SIN
Series: One Hit Wonder
Speaker: Chris Jones
Date: 28th April 2013
Passage: Genesis 3:1-24
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 I got a free kick tonight.
00:00:01 --> 00:00:04 That means that I could preach what I like.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:09 So I thought I'd talk to you about something which has been on my mind since Deb first preached three weeks ago
00:00:09 --> 00:00:14 when she preached from Genesis 3 in the series that we've just had in Identity.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:20 Because she sowed a few seeds with me which I thought about in another way beyond there.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 And anyway, let me go into it.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:30 One of the things that she showed us in terms of the Garden of Eden between Genesis 2 and Genesis 3 is what is lost.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:34 So in the Garden of Eden, Adam has a place of significance.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:35 He's safe.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 He meets God face to face.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 He's in a very secure place.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 And with the fall, all that is lost.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:52 Now one of the things for me, which is a major personal struggle which I grapple with often,
00:00:53 --> 00:00:58 and I have to remind myself the Gospel in terms of being able to deal with it,
00:00:59 --> 00:01:04 I think it's a struggle which is not just mine, but I think it's probably the struggle for a number of you as well.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 You come to the New Testament.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:07 You come to the Bible.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 You read things about who we are in Christ.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:16 And in some places, the Bible speaks in very exalted terms about who we are.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 So say in Ephesians 2, verse 6, it says,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:37 And I think what it's doing is it's speaking about a future reality,
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 but it's bringing it into the present and saying,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 that is our status right now.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:43 That is who we are in Christ.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:50 But my experience, which is a present reality for me,
00:01:51 --> 00:01:56 is that even as a Christian believer, I have an ongoing struggle with sin.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:03 And so when I read my New Testament, I read Romans chapter 7,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 and Paul says, it is mine.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:11 And he says, wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 And then he goes on and says, but thanks be to God.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:21 And I think what, so you've got this struggle between what it feels like still to struggle with sin,
00:02:21 --> 00:02:26 and also the Scriptures saying to us how great we are and how safe we are in Christ.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:32 And people do various things with that struggle to try to make sense of it.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:39 So one of the things that people do is they say, look, I'm complete, I've made perfect in Christ,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:44 I've already arrived, almost as though we've got this state of sinless perfection now,
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 I can no longer offend God ever again.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:52 So if I go back to the Bible study group that I was first a member of when I became a Christian,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 we had a woman there who was associated with a Christian cult,
00:02:57 --> 00:03:03 and she used to claim that she didn't get sick anymore because she's been made perfect in Christ.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:09 And one night she's missing from our small group, and one of the members goes to see her,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 knocks on the door, no answer, knocks on the door, no answers,
00:03:12 --> 00:03:17 hammer on the door, and finally she answers it, and she's very embarrassed because she's very sick.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 And she didn't want anybody to see how sick she was,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:24 because being sick was contrary to what she had come to believe.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:31 I've heard a story, I don't really know if it's true or not, I think it might be true,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:38 but in the 1800s there was a really famous preacher in London called Charles Spurgeon,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 and he had a member of his congregation come to him one day,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 and he said, I just want to talk to you pastor,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 I want to tell you that I've really been growing in Christ,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 and I have achieved this, I just feel like I'm free of sin.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 God's been doing this work of grace in my life,
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 and I no longer have the struggles, the sin,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 that used to be part of what was going on for me.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:06 And Spurgeon said, we've got to come and have dinner with us,
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 and tell us some more about it.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 So he goes for dinner at the pastor's house,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:18 and in the middle of dinner he tells a bit more about what's been going on for him,
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 and Spurgeon picks up this jug of ice cold water,
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 and pours it on his dinner guest.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 And the guy goes off his nut,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:30 and Spurgeon says, there you see,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 the old man isn't dead yet,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 he just needed a glass of water to revive him.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:44 See, to move to that extreme and think that we've moved beyond sin is absurd.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:52 That's one way that we deal with life this side of heaven,
00:04:52 --> 00:04:58 and it's to claim future realities and bring them into the present in a way which is just absurd.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 But the other way is to go,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 woe is me,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:08 and live a life as a believer of absolute despair.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 Almost as though there's nothing good in me,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 there's nothing worthy in me,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 rather than seeing the promises of the gospel,
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 which say we are made new in Christ,
00:05:19 --> 00:05:24 and we are now regarded differently by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 Genesis 3, which is where I do want you to look at as I'm talking,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:35 is something which could only be described as a sheer tragedy for humanity.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 Genesis 2, Adam's in God's presence,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 he's doing what God gave him to do,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 he's safe in the garden,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 he's not on his own,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:45 he's got work to do,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:46 he's quite secure.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:50 And God gives him just one command,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:57 just one restriction on his life and on his behaviour.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 He says to Adam,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:04 and he gives him this command even before Eve is created.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:09 So Eve does not hear God give Adam this command.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 And he says to Adam,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 God says to Adam,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 you can eat from any tree in the garden,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 except one,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 for when you eat of it,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 you will certainly die.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 And we know the story,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 the serpent's crafty,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 he approaches the woman,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 and there's this really strange interaction which goes on,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:43 which is like this clever mix of truth and deception.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 Did God,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:51 remember he's speaking to the woman who never heard the command from God herself,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 did God really say,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 you can't eat from any tree?
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 Oh no,
00:06:59 --> 00:06:59 no,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 that's not what God said.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 We can eat fruit of the trees,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 yes,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 but we can't eat
00:07:08 --> 00:07:12 or touch the tree in the middle of the garden,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:12 because if we,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 if we touch that tree,
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 if we eat from that tree,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:15 we'll die.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 Which is not what God said,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 because he said eat from,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 but he didn't talk about touching it.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 And then,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 the serpent tells what is a bald-faced lie.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 You won't die.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 You'll be like God.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 You eat a bit of this,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 and you'll be like God.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 God's the one who's really trying to stop you
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 enjoying all the things that he knows
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 that you can't participate in.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 And she looks,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:49 and she desires the wisdom
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 that the tree might give her,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 and she eats,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 and she gives to Adam,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 and both become very vulnerable before God.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:03 They become aware of their own nakedness.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 And there's a whole lot of questions go with that.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 You can ask bucket loads of questions about that passage.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 Why did the serpent approach Eve?
00:08:13 --> 00:08:17 Now, she'd only heard the command secondhand.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 She'd heard it from Adam.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 She hadn't heard it from God.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 In my community group the other week,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 I did something really risky.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 And in my community group here tonight,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 and I can say this,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 I thought I'd play,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 I'd take a risk.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 Oh, sorry, James and Katrina.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:31 Uh-oh.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 I could say,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:37 you know,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 did the serpent work on the weakest link?
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 Did he go to the woman rather than to the man?
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 And I've put considerable distance between you
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 when I say that tonight.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 Let's not go there, eh?
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 But then you ask the question,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 where's Adam in all this?
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 Verse 6 says that
00:09:00 --> 00:09:04 she gave some to her husband who was with her.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:07 He was there.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 And it seems like Adam has heard the whole thing.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 And yet,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 he's totally passive in this story.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 He doesn't step up and correct the serpent and say,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 no, God didn't say that.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 He said, don't eat from the tree.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 He didn't say, don't touch it.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 And he doesn't tell his wife,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 you're a fool woman if you eat from that.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:30 You'll die.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 God said we would die.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 He just stands there weak and inactive
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 while his beautiful naked wife says,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 have a bite, dear.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 Men.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 Men.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 Now, Larry Carab wrote a book called
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 The Silence of Adam.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 And I think it's what you see here,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 the silence of Adam
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 in terms of this interaction.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 He's passive.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 He's quiet.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 There's no leadership.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:08 And it's a sin that is reflected in families
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 when dads don't step up
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 and take spiritual leadership.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 Now, I've been talking about this
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 in my Ephesians group this afternoon.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 We're not talking to blokes and saying,
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 you've got to step up
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 and take control of your family.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 But you do need to step up
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 in a Christ-like way
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 and love your wife
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 as the scriptures call you to
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 and to lay down your life
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 on behalf of others
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 rather than it all being about you.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 So taking initiative to serve,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 taking initiative to read the Bible,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 taking initiative to pray,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 taking initiative to go the extra mile.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 Marriage is not about you, Dad.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:47 It is about how you serve your family under Christ.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 And God comes visiting.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 He's been visiting up till now.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 This is not new.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 He's been walking with them in the garden.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 And there's three questions.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 Where are you?
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 No.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 We're hiding.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 We're naked.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 Who told you you were naked?
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 And then the crucial question,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 have you eaten from the tree
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 that I commanded you not to eat from?
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 Adam,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 the man,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 stands there and said,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 she gave it to me.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 In fact,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 he says more than that.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 He says,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 the woman you gave me
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 made me eat from it.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:47 What's he do?
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 Blames God,
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 blames her.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 And she blames the snake.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 It's your fault.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 You gave it to me.
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 See,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 it's something.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 and I see it in myself
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 and I see it in what others do to me sometimes.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 But we use the language of blame
00:12:16 --> 00:12:19 when the spotlight starts to fall on us
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 about our sin and our weakness.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:24 If you're in a marriage,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 your husband or wife
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 will sometimes point out things about you
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 that you perhaps don't really want to hear.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 Or you might think of yourself as humble
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 and think I'm really open,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 I really want to hear those things,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 but the truth is
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 we often only want to hear them
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 when we're ready to hear them,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 not when they're ready to tell us to us
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 about it.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:49 And when I do that,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 I think it's pride which is driving me
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 because I want to be exposed on my terms
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 and not on their terms.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 But this is on God's terms.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 He asks the question
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 and he's not ready to fess up.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 And Adam just blames.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 And if you read the rest of the story,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 God does judge,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 but it's with mercy.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 They do die spiritually.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 They're cut off from direct contact with God,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 cast out of the garden.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 It's an incredibly lonely place to be.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 It's a huge loss.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 They don't die physically then and there,
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 but they're destined to die physically as well.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 Life now becomes difficult for men in work.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 Life becomes difficult for women in childbirth.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 Relationships between men and women
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 become difficult in terms of marriage.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 So your desire will be for your husband,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 but your husband will rule over you.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 They're shut out from the garden.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 They're cut off from God.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 The consequences of this
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 are absolutely tragic.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 And yet despite the tragedy and the fall,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 God's mercy is on view
00:13:59 --> 00:14:03 because he takes away their fig leaves
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 and he gives them clothes
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 which are made of animal skin.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 An animal needs to die
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 to hide their nakedness.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 And they're also shown mercy
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 because they're shut out from the garden
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 before they can also reach out
00:14:20 --> 00:14:23 to the tree that they had permission to eat from,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 which was the tree of life,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 and eat from it.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 And that's merciful
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 because it means that God prevented them
00:14:30 --> 00:14:33 from making sin eternal.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 And so cut off from God,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 life in the world becomes lonely,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 it becomes uncertain.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 There's this tragic disconnect from God.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 Damage is done.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:49 And this is damage
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 that Adam himself
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 is unable to change.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 Ephesians chapter 2
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 describes our state without God.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 It says we're powerless.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 We are dead in our trespasses and sins.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 We cannot atone for our own sin.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 It uses the language of death.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 A dead person cannot bring themselves to life.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 We need action from totally outside of us.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 Romans chapter 5
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 says that this is such a significant failure
00:15:19 --> 00:15:23 it can only be reversed by a second Adam,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 a new Adam.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 And so in Romans chapter 5 verse 6
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 it says at just the right time
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33 when we were still powerless
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 Christ died for the ungodly.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 And then in Romans chapter 5 verse 14
00:15:40 --> 00:15:52 And then in verse 15
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 For if by the trespass of the one man
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 death reigned through that one man
00:15:57 --> 00:16:00 how much more
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 will those who receive
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04 God's abundant provision of grace
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 and the gift of righteousness
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 reign in life
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 through the one man Jesus Christ.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:14 And I think if you look
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 and if you think about this
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 you see
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 that untold
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 and irreversible damage
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 is done
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 at the fall
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 which people like Adam
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 were unable to deal with themselves.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 And there's some things that we can do
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 that are just not reversible.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 In terms of sin
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 I don't think there is anything
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 that we can do
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 which is beyond hope
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 and the grace of the gospel.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 But there are some things
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 that we can do
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 that become irreversible
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 in terms of say relationships.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 I was going to break a glass out here tonight
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 and I thought better of it.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 But smash a glass
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 it's broken
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 and you're not going to want
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 that glass again
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 even if I glue it together
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 with arrow dot all over it
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 or something like that.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 You're just not going to want it.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 It's gone.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 It's done.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 It's finished.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:04 And we can do some things
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 in relationship
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 that cause great harm.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 So you know
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 husbands and wives
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 they can be unfaithful
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 and it can absolutely
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 smash a relationship.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 Or within all sorts of relationships
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 we can speak a word
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 which is wrong
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 or out of place
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 or harsh
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 or unloving
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 or untruthful
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 or whatever it is
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 that word's not easily
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 taken back again.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 It goes out there
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 and does its damage.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 damage
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 and sometimes
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 that damage
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 is great harm.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 But it doesn't mean
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 that we're without hope.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 I listened to this
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 the other week
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 and I thought about it.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 What if
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 what if
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 Adam had gone
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 another way?
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 And this is what
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 I think you must have
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 heard it kick.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 What if when God
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 came to him
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 in the garden
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 he'd actually
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 not blamed
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 but left himself
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 in the spotlight
00:18:03 --> 00:18:07 and in that moment
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 when God said
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 have you eaten
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 from the tree
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 that I commanded
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 you not to eat from
00:18:13 --> 00:18:16 what if Adam
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 had said
00:18:17 --> 00:18:20 yes Lord
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 I did
00:18:21 --> 00:18:24 and yes Lord
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 I neglected
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 my family
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 I did not
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 correct my wife
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 and yes Lord
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 all these things
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 have happened.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 Being the man
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 and he'd said
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 I'm a fool
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 I have sinned
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 against heaven
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 and against earth
00:18:42 --> 00:18:45 and I am no longer
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 worthy to be called
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 your son.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 Now in some ways
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 we don't really know
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 what God would have done
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 because Adam
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 because Adam didn't
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 do it.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 But can you see
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 that in the gospel
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 we have a different
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 way to answer
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 that question
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 that God
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 asked Adam.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 We have a different
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 way of dealing
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 with that moment
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 from the way
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 that Adam
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 dealt with that
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 moment.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 We have been
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 given the tools
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 in the gospel
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 which allows us
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 to stand there
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 and face Adam's
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 sin in us
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 not to live a
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 perfect life
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 because we can't
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 live a perfect life
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 we can't do that
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 we can't self-atone
00:19:23 --> 00:19:26 but we can face
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 sin and we can
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 face failure
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 knowing that we
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 have one who
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 has atoned
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 for our sins
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 and allowed us
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 therefore to stand
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 there and say
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 yes Lord
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 I have done wrong.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 We come to God
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39 not in independence
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 but in dependence
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 and in faith
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 and we trust him
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 in that moment.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 And so this side
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 of heaven
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 we're called
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 perfect
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 and yet what
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 are we doing
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 we're still
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 struggling with
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 sin and weakness
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 and offence
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 in between us
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 and God
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 and in all
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 the relationships
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 we have
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 with other people
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 but we have
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 this ability
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 to function
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 because we have
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 one who has
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 reversed Adam's
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 sin and gives
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 us a different
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 way of answering
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 the question
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 where are you
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 we do not
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 have to hide.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 Now I reckon
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 you see this
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 worked out
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 all through
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 the New Testament
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 but a couple
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 of places
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 in particular
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 Luke's gospel
00:20:15 --> 00:20:19 a rich young
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 bloke comes
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 up to Jesus
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 in Luke 18
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 in Luke 18
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 and he says
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 to Jesus
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 good teacher
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 what must
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 I do
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 to inherit
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 eternal life?
00:20:32 --> 00:20:38 and Jesus
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 says
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 well why do
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 you call
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 me good?
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 No one's
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 good
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 only God
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 alone is
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 good
00:20:43 --> 00:20:46 and he says
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 well you know
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 the commandments
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 don't commit
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 adultery
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 don't murder
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 don't steal
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 don't tell lies
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 only your father
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 and mother
00:20:52 --> 00:20:55 and he says
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 to Jesus
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 I've done
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 all those
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 since I
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 was a
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 little boy
00:20:57 --> 00:21:04 and Jesus
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 said to him
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 you only
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 lack one
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 thing
00:21:07 --> 00:21:10 sell all
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 that you
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 have
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 and distribute
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 to the
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 poor
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 and you
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 will have
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 treasure in
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 heaven
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 and come
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 follow me
00:21:16 --> 00:21:21 and when
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 he heard
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 these things
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 he became
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 very sad
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 because
00:21:24 --> 00:21:28 he was
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 extremely
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 rich
00:21:29 --> 00:21:35 but it's
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 a bit
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 subtle
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 because he
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 sort of
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 comes to
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 Jesus
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 and says
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42 what must
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 I do
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 what's the
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 big thing
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 that I
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 might do
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 to get
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 eternal
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 life
00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 it's
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 sort of
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 actually
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 a
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 me
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 focused
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 question
00:21:51 --> 00:21:55 if it
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 was Adam
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 it's
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 almost
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 like
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 how
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 can I
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 work
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 my
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 way
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 out
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 of
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 this
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 mess
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 what's
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 the
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 one
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 thing
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 I
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 can
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 do
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 that
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 would
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 trump
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 all
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 bad
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 stuff
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 that's
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 happened
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 which
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 would
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 guarantee
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 I'm
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 back
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 with
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 you
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 I've
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 got
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 eternal
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 life
00:22:08 --> 00:22:13 and I
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 think
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 Jesus
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 with this
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 particular
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 man
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 I'm
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 not
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 saying
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 to
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 everyone
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 but to
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 this
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 particular
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 man
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 he's
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 showing
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 him
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 by what
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 he
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 asks
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 him
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 to
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 do
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 that
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 there's
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 something
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 that he's
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 really
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 unwilling
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 to do
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 for God
00:22:23 --> 00:22:26 and he
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 goes away
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 very sad
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29 and Jesus
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 is sad
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 but he's
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 tried to
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 come to
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 God
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 on his
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 own
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 terms
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 but then
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 there's
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 the other
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 story
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 which is
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 just
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 before it
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 in Luke's
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 gospel
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 Jesus
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 tells this
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 parable
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 to some
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 who trusted
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 in their
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 own
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 righteousness
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 and who
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 looked down
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 on other
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 people
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 two men
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 he said
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 went up
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 to the
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 temple
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 to pray
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 one of
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 them's
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 a
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Pharisee
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 a really
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 good
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 religious
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 person
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 and the
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 other
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 is a
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 tax collector
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 he's
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 scum
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 and filth
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 and traitor
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 and all the
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 rest of it
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 and the
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 Pharisee
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 stands by
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 himself
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 and he
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 prays
00:23:02 --> 00:23:05 God I
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 really
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 thank you
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 that I'm
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 not like
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 other people
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 I really
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 thank you
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 I'm not
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 an extortioner
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 I'm not
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 unjust
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 I'm not
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 an adulterer
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 I've never
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 done any
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 of that
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 dirty
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 stuff
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 or even
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 like
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 especially
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 I really
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 thank you
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 that I'm
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 not like
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 him
00:23:18 --> 00:23:25 see
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 his
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 response
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 to Adam's
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 nature
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 is to
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 say
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 God
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 and it's
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 with
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 thanksgiving
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 to God
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 God I
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 thank you
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 that I'm
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 such a
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 good boy
00:23:32 --> 00:23:35 I thank
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 you that
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 I've really
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 done so
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 much that's
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 just right
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 in your
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 eyes
00:23:39 --> 00:23:46 and the
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 other man
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 won't even
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 raise his
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 eyes he
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 knows he's
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 a bad
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 boy for
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 want of a
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 better word
00:23:51 --> 00:23:55 he beats
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 his chest
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 and he
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 says
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 God have
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 mercy on
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 me
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 the
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 sinner
00:24:00 --> 00:24:05 God
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 have
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 mercy on
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 me
00:24:06 --> 00:24:06 the
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 sinner
00:24:07 --> 00:24:12 he knows
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 his life
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 is absolutely
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 barren
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 he knows
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 he's got
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 nothing to
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 commend
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 himself
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 he knows
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 that life
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 and relationship
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 with God
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 is absolutely
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 shattered
00:24:23 --> 00:24:26 he knows
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 that he's
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 despised in
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 the eyes of
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 other people
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 and they can
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 see his sin
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 for all that
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 it is
00:24:31 --> 00:24:34 and yet he
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 comes to
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 God
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 he comes to
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 Jesus
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 and he
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 throws himself
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 on his
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 mercy
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 God have
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 mercy
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 on me
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 the sinner
00:24:44 --> 00:24:47 doesn't pretend
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 to be anything
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 other than what
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 he is
00:24:49 --> 00:24:52 and he
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 does
00:24:53 --> 00:24:55 what Adam
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 never did
00:24:56 --> 00:24:59 he owns
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 his sin
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 he throws
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 himself on
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 the mercy
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 of God
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 and Jesus
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 says
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 I tell you
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 that this
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 man
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 went down
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 to his
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 house
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 justified
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 rather than
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 the other
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 for everyone
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 who exalts
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 himself will
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 be humbled
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 but the one
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 who humbles
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 himself will
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 be exalted
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 and so
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 brothers and
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 sisters
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 I think
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 where I want
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 to leave you
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 tonight
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 and what I
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 want to say
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 to you
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 I want to
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 go back
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 to the
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 what if
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 question
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 in that
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 moment
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 when we're
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 shamed
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 and we're
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 exposed
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 and we're
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 seen for
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 all that we
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 were in
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 terms of
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 rebellion
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 against God
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 which Adam
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 certainly was
00:25:36 --> 00:25:39 not to
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 take a
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 defiant
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 stand and
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 still blame
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 everybody else
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 for what I'm
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 like
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 and what's
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 happened to
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 me
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 but in
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 that moment
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 to throw
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 ourselves on
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 the mercy
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 of the
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 Lord Jesus
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 and say
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 Father
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 yes
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 Father
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 I have
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 sinned
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 against
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 heaven
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 and I've
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 sinned
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 against
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 earth
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 and I
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 deserve
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 nothing
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 of your
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 mercy
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05 but I
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 throw myself
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 on your
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 mercy
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 and ask
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 for your
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 grace and
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 your forgiveness
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 in my
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 life
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 and we
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 are empowered
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 to do
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 that
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 because
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 God has
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 acted
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 apart from
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 us in
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 Christ
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 and sent
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 his son
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 to be
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 the atoning
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 sacrifice
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 for our
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 sin
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 he has
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 put things
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 right that
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 were broken
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 in the
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 garden
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 and because
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 he has
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 put things
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 right that
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 were broken
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 in the
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 garden
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 we are
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 safe
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 and do
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 not need
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 to fear
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 confessing
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 what we
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 are really
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 like
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 and what
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 we really
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 need
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 from God
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 our
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 heavenly
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 father
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 amen