Class 1 from this series was used for GCT Episode 250
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Well, forgiveness.
What if I press B?
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Nothing happens.
Can I press?
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Let’s go back there, shall we?
There we are.
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Let’s just go there for the
minute.
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I think that forgiveness, and
I’m sure a lot of you would
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agree as well, that forgiveness
is probably one of the most
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fundamental subjects of the
Bible to think about.
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It really is important because
it’s it’s it’s really an
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understanding of God.
The chairman has really sort of
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indicated it’s to understand, to
get a bit of a handle on
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forgiveness.
It’s really understand God’s
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character and it’s a journey for
all of us.
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And I’m well and truly on that
journey and nowhere.
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Near the end of it I.
Can tell you because every time
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I do this, this is about the
sixth time that we’ve done this.
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I’m just learning something new
and I’m just changing this or
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changing that.
As we grow in in in our faith
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and I guess maturity in in in
terms of our standing with God.
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But it is a core.
Element of God’s character.
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I would, I would say, go as far
as to say.
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It is the.
Most core element of his
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character.
It’s about having a relationship
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with God, and it comes brothers
and sisters from.
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I think the single.
Most central part of God’s
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thinking, and that is that God
is love, and it’s the one of the
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first things that we see as a
result of that love that he
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wants to forgive.
He doesn’t doesn’t do it
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grudgingly.
He actually wants to forgive.
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And when we let God forgive,
it’s.
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Total total forgiveness.
No grudges, No thoughts.
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He even forgets it.
He has the power to forget your
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sin.
So when you get to the judgment
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scene and you might talk to the
Angel and say, I’m not worried
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about this thing, he might say
to you, what thing’s that?
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No recollection.
It’s gone.
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You discussed that years ago
with God.
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It’s gone from you.
I think God does have have the
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power to forgive properly.
And to forget sin.
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He remembers them no more and I
will forgive you, despite what
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we have done against him.
You know why?
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Actually, God Forgives Psalm 79
and verse 9 says that He
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forgives us for his namesake.
Isn’t that interesting, you
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think?
Wonder why?
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Wonder why that?
What does that mean to forgive
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for my namesake?
What’s God’s name?
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Well, we know that from from the
early chapters of Exodus.
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His name is Yahweh.
I will be who I will be, or I
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will be manifested into a
multitude of people.
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So in order for God to be
manifested in a multitude of
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people, or to be seen in a large
group of people, He must
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forgive.
So I will forgive for the sake
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of my purpose.
For the sake of my name, my name
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is my purpose.
Here’s a little insight into the
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God that we serve.
You ever listen to this?
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This is Luke’s.
Luke’s 6.
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Verse 35 and turn it up because
of time.
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But he says this, but love ye
your enemies.
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Didn’t say love your brothers
and sisters, Love your enemies,
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do good and lend.
Hoping for nothing again, and
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your reward shall be great, and
ye shall be the children of the
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highest.
For he is he is kind to the
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unthankful and to the evil.
God is kind to the evil
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remarkable being.
Be therefore merciful, as your
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Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and you shall not be
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judged.
Condemn not, and you shall not
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be condemned.
Forgive, and you shall be
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forgiven.
That’s the God who we serve
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since the rain upon the just and
the unjust.
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Loves his enemies.
There was a point in all our
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lives that we were enemies with
God, but we’re now reconciled to
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him.
So as we’ve progressed through
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these studies, we hope to answer
brothers and sisters, a lot of
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those questions that do come up
from time to time.
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Questions.
Questions like this.
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How do I know I’m forgiven?
Where?
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Where in the Bible do I find
that?
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How do I know I’m forgiven?
Does God forgive immediately, or
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do I need to repeat the
confession for a while?
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Is God looking for some repet
repetitious request?
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I have nagging feelings of
guilt.
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Actually, let me go there.
Is that right?
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No.
Next 10.
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Here we are.
Here we are.
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Here we are.
Listen, I have some nagging
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feelings of guilt.
Why?
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Why do I have those?
Should I ever forgive myself,
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even though I know God has?
If I repeat the sin over and
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over and over again, does God
still forgive if someone has
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sinned against me or a loved
one?
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Should I wait for them to repent
before I forgive?
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Are there conditions to God’s
forgiveness?
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If so, what are they?
We’re going to look at all
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these, so don’t worry if you
think, oh, what’s the answer to
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that one?
Under the law, Why did God want
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blood?
Is he bloodthirsty?
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Where are we?
We go to the next one.
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Is he bloodthirsty?
Why was God pleased to bruise
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his son?
Why did did that make God happy?
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What does it mean?
Well, he was pleased to bruise
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his only son.
Why did Christ have to die such
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a cruel way and not an old man?
Are there big and little sins?
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Does God really and actually
forget sin and will?
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All sin be reviewed at the
Judgment.
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Seat So we’re searching some
searching questions, aren’t
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they?
So God willing, we’re going to
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be covering all those questions
and giving you hopefully some
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biblical answers.
Of these things as we move
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through now, brothers and
sisters, it’s an interesting
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thing when you when we do a
subject on forgiveness, it can
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have the tendency to stir up old
things in our in our minds.
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And I readily acknowledge that
subjects like this touch us
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very, very deeply and you may
have other thoughts or.
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Questions.
Arising from this matter, which
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I’m also always very receptive
to, to hear your thoughts on
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them as well.
So I think that that feedback
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and those other ideas are I find
very, very stimulating and
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helpful for me.
I certainly then hope don’t have
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all the answers to the these
things and very much learning as
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as we go along with you
together.
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But let’s have a little think
about sin then for a start.
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So in order to appreciate the
wonder and the beauty of
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forgiveness, surely we need to
know really.
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And actually get a handle on sin
itself.
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Have to think about it, because
we tend to negate it a lot in
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our lives.
We tend to diminish it a lot.
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So let’s have a little think
about sin.
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What does sin do in terms of our
relationship with God, with our?
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Father, what does it do?
Well, sin breaks the connection.
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It breaks the connection that we
have with God.
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It separates us.
But forgiveness reconnects.
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Us with God.
That’s what God is trying to do.
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He’s trying to unify you with
him again, He does not like
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this, this disconnection, and
he’ll do everything he can to be
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united with you Again, it’s
about reconciliation with God.
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You might.
Remember this quote, this is
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quite a a famous one that John
Carter said he said this in his
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book Delight in God’s Law.
He said sin ruptures.
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The good relationship between
God and man, it’s a relationship
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which is illustrated by the
change from living in the Garden
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of Eden to the exclusion from
its paradiasic life.
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So he’s basically saying a
really good example of the
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disruptive nature of sin is what
occurred in the Garden of Eden.
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At first, God walked in the
garden the cool of the day, and
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he often spoke to Adam and Eve.
It was a lovely relationship
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afterwards.
Flaming sword barred entrance to
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it.
In this was exhibited the
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altered relationship that sin
had caused, and sin affected
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man’s world as well as man.
Himself a cursed ground, a life
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of toil and sorrow, Thorns and
thistles remained as continual
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reminders that sin leaves its
after effects and its
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consequences.
So this subject then is really,
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really central to our walk and
our relationship with God.
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But also it has a huge bearing
brothers and sisters on our walk
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and relationship with each
other.
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It really does.
I’m gonna show you that in fact
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our relationships with with each
other is one in one of the
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conditions on which God will
forgive us.
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True untainted forgiveness
between each other is nothing
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short of God manifestation to
each other.
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It’s absolutely God to each
other.
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That’s what it is.
It’s one of the best
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demonstrations of who God really
is.
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So what do we know about God?
Well, we know this.
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We know that God is merciful and
He is gracious.
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He’s long-suffering, and He’s
abundant in goodness and truth
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now.
You think of all those
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qualities, Just think of them.
He’s merciful.
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Now, if someone’s merciful,
they’re full of mercy.
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Doesn’t make them forgiving.
What about gracious, undeserved
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divine favor?
Unmerited divine favor?
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Gracious.
You have to be forgiving it’s
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undeserved favor.
You’ve not deserved it, so it’s
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forgiving.
What about someone who’s
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long-suffering?
To suffer for a long time means
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to be patient or slow to anger.
And if you’re a very, very
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patient person, very patient,
and you can, you can put up with
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certain things for thousands of
years, certain behaviors you’re
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forgiving, no doubt.
About it whatsoever.
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What about goodness?
Kiss head kindness.
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That means you are willing.
You are happy to forgive.
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He’s very kind.
He’s kind to the unthankful we
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read earlier.
So he’s very, very happy to
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forgive.
And truth.
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Emeth, He’s just.
God is just.
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This is what John says.
God is just and faithful to
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forgive his his, his, his
trustworthiness.
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Is something that we can depend
on.
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He will forgive and then and
then verse 7 says keeping mercy
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for thousands for giving
iniquity and transgression and
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sin.
So all of those qualities.
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Equal, keeping mercy for
thousands and forgiving
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iniquity, transgression and sin.
It’s all part of his purpose.
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It’s a part of God’s, of God’s
glory.
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His character is to forgive
sins.
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He’s doing it.
All the time, as we’re going to
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see.
But what about the next?
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Verse.
What about that next verse?
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I hear you say The bit that says
by number means clearing the
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guilty.
What about that?
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Well, here it reads like this,
that by no means clear.
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The guilty visiting the iniquity
of the fathers upon the children
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and upon the children’s children
unto the 3rd and 4th generation.
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Now there’s a few schools of
thought on this.
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And I want to tell you, the one
I believe having looked at, just
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had a bit of a look at this
subject.
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Let’s divide the verse up into
two sections very briefly.
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Because of our time, that will
by no means clear the guilty.
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Now the Hebrew let.
Me tell you what?
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The Hebrew you won’t understand.
Nor do I.
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Here’s the Hebrew Nake la
yennaka.
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That’s the Hebrew for that
little section.
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By no means clearing the guilty.
Here’s how.
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It should be rendered.
Acquitting him who is not
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innocent.
In other words, acquitting the
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guilty.
One commentator on the and the
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really good commentator on the
Hebrew text says this that it’s
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that little bit of section of
that verse has been
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misunderstood.
And misinterpreted.
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Misinterpreted by all our
translators, the whole lot.
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And you actually know that the
AV my, my Bible.
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Here, I’ve got the Oxford.
Version of the Bible.
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00:13:48,890 –> 00:13:50,970
Is having trouble with it as
well because the words the
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00:13:50,970 –> 00:13:54,930
guilty, they’re in italics.
They’re not even there, nor they
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00:13:54,930 –> 00:14:00,690
should be acquitting him, who is
not innocent.
225
00:14:02,170 –> 00:14:05,090
The translators have really
struggled with that second-half
226
00:14:05,090 –> 00:14:05,770
of the.
Verse.
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00:14:06,220 –> 00:14:09,780
Visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children and
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00:14:09,780 –> 00:14:13,140
upon the children’s children
unto the 3rd and 4th generation.
229
00:14:13,380 –> 00:14:18,460
Now that sounds like face value.
That sounds like if Dad does
230
00:14:18,460 –> 00:14:20,740
something wrong, all the kids
are going to cop it.
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00:14:21,860 –> 00:14:25,140
If grandpa great great, great,
Grandpa did something else,
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00:14:25,140 –> 00:14:26,660
something wrong, I’m going to
get it.
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00:14:27,900 –> 00:14:30,340
Doesn’t mean that at all.
It’s not how God works.
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00:14:32,360 –> 00:14:35,120
Deuteronomy 5 verse nine I think
puts a property says Now listen
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00:14:35,120 –> 00:14:39,000
to this for I, Yahweh thy God am
a jealous God visiting the
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00:14:39,000 –> 00:14:41,960
iniquity of the fathers upon the
children, and to the third and
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00:14:41,960 –> 00:14:45,920
4th generation of them that hate
me.
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00:14:47,480 –> 00:14:53,360
Ah, so this is all about
prolonging the hatred down
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00:14:53,360 –> 00:14:58,160
through the generations.
So the truth of that statement,
240
00:14:58,160 –> 00:15:01,000
of course is born out in the
story of Cora Dathan and
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00:15:01,000 –> 00:15:03,720
Ibarram.
Remember, the sons of Korra
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00:15:03,840 –> 00:15:07,680
separated themselves from their
father before he went down into
243
00:15:07,680 –> 00:15:11,120
the pit.
And of course the their families
244
00:15:11,120 –> 00:15:15,200
went on to write many of the of
the of the songs, the Psalms.
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00:15:15,680 –> 00:15:18,360
Many of them.
So here’s how that verse I think
246
00:15:18,360 –> 00:15:21,720
should read.
Keeping mercy for thousands for
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00:15:21,720 –> 00:15:23,720
giving iniquity, transgression
and sin.
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00:15:24,360 –> 00:15:25,960
Acquitting him who is not
innocent.
249
00:15:25,960 –> 00:15:29,060
Acquitting the the guilty.
Visiting the iniquity of the
250
00:15:29,060 –> 00:15:31,940
fathers upon the children, and
upon the children’s children
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00:15:32,100 –> 00:15:35,740
unto the 3rd and 4th generation
of them that hate me.
252
00:15:38,100 –> 00:15:42,900
So God reacts then to every
generation and persons according
253
00:15:42,900 –> 00:15:46,380
to their personal response to
Him, right?
254
00:15:46,380 –> 00:15:50,260
So not according to who your
parents were, who your granddad
255
00:15:50,260 –> 00:15:56,260
was, That’s you make your own
choice in relationship, in in
256
00:15:56,260 –> 00:16:01,580
relation to your.
Relationship to God, that’s your
257
00:16:01,580 –> 00:16:06,380
choice.
If, however, we perpetuate that
258
00:16:06,380 –> 00:16:10,380
hatred as we can actually see it
amongst the Arabs and the Jews,
259
00:16:10,380 –> 00:16:12,060
we can see this perpetual hatred
that going.
260
00:16:12,060 –> 00:16:16,380
On and on.
The God of Israel has a problem
261
00:16:16,380 –> 00:16:19,260
with that.
Then, because that’s a choice
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00:16:19,260 –> 00:16:24,180
that each generation is making
for themselves, and of course,
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00:16:24,180 –> 00:16:25,780
that’s what really God is
unable.
264
00:16:25,780 –> 00:16:28,730
To work with.
He cannot work with people who
265
00:16:28,810 –> 00:16:30,770
utterly hate him.
Or.
266
00:16:30,810 –> 00:16:37,250
Anything he stands for do you
know, just a just a mere
267
00:16:37,250 –> 00:16:39,850
consideration of that.
You know, you sit back and and
268
00:16:39,850 –> 00:16:42,810
you wonder.
You really do wonder at the God
269
00:16:42,810 –> 00:16:44,970
that we serve.
You think what a remarkable
270
00:16:44,970 –> 00:16:51,370
being this is to consider, that
he should consider such small
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00:16:51,730 –> 00:16:55,690
specks of dust as us human
beings upon this.
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00:16:56,440 –> 00:16:58,000
Speck of us we call.
Earth.
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00:16:59,720 –> 00:17:02,760
What a God.
This is remarkable, remarkable
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00:17:02,760 –> 00:17:05,800
characteristics, merciful and
kind and patient.
275
00:17:07,400 –> 00:17:16,400
And then we suddenly remember
that he’s looking for people who
276
00:17:16,400 –> 00:17:22,720
think and act like him.
Doesn’t that make you stop and
277
00:17:22,720 –> 00:17:29,520
think because?
You and I both know that we are
278
00:17:29,520 –> 00:17:36,200
in need of so much forgiveness
in our lives that we can’t come
279
00:17:36,280 –> 00:17:40,120
anywhere near a true reflection
of God’s character.
280
00:17:41,440 –> 00:17:50,240
What a challenge that is.
So in order for us to really
281
00:17:50,240 –> 00:17:53,760
appreciate the power of
forgiveness, we’ve got to look
282
00:17:53,760 –> 00:17:56,280
at the terrible.
And appreciate the terrible
283
00:17:56,280 –> 00:17:59,080
features of sin.
We do need to know that we’ve
284
00:17:59,160 –> 00:18:02,040
got to get down to that that
valley, as it were, to
285
00:18:02,040 –> 00:18:04,160
appreciate the heights of the
heavenlies.
286
00:18:05,480 –> 00:18:08,600
We’ve got to We’ve got to
appreciate the depths of which
287
00:18:08,600 –> 00:18:13,040
our nature will go.
Yet the the absolute wonder of
288
00:18:13,040 –> 00:18:16,240
God’s forgiveness.
We need to own sin, brothers and
289
00:18:16,240 –> 00:18:21,480
sisters, without minimizing the
magnitude of our failings.
290
00:18:21,600 –> 00:18:24,360
Own it.
Be honest with God.
291
00:18:26,330 –> 00:18:30,370
And we need often to have an an
honest appraisal of ourselves.
292
00:18:30,730 –> 00:18:34,290
And that’s why we’re encouraged
to examine ourselves every
293
00:18:34,290 –> 00:18:36,570
Sunday morning.
Examine yourself.
294
00:18:37,090 –> 00:18:38,850
Take a long, hard look in the
mirror.
295
00:18:39,130 –> 00:18:40,130
What?
Do you see?
296
00:18:41,410 –> 00:18:43,890
When I look in the mirror, I
don’t like it.
297
00:18:45,450 –> 00:18:48,370
I’m I’m not talking about what I
actually see in the mirror.
298
00:18:49,370 –> 00:18:53,730
That’s bad enough, but when I
really consider.
299
00:18:54,420 –> 00:18:58,020
My own proclivities and my own
biases.
300
00:19:00,340 –> 00:19:03,020
It’s a very, very uncomfortable
place to be.
301
00:19:04,780 –> 00:19:08,140
So personal acknowledgment of
sin will bring us to Christ.
302
00:19:08,340 –> 00:19:10,060
That’s that’s the.
Design of it.
303
00:19:10,540 –> 00:19:13,180
It brings us to Christ.
You see, because we are all
304
00:19:13,180 –> 00:19:14,860
sick.
Remember what Jesus Christ said.
305
00:19:15,180 –> 00:19:19,620
It’s only those that acknowledge
that sickness will go to a
306
00:19:19,620 –> 00:19:23,740
physician.
You’re not going to go to a
307
00:19:23,740 –> 00:19:27,180
doctor unless you can.
You can feel that sickness in
308
00:19:27,180 –> 00:19:29,700
yourself.
Otherwise, nothing wrong with
309
00:19:29,700 –> 00:19:31,500
me.
That’s the that’s the mind of
310
00:19:31,500 –> 00:19:33,740
the Pharisee, the Pharisee said.
There’s nothing wrong with me.
311
00:19:34,340 –> 00:19:39,660
I’m actually quite a good person
at heart and I intend showing
312
00:19:39,660 –> 00:19:45,500
how good I am to everybody else.
We will not go to the doctor.
313
00:19:45,700 –> 00:19:51,290
Unless we know actually.
How that disease is at work in
314
00:19:51,290 –> 00:19:53,050
our minds.
Remember what David said, David
315
00:19:53,050 –> 00:19:56,530
said there is a loathsome
disease in my loins, meaning
316
00:19:57,450 –> 00:19:58,610
I’m.
All.
317
00:19:58,610 –> 00:20:02,770
My children and all my my
forebears and everybody else is
318
00:20:02,770 –> 00:20:08,330
going to have the same rotten
bias that I’ve got to sin.
319
00:20:08,810 –> 00:20:15,130
We’re just passing it on.
He saw it for what it was, you
320
00:20:15,130 –> 00:20:18,730
know, sometimes our diagnosis of
other people’s illnesses.
321
00:20:19,270 –> 00:20:23,190
Comes easier than diagnosing our
own problems.
322
00:20:24,510 –> 00:20:28,870
That’s another element of human
nature as well, and that’s why
323
00:20:28,870 –> 00:20:33,030
of Christ’s excitation when he
said look, just be very careful,
324
00:20:33,070 –> 00:20:37,150
he said about trying to take out
the splinter in your brother’s
325
00:20:37,150 –> 00:20:38,670
eye.
Because there could be an awful
326
00:20:38,670 –> 00:20:41,510
big log just hanging out your
own eye.
327
00:20:42,110 –> 00:20:44,470
And you, it’s so big you
actually can’t see it.
328
00:20:44,870 –> 00:20:46,070
You can’t see it from what it
is.
329
00:20:49,940 –> 00:20:53,380
We we can pretend to be.
Blinded by our own affliction,
330
00:20:54,700 –> 00:20:57,700
So we’re all in the same
dreadful state without
331
00:20:57,700 –> 00:21:01,340
forgiveness, and we have by
nature the same problem as the
332
00:21:01,340 –> 00:21:05,220
Pharisee.
I don’t think the Pharisee was
333
00:21:05,220 –> 00:21:06,780
something extraordinary.
He wasn’t.
334
00:21:06,940 –> 00:21:10,020
He was very, very normal, a very
normal person.
335
00:21:11,700 –> 00:21:15,260
He was full of pride.
He was motivated by the flesh.
336
00:21:16,070 –> 00:21:18,430
And the lust of the flesh and
the lust of the eyes that sound
337
00:21:18,430 –> 00:21:21,510
familiar to you.
I can relate to the Pharisee.
338
00:21:23,950 –> 00:21:25,830
Horrible.
It’s a it’s a it’s a really
339
00:21:26,310 –> 00:21:28,390
horrible state that we’re we’re
born into.
340
00:21:29,670 –> 00:21:33,310
And I not only have that inbred
bias to sin the same as
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00:21:33,310 –> 00:21:36,390
everybody else, we all have a
bias to to justify those.
342
00:21:36,390 –> 00:21:40,590
Sins as well.
We justify them to ourselves so
343
00:21:40,590 –> 00:21:43,830
that we feel better about life,
or we justify them to other
344
00:21:43,830 –> 00:21:46,070
people as well.
The reason I did this?
345
00:21:46,110 –> 00:21:49,150
Oh, yes, the reason I did that.
See.
346
00:21:50,070 –> 00:21:51,630
Were you there at that?
Oh, well, yeah.
347
00:21:52,550 –> 00:22:00,430
You need to know the back story.
Well, you see, my parents when I
348
00:22:00,430 –> 00:22:12,490
was younger, we like to
rationalize whenever there’s an
349
00:22:12,490 –> 00:22:15,890
opportunity to blame something
else to blame.
350
00:22:15,890 –> 00:22:19,880
Someone else?
Give plausible excuses.
351
00:22:21,320 –> 00:22:26,320
We generally will disown sin if
we can, because it makes us feel
352
00:22:26,320 –> 00:22:28,400
shameful.
That’s the whole that’s part of
353
00:22:28,400 –> 00:22:31,120
the in fact, that’s part of the
that feeling of shame.
354
00:22:32,080 –> 00:22:34,280
God says you’re actually on the
way you’ve started.
355
00:22:34,560 –> 00:22:36,000
I need that shame to be there.
You.
356
00:22:36,240 –> 00:22:37,240
I need you to.
Feel that?
357
00:22:37,800 –> 00:22:39,000
It’s not a very nice thing, is
it?
358
00:22:42,800 –> 00:22:44,240
This tendency is nothing new, of
course.
359
00:22:44,240 –> 00:22:48,470
Remember what Adam said.
Adam said to God, Adam said.
360
00:22:49,950 –> 00:22:55,150
The woman who you gave to be
with me.
361
00:22:56,270 –> 00:22:57,790
So.
So now he’s blaming God.
362
00:22:57,790 –> 00:23:03,710
First up, the woman who you
gave, she gave me of the tree.
363
00:23:05,270 –> 00:23:07,510
There’s a lot of the things
going on here, says Adam.
364
00:23:08,350 –> 00:23:10,590
And I was just an innocent
party.
365
00:23:10,590 –> 00:23:14,830
I came along here and I was just
offered a piece of fruit and.
366
00:23:15,990 –> 00:23:18,230
You know what?
I would probably actually be all
367
00:23:18,230 –> 00:23:20,830
right if I was my own self and
was here on my.
368
00:23:20,830 –> 00:23:23,070
Own I wouldn’t have gone that
direction.
369
00:23:27,470 –> 00:23:30,670
So God turns to the woman and
said what happened?
370
00:23:31,590 –> 00:23:37,550
The woman says, well, serpent.
The serpent begoiled me and I
371
00:23:37,550 –> 00:23:39,150
did.
Now it’s a funny thing, isn’t
372
00:23:39,150 –> 00:23:41,910
it?
Those statements are both sort
373
00:23:41,910 –> 00:23:44,510
of true.
Think there’s elements of truth
374
00:23:44,550 –> 00:23:48,200
in those things.
Well, it was true, Adam.
375
00:23:48,240 –> 00:23:52,680
Adam did add to the fruit his
wife did give That was actually
376
00:23:52,680 –> 00:23:54,720
true.
It’s a we can actually color, we
377
00:23:54,720 –> 00:23:59,240
can actually justify with these
apparent truths, but they’re not
378
00:23:59,240 –> 00:24:01,720
honest.
We’re not owning up, and God
379
00:24:01,720 –> 00:24:04,320
wants us to be honest with
ourselves.
380
00:24:05,680 –> 00:24:09,960
We have an instinct to buy.
Us to to to blame something else
381
00:24:09,960 –> 00:24:12,280
for our personal offenses
against God at the end of the
382
00:24:12,280 –> 00:24:14,660
day.
They are always going to be
383
00:24:14,660 –> 00:24:17,180
against God.
Always remember what David said
384
00:24:17,580 –> 00:24:19,020
in relation to Bathsheba, he
said.
385
00:24:19,220 –> 00:24:23,780
Against the and the.
Only have I sinned?
386
00:24:25,820 –> 00:24:29,620
The end of the day that God
said, look, putting aside my
387
00:24:29,620 –> 00:24:33,900
family and all my children and
Bathsheba and you’re right.
388
00:24:33,900 –> 00:24:37,460
Putting aside all that, in the
end it’s against God.
389
00:24:37,460 –> 00:24:41,140
I’ve sinned.
God wants us to be honest.
390
00:24:42,680 –> 00:24:48,000
We have to be truthful, open to
him and Adam and Eve.
391
00:24:48,000 –> 00:24:50,600
When they were blaming each
other or blaming the serpent,
392
00:24:51,080 –> 00:24:53,360
they were unable to be forgiven.
God says.
393
00:24:53,360 –> 00:24:59,200
Until I can get you to talk
openly and honestly to me, we
394
00:24:59,200 –> 00:25:05,080
cannot move.
God cannot forgive the
395
00:25:05,120 –> 00:25:11,710
unacknowledged sin he wants to.
He really does want it, but he
396
00:25:11,710 –> 00:25:14,870
can’t do it until we acknowledge
it to him in humility.
397
00:25:15,390 –> 00:25:19,110
If we cannot own our sin,
neither can God forgive us
398
00:25:19,110 –> 00:25:24,150
brothers and sisters and and
what we are then we are
399
00:25:24,150 –> 00:25:31,070
specialists at sin management.
So when we walk down the
400
00:25:31,070 –> 00:25:36,790
corridor of life we we come to a
sign on the door and it says sin
401
00:25:38,070 –> 00:25:42,520
manager.
We swing open the door and there
402
00:25:42,520 –> 00:25:50,160
inside is you or me sitting back
on a nice chair, feet up on the
403
00:25:50,160 –> 00:25:55,880
desk, hands across our stomach,
Pretty smug.
404
00:25:56,880 –> 00:26:00,960
We’re we’re brilliant at it.
Sin management, it makes us feel
405
00:26:00,960 –> 00:26:05,920
so good, so much better.
It’s actually fig leaf syndrome,
406
00:26:06,040 –> 00:26:09,000
that’s what it is.
We’re trying to cover something.
407
00:26:10,020 –> 00:26:13,340
Based on our own strengths, it’s
all fig leaf.
408
00:26:14,500 –> 00:26:19,420
We lie, we con, we trick
ourselves into believing that we
409
00:26:19,420 –> 00:26:23,140
are in fact are OK, that things
will be just forgotten about and
410
00:26:23,140 –> 00:26:25,500
disappear overtime.
Do you know why I know that?
411
00:26:25,500 –> 00:26:27,660
Didn’t know what?
I’m saying that because when I
412
00:26:27,660 –> 00:26:30,060
sat down to write this, I
thought, this is me.
413
00:26:30,300 –> 00:26:36,780
So a lot of the thoughts you’re
getting through this weekend is
414
00:26:37,220 –> 00:26:40,220
my thoughts.
Because of my own experience
415
00:26:40,220 –> 00:26:43,740
with myself, the fact that I’ve
lied to myself, tricked myself,
416
00:26:43,980 –> 00:26:48,660
tried to trick God, lie and and
and con myself, we.
417
00:26:51,180 –> 00:26:52,860
Can’t do it.
We have to be honest.
418
00:26:53,940 –> 00:26:56,620
And the reason we do this
because we we want to settle.
419
00:26:56,620 –> 00:26:59,340
We there’s shame there.
We want to settle in our own
420
00:26:59,340 –> 00:27:02,900
minds.
That which sin produces, we want
421
00:27:02,900 –> 00:27:04,340
to feel better about.
Ourselves.
422
00:27:04,500 –> 00:27:06,420
It’s an attempt.
To deal with sin without.
423
00:27:06,420 –> 00:27:11,960
God, that’s what it is.
And we make our own covering
424
00:27:12,240 –> 00:27:17,040
effectively.
So the need to see sin as God
425
00:27:17,040 –> 00:27:22,600
does is crucial to understanding
the process of forgiveness.
426
00:27:23,280 –> 00:27:31,320
See it for what it really is.
How’s everybody going?
427
00:27:31,560 –> 00:27:33,000
Feeling Pretty flat.
Pretty low.
428
00:27:33,040 –> 00:27:35,400
Think, wow, Gee, this is not too
good.
429
00:27:37,680 –> 00:27:40,880
It’s it’s it really does flatten
you, doesn’t it, mentally.
430
00:27:40,880 –> 00:27:44,920
And you sort of think, we’re
not, we’re by nature, we’re not
431
00:27:44,920 –> 00:27:48,240
the most, not the most
attractive creatures, really.
432
00:27:48,440 –> 00:27:53,880
Human beings will do what they
can to get out of their own
433
00:27:53,880 –> 00:27:57,720
problems.
But then God says now, now that
434
00:27:57,720 –> 00:28:00,160
we’re down there, now that we’re
down in that horrible valley,
435
00:28:01,760 –> 00:28:03,120
God says I want you to do
something.
436
00:28:06,330 –> 00:28:10,290
Whoops, we’re going forward.
Yeah, here we are.
437
00:28:10,730 –> 00:28:13,730
Look at that.
This is what God wants us to do,
438
00:28:16,090 –> 00:28:20,090
he says.
It is part and parcel of us
439
00:28:20,090 –> 00:28:23,050
coming to groups and being
honest with ourselves, he says.
440
00:28:23,050 –> 00:28:29,730
Now, now that you’re there, wash
you, make you clean.
441
00:28:31,600 –> 00:28:35,040
Put away the evil of your doings
from before mine eyes.
442
00:28:36,680 –> 00:28:40,720
Stop doing the evil.
And then he says this.
443
00:28:40,720 –> 00:28:43,240
And I think these words are so,
so beautiful.
444
00:28:43,240 –> 00:28:45,680
He says.
Now, now come, now, he said.
445
00:28:45,680 –> 00:28:46,480
Let.
Let’s have a chat.
446
00:28:47,640 –> 00:28:51,200
Come on, let’s talk.
Let’s reason together.
447
00:28:52,000 –> 00:28:53,640
Say it.
The away though your sins be a
448
00:28:53,640 –> 00:28:57,960
scarlet.
They should be as white as snow.
449
00:29:00,200 –> 00:29:04,920
And though they’d be red like
Crimson, they shall be as wool.
450
00:29:06,040 –> 00:29:09,840
I want to wash you.
Can you can you give me a chance
451
00:29:10,000 –> 00:29:14,040
to wash you clean effectively?
That’s what that quote says me,
452
00:29:14,400 –> 00:29:18,040
says to me.
What is wool of all things?
453
00:29:18,720 –> 00:29:21,280
Where does wool come from?
A lamb.
454
00:29:22,800 –> 00:29:29,120
He wants to cover us with skin
of a lamb slain.
455
00:29:29,810 –> 00:29:31,090
From the foundation of the
world.
456
00:29:33,010 –> 00:29:35,850
I would like to cleanse you from
your you are actually not
457
00:29:35,850 –> 00:29:40,810
capable of self cleansing.
But I can and I want to, and I
458
00:29:40,810 –> 00:29:46,130
will if you let me.
So the need to see our sin as
459
00:29:46,130 –> 00:29:47,970
God sees them.
So this is.
460
00:29:48,010 –> 00:29:49,570
We’ve just opened a bit of a
key.
461
00:29:49,570 –> 00:29:56,090
Here then, and the key is to see
our sin from God’s perspective.
462
00:29:56,650 –> 00:29:59,950
Ah, now that’s interesting.
Not from our own perspective.
463
00:30:00,150 –> 00:30:04,830
How does God see this?
He’s given that He’s the one
464
00:30:04,830 –> 00:30:08,710
that’s doing the forgiving.
What’s he seeing with his own
465
00:30:08,710 –> 00:30:11,270
eyes?
See the sin from God’s
466
00:30:11,270 –> 00:30:14,990
perspective?
See the sin as also a part of
467
00:30:14,990 –> 00:30:20,750
this restorative process.
It’s a part of the process that
468
00:30:20,750 –> 00:30:24,510
God requires us to undergo in
order to have our sins forgiven.
469
00:30:25,170 –> 00:30:28,450
We have to go through this
horrible dark valley to get
470
00:30:28,450 –> 00:30:31,890
there.
This progression is the same
471
00:30:31,890 –> 00:30:34,690
wherever you go in the Bible.
It’s always the same.
472
00:30:35,130 –> 00:30:39,810
It’s never circumvented God’s
process to forgiveness the way
473
00:30:39,810 –> 00:30:42,610
through.
There are no shortcuts when it
474
00:30:42,610 –> 00:30:45,130
comes to God’s method of
forgiveness, the.
475
00:30:45,130 –> 00:30:51,210
Recipe is exactly the same.
It’s the recipe for forgiveness
476
00:30:51,250 –> 00:30:58,260
and this method, this process.
Is 100% free. 100% free.
477
00:30:58,620 –> 00:31:02,140
No works.
God doesn’t want anything from
478
00:31:02,140 –> 00:31:03,980
us whatsoever.
He wants you to.
479
00:31:04,220 –> 00:31:08,780
Sit down and just listen to him.
Don’t want you to do anything.
480
00:31:08,780 –> 00:31:11,540
Stay still.
Just stand still and see the
481
00:31:11,540 –> 00:31:14,300
salvation of Yahweh.
That’s what he wants.
482
00:31:16,340 –> 00:31:20,260
Know how Mary’s.
As the the the Church would have
483
00:31:20,260 –> 00:31:22,050
us believe.
No.
484
00:31:22,210 –> 00:31:26,530
No community service, no
penance, no money.
485
00:31:26,810 –> 00:31:30,490
Don’t want any of that.
It needs to be.
486
00:31:30,490 –> 00:31:38,330
You need to know, says God, that
this is free, 100% free, for
487
00:31:38,330 –> 00:31:42,530
some very, very good reasons.
The first reason is we could
488
00:31:42,530 –> 00:31:44,490
never ever buy.
Forgiveness.
489
00:31:44,690 –> 00:31:47,970
You could never afford it.
In your wildest dreams, you
490
00:31:47,970 –> 00:31:50,670
can’t do it.
Do you know if there was
491
00:31:50,670 –> 00:31:53,590
something that we could do to
earn forgiveness?
492
00:31:54,030 –> 00:31:57,990
Well, then by definition it’s
not forgiveness because you’ve
493
00:31:57,990 –> 00:32:02,670
earned it.
God wants to wipe the slate
494
00:32:02,670 –> 00:32:05,790
clean without you doing
anything.
495
00:32:05,790 –> 00:32:08,790
That’s what he’s looking for.
He wants you to understand this.
496
00:32:09,750 –> 00:32:11,710
Remember what he said to to
Abraham once.
497
00:32:12,150 –> 00:32:13,070
And this is the.
Whole.
498
00:32:13,070 –> 00:32:15,430
Point of this remember what he
said to Abraham when he was
499
00:32:15,430 –> 00:32:17,430
offering up.
Abraham was about to OfferUp
500
00:32:17,470 –> 00:32:19,030
Isaac.
He said Isaac stop.
501
00:32:19,620 –> 00:32:21,460
Sorry, he said.
Abraham, stop.
502
00:32:22,900 –> 00:32:30,740
I need you to know something.
I will provide you.
503
00:32:30,740 –> 00:32:34,260
Just watch.
I don’t want you to do anything.
504
00:32:36,820 –> 00:32:41,900
I just want you to have a
process going on in your mind
505
00:32:41,900 –> 00:32:45,020
called faith.
That’s what I need you to have.
506
00:32:45,580 –> 00:32:53,300
And let me do this for you.
And another reason it’s free is
507
00:32:53,300 –> 00:32:56,820
because God is love, brothers
and sisters.
508
00:32:57,700 –> 00:33:00,820
That’s why it’s free.
And he wants to forgive.
509
00:33:01,780 –> 00:33:07,140
He’s, if you like to use a
colloquialism, our he’s busting
510
00:33:07,140 –> 00:33:10,220
to forgive.
He used to forgive.
511
00:33:10,340 –> 00:33:14,020
That’s what he does.
We’re going to see that and
512
00:33:14,020 –> 00:33:15,580
destroy the prodigal son later
on.
513
00:33:16,530 –> 00:33:22,730
In our in our studies, he yearns
to forgive us the the love that
514
00:33:22,730 –> 00:33:29,010
God feels for us is extremely
intense, and he’s very grieved
515
00:33:29,810 –> 00:33:31,570
when we can’t bring ourselves to
that.
516
00:33:31,570 –> 00:33:35,810
Point turn with me to Isaiah 55
in verse one.
517
00:33:37,010 –> 00:33:43,370
So this is our our reading
Isaiah 55.
518
00:33:46,480 –> 00:33:49,440
First word ho.
That’s an old.
519
00:33:49,440 –> 00:33:56,640
English word for listen, he’s
basically saying oy hello.
520
00:33:57,520 –> 00:33:59,000
He’s trying to get your
attention.
521
00:33:59,440 –> 00:34:01,200
That’s what he’s doing.
That’s the idea of that word.
522
00:34:01,760 –> 00:34:03,200
Everybody.
This is a call.
523
00:34:03,200 –> 00:34:08,120
He’s calling out everyone that
thirsteth come here to the
524
00:34:08,120 –> 00:34:12,560
waters and he that hath no
money.
525
00:34:13,560 –> 00:34:18,340
Big loudspeaker happening here.
Come, ye buy, eat.
526
00:34:19,380 –> 00:34:23,020
They come and buy wine and milk
without money, without price.
527
00:34:25,380 –> 00:34:28,900
I don’t want anything from you
at this stage.
528
00:34:28,900 –> 00:34:32,620
Just come and have this.
Why do you spend money for that
529
00:34:32,620 –> 00:34:36,179
which is not bread, and good
labor for that which satisfies
530
00:34:36,179 –> 00:34:40,260
not harken diligently to me.
Listen carefully to what I’m
531
00:34:40,260 –> 00:34:43,620
saying, and eat you that which
is good.
532
00:34:44,120 –> 00:34:48,760
And let your soul delight itself
in fatness or goodness.
533
00:34:51,520 –> 00:34:55,080
Incline your ear.
Listen to me, please listen to
534
00:34:55,080 –> 00:35:03,520
me and come to me here, and your
soul shall live.
535
00:35:04,240 –> 00:35:06,400
He’s not talking about the three
school years and 10.
536
00:35:06,400 –> 00:35:09,160
Now he’s talking about
internally.
537
00:35:10,400 –> 00:35:12,640
Listen to me and I’ll give you
eternal life.
538
00:35:13,980 –> 00:35:17,620
And I will make an everlasting
covenant with you, even the sure
539
00:35:18,340 –> 00:35:21,620
mercies of David.
That’s forgiveness.
540
00:35:21,980 –> 00:35:27,500
I’ll forgive you free.
What more do you want?
541
00:35:29,020 –> 00:35:36,500
I’m not even asking a penny.
His only request is that we
542
00:35:36,500 –> 00:35:42,540
follow the process of
forgiveness and the reason he
543
00:35:42,540 –> 00:35:45,010
wants this.
Brother and sister is because he
544
00:35:45,010 –> 00:35:50,530
made us and he knows that in
that process, it’s a healing
545
00:35:50,530 –> 00:35:53,410
process.
It’s part.
546
00:35:53,410 –> 00:35:56,690
Of.
If you like a deep psychological
547
00:35:56,690 –> 00:36:03,890
process that God understands, we
need to go through this formula,
548
00:36:03,890 –> 00:36:07,010
this.
Method which God uses to show us
549
00:36:07,050 –> 00:36:10,410
is is the it’s our true standing
before Him.
550
00:36:11,360 –> 00:36:16,200
Before forgiveness and after
forgiveness so that we can see
551
00:36:16,200 –> 00:36:21,480
we can appreciate the depths of
it, how we feel before and how
552
00:36:21,480 –> 00:36:26,640
we feel after.
And the contrast is huge.
553
00:36:29,800 –> 00:36:34,040
But the tool that God uses to
get us to understand the.
554
00:36:34,040 –> 00:36:35,080
Actual.
Tool.
555
00:36:35,320 –> 00:36:40,480
In this process is the.
Suffering or the consequence of
556
00:36:40,480 –> 00:36:42,760
sin?
That’s what God uses to teach
557
00:36:42,760 –> 00:36:45,520
us.
If you like, the fruits of what
558
00:36:45,520 –> 00:36:50,800
we’ve done.
We are not exempt from the from
559
00:36:50,800 –> 00:36:57,480
the result of sin.
In the end.
560
00:36:57,480 –> 00:37:03,720
The result of sin is death, and
so the outcome of our sins are
561
00:37:03,720 –> 00:37:08,840
there to teach and remind us
that God is wanting to lead us
562
00:37:08,840 –> 00:37:13,260
from sin itself.
And through this process, God is
563
00:37:13,260 –> 00:37:19,260
looking for us to to turn away
from sin, albeit some of us turn
564
00:37:19,980 –> 00:37:23,820
like like that we might turn
quickly, some of us sort of a
565
00:37:23,820 –> 00:37:26,540
bit more of a curve.
Some of us like that.
566
00:37:27,260 –> 00:37:31,500
And finally. 80 years later.
But God will.
567
00:37:32,140 –> 00:37:34,940
God will keep working with us
for as long as there’s breath in
568
00:37:34,940 –> 00:37:40,210
our bodies.
But there’s more to this.
569
00:37:44,410 –> 00:37:46,330
There’s more to this than just
forgiveness.
570
00:37:46,330 –> 00:37:47,770
Much more.
Because, see, God wants us to
571
00:37:47,770 –> 00:37:51,930
understand in this, this, this
process at the the part of this
572
00:37:51,930 –> 00:38:00,850
process is us beginning.
To think like him in this
573
00:38:00,850 –> 00:38:04,610
process now is is this not all
about is God’s purpose with the
574
00:38:04,650 –> 00:38:07,570
earth as truly as I live, all
the earth will be filled with
575
00:38:07,570 –> 00:38:11,600
this glory.
In that purpose, brothers and
576
00:38:11,600 –> 00:38:14,440
sisters, God is trying to get us
to understand that.
577
00:38:14,440 –> 00:38:18,000
I need you to go that through
that process, because at the end
578
00:38:18,000 –> 00:38:23,200
of it, you’re going to be a part
of that glorious purpose and
579
00:38:23,200 –> 00:38:26,960
that that process within.
That process, that’s how we get
580
00:38:26,960 –> 00:38:30,760
there.
And God is not only forgiving
581
00:38:30,880 –> 00:38:34,120
because at the end of the day
that that state of forgiveness,
582
00:38:34,840 –> 00:38:38,770
it’s only temporary, is it not?
So you go to God in prayer.
583
00:38:39,010 –> 00:38:40,930
There might be something
particularly that you want to
584
00:38:40,930 –> 00:38:43,850
mention to God that you’ve been
working on for a long time,
585
00:38:43,850 –> 00:38:46,530
whatever it is or what’s been
bugging you for a long time, and
586
00:38:46,530 –> 00:38:50,250
you’d lay your heart out to God.
At the end of the day.
587
00:38:50,570 –> 00:38:53,850
That state of cleanliness before
God is only temporary.
588
00:38:59,170 –> 00:39:00,290
It’s only there for a little
while.
589
00:39:01,610 –> 00:39:05,050
Because a few days later, or a
few weeks or hours, whatever it
590
00:39:05,050 –> 00:39:06,530
is, you’ve got to go to God
again.
591
00:39:07,500 –> 00:39:11,380
I’ll ask if we give this again,
and God will forgive you again
592
00:39:12,180 –> 00:39:15,700
and again and over and over.
Because that’s what he does, he
593
00:39:15,700 –> 00:39:17,860
says.
I don’t think like you, I don’t
594
00:39:17,860 –> 00:39:19,980
think.
Like a man, I don’t have
595
00:39:19,980 –> 00:39:22,540
limitations to what I can do or
what I can’t do.
596
00:39:26,020 –> 00:39:29,580
So what God is actually doing
within this process is creating
597
00:39:29,580 –> 00:39:33,500
a new creature within you.
So you sort of think, how is God
598
00:39:33,500 –> 00:39:34,300
creating?
A new?
599
00:39:34,940 –> 00:39:36,180
Creature with it what he’s
doing.
600
00:39:37,380 –> 00:39:42,220
Is creating a new concept in
your mind and effectively what
601
00:39:42,220 –> 00:39:44,580
you said you’ve been born with
the Bias brothers and sisters, a
602
00:39:44,580 –> 00:39:46,100
sin.
But God has actually given you
603
00:39:46,100 –> 00:39:49,180
this.
And he said, now get this into
604
00:39:49,180 –> 00:39:52,740
you because that’s going to
produce a whole new way of
605
00:39:52,740 –> 00:39:55,940
thinking, which you otherwise
wouldn’t know about.
606
00:39:58,540 –> 00:40:02,700
Eat this book and understand the
process that I need you to go
607
00:40:02,700 –> 00:40:04,860
through.
It’s a healing process.
608
00:40:06,940 –> 00:40:11,740
And God is both cleansing us
from sin and creating himself
609
00:40:11,740 –> 00:40:15,100
within us.
So God is not so much interested
610
00:40:15,540 –> 00:40:18,300
in a temporary state, but a.
Permanent change.
611
00:40:21,500 –> 00:40:23,460
Is that not true?
God wants to change us
612
00:40:23,540 –> 00:40:28,500
permanently in the end.
And of course, this side of the
613
00:40:28,500 –> 00:40:31,300
judgment seat, when no one’s
ever going to get to the state
614
00:40:31,300 –> 00:40:34,140
where they can say, well, I’ve
made such huge changes, I’m
615
00:40:34,140 –> 00:40:37,010
almost immortal anyway.
Never.
616
00:40:37,010 –> 00:40:41,050
I’m going to chance.
God is looking for effort.
617
00:40:41,410 –> 00:40:44,330
That’s what he wants.
He wants a genuine effort.
618
00:40:46,450 –> 00:40:49,050
So the real reason then,
brothers and sisters, for
619
00:40:49,050 –> 00:40:53,690
confession, repentance and
conversion is that we turn from
620
00:40:53,690 –> 00:40:55,050
sin.
That’s actually the real reason
621
00:40:55,050 –> 00:40:58,170
and in that process.
God will forgive over and over
622
00:40:58,330 –> 00:41:02,570
and over and over again so that
we can start to learn.
623
00:41:03,250 –> 00:41:05,710
No, because.
If if it was just the case that
624
00:41:05,710 –> 00:41:07,990
God said, oh, that’s OK don’t
worry, I’ll forgive you.
625
00:41:08,910 –> 00:41:10,950
It’s up you’ve you’ve you’ve
asked forgiven us.
626
00:41:11,030 –> 00:41:12,030
It’s all good.
Forgiven.
627
00:41:13,670 –> 00:41:15,310
Well then we’re not going to
turn from sin.
628
00:41:15,710 –> 00:41:17,870
We might be forgiven, but we
won’t turn from it.
629
00:41:18,150 –> 00:41:21,710
But what the process does, it
turns us away from it.
630
00:41:23,150 –> 00:41:27,430
God is very, very ingenious, if
you like, in his method of.
631
00:41:28,030 –> 00:41:31,630
What he’s done with us, he wants
us at some point to learn the
632
00:41:31,630 –> 00:41:34,640
folly.
Of giving in to our weaknesses,
633
00:41:37,240 –> 00:41:40,840
the foolishness of it, and how
we feel every time when we come
634
00:41:40,840 –> 00:41:45,720
to him and in tears.
And here I am again, God will
635
00:41:45,720 –> 00:41:48,200
say to us, well, we’ve been here
before.
636
00:41:48,920 –> 00:41:54,640
How do you feel this time?
And He will forgive again, you
637
00:41:54,640 –> 00:41:57,840
know, whether it’s a one year
process or an 80 year process.
638
00:41:59,920 –> 00:42:02,560
Meanwhile, he’ll continue to
forgive the repentant heart.
639
00:42:03,260 –> 00:42:06,780
That is genuinely trying to work
with God and you may never ever
640
00:42:07,260 –> 00:42:10,380
be truly successful.
As I said before, God is looking
641
00:42:10,700 –> 00:42:13,540
for an effort.
So we’ve got this three-part
642
00:42:13,540 –> 00:42:16,860
process then that we must all
undergo before forgiveness can
643
00:42:17,260 –> 00:42:19,340
take place.
So the first step is confession.
644
00:42:19,580 –> 00:42:21,660
So here’s a couple of Here’s a
couple of quotes.
645
00:42:23,340 –> 00:42:27,140
Here we are, Couple of quotes.
Confession.
646
00:42:27,980 –> 00:42:30,020
See the horror of sin for what
it what it is.
647
00:42:30,410 –> 00:42:31,530
It’s a funny word to use, isn’t
it?
648
00:42:32,170 –> 00:42:37,370
Do I see sin as horrible?
Am I horrified with my sin?
649
00:42:39,130 –> 00:42:44,330
The honest answer, it’s because
we’re so the honest answer is
650
00:42:44,330 –> 00:42:49,010
probably not because we’re so
accustomed to doing, I guess, to
651
00:42:49,010 –> 00:42:50,690
either doing or not doing what
we should.
652
00:42:53,690 –> 00:42:55,930
So John says if we confess our
sins.
653
00:42:55,970 –> 00:42:58,170
Is that up there?
Yes, if we confess our sins.
654
00:42:58,880 –> 00:43:01,120
He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins.
655
00:43:01,120 –> 00:43:03,640
Remember one of the questions,
how do I know God is forgiven?
656
00:43:04,120 –> 00:43:08,840
John says what can if you
confess he is faithful and he is
657
00:43:08,840 –> 00:43:12,480
just to forgive our sins and to
cleanse us from all
658
00:43:12,480 –> 00:43:18,840
unrighteousness.
Proverbs 28 and verse 13 He that
659
00:43:18,840 –> 00:43:23,720
covereth his sin shall not
prosper, but whoso confesseth
660
00:43:23,720 –> 00:43:26,360
and forsaketh them shall have
mercy.
661
00:43:29,560 –> 00:43:33,440
And Psalm 32 verse five says, I
acknowledge my sin unto thee and
662
00:43:33,440 –> 00:43:37,520
my iniquity, have I not hid?
I said, I will confess my
663
00:43:37,520 –> 00:43:41,000
transgression unto Yahweh.
And they forgave us the iniquity
664
00:43:41,000 –> 00:43:44,760
of my sin.
So confession.
665
00:43:44,760 –> 00:43:49,000
Is stage 1 the second step
repentance you?
666
00:43:49,360 –> 00:43:53,080
Might remember that Paul the
Apostle when speaking to king of
667
00:43:53,080 –> 00:43:57,500
gripper he said this but.
And he’s explaining to King
668
00:43:57,500 –> 00:44:00,380
Gribba what Paul had gone
through, And he said, but but
669
00:44:00,380 –> 00:44:02,100
showed first unto them of
Damascus.
670
00:44:02,100 –> 00:44:05,500
This is when Paul was first
converted at Jerusalem and
671
00:44:05,500 –> 00:44:08,380
throughout all the coast of GD,
and then to the Gentiles, that
672
00:44:08,380 –> 00:44:10,580
they should repent and turn to
God.
673
00:44:10,620 –> 00:44:15,780
And do works meet for
repentance, The ESV says,
674
00:44:16,380 –> 00:44:20,420
performing deeds in keeping with
their repentance.
675
00:44:23,550 –> 00:44:25,790
So repentance is really a change
of heart.
676
00:44:25,790 –> 00:44:29,190
That’s what it is.
It’s a a, a new it’s a new
677
00:44:29,190 –> 00:44:32,550
viewpoint, a new perspective.
God’s perspective.
678
00:44:33,750 –> 00:44:35,550
Not just a temporary feel.
Bad moment.
679
00:44:35,630 –> 00:44:38,550
We’re all familiar with that,
that, that bad moment.
680
00:44:38,550 –> 00:44:39,910
That says what?
A.
681
00:44:40,110 –> 00:44:41,350
What an idiot.
What have I done that for?
682
00:44:41,630 –> 00:44:43,390
And you forget about it and do
it again next day?
683
00:44:43,390 –> 00:44:47,670
Whatever it’s.
This is a complete change and
684
00:44:47,670 –> 00:44:51,590
the result is the third step,
which is.
685
00:44:55,050 –> 00:44:58,530
Conversion of course to to, to,
to turn and walk away in the
686
00:44:58,530 –> 00:45:02,170
opposite direction.
See, this is really has the has
687
00:45:02,170 –> 00:45:05,250
the idea of replacement.
We’ve got to replace our
688
00:45:05,290 –> 00:45:07,850
behaviour, our thoughts with
something else.
689
00:45:08,210 –> 00:45:12,090
So if the if, if it’s, if it’s a
behavioral thing, we replace it.
690
00:45:14,250 –> 00:45:18,010
We’re recently at a school of
prophets in in in Brisbane.
691
00:45:18,740 –> 00:45:21,580
And the young men, as the young
men do, they open up to each
692
00:45:21,580 –> 00:45:24,220
other and they really talk about
some pretty heavy duty subjects.
693
00:45:24,220 –> 00:45:28,220
And one of them was pornography.
And they had, they had a great
694
00:45:28,220 –> 00:45:31,540
discussion on that in that they
said that the the way forward,
695
00:45:32,060 –> 00:45:34,300
some of them felt that the way
forward for them, for their
696
00:45:34,300 –> 00:45:39,860
success with that problem, they
said was to replace that
697
00:45:39,860 –> 00:45:41,940
behavior with something else.
They didn’t just say, well, I’m
698
00:45:41,940 –> 00:45:43,990
not going to look at that.
Website anymore?
699
00:45:43,990 –> 00:45:46,430
I’m not going to do that anymore
and just sit there twiddling
700
00:45:46,430 –> 00:45:47,790
their thumbs.
Then I’m just not going to do
701
00:45:47,790 –> 00:45:50,350
that anymore.
They replaced the behavior with
702
00:45:50,350 –> 00:45:56,310
something else so that therefore
their mind was occupied and they
703
00:45:56,310 –> 00:45:59,710
were able to turn to turn away.
That doesn’t mean that the
704
00:45:59,710 –> 00:46:02,270
weakness wasn’t there anymore.
Of course it was, but they had
705
00:46:02,270 –> 00:46:06,830
to replace the behavior with
something else, a bit like a or
706
00:46:06,830 –> 00:46:10,400
that the idea of displacement.
So when you when you put a boat
707
00:46:10,400 –> 00:46:14,000
in the water, what happens?
There’s a a a measure of it
708
00:46:14,000 –> 00:46:16,760
displaces the water.
That’s the that’s the the
709
00:46:16,760 –> 00:46:20,080
concept here to.
Push away and to put.
710
00:46:20,080 –> 00:46:25,640
Something else in its place or
it has the idea of a a whole 180
711
00:46:25,640 –> 00:46:28,360
degree turn.
So you were walking that way
712
00:46:28,600 –> 00:46:29,880
you’ve decided to.
Walk this way.
713
00:46:29,880 –> 00:46:35,320
Instead, it’s a completely
different set of behaviours
714
00:46:35,720 –> 00:46:37,880
which which we were engaged in
before.
715
00:46:41,100 –> 00:46:45,220
So the idea of God’s process
then is to forgive sins.
716
00:46:49,860 –> 00:46:53,420
But that’s not the whole story.
More importantly, brothers and
717
00:46:53,420 –> 00:46:56,700
sisters, is to get us to change
our direction.
718
00:46:56,700 –> 00:46:59,380
Now what was the next?
What was that there?
719
00:46:59,620 –> 00:47:00,700
No, that’s it.
There you go.
720
00:47:01,140 –> 00:47:03,940
So actually that can stay there.
Let’s go.
721
00:47:03,940 –> 00:47:05,700
I don’t know how to turn that
off.
722
00:47:05,700 –> 00:47:07,380
So.
That’s all right.
723
00:47:08,070 –> 00:47:10,230
We’re actually not too far from
the end.
724
00:47:11,430 –> 00:47:15,470
So did you see Axe there, by the
way?
725
00:47:15,470 –> 00:47:19,190
Let me just read it for you,
this, this in relation to being
726
00:47:19,190 –> 00:47:22,790
converted, Axe says unto you.
First, God having raised up his
727
00:47:22,790 –> 00:47:26,590
son Jesus.
Sent him to bless you in turning
728
00:47:26,590 –> 00:47:30,710
away everyone of you from his
iniquities.
729
00:47:30,710 –> 00:47:33,870
That was the idea of conversion,
this turning idea.
730
00:47:34,340 –> 00:47:35,740
And see.
And so can you see in the
731
00:47:35,740 –> 00:47:38,220
process, it’s not just a a thing
that God has set up.
732
00:47:38,660 –> 00:47:42,660
He actually is trying to get us
to cease in for what it is and
733
00:47:42,660 –> 00:47:46,780
not to repeat that have this
repetitious way in which we sin.
734
00:47:47,300 –> 00:47:51,820
So God’s mercy and forgiveness
cannot flow then until we see
735
00:47:52,020 –> 00:47:53,900
that exact process is acted
upon.
736
00:47:55,260 –> 00:47:56,940
Now here’s a couple.
Here’s an example of how the
737
00:47:56,940 –> 00:47:59,500
process works.
Isaiah 55 again.
738
00:47:59,780 –> 00:48:02,420
So have a look at verse 6.
So here’s, here’s the process.
739
00:48:03,020 –> 00:48:08,260
In in verse six and seven zai.
55 Seek ye Yahweh while he may
740
00:48:08,260 –> 00:48:10,860
be found, call ye upon him while
he is near.
741
00:48:11,940 –> 00:48:16,540
So seek God’s attention, confess
to God, call to him, and make
742
00:48:16,540 –> 00:48:18,220
that confession.
That’s step one.
743
00:48:19,580 –> 00:48:22,620
Then Step 2.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
744
00:48:23,020 –> 00:48:27,380
and the unrighteous man his
thoughts right.
745
00:48:27,460 –> 00:48:31,140
So forsake that previous way of
life.
746
00:48:32,490 –> 00:48:37,250
Or that previous activity, or
the previous behavior, and let
747
00:48:37,250 –> 00:48:41,930
him return unto Yahweh.
Return to Yahweh and there’s
748
00:48:41,930 –> 00:48:43,930
conversion, and look at the
result.
749
00:48:44,810 –> 00:48:47,930
He will have mercy upon him and
to our God.
750
00:48:48,090 –> 00:48:50,890
For he will.
Abundantly pardon.
751
00:48:52,610 –> 00:48:56,050
Abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your
752
00:48:56,050 –> 00:48:58,490
thoughts, neither are your ways.
My ways.
753
00:48:58,490 –> 00:49:01,410
S Yahweh, For as the heaven is
higher than the earth.
754
00:49:01,820 –> 00:49:04,060
So are my ways higher than your
ways?
755
00:49:04,260 –> 00:49:05,940
And my thoughts than your
thoughts?
756
00:49:06,340 –> 00:49:11,380
I don’t think like you so so
don’t limit God.
757
00:49:12,260 –> 00:49:15,660
Don’t ask questions like.
Surely God can’t be forgiven me
758
00:49:15,660 –> 00:49:19,340
after all these years.
Yes, I am working on it with
759
00:49:19,340 –> 00:49:21,140
him, but is he still willing?
Yes, he is.
760
00:49:21,940 –> 00:49:26,860
He’s still willing to forgive as
long as you are willing to keep
761
00:49:26,860 –> 00:49:30,860
working with him through that
process, if we are honest with
762
00:49:30,860 –> 00:49:33,860
God.
And ourselves and we undertake
763
00:49:33,860 –> 00:49:36,940
the righteous process that God
requires.
764
00:49:37,540 –> 00:49:40,420
I would like to show you now the
state in which we are in from
765
00:49:40,420 –> 00:49:44,380
God’s point of view.
And this is remarkable and it’s
766
00:49:44,380 –> 00:49:48,380
lovely the way John writes this.
Now you come to John first,
767
00:49:48,380 –> 00:49:49,540
John.
Three actually.
768
00:49:52,900 –> 00:49:54,500
This is where God is actually
going.
769
00:49:54,500 –> 00:49:57,100
We’re going to spend a bit of
time in John this weekend.
770
00:49:57,620 –> 00:50:01,020
John is just so remarkable the
way he.
771
00:50:01,470 –> 00:50:04,870
He writes, So this is first John
three and verse 4.
772
00:50:04,870 –> 00:50:06,910
Where does God?
Where does God?
773
00:50:06,910 –> 00:50:09,310
Sort of.
Where’s the end game if you like
774
00:50:09,710 –> 00:50:11,550
here?
Because it’s not just
775
00:50:11,550 –> 00:50:15,750
forgiveness.
So first John three and verse
776
00:50:15,750 –> 00:50:19,430
four says whoever commits sin
transgresses also the law, for
777
00:50:19,430 –> 00:50:21,350
sin is the transgression of the
law.
778
00:50:22,870 –> 00:50:27,630
So John states clearly that that
all have sinned, we all have
779
00:50:27,630 –> 00:50:30,670
laws, God’s law, and we’ve all
sinned against that law.
780
00:50:31,170 –> 00:50:35,650
Verse 5 And you know that he
Jesus Christ was manifest to
781
00:50:35,650 –> 00:50:41,930
take away our sins, and in him
is no sin.
782
00:50:42,530 –> 00:50:46,130
And we all agree that in Jesus
Christ there was number sin, He
783
00:50:46,130 –> 00:50:50,930
was an innocent man.
Who will say yes, we all agree
784
00:50:50,930 –> 00:50:54,890
with that.
So now what John does, he paints
785
00:50:54,890 –> 00:50:59,930
this metaphorical picture, this
symbolic picture, and he says.
786
00:51:00,320 –> 00:51:04,280
Whoever abides now, we’ve just
agreed that there’s no sin in
787
00:51:04,280 –> 00:51:08,880
Christ.
Imagine Christ here and John
788
00:51:08,880 –> 00:51:14,000
says now whoever abides.
In him sin.
789
00:51:14,000 –> 00:51:24,960
Not what?
Whoever abides in Christ has no
790
00:51:25,520 –> 00:51:29,390
sin.
Remember the key.
791
00:51:29,390 –> 00:51:32,430
The key to this is look at it
from God’s perspective.
792
00:51:35,350 –> 00:51:40,230
Whoever sins has not seen him
nor than known him.
793
00:51:41,230 –> 00:51:45,190
Remember what John said in his
in his gospel he said this is
794
00:51:45,190 –> 00:51:48,390
life eternal.
What is that?
795
00:51:48,390 –> 00:51:54,230
They might know thee, the only
true God and Jesus Christ whom
796
00:51:54,230 –> 00:51:57,150
there has sin.
Life eternal is based on a
797
00:51:57,150 –> 00:52:00,040
knowledge.
Of God and his Son, Jesus
798
00:52:00,040 –> 00:52:04,040
Christ.
And that that means basically
799
00:52:04,040 –> 00:52:06,560
what he’s saying.
If if we don’t know Christ, we
800
00:52:06,560 –> 00:52:11,760
are not in him.
Little children, let no man
801
00:52:11,760 –> 00:52:17,240
deceive you.
He that doeth righteousness is
802
00:52:17,240 –> 00:52:20,320
righteous in front of God in
terms of what what God sees,
803
00:52:21,160 –> 00:52:25,400
even as he, Jesus Christ, is
righteous.
804
00:52:27,970 –> 00:52:31,970
You, brothers and sisters, are
basking in someone else’s
805
00:52:31,970 –> 00:52:36,130
victory, and that is part of
God’s plan.
806
00:52:36,490 –> 00:52:39,210
He wants you.
Jesus Christ wants you to be a
807
00:52:39,210 –> 00:52:42,610
part of his victory.
That is remarkable.
808
00:52:44,050 –> 00:52:50,610
Whoever abides in him sins not
what a state to be in.
809
00:52:53,050 –> 00:52:55,210
So we have here the third
condition.
810
00:52:56,060 –> 00:52:58,140
John just simply calls it
abiding in him.
811
00:52:59,820 –> 00:53:04,260
Remember when the political son
came home he abide he was stayed
812
00:53:04,500 –> 00:53:08,340
in the house with his father.
That’s abiding in Christ.
813
00:53:08,740 –> 00:53:11,980
What a wonderful thing that is.
You see what God say.
814
00:53:12,180 –> 00:53:17,540
Just follow this progression if
we are in Him and we have no sin
815
00:53:17,580 –> 00:53:21,220
from God’s perspective because
we are baptized.
816
00:53:21,740 –> 00:53:23,940
We are now.
In Jesus Christ.
817
00:53:26,170 –> 00:53:28,410
He’s not looking at you or me
anymore.
818
00:53:28,810 –> 00:53:32,010
See the point?
He’s looking at his son.
819
00:53:33,290 –> 00:53:39,530
We are covered by Christ,
because inside him, if you like.
820
00:53:39,930 –> 00:53:44,210
The progression is at work.
It’s happening.
821
00:53:46,210 –> 00:53:48,250
He’s looking at his son, Jesus
Christ.
822
00:53:49,650 –> 00:53:51,170
I don’t think we think about
that enough.
823
00:53:52,170 –> 00:53:55,210
I think sometimes we get so full
of despair and disappointment
824
00:53:55,210 –> 00:53:58,570
and sadness of our own selves
that we forget that we’re
825
00:53:58,570 –> 00:54:01,170
actually in Christ and we have a
covering.
826
00:54:02,730 –> 00:54:06,210
I need to believe that.
I need to believe in my life,
827
00:54:06,210 –> 00:54:08,010
that God is covering me and I’m
going to do something.
828
00:54:08,010 –> 00:54:12,210
About that, I’m going to show my
appreciation by the way I, I I
829
00:54:12,210 –> 00:54:16,090
act and what I do and what I
look at and what I see and how I
830
00:54:16,090 –> 00:54:18,370
treat others.
That’s the least I can do, is
831
00:54:18,370 –> 00:54:22,120
show my appreciation.
John is not saying that once
832
00:54:22,120 –> 00:54:23,920
we’re baptized we don’t actually
sin.
833
00:54:24,080 –> 00:54:27,280
Not saying that at all, because
in verse verse 10 of chapter one
834
00:54:27,280 –> 00:54:29,080
he says.
If we say.
835
00:54:29,080 –> 00:54:33,840
That we have not sinned, we make
him a liar, and his word is not
836
00:54:33,840 –> 00:54:37,040
in us.
John’s saying of course we sin.
837
00:54:37,920 –> 00:54:39,920
Not saying that you don’t, that
you don’t sin.
838
00:54:39,920 –> 00:54:41,320
Me.
I’m saying that you are in
839
00:54:41,560 –> 00:54:46,840
Christ, and as far as God is
concerned, you are sinless.
840
00:54:47,320 –> 00:54:52,950
That is just astonishing.
That is an astonishing state to
841
00:54:52,950 –> 00:54:55,910
be in.
Yet that is the God we serve.
842
00:54:55,910 –> 00:55:06,470
Did you find that incredible?
He’s talking about a way of
843
00:55:06,470 –> 00:55:10,350
life.
He’s talking about it holy.
844
00:55:10,350 –> 00:55:12,430
Our Bible talks about a.
Holy conversation.
845
00:55:12,630 –> 00:55:18,830
A holy way of life.
Our way of life, with God at the
846
00:55:18,830 –> 00:55:22,510
center.
And all that that entails.
847
00:55:23,230 –> 00:55:27,710
John says that God in his love
considers us sinless.
848
00:55:29,190 –> 00:55:32,750
Paul says Paul puts it another
way he he merely says justified
849
00:55:33,270 –> 00:55:36,950
by faith.
That’s the way Paul puts it,
850
00:55:37,310 –> 00:55:40,350
exactly the same thing.
We are justified by faith.
851
00:55:40,550 –> 00:55:44,270
The faith part is because I
believe that God is faithful and
852
00:55:44,270 –> 00:55:50,050
just to his word.
So his point is, and you’ve got
853
00:55:50,050 –> 00:55:53,210
these these stories and
metaphors right through the
854
00:55:53,210 –> 00:55:55,850
Bible.
You know if we abide in Christ,
855
00:55:56,090 –> 00:55:59,970
if we are in the Ark, or if we
are in Rahab’s.
856
00:55:59,970 –> 00:56:03,130
House on top of the wall.
Or in the house while the Angel
857
00:56:03,130 –> 00:56:08,090
of death passed over all these
things, God is saying your
858
00:56:08,090 –> 00:56:13,010
salvation is assured.
Yes, we are rightly related to
859
00:56:13,010 –> 00:56:16,650
death, but God is saying your
eternal salvation is assured,
860
00:56:16,810 –> 00:56:17,970
not presumed.
Upon.
861
00:56:20,410 –> 00:56:24,370
But in John’s language, we can
have confidence in the Day of
862
00:56:24,370 –> 00:56:29,450
Judgment as a result of this
process, Confidence in the Day
863
00:56:29,450 –> 00:56:33,490
of Judgment an incredible.
Word to use and what that
864
00:56:33,490 –> 00:56:37,090
confidence produces.
All that boldness in Christ
865
00:56:37,410 –> 00:56:41,050
produces the peace that passes
all understanding.
866
00:56:43,810 –> 00:56:46,450
Remember when Christ said my
piece I give to you.
867
00:56:47,920 –> 00:56:51,040
Not as the world giveth.
This is what he’s talking about,
868
00:56:51,400 –> 00:56:57,680
this deep sense of peace,
knowing that we are actually at
869
00:56:57,680 –> 00:57:01,480
work with God and he’s producing
within us a good, a good work.
870
00:57:02,560 –> 00:57:03,880
And isn’t this where God wants
us?
871
00:57:04,120 –> 00:57:07,160
God just doesn’t want us to, to
keep God that doesn’t want to
872
00:57:07,160 –> 00:57:11,400
keep for giving us this in this
sort of mindless, cyclic way.
873
00:57:11,400 –> 00:57:15,000
It’s not what God is about.
Yes, he will keep forgiving.
874
00:57:15,000 –> 00:57:18,270
Us.
But he wants us to eventually
875
00:57:18,510 –> 00:57:21,790
turn from sin and abide in
Christ.
876
00:57:21,790 –> 00:57:24,510
That’s what he wants.
It’s an incredible state to be
877
00:57:24,510 –> 00:57:28,070
in.
Well brothers and sisters our
878
00:57:28,110 –> 00:57:33,710
time where I think we we’ve been
of a late start than we one give
879
00:57:33,710 –> 00:57:36,550
me one more minute I just want
to I just want to quickly just
880
00:57:36,550 –> 00:57:43,030
give you the final condition and
the final condition is this.
881
00:57:43,630 –> 00:57:46,070
It seemed we were in first John
foreign verse.
882
00:57:46,420 –> 00:57:49,780
Have a look at verse 7.
There’s one more condition.
883
00:57:50,060 –> 00:57:52,580
Which we’re going to take a
whole study to look at, but here
884
00:57:52,580 –> 00:57:55,980
it is here very, very quickly
verse seven and first John 4.
885
00:57:57,140 –> 00:58:03,140
It’s it’s the the condition of
mutual forgiveness, forgiveness
886
00:58:03,140 –> 00:58:06,820
between ourselves, beloved.
Now I’m going to change the word
887
00:58:06,820 –> 00:58:09,580
love here to forgiveness so that
we get the the sense of it.
888
00:58:10,900 –> 00:58:14,780
Because forgiveness at the end
of the day springs out of love.
889
00:58:15,280 –> 00:58:21,880
Beloved, let us forgive one
another for forgiveness is from
890
00:58:21,880 –> 00:58:26,280
God and everyone that.
Forgives is born.
891
00:58:26,280 –> 00:58:31,280
Of God and knows God.
He that forgives not knoweth not
892
00:58:31,280 –> 00:58:37,720
God, because God is love.
In this was manifested the love
893
00:58:37,720 –> 00:58:42,200
of God toward us, because that
God sent his only begotten Son
894
00:58:42,200 –> 00:58:44,600
into the world that we.
Might live.
895
00:58:45,150 –> 00:58:49,470
That is, have forgiveness
through him here in his love.
896
00:58:50,470 –> 00:58:56,790
Not that we love God first, but
that he loved us first before we
897
00:58:56,790 –> 00:59:02,390
come to Him and sent his Son to
be the mercy seat for our sins.
898
00:59:03,190 –> 00:59:04,910
Yes, this is all about
forgiveness.
899
00:59:04,910 –> 00:59:09,950
No doubt, beloved, if God so has
forgiven us, we ought also to
900
00:59:09,950 –> 00:59:13,900
forgive one another.
And then John says no man has
901
00:59:13,900 –> 00:59:15,740
seen God at anytime.
Do we all agree with that?
902
00:59:15,780 –> 00:59:19,780
John says you all agree that
nobody’s seen God at anytime.
903
00:59:19,780 –> 00:59:23,940
He said yes, all agree.
But then he says now if you
904
00:59:23,940 –> 00:59:28,900
forgive each other, God dwells
in him.
905
00:59:29,500 –> 00:59:33,060
In us.
Ah, and we can.
906
00:59:33,060 –> 00:59:38,660
See God in each other.
So yes, you won’t see we haven’t
907
00:59:38,660 –> 00:59:41,540
seen the God at anytime, but
we’ve.
908
00:59:42,130 –> 00:59:46,370
Can see God in each other and
his love, His forgiveness is
909
00:59:46,370 –> 00:59:49,290
perfected within us.
His forgiveness bears fruit.
910
00:59:51,050 –> 00:59:53,050
So what’s God’s aim in all this,
brothers and sisters?
911
00:59:53,090 –> 00:59:58,610
Again, without a doubt, to see
himself in all of us.
912
00:59:58,610 –> 01:00:02,690
So your brothers and sisters, if
you can’t see God in your
913
01:00:02,690 –> 01:00:06,450
brother or your sister, there’s
only one thing to do.
914
01:00:07,570 –> 01:00:10,810
Show God to your brother and and
sister.
915
01:00:12,100 –> 01:00:14,900
And forgive them.
That’s all there’s left to do.
916
01:00:14,900 –> 01:00:19,060
And.
Because you see verse eighteen
917
01:00:19,060 –> 01:00:23,220
of first, first John four and
verse 18 there is No Fear in
918
01:00:23,220 –> 01:00:28,180
love.
But perfect love casts out fear.
919
01:00:28,820 –> 01:00:34,420
Herein is our love made perfect.
That we might have boldness in
920
01:00:34,420 –> 01:00:36,100
the Day of Judgment.
How?
921
01:00:36,260 –> 01:00:40,220
How do we have boldness?
Because as he is.
922
01:00:41,980 –> 01:00:49,820
So are we in this world.
We are Christ to our brother.
923
01:00:51,100 –> 01:00:51,540
Thank you.
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