Your Word is Truth
Series: Your Word is Truth
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 5th May 2024
Passages:
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Well, good morning everyone, great to be in church with you this morning.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 Let me pose you with a bunch of questions as we kick off this series.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:07 Is the Bible true?
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 I'm not asking if there is truth in it,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:18 say the way that there is truth in Moby Dick or Plato's Republic
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 or the Lord of the Rings.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 Aspects of truth can be found virtually everywhere.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:29 What I'm asking is this, is the Bible completely true?
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 All of it.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:35 Is it so trustworthy then all that it teaches
00:00:35 --> 00:00:41 that it can function as the test of all other claims to truth?
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 That's a quote from John Piper's book, A Peculiar Glory.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:51 A phenomenal book if you want to investigate further these particular issues,
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 which Dan and I are currently reading through at the moment.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 It's a fantastic book.
00:00:56 --> 00:01:02 Those are great questions that all of us sit somewhere
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 with the answers to that question.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 All of us sit somewhere to those questions,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:13 even if we're not aware that we're sitting somewhere with those questions.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 In the same way, all of us sit somewhere in reality to gravity,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 even if we've never thought about it.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:24 All of us sit somewhere in response to those questions.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 Some of us, no, of course not.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:30 Some of us, well, it sort of contains some truth
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 and some other things which are a little bit confusing
00:01:32 --> 00:01:36 or a bit things for a bit, for, you know, a day once upon a time.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 And some of us say, well, it's entirely true.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 It's completely the word of God
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 because that's what we're being brought up to hear and believe.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:50 And yet, rarely pick it up.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 That is, functionally, we might agree that it's true
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 and yet operationally in our day-to-day existence,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 it's clearly not true, has no relevance to our lives.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:07 And I make that point carefully, but also intentionally.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:15 I've been a pastor now for more than 25 years
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 in churches that will be characterised
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 as what you would call Bible-believing churches.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 And in every single Bible-believing church that I've been in,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:27 including this one for 15 years,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:31 I have always struggled to get people to pick up their Bibles.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 When I say, open your Bibles now,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 this is what happens.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 No one reaches for one.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:50 And it happens again and again and again and again and again.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 Or when we're arguing about a particular point,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 when I say arguing, I mean in discussing a particular point,
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 very few people will reference the Scriptures in their life
00:03:01 --> 00:03:02 to make their point.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 So we might declare that the Bible is true,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:12 but how really true is it to us in day-to-day
00:03:12 --> 00:03:16 in our actual relationship with God?
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 Now, the thrust of this particular series on the Bible
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 is that yes, it is.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:27 The Bible is completely true in its entirety.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:28 I'm going to get there in a moment.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 But that has not always been my view.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 Last Tuesday, that is less than a week ago,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 was the 31st anniversary of me becoming a Christian.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 I was 23 years old.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 I grew up in a God-fearing family
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 with a long heritage in Christian things.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 Some of my earliest memories were associated
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 with doing things like the kids are out there doing now
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 in kids' church.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 The Bible, if you like, was an ever-present reality.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 There were Bible verses, you know,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:13 you know, on walls, you know,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 like in frames and things, you know,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 things like that.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 The Bible was an ever-present reality.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 I was encouraged to read it and to know it.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 And I, before I became a Christian,
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 I had read through it several times.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 On the most part, I found it confusing.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:43 On the most part, I couldn't reconcile
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 what I would perceive as being inconsistencies.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 But I feared the consequences of not reading it
00:04:51 --> 00:04:55 and not doing my best to try to obey it.
00:04:55 --> 00:05:00 And so it was one of those duties,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 arduous duties to read the Bible
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 and to skim through it, you know,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 like with the mentality,
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 a chapter a day keeps the devil away kind of thing.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 This led to a very frustrating life of uncertainty
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 and a lack of clarity.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 And that frustration for me boiled over
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 in my early 20s,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 where I recall specifically
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 praying to God,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 if you exist at all
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 and this Bible is true,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 as I've been told,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 then I need you to show me.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 I need you to reveal yourself to me
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 because frankly, I'm fed up.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 If you exist, make it clear.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 Otherwise, I'm entirely changing tact in my life
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 and going somewhere else.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:57 That was in my very early 20s.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 Then it eventually happened to me
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 one Friday night,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 Friday evening,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 sitting in a shed in Katoomba,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 31st of April,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 31 years ago, 1993.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:17 I can't describe to you what happened.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 I wasn't looking for it.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:22 Didn't think I even needed it in many ways.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 But I knew it happened when it happened.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 It changed the whole course of my life.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 And here I am, 31 years later,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 looking back on that event,
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 not being able to understand it in the time,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 but over time,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 I've come to realise what's happened,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 what happened to me.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 What I didn't know at that time
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 was that prior to 31 years ago,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 I had a bunch of details and facts
00:06:55 --> 00:06:59 about God,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 about Jesus.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:06 I could even argue some of those facts and details.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 What I did not have
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 was sight.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 I couldn't see the glory,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 the beauty,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 the majesty,
00:07:19 --> 00:07:19 the wonder
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 of those facts and details.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 I knew that Jesus was significant.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 I knew that he was a key factor.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:28 In fact,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 I would argue at that point
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 that he was the son of God.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 But I never saw the beauty
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 or the majesty of that
00:07:36 --> 00:07:40 and what it meant for me.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 And so increasingly so
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 over the past three decades,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:51 I've been gifted by God
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 to see more and more glory
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 and majesty
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 What happened to me on that
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 first night
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 31 years ago
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 is that up until that point,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 I'd been looking at the Bible
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 as if it was a picture
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 hanging on a wall
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 of a great landscape.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 Marvelling at this thing occasionally,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 walking past it,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 having a gasp,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:18 you know,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 it's a good picture.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:23 And then God,
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 by his spirit,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 31 years ago,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 opened up the landscape
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 and helped me to see
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 that it's actually a window
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 that I'm looking through
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 to see real,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:36 live glory.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 I'm not looking at a masterpiece.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 I'm looking through a window.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 God wants me to see
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 majesty and glory.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 That's what he wants me to see.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 So one of the aims
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 that I want us to do
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 through this series
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 is to awaken us
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 to a passion
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 for the sheer existence
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 of truth.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 And particularly so
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 in a day and age
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 where everything you read
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 and see
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 will tell you
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 that truth does not exist.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:17 truth is what you make it to be.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 Truth is true for you.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 All that is doing
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 is preparing
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 future generations
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 of this country
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 and our society
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 and our world
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 for prison cells.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 As we,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 more and more people,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 individually declare
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 that they can live life
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 any way they choose to be.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 chaos and anarchy
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 is the only thing
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 and we're starting to see
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 in our society already.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 And so to awaken us
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 for the sheer existence
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 of truth
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 and to embrace
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 that truth
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 for our joy.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 So my hope
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 in this series
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 is that we would know
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 and we would see
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 and that we would experience
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 that the God
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 who defines
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 all things,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 the God
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 who has created
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 all things,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 the God
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 who rules
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 all things,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 the God
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 who has
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 worked to save
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 all things,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 that this God
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 throughout all of history
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 has spoken.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 And he has spoken loud
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 and he has spoken clearly
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 and with more authority
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 than any other voice
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 in this world.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:35 and he has spoken
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 clearly and loudly
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 and with authority
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 about every single thing
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 that we face
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 in this world.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 And what he has spoken
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 has been recorded
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 for us
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 in the scriptures.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 So my three points today
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 is God speaks the truth,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 Jesus is the truth,
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 and the truth
00:10:56 --> 00:10:59 is what sets you free.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 So let's take a moment
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 there.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 I want to see
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 the connection
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 between God's word
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 and the authority
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 over our lives.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 So Psalm 119,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 grab your Bibles,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 don't do it out of guilt
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 but I do encourage you
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 to grab your Bibles.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 Turn to Psalm 119,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 James read this out for us.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 Don't feel guilty
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 if you have not got
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 your Bible in front of you.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 Maybe feel somewhat guilty
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 that you didn't actually
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 bring it with you to church.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:30 Salvation
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 is far from the wicked
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 for they do not seek
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 your degrees.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 Your compassion is great,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 O Lord.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 Preserve my life
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 according to your laws.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 Many are the foes
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 who persecute me
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 but I have not turned
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 from your statutes.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 I look on the faithless
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 with loathing
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 for they do not obey
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 your word.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 See how I love
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 your precepts.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 Preserve my life,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 O Lord.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 According to your love,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 all your words
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 are true,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 all your righteous laws
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 are eternal.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 I'm just saying earlier
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 to the team
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 that we get together
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 to pray,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 Psalm 119,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 the entire Psalm 119,
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 the longest chapter
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 in the entire Bible
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 is all about
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 the word of God
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 and all of it
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 except for three verses
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 of 170 something verses,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 all but three
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 make specific reference
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 to God's word.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 Now notice
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 that these verses
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 are therefore
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 are talking about
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 God communicating
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 decrees,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 laws,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 statutes,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 word,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 precepts.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 Then it says
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 in verse 160
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 that what God
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 speaks is true.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 What he speaks
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 is righteous.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 What he speaks
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 is eternal.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:51 The word
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 at the very beginning
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 of verse 160,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 the word
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 all there
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 in its original
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 language
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 which is Hebrew
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 means head.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 The word
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 we got
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 all there
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 in its original
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 language
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 means head.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 It means
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 the head
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 of a body
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 or the head
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 of a river
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 or the head
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 of a tribe
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 or the head
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 of a family
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 or head
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 of a nation.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 Two other places
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 it's used
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 in the Old Testament
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 Exodus 30
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 and Numbers
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 chapter 1
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and both
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 Exodus 30
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 and Numbers 1
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 translate
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 that word
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 their head
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 as census.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 What this verse
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 is saying
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 is that if
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 you took
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 a census
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 a survey
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 of the word
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 of God
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 if you
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 investigate
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 the facts
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 then the
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 conclusion
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 would be
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 that the
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 sum total
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 of the word
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 of God
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 is truth.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 The totality
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 of the Bible
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 is truth.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 Not a truth
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 the truth.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 But notice
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 the second half
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 of verse 160
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 all
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 same word
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 all
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 your righteous
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 laws
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 are
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 eternal.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 That is
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 it's not just
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 the
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 total
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 of it
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 that is
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 truth
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 it's all
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 the individual
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 parts
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 of it
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 that are
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 truth.
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 The census
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 would reveal
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 that the whole
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 and the parts
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 are all
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 truth.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 That is
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 when God
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 speaks
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 truth.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 And what
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 we have
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 here
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 in his
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 word
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 what we
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 have
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 is
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 truth.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 He speaks
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 truth.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 Truth is
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 what God
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 communicates.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 He can
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 only ever
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 communicate
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 that which
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 is true
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 which is
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 right
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 which is
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 eternal.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 And the
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 reason why
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 God's word
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 is ultimate
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 truth
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 is that
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 the overruling
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 and final
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 authority
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 in all
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 things
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 his word
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 is
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 so
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 is
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 such
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 because
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 that
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 God
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 himself
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 is
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 ultimate
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 reality.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 So what
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 he
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 communicates
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 is
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 ultimate
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 reality.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 That is
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 God
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 is
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 absolute.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 There is
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 nothing
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 higher
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 than
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 God.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 There is
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 no one
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 no thing
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 equal
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 with God.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 It's not
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 his opinion
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 against
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 another
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 opinion.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 there was
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 no reality
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 before
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 God.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 It was
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 all
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 void.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 It was
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 all
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 formless.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 God
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 we are
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 told
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 is from
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 everlasting
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 to everlasting.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 No
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 beginning
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 no end.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 He stands
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 outside of
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 all things
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 created.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 Never
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 beginning
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 never
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 ending
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 never
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 becoming
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 never
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 improving
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 simply
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 and
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 absolutely
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 there to
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 be dealt
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 with on
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 his
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 terms
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 or
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 not
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 at
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 all.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 The
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 one
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 who
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 never
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 had
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 a
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 beginning
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 but
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 always
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 was
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 and
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 is
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 and
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 will
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 be
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 he's
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 the
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 one
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 who
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 creates
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 all
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 things.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 He's
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 the
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 one
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 who
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 defines
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 all
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 things.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 When
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 God
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 speaks
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 the
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 Bible
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 when
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 God
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 speaks
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 through
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 the
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 word
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 he's
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 not
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 interpreting
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 history
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 for
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 us.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 He
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 is
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 creating
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 history
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 when
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 he
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 speaks.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:27 therefore
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 what
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 matters
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 above
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 all
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 things
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 in
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 life
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 is
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 this
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 God.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 I
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 cannot
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 escape
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 the
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 simple
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 and
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 obvious
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 truth
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 that
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 God
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 must
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 be
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 the
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 main
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 thing
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 in
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 life
00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 because
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 he
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 defines
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 all
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 things.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 That
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 means
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 that
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 this
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 gathering
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 right
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 now
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 has
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 to
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 do
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 with
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 God
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 because
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 life
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 has
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 to
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 do
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 with
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 God
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 and
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 the
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 life
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 has
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 to
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 do
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 with
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 God
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 because
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 all
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 of
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 the
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 universe
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 has
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 to
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 do
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 with
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 God
00:16:57 --> 00:17:00 because
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 every
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 atom
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 and
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 every
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 emotion
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 and
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 every
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 soul
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 of
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 every
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 angelic
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 and
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 demonic
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 and
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 human
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 being
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 belongs
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 to
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 God
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 the
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 one
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 who
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 absolutely
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 is.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 You
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 and I
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 are
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 defined
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 by
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 our
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 experiences
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 and
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 by
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 our
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 connection
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 to
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 things.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 I
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 have
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 a
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 mom
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 and
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 a
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 dad.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 I
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 have
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 a
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 wife.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 I
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 have
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 children.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 I
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 have
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 a
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 job.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 I
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 wear
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 particular
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 clothes.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 I
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 live
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 in
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 a
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 particular
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 area.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 God
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 exists
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 beyond
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 all
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 other
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 definitions.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 He
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 stands
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 outside
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 of
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 everything
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 that's
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 created.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 as
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 Romans
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 11
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 36
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 says
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 from
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 him
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 and
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 through
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 him
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 and
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 to
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 him
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 are
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 all
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 things
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 to
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 him
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 be
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 glory
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 forever.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 Reality
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 is
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 created,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 it is
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 determined,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 it is
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 defined
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 by God
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 and
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 truth
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 is the
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 communication
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 of
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 that
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 reality,
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 the
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 display
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 of
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 that
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 reality.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 reality.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 It
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 is
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 the
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 way
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 things
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 actually
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 are.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 For
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 something
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 to be
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 true,
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 it
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 must
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 represent
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 reality.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 If it
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 doesn't
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 represent
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 reality,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 what we
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 call that
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 nowadays
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 is a
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 myth
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 or we
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 call it
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 a lie.
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 When
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 God
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 speaks,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 he
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 reveals
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 reality
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 because
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 he
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 is
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 reality.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 Left to
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 our own
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 devices,
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 we would
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 have no
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 ability
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 to discover
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 reality
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 and truth.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 But
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 God
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 is the
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 one who
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 has
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 revealed
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 the way
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 things
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 simply
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 are.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 The
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 one who
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 is
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 inapproachable,
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 exists
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 outside of
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 us,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 not
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 defined
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 by us,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 has
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 come to
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 us and
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 revealed
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 himself
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 to
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 us.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 And
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 that's
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 my
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 second
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 point.
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 The
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 place
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 where
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 reality
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 and
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 the
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 communication
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 of
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 reality
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 or the
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 representation
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 of
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 reality
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 come
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 together
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 in the
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 most
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 profound
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 way
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 is in
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 the
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 person
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 of
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 Jesus
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 Christ.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Firstly,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 because
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 Jesus
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 himself
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 speaks
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 truth.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 Jesus
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 says
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 this
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 in
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 John
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 18
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 verse
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 37,
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 for
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 this
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 I
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 came
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 into
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 the
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 world
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 to
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 testify
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 to
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 the
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 truth.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 Everyone
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 on the
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 side
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 of
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 truth
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 listens
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 to
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 me.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 Jesus
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 is saying
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 there that
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 he speaks
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 truth.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 He came
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 to testify
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 to truth.
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 If you
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 want to
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 know
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 truth,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 what he
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 says
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 there is
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 you
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 must
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 listen
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 to
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 me.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 You
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 want to
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 know
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 reality,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 you
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 want to
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 know the
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 way
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 things
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 are,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 you
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 must
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 listen
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 to
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 me.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 But
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 what he
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 says
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 a little
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 bit
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 later in
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 John
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 14
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 verse
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 6
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 is
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 even
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 more
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 profound.
00:20:02 --> 00:20:13 He
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 says
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 not
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 that
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 he
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 just
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 speaks
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 what
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 is
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 true,
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 but
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 that
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 he
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 is
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 what
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 is
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 true.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 He
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 is
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 the
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 truth,
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 he
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 is
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 reality,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 he
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 is
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 the
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 way
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 things
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 actually
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 are.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 The
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 most
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 ultimate
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 reason
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 why he
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 could
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 say
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 that
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 he
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 was
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 truth
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 is
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 that
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 he
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 himself
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 is
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 God.
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 And
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 that's
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 what
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 John
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 1
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 affirms
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 for
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 those
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 who
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 were
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 here
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 on
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 Thursday
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 night
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 when
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 I
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 preached
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 on
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 John
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 1.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 In
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 the
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 beginning
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 was
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 the
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 word,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 that
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 is
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 he
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 existed
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 before
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 anything
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 was
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 made.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 The
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 word
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 here
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 is
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 Jesus
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 Christ.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 And
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 the
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 word
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 was
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 with
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 God
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 and
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 the
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 word
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 was
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 God.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 He
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 was
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 with
00:20:56 --> 00:21:05 Now,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 for
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 those
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 who
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 are
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 here
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 on
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 Thursday
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 night,
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 I'm
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 going
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 to
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 say
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 something
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 I
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 said
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 on
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 Thursday
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 night.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 John
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 when
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 he
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 writes
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 this
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 referring
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 to
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 Jesus
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 saying
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 something
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 incredibly
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 profound.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 He
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 refers
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 to
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Jesus
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 as
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 the
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 word.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 In
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 the
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 Greek
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 language
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 it's
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 the
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 word
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 logos.
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 And
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 the
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 word
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 logos
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 in
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 Greek
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 philosophy
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 and
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 Greek
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 life
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 was
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 massive.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 It
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 was
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 a
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 massive
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 word.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 It's
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 a
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 word
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 that
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 means
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 that
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 Greeks
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 believed,
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 the Greek
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 philosophers
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 believed,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 the Greek
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 cultures
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 believed,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 which
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 Western
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 civilization
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 is built
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 on,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 and
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 Eastern
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 civilizations
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 have the
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 same
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 concept,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 that behind
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 the order
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 of the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 universe
00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 is a
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 divine,
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 a being,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 a logic
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 of the
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 universe,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 a structure,
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 a design,
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 of the
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 universe
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 that
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 makes
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 the
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 universe
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 work.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 What
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 John
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 says
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 here
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 is
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 that
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 that
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 logos,
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 that logic
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 of the
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 universe,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 that structure,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 design,
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 that purpose,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 that reason
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 for the
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 universe,
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 is a
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 person.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 And
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 it's
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 Jesus
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 Christ.
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 And
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 down in
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 verse
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 14,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 we see
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 something
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 startling.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 That
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 the
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 word,
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 the
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 logos,
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 became
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 flesh and
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 made his
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 dwelling amongst
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 us.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 We have
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 seen his
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 glory,
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 the glory
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 of the
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 one and
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 only,
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 who came
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 from the
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 Father,
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 full of
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 grace and
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 truth.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 So,
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 who is
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 this word?
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 Who is
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 God?
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 Who is
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 full of
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 grace and
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 truth?
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 Verse 15,
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 John testifies
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 concerning him.
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 He cries out
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 saying,
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 this was he
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 of whom I
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 said,
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 he who
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 comes after
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 me has
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 surpassed
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 me,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 because he
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 was before
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 me.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 From
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 the fullness
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 of his
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 grace,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 we have
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 all received
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 one blessing
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 after another,
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 for the
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 law was
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 given
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 through
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 Moses,
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 grace and
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 truth came
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 through Jesus
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 Christ.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 Jesus
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 doesn't
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 just,
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 he's not
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 just a
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 prophet who
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 speaks God's
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 word with
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 more clarity
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 than other
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 religious leaders
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 and prophets.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 He doesn't
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 just,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 he hasn't
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 just got
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 more things
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18 right than
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 other prophets
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 and religious
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 leaders.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 others.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 He is
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 the truth
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 in itself.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 And only
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 Jesus made
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 that claim
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 of all
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 other major
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 world religions,
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 only Jesus
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 made the
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 claim that
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 I am God
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 and I am
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 the truth.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 All others
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 just said,
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 believe me
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 and I'll
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 point you
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 in the
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 direction
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 of it.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 Jesus
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 is the
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 God of
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 the burning
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 bush in
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 Exodus 3.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 who when
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 asked by
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 Moses,
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 you know,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 God,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 you know,
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 when I
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 get off
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 down to
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 Egypt to
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 tell Pharaoh
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 to let my,
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 it'd be great
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 if I've got a
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 name, a
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 reference here,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 you know,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 give me a
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 reference.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 Who do I
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 tell Pharaoh
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 has sent
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 me?
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 And God
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 says to
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 him,
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 I am.
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 How's
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 that helpful?
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 You know,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 I would
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 never imagine
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 saying that
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 to someone.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 I just
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 simply
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 am.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 And so
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 the place
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 where ultimate
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 reality and
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 the representation
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 of ultimate
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 reality come
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 together most
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 profoundly is in
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 the person of
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 Jesus Christ.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 And Jesus
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 himself endorsed
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 the message of
00:24:37 --> 00:24:39 Psalm 119,
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 where all of
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 your words are
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 true and all
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 of your righteous
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 laws are eternal,
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 when he says in
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 Matthew 5,
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 do not think
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 that I've
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 come to
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 abolish the
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 law or the
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 prophets,
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 that is the
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 Old Testament.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 I've not
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 come to
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 abolish them,
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 but to
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 fulfill them.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 I tell you
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 the truth,
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 until heaven
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 and earth
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 disappear,
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 not the
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 smallest
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 letter,
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 not the
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 least stroke
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 of a pen
00:25:01 --> 00:25:04 will by any
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 means disappear
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 from the
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 law until
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 everything is
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 accomplished.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 accomplished.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 And in
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 Luke 24,
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 Jesus is
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 walking the
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 road to
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 Emmaus,
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 and he
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 showed the
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 disciples in
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 that moment
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 how the
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 entire Old
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 Testament
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 pointed to
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 him.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 The Bible,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 as the
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 word of
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 God,
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 is where we
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 have God
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 revealing the
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 way things
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 are.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 The 66
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 books of
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 the Bible,
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 with Jesus
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 at the
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 center,
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 is truth.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 And
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 therefore,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 the authority
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 by which all
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 things are
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 measured.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 The Bible
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 is where God
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 speaks what
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 is real and
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 absolute,
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 and so it
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 is true.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 The Bible
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 is the way
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 God,
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 the ultimate
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 and all
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 important
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 reality,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 reveals himself
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 to us with
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 clarity and
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 authority today.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 The Bible,
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 with his
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 spirit,
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 is how he
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 mediates his
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 presence in
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 his world
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 today.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 And so,
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 if God is
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 more important
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 than anything
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 as the great
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 reality of all
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 things,
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 then the Bible
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 is more important
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 than anything
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 but God.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 What we
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 need to
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 embrace,
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 particularly in
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 a day and
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 age where
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 God's word
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 is mocked
00:26:18 --> 00:26:21 and ridiculed,
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 what we need
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 to embrace and
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 be confident
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 in,
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 is that the
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 whole word
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 of God
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 is truth,
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 and that the
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 Lord Jesus
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 Christ is the
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 center of that
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 truth.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 That the God
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 who made
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 everything,
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 controls
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 everything,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 has a purpose
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 for everything,
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 this God
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 has spoken
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 to us.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 As James
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 read out to
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 us from
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 2 Timothy,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 all scripture
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 is God
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 breathed and
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 is useful for
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 teaching,
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 rebuking,
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 correcting,
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 and training
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 in righteousness.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 In what he
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 has revealed,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 we are not
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 left without a
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 knowledge of
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 his will.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 We are not
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 left with a
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 knowledge of
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 him at,
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 sorry, we are
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 left with a
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 knowledge of
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 work in the
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 world.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:05 we are not
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 left without
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 wisdom.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 We are not
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 left without a
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 revelation of
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 the way of
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 salvation.
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 And this,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 my friends,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 is absolutely
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 priceless.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 Absolutely
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 priceless.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 If we could
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 awaken in our
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 hearts and
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 minds of the
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 confidence that
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 this is so,
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 just imagine
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 how we would
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 navigate our
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 lives.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 Just imagine
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 how we would
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 navigate the
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 complexity of
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 life in this
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 world.
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 The implication
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 for our lives
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 would be
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 countless and
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 viable.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 The Bible is
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 God's provision
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 for us and
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 it is sufficient
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 for all that
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 we need to
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 know in life
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 and salvation.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 Every single
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 thing we face
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 in life is
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 touched by the
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 Bible.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 It is either
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 directly touched
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 because it is
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 in the Bible
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 or indirectly
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 touched because
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 the Bible
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 shapes all the
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 attitudes and
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 the criteria in
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 which we deal
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 with it.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 the Bible
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 ought to be
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 the sun in
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 the solar
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 system of
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 all of our
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 learning in
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 his world.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 It gives
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 light, it
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 gives perspective,
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 it gives
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 meaning.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 It will not
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 be just one
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 book among
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 many books
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 in our
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 shelves, it
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 will be the
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 central book.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 Every idea
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 that we face
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 in the world
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 will be judged
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 by this book.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 This book
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 must be known
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 first and
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 known better
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 than all
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 other books
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 and ideas
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 and information.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 and the
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 whole aim,
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 the whole
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 aim in
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 knowing our
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 Bibles
00:28:36 --> 00:28:41 is to know
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 the God
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 who has
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 given it
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 to us.
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 Our aim
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 in seeking
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 to see
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 Jesus,
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 to be led
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 to Jesus
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 and being
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 led to him
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 have life.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:56 our concern
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 must be
00:28:58 --> 00:29:00 to enlargen
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 our
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 acquaintance
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 with the
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 God who
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 defines all
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 things,
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 to walk
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 with him
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 day in
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 and day
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 out.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 So one
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 quick tip
00:29:10 --> 00:29:13 from the
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 great
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 J.I.
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 Packer
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 and how
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 to turn
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 our knowledge
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 about God
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 from his
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 word into
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 a knowledge
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 and intimate
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 relationship
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 with God.
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 how to
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 shift from
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 the
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 masterpiece
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 if you
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 like
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 to seeing
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 through a
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 window
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 of a
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 world
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 that's
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 alive
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 and
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 active.
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 I think
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 it's both
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 demanding
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 and simple
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 at the
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 same time
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 but here's
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 the point.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 Turn
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 every
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 truth
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 that we
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 learn
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 about
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 God
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 into
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 a matter
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 of
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 meditation
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 before
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 God
00:29:44 --> 00:29:46 that is
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 with God
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 communication
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 with God
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 leading to
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 obedience
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 of God
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 and prayer
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 and praise
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 to God.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 I'll say
00:29:55 --> 00:29:55 it again
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 turn every
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 truth that
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 we learn
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 about God
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 into a
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 matter of
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 meditation
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 before God
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 leading to
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 obedience
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 of God
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 and prayer
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 and praise
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 to God.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 Meditation
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 is the
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 activity of
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 calling to
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 mind and
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 lingering over
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 and dwelling
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 on and
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 applying to
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 ourselves
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 that what we
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 have engaged
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 with in
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 God's word
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 about the
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 works,
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 the ways,
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 the purposes,
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 the promises
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 and the
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 character of
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 God.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 God
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 and the
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 effect will
00:30:22 --> 00:30:24 be to
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 humble us
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 as we
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 contemplate
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 God's
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 greatness
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 and glory
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 and our
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 own
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 smallness
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 and
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 sinfulness
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 to
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 challenge
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 us,
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 to change
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 us,
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 to encourage
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 us and
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 comfort
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 us and
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 to reassure
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 us as we
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 contemplate the
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 unsearchable
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 riches of
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 God's mercy
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 to us.
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 I said to
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 my community
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 group on
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 Friday night
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 that I'm
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 now into
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 the fourth
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 year of
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 a five-year
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 program to
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 read through
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 the Bible
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 every year,
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 the Old
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 Testament once,
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 New Testament
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 twice,
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 Psalms twice
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 in a year.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 And so I'm
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 up to year
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 number four.
00:30:58 --> 00:31:00 And there's
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 two things
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 that I've
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 gained from
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 it.
00:31:02 --> 00:31:04 One so
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 far is
00:31:05 --> 00:31:08 a sense
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 of the
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 scope,
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 of scripture,
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 of where
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 everything's
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 fitting.
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 I can
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 quickly recall
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 where I've
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 been over
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 the last
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 number of
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 years.
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 But the
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 second profound
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 thing that it's
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 done in terms
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 of changing
00:31:22 --> 00:31:25 me is
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 that I've
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 walked away
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 each year
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 and gone,
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 God is
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 just bigger
00:31:30 --> 00:31:32 and bigger
00:31:32 --> 00:31:34 and bigger
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 and I am
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 smaller and
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 smaller and
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 smaller.
00:31:38 --> 00:31:40 for my
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 joy.
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 I've
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 said to
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 the guys
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 on Friday
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 night,
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 I can tell
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 you one
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 thing that's
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 changed in
00:31:46 --> 00:31:46 me.
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 Having read
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 through the
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 scriptures so
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 much in the
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 last four
00:31:51 --> 00:31:53 years, I am
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 so much more
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 settled than I've
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 ever been in
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 life.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 So much more
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 settled,
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 more content,
00:32:00 --> 00:32:04 consciously so.
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 Not anxious,
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 consciously so.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 And that's
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 because the
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 truth sets
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 us free.
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 And that's
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 why I want to
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 encourage you to
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 pick up your
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 Bibles, because
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 the truth sets
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 us free.
00:32:25 --> 00:32:27 Jesus said,
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 and another
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 astounding thing
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 in John's
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 Gospel,
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 chapter 8,
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 if you hold
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 to my teaching,
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 you are really
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 my disciples,
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 and then you
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 will know the
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 truth, and the
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 truth will set
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 you free.
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 Know Jesus,
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 and you know
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 true freedom.
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 The reason why
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 this is so
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 important,
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 because in our
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 day and age,
00:32:48 --> 00:32:50 the culture that
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 we're marinating
00:32:51 --> 00:32:53 in, a
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 culture that
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 wants to get
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 rid of any
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 absolute truth
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 claims, doesn't
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 matter who it
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 is.
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 I mean, you
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 probably heard
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 the statement,
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 there is no
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 absolute truth
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 out there by
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 which we must
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 live our lives
00:33:06 --> 00:33:06 by.
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 The irony is
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 that itself a
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 statement is a
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 statement of
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 absolute truth in
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 itself.
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 That's an
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 irony, but let's
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 leave that to
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 one side.
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 Why don't I
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 pick that for
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 the time being?
00:33:16 --> 00:33:20 But the
00:33:20 --> 00:33:22 reason why our
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 culture says
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 there's no
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 absolute truth
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 is because of
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 the assumption
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 that any
00:33:27 --> 00:33:29 truth claim,
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 absolute truth
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 claim, results
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 in oppression.
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 It oppresses
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 others.
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 And I want to
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 say the truth
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 claim that Jesus
00:33:39 --> 00:33:41 is the truth,
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 the way, the
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 truth, and the
00:33:42 --> 00:33:44 life is a
00:33:44 --> 00:33:44 truth that sets
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 you free.
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 And therefore,
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 we should pursue
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 it.
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 no Jesus
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 and no
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 freedom.
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 There is no
00:33:53 --> 00:33:55 freedom, ironically,
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 outside of
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 Jesus.
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 The person who
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 says there is no
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 absolute truth
00:34:00 --> 00:34:03 and I am the
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 full determiner of
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 my truth,
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 you are not
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 free.
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 You have
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 lumbered
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 yourself with a
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 burden that it's
00:34:11 --> 00:34:13 impossible for you
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 to carry the
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 weight of,
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 to determine
00:34:16 --> 00:34:18 yourself how the
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 world should
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 work.
00:34:20 --> 00:34:23 Jesus promises
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 here the very
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 thing that we
00:34:25 --> 00:34:25 are striving in
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 our secular
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 individual society,
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 striving to
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 achieve.
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 I take it that
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 every single
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 person in this
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 room wants to
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 be free in the
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 deepest, fullest
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 sense.
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 If the opposite
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 is bondage and
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 slavery, no one
00:34:39 --> 00:34:39 wants to go
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 there.
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 Although it's
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 possible to be
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 enslaved to some
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 habits that are
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 very pleasurable in
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 the sense that it's
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 possible to love
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 your slavery,
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 even so, all of
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 us would rather be
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 happy in freedom
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 rather than a
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 slave to pleasant
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 addictions.
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 We all want to be
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 truly free.
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 And Jesus makes
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 this walloping
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 statement, if you
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 hold to my
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 teaching, you are
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 really my
00:35:07 --> 00:35:09 disciples and then
00:35:09 --> 00:35:09 you will know the
00:35:09 --> 00:35:11 truth and the
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 truth will set you
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 free.
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 free.
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 And the people
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 answered him, just
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 as some of us
00:35:18 --> 00:35:18 might do right
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 now, what are you
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 talking about,
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 Jesus?
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 I'm not a slave to
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 anyone.
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 I'm completely
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 free.
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 That's what they
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 said, we are
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 Abraham's descendants
00:35:27 --> 00:35:29 have never been
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 slaves of anyone.
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 How can you say
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 that you're going to
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 set us free?
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 I mean, the irony of
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 that statement is
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 they'd hardly ever
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 known a time when
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 they were not
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 enslaved to someone.
00:35:38 --> 00:35:42 They're thinking
00:35:42 --> 00:35:42 about just one
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 aspect of freedom,
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 but Jesus is
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 thinking about
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 something entirely
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 different and he
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 immediately clarifies,
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 I tell you the
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 truth, everyone
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 who sins is a
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 slave to sin.
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 That's the
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 walloping statement
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 right there.
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 It would take
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 ages to unpack
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 the implications of
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 that for us.
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 But to put it
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 briefly, Jesus is
00:36:02 --> 00:36:04 saying that everyone
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 sins and therefore
00:36:05 --> 00:36:07 everyone is
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 enslaved.
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 to sin.
00:36:12 --> 00:36:14 This means that
00:36:14 --> 00:36:16 sin is not just
00:36:16 --> 00:36:18 a bad act, it
00:36:18 --> 00:36:20 is a power over
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 our hearts and
00:36:21 --> 00:36:22 over our lives
00:36:22 --> 00:36:24 that makes us do
00:36:24 --> 00:36:26 bad acts and sets
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 us against God
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 and other people.
00:36:30 --> 00:36:31 There are many
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 kinds of freedoms
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 that we can make
00:36:33 --> 00:36:34 for ourselves, but
00:36:34 --> 00:36:35 we cannot make
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 this freedom for
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 ourselves.
00:36:38 --> 00:36:47 sin enslave us
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 by making anything
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 look more
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 desirable than
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 knowing Jesus.
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 It also
00:36:52 --> 00:36:53 enslaves us
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 by eventually
00:36:54 --> 00:36:55 damning us
00:36:55 --> 00:36:59 and it will enslave
00:36:59 --> 00:37:00 us into hell
00:37:00 --> 00:37:02 until someone or
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 something intervenes.
00:37:03 --> 00:37:06 Jesus says in
00:37:06 --> 00:37:08 verse 36, if the
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 son sets you
00:37:09 --> 00:37:11 free, you will
00:37:11 --> 00:37:11 be free indeed.
00:37:12 --> 00:37:13 The son who is
00:37:13 --> 00:37:14 Jesus, who is the
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 truth in verse
00:37:15 --> 00:37:17 32, is the one who
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 sets us free.
00:37:20 --> 00:37:21 He frees us from the
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 damnation of slavery
00:37:22 --> 00:37:24 by becoming damned
00:37:24 --> 00:37:26 for us in his death
00:37:26 --> 00:37:28 on the cross as our
00:37:28 --> 00:37:28 substitute.
00:37:28 --> 00:37:30 He frees us from the
00:37:30 --> 00:37:32 dominion of a sin
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 over our hearts by
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 changing our hearts
00:37:34 --> 00:37:37 to see him as more
00:37:37 --> 00:37:39 desirable than
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 anything.
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 So that we are free
00:37:42 --> 00:37:43 to truly love him and
00:37:43 --> 00:37:44 free to love others.
00:37:46 --> 00:37:49 Only Jesus, the son of
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 God who came, died and
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 rose for us, can set us
00:37:51 --> 00:37:52 free and make us happy
00:37:52 --> 00:37:52 forever.
00:37:52 --> 00:37:56 If Jesus sets you
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 free, you'll be free
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 indeed.
00:37:59 --> 00:38:01 And unbeknownst to me,
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 that's what happened to
00:38:01 --> 00:38:03 me 31 years ago.
00:38:04 --> 00:38:06 For the very first time
00:38:06 --> 00:38:08 in my life, it's like
00:38:08 --> 00:38:10 God moved the
00:38:10 --> 00:38:12 masterpiece and helped
00:38:12 --> 00:38:15 me gaze to the window
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 that it was hiding.
00:38:16 --> 00:38:22 The landscape showed
00:38:22 --> 00:38:23 me the reality that
00:38:23 --> 00:38:24 was behind it, a God
00:38:24 --> 00:38:25 who was behind it.
00:38:28 --> 00:38:29 I want to say that
00:38:29 --> 00:38:31 31 years ago, I
00:38:31 --> 00:38:33 discovered, increasingly
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 so over these past
00:38:34 --> 00:38:36 three decades, that the
00:38:36 --> 00:38:37 Bible was not so much
00:38:37 --> 00:38:39 an instruction manual on
00:38:39 --> 00:38:42 how to live life as a
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 letter that revealed a
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 good and majestic and
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 beautiful and glorious
00:38:45 --> 00:38:46 God.
00:38:46 --> 00:38:49 It is a letter to us
00:38:49 --> 00:38:50 from the creator of the
00:38:50 --> 00:38:51 universe.
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 In that sense, the
00:38:53 --> 00:38:55 Bible is deeply,
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 deeply personal.
00:38:58 --> 00:39:00 It is designed to
00:39:00 --> 00:39:02 deeply connect us to the
00:39:02 --> 00:39:04 heart and the mind of
00:39:04 --> 00:39:04 the writer.
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 So friends, let me just
00:39:10 --> 00:39:12 say, for those of you
00:39:12 --> 00:39:13 who are Christian,
00:39:13 --> 00:39:17 Christian, we have no
00:39:17 --> 00:39:19 sure sight of God's
00:39:19 --> 00:39:20 excellencies, his
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 beauty, his majesty,
00:39:22 --> 00:39:25 his wonder, except
00:39:25 --> 00:39:28 through the word, the
00:39:28 --> 00:39:29 Bible.
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 When we pick up the
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 Bible in our daily
00:39:34 --> 00:39:36 devotions or study it in
00:39:36 --> 00:39:37 our community groups or
00:39:37 --> 00:39:38 hear it preach, the
00:39:38 --> 00:39:39 church or youth group,
00:39:39 --> 00:39:41 we are dealing with the
00:39:41 --> 00:39:43 creator of the universe
00:39:43 --> 00:39:45 and the book that he
00:39:45 --> 00:39:47 inspired as a gift for
00:39:47 --> 00:39:48 all peoples of the
00:39:48 --> 00:39:51 world, that we might
00:39:51 --> 00:39:54 know the truth, him the
00:39:54 --> 00:39:57 truth, the only one who
00:39:57 --> 00:39:58 can set us free.
00:39:58 --> 00:40:02 to know the God of all
00:40:02 --> 00:40:04 truth, to see and
00:40:04 --> 00:40:06 savour the God of all
00:40:06 --> 00:40:08 truth, to delight in the
00:40:08 --> 00:40:09 God of all truth.
00:40:11 --> 00:40:12 Not just simply an
00:40:12 --> 00:40:14 artwork on a wall to be
00:40:14 --> 00:40:15 marvelled as we walk by,
00:40:16 --> 00:40:18 occasionally stare at, but
00:40:18 --> 00:40:19 mostly just have a general
00:40:19 --> 00:40:22 presence around, but to
00:40:22 --> 00:40:24 have the window opened to
00:40:24 --> 00:40:25 reality.
00:40:25 --> 00:40:30 to see the God behind
00:40:30 --> 00:40:31 all things.
00:40:35 --> 00:40:36 I know of no greater
00:40:36 --> 00:40:40 quest in life than to
00:40:40 --> 00:40:43 search it, to know it,
00:40:44 --> 00:40:46 and in knowing it, in
00:40:46 --> 00:40:48 increasing measure, seeing
00:40:48 --> 00:40:51 the beauty and worth and
00:40:51 --> 00:40:55 glory and majesty of the
00:40:55 --> 00:41:00 God who is true, who is
00:41:00 --> 00:41:02 true and who wants to be
00:41:02 --> 00:41:05 known and can be known in
00:41:05 --> 00:41:05 increasing measure.