Josh Smith - Class 3: Saving Grace

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:00

   A quick recap on where we are so far in the story of grace. Remember that we really got into grace looking at these, by the way, paradigm just means the way in which we think, our mindset. So that's what we're looking at tonight. It's something which is crucial in allowing grace to work in our lives. It's the mindset. It's the way in which we think.

2. 0:31

   That's what we're looking at tonight. But just to recap, we looked at these three stages of grace, didn't we? The manifold grace of God, which is extended to all, even seen in the rain and the sunshine, the air we breathe. But the word of God, which has gone out and the offer of eternal life or the offer of salvation in Christ Jesus.

3. 0:52

   And remember, we put this chart together as part of that study. These just remind us. And we finished by saying this. This is a process that God is taking us through. And he gives grace, but he's seeking a response. He's seeking a faithful response. And when he sees that response, he gives further grace again.

4. 1:18

   And those of us who have baptized have received of that further grace, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when he sees our response now and the moral change that's taking place in our life by his grace, when Christ returns, he will give further grace, the exceeding riches of his grace. And we will be made perfect. We'll be that perfect manifestation of the Father.

5. 1:44

   I had a couple of people add a few things. I did say that once you see the three stages of grace, you'll start finding it everywhere. And I won't mention names for who's offered these, but I just thought it'd be nice to put these up. You see, I took a lot of time doing that.

6. 2:01

   So here's our manifold grace, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the exceeding riches of his grace. We're three stages down the side. And someone come with a fantastic quote from Romans 8, which says, Those he called, them he also justified, and those he justified, he glorified. And there's our three stages right there, isn't it?

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   And of course, not mentioning names again, but also had someone else offer. Also seen in Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And there's a sense, isn't it, with Abraham that this was an all-encompassing grace. It was about all families of the earth being blessed. It's about a seed and a land and a people. But in Isaac, of course, he's the son.

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   He represents the son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And what about Jacob and Israel? Well, they're the multitude. They're the kingdom. So thanks for that. And our workshop, which is in a couple of days' time, will also be, if you like, a case study in the life of Joseph. And I hope that you'll be able to find similar themes and patterns of what we've been looking at in the Old Testament story of Joseph.

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   But keep finding them and keep bringing them to me, because it helps in my next studies. A lot of what I say, actually, has been brought to me over the years. You wouldn't believe that. But you start with a structure with these talks, and then they get added to as you go. So, believe it or not, that gets added into the next series of studies, and everyone thinks I did an amazing job finding it, but it's actually you guys.

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    So, where are we up to? Right. So I just want to go through this with you, because this is really important. Actually, no, I don't want to go through that with you just now, all right? I just wanted to build suspense. Remember yesterday we said that there's two times the Lord Jesus Christ teaches and uses the word grace.

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    And we looked at the first one yesterday, which was Luke chapter 6, about it being kindness that's undeserved. Well, now we're going to look at the second one, which is actually in Luke chapter 17. And while Luke chapter 6 was talking about what grace is, undeserved kindness, Luke chapter 17, I believe, is talking about the attitude that we have around grace, this idea of this undeserved gift.

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    So, Luke chapter 17, we've got quite an interesting little story here that the Lord tells his disciples. Verse 7 of Luke 17 says, Doth he thank, now this is our word for grace, Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise ye, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants.

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    We have only done that which was our duty to do. Now this is quite an interesting story, isn't it? Because in our day and age and the way things work, we probably wouldn't offer up this type of story because it sort of might elicit a different response to us. But here in Christ's day, you've got this story of a servant.

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    And he's been out working with the cattle all day and he comes in absolutely exhausted at lunchtime. He's like, he's like, he's absolutely famished, hungry, thirsty. And the Lord says, when that servant comes in, does the master say to him, look, I think you've done enough. Just, why don't you sit down, just take a breather.

15. 6:47

    You eat your lunch first. And then when you're finished, I'll have mine. He says, well, actually that's not the case. The servant is never in a position where he is in debt to the master. He can never place the master in his debt. Do you know what I mean when I'm saying that?

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    He is always in debt to his master. It doesn't matter how obedient he is, how many commandments he follows, he never places his master in his debt. And so he uses this analogy for us. Here we are and he makes it very clear and obvious for us. So likewise ye. And here we are as unprofitable servants.

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    And young people, you could follow every single commandment that God has asked of you, even though that might be actually impossible. Well, it is impossible. But even if you could follow every single commandment, it says here that you will never have placed God in your debt. We only come inside and we say, well, we've only done that which was our duty to do.

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    So regardless of what grace we receive, what salvation, what kindness from God, no matter how hard we work for it, there never comes a time when that is payment for what God has done for us. There never comes a time where we've worked so hard that we deserve any of this. It doesn't change how much we work, and we'll talk about that in a minute.

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    But we will always be in the master's debt. And so let's just reinforce that with a couple of extra quotes. Let's just come to our reading, which is Ephesians chapter 2. Let's just come to our reading. In verse 8, it says, It says, This is not something that we can orchestrate. This is not something that we have power over.

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    It's not something that we can pay for. It's God's work. We are his workmanship, and he is creating something in us. Again, no need to turn there. I'll just read this for you. Romans chapter 4, speaking of Abraham. For what set the scripture, verse 3 of Romans 4, Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

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    Now, to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. So there is a person that goes about to work to think they can place God in his debt. It's not discouraging anyone from working, by the way. We're going to discuss this. But it's when you have the mindset to place God in your debt.

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    So I'm just going to look up a couple of stories to illustrate this in a minute. But just a couple of, an illustration here of what we're talking about. Because we're really trying to show quite a few scriptures pieced together here. But I'll just do it in a single slide, which is hopefully not too simplistic.

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    So at the top here we have God's laws. You can call them whatever you like. It's what's right. It's the truth. It's his commandments. And from that, there's a decision made. People can say, well, that's right. God is right. His way is right. Our way or man's way is wrong. And salvation is through Jesus Christ.

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    And from there, it really goes into two mindsets. So the same information is there. The same, if you like, process of getting there has been gone through. But now it goes into two mindsets. One of merit, which is earning something. And one of faith, which is believing in what has been said. And from those two mindsets come works.

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    First of all, works from those thinking you can earn it. And believe it or not, no, it's not surprising. The same works come from the person that is believing or having faith in what God has said. They both produce works. And you know what? But most of the time, those works look exactly the same.

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    But one is works of law. One is works of faith. One is condemned by law. And one is counted as righteous. So what's important is what's going on up here. That's what's important. Because one person doing the exact same thing. Think that he is, thinks that he or she is making a payment to earn this gift.

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    Or what is meant to be a gift. Making a payment. Paying off this debt. And the other receives it gratefully. And it spurs them on. Motivates them to work. To demonstrate that they believe that God has done great things for them. So I'll give you two examples of this from the New Testament.

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    So let's turn to Matthew chapter 20. This one might seem unlikely. And I'll be interested in your feedback actually afterwards. Matthew 20 is the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. Now I'm not sure about you. But I sort of grew up thinking that this was really about the time. Or the period of time when you came into the truth.

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    But has anyone heard that before? Anyone thought that? A few tentative hands. Sort of like as unresponsive as you are with Mike here. So no one else apart from two people has heard that before. Four, three, four. Okay. I'm interested to know what you think about that now. Okay. Well I'll offer a suggestion.

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    Maybe you can tell me what you think afterwards. So in Matthew 20 the parable. We know how the parable goes right. He goes out to find labourers to work in his vineyard for a day. And the crucial thing I want you to notice about the first group of labourers in the vineyard. Is in verse 2.

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    He makes an agreement with them. This is an agreement. It's like a contract. Okay. You will do this. You will earn this. This is the mindset of the first group. It's a penny a day if I do this amount. When he needs others. So he goes out in verse 3. In the third hour.

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    And he sees others standing idle. And he said unto them. Go also into the vineyard. But this time there's no agreement. In verse 4 he says. And whatsoever is right. I will give you. And they went away. It just means. Whatsoever is righteous. Or just. Or equitable. In other words. I will give you.

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    What I think. Is right. So. In the case of the people of the third hour. The sixth hour. The ninth hour. And the eleventh hour. Their whole form of payment. Was based on. Or was based on the character. Of the person. Who is paying them. Is that a fair comment. There's no agreement in play.

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    Who's gone and done. Work. At any stage. Except at a job. Without knowing. What they're going to get paid. A few. Was it. For some sort of corporation. That you believed. Would pay you the right amount.

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    No. Has anyone. Gone and worked for someone. They thought was really evil. And would. Probably. Not pay you. What you're worth. Do you still have jobs.

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    They're good employees actually. So. You see the difference. Right. The first group. There's an agreement. That's their mindset. The other groups. They're just reliant. On the character. Of the individual. To pay what's right. Okay. So. When the first came. Verse 10. Oh sorry.

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    Verse 8. He says. Well call. Call all the laborers. And give me their hire. Beginning from the last. Unto the first. Verse 9. They came to the hire. About the eleventh hour. And they received. Every man a penny. And when the first came. Verse 10. By the way. What do you think the response would be.

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    If you'd just gone and worked one hour. And received a day's wages. How would you feel about that? Next time. Yeah. I mean. That would be awesome. It's a normal day. You an accountant.

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    Sorry. But when the first came. Verse 10. When the first came. They supposed. That they should have received more. And they likewise received. Every man a penny. And when they had received it. They murmured against the good man of the house. Saying. These last. Of raw but one hour. Now made us. And they.

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    Thou hast made them equal with us. Which have borne the burden. And the heat of the day. So what was their attitude? What is it that. You know. What's their position? What are they saying to their master? We've done more work. Surely we should get more money than they did. Exactly. They're saying they deserve.

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    More. That the work that they've put in. Is equal to something. This is because. Remember. Their mindset. Is transactional. It's an agreement. Okay. It's a contract. In their head. But the Lord says. The master says in verse 13. Friend. I do thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree with me. For a penny?

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    Didn't you in your own head. Have this contract? Wasn't it a transactional nature? Wasn't there an agreement in place? Take. Last. Even as unto thee. So. All up until that point. You might be thinking. I think Josh might be stretching this. Look at how he finishes. This parable. Verse 16. And tell me.

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    If it's not relating to this. What does this verse mean? Verse 16. So the last. Shall be first. And the first. Last. For many be called.

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    But few. Are chosen. So there's some. That have called in this story. But not chosen. We say. But they didn't do anything wrong. They received the penny. That's what they wanted. And that's exactly right. They went into it. With an agreement in place. And all the differences. In these groups of people. Is mindset.

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    One received that penny. And like. We don't deserve this. I mean. What an amazing master. That we've just. We've come here. At the 11th hour. And he's been so kind. To still give us a penny. For a day. And the other say. You know what. I've been slaving. I've been years in the truth.

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    Doing Sunday school. We've. Look at. Look at all those people. Out in the world. But look at what we've been doing. I deserve the kingdom. I'm earning it. I attend Bible class. I go to CYC. And we don't say that out loud. And we probably don't even think it. It's a subconscious thing.

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    Where we start to think. That we can earn. We can place God. In our debt. Second story. Come to Luke chapter 15. So. Once again. Probably a story. That we know well. The parable. Of the prodigal son. Of the lost son. Who. Takes his inheritance. Rushes off. And has a great old time.

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    Runs out of money. Ends up. You know. Eating. And pigs food. I mean. It's a fan. On the surface even. It's just a fantastic story. Of grace. Just in itself. Isn't it? When the father. Who. Who is. Who is. Just wanting him. To return. He's seeking that. He's. The purpose of his kindness.

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    He's seeking that repentance. But look at the mindset. Of the son. When he's returning. He says to himself. In verse 17. When he came. To himself. He said. How many. Hired. Servants. Of my. Fathers. Have bread. Enough. And to spare. And I perish. With hunger. He's thinking of his. Servants. Back home. He says.

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    I'll arise. And go to my father. And will say to him. Father. I have sinned. Against heaven. And before thee. I'm no more worthy. To be called thy son. Make me. As one of thy. Hired servants. So this. This man. By the time. He realizes. Just. How kind. His father was. He thinks back.

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    To the servants. Back at the house. And he thinks. Well. I mean. God looked after. Way better than me. Here. I'll just go back. And say. Look. I'm not worthy. To be your son. I don't deserve that. Just. Just make me a servant. I'll be your servant. What a beautiful story. He arose.

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    And came to his father. And when he was yet. A great way off. So here's the picture. Of the father. This is. The creator. Think about this. In this story. When he was yet. A great way off. His father. Saw him. And had. Compassion. And ran. And fell on his neck. And kissed him.

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    There's God's kindness. Reaching out. For repentance. And the son. Said unto him. Father. I have sinned against heaven. And in thy sight. And no more worthy. To be called thy son. But the father. Said. Bring forth the robe. And put it on him. Put a ring on his hand. Shoes on his feet.

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    Bring hither the fatted calf. And kill it. And let us eat. And be merry. For this my son. Was dead. And is alive again. He was lost. And is found. And they began. To be merry. What a great story. And you can see his attitude. He's completely saying. I don't deserve this. I'm forever in my father's debt.

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    As opposed to. The attitude of his other brother. Look at the attitude of his other brother. Verse 25. Now his elder son. Was in the field. And he came in. And he came nigh to the house. And he heard music and dancing. And he said. To one of the servants. What these things mean.

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    And verse 27. He said. Well thy brother is come. My father hath killed the fatted calf. Because he has received him safe and sound. And he was angry. His brother was angry. And he would not go in. Therefore. His father came out. And he treated him. And he said unto him. Lo. These many years.

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    Do I serve thee dad. Neither transgressed I. At any time thy commandment. Yet you never gave me a kid. That I might make merry with my friends. Do you see his attitude. I deserve this. He doesn't deserve it. I deserve it. I've been slogging away here. Earning my inheritance.

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    But as soon as this son come. His devout is living with harlots. Thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. So you can see. It's just two completely different mindsets. One is just accepting. This gift that God has given us in faith. And one is thinking. No. I want to earn this. I deserve this.

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    And I'm going to place God in my debt. Now. I'm not sure. What you're thinking at this point. That's obvious. But. I mean. If you like me. You think. Okay. That's. That's true. We can see that. But. I mean. Is it really an issue. That we think we deserve what God has done for us.

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    I mean. If you're like me. You think. When you actually sit down in the line. You think. Well. It's really not an issue. I mean. I know that I don't deserve the kingdom. So. What I'm going to go through. Is perhaps what I think. Is the biggest danger to us. Diminishing grace. In our lives.

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    And I think it's. Particularly. As a community. I think this is a problem. So I'm going to. I'm going to demonstrate to you. Oh. So here's. Here's just a few scribbles on that. So one is saying. You know. One is working hard. Earning salvation. By merit. Whereas the other. Works hard. But he works hard.

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    Out of gratitude. Knowing that his or her efforts. Are insignificant. Compared to what God has done. Okay. Okay. Okay. Right. Now. In the past. There has been some issues. Understanding this graph. Now. Now. There were Australians. So. There may not be any issues here. But. So I'm going to go through it. Slowly and carefully.

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    All right. Sorry. Australians. Okay. Okay. This is one axis. Which is. God's standard or requirement. This is. This is. This is his standard. Up this side. And here's. Who's. In the running. Say. And on this side. Measuring right up to the standard. Is Christ. Okay. The perfect man. The perfect manifestation. Of the father.

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    And he is completing. God's requirement. Right up to here. Is everyone with me. On the graph so far. This part. Just barely. Registry. On the graph. Is. Us. In our natural state. You know. We're not. We're not making our way up. To God's standard. Or his requirement. Sorry. If this is really. Overly simplistic.

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    And a simple way. Of seeing grace. And the salvation. That we have in Christ. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Is. The gap. That's bridged. We have a covering. There's been an atonement made. And we're presented. Perfect. Perfect. So. So grace. If you like. Completes the difference. Between us. And our natural state.

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    And obviously. We're growing up. Into this. It's not like. We're just sitting here. In our natural state. The graph. Has its limitations. I'm sorry. We're growing. Into this. Into this man. Actually. We're growing. Into it. But. But grace. Is the thing. That. That. That. Fills this gap. If you like. And we were baptized.

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    When we're in Christ. We're seen. As Christ. In the eyes of the father. So let me ask you a question. What are the two things. That can dramatically change. Grace. On that graph.

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    Sorry. I just said. Isn't there any one. Isn't that us going upwards. Okay. So there's. So we've got a suggestion. Well there's only one. There's us going upwards. So that would. That would diminish. Yeah. Well it would be the choice. Of wanting that. Whereas. You may be fine. With just being red. And you don't want that grace.

69. 30:13

    Yep. Ready? Faith. Faith and works. Can change it. I'm just looking for. Remember I'm Australian. And living in New Zealand. If God knows his standards or requirements. Yeah. Sorry. Who said that? If God knows his standards or requirements. Okay. Yep. So. Let's just change the question slightly. You're exactly right. What would change the graph.

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    In our view. So there's two things really. Is our view of what God's standard is. Could change. It could shrink right down to here. And we could set it here. In our own mind. And it would just leave this amount of grace. And then. Also. If we didn't realise. Our natural state. And we actually thought.

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    Well. Actually. Josh. Is okay. You know. Who he is as a natural person. He is actually not too bad. And might bring him up to here. We might bring God's standard down to here. And what's left for grace. There's almost nothing left.

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    And so I think. This is. This is the problem. In us. Coming to terms with realising. Just how much we. We don't deserve this. Is I believe. We do change these two things. See. As. Particularly. As. As young people growing up. In Christadelphian families. Which. I'm one of. We. We sometimes forget. That we've grown up.

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    And every. Say. Good characteristic. That we may. That we may show. Is actually from being brought up. In the truth. It's. And it's also by having good parents. Even. Even. Even. Even if we think. We're not all that bad. But actually. If we start to lose sight. Of where we are. In our natural state.

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    In comparison to God. And as Christadelphians. Start to. Just say. Well. Actually. You know what. You know the standard. I think God requires. Well. Not be too bad. So I suppose. Try and attend. Try and attend the meetings. Where we can. I think attending meetings. As many Bible classes. I can. That's good.

75. 32:40

    And see what I see. Try not to drink. And smoke. And then we start to. What we start to do. Is build up this little picture. In our own head. It's different for everyone. Of course. And we think. Yeah. I think that's. That's a good balance. It's not too extreme. And you know what.

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    You know. Funny enough. Where you set your own standard. Just so happens to be. That you can reach it. You set the standard for yourself. Just at the point. Where you can reach it. And you think. This is what God wants. From me. And in your own head. You're probably thinking. How everyone else.

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    Should be doing that as well. So let's just. Let's just remind ourselves. Of what scripture says about this. And actually. Brother Jonathan. Talked about this. In one of his earlier studies. Is that God is actually. Wanting us. To aim. For perfection. And it's been coming out. It'll. Be coming out. In our God manifestation studies.

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    As well. Is that we are aiming. To be perfect. Manifestations. Of the father. That's our God. That's our aim. It's not a nice. Comfortable. Christadelphian standard. It's God's standard. That we're aiming for. And he requires. Us to be perfect. He does. He wants us. To be perfect. Let's remind ourselves. Of that. Matthew chapter 5.

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    We touched on this. A bit. Earlier. So I won't go through it. But think of everything. That he's. Spoken about. Through Matthew chapter 5. You know. That the law says. Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say unto you. Do not. Lust. After a woman. In your heart.

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    This is. This is. His standard. Don't lust. Upon a woman. In your heart. The law says. You shouldn't murder. But I say. Don't. Hate. Your brother. Don't love less. Your brother.

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    And. And we. And we went through. Didn't we. All the things. That will. If someone does something to you. Well. If he takes your. Takes your coat. Give him your cloak also. All these things. But. When we get to the end of that chapter. We won't go through it all. He concludes it.

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    By saying. Verse 48. Be therefore. Perfect. Even. As your father. Which is in heaven. Is perfect. This is what the Beatitudes about. This is what this sermon on the mountain is about. To show us what we. We should be striving for. To show us what we're aiming for. Come across to Matthew chapter 7.

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    Verse 21. Matthew 7. Verse 21. Not everyone. That saith unto me. Lord. Lord. Shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. But. He. That doeth. The will. Of my father. Which is in heaven. So who will go into the kingdom? He. That does. The will. Of my father. I mean. What a challenging phrase.

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    Just in those few verses. He that does. The will of my father. Come across to 2nd Corinthians. In chapter 7. 2nd Corinthians 7. Verse 1. Having therefore. These promises. Dearly beloved. Let us cleanse ourselves. From all filthiness. Of the flesh. And spirit.

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    Perfecting. Holiness. In the fear of God. When did we last wake up. And think. I wonder how I'm going. Towards perfecting holiness. You can see that it's easy. Isn't it? To. To just make ourselves. Feel comfortable. By lowering that standard. What about Deuteronomy 10? Don't turn to this. I'll read it for you.

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    And now. Israel. What does the Lord thy God. Require of thee. But to fear. Yahweh thy God. To walk in all his ways. And to love him. And to serve. Yahweh thy God. With all thy heart. And with all thy soul. To keep. The commandments of Yahweh. And his statutes. Which I command thee this day.

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    That's what he said to Israel. That's what God required. To fear him. And walk in all his ways. To love him. And keep. His commandments. With all your heart. And all your soul. Come to Matthew chapter 19. For those interested. You'll find some interesting context. Because we were just here. In Matthew 20.

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    Before and after. These two parables. And what Christ is. Is. Dealing with his disciples. Around these things actually. But we're not going to go into it just now. But. You might like to look at that. Or talk to him about it afterwards. But here we've got. The parable of this. Rich young man.

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    And. In verse 16. It says. The whole. One came to him. And said. Good master. What good thing. Shall I do. That I may have. Eternal life. Can you already see his problem. What we've been talking about. What good thing. Shall I do. That I may have. Let's make an agreement. Let's make a contract.

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    I want to know. What do I need to do. What. Where can I sign. I'll be able to pay for this. And he said. What callest thou me good. There is none. Good but one. That is God. But if thou would enter into life. Keep the commandments. And he said unto him. Which.

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    Jesus said. Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and mother. And thou shalt love thy neighbours thyself. And the young man saith unto him. Well. Actually. All these. Well all these. Have I kept from my youth up.

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    Yeah. I've done that. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. What lack I yet? And Jesus said unto him, Well, if thou wilt be perfect. If you want to be perfect, if you think you can, if you can aim up to be perfect. Go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me.

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    When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful. For he had great possessions. And then Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I say unto you that a rich man can hardly enter into the kingdom. In fact, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

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    And when the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed saying, Well, who then can be saved? And that's where you get to, isn't it? Where you think, well, Well, if God, he requires us to be perfect, I mean, how are we ever going to do that? Who's ever going to be in the kingdom?

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    He's saying a rich man. Well, all of us are rich. I mean, many of us are rich. We've got more than most. And it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for us to go into the kingdom of God. I'm feeling exactly like the disciples here. Well, who can be saved?

96. 42:29

    Well, Jesus beheld them and said unto them, With men, this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible. And that's the difference. That's all it is. Just a change in mindset. If you want to try and earn, if you want to try and demand what you can do to earn the kingdom of God, it is impossible.

97. 43:02

    What is the price that you should pay for eternal life? If you were to create a fair transaction, if you want to make this a transaction, what is the fair price to pay for eternal life?

98. 43:25

    Yep. A perfect life. In what way is that an equivalent? Like, how long is that life? You can't put a price on it. Yeah, you can't put a price on it, but we're just playing.

99. 43:49

    But in all seriousness, isn't it eternal death? Whatever it is, it has to be eternal. If the thing you're receiving is eternal, the price you pay must be something eternal, otherwise it's not a fair transaction.

100. 44:10

     So if we are going to try and attempt in our minds, consciously or subconsciously, to try and earn our salvation, we'll end up exactly like this rich young man here, going away very sorrowful. because when we approach the Father with this transactional type arrangement, this attitude in our minds, then we'll only get what we deserve.

101. 44:41

     We'll only get what we pay. Think about it. What can we pay? And that's what we'll get if we're going to make this a transaction. But of course, with God, all things are possible. And so when we approach God and we understand ourselves in our natural state, and if you get some time, just read through Romans chapter 1, 2 and 3 and just see what Paul there is telling us.

102. 45:12

     He's just taking us through this levelling process where it doesn't matter who you are, what you've done, Jew or Gentile, it doesn't matter who you are. He gets to the point and he says, there is none righteous, not a single one. That is us in our natural state. It doesn't matter who you are, what you've done.

103. 45:39

     This is us in our natural state. We barely register, if at all. And when we aim for perfection, when we see Christ for who he is, when we see the great gulf between God's standard, what is perfect, what is holy, and us in our natural state, what does it do? Well, it makes grace enormous in our minds.

104. 46:12

     It fills us with so much gratitude for what's been done for us. But when we diminish that, when we make ourselves comfortable with our own standard which we can very comfortably meet, we lose gratitude. So we need to be, we need to be comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. because if you're like me, it is uncomfortable to set a standard of trying to be the perfect manifestation of the Father.

105. 46:52

     Because you know we're just going to fail miserably. but it only makes what God has done for us bigger and bigger and bigger. And tomorrow, we're going to see a man who's probably far, far more righteous and far more incredible than we will ever be. But did you know in his mind, in his mind, this is, this gap here is like way, way bigger than ours because he understood these two things.

106. 47:30

     So that's how we can diminish grace and I think that's the biggest danger for us. So here's some, to finish on some, some, quotes, about what God is doing with us and for us with his grace. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.

107. 48:24

     With God, all things are possible. We strive for perfection but through Christ, through the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, he is actually making us perfect. by forgiving our sins now but by changing us and moulding us and completing us in the kingdom age. That he might present it to himself a glorious ecclesia, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish.

108. 49:04

     and in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. We saw it, didn't we, in our first study that God has purpose in his grace.

109. 49:32

     It's to lead us to repentance but ultimately present us perfect and change us. So just in summary, what is the mindset that we need to have? This, the grace paradigm that having done everything we can possibly do, we say we are undeserving service. We can never place God in our debt. We need to be acutely aware of one, God's righteous and perfect requirements.

110. 50:09

     The word made flesh, who Christ was, what we are living to, what we are going to become, as well as our own natural position with God. before we come into Christ. And when we enlarge and when we change those, when we enlarge or diminish grace in our minds, when we temper with those two things.

111. 50:37

     Thanks for your attention this evening. I know it's tough in the evenings, but I appreciate it.