CHRIST ALONE
Series: Here We Stand
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 16th July 2017
Passage: 1 Timothy 1:1-6:21
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 When I was about 15 in high school, so I'd been a Christian for about a year,
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 I had the chance to be trained in sharing the good news of Jesus.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:16 I was trained to do a spiel, can't even have a better word,
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 and a hundred point outline of the gospel.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 There was a hundred different stories, memory verses, illustrations,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:26 points to go through.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:32 And the point was I could articulate start to finish somebody who needed to meet Jesus
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 to would you like to become a Christian.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 Now, as a side point, I'm not sure you need an a hundred point presentation.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:43 I think we can maybe do it with a few less, but it was the one that I learned anyway as a 15 year old,
00:00:43 --> 00:00:43 and it was a good one.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:49 But this presentation would always begin with two what we call diagnostic questions.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 Questions that were supposed to help you figure out where the person was
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 in terms of what they knew about God, what they were trusting in, that sort of thing.
00:00:58 --> 00:00:59 The first question was,
00:01:00 --> 00:01:05 if you were to die tonight, are you certain you would go to heaven?
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 And the second, it's quite morbid in hindsight,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 suppose you did die tonight,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 and you appeared before God, and he asked you,
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 why should I let you into my heaven?
00:01:17 --> 00:01:18 What would you say?
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 I remember as a teenager finding those questions really heavy,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 and so to try and lighten the mood,
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 you would improv a little bit in the second question,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 and I'd be like, you know, suppose you did die tonight,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:28 you know, you got hit by a bus, or something like that,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 which didn't really lighten it, but that was my attempt to go,
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 I'm actually asking you a really, really serious question here
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 about life and death, something that really matters.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 And on one level, these questions are really quite simple,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 but at the same time, they're quite profound.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:47 And I wonder for you, if I was to ask you those questions,
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 not in front of everyone, not with everyone eavesdropping,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 but just we were to have a chat, and I was to ask you those questions,
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 what would your answer be?
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 If I was to ask you, if you were to die tonight,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:03 how certain are you that you would go to heaven?
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 And if you did rock up at the gates to heaven,
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 and God's there, and he says, why should I let you in?
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 What would your response be?
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 See, these questions reveal a whole lot
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 about what it is that we're trusting in.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 The things that we would hand over to God
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 as the basis for letting us into heaven,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:32 but also, just how confident we are
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33 that those things are actually going to deliver.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 Just how much we actually believe these things
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 that we would present to God would be a convincing resume.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 These questions show us not just if we're confident,
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45 but what we're trusting in,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 and whether or not, deep down,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 we actually know that those things can come through for us.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 Now, the most interesting thing for me in this whole process was,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 when I couldn't find somebody to share the gospel with,
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 to help me practice my 100 points that I had to memorize,
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 I would make my friends sit down with me
00:03:02 --> 00:03:03 so that I could go through my big presentation.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 And it was always interesting to me
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 to hear what my friends who went to church with me
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 would say when asked those two questions.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 It wasn't always the same.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 On one end, you had the people who were certain
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 that they were going to heaven,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 but were trusting in flimsy things.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 They were certain they were going to get into heaven,
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 but they were trusting in how much better they were
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 than most people in the world.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 Or they were trusting in the fact that they'd been baptized once.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 Or they were trusting in the fact that
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 their parents worked at the church.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 Down the other end, you had those who were uncertain,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 really wanted to go to heaven,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 but couldn't say certain,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 but were trusting in the unbreakable promises of God
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 to get them there.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 And then you had everything in between on the spectrum.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 Now, the point being that not everyone
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 who wants certainty when it comes to heaven,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 not everyone who wants that kind of guarantee,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 wants to be able to answer with an emphatic yes
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 to that first question,
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 actually gets it.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 And in reality, some of the people who say
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 that they're certain probably shouldn't be.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 Even though God's word promises peace
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 that passes understanding,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 even though God's word speaks of an immovable hope,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 in the passage just read out for us,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 in Hebrews 10, it talks about confidence
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 to enter the most holy place.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:40 Sometimes it's easier to talk about confidence,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 to talk about certainty,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 than it is to know it,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 to feel it,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:48 to believe it.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 Martin Luther, who was one of the key figures
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 in the Reformation 500 years ago,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 was a man who was acutely aware of God's holiness
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 in stark contrast to his own sin.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 It's said that having become a monk,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 he would often hog his confession opportunities
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 and would stay in the confessional booth
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 for up to six hours at a time
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 to just recount as many of his sins
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 as he could possibly remember.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:20 He was a man who was soaking in God's word,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:21 he was studying it,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 he was meditating on it,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 and yet he was somebody who lived his life
00:05:25 --> 00:05:29 crushed by the weight of his own sin
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 and guilt and failure.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 He knew that God demanded perfection
00:05:35 --> 00:05:40 and it was that unattainable goal
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 that cast a shadow over his life.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 And even having dedicated his life
00:05:47 --> 00:05:47 to being a monk,
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 to serving God,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 the security he so desperately wanted
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 continued to elude him.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 And he's not alone.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 Maybe that's how you feel.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:05 Maybe you're doing lots of things
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 to serve God.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 Maybe you're trying very hard
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 to be the person that you know
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 he wants you to be
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 because you desperately want to know
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 for certain that when you die
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 you will get to go to heaven.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 But it feels like the harder you try,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 the less certain you feel.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 Last week, Steve mentioned briefly
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 about the sale of indulgences.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 These were effectively papal pardons
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 for sin.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 That is, the Pope would give these things out
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 as a kind of pardon
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 for the sin that you had done.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 And in the time of the Reformation,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 these had begun to be sold for money
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 as a fundraiser for building projects
00:06:49 --> 00:06:49 and stuff like that.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 Effective for building projects
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 but probably not really helpful
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 for everyone else.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 These indulgences were then
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 subcontracted out to priests
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 who would travel around
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 and give people the chance
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 to confess sin
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 and then essentially buy forgiveness.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 That's how the system worked.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 Now, a really key reason
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 that something as ridiculous
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 as that happened
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 was what we looked at last week.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 That really the priests
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 were the only ones
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 who had access to the Bible.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 Unless you had been through university
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 and studied Latin,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 you had no idea
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 what God said in his word
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 and so who were you to argue?
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 You just took their word for it.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 All you knew
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 is that you were sinful,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 God was holy,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 God was just
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 and you needed help.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 But there's a second
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 really important reason
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 that this all happened.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 There's a second reason
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 that we need to grasp
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 as we reflect on the Reformation
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 500 years later.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:49 See, the problem
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 that required the Reformation,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 the thing that needed change,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 wasn't the Catholic Church itself.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 Now, it was the context for it.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 It was the place
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 where the issue
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 got institutionalized,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 but it wasn't the problem itself.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 The core problem
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 was sinful people.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 And I'm not even talking
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 about the active sin
00:08:14 --> 00:08:14 of the fact that
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 they were trying, you know,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 to pervert the truth of God
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 and take advantage
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 of insecure people.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 Although that's true
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 and that was there.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 See, the problem then
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 wasn't that they didn't know
00:08:27 --> 00:08:27 they were sinful.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:28 Of course they did.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 That's what made people insecure.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 The problem
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 was that they didn't understand
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 just how fundamental
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 their sin was.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 They didn't understand
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 how inherent their sin was,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 how deeply inside
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 of a person
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 sin exists.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 And so the solutions
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 they would come up with,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 the security
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 they would reach out for
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 was only of a surface level,
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 only of a superficial.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 And the surface level solution
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 that the Catholic Church
00:09:00 --> 00:09:00 came up with
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 was a thing called
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 penance.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 Penance had three steps.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 You confess,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 you show contrition,
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 and then you do satisfaction.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:10 So,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 you steal some bread.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 You confess to the priest
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 that you stole some bread.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 You be contrite.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 That is,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 you actually mean
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 your sorry confession
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 and you plan
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 to not do it again.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 And then,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 you do some satisfaction,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 which basically means
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 you give some money
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 to the poor,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 you spend some time
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 in prayer and fasting,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 you make a trip to Rome,
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 a bit of a pilgrimage,
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 something like that.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 Essentially,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 your ledger with God
00:09:36 --> 00:09:36 is in the negative,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 so do some good stuff
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 to get you back
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 in the positive.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 That was the answer.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 And there's some logic
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 to this system.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 There's even some
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 rightness in it.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:46 I mean,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 confession is a good gift
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 from God.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 You don't need a priest,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 but confession itself
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 is a good thing
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 because it reflects
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 that we're understanding
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 sin is actually serious.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 You've actually got to
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 do something with sin.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 It needs to be dealt with.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 Contrition,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 of course.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 You've got to be genuine
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 when you confess.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 You can't just say the words
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 and not mean it.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 We want to be genuine
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 in seeking God's forgiveness.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 And even the idea
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 of satisfaction,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:14 that third bit,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 the idea that having
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 done something wrong
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 towards God,
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 there should be
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 some payment
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 or some restitution,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 makes sense.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 But when the payment
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 that you owe God
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 for sin
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 is something trivial
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 like money,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 or something temporary
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 like a few hours fasting,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 or a trip to St. Peter's
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 in Rome,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 all it shows
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 is that
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 we haven't really
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 understood sin
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 at all.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 We haven't actually
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 understood
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 how big an issue
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 it is,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 how close to us
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 it is.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 It's just a thing
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 that's been done
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 and so it's a
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 good thing
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 that can be done
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 to balance it out.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 It's just a
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 superficial solution.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 And the result
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 back then
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 was a church
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 full of
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 petrified people.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 People who are aware
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 that they were sinful,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 they knew that,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 but they are imprisoned
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 by these temporary,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 ritualistic,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 resource-based
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 solutions.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 Their forgiveness
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 at any given moment,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 their security
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 to say,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 I'm certain
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 I'm going to be
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 in heaven,
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 was only ever
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 partial.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 And in some cases
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 it was limited
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 to how much
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 money they had
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 to buy that
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 forgiveness.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 And so the answer
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 for the average
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 churchgoer
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 back then
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 to that second
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 diagnostic question
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 would have been
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 about how many
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 indulgences they had,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 how many trips
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 to Rome they'd made,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 how much money
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 they'd given
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 to the poor,
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 how many times
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 a week they were
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 fasting and praying,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 which was such
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 an inadequate answer.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 Even the church
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 knew it was
00:11:58 --> 00:11:58 an inadequate answer,
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 they invented
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 a theology
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 of purgatory.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 Purgatory
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 essentially exists
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 as the place,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 they believe,
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 the place between
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 this life and heaven
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 where you settle
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 the accounts
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 that you didn't
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 have a chance
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 to settle
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 in this life.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 So it's like,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 here's our solution.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 Do good stuff
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 to make up
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 for your bad stuff,
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 but you'll never
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 be able to do
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 enough good stuff,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 so we're going
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 to invent
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 another space
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 that the Bible
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 doesn't talk about
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 where you can
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 keep doing good stuff.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 In some cases
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 they thought people
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 were going to be
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 in there for
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 thousands of years
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 trying to catch up
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 for all their bad stuff
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 because their solution
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 was inadequate.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 See,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 on one level
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 they knew it
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 and yet
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 this was the cycle,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 this was the trap,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 this was the prison
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 that people lived in,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 a prison of fear.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 And then,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 while soaking in God's word,
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 the reformers
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 saw Jesus,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 saw him for who
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 he really is,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 saw him for what
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 he had actually done,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 saw him for what
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 he was doing
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 and is doing
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 even now
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 and it changed
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 everything.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 Now it's not that
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 the Catholic church
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 back then
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 didn't believe
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 in Jesus,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 it's just that
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 they weren't seeing
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 him clearly enough.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 They weren't seeing
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 him the way
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 he's revealed himself
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 in his word.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 Even now today
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 it feels like
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 when we say
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 we believe in Jesus
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 we need to clarify
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 that because
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 it's almost not enough
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 because lots of people
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 say they believe in Jesus
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 but they don't all
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 mean the same thing.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 I've had people
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 come to my house
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 and knock on my door,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 Mormons,
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 you know,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 white shirts,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 name tags
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 and they try and convince
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 me they believe in Jesus
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 and I try and explain
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 to them that the Jesus
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 that you believe in
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 is not the Jesus
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 that the Bible talks
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 about who I believe in.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 Sometimes just to say
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 you believe in Jesus
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 is not enough.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 If you desire
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 true salvation,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 if you desire
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 the kind that gives
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 peace and security
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 and purpose
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 and direction
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 then you need to know
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 who Jesus
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 really is.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 you need to know
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 what the Bible says
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 about Jesus
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 because it all
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 stands or falls
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 on Jesus.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 Everything.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 And so we need to look
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 to the ultimate source
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 of authority,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 the place that Steve
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 took us last week,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 the place that the
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 Reformers went
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 500 years ago,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 the place where God
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 promises to speak to us
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 in His Word
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 to us,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 the Bible.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 So what does it say?
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 Well, quite a bit.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 Every page is about Jesus.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 But let's look at
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 two specific things
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 in this passage
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 from Hebrews 10
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 that the Bible
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 definitely says
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 about Jesus
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 that we need to grab.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 First one.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 Jesus does
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 what you can't.
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 So again,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 Jesus does
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 what you can't.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 He's perfect.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 perfect.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 This has been the issue
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 since Adam and Eve
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 in the Garden of Eden.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 Since the moment
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 where Adam and Eve
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 decided that they knew
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 better than God
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 and they were going to
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 do things their own way,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 God is pure
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 and perfect
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 and He demands
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 the same of His people.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 And so from that
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 point in time,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 there has been
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 this gap
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 that no one of us
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 has ever been able
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 to bridge.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 And that gap
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 is essentially
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 perfection.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 perfection.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 That's what
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 God requires.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 That's the standard
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 He expects.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 That's what He's asking for.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 So before Jesus came,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 God provided His law
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 with sacrifices
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 and rituals
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 and there was contrition
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 and there was confession
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 and all those bits
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 were in there.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 But even that
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 was never going to fix
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 this issue.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 I mean,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 have a look at
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 Hebrews 10 verse 1.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 The law is only
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 a shadow
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 of the good things
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 that are coming,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 not the realities
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 themselves.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 For this reason,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 it can never
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 by the same sacrifices
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 repeated endlessly
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 year after year
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 make perfect
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 those who draw
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 near to worship.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 Can't do it.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 Otherwise,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 would they not have
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 stopped being offered?
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 For the worshippers
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 would have been cleansed
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 once and for all
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 and would no longer
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 have felt guilty
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 for their sins.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 But those sacrifices
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 are an annual
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 reminder of sins.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 It is impossible
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 for the blood
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 of bulls
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 and goats
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 to take away sins.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 None of it
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 made anyone perfect.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 This huge chunk
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 in the Old Testament
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 which tells Israel
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 exactly how they
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 should live,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 which tells them
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 exactly how they
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 should worship,
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 which tells them
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 exactly how they
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 should gather,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 none of it
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 made anyone
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 perfect.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 And that's what
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 needs to happen.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 If people are going
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 to be certain
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 about heaven,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 if people are going
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 to know God,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 if people are going
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 to have a relationship
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 with Him,
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 the issue is
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 they're not perfect
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 and so the solution
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 is they need to be
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 made perfect.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 That's the core issue.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 That's why we fumble
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 with that first question.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 That's why that word
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 certain makes us
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 feel so uncomfortable
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 because anyone
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 with even the slightest
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 bit of self-awareness
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 knows that perfect
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 is not them.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 And so we feel
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 uncomfortable
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 because God
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 does require that.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 And even if the
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 sacrifices that He
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 describes in the law
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 had been able to
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 pay for past sins,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 which they couldn't,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 but even if they
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 had been able to do
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 that, if they were
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 able to wipe the
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 slate clean,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 it doesn't change
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 the fact that
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 people are sinful.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 That sin runs
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 deeper.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 So even if we
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 could do the
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 sacrifices and
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 wipe the slate
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 clean, as soon
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 as it's clean,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 we've already
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 dirtied it again.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 As soon as the
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 accounts to zero,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 we've already
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 started accumulating
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 debt again
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 because it's us
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 who are sinful.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 Sin comes from
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 within us
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 and so something
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 else is needed.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 A better solution
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 is required.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 Therefore,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 verse 5,
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 Therefore,
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 when Christ came
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 into the world,
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 He said,
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 Sacrifice and
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 offering you did
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 not desire,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 but a body you
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 prepared for me.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 With burnt
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 offerings and sin
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 offerings you were
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 not pleased.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 Then I said,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 Here I am.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 It is written
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 about me in the
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 scroll.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 I have come to
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 do your will,
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 my God.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 First,
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 He said,
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 sacrifice and
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 offerings,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 burnt offerings,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 and sin offerings
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 you do not
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 desire,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 nor were you
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 pleased with
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 them,
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 though they
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 were offered
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 in accordance
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 with the law.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 Then He said,
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 Here I am.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 I have come
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 to do your
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 will.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 He sets aside
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 the first to
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 establish the
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 second,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 and by that
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 will we've
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 been made
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 holy through
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 the sacrifice
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 of the body
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 of Jesus
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 Christ once
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 for all.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Jesus came
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 to do what
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 we couldn't.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 Jesus came
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 to provide
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 the perfection
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 that was
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 required.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 He came
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 to do
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 the perfect
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 obedience
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 that we
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 were falling
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 short on.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 Verse 9,
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 Here I am.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 I have come
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 to do
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 your will.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 Perfect
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 obedience
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 was required,
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 and in
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 Jesus,
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 perfect
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 obedience
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 was provided.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 The only
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 place anyone
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 will ever
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 find the
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 perfection
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 that God
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 demands of
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 them
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 is in
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 Jesus,
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 in his
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 perfect
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 life,
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 in his
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 perfect
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 death.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 In fact,
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 that's the
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 whole reason
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 he came.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 Now,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 let me just
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 slow down
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 here for a
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 second.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 Jesus
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 didn't come
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 to be
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 perfect for
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 you because
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 it was
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 difficult and
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 he wanted
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 to make it
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 easier.
00:19:56 --> 00:20:00 he didn't
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 come because
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 you were
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 close and
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 you would
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 have got
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 there
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 eventually,
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 but he
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 just wanted
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 to help
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 you along.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 Jesus
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 does it
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 because it's
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 impossible
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 for you
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 to do it.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 There is
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 no chance
00:20:14 --> 00:20:16 that anyone
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 could ever
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 make this
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 standard.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 Isaiah
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 tells us
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 that even
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 our righteous
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 acts are
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 like filthy
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 rags before
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 God.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 that our
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 best attempts
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 are almost
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 offensive to
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 him.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 And yet
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 sometimes
00:20:34 --> 00:20:37 we treat
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 Jesus and
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 his perfect
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 obedience like
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 it's the
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 top up for
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 our almost
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 perfect
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 obedience.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 We don't
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 see him as
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 the solution
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 to our
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 impossible
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 problem.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 We see
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 him as the
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 icing on
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 our pretty
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 reasonable
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 cake.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:58 But the
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 Bible says
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 about Jesus
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 that he's
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 doing what
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 we couldn't
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 do.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 He's the
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 only perfect
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 one.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 That's the
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 first thing.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 The second
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 thing is
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 that Jesus
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 takes what
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 you deserve.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 Two things
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 are needed
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 if we're
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 going to
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 grab hold
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 of this
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 perfection
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 that we
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 need to.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 we need
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 this new
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 perfect
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 record that
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 Jesus has
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 established by
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 living a
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 perfect life
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 but we
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 still need to
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 deal with the
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 consequence of
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 our sin.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 We still need
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 to deal with
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 the right
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 judgment that
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 God has for
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 the times that
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 we ignore him
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 and dishonor him
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 and don't love
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 him the way he
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 deserves.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 But Jesus
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 takes that as
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 well.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 verse 10
00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 by that
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 will we've
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 been made
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 holy through
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 the sacrifice
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 of the body
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 of Jesus
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 Christ once
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 for all.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 Day after
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 day every
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 priest stands
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 and performs
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 his religious
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 duties again
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 and again he
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 offers the
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 same sacrifices
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 which can
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 never take
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 away sins
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 but when
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 this priest
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 Jesus had
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 offered for
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 all time one
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 sacrifice for
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 sins he sat
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 down at the
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 right hand of
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 God and since
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 that time he
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 waits for his
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 enemies to be
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 made his
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 footstool for
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 by one
00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 sacrifice he
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 has made
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 perfect forever
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 those who are
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 being made
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 holy.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 One
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 sacrifice
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 sufficient for
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 all sins
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 past present
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 and future
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31 the perfect
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 son of God
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 the innocent
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 son of God
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 killed in the
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 place of guilty
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 ones
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 killed in our
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 place
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 peace.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 The prophet
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 Isaiah
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 describes it
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 vividly in
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 chapter 53
00:22:46 --> 00:22:49 it says
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 surely he
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 took up our
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 pain and
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 bore our
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 suffering yet
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 we considered
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 him punished
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 by God
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 stricken by
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 him and
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 afflicted but
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 he was
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 pierced for
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 our transgressions
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 he was
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 crushed for
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 our iniquities
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 the punishment
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 that brought
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 us peace
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 was on
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 him and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 by his
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 wounds we
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 are healed
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 we all like
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 sheep have
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 gone astray
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 each of us
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 has turned to
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 our own way
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 and the Lord
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 has laid on
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 him the
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 iniquity of
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 us all
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 Jesus death
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 on the cross
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 was the once
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 for all
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 sufficient
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 payment for
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 sin
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 it was the
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 one time
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 payment that
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 keeps the
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 debt at
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 zero no
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 matter how
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 many times
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 you stuff
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 up
00:23:36 --> 00:23:39 it removed
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 every possible
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 barrier between
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 us and
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 God and
00:23:43 --> 00:23:46 replaced those
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 barriers with
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 the perfect
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 obedience of
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 Jesus
00:23:49 --> 00:23:52 it's what we
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 sometimes call
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 the great
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 exchange
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 Jesus takes
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 what we
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 deserve
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 he takes
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 our wrath
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 he takes
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 our judgment
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 he fully
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 satisfies God
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 by dying in
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 our place
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 and then in
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 exchange
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 he gives us
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 his perfect
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 report card
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 he gives us
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 his perfect
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 obedience
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 and now he
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 can sit at
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 the right hand
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 of God in
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 heaven
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 guaranteeing
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 that his
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 life lived
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 for us
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 his death
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 died in
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 our place
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 makes it
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 possible
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 for people
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 like you and
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 me to hear
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 the words
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 that should
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 be reserved
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 just for
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 Jesus
00:24:26 --> 00:24:30 words like
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 this is my
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 son whom
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 I love
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 and with
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 him I am
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 well pleased
00:24:37 --> 00:24:39 this is my
00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 daughter whom
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 I love
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 with her I
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 am well
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 pleased
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 Jesus is the
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 only place
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 where sinful
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 people can
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 find hope
00:24:50 --> 00:24:52 he's the
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 only chance
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 that we
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 have to
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 know the
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 perfect God
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 of all
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 creation
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 as our
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 heavenly
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 father
00:24:59 --> 00:25:03 Christ
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 alone
00:25:03 --> 00:25:07 can do
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 what is
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 needed
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 Christ
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 alone
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 does what
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 you could
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 not
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 and takes
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 what you
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 deserve
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 and that's
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 why Acts
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 4 says
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 salvation is
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 found in
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 no one
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 else
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 for there
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 is no
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 other name
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 under heaven
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 given to
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 mankind
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 by which
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 we must
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 be saved
00:25:23 --> 00:25:30 the issue
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 for many
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 of us
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 when it
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 comes to
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 being able
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 to answer
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 that first
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 question with
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 a confident
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 yes
00:25:35 --> 00:25:38 comes back
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 to that
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 system of
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 penance
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 confession
00:25:41 --> 00:25:44 is a good
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 and right
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 response
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 when God
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 shows us
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 that we're
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 not the
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 people we
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 need to
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 be
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 contrition
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 is a
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 necessary
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 part of
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 that genuine
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 confession
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 but it's the
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 satisfaction
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 bit where
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 we go
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 wrong
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 satisfaction
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 needs to
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 happen
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 but the
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 only
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 satisfaction
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 that leads
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 to assurance
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 is trusting
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 in the
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 satisfaction
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 that Jesus
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 has done
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 trusting in
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 the payment
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 that Jesus
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 has made
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 for our
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 sin
00:26:10 --> 00:26:13 there's a
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 chance that
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 if you're
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 somebody who
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 doesn't feel
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 particularly
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 secure when
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 it comes
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 to heaven
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 if you're
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 somebody who
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 struggles with
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 the certainty
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 that God
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 speaks of in
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 his word
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 and promises
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 is available
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 through his
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 son
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 there's a
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 chance that
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 you're doing
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 the confession
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 bit maybe
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 you're doing
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 the contrition
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 bit but it's
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 when it gets
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 the satisfaction
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 that you're
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 tempted to do
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 maybe Jesus
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 and yeah
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 I trust
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 Jesus but I
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 feel the need
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 to do a bit
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 of the work
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 myself
00:26:42 --> 00:26:47 the only
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 place you're
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 going to find
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 certainty is
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 him because
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 the only place
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 you're going to
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 find perfection
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 which is what
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 is required
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 is him
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 and all you
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 do when you
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 try and add
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 to his
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 perfection is
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 dilute it
00:26:59 --> 00:27:02 you unperfect
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 it
00:27:02 --> 00:27:06 if you're
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 somebody in
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 this room
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 who is not
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 following Jesus
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 if you're not
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 a Christian
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 if you're not
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 somebody who
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 has gone
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 through that
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 process of
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 recognizing that
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 you need
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 God's help
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 if you're ever
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 going to know
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 him
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 you need
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 his help
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 if you're
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 ever going
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 to be in
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 heaven
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 if you're
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 not somebody
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 who has
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 asked for
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 the forgiveness
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 that Jesus
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 purchased by
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 dying on the
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 cross in
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 your place
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 I want to
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 tell you
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 that the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 offer of
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 forgiveness
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 the offer
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 of certainty
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 of hope
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 of peace
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 is there
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 for you
00:27:35 --> 00:27:37 right now
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 tonight
00:27:38 --> 00:27:42 because Jesus
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 has done
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 what you
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 cannot do
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 he has taken
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 what you
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 deserve
00:27:47 --> 00:27:50 and he is
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 offering
00:27:51 --> 00:27:53 to forgive
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 you
00:27:53 --> 00:27:56 to restore
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 you
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 and to
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 begin the
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 work of
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 preparing
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 you for
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 heaven
00:28:00 --> 00:28:07 here's the
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 question we
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 need to
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 finish with
00:28:08 --> 00:28:12 does this
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 still matter
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15 surely
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 you know
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 we're a
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 bible
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 believing
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 church
00:28:17 --> 00:28:19 this was
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 a drastic
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 discovery
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 500 years
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 ago but
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 we know
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 it's
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 Christ
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 alone
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 I mean
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 Steve
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 even mentioned
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 it last
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 week
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 you might
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 be really
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 clever
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 and even
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 be able
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 to say
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 solus
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 Christus
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 which is
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 what the
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 reformers
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 would have
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 said
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 so surely
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 we don't
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 need to
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 cover this
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 we know
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 Jesus is
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 the only
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 way we
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 can be
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 saved
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 we talk
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 about this
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 every week
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 at church
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 was this
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 really worth
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 27 minutes
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 of our
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 time
00:28:43 --> 00:28:50 well maybe
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 why did
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 why did
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 what the
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 entire
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 church
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 in the
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 15th
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 century
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 who knew
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 what God
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 had done
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 in Jesus
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 on the
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 cross
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 end up
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 so
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 fatally
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 misled
00:28:58 --> 00:29:04 why do
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 you and
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 I need
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 to hear
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 this
00:29:05 --> 00:29:08 the answer
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 is
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 sin
00:29:09 --> 00:29:12 it was
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 the problem
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 then
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 and it's
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 the problem
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 now
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 we need to
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 understand
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 that the
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 issue here
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 is not
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 that it's
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 confusing
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 God has
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 laid it
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 out
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 he said
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 trust in
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 Jesus
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 just pick up
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 this solution
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 it's here
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 I've done
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 all the work
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 it's right
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 there
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 just take
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 it
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 and yet
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 our default
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 setting
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 is to
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 not do
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 that
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 our default
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 setting
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 is to
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 take what
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 God has
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 idiot proofed
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 for us
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 and make
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 it not
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 work
00:29:39 --> 00:29:42 our default
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 setting
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 is to
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 hear God
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 say I
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 love you
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 in spite
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 of who
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 you are
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 and then
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 feel this
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 need to
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 be somebody
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 who's
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 worthy
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 of God's
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 love
00:29:49 --> 00:29:51 our default
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 setting
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 is to
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 move in
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 the opposite
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 direction
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 of the
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 certainty
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 that God
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 has offered
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 by doing
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 what you
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 can't
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 and taking
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 what you
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 deserve
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 and sending
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 his son
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 to die
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 in your
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 place
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 on the
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 cross
00:30:02 --> 00:30:05 we need
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 to be
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 reminded
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 that it's
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 only in
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 Jesus
00:30:09 --> 00:30:12 because when
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 I asked you
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 at the
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 beginning of
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 this
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 whether or
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 not you're
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 certain
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 you're going
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 to heaven
00:30:16 --> 00:30:19 most if
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 not all
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 of us
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 were hesitant
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 about the
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 word
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 certain
00:30:22 --> 00:30:26 that's
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 what
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 Jesus
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 offers
00:30:27 --> 00:30:31 and so
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 we need
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 to come
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 back
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 now
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 we need
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 to recognize
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 that this
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 is a battle
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 going on
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 in our
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 hearts
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 and that
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 salvation
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 is only
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 found in
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 Jesus
00:30:40 --> 00:30:44 not in
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 the extra
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 ministry
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 that you're
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 doing
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 not in
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 your
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 incredible
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 godly
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 character
00:30:50 --> 00:30:53 even
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 though
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 that
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 might
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 be
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 true
00:30:54 --> 00:30:57 Jesus
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 is not
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 the top
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 up
00:30:59 --> 00:31:02 he's
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 the
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 exchange
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 he's
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 the
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 substitute
00:31:05 --> 00:31:08 and in
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 him
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 and him
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 alone
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 can we
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 find
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 certainty
00:31:12 --> 00:31:15 certainty
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 is the
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 debt
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 that we
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 owe to
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 the
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 protestant
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 reformation
00:31:17 --> 00:31:19 the
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 possibility
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 of
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 assurance
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 and
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 security
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 in
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 Jesus
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 was
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 all
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 but
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 lost
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 prior
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 to
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 the
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 reformation
00:31:26 --> 00:31:29 but
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 thank
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 god
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 500
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 years
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 ago
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 some
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 people
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 opened
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 their
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 bibles
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 and
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 rediscovered
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 it
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 rediscovered
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 security
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 and peace
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 forgiveness
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 grace
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 hope
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 love
00:31:41 --> 00:31:44 and all
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 of it
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 in
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 Jesus
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 alone
00:31:45 --> 00:31:49 and only
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 in
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 Jesus
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 alone
00:31:50 --> 00:31:54 Jesus
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 has done
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 what you
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 cannot
00:31:55 --> 00:31:57 he has
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 taken
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 what you
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 deserve
00:31:58 --> 00:32:02 and he
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 invites you
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 to rest
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 securely
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 in that
00:32:06 --> 00:32:15 heart
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 and there
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 you
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 know