WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.359 Well now with a view to God's blessing if you would turn back with me to that portion of scripture which we read together in the gospel according to John and chapter 3. 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:08.359 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.539 Most if not all of us. Many of us from our youth. It's been called the golden verse. It was Luther who said that in this verse we have the Bible in miniature. 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:49.079 You have as it were the whole story from Genesis to Revelation told us concisely in a few words. 00:00:49.740 --> 00:00:59.600 Matthew Henry said here is gospel indeed. Here is all in a little. All that we need to know. All that we need to understand as it were. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:09.879 Condensed into this one verse. And so I want us to consider it together and to consider particularly the love of which it speaks. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:16.900 And I want to do that under I think five headings. And the first is the source of this love. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:27.620 For God so loved the world. And it goes on to say that that he gave his son. So the God spoken of here isn't God the son. 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:31.100 It is God the father. The father so loved the world. 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:35.520 And the source of the love of the gospel is the love of the father. 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:39.320 And it's important that we grasp that and that we understand it. 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:43.939 That when the son came into the world and he loved his people and he gave himself for them. 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:52.620 But when he came into the world he didn't come into the world to change the mind or to change the heart of an angry and of a hateful father. 00:01:52.620 --> 00:01:56.920 And you sometimes hear the gospel presented in that kind of way. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:04.780 But that's not what happened. It was that the father in his own love sent the son into the world. 00:02:05.740 --> 00:02:09.460 And if we want to understand the gospel and if we want to understand the Bible. 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:11.599 Then we have to understand that. 00:02:11.980 --> 00:02:15.319 That the father's love is central to the story. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:17.580 It is central to our salvation. 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:20.460 It is central to the gospel. 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:31.360 Elsewhere in the first epistle of John we read that God, not just that God loves but that God is love. 00:02:31.880 --> 00:02:35.939 So he doesn't just show love but love is something that he is. 00:02:36.160 --> 00:02:37.200 That defines him. 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:39.860 That characterizes his very being. 00:02:40.220 --> 00:02:41.080 God is love. 00:02:41.080 --> 00:02:47.300 And you know people and I know people and they are lovely people in the most literal sense. 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:48.460 They are lovely. 00:02:48.820 --> 00:02:49.760 They are loving. 00:02:50.820 --> 00:02:58.600 But I don't think that we could say about any man or any woman, any boy or any girl that they are love. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:05.420 You see for us, for fallen sinners like us, love is always a verb. 00:03:05.419 --> 00:03:12.159 It is always something that we do rather than something that we are. 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:14.239 It is always a verb. 00:03:14.979 --> 00:03:16.719 It is always something that we do. 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:20.000 But it is always also something in which we fall short. 00:03:20.279 --> 00:03:22.619 With us it is always imperfect. 00:03:23.539 --> 00:03:24.939 But God is love. 00:03:25.739 --> 00:03:26.899 It is who he is. 00:03:27.739 --> 00:03:29.299 And God's love is perfect. 00:03:29.839 --> 00:03:31.719 And God's love is pure. 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:38.240 Our love, as lovely as it may be and as good as it may be, and it may rise to wonderful heights. 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:43.060 And yet, our love is always infected, isn't it? 00:03:43.300 --> 00:03:48.639 It is always infected with things like impatience and with bad motivations. 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:52.219 With selfishness and with fickleness. 00:03:52.579 --> 00:03:54.199 God's love isn't like that. 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:59.620 It is infected by nothing which isn't in itself consistent with love. 00:03:59.620 --> 00:04:01.520 It is a love which is patient. 00:04:02.099 --> 00:04:05.640 It is a love which in many respects is selfless. 00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:07.240 Yes, it seeks its own glory. 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:10.460 But it manifests itself in giving. 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:12.120 It's not fickle. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:13.759 It doesn't change. 00:04:14.640 --> 00:04:17.300 And you know how important it is for us to understand that. 00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:20.860 Our concept of love in our day is flawed, isn't it? 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:25.699 Because you hear about love in many different places. 00:04:26.280 --> 00:04:31.879 You hear about it in the books that you read, in the conversations that you have, in the television 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:32.720 that you watch. 00:04:33.080 --> 00:04:37.040 And time and again, the concept of love is flawed, isn't it? 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:42.040 Today, more and more, you hear of couples falling out of love. 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:47.699 Married couples who have committed to one another and not loving each other anymore. 00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:50.560 So often today, love is fickle. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:52.439 Love changes. 00:04:53.139 --> 00:04:55.199 Love doesn't have that commitment. 00:04:55.659 --> 00:04:56.899 God's love isn't like that. 00:04:57.000 --> 00:04:58.399 God doesn't fall out of love. 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:01.319 His love isn't changing. 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:03.279 His love is a love that is unchanging. 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:06.839 It is a love that is constant, that is relentless. 00:05:07.339 --> 00:05:09.519 And it is a love that is eternal. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:11.879 It didn't have a beginning. 00:05:12.599 --> 00:05:14.060 And it won't have an end. 00:05:14.060 --> 00:05:21.060 As God is, as the psalmist tells us, from everlasting to everlasting, then his love is from everlasting 00:05:21.060 --> 00:05:22.220 to everlasting. 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:27.939 He loved his people from before the foundation of the world, and he continues to love them 00:05:27.939 --> 00:05:29.540 to all eternity. 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:36.860 So when we consider the source of the love of the gospel, we find it in the Father, whose 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:41.019 love is perfect, whose love is infinite, whose love is unchanging. 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:45.139 But what about the object of this love? 00:05:45.459 --> 00:05:51.319 We read that, for God so loved the world, literally the cosmos. 00:05:51.899 --> 00:05:57.959 And I suppose today we use that word world in many different ways, and they did also in 00:05:57.959 --> 00:05:58.620 the New Testament. 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:04.099 Even in John himself, he uses that word in various ways. 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:10.100 So the word world, and we would maybe use it often like this ourselves, it can refer to 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:11.320 the material universe. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:15.900 You know, to the land and to the sea and to the plants and to the animals and so on. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.939 Now clearly, that's not what's spoken of here. 00:06:19.980 --> 00:06:23.580 We're told that whosoever believes, talking about people believing. 00:06:23.840 --> 00:06:28.879 So the world has to, in some way or other, refer not to inanimate objects or even to plants 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:31.160 and animals, but to people. 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:39.860 Now, some will say that this word world refers to everybody, whoever was and is and will be 00:06:39.860 --> 00:06:41.200 in this world. 00:06:41.340 --> 00:06:44.300 So God loves every single person. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:49.400 And of course, there is a sense in which God does love every single person. 00:06:50.300 --> 00:06:54.860 He calls us even not just to love our neighbors, but to love our enemies. 00:06:54.860 --> 00:07:00.100 And God wouldn't do anything that, he wouldn't call us to do anything that he doesn't do himself. 00:07:00.460 --> 00:07:03.280 And we see that, of course, manifested in Jesus Christ. 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:09.980 It's also the case that God causes the rains to fall and the sun to shine, not just on the 00:07:09.980 --> 00:07:11.939 righteous, but on the unrighteous as well. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:17.379 That every good and perfect gift, whether it comes down to friend or to foe, comes from 00:07:17.379 --> 00:07:20.759 the Father of lights, comes down from heaven. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:30.680 And yet, although the word can be used in that way, saving love is a love which discriminates, 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:31.480 isn't it? 00:07:32.039 --> 00:07:34.599 Not everybody is saved. 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:36.459 Not everybody is saved. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:37.920 Many are lost. 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:44.699 And God didn't send his son to die and to suffer in the place of those who would end up 00:07:44.699 --> 00:07:45.819 being lost. 00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:52.159 His love was so great that he didn't just send the son to die for sinners, to die for 00:07:52.159 --> 00:07:58.139 his church, but he also sent the Holy Spirit to come and indwell his church and to indwell 00:07:58.139 --> 00:08:04.360 his people and to change them and to work faith and repentance and hope in their hearts and 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:05.199 to make them his own. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:08.719 He didn't just give his son, he gave his Holy Spirit. 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:15.680 So we cannot say that God gave his son to die for every single person, even if they end 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:18.000 up being lost and going to hell. 00:08:19.200 --> 00:08:25.440 The key to understanding this word and the way it is used is to understand the way that 00:08:25.440 --> 00:08:27.540 John uses it elsewhere. 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:33.500 And actually, across John's writings, across the gospel and his three epistles, he uses this 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:37.659 word world 79 times, 79 times. 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:40.940 And he doesn't tend to use it universally for all people. 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:47.899 Sometimes he uses it for all peoples, all nations and all people groups, as opposed to just Jews. 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:54.059 But mostly, he uses it for that world which lies in wickedness. 00:08:55.940 --> 00:09:00.840 The world that hated Jesus Christ and that crucified him. 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:07.000 If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you, Jesus says. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:14.280 That world, the present evil world, marvel not if the world hate you. 00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:23.000 And so it's speaking of the world which is characterized by unbelief, characterized by enmity to God himself. 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:28.100 And that, most commentators agree today, is the best fit here. 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:38.100 That when we read this word world, God so loved the world, it's not being used quantitatively, but qualitatively. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:45.920 Not of the quantity of the people that God loves, but of the quality of the people that he loves, or the lack thereof. 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:50.840 It is used intensively, rather than extensively. 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:59.100 So, B.B. Warfield, who was a professor in Princeton at the beginning of the last century, 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:10.160 he said that he uses this word world not to suggest that the world is so big that it takes a great deal of love to embrace it all, 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:17.559 but rather that the world is so big that it takes a great kind of love to love it at all. 00:10:18.959 --> 00:10:23.959 Not that his love is so broad that it covers every single person, and that that is his saving love, 00:10:24.199 --> 00:10:28.679 but that it is so deep that it can cover even the worst of people. 00:10:28.959 --> 00:10:32.579 And friends, that is the wonder of God's love. 00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:37.259 That it is a love which doesn't just love those who are lovable. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.680 As the theologians would say, it's not just a love of complacency. 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:45.639 He loved his son with a love of complacency, because his son deserved to be loved. 00:10:46.160 --> 00:10:48.980 But it isn't just a love of complacency that he has. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:49.940 He loves sinners. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:53.360 He loves this present evil world. 00:10:53.660 --> 00:10:55.300 Those who are rebellious. 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:57.180 Those who are unlovely. 00:10:57.179 --> 00:11:04.059 Those who by nature are his enemies, and who are condemned because of their sin. 00:11:04.719 --> 00:11:08.879 You know, there is nothing in the world, friends, that attracted God to it. 00:11:09.359 --> 00:11:14.459 There isn't a single thing in you, though you may be a Christian today and have been a Christian for 50 years. 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:18.620 There isn't a single thing in you that drew God to you. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:20.439 Nothing that was worthy. 00:11:21.079 --> 00:11:22.559 Nothing that was lovely. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:28.099 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:31.299 Even our righteousnesses, the good things that we do. 00:11:31.739 --> 00:11:37.419 Before him there are filthy rags, because they're imperfect and characterized by unbelief. 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:40.399 And yet the beauty of the gospel is this. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:43.119 That God loves the worst of sinners. 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:46.239 He loves the most unholy of sinners. 00:11:46.939 --> 00:11:50.799 That his love is completely unmerited. 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:53.039 Completely unmerited. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:56.639 Can you say that of anyone who you love today? 00:11:57.459 --> 00:12:00.399 That your love for them is completely unmerited. 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:02.039 That there is nothing in them. 00:12:02.439 --> 00:12:03.839 Not a family bond. 00:12:04.219 --> 00:12:05.539 Not a character trait. 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:09.799 That there is nothing in them at all that makes them lovely to you, and yet you love them. 00:12:10.439 --> 00:12:11.439 Probably not. 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.459 Probably not. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.979 And yet, friends, that's how we stood before God. 00:12:17.359 --> 00:12:19.620 There is nothing in you that is lovable. 00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:23.259 There is nothing in me that is lovable or that is worthy. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:29.240 But Paul tells us that God commends his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, 00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:31.600 Christ died for us. 00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:33.320 While we were yet sinners. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:34.779 While we were yet enemies. 00:12:35.419 --> 00:12:37.419 While we were yet rebelling against him. 00:12:38.060 --> 00:12:41.620 While we were yet living in unbelief and despising him. 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:43.700 Christ died for us. 00:12:44.560 --> 00:12:46.860 Here in his love, John says elsewhere, 00:12:46.860 --> 00:12:48.519 Not that we loved God. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.180 But that he loved us. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:56.639 And sent his son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:59.919 Friend, are you of the world today? 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:01.800 Or have you been of the world? 00:13:02.300 --> 00:13:03.120 Are you a sinner? 00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:07.340 Do you see yourself as unworthy of the love of God? 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:08.560 Well, you are. 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.720 And I am. 00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:11.279 And each of us are. 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:13.139 But let this encourage you. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:17.839 That God sent his son into the world for sinners. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:22.139 His love was for this present evil world. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.419 His love wasn't for those who went to church often enough. 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:28.579 Or prayed often enough. 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:30.559 Or lived well enough. 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:32.759 These things are good things. 00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:35.339 And I don't mean in any way to demean them. 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:38.320 But that's not why God loved his people. 00:13:38.660 --> 00:13:41.300 And that's not why he sent his son into the world. 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:47.379 He loved the world, friends, because of the depth of love within his own being. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:50.860 That had to pour out to sinners such as we are. 00:13:51.420 --> 00:13:55.060 A love which will go so deep that it will reach even you. 00:13:55.540 --> 00:13:56.759 And reach even me. 00:13:57.340 --> 00:14:00.220 Regardless of the life that you have lived up until this point. 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:03.519 Regardless of the things that you have done in your past. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:07.059 Regardless of the unbelief that has characterized you. 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:11.740 Even despite the sins that you cannot even forgive yourself for. 00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:17.579 God's love goes so deep that it reaches even sinners like you. 00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:19.360 Let that be an encouragement to you, friend. 00:14:20.659 --> 00:14:23.919 And so we have the source of love and the object of love. 00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:25.919 Thirdly, we have the gift of love. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:31.679 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:38.039 Now, I suppose it's no surprise that his love is a giving love. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:40.879 Because all love is giving, isn't it? 00:14:41.439 --> 00:14:42.799 All love is sacrificial. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:47.079 And if you say you love somebody and you don't give anything to them. 00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:51.239 If you don't give them any of your time, any of your attention, any of your love. 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.339 You don't love them. 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:55.139 If you won't make any sacrifices for somebody. 00:14:55.459 --> 00:14:56.519 You don't love them. 00:14:56.519 --> 00:15:00.679 So, it's no surprise that this love is a love that gives. 00:15:01.819 --> 00:15:02.799 All love gives. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:06.019 But the problem with our giving love is just this. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:09.139 That our willingness to give is always limited. 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:12.419 Our willingness to sacrifice is always limited. 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:14.720 We will give so much. 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:19.500 And if we get our return on our investment, then we'll give a bit more. 00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:27.159 If we are loved back, and if the object of our love is worthy, then we will give even more still. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:30.539 And the greater the love, the more we will give. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:32.200 And you know that yourselves. 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:40.120 When you give gifts to people, you give the best gifts to those who are nearest to you. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:42.340 To those who you love the most. 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:44.039 To husbands and wives. 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:45.159 To sons and daughters. 00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:46.220 To fathers and mothers. 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:50.540 You don't spend hundreds of pounds on gifts for people that you hardly know. 00:15:51.300 --> 00:15:53.399 Those you love the most. 00:15:53.920 --> 00:15:55.440 For them, you give the most. 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:58.740 Now, here we're told of God's giving love. 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:03.080 That he so loved the world that he gave. 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.580 He so loved the world. 00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:06.600 That word, so, is a very small word. 00:16:06.920 --> 00:16:08.300 But a very precious word. 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:12.120 Because it speaks to us of the extent of God's love. 00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:14.320 How much, God, did you love this world? 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:20.940 Well, he so loved the world that this is how much he was willing to give for it. 00:16:21.280 --> 00:16:24.160 That he gave his only begotten son. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:29.780 That he gave his eternal companion in love. 00:16:31.020 --> 00:16:37.280 The one who was in the form, who thought it not robbery to be in the form of God. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:40.699 The one who was equal in power and glory. 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:43.539 And the same in substance with the Father. 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:45.899 He gave him. 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.959 How did he give him? 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:51.600 Well, he gave him, of course, in the incarnation. 00:16:52.439 --> 00:16:55.759 He sent him into this world to be made of no reputation. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:59.740 To take the form, not of a king, but of a bond servant. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:02.139 To be made in the likeness of men. 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:03.939 He gave him in the incarnation. 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:06.200 Verse 17 says that to us, doesn't it? 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:08.900 For God did not send his son into the world. 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:10.319 He has sent him into the world. 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.700 But more than that, friends. 00:17:13.080 --> 00:17:15.039 The incarnation is a wonderful truth. 00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:16.080 A glorious truth. 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:18.180 But it points beyond itself. 00:17:18.600 --> 00:17:19.840 And it always does. 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:23.640 We read in verse 14 here. 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:27.460 That as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.039 So must the son of man be lifted up. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:35.940 And it's referring to the death by which the Savior would die. 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:39.099 It's referring to his being lifted up on a cross. 00:17:40.159 --> 00:17:41.899 Suffering and dying for sinners. 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:45.139 Being wounded for their transgressions. 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:46.619 Bruised for their iniquities. 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:48.180 That's what it's referring to. 00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:52.000 He didn't just give him into this world to walk and to teach in this world. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:56.559 But he gave him to the shame that this world would heap upon him. 00:17:56.980 --> 00:18:00.339 The suffering which this world would bring into experience. 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.700 Isn't his experience. 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:04.599 He gave him even unto death. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:08.799 That's what it means that God so loved the world that he gave. 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:11.859 He gave him to the darkness. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.480 The abandonment. 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:15.539 The forsakenness of the cross. 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:20.899 Thus in Paul's companion verse in Romans 8 verse 32. 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:24.779 We're told that he spared not his own son. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:28.579 But delivered him up for us all. 00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:30.259 He spared him from. 00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:32.379 He didn't spare him from what? 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:35.019 Well he didn't spare him from that suffering. 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:38.359 The awfulness of that abandonment. 00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:42.700 The agony of soul which he experienced. 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:46.519 Being forsaken by friends and by disciples. 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:50.640 Being condemned in the sight of all of the legal authorities. 00:18:51.080 --> 00:18:53.559 Having his own people who he came to save. 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.680 He came unto his own. 00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:57.180 Having them receive him not but cry out. 00:18:57.580 --> 00:18:58.559 Crucify him. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.660 Crucify him. 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:01.759 He didn't spare him from that. 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.460 But he delivered him up. 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:07.279 He actually gave him into that agony. 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.080 Into that sorrow. 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:10.900 Into that sadness. 00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:14.580 And to that cruel death he gave him. 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:15.880 Why? 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.960 To be a substitute. 00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:20.300 To suffer for our sins. 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:22.220 The just for the unjust. 00:19:22.560 --> 00:19:23.400 He's the just. 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.440 We're the unjust. 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.680 He's the sinless. 00:19:26.080 --> 00:19:26.900 We are the sinful. 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.860 Do we not read elsewhere that 00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:32.480 though he knew no sin 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:35.000 yet he was made to be sin for us 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.759 and treated like a sinner in our place. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:42.039 That we might become the righteousness of God in him. 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:44.420 He was wounded. 00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:44.920 Why? 00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:46.240 For our transgressions. 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:46.759 Bruised. 00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.180 Why? 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.839 For our iniquities. 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:50.460 He was chastised. 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:50.839 Why? 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.879 For our peace. 00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:55.480 Stripes where he was whipped upon his back. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:57.720 Why? 00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:59.720 That we might be healed. 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:01.740 That we might be forgiven. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:05.059 Was there ever friends a sacrifice? 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:08.319 Was there ever a gift given that was so costly? 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:13.099 Was there ever a price paid that was as high as this? 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:15.599 The giving of one's son to death. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:18.140 A perfect sinless son. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:21.240 For rebellious sinful people. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.819 Who would love sinners to this extent? 00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:28.220 Who would give a gift so costly to an enemy? 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:32.480 Surely only a God who is love. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:37.019 That he sent his son into the world to be a substitute. 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.579 A substitute. 00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:39.619 To who? 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:42.299 Well that brings us on to our fourth point. 00:20:42.439 --> 00:20:45.079 And it's the response to this love. 00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:50.159 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:53.300 That whosoever believes in him. 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:56.000 Whoever believes in him. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:02.000 This is literally a marvelous and an admirable love. 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.920 A love that makes us marvel. 00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:06.220 And a love that makes us admire. 00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:06.960 Does it not? 00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.300 Does it not make you? 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.980 But you know. 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.839 We're called to more than that. 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:17.000 We're called not just to recognize how marvelous it is. 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:19.779 But we're called to respond to it. 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:22.659 And such love requires a response. 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.299 Doesn't it? 00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:27.899 We must not only wonder at this gift. 00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:29.660 But we must receive it. 00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:31.240 And we must accept it. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.920 God gave the gift of his son. 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:36.320 That we might receive that gift. 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:38.660 By believing upon him. 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:41.380 That whosoever believes in him. 00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:43.060 And that word believe. 00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.200 Is here used. 00:21:44.280 --> 00:21:45.380 As it often is in scripture. 00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:46.680 Holistically. 00:21:47.540 --> 00:21:49.820 It speaks of faith. 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:51.060 Of saving faith. 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.840 And say what is saving faith? 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:54.980 Well saving faith involves the understanding. 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:59.240 It involves you knowing and acknowledging certain things. 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:01.000 About yourself. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.819 And about God. 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:04.019 That you are a sinner. 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.059 That God is holy and just. 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:07.400 And that he must punish sin. 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.640 That you are guilty. 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:11.240 And that you are in great need of being saved. 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:13.160 Lest you be lost when you die. 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:16.339 We must know ourselves. 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.860 We must know our God. 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.200 And we must know his son. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:24.180 We must know that Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved. 00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:26.279 He is the way, the truth and the life. 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:28.060 And that no man comes to the father. 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:29.740 But by him. 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:32.660 We must know these things. 00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:35.700 And to know that he is not merely the savior of the world. 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:38.200 But to know through faith. 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.480 That he is my savior. 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:43.900 Job said I know that my redeemer lives. 00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:47.940 Thomas said my Lord and my God. 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:50.759 Martin Luther said that through religion. 00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:52.340 Is in the pronouns. 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:54.220 Being able to say. 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.319 He is mine. 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:57.839 My beloved is mine. 00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:59.559 And I am his. 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:02.220 So faith involves the understanding. 00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:03.699 But it involves more than that. 00:23:04.659 --> 00:23:05.720 It involves our will. 00:23:06.459 --> 00:23:06.899 Our will. 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.019 The things that we do. 00:23:08.139 --> 00:23:09.879 The things that we choose to do. 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:11.659 And when we have faith. 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.659 When we believe. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.980 We make certain decisions. 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.699 Don't we? 00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:19.039 Decisions that affect the way that we think. 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.580 And decisions that affect the way that we live. 00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:23.580 There are choices to be made. 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.840 Where there is faith. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.660 There is repentance. 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.640 There is a turning from sin. 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:31.420 There is a trusting of our lives to him. 00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:33.680 Of our eternity to him. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:35.140 In ways that are practical. 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:37.620 In ways that are real and meaningful. 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:39.180 In ways that are public. 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.779 Friends. 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.940 Yes we believe in our hearts. 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:44.160 That Christ is risen from the dead. 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.660 But we also confess. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.759 With our mouths. 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:48.080 That is a result of faith. 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:51.200 It involves in our understanding. 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.100 Our will. 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.779 And also our affections. 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:56.460 We are told towards the end of this chapter. 00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:58.060 That the father loves the son. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:00.759 Has committed all things into his hand. 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:01.940 But you know. 00:24:02.060 --> 00:24:03.779 Where there is true faith in your life. 00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:05.299 Towards Christ. 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:06.060 There is love. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.820 Towards Christ as well. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:09.460 We love him. 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:11.319 For he first loved us. 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.980 There is love. 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:17.079 There is a moving of the affections. 00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:20.480 There is a moving towards gratitude. 00:24:21.179 --> 00:24:22.059 And praise. 00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:22.960 And worship. 00:24:23.439 --> 00:24:25.839 Is there such a thing as a Christian who doesn't worship? 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:28.460 A Christian who doesn't praise? 00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:30.559 Your affections are moved. 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.839 You are a new creature. 00:24:31.939 --> 00:24:32.500 A new man. 00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:33.200 A new creation. 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:33.899 A new woman. 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.419 That is what you are. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.139 You are changed. 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:39.079 And so. 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.259 Saving faith. 00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:41.679 Involves these three things. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.500 The understanding. 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:43.259 The will. 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.339 The affections. 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:47.000 These are the natural companions of faith. 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.740 And yet it is faith alone that justifies. 00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:53.379 These things will always be where faith is. 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:55.599 But it is faith that justifies. 00:24:56.439 --> 00:24:57.700 Not what we do. 00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:00.379 But who we receive. 00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:02.279 And works are good and well. 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:03.659 And works must be there. 00:25:04.159 --> 00:25:05.039 Accompanying faith. 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:06.579 Faith without works is dead. 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:10.379 And yet it is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.659 Believing upon him. 00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.519 Receiving him. 00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:13.599 Trusting him. 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:15.200 That's what saves you. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.399 Works are good and well. 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.420 But as Paul said. 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:21.519 Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:24.379 Though you give every single penny in your bank today. 00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:26.399 To those who have less than you are. 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:29.039 And though I give my body to be burned. 00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:32.099 Though you die for Christianity. 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:33.559 For the church. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.819 Though I do these things, he says. 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.839 And have not love. 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:39.319 Love to the Savior. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:41.099 Faith in the Lord. 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.959 It profits me nothing. 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:47.799 Salvation, friends, is to receive the Son of God. 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:51.279 It is to receive the Savior as a gift. 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.899 That's what it is. 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.439 That's what it is. 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:57.160 You are a drowning man or a woman. 00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:02.340 And it is to receive the hand of relief that is extended to you. 00:26:02.580 --> 00:26:04.580 And the gospel invites you to do that. 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:09.660 To freely receive the gift of the Son of God by faith. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:12.180 That whosoever believes. 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:15.299 This is an offer, friends, that isn't restrictive. 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:17.400 That isn't exclusive. 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.519 It is for whosoever. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.960 Whosoever. 00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:22.000 It's not defined. 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:24.079 You can't get broader than that. 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:27.680 If you wanted to use the broadest word that you could possibly find. 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.319 For anyone and everyone. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.579 You would say whoever. 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:32.319 Whoever. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.420 There are none excluded. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.180 Whatever you are. 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.299 Whatever you have done. 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:39.339 It's a gift that is offered to you. 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.759 To receive. 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:46.759 And friends, by the power that God in his word has given me. 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:48.879 And the authority that he has given me today. 00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:51.140 I extend that gift to you. 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.259 In his name. 00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:55.339 To receive the Son of God for yourself. 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:57.579 To have your sins forgiven. 00:26:58.099 --> 00:27:00.299 To have your guilt removed. 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.779 To change your path. 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.900 From a path to a lost eternity. 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.500 To a path to heaven. 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:08.099 It is offered to you. 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:10.219 But finally. 00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:12.699 We have the result of this love. 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:15.599 That whosoever believes in him. 00:27:15.919 --> 00:27:17.119 Should not perish. 00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:19.079 But have everlasting life. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.699 And it's twofold, isn't it? 00:27:20.719 --> 00:27:21.959 It's a twofold result. 00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:23.599 Those who believe. 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:26.179 Will not perish. 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:29.079 So this is what believers will be saved from. 00:27:29.159 --> 00:27:30.799 It's what they will be rescued from. 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:34.919 And to perish here is again used holistically. 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:38.140 It's not just speaking of the death of the body. 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:40.440 It is speaking of the death of the soul. 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:42.500 Spiritual death. 00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:44.200 Eternal death. 00:27:44.800 --> 00:27:46.100 As the wages of sin. 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:50.560 To perish, friends, is to spend eternity. 00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:55.900 To spend everlasting days in the conscious torment of hell. 00:27:56.759 --> 00:28:00.759 A place that is described to us as the lake of fire. 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:05.119 It is to drink the wine of the wrath of God. 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:08.259 In a place which is described as a place of weeping. 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:10.319 And gnashing of teeth. 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:12.579 Of sorrow, of regret. 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:14.579 Of anger, of fury. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:18.480 Which is described as a place of outer darkness. 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:22.839 A place of loneliness and of brokenness. 00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:25.660 A place where the worm dies not. 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:29.440 A place where the conscience is always gnawing away at you. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:31.440 And reminding you of what you did. 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:33.240 And of what you didn't do. 00:28:34.140 --> 00:28:35.500 What a terrible thought. 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:37.259 What an awful reality. 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:39.220 But a reality it is. 00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:41.940 And hence the urgency of the message. 00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:46.519 And you wonder why week by week there are people pleading with you from a pulpit. 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:50.340 You wonder week by week why some preachers get passionate. 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.900 And why they are so zealous. 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:53.420 And why they raise their voices. 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:54.680 Do you not see why? 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:58.059 We're talking about eternity in hell here. 00:28:58.059 --> 00:29:00.299 That's why the message is urgent. 00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:02.359 Because you're going there. 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.720 If you die outside of Christ. 00:29:05.419 --> 00:29:09.759 But God's love in Christ can rescue you from that love. 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:13.240 So that whosoever believes in him should not perish. 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:17.359 But secondly shall have everlasting life. 00:29:18.339 --> 00:29:19.879 You were saved from perishing. 00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:22.720 Saved to everlasting life. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:24.380 And this speaks of two things. 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:27.740 It speaks firstly of the quality of life. 00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:31.160 You remember what Jesus said in his high priestly prayer. 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:32.779 John 17 verse 3. 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.559 This is life eternal. 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:37.680 That they might know thee the only true God. 00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:40.319 And Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:42.740 Life eternal is to know Jesus. 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.600 It is to know God. 00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.940 That's what it is. 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.559 And you can know that now. 00:29:47.640 --> 00:29:49.240 You can have that now. 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:52.019 It speaks of the quality of life. 00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:53.460 Life that is abundant. 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:55.279 Life that is filled. 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:57.079 Yes with sorrow and sadness. 00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:58.240 And all the other things. 00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:00.700 That this world will bring into your experience. 00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:04.039 But also with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:06.539 And a peace that passes understanding. 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:09.640 And that will keep your heart and your mind. 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.940 It is a quality of life. 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:14.019 But it is also quantitative. 00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:17.079 It speaks of the quantity of life. 00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:20.579 And if hell speaks to us of eternal death. 00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:25.759 Then heaven speaks to us of everlasting eternal life. 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:29.179 Endless days in the presence of the Savior. 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:32.379 To be with Christ which is far better. 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:37.460 To go to a place where sorrow and sighing have fled away. 00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:39.419 Where there is no anxiety. 00:30:39.639 --> 00:30:40.619 Where there is no fear. 00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:41.919 Where there is no sin. 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:45.679 Where the inhabitants thereof shall not say I am sick. 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:47.720 And where there shall be no death. 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:51.560 But where you shall worship in the presence of the Lamb. 00:30:52.940 --> 00:30:56.039 And know that joy which is endless and eternal. 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:58.960 Throughout the endless ages of eternity. 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:03.120 Where more than ever you shall glorify God. 00:31:03.320 --> 00:31:05.320 And enjoy him forever. 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:12.599 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us friends. 00:31:13.939 --> 00:31:16.960 See that as we consider this gift. 00:31:17.679 --> 00:31:20.419 And as you go home and as you think about this love. 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.359 That you receive it. 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:25.839 And that you receive the Savior who is given to sinners. 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.679 Who is given to the world. 00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:30.559 Who is given to people like me. 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.980 And people like you. 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.939 See that you receive it. 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:36.259 I want to impress this upon you. 00:31:37.340 --> 00:31:40.259 But I know that the Holy Spirit alone can do that. 00:31:41.180 --> 00:31:42.360 He alone can convert. 00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:45.580 And as the gospel goes out week by week. 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:47.140 And as it goes out today. 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:49.220 We pray that it might bear fruit. 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:52.880 And that the Holy Spirit might use the truth of his gospel. 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.259 To shake you. 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:56.160 To make you to tremble. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.799 To awaken you. 00:31:58.320 --> 00:32:01.400 To a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:03.500 That you might believe in him. 00:32:03.820 --> 00:32:05.680 So that you might not perish. 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.860 But have everlasting life. 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:08.720 Amen. 00:32:09.280 --> 00:32:09.900 Let us pray. 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:15.180 Gracious and ever blessed God. 00:32:15.300 --> 00:32:16.580 Blessed now we pray. 00:32:17.360 --> 00:32:20.580 The truth that we have been meditating upon. 00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:20.679 Amen. 00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:24.659 We may have been believing it for many years. 00:32:25.659 --> 00:32:27.899 But we give thanks for the reminder of it. 00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:32.199 We pray that it might nourish us and sustain us. 00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:35.039 Or if there are some here. 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:37.579 As we trust that there are yet out of Christ. 00:32:38.399 --> 00:32:39.480 Resisting the gospel. 00:32:40.199 --> 00:32:42.659 We pray that they might believe today. 00:32:43.199 --> 00:32:47.079 To the saving of their eternal and precious souls. 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:49.980 Forgive us we ask for Christ's sake. 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:50.279 Amen. 00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:56.480 Let us conclude by singing to God's praise in Psalm 68. 00:33:00.120 --> 00:33:02.420 Psalm 68 verse 18. 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:03.579 The tune is Sheffield. 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:09.620 Thou hast, O Lord most glorious, ascended up on high. 00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:13.759 And in triumph victorious led captive captivity. 00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:16.440 Thou hast received gifts for men. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.279 For who? 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:20.000 For such as did rebel. 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:21.779 Yea, even for them. 00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:24.619 That God the Lord in midst of them might dwell. 00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:28.700 Blessed be the Lord who is to us of our salvation God. 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:32.400 Who daily with his benefits us plenteously doth load. 00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:36.559 He of salvation is the God who is our God most strong. 00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:40.960 And unto God the Lord from death the issues do belong. 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:44.099 Psalm 68 verses 18 to 20. 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:45.480 To God's praise. 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:49.000 Thou hast, O Lord most glorious, ascended upon high. 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:52.220 And in triumph victorious led captive captive captive. 00:33:52.220 --> 00:34:22.220 I as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with as with 00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:34.119 Who hast received gifts for men, for such jobs did prevail. 00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:49.119 He yield for them that thought the Lord in midst of them might dwell. 00:34:49.119 --> 00:35:04.239 Blessed be the Lord who is to us of our salvation brought. 00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:18.619 Who daily with his benefits a plentiously doth know. 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:33.239 He of salvation is the God who is our God most strong. 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:47.359 And unto God the Lord from death the issues to be lost. 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:47.920 Amen. 00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:55.120 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 00:35:55.340 --> 00:35:55.700 Amen. 00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:58.099 Amen. 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.099 00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:55.679 Thank you. 00:36:55.699 --> 00:37:25.679 Thank you. 00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:27.699 Thank you.