THE TRUTH
Series: Reasonable Faith in Unreasonable Times
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 20th May 2018
Passage: John 14:6
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 let it go. Turn away and slam the door. I don't care what they're going to say. Let the storm
00:00:06 --> 00:00:13 rage on. The cold never bothered me anyway. It's funny how some distance makes everything seem
00:00:13 --> 00:00:21 small and the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all. It's time to see what I can do
00:00:21 --> 00:00:29 to test the limits and break through. No wrong, no wrong, sorry, no right, no wrong, no rules for me,
00:00:29 --> 00:00:36 I'm free. Now for those who aren't familiar with those words, it's probably because you don't have
00:00:36 --> 00:00:44 young children and specifically young girls. They are some of the lyrics from the song Let It Go
00:00:44 --> 00:00:57 in the Disney movie Frozen. It won the 2013 Oscar for the best original song. It's sung by a character
00:00:57 --> 00:01:09 in the movie, determined to no longer be the good girl that her family and her society want her to be.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:18 Instead, she would let go and she would express what she'd been holding back inside all this time
00:01:18 --> 00:01:27 and she declares that there's no right, no wrong, no rules for her anymore and now she will be truly free.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:36 That definition of total individual freedom is not just Disney philosophy 101.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:44 The Supreme Court of the United States declared this in one judgment on abortion where it said,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:56 at the heart of freedom is the right to define one's own concept of existence or meaning of the universe
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 and of the mystery of human life.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:14 In other words, that view, relative worldview declares that there is no such thing as universal truth
00:02:14 --> 00:02:21 that all people have to agree with or have applied on their life.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 Truth is what you make of it.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:31 It's whatever's right for you is the relative worldview
00:02:31 --> 00:02:35 and it's the common worldview in our society.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:44 Any form of absolute truth is regarded as ultimate bondage
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 and especially religious truth
00:02:47 --> 00:02:54 and especially in our country, Christianity and its truth is particularly stifling
00:02:54 --> 00:02:59 because it's been tried for a couple of centuries and been found wanting.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:05 So American pastor Tim Keller wrote this,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:10 the late modern mind presents itself like this,
00:03:10 --> 00:03:15 we have come to realize that we don't need God to explain the world we see,
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 science does that job for us.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:23 We don't need God or religion to be moral, to love and work for a better world
00:03:23 --> 00:03:27 or to have meaning and fulfillment in it, fulfillment in life.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:35 What we need is to be free to live life as we see fit
00:03:35 --> 00:03:42 and to work together to make the world a better and more just place to live.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 And religion gets in the way of all of this.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:52 It constrains our freedom to live as we wish
00:03:52 --> 00:03:56 and it divides us so that we cannot work together.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:04 That's the world in which we speak into and the Christian faith speaks into.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:09 Universal truth is seen as being oppressive,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 relative truth for each individual.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 You make up what is right and wrong for you and live accordingly.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 That's regarded as true liberation.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:25 It's one of the highest values, if not the highest value of our culture.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:30 And yet, it is totally unlivable.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:39 The Supreme Court in the United States will make that declaration in one case,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:47 but it will oppose a standard of truth in every case.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 It's based on the Constitution of the United States.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:58 The citizens of the United States are not free to live however they want, whenever they want.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 The law courts will see to it that's not the case.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:32 The law courts will make that declaration in one case.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:37 Exclusively the way, exclusively the truth, exclusively the life.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 And so Jesus does what's unacceptable in our society.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 He makes exclusive claims.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:49 But as we saw last week, everyone is making exclusive claims.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:56 To state that all truth is relative,
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 and that there is no such thing as universal truth,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 is in fact an exclusive claim in itself.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 It claims to have the sole truth,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 and that is that all truth is relative.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 And so the question is,
00:06:14 --> 00:06:19 which truth is ultimately liberating?
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 Which truth is the liberating truth?
00:06:25 --> 00:06:30 And so my hope for this series is for the thinkers amongst us to be led to belief in Jesus,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 and for the believers amongst us to think a little bit deeper about what it is that we believe.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:40 And our focus today is the second one of those truth claims of Jesus,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 that is that he is the truth,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 the exclusive truth,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:48 the truth that is applicable for all people and all times.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 And there are three main points.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 What is truth?
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 A truth that sets you free,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 and discovering truth and freedom.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 That's my three main points today.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:01 So first of all,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:06 let's start at the beginning of this Christian worldview of what is truth.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:10 And right at the very beginning is where it starts to be laid out for us.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:14 Genesis 1 verse 1 makes a very significant point
00:07:14 --> 00:07:18 that there is no reality that existed before God.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 It says,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 Now the earth was formless and empty.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 That is,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 before creation,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:33 before the universe was banged into existence by God,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 God was.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:38 He existed outside of everything that's created.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 He stands outside of all created things.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 And he spoke,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 according to the Bible,
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 the universe into existence.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 He speaks,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 and he creates history.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 He doesn't create,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:55 just interpret reality and interpret history.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 He creates reality,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 and he creates history.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 That's what happens when God speaks.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 And this God,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 as creator,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 is the one who defines all things,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 because he is ultimate reality,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 because he stands outside of all things.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 Therefore,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 he is ultimate.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 Reality is created,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 it's determined,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 and it's defined by this God.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 And so the absolute,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 the absoluteness of God,
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 his existence,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:29 is totally incredible for us
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 to consider.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:36 A God who never had a beginning,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 never ending,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 never becoming,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 never improving,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:45 simply and absolutely there to be dealt with on his terms,
00:08:45 --> 00:08:45 or not at all.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 That's the absoluteness of God.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 When he speaks,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 he reveals reality.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:58 He reveals things the way they actually are.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 They are.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 And Psalm 119,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 verse 160,
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 says this about God when he speaks,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 all your words are true,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 all your righteous laws are eternal.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 What,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 to take a shortcut here,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 what Psalm 160 is saying,
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 is that the sum total
00:09:27 --> 00:09:31 of everything that God reveals
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 is true.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 The sum total of it is true.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 It's truth.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 But notice the second part of it,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 in verse 160,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 all your righteous laws are eternal.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 And it says this various ways,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 from 155 to 160.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 It's not just that the sum total is truth.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 That is,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 it's not just the vibe of the word of God,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:56 which is true.
00:09:57 --> 00:10:01 It's all the individual parts are true.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 Every part is true.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 Even the bits that we don't like,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 the little parts that we want to ignore,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 are true.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 It is reality revealed.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:21 So the whole and the parts are all true.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 They are true because when God,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 who is ultimate reality,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 speaks,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 he reveals things the way they actually are.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 Truth is when reality,
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 God,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:38 and the communication of reality
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 are in aligned with one another.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 That's what truth is.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:45 It's when reality and the communication of reality
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 are in alignment with one another.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 The opposite of truth is lies.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 And lies are when reality
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 and what's communicated about that
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 don't align with one another.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 And we all,
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 hopefully we all get a sense within us
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 when we get this feeling
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 when someone's lying to us.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 Because what's being communicated to us
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 and what we perceive
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 to be right
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 don't seem to align.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 When God speaks,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 he always reveals reality.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 And as finite human beings
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 who have a beginning
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 and who have an end,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:39 we have no ability
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 to discover the full picture of reality.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 You see,
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 when I think someone's lying to me,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 my perception is that they're lying to me,
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 but my perception may be wrong.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 Not with God.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 The creator God
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 has to reveal
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 the way things actually are.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:08 because that is who he is.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 He can only ever reveal reality.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 And that's exactly what he says he's done.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 And in fact,
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 this is the unique claim
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 of the Christian faith
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 that we looked at last week.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 How do we know
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 the unknowable?
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 How do we know
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 the unknowable?
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 Well,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 the unknowable
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 has come to us.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 It's what
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 John chapter 1
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 affirms.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 In the beginning
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 was the word.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 That is,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 this is a reference
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 back to Genesis chapter 1.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 In the beginning
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 was the word.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 That is,
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 he existed before everything
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 was made.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 And the word was with God.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 And the word was God.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 And he was with God
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 in the beginning.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 Through him,
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 that's through the word,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 all things were made.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 Again,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 back there,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 Genesis chapter 1 verse 1.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 And without him,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 nothing was made
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 that has been made.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 So this word
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 was the creator
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 who existed
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 before all things
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 and is God.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 And then down
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 into verse 14
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 of John 1,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 we see something startling.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 the word
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 became flesh
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 and made his dwelling
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 amongst us.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 We have seen
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 his glory,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 the glory
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 of the one and only,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 that is,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 the glory of God
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 who came from the Father
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 full of grace
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 and truth.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 And so you ask yourself
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 the question,
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 who is verse 14
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 talking about?
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 Who is this one
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 who is God
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 who existed
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 before creation,
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 who created everything,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 who is full of grace
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 and truth?
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 Verse 17.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 For the law
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 was given
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 through Moses,
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 grace and truth
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 came through Jesus Christ.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 Where reality,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 the way things
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 actually are
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 and the representation
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 of reality,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 the communication
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 of that reality
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 so that we can see reality
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 come together
00:14:11 --> 00:14:14 in the most profound sense
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 is in the person
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 of Jesus Christ.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 that's the unique
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 claim of Christianity.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 Jesus
00:14:23 --> 00:14:26 is to God
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 what a photo
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 of me
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 is to me.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 Now,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 I could run a competition
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 for us here this morning
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 and ask you all,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 hand out pieces of paper,
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 some colouring pencils
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 and stuff
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 and what I'm going
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 to get you to do
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 is I'm going
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 to get you all
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 to draw
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 and colour in a picture
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 of what I look like
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 as a four-year-old
00:14:47 --> 00:14:51 and some of us
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 are going to come up
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 with better versions
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 of that
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 and I will love you
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 for that
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 and some of you
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 are going to come up
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 with totally wrong versions
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 and we could all
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 have a competition,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 we could all put them
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 all up here on the board
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 and then judge the competition
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 and see who's got
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 the best example
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 of what I look like
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 as a four-year-old
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 and there might be
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 a whole bunch
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 of similarities
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 in those pictures
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 but the only way,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 the only way
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 that we could end speculation
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 as to who is right
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 is by producing a photo.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 Thank you.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 Thank you for those
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 who immediately went,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 oh,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 I appreciate that.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 That's the only way
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 to end speculation
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 is to produce the photo
00:15:34 --> 00:15:37 and that is what Jesus says
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 he has done
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 with ultimate reality.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 He's revealed things
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 the way they actually are
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 by showing us reality.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 He shows us God
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 and ultimate reality
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 and what he does
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 is he shows us truth.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 That's why he claims
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 this astounding,
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 profound claim.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 I am the way.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 I am the truth.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 He doesn't just speak the truth.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 He doesn't just reveal the truth.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 I am the truth.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:13 I am reality
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 and the communication
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 of that reality
00:16:15 --> 00:16:18 at one and the same time.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 And I am the life
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 and no one comes to the Father
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 except through me.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:28 And so the most ultimate reason
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 why Jesus could say
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 that he was the truth
00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 is because he is the God.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:38 He doesn't just communicate
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 a message from God.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 He doesn't just speak the truth
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 although he does speak the truth.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 He is God.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 He is the communication
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 of God to us.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 He is truth.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 And as I said,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 the place where ultimate reality
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 and the representation
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 or communication
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 of ultimate reality
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 come together
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 in the most profound sense
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 is the person
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 of Jesus Christ.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:05 And what Jesus does
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 at a number of points
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 as the word of God
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 who came to dwell amongst us
00:17:10 --> 00:17:13 is what he does
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 is he confirms
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 and affirms consistently
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 that the historical
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 Christian scriptures
00:17:21 --> 00:17:25 as being the self-revelation
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 of God.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:29 He does that consistently.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 Luke 24 he does it
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 where he goes along
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 walks the road to Emmaus
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 and he shows the disciples
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 how all the scriptures
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 point to him.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:46 He confirms it as truth
00:17:46 --> 00:17:51 that accurately represent reality
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 the way things actually are.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:57 So the 66 books of the Bible
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 with Jesus at the centre
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 is truth.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 That's why we got our
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 core value in this church
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 a Christ-centred Bible saturation.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 Jesus declares it as truth
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 and therefore the authority
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 by which all things are measured.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 The Bible is where God speaks
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 what is real and absolute
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 and therefore what is true
00:18:15 --> 00:18:18 and the Bible is where we meet Jesus
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 it's where we meet reality
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 it's where we meet God.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:25 The Bible is the way God
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 the ultimate
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 all important reality
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 reveals himself to us
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 with clarity
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 and authority
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 today.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 And so if God is more important
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 than anything
00:18:37 --> 00:18:40 then the Bible is more important
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 than anything but God.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 It's why we have this core value
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 at St. Paul's.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 The God who made everything
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 the God who controls everything
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 has a purpose for everything
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 this God
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 has spoken to us
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 with absolute clarity
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 and authority.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 2 Timothy 3.16 says
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 all scripture is God breathed
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 and is therefore useful
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 for teaching
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 rebuking, correcting
00:19:05 --> 00:19:07 and training in righteousness.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 God breathed
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 literally
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 it came out
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 of his mouth.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:19 in what God
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 has revealed
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 to us
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 we are not left
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 without a knowledge
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 of his will
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 we are not left
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 without a knowledge
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 of him
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 at work
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 in his world
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29 we are not left
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 without wisdom
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 we are not left
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 without a revelation
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 of the way
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 of salvation
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 and friends
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 if we could
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 awaken our hearts
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 and our minds
00:19:41 --> 00:19:45 with absolute confidence
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 that this is so
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 just imagine
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 how we would
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 navigate
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 the complexities
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 of life
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 and its millions
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 of absolute truth claims
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 that we face
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 day by day.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 The Bible
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 is God's provision
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 for us
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 it is sufficient
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 for life
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 and for faith.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 So secondly
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 why would we
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 or our society
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 want to know
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 this truth?
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 Why would we
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 want to know
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 this truth?
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 Because
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 the truth
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 sets you free.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 That's why.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 Jesus said
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 an astounding thing
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 in John's gospel
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 he says
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 if you hold
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 to my teaching
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 you are really
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 my disciples
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 then you will
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 know the truth
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 and the truth
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 will set you free.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 See the connection
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 there between
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 truth
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 conformity
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 to the truth
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 and liberty
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 and freedom.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 Know Jesus
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 treasure Jesus
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 and you will know
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 true and enduring
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 freedom.
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 And I take it
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 that everyone
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 sitting in this room
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 wants to be free.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 free.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 I mean free
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 in the deepest
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 fullest sense.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 If the opposite
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 of course
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 of freedom
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 is bondage
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 and slavery
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 I'm just assuming
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 no one here
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 wants that.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 I'm just
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 I don't need
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 to do a poll
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 at all
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 I just assume
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 no one wants
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 that kind of
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 kind of life.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 All of us
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 would rather
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 be happy
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 in freedom
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 than enslaved
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 to even
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 the most pleasant
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 of addictions.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 we all
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 want to be
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 truly
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 free.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 And yet
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 what our society
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 claims
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 is that
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 absolute truth
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 leads to bondage.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 What Jesus
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 claims
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 is truth
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 leads to
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 freedom.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:46 And Jesus
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 makes this
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 walloping
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 statement
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 in John
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 8.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 If you
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 hold to
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 my teaching
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 you are
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 really my
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 disciples
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 then you
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 will know
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 the truth
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 and the
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 truth
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 will set
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 you free.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 And so
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 people
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 who heard
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 Jesus
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 say that
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 in the
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 first century
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 just as
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 some of us
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 might say
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 it right
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 now
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 Jesus
00:22:05 --> 00:22:08 what are
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 you talking
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 about?
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 You know
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 we are
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 already
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 free
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 we don't
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 need you
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 to free
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 us
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 we're
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 already
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 free
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 in fact
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 they answered
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 him
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 we are
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 Abraham's
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 descendants
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 and have
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 never been
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 slaves of
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 anyone
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 how can
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 you say
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 that we
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 shall be
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 set free?
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 You're not
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 offering us
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 anything here
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 Jesus
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 is what
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 they're
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 saying to
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 him
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 and what
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 Jesus
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 says is
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 you're
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 thinking
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 about
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 one
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 aspect
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 of
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 freedom
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 but
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 Jesus
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 is
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 thinking
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 about
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 something
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 totally
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 different
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 something
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 more
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 important
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 something
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 they
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 can't
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 see
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 and so
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 Jesus
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 immediately
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 clarifies
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 what
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 he
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 chooses
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 to set
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 them
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 free
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 from
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 I
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 tell you
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 the truth
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 anyone
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 who
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 sins
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 is a
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 slave
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 to
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 sin
00:22:52 --> 00:22:55 Jesus
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 is saying
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 that
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 everyone
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 sins
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 and
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 therefore
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 everyone
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 is enslaved
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 to sin
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 and
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 when
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 you
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 use
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 your
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 freedom
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 when
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 you
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 use
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 your
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 individual
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 freedom
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 to pursue
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 your
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 personal
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 desires
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 at the
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 cost
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 of
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 God
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 that
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 sin
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 and
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 while
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 it
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 might
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 be
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 exhilarating
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 for a
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 moment
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 it
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 leads
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 to
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 bondage
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 that's
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 what
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 he's
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 saying
00:23:18 --> 00:23:21 this
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 means
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 here
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 that
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 sin
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 is
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 not
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 just
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 a
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 bad
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 act
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 sin
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 is
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 in
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 fact
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 a
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 power
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 over
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 our
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 hearts
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 over
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 our
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 lives
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 that
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 makes
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 us
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 do
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 bad
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 acts
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 and
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 sets
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 us
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 against
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 God
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 and
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 other
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 people
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 there
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 are
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 many
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 many
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 kinds
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 of
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 freedoms
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 that
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 we
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 can
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 make
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 for
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 ourselves
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 but
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 this
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 is
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 one
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 freedom
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 that
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 we
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 cannot
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 make
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 for
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 ourselves
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 this
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 slavery
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 is
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 too
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 deep
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 this
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 slavery
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 is
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 too
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 all
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 encompassing
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 and
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 all
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 entangling
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 sin
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 enslaves
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 us
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 by
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 making
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 anything
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 and
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 everything
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 look
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 more
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 desirable
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 than
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 knowing
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 Jesus
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 it
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 also
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 enslaves
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 us
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 by
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 eventually
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 damning
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 us
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 forever
00:24:02 --> 00:24:05 and
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 it
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 enslaves
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 unless
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 someone
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 or
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 something
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 intervenes
00:24:10 --> 00:24:13 which
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 is what
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 Jesus
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 says
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 in
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 verse
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 36
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 if the
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 son
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 sets
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 you
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 free
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 you'll
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 be
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 free
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 indeed
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 the
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 son
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 who
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 is
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 Jesus
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 is
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 Jesus
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 talking
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 about
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 himself
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 here
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 the
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 son
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 of
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 God
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 who
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 is
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 Jesus
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 who
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 is
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 the
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 truth
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 who
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 sets
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 free
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 in
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 verse
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 32
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 is
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 the
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 son
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 who
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 sets
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 free
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 in
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 verse
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 36
00:24:37 --> 00:24:39 he
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 frees
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 us
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 from
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 the
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 damnation
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 of
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 slavery
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 by
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 becoming
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 damned
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 for
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 us
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 in
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 his
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 death
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 on
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 the
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 cross
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 as
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 our
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 substitute
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 he
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 frees
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 us
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 from
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 the
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 dominion
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 of
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 sin
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 over
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 our
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 hearts
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 by
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 changing
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 our
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 hearts
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 to
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 see
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 him
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 as
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 more
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 desirable
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 than
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 anything
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 we
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 become
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 truly
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 free
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 to
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 be
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 who
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 we
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 are
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 who
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 we
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 are
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 made
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 to
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 be
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 to
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 love
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 him
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 and
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 to
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 love
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 others
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 so
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 if
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 the
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 son
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 sets
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 you
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 free
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 you
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 are
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 free
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 indeed
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 so
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 let me
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 give
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 you
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 a
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 definition
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 of
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 full
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 and
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 complete
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 freedom
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 you
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 are
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 fully
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 free
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 when
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 you
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 have
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 the
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00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 ability
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 and
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 the
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 opportunity
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 to
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 do
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 what
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 will
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 leave
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 you
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 with
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 no
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 regrets
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 forever
00:25:28 --> 00:25:33 you
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 are
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 fully
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00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 when
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 you
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 have
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 the
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 desire
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 the
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 ability
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 and
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 the
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 opportunity
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 to
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 do
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 what
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 will
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 leave
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 you
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 with
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 no
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 regrets
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 forever
00:25:42 --> 00:25:46 so
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 firstly
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 if
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 you
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 don't
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 have
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 the
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 desire
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 to
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 do
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 a
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 particular
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 thing
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 you're
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 not
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 fully
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 free
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 to
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 do
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 it
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 because
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 more
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 than
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 likely
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 you're
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 being
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 forced
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 to
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 do
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 something
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 you
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 don't
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 want
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 to
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 do
00:25:59 --> 00:26:02 so
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 if
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 you
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 have
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 the
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 desire
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 to
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 do
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 something
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 but
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 no
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 ability
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 to
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 do
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 it
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 you
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 can't
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 do
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 it
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 so
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 you're
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 clearly
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 not
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 free
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 to
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 do
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 it
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 but
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 if
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 you
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 have
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 the
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 desire
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 to
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 do
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 something
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 the
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 ability
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 to
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 do
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 something
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 but
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 no
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 opportunity
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 to
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 do
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 it
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 again
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 you
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 can't
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 do
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 it
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 so
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 you're
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 not
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 free
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 to
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 do
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 it
00:26:17 --> 00:26:20 but
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 if
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 you
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 have
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 the
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 desire
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 to
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 do
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 something
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 the
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 ability
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 to
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 do
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 something
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 the
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 opportunity
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 to
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 do
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 it
00:26:23 --> 00:26:25 but
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 doing
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 it
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 destroys
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 you
00:26:28 --> 00:26:31 then
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 you're
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 not
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 fully
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 free
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 if
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 it
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 destroys
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 you
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 in
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 the
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 end
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 you're
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 not
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 free
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 doesn't
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 lead
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 to
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 liberty
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 leads
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 to
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 bondage
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 to
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 let's
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 let me
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 get
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 slightly
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 practical
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 here
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 for a
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 moment
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 let's
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 talk
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 about
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 parachuting
00:26:48 --> 00:26:52 you
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 make it
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 to the
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 airport
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 without
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 having
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 an
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 accident
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 in
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 the
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 car
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 tick
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 that
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 box
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 you
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 now
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 have
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 the
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 freedom
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 of
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 opportunity
00:26:59 --> 00:27:02 you've
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 done
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 the
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 classes
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 you
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 know
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 how
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 to
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 jump
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 out
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 of
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 an
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 airplane
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 and
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 to
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 pull
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 a
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 rip
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 cord
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 tick
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 that
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 box
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 you
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 now
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 have
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 the
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 freedom
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 of
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 ability
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 you're
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 up in
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 the
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 plane
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 you
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 look
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 out
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 the
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 door
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 and
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 you
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 just
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 can't
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 wait
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 to
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 jump
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 tick
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 that
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 box
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 you
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 have
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 the
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 freedom
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 of
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 desire
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 that's
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 because
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 you're
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 not
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 frozen
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 with
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 fear
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 when
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 you
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 look
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 out
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 the
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 door
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 and
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 so
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 you
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 jump
00:27:33 --> 00:27:35 and
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 as
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 you
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 free
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 fall
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 you
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 are
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 enjoying
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 every
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 moment
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 of
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 this
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 unbeknownst
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 to
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 you
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 that
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 your
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 parachute
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 is
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 in
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 fact
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 defective
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 and
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 it's
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 not
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 going
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 to
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 open
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 on
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 you
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 no
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 matter
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 what
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 you
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 do
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 and
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 it's
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 not
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 a
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 tanned
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 jump
00:27:53 --> 00:27:56 are
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 you
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 fully
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 free
00:27:57 --> 00:28:00 are
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 you
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 free
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 indeed
00:28:01 --> 00:28:05 for
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 about
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 30
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 seconds
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 or so
00:28:07 --> 00:28:10 what
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 you
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 are
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 doing
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 so
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 happily
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 so
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 freely
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 will
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 kill
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 you
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 you
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 don't
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 know
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 it
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 but
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 the
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 moment
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 you
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 jumped
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 out
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 of
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 that
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 plane
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 you
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 are
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 in
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 fact
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 enslaved
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 to
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 destruction
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 you
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 don't
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 know
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 it
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 but
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 you
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 are
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 there
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 is
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 no
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 way
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 to
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 help
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 you
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 from
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 that
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 moment
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 you're
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 now
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 enslaved
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 to
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 destruction
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 you're
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 oblivious
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 but
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 in
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 just
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 a
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 matter
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 of
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 time
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 you'll
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 find
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 out
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 it
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 feels
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 like
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 freedom
00:28:40 --> 00:28:42 right
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 up
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 until
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 that
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 moment
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 when
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 you
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 pull
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 the
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 rip
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 cord
00:28:45 --> 00:28:48 and
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 in
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 that
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 moment
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 all
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 of
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 the
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 exhilaration
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 will
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 prove
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 to be
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 an
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 illusion
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 it
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 will
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 all
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 the
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 exhilaration
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 will
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 just
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 go
00:29:00 --> 00:29:03 it's
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 now
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 fear
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 and
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 the
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 realization
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 you
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 are
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 now
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 enslaved
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 to
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 death
00:29:08 --> 00:29:13 to
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 be
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 fully
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 free
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 we
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 must
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 have
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 the
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 desire
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 the
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 ability
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 and
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 the
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 opportunity
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 to
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 do
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 what
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 makes
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 us
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 happy
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 forever
00:29:22 --> 00:29:24 no
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 regrets
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 it
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 will
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 never
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 come
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 back
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 and
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 it
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 will
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 never
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 bite
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 us
00:29:28 --> 00:29:31 that's
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 what
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 Jesus
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 promises
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 us
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 and
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 it
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 is
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 utter
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 foolishness
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 for
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 Christians
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 to
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 envy
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 the
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 so-called
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 freedom
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 of
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 those
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 who
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 jump
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 out
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 of
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 the
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 airplane
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 of
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 self
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 preoccupation
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 and
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 sin
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 and
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 revel
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 for a
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 season
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 in the
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 exhilaration
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 of
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 free
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 fall
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 of
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 greed
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 and
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 free
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 fall
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 of
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 fame
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 the
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 free
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 fall
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 of
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 sex
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 the
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 free
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 fall
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 of
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 power
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 the
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 free
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 fall
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 of
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 comfort
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 and
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 holiday
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 homes
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 and
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 travel
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 and
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 free
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 fall
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 of
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 adventure
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 fall
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 of
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 security
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 oblivious
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 to
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 Jesus
00:30:01 --> 00:30:05 all
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 this
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 so-called
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 freedom
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 is the
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 exact
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 opposite
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 of
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 God's
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 design
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 for
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 humanity
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 and
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 it
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 is
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 a
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 vapor
00:30:13 --> 00:30:17 only
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 Jesus
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 the
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 son
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 of
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 God
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 who
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 died
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 and
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 rose
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 again
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 to
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 life
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 can
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 set
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 us
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 free
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 and
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 make
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 us
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 live
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 happily
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 forever
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 only
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 Jesus
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 that's
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 the
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 truth
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 that
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 will
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 set
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 us
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 free
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 and
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 to
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 be
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 happy
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 forever
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 all
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 of
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 our
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 sins
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 must
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 be
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 forgiven
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 and
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 God's
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 wrath
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 must
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 be
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 removed
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 and
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 Christ
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 must
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 become
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 our
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 supreme
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 treasure
00:30:43 --> 00:30:46 our
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 supreme
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 desire
00:30:47 --> 00:30:51 Jesus
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 has
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 already
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 done
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 it
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 he
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 died
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 on
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 a
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 cross
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 he
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 absorbed
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 God's
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 wrath
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 and
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 he
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 rose
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 from
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 the
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 dead
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 and
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 is
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 today
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 supremely
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 precious
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 if
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 the
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 son
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 sets
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 you
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 free
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 you'll
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 be
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 free
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 indeed
00:31:05 --> 00:31:09 so
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 one last
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 thing
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 for those
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 of us
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 who have
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 embraced
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 Jesus
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 as
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 the
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 way
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 the
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 truth
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 and
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 life
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 and
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 as
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 a
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 church
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 we're
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 in
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 the
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 middle
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 of
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 mission
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 month
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 and
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 we
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 want
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 people
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 all
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 over
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 this
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 world
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 to
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 come
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 and
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 know
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 this
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 freedom
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 that's
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 in
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 the
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 truth
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 in
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 Jesus
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25 so
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 how
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 is
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 how's
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 it going
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 to happen
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 in our
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 society
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 like ours
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 that has
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 rejected
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 Christianity
00:31:33 --> 00:31:35 and is
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 addicted
00:31:35 --> 00:31:37 to relative
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 truth
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 and the
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 belief
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 of the
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 sovereign
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 self
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 that each
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 one of us
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 is in
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 ruler of
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 our own
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 individual
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 lives
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 and we
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 choose
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 our own
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 way
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 how does
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 this message
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 of exclusive
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 claim of
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 Jesus
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 trump
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 every
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 other
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 exclusive
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 claim
00:31:50 --> 00:31:53 2
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 Corinthians
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 4
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 gives
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 me
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 the
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 answer
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 to
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 that
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 in
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 2
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 Corinthians
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 4
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 in
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 verse
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 4
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 it
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 says
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 that
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 all
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 people
00:32:04 --> 00:32:04 are
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 blinded
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 to
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 the
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 truth
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 of
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 the
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 gospel
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 blinded
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 to
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 the
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 glory
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 and
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 the
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 truth
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 of
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 Jesus
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 Christ
00:32:10 --> 00:32:12 by
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 ourselves
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 we
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 simply
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 cannot
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 and
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 we
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 will
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 not
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 see
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 the
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 truth
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 it's
00:32:17 --> 00:32:17 a
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 matter
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 of
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 the
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 will
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 of
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 our
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 lives
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 to
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 say
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 I
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 will
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 not
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 accept
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 this
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 truth
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 verse
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 6
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 in
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 2
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 Corinthians
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 4
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 says
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 that
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 the
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 God
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 who
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 created
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 all
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 things
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 at
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 the
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 beginning
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 in
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 Genesis
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 chapter
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 1
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 shines
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 light
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 into
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 our
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 blindness
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 into
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 our
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 dark
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 hearts
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 and
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 when
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 he
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 does
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 that
00:32:38 --> 00:32:40 darkness
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 is
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 pushed
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 out
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44 and
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 we
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 see
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 Jesus
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 for
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 who
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 he
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 is
00:32:47 --> 00:32:47 we
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 trust
00:32:48 --> 00:32:48 him
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 and
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 we
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 have
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 freedom
00:32:51 --> 00:32:54 verse
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 4
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 verse
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 6
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 blindness
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 sight
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 darkness
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 light
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 verse
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 5
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 is
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 right
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 in
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 the
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 middle
00:33:03 --> 00:33:06 and
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 that's
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 the
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 means
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 that
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 God
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 uses
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 to
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 take
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 us
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 from
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 darkness
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 to
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 light
00:33:10 --> 00:33:12 this
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 is
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 what
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 it
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 says
00:33:12 --> 00:33:14 what
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 we
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 preach
00:33:15 --> 00:33:15 is
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 not
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 ourselves
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 but
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 Jesus
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 Christ
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 as
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 Lord
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 and
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 ourselves
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 as
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 your
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 servants
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 for
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 Jesus
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 sake
00:33:22 --> 00:33:24 that's
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 the
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 means
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 the
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 means
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 God
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 uses
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 to
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 take
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 people
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 from
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 a
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 relative
00:33:30 --> 00:33:32 truth
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 to
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 the
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 truth
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 of
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 Jesus
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 and
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 see
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 him
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 as
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 glorious
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 and
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 right
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 and
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 true
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 and
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 needs
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 to
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 be
00:33:39 --> 00:33:39 embraced
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 for
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 my
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 freedom
00:33:41 --> 00:33:43 is
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 the
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 proclamation
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 that
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 Jesus
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 is
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 Lord
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 of
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 the
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 universe
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 he
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 is
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 who
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 he
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 says
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 he
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 is
00:33:50 --> 00:33:53 he
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 is
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 God
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 he
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 is
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 true
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 he
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 is
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 the
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 master
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 of
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 all
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 things
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 and
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 he's
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 the
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 one
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 who
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 sets
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 the
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 agenda
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 for
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 our
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 lives
00:34:02 --> 00:34:04 the
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 crucified
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 Jesus
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 Christ
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 has
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 been
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 exalted
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 through
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 resurrection
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 as
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 the
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 heavenly
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 Lord
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 according
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 to
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 Philippians
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 2
00:34:10 --> 00:34:12 God
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 suffering
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 servant
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 is
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 the
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 ruler
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 of
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 the
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 universe
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 the
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 man
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 Christ
00:34:16 --> 00:34:16 Jesus
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 is
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 the
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 exalted
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 God
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 over
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 all
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 histories
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 over
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 all
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 people
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 and
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 Paul
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 says
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 here
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 you
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 make
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 that
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 clear
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 don't
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 distort
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 that
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 gospel
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 by
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 showing
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 away
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 from
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 it
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 and
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 especially
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 in
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 this
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 day
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 and
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 age
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 where
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 we
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 don't
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 like
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 exclusive
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 claims
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 you
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 make
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 this
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 exclusive
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 claim
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 clear
00:34:34 --> 00:34:36 you
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 proclaim
00:34:36 --> 00:34:36 it
00:34:36 --> 00:34:38 do
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 not
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 distort
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 it
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 do not
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 shy
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 away
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 from
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 it
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 proclaim
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 it
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 from a
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 heart
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 of love
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 and a
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 life
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 of service
00:34:43 --> 00:34:46 that's what I think he means when he says that we don't preach ourselves
00:34:46 --> 00:34:50 all self interest is laid aside here
00:34:50 --> 00:35:14 the means that God uses to shift us from sovereign self and relative truth into the clarity of who Jesus is and embracing that clarity is bold clear plain proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ as Lord from a heart of love and a life of service
00:35:14 --> 00:35:19 the unchanging
00:35:19 --> 00:35:27 the unchanging historically plausible blood bought good news of Christianity is truth for everyone
00:35:27 --> 00:35:43 and you might have walked in here today and you might have been who what verse 4 describes here as someone who lives with relative truth you're the sovereign self
00:35:43 --> 00:36:13 you don't believe Jesus is true
00:36:13 --> 00:36:15 and you might have been who what verse 5 says that something strange happened in me
00:36:15 --> 00:36:24 this is a truth that causes the blind to see
00:36:24 --> 00:36:29 it's a truth that causes darkness to be distinguished
00:36:29 --> 00:36:32 sorry extinguished
00:36:32 --> 00:36:34 for death to be defeated
00:36:34 --> 00:36:37 for eternal life to be granted
00:36:37 --> 00:36:40 and freedom from bondage
00:36:40 --> 00:36:45 true and enduring freedom is only discovered
00:36:45 --> 00:36:47 is only experienced
00:36:47 --> 00:36:49 when we ironically
00:36:49 --> 00:36:51 fully surrender to Jesus
00:36:51 --> 00:36:53 Specializingいただ montrer to Jesus
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 as a daily step pride
00:36:53 --> 00:37:06 halt to win
00:37:06 --> 00:37:06 okay
00:37:06 --> 00:37:09 thank you
00:37:09 --> 00:37:09 finally
00:37:09 --> 00:37:13 free and