WEBVTT 00:00:00.740 --> 00:00:25.940 It's good to be with you tonight, IBC. Very good to be here. As I said earlier, I spend most of my year teaching teenage boys religion, theology, philosophy, and one time I gave them this assignment that they had to find a few lines of a text, whether it was the Bible, another religious text, or philosophy of some sort. 00:00:25.940 --> 00:00:33.240 And they had to present it to the class and spend about two minutes telling us how it related to what we were talking about. 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:50.500 So I got all sorts of lines of text coming from certain boys, and then a quieter boy comes up to the class, so he's maybe 15 years old, and he walks up, and he reads three passages from the Bible. 00:00:50.500 --> 00:00:57.560 And one of them is from Leviticus, talking about the punishment for homosexuality. 00:00:58.179 --> 00:01:04.500 If any man or woman has a sexual act with another man or woman, their sin is upon their heads, they shall be stoned. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:12.659 Then he proceeds to read from Joshua, and talk about God commanding the Israelites to kill the Canaanites. 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:19.599 And then he goes on to a New Testament verse, making various comments about slaves and women. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:33.099 And he says, based on these passages, I conclude that God, or the people who wrote the Bible, is a racist, bigot, homophobe. 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:35.739 A racist, bigot, homophobe. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:41.179 Now the whole class looks at me, sort of stunned, a little bit like you're looking at me now. 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:43.759 I'm just going to stare at me thinking, what are you going to say to that? 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:49.540 And then I, I think to their disappointment, said, well he makes a fair point, and we have to consider this. 00:01:51.460 --> 00:01:58.160 Now, this boy had taken a few select passages from the Bible as his source for knowledge about God. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:06.960 His vision of God, what he saw of that person or that idea, was based on these few select passages. 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:14.159 He didn't see God as a nice person, a caring father, a shepherd of the sheep. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:18.840 As a kind king. 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:24.039 And certainly not as someone who walked among us to cleanse us of our sin. 00:02:24.959 --> 00:02:26.199 And restore the world from evil. 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:33.159 No, he overlooked certain parts of the Bible and focused on these. 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:36.919 Misprioritizing certain sources. 00:02:37.359 --> 00:02:39.319 Selecting certain sources at the expense of others. 00:02:41.819 --> 00:02:45.139 Now, as a church, I don't know that that's always our problem. 00:02:45.259 --> 00:02:46.300 That we're sort of overlooking. 00:02:46.379 --> 00:02:48.740 If anything, we're overlooking those passages that he's quoting. 00:02:48.859 --> 00:02:50.159 And we need to take those seriously. 00:02:52.180 --> 00:02:54.199 But, our problem is slightly different. 00:02:54.579 --> 00:03:00.979 But in the same kind of way, we're misprioritizing certain texts or certain sources. 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:05.560 Sort of streams of information about God. 00:03:06.359 --> 00:03:08.060 About how we get to know who God is. 00:03:09.419 --> 00:03:10.359 What we listen to. 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:11.759 What we decide not to listen to. 00:03:13.519 --> 00:03:16.759 And the author to the Hebrews is very aware of this issue. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:19.900 He's very aware of how we get to know who God is. 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:21.900 Of how the church is learning about God. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:28.620 How their vision of God is changed or distorted by prioritizing different sources. 00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:36.580 Hebrews, as many of you will know, is probably written to a heavily Jewish audience. 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:41.900 And so, or people, I'm sorry, that at least were formerly Jews and now have become Christians. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:44.560 So, they were formerly Jews, now have become Christians. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:49.319 And the unique thing about them is they're quite tempted to return to their Judaism. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:51.000 Right? 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:52.659 It's sort of like you've changed jobs. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:58.359 And you're thinking, well, this new job doesn't give me the privileges or the prestiges I had at that other job. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:00.379 And some things I don't really like about it. 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:01.259 It's not as comfortable. 00:04:01.740 --> 00:04:04.539 And I'm thinking about going back, actually. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:06.379 I'm thinking about going back. 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:10.539 And so, that's why Hebrews deals with things like apostasy. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:12.740 That's a theme that's going on here. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:17.180 And that's why the author is drawing on the Old Testament so much. 00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:23.459 And not just drawing on Old Testament imagery to help people make sense of Jesus or God in his current work. 00:04:24.699 --> 00:04:32.240 It's drawing on the Old Testament almost as a necessary framework for understanding who Christ is and what God is doing now. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:36.079 But it would have carried a lot of weight with that audience. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:40.039 So, the first verse says, 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:45.839 Long ago, at many times, and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:04:46.899 --> 00:04:54.099 Long ago, at many times, and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:04:56.339 --> 00:05:00.360 And any formerly Jewish audience would have readily agreed with this statement. 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:01.360 That's right, the prophets. 00:05:01.579 --> 00:05:04.099 They spoke to our fathers, to our ancestors. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:10.979 When we think about the prophets, we can think about the sort of prophets who have a book named after them. 00:05:11.039 --> 00:05:13.120 But there are many other people functioning as prophets. 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:15.519 And Moses was one of the first prophets. 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:19.699 God spoke to Moses and gave him the law in Sinai. 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:21.719 And Moses speaks to the people. 00:05:23.699 --> 00:05:27.699 Oftentimes, Christians think of David as sort of the main man of the Old Testament. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:29.639 As sort of the leading figure. 00:05:30.579 --> 00:05:32.659 But Jews often think of someone else. 00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:37.439 Jews often think of someone else as the main man. 00:05:37.500 --> 00:05:39.040 The main kind of prophet. 00:05:40.320 --> 00:05:42.300 I was chatting with someone. 00:05:42.400 --> 00:05:43.160 I don't think he's a Jew. 00:05:43.260 --> 00:05:46.680 But he was a university professor in Old Testament. 00:05:47.820 --> 00:05:48.840 And I'm sitting in his office. 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:49.879 And we're chatting. 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:53.060 And I gradually start to kind of look through his head. 00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:57.019 And then I start to kind of draw my attention up his bookshelf. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:03.759 And in his bookshelf, there was a small toy that's still in its package. 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:06.480 And it's an action figure. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:08.259 It's an action figure of Moses. 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:10.860 It's a Moses action figure. 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:14.300 And he's standing there probably with a staff and a small robe. 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:17.280 So, Moses. 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:19.020 Moses is the main man. 00:06:19.840 --> 00:06:21.319 Main man for Jews. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.000 Because he received Torah on Sinai. 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:26.759 And he gave God's people the law. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:31.100 It's not to say that other people aren't very important. 00:06:31.420 --> 00:06:34.060 Or all Jews would say that. 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:37.079 But Moses is a prophet. 00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:40.620 And God spoke so definitively on Sinai to Moses. 00:06:42.540 --> 00:06:44.259 That was one way in which he spoke. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:51.800 The New Testament Gospels are framing the whole story of Jesus in the promises of the prophets. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:57.360 You can't get very far in Matthew without Isaiah saying something that Jesus is now fulfilling. 00:07:00.699 --> 00:07:03.840 And this is why Jesus causes so much religious turmoil. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:04.819 Well, one of the reasons. 00:07:05.979 --> 00:07:08.519 Because he's acting like a prophet. 00:07:08.659 --> 00:07:10.359 And then he's acting like more than a prophet. 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:14.619 And he's taking the teachings of the prophets that the Pharisees would have known. 00:07:14.679 --> 00:07:15.719 And he's challenging them. 00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:18.379 And he's talking with the Pharisees about them. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:23.919 There's a nice passage in Luke 7. 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:27.479 Jesus is talking to a Pharisee at the Pharisee's house. 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:29.459 He's having dinner, actually. 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:32.319 And this woman, this sinful woman, comes over. 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:35.659 And she starts anointing Jesus with oil. 00:07:36.659 --> 00:07:40.240 And visibly and physically showing her affection for him. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:43.259 And this Pharisee leans over. 00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:47.280 And you can imagine him kind of whispering to someone else at the table. 00:07:49.340 --> 00:07:57.160 If this Jesus guy really knew what kind of woman that was, he wouldn't be a prophet. 00:07:57.160 --> 00:08:01.180 A real prophet would know what kind of woman she is. 00:08:01.780 --> 00:08:04.780 A real prophet would know what kind of woman she is. 00:08:06.280 --> 00:08:07.860 And you may know what Jesus said then. 00:08:09.760 --> 00:08:12.320 Those who are forgiven little love little. 00:08:12.420 --> 00:08:14.240 Those who are forgiven much love much. 00:08:16.140 --> 00:08:17.640 This woman is a sinner and she knows it. 00:08:18.640 --> 00:08:21.080 This woman is a sinner and she knows it. 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:32.460 Jesus was a challenge to the sources of authority that these people in the first century were accepting. 00:08:32.579 --> 00:08:33.559 That the Jews particularly. 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:36.519 And Jesus is saying, you have got to take me seriously. 00:08:37.579 --> 00:08:38.879 You've got to take me seriously. 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:40.120 Because I'm not just a prophet. 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:41.139 I'm acting like a prophet. 00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:43.480 But I am more than a prophet. 00:08:44.059 --> 00:08:45.279 I am more than a prophet. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:48.620 And that is the point that we get in Hebrews. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:52.720 Long ago, at many times, and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:57.759 But, in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son. 00:08:58.459 --> 00:09:00.319 Whom he appointed the heir of all things. 00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:03.519 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his son. 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:07.079 What the author is saying, if you want to get to know God, 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:10.079 don't not look at the prophets. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:11.600 Don't not read the Old Testament. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:15.100 But if you want to get to know God, you've got to look at Jesus. 00:09:16.220 --> 00:09:17.839 You've got to look to Christ. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:21.919 That's what I'm going to be unpacking. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.179 There are quite a few phrases here that explain that. 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:26.699 You'll see he's the radiance and the glory of God. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:28.539 The exact imprint of his nature. 00:09:34.579 --> 00:09:37.199 One more example that's maybe a little more relatable. 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:42.939 Parents are a source of knowledge about God. 00:09:42.940 --> 00:09:49.340 We acquire our view, maybe initially, first and foremost, many of us from our parents. 00:09:51.520 --> 00:09:56.380 We almost can't quite completely get away from that for much of our life. 00:09:56.379 --> 00:10:00.899 Dad may have said God hates Roman Catholics. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:02.179 Mom said they're not Christians. 00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:03.299 They're not real Christians. 00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:06.220 So we need a Roman Catholic. 00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:09.019 I think you're not really a Christian. 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:14.000 I mean, you do a kind of church-like thing, and you're a little more serious about that than I am. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:18.039 I don't really know. 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:20.220 Dad said you're not really a Christian. 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:26.259 I'm not going to take up the whole Roman Catholic thing and unpack that at the moment. 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:27.179 But you get the point, right? 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:31.360 Our parents are very, very informative in terms of how we see God for both good and bad. 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:33.000 And we've got to at least put that to question. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:42.059 And we've got to remember that often we might misprioritize certain sources of knowledge about God and how we view Him. 00:10:42.059 --> 00:10:48.579 I wanted to give an example from Christian blogs, from the blogosphere, but I'm really not that plugged in. 00:10:49.439 --> 00:10:54.179 And when I did go to visit some blogs, I was impressed, actually, with quite a bit of balance. 00:10:54.359 --> 00:10:58.419 It's sort of the main impression I got from the articles. 00:10:58.599 --> 00:10:59.759 It wasn't really one-sided. 00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:03.259 It was saying, well, maybe we need a little bit more of this or some of this at this time. 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:06.219 But maybe you all can come up with an example. 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:17.340 You would know how blogs can be both nourishing but also slightly dangerous if we put too much weight on the message. 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:23.420 So God reveals Himself. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:27.000 He reveals Himself most clearly. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:32.320 He speaks in the loudest way through Jesus. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:36.000 In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. 00:11:37.540 --> 00:11:44.980 And we get about four or five descriptions here. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:48.580 So I'm just preaching the first four verses of this chapter. 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:54.760 He appointed Christ the heir of all things. 00:11:55.160 --> 00:11:57.100 He appointed Christ the heir of all things. 00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:58.780 So the heir implies inheritance. 00:11:58.920 --> 00:12:01.140 Christ has inherited at God's appointment. 00:12:01.139 --> 00:12:03.399 He's been given all things. 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:04.819 They are His. 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:09.139 He is the firstborn. 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.000 That's the language that is related to this, that the Bible uses. 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:13.220 He's the firstborn. 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:15.379 He is, in the way, the firstfruits. 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:19.860 In this way, He sort of sets a model for what His followers will experience. 00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:23.639 He's the firstfruits of the resurrection from the dead. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:27.980 So as Christ was raised from the dead, so shall His followers be raised. 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:31.560 He's over all creation. 00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:32.879 There's no one like this. 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:38.879 None of the prophets in the Old Testament were the heirs of all creation in this way. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:42.460 Only Christ receives that sort of description. 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:48.960 God appointed Him the heir of all things through whom He also created the world. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:56.800 Jesus was working with the Father in the creation of the world. 00:12:56.900 --> 00:12:58.940 The Son and the Father were co-creating. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:02.639 They were working together in the creation of the world. 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:05.100 And the Son took part. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.500 What's the implication of this? 00:13:09.319 --> 00:13:13.379 If you create everything, then you're not created. 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:15.580 If you created everything, you are not created. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:16.860 You're not like the prophets. 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:17.819 You're not like the angels. 00:13:17.939 --> 00:13:20.840 You're not like these other things and aspects in creation. 00:13:23.439 --> 00:13:24.819 Christ is above those things. 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:27.960 He is one with the Creator. 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:33.940 The Greek word is actually worlds. 00:13:34.300 --> 00:13:39.040 I don't know how much stock to put in this, but it could be a sense of worlds accentuating 00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:39.720 kind of all things. 00:13:39.780 --> 00:13:41.480 It's just the world that you see, but all things. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:42.800 The other things that you don't see. 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:46.740 I don't know if you're into a multiverse theory. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.740 I'm particularly not. 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:49.820 I think I would find it interesting if I knew more about it. 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:53.379 But if you are, then this would be an interesting passage to look at. 00:13:53.680 --> 00:13:55.100 He also created the worlds. 00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:58.480 The point is that Christ created them and he created all things. 00:13:58.680 --> 00:14:03.840 And it might be just more than the first century audience experienced on a day-to-day basis. 00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:11.740 He also upholds, related to this, he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:16.019 If you're following along in the text, notice I skipped down. 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:17.279 We'll come back. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:19.500 But he upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:24.300 So he not only created these things, he not only inherited all things. 00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:26.819 He also actively sustains all things. 00:14:28.199 --> 00:14:29.559 He sustains all things. 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:34.000 Jesus is acting like God the Father because he is God. 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:35.159 He is God. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:38.319 He governs with God. 00:14:38.359 --> 00:14:39.659 He governs for God. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:45.179 He's the heir of all things through whom God created the world 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:47.839 and upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:54.820 One very interesting thing here is verse 3. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:59.259 Christ is the radiance of the glory of God 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:02.480 and the exact imprint of his nature. 00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:07.040 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:11.299 This language for imprint, the imprint of someone's nature, 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:15.299 was a word used for stamps. 00:15:15.839 --> 00:15:21.659 Like a, yeah, you could stamp like a seal or an engraving upon something, 00:15:21.719 --> 00:15:24.539 like a coin or stone or something else. 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:29.959 You could engrave upon a coin the exact image of something. 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:32.620 You could put a brand on a camel. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:34.480 That's an imprint, a brand on a camel. 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:37.159 You could also have, say, an imperial seal. 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:40.099 If you had something and you had to put the stamp on there. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:43.379 Now you're thinking, well, that doesn't sound like an exact imprint of something. 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:46.000 That's sort of nothing compared to our digital printer. 00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:49.439 That really could give you an exact imprint of someone's face. 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:55.800 But in the first century, the sense is it's sort of this authoritative mark 00:15:55.800 --> 00:15:59.900 that is a representation of the person whom it represents. 00:16:01.140 --> 00:16:03.620 This imprint, this seal, it's engraving. 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:05.760 It's engraving. 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:09.860 It's representative of that person in an authoritative way, 00:16:10.140 --> 00:16:11.180 in an individual way. 00:16:15.880 --> 00:16:18.620 More abstractly, we get this, in this Greek text, 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:21.480 we hear that these two men, 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:24.760 so the excellent character of Heracles and Theseus, 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:27.700 impressed upon their exploits, 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:30.220 so clear a stamp of glory. 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:32.520 The excellent character of Heracles and Theseus, 00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:35.080 impressed upon their exploits, 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:38.440 so clear a stamp of glory. 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:40.360 A stamp, that's the imprint. 00:16:41.520 --> 00:16:43.720 So clear a stamp of glory. 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:47.700 And it was their character that leapt upon their actions, 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:51.300 this stamp, this imprint. 00:16:51.780 --> 00:16:53.740 This imprint of glory in their case. 00:16:58.920 --> 00:17:03.160 So when the letter says that Christ is the exact imprint of God's nature, 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:07.340 he's this stamp, he's this seal, 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:12.600 he's this exact representation of who God is. 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:16.119 And the implication is, if you want to know God, you look at Christ. 00:17:16.199 --> 00:17:18.339 If you want to know who God is, you look at Christ. 00:17:18.459 --> 00:17:21.279 He is the imprint of his nature. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:26.960 I won't rattle through the alternatives, 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:29.299 but the author could have written so many things. 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:31.160 What else is the exact imprint of God's nature? 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:33.139 Well, we learn from God all over the place. 00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:36.200 It seems a little bit simple to say this man from the first century, 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:39.680 we really have, you know, he lived 33 years, 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:42.039 but if we really have about three years of his life, 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:44.779 that's the exact imprint of God's nature? 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:47.160 That's the radiance of God's glory? 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:50.340 What about all creation? 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.860 All creation does speak about God. 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.080 What about God's word? 00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:55.960 God's physical word does speak about God. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:00.880 We'll question the authority and the scope to which you can speak about God. 00:18:01.040 --> 00:18:04.300 But the author knows these things. 00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:06.700 He says, look to Christ. 00:18:06.820 --> 00:18:08.220 He's the radiance of God's glory. 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:11.140 He's where God really shines. 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:16.600 Maybe you get the most reliable. 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:19.580 The clearest signal of who God is. 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:25.360 This isn't as limited or as strange as you might think. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:29.060 If we think a little bit about how we get to know other people, actually. 00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:31.220 How we get to know other people. 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.880 And one way, we often say, 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:37.880 so-and-so shines in this activity, 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:38.880 or in this role, 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:40.160 you really see them shine. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:46.860 So, I'll give you an example from the athletic world, 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.080 which isn't really my specialty, 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:54.620 but I do enjoy it in different ways. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:58.860 There's an author called David Foster Wallace, 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:01.340 about maybe ten years ago. 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:04.159 And Wallace writes, wrote fiction, 00:19:04.419 --> 00:19:07.839 and a lot of really, really good essays, 00:19:07.959 --> 00:19:08.759 non-fiction essays. 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.740 And he reflects on, 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:13.159 he himself actually was a, 00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:14.819 sort of a novice tennis player, 00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.879 but like a good novice tennis player. 00:19:18.139 --> 00:19:18.659 Serious. 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:21.540 And so, he reflects on how athletes 00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:23.840 struggle to express themselves verbally in interviews. 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:25.000 They present one way, 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.519 which we've all seen, 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.500 an athlete interviewing, 00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.540 sort of after a contest. 00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:30.200 And then he says, 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:32.500 but how do I align that with people playing sports 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:34.759 that require a lot of extreme intelligence? 00:19:35.800 --> 00:19:36.900 How do I compare these things? 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.680 He doesn't give these examples, 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.779 but I found some. 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:45.139 Here's the first. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.559 I owe a lot to my parents, 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:51.059 especially my mother and father. 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:55.180 That's golfer Greg Norman. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.819 Reflecting on the match to come, 00:20:00.899 --> 00:20:02.220 this is the English footballer. 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.480 Well, either side could win it, 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.700 or it could be a draw. 00:20:08.019 --> 00:20:08.839 If you're curious, 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:10.079 it's Ron Atkinson. 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:13.899 The last one is, 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:15.160 I feel like I'm the best, 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:18.519 but you're not going to get me to say that. 00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:22.200 I feel like I'm the best, 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:24.139 but you're not going to get me to say that. 00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:29.500 That's an American football player, 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:32.039 one who catches the ball of the receiver. 00:20:34.899 --> 00:20:38.259 Here's what Foster Wallace says. 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:41.039 We prefer not to consider closely 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:44.359 the shockingly vapid and primitive comments 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:46.900 uttered by athletes in post-contest interviews, 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:49.440 or to consider what impoverishments 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.460 in one's mental life 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.920 would allow people actually to think 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:53.599 the way great athletes seem to think. 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.599 And then he goes on to say, 00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:01.779 I submit that tennis is the most beautiful sport there is, 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:04.500 and also the most demanding. 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.639 It requires bodily control, 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.119 hand-eye coordination, 00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:09.659 quickness, 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.399 flat-out speed, 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:10.839 endurance, 00:21:11.719 --> 00:21:13.500 and that weird mix of caution and abandon 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.339 we call courage. 00:21:15.439 --> 00:21:17.319 It also requires smarts. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:20.159 Just one single shot 00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:21.779 in one exchange 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.579 in one point 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:23.539 of a high-level match 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.980 is a nightmare 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.599 of mechanical variables. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:28.980 Given a net 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.079 that's three feet high 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.539 at the center 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.339 and two players 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:32.099 in unrealistically 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.839 fixed positions, 00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:36.500 the efficacy of one single shot 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.679 is determined by its angle, 00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:38.179 depth, 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:38.819 pace, 00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:39.579 and spin. 00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:42.179 And each of these determinants 00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:43.179 is itself determined 00:21:43.179 --> 00:21:45.519 by still other variables. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:50.259 I'm not knocking athletes, 00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:53.460 but I am saying 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:55.079 that if you really want 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:56.000 to get to know an athlete 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.519 and you haven't seen them play, 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.519 then you're missing out on something. 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.980 If you just listen to them 00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.220 give a post-contest interview, 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.539 if you just select a few passages 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.480 from the Old Testament, 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:07.539 if you just listen 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.420 to what your parents say 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:08.940 is scripture, 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.440 you don't get a whole 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:11.720 complete sense 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:13.119 of who God is. 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.759 You don't get a whole sense 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.420 of who God is. 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:17.880 You must look to Christ. 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.680 The last thing here 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:25.500 is this interesting attribute here. 00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:26.519 We get all these sort of 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.360 what I would call 00:22:27.360 --> 00:22:29.519 like power attributes 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:31.100 throughout this passage. 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.220 He's the heir of all things, 00:22:32.320 --> 00:22:33.100 created the world, 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.100 the exact imprint 00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:36.240 of God's glory and nature. 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.740 He upholds the universe 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:40.580 by the word of his power. 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:44.379 And then what do we read? 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.579 After making purification 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.679 for sins, 00:22:49.819 --> 00:22:50.720 Christ sat down 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.299 at the right hand 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.299 of the majesty on high. 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.679 Now the right hand 00:22:53.679 --> 00:22:54.619 of God 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:56.159 is a place of authority, 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.939 but Christ came from a place 00:22:58.939 --> 00:23:00.000 of making purification 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.899 for sins. 00:23:02.159 --> 00:23:03.319 He came from a place 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.879 of making purification 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:06.640 for sins. 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.240 These are distinct 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.200 attributes of God. 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.140 Distinct attributes 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:12.540 of God. 00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:13.540 These are distinct things 00:23:13.540 --> 00:23:14.600 even that he does. 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.200 Their functions, 00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:16.860 their roles, 00:23:17.020 --> 00:23:18.300 that no one else, 00:23:18.840 --> 00:23:19.900 no one else does. 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.520 No one else makes 00:23:20.520 --> 00:23:21.600 purification for sins 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:23.380 except Christ. 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:28.080 In a way, 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.220 it's not that Jesus, 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.000 this might sound 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.600 a little bit cheesy, 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.540 but it makes the point. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.540 Jesus didn't bring 00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:34.220 God's message. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.560 Jesus was God's message. 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:37.160 He didn't just bring 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.320 and speak on God's behalf 00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:39.200 like the prophets did. 00:23:39.260 --> 00:23:40.020 He himself 00:23:40.020 --> 00:23:42.020 was God's message. 00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.280 He himself was 00:23:43.280 --> 00:23:44.800 God's message. 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.540 Unless we think 00:23:47.540 --> 00:23:48.280 that the radiance 00:23:48.280 --> 00:23:48.940 of God's glory 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:50.460 is just a good thing, 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:52.300 that it's just good 00:23:52.300 --> 00:23:53.100 in the sense of 00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:54.579 it's happy news. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.419 It's palpable. 00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.399 We have to remember 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:01.019 that Christ 00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:02.119 had to make 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:03.419 purification for sins. 00:24:05.179 --> 00:24:06.500 Sin is not good news. 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.240 It doesn't really 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.339 associate it with radiance, 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.139 but in this case 00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:11.500 it does, 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.139 because purification 00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:13.179 is good news. 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.480 Purification of sins 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:18.439 is good news. 00:24:21.199 --> 00:24:22.019 This is really 00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:23.579 set Hebrews up. 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.480 The book is going 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:24.819 to go on 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.940 to talk about 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:28.200 further aspects 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:28.819 of Christ being 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.960 greater than things 00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:30.440 in the Old Testament. 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.259 He's a greater priest. 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:32.579 He's a greater prophet. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.420 He's a greater sacrifice. 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:38.059 It's going to inform 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.639 God's people 00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:40.279 about what that means 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:41.220 for their faith, 00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:41.579 what it means 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.519 for their faithfulness, 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.000 especially. 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:43.859 If you're thinking 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.799 about leaving Christianity, 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:46.759 faithfulness is a big issue. 00:24:52.919 --> 00:24:53.980 In chapter 10, 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.440 we're going to be looking 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.139 at chapter 10, 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:56.659 verse 11, 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.779 if you are 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:59.200 keeping track. 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:05.779 we get this wonderful image, 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:07.160 this wonderful, 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:07.920 again, 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.620 more than an image, 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.740 this wonderful description 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:11.299 of Christ 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:13.000 and how he purified sins. 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.340 How he purified sins. 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:18.759 Again, 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:19.299 chapter 10, 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:19.880 verse 11, 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.220 and every priest, 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.299 that's the Levitical priest, 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.580 like if you think of 00:25:24.580 --> 00:25:25.539 an Old Testament priest, 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.019 like Aaron, 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:29.220 stands daily at God's service, 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.619 offering repeatedly 00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:33.079 the same sacrifices, 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:35.379 which can never 00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:36.139 take away sins. 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:36.839 Right? 00:25:36.900 --> 00:25:37.500 The priest's role, 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.480 day in and day out, 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.139 sometimes two sacrifices 00:25:40.139 --> 00:25:40.579 a day, 00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:42.859 sacrificing to God 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.819 repeatedly. 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:44.680 Same thing, 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:46.420 same sacrifice, 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:48.019 an animal of some sort. 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:51.039 But this sacrifice 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:52.059 couldn't take away sins. 00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.319 Hebrews will tell us 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:53.879 that it was 00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:55.359 to bring about 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.299 a memory of sins, 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:56.919 to remember 00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.740 someone's sins. 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.799 And I'm sure you 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.619 would remember sins 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.339 if you walked up 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:00.959 to a priest 00:26:00.959 --> 00:26:01.899 on this stone altar 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.759 and you brought 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.479 some animal 00:26:03.479 --> 00:26:04.319 and you put your hand 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.179 on the animal's head 00:26:05.179 --> 00:26:06.059 and the priest 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:07.139 went down with a knife 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:08.939 and he cut the animal's throat 00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:10.559 and the blood would go 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:11.479 probably on you. 00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.079 That would be 00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:13.079 quite a way 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:13.719 to remember, 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.679 remember 00:26:14.679 --> 00:26:16.959 your sin before God. 00:26:20.459 --> 00:26:21.240 Verse 12, 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.000 but when Christ 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.519 had offered 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:23.500 for all time 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.740 a single sacrifice 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.400 for sins, 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.319 but when Christ 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:26.779 had offered 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.779 for all time 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.799 a single sacrifice 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.460 for sins, 00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.400 he sat down 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:31.220 at the right hand 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:32.079 of God. 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.599 The picture is 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.039 that Christ 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.819 walks up 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.900 to the temple, 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.299 to the temple court. 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:39.019 Before the temple, 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:39.720 you can imagine 00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.339 this big, 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.940 big area 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.680 and there would be 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.299 something higher 00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:43.920 than your head. 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.279 It would be 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.200 a big stone 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.460 platform, 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.519 stairs walking up 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:47.839 to it. 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.700 You can imagine 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:50.319 Christ coming in. 00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:50.879 he presents 00:26:50.879 --> 00:26:52.439 as a priest. 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.659 Here is this priest 00:26:53.659 --> 00:26:54.480 and he walks 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.179 upon the altar 00:26:55.179 --> 00:26:56.500 and he realized 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.740 that he is the priest 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.579 and he is also 00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.279 the sacrifice 00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.899 and he is coming 00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.859 to lay his life 00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:01.759 down for the people. 00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:04.259 He's coming 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.139 to lay his life 00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:06.919 down for the people. 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:09.319 And he doesn't 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:10.039 have to do that 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:11.119 every day. 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:12.579 He doesn't have 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.019 to do that 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:14.019 for his own sins. 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.599 He doesn't have 00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.619 to atone 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:16.259 for his own sins. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:16.740 He doesn't need 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.119 his blood 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:17.960 spring upon himself. 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:20.259 He comes 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.740 to lay 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.319 his life 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:22.200 down for the sheep 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:23.299 and make 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:23.819 a single 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.620 sacrifice 00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:25.220 for sins. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.579 And now 00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:27.840 he's at the 00:27:27.840 --> 00:27:28.480 right hand of God 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.059 and he's waiting 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.680 from that time 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.319 until his enemy 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.920 should be made 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:31.460 a footstool 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.259 for his feet. 00:27:33.860 --> 00:27:34.680 For by a single 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.420 offering he has 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.440 perfected for all 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:37.079 time those 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.400 who are being 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.200 sanctified. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.640 He has perfected 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.079 for all time 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:42.039 those who are 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.759 being sanctified. 00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:43.360 And there is the 00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:43.860 story of the 00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.519 Christian life. 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.200 Are you perfect 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:45.720 or are you 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:48.259 in process? 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.920 You will be 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.240 perfect. 00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:50.660 You are not 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.140 perfect. 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.720 You are in 00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.440 process. 00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:53.680 The perfection 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.600 is secure. 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.259 The purification 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.360 is secure. 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.519 And we are 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.440 just getting 00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:59.059 cleaned up 00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.519 and it's a 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.600 long, long 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:01.019 bath. 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.539 It's a long 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.100 process. 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.440 It's a 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:04.200 lifelong 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:04.880 process. 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.240 And the 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:10.620 Holy Spirit 00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:11.100 also bears 00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:12.360 witness to us 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.200 for after saying 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.640 this is the 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.279 covenant that I 00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.660 will make 00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.120 with them 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:16.779 after those 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.019 days, 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:17.559 declares the 00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:17.739 Lord. 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.199 I will put 00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:19.379 my laws on 00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:19.839 their hearts 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.199 and write 00:28:20.199 --> 00:28:20.519 them on 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.079 their minds. 00:28:21.179 --> 00:28:21.500 Then he 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:21.739 adds, 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.000 I will 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.399 remember 00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.039 their sins 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.379 and their 00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:24.099 lawless deeds 00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:24.639 no more. 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:25.959 I will 00:28:25.959 --> 00:28:26.259 remember 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.759 their sins 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:26.979 and their 00:28:26.979 --> 00:28:27.539 lawless deeds 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.199 no more. 00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:29.239 For where 00:28:29.239 --> 00:28:29.459 there is 00:28:29.459 --> 00:28:29.839 forgiveness 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.719 of these, 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.399 there is no 00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:32.959 longer any 00:28:32.959 --> 00:28:33.619 offering for 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:33.919 sin. 00:28:34.959 --> 00:28:35.359 There is no 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:35.859 longer any 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.199 offering. 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.299 Someone at 00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:40.179 some point in 00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:40.699 the last hour 00:28:40.699 --> 00:28:42.479 said that we 00:28:42.479 --> 00:28:43.219 don't have to, 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:43.739 or maybe in the 00:28:43.739 --> 00:28:44.339 morning said that 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.199 we don't have 00:28:45.199 --> 00:28:45.980 to bring Christ 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:47.019 back up upon 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.519 the cross for 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:47.659 him. 00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.299 Jesus doesn't 00:28:48.299 --> 00:28:49.139 need to be 00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:50.519 sacrificed again. 00:28:52.199 --> 00:28:52.859 Only once. 00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.259 Only once does 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:54.959 not Christ need 00:28:54.959 --> 00:28:55.579 to be sacrificed. 00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.019 And when God 00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.579 says something 00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.039 like, I will 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.579 remember their 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.240 sins and their 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:01.879 lawless deeds 00:29:01.879 --> 00:29:03.199 no more, he 00:29:03.199 --> 00:29:03.980 is very aware 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:05.079 of our sins. 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:08.039 But with a 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:08.779 sacrifice like 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:09.379 Christ, with a 00:29:09.379 --> 00:29:10.099 mediator, with a 00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.639 priest like 00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:12.659 Christ, we can 00:29:12.659 --> 00:29:13.139 now come in 00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:13.759 confidence to 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.019 God. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.180 We can now 00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:15.460 come in 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.119 confidence to 00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.319 God. 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:16.599 And that 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.220 looks like 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.900 knowing and 00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:19.420 being aware 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:19.819 of and 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.500 repentant of 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.119 our sins. 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:22.759 We have 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.059 come and we 00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.480 are not 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.359 perfected. 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.079 We are being 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:25.619 sanctified. 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.660 But it also 00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.079 comes with a 00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:29.400 level of 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.019 confidence to 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.859 say, I can 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.359 draw near to 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:31.740 God because 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.640 none of those 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.839 sins, none of 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.220 those sins 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:34.759 keep me from 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.039 God. 00:29:36.619 --> 00:29:37.160 Not one. 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.220 God. 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:41.880 And that's 00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:42.259 why we hold 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:42.740 our heads 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:44.400 up in the 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:44.820 benediction 00:29:44.820 --> 00:29:48.160 because we 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:48.700 have confidence 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.120 to approach 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.240 God, to 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:50.660 approach the 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:50.900 throne. 00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.480 Let us 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:53.720 pray.