WEBVTT

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 Good morning everyone.

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 So it's a pleasure to be here with you again at Brentsfield.

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 I normally get invited twice to most churches, the second time once to apologise, but I keep

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 getting back invited.

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 So it is a pleasure, but it's also a privilege and a responsibility to share God's Word with

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 you.

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 So will you join me as we just pray and ask God to help us to understand it, and more

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 importantly to put it into practice.

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 So let's just bow in a moment's prayer.

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 Gracious God, as we focus on the greatness of the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ,

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 we pray that by your Holy Spirit you might make it clear to us the greatness of your love

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 and grace, and that we might respond with hearts full of thanksgiving, and if we've never

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 before grasped it for ourselves, that you might help us to do that also, that we might know

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 what it is to be born again of the Spirit of God.

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 And we ask it in Jesus' name of your glory.

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 Amen.

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 A few outlines on the screen, hopefully, that will help you to follow.

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 I discover in preaching, as most of you know now, since I stepped down from Charlotte Chapel

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 in 2009, I spent most of my time listening to sermons instead of preaching them.

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 In fact, I don't exaggerate, in the last five years I've probably listened to hundreds of

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 sermons, and it's a great privilege and also a great responsibility.

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 And some people like PowerPoint, other people can't stand it, so if you can't stand it, don't

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 look at it, alright?

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 If you do find it helpful, then just follow along, okay?

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 So, as many of you will know, at midnight last Sunday, April the 5th, some sweeping changes

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 came into place to allow people over the age of 55 to access all their pension funds without

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 limit.

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 This is great news if you're over 55.

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 And I should say, by the way, that if you see me in the future driving around a Ferrari

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 instead of my Ford Focus, you'll know the reason why.

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 This plan was a closely guarded secret.

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 And it caught everyone by surprise when George Osborne, the Chancellor, announced it a year

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 ago in his budget.

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 Now, important though this is, for those who qualify, I want to say this morning, it is

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 nothing.

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 This plan pales into insignificance in comparison with a wonderful plan which is described in

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 this next section of this letter written to Christians in the Greek city of Ephesus by

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 the Apostle Paul, which you've been studying, I understand, over the past few weeks.

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 In the new international, in the new, new international version of the Bible, this is the 1988 version,

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 and it's pretty much the same as the new one which came out in 2011.

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 That's about 6% of changes, nothing too substantial.

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 But if you've got a Bible, you might want to turn to it, it's page 1174, or one of the Pew Bibles.

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 The words will be on the screen, but in the new version, you'll see the Pew Bibles, the section

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 beginning Ephesians 3, this is page 1174, 1174.

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 All right, we'll help to have a Bible for other reasons in a moment.

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 But in this version, this section is entitled, Pull the Preacher to the Gentiles.

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 In the new version, I like the new heading.

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 The new heading is, God's marvelous plan for the Gentiles.

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 God's marvelous plan for the Gentiles.

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 Now, when George gave his pension plan, you may have switched up.

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 Those who switched off, those who was over 55 sat up and smiled.

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 My pension advisor sent me an email and said,

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 this is good news for you.

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 I thank you very much.

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 So when we read this, I simply want to say,

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 this is good news for the over 55s here,

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 but it's good news for the under 55s.

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 In fact, it's good news, it says, for Gentiles.

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 So if you're a Gentile, that is, you weren't born as a Jew,

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 then pay attention because this is good news for you.

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 And if you are a Jew, if you were born a Jew, a privileged position,

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 then it also applies to you as well, as we'll see together.

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 It's quite a complex passage, so let's read together.

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 I've put it on the screen and let's read together.

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 For this reason, I pull the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.

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 Surely you've heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you.

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 That is the mystery made known to me by revelation,

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 as I've already written briefly.

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 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

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 which was not made known to people in other generations,

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 as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.

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 This mystery is that through the gospel,

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 the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel,

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 members together of one body,

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 and share us together in the promise of Christ.

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 That's quite a tightly packed, complex passage,

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 but it's a bit like,

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 have you ever got a copy of your pension plan?

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 All those legal details and everything.

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 You need to study it carefully to work out what the details mean for you in reality.

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 So, with God's help, I want to try and unpack this to help us to understand.

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 And the first thing I want you to notice, here it is again,

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 will you notice the key word in this section is the word mystery.

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 It occurs three times.

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 In fact, in the original text, it only occurs twice.

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 The third time it's given to make it clear what it's talking about.

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 Now, this letter was written to people living in the Greek city of Ephesus,

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 and lo and behold, the people in the Greek city of Ephesus spoke Greek.

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 Okay, everybody got that?

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 Yep.

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 And the Greeks had a word for mystery.

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 And the Greek word for mystery is musterion,

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 from which we get the English word mystery.

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 In other words, our word mystery comes from the Greek word mystery,

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 but it doesn't mean the same in English as it did in Greek.

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 Okay, you still with me?

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 Lod your heads, look intelligent.

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 All right.

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 Yeah, you all still there?

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 Right.

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 Okay.

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 In English, in my dictionary,

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 a mystery is defined as an unexplained

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 or inexplicable event or phenomenon.

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 But in Greek,

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 a mystery,

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 a musterion,

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 in the Greek language,

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 was a secret

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 that had been revealed

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 to someone.

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 in ancient Greek,

00:06:52.719 --> 00:06:52.739
 in ancient Greek,

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 they actually had religions.

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 They were called mystery religions.

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 And they told people,

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 if you paid enough

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 or did all the right things,

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 you got let in on the mystery,

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 what the secret was,

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 this wonderful divine secret

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 that had been revealed.

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 Now,

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 Paul uses this word here

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 to describe

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 the Christian faith.

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 And he says it's a mystery.

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 That doesn't mean

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 you can't understand it.

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 It means

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 it's truth from God

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 that has been revealed.

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 So,

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 here's a title.

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 It's not the greatest title,

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 but I kind of like it.

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 So,

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 here we go.

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 I'm going to call this

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 The Marvelous Mystery.

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 All right?

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 The Marvelous Mystery.

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 Now,

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 if you've been following this series

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 in Ephesians,

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 you will know

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 that Paul actually,

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 in the opening section

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 of his letter,

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 after giving the greetings,

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 he gives this fantastic

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 hymn of praise.

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 It lasts from

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 chapter 1,

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 verse,

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 after the greeting,

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 verses 1 and 2,

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 from verse 3

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 right through to verse 14.

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 Greek is a funny language

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 because it adds things together.

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 So,

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 from verse 3 to verse 14

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 is all one sentence

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 in Greek.

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 It doesn't make any sense

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 in English

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 because you've lots of track

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 by the time you get

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 to the third line.

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 It's such a wonderful thing.

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 And in it,

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 he introduces the theme

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 of mystery.

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 Listen carefully.

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 Ephesians 1,

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 9 to 10.

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 He says,

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 And he,

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 that is God,

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 made known to us

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 the mystery

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 of his will

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 according to his good pleasure

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 which he purposed in Christ

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 to be put into effect

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 when the times

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 will have reached

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 their fulfillment

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 to bring all things

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 in heaven and earth

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 together under one head,

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 even Christ.

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 One writer has compared

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 that opening section

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 with the overture

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 before an opera.

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 Have you ever been

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 to an opera?

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 Or you've listened

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 to some great piece

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 of music?

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 What they do

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 in the overture,

00:08:41.859 --> 00:08:43.500
 they play all the basic themes

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 very briefly

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 and then as it develops,

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 the music focuses

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 on each of those themes

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 in more detail.

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 So here's Paul introducing

00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.459
 mystery at this point

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 in the opening chapter

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 and then when he comes

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 to chapter 3

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 he says,

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 This is the mystery

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 known to me by Revelation,

00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:02.679
 verse 3,

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 as I've already written briefly.

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 In other words,

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 he said,

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 I told you I was going

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 to talk about it

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 in the opening bit,

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 now I've come to it

00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:10.459
 in chapter 3.

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 And he impacts it

00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:13.519
 in detail.

00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:14.799
 So let me give you

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 an overview

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 of where these six verses go

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 and then we'll try

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 and follow it together,

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 okay?

00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:21.279
 So in Ephesians 3,

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 1 to 6,

00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:24.019
 in the first two verses

00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:24.860
 he talks about,

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 and I'll try and explain

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 what this means,

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 he talks about

00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:28.000
 what he calls

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 the administration

00:09:28.779 --> 00:09:29.899
 of the mystery.

00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:32.180
 Then in verses 3 to 5

00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:32.899
 he talks about

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 the revelation

00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:35.279
 of the mystery.

00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:37.180
 And then in the last bit,

00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:38.100
 in verse 6,

00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:38.820
 he talks about

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 the description

00:09:39.560 --> 00:09:41.500
 of the mystery.

00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:43.399
 Now maybe for dramatic effect

00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:44.600
 that we have to wait

00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:45.480
 until verse 6

00:09:45.480 --> 00:09:46.060
 to find out

00:09:46.059 --> 00:09:47.419
 what the mystery actually is.

00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:48.899
 So I think it makes

00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:49.419
 more sense,

00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:50.759
 I'm not rewriting Paul here

00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:52.099
 just to make it intelligible,

00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:53.299
 I think it makes more sense

00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:54.699
 if we go backwards way around

00:09:54.699 --> 00:09:56.019
 and start with the description,

00:09:56.619 --> 00:09:57.599
 then the revelation,

00:09:58.159 --> 00:09:59.159
 and then the administration.

00:09:59.799 --> 00:09:59.959
 Okay?

00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:01.899
 This is hard stuff,

00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:02.179
 okay,

00:10:02.279 --> 00:10:02.979
 so stay with me,

00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:03.159
 alright,

00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:04.019
 it's really important,

00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:04.379
 alright?

00:10:04.619 --> 00:10:05.459
 So let's start with

00:10:05.459 --> 00:10:05.979
 the description,

00:10:06.119 --> 00:10:06.500
 the mystery.

00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:08.000
 What is the mystery?

00:10:09.579 --> 00:10:10.379
 This mystery,

00:10:10.479 --> 00:10:10.979
 he says,

00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:13.000
 is that through the gospel,

00:10:13.739 --> 00:10:14.599
 the Gentiles,

00:10:14.739 --> 00:10:15.479
 the heirs together

00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:16.019
 with Israel,

00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:16.800
 members together

00:10:16.800 --> 00:10:17.480
 of one body,

00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:18.480
 and sharers together

00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:19.180
 in the promise

00:10:19.180 --> 00:10:20.159
 in Christ Jesus.

00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:23.000
 Now I just read that

00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:23.580
 and there was not

00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:26.360
 a flicker of reaction

00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:27.440
 from anybody here.

00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:30.139
 If I had read this

00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:31.560
 to first century Jews,

00:10:31.680 --> 00:10:32.279
 there would have been

00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:32.840
 a riot.

00:10:33.560 --> 00:10:33.779
 In fact,

00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:34.220
 we're going to look

00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:34.600
 in a moment

00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:35.220
 at a story

00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:36.379
 that precipitated this

00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.240
 that actually caused

00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:37.720
 a riot.

00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:37.840
 a riot.

00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:42.160
 Why?

00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:45.899
 Because of the feeling

00:10:45.899 --> 00:10:47.560
 of absolute superiority

00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:48.899
 that the Jewish people

00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:49.899
 had towards anyone

00:10:49.899 --> 00:10:50.740
 who wasn't Jewish,

00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:51.200
 i.e.

00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:52.740
 what we call a Gentile.

00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:54.139
 Here's what William Barclay,

00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:55.060
 a New Testament scholar,

00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:55.440
 says.

00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:57.460
 The Jews had an immense

00:10:57.460 --> 00:10:59.860
 contempt for the Gentile.

00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:01.220
 They said that Gentiles

00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:02.440
 were created by God

00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:03.460
 to be fuel

00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:04.600
 for the fires of hell.

00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:06.700
 that God left only Israel

00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:07.519
 of all the nations

00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:08.040
 he'd made,

00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:09.379
 that the best of serpents

00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:09.920
 crushed,

00:11:10.540 --> 00:11:11.720
 the best of Gentiles

00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:12.220
 killed.

00:11:12.560 --> 00:11:13.659
 It was not lawful

00:11:13.659 --> 00:11:14.540
 to render help

00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:15.680
 to a Gentile woman

00:11:15.680 --> 00:11:16.759
 in childbirth,

00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:18.220
 for that would be

00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:19.420
 to bring another Gentile

00:11:19.420 --> 00:11:20.220
 into the world.

00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:22.420
 The barrier between

00:11:22.420 --> 00:11:23.320
 Jew and Gentile

00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:24.139
 was absolute.

00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:25.639
 If a Jew

00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:26.899
 married a Gentile,

00:11:27.259 --> 00:11:28.580
 the funeral of that Jew

00:11:28.580 --> 00:11:29.500
 was carried out.

00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:30.820
 Such contact

00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:31.660
 with a Gentile

00:11:31.660 --> 00:11:32.379
 was the equivalent

00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.080
 of death

00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:34.420
 even to go into

00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:35.539
 a Gentile house

00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:37.019
 rendered a Jew

00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:38.339
 unclean.

00:11:38.939 --> 00:11:39.179
 Now,

00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:40.479
 here is this man

00:11:40.479 --> 00:11:41.620
 writing this letter.

00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:43.339
 His name is Paul.

00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:45.339
 By background,

00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:45.959
 he's a Jew

00:11:45.959 --> 00:11:47.039
 and not just a Jew,

00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:47.740
 he's a Jew

00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.779
 from the strictest

00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:49.599
 group of Jews

00:11:49.599 --> 00:11:50.879
 called the Pharisees.

00:11:51.099 --> 00:11:52.240
 He's a former member

00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:53.740
 of the ruling council

00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:55.339
 of the Jewish nation

00:11:55.339 --> 00:11:56.799
 and he says,

00:11:57.059 --> 00:11:57.860
 I've got a secret

00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:59.120
 to share with the world.

00:12:02.319 --> 00:12:03.919
 And the secret is this,

00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.079
 Gentiles

00:12:05.079 --> 00:12:06.779
 are on an equal footing

00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:08.159
 with Jews.

00:12:09.719 --> 00:12:10.479
 And he describes

00:12:10.479 --> 00:12:11.099
 what this means.

00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:11.679
 He kind of,

00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:12.500
 if you like,

00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:12.939
 this is the,

00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:13.839
 keep going back

00:12:13.839 --> 00:12:14.339
 to the pension,

00:12:14.699 --> 00:12:16.179
 this is the pension portfolio.

00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:17.199
 He unpacks

00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:18.319
 what this means

00:12:18.319 --> 00:12:18.919
 in detail.

00:12:19.199 --> 00:12:19.939
 He uses three

00:12:19.939 --> 00:12:20.879
 compound words

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:21.399
 together.

00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:22.819
 They're translating

00:12:22.819 --> 00:12:23.299
 the NIV

00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:23.839
 with the word

00:12:23.839 --> 00:12:24.120
 with.

00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:24.919
 He says,

00:12:25.459 --> 00:12:26.539
 Gentiles are,

00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:27.500
 look at the text,

00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:28.699
 heirs together,

00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:30.939
 members together,

00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:32.960
 and sharers together

00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:33.600
 with the Jews

00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.500
 in all the privileges

00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:36.180
 that were once

00:12:36.180 --> 00:12:37.320
 only exclusive

00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:40.300
 to the people of Israel.

00:12:41.180 --> 00:12:41.680
 Look at them,

00:12:41.780 --> 00:12:42.760
 look at them more closely

00:12:42.760 --> 00:12:43.100
 with me,

00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:43.740
 very briefly.

00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:44.760
 Because,

00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:45.700
 let me say again,

00:12:46.020 --> 00:12:47.540
 this is of an estimable

00:12:47.540 --> 00:12:48.680
 value to us.

00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:51.320
 Because without this,

00:12:51.380 --> 00:12:51.940
 you wouldn't be here,

00:12:52.020 --> 00:12:53.180
 Brentsfield Evangelical Church

00:12:53.180 --> 00:12:53.600
 wouldn't be here,

00:12:53.660 --> 00:12:54.340
 there wouldn't be a church

00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:54.820
 in Edinburgh

00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:55.920
 or anywhere else.

00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:57.620
 they'd just be

00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:58.679
 Jewish people in Israel

00:12:58.679 --> 00:12:59.599
 and scattered around

00:12:59.599 --> 00:13:00.559
 in Diaspora

00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:01.120
 and other parts

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:01.479
 of the world,

00:13:01.539 --> 00:13:01.719
 alright?

00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:03.179
 So,

00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:03.679
 first of all,

00:13:03.719 --> 00:13:04.039
 he says,

00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.059
 we're heirs together

00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:05.819
 with Israel.

00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:08.240
 The people of Israel

00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.599
 were God's chosen people.

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.439
 They belonged to him

00:13:12.439 --> 00:13:12.899
 personally,

00:13:13.219 --> 00:13:13.659
 intimately,

00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:14.959
 as his people.

00:13:14.959 --> 00:13:16.120
 As his family,

00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.419
 they were the children

00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.879
 of Israel.

00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:20.959
 Other people and races

00:13:20.959 --> 00:13:21.839
 didn't belong.

00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:24.039
 And even among

00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:25.000
 the Jews themselves,

00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:26.360
 if you trace the history

00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.320
 of the Jewish people,

00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:29.120
 not everybody born

00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.379
 into the family of Jews

00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:32.500
 was an heir.

00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:33.580
 If you know

00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:34.779
 the Old Testament story,

00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:37.059
 the two sons of Abraham,

00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:38.200
 the father of Israel,

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.899
 Isaac and Ishmael.

00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:41.759
 Isaac was the chosen one.

00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.440
 Ishmael was not,

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:44.320
 contrary to what

00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:45.320
 the Quran rewrites,

00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:45.820
 by the way,

00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:46.960
 but we won't even go there.

00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:50.179
 Jacob and Esau,

00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.779
 twin boys.

00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:53.039
 The older one,

00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.639
 Esau,

00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:55.139
 was not chosen,

00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:57.580
 but Jacob was chosen.

00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.039
 So,

00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:01.019
 belonging to Israel

00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:02.100
 means inheriting

00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:03.340
 all the privileges

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:04.860
 and wealth

00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:05.819
 of God's own

00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:06.939
 chosen people.

00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:08.819
 But now,

00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:09.299
 Paul says,

00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:09.799
 as it were,

00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:11.019
 Gentiles have been

00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:11.699
 adopted in

00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:12.379
 and they are heirs,

00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.159
 they share together

00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:14.120
 with all those privileges.

00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:15.799
 What are the blessings

00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:16.340
 they inherit?

00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:16.559
 Well,

00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:17.019
 they're the ones

00:14:17.019 --> 00:14:17.720
 that we looked at

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:19.080
 in the opening section,

00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:19.779
 chapter 1.

00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.559
 I haven't got time

00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:22.439
 to read it all again,

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.279
 but if you're a Christian

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:24.399
 and you want to know

00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:26.159
 what a wonderful thing

00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.099
 it is to be a Christian,

00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:28.359
 then sit down regularly

00:14:28.359 --> 00:14:29.599
 and read Ephesians 1,

00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:30.559
 3 to 14,

00:14:30.739 --> 00:14:31.379
 where he says,

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.439
 Praise be to the God

00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:33.399
 and Father of our Lord

00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:34.000
 Jesus Christ,

00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:34.819
 who has blessed us

00:14:34.819 --> 00:14:36.139
 in the heavenly realms

00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.599
 with every spiritual

00:14:37.599 --> 00:14:38.619
 blessing in Christ.

00:14:38.699 --> 00:14:39.259
 And then he lists

00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:40.139
 all the blessings

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:42.579
 that belong to the people

00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:42.959
 of Israel,

00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:43.879
 that now belong

00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:45.059
 to Gentiles,

00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:46.099
 to each one of us,

00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:47.099
 through faith

00:14:47.099 --> 00:14:48.179
 in Jesus Christ.

00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:48.299
 Christ.

00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:50.039
 Not only are they

00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:50.979
 heirs together,

00:14:51.099 --> 00:14:51.459
 he says,

00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:52.659
 we are members together

00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:55.839
 of one body.

00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:56.679
 See,

00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:57.639
 it's not as though

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:59.139
 Gentiles were kind of

00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:00.719
 let in as second class citizens.

00:15:01.599 --> 00:15:02.679
 It was not even that

00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:03.799
 Gentiles had to become

00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:04.799
 Jews to belong.

00:15:05.359 --> 00:15:06.279
 That was a big battle

00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:06.959
 the early church

00:15:06.959 --> 00:15:07.699
 wrestled with.

00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:09.879
 It took a vision

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.379
 to the Apostle Peter,

00:15:11.859 --> 00:15:12.399
 the conversion

00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:14.179
 of a Gentile Roman centurion

00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.059
 to convince him

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:17.399
 that Gentiles

00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.000
 were accepted

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:18.719
 by God.

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.159
 No,

00:15:20.239 --> 00:15:21.139
 Gentiles didn't have

00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:21.859
 to become Jews

00:15:21.859 --> 00:15:22.619
 and Jews didn't have

00:15:22.619 --> 00:15:23.579
 to become Gentiles.

00:15:23.819 --> 00:15:24.199
 Rather,

00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:25.779
 they became one new family,

00:15:26.099 --> 00:15:26.939
 one new people

00:15:26.939 --> 00:15:27.519
 of God.

00:15:30.119 --> 00:15:31.099
 I didn't have a chance

00:15:31.099 --> 00:15:31.759
 to listen to the

00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.379
 previous sermon

00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.339
 because it's not posted

00:15:33.339 --> 00:15:34.839
 on your website yet,

00:15:34.939 --> 00:15:36.519
 but last time,

00:15:36.599 --> 00:15:36.959
 I assume,

00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:37.579
 in the last time

00:15:37.579 --> 00:15:38.139
 when we looked at

00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:39.279
 chapter 2 together,

00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:40.899
 it's all about this,

00:15:41.959 --> 00:15:42.739
 about how God

00:15:42.739 --> 00:15:43.639
 has reconciled

00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.659
 these former enemies

00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:45.199
 together.

00:15:45.899 --> 00:15:46.259
 It says,

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.220
 for he himself

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:48.779
 is our peace

00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.679
 who has made

00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:50.659
 the two groups one

00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:51.919
 and has destroyed

00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.539
 the barrier,

00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.600
 the dividing wall

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.980
 of hostility.

00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:57.399
 So Jews and Gentiles

00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.539
 are members of one body,

00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.439
 the body of Christ.

00:15:59.699 --> 00:16:00.580
 Our great privilege,

00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.679
 if we belong to Christ,

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.659
 if you are a Christian,

00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.019
 that is,

00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:03.860
 if you put your faith

00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.720
 in Jesus Christ,

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:06.379
 you receive the Holy Spirit,

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:07.379
 you know God's forgiveness

00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.080
 in your life,

00:16:08.439 --> 00:16:09.059
 you are a member,

00:16:09.439 --> 00:16:10.700
 it's not just Jesus

00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:11.360
 and me.

00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:13.200
 When I grew up,

00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:14.700
 it was a long time ago,

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:15.639
 in my church,

00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:16.340
 there were lots of

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.340
 really popular songs

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.759
 all about Jesus and me.

00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:20.220
 There's one actually,

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.060
 the chorus was,

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.460
 now it's just Jesus and me.

00:16:22.779 --> 00:16:23.539
 No, it isn't.

00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.680
 It's Jesus and me

00:16:24.680 --> 00:16:25.519
 and you and you

00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:26.300
 and you and you

00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:27.060
 and you and you

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:27.560
 and you.

00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:30.080
 We belong together.

00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:32.659
 We're part of God's people.

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.600
 I travel around a lot now,

00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.659
 visiting different churches,

00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:38.080
 talking to different people,

00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:38.700
 telling one of my

00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:39.520
 greatest concerns

00:16:39.520 --> 00:16:41.720
 is that people today

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.240
 are giving up

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.379
 on the local church.

00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:47.140
 And you talk to them,

00:16:47.180 --> 00:16:47.420
 you say,

00:16:47.520 --> 00:16:48.720
 which church are you going to now?

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.840
 Well, I don't go anywhere really.

00:16:50.020 --> 00:16:51.379
 I've just been hurt so badly

00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:52.180
 by these Christians

00:16:52.180 --> 00:16:54.280
 and I've just had enough really.

00:16:55.020 --> 00:16:56.300
 I go along from time to time

00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:57.480
 but I don't really want

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.160
 to get involved.

00:16:59.580 --> 00:16:59.840
 Listen,

00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.660
 you cannot afford

00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:01.460
 not to be involved

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.280
 because you belong

00:17:02.280 --> 00:17:03.200
 to God's people.

00:17:04.840 --> 00:17:06.539
 This is not a plug

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.140
 from the pastor,

00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:08.360
 I mention it to him

00:17:08.360 --> 00:17:10.280
 but if you worship here regularly

00:17:10.280 --> 00:17:11.500
 then make yourself

00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.380
 part of this body.

00:17:12.520 --> 00:17:13.520
 Get intimately involved

00:17:13.520 --> 00:17:14.280
 because you belong

00:17:14.280 --> 00:17:15.140
 to God's people.

00:17:16.060 --> 00:17:16.280
 So,

00:17:16.580 --> 00:17:17.080
 heirs together,

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:17.840
 members together

00:17:17.840 --> 00:17:18.600
 and he says,

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:19.500
 share us together

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:21.580
 in the promise

00:17:21.580 --> 00:17:23.740
 in Christ Jesus.

00:17:24.320 --> 00:17:24.640
 You see,

00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.980
 the promise in Christ Jesus,

00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:28.240
 the promise of the Messiah Jesus

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.800
 was one that every Jew

00:17:29.800 --> 00:17:30.759
 looked forward to

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:33.160
 over many generations

00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:33.860
 in fulfillment

00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.720
 of all the promises

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.320
 of the prophets.

00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:37.539
 and these had all

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.379
 been fulfilled now

00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:38.799
 in the coming

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.819
 of Jesus Christ,

00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:40.819
 the Savior,

00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:41.359
 the Christ.

00:17:41.859 --> 00:17:42.700
 So Gentiles

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.539
 who were ignorant

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:45.539
 of such promises

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.619
 were now sharers

00:17:46.619 --> 00:17:47.279
 with the Jews

00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.599
 in the same promise

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:50.159
 and the culmination

00:17:50.159 --> 00:17:50.980
 of that promise

00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:52.200
 was on the day

00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:52.639
 that we call

00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:53.779
 the day of Pentecost

00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:55.659
 when the Holy Spirit

00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.579
 was poured out

00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:57.399
 upon the people

00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:58.379
 when the Apostle Peter

00:17:58.379 --> 00:17:59.639
 preached the first

00:17:59.639 --> 00:18:00.299
 great sermon

00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:01.480
 on the day of Pentecost

00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.819
 and at the end of it

00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:03.319
 people said,

00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.539
 what do we have to do then?

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.619
 Here's what Peter said.

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.399
 He said,

00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:08.220
 repent and be baptized

00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.379
 every one of you

00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:11.099
 in the name of Jesus Christ

00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:11.720
 for the forgiveness

00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.399
 of your sins

00:18:12.399 --> 00:18:13.799
 and you will receive

00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:15.259
 the gift of the Holy Spirit.

00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.399
 The promise,

00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.099
 notice the word,

00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:18.399
 the promise is for you

00:18:18.399 --> 00:18:19.099
 and your children

00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:20.720
 for all who are far off

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.599
 for all whom the Lord

00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:22.480
 our God will call.

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.599
 He says,

00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:24.299
 you Jews,

00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.740
 it's mostly a Jewish audience

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:27.259
 or Jewish converts listening,

00:18:27.639 --> 00:18:27.920
 he said,

00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:29.099
 this promise is for you

00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:30.539
 and successive generations

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:32.259
 but it's also for people

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.180
 who are far off

00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:33.759
 whom the Lord

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.740
 our God will call.

00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.639
 Gentile people.

00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:38.539
 And they're the people

00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.779
 of subsequent generations

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:40.899
 down to our own day.

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.180
 And the mystery is,

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.559
 says Paul,

00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:43.619
 that through the gospel,

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.879
 the good news of Jesus,

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.940
 any Gentile

00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:49.379
 becomes an heir together

00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:50.359
 with God's people,

00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:52.319
 sharing in the promise,

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.879
 part of one body.

00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:54.619
 Now let me pause

00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:55.079
 at this point

00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.000
 because I don't know

00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.619
 many of you

00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:58.819
 and this is really important.

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:00.859
 Do you belong?

00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.339
 Have you repented?

00:19:04.439 --> 00:19:04.719
 That is,

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:05.899
 have you turned from your sin?

00:19:06.139 --> 00:19:06.819
 Here's the promise,

00:19:06.919 --> 00:19:08.099
 if you turn from your sin,

00:19:08.699 --> 00:19:09.599
 you put your faith

00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.639
 in Jesus Christ,

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:12.559
 God promises two things,

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.679
 he will forgive you

00:19:13.679 --> 00:19:15.539
 and he will give you

00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:16.319
 his Holy Spirit

00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:19.239
 and you'll walk out of this door

00:19:19.239 --> 00:19:20.500
 as a member of God's people

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:22.899
 because Gentiles

00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:23.679
 are now included

00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:25.699
 in something that was exclusive

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:27.220
 only to Jews up to this point.

00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.279
 Now,

00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:32.319
 I realize most of us

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.000
 probably know that

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:35.019
 but I can't communicate

00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:36.460
 just how dramatic

00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:38.840
 and how incredible this is.

00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:41.660
 But it's God's great plan.

00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:42.539
 You see,

00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.160
 God so lived the world

00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:46.759
 that he gave his son.

00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:48.000
 Not just Jews.

00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.039
 Paul says,

00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.120
 I'm not ashamed of the gospel,

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.080
 it's the power of God

00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:51.680
 for the salvation

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.620
 of everyone who believes.

00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.779
 First for the Jew,

00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.500
 then for the Gentile,

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:57.160
 Romans 1 verse 16.

00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:57.819
 So,

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.799
 this is the secret

00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.279
 that's now out into the open.

00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:02.380
 Gentiles as well as Jews

00:20:02.380 --> 00:20:03.480
 are included in God's plan.

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:04.980
 That's the description

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.500
 of the mystery.

00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:05.819
 Okay,

00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.400
 point two.

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:07.440
 Now we return

00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.319
 to the second matter

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:08.779
 which is

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.920
 the revelation

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.000
 of the mystery.

00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:13.539
 How was this mystery revealed?

00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:13.880
 Again,

00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:15.019
 look at the verses together.

00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:17.819
 The mystery made known

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:19.119
 to me by revelation

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.920
 as I've already written briefly.

00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:21.819
 In reading this,

00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:22.619
 then you will be able

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:24.079
 to understand my insight

00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:25.379
 into the mystery of Christ

00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:26.599
 which was not made known

00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:28.019
 to men in other generations

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:30.059
 as it has now been revealed

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.659
 by the Spirit

00:20:30.659 --> 00:20:31.980
 to God's holy apostles

00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.659
 and prophets.

00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:36.079
 Two things Paul says here

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:37.819
 about this revelation

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.439
 of this news

00:20:38.439 --> 00:20:39.000
 that Jews,

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.740
 Gentiles as well as Jews

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.279
 are included.

00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.199
 First of all,

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:42.599
 he says,

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:44.119
 it was not revealed

00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.799
 in the past.

00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.139
 He said,

00:20:45.199 --> 00:20:46.159
 it was not made known

00:20:46.159 --> 00:20:47.819
 to men in other generations.

00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:48.079
 Now,

00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:48.919
 if you know the Bible,

00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:49.799
 you will know

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.559
 that when God made

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.559
 his promise to Abraham

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:52.720
 and made an agreement

00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.619
 to covenant with him.

00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.159
 In Genesis chapter 12,

00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:55.779
 he said,

00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:56.279
 through you,

00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.339
 all nations on earth

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:58.079
 will be blessed.

00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:59.559
 The prophets look forward,

00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.379
 the Hebrew prophets

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.799
 look forward to people

00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:02.480
 being welcomed

00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.720
 from all over the world.

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.500
 But the details

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.039
 of the plan,

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:06.799
 the amazement,

00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:07.899
 the enormity

00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.619
 of the detail

00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.319
 of this plan

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:10.599
 was not revealed

00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:12.000
 until this present moment.

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:12.839
 But Paul says,

00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:14.359
 it's now been revealed

00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:15.099
 in the present.

00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:16.679
 And Paul says,

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.460
 it's been revealed,

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.099
 first of all,

00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:18.519
 he says,

00:21:18.679 --> 00:21:20.159
 it was revealed to me

00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:21.279
 personally,

00:21:21.560 --> 00:21:22.660
 made known to me

00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:25.420
 by revelation.

00:21:26.620 --> 00:21:27.080
 Again,

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.180
 it's hard to grasp

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:29.040
 how revolutionary

00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:30.320
 and radical

00:21:30.320 --> 00:21:31.420
 and offensive it was

00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:32.160
 that Jews,

00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:33.740
 that Gentiles

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.660
 as well as Jews,

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.720
 were equally loved by God.

00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:38.500
 How radical this would have been

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.600
 to a first century Jew.

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:42.380
 So in order to make it known,

00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:45.420
 God chose the least likely candidate

00:21:45.420 --> 00:21:46.360
 to convince him

00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:47.060
 that it was true

00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:48.320
 so he could convince

00:21:48.320 --> 00:21:48.820
 other people.

00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:49.340
 And that man

00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:50.379
 was Saul of Tarsus.

00:21:51.419 --> 00:21:53.019
 And in order to convince him,

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:54.139
 a direct revelation

00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:54.959
 was necessary.

00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:56.500
 If you think about it,

00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.659
 it's probably the only way

00:21:57.659 --> 00:21:59.000
 you could convince a man

00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.819
 like Saul of Tarsus,

00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.319
 convince Pharisee,

00:22:02.419 --> 00:22:03.259
 believe that Jesus

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.199
 was a heretic,

00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:06.759
 crucified by the Romans.

00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.679
 How could he possibly

00:22:07.679 --> 00:22:08.379
 have been the Messiah?

00:22:08.939 --> 00:22:10.119
 Imagine the Apostle Peter,

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.039
 an unlearned fisherman,

00:22:11.159 --> 00:22:12.039
 trying to persuade Paul

00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:13.279
 that Jesus was the Messiah.

00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.539
 He'd have probably

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.159
 out-thought him,

00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.859
 out-quoted him

00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:17.659
 and everything else.

00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:20.480
 But it took an amazing revelation,

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.400
 if you know the Bible,

00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:22.540
 as Paul,

00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:23.500
 Saul of Tarsus,

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.900
 was on his way to Damascus

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:26.120
 to round up more Christians,

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:26.880
 put them in prison,

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:28.040
 execute them.

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.360
 A light shone from heaven,

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.019
 a voice said,

00:22:30.120 --> 00:22:30.620
 Saul, Saul,

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.820
 why are you persecuting me?

00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:32.920
 And he recognized

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.779
 it was the voice of God

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.140
 and he said,

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:34.779
 who are you, Lord?

00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:35.180
 And he said,

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:35.759
 I'm Jesus,

00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:37.120
 whom you're persecuting.

00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:40.899
 Interestingly,

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.699
 when Paul relates this story

00:22:42.699 --> 00:22:44.519
 to a Jewish king,

00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:45.599
 this is later on

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.219
 in the book of Acts,

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.079
 chapter 26,

00:22:47.199 --> 00:22:48.379
 when he tells his story,

00:22:49.239 --> 00:22:49.919
 he says,

00:22:50.919 --> 00:22:51.919
 God then said to him,

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.539
 now get up,

00:22:52.639 --> 00:22:53.539
 stand on your feet,

00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.939
 I've appointed you

00:22:54.939 --> 00:22:55.539
 as a servant

00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:56.379
 and as a witness

00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:57.500
 to what you've seen of me

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.500
 and what I will show you.

00:22:58.699 --> 00:22:59.739
 You're going to tell people

00:22:59.739 --> 00:23:00.399
 about this

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:02.019
 and I'm sending you

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.659
 to them,

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.679
 to the Gentiles.

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.779
 I will rescue you

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:06.079
 from your own people,

00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:06.899
 from the Gentiles,

00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.140
 I'm sending you

00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:09.259
 to the Gentiles

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.680
 to open their eyes

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.280
 and turn them

00:23:11.280 --> 00:23:12.440
 from darkness to light

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.480
 and from the power

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.240
 of Satan to God

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.140
 so they may receive

00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:16.220
 forgiveness of sins

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:17.780
 and a place among those

00:23:17.780 --> 00:23:18.560
 who are sanctified

00:23:18.560 --> 00:23:19.640
 by faith in me.

00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.560
 So Paul says,

00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:21.300
 this was revealed

00:23:21.300 --> 00:23:22.180
 to me personally.

00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:23.620
 But the question

00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.740
 you need to then ask

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:26.360
 and which Paul anticipates

00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:26.640
 is,

00:23:27.040 --> 00:23:27.940
 was this some kind

00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.940
 of personal delusion

00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.860
 on his part?

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.980
 No, for Paul tells

00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.700
 the Ephesians,

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.480
 it was also revealed

00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.820
 to other church leaders.

00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:37.720
 It has now been revealed

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.519
 by the Spirit

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.919
 to God's holy apostles

00:23:39.919 --> 00:23:41.139
 and prophets.

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.399
 If you go back

00:23:43.399 --> 00:23:45.259
 one book from Ephesians,

00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:46.319
 you come to another letter

00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:46.759
 written to,

00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:47.319
 again,

00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:48.059
 to Greek Christians

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:49.139
 in the Roman province

00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:49.939
 of Galatia.

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:52.160
 And Paul relates

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.279
 how after his conversion

00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.980
 on the road to Damascus,

00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:56.259
 14 years later,

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.200
 he's preparing

00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:58.279
 for this great ministry

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.200
 to the Gentiles.

00:23:59.600 --> 00:24:00.960
 But 14 years later,

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.100
 he decides to go up

00:24:02.100 --> 00:24:02.720
 to Jerusalem

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.080
 to visit the apostles,

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:06.200
 the leaders of the church there.

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.039
 Why does he go?

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:08.720
 He says,

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.660
 I went there

00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.860
 in response,

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.680
 this is Galatians 2 verse 2,

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.740
 I went in response

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.559
 to a revelation

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.100
 and set before them

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.640
 the gospel

00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:17.539
 that I preach

00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.840
 among the Gentiles.

00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.500
 I did this privately

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:22.379
 to those who seemed

00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:24.240
 to be leaders

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.299
 for fear

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.379
 that I was running

00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:28.259
 or had run my race

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.599
 in vain.

00:24:28.699 --> 00:24:29.199
 In other words,

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:29.500
 he said,

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.619
 I wanted to check this out

00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:31.199
 to make sure

00:24:31.199 --> 00:24:32.039
 I got this right.

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.740
 And he shared with them

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:38.500
 what God had revealed

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:38.980
 to him

00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:40.399
 that the gospel

00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:41.639
 was also for Gentiles

00:24:41.639 --> 00:24:42.359
 as well as Jews.

00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.459
 Here's the conclusion,

00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:45.000
 Galatians 2 verse 7.

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.019
 They saw that

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.899
 I had been interested

00:24:46.899 --> 00:24:47.720
 with the task

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:49.140
 of preaching the gospel

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:50.160
 to the Gentiles

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.059
 just as Peter

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:51.880
 had been interested

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:52.519
 with the task

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.220
 of preaching

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.059
 to the Jews.

00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.279
 James,

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.059
 Peter and John,

00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:58.779
 those reputed

00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.440
 to be pillars,

00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.559
 gave me and Barnabas,

00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:01.039
 his colleague,

00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:02.160
 the right hand of fellowship

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.480
 when they recognized

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.620
 the grace given to me.

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.539
 They agreed

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.440
 that we should go

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.420
 to the Gentiles

00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:08.779
 and they should go

00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.380
 to the Jews.

00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.480
 So Paul says

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.240
 his insight

00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.259
 into the mystery of Christ

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:12.819
 is the same

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.400
 as the apostles.

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.440
 Now again,

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:14.960
 you may say,

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.319
 well,

00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.360
 why is this important?

00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:16.719
 Well,

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.459
 it's really important

00:25:17.459 --> 00:25:18.279
 for one reason.

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.619
 With the regularity

00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.359
 of Halley's Comet,

00:25:21.479 --> 00:25:22.139
 but unfortunately

00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:23.199
 much more frequently,

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:25.259
 around about every 20 years

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.159
 in my experience,

00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.740
 people start to propagate

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:29.099
 an interesting story

00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:30.199
 and the story is this.

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.379
 Jesus was a simple teacher

00:25:32.379 --> 00:25:34.179
 who taught this simple message

00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:35.219
 and then along came Paul

00:25:35.219 --> 00:25:36.399
 who was a really bright guy

00:25:36.399 --> 00:25:37.799
 and he confused everything

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.479
 by developing

00:25:38.479 --> 00:25:39.759
 a different kind of gospel.

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:44.720
 So the gospel of Jesus

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.339
 and the gospels

00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:45.779
 is different

00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.680
 to what Paul preached.

00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.339
 No, it isn't.

00:25:47.420 --> 00:25:47.900
 Paul says

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:50.420
 we were in absolute harmony.

00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.920
 We agreed together

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:53.339
 that this revelation

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:54.960
 was a revelation from God

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:57.480
 because if it doesn't include Gentiles,

00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.279
 we're not included.

00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.359
 If you're a Christian,

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.039
 it's that gospel

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:03.420
 on which you stake your life

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.420
 and your eternal destiny.

00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:05.460
 So,

00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:07.180
 we're the most privileged people

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:07.599
 of all

00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.799
 for we live in the day

00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:10.079
 when the mystery of God's plan,

00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:11.059
 the marvelous mystery

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:12.119
 has now been revealed.

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.539
 But great privileges

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.279
 bring with them

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:15.379
 great responsibilities.

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.639
 So we're working backwards,

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.480
 you'll be glad to know,

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:19.399
 we now come to the opening verse

00:26:19.399 --> 00:26:20.899
 and what Paul calls

00:26:20.899 --> 00:26:21.539
 the administration

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:23.279
 of the mystery.

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:25.579
 Look again at verse 1.

00:26:25.719 --> 00:26:26.339
 It's kind of,

00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:28.740
 if you look in the NIV,

00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:29.079
 it says,

00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:30.359
 for this reason I, Paul,

00:26:30.719 --> 00:26:31.919
 the prisoner of Christ Jesus

00:26:31.919 --> 00:26:33.359
 for the sake of you Gentiles.

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:34.000
 And then,

00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:34.819
 did you notice,

00:26:34.919 --> 00:26:35.740
 he breaks off.

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:37.620
 He gets diverted

00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:38.720
 and he comes back in,

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:39.400
 way back,

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.920
 further down in verse 14,

00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.799
 he comes back to his,

00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.500
 for this reason.

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:44.039
 For this reason I kneel

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.819
 before the Father.

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.380
 And he talks about

00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.220
 what he prays.

00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.740
 He's diverted because

00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:51.380
 what interrupts his thought

00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:52.799
 is his present circumstances.

00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:53.680
 He says,

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.180
 I, Paul,

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.599
 the prisoner of Christ Jesus

00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:58.200
 for the sake of you Gentiles.

00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:00.440
 The reason he says,

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.180
 I'm in prison

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:04.220
 is for the sake of you Gentiles.

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:06.360
 And then he says,

00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.259
 surely you've heard

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.600
 about the administration

00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:09.539
 of God's grace

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.799
 that was given to me for you.

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.920
 That is the mystery

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.680
 made known to me

00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.440
 by revelation

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:15.920
 as I've already written briefly.

00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.620
 Now he uses

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.600
 an interesting word here.

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:18.660
 He uses the word

00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:20.380
 translated administration.

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.660
 Some versions

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:24.339
 translate it stewardship.

00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:26.900
 It's a word

00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:28.059
 that was originally used

00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:29.680
 for a steward

00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:31.299
 or a person in charge

00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.559
 of a rich man's wealth

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.859
 who was responsible

00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:34.980
 for administering

00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:35.460
 his wealth

00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.240
 and his property

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.599
 and his assets.

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.240
 In fact,

00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:39.859
 I think,

00:27:40.079 --> 00:27:40.500
 Derek,

00:27:40.599 --> 00:27:41.399
 you're into finances.

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.179
 Do you not have

00:27:43.179 --> 00:27:44.559
 pension fund administrators?

00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:47.139
 Are you a pension fund administrator?

00:27:47.419 --> 00:27:47.720
 You're not?

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:47.980
 No.

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.819
 He just tells you

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.519
 how to spend your money.

00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.200
 That's a different thing

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:50.539
 altogether.

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.240
 A pension fund administrator

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.159
 is someone

00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:56.359
 who looks after

00:27:56.359 --> 00:27:56.899
 the wealth

00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:57.980
 in the pension fund

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.740
 and makes sure

00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:00.159
 it gets to the right people.

00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:03.200
 Are you not tired

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.580
 of picking up your phone

00:28:04.580 --> 00:28:05.580
 and someone says,

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:07.480
 Are you aware of PPI?

00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:12.420
 My wife has done everything

00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.279
 to stop these calls.

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.340
 She's written all these things,

00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.259
 tried to block the phone.

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.779
 Every evening she goes mad.

00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.860
 Just as you start your tea,

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.560
 you pick up the phone

00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:19.220
 and someone says,

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:20.340
 Are you aware

00:28:20.340 --> 00:28:21.660
 that the bank has set aside

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.620
 millions of pounds

00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.440
 for PPI?

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.940
 I'd never heard of PPI.

00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:25.660
 I'd do until

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:27.259
 the last few years.

00:28:27.340 --> 00:28:28.000
 But apparently,

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:29.960
 and I've hardly ever met anyone

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.920
 who got anything out of it,

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.859
 but presumably there are people

00:28:31.859 --> 00:28:32.420
 here who are living

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.099
 on the proceeds,

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:36.500
 but their role is,

00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:38.619
 probably not these con people

00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:39.440
 who are ringing you up

00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.519
 and trying to get a share of it,

00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.779
 but the role is

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.319
 that the banks

00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:43.140
 have set aside

00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:44.299
 certain funds

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.460
 for people who are

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.519
 mis-sold PPI.

00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.720
 That's my understanding of it.

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.660
 You can correct me afterwards

00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.220
 if I'm wrong.

00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.339
 But the responsibility

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:52.119
 of the people

00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:53.000
 in the banks

00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:54.079
 is to make sure

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:55.579
 those who are eligible

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:57.599
 get what is due to them.

00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.439
 And Paul says,

00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.179
 My role,

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:01.279
 I'm the administrator

00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.519
 of God's grace.

00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:04.279
 All the riches

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.179
 that are in Christ,

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:06.639
 all the wonderful things

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.439
 that we focus on

00:29:07.439 --> 00:29:08.240
 in chapter 1,

00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:08.879
 he says,

00:29:08.959 --> 00:29:10.439
 All those wonderful things,

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:12.039
 I've got the responsibility

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:13.079
 of making sure

00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:13.980
 the Gentiles know

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.899
 that they qualify.

00:29:17.899 --> 00:29:18.279
 He says,

00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.319
 Paul's administration

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:21.759
 is to share God's grace

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:23.539
 with the Gentiles.

00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:25.500
 That's his responsibility,

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.959
 that administration.

00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.600
 But notice what he says.

00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:29.059
 He says,

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:31.360
 It is a costly calling.

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.480
 For whenever Paul

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.980
 carried out this responsibility,

00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:36.299
 if you read the book of Acts,

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.700
 which is the story of,

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.539
 second half at least,

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:41.319
 of Paul's journeys

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:42.140
 when he went around

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:43.019
 the Mediterranean world

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:44.360
 telling Gentiles and Jews

00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:46.400
 about the good news of Jesus,

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:48.819
 if you read that account,

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.240
 whenever he carried out

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.400
 those responsibilities,

00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:54.180
 it provoked an extreme reaction

00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:55.279
 on the part of the people

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.879
 who heard it,

00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:57.559
 in particular the Jews.

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.720
 Whenever he said,

00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.720
 Gentiles are included

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.539
 as well as Jews,

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:02.920
 it caused a riot.

00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.240
 Because the Jews thought

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:07.440
 they were the only recipients

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.039
 who qualified.

00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.899
 And that's why Paul

00:30:09.899 --> 00:30:10.799
 is writing this letter.

00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.099
 He says,

00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:11.759
 I, Paul,

00:30:12.119 --> 00:30:13.619
 a prisoner of Christ Jesus

00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:16.139
 for the sake of you Gentiles.

00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:18.080
 Now, he's probably referring here

00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:19.460
 to a specific story.

00:30:21.020 --> 00:30:21.640
 How did Paul,

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.640
 Paul is writing this

00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.940
 from a prison cell in Rome.

00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:25.340
 He's awaiting trial

00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:27.680
 before the Emperor Nero.

00:30:28.380 --> 00:30:29.680
 How did he get there?

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:31.120
 It's an interesting story.

00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:32.940
 If you go back again

00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.000
 to the book of Acts,

00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:35.940
 Paul was visiting

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:37.440
 the city of Jerusalem,

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:39.060
 and he got with him

00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:39.960
 some companions

00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:40.920
 who were Gentile

00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.720
 by background,

00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.059
 and among them

00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.660
 was one of the,

00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.380
 probably a man

00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:45.680
 who was one of the church members

00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:47.019
 from the church in Ephesus.

00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:49.440
 The man named Trophimus.

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.519
 A man named Trophimus.

00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:55.259
 And he was in Jerusalem

00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:56.019
 with these Gentiles.

00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:57.380
 This man called Trophimus,

00:30:58.039 --> 00:30:59.200
 he was visiting Jerusalem,

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.779
 and the Jewish people

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.740
 heard about it,

00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:02.799
 and they raised a rumor

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.400
 and they said,

00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:05.460
 Paul has broken Jewish law,

00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:07.100
 he's taken this Gentile

00:31:07.100 --> 00:31:08.180
 into the inner courts

00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.900
 that are forbidden

00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:10.259
 to Gentiles.

00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.759
 And literally,

00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.980
 a riot ensued.

00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.900
 They dragged Paul

00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:14.680
 and his companions

00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:16.599
 out of the temple area

00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:17.900
 to stone him

00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:18.539
 and kill him.

00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:20.319
 And it caused

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.200
 an absolute riot.

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.680
 If you picture Jerusalem

00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.480
 in those days,

00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.799
 there's this riot

00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.420
 in the streets.

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.400
 Now the Romans knew

00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.420
 that this was the kind of thing

00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:29.180
 that often happened

00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:30.000
 among the Jews.

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.379
 So right in the middle

00:31:31.379 --> 00:31:32.339
 of the complex

00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:33.079
 in Jerusalem,

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.379
 they had a fortress

00:31:34.379 --> 00:31:35.940
 called the Fortress of Antonia,

00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:37.019
 and the Jews put

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:38.119
 a squadron of soldiers

00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:38.539
 up there

00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.480
 who sat on a tower

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.200
 looking down,

00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:41.619
 watching out for riots.

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.240
 And when they saw

00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:45.359
 this riot ensuing,

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.259
 the commander

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:46.940
 of the forces

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:48.119
 dashed down the stairs,

00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:49.599
 out into the streets,

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.920
 and ran into the middle

00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:52.460
 of the crowd

00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:53.460
 to rescue Paul

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.160
 and to find out

00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:54.900
 what was happening.

00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:56.700
 It's a fantastic story.

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.660
 You can read it in

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:59.519
 Acts chapter 21 and 22.

00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.359
 And they literally

00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.779
 have to carry Paul out

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.740
 because he's being

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.879
 literally torn apart

00:32:04.879 --> 00:32:05.680
 by the Jews.

00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.940
 And as they're carrying him

00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:10.200
 into the fortress entrance,

00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:11.120
 Paul says to him,

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.460
 can I just have a word

00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:12.720
 with them

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.759
 before you take me in?

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.519
 You might be glad

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.279
 to get out of there,

00:32:16.320 --> 00:32:16.640
 wouldn't you?

00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:17.799
 And he said,

00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:18.740
 please,

00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:19.940
 could I just say something?

00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:21.360
 And the commander said,

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:21.660
 okay.

00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.820
 And Paul turns around,

00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:23.660
 and if you read

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.240
 the book in Acts,

00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:25.840
 he speaks in Aramaic,

00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:27.120
 which is the mother tongue

00:32:27.120 --> 00:32:28.299
 of the Jewish crowd.

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.320
 And the book of Acts

00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:31.400
 says as soon as he spoke

00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.120
 in Aramaic,

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.100
 they all were

00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:34.059
 absolutely silent

00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.919
 because they recognized

00:32:34.919 --> 00:32:35.740
 he was one of them.

00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:38.599
 And Paul then

00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:39.700
 told his story

00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:40.799
 of how he became

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.419
 a Christian.

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:45.119
 And everybody's listening

00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:46.099
 with rapt attention

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:48.119
 until Acts 22,

00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.940
 verse 21,

00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:51.339
 he finally says,

00:32:51.679 --> 00:32:52.980
 then the Lord

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.940
 said to me,

00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:55.039
 go,

00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.159
 I will send you

00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:56.839
 far away

00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:57.879
 to the Gentiles.

00:32:58.839 --> 00:32:59.859
 And as soon as

00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.460
 he said this,

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.779
 the crowd turns ugly,

00:33:02.639 --> 00:33:03.359
 the crowd listened

00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:03.899
 to Paul,

00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:04.720
 Acts 22,

00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.319
 verse 22,

00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:06.399
 the crowd listened

00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:06.980
 to Paul

00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:08.240
 until he said this,

00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:09.720
 then they raised

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.240
 their voices

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:10.960
 and shouted,

00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:12.519
 rid the earth of him,

00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:13.740
 he's not fit to live.

00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:15.180
 And they had to bodily

00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:15.859
 lift him up

00:33:15.859 --> 00:33:16.980
 and carry him to safety.

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.460
 And the outcome

00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.379
 of this is that Paul

00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.559
 appeals to the emperor

00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.680
 Nero,

00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:23.259
 and so he's carted off

00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.579
 to Rome awaiting trial,

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.700
 and so he writes

00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:26.420
 to the Christians

00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:27.359
 in Ephesus and says,

00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:27.920
 you know,

00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.839
 I'm here in prison

00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:30.460
 for the sake of you Gentiles.

00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.980
 Probably,

00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.960
 for the sake specifically

00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:35.620
 of your church member

00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:36.299
 Trophimus,

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:38.100
 who's the focus

00:33:38.100 --> 00:33:38.900
 of this riot.

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.259
 You see,

00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:41.720
 sharing the marvellous

00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.039
 mystery,

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:42.920
 in fact,

00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:43.700
 here's a test

00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:44.799
 of whether you really

00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:46.059
 are into gospel preaching.

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:48.279
 It always provokes

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:48.840
 a reaction.

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:51.100
 It always provokes

00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:51.759
 hostility.

00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:55.720
 That's why Christians

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.620
 today are suffering.

00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.840
 Why are Christians

00:33:58.840 --> 00:33:59.480
 so hated?

00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.539
 That's the politicians

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.460
 who finally got on board

00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:02.779
 with this.

00:34:02.860 --> 00:34:03.500
 You see last week

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.539
 that David Cameron

00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.600
 and I think Nick Clegg

00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:06.480
 and David,

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.460
 yeah,

00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.039
 Ed Miliband,

00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.440
 get the right,

00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:09.920
 Miliband here,

00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.119
 they all mentioned

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.320
 about Christians

00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:12.860
 suffering.

00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:14.800
 Why do people

00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:15.400
 go into school

00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:15.940
 in Kenya

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:17.840
 and isolate

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.820
 the Christian students

00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:20.619
 and kill 147 of them?

00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:21.900
 Why do they take

00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:23.199
 Egyptian Coptic Christians

00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:23.940
 down to a beach

00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.639
 and behead them?

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.340
 What have they done?

00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:29.320
 They're Christians.

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:31.480
 There is a cost

00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:32.900
 to proclaiming

00:34:32.900 --> 00:34:33.320
 the gospel

00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.380
 of Jesus Christ

00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:36.340
 and to speaking

00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:37.039
 for Christ.

00:34:38.720 --> 00:34:39.700
 But Paul knows

00:34:39.700 --> 00:34:40.380
 that all of this

00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:41.059
 is under God's

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.800
 sovereign control

00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:42.340
 and we need

00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:42.900
 that assurance.

00:34:43.240 --> 00:34:44.300
 They need that assurance

00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:45.180
 for at the sharp end

00:34:45.180 --> 00:34:45.519
 of this.

00:34:46.180 --> 00:34:47.100
 We may need it

00:34:47.100 --> 00:34:48.600
 increasingly in our society

00:34:48.600 --> 00:34:50.519
 the way things are going.

00:34:53.160 --> 00:34:53.760
 And Paul says,

00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.460
 I'm a prisoner

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.380
 of Christ Jesus.

00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:57.940
 John Stutt

00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:59.300
 in the Bible

00:34:59.300 --> 00:34:59.800
 Speaks Today

00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:00.700
 Comanche and Ephesians

00:35:00.700 --> 00:35:01.080
 writes,

00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:02.340
 Humanly speaking,

00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.060
 Paul was not

00:35:03.060 --> 00:35:03.800
 Christ's prisoner

00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:04.620
 but Nero's.

00:35:05.560 --> 00:35:06.960
 But Paul never did speak

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.860
 or think in purely

00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:08.740
 human terms.

00:35:09.300 --> 00:35:09.880
 He believed

00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.660
 in the sovereignty

00:35:10.660 --> 00:35:11.260
 of God

00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:13.500
 over the affairs

00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:13.840
 of men.

00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.180
 Therefore,

00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:14.960
 he called himself

00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.860
 literally a prisoner

00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:16.680
 of Christ Jesus.

00:35:17.140 --> 00:35:18.080
 So convinced

00:35:18.080 --> 00:35:18.740
 was he

00:35:18.740 --> 00:35:19.840
 that the whole

00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:20.540
 of his life,

00:35:20.620 --> 00:35:21.420
 including his

00:35:21.420 --> 00:35:22.000
 wearisome

00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:22.719
 imprisonment,

00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:23.699
 was under

00:35:23.699 --> 00:35:24.559
 the lordship

00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.840
 of Christ.

00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:26.900
 See,

00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.659
 there is a cost

00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:29.079
 to administering

00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:29.579
 the gospel.

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:31.440
 There's a cost

00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.099
 to administering

00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:32.539
 the gospel.

00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:34.739
 But all of that

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:35.360
 is under God's

00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:35.880
 sovereign control.

00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.199
 I wonder,

00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:36.900
 do you and I

00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:37.420
 have that same

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.239
 conviction as well?

00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.260
 Or do we look

00:35:40.260 --> 00:35:40.599
 and think,

00:35:40.820 --> 00:35:41.980
 this is just terrible.

00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:42.460
 It's happening

00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:43.059
 all over the world

00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:43.539
 to Christians.

00:35:44.260 --> 00:35:44.619
 It's terrible

00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:45.880
 how even in our society

00:35:45.880 --> 00:35:46.599
 Christians are being

00:35:46.599 --> 00:35:47.679
 discriminated against.

00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:49.840
 But it's under

00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:50.699
 God's sovereign

00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:52.279
 control.

00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:53.119
 Paul has this

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:53.719
 responsibility

00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:55.079
 to share this

00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:56.019
 marvelous mystery.

00:35:57.319 --> 00:35:57.939
 The administration

00:35:57.939 --> 00:35:58.859
 of God's grace,

00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.460
 the good news

00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.239
 of Jesus Christ,

00:36:00.319 --> 00:36:00.679
 the gospel.

00:36:00.839 --> 00:36:02.399
 That is our mandate

00:36:02.399 --> 00:36:03.000
 as Christians.

00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:04.960
 We have this

00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:06.179
 amazing portfolio

00:36:06.179 --> 00:36:07.759
 of everything

00:36:07.759 --> 00:36:08.319
 that is offered

00:36:08.319 --> 00:36:09.159
 to us in Christ.

00:36:09.279 --> 00:36:10.079
 All these wonderful

00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:10.599
 promises.

00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.099
 Read them again

00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:12.980
 in Ephesians 1.

00:36:13.939 --> 00:36:14.639
 And as a church,

00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:15.579
 we have the responsibility

00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.879
 of sharing this good news

00:36:16.879 --> 00:36:18.039
 for everybody out there.

00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:20.119
 That you're included

00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:20.639
 in this.

00:36:22.799 --> 00:36:23.279
 You may say,

00:36:23.359 --> 00:36:23.940
 people don't want

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:24.259
 to listen.

00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:25.299
 People don't want

00:36:25.299 --> 00:36:26.119
 to listen to people

00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:27.179
 telling you about PPI,

00:36:27.319 --> 00:36:28.000
 but it isn't stopping,

00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:28.460
 does it?

00:36:29.420 --> 00:36:30.839
 But this really is true.

00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:33.960
 It is for everyone

00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:35.339
 who will believe.

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:37.639
 That is our mandate.

00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.380
 Almost finished.

00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:42.339
 Midnight last Sunday,

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:43.099
 the 5th of April,

00:36:43.219 --> 00:36:43.940
 sweeping changes

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.699
 came into effect

00:36:44.699 --> 00:36:45.420
 to allow people

00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:46.599
 to use their pension funds

00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:47.219
 as they pleased.

00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:48.059
 It's good news,

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:50.119
 especially for over 55s.

00:36:53.279 --> 00:36:54.759
 2,000 years ago,

00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:56.799
 at 3 o'clock

00:36:56.799 --> 00:36:57.519
 in the afternoon,

00:36:58.860 --> 00:36:59.779
 on the day we call

00:36:59.779 --> 00:37:00.440
 Good Friday,

00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.279
 an infinitely more

00:37:03.279 --> 00:37:04.239
 important change

00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:05.000
 took place

00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:07.619
 when Jesus of Nazareth

00:37:07.619 --> 00:37:08.579
 died on a cross

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:10.159
 outside the city

00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:10.799
 of Jerusalem.

00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:13.460
 Mark tells us

00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:14.099
 in his Gospel,

00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:15.779
 with a loud cry,

00:37:15.900 --> 00:37:16.699
 Jesus breathed

00:37:16.699 --> 00:37:17.360
 his last

00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:18.880
 the curtain

00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.460
 of the temple

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:20.460
 was torn in two

00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:21.840
 from top to bottom.

00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:22.460
 The temple,

00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:23.519
 the curtain

00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:24.700
 that separated sinners

00:37:24.700 --> 00:37:25.700
 from a holy God,

00:37:26.440 --> 00:37:27.440
 was torn in two.

00:37:28.660 --> 00:37:29.660
 The door to heaven

00:37:29.660 --> 00:37:30.480
 was open wide

00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:30.960
 for all.

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.320
 And Mark tells us

00:37:33.320 --> 00:37:34.300
 something quite amazing.

00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:36.960
 At that moment,

00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:38.800
 the first guy

00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:39.840
 to step through the door

00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:42.240
 was a Roman centurion.

00:37:42.239 --> 00:37:44.359
 when the centurion

00:37:44.359 --> 00:37:45.039
 who stood there

00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:46.059
 in front of Jesus

00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:47.739
 saw how he died,

00:37:47.799 --> 00:37:48.219
 he said,

00:37:48.979 --> 00:37:49.319
 Surely,

00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.719
 this man

00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:52.500
 was the Son of God,

00:37:53.379 --> 00:37:54.059
 the first of

00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:55.419
 an innumerable company

00:37:55.419 --> 00:37:57.039
 of Gentiles

00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:59.619
 who through faith

00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:00.079
 in Christ

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.199
 enter into God's presence

00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:02.139
 and know in person

00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:03.799
 for their sins forgiven

00:38:03.799 --> 00:38:04.339
 with the hope

00:38:04.339 --> 00:38:05.159
 of eternal life

00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:05.939
 and all the promises

00:38:05.939 --> 00:38:06.479
 of God.

00:38:07.739 --> 00:38:08.799
 I hope we're among

00:38:08.799 --> 00:38:09.559
 that company,

00:38:09.899 --> 00:38:10.659
 each one of us,

00:38:12.239 --> 00:38:13.059
 if not,

00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:13.939
 make this your day.

00:38:15.339 --> 00:38:16.000
 And if we are,

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.599
 it's good news

00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:17.399
 that we need to share

00:38:17.399 --> 00:38:18.139
 with other people,

00:38:18.859 --> 00:38:19.759
 with the Gentiles

00:38:19.759 --> 00:38:20.359
 out there

00:38:20.359 --> 00:38:21.679
 in Edinburgh

00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:23.500
 and to the ends

00:38:23.500 --> 00:38:23.979
 of the earth

00:38:23.979 --> 00:38:26.000
 until Christ returns.

00:38:26.819 --> 00:38:27.859
 It's a marvellous mystery

00:38:27.859 --> 00:38:29.699
 now been revealed.

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.459
 Let's rejoice in it.

00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:32.319
 Let's just pray briefly

00:38:32.319 --> 00:38:33.019
 and then I'll hand back

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.659
 to Paul.

00:38:37.319 --> 00:38:38.439
 Let's be bound in quietness

00:38:38.439 --> 00:38:39.059
 just for a moment.

00:38:39.219 --> 00:38:40.699
 Perhaps you've not yet

00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:41.679
 entered into all these

00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:42.659
 wonderful privileges

00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:44.299
 that are offered

00:38:44.299 --> 00:38:45.000
 in the gospel.

00:38:46.039 --> 00:38:47.379
 Never really repented

00:38:47.379 --> 00:38:48.000
 of your sin.

00:38:48.779 --> 00:38:49.899
 Put your faith in Jesus.

00:38:51.399 --> 00:38:53.019
 Take this opportunity today.

00:38:53.159 --> 00:38:54.440
 Now is the day of salvation.

00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:56.759
 Now is the day

00:38:56.759 --> 00:38:57.579
 of God's grace.

00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:12.679
 God's grace.

00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:14.359
 And for those of us

00:39:14.359 --> 00:39:14.839
 who have,

00:39:16.059 --> 00:39:16.759
 let's rejoice

00:39:16.759 --> 00:39:17.839
 in all that it means.

00:39:22.579 --> 00:39:23.639
 All the privileges

00:39:23.639 --> 00:39:24.839
 that are ours in Christ.

00:39:26.460 --> 00:39:27.159
 Gracious Father,

00:39:27.299 --> 00:39:28.559
 thank you for the good news

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.179
 of the gospel.

00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:31.719
 That is good news

00:39:31.719 --> 00:39:32.559
 for all people,

00:39:33.899 --> 00:39:35.259
 Jews and Gentiles.

00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:37.879
 May we rejoice in it.

00:39:37.980 --> 00:39:38.839
 May we live in it.

00:39:38.980 --> 00:39:39.599
 May we not live

00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:40.659
 as spiritual purpose

00:39:40.659 --> 00:39:42.679
 when we have

00:39:42.679 --> 00:39:43.380
 all the resources

00:39:43.380 --> 00:39:44.380
 and riches of Christ

00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:45.420
 available to us.

00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:48.460
 May we rejoice in it

00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:49.319
 and as a church,

00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:51.480
 may we share this good news,

00:39:51.860 --> 00:39:52.480
 this mystery,

00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:55.519
 with the watching world

00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.119
 outside.

00:39:58.019 --> 00:39:59.639
 And we ask it in Jesus' name

00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:00.299
 for your glory.

00:40:01.299 --> 00:40:01.619
 Amen.

00:40:01.619 --> 00:40:02.900
 Thank you.