WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:03.200 So we are in our second week of Advent. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:07.919 Advent is those four weeks, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:18.559 It's a time for us to prepare our hearts, to have expectation building for the celebration of Jesus being born. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:21.199 This entire passage is just about that. 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:26.879 Our text this morning gives us this wild man preacher, John, John the Baptist. 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:34.640 He lived out in the wilderness, he dressed strange, he ate bugs. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:38.880 And John just ran over established thought. 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:40.799 He upset people. 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:43.759 And it is onto that trail that Jesus came. 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:46.399 And here's how I began thinking about it this week. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:49.359 There's very, very deep insight here. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:01:03.359 If Jesus is this truck right here, if we can show the Ford F-150, if Jesus is a Ford F-150, like mostly mild, but it can it can go off-road, right? 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:04.560 Like it can be a little rough. 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:06.959 Mostly mild, but can get rough. 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:11.439 If that's Jesus, John the Baptist, this is John the Baptist, this next truck. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:12.799 That's John the Baptist. 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:13.840 That's how we can. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:15.920 That's seminary level, guys. 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:18.400 Seminary level for your notes. 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:19.840 Right? 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:24.799 John is a monster truck of truth. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:27.840 He just ran people over. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:30.319 That's what John the Baptist was. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:32.560 And John is just shocking people. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:34.400 He's a very shocking person. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:43.760 Just shocking people into their awareness of their sin, their urgency, the need they have of God's grace in this coming Jesus. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.400 John's calling them to a whole different kind of repentance than they've been thinking about this. 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:50.400 It's the repentance of the heart. 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:56.560 In verse 3, the word repentance is the word metanoia, meaning a change of mind. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:58.879 A change of mind. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:02.000 A better course of life. 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:08.560 Entering a better course of life because inside of you, the inner part of you, has had a change. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:14.800 About 12 years ago, Christy and I, we were on our five-year anniversary trip. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:28.719 We had one baby at home at the time, and uh we went to Colorado for this trip for a few days, and I nerded out on the best use of sky miles, and the, you know, the best hotel, the best hike, and all of that. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:33.680 And I mean, looking back on we had that one baby at home, we're just babies, really, right? 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:36.800 Newly married, and we're on this trip together. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:42.560 So the hike that I'd researched, I was so excited about it because I over-research everything and stuff. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:43.759 I'd overly research this hike. 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:44.719 I was so pumped about it. 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:48.159 We start out, and the hike started out above tree line right away. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:50.479 I'm so just already happy to be in that place. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:03:00.800 And it starts on a gravel road, and then it narrows into a trail, and the trail starts switchbacks up a mountain, and the views are incredible, just like distant views, and we're just talking, right? 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:04.879 Like we're talking past like schedule and like the stuff that kind of dominates normal life. 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:19.120 And so we're just talking, and you know, we're talking about our daughter, our one and only daughter that we're so overly focused on, as we all do, on you know, that first little baby, you know, and so we're overly focused, just talking about her, and talking about our family. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:24.000 And that trail, as we got higher, that trail, it got narrower and narrower. 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:37.919 And then we got to this point, and the trail got so narrow, and there was a cliff, and the the rock jutted out, and there was a cliff, and it was a huge, huge drop, massive drop. 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:39.520 Just a little trail. 00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.000 We're like, is that the is that the like, is that it? 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:43.439 Is that the trail? 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:50.400 We just stood there looking at it, like maybe we went off trail, like maybe we went off trail. 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:53.199 Like we were just talking, we just we just lost the trail. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:55.439 Like, are we gonna go around that corner? 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:56.400 Are we doing that? 00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:57.680 Is that what we're doing right now? 00:03:57.759 --> 00:03:58.639 Are we gonna we're gonna do that? 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:00.000 Because that's what I've always did in the past. 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:01.680 You know, like I thought I was bear gorillas. 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:04.240 I just like went, like, and then you just figure it out. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:08.319 But now we have this baby at home, and we're talking about it, and we're looking at that. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:14.719 We don't know what's around the corner, so it's like, yeah, okay, so we do that squeeze, massive drop-off, that's a risk of its own, but we also don't know what's on the other side. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:15.599 What if we get stuck? 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:17.360 Like, we don't know. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:20.160 Are we prepared to risk that? 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:25.199 And we sit there and we talk for a while about this conundrum. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.360 Like, are we gonna turn around like chumps? 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:28.240 Right? 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:32.639 We turned around like chumps, is exactly what we did. 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:34.319 Right? 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:36.240 That humble turn. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:38.959 That humble turnaround. 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:39.839 Right? 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.079 That thing you wanted so badly, and then you have to turn around. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:46.000 Or the way you do it. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:51.839 Or the thing you said, or the thing you did, or the way you are. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:59.759 And then sometimes the only way forward is actually to turn around. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:00.480 Right? 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:01.839 That's what repent means. 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:02.560 Turn around. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:05.360 Like the better course is to turn. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:10.399 It's a great image of repentance that we hit the end of ourselves. 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:11.519 We have a breakdown. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:14.079 Man, breakdown's gonna be so good for us. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:27.680 As we just get to the end of ourselves, and we have to repent, we have to fall into God's provision for us to say, like, I can't, I can't earn it, I can't work my way out of this guilt, this shame, I can't earn enough righteousness, I can't earn your favor, I can't control my whole life. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:29.439 Like, I have to fall into you. 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:35.519 And point number one is this is repenting is a turning into Jesus' sufficiency. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:39.279 It's a turning into Jesus' efficiency. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:44.959 John says that we need a baptism of repentance, very loaded language at the time. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:48.399 All around that temple, all around the religious structure. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:53.439 Religious people are immersing themselves in baptismal pools all around the temple. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:06:04.319 In order to go be near to God up in the temple, you had to go through the baptismal pools, dunk yourself enough to go up to the temple to be near God. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:09.920 Cleanse yourself, then you can be in the presence of God. 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:14.079 If you do that, then you can enter the presence of God. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:21.759 And John says, into that context, into that, he says, you need an immersion of repentance of heart. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:28.959 So not doing something as to earn forgiveness, but admitting that you actually can't do enough. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:31.120 You need to turn from that. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:33.360 You can't purify yourself enough. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:38.000 You need a breakdown, you need an end of yourself to fall into Jesus. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:43.120 Now, your conversion moment of repentance, right? 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:48.240 That conversion moment, becoming a Christian, that's a conversion moment of one and done. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:50.240 You've surrendered to Jesus. 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:54.160 You have that if you've given your life to Christ. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:07:00.000 But we also, as people of faith, we live in ongoing repentance. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:07.759 Just a walking in faith by grace and collapsing into Jesus' sufficiency for us today, and then tomorrow, and then the next day. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:10.000 And none of that's for God's love. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:12.240 It's all because of God's love. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.040 The prophet right before John was Malachi. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:17.040 Think about how the Bible's structured. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.639 We get these gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, right before that, it's the Old Testament. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:22.720 Last book of the Old Testament is Malachi. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:27.600 And Malachi, another monster truck of truth, Malachi. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:31.199 Malachi calls out the priests who pollute offerings. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:44.879 He rips into Judah, who's been unfaithful, and then he says in Malachi 4, verses 1 through 3, for behold, the day is coming burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:52.000 The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:53.920 Okay, right? 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:55.360 Monster truck. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:04.240 But for you who fear my name, the son of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:08.959 You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:13.040 So, that's verses one and two. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:15.519 So behold, a day is coming. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:17.439 You're a sinner. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:18.959 Behold, a day is coming. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:24.480 So do you go and dunk yourself in baptism pools seven times or enough times in order to be near God? 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:27.519 Do you wake up every day in debt to God? 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:32.559 And if you do enough, all of a sudden you cause him to smile upon you? 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:35.440 Or do you wake up in his favor? 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:40.480 Given to you through Jesus. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:42.399 It's just a gift. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:48.240 And it's secure by grace through faith. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:52.639 Verse 2 is our rescue there that Malachi puts before us. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:54.559 Shows us our rescue. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:58.000 Healing is in his wings, his provision. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:02.399 The Son of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:08.000 It's imagery of Jesus, the Son of righteousness, and his wings of the cross. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.639 Beautiful prophetic imagery. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:17.440 Our first thought for repentance is usually the turning from wrongdoing. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:18.960 That's usually the first thought. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:23.039 Sometimes it's usually just kind of isolated into like a fear-based structure. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:27.519 Just this week, I was deadly so wrong about two things. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:28.480 And here's the first one. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:29.759 So wrong. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:33.919 Too soon? 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:36.399 For like three, except for like three of you. 00:09:36.559 --> 00:09:40.320 Too soon, except for like three very spoiled uh Alabama fans. 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:44.399 Here are things I said this week. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:47.360 They just can't execute. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:48.879 I said that this week. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:51.039 Alabama just can't execute. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:51.840 I said that. 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:54.720 I said, Saban's getting old. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:59.279 This week I said, I'm pretty sure Saban has lost his edge. 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:04.159 These are all things I said this week in conversations. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:14.480 And in his glorious omnipresence, Nick Saban heard me and poured his wrath out on me. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:16.480 Just poured it out. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:17.679 Wrath. 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:21.200 And last night I had to repent. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:26.399 This is also the happiest picture I could find of Nick Saban. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:27.919 And I'm not kidding you. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:28.960 I looked. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:32.960 That's the happiest that he's ever been in his life. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:39.039 The second thing I was wrong about this week is this right here. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:39.919 That. 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.200 Anybody see that coming? 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:42.320 Did you even know? 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:43.360 Do you know this? 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.480 Benefer's back. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:45.840 Some of you don't know about this. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:47.679 18 years ago. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:49.759 18 years ago. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:52.159 Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:53.840 Some of you weren't even alive. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:56.639 This was a huge romance in our country. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:59.200 Benefer, it got a name. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:01.840 Some of you have been using the term Binifer. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:03.759 You didn't even know where it came from. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:05.440 18 years ago. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:07.440 An 18-month romance. 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:10.000 I didn't think they would get back together. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:10.879 You didn't. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:12.000 You don't even care. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:14.480 But I heard about it this week and I was wrong. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.559 It's a Christmas miracle. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:19.279 Sometimes we're just wrong. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:21.279 Sometimes we're just wrong. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:24.240 I got an email address my freshman year of Barrie College. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.559 I told all my friends, this is a waste of time. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.960 Email's never gonna catch on. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:33.919 Sometimes we're just wrong. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:35.279 Like we're just wrong. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:51.039 This idea of turning just out of just out of just out of like fear or or um I'm just wrong and I kind of finally admit it. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:54.159 That is kind of John the Baptist's framework. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:12:00.159 We do have to carry it into Paul and Jesus to work out the full story of repentance. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:08.639 And so Paul, the New Testament, those key verses, Romans 2, 3 through 4, it builds out the story of repentance for us. 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:17.519 Do you suppose, O man, you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourselves, that you will escape the judgment of God? 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:19.679 Again, you're like, oh, oh. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:30.879 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.480 Isn't that nice? 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:36.480 Doesn't that build out the story of repentance for us a little bit more? 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:39.519 Point number two, this is not my distinguishment. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.799 Tim Keller came up with this. 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:46.240 Religious repentance begins in fear, gospel repentance begins in love. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:51.200 That's how the New Testament builds out repentance. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:55.759 This week I began to think about two different stories we've talked about this year. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:57.679 The first one is Nicodemus. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.120 John chapter 3. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:00.559 Remember the story? 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:05.120 Nicodemus seeks out Jesus at night in the dark. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.679 Nicodemus is a religious man. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:09.759 He's probably well off, well educated. 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:11.840 He's a Pharisee, member of the Sanhedrin. 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:14.240 So he ruled in the religious structure. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:16.480 He knew religion. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.679 He knew it. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:19.759 He prayed his prayers. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:21.600 He attended temple. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:22.639 I mean, he knew it. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.240 He knew what to do. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:28.080 But he's having some sort of breakdown, something. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:32.879 To go want to talk to this Jesus. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:36.320 So his religiosity wasn't working on some level. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:38.720 His performance faith wasn't working. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:48.399 So Nicodemus seeks out Jesus in the dark, probably afraid, and we're gonna get caught by family and friends, might lose his job, might lose his family, his connections, his status, maybe his well-being. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:59.759 And Jesus says to him, All you have to do, so this religious guy, just trying to do enough, to this religious guy, Jesus says, All you have to do is look upon me. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:04.879 Can you imagine how relieving that would be? 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:15.679 If you've just been working yourself to death in the world to be enough, or working yourself in the church to be enough. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:21.600 And then finally you hear all you gotta do is look upon me. 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:24.480 That he is enough for us. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:27.360 That's unbelievable. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:35.919 Now imagine Nicodemus at his house, like waiting for it to get dark, like the growing expectation. 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:41.600 It kind of made me think about like playing manhunt or hide and seek in the dark outside. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:47.519 You're a kid and you got your spot and you know the base you need to run to, but you gotta kind of wait. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:51.440 You just have to keep waiting, and all that expectations being built up. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:54.879 I mean, he had Nicodemus had to be juiced up, right? 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:57.039 To leave his house that night. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:02.240 But he also had to have some expectation that he was gonna be welcomed. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:06.000 To be received by Jesus, or why risk it? 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:12.080 So he had to be hearing something about this Jesus, that this Jesus receives broken people. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:18.879 The other story, thought about, I feel like at every tenth sermon we talk about it. 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:21.919 I think about it every week, the prodigal son story. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.600 Luke 15. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:27.919 Two sons, younger one asks the dad, I want my inheritance now. 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:30.720 Takes it, runs off. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:32.720 Would have been just crushed the dad. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:34.320 What an embarrassment. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:39.679 Young son wanders off, far off country, having a great time without money. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:43.120 And he is spending it, he's partying, and there's lots of friends when you're doing that. 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:46.320 So friends are all around, the money runs out, parties run out, friends run out. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:50.720 He's eating the food of pigs, he's longing for the food of pigs. 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:52.639 He's broken, he's at the end of his self. 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:58.080 Luke 15 says, then he came to his senses, meaning he remembered. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:02.320 He remembered he had a home, he had a father. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:06.399 Which I think is a beginning of repentance. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:13.120 Like a belief, kind of like Nicodemus had, that he had to be sitting at his house before he went on that walk to go find Jesus. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:15.759 That I think I'm gonna be welcomed. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:21.440 I think I'm, I think I'll be beloved as I am before I get it all together. 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:28.799 That broken down boy, he just maybe the father's gonna take me back, forms that speech. 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:30.320 I've sinned against you. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.480 Not worthy of your son. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:34.480 Just make me one of your hired ones. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:40.240 Boy runs home, starts his speech, the father wraps him up in a robe, gives him a ring, starts throwing a party. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:41.600 Luke 15, 22. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:50.240 But the father said to his servants, bring quickly the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and bring the fat and calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:52.799 For this, my son was dead and is alive again. 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.080 He was lost and is found. 00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.360 They began to celebrate. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:57.440 I love the New Living Translation. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:00.399 It says, and the party began. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:12.960 Your coming home, your whole faith walk is a party of welcome and grace. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:22.000 It is a party of you being pursued by God and you pursuing God out of his pursuit of you. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:29.680 A year ago, when we talked about the prodigal son, we looked at the painting. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.799 Rembrandt, remember this? 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:33.759 Rembrandt, the prodigal, return of the prodigal? 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.400 We've looked at it a few times. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:40.720 And we've all been the boy just broken down, right? 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.079 Or you felt like it. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.359 Or you will. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.079 Or you will again. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:56.480 And church, we we walk in faith by grace of that embrace that you see right there. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:59.039 And that is ongoing. 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.960 That embrace is ongoing. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:07.440 And we get to ongoingly repent inside of that, collapsing into his provision and his welcome. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:11.279 And it is not provided because of your strength. 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:12.400 The painting shows us that. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.440 It's a story. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:15.680 It's not really the painting, it's a story. 00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:19.119 It's by the lavish love of God. 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:28.000 Like Brad said last week, it's the lavish blood of Jesus, the heaping on of the blood that's enough for us. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:30.559 That we don't have to earn our own forgiveness. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:37.839 The painting gives us the truth of the gospel that the Father is greater than your condition. 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:42.400 Then your doubt or your sin or your guilt or your shame or your background or reputation or your resume. 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:43.920 It's greater than it all. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:46.079 Remember those two hands? 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.599 Remember when we talked about this? 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:48.960 The two hands? 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.720 It's just so good. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.000 I have to keep talking about it. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:56.079 That left hand is larger and more masculine. 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:58.079 That's how Rembrandt painted this. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:01.519 The right hand is smaller and more tender. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:11.200 It's an image of God's might and strength has hold on you. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:13.839 And God's gentleness and care. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:22.640 He who calls you fully loves you, fully knows you, fully cares for you, fully holds you. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:25.279 Forever, forever holds you in security. 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.599 Last point, and I close with the last point. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:38.319 The more we come alive to the embrace of the Heavenly Father, the more joyfully we ongoingly repent. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:40.319 Let's pray together. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:48.240 God, thank you for your great grace that we get to repent and collapse into Jesus' sufficiency for us. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:56.160 That we do not live or repent in fear, but out of love. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:02.480 Thank you for the story of repentance that we get in the New Testament. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:08.079 Thank you that you have pursued us. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:11.200 That your arms are wide open for us. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:23.680 That every day we do not wake up having to earn back favor with you, that we wake up in your favor through the sufficient blood of Jesus for us, that we are pursued by you. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:26.480 May we pursue you in response. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:30.720 Help us, God, to trust in greater ways in you. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:40.720 We welcome your Holy Spirit to comfort us in the ways we need to be comforted and convict us in the ways we need to be convicted, that we may honor you with our lives. 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:42.400 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.279 Amen.