Transcript
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Well, hello and uh, welcome back to
another episode of a Few Things to Say,
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which I'm sure you were eagerly
uh, waiting for all this time.
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Well, uh, as a matter of fact, I've
been busy for several days on very,
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very different things.
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I'm not really sure exactly what
the regularity of these episodes
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will be. Probably very
irregular. As I say,
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I don't know what the future of it is,
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but here's another episode
for the time being and,
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and I would like to continue with this
work with a little bit and try and make
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it interesting and engaging
in a, in a greater way.
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But for now, this is what
we've gotta work with. Now,
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of course I did have the subject for
the present podcast in my mind last
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time, but I kind of got
set in another direction,
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speaking in some manner about the gospel,
which is not a distraction of course,
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that is always the core
around which Christianity
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revolves. Uh,
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everything eventually and ultimately
relates back to that this is the God with
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whom we have to do. This
is the life that we live,
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the life that I now live.
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I live by faith in the son
of God who loved me and gave
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himself for me. And we
have been made alive.
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We've been given life by
his life, by his power,
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by the Spirit through Christ.
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And our very being comes from that.
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So the is always going to be relevant
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and it is on this gospel and in
this gospel and around this gospel
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and this God of this gospel
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that any unity can come from
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any unity that does not come
from truth. It is useless.
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And though people talk a lot
about tolerance and unity,
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ultimately there is an
exclusionary principle to any
group and to any so-called
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unity. There must be some
principle which unites us.
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'cause otherwise it's just chaos. I mean,
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we already live in a world where we are,
you know, we're stuck on this planet.
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So we have that unity, which
is, you know, not great unity.
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And there's a lot of so-called unity that
goes on, which is hardly unity at all.
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There's enforced unity.
There's unity in error.
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As we,
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I don't think any of us would be willing
to say or at least accuse others of.
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Ultimately you can't unify merely
around tolerance because at some point
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sooner or later you're going to have to
recognize there are any number of things
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that you cannot tolerate. We cannot,
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well to decide an extreme example,
tolerate a man running around at,
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at large killing people
at random. You can't just
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Blindly tolerate that. Certain
behaviors cannot be accepted.
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So in basic functioning society,
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tolerance cannot be a
single virtue. And that, uh,
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brought to mind a saying
from my old friend,
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GK Chesterton, which I will
take the liberty of quoting.
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And he wrote a hundred
more years ago and yet,
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and his words are as up to date
as anything said this morning.
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And he said this, the
modern world is not evil.
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In some ways the modern
world is far too good.
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It's full of wild and wasted
virtues when a religious scheme
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is shattered, it is not merely
the vices that are let loose.
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The vices are indeed let loose
and they wander and do damage,
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but the virtues are let loose also.
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And the virtues wander more wildly
and the virtues do more terrible
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damage.
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The modern world is full of the
old Christian virtues gone mad.
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The virtues have gone mad because they've
been isolated from each other and are
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wandering alone. Thus,
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some scientists care for truth
and their truth is pless.
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Thus some humanitarians only
care for pity. And their pity,
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I'm sorry to say, is often untruthful.
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And uh, what Chester said
and said then as I say,
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is very much the case today
because it is eternally true.
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You cannot have a virtue
isolated from all the others and
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create a good world.
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All of the good things must come
together as they're united in
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God, the fountain of all virtues.
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All this to relate to Christian
Love, Christian charity,
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Christian unity cannot exist simply as a
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all consuming blind love.
It must exist in truth.
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Christ had to come and suffer
for us because the love of God
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could come to us in no other
way. Once we had fallen in sin,
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the love of God for us
was so vast and so great
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that it took him all the way down
to earth into the frail form of
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a man all the way to the cross,
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to the grave and up from
the grave to new life.
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But it went that far.
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It had to go that far
because the holiness of God
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had to be satisfied.
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I have spoken a good deal
against an unhealthy,
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an ungodly legalism and intolerance and
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strife and dissension and hate and anger,
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but we do not arrive at truth
by swinging across the great
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abyss simply to a all inclusive
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blind and tolerant universal benevolence,
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which is not a benevolence. If
Christians are to be united,
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they must must be united in truth
around the truth of the gospel
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and the true triune God of the gospel.
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That being established, the wonderful,
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awesome love of God
expressed in the community of
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saints in the church
is indeed the wondrous
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beautiful thing that God
intended for it to be.
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This is such a vast subject.
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I'm only going to address a little bit,
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one little chunk of a
chunk of the great wondrous
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truth of God's people.
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As I've said before, far too
many people who have lived in,
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in an unhealthy environment in
church where there is legalism,
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where there is rules set that God
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did not set up, where there
is hyper excessive strictness,
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where there's all these rules
and laws and strife and anger,
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far too often
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the response that ultimately comes from
that is for the person who leaves this
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environment to swing all the
way in the other direction,
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to license to liberty, to
saying, I can do whatever I want.
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That we have freedom in
Christ. Or of course,
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very often they go all the way to
the point of just ultra liberal
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religion or no religion
at all. And that again,
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that cannot be laid completely
at the feet of the church
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they left. Even if it was a
very unhealthy environment,
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we must all bear the
weight of our own sin. But
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those Christians in that
environment who were not acting
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Christ-like, like
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they do not take the guilt for the person,
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but they bear some
responsibility nonetheless.
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So then as
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truth is compromised or diminished
or sacrificed in the name
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of love, unity and charity or whatever
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it far too often in
other times and places,
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love is sacrificed or
compromised or diminished
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In the supposed cause of truth
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of us being right.
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And indeed in far too many cases of us
being the only ones who are really right
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and so we are cut ourselves
off from everyone else
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out there
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and we call everyone else
either total apostate
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or a compromiser at best
we might be patronizing.
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That is what happens
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oftentimes in these kinds of legalistic
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fundamental churches which are
not really fundamental when it
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comes to the true
fundamentals of scripture,
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but to the fundamentals
of their tradition.
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And as there is great danger
in opening the circle broadly
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to everyone who likes Jesus
or something like that.
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So there is grave danger in the sort
of isolation that is often found.
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And we need the circle, if you will,
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of orthodoxy to be small
enough that it does not
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readily admit great
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levels of error and compromise,
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but it needs to be large enough
so that we who fit within it can
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bless one another, help one another.
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Check can balance one another with
our differences and our healthy
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kinds of difference,
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perhaps even some relatively
healthy level of argument
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rather than simply
cutting everyone else off
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and the church, the
people, the family of God,
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those who together have
been adopted by God
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to be his family. Though we are, were,
were once estranged and far from him,
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he brought us to himself.
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That is a precious reality and we
share that with all of those who are
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in Christ,
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Not simply with all of those
who are our kind of people,
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our immediate party.
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We do need unity in the gospel
and in truth and in certain
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other practical levels of things
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we need to hate.
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Have a common attitude of reverence
for scripture and what God has revealed
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and how he tells us to live.
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We should not be slitting
apart on minutia,
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on small details of eschatology
on our preferred Bible,
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translation on how many inches long we,
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our pants or our skirts
should be any number of
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potentially ridiculous things,
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any division when it becomes necessary.
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And it will must be upon the
basis of the clear, direct,
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absolute essential teachings of scripture.
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That must be the only
thing that unites us in our
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agreement with it or divides
us as we depart from it.
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And uh,
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I'd like to share and perhaps reflect
a little bit upon a few verses and,
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uh, hopefully not keep you too excessively
long with this particular episode,
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but uh, if I could begin appropriately
in the book of Ephesians,
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the chapter two
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and starting in verse 19.
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So then you are no longer
strangers and aliens,
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but you are fellow citizens with the
saints and members of the household of
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God built on the foundation
of the apostles and prophets,
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Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone
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in whom the whole structure
being joined together grows
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into a holy temple in the Lord.
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In Him you also are being built
together into a dwelling place
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for God by the spirit.
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We like this whole
wonderful book of Ephesians.
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That's just a wonderful
passage and I love,
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I I was really struck by a lot
of things, but for one thing,
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the that culmination in there in which
we are described as we are to be a
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dwelling place for God,
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we are God's temple.
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And we see of course in the Old Testament
all of that, all of those details,
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all that pattern that goes looking
forward to what God ultimately was
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going to accomplish in his
church, in the family of God,
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in the people of God being built
up into a dwelling place for God.
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That's just incredible.
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It's incredible that God made his dwelling
place among men that he tabernacled
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among us,
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that he took upon himself
a body like ours and
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ultimately he's building us up
as his people, as his bride.
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And there are so many images,
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so many pictures and parallels
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and of course among other things,
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the family imagery that
we would be the bride,
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a chaste virgin to God to
describe the great mystery
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that is the relationship
between Christ and His church
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so beautiful.
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This is the precious reality
that unites us in love
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and we who were once far away are made
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near by the blood of Christ together.
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And as love comes down from God
through Christ, by the spirit,
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our love is able to be brought to life.
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And so we turn our love back
to Christ and through Christ to
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one another. Nothing more
wonderful in the world.
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And if truths like this could
truly be impressed in our minds
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and rooted deep in our hearts,
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we could wake every morning rejoicing.
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And of course I know there's the
reality of humanity that I very much
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deal with every day. I'm
the foremost of sinners,
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which is why all the more I need
to preach to myself and then,
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then to others. But this,
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this right here is just
a little, little portion,
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a little mortal about
describing who we are
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in Christ as the church.
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And so ultimately far from being
isolationists, we need each other.
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Ultimately of course we need God,
our life is in him, it is from him,
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but it does not put us on this
earth in isolation to grow
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in an untended garden but to
grow together in rich soil,
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helping one another,
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composing all the different
nutrients that make their soil
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rich,
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being the different parts of the body
which cannot exist in isolation but must
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come together to do the work
of the church and the ministry.
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And to speak more about
the unity of the church,
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if we could turn just over a couple
of pages to Ephesians chapter four
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and verse 11. And he gave
the apostles, the prophets,
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the evangelists,
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the shepherds and teachers to equip
the saints for the work of ministry,
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for building up the body of Christ
until we all attain to the unity
241
00:17:30,990 --> 00:17:35,650
of the faith and of the knowledge
of the Son of God to mature manhood
242
00:17:36,230 --> 00:17:41,170
to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ so that we may
243
00:17:41,390 --> 00:17:46,250
no longer be children tossed to and fro
by the waves and carried about by every
244
00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:51,040
wind of doctrine, by human
cunning, by craftiness,
245
00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:56,160
in deceitful schemes. Rather
speaking the truth in love.
246
00:17:57,140 --> 00:18:01,720
We are to grow up in every way into
him who is the head into Christ
247
00:18:02,830 --> 00:18:07,520
from whom the whole body joined and
held together by every joint with which
248
00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:08,633
it is equipped,
249
00:18:09,470 --> 00:18:14,440
when each part is working
properly makes the body grow so
250
00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,280
that it builds itself up in love.
251
00:18:19,530 --> 00:18:23,820
This again, a wonderful statement
and picture of the healthy,
252
00:18:24,250 --> 00:18:27,580
rich, flourishing church, not
253
00:18:30,170 --> 00:18:35,100
through tyranny or bullying
or browbeat or arbitrary
254
00:18:35,170 --> 00:18:37,940
rule keeping or tradition upholding,
255
00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:40,473
but by
256
00:18:42,130 --> 00:18:44,900
love of the truth and love of each other,
257
00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,580
the church builds itself up in love.
258
00:18:51,590 --> 00:18:56,180
We're not carried about by every wind
of doctrine one way or the other.
259
00:18:57,120 --> 00:19:00,900
We have a firm rooting. We
are grounded in the truth.
260
00:19:02,250 --> 00:19:06,140
It's not a blind unity which
Toler rights everything,
261
00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,500
but it is a true unity
which loves the truth
262
00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,340
and loves the brethren and wishes the good
263
00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:21,060
of the brethren. We each should
desire the good of our neighbor,
264
00:19:21,470 --> 00:19:23,420
which is not always
what our neighbor might
265
00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:29,650
think is his best good
if we love our neighbor,
266
00:19:29,650 --> 00:19:33,410
which we may do things which
he may not like at the time,
267
00:19:33,830 --> 00:19:36,170
but we do not act maliciously.
268
00:19:36,350 --> 00:19:41,010
We do not think ill of our neighbor.
We do not assume the worst,
269
00:19:43,270 --> 00:19:44,810
We desire the best.
270
00:19:47,910 --> 00:19:52,530
And our fiercest and
sharpest rebuke is done in
271
00:19:52,530 --> 00:19:57,210
tenderness and love and remembers
that we are made of the same
272
00:19:57,500 --> 00:20:00,930
flesh. And if we do rebuke,
273
00:20:01,710 --> 00:20:03,210
we rebuke on the principles,
274
00:20:03,910 --> 00:20:08,690
the clear and fundamental and
foundational principles of scripture, not
275
00:20:12,380 --> 00:20:13,930
extra biblical tradition,
276
00:20:15,510 --> 00:20:20,210
not for our own satisfaction or building
up, but to build up one another.
277
00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,890
There's no room for
selfishness, for jealousy,
278
00:20:26,630 --> 00:20:28,490
for bitterness or vindictiveness.
279
00:20:30,270 --> 00:20:33,090
It is not savoring of Christ.
280
00:20:35,270 --> 00:20:38,050
We look again to our example Christ too,
281
00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:43,090
humbled himself took upon himself
the form of a servant who came
282
00:20:43,100 --> 00:20:47,800
among men not to be served
but to serve and to give his
283
00:20:48,030 --> 00:20:48,863
life
284
00:20:49,820 --> 00:20:54,520
and the greatness of the love of the
brethren is to give our lives for them,
285
00:20:55,060 --> 00:20:56,280
not simply to die for them,
286
00:20:56,900 --> 00:21:01,840
but to give all of our
life from now to the end to
287
00:21:01,980 --> 00:21:02,813
their service.
288
00:21:04,360 --> 00:21:09,320
And this is where we see true
Christian maturity not being
289
00:21:09,370 --> 00:21:13,920
right and you're wrong,
not lording it over,
290
00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:15,880
others not. We're the ones who are right,
291
00:21:15,930 --> 00:21:20,720
we're the ones who are mature but
rather we don't even think about
292
00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:25,440
judging ourselves in that way. But we
are busy about the work of the church,
293
00:21:25,620 --> 00:21:28,680
the work for Christ, the work of love
294
00:21:30,580 --> 00:21:33,080
And the mature manhood
295
00:21:35,420 --> 00:21:38,800
is the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ.
296
00:21:39,660 --> 00:21:42,840
We do not compare
ourselves among ourselves.
297
00:21:43,390 --> 00:21:46,560
That is not as the Christopher says wise.
298
00:21:48,950 --> 00:21:51,880
I'll just take a few minutes
and read a few scriptures
299
00:21:54,110 --> 00:21:55,480
regarding in various ways
300
00:21:57,310 --> 00:21:59,120
love for the brethren unity.
301
00:22:02,530 --> 00:22:05,100
This ultimately is, these
are very basic things,
302
00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:10,220
but that's as humans, as
Christians, as believers,
303
00:22:11,210 --> 00:22:12,740
this is what we most often need.
304
00:22:12,740 --> 00:22:16,220
We need to be reminded of the most
basic and essential things because it is
305
00:22:16,220 --> 00:22:21,020
those things that we
most soon forget. Simple,
306
00:22:21,100 --> 00:22:23,420
simplest lessons are the
hardest for us to learn.
307
00:22:23,530 --> 00:22:28,100
There's nothing on earth
simpler than do, right?
308
00:22:29,730 --> 00:22:31,780
There's nothing more difficult. ,
309
00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:37,180
yes in our central flesh,
impossible to accomplish.
310
00:22:39,310 --> 00:22:41,060
There are so many uh, scriptures.
311
00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:46,020
One could mention so many old testament
places building up this principle.
312
00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:48,700
But I'll just look at
this. One verse says,
313
00:22:50,140 --> 00:22:53,380
somewhat representative somewhat
of a summation of a principle.
314
00:22:54,910 --> 00:22:57,540
Psalm 1 19 63 which says,
315
00:22:57,740 --> 00:23:02,620
I am a companion of all
who fear you of those who
316
00:23:02,620 --> 00:23:07,460
keep your precepts. We
are to be companions,
317
00:23:07,810 --> 00:23:09,300
friends, brothers,
318
00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,820
family members of all those who fear God,
319
00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:18,860
not of course in some broad
inclusive way of all, everyone who
320
00:23:20,150 --> 00:23:24,980
Likes Jesus a uh, very
loosely defined Jesus,
321
00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:30,620
but those who truly love the Jesus
whom scripture clearly reveals
322
00:23:31,350 --> 00:23:36,260
those who love the God plainly
described in scripture.
323
00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:38,353
We are friends,
324
00:23:39,730 --> 00:23:43,270
we are brothers of each
and every one of them.
325
00:23:45,300 --> 00:23:49,680
And even as in the Old Testament
we see this calling out of a people
326
00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:51,960
who are to be separate
from the other nations.
327
00:23:52,700 --> 00:23:56,160
And yet even in the midst
of that differentiation,
328
00:23:58,140 --> 00:23:58,740
for example,
329
00:23:58,740 --> 00:24:03,160
we see the prohibitions against
intermarrying with the people,
330
00:24:03,580 --> 00:24:05,120
the heathen people of the nations.
331
00:24:05,510 --> 00:24:09,320
This is not a racial division issue.
332
00:24:10,740 --> 00:24:15,160
Of course I've lived in a church that
made a big issue of racial division and
333
00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:19,680
ultimately actually of bonafide racism.
334
00:24:20,340 --> 00:24:21,680
That's not what this is about.
335
00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:26,840
The prohibition on intermingling
and intermarrying and indeed
336
00:24:27,350 --> 00:24:30,280
with these heathen people
is not a matter of race.
337
00:24:30,380 --> 00:24:34,560
It is a matter of belief.
Are they believers or not?
338
00:24:35,580 --> 00:24:40,350
And even as we see much made of the Jews,
339
00:24:40,650 --> 00:24:45,270
the Israelites being a separate people,
we look for example in the Book of Ruth
340
00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,550
where a man of Israel comes and ultimately
at the end there is this beautiful
341
00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:56,310
wedding that is so many ways a picture
of what Jesus is and what he does
342
00:24:56,650 --> 00:24:59,110
and it's with a mob by us.
343
00:25:02,570 --> 00:25:07,350
The very mo Moabites against whom
e prohibitions have been written
344
00:25:07,350 --> 00:25:11,950
even in the law that a Moabite could
not enter the assembly of the law to the
345
00:25:11,950 --> 00:25:16,510
10th generation because they had not been
hospitable to the Israelites in their
346
00:25:16,690 --> 00:25:19,070
exodus from Egypt into the promised land.
347
00:25:19,380 --> 00:25:24,270
They had even been the occasion
of idolatry and rebellion
348
00:25:25,540 --> 00:25:26,650
among the people of Israel.
349
00:25:27,590 --> 00:25:32,490
And yet it was one of
these very ides who went
350
00:25:32,490 --> 00:25:37,010
up. And of course there's the
whole story in the book of Ruth,
351
00:25:37,630 --> 00:25:42,490
but she comes up with the Israelite
family to whom she was already been
352
00:25:42,550 --> 00:25:47,250
in-law and gives that
wonderful speech to our
353
00:25:47,250 --> 00:25:51,010
mother-in-law, your people shall be
my people, your God shall be my God.
354
00:25:51,630 --> 00:25:54,730
She made the Israelites God, her God and
355
00:25:56,470 --> 00:26:00,570
the separation from the peoples of
the land was because of idolatry,
356
00:26:00,630 --> 00:26:02,130
not because of race
357
00:26:04,870 --> 00:26:09,770
and their disunity was because of truth.
358
00:26:11,270 --> 00:26:15,930
And any possible unity would have
to be on that basis on the basis of
359
00:26:16,450 --> 00:26:17,410
a true worship
360
00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,820
of the God as revealed
to the people of Israel.
361
00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,500
And on that basis David could readily say,
362
00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,180
I'm companion of all those who fear you.
363
00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:36,020
And we are given again a beautiful
picture of this unity in Psalm
364
00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,860
1 33. So I'll just make brief reference,
365
00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:45,280
behold how good and pleasant
it is When brothers dwell
366
00:26:46,420 --> 00:26:47,253
in unity,
367
00:26:48,630 --> 00:26:52,360
It's like the precious oil on the head
running down on the beard and the beard
368
00:26:52,360 --> 00:26:55,240
of Aaron running down on
the collar of his robes.
369
00:26:55,990 --> 00:27:00,640
It's like dew of Herman, which falls
on the mountains of Zion for their,
370
00:27:00,860 --> 00:27:05,000
the Lord has commanded the blessing life
371
00:27:06,070 --> 00:27:06,903
forevermore.
372
00:27:09,020 --> 00:27:12,720
So unity is considered by
God to be something worth
373
00:27:13,700 --> 00:27:14,533
rizing over,
374
00:27:14,730 --> 00:27:19,600
worth being so political to call
375
00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:24,880
it such a good and pleasant thing because
376
00:27:25,310 --> 00:27:27,120
that is what God desires.
377
00:27:27,380 --> 00:27:31,560
He will dwell among men
and they will be unified
378
00:27:32,090 --> 00:27:34,480
under his truth, under his authority.
379
00:27:36,300 --> 00:27:37,800
But it will be the most precious,
380
00:27:37,820 --> 00:27:42,720
loving and wonderful unity
for we shall love him
381
00:27:43,260 --> 00:27:45,440
and we shall love one another
382
00:27:47,660 --> 00:27:49,280
as our common Lord.
383
00:27:51,350 --> 00:27:53,680
Another wonderful precious verse,
384
00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:58,000
familiar to Christians in
John chapter 13, verse 34,
385
00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:03,920
A new commandment I give to you
that you love one another just
386
00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:07,760
as I have loved you. You
also are to love one another.
387
00:28:08,820 --> 00:28:09,653
By this,
388
00:28:11,300 --> 00:28:16,280
by this all people will know
that you are my disciples if
389
00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,720
you have love for one another.
390
00:28:19,070 --> 00:28:23,640
This is the defining mark which
Christ gives that his people may be
391
00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:27,240
recognized in this
world by Christian Love.
392
00:28:29,260 --> 00:28:34,080
Of course that is understood. It's not
merely love in some vague abstract sense,
393
00:28:35,190 --> 00:28:37,560
it's the love of
Christians for each other.
394
00:28:38,220 --> 00:28:41,880
But it is to be a distinguishing mark.
395
00:28:42,060 --> 00:28:44,960
It is to be something
set that sets them apart.
396
00:28:46,660 --> 00:28:51,640
So the thing by which Christians
can be seen is their love
397
00:28:52,180 --> 00:28:56,560
and their love is a love of
such quality that it is thus
398
00:28:56,750 --> 00:29:01,480
distinctive. It's not
some vague, unspecified,
399
00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:06,960
sentimental universal kind of thing,
this love. But it is true Christian Love,
400
00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:11,960
which it is, it is universal in its
character but it is specific in its nature
401
00:29:13,540 --> 00:29:17,960
and it's unique and distinctive
enough to be the kind of
402
00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:20,920
specific characteristic by which
403
00:29:22,690 --> 00:29:26,000
God's disciples, Christ's
followers are to be known.
404
00:29:29,300 --> 00:29:31,600
And this is his great commandment.
405
00:29:32,430 --> 00:29:35,760
What is the great commandment to love
God with all your heart, soul, mind,
406
00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:41,000
strength. And the second is like it
to love your neighbor as yourself.
407
00:29:41,310 --> 00:29:45,720
Love is both the first and
the second great commandment,
408
00:29:47,660 --> 00:29:52,050
not simply obedience to
rules or rule keeping.
409
00:29:53,070 --> 00:29:57,090
It is the keeping of this law
which is the law of love because
410
00:29:58,310 --> 00:29:59,210
God has loved us,
411
00:30:00,150 --> 00:30:04,970
he has done the work that has made it
possible for us to be loved and to love
412
00:30:04,970 --> 00:30:08,730
him in return the work of the gospel,
413
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:13,210
work of his redeeming work on
the cross in his resurrection,
414
00:30:13,350 --> 00:30:16,610
in his reigning over us and for us
415
00:30:18,390 --> 00:30:22,210
and in his coming return
to forever be with us.
416
00:30:24,390 --> 00:30:26,930
So again, John 1721,
417
00:30:27,590 --> 00:30:32,560
Christ prays that they
may all be one just as
418
00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:34,280
you father are in me and I in you,
419
00:30:34,950 --> 00:30:39,770
that they also may be in us
so that the world may believe
420
00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:44,530
that you have sent me.
And just just to say,
421
00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:49,250
just as the love of the disciples for
one another was the mark that would set
422
00:30:49,250 --> 00:30:51,250
them apart by this,
423
00:30:51,250 --> 00:30:54,330
shall men know you are my disciples by
the love that you have one for another.
424
00:30:55,670 --> 00:30:57,770
So Christ's church,
425
00:30:58,190 --> 00:31:02,570
the un and unity in Christchurch
is the defining mark
426
00:31:03,670 --> 00:31:08,050
by which the world may believe
that God has sent Christ.
427
00:31:09,820 --> 00:31:11,870
There's a sobering and
humbling thought for us
428
00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:17,290
that we are God's sign. God's evidence,
429
00:31:17,700 --> 00:31:21,730
God's ambassadors to the
world is not by any means
430
00:31:23,930 --> 00:31:27,970
a source for pride indeed to
anyone who truly understands it.
431
00:31:27,970 --> 00:31:30,210
It is so far the opposite
432
00:31:32,350 --> 00:31:36,730
and we are forever humbled.
We are forever grateful.
433
00:31:36,870 --> 00:31:41,090
We are forever overcome
in wonder and awe that God
434
00:31:41,710 --> 00:31:45,800
should choose us and make us His
435
00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:51,760
servants and make us his
signs to the world for who
436
00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:52,593
he is.
437
00:31:53,990 --> 00:31:57,040
That we are the confirmation
438
00:31:58,550 --> 00:32:03,520
that God truly has come.
We are his messengers,
439
00:32:04,420 --> 00:32:06,080
we are his ambassadors.
440
00:32:08,870 --> 00:32:13,440
That doesn't humble him,
them uh, nothing will.
441
00:32:16,420 --> 00:32:19,640
But moving on, Jesus says, the
glory that you have given me,
442
00:32:20,810 --> 00:32:21,650
I have given to them.
443
00:32:25,570 --> 00:32:29,320
Lemme just run that one by you again.
The glory that you have given me,
444
00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:35,280
I have given to them that
they may be one even as we
445
00:32:35,780 --> 00:32:38,880
are one I in them and you and me,
446
00:32:39,430 --> 00:32:43,880
that they may become perfectly
one so that the world may know
447
00:32:44,310 --> 00:32:49,240
that you sent me and love
them even as you love
448
00:32:49,260 --> 00:32:53,000
me. Ah, that is so deep. That is so rich.
449
00:32:53,260 --> 00:32:57,840
One could speak about that forever
but we'll just let the words
450
00:32:58,170 --> 00:32:59,160
speak for themselves.
451
00:33:00,780 --> 00:33:05,520
But just to think that
the unity of the church is
452
00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:10,200
given here as a sign to the
world that God truly sent his son
453
00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:12,513
to make us one.
454
00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:18,140
Of course this passage and the
scripture has been abused and
455
00:33:18,850 --> 00:33:21,860
misused as all scripture
is. But the truth here,
456
00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:25,930
the scripture is truth
and this is what he says,
457
00:33:26,690 --> 00:33:31,060
that we have to be one and the wit and
this oneness has to be the witness to the
458
00:33:31,060 --> 00:33:34,300
world that God truly did send Christ.
459
00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:41,940
Man, I better just, I better
just move on 'cause I,
460
00:33:42,100 --> 00:33:43,620
I cannot add to that.
461
00:33:43,700 --> 00:33:48,380
I cannot comprehend that nor
can I sufficiently emphasize how
462
00:33:48,380 --> 00:33:49,300
significant that is.
463
00:33:50,220 --> 00:33:51,053
I.
464
00:33:52,130 --> 00:33:52,980
This unity,
465
00:33:53,410 --> 00:33:57,180
this true unity is no trifling thing.
466
00:33:57,520 --> 00:34:00,380
It is not a side issue, it is central.
467
00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:06,580
Uh, moving on in our whirlwind
tour of the New Testament,
468
00:34:07,050 --> 00:34:10,460
just briefly mentioned Acts 2 42,
469
00:34:12,050 --> 00:34:16,300
then they devoted themselves to the
apostles teaching in the fellowship to the
470
00:34:16,420 --> 00:34:18,260
breaking of bread and of prayers.
471
00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:23,220
And of course this is a unity of truth,
472
00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:25,140
of obedience,
473
00:34:26,570 --> 00:34:29,310
of together following a unified teaching.
474
00:34:30,770 --> 00:34:34,990
But in the midst of all this
fellowship bragging of bread, prayers,
475
00:34:35,380 --> 00:34:38,270
camaraderie, friendship, love,
476
00:34:39,700 --> 00:34:43,390
this is right there at the heart of
the church from the very beginning
477
00:34:45,090 --> 00:34:47,350
of course differences will
come, debate will be had,
478
00:34:48,470 --> 00:34:50,670
humanity will assert itself.
479
00:34:52,570 --> 00:34:53,870
But ultimately love
480
00:34:55,450 --> 00:34:58,310
and fellowship and unity
481
00:35:01,130 --> 00:35:03,230
are at the very core of what we're about
482
00:35:05,010 --> 00:35:08,310
and we are to be as
Romans one 12 indicate.
483
00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:13,180
We may be mutually encouraged
by each other's faith.
484
00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,620
God puts faith in each
one of us individually,
485
00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,380
but sometimes we do. We are discouraged,
486
00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:25,020
we are prone to wander,
487
00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:30,580
we are prone to have seasons of
dryness and doubt discouragement
488
00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:35,860
and we need one another that our mutual
faith may be mutually beneficial.
489
00:35:38,020 --> 00:35:42,960
One little burning coal over
here and one over there may
490
00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:44,000
very soon go out.
491
00:35:44,020 --> 00:35:49,000
But you put a bunch of
burning coals together and
you will soon have grounds for
492
00:35:50,240 --> 00:35:55,000
A roaring fire. We must
not go out in isolation.
493
00:35:55,020 --> 00:35:59,920
We must come together and blaze
in the fire in fervency of
494
00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:00,753
faith.
495
00:36:02,820 --> 00:36:05,640
And there look at Romans chapter 14.
496
00:36:05,670 --> 00:36:08,320
This is a significant passage to me,
497
00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:11,040
particularly as ideal with you know,
498
00:36:11,140 --> 00:36:15,760
my ongoing following speech against
499
00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:22,000
legalism and unhealthy criticism and
500
00:36:23,170 --> 00:36:25,000
false form of judgmentalism.
501
00:36:25,830 --> 00:36:30,760
This is significant and we have to
have the right approach and again,
502
00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:32,960
ultimately the right
approach even when we,
503
00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:37,200
when reproof and discipline is
necessary that it's always done
504
00:36:37,860 --> 00:36:40,640
in love, in tenderness and compassion.
505
00:36:42,860 --> 00:36:45,920
But to Romans 14 begins as for
the one who is weak in faith,
506
00:36:46,230 --> 00:36:50,640
welcome him but not to
quarrel over opinions. Onions,
507
00:36:53,100 --> 00:36:54,000
that's quite a phrase.
508
00:36:56,020 --> 00:37:00,400
One person believes he may eat anything
while the weak person eats only
509
00:37:00,720 --> 00:37:05,160
vegetables. And of course the weak
conscience here is the one who is,
510
00:37:05,900 --> 00:37:07,000
who has the greater
511
00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:13,440
scruples about things which God may
not specifically truly have made
512
00:37:13,530 --> 00:37:18,200
rules but his conscience is
tendered. We should respect that.
513
00:37:19,020 --> 00:37:23,200
But of course also the one
who is weak should give honor
514
00:37:25,500 --> 00:37:29,480
and not pass judgment on the one
whose conscience is well otherwise
515
00:37:31,540 --> 00:37:35,640
let not the one who eats,
despise the one who abstains
516
00:37:36,820 --> 00:37:41,080
And let not the one who abstains past
judgment and the one who eats for God has
517
00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:45,200
welcomed him. Who are you to pass
judgment on the servant of another?
518
00:37:47,380 --> 00:37:52,360
We are not to pass judgment on a
matter of conscience that is not a
519
00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:55,800
violation of a clear scriptural law.
520
00:37:57,740 --> 00:38:01,280
Who are you to pass judgment
on the servant of another?
521
00:38:01,460 --> 00:38:06,440
It is before his own master
that he stands or falls and he
522
00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:10,080
will be upheld for the Lord
is able to make him stand.
523
00:38:14,230 --> 00:38:19,030
Okay, I'm just gonna let that sit
right there for a while. First 10,
524
00:38:20,330 --> 00:38:24,190
why do you pass judgment
on your brother? Are you,
525
00:38:24,250 --> 00:38:26,230
why do you despise your brother? If we,
526
00:38:26,230 --> 00:38:29,270
we will all stand before
the judgment seat of God.
527
00:38:30,980 --> 00:38:35,920
That is the final judgment and
we will leave judgment up to
528
00:38:35,920 --> 00:38:40,880
the ultimate judge. Any judgment
we do on this earth must only be
529
00:38:42,520 --> 00:38:46,250
from the clear unequivocal principles,
530
00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:49,930
fundamental foundational
issues found in scripture.
531
00:38:52,440 --> 00:38:55,090
Have I said that before? Am I
sounding like a broken record?
532
00:38:55,600 --> 00:38:59,090
Well we have seen that principle broken
533
00:39:01,110 --> 00:39:05,610
far too much. It's still happening
2000 years after Christ was here.
534
00:39:08,430 --> 00:39:12,970
People are still running
into the ditches of license
535
00:39:14,710 --> 00:39:15,850
And of legalism
536
00:39:18,310 --> 00:39:22,810
of imposing unscriptural
standards on people or
537
00:39:23,350 --> 00:39:25,370
acting as if there are no standards.
538
00:39:26,620 --> 00:39:29,050
We're still doing it
because it's human nature
539
00:39:33,070 --> 00:39:37,050
and God is still there with his words
and his spirit calling us to something
540
00:39:37,050 --> 00:39:37,883
better,
541
00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:43,810
something to be assigned to the
world that God did send his son
542
00:39:44,350 --> 00:39:45,450
and his life is in us.
543
00:39:46,430 --> 00:39:47,263
And.
544
00:39:48,600 --> 00:39:53,490
Reading on therefore let
us not pass judgment on one
545
00:39:53,490 --> 00:39:54,323
another any longer,
546
00:39:54,630 --> 00:39:58,930
but rather decide never to put a stumbling
block or hindrance in the way of a
547
00:39:58,930 --> 00:39:59,763
brother.
548
00:40:01,230 --> 00:40:04,670
I know I'm been persuaded in the Lord
Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself
549
00:40:04,770 --> 00:40:09,510
but it is unclean for anyone who thinks
it is unclean for if your brother is
550
00:40:09,510 --> 00:40:12,150
grieved by what you eat, you
are no longer walking in love.
551
00:40:16,690 --> 00:40:18,870
So if some truly is legitimately
552
00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:24,090
have a conscience, a conscientious
objection against something,
553
00:40:24,390 --> 00:40:26,370
we should not shove it in their face.
554
00:40:26,990 --> 00:40:30,050
We should not shove even our true
Christian liberty in their face.
555
00:40:31,430 --> 00:40:35,010
But as we see in the whole totality
of scripture in this passage,
556
00:40:36,510 --> 00:40:40,850
the other brother also owes us
, I don't know us or them,
557
00:40:41,650 --> 00:40:42,483
whatever the case may be.
558
00:40:43,270 --> 00:40:47,570
But the Christian brother who
is bound in his conscience
559
00:40:48,080 --> 00:40:52,410
also owes toleration to
the Christian who is not
560
00:40:53,510 --> 00:40:57,050
and to not stand in judgment
condemning the other person
561
00:40:58,790 --> 00:41:01,770
who is not
conscientious about these
562
00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:08,490
matters on which God has
not truly made a law.
563
00:41:10,190 --> 00:41:11,023
As you read,
564
00:41:12,070 --> 00:41:16,490
do not let what you regard
as good be spoken of as evil.
565
00:41:18,230 --> 00:41:23,120
Whoever thus serves Christ, it
acceptable to God and approved by men.
566
00:41:23,540 --> 00:41:28,200
So then let us pursue what makes
for peace and for mutual up
567
00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:33,080
building everything is indeed clean,
568
00:41:34,100 --> 00:41:37,440
but it is wrong for anyone to make
another stumble by what he eats.
569
00:41:38,460 --> 00:41:43,080
It is not good to eat meat or drink wine
or do anything that cause your brother
570
00:41:43,340 --> 00:41:44,173
to stumble.
571
00:41:45,670 --> 00:41:50,560
Blessed is the one who has no reason
to pass judgment on himself for what he
572
00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:53,440
approves. Ultimately,
573
00:41:53,560 --> 00:41:57,920
I have no right to in
my exercise of liberty,
574
00:41:59,140 --> 00:42:03,640
to push my brother to
violate his conscience, but
575
00:42:05,340 --> 00:42:08,640
in reciprocal for that the brother who is
576
00:42:09,550 --> 00:42:14,160
conscientious does not have a
right under God to pass judgment
577
00:42:14,340 --> 00:42:15,173
on me
578
00:42:17,030 --> 00:42:21,370
if I have not violated the
law of the clear law of God.
579
00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:24,890
That is how we bear with
one another in love.
580
00:42:25,730 --> 00:42:26,563
I.
581
00:42:28,150 --> 00:42:30,050
As the next chapter says,
582
00:42:30,470 --> 00:42:34,490
we who are strong have an obligation
to bear with the failings of the weak
583
00:42:35,270 --> 00:42:36,890
and not to please ourselves.
584
00:42:37,710 --> 00:42:41,810
Let each of us please his neighbor
for his good to build him up.
585
00:42:43,590 --> 00:42:47,090
And may the God of endurance and judgment
586
00:42:48,890 --> 00:42:52,360
grant you to live in such harmony with
one another in accord with Christ Jesus.
587
00:42:52,750 --> 00:42:57,280
That together you may with one
voice glorify the God and Father
588
00:42:57,940 --> 00:42:59,560
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
589
00:42:59,870 --> 00:43:04,520
Therefore welcome one another
as Christ has welcomed you
590
00:43:05,380 --> 00:43:06,520
for the glory of God.
591
00:43:08,740 --> 00:43:11,320
And so ultimately even our differences,
592
00:43:11,590 --> 00:43:15,520
even our moments of strife
593
00:43:16,300 --> 00:43:19,440
should not be the occasion for us
to pass judgment on one another,
594
00:43:20,060 --> 00:43:24,160
but they should ultimately
make us stronger,
595
00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:27,920
I guess better make us more tolerant
of one another's weaknesses,
596
00:43:28,670 --> 00:43:33,080
make us more understanding of where
each one of us is coming from.
597
00:43:35,700 --> 00:43:39,640
Our differences ultimately should bring
us closer together in the unity of the
598
00:43:39,640 --> 00:43:43,360
spirit, not be a wge to drive us apart.
599
00:43:45,980 --> 00:43:50,560
And of course the whole New Testament
is filled with these exhortations to
600
00:43:50,560 --> 00:43:55,160
Christian unity. Verse Corinthians one 10,
601
00:43:56,160 --> 00:43:58,720
I appeal to you brothers by the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
602
00:43:58,720 --> 00:44:03,120
that all of you agree in that
there'd be no divisions among you
603
00:44:03,940 --> 00:44:07,550
that you'd be united in the same
mind and in the same judgment.
604
00:44:08,170 --> 00:44:12,820
Of course that whole passage
is marvelous material and I,
605
00:44:13,380 --> 00:44:17,940
I may have an episode just on that at
some point in the future, I don't know.
606
00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:23,340
But in any event, Second
Corinthians 13, 11,
607
00:44:23,410 --> 00:44:27,900
finally, brothers rejoice
aim for restoration,
608
00:44:28,330 --> 00:44:31,160
comfort one another,
agree with one another,
609
00:44:31,470 --> 00:44:36,350
live in peace and the God
of love and peace will be
610
00:44:36,350 --> 00:44:37,183
with you.
611
00:44:40,620 --> 00:44:44,870
Galatians six, two, bear
one another's burdens
612
00:44:46,370 --> 00:44:50,470
and so fulfill the law of
Christ. He bore our sins.
613
00:44:52,100 --> 00:44:56,030
Well it's a relatively small thing
for us to bear one another's burdens,
614
00:44:56,150 --> 00:44:59,350
although in other sense
it is kind of a big thing,
615
00:45:01,770 --> 00:45:05,390
if I could just be allowed to
say it. The scripture reads,
616
00:45:06,140 --> 00:45:09,630
bear one another's burdens
not be one another's burdens.
617
00:45:11,250 --> 00:45:14,390
Of course we are human
that's going to come
618
00:45:16,030 --> 00:45:20,110
ultimately we should be driven
through our experiences more and more
619
00:45:22,250 --> 00:45:23,110
to be a blessing
620
00:45:24,650 --> 00:45:29,150
to bear one another's burdens
and not be one another's burdens.
621
00:45:31,770 --> 00:45:36,190
And even when one of us may
be at fault, we are to help.
622
00:45:37,480 --> 00:45:42,260
We are to build up not merely
to condemn and judge and accuse
623
00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:48,340
and can I say there are those who are
willing enough to have some kind of unity
624
00:45:48,410 --> 00:45:53,380
that is an enforced unity that as long
as you think as I do act, as I do,
625
00:45:53,680 --> 00:45:57,180
do everything as I do exactly
as I do, then we are okay.
626
00:45:57,200 --> 00:45:59,020
We can kind of more or less get along.
627
00:45:59,020 --> 00:46:01,420
But as soon as you step ever
so slightly out of line,
628
00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:06,380
all the fury of fire
comes down upon you. No,
629
00:46:06,570 --> 00:46:08,620
that is not unity,
630
00:46:08,930 --> 00:46:13,920
that is not truth because a truth that
is devoid of love is neither loving
631
00:46:13,940 --> 00:46:14,773
nor truthful.
632
00:46:16,140 --> 00:46:20,280
The love that is devoid of truth
is neither truthful nor loving.
633
00:46:21,020 --> 00:46:22,000
Simple as that.
634
00:46:25,020 --> 00:46:28,120
And if we go back to
Ephesians two, verse 14,
635
00:46:28,220 --> 00:46:31,360
we can get some of the context of the
verse with which we started tonight.
636
00:46:33,020 --> 00:46:36,320
For he himself is our peace.
637
00:46:37,500 --> 00:46:42,280
We see in this whole passage the
ultimate grounding, the ultimate source,
638
00:46:42,540 --> 00:46:47,040
the ultimate motivation, the
ultimate ability to be unified.
639
00:46:47,460 --> 00:46:50,290
All of this comes from what Christ did.
640
00:46:51,820 --> 00:46:55,560
We are united in him
because he made it possible.
641
00:46:56,180 --> 00:46:58,720
He himself is our peace
642
00:47:00,260 --> 00:47:03,600
who has made us both one and
is broken down in his flesh,
643
00:47:03,700 --> 00:47:05,600
the dividing wall of hostility.
644
00:47:06,580 --> 00:47:10,440
He in his sacrifice in all of his
645
00:47:11,310 --> 00:47:15,880
work for us, his kingly,
priestly profitably work for us.
646
00:47:16,340 --> 00:47:20,920
He brought us together
who are once divided.
647
00:47:21,340 --> 00:47:22,800
He made us whole.
648
00:47:23,580 --> 00:47:27,600
He brought us to life who
once we're dead and he
649
00:47:28,440 --> 00:47:33,440
achieved this unity force let us
not lightly esteem that which was
650
00:47:33,440 --> 00:47:36,040
accomplished at such great cost.
651
00:47:38,970 --> 00:47:43,750
He is our peace who has made us both
one and is broken down in his flesh,
652
00:47:43,810 --> 00:47:48,310
the dividing wall of hostility
by abolishing the law of
commandments expressed
653
00:47:48,470 --> 00:47:53,390
in ordinances that he might create in
himself one new man in place of the
654
00:47:53,390 --> 00:47:53,850
two.
655
00:47:53,850 --> 00:47:58,750
So making peace that might
reconcile us both to God in
656
00:47:58,810 --> 00:48:00,190
one body through the cross,
657
00:48:00,780 --> 00:48:04,590
thereby killing the hostility
and he came and preached peace
658
00:48:05,850 --> 00:48:10,750
to you who are far off and
peace To those who were near
659
00:48:12,450 --> 00:48:16,950
for through himm. We both have
access in one spirit to the Father.
660
00:48:17,410 --> 00:48:19,990
So then you are no longer
strangers and aliens.
661
00:48:21,280 --> 00:48:24,900
You are fellow citizens with the saints
and members of the household of God
662
00:48:25,030 --> 00:48:28,180
built on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets,
663
00:48:28,180 --> 00:48:33,060
Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone and whom the whole structure
664
00:48:33,060 --> 00:48:36,740
of being joined together grows
into a holy temple in the Lord.
665
00:48:37,880 --> 00:48:42,460
In him you also are being built
together into a dwelling place for God
666
00:48:43,120 --> 00:48:47,980
by the spirit. Like I couldn't stop,
I had to go to the end of the chapter.
667
00:48:48,010 --> 00:48:48,843
That is
668
00:48:50,360 --> 00:48:54,740
so wonderful and as I say all of these
passages we could go on and on about
669
00:48:54,740 --> 00:48:59,200
them, go back, read it, read this
whole chapter, read this whole book,
670
00:49:01,710 --> 00:49:04,680
such a wonderful thing. This
is such a precious truth.
671
00:49:05,100 --> 00:49:09,800
Let us not cast this truth
aside cheaply to please
672
00:49:09,800 --> 00:49:10,633
ourselves,
673
00:49:12,260 --> 00:49:16,440
to give in to the flesh in one way or
the other to fall into the ditch of
674
00:49:16,440 --> 00:49:19,520
legalism or into the ditch
of life consciousness.
675
00:49:19,820 --> 00:49:24,120
But to be unified in love,
in truth, in holiness
676
00:49:26,270 --> 00:49:31,090
by the power of the spirit. And again,
677
00:49:31,090 --> 00:49:32,210
in Ephesians four,
678
00:49:32,720 --> 00:49:36,500
Paul urges us to walk in a
manner worthy of the calling
679
00:49:37,560 --> 00:49:42,400
To which you have been called
with all humility and gentleness,
680
00:49:42,670 --> 00:49:46,400
with patience bearing
with one another in love,
681
00:49:47,690 --> 00:49:52,080
eager to maintain the unity
of the spirit and the bond of
682
00:49:52,610 --> 00:49:57,200
peace. Oh there's so much there.
There's so much in every word.
683
00:49:59,700 --> 00:50:03,320
May it be true of us in practice.
684
00:50:04,980 --> 00:50:06,160
Let it be so Lord.
685
00:50:08,420 --> 00:50:13,040
And then in Ephesians five 19
we see another thing regarding
686
00:50:13,540 --> 00:50:14,520
the church, the assembly,
687
00:50:14,540 --> 00:50:19,250
the people of God coming together
addressing one another in Psalms and
688
00:50:19,490 --> 00:50:21,010
hymns and spiritual songs,
689
00:50:21,600 --> 00:50:24,970
singing and making me to
the Lord with your heart.
690
00:50:26,430 --> 00:50:30,360
Of course this familiar to
those of us who are regular
691
00:50:32,250 --> 00:50:34,380
readers of scripture churchgoers.
692
00:50:36,520 --> 00:50:41,220
We see this talking about
singing very often but I,
693
00:50:41,220 --> 00:50:42,980
it was really drawn,
694
00:50:43,160 --> 00:50:48,060
put more on my mind I guess something
that I hadn't seen or at least not seen
695
00:50:48,060 --> 00:50:51,500
as clearly for a while
about how it speaks about
696
00:50:52,510 --> 00:50:56,460
addressing one another. We are ultimately,
697
00:50:56,460 --> 00:50:58,220
of course we are singing to
the Lord, but we are also,
698
00:50:58,220 --> 00:51:02,820
we are addressing one another in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs and you
699
00:51:02,820 --> 00:51:07,100
see this sometimes in the psalms where
we say, you know, let us praise the Lord.
700
00:51:07,200 --> 00:51:10,260
We are exhorting one another.
Hey you praise the Lord.
701
00:51:10,920 --> 00:51:14,340
Hey you praise the Lord. This
is what brings us together,
702
00:51:14,480 --> 00:51:17,180
the praise of God on our lips,
703
00:51:18,810 --> 00:51:23,780
Exhorting one another in
this great body of Christ
704
00:51:23,840 --> 00:51:27,580
and this great thing which is the church,
the family of God, the people of God,
705
00:51:27,600 --> 00:51:32,180
the assembly of God because of course
this whole issue of assembling,
706
00:51:32,490 --> 00:51:36,500
I've had that in my life just to get
off on that high horse for a second,
707
00:51:36,750 --> 00:51:40,180
where people have applied that
legalistically unhealthily,
708
00:51:41,360 --> 00:51:45,500
you know saying that you
have to come Sunday morning,
709
00:51:45,640 --> 00:51:49,180
Sunday evening and Wednesday evening
and doing it in an unhealthy way
710
00:51:50,370 --> 00:51:51,740
because on the one hand
711
00:51:53,380 --> 00:51:57,300
Scripture does not legalistically lay it
down that oh you have to come together
712
00:51:57,880 --> 00:52:00,980
Sunday morning, Sunday
evening, Wednesday evening.
713
00:52:01,570 --> 00:52:06,420
This is something voluntary and
yet it is something that it is
714
00:52:06,740 --> 00:52:09,100
a norm, a pattern that is
established in scripture.
715
00:52:09,420 --> 00:52:13,420
I don't believe that the
Sabbath is the same. You know,
716
00:52:13,460 --> 00:52:17,820
I don't believe that Sunday is a Christian
Sabbath. Scripture doesn't say that.
717
00:52:18,560 --> 00:52:19,900
It doesn't give those rules.
718
00:52:20,000 --> 00:52:24,980
It doesn't say just take everything we
said about the Sabbath and apply it to
719
00:52:24,980 --> 00:52:28,700
Sunday. Okay, that's a whole nother
subject that I could get into.
720
00:52:29,080 --> 00:52:29,913
But here's the thing,
721
00:52:31,960 --> 00:52:34,940
people can apply that in a
unhealthy, legalistic way,
722
00:52:35,000 --> 00:52:36,860
but the principle is there,
723
00:52:38,130 --> 00:52:42,900
it's a pattern and norm established
in scripture that God's people
724
00:52:43,040 --> 00:52:46,820
are together to come together
to hear the word preached,
725
00:52:46,880 --> 00:52:49,260
to exhort one another in Psalms and songs,
726
00:52:51,720 --> 00:52:53,500
to be together to be united,
727
00:52:55,020 --> 00:52:58,990
that we are not to forsake the
assembling of ourselves. Again,
728
00:52:59,100 --> 00:53:04,070
this can be done and has been done
and I have had it done in my life in a
729
00:53:04,070 --> 00:53:04,990
very unhealthy way,
730
00:53:05,610 --> 00:53:10,550
but ultimately this is a
scriptural principle that we
731
00:53:10,550 --> 00:53:13,310
are to be gathered, that
we are to come together,
732
00:53:13,310 --> 00:53:18,030
that we are to love and serve
one another through serving
733
00:53:18,050 --> 00:53:18,883
Christ
734
00:53:20,490 --> 00:53:23,990
And by serving one
another to serve Christ.
735
00:53:26,900 --> 00:53:30,240
In any event, moving on,
don't wanna keep you too long,
736
00:53:30,790 --> 00:53:33,200
Philippians 1 27,
737
00:53:35,310 --> 00:53:39,280
only let your manner of life be worthy
of the gospel of Christ so that whether I
738
00:53:39,280 --> 00:53:40,800
come and see you or am ab absent,
739
00:53:40,800 --> 00:53:45,560
I may hear of you that you
are standing firm in one
740
00:53:45,560 --> 00:53:47,400
spirit with one mind,
741
00:53:48,440 --> 00:53:52,000
striving side by side for
the faith of the gospel.
742
00:53:53,590 --> 00:53:58,480
This is the unity that P, these people
are together side by side, acting,
743
00:53:58,710 --> 00:54:03,450
working, striving for
the faith of the gospel.
744
00:54:03,600 --> 00:54:05,690
They have something that unites them.
745
00:54:07,630 --> 00:54:10,050
It is the work of the gospel.
746
00:54:12,750 --> 00:54:16,210
Pretty simple. If our focus is on that
747
00:54:18,110 --> 00:54:22,810
and if our whole of our labors and
our endeavors and our thoughts are
748
00:54:23,050 --> 00:54:23,883
concentrated on that,
749
00:54:24,710 --> 00:54:29,030
we won't have time to be
striving over foolishness
750
00:54:31,500 --> 00:54:36,360
for being offended, for having all
the things which create disunity.
751
00:54:37,100 --> 00:54:41,160
We must ha be laser focused on
the one thing that is essential,
752
00:54:42,300 --> 00:54:43,133
the gospel.
753
00:54:46,700 --> 00:54:48,870
Ephesians three or Philippines rather,
754
00:54:48,870 --> 00:54:53,830
three 17 brothers joined
imitating me and keep your eyes
755
00:54:53,830 --> 00:54:57,310
on those who walk according
to the example you have in us.
756
00:54:59,850 --> 00:55:03,790
We did have examples that we're looking
to and we should be setting the example
757
00:55:06,450 --> 00:55:09,150
Of walking in truth serving Christ.
758
00:55:11,560 --> 00:55:15,330
Part of our job as an individual is
to walk as an example for the group.
759
00:55:15,560 --> 00:55:20,450
Part of our job as a group is to walk
together to be an example to others.
760
00:55:23,670 --> 00:55:25,980
Again, in Colossians two Paul's prayer,
761
00:55:26,360 --> 00:55:30,860
Paul's desire is that their
hearts may be encouraged
762
00:55:32,110 --> 00:55:37,020
being knit together in love to reach
all the riches of full assurance
763
00:55:37,240 --> 00:55:41,900
of understanding and the knowledge
of God's mystery, which is.
764
00:55:42,320 --> 00:55:43,153
Christ.
765
00:55:44,600 --> 00:55:47,060
In whom are hidden, all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
766
00:55:49,800 --> 00:55:50,560
As Christians,
767
00:55:50,560 --> 00:55:54,380
our heart should be knit together
in love that we might be one fabric.
768
00:55:56,410 --> 00:55:56,900
Another.
769
00:55:56,900 --> 00:55:57,733
Beautiful picture.
770
00:56:01,080 --> 00:56:05,900
We should be members of a body
that cannot function except in
771
00:56:06,060 --> 00:56:09,300
unity to function individually as death,
772
00:56:11,080 --> 00:56:15,900
we must be united together. And again,
773
00:56:15,900 --> 00:56:17,860
there are so many scriptures,
774
00:56:17,860 --> 00:56:21,260
so many passages that I can
refer to and expound upon,
775
00:56:21,400 --> 00:56:24,520
but well our time grows short,
776
00:56:24,810 --> 00:56:28,570
don't wish to overburden
you with my much speaking.
777
00:56:31,070 --> 00:56:33,610
One Peter three verse eight.
778
00:56:34,560 --> 00:56:38,570
Finally all of you have unity of mind.
779
00:56:40,750 --> 00:56:43,230
Sympathy brother, brotherly love,
780
00:56:44,430 --> 00:56:47,250
tender heart and the humble mind.
781
00:56:48,670 --> 00:56:53,250
Do not repay evil for evil or aing
for a vi. But on the contrary,
782
00:56:54,140 --> 00:56:57,410
bless for to this.
783
00:56:57,550 --> 00:57:00,010
You will call that you may
obtain a blessing thing
784
00:57:01,710 --> 00:57:04,490
for whoever desires to love
life and see good days.
785
00:57:04,590 --> 00:57:08,850
Let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
786
00:57:09,870 --> 00:57:11,730
Let him turn away from evil and do good.
787
00:57:11,870 --> 00:57:15,210
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
788
00:57:17,180 --> 00:57:19,490
We're not about trying to stir up trouble.
789
00:57:19,490 --> 00:57:24,370
Trouble in this sinful
world will come well
790
00:57:24,370 --> 00:57:28,810
enough soon enough. Seek peace
791
00:57:32,000 --> 00:57:35,290
says first John, if we walk the light
792
00:57:37,990 --> 00:57:40,850
as he, God is in the light,
793
00:57:42,150 --> 00:57:43,610
we have fellowship with one another
794
00:57:46,350 --> 00:57:49,570
in the blood of Jesus's son
cleanses us from all sin.
795
00:57:51,030 --> 00:57:51,930
We walk in the light.
796
00:57:52,870 --> 00:57:53,703
We.
797
00:57:54,270 --> 00:57:58,530
We walk in the truth. We walk in God.
798
00:58:00,590 --> 00:58:05,530
One John three 14 we have another sign
just we had many of them in the gospel
799
00:58:05,670 --> 00:58:06,503
of John,
800
00:58:07,480 --> 00:58:11,570
many of them here in one John signs
how we can know signs for Christians,
801
00:58:11,570 --> 00:58:13,290
signs for the world,
how we can know things.
802
00:58:16,530 --> 00:58:20,070
We know that we have passed
out of death into life
803
00:58:21,300 --> 00:58:23,510
because we love the brothers. Again,
804
00:58:23,810 --> 00:58:27,390
the unique distinctive Christian Love
805
00:58:29,400 --> 00:58:33,910
which tells the world that God
has sent Christ. It tells us
806
00:58:36,180 --> 00:58:37,670
that we, this is our assurance.
807
00:58:37,980 --> 00:58:40,750
This is how we know we have passed
from death to life because we love
808
00:58:42,530 --> 00:58:46,630
the brothers. Whoever does not abide,
809
00:58:46,700 --> 00:58:49,550
whoever does not love abides in death,
810
00:58:51,620 --> 00:58:54,920
if there is life, there must
be love. If there is no love,
811
00:58:57,020 --> 00:59:01,840
you may have cause to
truly examine yourself.
812
00:59:02,070 --> 00:59:03,480
Whether you be in the faith
813
00:59:06,550 --> 00:59:11,240
they're John four, I have no greater
joy then to hear that my children
814
00:59:12,780 --> 00:59:17,320
are walking in the truth. There it is.
815
00:59:19,780 --> 00:59:21,040
If I could just close with.
816
00:59:22,880 --> 00:59:23,490
A.
817
00:59:23,490 --> 00:59:25,570
Couple of words about the
great hope of the church,
818
00:59:26,790 --> 00:59:29,450
we together Unitedly
819
00:59:31,640 --> 00:59:35,210
eagerly desire and await his appearing.
820
00:59:36,050 --> 00:59:40,450
Whatever the differences in our
nuances of our understanding of
821
00:59:40,690 --> 00:59:41,770
eschatology, we.
822
00:59:43,350 --> 00:59:44,183
Love.
823
00:59:45,740 --> 00:59:46,573
His appear.
824
00:59:49,550 --> 00:59:54,240
Four eight hence forth there
is laid up for me the crown of
825
00:59:54,240 --> 00:59:58,440
righteousness which delo the righteous
judge will award to me on that day.
826
00:59:58,620 --> 01:00:03,160
And not only to me but also
827
01:00:04,940 --> 01:00:07,480
to all who have loved his appearing
828
01:00:08,990 --> 01:00:12,680
this around this we may unite around this.
829
01:00:12,780 --> 01:00:16,920
We may have sweet fellowship we love
830
01:00:18,500 --> 01:00:21,960
is appearing. Amen.
831
01:00:23,390 --> 01:00:27,440
Come Lord Jesus, let this
meet the desire of our hearts.
832
01:00:28,540 --> 01:00:31,480
Let this great hope, this great joy,
833
01:00:32,030 --> 01:00:35,680
this great desire out
of the church bring us
834
01:00:37,310 --> 01:00:41,350
together in truth and love
835
01:00:44,480 --> 01:00:48,390
again. So much more could be
said, but the time would fail me.
836
01:00:50,560 --> 01:00:54,670
There is so much to be said about
the the nature, the mission,
837
01:00:55,010 --> 01:00:58,460
the character of the church, what it is,
838
01:00:59,650 --> 01:01:00,483
what isn't.
839
01:01:02,880 --> 01:01:04,800
I just wanted to share a few words,
840
01:01:04,920 --> 01:01:09,680
a few scriptures about
the kind of love and unity
841
01:01:09,990 --> 01:01:14,960
that should be had among
Christ's church for which he gave
842
01:01:15,000 --> 01:01:18,880
his life. If you could, uh,
843
01:01:20,240 --> 01:01:22,480
possibly indulge me just
a couple of minutes,
844
01:01:24,270 --> 01:01:29,200
turn this with a couple of songs
which you are no more obliged
845
01:01:29,260 --> 01:01:33,080
to listen to, then you were
the rest of this podcast has,
846
01:01:35,300 --> 01:01:39,000
but nevertheless by the
grace of God you guys.
847
01:01:41,940 --> 01:01:44,560
The church is one foundation
848
01:01:46,140 --> 01:01:48,400
is Jesus Christ to Lord
849
01:01:50,010 --> 01:01:53,000
Jesus new creation
850
01:01:54,620 --> 01:01:59,320
by water and no from heaven.
851
01:01:59,580 --> 01:02:03,920
He came and sawed to who be
852
01:02:04,420 --> 01:02:06,280
his holy bride
853
01:02:07,990 --> 01:02:11,040
with his own blood he brought
854
01:02:13,180 --> 01:02:16,320
and for her life he died
855
01:02:19,720 --> 01:02:21,960
elect from every nation
856
01:02:24,220 --> 01:02:26,480
yet won over the years
857
01:02:28,420 --> 01:02:31,080
her charter of salvation,
858
01:02:34,060 --> 01:02:37,800
one Lord, one faith, one bird,
859
01:02:39,780 --> 01:02:42,600
one holy name. She bless
860
01:02:44,570 --> 01:02:47,400
power takes one holy food
861
01:02:48,980 --> 01:02:50,520
and to one hope,
862
01:02:50,820 --> 01:02:54,960
she rests with every grace.
863
01:02:55,710 --> 01:02:56,543
Senders
864
01:02:58,340 --> 01:03:00,960
though with a scornful wonder,
865
01:03:02,260 --> 01:03:04,960
men see her so oppressed
866
01:03:06,460 --> 01:03:09,080
by schism, surrenders
867
01:03:10,700 --> 01:03:13,040
by her ceased distress.
868
01:03:14,780 --> 01:03:17,480
Yet saints there watch. Keeping
869
01:03:19,340 --> 01:03:22,080
the cry goes up. How long
870
01:03:23,740 --> 01:03:28,400
and soon the night of weeping shall be
871
01:03:28,580 --> 01:03:30,240
the morning of song
872
01:03:33,140 --> 01:03:35,840
the church shall never perish.
873
01:03:36,350 --> 01:03:41,320
Your dear Lord to defend, to guide,
874
01:03:41,710 --> 01:03:45,960
sustain, and share is with her.
875
01:03:46,140 --> 01:03:49,880
To the end though there be those
876
01:03:52,900 --> 01:03:55,480
and false sons in her pal
877
01:03:57,110 --> 01:04:01,960
against a for trader she ever
878
01:04:02,410 --> 01:04:03,840
shall prevail
879
01:04:06,940 --> 01:04:08,680
mid toil and tribute
880
01:04:11,300 --> 01:04:13,720
and to malt of her war.
881
01:04:15,380 --> 01:04:20,360
She waits the conservation of peace
882
01:04:21,470 --> 01:04:25,720
forevermore till with the vision glory,
883
01:04:27,540 --> 01:04:30,440
her longing eyes are blessed
884
01:04:31,980 --> 01:04:35,280
and the great church victorious
885
01:04:36,770 --> 01:04:39,600
shall be the church at rest.
886
01:04:42,650 --> 01:04:47,070
Yet she honored had union with God
887
01:04:47,650 --> 01:04:51,790
the three in one and mystic.
888
01:04:52,090 --> 01:04:56,990
We communion with those whose rest is one.
889
01:04:58,490 --> 01:04:59,910
Oh happy ones.
890
01:05:00,130 --> 01:05:04,950
And holy Lord give us grace that we
891
01:05:06,620 --> 01:05:07,453
like them.
892
01:05:17,550 --> 01:05:18,640
Blessed be
893
01:05:21,190 --> 01:05:25,200
that bins our hearts
894
01:05:25,800 --> 01:05:26,633
increase.
895
01:05:29,540 --> 01:05:33,080
The fellowship of
896
01:05:34,820 --> 01:05:39,480
red minds is like to that
897
01:05:40,890 --> 01:05:41,723
above
898
01:05:43,740 --> 01:05:47,040
before our fathers,
899
01:05:47,300 --> 01:05:49,720
the road we pour
900
01:05:52,140 --> 01:05:56,080
and is our fears,
901
01:05:56,580 --> 01:05:57,760
our hopes.
902
01:05:58,820 --> 01:06:02,640
Our aims are one our
903
01:06:04,380 --> 01:06:06,520
and our cares.
904
01:06:08,500 --> 01:06:10,160
We share Our
905
01:06:12,470 --> 01:06:14,240
woes are
906
01:06:16,190 --> 01:06:20,400
bird bay and often
907
01:06:21,300 --> 01:06:22,133
for
908
01:06:26,070 --> 01:06:26,903
thus,
909
01:06:32,630 --> 01:06:36,200
when we as sound apart,
910
01:06:37,660 --> 01:06:41,560
it gives us a in word pain.
911
01:06:43,180 --> 01:06:46,640
But we shall still bejo
912
01:06:50,140 --> 01:06:54,600
and hope to meet again
913
01:06:56,950 --> 01:06:59,120
this glory hope.
914
01:07:00,220 --> 01:07:05,000
Revise our courage by the way,
915
01:07:06,570 --> 01:07:11,040
while expectation
916
01:07:13,500 --> 01:07:17,360
and longs to see the day
917
01:07:20,270 --> 01:07:23,480
from Soto and pain
918
01:07:25,060 --> 01:07:28,720
and seen, we shall be free
919
01:07:30,420 --> 01:07:35,120
and perfect love and friendship, rain
920
01:07:36,990 --> 01:07:38,480
through holy
921
01:07:44,860 --> 01:07:49,640
in that glorious hope God be with you all.
