Sunday January 21st Service_transcript.txt

[0.00 --> 7.00]  last year
[20.24 --> 23.64]  so this interview came about our surge group from last year
[23.64 --> 27.80]  the discipleship group we had a reunion just to hear james and sarah's story
[27.80 --> 31.40]  over the last year and then as they were sharing i'm like would you be willing to
[31.40 --> 36.92]  share this with our church and they very kindly obliged and so before we get into
[36.92 --> 40.24]  your story just maybe for those who don't know who you are say a few words
[40.24 --> 43.04]  about who you are and how you came to hope
[43.04 --> 47.32]  good morning my name is james and this is my wife sarah
[47.32 --> 52.60]  we're both from korea first came as an international student i came in the year
[52.60 --> 61.72]  2000 and she came in here 2007 we met in bless you and we met in year 2012 and
[61.72 --> 67.48]  married in 2013 with the two girls nine and who's for nine and five years old
[67.48 --> 75.80]  and i work at a cra and sarah is an early early childhood educator but she's
[75.80 --> 80.84]  taking time off because of her health and we found hope community church in early
[80.84 --> 88.04]  2021 before that before then we were we lived in korea for four years
[88.04 --> 93.08]  well sarah why don't you share a little bit about your journey over the last year
[93.56 --> 99.56]  so i actually prepared in advance so i will just look through
[99.56 --> 105.72]  so last year i went my kids and i went to korea to visit my family
[105.72 --> 111.40]  and my brother's family too for the during the spring break
[113.40 --> 119.08]  and like many koreans do i also took the opportunity to get a health checkup
[119.08 --> 121.72]  and two days before returning to canada
[127.00 --> 133.24]  ah returning to two days before returning to canada i received a
[133.24 --> 140.04]  research via email the doctor mentioned some concerns about my breast and recommended a tissue
[140.04 --> 146.84]  examination and the research would be available in a few days we returned to canada as planned
[146.84 --> 153.88]  and a few days later i got a call from my dad in korea saying that the research the research show
[153.88 --> 161.74]  was found that the earlier schedule helped meな already Anatomy religion has refined jug
[161.74 --> 164.36]  the find満ized wound wasеп lö DNS legally on disease and which was pequeña
[164.36 --> 168.20]  you know 38% of racism and the medicine was founded as a engineering andж faço
[168.20 --> 170.36]  or digital we headed to name one company that i found a 하나� сорah
[170.36 --> 172.52]  and we really moved on to GIRUM by dad in the springberries
[172.52 --> 172.56]  who was not Finally did I will believe him in chини
[172.56 --> 173.36]  and then the fact of errasia and our Nosike
[173.36 --> 175.52]  is the team was 20 years old who had been distributed over the years
[175.52 --> 177.08]  because it was pretty crazy it's so uh they've had professors
[177.08 --> 178.20]  predestamentos but they were been talking on health concerns about not knowing when i was
[178.20 --> 184.92]  there's a lot you could share about the experience of treatment but I'd love for
[184.92 --> 189.36]  you to talk a little bit about what God showed you and the ways that God taught
[189.36 --> 195.30]  you individually and as a couple through this experience of cancer after finding
[195.30 --> 202.74]  out about my cancer my first thoughts were did I do something wrong and am I
[202.74 --> 208.32]  getting punished for some mistakes even though I've been going to church all my
[208.32 --> 216.18]  life and thought of myself a faithful believer God was someone I feared for
[216.18 --> 221.56]  someone like me who didn't know much about God during during the tough times
[221.56 --> 230.50]  of my illness God taught me the most about who God is
[230.50 --> 237.88]  so the first Sunday in Korea was Easter Sunday and for the first time the
[237.88 --> 243.76]  sermon about the cross and Jesus love which I had heard many times before feel
[243.76 --> 248.86]  like a personal message from God Jesus Christ's suffering and death on the cross
[248.86 --> 255.34]  was God's plan to complete his promise and showing his love for us with this
[255.34 --> 262.36]  revelation my worries turn into gratitude and tears kept flowing after that
[262.36 --> 268.54]  gosh consistently showed me his character during my treatment making me
[268.54 --> 275.66]  understand that it was part of his plan to cultivate complete trust in him whenever
[275.66 --> 281.72]  I went to see the doctor I didn't hear good news and I was discouraged it because I
[281.72 --> 287.06]  had to start unexpected chemotherapy and the situation wasn't great as my type of
[287.06 --> 294.02]  cancer was was uncommon since prayer was the only thing I could do I prayed with my
[294.02 --> 300.32]  parents asking for peace rely on relying solely on the sovereign God and
[300.32 --> 306.38]  deciding to be thankful in all things even though I felt a bit better before
[306.38 --> 313.64]  starting chemo the fear stealing lingered I pray for God be with me every moment of
[313.64 --> 320.00]  this tough journey and provide the strength to endure my body which had no pain
[320.00 --> 328.04]  before underwent a drastic change with just one round of chemo my face turned pale I
[328.04 --> 335.72]  felt a draining sensation in all my muscles and making it hard to see it thankfully there was a
[335.72 --> 344.00]  place in Korea to help with post-cancer treatment care so my mom called them got permission for
[344.00 --> 351.32]  admission on the same day and with their help I gradually recovered and on that night my mom
[351.32 --> 360.62]  praised God for finding a facility that could help us honestly I couldn't understand why she was thankful as I was
[360.62 --> 378.62]  still struggling and feeling like I was almost dying I prayed to God if chemo is like this I can't do it anymore I can go I cannot go through the remaining seven round of rounds
[378.62 --> 386.90]  so please perform a miracle and let me stop here about three days later the side effects began to disappear
[386.90 --> 400.90]  one by one when I was in pain I felt abandoned by God and I was sad and even a bit angry however as time passed I realized that God never left me alone for a moment
[400.90 --> 418.90]  and I and I though we believe in his enduring strength and grace though this is a very personal story I pray to God each time side effects occurred I pray to avoid emergency room visits due to fever
[418.90 --> 438.90]  or delays in the next chemotherapy session and I pray to keep my hands and feet warm as cancer patients often have cold extremities extremities I seldom pray like this but I did it because I lacking faith in God needed a kind of secret assurance
[438.90 --> 457.90]  the chemo was fear itself for me and I wanted to feel through such evidence that God was with me throughout the eight rounds of chemo God has answered to all these prayers and each time I praise God praise God in gratitude gratitude
[457.90 --> 467.70]  since most of my life was lived through my parents prayers I didn't have many opportunities for deep fellowship with God
[467.70 --> 487.70]  however during my busy time of raising children and working as a mom cancer provided me with temporal flexibility it became an opportunity to have fellowship with the Lord I dedicated regular moments of solitude to encounter God
[487.70 --> 498.22]  God. What changed during that time was that my prayers to God shifted from one-sidedly expressing
[498.22 --> 506.28]  my desires to seeking and listening to his heart. The time spent with God became more anticipated
[506.28 --> 514.76]  and enjoyable than any other fellowship. Through fellowship with God, I've come realize how great
[514.76 --> 524.62]  God's love is, something I hadn't fully understood before. I have gained insights into why God created
[524.62 --> 533.42]  me, the purpose of my life, and I feel like I've started to understand a little more about God.
[534.36 --> 541.44]  Now that the long treatment in Korea has ended and concluding with the positive result of being
[541.44 --> 550.72]  breast cancer-free. However, I don't think that my life will always be filled with positive experiences
[550.72 --> 558.46]  simply because I've drawn closer to God. There was a time when I lived in constant worry and anxiety,
[558.80 --> 565.56]  fearing potential hardships for myself and my family. However, I've been free from the fears of
[565.56 --> 574.78]  this world through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The reason I am no longer afraid
[574.78 --> 583.50]  is that the God who was with me during the difficult times always provides me with good things and guides
[583.50 --> 585.50]  me on the best path.
[585.50 --> 602.72]  Yeah, we knew that we made the right choice that Sarah is getting treatment in Korea because that's where she can get more support from her parents.
[602.72 --> 608.84]  And I have my parents live in Burnaby, so I could get the support from my parents as well.
[609.62 --> 615.38]  So as soon as we made the decision without me having the time to contemplate, we just had to jump in.
[615.50 --> 621.66]  Our family had to jump in and start the least things we have to do to take care of my daughters.
[621.66 --> 626.42]  And I took some time off during the summer to visit Sarah.
[627.48 --> 638.80]  And during that time, God has shown me so much, especially about, like, He personally made me feel His heart and love for us,
[638.96 --> 645.62]  all of us, not just Christians, Christians, non-Christians, like everybody, and how patient He is,
[645.62 --> 651.36]  and how much He wants more of us to know Jesus and come back to God.
[651.86 --> 654.20]  It was just amazing.
[654.20 --> 662.80]  And I think I now truly understand what it means to be a blessing to our neighbors and communities.
[663.64 --> 669.04]  And what surprised me more is that when I visited Sarah in summer after three months,
[669.92 --> 672.66]  God has shown, Sarah has experienced the same God.
[672.66 --> 682.06]  And we were just full with joy and gratitude, like, sharing about God and worshiping Him.
[682.50 --> 685.28]  Like, none of our issues were matter anymore.
[685.76 --> 691.58]  Like, whether we're healthy or finances, like, none mattered because we have Jesus.
[692.18 --> 696.34]  So that was the most, yeah, amazing part that I experienced.
[696.34 --> 703.98]  I still remember when we prayed with the surge group in the office over there just before you went to Korea.
[704.78 --> 708.08]  And just the fears and the anxiety around it and just with your kids.
[708.74 --> 713.14]  And I can honestly say I didn't know how you'd go through it or how you'd come back.
[713.52 --> 716.00]  But I can sense that you've changed, both of you.
[716.70 --> 720.08]  And it's remarkable because there's ways that we can talk, sometimes flippantly,
[720.08 --> 724.58]  about how God shows up in suffering, about what His plan is in suffering.
[724.68 --> 729.32]  And then when you came back, I was just hearing a couple that experienced the depth
[729.32 --> 732.24]  of God's love and His provision in the midst of suffering.
[732.30 --> 733.62]  And I praise the Lord for that.
[735.22 --> 738.90]  Maybe one question I'll have, and this is sort of on behalf of our church.
[739.02 --> 741.88]  There's people in our church going through different forms of suffering,
[742.00 --> 743.84]  different forms of pain and frustration with the Lord.
[743.84 --> 747.82]  What would you want to say to people in our church who are going through hardship right now?
[751.98 --> 755.82]  As the Word of God declares in the book of Isaiah,
[757.30 --> 763.74]  He is a wonderful counselor, almighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.
[764.26 --> 770.40]  I believe that the great and unchanging God is our Father.
[770.40 --> 777.84]  It would be wonderful if you take any problem to Him, seeking His heart, and listening in prayer.
[778.90 --> 785.38]  Through these challenges, God desires intimacy with us and longs to receive our hearts.
[786.20 --> 794.22]  He wants us to entrust everything to Him and experience true freedom within the peace He provides.
[794.22 --> 800.80]  It will bring us true joy and peace in the midst of our troubles.
[801.72 --> 808.34]  One more thing I want to share is to always express gratitude for everything God has given you.
[808.90 --> 815.36]  Even when gratitude seems difficult, and it makes our challenges no longer seem like problems,
[815.90 --> 819.70]  and praising Him removes sadness, filling us with joy.
[819.70 --> 828.74]  Living as Christians in this world, the opportunities to grow closer to God seem more like blessings than disasters.
[829.78 --> 836.62]  The God I have experienced is truly reliable, much greater, and better than I could ever imagine.
[837.82 --> 838.10]  Amen.
[838.46 --> 838.70]  Amen.
[839.70 --> 842.32]  Thank you so much for taking time to share this testimony.
[842.32 --> 847.26]  You should know that Sarah, well, obviously, you might not know, but Sarah's first language is Korean,
[847.52 --> 851.50]  and I see Korean written on her sheet, and I know it took a lot of work for you to read it all out in English,
[851.56 --> 856.24]  and we're very grateful for the way in which you shared with us the testimony of God's faithfulness.
[856.70 --> 861.32]  I just want to say, too, to the church, this is also on behalf of Sarah, but gratitude.
[861.32 --> 870.10]  Yeah, I really want to thank you to everyone for all the prayers and support and also the military.
[870.52 --> 874.60]  It was amazing, and we had a true blessing from you guys.
[874.78 --> 875.64]  Thank you so much.
[875.64 --> 875.70]  Thank you.
[875.70 --> 890.42]  I'd like to spend a few minutes in prayer, thanking the Lord for his provision.
[890.58 --> 891.52]  Would you join with me in prayer?
[894.14 --> 895.14]  Father, we praise you.
[895.76 --> 899.92]  We praise you for being the Lord of life and the healer of bodies.
[900.88 --> 904.44]  We thank you that Sarah is back home with her family and with us and that she's healthy.
[904.44 --> 906.70]  We thank you for doctors and nurses.
[907.54 --> 909.02]  We thank you for cancer treatment.
[909.86 --> 912.86]  We thank you for the way you use ordinary humans serving with their gifts,
[913.44 --> 915.44]  such that Sarah could receive this kind of care.
[916.84 --> 919.06]  Lord, we thank you for the way you meet us in suffering,
[919.22 --> 921.66]  and I want to pray right now for anyone this morning in our church
[921.66 --> 927.82]  who is struggling with health and pain and is frustrated with the pain that they carry.
[928.36 --> 932.74]  We ask that you would meet them and show yourself to be a reliable father
[932.74 --> 935.86]  the way you showed Sarah and James that you are a reliable father.
[936.84 --> 940.60]  Meet us in our need and reveal to us the depth of your love.
[940.82 --> 942.24]  We pray this in your mighty name.
[942.90 --> 943.14]  Amen.
[944.24 --> 945.16]  Thank you so much.
[948.48 --> 951.34]  This time I'm going to invite Sandy Volkanet to lead us in community prayer.
[951.34 --> 966.02]  Good morning, Hope Community Church.
[966.34 --> 971.86]  Thank you so much for your testimony of God's faith and grace,
[972.42 --> 976.14]  meeting you in your greatest time of need and walking with you.
[976.14 --> 978.68]  He does not leave us or forsake us.
[979.30 --> 983.18]  Such an inspirational faith story, and we thank you for that.
[983.98 --> 988.90]  I don't know about you, but the older I get, the more I feel like I'm running out of time.
[989.94 --> 994.20]  And time is one of God's greatest gifts to us, I believe.
[994.84 --> 997.42]  When we're younger, we don't think much about it.
[997.46 --> 999.24]  We wake up and we go about our day.
[999.34 --> 1002.80]  The older you get, the more you think about, hmm, my days are numbered.
[1002.80 --> 1008.68]  In Scripture, in Psalm 90, verse 12, it says,
[1008.86 --> 1012.62]  Teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.
[1013.60 --> 1018.54]  And so it's with that text I would like to anchor my prayer this morning with you.
[1018.60 --> 1019.98]  Would you pray with me, please?
[1023.62 --> 1028.42]  Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you on this day of Sabbath,
[1028.42 --> 1034.54]  a time where you have given us to rest in your word,
[1034.54 --> 1036.64]  to rest in your presence,
[1036.90 --> 1041.22]  to escape from our busy schedules of the week,
[1041.60 --> 1045.26]  and to reserve this time to spend it with you.
[1046.04 --> 1051.48]  Lord, you knew in your infinite wisdom that we would need this time and this space
[1051.48 --> 1054.60]  to reset our minds on you.
[1054.98 --> 1056.44]  There are so many distractions.
[1056.44 --> 1060.90]  Our time is being coveted by so many things,
[1061.56 --> 1064.94]  whether it be our family obligations, our work,
[1065.60 --> 1068.96]  our friendships, our relationships, Lord.
[1069.50 --> 1075.70]  And sometimes we feel squeezed by all of the things that are clamoring for our time.
[1075.92 --> 1078.66]  We pray, Lord, that we would be able to prioritize.
[1079.96 --> 1084.68]  Forgive us, Lord, for the time and times when we waste our time,
[1084.68 --> 1089.20]  when we are lured into the scroll of social media,
[1090.14 --> 1092.10]  that one more Netflix show,
[1092.64 --> 1096.22]  or maybe just working another hour.
[1097.02 --> 1099.16]  Lord, help us to value our time.
[1099.44 --> 1102.72]  And in those moments when we are mindful, Lord,
[1102.80 --> 1104.64]  help us to use our time
[1104.64 --> 1112.60]  and be mindful of the ways in which you would want us to be servants in time.
[1113.40 --> 1117.80]  Lord, we think especially of those who are suffering now, Lord,
[1117.88 --> 1120.58]  who are feeling like time is slipping away.
[1121.10 --> 1122.72]  We want to pray for Marnie.
[1122.72 --> 1126.62]  We know that she has had suffering.
[1127.24 --> 1130.20]  And we'd ask, Lord, that the time that you give her, Lord,
[1130.26 --> 1131.64]  would be meaningful time,
[1132.10 --> 1134.58]  that she would come to a time of peace.
[1135.14 --> 1138.68]  For those who are struggling with their elderly parents, Lord,
[1138.88 --> 1140.40]  time is ticking away.
[1140.52 --> 1145.28]  For those who are losing their mind to dementia and other ailments, Lord,
[1145.28 --> 1147.30]  we pray that the time would be precious
[1147.30 --> 1149.82]  and that we would take those moments
[1149.82 --> 1153.28]  and not have regret for having squandered our time.
[1153.98 --> 1159.36]  We thank you for the moments in which you have met James and Sarah
[1159.36 --> 1160.60]  in their suffering.
[1160.82 --> 1166.06]  This time has been a time to strip away all of the things
[1166.06 --> 1168.26]  that aren't even important anymore, Lord.
[1168.38 --> 1172.90]  These times when we come to you in our weakness
[1172.90 --> 1176.08]  and we realize that we are fallible without you.
[1176.84 --> 1179.58]  And so those two are times, Lord, in our suffering
[1179.58 --> 1183.02]  that we know you've carved out for us to go deeper with you.
[1183.60 --> 1188.60]  And we, in our celebration of Sarah's good health now,
[1189.26 --> 1192.72]  also celebrate the time in which she was able to grow
[1192.72 --> 1194.24]  in her faith through this.
[1195.12 --> 1197.50]  Lord, we pray that we would use our time,
[1197.68 --> 1199.76]  whether it be to serve in the church, Lord,
[1200.12 --> 1201.62]  to serve in our community,
[1201.62 --> 1203.44]  to go into our neighborhoods
[1203.44 --> 1207.94]  and to really just commit this valuable resource
[1207.94 --> 1210.00]  that you've given each one of us, Lord.
[1210.70 --> 1214.36]  Help us to honor the time that you've given us on earth
[1214.36 --> 1217.28]  and use it for your glory and your purpose.
[1217.56 --> 1218.86]  In Jesus' name, amen.
[1218.86 --> 1219.06]  Amen.
[1219.06 --> 1219.12]  Amen.
[1231.62 --> 1247.56]  We're going to continue our sermon series on the book of Galatians.
[1247.56 --> 1251.18]  Last week, Pastor Sid preached on the gospel
[1251.18 --> 1252.70]  and the ways that we distort it,
[1252.84 --> 1254.38]  the ways that we shift it
[1254.38 --> 1257.18]  to make it no longer good news about Jesus Christ.
[1257.66 --> 1259.56]  And for the next two weeks, we're looking at how
[1259.56 --> 1262.24]  or what it means really to be part of God's family.
[1263.10 --> 1264.98]  And you'll probably notice at different points
[1264.98 --> 1266.28]  that when you distort the gospel,
[1266.38 --> 1268.88]  you will also distort what it means to be part of God's family.
[1268.94 --> 1270.24]  Those things are linked together.
[1270.94 --> 1272.82]  And this morning, we're going to continue in our study
[1272.82 --> 1275.30]  of the book of Galatians by reading some of chapter 3.
[1275.30 --> 1276.82]  And if you have your Bible on your phone
[1276.82 --> 1278.78]  or the old school physical Bible,
[1278.94 --> 1280.90]  turn with me to the book of Galatians.
[1281.06 --> 1282.88]  And we're going to read chapter 3, 1 to 14,
[1283.36 --> 1286.34]  and then jump over to verse 28 and 29.
[1290.16 --> 1292.24]  I love how Paul starts this passage.
[1292.90 --> 1293.84]  Nice and fiery.
[1294.90 --> 1299.00]  You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?
[1299.90 --> 1303.26]  Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed
[1303.26 --> 1303.90]  as crucified.
[1303.90 --> 1307.24]  I would like to learn just one thing from you.
[1307.94 --> 1310.14]  Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law
[1310.14 --> 1312.46]  or by believing what you heard?
[1313.20 --> 1314.76]  Are you so foolish?
[1315.46 --> 1316.90]  After beginning with the Spirit,
[1317.00 --> 1319.34]  are you trying now to finish by human effort?
[1320.24 --> 1322.56]  Have you experienced so much in vain,
[1322.66 --> 1324.20]  if it really was in vain?
[1325.06 --> 1326.46]  Does God give you His Spirit
[1326.46 --> 1329.22]  and work miracles among you by observing the law
[1329.22 --> 1331.70]  or by your believing what you heard?
[1331.70 --> 1334.56]  So also Abraham believed God
[1334.56 --> 1336.76]  and it was credited to him as righteousness.
[1337.94 --> 1340.34]  Understand then that those who have faith
[1340.34 --> 1341.86]  are children of Abraham.
[1342.56 --> 1345.24]  Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles
[1345.24 --> 1349.06]  by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham.
[1349.06 --> 1351.56]  All nations will be blessed through you.
[1352.22 --> 1355.68]  So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham,
[1356.06 --> 1357.04]  the man of faith.
[1357.82 --> 1360.70]  All who rely on observing the law are under a curse,
[1361.10 --> 1361.84]  for it is written,
[1362.50 --> 1365.50]  cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written
[1365.50 --> 1366.54]  in the book of the law.
[1366.54 --> 1370.06]  Clearly no one is justified before God by the law
[1370.06 --> 1372.42]  because the righteous will live by faith.
[1372.78 --> 1374.86]  The law is not based on faith.
[1375.34 --> 1377.06]  On the contrary, it says,
[1377.18 --> 1379.34]  whoever does these things will live by them.
[1380.34 --> 1382.52]  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
[1382.52 --> 1384.62]  by becoming a curse for us.
[1385.04 --> 1385.72]  For it is written,
[1386.36 --> 1388.38]  cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.
[1389.18 --> 1392.26]  He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham
[1392.26 --> 1395.24]  might come to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ
[1395.24 --> 1399.00]  so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
[1399.94 --> 1401.10]  And now to verse 26.
[1402.10 --> 1403.36]  So in Christ Jesus,
[1403.50 --> 1405.34]  you are all children of God through faith.
[1405.82 --> 1408.02]  For all of you who are baptized into Christ
[1408.02 --> 1409.92]  have clothed yourselves with Christ.
[1410.64 --> 1412.36]  There is neither Jew nor Gentile,
[1412.90 --> 1414.06]  neither slave nor free,
[1414.64 --> 1415.58]  neither male nor female,
[1415.58 --> 1418.00]  for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
[1418.40 --> 1419.72]  If you belong to Christ,
[1420.38 --> 1421.90]  then you are Abraham's seed.
[1422.26 --> 1424.60]  And heirs according to the promise.
[1429.44 --> 1432.14]  When I was just getting to know my wife, Brittany,
[1432.54 --> 1433.24]  in university,
[1433.76 --> 1435.88]  she invited me over to meet her family.
[1436.18 --> 1438.20]  And in one of those first meetings with the family,
[1438.32 --> 1439.86]  they were having a conversation together.
[1439.98 --> 1441.26]  You know, I'm on best behavior.
[1442.00 --> 1443.24]  And her brother, Ben,
[1443.80 --> 1444.72]  shared this phrase.
[1444.78 --> 1446.16]  He said in the course of conversation,
[1446.60 --> 1447.76]  he said, wait, wait, wait.
[1448.36 --> 1449.84]  Who is Moscow?
[1449.84 --> 1453.56]  And then all the Gohins broke out into laughter.
[1454.14 --> 1458.06]  And I stood there having no idea why that was funny.
[1458.48 --> 1460.28]  And I finally had the guts to say to Brittany,
[1460.82 --> 1462.54]  what did Ben just say?
[1462.62 --> 1463.84]  And why are you all laughing?
[1464.48 --> 1465.58]  And then she's like, oh, right.
[1465.64 --> 1466.64]  You don't know the backstory.
[1466.64 --> 1470.00]  And she explained how she had a classmate in university
[1470.00 --> 1471.46]  who was studying for an exam.
[1471.90 --> 1473.22]  And in that studying for the exam,
[1473.32 --> 1476.04]  she thought Moscow was a person and not a place.
[1476.50 --> 1477.56]  And ever since that point,
[1477.62 --> 1479.50]  it's become a family joke in the Gohin family
[1479.50 --> 1480.94]  when they say, who is Moscow?
[1481.48 --> 1483.32]  And then it finally made sense to me.
[1484.26 --> 1485.78]  But perhaps you've had your own experience
[1485.78 --> 1486.82]  of the who is Moscow,
[1486.94 --> 1488.44]  where you enter into a conversation,
[1488.92 --> 1490.50]  you're listening, trying to piece together,
[1490.50 --> 1492.24]  and it makes absolutely no sense
[1492.24 --> 1493.92]  because you don't know the backstory.
[1495.22 --> 1496.92]  If you've experienced that,
[1497.58 --> 1499.88]  you can understand what I think it might feel like
[1499.88 --> 1501.02]  to read Galatians 3.
[1501.96 --> 1504.90]  Galatians 3 is a complicated passage.
[1505.26 --> 1506.78]  In fact, it might very well be,
[1507.08 --> 1507.86]  according to some writers,
[1508.12 --> 1510.48]  the most complex piece of writing from Paul.
[1510.60 --> 1512.10]  So if you're a little bit confused
[1512.10 --> 1513.94]  by what we just read, it's okay.
[1514.74 --> 1516.00]  But also, I would say,
[1516.10 --> 1517.90]  Galatians 3 doesn't make any sense
[1517.90 --> 1519.90]  until you know the backstory.
[1520.90 --> 1522.46]  Paul assumes so much
[1522.46 --> 1523.62]  when he writes this letter
[1523.62 --> 1525.52]  of Old Testament story,
[1525.94 --> 1528.02]  of Old Testament people, right?
[1528.36 --> 1530.30]  And so Paul is just bringing these things
[1530.30 --> 1530.96]  into the foreground,
[1531.14 --> 1532.16]  and if we don't know the backstory,
[1532.32 --> 1533.16]  we're not going to understand.
[1533.96 --> 1536.64]  For example, he talks about blessings and curses.
[1536.74 --> 1538.00]  These are Old Testament things
[1538.00 --> 1538.98]  related to the law.
[1539.32 --> 1542.74]  He mentions a time the person of Abraham
[1542.74 --> 1545.26]  because Abraham is a big deal
[1545.26 --> 1546.38]  in the Old Testament story.
[1546.50 --> 1547.74]  And what we want to do this morning
[1547.74 --> 1549.74]  is open up that story,
[1550.04 --> 1550.50]  and hopefully,
[1550.70 --> 1551.82]  if you're new to the Christian faith
[1551.82 --> 1552.96]  or you're just reading the Bible,
[1553.24 --> 1555.14]  I hope actually that you'll get some clarity
[1555.14 --> 1556.74]  around the story of the Old Testament
[1556.74 --> 1559.90]  that helps us understand why Jesus matters,
[1560.30 --> 1561.94]  how Abraham fits into the story,
[1562.04 --> 1563.38]  and how we understand the law
[1563.38 --> 1564.26]  in relation to Jesus.
[1564.66 --> 1566.50]  No pressure, Dave, in one sermon.
[1568.40 --> 1569.54]  Yeah, I feel it.
[1570.54 --> 1572.96]  The reason Paul mentions Abraham
[1572.96 --> 1574.84]  eight times in Galatians 3
[1574.84 --> 1577.34]  is likely because there are these agitators,
[1577.54 --> 1577.84]  the Judaizers,
[1578.54 --> 1580.26]  who are coming into the churches in Galatia
[1580.26 --> 1581.18]  and saying to people,
[1581.62 --> 1584.52]  hey, if you want to be part of God's family,
[1584.68 --> 1586.44]  which is Abraham's family,
[1586.86 --> 1588.40]  this is how you have to live.
[1588.50 --> 1589.46]  There's works of the law,
[1589.58 --> 1591.06]  there's the practice of circumcision,
[1591.28 --> 1593.12]  and they're using Abraham as their example,
[1593.22 --> 1594.18]  saying if he did these things,
[1594.24 --> 1595.76]  then you have to do these things.
[1596.38 --> 1598.18]  And Paul, being quite fired up
[1598.18 --> 1599.38]  by what's happening in these churches,
[1599.48 --> 1599.82]  he says,
[1599.82 --> 1601.40]  let me tell you
[1601.40 --> 1603.68]  how Abraham fits into the story.
[1604.62 --> 1606.22]  So I'm going to read for you verse 7,
[1606.76 --> 1608.14]  and then we're going to go to the back story
[1608.14 --> 1609.94]  and come back to Galatians 7
[1609.94 --> 1611.04]  in a few minutes.
[1611.10 --> 1612.20]  So this is how Paul starts
[1612.20 --> 1613.26]  when he talks about Abraham.
[1614.60 --> 1615.74]  Understand then
[1615.74 --> 1617.76]  that those who have faith
[1617.76 --> 1619.38]  are children of Abraham.
[1619.98 --> 1620.98]  Scripture foresaw
[1620.98 --> 1623.90]  that God would justify the Gentiles by faith
[1623.90 --> 1625.82]  and announced the gospel
[1625.82 --> 1626.96]  in advance to Abraham.
[1627.06 --> 1628.16]  Isn't that a fascinating phrase?
[1628.16 --> 1631.12]  All nations will be blessed through you.
[1631.62 --> 1633.66]  So those who rely on faith
[1633.66 --> 1635.68]  are blessed along with Abraham,
[1636.14 --> 1636.94]  the man of faith.
[1637.52 --> 1639.26]  Now if that's clear as mud,
[1639.42 --> 1639.78]  it's okay.
[1639.88 --> 1640.98]  We're going to work through this together.
[1641.44 --> 1642.28]  But let me just summarize
[1642.28 --> 1644.12]  what Paul is trying to get at here,
[1644.20 --> 1645.04]  and then we'll work it out.
[1645.58 --> 1646.00]  Paul is saying,
[1646.16 --> 1646.72]  number one,
[1647.72 --> 1649.20]  the faith in God,
[1649.36 --> 1649.66]  or sorry,
[1649.74 --> 1650.84]  the essence of the Christian faith
[1650.84 --> 1652.06]  is always faith,
[1652.14 --> 1653.22]  not just works of the law.
[1653.40 --> 1654.92]  Abraham from the very beginning,
[1655.02 --> 1657.24]  who's sort of the beginning of God's people,
[1657.24 --> 1658.76]  was a man of faith,
[1659.12 --> 1660.74]  and it was credited to him as righteousness.
[1660.90 --> 1661.98]  So faith is at the center.
[1662.70 --> 1663.94]  But equally important,
[1664.08 --> 1664.56]  says Paul,
[1664.64 --> 1665.90]  is that the gospel was preached
[1665.90 --> 1667.10]  in advance to Abraham.
[1667.94 --> 1668.86]  And what was that gospel?
[1669.82 --> 1671.54]  That the nations would be blessed.
[1671.76 --> 1672.86]  That the blessing of God
[1672.86 --> 1674.00]  would move through Abraham
[1674.00 --> 1674.76]  to the nations.
[1674.90 --> 1675.62]  And I'll say this once
[1675.62 --> 1676.30]  and return to it.
[1676.30 --> 1678.04]  God's plan from the beginning
[1678.04 --> 1679.74]  was to have a global,
[1680.12 --> 1681.10]  multi-ethnic,
[1681.26 --> 1682.04]  diverse church.
[1682.68 --> 1684.00]  That was the plan from the beginning,
[1684.18 --> 1685.04]  that his people,
[1685.26 --> 1686.12]  unified by faith,
[1686.34 --> 1688.06]  would be unified by the nations
[1688.06 --> 1689.50]  coming in by faith to Jesus.
[1691.06 --> 1692.44]  So here's the back story.
[1693.60 --> 1694.52]  In Genesis 3,
[1695.36 --> 1697.16]  God's good world came undone
[1697.16 --> 1698.40]  through an act of rebellion,
[1698.56 --> 1699.02]  through sin.
[1699.50 --> 1700.92]  Adam and Eve rebelled against God,
[1700.92 --> 1701.76]  and all of a sudden
[1701.76 --> 1702.56]  this new sickness,
[1702.80 --> 1704.16]  this new disease that is sin,
[1704.24 --> 1705.74]  started taking hold of human hearts
[1705.74 --> 1706.68]  and creating havoc.
[1707.16 --> 1707.92]  We see murder,
[1708.08 --> 1708.74]  we see jealousy,
[1708.96 --> 1709.46]  we see hate,
[1709.54 --> 1710.16]  we see lying,
[1710.26 --> 1710.82]  we see stealing.
[1711.16 --> 1712.48]  We see all sorts of corruption
[1712.48 --> 1713.82]  taking hold of humanity.
[1714.82 --> 1715.68]  God sends a flood
[1715.68 --> 1717.24]  to bring judgment and renewal.
[1717.38 --> 1718.38]  Even after the flood,
[1718.46 --> 1719.66]  we see sin just spreading
[1719.66 --> 1720.98]  through humanity.
[1721.58 --> 1722.50]  And it all culminates,
[1722.56 --> 1723.04]  you might say,
[1723.08 --> 1723.92]  in Genesis 11,
[1724.02 --> 1724.86]  which is the story
[1724.86 --> 1726.08]  of the Tower of Babel,
[1726.38 --> 1728.02]  where humanity comes together,
[1728.38 --> 1729.08]  not for worship,
[1729.46 --> 1730.78]  not to adore God,
[1730.92 --> 1732.14]  but to build themselves
[1732.14 --> 1733.00]  this structure
[1733.00 --> 1735.44]  that shows just how significant
[1735.44 --> 1737.54]  humanity is without God.
[1738.64 --> 1739.74]  And God's response
[1739.74 --> 1741.02]  after Genesis 3-11
[1741.02 --> 1742.48]  narrates the unraveling
[1742.48 --> 1742.98]  of humanity.
[1743.14 --> 1744.56]  His response to the wickedness
[1744.56 --> 1745.20]  of human hearts,
[1745.64 --> 1747.22]  his response to the deadliness
[1747.22 --> 1748.46]  of disobedience,
[1748.72 --> 1749.62]  of idolatry,
[1749.70 --> 1751.30]  is Abraham.
[1752.48 --> 1753.14]  Genesis 12,
[1753.70 --> 1754.36]  right on the heels
[1754.36 --> 1755.12]  of the Tower of Babel,
[1755.12 --> 1756.36]  God goes to this man
[1756.36 --> 1757.72]  named Abram at the time,
[1758.08 --> 1758.42]  and he says,
[1758.52 --> 1758.90]  Abram,
[1759.32 --> 1760.60]  I've got a plan.
[1760.92 --> 1762.84]  I'm selecting just you
[1762.84 --> 1763.88]  out of all of humanity
[1763.88 --> 1765.34]  as a new start,
[1765.46 --> 1766.16]  you might say.
[1766.52 --> 1767.82]  And I'm going to bless you,
[1767.96 --> 1768.70]  I'm going to enable you
[1768.70 --> 1769.26]  to flourish,
[1769.44 --> 1770.30]  I'm going to teach you
[1770.30 --> 1771.12]  how to live,
[1771.38 --> 1772.64]  and as you flourish,
[1772.92 --> 1774.06]  the nations will flourish,
[1774.14 --> 1775.30]  and my blessing will flow
[1775.30 --> 1776.64]  through you to them.
[1778.52 --> 1779.38]  Let me show you
[1779.38 --> 1780.18]  how God says it
[1780.18 --> 1781.34]  in Genesis 12.
[1781.58 --> 1781.98]  This is,
[1782.14 --> 1782.64]  in some sense,
[1782.70 --> 1783.86]  such an important verse
[1783.86 --> 1784.44]  for the whole
[1784.44 --> 1785.44]  Old Testament story.
[1786.10 --> 1787.02]  Because God starts
[1787.02 --> 1787.48]  with Abraham,
[1787.54 --> 1788.30]  and he says to him,
[1788.30 --> 1789.78]  I will make you
[1789.78 --> 1790.62]  into a great nation.
[1791.52 --> 1792.50]  I will bless you.
[1792.98 --> 1794.26]  I will make your name great,
[1794.34 --> 1795.26]  and you will be
[1795.26 --> 1795.76]  a blessing.
[1796.24 --> 1797.06]  I will bless those
[1797.06 --> 1797.70]  who bless you,
[1797.72 --> 1798.72]  and whoever curses you,
[1798.82 --> 1799.46]  I will curse,
[1799.68 --> 1800.64]  and all peoples
[1800.64 --> 1801.86]  of the earth
[1801.86 --> 1802.76]  will be blessed
[1802.76 --> 1804.14]  through you.
[1804.92 --> 1805.98]  A few chapters later,
[1806.10 --> 1807.10]  God binds himself
[1807.10 --> 1807.62]  in a covenant,
[1807.76 --> 1808.18]  which is just
[1808.18 --> 1809.94]  a really deep promise,
[1810.26 --> 1811.36]  and he says to Abraham
[1811.36 --> 1812.34]  in chapter 17
[1812.34 --> 1812.88]  of Genesis,
[1813.08 --> 1813.92]  no longer will you
[1813.92 --> 1815.00]  be called Abram,
[1815.00 --> 1817.16]  your name will be Abraham,
[1817.58 --> 1818.60]  for I have made you
[1818.60 --> 1819.02]  the what?
[1819.64 --> 1822.04]  The father of nations.
[1823.00 --> 1824.18]  I'll say the point again.
[1824.28 --> 1826.00]  God's plan from the beginning
[1826.00 --> 1826.88]  was a global,
[1827.18 --> 1828.50]  multi-ethnic family
[1828.50 --> 1829.76]  of faith,
[1830.34 --> 1831.48]  and he's now working
[1831.48 --> 1832.14]  through Abraham
[1832.14 --> 1833.94]  to make this possible,
[1834.04 --> 1834.90]  and if you know the story,
[1835.02 --> 1835.96]  Abraham has a child,
[1836.08 --> 1836.70]  Abraham and Sarah
[1836.70 --> 1837.34]  have a child,
[1837.48 --> 1838.54]  and then that child
[1838.54 --> 1839.04]  has children,
[1839.14 --> 1839.84]  and that becomes
[1839.84 --> 1840.66]  the people of Israel.
[1841.22 --> 1842.66]  That people become so vast,
[1842.74 --> 1843.50]  they go into slavery,
[1843.50 --> 1844.08]  and God,
[1844.16 --> 1844.82]  who's making good
[1844.82 --> 1845.86]  on his promise to Abraham,
[1846.18 --> 1847.48]  redeems them from slavery,
[1847.92 --> 1849.40]  brings Israel to himself
[1849.40 --> 1849.96]  in the wilderness,
[1850.14 --> 1850.90]  and he says to them,
[1851.42 --> 1853.26]  you are my people.
[1854.08 --> 1855.06]  You are the nation
[1855.06 --> 1856.30]  that I've pulled aside,
[1856.42 --> 1857.48]  you are my representative
[1857.48 --> 1858.46]  people to the world,
[1858.52 --> 1859.48]  and I'm going to bless you,
[1860.02 --> 1860.84]  I'm going to teach you
[1860.84 --> 1861.46]  my ways,
[1861.84 --> 1863.42]  you are going to flourish
[1863.42 --> 1864.44]  as you know me
[1864.44 --> 1865.16]  and follow me,
[1865.28 --> 1865.94]  and the nations
[1865.94 --> 1866.64]  are going to see
[1866.64 --> 1867.10]  that goodness
[1867.10 --> 1868.28]  and follow in the ways
[1868.28 --> 1868.92]  after you.
[1870.20 --> 1870.96]  This is where
[1870.96 --> 1871.76]  the law comes in.
[1872.10 --> 1873.12]  This is such an important detail.
[1873.12 --> 1873.68]  The law is not
[1873.68 --> 1874.48]  some oppressive thing
[1874.48 --> 1875.18]  that God adds
[1875.18 --> 1875.76]  to their lives,
[1875.94 --> 1877.20]  it's not some cruel thing,
[1877.44 --> 1878.84]  it's kind of like a parent
[1878.84 --> 1880.06]  whose kid who doesn't
[1880.06 --> 1880.56]  know how to live
[1880.56 --> 1880.92]  saying,
[1881.44 --> 1882.88]  let me teach you
[1882.88 --> 1884.30]  the way of life.
[1884.86 --> 1885.56]  So God gives
[1885.56 --> 1886.32]  the Ten Commandments,
[1886.36 --> 1887.14]  and he gives all sorts
[1887.14 --> 1887.94]  of case law
[1887.94 --> 1888.90]  and contextual law,
[1889.08 --> 1889.88]  including things
[1889.88 --> 1890.88]  as detailed as this,
[1891.32 --> 1892.22]  make sure when you
[1892.22 --> 1892.94]  build your house,
[1893.06 --> 1893.96]  put a roof around the,
[1894.16 --> 1895.56]  or put a fence
[1895.56 --> 1896.26]  around the roof
[1896.26 --> 1896.94]  so that people don't
[1896.94 --> 1897.74]  fall out of your house.
[1897.80 --> 1898.54]  That's in the law,
[1898.78 --> 1899.80]  because God cares
[1899.80 --> 1900.68]  that our homes
[1900.68 --> 1901.14]  are places
[1901.14 --> 1902.08]  where people are safe.
[1902.08 --> 1903.62]  And God says to them,
[1903.94 --> 1905.46]  you follow my law,
[1906.08 --> 1907.54]  and you're gonna flourish.
[1908.44 --> 1909.40]  If you don't,
[1909.58 --> 1910.48]  it's gonna be painful.
[1911.58 --> 1912.32]  And this is,
[1912.46 --> 1912.68]  by the way,
[1912.72 --> 1913.66]  where we get that word
[1913.66 --> 1914.34]  of curse.
[1914.44 --> 1915.38]  But before I get to curse,
[1915.44 --> 1916.24]  let me just say this.
[1916.70 --> 1917.48]  Deuteronomy 4,
[1918.12 --> 1919.16]  fascinating passage.
[1919.40 --> 1920.06]  It shows
[1920.06 --> 1921.10]  the nations
[1921.10 --> 1922.18]  around Israel
[1922.18 --> 1923.24]  looking in
[1923.24 --> 1924.22]  on their life together
[1924.22 --> 1924.96]  and saying,
[1925.60 --> 1926.10]  whoa,
[1926.10 --> 1927.92]  look at the justice
[1927.92 --> 1928.84]  of this society.
[1928.98 --> 1929.62]  Look at the care
[1929.62 --> 1930.12]  for the poor.
[1930.22 --> 1931.10]  Look at how the families
[1931.10 --> 1932.20]  are flourishing.
[1932.54 --> 1934.38]  Look how this whole society
[1934.38 --> 1935.96]  is flourishing.
[1936.74 --> 1937.70]  That was the plan
[1937.70 --> 1939.14]  for God calling Abraham,
[1939.62 --> 1940.34]  moving to the people
[1940.34 --> 1940.76]  of Israel,
[1941.04 --> 1941.80]  giving them the law,
[1941.96 --> 1942.84]  placing them in Canaan.
[1943.06 --> 1944.18]  It was so that the nations
[1944.18 --> 1945.98]  would come into this community
[1945.98 --> 1947.10]  and experience blessing.
[1948.48 --> 1949.64]  Now I wanna talk about
[1949.64 --> 1950.84]  this word that is curse.
[1952.02 --> 1953.12]  Now, first of all,
[1953.22 --> 1954.18]  when you hear the word curse,
[1954.18 --> 1954.88]  what do you think?
[1954.96 --> 1955.98]  What's in your brain right now?
[1957.22 --> 1958.26]  Is it Harry Potter?
[1959.44 --> 1959.72]  Ah.
[1960.54 --> 1961.56]  So I just wanna say,
[1961.64 --> 1962.54]  when we hear the word curse,
[1962.62 --> 1963.64]  we're hearing something different
[1963.64 --> 1964.82]  than the Bible talks about
[1964.82 --> 1965.94]  when it says curse.
[1966.64 --> 1967.46]  Curse in the scriptures
[1967.46 --> 1969.48]  is perhaps best explained this way.
[1970.00 --> 1971.14]  If blessing means
[1971.14 --> 1972.94]  the favor and protection of God,
[1973.30 --> 1975.00]  curse is the absence of that.
[1975.52 --> 1977.02]  If blessing is the fullness
[1977.02 --> 1979.48]  of human life in relationship,
[1980.26 --> 1981.48]  curse is the absence
[1981.48 --> 1983.16]  and the emptiness of life
[1983.16 --> 1983.84]  in relationship
[1983.84 --> 1985.62]  when we live at a distance from God.
[1986.14 --> 1987.90]  It is sort of the removal of shalom,
[1988.02 --> 1989.56]  the removal of flourishing.
[1989.72 --> 1990.88]  That's what curse is.
[1991.52 --> 1993.04]  And in Deuteronomy 27 to 30,
[1993.14 --> 1994.64]  which actually are very important
[1994.64 --> 1995.56]  background passages
[1995.56 --> 1996.56]  for Galatians 3,
[1997.38 --> 1998.62]  it spells out very clearly
[1998.62 --> 2000.30]  if you follow the ways of God,
[2000.54 --> 2001.70]  the instructions of God,
[2001.76 --> 2003.06]  if you listen to him
[2003.06 --> 2003.84]  with a whole heart,
[2003.92 --> 2005.42]  you will be flourishing and blessed.
[2005.62 --> 2006.52]  And if you don't,
[2007.06 --> 2008.32]  you will experience curse.
[2009.10 --> 2009.54]  In fact,
[2009.60 --> 2010.88]  one of the very specific curses
[2010.88 --> 2011.70]  that's spelled out
[2011.70 --> 2012.98]  is exile.
[2013.66 --> 2014.78]  That the Israelites
[2014.78 --> 2015.84]  will lose their land.
[2017.50 --> 2018.52]  So if you know where the story
[2018.52 --> 2019.10]  goes from there,
[2019.22 --> 2020.18]  the Israel gets the law,
[2020.30 --> 2021.26]  they get put on the land,
[2021.32 --> 2022.54]  and then they chose
[2022.54 --> 2024.06]  the hard way.
[2024.54 --> 2025.94]  They rejected God's goodness,
[2026.12 --> 2026.84]  they didn't want to follow
[2026.84 --> 2027.54]  after his ways,
[2027.66 --> 2028.62]  they kept chasing
[2028.62 --> 2029.74]  the gods of the nations,
[2030.16 --> 2031.00]  rejecting the law,
[2031.00 --> 2031.78]  and what happened?
[2032.70 --> 2033.30]  The curse.
[2034.30 --> 2034.64]  In fact,
[2034.70 --> 2035.64]  the very exact thing
[2035.64 --> 2036.18]  that was predicted
[2036.18 --> 2037.16]  in Deuteronomy 27,
[2037.38 --> 2038.78]  they lost their land.
[2039.38 --> 2040.12]  And foreign nations
[2040.12 --> 2041.26]  came in and defeated them,
[2041.58 --> 2042.28]  subjected them,
[2042.34 --> 2043.18]  and made them slaves
[2043.18 --> 2044.70]  to those nations' interests
[2044.70 --> 2046.00]  and those nations' priorities.
[2047.10 --> 2048.56]  And if you're a first-time
[2048.56 --> 2049.34]  reader of the Bible,
[2049.80 --> 2050.64]  and you work your way
[2050.64 --> 2051.20]  through Genesis
[2051.20 --> 2052.38]  all the way to Malachi,
[2052.92 --> 2054.60]  it is actually quite a strange
[2054.60 --> 2055.62]  and confusing ending.
[2056.14 --> 2056.86]  We don't talk enough
[2056.86 --> 2057.38]  about this.
[2057.80 --> 2058.96]  The goal from the beginning
[2058.96 --> 2060.32]  was God to bring Abraham
[2060.32 --> 2060.98]  to himself,
[2061.18 --> 2062.58]  to form this people of Israel
[2062.58 --> 2063.72]  so that the nations
[2063.72 --> 2064.72]  experience blessing.
[2065.24 --> 2065.88]  And the Old Testament
[2065.88 --> 2068.10]  finishes with that nation
[2068.10 --> 2069.28]  experiencing curse,
[2069.56 --> 2070.58]  and the very nations
[2070.58 --> 2071.80]  they're supposed to bless
[2071.80 --> 2073.22]  oppressing them.
[2073.94 --> 2074.50]  And you have to think,
[2074.58 --> 2074.98]  okay, well,
[2075.04 --> 2076.26]  what's the plan here?
[2077.18 --> 2078.64]  And maybe the easiest way
[2078.64 --> 2079.32]  to summarize
[2079.32 --> 2080.48]  the Old Testament story,
[2080.82 --> 2081.72]  I hope this is helpful,
[2082.42 --> 2084.22]  is when the sickness of sin
[2084.22 --> 2085.72]  covered over God's good world
[2085.72 --> 2087.78]  and crept in the hearts
[2087.78 --> 2088.78]  of God's humanity,
[2088.96 --> 2090.36]  God chose Israel
[2090.36 --> 2091.74]  as a healing nation
[2091.74 --> 2093.10]  to sort of bring healing
[2093.10 --> 2094.36]  to where the sickness was.
[2094.76 --> 2095.72]  But what we realize
[2095.72 --> 2096.92]  at the end of the Old Testament
[2096.92 --> 2098.70]  is that Israel is just
[2098.70 --> 2100.10]  as infected by the sickness
[2100.10 --> 2100.60]  of sin
[2100.60 --> 2102.16]  as all the other nations.
[2102.66 --> 2103.74]  And now we're stuck
[2103.74 --> 2104.68]  with this thing
[2104.68 --> 2105.32]  that is the mess
[2105.32 --> 2105.88]  in the nations
[2105.88 --> 2107.46]  and in God's special people,
[2108.02 --> 2108.26]  Israel.
[2109.88 --> 2111.16]  With all this background
[2111.16 --> 2111.78]  in mind,
[2112.06 --> 2113.16]  this Old Testament story,
[2113.28 --> 2115.20]  I now want to read for us
[2115.20 --> 2117.58]  Galatians 3, 13, and 14.
[2117.58 --> 2118.46]  And I hope it's going to
[2118.46 --> 2119.34]  just piece some things
[2119.34 --> 2120.28]  together for us.
[2120.82 --> 2121.28]  We read,
[2122.48 --> 2123.38]  Christ redeemed us
[2123.38 --> 2124.82]  from the curse of the law
[2124.82 --> 2127.42]  by becoming a curse for us.
[2128.02 --> 2128.84]  For it is written,
[2129.12 --> 2129.82]  cursed is everyone
[2129.82 --> 2130.84]  who is hung on a pole.
[2131.78 --> 2132.58]  He redeemed us
[2132.58 --> 2134.06]  in order that the blessing
[2134.06 --> 2135.38]  given to Abraham
[2135.38 --> 2137.50]  might come to the Gentiles
[2137.50 --> 2138.40]  through Christ Jesus
[2138.40 --> 2140.20]  so that by faith
[2140.20 --> 2141.60]  we might receive
[2141.60 --> 2143.52]  the promise of the Spirit.
[2144.10 --> 2144.84]  It's making a little bit
[2144.84 --> 2145.46]  more sense now.
[2146.90 --> 2148.08]  Let me walk us through
[2148.08 --> 2148.70]  some of the movement.
[2148.82 --> 2149.22]  Number one,
[2149.30 --> 2149.98]  let me underscore
[2149.98 --> 2151.32]  Paul's main concern
[2151.32 --> 2152.70]  is to recognize
[2152.70 --> 2153.36]  that the law
[2153.36 --> 2154.14]  of the Old Testament
[2154.14 --> 2155.64]  could not solve
[2155.64 --> 2156.68]  the problem of sin.
[2156.96 --> 2157.84]  It could not curb
[2157.84 --> 2158.52]  human hearts
[2158.52 --> 2159.92]  and people even knowing
[2159.92 --> 2160.62]  what was good
[2160.62 --> 2161.32]  and knowing the good
[2161.32 --> 2161.98]  instruction of God
[2161.98 --> 2163.34]  chose the way of curse.
[2163.94 --> 2164.92]  So the movement now
[2164.92 --> 2165.82]  of Galatians 3 is
[2165.82 --> 2167.06]  the whole world
[2167.06 --> 2167.98]  lives in rebellion
[2167.98 --> 2168.92]  under the curse.
[2169.62 --> 2171.20]  God's representative people
[2171.20 --> 2172.08]  who were chosen
[2172.08 --> 2172.80]  for blessing
[2172.80 --> 2174.54]  also chose the way
[2174.54 --> 2175.12]  of the curse
[2175.12 --> 2176.02]  and now
[2176.02 --> 2177.52]  here's the good news.
[2178.34 --> 2179.48]  There is a representative
[2179.48 --> 2180.68]  within Israel
[2180.68 --> 2181.96]  who's going to take on
[2181.96 --> 2182.48]  the curse
[2182.48 --> 2183.88]  and that is Jesus.
[2184.66 --> 2185.18]  For Paul,
[2185.26 --> 2185.88]  the good news is
[2185.88 --> 2187.28]  yes, the curse is spread.
[2187.48 --> 2188.60]  Yes, it's infected Israel
[2188.60 --> 2189.84]  but good news church,
[2190.46 --> 2191.52]  there is a representative
[2191.52 --> 2192.24]  within Israel
[2192.24 --> 2193.28]  who is going to become
[2193.28 --> 2194.32]  that curse,
[2194.84 --> 2195.56]  Jesus Christ.
[2196.24 --> 2197.16]  He takes on
[2197.16 --> 2197.82]  the punishment
[2197.82 --> 2198.78]  for disobedience.
[2198.86 --> 2199.40]  He takes on
[2199.40 --> 2200.32]  the consequence
[2200.32 --> 2201.06]  for sin.
[2201.06 --> 2202.94]  He takes on
[2202.94 --> 2203.66]  the consequence
[2203.66 --> 2204.34]  of rebellion
[2204.34 --> 2206.04]  or as we read
[2206.04 --> 2206.50]  in the scriptures,
[2206.66 --> 2207.06]  he takes on
[2207.06 --> 2207.96]  the cup of judgment
[2207.96 --> 2209.60]  of God's wrath
[2209.60 --> 2210.46]  for the sake
[2210.46 --> 2211.56]  of humanity's rebellion
[2211.56 --> 2212.90]  so that we would be
[2212.90 --> 2214.14]  free from under
[2214.14 --> 2214.66]  the curse.
[2215.48 --> 2216.28]  And he does it
[2216.28 --> 2217.60]  once and for all
[2217.60 --> 2219.00]  on the cross.
[2220.32 --> 2221.14]  And for Paul,
[2221.42 --> 2222.20]  over and over,
[2222.28 --> 2222.56]  he's like,
[2222.76 --> 2223.64]  that's the point
[2223.64 --> 2224.26]  of liberation.
[2224.78 --> 2225.60]  That's the point
[2225.60 --> 2226.40]  where we get redeemed.
[2226.50 --> 2227.40]  It wasn't in the law,
[2227.40 --> 2228.18]  it wasn't in any
[2228.18 --> 2228.82]  former time.
[2229.16 --> 2229.96]  What liberates us
[2229.96 --> 2230.86]  once and for all
[2230.86 --> 2231.42]  is the death
[2231.42 --> 2231.88]  and resurrection
[2231.88 --> 2232.48]  of Jesus.
[2232.64 --> 2233.66]  He just keeps harping
[2233.66 --> 2234.70]  on that point
[2234.70 --> 2235.40]  in Galatians.
[2236.78 --> 2238.00]  But here's the why.
[2238.40 --> 2239.14]  This is the good news.
[2239.22 --> 2239.92]  This is where we come
[2239.92 --> 2240.50]  into the story
[2240.50 --> 2241.04]  of Galatians.
[2241.18 --> 2241.64]  Paul writes,
[2242.04 --> 2243.04]  he redeemed us
[2243.04 --> 2244.18]  in order
[2244.18 --> 2245.72]  that the blessing
[2245.72 --> 2246.92]  given to Abraham
[2246.92 --> 2248.00]  might, what,
[2248.42 --> 2249.78]  come to the Gentiles
[2249.78 --> 2251.14]  so that through Christ,
[2251.32 --> 2251.92]  by faith,
[2252.10 --> 2252.84]  we might receive
[2252.84 --> 2253.30]  the promise
[2253.30 --> 2253.90]  of the Spirit.
[2254.90 --> 2255.94]  That is to say,
[2256.78 --> 2257.74]  God's plan
[2257.74 --> 2258.52]  with Abraham
[2258.52 --> 2260.06]  can now
[2260.06 --> 2261.60]  finally move forward
[2261.60 --> 2262.88]  because the curse
[2262.88 --> 2263.28]  of sin
[2263.28 --> 2264.20]  has been dealt with.
[2264.82 --> 2265.62]  And then that means
[2265.62 --> 2266.54]  very specifically
[2266.54 --> 2267.70]  that all of us
[2267.70 --> 2268.48]  Gentiles,
[2268.58 --> 2269.46]  we are the Gentiles,
[2269.58 --> 2270.80]  who call on the name
[2270.80 --> 2271.26]  of Jesus
[2271.26 --> 2271.98]  and put our faith
[2271.98 --> 2272.28]  in Him,
[2272.66 --> 2273.90]  we get grafted
[2273.90 --> 2275.04]  into the family
[2275.04 --> 2276.94]  by faith.
[2277.98 --> 2278.98]  Every one of us
[2278.98 --> 2279.32]  who says,
[2279.42 --> 2280.22]  I believe in Jesus,
[2280.34 --> 2281.44]  I want to follow Him,
[2281.52 --> 2282.60]  I receive His grace
[2282.60 --> 2283.08]  by faith,
[2283.36 --> 2285.34]  we join the family,
[2285.34 --> 2287.42]  we receive the Spirit
[2287.42 --> 2287.86]  and man,
[2287.94 --> 2288.54]  I can already
[2288.54 --> 2289.20]  look forward to
[2289.20 --> 2289.88]  in two weeks' time
[2289.88 --> 2291.30]  the amazing things
[2291.30 --> 2292.44]  Paul says about the Spirit
[2292.44 --> 2293.78]  in contrast to the law,
[2293.86 --> 2295.02]  but that's a different sermon.
[2296.90 --> 2297.86]  Let me finish
[2297.86 --> 2299.08]  with how Paul finishes
[2299.08 --> 2299.82]  Galatians 3
[2299.82 --> 2300.58]  and work out
[2300.58 --> 2301.12]  some of these
[2301.12 --> 2302.74]  beautiful words with you.
[2303.84 --> 2304.94]  Galatians 3, 28,
[2305.06 --> 2305.98]  he says to the church,
[2305.98 --> 2307.38]  So in Christ Jesus,
[2308.12 --> 2309.06]  you are all children
[2309.06 --> 2310.26]  of God through faith.
[2311.08 --> 2311.94]  For all of you
[2311.94 --> 2312.60]  who were baptized
[2312.60 --> 2313.34]  into Christ
[2313.34 --> 2314.58]  have clothed yourselves
[2314.58 --> 2315.30]  with Christ.
[2316.00 --> 2316.80]  There is neither Jew
[2316.80 --> 2317.68]  nor Gentile,
[2318.28 --> 2319.52]  neither slave nor free.
[2320.20 --> 2321.46]  There is male nor female,
[2321.82 --> 2323.32]  for you are all one
[2323.32 --> 2324.78]  in Christ Jesus.
[2325.52 --> 2326.80]  If you belong to Christ,
[2326.98 --> 2328.46]  you are Abraham's seed
[2328.46 --> 2330.04]  and heirs according
[2330.04 --> 2331.60]  to the promise.
[2332.22 --> 2333.06]  I don't have time
[2333.06 --> 2333.88]  to preach on this today,
[2334.00 --> 2334.92]  but when Paul says
[2334.92 --> 2335.46]  you are heirs
[2335.46 --> 2336.34]  according to the promise,
[2336.66 --> 2337.58]  he says to the church,
[2337.68 --> 2338.74]  by faith you get
[2338.74 --> 2339.80]  to inherit the earth.
[2340.66 --> 2341.34]  After death,
[2341.38 --> 2342.36]  your bodies will rise
[2342.36 --> 2343.00]  and the creation
[2343.00 --> 2343.50]  will be renewed
[2343.50 --> 2344.38]  and you will live on it
[2344.38 --> 2345.00]  forever,
[2345.00 --> 2346.24]  because the promise
[2346.24 --> 2346.84]  to the church
[2346.84 --> 2348.00]  is eternal life
[2348.00 --> 2349.28]  in a resurrected world
[2349.28 --> 2350.64]  with resurrected bodies.
[2352.54 --> 2354.46]  God's plan all along.
[2355.52 --> 2356.96]  It was a multi-ethnic,
[2357.30 --> 2358.22]  global church
[2358.22 --> 2360.48]  that is united by faith.
[2361.26 --> 2362.30]  And can we just stop
[2362.30 --> 2363.12]  and marvel together
[2363.12 --> 2364.24]  that even as we worship,
[2364.90 --> 2367.04]  we get to taste that together.
[2367.80 --> 2368.16]  I mean,
[2368.28 --> 2369.34]  there's a lot of us here
[2369.34 --> 2370.06]  from different parts
[2370.06 --> 2370.42]  of the world,
[2370.54 --> 2371.20]  different backgrounds,
[2371.20 --> 2372.06]  and we get to worship
[2372.06 --> 2372.98]  Jesus together.
[2373.88 --> 2375.04]  This week in my office,
[2375.12 --> 2376.90]  I wrote down just a quick list
[2376.90 --> 2377.56]  of the countries
[2377.56 --> 2378.48]  that I know of
[2378.48 --> 2379.14]  that are represented
[2379.14 --> 2379.86]  in our church
[2379.86 --> 2381.32]  and I'll read them off.
[2381.38 --> 2381.84]  If you're missing,
[2381.98 --> 2382.96]  it's not because I don't like you,
[2383.04 --> 2383.84]  it's because I just forgot
[2383.84 --> 2384.52]  about your country.
[2385.18 --> 2386.04]  So here we go.
[2386.66 --> 2387.52]  Whenever you make a list,
[2387.58 --> 2388.38]  you always forget someone.
[2389.96 --> 2390.72]  In our church,
[2390.80 --> 2392.28]  people worship from Taiwan,
[2392.86 --> 2393.24]  Korea,
[2393.92 --> 2394.30]  China,
[2394.30 --> 2395.42]  the Philippines,
[2396.12 --> 2396.46]  India,
[2396.82 --> 2397.30]  Nigeria,
[2397.70 --> 2398.02]  Ghana,
[2398.40 --> 2398.72]  Holland,
[2398.98 --> 2399.50]  Honduras,
[2399.66 --> 2400.18]  El Salvador,
[2400.60 --> 2401.02]  Venezuela,
[2401.62 --> 2402.56]  even the U.S.
[2402.92 --> 2403.72]  and Canada.
[2404.82 --> 2406.00]  Praise the Lord
[2406.00 --> 2407.70]  for the diversity
[2407.70 --> 2408.50]  of the church.
[2409.02 --> 2410.10]  This was the plan
[2410.10 --> 2411.20]  all along.
[2411.80 --> 2412.30]  The plan
[2412.30 --> 2413.32]  when God called Abraham
[2413.32 --> 2414.80]  was that we would share
[2414.80 --> 2415.62]  in the blessing
[2415.62 --> 2417.06]  that our lives
[2417.06 --> 2418.06]  would be put back together
[2418.06 --> 2418.90]  by the work of Jesus,
[2419.12 --> 2420.42]  that we could experience
[2420.42 --> 2421.30]  the fullness of life.
[2421.50 --> 2422.48]  That was the plan.
[2422.96 --> 2423.66]  And here we are
[2423.66 --> 2424.44]  worshiping Jesus
[2424.44 --> 2426.02]  as part of proof
[2426.02 --> 2427.46]  that the work of Christ
[2427.46 --> 2428.32]  was accomplishing
[2428.32 --> 2429.58]  exactly what it needed to.
[2430.24 --> 2431.18]  That God's family
[2431.18 --> 2432.46]  is a global,
[2432.86 --> 2434.06]  multi-ethnic family.
[2435.72 --> 2436.12]  Now,
[2436.24 --> 2437.36]  just in the last couple weeks,
[2437.54 --> 2438.20]  I've been able to meet
[2438.20 --> 2438.94]  with some of the people
[2438.94 --> 2439.48]  in our church
[2439.48 --> 2440.08]  who are new
[2440.08 --> 2440.98]  from different parts
[2440.98 --> 2441.38]  of the world.
[2442.06 --> 2442.48]  You're going to meet
[2442.48 --> 2443.26]  some of them next week
[2443.26 --> 2444.22]  as we have our new members
[2444.22 --> 2445.28]  welcome and we baptize
[2445.28 --> 2445.74]  two people.
[2446.46 --> 2447.32]  But two families
[2447.32 --> 2447.82]  that I met with,
[2447.88 --> 2448.64]  one was from China,
[2448.90 --> 2450.16]  the other was originally
[2450.16 --> 2450.70]  from India
[2450.70 --> 2451.64]  and then Qatar.
[2452.62 --> 2453.60]  And it was such a privilege
[2453.60 --> 2454.42]  I'm looking for
[2454.42 --> 2455.10]  some of them right now.
[2455.20 --> 2455.74]  I see one of them,
[2455.82 --> 2456.64]  Avesh and Siali.
[2457.08 --> 2457.96]  Such a privilege
[2457.96 --> 2459.36]  to hear the stories
[2459.36 --> 2460.44]  of how they came to faith,
[2461.32 --> 2461.86]  hear the stories
[2461.86 --> 2462.72]  of how people share
[2462.72 --> 2463.58]  the gospel with them,
[2463.66 --> 2464.58]  the churches they found,
[2464.66 --> 2465.76]  the people who discipled them.
[2465.92 --> 2466.80]  And I just get to see,
[2466.92 --> 2467.14]  wow,
[2467.28 --> 2468.20]  God is at work
[2468.20 --> 2469.10]  in Qatar
[2469.10 --> 2469.84]  and India
[2469.84 --> 2470.50]  and China.
[2470.74 --> 2471.30]  He's at work
[2471.30 --> 2472.06]  in all these places.
[2472.20 --> 2473.12]  He's forming churches,
[2473.26 --> 2473.86]  planting churches,
[2474.22 --> 2474.92]  raising up leaders.
[2475.10 --> 2476.40]  Praise the Lord for that.
[2477.14 --> 2478.44]  But equally so,
[2479.26 --> 2480.46]  I was talking
[2480.46 --> 2480.74]  with someone
[2480.74 --> 2481.50]  after the 9 a.m. service
[2481.50 --> 2481.88]  about this.
[2481.94 --> 2482.74]  I had one of those moments
[2482.74 --> 2483.40]  where your heart
[2483.40 --> 2484.30]  is burning within you
[2484.30 --> 2485.02]  thinking to yourself,
[2485.42 --> 2486.10]  this person
[2486.10 --> 2487.42]  who was discipled
[2487.42 --> 2488.84]  by someone in Shendu
[2488.84 --> 2490.90]  or Southeast Asia,
[2491.28 --> 2492.20]  they are now sitting
[2492.20 --> 2493.06]  with me in my office
[2493.06 --> 2493.96]  and we're brothers
[2493.96 --> 2495.86]  and sisters in faith.
[2496.78 --> 2498.52]  What an amazing reality
[2498.52 --> 2500.38]  that we get to share
[2500.38 --> 2501.44]  in the life of the Spirit.
[2501.56 --> 2502.26]  We get to share
[2502.26 --> 2503.68]  in being part of Abraham's family
[2503.68 --> 2504.96]  because of what Jesus has done.
[2505.36 --> 2506.40]  Praise the Lord
[2506.40 --> 2508.60]  that we get to be the church,
[2509.18 --> 2509.86]  that we share
[2509.86 --> 2510.44]  in the blessing
[2510.44 --> 2511.24]  that God promised
[2511.24 --> 2513.48]  thousands of years ago.
[2514.58 --> 2514.92]  Amen.
[2516.40 --> 2517.18]  And I could say
[2517.18 --> 2518.12]  a lot more about this,
[2518.24 --> 2519.12]  but I want to be short.
[2520.08 --> 2520.76]  Did that come up
[2520.76 --> 2521.26]  on the screen?
[2524.06 --> 2524.84]  Thanks, Trev.
[2527.74 --> 2529.20]  In Galatians 3.28,
[2529.30 --> 2530.18]  one of the things
[2530.18 --> 2530.72]  that he's trying
[2530.72 --> 2531.28]  to communicate
[2531.28 --> 2532.94]  is the beautiful way
[2532.94 --> 2533.50]  in which everyone
[2533.50 --> 2534.36]  comes into the church
[2534.36 --> 2534.86]  by grace
[2534.86 --> 2535.44]  and there can be
[2535.44 --> 2536.90]  no upper and lower class.
[2537.16 --> 2537.74]  So when he says
[2537.74 --> 2539.20]  there's no Jew nor Gentile,
[2539.30 --> 2540.04]  slave nor free,
[2540.18 --> 2540.84]  male nor female,
[2540.90 --> 2541.60]  what he's saying is
[2541.60 --> 2543.38]  everyone enters the church
[2543.38 --> 2544.06]  as equals.
[2545.08 --> 2545.76]  And that means
[2545.76 --> 2546.48]  there's no lording
[2546.48 --> 2547.34]  over anybody,
[2547.44 --> 2549.08]  your socioeconomic class.
[2549.46 --> 2550.08]  There's no lording
[2550.08 --> 2550.70]  over anyone,
[2550.76 --> 2551.74]  the kind of family background
[2551.74 --> 2552.36]  you came from
[2552.36 --> 2553.00]  or your ethnicity.
[2553.34 --> 2554.76]  We are all one in Christ.
[2555.66 --> 2556.48]  And I'll just share
[2556.48 --> 2557.24]  a little bit personally
[2557.24 --> 2559.00]  that I grew up
[2559.00 --> 2560.12]  in a Dutch community,
[2560.26 --> 2560.70]  predominantly,
[2560.86 --> 2561.42]  Dutch-Canadian,
[2561.60 --> 2562.84]  a lot of immigrant families.
[2563.58 --> 2564.46]  And you don't know this,
[2564.54 --> 2565.28]  but you kind of grow up
[2565.28 --> 2566.32]  with a sense of pride
[2566.32 --> 2567.52]  with the culture you grew up in.
[2567.52 --> 2568.18]  Now that's a good thing.
[2568.26 --> 2569.16]  It's good to love
[2569.16 --> 2570.18]  the formation,
[2570.36 --> 2570.84]  your background.
[2571.44 --> 2572.18]  But I have learned
[2572.18 --> 2572.68]  that at least
[2572.68 --> 2573.32]  I can only speak
[2573.32 --> 2574.04]  for Dutch culture,
[2574.52 --> 2575.50]  that there's lots of phrases
[2575.50 --> 2576.12]  we use
[2576.12 --> 2577.32]  and lots of statements
[2577.32 --> 2577.84]  we make
[2577.84 --> 2579.38]  that suddenly make ourselves
[2579.38 --> 2580.54]  better than everybody else.
[2581.12 --> 2581.34]  Right?
[2581.38 --> 2582.30]  We look down on everyone.
[2582.40 --> 2583.16]  And I think part of that
[2583.16 --> 2584.46]  is Dutch people are so tall,
[2584.74 --> 2585.46]  they just naturally
[2585.46 --> 2586.28]  look down on people.
[2588.18 --> 2589.22]  And jokes aside,
[2589.30 --> 2590.20]  let me just put it this way,
[2590.26 --> 2591.48]  there is no room for that
[2591.48 --> 2592.62]  in the Church of Jesus Christ.
[2594.26 --> 2595.04]  That's what Jews
[2595.04 --> 2595.74]  struggled with.
[2595.84 --> 2596.92]  As the Gentiles came in,
[2596.92 --> 2597.18]  they're like,
[2597.28 --> 2597.88]  whoa, whoa, whoa.
[2598.06 --> 2599.82]  They're not quite Jewish enough.
[2599.90 --> 2600.56]  And Paul says,
[2600.84 --> 2601.88]  they are exactly
[2601.88 --> 2603.08]  what God wanted
[2603.08 --> 2603.78]  in His Church.
[2604.38 --> 2605.20]  All the cultures,
[2605.38 --> 2606.16]  all the ethnicities,
[2606.32 --> 2607.18]  that was the plan
[2607.18 --> 2608.00]  from the beginning
[2608.00 --> 2609.06]  by faith.
[2609.74 --> 2610.58]  And so there's no room
[2610.58 --> 2610.88]  for saying,
[2610.96 --> 2611.70]  ah, that person,
[2612.22 --> 2612.66]  I don't know how
[2612.66 --> 2613.38]  they made it in.
[2613.92 --> 2614.66]  That culture,
[2614.86 --> 2615.86]  surely they know
[2615.86 --> 2616.56]  that our culture
[2616.56 --> 2617.30]  is better than theirs.
[2617.30 --> 2618.32]  And it's all sorts
[2618.32 --> 2619.08]  of subtle things
[2619.08 --> 2619.54]  in the Church
[2619.54 --> 2620.08]  where we say,
[2620.36 --> 2620.90]  we're here,
[2621.22 --> 2621.84]  you're there.
[2621.94 --> 2622.50]  And Paul says,
[2622.58 --> 2625.06]  the Gospel is the great equalizer.
[2626.54 --> 2627.42]  It is the place
[2627.42 --> 2628.62]  where every single person
[2628.62 --> 2629.86]  who comes in the family of Christ
[2629.86 --> 2631.98]  comes by the grace of Jesus.
[2632.94 --> 2633.56]  Through the faith
[2633.56 --> 2634.78]  we share with our brothers
[2634.78 --> 2635.38]  and sisters.
[2635.92 --> 2636.72]  And there are no
[2636.72 --> 2637.80]  second-class citizens
[2637.80 --> 2638.46]  in the Church.
[2638.86 --> 2640.58]  May the Lord have mercy on us
[2640.58 --> 2642.34]  for the ways we subtly
[2642.34 --> 2643.26]  and not so subtly
[2643.26 --> 2644.22]  have those things
[2644.22 --> 2645.50]  in the body of Christ.
[2645.50 --> 2646.58]  Because he says,
[2646.70 --> 2649.52]  we are one in Christ Jesus.
[2650.30 --> 2651.18]  And what a gift it is
[2651.18 --> 2652.18]  to be one in Christ.
[2652.32 --> 2652.54]  I mean,
[2652.76 --> 2653.40]  this is sort of
[2653.40 --> 2654.48]  maybe a trivial example
[2654.48 --> 2655.32]  but it's not to me.
[2655.68 --> 2656.30]  I grew up in a,
[2656.38 --> 2657.34]  I love Dutch food.
[2658.10 --> 2658.70]  That's why I make
[2658.70 --> 2659.16]  olibolen
[2659.16 --> 2660.88]  on our front lawn
[2660.88 --> 2662.10]  at New Year's.
[2662.64 --> 2663.32]  But I realized
[2663.32 --> 2663.94]  as I got to know
[2663.94 --> 2664.68]  some people from India
[2664.68 --> 2665.28]  and Korea
[2665.28 --> 2666.06]  and other places
[2666.06 --> 2666.48]  in the world
[2666.48 --> 2667.10]  that there are actually
[2667.10 --> 2667.88]  a lot more spices
[2667.88 --> 2668.44]  in the cupboard
[2668.44 --> 2669.66]  than salt and pepper.
[2670.90 --> 2672.46]  And once you taste
[2672.46 --> 2673.18]  some of those spices,
[2673.30 --> 2674.50]  I see a couple in the back
[2674.50 --> 2675.36]  that they,
[2675.50 --> 2676.18]  they introduced me
[2676.18 --> 2677.08]  to jollof rice
[2677.08 --> 2678.22]  that I almost died of heat.
[2678.52 --> 2679.34]  But it was amazing.
[2680.62 --> 2681.82]  We need each other
[2681.82 --> 2683.42]  and we will be enriched
[2683.42 --> 2684.74]  by each other
[2684.74 --> 2686.52]  and God delights
[2686.52 --> 2688.22]  when the diverse body
[2688.22 --> 2688.60]  of Christ
[2688.60 --> 2689.26]  comes together
[2689.26 --> 2691.14]  in real meaningful unity
[2691.14 --> 2692.92]  to share fellowship,
[2693.16 --> 2693.96]  to share food,
[2694.20 --> 2696.36]  to be a family in Christ.
[2697.28 --> 2697.94]  And I'm convinced
[2697.94 --> 2699.06]  that's probably why
[2699.06 --> 2700.28]  I love doing communion
[2700.28 --> 2701.10]  so much at Hope.
[2701.10 --> 2702.98]  I love having
[2702.98 --> 2703.88]  these tables set up
[2703.88 --> 2704.86]  and the elders and deacons,
[2704.96 --> 2705.44]  they stand by
[2705.44 --> 2705.90]  in these tables
[2705.90 --> 2706.76]  and you see people
[2706.76 --> 2707.70]  from different backgrounds,
[2708.54 --> 2709.48]  different parts of the city,
[2709.58 --> 2710.40]  different parts of the country,
[2710.50 --> 2711.36]  different parts of the world
[2711.36 --> 2712.40]  with different pain
[2712.40 --> 2713.00]  and hardship,
[2713.36 --> 2714.22]  whatever our story is
[2714.22 --> 2715.22]  and we walk up together,
[2715.52 --> 2716.62]  we receive the elements
[2716.62 --> 2717.58]  and we get to hear God
[2717.58 --> 2718.60]  say to us through his leaders,
[2718.98 --> 2719.82]  the blood of Christ
[2719.82 --> 2720.36]  shed for you,
[2720.42 --> 2721.14]  the body of Christ
[2721.14 --> 2721.76]  given for you.
[2722.10 --> 2723.76]  You belong in the family
[2723.76 --> 2725.70]  because of the grace of Christ
[2725.70 --> 2726.72]  just like everyone else
[2726.72 --> 2727.36]  in the church.
[2727.36 --> 2728.84]  I love it.
[2729.26 --> 2730.88]  The unity of the body of Christ.
[2731.40 --> 2732.70]  And I will say this as well,
[2733.60 --> 2735.78]  that when we live in unity,
[2736.60 --> 2737.44]  meaningful unity,
[2738.00 --> 2739.18]  we demonstrate
[2739.18 --> 2741.92]  the power of the gospel.
[2743.36 --> 2745.54]  The law did not create
[2745.54 --> 2747.58]  a unified, diverse family,
[2748.10 --> 2749.66]  but Jesus Christ did.
[2750.30 --> 2751.04]  And when we live
[2751.04 --> 2751.86]  in meaningful unity
[2751.86 --> 2753.26]  with our ethnicity,
[2753.50 --> 2753.96]  with our different
[2753.96 --> 2755.20]  socioeconomic backgrounds,
[2755.52 --> 2756.08]  male and female
[2756.08 --> 2756.62]  and all the rest,
[2756.62 --> 2758.88]  we show to a polarizing,
[2759.32 --> 2760.50]  tribalizing,
[2760.96 --> 2761.76]  cancel culture
[2761.76 --> 2762.72]  that we live in
[2762.72 --> 2763.74]  that the gospel
[2763.74 --> 2764.48]  does have power.
[2765.38 --> 2766.98]  We show that we can live together
[2766.98 --> 2767.86]  as brothers and sisters
[2767.86 --> 2769.24]  by our united faith
[2769.24 --> 2769.98]  in Jesus Christ
[2769.98 --> 2772.14]  and that will always be
[2772.14 --> 2773.32]  a powerful witness
[2773.32 --> 2774.36]  in whatever culture
[2774.36 --> 2774.78]  you live in
[2774.78 --> 2775.54]  where there will always be
[2775.54 --> 2776.92]  something that wants
[2776.92 --> 2777.68]  to tear us apart,
[2777.96 --> 2778.88]  something that wants
[2778.88 --> 2779.46]  to make us live
[2779.46 --> 2781.12]  as first or second class citizens.
[2781.42 --> 2783.26]  The gospel has power
[2783.26 --> 2785.14]  and we demonstrate that
[2785.14 --> 2786.30]  in our unity.
[2786.62 --> 2790.18]  And I'll just say again,
[2790.40 --> 2790.64]  yeah.
[2790.64 --> 2790.74]  Yeah.
[2798.10 --> 2799.76]  I do think that one of the ways
[2799.76 --> 2800.96]  we respond to a passage
[2800.96 --> 2801.90]  like Galatians 3
[2801.90 --> 2803.54]  is to marvel
[2803.54 --> 2805.18]  that we are living
[2805.18 --> 2806.14]  in the very thing
[2806.14 --> 2807.52]  God had in his mind
[2807.52 --> 2808.76]  when he called Abraham.
[2809.62 --> 2810.64]  The blessing,
[2811.24 --> 2812.12]  the flourishing,
[2812.50 --> 2813.16]  the shalom
[2813.16 --> 2814.14]  and the life of God
[2814.14 --> 2815.12]  flowing to the nations,
[2815.12 --> 2817.52]  we are receiving that
[2817.52 --> 2819.02]  because Jesus dealt
[2819.02 --> 2819.70]  with the curse.
[2820.40 --> 2821.74]  Praise the Lord.
[2822.52 --> 2823.40]  Let's pray together.
[2826.60 --> 2827.82]  Father, we thank you
[2827.82 --> 2828.44]  for your word.
[2829.72 --> 2830.58]  We thank you
[2830.58 --> 2832.14]  that you have brought us
[2832.14 --> 2833.34]  into your family.
[2834.34 --> 2834.92]  We thank you
[2834.92 --> 2835.84]  that this was your plan
[2835.84 --> 2836.74]  all along
[2836.74 --> 2838.08]  and even as we drove it
[2838.08 --> 2838.86]  into the ground
[2838.86 --> 2839.92]  in disobedience
[2839.92 --> 2842.28]  and idolatry,
[2843.16 --> 2844.22]  enslaving ourselves
[2844.22 --> 2845.32]  to all sorts of things
[2845.32 --> 2846.20]  that do not bring life.
[2846.20 --> 2847.74]  You came in Jesus.
[2848.60 --> 2849.72]  We praise you
[2849.72 --> 2850.70]  that Jesus has dealt
[2850.70 --> 2851.32]  with the curse.
[2852.20 --> 2852.90]  We praise you
[2852.90 --> 2853.52]  that he drank
[2853.52 --> 2854.32]  the cup of judgment.
[2855.10 --> 2855.78]  We praise you
[2855.78 --> 2857.20]  that we have been set free.
[2858.20 --> 2858.38]  Lord,
[2858.48 --> 2859.52]  would you unify us
[2859.52 --> 2860.18]  in the gospel?
[2861.10 --> 2862.38]  Would you strengthen us
[2862.38 --> 2863.12]  as the church?
[2863.54 --> 2863.96]  And we pray
[2863.96 --> 2864.96]  that many more people
[2864.96 --> 2865.72]  in this city,
[2866.20 --> 2867.12]  in our families,
[2867.12 --> 2868.20]  in our workplaces
[2868.20 --> 2869.58]  would by faith
[2869.58 --> 2870.66]  recognize the power
[2870.66 --> 2871.26]  of the gospel
[2871.26 --> 2872.70]  and join the family
[2872.70 --> 2873.38]  of the resurrection.
[2874.08 --> 2874.66]  We pray this
[2874.66 --> 2875.46]  in your mighty name.
[2875.78 --> 2876.00]  Amen.
[2877.32 --> 2878.08]  Would you stand
[2878.08 --> 2878.64]  and sing with me
[2878.64 --> 2879.56]  a song of response?