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The Cross of Christ and the Message of Redemption · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Let's turn together to Paul's letter to Galatians and chapter 3 and we can read verses 13 and 14.
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!
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That we might receive the promised spirit through faith.
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I want us together this evening to pick up on what we have been studying in the past months and the times that I've been with you.
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And that is to look at the benefits of the cross of Jesus Christ.
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If it is true and it is that Jesus himself is the gospel, then Jesus is the most important person that we can think about.
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And Jesus becomes the most important person we can think about when we realize who we are.
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And right through the pages of the gospels and of these letters, the word of God engages with us,
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seeking to raise in our minds the sense of our need of God's salvation and the preciousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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We saw in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 the cross of Christ and the message of reconciliation.
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How God takes the initiative and he brings us to himself and he makes peace with us through the Lord Jesus.
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We saw in 1 John chapter 4 the message of the cross and the message of propitiation,
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where the anger of God is turned away in the cross work of the Lord Jesus.
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When we look at the letter to this church, there are so many interesting things that connect us with what Paul is saying and who he is writing to.
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And he is writing this letter, first of all, because he is defending the gospel that has been given to him.
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And we read at the beginning of the chapter the way in which he is referring to those who are preaching a gospel that's different to the gospel that he gave to them.
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And that's a major problem.
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That there is a message which is there to counteract and to go against the message of the gospel itself.
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Not that it is entirely or 100% against the gospel.
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And the issue is that it's close to the gospel, but it is a departure from the gospel that Paul is preaching.
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And that, of course, creates confusion.
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And wherever there are two messages, we get confused.
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And where there are mixed messages taken from the Bible, then we get confused.
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And we get confused to our harem.
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And we can perhaps highlight three things that show us the confusion that the people in Galatia suffered from because of the wrong teaching.
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There is, first of all, there is a faith problem.
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There are those who are departing from the faith because of the confusion.
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There is also a fullness problem in the sense that they are beginning to think that Jesus is not enough.
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And that's a major problem.
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And they are also having problems with how they relate to each other.
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So the confused message of the gospel that is given to them to contradict Paul's message creates all of that confusion.
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And bearing that in mind, I want us to look at these verses this evening.
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I've done a gospel coaching course.
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And there are different matrices used to help people at different stages of their ministry.
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And one of these matrices seeks to highlight particular gaps that may interfere with a person being able to carry out their ministry effectively.
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And there are three gaps.
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The first of these is a knowledge gap.
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People don't have the knowledge to fulfill their ministry effectively.
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The second gap is a skills gap.
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People don't have the skills to go with their knowledge to enable them to fulfill their ministry.
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There is then the motivation gap.
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That unless people are motivated by the love of God and the love of Christ, then they won't be able to fulfill ministry.
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Three gaps that are ideas that we can borrow and bring into the very way in which we are called among to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And if there is a gap in our knowledge, then everything else is going to suffer.
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And we want to carry that idea with us as we look at these verses.
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The fact that there is a knowledge gap.
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That knowledge gap is creating confusion.
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And the confusion is with regard to their appreciation of Jesus Christ in the gospel.
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And so against that background, I want to think of the cross of Jesus and the message of redemption.
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Confusion.
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I want to think first of all of the problem.
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And I mentioned confusion and the problem is that same confusion.
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And in the confusion, there are two aspects to it.
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And the first part of the confusion is that there are those who don't need the Lord Jesus Christ.
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That's who verse 10 begins.
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For all who rely on the works of the law.
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Their lives are given over, lived out of the law.
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And reckoning that through their observance of God's law, that they are the children of God and that they belong to the kingdom of God.
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Everything that they do is motivated by their understanding of what the law of God means.
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And based on that, they are confident that they can live their lives in such a way that will please God.
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And that will bring them into the very kingdom of God and be the children of God.
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And we read what Paul is saying here and it's clearly referring to the law that was given to Moses.
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So they're looking back to the words that God spoke to Moses to give to the people as his covenant people.
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And that law is the law that they are relying upon.
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So there is that confusion in that category of people who don't see their need for the Lord Jesus.
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And the second group that are confused is those who are already Christians.
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And we see at the beginning of this chapter that they are those who are already Christians.
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And they are convinced that they need more than Christ for salvation.
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And those who are speaking about the law and enforcing the law upon this people,
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they have persuaded them that as well as having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
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that they need to have their salvation brought to its perfection and completion by relying on the works of the law.
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And so there is the first category, they are Christless because they don't see the need for Christ.
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There is the second category, they have the Christ plus problem.
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They are looking for more than the Lord Jesus.
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And I want to suggest to you tonight that as surely as this was true in Galatia,
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it can be true in Stornoway, it can be true in the Church of Christ in every generation,
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that there are these two categories of people as well as other categories.
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And tonight I am sure there are those here who rely upon what they do themselves
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and your attendance in church and your attention to the things of God,
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rely upon these things for your salvation.
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And sadly too, there may be people who are the children of God
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and who don't see that their salvation in Christ is complete without doing things themselves
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and recognizing that we are called to serve the Lord Jesus,
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to be doers of the Word,
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but not doers in a sense to complete our salvation and our acceptance with God.
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And we need to ask ourselves as we journey on through these verses tonight,
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do we find ourselves in any one of these categories?
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Because if we do, we haven't understood and appreciated the value of the passion and work of the Lord Jesus.
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We are looking to what we can do,
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and you are looking to what you can do in order to have the complete salvation.
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That is the confusion.
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And the problem with the confusion is that it does not align with the teaching of the Word of God.
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And the stark truth that Paul brings before the church in Galatia
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is the truth that God wants us to contend with this evening
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as those who are in the same categories as the people in the church of Galatia,
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to contend with the truth about the works of the law
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and about those who trust in them.
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And that's where Paul continues in verse number 10.
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For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,
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for it is written,
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Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law
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and to do them under a curse.
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And what does that mean?
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To be under a curse.
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The curse in the Bible is to do with relationships.
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A relationship with God.
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Curse in the Bible has to do with a covenant relationship with God.
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It has to do with the fact that God has given to us boundaries for a relationship with Him.
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And if we live our lives within these boundaries,
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then we have the blessing of God,
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which is the opposite of the curse of God.
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But as soon as we cross the boundary and break the law of God,
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then the Bible tells us that we are under God's curse.
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How serious a matter is that?
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When we refer to the backdrop to these words,
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in Deuteronomy 27 and 28,
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it's alarming what that curse means.
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And it basically means that the God who delighted over His people to do them good
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now takes delight in their ruin.
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And the God who was their friend turns to be their enemy.
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And the God who protected them from their enemies
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gives them over to destruction at the hands of their enemies.
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It's the complete reversal of what was promised if they obeyed the law and the covenant of God.
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And God wants us to reckon with that this evening.
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To reckon with the seriousness of where we are
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as those who trust in the holy law of God
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and who think that's what our salvation is.
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To think about what we're doing if we're saying that
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that Jesus is not enough,
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that I need to do more work myself
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in order to complete my salvation.
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Whatever we're relying on works,
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God is telling us that is not the place for blessing.
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That is the place where my curse rests.
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And it rests upon all those who are covenant breakers.
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And that's where the greatest knowledge gap exists.
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And it exists,
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and such is the nature of its influence in our lives
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that we don't realize it exists.
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And Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 4 about
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the God of this world
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blinding our minds,
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or the minds of unbelievers,
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so that they don't see the light
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of the knowledge of God's glory
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in the face of Jesus Christ.
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That means that
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you can be here this evening
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and under the gospel of Jesus Christ,
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relying upon your own works,
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the works of the law,
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for your salvation.
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And so blinded you are to your need
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that you are comfortable with that.
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And that your unbelief is a shield
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that protects you against the darts
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that come from the Word of God
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that wants to penetrate that darkness,
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that wants to penetrate that contentedness
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in the things that you do yourself.
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And such is the delusion
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that the devil brings upon us
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that he will leave you comfortable
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in that sense of the assurance that you have
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that you will be okay
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because you do X, Y, and Z.
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And do you know that
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Satan, the enemy of our soul,
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the enemy that wants us
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in our lost eternity,
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that wants us not to have God's salvation,
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he will never trouble you
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if you think you're okay
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on what you do yourself.
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Because the person who is religious
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and who has no faith in Christ
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is in their own comfort zone
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and they're content with their own delusion
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and the devil is not going to trouble such.
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As soon as you show an interest
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in the Lord Jesus,
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then you will sense
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that the devil is active,
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seeking to turn you away from that
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and take you to get your back
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to the kind of pillow
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of resting upon
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the things that you do yourself.
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And what about the person
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who is saying that
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they need more than the Lord Jesus
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to be saved?
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What about that person?
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If you're here tonight
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and you have fallen back into
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resting in the things
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that you do yourself,
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it does mean
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and it will result in
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not only the loss
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of your appreciation
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in the Lord Jesus,
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but the loss of a sense
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of his power in your life.
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And you will go through life
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and you will get to the stage
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where you're convinced
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that it's all about
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what you can do.
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And because you can't do,
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then you think you have failed
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and you will think
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you have lost your salvation.
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The problems are huge.
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And the problems are huge
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because there is no alignment
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with what the Word of God
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is saying.
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And God wants us this evening
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to take where we are
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and a relationship
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with religion
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and with God's holy law
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and to take that back
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to Deuteronomy 27 and 28,
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which you can read
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for yourselves afterwards
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and see what God says
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about the people
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who rebelled against him.
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the problem.
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We need to acknowledge
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there's a problem
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before we appreciate
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that there is provision.
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The problem then.
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Secondly,
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there is the proclamation.
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It's the message of the gospel.
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Christ has redeemed us
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from the curse of the law.
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The Christ that died
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outside of Jerusalem
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at the hands of his enemies.
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The Christ concerning
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whom Peter writes
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in Acts chapter 2
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after the resurrection
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of the Lord Jesus.
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The Christ that Peter describes
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as the Jesus
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whom you crucified.
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God has made him
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both Lord and Christ.
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He has raised him
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to sit at his right hand.
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He has journeyed on
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to be seated
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in a place of glory
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and of influence
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and of power.
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That Lord Jesus Christ,
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he is the person
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that is proclaimed
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in the gospel.
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And he is proclaimed
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in the gospel
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as the person
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who has
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redeemed us
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from
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the curse.
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I go to Galatia
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in central Turkey
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today
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and I go to Galatia
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on Paul's day
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and I ask
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the person
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on the street
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what is Paul on about
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when he speaks
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about
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redeeming us
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and redemption?
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Well,
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we go to the center
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of administration
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in the city,
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the marketplace
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where the
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administration
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of the city
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takes place
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and where
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there are
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transactions
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and where
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there are exchanges
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and where
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there is buying
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and selling.
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We go to
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the marketplace
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and in the marketplace
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in Galatia
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we see a particular
18:50
kind of transaction
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and the transaction
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is that
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slaves are taken
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and set free
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from their current
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owner
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and master
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and given
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a new freedom
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and that is based
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on a price
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that is paid
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for them.
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They are transferred
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from a place
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of slavery
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to the place
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of freedom
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on the basis
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of a price
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being paid.
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And Paul is telling
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them
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that Christ
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has carried out
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this redeeming
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action.
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God is telling
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us this evening
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that that's
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what Christ
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has done.
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That he has
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transferred us
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to freedom.
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That he has
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done so
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with a payment
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of a price.
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That he has
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exhausted,
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covered everything
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that's required
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to set us free.
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And that as
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surely
19:56
as God
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in the Old
19:57
Testament
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promised his
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people,
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Israel,
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who were
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in Egypt,
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I will
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deliver them
20:04
from slavery.
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I will
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redeem you
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with an
20:08
outstretched arm.
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I will
20:10
take you
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to be
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my people.
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This whole
20:14
redeeming
20:15
transaction
20:15
is taken
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from the
20:18
place of
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slavery
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to the
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place of
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freedom
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into a
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living
20:22
relationship
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with God.
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And that's
20:25
tonight why
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Christ Jesus
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is important
20:28
in the
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gospel.
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Let me
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park my
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whole idea
20:32
about keeping
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God's law
20:33
so that I
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can be
20:34
saved.
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Let me
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cast aside
20:37
any thought
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of needing
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the law
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of God
20:39
in order
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to make
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my salvation
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complete.
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And let me
20:43
focus on
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the
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passion of
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Christ
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in this
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marketplace
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transaction
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and the
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administration
20:51
of the
20:52
kingdom of
20:52
God
20:53
where I'm
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taken from
20:54
that place
20:55
of slavery
20:56
because of
20:56
my sin
20:57
where I'm
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set free
20:59
from it
20:59
and from
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its burden
21:01
and from
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its mastery
21:02
and where
21:04
I'm in
21:05
a living
21:06
relationship
21:07
with God.
21:12
And as soon
21:13
tonight as I
21:14
align my
21:16
thinking
21:16
with what God
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says about me
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and about
21:19
his law
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then this
21:22
becomes
21:22
meaningful.
21:23
the
21:25
knowledge
21:26
gap
21:26
is filled
21:27
with the
21:28
teaching of
21:29
God's
21:29
word
21:29
and once
21:31
that
21:31
knowledge
21:33
gap
21:33
has been
21:34
filled
21:34
then
21:34
here is
21:37
emerging
21:37
exactly
21:39
who I
21:40
need.
21:41
Christ
21:42
has
21:42
redeemed
21:43
us
21:43
from
21:44
the
21:45
curse
21:45
of
21:46
the law.
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And Jesus
21:49
himself
21:50
in speaking
21:50
to his
21:50
disciples
21:51
in the
21:52
gospel of
21:52
John
21:52
speaks about
21:53
the way
21:54
in which
21:54
if the
21:54
son sets
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you free
21:55
you are
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free
21:57
indeed.
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You don't
22:00
need to
22:00
doubt
22:00
that you're
22:01
freedom.
22:02
You don't
22:02
need to
22:03
spend your
22:03
life
22:04
wondering
22:04
if you
22:05
are free
22:05
or not.
22:07
It's
22:08
certain
22:08
freedom.
22:09
It's
22:09
absolute
22:10
freedom.
22:11
It's a
22:11
freedom to
22:12
be the
22:12
people of
22:13
God,
22:13
to be the
22:14
children
22:14
of God.
22:16
If the
22:16
son sets
22:17
you free
22:17
you are
22:19
free
22:20
indeed.
22:21
he has
22:22
redeemed
22:23
us
22:23
from
22:24
the
22:25
curse
22:26
of the
22:26
law.
22:27
In the
22:28
administration
22:28
and in
22:30
the
22:30
government
22:30
of God's
22:31
kingdom
22:31
there is
22:33
the buying
22:34
back
22:34
that gives
22:36
you and I
22:37
freedom
22:38
in Christ.
22:40
Christ.
22:43
But perhaps
22:44
the
22:44
remarkable
22:45
thing
22:46
is
22:46
and the
22:48
center of
22:48
the gospel
22:49
is
22:49
and the
22:50
wonder of
22:51
the gospel
22:51
is
22:52
that in
22:53
that same
22:54
marketplace
22:54
where the
22:55
kingdom of
22:56
God is
22:56
administered
22:57
and governed
22:58
and the
22:59
principles are
22:59
set out
23:00
that when
23:01
Jesus pays
23:02
the price
23:03
to redeem
23:04
us
23:04
that he
23:06
did so
23:07
by
23:08
being made
23:10
becoming
23:10
a curse
23:11
for us.
23:14
He is
23:15
not
23:16
the Lord
23:17
Jesus
23:18
Christ
23:18
who went
23:20
into that
23:21
place
23:21
to have a
23:22
transaction
23:23
where a
23:24
price was
23:25
paid to
23:26
set you
23:27
free.
23:29
We go
23:30
into that
23:30
place of
23:31
transaction
23:31
in the
23:32
presence of
23:32
God
23:33
and he
23:34
himself
23:34
is the
23:35
price.
23:37
He is
23:38
made
23:38
a
23:39
curse.
23:42
He
23:43
takes on
23:44
a new
23:45
form
23:46
of
23:47
existence
23:48
and the
23:50
very
23:50
thought
23:51
of where
23:53
our salvation
23:54
took the
23:55
Lord Jesus
23:55
and God's
23:57
plan took
23:57
the Lord
23:58
Jesus
23:58
that it
23:59
took him
24:00
to the
24:01
place where
24:02
he
24:02
exists
24:03
as a
24:06
person
24:06
who is
24:07
bearing
24:07
God's
24:09
curse.
24:13
And the
24:13
God who
24:14
said to
24:15
his people
24:16
in the
24:17
Old Testament
24:17
that because
24:19
of their
24:20
rebellion
24:22
against him
24:23
that he
24:24
would pluck
24:25
them off
24:26
the land.
24:28
We see
24:29
Jesus
24:29
taken
24:30
outside of
24:31
the city.
24:32
We see
24:33
him hanging
24:33
on a
24:34
tree
24:35
crucified
24:36
not in
24:38
order to
24:38
be a
24:39
curse but
24:39
because he
24:40
is cursed
24:41
he is
24:42
hung on
24:42
a tree.
24:45
He
24:45
becomes
24:46
the
24:47
ultimate
24:48
outsider
24:49
in order
24:50
to secure
24:52
your freedom
24:53
and mine.
24:55
Israel
24:55
will take
24:56
him from
24:57
Jerusalem
24:58
Babylon
24:59
but Jesus
25:02
was in
25:03
the place
25:03
where he
25:04
was left
25:05
by the
25:06
people
25:06
excluded
25:07
from the
25:07
people
25:08
and excluded
25:09
from the
25:10
presence of
25:11
everything that
25:12
represented
25:13
God.
25:15
And in the
25:15
same way
25:16
God as we
25:19
saw took
25:20
delight
25:21
in doing
25:23
his people
25:24
good when
25:25
they obeyed
25:26
but when
25:27
they
25:27
disobeyed
25:28
he took
25:29
delight
25:29
and bring
25:32
them
25:32
to ruin.
25:37
And Isaiah
25:37
tells us
25:38
in Isaiah
25:38
53
25:38
that it
25:40
was the
25:41
will of
25:41
the Lord
25:42
to crush
25:43
him.
25:44
It
25:44
pleased
25:45
the Lord
25:45
to bruise
25:47
him.
25:48
That's
25:49
the
25:49
remarkable
25:50
solemnity
25:52
of this
25:52
great
25:53
transaction
25:53
that the
25:56
God who
25:56
said
25:56
regarding
25:57
his
25:57
son
25:57
you
25:58
are
25:58
my
25:58
beloved
25:59
son
25:59
in whom
26:00
I am
26:00
well
26:00
pleased.
26:02
It's
26:02
now in
26:03
this new
26:03
existence
26:04
that is
26:05
temporary
26:06
on Calvary's
26:07
cross
26:07
that that
26:08
same
26:08
Lord
26:09
and
26:09
father
26:09
takes
26:11
delight
26:12
in
26:14
bringing
26:14
him
26:14
ruin.
26:17
He
26:17
becomes
26:18
a
26:18
curse.
26:19
his
26:22
body
26:22
begins
26:23
to
26:24
break.
26:25
His
26:26
heart
26:26
is
26:28
broken.
26:30
He
26:30
is
26:31
exiled
26:31
from
26:32
God
26:32
in
26:33
that
26:33
moment
26:33
of
26:34
God's
26:36
curse
26:36
and
26:37
God's
26:37
wrath
26:37
descending
26:38
upon
26:38
him
26:38
when
26:39
he
26:39
cried
26:39
out
26:39
to
26:40
God
26:40
my
26:40
God
26:40
my
26:41
God
26:41
why
26:42
have
26:42
you
26:42
forsaken
26:44
!
26:45
me?
26:45
he
26:48
doesn't
26:48
hear
26:50
God
26:51
he
26:52
doesn't
26:53
sense
26:53
that
26:53
God
26:54
is
26:54
with
26:54
him
26:54
because
26:56
God
26:56
in
26:57
this
26:57
moment
26:57
of
26:58
this
26:58
transaction
26:59
has
27:00
left
27:01
him
27:01
and
27:03
he
27:03
did
27:03
this
27:04
for
27:06
us
27:06
he
27:07
took
27:08
our
27:08
place
27:09
and
27:11
he
27:11
took
27:12
what
27:12
ought
27:13
to
27:13
be
27:13
yours
27:14
and
27:14
mine
27:15
the
27:17
proclamation
27:18
that
27:20
Christ
27:20
redeemed
27:21
us
27:21
from
27:22
the
27:22
curse
27:22
of
27:22
the
27:22
law
27:23
by
27:24
being
27:24
made
27:24
a
27:25
curse
27:25
for
27:26
us
27:27
and
27:29
let's
27:29
not
27:29
entertain
27:30
the
27:31
idea
27:31
that
27:32
because
27:32
it
27:33
was
27:33
his
27:33
son
27:34
that
27:35
he
27:35
held
27:36
back
27:36
some
27:37
of
27:37
what
27:38
of
27:38
the
27:39
curse
27:39
that
27:39
is
27:39
upon
27:40
us
27:40
for
27:40
our
27:40
sin
27:41
he
27:42
did
27:43
not
27:43
spare
27:43
his
27:44
own
27:44
son
27:44
and
27:45
his
27:46
son
27:46
exhausted
27:47
everything
27:47
that
27:48
belonged
27:48
to
27:49
that
27:49
curse
27:49
and
27:51
he
27:51
did
27:51
so
27:51
as
27:52
he
27:52
spent
27:53
these
27:53
moments
27:54
of
27:54
darkness
27:55
on
27:57
Calvary's
27:57
cross
27:58
the
28:00
proclamation
28:00
realigning
28:04
our thoughts
28:05
with
28:06
God's
28:07
law
28:07
and
28:08
realigning
28:09
our thoughts
28:10
with
28:10
the
28:10
cross
28:11
of
28:12
the
28:12
Lord
28:12
Jesus
28:13
how
28:15
can
28:15
we
28:15
not
28:16
tonight
28:16
realize
28:18
the
28:18
significance
28:19
of
28:19
both
28:20
of
28:20
these
28:20
and
28:22
how
28:22
can
28:22
we
28:22
not
28:22
tonight
28:23
see
28:24
the
28:25
preciousness
28:26
of what
28:27
Jesus
28:28
has done
28:28
how
28:30
can
28:30
we
28:30
not
28:30
see
28:30
the
28:31
urgency
28:32
of
28:32
our
28:32
need
28:32
to
28:33
have
28:33
salvation
28:34
through
28:34
him
28:35
how
28:36
can
28:36
we
28:37
continue
28:37
on
28:37
any
28:38
other
28:38
path
28:38
but
28:40
the
28:40
path
28:40
that
28:41
belongs
28:42
to
28:42
faith
28:43
in
28:43
the
28:44
Lord
28:44
Jesus
28:45
Christ
28:45
that
28:45
we
28:46
might
28:46
be
28:47
saved
28:47
there
28:50
is a
28:51
problem
28:51
there
28:53
is a
28:53
proclamation
28:53
and
28:55
finally
28:55
there
28:56
is
28:56
participation
28:58
what
29:00
does
29:00
it
29:00
mean
29:00
to
29:01
be
29:01
part
29:02
of
29:02
God's
29:02
kingdom
29:03
what
29:04
is
29:04
the
29:04
product
29:04
of
29:05
what
29:05
God
29:06
has
29:06
done
29:06
in
29:07
the
29:07
Lord
29:07
Jesus
29:08
when
29:08
Christ
29:09
redeemed
29:09
us
29:09
from
29:10
the
29:10
curse
29:10
of
29:10
the
29:10
law
29:10
what
29:11
is
29:11
the
29:11
fruit
29:12
of
29:12
all
29:12
of
29:12
that
29:13
the
29:15
fruit
29:15
of
29:16
all
29:16
of
29:16
that
29:16
is
29:17
exactly
29:17
what
29:17
they
29:18
were
29:18
confused
29:18
about
29:19
and
29:21
as we
29:21
come to
29:22
the
29:22
close
29:22
of
29:22
ourselves
29:23
there
29:24
are
29:24
two
29:24
particular
29:25
issues
29:25
that
29:27
are
29:27
of
29:27
key
29:27
importance
29:28
to
29:28
them
29:28
and
29:29
that
29:29
are
29:30
of
29:30
key
29:30
importance
29:31
to
29:31
ourselves
29:32
this
29:32
evening
29:32
what
29:33
is
29:33
the
29:33
product
29:34
how
29:34
do
29:34
we
29:35
participate
29:35
well
29:36
first
29:36
of
29:37
all
29:37
we
29:38
have
29:39
a
29:39
right
29:40
standing
29:40
with
29:41
God
29:41
on
29:43
the
29:43
basis
29:43
of
29:43
what
29:43
Jesus
29:45
has
29:45
done
29:45
so that
29:46
in
29:46
verse
29:46
14
29:47
so that
29:48
in
29:48
Christ
29:48
Jesus
29:49
the
29:50
blessing
29:50
of
29:50
Abraham
29:51
might
29:51
come
29:52
to
29:52
the
29:54
Gentiles
29:55
the
29:56
blessing
29:57
of
29:58
Abraham
29:59
the
29:59
blessing
30:00
of
30:00
God
30:00
I
30:02
think
30:02
of
30:02
curse
30:03
and I
30:03
think
30:04
of
30:04
the
30:04
way
30:04
in
30:04
which
30:04
God's
30:05
destructive
30:06
power
30:06
is
30:07
targeting
30:08
where
30:09
that
30:09
curse
30:09
lies
30:10
and I
30:13
hear
30:13
the
30:14
word
30:14
blessing
30:15
that
30:16
speaks
30:16
to me
30:17
of
30:17
God's
30:19
power
30:20
in my
30:20
life
30:20
and God's
30:22
life
30:23
in my
30:23
life
30:23
that speaks
30:24
of
30:25
newness
30:25
and of
30:25
well-being
30:26
that speaks
30:27
of a
30:27
life
30:28
lived
30:28
with
30:28
him
30:29
the
30:30
blessing
30:31
of
30:31
God
30:32
God
30:33
blessed
30:33
Adam and
30:34
Eve
30:34
and told
30:35
them to be
30:35
fruitful
30:36
and multiply
30:37
here it is
30:38
the blessing
30:39
of
30:39
Abraham
30:41
what is the
30:44
blessing of
30:44
Abraham
30:44
God said
30:46
to Abraham
30:46
in Genesis
30:47
12
30:47
in you
30:48
shall all
30:49
the families
30:49
of the
30:50
earth
30:50
be blessed
30:50
but in
30:54
this
30:54
chapter
30:55
it becomes
30:56
clear
30:57
that those
30:59
who are
31:00
blessed
31:00
with Abraham
31:01
are those
31:02
who are
31:03
justified
31:03
by faith
31:04
who have
31:05
the right
31:06
standing
31:06
with God
31:07
in verse
31:09
number 6
31:09
just as
31:10
Abraham
31:10
believed
31:11
God
31:11
and it
31:11
was counted
31:12
to him
31:12
as
31:12
righteousness
31:13
know then
31:14
that it
31:15
is those
31:15
of faith
31:16
who are
31:16
the sons
31:17
of Abraham
31:17
and the
31:18
scripture
31:19
foreseeing
31:19
that God
31:20
would justify
31:21
the Gentiles
31:21
by faith
31:22
preached the
31:23
gospel
31:23
beforehand
31:24
to Abraham
31:25
saying
31:25
and you
31:27
shall all
31:27
the families
31:28
and nations
31:28
of the
31:29
earth
31:29
be blessed
31:31
a right
31:32
standing
31:33
with God
31:34
there is
31:37
now no
31:38
condemnation
31:38
in Romans
31:40
8
31:40
being justified
31:42
by faith
31:43
in Romans
31:44
5
31:44
it's
31:44
having that
31:46
standing
31:46
before the
31:47
throne
31:47
of God
31:48
in Christ
31:50
in a
31:51
relationship
31:51
with Christ
31:52
who died
31:53
for us
31:54
and us
31:55
now being
31:55
in him
31:55
having that
31:57
relationship
31:58
where we
31:59
have that
31:59
peace with
32:00
God
32:00
where our
32:01
sins are
32:01
forgiven
32:02
and we
32:03
are accepted
32:03
as
32:04
righteous
32:05
in his
32:05
sight
32:06
the faith
32:08
with which
32:09
we
32:09
trust
32:10
in God
32:11
and it
32:13
is
32:13
the faith
32:14
that has
32:15
at its
32:15
very heart
32:16
the whole
32:18
idea of
32:19
persuasion
32:20
and for
32:22
you and I
32:23
tonight
32:23
the faith
32:24
that is
32:25
required of
32:25
us to
32:26
participate
32:27
in this
32:28
great product
32:29
and the
32:29
fruit of
32:30
Christ's
32:31
saving work
32:31
is to be
32:32
persuaded
32:33
that with
32:35
our law
32:35
keeping
32:35
we cannot
32:36
be saved
32:36
to be
32:38
persuaded
32:38
that
32:38
in our
32:40
law keeping
32:41
we are
32:41
under the
32:42
curse of
32:42
God
32:43
to be
32:44
persuaded
32:44
of what
32:45
God has
32:46
done for
32:46
us
32:46
in the
32:47
cross
32:47
of Jesus
32:48
Christ
32:48
and if
32:50
we have
32:50
that
32:50
triple
32:51
persuasion
32:52
then
32:53
faith
32:54
reaches
32:55
out
32:55
and
32:56
trusts
32:56
in
32:56
the
32:57
person
32:58
of the
32:59
Lord
32:59
Jesus
33:00
Christ
33:00
and there
33:04
is
33:04
no other
33:05
blessed
33:08
standing
33:08
in this
33:09
world
33:09
and none
33:10
so blessed
33:11
as those
33:12
who have
33:12
that right
33:13
standing
33:14
with God
33:15
the peace
33:17
of God
33:19
dwelling in
33:20
our hearts
33:21
the right
33:23
standing
33:24
and the
33:26
pinnacle of
33:27
everything else
33:28
to have
33:29
the family
33:31
status
33:32
to know
33:33
that we
33:33
are the
33:33
children
33:34
of God
33:34
and
33:36
these
33:36
chapters
33:38
are all
33:39
about
33:40
how we
33:40
can become
33:41
the children
33:42
of God
33:42
and that's
33:43
the second
33:43
part of
33:44
this verse
33:44
so that
33:45
we might
33:46
receive
33:46
the promised
33:47
spirit
33:48
through
33:50
faith
33:50
the
33:54
spirit
33:54
promised
33:54
in the
33:55
old
33:55
testament
33:55
in
33:56
God's
33:56
new
33:56
covenant
33:57
that
33:57
he
33:57
would
33:57
place
33:58
his
33:59
spirit
33:59
in
33:59
our
33:59
hearts
34:00
and give
34:01
us a
34:02
heart
34:02
and hearts
34:03
to love
34:03
him
34:04
in response
34:05
to his
34:05
love for
34:06
us
34:06
it's a
34:07
spirit
34:08
of God
34:08
in our
34:08
hearts
34:09
and as
34:11
we
34:11
jump on
34:12
to chapter
34:13
number
34:13
four
34:13
that spirit
34:14
of God
34:15
in our
34:15
hearts
34:16
is what
34:17
gives us
34:18
that
34:18
special
34:19
relationship
34:20
with God
34:22
and Jesus
34:22
Christ
34:23
in
34:29
verse
34:29
number
34:29
four
34:29
but when
34:29
the
34:30
fullness
34:30
of time
34:30
had come
34:31
God
34:32
sent forth
34:32
the son
34:32
born of
34:33
a woman
34:34
born under
34:34
the law
34:35
to redeem
34:36
those who
34:36
were under
34:37
the law
34:37
so that we
34:38
might receive
34:38
adoption
34:39
as sons
34:40
and because
34:41
you are
34:41
sons
34:42
God has
34:43
sent the
34:43
spirit of
34:43
a son
34:44
into
34:45
our
34:45
hearts
34:47
adopted
34:50
into
34:51
God's
34:51
family
34:52
given
34:55
all the
34:55
rights
34:56
inheriting
34:57
everything
34:58
that belongs
34:59
to the
34:59
children of
35:00
God
35:00
the right
35:02
to everything
35:02
that Jesus
35:03
has and
35:04
Jesus has
35:05
done
35:05
the right
35:07
to the
35:07
inheritance
35:07
of the
35:08
glory
35:08
that Jesus
35:09
has prepared
35:10
for us
35:11
and that
35:13
sense of
35:14
wonder
35:14
of knowing
35:15
that we
35:15
are the
35:16
children of
35:17
God
35:17
and that
35:19
sense of
35:19
wonder
35:20
which John
35:21
touches upon
35:22
in his
35:23
first epistle
35:23
in chapter
35:24
3
35:24
what kind
35:27
of love
35:28
is this
35:28
that God
35:30
has poured
35:32
upon us
35:32
that we
35:34
should be
35:34
called
35:35
the children
35:36
of God
35:38
and it's
35:40
that sense
35:40
of the
35:42
fatherly
35:43
love of
35:43
God
35:44
that sense
35:46
of his
35:46
eye
35:47
looking down
35:48
upon us
35:48
and seeing
35:50
us in a
35:51
relationship
35:51
with his
35:52
son
35:52
and us
35:55
sensing the
35:55
warmth of
35:57
his love
35:57
and of his
35:58
care and of
35:58
his interest
35:59
and of the
36:00
fact that
36:01
he is our
36:02
father
36:02
and that he
36:03
possesses us
36:04
in that
36:05
special
36:06
loving and
36:07
living way
36:07
and there
36:09
is no
36:10
greater blessing
36:11
in this
36:11
life
36:12
than to
36:14
have the
36:14
blessing of
36:15
secure
36:16
family
36:17
relationships
36:18
and a
36:20
family that
36:20
is functioning
36:22
as God
36:22
designed
36:23
and we
36:24
know how
36:25
precious that
36:26
is
36:26
times of
36:27
joy and
36:28
times of
36:28
sorrow
36:29
where
36:29
families
36:30
come together
36:32
and there is
36:33
that sense
36:33
of support
36:35
and joy
36:36
and grace
36:37
and peace
36:38
even in
36:40
times of
36:40
trouble
36:41
much more
36:42
so tonight
36:43
as those
36:45
who belong
36:45
to the
36:46
family of
36:46
God
36:47
do we
36:49
rejoice in
36:49
his care
36:50
do we rest
36:52
in his
36:52
love
36:52
do we wait
36:54
for him
36:55
in the
36:56
evening and
36:56
in the
36:57
morning
36:57
do we spend
36:58
our lives
36:58
giving ourselves
37:00
to him
37:01
because he
37:02
did such
37:03
a great
37:04
work
37:04
for us
37:05
and as
37:08
we close
37:09
the
37:10
take away
37:10
is simple
37:12
we cannot
37:13
rely on
37:14
what we
37:15
are going
37:15
to do
37:15
or have
37:16
done
37:17
we rely
37:18
simply and
37:20
wholeheartedly
37:21
on what
37:21
Jesus has
37:22
done
37:22
and we
37:24
cannot rely
37:24
on what
37:25
we have
37:25
done
37:25
because
37:26
we are
37:27
under
37:28
the
37:28
curse
37:29
of God
37:29
if we
37:29
rest upon
37:30
the law
37:31
which we
37:32
cannot keep
37:32
and which
37:33
is broken
37:33
but we
37:35
have
37:35
peace
37:36
with God
37:36
and we
37:37
trust in
37:38
the son
37:39
of God
37:39
who became
37:40
a curse
37:41
for us
37:42
to set
37:43
us free
37:43
in order
37:44
to be
37:44
the children
37:45
of God
37:46
may God
37:47
help us
37:47
and strengthen
37:49
us to
37:49
embrace him
37:50
in his word
37:50
and to
37:51
receive and
37:52
to embrace
37:52
the Lord
37:53
Jesus Christ
37:54
as
37:54
our saviour
37:56
let's bow our
37:56
heads in
37:57
prayer
37:57
most gracious
37:58
God
37:59
we rejoice
38:00
in you
38:01
and the
38:01
great God
38:02
that you
38:02
are
38:03
in the
38:03
God of
38:04
our salvation
38:05
the God
38:06
who has
38:07
planned
38:07
such a
38:09
wonderful
38:09
magnificent
38:11
way of
38:11
rescuing us
38:12
from
38:13
our sin
38:14
and from
38:15
our condemnation
38:16
and from
38:17
our distance
38:18
from you
38:18
and we
38:19
worship you
38:20
and we
38:20
praise you
38:21
for every
38:21
aspect of
38:22
the life
38:23
and work
38:23
of your
38:24
son
38:24
through which
38:25
tonight we
38:25
can have
38:26
peace with
38:26
you
38:26
we can
38:27
stand
38:28
before you
38:28
declared to
38:29
be just
38:30
by you
38:30
and we
38:31
can know
38:32
that we
38:32
are the
38:33
children of
38:34
God
38:34
so bless
38:35
your word
38:35
to us
38:35
as we
38:36
journey
38:36
on to
38:37
our homes
38:37
and give
38:37
to us
38:38
that sense
38:38
of your
38:39
love
38:39
following us
38:40
both this
38:41
evening
38:41
and all the
38:41
days of
38:42
our lives
38:42
we do
38:42
pray
38:43
for we
38:43
pray all
38:43
of these
38:44
things
38:44
for Jesus
38:45
sake
38:45
Amen
38:46
the closing
38:51
psalm is
38:51
psalm number
38:51
130
38:52
in
38:55
it's on
38:56
page 173
38:57
and the
39:00
tune is
39:00
martyrdom
39:01
and we're
39:01
going to
39:01
sing the
39:02
whole of
39:02
the psalm
39:02
Lord from
39:05
the depths
39:06
I call
39:06
to you
39:07
Lord hear
39:08
me from
39:08
on high
39:08
and give
39:09
attention to
39:10
my voice
39:10
when I
39:12
for mercy
39:12
cry
39:13
we stand
39:14
to sing
39:14
the whole
39:14
of the
39:15
psalm
39:15
to God's
39:15
praise
39:16
Lord from
39:23
the depths
39:25
I call
39:27
to you
39:30
Lord hear
39:32
me from
39:35
on high
39:38
I'll
39:40
give
39:41
attention
39:44
to
39:45
my
39:47
voice
39:48
when
39:50
I'm
39:51
for
39:52
mercy
39:54
cry
39:55
Lord
39:58
in
39:59
your
40:00
presence
40:02
to
40:04
the
40:05
sound
40:05
if
40:07
you
40:08
are
40:10
sins
40:11
record
40:12
forget
40:15
forgiveness
40:18
is
40:20
with
40:23
you
40:23
that
40:24
we
40:25
may
40:26
fear
40:28
you
40:29
are
40:30
I
40:32
wake
40:33
my
40:35
soul
40:36
wait
40:38
for
40:38
the
40:40
Lord
40:42
my
40:42
hope
40:43
is
40:44
in
40:45
his
40:46
word
40:48
more
40:50
than
40:51
the
40:52
Lord
40:53
and
40:54
wait
40:56
for
40:57
God
40:58
my
41:00
soul
41:01
his
41:02
heart
41:03
and
41:04
heart
41:05
all
41:06
his
41:09
strength
41:10
good
41:11
your
41:13
hope
41:14
in
41:15
God
41:16
for
41:18
mercy
41:19
is
41:21
within
41:22
a
41:24
glory
41:26
and
41:27
glory
41:28
and
41:29
from
41:30
the
41:32
rest
41:33
!
41:34
his
41:36
will
41:38
be
41:39
free
41:40
the
41:44
I go to the door on my right
41:46
the
41:48
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
41:49
the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
41:52
be with you all now and forever more
41:54
Amen
41:55
Amen
42:25
holy