WEBVTT

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 All right, 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, verses 4 through 7.

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 For we know, brothers, loved by God, that he has chosen you,

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 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power,

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 and in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.

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 You know what kind of men we prove to be among you for your sake.

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 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord,

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 for you received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

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 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

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 Amen.

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 Have you ever heard the phrase, the proof is in the pudding?

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 That's a weird phrase, isn't it?

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 It's kind of an odd thing.

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 I thought about that this week in studying this passage,

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 and I thought, I don't even really know what that means.

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 I'm going to look that up.

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 Apparently, it's a shortened version of an expression that dates back even to the 17th century,

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 maybe even earlier than that.

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 The original expression goes like this.

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 The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

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 The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

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 Now, it's a simple statement, isn't it?

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 The expression simply means that you can only know the quality and authenticity of a thing

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 once you have tried or used or experienced it.

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 Last week in our partner meeting, we had a chili cook-off.

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 You can say that your chili recipe is better than anyone else's.

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 The proof will be in the eating of the chili, right?

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 Again, in the passage before us in these short verses,

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 Paul makes a bold and confident claim about the Christians in Thessalonica.

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 You saw it right there in verse 4.

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 He wrote that he knows for certain, for we know, brothers loved by God,

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 that he has chosen you.

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 He says, I know for certain that God has chosen to save you,

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 that you are part of God's elect, he means.

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 Now, of course, it comes in the midst of his thanksgiving to God

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 for the Thessalonians' faith, love, and hope in Jesus Christ.

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 That's what we studied last Sunday.

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 But as we discovered last week, it does seem odd

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 that Paul would recall the actions of the Thessalonians

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 and instead of thanking them, he thanked God for those actions.

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 That's odd, isn't it?

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 Because we give thanks to those who are ultimately responsible

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 for a particular act.

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 Gus is celebrating a birthday this week.

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 And since my daughters are in Raleigh and worship with their grandfather today,

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 they couldn't be here to celebrate with him.

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 So they sent me a gift and they said,

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 make sure that you give this to Gus since we can't be at his party.

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 So before service this morning, I brought it in and I said,

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 here you go, Gus, this is from Ashland and Harper.

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 They're sorry they can't be there for your party today,

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 but they wanted to wish you a happy birthday.

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 Now, it would have been really weird if Gus would have looked at me

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 and take that present and said, oh man, this is wonderful.

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 And then turn to Marty and say, thank you, Marty.

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 Thank you for this gift.

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 That would be weird, wouldn't it?

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 And yet that's exactly what Paul does in this passage.

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 In verse number three, he says, we thank God for you.

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 And then he goes on to explain that what he's giving thanksgiving for

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 is something that the Thessalonians have done,

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 but the object of his thanksgiving is God.

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 That seems weird.

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 We give thanks to those who are ultimately responsible for an act.

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 And what Paul understands in this text and what he communicates in the text

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 is that God and his grace was the definitive cause of the Thessalonians' conversion.

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 And when we get to these verses, verses four through seven,

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 what we find Paul doing is he explaining that further.

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 He's explaining to them why he's giving thanks to God.

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 And the interpretive clue for that is in the very first word of verse four.

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 It's the conjunction four, which is a grounding statement.

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 It's referring back to something else,

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 which we can see very clearly is this thanksgiving.

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 In other words, verse four, this phrase,

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 is the grounding statement that explains why Paul is thanking God in particular.

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 And what is the content of this explanation in verse four?

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 It is God's electing love of the Thessalonian Christians.

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 We might read it this way.

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 We give thanks to God always for all of you,

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 for we know, brothers and sisters loved by God,

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 that he has chosen you.

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 That's the principal clause in the passage.

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 Everything else that flows out from verse four through verse seven

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 is supporting statements for what Paul says in verse four,

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 that he is certain of their election.

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 But the question is, why is Paul saying this at all?

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 Why is he even bringing this up?

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 Why does he feel the need to make such a confident assertion

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 and affirmation of these people?

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 There's a few ways we might answer that.

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 We might surmise it.

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 It's possible that there were people in the church of Thessalonica

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 who were struggling with the assurance of their salvation.

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 And what they needed was the reassurance that is offered by Paul in these verses.

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 And certainly this would have been wonderfully reassuring to them.

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 Now you may be here this morning and that's a particular battle for you.

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 A struggle for you even this morning.

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 What you're facing is how can I know for sure that I'm saved?

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 How can I know for sure that God has saved me?

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 And this text can bring you tremendous clarity, can't it?

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 It can bring you clarity as to where you stand in relationship to God.

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 On the whole, however, it does not seem that Paul is addressing a church

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 that is generally overcome with doubt.

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 But rather a church that is overcome with discouragement.

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 Affliction.

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 Suffering.

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 Conflict.

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 Opposition.

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 Temptation.

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 Kill.

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 Are all words used in this letter to describe the immediate circumstances

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 of the Christians in Thessalonica.

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 Though they notably persevered in their faith, they were undoubtedly discouraged.

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 Because who doesn't get discouraged at the constant barrage of hardship,

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 especially the hardship that comes in spiritual forms.

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 So Paul sought to encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ by reminding them that while they are disdained

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 and persecuted and hated by their unbelieving neighbors,

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 they are loved and chosen by God.

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 And what a wonderful encouragement that must have been.

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 The doctrine of election is never meant to confuse or frustrate us.

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 It is always meant to encourage us.

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 Isn't that Paul's reasoning in Romans chapter 8?

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 And he says, this electing work of God.

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 When he gets to the end of this, that golden chain of grace, what is it that he says?

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 He says, if God before us, who can stand against us?

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 He who did not spare his own son, but gave himself for you.

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 And then he goes on and he says, who can separate you from the love of God?

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 None of these things can.

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 And he offers up this glorious doxology in that moment.

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 What is all of that relating back to?

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 The encouragement that can be found in God's electing love.

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 But Paul didn't merely say they were part of God's elect and move on.

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 That would be to say that, well, the proof is in the chili recipe on its own.

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 That's not what Paul does.

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 No, he substantiated the claim by recalling the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the Thessalonians' conversion to Christ

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 and in the Spirit's persevering work in their faith.

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 For Paul, the proof was in the preaching of the gospel and their perseverance in affliction.

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 All things being orchestrated by the gracious and powerful work of the Holy Spirit.

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 And that is the point of this text.

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 You can say that you're part of God's elect.

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 The proof will be the same for you as it was the Thessalonians.

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 So this text this morning, it will either be for you a line in the sand that exposes your spiritual state,

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 or it will come to you as a wonderful encouragement that reminds you of God's saving love for you.

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 This text then reveals two ways to know that you belong to God.

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 Two ways to know that you belong to God.

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 Number one, the proof is in Spirit-empowered preaching.

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 The proof is in Spirit-empowered preaching.

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 Look at verse 5.

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 We know He has chosen you because our gospel came to you, not only in word, but in power, in the Holy Spirit,

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 and with full conviction, you knowing what kind of men we prove to be among you for your sake.

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 The first thing Paul did to substantiate the claim was call the Thessalonians to remember their gospel beginnings.

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 Remember, we talked about this in great detail a couple of weeks ago,

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 and Paul now turns to them and he says,

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 I want you to remember when the gospel came to you.

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 There are so many things, both theological and philosophical,

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 that Paul and Silas and Timothy, that they could have reasoned over with the Thessalonians.

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 Still, it would not have been enough for them to arrive in Thessalonica preaching just anything.

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 It wouldn't have been enough.

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 For their preaching to make a lasting impact,

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 it had to be laser-focused on the gospel message.

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 For as Paul writes to the Romans,

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 it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

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 The gospel is.

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 But what exactly is this good news that they proclaimed in Thessalonica?

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 That's what gospel means.

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 It means good news.

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 What is actually the content of that gospel?

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 Well, we're told in Acts chapter 17, verses 2 and 3,

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 Paul went in, this is in Thessalonica,

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 as was his custom,

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 and on three Sabbath days,

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 he reasoned with them from the scriptures,

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 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer

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 and to rise from the dead,

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 and saying,

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 this Jesus,

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 whom I proclaim to you,

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 is that Christ.

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 The good news of the gospel is about a Savior.

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 It is all about a Savior.

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 God promised in the scriptures that this Savior would die in the place of sinners,

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 and that after that death,

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 he would rise from the dead to prove

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 that his atonement was sufficient

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 to satisfy God's wrath,

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 that it would prove in his resurrection

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 that he provided sinners with true eternal life

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 because he alone has the power over life and death.

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 All of that is foretold in the prophets and in the law,

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 pointing forward to this promised Savior.

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 And Paul says,

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 Jesus of Nazareth is that Savior.

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 He is that Christ.

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 He is that Messiah.

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 He is the sinless Son of God

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 who bore the punishment for our sins,

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 and he rose from the dead to prove it.

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 That is the gospel.

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 And he offers forgiveness of sin.

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 He offers reconciliation with God.

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 He offers eternal life in his name

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 to all who will trust him.

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 That's the gospel message.

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 That's what Paul came to Thessalonica preaching.

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 That's what Paul went to Philippi preaching.

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 That's what Paul went to Berea preaching.

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 That's what Paul went to Athens preaching.

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 That's what Paul went to Corinth preaching.

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 Everywhere he went,

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 that's what he preached.

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 Why?

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 He could have preached about so many things.

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 He could have reasoned with them

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 over so many philosophical things,

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 particularly in Athens.

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 But no, he doesn't do that.

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 What does he do?

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 He goes and he preaches the gospel.

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 Why?

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 Because it is the gospel

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 that is the power of God

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 unto salvation.

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 There's a lot of instruction.

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 There's a lot of messages out there

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 that will stir you.

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 There is a lot of instruction

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 that may even change you.

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 There is only one message

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 that can save you.

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 Apart from the proclamation

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 of the gospel of Jesus,

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 you cannot be saved.

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 Acts chapter four,

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 there is salvation in no one else

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 for there is no other name

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 under heaven given

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 among men by which we must be saved

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 other than the name of Jesus.

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 Romans 10, 17,

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 faith does not come by epiphany.

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 Faith comes from hearing.

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 Hearing what?

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 Hearing the word of Christ.

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 What's the word of Christ?

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 It's the gospel.

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 It's the gospel message.

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 What Paul preached in Thessalonians.

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 How could Paul say,

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 well, I know for certain

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 that God has chosen you

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 because Paul knew

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 that what they received

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 was the true gospel message.

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 He knew what was preached to them.

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 And apart from the preaching

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 of that gospel,

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 there can be no salvation.

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 You say, well, how can I know

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 I'm saved?

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 Well, do you know the gospel?

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 If you don't know the gospel,

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 Paul, if the true gospel

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 has never been proclaimed to you,

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 you can't possibly be saved.

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 But it is proclaimed to you now.

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 Therefore, the door of faith is open.

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 The proof of the Thessalonians' election

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 is not less than the gospel message.

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 That's what I'm trying to say.

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 It's not less than the gospel message.

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 That is essential, of course.

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 But what we find in this text

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 is that the proof of their election

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 wasn't merely the words

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 of the gospel, though.

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 Look again at what he says.

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 Our gospel came to you

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 not only in word,

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 but in power.

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 Power.

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:19.220
 We talked about this

00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.680
 in our Sunday school class

00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.860
 this morning in Lakeside Connect.

00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:23.100
 That word power,

00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.279
 it's deutamus.

00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:24.779
 In Greek,

00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:26.600
 it's the word we get dynamite from.

00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:27.860
 It's powerful.

00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:29.220
 It's explosive.

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.840
 The source of that power,

00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:33.560
 Paul says,

00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:35.500
 is the Holy Spirit,

00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:36.840
 God himself.

00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:39.740
 The display of that power,

00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:41.360
 how he knew that that power

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:43.919
 was actually being made evident,

00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:46.879
 was the full assurance

00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:49.299
 with which Paul preached the gospel

00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:52.759
 and with which the Thessalonians

00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:54.319
 believed the gospel.

00:16:55.599 --> 00:16:57.059
 So follow what he's saying.

00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.699
 I preached the gospel,

00:16:59.079 --> 00:17:00.579
 but when we preached the gospel,

00:17:00.699 --> 00:17:01.799
 it wasn't just empty words.

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.939
 There was power to it,

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:03.879
 and it wasn't our power.

00:17:04.159 --> 00:17:04.960
 It was the power

00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.259
 that was sourced in the Holy Spirit,

00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:08.000
 and we know that power was at work

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.659
 because there was a full conviction,

00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.639
 not only in our preaching,

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:12.159
 but in the way you received it.

00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:14.120
 Power.

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.720
 Their gospel preaching

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.880
 had a spiritual power

00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:22.259
 that could not be manufactured.

00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.940
 It couldn't be manipulated.

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.040
 That's what he's saying.

00:17:27.300 --> 00:17:29.500
 It is a gracious work of God's Spirit

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:33.960
 that occurs according to God's saving purposes

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:38.480
 through the proclamation of the gospel,

00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:40.480
 whether from a pulpit on a Sunday morning

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.160
 or at a coffee shop

00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:44.140
 on a Tuesday afternoon

00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:45.559
 with Bibles open,

00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:47.180
 the gospel being proclaimed.

00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:50.799
 That's where the power is.

00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.099
 Can I just prove that to you

00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:55.000
 in a few other places?

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:57.059
 You're in 1 Thessalonians.

00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.420
 Set your eyes on chapter 2

00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.960
 and verse 13.

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.680
 Notice what Paul says here.

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:06.500
 We also thank God constantly for this,

00:18:06.600 --> 00:18:08.960
 that when you received the word of God,

00:18:09.060 --> 00:18:10.279
 which you heard from us,

00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:12.400
 you accepted it not as the word of men,

00:18:12.560 --> 00:18:13.759
 but as it really is,

00:18:13.820 --> 00:18:14.720
 the word of God,

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:18.840
 which is at work in you.

00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:21.860
 Now, that's an important phrase, isn't it?

00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:23.700
 That it's not that the word,

00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:25.200
 the gospel didn't come in word only.

00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:25.900
 That's what he's saying.

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:27.560
 But as the gospel came,

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:29.880
 the gospel itself was doing a work,

00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:32.000
 and what was the source of that work?

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.220
 The Holy Spirit.

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:38.180
 In Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 12,

00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:39.520
 that's clarified for us.

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.420
 The writer says,

00:18:41.540 --> 00:18:42.320
 the word of God,

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:42.860
 the scripture,

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:43.740
 the gospel,

00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:45.020
 it's living,

00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:46.060
 it's active,

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:49.200
 it's sharper than any two-edged sword.

00:18:49.320 --> 00:18:50.640
 It pierces to the division

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.720
 of soul and spirit,

00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:52.880
 the joints and marrow.

00:18:53.300 --> 00:18:55.140
 It discerns the thoughts

00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:56.460
 and intentions of our heart.

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:58.580
 That's a strange thing to say.

00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:01.820
 We read books,

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:04.200
 and the author of Hebrews says,

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:05.160
 the Bible is a book

00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:06.380
 that actually reads you.

00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.560
 Well, how does it actually do that?

00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:09.300
 It's just a book.

00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:10.780
 It's just words.

00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:13.220
 Oh, but it's not just words.

00:19:13.780 --> 00:19:14.900
 When it is infused

00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:16.260
 with the power of the Holy Spirit.

00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:17.820
 Let me give you another one.

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:19.800
 Acts chapter 16 and verse 14.

00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.320
 This is the narrative

00:19:21.320 --> 00:19:22.240
 of the beginnings

00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.800
 of the church in Philippi.

00:19:24.760 --> 00:19:25.360
 It says,

00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:26.280
 one who heard us

00:19:26.280 --> 00:19:27.500
 was a woman named Lydia.

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.099
 In Thessalonica,

00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:30.559
 the Lord opened her heart

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:32.299
 to pay attention

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.619
 to what was said by Paul.

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.619
 And what was said by Paul.

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.519
 The same thing he said

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.279
 in Thessalonica.

00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:38.960
 And there was power in it.

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.319
 How did he know

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.240
 there was power in it?

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.099
 Because the Lord opened

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:43.819
 her heart to believe.

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:46.279
 First Peter chapter 1,

00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:46.960
 verse 23.

00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.819
 You have been born again,

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:50.339
 not of perishable seed,

00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.740
 but of imperishable.

00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:52.500
 How?

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:54.700
 Through the living

00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:57.420
 and abiding word of God,

00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.220
 Peter says.

00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:01.000
 And then we have in this

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.720
 kind of strange statement

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.740
 here at the end of this verse.

00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:04.200
 He says,

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.660
 you know what kind of men

00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.960
 we proved to be among you.

00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.339
 What does he mean?

00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:08.640
 He's like,

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.220
 you know.

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:11.460
 You know what this was like.

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.799
 You know who we were like.

00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:14.980
 Paul lived among the Thessalonians

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.720
 in such a way

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:17.180
 that they could be sure

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:17.839
 of his character.

00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:19.160
 His character then

00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.079
 giving credibility

00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:21.899
 to the power of God

00:20:21.899 --> 00:20:22.539
 that was at work

00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.139
 in his preaching.

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.079
 And he's going to elaborate

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:26.519
 on this in chapter 2,

00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.220
 so we won't spend

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.319
 a lot of time on it now.

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:30.139
 But here he acknowledges

00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:31.419
 that they knew

00:20:31.419 --> 00:20:32.480
 he didn't behave

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.859
 as some charlatan.

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:37.299
 That he wasn't manipulating them

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.519
 for personal gain.

00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.059
 And they knew

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:42.339
 because they watched him live.

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:45.559
 They saw when he refused

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:47.519
 to take money from them.

00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:49.059
 He's going to elaborate

00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.980
 on that later.

00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:50.699
 He's saying,

00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:50.859
 look,

00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.399
 we came to you.

00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.079
 We preached the gospel.

00:20:52.199 --> 00:20:52.759
 And you know,

00:20:52.919 --> 00:20:53.919
 you know the character

00:20:53.919 --> 00:20:54.480
 and integrity

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.399
 with which we preached

00:20:55.399 --> 00:20:55.980
 that gospel.

00:20:57.659 --> 00:20:58.819
 What they experienced

00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:00.019
 was not the power

00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:01.579
 of Paul's rhetoric,

00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:03.439
 but it was the gracious

00:21:03.439 --> 00:21:04.839
 power of God,

00:21:05.159 --> 00:21:07.179
 which is a similar argument

00:21:07.179 --> 00:21:08.079
 that Paul makes

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.179
 to the Corinthians.

00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:11.379
 In 1 Corinthians 2,

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:11.859
 he says,

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.859
 when I was with you,

00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:14.480
 I came in weakness

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.779
 and fear

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.919
 and much trembling.

00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.820
 And my speech

00:21:18.820 --> 00:21:19.900
 and my message

00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:21.580
 were not in plausible

00:21:21.580 --> 00:21:22.600
 words of wisdom.

00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.300
 That is,

00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:24.720
 they weren't meant

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.740
 to be eloquent.

00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.779
 I didn't come to you

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.180
 trying to impress you

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:31.300
 with my speech.

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.259
 No,

00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:34.080
 my words were

00:21:34.080 --> 00:21:35.140
 in demonstration

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:36.259
 of the Spirit

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.539
 and of power

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:40.279
 so that your faith

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.360
 might not rest

00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:42.539
 in the wisdom of men,

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:44.940
 but in the power of God.

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.579
 What is he saying?

00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.539
 He's saying that

00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:51.099
 the power of gospel preaching

00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:53.980
 is not in the speech itself.

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:57.460
 It's in the Spirit's work

00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.519
 through it.

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.639
 That doesn't mean

00:22:01.639 --> 00:22:02.319
 that the gospel

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:04.240
 cannot be communicated

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.319
 with eloquence,

00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:07.480
 that it cannot be communicated

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:09.759
 with persuasive rhetoric,

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:12.740
 apologetic,

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.539
 or undeniable

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.619
 apologetic

00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:15.819
 persuasion.

00:22:16.779 --> 00:22:18.099
 It's not what that means.

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.980
 But what it means

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.920
 is that those things

00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.599
 are ultimately

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.619
 unnecessary

00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:24.299
 to the power

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.039
 of the gospel.

00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:27.059
 And many times

00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.440
 they're actually

00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.440
 even harmful.

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:28.940
 Why?

00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:30.140
 Because they may,

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.059
 someone may rest

00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:31.500
 their faith

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.299
 based on the way

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.500
 someone has formed

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.240
 their speech

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.920
 rather than on

00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.759
 the thing itself.

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.200
 That's what Paul's saying.

00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:37.720
 He says,

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.779
 we didn't do that.

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:42.299
 The best sermon

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:44.960
 is utterly ineffective

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.740
 without the Spirit's power.

00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:49.599
 And the most simple

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.259
 and basic presentation

00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.599
 of the true gospel

00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:54.839
 is infinitely powerful

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:56.420
 when the Holy Spirit

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.420
 is at work in it.

00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.400
 And some of you,

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.740
 sometimes you question yourself.

00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:01.799
 Maybe you even question

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:03.000
 the insurance that you have

00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.039
 because you look back

00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.720
 on your conversion

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.579
 and you think about the guy

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.519
 that was preaching that day

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.099
 and you just think,

00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:07.940
 well, that guy

00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:08.859
 was very smart.

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:10.139
 It really wasn't that great

00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:10.939
 of a presentation.

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.219
 Or maybe you look back

00:23:12.219 --> 00:23:12.779
 on it now

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.299
 and you think,

00:23:13.659 --> 00:23:14.019
 you know,

00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:15.000
 I'm so different

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.679
 about him

00:23:15.679 --> 00:23:16.839
 on theological things.

00:23:16.939 --> 00:23:18.000
 Can I really trust

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.799
 that what he gave me

00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.259
 that day,

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:20.259
 it doesn't matter.

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.599
 He doesn't matter.

00:23:24.199 --> 00:23:24.899
 The speech

00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:25.259
 and the way

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.859
 it was formulated,

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:27.240
 it didn't matter.

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.039
 Even the most simple

00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:31.240
 and basic presentation

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.419
 of the true gospel

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:35.460
 when it is infused

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.080
 with the power

00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:36.680
 of the Spirit

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:39.440
 will make an eternal

00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.539
 difference in your life.

00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:43.900
 Brian,

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.660
 I think it was

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.300
 Wednesday morning,

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:46.440
 quoted R.C. Sproul

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:48.740
 and he said,

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:49.940
 it doesn't matter

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.620
 how beautiful

00:23:50.620 --> 00:23:51.519
 a ship is

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:53.360
 if there's no wind

00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:54.140
 in its sails.

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.320
 It's just gonna

00:23:57.320 --> 00:23:58.140
 stay adrift.

00:23:58.140 --> 00:24:02.700
 Sometimes we're looking

00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.920
 but we say,

00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:04.180
 okay,

00:24:04.320 --> 00:24:05.460
 I'll trust Christ

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.040
 when somebody

00:24:06.040 --> 00:24:07.040
 finally convinces me

00:24:07.040 --> 00:24:08.000
 with just the right argument.

00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.300
 No, you won't.

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.140
 No, you won't.

00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.320
 I can give you

00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:15.440
 every possible argument

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:17.120
 and defend it

00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:18.620
 to perfection

00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:20.620
 and it won't make

00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:21.640
 a difference in your life

00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:23.220
 if it doesn't come

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.840
 with the power

00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:25.100
 of the Spirit.

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:27.180
 Isn't this what Jesus

00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:28.120
 meant in his conversation?

00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:29.380
 with Nicodemus?

00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:31.560
 John chapter 3,

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.040
 Jesus tells Nicodemus,

00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.740
 don't marvel

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.720
 that I said to you

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.800
 you must be born again.

00:24:36.840 --> 00:24:38.080
 The wind blows

00:24:38.080 --> 00:24:38.740
 where it wishes.

00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:41.000
 You hear it sound.

00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:42.340
 You see the evidence

00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:43.400
 of it that it's there.

00:24:44.280 --> 00:24:45.220
 But you don't know

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.080
 where it comes from

00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:46.920
 or where it goes.

00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.640
 And then Jesus says,

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.820
 this is how it is

00:24:49.820 --> 00:24:51.200
 with everyone

00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.080
 who is born

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:52.860
 of the Spirit.

00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:57.360
 Preaching is only effective

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.379
 when it has the power

00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:58.899
 of the Spirit.

00:24:59.219 --> 00:25:00.539
 This is a soliloquy

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.579
 you can take with you today.

00:25:02.219 --> 00:25:03.399
 Preaching is only effective

00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:04.299
 when it has the power

00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.759
 of the Spirit.

00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:06.619
 Paul's preaching

00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.559
 in Thessalonica

00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.719
 had the wind

00:25:08.719 --> 00:25:09.179
 of the Spirit.

00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:10.779
 Therefore,

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.939
 he knew for certain

00:25:12.939 --> 00:25:13.779
 that God chose

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.740
 the Thessalonians

00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:17.019
 and he praised God

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.519
 for them.

00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.079
 Can I ask you,

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.240
 has there been a time

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.879
 in your life

00:25:21.879 --> 00:25:22.619
 when upon hearing

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.719
 the gospel message,

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:25.519
 the wind

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.100
 of the Spirit

00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:26.500
 blew?

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.160
 And you know

00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:29.720
 that it did

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:31.779
 because it came

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.460
 with conviction.

00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.380
 It convinced

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.279
 a dead heart,

00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.819
 brought it to life.

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:42.680
 Turning your unbelieving

00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.579
 stony heart

00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.500
 into a heart

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.500
 that expressed

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.960
 genuine saving faith.

00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.660
 That's the work

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.120
 of the Spirit,

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.620
 my friend.

00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:53.059
 How can I know

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.839
 I belong to God?

00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.959
 Has the Spirit

00:25:55.959 --> 00:25:56.599
 been blowing

00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:58.159
 in your lives?

00:25:59.919 --> 00:26:00.659
 Now I want you

00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:01.799
 to follow Paul's argument

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.639
 as it unfolds

00:26:02.639 --> 00:26:03.219
 in the text.

00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.679
 He was sure

00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:06.759
 of the Thessalonian

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.899
 church's election

00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:10.239
 because his gospel

00:26:10.239 --> 00:26:10.679
 preaching

00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:11.639
 in Thessalonica

00:26:11.639 --> 00:26:12.979
 was infused

00:26:12.979 --> 00:26:14.059
 with the Spirit's power.

00:26:14.959 --> 00:26:16.679
 But how could he know

00:26:16.679 --> 00:26:18.639
 that the Holy Spirit

00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:20.179
 empowered his preaching?

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:22.159
 Verse 6.

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.500
 And you became

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.819
 imitators of us

00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.699
 and of the Lord

00:26:27.699 --> 00:26:30.159
 for you received

00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:30.839
 the word

00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:32.759
 in much affliction

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:34.459
 with the joy

00:26:34.459 --> 00:26:35.299
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:26:36.199 --> 00:26:37.139
 Proof number one

00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:38.919
 is Spirit

00:26:38.919 --> 00:26:39.759
 empowered preaching.

00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:41.859
 Proof number two

00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.739
 in this text.

00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:44.339
 Spirit

00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:45.319
 enabled

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.719
 perseverance.

00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:48.659
 Spirit

00:26:48.659 --> 00:26:49.339
 enabled

00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.579
 perseverance.

00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:50.799
 perseverance.

00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.559
 The proof

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.779
 was in the Thessalonian

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.279
 spirit

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.219
 enabled perseverance

00:26:55.219 --> 00:26:55.619
 here.

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.759
 When they heard

00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.339
 the gospel

00:26:58.339 --> 00:27:00.279
 they received it.

00:27:00.739 --> 00:27:01.259
 That is

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.500
 they believed

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.339
 what they heard.

00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.419
 And their reception

00:27:05.419 --> 00:27:06.139
 of the word

00:27:06.139 --> 00:27:06.739
 was marked

00:27:06.739 --> 00:27:07.339
 by what?

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:08.879
 Joy.

00:27:10.939 --> 00:27:12.319
 They were excited

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.000
 to hear

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.939
 and believe

00:27:13.939 --> 00:27:14.439
 the gospel.

00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.000
 You remember

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.639
 what that was like

00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.019
 don't you?

00:27:16.239 --> 00:27:17.019
 Don't you remember

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.719
 when you finally

00:27:17.719 --> 00:27:18.359
 came to faith

00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:18.739
 or at least

00:27:18.739 --> 00:27:19.159
 when you got

00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:19.600
 to the point

00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:19.960
 where you

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.460
 realized

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:20.660
 and you

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.300
 put all the

00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:22.240
 pieces together

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.840
 that oh

00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.940
 I'm a Christian.

00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:26.120
 There's joy

00:27:26.120 --> 00:27:26.840
 that comes with that

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.080
 right?

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.640
 And when they

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.660
 received the gospel

00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.380
 when they received

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:30.740
 the word

00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.560
 they did so

00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:33.700
 with joy.

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:35.100
 But again

00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:36.040
 the ultimate

00:27:36.040 --> 00:27:36.800
 proof of their

00:27:36.800 --> 00:27:37.800
 genuine conversion

00:27:37.800 --> 00:27:39.519
 was not less

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.820
 than joyful

00:27:40.820 --> 00:27:41.380
 belief.

00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:42.940
 But in this verse

00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.759
 it's more than

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.460
 joyful belief

00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:44.940
 isn't it?

00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:46.240
 For the Thessalonians.

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:48.279
 Paul recognized

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.519
 that the Holy Spirit

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.319
 must have been

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:50.680
 the one

00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.359
 to supply

00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:52.160
 this joy

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:53.220
 because their

00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:54.400
 faith in the gospel

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.700
 endured in

00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.700
 much

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:58.460
 affliction

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:59.759
 he says.

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.599
 The proof

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.279
 of the pudding

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.140
 is in the eating.

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.319
 The proof

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:07.259
 of God's

00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.180
 electing love

00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.559
 is in

00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.299
 persevering

00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:10.980
 faith.

00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.620
 It's in

00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:13.480
 persevering faith.

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.279
 You see this is not

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.799
 something you can

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.819
 determine in prospect.

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:17.200
 It is something you

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.900
 determine in

00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:18.680
 retrospect.

00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:21.660
 Jesus said

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.339
 something about

00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:22.960
 this in his

00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:23.620
 parable of the

00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:23.980
 soils.

00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:24.940
 Do you remember

00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.259
 it?

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.440
 In Mark

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.120
 chapter 4

00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:29.220
 these are the

00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:29.940
 ones sown

00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.519
 on rocky

00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.059
 ground.

00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:32.579
 The ones

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.120
 who when they

00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:34.099
 hear the word

00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:35.480
 immediately

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.299
 receive it

00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:36.740
 with joy

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.779
 but they have

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.319
 no root

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:40.079
 in themselves.

00:28:40.880 --> 00:28:41.279
 They endure

00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.940
 for a while.

00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:43.839
 Then when

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.539
 tribulation

00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:46.240
 persecution

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.960
 arises

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.720
 on account

00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.079
 of the

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.440
 word

00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:49.599
 immediately

00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.440
 they what?

00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:52.299
 They fall

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:52.680
 away.

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.599
 That's the

00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:53.879
 words of

00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:54.139
 Jesus.

00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:57.619
 Jesus's point

00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:58.079
 is that there

00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:58.659
 are people

00:28:58.659 --> 00:28:59.279
 who for one

00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.819
 reason or

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.139
 another

00:29:00.139 --> 00:29:01.220
 joyfully

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.099
 receive the

00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:02.539
 gospel

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.759
 but their

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.779
 faith proves

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.180
 to be

00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:05.819
 superficial

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:07.559
 when they

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.339
 abandon it

00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:08.960
 under

00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.500
 challenging

00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.220
 circumstances.

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:13.440
 now this

00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.319
 is not a

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.019
 reference to

00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.579
 a person

00:29:15.579 --> 00:29:17.100
 in a moment

00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:17.839
 of weakness.

00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.640
 Think Peter

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:19.940
 and his

00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.620
 three denials.

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:22.779
 Peter's

00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.380
 three denials

00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.019
 were not true

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.620
 denials were

00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:24.759
 they?

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.740
 He was trying

00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.220
 to preserve

00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:27.940
 his life

00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:29.640
 certainly he

00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:29.980
 shouldn't have

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.460
 done what he

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.299
 did but Peter

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.740
 wasn't really

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.839
 denying Christ

00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.579
 personally in his

00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.160
 heart right?

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.600
 That's different

00:29:37.600 --> 00:29:38.079
 than Judas

00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:38.460
 though isn't

00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:38.640
 it?

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:41.480
 Judas's

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.200
 betrayal and

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:43.140
 rejection was

00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:44.280
 a heart level

00:29:44.280 --> 00:29:44.880
 rejection.

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.860
 So what Jesus

00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:48.580
 is talking about

00:29:48.580 --> 00:29:48.940
 here he's not

00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.500
 talking about a

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.500
 person who has

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.080
 a moment of

00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:51.740
 weakness and a

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.440
 moment of doubt

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:52.960
 where they don't

00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:54.100
 follow through on

00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:54.820
 their faith like

00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:55.420
 they should.

00:29:56.520 --> 00:29:57.060
 The scriptures

00:29:57.060 --> 00:29:58.340
 actually clarify

00:29:58.340 --> 00:30:01.540
 for us that

00:30:01.540 --> 00:30:02.540
 this cannot be

00:30:02.540 --> 00:30:03.160
 an individual

00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:04.780
 who after truly

00:30:04.780 --> 00:30:05.860
 being saved by

00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:07.600
 God loses

00:30:07.600 --> 00:30:08.460
 or forfeits

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.240
 that salvation.

00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.319
 Instead

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.380
 the Bible

00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.240
 teaches us

00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.779
 that this

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:14.160
 falling away

00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:16.380
 reveals that

00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:17.380
 their initial

00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:18.140
 display of

00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:18.680
 faith was not

00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.519
 actually authentic.

00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:20.880
 A verse we

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.480
 often turn to

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.019
 for that is

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.960
 1 John 2

00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:24.259
 and verse 19.

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.600
 John says

00:30:25.600 --> 00:30:26.380
 in speaking of

00:30:26.380 --> 00:30:26.920
 the spirit of

00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.579
 Antichrist

00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.299
 those who go

00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.039
 out denying

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.660
 the Christ

00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.299
 denying the

00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:30.620
 gospel

00:30:30.619 --> 00:30:31.899
 they went out

00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.759
 from us

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:34.459
 but they were

00:30:34.459 --> 00:30:35.419
 not of us

00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:36.919
 for if they

00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:37.679
 had been of

00:30:37.679 --> 00:30:38.039
 us

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:39.699
 they would have

00:30:39.699 --> 00:30:40.619
 continued with

00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:41.139
 us

00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:42.579
 but they went

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:42.799
 out.

00:30:42.899 --> 00:30:43.059
 Why?

00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.419
 That it might

00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:45.359
 become plain

00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:46.619
 that they are

00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:48.519
 not of us.

00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.039
 Paul was

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.759
 certain of the

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.419
 Thessalonians

00:30:51.419 --> 00:30:52.279
 election because

00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:53.099
 the Holy Spirit

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:54.339
 enabled them to

00:30:54.339 --> 00:30:55.359
 persevere despite

00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:57.759
 severe persecution.

00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.779
 Look at this

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.339
 text on the

00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:00.940
 screen from

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:02.019
 2 Corinthians

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.819
 chapter 8

00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.700
 verses 1 and 2.

00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:04.480
 This is when

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.559
 Paul is describing

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.160
 to the church

00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:06.680
 in Corinth

00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:09.259
 the struggle

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:10.460
 of the churches

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.220
 in Macedonia

00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:12.180
 which is the

00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:12.500
 church of

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:14.460
 the Thessalonians.

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:15.359
 We want you

00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.140
 to know brothers

00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:17.420
 about the grace

00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:18.259
 of God

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:19.640
 that has been

00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.240
 given among

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.740
 the churches

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.619
 of Macedonia

00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:23.200
 for in a

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.700
 severe test

00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:26.039
 of affliction

00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:28.480
 their abundance

00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.700
 of joy

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:31.200
 and their

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.279
 extreme poverty

00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:34.359
 have overflowed

00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:34.980
 in a wealth

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.659
 of generosity

00:31:35.659 --> 00:31:36.440
 on their part.

00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:37.059
 He goes on

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:37.460
 later and he

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:38.259
 says this is

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.339
 explained because

00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:40.200
 they first gave

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.940
 themselves to

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:42.619
 God before

00:31:42.619 --> 00:31:42.940
 they did

00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:43.680
 anything else.

00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:46.240
 By remaining

00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:46.940
 faithful in

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.720
 affliction the

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.359
 Thessalonian

00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:49.839
 Christians followed

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.659
 in the footsteps

00:31:50.659 --> 00:31:51.879
 of the Lord

00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:53.279
 Jesus who for

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.279
 the joy that

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:55.079
 was set before

00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:56.019
 him in

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.279
 endured the

00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:57.900
 cross

00:31:57.900 --> 00:32:01.019
 and what

00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:01.639
 was the net

00:32:01.639 --> 00:32:02.480
 result of the

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.160
 Thessalonians

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.019
 conversion and

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.500
 perseverance?

00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:05.859
 Verse 7

00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:08.160
 So that

00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:09.099
 that's a purpose

00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:09.660
 statement it's a

00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.480
 result action

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:10.940
 result.

00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:12.099
 What's the result?

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.420
 You became an

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:15.279
 example to all

00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.019
 the believers in

00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:17.059
 Macedonia and

00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.440
 Achaia.

00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:19.920
 We're going to

00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:20.859
 unpack that next

00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:21.960
 week but it's

00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.619
 important that we

00:32:22.619 --> 00:32:23.680
 recognize here the

00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:25.019
 pattern of grace

00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:27.680
 Paul was thankful

00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:30.000
 to God that the

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.000
 gracious work he

00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.000
 was doing in the

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.859
 Thessalonians resulted

00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:35.420
 in the gracious work

00:32:35.420 --> 00:32:36.400
 being accomplished in

00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.059
 others.

00:32:39.139 --> 00:32:40.400
 Now I told you why is

00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.019
 Paul saying this?

00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.059
 Well it could be that

00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.599
 some of them just

00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.460
 needed some assurance.

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.160
 They needed to be

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:45.680
 reassured about their

00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:46.720
 salvation but I think

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.619
 this is really meant to

00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:48.819
 be an encouragement and

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.879
 what a joyful

00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:50.980
 encouragement it must

00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:52.139
 have been for these

00:32:52.140 --> 00:32:53.480
 faithful persevering

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.640
 Christians to know

00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:55.360
 that their suffering

00:32:55.360 --> 00:32:56.360
 was not wasted.

00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.500
 Not only did their

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.340
 perseverance and

00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:01.540
 affliction prove God's

00:33:01.540 --> 00:33:02.420
 electing love for

00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:03.740
 them but the testimony

00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:05.080
 of it was being used

00:33:05.080 --> 00:33:06.800
 by God to bring

00:33:06.800 --> 00:33:09.040
 others to saving

00:33:09.040 --> 00:33:11.180
 persevering faith in

00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:12.100
 Jesus Christ.

00:33:13.020 --> 00:33:14.320
 The joy of which is

00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:17.480
 yet another proof of

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.180
 their election.

00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:21.200
 Now before we finish

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:23.660
 you may be struggling

00:33:23.660 --> 00:33:24.539
 at this point

00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:27.420
 because you think okay

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.900
 the text is about

00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:30.539
 proofs of our

00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.140
 salvation.

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:32.560
 Proofs of God's

00:33:32.560 --> 00:33:34.360
 electing love set on

00:33:34.360 --> 00:33:35.160
 us in particular.

00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:36.980
 Okay I've heard the

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:37.320
 gospel.

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:39.380
 I think I experienced

00:33:39.380 --> 00:33:40.180
 the power of the

00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:40.720
 Spirit in the

00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:41.620
 presentation of that

00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:42.360
 gospel because I

00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:43.720
 responded in joyful

00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:44.220
 faith.

00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:45.480
 But then you get to

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.000
 this point and you

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:47.340
 think well you know

00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:48.240
 I'm struggling a

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:49.699
 little bit because I

00:33:49.699 --> 00:33:50.619
 don't think I've been

00:33:50.619 --> 00:33:51.839
 tested like this.

00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:54.720
 Can I actually be

00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:56.699
 assured of God's

00:33:56.699 --> 00:33:57.579
 saving grace in my

00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:58.579
 life if I haven't

00:33:58.579 --> 00:34:00.000
 gone through such

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.359
 suffering?

00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.539
 Can I really know

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:03.619
 that I belong to

00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:03.939
 God?

00:34:06.199 --> 00:34:07.439
 The fact is that none

00:34:07.439 --> 00:34:08.519
 of us may ever face

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.460
 the kind of affliction

00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:11.059
 that the Thessalonians

00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:11.420
 endured.

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:14.079
 But the point is not

00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.579
 for us to compare our

00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:16.360
 suffering to anyone

00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:16.720
 else's.

00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.720
 That's never

00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:18.700
 recommended.

00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:19.800
 That's never commended

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:20.579
 in the scriptures at

00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:20.820
 all.

00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:22.420
 And that's not the

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.300
 point of this statement

00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:23.660
 here.

00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:26.320
 I want to suggest to

00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:26.840
 you that if that's

00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.720
 where you are, that's

00:34:27.720 --> 00:34:28.660
 a struggle for you.

00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:30.360
 I want to suggest

00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:32.180
 that your faith has

00:34:32.180 --> 00:34:33.140
 been tested in more

00:34:33.140 --> 00:34:33.920
 ways than you may

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.360
 realize.

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:38.039
 Maybe your life

00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:38.500
 hasn't been

00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:38.820
 threatened.

00:34:41.220 --> 00:34:41.880
 Have you ever

00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:42.860
 faced a trial?

00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:45.059
 Some kind of

00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.659
 suffering in your

00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:47.759
 life and the

00:34:47.759 --> 00:34:48.500
 greatest temptation

00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.940
 for you was anger

00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:50.440
 at God?

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.279
 How could you do

00:34:54.279 --> 00:34:54.779
 this to me?

00:34:55.880 --> 00:34:56.739
 After everything I've

00:34:56.739 --> 00:34:58.480
 done for you, how

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.179
 could you do this to

00:34:59.179 --> 00:34:59.380
 me?

00:35:00.179 --> 00:35:01.099
 You're supposed to be

00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.340
 good.

00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:02.699
 How could you allow

00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:03.519
 this to happen in my

00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:03.880
 life?

00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:06.000
 You ever been there?

00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.239
 Probably, right?

00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:10.179
 Can I ask you, in the

00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:11.159
 midst of that temptation,

00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:13.739
 did you persevere

00:35:13.739 --> 00:35:14.379
 through the anger?

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.619
 That's an affliction.

00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:22.319
 Have you ever

00:35:22.319 --> 00:35:23.480
 struggled with doubts

00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:25.420
 since you've become a

00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:27.739
 Christian about the

00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:28.659
 reliability of the

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:28.940
 scriptures?

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:30.920
 Whether Christianity

00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:34.839
 really is, as Tim

00:35:34.839 --> 00:35:36.440
 Keller said after he

00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.500
 became a believer, he

00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:38.859
 said, Christianity, the

00:35:38.860 --> 00:35:40.140
 resurrection of Jesus, it

00:35:40.140 --> 00:35:41.559
 is intellectually

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.599
 credible and

00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:43.400
 existentially

00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:44.099
 satisfying.

00:35:45.820 --> 00:35:46.720
 Since you became a

00:35:46.720 --> 00:35:47.160
 Christian, has there

00:35:47.160 --> 00:35:47.780
 ever been a time in

00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:48.340
 your life where you

00:35:48.340 --> 00:35:48.980
 doubted that?

00:35:49.740 --> 00:35:50.519
 Where you wondered,

00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:53.300
 what am I doing?

00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.980
 Is this really real?

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.500
 Am I foolish for

00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.099
 thinking this?

00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:04.260
 Can I ask you, did you

00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:05.980
 keep trusting Jesus even

00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:07.380
 when those questions

00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:09.860
 didn't receive answers?

00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:12.400
 That's affliction.

00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.260
 Have you ever been

00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:18.820
 hurt or abused by a

00:36:18.820 --> 00:36:21.440
 professing Christian who

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:23.320
 even used the Bible to

00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:24.579
 justify their abuse?

00:36:27.639 --> 00:36:29.059
 And the temptation in

00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:30.980
 that moment was, how

00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:33.059
 could I possibly follow a

00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:35.199
 Savior whose disciples do

00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.739
 this?

00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:40.460
 Can I ask you, did your

00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:42.299
 love for Jesus persevere

00:36:42.299 --> 00:36:45.659
 through the abuse of

00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:46.519
 those who claimed to

00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:47.059
 follow him?

00:36:49.559 --> 00:36:50.719
 What about your sin?

00:36:53.899 --> 00:36:55.399
 Have you ever wondered

00:36:55.399 --> 00:36:57.399
 from, wondered away from

00:36:57.399 --> 00:36:59.039
 faithfulness in terms of

00:36:59.039 --> 00:36:59.960
 the way that you live and

00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:00.679
 you just did something

00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:02.599
 really, really stupid?

00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:05.279
 blatantly sinful?

00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:07.679
 That brought tremendous

00:37:07.679 --> 00:37:08.960
 reproach upon the name

00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.539
 of Christ?

00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:13.579
 Maybe it destroyed your

00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:14.339
 family or at least

00:37:14.339 --> 00:37:14.920
 threatened to.

00:37:15.259 --> 00:37:16.819
 I mean, you blew it.

00:37:19.139 --> 00:37:20.159
 Can I ask you, in the

00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:21.500
 midst of that, did you

00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:24.920
 rest in the finished work

00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:26.839
 of Christ on your behalf

00:37:26.839 --> 00:37:29.860
 despite the grief of your

00:37:29.860 --> 00:37:30.380
 own sin?

00:37:32.780 --> 00:37:34.180
 You don't have to wait

00:37:34.180 --> 00:37:35.660
 for some overwhelming

00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:37.480
 test of faith to be

00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:38.200
 assured of your

00:37:38.200 --> 00:37:38.760
 salvation.

00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:41.740
 If you are persevering in

00:37:41.740 --> 00:37:44.340
 this moment, loved

00:37:44.340 --> 00:37:46.539
 ones, that is a

00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:48.000
 testimony of God's grace

00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:48.720
 in your life.

00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:52.019
 It's not because you

00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:53.059
 figured something out that

00:37:53.059 --> 00:37:53.920
 no one else has.

00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:57.320
 It's because you're the

00:37:57.320 --> 00:38:01.220
 beneficiary of a work

00:38:01.220 --> 00:38:03.340
 of grace that cannot be

00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:04.240
 fully explained.

00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:07.420
 It's the power of the

00:38:07.420 --> 00:38:08.220
 Spirit at work.

00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:12.500
 What does all of this have

00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.280
 to do with election?

00:38:16.119 --> 00:38:17.519
 This saving and

00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:19.260
 persevering faith, it's not

00:38:19.260 --> 00:38:20.180
 something that we can

00:38:20.180 --> 00:38:21.400
 produce on our own.

00:38:21.400 --> 00:38:24.079
 Just like Paul, as

00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:25.380
 capable as he was, and

00:38:25.380 --> 00:38:27.220
 you only have to read

00:38:27.220 --> 00:38:27.820
 through a few of his

00:38:27.820 --> 00:38:28.920
 letters to realize he

00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:30.260
 could have come preaching

00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:31.240
 with quite a bit of

00:38:31.240 --> 00:38:32.420
 eloquence and persuasion,

00:38:32.860 --> 00:38:33.760
 and yet that's not what

00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:34.099
 he did.

00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:38.300
 He couldn't manipulate or

00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:39.400
 manufacture what was

00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:40.360
 happening in the people

00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:41.720
 in Thessalonica.

00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:42.860
 He couldn't do that.

00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:45.079
 You can't manipulate it

00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:45.900
 in yourself either.

00:38:47.860 --> 00:38:49.280
 The Scriptures describe

00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:50.639
 our natural condition

00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:53.519
 in at least three ways.

00:38:54.199 --> 00:38:55.599
 We're told that in our

00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:56.679
 natural condition we are

00:38:56.679 --> 00:38:57.779
 in bondage to sin.

00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:59.420
 We're slaves to sin, just

00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:00.659
 like Israel was slaves in

00:39:00.659 --> 00:39:00.879
 Egypt.

00:39:02.599 --> 00:39:04.239
 We're told that in

00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:05.500
 Ephesians chapter 2 that

00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:06.859
 in our natural condition

00:39:06.859 --> 00:39:11.159
 we are dead in our

00:39:11.159 --> 00:39:12.099
 trespasses and sins.

00:39:12.279 --> 00:39:12.639
 Not dying.

00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:13.199
 Not dying.

00:39:14.219 --> 00:39:15.299
 Not drowning.

00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:17.019
 Drowned.

00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:18.679
 Dead.

00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:22.239
 In the Corinthian letters

00:39:22.239 --> 00:39:23.859
 we're told that in our

00:39:23.859 --> 00:39:25.059
 natural condition the

00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:26.819
 natural man cannot even

00:39:26.819 --> 00:39:28.559
 really fully comprehend

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:31.819
 the gospel in and of

00:39:31.819 --> 00:39:33.199
 themselves because it's

00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:35.000
 spiritually discerned and

00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:36.919
 they do not have the work

00:39:36.919 --> 00:39:38.539
 of the Spirit to discern it

00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:38.960
 for them.

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:44.220
 And we're told that in our

00:39:44.220 --> 00:39:46.360
 natural condition, Romans 3,

00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:51.260
 we are unwilling, not just

00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:53.980
 unable, we're unwilling to come

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:55.099
 to God on His terms.

00:39:55.840 --> 00:39:56.940
 That's our condition.

00:39:56.940 --> 00:40:02.659
 If we are to be saved, it

00:40:02.659 --> 00:40:06.300
 requires that someone who is

00:40:06.300 --> 00:40:09.980
 free break our bondage.

00:40:11.579 --> 00:40:14.880
 That someone who is living

00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:17.619
 bring us to life.

00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:22.099
 that someone with true

00:40:22.099 --> 00:40:23.199
 spiritual power

00:40:23.199 --> 00:40:26.519
 take our hardened hearts

00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:29.400
 and transform them to love

00:40:29.400 --> 00:40:30.339
 and worship God.

00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:33.659
 If we are to be saved,

00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:34.759
 that's what it will take.

00:40:36.639 --> 00:40:38.119
 God's election then

00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:41.799
 is a divine act of grace

00:40:41.800 --> 00:40:44.920
 whereby He accomplishes

00:40:44.920 --> 00:40:45.700
 those things

00:40:45.700 --> 00:40:49.080
 through Spirit-empowered

00:40:49.080 --> 00:40:50.160
 preaching

00:40:50.160 --> 00:40:53.720
 so that we might then

00:40:53.720 --> 00:40:54.700
 willfully

00:40:54.700 --> 00:40:57.320
 respond to the gospel

00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:59.240
 in repentance and faith

00:40:59.240 --> 00:41:00.900
 and continue

00:41:00.900 --> 00:41:02.580
 forthwith

00:41:02.580 --> 00:41:04.980
 to respond to the gospel

00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:06.880
 in repentance

00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:08.280
 and faith.

00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:12.380
 When God makes

00:41:12.380 --> 00:41:13.440
 someone His own,

00:41:14.720 --> 00:41:16.800
 He never lets them go.

00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:18.140
 Isn't that wonderful?

00:41:20.140 --> 00:41:21.300
 No matter how great

00:41:21.300 --> 00:41:21.920
 the trial,

00:41:23.400 --> 00:41:25.040
 He will hold them fast.

00:41:26.660 --> 00:41:27.780
 And the proof

00:41:27.780 --> 00:41:29.040
 will be in their

00:41:29.040 --> 00:41:30.040
 willful perseverance

00:41:30.040 --> 00:41:30.700
 of faith.

00:41:31.480 --> 00:41:32.200
 Now here's the truth.

00:41:32.920 --> 00:41:33.600
 We have an enemy

00:41:33.600 --> 00:41:35.460
 that would love nothing more

00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:36.660
 than to hinder

00:41:36.660 --> 00:41:37.500
 that perseverance.

00:41:38.280 --> 00:41:39.060
 That would love

00:41:39.060 --> 00:41:40.200
 for our discouragement

00:41:40.200 --> 00:41:41.140
 like the discouragement

00:41:41.140 --> 00:41:42.180
 of the Thessalonians

00:41:42.180 --> 00:41:43.920
 to be so severe

00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:44.820
 that we would

00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:46.580
 begin perhaps

00:41:46.580 --> 00:41:47.900
 to show signs

00:41:47.900 --> 00:41:48.680
 of falling away.

00:41:49.460 --> 00:41:50.660
 That's what He wants.

00:41:51.460 --> 00:41:52.920
 We should expect

00:41:52.920 --> 00:41:54.920
 to face

00:41:54.920 --> 00:41:56.180
 significant temptation

00:41:56.180 --> 00:41:57.519
 to abandon the faith

00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:58.480
 throughout our lives.

00:41:58.920 --> 00:42:00.300
 But the wonderful thing

00:42:00.300 --> 00:42:01.420
 about God's grace

00:42:01.420 --> 00:42:04.000
 is that it holds us

00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:06.420
 even when we don't feel

00:42:06.420 --> 00:42:07.500
 we can hold on

00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:08.500
 to Him.

00:42:11.219 --> 00:42:12.480
 Why does Paul say,

00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:13.659
 I thank God

00:42:13.659 --> 00:42:15.320
 for what's happening

00:42:15.320 --> 00:42:15.820
 in you?

00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:17.460
 Because Paul knows

00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.860
 that it's God

00:42:18.860 --> 00:42:19.539
 doing it.

00:42:22.539 --> 00:42:23.920
 So how can we know

00:42:23.920 --> 00:42:25.619
 that God has set

00:42:25.619 --> 00:42:26.519
 His saving love

00:42:26.519 --> 00:42:27.139
 on us?

00:42:27.139 --> 00:42:28.000
 Well,

00:42:29.119 --> 00:42:31.079
 did the wind blow

00:42:31.079 --> 00:42:32.019
 when you heard

00:42:32.019 --> 00:42:32.960
 that Jesus died

00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:33.639
 for your sin

00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:34.940
 and rose from the dead

00:42:34.940 --> 00:42:36.039
 and invited you

00:42:36.039 --> 00:42:37.699
 to receive eternal salvation

00:42:37.699 --> 00:42:39.219
 from Him

00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:40.079
 as a free gift?

00:42:42.799 --> 00:42:43.920
 You may not be able

00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:44.420
 to pinpoint

00:42:44.420 --> 00:42:45.539
 a particular moment.

00:42:47.039 --> 00:42:47.619
 And don't let that

00:42:47.619 --> 00:42:48.359
 discourage you.

00:42:49.179 --> 00:42:50.559
 If you are in the faith

00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:51.219
 today,

00:42:51.579 --> 00:42:52.319
 it's because

00:42:52.319 --> 00:42:53.259
 the wind was blowing

00:42:53.259 --> 00:42:54.239
 and it may have been

00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:55.139
 blowing for a little while

00:42:55.139 --> 00:42:56.539
 before you realized it.

00:42:57.239 --> 00:42:57.980
 Not everybody has

00:42:57.980 --> 00:42:58.579
 a dramatic

00:42:58.579 --> 00:43:00.059
 transformational moment.

00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:01.759
 Some people do

00:43:01.759 --> 00:43:02.879
 to the glory of God.

00:43:03.259 --> 00:43:04.119
 Some people do have

00:43:04.119 --> 00:43:05.619
 those Damascus Road moments

00:43:05.619 --> 00:43:07.119
 as Sarah Lynn

00:43:07.119 --> 00:43:07.440
 talked about

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:07.960
 in her testimony

00:43:07.960 --> 00:43:08.739
 last week.

00:43:09.559 --> 00:43:10.039
 Many of us

00:43:10.039 --> 00:43:10.839
 don't have that.

00:43:11.359 --> 00:43:12.099
 The Lord does

00:43:12.099 --> 00:43:12.879
 His unique work

00:43:12.879 --> 00:43:13.299
 in everybody

00:43:13.299 --> 00:43:14.440
 in different ways

00:43:14.440 --> 00:43:15.099
 but the truth is

00:43:15.099 --> 00:43:15.779
 it always comes

00:43:15.779 --> 00:43:16.359
 through the gospel

00:43:16.359 --> 00:43:17.159
 and it always comes

00:43:17.159 --> 00:43:17.619
 in the power

00:43:17.619 --> 00:43:18.099
 of the Spirit.

00:43:21.879 --> 00:43:22.699
 Did you turn

00:43:22.699 --> 00:43:23.339
 from sin

00:43:23.339 --> 00:43:24.259
 and trust in Him

00:43:24.260 --> 00:43:25.620
 if not,

00:43:25.700 --> 00:43:26.320
 what's keeping you

00:43:26.320 --> 00:43:27.120
 from doing it now?

00:43:30.500 --> 00:43:31.220
 You can turn

00:43:31.220 --> 00:43:31.760
 to Christ

00:43:31.760 --> 00:43:32.680
 now

00:43:32.680 --> 00:43:34.800
 by faith

00:43:34.800 --> 00:43:37.780
 and you'll prove

00:43:37.780 --> 00:43:38.500
 in the process

00:43:38.500 --> 00:43:40.140
 that you do actually

00:43:40.140 --> 00:43:41.120
 indeed belong to God.

00:43:44.060 --> 00:43:45.260
 Well, the second thing is

00:43:45.260 --> 00:43:47.220
 are you persevering

00:43:47.220 --> 00:43:47.840
 in that faith?

00:43:49.060 --> 00:43:49.760
 Does it mean

00:43:49.760 --> 00:43:50.240
 that you don't

00:43:50.240 --> 00:43:52.160
 regularly face temptation

00:43:52.159 --> 00:43:53.099
 to doubt the Lord

00:43:53.099 --> 00:43:55.159
 but it does mean

00:43:55.159 --> 00:43:56.199
 that your perseverance

00:43:56.199 --> 00:43:57.319
 continues despite

00:43:57.319 --> 00:43:57.940
 all the doubt?

00:44:00.399 --> 00:44:01.259
 That's not because

00:44:01.259 --> 00:44:02.219
 you got it all together

00:44:02.219 --> 00:44:04.539
 but because God

00:44:04.539 --> 00:44:05.239
 has made you

00:44:05.239 --> 00:44:05.679
 His own.

00:44:07.899 --> 00:44:09.000
 So we thank God

00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:10.899
 and we find

00:44:10.899 --> 00:44:11.480
 encouragement

00:44:11.480 --> 00:44:13.599
 in God's saving

00:44:13.599 --> 00:44:14.839
 electing love.

00:44:15.619 --> 00:44:16.319
 Let's pray.

00:44:16.320 --> 00:44:32.300
 for better

00:44:32.300 --> 00:44:32.300


00:44:32.300 --> 00:44:32.300


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00:44:32.300 --> 00:44:32.300