WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:19.519 Welcome. 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:21.039 If you're new, my name's Ryan. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.559 Absolutely thrilled to have you join us today. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:29.440 And down through the centuries, Christians have had this call and response if you're new to it. 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:36.240 When the caller says he has risen, the responder says he's risen indeed. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:38.320 Why don't we try that? 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:39.520 He's risen. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:42.079 Amen. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:42.960 Amen. 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:48.719 Now I don't mean to brag or flex on you this morning. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:51.200 But here I go. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:58.719 On Friday, I submitted all of my tax documents to our CPA. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:01.200 Thank you. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:02.159 Thank you. 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:04.480 At least most of them. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:06.400 Not quite all of them, but most of them. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:07.439 Most of them. 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:09.680 And some of you are like, is that even a big deal? 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:12.640 I did that like a month ago, two months ago. 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:14.000 Yes, it's a big deal. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:15.599 Taxes stress me out. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.079 Anybody else just stress me out? 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:18.879 I hate them. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:23.920 And so as a result, I put it off as long as I possibly can. 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:36.000 Last year, uh, when the tax deadline got extended to October 15th, you can bet your little heart that I waited until October 15th to do it. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:38.799 And it just kind of hangs there. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:46.959 When my taxes are done, there's this feeling. 00:01:55.840 --> 00:02:01.760 Rivaled only to the bliss I experienced at the birth of my kids. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:10.560 And then there's next year, and I have to do it all over again. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:16.639 In life, we rarely, you know, find things finished. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:20.240 We're always working, uh striving. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:24.159 We live not in the done, but in the doing, don't we? 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:30.719 Ever striving, but rarely arriving when it comes to relationships. 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:31.919 They could always be better. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:34.400 Our work, careers, we're striving. 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:39.120 Hoping, longing, and that feeling of finish. 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:43.360 What do you wish you could be completely finished with? 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:48.800 Maybe you're a high school student, you're like, I'm ready to be done with high school and on to college. 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:53.039 Maybe you're in college, you're like, I'm so ready to step into the career. 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:56.879 Maybe you just started your career and you can't wait for retirement. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:59.439 You're like, hello, thank you very much. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:09.360 Or maybe you're single and you're ready to step and be married, or maybe you're ready to start a family, or maybe you're ready for your kids to be out of the house. 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:16.319 Is there something you're longing to put behind you for good? 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:34.719 Something that you just wish, gosh, maybe it's um that addiction you're wrestling with and you just battled with your entire life. 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:42.240 Maybe it's um, you know, that sense of loneliness that you wish you could put behind you. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:46.719 Maybe it's the guilt and shame that we carry with us. 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:52.960 What's on your mind that you wish could be fully resolved? 00:03:54.879 --> 00:04:08.960 Maybe it's anxiety or depression, that constant need for others' approval just to feel good about yourself or to achieve or the healing from the trauma you incurred. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.680 We live not in the done, but in the doing. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:16.079 And we feel this spiritually, don't we? 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:25.360 I need to do blank to experience purpose or peace or fulfillment or life. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:32.399 And Jesus utters from the cross some of humanity's most significant words. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:37.279 It is finished. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:39.600 What if? 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:47.680 What if purpose and peace aren't found in what you do but in what God has already done for you? 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:53.439 And I know it's resurrection Sunday, but can I take us back to the cross? 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:57.279 Well, I'm gonna do it anyways, you didn't respond, so here we go. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:08.560 Listen to how John, one of Jesus' disciples, an eyewitness to the events of his crucifixion, records Jesus' final moments before he died. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:19.920 In John chapter 19, verse 28, it says this later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, I am thirsty. 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:28.480 A jar of wine, vinegar was there, and so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:34.399 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, Say this with me, it is finished. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:38.879 With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:44.160 Jesus' final word on the cross, it is finished. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:51.759 Now, I would have thought hanging on the cross, you might have said, I am finished. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:06:01.120 Like that victim, like I am the victim of brutal uh like pain and crucifixion. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:02.560 I'm finished, I'm done. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:03.920 He doesn't say that. 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:08.800 And he doesn't say this is if I was the son of God, by the way, this is what I probably would have said. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:10.879 Good thing I'm not the savior of the world. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:13.839 Instead of I am finished, I would have said, you are finished. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:16.720 I have a strong justice gene, vengeance, right? 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:19.199 You did this, you're finished. 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:24.879 Jesus says, it is finished. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:27.120 But what? 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:31.279 What exactly was finished? 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:34.480 What was happening on the cross? 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:40.639 And this is incredible because when he says it is finished, the cross is not happening to Jesus. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:43.439 Jesus is happening to the cross. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:49.199 And he is actually actively accomplishing something in that moment. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:55.439 Those three words, it is finished, is actually just one word in the Greek, to telestai. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:05.600 To telesty means this: to complete or bring to an end, to finish, to accomplish, to be perfected, or to pay what's due. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:13.040 Now notice this, it's always used as a happy word, a word of achievement, a word of victory. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:20.480 Jesus hanging in agony in the brutal shame of the cross speaks a happy word. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:22.879 It is finished, to telesti. 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:24.720 To telesti. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:27.040 It is finished. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:32.879 To teleste is what sociologists tell us is a condensed symbol. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:47.439 A condensed symbol is this idea, it's a word or an image or phrase, and it's layered with significance and meaning, rich and deep, multiple meanings that lay within this symbol. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:50.319 It evokes deep emotional response. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:55.120 It can transcend cultures and continents. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:57.360 The cross is a condensed symbol. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:06.240 In Jesus' day, it actually spoke of the naked, unrestrained power of Rome, their dominance, and the unspeakable shame. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:18.240 And today we wear it as jewelry because it speaks of the naked love and justice of God on display, his sacrifice. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:25.519 What was a symbol of death is now a symbol of hope and life. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:38.960 To telesti is a condensed symbol, rich with vivid imagery that speaks to what Jesus accomplished on the cross. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:51.279 The first picture that comes to mind in the original audience when they heard Jesus say, to telesti is the picture of priest and sheep. 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:56.240 Now Jesus was executed and it was Passover. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:02.159 He came into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, right? 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:08.720 But Jesus, think about this, he's stepping into the scene, it heads into Jerusalem. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:12.080 Jerusalem's about 25,000 people at that time. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:18.879 It swells up to well over two million people converge on the city for this great festival and feast. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:26.960 And on Palm Sunday, when Jesus comes in victorious, uh in that day, it was known as the Day of the Lamb. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:33.840 And shepherds would bring large herds into the city of Jerusalem by way of the sheep gate. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:45.039 And before they were able to pass into the city, all of these sheep were here to be sacrificed over Passover for the sake of the sins of the people. 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:57.759 Before they were able to come into the city, the priests stood at the gate and they examined every single sheep or lamb that came through. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.039 And they'd look for it. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:02.639 It had to be perfect, it had to be spotless, it had to be unblemished. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:09.200 And as they examined it, they would sit back and say, to telestai. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:11.279 Perfect. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:13.200 And that lamb would come over. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:22.879 Josephus tells us, he's an ancient historian, that well over 250,000 lambs were sacrificed over Passover. 00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:25.039 To Telestai. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:26.720 Perfect. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.080 Spotless. 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:34.480 You know, we all try to cover up our imperfections, don't we? 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:40.559 I actually wear a bigger thing to cover up a few imperfections. 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:50.480 Maybe we put up make on makeup, maybe we inject some things to cover up our imperfections. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:58.159 And here's the reason why we actually believe if we were actually fully examined, we would be rejected, don't we? 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:07.440 If you could see me, if you could really see who I am, what I'm all about, if you could see the inner of me, you wouldn't like me or want me. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:15.759 We have to cover up, we have to somehow augment our present itself to be worthy or lovable or likable. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.399 We present a pres this filter persona to the world. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:26.879 We try to cover up all of our imperfections. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:29.279 And the gospel declares this. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:36.639 The gospel declares that in the shadow of the cross you are perfectly accepted. 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:43.039 On the cross, the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world declares to telesti. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:45.440 It is finished. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:46.559 It's perfect. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:51.759 That right now you are perfectly accepted, not partially accepted. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:54.399 And that's how we feel most of the time, isn't it? 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:57.519 Like you like part of me, but you wouldn't like all of me. 00:11:57.679 --> 00:11:59.600 You're perfectly accepted. 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:02.639 You're not potentially accepted. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:07.279 If I somehow work my way or do better and I'm gonna fake it till I make it. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:07.919 No, no, no. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.360 You're perfectly accepted. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:17.360 The God of the universe sees you, knows you, understands, and has examined all of you to tell us die. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:31.279 In fact, uh the scripture says it this way that he who knew no sin became sin for you and me, that we might be the very righteousness of God. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:42.559 So that when God looks at you, Jesus said, On the cross, I took all of the sin, all of the imperfections, all the things that you've been hiding, I've been hiding, that we just cover up. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:47.840 Because if you saw them, you wouldn't like me. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:52.799 He says, I place that on my son Jesus. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:58.879 And so when I see you, I don't see your imperfections, I see Jesus. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:03.440 You are perfectly accepted. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:07.759 The first picture that comes to mind were priests and sheep. 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:12.559 The second picture that came to mind was of purchases and prisoners. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:19.840 Um in the ancient day uh when you were to purchase something, in fact, something really uh big like land. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:21.039 Well, let's start here. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:24.159 Um, what's your biggest debt that you have? 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:25.519 Go ahead, tell your neighbor. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:26.480 I'm just kidding. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:29.200 Um you're like, wait a second. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:31.840 Um maybe it's student loans. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:35.039 Uh, on average, people will carry about$40,000 of student loans. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.240 Maybe it's credit card debt. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:40.879 You maybe you carry on average about$8,000, maybe it's a mortgage. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:45.519 Um my wife and I we rented for 17 years. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:49.440 A year and a half ago, we were able to buy a house. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:50.480 So excited. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.200 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.399 Thank you, two of you. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:53.039 We love that. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.320 Over there, over there. 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.759 This not so much. 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:56.879 Okay, just kidding. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:57.360 You're loved. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.519 You're accept you're perfectly accepted. 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:00.720 I'm so sorry. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:03.120 I'm so, so sorry. 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:16.240 Uh while I was doing my taxes on Friday and getting all those documents, I decided to look at when will I finally actually really own the home? 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:18.559 Because I don't actually really own the home. 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:26.720 The bank owns the home, and I give them money every single month because they lent money and they own the home, right? 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:29.279 And we're kind of co-owners together. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:32.960 My wife and I, the bank, we're buddies. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:42.000 Um, it will be, and hang on, I I forgot the year already because I put it out of my mind. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:48.159 The year, here we go, will be 2052. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:51.519 I'll be 71 years old. 00:14:53.039 --> 00:15:01.759 And at that point in time, I will receive the full deed to the property. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:10.720 And in the ancient day, when you got the full deed or you paid off at debt, written on the deed to tell us to die. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:13.120 Paid in full. 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.960 Paid in full. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.960 And it was of prisoners as well. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:44.159 And so when you served your sentence, you served your time, you would come with a a deed or a written note that described all of the offenses for why you were in jail, and then underneath it it would say to telesti, and you were to take that, because if anyone accused you, said you didn't do this or you did this, you'd have a written document paid in full. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:49.200 And in that day there was what was known as a debtor's uh prison. 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:58.480 And so if I loan, if I borrowed money from you, but I wasn't able to pay it back upon the greed amount time, you could put me in prison until I could pay it back. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:04.799 And when it was finally paid, to telestai. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:09.360 Paid in fool. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:13.919 Just imagine the debt that you have that you're carrying right now. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:19.440 If someone just paid it all, what would you feel? 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:23.919 You know, we've all done things that we cannot undo. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:28.960 We've all done things that we cannot undo. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:33.519 We we uh, you know, said things that we wish we could take back. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:44.639 We wish we could go back and redo, uh undo, change, edit out, hit the delete button on life, don't we? 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:53.360 The problem is no amount of good that we do in the future can undo what has already been done. 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:57.759 This is the great irreversibility of life, isn't it? 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:07.920 The story that so ill best illustrates this, I've told this many times, but it I it bears repeating to help us understand this. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:14.079 Uh, my youngest son just celebrated his 14th birthday this last week. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.440 Happy birthday, Miles. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.960 He's 14, yeah. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:31.759 When he was about three or four, uh Jenny was dropping the kids off at school and then ran into the parking lot to a bunch of other moms and was talking uh to them. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:35.200 And Miles, the three or four-year-old, and by the way, he's always been really strong. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:37.920 He came out of the womb with pecs, you know. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.000 I mean, he was strong. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:48.480 And so he is in the parking lot, three, four-year-old boy trying to figure out what to do, and he finds a big old rock. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:57.119 And then he takes that rock and he throws it as high as he can into the air. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:59.839 I remember asking him, I said, son, what were you thinking? 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:02.640 Not a good parenting move, by the way, that's kind of a shaming question. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.359 What were you thinking? 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:04.799 But I did it anyways. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:08.960 And he's like, I was trying to hit the moon. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.559 Well, you missed. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:21.680 The rock came down and thudded onto a brand new Audi. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:23.359 Yeah. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:33.839 And then it bounced and like made its lodge within the Audi's like windshield and um uh what's the hood, thank you. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.240 I'm real good with cars, by the way. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.440 My wife, amazingly so. 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:44.480 She uh, you know, just a woman full of integrity, writes a note, puts my number on it. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:54.400 Um later that night I get a call from the guy, and he was the sweetest guy, by the way. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:58.160 He's like, hey, you he was apologizing to me, you know. 00:18:58.400 --> 00:18:59.519 I'm so sorry. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.799 You know, I wish it wasn't. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:03.440 I just bought that car last week. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.079 Oh. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:07.440 He's like, if it was my other car, it's beat up, it wouldn't matter. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.799 It's got it, it would match the other dents, but this is a brand new honey. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.720 I'm like, I get it, I get it. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:17.680 You just take it to the auto body shop and tell me how much that it cost. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:21.839 And he comes back and tells me it's$722.46. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.640 Ow. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.640 $722.46. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.559 Miles. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:39.839 I would like$722.46. 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:44.000 And here's the problem, and we get this, we know this, at three and four. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:51.680 There is no ability at all for him to come up with$722.46. 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:53.519 Right? 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:58.079 Now just imagine the next week. 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:00.240 He says, Dad, I feel real bad about that. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:06.559 And I'm gonna clean my room every single day. 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:09.039 Which would be fantastic, by the way, son. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:12.559 You can go ahead and do that anytime you want. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:16.720 And it's a good thing, isn't it? 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:20.079 It's a really good thing. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:22.720 It just doesn't pay for the Audi, does it? 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:26.640 It still costs$722.46. 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:30.400 The queen in the room was wonderful, but I need cash in my hand. 00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:32.640 I need money in the bank account. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.559 He goes, you know what? 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:39.680 I'll wash your car, which is dirty too, by the way, and that would be fantastic. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:43.200 It still doesn't pay for the Audi. 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:49.440 In and of himself, he has done something that he cannot undo, that he cannot pay. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:58.559 He has a debt that he is carrying, that he is unable to pay, and this is the human condition. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:05.039 We have done something upon which we cannot undo. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:15.279 In fact, Romans 5.8 says, uh, you see, at just the right time when we were powerless, and it's hard for our souls to hear that, that we're actually powerless. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.960 There's things we have no power to change. 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:22.000 Christ died for the ungodly. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:27.920 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, someone might possibly dare to die. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:32.240 But God demonstrates his love for us in this. 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:39.039 Christ died for you and for me. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:48.640 You see, in the death of Jesus, you are fully and finally forgiven. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:52.000 And Christians, you need to hear this, by the way. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:59.759 We all need to hear it, but you think you're not fully and finally forgiven, and you think somehow the death of Jesus was good enough. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.720 To get you in, but it wasn't good enough to keep you in. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:10.960 And we live with this guilt and the shame of the things we've done that we wish we could undo. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:15.920 And he says, At the cross, I took it for you. 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:22.160 At the cross, it was paid in full. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:34.880 While we own the debt, only God can afford to pay it. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:41.200 You can't pay your way back into perfection. 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:50.319 And God will not credit your account until you declare bankruptcy, by the way. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:58.559 Until you finally give up and go, I can't earn my way back, I can't good my way back, I can't do anything. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:01.680 God, you alone can pay it. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:07.599 And when you say that, he says, paid in full to telesty, paid in full. 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:11.119 And by the way, you can't undo what he has already done. 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.960 Isn't that good news? 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:15.359 Picture number one, priest and sheep. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:20.000 Picture number two, that is prisoners and purchases. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:26.799 The final picture that would have come to mind was that of artists and workers. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.880 Artists and workers. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:38.799 When someone would complete their work, when they'd finish a project, they would say, to telestai. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:40.960 Complete it. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:24:01.039 In fact, there's these ancient uh papyri, this interaction between the father and son we have recorded, and this father sent the son uh on this errand uh for the family, uh, and it was it was you know a journey, and the son kept wanting to come back early before it was completed, and the father goes, No, stay, complete it. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:06.559 And eventually the son sent back a resp a one-word response to telesti. 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:09.039 Completed. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:41.759 It is completed, and an artist, when they finish the final sculpting, that brush stroke, and they stand back and they look at it, they take it in, and when it's done, when there's nothing more left to do, to tell us die. 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:51.119 When it's no longer a work in progress, but a work of art to tell us die. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:58.559 And the truth is, we all feel like we're a work in progress, don't we? 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:02.559 We all feel like we're a work in progress. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:13.920 And I think the reason is because we've done things we can't undo, and then we keep doing things we can't undo, and so we just keep covering up and hiding all of our imperfections. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:36.079 We feel like a work in progress, and it feels like it'll never be finished, and some of us shoot, maybe all of us, at least many of us. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.119 And we talked about when will it be finished? 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:44.000 You're like, I don't know, but I'm so tired of this. 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.960 I'm so tired of this. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:53.680 There's a picture that came to mind, a story I heard a long time ago. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:58.160 It happened in this small um Spanish village. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:07.119 In the Spanish village, they were gifted, the church was gifted, this uh this uh 19th-century fresco of Jesus. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.720 You can see it right here. 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:18.559 Uh and so this was in the church, and you can notice that it that is kind of deteriorating and lost its luster. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:24.799 Well, there's a sweet old lady in her 80s that lived across the street from the church, had been a member of the church her whole life. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:33.920 She loved this painting too, and she took it upon herself to do the, you know, what do you call it when you restoration of a of the painting? 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:39.359 And and so she secretly did this unbeknownst to anybody. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:47.279 She took a paintbrush and paint to restore the painting, and this is what came out. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:02.319 And if we're honest, isn't that how we feel? 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:09.680 Like we don't feel like a masterpiece, we feel like a mess. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:12.720 I mean, she destroyed a work of art. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:27.920 Where we just keep trying, we keep adding, we keep putting strokes on it, but it doesn't get better, it feels like sometimes it just gets worse. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:35.279 Listen, in the shadow of the cross, you're perfectly accepted. 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:42.400 In the death of Jesus, you're fully forgiven, and in the resurrection of Jesus, you are beautifully made new. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.880 You are beautifully made new. 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:47.119 Don't let anybody tell you difference. 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:50.559 You are a masterpiece in Christ Jesus. 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:55.279 In fact, that's what the apostle Paul said is for it is by grace you have been saved. 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.240 How do you get in? 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.039 Tell me. 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:57.920 Grace. 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:58.720 Try it again. 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.440 How do you get in? 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.000 Tell me. 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:01.039 Grace. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:06.079 God's unearned, unmerited favor towards you. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:08.480 Nothing you or I could do. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:10.319 He has done it all. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:15.759 It is grace deposited, grace displayed on the cross. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:19.039 Grace. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:22.880 Through faith, this not of yourself. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:26.079 It's a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:28.559 And then it says, For we are God's handiwork. 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:30.720 The Greek word is that poema. 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.240 Masterpiece. 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.680 Now listen, listen, listen. 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:35.920 How are we the masterpiece? 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:37.440 Because we miss this. 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:40.799 For you are God's handiwork, you are his masterpiece. 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:42.079 Created how? 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:44.240 In Christ. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:51.039 Your masterpiece is not in you, it's in Jesus. 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:56.400 Because go back to that picture for me, Orion, if you wouldn't mind. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:58.240 Because I think this is what we do. 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:00.240 We're created in Christ Jesus. 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:06.079 And we get this image of Jesus, and we get into the Christian life, and we're like, okay, we're saved. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:08.640 Grace got us in, but grace won't keep us in. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.559 We got to keep adding our strokes. 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:14.079 And somehow, if we can kind of add to it, we'll be better. 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:18.000 And we just keep becoming, oh, well, you know. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:26.079 By grace, we're saved. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:28.720 You can take it off now, it's distracting. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:36.240 Grace got you in, grace keeps you in, grace takes you the whole way. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:38.559 Grace is the Christian life. 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:50.000 Your identity as perfectly accepted, fully forgiven, beautifully made new. 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:53.279 Beautifully made new. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:57.519 You're beautifully made new. 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:01.599 In Christ Jesus. 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:05.039 The resurrection tells us death does not have the final say. 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:07.039 Your mess does not have the final say. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:10.000 Your worst moment does not have the final say. 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:12.160 The dark night does not have the final say. 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:16.079 That thing that you said yesterday doesn't have the final say. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:18.160 I was trying to see if I had time. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:20.240 Yeah, that story came to mind. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:23.680 We won't do this probably second service. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.880 You get this for free. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:28.880 So Friday was, or Monday was Miles' actual birthday. 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.000 Yeah. 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:33.119 And then, and then we don't have to, that's fine. 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:39.759 But um, and then Jenny and I drive to go get him um uh a birthday meal. 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:42.960 He wanted uh a burgers at I forget where uh the habit. 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.000 We're driving there. 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:46.160 I get pulled over by a cop. 00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:54.400 There's joy in my heart, a song on my lips, and then and you know how I got pulled over? 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:58.319 It wasn't quite the time for gospel keys on this one. 00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:02.400 I I went out of the thing, but that's where I keep going, keep playing. 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:04.480 This is this is keep playing. 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:08.079 I'm I'm when I'm I'm when I'm on a tangent. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:10.079 I'm having a little extra time. 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:18.000 I pulled too. 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:20.720 This is sounds way more meaningful than um. 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:27.119 I pulled in, I'm totally lost now. 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:32.160 But I pulled in the bike lane ten feet before I should have. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:35.200 I apparently 200 feet is the mount, ten feet. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.440 I'm like, huh? 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.759 Pulls me over. 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:40.880 I'm mad. 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:48.240 And I apparently did not respond very kindly to the officer. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:51.599 You know how I know that? 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.599 My wife told me so. 00:31:58.160 --> 00:32:01.680 And then we're sitting in the parking lot and we get in a fight. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:05.519 And it's all my fault. 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:13.440 I got pulled over, I didn't respond well, I didn't respond well to her, and then I'm sitting there and we're in a fight. 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:37.279 Been there, and your stupidity and my stupidity, and your errant word, and my errant word, and all of those little things don't have the final word and say in your life. 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:52.319 Resurrection has the final say, the grave is defeated, Jesus has the final say, He is not dead, friends, he is what alive, and because he is alive, you are made new. 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:58.319 Don't you ever forget it, and you don't need to add to it. 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:01.759 So today. 00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:16.319 If you're a follower of Jesus, where have you been adding the brush strokes, trying to somehow still fix up your life, add to grace? 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:26.160 Would you just come to him and just imagine, imagine what would change in your life if you said, I am perfectly accepted right now. 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:27.839 There's no more hiding. 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:35.519 I am fully forgiven, and you have paid for everything I've ever done. 00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:38.880 I'm beautifully made new. 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:41.920 I'll rest in that. 00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:47.359 Because it's not anything but Christ in me, the hope of glory. 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:52.880 The risen, victorious Savior. 00:33:54.880 --> 00:34:01.359 And if you're here and you're searching, you're seeking, you're like, I'm a mess. 00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:04.480 Well, you're in a good company, we're all a mess. 00:34:06.880 --> 00:34:08.320 And I'm tired. 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:16.639 And the big questions, the aching of my soul, I long for that purpose, that peace. 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:24.079 I long for that newness, that forgiveness, that acceptance. 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:25.199 Today, right? 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:26.880 This moment is your moment. 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:30.000 It's this simple. 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:32.159 He said in the verse, faith. 00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:35.599 Jesus, I trust you, not me. 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.000 That's it. 00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:37.519 Jesus, I trust you, not me. 00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:41.039 Jesus, I believe you rose from the grave, you defeated death. 00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.960 I believe you did all those things. 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:46.639 I put the full weight of my trust in you, not me. 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:50.880 Would you come into my life and make me new? 00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:53.519 And he does. 00:34:54.239 --> 00:34:55.199 And he will. 00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:01.519 In fact, as we close, would you just pray with me? 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:10.400 And if that's where you're at, you've never said yes to the grand invitation, the Telestai of Jesus. 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:17.360 Would you pray after me? 00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:20.800 Oh Jesus. 00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:27.039 I'm tired of trying and working. 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:29.519 I'm tired of hiding. 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:34.960 I believe you came for me. 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:37.679 That you died for me. 00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:44.239 That you rose again, that you defeated the grave. 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:48.159 And in you I am perfectly accepted. 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:48.800 Accepted. 00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:50.320 Fully forgiven. 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:51.039 Accepted. 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:55.760 Would you come into my life and make me new? 00:35:57.599 --> 00:36:01.119 And if that's where you're at, would we just keep our eyes closed? 00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:05.119 And if you prayed that prayer, would you mind just raising your hands? 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:06.960 I'd love to pray for you and know. 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:07.760 Amen. 00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:09.519 Go ahead, raise them high. 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:10.159 Amen. 00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:10.800 Amen. 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.559 Amen. 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:28.559 Jesus, I thank you for my brothers and sisters in this space who, for the very first time, stepped into freedom, stepped into acceptance, that you have paid the debt that we could not pay. 00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:41.840 I ask that in this moment, as we continue to worship, would you overwhelm us with your love, your kindness, your grace. 00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:44.800 In Jesus' name. 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.480 Amen. 00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:50.000 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:54.559 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:56.880 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:36:57.039 --> 00:37:02.960 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.