WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:04.380 I want to encourage you, if you've got a Bible with you to turn to 1 Peter 3. 00:00:04.780 --> 00:00:09.300 We're going to be in verse 16 to verse 22 of 1 Peter 3. 00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:16.760 One of the reasons I really want to see you in this text with me as we go through this together, we're only looking at seven verses in the Bible, but this section 00:00:16.820 --> 00:00:19.810 of scripture is considered one of the most difficult in the New Testament. 00:00:20.040 --> 00:00:27.260 So when we walk out of here today, we're going to have an understanding of a passage of scripture that not only is a difficult passage, as some have proclaimed 00:00:27.260 --> 00:00:27.800 it to be. 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:33.470 Martin Luther looked at this passage and just said, "I don't understand it." So this is an important passage of scripture. 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:38.470 But in addition to that, this passage is very relevant to where we are today. 00:00:39.020 --> 00:00:41.840 We're going to talk about one cure for every injustice. 00:00:42.580 --> 00:00:50.460 Now I want you to know in giving a statement like that, I'm not giving a statement just because we're in an emotionally charged time period in our culture here 00:00:50.460 --> 00:00:51.680 in America. 00:00:51.720 --> 00:00:55.310 I'm giving you that statement for this text, because that statement is in this text. 00:00:55.960 --> 00:00:57.680 One cure for every injustice. 00:00:58.180 --> 00:01:01.400 We're going to see what this means as a body of believers. 00:01:01.440 --> 00:01:08.600 You maybe over the last couple of weeks, looked at some of the circumstances around you and part of you have resonated with what's happened 00:01:08.600 --> 00:01:11.180 and part of you may have rejected some of the things that you've seen. 00:01:11.800 --> 00:01:14.620 Where do we stand as God's people? 00:01:14.620 --> 00:01:21.640 Well, 1 Peter, not knowing some of the things that were going to transpire over recent events of the last few weeks in our culture. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:24.650 First Peter is a beautiful book that speaks into that. 00:01:24.820 --> 00:01:31.880 Because Peter is talking to us in a first century context where people are being persecuted and 00:01:31.880 --> 00:01:39.020 he's helping them understand how they still have a voice in the midst of the circumstance, how God can work in their lives to 00:01:39.020 --> 00:01:41.690 see them be faithful and make a difference. 00:01:42.220 --> 00:01:44.270 And those two things aren't conflicting. 00:01:44.380 --> 00:01:47.780 In fact, because of the gospel, they work together. 00:01:48.050 --> 00:01:52.140 Peter's writing to a first century church that's being persecuted because of their faith. 00:01:52.440 --> 00:01:56.760 He's writing this letter to what we would refer to today, to a people in modern day Turkey. 00:01:57.380 --> 00:02:02.280 In the first century, they went by some different ways of categorizing that area of land. 00:02:02.380 --> 00:02:06.140 But he's writing to what we would say is modern day Turkey to a church that's facing persecution. 00:02:06.420 --> 00:02:11.720 And we've said this together, Peter is not too far himself from becoming a martyr because of his faith. 00:02:11.760 --> 00:02:18.560 In fact, history tells us that Peter's wife was crucified and shortly after that, Peter was crucified upside down. 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:24.280 And so, he writes this letter, helping us to find a cure for all the injustice in the world. 00:02:24.320 --> 00:02:31.210 He doesn't just categorize it under one topic, but he gives us a message that speaks into every injustice. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:32.500 And so, that's what we're going to look at together. 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:40.200 Last week, we talked about how to be blessed and to love life even in adversity, how we discover that. 00:02:40.650 --> 00:02:48.540 Today we're going to look in verse 16 and we're going to talk about chapter three, what we're striving for, verse 16 and 17. 00:02:48.540 --> 00:02:52.560 And then verse 18 to 22, is going to tell us why we're striving for that. 00:02:53.020 --> 00:02:55.280 I'm a father of three kids. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:59.120 I can tell you that probably the most popular question I answer in my house is, why? 00:02:59.220 --> 00:02:59.400 Right? 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:01.300 If you're a parent, you know that better than anybody. 00:03:01.740 --> 00:03:01.860 Why? 00:03:02.140 --> 00:03:02.680 Why dad? 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:03.000 Why? 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:03.560 Why? 00:03:03.580 --> 00:03:04.160 Right? 00:03:04.200 --> 00:03:08.880 But it helps to understand things, not just what you're to do, but why you're to do it. 00:03:08.920 --> 00:03:13.420 What is the basis for why you're choosing to live the way that you are? 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:17.000 So we're going to look at those two ideas in verse 16 and 17. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:24.060 So if you look with me at this passage of scripture, one cure for every injustice, verse 16 and 17, what to 00:03:24.060 --> 00:03:28.560 strive for, especially as God's people, despite adversity. 00:03:29.040 --> 00:03:30.280 What is it we're striving for? 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:30.720 So look at this. 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:33.460 And keep a good conscience. 00:03:34.480 --> 00:03:34.900 That's it. 00:03:34.920 --> 00:03:35.860 That's what it says right here. 00:03:36.420 --> 00:03:40.750 So that statement, this is the key phrase to latch onto as we read these two verses. 00:03:43.220 --> 00:03:45.460 Keep a good conscience, that's what it says. 00:03:45.720 --> 00:03:48.090 And then he's going to give the explanation for that here. 00:03:48.140 --> 00:03:55.520 "So keep a good conscience, so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:59.900 who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 00:04:00.900 --> 00:04:08.080 For it is better if God should will it so that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing what 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:12.360 is wrong." So what does this passage mean? 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:12.460 Right? 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:14.200 The key idea, in keep a good conscience. 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:16.459 What does this passage mean? 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:19.060 Well, I will say this passage gets me. 00:04:19.200 --> 00:04:26.620 If anything else, and if I just think about just little old me today and just forget about you, I would just read these verses and say, this 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:28.080 passage gets me. 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:35.680 The reason I say that is because it recognizes, it is hard not to react and especially react 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:40.000 sinfully, when you feel malign or slandered or attacked. 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:48.680 When someone comes against you, then I think there are two ways that we typically respond as people, we become 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:55.680 dejected and sort of get depressed about the circumstance or we become angry and react sort of an 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.380 emotional charge, right? 00:04:57.440 --> 00:04:58.480 We go after things. 00:04:58.480 --> 00:04:59.820 I'm the one that chooses latter. 00:04:59.820 --> 00:05:07.230 I am not the individual to ever watch a scary movie with because I'm the guy that if I see anything like that, I just start getting this nervous energy 00:05:07.280 --> 00:05:10.980 and I start talking uncontrollably, and then I just want to do something about it, right? 00:05:11.380 --> 00:05:12.740 And so, there's a few ways we react. 00:05:12.740 --> 00:05:14.660 We either withdraw or we attack. 00:05:14.960 --> 00:05:22.120 I think this passage, it at least gets me in saying, look, but there's a different way that God desires for you to 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:24.040 respond to circumstance. 00:05:24.320 --> 00:05:28.780 And that's just not this emotionally charged reaction to where you're at. 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:32.950 In fact, sometimes that's not helpful at all. 00:05:33.850 --> 00:05:36.400 Oftentimes, it's most often not helpful at all. 00:05:37.900 --> 00:05:46.240 Because what we should be after as God's people, is not just to make an emotional statement as if it does something, but 00:05:46.260 --> 00:05:47.280 to see a lasting change. 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:53.180 And so, what Peter is saying to us here is, keep a good conscience. 00:05:54.940 --> 00:06:02.240 We oftentimes, we want to fight but when mud is thrown at you, our tendency is to throw mud back and what happens 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:03.480 is we end up getting dirty. 00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:08.490 And so, he uses this phrase, keep a good conscience. 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:10.640 Now, when you think about the word conscience, what does that mean? 00:06:10.640 --> 00:06:12.480 Well, the word con means with. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:14.960 The word science at the end of it is knowledge. 00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:19.880 And so what it means is, you're with knowledge or really it's talking about your understanding. 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:27.320 It's this internal way within us that either approves or accuses us based on 00:06:27.320 --> 00:06:30.260 how we react to circumstances. 00:06:31.740 --> 00:06:35.420 A good conscience, when you step the right way. 00:06:35.420 --> 00:06:38.290 A good conscience will approve that you have no reason to be ashamed. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:40.160 You've walked in the proper way. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.660 But without a good conscience, you'll feel the accusations, right? 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:53.840 Maybe it didn't manifest itself in an outward action, but maybe it was a wrestling within your own heart and 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:55.160 you knew where your heart went. 00:06:55.840 --> 00:06:58.820 Other people may have not have known that, but you knew where it went. 00:07:00.340 --> 00:07:07.560 And so, this idea of a conscience is looking for this approval in the steps that we take according to the way that the Lord has called 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:08.500 us to walk. 00:07:09.880 --> 00:07:16.900 And so, what the author is driving for in us here, Peter, he's saying, look, God's desire for you, what you're striving for, is a good 00:07:16.900 --> 00:07:17.700 conscience. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:21.920 There are plenty of verses that talk about the importance of this. 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:29.120 Romans 2:15 says this, "For the work of the law written in our hearts, their conscience bearing witness, their 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:35.920 thoughts accusing or else defending them." Or in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 22. 00:07:36.300 --> 00:07:38.540 "Let us draw near with a sincere heart. 00:07:38.880 --> 00:07:46.220 Having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience." Or Proverbs chapter 00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:53.520 four, verse 23 tells us, "To guard our hearts with all diligence, for from it flows 00:07:53.520 --> 00:08:00.860 the wellspring of life." Now the Bible talks about in Titus chapter one and first Timothy chapter 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:08.140 four, that you can sear your conscience, but God's desires for your conscience 00:08:08.140 --> 00:08:10.580 to remain focused on what is good. 00:08:11.960 --> 00:08:16.440 Now, walking with a clear conscience, it isn't easy to do. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:23.780 I think of, in Worms, Germany, there is a monument that stands a statue of Martin Luther. 00:08:23.820 --> 00:08:29.200 This is where he went on trial for believing for injustification by faith. 00:08:29.260 --> 00:08:30.260 And he was put on trial. 00:08:30.820 --> 00:08:37.820 Martin Luther knew based on just recent history that such a stand could lead to the end of 00:08:37.820 --> 00:08:38.340 his life. 00:08:39.860 --> 00:08:47.030 Martin Luther in the middle of that chose to stand for God and fear the Lord rather than fear of man. 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:51.260 And at the bottom of his statue stands that phrase, "Here I stand. 00:08:52.280 --> 00:08:54.840 I can do no other, God help me. 00:08:55.700 --> 00:09:02.920 Amen." Standing with a good conscience before the Lord isn't always 00:09:02.920 --> 00:09:03.770 easy. 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.280 But why pursue it? 00:09:07.680 --> 00:09:08.440 Why pursue it? 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:11.900 Well, one is, it's obvious is that it's pleasing to the Lord. 00:09:11.900 --> 00:09:17.200 In this life, you've got a decision to make every day, what will you worship? 00:09:18.420 --> 00:09:19.320 What will you honor? 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:23.200 You will honor, you will worship something you're created as a worship being. 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:28.220 The thing that you look to give you value in worth and meaning, that is what you'll bow to. 00:09:29.180 --> 00:09:32.690 Whether it's the approval of people, the possession of things, or God himself. 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:41.480 And so, when we talk about keeping a good conscience that we recognize as God's people, it's not just being good for the sake of being good, because anything that's good 00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:42.560 comes from God. 00:09:42.660 --> 00:09:48.920 So it's about recognizing in our life, his position over us and our purpose in living for his glory in this world. 00:09:49.160 --> 00:09:52.920 That's what it's talking about as a believer and walking in good conscience. 00:09:53.220 --> 00:09:55.200 In the beginning, why pursue a good conscience? 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:56.220 Well, it's about honoring God. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:59.800 But in addition to that, it gives you peace in your hearts. 00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:06.870 When you have peace within, we can face the battles without. 00:10:09.020 --> 00:10:16.100 An uneasy conscience divides the heart and it drains the soul from living for the purpose for which 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:16.980 God calls us. 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:22.840 You know what it's like to walk around with a heavy conscience, because you've walked in a mistake before. 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:22.980 Right? 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:26.440 And you know how that's weighed on you. 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:27.880 It's drained you. 00:10:28.680 --> 00:10:34.100 It's taken your attention off of what God has called you to because you feel guilty or remorse. 00:10:36.760 --> 00:10:43.980 So it gives peace in your hearts and too I would say, a good conscience removes from us the fear of what other people 00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:51.020 may know about us or say against us, or do to us because we're pure 00:10:51.020 --> 00:10:51.860 before the Lord. 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:58.360 Psalm 118 verse six says this, "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear. 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:05.740 What can man do to me?" I think more than anyone, Peter 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:09.940 was aware of the effects of a guilty conscience before God. 00:11:11.680 --> 00:11:18.760 I think in Peter's own life, maybe the reason he's writing this chapter and he can do so in such a way that compels the church to live for God's 00:11:18.820 --> 00:11:24.440 glory or encourages the church to do so, is because Peter himself knows when he faced adversity, he wasn't always faithful. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:30.150 I remember what Peter said to Jesus before he was betrayed. 00:11:30.260 --> 00:11:36.350 Jesus tells his disciples that he's going to be betrayed and he's going to die. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.740 And Peter says, "Lord, it's never going to happen. 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:46.060 It's going to be my life before yours." And at that point, Jesus stands before Peter and rebukes him and says, "Get behind me, Satan." That's such an interesting 00:11:46.060 --> 00:11:53.080 phrase because just before that, Jesus said to Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" And he says, "You're the Christ." And he says, "Okay, Peter, upon that confession, I'm going 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:57.480 to build my church." So he praises that confession in the life of Peter. 00:11:57.680 --> 00:12:00.660 And then the very next thing we find about Peter is that he's called Satan. 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:02.300 Get behind me, Satan. 00:12:03.420 --> 00:12:08.360 And then it goes on to the story of Jesus's crucifixion, that Peter does indeed deny Jesus to his face. 00:12:10.300 --> 00:12:13.140 Peter, more than anyone knows what it's like to walk with a guilty conscience. 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:22.460 And so, in the midst of this adversity, he wants the church to remain pure and not to just respond in the emotion, but 00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:26.930 to see lasting change and to be faithful to God and make a difference. 00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:27.200 Right? 00:12:27.900 --> 00:12:35.060 And so, when he talks about good conscience for those purpose, because he understands the reason he created the church to storm down the gates of hell, to 00:12:35.060 --> 00:12:39.780 be those kinds of people, to be a light into this world, to make a difference. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:47.400 And so, when you think about God's people walking in this world, God doesn't create the church or call Christians to be the problem. 00:12:52.520 --> 00:13:00.100 But rather God calls his people to reveal the problem and through Jesus, heal 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:00.380 the problem. 00:13:03.540 --> 00:13:10.140 So when Christians walk in this world, we don't want to intentionally be the foreign to anyone's side. 00:13:11.800 --> 00:13:16.020 But remember what it told us in first, Peter chapter three, verse nine, we read that last week. 00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:23.460 "Don't return evil for evil or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead, for you are called for this very purpose." 00:13:24.780 --> 00:13:26.120 What's your calling in this life? 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:33.980 That when people provide evil and insult, that you're the people that rise above the circumstance and bless those 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.460 around you. 00:13:35.180 --> 00:13:35.460 Why? 00:13:36.660 --> 00:13:37.800 Because that's what makes a difference. 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:42.380 That's what Jesus does for you. 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:46.820 And while you were yet sinners, Christ died for you. 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:57.040 And that sort of gracious, loving response of Christ is what changes our life and 00:13:57.040 --> 00:13:58.920 therefore changes the life of people around us. 00:14:01.420 --> 00:14:04.520 You ask as a pastor or really any believer, what's my job? 00:14:06.520 --> 00:14:07.140 In evil, I bless. 00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:12.320 In evil, I'm called to bless. 00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:14.120 That's what first Peter, 3:9 says. 00:14:16.920 --> 00:14:24.400 And so, when he responds to us the purpose of a Christian is to both reveal the darkness and 00:14:24.400 --> 00:14:26.240 to heal it through the call of Christ. 00:14:26.900 --> 00:14:34.100 Knowing that Christian life isn't easy, knowing the Christian life has this sort of servant sacrificial attitude, then we need to ask, 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:34.640 why? 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:35.280 Right? 00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:36.880 Why would I do this? 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.350 Why would I give my life for this purpose? 00:14:39.560 --> 00:14:42.310 And so, verse 18 then starts the explanation. 00:14:42.900 --> 00:14:48.120 This is where the difficult passage of scripture comes from, but in verse 18, it's now he starts to explain it. 00:14:48.260 --> 00:14:48.880 For Christ. 00:14:50.160 --> 00:14:51.200 So he asked the question, why? 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:53.620 He says this word for, which is an equivalent of saying because. 00:14:54.260 --> 00:14:54.380 Right? 00:14:55.080 --> 00:15:02.100 Because of Christ also died for sins once for all, look at this, the just for the unjust, so that 00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:07.300 he might bring us to God having been put to death in the flesh being made alive in the spirit. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:14.540 And right there, right there is the reason why we have the title that we've got this morning, that we find for every 00:15:14.540 --> 00:15:17.040 injustice, there is one cure. 00:15:17.040 --> 00:15:18.680 One cure for every injustice. 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:20.700 And you see it with Christ right here. 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:28.120 The just for the unjust, who brings not justice, the not just. 00:15:30.680 --> 00:15:33.180 But who makes us just, what is the cure? 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.280 It's Christ. 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:39.220 It's Christ. 00:15:39.310 --> 00:15:43.100 When you look at this text, because Jesus died for sins. 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:45.820 Once for all, Jesus is sufficient for all. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:55.540 One death, for all sin, for mankind, to bring in his justice, 00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:56.360 the unjust. 00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:58.840 This phrase right after that, is so important. 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:05.210 "That he might bring us to God." What does that phrase mean? 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:10.820 It's an idiom, that it aligns with this thought. 00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:11.860 It comes from the court of law. 00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:14.320 It's to gain an audience at court. 00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:18.270 It's saying that God listens. 00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:24.310 God listens to your need not because of you, but because of Jesus. 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:30.900 It's because of Jesus, that Jesus is reconciling everything. 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:41.300 Every sin, every need that you have, Jesus 00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:44.480 reconciles it, in him. 00:16:46.160 --> 00:16:49.390 This idea of reconciliation is so important for us as believers. 00:16:49.420 --> 00:16:50.690 Now, let me just tell you this. 00:16:50.880 --> 00:16:55.100 I know there's a danger in saying one cure for every injustice. 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.900 And let me tell you what it is. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:00.620 I hope I get a grace from you in saying and sharing this. 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:07.819 But the danger in this kind of title, is that you might sweep under the rug particular pains of different individuals. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.420 Does that make sense? 00:17:09.760 --> 00:17:17.119 One cure for every injustice isn't to say that, what individual peoples or individual persons or people groups go through, it 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.180 doesn't say that it's not important. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:19.599 Okay? 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.180 I think it is important. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:23.400 I think it's important for God's people to listen. 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:31.760 But if you think about the context of first Peter, what we've learned together is Peter hasn't just left one cause 00:17:31.760 --> 00:17:33.700 for how the gospel can cure. 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:36.480 But Peter has addressed every cause. 00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:41.300 Every cause, because he knows the solution is the gospel. 00:17:42.340 --> 00:17:49.560 Church, I hope in me saying this morning, what it helps us begin to recognize, is when we see injustices in this world, we see problems 00:17:49.560 --> 00:17:55.440 in this world, we don't lay down the gospel and then go to that problem and try to do our best and then come back to the gospel. 00:17:56.980 --> 00:18:04.260 What Peter is saying is, the gospel is the cure for every one of those things, which is why in this book, Peter has addressed all sorts of areas 00:18:04.260 --> 00:18:06.840 in life that needed to address in the first century culture. 00:18:06.860 --> 00:18:07.660 I mean, we've seen it, right? 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:14.640 We've talked about the idea of women and the idea of a wife and marriage because women in the first century are viewed as property. 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:18.250 We talked about the idea of slave and free. 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:25.580 We've looked at that together or political oppression, and Peter's going after all of those things and he's addressed the 00:18:25.580 --> 00:18:27.920 cure in all of those things under the gospel. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:34.700 And,so when you look at different problems in this world, I think it's important for us to recognize that the answer isn't apart from the gospel, the answer is the gospel. 00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:44.100 That's why he's saying, look, the just for the unjust, under the idea of every injustice that's been done in this world. 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.680 Let me give you another text of scripture to just think about in light of this. 00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:51.790 In the book of Galatians chapter three. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:56.400 Book of Galatians, chapter three, let me just read this passage to you. 00:18:56.440 --> 00:19:00.460 This is a powerful passage where Paul is saying the same thing. 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:03.650 Listen, for all of you who were baptized. 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:07.220 Verse 27, all of you who were baptized, that were baptized here is important. 00:19:07.260 --> 00:19:12.500 We're going to talk about baptism in just a minute and not water baptism, it's being baptized in the spirit, into the body of Christ. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:18.060 "For all of you who are baptized into Christ, have clothed yourself with Christ." Now listen to this. 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:21.460 "There is neither Jew nor Greek. 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:25.360 There is neither slave nor free. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:33.820 There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ, Jesus." 00:19:35.100 --> 00:19:36.000 What is he saying there? 00:19:37.800 --> 00:19:44.540 He's saying to us, there is no value system between ethnic groups. 00:19:45.760 --> 00:19:47.860 He says Jew and Gentile right here, right? 00:19:49.040 --> 00:19:51.460 God doesn't look at us with different value. 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:52.490 God looks at us equally. 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:55.000 Now, why does he do that? 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:57.300 Because of the gospel. 00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:01.000 Jesus has given his worth to us. 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:07.320 But God has already reconciled people of every tribe, tongue, and language. 00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:14.280 And so, what we do is because of his reconciliation that's already been declared, we walk in that declaration. 00:20:14.300 --> 00:20:15.260 That is the gospel. 00:20:16.760 --> 00:20:22.140 And so, it's neither Jew nor Gentile or ethnic groups, there are not multiple races in this world. 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.570 I hope we know that as God's people. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.380 There is only one race. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.470 It is the human race. 00:20:27.520 --> 00:20:28.250 There are multiple ethnicities. 00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:36.440 Revelation, five, tells us, of every tribe, tongue language, and people that God calls us all together, that God created us uniquely beautifully, but 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.980 there is only one race. 00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:46.820 In addition to that, he says, there is neither slave nor free that God doesn't care about your class, that 00:20:46.820 --> 00:20:47.880 we are all equal. 00:20:48.080 --> 00:20:55.080 I mean, you think about the first century church, how this would look, how beautiful this was, a multi ethical group of every tribe, tongue, 00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:02.420 language, nation of whatever class, both slave and free, sitting side by side worshiping the Lord together, male and female. 00:21:03.360 --> 00:21:03.740 Why? 00:21:05.260 --> 00:21:06.560 It's because of the gospel. 00:21:10.300 --> 00:21:11.860 Jesus has declared our worth. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:15.320 Now, this isn't a sweep under the rug specific injustices. 00:21:17.760 --> 00:21:22.500 Because I think it's important and you know this, especially if you've been married. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:30.920 My wife, wonderful woman, sometimes she will go through something and sometimes she 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:33.080 doesn't want me to fix it necessarily right away. 00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:34.880 And sometimes I shouldn't fix it right away. 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:35.040 Right? 00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.790 Or maybe I don't need to fix it at all. 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:41.000 But sometimes what she needs more than anything, is for me just to listen. 00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:48.260 I'm not going to get into the particulars of racial injustice. 00:21:48.320 --> 00:21:49.060 But let me tell you this. 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:56.080 If you are interested in learning a little bit about that, I'm going to tell you two resources to look up this week if you want to see how it relates to the gospel. 00:21:57.520 --> 00:22:04.740 If you look up The Gospel Coalition and you read an article called George Floyd And Me is written by Shai 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:07.990 Linne, who is an artist and an author. 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:15.720 It's probably one of the most beautiful articles I've read from an African American in how he has viewed himself in this world in trying 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:17.730 to walk in a Godly way. 00:22:19.580 --> 00:22:20.820 A beautiful story to look at. 00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:22.420 He talks about it from a personal perspective. 00:22:22.840 --> 00:22:26.080 So Shai Linne, George Floyd And Me under the Gospel Coalition. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:32.320 The other one I will tell you to listen to is a Voddie Baucham, on Ephesians chapter two, verse 10 and 11. 00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:36.800 So if you look that up, Voddie Baucham on Ephesians chapter two verse 10, 11. 00:22:36.800 --> 00:22:38.460 Voddie is, V-O-D-D-I-E. 00:22:41.470 --> 00:22:42.620 Baucham, B-A-U-C-H-A-M, I think it is. 00:22:43.870 --> 00:22:52.010 Voddie, he's an African American as well, and has worked with social injustice causes, in the 00:22:52.010 --> 00:22:52.690 early nineties. 00:22:53.610 --> 00:22:58.270 And so, he shared that message that I just shared with you a few years ago. 00:22:58.310 --> 00:23:03.450 So it's even predated where this is, but I love it because it's not necessarily an emotionally charged message. 00:23:03.990 --> 00:23:05.850 It's just God's scripture as it relates to that. 00:23:05.850 --> 00:23:12.970 Good passages, good things to read for resources, if you're interested in knowing a little bit more about that. 00:23:13.050 --> 00:23:18.770 But I don't want to end those causes sweep under the significance of those things. 00:23:18.830 --> 00:23:26.030 But I do want us to see guys, the importance of standing for the gospel in all of these things, because that 00:23:26.030 --> 00:23:27.050 is what heals. 00:23:29.410 --> 00:23:31.610 It declares for us where we find our value. 00:23:33.570 --> 00:23:40.590 You talk about racial problems in our country, I used to do ministry 00:23:40.590 --> 00:23:47.850 in Inner City, Baltimore and racial problems exist in 00:23:47.850 --> 00:23:49.230 all sorts of ways. 00:23:49.350 --> 00:23:56.390 I remember in 2004, driving through Inner City, Baltimore doing ministry, I got pulled over right outside of the place where 00:23:56.390 --> 00:23:58.090 were doing ministry in the heart of Baltimore. 00:23:59.030 --> 00:24:01.490 And this is 2004 when we weren't as careful as we are today. 00:24:01.930 --> 00:24:04.770 But 2004, I get pulled over by an African American cop and a white cop. 00:24:05.410 --> 00:24:07.900 The white cop's the one that comes to the window and talks to me. 00:24:08.510 --> 00:24:16.170 And there's no joke, the reason he pulled me over, he tells me, a cop pulls you over to tell you the reason to pull you over, "Officer, why did you pulled me over?" "I pulled you over because 00:24:16.170 --> 00:24:18.230 you're a white guy." That's what he said. 00:24:18.690 --> 00:24:19.800 I'm a white guy in the wrong neighborhood. 00:24:20.330 --> 00:24:21.720 That's the only reason I got pulled over. 00:24:21.750 --> 00:24:24.530 It's like, where am I? 00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:34.210 There's things that we need to learn in our environment in which the gospel can speak into 00:24:34.210 --> 00:24:34.550 that. 00:24:34.990 --> 00:24:37.870 That is healing rather than hurtful, right? 00:24:39.310 --> 00:24:47.030 I think any issue we have faced, it's important to listen and it's also important not to respond emotionally, 00:24:49.590 --> 00:24:51.610 but to respond with the truth of the gospel. 00:24:53.130 --> 00:24:57.190 In verse 19, this is where this passage starts to pick up on this complication, listen to this. 00:24:57.710 --> 00:25:04.780 "In which also Jesus went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison." What in the world does that mean Jesus, 00:25:04.930 --> 00:25:07.630 went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison. 00:25:08.710 --> 00:25:11.270 Well, in order to understand that, let me read a little bit further in verse 20. 00:25:12.090 --> 00:25:19.270 "Who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction 00:25:19.270 --> 00:25:26.430 of the Ark, in which a few that is eight persons were brought safely through the water." Now, what does this have to do 00:25:26.430 --> 00:25:31.030 with Jesus going to preaching to these spirits in prison? 00:25:31.030 --> 00:25:34.070 And now he talks about disobedience during the times of Noah. 00:25:34.070 --> 00:25:35.090 How does this all correlate? 00:25:35.250 --> 00:25:36.030 Well, let me just say this. 00:25:36.450 --> 00:25:37.170 The confusing part. 00:25:37.170 --> 00:25:42.670 I think for people when they read this passage starts to happen with that word spirits and where Jesus is going to preach in prison. 00:25:43.710 --> 00:25:47.860 Spirits generally in the New Testament by enlarge means angels. 00:25:48.530 --> 00:25:52.290 Only a couple of times, once in Hebrews, once in Revelation, is it in reference to people. 00:25:52.770 --> 00:25:54.790 Almost always it's in reference to angels. 00:25:54.810 --> 00:25:59.760 And so, it looks like Jesus is going somewhere after his crucifixion to make a proclamation. 00:26:00.070 --> 00:26:00.670 I'll tell you this. 00:26:01.170 --> 00:26:07.990 I do not believe Jesus, when he was crucified, he tells us three days after his resurrection, I don't think Jesus went to hell for three days. 00:26:08.550 --> 00:26:09.170 I don't even think that's biblical. 00:26:09.650 --> 00:26:13.010 If you think that, I think you're wrong, but I'll give you grace. 00:26:13.150 --> 00:26:13.390 Okay? 00:26:13.470 --> 00:26:14.710 But let me tell you why I don't think that. 00:26:15.810 --> 00:26:17.590 Jesus didn't Oh, hell your sin debt. 00:26:19.010 --> 00:26:20.590 Jesus didn't Oh, Satan, your sin debt. 00:26:21.390 --> 00:26:23.300 Jesus paid for your sin debt on the cross. 00:26:23.370 --> 00:26:27.210 John 19:30, is this, to tell us that, it is finished, paid in full. 00:26:27.970 --> 00:26:31.570 Meaning, when Jesus paid for your sins, he accomplished it on the cross. 00:26:31.570 --> 00:26:33.490 There's no need to go to hell for three days to pay for that. 00:26:33.990 --> 00:26:41.010 But I think when it's talking about Jesus going to the prisons here, I think Jesus goes to what scripture calls Haiti's or 00:26:41.010 --> 00:26:45.910 the underworld and Jesus preaches his message of victory. 00:26:46.630 --> 00:26:47.710 And it could be spirits. 00:26:48.030 --> 00:26:48.800 It could be the angels. 00:26:49.470 --> 00:26:51.870 Jude six talks about angels that are being held there. 00:26:52.490 --> 00:26:58.190 It could be to people that rejected his message, but either way Jesus preaches his message of victory. 00:26:58.190 --> 00:27:00.810 People that stood against or angels that stood against that. 00:27:01.370 --> 00:27:03.130 And then he uses this illustration of Noah. 00:27:04.470 --> 00:27:07.470 Now, when the Bible uses illustrations, here's what's important to know. 00:27:07.550 --> 00:27:12.250 I don't think the Bible is just arbitrarily pulling illustrations that somewhat loosely relate to what we're talking about. 00:27:12.830 --> 00:27:17.520 I think when the Bible is using illustrations, it's doing so very intentionally. 00:27:18.830 --> 00:27:24.210 And so, when you think about the days of Noah, you ask the question, why in the world would he use this illustration? 00:27:25.470 --> 00:27:31.590 Well, out of the entire world, how many people were rescued in the days of Noah? 00:27:33.350 --> 00:27:34.270 Now, it tells us, right? 00:27:34.810 --> 00:27:36.150 Only eight. 00:27:37.810 --> 00:27:44.850 And so, the reason I think Peter is using this illustration for the first century church is the first century church 00:27:44.850 --> 00:27:47.030 is looking around at their circumstance. 00:27:47.030 --> 00:27:54.030 They're being persecuted, they're facing hardship and they're looking around thinking the world has just gone bat crazy, man. 00:27:55.010 --> 00:27:56.050 What in the world are we going to do? 00:27:58.700 --> 00:28:05.790 Peter, in relation to where they are is like, I can think about a time, another time in history 00:28:05.810 --> 00:28:07.010 when the world also went crazy. 00:28:08.510 --> 00:28:13.430 In fact, it went so crazy, there were only eight people rescued during that time. 00:28:14.810 --> 00:28:21.910 The world went crazy and not only did the world go crazy, even God's people looked a little bit batty because they 00:28:21.910 --> 00:28:25.670 built a boat on the middle of dry land for about a hundred years. 00:28:26.810 --> 00:28:34.000 You can imagine, you can either go with the world or join those crazy people in the middle of dry land building this boat for some future flood. 00:28:35.230 --> 00:28:40.250 And so, Peter is just identifying, I think this portion to relate to us. 00:28:40.290 --> 00:28:44.030 Do you know what God brought in the middle of that insanity? 00:28:46.270 --> 00:28:46.770 Salvation. 00:28:49.830 --> 00:28:51.100 He brought a way of escape. 00:28:51.710 --> 00:28:52.630 That's what it's saying, right? 00:28:52.630 --> 00:28:55.990 They were brought safely through the water. 00:28:58.370 --> 00:28:59.610 Now you think about that for a minute. 00:29:01.890 --> 00:29:04.990 You ever been part of a time where you felt like the world might be going a little bit of crazy? 00:29:06.530 --> 00:29:07.450 Perhaps 2020. 00:29:08.950 --> 00:29:11.050 Kobe Bryant dies and the world goes to part, right? 00:29:12.710 --> 00:29:13.630 What has happened? 00:29:16.950 --> 00:29:23.230 I think this illustration is really for us to relate to when we feel like things around us, just seem nuts. 00:29:25.570 --> 00:29:27.630 And then, Noah. 00:29:30.230 --> 00:29:36.730 God went and proclaimed his message during the days of Noah and people missed it. 00:29:36.730 --> 00:29:40.730 There's something I want you to latch on to in verse 20, look at this, the very beginning of verse 20. 00:29:41.730 --> 00:29:45.290 These people who were once disobedient, but look at God's response, right? 00:29:46.510 --> 00:29:55.370 When the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, what 00:29:55.370 --> 00:29:55.910 did God do? 00:29:58.550 --> 00:29:59.210 He was patient. 00:30:02.270 --> 00:30:02.930 God was patient. 00:30:05.470 --> 00:30:06.090 That's important. 00:30:06.490 --> 00:30:10.870 Guys, that's important for us right now to think about because that thought is what carries into the next verse. 00:30:11.170 --> 00:30:11.670 Look at this. 00:30:12.630 --> 00:30:18.430 Corresponding to that, now that you think about Noah's day and people not listening, but God being patient. 00:30:19.610 --> 00:30:21.150 Corresponding to that, look at this. 00:30:22.050 --> 00:30:23.250 Baptism now saves you. 00:30:23.350 --> 00:30:25.210 And we're not talking about water baptism here. 00:30:25.270 --> 00:30:30.050 When the Bible uses the word baptism, you got to ask what kind of baptism, because it means immersion. 00:30:30.570 --> 00:30:33.590 And you can be immersed in baptism, physically, in water. 00:30:34.090 --> 00:30:37.690 Or you can be immersed into God's family through the power of his spirit, right? 00:30:37.690 --> 00:30:41.430 When you belong to Jesus, the Bible tells us the spirit of God, indwells us. 00:30:41.510 --> 00:30:42.490 We're baptized into his family. 00:30:43.210 --> 00:30:44.750 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you. 00:30:44.810 --> 00:30:49.490 Look at this, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, physical baptism isn't what saves you. 00:30:49.770 --> 00:30:57.110 I mean, Paul said in first Corinthians 1:18, "I came not to baptize, but to preach the gospel." He makes a difference between the idea of physical 00:30:57.110 --> 00:30:59.830 baptism in water and the gospel. 00:31:00.570 --> 00:31:04.130 Physical baptism doesn't save you, Paul says, but I came to preach the gospel because that's what saves you. 00:31:04.550 --> 00:31:11.030 When we get baptized in water as Christians, it's a declaration on the outside what Jesus has done to us on the inside, by the baptism of the spirit. 00:31:12.010 --> 00:31:15.490 And so, he's saying in verse 21, "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you. 00:31:15.610 --> 00:31:22.650 Not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." What saves 00:31:22.650 --> 00:31:22.930 us? 00:31:22.950 --> 00:31:25.330 Not your works, not your works. 00:31:25.870 --> 00:31:30.310 It was the just who is Jesus for the unjust that he might bring us to God, it's Christ who brings us to him. 00:31:31.510 --> 00:31:32.710 It's not based on what you do. 00:31:33.430 --> 00:31:34.790 It's based on what he's done for you. 00:31:34.790 --> 00:31:41.020 That's why I said, when we think about injustices in this world, it's not about putting down the gospel and then picking up the injustice and then come back to the gospel. 00:31:41.430 --> 00:31:45.050 It's about walking the gospel of reconciliation that's already been delivered to us in Jesus. 00:31:47.270 --> 00:31:53.470 Because it was the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. 00:31:53.810 --> 00:31:56.290 Now in this passage of scripture, this is what he's saying. 00:31:56.850 --> 00:32:01.910 That baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt, but an appeal to God for good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus. 00:32:04.890 --> 00:32:06.050 It's about walking in this. 00:32:08.030 --> 00:32:15.150 But if you walk with a guilty conscience right now, if you don't know where you stand before God, it's about looking at what Jesus has done for you on the cross and recognizing 00:32:15.150 --> 00:32:19.460 the love of God has already been demonstrated and the power of God's been made, known through his resurrection. 00:32:22.490 --> 00:32:24.430 And now he calls you to walk in this. 00:32:27.270 --> 00:32:28.630 Have you surrendered your heart to that? 00:32:30.950 --> 00:32:34.450 To say, God, my heart does need that reconciliation before you. 00:32:36.950 --> 00:32:38.870 I need to live in this. 00:32:39.050 --> 00:32:41.810 I don't want to just respond emotionally to the things around me. 00:32:42.050 --> 00:32:43.210 I want to see a lasting change. 00:32:43.430 --> 00:32:44.190 I want to make a difference. 00:32:44.670 --> 00:32:45.460 I want to be faithful. 00:32:47.390 --> 00:32:53.950 Because I want the goodness of who you are to be made known in this world as I find healing everywhere, not just in one issue, but in all things. 00:32:56.090 --> 00:32:56.510 All things. 00:32:58.350 --> 00:33:02.060 To not forget the power of what we possess as God's people. 00:33:02.930 --> 00:33:03.710 What does this mean? 00:33:03.710 --> 00:33:09.850 Well, this means for us that we can make this declaration right now, that racism is wrong. 00:33:11.390 --> 00:33:12.490 It's ungodly. 00:33:13.050 --> 00:33:14.930 It is not welcome among God's people. 00:33:15.930 --> 00:33:20.950 We can make the declaration that being disrespectful to any one being made in the image of God is wrong. 00:33:21.090 --> 00:33:23.210 Even cops, it's wrong. 00:33:24.510 --> 00:33:29.090 That treating women poorly as Peter talked about a couple of weeks ago, is ungodly. 00:33:29.090 --> 00:33:29.530 It's wrong. 00:33:30.070 --> 00:33:37.370 That maligning anyone for any reason over what they're doing, if you don't like it, to diminish the image of 00:33:37.370 --> 00:33:41.790 God on any human being for any reason is wrong. 00:33:41.930 --> 00:33:45.230 It doesn't mean you agree with what they're doing, but it's wrong. 00:33:46.670 --> 00:33:48.250 What do we do in light of that? 00:33:48.250 --> 00:33:53.250 Well, we live in the gospel, the cure for it all. 00:33:54.610 --> 00:33:57.360 The one cause that gives purpose to all those things. 00:33:58.010 --> 00:34:02.070 The thing that rescues your soul from the flood, that's what he's saying in this argument. 00:34:02.350 --> 00:34:06.470 There is another flood that's coming and God will carry you through. 00:34:06.690 --> 00:34:08.510 And what carries us through is Jesus. 00:34:11.610 --> 00:34:12.389 It's Jesus. 00:34:14.409 --> 00:34:18.429 It's Jesus who teaches us the dignity of every human being, regardless of ethnicity. 00:34:19.870 --> 00:34:22.290 It's Jesus who shows the value of women in this world. 00:34:22.730 --> 00:34:26.550 It's Jesus who cures the broken hearted and forgives sin and shows us our worth. 00:34:26.570 --> 00:34:30.530 It's Jesus who rescues our soul and gives us new life and sets us free in him. 00:34:31.030 --> 00:34:32.610 And this is what Peter's thing. 00:34:34.350 --> 00:34:36.830 Church, don't let go of your message. 00:34:38.590 --> 00:34:41.630 Let me just look at this last verse together, verse 22. 00:34:43.090 --> 00:34:50.429 "Jesus, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven after angels and 00:34:50.429 --> 00:34:57.630 authorities and powers have been subjected to him." A beautiful ending. 00:34:59.970 --> 00:35:00.860 Why is this important? 00:35:01.110 --> 00:35:01.930 This ending. 00:35:01.930 --> 00:35:03.280 Why is this so beautiful? 00:35:03.330 --> 00:35:03.790 The end of this chapter. 00:35:04.290 --> 00:35:12.210 Well, I think when we hear a message like today, or this passage of scripture, when 00:35:12.210 --> 00:35:19.270 we start to underestimate God's power, when most likely we'll 00:35:19.270 --> 00:35:22.540 abandon Jesus in adversity. 00:35:23.850 --> 00:35:24.950 And that's what Peter did. 00:35:24.950 --> 00:35:25.050 Right? 00:35:26.430 --> 00:35:27.390 At the crucifixion of Christ. 00:35:28.950 --> 00:35:33.250 He heard all of the messages of God's power and adversity comes up, and what does he do? 00:35:34.930 --> 00:35:37.350 He abandons the message that sets him free. 00:35:39.870 --> 00:35:46.950 When you let those last phrases of Peter in chapter three, resonate in your soul, what it's saying to you guys 00:35:46.950 --> 00:35:51.370 is, no matter where you walk, no matter how crazy things would be. 00:35:51.370 --> 00:35:57.610 I mean, you can think of the times of Noah, how tempting it might've been for Noah being one of only eight people to just say, you know what? 00:35:57.890 --> 00:35:59.510 Forget it, forget it. 00:36:01.730 --> 00:36:06.770 But what helps us sustain in faithfulness in the midst of that adversity? 00:36:09.190 --> 00:36:11.550 It's the power of the one that we rest our faith in. 00:36:14.190 --> 00:36:15.190 He's more than able. 00:36:17.130 --> 00:36:18.890 He is more than able. 00:36:20.450 --> 00:36:20.690 J.D. 00:36:20.730 --> 00:36:28.270 Greer says this, "His presence and approval are what you need for ever lasting joy." 00:36:29.670 --> 00:36:33.640 The encouragement for us this morning, what do we strive for? 00:36:34.910 --> 00:36:37.910 It's a good conscience before our King and before others. 00:36:39.310 --> 00:36:40.690 And why do we strive for it? 00:36:41.690 --> 00:36:45.430 Because it's the power of the gospel that has reconciled. 00:36:46.790 --> 00:36:54.210 And it's when his people walk through the gospel, that we continue to see the healing power of that reconciliation made known in 00:36:54.210 --> 00:36:54.750 this world. 00:36:56.210 --> 00:36:58.550 I'm going to pray for us and then invite the band up guys. 00:36:59.670 --> 00:37:03.020 As we get ready to sing this last song in just a moment, we're going to partake a communion. 00:37:04.090 --> 00:37:10.030 If you don't have communion cups, you can grab them at the resource tent back here. 00:37:10.190 --> 00:37:17.550 But the beauty of partaking of communion this morning is we get to live in the tangible reminder of the power of 00:37:17.550 --> 00:37:22.350 the gospel for all people having value, worth and dignity in him. 00:37:23.150 --> 00:37:24.730 May we be a people that live that way. 00:37:24.730 --> 00:37:25.810 Let me pray for us.