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Hebrews 10:23 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

• 0:00
  Turn your copy of God's Word to Hebrews chapter 10.
• 0:09
  I'm really thankful that I get to preach following music like that.
• 0:14
  !
• 0:30
  We've been talking about the vision of Christ's family church.
• 0:36
  And our official vision statement is that Christ's family church exists to experience, proclaim, and display the supremacy of Jesus Christ in all things.
• 0:45
  I hope that's a phrase that's beginning to build itself both into your consciousness and your subconsciousness.
• 0:51
  But we've been talking more specifically about how it is that that works itself out.
• 0:55
  And we've been working our way through the last two weeks we spent in verse 22.
• 1:01
  And today we're going to begin in verse 23.
• 1:04
  But I think it's first always important that we talk about verse 19, 20, and 21.
• 1:12
  Because in them we find great privileges granted to us by Christ.
• 1:18
  Two, to be certain, here in this text.
• 1:21
  And they are, number one, unlimited accessibility to God.
• 1:27
  We see that in verse 19 and 20.
• 1:30
  Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
• 1:35
  by the new and living way that he has opened for us through the curtain that is through his flesh.
• 1:40
  So we have been granted full access to God through Christ's death on our behalf.
• 1:46
  And number two, a great advocacy with God.
• 1:51
  The second privilege, a great advocacy with God.
• 1:53
  We see in verse 21 that we have a great priest over the house of God.
• 1:58
  So even now, Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us,
• 2:04
  meaning that he is praying for us.
• 2:07
  He stands between us and God, cloaking us in his righteousness so that we can, in fact, approach God.
• 2:16
  So we have unlimited accessibility and great advocacy as a result.
• 2:22
  And in light of that truth, the writer of Hebrews gives us three exhortations.
• 2:28
  Three exhortations.
• 2:29
  And these things are to be practiced by God's church.
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  The Puritans called them, called it improving upon our privileges, which isn't to say that the privileges aren't themselves enough,
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  but that they're not being used if they're not being practiced.
• 2:48
  So they said we would improve upon these privileges granted to us by Christ.
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  And we see three of those.
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  And the first way that we improve upon these privileges is to draw near to God together.
• 2:59
  And we spoke over the last two weeks about Christian worship and what that ought to look like.
• 3:04
  Our gatherings together, not just music, but our study of the word of God and our prayers together.
• 3:11
  And I drew out for you six truths from verse 22.
• 3:16
  And I want to quickly go over those with you.
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  Number one, Christian worship is corporate in emphasis.
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  Number two, frequent in occurrence.
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  Number three, entirely preoccupied with God.
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  Number four, includes all of who we are, meaning head and heart.
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  Number five, it is confident.
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  And number six, it is preceded by purification.
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  You must be a Christian to participate in Christian worship.
• 3:47
  And so we come today in verse 23 to the second way we improve upon these privileges bought for us by Christ.
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  And that's the focus of this morning's sermon is verse 23.
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  The sermon should be, I think, short in length.
• 4:02
  I'm going to surprise myself sometimes.
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  And it will be, I hope, simply profound.
• 4:09
  Let's read verse 23 together.
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  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.
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  For he who promised is faithful.
• 4:21
  And I want to give to you three points to help us break down verse 23.
• 4:26
  And in order to do so, I've rewarded it.
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  I've taken some liberty and made my own translation of verse 23 to say,
• 4:34
  We have a confession that we should not be moved from because we have a promise from one who cannot lie.
• 4:44
  Let me repeat that for you.
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  We have a confession that we should not be moved from because we have a promise from one who cannot lie.
• 4:55
  So number one, we have a confession.
• 5:00
  That ought to be, ought to be an amazing phrase to us.
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  As Christians, we have a confession.
• 5:08
  And you see that in this phrase, the confession of our hope.
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  We should hold fast the confession of our hope.
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  It ought to be shocking to us.
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  It ought to be precious because we live in a world with the most radical expression of free thought.
• 5:23
  Post-modernism.
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  If you're not aware, the age we live in is called the post-modern age.
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  Modernism being what most of your parents would be, would be modernist.
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  And that they measure the success of something by the visible things they can measure.
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  The scientific method is a modernistic way of thinking.
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  Not wrong in any measure.
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  Now, most of us, though, in this room are what we would call post-moderns.
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  And what that means is that there is no truth except the truth we decide is ours.
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  The truth we decide to own.
• 6:00
  Our own perception of what truth is.
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  And a great example of this is always if we all walked out in the parking lot together and suddenly there was a car accident.
• 6:09
  Somebody was going to the parking lot quickly and somebody backed out.
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  We would all have a different perception of what happened.
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  If the police showed up and interviewed each of us individually, we would tell a slightly different story.
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  Right?
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  Maybe I was looking at the ground.
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  And so I heard what happened.
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  And maybe I smelled the screech of the tires.
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  But I didn't actually see the collision.
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  So I would tell a much different story from someone who was looking at it.
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  And the post-modernist says, well, that truth is your truth.
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  And that truth is your truth.
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  And therefore, you define truth for yourself.
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  But the fact remains that there is still something that happened.
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  Right?
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  An object truth of something that happened, whether we experienced it to be true or not.
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  And we find now in our culture that we've gone a step further, the most radical expression of free thought.
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  We've gone a step further to say, not only do I define truth for myself, but I wouldn't be so audacious to say that it's true.
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  So I experience something, say, in our example, the car accident.
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  I hear what happens in the collision.
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  And I say, well, I heard it, but I can't say for sure what I heard was right.
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  And that's the world that we live in.
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  So for us to have a confession is a pretty major deal.
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  I love this little quote G.K. Chesterton wrote in his book, Orthodoxy.
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  Do not go about as a demagogue.
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  A demagogue is a person who rises to power by not appealing to people's rationality, but appealing to their emotions, their prejudices.
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  A good example of a demagogue would be Hitler.
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  Okay?
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  Do not go about as a demagogue and encouraging triangles to break out of the prison of their three sides.
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  If a triangle breaks out of its three sides, its life comes to a lamentable end.
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  And you was trying to say there are absolutes in our world.
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  There are object truths that exist in our world.
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  Don't go around trying to tell a triangle to quit being a triangle because that's so confining to it.
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  Because as soon as it decides not to be a triangle, it ceases to be a triangle when it comes to a lamentable end.
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  So we have a confession.
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  A confession, the word simply means what one professes to be true.
• 8:27
  But the original language, the Greek, carries a little more meaning with it and can actually be rendered whom we profess to be true or whom we profess to be ours.
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  So you could say the one we profess who is our hope.
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  Isn't that neat?
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  The one we profess who is our hope.
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  And of course, when we talk here about hope, we're not talking about the kind of hope that we've kind of adapted in our English language.
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  The cross your fingers.
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  I hope I get a bicycle for Christmas.
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  That kind of hope.
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  It's an eager expectation of the good things that have been promised to us.
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  To hold fast the confession of our hope.
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  The one whom we profess who is our hope.
• 9:15
  So I'd like for you to turn with me to Titus chapter 3.
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  This is one of my favorite expressions of our hope.
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  This common confession that we hold as Christians.
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  I find this to be such a beautiful gospel presentation by Paul as he writes a pastoral letter to Titus.
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  So Titus chapter 3.
• 9:41
  We'll read verses 3 through 7 together.
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  Paul wrote,
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  What a blessing that is.
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  Nothing.
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  Nothing.
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  Nothing.
• 11:15
  God is entirely sovereign in our salvation and deserves all the honor and glory and praise for it.
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  If you don't share with us this confession this morning.
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  If you don't recognize that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
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  And he is the only way.
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  Not a way.
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  But the way.
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  The truth.
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  And the life.
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  You have no hope.
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  That's what the scriptures are teaching us here.
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  You have no hope at all.
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  Your soul is in a desperate state.
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  And you can fix that now.
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  repent and believe in Christ.
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  Repent and believe in Christ.
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  And go to many gatherings of God's people and you would feel that you would have to wait until the end of the service for that to be a possibility for you.
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  That I must give some holy calling to the altar.
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  I'm not your intermediary.
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  I'm not your intermediary.
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  Who is?
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  We just talked about it.
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  Jesus Christ.
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  He's the one that stands between you and God.
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  Run to him.
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  And even now.
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  That you might be saved.
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  So we have a confession.
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  That we should not be moved from.
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  Point two.
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  We have a confession.
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  That we should not.
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  Be moved from.
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  Beginning.
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  Verse 23 says.
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  Let us hold fast.
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  And.
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  Very much like the beginning of verse 22.
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  Let us.
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  Draw near.
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  This is one Greek verb.
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  Rather fascinating in its form.
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  It is.
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  An active.
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  Volative.
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  Subjunctive.
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  Verb.
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  Very fancy.
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  Active.
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  Volative.
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  Subjunctive.
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  Which means simply this.
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  Because it's in the active form.
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  We are to continually hold fast.
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  He's saying.
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  Hold fast now.
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  And.
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  On.
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  And on.
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  And on.
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  Continue to hold.
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  Fast.
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  It's.
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  In the volative form.
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  Which expresses the speaker's will.
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  Specifically.
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  As a.
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  First person.
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  Plural.
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  Command.
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  To join him in something.
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  That he's already committed to doing himself.
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  Right.
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  First person.
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  Plural command.
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  Let.
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  Us.
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  He even includes himself.
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  In the command.
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  Let.
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  Us.
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  As those.
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  Who have been called out by God.
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  To worship him.
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  Hold.
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  Fast.
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  To the confession.
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  Of our hope.
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  And.
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  It's.
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  Subjunctive.
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  Which indicates.
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  An idea.
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  Or.
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  An abstraction.
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  It's.
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  Something.
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  Without.
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  Certain.
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  Reality.
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  One.
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  Greek scholar.
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  Explained.
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  The verb.
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  This way.
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  I've said.
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  Most of this.
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  But he said.
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  The active.
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  Auto.
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  Subjunctive.
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  Verb.
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  Is meant.
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  To.
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  Urge.
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  Someone.
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  To unite.
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  With the speaker.
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  In a course.
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  Of action.
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  Upon.
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  Which.
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  He.
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  Has.
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  Already.
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  Decided.
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  Let us.
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  Hold.
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  Fast.
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  Without.
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  Wavering.
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  John Calvin.
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  Once wrote.
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  A perfect faith.
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  Is nowhere.
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  To be found.
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  So it follows.
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  That all of us.
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  Are partly.
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  Unbelievers.
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  A perfect faith.
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  Is nowhere.
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  To be found.
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  So it follows.
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  That all of us.
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  Are partly.
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  Unbelievers.
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  It's.
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  Subjunctive.
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  It's not.
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  Sure.
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  Is it.
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  That we'll.
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  Hold fast.
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  The confession.
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  Of our hope.
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  Is it.
• 14:48
  We.
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  We.
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  We.
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  Waver a lot.
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  Don't we.
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  Without.
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  Wavering.
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  I feel like.
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  We often.
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  Drift.
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  To and fro.
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  We're.
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  Blown.
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  As the future.
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  For say.
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  Back and forth.
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  By every wind.
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  Of doctrine.
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  By every.
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  Form of.
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  Free thought.
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  Many of you.
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  Are students.
• 15:05
  At North Georgia.
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  And.
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  You experience.
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  An.
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  Onslaught.
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  Of poor.
• 15:11
  Philosophy.
• 15:11
  You.
• 15:12
  You.
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  You wrestle.
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  With things.
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  And I don't know.
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  That we always come out.
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  The other side of that.
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  Healthier for it.
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  I pray that you do.
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  Without.
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  Wavering.
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  Is a negative.
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  Participle.
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  It means.
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  Not.
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  Inclining.
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  Or not.
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  Deviating.
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  From.
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  It means.
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  Firm.
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  Unmoved.
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  Let us.
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  Hold.
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  Fast.
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  The confession.
• 15:37
  Of our hope.
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  Without wavering.
• 15:38
  Plant.
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  Ourselves.
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  Firmly.
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  In.
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  Christ.
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  Whom.
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  Is our hope.
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  With these two.
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  Phrases.
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  The writer of Hebrews.
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  Brings together.
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  In verse 23.
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  Of chapter 10.
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  Language.
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  Used in chapter 3.
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  Of Hebrews.
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  I'm going to ask you to flip.
• 15:54
  Back a couple of pages for me.
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  To chapter 3 of Hebrews.
• 15:57
  I want to show you two verses.
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  That he's now.
• 16:00
  Tying together for us.
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  In chapter 10.
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  I want to note.
• 16:08
  As you're doing that.
• 16:09
  That I just pointed out.
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  That the verb is subjunctive.
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  It's not sure.
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  Okay.
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  Hebrews chapter 3.
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  Verse 6.
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  Reads.
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  Christ.
• 16:17
  Is faithful.
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  Over God's house.
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  As a son.
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  And we are his house.
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  If indeed.
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  We hold fast.
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  Our confidence.
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  And our boasting.
• 16:24
  And our hope.
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  Right.
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  We are part of God's house.
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  If.
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  We hold fast.
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  And that phrase.
• 16:31
  Hold fast.
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  Same Greek word.
• 16:32
  Hold fast.
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  Our confidence.
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  And our boasting.
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  And our hope.
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  And in Hebrews.
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  3.
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  14.
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  For we have come to.
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  Share in Christ.
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  We have come to share in Christ.
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  If indeed.
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  We hold.
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  Our original confidence.
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  Firm.
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  To the end.
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  If indeed.
• 16:51
  We hold.
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  Our original confidence.
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  Firm.
• 16:54
  To the end.
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  So what seems to be.
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  Expressed to me here.
• 16:57
  Is that.
• 16:57
  If we.
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  If we.
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  Don't.
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  Hold.
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  To the confession.
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  Of our hope.
• 17:01
  If we don't.
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  Remain.
• 17:03
  On that course.
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  Then we're not in Christ.
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  We're not part.
• 17:07
  Of the house of God.
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  So.
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  Can we lose our salvation?
• 17:14
  Feels that way.
• 17:14
  A little bit.
• 17:15
  Doesn't it?
• 17:16
  What part.
• 17:16
  Exactly.
• 17:17
  Do we play.
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  In this.
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  Go back.
• 17:21
  To Hebrews.
• 17:21
  Chapter 10.
• 17:22
  How extensive.
• 17:29
  Exactly.
• 17:29
  Is our role.
• 17:30
  In our sanctification.
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  Read with me.
• 17:34
  Verse 11.
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  Through 14.
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  Every priest.
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  Stands daily.
• 17:41
  At his service.
• 17:42
  Offering.
• 17:43
  Repeatedly.
• 17:43
  The same.
• 17:44
  Sacrifices.
• 17:45
  Which can never.
• 17:45
  Take away.
• 17:46
  Sins.
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  Recall.
• 17:48
  The writer of Hebrews.
• 17:49
  Is writing to a Jewish audience.
• 17:50
  They understood.
• 17:51
  Sacrificial.
• 17:52
  System.
• 17:52
  If you don't.
• 17:54
  The temple.
• 17:54
  Or the tabernacle.
• 17:56
  When God established that.
• 17:57
  Was a place.
• 17:58
  Of activity.
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  Constant.
• 18:01
  Sacrifice.
• 18:01
  Being made.
• 18:02
  Over.
• 18:03
  And over.
• 18:04
  And over.
• 18:04
  And over again.
• 18:05
  They were busy men.
• 18:06
  The priests.
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  In fact.
• 18:08
  In the.
• 18:09
  Carefully.
• 18:09
  Laid out.
• 18:10
  Plan.
• 18:11
  For the tabernacle.
• 18:12
  And the temple.
• 18:13
  There.
• 18:13
  Were no seats.
• 18:16
  There was no need.
• 18:16
  For them.
• 18:18
  God gave them.
• 18:18
  Every piece of furniture.
• 18:20
  To arrange in there.
• 18:21
  There was nowhere.
• 18:22
  To sit down.
• 18:22
  Because.
• 18:23
  They never had time.
• 18:25
  They constantly.
• 18:26
  Made the same sacrifices.
• 18:27
  Which can never.
• 18:28
  Take away sins.
• 18:28
  Verse 12.
• 18:29
  But when Christ.
• 18:30
  Had offered.
• 18:31
  For all time.
• 18:32
  A single sacrifice.
• 18:34
  For sins.
• 18:34
  Himself.
• 18:35
  He sat down.
• 18:36
  At the right hand.
• 18:37
  Of God.
• 18:38
  Sat down.
• 18:39
  This would have been.
• 18:39
  Very significant.
• 18:40
  In their minds.
• 18:41
  A priest who sits.
• 18:43
  That's crazy.
• 18:44
  It is.
• 18:45
  Finished.
• 18:46
  Verse 13.
• 18:47
  Waiting from that time.
• 18:48
  Until his enemy.
• 18:49
  Should made a footstool.
• 18:50
  For his feet.
• 18:51
  For by a single offering.
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  He has perfected.
• 18:53
  For all.
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  Time.
• 18:56
  Those.
• 18:57
  Who are being.
• 18:58
  Sanctified.
• 18:59
  Sanctified.
• 19:00
  Kind of interesting.
• 19:02
  Turn of phrase there.
• 19:04
  For by a single offering.
• 19:06
  He has perfected.
• 19:09
  Present tense.
• 19:10
  For all time.
• 19:11
  Those who are being.
• 19:13
  Sanctified.
• 19:14
  Or.
• 19:15
  Perfected.
• 19:17
  Fascinating.
• 19:19
  So.
• 19:19
  What part do we play.
• 19:21
  In this.
• 19:21
  In this activity.
• 19:22
  What.
• 19:24
  How does this play out for us.
• 19:26
  Paul says in Philippians 1.
• 19:27
  6.
• 19:27
  And I am sure of this.
• 19:28
  Or confident of this.
• 19:30
  That he who began.
• 19:31
  A good work in you.
• 19:32
  Will bring it to completion.
• 19:33
  At the day.
• 19:34
  Of Jesus Christ.
• 19:35
  The end.
• 19:36
  Which is what we.
• 19:37
  Saw here.
• 19:39
  In this last verse.
• 19:41
  But he also said.
• 19:42
  In 2 Corinthians 11.
• 19:43
  28.
• 19:43
  That there is daily pressure on me.
• 19:46
  Of anxiety.
• 19:47
  For all of the churches.
• 19:51
  Does this.
• 19:52
  Confuse you.
• 19:53
  At all.
• 19:54
  This.
• 19:54
  This reality.
• 19:55
  That.
• 19:55
  That the two exist.
• 19:56
  At the same time.
• 19:57
  That God is fully.
• 19:58
  Sovereign.
• 19:58
  Has in fact.
• 19:59
  Accomplished.
• 20:00
  Our perfection.
• 20:02
  Has.
• 20:02
  In Christ.
• 20:04
  Sealed.
• 20:05
  What will happen.
• 20:05
  To his church.
• 20:06
  That she will be presented.
• 20:08
  Holy.
• 20:09
  And blameless.
• 20:10
  Before God.
• 20:12
  But.
• 20:12
  Yet.
• 20:12
  That we play a part in that.
• 20:14
  That we have responsibility.
• 20:14
  In that.
• 20:15
  To hold.
• 20:16
  Fast.
• 20:17
  The confession of our faith.
• 20:18
  To pursue.
• 20:19
  Holiness.
• 20:20
  With all.
• 20:21
  That we are.
• 20:24
  Does it confuse you?
• 20:25
  Because it should.
• 20:26
  It's okay.
• 20:29
  Take a big deep breath.
• 20:30
  It's alright.
• 20:31
  The two truths.
• 20:32
  Coexist.
• 20:33
  All throughout the scriptures.
• 20:35
  Work out your salvation.
• 20:37
  With fear and trembling.
• 20:38
  For it is God.
• 20:38
  Who works.
• 20:39
  In you.
• 20:40
  To accomplish his good pleasure.
• 20:43
  We are called.
• 20:45
  To strain.
• 20:46
  To labor.
• 20:48
  For holiness.
• 20:48
  This activity.
• 20:50
  This activity.
• 20:50
  Of holding fast.
• 20:52
  Without wavering.
• 20:53
  Takes effort.
• 20:55
  On our part.
• 20:57
  We don't just.
• 20:58
  Pray.
• 20:58
  God.
• 20:59
  Give me the ability.
• 21:00
  To hold fast.
• 21:01
  And then wait.
• 21:04
  Watching TV.
• 21:05
  And reading philosophy books.
• 21:08
  We go.
• 21:09
  After him.
• 21:10
  In his word.
• 21:11
  And the amazing thing.
• 21:12
  About that.
• 21:13
  Although it doesn't always.
• 21:14
  Play itself out.
• 21:15
  In our experience.
• 21:16
  And what we feel.
• 21:18
  Is that God answers our prayers.
• 21:20
  In our activity.
• 21:23
  Hey God.
• 21:24
  I want to love my wife more.
• 21:27
  And I open my eyes.
• 21:27
  And I wait.
• 21:28
  I wait.
• 21:30
  For him to equip me.
• 21:31
  To love her.
• 21:31
  No.
• 21:31
  I go love my wife.
• 21:34
  And I have been equipped.
• 21:36
  To do it.
• 21:37
  Father.
• 21:37
  I want to weep.
• 21:38
  For the lost.
• 21:39
  I want.
• 21:40
  To have my desires.
• 21:42
  Change.
• 21:43
  I want to love.
• 21:44
  You.
• 21:44
  More.
• 21:45
  And love the things.
• 21:46
  Of this world.
• 21:47
  Less.
• 21:47
  Do you realize.
• 21:48
  The fact.
• 21:48
  That you even pray.
• 21:49
  Such things.
• 21:50
  As God work.
• 21:50
  In your life.
• 21:52
  You don't naturally.
• 21:53
  Incline yourself.
• 21:54
  To the things of God.
• 21:56
  When you even desire.
• 21:57
  Things like that.
• 21:59
  That's God at work.
• 22:01
  In your life.
• 22:03
  Too many of us.
• 22:04
  Sit around.
• 22:05
  And wait.
• 22:06
  We sit around.
• 22:07
  And we.
• 22:08
  And we.
• 22:08
  Hope.
• 22:09
  That someday.
• 22:10
  We'll be a little holier.
• 22:11
  Than we are now.
• 22:12
  We whine.
• 22:15
  About the fact.
• 22:16
  That we're not.
• 22:18
  Get to work.
• 22:19
  Beloved.
• 22:20
  Get to work.
• 22:21
  Holding fast.
• 22:23
  The confession.
• 22:23
  Of your hope.
• 22:24
  And I promise.
• 22:25
  That you won't be disappointed.
• 22:28
  Little encouragement.
• 22:29
  To you.
• 22:30
  As this.
• 22:31
  These two truths.
• 22:32
  Seem to collide.
• 22:35
  Paul wrote.
• 22:35
  In 1 Timothy 3.16.
• 22:36
  Great is the mystery.
• 22:38
  Of godliness.
• 22:39
  Great is the mystery.
• 22:41
  Of godliness.
• 22:41
  So we have a confession.
• 22:44
  That we should.
• 22:45
  Not be moved from.
• 22:46
  Number three.
• 22:48
  Because we have a promise.
• 22:49
  From one.
• 22:50
  Who cannot.
• 22:51
  Lie.
• 22:53
  We have a confession.
• 22:54
  That we should not be moved from.
• 22:55
  Because we have a promise.
• 22:57
  From one.
• 22:58
  Who cannot.
• 23:00
  Lie.
• 23:00
  The very end of the.
• 23:01
  Verse 23 there.
• 23:02
  For he who promised.
• 23:03
  Is faithful.
• 23:04
  We ought to.
• 23:05
  Hold fast.
• 23:05
  The confession of our hope.
• 23:07
  Without wavering.
• 23:08
  Because.
• 23:09
  For.
• 23:09
  He who promised.
• 23:10
  Is faithful.
• 23:12
  God.
• 23:12
  Will.
• 23:13
  Do.
• 23:13
  Has.
• 23:14
  Done.
• 23:15
  Exactly.
• 23:16
  What he said he would do.
• 23:18
  And that is something we can place.
• 23:20
  Our confidence in.
• 23:22
  God would.
• 23:22
  In fact.
• 23:23
  Cease to be God.
• 23:24
  If he were even.
• 23:25
  Capable of lying.
• 23:27
  Excuse me.
• 23:27
  Titus 1.2.
• 23:29
  Paul claims that God never lies.
• 23:32
  I take that for fact.
• 23:33
  So what is the promise to which the writer of Hebrews is referring.
• 23:38
  He who promised.
• 23:39
  What is it that he has promised.
• 23:41
  God certainly has promised us many things.
• 23:43
  But I believe that the writer of Hebrews is referencing particularly.
• 23:47
  A promise.
• 23:48
  In chapter 10.
• 23:49
  Verse 15 through 18.
• 23:51
  So look.
• 23:51
  Look up the page a little bit with me.
• 23:53
  Where.
• 23:55
  He quotes Jeremiah.
• 23:58
  Lest you think that I'm not sure who wrote Hebrews.
• 24:01
  No one knows who wrote Hebrews.
• 24:02
  I know I keep saying the writer of Hebrews.
• 24:04
  We're not positive who wrote Hebrews.
• 24:06
  And that's why I keep saying that.
• 24:08
  But verse 15.
• 24:10
  And the Holy Spirit also bear witness to us.
• 24:13
  For after saying.
• 24:14
  This is the covenant that I will make with them.
• 24:17
  After those days declares the Lord.
• 24:19
  I will put my laws on their hearts.
• 24:21
  And write them on their minds.
• 24:23
  Then he adds.
• 24:24
  This is the.
• 24:25
  This is the Holy Spirit bearing witness.
• 24:27
  Then he adds.
• 24:28
  I will remember their sins.
• 24:30
  And their lawless deeds.
• 24:32
  No more.
• 24:33
  Where there is forgiveness of these.
• 24:35
  There is no longer any offering.
• 24:38
  For sin.
• 24:39
  That completes that idea for us.
• 24:41
  I will remember their sins.
• 24:44
  And their lawless needs.
• 24:45
  No more.
• 24:48
  God can not lie.
• 24:50
  If you have placed your faith.
• 24:51
  In Christ.
• 24:53
  If you believe.
• 24:54
  He is the Son of God.
• 24:55
  And the only way.
• 24:57
  To have your relationship with him reconciled.
• 24:58
  Reconciled.
• 24:59
  He has made a promise.
• 25:01
  That your lawless deeds.
• 25:02
  Will be remembered.
• 25:04
  No more.
• 25:06
  We can have confidence.
• 25:08
  In that.
• 25:08
  We can hold.
• 25:10
  Fast.
• 25:11
  To that.
• 25:12
  But let me.
• 25:13
  Speak to you in.
• 25:14
  Simple practicality.
• 25:17
  Up to this point.
• 25:17
  You might say.
• 25:18
  That's great.
• 25:19
  I'm with you Nathan.
• 25:20
  I totally agree.
• 25:21
  That is what verse.
• 25:22
  23 means.
• 25:23
  But how then does that.
• 25:26
  Play out.
• 25:26
  In our daily living.
• 25:29
  If we're going to hold fast.
• 25:31
  If we're going to do so.
• 25:31
  Without wavering.
• 25:33
  We should.
• 25:34
  Know the one.
• 25:35
  Who is promised.
• 25:36
  Who is faithful.
• 25:38
  We should know him.
• 25:40
  Right.
• 25:40
  You don't just.
• 25:41
  Really nearly.
• 25:42
  Place your trust in people.
• 25:44
  But if we.
• 25:45
  Know the God.
• 25:46
  We see.
• 25:47
  The fulfillment.
• 25:48
  Of his promises.
• 25:48
  In scripture.
• 25:49
  We.
• 25:50
  We.
• 25:50
  Experience that.
• 25:52
  Together.
• 25:54
  To affirm.
• 25:55
  Our.
• 25:56
  Faith.
• 25:57
  Beloved.
• 25:58
  You need the church.
• 25:59
  Whether you think you do or not.
• 26:02
  I read that.
• 26:04
  Rather long passage.
• 26:05
  To you this morning.
• 26:06
  To emphasize that.
• 26:08
  We need one another.
• 26:10
  If we're going to.
• 26:12
  Stand firm.
• 26:12
  If we're going to hold fast.
• 26:14
  We need.
• 26:16
  One another.
• 26:17
  It's not enough.
• 26:19
  To come and hear preaching.
• 26:20
  Preaching is important.
• 26:22
  I would never.
• 26:23
  Discard it.
• 26:24
  From our services.
• 26:25
  There are.
• 26:25
  Churches who are.
• 26:27
  Replacing preaching now.
• 26:28
  With more music.
• 26:29
  Or.
• 26:30
  Skits.
• 26:30
  Or.
• 26:31
  Multimedia.
• 26:32
  Presentations.
• 26:33
  Preaching of the word of God.
• 26:34
  Is powerful.
• 26:35
  And important.
• 26:37
  But it's not all you need.
• 26:40
  We labor.
• 26:41
  To preach well.
• 26:43
  And I know that Chris and I.
• 26:44
  Are not the best communicators.
• 26:45
  We're working on it.
• 26:46
  We really want to be the best possible communicators.
• 26:48
  Of God's truth.
• 26:49
  That we can be.
• 26:51
  We've already resigned ourselves.
• 26:52
  Not to be.
• 26:54
  John Piper.
• 26:55
  Or.
• 26:55
  D.A. Carson.
• 26:56
  Or.
• 26:57
  My guy.
• 26:58
  Art.
• 26:58
  Art.
• 26:59
  We just.
• 26:59
  We're not going to be those men.
• 27:00
  But we're going to do the best we can.
• 27:03
  I've said on a number of occasions.
• 27:05
  Cautiously.
• 27:06
  I'd rather be.
• 27:07
  True.
• 27:07
  Than consistent.
• 27:10
  Ideally.
• 27:10
  I'm both.
• 27:11
  I'd like to be consistently true.
• 27:13
  But if I ever teach you something.
• 27:14
  And it can be shown to me.
• 27:16
  That I have erred.
• 27:17
  I will fix it.
• 27:19
  Because the truth.
• 27:20
  Is important.
• 27:22
  The facts about the one.
• 27:24
  Who has promised.
• 27:26
  And cannot lie.
• 27:27
  Matter.
• 27:28
  Deeply.
• 27:29
  To us.
• 27:32
  But good sermons aren't enough.
• 27:35
  You need to be getting together with people.
• 27:37
  And working through.
• 27:39
  The word of God to people.
• 27:40
  You certainly need to be studying it on your own.
• 27:42
  We do a lot of things together here.
• 27:44
  If you only come on Sunday morning.
• 27:47
  This is all you do.
• 27:48
  This is your.
• 27:49
  Your spiritual fill up for the week.
• 27:52
  I know you're running on empty.
• 27:53
  By next Sunday.
• 27:55
  I know it for a fact.
• 27:56
  Come debate it with me.
• 27:59
  I know for a fact.
• 28:00
  You're running on empty.
• 28:01
  Next week.
• 28:02
  We ought to meet together frequently.
• 28:05
  We learned from verse 22.
• 28:07
  In the previous weeks.
• 28:09
  And study the word of God together.
• 28:10
  On Sunday evenings.
• 28:13
  The men and the women meet separately.
• 28:16
  And I love it.
• 28:17
  We're studying through 1 Timothy right now.
• 28:19
  My goal is always to get to the.
• 28:21
  The ultimate meaning of the text together.
• 28:23
  But also to.
• 28:24
  Kind of show the guys.
• 28:25
  How to arrive.
• 28:26
  At the meaning of the text.
• 28:28
  Secrets out of the bag fellas.
• 28:29
  I'm always kind of.
• 28:31
  Spurring you to.
• 28:32
  Think through things.
• 28:33
  And kind of push you in that way.
• 28:35
  I learned so much though.
• 28:36
  I'm supposed to be prepared.
• 28:37
  I'm supposed to know it all.
• 28:38
  Already when I get there.
• 28:39
  I learned so much.
• 28:41
  Sitting with those guys.
• 28:42
  And having them.
• 28:43
  Them.
• 28:44
  Question things.
• 28:45
  And filter things through other biblical texts.
• 28:47
  And.
• 28:47
  And wrestle together with original language.
• 28:50
  It is a real joy.
• 28:52
  To me.
• 28:54
  I learned things from the guys.
• 28:56
  In their.
• 28:56
  Shared experience.
• 28:57
  And.
• 28:58
  The affirmation.
• 28:59
  Of what.
• 29:00
  The Bible teaches.
• 29:02
  Sid is here this morning.
• 29:03
  And.
• 29:04
  Forgive me if I get your age wrong.
• 29:05
  Sid.
• 29:05
  I believe 83.
• 29:06
  When Sid says.
• 29:08
  Sitting at the table.
• 29:10
  God is faithful.
• 29:11
  To provide for me.
• 29:13
  He always has been.
• 29:16
  Myself at 31.
• 29:19
  That lifts my heart.
• 29:22
  The testimony of a man who says.
• 29:24
  My whole life.
• 29:25
  God has cared for me.
• 29:27
  He is faithful.
• 29:28
  You can believe him.
• 29:30
  It's an encouragement to me.
• 29:32
  It's an incredible encouragement to me.
• 29:33
  We need to meet together.
• 29:36
  In that way.
• 29:38
  If we are to be.
• 29:39
  Disciple making disciples.
• 29:40
  Which.
• 29:41
  Is ultimately.
• 29:42
  The thrust of the great commission.
• 29:45
  That's.
• 29:45
  Who we are.
• 29:46
  What defines us.
• 29:47
  As followers of Christ.
• 29:48
  Disciple making.
• 29:49
  Disciples.
• 29:50
  Those who are pursuing Christ.
• 29:51
  And.
• 29:52
  Bringing others along.
• 29:53
  With us.
• 29:54
  In that journey.
• 29:56
  Gospel ministry.
• 29:57
  Must be.
• 29:58
  On our lips.
• 29:59
  All.
• 29:59
  The time.
• 30:01
  Preach the gospel.
• 30:02
  To one another.
• 30:02
  There is no greater way.
• 30:04
  For you to encourage me.
• 30:05
  Than to tell me.
• 30:06
  What God is accomplishing.
• 30:07
  In your life.
• 30:07
  Because it is an expression.
• 30:09
  Of the gospel.
• 30:11
  I love coming together.
• 30:12
  And meeting with you guys.
• 30:13
  Because you are.
• 30:15
  An expression.
• 30:16
  Of the gospel.
• 30:17
  People who have been redeemed.
• 30:19
  Who were formerly.
• 30:21
  Foolish.
• 30:22
  Enslaved.
• 30:22
  To their passions.
• 30:23
  And their lust.
• 30:24
  Hating one another.
• 30:26
  Now.
• 30:27
  Loving each other.
• 30:30
  What we do together here.
• 30:31
  Would be really bizarre.
• 30:33
  If we weren't Christians.
• 30:35
  Boring even.
• 30:35
  I'd be.
• 30:36
  Rock climbing this morning.
• 30:37
  Instead.
• 30:38
  But I love this.
• 30:41
  Because I love Christ.
• 30:43
  We need.
• 30:45
  One another.
• 30:48
  Next week.
• 30:49
  Is.
• 30:50
  Halloween.
• 30:50
  A week from tomorrow.
• 30:53
  October 31st.
• 30:54
  Which was.
• 30:55
  Also the day that.
• 30:56
  Martin Luther.
• 30:57
  Hammered the 95 theses.
• 30:58
  On the door of the.
• 30:59
  Church at.
• 31:00
  Wittenberg.
• 31:01
  He picked that day.
• 31:03
  Intentionally.
• 31:04
  I always thought.
• 31:05
  It was kind of just.
• 31:06
  Happenstance.
• 31:06
  It just happened to be the day.
• 31:08
  That he went and did that.
• 31:09
  But he.
• 31:09
  He particularly did so.
• 31:10
  Because it was.
• 31:11
  All Hallows Eve.
• 31:12
  It was supposed to be this.
• 31:14
  Holiday.
• 31:15
  When the veil.
• 31:16
  Between the physical world.
• 31:17
  And the spiritual world.
• 31:18
  Was particularly thin.
• 31:19
  According to.
• 31:21
  Paganism.
• 31:21
  And he saw.
• 31:23
  What was happening.
• 31:23
  In the church.
• 31:25
  In the Catholic church.
• 31:26
  As so.
• 31:27
  Evil.
• 31:29
  He was making a statement.
• 31:30
  That the word of God.
• 31:31
  Prevails.
• 31:32
  Against that.
• 31:34
  While he went.
• 31:34
  To the door.
• 31:35
  Church building.
• 31:36
  And hammered it.
• 31:37
  On to the door.
• 31:37
  At the word of God.
• 31:39
  95 reasons.
• 31:40
  Why the selling.
• 31:41
  Of indulgences.
• 31:43
  Was wrong.
• 31:45
  Totally.
• 31:45
  Unbiblical.
• 31:47
  And you know.
• 31:47
  How he arrived.
• 31:48
  At that.
• 31:48
  He was kind of a.
• 31:51
  Unrested soul.
• 31:52
  He entered into.
• 31:54
  Monastic life.
• 31:55
  And just couldn't.
• 31:56
  Find peace.
• 31:57
  With God.
• 31:58
  He was of the.
• 31:59
  Augustinian order.
• 32:01
  Which is a tad ironic.
• 32:02
  And they put him.
• 32:04
  To the work.
• 32:05
  Of translating.
• 32:06
  The New Testament.
• 32:07
  Into.
• 32:08
  German.
• 32:10
  They said.
• 32:11
  There's unrest in your soul.
• 32:13
  Go work on the scriptures.
• 32:15
  And God.
• 32:15
  Used that labor.
• 32:17
  For him.
• 32:18
  To realize.
• 32:18
  That salvation.
• 32:19
  Does not come.
• 32:20
  Through a priest.
• 32:23
  Salvation.
• 32:23
  Doesn't come.
• 32:24
  Through the purchasing.
• 32:25
  Of an indulgence.
• 32:26
  Or by.
• 32:27
  Visiting.
• 32:27
  Holy relics.
• 32:29
  Salvation.
• 32:30
  Comes.
• 32:31
  Through Christ.
• 32:32
  Alone.
• 32:33
  By grace.
• 32:34
  Alone.
• 32:34
  Through faith.
• 32:35
  Alone.
• 32:37
  Radical.
• 32:38
  For his time.
• 32:40
  Absolutely.
• 32:40
  Radical.
• 32:41
  So he nailed.
• 32:42
  The 95 theses.
• 32:42
  Up.
• 32:43
  On that day.
• 32:44
  What was happening.
• 32:46
  To the church.
• 32:46
  Was the people.
• 32:47
  Were lacking.
• 32:49
  Access.
• 32:49
  To the word of God.
• 32:50
  It was in Latin.
• 32:53
  So the guy.
• 32:53
  Who got up.
• 32:54
  To preach.
• 32:55
  Held all.
• 32:56
  The knowledge.
• 32:58
  Could say.
• 32:59
  Whatever he wanted.
• 33:00
  To say.
• 33:00
  And the people.
• 33:01
  Believed.
• 33:02
  When he said.
• 33:03
  They had given them.
• 33:04
  That trust.
• 33:06
  After.
• 33:07
  The reformation.
• 33:08
  Began.
• 33:09
  You know.
• 33:10
  I hope you know.
• 33:11
  The Bible.
• 33:12
  Began.
• 33:12
  Be printed.
• 33:12
  In German.
• 33:13
  And the word of God.
• 33:14
  Was put into people's hands.
• 33:16
  And we have.
• 33:17
  Protestantism.
• 33:18
  We exist.
• 33:18
  As a church.
• 33:19
  As a result.
• 33:21
  Of that action.
• 33:23
  And Martin Luther.
• 33:24
  Pinned in a hymn.
• 33:25
  And though this world.
• 33:27
  With devils filled.
• 33:28
  Should threaten.
• 33:29
  To undo us.
• 33:30
  We will not fear.
• 33:31
  For God has willed.
• 33:32
  His truth.
• 33:33
  To triumph.
• 33:34
  Through us.
• 33:35
  The prince of darkness.
• 33:36
  Grim.
• 33:37
  We tremble.
• 33:37
  Not for him.
• 33:38
  His rage.
• 33:39
  We can't endure.
• 33:40
  For lo.
• 33:41
  His doom.
• 33:42
  Is sure.
• 33:43
  One little word.
• 33:45
  Shall fell him.
• 33:46
  I believe he meant.
• 33:47
  Jesus.
• 33:49
  So beloved.
• 33:50
  Be encouraged this morning.
• 33:51
  Because.
• 33:52
  We have a confession.
• 33:53
  That we should.
• 33:54
  Not be moved from.
• 33:56
  Because we have a promise.
• 33:57
  From one.
• 33:58
  Who cannot.
• 33:59
  Lie.