00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Good morning everyone, my name is Steve, Sandy Parsey here.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 Welcome to St Paul's this morning.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 It's great if you have your Bibles over there at one Timothy.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 We've got some spare ones floating around if you want one.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 And you can take them home with you if you don't have one at home.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:20 And it's particularly mindful of the message you're coming through today.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 We're coming to the end of the year.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 Christmas is over.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 And New Year is on upon us.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:32 Let me pray as we launch into this text verse this morning.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:36 Gracious God, we thank you for your love for us in the Lord Jesus.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 We thank you for all we have just remembered and celebrated
00:00:39 --> 00:00:44 and coming into this world to save sinners just like us.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 We ask that as we launch into a new year,
00:00:47 --> 00:00:51 that you would affect genuine and radical change deep in our hearts
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 and particularly our eternal status in him.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 And we ask it for your glory.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:56 Amen.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:02 Andy Parke is an electrician in the UK.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 He also goes by the name Mr Christmas.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 It's a name that he's given himself.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 He claims to have celebrated Christmas Day
00:01:12 --> 00:01:19 every single day of the year since July 1993.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:26 He claims that every day he eats turkey sandwich and mince pies for breakfast.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:32 He then goes to work and then returns home for a full roast turkey dinner
00:01:32 --> 00:01:37 before watching in the evening the recording of the Queen's Christmas speech
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 with a sherry in the UK.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:45 In an interview that was published in 2006,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:49 Mr Parke said that over the previous 13 years,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:53 he has consumed 4 turkeys,
00:01:53 --> 00:01:57 87 mince pies,
00:01:57 --> 00:02:01 1 litres of gravy,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 26 litres of gravy,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 26 roast potatoes,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 30 stuffing balls,
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 4 bottles of champagne,
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 4 bottles of sherry,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 and 5 bottles of wine.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:23 Now, it all strikes me as a little bit odd.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:30 Although, his premise has a point,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 even if I think he's entirely missed the point.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 That is, his premise behind it all,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 in declaring himself being Mr Christmas,
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 is that he thinks that Christmas is so wonderful,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 why would you just leave it to one day a year?
00:02:48 --> 00:02:52 It's something that needs to be celebrated every single day.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 And I would say he's right,
00:02:57 --> 00:03:01 even if he's got it entirely wrong.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:03 But how?
00:03:03 --> 00:03:04 How do we celebrate Christmas every day?
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 Well, if you open up that passage of 1 Timothy,
00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 you'll see there the Christmas event
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 is right there in verse 15.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:17 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 Christ Jesus came into the world.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 That's the Christmas event right there.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 Christ Jesus came into the world.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 Christ Jesus came into the world.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 And the coming of the eternal Son of God
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 into the world, Christ Jesus,
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 is a fact of history.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:41 There is not a credible historian anywhere in the world
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 that would deny that.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 It's a fact of history.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:49 And that's what we remember we celebrate every Christmas.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 But the coming of the Son of God into the world
00:03:53 --> 00:03:57 is so much more than just an historical fact.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:01 The historical event that we celebrate
00:04:01 --> 00:04:05 in Christmas year in, year out,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 is fundamentally a message of hope.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 When you continue to read the rest of verse 15,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 Christ Jesus came into the world
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 to save sinners.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:25 The meaning of Christmas for you and me
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 from Jesus Christ
00:04:26 --> 00:04:30 is that forgiveness and salvation
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 and therefore hope
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 is there and for our taking
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 every single day.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:41 Since the Son of God lived,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 died, rose, reigns, and is coming again,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 God's message through him to us
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 is more than just remembering
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 an historical event.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 The real meaning of Christmas
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 is about lives and destinies
00:05:00 --> 00:05:04 being changed by God forever.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:09 So what we are talking about here
00:05:09 --> 00:05:13 is not just a celebration of a historical fact
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 and retelling of old stories.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 There may be some questions
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 over the sanity and the authenticity
00:05:22 --> 00:05:26 of Andy Park's daily celebration of Christmas,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 but there is no mistake
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 about the impact of Jesus
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 coming into this world
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 and that impact being on a daily basis
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 in the lives of people across this globe.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 The sentences in front of us today
00:05:42 --> 00:05:46 are the words of the Apostle Paul.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 He was one of the leaders
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 of the Christian church in the first century
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 and he's often, even to this day,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 he is often features in the list
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 of top 20 most influential people of all time.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 that's who's writing these words.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 And they are the sentences,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 are the testimony of the change
00:06:12 --> 00:06:16 that Jesus Christ brought about in his life.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:21 Have a look there in verses 12 to 14
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 if you've got in front of you.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 who has given me strength
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 and he considered me faithful,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 appointed me to his service.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 Even though I was once
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 a blasphemer and a persecutor
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 and a violent man,
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 I was shown mercy
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 The grace of our Lord
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 was poured out on me abundantly
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 along with the faith and love
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 that are in Christ Jesus.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 So this is one of the top 20
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 most influential people of all time
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 and he describes himself here
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 as a blasphemer
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 and a persecutor
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 and a violent man
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 before God graciously intervened
00:07:05 --> 00:07:05 in his life
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 in Jesus Christ.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 This is Paul
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 who used to hunt down Christians
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 in an attempt to devastate
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 the early Christian church.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:17 Paul's biographer,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 a guy named Luke,
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 Dr. Luke,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 described him as a religious predator
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 who breathed out
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 murderous threats against Christians.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 This is the Paul
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 who was a callous,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:31 pious,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 self-righteous,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:34 bigoted murderer
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 held bent
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 on the full-scale extermination
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 of the early Christian church.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 He was one of the main enemies
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 of Jesus Christ
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 and the early church.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 And he lived day by day
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 with God at his back.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 And yet,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 that reality to him
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 in that moment
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 was a surprise for him.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:01 He says here
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 he acted in ignorance
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 and unbelief.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:04 That is,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 he was totally oblivious
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 that his day-by-day existence
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 was standing opposed
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 to God,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:12 his creator.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 He was under the assumption
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 that he and God were okay.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 He had religious pedigree.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 He had piety
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 that set him apart
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 from all of his peers.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 He was zealous
00:08:30 --> 00:08:30 to do what was right
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 and obey God's law.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 When he persecuted Jesus
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 and the followers of Jesus,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 he thought he was actually
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 doing God a favour.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 He was ignorant of the fact
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 that when he stood opposed
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 to Jesus,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 he stood opposed
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 to the God
00:08:48 --> 00:08:48 that he said
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 that he worshipped.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:54 all of his religious zeal
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 in fact
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 made him
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 an enemy of God.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 It's noticeable
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 that he twice says
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 in these verses,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 verses 15 and 16,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 he refers to himself
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 as the worst
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 of sinners.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 In other bits
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 of the New Testament,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:13 he refers to himself
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 as the chief
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 of all sinners.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 a whole lot of people
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 struggle with that
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 kind of declaration.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 He actually says
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 it multiple times.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 Of all the people
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 that he knows,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 of all the people
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 in the world,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 I am the worst.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 One commentator
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 in fact on this text,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 unhappy with Paul's
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 self-assessment here,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 says that Paul
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 is either morbid
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 or he's being
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 unreal.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 He's not telling
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 the truth.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 We might say
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 Paul is using
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 pious exaggeration.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 This can be
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 a tendency
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 in religious circles
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 and even
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 in Christian circles.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 You can call it
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 spiritual hype,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 you can call it
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 spiritual hyperbole,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 but it's actually
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 spiritual posturing.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 It's spiritual pride.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 How many Bible verses
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 I can memorise
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 and how pious
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 I've been.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 But it's not that
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 for Paul.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 That's not what
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 he's talking about here.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 Paul is here
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 articulating
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 a well-considered
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 position.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 This is not a bit
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 of spiritual
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 false humility
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 to make him
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 look righteous.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 selfishness.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 But it's also
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 not Paul
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 being morbid.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 Paul is not
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 a person
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 with any
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 sense of
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 low self-image.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 You can read
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 the rest of the
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 New Testament.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 That is,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:53 of course,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 the common view
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 in our society
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 for Christianity.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 It's a crutch
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 for those
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 with low self-esteem
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 and a guilty
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 conscience.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 the argument
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 is that
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 Paul
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 and Paul's
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 type
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 are such
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 perfectionists
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 who are,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 they just get
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 bent all out
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 of shape,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 turned upside
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 down
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 over the
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 smallest mistakes,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 over the
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 tiniest
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 failures.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 They just
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 go to
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 jelly.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:25 And so
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 for those
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 who think
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 Paul's
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 being morbid
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 here in
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 saying that
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 he's the
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 worst of
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 sinners,
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 they'd say,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 oh,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 come on,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 Paul,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 stop being
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 so morbid.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 Goodness me.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 Lighten up,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 Paul.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 You know,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 50% is a
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 pass mark.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 See,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 he's get
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 degrees.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 You know,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 come on,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 stop being a
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 perfectionist.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 You just need
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 a therapist,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 Paul.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 That's what
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 you need.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 Lighten up.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 So why
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 is he
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 saying here
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 that he
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 is the
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 worst?
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 What's
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 in verse
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 13?
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 Where he
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 describes himself
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 as a
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 violent man.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 In the
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 original
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 language of
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 the New
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 Testament,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 the word
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 translated
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 violent there
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 in our
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 English
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 Bibles
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 is the
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 same
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 root
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 word
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 where we
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 get the
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 English
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 word
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 hubris
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 from.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 Verse
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 13
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 means,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 in reality,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 in the
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 form of
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 verse 13,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 it means
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 that I
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 am a
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 trampler
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 of people.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 That's
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 what it
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 literally
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 means.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 I'm a
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 trampler
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 of people.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 So Paul's
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 saying here,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 I'm not
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 being morbid.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 Yeah,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 it's true.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 I did a
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 whole heap
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 of good
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 stuff.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 But the
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 motive that
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 was under
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 all of my
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 actions was
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 driven by
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 pride and
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 a desire to
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 be superior
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 than everyone
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 else.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 As I
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 pursued things
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 to please
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 God, I
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 trampled all
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 over everyone.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 everyone.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 In other
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 words, what
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 he's saying
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 there in
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 that verse,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 everything I
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 did was
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 about me.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 It was
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 all about
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 me.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 At the
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 heart of
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 every one of
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 his actions
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 was a need
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 for him to
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 be the
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 absolute
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 ruler and
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 controller of
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 his world
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 and he
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 would wreak
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 destruction on
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 anyone and
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 everyone that
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 stood in
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 his way.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 What the
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 New Testament
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 tells us,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 what the
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 Bible tells us
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 is that's the
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 very essence
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 of what it
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 means to be
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 a sinner.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 And Paul
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 recognises
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 that he is
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 the worst of
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 sinners,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 purely because
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 he is a
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 sinner.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 In that
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 sense, we
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 are all
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 violent people
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 and acting
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 in ignorance
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 in our
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 violence.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 At the
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 deepest level,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 we want to
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 make sure
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 that no
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 one,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 including
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 God
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 himself,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 tells us
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 how to run
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 our lives.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 That's the
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 very essence
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 of sin.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 Sin differs
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 in its
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 objects for
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 each of
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 us.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 It will
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 look different
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 for each
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 of us,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 but it
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 won't differ
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 in its
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 nature.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 Imagine
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 two
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 eucalypse
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 seeds.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 One falls
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 onto the
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 ground where
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 there is no
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 soil and
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 there is no
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 moisture.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 The other
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 seed falls
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 into a
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 place of
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 really rich
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 soil and
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 lots of
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 rain.
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 The first
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 one rots,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 the other
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 one grows
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 into a
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 great tree,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 which
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 eucalypt
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 seed had
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 more
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 vitality
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 and
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 strength.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 Neither.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 There's no
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 difference in
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 the seed.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 It had
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 everything to
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 do with
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 the
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 environment.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 the Bible
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 says that
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 most of
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 us do
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 not grow
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 up to
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 be
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 Ivan the
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 Terrible or
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 Adolf Hitler,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 God.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 But it
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 isn't for
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 a lack
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 of talent.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 It's not
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 because of
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 lack of
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 talent.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 Underneath
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 the religious
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 self-righteousness
00:15:38 --> 00:15:41 sorry,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 underneath the
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 religious
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 self-righteous
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 to the
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 hardened
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 criminal
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 is a
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 violent
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 pride
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 that
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 elevates
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 the self
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 over
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 everyone
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 else.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57 Some
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 use
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 religion
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 and
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 morality.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 Others
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 use
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 irreligion
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 and
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 immorality
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 to achieve
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 the exact
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 same
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 end.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 And Paul
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 is saying
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 that his
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 heart
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 is no
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 different
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 in its
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 principle
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 and power
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 than the
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 very worst
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 of sinners.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 That's what
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 he's saying
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 here.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 Don't look
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 at my
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 actions per
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 se,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 look at
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 my heart
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 and my
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 heart is
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 in its
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 principle
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 and its
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 power
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 exactly the
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 same as
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 the worst
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 of sinners.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 And it's
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 only by
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 the grace
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 of God
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 that he
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 is who
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 he is.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 That is
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 the message
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 of Christmas
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 right there.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 That Jesus
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 Christ came
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 into the
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 world to
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 save Paul
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 and you
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 and me
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 from the
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 deepest
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 recesses
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 of our
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 hearts.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 That's the
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 hope of
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 Christmas.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 See it
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 halfway down
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 in verse
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 13.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 I was
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 shown
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 mercy.
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 Verse
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 14.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 The grace
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 of our
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 Lord was
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 poured out
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 on me
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 abundantly.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 See what
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 he's saying
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 here is the
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 hope of
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 Christmas,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 the message
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 of Christmas
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 is that
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 it's the
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 grace and
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 the mercy
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 of God
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 that has
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 transformed
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 him.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 God's
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 undeserved
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 favour to
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 him has
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 transformed
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 him.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 God did
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 not give
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 Paul what
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 he deserved
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 or what
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 he had
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 coming to
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 him.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 That would
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 have been
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 rejection
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 and death.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 Instead
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 he was
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 shown
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 mercy.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 That is
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 Paul's
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 first hand
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 account of
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 the impact
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 of Jesus
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 coming into
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 the world
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 to save
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 sinners.
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 So why
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 is Paul
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 here in
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 this moment
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 telling us
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 about his
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 experience of
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 God's radical
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 change in
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 his life
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 through Jesus
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 Christ?
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 Why is he
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 doing that?
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 Verse 16.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 For that
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 very reason
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 I was
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 shown
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 mercy so
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 that in
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 me the
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 worst of
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 sinners Christ
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 Jesus might
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 display his
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 unlimited patience
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 as an example
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 for those who
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 would believe
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 on him and
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 receive eternal
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 life.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 What Paul's
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 saying there
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 is Jesus
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 Christ changed
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 me, Paul,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 the chief enemy
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 of the church
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 in its infant
00:18:13 --> 00:18:16 days and Paul
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 tells us
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 about that
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 change so
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 that in
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 here on
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 the last
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 day of
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 2023 you
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 and I
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 could grasp
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 the meaning
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 of Christmas
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 on the other
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 side of the
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 world two
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 centuries later.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 The word
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 example there
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 in verse 16
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 means that
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 Paul is not
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 just a
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 pattern but
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 that he is
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 the ultimate
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 pattern.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 He is the
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 ultimate type
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 of what a
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 Christian is.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 Jesus Christ
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 picked the
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 chief of
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 sinners to
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 demonstrate to
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 you and to
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 me today in
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 2023 what his
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 mercy and his
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 power can do
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 in your life
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 now.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 That's what he's
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 saying in verse
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 16.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 There is no
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 sinner that the
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 grace of God
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 in Jesus cannot
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 overflow to and
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 deal with.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 And so when
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 you're sitting
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 here and you've
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 lived a long
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 life and
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 particularly when
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 you're cynical,
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 do not
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 belittle the
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 mercy of
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 God at the
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 end of this
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 year saying
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 well I am
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 who I am and
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 I just can't
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 change.
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 That is
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 nonsense.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 What
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 happened to
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 Paul can
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 happen to
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 you.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 Notice it
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 there in
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 verse 15.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 Here is a
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 trustworthy
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 saying that
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 deserves full
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 acceptance.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 Christ Jesus
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 came into the
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 world to save
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 sinners of
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 whom I am
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 the worst.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 To save
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 sinners.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 Paul's
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 personal reason
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 to give
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 thanks to
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 God is
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 now widened
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 to the
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 praise of
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 the universal
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 significance of
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 Christmas.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 Jesus came
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 into the
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 world for
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 the world.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 For you.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 Not just
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Paul.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 Purpose of
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 Jesus coming
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 into the
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 world to
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 save sinners
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 has been
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 welcomed by
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 2 years
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 of human
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 beings from
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 every culture
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 and tribe
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 who conscious
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 of their guilt
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 before God
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 have gratefully
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 accepted what
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 the saving
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 death of
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 Jesus Christ
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 has accomplished
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 for them in
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 bringing them
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 back into
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 relationship with
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 God.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 Christmas
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 declares
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 your
00:20:42 --> 00:20:45 marriage is
00:20:45 --> 00:20:50 going to
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 work so
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 put it here
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 in the
00:20:53 --> 00:21:02 confused children, cynical teenagers, the poor, the outcast, the guilt-ridden, the tired parents,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:13 the financially stressed, the aged, the lonely, the preachers, for lovers, for haters, for you and for me.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:23 Paul, in these verses, calls across the centuries to celebrate Christmas in 2023.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:32 Don't despair. He saved me, the worst of sinners. He can save you too and he can change you too.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:41 There's one more thing. Because Jesus came into this world to save sinners,
00:21:41 --> 00:21:47 what is most precious to us doesn't need to ever be lost. This is the greatest hope of Christmas.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 Verse 16 again.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:56 I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience
00:21:56 --> 00:22:02 as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:08 The deepest hope of Christmas is eternal life.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:16 And life is good. Life is precious. And we don't want to ever lose it.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:20 We can talk all we like about all the good things of life.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 But if you don't have life, you don't have anything.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:30 And the promise of Christmas is that you need never lose the most precious thing in your life.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 Your life.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:37 Your life is precious and can be saved.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:41 Jesus Christ came into the world to save us and to change us forever.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:47 He came into this world to change our eternal status.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:53 And so that's got to be one of the biggest motives for allowing him to change us right now.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 Right now, each day.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:58 And I think that's how we celebrate Christmas.
00:22:59 --> 00:23:03 By holding on to the good news of the mercy and the grace of God.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:06 And allowing that news to change us day in and day out.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 That's how you celebrate Christmas.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 Every day of the year.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 And I happen to think that it's a really happy connection.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:21 That every year, one week after celebration of Christmas and the great salvation event,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:24 we enter into the new year.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:31 We move from the celebration of God's salvation for all of humanity in Jesus Christ
00:23:31 --> 00:23:35 to the dawning of a new age, a new era, a new year.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 The promise of a reset.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 Resolutions of change.
00:23:40 --> 00:23:43 And these verses are declaring that real change is possible.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:47 The meaning of Christmas.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:51 God's mercy to sinners through Jesus Christ
00:23:51 --> 00:23:55 should be pushed down into our hearts day by day
00:23:55 --> 00:24:00 and it should rise again in change day by day in our lives.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:05 What God did on that very first Christmas
00:24:05 --> 00:24:09 and what he did in changing Paul's life forever
00:24:09 --> 00:24:14 and what he does in forgiving and changing people across the globe
00:24:14 --> 00:24:18 nowadays is utterly free mercy.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 So let me just first of all say
00:24:21 --> 00:24:25 if you're not a Christian and you're here today,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 you're tuning in online,
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 mark this year,
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 mark this year
00:24:32 --> 00:24:35 by coming to Jesus today.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:40 recognise that through the actions of your life,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:46 even though they may not warrant you being declared the worst of people,
00:24:47 --> 00:24:50 but the actual motive of your heart,
00:24:50 --> 00:24:53 if you allow yourself a moment of silence to dig deep enough,
00:24:53 --> 00:24:56 the motive of your heart declares that you do need saving.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:59 You do need rescuing.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:04 And the good news of Christianity is that though we are worse
00:25:04 --> 00:25:07 than we could possibly even imagine,
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 in Jesus Christ,
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 we are more loved and affirmed
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 than you could ever possibly dream.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 That's the wonder of Christmas.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:22 Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:26 That is God's gift to the world.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 It's his gift to you this Christmas
00:25:28 --> 00:25:32 and it's worthy of full acceptance today.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 If you are a Christian,
00:25:37 --> 00:25:40 how has God changed you this year?
00:25:41 --> 00:25:44 Because that is the reason he has saved you.
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 How has he changed you?
00:25:47 --> 00:25:50 Can you actually mark how he's changed you?
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 Can you actually mark how he's changed you?
00:25:56 --> 00:26:00 Paul is the ultimate example of a life changed.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:04 In this past year at St. Paul's,
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 we have constantly been asking you,
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 what is your next step?
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 Another way you might want to put that,
00:26:10 --> 00:26:13 what is your next step of change and transforming
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 to become more like Jesus
00:26:15 --> 00:26:18 as you cling to the grace and his mercy to you?
00:26:18 --> 00:26:22 We began this year looking at the example of others
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 who have been changed by God's mercy
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 and have run the race of faith,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 focused on Jesus alone.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 And then we spent a whole term
00:26:30 --> 00:26:33 looking at Jesus and the good news of Christianity
00:26:33 --> 00:26:36 and why that news today is still plausible,
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 why it is still relevant
00:26:38 --> 00:26:41 and why it is so immensely good.
00:26:43 --> 00:26:47 From there we got glimpses of God's glory and majesty
00:26:47 --> 00:26:52 in term two as we jumped into the book of Isaiah.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:56 In term three we again soaked in God's generosity
00:26:56 --> 00:26:59 and his grace and his mercy to us
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 and the way that it transforms our life
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 in every sphere of life
00:27:03 --> 00:27:06 as we walk through the latter sections of Luke's gospel.
00:27:07 --> 00:27:10 And then we just finished out just before Christmas
00:27:10 --> 00:27:13 discovering again the abundant life
00:27:13 --> 00:27:17 on offer in Jesus in John's gospel.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:22 The constant theme throughout this entire year
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 has been the goodness,
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 the plausibility and the relevance
00:27:27 --> 00:27:30 of the gospel of Jesus Christ,
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 the good news
00:27:30 --> 00:27:35 and the change it must bring into your life now.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:40 Right through the year we have used virtually every Sunday
00:27:40 --> 00:27:44 the word what is or the statement what is your next step?
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 How has God changed you in 2023?
00:27:52 --> 00:27:55 Jesus Christ came into the world to save you
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 and to change you forever.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:59 How has that been evident?
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03 And if you say that you're Christian
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 and that is not evident,
00:28:06 --> 00:28:09 how might you be taking your next step
00:28:09 --> 00:28:11 in celebrating the meaning of Christianness
00:28:11 --> 00:28:15 tomorrow and every day of 2024?
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 Thank you.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 Thank you.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 Thank you.