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Communion Service - The Cost of Salvation · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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our hearts to sing praise to God. Let us hear first of all these few words from the Bible.
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Give thanks to the God of heaven for his steadfast love endures forever. Let us together worship him
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in song from Psalm 122 from the Scottish Psalter, page 416 in our Blue Psalm books, Psalm 122,
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singing from the beginning of this psalm. We'll sing the whole psalm to the tune free church.
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I joy to enter the house of God, go up they said to me, Jerusalem within thy gates our feet shall
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standing be. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the tribes go up,
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the tribes of God go thither. Psalm 122, the whole psalm to the praise of God.
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I joy went to the house of God, go up they said to me, Jerusalem within thy gates our feet shall
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sound in me. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the tribes go up,
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the tribes of God go up they said to me. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the
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of the world of God. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the
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the built-in thing and the protection of wherever the jerseys came from peace or the travelling
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of Christ. Specifically, what worship seems to be so spoiled and to that place the
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of Christ still remains true. Jerusalem as a city is compactly built together and to that place the
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of Christ still remains peaceful within thy bones remain. Before worship may return high Him for the
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And ever may thy goddesses prosperity retain.
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Now for thy chains and reverence it is thee in thee I'll say.
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And for the house of God our Lord I'll seek thy good always.
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Let's pray together.
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Gracious God our loving Heavenly Father how these words stir our hearts.
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How it is we enjoy and rejoice in having this time together in worship this morning.
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On the beginning of a new week on this your day in your house to sing praise to your name.
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And may it be Lord today that this psalm would be our portion, our experience, our motto.
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That we would truly in our hearts be full of joy in coming in here together today to worship before you.
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Lord our God go before us in what we do here.
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And we pray that in this morning's service of worship by word and by sacrament your name would be glorified.
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The gospel of Jesus Christ would be upheld.
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The wonder of Jesus would be extolled before us and within us.
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And that the kingdom of righteousness would expand in our hearts and through our witness.
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Be with us Lord as we spend this time together before you.
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We bow in worship.
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We acknowledge you.
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We adore you.
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We sing praise of your holiness, your justice, your goodness, your truth and above all.
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We give thanks this morning for Jesus Christ, your son, the one who came into this world.
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Having covenanted from all eternity to redeem a people to himself, he came.
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And in that hour of suffering and as the hour of the cross loomed heavy upon him,
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as the darkness closed in, as impending judgment came closer and closer,
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we hear our Savior saying, Father, if it be your will, let this cup pass from me.
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Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.
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And so we say today, Hallelujah.
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What a Savior.
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Be with us as we remember the cost of our salvation.
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Be with us as we remember what it cost our Redeemer
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to secure the forgiveness of sin
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that sets us aright with you, the living God,
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that brings us from darkness and enmity to light and life,
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that brings us from being far off and strangers of the commonwealth of Israel
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and aliens to the promises of God,
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right in to the very family of God.
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What a Savior.
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And we pray today that our songs of praise would unite our hearts,
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that our sense of purpose and joy would be evident and felt amongst us and between us.
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And when we go from here, we pray, Lord, then that you would draw near to us,
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that you would bless your word to our hearts,
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that you would undertake for us as we study together the scriptures
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and as we remember the death of our Lord and Savior.
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Be pleased, Lord, to bless us with your presence and your grace.
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By word and sacrament, Lord, we come to you,
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hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
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So here as we pray this morning, young and old alike,
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you know, Lord, our thoughts.
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You know our concerns.
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You know the things that worry us and leave us anxious,
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that rob us of sleep and keep us from feeling a sense of peace in life.
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Sometimes, Lord, life itself is so heavy.
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And we pray today for any who are burdened and weighed down.
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We pray, Lord, for those who are struggling in life,
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who are experiencing difficulty, hardship, ill health,
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unemployment, financial pressure and strain.
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For those, Lord, who in these days and months have felt loneliness.
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For those, Lord, struggling today with brokenness and addiction,
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we pray, Lord, for them all.
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That you would remember our communities, our island, our nation at this time.
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We pray especially, Lord, for any joining with us today online,
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those who are watching from home.
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And we pray, Lord, for them.
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We pray for those who cannot be with us.
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And we pray, Lord, that above all, that your word would be blessed,
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that the word would run free in hearts and lives,
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and that Christ would be glorified,
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the one who was lifted up,
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that he might draw all men to him.
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Hear us this morning, we pray,
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as we seek forgiveness for our sin.
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Cleanse us and renew us, we pray,
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for Jesus' sake.
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Amen.
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Now, boys and girls,
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I just want to say something to you today about choices.
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Choices.
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Got here a little menu card.
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That's a little thing that comes very often to the post
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for weddings.
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And this wedding menu is sent along to people invited.
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And what you have to do nowadays is you make your choices
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and you send it back.
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So that they know before you turn up
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the meal that you're looking to have.
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So I don't know, boys and girls,
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what you would choose if you were given this menu.
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This is what the choice you would have.
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For the starter,
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you could have either
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homemade lentil soup
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or salmon.
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You would tick one of them
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if you wanted a starter.
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Then you'd be on to the main course
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and you could have top side of beef
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or chicken
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Balmoral.
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I'm sure there'd be another
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vegetarian option somewhere
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if that was your choice.
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You would tick the box
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and that would be served to you
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on the day of the wedding.
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And then the best bit,
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desserts.
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That's what it's all about, isn't it?
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You could have meringue
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with cream and berries
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or you could have
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strawberry cheesecake.
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You would tick your choice,
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you would put your name on the card,
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in it goes,
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and on the day of the wedding,
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the choices you make
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are served to you.
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Isn't that nice?
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It's good planning, isn't it?
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You're making your choice
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nice and early.
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And the thing about choices
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is that sometimes
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you don't get much warning.
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You have to make a decision
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on the spot
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and you make a choice.
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And this is when it gets quite difficult.
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If you're having a bad day,
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if you've been told
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to do your homework,
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if you've been told
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it's your turn for the dishes,
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if it's your turn
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to cut the grass
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or wash the car
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or walk the dog
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and you don't want
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to do any of these things,
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well, you're faced with a choice.
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Do what you've been asked to do
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by mum or dad
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or granny or granddad
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or don't.
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What are you going to do?
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And I want to tell you today,
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boys and girls,
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that sometimes
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it's good to prepare for choices
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and we can do that
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by asking God to help us.
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The Bible says,
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seek first
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the kingdom of God.
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We put them first
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in our choices,
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in little things like menus
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and particularly in days
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that are difficult
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or trying,
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if big brother's
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getting on your nerves,
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if little sister's
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going off with your favorite object
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and you're going to make
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a choice to cause chaos
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or just be a good brother
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or sister,
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that's another choice
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you're going to have to make.
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Ask yourself at that time,
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what choice would God
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want me to make?
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And if we ask that question
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as we make choices,
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we are in a far better position
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than if we don't
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and we are really close
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to God
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and if we're close to God,
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we're going to want to,
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please him.
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So the next time
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choices come your way,
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next time there's a decision
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to be made,
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say to yourself,
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what choice would God
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want me to make?
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Well, let's read together
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from God's word this morning
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two passages
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from the New Testament.
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First of all,
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from the Gospel of John.
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The Gospel of John.
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We'll read from chapter 10
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and verse 7
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and then we'll turn forward
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in our Bibles
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to 1 Corinthians
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and chapter 15.
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Reading first of all
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into the Gospel of John
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chapter 10
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and verse 7.
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So Jesus again said to them,
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Truly, truly,
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I say to you,
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I am the door of the sheep.
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All who came before me
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are thieves and robbers,
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but the sheep
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did not listen to them.
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I am the door.
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If anyone enters by me,
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he will be saved
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and will go in and out
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and find pasture.
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The thief comes
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only to steal
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and kill and destroy.
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I came that they may have life
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and have it abundantly.
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I am the good shepherd.
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The good shepherd
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lays down his life
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for the sheep.
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He who has a hired hand
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and not a shepherd,
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who does not own the sheep,
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sees the wolf coming
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and leaves the sheep
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and flees
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and the wolf snatches them
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and scatters them.
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He flees
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because he's a hired hand
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and cares nothing
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for the sheep.
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I am the good shepherd.
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I know my own
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and my own know me.
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Just as the Father knows me
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and I know the Father
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and I lay down my life
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for the sheep
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and I have other sheep
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that are not of this fold,
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I must bring them also
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and they will listen
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to my voice
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so there will be one flock,
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one shepherd.
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For this reason,
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the Father loves me
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because I lay down my life
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that I may take it up again.
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No one takes it from me
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but I lay it down
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of my own accord.
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I have authority
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to lay it down
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and I have authority
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to take it up again.
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This charge
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I have received
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from my Father.
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There was again
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a division among the Jews
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because of these words.
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Many of them said,
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He is a demon
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and is insane.
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Why listen to him?
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Others said,
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These are not the words
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of one who was oppressed
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by a demon.
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Can a demon
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open the eyes?
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of the blind?
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I'm turning forward
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to 1 Corinthians
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in chapter 15,
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reading this chapter
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from the beginning.
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Paul's letter
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to the Corinthians,
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his first letter,
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chapter 15,
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reading this chapter
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from the beginning.
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Now I would remind you,
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brothers,
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of the gospel
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I preached to you,
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which you received
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and which you stand
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and by which you are being saved
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if you hold fast
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to the word
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I preached to you
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unless you believed in vain.
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For I delivered to you
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as of first importance
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what I also received,
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that Christ died for our sins
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in accordance with the Scriptures,
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that he was buried,
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that he was raised
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in the third day
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in accordance
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with the Scriptures,
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and that he appeared
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to Cephas,
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then to the twelve.
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Then he appeared
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to more than 500 brothers
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at one time,
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most of whom
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are still alive,
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though some
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have fallen asleep.
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Then he appeared
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to James
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and to all the apostles.
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Last of all,
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as to one untimely born,
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he appeared also to me,
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for I am the least
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of the apostles,
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unworthy to be called
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an apostle,
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because I persecuted
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the church of God.
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But by the grace of God
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I am what I am,
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and his grace toward me
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was not in vain.
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On the contrary,
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I worked harder
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than any of them,
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though it was not I,
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but the grace of God
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that was with me.
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Whether then it was I
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or they,
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so we preach,
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and so you believed.
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Amen.
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May God bless his word
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to our hearts,
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and to his name
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be the praise.
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I'll sing again
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to the praise of God
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from Sing Psalms
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and the 23rd Psalm.
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On page 28
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in our blue psalm books,
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Sing Psalms
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and Psalm 23.
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We'll sing this whole psalm
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together to the tune
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Tarwathi.
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The Lord
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is my shepherd,
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no want shall I know.
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He makes me lie down
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where the green pastures grow.
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He leads me to rest
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where the calm waters flow.
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Psalm 23,
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we will sing together
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to God's praise.
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Amen.
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The Lord is my shepherd,
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no want shall I know.
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He makes me lie down
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where the green pastures grow.
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He leads me to rest
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where the calm waters flow.
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My wandering steps,
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he brings back to his way.
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Hence they pass off
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my justness,
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making me safe.
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and this he has done
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this great day
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to display.
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Though I walk in death,
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how he hurt our messes near.
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He wants you are with me,
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no evil I fear.
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your God and yourself
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bring me comfort and cheer.
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In the sight of my enemies,
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and the evil you spread.
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The oil of rejoicing you pour on my head,
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my cup,
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O earth,
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those hand and graciously fed.
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So surely your covenant,
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and mercy and grace,
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will follow me closely
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in all of my ways.
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I will go to heaven
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in the highest
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of the Lord
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all my days.
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We'll bow in prayer together.
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Let us pray.
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Lord, we bow this morning together.
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We sing praise to your name.
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We acknowledge your holiness in prayer.
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We bring to you our petitions
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and our supplications
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with thanksgiving.
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We pour out our hearts to you, Lord,
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conscious of that great declaration
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of the Christian church.
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The Lord is my shepherd.
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We pray this evening as we,
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today as we reflect on
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the truth of the gospel.
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As we reflect on
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the cost of our salvation.
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As we remember our Lord
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till he come again.
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That you would be here with us.
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We thank you that as we open
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the scriptures,
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we hear you speak.
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We have before us
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the very word of the living God.
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And we pray today that that word
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would take root
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in our hearts and lives.
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That we would grow in grace,
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deepen our faith,
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and further grow up into him,
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the head of the church,
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our King and Saviour.
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Be with us, Lord,
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today we pray through word and sacrament.
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Our need is great.
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And so we come, Lord,
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seeking your blessing and filling.
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We would seek you
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with our whole heart today.
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And we would ask that you would
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address us
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at the deepest point of our needs.
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and that the Spirit would move
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amongst us,
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teaching us and leading us
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to see the one
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who gave himself for us.
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Jesus, our King and friend.
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The one who is the door.
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The one through whom
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we are bid come
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and enter onto
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the highway of holiness.
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May we do so, Lord,
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humbly and expectantly.
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And so, Lord,
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we gather in anticipation.
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We look upward.
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We look to Christ.
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We come to the throne of grace
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via the cross,
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where we go for the forgiveness
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of sin
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that so often besets us
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and entangles us.
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Lord, we are conscious
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this morning
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of the gospel's declaration
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that the wages of sin
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is death.
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But the gift of God
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is eternal life
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through Christ Jesus,
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our Lord.
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So, Lord,
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come among us.
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Bless us and do us good.
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Open our hearts and minds
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and bless us
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by your word this morning
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and the sacrament
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as we share this meal
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together at the table.
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In Jesus' name we ask it.
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Amen.
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Amen.
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The death of Christ
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in our place
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to satisfy
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the demands
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of divine justice
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and appease
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the wrath of God
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is of the very substance
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of the gospel.
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And that's what we find
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when we turn together
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in our Bibles
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to 1 Corinthians
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in chapter 15
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where the apostle,
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in writing to this church
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that he was so intimately
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aware of
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and wanting to encourage them
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and build them up
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and keep them
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on the right path,
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that's what he's been doing
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these previous 14 chapters,
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teaching
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and pleading
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and exhorting
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that they would
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again appreciate
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and come to a deeper
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understanding
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of the gospel of God.
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And so,
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we find him here
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in chapter 15
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beginning to wrap things up
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and draw his conclusions.
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And so,
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he says,
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now I would remind you,
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brothers,
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and that word there,
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brothers,
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adelphoi,
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was a plural term
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used in the ancient
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Greek tongue
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to refer to
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brothers and sisters.
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And so,
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to read it
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perhaps more accurately
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would be,
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now I remind you,
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brothers and sisters
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of the gospel
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I preached to you
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which you received
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in which you stand
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and by which you are
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being saved
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if you hold fast
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to the word
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I preached to you
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unless you believed
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in vain.
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Why speak like that,
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Paul?
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Because there were
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tensions here
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and there were
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divisions
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and people were saying,
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well,
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Paul's not much
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of a preacher,
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is he?
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And in that,
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they were going after
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the messenger.
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And then you had
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other schools of thought
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that were saying,
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well,
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if you're saved,
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retire.
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Just live off
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whoever's got money.
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You don't need to do it.
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You're a child of God.
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Sit down.
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You don't need to do
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anything else.
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And so,
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what was happening there
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was it wasn't the messenger
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being attacked,
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it was the message.
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And this pincer movement
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was coming against the church
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as it is today.
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Nothing has changed.
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The devil will attack
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messengers
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and the message
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in his attempt,
23:25
in his ferocious
23:26
enmity toward the gospel
23:28
to try and drive the gospel
23:30
out of hearts and lives
23:32
and keep sinners
23:33
from coming
23:33
to a knowledge
23:35
of their need
23:35
to be born again.
23:37
And so,
23:38
Paul is pleading here
23:39
that they would stand fast
23:40
or hold fast
23:41
to the word
23:42
I preach to you,
23:44
the gospel of grace.
23:45
And there's a wonderful
23:46
and very famous
23:47
description of
23:48
what he did
23:49
when he came among them
23:50
back there in chapters
23:51
one and two
23:52
of this wonderful letter.
23:54
Chapter one and two
23:57
of first Corinthians.
23:58
It would help if I didn't
23:59
turn to chapter one
24:00
of Romans.
24:01
And in first Corinthians two,
24:03
he says,
24:03
I came to you,
24:05
brothers and sisters,
24:05
I did not come proclaiming
24:07
to you the testimony
24:08
of God with lofty speech
24:09
of wisdom,
24:11
for I decided to know
24:12
nothing among you
24:13
except Jesus Christ
24:15
and him crucified.
24:17
And I was with you
24:17
in weakness,
24:18
in fear,
24:19
in much trembling.
24:20
And my speech
24:21
and my message
24:22
were not implausible
24:23
words of wisdom,
24:24
but in demonstration
24:25
of the spirit
24:26
and of power,
24:27
that your faith
24:28
might not rest
24:29
in the wisdom of men,
24:30
but in the power of God.
24:33
And so he zeroes in
24:35
on the focus
24:36
Christian men and women
24:37
need to retain
24:39
and work at
24:40
and develop
24:41
and our focus
24:42
must be
24:43
the cross of Christ.
24:45
Who died there?
24:47
Why he died there?
24:48
And what it means
24:48
for us all today.
24:50
And so he says
24:51
in verse three,
24:52
as he continues
24:52
to drive home
24:54
the need to get this right
24:55
and be specific
24:56
and zeroed in
24:57
on what the gospel is.
24:59
Verse three,
25:00
chapter 15,
25:01
for I delivered to you
25:02
as of first importance
25:04
what I also received,
25:07
that Christ
25:08
died for our sins
25:10
in accordance
25:11
with the scriptures.
25:13
And he was buried
25:14
and he was raised
25:15
on the third day
25:16
in accordance
25:18
with the scriptures.
25:21
The message
25:22
was under attack
25:23
in Corinth.
25:25
The message
25:26
is under attack
25:27
in Stornoway today.
25:28
this message
25:30
of Jesus Christ
25:32
the righteous,
25:33
the Son of God
25:34
who came into the world
25:35
to do what?
25:35
To seek and to save
25:37
the lost.
25:38
How did he do it?
25:40
He gave himself
25:42
for us.
25:45
So that statement
25:46
really does come
25:47
into its own
25:48
when we say
25:48
the death of Christ
25:50
in our place
25:51
to satisfy
25:52
the demands
25:53
of divine justice
25:54
and appease
25:55
the wrath
25:56
of God
25:56
is the very
25:58
substance
25:59
of the gospel.
26:01
It's good news.
26:02
It's good news
26:03
for Stornoway today.
26:05
It's good news
26:05
for Scotland today
26:07
that there is
26:08
a saviour.
26:10
And of course
26:10
the good news
26:11
follows the declaration
26:13
that there's
26:14
bad news.
26:15
And you see,
26:15
that's the thing
26:15
about the gospel.
26:17
The gospel
26:17
is neither a discussion
26:19
nor a debate.
26:21
It is a declaration.
26:23
I would remind you
26:24
brothers and sisters
26:26
of the gospel
26:27
I preach to you.
26:28
This is the apostolic
26:29
message,
26:30
the apostolic
26:31
preaching of the cross,
26:32
the apostolic
26:33
emphasis of our need
26:34
to be born again
26:36
by repentance
26:37
and faith in Christ
26:38
by coming to him
26:40
and trusting in him
26:43
as Lord and Saviour.
26:46
It's a wonderful simplicity
26:47
and yet an incredible
26:48
depth to what Paul
26:49
goes on here to see
26:50
in verses 3 and 4.
26:52
I deliver to you
26:53
as a first importance.
26:55
See where he started
26:56
with what they needed
26:57
to know most of all.
26:59
But then notice
26:59
that he delivered to them
27:00
what he received.
27:02
And that tells us
27:03
there's a wonderful
27:03
balance to be struck here.
27:05
And that balance
27:06
is that the gospel
27:08
is supreme.
27:11
The gospel is not
27:12
subject to the church
27:14
or authenticated
27:15
by the church.
27:17
It's not the invention
27:18
of the church.
27:19
The church of Christ
27:20
is subject
27:21
to the gospel
27:22
of Christ.
27:23
We are here
27:23
to declare him,
27:25
to point to him,
27:27
to say he is the one
27:28
through whom
27:29
men and women
27:30
and boys and girls
27:31
are saved.
27:33
This is the wonderful
27:34
gospel of Jesus Christ.
27:37
So I want us to think
27:38
today about what Paul
27:39
says here in this
27:40
summary,
27:41
this revision,
27:42
this calling
27:43
the Christian men
27:44
and women,
27:45
back to the fundamentals
27:46
of the gospel,
27:47
keeping them zeroed
27:48
in on the cross,
27:51
lest they fade away
27:53
and drift away
27:54
into uncertainty
27:56
and ambiguity
27:58
and agnosticism
28:00
and all these awful
28:01
things that are
28:02
doing the rounds
28:04
today as they were
28:05
back then.
28:06
And why do we find
28:07
this emphasis here
28:08
on the death
28:10
of Christ?
28:10
Christ.
28:11
Because he was
28:13
writing to a
28:14
Christian congregation
28:15
in a Greek city
28:17
some 2,000 years ago
28:19
that was full of
28:21
philosophy
28:22
and culture
28:24
and thinking
28:25
and teaching
28:26
and schools of thought
28:27
that utterly rejected
28:29
any concept of
28:30
resurrection from the dead.
28:33
It was in the DNA
28:34
of the city.
28:36
And that's where
28:36
the Christian church
28:37
had been planted,
28:39
that's where the
28:39
congregation had grown,
28:40
and began to experience
28:42
difficulty and troubles
28:43
and hard times.
28:45
And so Paul writes them
28:46
and he zeroes in
28:47
on this essential truth
28:50
that I think it was
28:50
John Stott that spoke
28:52
about,
28:52
the irreducible minimum
28:54
of the Christian gospel,
28:56
the death
28:56
and resurrection
28:58
of Christ
28:58
in the place
29:00
of sinners.
29:03
Verse 12
29:04
in this chapter
29:05
indicates the thinking
29:07
there that's
29:08
perhaps hindering
29:09
the Christians
29:09
from progressing.
29:10
If Christ is proclaimed
29:11
as raised from the dead,
29:13
how can some of you say
29:14
there is no resurrection
29:15
of the dead?
29:16
So the thinking
29:17
that surrounded the church,
29:19
the thinking in culture
29:21
and philosophy
29:22
and schools of thought
29:23
that surrounded the church
29:24
was beginning
29:25
to make its way
29:26
into the church.
29:27
The world
29:28
was beginning
29:29
to penetrate
29:30
into the thinking
29:31
and therefore
29:32
the theology
29:33
and therefore
29:34
the practice
29:34
of the Christian church.
29:37
It was ever thus.
29:39
It is a constant
29:41
source of attack
29:43
that we must be vigilant of,
29:45
that we don't allow
29:46
culture
29:47
to set the tone
29:48
for what we do
29:50
and what we believe
29:51
and how we operate
29:53
as the church of Christ.
29:55
Only Jesus does that
29:56
by and through
29:57
his word.
29:59
So let's think
30:01
about this
30:01
as we prepare
30:03
to share together
30:04
in our Lord's Supper
30:05
and remember
30:05
the death of Christ
30:07
till they come again.
30:08
What does Paul
30:09
want us to
30:10
take to heart today?
30:13
Verse 3 tells us,
30:14
first of all,
30:15
that the death
30:16
of Jesus
30:17
was promised.
30:19
The death of Jesus
30:21
was promised.
30:23
I delivered to you
30:24
as of first importance
30:26
what I also received
30:27
that Christ
30:28
died for our sins
30:30
in accordance
30:31
with the Scripture.
30:35
And so Paul,
30:36
having said
30:37
that this message
30:38
is authenticated
30:39
by its source,
30:40
the Almighty God
30:42
who gave his Son
30:43
that we might live,
30:46
so he has now
30:47
stipulated
30:48
that not being
30:49
a master
30:50
over the message
30:50
but a servant
30:51
of the message
30:52
of Christ,
30:53
he is now
30:53
underlining
30:54
this declaration
30:56
that Christ Jesus
30:58
came into the world
30:59
to save sinners.
31:02
Places the Bible
31:03
right at the center
31:04
of what he's about
31:05
to say,
31:06
doesn't he?
31:07
He says twice,
31:08
he uses that phrase
31:09
in accordance
31:10
with the Scriptures.
31:13
And that is a bedrock.
31:15
Again,
31:16
it's a bedrock
31:16
that we face
31:18
being under attack
31:18
and being undermined
31:19
today.
31:20
He can't believe that.
31:22
Surely you don't need
31:23
all this Old Testament
31:25
narrative.
31:26
You don't really need
31:27
these passages
31:27
in Romans
31:28
that questions
31:30
and challenges
31:30
our morality
31:31
and that addresses
31:32
issues of sexuality,
31:34
that speaks about marriage,
31:36
it speaks about
31:36
how we conduct ourselves.
31:38
No,
31:39
sure,
31:39
that's up to us.
31:40
We try our best.
31:42
We do what we are
31:43
to be upstanding people
31:44
in society.
31:45
And so what we find
31:47
constantly
31:47
is the world
31:49
chipping away
31:50
at this very phrase,
31:53
that our declaration,
31:55
which is made
31:55
in accordance
31:56
with the Scriptures,
31:58
that's out of sync today.
32:00
That's unpopular today.
32:02
That's old school.
32:03
That's Reformation.
32:05
Knox,
32:05
don't talk to us
32:06
about John Knox.
32:06
He was surely,
32:07
he was a bigot,
32:08
he was a secretarian,
32:09
he was a misogynist.
32:10
And so they destroy
32:11
the character
32:12
of the messenger
32:13
and then go after
32:15
the message.
32:16
You can't say that to me.
32:18
You can't tell me
32:19
I'm a sinner.
32:21
And yet,
32:21
what does God ask
32:22
of his church today?
32:24
Why has God raised up
32:25
and placed his church
32:27
on earth,
32:27
the church militant,
32:28
to assert,
32:30
maintain,
32:31
and defend?
32:32
And unless
32:33
and until
32:34
we are born again,
32:37
we remain
32:38
under the wrath
32:39
and curse of God.
32:41
And so we share
32:42
this message
32:43
in patience
32:44
and humility.
32:47
We share this message
32:48
in love
32:49
again
32:50
and again
32:51
and again.
32:52
And we refuse
32:53
to allow the world
32:54
to undermine
32:54
our grasp of Scripture
32:56
and our reverence
32:57
of Scripture
32:58
because it is from
32:59
the Scripture
32:59
that the Gospel
33:00
has been declared
33:01
to the world.
33:02
And that message
33:03
is Christ died
33:04
for our sins
33:05
in accordance
33:07
of the Scripture.
33:07
You see,
33:08
everything we know
33:08
of Christ today,
33:10
it comes from
33:10
God's Word.
33:12
It's a proclamation
33:13
that we find
33:14
long ago
33:15
at many times
33:16
and in many ways
33:17
God spoke to our fathers
33:18
by the prophets,
33:20
but in these last days
33:21
he has spoken to us
33:23
by his Son.
33:26
All Scripture
33:26
is breathed out
33:27
by God
33:28
and profitable
33:29
for teaching,
33:29
reproof,
33:30
correction,
33:31
and training.
33:32
This death of Jesus
33:33
was promised.
33:34
In the Old Testament,
33:35
we have anticipation
33:36
and straining forward
33:38
and looking forward.
33:40
God is saying
33:41
in the Old Testament
33:41
Scriptures,
33:42
I will send
33:44
a Redeemer.
33:45
And then we come
33:45
into the New Testament
33:46
and we're looking back
33:48
and through the New Testament
33:49
we hear God saying,
33:50
I have sent you,
33:52
my Son.
33:53
This is my beloved.
33:56
Hear Him.
33:57
And so we assert,
33:59
maintain,
34:00
and defend
34:00
on the basis
34:02
of being a Bible-based,
34:03
Spirit-filled,
34:05
Christ-centered church
34:07
that the death of Jesus
34:09
was promised.
34:12
We write at the beginning
34:13
of the Scripture,
34:14
we find the promise
34:15
that God will send
34:18
His Son
34:19
into this world.
34:22
And the New Testament
34:23
furnishes us
34:24
with the understanding
34:25
we need
34:26
as to the importance
34:28
and absolute centrality
34:29
of the death of Christ
34:31
in our place.
34:33
Secondly,
34:33
this,
34:34
the death was promised.
34:35
This death was real.
34:37
His death was real.
34:40
Verse 4
34:40
puts it as plainly
34:42
as is possible.
34:44
He was buried.
34:48
He was buried.
34:51
The Christian gospel
34:53
is a message
34:55
of deliverance
34:56
that comes
34:58
through the death
34:59
of the deliverer.
35:01
No other world religion
35:03
comes close to this.
35:05
No other world religion
35:07
even begins
35:08
to approach
35:09
the magnitude
35:10
of these words,
35:11
the solemnity
35:12
and depth
35:13
and wonder
35:13
and beauty
35:14
of what we're told here.
35:16
The Son of God,
35:18
the Lamb of God,
35:19
the Lord of glory,
35:20
through whom
35:21
all things were made.
35:24
The one who is
35:24
altogether sufficient.
35:26
The one who is
35:27
the rose of share
35:30
and the lily of the valley.
35:32
The one that is
35:33
the apple of God's eye.
35:35
What do we read here?
35:37
He was buried.
35:40
This is the gospel.
35:42
This is the good news.
35:43
That just as the babe,
35:45
Jesus,
35:46
was laid in the manger,
35:47
so the torn
35:49
and bloody body
35:50
of Jesus
35:51
in his early 30s
35:52
was laid
35:54
in a grave
35:55
without life
35:57
outside
35:58
Jerusalem.
36:00
What happened
36:01
on the cross
36:02
is abundantly clear
36:04
and you would need
36:05
to have
36:06
a heart of stone
36:08
and a mind
36:10
that resembles stone
36:11
to say,
36:12
well,
36:12
the Bible
36:13
doesn't say
36:14
that Jesus
36:16
died.
36:17
That is the
36:18
response
36:19
of the
36:21
Islamic world
36:22
to the claims
36:24
of the gospel.
36:25
They
36:26
revere Jesus.
36:27
They honor Jesus.
36:29
They say
36:30
Jesus was a great man.
36:32
But he didn't
36:33
really die.
36:35
And even if he did die,
36:36
he certainly
36:37
was not
36:37
the Son of God.
36:40
What happened
36:40
on the cross?
36:41
The Bible
36:42
says otherwise.
36:45
His vital
36:46
functions
36:47
shut down.
36:49
His heart
36:50
straining
36:50
for six hours
36:52
to pump
36:52
deoxygenated blood
36:53
around his body
36:54
finally arrested.
36:56
And ultimately,
36:57
after six hours
36:58
of suffering,
37:00
Jesus' breath
37:01
gave out
37:01
and he died.
37:05
With all his
37:06
vital functions
37:07
having stopped,
37:08
even then,
37:09
the world
37:09
was not finished
37:10
with him
37:10
because a Roman
37:12
soldier under
37:12
instruction thrust
37:13
a spear into
37:14
his chest
37:15
to confirm
37:17
death
37:18
had done
37:19
its work.
37:21
The death
37:21
of Jesus
37:22
was real.
37:25
Why do we
37:26
reflect on this?
37:28
What did Jesus
37:29
tell us to do?
37:31
Do this
37:32
in remembrance
37:34
of me.
37:35
The bread
37:36
and the wine
37:37
that we're
37:37
about to share
37:38
together
37:38
speak powerfully
37:40
and vividly
37:42
of this moment.
37:44
And they say
37:44
to each one
37:45
of us
37:46
as we
37:47
take our bread
37:48
and as we
37:49
drink our wine
37:50
that the cost
37:51
of our salvation
37:52
was nothing
37:54
less
37:54
and nothing
37:55
other
37:56
than the life
37:58
of Jesus Christ,
37:59
the Son of God.
38:00
He
38:00
was
38:01
buried.
38:02
his death
38:04
was real.
38:08
What else
38:09
can we say
38:10
of this?
38:11
We must say
38:12
this as we
38:12
move on.
38:14
That for
38:14
Christianity
38:15
to be genuine,
38:16
for the hope
38:17
of the gospel
38:18
to be held
38:18
out as a
38:19
life-transforming
38:20
message of
38:21
grace and
38:21
splendor and
38:22
wonder and
38:23
forgiveness,
38:24
it utterly
38:25
depends upon
38:27
the death of
38:27
Jesus being
38:28
genuine.
38:28
And it
38:30
begins to
38:31
push us
38:31
back from
38:32
that.
38:32
You say,
38:32
well,
38:32
why?
38:33
Why the
38:34
cross?
38:35
Why this
38:35
awful death?
38:36
Why was it
38:37
that he
38:37
breathed his
38:38
last on that
38:39
cross and
38:39
laid his
38:39
head and
38:40
gave up
38:40
his life?
38:41
As you
38:41
read there
38:41
in John's
38:42
gospel and
38:43
chapter 10,
38:44
for this
38:44
reason the
38:45
father loves
38:45
me,
38:46
because I
38:46
lay down
38:47
my life
38:48
that I
38:48
may take
38:49
it up
38:49
again.
38:50
No one
38:50
takes it
38:51
from me,
38:52
but I
38:52
lay it
38:52
down of
38:53
my own
38:53
accord.
38:54
I have
38:54
authority to
38:55
lay it
38:55
down and
38:56
I have
38:56
authority to
38:57
take it
38:57
up again.
38:58
charge I
38:59
have received
39:00
from my
39:00
father.
39:02
Jesus
39:02
himself
39:03
affirms in
39:05
these words,
39:06
his death
39:07
was real.
39:09
The Christ
39:10
of the
39:10
Bible was
39:12
buried
39:12
without
39:13
life.
39:16
His death
39:17
then was
39:17
promised and
39:18
his death
39:18
was real,
39:20
but we
39:21
don't fixate
39:21
on it.
39:22
We don't
39:22
stay there.
39:23
We don't
39:24
stay in the
39:24
graveyard.
39:25
We don't
39:25
stay at
39:26
the foot
39:26
of the
39:26
cross.
39:27
We don't
39:28
reflect
39:28
constantly
39:29
and permanently
39:30
with the
39:30
fixation on
39:32
the graphic
39:33
scene of
39:33
the cross.
39:34
Yes,
39:34
we survey
39:34
it.
39:36
We study.
39:37
We do
39:38
so humbly.
39:39
We do
39:40
so with a
39:41
sense of
39:41
awe and
39:42
wonder.
39:44
When we
39:44
survey that
39:45
scene and
39:45
see there
39:46
nothing other
39:47
than the
39:48
Son of
39:49
God
39:49
dead on
39:51
the cross
39:52
outside
39:52
Jerusalem,
39:53
this is the
39:54
message of
39:54
good news.
39:55
I think
39:56
it was
39:57
that
39:57
sentiment
39:58
that
39:58
perhaps
39:59
moved
39:59
McShane
40:00
to write
40:00
these
40:00
words
40:01
in one
40:01
of his
40:01
hymns.
40:03
When I
40:03
stand before
40:04
the throne
40:05
dressed in
40:05
beauty not
40:06
my own,
40:07
when I
40:07
see thee as
40:08
thou art,
40:09
love thee
40:09
with unsinning
40:10
heart,
40:11
then,
40:12
Lord,
40:13
shall I
40:13
fully know
40:14
not till
40:15
then how
40:16
much I
40:17
owe.
40:17
we owe
40:20
him
40:21
everything
40:21
because he
40:23
gave
40:23
everything.
40:25
He gave
40:25
himself
40:26
for us,
40:28
not just
40:29
by taking
40:29
on the
40:30
flesh of
40:31
the incarnation
40:32
and being
40:33
a good
40:33
man.
40:35
Jesus
40:36
was truly
40:37
man and
40:38
truly God
40:39
and he
40:41
died on
40:42
that cross
40:42
that the
40:43
sins of
40:44
the world
40:44
might be
40:45
taken away.
40:46
He gave
40:47
what the
40:48
Bible calls
40:48
propitiation
40:50
to the
40:51
Father and
40:52
of our
40:53
sin he
40:54
effected
40:54
expiation.
40:56
He removed
40:57
our sin
40:57
by bearing
40:58
its guilt
40:59
on himself
41:01
and he
41:02
paid the
41:02
price by
41:04
giving his
41:04
life.
41:05
His death
41:05
was real.
41:07
But then
41:07
there's this,
41:09
Paul's
41:10
summation,
41:12
his calling
41:12
the Corinthian
41:13
Christians,
41:14
his calling
41:14
us today
41:15
by the
41:15
providence
41:16
of God
41:16
to just
41:17
reflect on
41:18
the heart
41:18
of the
41:19
gospel and
41:20
this glorious
41:20
message of
41:21
grace.
41:22
Yes,
41:22
there's
41:23
death here,
41:24
but death
41:25
did not
41:26
have the
41:27
last word
41:28
with Jesus
41:29
of Nazareth.
41:31
Joseph of
41:32
Arimathea
41:32
and Nicodemus
41:34
did not
41:35
in their
41:35
act of
41:36
devotion and
41:37
tenderness
41:38
and service
41:39
have the
41:39
last say
41:40
on the
41:41
life of
41:42
Jesus of
41:43
Nazareth.
41:44
For verse
41:44
four goes
41:45
on,
41:45
he was
41:47
raised on
41:48
the third
41:49
day in
41:50
accordance with
41:51
the scriptures.
41:53
And so this
41:53
tells us thirdly
41:54
that the death
41:55
of Jesus was
41:56
victorious.
41:58
Victorious.
42:00
You see,
42:01
death could
42:02
not hold
42:03
him.
42:04
And this is
42:05
where the good
42:06
news takes
42:06
on such
42:07
incredible
42:08
significance
42:09
and wonder.
42:11
The wages
42:12
of sin
42:13
is death,
42:14
but the
42:15
gift of
42:15
God is
42:16
eternal
42:16
life through
42:18
Christ Jesus
42:18
our Lord.
42:19
And that
42:20
empty tomb
42:21
that followed
42:22
the cross on
42:23
the third
42:23
day, that
42:24
first Easter
42:24
morning,
42:26
is evidence
42:27
in God's
42:27
declaration
42:28
to the
42:29
world that
42:31
the sacrifice
42:33
of his
42:33
son in a
42:34
room instead
42:35
was pleasing
42:36
and acceptable.
42:38
And so he
42:38
came, as he
42:39
says to us
42:40
in John
42:40
in chapter
42:41
10, that
42:42
I laid
42:43
down my
42:43
life of
42:44
my own
42:44
accord.
42:45
I have
42:45
authority to
42:46
lay it
42:46
down and
42:47
I have
42:48
authority to
42:48
take it
42:48
up again.
42:49
This charge
42:50
I have
42:50
received from
42:51
my father.
42:53
And so we
42:53
survey this
42:54
wondrous
42:54
cross on
42:55
which the
42:55
prince of
42:56
glory died.
42:58
We are
42:58
humbled.
42:59
We're
42:59
awestruck.
43:01
We think,
43:01
how can it
43:02
be that he
43:04
was pierced
43:05
there for
43:05
our transgressive
43:06
possessions?
43:08
And then we
43:09
read on and
43:10
the gospel
43:11
moves on.
43:12
The gospel
43:12
moves from
43:13
the cross
43:13
and the
43:14
cemetery
43:15
into the
43:16
world.
43:17
It moves
43:17
from a
43:18
message of
43:18
the reality
43:19
and vitality
43:20
of Jesus'
43:21
death to
43:21
what impact
43:22
it has and
43:23
what meaning
43:23
it has for
43:24
you and I
43:24
today.
43:25
That he
43:26
was raised
43:27
on the
43:27
third day
43:28
in accordance
43:29
with the
43:30
scriptures.
43:32
There was
43:32
this thought
43:33
that maybe
43:35
maybe it's
43:35
not true.
43:36
Maybe there
43:37
isn't such a
43:37
resurrection and
43:38
maybe death
43:39
is death and
43:40
that's it.
43:40
We're all
43:40
finished.
43:41
Chapter 15
43:42
and verse 20
43:43
says,
43:43
in fact,
43:44
Christ has
43:45
been raised
43:45
from the
43:46
dead,
43:46
the first
43:47
fruits of
43:47
those who
43:48
have fallen
43:49
asleep.
43:51
If in this
43:52
life only we
43:53
have hoped
43:53
in Christ,
43:54
we are of
43:54
all people
43:55
most to be
43:55
pitied.
43:57
If the
43:58
message
43:58
stayed in
44:00
the cemetery,
44:01
if the
44:02
message was
44:02
just about a
44:03
good man
44:03
dying,
44:05
there would
44:05
be no
44:06
saviour
44:06
today because
44:08
a dead
44:09
saviour can
44:11
save nobody.
44:13
And so we
44:14
say today that
44:15
Jesus was
44:16
dead and
44:17
now is
44:18
alive.
44:19
And that's
44:19
how this
44:20
chapter goes
44:20
on as Paul
44:21
brings this
44:22
wonderful
44:23
reflection to
44:24
this glorious
44:24
conclusion.
44:26
Toward the
44:26
end of the
44:27
chapter in
44:27
verse 56,
44:29
he speaks of
44:29
death being
44:30
swallowed up in
44:31
victory.
44:31
Death, where
44:32
is your
44:32
victory?
44:33
O death,
44:33
where is
44:34
your sting?
44:35
The sting
44:35
of death
44:36
is sin,
44:37
and the
44:37
power of
44:37
sin is
44:38
the law.
44:39
But thanks
44:39
be to
44:40
God who
44:41
gives us
44:42
the victory
44:42
through our
44:44
Lord Jesus
44:44
Christ.
44:46
He died
44:47
that we
44:47
might be
44:48
forgiven.
44:49
He died
44:50
to make
44:50
us good,
44:52
that we
44:52
might go
44:52
at last
44:53
to heaven,
44:53
saved by
44:55
his precious
44:56
blood.
44:58
The death
44:58
of Jesus
44:59
is victorious.
45:01
the
45:02
women who
45:03
came in
45:03
their
45:04
devotion and
45:04
love and
45:05
brokenheartedness
45:06
that first
45:06
Easter morning
45:07
with arointments
45:08
and oils
45:09
seeking to
45:10
pay homage
45:11
and show
45:11
respect out
45:12
of pure
45:13
devotion and
45:14
sadness.
45:16
They had
45:16
nothing to
45:17
do, they
45:17
were redundant.
45:18
The oils and
45:19
the spices,
45:20
the pastes that
45:22
they were going
45:22
to anoint the
45:23
body with that
45:24
morning in the
45:25
tomb, they
45:25
were left
45:26
behind.
45:26
There was
45:27
nothing to
45:27
anoint because
45:28
the body
45:29
was not
45:29
there.
45:30
The grave
45:30
was empty
45:31
and the
45:31
angel said
45:32
to him,
45:33
why do you
45:33
seek the
45:34
living among
45:35
the dead?
45:38
Jesus'
45:39
death was
45:39
victorious.
45:41
It's the
45:41
pivotal point
45:42
in the
45:43
history of
45:44
God's
45:44
redemption.
45:46
He raised
45:47
his son from
45:47
the dead.
45:48
In this act
45:49
of resurrection,
45:50
satisfaction has
45:51
been rendered
45:52
and the
45:53
father's
45:53
declaration is
45:55
clear.
45:56
In Acts
45:56
chapter 2,
45:57
as Peter
45:58
preached to
45:59
those around
46:00
him, he
46:02
said God
46:02
raised him
46:03
up, loosing
46:04
the pangs
46:04
of death
46:05
because it
46:06
was not
46:07
possible for
46:07
him to be
46:08
held by
46:08
it.
46:09
This Jesus
46:10
God raised
46:11
up and
46:12
of that
46:13
we are
46:15
witnesses.
46:17
It's good
46:18
to remember
46:18
today that
46:20
we too,
46:21
like the
46:21
apostles on
46:22
the day of
46:23
Pentecost,
46:23
in our way,
46:25
right here,
46:25
right now,
46:26
at this
46:26
moment,
46:27
are witnesses
46:28
to the
46:29
truth of
46:30
this message
46:30
having taken
46:31
root in
46:32
our hearts
46:32
and lives.
46:34
And so we
46:34
acknowledge that
46:35
Christ is our
46:36
Lord and
46:36
Savior.
46:37
We take our
46:38
place at
46:38
his table,
46:39
not because
46:40
we're perfect
46:41
and wonderful,
46:42
great and
46:42
without problems.
46:44
We take our
46:44
place at his
46:45
table in
46:45
faith,
46:46
looking unto
46:47
him, the
46:47
author and
46:48
finisher of
46:49
our faith.
46:49
We take our
46:50
place at his
46:51
table because
46:52
we're sinners
46:52
in need of
46:53
forgiveness.
46:54
forgiveness.
46:54
And we have
46:55
found that
46:56
forgiveness not
46:57
in our own
46:57
strength and
46:58
in our own
46:58
works, not
46:59
because of the
47:00
righteousness that
47:01
we have acted
47:02
and therefore
47:02
earned God's
47:03
grace, no,
47:04
because God's
47:05
grace is poured
47:06
out in our
47:07
hearts.
47:09
And we have
47:10
come to know
47:10
Jesus Christ as
47:12
our Lord and
47:13
as our Savior.
47:16
Paul would
47:17
later write to
47:17
the church in
47:18
Rome, and in
47:19
chapter 5 and
47:20
verse 1 he
47:21
puts it this
47:21
way,
47:21
therefore, since
47:23
we have been
47:23
justified by
47:24
faith, we
47:25
have peace with
47:27
God through
47:28
our Lord Jesus
47:30
Christ.
47:32
And so this
47:33
morning we
47:34
pause, we
47:36
reflect, we
47:38
remember, do
47:40
this in
47:42
remembrance of
47:44
me.
47:44
We remember
47:45
that the best
47:46
news the world
47:47
has ever heard
47:48
God comes
47:49
from a
47:50
graveyard.
47:52
Our faith
47:52
today is fixed
47:53
in a living
47:54
Jesus, one who
47:56
did die on
47:57
that cross and
47:58
one who was
47:58
physically buried,
48:00
but he has been
48:01
raised from the
48:02
dead and he is
48:03
Lord.
48:05
And we profess
48:06
our faith in
48:07
him, we
48:07
acknowledge that
48:08
we love him,
48:09
we trust him,
48:10
and we will
48:10
follow him, for
48:12
he gave his
48:13
all for us and
48:14
now says to
48:15
each one of us,
48:16
follow me,
48:18
follow me.
48:19
And the
48:19
wondrous thing
48:20
is that Christ
48:21
doesn't then
48:21
disappear over
48:22
the horizon into
48:23
the distance.
48:24
He says, lo, I
48:25
am with you
48:26
always to the
48:28
very end of
48:30
the age.
48:31
And so we
48:32
remember a dead
48:33
saviour can save
48:34
no one but a
48:35
living, personal,
48:36
reigning saviour.
48:37
That changes
48:38
everything.
48:39
And that's why
48:39
the language in
48:41
this section, it
48:42
goes, Christ
48:43
died, he was
48:44
buried, he rose
48:45
again.
48:46
He was seen.
48:48
And the
48:48
Christian church
48:49
for these 2,000
48:50
years has been
48:51
proclaiming this
48:52
wondrous message,
48:54
this good news
48:55
that has been
48:57
passed on to us
48:58
and we focus in
48:59
on what has been
49:00
given of first
49:01
importance, that
49:03
Christ died for
49:04
our sins in
49:05
accordance with
49:06
the scriptures.
49:06
The only
49:07
explanation for
49:08
the cross, the
49:09
only explanation
49:10
that holds water,
49:12
that makes sense,
49:13
that joins up,
49:14
is the seriousness
49:16
of sin, the
49:18
awfulness of sin.
49:20
And that sin had
49:21
created a barrier
49:22
between us and
49:22
God that was
49:23
impassable.
49:24
We couldn't get
49:25
round it, through
49:26
it, over it, or
49:26
under it.
49:28
And that left us
49:29
lost, lost, and
49:33
far off from God.
49:34
I wonder if you've
49:36
noticed how Paul
49:37
opens his letter
49:39
to the Romans,
49:40
that incredible
49:41
letter that goes
49:42
on to deal with
49:43
many of the deep
49:44
things of God.
49:45
But notice the
49:47
first sentence in
49:48
this incredible
49:49
letter.
49:50
Paul, a servant
49:50
of Christ Jesus,
49:52
called to be an
49:53
apostle, set
49:55
apart for the
49:57
gospel of God,
49:58
which he promised
49:59
beforehand through
50:01
his prophets in the
50:03
holy scriptures
50:04
concerning his
50:05
son who was
50:05
descended from
50:06
David according to
50:07
the flesh, and
50:09
was declared to be
50:10
the son of God
50:10
in power according
50:12
to the spirit of
50:12
holiness by his
50:15
resurrection from
50:17
the dead.
50:18
Jesus Christ, our
50:21
Lord, through whom
50:23
we have received
50:24
grace.
50:26
That wonderful
50:27
phrasing there,
50:28
set apart in
50:29
verse 1, set
50:30
apart for the
50:31
gospel of God.
50:33
It's a word that
50:34
speaks of being
50:35
marked out by a
50:36
boundary.
50:38
Isn't that
50:38
wonderful?
50:39
That today,
50:40
Christian friend,
50:41
God has set a
50:42
boundary.
50:44
And that boundary
50:45
marker has one
50:46
word,
50:48
redeemed.
50:50
Redeemed.
50:52
And you have
50:52
been set apart
50:53
for the gospel of
50:55
God.
50:57
Redeemed.
50:58
And it's as
50:59
redeemed we
50:59
gather at this
51:00
table.
51:01
It's as
51:01
redeemed that
51:02
we reflect on
51:03
how we came to
51:04
be on God's
51:05
side of the
51:06
boundary marker.
51:07
How it is we
51:08
came to be
51:08
marked out as
51:09
redeemed by
51:10
putting our
51:11
trust in Christ.
51:13
And that
51:13
alone, nothing
51:15
else.
51:16
There's no
51:16
other way but
51:18
to trust and
51:19
obey.
51:21
And so Paul
51:23
zeroes in here.
51:24
And he reminds
51:25
us that the
51:26
death of Jesus
51:27
is victorious and
51:28
that victory has
51:29
resulted in God
51:29
setting a
51:30
marker, a
51:31
boundary around
51:32
you, Christian
51:33
friend, that is
51:34
marked out as
51:35
redeemed.
51:37
And so we
51:37
look in
51:37
anticipation to
51:38
this supper to
51:40
receive more
51:41
grace in a
51:43
special, effective
51:44
way, remembering
51:45
that the cost of
51:46
that boundary
51:47
marker being
51:48
placed upon us
51:49
and around us
51:50
was nothing
51:51
other than the
51:51
death of Jesus,
51:53
the Son of God.
51:55
And this is the
51:55
last thing.
51:56
The death of
51:57
Jesus is
51:58
saving.
51:59
Our Savior who
52:00
was dead and
52:01
now is alive
52:01
through each one
52:02
of us today
52:03
says that we
52:04
are to proclaim
52:04
his death till
52:05
he come.
52:06
How do we do
52:06
that?
52:07
We take our
52:07
place at the
52:08
table.
52:09
We share
52:09
together the
52:10
bread and the
52:11
wine and we
52:11
look up.
52:13
And as we
52:14
look up, we
52:14
look out.
52:15
We look away
52:16
from our sins.
52:16
We look away
52:17
from the
52:17
struggles.
52:18
We look away
52:18
from the faults
52:19
and the failings
52:20
and we look away
52:21
from the sin that
52:21
so often entangles
52:22
us and trips
52:23
us up.
52:24
We cry out for
52:25
mercy and grace
52:26
to help us in
52:27
time of need.
52:28
And we cry out
52:29
for God's
52:30
strengthening.
52:31
And we remember
52:31
that the victory
52:32
is ours through
52:33
Jesus Christ who
52:35
gave himself for
52:36
us.
52:37
And we press
52:38
on.
52:39
We press on.
52:42
We cannot say
52:43
today that God
52:44
forgives us because
52:45
he is some kind
52:46
of light force
52:48
of love,
52:50
some kind of
52:50
blur in the
52:51
sky.
52:52
So many people
52:53
today, if they
52:54
even get close to
52:54
thinking about
52:55
God, that's about
52:56
as far as they
52:57
get.
52:57
They never open
52:58
his word.
52:59
But what do
52:59
they read?
53:00
They read you
53:01
and I.
53:02
They read our
53:03
lives.
53:03
They see us.
53:05
And so may it
53:06
be that as we
53:07
conduct ourselves,
53:09
this message
53:09
would shine
53:10
through.
53:12
That the light
53:12
of Christ would
53:13
be seen in how
53:14
we conduct
53:15
ourselves.
53:16
As he said
53:16
this morning to
53:17
the children,
53:17
in the choices
53:18
we make,
53:19
in the decisions
53:20
that form us,
53:21
in what we do
53:22
on Monday and
53:23
Tuesday and
53:23
Thursday and
53:24
each day in
53:25
work, private,
53:26
the family and
53:27
the community,
53:28
over the fence
53:29
with the
53:29
neighbours,
53:30
when we're at
53:30
home with our
53:31
children.
53:32
May it be that
53:33
it would be
53:34
evident that we
53:36
love the Lord
53:37
and that his
53:39
mark of
53:39
redeemed is
53:40
upon us.
53:41
Not to make us
53:42
special, not to
53:44
lord it over
53:44
anyone.
53:45
Of course not.
53:46
It's the opposite,
53:46
isn't it?
53:48
We're so aware
53:48
of sin.
53:50
We're so keenly
53:50
aware of sin.
53:51
That's what the
53:52
tender conscience
53:53
does.
53:54
It makes us so
53:55
awake to sin and
53:56
aware of sin that
53:57
we wouldn't dare
53:57
lord it over
53:58
anybody.
53:59
We are saved by
54:00
grace and through
54:01
faith and not of
54:02
ourselves.
54:02
It is the gift of
54:03
God.
54:03
Let's any of us
54:04
should boast.
54:05
There's no room
54:05
for pride in the
54:07
kingdom of heaven.
54:08
No room for pride
54:09
in the church of
54:10
Christ.
54:12
There's only room
54:13
for humility and
54:14
dependence.
54:14
sins because
54:16
were it not for
54:16
Jesus, every
54:17
single one of us
54:18
would still be
54:20
under the wrath
54:21
of God.
54:23
And so we give
54:23
thanks today that
54:25
this message of
54:26
hope and this
54:27
message of faith,
54:28
this message of
54:29
life revolves
54:31
around the
54:33
central event of
54:37
the death of
54:37
Christ.
54:39
He tasted its
54:40
awfulness and
54:42
disarmed it.
54:44
He felt its
54:45
sting and
54:47
defeated it for
54:49
us.
54:51
So our song in
54:52
our hearts is
54:53
hallelujah what a
54:55
savior.
54:56
He is risen from
54:57
the dead, he is
54:58
Lord.
54:59
He died that we
55:00
might be forgiven.
55:02
He died to make
55:03
us good that we
55:05
might go at last
55:05
to heaven, saved
55:07
by his precious
55:09
blood.
55:11
This is our king
55:12
and lord and
55:12
savior that we
55:13
now remember
55:15
together.
55:16
This is our king
55:17
and lord and
55:17
savior who bids us
55:18
come.
55:20
This is our king
55:21
and lord and
55:22
savior who says
55:23
of his table and
55:24
his supper, all
55:26
things are now
55:27
ready.
55:29
Do this in
55:30
remembrance of
55:32
me.
55:33
Let's pray together
55:34
for a moment.
55:34
our gracious lord, how
55:42
can we take in the
55:43
scene of the
55:43
cross?
55:44
How can we take in
55:45
the scene of an
55:46
empty tomb?
55:47
How can we take in
55:48
the meaning and
55:49
significance of
55:50
Golgotha?
55:51
And yet, lord, we
55:52
bless you for the
55:53
garden.
55:54
We bless you that
55:55
there in the
55:55
graveyard there was
55:57
no body to
55:58
anoint.
55:58
There was only an
55:59
angelic guard set on
56:02
the tomb to tell
56:03
those early
56:04
followers, why do
56:06
you seek the living
56:07
among the dead?
56:09
For he has risen, as
56:10
he said, come see the
56:12
place where he lay.
56:15
Lord, our God, we
56:16
bless you that at the
56:17
center of the
56:17
Christian message
56:18
today is the message
56:20
of a savior who
56:21
loved us and gave
56:22
himself for us even
56:24
to death on a cross.
56:26
How can we begin to
56:29
comprehend in our
56:29
lifetime the
56:30
significance and
56:32
wondrous depth of
56:33
that message?
56:35
And so, lord, in
56:36
faith, we gather
56:37
today, we follow the
56:39
instruction of our
56:40
lord in simple
56:41
obedience, reverently
56:43
and humbly.
56:45
And we come to this
56:46
table to be fed.
56:48
We come to be
56:49
nourished.
56:50
We come to be
56:51
enlivened.
56:52
We come for grace.
56:55
So be with us, we
56:56
pray.
56:56
In his precious
56:57
name.
56:58
Amen.
57:01
Now, before we share
57:03
together in the
57:04
Lord's Supper, we'll
57:05
sing again to God's
57:06
praise.
57:07
We'll turn to Psalm
57:08
118 in the Psalter.
57:10
Psalm 118 in the
57:13
Psalter, page 398.
57:16
And we'll sing from
57:18
verse 15.
57:20
And we'll sing to
57:20
verse 21, to God's
57:22
praise, to the
57:23
tuned coal sill.
57:24
Psalm 118, singing
57:26
from verse 15.
57:28
If anyone is still
57:30
in the church
57:31
present who loves
57:32
the Lord Jesus
57:33
Christ and who is in
57:35
full communion with
57:36
their own church and
57:37
is perhaps visiting or
57:38
otherwise detained,
57:39
so come into the
57:40
table and invite you
57:41
to take your place at
57:42
the Lord's table as we
57:43
sing these verses.
57:44
This is the table of
57:46
the Lord Jesus Christ.
57:47
It is not the table of
57:49
the free church.
57:49
And so you're welcome
57:51
in our Saviour's name
57:52
to join us.
57:54
We'll sing then from
57:54
verse 15 to verse
57:56
21.
57:57
And dwellings of the
57:57
righteous has heard
57:58
the melody of joy and
58:00
health.
58:00
The Lord's right hand
58:02
doth ever valiantly.
58:04
These verses to God's
58:05
praise.
58:06
of joy and health.
58:18
The Lord's right hand
58:20
doth ever valiantly.
58:24
Of joy and hell the Lord's right hand doth ever valiantly.
58:40
The right hand of the mighty Lord exalted is on high.
58:57
The right hand of the mighty Lord doth ever valiantly.
59:12
I shall not die but live and shall the works of God discover.
59:29
The Lord doth me just, I said so, but not to death give no heart.
59:47
O set ye open unto me the gates of righteousness.
1:00:01
Then will I enter into them, and I the Lord will bless.
1:00:19
This is the gate of God by it, that thou shalt enter in.
1:00:35
Thee will I please for thy leaders, and as my safety be.
1:00:52
Amen.
1:01:00
We gather at the Lord's table to share in his supper.
1:01:07
This opportunity that he provides to his church to receive his grace in this special way.
1:01:14
To remember his death till he come again.
1:01:16
We read from 1 Corinthians 11, words that we refer to as our warrant for why we do what we do here.
1:01:24
In verse 23, I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you.
1:01:29
The Lord Jesus in the night when he was betrayed took bread.
1:01:32
And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
1:01:35
This is my body which is for you.
1:01:37
Do this in remembrance of me.
1:01:40
In the same way also he took the cup after supper, saying,
1:01:42
This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
1:01:45
Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.
1:01:49
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,
1:01:53
you proclaim the Lord's death until he come.
1:01:58
And so we proclaim his death.
1:02:02
We proclaim that he was dead and now is alive.
1:02:06
We proclaim he is our hope, our joy, our peace,
1:02:10
as we share together in this supper.
1:02:13
Let us first of all pray together.
1:02:15
O Lord, we come in anticipation to your table.
1:02:22
We come to be fed, to be nourished, to be blessed, to receive grace.
1:02:30
And so we pray, Lord God, that through this bread and this wine,
1:02:34
set apart in your ordinance,
1:02:37
and by your providence and by your providence and in your mercy,
1:02:40
that they would be to us a feast.
1:02:43
They would be to us this day a banquet.
1:02:46
They would be to us nourishment to our souls,
1:02:49
that we be replenished and refreshed and revived in our spirit
1:02:53
by sharing together in this supper.
1:02:57
As we take the bread and as we take the wine,
1:03:01
as we share together at this table, at this meal,
1:03:04
we ask, Lord, for a sense of worship and wonder,
1:03:08
a sense of oneness and purpose,
1:03:11
a sense of drive and a sense of determination,
1:03:14
as we in your grace and mercy are enabled here
1:03:18
to proclaim our Lord's death till they come again.
1:03:23
Here as we pray in his name.
1:03:25
Amen.
1:03:29
Before I serve these elements,
1:03:31
let me just share with you these words
1:03:32
written by Gregory of Nazianzus,
1:03:35
a fourth century church leader
1:03:37
who wrote magnificently on who Jesus is
1:03:41
and what Jesus has done.
1:03:44
He began his ministry by being hungry,
1:03:47
yet is the bread of life.
1:03:49
He ended his ministry by being thirsty,
1:03:52
yet is the living water.
1:03:53
He was weary, yet is our rest.
1:03:57
He paid tribute, yet is the king.
1:03:59
He was accused of being a demon,
1:04:01
yet cast out demons.
1:04:03
Jesus wept, yet he wipes away our tears.
1:04:06
Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver,
1:04:10
yet he redeemed the world.
1:04:12
Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
1:04:14
yet he is the good shepherd.
1:04:17
Jesus died, yet by his death,
1:04:21
he destroyed the power of death.
1:04:27
This is my body which is for you.
1:04:29
Do this in remembrance of me.
1:04:32
The initiative in our redemption
1:04:41
comes from God the Father.
1:04:43
For that we give thanks and we praise him.
1:04:46
He's given me long enough to speak to you today,
1:04:48
so I just want to read the last verse
1:04:49
in the chapter we were thinking about this morning,
1:04:52
1 Corinthians 15 and verse 58.
1:04:55
Where in light of what we've thought about,
1:04:57
in light of the grace we've received,
1:04:59
at this table we hear these words,
1:05:02
therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters,
1:05:06
be steadfast, immovable,
1:05:09
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
1:05:12
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1:05:17
May he bless us,
1:05:19
as together we serve him
1:05:21
and share something of the unsearchable riches of Christ
1:05:24
with the people around us,
1:05:27
professing to them that he is our Savior,
1:05:30
our Lord, our King, and our Friend,
1:05:33
and that through faith he can be that to everyone
1:05:36
who comes to him.
1:05:38
We're going to close our service this morning
1:05:40
by turning to the Psalter
1:05:42
and singing from Psalm 72,
1:05:45
words of adoration and proclamation,
1:05:48
words of praise and wonder.
1:05:50
His name forever shall endure,
1:05:53
last like the sun it shall,
1:05:55
men shall be blessed in him,
1:05:57
and blessed all nations shall him call.
1:06:00
Psalm 72, we'll sing to the end,
1:06:02
and if you give me a moment to get to the front door,
1:06:04
please, at the end of the service,
1:06:06
that would be appreciated.
1:06:07
Psalm 72 from verse 17 to the end.
1:06:10
His name forever shall endure,
1:06:25
last like the sun it shall,
1:06:31
men shall be blessed in him,
1:06:38
and blessed all nations shall them call.
1:06:49
Now blessed be the Lord our God,
1:06:59
the God of Israel,
1:07:04
for he alone doth wondrous works
1:07:15
in glory that excel.
1:07:21
And blessed be his glorious name,
1:07:33
to all eternity.
1:07:39
the whole earth let his glory fill.
1:07:50
Amen, so let it be.
1:08:09
Amen.
1:08:18
Amen.
1:08:20
Amen.
1:08:22
Amen.
1:08:24
Amen.
1:08:28
Amen.
1:08:29
Amen.
1:08:32
Amen.
1:08:35
Amen.
1:08:37
Amen.
1:08:37
Amen.