WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.800 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:23.519 Well, good morning and welcome. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:31.679 If you have your Bible or your device, I encourage you to make your way to the book of Ephesians in the first chapter. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:39.600 So we continue our Christmas theme on the fullness of time. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:42.960 As always happens when I plan one of these series. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:49.439 You get into studying it, you realize there's far more to it than you initially realized. 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:56.640 And this is just such a rich, rich theme this season, the fullness of time. 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:12.879 And last Sunday I laid on Webb a very difficult task to begin the series, to somehow get inside my head and know what I was thinking and direction I wanted us to go and to preach it well. 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.000 And he set the stage for us very well. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:30.400 And this morning we're going to pick up in Ephesians chapter 1 with the second of three times in Scripture that we see the phrase, the fullness of time. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:45.200 When Scripture uses this phrase, it refers to some element of the incarnation, of God becoming flesh, of taking on human form in order to die. 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:53.040 The element that is going to be focused on this morning is Christ's death leading to our forgiveness. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:59.840 And this is a communion Sunday, so it's very appropriate to have the theme of forgiveness central in our hearts and minds. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:10.639 And if you came in later than Webb's announcements, don't forget that you can find the communion elements at the back of the sanctuary by the doors if you didn't see them on the way in. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:32.639 It's my desire, my prayer that this morning is going to be building, building towards the pinnacle of celebrating, remembering and celebrating together the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection with the fullness of repentance, motivated by a fullness of understanding. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:42.800 I have entitled this morning's message The Fullness of Forgiveness, but that, of course, is not the phrase that we find in Ephesians chapter 1. 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:47.759 Instead, in verse 10, we see the fullness of time. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:51.759 There's a reason for that. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:03:04.479 The reason for that is that verses 3 through 14 are famously in the Greek language in which the Apostle Paul originally wrote, they are all a single run-on sentence. 00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:07.919 The Apostle Paul would have driven English teachers mad. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:15.120 Thankfully, our English translators have worked diligently to make it a little bit easier for us. 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:24.080 And generally, our English translations take verses 3 through 14, divided into three still quite long sentences. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:32.879 But what this tells us is that this idea of the fullness of time is not set apart all by itself. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:37.919 It fits into the entire section of verse 3 through verse 14. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:45.759 This morning I would like us to focus particularly on verse 7 and part of verse 8. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:53.759 But to help us get some context, I'd like to begin reading in verse 3, if you would like to follow along. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:59.680 The Apostle Paul wrote to this ancient church in verse 3. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:04.719 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:17.199 The God who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:21.519 That we should be holy and blameless before him. 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:31.040 In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:41.199 All according to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us, literally graced us in the beloved. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:54.079 In him that is in Christ, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:05:04.879 And in all wisdom and in all insight, he made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:06.879 How? 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:19.120 As a plan for the fullness of time, in order to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:20.079 Amen. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:49.519 It begins at the beginning in verse 3 with God's electing grace in eternity past, choosing us for Himself, and it continues all the way through the salvation plan till the culmination of it in eternity future with the eternal inheritance that we have in Christ. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:06:02.079 And right in the middle, right in the middle of all of that working of God, is a particular benefit of God's working. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:10.399 A particular benefit that we participate in and receive within his purpose to unite all things in Christ. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:12.800 And that's going to be our focus. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:16.240 Just that one little element, primarily in verse 7. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:24.240 Before we get to that, though, I'd like you to look at verse 10 for a moment and notice that God has a plan for the fullness of time. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:30.639 What we experience in life is not haphazard. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:33.680 It doesn't just happen. 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:46.560 God has a plan for the fullness of time, and that plan is set forth in his Son, Jesus Christ, and it will become united in him completely and fully. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:48.800 More on that next week. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:59.120 Nobody understood the fullness of God's plan. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.279 But it's now been graciously revealed. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:08.560 In other words, saints in Old Testament times, before the time of Christ, did not know the details of God's plan. 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:18.319 Those saints participated in and observed continually all of the blood sacrifices. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:30.959 But they could not see how the fulfillment of all of that blood would be seen in the blood coming from his son. 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:58.800 To be a part of this plan in Christ within the fullness of time requires being united with Christ. 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:02.399 Hear that clearly. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:16.000 If you want to be a part of God's purposeful plan to be carried out in the fullness of time, you must be united with Christ. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:24.079 That can only occur if you receive the fullness of forgiveness. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:34.720 Or to state it another way, unity with Christ is simply impossible without the fullness of forgiveness. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:45.279 I'd like you to consider with me this morning three aspects of the fullness of forgiveness as we work towards celebrating what Christ has done for us. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:51.919 I'd like you to consider with me how God paid for redemption. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:09:00.399 I'd like you to consider the penalty for trespassing and how God provided for our forgiveness. 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:12.399 Now we can only do this well if we enter the Holy of Holies, God's very presence with a spirit of awe and a spirit of praise. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.159 That's the only way this is possible. 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:30.799 Awe because we understand his choosing in verse 3, his electing grace that brings us near, and praise because we understand his adopting grace that took offending people and made them sons and daughters of the living God. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:36.320 That's the only way we get to verse 7. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:45.679 In him, in the beloved, in Christ, we have redemption. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:57.759 Through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, all according to the riches of his grace, which is lavished upon us. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:02.960 Look with me then first at the payment for redemption. 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:04.960 The payment for redemption. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:10.799 Now, if we think about a payment for redemption, that means we need to understand what redemption is. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:14.879 In him, in Christ, we have redemption. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:16.799 What is redemption? 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:20.799 It's not a term that we use often today. 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:27.759 But in ancient times it was quite common and it referred to something or someone that was freed. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:32.240 Ancient cultures use this often for the freeing of a slave. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:39.919 The word used here means to liberate or to grant freedom to another because of the making of a payment. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:45.840 Now that implies that there is a need for freedom. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:54.720 A bondage of sorts, of some kind, exists from which one needs to be freed. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:11:06.799 If you need or if you require or if you desire redemption, then you are saying that you desire freedom from something that holds power over you. 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:19.200 Being redeemed, then implies that the one who is redeemed or who is freed possesses a new kind of freedom that did not exist before. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:22.240 There are all kinds of examples that we could give. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:26.080 There's a couple that I would like you to think about with me from the Old Testament. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:30.879 And the first is found in that Old Testament small book called Ruth. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.840 It's named Ruth, but it's really more about Naomi. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:47.759 Naomi is a woman who was married to a man named Elimelech, who lived in Bethlehem, the house of bread, at a time in which there was no bread. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:56.559 There was a famine in the land, and so they had to take everything they had, and they moved across the Jordan River to the foreign country of Moab. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:01.919 While there, disaster struck the family. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:04.559 Their two sons married. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:11.440 Then the father died, and then the sons died, leaving Naomi with two daughters-in-law. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:21.360 One, Ruth, returned back to the land of Canaan with her because they heard that God had blessed the house of bread with bread. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:26.159 But they had an issue. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:30.879 They had an issue with their property because their property needed to be redeemed. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:35.279 You find this account in Lu in not Luke, Ruth chapter 4. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:46.000 I'd like you to listen to what happened when Naomi's relative Boaz met up with a closer relative who had the first rite of redemption. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:48.720 This is in Ruth chapter 4, beginning in verse 3. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:53.039 Boaz said to the Redeemer, Naomi has returned. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:57.519 She's come back from the country of Moab, and she's in need. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:04.720 As a result of her need, she's selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:08.960 Now understand that if she sells it, it's no longer in her possession. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.360 It's no longer in the family's possession. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:15.840 It belongs, it's in bondage, if you will, to someone else. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:20.639 So I thought I would tell you about it, Boaz says. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:26.960 Buy it here as a family member in the presence of the elders and those sitting here. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:35.360 And if you will, then redeem it, redeem it, buy it back for the sake of the family to keep it from going into bondage. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:43.120 But if you won't do it, then tell me, because I stand next in line, and I would like to redeem it if you don't. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:48.399 The rest of that short book then details how Boaz redeemed the property. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.799 He bought it for the family. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:57.840 See, as long as it was in the family's possession, it belonged to them as their inheritance from God. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:08.399 It forever belonged to the family, but if they sold it outside of the family, it was as it were in bondage, the property of someone else. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.440 But it could be redeemed, it could be bought back. 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:18.399 And the most common way that we think about redemption is in regards to people, not property. 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:25.279 The best example there comes from God's people, Israel. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:31.200 See, Israel was redeemed by God from Egypt. 00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:36.799 There are a couple of statements that I want to point you to, and both of them are from the book of Deuteronomy. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:56.960 Moses wrote in Deuteronomy chapter 7, verse 8, he said, It is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that he has brought you out of Egypt with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:59.440 From the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:06.240 Here Moses reminded all the people, you were possessed by someone else. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.600 Someone else owned you. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:14.559 You were the property of someone else, your God who is strong and who is mighty, he redeemed you. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:17.600 He brought you out of that place. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:29.200 That's why a little bit later he would say in Deuteronomy 15, you shall remember always that you were possessed by someone else. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.399 You were a slave in the land of Egypt. 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:36.879 And the Lord your God redeemed you. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:46.639 See, when it pertains to people, redemption indicates that the people being redeemed are in the place of slavery. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:50.320 They are in the possession of someone else. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:57.200 And inherent then within that idea of redemption is that idea of possession and slavery to another. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:02.799 And then someone comes along and rescues from slavery. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:07.519 But the rescue involves a price. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:18.320 Payment is made to procure another's freedom. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:35.200 That's why we read in Psalm 74, verse 2, in a worshipful sense, remember your congregation, O God, which you purchased of old, and which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance. 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:41.840 There's the idea of redemption and the idea of purchase price to redeem Israel from her slavery. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:46.960 There was always a payment given for redemption. 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:57.919 By using this word. 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:19.519 Ancient Israel was in essence a group of ethnic slaves whom God redeemed. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:24.400 God paid the price to redeem them. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:34.480 Now, if you remember the account of Israel coming out of Egypt, you know that a price was paid. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:38.240 God said that he was coming in judgment. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:46.960 He gave ten signs to the people of Egypt, the last of which was the worst. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.400 He said, I'm coming for your firstborn. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:56.240 That's the price that I'm exacting. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:00.079 He said, There's only one way of escape. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:03.599 And that's as if you have a substitute. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:10.799 So he told his people, you have the opportunity to escape my judgment. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:17.519 So take a lamb and slaughter that lamb and put its blood on the doorpost. 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:20.799 Because a destroying angel is coming. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:28.319 And when that destroying angel passes over the house with the blood on it, I will stand in the gap. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:32.079 And I will say, You're not coming here. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:40.640 Anyone who had faith in Israel's God was required to have a substitute. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:46.000 God required the life of a substitute in order to avoid judgment. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:50.640 And in that Passover, the substitute was the lamb. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:19:04.880 And after that moment, every Passover, every Passover season, a sacrifice was made as a reminder that a price had been paid to redeem the nation from bondage in Egypt. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.240 God brought them out. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:11.039 A lamb gave its life so that Israel might have freedom. 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:14.640 Now we are not Old Testament national Israel. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:22.160 But you still must realize your need for redemption. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:29.279 If for no other reason than why we're gathered today. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:38.079 In a few moments, we're going to participate together in celebrating the Lord's table, remembering his crucifixion and his death. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:43.839 Friends, communion makes absolutely no sense if you have no need for redemption. 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:50.319 If you have no need for redemption, communion is pointless. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:52.720 It doesn't make any sense whatsoever. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:20:03.519 You see, Israel's experience in Egypt, in slavery, and coming out of that slavery, being redeemed by their God, parallels that of all of humanity. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:11.680 Because all of us, you and me, we have lived in the house of slavery. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:17.200 God says that from the moment of birth onward we are slaves. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:19.920 I'll give you just a couple of examples. 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:30.240 First, in John chapter 8, verse 34, Jesus said that anyone who sins is a slave of sin. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.599 Anyone not sinned? 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:39.759 Then you are a slave to sin. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:21:03.759 Romans chapter 6, verse 16, the Apostle Paul wrote, Do you not know that if you present yourselves, if you give yourselves over to anyone as being obedient to them, as a slave would be obedient, then you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience to God, which leads to righteousness. 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:11.599 Verse 20 of that same chapter, Romans 6, it's written, For when you were slaves of sin. 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:14.640 Beloved, the scriptures are very clear. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:20.400 We may not belong in physical slavery to another group of people. 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:28.000 But we exist in general as human beings, as slaves to sin. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:38.880 And anyone who is in slavery needs redemption, needs rescue. 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:44.960 And the good news is that like ancient Israel, all who are in Christ are redeemed out of slavery. 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:48.720 Listen to Colossians chapter 1, beginning in verse 13. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:53.359 Speaking of Christ, it says he has delivered us out of the domain of darkness. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:59.759 And he's transferred us, he's moved us from one location to another into the kingdom of his body. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:07.359 Beloved Son, in whom, in Christ, in the Son, we have redemption, which is the forgiveness of our sins. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:17.839 There we begin to move from this idea of physical escape, physical release from bondage to that of spiritual release of bondage. 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:20.400 The idea of forgiveness. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:33.680 When we come into the New Testament, that becomes the emphasis, not the physical act of freeing, but the spiritual act of freeing by identifying redemption with forgiveness. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:38.960 To be redeemed by God is to be forgiven in Christ. 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:47.759 I'd like you to look with me then back in Ephesians chapter 1 at the provision for forgiveness. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:23:01.200 In Him we have redemption through, by means of, provided by His blood. 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:14.720 The forgiveness, the provision for forgiveness has always been through blood. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:20.640 Think back to the Garden of Eden. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:27.519 When Adam and Eve chose to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, that one tree out of all the trees. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:30.000 God said, Don't eat of that one. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:34.079 As a result of that, they realized that they were naked. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.039 They had offended God. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:36.240 What did God do? 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:39.359 God became the first clothing designer. 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:41.599 Right? 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:43.440 He made clothes. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:46.720 What did he make the clothes out of? 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:49.119 Animal skins. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:57.200 An animal had to die to provide forgiveness for Adam and Eve. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:00.960 We just go on throughout the scriptures. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:05.440 Blood had to be shed to shield the people from the Passover judgment. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:20.400 The blood sacrifices offered daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, decade after decade, century after century to atone for sin, both individually and corporately, as the people of Israel. 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:30.000 That's why when we get to the book of Hebrews, chapter 9, verse 22 in the New Testament, we read the words, without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:33.920 Your sins cannot be forgiven unless blood is shed. 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:37.839 It's no different today. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:42.000 And so we see then the price of our redemption was blood. 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:45.119 It was blood. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:53.279 Redemption in a spiritual sense is always bloody. 00:24:54.720 --> 00:25:02.319 That's why Acts chapter 20 and verse 28 would say that Jesus obtained us, obtained us with his own blood. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:06.799 Peter would say it a little bit differently in a more verbose way. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:16.319 If you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, make sure you conduct yourselves with fear throughout your time of exile. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.880 Why? 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:25.200 Because you know that you are ransomed, you are redeemed, you were bought out from the feudal ways inherited from your forefathers. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:36.480 Not with things that don't last, like gold and silver, but with the blood of Christ, the precious blood of Christ. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:42.240 As though he were a lamb without blemish or spot. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:26:02.000 God provided graciously for Abraham when he required Abraham to take his son up on top of Mount Moriah and offer him as a blood sacrifice. 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:05.680 God provided a substitute. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:11.839 The very last moment he said to Abraham, Stop, there's a ram over there caught in the thicket. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.640 Go get him. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:13.759 Shed his blood. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:15.519 I'm providing a substitute. 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:23.599 But in the fullness of time, God would provide for all of humanity by giving the blood of his son. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.480 As a substitute. 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:33.599 The blood that was worth more than all the gold and silver and precious things of the universe combined. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:37.759 That's what the apostle is referring to here in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 7. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:42.559 In him, in Christ, in our substitute, we have redemption. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.279 How? 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:46.160 Through his blood. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:27:00.240 Now we can understand, at least to some extent, why the Passover was so important to Israel and why that routine was kept in the same way year after year after year, all the way up until the time Jesus kept it with his disciples. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:08.160 But the images and the meaning ought to be important to us too, because we too were slaves to sin. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.640 Maybe you still are. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.880 If you still are, then run to Christ. 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:20.640 We're slaves in bondage. 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:27.759 And God has provided for our forgiveness through the blood of the Lamb of God. 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.680 How great is that? 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:34.720 Maybe you've heard the name Augustus Toplity. 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:40.880 He's the writer of the old hymn Rock of Ages, a contemporary of John Wesley. 00:27:42.960 --> 00:28:02.079 About this time of year, Augustus Toplity wrote, Upon a review of the last year, I desire to confess that my unfaithfulness has been exceedingly great, and my sins still greater. 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:06.880 But God's mercies greater than both. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:19.440 My shortcomings and my misdoings, my unbelief and my want of love would sink me into the lowest hell was not Jesus, my righteousness and my redeemer. 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:23.200 That's every one of us. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:31.920 In him we have redemption through his blood. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:36.160 Now look with me at the penalty for trespassing. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:38.880 The penalty for trespassing. 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:46.880 In him we have redemption through his blood. 00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:50.000 The forgiveness of our trespasses. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:51.839 What does it mean to trespass? 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:58.000 Saw these signs all the time when I was growing up in the opposite corner of North Dakota. 00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:05.920 Thankfully, I knew the neighbors and they didn't mind me transgressing most of the time. 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:14.400 You know, you'd be walking through the river bottoms of Little Missouri River. 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:17.200 You'd see these signs posted all over the trees. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.720 No trespassing. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:20.160 What does that mean? 00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:24.079 Well, it means that there's a boundary, right? 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:27.519 In some cases it might be a physical boundary like a fence. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:31.839 In other cases, it might be an imaginary boundary, saying, this belongs to me. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:36.079 Don't you dare cross over this line to do whatever you want to do. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:45.920 Because the one who has the boundary, the one who sets the boundary, is the one who sets the rules, who sets the laws, who says, this is what you can do, this is what you can't do. 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:50.400 And God has said, I'm the sovereign. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:53.279 And I've set a boundary in place. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:58.640 And you all have trespassed. 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:04.880 Again and again and again. 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:15.359 Now, if our trespasses are forgiven, that means that there must have been a penalty for trespassing. 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:25.279 That implies that because we because we went across the line that God set, there must be a penalty that comes to us. 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:27.119 What is that penalty? 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.960 Well, we could answer that in a number of ways. 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:31.920 I would like to answer that from the book of Ephesians. 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:37.519 But in order to answer that from the book of Ephesians, I need you to think about the whole of Scripture with me. 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:48.079 I would submit to you that in the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul wants us to understand the penalty of trespassing as distance. 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:52.079 Distance from God. 00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:08.240 Blood was shed. 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:11.680 And then what happened next? 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.960 God said, get out. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.880 He said, Get out. 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:21.680 You cannot be here any longer. 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:24.160 My holiness cannot tolerate you. 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.359 Get out. 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:28.079 Get out of my garden. 00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:32.400 Get out of the place where I walk with you in the cool of the evening. 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:34.480 Get out where you hear my voice. 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.839 You must go. 00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:37.279 And he kicked them out. 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:46.559 And he stationed cherubim with flaming swords at the entrances so that they could no longer come back and have communion with God. 00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:52.400 He said, Go, be at a distance from me, lest you die. 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:59.680 That was the image that God gave Israel in the Day of Atonement and the images in this in the scapegoat. 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:02.400 Two goats were brought to be sacrificed. 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:20.880 One goat was slaughtered so that the high priest could take the blood of that goat and go into the temple, and in the temple go into the very holy of holies, into the presence of God, and with that blood sprinkle it, so that God's anger and his wrath would be atoned, would be satisfied. 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:36.240 The other goat had all of the sins of the community confessed and laid on that goat, and it was led outside of the community, so that it would be set free to wander in the wilderness. 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:42.960 See, it was sent away from the presence of God so that the people wouldn't be. 00:32:46.160 --> 00:32:48.880 We think about the mountain of Sinai. 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:57.839 God told Moses, make sure that you put up a fence around the bottom of this mountain so that the people don't break through and come close to me. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:02.400 Because if they break through and come close to me, then I'm going to break out against them. 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:06.319 Distance from God. 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:14.400 What was the picture presented every single time you went to church, that is, at the temple in ancient times? 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:16.240 It was distance. 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:27.920 The very presence of God was found in that cube of space called the Holy of Holies. 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:30.400 That was God's presence. 00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:39.359 And again, only one person could go there, only one time of year, and only under a specific set of circumstances, lest he die. 00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:42.480 Only one person. 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:45.920 You step back from there into the temple proper. 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:54.400 Oh, priests could go there, but again, only after a prescribed series of cleansings, sacrifices. 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:58.079 But you and I couldn't go there. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:02.079 Because you take a step away from there is the court of men. 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:06.960 Still further from God is the court of women. 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:12.880 And furthest from the presence of God in the Holy of Holies is the court of the Gentiles. 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:17.360 Distance from God. 00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:20.000 God said, You can't come near me. 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:35.199 Maybe one of the most painful demonstrations of this distance was when God said to his people, get out. 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:39.840 I've given you this land, it's your inheritance forever. 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.880 Get out. 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:43.119 Get out. 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:49.199 And he exiled them, scattered them into various nations for 70 years. 00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.519 He said, Get out. 00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:54.400 You can't be in my presence. 00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:58.719 You have sinned against me, you have transgressed my law. 00:34:59.280 --> 00:35:02.159 You have trespassed the line that I set. 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.280 Get out. 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:13.679 Friends, we do not grasp our own forgiveness from God if we do not feel being held at length, at arm's length, from God. 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:15.760 You know what this feels like. 00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:21.199 All of us have been held at arm's length by another human being. 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.639 We've offended them. 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:24.400 We've made them mad for some reason. 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:26.400 Maybe we didn't even know why. 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:29.679 And now there's a distance between us. 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:37.360 If you don't have a sense of that distance between you and God because of your sin, then you don't get forgiveness. 00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:39.280 You don't understand it. 00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:41.519 But this is far worse. 00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:43.679 This is being booted from the garden. 00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:46.400 This is being driven out from the presence of God. 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:52.400 This is being driven out from God's grace, from God's mercy, from his perfect goodness and his perfect love. 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:56.239 No longer having access to God Himself. 00:35:58.079 --> 00:36:04.880 What does it mean then to have our trespasses forgiven? 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.519 Let me show you. 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:09.920 Flip over to page chapter 2. 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:14.559 There's only two spots in the book of Ephesians where blood is mentioned. 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:21.599 One is Ephesians 1.7, the other is in chapter 2 and verse 13. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:26.559 But now, wonderful words. 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:30.880 But now, in Christ Jesus. 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:34.559 You who once were far off. 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:36.480 Why were you far off? 00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:39.360 Because of your trespasses. 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:49.599 All of you who once were far off, driven away from God, have been brought near. 00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:51.199 How? 00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:55.519 By the blood of Christ. 00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:57.519 There are no more barriers. 00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:59.360 They're broken down. 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:02.079 Access to God is restored. 00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:07.440 It's as though we now have access with the high priest to the Holy of Holies. 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:07.920 Why? 00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:09.599 Because we carry blood with us. 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.320 What blood? 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.920 The blood of Christ. 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:14.960 Who have we trespassed against? 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:16.800 God. 00:37:17.199 --> 00:37:17.599 R.C. 00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:18.880 Sproul would say it famously. 00:37:18.960 --> 00:37:20.719 That's cosmic treason. 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:25.039 Who needs to be redeemed? 00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:27.599 We do. 00:37:30.159 --> 00:37:30.800 Why? 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:34.400 Because we've trespassed. 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:37.440 What do we need to be redeemed from? 00:37:38.719 --> 00:37:40.320 Our slavery to sin. 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:44.000 What's the price of our redemption? 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:47.039 Blood. 00:37:48.559 --> 00:37:52.079 Whose blood covers our trespasses? 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:54.719 Christ Jesus. 00:37:56.400 --> 00:38:00.400 In him we have redemption. 00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:02.400 Through his blood. 00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:05.280 The forgiveness of our trespasses. 00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:12.719 Now, how much forgiveness does Jesus' blood provide? 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:16.320 Enough to get you through today? 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:17.840 We hope. 00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:20.000 Tomorrow? 00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:23.360 All that you've done in the past? 00:38:24.800 --> 00:38:26.400 Some of what you've done in the future? 00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:27.039 No. 00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:33.360 When Jesus pays a price, he provides the fullness of forgiveness. 00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:36.880 Look with me at Ephesians 1, verse 4. 00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:41.360 How much forgiveness does Jesus' blood provide, verse 4? 00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:54.320 He provides enough forgiveness so that the trespassers who trust in him will now be called holy and without blame. 00:38:56.239 --> 00:38:58.400 That's how much forgiveness. 00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:05.360 So that the one that we've trespassed against looks at us and says, You have no more trespasses. 00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:06.480 They're gone. 00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:12.239 How much forgiveness do we have, verse seven? 00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:13.920 Sorry, verse five. 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:15.039 Verse five. 00:39:15.679 --> 00:39:20.880 Enough so that the Father could say to all of the people who trespassed against him. 00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:26.400 I want you to be my son. 00:39:28.159 --> 00:39:30.159 I want you to be my daughter. 00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:34.320 I'm covering your trespass. 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:38.800 How much forgiveness is there in verse 7? 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:45.679 Enough so that it can be described as the riches of God's grace. 00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:52.960 Whoever the richest person is now, Bill Gates or whomever, doesn't hold a candle to God. 00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:56.239 Except for you. 00:39:57.599 --> 00:39:59.599 If you have his forgiveness. 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:04.800 Because he's given to you the riches of his grace. 00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:07.920 How much forgiveness do we have, according to verse 8? 00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:12.000 Enough to be described as being lavished upon us. 00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:22.559 Imagine if Christ had never left the throne of glory, if Christ had never condescended to become a man in order to shed his blood, where would you and I be? 00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:29.360 There would be no fullness of time. 00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:32.960 If Christ never condescended. 00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:37.760 And there would definitely be no fullness of forgiveness. 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:52.639