WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.680 You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.440 couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun in 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:15.480 practical ways. Hey, everybody, Merry Christmas, Christmas. 4 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:20.079 We are super excited that we are actually filming a 5 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:22.879 Bible Guys on Christmas Day. 6 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:25.559 That's right. We left our families. Yes, we don't even 7 00:00:25.559 --> 00:00:27.760 know what they're doing right now. We left our families 8 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.440 and we just shot over here so we can shoot 9 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:32.439 this because this is the same outfit we were the 10 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:33.280 last three days. 11 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:36.320 This is live, folks. This is Christmas Morning. 12 00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:38.759 It's not no, it's not it's not no. 13 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:42.920 In fact, this is what two weeks what's today Christmas? 14 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:46.320 It is the eleventh right, Okay, I'm just letting people know, right, 15 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:48.159 So we shoot a couple weeks in evand sometimes we 16 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:50.240 shoot five or six weeks in the van. 17 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:53.479 Sometimes it's sometimes yeah, really closer. But here we are. 18 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:54.320 Yeah. 19 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:58.479 So Merry Christmas, everybody, and thank you for listening. And 20 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:01.560 today we are are going to get to Ephesians. But 21 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:06.159 before we do, Desiree simply has written this Merry Christmas. 22 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:08.879 Let's take some time this morning to share some of 23 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:13.040 your favorite Christmas traditions or funny stories. 24 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:19.079 Yes, and I can only imagine Chris with your wild brothers. Yes, 25 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.120 some of the most amazing Christmas stories ever. 26 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:22.480 Yeah. 27 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:24.120 Well, I'd just share one with you and had you 28 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:26.560 crying it was so funny. Yeah, but it's not a 29 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:30.680 shareable story. It's not a shareable story. So my brothers 30 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:33.280 were definitely wild. Yes, But how hard did you just 31 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:34.040 laugh at that story? 32 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:36.560 Yeah? Yeah, I just I was laughing as we were 33 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:37.680 rolling into the story. 34 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:37.799 Yeah. 35 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:40.359 So I can't share that story, but I. 36 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:42.359 Will stop Chris and the lobby and ask him to 37 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:43.239 tell you the story. 38 00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:47.439 No, No, I cannot share it. It is a non 39 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:51.200 shareable story. So hey, but I will say this. I 40 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:55.519 remember my mom before I was born, sharing that Chris. 41 00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:58.439 On Christmas morning, my two oldest brothers, Chucky and Donnie, 42 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:00.480 who were very young at the time up and they 43 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:02.719 were probably like six and seven or eight eight seven 44 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:04.760 or eight something like that, and they got up at 45 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:07.359 like five in the morning, came down, looked at all 46 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:10.400 their Christmas presents before my mom and dad woke up, 47 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:14.919 and somehow they put on their goloshes because it was 48 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.879 you know, like two feet of snow outside. And I 49 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:21.120 don't know why, but for some reason, they went outside 50 00:02:21.479 --> 00:02:24.719 in their pajamas with their galoshes on, you know the 51 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:29.039 boots that go over rubber boots, and they went inside 52 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.520 the car and started beeping the horn. 53 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:38.199 To wake everybody up. 54 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:40.360 And they were trying to wake mom and dad up. 55 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:43.080 But no, you know, but they were like waking up. 56 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:44.680 Mister Missus Polaccas. 57 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:46.479 Neighbor. 58 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:49.439 Were your neighbors? Their last name was Pelaccus, mister and 59 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:53.800 missus Placus. Yes, no way, yes, dude, you need to 60 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:56.360 make a movie just of your family. I know, I know, 61 00:02:56.759 --> 00:02:59.840 but what a great movie neighbor name? 62 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:05.680 Yes, yes, yes, that's great. 63 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:10.599 But anyway, but that then, my mom was standing by 64 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:12.680 the door and you know, she didn't have any boots 65 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:13.319 or anything like that. 66 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.240 So she's trying to yell at them and she's like, 67 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:16.080 what's going on. 68 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:16.879 It's five in the. 69 00:03:16.800 --> 00:03:18.800 Morning, and she goes get back in here and they 70 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:20.360 were just hoodlies, She'll be like. 71 00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:24.800 And so she had to literally like go back in 72 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:28.319 her room, find boots, run back out there, and her 73 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:30.840 little you know whatever they call those things. 74 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:33.240 My mom used to wear a lot of those. It's 75 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:35.240 just like an overnight they call them something. 76 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:41.439 Yeah moos, Yes, my mom had momoz and so she 77 00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:44.680 went out in her moo moove and grabbed Chucky and 78 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:45.319 Donny and. 79 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:48.560 Drug them back in the house. Yeah. 80 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:52.719 Us, And that's just one of many stories, many crazy Christs. 81 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:53.800 That was Christmas morning. 82 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:58.199 Yeah wow? So uh, you guys really did? I mean, 83 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:00.960 you've heard the joke before, but fun, you guys put 84 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:03.800 the fun and dysfunctional. But I think that the Tzar 85 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:09.000 Bab boys did. Yes, right, that's its next level insanity. Yes, 86 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:11.759 in your house. Nobody can compete. I don't think anybody. 87 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:14.159 I don't think anybody compete. I think that you know, 88 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:17.160 Brian Reagan has the funny joke about you know, the 89 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:20.680 fourteen men who walked on the moon. They win every party, yes, right, 90 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:23.240 every time somebody starts telling the story. They just wait 91 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:26.160 around until everybody's done bragging, and then they finally go 92 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:28.959 I walk down the moon, right right right. And I 93 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.600 think when it comes to dysfunctional families, I think you're 94 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:35.319 the one that can just wait around, let everybody talk 95 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:38.720 about how dysfunctional their family was and how insane their 96 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:41.199 family was. Just tell you. 97 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:46.199 Did I say I walked on the moon? 98 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:49.720 Except you could do it with just the insane brothers. 99 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.279 Your brothers were nuts, they were super Are they still 100 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:54.519 kind of crazy? My? Uh? 101 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:55.439 Yes? 102 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:57.160 And no did they ever get house broken? 103 00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:00.240 The answers, no, they're not crazy. They don't do crazy 104 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.879 things anymore, but they I think I think the legend 105 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:07.600 lives on in my cut or my nephews and and 106 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:08.240 things like that. 107 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:11.079 Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. 108 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:15.439 In fact, the brothers were such a legacy, uh that. 109 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:17.759 You know, they were famous also for getting in fights, 110 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:20.120 which is not a good thing, right, But I remember 111 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:24.560 my brother, uh, my brother, uh Donnie, who is very 112 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:26.959 famous for you know, getting in bar fights and such. 113 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:30.639 One day he got into a fight with some lawyer 114 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:32.879 guy in a in a I think. 115 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:34.360 It was that's always a good idea, Donny. 116 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:35.000 I think it was a bar. 117 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:37.920 But anyway, but my but his son, which was my nephew, 118 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:45.360 uh jumped in and uh uh fought just because he 119 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:48.480 wanted to live up to the to Donnie's name. And 120 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:50.680 I'm not kidding when I say this. It made the 121 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:54.120 front page of the Vindicator, of the of the paper 122 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:57.240 and guess what. Guess what the headline said, like father 123 00:05:57.480 --> 00:06:00.600 like son, you're kidding no, And it had and it 124 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:04.480 had a write up on little Donnie who got in 125 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:07.000 this bar fight, who was like Donnie. 126 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:09.560 Yeah. Wow, And that was the front page. 127 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:13.680 Headline, like father, like son. It's nuts of the Vindicator. 128 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:16.959 No, I could, I could be wrong, but I'm That's 129 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:18.399 what I remember my mom telling me. 130 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:20.120 I'm almost positive that's true. 131 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:25.839 So I promise you, uh my, my Christmas memories are 132 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:30.399 exactly the opposite. Wow, like my Christmas memories as a kid. 133 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.240 You know, we didn't have a lot of money, but 134 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:34.480 we had a big family. I've got six older sisters, 135 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:37.920 I've got three younger brothers, aunts and uncles and all 136 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:42.160 that stuff. Our house was eight hundred and forty square feet, 137 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:44.199 the house I grew up in, and we would have 138 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:46.199 everybody over at one time. 139 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:48.560 Wow, everybody ever. Forty square feet is not. 140 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.519 Yeah, and we would just everybody and it was just 141 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:55.959 food and loud and you know, all that kind of stuff. 142 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:02.079 But quaint story, no, no, no, none of those things. 143 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:03.800 And then as as we grew up, you know, my 144 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:06.759 mom and dad built another house, and so the family 145 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:08.600 parties kind of centered around their other house and it 146 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:13.279 was bigger, quite a bit bigger. And uh, after after dinner, 147 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:16.120 after the presents are open and everybody's calmed down, usually 148 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:18.879 my dad's watching football or something, you know. And then 149 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:21.279 usually in the evening, then everybody gathers around the people 150 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:24.360 that are you know, my mom doesn't make everybody do everything, 151 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:28.680 but usually the ones that were up for it. Everybody's 152 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:31.600 gonna play some board games or some table usually table games, 153 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:35.639 and uh like a ultimate werewolf for one of those, 154 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:38.920 and just uh, it's kind of loud and rowdy and 155 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:42.439 laughing that kind of thing, but not insane. You guys 156 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:44.959 are insane. We're just laughing and having fun. You guys 157 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:46.079 were yeah yeah yeah. 158 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:48.160 Well there's some outlandis burn down the village. 159 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:52.600 Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah yeah crazy yeah yeah. Well well 160 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:56.240 hey that that those are guys who're really living life. 161 00:07:57.480 --> 00:07:57.879 That's right. 162 00:07:57.959 --> 00:08:00.959 You were alive, but it wasn't the abundant life that 163 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:01.759 Jesus talked about. 164 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:04.639 Yes, And in Ephesians chapter two it talks about how 165 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:06.199 we're made alive with Christ. 166 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.120 Oh, that's where you were going. I sort of mixed 167 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.439 the Bible verses in their reg threw you off. 168 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:14.800 No, no, no, So in Ephesians chapter two, and that's 169 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:18.079 where we're at today. We should move on. Before Chris 170 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:21.360 tells us some really bad stories. It says this in 171 00:08:21.399 --> 00:08:24.439 Ephesians two. Verse one says, once you were dead because 172 00:08:24.439 --> 00:08:28.360 of your disobedience and your many sins. Merry Christmas, by 173 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:30.160 the way, Married Christmas. 174 00:08:29.720 --> 00:08:30.639 Right right? 175 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:37.639 Yeah, Hey, don't you chooseays You used to live in sin? 176 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:40.799 Is what it says. Merry Christmas. This say is just 177 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:43.440 by just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil, 178 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:47.519 the commander of the powers and the unseen world. He's 179 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:49.879 the spirit at work in the hearts of those who 180 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:52.240 refuse to obey God. And all of us used to 181 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:55.559 live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of 182 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:59.240 our sinful nature. By our very nature, we are subject 183 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:03.759 to God's anger just like everyone else. Merry Christmas once again. 184 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:08.480 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved 185 00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:11.480 us so much that even though we were dead because 186 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:13.840 of our sins, he gave us life when he raised 187 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.639 Christ from the dead. It's only by God's grace that 188 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:19.639 you've been saved, for he raised us from the dead 189 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:21.639 along with Christ and seated us with him in the 190 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:24.840 heavenly realms. Because we are united with Christ Jesus, so 191 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:27.559 God can point to us in all future ages as 192 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:30.519 examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness 193 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:32.799 toward us, as shown in all He has done for 194 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:36.039 us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you 195 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:37.960 by his grace when you believed, and you can't take 196 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.039 credit for this. It's a gift from God. Salvation is 197 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:43.639 not a reward for the good things we've done. So 198 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:46.000 none of us can boast about it. For we are 199 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:50.320 God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, 200 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:52.960 so we can do the good things He planned for 201 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:55.320 us long ago. Isn't that awesome? 202 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:56.519 Yeah, it's great. 203 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:00.639 And by the way, two podcasts ago, we sort of 204 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:02.919 made the joke because we said we really didn't talk 205 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:07.039 about the Philippians' main highlighted verse, He who has begun 206 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:09.679 a good work in you is faithful to complete it. 207 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:11.799 Right, We didn't even really talk about it. We talked 208 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:13.720 about a lot of things, but we didn't really talk 209 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:16.120 about that. So let's make sure that we actually we're 210 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:18.159 going to get to it right here highlighted verse. 211 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:19.559 We are God's masterpiece. 212 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:22.279 Yes, we are God's masterpiece, for he has created us 213 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:25.720 a new in Christ Jesus, so we can do the 214 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:27.519 good things he planned for us a long time ago. 215 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:31.279 So means for the purpose of right, That's what that 216 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:34.320 little Greek word means. So he's saying that he created 217 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:37.279 us a new and he created as a masterpiece for 218 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:39.559 the purpose of doing the good deeds that he had 219 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.039 planned and set up for us a long time ago. 220 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:46.840 So it's great. It's an indication of God's intentionality. 221 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:50.440 Right. So God has made you as a masterpiece. 222 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:53.000 It's a work of art. It literally means a work 223 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:55.519 of art. So you know, we often look in the 224 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:59.759 mirror and we see all of our flaws, right, We see, 225 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:03.440 you know, our wrinkles, We see you know that our 226 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:05.799 nose is too big, or our eyes are crooked, and 227 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:07.840 you know, nobody else really sees that in us, but 228 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:11.639 we see all of our worst parts of our crooked Yeah, 229 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:13.159 everybody's eyes are crooked. 230 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:17.120 Well mine, I broke my skull right here. Oh and 231 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:18.480 so this eye is that. 232 00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:19.120 Like a boxing thing? 233 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:23.559 No, it was I was horsing around, so I got 234 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:27.159 like ten uh fractures in my head. But yeah, you 235 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:27.559 see that. 236 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:30.799 It doesn't really even even as you're saying, I don't 237 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.399 really see it. 238 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:34.320 This eye is substantially lower than this eye. 239 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:38.399 Yeah let me okay, all right, I can I can 240 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:40.799 maybe see it. Yeah, but I don't think anybody would 241 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:46.759 ever notice. Well yeah, now they Yeah. 242 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:48.120 But it happens, right, you notice your flaws? Yeah, you bro, 243 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:48.519 you do. 244 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:52.480 And I think that also happens when it comes to uh, like, 245 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:54.759 you know, think about the best person that you can 246 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:56.639 think of. Oh, this person is such a great person, 247 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:58.720 They're such a great role model, they are just a 248 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:02.559 genuinely great person. But walk up to that person and say, 249 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:04.039 what do you think of yourself? 250 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:05.919 They won't think that. 251 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:10.000 They won't they'll think of their own flaws and they'll say, well, 252 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:12.799 you don't really know me. And some of that is warranted, right, 253 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:15.919 because you know, we have we have inner thoughts. We 254 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:19.759 have you know, sometimes you know, sinful thoughts. We have 255 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:21.799 things that we won't don't want to admit to people. 256 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:22.960 So some of that's warranted. 257 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:24.159 But for the most. 258 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:29.240 Part, we don't see ourselves as God's masterpiece, is my point? 259 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:29.799 Right. 260 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:33.039 God creates us as a work of art, and he says, 261 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:34.360 I made you beautifully. 262 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:36.960 You say no, no, no, I'm made horribly. No you're not. 263 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:38.519 You're made beautiful. 264 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:42.440 God God designed you and more specifically, He designed you 265 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:46.159 on purpose to use you to do all the great 266 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:50.039 things that He wants to do in you and through you. Right, 267 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:53.600 So it's part of God's intentionality to say he has 268 00:12:53.639 --> 00:12:56.399 placed you where you are at for a reason. 269 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:57.039 Right. 270 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:00.399 So we did a sermon a long time ago. Remember 271 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:02.720 three years ago where you grabbed a bat and you 272 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:03.639 smashed the mailbox. 273 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:04.440 Yeah, remember that. 274 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.440 Make a dent where you're sent. 275 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:06.639 Make a dent where you're sent. 276 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:09.679 And it's the idea is to make an impact where 277 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:11.960 God has placed you. Right, make a dent where your 278 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.799 sent means to make an impact, which means God has 279 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:19.399 designed you, He's gifted you, He's created you to actually 280 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:22.519 make an impact exactly where you are, whether you're a 281 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:25.399 single mom and whether you're an influencer in the home, 282 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:30.039 or whether you're in a cubicle somewhere right or maybe 283 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:33.440 perhaps in the neighborhood having influence over your neighbors in 284 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:37.240 a community, wherever it is. Just know that God created 285 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:40.639 you as a masterpiece to do great things where He's 286 00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.120 placed you. 287 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:45.080 If you've been created a new in Christ Jesus. 288 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:49.480 Well as a Christian right rights in Christ. 289 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:54.320 So we are not naturally on our own spectacular. We 290 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:57.559 are spectacular in the fact that He made us new 291 00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:00.399 in Christ, because that's why he talks about the beginning. 292 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:03.200 The beginning is you were dead in your sins, right 293 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:07.320 and and death is not a masterpiece. Right. Death is 294 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:10.360 the decay and destruction of everything happened to that, right 295 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:14.399 is it's it's the it's the decay of everything that 296 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:19.200 was good. And then he says, you were dead in 297 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:21.799 your sins. And it's interesting because a lot of times 298 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:26.279 we think all those good old days, those were wild days. 299 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.639 I was just sowing my wild oats or whatever. And 300 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:31.879 God goes, no, you were walking in death. That's that's 301 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:35.000 what you're doing. And we need to in order to 302 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:38.320 really appreciate the masterpiece God's creating, we need to just 303 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:42.320 acknowledge that was a life of death. Maybe I have 304 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:44.759 a few fond memories of it, but the reality is 305 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:49.159 before Christ, I was just dead. And then Christ made 306 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:52.759 me a new And so then the pivot is that 307 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:55.000 he makes us new when we were reunited with Christ. 308 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:57.039 And you're like, well, how does that happen? And then 309 00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:59.360 that's that verse eight, for God saved you by his 310 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:03.080 grace when you believed God's graces, He gives you what 311 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:06.720 you don't deserve. He saves you from this, this this 312 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:12.840 existence of death when you believed. That's a faith moment, 313 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:15.799 when you place your faith in him. God gives you 314 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:19.039 what you don't deserve, and he resks, rescues you, and 315 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:21.000 he says, and you can't take credit for this, it's 316 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.840 a gift from God. Hey, we're giving gifts today, right, 317 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:26.879 somebody probably gave you a gift today, or you gave 318 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:30.200 a gift to somebody during this season. And God's whole 319 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:34.159 plan has always been you can't earn it. Let me 320 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:37.320 just give you this relationship with me, let me raise 321 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:40.399 you from spiritual death, and let me turn you into 322 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:43.480 a masterpiece. And that's just my gift to you. Right. 323 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:45.519 It's God just being good to us. Yeah, he's giving 324 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:47.519 us graces, He's giving us what we don't deserve. 325 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.000 Yeah. 326 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:51.639 And then also it says God's rich and mercy, which 327 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.919 means the flip side of that coin is he's not 328 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:56.840 giving us what we do deserve, right, which is judgment 329 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:57.879 for our sins. 330 00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:59.399 That's right, right, it's punishment. 331 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:03.799 So the verse four, God is so rich in mercy, yes, 332 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.000 and he loves us so much that even though we 333 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:09.600 were dead because of our sins, he gave us life. 334 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:12.600 Yeah, it's and it's only by God's grace that you've 335 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.120 been saved. 336 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:15.000 So I always liked a couple those two. 337 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:20.480 Right, So mercy saves us and spares us, and grace 338 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:25.679 favors us. So Grace is giving us favor like it 339 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:29.840 says that God views us as if we've never sinned. Now, 340 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:34.960 I literally you mentioned something ag'ins your Rose Memorial and 341 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:38.600 I told Dave Wilson last night about it, and I 342 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:42.360 couldn't even say it without crying. It was so unbelievable. 343 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:45.240 The word picture is so unbelievable. You had said, imagine 344 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:48.159 you're in heaven, and you said your heavenly father is 345 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.279 looking at Jesus, and. 346 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:51.360 It's let me, let me, let me read it. Read it. 347 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.799 Oh yeah, read it, dude, I'm telling you I was. 348 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:57.480 I was trying to quote it and I started to cry, 349 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:59.799 and then Wilson's like me, right. 350 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:02.399 Yeah, so he's crying. So here we are both crying, 351 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:03.159 and I haven't. 352 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:06.000 Even told him what it is yet, right because it's 353 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:09.039 just a beautiful picture. But it's exactly what this means. 354 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:13.039 Right of this verse because God views you as if 355 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:16.319 you have never sinned. That's what God's grace is. Grace 356 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:19.480 is God's favor. It's unmerited favor with God. 357 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:26.799 Right. So I heard Jim Bergen make a statement like this, 358 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:30.880 and then I've just run with this and it's just 359 00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:35.839 and I heard him mention it rate before all this happened. Yeah, 360 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:38.319 So it was like God, you know how sometimes God 361 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:40.519 will give you a thing before you need the thing, 362 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:43.960 you didn't realize it. So I heard Jim mention this 363 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:48.759 idea briefly, like I'm saying, like three sentences, and then 364 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:54.200 it just so. Imagine God the Father looking into the 365 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:56.559 face of Jesus. This is the picture of grace, right 366 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.920 that I want you to carry with you the rest 367 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:01.160 of your life. Imagine God the looking into the face 368 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:07.319 of Jesus. There's perfect love and perfect joy, perfect righteousness. 369 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:13.640 There's no disappointment, no hesitation, no frustration, just pure delight 370 00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:16.640 in his son. And I said, this is the smile 371 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:20.359 of Heaven. This is the pleasure of God in its fullest, 372 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:25.640 purest expression. And now imagine, you know, God's looking at 373 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:29.759 his son with just pure delight. And then imagine Jesus 374 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.599 gently stepping to the side, and God turns his gaze 375 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:36.559 toward you. And here's the miracle of the Gospel. His 376 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:41.359 expression does not change, not even a little. It's the 377 00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:45.440 same delight, the same joy, the same love, the same 378 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:49.200 approval he has for his own son he now has 379 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:52.599 for you in Christ, not because you earned it, not 380 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:56.440 because you lived flawlessly, not because you never struggled, but 381 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.640 because when God looks at you, he sees you wrapped 382 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:08.640 in the righteousness of Jesus. That's it. 383 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:09.200 It is a. 384 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:14.599 That is an emotional truth for a lot of people, 385 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.920 and they find that hard. 386 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.920 To believe about themselves. 387 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:24.440 Right. I know plenty of people we don't feel like 388 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:28.279 that would say that, would say not me right, right. 389 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:31.119 And by the way, these people aren't bad people. They 390 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:33.640 just would say, there's no way that could be true 391 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:37.359 of me. And and I think that's human nature. I 392 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:40.759 think that we all have those thoughts. You know, Do 393 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:44.400 you ever make a promise and then fail on that promise? 394 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:45.319 You know? 395 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:49.920 I you know, I remember specifically a particular promise when 396 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:52.240 I was young. I kept on saying to God, I promise, 397 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:55.039 I promise, I promise, and I kept on breaking that 398 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:58.599 promise over and over and over and over again, and 399 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:04.400 after a while you're like, O wretched man that I am. Right, 400 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:08.000 It's like, what kind of person am I here? And 401 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:13.039