WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:03.919 So this week I signed up for the Chick-fil-A app. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:05.679 Is anybody on the Chick-fil-A app? 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:07.120 Got the app going, yeah. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:13.679 Christy's had the app going for a while, and then I was with a friend this week, and uh we stopped and he had the app and he scanned it. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:21.039 And I've had actually had the app on my phone for like a year and never followed through with the uh the sign-up process. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:26.800 That's kind of representative of how I work with technology, is that's about if there's any resistance, and then I'm done. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:34.479 But I said it's time now, it is time for me to be fully committed into this app because he was getting free food, Chrissy's been getting free food, right? 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:35.359 And this is how it works. 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:37.119 This is the reward program for Chick-fil-A. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:39.520 If you're not familiar with it, uh you have the app. 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:49.280 By ordering online, you get points, and then you get stuff where you scan the little code there at the register, and by doing that and spending more money, they give you more food, so then you'll go back and spend more money, right? 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:53.759 That's how loyalty programs work or reward programs work. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:54.960 Now, that's great, right? 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:57.520 Like it's great when a free lemonade pops up on that map. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:03.039 You're like, free lemonade or a free waffle fry, but you know, when you get the meal, that's when it gets very exciting. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:05.519 You get a free sandwich or a meal. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:07.840 Now, what's better than that, right? 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:09.120 That's great, right? 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:17.840 If you have the app, you know what I'm talking about, you love that, or maybe you're part of some other reward pro maybe anybody do the CVS butts, right? 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:20.239 The longest receipt in all of receipts. 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:24.640 It's very awkward when you're standing there in front of the cashier and you feel like you gotta talk about the receipt. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:26.560 So long, very long receipt. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:28.000 Um, too long, perhaps. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:29.359 They could do something about it. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:36.640 Uh, that's another reward program, or Sky Miles, you're part of Sky Miles, Delta Sky Miles, and the more you fly, then they're gonna give you some free flight, so you fly more, right? 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:37.519 This is how it works. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:40.879 It's a meritocracy to a certain degree, right? 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:44.799 It's uh you you do something, download the app, you get something. 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:47.359 Spend some money, you get something. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:49.599 Just you do something and you get something. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:51.439 That's how reward programs work. 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:57.840 Now, what's better than that is if you're just saying you're walking into the Braves game, right? 00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:13.280 And you're out there on that big sidewalk, and there's that lawn, and as you're walking in, Chick-fil-A has a little booth or something going on, they're sponsoring something, and just uh an employee, one of their marketing representatives, walks up to you and just hands you five free sandwich coupons. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:15.919 Now that is much better, right? 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:19.680 You didn't do anything, you didn't earn anything, right? 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:23.840 This is the difference between reward and gift. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:27.919 They are two very different things. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:34.719 Reward programs work, that's why companies use them. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:36.719 But it is based on our merit. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:43.360 And so inevitably, with rewards comes some comparison or pride, right? 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:47.599 Like, oh, you're oh you're gold status, oh, I'm just silver, right? 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:49.599 Or oh, I'm silver, oh you're nothing. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:50.319 Oh, okay, you know. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:56.240 I mean, so there's a little bit of comparison with it, or or a little bit of fear of well, what if I don't maintain this, right? 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:04.240 Like, what if I don't maintain the spending I'm spending at Chick-fil-A to the degree and I'm gonna start to lose, I'm gonna start losing reward. 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:13.599 And so within reward systems, all reward systems, there is a passive undercurrent of fear-based motivation. 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:17.439 There's pride, there's despair. 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:19.919 And they still work, right? 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:21.360 That's why we use them. 00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:24.400 But gifts are different. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:29.759 Gifts give to you before, they give to you despite. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:31.439 They just give to you. 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:32.479 They're not earned. 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:35.280 Nothing to do with earning, just given. 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:38.000 And this has everything to do with this passage. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:51.360 Because this passage this morning in 1 John 4 is very interesting because the Bible talks about perfect love and the grace of God, and then every once in a while we run into a passage that'll say something like, the day of judgment is coming. 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:53.599 Or there's rewards in heaven. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:55.680 And what do I do with that, right? 00:03:55.840 --> 00:04:01.199 Like what do I do with it in light of the gospel that is grace given to me? 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:04.080 What do I do with the idea of the day of judgment? 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:08.319 Do I ignore it like I've always done my entire life? 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.479 Or is there is there something here? 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:14.000 What is John saying? 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:18.959 What is John saying when he says perfect love casts out fear and there's a day of judgment? 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:23.040 This sounds like talking out of two sides of the same mouth. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:29.040 Uh just the past few weeks, we've had four babies born in our church. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:30.399 Isn't that incredible? 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:36.879 We've had uh two people hospitalized for serious things going on. 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:44.480 We had our first wedding in this room last night, as Audrey, our student ministry coordinator, she married Mason. 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:47.600 They got married here in this room, our first wedding. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:49.439 That was unbelievable. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:05:02.879 And then Friday night, Christy sat behind a man at the football game who walked into the game alive and well, and by the end of the game, he was at the hospital, and as of yesterday afternoon, he was fighting for his life. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:05.279 Isn't that interesting? 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:14.480 Now, I don't say that to say like fear on you, you're gonna die one day, right? 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:16.560 Like, I don't say that to say that. 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:19.759 I say love, love to you. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:22.399 Perfect love casts out fear. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:28.879 Love to you as we talk about not just life, but we also talk about death. 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:37.680 There's babies born, there's weddings, there's hospitalizations, there's deaths. 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.319 So our passage comes at all of this. 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:44.160 1 John 4, 16. 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:47.439 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:48.720 God is love. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:52.560 He is love, not just that he loves, but he actually is love, it's his essence. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:56.639 God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.879 So this is where we've been for the past month, just kind of over and over and over again. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:06.480 Perhaps the past six years since our church has existed, is just that God is love toward us. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:13.680 Point number one is this when we think and relate to God, we should imagine perfect love. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:27.279 When you think and relate to God, you should think about, you should gaze upon, you should behold, you should understand God as perfect love. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:35.120 Now, maybe you've been in places where faith leaders use fear as motivation. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:39.199 Fear is an incredible motivator, right? 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:43.519 I mean, it's gonna kick in next year when the political campaigns for president kick in. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:46.959 Remember, we're gonna see a lot of fear-based motivation. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:50.399 You can raise a lot of money off of fear. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:53.759 Churches can raise a ton of money off of fear. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:56.000 Fear is an incredible motivator. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:07:02.800 You can get a lot of people serving in churches and in the community off of fear. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:08.319 When I was in high school, still remember it so vividly. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:18.879 I was in high school, I attended a church event, and there was a skit, and it was a two teenagers driving a car in the skit, and then the car wrecked, and both teenagers died. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:28.560 One teenager went to hell, the other teenager went to heaven, the one is in heaven and with God, and you're thinking, oh, what an incredible moment for that person. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:35.199 And then the teenager who went to hell is yelling somehow across this divide of some sort. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:36.639 We don't know, it's in a skit. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:40.399 Uh, yelling across to the one in heaven, you know, why didn't you tell me? 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:41.600 You know, like in the skit. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:44.399 He's like, you know, why didn't you tell me? 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:46.160 Why didn't you tell me? 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:55.519 Blame, fear, regret, worry, all experienced over here in heaven. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:00.000 And now the preacher got up afterward. 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:05.279 Clearly, he did not see the skin as a parable of some sort. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:09.680 I mean, he actually saw it as something that would happen. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:13.839 Because he hammered us with fear. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:18.160 Fear-based motivation. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:28.079 And I can remember sitting there as a teenager who rebelled and thought, as as much in action, thinking, this guy's crazy. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:30.319 This doesn't make any sense. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:35.200 How can heaven be a place of no fear and no tears and you experience that? 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:37.039 It doesn't make any sense. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:45.759 How could God, perfect love in a place where there's no fear, allow fear? 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.080 John confronts this. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:58.159 Where in the same few sentences he says, perfect love casts out fear, and he also talks about the day of judgment. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:06.480 And he says that the baseline here is there's no fear in God. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:09.120 So that's the baseline. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:13.360 So if anything's off of that, you go, well, okay, I'm not understanding something fully. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.080 Maybe we need to chalk it up to the mystery, I don't know. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:19.759 Or maybe I'm wrong, or maybe he's wrong, or she's wrong. 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:21.679 But there's no fear in God. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:22.559 God is love. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:23.679 So here's what this means. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:40.080 This means our motivation for obedience, our motivation for obedience and the call to love others is transformed from fear of judgment by God to motivation by grace alone because we are already loved by God. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:43.120 That's what John is doing in this entire book. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:54.720 Verse 17, by this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment. 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:58.559 Because as he is, so also are we in this world. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:01.759 Now that's a great unbelievable verse for us. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:09.679 Point number two is this there is no fear of God judging us, because we know the gift of Christ. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:17.039 So there's good news here in this verse because John says we can have confidence when we die. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:22.960 It's not something we have to fear because there's no fear in God, and God is perfect love. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:31.840 We don't show up into the afterlife with our report card. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:40.879 We don't show up with our app with as much as we've earned, expecting to have some reward of some sort, and maybe I got in or not. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:47.039 We are free of the wage-earning paradigm. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.840 We are freed into a grace-receiving paradigm. 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:55.279 That's what verse 17 says. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:03.919 He is, so Jesus is speaking about Jesus, Jesus is, so also are we in this world. 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:12.720 Meaning this, God regards you like he regards Jesus, his own son. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:25.120 So if you if you want to know how God feels about you or thinks about you, or how he's gonna welcome you, it's the exact same that he would feel about Jesus. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:28.960 See, the judge already judged you. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:30.720 There was judgment. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:34.000 It's just it was already judged in Christ. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:36.159 He already loves you. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:40.720 So we have this phrase, this day of judgment that John's talking about. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:41.519 What is he talking about? 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:50.720 He's talking about that all people are gonna be judged before God, and John is writing about some encounter, and we have to come at this with some mystery. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:58.080 Some encounter with God, and we're in complete, perfect presence with him. 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:10.399 Paul wrote about this same moment that we will have with God in the afterlife in 2 Corinthians 5, 7 through 10. 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:17.759 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:24.480 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:31.840 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:44.159 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive what is due him, what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:49.600 All right, well, okay, this opens up a whole nother kind of can of worms, doesn't it? 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.120 You read something like this. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:54.720 Well, there's four observations we can pull from just verse 10. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:56.960 And it's this, I'll try to keep it simple. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.480 I do better when it's simple. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:04.080 All Christians will stand before the judgment seat, okay, because he's writing to the church. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:11.919 So even as Christians, we will have some sort of moment with God where there's judgment. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:13.360 Right? 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:16.159 All Christians will stand before the judgment seat. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:18.480 He's writing to a group of Christians, he's writing to the church. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:22.080 So us, even as Christians, there'll be some sort of judgment. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:25.120 Number two, our judgment will be after we die. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.919 Okay, so some judgment after we die. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:28.480 Okay? 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:31.039 That's what the passage implies. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:35.600 Number three, when we stand before God, our deeds will be judged. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:36.480 Right? 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:42.240 Verse 10 there, so that each one may receive what is due to him, what is done in the body, whether good or evil. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:46.799 So at this point you're going, oh no, this does not feel like grace. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.000 This feels like merit. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.600 This feels like wage. 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:53.840 But there's point number four. 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:56.159 The judgment seat is Christ. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.159 Right? 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:00.320 That's there at the beginning of verse 10. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.519 Before the judgment seat of Christ. 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:06.720 So the idea of a seat, right? 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:11.360 I mean, think about it like we have we have judges who run for seats, right? 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.519 Oh, did you hear the seat is open, right? 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.240 We say stuff like that. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:16.159 Oh, that seat, that seat is becoming open. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:22.639 And what that means is that position that holds power and authority is available. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.279 It's open. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:27.120 That position holds power and authority. 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:33.120 So this is that language and that imagery, but that position is Christ's. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:45.360 So now at this point, what you think about Christ and what he did for you and who he is for you now determines whether all of this is fear or all of this is love? 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:54.000 Is it true that all your sin and guilt and shame is gone forever because of Christ's work for you on the cross? 00:14:54.240 --> 00:15:00.080 Is it true that your sin is actually put upon Jesus on the cross and he actually gives you his righteousness? 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.360 Is that true? 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:08.879 Is it true that you are forever God's beloved because of what Christ did for you? 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:12.399 Because he is your advocate, he is not just your teacher, he is your substitute. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:12.879 Is that true? 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:15.840 I think that's what John's been arguing for four chapters. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:27.279 I think the point is that if God is love, then this judgment will be entirely joy for us, not regret. 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:35.519 Now it doesn't stop there because in the New Testament there's this idea of crowns in heaven. 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:35.919 Right? 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:40.879 Maybe you hadn't been around church and you're like, ah, this is all this is a little wild, I understand. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:44.240 But if you hang around church long enough, you're gonna hear this kind of language. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:52.480 Like you're gonna hear, like, oh, you gotta, you know, he's gonna earn a crown in heaven, or or you know, oh, they're gonna get a crown in heaven, or you know, what crown in heaven? 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:55.279 You're gonna hear this kind of language. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:59.039 In the New Testament, there's mention of five different crowns in heaven. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:04.000 There's the victor's crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of life, the crown of glory. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.360 I'm not gonna go through all of them. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.159 You can Google that. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:06.960 Crowns in heaven. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:07.840 You'll get all sorts of stuff. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:09.440 I go safe Google, by the way. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.480 I Googled it this week. 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.840 That's a safe one to Google. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.000 You'll get all kinds of information. 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:18.080 Now, you don't have to agree with me on this. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:20.879 Well, you don't have to agree with me on anything, really. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:27.200 I just don't think this is anything like reward, like we think about it. 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.200 Right? 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:30.639 I mean, we can think about reward. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:33.360 We could think about like an award ceremony at a school. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:34.879 Right? 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:38.559 They give out the perfect attendance award, three kids go up. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:40.480 Everyone's like, oh, this goes so great. 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.360 Good for them. 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.120 Great job. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:46.559 Then they give out the good attendance award. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:50.960 And like 75% of the kids go up. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:52.080 Right? 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:58.159 Walk across the stage, 25% of the kids are left in their seats. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:04.799 Having just, they're just filled with regret that their parents took them to Disney World. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.759 Right? 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:09.839 At an off time, so they don't have to wait in lines. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:13.599 Or they're ashamed that they got sick. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.880 That's what happens with rewards. 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:22.000 There's an eventual condemnation that shows up. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:24.000 It's just not gospel. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:29.440 Rewards as we think about them are not gospel. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:31.440 They're not perfect love. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:35.200 They have fear built into the motivation. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:39.920 It is way earning, it is passive fear-based motivation. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:43.599 Now, we do this, I we do this with our children. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:47.920 I'm saying we, like Christy and I, we we embrace this fully at times, right? 00:17:48.319 --> 00:18:03.119 When we take a child to the doctor to get a shot, we always on the way there say, hey, if you hang in there, you do this, you don't complain, you don't freak out, you don't throw a tantrum, you don't whine, if you do all that, we will get a frozen yogurt, a racetrack on the way home. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.240 I mean, we go all out. 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.519 We're all out. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.039 Right? 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:09.200 A reward for behavior. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.000 So we do it, it works. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:20.960 But it's not love-based, it's not gift, that's not gift, that's reward. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:24.079 So I think there's three options here for these crowns. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:27.279 I've been just trying to reconcile this. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:31.119 First is the language is literal. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:37.599 And we will experience it like we would any other reward in this life. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:40.880 So there'll be some shame and regret. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.920 Now, I don't believe that at all, but it's an option. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:48.079 The second is, is perhaps the language is figurative. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:19:07.200 And the biblical writers are trying to come close to some experience we'll have in the afterlife when sin and shame and guilt are completely gone away, and we'll have the fullest extent of fulfillment with God and the fullest extent of peace and wholeness. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:09.920 And how do you get language around that? 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:14.000 Well, maybe you use some language about crowns. 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:21.759 Or the third option, the language is literal, but the experience of it will be heavenly. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:31.279 Jonathan Edwards comes into this third option, an amazing theologian from the 18th century. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:38.400 He said it this way every vessel that is cast into this ocean of happiness is full. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:42.799 Though there are some vessels far larger than others. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:46.960 And there shall be no such thing as envy in heaven. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:51.519 But perfect love shall reign throughout the whole society. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:55.200 Last verse, verse 18. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:59.680 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:08.480 Point number three is this there is no fear in the love God has for you, so you can live with less fear in life. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:19.039 Not only do we have fear of death, usually we bottle up and put it way deep down so we can just operate day to day. 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:21.519 But we have fear in life. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:27.279 Some of us are too busy to understand these fears that are going on in our hearts. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:33.440 Some of that fear is built out of our own sin, and some of that's built out of shame, of past woundedness. 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:39.039 But it's there, driving us to some extent. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:42.960 I have a fear of not being significant in the world. 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:45.759 It's probably even why I chose this profession. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:50.799 I also have a fear of not being seen as competent. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:54.880 I have a fear I won't have enough. 00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:58.400 That the money will run out. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:00.799 I won't be able to provide in some way. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.039 I have a fear not of death. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:08.160 I don't fear death, but I fear dying too early. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:14.559 The idea of death sort of to me is fascinating, that great mystery. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.599 I mean, what is it? 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.440 I mean, what will this be? 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:19.359 This great adventure on the other side. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:22.720 I don't fear that, but I fear dying too early. 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:25.519 I don't want to die for a very long time. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:29.680 I still have little kids. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:35.839 I fear something happening to one of my daughters or my wife. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.359 We all have fears. 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:48.400 John simplifies it for us. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:52.400 He said, God is love, and there's no fear in love. 00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:54.480 So at least, right? 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:59.680 So at least in all of our fear, at least. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.599 You don't have to fear God. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:06.160 And at least you don't have to fear death itself. 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:25.279 So this means our growth and grace here in this world becomes knowing and resting more and more in our acceptance and welcome that we have even now already, while we're imperfect, but not yet fully like we will know one day. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:35.279 And knowing and resting in that embrace and in that beloved identity that we already have. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:39.519 That's what maturity is. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:43.680 Knowing we're wrapped up in love already. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:52.720 The image we keep revisiting in the series in 1 John is Rembrandt's painting of the prodigal son, the return of the prodigal son. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:59.759 For the past two chapters of John, we just keep revisiting it over and over again. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:02.880 Maybe you remember the parable Jesus taught. 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:05.680 The son runs off with the inheritance. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:08.799 It would be an incredible embarrassment to the dad. 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.359 The money runs out. 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:15.039 He's foolish. 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:20.160 He comes back beaten, worn down. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:27.279 And the loving father, that representation of God, wraps him up. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:34.240 I told you one of our prisoners went to Russia a few weeks ago with his son, and here's the picture that I referred to. 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.920 This is a picture of him in the St. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:39.519 Petersburg Museum with his boy. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:45.920 I think he fought off everybody to get that amount of clearance in front of a famous painting. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:49.279 It's a beautiful image, right? 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:52.799 Of how we love our children. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:59.519 But then also a biblical image of how God loves us. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:04.640 Here's what hit me this week in this painting. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:11.200 What hit me is there is judgment in this painting. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.519 Don't miss that. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:17.359 There is judgment in our relationship with God. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:22.319 It's just that he judges us in love. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:30.160 He judges us through Christ's work for us, not our own merit or our own word. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.519 Right? 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:32.960 There was judgment here. 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:36.480 He showed up beaten, down, nothing to offer. 00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:39.839 And this father put judgment over him. 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:45.839 But the judgment was, hey, give him a new robe. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.920 Put a ring on his finger. 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.039 Let's throw a party. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:52.000 The judgment was not of fear. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:59.359 The judgment was of love because perfect fear, perfect love casts out fear. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:03.920 Perfect love casts out fear. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:06.960 This is why the boy is at rest. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:15.200 This is why we are at rest when we think about death and when we think about the afterlife. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:22.400 My brothers and sisters in Christ, you will be judged. 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:24.799 But the judgment is in love. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:28.319 For perfect love casts out fear. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:30.160 Let's pray together. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:34.240 God, thank you for your grace and mercy, which we need. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:43.599 For if judgment was upon our merit, we would not live up to what you have asked of us for holiness. 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:46.880 We don't live up to who we want to be. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:52.559 We are more broken and more sinful than we originally thought. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:59.359 Yeah, we look at this first John and see that you are our advocate. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:02.000 Jesus is enough. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:03.279 He is our substitute. 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.480 You have taken our sin. 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:06.799 You give to us your righteousness. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:09.759 We have full standing forever as your beloved. 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:14.160 That you don't just love us, you are love. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:20.559 And your perfect love casts out fear. 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:27.519 There are some of us in this room that fear dying. 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:32.400 Not just fear dying too early, but fear dying. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:40.480 Would they find greater and greater rest and the sufficiency of Jesus for them? 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:54.799 There are those of us in here that have been put on paths of merit, even as Christians, trying to earn some status in heaven. 00:26:55.519 --> 00:27:02.160 Would you free us into being motivated by love and not fear? 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:12.960 Would you give us desire to know you more, to rest in you more, to be more astonished by the greatness of your gospel? 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:23.920 That we are already counted righteous in your sight, and that you regard us as He is righteous. 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.519 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.000 Amen.