as a result,

00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:58.599
 one person

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.480
 remains hungry

00:21:59.480 --> 00:21:59.980
 and another

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.519
 one gets

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.019
 drunk,

00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.619
 don't you

00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.319
 have homes

00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:03.939
 to eat and

00:22:03.939 --> 00:22:04.459
 drink in?

00:22:05.179 --> 00:22:06.179
 Or do you

00:22:06.179 --> 00:22:07.000
 despise the

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.480
 church of

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.259
 God by

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.199
 humiliating

00:22:09.199 --> 00:22:09.699
 those who

00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:10.359
 have nothing?

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.000
 What shall

00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.599
 I say to

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:12.839
 you?

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.079
 Shall I

00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.779
 praise you?

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.219
 Certainly

00:22:16.219 --> 00:22:17.379
 not in

00:22:17.379 --> 00:22:18.119
 this matter.

00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:20.459
 Verse 29,

00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:22.579
 for those

00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.279
 who eat

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.899
 and drink

00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:24.819
 without

00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.699
 discerning

00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.299
 the body

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:27.059
 of Christ

00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:28.559
 eat and

00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:28.980
 drink

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.759
 judgment

00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.140
 on

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:30.680
 themselves.

00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:31.960
 So,

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.480
 it was a

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:32.900
 serious

00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:33.580
 matter when

00:22:33.580 --> 00:22:34.019
 they came

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.700
 to celebrate

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.319
 the Lord's

00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:35.580
 Supper.

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.279
 They needed

00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.000
 to remember

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.640
 that not

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.519
 only were

00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.200
 they remembering

00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:40.940
 that Christ

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.799
 died for

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.360
 them as a

00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:42.779
 people,

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.259
 but it was

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.940
 also a

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.519
 meal where

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.100
 they came

00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:46.940
 together in

00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.980
 unity to

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.940
 express the

00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.380
 fact that

00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:49.819
 they were

00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.400
 one body,

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.140
 that Christ

00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:51.740
 had brought

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.279
 them together

00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:52.779
 from all

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.220
 kinds of

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.500
 different

00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.080
 backgrounds

00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:54.879
 to be

00:22:54.879 --> 00:22:55.659
 one people.

00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.240
 So,

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:57.699
 as they

00:22:57.699 --> 00:22:58.679
 ate the

00:22:58.679 --> 00:22:59.099
 Lord's

00:22:59.099 --> 00:22:59.319
 Supper,

00:22:59.419 --> 00:22:59.679
 as they

00:22:59.679 --> 00:23:00.159
 ate the

00:23:00.159 --> 00:23:00.679
 bread and

00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:01.319
 drank the

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.039
 wine together,

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.139
 it was an

00:23:03.139 --> 00:23:04.119
 affirmation of

00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:04.980
 their ongoing

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:05.819
 faith in

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.179
 Christ.

00:23:06.699 --> 00:23:06.980
 Yes,

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.359
 in our

00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:07.879
 baptism,

00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:08.559
 it was a

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.119
 once-off,

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.079
 I believe

00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:10.679
 in Jesus,

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.279
 and as they

00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.000
 shared in

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.740
 the communion

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.339
 or in the

00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:14.740
 Lord's

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:14.899
 Supper

00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.359
 together,

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.179
 they were

00:23:16.179 --> 00:23:16.519
 saying,

00:23:16.659 --> 00:23:16.859
 yes,

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.819
 I continue

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.519
 on in my

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.339
 faith in

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:19.799
 Christ.

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.119
 But not

00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:21.740
 just that,

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.839
 I continue

00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:23.939
 on in my

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.640
 commitment

00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:26.059
 to the

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.380
 church

00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:26.840
 body,

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.340
 to the

00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:28.660
 church

00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.180
 family.

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.279
 So,

00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:32.600
 we could

00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:32.880
 put it

00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:33.360
 this way,

00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.440
 baptism is

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.279
 a celebration

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.320
 of a

00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:38.140
 family birth.

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.000
 When somebody

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.740
 is baptized,

00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:41.180
 it is like

00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:41.720
 a new

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.140
 birth.

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.600
 Someone is

00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:44.539
 being added

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.920
 to God's

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.640
 family because

00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.320
 they've trusted

00:23:47.320 --> 00:23:48.019
 in Christ.

00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.320
 And the

00:23:49.320 --> 00:23:49.880
 Lord's

00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:51.000
 Supper is

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.440
 like a

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.400
 family meal.

00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:52.500
 family.

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:53.420
 It's

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:53.780
 where the

00:23:53.780 --> 00:23:54.820
 family gather

00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:55.640
 together to

00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.780
 renew and

00:23:56.780 --> 00:23:57.460
 to remind

00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.780
 themselves of

00:23:58.780 --> 00:23:59.620
 being one

00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:01.160
 body together,

00:24:01.800 --> 00:24:03.140
 trusting in

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:03.640
 Christ.

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.519
 Now,

00:24:06.540 --> 00:24:07.180
 before we move

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.400
 on,

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.140
 I'd like us to

00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:08.980
 think about this

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.440
 a little bit

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.100
 more for our

00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:10.759
 own lives.

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.500
 You can answer

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.080
 these for

00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:14.600
 yourself.

00:24:15.540 --> 00:24:15.780
 And the

00:24:15.780 --> 00:24:16.360
 first one is

00:24:16.360 --> 00:24:16.560
 this,

00:24:16.580 --> 00:24:17.300
 are you in

00:24:17.300 --> 00:24:17.759
 the body

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.440
 of Christ?

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.940
 Very simply,

00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.900
 are you a

00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.320
 Christian?

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:24.640
 are you

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:26.080
 trusting in

00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:26.640
 Jesus?

00:24:28.380 --> 00:24:29.600
 The invitation

00:24:29.600 --> 00:24:30.700
 from Ephesians,

00:24:30.780 --> 00:24:31.500
 you can go back

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.180
 to Ephesians,

00:24:32.540 --> 00:24:33.380
 is very clear

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:34.380
 that Christ

00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.300
 has done all

00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:36.080
 the work for

00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:36.259
 you.

00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:37.019
 He's died

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.700
 your death

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.240
 for you.

00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:39.660
 He's lived

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.220
 the perfect

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.100
 life for you.

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.600
 So trust

00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.000
 him.

00:24:44.040 --> 00:24:44.720
 Know his

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.180
 forgiveness.

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.200
 Know his

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.640
 acceptance so

00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.360
 that you can

00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.680
 be part of

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.120
 the body

00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:50.820
 of Christ.

00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:50.939
 Christ.

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.799
 So are you

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.319
 a Christian?

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.059
 Are you in

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.419
 the body

00:24:55.419 --> 00:24:55.879
 of Christ?

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.419
 You need

00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:57.500
 to answer

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.319
 that question

00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.079
 today for

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.639
 yourself.

00:25:02.639 --> 00:25:03.519
 If you are

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.039
 in the body

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:04.519
 of Christ

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:04.939
 and you say,

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.200
 yes,

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.759
 I am a

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.139
 Christian,

00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:08.259
 let me ask

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.399
 you,

00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:08.779
 have you

00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.039
 been

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.460
 baptized?

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.740
 Do you

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.200
 take the

00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:13.599
 Lord's

00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:13.859
 Supper?

00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:13.899
 Supper?

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.359
 If not,

00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:17.359
 why not?

00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:18.939
 Or maybe

00:25:18.939 --> 00:25:19.319
 you're a

00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.599
 Christian,

00:25:19.719 --> 00:25:20.139
 you say,

00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:20.639
 well,

00:25:20.679 --> 00:25:21.000
 I've been

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.299
 baptized,

00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:21.819
 but I

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.259
 don't take

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.740
 the Lord's

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:22.959
 Supper,

00:25:23.219 --> 00:25:23.479
 or,

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.000
 yes,

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.339
 I'm a

00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:24.559
 Christian,

00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:25.000
 I take

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.419
 the Lord's

00:25:25.419 --> 00:25:25.559
 Supper,

00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:25.919
 but I'm

00:25:25.919 --> 00:25:26.119
 not

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.779
 baptized.

00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:30.399
 Both are

00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:31.339
 commands from

00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:31.919
 the Lord

00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:33.479
 to make it

00:25:33.479 --> 00:25:34.339
 visible and

00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:35.059
 clear that,

00:25:35.439 --> 00:25:35.659
 yes,

00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:36.259
 I believe

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.879
 in Christ,

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.779
 and yes,

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.599
 I belong to

00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.199
 his church

00:25:39.199 --> 00:25:39.679
 family.

00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:41.240
 The two go

00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.740
 together.

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.779
 They shouldn't

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.679
 be separated.

00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:47.119
 So let me

00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:47.679
 ask you,

00:25:47.939 --> 00:25:48.719
 if you are

00:25:48.719 --> 00:25:49.000
 in the

00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.479
 body of

00:25:49.479 --> 00:25:49.939
 Christ,

00:25:50.459 --> 00:25:51.240
 have you

00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:51.500
 been

00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:51.899
 baptized,

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:52.719
 and do

00:25:52.719 --> 00:25:53.359
 you share

00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:53.879
 in the

00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:54.279
 Lord's

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:54.519
 Supper?

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.199
 And if

00:25:56.199 --> 00:25:56.859
 you don't,

00:25:57.679 --> 00:25:58.599
 why not?

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.139
 So,

00:26:02.719 --> 00:26:03.699
 summary so

00:26:03.699 --> 00:26:04.079
 far,

00:26:04.659 --> 00:26:05.099
 under

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:06.699
 defining who

00:26:06.699 --> 00:26:07.319
 the church

00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:07.619
 is.

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.439
 The church

00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:09.579
 are those

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:10.659
 who are in

00:26:10.659 --> 00:26:11.179
 the body

00:26:11.179 --> 00:26:11.939
 of Christ

00:26:11.939 --> 00:26:13.519
 through faith,

00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:15.359
 which is

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.259
 expressed in

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.000
 baptism

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:18.299
 and the

00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:18.740
 Lord's

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.019
 Supper.

00:26:19.679 --> 00:26:20.639
 Very simple.

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.439
 The church,

00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:22.719
 the true

00:26:22.719 --> 00:26:23.279
 church,

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:24.159
 are those

00:26:24.159 --> 00:26:24.519
 who are

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.119
 in the

00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:25.579
 body of

00:26:25.579 --> 00:26:25.919
 Christ

00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:26.419
 through

00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:27.019
 their faith

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.599
 in Christ,

00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:28.699
 and that

00:26:28.699 --> 00:26:29.359
 faith in

00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:29.919
 Christ is

00:26:29.919 --> 00:26:30.639
 expressed in

00:26:30.639 --> 00:26:31.279
 baptism,

00:26:31.459 --> 00:26:31.799
 which is

00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.439
 once-off,

00:26:32.959 --> 00:26:33.359
 and the

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:33.719
 Lord's

00:26:33.719 --> 00:26:33.899
 Supper,

00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:34.919
 which continues

00:26:34.919 --> 00:26:36.559
 until Christ

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.419
 comes again.

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:39.220
 So,

00:26:39.300 --> 00:26:39.660
 that's

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:40.580
 defining who

00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:41.120
 the church

00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:41.420
 is.

00:26:41.800 --> 00:26:42.140
 Second,

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.440
 identifying

00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:46.200
 who the

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.680
 church is.

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:46.880
 So,

00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:47.240
 they're

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.720
 parallel,

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.180
 they're

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.500
 similar,

00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.500
 but I

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:49.880
 hope as

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.259
 we go

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.720
 along we'll

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.160
 see that

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.539
 there's a

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:51.920
 difference.

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.759
 We define

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.160
 who the

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.740
 church is,

00:26:54.820 --> 00:26:55.200
 and now we

00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:55.680
 want to

00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:57.000
 identify who

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.480
 the church

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:57.820
 is.

00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:00.480
 It's

00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.140
 important to

00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:01.820
 understand that

00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:02.300
 we don't

00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:03.200
 separate being

00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.860
 a Christian

00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.600
 from being

00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.159
 in the

00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:05.559
 church.

00:27:06.139 --> 00:27:06.559
 So,

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.319
 if you

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.879
 are in

00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:08.419
 Christ,

00:27:09.179 --> 00:27:10.179
 you are

00:27:10.179 --> 00:27:10.899
 in the

00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:11.359
 church.

00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:12.919
 Look at

00:27:12.919 --> 00:27:13.359
 the three

00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:14.159
 images or

00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:14.859
 pictures that

00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.279
 were given

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.000
 in Ephesians

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.859
 chapter 2.

00:27:19.719 --> 00:27:20.500
 Let's have

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:20.839
 a look at

00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.740
 verse 15.

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.939
 Ephesians

00:27:23.939 --> 00:27:24.679
 chapter 2

00:27:24.679 --> 00:27:25.559
 verse 15.

00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:27.000
 The middle

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.939
 of verse 15.

00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:31.000
 So,

00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.399
 it's going

00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:31.919
 back to

00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:32.699
 God's plan

00:27:32.699 --> 00:27:33.359
 and God's

00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:33.899
 promise.

00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:36.279
 Ephesians

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:36.759
 2

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.959
 verse 15.

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:39.879
 His

00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:40.599
 purpose

00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:42.579
 was to

00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:43.659
 create in

00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:44.779
 himself one

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:46.159
 new humanity

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:47.159
 out of the

00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:47.379
 two.

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:47.759
 So,

00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.539
 from the

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.019
 Jews,

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.799
 from the

00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.599
 Gentiles,

00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:51.879
 to creating

00:27:51.879 --> 00:27:52.659
 himself out

00:27:52.659 --> 00:27:53.219
 of all

00:27:53.219 --> 00:27:53.939
 these people

00:27:53.939 --> 00:27:55.579
 one new

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.219
 humanity,

00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:58.379
 thus making

00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:58.939
 peace.

00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:00.519
 And in

00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.619
 one body,

00:28:02.219 --> 00:28:02.740
 so through

00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.279
 the body

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:03.899
 of Jesus

00:28:03.899 --> 00:28:04.459
 Christ,

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:06.019
 to reconcile

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.919
 both of

00:28:06.919 --> 00:28:07.399
 them to

00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:07.839
 God

00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:09.099
 through the

00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:09.519
 cross,

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.939
 by which he

00:28:10.939 --> 00:28:11.379
 put to

00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:12.359
 death their

00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:13.139
 hostility.

00:28:14.139 --> 00:28:14.279
 So,

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:14.980
 Christ has

00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:16.119
 come through

00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.740
 his death

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.099
 on the

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.559
 cross and

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.039
 by his

00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.500
 resurrection

00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.219
 to bring

00:28:19.219 --> 00:28:19.619
 a people

00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.699
 together for

00:28:20.699 --> 00:28:21.119
 himself,

00:28:21.219 --> 00:28:21.699
 a new

00:28:21.699 --> 00:28:22.319
 community,

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.240
 a new

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:23.980
 people under

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.319
 him.

00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.859
 Verse 19.

00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:27.399
 consequently,

00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.659
 so he's

00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:28.819
 saying,

00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.039
 look,

00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:29.619
 in light

00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:30.000
 of what

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.619
 Christ has

00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.019
 done,

00:28:31.939 --> 00:28:32.519
 this is

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:32.939
 who you

00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:33.299
 are.

00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.579
 Because

00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.240
 Christ has

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.699
 died for

00:28:35.699 --> 00:28:35.819
 you,

00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.399
 because he's

00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:36.819
 brought you

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.219
 together,

00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.259
 this is

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.899
 who you

00:28:38.899 --> 00:28:39.240
 are.

00:28:39.979 --> 00:28:40.579
 And he

00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:40.959
 gives us

00:28:40.959 --> 00:28:42.019
 three brilliant

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.859
 pictures to

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:44.139
 describe who

00:28:44.139 --> 00:28:44.719
 the members

00:28:44.719 --> 00:28:45.099
 of the

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:45.959
 body are.

00:28:45.959 --> 00:28:46.500
 First,

00:28:47.439 --> 00:28:48.000
 he says,

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.299
 you are

00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.539
 citizens with

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.539
 God's people.

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.979
 Verse 19,

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.860
 consequently,

00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:53.980
 you are no

00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.960
 longer foreigners

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.960
 and strangers,

00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.519
 but fellow

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.579
 citizens with

00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.720
 God's people.

00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.220
 You see,

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:01.599
 when you're

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.140
 born in a

00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:02.579
 country,

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.339
 you become a

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.039
 citizen of

00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.680
 that country.

00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:06.339
 It's an

00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:07.319
 automatic right.

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:07.980
 You're born in

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.259
 Ireland,

00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:08.660
 well,

00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.579
 you're Irish.

00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:11.079
 You receive

00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.460
 all the

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.220
 privileges and

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.140
 responsibilities

00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:14.500
 of being a

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:14.839
 citizen.

00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:15.880
 In the same

00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:16.180
 way,

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.160
 Christ's death

00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:17.900
 for us

00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:19.160
 makes us

00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:19.860
 citizens

00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:22.659
 of God's

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:23.099
 nation.

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.740
 We become

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.740
 citizens with

00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.500
 the already

00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.859
 citizens that

00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.379
 God has

00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:28.679
 made.

00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.099
 We are

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:31.139
 God's people

00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:32.279
 together.

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.000
 Not only

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.879
 citizens with

00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:36.679
 God's people,

00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.719
 another picture

00:29:38.719 --> 00:29:39.199
 he gives,

00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:39.799
 he says,

00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:40.279
 we're like

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.099
 children of

00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.979
 God's family.

00:29:42.719 --> 00:29:43.219
 So look at

00:29:43.219 --> 00:29:43.639
 the end of

00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.399
 verse 19.

00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:46.500
 We are

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.759
 also members

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:49.000
 of his

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.639
 household.

00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:51.079
 So again,

00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:51.459
 when a

00:29:51.459 --> 00:29:52.079
 child is

00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:52.679
 born into

00:29:52.679 --> 00:29:53.319
 a family,

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.240
 they get

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:55.679
 to be

00:29:55.679 --> 00:29:56.359
 treated as

00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:56.899
 part of

00:29:56.899 --> 00:29:57.379
 the family.

00:29:58.419 --> 00:29:59.139
 They don't

00:29:59.139 --> 00:29:59.959
 become a

00:29:59.959 --> 00:30:00.579
 brother and

00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.099
 sister to

00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:01.819
 their siblings

00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:02.839
 by their

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.619
 very birth

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.059
 into the

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.419
 family.

00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:05.659
 They are

00:30:05.659 --> 00:30:06.599
 already a

00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.139
 brother and

00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:07.759
 sister with

00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:08.419
 their siblings.

00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.459
 It's

00:30:10.459 --> 00:30:11.039
 something the

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:12.159
 child receives

00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:12.979
 and enjoys

00:30:12.979 --> 00:30:14.000
 at birth.

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.379
 Well,

00:30:15.479 --> 00:30:15.919
 through our

00:30:15.919 --> 00:30:16.619
 faith in

00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.099
 Christ,

00:30:17.719 --> 00:30:18.500
 we become

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.000
 children.

00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.339
 we become

00:30:20.339 --> 00:30:21.059
 part of

00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:21.680
 his family.

00:30:23.180 --> 00:30:24.180
 It's an

00:30:24.180 --> 00:30:24.799
 automatic

00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.779
 privilege.

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.460
 And then

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:28.880
 the third

00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:29.359
 picture,

00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:30.380
 verse 22,

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.579
 he describes

00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:33.220
 church as

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.720
 being a

00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.460
 dwelling for

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:34.920
 God's

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.480
 presence.

00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:37.019
 So verse

00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:37.559
 22,

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.819
 and in

00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.079
 him,

00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:39.980
 in Christ,

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.460
 you too

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:42.400
 are being

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.319
 built together

00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.000
 to become a

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.680
 dwelling in

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.259
 which God

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:46.000
 lives by

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.940
 his spirit.

00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:48.100
 So just

00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:48.420
 as a

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.100
 builder goes

00:30:49.100 --> 00:30:49.420
 out and

00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:49.820
 he takes

00:30:49.820 --> 00:30:50.340
 his blocks

00:30:50.340 --> 00:30:50.640
 and he

00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.019
 puts them

00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.340
 one on

00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:51.620
 top of

00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:51.880
 the other

00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:52.320
 to build

00:30:52.320 --> 00:30:52.880
 a house,

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.980
 so Christ

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:56.059
 takes us

00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:57.720
 as individuals

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:59.279
 and builds

00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:00.100
 us together.

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:00.460
 We're

00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.420
 incorporated

00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:01.940
 together.

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:02.900
 We're a

00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:04.100
 living structure

00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:06.360
 where God

00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.320
 dwells by

00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:08.299
 his spirit.

00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:10.500
 Now,

00:31:10.580 --> 00:31:11.259
 these are all

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.120
 images and

00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:13.960
 pictures of

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.700
 the local

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.319
 church.

00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:17.000
 In each

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.420
 picture,

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.279
 the individuals

00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:19.039
 make up the

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.259
 whole.

00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.120
 Citizens

00:31:20.120 --> 00:31:21.000
 make up the

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.360
 nation.

00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:22.200
 Children

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:22.920
 make up the

00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:23.259
 family.

00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.420
 People like

00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.740
 stones make

00:31:25.740 --> 00:31:26.120
 up the

00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:26.500
 building.

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.059
 And they're

00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:30.079
 also related

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.620
 to each

00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:30.840
 other.

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.519
 There is a

00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.519
 union, a

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.160
 relationship,

00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:34.840
 an interdependence.

00:31:35.600 --> 00:31:35.960
 You see,

00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:37.160
 the Bible never

00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:38.200
 ever speaks of

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:39.660
 Christians in

00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:40.420
 isolation.

00:31:41.600 --> 00:31:42.720
 If you are a

00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.120
 Christian,

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:44.299
 Christian, you

00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:45.039
 don't get to

00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.899
 decide whether

00:31:45.899 --> 00:31:46.659
 or not you

00:31:46.659 --> 00:31:47.739
 become part of

00:31:47.739 --> 00:31:48.359
 the church.

00:31:49.459 --> 00:31:49.959
 It's not

00:31:49.959 --> 00:31:50.399
 something you

00:31:50.399 --> 00:31:50.719
 think, well,

00:31:50.739 --> 00:31:51.000
 I'm a

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.459
 Christian, and

00:31:51.459 --> 00:31:52.519
 go, I

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.239
 wonder if I'll

00:31:53.239 --> 00:31:54.059
 become part of

00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:54.659
 the church.

00:31:57.179 --> 00:31:58.299
 If you are a

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.799
 Christian, the

00:31:59.799 --> 00:32:00.759
 question is not

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:02.019
 will I become a

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.679
 member of the

00:32:02.679 --> 00:32:05.019
 church, but how

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.919
 am I going to

00:32:05.919 --> 00:32:06.679
 live out my

00:32:06.679 --> 00:32:07.199
 membership?

00:32:09.979 --> 00:32:10.599
 Here's a

00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.859
 quote, and I

00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:12.419
 think it's on

00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:15.160
 your page from

00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:16.620
 Timison Chester.

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.820
 They say, by

00:32:18.820 --> 00:32:19.820
 becoming a

00:32:19.820 --> 00:32:21.320
 Christian, I

00:32:21.320 --> 00:32:22.180
 belong to

00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:23.220
 God and I

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.279
 belong to my

00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.960
 brothers and

00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.420
 sisters.

00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:26.840
 It is not that I

00:32:26.840 --> 00:32:27.880
 belong to God and

00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.759
 then make a

00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.759
 decision to join a

00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.519
 local church.

00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:32.080
 My being in

00:32:32.080 --> 00:32:33.380
 Christ means being

00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:35.200
 in Christ with

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:36.360
 those who are

00:32:36.360 --> 00:32:37.580
 in Christ.

00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:37.699
 Christ.

00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:39.199
 And that's how

00:32:39.199 --> 00:32:40.819
 Paul treats these

00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.779
 believers here, as

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.439
 he writes.

00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:43.960
 He speaks to the

00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:45.240
 church, the body of

00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:45.599
 believers.

00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:47.039
 He's not writing to

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:49.059
 individuals, but to

00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:51.079
 a family, a

00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:52.139
 nation, a

00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:53.279
 building, people

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:53.960
 who are one.

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.220
 So we look to

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:56.639
 that one example in

00:32:56.639 --> 00:32:57.759
 chapter 3, verse 6.

00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:58.399
 He says, you are

00:32:58.399 --> 00:32:59.539
 members together of

00:32:59.539 --> 00:33:00.199
 one body.

00:33:00.919 --> 00:33:02.099
 Look at chapter 4,

00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:03.119
 verse 16.

00:33:05.179 --> 00:33:06.299
 From him, from

00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:08.319
 Christ, the whole

00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:09.919
 body is joined and

00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:11.099
 held together by

00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.919
 every supporting

00:33:11.919 --> 00:33:13.079
 ligament and it

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.919
 grows and it

00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:15.099
 builds itself up in

00:33:15.099 --> 00:33:16.099
 love as each part

00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:16.980
 does its work.

00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:19.000
 Or chapter 4,

00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.859
 verse 25.

00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.279
 Therefore, each of

00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:22.099
 you must put off

00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:23.179
 falsehood and speak

00:33:23.179 --> 00:33:24.179
 truthfully to your

00:33:24.179 --> 00:33:25.859
 neighbour, for we

00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:27.519
 are all members of

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.799
 one body.

00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:31.720
 You see, we can't

00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.859
 live in isolation.

00:33:34.639 --> 00:33:35.839
 It never, ever

00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:36.579
 speaks of a

00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:37.399
 Christian being on

00:33:37.399 --> 00:33:38.279
 their own, ever.

00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:43.059
 So, we are

00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:44.059
 members of one

00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.759
 body.

00:33:46.659 --> 00:33:49.139
 Second, identifying

00:33:49.139 --> 00:33:50.680
 through membership.

00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:53.220
 Now, all of this is

00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:53.879
 good, what we've

00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.919
 looked at so far.

00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:56.639
 It helps us see that

00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:57.940
 we not only belong to

00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:58.779
 Christ, but we

00:33:58.779 --> 00:34:00.779
 but we also belong to

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.639
 the church.

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:04.079
 But how do we

00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:05.759
 identify who is in

00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.940
 the local church?

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:08.940
 We've already

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:10.340
 identified at one

00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.500
 level or defined it

00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.699
 as those who believe

00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.920
 in Christ and trust

00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:15.019
 Christ, which has

00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:16.000
 been expressed through

00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.940
 baptism and the

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.619
 Lord's Supper.

00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.579
 But how do we

00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:21.360
 identify who is in

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.059
 the local church?

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.460
 How do we know who

00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:24.340
 belongs to

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:25.219
 Carigoline Baptist

00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:25.599
 Church?

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.539
 It would be an

00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.800
 interesting thing to

00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.420
 ask, and I'm not

00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.039
 going to ask you to

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:30.860
 do it, but for

00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.619
 people to put up

00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.420
 their hands and

00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:34.460
 say, do you belong

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:35.559
 to Carigoline Baptist

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:35.920
 Church?

00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:37.900
 Who of you would put

00:34:37.900 --> 00:34:38.500
 up your hand?

00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:40.980
 I'm not asking you to

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.980
 do that, just putting

00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:43.559
 it out there.

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:45.559
 Is it whoever turns up

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.539
 on a given Sunday?

00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:48.779
 So what about somebody

00:34:48.779 --> 00:34:49.960
 who comes just once a

00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:50.880
 month or somebody who

00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:52.139
 appears twice a year?

00:34:52.840 --> 00:34:54.079
 Does that make you

00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:55.119
 part of Carigoline

00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:55.960
 Baptist Church?

00:34:58.159 --> 00:34:59.679
 How do you define it?

00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:01.159
 How do you identify

00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:02.619
 who the people are?

00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:04.440
 Do we just have to

00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.079
 kind of have this

00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:06.619
 magical kind of,

00:35:07.300 --> 00:35:09.259
 oh, and we all know

00:35:09.259 --> 00:35:09.900
 who it is?

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:14.800
 Well, church

00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:16.780
 membership is the

00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.940
 formal way of

00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:19.019
 identifying who

00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:20.160
 belongs to a local

00:35:20.160 --> 00:35:20.680
 church.

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.639
 But you say, ah,

00:35:22.680 --> 00:35:23.320
 Johnny, you haven't

00:35:23.320 --> 00:35:24.180
 read your Bible very

00:35:24.180 --> 00:35:24.480
 well.

00:35:24.660 --> 00:35:25.639
 Because membership

00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:26.700
 isn't in the Bible,

00:35:26.780 --> 00:35:27.160
 is it?

00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:29.619
 I've read my Bible,

00:35:29.740 --> 00:35:30.360
 I've read through

00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:31.760
 Ephesians, and

00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:33.000
 membership in this

00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:34.180
 formal sense is not

00:35:34.180 --> 00:35:34.460
 there.

00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:38.000
 Well, let me ask you,

00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:38.840
 is the word Trinity

00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:39.700
 in your Bible?

00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:43.280
 Anybody ever come

00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:43.860
 across the word

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:44.180
 Trinity?

00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:45.660
 It's not there.

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.600
 But the teaching of

00:35:47.600 --> 00:35:48.640
 Trinity is.

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.519
 God is one in three

00:35:50.519 --> 00:35:51.840
 persons, Father, Son,

00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:52.660
 and Holy Spirit.

00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:55.340
 It's a word that

00:35:55.340 --> 00:35:56.760
 teaches us and tells

00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:58.420
 us what and who

00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.140
 God is.

00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:01.380
 Now, the word

00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:02.579
 membership in this

00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:03.680
 formal way might be

00:36:03.680 --> 00:36:05.360
 in your Bible, but the

00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.120
 teaching and the

00:36:06.120 --> 00:36:07.180
 practice is.

00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:08.440
 It's all over the

00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:08.840
 place.

00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:10.840
 Let me give you one

00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.200
 example.

00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.380
 In fact, it's

00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:14.019
 assumed in the

00:36:14.019 --> 00:36:14.800
 book of Ephesians,

00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:15.420
 as we've been

00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:16.500
 reading, it's

00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.539
 addressed to a

00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.599
 particular people in

00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:19.599
 a particular place.

00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:21.440
 But I want to go and

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.179
 show you this a little

00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:22.639
 bit more.

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:24.200
 Go to Acts chapter

00:36:24.200 --> 00:36:24.780
 20.

00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:29.400
 Acts chapter 20.

00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:38.800
 So if you wanted

00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:40.380
 further background on

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:42.400
 Ephesians, you could

00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:44.280
 read chapters 19 and

00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:44.780
 20.

00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:48.980
 So at this point, the

00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:50.539
 church has already been

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:51.260
 established.

00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:53.880
 Paul had visited it a

00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.720
 number of times.

00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:56.219
 And now he's

00:36:56.219 --> 00:36:57.659
 traveling back from a

00:36:57.659 --> 00:37:00.319
 visit from modern-day

00:37:00.319 --> 00:37:01.919
 Greece, and he's kind

00:37:01.919 --> 00:37:03.119
 of coming back down

00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:03.980
 sort of around the

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:05.279
 Mediterranean, down

00:37:05.279 --> 00:37:07.259
 along the coast of

00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:08.459
 modern-day Turkey, and

00:37:08.459 --> 00:37:09.459
 he's heading towards

00:37:09.459 --> 00:37:10.039
 Jerusalem.

00:37:10.599 --> 00:37:11.599
 And on the way, he

00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:12.599
 stops at this little

00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:13.839
 place called Miletus,

00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:15.879
 which is just south of

00:37:15.879 --> 00:37:17.959
 Ephesus on the coast.

00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:20.079
 So chapter 20, verse

00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:20.679
 16.

00:37:22.740 --> 00:37:24.240
 Paul had decided to

00:37:24.240 --> 00:37:25.639
 sail past Ephesus to

00:37:25.639 --> 00:37:27.019
 avoid spending time in

00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:29.000
 the province of Asia, for

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:30.039
 he was in a hurry to

00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:31.139
 reach Jerusalem, if

00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:32.300
 possible, by the day of

00:37:32.300 --> 00:37:32.940
 Pentecost.

00:37:34.099 --> 00:37:35.519
 From Miletus, so he

00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.360
 stopped there for a

00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:37.980
 little while, Paul sent

00:37:37.980 --> 00:37:39.400
 to Ephesus for the

00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:40.900
 elders of the church.

00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:42.760
 So it's like a meeting

00:37:42.760 --> 00:37:43.320
 he'd arranged.

00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:44.260
 He sent a message

00:37:44.260 --> 00:37:45.780
 saying, guys, come

00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:47.440
 over down to Miletus,

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:48.639
 I want to have a chat

00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:49.059
 with you.

00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:51.519
 And listen to what he

00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:53.119
 says to the elders of

00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:53.619
 the church.

00:37:53.720 --> 00:37:54.480
 Verse 28.

00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.519
 Keep watch over

00:37:58.519 --> 00:38:00.400
 yourselves and all the

00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:01.320
 flock of which the

00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:02.500
 Holy Spirit has made

00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:03.619
 you overseers.

00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:05.760
 Be shepherds of the

00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.700
 church of God, which

00:38:06.700 --> 00:38:07.579
 he bought with his own

00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:07.920
 blood.

00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:09.940
 I know that after I

00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:11.400
 leave, savage wolves

00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:12.539
 will come in among you

00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:14.039
 who will not spare the

00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:14.420
 flock.

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:17.500
 The savage wolves, of

00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:18.599
 course, were false

00:38:18.599 --> 00:38:19.360
 teachers.

00:38:20.039 --> 00:38:20.539
 Verse 30.

00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:22.360
 Even from your own

00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:25.180
 number, from your own

00:38:25.180 --> 00:38:27.659
 number, men will arise

00:38:27.659 --> 00:38:29.599
 and distort the truth in

00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.720
 order to draw away

00:38:30.720 --> 00:38:31.980
 disciples after them.

00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:35.420
 So be on your guard.

00:38:35.420 --> 00:38:39.480
 Now, that simple

00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:41.380
 reading implies three

00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:42.519
 things that I want us

00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:43.280
 to think through

00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:43.880
 carefully.

00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:46.800
 First, there is

00:38:46.800 --> 00:38:48.320
 clearly an

00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:50.360
 identifiable church

00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:52.079
 with elders.

00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:53.300
 A clearly

00:38:53.300 --> 00:38:54.920
 identifiable church

00:38:54.920 --> 00:38:55.440
 with elders.

00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:57.280
 He sends a message

00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:59.360
 for the elders

00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:00.619
 in the church at

00:39:00.619 --> 00:39:01.159
 Ephesus.

00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:03.299
 In other words, it's

00:39:03.299 --> 00:39:05.099
 a defined local

00:39:05.099 --> 00:39:06.819
 church of believers.

00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:08.059
 And even when he

00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:09.079
 goes on to warn

00:39:09.079 --> 00:39:09.779
 them, he says,

00:39:09.859 --> 00:39:11.460
 look, there may be

00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:12.500
 people who come

00:39:12.500 --> 00:39:14.420
 from within your

00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:15.679
 own number.

00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:18.519
 A defined group of

00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.460
 people he's talking

00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:20.239
 about again.

00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:24.239
 So there were those

00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:25.279
 who were definitely

00:39:25.279 --> 00:39:26.719
 in the church at

00:39:26.719 --> 00:39:27.559
 Ephesus and they

00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:28.719
 were able to define

00:39:28.719 --> 00:39:29.699
 and know who they

00:39:29.699 --> 00:39:30.819
 were and identify

00:39:30.820 --> 00:39:31.640
 who they were.

00:39:32.100 --> 00:39:32.640
 And there were

00:39:32.640 --> 00:39:33.680
 those who were not

00:39:33.680 --> 00:39:35.200
 in the church at

00:39:35.200 --> 00:39:35.539
 Ephesus.

00:39:36.760 --> 00:39:37.960
 So first, there was

00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:39.420
 a clearly identifiable

00:39:39.420 --> 00:39:41.260
 church with elders.

00:39:42.680 --> 00:39:45.380
 Second, the church

00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:46.539
 knows who the

00:39:46.539 --> 00:39:47.440
 elders are.

00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:50.440
 So as we read

00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:52.200
 through 28 and 29,

00:39:52.420 --> 00:39:53.420
 the elders are given

00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:54.440
 the responsibility

00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:55.960
 for shepherding,

00:39:56.600 --> 00:39:57.280
 for caring,

00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:58.160
 for protecting

00:39:58.160 --> 00:39:58.960
 the flock.

00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:01.699
 the church, yes,

00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:03.240
 are God's people.

00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:05.220
 He died for them.

00:40:05.300 --> 00:40:06.179
 He bought them with

00:40:06.179 --> 00:40:06.920
 his own blood.

00:40:07.800 --> 00:40:09.199
 Nevertheless, the

00:40:09.199 --> 00:40:10.199
 elders are given

00:40:10.199 --> 00:40:11.960
 responsibility for

00:40:11.960 --> 00:40:12.699
 the church.

00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:14.500
 The elders are not a

00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:16.059
 secret society that

00:40:16.059 --> 00:40:16.960
 nobody knows who

00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.420
 they are.

00:40:17.900 --> 00:40:19.179
 The church all knows

00:40:19.179 --> 00:40:20.199
 who the elders are.

00:40:20.300 --> 00:40:21.260
 They've been affirmed

00:40:21.260 --> 00:40:22.360
 and appointed by the

00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:23.619
 church and we can

00:40:23.619 --> 00:40:24.480
 read that through

00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:25.300
 Titus.

00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:25.760
 So if you have a

00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:26.480
 look at Titus

00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:27.580
 chapter 1, that

00:40:27.580 --> 00:40:28.360
 when people went,

00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:29.720
 they appointed elders

00:40:29.720 --> 00:40:31.500
 for every church.

00:40:33.580 --> 00:40:34.600
 So practically,

00:40:35.180 --> 00:40:37.100
 yes, we have elders

00:40:37.100 --> 00:40:38.340
 in this church.

00:40:38.700 --> 00:40:39.380
 If you don't know

00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:39.980
 who they are,

00:40:40.460 --> 00:40:41.120
 they're Alex,

00:40:41.560 --> 00:40:42.019
 Jonathan,

00:40:42.220 --> 00:40:42.519
 Ralph,

00:40:42.519 --> 00:40:43.539
 and myself.

00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:45.960
 But how were the

00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:47.679
 elders appointed in

00:40:47.679 --> 00:40:48.440
 this church?

00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:51.380
 Is it whoever

00:40:51.380 --> 00:40:52.500
 happens to be here

00:40:52.500 --> 00:40:53.519
 on a Sunday gets

00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:54.480
 to decide and say,

00:40:54.579 --> 00:40:55.980
 yep, we'll have

00:40:55.980 --> 00:40:56.659
 them as elder?

00:40:57.960 --> 00:40:59.019
 No, the elders are

00:40:59.019 --> 00:41:00.219
 appointed and affirmed

00:41:00.219 --> 00:41:01.699
 by the members of

00:41:01.699 --> 00:41:02.440
 the church.

00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:04.559
 It wouldn't be good,

00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:05.259
 for example,

00:41:05.779 --> 00:41:06.679
 if 20 people,

00:41:06.759 --> 00:41:07.380
 let's just say,

00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:08.400
 and why not think

00:41:08.400 --> 00:41:09.820
 this, like 30 people

00:41:09.820 --> 00:41:10.820
 decide to come in

00:41:10.820 --> 00:41:12.039
 next Sunday and

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:12.699
 they're here for a

00:41:12.699 --> 00:41:13.279
 couple of weeks

00:41:13.279 --> 00:41:14.339
 and they decide,

00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:15.500
 well, we'll have

00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:17.359
 them, they'll be elder.

00:41:18.159 --> 00:41:19.099
 And then they leave

00:41:19.099 --> 00:41:19.739
 and we never see

00:41:19.739 --> 00:41:20.219
 them again.

00:41:20.699 --> 00:41:21.259
 I mean, is that

00:41:21.259 --> 00:41:22.019
 how it works?

00:41:23.239 --> 00:41:24.239
 No, it doesn't.

00:41:24.379 --> 00:41:25.559
 The church knows

00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:27.219
 who the elders are

00:41:27.219 --> 00:41:28.079
 because they have

00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:28.899
 been affirmed

00:41:28.899 --> 00:41:30.239
 by the church

00:41:30.239 --> 00:41:31.059
 themselves.

00:41:33.699 --> 00:41:34.799
 And then third,

00:41:35.659 --> 00:41:37.000
 the elders know

00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:38.199
 who the church are.

00:41:39.299 --> 00:41:40.219
 God has made

00:41:40.219 --> 00:41:41.599
 the elders shepherds

00:41:41.599 --> 00:41:42.779
 over the flock.

00:41:43.500 --> 00:41:44.559
 That doesn't mean

00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:45.920
 that every single

00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:46.739
 Christian in the

00:41:46.739 --> 00:41:47.659
 whole region of

00:41:47.659 --> 00:41:49.059
 Turkey, Ephesus

00:41:49.059 --> 00:41:49.900
 was in Turkey,

00:41:50.539 --> 00:41:51.400
 does that mean the

00:41:51.400 --> 00:41:52.079
 elders were over

00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:53.179
 all the Christians

00:41:53.179 --> 00:41:54.079
 in that place?

00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:55.960
 No, the flock

00:41:55.960 --> 00:41:57.819
 are a defined

00:41:57.819 --> 00:41:59.219
 number of people.

00:42:00.199 --> 00:42:01.219
 They are shepherds

00:42:01.219 --> 00:42:01.779
 of the flock,

00:42:01.860 --> 00:42:02.860
 look at verse 28,

00:42:03.380 --> 00:42:04.360
 of which the Holy

00:42:04.360 --> 00:42:05.599
 Spirit has made you

00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:06.519
 overseers.

00:42:06.519 --> 00:42:08.659
 There are specific

00:42:08.659 --> 00:42:10.360
 people, specific

00:42:10.360 --> 00:42:12.500
 sheep that the

00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:13.380
 shepherds are to

00:42:13.380 --> 00:42:14.800
 look after, to care

00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:15.199
 for.

00:42:15.480 --> 00:42:16.480
 It's specific.

00:42:18.820 --> 00:42:20.239
 So let's ask another

00:42:20.239 --> 00:42:20.639
 question.

00:42:20.759 --> 00:42:21.960
 How do the elders of

00:42:21.960 --> 00:42:22.800
 Caragalline Baptist

00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:24.519
 Church know who the

00:42:24.519 --> 00:42:25.119
 flock are?

00:42:26.759 --> 00:42:29.759
 How do I know who I

00:42:29.759 --> 00:42:30.739
 am meant to pastor?

00:42:30.739 --> 00:42:34.199
 Are they all the

00:42:34.199 --> 00:42:34.939
 people who ever

00:42:34.939 --> 00:42:35.500
 come in?

00:42:36.139 --> 00:42:37.119
 Or people who

00:42:37.119 --> 00:42:38.199
 regularly come?

00:42:38.679 --> 00:42:39.859
 Or all the

00:42:39.859 --> 00:42:40.759
 Christians that there

00:42:40.759 --> 00:42:41.599
 might be around

00:42:41.599 --> 00:42:42.319
 Caragalline?

00:42:42.919 --> 00:42:44.539
 Who's responsible?

00:42:44.539 --> 00:42:48.539
 Well, they need to

00:42:48.539 --> 00:42:49.440
 be identified.

00:42:50.460 --> 00:42:51.519
 And membership is

00:42:51.519 --> 00:42:52.920
 the way of doing

00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:53.340
 that.

00:42:54.139 --> 00:42:55.239
 So membership is

00:42:55.239 --> 00:42:56.619
 not just this mad

00:42:56.619 --> 00:42:57.619
 idea that we've

00:42:57.619 --> 00:42:58.360
 come up with.

00:42:58.840 --> 00:43:00.199
 It's a teaching and

00:43:00.199 --> 00:43:01.079
 a practice of the

00:43:01.079 --> 00:43:02.039
 local church which

00:43:02.039 --> 00:43:03.000
 is set out in the

00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:03.619
 New Testament.

00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:06.259
 And we believe that

00:43:06.259 --> 00:43:07.500
 membership is best

00:43:07.500 --> 00:43:07.960
 and right.

00:43:08.300 --> 00:43:09.679
 It's good for the

00:43:09.679 --> 00:43:10.139
 church.

00:43:11.380 --> 00:43:12.480
 We don't and we

00:43:12.480 --> 00:43:13.719
 can't force people

00:43:13.719 --> 00:43:14.519
 to become members.

00:43:14.539 --> 00:43:14.860
 members.

00:43:15.500 --> 00:43:16.699
 Yet we see it as

00:43:16.699 --> 00:43:17.840
 the best way of

00:43:17.840 --> 00:43:19.860
 identifying who the

00:43:19.860 --> 00:43:21.199
 church is so they

00:43:21.199 --> 00:43:22.219
 are incorporated

00:43:22.219 --> 00:43:23.779
 together and, well,

00:43:23.960 --> 00:43:25.019
 hold elders

00:43:25.019 --> 00:43:27.019
 accountable and the

00:43:27.019 --> 00:43:28.420
 elders know who

00:43:28.420 --> 00:43:29.800
 they are caring for.

00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:33.079
 So if you're here

00:43:33.079 --> 00:43:34.159
 this morning and you

00:43:34.159 --> 00:43:35.599
 consider this to be

00:43:35.599 --> 00:43:36.500
 your local church

00:43:36.500 --> 00:43:37.300
 and you would put up

00:43:37.300 --> 00:43:37.840
 your hand and say,

00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:39.320
 yes, Caragalline

00:43:39.320 --> 00:43:40.480
 Baptist Church is the

00:43:40.480 --> 00:43:41.500
 church that I belong

00:43:41.500 --> 00:43:41.779
 to.

00:43:41.780 --> 00:43:44.280
 Well, let me

00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:44.920
 encourage you.

00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:45.900
 Why don't you speak

00:43:45.900 --> 00:43:46.620
 to one of the

00:43:46.620 --> 00:43:48.260
 elders and let's

00:43:48.260 --> 00:43:49.900
 together identify

00:43:49.900 --> 00:43:51.840
 who the church is?

00:43:55.420 --> 00:43:56.440
 Now, you might want

00:43:56.440 --> 00:43:57.240
 to come back to me

00:43:57.240 --> 00:43:58.280
 and talk to me about

00:43:58.280 --> 00:43:59.240
 some of these things.

00:43:59.700 --> 00:44:00.920
 But I want us to

00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:02.320
 think through carefully

00:44:02.320 --> 00:44:03.540
 what God's word is

00:44:03.540 --> 00:44:03.860
 saying.

00:44:03.860 --> 00:44:08.240
 So in summary, we've

00:44:08.240 --> 00:44:09.160
 defined who the

00:44:09.160 --> 00:44:09.820
 church is.

00:44:10.320 --> 00:44:11.640
 We've identified the

00:44:11.640 --> 00:44:12.340
 church is.

00:44:12.800 --> 00:44:14.160
 The church is not a

00:44:14.160 --> 00:44:16.099
 what but a who.

00:44:17.140 --> 00:44:17.800
 They're people.

00:44:18.519 --> 00:44:20.320
 People like you and

00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:20.620
 me.

00:44:21.180 --> 00:44:22.780
 A local gathering of

00:44:22.780 --> 00:44:24.740
 God's people which is a

00:44:24.740 --> 00:44:26.579
 visible expression or a

00:44:26.579 --> 00:44:28.440
 visible demonstration of

00:44:28.440 --> 00:44:30.160
 the eternal heavenly

00:44:30.160 --> 00:44:30.680
 gathering.

00:44:30.679 --> 00:44:33.339
 The church are those

00:44:33.339 --> 00:44:34.579
 who are in the body

00:44:34.579 --> 00:44:35.440
 of Christ.

00:44:36.500 --> 00:44:38.019
 Sinners saved by

00:44:38.019 --> 00:44:39.819
 grace through faith

00:44:39.819 --> 00:44:41.460
 which has been

00:44:41.460 --> 00:44:42.460
 expressed through

00:44:42.460 --> 00:44:44.000
 baptism and the

00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:46.199
 Lord's Supper and

00:44:46.199 --> 00:44:48.399
 identified through

00:44:48.399 --> 00:44:49.259
 church membership.

00:44:51.139 --> 00:44:52.659
 The church is no

00:44:52.659 --> 00:44:54.119
 small matter.

00:44:54.119 --> 00:44:56.420
 It is at the very

00:44:56.420 --> 00:44:58.039
 center, the very

00:44:58.039 --> 00:44:59.639
 heart of God's plan

00:44:59.639 --> 00:45:01.460
 and promise for the

00:45:01.460 --> 00:45:01.759
 world.

00:45:02.719 --> 00:45:04.139
 He is gathering a

00:45:04.139 --> 00:45:05.539
 people to himself

00:45:05.539 --> 00:45:07.699
 to display his

00:45:07.699 --> 00:45:10.739
 glory and a church

00:45:10.739 --> 00:45:11.900
 that will go out and

00:45:11.900 --> 00:45:13.119
 invite and call

00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:15.339
 others so that they

00:45:15.339 --> 00:45:17.219
 too may be part of

00:45:17.219 --> 00:45:18.299
 the body of Christ.

00:45:21.559 --> 00:45:23.199
 Let's pray together.

00:45:24.119 --> 00:45:36.679
 Father, we thank you