1 00:00:05,411 --> 00:00:07,108 If you'll open your Bibles 2 00:00:07,108 --> 00:00:11,920 to the book of Colossians again. 3 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:23,664 We just sang that redeeming love is our theme. 4 00:00:23,664 --> 00:00:25,241 And if that's true, 5 00:00:25,241 --> 00:00:30,257 it will be reflected in our lives. 6 00:00:30,257 --> 00:00:36,455 We're going to look at Colossians 3:12-14. 7 00:00:36,455 --> 00:00:42,681 It says, "Put on then, 8 00:00:42,681 --> 00:00:46,762 as God's chosen ones, 9 00:00:46,762 --> 00:00:50,119 holy and beloved, 10 00:00:50,119 --> 00:00:52,682 compassionate hearts, 11 00:00:52,682 --> 00:00:54,507 kindness, 12 00:00:54,507 --> 00:00:56,337 humility, 13 00:00:56,337 --> 00:00:57,872 meekness, 14 00:00:57,872 --> 00:01:00,067 patience, 15 00:01:00,067 --> 00:01:02,354 bearing with one another, 16 00:01:02,354 --> 00:01:05,521 and if one has a complaint against another 17 00:01:05,521 --> 00:01:07,570 forgiving each other, 18 00:01:07,570 --> 00:01:11,051 as the Lord has forgiven you, 19 00:01:11,051 --> 00:01:14,085 you also must forgive. 20 00:01:14,085 --> 00:01:17,371 And above all these, put on love, 21 00:01:17,371 --> 00:01:20,733 which binds everything together 22 00:01:20,733 --> 00:01:24,889 in perfect harmony." 23 00:01:24,889 --> 00:01:28,624 As I mentioned yesterday in Colossians 3, 24 00:01:28,624 --> 00:01:31,345 Paul has transitioned as he does 25 00:01:31,345 --> 00:01:33,157 in the book of Ephesians, 26 00:01:33,157 --> 00:01:34,874 from out of the doctrines 27 00:01:34,874 --> 00:01:37,533 and into the living out of these doctrines 28 00:01:37,533 --> 00:01:39,963 in our lives. 29 00:01:39,963 --> 00:01:42,576 Living the Christian life. 30 00:01:42,576 --> 00:01:44,667 Again, he is speaking of living a life 31 00:01:44,667 --> 00:01:47,408 that is consistent with the Gospel 32 00:01:47,408 --> 00:01:49,409 of Jesus Christ. 33 00:01:49,409 --> 00:01:51,840 And I want us to know that the only hope 34 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,479 anyone in here has 35 00:01:53,479 --> 00:01:55,574 of living a life consistent 36 00:01:55,574 --> 00:01:58,199 with the Gospel of Jesus Christ 37 00:01:58,199 --> 00:02:00,288 is that verse 1 of chapter 3 38 00:02:00,288 --> 00:02:02,493 is a reality for your life, 39 00:02:02,493 --> 00:02:03,609 and look at it with me. 40 00:02:03,609 --> 00:02:10,046 "If then you have been raised with Christ..." 41 00:02:10,046 --> 00:02:13,836 If you've been raised with Christ. 42 00:02:13,836 --> 00:02:17,955 So let's begin there first. 43 00:02:17,955 --> 00:02:22,078 Have you been raised with Christ? 44 00:02:22,078 --> 00:02:26,077 Are you a new creation in Jesus Christ? 45 00:02:26,077 --> 00:02:27,315 That is so much more 46 00:02:27,315 --> 00:02:29,692 than knowing who Jesus Christ is; 47 00:02:29,692 --> 00:02:31,099 knowing about Christ 48 00:02:31,099 --> 00:02:33,599 or even affirming doctrines about Christ. 49 00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:36,090 It is a supernatural work of God 50 00:02:36,090 --> 00:02:39,374 where He literally makes us new creations. 51 00:02:39,374 --> 00:02:41,155 He takes out our heart. 52 00:02:41,155 --> 00:02:42,577 He puts in a new heart; 53 00:02:42,577 --> 00:02:44,201 puts His Spirit within us, 54 00:02:44,201 --> 00:02:48,849 and then we walk in the newness of that life. 55 00:02:48,849 --> 00:02:50,988 Having been raised with Him. 56 00:02:50,988 --> 00:02:54,786 A new direction of life. 57 00:02:54,786 --> 00:02:58,025 And it's not morality. 58 00:02:58,025 --> 00:03:01,523 It's not morality. 59 00:03:01,525 --> 00:03:08,854 Do you bear the evidence of a new life? 60 00:03:08,854 --> 00:03:11,093 Brother Tim asked the question yesterday. 61 00:03:11,093 --> 00:03:15,938 Is your chief desire Christ? 62 00:03:15,938 --> 00:03:20,222 His glory? 63 00:03:20,222 --> 00:03:21,234 Brothers and sisters, 64 00:03:21,234 --> 00:03:22,993 without the work of the Holy Spirit 65 00:03:22,993 --> 00:03:25,240 in your heart and a new Spirit within us, 66 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:29,046 there's no hope of living this Christian life. 67 00:03:29,046 --> 00:03:31,623 There's no hope. 68 00:03:31,623 --> 00:03:33,390 Now, there's a very important truth 69 00:03:33,390 --> 00:03:35,881 taught through all of Scripture. 70 00:03:35,881 --> 00:03:37,614 And the important truth is this: 71 00:03:37,614 --> 00:03:39,232 That every person, 72 00:03:39,232 --> 00:03:40,784 saved and unsaved, 73 00:03:40,784 --> 00:03:44,749 lives out of their heart. 74 00:03:44,749 --> 00:03:46,943 The Bible speaks so much about your heart 75 00:03:46,943 --> 00:03:49,159 and the living out of your heart. 76 00:03:49,159 --> 00:03:51,528 And if you remember in Matthew 15, 77 00:03:51,528 --> 00:03:53,245 when the Pharisees are coming 78 00:03:53,245 --> 00:03:55,079 to Jesus' disciples and they say, 79 00:03:55,079 --> 00:03:56,612 Hey, you didn't wash your hands 80 00:03:56,612 --> 00:03:57,670 before you eat. 81 00:03:57,670 --> 00:04:00,369 And Jesus says, don't you know that it's not what goes 82 00:04:00,369 --> 00:04:04,157 into the body that defiles a man, but what comes out of the body? 83 00:04:04,157 --> 00:04:05,780 And He says, for out of the heart 84 00:04:05,780 --> 00:04:09,746 proceed evil thoughts: 85 00:04:09,746 --> 00:04:12,704 murder, adultery, sexual immorality, 86 00:04:12,704 --> 00:04:16,777 theft, false witness, and slander. 87 00:04:16,777 --> 00:04:18,736 And what's He teaching us there? 88 00:04:18,736 --> 00:04:21,988 That we live out of the heart. 89 00:04:21,988 --> 00:04:24,376 That we live out of our hearts. 90 00:04:24,376 --> 00:04:25,564 And for us as Christians, 91 00:04:25,564 --> 00:04:29,217 God has given us a new heart - 92 00:04:29,217 --> 00:04:30,681 A new heart that responds; 93 00:04:30,681 --> 00:04:33,098 that has the ability to respond 94 00:04:33,098 --> 00:04:34,081 in obedience, 95 00:04:34,081 --> 00:04:35,531 and with the new heart came 96 00:04:35,531 --> 00:04:36,878 new desires - 97 00:04:36,878 --> 00:04:38,249 a desire to live for God 98 00:04:38,249 --> 00:04:41,189 and to bring glory to His name. 99 00:04:41,189 --> 00:04:44,052 So if Paul knows that we live out of our hearts, 100 00:04:44,052 --> 00:04:45,759 and he's calling us here to live 101 00:04:45,759 --> 00:04:49,234 this Christian life, 102 00:04:49,234 --> 00:04:51,369 then it's important where our hearts are at 103 00:04:51,369 --> 00:04:55,009 if we're going to live this Christian life. 104 00:04:55,009 --> 00:04:58,295 I think the beginning of v. 12 105 00:04:58,295 --> 00:05:06,887 is the key to living out v. 12-14. 106 00:05:06,887 --> 00:05:11,134 The beginning of v. 12, 107 00:05:11,134 --> 00:05:13,823 Paul's going to work into our hearts 108 00:05:13,823 --> 00:05:15,750 a remembrance of the Gospel and grace 109 00:05:15,750 --> 00:05:18,750 of Jesus Christ. 110 00:05:18,750 --> 00:05:21,150 And he wants us to live in light of 111 00:05:21,150 --> 00:05:24,682 that Gospel and that grace. 112 00:05:24,682 --> 00:05:26,600 Paul here is calling us to live 113 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:30,413 Gospel-centered lives. 114 00:05:30,413 --> 00:05:32,082 Think about that. 115 00:05:32,082 --> 00:05:35,705 Gospel-centered relationships 116 00:05:35,705 --> 00:05:37,912 here in the church, 117 00:05:37,912 --> 00:05:40,008 where I don't treat you 118 00:05:40,008 --> 00:05:41,836 based on how you deserve, 119 00:05:41,836 --> 00:05:43,611 but rather I treat you based on 120 00:05:43,611 --> 00:05:47,727 how He treated me in the Gospel. 121 00:05:47,727 --> 00:05:49,946 That's what Paul's calling us to. 122 00:05:49,946 --> 00:05:52,207 A Gospel-centered relationship 123 00:05:52,207 --> 00:06:00,438 here in the assembly of His people. 124 00:06:00,438 --> 00:06:02,938 Paul's going to motivate and empower us, 125 00:06:02,938 --> 00:06:05,829 so look at the beginning of v. 12 with me. 126 00:06:05,829 --> 00:06:08,866 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, 127 00:06:08,866 --> 00:06:12,722 holy and beloved..." 128 00:06:12,722 --> 00:06:14,143 Now, for time's sake, 129 00:06:14,143 --> 00:06:18,404 I won't be able to hit all of v. 12-14. 130 00:06:18,404 --> 00:06:20,284 So if you'll allow me some liberty 131 00:06:20,284 --> 00:06:22,567 to focus on just a few of the words 132 00:06:22,567 --> 00:06:26,137 in the text to get through it today. 133 00:06:26,137 --> 00:06:29,291 The first thing Paul says is 134 00:06:29,291 --> 00:06:34,330 you're chosen by God. 135 00:06:34,330 --> 00:06:41,550 You're elect of God. 136 00:06:41,550 --> 00:06:44,420 Now, how does that motivate 137 00:06:44,420 --> 00:06:47,475 and empower us to be compassionate, 138 00:06:47,475 --> 00:06:52,198 kind, forgiving, and loving? 139 00:06:52,198 --> 00:06:53,584 And brothers and sisters, 140 00:06:53,584 --> 00:06:55,298 this is where your understanding 141 00:06:55,298 --> 00:07:00,958 of election becomes extremely practical. 142 00:07:00,958 --> 00:07:03,108 Not just something to sit in rooms 143 00:07:03,108 --> 00:07:05,231 and debate about. 144 00:07:05,231 --> 00:07:07,555 But this is where how you understand 145 00:07:07,555 --> 00:07:09,193 the doctrine of election - 146 00:07:09,193 --> 00:07:11,813 the sovereignty of God in salvation 147 00:07:11,813 --> 00:07:14,468 becomes extremely street-level, 148 00:07:14,468 --> 00:07:16,181 practical in the living out 149 00:07:16,181 --> 00:07:17,578 of the Christian life. 150 00:07:17,578 --> 00:07:19,738 And Paul here is pointing to it 151 00:07:19,738 --> 00:07:22,173 as a motivation and an empowerment 152 00:07:22,173 --> 00:07:23,472 for you to live this life 153 00:07:23,472 --> 00:07:26,780 He's called you to live. 154 00:07:26,780 --> 00:07:29,053 You see, in the doctrine of election, 155 00:07:29,053 --> 00:07:32,037 this so-called debate - 156 00:07:32,037 --> 00:07:35,529 the argument is not whether God elects. 157 00:07:35,529 --> 00:07:37,264 That's not the argument. 158 00:07:37,264 --> 00:07:38,922 That's not the debate. 159 00:07:38,922 --> 00:07:43,678 The question is the basis of His election. 160 00:07:43,678 --> 00:07:46,383 The question is why does He elect? 161 00:07:46,383 --> 00:07:51,635 Or on what basis does He choose? 162 00:07:51,635 --> 00:07:55,458 I want you to think about something with me. 163 00:07:55,458 --> 00:07:57,518 You have a group - 164 00:07:57,518 --> 00:07:59,642 an Arminian view - 165 00:07:59,642 --> 00:08:01,709 that says and believes, 166 00:08:01,709 --> 00:08:03,764 God elects, 167 00:08:03,764 --> 00:08:06,024 but the reason or the basis He chooses, 168 00:08:06,024 --> 00:08:08,544 or the reason or the basis that He elects 169 00:08:08,544 --> 00:08:12,783 is based on foreseeing choosing of God. 170 00:08:12,783 --> 00:08:14,678 In other words, they believe that God 171 00:08:14,678 --> 00:08:17,649 looks into the future and can see all things, 172 00:08:17,649 --> 00:08:18,970 and He sees that they, 173 00:08:18,970 --> 00:08:20,209 in and of themselves, 174 00:08:20,209 --> 00:08:21,520 will choose Him. 175 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:23,304 And based on them choosing Him, 176 00:08:23,304 --> 00:08:30,191 He now elects them. 177 00:08:30,191 --> 00:08:32,212 So the Arminian argues 178 00:08:32,212 --> 00:08:35,778 the basis of election is conditional. 179 00:08:35,778 --> 00:08:38,266 It's conditional upon that man, that woman 180 00:08:38,266 --> 00:08:43,507 choosing God. 181 00:08:43,507 --> 00:08:44,780 Now, if that's true, 182 00:08:44,780 --> 00:08:47,146 which I do not believe that it is, 183 00:08:47,146 --> 00:08:49,542 but go with the thought for a second. 184 00:08:49,542 --> 00:08:52,737 If that is true, 185 00:08:52,737 --> 00:08:56,436 why in the world would Paul 186 00:08:56,436 --> 00:08:59,951 point to that doctrine there 187 00:08:59,951 --> 00:09:02,879 as a motivation to bring out 188 00:09:02,879 --> 00:09:05,358 humility in you? 189 00:09:05,358 --> 00:09:07,932 To bring out compassion in you? 190 00:09:07,932 --> 00:09:11,806 To bring out love in you? 191 00:09:11,806 --> 00:09:14,615 You see, if the reason I have been chosen 192 00:09:14,615 --> 00:09:17,184 is because I chose God 193 00:09:17,184 --> 00:09:18,845 on my own, 194 00:09:18,845 --> 00:09:22,064 that does not breed humility in me. 195 00:09:22,064 --> 00:09:24,000 It separates me from those 196 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,250 who did not choose 197 00:09:25,250 --> 00:09:26,871 because I chose Him; 198 00:09:26,871 --> 00:09:27,994 I figured it out; 199 00:09:27,994 --> 00:09:29,146 I wanted Him; 200 00:09:29,146 --> 00:09:30,202 I saw my sin; 201 00:09:30,202 --> 00:09:31,636 I understood it more, 202 00:09:31,636 --> 00:09:34,925 and therefore I'm elect. 203 00:09:34,925 --> 00:09:36,914 That's not motivation to bring me 204 00:09:36,914 --> 00:09:38,778 to a place of humility, 205 00:09:38,778 --> 00:09:41,182 of lowliness, of compassion, 206 00:09:41,182 --> 00:09:42,805 of patience with others, 207 00:09:42,805 --> 00:09:44,123 of forgiving of others, 208 00:09:44,123 --> 00:09:46,930 of loving of others. 209 00:09:46,930 --> 00:09:51,005 It doesn't make sense in the context. 210 00:09:51,005 --> 00:09:58,498 But, if the basis of God's election 211 00:09:58,498 --> 00:10:02,215 is not found in me, 212 00:10:02,215 --> 00:10:05,111 but rather in Him; 213 00:10:05,111 --> 00:10:08,028 if the basis of God's election 214 00:10:08,028 --> 00:10:11,157 is grace and mercy, 215 00:10:11,157 --> 00:10:13,613 and the fact that He is love 216 00:10:13,613 --> 00:10:16,954 and in His freedom, He sets that love - 217 00:10:16,954 --> 00:10:19,820 all the people He sets that love on 218 00:10:19,820 --> 00:10:21,472 are hell-deserving sinners. 219 00:10:21,472 --> 00:10:23,251 It's not that He looked at us 220 00:10:23,251 --> 00:10:24,434 and He saw something 221 00:10:24,434 --> 00:10:26,688 that just attracted us to Him; 222 00:10:26,688 --> 00:10:28,642 that He was wooed by us. 223 00:10:28,642 --> 00:10:30,766 Rather, He looked at us in our sin, 224 00:10:30,766 --> 00:10:32,032 in our filth, 225 00:10:32,032 --> 00:10:33,895 and then He chose 226 00:10:33,895 --> 00:10:36,992 to set sovereign grace upon us. 227 00:10:36,992 --> 00:10:38,392 And if that's true, 228 00:10:38,392 --> 00:10:41,079 I have no boast except for 229 00:10:41,079 --> 00:10:44,177 the grace of God in Jesus Christ. 230 00:10:44,177 --> 00:10:45,651 Now if that's true, 231 00:10:45,651 --> 00:10:49,007 that is motivating in humility. 232 00:10:49,007 --> 00:10:51,808 That is motivating in compassion 233 00:10:51,808 --> 00:10:53,204 towards other people; 234 00:10:53,204 --> 00:10:55,071 in patience toward other people. 235 00:10:55,071 --> 00:10:56,880 Why? Oh, He was compassionate 236 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:58,378 to a wretch like me. 237 00:10:58,378 --> 00:11:01,111 He was so patient with a wretch like me. 238 00:11:01,111 --> 00:11:04,544 He forgave me in the cost of His own Son. 239 00:11:04,544 --> 00:11:07,030 He set His love upon me 240 00:11:07,030 --> 00:11:08,682 not because I'm lovable, 241 00:11:08,682 --> 00:11:12,471 but because He is love. 242 00:11:12,471 --> 00:11:14,211 You see why the doctrine of election 243 00:11:14,211 --> 00:11:15,732 is very practical - 244 00:11:15,732 --> 00:11:17,486 not just to have debates in rooms, 245 00:11:17,486 --> 00:11:27,699 but to foster Gospel- centered relationships? 246 00:11:27,699 --> 00:11:31,241 That's humbling. 247 00:11:31,241 --> 00:11:35,745 I need to say this to us all. 248 00:11:35,745 --> 00:11:37,691 And maybe I'm speaking to some of you 249 00:11:37,691 --> 00:11:39,363 and maybe I'm speaking to 250 00:11:39,363 --> 00:11:42,771 some people that you know. 251 00:11:42,771 --> 00:11:45,607 I meet many people in Texas 252 00:11:45,607 --> 00:11:49,763 and in different places that I've preached 253 00:11:49,763 --> 00:11:55,045 who claim to have reformed theology, 254 00:11:55,045 --> 00:11:58,201 but they're not kind. 255 00:11:58,201 --> 00:12:01,717 They're not humble. 256 00:12:01,717 --> 00:12:05,224 They're not compassionate or patient. 257 00:12:05,224 --> 00:12:09,325 And they're not forgiving and loving. 258 00:12:09,325 --> 00:12:10,804 And it makes me wonder how much 259 00:12:10,804 --> 00:12:14,701 of that truth they really understood. 260 00:12:14,701 --> 00:12:16,734 Brothers and sisters, 261 00:12:16,734 --> 00:12:20,427 listen, we believe in sovereign grace. 262 00:12:20,427 --> 00:12:22,919 But if we believe in sovereign grace, 263 00:12:22,919 --> 00:12:24,636 it should be manifested 264 00:12:24,636 --> 00:12:28,120 in how I act towards all of you 265 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,357 continually. 266 00:12:31,357 --> 00:12:33,127 We who believe in sovereign grace 267 00:12:33,127 --> 00:12:35,913 should be the most humble people 268 00:12:35,913 --> 00:12:38,643 on the planet. 269 00:12:38,643 --> 00:12:40,664 And I know we are not perfected. 270 00:12:40,664 --> 00:12:41,884 And I know we struggle. 271 00:12:41,884 --> 00:12:43,457 And I understand sanctification 272 00:12:43,457 --> 00:12:45,177 is a progression. 273 00:12:45,177 --> 00:12:47,608 But if we really grasp sovereign grace, 274 00:12:47,608 --> 00:12:49,257 like so many like to run around 275 00:12:49,257 --> 00:12:51,016 and talk about in their debates - 276 00:12:51,016 --> 00:12:53,552 if we really grasp it, 277 00:12:53,552 --> 00:12:55,881 we should be a lowly people. 278 00:12:55,881 --> 00:12:58,284 Poor in spirit. 279 00:12:58,284 --> 00:13:00,630 Compassionate with one another. 280 00:13:00,630 --> 00:13:05,429 Not harsh. 281 00:13:05,429 --> 00:13:08,138 Paul's pointing to the grace of God 282 00:13:08,138 --> 00:13:13,081 as a motivator to empower and compel us 283 00:13:13,081 --> 00:13:17,304 to Gospel-centered relationships. 284 00:13:17,304 --> 00:13:21,176 The grace of God is God's unmerited favor. 285 00:13:21,176 --> 00:13:23,598 And I will tell you this, 286 00:13:23,598 --> 00:13:26,540 the grace of God is the only 287 00:13:26,540 --> 00:13:34,913 lasting motivation to live the Christian life. 288 00:13:34,913 --> 00:13:37,007 Did you hear that? 289 00:13:37,007 --> 00:13:39,700 The grace of God 290 00:13:39,700 --> 00:13:43,105 is the only lasting 291 00:13:43,105 --> 00:13:47,388 motivation to live the Christian life. 292 00:13:47,388 --> 00:13:49,133 You may have come to the conference 293 00:13:49,133 --> 00:13:50,737 and met some brothers and sisters 294 00:13:50,737 --> 00:13:51,767 like I have, 295 00:13:51,767 --> 00:13:53,381 and I've heard your testimonies; 296 00:13:53,381 --> 00:13:54,504 I've talked with you. 297 00:13:54,504 --> 00:13:55,901 I've enjoyed you. 298 00:13:55,901 --> 00:13:57,509 It's been great fellowship. 299 00:13:57,509 --> 00:14:00,023 That's motivating. 300 00:14:00,023 --> 00:14:02,110 But see, the context where Paul's asking 301 00:14:02,110 --> 00:14:03,660 us to live this out 302 00:14:03,660 --> 00:14:06,083 is in the context of a local church 303 00:14:06,083 --> 00:14:07,814 where we share life together. 304 00:14:07,814 --> 00:14:09,381 Where I have you in my home 305 00:14:09,381 --> 00:14:10,948 and you have me in your home. 306 00:14:10,948 --> 00:14:12,430 And I weep when you weep, 307 00:14:12,430 --> 00:14:14,162 and I rejoice when you rejoice, 308 00:14:14,162 --> 00:14:15,546 and I see your good days 309 00:14:15,546 --> 00:14:16,937 and I see your bad days. 310 00:14:16,937 --> 00:14:18,431 And he says in that context, 311 00:14:18,431 --> 00:14:19,804 I want you to be loving, 312 00:14:19,804 --> 00:14:20,702 compassionate, 313 00:14:20,702 --> 00:14:21,641 kind, 314 00:14:21,641 --> 00:14:23,706 and forgiving. 315 00:14:23,706 --> 00:14:27,207 That's the context. 316 00:14:27,207 --> 00:14:30,437 At a conference, 317 00:14:30,437 --> 00:14:32,652 it's kind of easy 318 00:14:32,652 --> 00:14:36,365 because I don't really know you. 319 00:14:36,365 --> 00:14:41,986 And I only spend a little bit of time with you. 320 00:14:41,986 --> 00:14:45,112 But if I live in your town 321 00:14:45,112 --> 00:14:47,214 and I live in your church 322 00:14:47,214 --> 00:14:53,330 and you begin to see my inconsistencies, 323 00:14:53,330 --> 00:14:56,364 the days that I'm not so kind, 324 00:14:56,364 --> 00:15:00,619 what's going to motivate you to love me? 325 00:15:00,619 --> 00:15:02,268 Can I tell you this? 326 00:15:02,268 --> 00:15:05,396 It isn't going to be me. 327 00:15:05,396 --> 00:15:07,272 It's going to be the grace of God 328 00:15:07,272 --> 00:15:11,217 and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 329 00:15:11,217 --> 00:15:13,550 It's not to say that what we are experiencing 330 00:15:13,550 --> 00:15:15,454 this weekend is not true. 331 00:15:15,454 --> 00:15:16,969 It is. 332 00:15:16,969 --> 00:15:20,884 But it is to say that our chief motivation 333 00:15:20,884 --> 00:15:23,581 in living the Christ-centered life 334 00:15:23,581 --> 00:15:29,178 is the grace of God and the Gospel. 335 00:15:29,178 --> 00:15:31,011 The Gospel does not just deliver us 336 00:15:31,011 --> 00:15:32,326 from the wrath of God 337 00:15:32,326 --> 00:15:34,319 which we do deserve - 338 00:15:34,319 --> 00:15:35,345 brothers and sisters, 339 00:15:35,345 --> 00:15:39,256 it is the center of every relationship 340 00:15:39,256 --> 00:15:41,231 we have. 341 00:15:41,231 --> 00:15:43,264 Maybe my favorite Bible verse 342 00:15:43,264 --> 00:15:47,152 in the entire Bible is Romans 11:36. 343 00:15:47,152 --> 00:15:50,747 "For from Him and through Him and to Him 344 00:15:50,747 --> 00:15:52,221 are all things. 345 00:15:52,221 --> 00:15:53,886 To Him be glory forever. 346 00:15:53,886 --> 00:15:55,380 Amen." 347 00:15:55,380 --> 00:15:57,934 Now think about that. 348 00:15:57,934 --> 00:16:01,809 My relationship with you is from Him. 349 00:16:01,809 --> 00:16:05,352 My relationship with you is lived through Him. 350 00:16:05,352 --> 00:16:07,010 And my relationship with you 351 00:16:07,010 --> 00:16:09,209 should point back to Him. 352 00:16:09,209 --> 00:16:10,192 Meaning what? 353 00:16:10,192 --> 00:16:13,395 It should manifest the Gospel. 354 00:16:13,395 --> 00:16:14,731 How you and I relate 355 00:16:14,731 --> 00:16:16,482 and how you relate with your people 356 00:16:16,482 --> 00:16:17,632 in your local churches, 357 00:16:17,632 --> 00:16:20,130 should be a manifestation of the Gospel. 358 00:16:20,130 --> 00:16:22,200 My relationship with my wife 359 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,317 is to be a manifestation of the Gospel. 360 00:16:25,317 --> 00:16:26,870 And I am to love you, 361 00:16:26,870 --> 00:16:28,489 and be compassionate with you, 362 00:16:28,489 --> 00:16:29,727 and be patient with you, 363 00:16:29,727 --> 00:16:31,351 and be forbearing with you, 364 00:16:31,351 --> 00:16:32,934 and be forgiving of you, 365 00:16:32,934 --> 00:16:34,439 and be loving with you. 366 00:16:34,439 --> 00:16:36,189 Why? 367 00:16:36,189 --> 00:16:38,400 Because He has been so with me. 368 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,016 And when, by His grace, 369 00:16:40,016 --> 00:16:41,308 in helping me see 370 00:16:41,308 --> 00:16:42,582 and remember these things, 371 00:16:42,582 --> 00:16:44,113 and empowering me in them, 372 00:16:44,113 --> 00:16:47,223 people witness the love of God 373 00:16:47,223 --> 00:16:48,850 in local churches, 374 00:16:48,850 --> 00:16:52,413 Christ gets the glory. 375 00:16:52,413 --> 00:16:55,860 I remember one day, 376 00:16:55,860 --> 00:16:58,520 a 73 year old man came to our church 377 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:00,157 with his wife. 378 00:17:00,157 --> 00:17:02,924 She was converted and he was not. 379 00:17:02,924 --> 00:17:04,951 I remember the initial conversation I had. 380 00:17:04,951 --> 00:17:06,797 She was standing there talking to me, 381 00:17:06,797 --> 00:17:10,266 and he was about two steps back right here. 382 00:17:10,266 --> 00:17:11,895 And he came faithfully with her 383 00:17:11,895 --> 00:17:16,984 for about three or four weeks. 384 00:17:16,984 --> 00:17:18,928 And then he came up 385 00:17:18,928 --> 00:17:23,019 and said something to the effect of this: 386 00:17:23,019 --> 00:17:25,089 I have never seen love like this 387 00:17:25,089 --> 00:17:27,531 amongst a people. 388 00:17:27,531 --> 00:17:29,294 I have never seen love like this 389 00:17:29,294 --> 00:17:31,486 amongst a people. 390 00:17:31,486 --> 00:17:33,326 And let me tell you have typically 391 00:17:33,326 --> 00:17:35,269 in Dallas. 392 00:17:35,269 --> 00:17:39,120 Listen, the people of God 393 00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:40,632 are every tribe, tongue, 394 00:17:40,632 --> 00:17:42,597 and language and people. 395 00:17:42,597 --> 00:17:44,405 They're not just one people. 396 00:17:44,405 --> 00:17:47,117 But if you come to Dallas and you step into some churches 397 00:17:47,117 --> 00:17:48,921 you might think it's just one people. 398 00:17:48,921 --> 00:17:51,144 Because there is great segregation 399 00:17:51,144 --> 00:17:52,839 into each type of person 400 00:17:52,839 --> 00:17:54,721 in many churches in Dallas. 401 00:17:54,721 --> 00:17:55,823 And by God's grace, 402 00:17:55,823 --> 00:17:57,323 He chooses who He saves. 403 00:17:57,323 --> 00:17:58,893 He chooses who He draws. 404 00:17:58,893 --> 00:18:00,786 But in God's grace, if you looked out 405 00:18:00,786 --> 00:18:03,306 amongst the assembly in our church, 406 00:18:03,306 --> 00:18:05,886 you would see almost every tribe, 407 00:18:05,886 --> 00:18:07,497 tongue, and language out there. 408 00:18:07,497 --> 00:18:09,230 You would see diversity of incomes. 409 00:18:09,230 --> 00:18:10,849 You would see differences in ages. 410 00:18:10,849 --> 00:18:12,874 You would see all of that together. 411 00:18:12,874 --> 00:18:14,029 And when this man - 412 00:18:14,029 --> 00:18:15,707 and I boast in Jesus Christ alone - 413 00:18:15,707 --> 00:18:17,897 but when he looked at young, 414 00:18:17,897 --> 00:18:19,479 African-American men 415 00:18:19,479 --> 00:18:22,120 and old caucasian men, 416 00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:24,447 and he looked at young Asian people 417 00:18:24,447 --> 00:18:26,641 and he looked at poor different people, 418 00:18:26,641 --> 00:18:29,682 and when he saw them centered together 419 00:18:29,682 --> 00:18:32,748 with one unifying thing being Jesus Christ, 420 00:18:32,748 --> 00:18:34,770 and all the diversity that was there, 421 00:18:34,770 --> 00:18:35,914 was cast aside, 422 00:18:35,914 --> 00:18:38,262 because there was a greater unity, 423 00:18:38,262 --> 00:18:41,088 a supernatural unity in Jesus Christ, 424 00:18:41,088 --> 00:18:43,632 and they loved each other. 425 00:18:43,632 --> 00:18:45,447 And he saw that. 426 00:18:45,447 --> 00:18:46,834 And he said, I've never seen 427 00:18:46,834 --> 00:18:48,783 anything like that before. 428 00:18:48,783 --> 00:18:49,740 I'll tell you this, 429 00:18:49,740 --> 00:18:52,042 God converted that man. 430 00:18:52,042 --> 00:18:54,088 He is saved. 431 00:18:54,088 --> 00:18:55,471 He is a saved man today. 432 00:18:55,471 --> 00:18:59,937 We baptized him two years ago. 433 00:18:59,937 --> 00:19:01,545 Brothers and sisters, 434 00:19:01,545 --> 00:19:04,599 our relationships in our local churches 435 00:19:04,599 --> 00:19:10,947 should be a manifestation of the Gospel. 436 00:19:10,947 --> 00:19:15,581 In case you haven't figured this out yet, 437 00:19:15,581 --> 00:19:19,504 Christians are an imperfect people. 438 00:19:19,504 --> 00:19:21,135 Will you look at v. 11 with me? 439 00:19:21,135 --> 00:19:22,820 Look at 3:11. 440 00:19:22,820 --> 00:19:26,242 "Here there's neither Greek or Jew, 441 00:19:26,242 --> 00:19:27,967 circumcised or uncircumcised, 442 00:19:27,967 --> 00:19:29,216 Barbarian or Scythian, 443 00:19:29,216 --> 00:19:34,240 slave, free, but Christ is all and in all. 444 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,400 That's the reality of the body of Christ. 445 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:38,159 We are united in Christ. 446 00:19:38,159 --> 00:19:40,660 We are one person in Jesus Christ. 447 00:19:40,660 --> 00:19:43,090 There are two realities in this world. 448 00:19:43,090 --> 00:19:46,471 You are either in Adam or you are in Christ. 449 00:19:46,471 --> 00:19:47,905 There's neither slave nor Jew. 450 00:19:47,905 --> 00:19:49,780 There is Adam and there's Christ. 451 00:19:49,780 --> 00:19:53,017 And you're either in Him or in him. 452 00:19:53,017 --> 00:19:55,952 But with those in Christ, 453 00:19:55,952 --> 00:19:58,860 there's a great diversity, isn't there? 454 00:19:58,860 --> 00:20:00,416 What do you mean diversity? 455 00:20:00,416 --> 00:20:04,428 How about diversity in maturity of Christ? 456 00:20:04,428 --> 00:20:05,923 I hope people are getting saved 457 00:20:05,923 --> 00:20:07,216 in your churches. 458 00:20:07,216 --> 00:20:08,952 What do you do when you have someone 459 00:20:08,952 --> 00:20:10,779 who's been saved for 40 years 460 00:20:10,779 --> 00:20:12,855 walking by God's grace faithfully in that, 461 00:20:12,855 --> 00:20:14,591 and you have a brand new Christian 462 00:20:14,591 --> 00:20:16,834 in the church now? 463 00:20:16,834 --> 00:20:19,197 How are they going to be united? 464 00:20:19,197 --> 00:20:20,668 How can they relate? 465 00:20:20,668 --> 00:20:23,689 What do you do when there's a great diversity 466 00:20:23,689 --> 00:20:27,082 in the body of Christ with giftings? 467 00:20:27,082 --> 00:20:29,054 We've studied 1 Corinthians 12. 468 00:20:29,054 --> 00:20:30,506 We know that God gives gifts 469 00:20:30,506 --> 00:20:32,230 to each of the members of the body, 470 00:20:32,230 --> 00:20:33,976 and with that diversity of giftings, 471 00:20:33,976 --> 00:20:39,375 he seems to give passions towards those giftings, doesn't He? 472 00:20:39,375 --> 00:20:41,238 Praise the Lord for that! 473 00:20:41,238 --> 00:20:43,006 What are those giftings for? 474 00:20:43,006 --> 00:20:44,618 The edification of the body. 475 00:20:44,618 --> 00:20:46,358 The building up of the body. 476 00:20:46,358 --> 00:20:48,978 What do they tempt us to do though? 477 00:20:48,978 --> 00:20:52,254 To look through our gifting, 478 00:20:52,254 --> 00:20:54,228 to look through our passion, 479 00:20:54,228 --> 00:20:56,548 and look at Mack and go, 480 00:20:56,548 --> 00:20:58,768 the Lord's called me to evangelism, brother, 481 00:20:58,768 --> 00:21:00,525 and you don't evangelize like I do 482 00:21:00,525 --> 00:21:04,797 so you must not love Jesus like I do. 483 00:21:04,797 --> 00:21:06,336 Now, that's wrong, 484 00:21:06,336 --> 00:21:08,665 because my stirring by God's grace 485 00:21:08,665 --> 00:21:10,225 and gifting in evangelism 486 00:21:10,225 --> 00:21:12,120 should be an edification for the body - 487 00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:13,686 not something that separates us, 488 00:21:13,686 --> 00:21:15,119 but something that stirs us. 489 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:17,589 And where God has gifted this brother and stirred this brother, 490 00:21:17,589 --> 00:21:19,092 I should look at his life 491 00:21:19,092 --> 00:21:20,364 and I should be compelled 492 00:21:20,364 --> 00:21:22,695 to be more like that aspect of Christ 493 00:21:22,695 --> 00:21:23,815 in my own life. 494 00:21:23,815 --> 00:21:25,158 And the body comes together 495 00:21:25,158 --> 00:21:27,343 and they form a body that is fit for the Head 496 00:21:27,343 --> 00:21:28,438 Who is Jesus Christ. 497 00:21:28,438 --> 00:21:30,304 And when each part is doing its work, 498 00:21:30,304 --> 00:21:34,496 we grow in maturity in Jesus Christ. 499 00:21:34,496 --> 00:21:36,682 But it's hard. You know why? 500 00:21:36,682 --> 00:21:38,429 Because we're not like each other 501 00:21:38,429 --> 00:21:40,022 in many aspects. 502 00:21:40,022 --> 00:21:42,550 And it's in that context that he says this: 503 00:21:42,550 --> 00:21:44,613 You love them. 504 00:21:44,613 --> 00:21:46,881 You forgive them. You be patient with them. 505 00:21:46,881 --> 00:21:49,111 You be compassionate with them. Why? 506 00:21:49,111 --> 00:21:52,821 Because I was with you. 507 00:21:52,821 --> 00:21:56,024 Because I was with you. 508 00:21:56,024 --> 00:21:58,576 So I'm only going to look at two of the things here. 509 00:21:58,576 --> 00:21:59,859 We've seen the motivation. 510 00:21:59,859 --> 00:22:03,683 The motivation is God has loved us. 511 00:22:03,683 --> 00:22:05,378 God has chosen us. 512 00:22:05,378 --> 00:22:08,358 He has freely set Himself upon us. 513 00:22:08,358 --> 00:22:10,679 He has purchased us with the blood 514 00:22:10,679 --> 00:22:12,229 of His own Son. 515 00:22:12,229 --> 00:22:13,526 Now live in light of that. 516 00:22:13,526 --> 00:22:15,030 Now I want to look at two areas 517 00:22:15,030 --> 00:22:17,502 where He called us to live in light of that. 518 00:22:17,502 --> 00:22:18,965 First one I'm going to look at 519 00:22:18,965 --> 00:22:22,929 is this call to forgiveness. 520 00:22:22,929 --> 00:22:27,850 The call to forgiveness. 521 00:22:27,850 --> 00:22:32,693 In v. 12, he motivated us: 522 00:22:32,693 --> 00:22:34,211 "Put on as God's chosen ones, 523 00:22:34,211 --> 00:22:35,270 holy and beloved, 524 00:22:35,270 --> 00:22:36,272 these things..." 525 00:22:36,272 --> 00:22:37,994 And then when he gets to v. 13, 526 00:22:37,994 --> 00:22:40,261 he says, "Bearing with one another, 527 00:22:40,261 --> 00:22:43,362 and if one has a complaint against another 528 00:22:43,362 --> 00:22:45,002 forgiving each other, 529 00:22:45,002 --> 00:22:49,854 as the Lord has forgiven you." 530 00:22:49,854 --> 00:22:53,554 What's my motivation to forgive? 531 00:22:53,554 --> 00:22:54,975 Because that other person 532 00:22:54,975 --> 00:22:57,888 deserves it so much? 533 00:22:57,888 --> 00:22:59,599 Because that other person 534 00:22:59,599 --> 00:23:01,283 has repented just like they should 535 00:23:01,283 --> 00:23:02,830 and come crawling on their knees 536 00:23:02,830 --> 00:23:05,690 and beg for my forgiveness? 537 00:23:05,690 --> 00:23:06,607 No. 538 00:23:06,607 --> 00:23:07,918 I have a model before me 539 00:23:07,918 --> 00:23:09,972 of what forgiveness should look like. 540 00:23:09,972 --> 00:23:12,601 It's Jesus Christ. 541 00:23:12,601 --> 00:23:14,910 And how did He forgive us? 542 00:23:14,910 --> 00:23:16,833 What if He said I'm going to wait 543 00:23:16,833 --> 00:23:18,419 until you turn your life around; 544 00:23:18,419 --> 00:23:20,393 Until you start acting like you should; 545 00:23:20,393 --> 00:23:22,946 Till you treat Me with the respect I deserve, 546 00:23:22,946 --> 00:23:26,562 and then, I'll forgive you. 547 00:23:26,562 --> 00:23:29,483 That's not what He did. 548 00:23:29,483 --> 00:23:33,068 While we were yet sinners, 549 00:23:33,068 --> 00:23:36,120 He sends His Son. 550 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:39,253 He pursues us. 551 00:23:39,253 --> 00:23:43,578 I love that Jesus Christ is a pursuer of me. 552 00:23:43,578 --> 00:23:45,658 I need Him to pursue me. 553 00:23:45,658 --> 00:23:47,118 And I want you to know this, 554 00:23:47,118 --> 00:23:49,257 if your forgiveness is going to look like 555 00:23:49,257 --> 00:23:51,913 and be modeled after Jesus Christ, 556 00:23:51,913 --> 00:23:55,604 you have to be a pursuer of people. 557 00:23:55,604 --> 00:23:59,235 You say will what if they have sinned against me, Jesse? 558 00:23:59,235 --> 00:24:00,705 Well, read Matthew 18. 559 00:24:00,705 --> 00:24:01,793 What does it say? 560 00:24:01,793 --> 00:24:04,976 If your brother sins against you, do what? 561 00:24:04,976 --> 00:24:06,559 What do you do? 562 00:24:06,559 --> 00:24:08,232 Go to him! 563 00:24:08,232 --> 00:24:09,596 Go to her! 564 00:24:09,596 --> 00:24:11,116 Pursue them. 565 00:24:11,116 --> 00:24:12,743 You know what we do sometimes? 566 00:24:12,743 --> 00:24:14,062 You sinned against me. 567 00:24:14,062 --> 00:24:17,337 So I'm going to wait till you come to me. 568 00:24:17,337 --> 00:24:18,602 No! 569 00:24:18,602 --> 00:24:21,225 When your brother or sister sins against you, 570 00:24:21,225 --> 00:24:22,723 you go to them. 571 00:24:22,723 --> 00:24:24,545 You pursue them. 572 00:24:24,545 --> 00:24:28,155 You pursue forgiveness. 573 00:24:28,155 --> 00:24:30,361 Well, ok, I can get with that one, 574 00:24:30,361 --> 00:24:33,413 but what if they think I did something 575 00:24:33,413 --> 00:24:36,513 to them and I didn't do anything to them? 576 00:24:36,513 --> 00:24:38,993 What does Jesus tell us in Matthew 5? 577 00:24:38,993 --> 00:24:40,737 If you've come to offer your gift 578 00:24:40,737 --> 00:24:42,228 at the altar, 579 00:24:42,228 --> 00:24:47,679 and there you remember what? 580 00:24:47,679 --> 00:24:49,934 That your brother thinks you have offended, 581 00:24:49,934 --> 00:24:51,698 sinned against him. 582 00:24:51,698 --> 00:24:54,957 What are you to do then? 583 00:24:54,957 --> 00:24:56,791 Did you hear what He said there? 584 00:24:56,791 --> 00:25:00,660 Leave your gift at the altar. 585 00:25:00,660 --> 00:25:03,303 We're coming to worship You, God, 586 00:25:03,303 --> 00:25:05,799 but I know this brother thinks I've offended them. 587 00:25:05,799 --> 00:25:07,967 There's something between us. 588 00:25:07,967 --> 00:25:12,485 Set the worship down, Jesse. 589 00:25:12,485 --> 00:25:14,513 Go. 590 00:25:14,513 --> 00:25:16,871 Be reconciled to your brother first. 591 00:25:16,871 --> 00:25:18,995 And then come back 592 00:25:18,995 --> 00:25:21,851 and offer that gift. 593 00:25:21,851 --> 00:25:24,043 I'm not saying everyone has to do this. 594 00:25:24,043 --> 00:25:26,442 Every Sunday in our service, 595 00:25:26,442 --> 00:25:29,814 we begin our service with a time of confession. 596 00:25:29,814 --> 00:25:31,808 Because I'm not going to stand up there 597 00:25:31,808 --> 00:25:36,378 and sing songs when my heart's not right. 598 00:25:36,378 --> 00:25:38,479 That's just going through the motions. 599 00:25:38,479 --> 00:25:40,306 So we sit and we pray 600 00:25:40,306 --> 00:25:41,391 and we ask, 601 00:25:41,391 --> 00:25:43,024 "Oh God, search me and know me; 602 00:25:43,024 --> 00:25:45,512 try me and see if there be any 603 00:25:45,512 --> 00:25:48,087 evil way in me." 604 00:25:48,087 --> 00:25:49,425 And we encourage, 605 00:25:49,425 --> 00:25:52,162 if there is an issue in this assembly 606 00:25:52,162 --> 00:25:53,796 between relationships, 607 00:25:53,796 --> 00:25:59,856 you go be reconciled first. 608 00:25:59,856 --> 00:26:05,958 Why? So you can worship in spirit and in truth. 609 00:26:05,958 --> 00:26:10,713 The onus is always put on you 610 00:26:10,713 --> 00:26:13,159 in forgiveness. 611 00:26:13,159 --> 00:26:14,957 If your brother sins against you, 612 00:26:14,957 --> 00:26:15,707 you go. 613 00:26:15,707 --> 00:26:17,170 If your brother has something 614 00:26:17,170 --> 00:26:18,633 you've done against him, 615 00:26:18,633 --> 00:26:20,240 you go. 616 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,631 We are to be pursuers of peace. 617 00:26:23,631 --> 00:26:28,322 Why? Because Jesus Christ pursued you. 618 00:26:28,322 --> 00:26:30,513 We must pursue one another. 619 00:26:30,513 --> 00:26:32,456 And you say, Jesse, don't you understand 620 00:26:32,456 --> 00:26:34,015 that in reconciliation, 621 00:26:34,015 --> 00:26:36,917 it requires both people? 622 00:26:36,917 --> 00:26:40,811 Yep. I understand that. 623 00:26:40,811 --> 00:26:46,016 But what does Jesus tell us in Matthew 18? 624 00:26:46,016 --> 00:26:47,101 You can listen. 625 00:26:47,101 --> 00:26:53,653 I'm sure you're familiar with the text. 626 00:26:53,653 --> 00:26:57,412 "The Kingdom of Heaven 627 00:26:57,412 --> 00:26:58,746 may be compared to a king 628 00:26:58,746 --> 00:27:00,178 who wished to settle accounts 629 00:27:00,178 --> 00:27:02,546 with his servants. 630 00:27:02,546 --> 00:27:03,909 And when he began to settle, 631 00:27:03,909 --> 00:27:04,969 one was brought to him 632 00:27:04,969 --> 00:27:08,473 who owed him 10,000 talents. 633 00:27:08,473 --> 00:27:11,102 And since he could not pay, 634 00:27:11,102 --> 00:27:13,330 his master ordered him to be sold 635 00:27:13,330 --> 00:27:15,032 with his wife and his children 636 00:27:15,032 --> 00:27:16,470 and all that he had 637 00:27:16,470 --> 00:27:18,952 and payment to be made. 638 00:27:18,952 --> 00:27:21,537 So the servant fell on his knees 639 00:27:21,537 --> 00:27:22,586 imploring him, 640 00:27:22,586 --> 00:27:24,061 'have patience with me. 641 00:27:24,061 --> 00:27:25,724 I'll repay you everything.' 642 00:27:25,724 --> 00:27:27,619 And out of pity for him, 643 00:27:27,619 --> 00:27:29,780 the master of that servant 644 00:27:29,780 --> 00:27:32,978 released him and forgave him." 645 00:27:32,978 --> 00:27:34,644 Out of what? 646 00:27:34,644 --> 00:27:35,869 Pity. 647 00:27:35,869 --> 00:27:38,703 Compassion. 648 00:27:38,703 --> 00:27:41,417 Seeing the hopelessness of this person 649 00:27:41,417 --> 00:27:43,790 and the mercy of God is extended out 650 00:27:43,790 --> 00:27:45,364 to that person. 651 00:27:45,364 --> 00:27:47,717 If you're in Christ, that just described you. 652 00:27:47,717 --> 00:27:49,430 You had an unpayable debt. 653 00:27:49,430 --> 00:27:51,544 You could not do anything about it. 654 00:27:51,544 --> 00:27:55,346 You stood condemned justly. 655 00:27:55,346 --> 00:28:00,435 And God in His mercy had pity on you. 656 00:28:00,435 --> 00:28:03,202 Well, then how should that impact my life, Jesse? 657 00:28:03,202 --> 00:28:08,854 How should that change how I live? 658 00:28:08,854 --> 00:28:10,586 "But when the same servant went out, 659 00:28:10,586 --> 00:28:12,404 he found one of his fellow servants 660 00:28:12,404 --> 00:28:14,062 who owed him a hundred denarii, 661 00:28:14,062 --> 00:28:16,394 and seizing him, he began to choke him, 662 00:28:16,394 --> 00:28:24,078 saying 'pay what you owe.'" 663 00:28:24,078 --> 00:28:26,936 Do you see a problem already? 664 00:28:26,936 --> 00:28:29,257 Oh God, give me grace and mercy. 665 00:28:29,257 --> 00:28:32,154 Give me justice. 666 00:28:32,154 --> 00:28:33,914 Do you see an inconsistency there? 667 00:28:33,914 --> 00:28:36,260 I receive Your grace and mercy freely. 668 00:28:36,260 --> 00:28:37,323 Thank You. 669 00:28:37,323 --> 00:28:41,459 You better pay me what you owe. 670 00:28:41,459 --> 00:28:46,002 How big of a problem is that for the Lord? 671 00:28:46,002 --> 00:28:47,592 "When the same servant went out 672 00:28:47,592 --> 00:28:50,544 and found one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 denarii, 673 00:28:50,544 --> 00:28:53,462 seizing him he began to choke him saying 'pay what you owe,' 674 00:28:53,462 --> 00:28:55,915 so his fellow servant fell down 675 00:28:55,915 --> 00:28:57,206 and pleaded with him, 676 00:28:57,206 --> 00:28:58,868 'have patience with me. 677 00:28:58,868 --> 00:29:00,582 I will repay you.' 678 00:29:00,582 --> 00:29:02,894 He refused. 679 00:29:02,894 --> 00:29:04,455 He went and put him in prison 680 00:29:04,455 --> 00:29:06,286 until he should pay the debt. 681 00:29:06,286 --> 00:29:07,909 And when the fellow servants 682 00:29:07,909 --> 00:29:09,822 saw what had taken place, 683 00:29:09,822 --> 00:29:11,474 they were greatly distressed 684 00:29:11,474 --> 00:29:13,727 and they went and reported to the master 685 00:29:13,727 --> 00:29:15,256 all that had taken place. 686 00:29:15,256 --> 00:29:17,042 Then his master summoned him 687 00:29:17,042 --> 00:29:17,987 and said to him, 688 00:29:17,987 --> 00:29:19,643 'You wicked servant. 689 00:29:19,643 --> 00:29:21,835 I forgave you all that debt 690 00:29:21,835 --> 00:29:23,352 because you pleaded with me, 691 00:29:23,352 --> 00:29:25,522 and should you not have had mercy 692 00:29:25,522 --> 00:29:27,052 on your fellow servant, 693 00:29:27,052 --> 00:29:30,644 as I have had mercy upon you?'" 694 00:29:30,644 --> 00:29:33,979 Gospel-centered relationship. 695 00:29:33,979 --> 00:29:35,628 "And in anger, his master 696 00:29:35,628 --> 00:29:37,352 delivered him to the jailers 697 00:29:37,352 --> 00:29:40,728 until he should pay all of his debt." 698 00:29:40,728 --> 00:29:43,224 Application: So also, 699 00:29:43,224 --> 00:29:46,255 My heavenly Father will do 700 00:29:46,255 --> 00:29:48,079 to every one of you 701 00:29:48,079 --> 00:29:50,379 if you do not forgive your brother 702 00:29:50,379 --> 00:29:54,441 from your heart." 703 00:29:54,441 --> 00:29:56,564 I understand that there may be situations 704 00:29:56,564 --> 00:29:57,981 in your life 705 00:29:57,981 --> 00:29:59,969 where either you have been sinned against 706 00:29:59,969 --> 00:30:01,893 or your brother thinks you have sinned 707 00:30:01,893 --> 00:30:03,230 against him or your sister, 708 00:30:03,230 --> 00:30:05,466 and you have pursued them, 709 00:30:05,466 --> 00:30:08,494 and you have sought to be a peacemaker; 710 00:30:08,494 --> 00:30:10,075 to have reconciliation, 711 00:30:10,075 --> 00:30:13,451 and they will not have it. 712 00:30:13,451 --> 00:30:19,100 But have you forgiven them in your heart? 713 00:30:19,100 --> 00:30:22,736 Listen, if you sit here this morning 714 00:30:22,736 --> 00:30:26,641 with a broken relationship 715 00:30:26,641 --> 00:30:28,377 and as long as it depends upon you, 716 00:30:28,377 --> 00:30:31,029 you have not sought peace, 717 00:30:31,029 --> 00:30:35,175 you need to hear this. 718 00:30:35,175 --> 00:30:36,977 God does not take that lightly. 719 00:30:36,977 --> 00:30:37,926 You know why? 720 00:30:37,926 --> 00:30:39,919 Because it is a minimization 721 00:30:39,919 --> 00:30:42,671 of His grace and the Gospel towards you. 722 00:30:42,671 --> 00:30:44,686 When we do not forgive others, 723 00:30:44,686 --> 00:30:46,464 we minimize the grace, 724 00:30:46,464 --> 00:30:47,843 and when the king saw 725 00:30:47,843 --> 00:30:49,514 that the servant minimized 726 00:30:49,514 --> 00:30:50,756 what he had done for him, 727 00:30:50,756 --> 00:30:52,098 he seized him and he said, 728 00:30:52,098 --> 00:30:53,288 "you are wicked!" 729 00:30:53,288 --> 00:30:55,713 And Jesus said My Father will do the same to you, 730 00:30:55,713 --> 00:30:57,746 if you do not forgive. 731 00:30:57,746 --> 00:30:59,255 Now, is He making a contingency 732 00:30:59,255 --> 00:31:00,927 that God's forgiveness towards us 733 00:31:00,927 --> 00:31:03,576 is contingent upon our forgiveness of others? 734 00:31:03,576 --> 00:31:05,065 No, what He is saying is this. 735 00:31:05,065 --> 00:31:06,609 If you have truly experienced 736 00:31:06,609 --> 00:31:08,395 the forgiveness and grace of God, 737 00:31:08,395 --> 00:31:11,910 you will forgive. 738 00:31:11,910 --> 00:31:15,073 You will forgive. Why? 739 00:31:15,073 --> 00:31:17,126 Because of all the grace and mercy. 740 00:31:17,126 --> 00:31:18,637 That doesn't mean it's easy. 741 00:31:18,637 --> 00:31:20,832 That doesn't mean it's not without challenge; 742 00:31:20,832 --> 00:31:22,255 without difficulty, 743 00:31:22,255 --> 00:31:24,123 but if you can sit here today 744 00:31:24,123 --> 00:31:25,491 in bitterness in heart, 745 00:31:25,491 --> 00:31:27,224 unwilling to forgive people, 746 00:31:27,224 --> 00:31:29,780 and the Father has not in Hebrews 12 747 00:31:29,780 --> 00:31:32,157 come and chastened you, 748 00:31:32,157 --> 00:31:35,236 it's because you're not His child. 749 00:31:35,236 --> 00:31:37,180 I witnessed a lady that was 750 00:31:37,180 --> 00:31:39,019 close to our family growing up. 751 00:31:39,019 --> 00:31:41,740 She went to church every single Sunday. 752 00:31:41,740 --> 00:31:43,589 As long as I knew her - 753 00:31:43,589 --> 00:31:44,868 40 years maybe? 754 00:31:44,868 --> 00:31:47,327 She went to church every single Sunday. 755 00:31:47,327 --> 00:31:49,764 She was in Bible studies. 756 00:31:49,764 --> 00:31:52,146 She gave a lot of money away - 757 00:31:52,146 --> 00:31:54,303 I'm talking millions of dollars away 758 00:31:54,303 --> 00:31:57,812 to churches, to charities, to ministries. 759 00:31:57,812 --> 00:32:00,944 But she was an unforgiving person. 760 00:32:00,944 --> 00:32:03,702 And she died with bitterness 761 00:32:03,702 --> 00:32:06,013 and unforgiveness towards so many people. 762 00:32:06,013 --> 00:32:07,739 And listen, I don't stand here today 763 00:32:07,739 --> 00:32:09,909 as her judge, but I look at that and I say, 764 00:32:09,909 --> 00:32:11,917 that is completely inconsistent 765 00:32:11,917 --> 00:32:13,759 with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 766 00:32:13,759 --> 00:32:15,908 Yes, we can struggle with forgiveness. 767 00:32:15,908 --> 00:32:17,472 Yes, it is costly. 768 00:32:17,472 --> 00:32:18,911 Yes, it is hard. 769 00:32:18,911 --> 00:32:21,592 But God, in His grace, will enable us, 770 00:32:21,592 --> 00:32:22,857 will empower us, 771 00:32:22,857 --> 00:32:24,147 and He motivates us 772 00:32:24,147 --> 00:32:35,961 by returning us to the Gospel. 773 00:32:35,961 --> 00:32:38,303 Have you forgiven from the heart? 774 00:32:38,303 --> 00:32:40,838 Have you sought reconciliation? 775 00:32:40,838 --> 00:32:42,691 As long as it depends upon you, 776 00:32:42,691 --> 00:32:45,550 are you living at peace with all? 777 00:32:45,550 --> 00:32:47,148 Brothers and sisters, if not, 778 00:32:47,148 --> 00:32:50,149 just stop playing games. 779 00:32:50,149 --> 00:33:00,738 Go and be reconciled. 780 00:33:00,738 --> 00:33:05,387 I think one of the fears we have 781 00:33:05,387 --> 00:33:06,784 in being the pursuer 782 00:33:06,784 --> 00:33:11,001 in the area of forgiveness, 783 00:33:11,001 --> 00:33:14,235 especially, let's say it's a reality 784 00:33:14,235 --> 00:33:17,013 where the other person truly is 785 00:33:17,013 --> 00:33:18,713 at fault here, 786 00:33:18,713 --> 00:33:20,390 and you are innocent. 787 00:33:20,390 --> 00:33:22,225 That's often the perception we have, 788 00:33:22,225 --> 00:33:26,320 but let's say it's a reality. 789 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:30,310 I think the fear is that if I pursue you 790 00:33:30,310 --> 00:33:31,974 when you were the one at fault, 791 00:33:31,974 --> 00:33:34,258 you're going to think that what you did was ok 792 00:33:34,258 --> 00:33:35,980 and you're going to think I'm saying 793 00:33:35,980 --> 00:33:37,536 I was the one at fault. 794 00:33:37,536 --> 00:33:39,279 And I want to tell you what that is. 795 00:33:39,279 --> 00:33:43,176 That's unbelief that God's ways work. 796 00:33:43,176 --> 00:33:44,704 Listen, it's not your job 797 00:33:44,704 --> 00:33:46,527 to convict that person. 798 00:33:46,527 --> 00:33:48,206 It's not your job 799 00:33:48,206 --> 00:33:52,238 to help them see their sin, per se. 800 00:33:52,238 --> 00:33:54,021 That's the work of the Holy Spirit. 801 00:33:54,021 --> 00:33:57,444 My job is to obey the Scripture. 802 00:33:57,444 --> 00:33:59,109 To be consistent with the Gospel. 803 00:33:59,109 --> 00:34:00,701 So whether you're going to get 804 00:34:00,701 --> 00:34:02,904 the wrong impression if I'm pursuing you or not, 805 00:34:02,904 --> 00:34:04,786 if you're going to go, yep, here he comes. 806 00:34:04,786 --> 00:34:06,147 He was at fault. I knew it. 807 00:34:06,147 --> 00:34:07,352 And this is the evidence. 808 00:34:07,352 --> 00:34:09,227 I don't care if you have that perception of me. 809 00:34:09,227 --> 00:34:11,607 I'm not here to have a right perception 810 00:34:11,607 --> 00:34:12,682 from you towards me 811 00:34:12,682 --> 00:34:14,974 or to have this situation appear 812 00:34:14,974 --> 00:34:16,426 that it really was your fault. 813 00:34:16,426 --> 00:34:18,181 We are here to glorify God 814 00:34:18,181 --> 00:34:19,924 and to magnify the Gospel. 815 00:34:19,924 --> 00:34:21,798 I'm going to be obedient to the Gospel 816 00:34:21,798 --> 00:34:22,923 of Jesus Christ. 817 00:34:22,923 --> 00:34:24,310 I'm going to pursue you 818 00:34:24,310 --> 00:34:26,008 even if you think that's me saying 819 00:34:26,008 --> 00:34:26,997 I'm at fault. 820 00:34:26,997 --> 00:34:28,302 I don't care about that. 821 00:34:28,302 --> 00:34:30,431 I'm going to give an account to God one day. 822 00:34:30,431 --> 00:34:32,181 Did I manifest the Gospel 823 00:34:32,181 --> 00:34:34,763 in my relationship with you? 824 00:34:34,763 --> 00:34:43,718 I'm going to trust that to the Holy Spirit. 825 00:34:43,718 --> 00:34:46,531 The other thing Paul says in Colossians 826 00:34:46,531 --> 00:34:48,385 is "above all these, put on love, 827 00:34:48,385 --> 00:34:50,033 which binds everything together 828 00:34:50,033 --> 00:34:54,531 in perfect harmony." 829 00:34:54,531 --> 00:34:59,364 Paul said you chosen ones, 830 00:34:59,364 --> 00:35:02,576 you holy, you set apart by God, 831 00:35:02,576 --> 00:35:04,670 you beloved, 832 00:35:04,670 --> 00:35:08,373 you loved of God, 833 00:35:08,373 --> 00:35:13,675 God has loved us. 834 00:35:13,675 --> 00:35:19,420 Where does love come from? 835 00:35:19,420 --> 00:35:21,402 In the book of 1 John 4, 836 00:35:21,402 --> 00:35:23,829 the Bible teaches us in v. 8 837 00:35:23,829 --> 00:35:27,693 that God is love. 838 00:35:27,693 --> 00:35:30,883 Have you ever thought about what that means? 839 00:35:30,883 --> 00:35:32,752 That means anyone 840 00:35:32,752 --> 00:35:34,385 who does not know God 841 00:35:34,385 --> 00:35:36,554 through His love in Jesus Christ 842 00:35:36,554 --> 00:35:40,182 has never known true love, 843 00:35:40,182 --> 00:35:42,433 because love comes from God. 844 00:35:42,433 --> 00:35:44,595 Now, I know there's a lot of talk out there 845 00:35:44,595 --> 00:35:46,123 about what love is. 846 00:35:46,123 --> 00:35:47,627 And almost all the talk about 847 00:35:47,627 --> 00:35:50,378 what love is from a worldly perspective 848 00:35:50,378 --> 00:35:55,676 is emotion and feeling-driven and based. 849 00:35:55,676 --> 00:35:57,342 But the love of God is not devoid 850 00:35:57,342 --> 00:35:58,862 of emotion and feeling, 851 00:35:58,862 --> 00:36:02,366 but it is not driven by emotion and feeling. 852 00:36:02,366 --> 00:36:04,629 Can I tell you this? 853 00:36:04,629 --> 00:36:06,909 God did not look at us 854 00:36:06,909 --> 00:36:10,468 and He was not wooed by us. 855 00:36:10,468 --> 00:36:11,882 There was nothing in us 856 00:36:11,882 --> 00:36:14,414 compelling Him to love us. 857 00:36:14,414 --> 00:36:16,975 In fact, the only thing in us 858 00:36:16,975 --> 00:36:18,900 that compelled God was our sin 859 00:36:18,900 --> 00:36:26,138 and it compelled Him to have just wrath upon us. 860 00:36:26,138 --> 00:36:29,463 God is love (1 John 4:8). 861 00:36:29,463 --> 00:36:34,476 Love is from God (1 John 4:7). 862 00:36:34,476 --> 00:36:36,867 So why did God love you? 863 00:36:36,867 --> 00:36:39,748 V. 10 of 1 John 4 tell us. 864 00:36:39,748 --> 00:36:41,312 "In this is love, 865 00:36:41,312 --> 00:36:43,181 not that we have loved God, 866 00:36:43,181 --> 00:36:44,377 but that He loved us 867 00:36:44,377 --> 00:36:45,833 and sent His Son to be 868 00:36:45,833 --> 00:36:50,072 the propitiation for our sin." 869 00:36:50,072 --> 00:36:53,652 God chose to love you, 870 00:36:53,652 --> 00:36:56,655 not because you're attractive. 871 00:36:56,655 --> 00:36:59,451 Not because He saw something in you. 872 00:36:59,451 --> 00:37:01,656 But because He's love. 873 00:37:01,656 --> 00:37:03,115 And what Paul is saying here 874 00:37:03,115 --> 00:37:05,856 in Colossians is, 875 00:37:05,856 --> 00:37:07,727 knowing that you have been loved 876 00:37:07,727 --> 00:37:10,131 by God in that way, 877 00:37:10,131 --> 00:37:12,622 love each other. 878 00:37:12,622 --> 00:37:14,703 Not because the people in your church 879 00:37:14,703 --> 00:37:16,640 are so lovable, 880 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:20,370 but God has set His love upon you. 881 00:37:20,370 --> 00:37:22,270 Brothers and sisters, 882 00:37:22,270 --> 00:37:24,208 the Scriptures teach us 883 00:37:24,208 --> 00:37:26,701 that by love in our life is how people 884 00:37:26,701 --> 00:37:29,724 will know we are disciples. 885 00:37:29,724 --> 00:37:31,893 Listen, I know a lot of people that have 886 00:37:31,893 --> 00:37:34,173 their doctrine and theology down pat, 887 00:37:34,173 --> 00:37:36,935 and they're unloving. 888 00:37:36,935 --> 00:37:39,510 They're just unloving. 889 00:37:39,510 --> 00:37:41,894 They don't bear the fruit of love. 890 00:37:41,894 --> 00:37:44,156 Which is really what all these things are, 891 00:37:44,156 --> 00:37:45,560 aren't they? 892 00:37:45,560 --> 00:37:47,142 Compassionate, kindness, 893 00:37:47,142 --> 00:37:50,394 humility, meekness, patience, forgiving. 894 00:37:50,394 --> 00:37:52,114 Fruits of the Spirit. 895 00:37:52,114 --> 00:37:54,830 Manifestation of love. 896 00:37:54,830 --> 00:37:56,958 So, I'll leave us with this question. 897 00:37:56,958 --> 00:38:04,669 What is your spiritual barometer for your life? 898 00:38:04,669 --> 00:38:07,108 Your faith? 899 00:38:07,108 --> 00:38:10,078 Ministry? 900 00:38:10,078 --> 00:38:14,831 Your sacrifice? 901 00:38:14,831 --> 00:38:17,796 I'm going to read to you in closing here 902 00:38:17,796 --> 00:38:19,533 what your spiritual barometer 903 00:38:19,533 --> 00:38:21,529 should look like. 904 00:38:21,529 --> 00:38:22,634 And if you match this, 905 00:38:22,634 --> 00:38:31,040 you're going to be safe. 906 00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:34,399 "If I speak in the tongues of men 907 00:38:34,399 --> 00:38:37,848 and of angels..." 908 00:38:37,848 --> 00:38:39,707 Do you measure your spiritual life 909 00:38:39,707 --> 00:38:44,129 by the gifts God has given you? 910 00:38:44,129 --> 00:38:46,823 "If I speak in the tongue of men and of angels..." 911 00:38:46,823 --> 00:38:51,006 surely then I'm spiritually mature and doing well. 912 00:38:51,006 --> 00:38:52,623 Well, hold on a second. 913 00:38:52,623 --> 00:38:55,128 "...but if you have not love, 914 00:38:55,128 --> 00:38:59,659 you're a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal." 915 00:38:59,659 --> 00:39:05,918 So gifts aren't the test. 916 00:39:05,918 --> 00:39:07,385 "If I have prophetic powers 917 00:39:07,385 --> 00:39:08,761 and understand all mysteries 918 00:39:08,761 --> 00:39:09,713 and all knowledge, 919 00:39:09,713 --> 00:39:10,971 and if I have all faith, 920 00:39:10,971 --> 00:39:14,735 so as to remove mountains..." 921 00:39:14,735 --> 00:39:17,352 I've got my doctrine down! 922 00:39:17,352 --> 00:39:19,833 I believe. 923 00:39:19,833 --> 00:39:21,159 I understand these truths. 924 00:39:21,159 --> 00:39:22,339 I can explain them. 925 00:39:22,339 --> 00:39:23,989 I can tear people apart with them. 926 00:39:23,989 --> 00:39:29,508 I know all the verses. 927 00:39:29,508 --> 00:39:33,990 "...but if I have not love, I'm nothing." 928 00:39:33,990 --> 00:39:36,952 "If I give away all I have, 929 00:39:36,952 --> 00:39:47,656 and deliver up my body to be burned..." 930 00:39:47,656 --> 00:39:50,568 I have the oldest car in my church. 931 00:39:50,568 --> 00:39:52,249 I have the least amount of clothes 932 00:39:52,249 --> 00:39:54,144 of anyone in my church. 933 00:39:54,144 --> 00:39:58,401 I live in the poorest house in my church. 934 00:39:58,401 --> 00:40:00,321 I can live off the least amount of money 935 00:40:00,321 --> 00:40:04,261 in my church. 936 00:40:04,261 --> 00:40:07,423 Do you have love? 937 00:40:07,423 --> 00:40:08,927 I'm not in any way implying 938 00:40:08,927 --> 00:40:10,318 that these other realities 939 00:40:10,318 --> 00:40:12,339 that 1 Corinthians 13 is speaking of 940 00:40:12,339 --> 00:40:14,511 are not important. 941 00:40:14,511 --> 00:40:17,341 What this is teaching us is this: 942 00:40:17,341 --> 00:40:19,419 If you have those, but you don't have love, 943 00:40:19,419 --> 00:40:22,374 you have nothing. 944 00:40:22,374 --> 00:40:24,377 Now, we need gifts in the church. 945 00:40:24,377 --> 00:40:28,204 We need knowledge. We need faith in the church. 946 00:40:28,204 --> 00:40:29,633 We need a sacrifice. 947 00:40:29,633 --> 00:40:31,273 We need sacrificial living 948 00:40:31,273 --> 00:40:32,961 in the church. 949 00:40:32,961 --> 00:40:34,506 Amen to all that. 950 00:40:34,506 --> 00:40:36,751 But if you all that, but you don't have love, 951 00:40:36,751 --> 00:40:38,000 you have nothing. 952 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:38,967 As one brother said, 953 00:40:38,967 --> 00:40:41,382 five minus one equals zero 954 00:40:41,382 --> 00:40:45,597 here in 1 Corinthians 13. 955 00:40:45,597 --> 00:40:47,131 You have all these five things, 956 00:40:47,131 --> 00:40:48,376 but you don't have love, 957 00:40:48,376 --> 00:40:51,032 you've not nothing. 958 00:40:51,032 --> 00:40:52,998 So what should the barometer be 959 00:40:52,998 --> 00:40:55,431 of our spiritual life? 960 00:40:55,431 --> 00:40:56,650 Love. 961 00:40:56,650 --> 00:40:57,608 You know why? 962 00:40:57,608 --> 00:41:00,191 Because if you genuinely have love, 963 00:41:00,191 --> 00:41:01,777 these other areas will manifest 964 00:41:01,777 --> 00:41:04,800 in your life. 965 00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:08,815 These other areas will show up in your life. 966 00:41:08,815 --> 00:41:11,198 What's Paul calling us to do? 967 00:41:11,198 --> 00:41:13,309 He is calling us 968 00:41:13,309 --> 00:41:16,031 to understand who Jesus Christ is - 969 00:41:16,031 --> 00:41:18,883 that's Colossians 1. 970 00:41:18,883 --> 00:41:20,527 To believe Who He is. 971 00:41:20,527 --> 00:41:22,425 To believe what He accomplished. 972 00:41:22,425 --> 00:41:25,283 Colossians 2. 973 00:41:25,283 --> 00:41:27,570 And to know who we are in Jesus Christ 974 00:41:27,570 --> 00:41:28,997 through faith, 975 00:41:28,997 --> 00:41:31,396 and to live in light of that reality. 976 00:41:31,396 --> 00:41:33,348 To know this love. 977 00:41:33,348 --> 00:41:35,082 To know this election. 978 00:41:35,082 --> 00:41:36,947 To know this setting apart, 979 00:41:36,947 --> 00:41:37,994 and then to live 980 00:41:37,994 --> 00:41:40,330 in light of those realities. 981 00:41:40,330 --> 00:41:42,416 You say, Jesse, I'm struggling with love. 982 00:41:42,416 --> 00:41:44,419 I can tell you what you've done for sure. 983 00:41:44,419 --> 00:41:45,438 You know what it is? 984 00:41:45,438 --> 00:41:48,115 You've taken your eyes off of Jesus Christ. 985 00:41:48,115 --> 00:41:49,618 You've taken your eyes off of 986 00:41:49,618 --> 00:41:51,995 the grace of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. 987 00:41:51,995 --> 00:41:54,504 And Paul wants you to be fixated 988 00:41:54,504 --> 00:41:56,273 upon the grace of God in Jesus Christ 989 00:41:56,273 --> 00:41:57,139 and the Gospel. 990 00:41:57,139 --> 00:41:58,899 And if that is continually 991 00:41:58,899 --> 00:42:00,607 being renewed in your mind 992 00:42:00,607 --> 00:42:06,459 and unveiled by the power of the Holy Spirit, 993 00:42:06,459 --> 00:42:09,078 then we will be motivated and compelled 994 00:42:09,078 --> 00:42:10,642 to live that reality out, 995 00:42:10,642 --> 00:42:11,789 and in living that out, 996 00:42:11,789 --> 00:42:17,737 God gets glory in our life and in our churches. 997 00:42:17,737 --> 00:42:21,717 So that's my prayer for you 998 00:42:21,717 --> 00:42:24,381 is that you would grow in the depth 999 00:42:24,381 --> 00:42:27,350 of the Gospel. 1000 00:42:27,350 --> 00:42:28,846 Brothers and sisters, 1001 00:42:28,846 --> 00:42:30,897 the Gospel's not just the entrance 1002 00:42:30,897 --> 00:42:32,958 into the Kingdom of God 1003 00:42:32,958 --> 00:42:34,847 and then we move on 1004 00:42:34,847 --> 00:42:37,025 to greater things. 1005 00:42:37,025 --> 00:42:39,804 You're never going to get out of that Gospel. 1006 00:42:39,804 --> 00:42:41,384 You're just going to go deeper 1007 00:42:41,384 --> 00:42:43,527 and deeper and deeper into it. 1008 00:42:43,527 --> 00:42:45,353 And as you understand it more, 1009 00:42:45,353 --> 00:42:47,165 here's where it will be reflected: 1010 00:42:47,165 --> 00:42:51,242 in your love, forgiveness, compassion, 1011 00:42:51,242 --> 00:42:59,097 patience, forbearing with the church. 1012 00:42:59,097 --> 00:43:00,544 That's where it shows up. 1013 00:43:00,544 --> 00:43:02,149 And the lost as we go out 1014 00:43:02,149 --> 00:43:03,686 and preach the Gospel, 1015 00:43:03,686 --> 00:43:08,063 and our love for God. 1016 00:43:08,063 --> 00:43:10,050 So, do you see the need to prioritize 1017 00:43:10,050 --> 00:43:11,412 the nurturing of your soul 1018 00:43:11,412 --> 00:43:13,952 in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? 1019 00:43:13,952 --> 00:43:15,927 If you take your eyes off that Gospel, 1020 00:43:15,927 --> 00:43:19,563 you forget that it's all grace. 1021 00:43:19,563 --> 00:43:21,510 All those things Paul called you to 1022 00:43:21,510 --> 00:43:27,067 are squashed by pride. 1023 00:43:27,067 --> 00:43:30,882 The Gospel as grace brings humility. 1024 00:43:30,882 --> 00:43:32,704 So, may the Lord work 1025 00:43:32,704 --> 00:43:34,081 the Gospel of Jesus Christ 1026 00:43:34,081 --> 00:43:35,459 and the grace of Jesus Christ 1027 00:43:35,459 --> 00:43:38,613 evermore into our hearts. 1028 00:43:38,613 --> 00:43:39,919 Amen? 1029 00:43:39,919 --> 00:43:42,306 Amen.