WEBVTT 00:00:00.540 --> 00:00:01.560 We're in a series together. 00:00:01.560 --> 00:00:02.260 It's a short series. 00:00:02.260 --> 00:00:03.010 It's only going to be three weeks. 00:00:03.180 --> 00:00:10.640 So we're smack in the middle today on the idea of torn, and the thought of torn carries significant meaning in the 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:13.260 death and resurrection of Christ, especially. 00:00:13.340 --> 00:00:18.580 We saw last week that the lamb was torn as sin tore the world. 00:00:18.580 --> 00:00:20.220 So the lamb was torn for our sin. 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:27.910 And we read about that in Exodus chapter 12, where Jesus becomes the ultimate reflection of the lamb that was sacrificed for the Passover. 00:00:28.980 --> 00:00:36.160 Israel was a slave in Egypt and to set them free, God sent the death angel through the land of Egypt, and the death angel 00:00:36.160 --> 00:00:37.830 was going to kill the firstborn. 00:00:38.080 --> 00:00:45.120 And God told the nation of Israel that in order to escape the death angel, that you sacrificed a lamb without blemish, a male lamb, and apply his 00:00:45.120 --> 00:00:48.330 blood over the doorpost of your home and the application of that blood. 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:54.960 By faith, the death angel would pass over your home and wouldn't take your firstborn. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:01.940 And so, through the sacrifice of the lamb, they were spared or saved and brought into their new freedom. 00:01:01.940 --> 00:01:09.080 They left Egypt under that celebration of the Passover, and they went through the wandering of the wilderness into the 00:01:09.080 --> 00:01:12.160 promised land that God had offered them as a people. 00:01:13.160 --> 00:01:20.360 And through that lamb that was torn, it was a reflection of Christ, who was a lamb who would be torn on our behalf and who was torn on 00:01:20.360 --> 00:01:23.280 our behalf, and through the blood of this lamb. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:29.820 When we apply his sacrifice to our lives, we find ourselves rescued from the curse of sin. 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:37.980 Just as the nation of Israel was rescued from the curse of sin being slaves in Egypt this 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:41.280 morning, we want to carry on with this idea of being torn. 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:49.920 And so today I'm going to start with a theological proclamation for the majority of what we express in Scripture today. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:51.850 And so it's going to be heavy in Scripture. 00:01:52.080 --> 00:01:59.160 And the reason is because when we discuss this thought of torn and what Jesus has accomplished for us, it 00:01:59.160 --> 00:02:02.640 gives us the backdrop to understanding the New Testament. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:11.060 And so you find this theme, this idea, this concept expressed throughout all of Scripture and especially in the 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:14.360 New Testament and the finishing work of what Christ has accomplished. 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:23.540 So we're going to look at the theological proclamation of this tearing and talk more about what else was torn through Christ's 00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:25.100 death and resurrection. 00:02:26.660 --> 00:02:27.760 And then we're going to make the application. 00:02:29.220 --> 00:02:30.970 What do we do with it and why does it even matter. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:31.380 Right. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:39.100 So as we think in the weighty matters of what Scripture says, then we'll make the practical application of how it relates to our lives. 00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:47.540 And as Israel sacrificed this lamb in Exodus chapter 12, it was shortly after the sacrifice of this lamb that when Israel was set 00:02:47.540 --> 00:02:55.060 free, and they go into the wanderings of the wilderness, leading them to the promised land of what would be their land that God promised in Canaan, 00:02:55.920 --> 00:03:03.200 God directed the nation of Israel to build a tabernacle, which eventually would become the temple where the people of God would go to meet with God in 00:03:03.200 --> 00:03:03.640 worship. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:12.320 When the nation of Israel left Egypt, it tells us that God directed them where to go by cloud during the day, by fire 00:03:12.320 --> 00:03:19.340 at night, and when they built the temple within the nation of Israel, God's presence was said to have 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:20.300 dwelt there. 00:03:21.740 --> 00:03:23.280 In fact, the temple had two rooms. 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:30.760 There was one room called the Holy Place, and there was a second room called the Holy of Holies, and these two rooms were separated by a 00:03:30.760 --> 00:03:35.380 veil, and this temple signified a place to meet with God. 00:03:38.320 --> 00:03:42.060 But although Israel had a place in which they could go to meet with God's presence. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:46.340 The reality still rested. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.580 That they were separated from him. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:59.560 Because in this room that exists in this temple, this room of the Holy of Holies, there was this veil of separation which 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:00.900 they couldn't cross. 00:04:04.040 --> 00:04:09.400 In Hebrews chapter nine, the writer of Hebrews records just a picture of this temple. 00:04:11.540 --> 00:04:18.570 He says in verse three, behind the second veil, talking about the separation and the two rooms of the temple, there was a tabernacle, 00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:20.459 which is called the Holy of Holies. 00:04:21.019 --> 00:04:24.380 The tabernacle literally means the dwelling places, the dwelling place of God. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:27.400 The Holy Holy of Holies. 00:04:27.620 --> 00:04:27.760 Places. 00:04:29.620 --> 00:04:36.620 In fact, in describing the function of this temple and this Holy of Holies a little bit further, it says in verse 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:41.900 seven, but into the second, talking about the second veil, only the high priest enters. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:48.480 But once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 00:04:48.940 --> 00:04:55.980 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the Holy place has not yet been disclosed, which the outer tabernacle is 00:04:55.980 --> 00:04:59.340 still standing, while the outer tabernacle is still standing. 00:05:01.180 --> 00:05:04.320 And so what they're saying, the writer is saying in the book of Hebrews is like this. 00:05:04.460 --> 00:05:08.640 If we were to do this as a church, we would have a building built in which we could meet, like here in Lehigh. 00:05:08.640 --> 00:05:13.780 What we're here doing this morning, and rather than coming to this place for worship, we all stay out in the parking lot. 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:16.380 That's where God's presence is. 00:05:16.400 --> 00:05:18.940 And here we are worshiping the Lord in the streets. 00:05:20.900 --> 00:05:22.500 And that's what took place in the nation of Israel. 00:05:24.260 --> 00:05:31.480 This veil separated them from God's presence, and the only one who could ever enter behind that 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:38.560 curtain was the High Priest, and the only time he could ever do that was one time a year through the sacrifice of an 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:46.430 animal, he was able to go into the presence of the Lord because the sacrifice symbolically represented the sacrifice to which Jesus. 00:05:48.200 --> 00:05:48.640 Would bring. 00:05:50.520 --> 00:05:57.540 Josephus, a Jewish historian, records that this veil that separated the people of God from the 00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:04.160 presence of God, though they were near his presence was 60ft tall, 40ft wide, and at least four inches thick. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:09.620 If you were to take a couple of horses on either side of this veil. 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:15.900 Josephus writes that those horses pulling with all of their strength wouldn't muster the power to separate this veil. 00:06:19.960 --> 00:06:20.800 The word vale. 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:22.760 Within Hebrew. 00:06:24.400 --> 00:06:25.680 Language means a fracture. 00:06:27.520 --> 00:06:29.140 Or separation that hides. 00:06:31.760 --> 00:06:33.040 Even though God was present. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:35.950 People were still distant. 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:39.320 Until the coming of Christ. 00:06:41.420 --> 00:06:43.000 In Matthew chapter seven. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:50.760 It tells us, as Jesus hung on the cross at the end of his life, giving his life on our behalf. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:55.180 This statement Jesus made recognizing the importance of this event. 00:06:55.180 --> 00:06:59.700 And he says, When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 00:06:59.700 --> 00:07:04.400 In that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 00:07:06.520 --> 00:07:07.280 You got to tell you. 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:10.140 When the Bible says something. 00:07:12.380 --> 00:07:13.840 It's not just saying it to say it. 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:20.160 You know, like in my house, if a curtain tore out had been like my curtain tore and then I'd been sad. 00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:21.110 My curtain tore. 00:07:21.220 --> 00:07:23.440 Right. 00:07:23.440 --> 00:07:29.610 But when Jesus is making this statement, he's saying so much more than all this curtain tore. 00:07:31.300 --> 00:07:37.100 What God is signifying for us is that fracture, that separation that hides us. 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:44.280 When this veil was torn, God's presence no longer dwelt in this temple where people would go to meet with God. 00:07:44.380 --> 00:07:51.520 In fact, it says in acts chapter 17, the apostle Paul that God who made the world and all things in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does 00:07:51.520 --> 00:07:54.080 not dwell in temples made with hands. 00:07:55.900 --> 00:08:03.020 In first Corinthians 316 Paul went on and he said this, do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of 00:08:03.020 --> 00:08:04.940 God dwells in you? 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:11.780 It's as if to say to us about the church, look, the church isn't a building. 00:08:13.440 --> 00:08:14.300 The church is the people. 00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:18.060 Because that's where God's Spirit dwells. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:20.560 In his people. 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:24.660 Jesus in John chapter 14 and verse six. 00:08:24.960 --> 00:08:31.980 In talking about this position of the high priest that would come into the temple on behalf of the people, he said this I am the way and the truth and 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:32.380 the life. 00:08:32.380 --> 00:08:34.370 No one gets to the father but through me. 00:08:35.260 --> 00:08:36.740 Now I am that representation. 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:38.600 I am that access. 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:40.380 I am that way. 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:49.860 What Jesus accomplished on the cross, signifying through the tearing of the veil, enters us into a new relationship with God 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:56.580 that we previously couldn't understand or receive because there was a fracture or separation that hit us in, and from his presence. 00:08:58.160 --> 00:09:02.590 In fact, the Bible says this in second Corinthians 517 you are a new creation. 00:09:03.060 --> 00:09:04.560 You are a temple of God. 00:09:04.560 --> 00:09:05.960 You are made right before God. 00:09:06.020 --> 00:09:08.320 In Romans five one you are set apart for God. 00:09:08.380 --> 00:09:10.550 In first Corinthians 130 you are made perfect. 00:09:10.820 --> 00:09:12.730 In Hebrews 1014 you are accepted. 00:09:12.740 --> 00:09:14.690 In Ephesians one six you are forgiven. 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:17.000 In Colossians 213, you are complete. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:20.980 In Colossians 210 you are crucified to the old self to live as a new self. 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:23.440 In Romans six six you will live with him. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:25.700 Colossians three three you have ascended with Christ. 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:27.120 You are his gift. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:27.960 You are his bride. 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:29.120 You are his possession. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:29.240 You are. 00:09:29.460 --> 00:09:31.000 You have glorious inheritance. 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.900 You are born again, baptized, sealed by His spirit. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:37.540 The same spirit that resurrected Jesus from the grate lives in you. 00:09:37.560 --> 00:09:44.740 You are the object of his love, the object of his grace, the object of his power, the object of his faithfulness, the object of his peace, the object 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:47.250 of his encouragement, the object of his intercession. 00:09:47.640 --> 00:09:50.440 You are heavenly citizens, God's household. 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:56.960 Maybe my favorite as it relates to our relationship with the Lord here on earth, it says. 00:09:58.400 --> 00:09:59.410 You are a chosen race. 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:02.460 And royal priesthood. 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:07.220 Meaning Jesus. 00:10:09.420 --> 00:10:10.530 Is now our high priest. 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:13.490 He is the way, the truth and the life. 00:10:14.880 --> 00:10:21.440 He is the one who has gone through the veil and torn the veil that we may have access to the Lord. 00:10:24.020 --> 00:10:27.460 And so first Peter, when Peter writes this book. 00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:29.920 Peter grew up as a Jew. 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:33.460 Peter knew the importance of the temple. 00:10:35.140 --> 00:10:39.480 He knew the importance of the work of the priests, and he especially knew the importance of the position of the high priest. 00:10:41.880 --> 00:10:43.260 And through the finishing work of Christ. 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:50.760 What Peter is saying to the body of believers now is that you no longer you no longer need the priests. 00:10:52.520 --> 00:10:55.800 In fact in Christ by His Spirit dwelling within you. 00:10:56.900 --> 00:10:58.380 You have become that priest. 00:11:00.020 --> 00:11:05.840 When Peter makes this statement, he's not making the statement for pastors, right? 00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:08.160 He's making a statement to God's people. 00:11:10.260 --> 00:11:11.830 It doesn't matter your race. 00:11:11.900 --> 00:11:12.700 It doesn't matter your gender. 00:11:13.140 --> 00:11:14.180 It doesn't matter your age. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:17.660 It doesn't matter your social standing in Christ. 00:11:18.060 --> 00:11:25.300 His spirit dwells within you, and you have opportunity to ask and come before him whenever your heart desires. 00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:31.140 Because Jesus has paid this way for you. 00:11:32.660 --> 00:11:37.020 How is it possible for us to have unhindered access to God? 00:11:38.880 --> 00:11:39.240 How? 00:11:39.260 --> 00:11:44.060 Because how does this happen in the life of the believer with the Bible in the New Testament? 00:11:44.140 --> 00:11:50.840 When you read it, you'll see these significant words of justification discussed and righteousness. 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:59.860 Justification is a legal firm, and the word righteousness comes from the same Greek word as justification. 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:01.560 There they're the same. 00:12:01.580 --> 00:12:04.540 It's a legal firm barred from the judicial system. 00:12:04.540 --> 00:12:08.660 That means, just as if I've never sinned, declared righteous. 00:12:08.660 --> 00:12:15.760 It creates this idea in those who understand the legal mentality of this Greek culture, that you come before the courtroom 00:12:15.760 --> 00:12:20.700 and in front of the presence of the judge, and the judge pronounces that you are guilty. 00:12:22.770 --> 00:12:24.280 And then he steps down. 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:27.180 And he pays your payment. 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.140 You've been justified. 00:12:34.060 --> 00:12:37.920 And in those moments, you're able to go from the courtroom free. 00:12:42.280 --> 00:12:44.760 Titus chapter three and verse five says this. 00:12:45.920 --> 00:12:48.580 Not by works of righteousness which we have done. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:51.340 But according to his mercy. 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.440 Our justification. 00:12:56.900 --> 00:13:04.260 Isn't conducted by ourselves, but our justification was accomplished through Christ on the cross, seen through the example 00:13:04.260 --> 00:13:07.400 of the veil that was torn as been declared in Scripture. 00:13:07.400 --> 00:13:08.880 You are the temple of God. 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:12.440 You are a royal priesthood, not just a priest, but you belong. 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:14.080 You belong to a king. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:19.420 In fact, in Romans the Apostle Paul explains this. 00:13:19.640 --> 00:13:26.720 The scope of this idea in the first seven chapters he lays out the framework of our salvation, and then he begins to communicate 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:29.720 what it means in our justification before God. 00:13:29.780 --> 00:13:31.800 And so he says this in verse verse nine. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:37.700 He says, however, you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. 00:13:38.900 --> 00:13:42.570 But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:48.060 If Christ is in you, but the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive. 00:13:48.060 --> 00:13:51.380 Look at this because of righteousness. 00:13:52.520 --> 00:13:53.580 Her justification. 00:13:55.380 --> 00:14:02.560 But if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:05.300 through His Spirit who dwells in you. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:14.860 The opportunity you have to come before God's presence is because of the justification that Jesus brought on 00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:19.520 your behalf in the midst of your condemnation before him as judge. 00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:25.390 Paul sandwiches this thought in the middle of Romans. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:29.700 But he begins, and he ends it wrestling with the idea. 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:34.580 Then what can separate us from God having now been justified by him? 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:34.680 What? 00:14:34.880 --> 00:14:36.080 What can pull us away? 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:43.120 And if you if you looked at the beginning in Romans chapter eight and verse one, when Paul begins to establish this text, he says, now there 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:48.140 is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:52.220 How specific does Paul need to get? 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:55.560 He then goes on in verse 31 he says, then what shall we say to these things? 00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:58.020 If God is for us, who is against us? 00:14:58.280 --> 00:15:05.340 He who did not spare his own son, but delivered him over for us all, who will he not also with him freely give to 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:06.260 us all things? 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:08.880 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:10.410 God is the one who justifies. 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.350 Who is the one who condemns? 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:14.090 Christ Jesus is the one who died. 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:15.100 Yes, rather. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:22.120 Who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us, who will separate us from the love of Christ? 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:28.440 Will tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:33.340 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through him who loved us. 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:40.500 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor 00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:47.860 height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:54.560 In case you didn't get that, that's Paul saying nothing. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.920 When God justifies you. 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:03.060 He doesn't look at the sin. 00:16:05.180 --> 00:16:08.600 Or rather, he looks at the beauty of Christ that covers you. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:14.800 There is justification for us. 00:16:15.520 --> 00:16:17.040 In Hebrews chapter ten. 00:16:17.040 --> 00:16:19.980 It's the parallel to Romans chapter eight. 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:29.980 In chapter ten and verse 14, it says this for by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:32.300 and sanctified means set apart for God. 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:38.760 When he has perfected us for all time. 00:16:38.760 --> 00:16:42.260 It's saying this past, present, future sin. 00:16:42.260 --> 00:16:44.620 When Jesus died, he covered it all. 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.680 Many if you were to walk out today. 00:16:51.280 --> 00:16:53.090 And fall flat on your face into temptation. 00:16:55.700 --> 00:16:58.480 Jesus's death has justified it. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:02.920 Now, it's not to encourage you to say, now go live that way. 00:17:05.020 --> 00:17:06.040 What to say to us. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:08.000 The eternal God. 00:17:09.520 --> 00:17:12.819 Has Eternaly paid for the penalty or excuse me, has paid for the penalty. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.869 For your sin against him. 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.579 Not only has God justified us. 00:17:22.060 --> 00:17:29.420 But the Bible also gives us another thought beyond just this courtroom pronunciation of our 00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:32.880 freedom because of what Jesus has done. 00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:36.120 The Bible also uses this word adoption. 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.820 Not only has a judge declared you free. 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.600 But a father has adopted you in. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:50.140 In the middle of the book of Romans in chapter eight that we saw just a few minutes ago. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:55.720 It says this in verse 15, for you have not received a spirit of slavery, leading to fear again. 00:17:57.460 --> 00:17:59.200 You've received a spirit of adoption. 00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:03.520 As sons, by which we cry out, ABBA, father! 00:18:06.040 --> 00:18:07.500 The veil has been torn. 00:18:09.020 --> 00:18:12.640 And now being able to enter in as a priest. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:14.720 There is this place of intimacy. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:21.980 As you connect with God, there is no longer the separation or fracture, but you have been adopted. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:30.520 In fact, going back to Hebrews ten, the apostle Paul says this in verse 19 give us words of encouragement. 00:18:30.560 --> 00:18:32.500 it gives us words of encouragement with our position in Jesus. 00:18:32.520 --> 00:18:39.780 He says, therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he inaugurated 00:18:39.780 --> 00:18:42.800 for us through the veil that is his flesh. 00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:49.180 Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, for he who promised is faithful. 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:57.040 And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own, assembling 00:18:57.100 --> 00:19:02.400 together as the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. 00:19:04.560 --> 00:19:11.400 What it's giving us is this framework of an idea that now we can come to know Christ, what we do in that relationship as we connect to him. 00:19:13.040 --> 00:19:13.420 Meaning. 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:20.600 Don't underestimate the beauty of what God is doing in your life, in you and through you, as you meet with him in a personal, 00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.360 intimate way. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:26.720 Because God didn't create us to isolate ourselves and that beauty. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.380 And I'll explain that more in just a moment. 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:28.560 But. 00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:35.800 But what God desires when we gather together as people who know him, who come behind the veil because of what he has done on our 00:19:35.800 --> 00:19:40.080 behalf, is that we might continue to encourage one another in that. 00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:48.260 Continue to lift one another up, to seek his face, to know him more, to draw near to that which we are created for. 00:19:50.600 --> 00:19:51.560 So the important questions. 00:19:54.140 --> 00:20:01.140 The theological framework laid in the justification of Christ has brought in the adoption that we have as God's people through the veil that was torn. 00:20:03.300 --> 00:20:03.960 What do we do with it? 00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:06.700 Why does it matter? 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:12.280 And what do we do knowing that Jesus has done this for us? 00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:14.690 How do we approach it? 00:20:16.580 --> 00:20:20.350 Well, can I encourage you this morning, maybe through a picture of just the Old Testament? 00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:26.220 When the high priest would go to the temple for worship. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.160 There was a garment that he would wear. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:35.200 He was assigned by God to wear when he'd go before the people of God representing the Lord, and making the sacrifices and doing the 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:35.960 works within the temple. 00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:38.380 It was this beautiful, ornate garment. 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:41.790 And he had a breastplate with this garment. 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:44.220 And on this breastplate were precious stones. 00:20:44.560 --> 00:20:45.630 There were 12 stones. 00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:53.080 Each stone represented the people of Israel, God's chosen people, saying to the people of Israel, wherever this priest went, their presence 00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:54.880 was represented before the Lord. 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:58.960 God was always on their mind, and he was. 00:20:59.780 --> 00:21:05.060 Yes, God was always on their mind, and the Lord was always thinking of them. 00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:05.560 That's what I mean. 00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:08.580 But when the priest would turn around. 00:21:10.760 --> 00:21:12.080 The priest would go into the temple. 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.940 This one time of year to make the sacrifice. 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:18.470 There was a different garment the priests wore. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.440 This garment was simplistic. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:26.940 It was a white, basic humble garment. 00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:35.890 He came to the people with everything, displaying the beauty of who God was, this valuable garment that he wore. 00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:38.340 And he came before the Lord. 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:38.560 Empty. 00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.480 Humble. 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:43.780 It's decorated in just the basic garb. 00:21:47.300 --> 00:21:52.840 Bible tells us, humble yourselves, therefore the presence of the Lord, that he may exalt you in due time. 00:21:54.360 --> 00:22:01.560 Coming before the Lord, we have the opportunity to do so, but we should do reverential, reverently, humbly, just knowing 00:22:01.560 --> 00:22:03.680 that God meets with us. 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:03.980 And. 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:11.440 And the Bible also tells us in Hebrews chapter four and verse 16, let us come with confidence, drawing near to the throne of grace, 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:14.840 that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.810 We can come boldly. 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:21.770 But in addition to that, we also come honestly. 00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:26.980 So God's justified us as people. 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:31.780 God's also adopted us as father. 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:35.700 This is what we know about relationships as people. 00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:39.220 They're never going to stay the same. 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:44.040 You're always drawing closer or further apart. 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:46.760 Right. 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.480 We use a spouse. 00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:52.580 You work to build intimacy within your relationship or it slowly dwindles. 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.860 When sins present. 00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:57.940 Relationships are difficult. 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:05.340 But when there is no sin, there is unity in the beauty of those relationships can be made known. 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:09.400 And the same is true with God. 00:23:10.280 --> 00:23:13.670 Even though we can relate to him as a father. 00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:16.820 To be honest, there's still tension in our relationship. 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:19.400 Because I still walk in the flesh. 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:26.580 I still have my sin nature though he has set me free by justifying my relationship with God isn't perfect. 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:28.900 Your relationship with God isn't perfect. 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:36.080 In fact, when John wrote first John, he said just that if we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and 00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:37.600 the truth is not in us. 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:42.860 John saying, if you now think you're going to be perfect, you lie. 00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:45.780 And God knows it. 00:23:47.820 --> 00:23:49.440 God knows you're not going to be perfect. 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:58.210 In fact, he says in first John chapter one and verse nine, if we confess our sins, he's faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.730 If we say that we have no sin. 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:04.180 if we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us. 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:10.460 In chapter two, verse one, my little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:14.680 And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:21.440 Meaning Jesus is constantly making the intercession for you as your sacrifice. 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:29.200 The Bible uses this word sanctification for the believer, describing our position in Christ, and it uses it in three ways. 00:24:29.760 --> 00:24:32.660 It says you were sanctified, set apart for God. 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:38.540 When you trusted in Jesus, you applied the blood of the lamb, but his blood continues to be applied to your life. 00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:46.080 So your sanctification constantly progresses under the blood of the lamb that continually covers you until you enter into eternity, in 00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:46.820 which you are glorified. 00:24:50.520 --> 00:24:57.800 But in the midst of that, there's an important opportunity for us to recognize we can come before the Lord honestly, because God knows that 00:24:57.800 --> 00:25:02.420 we are imperfect as people, but God created us for relationship. 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.600 God paved the way. 00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:08.380 Christ died not so that we can walk in guilt, but that we can go back and experience his presence. 00:25:10.520 --> 00:25:12.440 To grow in that relationship with him. 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:16.520 Sometimes we use the word repentance to describe this. 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:26.000 I got to say, as people, we really abuse the idea of that word because a lot of times we make a repentance 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:30.960 all about man rather than about the justification that Christ has done. 00:25:32.040 --> 00:25:36.820 And what I mean is this I was reading this week about Saint Augustine in the fourth century. 00:25:36.820 --> 00:25:42.600 He wrote this book and in that he was confessing about the idea of a man's heart. 00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:49.900 And he said, some people in this world, they can they'll conduct something and then they'll get condemned for it, and they'll feel bad because they were condemned for 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.000 it. 00:25:50.040 --> 00:25:56.900 But those same people, if they went out and they did it again, and those same people that condemned them praised them for it, then they would be excited too. 00:25:57.040 --> 00:26:03.020 And he's just simply saying their concern has nothing to do with God when they feel condemnation on their hearts. 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:05.230 It has to do with worldly sorrows. 00:26:05.280 --> 00:26:07.080 It has nothing to do with God like we can. 00:26:07.320 --> 00:26:08.460 We can weep, we can be bitter. 00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:11.360 We can be sorrow because we get caught for doing something. 00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:13.380 We feel like a fool for doing something. 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:15.680 But our heart could never agree with God in something. 00:26:18.100 --> 00:26:19.420 Repentance isn't about us. 00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:24.040 The reason the Bible talks about repentance. 00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:26.880 The whole point of it is reconciliation. 00:26:29.260 --> 00:26:33.000 The whole point of it is to say to us as people, listen, you were created for a relationship with God. 00:26:33.020 --> 00:26:35.020 God has paved the way that you can come before him. 00:26:36.560 --> 00:26:40.900 To set and feel like you have to owe more for a payment that Jesus has already paid is an insult. 00:26:42.580 --> 00:26:44.650 For the God who's already paid everything for you. 00:26:46.760 --> 00:26:53.360 He wants you in his presence because he understands his presence is what transforms the heart, that does things that are contrary to him. 00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:58.160 And the longer you stand away feeling as if you've got to pay this penance before you can go in his presence. 00:26:58.300 --> 00:27:02.140 And the longer you keep God from entering back into his presence, that he may work on your heart. 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:06.420 Repentance isn't about you, it's about him. 00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:10.520 So that you can be reconciled to him, that you may go and enjoy him, that he can transform you from the inside out. 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:16.500 So it's important for us. 00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:20.880 Just agree with God. 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:27.780 And verse eight to just say, okay, God, you're right, you're right, I'm not perfect, and I'm coming before you and God. 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.100 This is me. 00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:30.160 This is what I've been. 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.300 This is me apart from you. 00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:32.480 Lord, I need you. 00:27:32.520 --> 00:27:33.540 I want you, God. 00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.360 Please forgive me. 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:34.960 Lord. 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.950 Let me enter in your presence. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:38.960 Let me enjoy you as you have created me to enjoy you. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:45.620 God, allow your spirit just to work in me and through me to be to be powerful in the way that it desires to represent you in this world. 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:50.420 That's what we do with it. 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.450 We come simply. 00:27:53.360 --> 00:27:54.150 We come boldly. 00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:55.980 We come honestly. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.550 Let me tell you what matters. 00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:02.140 Why do we approach God this way? 00:28:05.300 --> 00:28:06.840 let me conflict with culture for a minute. 00:28:09.840 --> 00:28:14.720 We'll say in our culture today, follow your heart, right. 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:21.060 I've said it, and I want to just counter that thought for just a moment with, I think, what the Bible says. 00:28:21.080 --> 00:28:22.280 We'll say, just follow your heart. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:23.260 Just follow your heart. 00:28:23.260 --> 00:28:25.660 And if you're a guy this morning, you're like, I don't want to talk about heart. 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.620 Just follow your gut. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.780 Just follow your gut. 00:28:27.800 --> 00:28:27.960 Right. 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:33.540 So we just we just follow, your heart and that'll lead you in the right way. 00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:42.720 But let me just let me just give another thought that might run counter intuitive to what Scripture says, according to the way we say it culturally, your 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.200 heart. 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:47.560 Was never designed to lead. 00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:50.140 Your heart. 00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:53.100 Was designed to be led. 00:28:55.300 --> 00:28:55.760 And this is why. 00:28:57.760 --> 00:28:58.740 God made you a worshipper. 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:04.300 You can't help in this world to worship something. 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:09.120 Now here's the beauty of your heart in being a worshipper. 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.160 That your heart. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.860 When it follows something. 00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:21.720 Your heart is designed to magnify the beauty of whatever it is worshiping. 00:29:23.580 --> 00:29:30.620 And in some cases that's not good, because if you if you go with the philosophy of following your heart, whatever, if your heart 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:38.060 is designed not to lead, but to be led, whatever is Lord of your heart, that is what your heart will magnify 00:29:38.060 --> 00:29:40.140 when you feel like you're following your heart. 00:29:43.340 --> 00:29:49.200 In fact, Jesus said in Matthew chapter six and verse 21, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:55.310 Meaning your heart is led to honor that which it treasures. 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.540 And so if you simply follow it. 00:30:00.800 --> 00:30:02.640 Without identifying what is Lord of it. 00:30:04.040 --> 00:30:06.120 You end up magnifying something with your heart. 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:07.600 God never designed you to do. 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.550 Could be yourself. 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.100 Could be an idle. 00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:14.310 Could be a relationship. 00:30:16.580 --> 00:30:17.260 Or could be the Lord. 00:30:20.280 --> 00:30:27.450 God has created you with a heart that is designed for worship, not to lead, but to be led. 00:30:27.560 --> 00:30:34.500 And when your heart is led for the reason it was created, it magnifies the beauty of your creator. 00:30:36.360 --> 00:30:38.290 Listen to these verses in the Psalms. 00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:44.400 It's just expressed throughout in Psalm 86 verse 12, I will give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with all of my heart. 00:30:45.060 --> 00:30:52.140 In Psalm 91 I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart in Psalm 37 four delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:54.980 desires of your heart in Psalm 62. 00:30:55.040 --> 00:30:56.260 Trust in him at all times. 00:30:56.260 --> 00:30:58.810 Oh people, pour out your heart before him. 00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:00.700 God is a refuge for us. 00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:04.880 In Psalm 73, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 00:31:05.040 --> 00:31:08.600 In Psalm 119, your Word have I treasured in my heart. 00:31:08.600 --> 00:31:13.500 In Psalm 139 and verse 23, search me, O God, and know my heart. 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:13.900 Listen. 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:17.700 Proverbs three three do not let kindness in truth leave you. 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:19.740 Write them on the tablet of your heart. 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:24.100 Proverbs three, five and six. 00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:28.080 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.130 Lean not in your own understanding. 00:31:31.260 --> 00:31:34.820 In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. 00:31:37.860 --> 00:31:39.300 Your heart was made to be led. 00:31:40.540 --> 00:31:42.800 Because your heart was created for worship. 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:51.180 This word for trust in the Hebrew language means lie helplessly, face down. 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:56.920 It's as if to say behind the veil in the presence of God. 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:58.180 God, I understand my heart. 00:31:58.180 --> 00:32:03.690 My heart will worship something, but it's created to magnify you as my creator. 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:10.980 So God help me in these moments, I'm just lying down, just helplessly on my face, knowing it's created for 00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.880 your glory. 00:32:15.100 --> 00:32:15.200 God. 00:32:16.580 --> 00:32:19.220 But it wonders. 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:22.600 If you claim to love the Lord. 00:32:25.280 --> 00:32:25.900 The veil was torn. 00:32:28.020 --> 00:32:30.740 So that you could go into his presence. 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:36.520 Enjoy the relationship for which you were created. 00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:39.000 And why? 00:32:39.360 --> 00:32:40.940 Why has this become more important to us? 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:44.300 Let me just give you this thought as worshippers this morning. 00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:49.710 Maybe, as I'll start with a parent who has children. 00:32:52.100 --> 00:32:53.600 Parents just like you. 00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.120 Your kids. 00:32:57.820 --> 00:32:59.280 Are many worshippers. 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:06.800 Your kids have a heart sinking, something to connect to. 00:33:08.120 --> 00:33:12.180 And this world is fighting to try to connect to them. 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:21.260 And here's something you learn as parents with little kids that grow up in the home that their hero at a young age 00:33:21.260 --> 00:33:28.280 becomes mom and dad, and the person they look to mimic and idolize and reflect in this world is the 00:33:28.280 --> 00:33:30.620 one who has that closest relationship to them. 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:31.620 They're their hero. 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:34.420 It's mom and dad. 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:41.840 And so every time you as a parent, approach the throne of grace, entering behind the veil because of what Jesus 00:33:41.840 --> 00:33:43.140 has done for you. 00:33:45.560 --> 00:33:49.820 You're giving God the opportunity to work on your heart. 00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:58.180 To take the heart that loves to wonder and allow the creator who made it to lead it. 00:34:00.320 --> 00:34:07.580 As you reflect, it tells us in second Corinthians 316, the veil is taken away, and as you reflect on the glory of God moment by 00:34:07.580 --> 00:34:10.100 moment, he transforms you into his image. 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:19.540 That when you leave the presence of the Lord, or when you walk back into the world and you engage this world, knowing God's presence 00:34:19.540 --> 00:34:20.460 is always with you. 00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:25.600 But as you engage the world being transformed by Christ. 00:34:27.040 --> 00:34:31.449 Those little worshippers within your home begin to see the beauty of who Jesus is. 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:35.929 And not just the kids, but the church. 00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:38.159 Not just the church, but the community. 00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:48.639 The veil that was torn, and the power of what Christ has done has significant implications 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:55.679 to the power of the church as they rest in God's presence because of what Christ has done on your behalf, not 00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:56.659 only justified. 00:34:58.760 --> 00:34:59.320 But adopted. 00:35:01.340 --> 00:35:01.810 At the heart. 00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:04.020 That needs led. 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:09.860 Could reflect the beauty of its creator being designed for worship.