The Motivation for Mercy
Series: LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 14th May 2017
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 a former American footballer who played football for the Miami Dolphins,
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 was asked by Newsweek, he was being interviewed by Newsweek,
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 and he was asked what motivated him as a footballer to go to university.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 Apparently it's a disconnect there in the United States between those two things.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:16 And his reply was,
00:00:17 --> 00:00:21 my father and my uncle were human cannonballs in carnivals.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 And one day my father took me aside and said to me,
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 son, go to university or become a human cannonball.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:29 And he said, I'm working that out.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:35 That decision out which way to go when my uncle came out of a cannon one day,
00:00:35 --> 00:00:39 he missed the net and hit the Ferris wheel, was killed,
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 and I decided in that moment to go to university.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 Seems like a fairly good decision in my mind.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 Self-reservation sometimes is a great motive.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:54 But motive, on the best of times, is often quite a difficult thing to work out.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:56 And especially as Christians.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 For instance, what's your motive of being here tonight?
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 Why come to church?
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 What motive do you have to pursue spiritual disciplines?
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 What motivates you to give?
00:01:06 --> 00:01:07 What motivates you to serve?
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 What motivates you to show mercy?
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 What motivates us to do, as this series is all about,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 to love thy neighbour, to love your neighbour?
00:01:15 --> 00:01:22 You see, when secular people claim that moral behaviour is possible without God,
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 when secular people say it's possible for us to love our neighbour,
00:01:25 --> 00:01:26 they are absolutely right.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 From a Christian point of view,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 someone who does not believe in God
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 is capable of loving their neighbour
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 and doing things that God's laws requires.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:45 So what is it about the Christian faith that drives us to care for those in need,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 for us to love our neighbour?
00:01:48 --> 00:01:52 Is it just simply a sense of duty or a load of guilt?
00:01:53 --> 00:01:58 What is the real dynamic that's behind the Christian pursuit of loving your neighbour?
00:01:58 --> 00:02:03 Two weeks ago, first message of this series,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 Sam took us to the parable of the Good Samaritan.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 John read out a little bit of it to us just a moment ago,
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 from Luke chapter 10.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:15 And there we were confronted by this legalistic law expert
00:02:15 --> 00:02:19 who wants to narrow down the definition
00:02:19 --> 00:02:23 of what it means to love your neighbour.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 He wants to narrow down, in fact, who my neighbour is,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 and therefore the smaller definition of who it is that I'm required to love.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:34 And he wants to do that in order that he can justify himself,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 declare himself righteous.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 He's a self-justifier.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 He believed his own moral efforts could earn favour with God.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 And so Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 to help him see his insufficiency.
00:02:50 --> 00:03:00 Jesus put before him a picture of the love that the law of God requires.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 And it's an incredible picture.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 You see, you could as well imagine a Taliban fighter
00:03:09 --> 00:03:15 putting his life on the line for a US Marine
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 gunned down on the side of a road.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 Or a Palestinian freedom fighter
00:03:20 --> 00:03:25 putting his life on the line to assist an Israeli commando.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 Or a member of ISIS putting his life on the line
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 to come to the aid of a Christian in desperate need,
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 as you could imagine a Samaritan helping a Jew.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 But this is what the law of God requires.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 Luke 10, 27.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:46 Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 with all your soul,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 with all your strength,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 with all your mind,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 and love your neighbour as yourself
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 all the time.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 No failings, no gaps,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 no minimising,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 all the time.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:09 You see, what Jesus' goal was here
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 is to show this law expert
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 who believed that he was spiritually rich,
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 that he was, in fact, spiritually bankrupt.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 That was Jesus' goal.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 That he wanted to help him see
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 that he didn't actually have the resources
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 to make good on his debt.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 He was in a desperate state,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 and yet Jesus says
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 that the person who comes to that state
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 of understanding about themselves,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 that desperate state of need.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 Jesus says earlier in Matthew's Gospel
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 that they are blessed.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 And so Jesus' true goal
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 was to show this law expert
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 that he was poor
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 to prepare him
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 to seek spiritual riches
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 in the mercy of God.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53 What is the mercy
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 that Jesus is preparing this law expert for?
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 This is in a nutshell.
00:04:58 --> 00:04:58 In a nutshell.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:02 That all of humanity,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:03 us included,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 me included,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 is like that man beaten on the road.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 We're lying in our blood,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 waiting for death.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 We are spiritually bankrupt.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 We are spiritually lost.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 We are not capable of helping ourselves.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 We need a rescuer.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 And yet in that position,
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 God has provided spiritual health
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 and wealth
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 and healing and life.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 And he did that
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 by putting his son
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 on the side of the road.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 He impoverished his son,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:33 Jesus Christ,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 on a cross
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 so that all of his riches,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 all of his health,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 all of his righteousness,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 all of his wealth
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 and life
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 could be given,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 transferred to those
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 who trust in him.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 2 Corinthians 5, 21
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 reveals this
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 incredible,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 merciful transaction.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 so clearly
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 when it says,
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58 God made him,
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 that's Jesus,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 who had no sin
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 to be sin for us
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 who are sinful
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 so that in him,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:07 Jesus,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 we might become
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 the righteousness
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 of God.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 We might have
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 a clear standing
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 of right standing
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 before God.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 A couple of chapters
00:06:16 --> 00:06:17 a little bit later
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 in Romans,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 Paul puts that
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 in economic terms.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 He says,
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 for you know
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 the grace of our Lord
00:06:24 --> 00:06:24 Jesus Christ
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 that though he was rich,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 yet for your sakes
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 he became poor
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 so that you
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 through his poverty
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 might become rich.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 And so the foundational
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 core element
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 of the Christian faith
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 is that though poor,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 we're being made rich
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 through the mercy of God.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 we are
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 human race
00:06:52 --> 00:06:52 living
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 in a rubbish tip,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 scrounging around
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 for scraps
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 to try
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 to keep ourselves
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 alive.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 And his grace,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:05 in his grace,
00:07:06 --> 00:07:06 God has
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 taken us
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 from the rubbish tip.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 He has clothed us
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 in his kingly robes.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 He has sat us down
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 at his royal
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 banqueting table
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 never ever
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 to get up again.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 And there are
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 a multitude
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 of powerful effects
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 that the grace of God
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 has on the recipients
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 of his mercy.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 And the one
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 that I want to focus on
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 today
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 is that those
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 who receive mercy
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 while an undeserving
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 enemy of God
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 will have a heart
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 heart
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 of love
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 and mercy
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 for the most
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 ungrateful
00:07:46 --> 00:07:46 and the most
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 difficult of people
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 even
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 their enemies.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:54 You see,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 when a Christian
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 sees
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 prostitutes
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 and alcoholics
00:07:59 --> 00:07:59 and prisoners
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 and drug addicts
00:08:01 --> 00:08:01 and the homeless
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 and refugees
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 and the broken
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 and the destitute,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 when they see them,
00:08:07 --> 00:08:07 they're face to face
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 with them,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:08 they know
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 that they are looking
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 in a mirror.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 That's the heart
00:08:13 --> 00:08:13 of the Christian.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 They know
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 that they're looking
00:08:15 --> 00:08:15 in a mirror
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 at that moment.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 It is irrelevant
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 if that Christian
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 has spent
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 their entire life
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 as a respectable
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 middle class person,
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 they look at the broken,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 they look at the outcast,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 and they say,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 spiritually,
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 I was that person.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 Even if physically
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 and socially,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:34 I've never been
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 where that person is
00:08:35 --> 00:08:35 right now,
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 they are
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 in desperate
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 need
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 of mercy
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 and I
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 was in desperate
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 need of mercy.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 God gives mercy
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 to the ungrateful
00:08:48 --> 00:08:48 and the wicked.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 That is what we were
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 and the powerful effect
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 of his mercy
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 and his grace to us
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 is we become
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 like a merciful God.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 That's what we become like.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 His mercy
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 makes us more merciful
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 and the parable
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 in Matthew 18
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 that John read out
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 for us a moment ago
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 makes this principle
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 really clear.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 It shows the principle
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 with a great deal
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 of force.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 It's a parable
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 which helps us
00:09:17 --> 00:09:17 to see
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 how grace
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 motivates
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 a life of grace.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:23 Jesus has been
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 talking about
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 Matthew 18.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:25 You've got your Bibles,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 go to Matthew 18.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 Jesus has been
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 talking about
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 how to handle things
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 when someone sins
00:09:32 --> 00:09:32 against you
00:09:32 --> 00:09:32 and particularly
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 when a brother
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 or sister sins
00:09:34 --> 00:09:34 against you
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 but really
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 it's to everyone.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 And Jesus
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 asks a question
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 in verse 21.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 Sorry,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 not Jesus,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 Peter asks a question.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 He's always the guy
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 who comes up first.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 He's always the guy
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 with the first question.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 And Peter
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 asks this question.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 He says,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 Lord,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 how many times
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 should I forgive
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 my brother
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 or sister
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 who sins against me?
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 Up to seven times?
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 Now you see,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 the attitude
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 of the rabbis
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 in the first century
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 around Jesus' time
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 is that you would
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 forgive your brother
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 or your sister
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 three times.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 That's where we get
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 that's the tradition,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 that's what lies behind
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 the statement
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 when we say
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 three strikes
00:10:13 --> 00:10:13 and you're out.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 It goes right back
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 to that Jewish heritage
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 which says
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 you could forgive
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 your brother or sister
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 no more than three times.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 Three strikes
00:10:21 --> 00:10:21 and you're out.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 And so Peter
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 who suffers
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 from foot in mouth disease
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 is thinking,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 you know,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 I have come up short
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 so many times
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 with Jesus.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 Jesus asks a question,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 I give an answer
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 and it's always wrong.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 So this time
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 I'm going to get the three,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 I'm going to double
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 and add one
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 just for sure.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 You know,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 seven's a perfect number,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 it must be seven
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 so let's go with that.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 And so
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 Jesus gives
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 this stunning response
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 in verse 22.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 I tell you,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 not seven times
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 but 77 times.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 And Peter goes,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 not again.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 You know,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 back to the back
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 of the line.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 You know,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:02 John,
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 say something.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 You know,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 Barnabas,
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 what do you guys
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 say something?
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 And
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 some people say
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 that Jesus meant
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 77 times.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 Others say,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 well actually he meant
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 70 times 7,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 that's the better translation
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 so he meant
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 490 times.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 either alternative
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 is simply
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 missing the point
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 of what Jesus
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 is saying here.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 Jesus
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 is saying
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 do
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 not go into
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 pedantic
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 calculation
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 of forgiveness
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 and mercy.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 Forgiveness
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 and mercy
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 is unlimited.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 That's the point
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 that Jesus is making.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 That's what God's
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 grace is to us.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 It is unlimited.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 Limited.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 And to make
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 the point clear,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 Jesus goes on
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 and tells his story.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 There's a man
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 who owes a king
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 10 bags
00:11:53 --> 00:11:53 of gold.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 Translation
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 that John said
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 said 10
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 talents.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 It was a debt,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 as verse 25
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 says,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 that was not able
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 to be repaid.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 That's an
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 understatement.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 10
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 talents.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 The talent
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 was the highest
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 unit
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 of currency.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 10
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 the highest
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 Greek numeral.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 It's meant
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 to convey
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 the largest
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 sum
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 imaginable.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 It's what I
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 say to my kids
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 when they say
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 how much is that?
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 Oh,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 it's
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 squillions
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 of dollars.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 You know,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 just
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 a lot
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 is what
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 that's meant
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 to convey.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 In actual
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 fact,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 the debt
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 was
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 10
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 was 1
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 times
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 the annual
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 revenue
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 of Galilee,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 Judea,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 Samaria,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 and Edomia
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 collectively.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 And it's
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 like taking
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 all the
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 foreign debt
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 and lumping
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 on one
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 man with
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 the responsibility
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 to pay
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 it back.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 It's
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 totally
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 beyond
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 imagination
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 for those
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 who first
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 heard it.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 It's
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 like,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 that
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 dude's
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 bankrupt
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 several
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 times
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 over.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 And yet,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 this servant
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 here in this
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 passage still
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 has a sense
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 of pride.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 In verse
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 26,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 it says,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 this servant
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 fell on his
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 knees before
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 him.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 Be patient
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 with me,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 he begged,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 and I will
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 pay you
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 back everything.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 See,
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 he hasn't
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 grasped the
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 totality
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 of his
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 debt.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 Hadn't
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 quite understood
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 that there
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 is no way
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 he could
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 pay back
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 no amount
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 of time,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 no amount
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 of patience
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 would ever
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 allow him
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 to pay
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 back this
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 debt.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 He is
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 utterly
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 bankrupt.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 He is
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 powerless.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 He is
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 helpless.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 He has
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 no ability
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 to trade
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 out the
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 situation,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 which is what
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 bankruptcy
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 is.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 It's what
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 genuine
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 bankruptcy
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 is.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 Someone else
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 has to come
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 in on your
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 behalf and
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 take over
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 your affairs
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 to help you
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 trade out
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 of this,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 help to
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 deal with
00:13:53 --> 00:13:53 it.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 This is
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 what this
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 law expert
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 in Luke
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 10 failed
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 to understand.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 It's what
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 this gentleman
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 here,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 this first
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 servant,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 fails to
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 understand
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 here.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 But what
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 they fail
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 to understand
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 is that
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 they are
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 both the
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 men on
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 the side
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 of the
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 road,
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 beaten,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 helpless,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 dying,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 destitute,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 and they
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 need a
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 rescuer.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 Neither
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 of them
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 could say
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 it.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 Ephesians 2
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 says that
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 that's all
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 of humanity.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 We are
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 dead in
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 our
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 transgressions
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 and sins.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 Dead
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 people don't
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 cut deals,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 they don't
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 pay back
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 loans.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 That is
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 our state
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 before God.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 all of
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 humanity.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 Now of
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 course,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 the king
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 who represents
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 God here
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 understood
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 completely
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 the plight
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 of his
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 servant.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 Verse 27,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 servant's
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 master took
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 pity on
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 him,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 which is
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 the exact
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 same word
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 which is
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 used
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 above the
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 Samaritan.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 In Luke
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 10,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 he had
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 pity on
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 him and
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 he cancelled
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 the debt
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 and he
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 let him
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 go.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 Again,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 it's a
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 story about
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 God and
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 the way
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 he has
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 graciously
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 treated
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 us.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 We who
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 are
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 bankrupt
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 before
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 God
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 with
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 a
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 debt
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 of
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 sin
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 that
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 we
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 could
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 never
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 repay
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 have
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 been
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 forgiven.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 Our
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 sin
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 against
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 God
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 has
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 been
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 piling
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 up
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 load
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 of
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 bad
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 load
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 debt
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 after
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 debt
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 hour
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 after
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 hour
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 day
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 after
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 day
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 week
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 after
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 week
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 year
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 after
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 year
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 but
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 God
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 in
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 his
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 gracious
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 action
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 in
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 the
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 Lord
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 Jesus
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 Christ
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 has
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 come
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 in
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 and
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 wiped
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 it
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 all
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 clean.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 He's
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 not
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 just
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 wiped
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 it
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 clean
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 not
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 just
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 taken
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 it
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 away
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 but
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 he's
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 also
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 given
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 us
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 Jesus
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 bank
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 account
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 of
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 pure
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 righteousness
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 he has
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 loved
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 our
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 bank
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 account
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 so to
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 speak
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 with
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 squillions
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 of
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 dollars
00:15:44 --> 00:15:47 the
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 words
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 here
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 be
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 patient
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 with
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 me
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 and
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 I
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 will
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 pay
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 you
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 back
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 everything
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 is
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 pitifully
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 untrue
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 for
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 me
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 for
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 you
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 and
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 for
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 all
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 of
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 humanity
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 no
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 amount
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 of
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 good
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 activity
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 no
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 good
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 amount
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 of
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 good
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 Christian
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 activity
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 no
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 amount
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 of
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 pulling
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 up
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 your
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 socks
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 and
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 rolling
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 up
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 your
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 sleeves
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 and
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 trying
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 a little
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 bit
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 harder
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 to be
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 a bit
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 more
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 moral
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 will
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 actually
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 do
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 it
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 our
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 debt
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 against
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 God
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 is
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 phenomenal
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 we
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 are
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 bankrupt
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 we
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 don't
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 have
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 the
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 power
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 or
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 the
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 ability
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 to
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 trade
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 out
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 of
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 it
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 but
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 God
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 comes
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 along
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 and
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 he
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 says
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 I
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 release
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 you
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 from
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 that
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 debt
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 man
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 I
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 wish
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 the
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 heritage
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 bank
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 would
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 do
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 that
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 to
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 me
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 that
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 would
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 be
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 awesome
00:16:22 --> 00:16:25 let
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 me
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 tell you
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 if
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 you're
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 someone
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 who's
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 here
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 tonight
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 and
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 is
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 anything
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 happening
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 in your
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 heart
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 right
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 now
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 to
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 say
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 that
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 is
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 news
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 that
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 I
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 need
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 to
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 discover
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 more
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 I
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 need
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 to
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 know
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 about
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 I
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 need
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 to
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 embrace
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 because
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 I
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 don't
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 know
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 what
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 it
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 is
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 to
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 have
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 my
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 guilt
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 and
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 my
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 shame
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 cancelled
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 all of
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 my
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 sin
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 or my
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 debt
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 against
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 God
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 cancelled
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 to be
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 able to
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 walk
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 away
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 totally
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 free
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 if
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 you
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 don't
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 know
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 that
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 then
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 I
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 would
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 love
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 to
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 talk
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 to
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 you
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 tonight
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 that's
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 what
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 we
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 exist
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 for
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 as a
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 church
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 we
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 want
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 people
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 to
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 know
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 Jesus
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 and
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 treasure
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 Jesus
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 because
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 it's
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 the
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 greatest
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 now the twist
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 in the story
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 comes
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 when this
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 servant
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 who's been
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 forgiven
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 this
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 enormous
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 debt
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 goes out
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 and makes
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 sure that
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 this other
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 guy
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 who owes
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 him a
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 few
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 dollars
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 pays
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 him back
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 right down
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 the last
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 sentence
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 verse 28
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 but when
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 that servant
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 went out
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 he found
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 one of his
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 fellow servants
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 who owed
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 him a
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 hundred
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 silver
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 coins
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 he grabbed
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 him began
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 to choke
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 him pay
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 back
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 what do
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 you owe
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 me he
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 demanded
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 his fellow
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 servant fell
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 on his
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 knees and
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 he begged
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 him please
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 be patient
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 with me and
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 I'll pay
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 you back
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 but he
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 refused
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 instead he
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 went off
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 and had the
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 man thrown
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 into prison
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 until he
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 could pay
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 the debt
00:17:47 --> 00:17:52 it's ludicrous
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 isn't it
00:17:53 --> 00:17:56 this second
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 servant
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 debt against
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 the first
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 servant is
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 one
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 six
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 hundred
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 thousandth
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 of the
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 first debt
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 that's how
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 ludicrous it
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 is it's
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 like I
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 don't have
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 a mortgage
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 this big
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 but if I
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 bought a
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 house I
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 would
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 bigger in
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 fact
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 is it
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 it's like
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 the bank
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 rings me
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 and says
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 Steve
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 lucky day
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 we had
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 this sort
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 of spin
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 the wheel
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 at the
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 office today
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 and your
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 debt's
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 being cancelled
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 six hundred
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 thousand dollars
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 boom you're
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 done
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 white free
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 it's all
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 yours
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 the paperwork's
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 in the mail
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 woohoo
00:18:28 --> 00:18:31 and I go
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 immediately to
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 John
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 John remember
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 last week I
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 lent you that
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 dollar for
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 that stamp
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 or for
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 whatever else
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 that you
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 bought
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 not much
00:18:42 --> 00:18:45 ice cream
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 cheap ice cream
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 McDonald's
00:18:46 --> 00:18:50 and I
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 just
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 and John
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 said I
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 don't have
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 it on me
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 right now
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 and I
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 just leapt
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 on him
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 and started
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 choking him
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 John
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 pay me
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 back
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 and I
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 ring the
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 cops and
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 cart him
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 away
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 it owes me
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 a dollar
00:18:59 --> 00:19:03 it's ludicrous
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 isn't it
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 isn't it
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 ludicrous
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 that's
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 nuts
00:19:08 --> 00:19:12 you see
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 any
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 limitation
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 of grace
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 or forgiveness
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 or mercy
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 that this
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 first servant
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 shows
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 is
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 inconceivable
00:19:22 --> 00:19:25 second
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 servant
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 here
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 pleads for
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 mercy
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 be patient
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 and I
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 will pay
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 you back
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 and he
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 could have
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 paid him
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 back over
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 time
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 he did
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 have a
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 job
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 he did
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 work
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 he did
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 get money
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 but the
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 moment
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 that first
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 servant
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 threw him
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 into prison
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 his livelihood
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 is taken
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 away
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 and he
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 can't
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 pay
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 him
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 back
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 and so
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 he
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 will
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 hold
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 that
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 debt
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 against
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 him
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 forever
00:19:42 --> 00:19:46 the one
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 who had
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 been shown
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 mercy
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 refused
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 to show
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 mercy
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 it is
00:19:49 --> 00:19:51 a totally
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 unthinkable
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 response
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 to God's
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 grace
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 and it's
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 not unlike
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 what Paul
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 teaches in
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 Romans 6
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 I'll read
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 it to you
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 verse 15
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 it says
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 what then
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 shall we
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 shall we
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 sin
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 because we
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 are no
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 longer
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 under the
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 law
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 but under
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 grace
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 by no
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 means
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 don't you
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 know
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 that when
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 you offer
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 yourselves
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 to someone
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 as obedient
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 slaves
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 you are
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 slaves to
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 the one
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 you obey
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 whether you
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 are slaves
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 to sin
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 which leads
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 to death
00:20:16 --> 00:20:18 or obedience
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 which leads
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 to righteousness
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 but thanks be
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 to God
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 that though
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 you used
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 to be
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 slaves
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 to sin
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 you have
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 come to
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 obey
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 from your
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 heart
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 the pattern
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 of teaching
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 that has
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 now claimed
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 your allegiance
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 you have
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 been set
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 free from
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 sin
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 and it
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 becomes
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 slaves
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 to
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 righteousness
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 so what
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 Paul's
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 doing here
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 in Romans 6
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 he's quoting
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 this person
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 and he's
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 trying to help
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 this poor
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 individual
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 who doesn't
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 understand
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 the essence
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 of the
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 Christian life
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 and this
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 person
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 listens to
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 Paul
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 about
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 and what
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 Paul's
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 teaching
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 is that
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 we have
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 a right
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 standing
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 with God
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 by God's
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 grace
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 through faith
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 apart from
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 any effort
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 on our
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 behalf
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 this person
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 hears
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 that
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 hears
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 it as
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 good
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 news
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 and they
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 respond
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 with
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 well
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 if I
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 have a
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 right
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 standing
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 with God
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 by trusting
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 in his
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 merciful actions
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 towards me
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 and the
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 Lord Jesus
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 and if
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 all of my
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 sins
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 past
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 present
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 and future
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 are all
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 forgiven
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 I might as
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 well go
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 on sitting
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 then
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 I might as
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 well enjoy
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 that
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 and enjoy
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 doing
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 whatever I
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 want
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 keep on
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 sitting
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 and what
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 Paul says
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 is that's
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 the way
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 a person
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 talks
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 whose
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 Christianity
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 is simply
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 a group
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 of ideas
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 and not
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 an experience
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 of the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 precious
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 mercy of
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 Christ
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 it's a
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 person
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 whose
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 Christianity
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 is all
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 truth
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 no treasure
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 all choices
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 no cherishing
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 all logic
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 about Christ
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 no love
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 for Christ
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 all decisions
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 and no delight
00:21:47 --> 00:21:50 he says
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 it's not
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 genuine
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 Christianity
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 it's not
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 genuine
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 faith
00:21:52 --> 00:21:55 a grasp
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 and an
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 experience
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 of mercy
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 gives rise
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 to a life
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 of mercy
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 and we see
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 that in
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 Matthew 18
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 leading verse
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 32 onwards
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 then the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 master called
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 the servant
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 in the first
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 servant
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 in that is
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 he says
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 you wicked
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 servant
00:22:07 --> 00:22:09 I cancelled
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 all that debt
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 of yours
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 because you
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 begged me
00:22:12 --> 00:22:15 shouldn't
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 you have
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 had mercy
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 on your
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 fellow servant
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 just as I
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 had on you
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 that is
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 logical
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 reasonable
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 application
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 to mercy
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 is that
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 you would
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 immediately
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 have mercy
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 you have
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 not understood
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 mercy
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 if that's
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 not your
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 response
00:22:29 --> 00:22:32 so the
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 master says
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 throw him
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 in the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 jail
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 too
00:22:34 --> 00:22:38 see
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 Jesus
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 purpose
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 of the
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 parable
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 of Matthew
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 18
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 is to
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 teach the
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 principle
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 of unconditional
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 forgiveness
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 forgiveness
00:22:44 --> 00:22:49 and especially
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 you do not
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 understand the
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 forgiveness of
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 God if your
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 life is
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 bulging with
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 resentment
00:22:55 --> 00:22:58 towards other
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 people who've
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 treated you
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 badly
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 and I want to
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 suggest to you
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 that the
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 ministry of
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 mercy has the
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 same motivation
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 and rationale
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 that is the
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 grace of God
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 to us is the
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 rationale behind
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 love your
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 neighbour
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 the grace of
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 God is dynamic
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 and life
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 changing
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 God's grace
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 his compassion
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 his love
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 his mercy
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 his forgiveness
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 is meant to
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 motivate in us
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 grace
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 compassion
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 love
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 mercy
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 forgiveness
00:23:22 --> 00:23:25 the only
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 true
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 and enduring
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 motivation to
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 love our
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 neighbour is an
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 experience and a
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 grasp of the
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 grace of God
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 if we know
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 that we are
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 sinners saved
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 by grace
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 alone
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 we will both
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 be open
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 and generous
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 to the
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 outcast
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 the unlovely
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 and even
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 even
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 our enemy
00:23:46 --> 00:23:49 so it's a
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 little ironic
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 for me
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 that our
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 secular society
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 is in
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 many ways
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 more committed
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 to social
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 justice
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 universal
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 benevolence
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 and human
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 rights than
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 any other
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 civilisation
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 has ever
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 been
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 things like
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 suffering and
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 death through
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 famine
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 flood
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 earthquake
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 pestilence
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 war
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 can awaken
00:24:12 --> 00:24:15 wide
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 movements
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 of sympathy
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 and practical
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 solidarity
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 in ways
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 that have
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 never been
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 known before
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 in the history
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 of humanity
00:24:21 --> 00:24:24 it's a little
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 ironic for me
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 because
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 secularism
00:24:27 --> 00:24:30 has its
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 foundation
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 in theories
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 like evolution
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 which is
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 by and large
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 things like
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 the survival
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 of the fittest
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 and
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 and also
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 the purposes
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 of life
00:24:44 --> 00:24:47 and so
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 technically
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 for the true
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 secularist
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 human life
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 should be
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 cheap
00:24:50 --> 00:24:53 individuals
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 count for
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 little
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 and that
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 is represented
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 in vast
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 slabs
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 of our
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 world
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 human life
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 is cheap
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 individuals
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 count for
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 little
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 it's simply
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 survival of
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 the fittest
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 and if I
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 live and you
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 die
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 that means
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 my genes
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 are stronger
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 than yours
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 that means
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 not these
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 my genes
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 you know
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 we want me
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 to keep
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 producing people
00:25:16 --> 00:25:21 now I think
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 the Christians
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 should be
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 grateful
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 that this
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 is not
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 broadly the
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 case in
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 the secular
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 west
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 that
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 we're not
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 handed over
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 to the
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 extremes
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 of the
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 secularist
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 theories
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 I mean
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 certainly
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 in large
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 slabs
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 of
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 you know
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 the communist
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 world
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 that has
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 been the
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 case
00:25:38 --> 00:25:41 so what
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 motivation
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 could there
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 be for
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 secular love
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 and mercy
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 and this
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 question
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 dumb
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 founds
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 philosophers
00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 because there
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 appears to be
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 no motive
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 for it
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 whatsoever
00:25:51 --> 00:25:55 one motive
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 and I want
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 to suggest
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 this applies
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 to religious
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 people as
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 well
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 one motive
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 philosophers
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 are suggesting
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 and these are
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 non-Christian
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 philosophers
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 suggesting
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 is the feeling
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 of superiority
00:26:09 --> 00:26:12 us secular
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 people
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 have done
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 what other
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 people are
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 not able
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 to do
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 and we've
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 abandoned
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 all that
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 religion
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 stuff
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 and we've
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 been able
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 to formulate
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 in our
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 own
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 human
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 wisdom
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 how to
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 run
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 the world
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 and so
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 we just
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 want to
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 help you
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 poor
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 religious
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 types
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 and you
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 backward
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 people
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 around the
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 world
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 to see
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 that we
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 have good
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 values
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 and you
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 really
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 need to
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 learn from
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 us
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 and so
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 it's a
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 big brother
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 little brother
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 sort of
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 patriarchal
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 kind of
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 come over
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 the top
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 and let
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 me just
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 show you
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 how to
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 live life
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 that's
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 one way
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 that philosophers
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 say
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 that is
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 what it
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 does is
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 it pumps
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 up our
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 fragile
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 egos
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 that's
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 one reason
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 why
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 we want
00:26:49 --> 00:26:49 to
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 love
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 people
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 and I
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 think
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 that
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 applies
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 to
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 the
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 religious
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 person
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 who
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 believes
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 that
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 God
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 will
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 favour
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 them
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 because
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 of
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 their
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 morality
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 and
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 because
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 of
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 their
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 respectability
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 ultimately
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 you push
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 deep
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 deep
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 deep
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 down
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 and
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 those
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 kind
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 of people
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 who have
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 that as
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 their
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 motive
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 have a
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 contempt
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 for the
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 outcast
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 of the
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 unlovely
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 and certainly
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 for their
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 enemies
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 they say
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 things like
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 I've worked
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 really hard
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 to get to
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 where I
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 am
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 and frankly
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 those people
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 can do
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 exactly the
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 same
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 that's the
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 language of
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 the moralist
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 that's the
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 language of
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 the legalist
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 another
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 motive
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 to act
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 in mercy
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 is the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 exact opposite
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 of that
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 according to
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 the philosophers
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 and that is
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 that it is
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 a simple
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 anger
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 over
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 injustice
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 in the
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 world
00:27:37 --> 00:27:40 and these
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 people
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 who are
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 keen
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 for
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 injustices
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 to be
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 resolved
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 are moved
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 by a
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 burning
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 indignation
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 against
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 racism
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 and oppression
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 and sexism
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 good things
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 to get rid
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 of
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 don't
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 don't
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 hear me
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 wrong
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 and what
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 ultimately
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 does
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 it means
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 is that
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 they inevitably
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 it inevitably
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 requires them
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 to demonize
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 someone
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 in order to
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 help someone
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 else
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 they have
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 to do
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 that
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 they have
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 to demonize
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 someone
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 in order
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 to help
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 someone
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 else
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 in other
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 words
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 one of
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 their
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 neighbors
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 they have
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 to hate
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 in order
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 to love
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 another
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 neighbor
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 you have
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 to do
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 that
00:28:17 --> 00:28:20 and
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 as
00:28:21 --> 00:28:23 Friedrich
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 Nietzsche
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 said
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 who was
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 no friend
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 to Christianity
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 whatsoever
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 he says
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 strangely
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 these acts
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 of benevolence
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 and mercy
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 are really
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 powered by
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 hatred
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 and contempt
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 for people
00:28:34 --> 00:28:37 that is
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 you've got a
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 real hatred
00:28:38 --> 00:28:38 and contempt
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 for this
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 dictator
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 or these
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 governments
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 or these
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 pharmaceutical
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 companies
00:28:43 --> 00:28:45 or you
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 know
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 whatever
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 you hate
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 them
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 and you're
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 going to help
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 the people
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 who have
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 been treated
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 so badly
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 by them
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 people
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 he says
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 it's driven
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 by hatred
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 and contempt
00:28:55 --> 00:28:58 Christians
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 motivation
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 for the
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 alleviation
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 of poverty
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 and equality
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 and just
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 and suffering
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 is the
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 extension
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 of the
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 radical
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 love
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 and mercy
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 of God
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 that we
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 have received
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 I am
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 only
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 where I
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 am
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 by the
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 sheer
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 and unmerited
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 mercy
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 of God
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 I am
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 completely
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 equal
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 with all
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 other people
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 that is
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 the language
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 of the
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 person
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 who has
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 grasped
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 and experienced
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 the grace
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 and mercy
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 of God
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 God's
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 love
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 motivates
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 our love
00:29:25 --> 00:29:28 by doing
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 the exact
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 opposite
00:29:29 --> 00:29:31 of the
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 secular
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 motive
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 and that
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 is
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 it
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 actually
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 humbles
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 us
00:29:34 --> 00:29:36 that's
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 what it
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 does
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 God's
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 grace
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 actually
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 humbles
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 us
00:29:40 --> 00:29:44 showing
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 us
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 that we
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 are in
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 fact
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 loved
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 sinners
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 so that
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 spending
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 ourselves
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 for others
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 is not
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 based on
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 a sense
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 of
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 superiority
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 it's
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 not
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 based
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 on
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 hating
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 certain
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 people
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 because
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 we're
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 commanded
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 to love
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 all
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 people
00:29:58 --> 00:30:00 but it's
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 based on
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 God
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 showing us
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 our
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 lack
00:30:03 --> 00:30:05 our
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 need
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 Christians
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 know that
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 all things
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 wrong
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 will be put
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 right
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 this is
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 another
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 powerful
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 motive
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 all things
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 wrong
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 will be put
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 right
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 by Jesus
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 it's
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 an
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 impowerful
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 incentive
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 to love
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 even
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 our
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 enemy
00:30:18 --> 00:30:22 that is
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 what the
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 secularist
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 that is
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 what the
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 legalist
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 that's
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 what the
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 moralist
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 there's
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 good things
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 that they
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 will do
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 and I
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 praise God
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 for the
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 good things
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 that they
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 do
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 do
00:30:31 --> 00:30:35 they
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 cannot
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 give
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 their life
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 for their
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 enemy
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 that's
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 what they
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 cannot
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 do
00:30:40 --> 00:30:43 but that's
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 what Jesus
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 done
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 and that's
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 what he
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 motivates
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 us to
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 do
00:30:47 --> 00:30:50 you see
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 Christians
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 not only
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 have a
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 deeper
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 motivation
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 to love
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 their
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 neighbor
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 but they
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 also have
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 a much
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 stronger
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 hope
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 when they
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 do
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 that's
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 why you
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 can
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 give
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 your
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 life
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 blood
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 that's
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 why you
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 can
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 give
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 your
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 life
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 because
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 you
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 have
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 a
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 much
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 stronger
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 hope
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 and that
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 is
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 according
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 to this
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 Bible
00:31:06 --> 00:31:08 this world
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 in the
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 end
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 will be
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 renewed
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 and
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 the promise
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 of the
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 resurrection
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 of Jesus
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 is that
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 we too
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 will be
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 raised
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 with him
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 with new
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 and perfect
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 bodies
00:31:15 --> 00:31:17 all injustice
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 all suffering
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 all disease
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 all death
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 is going to be
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 wiped out
00:31:21 --> 00:31:23 that's our
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 hope
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 that's why
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 we can expel
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 ourselves
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 for the sake
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 of others
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 because that
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 is our
00:31:28 --> 00:31:28 hope
00:31:28 --> 00:31:30 and so
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 that's why
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 Jesus
00:31:31 --> 00:31:33 and Isaiah
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 and James
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 and John
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 and Paul
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 use this
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 ministry of
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 mercy
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 of love
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 for your
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 neighbor
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 as the
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 test case
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 as to
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 whether
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 a test
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 case
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 between
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 what is
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 true
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 and false
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 Christianity
00:31:45 --> 00:31:47 you see
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 a sensitive
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 social
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 conscience
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 and a
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 love
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 a life
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 poured out
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 in deeds
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 of mercy
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 to the
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 needy
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 is an
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 inevitable
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 sign
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 of a
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 person
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 who has
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 grasped
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 the grace
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 of God
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 a heart
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 for the
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 poor
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 the needy
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 I believe
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 lays
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 dormant
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 in every
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 true
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 Christian
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 until
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 someone
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 comes
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 along
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 and
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 preaches
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 on the
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 connection
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 between
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 God's
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 mercy
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 and the
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 mercy
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 that he
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 motivates
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 us to
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 give to
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 all
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 people
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 if you
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 like
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 a message
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 like
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 tonight
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 and the
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 message
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 you've been
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 hearing
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 last couple
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 of weeks
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 pushes a
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 button
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 deep in
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 your soul
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 that begins
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 the process
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 of waking
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 us up
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 to a
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 fuller
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 grasp
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 of God's
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 grace
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31 and the
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 outworking
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 of it
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 in our
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 lives
00:32:32 --> 00:32:36 now in
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 case that
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 button
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 hasn't been
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 pushed for
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 you
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 let me
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 give you
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 another
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 example of
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 this kind
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 of preaching
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44 Scottish
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 minister
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 Robert
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 Murray
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 Mishane
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 preached
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 this
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 to
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 Scottish
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 Christians
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 living in
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 Scottish
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 cities
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 in
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 1838
00:32:51 --> 00:32:54 he said
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 I fear
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 that there
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 are some
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 Christians
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 among you
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 to whom
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 Christ
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 will not
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 be able
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 to say
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 in the
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 last
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 day
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 well
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 done
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 good
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 and
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 faithful
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 servant
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 he's
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 referring
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 to
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 Matthew
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 25
00:33:02 --> 00:33:06 he says
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 your
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 hardy
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 dwellings
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 referring
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 to your
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 nice
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 houses
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 your
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 hardy
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 dwellings
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 rise
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 amongst
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 thousands
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 who have
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 scarcely
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 a fire
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 to warm
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 themselves
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 at
00:33:15 --> 00:33:17 and have
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 but little
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 clothing
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 to put
00:33:18 --> 00:33:18 out
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 the
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 bright
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 frost
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 and yet
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 you
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 don't
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 darken
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 their
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 door
00:33:23 --> 00:33:25 you
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 heave
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 a sigh
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 of
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 relief
00:33:26 --> 00:33:28 perhaps
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 sorry
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 not
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 relief
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 you
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 heave
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 a sigh
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 perhaps
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 at a
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 distance
00:33:31 --> 00:33:33 but you
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 do not
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 visit
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 them
00:33:34 --> 00:33:36 my
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 friends
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 I'm
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 concerned
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 for the
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 poor
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 but I'm
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 actually
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 more
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 concerned
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 for you
00:33:40 --> 00:33:42 I don't
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 know
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 what
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 Christ
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 will say
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 to you
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 on that
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 great
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 day
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 you
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 say
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 you
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 follow
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 Christ
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 but you
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 don't
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 care
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 for
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 his
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 poor
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 I
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 fear
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 that
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 there
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 may
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 be
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 many
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 hearing
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 me
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 who
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 now
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 know
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 well
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 that
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 they
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 may
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 not
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 be
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 Christians
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 at
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 all
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 because
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 they
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 don't
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 love
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 to
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 give
00:33:57 --> 00:33:59 now
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 dear
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 Christians
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 some
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 of you
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 pray
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 night
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 and day
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 to be
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 branches
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 of the
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 true
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 vine
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 you
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 pray
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 to be
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 made
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 all
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 over
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 in
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 the
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 image
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 of
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 Christ
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 if
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 so
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 you
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 must
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 be
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 like
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 him
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 in
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 giving
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 though
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 he
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 was
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 rich
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 yet
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 for
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 your
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 sakes
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 he
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 became
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 poor
00:34:12 --> 00:34:19 answer
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 Christ
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 might
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 have
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 said
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 my
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 blood
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 is
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 my
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 own
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 my
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 life
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 is
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 my
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 own
00:34:23 --> 00:34:25 another
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 person
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 objects
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 the
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 poor
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 are
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 undeserving
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 answer
00:34:29 --> 00:34:31 Christ
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 might
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 have
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 said
00:34:31 --> 00:34:33 frankly
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 they're
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 all
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 wicked
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 rebels
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 should
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 I
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 lay
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 down
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 my
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 life
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 for
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 these
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 no
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 that's
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 not
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 what
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 he
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 said
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 he
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 left
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 the
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 99
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 and
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 came
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 after
00:34:43 --> 00:34:43 the
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 lost
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 he
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 gave
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 his
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 blood
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 for
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 the
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 undeserving
00:34:45 --> 00:34:47 and yet
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 another
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 objects
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 the
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 poor
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 might
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 abuse
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 it
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 oh
00:34:51 --> 00:34:51 man
00:34:51 --> 00:34:51 I
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 mean
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 let me
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 just
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 pause
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 there
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 how many
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 times have I
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 ever heard
00:34:54 --> 00:34:54 yourself
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 say that
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 if I give
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 this person
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 they're probably
00:34:56 --> 00:34:56 going to go and buy
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 alcohol with
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 it
00:34:57 --> 00:35:02 he says
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 the poor
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 might abuse
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 it
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 another
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 answer
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 Christ
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 might have
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 said the
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 same
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 yes
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 we far
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 greater
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 truth
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 Christ
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 knew that
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 thousands
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 would trample
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 his blood
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 under their
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 feet
00:35:14 --> 00:35:14 that they
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 would despise
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 it
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 that they
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 would make
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 an excuse
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 for sinning
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 even more
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 and yet
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 he gave
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 his blood
00:35:22 --> 00:35:24 oh my dear
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 Christians
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 if you would be
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 like Christ
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 give much
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 give often
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 give freely
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 to the
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 vile
00:35:29 --> 00:35:29 the poor
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 the thankless
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 and the
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 undeserving
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 Christ
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 is glorious
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 and he is
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 happy
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 and so
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 will you
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 be
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 it is not
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 your money
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 I want
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 it's your
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 happiness
00:35:38 --> 00:35:40 remember
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 his own
00:35:40 --> 00:35:40 words
00:35:40 --> 00:35:42 it is
00:35:42 --> 00:35:42 more
00:35:42 --> 00:35:42 blessed
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 to give
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 than to
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 receive
00:35:44 --> 00:35:47 so
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 friends
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 is the
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 spirit
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 of God
00:35:49 --> 00:35:51 waking you
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 up from
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 your deep
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 slumber
00:35:52 --> 00:35:54 the power
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 of the
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 good
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 Samaritan
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 is the
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 pattern
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 of God's
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 mercy
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 and his
00:35:58 --> 00:35:58 mercy
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 generates
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 a life
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 of mercy
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 and so
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 I urge
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 you
00:36:01 --> 00:36:03 to lay
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 aside
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 any
00:36:04 --> 00:36:04 remnant
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 of self
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 goodness
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 that you
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 think
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 you
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 might
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 still
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 have
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 to
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 admit
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 your
00:36:09 --> 00:36:09 total
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 spiritual
00:36:10 --> 00:36:10 bankruptcy
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 to drink
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 deeply
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 from his
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 infinite
00:36:13 --> 00:36:13 grace
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 and mercy
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 and then
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 in deep
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 awareness
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 and appreciation
00:36:17 --> 00:36:17 of what
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 you have
00:36:18 --> 00:36:18 received
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 to live
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 a life
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 of grace
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 and mercy
00:36:21 --> 00:36:23 I think
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 it's really
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 appropriate
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 that we
00:36:25 --> 00:36:25 move
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 immediately
00:36:26 --> 00:36:26 on to
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 the Lord's
00:36:27 --> 00:36:27 Supper
00:36:27 --> 00:36:31 and in
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 doing that
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 the first
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 thing I
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 want us
00:36:33 --> 00:36:33 to do
00:36:33 --> 00:36:35 is just
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 to pause
00:36:35 --> 00:36:37 and to
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 confess
00:36:38 --> 00:36:40 just to
00:36:40 --> 00:36:40 just have
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 a think
00:36:41 --> 00:36:41 is your
00:36:41 --> 00:36:41 button being
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 pushed at
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 this point
00:36:42 --> 00:36:44 is there a
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 connection
00:36:45 --> 00:36:45 between
00:36:45 --> 00:36:46 a life
00:36:46 --> 00:36:46 of mercy
00:36:46 --> 00:36:47 because of
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 mercy
00:36:47 --> 00:36:47 that's been
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 shown to
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 you
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 because having
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 heard the
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 grace of
00:36:51 --> 00:36:51 God we
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 get to
00:36:52 --> 00:36:52 experience it
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 together
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 in these
00:36:54 --> 00:36:54 elements
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 which are
00:36:55 --> 00:36:55 a visceral
00:36:55 --> 00:36:56 representation
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 of what we
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 have in
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 Christ
00:36:58 --> 00:37:00 so let's
00:37:00 --> 00:37:01 just pause
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 silence
00:37:02 --> 00:37:02 and we're
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 going to
00:37:03 --> 00:37:03 say together
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 a prayer
00:37:04 --> 00:37:04 up on the
00:37:04 --> 00:37:05 screen in
00:37:05 --> 00:37:05 just a
00:37:05 --> 00:37:05 moment
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 and then
00:37:06 --> 00:37:06 I'm going
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 to lead
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 us into
00:37:07 --> 00:37:07 the Lord's
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 Supper
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 and we're
00:37:08 --> 00:37:08 going to
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 drink of
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 his grace
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 to us
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 and eat
00:37:10 --> 00:37:10 of his
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 grace
00:37:11 --> 00:37:11 to us
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 let's
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 just
00:37:12 --> 00:37:12 pause
00:37:26 --> 00:37:30 so
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 together
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 up on
00:37:31 --> 00:37:31 the
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 screen
00:37:32 --> 00:37:37 merciful
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 God
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 our
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 maker
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 and our
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 judge
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 we have
00:37:40 --> 00:37:40 sinned
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 against
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 you
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 in
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 thought
00:37:42 --> 00:37:42 word
00:37:42 --> 00:37:42 and
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 deed
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 we
00:37:43 --> 00:37:43 have
00:37:43 --> 00:37:44 not
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 loved
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 you
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 with
00:37:44 --> 00:37:44 our
00:37:44 --> 00:37:45 whole
00:37:45 --> 00:37:45 heart
00:37:45 --> 00:37:46 we
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 have
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 not
00:37:46 --> 00:37:46 loved
00:37:46 --> 00:37:47 our
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 neighbors
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 as
00:37:47 --> 00:37:48 ourselves
00:37:48 --> 00:37:49 we
00:37:49 --> 00:37:49 repent
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 and are
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 sorry
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 for all
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 of our
00:37:51 --> 00:37:51 sins
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 father
00:37:52 --> 00:37:52 forgive
00:37:52 --> 00:37:53 us
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 strengthen
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 us
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 to love
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 and obey
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 you
00:37:55 --> 00:37:55 in
00:37:55 --> 00:37:56 newness
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 of life
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 through
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 Jesus
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 Christ
00:37:58 --> 00:37:58 our
00:37:58 --> 00:37:58 Lord
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 Amen
00:37:59 --> 00:38:00 let's
00:38:00 --> 00:38:00 pray
00:38:00 --> 00:38:03 we
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 thank you
00:38:03 --> 00:38:03 our
00:38:03 --> 00:38:04 father
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 that in
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 your
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 love
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 and your
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 mercy
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 you
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 gave
00:38:07 --> 00:38:07 your
00:38:07 --> 00:38:07 only
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 son
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 Jesus
00:38:08 --> 00:38:08 Christ
00:38:08 --> 00:38:09 to die
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 on the
00:38:09 --> 00:38:09 cross
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 for our
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 salvation
00:38:10 --> 00:38:11 and by
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 his
00:38:11 --> 00:38:11 offering
00:38:11 --> 00:38:12 himself
00:38:12 --> 00:38:12 once
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 and for
00:38:13 --> 00:38:13 all
00:38:13 --> 00:38:14 he
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 made
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 a
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 full
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 perfect
00:38:16 --> 00:38:16 and
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 sufficient
00:38:17 --> 00:38:17 sacrifice
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 for the
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 sins
00:38:18 --> 00:38:18 of the
00:38:18 --> 00:38:19 entire
00:38:19 --> 00:38:19 world
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 and
00:38:20 --> 00:38:20 he's
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 commanded
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 us to
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 continue
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 a
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 remembrance
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 of his
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 precious
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 death
00:38:23 --> 00:38:23 until
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 he's
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 coming
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 again
00:38:24 --> 00:38:26 hear us
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 merciful
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 father
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 and grant
00:38:27 --> 00:38:27 that we
00:38:27 --> 00:38:28 who receive
00:38:28 --> 00:38:28 these gifts
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 of your
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 creation
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 this bread
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 and this
00:38:30 --> 00:38:30 wine
00:38:30 --> 00:38:31 according to
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 our
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 saviour's
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 command
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 in remembrance
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 of his
00:38:33 --> 00:38:33 suffering
00:38:33 --> 00:38:33 and his
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 death
00:38:34 --> 00:38:38 Gottes
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 on his
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 sons
00:38:44 --> 00:38:44 all
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 that the
00:38:45 --> 00:38:47 bad
00:38:47 --> 00:38:48 moment
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 on my
00:38:48 --> 00:38:48 shared
00:38:48 --> 00:38:49 and
00:38:49 --> 00:38:51 all
00:38:51 --> 00:38:51 life
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 happened