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

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Let's turn back now to that passage of scripture we read to the first epistle of John chapter number four and we can read at verse number 10 taken in the previous verses from verse seven but let's read verse 10 and this is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent a son to be the propitiation for our sins and so on.
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When we met last Lord's Day we were looking at Paul's second letter to Corinthians and chapter five and I made it clear that morning that we are going to be looking at some of the benefits of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and to do so to kind of build up a picture of the significance of the cross for our own personal experience and not only to be informed by what the Bible says about the cross,
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but to learn to appreciate the great need that we have of the finished work of the Lord Jesus and we saw the way in which God reconciles us to himself by making Jesus the one in you know sin to be sin and that we those who do not know righteousness become the righteousness of God in him.
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There is that transfer.
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There is that transfer.
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This evening we want to look at these verses and this whole book written by John.
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It's a very warm letter that he writes.
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It's full of a sense of the love of God and it's full of a sense of the church being the family of God.
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And as we read through the letter, John has a particular focus in mind and perhaps there are two things in particular that he wants to bear in mind as he writes this letter to them.
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And as we read at the beginning of the letter, we see that he refers to fellowship or communion, the fellowship that he has himself with the Father and with the Son, Jesus Christ,
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and writing so that they may also have the same communion and the same fellowship.
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And that kind of understanding of the church as the family of God is sharing in the very things that John himself shared in as somebody who experienced the life and witness of the Lord Jesus.
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When we come to chapter 5, we see once more that he has the desire to write these things to them at verse 13,
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so that you will know that you have eternal life.
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What a great purpose.
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We have the whole word of God and it is for that purpose.
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But specifically in this letter, John makes it clear that he wants his hearers, as God wants us this evening,
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to know that we have eternal life.
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And as he writes the letter, perhaps we can notice by way of an adduction that in order to help them to understand
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that they are the children of God, that they belong to God's family.
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There are three particular tests that he pulls together through this letter to show to them what must be true
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if they are the genuine children of God.
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And there is the theology test or the Christology test,
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the test of their understanding who the Lord Jesus is.
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A crucial test.
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If they get that wrong, and if you and I get that wrong,
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then everything else is going to be a model.
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But if we understand something about who Christ is and what God has done in him,
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then we have the foundation for a life lived as the children of God.
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The second or third test, the second we can look at as the kind of moral test,
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how do you live your life if you're the child of God?
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How do you live your life as the light of the world?
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Your life must be different.
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There is a moral test.
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And thirdly, there is a social test which connects with the passage this evening.
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That is that they are to live together as the people of God in a particular way.
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And if these three things, if they pass these three tests,
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then they can be assured that they are the people of God.
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And for ourselves, as we worship God this evening,
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if we ourselves pass these three tests,
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we can go home with the confidence that God is telling us
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that we are the children of God.
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And so against that background, we want to think this evening of the cross of Jesus Christ
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and the message of propitiation.
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I want to think, first of all, of the design.
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God is the great designer.
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He has designed what the church should look like.
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And as we read from verse 7 onwards,
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we see something of God's design for his church.
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And the design comes before us with this exhortation by John in verse number 7.
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Let us love one another.
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And just like Paul speaking about love,
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we understand and believe that John will understand love in the context of the Old Testament
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and not so much from the culture in which he was writing this letter.
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The Old Testament love that speaks of the free movement of God,
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of searching an object to love,
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of spending his energy, as it were,
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for the good and well-being of that object,
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and in self-sacrifice,
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ensuring the well-being of the person now chosen as the object of love.
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Let us love.
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But here the love is not for us to love God in return for his love for us,
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but it is to love one another.
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And he is speaking to the community of faith.
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He is speaking to the family of God.
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He is speaking to the church of Jesus Christ,
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for them to love the people next to themselves,
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those who share family membership with them,
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those who are themselves the children of God.
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And as we think of ourselves as the church of Jesus Christ this evening,
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here is an exhortation for us to take on board
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and to allow our hearts to be examined by what the Word of God is saying
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when it's telling you and I to love one another.
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And it may, on the surface, be quite a simple test.
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But if we do allow the Word of God to examine us as we should,
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then what appears simple is actually quite searching.
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that you tonight and I tonight can say with regard to all of the people of God
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that we love them as we love ourselves, as we love our Savior.
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It's a high standard.
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It's a standard that God expects us to reach.
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It is the standard that works in the family of God.
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And the reason why it is, the standard,
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or the first reason why it is the standard is
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because love is from God.
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We are the children of God this evening
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because God has poured His love into our hearts,
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according to Paul in Romans 5, by His Holy Spirit.
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There is an invisible channel from God in heaven
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into the hearts of His children,
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an invisible channel through which floods into their hearts
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the very love of God itself.
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It's a generous supply of the love that there is in God.
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And tonight, as the children of God,
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we are recipients of that love.
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Connected to God.
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But these verses tell us,
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as so much of the Bible tell us,
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that we are not just to be recipients.
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That we ourselves are to be conduits or channels
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for the love to reach others.
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And it is such a beautiful thing
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to experience the love of God in Jesus Christ.
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And to be caught up with my Savior
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and all of His preciousness
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and in all of His beauty.
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It's a great place to be in.
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But we are not to stop in that place.
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We are not going to forget that place,
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but we are not to stop there.
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Tonight, God requires you and I
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to be the conduit,
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the channel through which that love
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touches other people.
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And that makes the test of our love for others
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the question to be answered not by ourselves,
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but to be answered by the other person.
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Are we conduits of God's love to others?
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How much does the person next to me
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feel that God's love flows through me
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and touches their lives?
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God's design, that's how it should be.
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That's how it is in the natural family.
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And much more so now,
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it should be in the family of God.
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God, that our family membership
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ensures that we have family relationships
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and that these relationships
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are bound together
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with the love that is from God.
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And when John is setting the standard for them
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in God's design for his church,
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he reverses his argument
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in order to show that
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if they're not loving,
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then certain things
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are simply not true.
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Anyone who does not love
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does not know God
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because God is love.
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If we're not loving one another this evening,
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if we're not loving the other person,
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it means that we don't know God.
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We may know about God.
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We may learn a lot of detail
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and have a lot of knowledge about God,
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but we don't know God relationally
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as his children
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who are born into his family
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by the power of his spirit
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and because of his love.
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If we don't love,
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we don't know God.
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And that turns the whole picture
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into you and I
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examining this evening
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whether we do have that
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living, personal relationship with God,
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that relationship of faith
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and of love
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and of trust
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that's living
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and that's real.
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And because of that,
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anyone who does not love,
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does not know God
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because
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God is
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love.
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If we're born of God,
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we know God.
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We are
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the product of the love of God.
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And as
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John says in the beginning of chapter 5,
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if we love
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the Father that has begotten us
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through whom we are born ourselves,
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then we love
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all of the other people
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who are born into his family.
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Love
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is from God
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and God
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is love.
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His very
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existence
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is a
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continuous,
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constant
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being
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that is love.
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all of his actions
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are loving.
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And the God
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who is love
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in that way
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is the God
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who channels
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his love
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into the hearts
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and lives
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of his own people.
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To the extent
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that we can nearly
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say
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that the child
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of God
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is love also.
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Because the love
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that is
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now channeled
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into our hearts
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as the children of God,
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God,
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it is the eternal
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love of God
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that will never
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come to an end.
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And because
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it's that kind of love,
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then our hearts
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must be loving.
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Loving God
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who loved us first
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and loving
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brothers and sisters
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in the Lord.
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God
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is love.
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He is the
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spring
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and the source
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of all the love
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that works
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in the church.
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And that love
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now evidences
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itself
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by showing
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itself
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in the lives
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of the children
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of God
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who love
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each other.
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And as we
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mentioned
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in chapter 5
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verse 13,
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he's writing
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to them
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that they may know
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that they have
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everlasting life.
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And in chapter 3
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we read
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that John
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is saying
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to them
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that we know
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we have passed
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from death
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to life
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because we love
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the brethren.
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There's an assurance
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in loving
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the brethren.
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There may be
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some here tonight
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and myself
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one of them
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and one of
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the first
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tokens
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or evidences
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of God
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working in life
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is a love
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for the people
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of God.
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We cannot be
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the children
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of God
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without loving
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the people
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of God.
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God's
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design
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to know
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in our heart
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that we love
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the people
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of God
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and to know
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because we love
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that we know
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we have passed
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from death
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to life.
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The design.
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Secondly
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I want us
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to think of
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disorder.
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Something is wrong
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and something
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has gone wrong
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and verse 10
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refers to the
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thing that has
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gone wrong.
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Here's the
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propitiation
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for our
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sins.
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Here is
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disorder
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in God's
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creation.
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John tells us
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in chapter 3
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that sin
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is lawlessness.
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It's rebellion
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against God.
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It disrupts
15:44
our relationship
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with God.
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It's an
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inner attitude
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through which
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we want to
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serve ourselves
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and to not
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God
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sin is
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lawlessness.
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And that
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sin has
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come into
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the world
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that God
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created in
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all of its
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beauty.
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In the
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beginning
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the earth
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was without
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form and
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void
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and darkness
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covered the
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face of the
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deep
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and then
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God said
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let there be
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light
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and there
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was light.
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chaos
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becomes
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order
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in accordance
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with God's
16:21
design.
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The beauty
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of God's
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creation.
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But sin
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intruded
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that world
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of perfect
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beauty.
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That world
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of perfect
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environment
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for us to
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live in.
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Sin intruded
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through the
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sin of Adam.
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And the
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Bible makes
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it clear
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in Romans
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5
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that
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because of
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that
16:48
intrusion
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of sin
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that we
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are all
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sinners.
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One man
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sinned
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death
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entered
16:56
and death
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came upon
16:58
all because
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all have
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sinned.
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And this
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evening as
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we think
17:04
of our
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responsibility
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to love
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God and
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to love
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the people
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of God
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we have
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to come
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face to
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face with
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our
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sinnership
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and with
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the fact
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that there
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is no
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neutrality.
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There's no
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one here
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sitting on
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the fence
17:19
and deciding
17:21
what to do
17:21
with the
17:21
gospel because
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they have
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the free
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choice just
17:24
to dismiss
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or to
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accept.
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It's not
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like that.
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All of us
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together
17:30
are listed
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as those
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who have
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sinned
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against God.
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and when
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I see
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the way
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in which
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sin
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intruded
17:41
God's
17:42
perfect
17:42
environment
17:42
two
17:43
particular
17:44
things
17:44
stand out
17:45
for me
17:46
in that
17:47
account
17:47
in the
17:48
Bible.
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The first
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is that
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it has
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affected
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man's
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relationship
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with God.
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Adam is
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hiding from
17:56
God.
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There is
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disorder.
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It also
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affects
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Adam's
18:02
relationship
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with Eve.
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They are
18:04
covering
18:04
themselves
18:05
because
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they are
18:06
ashamed.
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What was
18:08
beautiful
18:09
and in
18:10
order
18:10
has been
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turned into
18:12
chaos
18:12
because of
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the sin
18:14
of Adam
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and the
18:15
sin that
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becomes
18:16
the sin
18:16
of
18:17
humankind.
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And let's
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tonight
18:24
absorb
18:26
that simple
18:27
truth
18:28
that we
18:30
are all
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sinners
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before God.
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the rest
18:36
of the
18:36
Bible
18:36
means
18:37
nothing
18:37
to us
18:38
unless
18:39
we
18:40
absorb
18:40
that
18:41
and
18:41
embrace
18:42
that.
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The
18:44
disorder.
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And the
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key thing
18:48
is what
18:49
is God's
18:50
response
18:51
to the
18:52
disorder?
18:54
Is God
18:55
with all
18:56
respect
18:56
sitting as
18:58
a bystander
18:59
and watching
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the world
19:01
go into
19:01
chaos and
19:02
is unaffected
19:03
by what
19:04
happens?
19:06
Well the
19:06
Bible tells
19:07
us that
19:08
is not
19:08
the case.
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And the
19:10
God who
19:10
is love
19:11
in these
19:11
verses is
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the God
19:13
in chapter
19:14
one who
19:14
is the
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God who
19:15
is light.
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And light
19:17
speaks to
19:18
me of
19:18
the salvation
19:19
of God
19:20
shining into
19:21
a dark
19:22
world.
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But light
19:24
also speaks
19:25
to me of
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the holiness
19:27
of God.
19:28
Of the
19:29
light that
19:29
came down
19:30
in the
19:30
Old Testament
19:30
and the
19:31
people of
19:32
God
19:32
weren't
19:33
allowed to
19:33
touch or
19:34
come near
19:35
the mountain
19:35
in case
19:36
they were
19:37
destroyed.
19:39
The
19:40
holiness
19:40
of God.
19:42
God is
19:43
light.
19:45
And I
19:46
need to
19:46
be aware
19:48
as we read
19:48
the word
19:49
of God
19:49
that God
19:50
is not
19:51
the unmoved
19:51
mover of
19:52
everything
19:53
but that
19:54
he is
19:55
moved by
19:55
everything
19:56
that happens
19:57
in his
19:57
own
19:58
creation.
19:59
that when
20:00
he created
20:01
the world
20:01
at first
20:02
he saw
20:04
everything
20:04
including
20:05
humankind
20:05
and God
20:07
saw everything
20:07
and it
20:09
was all
20:10
very good.
20:12
As soon
20:13
as God
20:13
created
20:14
there are
20:14
new
20:15
relationships
20:15
that belong
20:16
to the
20:17
creation
20:17
in which
20:18
we live
20:18
and there
20:20
is this
20:20
relationship
20:21
of delight
20:22
in what
20:24
God
20:24
himself
20:25
has done
20:26
and
20:29
now
20:29
I'm
20:31
expecting
20:31
that there's
20:32
a different
20:32
response
20:33
because of
20:35
your
20:35
sinnership
20:36
and mine
20:36
and what
20:38
is that
20:39
different
20:39
response?
20:41
It's what's
20:42
at the
20:42
center of
20:43
our
20:43
understanding
20:43
of
20:44
verse 10
20:45
it is
20:46
the wrath
20:46
of God
20:47
and as
20:48
Paul says
20:49
in Romans
20:49
1
20:50
the wrath
20:51
of God
20:51
is revealed
20:52
from heaven
20:53
against all
20:55
and godliness
20:56
and righteousness
20:57
of men.
21:00
There is
21:01
a breaking
21:01
forth
21:02
of another
21:03
channel
21:04
and it's
21:05
the channel
21:06
of the wrath
21:06
of God
21:07
a wrath
21:09
that is there
21:10
because of
21:10
his holiness
21:11
a wrath
21:13
that is now
21:14
focused on
21:15
every sinner
21:16
in the world
21:16
as the object
21:17
of his divine
21:18
wrath
21:19
and the wrath
21:21
that speaks
21:21
of
21:22
destruction.
21:28
The writer
21:28
to Hebrews
21:29
says that
21:29
our God
21:30
is a
21:30
consuming
21:31
fire
21:31
and that
21:33
we are all
21:33
waiting for
21:34
the day
21:34
of the
21:35
judgment
21:35
of God
21:36
and the
21:36
revelation
21:37
of the
21:37
divine
21:38
wrath.
21:41
God
21:42
is
21:42
moved
21:43
by our
21:45
sin
21:45
and he
21:47
is moved
21:47
in his
21:49
wrath.
21:51
There emerges
21:52
something new
21:53
in our
21:54
relationship
21:55
with God
21:55
because of
21:57
the entrance
21:57
of something
21:58
new which
21:58
is our
21:59
sin
21:59
and that
22:00
something new
22:01
is the
22:02
wrath
22:03
of God.
22:04
God
22:06
and we
22:07
can remind
22:07
ourselves
22:08
that
22:08
wrath
22:09
is not
22:09
the opposite
22:09
of love.
22:11
Hate
22:11
is the
22:12
opposite
22:12
of love.
22:13
There is
22:13
the God
22:14
who is
22:14
love
22:15
constantly
22:16
continually
22:17
forever
22:17
but there
22:18
is the
22:19
God
22:19
now
22:19
who is
22:20
holy
22:20
who is
22:20
angry
22:21
with us
22:24
because
22:25
of our
22:26
sin.
22:29
And as
22:30
surely
22:31
as there
22:33
is no
22:33
place
22:33
of
22:34
neutrality
22:34
as far
22:36
as our
22:36
sinnership
22:36
is
22:37
concerned.
22:38
There is
22:38
no
22:38
place
22:38
of
22:39
neutrality
22:39
as far
22:40
as the
22:40
wrath
22:40
of God
22:41
is
22:41
concerned.
22:43
His
22:43
wrath
22:44
is not
22:44
diverted
22:45
from you
22:45
unto the
22:46
next
22:46
person
22:46
and you
22:47
are to
22:47
be
22:47
left
22:48
without
22:48
any
22:49
sign
22:49
of the
22:50
wrath
22:50
of God
22:50
resting
22:50
upon
22:51
you.
22:53
Each
22:53
and every
22:54
one of
22:54
us
22:54
together
22:55
this
22:55
evening
22:56
because
22:56
of our
22:57
sin
22:57
we are
22:58
the
22:59
objects
22:59
of the
23:00
wrath
23:00
of God.
23:03
And that's
23:03
why Paul
23:04
says in
23:04
Ephesians 2
23:05
that we
23:06
are by
23:07
our very
23:07
nature
23:08
the
23:09
children
23:10
of
23:10
wrath.
23:12
The
23:13
wrath of
23:13
God
23:14
is resting
23:15
upon us.
23:19
And what
23:20
does that
23:21
make us
23:21
see?
23:23
The
23:24
wonder
23:24
of the
23:25
mystery
23:26
of God.
23:28
The
23:29
God who
23:29
is love
23:30
unchangeably.
23:33
the God
23:33
who is
23:34
holy
23:34
unchangeably.
23:37
It's the
23:38
God now
23:38
who is
23:39
expressing
23:40
himself
23:41
in a
23:41
new way
23:42
toward
23:43
us
23:44
because
23:45
of our
23:46
sin.
23:47
It doesn't
23:47
change his
23:48
love.
23:48
It doesn't
23:49
change his
23:49
holiness.
23:51
But there
23:51
is a
23:53
new
23:53
relationship.
23:56
The
23:56
disorder
23:57
and the
23:58
impact of
23:59
the
24:00
disorder
24:01
on
24:02
God.
24:06
And perhaps
24:07
at this
24:09
very moment
24:09
it's a
24:12
moment for
24:12
contemplation.
24:14
A moment
24:15
for silence
24:16
because this
24:19
is what
24:19
God is
24:20
saying.
24:22
And this
24:22
is how
24:22
he sees
24:23
us
24:23
because of
24:25
who we
24:26
are.
24:29
And a
24:29
moment of
24:30
contemplation
24:30
to allow
24:31
the voice
24:33
and the
24:33
being of
24:34
God to
24:35
shine into
24:36
our
24:36
darkness
24:37
and to
24:39
awaken us
24:40
to the
24:41
reality of
24:41
our plight
24:42
as those
24:44
who have
24:45
sinned,
24:47
as those
24:47
who are
24:48
the objects
24:49
of his
24:49
wrath,
24:50
and as
24:51
those who
24:52
are hissing
24:53
through this
24:54
world at
24:55
what sometimes
24:56
feels like
24:57
some
24:57
horrific
24:57
rate
24:58
into
24:59
an
25:00
eternity
25:01
when we
25:01
will
25:02
meet
25:02
with
25:03
God.
25:06
Can you
25:07
tonight be
25:08
disinterested
25:10
in the
25:11
message of
25:12
the gospel?
25:13
Is it
25:13
possible for
25:14
you to
25:16
listen and
25:17
not to be
25:18
moved and
25:18
not to
25:18
think?
25:20
To think
25:21
about who
25:22
you are
25:22
and to
25:24
think about
25:24
who God
25:26
is.
25:28
The
25:28
design,
25:31
the
25:32
disorder,
25:36
and thirdly,
25:38
the
25:38
demonstration,
25:40
the show,
25:41
the display
25:42
of God's
25:44
response.
25:46
What will
25:46
God's love
25:47
do in the
25:49
light of your
25:49
plight?
25:50
what will
25:51
God's love
25:51
do in the
25:52
light of
25:52
his own
25:53
wrath?
25:54
Is God's
25:55
love going
25:55
to cease
25:55
working because
25:57
of the
25:57
intrusion of
25:58
sin?
26:02
We see
26:03
love
26:03
working in
26:05
this new
26:06
magnificent
26:06
way,
26:08
and that's
26:08
what we
26:08
have in
26:09
version number
26:09
10.
26:11
And this
26:11
is love,
26:12
not that we
26:13
loved God,
26:14
but that he
26:14
loved us
26:15
and sent
26:16
his Son.
26:16
the
26:19
response to
26:20
his own
26:21
wrath on
26:22
the part
26:23
of God
26:23
is not
26:24
to abandon
26:25
us and
26:25
to leave
26:26
humankind
26:27
into its
26:28
lostness and
26:29
final judgment,
26:32
but as
26:33
the missionary
26:34
God to
26:34
send his
26:35
missionary
26:35
Son into
26:36
the very
26:37
world of
26:37
disorder and
26:38
of chaos.
26:41
And the
26:41
holy and
26:42
the beautiful
26:43
Son of
26:43
God becomes
26:44
God's
26:45
missionary
26:46
ambassador
26:47
into God's
26:48
world in
26:49
order to
26:49
deal with
26:50
the disorder
26:50
that sin
26:51
has brought
26:52
into the
26:52
world.
26:56
And we
26:56
should never
26:57
lose sight
26:58
of the
26:59
significance
27:00
and the
27:02
mystery and
27:02
the beauty
27:03
and the
27:03
glory of
27:04
the Son
27:05
of God
27:05
coming into
27:06
the world.
27:09
His
27:09
birth
27:10
in
27:11
Bethlehem.
27:13
Not any
27:14
other child
27:15
that we
27:16
can celebrate
27:16
their birth,
27:19
but the
27:19
entrance of
27:21
the Son of
27:22
God into
27:23
the world
27:23
because God
27:26
so loved
27:27
the world.
27:31
God's love
27:32
responds by
27:34
sending his
27:36
Son.
27:37
God sent
27:39
his Son to
27:51
be the
27:52
God
27:52
world.
27:53
And how
27:55
does this
27:56
channel work?
27:57
What happens
27:58
when love
27:59
comes down
28:00
in this
28:00
way?
28:01
God sent
28:04
his Son
28:04
to be the
28:06
propitiation
28:08
for our
28:09
sins.
28:11
A big
28:12
word.
28:13
A word
28:14
that we
28:14
can shy
28:15
away from.
28:17
But it's
28:18
the word
28:18
that God
28:19
uses.
28:21
It's a
28:22
crossword.
28:23
It's a
28:24
word that we
28:24
need to
28:25
understand.
28:26
If we are
28:27
to understand
28:27
the love
28:28
of God,
28:30
the
28:30
propitiation
28:31
concerning
28:32
our sin.
28:35
And in
28:36
John's
28:36
culture,
28:37
and in the
28:37
pagan culture,
28:39
propitiation
28:39
was something
28:40
that people
28:41
were familiar
28:41
with.
28:43
And we're
28:44
familiar with
28:44
it because
28:45
propitiation
28:46
is something
28:47
that happened
28:47
at the
28:48
pagan temple
28:48
when something
28:50
went wrong
28:51
and the
28:53
God needed
28:54
to be
28:54
appeased.
28:55
The person
28:56
who offended
28:57
is to
28:59
bring a
29:00
sacrifice
29:00
or a
29:01
payment
29:01
to the
29:02
pagan
29:03
temple
29:03
in order
29:04
to appease
29:05
the wrath
29:05
of the
29:06
God who
29:07
is offended.
29:11
And so
29:12
it is
29:13
the offender
29:14
that brings
29:16
the sacrifice
29:16
to the
29:18
person who
29:18
is offended.
29:22
And that
29:23
highlights
29:24
the beauty
29:25
of this
29:26
initiative
29:27
of God's
29:27
love.
29:29
That in
29:30
our
29:30
lostness
29:30
and in
29:31
our
29:31
wrath
29:31
and our
29:31
disorder,
29:34
God does
29:34
not wait
29:34
for us
29:35
to take
29:35
the
29:35
initiative
29:36
because
29:37
if he
29:38
did,
29:38
nothing
29:38
would
29:38
ever
29:39
happen.
29:41
But God
29:41
himself
29:42
not only
29:42
takes
29:43
the
29:43
initiative,
29:45
he
29:46
himself
29:46
makes
29:47
the
29:48
provision
29:48
so that
29:49
his own
29:50
wrath is
29:51
taken
29:51
away.
29:52
he provides
29:54
his son
29:55
so that
29:56
the son
29:57
becomes
29:57
the
29:57
sacrifice
29:58
who
30:00
suffers
30:01
for sin
30:02
and turns
30:03
away his
30:04
wrath.
30:05
death.
30:07
And part
30:08
of the
30:08
miraculous
30:10
event
30:13
that takes
30:13
place when
30:14
that happens
30:14
is that
30:15
the God
30:17
who is
30:18
to be
30:18
propitiated
30:19
is the
30:20
God who
30:21
provides
30:21
the sacrifice
30:22
and the
30:23
sacrifice
30:24
is his
30:24
own
30:25
son.
30:28
And when
30:28
we read
30:29
the story
30:33
of the
30:34
cross,
30:36
the only
30:36
begotten
30:37
son who
30:38
came into
30:38
this world
30:39
of disorder,
30:42
he is
30:43
the son
30:45
upon whom
30:45
God laid
30:47
the iniquity
30:48
of us
30:49
all.
30:52
That's
30:52
what we
30:53
read in
30:53
Isaiah
30:53
chapter 53.
30:56
And it
30:56
was the
30:57
will of
30:57
the Lord
30:58
to crush
30:59
him,
30:59
he was
31:01
crushed
31:01
for our
31:02
iniquities.
31:04
That the
31:05
channel of
31:06
the eternal
31:06
wrath of
31:07
God
31:07
is
31:09
redirected
31:11
so that
31:11
it lands
31:12
on the
31:12
passion of
31:13
his son
31:13
and the
31:15
fullness of
31:15
the wrath
31:16
of God
31:16
is poured
31:17
out on
31:17
the son
31:18
of God
31:18
in order
31:19
to appease
31:20
the wrath
31:21
of God
31:21
and in
31:22
order to
31:22
bring about
31:23
the
31:24
calmness
31:25
of our
31:27
restored
31:27
relationship.
31:29
Jesus
31:33
on his
31:35
way
31:35
to the
31:36
cross
31:36
he had
31:39
a prayer
31:40
which he
31:41
repeated
31:41
three times
31:42
and the
31:44
prayer was
31:44
because
31:45
there was
31:45
a cup
31:46
the father
31:46
was giving
31:47
to him
31:47
a cup
31:49
that's
31:49
described
31:50
in Isaiah
31:50
52
31:51
as the
31:52
cup of
31:52
wrath
31:52
and as the
31:53
cup of
31:54
staggering
31:54
staggering
31:57
because of
31:57
the eternal
31:58
wrath of
31:59
God
31:59
and God
32:01
is taking
32:02
that cup
32:02
and going
32:03
to place
32:04
it in the
32:04
hand of
32:04
his son
32:05
as he
32:05
goes to
32:06
Calvary's
32:06
cross
32:07
and Jesus
32:10
knows
32:11
that the
32:13
cross will
32:14
be a
32:14
staggering
32:15
experience
32:16
he knows
32:17
that the
32:17
cross will
32:18
be a
32:18
crushing
32:18
experience
32:19
because in
32:22
the words
32:23
of Revelation
32:24
14
32:24
he's going
32:25
to drink
32:26
the cup
32:26
of God's
32:27
wrath
32:28
poured
32:29
full strength
32:30
undiluted
32:31
he's going
32:33
to drink
32:33
the cup
32:35
dry
32:36
and we
32:38
go to
32:38
Calvary's
32:40
cross
32:40
and we
32:42
read Psalm
32:42
22
32:43
and we
32:44
see something
32:45
of the
32:45
staggering
32:47
and the
32:47
crushing
32:48
of the
32:48
body
32:49
of the
32:49
son of
32:50
God
32:50
on
32:50
Calvary's
32:51
cross
32:51
with his
32:53
heart
32:53
melting
32:53
with his
32:55
bones
32:55
being out
32:56
of joint
32:56
the sheer
32:58
weight
32:59
of the
32:59
eternal
33:00
wrath
33:01
of God
33:02
and darkness
33:05
surrounds the
33:06
cross
33:06
that's what
33:08
wrath means
33:09
isolation
33:13
is experienced
33:15
in the cross
33:15
separation
33:16
from God
33:17
that's what
33:18
wrath means
33:19
the depths
33:21
of the
33:23
distance
33:24
that
33:25
Jesus
33:26
experienced
33:27
between
33:27
himself
33:27
and God
33:28
the father
33:29
on Calvary's
33:30
cross
33:30
is the
33:31
measure
33:32
of the
33:34
wrath
33:34
of God
33:35
my God
33:38
why have
33:39
you
33:40
forsaken
33:41
me
33:41
he suffered
33:44
in her
33:45
place
33:45
he suffered
33:46
the wrath
33:47
of God
33:49
and there
33:53
is a
33:54
word
33:54
that Jesus
33:56
uttered on the
33:57
cross
33:57
and it's a
33:59
word that
34:00
speaks of
34:01
calm
34:01
it's a
34:03
word that
34:03
speaks of
34:04
calm for
34:04
him
34:05
but it's a
34:07
word also
34:08
that speaks
34:09
of calm
34:10
in God
34:10
the wrath
34:13
is turned
34:13
away
34:14
and when
34:15
Jesus said
34:16
it is
34:17
finished
34:17
it was
34:19
done
34:19
he had
34:21
drank the
34:22
cup
34:22
to its
34:24
dregs
34:24
he had
34:26
satisfied
34:26
the wrath
34:27
of God
34:28
and the
34:31
God
34:31
whose
34:31
response
34:33
to the
34:33
disorder
34:34
of sin
34:34
and his
34:35
own wrath
34:35
was to
34:36
sing to
34:36
son
34:37
it's
34:39
now the
34:40
God
34:40
if we
34:41
can speak
34:41
so with
34:42
reverence
34:42
it's
34:43
now the
34:43
God
34:44
himself
34:44
knows
34:47
what it
34:47
is to
34:48
be
34:48
calm
34:50
with regard
34:52
to his
34:52
relationship
34:52
with those
34:54
who are
34:54
his people
34:56
and that's
34:58
what Isaiah
34:59
refers to
34:59
in chapter
35:00
12
35:00
as we
35:01
close
35:02
I will
35:03
give thanks
35:03
to you
35:04
oh Lord
35:04
for though
35:06
you are
35:06
angry with
35:07
me
35:07
your anger
35:07
is turned
35:08
away
35:08
and you
35:10
comforted
35:10
me
35:11
where has
35:13
the change
35:13
taken place
35:14
has it not
35:16
taken place
35:17
in two
35:18
places
35:18
your anger
35:20
was turned
35:22
away from
35:22
me
35:22
that's the
35:24
beauty of
35:24
the cross
35:25
that's what
35:25
it means
35:26
for you
35:26
and for
35:27
me
35:27
who are
35:28
under
35:28
the wrath
35:29
of God
35:29
that God's
35:30
anger
35:31
is turned
35:32
away
35:32
we cannot
35:33
ignore that
35:34
that's so
35:35
precious
35:36
but the
35:37
change
35:38
also
35:38
takes place
35:39
in the
35:40
prophet
35:40
and in
35:41
the sinner
35:41
and the
35:42
person
35:42
who comes
35:43
to Jesus
35:43
you
35:45
comforted
35:46
me
35:47
with the
35:49
same
35:49
calm
35:50
with the
35:51
same
35:51
peace
35:51
with the
35:53
same
35:53
sense
35:54
of
35:54
being
35:55
the
35:55
children
35:56
of God
35:58
and tonight
36:00
that's
36:00
why
36:01
the call
36:03
for us
36:03
to love
36:04
one another
36:05
is important
36:07
and it's
36:09
important
36:09
because
36:09
no matter
36:11
how a
36:12
relationship
36:12
with other
36:13
people
36:13
becomes
36:14
disordered
36:15
by something
36:16
going wrong
36:16
we have
36:18
the example
36:19
of God
36:20
our Father
36:20
that the
36:22
disorder
36:23
brought about
36:23
by our
36:24
sin
36:24
didn't bring
36:25
an end
36:26
to his
36:26
love
36:27
but that
36:28
instead
36:29
he showed
36:30
his love
36:31
in a new
36:32
and unexpected
36:33
way
36:34
and tonight
36:36
we can go
36:36
from here
36:37
as those
36:39
who are
36:39
beginning to
36:40
appreciate
36:40
more and
36:41
more
36:41
what the
36:42
love of
36:42
God
36:43
looks like
36:44
and when
36:47
something
36:48
happens
36:48
and when
36:49
things do
36:49
go wrong
36:50
and when
36:50
somebody
36:51
hurts me
36:52
and when
36:52
somebody
36:53
gives me
36:54
every good
36:54
reason
36:55
not to
36:56
love them
36:56
to come
36:58
back to
36:58
the cross
36:59
and to
37:01
see how
37:02
God's
37:02
love worked
37:03
it doesn't
37:04
stop working
37:05
it finds
37:07
new ways
37:07
to overcome
37:09
and so
37:10
let's be
37:10
inspired this
37:11
evening as
37:12
we leave
37:13
here to
37:13
love the
37:15
Lord of
37:15
course in
37:15
the first
37:16
place
37:16
and to
37:18
love one
37:19
another
37:19
and through
37:21
the challenges
37:21
of life
37:22
to have
37:23
our own
37:23
love working
37:24
in new
37:25
and different
37:25
ways
37:26
as we
37:27
fulfill
37:28
God's
37:29
design
37:29
as the
37:30
people of
37:30
God
37:30
loving
37:31
one another
37:32
in the
37:33
chaotic
37:34
world in
37:35
which we
37:36
live
37:36
and how
37:37
the world
37:37
needs
37:38
a church
37:39
that is
37:40
functioning
37:40
in accordance
37:41
with God's
37:42
design
37:42
to see
37:44
something
37:45
and perhaps
37:46
to feel
37:46
something
37:47
of the
37:48
love that
37:48
flows
37:49
from you
37:50
as a
37:51
close I
37:52
was going
37:52
to quote
37:52
this verse
37:53
which I
37:53
just came
37:54
across today
37:54
it's from
37:55
the hymn
37:55
God is
37:56
love
37:56
let heaven
37:57
adore him
37:58
and with
37:58
this I
37:58
close
37:59
God is
38:00
love
38:00
and though
38:01
with blindness
38:02
sin afflicts
38:04
the human
38:05
soul
38:05
God's
38:06
eternal
38:07
loving kindness
38:08
guides and
38:09
heals
38:09
and makes
38:10
us whole
38:11
sin and
38:12
death
38:12
and hell
38:13
shall
38:13
never
38:14
over us
38:15
final
38:16
triumph
38:16
gain
38:17
God is
38:18
love
38:18
so love
38:19
forever
38:20
over the
38:21
universe
38:21
must reign
38:23
may be so
38:24
in our hearts
38:25
may be so
38:26
in our world
38:26
and may we
38:27
give glory
38:28
to God
38:28
by loving
38:29
him
38:30
and loving
38:31
one another
38:31
may God bless
38:32
his word
38:32
let us pray
38:33
most gracious
38:36
God we
38:36
worship your
38:37
name
38:37
you are
38:38
the God
38:39
who has
38:40
done
38:40
wonderful
38:41
things
38:41
who has
38:42
made yourself
38:43
known
38:44
in the
38:45
special way
38:46
in your
38:46
son
38:46
and we
38:47
rejoice
38:47
in that
38:48
and help
38:49
us oh
38:49
Lord God
38:49
tonight
38:50
to love
38:51
and return
38:52
help us
38:52
to embrace
38:53
to receive
38:54
help us
38:55
to rejoice
38:57
in the
38:58
message of
38:58
salvation
38:59
and help
39:00
us to seek
39:01
you with all
39:02
of our hearts
39:02
that we may
39:03
find peace
39:04
and rest
39:05
in you
39:05
and know
39:06
the calm
39:07
of your
39:08
wrath being
39:09
turned away
39:10
and have the
39:11
joy of
39:11
knowing that
39:12
we are the
39:12
children of
39:13
God indeed
39:14
bless our
39:15
hearts in
39:15
that way
39:15
we pray
39:16
as we
39:16
journey on
39:17
from here
39:17
and bless
39:18
our hearts
39:18
as we
39:19
journey on
39:19
to the
39:20
week as
39:20
it unfolds
39:21
before us
39:21
have mercy
39:22
we pray
39:22
and hear
39:23
us
39:23
we pray
39:24
these things
39:24
for Jesus
39:25
sake
39:25
Amen
39:26
concluding
39:32
psalm is
39:32
psalm 122
39:33
in the
39:34
Scottish
39:34
Psalter
39:35
it's on
39:37
page 416
39:38
and we're
39:41
singing at
39:41
verse number
39:42
6
39:42
psalm 122
39:47
at verse
39:48
number 6
39:48
and the
39:49
tune is
39:50
Belmont
39:50
pray that
39:54
Jerusalem may
39:54
have
39:55
peace and
39:56
felicity
39:57
let them
39:58
that love
39:58
thee and
39:59
thy peace
39:59
have still
40:00
prosperity
40:01
we're singing
40:02
from verse 6
40:03
to the end
40:03
of the psalm
40:03
to God's
40:04
praise
40:04
peace and
40:18
In some felicity
40:25
Let them not love
40:31
Beyond thy peace
40:35
But still prosperity
40:41
And for thy wish
40:48
That peace may still
40:52
Within thy walls remain
40:59
And ever may
41:04
Thy policies
41:08
Prosperity retain
41:16
Now for my friends
41:22
And brethren see
41:26
Peace be in thee
41:31
I'll stay
41:34
And warm the hands
41:39
Of God our Lord
41:43
And sing thy good
41:48
Amen
41:49
I'll go to the main door
41:53
After the benediction
41:54
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
41:57
The love of God the Father
41:59
And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
42:01
Be with you all now and forevermore
42:03
Amen
42:04
Amen