WEBVTT 197 00:19:32.505 --> 00:19:34.835 Good morning, family. My name is Bui 198 00:19:35.055 --> 00:19:37.475 and I'd love to invite you all to stand with me 199 00:19:37.695 --> 00:19:39.035 as we read the word of the Lord. 200 00:19:44.725 --> 00:19:47.825 We are reading in one John chapter five, verse one 201 00:19:47.825 --> 00:19:50.665 through 12, everyone who believes 202 00:19:50.665 --> 00:19:53.585 that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God 203 00:19:54.405 --> 00:19:56.385 and everyone who loves the Father loves 204 00:19:56.415 --> 00:19:57.985 whoever has been born of him. 205 00:19:58.845 --> 00:20:01.545 By this we know that we love the children 206 00:20:01.565 --> 00:20:04.385 of God when we love God and obey his commandments. 207 00:20:05.045 --> 00:20:08.025 For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments 208 00:20:08.565 --> 00:20:12.025 and his commandments are not burdensome For everyone 209 00:20:12.045 --> 00:20:14.545 who has been born of God overcomes the world. 210 00:20:15.045 --> 00:20:17.585 And this is the victory that has overcome the world. 211 00:20:18.005 --> 00:20:22.545 Our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one 212 00:20:22.545 --> 00:20:25.665 who believes that Jesus is the son of God. 213 00:20:26.495 --> 00:20:31.065 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ. 214 00:20:31.605 --> 00:20:33.625 Not by the water only, but by the water. 215 00:20:33.805 --> 00:20:37.505 And the blood and the Spirit is the one who testifies 216 00:20:37.735 --> 00:20:40.145 because the spirit is the truth. 217 00:20:41.005 --> 00:20:43.825 For there are three that testify the spirit 218 00:20:44.285 --> 00:20:46.105 and the water and the blood. 219 00:20:46.725 --> 00:20:48.285 And these three agree. 220 00:20:49.185 --> 00:20:52.645 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony 221 00:20:52.665 --> 00:20:56.525 of God is greater for this is the testimony of God 222 00:20:56.525 --> 00:20:58.605 that he has born concerning his son. 223 00:20:58.875 --> 00:21:00.565 Whoever believes in the son 224 00:21:00.565 --> 00:21:03.125 of God has the testimony in himself. 225 00:21:03.715 --> 00:21:07.285 Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar 226 00:21:07.635 --> 00:21:10.005 because he has not believed in the testimony 227 00:21:10.005 --> 00:21:11.845 that God has born concerning his son. 228 00:21:12.625 --> 00:21:16.965 And this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life. 229 00:21:17.745 --> 00:21:19.685 And this life is in His son. 230 00:21:20.195 --> 00:21:23.045 Whoever has the son has life 231 00:21:23.665 --> 00:21:25.885 and whoever does not have the son of God, 232 00:21:26.235 --> 00:21:27.285 does not have life. 233 00:21:27.875 --> 00:21:30.005 This is the word of the Lord. 234 00:21:34.265 --> 00:21:37.485 You all can have a seat, man. 235 00:21:37.485 --> 00:21:39.925 It took him that long to read that. 236 00:21:41.305 --> 00:21:42.765 And I gotta preach that whole thing. 237 00:21:43.225 --> 00:21:45.885 You know, last week I I I assume most of you're here. 238 00:21:46.025 --> 00:21:47.045 Ben Foot was in town 239 00:21:47.505 --> 00:21:49.165 and uh, he was preaching the passage 240 00:21:49.235 --> 00:21:50.965 that we assigned, uh, to him. 241 00:21:50.985 --> 00:21:52.325 And I don't know if you were paying attention, 242 00:21:52.505 --> 00:21:55.805 but we read about 10, 12 verses before he got up to preach 243 00:21:56.225 --> 00:21:57.485 and he preached about three of 'em. 244 00:21:58.805 --> 00:22:00.245 I said he kinda took the easy way out. 245 00:22:00.245 --> 00:22:01.845 So I had to tell him afterwards, you know, 246 00:22:01.845 --> 00:22:03.085 we pave by the verse around here. 247 00:22:03.185 --> 00:22:05.685 So unfortunately we gotta cut up. I'm just kidding. 248 00:22:05.845 --> 00:22:08.205 I didn't, I did not tell him that. Uh, we love Ben. 249 00:22:08.265 --> 00:22:10.405 He did a phenomenal job. Love you Ben. 250 00:22:10.445 --> 00:22:13.045 I know you track along with us every week. Uh, hey Mer. 251 00:22:13.045 --> 00:22:14.925 But we, I tell you what, we do have a lot of work to do. 252 00:22:14.945 --> 00:22:17.685 So, uh, we're gonna jump in. Merry Christmas to you all. 253 00:22:17.735 --> 00:22:19.565 Merry Christmas to you at the Apex Campus. 254 00:22:20.005 --> 00:22:21.365 Be there next week. Look forward to seeing you. 255 00:22:22.015 --> 00:22:25.285 Merry Christmas To those who are listening in online, uh, 256 00:22:25.445 --> 00:22:27.165 I wanna start out by asking you a question. 257 00:22:27.945 --> 00:22:29.805 Do you ever look at someone's life 258 00:22:30.705 --> 00:22:35.085 and think, man, they they are just killing it. 259 00:22:35.595 --> 00:22:38.685 They got a great job, great house 260 00:22:39.515 --> 00:22:41.925 kids are in like travel everything. 261 00:22:43.135 --> 00:22:45.725 Beach vacations, they got a mountain house. 262 00:22:45.885 --> 00:22:47.805 I mean they're, their in social media is like 263 00:22:47.845 --> 00:22:48.885 a tourism commercial. 264 00:22:50.225 --> 00:22:52.725 And if that's you, sometimes we don't like 265 00:22:52.725 --> 00:22:55.245 you just so you know. 266 00:22:55.745 --> 00:22:57.845 But the truth is like we can, we can do that. 267 00:22:57.845 --> 00:23:00.165 Like I worry about that 'cause I post stuff on social media 268 00:23:00.165 --> 00:23:01.245 and when I do it, like I try 269 00:23:01.245 --> 00:23:03.485 to post things from God's word to encourage people. 270 00:23:03.725 --> 00:23:05.325 'cause I mean I know most of the stuff on social media, 271 00:23:05.525 --> 00:23:06.725 a lot of it's garbage. 272 00:23:06.985 --> 00:23:10.365 And that sounds hard right outta the gate, sorry. 273 00:23:10.365 --> 00:23:11.765 But I, you know, you try to encourage people. 274 00:23:12.145 --> 00:23:14.405 Uh, we're proud of our kids. They do great things. 275 00:23:14.425 --> 00:23:16.165 And so we try to share things that they're doing. 276 00:23:16.465 --> 00:23:19.205 And I think man, like people could think our life is like 277 00:23:19.205 --> 00:23:20.445 that just based on social media. 278 00:23:20.685 --> 00:23:23.045 'cause you know what I don't do? I don't like put a picture 279 00:23:23.185 --> 00:23:26.245 of my beautiful wife and my daughter on my Instagram 280 00:23:26.585 --> 00:23:29.205 and say, well here we are again at 10 o'clock at night when 281 00:23:29.205 --> 00:23:30.725 we were supposed to all be in the bed by nine 30. 282 00:23:31.585 --> 00:23:34.605 And my incredibly strong 283 00:23:34.705 --> 00:23:37.765 and steady wife started a conversation 284 00:23:37.835 --> 00:23:40.805 with my sweet innocent 17-year-old daughter 285 00:23:41.835 --> 00:23:45.045 that turned into an argument that the paint began 286 00:23:45.125 --> 00:23:46.205 to peel off the walls. 287 00:23:47.065 --> 00:23:51.245 And then myself as the loving husband, man of God stepped in 288 00:23:51.265 --> 00:23:54.605 to usher in the peace of the Lord into the conversation. 289 00:23:54.825 --> 00:23:59.245 And then somehow through a demonic shift 290 00:23:59.385 --> 00:24:03.725 of events, I became the enemy 291 00:24:06.185 --> 00:24:08.765 of everyone and had to sleep on the couch. 292 00:24:08.765 --> 00:24:10.485 Like I, that happens, but I don't post 293 00:24:10.485 --> 00:24:11.885 that on social media, right? 294 00:24:12.025 --> 00:24:16.325 So I was having a conversation with someone 295 00:24:16.705 --> 00:24:19.565 who is a part of our church, uh, a couple weeks ago. 296 00:24:19.785 --> 00:24:21.845 And it's a guy actually went on, uh, 297 00:24:22.105 --> 00:24:25.205 the extreme character challenge a 72 hour wilderness venture 298 00:24:25.465 --> 00:24:27.405 out into the mountains of Colorado. 299 00:24:28.185 --> 00:24:30.605 And this is a guy that you would think man, 300 00:24:30.635 --> 00:24:33.365 like has everything together, checks all the boxes. 301 00:24:34.345 --> 00:24:35.365 And we sat down and he 302 00:24:35.365 --> 00:24:36.445 looked at me and he said, you know what? 303 00:24:38.325 --> 00:24:39.925 I don't even know if I like my life. 304 00:24:42.665 --> 00:24:46.245 He said, I'm anxious, I'm exhausted. 305 00:24:47.445 --> 00:24:49.325 I don't really know where I stand with God 306 00:24:50.985 --> 00:24:52.885 and I feel like I'm always chasing something. 307 00:24:52.945 --> 00:24:54.485 And I just don't know if this is 308 00:24:54.485 --> 00:24:56.085 what life is really supposed to be about. 309 00:24:56.185 --> 00:24:58.445 So on the outside, he's winning, 310 00:24:58.945 --> 00:25:01.885 but on the inside filled with uncertainty. 311 00:25:03.225 --> 00:25:07.725 And if we're honest, that's not just other people, right? 312 00:25:07.805 --> 00:25:10.245 A lot of us, we look fine, some of us look more than fine. 313 00:25:10.245 --> 00:25:11.325 But when the room is dark, 314 00:25:11.325 --> 00:25:14.365 when we put the phone down at night, the conversation 315 00:25:14.365 --> 00:25:17.565 that starts playing out in our head is like, is this it? 316 00:25:18.945 --> 00:25:20.685 Is this what life is really supposed to be about? 317 00:25:20.685 --> 00:25:21.685 That's what this series 318 00:25:21.875 --> 00:25:23.565 that we're calling Un Uncertainty is all about. 319 00:25:23.585 --> 00:25:26.085 And so John, when he writes this letter through First John, 320 00:25:26.515 --> 00:25:28.405 he's writing to real people like you 321 00:25:28.705 --> 00:25:30.565 and like me who actually love Jesus. 322 00:25:30.865 --> 00:25:33.645 But they feel this pull in their life, pulled by a culture, 323 00:25:34.025 --> 00:25:36.205 pulled by this insatiable desire. 324 00:25:36.325 --> 00:25:38.405 They're pulled by false teaching. We've talked about that. 325 00:25:38.465 --> 00:25:40.125 The world throws all kinds of stuff at us, 326 00:25:40.185 --> 00:25:41.445 pulled by their own doubts. 327 00:25:41.445 --> 00:25:43.885 And in one John chapter five, one through 12, 328 00:25:44.425 --> 00:25:46.525 he aims right at the core question that's 329 00:25:46.525 --> 00:25:47.605 underneath every bit of that. 330 00:25:47.785 --> 00:25:51.325 And it's this, where does real life actually come from? 331 00:25:53.305 --> 00:25:55.005 And we gotta ask ourselves the question, 332 00:25:55.225 --> 00:25:56.525 we gotta do business with this. 333 00:25:57.425 --> 00:25:59.245 Am I chasing life the world's way? 334 00:26:00.785 --> 00:26:02.765 Or am I receiving life God's way? 335 00:26:04.885 --> 00:26:06.925 I want you to listen to, to me really carefully here. 336 00:26:07.085 --> 00:26:08.525 'cause there's two things that Jesus said 337 00:26:08.525 --> 00:26:09.965 that are very important for us to understand. 338 00:26:09.965 --> 00:26:11.245 Foundationally going into this. 339 00:26:11.385 --> 00:26:14.285 And John chapter 10, verse 10, Jesus said, I came 340 00:26:14.285 --> 00:26:16.605 that they may have life and have it abundantly. 341 00:26:17.255 --> 00:26:19.605 Jesus, the son of God, left heaven so that you 342 00:26:19.605 --> 00:26:23.045 and I can experience a life of peace, of hope, of love. 343 00:26:24.705 --> 00:26:27.245 But he also warns us in Mark chapter eight, verse 36, 344 00:26:27.305 --> 00:26:30.885 he said, what does it profit of man to gain the whole world 345 00:26:32.425 --> 00:26:33.485 and to lose his soul? 346 00:26:35.785 --> 00:26:36.805 And so the tension here 347 00:26:36.805 --> 00:26:39.925 that we're gonna see in one John chapter five is this, 348 00:26:40.025 --> 00:26:42.725 you can't experience life the way that God designed 349 00:26:43.895 --> 00:26:45.125 apart from the Son of God. 350 00:26:47.265 --> 00:26:50.085 And this for us is a church. This is not like a side issue. 351 00:26:50.185 --> 00:26:52.205 Our vision here that we like throw up on the walls 352 00:26:52.225 --> 00:26:54.605 and we put on t-shirts, it's for our communities 353 00:26:54.605 --> 00:26:57.525 and our world to know and experience the love of God 354 00:26:57.865 --> 00:27:01.885 and the life that Jesus came to make available to us. 355 00:27:02.065 --> 00:27:04.485 That's, it's not just for us to hear about it, it's not just 356 00:27:04.485 --> 00:27:06.045 to agree with it intellectually, 357 00:27:06.265 --> 00:27:08.485 but for us to know it and experience it. 358 00:27:08.505 --> 00:27:10.205 And this week when we celebrate Advent, 359 00:27:10.205 --> 00:27:11.205 I'm pointing over here 'cause we, 360 00:27:11.245 --> 00:27:13.685 I know it's not on the screens, but we have Advent candles 361 00:27:13.685 --> 00:27:16.445 set up this week we're celebrating Advent joy. 362 00:27:18.305 --> 00:27:21.485 And what John's gonna show us is joy is not about finally 363 00:27:21.485 --> 00:27:23.605 getting the life that you've always imagined. 364 00:27:25.025 --> 00:27:28.445 Joy is about receiving the life that Jesus imagines for us. 365 00:27:29.665 --> 00:27:32.205 So if you have your Bibles turn to First John chapter five, 366 00:27:32.545 --> 00:27:33.765 uh, verses one through 12. 367 00:27:33.825 --> 00:27:35.525 If you hear some scratching, um, 368 00:27:36.075 --> 00:27:37.245 this happened in the first service, 369 00:27:37.645 --> 00:27:39.885 apparently my beard is like digging into this microphone. 370 00:27:39.885 --> 00:27:42.445 We'll figure it out. So try to bear with me, uh, Nestor, 371 00:27:42.445 --> 00:27:43.765 just wave at me if it's getting too 372 00:27:43.765 --> 00:27:44.805 bad and I'll, I'll fix it. 373 00:27:44.945 --> 00:27:47.125 Hey Chris. So look, we got a lot of verses to cover. 374 00:27:47.305 --> 00:27:49.685 So I broke this down into four Mo I didn't do this, 375 00:27:49.755 --> 00:27:50.805 John did this, okay? 376 00:27:50.985 --> 00:27:53.045 Uh, but there's like four movements since if you're taking 377 00:27:53.045 --> 00:27:54.325 notes, I want, you can write this down 378 00:27:54.325 --> 00:27:56.445 or you can download the apps from the, 379 00:27:56.445 --> 00:27:59.005 the notes from our Get Hope app, four movements. 380 00:27:59.005 --> 00:28:00.485 The first is just verse one 381 00:28:00.905 --> 00:28:03.645 and it's this Faith in the sun births new life, 382 00:28:03.705 --> 00:28:04.765 births a new creation, 383 00:28:05.105 --> 00:28:07.005 second movement verses two through five. 384 00:28:07.895 --> 00:28:10.405 Faith in the sun reshapes how we live. 385 00:28:10.425 --> 00:28:13.125 It actually changes us from the inside out. Movement. 386 00:28:13.135 --> 00:28:17.405 Three, faith in the Son, rest on God's testimony. 387 00:28:17.405 --> 00:28:19.085 That's all about how do we know this is true? 388 00:28:19.085 --> 00:28:20.365 That's verses six through 10. 389 00:28:20.745 --> 00:28:23.245 And then movement four, faith in the Son gives real life 390 00:28:23.385 --> 00:28:24.885 now, but not just now, 391 00:28:25.305 --> 00:28:28.005 but for all of eternity verses 11 and 12. 392 00:28:28.005 --> 00:28:29.685 But as we walk through this, I want you 393 00:28:29.685 --> 00:28:30.765 to ask yourself this question. 394 00:28:30.805 --> 00:28:31.965 I want you to be honest, okay? 395 00:28:32.175 --> 00:28:34.885 Don't do, don't gimme a churchy answer. Don't do that to me. 396 00:28:36.215 --> 00:28:37.525 Don't don't do that. More 397 00:28:37.525 --> 00:28:38.805 importantly, don't do it to yourself. 398 00:28:39.825 --> 00:28:42.045 Am I chasing life the world's way 399 00:28:43.145 --> 00:28:45.565 or am I receiving life in the sun? 400 00:28:46.775 --> 00:28:50.245 Verse one, John writes, everyone who believes 401 00:28:50.245 --> 00:28:53.845 that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God 402 00:28:54.705 --> 00:28:56.805 and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever 403 00:28:56.865 --> 00:28:57.885 has been born of it. 404 00:28:58.305 --> 00:29:00.605 So John is setting the stage right here from the beginning 405 00:29:00.625 --> 00:29:01.645 on what it means to know 406 00:29:01.645 --> 00:29:04.205 and experience the life that God desires 407 00:29:04.205 --> 00:29:05.525 for us to experience. 408 00:29:05.525 --> 00:29:06.845 But notice John doesn't start with this. 409 00:29:06.865 --> 00:29:08.965 He doesn't start by saying try harder. 410 00:29:10.985 --> 00:29:13.885 He starts with new birth, new creation. 411 00:29:13.905 --> 00:29:15.445 So he's not saying, everyone 412 00:29:15.465 --> 00:29:18.205 who gets their act together is born of God. 413 00:29:19.035 --> 00:29:21.685 What John's saying is everyone who believes very clearly, 414 00:29:22.085 --> 00:29:24.645 everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ 415 00:29:25.505 --> 00:29:26.525 has been born of God. 416 00:29:26.625 --> 00:29:27.925 That's where new birth comes from. 417 00:29:28.105 --> 00:29:29.525 Two things we gotta unpack here. 418 00:29:29.665 --> 00:29:31.805 One, what does it mean to be born of God? 419 00:29:32.465 --> 00:29:34.645 Number two, what does it mean to believe 420 00:29:34.645 --> 00:29:35.765 that Jesus is the Christ? 421 00:29:36.185 --> 00:29:38.125 So being born of God? We'll start there at the top. 422 00:29:38.155 --> 00:29:41.005 Clay talked a few weeks ago about the importance and, 423 00:29:41.085 --> 00:29:42.765 and the value of using scripture 424 00:29:42.945 --> 00:29:45.045 to interpret scripture, to understand scripture. 425 00:29:45.625 --> 00:29:47.885 So we're gonna go back to the gospel of John, 426 00:29:47.885 --> 00:29:49.405 which is near the beginning of the New Testament. 427 00:29:49.405 --> 00:29:51.565 Just for a moment, chapter three, verses three through five. 428 00:29:52.695 --> 00:29:54.805 Jesus is having a conversation with one 429 00:29:54.805 --> 00:29:56.085 of the top leaders in the Jewish faith. 430 00:29:57.025 --> 00:29:58.125 His name was Nicodemus. 431 00:29:58.425 --> 00:30:01.045 And it says in verse three, Jesus replied, very truly, 432 00:30:01.205 --> 00:30:04.085 I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God. 433 00:30:04.105 --> 00:30:06.005 No one can experience the life that 434 00:30:06.005 --> 00:30:07.925 that Jesus is actually gonna come that has come 435 00:30:07.925 --> 00:30:11.245 to make available that I have come to make available 436 00:30:11.825 --> 00:30:13.525 unless they are born again. 437 00:30:14.025 --> 00:30:17.485 So same language that we see and first John. 438 00:30:19.025 --> 00:30:20.965 Now if anybody is in the audience 439 00:30:20.985 --> 00:30:22.405 and paying attention, they should 440 00:30:22.405 --> 00:30:24.645 wonder what does that mean? 441 00:30:25.435 --> 00:30:27.085 What does it mean to be reborn? 442 00:30:27.185 --> 00:30:28.845 And so I hope you're asking that question. 443 00:30:29.315 --> 00:30:31.205 Nicodemus asked that question, verse four. 444 00:30:31.205 --> 00:30:33.725 He says, how can someone be born when they are old? 445 00:30:34.745 --> 00:30:37.045 Surely they cannot enter into a second, 446 00:30:37.215 --> 00:30:41.125 enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born. 447 00:30:42.065 --> 00:30:46.285 Now just so we're all on the same page, Nicodemus was right. 448 00:30:47.225 --> 00:30:49.645 You can't do that. You should not try that. Okay? 449 00:30:49.645 --> 00:30:51.445 That would not be a good Christmas present from your mom. 450 00:30:51.445 --> 00:30:56.325 Like, we're not gonna do that. What he's really saying is, 451 00:30:56.465 --> 00:30:57.765 you, you didn't contribute 452 00:30:57.765 --> 00:30:59.485 to your birth the first time, much less. 453 00:30:59.485 --> 00:31:02.125 Do you have any ability to contribute to your ability 454 00:31:02.185 --> 00:31:04.725 to become a new creation, to be spiritually reborn? 455 00:31:05.055 --> 00:31:06.405 Jesus answers in verse five. 456 00:31:06.405 --> 00:31:07.645 He says, very truly, I tell you, 457 00:31:07.865 --> 00:31:09.165 no one can enter the kingdom of God 458 00:31:09.165 --> 00:31:10.165 unless they're born of water. 459 00:31:10.425 --> 00:31:12.125 And the spirit will get to that in a moment. 460 00:31:12.465 --> 00:31:14.605 He says, flesh gives birth to flesh, 461 00:31:15.145 --> 00:31:17.285 but the spirit gives birth to spirit. 462 00:31:17.665 --> 00:31:19.365 And so when you go back to one John, 463 00:31:19.435 --> 00:31:20.605 he's being so clear here. 464 00:31:20.785 --> 00:31:22.725 But what it means, being born of God and knowing 465 00:31:22.745 --> 00:31:24.925 and experiencing the life that God has for us, 466 00:31:25.155 --> 00:31:26.845 it's not, I made a few tweaks. 467 00:31:28.435 --> 00:31:30.365 It's not just I got up a little bit early 468 00:31:30.365 --> 00:31:32.405 and added some more Jesus to my Sundays. 469 00:31:32.405 --> 00:31:34.725 This is not, uh, I read the Bible a little bit 470 00:31:35.425 --> 00:31:38.245 and I bought a toy at Christmas for a kid that's in need. 471 00:31:40.175 --> 00:31:41.565 Being born of God is this. 472 00:31:42.475 --> 00:31:44.845 It's saying, and owning and celebrating 473 00:31:44.865 --> 00:31:47.885 and living your life as though you believe God did something 474 00:31:48.105 --> 00:31:50.725 in me that I could never do for myself. 475 00:31:51.145 --> 00:31:55.765 He made me alive. And we gotta understand this. 476 00:31:55.825 --> 00:31:57.965 I'm telling you, because whether you're in here 477 00:31:57.965 --> 00:31:59.285 and you're exploring Christianity, 478 00:31:59.295 --> 00:32:01.085 which if you're here like welcome 479 00:32:01.185 --> 00:32:02.645 to a place where it's safe to do that. 480 00:32:02.825 --> 00:32:04.845 Or if you're an elder or a pastor in this church, 481 00:32:04.905 --> 00:32:06.845 we can't lose sight of this 'cause it's so easy to forget. 482 00:32:07.065 --> 00:32:10.085 The world tells us you can build your own life, 483 00:32:10.465 --> 00:32:12.325 you can upgrade your own life. 484 00:32:12.585 --> 00:32:15.525 But what John is saying is you don't build this life. 485 00:32:15.865 --> 00:32:17.685 You are born into it. How? 486 00:32:17.945 --> 00:32:20.485 By belief that Jesus is the Christ. 487 00:32:20.715 --> 00:32:22.645 Well what does that mean? Stay with me. 488 00:32:23.425 --> 00:32:25.605 I'm gonna break it down. You got two segments here. 489 00:32:25.695 --> 00:32:30.245 Jesus is the Christ when he says Jesus very clearly, 490 00:32:30.475 --> 00:32:34.005 he's talking about the real historical man Jesus 491 00:32:34.065 --> 00:32:36.445 of Nazareth, who, who whose birth 492 00:32:36.445 --> 00:32:38.565 that we're gonna celebrate here in just a couple weeks. 493 00:32:39.255 --> 00:32:41.925 Quick aside, if you haven't gotten reserved your seats 494 00:32:42.025 --> 00:32:43.165 yet, you can do that. 495 00:32:43.515 --> 00:32:46.645 Text the word Christmas to 7, 2, 9, 8, 9. Get your seats. 496 00:32:46.705 --> 00:32:48.325 Get seats for those that you're gonna invite. 497 00:32:48.585 --> 00:32:51.125 But this is talking about Jesus, the man who lived, 498 00:32:51.225 --> 00:32:54.165 who walked, who had, who had on human flesh, who taught, 499 00:32:54.465 --> 00:32:57.645 who, who, who lived, who went to a cross and bled and died. 500 00:32:57.645 --> 00:33:00.805 That, that Jesus was, what was the Christ? 501 00:33:02.395 --> 00:33:03.525 What does the Christ mean? 502 00:33:04.545 --> 00:33:07.565 Christ comes from the Greek word christos, which 503 00:33:08.355 --> 00:33:10.005 also is the same word in Hebrew 504 00:33:10.075 --> 00:33:12.525 that we translate the word Messiah or Savior. 505 00:33:13.585 --> 00:33:14.725 And whether you know it or not, 506 00:33:14.755 --> 00:33:16.645 like Christ was not Jesus' last name. 507 00:33:16.745 --> 00:33:19.085 It wasn't like first name Jesus last name Christ. 508 00:33:19.555 --> 00:33:23.365 This was a, uh, a title of a prophecy fulfilled the Israel. 509 00:33:23.365 --> 00:33:26.245 They were God's people, the Israelites, they were expecting 510 00:33:26.985 --> 00:33:28.765 one to come and to fulfill prophecy. 511 00:33:28.765 --> 00:33:31.125 So what they would've heard here is is, is understanding 512 00:33:31.125 --> 00:33:33.605 that Christ is this man Jesus 513 00:33:34.785 --> 00:33:36.645 who is a true historical man, 514 00:33:37.425 --> 00:33:40.205 but he's also the promised King from David's line. 515 00:33:40.355 --> 00:33:42.965 This is a suffering servant who has prophesied for thousands 516 00:33:42.965 --> 00:33:45.005 of years, was coming to take on the sins of the world. 517 00:33:45.345 --> 00:33:47.965 The Son of God is gonna usher in God's kingdom. 518 00:33:48.025 --> 00:33:51.565 And so Jesus to Christ is saying Jesus 519 00:33:51.665 --> 00:33:55.645 of Nazareth is the long promised God sent Savior 520 00:33:55.705 --> 00:33:57.485 of the world, who is the Son of God. 521 00:33:59.865 --> 00:34:03.565 And we gotta recognize that this language, believing 522 00:34:03.565 --> 00:34:06.285 that Jesus is the Christ, it doesn't save any room for 523 00:34:07.425 --> 00:34:08.965 you know what, I'm a Christian 524 00:34:08.965 --> 00:34:10.805 because I really think Jesus was a good guy 525 00:34:10.985 --> 00:34:12.085 and he was a great teacher. 526 00:34:13.555 --> 00:34:16.245 This this doesn't save room for like bobblehead Jesus 527 00:34:16.385 --> 00:34:19.045 who is just here to kind of justify our conscience. 528 00:34:19.045 --> 00:34:21.325 This is a, a, a paradigm shifting 529 00:34:21.945 --> 00:34:25.205 divine intervention into the course of human history. 530 00:34:25.205 --> 00:34:29.965 Which if true, it demands a decision, believe 531 00:34:31.585 --> 00:34:35.125 or don't believe, that's 532 00:34:35.125 --> 00:34:36.925 what John's getting at right here in front of us. 533 00:34:37.105 --> 00:34:39.885 And so if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, 534 00:34:40.265 --> 00:34:42.045 you are reborn of God. 535 00:34:42.235 --> 00:34:43.885 Then he goes on to say, by the way, 536 00:34:44.175 --> 00:34:45.445 we're halfway through verse one. 537 00:34:45.445 --> 00:34:46.965 We're about 12 to 13 minutes in. 538 00:34:46.965 --> 00:34:49.325 So I can understand why Ben last week was like, 539 00:34:49.385 --> 00:34:50.445 I'm just gonna do three verses. 540 00:34:50.445 --> 00:34:51.445 Good luck with the rest of it. 541 00:34:52.305 --> 00:34:54.005 So I'm not gonna do that, but I do need 542 00:34:54.005 --> 00:34:55.525 to pick up the pace at this point. 543 00:34:57.225 --> 00:34:58.765 It goes on. He says, everyone 544 00:34:58.785 --> 00:35:02.085 who loves the father loves whoever has been born of him. 545 00:35:02.755 --> 00:35:05.205 What does that mean? It means new birth through believe 546 00:35:05.205 --> 00:35:06.245 that Jesus is the Christ. 547 00:35:06.465 --> 00:35:09.485 It actually gives you a new status as a child of God. 548 00:35:09.485 --> 00:35:12.205 So if you believe Jesus is the Christ, you are now a son 549 00:35:12.385 --> 00:35:13.405 or a daughter of God. 550 00:35:13.585 --> 00:35:16.005 But it doesn't just give you a new status with God, 551 00:35:16.265 --> 00:35:19.165 it also gives you a new family with God's people. 552 00:35:20.665 --> 00:35:23.485 So you don't just get a father, you get siblings. 553 00:35:25.395 --> 00:35:29.325 Some of them you'd like, some 554 00:35:29.325 --> 00:35:32.245 of them stretch you, but they're family. 555 00:35:33.545 --> 00:35:36.165 And as much as we'd like to at times we don't get to say, 556 00:35:36.225 --> 00:35:39.605 you know, I love God, but I just can't stand as kids 557 00:35:40.185 --> 00:35:41.645 and then think that you're actually 558 00:35:41.645 --> 00:35:42.885 aligned with the heart of God. 559 00:35:43.025 --> 00:35:45.205 You are family. It's why when we say around here 560 00:35:45.315 --> 00:35:47.685 that we're a family who loves God, follows Jesus 561 00:35:47.745 --> 00:35:49.645 and shares hope that could sound inclusive. 562 00:35:49.675 --> 00:35:51.805 Like you're like, okay, so if I'm not a husband, a wife 563 00:35:51.805 --> 00:35:54.165 with 2.3 kids in the house, I don't really No, no, no. 564 00:35:54.165 --> 00:35:56.765 We're saying regardless of any of that, 565 00:35:57.105 --> 00:35:59.245 you are now a part of God's family. 566 00:35:59.425 --> 00:36:00.925 We are actually united together. 567 00:36:00.925 --> 00:36:04.085 That's why scripture says there is no slave nor free 568 00:36:04.225 --> 00:36:06.125 nor Jew, uh, nor Gentile. 569 00:36:06.125 --> 00:36:10.285 There's no black, white, old, young Republican, Democrat. 570 00:36:12.025 --> 00:36:15.685 And some of us, we don't like other people's opinions 571 00:36:15.685 --> 00:36:18.165 or politics and we just try 572 00:36:18.165 --> 00:36:19.525 to write 'em out of the family blessing. 573 00:36:22.795 --> 00:36:27.325 Sometimes we have a tendency to live life with Jesus 574 00:36:27.425 --> 00:36:30.325 and podcasts or Jesus 575 00:36:30.465 --> 00:36:34.405 and sermons instead of Jesus and his people. 576 00:36:37.385 --> 00:36:39.485 And so we gotta, we gotta recognize if your version 577 00:36:39.505 --> 00:36:42.045 of Christianity doesn't make room for God's family, 578 00:36:43.475 --> 00:36:45.365 it's not the version that we read about in scripture. 579 00:36:46.985 --> 00:36:50.485 So we're part of God's family birth, uh, faith in the Son. 580 00:36:50.485 --> 00:36:53.405 It bursts new life, births us into a new family. 581 00:36:53.405 --> 00:36:56.485 Second movement, faith in the Son, it reshapes how we live. 582 00:36:56.485 --> 00:36:59.005 You get to verse two, he says by this, we know 583 00:36:59.475 --> 00:37:02.365 that we love the children of God when we love 584 00:37:02.425 --> 00:37:03.605 and obey his commandments. 585 00:37:03.705 --> 00:37:04.965 So we obey God's commandments. 586 00:37:04.965 --> 00:37:06.765 Verse three, for this is the love of God 587 00:37:06.765 --> 00:37:08.245 that we keep his commandments 588 00:37:08.625 --> 00:37:10.565 and his commandments are not burdensome. 589 00:37:12.195 --> 00:37:16.245 Timeout, God's commandments are not burdensome. 590 00:37:16.905 --> 00:37:18.125 Is there anyone in this room 591 00:37:18.345 --> 00:37:19.965 or at our apex campus that would be willing 592 00:37:19.965 --> 00:37:21.365 to raise their hand and say, Hey, 593 00:37:21.415 --> 00:37:23.365 there has never been a time in my life where 594 00:37:23.365 --> 00:37:26.125 what God was asking from me was difficult. 595 00:37:28.765 --> 00:37:31.005 I me neither. So what is John saying here? 596 00:37:32.115 --> 00:37:34.285 He's definitely not saying God's commands are always easy. 597 00:37:34.955 --> 00:37:36.805 He's not saying that following Jesus doesn't lead 598 00:37:36.805 --> 00:37:39.245 to some internal or external tension in our lives. 599 00:37:39.275 --> 00:37:42.005 What he is saying is for someone who has been born of God 600 00:37:42.005 --> 00:37:43.805 that has the spirit of God inside of them, 601 00:37:44.135 --> 00:37:46.445 God's commands are no longer a cruel weight. 602 00:37:46.855 --> 00:37:49.805 There a path to real freedom and joy in our lives. 603 00:37:51.305 --> 00:37:54.685 You think about a fish, where is a fish most free 604 00:37:56.345 --> 00:37:59.805 on the sidewalk or in the water? 605 00:38:02.125 --> 00:38:03.725 I mean the water's a restriction, right? 606 00:38:04.965 --> 00:38:06.605 I mean technically it is you. 607 00:38:06.605 --> 00:38:07.725 You can ask the little mermaid. 608 00:38:09.325 --> 00:38:11.085 I want to go where the people are. 609 00:38:12.405 --> 00:38:14.565 I want to see him, see him dancing. 610 00:38:16.085 --> 00:38:18.885 I did choir when I was younger, so just be a worship leader. 611 00:38:20.025 --> 00:38:21.645 But look, okay, thank you. Well done. 612 00:38:21.715 --> 00:38:26.525 Alright, here's the water is the only environment 613 00:38:26.525 --> 00:38:28.885 where fish can actually experience life. 614 00:38:30.295 --> 00:38:32.965 God's commands are like that for us. The world says, no, no. 615 00:38:32.965 --> 00:38:34.765 Freedom is doing whatever I want to do. 616 00:38:36.215 --> 00:38:37.365 Jesus says, no, no, no. 617 00:38:37.365 --> 00:38:40.405 Freedom is living how you are created to live with me, 618 00:38:40.735 --> 00:38:42.925 under my rule, within my love. 619 00:38:45.185 --> 00:38:48.445 And then John brings up, he says like understanding this 620 00:38:48.445 --> 00:38:50.885 and getting to this place in our life, it, it takes us 621 00:38:50.885 --> 00:38:52.845 to this word that he uses overcome. 622 00:38:53.335 --> 00:38:55.965 Verse four, for everyone who has been born of God 623 00:38:56.845 --> 00:38:59.565 overcomes the world for this is the victory 624 00:38:59.565 --> 00:39:02.205 that has overcome the world, our faith, our belief 625 00:39:02.205 --> 00:39:03.245 that Jesus is the Christ. 626 00:39:03.425 --> 00:39:04.965 You get to verse five, who is it 627 00:39:04.965 --> 00:39:07.485 that overcomes the world except the one who believes 628 00:39:07.485 --> 00:39:09.285 that Jesus is the son of God? 629 00:39:09.425 --> 00:39:10.565 That's a rhetorical question. 630 00:39:10.565 --> 00:39:15.245 The answer to that is no one, everyone who's been born 631 00:39:15.245 --> 00:39:16.605 of God overcomes the world. 632 00:39:16.825 --> 00:39:19.125 And this is our victory, our faith, our faith 633 00:39:19.125 --> 00:39:20.605 that Jesus is the Christ. 634 00:39:21.355 --> 00:39:22.725 When he's talking about the world, 635 00:39:23.115 --> 00:39:24.125 he's not talking about people. 636 00:39:24.125 --> 00:39:25.925 This is not saying, Hey Christians, you believe this 637 00:39:25.925 --> 00:39:27.165 and Jesus, you're gonna overcome people. 638 00:39:27.395 --> 00:39:28.925 He's talking about the systems 639 00:39:29.275 --> 00:39:32.685 that the world preaches at us over and over and over again. 640 00:39:32.905 --> 00:39:37.245 You are what you accomplish. You are what you own. 641 00:39:39.665 --> 00:39:43.365 You are what's happened to you. And those are lies. 642 00:39:43.365 --> 00:39:45.565 John said, no, no, no, you don't overcome that system. 643 00:39:45.865 --> 00:39:49.365 You by hustling it, you overcome that system. 644 00:39:49.425 --> 00:39:52.525 By faith, faith is a transfer of trust. 645 00:39:53.185 --> 00:39:55.525 I'm not trusting my performance, my feelings, 646 00:39:55.675 --> 00:39:57.045 culture's, definition of life. 647 00:39:57.465 --> 00:39:59.045 I'm trusting Jesus. And you need 648 00:39:59.045 --> 00:40:01.885 to know the world will disciple us every single day. 649 00:40:03.735 --> 00:40:06.885 Faith in the sun is how you talk back. 650 00:40:07.815 --> 00:40:09.845 Faith in the sun is how you put an anchor in the ground. 651 00:40:09.885 --> 00:40:12.485 I say, no, no, I'm not defined by my situations 652 00:40:12.505 --> 00:40:13.565 or my circumstances. 653 00:40:15.425 --> 00:40:16.445 We can overcome the world. 654 00:40:16.465 --> 00:40:20.085 So this week, as we're celebrating joy through advent, 655 00:40:21.275 --> 00:40:24.485 I've gotta recognize joy is not something 656 00:40:24.485 --> 00:40:27.565 that's experienced when everything in our life lines up. 657 00:40:29.465 --> 00:40:32.125 Joy is understanding that even when my life is not lined up, 658 00:40:32.885 --> 00:40:34.765 I trust in the one who gave his life from mine. 659 00:40:35.905 --> 00:40:40.085 That's joy. Faith in the Son leads to new life. 660 00:40:40.135 --> 00:40:41.405 Third movement, faith in the Son, 661 00:40:41.405 --> 00:40:42.765 it rests on God's testimony. 662 00:40:42.765 --> 00:40:44.605 This is all about, okay, that sounds great, 663 00:40:44.785 --> 00:40:46.405 but how do we know this is true? 664 00:40:47.025 --> 00:40:48.725 And I wanna point out in John's day, 665 00:40:48.905 --> 00:40:50.605 people were rewriting Jesus. 666 00:40:51.735 --> 00:40:53.445 Maybe he wasn't fully human, 667 00:40:54.495 --> 00:40:56.045 maybe he wasn't really the son of God. 668 00:40:56.045 --> 00:40:57.165 Maybe he didn't really die. 669 00:40:57.165 --> 00:40:59.285 Maybe his death didn't actually deal 670 00:40:59.285 --> 00:41:00.685 with the sins of the world. 671 00:41:00.705 --> 00:41:02.245 And this is not anything new for us. 672 00:41:02.525 --> 00:41:04.765 I mean, we, we hear the same things now just 673 00:41:04.765 --> 00:41:07.285 with better graphics and better Instagram reels. 674 00:41:08.705 --> 00:41:10.885 But ultimately this comes down to the the question, 675 00:41:10.945 --> 00:41:13.005 how do we know that Jesus is the Christ? 676 00:41:13.025 --> 00:41:15.045 And you remember earlier we looked back at John chapter 677 00:41:15.045 --> 00:41:17.565 three and Jesus said, no one can experience the kingdom 678 00:41:17.585 --> 00:41:20.685 of God unless they are born of water and spirit. 679 00:41:20.985 --> 00:41:23.805 And you get to verse six of chapter five of first John. 680 00:41:24.425 --> 00:41:27.165 And John writes this is he, he's talking about Jesus 681 00:41:27.585 --> 00:41:31.325 who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ. 682 00:41:32.145 --> 00:41:34.045 Not by the water only, but by the water. 683 00:41:34.145 --> 00:41:36.965 And the blood and the Spirit is the one who testifies 684 00:41:36.965 --> 00:41:38.645 because the spirit is the truth. 685 00:41:39.345 --> 00:41:41.125 For there are three that testify the spirit 686 00:41:41.385 --> 00:41:42.925 and the water and the blood. 687 00:41:43.105 --> 00:41:44.125 And these three agree. 688 00:41:45.345 --> 00:41:46.845 Is there anybody who wants to come up and explain that? 689 00:41:50.065 --> 00:41:51.125 Here's what John's saying. 690 00:41:51.195 --> 00:41:54.525 He's saying God has testified himself about his son. 691 00:41:55.395 --> 00:41:56.605 Keep it as simple as I can. 692 00:41:56.835 --> 00:41:59.805 When he, when he says through the water, what he's referring 693 00:41:59.805 --> 00:42:01.645 to is Jesus' baptism 694 00:42:02.075 --> 00:42:03.885 that we can read about back in the gospels. 695 00:42:03.885 --> 00:42:06.005 And Jesus goes into the water. John the Baptist baptize him. 696 00:42:06.025 --> 00:42:08.885 And when he comes up, um, uh, scripture tells us 697 00:42:08.885 --> 00:42:10.925 that God actually speaks from heaven. 698 00:42:10.985 --> 00:42:14.445 And he says, this is my son in whom I'm well pleased. 699 00:42:15.265 --> 00:42:17.845 So let's say God himself told us this was true. 700 00:42:18.195 --> 00:42:20.165 When he goes, when he is talking about the blood, 701 00:42:21.195 --> 00:42:22.285 he's talking about the blood 702 00:42:22.285 --> 00:42:24.365 that Jesus shed on our behalf on the cross. 703 00:42:24.595 --> 00:42:26.885 He's saying, look, for thousands of years, we know that 704 00:42:26.885 --> 00:42:28.085 for the forgiveness of sins, 705 00:42:28.085 --> 00:42:29.485 there has to be shedding of blood. 706 00:42:29.485 --> 00:42:30.725 For thousands of years we've known 707 00:42:30.875 --> 00:42:32.005 that there's one who's coming. 708 00:42:32.295 --> 00:42:34.405 Jesus came. He said he was that one, 709 00:42:34.545 --> 00:42:36.005 and he believed it so much, 710 00:42:36.105 --> 00:42:37.845 he actually bled and died for you. 711 00:42:41.185 --> 00:42:42.565 And then John adds in the Spirit, 712 00:42:42.565 --> 00:42:45.125 which also testifies the spirit, the spirit of God. 713 00:42:45.155 --> 00:42:48.285 It's like a spotlight saying, look at him. This is true. 714 00:42:48.635 --> 00:42:50.085 Look at how lives are changing. 715 00:42:51.305 --> 00:42:54.085 Men and women are overcoming the world through what it is 716 00:42:54.085 --> 00:42:55.725 that God is doing and changing their lives. 717 00:42:55.745 --> 00:42:58.405 So you've got the water. The father saying, this is my son. 718 00:42:58.585 --> 00:43:00.205 You, you've got the blood, the cross saying, 719 00:43:00.355 --> 00:43:02.125 this is the sacrifice for our sins. 720 00:43:02.125 --> 00:43:04.405 He gave his life for each and every one of us. 721 00:43:04.425 --> 00:43:06.605 And then the spirit, that's the ongoing witness. 722 00:43:06.705 --> 00:43:08.565 That's what convicts us in our hearts. 723 00:43:08.565 --> 00:43:12.045 It says, turn away from death. This is true. Trust him. 724 00:43:13.225 --> 00:43:15.245 And then John gets incredibly practical. 725 00:43:15.245 --> 00:43:18.725 You get to verse nine. He says, if we receive the testimony 726 00:43:18.725 --> 00:43:23.245 of men, which we do, the testimony of God is greater 727 00:43:24.305 --> 00:43:27.045 for this is the testimony of God that he has born, 728 00:43:27.055 --> 00:43:28.325 which is a past part simple. 729 00:43:28.345 --> 00:43:30.645 It means has given the testimony of God that he has given 730 00:43:30.935 --> 00:43:32.005 concerning his son. 731 00:43:32.425 --> 00:43:34.485 We believe people's testimonies all the time. 732 00:43:34.865 --> 00:43:38.965 We will buy a $500 TV based on a review that we read online. 733 00:43:41.015 --> 00:43:43.405 We'll, someone said a thousand dollars TV down here. 734 00:43:43.405 --> 00:43:44.965 There's a wife jabbing her husband. 735 00:43:46.775 --> 00:43:49.085 We'll trust a stranger's post on social media 736 00:43:49.145 --> 00:43:50.485 and get worked up for two days. 737 00:43:51.485 --> 00:43:53.365 I do this, like there's times my kids go to bed 738 00:43:53.365 --> 00:43:54.605 and I get on social media and 739 00:43:54.605 --> 00:43:56.565 before I can fall asleep, I'm like, I don't, 740 00:43:57.365 --> 00:43:59.165 I don't know if we ever really made it to the moon 741 00:43:59.165 --> 00:44:00.805 or if the world world is round anymore. 742 00:44:00.875 --> 00:44:03.045 Like, I don't know. I don't know. 743 00:44:05.175 --> 00:44:06.605 Don't send me emails, okay? 744 00:44:06.615 --> 00:44:08.685 We're not, I don't wanna know your flat earth theories. 745 00:44:08.685 --> 00:44:11.125 This is not, this is not bait for you to jump in. 746 00:44:13.345 --> 00:44:14.485 We trust what a friend says 747 00:44:14.485 --> 00:44:15.805 about somebody that we've never met. 748 00:44:15.945 --> 00:44:18.405 We trust the testimony of other men. 749 00:44:18.675 --> 00:44:22.205 What John is saying is, if you can trust people, why is it 750 00:44:22.225 --> 00:44:23.805 so hard to trust God? 751 00:44:23.975 --> 00:44:25.925 These three things testify together. 752 00:44:27.945 --> 00:44:29.205 And you get to verse 10, man, 753 00:44:29.205 --> 00:44:30.565 and it's like a punch in the face. 754 00:44:31.705 --> 00:44:33.405 It says, whoever believes in the son 755 00:44:33.405 --> 00:44:35.325 of God has the testimony in himself. 756 00:44:35.385 --> 00:44:39.085 That's, that's good. Whoever does not believe God has made 757 00:44:39.265 --> 00:44:40.325 him a liar 758 00:44:41.795 --> 00:44:43.925 because he has not believed in the testimony 759 00:44:43.925 --> 00:44:46.205 that God has born, that God has given concerning son. 760 00:44:47.395 --> 00:44:49.765 Whoever does not believe in God has made him a liar. 761 00:44:50.665 --> 00:44:53.165 See, to reject Jesus. It's not being neutral. 762 00:44:53.715 --> 00:44:55.565 It's looking at everything that God has done 763 00:44:55.825 --> 00:44:57.285 and everything that God has said 764 00:44:57.425 --> 00:44:59.285 and saying, I don't believe you. 765 00:45:02.585 --> 00:45:06.085 And I know that's heavy, but it's honest. 766 00:45:07.965 --> 00:45:09.925 I mean, I tell you the question that I've been having 767 00:45:09.925 --> 00:45:11.285 to wrestle with all week. 768 00:45:11.505 --> 00:45:12.645 And so welcome into it. 769 00:45:12.645 --> 00:45:15.125 It's this, where in your life are you living? 770 00:45:15.195 --> 00:45:18.645 Like God is lying and the world's telling the truth. 771 00:45:21.585 --> 00:45:22.765 God says, life is in my son, 772 00:45:22.765 --> 00:45:25.325 but we live like life is in our success. 773 00:45:27.345 --> 00:45:29.245 God says, my commands are for your joy. 774 00:45:30.595 --> 00:45:33.445 Command are for me to call you into serving those who are 775 00:45:33.445 --> 00:45:35.925 around you, to to leverage, uh, the resources 776 00:45:35.925 --> 00:45:37.365 that I've blessed you with in your life 777 00:45:37.365 --> 00:45:38.805 for the sake of my kingdom. 778 00:45:40.095 --> 00:45:41.325 These things are for your joy, 779 00:45:41.385 --> 00:45:42.925 but we live like his commands are 780 00:45:42.925 --> 00:45:44.005 really just killing a vibe. 781 00:45:46.585 --> 00:45:50.085 God says, you're loved, but we live 782 00:45:51.035 --> 00:45:53.085 like we're only as valuable as our last win. 783 00:45:54.145 --> 00:45:55.965 You know, I I I do. I've got kids. 784 00:45:56.265 --> 00:45:57.925 And um, you know, by God's grace 785 00:45:57.925 --> 00:45:59.325 that they're passionate about a few sports 786 00:45:59.345 --> 00:46:01.925 and they, they accomplish a lot of stuff. 787 00:46:03.845 --> 00:46:08.045 I have a fear that like they could develop this 788 00:46:08.875 --> 00:46:12.565 performance mentality that says, I'm defined by the last win 789 00:46:12.565 --> 00:46:13.965 that I had or what I can accomplish. 790 00:46:14.665 --> 00:46:19.205 And so what happens one day when a loss comes, I want them 791 00:46:19.205 --> 00:46:20.605 to be so rooted in the gospel 792 00:46:20.785 --> 00:46:22.485 and then, well, I'm still a child of God. 793 00:46:23.385 --> 00:46:26.045 I'm still loved. I'm still a son of God. 794 00:46:26.065 --> 00:46:28.005 I'm still a daughter of God. God's promises are 795 00:46:28.005 --> 00:46:29.085 still true for me in my life. 796 00:46:29.265 --> 00:46:32.725 And the reality is, so much of our anxiety comes from trying 797 00:46:32.725 --> 00:46:35.445 to hold on to God's promises in one hand and then, 798 00:46:35.585 --> 00:46:38.365 and then buying into the world's promises in the other. 799 00:46:39.545 --> 00:46:41.845 And you know what it's like? It would be like tying a chain 800 00:46:41.845 --> 00:46:44.645 around one wrist into a bumper of an F-150 pickup 801 00:46:44.905 --> 00:46:47.165 and a chain around another one to a Chevy Silverado. 802 00:46:47.465 --> 00:46:49.285 And not like gunning it outta the parking lot, 803 00:46:49.385 --> 00:46:51.205 but just like putting it on low and letting 'em go. 804 00:46:51.205 --> 00:46:53.805 Like the tension that we sit under 805 00:46:59.955 --> 00:47:02.025 faith in the son rest in God's testimony. 806 00:47:02.925 --> 00:47:05.385 God has spoken. He's given us his word. 807 00:47:06.045 --> 00:47:08.105 And then John lands the plane with maximum clarity. 808 00:47:08.105 --> 00:47:09.305 Verse 11 and 12. He says, 809 00:47:09.305 --> 00:47:12.825 and this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life. 810 00:47:13.085 --> 00:47:15.305 And this life is in his son. 811 00:47:15.765 --> 00:47:19.505 Listen, whoever has the son has life. 812 00:47:20.535 --> 00:47:24.425 Whoever does not have the son of God, does not have life. 813 00:47:28.485 --> 00:47:29.885 You almost don't need a commentary 814 00:47:29.905 --> 00:47:31.485 or a pastor to unpack that for you. 815 00:47:34.795 --> 00:47:35.925 This is what I want you to leave. 816 00:47:36.795 --> 00:47:40.925 Life is a gift, not a trophy. It's a gift. 817 00:47:41.865 --> 00:47:43.845 God gave us eternal life. You don't earn it. 818 00:47:44.345 --> 00:47:46.605 You, you, you don't have to pay him back for it. 819 00:47:47.825 --> 00:47:49.365 You don't have to work off your sins 820 00:47:49.365 --> 00:47:50.445 like spiritual probation. 821 00:47:50.505 --> 00:47:54.485 And I hope there is. I just gotta believe there is somebody 822 00:47:54.505 --> 00:47:57.445 in this room right now that is carrying a burden from 823 00:47:57.445 --> 00:47:58.845 something that's a part of their past 824 00:47:59.155 --> 00:48:00.925 that they just can't move on from. 825 00:48:01.025 --> 00:48:03.765 And you need to understand that's not how it works. 826 00:48:04.255 --> 00:48:06.325 Jesus took it to a cross. 827 00:48:07.265 --> 00:48:10.445 He paid for your sins so that you could have new life, so 828 00:48:10.445 --> 00:48:12.245 that you could have an abundant life that's not walking 829 00:48:12.245 --> 00:48:14.645 around with guilt and shame and condemnation. 830 00:48:17.515 --> 00:48:20.285 Life is not God's reward for your performance. 831 00:48:22.595 --> 00:48:24.925 It's a gift because of Jesus's performance. 832 00:48:26.065 --> 00:48:27.925 We gotta get our hearts and our minds around that. 833 00:48:28.475 --> 00:48:30.605 It's not about your accomplishments, it's about your belief. 834 00:48:30.605 --> 00:48:32.445 And this is why John can be so blunt. 835 00:48:32.995 --> 00:48:35.445 Whoever has the son has life, 836 00:48:36.635 --> 00:48:39.685 whoever doesn't have the son, doesn't have life. 837 00:48:42.225 --> 00:48:45.245 So you can have a full calendar, a full house 838 00:48:46.345 --> 00:48:50.005 and a full bank account and not experience life. 839 00:48:51.985 --> 00:48:54.845 Or you can have an uncertain future. 840 00:48:56.105 --> 00:49:00.045 You can have some scars. You can walk with a limp. 841 00:49:01.465 --> 00:49:02.605 You can have some losses. 842 00:49:02.875 --> 00:49:05.125 Look, I wanna recognize this time of year, man, I, 843 00:49:05.525 --> 00:49:08.005 I know there's many of us in this room right now 844 00:49:08.005 --> 00:49:09.965 that this is our first Christmas season 845 00:49:13.755 --> 00:49:15.165 without that loved one in our life. 846 00:49:17.675 --> 00:49:19.645 There's people in my community group right now 847 00:49:19.645 --> 00:49:21.045 that have just gotten some news. 848 00:49:21.065 --> 00:49:25.045 You know what? They might have six months left to live. 849 00:49:30.145 --> 00:49:32.965 But through the sun, we have life. 850 00:49:32.965 --> 00:49:35.125 Eternal scripture tells us 851 00:49:35.775 --> 00:49:38.245 Jesus is gonna put all this brokenness back together again. 852 00:49:38.305 --> 00:49:40.965 One day he will wipe every tear away from every eye. 853 00:49:40.975 --> 00:49:43.845 God's word tells us that in Christ, we don't have to mourn 854 00:49:43.845 --> 00:49:45.045 as those who have no hope. 855 00:49:46.825 --> 00:49:48.005 And so the question this week, 856 00:49:48.195 --> 00:49:49.285 it's not, do you go to church? 857 00:49:51.255 --> 00:49:52.545 It's not even do you believe in God? 858 00:49:54.445 --> 00:49:55.945 The question is, do you have the son? 859 00:49:58.765 --> 00:50:03.025 Do you have the son for our communities 860 00:50:03.025 --> 00:50:05.465 and all the world to know and experience the love of God 861 00:50:06.285 --> 00:50:07.505 and the life that Jesus came 862 00:50:07.505 --> 00:50:10.745 to make available church family. 863 00:50:12.645 --> 00:50:15.525 I i just have this holy discontent that I know there are men 864 00:50:15.985 --> 00:50:19.445 and women and students who said 865 00:50:19.445 --> 00:50:20.765 that they believe in the name of Jesus 866 00:50:20.905 --> 00:50:23.045 but aren't experiencing the joy and the peace 867 00:50:23.065 --> 00:50:24.725 and the purpose that he came to give to us 868 00:50:28.355 --> 00:50:29.365 This advent joy. 869 00:50:30.675 --> 00:50:34.605 It's not my life is perfect, it's his life is mine. 870 00:50:37.745 --> 00:50:40.325 And so I wanna give us a chance to respond, okay? 871 00:50:40.345 --> 00:50:44.085 Not not just to, not just to think, not just to listen, 872 00:50:44.225 --> 00:50:45.525 but to actively respond. 873 00:50:45.525 --> 00:50:47.445 And so I'm gonna give you an opportunity to respond, 874 00:50:47.585 --> 00:50:49.325 but it's gonna be a bold response. 875 00:50:49.945 --> 00:50:54.005 And so I know in this room, at our Apex campus, 876 00:50:54.455 --> 00:50:55.645 there are men and women 877 00:50:55.665 --> 00:50:57.245 who are at a place of just saying, you know what? 878 00:50:58.525 --> 00:50:59.845 I wanna receive life in the sun. 879 00:51:00.765 --> 00:51:04.005 I, I, I've, I've been chasing life the world's way. 880 00:51:05.595 --> 00:51:07.525 I've been successful on the outside. 881 00:51:07.545 --> 00:51:08.605 All the boxes are checked, 882 00:51:08.625 --> 00:51:10.885 but I don't have what John is talking about. 883 00:51:14.505 --> 00:51:15.885 Or maybe you say, I've been around church, 884 00:51:16.045 --> 00:51:19.005 I know about Jesus, but I've not fully trusted him 885 00:51:19.275 --> 00:51:24.205 with my life, with my sin, with my future. 886 00:51:26.825 --> 00:51:28.845 So I want you to hear God's testimony again. 887 00:51:29.475 --> 00:51:33.405 Whoever has the son has life, not whoever's never messed up, 888 00:51:33.505 --> 00:51:35.845 not whoever can explain one John in the Greek, 889 00:51:37.635 --> 00:51:38.765 Whoever has the son. 890 00:51:39.105 --> 00:51:41.045 And so if that's you and you're here in a 891 00:51:41.045 --> 00:51:42.485 moment, the band's gonna come out. 892 00:51:42.485 --> 00:51:44.765 They're gonna play a song. Some of our pastors and elders 893 00:51:44.765 --> 00:51:46.165 and prayer team, they're gonna come down front. 894 00:51:47.705 --> 00:51:48.965 And I just want you to come down 895 00:51:48.985 --> 00:51:51.285 and I want you to tell them, I wanna receive Jesus. 896 00:51:52.345 --> 00:51:54.725 And they're gonna pray with you. They're gonna pray for you. 897 00:51:55.385 --> 00:51:57.605 And in your seat right now, maybe you're just in a place 898 00:51:57.605 --> 00:51:59.965 of saying, Jesus, I believe you are the son of God. 899 00:52:00.125 --> 00:52:01.925 I don't know everything Jason was talking about 900 00:52:01.925 --> 00:52:03.765 with the water and the blood and all that. 901 00:52:06.185 --> 00:52:08.165 But I know you live the life that I didn't live. 902 00:52:08.285 --> 00:52:11.005 I know that you died for the forgiveness of my sins. 903 00:52:11.045 --> 00:52:12.365 I know that you rose from the grave 904 00:52:12.585 --> 00:52:13.805 and I'm putting my trust in you. 905 00:52:13.995 --> 00:52:16.925 Forgive me. I want to experience life in the sun. 906 00:52:17.105 --> 00:52:20.205 And if you're in that place when the band plays, I want you 907 00:52:20.205 --> 00:52:21.725 to be bold and I want you to come down 908 00:52:21.725 --> 00:52:22.645 and I want you to let someone 909 00:52:22.645 --> 00:52:24.245 know, I want to trust in Jesus. 910 00:52:29.445 --> 00:52:31.365 I believe there's another group in the room right now, 911 00:52:32.625 --> 00:52:34.045 and you're just tired of 912 00:52:34.045 --> 00:52:35.325 chasing the world's version of life. 913 00:52:37.225 --> 00:52:38.845 You believe that Jesus is the Christ, 914 00:52:40.585 --> 00:52:41.885 but you've been living in that tension. 915 00:52:44.195 --> 00:52:47.005 This is what God calls me into. This is what the world says. 916 00:52:49.025 --> 00:52:50.885 And if we're honest, you're living your life. 917 00:52:50.885 --> 00:52:51.965 There's though God's lying. 918 00:52:54.985 --> 00:52:57.645 And if that's you, I same plan. 919 00:52:57.645 --> 00:52:59.405 We're all gonna stand and sing. 920 00:53:00.025 --> 00:53:01.245 And I want you to come forward 921 00:53:01.265 --> 00:53:03.925 and I want you to let somebody know that you need prayer. 922 00:53:03.985 --> 00:53:05.525 Or maybe you just need to come to the front 923 00:53:05.525 --> 00:53:07.645 of the stage right here and treat it like an altar 924 00:53:07.865 --> 00:53:08.965 and lay something down 925 00:53:08.965 --> 00:53:10.885 that you've been carrying for far too long. 926 00:53:12.505 --> 00:53:14.285 But man, this season at Christmas, 927 00:53:14.285 --> 00:53:16.205 when we're celebrating advent joy, 928 00:53:16.505 --> 00:53:19.885 can we just be filled anew with the spirit of God, 929 00:53:20.325 --> 00:53:21.885 recognizing that Jesus left heaven 930 00:53:22.145 --> 00:53:23.445 and came down to earth so 931 00:53:23.445 --> 00:53:25.725 that we could experience an abundant life. 932 00:53:29.465 --> 00:53:32.485 And so I'm gonna ask all of you to go ahead 933 00:53:32.485 --> 00:53:34.365 and stand together here at the Raleigh campus 934 00:53:34.465 --> 00:53:37.405 and for you all at the Apex campus, and we're gonna sing.