WEBVTT

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 Last year, the New York Times published an article entitled,

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 How Social Isolation Is Killing Us.

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 And in the article, it says,

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 since the 1980s, the percentage of Americans,

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 American adults who say that they're lonely

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 has doubled from 20% to 40%.

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 And similarly, a quarter of Americans,

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 so one out of every four,

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 say that they have no one with whom they can confide

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 any personal information.

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 I mean, that's staggering, especially for Christians to think about

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 because we have the church community.

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 And that number also doubled from the number in the 80s.

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 And the wave of new research suggests that social isolation is bad for us.

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 It says individuals with less social connection

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 tend to have, among other things,

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 and this is a quote,

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 disrupted sleep patterns, altered immune systems,

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 more inflammation, and higher levels of stress hormones.

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 And one recent study found that isolation increases the risk of heart disease

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 by 29% and stroke by 32%.

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 Another analysis, it pulled data from 70 studies of over 3.4 million people,

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 and it found that socially isolated individuals

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 had a 30% higher chance of dying in the next seven years.

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 And that was highest,

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 that effect was highest among the middle-aged people.

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 And another longitudinal study,

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 and this is the last one I'll cite,

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 is that socially isolated children,

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 even when they controlled for other factors,

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 ended up having poor health 20 years down the road.

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 So despite this clear sociological diagnosis

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 that people are observing,

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 especially in a culture like ours,

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 living in a city,

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 the culture of it,

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 the very society,

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 the way it's structured,

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 it drives isolation.

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 It makes us further withdraw from each other.

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 It's the whole transience of the city, right?

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 It's the whole anonymity of the city,

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 where there's so many people,

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 and you don't know who they are, right?

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 It's the whole busyness of the city.

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 It drives isolation.

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 And ours is, if I may define it,

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 it's a consumeristic culture, right?

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 More than a communal culture, right?

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 We're defined more by transactions for things,

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 for goods, for services,

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 than relations with one another.

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 And unfortunately,

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 this kind of consumeristic mindset

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 could also creep into the church.

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 And the base motivation

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 for a lot of churchgoers

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 throughout the world,

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 throughout this country,

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 is self-centered and consumeristic.

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 Even though the Son of Man

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 came not to be served,

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 but to serve and to give his life

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 as a ransom for many,

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 many Christians today

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 come not to serve,

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 but to be served,

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 not to give,

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 but to receive.

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 Instead of relating to the church

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 as a community,

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 as the family of God,

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 many people nowadays relate to it

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 like a service provider.

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 If you don't provide the services I want,

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 if I don't get what I need,

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 if it displeases me anyway,

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 well then, see you later.

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 I'll just drive down to the other church

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 down in the neighborhood.

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 And in this passage,

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 Apostle Paul forcefully challenges

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 that individualistic and consumeristic mindset

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 and paints a picture

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 of this beautiful and glorious picture

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 of the family of God.

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 And his point is this,

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 that we grow up into our unity in Christ

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 by ministering to one another

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 the gospel in love.

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 So we grow up into our unity in Christ

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 by ministering the gospel

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 to one another in love.

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 That's the main point.

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 And I'm going to unpack that

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 in three phases.

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 The first, I'll talk about

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 the character of church unity,

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 verses 1 to 3.

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 Then I'll talk about

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 the call to church unity

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 in verses 4 to 6.

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 And then lastly,

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 I'll talk about the conduit

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 of church unity

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 in verses 7 to 16.

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 Paul begins in verse 1.

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 He says,

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 I, therefore,

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 a prisoner for the Lord,

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 urge you to walk

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 in a manner worthy

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 of the calling

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 to which you have been called.

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 And there's a reason

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 why he begins

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 with the word therefore

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 because he's rooting

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 everything that he's about to say now

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 into what he said

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 in the first three chapters

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 of the book of Ephesians.

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 In the first three chapters

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 of the book of Ephesians,

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 he exposited the gospel.

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 This is what God did

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 for us to save us.

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 And now in the next

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 three chapters of Ephesians,

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 he'll tell us how the church

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 should respond to that gospel.

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 So he's exhorting us

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 to live in light of the gospel.

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 So that's what he's doing.

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 And the expression

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 to walk in a manner

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 worthy of the calling

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 is simply he's saying

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 we should live

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 in a manner worthy

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 of the calling.

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 Walk is a common metaphor

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 for life, right?

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 We talk about life

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 as a journey.

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 We tell people

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 to walk the talk, right?

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 So that's what Paul

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 is doing here.

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 And then Paul

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 goes on to describe

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 what walking

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 in a manner worthy

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 of our Christian calling

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 looks like

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 in verses two to three.

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 And he proceeds

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 to describe the character

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 of church unity.

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 He says,

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 with all humility

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 and gentleness,

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 with patience,

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 bearing with one another

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 in love,

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 eager to maintain

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 the unity of the spirit

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 in the bond of peace.

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 First, it involves humility,

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 right?

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 And not just

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 the little dose of humility,

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 but he says,

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 all humility, right?

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 Bible consistently

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 and repeatedly tells us

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 that God despises pride

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 but loves humility.

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 For example,

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 1 Peter 5.5,

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 quoting Proverbs 3.34,

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 says,

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 clothe yourselves,

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 all of you,

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 with humility

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 toward one another.

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 For God opposes the proud

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 but gives grace

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 to the humble.

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 And the reason why

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 God does that

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 is because it's unseemly

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 for us as his creatures

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 to boast in ourselves

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 and to have pride

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 as we were the creator,

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 right?

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 When we glory

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 in our supposed abilities

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 and accomplishments

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 in relation to other people,

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 then,

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 and instead of recognizing

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 our weakness

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 and utter dependence on God,

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 then we are glorying in ourselves

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 and we are not being humble

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 as we ought to be.

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 If we glory

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 in our supposed morality

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 and spirituality

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 in relation to others

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 rather than acknowledging

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 his grace at work

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 in our lives

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 and our sinfulness,

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 then we are being prideful

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 and not being,

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 behaving as we ought to

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 as creatures

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 and as those

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 who have been,

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 received God's grace,

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 salvation by grace.

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 And humility

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 is always expressed

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 with relation to other people

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 in the same way

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 love is, right?

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 So you can't properly say

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 that someone is a loving person

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 if that person lives by himself

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 and is never interacting

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 with another person

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 because there's no one

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 to love, right?

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 In the same way

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 because humility

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 is expressed

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 in an absence,

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 it's an absence

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 of self-centeredness,

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 it's really considering

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 others better than oneself

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 so humility can really

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 only properly be said

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 to be expressed

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 in the context

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 of relationships

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 with other people.

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 And this is so wonderful

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 because humility

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 is distinctively Christian,

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 right?

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 You can peruse

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 all the existing

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 ancient Greek literature

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 out there

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 and you will find

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 not a single instance

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 where humility

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 is commended

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 as a virtue.

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 Every single instance

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 of humility

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 in other Greek writings

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 will say

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 that humility

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 is for the slaves,

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 it's for people

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 who are servile,

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 people who have no backbone,

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 that's humility,

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 that's weakness,

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 that's how the world

00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:12.820
 defined humility.

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 But in contrast

00:07:13.900 --> 00:07:15.360
 to that strain of thought,

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 following the example

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 of our Savior,

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 Jesus Christ,

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 who being in very nature

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 God did not consider

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 equality with God

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 something to be grasped,

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 but humbled himself

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 taking on the nature

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 of a servant,

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 taking his example

00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:28.139
 as a cue,

00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:30.139
 Christians praised

00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:31.579
 humility as a virtue

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 and commended it

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 to everyone.

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 And it's even true today,

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 isn't it,

00:07:38.719 --> 00:07:39.420
 if you think about it,

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 right?

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 If you think about our society,

00:07:41.019 --> 00:07:42.219
 you will hardly ever

00:07:42.219 --> 00:07:43.939
 find yourself meeting

00:07:43.939 --> 00:07:44.519
 a non-Christian

00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:45.399
 who says to himself,

00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:46.980
 ah, I was too prideful,

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 Levy.

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 You just won't

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 because that's not

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 something they value.

00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:51.000
 That's not something

00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:51.719
 that they think about.

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 And C.S. Lewis explains

00:07:53.180 --> 00:07:53.959
 that in his book,

00:07:54.100 --> 00:07:54.699
 Mere Christianity.

00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:55.099
 He says,

00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:56.579
 there is one vice

00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:57.680
 of which no man

00:07:57.680 --> 00:07:58.599
 in the world is free,

00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:00.279
 which everyone loathes

00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:01.120
 when he sees it

00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:01.920
 in someone else,

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 and of which hardly

00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:04.379
 any people except Christians

00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:05.120
 ever imagine

00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:05.860
 that they are guilty

00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:06.599
 of themselves.

00:08:07.219 --> 00:08:07.959
 I've heard people

00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:08.659
 admit that they are

00:08:08.659 --> 00:08:09.360
 bad-tempered

00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:10.139
 or that they cannot

00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:10.860
 keep their heads

00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:12.079
 about girls or drink,

00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:13.839
 or even that they are cowards.

00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:14.860
 I do not think

00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:16.099
 I have ever heard anyone

00:08:16.099 --> 00:08:16.939
 who was not a Christian

00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:17.719
 accuse himself

00:08:17.719 --> 00:08:18.519
 of this vice.

00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:20.060
 And at the same time,

00:08:20.139 --> 00:08:20.980
 I have very seldom

00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:21.480
 met anyone

00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:22.279
 who was not a Christian

00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:22.719
 who showed

00:08:22.719 --> 00:08:23.860
 the slightest mercy

00:08:23.860 --> 00:08:24.620
 to it in others.

00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:26.240
 There's no fault

00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:26.960
 that makes a man

00:08:26.960 --> 00:08:27.920
 more unpopular

00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:28.920
 and no fault

00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:29.620
 which we are more

00:08:29.620 --> 00:08:30.420
 unconscious of

00:08:30.420 --> 00:08:30.960
 in ourselves.

00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:32.139
 And the more

00:08:32.139 --> 00:08:33.039
 we have it ourselves,

00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:34.440
 the more we dislike it

00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:35.279
 in others.

00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:37.000
 The vice I am talking

00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:37.860
 of is pride

00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:39.440
 or self-conceit.

00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:40.379
 And the virtue

00:08:40.379 --> 00:08:41.940
 opposite to it

00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:42.879
 in Christian morals

00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.840
 is called humility.

00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:45.759
 End quote.

00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:46.860
 Isn't that true?

00:08:47.060 --> 00:08:48.080
 It's so wonderful.

00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:48.980
 It's great virtue

00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:50.620
 because it's about Christ.

00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:51.600
 It's what Christ

00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:52.279
 modeled for us.

00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:53.559
 That's why it's distinctively

00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:54.959
 Christian to pursue

00:08:54.959 --> 00:08:55.919
 this virtue.

00:08:56.079 --> 00:08:57.059
 And almost every time

00:08:57.059 --> 00:08:58.179
 I pray for all of you

00:08:58.179 --> 00:08:58.860
 and every time

00:08:58.860 --> 00:08:59.919
 I pray for myself,

00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:00.819
 I pray for this.

00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:01.919
 I pray for humility

00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:02.659
 because humility

00:09:02.659 --> 00:09:03.399
 is the fountain

00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:04.620
 of all virtue.

00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:06.740
 And I implore you

00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:07.360
 to pray for that

00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:07.939
 for one another

00:09:07.939 --> 00:09:08.980
 and for me as well

00:09:08.980 --> 00:09:09.919
 because if we're...

00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:10.819
 And this is critical

00:09:10.819 --> 00:09:11.679
 to maintaining

00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:12.639
 the unity of the spirit,

00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:13.100
 isn't it?

00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:14.899
 Because if you're prideful,

00:09:14.959 --> 00:09:15.699
 then you will have

00:09:15.699 --> 00:09:16.899
 a critical spirit, right?

00:09:16.939 --> 00:09:17.579
 So if you struggle

00:09:17.579 --> 00:09:19.339
 with being judgmental

00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:21.360
 of others, right?

00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:22.420
 If you struggle

00:09:22.420 --> 00:09:23.759
 with always thinking

00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:25.220
 that maybe this often

00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:25.980
 occurs to you

00:09:25.980 --> 00:09:27.040
 or maybe all the time

00:09:27.040 --> 00:09:27.980
 it occurs to you

00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:28.759
 that, you know,

00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:29.700
 I could probably do that

00:09:29.700 --> 00:09:30.399
 better than that person

00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:30.820
 is doing.

00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:31.460
 You know,

00:09:31.560 --> 00:09:32.460
 I probably understand

00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:33.280
 that better than that person.

00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:33.759
 You know,

00:09:33.780 --> 00:09:34.420
 if that's happening

00:09:34.420 --> 00:09:35.200
 to you all the time,

00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:36.259
 you're probably not right

00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:37.120
 all the time, right?

00:09:37.259 --> 00:09:38.080
 But that's an instance

00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:39.399
 of pride.

00:09:39.800 --> 00:09:41.120
 And it destroys community.

00:09:41.300 --> 00:09:42.920
 It destroys unity.

00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:45.479
 When we devalue

00:09:45.479 --> 00:09:46.500
 other people's opinions

00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:48.219
 and vaunt our own opinions,

00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:48.539
 right?

00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:50.059
 When we're prone

00:09:50.059 --> 00:09:51.500
 to assume the worst

00:09:51.500 --> 00:09:52.979
 of other people's motivations,

00:09:53.839 --> 00:09:54.799
 when we're quick

00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:56.379
 to entertain hearsay

00:09:56.379 --> 00:09:57.799
 that impugns

00:09:57.799 --> 00:09:59.339
 other people's character,

00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:02.179
 these are all examples

00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:03.379
 of pride.

00:10:04.839 --> 00:10:06.240
 And we need instead

00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:06.980
 humility

00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:08.719
 so that we can be united

00:10:08.719 --> 00:10:09.740
 and have the character

00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:11.039
 of the church unity.

00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:11.899
 Second,

00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:12.659
 Christian maturity

00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:14.139
 involves gentleness,

00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.000
 or as RSV puts it,

00:10:16.199 --> 00:10:17.279
 meekness, right?

00:10:17.699 --> 00:10:18.699
 It is one of the fruit

00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:19.199
 of the spirit

00:10:19.199 --> 00:10:21.559
 described in Galatians 5, 23,

00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:23.379
 and it refers to a disposition

00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:24.059
 that says,

00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:25.679
 I'm not going to take things

00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:26.919
 into my own hands.

00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:27.459
 Instead,

00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:29.139
 I'm going to entrust myself

00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:29.779
 to God

00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:30.759
 and let Him

00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:31.639
 be my defender.

00:10:32.959 --> 00:10:34.939
 And this is also critical

00:10:34.939 --> 00:10:35.659
 to maintaining

00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:36.980
 the unity of the church.

00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:39.259
 And this is, again,

00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:40.100
 like humility,

00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.559
 is consistently praised

00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:42.699
 and commended

00:10:42.699 --> 00:10:43.479
 throughout Scripture.

00:10:43.959 --> 00:10:45.079
 In the Beatitudes,

00:10:45.179 --> 00:10:45.279
 right,

00:10:45.319 --> 00:10:45.599
 Jesus said,

00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:46.819
 blessed are the meek

00:10:46.819 --> 00:10:47.679
 for they shall inherit

00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:48.099
 the earth.

00:10:48.479 --> 00:10:49.459
 Matthew 11, 29,

00:10:49.599 --> 00:10:50.619
 Jesus describes Himself

00:10:50.619 --> 00:10:51.299
 this way.

00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:51.519
 He says,

00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:52.919
 take my yoke upon you

00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:53.679
 and learn from me

00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:54.639
 for I am gentle

00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:56.539
 and lowly in heart.

00:10:56.759 --> 00:10:57.779
 They're two same words

00:10:57.779 --> 00:10:58.179
 used here,

00:10:58.259 --> 00:10:59.699
 humility and gentleness.

00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:01.799
 Nowadays,

00:11:01.979 --> 00:11:02.459
 it's common

00:11:02.460 --> 00:11:05.320
 common to confuse meekness

00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:07.019
 with weakness,

00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:07.360
 right,

00:11:07.420 --> 00:11:08.680
 with cowardice.

00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:11.280
 Some people do have,

00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:12.800
 just by their natural disposition,

00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:14.860
 kind of a low spiritness

00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:16.019
 and a lack of courage,

00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:16.660
 right?

00:11:16.920 --> 00:11:18.280
 And because of that,

00:11:18.420 --> 00:11:19.879
 they can appear meek,

00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:20.400
 right?

00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:22.519
 But that's not meekness,

00:11:22.780 --> 00:11:22.940
 right?

00:11:22.940 --> 00:11:23.660
 Because meekness

00:11:23.660 --> 00:11:25.280
 is not rooted in fear.

00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:26.100
 That's just timidity.

00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:27.300
 That's just lack of courage.

00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:28.519
 Meekness is rooted

00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.379
 in strength.

00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:31.299
 It's rooted in faith in God,

00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:31.960
 right?

00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.539
 And it's only the strong people

00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:34.399
 who can be meek,

00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:34.700
 right?

00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:36.700
 Because you have such a confidence

00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:38.200
 in God to be your defender,

00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:41.399
 such faith that He can come through for you.

00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:42.700
 You don't feel the need

00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:43.500
 to defend yourself

00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:44.539
 when you're under pressure,

00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:46.860
 when you're being criticized unfairly.

00:11:47.179 --> 00:11:48.200
 That's meekness,

00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:48.600
 right?

00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:49.539
 That's strength.

00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:51.100
 It takes faith to be meek.

00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:53.919
 And it's so people who are meek

00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:55.179
 are so essential to unity

00:11:55.179 --> 00:11:56.940
 because it's those people

00:11:56.940 --> 00:11:57.879
 that function kind of like

00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:59.080
 the tendons in the body,

00:11:59.080 --> 00:11:59.400
 right?

00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:01.100
 That can withstand pressure

00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:02.240
 and hold the muscles

00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.560
 and bones in the body together.

00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:04.620
 They're like the tendons.

00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:05.600
 And the reason why is this.

00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:07.240
 When Paul talks about

00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:08.680
 in Galatians 6.1

00:12:08.680 --> 00:12:10.639
 or 2 Timothy 2.25,

00:12:11.180 --> 00:12:12.560
 when we deal with people,

00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:14.160
 other members of the church

00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:15.420
 who are caught in sin,

00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.020
 who are going in the wrong direction,

00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:19.820
 they're in theological error,

00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:20.360
 right?

00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:21.120
 He says,

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.759
 it's the people who possess

00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:24.080
 a spirit of gentleness,

00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:25.400
 same word,

00:12:25.640 --> 00:12:26.740
 that can restore them

00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.820
 and correct them.

00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:29.680
 Because if you don't have

00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.520
 the spirit of gentleness,

00:12:30.640 --> 00:12:31.820
 even though we might be

00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:33.100
 well-intentioned,

00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.379
 we'll probably do more harm

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:34.980
 than good

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:36.379
 when we try to restore

00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:38.060
 that person into the church.

00:12:38.160 --> 00:12:39.020
 That's why the people

00:12:39.020 --> 00:12:39.780
 who are meek,

00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:40.520
 who are gentle,

00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:41.200
 are essential

00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.100
 for maintaining

00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:43.140
 this unity of the church.

00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:44.720
 And third,

00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:45.600
 Christian maturity

00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.560
 involves patience.

00:12:47.560 --> 00:12:48.700
 The Greek word for patience

00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:49.840
 is literally a combination

00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:50.640
 of two words

00:12:50.640 --> 00:12:52.020
 that mean anger

00:12:52.020 --> 00:12:53.520
 and a long time.

00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:54.799
 So you could probably

00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:55.740
 figure out what that means.

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.519
 This person takes

00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:58.740
 a very, very long time

00:12:58.740 --> 00:12:59.699
 to get angry.

00:12:59.819 --> 00:13:01.439
 It means long suffering,

00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:01.960
 right?

00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:04.379
 And once again,

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.419
 God is described

00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:06.539
 in this way, right?

00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:07.579
 Every time God reveals

00:13:07.579 --> 00:13:08.159
 his character,

00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:09.600
 he says Exodus 34, 6,

00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:10.840
 he's a God merciful

00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:11.500
 and gracious,

00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:13.579
 slow to anger

00:13:13.579 --> 00:13:15.220
 and abounding in love

00:13:15.220 --> 00:13:16.539
 and faithfulness, right?

00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:19.019
 Anger stems from

00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:20.340
 small-mindedness,

00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:21.500
 and it poses

00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:22.399
 a great threat

00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:23.000
 to the church

00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:24.100
 because it's volatile

00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:25.720
 and frequently flares up

00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:26.519
 in dissensions

00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:28.060
 and creates factions.

00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:30.160
 And patience,

00:13:30.300 --> 00:13:30.899
 in contrast,

00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:32.399
 describes this resilience,

00:13:32.920 --> 00:13:33.040
 right?

00:13:33.180 --> 00:13:34.740
 A large-heartedness

00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:36.259
 that can overlook

00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.300
 inconveniences,

00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:38.879
 annoyances,

00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:41.259
 and be patient

00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:42.660
 to suffer long,

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:43.600
 right?

00:13:44.220 --> 00:13:44.580
 Now,

00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:45.480
 that doesn't mean

00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.500
 that people who are patient

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:48.000
 are immune to irritation,

00:13:48.780 --> 00:13:49.000
 right?

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.480
 Rather,

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.899
 it still hurts for them.

00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:52.139
 It's still hard for them,

00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:53.860
 but they suffer long.

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.200
 They withstand it

00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:56.039
 for a long time.

00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.080
 They're patient

00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:57.679
 for the sake

00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.159
 of loving one another.

00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.720
 That's what that means.

00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:03.340
 And all these virtues,

00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.860
 humility and gentleness

00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:05.820
 and patience

00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:06.720
 can be summed up

00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:07.700
 in this last phrase

00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:08.399
 in verse 2,

00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:10.580
 bearing with one another

00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:12.019
 in love.

00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:14.100
 Love is what ultimately

00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:14.940
 enables us

00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:16.820
 to bear with one another.

00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:18.419
 And that's such a great word,

00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:18.720
 isn't it?

00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.759
 Bear with them,

00:14:19.800 --> 00:14:20.000
 right?

00:14:20.300 --> 00:14:21.860
 That word is used

00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:22.860
 in other parts of the Bible

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.660
 to refer to

00:14:23.660 --> 00:14:25.360
 enduring persecution.

00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.160
 And that's so funny to me

00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:29.860
 because Paul understood,

00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:31.200
 he tells me that Paul understood

00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.019
 like we do,

00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:33.240
 that sometimes we,

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:33.879
 even as Christians,

00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.779
 ourselves can be

00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:36.340
 totally insufferable.

00:14:36.920 --> 00:14:38.300
 So he tells us,

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.480
 put up with them.

00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:41.620
 Bear with them.

00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:44.840
 Suffer long with them.

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.840
 And not begrudgingly,

00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:47.940
 not reluctantly,

00:14:48.040 --> 00:14:49.360
 but in love.

00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:53.019
 In truth,

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.540
 love is what enables us

00:14:54.540 --> 00:14:55.320
 to do all of this,

00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:55.700
 isn't it?

00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:57.620
 Because we're naturally

00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:59.080
 haughty and harsh

00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:00.120
 and hot-tempered

00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:00.879
 with people

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.639
 that we don't love.

00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:03.920
 It's love

00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:04.840
 that enables

00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.500
 these virtues

00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.519
 to flourish.

00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:09.259
 So I'll speak of that

00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.419
 actually in greater length

00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:10.720
 later.

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:12.379
 But this is

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.340
 what describes

00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:13.960
 the character

00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:15.220
 of church's unity

00:15:15.220 --> 00:15:16.319
 and maturity.

00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:17.179
 That's what it looks like

00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:18.120
 to walk in a manner

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.039
 worthy of the calling

00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:20.199
 to which we have been called.

00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:22.079
 And it's by walking

00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:22.639
 in this manner

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.419
 that we can be,

00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:24.720
 it says in verse 3,

00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:26.639
 eager to maintain

00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:27.600
 the unity

00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.480
 of the Spirit

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.539
 in the bond

00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:30.419
 of peace.

00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.620
 We need to be eager

00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.379
 to maintain it.

00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:32.939
 The word means

00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:34.019
 make every effort

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:35.659
 to maintain it.

00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:36.639
 The word is used

00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.340
 to describe

00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:38.340
 the planning,

00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.659
 the elaborate planning,

00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:40.559
 extensive planning

00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:41.759
 that is required

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.899
 for a long,

00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:43.820
 arduous journey.

00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:45.600
 Do we plan like that?

00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:47.379
 Do we strategize it?

00:15:47.439 --> 00:15:48.279
 Are we eager?

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.600
 Do we make every effort

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.659
 to maintain this unity?

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.799
 And this is important

00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:54.179
 because Jesus said

00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:54.980
 in John 17,

00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.179
 it is by our unity

00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:57.159
 in being united

00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:57.860
 with one another

00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.779
 as He is united

00:15:58.779 --> 00:15:59.559
 with the Father

00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.779
 that the world

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:01.519
 will know

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.699
 that you sent me

00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:03.740
 and love them

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:05.220
 even as you loved me.

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.340
 That's what Jesus said

00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:07.000
 in John 17,

00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:07.879
 22 to 23.

00:16:08.079 --> 00:16:09.279
 The very credibility

00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:10.439
 of our witness

00:16:10.439 --> 00:16:11.399
 to the world

00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.220
 is contingent

00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:12.860
 on our unity.

00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:15.720
 That's an urgent matter.

00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:16.220
 That's why we need

00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:16.939
 to be eager,

00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.500
 make every effort

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:20.620
 to maintain this unity.

00:16:21.439 --> 00:16:22.480
 We can't be content

00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:24.759
 to let disagreements,

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:27.079
 contentions,

00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:29.159
 just sit and fester.

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:30.079
 We can't do that.

00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:31.759
 We have no luxury

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.280
 for that.

00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:33.560
 We need to be eager

00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:34.420
 and make every effort

00:16:34.420 --> 00:16:35.360
 to maintain unity

00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.980
 even though that

00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:38.220
 would require diligence

00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:39.120
 and necessitate

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.940
 all humility

00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.700
 and gentleness

00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.700
 with patience.

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.600
 But we don't have

00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:46.060
 to despair

00:16:46.060 --> 00:16:46.840
 in this endeavor

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:48.440
 and the reason why

00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:48.780
 is this.

00:16:48.900 --> 00:16:50.060
 It's also in verse 3.

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:50.680
 Take another look.

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.020
 It says,

00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.160
 maintain

00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:54.160
 the unity

00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:55.580
 of the Spirit.

00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.900
 It doesn't say

00:16:56.900 --> 00:16:58.280
 attain the unity

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:58.839
 of the Spirit.

00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.699
 It doesn't say

00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:00.600
 forge the unity

00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:01.019
 of the Spirit.

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:01.899
 It says maintain

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.500
 the unity

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.019
 of the Spirit

00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:04.500
 because it's already

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:06.500
 ours in Jesus Christ.

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.599
 Because Jesus died

00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:09.619
 for our sins,

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.519
 made a way for us

00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.779
 to be reconciled to God

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.539
 and because

00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:14.079
 in that reconciliation

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.839
 we have been filled

00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:15.859
 with the very Spirit

00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:16.319
 of God.

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.299
 We all share

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.200
 the same Spirit

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:18.660
 of God.

00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.420
 That means we are

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.220
 already one

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.160
 in Christ.

00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:22.359
 We have the unity

00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:23.119
 of the Spirit.

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.460
 That's the reality.

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:24.579
 unity.

00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:25.759
 And now He says,

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.380
 so that's why

00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:27.660
 it's not up to us

00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:28.700
 to forge that unity.

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.759
 But He tells us

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:32.579
 maintain that unity.

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.920
 We're bonded

00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:36.680
 together,

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:38.259
 the bonded peace.

00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:39.840
 And that brings me

00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:40.600
 to my second point,

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.819
 the call to church unity.

00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:45.000
 This is the reason

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.660
 why we don't need

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.160
 to despair

00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:47.180
 in our pursuit of unity,

00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:49.019
 in pursuing that character

00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.640
 of church unity,

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.519
 because we've been

00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:51.340
 called to it.

00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:51.860
 It's something that

00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:53.100
 God's already accomplished.

00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:55.480
 The word calling

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:56.980
 is repeated twice

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.459
 for emphasis

00:17:57.459 --> 00:17:58.240
 in verse 1.

00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:58.719
 It says,

00:17:59.079 --> 00:17:59.659
 walk in a manner

00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:01.059
 worthy of the calling

00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:02.240
 to which you have

00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.039
 been called.

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.179
 It's intentionally

00:18:04.179 --> 00:18:05.039
 redundant.

00:18:05.459 --> 00:18:06.480
 Paul's using that language

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.039
 to emphasize

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.619
 the importance

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.219
 of this call.

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.259
 And it's repeated

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.759
 twice more in verse 4.

00:18:11.199 --> 00:18:12.299
 There is one body

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.179
 and one spirit

00:18:13.179 --> 00:18:13.819
 just as you were

00:18:13.819 --> 00:18:15.259
 called to the one

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.299
 hope that belongs

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.740
 to your call.

00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:19.299
 A call.

00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.559
 It's always passive

00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.419
 because it's God

00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:22.079
 who calls.

00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:24.319
 And when God calls,

00:18:24.439 --> 00:18:25.599
 when the king calls,

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.599
 it's not just

00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:28.539
 this passive invitation.

00:18:28.939 --> 00:18:30.119
 It's a summons.

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.439
 We're summoned

00:18:31.439 --> 00:18:32.359
 into his presence,

00:18:32.419 --> 00:18:33.119
 into relationship

00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:34.179
 with him.

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.259
 And this word calling

00:18:35.259 --> 00:18:36.419
 is intimately related

00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:38.299
 to words like election

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.480
 or predestination

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.419
 that come up

00:18:40.419 --> 00:18:41.179
 all throughout

00:18:41.179 --> 00:18:41.980
 the book of Ephesians

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.799
 and in other parts

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.639
 of the Bible as well.

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.539
 And that's why

00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:45.779
 it says in Romans 8.30,

00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.519
 and those whom

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.679
 God predestined,

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.099
 he also called,

00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:49.960
 and those whom

00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:50.699
 he called,

00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.660
 he also justified,

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.380
 and those whom

00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.019
 he justified,

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:55.180
 he also glorified.

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.799
 And isn't this

00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.740
 so different

00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.299
 from the way

00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:00.460
 we typically conceive

00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.920
 of calling, right?

00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:03.140
 So Paul's talking

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.860
 about our calling

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:04.880
 to God himself

00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:05.880
 and through that

00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:06.360
 our calling

00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:07.380
 to one another, right?

00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:08.440
 But that's not how

00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.059
 we typically think

00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.980
 about calling, isn't it?

00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:11.240
 When we think of calling,

00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:11.700
 we think,

00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:12.140
 oh,

00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:14.640
 my vocational calling.

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.600
 What do I do?

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.799
 When we think of calling,

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:19.659
 we think of what difference

00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:20.720
 can I make in the world,

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:21.339
 right?

00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:22.539
 Right.

00:19:23.659 --> 00:19:24.519
 And that's because

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.519
 we've adopted

00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.960
 our culture's narrative

00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.339
 and superimposed

00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.940
 that individualized,

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:31.119
 that personalized,

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:34.240
 that self-centered vision

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.259
 for life.

00:19:35.419 --> 00:19:36.220
 That's why we think

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:37.500
 of call only in that way.

00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:38.779
 The primary way

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.639
 in which the Bible

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.839
 conceives of calling

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:42.039
 is to God

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.700
 first and foremost

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.740
 and to one another

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.539
 as a church.

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.420
 So if you're thinking

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.259
 about your own calling

00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.379
 and you don't have

00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.619
 the church in that equation,

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.039
 you don't have

00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:52.000
 what God has for you

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.519
 in that equation,

00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:54.139
 that's not real calling

00:19:54.139 --> 00:19:55.379
 that God has for you.

00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:00.799
 So in verses 4 to 6,

00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:02.039
 he continues to describe

00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:03.279
 this great call we have

00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:03.960
 and he uses

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.639
 three theological triads

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.779
 based on the Trinity

00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.779
 to describe

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.659
 our common calling

00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:10.220
 as a church.

00:20:10.639 --> 00:20:12.220
 And in this set

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:12.720
 of descriptions,

00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:13.559
 he uses the word

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:15.480
 one seven times

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.919
 to drive home

00:20:16.919 --> 00:20:17.639
 his main point

00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:18.700
 that we have been

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:20.200
 called to union

00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:22.539
 with the one God

00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.679
 and that that is

00:20:23.679 --> 00:20:24.419
 the basis

00:20:24.419 --> 00:20:25.679
 for our unity

00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:26.200
 in the church.

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.379
 It's the call to unity.

00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.659
 In verse 4,

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.359
 he begins by saying

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.559
 there is one body

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.200
 and one spirit

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:33.240
 just as you recall

00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:34.419
 to the one hope

00:20:34.419 --> 00:20:35.099
 that belongs

00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:35.799
 to your call.

00:20:36.679 --> 00:20:37.319
 One body,

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:37.859
 one spirit,

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.359
 one hope.

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:39.859
 There's only one body

00:20:39.859 --> 00:20:40.379
 of Christ.

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.339
 It means only one

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.579
 universal church.

00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:44.119
 And because of that,

00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.740
 you can't,

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.539
 if you're a,

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.199
 if you're,

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:47.099
 by definition,

00:20:47.179 --> 00:20:47.699
 if you're a Christian,

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.699
 you really are a member

00:20:48.699 --> 00:20:49.500
 of a church.

00:20:50.159 --> 00:20:51.399
 And it's because

00:20:51.399 --> 00:20:52.240
 that concept

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:52.980
 of the fact

00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.699
 that every Christian

00:20:53.699 --> 00:20:54.679
 seems to be a member

00:20:54.679 --> 00:20:56.099
 is so neglected

00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:57.139
 that we now

00:20:57.139 --> 00:20:57.539
 as a church

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.539
 have to formalize

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.000
 membership

00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.159
 so that people

00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:00.639
 recognize

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.559
 what they're committing

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.399
 to when they become

00:21:02.399 --> 00:21:02.859
 a Christian.

00:21:03.179 --> 00:21:03.939
 They're part of the church.

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:04.659
 But the Bible

00:21:04.659 --> 00:21:05.439
 assumes it.

00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.339
 It calls church

00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:07.139
 Christians members.

00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.480
 It calls it all,

00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:09.159
 every member

00:21:09.159 --> 00:21:10.019
 of the body

00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.539
 is intended

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:11.220
 for God

00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.420
 to serve

00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.259
 in the context

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.619
 of the church

00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.259
 for the glory

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.559
 of God

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.039
 and maturing

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.440
 in God.

00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:16.960
 And that's why

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.879
 it's so contradictory

00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.400
 when a Christian

00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.139
 says that he can

00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:19.859
 love God

00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:20.759
 without participating

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.299
 in the life

00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:21.879
 of the church.

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.519
 You can't love God

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.119
 without loving

00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:25.339
 the people of God.

00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.059
 You can't love

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.180
 the head of Christ

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.779
 without loving

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.180
 the body of Christ.

00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:31.299
 And 1 Corinthians 12,

00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:31.819
 13 says,

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.920
 in one spirit,

00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:34.019
 we were all baptized

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.819
 into one body

00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.900
 and all were made

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.240
 to drink

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.160
 of one spirit.

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.019
 That's why baptism

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.960
 and the spirit,

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.800
 that's why the spirit

00:21:41.800 --> 00:21:42.680
 is tied here

00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.420
 to one body

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.759
 because being one body

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.300
 means we have

00:21:45.300 --> 00:21:46.540
 the one spirit.

00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:48.300
 And spirit of God,

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:48.920
 the Holy Spirit

00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.779
 is particularly

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.759
 associated with

00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.480
 the Christian virtue

00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:52.019
 of hope

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.560
 because the spirit

00:21:53.560 --> 00:21:54.620
 is the down payment,

00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.420
 the guarantee

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.740
 of our future inheritance.

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.900
 Because of him,

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.740
 we have hope.

00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:00.680
 So we have one body,

00:22:00.820 --> 00:22:01.580
 one spirit,

00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:02.600
 one hope

00:22:02.600 --> 00:22:03.440
 that belongs

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.080
 to our call.

00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:06.040
 The second triad

00:22:06.040 --> 00:22:06.920
 is in verse 5.

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.600
 He says that

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.719
 we have one Lord,

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.980
 one faith,

00:22:10.399 --> 00:22:11.639
 one baptism.

00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.779
 The word Lord

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.500
 in the New Testament,

00:22:14.699 --> 00:22:15.740
 especially in Paul's writing,

00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:16.579
 is usually short

00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:18.119
 for the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.339
 And especially

00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:20.179
 in this context

00:22:20.179 --> 00:22:21.039
 because it's preceded

00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:22.259
 by mention of the spirit

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:22.980
 and followed by

00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.699
 the mention of the Father,

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.639
 it almost undoubtedly

00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.579
 refers to the Lord

00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:27.159
 Jesus Christ.

00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.839
 And this phrasing,

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.719
 one Lord,

00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:31.619
 recalls Deuteronomy 6,

00:22:31.699 --> 00:22:32.199
 4 to 5,

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.119
 which the Jews

00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:34.079
 know as the Shema.

00:22:34.439 --> 00:22:35.119
 It's really one

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.959
 of the most important

00:22:35.959 --> 00:22:37.399
 pieces of Jewish confession.

00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.240
 Something that they

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.219
 recited to themselves

00:22:39.219 --> 00:22:40.079
 twice a day,

00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:40.839
 every day.

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:41.799
 And it's this,

00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:43.079
 Hear, O Israel,

00:22:43.199 --> 00:22:44.459
 the Lord our God,

00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.819
 the Lord is one.

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.099
 You shall love

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.759
 the Lord your God

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.619
 with all your heart,

00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.779
 all your soul,

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:51.779
 and all your might.

00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.839
 This expressed the truth

00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:55.619
 that there's only one God

00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:57.219
 and because God is one

00:22:57.219 --> 00:22:58.059
 and he's a unity,

00:22:58.219 --> 00:22:58.919
 there's no division

00:22:58.919 --> 00:22:59.679
 within himself,

00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:01.240
 our allegiance to him,

00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:02.379
 our love to him

00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:03.179
 should be total,

00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:04.119
 complete,

00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.459
 undivided.

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.860
 That's really the calling

00:23:06.860 --> 00:23:07.840
 here.

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.220
 And so there's one Lord

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.319
 and it's remarkable,

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:10.740
 isn't it,

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.420
 that Paul,

00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:12.960
 that faithful Jew,

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.319
 that Pharisee

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.240
 who observed

00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.240
 every minutiae

00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.779
 of the law,

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:18.140
 he calls

00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:19.840
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:21.120
 Lord.

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.279
 That's something

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.120
 that Jews would have

00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:25.200
 never thought to say.

00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:26.940
 That guy that lived

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.840
 2,000 years ago,

00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:29.779
 Jesus,

00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:32.680
 he's that one Lord.

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:32.820
 Lord.

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.840
 That's a staggering

00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:38.200
 theological statement

00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.180
 and that truth,

00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:39.820
 that doctrine

00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:40.560
 was formulated

00:23:40.560 --> 00:23:42.120
 not because they just

00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:42.660
 thought about it

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.039
 in their head

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.460
 but because of the reality

00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.960
 of the death

00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.480
 and resurrection

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.420
 of Jesus Christ

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:48.820
 because he proved

00:23:48.820 --> 00:23:49.500
 through his life

00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.160
 death and resurrection

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.820
 essentially that he

00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:51.759
 is a son of God.

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:53.820
 They had to adapt that

00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:54.320
 and say no,

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.320
 he is the Lord,

00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:55.980
 he's a person

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:57.620
 of the triune God.

00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.620
 And our faith,

00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.879
 just as hope

00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.759
 is peculiarly

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.899
 associated with the spirit,

00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:05.359
 our faith is peculiarly

00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.039
 associated with

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.339
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:08.379
 because the life,

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:08.659
 death,

00:24:08.699 --> 00:24:09.059
 and resurrection

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.039
 of the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:24:10.139 --> 00:24:11.459
 the gospel of Jesus Christ,

00:24:11.739 --> 00:24:12.199
 the good news

00:24:12.199 --> 00:24:13.479
 that he died to save us,

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:15.259
 that is the core content

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.079
 of our faith.

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.959
 That's what we need

00:24:18.959 --> 00:24:20.019
 to have faith in

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.979
 and that's Paul later

00:24:20.979 --> 00:24:21.899
 talks about that as well

00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:22.919
 when he tells us

00:24:22.919 --> 00:24:23.719
 to strive for that

00:24:23.719 --> 00:24:24.799
 unity of faith.

00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:27.779
 And it's in that faith,

00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.500
 into that faith

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.579
 that we are baptized,

00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:31.480
 Colossians 2.12 explains,

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.359
 we have been buried

00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.899
 with Christ in baptism

00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:35.220
 in which we were also

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.199
 raised with him

00:24:36.199 --> 00:24:37.740
 through faith,

00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.019
 right?

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.839
 That's what baptism

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.879
 represents and we have

00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.899
 baptism coming up

00:24:40.899 --> 00:24:42.879
 at the end of next month,

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.220
 right?

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.139
 And baptism class

00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:44.839
 we're offering starting

00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:46.119
 next week after the service.

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.759
 So if you are not a believer,

00:24:47.919 --> 00:24:49.119
 if you have not been baptized,

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.799
 you should seriously

00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.099
 consider partaking in that

00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:52.119
 because baptism

00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.839
 is the initiatory rite

00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:54.899
 by through which we enter

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:56.019
 into that communion,

00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:57.000
 that body of Christ.

00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.079
 Christ.

00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.460
 And that means

00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.660
 we have died with Christ.

00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.440
 It signifies that

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.319
 we've died with Christ,

00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.960
 we have risen with him

00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:04.299
 and because that's why

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.019
 he says here,

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:07.420
 now we have one faith,

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.319
 one Lord,

00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.839
 one faith and one baptism.

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:12.440
 And if these were not

00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.400
 enough reason for us

00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.500
 to pursue unity

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.380
 in the church,

00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.960
 he adds one more triad

00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.259
 in verse 7.

00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:18.559
 He says,

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:20.000
 we have one God

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.900
 and Father

00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:22.220
 who is over all

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.299
 and through all

00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.960
 and in all,

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:25.359
 right?

00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:27.500
 God the Father

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.359
 is the fount

00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:29.919
 of all existence

00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:30.919
 and he rules

00:25:30.919 --> 00:25:32.439
 over all things

00:25:32.439 --> 00:25:33.539
 and God the Father

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:34.459
 is the sustainer

00:25:34.459 --> 00:25:34.919
 of all things

00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:35.439
 so it's also

00:25:35.439 --> 00:25:36.519
 all through him

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.759
 so he's the goal

00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.279
 and end of all existence

00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:40.119
 and that means

00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:41.919
 everything is in him

00:25:41.919 --> 00:25:43.399
 and for him

00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:44.579
 and to him.

00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.079
 So he says,

00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:46.099
 God the Father

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.799
 who is over all,

00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.339
 through all

00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.859
 and in all.

00:25:49.719 --> 00:25:50.819
 Why is this a basis

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.259
 for unity?

00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.539
 Because if there were

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.939
 many gods in this world,

00:25:53.940 --> 00:25:55.519
 if there were

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.380
 many deities

00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.240
 who ruled different

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.059
 parts of the world,

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.920
 then there would be

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:01.200
 complete justification

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.000
 for divisions

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.620
 in the world.

00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.380
 If there were

00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:05.640
 many fathers,

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.559
 then we would be

00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.640
 warranted in splitting

00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:09.360
 our allegiances.

00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:11.600
 But because there is

00:26:11.600 --> 00:26:13.039
 only one God

00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:15.620
 and one Father,

00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.539
 the church should be

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:19.279
 united in its worship

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.799
 of the one Father.

00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:23.099
 So our one call

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:25.000
 to the one triune God

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.639
 is the basis

00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:27.240
 for church unity.

00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:29.259
 And the fact that

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.639
 Trinity,

00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.579
 which is three in one,

00:26:30.639 --> 00:26:31.159
 is the basis

00:26:31.159 --> 00:26:32.019
 for this unity

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.960
 should also signal

00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:34.299
 to us that it doesn't

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.180
 mean that he wants

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.139
 uniformity,

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.200
 rather he seeks

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:38.119
 diversity within

00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.919
 university and that

00:26:38.919 --> 00:26:40.079
 unity and that's what

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.619
 he talks about

00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:41.480
 in the following verses.

00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:42.559
 My final point,

00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:43.980
 the conduit of church

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.720
 unity in verses

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.659
 7 to 16.

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:47.819
 Notwithstanding

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.659
 the oneness

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.460
 of the church

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.519
 in God,

00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:52.220
 Paul notes in verse 7

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.560
 that grace was given

00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:56.620
 to each one of us

00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:58.120
 according to the measure

00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:59.779
 of Christ's gift.

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.400
 Now,

00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:03.180
 this word one

00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.500
 is in an emphatic

00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.340
 position in the

00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:05.759
 sentence structure.

00:27:05.840 --> 00:27:06.720
 It's the first word

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.600
 in this sentence

00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:08.080
 in the Greek

00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:09.160
 and it's kind of

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:09.500
 really,

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.160
 you know,

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:12.019
 kind of sticks out

00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:13.279
 after all those,

00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:13.759
 you know,

00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:14.380
 one words,

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:14.600
 right?

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.240
 One baptism,

00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:15.860
 one faith,

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.580
 one Lord Jesus,

00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.279
 one spirit,

00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:18.120
 one hope,

00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:18.799
 one father

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.500
 and all of that.

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:19.739
 He says,

00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:21.139
 now each one of us

00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:22.439
 according to the measure

00:27:22.439 --> 00:27:23.459
 of Christ's gift

00:27:23.459 --> 00:27:24.199
 has been given

00:27:24.199 --> 00:27:25.119
 a grace,

00:27:25.439 --> 00:27:25.639
 right?

00:27:26.179 --> 00:27:27.259
 And this grace

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:28.899
 is not a saving grace.

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.699
 He's referring to

00:27:29.699 --> 00:27:30.639
 equipping grace

00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:31.639
 for ministry

00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:32.539
 as the context

00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.619
 of the following context

00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:34.259
 makes clear.

00:27:34.719 --> 00:27:35.579
 And the purpose

00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.259
 of God giving

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:37.219
 each of us,

00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:38.199
 every single one

00:27:38.199 --> 00:27:38.979
 of believers

00:27:38.979 --> 00:27:40.319
 of this grace

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.279
 is not so that

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.139
 he can differentiate

00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:43.079
 the individuals

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:44.119
 and elevate

00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:45.199
 one person

00:27:45.199 --> 00:27:45.979
 over the other

00:27:45.979 --> 00:27:47.039
 but it's to make

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:48.119
 each one

00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:49.339
 indispensable.

00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.299
 It's to make

00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.159
 each one

00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:51.960
 fill a role

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.599
 so that we've

00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.359
 together formed

00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:54.460
 this interdependent

00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:55.079
 body of Christ.

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.019
 That's the goal.

00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:56.779
 That's the vision

00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:58.279
 of this each oneness

00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:59.000
 that God gives

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.700
 the grace to.

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.799
 And notice the precision

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.500
 of this language.

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.359
 This is so helpful

00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:04.099
 for understanding

00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:04.819
 how the gifts

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.639
 operate in the church.

00:28:06.139 --> 00:28:06.940
 Grace was given

00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:08.359
 to each one of us

00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:09.720
 according to

00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.819
 the measure

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:13.319
 of Christ's gift.

00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:15.359
 That means Christ

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.639
 singled out

00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:17.899
 who will receive

00:28:17.899 --> 00:28:18.619
 what gift

00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:20.740
 and he measured

00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:22.559
 out how much

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.519
 of it we would

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:23.939
 receive.

00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.119
 God chose each

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:28.099
 of you to receive

00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:29.279
 a particular gift

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.019
 according to a

00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.019
 specific measure

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.740
 so that you can

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:33.419
 fulfill your ministry

00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.439
 in the body

00:28:34.439 --> 00:28:35.519
 of Christ.

00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.599
 You know Christ

00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:37.500
 didn't just you know

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.480
 kind of walk across

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.460
 and then just dump

00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.259
 all of his gifts

00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:41.159
 and then like confetti

00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:42.019
 and see oh let's see

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.899
 who it lands on.

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.579
 He singled you out

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.259
 and measured

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.279
 the gift for you.

00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.279
 Isn't that amazing?

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.179
 That means you have

00:28:48.179 --> 00:28:49.000
 a part to play.

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.259
 That means you have

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:51.139
 an integral role

00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:52.159
 to play in the ministry

00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:52.579
 of the church

00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.740
 in the life of the church.

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.700
 And each of us

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.500
 is playing a role

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.460
 that's uniquely suited

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.139
 to us and notice

00:28:59.139 --> 00:28:59.879
 how it's described.

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.960
 It's a grace.

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:03.139
 That means it's a gift.

00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.399
 We don't earn it.

00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.659
 Some people

00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:08.220
 don't get it

00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:08.679
 just because

00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.819
 they're better than you

00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:10.639
 or they did something

00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:11.599
 more right than you.

00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.819
 No, it's God's

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:13.599
 grace

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.919
 that he sovereignly

00:29:14.919 --> 00:29:16.419
 apportions to you.

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.179
 That means we don't need

00:29:17.179 --> 00:29:17.899
 to look around

00:29:17.899 --> 00:29:18.679
 and compare.

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:19.839
 That means we don't need

00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.480
 to look around

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.480
 and feel inferior

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.299
 or superior.

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.480
 That means we don't need

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:26.000
 to be divisive

00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.700
 over who uses

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.279
 what gifts

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.159
 because the whole point

00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:28.659
 of it is

00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:30.059
 not independence

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:31.339
 but interdependence

00:29:31.339 --> 00:29:32.700
 that we each use

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.119
 our gifts

00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:33.679
 to grow.

00:29:35.419 --> 00:29:35.960
 And Paul

00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:37.200
 proves this

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.700
 by quoting

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:39.059
 Psalm 68, 18

00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:40.119
 in verse 8.

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:41.079
 When he ascended

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.779
 on high

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.619
 he led a host

00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:43.299
 of captives

00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.220
 and he gave

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.419
 gifts to men.

00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.259
 And then he continues

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.419
 in saying

00:29:47.419 --> 00:29:48.279
 he ascended

00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:49.220
 what does it mean

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:49.940
 but that he had also

00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.819
 descended into

00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:51.740
 the lower regions

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.480
 the earth.

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.639
 He who descended

00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:54.639
 is the one

00:29:54.639 --> 00:29:55.879
 who also ascended

00:29:55.879 --> 00:29:56.659
 far above all

00:29:56.659 --> 00:29:57.059
 the heavens

00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.679
 that he might

00:29:57.679 --> 00:29:59.299
 fill all things.

00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:00.679
 Now if you have

00:30:00.679 --> 00:30:01.519
 the ESV

00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.220
 there's a slight

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.879
 over translation

00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.859
 here in verse 9

00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:04.559
 because it says

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.159
 that Christ

00:30:05.159 --> 00:30:06.000
 descended into

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.980
 the lower regions

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.519
 comma

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.720
 the earth.

00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:10.000
 So that sounds

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.940
 like it's a reference

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.980
 the lower regions

00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.759
 is a reference

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:14.059
 to the earth

00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.539
 which means

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.079
 he'd be referring

00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:16.160
 to Christ's incarnation

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:17.440
 but that's not

00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.799
 what he's referring to.

00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.720
 The NASB

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:22.079
 the New American Standard

00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:22.920
 Bible gets it right.

00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:23.619
 It translates it

00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:24.660
 now this expression

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.660
 he ascended

00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.839
 what does it mean

00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:27.859
 except that he also

00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:28.700
 had descended

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:30.380
 into the lower parts

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.900
 of the earth.

00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:32.380
 Right.

00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.079
 That's

00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:34.099
 the construction

00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:34.619
 in the Greek.

00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:35.640
 So he's not

00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:36.259
 referring to

00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.160
 earth as

00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:37.759
 the lower parts

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.560
 he's referring

00:30:38.560 --> 00:30:39.520
 to lower parts

00:30:39.520 --> 00:30:39.940
 of the earth

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.740
 and if you

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.540
 like if you

00:30:41.540 --> 00:30:42.080
 search through

00:30:42.080 --> 00:30:42.500
 scripture

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.020
 and check

00:30:43.020 --> 00:30:43.820
 the Old Testament

00:30:43.820 --> 00:30:44.600
 the Greek

00:30:44.600 --> 00:30:45.160
 translation

00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.960
 of the Old Testament

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:47.620
 and find

00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.860
 this phrasing

00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:49.800
 the lower parts

00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:50.340
 or the lowest

00:30:50.340 --> 00:30:51.480
 parts of the earth

00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:52.880
 it always refers

00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:53.840
 to the realm

00:30:53.840 --> 00:30:54.500
 of the dead

00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.480
 right the Hades

00:30:55.480 --> 00:30:55.960
 right.

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:57.200
 So he's referring

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:58.100
 to the same thing

00:30:58.100 --> 00:30:58.840
 that Peter talks

00:30:58.840 --> 00:30:59.660
 about in 1 Peter

00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.920
 through 18-19

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:01.700
 which is

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.259
 for Christ

00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:03.320
 also suffered

00:31:03.320 --> 00:31:04.340
 once for sins

00:31:04.340 --> 00:31:05.080
 the righteous

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.319
 for the unrighteous

00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:07.059
 that he might

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.599
 bring us

00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.199
 to God

00:31:08.199 --> 00:31:08.679
 being put

00:31:08.679 --> 00:31:09.139
 to death

00:31:09.139 --> 00:31:09.679
 in the flesh

00:31:09.679 --> 00:31:10.579
 but made alive

00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.119
 in the spirit

00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:12.699
 in which he went

00:31:12.699 --> 00:31:13.500
 and proclaimed

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.519
 to the spirits

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.519
 in prison

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.000
 right.

00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.659
 So he's saying

00:31:17.659 --> 00:31:18.139
 here that

00:31:18.139 --> 00:31:19.259
 between his death

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:19.879
 and resurrection

00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.779
 Christ

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.960
 in his spirit

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.960
 went and proclaimed

00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.819
 his victory

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.919
 over the imprisoned

00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:25.619
 spirits

00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:26.419
 in Hades

00:31:26.419 --> 00:31:27.259
 where the

00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:28.299
 disobedient spirits

00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:29.439
 were in prison.

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:30.839
 So he descended

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.699
 into lower regions

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.240
 the earth

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.900
 and after that

00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:34.539
 he ascended

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:34.860
 he says

00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:35.559
 he who descended

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:35.940
 is the one

00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:36.700
 who also ascended

00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.620
 far above

00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:38.740
 all the heavens

00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.580
 that he might

00:31:39.580 --> 00:31:41.080
 fill all things.

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:41.819
 This language

00:31:41.819 --> 00:31:43.019
 is very similar

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.120
 to chapter 1

00:31:44.120 --> 00:31:45.940
 verses 19-23

00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.840
 where he talked

00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:47.279
 about God

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.000
 how Christ

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.779
 subjected all powers

00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.819
 rulers and authorities

00:31:50.819 --> 00:31:51.180
 right.

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:51.799
 Now he went

00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.740
 far above them

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.640
 so he's talking

00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:54.900
 about spirits

00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.140
 right.

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:55.640
 These rulers

00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:56.000
 authorities

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.980
 powers and dominions

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:58.039
 that were subjected

00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:59.299
 in the resurrection

00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.160
 of Jesus Christ

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:01.240
 and having subjected

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.980
 them he led

00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:02.340
 them out

00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:02.980
 like the host

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:03.660
 of captives.

00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:04.920
 He declared

00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.640
 his victory

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:05.920
 over them

00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.320
 they were the

00:32:06.320 --> 00:32:06.800
 captives

00:32:06.800 --> 00:32:08.540
 and with the

00:32:08.540 --> 00:32:10.019
 gifts that he

00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:10.920
 received from

00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:11.540
 the captives

00:32:11.540 --> 00:32:12.300
 he liberally

00:32:12.300 --> 00:32:12.860
 dispenses

00:32:12.860 --> 00:32:13.860
 to his people

00:32:13.860 --> 00:32:14.519
 and that's

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:14.820
 what he was

00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:15.380
 referring to

00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:16.440
 and he receives

00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:17.000
 from God

00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.840
 the spirit of God

00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:18.340
 and he gives

00:32:18.340 --> 00:32:19.120
 that and that's

00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:19.779
 what Colossians

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.720
 2.13-15

00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.320
 has in mind

00:32:21.320 --> 00:32:22.220
 it's a parallel

00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:22.680
 passage

00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:23.519
 and you

00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.180
 you who were

00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:24.820
 dead in your

00:32:24.820 --> 00:32:25.440
 trespasses

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.420
 and the uncircumcision

00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:27.040
 of your flesh

00:32:27.040 --> 00:32:28.320
 God made alive

00:32:28.320 --> 00:32:29.200
 together with him

00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:30.019
 having forgiven

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:30.639
 us all our

00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:31.119
 trespasses

00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:32.139
 by canceling

00:32:32.139 --> 00:32:32.940
 the record

00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:33.579
 of debt

00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:34.059
 that stood

00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.700
 against us

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.180
 with its

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:36.139
 legal demands

00:32:36.139 --> 00:32:37.139
 this he set

00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:37.599
 aside

00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.180
 nailing it

00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:38.720
 to the cross

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.819
 he disarmed

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.359
 the rulers

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:40.960
 and authorities

00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.680
 and put them

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:43.039
 to open shame

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.359
 by triumphing

00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:44.940
 over them

00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:45.980
 in him

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.299
 right

00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.639
 these evil

00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:48.379
 spirits

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:49.139
 had a legal

00:32:49.139 --> 00:32:49.619
 right

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:51.500
 over God's

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:51.680
 people

00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.079
 because of

00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:52.559
 their sin

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.420
 but by having

00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:54.000
 atoned for

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:54.539
 their sin

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.039
 and having

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:56.200
 risen victoriously

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:57.500
 Christ destroys

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.099
 any claim

00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.639
 that they have

00:32:58.639 --> 00:32:59.119
 over God's

00:32:59.119 --> 00:32:59.500
 people

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.179
 triumphs

00:33:00.179 --> 00:33:00.739
 victoriously

00:33:00.739 --> 00:33:01.500
 over them

00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:02.139
 and he puts

00:33:02.139 --> 00:33:02.899
 them to shame

00:33:02.899 --> 00:33:03.259
 and leads

00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:03.519
 them out

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:03.859
 as host

00:33:03.859 --> 00:33:04.639
 of captives

00:33:04.639 --> 00:33:05.500
 that's what

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:05.679
 he's

00:33:05.679 --> 00:33:06.179
 and this

00:33:06.179 --> 00:33:06.459
 would have

00:33:06.459 --> 00:33:06.779
 been so

00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.239
 comforting

00:33:07.239 --> 00:33:07.679
 for us

00:33:07.679 --> 00:33:08.000
 it's like

00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:08.319
 whoa

00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:08.799
 like Paul

00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:09.239
 you're going

00:33:09.239 --> 00:33:09.979
 some crazy

00:33:09.979 --> 00:33:10.579
 places here

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.519
 but for the

00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:11.899
 Ephesians

00:33:11.899 --> 00:33:12.239
 this would

00:33:12.239 --> 00:33:12.399
 have been

00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:12.979
 so helpful

00:33:12.979 --> 00:33:13.459
 because

00:33:13.459 --> 00:33:14.839
 in Ephesus

00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:16.159
 these underworld

00:33:16.159 --> 00:33:16.799
 gods

00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.699
 were deeply

00:33:17.699 --> 00:33:18.299
 revered

00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:18.919
 and feared

00:33:18.919 --> 00:33:20.619
 and that's

00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:20.959
 why they

00:33:20.959 --> 00:33:21.559
 sought the

00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:22.059
 patronage

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:22.599
 of Artemis

00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:22.939
 they believed

00:33:22.939 --> 00:33:23.500
 that Artemis

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:23.919
 could offer

00:33:23.919 --> 00:33:24.539
 them protection

00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:25.519
 but what

00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:26.559
 what Paul

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:26.879
 is telling

00:33:26.879 --> 00:33:27.680
 them here

00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:28.059
 is this

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:28.420
 no

00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:29.339
 you need

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:30.059
 Jesus

00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:31.339
 and Christ

00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:32.279
 alone

00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:32.799
 because he's

00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:33.599
 triumphed

00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:34.319
 he's subjected

00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:35.539
 all authorities

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:35.980
 in heaven

00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.619
 and on earth

00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:37.740
 if you belong

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.259
 to him

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.579
 you have

00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.000
 nothing

00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:40.099
 to fear

00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:41.659
 and it's

00:33:41.659 --> 00:33:42.480
 because he's

00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:42.899
 the sovereign

00:33:42.899 --> 00:33:43.279
 lord

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.740
 that he can

00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.379
 now dispense

00:33:44.379 --> 00:33:45.200
 his gifts

00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.119
 sovereignly

00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:46.420
 to his

00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:46.799
 people

00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:48.779
 Psalm 68

00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:49.119
 18

00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.819
 that he

00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.119
 quoted

00:33:50.119 --> 00:33:50.559
 here

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.579
 is probably

00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:51.879
 in the

00:33:51.879 --> 00:33:52.259
 background

00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:52.759
 also

00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.359
 of Acts

00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.240
 233

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:55.019
 which

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.740
 describes

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.059
 how

00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:56.399
 being

00:33:56.399 --> 00:33:57.000
 exalted

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.279
 at the

00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:57.639
 right hand

00:33:57.639 --> 00:33:58.059
 of God

00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:58.339
 now

00:33:58.339 --> 00:33:58.740
 Jesus

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.279
 having

00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.779
 received

00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.259
 from the

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:00.559
 father

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.099
 the promise

00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:01.339
 of the

00:34:01.339 --> 00:34:01.500
 Holy

00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:01.819
 Spirit

00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.799
 has poured

00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.119
 out

00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:03.539
 this

00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.019
 that you

00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.399
 yourselves

00:34:04.399 --> 00:34:05.179
 are seeing

00:34:05.179 --> 00:34:06.639
 and hearing

00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:07.059
 right

00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:08.119
 so having

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:08.539
 received

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:09.059
 the gifts

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.420
 right

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:09.779
 he's

00:34:09.779 --> 00:34:10.139
 received

00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:10.699
 the spirit

00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:11.079
 of God

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.539
 from the

00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:11.900
 father

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.739
 after his

00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:13.119
 victorious

00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:13.500
 triumph

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.000
 and ascension

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.480
 and it

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.039
 is from

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.519
 that gift

00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:15.920
 he gives

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.420
 a measure

00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:16.860
 of his

00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.179
 gift

00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:18.400
 to his

00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:18.900
 believers

00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:22.559
 and so

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:23.079
 we live

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.500
 in this

00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:23.920
 new

00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.539
 covenant

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.039
 age

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:27.039
 and we

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.420
 are to be

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.320
 the conduit

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:28.860
 that is

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.320
 used by

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:29.599
 God

00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:29.920
 that we

00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.340
 receive

00:34:30.340 --> 00:34:30.740
 the gifts

00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:31.420
 to fill

00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:32.119
 all in

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:32.260
 all

00:34:32.260 --> 00:34:32.599
 to fill

00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:32.980
 the whole

00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:33.320
 earth

00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:33.820
 with the

00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:34.099
 glory

00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:34.539
 of God

00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.059
 with the

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.500
 authority

00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:35.980
 of God

00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:38.519
 and that

00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:38.860
 has

00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.539
 not just

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.440
 church

00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.720
 ecclesiological

00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:42.320
 implications

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:43.000
 but also

00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:43.720
 missions

00:34:43.720 --> 00:34:44.800
 missiological

00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:45.740
 implications

00:34:45.740 --> 00:34:47.360
 because God's

00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:47.800
 intention

00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:48.320
 his plan

00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:48.820
 is to fill

00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.480
 everything

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.100
 to fill

00:34:50.100 --> 00:34:50.519
 all in

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:50.740
 all

00:34:50.740 --> 00:34:52.420
 and how

00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:52.900
 does the

00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:53.320
 gift of

00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:53.660
 Christ

00:34:53.660 --> 00:34:54.220
 manifest

00:34:54.220 --> 00:34:54.580
 itself

00:34:54.580 --> 00:34:55.620
 how is

00:34:55.620 --> 00:34:56.260
 the spirit's

00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:56.640
 fullness

00:34:56.640 --> 00:34:57.940
 manifested

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:58.380
 in the

00:34:58.380 --> 00:34:58.640
 church

00:34:58.640 --> 00:34:59.059
 Paul says

00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.380
 in verse

00:34:59.380 --> 00:34:59.840
 11

00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.620
 and he

00:35:00.620 --> 00:35:01.300
 gave

00:35:01.300 --> 00:35:01.760
 the

00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.300
 apostles

00:35:02.300 --> 00:35:02.960
 the

00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.580
 prophets

00:35:03.580 --> 00:35:04.080
 the

00:35:04.080 --> 00:35:04.840
 evangelists

00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.260
 the

00:35:05.260 --> 00:35:05.880
 shepherds

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.480
 and

00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:06.980
 teachers

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:08.780
 these

00:35:08.780 --> 00:35:09.200
 people

00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:09.960
 are gifts

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:10.559
 to the

00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:11.019
 church

00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.940
 because of

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.300
 the gifts

00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:12.600
 they have

00:35:12.600 --> 00:35:13.140
 received

00:35:13.140 --> 00:35:13.880
 from Christ

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:15.220
 and the

00:35:15.220 --> 00:35:15.700
 list of

00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:16.000
 gifts

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.480
 here is

00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.039
 not intended

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.380
 to be

00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.160
 exhaustive

00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:18.779
 since Paul

00:35:18.779 --> 00:35:19.339
 elsewhere

00:35:19.339 --> 00:35:19.779
 lists

00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:20.259
 additional

00:35:20.259 --> 00:35:20.599
 gifts

00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.599
 but the

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.039
 fivefold

00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:22.619
 ministry

00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:23.799
 as this

00:35:23.799 --> 00:35:24.500
 verse

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:24.859
 is typically

00:35:24.859 --> 00:35:25.219
 called

00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:26.279
 does represent

00:35:26.279 --> 00:35:26.699
 kind of the

00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:27.179
 foundational

00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:28.420
 aspect of

00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:28.980
 the gospel

00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.460
 ministry of

00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:29.779
 the church

00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:30.460
 all of these

00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:30.839
 gifts have

00:35:30.839 --> 00:35:31.379
 something to do

00:35:31.379 --> 00:35:32.219
 with proclaiming

00:35:32.219 --> 00:35:32.819
 by teaching

00:35:32.819 --> 00:35:33.579
 this ministry

00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:35.159
 of the

00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:35.539
 gospel

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:37.219
 and

00:35:37.219 --> 00:35:38.679
 notice also

00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:39.119
 that Paul

00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.699
 doesn't seem

00:35:39.699 --> 00:35:40.159
 to have in

00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.779
 mind a period

00:35:40.779 --> 00:35:41.179
 of time

00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:41.819
 when these

00:35:41.819 --> 00:35:42.599
 gifts

00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:43.420
 will cease

00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:45.400
 but Paul

00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:45.840
 doesn't say

00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.180
 that these

00:35:46.180 --> 00:35:46.500
 gifts

00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:46.820
 will be

00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:47.320
 operational

00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:48.260
 only until

00:35:48.260 --> 00:35:48.720
 the end

00:35:48.720 --> 00:35:48.920
 of the

00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:49.099
 first

00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:49.500
 century

00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:49.840
 or the

00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:50.039
 second

00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:50.480
 century

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:52.639
 these

00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:52.780
 are

00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:53.280
 gifts

00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:53.760
 for the

00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:53.980
 new

00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:54.320
 covenant

00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:54.740
 age

00:35:54.740 --> 00:35:55.180
 that we

00:35:55.180 --> 00:35:55.800
 live in

00:35:55.800 --> 00:35:56.079
 the

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:56.420
 new

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:56.639
 covenant

00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:56.880
 age

00:35:56.880 --> 00:35:57.019
 that

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:57.380
 follows

00:35:57.380 --> 00:35:57.500
 the

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:57.780
 ascension

00:35:57.780 --> 00:35:57.920
 of

00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.119
 Christ

00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:58.420
 it's

00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:58.619
 the

00:35:58.619 --> 00:35:59.000
 age

00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.119
 of

00:35:59.119 --> 00:35:59.240
 the

00:35:59.240 --> 00:35:59.619
 spirit

00:35:59.619 --> 00:36:00.059
 and

00:36:00.059 --> 00:36:00.240
 it's

00:36:00.240 --> 00:36:00.380
 that

00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:00.619
 age

00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:00.780
 that

00:36:00.780 --> 00:36:00.960
 we

00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:01.119
 are

00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.440
 currently

00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:01.720
 in

00:36:01.720 --> 00:36:02.280
 and

00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:02.599
 I'm

00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:02.980
 going to

00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:04.539
 go into

00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:04.940
 details

00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.619
 and explain

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:06.139
 apostle

00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:06.720
 prophets

00:36:06.720 --> 00:36:07.220
 and

00:36:07.220 --> 00:36:07.800
 teachers

00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:08.820
 and evangelists

00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.480
 and shepherds

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.139
 now

00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:11.000
 I want you

00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:11.300
 guys to

00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:11.719
 stick with

00:36:11.719 --> 00:36:11.880
 me

00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.300
 especially

00:36:12.300 --> 00:36:12.760
 with the

00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:13.059
 apostles

00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:13.619
 and prophets

00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:13.980
 because

00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:15.260
 I probably

00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:16.059
 never taught

00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:17.619
 this outside

00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:17.820
 of the

00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:18.139
 membership

00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:18.659
 class

00:36:18.659 --> 00:36:19.139
 context

00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:19.619
 on a

00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:19.800
 Sunday

00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:20.119
 setting

00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:20.400
 so

00:36:20.400 --> 00:36:21.179
 if you

00:36:21.179 --> 00:36:21.440
 follow

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:21.900
 with me

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.260
 I think

00:36:22.260 --> 00:36:22.519
 it will

00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:22.900
 offer

00:36:22.900 --> 00:36:23.280
 a lot

00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:23.400
 of

00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:23.820
 clarification

00:36:23.820 --> 00:36:24.460
 for what

00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:24.760
 these

00:36:24.760 --> 00:36:25.079
 things

00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:25.559
 mean

00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:25.920
 and how

00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:26.099
 they

00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:26.579
 function

00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.260
 just

00:36:27.260 --> 00:36:27.460
 because

00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:27.659
 there's

00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:28.019
 so much

00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:28.480
 confusion

00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:28.940
 out there

00:36:28.940 --> 00:36:29.800
 and

00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:30.579
 the

00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:30.880
 first

00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:31.219
 is the

00:36:31.219 --> 00:36:31.760
 apostle

00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:32.599
 an apostle

00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:33.539
 by definition

00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.000
 is someone

00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:34.420
 who is

00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:35.320
 sent out

00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:35.900
 to proclaim

00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:36.500
 the gospel

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:38.300
 where it's

00:36:38.300 --> 00:36:38.659
 not being

00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:39.059
 proclaimed

00:36:39.059 --> 00:36:40.019
 so it's

00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:40.380
 like a

00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:40.659
 church

00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:41.119
 planting

00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:41.699
 missionary

00:36:41.699 --> 00:36:43.719
 and once

00:36:43.719 --> 00:36:44.019
 again

00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:44.659
 I have to

00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:44.920
 add a

00:36:44.920 --> 00:36:45.400
 qualification

00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:45.840
 because

00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.299
 I don't

00:36:46.299 --> 00:36:46.699
 mean

00:36:46.699 --> 00:36:47.480
 by this

00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:47.719
 that

00:36:47.719 --> 00:36:48.920
 we have

00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:49.460
 currently

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:50.539
 the same

00:36:50.539 --> 00:36:51.360
 authoritative

00:36:51.360 --> 00:36:52.179
 capital A

00:36:52.179 --> 00:36:52.719
 apostles

00:36:52.719 --> 00:36:53.539
 like the

00:36:53.539 --> 00:36:54.119
 twelve

00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:55.699
 disciples of

00:36:55.699 --> 00:36:55.880
 Jesus

00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:56.179
 and

00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.960
 apostle

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.380
 Paul

00:36:57.380 --> 00:36:58.099
 because

00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:58.400
 they were

00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:58.880
 directly

00:36:58.880 --> 00:36:59.340
 commissioned

00:36:59.340 --> 00:36:59.840
 by Jesus

00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:00.099
 Christ

00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:00.360
 and given

00:37:00.360 --> 00:37:01.099
 a foundational

00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.639
 role

00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:02.420
 in the

00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:02.699
 ministry

00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:02.920
 of the

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:03.119
 church

00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:03.299
 as

00:37:03.299 --> 00:37:03.659
 Ephesians

00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:03.940
 2

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.219
 20

00:37:04.219 --> 00:37:04.519
 talks

00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:04.779
 about

00:37:04.779 --> 00:37:06.039
 now

00:37:06.039 --> 00:37:06.659
 we often

00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.019
 assume

00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:07.320
 that the

00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:07.500
 word

00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:08.059
 apostle

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:09.440
 in scripture

00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:10.400
 only refers

00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:10.659
 to the

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:10.920
 twelve

00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:11.440
 apostles

00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:11.940
 and maybe

00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:12.239
 plus

00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:12.619
 Paul

00:37:12.619 --> 00:37:13.320
 because

00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:13.500
 they're

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:13.820
 named

00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.460
 as apostles

00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:14.980
 specifically

00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:15.340
 in Matthew

00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:15.679
 10

00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:16.199
 2-4

00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:17.420
 and Revelation

00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:18.239
 21-14

00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:18.880
 also mentions

00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.460
 the twelve

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:19.940
 apostles

00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:20.380
 as the

00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:20.860
 foundation

00:37:20.860 --> 00:37:21.199
 of the

00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:21.420
 church

00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:22.099
 so we

00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:22.500
 think of

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:23.079
 oh apostle

00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:23.759
 means those

00:37:23.759 --> 00:37:24.119
 kind of

00:37:24.119 --> 00:37:24.320
 people

00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:25.019
 the foundational

00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:25.679
 and we

00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:25.920
 think that

00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:26.279
 that's the

00:37:26.279 --> 00:37:26.719
 only way

00:37:26.719 --> 00:37:26.920
 in which

00:37:26.920 --> 00:37:27.179
 the word

00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:27.519
 is used

00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:27.920
 but that's

00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.199
 not

00:37:28.199 --> 00:37:28.940
 true

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.739
 because

00:37:29.739 --> 00:37:30.239
 yes the

00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:30.659
 twelve

00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.199
 are certainly

00:37:31.199 --> 00:37:31.659
 apostles

00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.219
 and the

00:37:32.219 --> 00:37:32.519
 twelve

00:37:32.519 --> 00:37:32.960
 by twelve

00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:33.360
 I mean

00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:33.739
 twelve

00:37:33.739 --> 00:37:34.139
 minus

00:37:34.139 --> 00:37:34.559
 Judas

00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:36.000
 and Matthias

00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:36.380
 who later

00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:36.860
 replaces

00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:37.400
 Judas

00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:38.820
 but the

00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:39.000
 word

00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:39.480
 apostle

00:37:39.480 --> 00:37:39.880
 is also

00:37:39.880 --> 00:37:40.220
 used

00:37:40.220 --> 00:37:40.519
 as a

00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:40.900
 broader

00:37:40.900 --> 00:37:41.700
 category

00:37:41.700 --> 00:37:42.800
 than the

00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:43.119
 twelve

00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:44.300
 because in

00:37:44.300 --> 00:37:44.660
 fact if

00:37:44.660 --> 00:37:45.059
 only the

00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:45.440
 twelve are

00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:45.820
 apostles

00:37:45.820 --> 00:37:46.320
 then apostle

00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:46.880
 Paul is not

00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:47.260
 an apostle

00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:49.220
 and James

00:37:49.220 --> 00:37:49.619
 the brother

00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:50.039
 of Jesus

00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:50.460
 is not

00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:50.840
 an apostle

00:37:50.840 --> 00:37:51.340
 even though he

00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:51.860
 was the head

00:37:51.860 --> 00:37:52.300
 of the church

00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:52.820
 of Jerusalem

00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:54.559
 and if

00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.380
 if you look

00:37:55.380 --> 00:37:55.800
 at this

00:37:55.800 --> 00:37:57.160
 let's look

00:37:57.160 --> 00:37:57.400
 at some

00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:57.620
 of these

00:37:57.620 --> 00:37:58.660
 and apostles

00:37:58.660 --> 00:37:59.440
 as a broader

00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.240
 category

00:38:00.240 --> 00:38:00.940
 is seen

00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:01.720
 clearly here

00:38:01.720 --> 00:38:03.300
 in 1 Corinthians

00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:05.320
 9 and 1 Corinthians

00:38:05.320 --> 00:38:06.240
 15

00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:06.900
 5 to 8

00:38:06.900 --> 00:38:07.700
 because it

00:38:07.700 --> 00:38:08.240
 talks about

00:38:08.240 --> 00:38:08.760
 how these

00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:09.220
 are people

00:38:09.220 --> 00:38:09.920
 who witnessed

00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:10.519
 the resurrected

00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:11.000
 Christ

00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:11.480
 and were

00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:11.940
 personally

00:38:11.940 --> 00:38:12.420
 appointed

00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:12.980
 and commissioned

00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:13.700
 by Christ

00:38:13.700 --> 00:38:14.420
 to go

00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:15.260
 and when he

00:38:15.260 --> 00:38:15.860
 talks about

00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.280
 this he

00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:16.780
 says and

00:38:16.780 --> 00:38:17.180
 when Paul

00:38:17.180 --> 00:38:17.600
 says that

00:38:17.600 --> 00:38:17.880
 he says

00:38:17.880 --> 00:38:18.440
 he appeared

00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:19.100
 to the twelve

00:38:19.100 --> 00:38:19.840
 and then he

00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:20.559
 says he later

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.559
 appeared to all

00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:22.179
 the apostles

00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:23.239
 so he clearly

00:38:23.239 --> 00:38:24.179
 distinguishes

00:38:24.179 --> 00:38:25.159
 apostles

00:38:25.159 --> 00:38:26.420
 from the twelve

00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:27.320
 so apostles

00:38:27.320 --> 00:38:28.199
 can be used

00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:28.699
 as a broader

00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:29.059
 category

00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:29.440
 to refer

00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:29.980
 to all

00:38:29.980 --> 00:38:30.320
 those

00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:30.699
 who are

00:38:30.699 --> 00:38:31.059
 personally

00:38:31.059 --> 00:38:31.500
 appointed

00:38:31.500 --> 00:38:32.119
 and commissioned

00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:32.840
 by the

00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:33.239
 resurrected

00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:33.759
 Christ

00:38:33.759 --> 00:38:35.400
 so that

00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:35.820
 would include

00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:36.259
 people like

00:38:36.259 --> 00:38:36.880
 Barnabas

00:38:36.880 --> 00:38:37.360
 who's called

00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:37.779
 an apostle

00:38:37.779 --> 00:38:38.579
 Acts 14

00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:38.940
 4

00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:39.599
 1 Corinthians

00:38:39.599 --> 00:38:39.840
 9

00:38:39.840 --> 00:38:40.099
 6

00:38:40.099 --> 00:38:40.679
 it would

00:38:40.679 --> 00:38:40.980
 include

00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:41.799
 Andronicus

00:38:41.799 --> 00:38:42.460
 and Hunia

00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:43.340
 Romans

00:38:43.340 --> 00:38:43.840
 16

00:38:43.840 --> 00:38:44.340
 7

00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:45.000
 and it

00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:45.420
 would include

00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:46.119
 Apollos

00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:47.299
 1 Corinthians

00:38:47.299 --> 00:38:47.980
 4

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:48.500
 6

00:38:48.500 --> 00:38:49.679
 to 9

00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:51.219
 and now

00:38:51.219 --> 00:38:52.739
 there seems

00:38:52.739 --> 00:38:53.139
 to be

00:38:53.139 --> 00:38:53.619
 actually

00:38:53.619 --> 00:38:54.480
 an even

00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:55.059
 broader

00:38:55.059 --> 00:38:55.500
 category

00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:56.159
 yet a third

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:56.699
 way in which

00:38:56.699 --> 00:38:57.299
 it is used

00:38:57.299 --> 00:38:58.299
 and these

00:38:58.299 --> 00:38:58.799
 apostles

00:38:58.799 --> 00:38:59.619
 were not

00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:00.459
 ones that

00:39:00.459 --> 00:39:00.839
 were not

00:39:00.839 --> 00:39:01.659
 even directly

00:39:01.659 --> 00:39:02.639
 commissioned

00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:03.459
 appointed by

00:39:03.459 --> 00:39:03.719
 Christ

00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:04.059
 but yet

00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:04.379
 they were

00:39:04.379 --> 00:39:04.939
 still like

00:39:04.939 --> 00:39:05.739
 church planting

00:39:05.739 --> 00:39:06.359
 missionaries

00:39:06.359 --> 00:39:06.619
 right

00:39:06.619 --> 00:39:07.899
 and that's

00:39:07.899 --> 00:39:08.599
 clear in the

00:39:08.599 --> 00:39:09.019
 example of

00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:09.599
 Apollos

00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:09.899
 right

00:39:09.899 --> 00:39:10.799
 because Apollos

00:39:10.799 --> 00:39:11.339
 is described

00:39:11.339 --> 00:39:12.119
 as an apostle

00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:12.899
 in 1 Corinthians

00:39:12.899 --> 00:39:13.219
 4

00:39:13.219 --> 00:39:13.500
 6

00:39:13.500 --> 00:39:13.919
 to 9

00:39:13.919 --> 00:39:14.859
 but Acts

00:39:14.859 --> 00:39:15.339
 18

00:39:15.339 --> 00:39:15.799
 24

00:39:15.799 --> 00:39:16.319
 to 26

00:39:16.319 --> 00:39:17.079
 tells us

00:39:17.079 --> 00:39:18.139
 that Apollos

00:39:18.139 --> 00:39:19.199
 only knew

00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:19.819
 the baptism

00:39:19.819 --> 00:39:20.519
 of John

00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:21.119
 right

00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:22.000
 and it

00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:22.480
 tells us

00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:22.940
 that because

00:39:22.940 --> 00:39:23.440
 of that

00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:23.859
 Priscilla

00:39:23.859 --> 00:39:24.319
 and Aquila

00:39:24.319 --> 00:39:24.639
 had to

00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:24.960
 take him

00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:25.359
 aside

00:39:25.359 --> 00:39:26.219
 and instruct

00:39:26.219 --> 00:39:26.579
 him so

00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:26.779
 that he

00:39:26.779 --> 00:39:27.139
 would know

00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:27.519
 the way

00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:27.920
 of God

00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:28.940
 more adequately

00:39:28.940 --> 00:39:29.880
 so this

00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:30.719
 guy clearly

00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:31.319
 was not

00:39:31.319 --> 00:39:31.960
 appointed

00:39:31.960 --> 00:39:32.480
 and commissioned

00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:32.980
 directly by

00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:33.319
 Jesus

00:39:33.319 --> 00:39:34.199
 yet he is

00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:34.639
 described

00:39:34.639 --> 00:39:35.000
 as an

00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:35.380
 apostle

00:39:35.380 --> 00:39:36.179
 why

00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:36.639
 because he

00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:37.000
 had the

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:37.319
 commission

00:39:37.319 --> 00:39:38.039
 to go

00:39:38.039 --> 00:39:38.339
 to be

00:39:38.339 --> 00:39:38.799
 sent

00:39:38.799 --> 00:39:39.299
 out

00:39:39.299 --> 00:39:39.859
 for

00:39:39.859 --> 00:39:40.339
 proclaiming

00:39:40.339 --> 00:39:40.799
 the gospel

00:39:40.799 --> 00:39:41.519
 so there's

00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:42.039
 three different

00:39:42.039 --> 00:39:42.500
 categories

00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:43.019
 of apostles

00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:43.480
 that the

00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:43.960
 New Testament

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.480
 itself

00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:45.259
 uses

00:39:45.259 --> 00:39:45.779
 employs

00:39:45.779 --> 00:39:47.099
 to explain

00:39:47.099 --> 00:39:48.400
 this relationship

00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:49.259
 and we

00:39:49.259 --> 00:39:49.619
 shouldn't be

00:39:49.619 --> 00:39:50.259
 surprised by

00:39:50.259 --> 00:39:50.619
 that because

00:39:50.619 --> 00:39:51.039
 we do the

00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:51.460
 same thing

00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:51.859
 in English

00:39:51.859 --> 00:39:52.279
 don't we

00:39:52.279 --> 00:39:52.859
 right

00:39:52.859 --> 00:39:53.480
 we have

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:54.159
 only one

00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:54.679
 president

00:39:54.679 --> 00:39:55.400
 here in our

00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:55.779
 country

00:39:55.779 --> 00:39:56.480
 right

00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:57.440
 but yet

00:39:57.440 --> 00:39:58.779
 throughout the

00:39:58.779 --> 00:40:00.400
 country there are a whole bunch of presidents

00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:01.940
 of all kinds of corporations

00:40:01.940 --> 00:40:06.219
 but when we refer to the president of the boys and girls club as the president

00:40:06.219 --> 00:40:08.799
 no one's thinking we mean the president

00:40:08.799 --> 00:40:09.179
 right

00:40:09.179 --> 00:40:12.879
 I mean it's the context that determines the meaning so in the same way throughout the New Testament

00:40:12.879 --> 00:40:17.219
 they use the word apostle in three different ways in multiple ways to explain that

00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:36.199
 so if anyone claims to be and the first two well actually I'm going to summarize that later but so if anyone if you find anyone that claims to be an apostle today right then immediately you should assume not that type of apostle right not the twelve not the ones who were directly commissioned

00:40:36.199 --> 00:41:05.679
 and by Jesus Christ but if they insist that they are that type of apostle oh no I am that type of apostle I have authority I might what I teach is normative then immediately we say heresy and don't listen to what they say okay that's what we do this is how we respond now summarize okay just that was a lot of information so summarize the first two categories of apostles the twelve plus the rest of the apostles were directly appointed and commissioned by Christ they lay the foundation for the church as it says in Ephesians 2 20.

00:41:06.199 --> 00:41:33.199
 and because of that they were authoritative and reliable messengers of God they were the ones that guaranteed that the gospel tradition would go on right and because of that they fulfilled an office they fulfilled the office of apostle which no longer exists today because the foundation has already been laid there is no longer the office of apostle but while the office has seized the gift of apostleship continues and it's described here as a gift

00:41:33.199 --> 00:42:03.199
 and that's an important distinction right and that distinction right and that distinction is the same reason why in our church we don't have people who are officially called with titles like apostle prophet evangelist right and shepherd teacher and that's because these are gifts not offices right there are only two offices in the church and those are mentioned in 1st Timothy 3 and Titus 1 right and that's the elders and deacons

00:42:03.199 --> 00:42:16.980
 and evangelism and evangelism and teaching all serve and teaching all serve and build up the church but their role and their role is crucial as we will all see but they are not charged with the leadership and stewardship of the church in the same way that the officers are right so they're different we have to distinguish the office from the gift

00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:39.699
 now the next gift from christ the church is prophets prophets prophets are those who have the gift of prophecy prophecy prophecy is when god not through an inferential process like reading like but through an intuitive process kind of a spontaneous process receive something from god to communicate to the church

00:42:39.699 --> 00:42:56.839
 in his classic systematic theology textbook uh... wayne grudem defines prophecy this way paul is simply referring to something that god may suddenly bring to mind or something that god may impress on someone's consciousness in such a way that the person has a sense that it is from god

00:42:56.839 --> 00:43:09.039
 it may be that the thought brought to mind is surprisingly distinct from the person's own train of thought or that it is accompanied by a sense of vividness or urgency or persistence or in some other way gives the person a rather clear sense

00:43:09.039 --> 00:43:20.900
 that it is from the lord right and we believe that this gift of prophecy exists here in the new testament because it doesn't say anywhere that it stops it doesn't say anywhere that it seizes

00:43:20.900 --> 00:43:35.779
 while everywhere is mentioned it assumes that prophecy will be used and to function to build up the church so first corinthians 14 1 to 3 says pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts especially that you may prophesy

00:43:35.780 --> 00:43:42.019
 for one who prophesy speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation

00:43:42.019 --> 00:43:49.140
 do you guys get those purposes that's important because if you think you're a prophet and everything that you say seems to be tearing people down

00:43:49.140 --> 00:43:51.880
 cutting them down bringing discouragement

00:43:51.880 --> 00:43:55.400
 and despair not consolation

00:43:55.400 --> 00:43:58.280
 and encouragement and upbuilding then you're probably

00:43:58.280 --> 00:43:59.720
 not prophesying

00:43:59.720 --> 00:44:03.340
 and if you did receive a prophecy then you're probably either

00:44:03.340 --> 00:44:06.780
 misinterpreting and or miscommunicating it

00:44:06.780 --> 00:44:13.360
 where was i prophets

00:44:13.360 --> 00:44:16.500
 and the purpose of this there's another purpose

00:44:16.500 --> 00:44:18.880
 described in first corinthians 14 24 25

00:44:18.880 --> 00:44:22.559
 is to disclose the secrets of an unbeliever's heart

00:44:22.559 --> 00:44:28.420
 so that convicted of sin falling on his face that unbeliever will worship god and declare that god is reeling among you

00:44:28.420 --> 00:44:30.800
 there's another purpose for the gift of prophecy

00:44:30.800 --> 00:44:40.820
 prophecy and when it comes to prophets also there are different measures of the gift in the new covenant age after christ there was the prophets who were very closely associated with the apostles

00:44:40.820 --> 00:44:46.280
 many of them apostles themselves who laid the foundation as described in phoesians 2 20

00:44:46.280 --> 00:44:52.460
 the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with christ jesus himself as a chief cornerstone

00:44:52.460 --> 00:44:53.800
 that's what it says in phoesians 2 20

00:44:53.800 --> 00:45:01.559
 there are however prophets who do not play this kind of foundational role and all the prophets that follow them don't fulfill that kind of foundational role

00:45:01.559 --> 00:45:07.440
 and that's why when instructing the church about prophecy and how to use prophecy in the context of the worship service

00:45:07.440 --> 00:45:09.820
 paul says in first corinthians 14 29

00:45:09.820 --> 00:45:14.340
 let two or three prophets speak and let the others weigh what is said

00:45:14.340 --> 00:45:20.679
 right prophecy has to be weighed it has to be tested as it says in first desalians 5 19 to 21

00:45:20.679 --> 00:45:26.199
 because these prophecies are not final authoritative and normative in the same way

00:45:26.199 --> 00:45:32.279
 scripture speaking prophets and the apostolic prophets of the new testament are

00:45:32.279 --> 00:45:38.019
 you might wonder then why is new testament prophecy different

00:45:38.019 --> 00:45:41.980
 why does it change from the old testament to the new testament well it's because

00:45:41.980 --> 00:45:46.719
 as hebrews 1 1 to 2 tells us long ago at many times and in many ways

00:45:46.719 --> 00:45:54.099
 god spoke to our fathers by the prophets but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son

00:45:54.099 --> 00:45:58.339
 whom he appointed the heir of all things through whom also he created the world

00:45:58.339 --> 00:46:05.659
 in other words jesus christ is the ultimate and final revelation of god the father so he doesn't

00:46:05.659 --> 00:46:09.279
 need to speak to us in the way he did in the old testament through the prophets because christ

00:46:09.279 --> 00:46:16.839
 is the ultimate and final uh revelation of god that means then all the the all the prophecies we have

00:46:16.839 --> 00:46:21.739
 now it's not normative and authoritative in the same way those teachings of the apostles and the

00:46:21.739 --> 00:46:26.119
 old testament prophets were they apply those teachings the scripture level authority things

00:46:26.119 --> 00:46:33.359
 apply to all people in all places but the prophecy we get now is circumstantial and it has to do with

00:46:33.359 --> 00:46:41.500
 specific application of the truths of god this is the fact that the apostles are the ones that are in

00:46:41.500 --> 00:46:46.299
 the tradition of the old testament prophets is clearly seen in second peter 3 2 where he says the

00:46:46.300 --> 00:46:51.420
 predictions of the holy prophets that's old testament prophets and the commandment of the lord and savior

00:46:51.420 --> 00:46:57.220
 through the apostles right so peter envisions the apostles as standing in line with the same authority

00:46:57.220 --> 00:47:02.320
 as the old testament prophets not new testament prophets in this standing in line of the same as old

00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:11.180
 testament prophets now um how does so does that mean does this prophecy then challenge the authority

00:47:11.179 --> 00:47:15.879
 of god does can it does it threaten the authority of god the sufficiency of god's word no of course not

00:47:15.879 --> 00:47:22.259
 right because the spirit of god never contradicts the word of god right uh and and it has to do like i said

00:47:22.259 --> 00:47:29.279
 with circumstantial and applicatory content right so it's this and let me give you some examples actually

00:47:29.279 --> 00:47:37.559
 now because the bible tells every believer right to to go right to and decide make disciples of all nations

00:47:37.559 --> 00:47:43.920
 right so we are all called to the great commission but the bible doesn't specifically tell tell us to go to

00:47:43.920 --> 00:47:51.519
 china instead of japan does it it doesn't it doesn't it doesn't address those kind of specific right

00:47:51.519 --> 00:47:56.219
 applicatory and circumstantial things it's the spirit of god that leads us in that way right

00:47:56.219 --> 00:48:02.659
 is he challenging the word of god that no of course not it's it's not functioning on the same plane

00:48:02.659 --> 00:48:08.259
 right and and so it's the same thing right if we're all called to encourage one another in first

00:48:08.259 --> 00:48:13.899
 desalonians 5 11 but that doesn't mean that scripture tells bob in the church specifically

00:48:13.899 --> 00:48:19.659
 to encourage charlie because he's been really down with the sins that he's struggling with

00:48:19.659 --> 00:48:26.940
 it's the spirit of god that does that it's not contradicting each other there's no contradiction

00:48:26.940 --> 00:48:34.039
 you might still have one last lingering question about prophecy and that is well then how do we test

00:48:34.039 --> 00:48:40.820
 it well scripture i mean preaching you could test it right you hear a preacher say something you go

00:48:40.820 --> 00:48:44.760
 through scripture and search it like is it there or not right is that what it really says you can test

00:48:44.760 --> 00:48:50.119
 it how do you test prophecy this is actually uh not all that different from something that we do

00:48:50.119 --> 00:48:55.700
 uh uh all the time and well first i'll mention that there is a gift of discerning between spirits which

00:48:55.699 --> 00:49:00.699
 first corinthians 12 10 mentions so that's helpful but the secondly we're all supposed to function in

00:49:00.699 --> 00:49:06.019
 testing uh the spirit and and then testing whether this prophecy is from the lord or not and let me

00:49:06.019 --> 00:49:11.399
 give you a couple examples so when a mechanic when you go you hear some noise in the car or you see some

00:49:11.399 --> 00:49:16.019
 unpleasant fumes from the car and you decided to take your car to a mechanic and then your mechanic

00:49:16.019 --> 00:49:23.799
 tells you oh your catalytic converter is is is gone it's broken you have to get the replaced now if you

00:49:23.800 --> 00:49:29.360
 are anything like me one you have no idea what a catalytic converter is you don't know what it does

00:49:29.360 --> 00:49:35.420
 and you don't know where to fit it right so you have no way to externally verify what the mechanic told

00:49:35.420 --> 00:49:40.840
 you you had you can't so what do you do you test it the only way you can do you trust the mechanic

00:49:40.840 --> 00:49:48.840
 did he tell you the truth before has it been right about the diagnosis before did he seem like a sincere

00:49:48.840 --> 00:49:52.900
 person did he seem like he was trying to put one over you or manipulate you see these are the

00:49:52.900 --> 00:49:57.720
 things criterion we use every day to judge whether something that can't be externally verified is true

00:49:57.720 --> 00:50:02.559
 or not we do the same thing with scripture right like when you go to a dentist right like they tell

00:50:02.559 --> 00:50:07.119
 you oh you need to get a root canal therapy and then we're like what like this is ridiculous i mean

00:50:07.119 --> 00:50:12.099
 what do you do how do you test that you can't verify that yourself you can get a second opinion

00:50:12.099 --> 00:50:17.480
 right or you could see if what that dentist described fits the pain that you're experiencing

00:50:17.480 --> 00:50:23.539
 right you there's many ways in which we judge subjective things to decide whether it's true

00:50:23.539 --> 00:50:29.519
 or not if you can't externally verify it so same thing we do with prophecy when a prophet shares

00:50:29.519 --> 00:50:35.619
 something with you we ask ourselves is this consistent with the tenor of scripture is this

00:50:35.619 --> 00:50:42.820
 this does this prophet have reliable character is this a godly person has she been truthful in the past

00:50:42.820 --> 00:50:49.140
 does this prophecy accord with your knowledge of the present situation is it consistent with the

00:50:49.140 --> 00:50:57.240
 character of god does it resonate in your heart and bring conviction and consolation if yes then

00:50:57.240 --> 00:51:02.920
 receive it from the lord for your upbuilding if not then move on

00:51:02.920 --> 00:51:08.880
 if it really was prophecy then god will get your attention another way

00:51:08.880 --> 00:51:16.619
 that was a long digression sorry guys after prophet paul is evangelist and these rest few will be

00:51:16.619 --> 00:51:21.579
 shorter the word evangelist comes from the greek word evangel which means good news or the gospel

00:51:21.579 --> 00:51:26.519
 evangelists are those who are gifted to make known to others the saving message of jesus christ

00:51:26.519 --> 00:51:31.800
 and we have people who are gifted in this way they have a zeal for evangelism and unbelievers

00:51:31.800 --> 00:51:36.960
 they kind of they're like magnets that attract unbelievers to themselves right and they're supposed to

00:51:36.960 --> 00:51:41.960
 gifted to gift to church and next paul mentioned the shepherds and teachers it's interesting that

00:51:41.960 --> 00:51:46.519
 he joins these two words together unlike the preceding gifts paul joins these two words into a

00:51:46.519 --> 00:51:51.440
 with a single governing article and he joins them with a stronger conjunction than all the other words

00:51:51.440 --> 00:51:57.420
 that preceded to suggest a close relationship between the two they're not identical but he does that

00:51:57.420 --> 00:52:05.539
 probably to suggest overlap because every shepherd right also if if this is uh then is probably

00:52:05.539 --> 00:52:10.099
 involve some kind of teaching right because a shepherd grazes and guides and guards the flock

00:52:10.099 --> 00:52:15.180
 so in the same way shepherd of a church would have to to nourish the flock defend protect the flock

00:52:15.180 --> 00:52:20.059
 and guide the flock right so it's so there's because there's some overlap uh i think he seems to be

00:52:20.059 --> 00:52:25.039
 connecting them together and if you remember the distinction i made earlier between gifts and offices then

00:52:25.039 --> 00:52:30.820
 you might be wondering why we have pastors which is another word for shepherd as offices in the church

00:52:30.820 --> 00:52:35.460
 and that's not because the pastor itself is technically speaking an office but because we

00:52:35.460 --> 00:52:41.759
 simply call the office of elder pastor oftentimes nowadays and that's because shepherding is one of

00:52:41.759 --> 00:52:49.559
 the tasks of the elder as it's clearly seen in acts 20 28 to 29 at first peter 5 2 and all of

00:52:49.559 --> 00:52:54.420
 these is all these gifts are analogous to christ's ultimate gift right christ is the ultimate

00:52:54.420 --> 00:53:00.420
 apostles was sent out ultimate mouthpiece of god the prophet ultimate evangelist the good news he

00:53:00.420 --> 00:53:06.559
 embodied he's the ultimate shepherd he's that lays his life for his sheep he's the ultimate teacher

00:53:06.559 --> 00:53:11.239
 so all these gifts that function in the church is analogous to his gifts that's why it's given a core

00:53:11.239 --> 00:53:19.440
 measure of christ's gift now we'd be mistaken to think that only people who are gifted in

00:53:19.440 --> 00:53:24.500
 these ways are called to do the work of ministry okay and if you are breathing a sigh of relief

00:53:24.500 --> 00:53:30.360
 saying oh no i don't have any of those gifts well sorry but you're not off the hook right

00:53:30.360 --> 00:53:36.960
 because first as i mentioned earlier not only is this gift this list not exhaustive he says in verses

00:53:36.960 --> 00:53:43.099
 11 to 12 christ gave the apostles the prophets the evangelists the shepherds and teachers to equip the

00:53:43.099 --> 00:53:50.659
 saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of christ notice the parallel between verse 12

00:53:50.659 --> 00:53:56.819
 and verse 16 verse 16 says from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint which

00:53:56.819 --> 00:54:03.799
 with which it is equipped when each party's working properly makes the body grow so that it builds

00:54:03.799 --> 00:54:10.480
 itself up in love so many parallels there right equip work build body right so they're not all the same

00:54:10.480 --> 00:54:15.500
 same words but they're the same concepts so he's talking about and it's not just these gifted

00:54:15.500 --> 00:54:21.240
 individuals that do the work of ministry rather every part each part of the body every single member of

00:54:21.240 --> 00:54:28.179
 the church is supposed to do ministry and that means if any one of us is not doing our part

00:54:28.179 --> 00:54:35.159
 if any member is not fulfilling the ministry that god's given to him or to her that means the growth

00:54:35.159 --> 00:54:45.579
 and the progress of the entire body is hampered and many years ago john calvin made this incisive

00:54:45.579 --> 00:54:52.779
 observation he said that man is mistaken who desires his own separate spiritual growth for what would

00:54:52.779 --> 00:55:02.940
 it profit a leg or an arm if it grew to an enormous size what's the point your point is to serve the body

00:55:02.940 --> 00:55:14.139
 so let's not get entrenched in this privatized personalized individual spirituality with between jesus and me

00:55:14.139 --> 00:55:24.780
 let's be involved to integrate in the body of christ serve the church are you living this truth out today

00:55:24.780 --> 00:55:37.380
 and the goal of this ministry is this until verse 13 we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the

00:55:37.380 --> 00:55:43.540
 knowledge of the son of god to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of christ

00:55:43.540 --> 00:55:49.760
 so earlier in verse 3 he said maintain this unity now he says attain this unity it's because it's two

00:55:49.760 --> 00:55:55.280
 different types of unity first was the unity of the spirit this is the unity of the faith the unity

00:55:55.280 --> 00:56:00.640
 of the spirit is a reality that's that's that's true for all christians upon conversion but unity of

00:56:00.640 --> 00:56:06.700
 the faith working toward having the sharing the same doctrines the same values especially confessing

00:56:06.700 --> 00:56:11.480
 the same truth about jesus christ as it says of the knowledge of son of god that's something we need to

00:56:11.480 --> 00:56:18.280
 work for attain that's why it's a grave sign when a lot of churches especially in this region in new

00:56:18.280 --> 00:56:26.780
 england neglect unity of the faith you a different god well hey at least you worship a god come worship

00:56:26.780 --> 00:56:33.400
 with us on sunday oh you believe that god the father is god but not jesus well that's okay come worship

00:56:33.400 --> 00:56:40.680
 with us you believe only the spirit of god is god oh come worship with us we will can meditate yoga

00:56:40.679 --> 00:56:50.639
 right no that's not enough apart from the unity of the faith apart from attending the unity we cannot

00:56:50.639 --> 00:56:57.940
 maintain the unity of the spirit that's a broken unity and we're called to the mature manhood to the

00:56:57.940 --> 00:57:03.639
 measure of the stature of the fullness of christ and that phrase recalls paul's prayer in chapter 3 17

00:57:03.639 --> 00:57:09.099
 to 19 that christ may dwell in your heart through faith that you being rooted and grounded in love may

00:57:09.099 --> 00:57:13.599
 have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth

00:57:13.599 --> 00:57:18.400
 and to know the love of christ that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with all the

00:57:18.400 --> 00:57:25.819
 fullness of god that's the measure of the stature of the fullness of christ that we grow into as verse 15

00:57:25.819 --> 00:57:33.199
 says we're to grow up in every way into him who is the head into christ now if you look around the room

00:57:33.199 --> 00:57:38.379
 and look at the infants in our room you will probably notice that they have disproportionately

00:57:38.379 --> 00:57:45.799
 large heads right and and that's because they do right and that's normal right by nine months of life

00:57:45.799 --> 00:57:51.519
 babies have like i think they said half of of it's already their brains already half the size will reach

00:57:51.519 --> 00:57:56.579
 in adulthood by two years of age already three-fourths the size of adulthood and when their body is

00:57:56.579 --> 00:58:01.659
 clearly not three-fourths the size of adulthood that's why it's so big that's the picture that paul is

00:58:01.659 --> 00:58:10.179
 painting here we as a church have an outsized head in jesus christ and he wants us to fill it out to

00:58:10.179 --> 00:58:17.539
 grow up into the size of christ that we can more fully experience the union with him isn't that a

00:58:17.539 --> 00:58:24.619
 glorious picture and we have an integral role to play in that because the church is the conduit for

00:58:24.619 --> 00:58:30.859
 church unity it is through our ministry from him from whom we receive the gifts and it is through our

00:58:30.860 --> 00:58:37.780
 ministry that we become more like christ we grow into christ likeness and when we do that we become a

00:58:37.780 --> 00:58:44.200
 stable church right unlike children who are tossed to and froze by the waves like a little piece of

00:58:44.200 --> 00:58:51.280
 shipwrecked part of a ship right that's just floating and at the mercy of the winds and the waves no the church

00:58:51.280 --> 00:58:53.960
 that is growing in christ like this is stable

00:58:53.960 --> 00:59:01.500
 and how then and this is with this i'll conclude do we minister to one another

00:59:01.500 --> 00:59:10.000
 paul says in verse 15 rather speaking the truth in love we have to grow up in every way into him who is

00:59:10.000 --> 00:59:16.720
 the head into christ and what is the truth of which he is speaking ephesians 1 13 says that we

00:59:16.719 --> 00:59:23.439
 heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation and believed in christ we were sealed with the

00:59:23.439 --> 00:59:29.819
 promised holy spirit so the truth that paul has in mind is not just any truth it's just mean just

00:59:29.819 --> 00:59:36.579
 you know telling being blunt with each other no he's the truth of the gospel when we remind one

00:59:36.579 --> 00:59:42.119
 another gospel we root one another in the gospel story that's how with every joint with which it is

00:59:42.119 --> 00:59:48.579
 and each part is working properly it makes the body grow so it builds itself up in love and what

00:59:48.579 --> 00:59:53.199
 does that practically look like right it doesn't mean that you we go to the bible okay what does the

00:59:53.199 --> 00:59:57.940
 bible say about this specific issue and share that with someone imagine a sister in the church comes to

00:59:57.940 --> 01:00:03.079
 you and says hey i'm going through a divorce proceeding right now because i found out that my husband

01:00:03.079 --> 01:00:09.880
 cheated on me right at that point you could you know wax eloquently about the biblical grounds for

01:00:09.880 --> 01:00:14.480
 divorce and saying oh yeah you can get a divorce no that's not i mean that conversation might have

01:00:14.480 --> 01:00:21.760
 to happen later but first we minister the gospel right hey in her loneliness in her feeling of rejection

01:00:21.760 --> 01:00:30.039
 we tell her hey remember the church was unfaithful bride but christ is a faithful bridegroom who came to

01:00:30.039 --> 01:00:37.240
 redeem her his bride we bring comfort consolation right we minister the gospel

01:00:37.239 --> 01:00:44.419
 or when a brother comes to you and confides in you that he's struggling with these angry outbursts

01:00:44.419 --> 01:00:45.339
 with his children

01:00:45.339 --> 01:00:53.799
 our first inclination isn't to call child protective services although that might need to happen later

01:00:53.799 --> 01:00:56.619
 depending on the severity no but first we minister the gospel

01:00:56.619 --> 01:01:03.319
 we don't brush it aside and say oh that's not a big deal everybody sins no we told him

01:01:03.320 --> 01:01:10.940
 that hey we sinned and the father was justified in his wrath toward us but he in love sent his son to

01:01:10.940 --> 01:01:17.360
 die for us so that we experience this grace and love and so you can be gracious and loving toward your

01:01:17.360 --> 01:01:23.740
 children that's the ministry of the gospel that's how we speak the truth in love to one another right

01:01:23.740 --> 01:01:28.880
 and that's essential sometimes we think that gospel is just the abc of the christian life but the gospel

01:01:28.880 --> 01:01:34.220
 is the a to z of the christian life every single point of maturity in the christian life comes through the gospel

01:01:34.220 --> 01:01:37.340
 in jesus that's why we can never outgrow christ

01:01:37.340 --> 01:01:43.559
 but because paul is aware of a tendency among christians to defend and minister the truth

01:01:43.559 --> 01:01:47.680
 in an unloving way that undermines the very truth which they speak

01:01:47.680 --> 01:01:51.480
 he adds the important phrase speak the truth in love right

01:01:51.480 --> 01:01:57.860
 john stott has a helpful quote he says thank god there are those in the contemporary church who are determined

01:01:57.860 --> 01:02:04.980
 at all costs to defend and uphold god's revealed truth but sometimes they are conspicuously lacking

01:02:04.980 --> 01:02:11.140
 in love when they think they smell heresy their nose begins to twitch their muscles ripple when the

01:02:11.140 --> 01:02:15.420
 light of battle enters their eye they seem to enjoy nothing more than a fight

01:02:15.420 --> 01:02:26.200
 that's not what paul has in mind was to speak the truth in love if we don't embody the truth we speak it

01:02:26.199 --> 01:02:34.319
 will have no effect and so he ends he began this passage in verse two by telling us to bear with one

01:02:34.319 --> 01:02:40.419
 another in love and now he ends by telling us to speak the truth in love because the body grows so that

01:02:40.419 --> 01:02:49.399
 it builds itself up in love christianity is really one way to think about is nothing but a cascade of love

01:02:49.400 --> 01:02:57.840
 the father's love for us sending the son the son loves us and dies for us and pours out his spirit

01:02:57.840 --> 01:03:02.660
 to us and filled with the spirit and love of god we love each other and through that love for one

01:03:02.660 --> 01:03:08.039
 another other people outside know that we are disciples of christ and come to know them it's all about love

01:03:08.039 --> 01:03:10.400
 from the beginning to the end

01:03:10.400 --> 01:03:18.880
 and that's why we are the conduit of this church unity and we're united when we are united in love

01:03:18.880 --> 01:03:26.500
 in jesus christ i'll close with this illustration is when hannah and i have gone a couple times to

01:03:26.500 --> 01:03:31.720
 symphony hall to listen to an orchestra play and sometimes they have a free show if it's the youth

01:03:31.720 --> 01:03:36.780
 orchestra which is wonderful because they're still really really talented uh and and when you go at

01:03:36.780 --> 01:03:41.200
 before if you get there a little early before everybody starts playing their pieces uh there

01:03:41.200 --> 01:03:47.440
 there's this you hear this oboe it's a concert a plays d like a i don't know if that's a or not

01:03:47.440 --> 01:03:52.640
 concert a plays the oboe and then every other instrument and then you hear them come up and they

01:03:52.640 --> 01:03:59.340
 they tuning to that one oboe right it's really cool how they do that and and the reason why they use

01:03:59.340 --> 01:04:06.100
 that is because the oboe it comes factory tuned you don't have to tune it it's it's never out of tune

01:04:06.099 --> 01:04:12.299
 right and so they use the oboe to tune the rest of the instruments that's exactly what we do when

01:04:12.299 --> 01:04:20.880
 we grow into christ we grow into christ we grow in his love and as we align our lives and our values

01:04:20.880 --> 01:04:27.299
 to him we become more united with one another that's how we're the conduit of church unity so let's grow

01:04:27.299 --> 01:04:32.279
 up into unity in christ together by speaking the truth in love let's play

01:04:32.280 --> 01:04:41.300
 god we thank you whoa for this truth

01:04:41.300 --> 01:04:49.120
 and we pray that we would be able to live by it

01:04:49.120 --> 01:04:59.280
 that we would truly be galvanized by it that we would embody it that we would become little christ's

01:04:59.280 --> 01:05:09.880
 so that all those who encounter us may have a glimpse of your beauty and glory and love

01:05:09.880 --> 01:05:12.480
 in jesus name we pray amen

01:05:12.480 --> 01:05:23.579
 and see you on the end

01:05:23.579 --> 01:05:23.659
 you

01:05:23.659 --> 01:05:27.980
 or

01:05:27.980 --> 01:05:28.480
 you

01:05:28.480 --> 01:05:36.760
 you