WEBVTT

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 have we been so angry and frustrated at our sin?

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 So we often think that our struggle against sin is unique,

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 but we take a closer look at history,

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 we find that we are not only studying historical facts

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 or theological ideas in the past,

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 but rather many go through similar experiences as our own.

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 So let's look at a man, Augustine of Hippo.

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 It's a town, it's a place for an animal, obviously.

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 Of his struggle with sin and what God did in his life.

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 So go through his history, go through the Bible,

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 and see the change and call us to do the same thing.

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 We will learn how when we treasure Jesus more than pleasure,

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 he brings us more joy.

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 So just to make Augustine's story a little bit easier to understand,

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 going through at point one,

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 I want to tell you his life story with an Australian twist.

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 So Augustine was born about 1700 years ago

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 in a small town of Zagast known as Algeria.

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 So it's a little bit like being born in a little Aussie country town.

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 Augustine was a son of a pagan father called Patricius

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 and a Christian mother by the name of Onika.

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 Patricius was a civil servant,

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 so he was respectable and had a well-paid job.

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 So, Monica's family thought it was a great idea

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 to marry someone with connection to the government

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 and knew that their daughter would be well provided for.

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 So it's a bit like what happens with the arranged marriages these days

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 in many parts of the world.

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 So Augustine, being Patricius' son,

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 is expected to land a good plum job, government job.

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 So he couldn't get a good education in that little town.

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 So when he was 11 years old,

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 he was sent to boarding school at Madura,

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 a larger town about 20 miles south.

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 So just like many people growing in the country,

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 he was sent to a boarding school to get a better education.

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 So afterwards, a rich guy supported him

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 to further his education in Carthage.

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 It's a bit like getting a scholarship

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 and going to a big city like Sydney.

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 So just like for those that move from a small city

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 to the big smokes,

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 and Augustine is getting to be of age.

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 So although he heard the gospel

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 through his mum, who is a Christian,

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 and through many of his friends during his studies,

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 he was attracted to the lifestyle of a big city,

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 and has taken up a concubine,

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 and had a child.

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 So just like many people these days,

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 he was in a de facto relationship,

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 and had a kid out of wedlock.

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 So let's take a look at Augustine's life so far.

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 So like many people growing up in this area,

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 he was expected to get a good job,

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 to study hard,

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 but at the same time,

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 he wanted to rebel against his mother's wishes,

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 and experience the pleasures of a big city.

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 So we can see that his desires

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 are pretty much like our desires.

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 So what's the thing that made Augustine

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 turn his life around?

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 So we actually need to look at

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 how Augustine views his own struggle against lust.

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 So if you look at point two,

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 on Augustine's struggle against sin,

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 Augustine reflected his own conversion experience,

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 and we can see it in a book called

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 The Confessions of Augustine,

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 which outlines his struggles.

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 So the thing we have to realise is,

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 in Roman times,

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 it's actually not uncommon

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 to get a concubine before you get married.

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 So the thing that stirs Augustine

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 to think about sin

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 is not what is expected in society,

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 because that's pretty much normal,

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 or at least not unusual,

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 but rather,

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 it's actually his inward reflection

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 of whether he can control his lust.

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 So you can actually see

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 how Augustine views his lust in The Confessions.

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 He describes his sexual impulses as negative.

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 So he reflects the image of disease,

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 disorder, and corruption.

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 So I'll just pick up a couple of quotes

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 to see how he describes his lifestyle.

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 For almost nine years followed,

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 in which I wallowed in the mud

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 of the deep and darkness of falsehood.

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 In another place, he says,

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 and what was it that delighted me

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 except to love and be loved?

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 But I did not hold on to the righted measure,

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 so I did not distinguish

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 the serenity of love

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 from the mist of lust.

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 Both boiled confusedly together,

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 and created off my weak age

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 through the steep paths of desires,

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 and sank me into the whirlpool of crimes.

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 In other places,

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 Augustine describes his desire as

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 chains, thorns,

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 a seething cauldron,

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 and an open thaw that must be scratched.

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 Desire for Augustine is almost a compulsion,

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 an irrational impulse

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 that he feels incapable of controlling

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 without God's help,

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 a bondage that he is too weak to escape.

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 So let's pause here for a moment,

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 and I encourage us all to take an honest look at ourselves.

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 So do we have a continuing pattern of sin,

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 which can be likened to an addiction?

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 It doesn't have to be loved,

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 which is what Augustine struggled with.

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 It can be an addiction to greed,

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 or to power,

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 or to pleasure,

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 or something else.

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 When we struggle against these sins,

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 do you echo Augustine's sentiments

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 that it's a bondage that we are too weak to escape from?

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 For those that have struggled with sin,

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 have you tried to stop that pattern?

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 Have you heard of that advice?

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 Snap out of it.

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 Let me tell you of the danger of your particular sin.

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 And let me tell you how you can help yourself in that situation.

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 And I'm sure that that advice doesn't work.

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 The reason why that advice doesn't work

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 has to do with our human nature.

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 And Augustine has plenty to say about that.

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 So we're up to point three.

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 So he faced a monk called Pelagius.

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 And Pelagius was a rung that was going around the Roman Empire,

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 teaching that the human race was not entirely sinful.

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 According to Pelagius,

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 there was a residue of uncorrupted goodness in every man.

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 It was properly nurtured,

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 could win the soul back to God.

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 So that idea that Pelagius was teaching

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 was also actually quite popular in the Chinese culture.

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 In fact, in one of the most famous Chinese texts,

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 it's called the Three-Character Classic,

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 or San Zijing.

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 Actually, the wiki entry is quite accurate.

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 Accurate.

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 This one is so famous,

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 even the ABCs overseas know it.

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 And these are one of the couple of poems that I know.

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 But let's have a look at what it says.

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 I'll say it in Chinese and explain what it means in English.

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 So it says,

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 So what does it mean?

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 It means that he's saying that people are by nature good at birth.

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 So all people, the nature is similar.

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 But the habits make them different from each other.

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 So it seems that Pelagius,

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 and a popular traditional Chinese view,

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 is quite alike.

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 That people have some goodness in them,

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 and if you teach them the right thing,

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 people can find the good in themselves and change.

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 So how does the Bible answer that question?

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 Are people inherently good?

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 So that all you need to do is teach them something,

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 and draw the good in the sinner,

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 and lead them to Christ.

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 So let's see how Romans chapter 7

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 answers the claims of Pelagius,

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 and the claims about human nature.

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 So a bit about the context of Romans

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 is that Paul is the writer of the book,

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 and the context of Romans is that

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 he spans the first two and a half chapters or so,

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 describing how everyone in the world is sinful.

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 And the next two and a bit chapters

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 are about how to have a right relationship with God

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 by trusting in Jesus.

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 So chapters 6 to 8,

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 and we are smack bang in the middle,

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 is about how we live

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 in the state of being right with God.

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 So this chapter is about Paul's struggle with sin.

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 So firstly, does Paul think that

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 people are inherently good?

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 So from the passage we read,

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 this is what Paul says.

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 In verse 8, it says,

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 For I know that good itself

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 does not dwell in me,

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 that is, in my sinful nature,

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 for I have the desire to do what is good,

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 but I cannot carry it out.

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 So we can see that Paul thinks

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 that there is nothing good within himself

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 that dwells in him.

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 He gives the reason for that,

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 and he gives an illustration of that

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 because he has no ability

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 to carry out what he knows is right.

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 In verse 21, it says,

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 So I find this law at work.

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 Although I want to do good,

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 evil is right there with me.

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 For in my inner being,

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 I delight in God's law.

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 But I see another law at work in me,

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 waging war against the law of my mind,

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 making me a prisoner of the law of sin

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 and work within me.

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 So we have to modify

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 that three-character classic

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 according to the Bible.

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 It will be

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 So people are,

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 by nature,

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 evil,

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 or fallen.

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 So some of us,

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 a lot of people don't know

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 whether this passage in chapter 7

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 is written to describe

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 Paul's struggle with sin

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 before or after he became a Christian.

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 But from verse 22,

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 as well as the structure

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 of the book mentioned above,

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 it's a pretty clear indication

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 that he describes

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 the struggle as a Christian.

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 Since a non-Christian

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 wouldn't by nature

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 delight in God's law.

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 But this should astound us even more.

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 So the thing

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 that helps us to overcome sin

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 is not the label or the tag

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 whether we are Christian

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 or non-Christian.

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 A Christian,

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 if we rely on our own power,

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 even if we are educated

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 about God's law,

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 we cannot obey the law.

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 Our sinful nature

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 would try to go right up

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 to the limit of the law.

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 So that's always the case.

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 When you see the speed limit at 60,

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 some of us will ask,

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 is there a GST bonus

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 when there's a police

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 set up the speed camera?

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 So our nature

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 is always to push against

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 the law and try to break it.

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 So from this passage,

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 we see the ability

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 to obey the law

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 is not whether you carry the label

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 whether you're a Christian

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 or non-Christian.

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 It's about what's inside of us

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 and who we rely on.

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 Since there's nothing good

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 inside us,

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 we have no ability

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 to obey

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 by our own strength.

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 And more education,

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 whether it's moral education

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 or otherwise,

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 does not help

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 because the problem

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 is in our own

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 inner nature.

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 For the ability

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 to obey the law

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 and change

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 is seen in Romans chapter 8.

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 So if you read

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 from the side of Romans,

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 it says,

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 Jesus frees us

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 from the condemnation

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 of the law

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 because he has done

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 what is needed

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 to be done by the law

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 by obeying it completely.

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 I'll read a bit

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 of Romans chapter 8

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 verses 1 to 4.

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 Therefore,

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 there is no condemnation

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 for those

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 who are in Christ Jesus

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 because though

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 through Christ Jesus,

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 the law of the Spirit

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 who gives life

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 has set you free

00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:11.220
 from the law

00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:11.939
 of sin and death.

00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:14.080
 for what by the law

00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:15.360
 was powerless

00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:15.920
 to do

00:13:15.920 --> 00:13:16.560
 because it was

00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:17.560
 weakened by the flesh,

00:13:18.260 --> 00:13:18.900
 God did

00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:19.400
 by sending

00:13:19.400 --> 00:13:20.320
 his own Son

00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.560
 in the likeness

00:13:21.560 --> 00:13:22.560
 of sinful flesh

00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:24.400
 to be a sin offering.

00:13:26.040 --> 00:13:27.080
 So this passage

00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:27.880
 answers

00:13:27.880 --> 00:13:29.280
 what Pelagius

00:13:29.280 --> 00:13:30.480
 is actually teaching.

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.740
 Because Pelagius

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:33.480
 think that people

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:34.620
 are inherently good,

00:13:35.520 --> 00:13:36.120
 one of the things

00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:36.640
 that he taught

00:13:36.640 --> 00:13:37.080
 was that

00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:38.980
 when Jesus died,

00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:40.520
 it wasn't

00:13:40.520 --> 00:13:41.940
 for our sins

00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:42.900
 as a sacrifice.

00:13:43.800 --> 00:13:45.000
 It was an example

00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:45.960
 of selflessness

00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:47.040
 that we should imitate,

00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:48.580
 that we have to

00:13:48.580 --> 00:13:49.980
 draw our goodness

00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:50.700
 to imitate

00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:51.860
 that example.

00:13:53.180 --> 00:13:53.560
 But what does

00:13:53.560 --> 00:13:54.259
 the Bible say?

00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.420
 We are sinful.

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.480
 So what do we need?

00:13:57.580 --> 00:13:58.300
 We need someone

00:13:58.300 --> 00:13:59.560
 to not just be

00:13:59.560 --> 00:14:00.180
 an example

00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:01.000
 to us.

00:14:01.660 --> 00:14:02.259
 We need someone

00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.560
 to be a sin offering,

00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:05.360
 someone that pays

00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.000
 for our sin.

00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.360
 And in this way,

00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.440
 Jesus frees us

00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:10.019
 from our sin.

00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:12.560
 What is more,

00:14:12.800 --> 00:14:13.360
 we can see that

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.120
 from this passage,

00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:15.759
 Jesus does not only

00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.460
 save us,

00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:18.360
 when Jesus saves us,

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.440
 he changes us.

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:20.720
 We see that

00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:21.720
 in Romans 8,

00:14:21.800 --> 00:14:22.419
 verse 5,

00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:23.220
 that those

00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:24.399
 who live

00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:25.200
 according to

00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:25.740
 the Spirit

00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:27.320
 have their mind

00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:28.300
 set on what

00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:29.180
 the Spirit desires.

00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:32.620
 What he's saying

00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.060
 is that Jesus

00:14:33.060 --> 00:14:33.720
 has the power

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.899
 to free us

00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:35.659
 from being trapped

00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.199
 by sin

00:14:36.199 --> 00:14:37.579
 by giving us

00:14:37.579 --> 00:14:38.299
 the Holy Spirit.

00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:40.179
 And the Spirit

00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:40.959
 helps us

00:14:40.959 --> 00:14:42.059
 to change,

00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.120
 to live for

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:43.799
 a different master

00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.399
 if we rely

00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:44.919
 on the Spirit.

00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:47.360
 So can we see

00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.500
 that the struggle

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:48.959
 with sin

00:14:48.959 --> 00:14:49.759
 is not whether

00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:50.579
 we have enough

00:14:50.579 --> 00:14:51.279
 self-control,

00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.120
 but whether we have

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.139
 been relying

00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.340
 on God's Holy Spirit

00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:56.659
 so that we have

00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:57.360
 the ability

00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:58.960
 to live for God,

00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.980
 our new master.

00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:02.360
 Of course,

00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:02.820
 I don't mean

00:15:02.820 --> 00:15:03.600
 that Christians

00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:05.019
 can live perfectly

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:06.259
 sinless,

00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.500
 because although

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.200
 we are free

00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:10.060
 from the penalty

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:11.419
 and the power

00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:11.840
 of sin,

00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.440
 we presently

00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:14.440
 experience the

00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:15.100
 presence of sin.

00:15:17.800 --> 00:15:18.279
 So,

00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.039
 what is said

00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:19.899
 in Romans 8

00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:21.600
 somewhat reflects

00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.879
 Augustine's experience.

00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:25.560
 I will read

00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:26.000
 a little bit

00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:27.300
 of his biography

00:15:27.300 --> 00:15:29.500
 to see how

00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.240
 Augustine has been

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:30.940
 freed from the

00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:31.440
 grip of sin.

00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:34.340
 Having been

00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:35.120
 exposed to

00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.940
 various friends

00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:36.480
 that challenged

00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:36.940
 him on the

00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:37.280
 gospel,

00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:38.820
 Augustine was

00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:39.320
 filled with a

00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:39.940
 growing sense

00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:40.560
 of personal

00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:41.400
 inadequacy,

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:43.440
 realizing how

00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:44.360
 empty his life

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.680
 so far has been,

00:15:46.280 --> 00:15:47.500
 and fell into

00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.300
 a state of

00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:48.720
 despair.

00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:50.560
 He was torn

00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:51.740
 between the

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.760
 monastic ideal

00:15:52.760 --> 00:15:53.320
 on the one

00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:53.680
 hand,

00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:54.900
 and the pleasures

00:15:54.900 --> 00:15:55.520
 of this world

00:15:55.520 --> 00:15:56.060
 on the other.

00:15:57.520 --> 00:15:58.220
 Wanting to

00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:58.780
 embrace the

00:15:58.780 --> 00:15:59.080
 gospel,

00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:00.640
 but finding it

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.580
 too hard to

00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:02.860
 abandon his

00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.360
 lifestyle.

00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.360
 It was then

00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.179
 when he was

00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:07.980
 in this condition

00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.799
 that he heard

00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:09.539
 the child's voice

00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:09.980
 saying,

00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:11.259
 take up and

00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:11.639
 read.

00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:13.620
 So much

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.179
 confused,

00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:15.620
 he reached for

00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.240
 a portion of

00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:16.799
 the scriptures

00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.439
 that he had

00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:18.399
 in hand

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.179
 and read.

00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:21.239
 let us walk

00:16:21.239 --> 00:16:22.519
 properly as

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.259
 in the daytime,

00:16:23.859 --> 00:16:24.479
 not in

00:16:24.479 --> 00:16:25.099
 orgies or

00:16:25.099 --> 00:16:25.659
 drunkenness,

00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:26.919
 not in

00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:27.939
 sexual immorality

00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:28.939
 and sensuality,

00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.699
 not in

00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:31.459
 quarreling and

00:16:31.459 --> 00:16:31.779
 jealousy,

00:16:32.699 --> 00:16:33.319
 but put on

00:16:33.319 --> 00:16:34.039
 Lord Jesus

00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:35.479
 and make no

00:16:35.479 --> 00:16:36.699
 provision for

00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:37.939
 the flesh to

00:16:37.939 --> 00:16:38.959
 gratify his

00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:39.399
 desire.

00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:41.959
 When he read

00:16:41.959 --> 00:16:42.519
 these verses,

00:16:42.959 --> 00:16:43.799
 all his pent-up

00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:44.599
 emotions broke

00:16:44.599 --> 00:16:44.959
 down,

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.519
 and he

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.019
 surrendered his

00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:47.559
 life to

00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:47.839
 Christ.

00:16:49.579 --> 00:16:50.239
 Can you see

00:16:50.239 --> 00:16:51.419
 that when he

00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:52.479
 read the Bible

00:16:52.479 --> 00:16:53.399
 and saw what

00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.279
 Jesus is

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.139
 compared to

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.719
 his life,

00:16:56.619 --> 00:16:57.419
 and he relies

00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:57.919
 on Jesus

00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:58.259
 through the

00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:58.859
 Holy Spirit

00:16:58.859 --> 00:17:00.239
 to be freed,

00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:01.439
 that he

00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.259
 finds so much

00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:02.619
 joy.

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.519
 He wanted to

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.639
 live freely

00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.500
 in the daytime,

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.119
 and it's only

00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:09.220
 Jesus through

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:09.579
 the Spirit

00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.200
 has given him

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.740
 the power

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:12.619
 to be free

00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:12.960
 from his

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.259
 lustful

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:13.700
 desires.

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:16.279
 So I

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:16.720
 want you to

00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.259
 help us to

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.700
 see what

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.279
 this joy

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:19.980
 that Augustine

00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.000
 experienced and

00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.759
 what is preached

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.319
 through the

00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.720
 Bible means

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.100
 for us

00:17:24.100 --> 00:17:25.200
 individually and

00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:25.759
 as a church.

00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:28.700
 So firstly,

00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.440
 I want to ask

00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:29.940
 a question for

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.400
 ourselves.

00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.279
 Are there

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.200
 anyone amongst

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.660
 us that feels

00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.140
 just like

00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:35.900
 Augustine did,

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.580
 that we have

00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:38.779
 a sin or

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.160
 an addiction

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.000
 that we can't

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.559
 shake off?

00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:43.419
 As we can

00:17:43.419 --> 00:17:44.099
 see in Romans,

00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:45.000
 the answer is

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.700
 not to try

00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.460
 harder to

00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.279
 have self-control

00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:47.899
 or to obey

00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:49.319
 a law or

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:49.619
 to fix

00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.220
 ourselves in

00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:50.720
 some other

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.059
 method.

00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.000
 Instead,

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:53.879
 the only way

00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:54.339
 that we can

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.079
 be rescued

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.480
 in this

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.179
 state is

00:17:57.179 --> 00:17:57.599
 to turn to

00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:57.980
 Jesus.

00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:00.899
 Because Jesus

00:18:00.899 --> 00:18:01.899
 has saved us

00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:02.799
 from condemnation

00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.179
 and the Holy

00:18:04.179 --> 00:18:04.799
 Spirit helped

00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.500
 us to change.

00:18:09.179 --> 00:18:09.839
 Trusting in

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.399
 Jesus and

00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:11.099
 relying on

00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:11.379
 the Holy

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:11.779
 Spirit's

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.339
 power means

00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:12.720
 that God

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.119
 has the

00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:13.759
 power both

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.319
 to save

00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.220
 us and

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.699
 to change

00:18:15.699 --> 00:18:16.000
 us.

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.480
 So Jesus

00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:18.879
 has the

00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:20.379
 power to

00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:20.779
 set a new

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.259
 path for

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:21.459
 us.

00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:23.699
 So if you

00:18:23.699 --> 00:18:24.480
 are interested

00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.259
 or convinced

00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:25.679
 just like

00:18:25.679 --> 00:18:26.339
 Augustine did

00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.299
 1700 years

00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:29.039
 ago, that

00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.659
 only Jesus

00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:30.240
 can change

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.659
 your life,

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:31.779
 or you're

00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.459
 curious about

00:18:32.459 --> 00:18:33.339
 how this

00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:34.199
 path is

00:18:34.199 --> 00:18:34.519
 like,

00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:35.959
 please fill

00:18:35.959 --> 00:18:36.159
 in the

00:18:36.159 --> 00:18:36.480
 card in

00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:36.779
 front of

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.919
 you and

00:18:37.919 --> 00:18:38.439
 tell us.

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:40.680
 James, who

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:40.980
 was trading

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.320
 the service

00:18:41.320 --> 00:18:41.820
 or myself,

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.120
 will be

00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:42.420
 happy to

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:42.660
 talk to

00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:42.900
 you after

00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.059
 the

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.380
 service.

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:44.580
 And if

00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:44.820
 you fill

00:18:44.820 --> 00:18:45.019
 in the

00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:46.080
 card, we'll

00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:46.620
 respond to

00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:46.840
 you.

00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.580
 So please

00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:47.980
 take this

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.380
 opportunity.

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.720
 Secondly, I

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.080
 want to talk

00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:53.559
 about how

00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:54.420
 we invite

00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:54.920
 people to

00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:57.559
 church or

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:57.900
 share the

00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.220
 gospel.

00:18:59.320 --> 00:18:59.600
 So I

00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:00.019
 want to pose

00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.600
 this question.

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.320
 Are we

00:19:02.320 --> 00:19:03.000
 functionally

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.660
 Pelagian?

00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:05.180
 So I

00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:05.740
 explain what

00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.120
 I mean.

00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:09.220
 When we

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.940
 try to

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.259
 think of

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:10.579
 people to

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:10.900
 share the

00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:11.940
 gospel or

00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:12.220
 who to

00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:12.599
 invite to

00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:13.319
 church, we

00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:13.740
 might think,

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.579
 this guy, he's

00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:16.200
 beyond help.

00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:17.599
 He's so

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.279
 different from

00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:18.579
 me.

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:19.859
 I don't

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.240
 know what he's

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.680
 been doing

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.400
 last night.

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.099
 He'll be too

00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:22.859
 sleepy, too

00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:23.220
 drunk.

00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.720
 He won't be

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.160
 interested in

00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:25.460
 church.

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.279
 I'm not going

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:26.880
 to invite him.

00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.099
 I'll invite

00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:28.579
 this more

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.240
 moral neighbor.

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.319
 He's more

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:30.859
 like me.

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.180
 Maybe it's

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.720
 just easier

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.480
 for God to

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:35.180
 convict and

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:35.660
 convince us

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.160
 person of

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.460
 the gospel.

00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.220
 Do we

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:39.700
 sometimes do

00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:39.940
 that?

00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:41.980
 Of course,

00:19:42.040 --> 00:19:42.220
 there might

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.540
 be other

00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:43.500
 reasons why

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.140
 we don't

00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:44.580
 invite people

00:19:44.580 --> 00:19:44.779
 that are

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.120
 not like

00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:45.420
 us.

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:46.840
 Perhaps we

00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.220
 are scared

00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:47.519
 to talk

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:47.840
 to them.

00:19:49.080 --> 00:19:49.900
 Perhaps we

00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.300
 are feeling

00:19:50.300 --> 00:19:51.060
 uncomfortable

00:19:51.060 --> 00:19:52.100
 or judgmental.

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:54.140
 But when we

00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:54.640
 understand the

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:55.360
 full power of

00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:56.779
 the gospel in

00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:57.500
 saving and

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.279
 changing people,

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.640
 we have the

00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.180
 confidence to

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:00.860
 invite anyone

00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:01.320
 to church.

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.380
 So I

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:04.900
 want to ask

00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:05.420
 you, if

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:05.920
 you really

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.460
 believe the

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:06.920
 gospel has

00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:07.400
 the power

00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:08.060
 to save

00:20:08.060 --> 00:20:08.759
 and to

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.160
 change,

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.000
 how does

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.480
 it affect

00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.779
 who you

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.160
 invite to

00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.480
 church?

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:14.880
 In the

00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:15.380
 bookmark that

00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:15.759
 James is

00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.300
 saying, how

00:20:16.300 --> 00:20:16.539
 does it

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.539
 affect the

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:17.960
 person you

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.380
 put on the

00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:18.880
 bookmark that

00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.120
 you want to

00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:19.519
 pray for?

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.880
 So thirdly, I

00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:23.539
 want to paint a

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:25.019
 picture of

00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:25.400
 church.

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:26.680
 What would it

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.460
 look like if

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:27.820
 we really

00:20:27.820 --> 00:20:28.660
 believe in the

00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.160
 power of the

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:30.300
 gospel to save

00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:30.960
 and to change

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.200
 us?

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:32.980
 So I

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.420
 want to tell

00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:34.319
 you about

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.779
 the church

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.960
 I visited

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.500
 in Dallas.

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:37.880
 So I

00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:38.420
 went one

00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:39.059
 day earlier

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.440
 than the

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:39.759
 rest of the

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.039
 team to

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:41.360
 visit my

00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:42.019
 friend Calvin

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:44.539
 and one of the

00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.279
 things he did

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.960
 was he brought

00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.700
 me to a

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.680
 church called

00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.180
 the Watermark

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:48.900
 Church in

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.420
 Fort Worth

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.960
 on a Monday

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.559
 night because

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:52.340
 I missed the

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:52.940
 plane on Sunday

00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:54.460
 so not due to

00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:54.880
 me, due to

00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:55.100
 Quantis.

00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:57.539
 But there

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:57.919
 were 500

00:20:57.919 --> 00:20:58.719
 people gathering

00:20:58.719 --> 00:20:59.179
 in that

00:20:59.179 --> 00:20:59.779
 auditorium.

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.399
 But on a

00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:01.980
 Monday night,

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.179
 it wasn't a

00:21:03.179 --> 00:21:03.779
 church service.

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:05.619
 There's a

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:06.179
 ministry called

00:21:06.179 --> 00:21:06.839
 Regenerate.

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.459
 So this

00:21:08.459 --> 00:21:09.659
 ministry models

00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:10.559
 itself after

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.279
 Alcoholic

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:13.539
 Anonymous'

00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:14.919
 12-step

00:21:14.919 --> 00:21:15.379
 program.

00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.219
 But instead

00:21:17.219 --> 00:21:18.219
 of using the

00:21:18.219 --> 00:21:18.659
 traditional

00:21:18.659 --> 00:21:19.719
 addiction program,

00:21:20.659 --> 00:21:21.359
 they replaced

00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.119
 each element

00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:22.519
 in the

00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:22.879
 element of

00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:23.219
 the gospel.

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:25.339
 In fact,

00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:25.720
 the first

00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.059
 step of the

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.960
 program quotes

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.480
 Romans 7-18.

00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.420
 And it states

00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:31.200
 that we have

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.940
 to admit that

00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:32.700
 we are powerless

00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:34.680
 to overcome

00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:35.620
 our addiction,

00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.160
 brokenness,

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:37.559
 and sinful

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.079
 patterns.

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.740
 That in our

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.380
 own power,

00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.620
 our lives are

00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:42.839
 unmanageable

00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:44.160
 and unimaginable.

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:45.980
 So they

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.940
 advertised this

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.660
 ministry openly,

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.400
 not just for

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.279
 Christians, for

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.900
 non-Christians as

00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.079
 well.

00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:51.640
 And people

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:52.539
 throughout Dallas

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.339
 and Fort Worth

00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.579
 come to this

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:54.879
 place.

00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.279
 So they

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:56.720
 break people

00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.099
 up into

00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.720
 small groups.

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:58.899
 And it was

00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.299
 in a group

00:21:59.299 --> 00:21:59.839
 of about

00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.379
 20 men.

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:02.460
 And they

00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.220
 share all

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.819
 types of

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.460
 problems.

00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:05.819
 Domestic

00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.420
 violence,

00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:07.480
 marital

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.039
 unfaithfulness,

00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.500
 and many

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.180
 other patterns

00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:11.180
 of sin and

00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:11.559
 addictions.

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.279
 And the

00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.240
 church was

00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.039
 open and

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.500
 ready to

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:15.920
 minister to

00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.460
 these people.

00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:16.519
 people.

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.039
 So if

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:20.340
 everyone here

00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:21.500
 at church

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.180
 believes in

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.700
 the power of

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.120
 the gospel

00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:24.559
 of Jesus

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:24.840
 and the

00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.400
 Holy Spirit,

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:26.860
 that he

00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:27.220
 has the

00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.120
 power to

00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:29.000
 save and

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.680
 change us,

00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:30.920
 what would

00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.579
 our church

00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.059
 look like?

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:34.519
 In order to

00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.819
 represent a

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.620
 diverse community

00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:37.259
 of Chastwood,

00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:39.039
 it can't be

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.460
 just about

00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.380
 ethnic diversity.

00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:42.259
 It needs to

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.840
 be a diversity

00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.680
 of social

00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.100
 economic

00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:44.579
 background.

00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:46.439
 And church

00:22:46.439 --> 00:22:46.919
 is not just

00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:47.220
 for the

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.539
 moral

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.319
 middle-class

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:48.740
 person.

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.359
 If we

00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:52.079
 can, by

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.659
 a church,

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.099
 be a church

00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.679
 that welcomes

00:22:54.679 --> 00:22:56.099
 people of

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.099
 every background,

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.019
 every type of

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.319
 sin and

00:22:59.319 --> 00:22:59.679
 addiction,

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.980
 and share

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.539
 Jesus with

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:01.779
 them,

00:23:03.899 --> 00:23:04.399
 we can

00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:05.379
 let Jesus

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.079
 change them.

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.359
 And we

00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:07.980
 can truly

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.559
 echo the

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.419
 vision that

00:23:09.419 --> 00:23:10.839
 treasuring

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.819
 Jesus is for

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.679
 the joys of

00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:13.419
 all people.

00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:17.279
 a

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:32.859
 sh