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Matthew 5:13-16 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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And as you turn there, I want to begin by just asking a couple questions.
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! Who are we?
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And in asking this, I'm thinking specifically of the church.
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! Who are we as the church?
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Number two, what do we do?
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And number three, to what end?
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While we could spend several weeks answering just one of those questions,
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who are we, what do we do, and to what end,
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I find that when traveling through such difficult questions,
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these big worldview questions,
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it's easy to get lost in the weeds and the swamps of challenges and nuances
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with such questions,
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that we can actually be helped by stepping back
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and looking at our map and compass, so to speak,
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getting our bearings, figuring out where we actually are and where we are going,
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and then going back to the challenges and nuances that we need to address.
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And so that's kind of the goal for this morning,
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to ask these big questions, to get our bearings.
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And my goal this morning is not merely to fatten anyone's head with these big questions,
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though that's a good and necessary first step.
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The goal is a bit more ambitious.
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I want you all with me to examine our lives.
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not as a rebuke at all,
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but as a brother who wants to press you all and be pressed by you,
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such that we can all say in the end, by grace,
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we have fought the good fight,
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we have finished the race,
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we have kept the faith.
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I want to examine our way of being in this world such that when it is all said and done,
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we can say we were trees of life here and now for those who know us.
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As Proverbs 11.30 says,
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the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
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and whoever captures souls is wise.
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So today as we examine our lives for maximum kingdom work and fruitfulness,
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it is good and helpful to remind ourselves who we are,
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what we are to do,
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and to what end.
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And so with these things in mind,
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please read with me Matthew chapter 5, verse 13.
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This is the Sermon on the Mount.
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Jesus says,
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You are the salt of the earth.
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But if salt has lost its saltiness,
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how is it to be made salty again?
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It is good for nothing except to be cast out and trampled underfoot by men.
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You are the light of the world.
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A city on a mountain cannot be hidden,
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nor does anyone light a lamp and place it under a basket,
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but on a lampstand,
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and it shines its light before all in the house.
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In this way,
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your light must shine before men,
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so that they may see your good works,
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and they may glorify your Father,
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who is in the heavens.
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So as the church,
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who are we?
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The answer to this question serves as our first heading,
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if you're taking notes.
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We are signs of the new covenant.
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Who are we?
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We are signs of the new covenant.
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Read verse 13 again.
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You are the salt of the earth.
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But if salt has lost its saltiness,
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how is it to be made salty again?
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It's good for nothing except to be cast out,
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trampled underfoot by men.
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There are many interpretations
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on what this salt metaphor is intended to convey.
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Perhaps most famously,
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we've probably all heard at some point
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from faithful Christians,
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they'll lean into this idea of salt as a preservative,
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and so we're meant to be agents of preservation,
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is kind of the idea.
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Others have talked about it being a tasty thing,
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and so the point is to live lives that are tasty.
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I don't know.
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Be good, pleasing,
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perhaps nutritious is kind of the idea there.
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And while these ideas are certainly true theologically,
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we should be agents of preservation,
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we should live tasty lives,
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they're secondary at best, I think.
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I want to convince you these ideas
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are not actually the primary thrust of this metaphor.
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Rather, Jesus intends to convey that
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we, his disciples, the church,
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we are the new covenant people of God.
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Salt in Scripture is often tied to covenant.
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You can think of places like Leviticus 2.13,
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Numbers 18.19.
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But I want to read to you 2 Chronicles 13.5,
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because I think it makes this point clear.
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Samuel writes,
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Ought you not to know,
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in other words, you better know, right?
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Ought you not to know
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that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel
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forever to David and his sons
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by a covenant of salt.
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So notice that.
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Something about this Davidic covenant is forever.
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It is made with David,
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but it affects his sons.
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The new covenant fulfillment of this
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is the new David, Jesus Christ,
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and his disciples.
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So the salt of the Davidic covenant
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is a sign of the permanence
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of God's promises to David.
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And so likewise, amazingly,
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Jesus is saying to you and I today,
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to his disciples on the mount in Matthew 5,
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he's saying,
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you are a sign of the new covenant.
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You are a sign of God's faithfulness
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to his redemptive plan.
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You are a sign of the day and age
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in which we live,
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which is the last days.
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And Jesus' packed words,
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you are,
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you and I together,
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are
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salt
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of the earth.
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Now, perhaps some of you
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aren't totally convinced
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of this covenant tie-in just yet,
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but as the commercials used to say
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when I was a kid,
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just wait.
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There's more.
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Look at verse 14 with me again.
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Matthew writes,
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you are
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the light
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of the world.
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A city set on a mountain
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cannot
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be hidden.
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So this verse is parallel
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to verse 13.
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You have the
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double construction.
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You are,
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you are,
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you are the salt of the earth.
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You are the light of the world.
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And because of its repetitive structure,
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we should already be thinking
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these are mutually interpretive.
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In other words,
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these two metaphors
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help us understand
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the other.
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And so the word
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or the idea of light,
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as you all well know,
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is a
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polyvalent term
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in scripture,
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right?
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Your mind's probably already running
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with all these things
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light can convey.
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Light as truth,
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light as wisdom,
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light as beauty,
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light as glory,
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or revelation
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or so many other
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good and true,
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wonderful things.
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And I think that's,
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that's all in play here.
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Nonetheless,
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I also think with
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many interpreters
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before me
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that Jesus
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is primarily
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speaking of our
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identity as
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signs
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of the new covenant.
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That through this metaphor,
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he's telling us
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we are
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the people
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of God.
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God speaking
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through Isaiah
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says in Isaiah 42
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verse 6,
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he says,
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I am the Lord.
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I have called you
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in righteousness.
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I will take you
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by the hand
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and keep you.
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I will give you
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as a covenant
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for the people
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a light
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for the nations.
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I think that's where
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this light of the world
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language is coming from.
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And so
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in Isaiah 42
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6,
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there is this
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both and aspect
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to this.
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On the one hand,
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Isaiah 42 6
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is about Christ.
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John 8,
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12 makes this clear.
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Jesus says,
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I am the light
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of the world.
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But on the other hand,
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as we've seen,
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Jesus also says
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in our text today
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that we,
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his church,
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are the light
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of the world.
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And so marvel at this.
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Such,
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such is our identity
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with Christ
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that just as he is
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the light of the world,
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we too get to claim
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by grace through faith
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that we
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are the light
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of the world.
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You and I.
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Paul,
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in his own words,
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touches on this
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in Ephesians 2.
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I'd love to read
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the whole passage,
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but I'm just going to read
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verses 6
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and jump to verse 9.
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But Paul writes,
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stating,
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this mystery
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is that the Gentiles
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are fellow heirs,
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members of the same body
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and partakers
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of the promise
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in Christ Jesus
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through the gospel.
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He continues on
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in verse 9,
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describing his own ministry,
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and he says,
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to bring to light
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for everyone
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what is the plan
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of the mystery
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hidden for ages
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in God
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who created all things,
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so that through
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the church
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the manifold wisdom
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of God
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might be made
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known.
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Paul's mystery
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and his reference
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to the church
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displaying that mystery
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by bringing it to light
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is synonymous
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with Jesus' teaching
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in Matthew 5.
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We are heralds.
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We are announcing
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this new age,
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this new dawning
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of salvation,
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revelation,
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and light of Christ's coming
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and the new covenant.
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So don't miss
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what Jesus says.
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He says,
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we are the light
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of the world.
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This is anticipating
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the universal possession
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and blessing
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as promised
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to Abraham.
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This is covenantal.
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The new covenant
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does not merely promise
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the geographical land
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called Israel today,
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but it entails
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all of the new earth
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with Jew
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and Gentile
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alike.
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And additionally,
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I want you to notice
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Jesus compares
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the visibility
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of light
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in this passage
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with the visibility
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of a city
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on a mountain.
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And this is no
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strange thing
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in his
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context.
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In the ancient world,
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light is a scarce thing.
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They had no concept
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of light pollution
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the way we do today.
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Things got really dark
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at night.
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And so if you did
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see a light at night,
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if you saw things going,
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it's because something
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was burning.
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And so it was
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an expensive endeavor
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to keep the lights on
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in a city especially.
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And while he doesn't
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make it explicit,
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I think Jesus
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is picturing
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a well-lit
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city.
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In other words,
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not only is this city
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so visible
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because of its
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prominent position
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on high,
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but it's actually
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lit up
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in a dark
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world.
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I think that is
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the picture
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he's creating.
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The city
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is a beacon.
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And this is in
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contrast
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to the Romans,
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by the way.
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You may know
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the famous Roman
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Cicero,
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for example,
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refers to Rome
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as, quote,
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the light of the world
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and the refuge
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of all nations.
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Wonder where he got that.
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And so Jesus
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is saying something
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that is inherently
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anti-Roman.
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But more importantly,
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more foundationally,
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I think Jesus
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is describing
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a specific city.
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In other words,
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I don't think
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Jesus is just
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describing any
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old generic city
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for argument's sake.
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I think Jesus
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is teaching
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on the
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new
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Jerusalem,
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the Jerusalem
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from above.
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His audience
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would have understood
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this.
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They have Old Testament
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scripture that speaks
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to this.
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These symbols
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are so alive
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in their minds.
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Just one example,
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Zechariah 8.3.
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We have this connection
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of a renewed Jerusalem
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and the holy mountain
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of God.
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Zechariah 8.3,
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Thus says the Lord,
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I have returned
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to Zion
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and will dwell
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in the midst
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of Jerusalem
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and Jerusalem
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shall be called
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the faithful city
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and the mountain
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of the Lord of hosts,
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the holy mountain.
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So he's anticipating
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a day where Israel,
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Jerusalem,
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are living rightly
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with their God.
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And so not only
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do we have this
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Old Testament
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anticipation
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of this new city
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and this mountain
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following these things,
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but going along
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with the covenantal
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contours of Matthew 5
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regarding the salt
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and the light
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and bear in mind
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the setting
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of the sermon,
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right?
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Jesus goes up
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on a mount
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in Matthew 5.1
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and as the new Moses
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begins to teach
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on the law,
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the Sermon on the Mount,
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right?
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When you input
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all this imagery,
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the natural output
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in verses 13 through 16
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is that Jesus
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is describing
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the new Jerusalem.
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And he does this later
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in the Sermon on the Mount
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as well.
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If you look at Matthew 6.10
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in his prayer,
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he models this
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and asks the Heavenly Father,
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he says,
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your kingdom come,
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your will be done
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on earth
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as it is in heaven.
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In other words,
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Father God,
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bring down
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the new Jerusalem.
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And of course,
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the new Jerusalem,
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the new creation
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is associated
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regularly with light.
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Revelation 21,
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23 through 24
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makes this perhaps
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most plain.
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Where John writing
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of the new Jerusalem
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says,
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the city has no need
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of sun or moon
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to shine on it
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for the glory of God
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gives it light
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and its lamp
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is the lamb.
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By its light
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will the nations
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walk
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and the kings
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of the earth
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will bring their glory
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into it.
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God's saints
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will be the saints
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of the earth
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So who are we?
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Friends,
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we are not only
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God's saints
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as the saints
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of old were,
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but uniquely
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we are God's
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new covenant
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people
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here on
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earth.
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We are the
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first fruits
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of a new creation.
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We are already
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citizens
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of this new Jerusalem
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that is yet to come
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in full.
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And so we uniquely
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in hindsight
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get to proclaim
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the victory
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of our God
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through his son
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in light of his
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finished work.
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You and I
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as heralds
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of this new covenant
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get the transformed
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hearts promised
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by the prophets
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produced by the
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indwelling spirit
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such that our
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very lives
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are signs
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of the work
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of God
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signs of
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the new
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covenant.
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And chiefly
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as I preached
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previously
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our love
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for one another
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in particular
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demonstrates
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this
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truth.
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We are
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the salt
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of the earth.
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We are
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the light
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of the world
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because we are
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Christ
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and we are
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in Christ
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by grace
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through
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faith.
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Jesus is so
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serious about
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identifying us
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in this way
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with him
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that both
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these metaphors
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come with
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urgent words.
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If you look
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at verse 13
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again regarding
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the salt
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metaphor
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he says
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you are
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the salt
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of the earth
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but if salt
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has lost
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its saltiness
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how is it
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to be made
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salty?
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It's good
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for nothing
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but to be
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cast out
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trampled
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underfoot
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by men.
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Likewise
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with the
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light
16:25
metaphor
16:25
he says
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in verse
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15
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nor does
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anyone
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light a
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lamp
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and put
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it under
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a basket
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you can
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hear the
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absurdity
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in that
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nobody
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does that
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but he
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puts it
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on a
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lamp
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stamp
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and it
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shines
16:39
before
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all
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in the
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house
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and so
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Jesus
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has a
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certain
16:45
implied
16:46
warning
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and
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exhortation
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here
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the warning
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is
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don't
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become
16:51
useless
16:52
be
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who
16:54
you
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are
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you
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are
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the
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sign
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of
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the
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new
16:58
covenant
16:58
this
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identity
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has been
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given
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to you
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by grace
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fulfill
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it
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be it
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embody
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it
17:05
and so
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the implied
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exhortation
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here is
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this
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if you're
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salt
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be
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salty
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if you're
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light
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don't be
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hidden
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but expose
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the good
17:15
news
17:16
of Jesus
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Christ
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and his
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new
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covenant
17:19
on all
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and so
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we
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are
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the salt
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of the
17:24
earth
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we are
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the light
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of the
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world
17:27
we are
17:27
signs
17:28
of
17:29
the new
17:29
covenant
17:30
but what
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kind of
17:34
activity
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or what
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kind of
17:35
work
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does this
17:36
actually
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entail
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right
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moving
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moving
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beyond
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but not
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without
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these
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metaphors
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what are
17:44
we to
17:44
actually
17:45
do
17:45
as
17:46
signs
17:46
of the
17:47
new
17:47
covenant
17:48
right
17:48
what's
17:48
our
17:48
job
17:49
as
17:49
citizens
17:49
of
17:49
the
17:50
new
17:50
Jerusalem
17:50
here
17:50
and
17:51
now
17:51
this
17:52
is
17:52
our
17:52
second
17:52
question
17:53
what
17:53
do
17:54
we
17:55
do
17:56
second
17:58
heading
17:58
we do
18:00
good
18:00
works
18:01
before
18:01
a
18:01
watching
18:02
world
18:03
we do
18:04
good
18:04
works
18:05
before
18:05
watching
18:06
world
18:07
look
18:07
back
18:07
at
18:07
verse
18:07
16
18:08
with
18:08
me
18:08
Jesus
18:11
says
18:11
in
18:13
this
18:13
way
18:14
your
18:15
light
18:15
must
18:16
shine
18:16
before
18:17
men
18:17
so
18:17
that
18:18
they
18:18
may
18:18
see
18:19
your
18:19
good
18:20
works
18:22
being
18:24
the
18:25
light
18:25
on a
18:25
lamp
18:25
stand
18:26
being
18:26
a
18:26
city
18:26
on
18:27
a
18:27
mountain
18:27
being
18:27
the
18:28
light
18:28
of
18:28
the
18:28
world
18:28
how
18:29
could
18:29
the
18:29
world
18:29
not
18:30
see
18:31
us
18:32
and
18:35
yet
18:35
Jesus
18:35
command
18:36
here
18:36
shows
18:36
us
18:36
he
18:36
is
18:37
aware
18:37
we
18:37
often
18:38
fail
18:39
to
18:39
live
18:39
up
18:39
to
18:39
the
18:39
identity
18:40
we've
18:40
been
18:40
given
18:41
by
18:42
grace
18:42
as
18:43
salt
18:43
in
18:44
light
18:44
and
18:44
so
18:45
he
18:45
says
18:45
in
18:45
the
18:46
manner
18:46
of
18:46
such
18:46
a
18:47
city
18:47
in
18:47
the
18:47
manner
18:47
of
18:48
such
18:48
a
18:48
light
18:48
in
18:48
the
18:48
manner
18:49
of
18:49
salt
18:49
we're
18:52
to
18:52
live
18:52
our
18:52
lives
18:53
such
18:53
that
18:53
we
18:53
are
18:54
noticeable
18:56
why
18:57
will
18:57
we
18:57
be
18:57
noticeable
18:58
not
18:58
because
18:59
of
18:59
worldly
18:59
standards
19:00
it
19:00
won't
19:00
be
19:01
because
19:01
of
19:01
our
19:01
wealth
19:02
it
19:02
won't
19:02
be
19:03
because
19:03
of
19:03
our
19:03
our
19:03
looks
19:04
or
19:04
our
19:05
intelligence
19:05
it
19:05
won't
19:06
be
19:06
because
19:06
of
19:06
our
19:06
positions
19:07
of
19:08
authority
19:08
or
19:08
power
19:09
in
19:09
this
19:09
fallen
19:09
world
19:10
no
19:11
none
19:11
of
19:11
these
19:11
things
19:11
but
19:12
what
19:12
are
19:12
good
19:13
works
19:14
our
19:15
light
19:16
shining
19:17
is
19:17
our
19:18
good
19:18
works
19:20
what
19:20
are
19:20
good
19:20
works
19:20
well
19:21
he's
19:21
talking
19:21
about
19:21
righteousness
19:23
and
19:25
not
19:26
just
19:26
the
19:26
judicial
19:27
imputed
19:28
righteousness
19:28
that
19:29
Paul
19:29
talks
19:30
about
19:30
as
19:30
good
19:31
and
19:31
as
19:31
important
19:31
as
19:32
gospel
19:32
as
19:33
that
19:33
is
19:33
we
19:33
need
19:34
that
19:34
but
19:35
in
19:35
the
19:36
gospel
19:36
of
19:36
Matthew
19:36
when
19:37
this
19:37
word
19:37
righteousness
19:37
is
19:38
used
19:38
he's
19:38
actually
19:39
almost
19:39
always
19:40
talking
19:40
about
19:41
practical
19:42
righteousness
19:42
in other
19:44
words
19:44
the
19:44
actual
19:45
heart
19:45
disposition
19:46
and the
19:47
ensuing
19:47
actions
19:48
from that
19:49
heart
19:49
that
19:49
are
19:50
righteous
19:51
that
19:51
are
19:51
good
19:52
and
19:55
this
19:55
righteousness
19:56
is a
19:57
it's a
19:58
heart
19:58
and a
19:59
life
19:59
ultimately
20:00
marked
20:00
by
20:00
mercy
20:02
if you
20:03
want some
20:03
Matthew
20:03
theology
20:04
big
20:05
picture
20:05
stuff
20:06
that's
20:06
it
20:07
like
20:07
mercy
20:07
is
20:07
the
20:08
quintessential
20:09
virtue
20:10
of a
20:11
righteous
20:12
life
20:13
another
20:13
sermon
20:13
for
20:14
another
20:14
day
20:14
but
20:15
even
20:15
that
20:15
big
20:16
idea
20:16
of
20:16
mercy
20:17
is
20:18
this
20:18
tapestry
20:19
interwoven
20:20
throughout
20:20
Matthew
20:21
and
20:21
inseparable
20:22
from
20:23
love
20:24
kindness
20:24
peace
20:25
patience
20:25
faith
20:25
giving
20:27
generously
20:28
proper
20:28
ordering
20:29
of one's
20:29
loves
20:30
love
20:30
for
20:30
God
20:30
first
20:31
and
20:31
from
20:31
that
20:31
love
20:32
for
20:32
neighbor
20:33
among
20:34
so
20:35
many
20:35
other
20:35
good
20:35
things
20:36
in
20:38
fact
20:39
the
20:39
entire
20:39
sermon
20:40
on
20:40
the
20:40
mount
20:40
is
20:40
actually
20:41
about
20:41
this
20:42
true
20:43
righteousness
20:43
this
20:44
inner
20:45
righteousness
20:46
that's
20:48
Jesus'
20:48
thesis
20:49
statement
20:50
of the
20:50
sermon
20:51
if you
20:51
look at
20:51
Matthew
20:51
5
20:52
20
20:52
he
20:53
says
20:53
for
20:55
I
20:55
tell
20:56
you
20:56
unless
20:57
your
20:57
righteousness
20:58
exceeds
20:59
that of
21:00
the
21:00
scribes
21:00
and
21:00
Pharisees
21:01
you
21:01
will
21:01
never
21:02
enter
21:03
the
21:03
kingdom
21:03
of
21:05
the
21:05
heavens
21:05
well
21:07
how can
21:07
our
21:08
righteousness
21:08
exceed the
21:09
scribes
21:09
and
21:09
Pharisees
21:10
this is
21:11
his
21:11
point
21:12
it's
21:12
that
21:12
by
21:12
being
21:13
internally
21:14
righteous
21:14
and
21:16
then
21:16
living
21:16
out
21:17
that
21:17
righteousness
21:18
remember
21:20
the
21:20
Pharisees
21:21
are
21:21
white
21:22
washed
21:22
tombs
21:23
they
21:23
are
21:23
hypocrites
21:24
they
21:25
are
21:25
dead
21:26
on
21:26
the
21:26
inside
21:27
that's
21:27
their
21:27
big
21:28
problem
21:28
but
21:31
you
21:31
and
21:31
I
21:32
by
21:32
grace
21:32
as
21:32
salt
21:33
and
21:33
light
21:33
we
21:34
are
21:34
good
21:35
trees
21:35
that
21:35
bear
21:35
good
21:36
fruit
21:37
we're
21:37
actually
21:37
made
21:38
whole
21:39
by
21:39
Christ
21:40
such
21:41
that
21:41
our
21:41
yes
21:42
is
21:42
our
21:42
yes
21:42
and
21:42
our
21:42
no
21:43
is
21:43
our
21:43
no
21:43
in
21:45
other
21:45
words
21:45
our
21:46
hearts
21:46
are
21:46
aligned
21:47
with
21:47
our
21:47
actions
21:48
and
21:49
we
21:49
have
21:50
this
21:50
this
21:50
integrity
21:51
this
21:51
wholeness
21:52
brought
21:53
about
21:54
not
21:54
perfection
21:55
but
21:55
wholeness
21:56
and
21:58
this
21:58
is
21:59
the
21:59
greater
21:59
righteousness
22:00
the
22:00
exceeding
22:01
righteousness
22:01
of which
22:02
take
22:03
that
22:04
right
22:05
this
22:06
this
22:06
internal
22:07
heart
22:07
of flesh
22:07
that we've
22:08
been given
22:08
in fulfillment
22:09
of the new
22:09
covenant
22:10
take
22:10
that
22:11
and make
22:14
it shine
22:14
before
22:15
men
22:16
let them
22:17
see
22:17
your good
22:18
works
22:20
your
22:20
righteousness
22:22
righteousness
22:22
to play
22:24
on the
22:24
title
22:24
of Cal
22:24
Newport's
22:25
book
22:25
which has
22:25
nothing
22:26
to do
22:26
with
22:26
this
22:26
be
22:27
so
22:28
good
22:28
they
22:28
can't
22:28
ignore
22:29
you
22:29
now
22:33
someone
22:33
might
22:33
wonder
22:34
doesn't
22:35
Jesus
22:36
forbid
22:36
this
22:37
doesn't
22:39
he say
22:39
we ought
22:40
not
22:40
sound
22:41
the
22:41
trumpet
22:41
before
22:41
us
22:42
when
22:42
we
22:42
pray
22:42
does
22:44
he
22:44
not
22:44
tell
22:44
us
22:44
in
22:45
Matthew
22:45
6
22:45
1
22:45
beware
22:46
of
22:46
practicing
22:47
your
22:47
righteousness
22:47
before
22:48
others
22:48
Jesus
22:52
point
22:52
there
22:53
is
22:53
not
22:53
that
22:53
we
22:53
ought
22:53
to
22:54
hide
22:54
our
22:54
righteousness
22:55
if
22:56
it
22:56
was
22:56
then
22:57
he'd
22:57
be
22:57
contradicting
22:57
himself
22:58
because
22:59
it's
22:59
very
22:59
plain
23:00
in
23:00
13
23:00
through
23:00
16
23:01
he
23:02
wants
23:02
us
23:02
to
23:03
be
23:03
loud
23:03
and
23:03
proud
23:04
right
23:04
to
23:04
be
23:05
righteous
23:06
to
23:06
be
23:06
a
23:06
light
23:06
on
23:07
a
23:07
hill
23:07
his
23:09
point
23:09
rather
23:10
in
23:10
Matthew
23:10
6
23:10
1
23:11
and
23:11
these
23:11
other
23:11
texts
23:11
where
23:11
he
23:12
warns
23:12
against
23:12
this
23:13
practicing
23:14
of
23:14
righteousness
23:14
is
23:15
when
23:16
we
23:46
beware
23:46
of
23:47
practicing
23:47
your
23:47
righteousness
23:47
before
23:48
other
23:48
people
23:49
in
23:50
order
23:50
to
23:51
be
23:51
seen
23:51
by
23:52
them
23:52
that's
23:54
the
23:55
concern
23:55
but
23:58
for
23:58
God's
23:58
people
23:59
who
23:59
have
23:59
been
23:59
saved
23:59
by
24:00
grace
24:00
through
24:00
faith
24:00
on
24:01
account
24:01
of
24:01
the
24:01
personal
24:02
work
24:02
of
24:02
Jesus
24:02
Christ
24:02
we
24:04
actually
24:05
are
24:05
signs
24:05
and
24:05
we
24:06
are
24:06
to
24:06
demonstrate
24:07
the
24:07
faithfulness
24:08
of
24:08
God
24:08
by
24:10
our
24:10
righteousness
24:11
if
24:14
you
24:14
are
24:14
indeed
24:15
a
24:15
saved
24:15
citizen
24:16
of
24:16
this
24:17
well-lit
24:17
city
24:18
on
24:19
a
24:19
hill
24:19
you
24:21
cannot
24:21
be
24:22
hidden
24:22
and
24:22
you
24:22
must
24:23
not
24:23
be
24:24
hidden
24:25
but
24:29
to
24:30
what
24:30
end
24:30
it's
24:32
not
24:32
for
24:32
the
24:32
sake
24:33
of
24:33
being
24:33
seen
24:33
by
24:33
others
24:34
that's
24:34
clear
24:34
from
24:34
Matthew
24:35
6
24:35
1
24:35
our
24:36
inner
24:36
righteousness
24:37
gifted
24:37
to
24:37
us
24:38
by
24:38
grace
24:38
what
24:39
is
24:40
this
24:40
all
24:41
for
24:41
here
24:41
and
24:42
now
24:42
in
24:42
this
24:42
fallen
24:43
world
24:43
what
24:43
are
24:43
we
24:43
aiming
24:44
at
24:44
to
24:45
what
24:45
end
24:46
our
24:46
third
24:46
question
24:48
heading
24:51
number
24:51
three
24:51
to
24:51
the
24:52
glory
24:52
of
24:53
our
24:53
father
24:54
to
24:54
the
24:54
glory
24:55
of
24:56
our
24:56
father
24:57
look
24:59
at
24:59
verse
24:59
16
24:59
again
24:59
with
25:00
me
25:00
Jesus
25:01
says
25:02
so
25:03
your
25:03
light
25:03
must
25:04
shine
25:04
before
25:05
men
25:05
so
25:07
that
25:07
they
25:07
may
25:07
see
25:07
your
25:08
good
25:08
works
25:08
and
25:10
they
25:10
may
25:10
glorify
25:11
your
25:11
father
25:11
who
25:12
is
25:12
in
25:12
the
25:14
heavens
25:14
we
25:16
do
25:16
good
25:17
works
25:17
before
25:17
the
25:17
eyes
25:18
of
25:18
a
25:18
watching
25:18
world
25:19
to
25:19
the
25:19
glory
25:19
of
25:20
our
25:20
God
25:21
our
25:21
father
25:22
our
25:23
text
25:23
is
25:24
climaxing
25:24
with
25:25
this
25:25
very
25:25
progression
25:25
note
25:26
how
25:26
Jesus
25:27
begins
25:27
with
25:27
the
25:27
salt
25:28
of
25:28
the
25:28
earth
25:28
he
25:29
moves
25:29
to
25:29
the
25:29
light
25:29
of
25:29
the
25:29
world
25:30
and
25:30
to
25:30
our
25:30
father
25:31
in
25:31
the
25:32
heavens
25:32
as
25:33
signs
25:33
of
25:33
the
25:33
new
25:34
covenant
25:34
we
25:35
are
25:35
meant
25:36
to
25:36
be
25:36
a
25:36
guide
25:37
to
25:37
others
25:37
so
25:38
that
25:38
they
25:38
too
25:38
in
25:38
response
25:39
to
25:39
seeing
25:39
our
25:40
good
25:40
works
25:40
that
25:42
they
25:42
may
25:42
glorify
25:43
our
25:44
father
25:44
right
25:46
that's
25:46
that's
25:46
just
25:47
logical
25:48
if
25:49
I'm
25:49
going
25:50
around
25:50
announcing
25:50
the
25:51
goodness
25:51
of
25:51
Jesus
25:51
Christ
25:52
the
25:52
goodness
25:52
of
25:53
the
25:53
gospel
25:53
the
25:53
truth
25:54
and
25:54
reality
25:55
of
25:56
the
25:56
new
25:56
covenant
25:56
and
25:56
the
25:56
hearts
25:57
promised
25:57
within
25:58
that
25:58
new
25:58
covenant
25:58
yet
26:00
myself
26:00
not
26:00
living
26:01
righteously
26:03
not
26:04
actually
26:04
embodying
26:05
the truth
26:05
I'm
26:06
proclaiming
26:06
why
26:06
would
26:07
anyone
26:08
take
26:08
me
26:08
seriously
26:08
they
26:10
couldn't
26:10
they
26:10
shouldn't
26:12
and so
26:15
beloved
26:16
while we
26:16
need to
26:16
share
26:17
the
26:17
gospel
26:17
with
26:17
our
26:18
words
26:18
so
26:18
that
26:18
they
26:18
can
26:19
hear
26:19
it
26:19
and
26:19
faith
26:20
be
26:20
produced
26:21
and
26:21
Romans
26:21
10
26:21
17
26:22
kind
26:22
of
26:22
things
26:23
as
26:23
important
26:23
and
26:23
good
26:24
and
26:24
essential
26:24
as
26:25
that
26:25
lest
26:25
our
26:26
words
26:26
be
26:27
empty
26:28
not
26:30
perfect
26:31
lives
26:32
but
26:33
demonstrably
26:34
transformed
26:35
and
26:36
trustworthy
26:36
lives
26:37
lives
26:38
that
26:39
commend
26:39
themselves
26:40
that
26:40
commend
26:41
the
26:42
gospel
26:42
that
26:42
adorn
26:43
the
26:44
gospel
26:44
just
26:47
consider
26:47
Peter's
26:48
encouragement
26:48
in a very
26:49
specific
26:49
and difficult
26:50
context
26:51
to
26:51
Christian
26:52
women
26:52
married
26:52
to
26:52
unbelievers
26:54
he says
26:54
in 1st
26:55
Peter
26:55
chapter 3
26:56
verses
26:56
1
26:57
through
26:57
2
26:57
likewise
26:58
wives
26:59
be subject
27:00
to your
27:00
own
27:00
husbands
27:01
so that
27:02
even if
27:02
some
27:03
do not
27:03
obey
27:04
the
27:04
word
27:04
they may
27:04
be won
27:05
without
27:05
a word
27:06
by the
27:07
conduct
27:08
of their
27:09
wives
27:09
when they
27:10
see
27:11
your
27:11
respectful
27:12
and pure
27:13
conduct
27:15
and so
27:17
our very
27:17
lives
27:18
are
27:18
evidence
27:19
of God's
27:20
goodness
27:20
and when
27:21
the world
27:21
sees it
27:22
they may
27:23
glorify
27:24
God
27:26
now at
27:29
this point
27:29
it's important
27:30
to recall that
27:30
just before
27:31
our text
27:32
this morning
27:33
we began
27:33
in verse
27:34
13
27:34
but if you
27:36
go back
27:36
to verse
27:36
10
27:36
through 11
27:37
Jesus
27:38
concludes
27:39
the beatitude
27:39
section
27:40
and he
27:40
says this
27:41
blessed
27:43
are those
27:43
who are
27:44
persecuted
27:44
for righteousness
27:45
sake
27:46
for theirs
27:48
is the
27:48
kingdom
27:49
of heaven
27:50
blessed
27:51
are you
27:51
when others
27:52
revile you
27:52
and persecute
27:53
you
27:53
and utter
27:54
all kinds
27:55
of evil
27:55
against you
27:56
falsely
27:57
on my
27:59
account
28:00
in other
28:03
words
28:03
Jesus
28:03
in our
28:03
text
28:04
today
28:04
he's
28:04
not
28:05
promising
28:05
everyone
28:06
will
28:07
love
28:07
you
28:07
in
28:08
response
28:08
to
28:08
your
28:09
righteousness
28:10
clearly
28:10
he says
28:11
we should
28:11
expect
28:11
persecution
28:12
from some
28:13
for our
28:14
righteousness
28:15
but even
28:18
in their
28:19
persecution
28:20
though they
28:21
do not
28:22
intend it
28:23
they glorify
28:25
our
28:26
father
28:26
Peter
28:29
speaks to
28:29
this as
28:30
well
28:30
in 1
28:30
Peter
28:31
2
28:31
12
28:31
saying
28:32
keep
28:34
your
28:34
conduct
28:35
among
28:35
the
28:35
Gentiles
28:36
and by
28:36
Gentiles
28:37
he means
28:37
unbelievers
28:38
right
28:38
keep your
28:38
conduct
28:39
among
28:39
the
28:39
unbelievers
28:40
honorable
28:41
so that
28:42
right
28:43
this is
28:44
the reason
28:44
so that
28:45
when
28:45
they speak
28:46
against
28:46
you
28:47
as
28:47
evildoers
28:48
they may
28:50
see your
28:50
good deeds
28:51
and glorify
28:52
God
28:53
on the
28:54
day
28:54
of
28:55
visitation
28:56
so
28:58
thus
28:58
everyone
28:58
who
28:58
responds
28:59
to our
29:00
good
29:00
works
29:00
when we
29:01
are
29:01
shining
29:01
our
29:02
light
29:02
we are
29:03
living
29:03
righteously
29:04
before the
29:05
eyes
29:05
of a
29:06
watching
29:07
world
29:07
everyone
29:08
responds
29:09
glorifying
29:10
God
29:10
it's just
29:11
a question
29:12
of is it
29:12
indirect
29:13
through
29:13
persecution
29:14
or directly
29:16
through
29:16
conversion
29:17
and we
29:20
rejoice
29:20
in both
29:22
in all
29:22
things
29:23
our
29:23
righteousness
29:23
is meant
29:24
to display
29:26
the beauty
29:26
and supremacy
29:27
and glory
29:28
of our
29:30
God
29:31
as John
29:35
Piper has
29:35
said
29:36
in proving
29:36
on the
29:37
Westminster
29:38
confession of
29:38
faith
29:39
he said
29:39
the chief
29:40
end of
29:40
man
29:41
is to
29:42
glorify
29:43
God
29:43
by
29:45
enjoying
29:46
him
29:46
forever
29:47
how do
29:49
we enjoy
29:50
God
29:50
by living
29:51
righteously
29:52
for his
29:54
name's
29:54
sake
29:55
proverbs
29:57
21 3
29:58
to do
29:58
what is
29:59
right
29:59
and just
30:00
same root
30:01
word for
30:02
righteousness
30:02
to do
30:03
what is
30:03
right
30:03
and just
30:04
is more
30:06
acceptable
30:07
to the
30:07
Lord
30:08
than
30:10
sacrifice
30:11
and so
30:13
beloved
30:14
as signs
30:14
of the
30:15
new
30:15
covenant
30:16
witnessing
30:17
by our
30:18
good works
30:19
to God's
30:21
saving reign
30:22
coming in
30:23
and through
30:23
the person
30:24
and work
30:24
of Jesus
30:24
Christ
30:25
to the
30:26
glory of
30:26
God
30:27
that we
30:29
ought to
30:29
be active
30:30
strategic
30:32
ambitious
30:33
zealous
30:34
to live
30:36
lives that
30:36
commend
30:37
the
30:37
righteousness
30:38
of our
30:40
great and
30:41
glorious
30:41
God
30:43
it's who
30:45
we are
30:46
it's what
30:46
we
30:46
live
30:47
now I'd
30:51
like to
30:52
take these
30:53
closing moments
30:53
just offer a
30:54
few additional
30:55
applications and
30:56
reflections that I
30:58
pray Lord willing
30:59
will help us
31:00
fulfill this
31:01
number one
31:05
memento
31:07
mori
31:08
that is the
31:11
old Latin
31:11
expression that
31:12
means remember
31:13
you will
31:15
die
31:15
it's exciting
31:17
I think about
31:21
this a lot
31:22
in Christian
31:23
history you may
31:24
well know
31:25
Christians took
31:26
this aphorism
31:27
from the
31:27
Romans
31:28
the Romans
31:29
used to have
31:30
skulls on their
31:31
dinner tables as a
31:31
reminder that they
31:32
would die and it
31:33
was meant to remind
31:33
them to live it
31:34
up eat drink be
31:35
merry for tomorrow
31:36
we die
31:36
but Christians
31:38
took this
31:39
and transfigured
31:41
it to remember
31:42
our lives are
31:43
limited and we
31:43
will give an
31:45
account we
31:47
ought to live
31:48
well
31:49
and so my
31:51
challenge to you
31:52
from this morning
31:53
the challenge I'm
31:53
giving myself
31:54
again not as a
31:55
rebuke but as a
31:56
as an encouragement
31:57
as a pressing
31:58
as a zealous
32:00
effort to keep
32:01
striving
32:02
is that in light of
32:04
this wisdom and in
32:05
light of this text
32:05
this morning I want
32:06
you to ask yourself
32:07
this week today
32:08
am I being
32:10
faithful with the
32:11
skills resources
32:12
and opportunities
32:13
God has given
32:15
me to have my
32:16
light shine before
32:17
others so they
32:20
may glorify him
32:20
if you're lacking
32:23
skills resources
32:24
and opportunities
32:26
which I don't
32:26
think you are
32:27
but but if you
32:28
think you are
32:29
then the question
32:30
is are you seeking
32:31
to create and
32:33
receive skills
32:33
resources and
32:34
opportunities for
32:35
this all important
32:36
kingdom work
32:39
I just think of
32:41
the encouraging
32:41
words of James
32:42
and James 1 5
32:44
with wisdom
32:44
specifically he
32:45
says if any of
32:46
you lacks wisdom
32:47
right if that if
32:48
that's if that's
32:49
the excuse you're
32:49
writing right if
32:50
he said if you
32:51
lack it let him
32:53
ask God who gives
32:54
generously to all
32:56
without reproach
32:58
and it will be
32:59
given to him
33:01
and so if there's
33:04
any godly
33:05
ambition among
33:07
you I want to
33:07
encourage you
33:08
pursue it
33:09
trusting God
33:12
will provide
33:13
right take
33:14
risks for the
33:16
kingdom
33:16
and so as a
33:20
challenge I
33:20
encourage you all
33:21
with me examine
33:22
our lives are we
33:23
spending ourselves
33:24
well for the
33:26
kingdom do we
33:28
have faith of a
33:30
mustard seed that
33:30
can move
33:31
mountains
33:33
application number
33:36
two go and
33:39
tell
33:39
it's been
33:42
remarked by
33:43
many that the
33:44
mission of the
33:44
old testament
33:45
people of God
33:46
Israel was a
33:47
come and see
33:48
endeavor right
33:49
come to our
33:50
hill come come
33:50
check us out
33:51
we've got good
33:52
falafel whatever
33:53
but the new
33:56
covenant people of
33:57
God are a go
33:58
and tell
33:59
movement
34:00
God may call
34:03
some of you to
34:03
move out of
34:04
country at some
34:05
point that's not
34:06
necessarily what I'm
34:06
talking about
34:07
when I say go
34:09
and tell
34:10
rather I'm
34:12
simply encouraging
34:14
us all to think
34:15
together as a body
34:16
strategically
34:17
sacrificially
34:17
for how we
34:20
might follow
34:21
through on
34:21
witnessing to
34:22
those in our
34:23
community
34:23
right tomorrow
34:26
morning most
34:27
of us will
34:28
go to work
34:30
or we will
34:31
go to school
34:32
or we will
34:32
go to the
34:34
grocery store
34:34
and in these
34:36
places that you
34:36
go as a sign
34:38
of the new
34:38
covenant you
34:39
ought to tell
34:40
tell your
34:42
co-worker about
34:42
the good news
34:43
of Jesus Christ
34:44
tell your
34:45
classmates your
34:46
teachers your
34:47
students your
34:47
children why
34:49
you have a
34:49
such such a
34:50
hope in you
34:51
right tell the
34:53
cashier at
34:53
Walmart that
34:55
our church meets
34:55
at 1045 on
34:56
AM and would
34:57
love to have
34:58
them right go
34:59
and tell
35:01
going and
35:04
telling can
35:04
also include
35:06
inviting others
35:07
to come and
35:08
see right
35:10
perhaps you
35:11
and your family
35:11
can host
35:12
unbelievers this
35:13
week for
35:13
dinner in your
35:14
neighborhood
35:15
form friendships
35:17
with such
35:17
persons through
35:18
pickleball leagues
35:19
or whatever it
35:20
is you do
35:21
right maybe
35:22
maybe a crew
35:23
of us this
35:24
is just an
35:24
idea volunteers
35:26
to run the
35:27
concession stands
35:28
at Lumpkin
35:28
County football
35:29
games right
35:30
just a way to
35:31
get out there
35:32
a way to get
35:32
our name there
35:34
a way to
35:34
shine light
35:36
in our
35:36
community
35:37
and I'll
35:40
tell you like
35:40
one of the
35:41
ways I'm
35:42
super encouraged
35:43
by our body
35:44
uniquely for
35:45
how well we
35:45
do this
35:46
is in the
35:48
foster care
35:48
ministry that's
35:49
just kind of
35:49
organically
35:50
developed here
35:51
over the
35:51
years
35:51
and I'm not
35:53
just thinking
35:54
of the parents
35:54
who are actually
35:55
doing the
35:55
fostering as
35:56
great and
35:57
wonderful as
35:57
that is I'm
35:57
also thinking
35:58
of the many
35:59
of you who
36:00
are supporting
36:00
those parents
36:01
through meals
36:02
childcare and
36:03
other various
36:04
supports this
36:05
church wide
36:06
effort to
36:07
care for
36:08
the orphans
36:09
what a
36:11
testimony to
36:12
our father
36:12
who adopted
36:13
us by grace
36:15
what a witness
36:15
to the
36:17
gospel
36:18
so thankful
36:20
for that and
36:21
so I know
36:21
there's so many
36:23
real ongoing
36:24
activities of
36:25
faithfulness in
36:26
the life of our
36:26
body to
36:27
evangelize and
36:29
witness but
36:32
again the
36:32
challenge I
36:33
want to ask
36:33
can we as a
36:34
collective whole
36:35
be even more
36:37
fruitful is
36:40
there a way we
36:40
could do more
36:42
or make reasonable
36:43
changes for
36:44
maximum kingdom
36:46
impact and
36:47
that's not a
36:48
loaded question
36:49
I'm not about to
36:50
break out my
36:50
bullet plan list
36:51
that's an open
36:53
invitation for us
36:54
to think together
36:56
about how to be
36:56
more effective
36:58
and remember that
37:02
we are to go
37:02
and tell to live
37:03
righteously to do
37:04
this light
37:04
shining work
37:06
before all
37:08
men
37:08
and so I
37:11
want to say
37:11
this as a
37:13
loving warning
37:13
not a rebuke
37:15
but a loving
37:16
warning
37:16
that we are to
37:19
shine our light
37:19
before all men
37:21
and not just to
37:22
our spouse and
37:23
children at home
37:24
there is this
37:27
impulse that I
37:29
fear growing
37:30
in our kind of
37:33
broadly reformed
37:34
evangelical tribe
37:35
to sort of
37:36
shelter in place
37:38
to remove any
37:40
and all outside
37:41
influence
37:42
that's coming from
37:44
a very good
37:45
impulse right
37:46
we want to
37:46
protect our
37:47
children we want
37:47
to preserve our
37:48
faith I want
37:49
that I love my
37:50
kids I do not
37:51
want them to know
37:52
about some of the
37:52
things of this
37:53
world and so
37:55
that's a good
37:56
impulse but we
37:58
need to be
37:58
reminded we
37:59
can preserve
38:01
and protect
38:02
on the march
38:04
right we want
38:04
to we want to
38:05
balance this
38:06
this good and
38:07
God honoring
38:08
impulse by
38:11
remembering that
38:11
we are a faith
38:13
that is on the
38:13
offensive
38:14
right we are
38:17
besieging the
38:18
gates of hell
38:19
hell is not
38:20
besieging the
38:22
gates of
38:23
heaven
38:24
and so again
38:26
we need to
38:27
examine ourselves
38:28
is our life
38:30
built such that
38:31
we are a beacon
38:33
on a hill for
38:34
the world to
38:35
see
38:35
or are we
38:38
doing everything
38:39
we can to
38:41
hide under a
38:41
basket out of
38:42
fear of the
38:43
world but in
38:44
the name of
38:45
faith it's so
38:48
easy to get
38:49
caught in that
38:50
trap and so
38:52
if I can put it
38:53
this way riffing
38:54
on the old
38:54
expression I
38:55
want to say
38:55
don't be of
38:58
such a
38:58
separatist bent
39:00
in your pursuit
39:01
of heavenly
39:01
things that
39:04
you are of no
39:04
earthly good
39:06
right it's
39:09
true we want
39:10
to live
39:10
peaceable
39:11
gentle
39:12
quiet
39:12
lives as
39:14
Paul urges
39:14
us to pray
39:15
for in
39:15
first
39:16
Timothy
39:17
2
39:18
we don't
39:20
want to use
39:20
that as an
39:22
excuse for
39:22
inactivity or
39:24
hiding
39:25
after all this
39:28
is the same
39:28
Paul who
39:29
turned the
39:30
world upside
39:31
down
39:32
this is the
39:34
same Paul who
39:34
was imprisoned
39:35
and killed for
39:36
his faith
39:37
the same Paul
39:37
who was stoned
39:38
by angry mobs
39:39
chased out of
39:40
town for
39:42
shining his
39:42
light before
39:45
all men
39:45
and so are
39:47
we building
39:48
our lives to
39:48
be seen for
39:50
the glory of
39:51
God that's
39:52
the question I
39:53
can't answer
39:54
that for all
39:54
of you but we
39:55
have to answer
39:55
that together
39:57
application number
39:59
three relatedly
40:00
do all this
40:02
with and
40:03
through the
40:04
church
40:05
in this passage
40:08
today the all
40:09
the you's right
40:10
you are you
40:11
are these are
40:13
actually plural
40:14
and so
40:15
translated in a
40:16
midwestern
40:17
dialect I like
40:18
to picture Jesus
40:18
talks that way
40:19
it would sound
40:21
something like
40:21
this you guys
40:22
are the salt of
40:23
the earth you
40:24
guys are the
40:25
light of the
40:25
world you guys
40:26
must shine your
40:26
light before
40:27
others it
40:28
sounds really
40:29
chill that way
40:29
but and so
40:32
the church is the
40:33
first fruits of
40:34
this new creation
40:35
it is the city
40:36
on a mountain
40:36
and thus Jesus
40:39
while caring about
40:40
what we do
40:41
privately is
40:43
is primarily
40:44
in these three
40:45
verses actually
40:46
thinking about how
40:46
we live and act
40:47
as one public
40:48
corporate body
40:49
that's actually
40:51
the emphasis
40:51
here
40:52
and so as a
40:54
corporate body
40:55
as a church
40:56
as signs of
40:57
the new covenant
40:58
we have to work
41:00
together to keep
41:01
the lights on in
41:02
this great city
41:02
we've been gifted
41:03
right we have to
41:05
think strategically
41:06
and practically
41:07
about how best
41:09
to spend our
41:09
time efforts
41:10
resources for
41:11
the sake of
41:11
this maximum
41:13
important kingdom
41:15
work both here
41:17
and abroad
41:18
and so this means
41:20
things like holding
41:22
one another
41:22
accountable through
41:23
discipleship
41:24
confession of sins
41:25
so that we may
41:25
live righteously
41:26
something I think
41:27
our church does
41:27
really well
41:29
I'm so thankful
41:30
for this means
41:31
encouraging one
41:31
another in the
41:32
faith and the
41:33
gospel reminding
41:34
ourselves of our
41:35
identity we've been
41:35
given we're not
41:37
earning our salvation
41:38
and all this
41:38
important work
41:39
we're responding
41:40
we need to
41:43
recognize and
41:44
exhort one
41:45
another's gifts
41:46
and deploy those
41:47
in public service
41:48
and I don't just
41:49
have Sunday morning
41:49
in mind but
41:50
anywhere and
41:51
everywhere deploy
41:52
one another
41:53
right recognizing
41:54
to riff on Paul
41:56
here the goodness
41:57
of the hand and
41:57
the goodness of the
41:58
foot and how they
42:00
contribute to the
42:00
welfare of the
42:02
body while also
42:03
recognizing the
42:04
foot's not the
42:05
hand nor the
42:05
hand the foot
42:06
right we all have
42:07
our giftings and
42:08
our areas we are
42:09
called to serve
42:12
and so we want to
42:13
do all this with
42:14
and through the
42:16
church with one
42:17
another in love
42:20
and humility and
42:22
figure out what
42:23
does it look like
42:23
for us to deploy
42:25
well in Lumpkin
42:27
County in Hall
42:28
County in Dawson
42:29
in the places we
42:31
represent and so
42:35
in closing brothers
42:35
and sisters I'm
42:36
asking us all not
42:37
just to dream big
42:38
not just to think
42:40
big but to plan
42:43
to do extraordinary
42:45
things through
42:46
ordinary faith with
42:49
one another this is
42:51
who we are it's
42:53
what we are to do
42:54
before the eyes of a
42:55
watching world and to
42:57
the glory of our
42:59
heavenly father let's
43:00
consider let's think
43:01
may may may may may may may
43:03
may may may may may may may
43:04
And let's pray.