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The Journey from Shame to Honour · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Turn back with me then to Genesis chapter 3, and we can read the verses marked 8 to 10.
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! Genesis 3 and verses 8 to 10.
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And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
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And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of
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the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, Where are you? And he said,
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I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.
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I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.
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I guess every service that we hear, we're told that we are sinners.
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And the reason for that is explained to us in this third chapter of Genesis.
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And this main reading, it focused initially on Adam and Eve. And as we read in verse 25 of chapter 2,
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they knew no shame at that point. And they moved from that to what we've just read there in verses 8 to 10.
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They moved from that, from knowing no shame, to now being totally ashamed because of their nakedness before God.
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And they're actually acutely aware of it in every aspect of their lives.
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And the fall, which is known as when Adam and Eve sinned against God,
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this is the first major turning point in the history of this world.
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And it's important for us to understand the fullness of the consequences of that rebellion against God.
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It was a blatant defiance of the instruction that God had given to Adam.
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And so we can perhaps look at it under three headings.
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First of all, let's look at what happened in the garden, how the garden was initially before the fall.
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And just to have a few thoughts on that.
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Secondly, to look at the fall itself.
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And then thirdly, because of the consequences of the fall and the words that Jesus spoke to the woman during the curse she put on her,
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we'll go to Calvary, to the cross at Calvary and to Jesus' sacrifice there.
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So let's look first of all at the garden.
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They were without shame.
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And, you know, it's very significant that of all the things that God could have told us,
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as the work of creation is completed and God has said it's all very good,
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of all the things that he could have told us in this very last part of chapter 2,
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is that the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
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And what this tells us is that
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tells us that
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everything there was very good in the creation,
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but God wanted us to know
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that we were designed
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to never know what shame felt like.
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That was the purpose in the creation of man and woman.
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And it's very clear that up to this point in the history of the world,
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that the whole creation was exactly as God planned it.
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Everything God wanted in his creation was present,
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and his relationship with Adam and Eve was perfect at that point.
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We're told that
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Adam and Eve in the garden were naked,
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they knew no shame.
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Between them,
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there was an openness.
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There was an openness.
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There was a unity.
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And that was not masked by guilt.
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That was not
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disordered by lust
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in any way.
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And it was not hampered by shame.
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There's a glory,
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and there's a beauty
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in the garden.
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There's a freedom there
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that is totally alien
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to this world
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as we know it.
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And this was God's true pattern of creation,
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that there would be
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perfect ease
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between them,
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between him
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and with
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the human beings
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that he created.
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This was the fruit of perfect love,
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with
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no inclination
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for greed,
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or for distrust,
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or for dishonor,
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or for pride,
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or for selfishness,
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or for anger,
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or for envy,
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or for riches.
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All the things of this world.
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But there was no
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inclination
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whatsoever
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towards
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any of these
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at this point
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in creation.
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And this verse
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is a pointed reminder
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of
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our vanished
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concord,
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our vanished
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harmony,
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where there was
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agreement
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on everything.
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Adam and Eve
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at this point
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were shameless
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in every aspect
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of their lives.
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And they were shameless
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not just physically,
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but spiritually
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as well.
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And how lovely
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this is
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with God
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at the centre
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of their lives.
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The final description
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in chapter 2,
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it just offers
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to us
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a picture
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of
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innocent
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delight.
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Adam and Eve
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were truly
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in paradise
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and
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fellowship
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with God
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was as natural
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as breathing.
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There was no need
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for any kind
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of discipline
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with regard
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to devotion
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to God
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because
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all of life
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was devotion
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to God.
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It was natural
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and there was
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no effort.
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But what now,
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as we read
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into chapter 3,
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what now
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becomes
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abundantly
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clear to us
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is that
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Genesis 2
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can now
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only ever
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be read
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from
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this side
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where we are,
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from this side
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of Genesis 3.
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And that leads
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us
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to look at
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some aspects
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of the fall
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here.
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And let's
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be clear
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as we begin
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that
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the New Testament
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clarifies
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for us
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that
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the serpent
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that's spoken
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about here
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is indeed
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the devil.
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And it's
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at the fall
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that
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this
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act of
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disobedience
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that it
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turns the
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whole narrative
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of human
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life
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into a
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totally
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different
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direction.
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From going
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in one direction
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it flips
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at 180
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to go
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in a
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totally
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different
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direction.
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The picture
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of the
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garden
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given to
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us
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in
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Genesis 2
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is given
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to us
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as being
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reflected
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in a
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clear
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and unspoiled
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mirror.
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And I'd like
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you just to
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keep this in
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your mind
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as we go
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through the
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sermon.
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I'm going
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to come
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back to
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it towards
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the end.
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So
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what we have
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in the garden
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in Genesis 2
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before the fall
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is a picture
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of
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a reflection
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in a clear
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unspoiled
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mirror
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which portrays
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the perfect
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image of God
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in man
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as it was
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then.
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But in
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Genesis 3
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because of
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the fall
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that mirror
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is shattered
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into a
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thousand pieces.
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And each
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little piece
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still reflects
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something
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of the
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earlier beauty
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that there
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was
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but now
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that picture
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is fragmented.
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And that is
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how we are
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born into
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this world
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in that
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fragmented
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picture of
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a thousand
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pieces of
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that mirror
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still
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elements
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there
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of
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the image
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of God
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but certainly
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not perfect
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because that
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mirror
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is now
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broken.
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The world
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is now
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seen through
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the broken
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glass of
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chapter 3
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and this
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is no longer
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a normal
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world
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nothing
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about it
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could be
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called
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very good
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anymore.
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And the
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reason of
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course is
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because
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sin has
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now
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entered in
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and it's
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a reality
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for the
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very first
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time.
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And it's
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impossible I
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think to get
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any more of
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a radical
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contrast of
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words than
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we have
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in chapter
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2
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25
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and chapter
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3
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and verse
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1.
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Look at what
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it says.
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So this
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craftiness
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is there
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now
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from the
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very
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beginning.
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The
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serpent,
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the devil
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begins a
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dialogue with
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the woman
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which opens
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up with
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this question
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and this
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is the
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first question
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I'd like us
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to consider
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in our
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passage today.
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this first
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question
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did God
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actually
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say
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you shall
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not eat
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of the
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tree of
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the garden?
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And what
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does that
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do?
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Well that
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immediately
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puts a
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doubt
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into
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Eve's
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mind,
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into the
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mind of
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the woman.
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That seed
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of doubt
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is planted
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immediately.
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And you
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know it
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just gives
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us a
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thought as
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well.
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Because
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we need
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to be
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in our
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guard
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for these
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words as
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well.
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Did God
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really say?
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Did God
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really say
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this?
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Because
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this is the
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first question
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in the
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Bible and
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it speaks
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volumes to
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us about
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knowing and
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understanding
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God's
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word.
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If we
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don't know
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what God
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says in
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his word
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then doubts
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will be put
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into our
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minds as
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well.
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We're going
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to be led
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away by
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every
11:20
wonder of
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doctrine and
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possibly even
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false
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teaching.
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We need
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to know
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God's
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word so
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that we
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can stand
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firm in
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the face
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of questions
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and
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accusations
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and all
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the wiles
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of the
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devil.
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So we
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need to
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keep that
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in our
11:38
minds.
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So this
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is a
11:40
question
11:40
then that
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is put
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to Eve.
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Did
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God
11:43
really
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say
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this?
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This
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dialogue
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continues
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between
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the
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serpent
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and
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Eve
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to
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the
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point
11:51
where
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she
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eventually
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caves
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in
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and
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eats
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of
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the
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forbidden
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fruit
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and
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ultimately
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rebels
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against
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God.
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She
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gave some
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to her
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husband
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who also
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ate.
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Adam
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and Eve's
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eyes are
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now opened
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meaning
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they now
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begin to
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understand
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the whole
12:13
context of
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good and
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evil.
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They are
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now
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sinners.
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And what
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they did
12:19
was
12:19
unspeakable
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rebellion
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against
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God.
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As one
12:26
commentator
12:27
puts it
12:27
they are
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now ashamed.
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They are
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aware of
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their nakedness
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now but
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it's not
12:34
just their
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physical
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nakedness
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it's a
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moral nudity
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a nudity
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of the
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soul
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of which
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they are
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now
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conscious.
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And what
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they cannot
12:45
do is to
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cover that
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nakedness
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of their
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guilt and
12:48
shame
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before God
12:49
it was
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their sin
12:52
that led
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to this
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shame.
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And even
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while the
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taste of
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the fruit
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was still
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on their
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lips
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they died
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right there
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at the
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foot of
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the tree
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of knowledge
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of good
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and evil.
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They died
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spiritually
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and sin
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immediately
13:12
penetrated
13:13
every sphere
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of their
13:15
being.
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And physical
13:17
death
13:17
also came
13:18
into the
13:19
world.
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In an
13:20
instant
13:21
they passed
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from life
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to death
13:24
from trust
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to distrust
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and from
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ease
13:30
to
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dis-ease.
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It didn't
13:33
take a day
13:34
to happen
13:34
it all
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happened
13:36
in a
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millisecond.
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And what
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we're told
13:42
in Ephesians
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chapter 2
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summarizes
13:45
so much
13:46
of this.
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Ephesians
13:48
2 tells
13:48
us about
13:50
a person's
13:52
state
13:52
before they
13:53
come to
13:53
faith in
13:54
God
13:54
and you
13:55
were dead
13:55
in the
13:55
trespasses
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and sins
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in which
13:57
you once
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walked
13:58
following the
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course of
13:59
this world
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following the
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prince of
14:01
the power
14:02
of the air
14:02
the spirit
14:03
that is now
14:04
at work
14:04
in the
14:05
sons of
14:05
disobedience
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among whom
14:07
we all
14:08
once lived
14:08
in the
14:09
passions of
14:10
our flesh
14:10
carrying out
14:11
the desires
14:11
of the
14:11
body and
14:12
the mind
14:13
and were
14:13
by nature
14:14
children of
14:15
wrath
14:16
like the
14:17
rest of
14:18
mankind.
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And so
14:22
on.
14:22
And actually
14:22
Ephesians 2
14:23
actually goes
14:24
on to
14:24
repeat that
14:25
in other
14:26
ways as
14:27
well.
14:30
Their
14:30
position
14:31
before God
14:32
went from
14:32
a perfect
14:33
harmonious
14:34
relationship
14:35
to now
14:36
being God's
14:36
enemy.
14:38
Very stark
14:39
isn't it?
14:39
Complete
14:40
contrast.
14:42
And this
14:43
leads us to
14:43
our second
14:44
question.
14:45
As God
14:46
comes into
14:47
the garden
14:47
God calls
14:48
out to
14:48
Adam
14:48
where are
14:49
you?
14:50
Where are
14:51
you Adam?
14:53
Where are
14:54
they indeed?
14:57
They're hiding
14:58
from God
14:58
in the
14:59
trees
15:00
in the
15:00
forest.
15:02
they realize
15:05
they're
15:05
naked,
15:06
they cover
15:06
themselves
15:06
with
15:07
sown fig
15:07
leaves
15:08
and they
15:09
are totally
15:09
overcome
15:10
with guilt
15:11
and with
15:12
shame.
15:15
They're
15:16
ashamed,
15:17
they're now
15:17
rebellious,
15:18
guilty
15:18
human beings
15:21
who shift
15:22
blame,
15:23
who are
15:23
afraid
15:24
and hiding
15:25
in the
15:25
trees
15:26
from God.
15:27
what a
15:28
transformation
15:28
from what
15:30
we had
15:31
in the
15:31
words of
15:32
verse 25.
15:35
And we
15:36
can just
15:36
imagine them,
15:37
can't we,
15:38
just crawling
15:39
out from
15:40
these trees
15:41
coming before
15:42
God,
15:43
coming out of
15:44
their hiding
15:44
place in
15:45
abject fear
15:45
fear.
15:47
And God
15:48
then confronts
15:49
them with
15:49
the third
15:50
question
15:51
that we
15:53
can consider.
15:54
Who told
15:55
you you
15:56
were naked?
15:57
Who told
15:58
you that
15:59
you were
16:00
naked?
16:03
And we
16:04
need to know
16:04
the answer
16:05
here because
16:05
sin comes
16:06
into its
16:06
own
16:07
immediately.
16:09
Immediately.
16:10
Immediately.
16:10
she gave
16:14
me the
16:14
fruit from
16:14
the tree
16:15
and I
16:15
ate it.
16:16
It was
16:16
her.
16:17
It was
16:18
her fault
16:18
God.
16:19
Don't
16:20
blame me.
16:20
She
16:20
gave me
16:21
the
16:21
fruit.
16:25
That's
16:25
nothing but
16:26
treachery.
16:27
And Adam
16:28
was already
16:28
immediately
16:29
so cold
16:30
and so
16:31
calculated.
16:33
And instead
16:34
of fellowship
16:34
together,
16:35
they had
16:35
deceit and
16:36
guilt and
16:37
judgment.
16:38
It's now
16:38
the order
16:39
of the day.
16:40
No
16:40
different
16:40
for the
16:41
woman.
16:42
When God
16:42
asked the
16:43
woman,
16:44
it was
16:44
the serpent's
16:45
fault.
16:46
The serpent
16:47
deceived me.
16:47
The serpent
16:48
told me to
16:48
take it.
16:50
So I
16:50
took it.
16:51
It was
16:51
the serpent's
16:52
fault.
16:54
Once again
16:54
deceit and
16:56
shifting the
16:57
blame.
17:01
So God,
17:02
as we read,
17:03
God judges
17:03
the serpent
17:04
and then Eve
17:05
and finally
17:05
Adam and
17:06
each with
17:07
specific and
17:08
personal judgments
17:09
laid upon
17:09
them.
17:10
And following
17:12
God's judgment,
17:14
they are
17:14
cast out
17:15
and this
17:16
is the
17:17
thing that
17:17
they are
17:17
cast down
17:18
into this
17:20
dark and
17:21
evil world.
17:22
sin and
17:29
evil.
17:30
It didn't
17:31
just
17:32
fabricate
17:33
itself into
17:34
the lives of
17:35
Adam and
17:36
Eve and
17:36
human beings.
17:38
But Romans 8
17:39
tells us this.
17:40
for the
17:43
creation
17:44
waits with
17:46
eager wronging
17:47
for the
17:47
revealing of
17:48
the sons
17:48
of God.
17:49
For the
17:50
creation was
17:51
subjected to
17:52
futility,
17:53
not willingly,
17:54
but because of
17:55
whom you
17:56
subjected it
17:56
in hope
17:57
that the
17:58
creation itself
17:59
will be set
18:00
free from
18:00
its bondage
18:01
to decay
18:02
and obtain
18:04
the freedom
18:04
of the
18:05
glory of
18:06
the children
18:07
of God.
18:09
So the
18:10
whole world
18:10
subjected to
18:12
sin.
18:12
But thankfully
18:18
our God is
18:20
a God of
18:20
mercy because
18:22
his judgment
18:23
upon the
18:24
serpent also
18:25
turns into a
18:27
word of grace
18:28
for human
18:29
beings.
18:29
Look at
18:29
verse 15
18:30
here of
18:32
chapter 3.
18:34
I will
18:35
be enmity
18:35
between you
18:36
and the
18:36
woman and
18:37
between your
18:38
offspring and
18:38
her offspring.
18:40
You shall
18:40
bruise your
18:40
head and
18:41
you shall
18:42
bruise
18:42
his heel.
18:48
What God
18:49
says when
18:50
he says
18:50
this, he's
18:51
looking forward
18:52
and what we
18:54
have here
18:55
is quite an
18:57
astounding
18:57
gospel prophecy.
19:00
The woman's
19:01
offspring that
19:02
God refers to
19:03
points to
19:04
Christ, who
19:05
will crush
19:06
Satan's
19:06
head.
19:07
In other
19:07
words, it
19:09
is Christ
19:09
who will
19:11
deal a
19:11
death blow
19:12
to the
19:13
serpent,
19:14
to Satan.
19:17
And in
19:17
saying you
19:18
shall bruise
19:19
his heel,
19:19
this refers
19:20
to humans
19:20
being afflicted
19:22
by sin
19:22
and limping
19:23
along in
19:24
the path
19:25
of life
19:26
because of
19:27
sin.
19:29
And I
19:29
mentioned
19:30
Adam's
19:30
responses
19:31
previously
19:31
as we
19:33
had it,
19:33
which when
19:34
God asked
19:36
him,
19:37
why have you
19:37
done this?
19:38
How do you
19:39
know that
19:39
you're naked?
19:39
And that
19:41
was effectively
19:42
for want
19:42
of a
19:43
phrase,
19:43
one of a
19:44
better phrase,
19:44
one we
19:45
used to
19:45
do,
19:45
it was
19:45
passing the
19:46
buck,
19:46
wasn't it?
19:47
He was
19:47
passing the
19:48
buck on to
19:48
the woman,
19:49
who then
19:49
passed it
19:49
on to
19:50
the serpent.
19:53
Well, that
19:53
was not
19:54
passed to
19:55
Eve,
19:55
actually.
19:56
It was
19:56
passed to
19:58
Jesus Christ
19:59
to deal
20:00
with this,
20:01
to remedy
20:02
this,
20:03
because Adam
20:04
and Eve
20:04
were our
20:05
representatives
20:06
of the
20:07
human race,
20:08
as human
20:08
beings,
20:09
the first
20:09
human
20:09
beings,
20:10
they were
20:10
our
20:10
representatives,
20:12
and so
20:12
what they
20:13
did is
20:14
transferred
20:16
to us
20:17
as well,
20:17
every single
20:18
human being.
20:19
And this
20:19
required a
20:20
remedy,
20:21
and it
20:21
leads us to
20:22
the cross,
20:23
our third
20:23
point,
20:24
because
20:24
Christ
20:26
comes
20:28
in the
20:29
person of
20:29
Jesus
20:30
to deal
20:32
with sin.
20:33
We need a
20:33
remedy for
20:34
this sin.
20:36
And as
20:37
we read
20:37
there in
20:38
verse 12,
20:40
it mentions
20:41
sin,
20:42
that he
20:44
endured the
20:44
cross,
20:45
and he
20:46
despised
20:47
the shame.
20:49
Jesus
20:49
despised the
20:50
shame.
20:50
And the
20:50
word shame
20:51
in the
20:52
Greek
20:52
describes
20:53
something
20:54
that is
20:56
base,
20:58
is ugly,
20:59
is revolting,
20:59
is grotesque.
21:02
And by
21:04
using this
21:04
word,
21:05
the writer
21:05
of the
21:05
Hebrews is
21:06
telling us
21:06
that Jesus'
21:08
experience on
21:08
the cross as
21:09
he hung
21:10
naked and
21:11
broken in
21:12
full view of
21:13
the world,
21:14
was disgraceful,
21:15
deplorable,
21:17
despicable,
21:18
and
21:18
reprehensible.
21:22
He
21:23
endured
21:24
the cross
21:25
and despised
21:27
the shame.
21:28
crucifixion.
21:29
But he
21:30
endured that
21:31
for us.
21:35
He
21:35
endured it
21:36
for us.
21:40
Crucifixion
21:40
was a form
21:41
of capital
21:42
punishment.
21:44
And
21:44
went not
21:45
only to
21:45
torture
21:45
someone,
21:46
but also
21:47
to publicly
21:48
shame that
21:49
person.
21:49
It was
21:49
served for
21:50
the scum
21:50
of society,
21:52
like rebels,
21:53
slaves,
21:54
outcasts,
21:54
murderers,
21:55
so on.
21:55
Crucifixion
21:57
stripped its
21:58
victims of
21:58
their clothes
21:59
and their
22:00
dignity.
22:03
Criminals
22:03
were hung
22:04
naked,
22:04
arms
22:05
outstretched,
22:06
all alone
22:07
in front of
22:08
the crowds
22:09
and the
22:09
hordes
22:09
that were
22:10
gathered
22:10
along
22:11
these Roman
22:12
roads.
22:12
They were
22:12
mocked,
22:14
they were
22:14
spat on
22:15
as they
22:15
struggled
22:16
for breath.
22:17
And it's
22:18
interesting
22:18
that the
22:19
authors of
22:20
the four
22:20
gospels,
22:21
they don't
22:21
emphasize or
22:22
sensationalize
22:23
the gruesome
22:24
details,
22:25
of Jesus'
22:26
death,
22:27
but rather
22:28
they highlight
22:29
the shame
22:30
of the
22:30
cross.
22:34
They show
22:34
us that
22:35
on the
22:35
cross,
22:36
Jesus
22:37
bore
22:37
our shame.
22:41
He bore
22:42
our shame
22:42
in the
22:43
scourging
22:43
and being
22:44
taken outside
22:45
of the city
22:46
walls to
22:46
be crucified
22:47
in front
22:48
of a huge
22:49
crowd.
22:49
People were
22:50
spitting on
22:50
him,
22:51
mocking him,
22:51
shouting at
22:52
him,
22:52
abusing
22:53
him,
22:54
stripped
22:54
naked,
22:55
which was
22:56
a clear
22:56
indicator
22:57
of bearing
22:57
Adam's
22:58
shame
22:59
from the
23:00
Garden of
23:00
Eden.
23:03
The cross
23:04
wasn't just
23:04
punishment
23:05
that he
23:07
took for
23:08
our guilty
23:09
verdict,
23:10
it was
23:10
public
23:11
humiliation.
23:15
It was
23:15
public
23:16
humiliation.
23:18
shame.
23:21
And the
23:22
emphasis on
23:22
shame in
23:23
the Bible
23:23
is always
23:25
in relation
23:26
to God.
23:29
But it's
23:30
also
23:30
significant
23:31
that these
23:33
same four
23:34
gospel writers,
23:35
these authors
23:36
of the
23:37
gospels,
23:37
do not
23:38
dwell on
23:39
the manner
23:39
in which
23:40
Jesus was
23:41
crucified.
23:42
Because if you
23:43
search the
23:43
gospels,
23:44
you'll discover
23:45
that there are
23:45
very few
23:46
details concerning
23:48
Christ's
23:49
physical
23:49
sufferings
23:50
compared to
23:51
what it would
23:52
have actually
23:52
been like.
23:54
There's very
23:54
few details
23:55
of his
23:55
physical
23:56
sufferings.
23:56
Instead,
23:57
they point to
23:58
what was
23:58
happening to
23:59
him spiritually
24:00
as he hung
24:01
there.
24:02
Their focus is
24:03
more on the
24:04
purpose of
24:05
the cross
24:05
than on the
24:06
cross itself.
24:07
and their
24:10
focus is on
24:11
what he
24:12
suffered
24:12
spiritually
24:13
in our
24:13
place in
24:13
that three
24:14
hours of
24:15
darkness
24:15
on the
24:15
cross.
24:19
Going to
24:20
hell itself
24:21
in our
24:21
place.
24:23
Leading him
24:24
to the point
24:24
where he
24:25
cried out,
24:25
my God,
24:26
my God,
24:27
why have
24:28
you forsaken
24:28
me?
24:29
Our fourth
24:29
question in
24:32
our considerations
24:33
here today.
24:35
Why have
24:36
you forsaken
24:36
me?
24:37
Jesus
24:42
borows him
24:43
for the
24:44
threefold joy
24:45
that was
24:45
set before
24:46
him,
24:47
as we're
24:48
told in
24:48
Hebrews.
24:49
And that
24:49
joy was
24:50
so that
24:50
the Father
24:51
would be
24:51
glorified,
24:53
that he
24:55
would be
24:55
victorious
24:56
over the
24:56
devil,
24:57
that he
24:57
would crush
24:58
the head
24:59
of the
25:00
devil,
25:01
and thirdly,
25:02
so that we
25:03
could receive
25:03
his honor.
25:04
And that's
25:05
why the
25:05
cross is
25:06
good news.
25:06
Jesus just
25:08
didn't die,
25:09
Jesus died
25:10
for us.
25:12
He died
25:13
for us.
25:14
through faith,
25:19
we can receive
25:20
his grace,
25:21
and his
25:22
peace,
25:23
and his
25:23
love,
25:25
and his
25:25
joy,
25:27
and his
25:28
honor in the
25:29
place of our
25:30
shame,
25:30
because that is
25:30
the opposite of
25:31
shame,
25:32
we receive
25:33
his honor.
25:34
he laid
25:39
down his
25:40
life,
25:40
and he
25:40
was crucified
25:41
to bear
25:41
our shame,
25:43
and to
25:43
adopt us
25:44
into God's
25:45
family,
25:46
where we
25:47
share in
25:48
the king's
25:49
honor.
25:50
And it's
25:51
perhaps best
25:52
understood as
25:53
that great
25:53
transaction which
25:54
is summarized
25:55
for us in
25:56
2 Corinthians
25:57
5,
25:58
and in
25:58
verse 21,
26:00
and where it
26:00
says,
26:01
for our
26:01
sake,
26:02
God made
26:03
Christ to
26:04
be sin,
26:05
who knew
26:05
no sin,
26:06
so that in
26:07
Christ,
26:08
we might
26:09
become the
26:10
righteousness of
26:11
God in
26:13
him.
26:16
And as
26:17
Galatians 3,
26:18
13 tells us,
26:19
the curse of
26:21
sin and death
26:21
was placed on
26:22
Jesus,
26:23
so that we
26:24
might obtain
26:25
the blessings
26:25
of Abraham.
26:26
So as you
26:31
reflect on
26:32
the cross,
26:32
remember that
26:33
when Jesus
26:34
died,
26:36
and if you
26:37
are a believer,
26:37
your shame
26:38
also died.
26:39
He took it
26:40
with him to
26:40
the grave,
26:41
and that's
26:41
where it
26:41
stayed.
26:43
And you're
26:44
raised through
26:45
his resurrection
26:46
in honor,
26:49
robed,
26:50
and clothed
26:51
in his
26:52
righteousness.
26:53
righteousness.
26:55
How thankful
26:56
we ought to
26:57
be that we
26:59
are able to
26:59
read Genesis
27:01
3 through
27:02
the eyes of
27:04
the New
27:04
Testament,
27:06
where we
27:08
are told of
27:08
someone who
27:09
stands in the
27:10
breach as
27:10
mediator with
27:13
this word of
27:13
good news,
27:15
the good news
27:16
of the gospel.
27:18
It tells us
27:19
that the
27:19
clothing of
27:20
his righteousness,
27:22
the acceptance
27:23
the forgiveness,
27:26
the love and
27:27
peace of his
27:27
gospel,
27:28
and the power
27:29
of his
27:30
resurrection
27:30
bring life
27:32
back to those
27:33
who were
27:33
spiritually dead.
27:38
They are no
27:39
longer spiritually
27:40
dead in their
27:40
sins.
27:41
They are now
27:42
alive in
27:43
Christ.
27:45
Colossians 1
27:46
verses 19
27:47
to 22
27:48
tells us
27:48
this,
27:48
for God
27:49
was pleased
27:50
to have
27:50
all his
27:51
fullness
27:51
dwell in
27:52
Jesus in
27:52
Christ,
27:54
and through
27:54
him to
27:55
reconcile to
27:56
himself all
27:56
things,
27:58
whether things
27:58
on earth or
27:59
things in
27:59
heaven,
28:00
by making
28:01
peace through
28:02
his blood
28:03
shed on the
28:03
cross.
28:04
Once you
28:05
were alienated
28:06
from God and
28:07
were enemies in
28:07
your minds
28:08
because of
28:09
your evil
28:10
behaviour,
28:10
but now he
28:12
has reconciled
28:13
you by Christ's
28:13
physical body
28:14
through death
28:16
to present you
28:17
holy in his
28:18
sight,
28:19
without blemish,
28:19
free from
28:21
accusation,
28:22
and without
28:22
shame.
28:26
That is what
28:26
the cross has
28:27
accomplished for
28:28
us.
28:29
Jesus has
28:29
sacrificed
28:30
there.
28:32
In Genesis
28:32
3, when Adam
28:33
and Eve
28:34
sinned against
28:34
God,
28:35
their freedom
28:36
in God
28:36
immediately
28:37
gave way
28:38
to the
28:39
bondage
28:40
of sin.
28:42
But now,
28:43
for everyone
28:43
who preserved
28:44
faith in the
28:45
finished work
28:45
of Jesus,
28:46
that bondage
28:48
now has
28:49
to go
28:49
away to
28:51
the freedom
28:52
that is
28:52
found in
28:53
a life
28:54
that trusts
28:55
in Jesus.
28:57
So let me
28:58
ask you
28:59
today,
29:00
in your
29:01
life,
29:01
personally,
29:03
do you
29:03
have this
29:04
freedom in
29:06
Christ?
29:07
Or are you
29:08
still hiding
29:09
behind the
29:09
trees,
29:11
as Adam
29:12
and Eve
29:12
were when
29:13
they became
29:14
aware of
29:14
their sin?
29:15
hiding there
29:16
in shame
29:17
when you
29:18
hear the
29:19
voice of
29:20
God again?
29:22
That's a
29:22
question that
29:23
every one of
29:24
us needs to
29:25
ask ourselves.
29:26
Where are
29:26
we today
29:27
with regard
29:28
to this
29:29
freedom?
29:30
Are we
29:30
free in
29:31
Christ,
29:32
or still
29:33
hiding in
29:34
that shame
29:35
behind the
29:36
trees?
29:39
Remember
29:40
the mirror
29:40
I spoke
29:41
about at
29:41
the beginning?
29:42
The mirror
29:43
that was
29:44
shattered into
29:44
a thousand
29:45
pieces when
29:46
sin came
29:46
into the
29:47
world?
29:50
The one
29:50
which portrayed
29:51
the image
29:51
of God
29:52
in man
29:53
as being
29:53
perfect before
29:54
the fall,
29:55
but broken
29:56
when Adam
29:57
and Eve
29:58
sinned,
29:58
resulting in
30:00
our image
30:00
becoming
30:01
distorted.
30:04
Well,
30:05
let me tell
30:05
you this,
30:06
that everyone
30:06
who has
30:07
faith in
30:07
Jesus as
30:08
their Savior
30:09
has had
30:10
that mirror
30:11
replaced,
30:12
not repaired,
30:14
but replaced.
30:16
It's
30:17
replaced.
30:19
They have
30:19
been gifted
30:20
a new one
30:21
that perfectly
30:22
reflects the
30:24
righteousness
30:25
of God
30:27
in Christ
30:27
in them.
30:30
It's
30:31
perfect,
30:32
and it's
30:32
new,
30:33
because when
30:35
you put your
30:35
trust and
30:36
faith in
30:36
Jesus,
30:37
that is a
30:37
new start
30:38
for every
30:39
individual.
30:40
It's a
30:41
new life,
30:43
and they
30:43
are now
30:44
also a
30:45
new creation,
30:47
as we're
30:47
told in the
30:48
Gospels,
30:48
particularly in
30:49
2 Corinthians
30:50
5, once
30:51
again.
30:52
So it's a
30:52
new start,
30:53
a new life,
30:54
a new
30:55
creation.
30:56
And you
30:56
know what's
30:56
so special
30:57
about this
30:57
new mirror?
30:59
It is
30:59
unbreakable,
31:01
absolutely
31:01
unbreakable,
31:05
preserved
31:06
hold for
31:07
the believers
31:08
time on
31:08
this earth,
31:09
and through
31:10
the endless
31:11
ages of
31:11
eternity.
31:14
But that
31:15
broken mirror
31:15
of a
31:16
thousand pieces
31:17
remains that
31:17
way for
31:19
those who
31:19
are still
31:20
without Christ
31:21
as their
31:21
Saviour.
31:23
And you
31:23
know, just
31:23
as it was
31:24
with Adam
31:24
and Eve,
31:25
so it is
31:25
for every
31:25
one of
31:26
us.
31:26
We are
31:27
all
31:27
responsible
31:28
for the
31:29
choices
31:30
that we
31:31
make.
31:34
God
31:35
gives
31:35
every one
31:36
of us
31:36
a choice.
31:38
Believe
31:38
in Jesus,
31:39
believe in
31:40
what he
31:40
has
31:40
accomplished
31:41
on the
31:42
cross,
31:42
put your
31:43
trust and
31:43
faith in
31:44
him and
31:44
his
31:44
finished
31:45
work,
31:45
and commit
31:46
your life
31:47
to him
31:47
in faith,
31:48
or don't
31:50
believe in
31:50
Jesus,
31:52
don't believe
31:53
in what he
31:54
has accomplished
31:54
on the
31:55
cross,
31:55
don't put
31:56
your trust
31:57
and faith
31:57
in him and
31:57
his
31:58
finished
31:58
work,
31:59
and don't
31:59
commit your
32:00
life to
32:00
him.
32:00
that's
32:01
the
32:01
choice
32:02
we
32:02
have.
32:04
And the
32:05
choice is
32:06
yours
32:06
personally.
32:08
But thankfully
32:08
we have a
32:10
God who
32:10
is a
32:11
God of
32:11
mercy,
32:12
and we
32:12
have a
32:12
God who
32:13
is reaching
32:13
out to
32:14
you again
32:14
today,
32:16
and he's
32:17
saying,
32:17
come to
32:18
me,
32:18
all of
32:19
you who
32:19
are laboring
32:20
and are
32:21
heavy laden,
32:21
and I
32:22
will give
32:22
you that
32:22
rest.
32:23
Come to
32:23
me,
32:24
and I
32:24
will give
32:24
you that
32:25
safety,
32:25
and that
32:26
security,
32:27
and I
32:27
will be
32:28
with you,
32:28
and I
32:29
will lead
32:29
you each
32:30
and every
32:31
moment for
32:32
the remainder
32:32
of your
32:33
life.
32:35
He's just
32:35
saying,
32:36
come to
32:37
me.
32:38
This is
32:39
what God
32:40
has done
32:40
for us.
32:41
He has
32:41
given us
32:41
a remedy,
32:43
and Christ
32:44
is representative
32:45
of all of
32:46
his people,
32:48
just as
32:49
Adam and
32:49
Eve were
32:49
representative
32:50
of a
32:51
broken and
32:52
sinful
32:52
world.
32:54
And so
32:54
there we
32:55
leave it
32:56
for today,
32:57
with that
32:58
choice,
32:59
and with
33:00
that great
33:00
invitation
33:01
from the
33:02
Lord,
33:03
to come
33:03
to him,
33:05
and to
33:05
place your
33:06
trust and
33:06
your faith
33:07
in Jesus
33:08
Christ as
33:09
your
33:09
Savior.
33:12
May God
33:13
bless these
33:14
thoughts.
33:15
Let's close
33:16
now,
33:16
then let's
33:17
sing together.
33:19
We'll sing
33:19
in Psalm
33:20
130,
33:23
from
33:23
Sing
33:24
Psalms.
33:25
We'll sing
33:26
the whole of
33:26
the Psalms.
33:26
Psalm 130,
33:28
and it's
33:29
on page
33:29
173 of
33:30
the Blue
33:31
Books.
33:44
And may
33:44
this be your
33:45
prayer and
33:46
your call to
33:47
God today.
33:48
Lord, from
33:48
the depths I
33:49
call to you,
33:50
Lord, hear me
33:51
from on high,
33:52
and give
33:53
attention to
33:53
my voice
33:54
holy
33:56
holy
34:24
my voice
34:27
when I
34:29
for mercy
34:32
die.
34:35
Lord,
34:36
in your
34:38
presence
34:40
to
34:42
the Son,
34:44
if you
34:46
are sins
34:49
before,
34:50
but yet
34:54
forgiveness
34:56
is
34:58
with you
35:01
that
35:02
we may
35:05
fear
35:06
you, Lord.
35:10
I
35:10
wait,
35:12
my soul,
35:15
wait for
35:16
the Lord,
35:18
my
35:20
hope
35:22
is
35:23
in
35:23
his
35:25
word,
35:27
for
35:28
am
35:29
the
35:30
Lord,
35:32
praise
35:33
for
35:34
dawn,
35:36
my
35:37
soul,
35:39
wait for
35:41
the
35:42
Lord.
35:43
O
35:45
it
35:47
shall
35:48
give
35:49
your
35:50
hope
35:51
in
35:53
Lord,
35:54
for
35:55
mercy
35:57
is
35:58
with
36:00
him,
36:01
and
36:02
who
36:04
redemption
36:05
promises
36:06
from
36:08
the
36:10
sins
36:11
that
36:12
be
36:14
the
36:15
will
36:16
be
36:17
free
36:18
here.
36:21
Now
36:22
grace of
36:23
Jesus
36:24
Christ,
36:25
the love
36:26
the Father,
36:27
the fellowship
36:28
of the Holy
36:29
rest upon
36:30
and abide
36:31
with each
36:32
now and
36:33
always.
36:34
Amen.
37:04
the