WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.080 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:49.200 Going to open up to Galatians chapter 1. 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:52.380 As you do that, I want to tell everybody, Happy New Year. 00:00:52.380 --> 00:00:57.040 Glad that you're here with us as we're starting off a new series, as we're starting off a 00:00:57.040 --> 00:00:57.660 new year. 00:00:57.940 --> 00:01:02.880 For us, as we're starting off this new One Service, as we gather in here together, we are glad 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:05.640 that you are here and that you are worshiping with us. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:06.900 You saw it on the screen. 00:01:07.180 --> 00:01:08.500 You'll hear it a couple more times. 00:01:08.720 --> 00:01:10.720 We want you to come back tonight, all right? 00:01:10.940 --> 00:01:13.040 There's a chili cook-off happening, all right? 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:18.580 There's no place that I would rather be this evening than right here gathered with my closest 00:01:18.580 --> 00:01:25.880 friends and family and experiencing as many different bowls of chili as absolutely possible. 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.420 And so, if you've got one and I want you to bring it, there is a competition. 00:01:29.720 --> 00:01:33.920 Not only is there a competition for chili, but there's a competition for desserts, right? 00:01:34.160 --> 00:01:38.700 So, whether you're a sweet or a savory person, we've got both of those for you, all right? 00:01:38.720 --> 00:01:42.820 So, I want to make sure that you come back, bring something, bring a chili, bring something 00:01:42.820 --> 00:01:47.780 sweet, bring one or the other, but the preference is that you would absolutely bring both. 00:01:47.860 --> 00:01:48.700 That's my preference, right? 00:01:48.880 --> 00:01:51.140 So, come back tonight as we have that time. 00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:52.320 You know what God did for us? 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:54.720 It was summer all last week. 00:01:55.160 --> 00:01:56.180 God brought the cold. 00:01:56.320 --> 00:01:58.760 No better time for chili than when it's cold outside. 00:01:58.820 --> 00:02:00.860 So, make sure that you are here with us. 00:02:01.160 --> 00:02:06.360 Well, as we're starting off with this new service, I want to kind of remind you guys about the 00:02:06.360 --> 00:02:09.240 flow and how things are going and what we're doing. 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:15.280 And we will, together today as a church family, take part in the Lord's Supper together. 00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:19.320 And that is going to be something that we do the first Sunday of every month. 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:24.160 And so, if that's an important thing for you like it is for me, then you might want to make 00:02:24.160 --> 00:02:28.760 sure that you're here definitely for the first service, or for the first Sunday, not first 00:02:28.760 --> 00:02:32.340 service, first Sunday of each month as we have that together. 00:02:32.600 --> 00:02:36.160 Something else that maybe you weren't aware of, because on our first Sunday of the month, 00:02:36.160 --> 00:02:39.480 we'll have first grade through fifth grade with us in the building. 00:02:39.920 --> 00:02:43.880 And so, Dawn and the kids team has put together these kids handouts, all right? 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.020 And so, they're going to help the kids track through the message. 00:02:47.160 --> 00:02:48.560 They're going to help them follow the points. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:52.880 It's got the scripture on the back and some extra areas where they can take notes. 00:02:53.140 --> 00:02:55.360 And so, kids, if you didn't get one today, that's all right. 00:02:55.440 --> 00:02:59.520 Next month, we'll have them available for you as well to kind of help you track through. 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:03.520 Now, kids, here's where you can really benefit with these, all right? 00:03:04.160 --> 00:03:07.760 How many of you sometimes for the little kids, you get in the car, and your parents are like, 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:09.780 so what did you learn today, right? 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:11.300 And they give you the test, right? 00:03:11.320 --> 00:03:12.300 We do that with our kids. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:16.700 Kids, next time, next first Sunday of the month, grab one of these. 00:03:17.600 --> 00:03:18.680 You're riding home. 00:03:19.620 --> 00:03:20.900 Mom and dad are driving. 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:22.520 Pull it out. 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:25.940 So, dad, what did you learn today, right? 00:03:26.440 --> 00:03:28.100 You can test them, all right? 00:03:28.440 --> 00:03:32.680 This is what we're working toward as a family, but we can grab these and have these together. 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:37.600 So, thank you, Dawn and her team for getting those out for our kids today. 00:03:38.040 --> 00:03:43.360 We're going to be studying the book of Galatians over the next several weeks and over the next 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:44.040 several months. 00:03:44.200 --> 00:03:48.220 And it's important that we understand what is happening in this letter. 00:03:48.480 --> 00:03:49.420 Who's writing it? 00:03:49.580 --> 00:03:50.680 Why are they writing it? 00:03:50.700 --> 00:03:53.080 And what are they addressing as we go through? 00:03:53.340 --> 00:03:59.420 So, this letter is written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Galatia, to the Galatian 00:03:59.420 --> 00:04:02.960 people, which is why it's called the letter of Galatians. 00:04:03.540 --> 00:04:09.660 Now, what Paul would do is Paul would plant a church, and then he would move on from that 00:04:09.660 --> 00:04:11.400 church to plant another church. 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:16.840 If you've ever heard of the phrase church planner, today, Paul was the first church planner 00:04:16.840 --> 00:04:19.740 that we see in biblical history as we move forward. 00:04:19.900 --> 00:04:23.800 He's the most dynamic church planner that the world has ever known. 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:28.160 And so, what Paul would do is he would plant a church, he would stay there for a certain 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:32.760 time, he would raise up the congregation, he would raise up another pastor, and then he 00:04:32.760 --> 00:04:37.580 would leave it, and he would entrust, like he did with Timothy and Ephesus, he would leave 00:04:37.580 --> 00:04:40.620 the authority with a pastor there, and then he would move on. 00:04:41.060 --> 00:04:46.040 But periodically, from time to time, Paul would check back in with the church, and this 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:47.480 would happen through letters. 00:04:47.940 --> 00:04:49.280 Hey, how are things going? 00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:50.600 What are the problems? 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:51.860 What are the successes? 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:53.120 What are the wins? 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:58.200 And as Paul would hear back from the church what was happening and taking place, sometimes 00:04:58.200 --> 00:05:02.260 he would write letters and he would praise them and praise God for the work that was being 00:05:02.260 --> 00:05:02.640 done. 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:08.700 But sometimes Paul needed to instruct or correct things that were happening and things that 00:05:08.700 --> 00:05:09.560 were taking place. 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:14.080 And that's what we're going to look at with this letter to the Galatian people. 00:05:14.080 --> 00:05:19.160 Now, there were two factors that Paul's going to address throughout this letter that we need 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:19.880 to be aware of. 00:05:20.140 --> 00:05:26.660 This letter will address some social and racial divisions that come within the church. 00:05:27.080 --> 00:05:32.380 You see, when the church first started spreading, racially speaking, the people that were coming 00:05:32.380 --> 00:05:34.740 to faith were of Jewish race. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:40.060 They were of a Jewish faith, and they left the faith to become followers of Jesus Christ. 00:05:40.220 --> 00:05:43.340 And that's where the church first began and first took off. 00:05:43.340 --> 00:05:49.160 But as the church began to grow and began to expand, Gentiles started coming in, those who 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:54.200 weren't of Jewish faith before, those who weren't of Jewish race before. 00:05:54.500 --> 00:06:01.000 And so with more and more culturally Jews and with more and more culturally Gentiles coming 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:05.500 together, there began to be some problems and some divisions within the church. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:10.940 And so as Paul was going to point out about how the gospel unifies in so many different 00:06:10.940 --> 00:06:16.880 ways, Paul, throughout this letter, is going to address some social issues and some racial 00:06:16.880 --> 00:06:20.400 issues and even some culture issues that we're going to dive into. 00:06:20.840 --> 00:06:27.260 But the primary thing that Paul is going to address in this is the nature of the gospel. 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:33.900 This is going to be the theme that overwhelmingly takes and continues on for the Galatian people 00:06:33.900 --> 00:06:38.240 for their foundation of not only their faith, but of their life. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:43.360 And it's why I love that we're starting off this series at the beginning of the year, this 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:49.020 time of year, because what will be a reminder for us is the foundation for which we set our 00:06:49.020 --> 00:06:53.500 lives on, the foundation for which we live our lives on, but then the foundation for which 00:06:53.500 --> 00:06:55.360 we continue our lives with. 00:06:55.620 --> 00:07:00.660 That the gospel will infiltrate all of these aspects of our life. 00:07:00.780 --> 00:07:03.720 And it's what rings true for the Galatian people. 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:09.640 Specifically, the issue that Paul was having to work through with the Galatian people is 00:07:09.640 --> 00:07:12.960 the concept that the gospel wasn't enough. 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:20.460 For them, they were teaching that it was Jesus, it was the gospel, but then it was all of these 00:07:20.460 --> 00:07:21.980 other things as well. 00:07:22.220 --> 00:07:27.640 Remember, I said earlier that primarily that the followers who had largely become Christians 00:07:27.640 --> 00:07:29.800 first were Jewish believers. 00:07:30.320 --> 00:07:35.220 And so what would typically happen in their faith was they would receive the gospel of 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:40.680 Christ, but then they would continue on in a lot of their Jewish customs or their lot of 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:41.600 Jewish traditions. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:43.000 And that's fine. 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:48.500 There's nothing wrong with that as long as it's the understanding that the gospel in and 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:51.400 of itself only is what saves you. 00:07:51.400 --> 00:07:54.860 But not only what saves you, but what keeps you. 00:07:55.500 --> 00:08:00.560 And what is beginning to happen in Galatia is they say to these Gentile believers, look, look, 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:06.120 it's not just enough that you're saved, but then culturally speaking, you also need to adapt 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:10.940 these things in if you are going to be saved. 00:08:11.400 --> 00:08:13.140 And so Paul addresses that. 00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:19.540 Paul's going to begin this letter by addressing the heart of the gospel, the point of the gospel, 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:21.940 and what we respond to the gospel. 00:08:22.200 --> 00:08:26.880 So here's going to be the foundation of this sermon series as we go through this. 00:08:26.880 --> 00:08:32.300 Number one is this, is that the gospel is how we enter into the kingdom. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:36.040 That's the first thing I want us to understand about the gospel. 00:08:36.800 --> 00:08:41.460 That the gospel is how everyone in the world gets saved. 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:45.120 It's how you enter into the kingdom. 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:49.560 It is the gospel and the gospel alone that saves us. 00:08:49.900 --> 00:08:53.980 And Jesus is himself the heart of the gospel. 00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:58.100 If you remove Jesus from gospel, it's not gospel. 00:08:59.020 --> 00:09:02.280 If you remove his birth from the gospel, it's not gospel. 00:09:03.160 --> 00:09:06.000 If you remove his crucifixion, it's not gospel. 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:08.960 If you remove his resurrection, it's not gospel. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:12.820 That Jesus is and of himself the heart of the gospel. 00:09:13.140 --> 00:09:18.660 And it's why he says that he is the way, that he is the truth, that he is the life. 00:09:18.940 --> 00:09:26.820 And that no one, in all-encompassing word, that no one comes to the Father except by him. 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:29.080 No other works. 00:09:29.900 --> 00:09:30.880 No other ways. 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:32.480 No other gods. 00:09:33.100 --> 00:09:33.960 No other faiths. 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:42.760 in Jesus alone. And so when we talk about eternity, when we think about heaven, when we think about 00:09:42.760 --> 00:09:51.760 the eternal kingdom of God, the entrance into that is found in Jesus, in Jesus alone. 00:09:52.640 --> 00:10:01.100 So the gospel is how we enter. But then also is this, the gospel is how we live as a part 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:06.740 of the kingdom. And that's the other thing that Paul's going to work through in this letter, 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:13.800 that not only is what the gospel does is to bring you into the kingdom, into the future of the hope 00:10:13.800 --> 00:10:19.180 that we sing for, of what we raise our hands in proclamation of what the future holds for us 00:10:19.180 --> 00:10:25.000 in the coming of Christ and the calling of the saints to him, but that also that the gospel is 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:32.900 doing something here with us, that the gospel is actually working in us now, and that we need 00:10:32.900 --> 00:10:41.280 the gospel here. That not through some morality, not that through some religious rules, not through 00:10:41.280 --> 00:10:48.940 some works, but that the gospel is how we live. It's why it's so important that for those of us as 00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:54.620 believers, that we think that the gospel is for non-believers. And so we proclaim and that we 00:10:54.620 --> 00:11:00.960 teach and that we explain the gospel to them in hopes that they might be saved. But then we fill 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:06.880 up churches all over the world that says, well, the gospel is for them. Give me something for me. But it 00:11:06.880 --> 00:11:13.620 all rests in and roots in the gospel, that the gospel for you and I as believers in Jesus Christ is how 00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:22.720 we live as a part of the kingdom. So the gospel for me is just as important now, 19 years after I got 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:29.860 saved, as it was in the moment when I got saved. That the gospel is how I live as a part of the 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:36.580 kingdom. That for me in my life, the gospel sets the standard. For me in my life, that the gospel is at 00:11:36.580 --> 00:11:43.320 work in us now and that the gospel is what works through us. It is the power and it is the nature 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:52.420 of the gospel. I heard a pastor say one time that as followers of Jesus Christ, that we should be so 00:11:52.420 --> 00:12:00.160 filled with the power of the spirit and living in the gospel that when people see us, they see the gospel. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:08.960 that there's living evidence of the fruit within us. So yes, we look different. Yes, we do things 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:16.860 different. Yes, we talk different. Yes, we treat each other different. Not because we're better. Not 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:27.200 because we've done anything, but because of the gospel. Because he's so much better. And so that's 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:32.320 going to be the foundation of this. That's what Paul's trying to impress on the hearts of the Galatian 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:38.460 people. And what Paul's impressing on the hearts of us today is that we enter into the kingdom through 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:44.400 the gospel, but that we also live through the gospel. And so let's start reading Galatians chapter 1, 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:47.100 starting in verse 1. Paul writes, 00:12:47.200 --> 00:13:10.740 to the churches of Galatia, grace to you and peace from God, our Father and Lord Jesus Christ, who gave 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:17.660 himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age according to the will of God and Father, 00:13:18.060 --> 00:13:26.320 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Paul says, I'm astonished that you were so quickly 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:32.540 deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. 00:13:33.280 --> 00:13:40.340 Not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:47.300 Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we 00:13:47.300 --> 00:13:54.620 preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching 00:13:54.620 --> 00:14:04.640 to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. And so Paul begins, he opens it up, 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:10.760 he addresses, he greets them, and then he gets to the heart of what is taking place. I want to say 00:14:10.760 --> 00:14:19.220 this church to all of us as individuals, to all of us who wrestle with our faith, to all of us who dive 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:25.540 into scripture, for all of us who sit under teaching, or wherever we are, what we have to understand, 00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:31.260 what Paul does as he addresses this to the church, but as the individuals within the church, is this, 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:37.460 what you believe matters. What we believe matters. 00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:44.140 When it comes to faith, 00:14:45.260 --> 00:14:48.700 can we say that it's not just enough to say, 00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.700 I believe in God? 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:53.980 When we really get down to it, 00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:57.020 it's not just enough 00:14:57.020 --> 00:14:59.240 to say we believe in 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.640 Jesus. 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:05.820 Because it's in the details of who we believe him to be. 00:15:06.040 --> 00:15:08.920 It's in the details of what we trust him with our life, 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:11.040 that when it gets down to understanding 00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:12.460 what the gospel is, 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.880 and what the gospel does, 00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:17.040 what Jesus we believe in matters. 00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:18.520 And so what you believe, 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:20.440 and what I believe matters. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:21.860 And Paul's passion, 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:23.760 and his heart for addressing this church, 00:15:23.900 --> 00:15:25.940 is to make sure that there's this understanding 00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:28.340 that the Jesus they believe in, 00:15:28.520 --> 00:15:30.160 the Jesus they follow, 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:32.080 the Jesus they trust, 00:15:32.260 --> 00:15:33.820 is an authentic Jesus. 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.560 It's an authentic gospel, 00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:37.020 and that it's not counterfeit. 00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:38.820 And the problem is, 00:15:38.920 --> 00:15:40.420 is that there are those then, 00:15:41.020 --> 00:15:42.580 and there are those today, 00:15:43.380 --> 00:15:46.320 who are trying to sell a counterfeit Jesus. 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:49.160 They're trying to sell a counterfeit gospel. 00:15:50.540 --> 00:15:53.420 And so Paul brings it back to the heart. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:54.760 He says, look, 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:57.800 there are those who will trouble you 00:15:57.800 --> 00:16:00.500 by distorting the gospel. 00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:02.220 Now he doesn't say, 00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:04.220 there are those who will trouble you 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:06.000 by completely destroying it, 00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:07.180 and throwing it to the side. 00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:08.320 He doesn't say, 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:10.560 there are those who will try to trouble you 00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:11.560 by trying to lead you 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.940 to something completely different. 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.860 See, there's something sneakier 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:16.780 that is happening and taking place here. 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:17.220 He says, 00:16:17.300 --> 00:16:18.080 what they're doing 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:19.640 is they're taking the gospel, 00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:21.440 and they're just turning it. 00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:24.020 They're just modifying it. 00:16:24.680 --> 00:16:26.880 They're making it a little bit easier to hear. 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:29.980 They're making it a little bit more simple. 00:16:30.140 --> 00:16:31.380 They're making it a little bit 00:16:31.380 --> 00:16:32.860 where it's not as harsh. 00:16:33.140 --> 00:16:33.980 They're making it a little bit 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.180 where it doesn't call, 00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:36.940 where it doesn't talk about grace 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:38.280 or the cross. 00:16:39.380 --> 00:16:39.720 He says, 00:16:39.800 --> 00:16:41.060 they're distorting you. 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.520 They're troubling you 00:16:42.520 --> 00:16:44.380 by distorting the gospel. 00:16:45.300 --> 00:16:45.680 And church, 00:16:45.780 --> 00:16:47.120 when the gospel is distorted, 00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:49.800 when the gospel is distorted, 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:52.600 it's no longer the gospel. 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:55.540 When the gospel is changed, 00:16:56.260 --> 00:16:58.640 when we take it and we make it ours, 00:16:59.320 --> 00:17:00.760 when we move it away 00:17:00.760 --> 00:17:03.000 from the gospel laid forth by God, 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.800 in that moment, 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:07.860 it ceases to be the gospel. 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:08.620 You see, 00:17:08.780 --> 00:17:10.100 here's the trick of Satan. 00:17:11.040 --> 00:17:13.020 Satan cannot change the narrative. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.600 Satan cannot change the story. 00:17:16.080 --> 00:17:18.280 Satan cannot change what has happened. 00:17:18.280 --> 00:17:20.000 But where Satan attacks 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:21.520 is he attacks the narrative 00:17:21.520 --> 00:17:23.600 that's being told about the truth. 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.660 And so he takes 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:27.920 and he adapts to make it his. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:30.000 He sets it onto the minds 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.280 of those who are evil 00:17:31.280 --> 00:17:32.540 for those who are corrupt. 00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:34.040 And they modify it 00:17:34.040 --> 00:17:34.960 and they mold it 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.280 to fit their agenda. 00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:38.080 And the false gospel 00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:39.400 doesn't save you. 00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.700 A distorted gospel 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:41.960 doesn't save you. 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.540 Instead, 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.200 the harsh part, 00:17:44.300 --> 00:17:45.900 the reality that we're dealing with, 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:47.740 if it doesn't save you, 00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:49.220 it condemns you. 00:17:50.520 --> 00:17:52.160 And it's why this is so important. 00:17:53.320 --> 00:17:55.240 And it's what we understand. 00:17:56.520 --> 00:17:57.800 And it's why it's so valuable, 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.180 kids, 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.220 that you are in here today. 00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:01.820 And it's why it's so important 00:18:01.820 --> 00:18:03.980 that at every age 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:06.640 and every language 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:09.060 and every people 00:18:09.060 --> 00:18:11.640 that we don't hear a gospel 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:14.160 but that we hear the gospel 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:17.180 and that we have the opportunity 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:18.340 of salvation 00:18:18.340 --> 00:18:21.340 because the key is the true gospel. 00:18:22.040 --> 00:18:23.580 It saves us 00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:25.820 and it transforms us. 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:28.700 And Paul gives the severity 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:30.040 of what he's talking about. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.460 He gives here twice 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:33.560 what's called the threat of the accursed, 00:18:33.760 --> 00:18:35.020 that if anyone comes 00:18:35.020 --> 00:18:36.860 and tells you anything different 00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:38.140 than what's been preached, 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.280 if anything different 00:18:39.280 --> 00:18:41.060 than what God has said to them 00:18:41.060 --> 00:18:41.860 in that, 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.800 let them be accursed. 00:18:43.120 --> 00:18:43.920 And Paul says, 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:44.340 look, look, look, 00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:45.660 if it's any of them 00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:46.380 who do it, 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:48.680 if it's any of us, 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:49.360 he says, 00:18:49.520 --> 00:18:50.220 we, Paul, 00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:50.880 in the leadership, 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:51.900 if we do it, 00:18:52.280 --> 00:18:53.840 or in the level of severity, 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:54.660 Paul says, 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:57.080 if angels come to you 00:18:57.080 --> 00:18:58.680 and they share with you 00:18:58.680 --> 00:19:00.820 a distorted point of the gospel, 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:02.940 a distorted narrative of the gospel, 00:19:03.280 --> 00:19:03.760 Paul says, 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:05.120 if any of us, 00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:06.120 if anyone, 00:19:06.580 --> 00:19:08.520 no one rises above this, 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:11.560 let them be accursed. 00:19:12.280 --> 00:19:13.080 It's interesting, 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.500 this word accursed, 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:15.840 it's not a word 00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:17.360 that we use very often. 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.680 But the concept 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:20.000 of what Paul's communicating 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.980 with accursed 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:22.120 is what you can read about 00:19:22.120 --> 00:19:22.740 and what you can find 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:24.160 in Leviticus chapter 27. 00:19:24.860 --> 00:19:26.500 And it deals with the concept 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:28.300 of removal of someone 00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:30.360 or excommunicating someone. 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:32.940 So what Paul says to them is this, 00:19:33.300 --> 00:19:34.740 if there's any of us 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.760 that try to bring 00:19:35.760 --> 00:19:38.280 this false gospel into you, 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.740 then it's not just a warning, 00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:41.880 it's not just a hard conversation, 00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:43.980 lead them out. 00:19:44.300 --> 00:19:45.520 They are accursed. 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:47.820 They are excommunicated. 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:49.660 They are banished 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:51.060 and they are banned. 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.360 An interesting part of this 00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:55.180 is in order to get 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:55.860 the penalty 00:19:55.860 --> 00:19:57.720 of being accursed, 00:19:58.320 --> 00:19:59.360 what the person 00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.440 must have been doing 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:02.620 must have been dealing, 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:03.920 or I'm sorry, 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.080 they must have been devoted 00:20:05.080 --> 00:20:06.260 to death. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.860 So what Paul says is this, 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.420 if there's someone 00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:12.140 bringing a false gospel, 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.460 if there's someone 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.740 bringing a false narrative, 00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:17.280 then what they are devoted to 00:20:17.280 --> 00:20:18.700 is death, 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:20.140 not life, 00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:22.920 and remove them immediately. 00:20:24.280 --> 00:20:25.940 The seriousness of what's there, 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:28.220 of what is ringing true. 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:30.740 So what is the true gospel? 00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:33.240 What is this that I'm talking about? 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.600 And we're going to understand it more 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.920 over the coming weeks, 00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.460 but this morning 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.640 I want to give us a snapshot. 00:20:40.760 --> 00:20:41.840 A brief snapshot 00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:43.240 before we partake 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.120 in the Lord's Supper 00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:45.460 of what is 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.900 the true gospel. 00:20:47.360 --> 00:20:48.520 The first thing is this, 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.120 the true gospel 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.600 tells us who we are. 00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:53.180 The true gospel 00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:54.420 tells us who we are. 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.300 Verse four 00:20:55.300 --> 00:20:56.200 says that Jesus 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:58.140 came to deliver us. 00:20:58.900 --> 00:21:00.720 He came to deliver us. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.620 Literally breaking 00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.340 that word down 00:21:02.340 --> 00:21:03.480 means that he came 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.920 to rescue us. 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.480 How many of you 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.260 in your life 00:21:07.260 --> 00:21:08.440 have ever needed 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.760 to be rescued from something? 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:10.360 Raise your hand. 00:21:11.600 --> 00:21:12.280 Yeah, yeah. 00:21:12.800 --> 00:21:13.160 Me too. 00:21:13.280 --> 00:21:13.580 I remember 00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:15.480 one time I was in fifth grade 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.700 and me and some friends, 00:21:16.820 --> 00:21:18.180 we were back in the woods 00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:21.140 and we had thousands of acres 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:22.360 back behind our house 00:21:22.360 --> 00:21:23.600 and we got lost 00:21:23.600 --> 00:21:25.880 and we couldn't find our way out 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:27.580 and they had to send people 00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:29.640 to come and rescue us. 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.780 Now, over time, 00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:31.160 eventually, 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.140 could we have stumbled out? 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.440 Probably, absolutely. 00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.120 But right, 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.500 we're 10 years old. 00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.500 We're petrified. 00:21:36.760 --> 00:21:37.520 We're crying 00:21:37.520 --> 00:21:39.520 and it's a great moment 00:21:39.520 --> 00:21:40.100 when your parents 00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:41.140 have to send law enforcement 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:41.760 into the woods 00:21:41.760 --> 00:21:42.820 to come bring you out, right? 00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:44.120 Those long conversations 00:21:44.120 --> 00:21:44.700 that we had 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.480 with my mom and dad. 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:47.000 Hey, kids, don't do that. 00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:47.780 But y'all would just 00:21:47.780 --> 00:21:48.320 go on your phones 00:21:48.320 --> 00:21:48.980 and call your parents 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.800 to come and get you, right? 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.700 Drop a pin 00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.360 right where you're at. 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.000 Come find me. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:55.160 But they had to come rescue us. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.740 Here's the thing. 00:21:57.340 --> 00:21:58.860 If you need to be rescued, 00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:00.100 do you know 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:00.800 what you can't do 00:22:00.800 --> 00:22:01.380 for yourself? 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.960 You can't save yourself. 00:22:05.060 --> 00:22:06.580 You can't rescue yourself. 00:22:07.780 --> 00:22:09.080 So what the Bible tells us 00:22:09.080 --> 00:22:10.080 in the heart of the gospel 00:22:10.080 --> 00:22:11.340 is that we needed 00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:12.200 to be rescued, 00:22:12.560 --> 00:22:13.480 which means this, 00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:14.540 that you and I, 00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:16.580 we couldn't save ourselves. 00:22:17.840 --> 00:22:19.060 That what God had to come 00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:20.500 and do for us 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.600 was something 00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:23.600 that we were incapable 00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:24.720 of doing. 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:27.240 we needed to be saved. 00:22:28.260 --> 00:22:29.160 The true gospel 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:30.280 tells us who we are, 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.460 but the true gospel 00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:32.140 also tells us 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.900 what Jesus did. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.780 Paul says in verse 4 00:22:34.780 --> 00:22:37.460 that Jesus gave himself 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:40.300 for our sins. 00:22:40.780 --> 00:22:42.700 That Jesus gave himself 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:44.640 for our behalf. 00:22:44.780 --> 00:22:45.940 Now, it's very important 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:47.120 that we understand this, 00:22:47.320 --> 00:22:47.920 that oftentimes 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:49.080 that we talk about, 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.120 and I've said it 00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:51.180 a million times, 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:53.020 that Jesus came 00:22:53.020 --> 00:22:54.500 as a sacrifice. 00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:56.120 And let me tell you this, 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.160 in repentance mode, 00:22:57.280 --> 00:22:58.660 fully now right before you, 00:22:58.800 --> 00:22:59.700 is that true? 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:01.200 Yes, but there's more to it. 00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:02.280 There's a part 00:23:02.280 --> 00:23:03.340 that we're leaving out 00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:04.300 that Jesus came 00:23:04.300 --> 00:23:05.020 to do more 00:23:05.020 --> 00:23:05.980 than just to be 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.720 a sacrifice. 00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:08.380 That Jesus came 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:10.240 to be a substitutionary 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.920 sacrifice. 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.220 That he didn't just come 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:14.380 to do something, 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.680 but he came 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.700 to do something 00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:18.900 on our behalf, 00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:20.060 which meant this, 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.960 there was something 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.380 that we needed to do, 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.580 but we were incapable 00:23:23.580 --> 00:23:24.540 of doing it, 00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:25.540 so Jesus came 00:23:25.540 --> 00:23:26.500 and did it for us. 00:23:27.520 --> 00:23:28.840 And then that was the cross. 00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:30.900 And then that was 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.560 the resurrection. 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.100 And then that was 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:33.600 the power. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:34.860 So you see what 00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:36.140 the gospel begins to do 00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:37.360 is the gospel addresses 00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.480 who we are, 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:40.840 but the gospel also addresses 00:23:40.840 --> 00:23:42.580 what Jesus did. 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.480 Also within here, 00:23:44.540 --> 00:23:45.360 the true gospel 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:47.460 tells us what God did. 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:49.060 What God did. 00:23:49.800 --> 00:23:50.700 Think about this. 00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.800 The beauty of this truth. 00:23:53.860 --> 00:23:55.960 In the substitutionary sacrifice, 00:23:56.580 --> 00:23:57.600 God accepted it. 00:23:58.280 --> 00:23:59.320 God accepted it. 00:23:59.780 --> 00:24:00.400 Verse three. 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:04.060 Grace and peace 00:24:04.060 --> 00:24:07.100 to you from God. 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.060 So now, 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:11.420 as followers of Jesus Christ, 00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:12.900 now as those 00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:14.300 who needed to be rescued, 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:16.080 now because Jesus came 00:24:16.080 --> 00:24:17.220 and did the rescuing, 00:24:17.560 --> 00:24:19.100 that we are no longer enemies 00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:21.160 because God accepted the work. 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.120 And so now, 00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.540 what should have come toward us 00:24:23.540 --> 00:24:24.400 was his anger 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.160 and his wrath, 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.860 but now what comes to us? 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.240 The grace 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.420 and peace 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:30.480 from God. 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:32.080 The true gospel 00:24:32.080 --> 00:24:33.380 tells what God did. 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.660 God accepted it, 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:35.620 but also, 00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:36.860 the true gospel 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:37.420 tells us 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:39.220 why God did it. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.080 This is so important. 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.840 I think this is the part 00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:43.340 of the gospel 00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.720 that we don't talk about enough. 00:24:45.300 --> 00:24:46.000 This is the part 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.520 of the gospel 00:24:46.520 --> 00:24:47.520 that we don't think 00:24:47.520 --> 00:24:48.360 about enough. 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.640 The true gospel 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.500 tells us 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:52.220 why God did it. 00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:53.560 That God willed it. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:55.460 That we didn't ask for it. 00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:56.940 That we didn't cause it. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.960 That we didn't plan it. 00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:59.960 And that we didn't deserve it. 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.860 Jesus says as much. 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.180 Jesus says, 00:25:03.260 --> 00:25:03.420 look, 00:25:03.620 --> 00:25:05.540 you don't take my life. 00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:07.460 I lay it down 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:09.400 for the will 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:11.200 of the Father. 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.380 Reread verse four 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:12.860 with me. 00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:15.260 Jesus who gave himself 00:25:15.260 --> 00:25:16.940 for our sins 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:18.320 to deliver us 00:25:18.320 --> 00:25:20.180 from the present evil age. 00:25:20.320 --> 00:25:20.800 Look at this. 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.620 According to the will 00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.640 of God, 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:25.040 our Father. 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.240 That God 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:29.020 willed it. 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.840 that God 00:25:30.840 --> 00:25:31.760 set the plan 00:25:31.760 --> 00:25:33.020 in motion. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.220 That what broke 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.380 the heart of God 00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:37.320 was purposed 00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:38.040 by God 00:25:38.040 --> 00:25:38.800 to redeem 00:25:38.800 --> 00:25:39.840 his people. 00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:42.060 That God 00:25:42.060 --> 00:25:43.780 willed it. 00:25:44.260 --> 00:25:44.980 The true 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.800 gospel 00:25:45.800 --> 00:25:46.920 tells us 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.500 why 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:49.140 he did it. 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:50.500 But it also 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.260 tells us 00:25:51.260 --> 00:25:53.460 what he gets 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:53.900 from it. 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.560 what God 00:25:55.560 --> 00:25:56.300 gets from it. 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.140 In verse five 00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.760 tells us 00:25:58.760 --> 00:26:00.160 that God 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.040 gets glory 00:26:01.040 --> 00:26:02.340 forever. 00:26:03.560 --> 00:26:04.160 Forever. 00:26:05.560 --> 00:26:05.900 You see 00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.800 the heart 00:26:06.800 --> 00:26:07.560 of salvation, 00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.300 the focus 00:26:09.300 --> 00:26:10.100 of eternity 00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:12.220 is the praise 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.780 and the glory 00:26:12.780 --> 00:26:13.380 of God. 00:26:14.600 --> 00:26:15.260 That what just 00:26:15.260 --> 00:26:15.980 happened here 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.780 a moment ago 00:26:16.780 --> 00:26:18.280 and I want to tell you 00:26:18.280 --> 00:26:19.360 getting all the feels 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:19.860 this morning 00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.820 standing over here 00:26:20.820 --> 00:26:22.700 when the band 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.840 kind of backed off 00:26:23.840 --> 00:26:25.720 and I heard 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.720 everybody singing 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:28.700 and the hairs 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.140 on the back 00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:29.940 of my neck 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:31.040 started standing up 00:26:31.040 --> 00:26:32.080 and for some reason 00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:33.080 water kind of 00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:34.080 started filling my eyes 00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:34.660 up a little bit. 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.140 Maybe I got some 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.120 sawdust in there 00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:36.400 or something. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.040 I don't know, right? 00:26:38.520 --> 00:26:39.520 But in that brief 00:26:39.520 --> 00:26:39.960 moment 00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:42.160 as the saints 00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:43.200 gave glory to God 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:46.000 and then it hit me 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:48.080 of an eternity 00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:48.720 with that. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.000 An eternity 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.540 of all 00:26:52.540 --> 00:26:53.040 devotion 00:26:53.040 --> 00:26:53.660 devotion 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.780 to Him. 00:26:56.020 --> 00:26:56.900 The gospel 00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:59.140 the true gospel 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:01.220 that you and I 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:03.360 we need to be rescued. 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.160 In just a moment 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:05.760 we're going to 00:27:05.760 --> 00:27:06.800 partake in the Lord's 00:27:06.800 --> 00:27:07.300 Supper together 00:27:07.300 --> 00:27:07.980 as a family. 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.320 We're going to have 00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:09.940 the opportunity 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:11.120 for you and I 00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:12.200 who are followers 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.780 of Jesus 00:27:12.780 --> 00:27:14.380 to take a moment 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.040 and pause 00:27:15.040 --> 00:27:15.840 in gratitude 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:17.880 of what He's done 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:20.020 and in a reflection 00:27:20.020 --> 00:27:21.420 in our response 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:21.880 to it. 00:27:22.300 --> 00:27:22.640 Would you pray 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:22.960 with me? 00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:27.900 God, I thank you 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.560 so much 00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:30.680 for the work 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:31.280 of Christ. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.880 Thank you so much 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:34.100 Lord 00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:35.580 for this opportunity. 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:37.900 God, of where 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.460 we were 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:40.040 and we were 00:27:40.040 --> 00:27:40.560 broken 00:27:40.560 --> 00:27:42.560 we were dead 00:27:42.560 --> 00:27:43.540 in the trespasses 00:27:43.540 --> 00:27:44.160 and sins 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.680 there was 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.140 nothing 00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:47.040 that we could 00:27:47.040 --> 00:27:47.400 do 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.820 for ourselves 00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:51.060 and so 00:27:51.060 --> 00:27:51.560 you sent 00:27:51.560 --> 00:27:52.060 your Son. 00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:55.200 Lord 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.160 and we thank you 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:57.220 Father 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.000 we thank you 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.940 that as you 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.940 sent Christ 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:01.280 that He 00:28:01.280 --> 00:28:02.440 gave Himself 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:04.660 for our behalf 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:07.020 the sacrifice 00:28:07.020 --> 00:28:07.580 that we 00:28:07.580 --> 00:28:08.300 couldn't make 00:28:08.300 --> 00:28:09.340 He 00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:10.240 substituted 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.120 and became 00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:12.080 the sacrifice 00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:14.120 so that we 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:14.880 find life 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.200 in Him 00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:17.400 and Him 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:17.820 eternal. 00:28:19.300 --> 00:28:20.180 God, we thank you 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:20.560 that you 00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.400 accepted it 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:23.040 and as a result 00:28:23.040 --> 00:28:23.260 Lord 00:28:23.260 --> 00:28:23.580 that you 00:28:23.580 --> 00:28:24.600 extend grace 00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.400 and peace 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.320 from you 00:28:26.320 --> 00:28:27.420 to us. 00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.480 Lord 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:29.800 and it's 00:28:29.800 --> 00:28:30.360 the standing 00:28:30.360 --> 00:28:31.040 that we now 00:28:31.040 --> 00:28:31.440 have. 00:28:33.800 --> 00:28:34.760 Lord, we thank you 00:28:34.760 --> 00:28:36.020 that it was 00:28:36.020 --> 00:28:36.660 in your perfect 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.180 plan 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.360 it was in your 00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.260 perfect time 00:28:39.260 --> 00:28:41.400 in the evidence 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.200 of the gospel 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.820 it's enough 00:28:43.820 --> 00:28:44.620 for us to trust 00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.200 you with all 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:45.880 that we have 00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:46.980 and all that we 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.280 are. 00:28:49.040 --> 00:28:49.700 So Lord 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.260 may we live 00:28:50.260 --> 00:28:50.940 lives 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.560 not just 00:28:52.560 --> 00:28:53.320 in eternity 00:28:53.320 --> 00:28:55.140 but may we 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:56.000 live here 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.600 now 00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:58.120 for your 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.660 kingdom 00:28:58.660 --> 00:29:00.640 and for your 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:01.060 glory. 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:03.140 And it's in 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:03.660 Jesus' name 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.040 we pray. 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.280 Amen. 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.660 As the elements 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.420 are being passed 00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.220 out this morning 00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.820 I want to ask 00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:11.560 you this question. 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:12.960 I want you 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:13.480 to think about 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:13.880 this. 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.620 Have you been 00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.760 transformed 00:29:16.760 --> 00:29:18.080 by the gospel? 00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:19.600 Has it 00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.380 changed your 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:20.880 today? 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:22.340 Has it 00:29:22.340 --> 00:29:22.920 changed your 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.440 tomorrow? 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:24.920 Has it 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.520 changed your 00:29:25.520 --> 00:29:26.380 there of what 00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.140 awaits you? 00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:28.620 And has it 00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:29.500 changed your 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.240 here 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:31.300 right 00:29:31.300 --> 00:29:32.260 now? 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:33.960 has the gospel 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.720 fully 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.320 transformed 00:29:35.320 --> 00:29:35.820 you? 00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.620 The reality 00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:38.380 is that God 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:39.060 loves you 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:39.440 and I 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:40.140 too much 00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:41.580 to save 00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:42.020 us 00:29:42.020 --> 00:29:43.280 and then 00:29:43.280 --> 00:29:43.740 leave us 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.100 right where 00:29:44.100 --> 00:29:44.520 we were. 00:29:45.520 --> 00:29:46.000 That God's 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.440 been in this 00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:47.060 19 year 00:29:47.060 --> 00:29:47.600 journey 00:29:47.600 --> 00:29:48.360 with me 00:29:48.360 --> 00:29:48.820 since the 00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:49.260 moment of 00:29:49.260 --> 00:29:50.060 my salvation 00:29:50.060 --> 00:29:50.920 to mold 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.200 me 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:51.720 and to 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.160 change 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.420 me 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:52.840 and to 00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:53.280 shape 00:29:53.280 --> 00:29:53.560 me 00:29:53.560 --> 00:29:54.340 into more 00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:54.660 of a 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:54.920 heart 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.660 like his 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.540 and like 00:29:56.540 --> 00:29:56.820 him. 00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:58.320 And so 00:29:58.320 --> 00:29:58.720 as the 00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.060 elements 00:29:59.060 --> 00:29:59.240 are 00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.540 passed 00:29:59.540 --> 00:29:59.960 out 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:00.980 let me 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.540 ask you 00:30:01.540 --> 00:30:03.140 what does 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:03.380 that 00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:04.060 transformation 00:30:04.060 --> 00:30:04.660 look like? 00:30:17.040 --> 00:30:17.880 Thanks again 00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:18.380 for listening 00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:18.740 to the 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.180 Willow Ridge 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:19.500 Church 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:19.880 weekly 00:30:19.880 --> 00:30:20.500 podcast. 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.240 We hope 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.500 that you 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:21.820 enjoyed 00:30:21.820 --> 00:30:22.140 listening 00:30:22.140 --> 00:30:22.520 to this 00:30:22.520 --> 00:30:22.780 week's 00:30:22.780 --> 00:30:23.120 message. 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.020 If you'd 00:30:24.020 --> 00:30:24.300 like to 00:30:24.300 --> 00:30:24.680 learn more 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.120 about who 00:30:25.120 --> 00:30:25.500 we are 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.180 or explore 00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.600 additional 00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:27.140 resources 00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:28.140 visit us 00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:28.920 online at 00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:32.180 www.willowridgechurch.com 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.400 or by searching 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.060 for Willow Ridge 00:30:34.060 --> 00:30:34.680 Church on 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.360 Facebook and 00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:35.740 Instagram. 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:35.860 Instagram.