WEBVTT

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 When you walk into a worship service like this,

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 and you see that the Lord's Supper is going to be observed,

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 what do you think?

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 When I was a kid growing up in the church I went to,

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 when I walked in and saw the table set up,

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 we were going to have the Lord's Supper,

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 I thought, we're going to get out today a whole lot early.

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 Really.

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 We started at 11 o'clock,

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 and we had the Lord's Supper in the church I grew up in.

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 We were always out by 20 minutes till 11,

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 20 minutes till 12.

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 30 to 40 minutes tops.

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 That's not going to happen here.

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 Don't even think about that.

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 But on a more serious note,

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 when you walk in,

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 when you walked in today,

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 or when you walk in anytime,

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 and you see the elements on the table,

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 you know we're going to observe the Lord's Supper.

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 Maybe you saw it in the newsletter.

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 What do you think?

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 Do you think about what these elements represent?

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 The broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ

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 as He died on the cross

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 to pay the penalty for your sins

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 if you're a Christian.

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 Another way to think about that is

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 when you see the Lord's Supper set up like this,

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 do you think about the gospel?

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 That is a word that's used a lot in church.

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 You've probably heard it in Sunday school today.

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 You may have read something this past week,

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 that word gospel,

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 in relation to who we are as Christians.

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 Well, the word gospel simply means good news.

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 It is the good news of how God

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 has provided a way for sinners like you and me

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 to be forgiven,

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 made right with Him,

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 and even made His child

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 so that we can have a relationship with Him

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 now and forever.

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 I want you to turn with me

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 to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 this morning

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 and we're going to look at one of the

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 clearest,

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 one of the most

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 simple statements of the gospel

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 that you'll find in Scripture.

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 In fact,

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 it's really the most

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 clear, concise statement

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 of the gospel message

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 that you're going to find.

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 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

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 Now, most of this chapter

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 is explaining the significance

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 of the resurrection of Jesus.

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 But Paul begins

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 in verses 1 through 8.

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 He begins

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 by reminding

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 the Corinthians,

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 these Christians,

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 what he has preached,

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 what they have believed.

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 He explains it in detail

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 and then he talks about

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 how there are

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 so many eyewitnesses

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 to the resurrection of Jesus.

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 Let's look at it together.

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 1 Corinthians chapter 15,

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 beginning in verse 1.

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 Now, I would remind you, brothers,

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 of the gospel I preached to you,

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 which you received,

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 in which you stand,

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 and by which you are being saved,

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 if you hold fast

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 to the word I preached to you,

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 unless you believed in vain.

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 For I delivered to you

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 as of first importance

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 what I also received,

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 that Christ died for our sins

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 in accordance with the Scriptures.

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 Now, when he says that,

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 he's referring to

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 how the Old Testament

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 foretold this was going to take place.

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 Maybe he's thinking about

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 Isaiah chapter 53 and 54,

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 where Isaiah's talking about

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 the Lord's suffering servant,

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 talking about really

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 what Jesus experienced

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 on the cross.

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 That's the kind of thing

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 he's referring to

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 when he says,

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 according to the Scriptures,

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 according to the Old Testament prophecies.

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 For Christ died for our sins

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 in accordance with the Scriptures,

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 that he was buried,

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 that he was raised

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 on the third day

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 in accordance with the Scriptures,

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 and that he appeared to Cephas,

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 that's Peter,

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 then to the twelve,

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 then he appeared

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 to more than 500 brothers

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 at one time,

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 most of whom are still alive,

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 though some have fallen asleep.

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 Then he appeared to James,

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 then to all the apostles,

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 last of all,

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 as to one untimely born,

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 he appeared also to me.

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 I want us to answer

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 three questions

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 from this passage this morning

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 that I pray will help us

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 to prepare for the Lord's Supper.

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 Number one,

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 what is the gospel?

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 What is the gospel?

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 I would love to have

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 the opportunity

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 to pass out a sheet of paper

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 and let everyone in this room

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 write down

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 your response

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 to that question,

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 your answer.

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 What is the gospel?

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 Every survey

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 that is taken

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 of church members

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 indicates

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 that most church members

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 cannot give

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 a simple,

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 clear explanation

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 of the gospel message.

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 That is a shame.

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 That should not be.

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 And that's one of the reasons

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 why we're looking

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 at this passage

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 this morning

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 as we prepare

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 for the Lord's Supper.

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 we all need

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 to understand

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 to be able

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 to explain

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 the good news

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 of Jesus.

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 We ought to be able

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 to explain

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 what we believe

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 and be able

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 to communicate it

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 to someone

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 and encourage them

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 to believe as well.

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 What is the gospel?

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 Well, Paul provides

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 a concise summary

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 in verses 3 and 4.

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 I want you to look

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 at three phrases.

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 First,

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 Christ died

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 for our sins

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 in verse 3.

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 The death of Jesus

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 on the cross

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 is the heart

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 of the gospel.

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 The death of Jesus

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 on the cross,

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 that is the heart

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 of the gospel.

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 But note why he died.

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 He died

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 for our sins.

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 Sin is everyone's

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 biggest problem.

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 You know,

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 every one of us

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 in this room,

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 we've got problems.

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 We've got issues.

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 And it may be

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 that you have

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 some relational problems.

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 It may be

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 that you have

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 some addiction

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 type problems.

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 The root

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 of those problems

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 is that it's sin.

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 You're violating

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 God's law.

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 You're breaking

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 His commandments.

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 You're breaking

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 His rules,

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 boys and girls.

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 That's our problem.

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 And you know,

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 we come into this world

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 being able to do that

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 just automatically,

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 don't we?

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 We're sinners by nature.

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 No one ever had to teach you

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 to tell a lie.

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 No one ever had to teach you

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 to talk back to your parent,

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 to disobey your parent.

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 We just come with this

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 built-in bent

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 on being selfish,

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 being self-centered,

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 certainly not God-centered.

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 We're sinners by nature.

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 We're sinners by choice.

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 Our sin separates us

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 from our relationship

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 with God.

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 And if we die

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 in that condition,

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 we'll be eternally separated

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 from Him

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 in hell.

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 And that's the bad news

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 of the Bible.

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 Everyone needs to understand

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 this bad news,

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 how serious it is,

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 so that we will understand

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 just how great

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 this good news is.

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 And the good news is that

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 even though we are sinners,

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 sinners,

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 and we're happy in it

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 if we just go along in life

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 and God leaves us alone,

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 we'll be happy

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 just doing what we want to do.

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 But the good news of the Bible

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 is God loves us,

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 and God devised a way

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 for us to be forgiven

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 and made right with Him.

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 He did this by sending

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 His Son, Jesus Christ,

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 into this world

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 to die for our sins,

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 to pay the penalty

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 that our sins deserve.

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 When Jesus hung on the cross,

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 and understand,

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 this is something supernatural.

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 When Jesus hung on the cross,

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 it's like God placed

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 our sins upon Him.

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 And there,

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 He incurred God's wrath,

00:09:13.540 --> 00:09:14.780
 His righteous wrath

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 against sin.

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 He suffered the punishment.

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 I tell boys and girls

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 when I explain the gospel to them,

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 when Jesus died on the cross,

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 He did not go to the place

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 called hell,

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 but He experienced

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 the pain and punishment

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 of hell.

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 He experienced

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 being separated from God,

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 which is why He cried out,

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 My God, My God,

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 why have you forsaken me?

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 As Jesus hung on the cross,

00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:40.800
 our sin bearer,

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 our substitute,

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 God turned away.

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 That's why He cried out,

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 My God, My God,

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 why have you forsaken me?

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 He was paying the penalty,

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 suffering the punishment

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 that our sins deserve.

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 Jesus died for our sins.

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 The first statement in verse 3.

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 Verse 4,

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 He was buried.

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 Now this is stated this way,

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 but to emphasize,

00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:08.919
 Jesus really did die.

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 He didn't just pass out.

00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:13.000
 Jesus died

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 and was buried.

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 He was buried.

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 He was buried.

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 He was wrapped in grave clothes.

00:10:22.099 --> 00:10:22.919
 He was left.

00:10:24.939 --> 00:10:25.500
 Now,

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 that also points out

00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:28.679
 that when Jesus rose from the grave,

00:10:28.819 --> 00:10:31.319
 it was a true resurrection,

00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:32.899
 a bodily resurrection

00:10:32.899 --> 00:10:33.899
 from the dead.

00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:35.219
 And that's the third statement,

00:10:35.339 --> 00:10:35.759
 verse 4.

00:10:36.259 --> 00:10:38.240
 He was raised on the third day.

00:10:38.959 --> 00:10:40.579
 Jesus was raised from the dead

00:10:40.579 --> 00:10:42.000
 by the Heavenly Father.

00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:46.440
 And when Jesus arose from the grave,

00:10:47.019 --> 00:10:49.700
 it was not something done in secret.

00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:53.679
 As you read through verses 5 through 8 there,

00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:58.320
 Jesus appeared to a lot of people

00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:01.840
 over a period of 40 days,

00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:04.299
 we read in Acts chapter 1 in verse 3.

00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:06.960
 Jesus died on the cross.

00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:09.539
 He arose from the grave.

00:11:09.539 --> 00:11:12.139
 And He was seen by people

00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:13.559
 who saw Him die.

00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:15.819
 He was seen by people

00:11:15.819 --> 00:11:17.579
 who knew that He was dead.

00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:20.240
 But He came back to life.

00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:23.120
 And His resurrection appearances,

00:11:23.980 --> 00:11:26.919
 it just transformed those disciples

00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:28.639
 who had run away from Him

00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:30.019
 at first when He was arrested.

00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:31.860
 But now,

00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:33.579
 after they've seen the resurrected Lord

00:11:33.579 --> 00:11:35.439
 and after the Holy Spirit

00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:37.179
 came to live within them,

00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.839
 that you read about in Acts chapter 2,

00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:41.259
 they were never the same again.

00:11:43.819 --> 00:11:45.480
 God did what He did

00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:47.379
 in sending Jesus

00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:49.039
 to die for our sins

00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:50.819
 because He loves us

00:11:50.819 --> 00:11:53.000
 and He wanted to save us

00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:54.879
 even though we didn't deserve it

00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:56.599
 and we could never earn it.

00:11:57.099 --> 00:11:58.259
 Paul said it like this

00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:59.659
 in Romans chapter 5.

00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:00.719
 He says,

00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:01.799
 But God demonstrates

00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:03.240
 His own love for us in this.

00:12:03.659 --> 00:12:05.000
 While we were still sinners,

00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:08.259
 Christ died for us.

00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:10.700
 By doing what He did,

00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:13.799
 God has done everything necessary

00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:15.340
 for us to be forgiven

00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:17.740
 and made His child.

00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:19.600
 God's done everything necessary

00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:22.159
 for us to be saved,

00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:23.740
 made right with Him.

00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:25.419
 But I want you to understand.

00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:28.960
 Jesus' death on the cross,

00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:30.220
 just the fact that it happened,

00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:31.379
 it's a historical fact.

00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:33.320
 But that doesn't,

00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:33.960
 in and of itself,

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.060
 save anyone.

00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:37.639
 No, the Bible says,

00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:40.740
 we must respond to this good news.

00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:42.860
 We must respond to this gospel.

00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:44.600
 And that leads to the second question.

00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:47.060
 How do we respond to the gospel?

00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:50.179
 You know, it makes sense.

00:12:51.719 --> 00:12:52.619
 Everything that,

00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.759
 just about everything in life

00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:57.059
 that good news that comes to you,

00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:59.759
 you've got to do something with it

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:02.019
 if it's going to help you in any way.

00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:02.939
 For an example,

00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:04.399
 if you were to go to the doctor tomorrow,

00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:06.599
 he does some tests.

00:13:06.699 --> 00:13:07.559
 By the end of the week,

00:13:07.979 --> 00:13:09.419
 you are told,

00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:11.379
 you've got a blockage in an artery.

00:13:12.319 --> 00:13:14.559
 And it's a serious blockage.

00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:16.659
 You've got to have something done.

00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:18.479
 The good news is,

00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:20.139
 he tells you that

00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:21.959
 we've caught it at such a point

00:13:21.959 --> 00:13:23.319
 where there's just medication.

00:13:23.599 --> 00:13:24.699
 You don't have to have anything else.

00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:26.119
 We can give you some medication.

00:13:26.619 --> 00:13:28.759
 You can change your lifestyle.

00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:32.399
 And this blockage

00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.399
 won't ever give you a problem.

00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:36.619
 That's good news.

00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:40.039
 But you've got to act on that good news.

00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:42.919
 You've got to respond to that good news

00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:44.159
 for it to do you any good.

00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:46.199
 You've got to take the medication.

00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:49.639
 You've got to change that diet.

00:13:50.219 --> 00:13:51.039
 Do some exercise.

00:13:51.819 --> 00:13:53.059
 If you don't respond,

00:13:54.059 --> 00:13:55.799
 the good news will do you

00:13:55.799 --> 00:13:57.699
 absolutely no good.

00:13:58.579 --> 00:13:59.419
 Well, the Bible teaches

00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:01.719
 that we've got to respond

00:14:01.719 --> 00:14:04.500
 to what God has done for us in Christ

00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:08.399
 in order for us to get any good out of it,

00:14:08.619 --> 00:14:10.000
 in order for us to be forgiven.

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.959
 The Bible says that we've got to respond

00:14:12.959 --> 00:14:13.959
 to the gospel like this.

00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:15.300
 We must repent of our sin

00:14:15.300 --> 00:14:18.160
 and put our faith in Jesus Christ

00:14:18.160 --> 00:14:19.220
 as our Savior and Lord.

00:14:19.920 --> 00:14:21.759
 That's what the Apostle Paul

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.560
 told everyone

00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:25.480
 when he preached the gospel.

00:14:25.800 --> 00:14:28.259
 He summarizes this in Acts chapter 20.

00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:29.540
 Look at what he says.

00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:30.340
 He says,

00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:32.340
 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks

00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:34.600
 and that's his way of saying everyone.

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:37.019
 Everywhere I go,

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.680
 everywhere I preach,

00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:42.379
 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks

00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:44.680
 that they must turn to God in repentance

00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:47.840
 and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.940
 Let's think about those two words,

00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:50.740
 repentance and faith.

00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:53.019
 Repentance is a change of mind about sin,

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:53.920
 but it's more than that.

00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:57.079
 If we're truly repentant,

00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:59.599
 we're not only going to change our mind about our sin,

00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:02.759
 but we're going to be truly grieved by it.

00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:05.479
 It's going to bother us to think

00:15:05.479 --> 00:15:08.019
 that I have disobeyed God.

00:15:08.099 --> 00:15:10.579
 I have offended Almighty God.

00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.879
 We're going to want to change our mind about it.

00:15:12.959 --> 00:15:14.719
 We're going to want to turn away from it.

00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:16.219
 We're going to grieve over it.

00:15:16.959 --> 00:15:18.559
 It's just going to bother us.

00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:20.879
 If God is truly convicting us of our sin,

00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:24.299
 He's shown us that we're separated from Him

00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:26.100
 and there's no hope unless we come to Christ,

00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:27.799
 if God's working in us,

00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:28.939
 He's going to give us this desire

00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:30.279
 to turn from our sin,

00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.480
 change our mind about it.

00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:32.399
 We'll grieve over it.

00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:34.179
 We'll be sorry that we have committed this,

00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.360
 we've lived this kind of way.

00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:37.480
 We'll want to be different.

00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:38.460
 We'll want to change.

00:15:39.820 --> 00:15:41.600
 And what we'll do is we'll turn from our sin

00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.720
 and we'll turn to Jesus Christ in faith.

00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.980
 We will trust Him,

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:49.399
 put our confidence in Him,

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:52.139
 count on Him that when He died on the cross,

00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.860
 He died to save me.

00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:57.699
 He paid the penalty for my sin.

00:15:58.659 --> 00:16:00.299
 Faith involves trusting in Jesus,

00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:01.199
 who He is.

00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.179
 He's the Son of God.

00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:04.500
 And what He has done,

00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.639
 dying on the cross,

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:08.100
 to pay the penalty for your sins.

00:16:09.819 --> 00:16:13.259
 If you will respond to the good news of Jesus like this,

00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:15.699
 God will save you.

00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.679
 He will forgive you.

00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:22.419
 He'll make you His child now and forever.

00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:25.039
 And if you truly respond this way,

00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:27.819
 God will so change you,

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:30.679
 you'll never be the same again.

00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:33.959
 And that leads us to the third question.

00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:39.860
 What difference has the gospel made in your life?

00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:47.759
 What difference has this good news made in your life?

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:54.540
 The New Testament consistently points out that saving faith is continuing faith.

00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:58.500
 It's really life-changing faith.

00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:03.439
 I want you to just note how Paul points it out in verses 1 and 2.

00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.779
 Look at it again.

00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:07.279
 Writing to Christians,

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:09.980
 Now I would remind you,

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:10.440
 brothers,

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:12.019
 brothers and sisters,

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:16.200
 of the gospel I preached to you,

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.279
 look at it,

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:20.619
 which you received,

00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:23.200
 you accepted,

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:26.019
 you believed in.

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:28.519
 verse 2,

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:31.619
 in which you stand.

00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:35.099
 You've taken a stand.

00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:36.980
 You not only believe it,

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:38.420
 you're living it.

00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:40.220
 Verse 2,

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:43.519
 by which you are being saved.

00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:46.579
 Salvation is both a past experience

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:48.639
 and a present experience

00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:49.859
 and a future experience.

00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:50.539
 It's like this.

00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.960
 When you put your faith in Jesus

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.359
 as your Savior and Lord,

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.539
 at that moment in time,

00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:58.500
 God declares you to be righteous.

00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:01.480
 He declares you to be right with Him

00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.639
 through faith in Jesus.

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.879
 The penalty for your sin has been paid.

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.160
 It was paid by Jesus.

00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:09.379
 The righteous, perfect life that Jesus lived,

00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:10.720
 that's credited to you.

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.960
 It's all at one time.

00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:13.600
 God justifies you,

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:15.759
 declares you to be right with Him

00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:17.799
 at the moment you believe.

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:20.779
 But from that moment on,

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.860
 God works in you,

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.500
 if you're a Christian.

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:25.920
 If you're truly saved,

00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.640
 God will work in you.

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:30.559
 You will continue to believe

00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:31.660
 and trust in Jesus.

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.779
 You'll continue to hate sin

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.720
 and turn from it,

00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:35.500
 repent of it.

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:38.559
 You'll continue to believe

00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.680
 and you will grow

00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.000
 and you'll make progress

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.859
 in developing Christ-like character.

00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.660
 That's what the Bible calls

00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:45.579
 sanctification,

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.440
 becoming like Jesus.

00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.099
 And then,

00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:50.420
 whenever we die,

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.299
 true Christians,

00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.500
 when we die,

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:57.940
 all the baggage of our sin

00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:59.839
 and selfishness and worldliness,

00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:01.359
 we leave it behind.

00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:03.660
 We're glorified.

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:06.940
 we're going to be like Jesus,

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.420
 finally.

00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:10.840
 But it's at the end of our life

00:19:10.840 --> 00:19:11.500
 in this world.

00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:13.340
 Right here,

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.480
 Paul is talking about

00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.120
 the gospel,

00:19:17.120 --> 00:19:18.759
 it continues

00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:20.860
 to work in a person's life.

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.519
 But look at verse 2.

00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:24.400
 There's a qualification here.

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:26.580
 I want to remind you,

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:26.860
 brothers,

00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.140
 of the gospel I preached to you,

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:28.900
 which you received,

00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.800
 in which you stand,

00:19:30.080 --> 00:19:31.540
 and by which you're being saved,

00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:34.580
 if you hold fast

00:19:34.580 --> 00:19:38.060
 to the word I preached to you.

00:19:39.780 --> 00:19:41.240
 If you continue to believe,

00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.519
 the person who makes

00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.660
 a profession of faith

00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:49.620
 and then just goes on

00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:50.460
 about their life

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.840
 as if nothing ever happened,

00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:54.740
 nothing ever happened.

00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.859
 I tell,

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.939
 whether it be a child,

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.859
 eight or nine years old,

00:20:00.959 --> 00:20:02.859
 we saw some baptized this morning,

00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.679
 or whether it be someone

00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:07.240
 80 years old.

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:11.159
 Making a profession of faith

00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:12.480
 is important,

00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.879
 but if that's all

00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:16.039
 that ever happens to you,

00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:18.379
 you cannot have assurance.

00:20:19.459 --> 00:20:20.720
 I tell everybody I baptized.

00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:22.220
 We went over it this morning

00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.220
 before we did this.

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:25.319
 Baptism does not save you.

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.500
 It does not make you,

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.920
 make God love you more

00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.920
 or accept you more.

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.440
 It is an act of obedience

00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:31.579
 that a Christian does,

00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:33.440
 somebody who's trusting in Jesus does,

00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:34.579
 to make their faith known.

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:37.339
 Genuine faith,

00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.319
 if it's real,

00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:40.200
 if a person's truly born again

00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.140
 by the Spirit of God,

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.980
 that person will continue in faith.

00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:45.660
 But,

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.799
 don't make,

00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:49.400
 don't jump to any kind

00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.140
 of conclusions here.

00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:52.300
 I am not teaching,

00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.880
 Paul is not teaching,

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.440
 that we're saved

00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.460
 by our own efforts.

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.540
 He's not trying to say

00:20:59.540 --> 00:21:00.740
 that you become a Christian

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.600
 through faith in Jesus

00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:02.580
 and then you do your best

00:21:02.580 --> 00:21:03.380
 to hang on yourself.

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:03.980
 No.

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:07.460
 Saving faith is a gift from God.

00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.820
 Ephesians chapter 2

00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:11.140
 and verse 8 tells us,

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:15.400
 when God so works in us

00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:17.300
 to enable us to believe

00:21:17.300 --> 00:21:19.040
 and we believe,

00:21:19.840 --> 00:21:21.040
 God's going to continue

00:21:21.040 --> 00:21:22.259
 to work in us

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.920
 to enable us to continue

00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.460
 to believe

00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:25.680
 and we will continue

00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.300
 to believe.

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:28.440
 That's because what God starts,

00:21:28.520 --> 00:21:29.259
 God finishes.

00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:30.880
 As Paul says it like this

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.820
 in Philippians 1,

00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:33.700
 being confident of this,

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.800
 that he who began

00:21:34.800 --> 00:21:35.880
 a good work in you

00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:37.800
 will carry it on

00:21:37.800 --> 00:21:38.820
 to completion

00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:40.220
 until the day

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.000
 of Christ Jesus.

00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:41.700
 That's the day

00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.760
 when Jesus comes back.

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.420
 What God starts,

00:21:44.540 --> 00:21:44.980
 he finishes.

00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:45.980
 He never gives up.

00:21:46.040 --> 00:21:47.040
 He never quits.

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.000
 True Christians

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.140
 will continue

00:21:50.140 --> 00:21:50.840
 in their faith

00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:52.040
 because God continues

00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:52.840
 with us.

00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:54.580
 We become his

00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:55.700
 and he won't let us alone.

00:21:56.780 --> 00:21:58.120
 The way God does this,

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.880
 he gives us desires

00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.700
 if we're really his.

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.340
 If his spirit lives within us,

00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:03.819
 he gives us the desire

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:05.640
 to be faithful to him.

00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.779
 As Paul points out

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.799
 again in Philippians,

00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:08.740
 this time chapter 2,

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.440
 verse 13,

00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:10.519
 for it is God

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.400
 who works in you

00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:13.319
 to will and to act

00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:15.600
 according to his good purpose.

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.759
 There's a major problem

00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.279
 in churches

00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:21.160
 across all denominational lines

00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:21.519
 today.

00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.100
 Many people who claim

00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:24.700
 to be Christians

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:26.680
 show absolutely no sign

00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:28.220
 of having spiritual life.

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:30.920
 many Christians

00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:33.819
 just don't seem

00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:35.160
 to give a rip

00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:35.860
 about God

00:22:35.860 --> 00:22:36.880
 and the things of God.

00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.579
 Church,

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.120
 prayer,

00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:41.440
 Bible study,

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.960
 it's just boring.

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:46.160
 Just a waste of time

00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.000
 in their mind.

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.559
 That cannot happen

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.319
 if the spirit of God

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.000
 lives within you

00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.980
 because the spirit of God

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.620
 is going to cause you

00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:54.299
 to want to know

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.600
 your heavenly father better.

00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:57.959
 It's going to cause you

00:22:57.959 --> 00:22:58.639
 to want to pray,

00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.759
 to want to study the word,

00:23:01.459 --> 00:23:02.980
 to want to grow

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.959
 in your knowledge

00:23:03.959 --> 00:23:04.619
 and fellowship

00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.219
 and relationship

00:23:05.219 --> 00:23:05.899
 with God

00:23:05.899 --> 00:23:07.159
 and with other Christians.

00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:10.319
 The problem is

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.099
 that some people

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:11.980
 do what Paul said

00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.500
 in verse 2

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.419
 that we've already looked at.

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:14.959
 Some people have

00:23:14.959 --> 00:23:16.699
 believed in vain.

00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:18.719
 John MacArthur

00:23:18.719 --> 00:23:19.639
 explains that

00:23:19.639 --> 00:23:20.819
 this is a real problem

00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.679
 with this statement.

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.579
 He says,

00:23:22.679 --> 00:23:23.980
 by this qualifying statement,

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:25.319
 Paul recognizes

00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:27.519
 and called to their attention

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:29.799
 that some may have had

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.620
 a shallow,

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:33.759
 non-saving faith.

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:36.400
 There's church members

00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:37.819
 who've made professions

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.339
 of faith.

00:23:39.620 --> 00:23:40.200
 They've had some kind

00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.440
 of emotional experience maybe.

00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.740
 They've been baptized.

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:44.019
 Their name's on the church roll.

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:44.759
 But,

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:47.160
 they believed in vain.

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.000
 It was shallow.

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.319
 There was never

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:52.000
 any real life changing,

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.660
 there was no transformation

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.960
 by the Spirit of God.

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:57.079
 It was just believing facts.

00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.559
 Not trusting

00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:01.039
 the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:03.500
 Since the beginning

00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:05.160
 of the Christian church,

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.680
 since New Testament days,

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.259
 there have been people

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.680
 who claim to be Christians,

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.700
 but they showed

00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.619
 no real signs

00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:13.259
 of a relationship

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.900
 with Jesus.

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.160
 And Jesus made it

00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:15.900
 very clear

00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:16.779
 that such people

00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.579
 are not saved.

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.160
 Look at it

00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.079
 from Matthew 7.

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.299
 Jesus said,

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.500
 Not everyone who says to me,

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.180
 Lord, Lord,

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.079
 will enter the kingdom

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.599
 of heaven,

00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:25.460
 but only he who does

00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.559
 the will of my Father

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:27.859
 who is in heaven.

00:24:28.419 --> 00:24:29.480
 Many will say to me

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.079
 on that day,

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:30.779
 Lord, Lord,

00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:31.839
 did we not prophesy

00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.680
 in your name

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.639
 and in your name

00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.639
 drive out demons

00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:36.259
 and perform many miracles?

00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.059
 Then I will tell them plainly,

00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:40.259
 I never knew you.

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.200
 Away from me,

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.240
 you evildoers.

00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.139
 Now,

00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:48.680
 I want to make it

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.300
 real clear.

00:24:50.520 --> 00:24:52.500
 There is no Christian

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:55.640
 who just perfectly

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:57.320
 follows the Lord

00:24:57.320 --> 00:24:59.980
 and never falls

00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.700
 into temptation,

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.100
 never gives

00:25:02.100 --> 00:25:02.860
 into temptation,

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.660
 never falls

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.300
 into sin.

00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:06.740
 That doesn't happen.

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.120
 We all,

00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.680
 as Christians,

00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:10.660
 Paul talked about it

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.780
 in Romans chapter 7.

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.700
 He talks about it

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.840
 in Galatians chapter 5.

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.160
 We all have struggles.

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.840
 We all struggle

00:25:16.840 --> 00:25:18.279
 with the desires

00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:19.240
 of our sinful nature.

00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:21.480
 We all have temptations.

00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:22.840
 And the truth is,

00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:24.000
 we all fail

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:26.519
 more than we like

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.120
 to admit.

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:29.600
 We do sin.

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:32.180
 But to think about

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.060
 a true Christian,

00:25:33.800 --> 00:25:34.560
 sooner or later

00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:35.400
 when we sin,

00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:37.759
 the Spirit of God

00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.400
 within us

00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.460
 is grieved.

00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:42.580
 And He will convict us.

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.840
 He will inflict guilt

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.720
 on us

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:46.480
 for the purpose

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.299
 of causing us

00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:48.480
 to confess our sin,

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.799
 to turn from it,

00:25:49.959 --> 00:25:51.399
 to seek God's forgiveness,

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.500
 to not live out

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.419
 of fellowship with Him,

00:25:54.199 --> 00:25:55.019
 but to come back

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.519
 to Him

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:57.659
 if we're true Christians.

00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.339
 If you're not

00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.199
 a Christian this morning,

00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:02.959
 I want you to know

00:26:02.959 --> 00:26:03.740
 that you can come

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.179
 to God

00:26:04.179 --> 00:26:04.919
 right now,

00:26:04.919 --> 00:26:06.399
 no matter who you are,

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.659
 what you've done.

00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:10.160
 If you will come

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.900
 and as Paul said,

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.340
 repent of your sins,

00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:14.540
 put your faith

00:26:14.540 --> 00:26:15.380
 in Jesus Christ

00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:15.860
 and Him alone

00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:16.700
 for your salvation,

00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:18.180
 God will save you.

00:26:18.540 --> 00:26:19.080
 Scripture says,

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:19.580
 whoever calls

00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.140
 on the name of the Lord

00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:20.940
 will be saved.

00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.480
 And I encourage you

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.900
 to do that this moment

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:26.240
 if you're not a believer,

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:28.380
 if you are a Christian.

00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:31.060
 But right now,

00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:31.640
 you would say,

00:26:31.800 --> 00:26:32.880
 I've drifted away

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.240
 from the Lord.

00:26:33.300 --> 00:26:34.140
 I'm not close to Him

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:35.040
 like I once was.

00:26:35.280 --> 00:26:35.640
 Or,

00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.700
 it's not that you

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.340
 drifted away,

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.340
 you've rebelled.

00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:41.240
 And the truth is,

00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:41.840
 you've been living

00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:43.660
 in willful disobedience.

00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.600
 But if God,

00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.620
 through this message,

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:49.740
 has gotten your attention,

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:52.300
 softened your heart,

00:26:52.300 --> 00:26:54.200
 and you truly want

00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.880
 to come back

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.880
 and be close to Him,

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.700
 then confess your sin.

00:26:58.820 --> 00:26:59.759
 He will forgive you

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.680
 and cleanse you.

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.540
 He will renew

00:27:02.540 --> 00:27:03.720
 your commitment to Him

00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:04.480
 right now.

00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:05.740
 I encourage you

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.339
 to do that.

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.160
 I want us to take

00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:08.900
 the next few minutes

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:10.039
 to prepare to observe

00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.920
 the Lord's Supper

00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:14.380
 by thinking seriously

00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:16.259
 about what Jesus

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.880
 has done for us,

00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:20.579
 how we have responded,

00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:23.720
 and how we are living

00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:25.100
 in relationship with Him

00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:26.319
 right now.

00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:28.019
 Listen to the Lord

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:29.860
 and you respond to Him

00:27:29.860 --> 00:27:30.940
 as we have it

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:32.039
 just in time of prayer

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.779
 and preparation

00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.579
 for the Lord's Supper.

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:33.940
 Thank you.

00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.039
 Thank you.

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.460
 Thank you.

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.660
 Thank you.

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:39.259
 Thank you.