WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:06.959 Welcome to Preaching from Bryanson Bible Church, located in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:13.599 It is in prayer that this teaching would bless you, deepen your love for God's word, and encourage you as you follow Jesus. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:19.600 And if you're not a Christian, we pray that this message would encourage you as you explore the Christian faith. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:32.719 Good morning to you. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:36.240 Now, there are many things in our loves, right? 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:45.920 They will forever remain at the level of appreciation, appreciate simply because they do not make such a big claim, real claim of our loves. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:58.880 Don't get me wrong, there may still be things that you're deeply impressed by, uh, things that still stir some desire or even admiration from you, but you're quite happy not to change anything in your life for them. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:02.960 And so for me, when I think about one of those areas, it will be around the area of food. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:07.200 Now, I am notoriously known amongst my friends as being that guy. 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:16.000 If you were to ask me where I would like to eat, I will always go up to that one restaurant and order that same meal every single time. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:17.439 It never gets old. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:18.480 Never get old. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:20.640 I'll go to the same place and order every single time. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:25.519 In fact, all my friends and even my dear wife will oftentimes say, Hey, don't you want to order something else? 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:28.000 Look at this, this, you might even enjoy it. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:31.760 And I'm like, nah, I am happy with my choice, but then one and only choice. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:36.959 In fact, sometimes when they order the meal, I see it coming and I look at it, and uh, it looks pretty um impressive. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:44.480 I must admit, I've seen some great things in people's plates, but I will still stick to my single choice of a dish. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:45.920 That's what I just do. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:49.439 Now, all of us, you laugh at me, but we all have those things in our labs, right? 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:54.079 That we're happy to just admire them at a distance and do nothing about it. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:02:02.959 And so maybe for you, it is a piece of jewelry that you walk about the shop every single time you admire and look at it, but you just know it is beyond your budget, right? 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:04.719 And so you're not going to go for it. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:15.520 Or maybe it is a luxury sports car that you dream about driving, uh, but you just know that it's going to break the bank if you try to attempt it to buy it for yourself. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:18.479 Or maybe it is running the comrades, right? 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:25.120 Like that one friend of yours who claims to have discovered their love purpose somewhere between Peter Marysburg and Durban. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:29.039 But you just know that end for you, right? 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:31.520 You're not even going to touch that thing. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:45.120 And so we all have those things in our lives where we are happy to just admire from a distance and yet do not allow them to radically change or transform or shift anything in the way in which we do our lives. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:56.800 But then there are some things in love in life as well that are just too urgent, too weighty, too life-altering for you to just remain unaffected by them. 00:02:57.039 --> 00:02:58.719 You have a few examples. 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:00.159 Medicine, right? 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:03.599 You do not just admire medicine at a distance when you're sick. 00:03:03.840 --> 00:03:05.120 You take it, right? 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:11.360 You do not admire a GPS when you're finding yourself somewhat lost in a dangerous part of town. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:13.520 You follow the GPS. 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:19.039 You do not admire an open door while the house is burning. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:21.680 You run through that door. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:32.479 And so then this morning, a week later, I wonder at what level will you place Easter when it comes to your life? 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:41.840 Is Easter simply a beautiful event, a moving event, something you are happy to celebrate and even just admire? 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:48.319 And yet do not allow for it to make a claim over your soul? 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.719 Has Easter really reordered your life? 00:03:53.120 --> 00:04:08.080 And so this morning, ask yourself this question: Is the risen Jesus for you someone you're just simply happy to admire and appreciate at a distance? 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:19.040 Or is he truly the living reality that you believe in and have allowed to reorder or recenter your life? 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:46.560 The text that Audrey has read for us from John 20, verses 19 to 20, uh 23 actually speaks into this particular reason because uh uh um area because this text in particular is not just celebrating or saying to our that Jesus Christ is risen, but it brings us to have to face with the reality of the impact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ over our lives. 00:04:46.720 --> 00:05:08.800 And so this text in particular brings the Lord Jesus Christ near us, places him in the center of the room that is our lives, and asks of us, will my world be reordered around this risen king, this risen Christ. 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:18.000 And so then what do we do, or what are we to expect must happen when the Lord Jesus Christ draws near us? 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:25.439 This text tells us as we unpack four particular things that we see happening in it. 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:30.560 And so we begin in verse 19, where John writes, on the evening of that day, what day is that? 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:32.480 Resurrection Sunday. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:37.199 The doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews. 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:49.600 The Jews there is referring to are the Jewish leaders who had been responsible for um uh uh killing Jesus, and now the disciples are afraid of them that perhaps they will now turn and start to target them. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:54.399 And so that's what they're afraid of as you're sitting in that room. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:06:01.040 Now, you just gotta love how honest just John is being about the state that they find themselves in, right? 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:09.040 And just being raw and vulnerable and just true about the reality that these disciples are so afraid that they've locked themselves behind the door. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:13.839 Hiding, fearful, afraid. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:14.800 Why? 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:21.680 Because the news of the resurrection has not yet become resurrection power in them. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:25.360 Because at this point they knew that the tomb was empty, right? 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:39.120 They had heard Mary declare to them that I've seen the Lord, and yet they are still someone afraid, fearful, seeking shelter beyond a closed door. 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:50.399 Now, maybe this morning, the the state that these disciples found themselves in, it's perhaps more relatable than we would care to admit about ourselves, right? 00:06:51.199 --> 00:07:05.839 Because you see, it is possible to know a bunch of things that are true about Jesus, and yet still lock ourselves beyond the closed door of whatever we're afraid of. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:17.279 Maybe it is the locked door of anxiety, the locked door of disappointment, the locked door of failure or shame, or of uncertainty for the future. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:21.920 Lock ourselves beyond closed doors. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:39.120 And living life in the world, the kind of world that we live in, where crime is real, where economic pressures are heavy, where unanswered prayers can wear down on our soul. 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:48.639 We may seek shelter into a locked room kind of posture in ways in which we deal with our lives. 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:57.040 Oh yes, I'm happy to still come to church and be around the things of God, but deep down inside, internally, I'm withdrawn. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:02.079 I've shut down, I'm on retreat. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:12.319 I just noticed how Jesus deals with the state with which his disciples find themselves in. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:20.720 Continuing with verse 19, Jesus came and stood among them. 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:25.759 He came and stood among them. 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:29.360 What a picture we get off the risen Lord. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:39.440 That the risen Lord Jesus Christ is not kept out by locked doors, not kept out by locked doors. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:51.759 He draws near to broken, fearful, needy people, and as he approaches them, notice what he does not say, he doesn't offer them a stern rebuke. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.120 Ready, guys? 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:57.279 After all that I told you, this is where I found you. 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:02.799 No, instead, what are his words? 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:09.440 Very first words that the year of the Lord Jesus Christ, end of verse 19. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:12.399 Peace be with you. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:16.480 Peace be with you. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:21.759 Now Jesus is not offering them something nebulous out there, peace be with you, no. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:27.600 Instead, he's extending to them, offering to them resurrection peace. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:35.039 The peace that stands on the other side of sin, judgment, and death. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:40.799 The peace that has reconciled a sinful people to a holy God. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:43.679 Peace be with you, is what he's extending to them. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:48.320 Now, how do we know that it is that's exactly the kind of peace that he's bringing to them? 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:53.039 Because the text tells us, verse 20, when he has said this, peace be with you. 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:56.399 He showed them his hands and his side. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:06.159 And so he shows them the very hands, the very marks, the very wounds that has purchased this peace with God for them. 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:20.480 And so then we're seeing that the resurrected Jesus, as he draws near to people, he brings with him the peace of God. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:23.200 Peace with God that he is saying. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:34.559 And so he's in a sense announcing to the disciples that the deepest problem of their sin and separation from God has not been dealt with through him. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.559 Peace be with you. 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:46.159 And so he brings, we see in the first one, that Jesus, the risen Jesus, brings us peace with God. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:49.679 Brings us peace with God. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:11:00.480 Now you cannot blame the disciples for responding in the way in which they do next, the text tells us. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:08.720 And so as they see the resurrected Jesus, end of verse 20, then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:10.879 And why wouldn't they be, right? 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:24.080 Because the one whom they had failed, whom they had fled from, whom they had watched die on Good Friday was now standing in the midst before them. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:28.799 Gladness is an appropriate response. 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:34.320 And yet, this is where the text takes a very intentional turn. 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:36.159 Very intentional turn. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:37.360 Why? 00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:49.440 Because John wants us to see and truly understand what is the true significance of the resurrection and Jesus' appearance to his disciples. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:12:04.159 Because you see, Jesus Christ didn't just simply rise so as to bring us private relief or holy excitement or some solemn admiration at Christ. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:06.159 That's not why he rose. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:27.200 He rose so that he would not only announce the peace of God that he is now proclaiming, but that also we would fully grasp and understand the impact, the impact of that peace of his disciples' lives. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:34.960 Hence, verse 21, Jesus said to them again, peace be with you. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:44.559 As if to say today, in case you missed it the first time, your deepest problem of sin and separation from God has now been dealt with through me. 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:54.879 And as a result, he continues, as the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:59.840 As the Father sent me, even so I am sending you. 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:58.000 A calling into the world. 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:14.960 That's what Easter is extending to us. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.480 That's such a calling. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:28.559 And it's not a calling just extended to those who are unusually bold in our midst, or the super spiritual, or even the missionary in some remote place of the world. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:31.679 The disciples in the text were none of those. 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:37.440 They were just ordinary, fearful people beyond a closed door. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:42.320 And yet Christ sends them into the world. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:15:05.120 In ordinary places, called to live out the peace of God wherever God calls and sends you. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:28.480 And so it's being extended to you in your home, in how you love your spouse, raise your children, honor your parents, how you carry the peace and presence of God, of Christ, into the atmosphere of your home. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:30.639 You're being sent out and said there. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:40.480 And how you will conduct yourself with integrity. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:42.720 Speak the truth. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:45.279 Refuse compromise. 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:59.360 And truly seek that the person and work of Jesus Christ is a testimony in the natural rhythms of how you do your work. 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:04.559 In how you live out your vocation or calling. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:09.759 What about in your friendship circles? 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:14.240 In how you extend forgiveness? 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:18.080 How you speak the truth and grace to those around you? 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:32.320 How you refuse to be a party to gossip, and how you strive to allow the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ to be experienced richly with those around you. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:46.000 What about in the broader context of this city with all its fears, social ills, racial angst, and spiritual losses? 00:16:47.360 --> 00:17:06.799 As a friend was seeing that a risen Jesus, this calling that he sends us to God is a calling to become the kind of person who bears his peace, his truth, his presence in every area or space you inhabit. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:09.839 That's the calling that he ascends for us. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:47.680 And so Easter is not simply uh uh a celebration of the risen Christ, that we celebrate his life, but Easter is a commissioning to represent Christ in every area of our lives, to not just simply receive the peace of Christ, but to bear and carry the peace of Christ wherever you go, to not only rejoice in the life of Christ, but to live his life in the places where you find yourself before others. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:18:03.519 Now we got to be honest, when we think about this calling, it is weighty, it is a weighty calling, and so we can find ourselves perhaps asking or wondering, do we have enough of what it would take to live this way? 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:17.279 Enough faith, enough confidence, courage, enough holiness, enough sturdiness to be these kind of ambassadors that Christ is commissioning into the world. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:25.759 And that is why verse 22, friends, it's so, so beautiful for us. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.680 For here's what the Lord Jesus Christ goes on to say in verse 22. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:40.799 And when he had said this, he breathed on them on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.799 Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:49.279 And so then here's the third thing we're seeing in the text is that the risen Jesus gives us the Spirit's power. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:53.279 The risen Jesus gives us the spirit's power. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:19:04.319 Now, John, in how he writes his gospel, he often will capture a present action or Jesus in the moment so as to point to something in the future that is coming. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:07.039 And so he does the same here through this uh this. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.319 So what is he doing? 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:13.759 He's capturing through the what Jesus does with his disciples on in that room closed door. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:25.680 He's trying to uh give us a hint, a symbolic hint of the outpouring of the Spirit of God over his people that will happen in the future at Pentecost. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.319 That's what John is doing and how he captures it. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:28.799 Yeah. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:40.960 And so, in effect, it's almost as if Jesus is saying to his disciples in that moment, he's saying, This mission that I'm sending you into the world to do, you cannot accomplish it through human strength alone. 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:49.839 This life that you're being called to live can only be possible through the power, the spirit that I myself will provide. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:51.519 That's what he's saying. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:20:03.279 In fact, the very symbolic action that Jesus does in that moment, he breathed on them, is uh carries the sense and the nuance of so bringing new life. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:16.240 And so then what is happening is that Jesus is saying that my people will need a new kind of power so as to live out the coding of God over their lives. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:24.799 And so we are being called to realize that we're just sending out that Christ sends us into the world to be his ambassadors. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:28.319 We cannot achieve that by our own might, friends. 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:32.400 We will need the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:41.759 And the power of the Holy Spirit expresses itself in our lives through two particular key things that the Holy Spirit will do in our lives. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:50.480 The first thing the Holy Spirit will look to do in our lives is he will try to shape our character, leading us to produce the fruit of the Spirit. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:53.359 So love, joy, peace, patience, and so on. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:55.119 And so, what does the spirit do? 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:59.359 He looks to make you more and more resemble Jesus Christ. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:02.799 That's what the Spirit of God will look to do, shape your character. 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:16.640 And then the second thing the early spirit of uh spirit will look to do in our lives is to empower you with God's unique, God-given abilities so as to serve and advance the kingdom of God. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:18.799 That's the work of the spirit in a nutshell. 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:24.000 Conform you into the likeness of Jesus Christ and empower you to advance the kingdom of God. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:26.559 That's what the Holy Spirit does. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:50.319 Now you'll remember, for those who were here in the beginning of the year when we explored the gift of the Spirit in Romans 12, uh 12, as we looked at that, you'll remember Pastor Mark put together a simple surf pathway that could help you identify what are the unique ways the Holy Spirit is empowering you and then show you ways in which you can serve then through those gifts. 00:21:50.480 --> 00:22:10.240 And so if you go to on our website, uh website and and find the surf pathway tab and click on it, you'll find this video by Pastor Mark explaining just Simple steps, simple surf steps that you can take to really truly discover how is the Holy Spirit uniquely gifting you and where you could put those gifts to use. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:20.480 And so I would recommend that please go and take those simple steps so that you will live out the power of the Holy Spirit in and through your life. 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:30.480 And then as we go through uh go on through the power of the Spirit, Jesus then adds, verse 23 if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:34.400 And if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:36.960 Now I know what so many of you are thinking already. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:42.720 You're like, what is happening in this text? 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.759 Right? 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:47.119 Because it would seem like, as you read it, right? 00:22:47.440 --> 00:23:06.480 Seems like as if Jesus is saying that he's giving independent power to his disciples and the church so that they would forgive sins from whoever they so choose to forgive, they mean, or withhold forgiveness for sins from others. 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:10.480 And so, what is happening in the text? 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.000 And so, let me give you good news. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:13.920 That's not what Jesus is meaning. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:20.400 Now, why can I so come why could I comfortably say that that's not what Jesus is is meaning? 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.279 Because we know already from the scriptures, right? 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:26.319 That who has the power to forgive sins? 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:31.359 There we are, God, God alone has the power to forgive sin. 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:33.839 And what do we know about forgiveness? 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:40.400 We know that forgiveness of sin is secured in Christ and Christ alone, alone. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:44.400 And so Jesus Christ cannot possibly be meaning that. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:48.319 And so, therefore, then what does he mean by what he's saying in the text? 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.279 Yes, what he means. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:24:06.480 He means that as his spirit empowered people and church goes out to proclaim the news of the gospel of peace with God, with God, reconciliation with God, they do so with real gospel authority. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:09.039 They do so with real gospel authority. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:19.519 And so then we'll see in the fourth and final point that the risen Jesus entrusts us with his gospel authority, entrust us with his gospel authority. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:26.480 Friends, when we go and we proclaim the gospel to people, we are not proclaiming a personal opinion. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:33.119 We're not proclaiming just another spiritual suggestion amongst many. 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:34.799 That's not what we're proclaiming. 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:43.279 When we go out and proclaim the gospel, we're proclaiming God's final verdict through Jesus Christ over the world. 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.720 And what's that verdict? 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:52.079 That if you choose to repent of your sins and put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, your sins will be forgiven. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:25:05.680 But if you reject Jesus Christ, refuse his peace, harden your heart towards him, then you will stand condemned in your sins. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:12.960 That's the verdict of God over the world that we proclaim every single time when we proclaim the gospel. 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:14.240 That is what we're proclaiming. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:20.799 And so then what we're seeing, we're seeing that the church, friends, the church does not invent forgiveness. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.000 We don't. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:26.640 We simply announce the forgiveness of God to the world. 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:36.720 We do not create the terms of peace with God, we simply declare those terms to the world. 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:41.200 Friends, the church does not control salvation. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:46.400 We simply bear witness to the one who does. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:48.160 That's what we do. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.359 That's what we do. 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:51.359 And that's what we've been commissioned to. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:57.599 And so then we're seeing verse 23 is both simultaneously glorious and serious. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:59.519 Glorious and serious. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:01.279 It is glorious. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:25.039 As genuinely is telling us that when we as the bride of Christ go into the world and proclaim the good news of the gospel to broken, sinful, ashamed sinners, we can do so with the confidence of saying, friend, if you truly would repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be forgiven. 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:26.640 It's that glorious. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:46.240 But then it is also serious in the sense that, friends, you and I, we do not have the luxury to distort or to change the gospel message and so proclaim to people a forgiveness that does not require a surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:49.519 We don't have the luxury to proclaim that to the world. 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:52.640 And so then we are not helping people, friends. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:54.640 We're never helping people. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:59.680 Whenever we are declaring that, oh, you can be somewhat be reconciled to God. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:12.480 And yet that stuff with Jesus, where we will call you to repent, call you to trust Him, even at great cost to yourself, you can put that on hold. 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:15.359 We don't help people when we do that. 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:18.400 We don't help people. 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:26.960 And so then we will not preach a message or repent and believe the good news. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:29.680 Not helping people. 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:48.720 And so then our calling, as those who are called to bear the good news of the gospel to people, is a simple calling where we are unashamed to extend the gospel call of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:52.799 That's what God is offering to you for forgiveness of sin. 00:27:53.200 --> 00:28:08.160 And we have a calling to warn those who will choose, choose not to repent, not to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and say, friend, you are still condemned within your sin? 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:10.079 Would you just repent? 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.559 Would you repent? 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:22.799 And so then this morning, I want to just simply ask you which of those two realities are three of you at the message of the gospel. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:26.960 Are you truly forgiven of your sins? 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:29.359 And how do you know? 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:32.880 Because you have repented and put your hope and trust in Jesus. 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:36.000 That's the only way to be forgiven of your sins. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:39.119 And so are you truly forgiven of your sins? 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:44.319 Or friend, are you still standing condemned? 00:28:45.920 --> 00:29:01.680 Standing condemned because you refuse to repent, you refuse to trust in the only person who can bring you forgiveness and peace before God. 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:12.880 If it is the latter that can appeal with you this morning, would you turn from your sin? 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:17.440 Will you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:23.920 Why continue to stand condemned when he rose from the grave to bring you peace? 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:28.799 Bring you peace, reconcile you with God. 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:31.039 We will love. 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:36.079 To try to help you do that. 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:42.000 Give you some steps this morning of our you through prayer. 00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:52.480 You could repent, you could put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ so that you would be saved by his grace. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:59.119 And so after the service, some of our praying members and some of our elders will be right up front here. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:01.279 And so we ask, would you come down? 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:13.359 Would you come down and receive guidance and help from them as to how you can surrender your life to Jesus today? 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:27.839 And so as we close this morning, what we're seeing from John 20, John 20 is putting before us the reality that the risen Jesus spreads cannot be simply admired from a distance. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:33.839 He does not draw near to us, that we will just admire and appreciate him on a distance. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:50.400 No, he draws near so as to bring us peace, to send us as his ambassadors, to empower us by the spirit, and to entrust us with the gospel message that this world is desperate for to hear. 00:30:50.799 --> 00:31:02.319 And so maybe the simplest question I could leave with you this morning in light of all of that, or in all of that, would you just be simply this? 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:13.119 Where is the risen Jesus calling you to step out from closed doors this week? 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:19.920 Where is the risen Jesus calling you to step out from closed doors this week? 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:23.519 Is it maybe at home? 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:28.079 Where he's saying come out of that closed door. 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:47.279 In a particular relationship, in your witness of him through your life, in repentance, in obedience. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.920 Where is he calling you? 00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:54.559 Just step out from that closed door. 00:31:57.440 --> 00:32:02.319 Jesus Christ announced so that we will simply admire him. 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:06.400 He rose so that you will receive and carry his peace. 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:21.759 And so that you will receive and walk in his spirit and faithfully lead a life that is worthy of him through his power and his great grace. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:23.039 Let me pray, Father. 00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:42.960 Thank you so much for the good news of the gospel of Christ Jesus, who died through crucifixion, rose by resurrection, and is seated at your right hand through his ascension. 00:32:47.839 --> 00:33:00.640 And even though he sits at your right hand, he is present in and within us through the gift of your spirit. 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:20.000 And so we ask this morning, oh Lord, in light of such great news and such power available to us, O Lord, we pray help us, help us, help us walk in the reality of the finished work of Christ at the cross. 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:27.599 And us being raised for holy living for you, a sanctified life that will bring you great glory. 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:36.480 So the same power that rose Christ Jesus, uh that brought Christ Jesus out of that grave is the same power that now works within us. 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:48.240 We believe it, and we choose to walk in it because that's what you have done and have gifted us. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:55.680 We pray all these things in your precious son, Jesus' name, and all God's people say. 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:56.640 Amen. 00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:58.960 Friends, as we normally do, would you stand? 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:02.240 Let us respond in song this morning. 00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:07.680 Thanks for listening to this sermon from BBC. 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:13.920 If you have questions about what you've heard or would like to find out more about the Christian faith, we'd love to hear from you. 00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:18.079 You can visit our website or reach out using the contact details below. 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.599 God bless you.