REPRESENT JESUS
Series: Vision Month 2015
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 14th November 2015
Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10
00:00:00 --> 00:00:08 A young police cadet was taking his final exam at Hendon Police College in North London
00:00:08 --> 00:00:12 before he was unleashed upon the British public.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:18 One of the questions in the exam paper in his final exam read like this.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:25 You're out on patrol in outer London when an explosion occurs in a gas main in a nearby street.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:31 On investigation you discover that a large hole has been blown in the footpath
00:00:31 --> 00:00:35 and a nearby block of flats is on fire with people trying to escape.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 Beside the blast site is an overturned van.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 Inside the van there's a strong smell of marijuana.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:50 The occupants of the van, a man and a woman, are half naked and injured.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:56 You notice that the woman in the van is the wife of your divisional inspector
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 who is at present away in the United States.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:06 A passing motorist stops to offer assistance and you recognise him as the suspect in an armed robbery case.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:12 Then suddenly a man runs out of a nearby house shouting that his wife, who was expecting a baby,
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 has gone into labour due to the explosion.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:22 Another man who's been blown into the adjacent canal is crying out for help because he can't swim.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:28 By now a crowd of onlookers has formed and there's a risk of a second explosion.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:30 Then comes the question.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 Bearing in mind the provision of the Mental Health Act,
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 describe in a few words what actions you would take.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:42 His answer?
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 I would take off my uniform and mingle with the crowd.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 I imagine that that's a pretty clever answer,
00:01:55 --> 00:02:01 but I imagine that many of us, although we may not know the feeling of being in that exact situation,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 know what it is to try and take the uniform off and to mingle with the crowd.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:11 You see, the stakes are high when a police officer takes their uniform off and mingles with the crowd,
00:02:11 --> 00:02:18 but the stakes, I think, are astronomical when the Christian church loses heart for its mission and purpose,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:27 and in fact, loses vision for it, which is why we are doing this series now in Vision Month.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:35 We've seen so far that we exist as a church to know Jesus and to treasure Jesus.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:41 And what flows from that is the next part of our mission statement,
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 that is that we represent Jesus.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:50 Given the infinite value of knowing and being known by Jesus,
00:02:50 --> 00:02:54 we exist to represent Jesus.
00:02:55 --> 00:03:00 And so I want to look at these few verses in 2 Corinthians 5 and 6,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 because I think that they will help us
00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 not to give up hope
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 and to effectively
00:03:10 --> 00:03:14 keep our uniform on as Christians.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:20 To say that we exist to represent Jesus
00:03:20 --> 00:03:27 is not well received in our modern context in this country.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:32 Religion, and especially Christianity in Australia,
00:03:32 --> 00:03:37 is seen as a source of much of the world's problems.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:45 Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist and the father of psychoanalysis,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:54 believe that all the world's problems come from the repression of deep desires for pleasure.
00:03:55 --> 00:04:01 And so therefore the villains are the repressive moral gatekeepers in society,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 like the Christian church.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 That's the mood of our country.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 At the moment.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 We are seen, that is the Christian church,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 is seen as the problem
00:04:12 --> 00:04:16 rather than the solution to the world's problems.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 And of course, given the church's track record over its history
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 in areas of things like morality and justice,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:29 there has been quite a lot of trust eroded.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:33 And so representing Jesus in a post-Christian culture
00:04:33 --> 00:04:39 is often faced with skepticism and even hostility.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 Unlike Freud, however,
00:04:43 --> 00:04:48 the Christian worldview doesn't locate the problem of the world
00:04:48 --> 00:04:53 in one part of the world or in one group of the world.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 Christianity doesn't blame religion,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 doesn't blame Muslims,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 it doesn't blame terrorists,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 it doesn't blame atheists,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 it doesn't blame big business,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 it doesn't blame immigrants.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:11 It says the problem of the world is sin.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:18 And it locates the solution to the world's problem in God's grace.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 And so what the Christian worldview does,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 it declares both a universal problem
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 and a universal solution.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:31 And so thinking about what it means for us to represent Jesus,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 I want to look at that universal problem
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 and the universal solution,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 and in doing that,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 I'm going to start digging around
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 in some core Christian beliefs
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 which are repulsive in our context.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 things like sin,
00:05:47 --> 00:05:47 judgment,
00:05:48 --> 00:05:48 hell.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 Sin and divine judgment
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 and the reality is
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 even God's solution
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 to our problem
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 are some of the most offensive elements
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 of the Christian faith today.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 A good number of our society
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 still believe in God.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:10 However,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 the God that they believe in
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 is formed from an opinion
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 that is
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 that I have my own right
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 to choose my God
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 the way I want Him to be.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 And so we have every right,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 every individual
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 has every right
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 to arrive at their own religious belief
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 but independent
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 of all other religious groups.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 And so the God that we form
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 in our mind
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 is the God
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 of love
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 who supports us
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 no matter what it is
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 that we do
00:06:48 --> 00:06:48 or what it is
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 that we believe.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 That's the conclusion
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 we come to.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 Ironically,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 no,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 if you look out
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 in the world this week,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 circumstances of our world,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 you don't have to look much further
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 than Paris and go,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 it's hard to believe
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 in a God of love.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 If you look through history,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 history doesn't affirm
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 a God of love.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 If you look to world religions,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 the only world religion
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 that says
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 that this world
00:07:28 --> 00:07:28 was created
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 because of the love
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 and desire
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 of a merciful God
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 is Christianity.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 It is the only world religion
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 that comes to the conclusion
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 that God is love
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 and is essential being.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 And so to come to the conclusion
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 that God is love,
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 it has to flow
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 ultimately from a biblical
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 Christianity perspective.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 But that same Bible
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 says that God
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 is also a God of justice.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 But in our society,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 for Christians to think
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 that there are people
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 who are bound for hell,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 the conclusion is
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 that we must perceive
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 that such people
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 are unequal
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 in dignity and worth
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 as us.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 And therefore,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 they conclude
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 that that belief
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 leads to exclusion
00:08:24 --> 00:08:24 and abuse
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 and division
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 and even violence.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 And unfortunately,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:28 throughout the history
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 of the Christian church,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 it has.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 And so let's unpack
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 some of this stuff
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 from
00:08:34 --> 00:08:38 2 Corinthians 5
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 and see why
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 it is so essential
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 for Christians
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 to keep their uniform on
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 and to keep representing
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 Jesus against that climate.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 2 Corinthians 5 verse 10,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 For we must all appear
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 before the judgment seat
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 of Christ,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 and each one must receive
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 what is due him
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 for the things done
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 while in the body,
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 whether good or bad.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 What that's saying there
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 is that God will hold us
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 all accountable
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 for how we live.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 Notice that the judgment seat
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 of Christ is universal.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 We must all appear.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 That's everyone,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 no exceptions.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 Notice too that while
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 it is for everyone,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 we'll all be judged
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 individually.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 Each one must give
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 an account.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 Now Romans chapter 2
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 gives a vivid account
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 of what that day
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 will look like
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 and there are only
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 two outcomes
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 for the final reckoning
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 with the Lord Jesus.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 Romans 2 verse 7,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 To those who by persistence
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 in doing good
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 seek glory,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 honour and immortality,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 they will give eternal life.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 But for those
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 who are self-seeking
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 and who reject the truth
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 and follow evil,
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 there will be wrath
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 and anger.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:48 There will be trouble
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 and distress
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 for every human being
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 who does evil,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 first for the Jew,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 then for the Gentile,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 but glory,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 honour and peace
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 for everyone
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 who does good.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 Now Sigmund Freud
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 suggests that self-seeking
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 is the solution
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 to the world's problem.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 These verses suggest
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 that self-seeking
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 is the problem.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 The Bible calls it sin
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 and sin is the universal problem.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 Sin is not just doing bad things,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 this is what we saw last week.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 Sin is making good things
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 into ultimate things.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 Sin is building your life
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 and meaning on anything,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 even a very good thing
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 instead of God.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 And so if you love
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 your reputation
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 more than truth,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 you're likely to lie.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 If you love money
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 more than family,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 then you are most likely
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 going to neglect
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 your spouse and your children
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 for your career.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 Sin is where we look
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 to good things
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 like money and career
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 and family
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 and to give us
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 that sense of significance
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 and acceptance.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 and security
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 instead of God.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 It's idolatry.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 It's an idolatry
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 that leads to drivenness,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 addictions,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 severe anxiety,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 obsessiveness,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 envy of others,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 resentment.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 That is,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 idolatry ruins.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 Sin has the effect
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 of putting us
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 in,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 like all addictions,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 putting us into denial
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 about our hostility
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 towards God.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 We become trapped
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 and enslaved
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 to our spiritual idols
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 in a way
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 that a person
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 might be addicted
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 to drugs
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 or gambling
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 or alcohol.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 We live in denial
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 about how much
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 we are trampling
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 all over God
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 in a way that
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 an addict
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 is in denial
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 about how they're
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 trampling all over
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 their family
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 and their loved ones.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 sin.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 And the terrible
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 consequences
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 of a life of sin
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 is what Romans 2 verse 8
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 calls wrath and anger
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 from God.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 I don't know
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 of anyone
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 who has
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 ever overstated
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 the terrors
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 of this wrath
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 and anger.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 A God
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 who is both
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 a God of love
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 and a God
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 of justice
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 seems like
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 a contradiction.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 But is it not true
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 that all
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 loving people
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 are sometimes
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 filled with anger
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 and seek justice?
00:12:25 --> 00:12:30 when they do it
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 it's not because
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 of their love
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 sorry
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 when they do it
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 it is because
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 of their love
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 rather than
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 in spite of it.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 Think of how
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 we feel
00:12:44 --> 00:12:44 when someone
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 we love
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 is ravaged
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 by the wrong
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 actions
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 or
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 by a bad
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 relationship.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 Do we respond
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 with a benign
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 intolerance?
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 Far from it.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 You see
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 anger and justice
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 is not
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 the opposite
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 of love.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 Hate
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 is the opposite
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 of love.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 And the final
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 form of hate
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 is indifference.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 God's justice
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 is not a cranky
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 explosion
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 but his
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 subtle
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 opposition
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 to the
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 cancer
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 that is
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 eating out
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 of the
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 insides
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 of the
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 human race
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 that he
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 loves
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 that he's
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 created
00:13:27 --> 00:13:31 God's
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 justice
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 flows
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 from his
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 love
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 and his
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 delight
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 in the
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 creation
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 that he
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 loves
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 with all
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 of his
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 heart.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 He is
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 angry
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 at evil
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 and injustice
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 because it
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 is destroying
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 its peace
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 and its
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 integrity.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:50 that sits
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 I think
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 with our
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 hearts
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 that sits
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 with us
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 with our
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 inner
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 beings
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 the human
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 impulse
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 to make
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 perpetrators
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 of violence
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 pay for their
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 crimes
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 is almost
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 overwhelming
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 when you
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 look at
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 that
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 and you
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 see the
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 scenes
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 on television
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 about what's
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 happened in
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 Paris
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 do you have
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 a benign
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 intolerance
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 or benign
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 tolerance
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 or is it
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 we pray for
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 perpetrators
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 of such evil
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 to be brought
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 to justice
00:14:25 --> 00:14:30 and the
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 best resource
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 to satisfy
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 that innate
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 desire
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 for justice
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 is belief
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 in a God
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 who will
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 finally put
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 all things
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 right and
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 settle all
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 accounts
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 and so in
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 view of this
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 verse 11
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 since then we
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 know what it
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 is to fear
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 the Lord
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 we try to
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 persuade men
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 you see the
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 judgment of
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 God
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 leads Christians
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 to pursue
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 reconciliation
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 not vengeance
00:14:59 --> 00:15:03 you see anyone
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 who thinks
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 that the
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 Christian response
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 to injustice
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 is to pick
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 up a gun
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 and to fight
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 for the
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 honour of
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 God
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 or to
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 exercise
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 God's
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 justice
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 is a
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 lunatic
00:15:15 --> 00:15:20 now the
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 fear of
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 God is a
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 right motivation
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 but it
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 isn't our
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 only motivation
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 to represent
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 Jesus
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 and persuade
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 people of
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 this truth
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 the fear
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 of hell
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 and of
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 God
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 is no
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 proof
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 that you
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 actually
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 treasure
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 Jesus
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 we are
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 told in
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 verse 14
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 that fear
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 of judgment
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 is not
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 Paul's
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 only motive
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 he says
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 for Christ's
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 love
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 compels
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 us
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 and these
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 verses
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 are rich
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 in the
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 wonder
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 of Christ's
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 love
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 verse 18
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 God who
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 reconciled us
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 to himself
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 through Christ
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 and again
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 in verse 19
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 God
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 God
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 was
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 reconciling
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 the world
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 to himself
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 in Christ
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 to reconcile
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 is to render
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 two parties
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 to be no
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 longer opposed
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 to each
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 other
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 it is to
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 win over
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 from hostility
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 to friendliness
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 and these
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 verses say
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 that it is
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 God who
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 took the
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 initiative
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 to reconcile
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 us to
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 himself
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 see it there
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 in verse 18
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 all this is
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 from God
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 verse 19
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 God was
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 reconciling the
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 world to
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 himself
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 verse 21
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 God made
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 him who had
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 no sin
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 to be sin
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 for us
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 the initiative
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 the momentum
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 and the purpose
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 of reconciliation
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 all come
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 from God
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 and God
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 does something
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 about sin
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 that has
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 caused this
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 enmity
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 between us
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 and him
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 verse 19
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 is the
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 preliminary
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 explanation
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 of how the
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 reconciliation
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 is brought
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 about
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 it says
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 God
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 was
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 reconciled
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 the world
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 to himself
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 in Christ
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 not counting
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 men's sins
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 against them
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and verse 21
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 describes
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 how it is
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 possible
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 that God
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 doesn't count
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 sins
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 against us
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 God made
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 him
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 who had
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 no sin
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 to be
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 sin
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 for us
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 so that
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 in him
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 we might
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 become the
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 righteousness
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 of God
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 the end of
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 verse 19
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 says that God
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 doesn't want
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 to count
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 our sins
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 against us
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 and frankly
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 we don't want
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 God to count
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 our sins
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 against us
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 but the
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 picture here
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 is of
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 an account
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 book
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 the account
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 book
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 has written
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 in it
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 all that
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 we've said
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 all that
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 we've done
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 all that
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 we've thought
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 all that
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 we've treasured
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 verse 21
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 says
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 that my
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 sin
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 is not
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 put to
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 my account
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 my debt
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 is not
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 put to
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 my account
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 but it's
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 put to
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 Jesus'
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 account
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 instead
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 my account
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 of sin
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 has been
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 put
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 by God
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 to the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 account
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 of the
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 sinless
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 son
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 and Jesus
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 has taken
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 my place
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 and borne
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 my sins
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 in his
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 body
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 on the
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 cross
00:17:58 --> 00:18:01 it means
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 that he's
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 been judged
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 in my
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 place
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 he was
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 made
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 sin
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 he became
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 my
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 substitute
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 not only
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 is my
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 sin put
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 to his
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 account
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 but his
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 perfect
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 unblemished
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 righteousness
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 is
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 put to
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 my
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 account
00:18:21 --> 00:18:25 I
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 cannot
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 be
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 condemned
00:18:26 --> 00:18:29 because
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 my
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 record
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 reads
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 perfect
00:18:31 --> 00:18:34 it's
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 the
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 ultimate
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 exchange
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 in a
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 trivial
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 kind of
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 way
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 it's
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 kind of
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 like
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 the
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 day
00:18:41 --> 00:18:45 nearly
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 18
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 years
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 ago
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 quick
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 calculation
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 that
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 I
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 married
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 Nat
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 and
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 on that
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 day
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 I
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 said
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 to
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 Nat
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 with
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 all
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 that
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 I
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 am
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 and
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 all
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 that
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 I
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 have
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 I
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 give
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 you
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 and
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 honor
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 you
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 and
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 other
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 stuff
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 like
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 that
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 basically
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 you know
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 it's a bit
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 vague
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 after all
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 these
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 years
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 now
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 which was
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 a massive
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 promise
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 everything
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 that I
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 have
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 all that
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 I
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 am
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 I
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 give
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 to
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 you
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 and
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 now
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 after
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 five
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 years
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 of
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 doing
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 ministry
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 training
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 and being
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 a student
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 that
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 meant
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 that I
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 had a
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 hex
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 debt
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 I
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 had a
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 small
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 car
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 loan
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 and I
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 even
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 had to
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 borrow
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 two
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 thousand
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 dollars
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 from
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 my
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 father-in-law
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 in order
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 to marry
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 Nat
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 and so
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 when I
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 said
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 with
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 all
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 that
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 I
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 have
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 it's
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 like
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 there
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 we
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 go
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 it's
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 all
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 yours
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 Nat
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 she
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 didn't
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 have
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 any
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 debts
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 but
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 she
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 did
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 the
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 moment
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 that
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 she
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 married
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 me
00:19:43 --> 00:19:46 that's
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 a trivial
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 kind
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 of
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 thing
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 it's
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 a trivial
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 kind
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 of
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 exchange
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 understanding
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 now
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 while
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 some
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 of us
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 think
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 that
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 it's
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 unjust
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 of
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 God
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 for
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 Jesus
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 to
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 die
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 in
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 our
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 place
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 this
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 substitutionary
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 sacrifice
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 is not
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 a foreign
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 concept
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 it is
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 in our
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 blood
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 literally
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 in our
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 blood
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 you see
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 when you
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 have an
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 infection
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 you have
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 white
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 blood
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 cells
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 to attack
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 the
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 infection
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 and if
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 you have
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 a wound
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 you will
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 notice
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 this
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 stuff
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 coming
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 out
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 it's
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 called
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 technical
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 term
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 pus
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 I mean
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 I'm
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 assuming
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 there's
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 a more
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 technical
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 term
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 than
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 pus
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 for it
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 the
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 pus
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 is
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 just
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 the
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 corpses
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 of
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 white
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 cells
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 which
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 have
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 died
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 so
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 that
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 you
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 might
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 live
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 it's
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 in
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 your
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 blood
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 you know
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 if a
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 mother
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 bird
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 jumps
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 in
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 the
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 way
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 of
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 a
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 snake
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 and
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 dies
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 to
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 protect
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 their
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 lives
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 of
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 their
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 young
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 birdies
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 and
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 you
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 see
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 it
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 on
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 YouTube
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 you
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 go
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 oh
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 that's
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 oh
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 I'm
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 moved
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 by
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 that
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 and
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 we
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 consider
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 in
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 our
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 culture
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 heroes
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 of
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 those
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 soldiers
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 and
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 others
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 who
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 given
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 their
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 lives
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 to
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 protect
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 their
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 mates
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 and
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 their
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 family
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 and
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 their
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 country
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 that
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 is
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 sacrifice
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 is
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 of the
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 highest
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 principle
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 of
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 virtue
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 in
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 our
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 culture
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 and
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 we
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 admire
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 it
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 no
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 end
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 and
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 so
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 this
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 must
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 surely
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 be
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 something
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 that
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 God
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 does
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 as
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 well
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 otherwise
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 the
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 creature
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 us
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 would
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 be
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 more
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 moral
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 than
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 God
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 and
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 I
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 can't
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 imagine
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 how
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 that
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 would
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 be
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 and
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 God
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 has
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 done
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 this
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 he
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 came
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 to
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 earth
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 in
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 Jesus
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 Christ
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 suffered
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 and
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 died
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 why
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 because
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 Jesus
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 takes
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 our
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 shame
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 and
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 our
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 guilt
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 he
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 does
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 not
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 merely
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 die
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 he
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 dies
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 on
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 a
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 cross
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 most
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 shameful
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 of
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 deaths
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 he
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 is
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 cast
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 out
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 of
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 the
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 community
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 crucified
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 outside
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 of
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 the
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 city
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 absolutely
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 humiliated
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 though
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 he
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 obeyed
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 and
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 treasured
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 his
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 father
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 and
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 was
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 faithful
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 to
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 his
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 friends
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 and
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 deserved
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 all
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 honour
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 he
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 got
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 shame
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 and
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 rejection
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 why
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 he
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 took
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 the
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 shame
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 and
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 rejection
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 we
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 deserve
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 for
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 our
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 failings
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 to
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 love
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 God
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 to
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 treasure
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 him
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 ultimately
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 so
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 that
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 we
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 could
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 be
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 forgiven
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 and
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 set
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 free
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 in
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 order
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 to
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 treasure
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 him
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 ultimately
00:22:16 --> 00:22:20 and
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 it's
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 absolutely
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 essential
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 for our
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 confidence
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 in this
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 work of
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 reconciliation
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 that we
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 see the
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 centrality
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 of
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 Jesus
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 in it
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 all
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 verse
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 18
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 it was
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 through
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 Jesus
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 verse
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 19
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 it was
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 in
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 Jesus
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 the
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 reconciliation
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 of the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 world
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 to
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 God
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 happens
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 through
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 the
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 death
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 and
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 resurrection
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 of
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 Jesus
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 it is
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 something
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 that has
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 happened
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 in
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 history
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 it is
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 something
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 it is
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 finished
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 and the
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 word
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 world
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 in
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 verse
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 19
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 is
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 staggering
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 it says
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 that what
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 God
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 did
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 in the
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 death
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 of
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 Jesus
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 in
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 history
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 on a
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 hill
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 outside
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 of
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 Jerusalem
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 in
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 AD
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 33
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 concerns
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 the
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 reconciliation
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 of the
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 whole
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 world
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 to
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 its
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 maker
00:23:05 --> 00:23:08 that's
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 the
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 Christian
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 world
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 view
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 that is
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 the
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 claim
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 of
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 verses
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 14
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 and
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 15
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 we are
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 convinced
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 that
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 one
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 died
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 for
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 all
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 and
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 therefore
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 all
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 died
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 and
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 he
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 died
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 for
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 all
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 and
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 so
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 Jesus
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 death
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 has
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 universal
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 significance
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 there is
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 no
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 reconciliation
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 with
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 God
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 outside
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 of
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 Jesus
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 you
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 don't
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 need
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 anything
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 more
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 than
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 Jesus
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 but
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 you
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 cannot
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 have
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 anything
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 less
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 than
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 Jesus
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 and
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 if
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 you
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 are
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 sitting
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 here
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 right
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 now
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 someone
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 who
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 is
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 not
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 trusting
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 in
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 the
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 Lord
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 Jesus
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 then
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 I
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 want
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 to
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 suggest
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 to
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 you
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 the
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 stakes
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 could
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 not
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 be
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 any
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 higher
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 for
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 you
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 right
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 now
00:23:47 --> 00:23:52 chapter
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 6
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 verse
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 2
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 says
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 now
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 is
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 the
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 time
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 of
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 God's
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 favour
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 now
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 is
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 the
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 day
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 of
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 salvation
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 and
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 so
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 I
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 would
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 implore
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 you
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 on
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 Christ's
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 behalf
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 be
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 reconciled
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 to
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 God
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 today
00:24:06 --> 00:24:08 through
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 Jesus
00:24:08 --> 00:24:13 the
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 message
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 of
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 reconciliation
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 is
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 what
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 God
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 has
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 done
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 and
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 can
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 only
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 do
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 through
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 Christ
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 the
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 ministry
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 of
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 reconciliation
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 on the
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 other
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 hand
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 is
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 what
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 God
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 can
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 only
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 do
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 through
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 us
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 this
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 is
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 what
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 God
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 is
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 calling
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 us
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 to
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 do
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 if
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 you
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 are
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 reconciled
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 with
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 God
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 through
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 Jesus
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 verse
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 20
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 says
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 we
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 are
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 therefore
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 Christ's
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 ambassadors
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 as
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 though
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 God
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 were
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 making
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 his
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 appeal
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 through
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 us
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 and the
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 main
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 thrust
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 of
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 verses
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 20
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 onwards
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 is
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 what
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 Christians
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 that is
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 the ones
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 who have
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 been
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 reconciled
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 to
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 God
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 through
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 Jesus
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 those
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 who
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 treasure
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 Jesus
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 above
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 everything
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 else
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 must
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 do
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 if
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 the
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 message
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 of
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 reconciliation
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 is
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 to be
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 heard
00:24:52 --> 00:24:54 that
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 is
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 the
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 message
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 of
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 reconciliation
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 is
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 our
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 ministry
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 of
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 reconciliation
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 to
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 Chatswood
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 and
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 beyond
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 this is
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 what God
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 does
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 through
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 us
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 verse
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 18
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 all
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 this
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 is
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 from
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 God
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 who
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 reconciled
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 us
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 to
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 himself
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 through
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 Christ
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 and
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 gave
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 us
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 the
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 ministry
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 of
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 reconciliation
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 this
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 ministry
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 is
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 given
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 to
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 us
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 it's
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 not
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 given
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 to
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 Christ
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 it's
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 not
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 given
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 to
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 the
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 angels
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 verse
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 19
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 and he
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 committed
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 to
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 us
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 the
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 message
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 of
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 reconciliation
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 again
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 given
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 to
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 us
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 not
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 to
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 Christ
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 not
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 to
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 angels
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 verse
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 20
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 we
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 are
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 therefore
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 Christ's
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 ambassadors
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 as
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 though
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 God
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 were
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 making
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 his
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 not
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 the
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 angels
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 verse
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 20
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 makes
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 our
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 ministry
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 very
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 clear
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 we
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 are
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 Christ's
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 ambassadors
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 and
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 as
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 an
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 ambassador
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 you
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 have
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 a
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 very
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 distinguished
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 job
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 as
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 an
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 ambassador
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 the
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 honor
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 of
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 the
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 Lord
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 Jesus
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 Christ
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 is
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 at
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 stake
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 if
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 you
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 have
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 received
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 the
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 message
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 of
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 reconciliation
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 then
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 you
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 have
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 the
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 responsibility
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 of
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 the
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 ministry
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 of
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 reconciliation
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 see
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 the
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 connection
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 in
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 verse
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 15
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 he
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 that's
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 Christ
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 died
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 for
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 all
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 that
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 those
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 who
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 live
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 that
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 is
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 through
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 Christ
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 should
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 no
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 longer
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 live
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 for
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 themselves
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 but
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 for
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 him
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 who
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 died
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 for
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 them
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 and
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 was
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 raised
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 again
00:26:19 --> 00:26:22 as
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 a
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 recipient
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 of
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 the
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 message
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 of
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 reconciliation
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 your
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 whole
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 life
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 is
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 now
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 deployed
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 to
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 the
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 diplomatic
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 service
00:26:33 --> 00:26:37 I
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 am
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 to
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 speak
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 and
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 to
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 live
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 in
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 such
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 a
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 way
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 that
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 Jesus
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 looks
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 magnificent
00:26:44 --> 00:26:50 that
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 he
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 is
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 the
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 treasure
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 that
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 we
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 declare
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 him
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 to
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 be
00:26:53 --> 00:26:57 as
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 our
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 society
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 is
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 moving
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 deeper
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 and
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 deeper
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 into
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 a
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 post
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 Christian
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 culture
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 that
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 wants
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 to
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 jettison
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 all
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 vestiges
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 of
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 its
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 Christian
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 heritage
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 I
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 think
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 there's
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 a
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 temptation
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 for
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 us
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 to
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 be
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 feeling
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 a
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 little
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 overwhelmed
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 as
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 ambassadors
00:27:16 --> 00:27:18 and
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 wanting
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 to
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 get
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 that
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 uniform
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 off
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 it's
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 a whole
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 lot
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 more
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 comfortable
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 being
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 ambassador
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 for
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 Australia
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 in
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 New
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 Zealand
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 than
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 it
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 would
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 be
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 in
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Baghdad
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 right
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 now
00:27:30 --> 00:27:33 slightly
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 different
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 perspective
00:27:33 --> 00:27:38 there's
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 a couple
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 of
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 questions
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 that we
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 want to
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 be
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 thinking
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 about
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 as we
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 move
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 forward
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 one
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 is
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 because
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 the
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 culture
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 shifted
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 so
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 much
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 that
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 we
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 exist
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 in
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 the
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 way
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 we
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 go
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 about
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 our
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 ambassador
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 job
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 is
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 going
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 to
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 be
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 very
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 different
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 than
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 the
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 way
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 things
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 were
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 done
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 30
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 years
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 ago
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 number
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 one
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 you've
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 got
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 to
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 understand
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 that
00:27:59 --> 00:28:01 I
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 can
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 nearly
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 guarantee
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 any
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 program
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 that
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 worked
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 20
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 to
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 30
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 years
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 ago
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 is
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 guaranteed
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 not
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 to
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 work
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 now
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 it
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 shifted
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 that
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 quickly
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 and
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 this
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 is
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 this
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 for
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 me
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 over
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 the
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 last
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 six
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 years
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 or so
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 has
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 been
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 a
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 very
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 rapid
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 relearning
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 of
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 ministry
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 I
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 got
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 trained
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22 I
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 got
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 trained
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 who
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 thought
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 in
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 terms
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 of
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 Christendom
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 that
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 is
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 where
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 the
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 Christian
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 church
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 Christian
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 faith
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 influences
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 the
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 morality
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 and
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 the
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 thinking
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 of
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 society
00:28:34 --> 00:28:37 that's
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 gone
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 and I
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 had to
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 relearn
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 retrain
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 it's
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 a scary
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 thing
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 it's
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 kind
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 of
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 daunting
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 how
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 to
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 engage
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 as a
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 Christian
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 church
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 in
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 a
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 new
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 society
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 two
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 things
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 are
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 really
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 important
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 for
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 us
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 as
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 we
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 look
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 ahead
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 as
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 a
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 church
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 number
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 one
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 broadly
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 speaking
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 these
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 are
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 two
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 very
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 broad
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 categories
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 number
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 one
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 how
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 do
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 we
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 as
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 a
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 Christian
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 church
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 in
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 Chatswood
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 lead
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 with
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 love
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 in
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 Chatswood
00:28:59 --> 00:29:03 that's
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 absolute
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 paramount
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 for us
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 to be
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 thinking
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 about
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 lead
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 with
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 love
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 so
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 that
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 everything
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 that
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 we
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 do
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 we
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 don't
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 just
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 have
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 evangelistic
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 programs
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 over
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 here
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 but
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 everything
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 that
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 we
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 do
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 is
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 on
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 mission
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 the
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 whole
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 thing
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 everything
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 we
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 do
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 is
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 thinking
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 mission
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 that's
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 number
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 one
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 number
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 two
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 is
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 the
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 absolute
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 importance
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 for us
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 as a
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 church
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 to be
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 equipping
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 all of
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 our
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 members
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 for their
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 front
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 line
00:29:29 --> 00:29:31 ministry
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 of
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 reconciliation
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 which
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 for
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 virtually
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 all of
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 us
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 happens
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 outside
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 the
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 walls
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 of
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 this
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 building
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 how
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 do
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 we
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 equip
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 our
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 people
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 to
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 engage
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 with
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 love
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 and
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 winsomeness
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 with
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 the
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 underlying
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 thinking
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 of
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 our
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 culture
00:29:47 --> 00:29:50 that's
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 number
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 two
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 that's
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 the
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 second
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 thing
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 the
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 third
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 thing
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 I
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 want
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 to
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 say
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 is
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 let
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 us
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 not
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 be
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 discouraged
00:29:55 --> 00:29:58 keep
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 our
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 uniforms
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 on
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 I
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 believe
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 the
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 more
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 deeply
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 we
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 feel
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 how
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 undeserved
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 and
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 free
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 grace
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 of
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 the
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 Lord
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 Jesus
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 is
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 and
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 how
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 he's
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 plucked
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 us
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 from
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 eternal
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 misery
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 into
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 eternal
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 joy
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 the
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 more
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 we
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 will
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 treasure
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 Jesus
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 and
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 the
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 more
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 we
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 treasure
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 Jesus
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 the
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 freer
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 our
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 love
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 will
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 be
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 in
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 representing
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 the
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 Lord
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 Jesus
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 to
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 those
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 who
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 need
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 to
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 experience
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 his
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 mercy
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 they're
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 not
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 three
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 different
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 concepts
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 to
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 know
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 and be
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 known
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 by
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 Jesus
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 is
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 to
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 treasure
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 Jesus
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 and
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 to
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 treasure
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 Jesus
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 above
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 everything
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 means
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 that
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 you
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 represent
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 him
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 well
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 they're
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 all
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 connected
00:30:38 --> 00:30:42 I
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 also
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 think
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 that
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 this
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 is
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 a
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 time
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 of
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 unprecedented
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 opportunity
00:30:46 --> 00:30:49 it's
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 a
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 time
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 for us
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 as a
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 Christian
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 church
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 to see
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 that it's
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 actually
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 good
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 for
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 Christendom
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 to be
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 over
00:30:53 --> 00:30:56 unprecedented
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 opportunity
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 the history
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 of the
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 church
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 tells
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 me
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 that a
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 culture
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 that wants
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 to get
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 rid
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 of
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 Christianity
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 is
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 never
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 a
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 hindrance
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 for the
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 Christian
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 church
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 to represent
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 Jesus
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 never
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 a
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 hindrance
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 did
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 you
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 know
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 that
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 early
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 Christianity
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 grew
00:31:10 --> 00:31:12 explosively
00:31:12 --> 00:31:15 40%
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 a
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 decade
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 for
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 nearly
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 300
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 years
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 it
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 grew
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 by
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 40%
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 a
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 decade
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 for
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 nearly
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 300
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 years
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 which
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 is
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 the
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 era
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 prior
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 to
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 Christendom
00:31:31 --> 00:31:36 and
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 during
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 that
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 time
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 early
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 Christians
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 did
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 not
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 engage
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 in
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 public
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 preaching
00:31:42 --> 00:31:44 because
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 it was
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 too
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 dangerous
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 there
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 were
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 practically
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 no
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 evangelists
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 no
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 missionaries
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 there
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 were
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 no
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 mission
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 boards
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 there
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 was
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 no
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 mission
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 organisations
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 they
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 did
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 not
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 write
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 evangelism
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 courses
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 or
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 write
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 books
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 and
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 after
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 Nero's
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 persecution
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 in the
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 mid
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 first
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 century
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 church
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 services
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 were
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 in
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 fact
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 closed
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 to
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 visitors
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 deacons
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 stood
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 at the
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 doors
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 of
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 churches
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 like
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 bouncers
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11 excluding
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 people
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 who
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 were
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 not
00:32:12 --> 00:32:14 baptised
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 or
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 who
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 they
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 thought
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 were
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 informers
00:32:16 --> 00:32:18 prominent
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 people
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 in
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 society
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 scorned
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 the
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 Christian
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 church
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 Christians
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 were
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 discriminated
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 against
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 in
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 broader
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 society
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 in
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 petty
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 little
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 ways
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 it
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 was
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 extremely
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 hard
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 to
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 be
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 Christian
00:32:33 --> 00:32:37 and
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 yet
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 the
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 church
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 grew
00:32:38 --> 00:32:40 why
00:32:40 --> 00:32:43 because
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 Christians
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43 were
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 attractive
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 what
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 attracted
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 people
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 to the
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 Christian
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 faith
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 was the
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 lives
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 of
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 Christians
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 their
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 concern
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 first of
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 all
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 for the
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 weak
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 and the
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 poor
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 in
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 society
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 their
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 integrity
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 in the
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 face
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 of
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 persecution
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 their
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 financial
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 generosity
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 their
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 sacrificial
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 love
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 even
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 for
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 their
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 enemies
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 and the
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 high
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 quality
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 of their
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 common
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 life
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 together
00:33:11 --> 00:33:13 non-believers
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 were
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 first of
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 all
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 attracted
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 to the
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 community
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 and the
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 lives
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 of
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 Christians
00:33:18 --> 00:33:20 before
00:33:20 --> 00:33:22 they were
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 open to
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 hear the
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 gospel
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 truths
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 that was
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 the source
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 of this
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 kind
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 of
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 life
00:33:26 --> 00:33:30 they
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 were
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 impressed
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 by the
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 way
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 Christians
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 died
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 for their
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 faith
00:33:36 --> 00:33:38 and the
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 church
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 grew
00:33:39 --> 00:33:41 so I'm
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 convinced
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 that when
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 we know
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 Jesus
00:33:44 --> 00:33:47 and we
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 treasure
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 Jesus
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 with all
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 of our
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 lives
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 we will
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 be
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 effective
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 in
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 representing
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 Jesus
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 for his
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 glory
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 and the
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 joy
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 of all
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 people
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 Esc distinct
00:33:59 --> 00:34:02 prĂłxima
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 so
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 bye
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 to
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 sure
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 sing
00:34:09 --> 00:34:11 one
00:34:11 --> 00:34:20 tree
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 come arc
00:34:21 --> 00:34:23 and the
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 olla