0:00:00.736,0:00:05.250 Please turn in your Bibles to Ephesians 2. 0:00:05.250,0:00:08.953 I would like to have us read together 0:00:08.953,0:00:16.110 the first seven verses once again. 0:00:16.110,0:00:20.931 Remembering the context. 0:00:24.569,0:00:32.452 Paul says that he remembers the Ephesians 0:00:32.452,0:00:35.342 in his prayers, 0:00:35.342,0:00:43.317 and he asks that God would give them 0:00:43.317,0:00:45.733 the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation 0:00:45.733,0:00:47.596 in the knowledge of Him. 0:00:47.596,0:00:48.976 He wanted their eyes, 0:00:48.976,0:00:52.642 their hearts enlightened. 0:00:52.642,0:00:59.759 The hope of our calling. 0:00:59.759,0:01:04.112 That we would know what is 0:01:04.112,0:01:07.364 the immeasurable greatness of His power 0:01:07.364,0:01:08.994 toward us who believe 0:01:08.994,0:01:11.335 according to the working [br]of His great might. 0:01:11.335,0:01:14.165 That is the issue on the table. 0:01:14.165,0:01:19.067 That we would have revelation of God, 0:01:19.067,0:01:23.609 and that we would come [br]to know this power of God 0:01:23.609,0:01:28.241 that is being demonstrated on behalf of 0:01:28.241,0:01:29.949 those who believe. 0:01:29.949,0:01:31.826 That's what verse 19 says. 0:01:31.826,0:01:35.179 An immeasurable, or an [br]exceeding greatness, 0:01:35.179,0:01:38.499 of God's power toward us who believe, 0:01:38.499,0:01:40.791 according to the [br]working of God's great might 0:01:40.791,0:01:43.088 that He worked in [br]Christ when He raised Him 0:01:43.088,0:01:44.104 from the dead. 0:01:44.104,0:01:46.568 That's the issue. 0:01:46.568,0:01:50.064 The first three verses of chapter 2 0:01:50.064,0:01:53.489 show us the wretchedness 0:01:53.489,0:01:56.249 that the power rescued us from. 0:01:56.249,0:01:58.000 Let's read those three verses. 0:01:58.000,0:02:01.573 "You were dead in the trespasses and sins 0:02:01.573,0:02:02.779 in which you once walked, 0:02:02.779,0:02:04.647 following the course of this world, 0:02:04.647,0:02:06.845 following the prince [br]of the power of the air, 0:02:06.845,0:02:08.328 the spirit that is now at work 0:02:08.328,0:02:11.571 in the sons of disobedience, 0:02:11.571,0:02:13.203 among whom we all..." 0:02:13.203,0:02:14.859 All of us. 0:02:14.859,0:02:16.453 These first three verses 0:02:16.453,0:02:18.660 used to contain all of us. 0:02:18.660,0:02:21.504 "We all once lived in the [br]passions of our flesh 0:02:21.504,0:02:23.028 carrying out the desires 0:02:23.028,0:02:24.573 of the body and the mind, 0:02:24.573,0:02:30.885 and were by nature children of wrath." 0:02:30.885,0:02:33.656 By nature hell-bound. 0:02:33.656,0:02:39.766 By nature under the [br]hatred and anger of God. 0:02:39.766,0:02:45.971 Just like all the rest of mankind. 0:02:45.971,0:02:50.896 Here is the power that Paul wants us 0:02:50.896,0:02:55.428 to be able to perceive. 0:02:55.428,0:02:58.555 That our eyes might be enlightened, 0:02:58.555,0:03:00.678 the eyes of our hearts enlightened, 0:03:00.678,0:03:03.235 that we may know what this is, 0:03:03.235,0:03:05.076 what this power is. 0:03:05.076,0:03:08.622 Here comes God breaking [br]in to this wretchedness 0:03:08.622,0:03:10.006 and this darkness. 0:03:10.006,0:03:12.131 This is the demonstration of His power. 0:03:12.131,0:03:14.891 God being rich in mercy, 0:03:14.891,0:03:17.224 because of the great love with[br]which He loved us, 0:03:17.224,0:03:20.146 even when we were dead in our trespasses. 0:03:20.146,0:03:22.085 Nothing good in us. 0:03:22.085,0:03:23.916 It wasn't because of any beauty, 0:03:23.916,0:03:25.444 anything attractive, 0:03:25.444,0:03:27.108 anything desirable; 0:03:27.108,0:03:28.675 it was even when we were 0:03:28.675,0:03:30.391 dead in our trespasses. 0:03:30.391,0:03:34.347 God made us alive together with Christ. 0:03:34.347,0:03:35.984 And we looked at this last time. 0:03:35.984,0:03:37.869 By grace you have been saved. 0:03:37.869,0:03:39.875 This is salvation. 0:03:39.875,0:03:43.356 It is to be made alive [br]together with Christ. 0:03:43.356,0:03:45.734 Today, I want us to focus our attention 0:03:45.734,0:03:46.849 in on verse 6. 0:03:46.849,0:03:49.636 "And raised us up with Him." 0:03:49.636,0:03:51.704 That's what I want to look at. 0:03:51.704,0:03:53.065 Next week, Lord willing, 0:03:53.065,0:03:56.603 "and seated us with Him (with Christ) 0:03:56.603,0:04:01.642 together with Christ [br]in the heavenly places 0:04:01.642,0:04:04.980 in Christ Jesus." 0:04:04.980,0:04:06.893 Lord willing, two weeks, 0:04:06.893,0:04:09.229 "so that in the coming ages, 0:04:09.229,0:04:11.031 He might show the [br]immeasurable riches 0:04:11.031,0:04:19.756 of His grace in kindness [br]toward us in Christ Jesus." 0:04:19.756,0:04:22.830 What we need to feel here 0:04:22.830,0:04:28.564 is the extremity of this. 0:04:28.564,0:04:33.055 The extremes here. 0:04:33.055,0:04:35.059 In the first three verses, 0:04:35.059,0:04:38.354 man is at the absolute lowest point 0:04:38.354,0:04:41.580 of wretchedness, despair, [br]and hopelessness. 0:04:41.580,0:04:46.469 They are in the very [br]condition of fallen Adam. 0:04:46.469,0:04:49.504 And we need to recognize [br]Adam's fall for what it is. 0:04:49.504,0:04:51.847 We need to recognize that Adam 0:04:51.847,0:04:58.224 took the human race as far down 0:04:58.224,0:04:59.575 as can be imagined. 0:04:59.575,0:05:01.614 That doesn't mean that [br]every single person 0:05:01.614,0:05:05.547 does all the wickedness [br]that is out there potentially, 0:05:05.547,0:05:08.501 but what we're saying is, 0:05:08.501,0:05:11.969 that his condition at every point - 0:05:11.969,0:05:14.384 his condition when it [br]comes to alive or deadness, 0:05:14.384,0:05:16.378 his condition when it [br]comes to the world, 0:05:16.378,0:05:18.656 his condition when it comes to Satan, 0:05:18.656,0:05:21.465 his condition when it [br]comes to disobedience, 0:05:21.465,0:05:23.819 his condition when it [br]comes to the wrath of God, 0:05:23.819,0:05:29.377 and when it comes to lust... 0:05:29.377,0:05:32.725 he's at the bottom of the barrel. 0:05:32.725,0:05:36.519 And God flexes His almighty power. 0:05:36.519,0:05:39.410 And here's the thing [br]that you have to recognize, 0:05:39.410,0:05:41.120 when God saves a man, 0:05:41.120,0:05:47.761 He exalts man as high as [br]the man Jesus Christ Himself. 0:05:47.761,0:05:49.742 Do you recognize that? 0:05:49.742,0:05:52.770 Do you recognize that [br]when God saves a person, 0:05:52.770,0:05:57.387 He doesn't take us any place lower 0:05:57.387,0:06:00.741 than where Christ is Himself. 0:06:00.741,0:06:02.689 That's how high He takes us. 0:06:02.689,0:06:04.573 That's the extremity here. 0:06:04.573,0:06:07.380 These verses are extreme. 0:06:07.380,0:06:10.513 They describe the utter extremities. 0:06:10.513,0:06:11.533 And you know what? 0:06:11.533,0:06:13.124 Man never dwells in the middle. 0:06:13.124,0:06:15.753 And this is a big problem. 0:06:15.753,0:06:18.677 This is where we go wrong so often. 0:06:18.677,0:06:20.148 When we look at lost men, 0:06:20.148,0:06:21.953 we don't think they're [br]as lost as they are. 0:06:21.953,0:06:23.577 And when we look at Christians, 0:06:23.577,0:06:26.380 we don't recognize that [br]they are as high as they are. 0:06:26.380,0:06:31.659 We tend to take the edge off on both ends. 0:06:31.659,0:06:33.000 Scripture doesn't do it. 0:06:33.000,0:06:35.014 Scripture says if you're lost, 0:06:35.014,0:06:37.019 it's extreme! 0:06:37.019,0:06:38.410 If you're saved, 0:06:38.410,0:06:39.922 it's the other extreme! 0:06:39.922,0:06:42.661 Man only lives at the poles. 0:06:42.661,0:06:44.809 The farthest reaches of the North Pole 0:06:44.809,0:06:47.084 or the farthest reaches of the South Pole 0:06:47.084,0:06:48.960 and no one lives in between. 0:06:48.960,0:06:50.791 And we go wrong there all the time. 0:06:50.791,0:06:53.909 We imagine people living [br]in between all the time. 0:06:53.909,0:06:57.145 We imagine Christians being [br]much lower than they are. 0:06:57.145,0:07:00.090 And we imagine lost man not nearly 0:07:00.090,0:07:02.970 being as bad as he is. 0:07:02.970,0:07:04.429 But you see it right here. 0:07:04.429,0:07:06.583 Listen, this is the way things really are. 0:07:06.583,0:07:09.211 This is the Apostle Paul under [br]the inspiration of God. 0:07:09.211,0:07:13.408 The Holy Spirit is leading [br]this apostle along 0:07:13.408,0:07:17.874 to rightly evaluate the state of mankind. 0:07:17.874,0:07:19.222 That's what we have. 0:07:19.222,0:07:20.899 There's no middle ground. 0:07:20.899,0:07:21.740 None. 0:07:21.740,0:07:25.138 Every man is either way down [br]in the depths of wretchedness, 0:07:25.138,0:07:28.424 or he is far up 0:07:28.424,0:07:32.674 on the great majestic [br]mountaintops of Christianity, 0:07:32.674,0:07:36.982 in all the glory. 0:07:36.982,0:07:43.434 The problem is it doesn't [br]feel that way often to us. 0:07:43.434,0:07:47.709 But, Christian, the real issue here is, 0:07:47.709,0:07:52.445 is Paul wants us to [br]know what's true of us, 0:07:52.445,0:07:53.856 if we're Christians. 0:07:53.856,0:07:56.060 He wants us to know [br]what God has done 0:07:56.060,0:07:57.895 to us and for us. 0:07:57.895,0:08:01.976 He is still interested that we get 0:08:01.976,0:08:06.408 this revelation of a knowledge of God 0:08:06.408,0:08:08.936 and what God has done for us. 0:08:08.936,0:08:10.133 That's the issue here. 0:08:10.133,0:08:12.123 Remember, God is the subject matter here. 0:08:12.123,0:08:13.639 We are not. 0:08:13.639,0:08:17.922 This is not mainly about what you are 0:08:17.922,0:08:20.105 as much as what God has done 0:08:20.105,0:08:22.149 to make you what you are. 0:08:22.149,0:08:24.473 That's the emphasis in these verses. 0:08:24.473,0:08:31.603 But undoubtedly we end up with who we are. 0:08:31.603,0:08:32.614 What we are. 0:08:32.614,0:08:34.436 Where we are. 0:08:34.436,0:08:36.150 And that's a reality. 0:08:36.150,0:08:39.326 God's immeasurable greatness of His power. 0:08:39.326,0:08:40.846 What has it done for us? 0:08:40.846,0:08:42.992 So, let's turn our attention to verse 6. 0:08:42.992,0:08:44.173 Look at it. 0:08:44.173,0:08:49.993 Further seek to behold this power of God. 0:08:49.993,0:08:53.145 What has the power of God done? 0:08:53.145,0:08:56.161 You see, we don't see it [br]flash out like lightning. 0:08:56.161,0:08:58.885 We don't see it come down as a thunderbolt 0:08:58.885,0:09:02.271 and consume Nadab and Abihu. 0:09:02.271,0:09:03.885 It's not like that. 0:09:03.885,0:09:05.165 We get saved, 0:09:05.165,0:09:08.165 and sometimes to the visual eye, 0:09:08.165,0:09:09.693 people watching us, 0:09:09.693,0:09:11.203 there's changes in the life, 0:09:11.203,0:09:13.061 but it's not like all of a sudden 0:09:13.061,0:09:14.592 we're branded on the forehead. 0:09:14.592,0:09:18.757 It's not all of a sudden like we glow. 0:09:18.757,0:09:21.238 And nevertheless, there is a reality here. 0:09:21.238,0:09:22.748 Look at this. Verse 6. 0:09:22.748,0:09:23.800 "And God..." 0:09:23.800,0:09:26.974 I'm pulling "God," - that God is the subject 0:09:26.974,0:09:29.553 from verse 4. 0:09:29.553,0:09:36.150 "God raised us up with Him." 0:09:36.150,0:09:39.698 Or together. God raised us up together. 0:09:39.698,0:09:47.160 The "with Christ" is implied [br]from the verse before. 0:09:47.160,0:09:50.501 The verb carries the meaning: 0:09:50.501,0:09:55.030 to cause to rise together. 0:09:55.030,0:10:00.155 It's the idea of a whole [br]room full of people 0:10:00.155,0:10:04.863 rising together. 0:10:04.863,0:10:06.566 Listen to this. 0:10:06.566,0:10:08.890 In Isaiah 14:9, when you go back 0:10:08.890,0:10:11.362 and you look at the Septuagint, 0:10:11.362,0:10:13.773 the Old Testament Greek translation. 0:10:13.773,0:10:18.720 We find this exact verb. 0:10:18.720,0:10:21.062 And you know what it's used to describe 0:10:21.062,0:10:22.479 there in Isaiah 14? 0:10:22.479,0:10:28.682 It's used to describe the destruction 0:10:28.682,0:10:32.010 of the king of Babylon. 0:10:32.010,0:10:33.801 And do you know what God says? 0:10:33.801,0:10:37.704 God says when you, king of Babylon, 0:10:37.704,0:10:41.697 are destroyed, the [br]kings of all the nations 0:10:41.697,0:10:49.574 are going to stand together [br]from off their throne. 0:10:51.611,0:10:54.055 I know a lot of you [br]have things in your lap. 0:10:54.055,0:10:55.373 Maybe it's not convenient. 0:10:55.373,0:10:56.382 But you know what, 0:10:56.382,0:10:58.067 I'm going to ask you all to stand. 0:10:58.067,0:10:59.713 When I count to three. 0:10:59.713,0:11:01.740 Not yet. 0:11:01.740,0:11:03.656 So if you've got [br]something in your lap 0:11:03.656,0:11:05.862 that's prohibiting it, [br]set it aside for a second. 0:11:05.862,0:11:07.096 I'm going to ask [br]you all to stand. 0:11:07.096,0:11:08.342 And what I want you to do 0:11:08.342,0:11:11.950 is listen to the sound. 0:11:11.950,0:11:17.618 One, two, three. 0:11:17.618,0:11:20.340 Ok, sit. 0:11:20.340,0:11:23.981 You all stood together. 0:11:23.981,0:11:29.764 You all did the action [br]that this verb carries. 0:11:29.764,0:11:34.073 The thing is, you all [br]did it in your strength. 0:11:34.073,0:11:35.973 The reality that we have here 0:11:35.973,0:11:39.855 is that when Christ rose, [br]it was by the power of God 0:11:39.855,0:11:42.689 and by that power, we all rose with Him. 0:11:42.689,0:11:43.895 That's the reality. 0:11:43.895,0:11:47.346 This greatness of the power of God 0:11:47.346,0:11:49.447 pulled us all up. 0:11:49.447,0:11:51.954 All Christians pulled up with Him. 0:11:51.954,0:11:54.197 What Paul is saying, 0:11:54.197,0:12:01.146 is that when Christ rose from the dead 0:12:01.146,0:12:06.869 and stood and threw [br]off those grave clothes, 0:12:06.869,0:12:08.698 there was a sound. 0:12:08.698,0:12:10.404 Not literally. 0:12:10.404,0:12:15.283 But there was a sound of a multitude 0:12:15.283,0:12:17.694 from every tribe and tongue, 0:12:17.694,0:12:20.978 from every people, from every nation, 0:12:20.978,0:12:25.000 that came up with Him. 0:12:25.000,0:12:27.309 That's the reality. 0:12:27.309,0:12:28.841 And then, what happens is 0:12:28.841,0:12:30.251 Christ went even higher. 0:12:30.251,0:12:31.234 We saw it. 0:12:31.234,0:12:34.354 He soars through the skies. 0:12:34.354,0:12:36.275 Through the heavens 0:12:36.275,0:12:38.164 as a great high priest, 0:12:38.164,0:12:39.820 He soared through the heavens, 0:12:39.820,0:12:42.276 and He's taken up to the right hand. 0:12:42.276,0:12:46.491 And you see from the portion of this verse 0:12:46.491,0:12:48.740 that we're going to deal with next time, 0:12:48.740,0:12:50.884 we went with Him. 0:12:50.884,0:12:53.644 There is a sound of a multitude 0:12:53.644,0:12:56.242 being taken up altogether with Him. 0:12:56.242,0:12:59.075 That's what the power of God has done. 0:12:59.075,0:13:02.709 God binds the Christian to Christ. 0:13:02.709,0:13:04.755 One with Him. 0:13:04.755,0:13:07.759 So that what happened to [br]Jesus Christ in the physical realm, 0:13:07.759,0:13:11.175 it happens to us in the spiritual. 0:13:11.175,0:13:12.722 Here's the thing. 0:13:12.722,0:13:16.352 You have to get this. 0:13:16.352,0:13:20.834 The verb itself carries the idea 0:13:20.834,0:13:22.798 of raised together. 0:13:22.798,0:13:28.314 The context doesn't mean [br]just all of us together. 0:13:28.314,0:13:35.283 The context dictates [br]it's together with Christ. 0:13:35.283,0:13:37.264 Now think with me. 0:13:37.264,0:13:40.096 Do you know what the apostle is doing? 0:13:40.096,0:13:43.686 He's got in mind a historical reality. 0:13:43.686,0:13:47.099 He's got in mind facts. 0:13:47.099,0:13:49.037 Something that actually happened 0:13:49.037,0:13:50.935 in the course of time. 0:13:50.935,0:13:53.838 He is looking back to an event 0:13:53.838,0:13:55.517 that took place, 0:13:55.517,0:13:57.944 and he's tying that together 0:13:57.944,0:14:01.438 with the reality of [br]the spiritual condition 0:14:01.438,0:14:03.808 of every Christian. 0:14:03.808,0:14:08.729 The Roman governor Pilate. 0:14:08.729,0:14:12.437 He had the scourge laid to His back. 0:14:12.437,0:14:14.258 Think with me. 0:14:14.258,0:14:16.261 Go back here. 0:14:16.261,0:14:21.023 The Roman soldiers... 0:14:21.023,0:14:27.242 they twisted together thorns. 0:14:27.242,0:14:29.328 You think they were kind in the way 0:14:29.328,0:14:32.359 they placed that on His head? 0:14:32.359,0:14:34.741 About as kind as the way they placed 0:14:34.741,0:14:36.137 the reed in His right hand, 0:14:36.137,0:14:41.633 and took it out and began to [br]whack Him in the head with it. 0:14:41.633,0:14:45.190 It says that they smote [br]Him with their hands. 0:14:45.190,0:14:47.163 It says that they spit on Him. 0:14:47.163,0:14:50.021 The Jews had already done that, 0:14:50.021,0:14:51.641 there with the high priest, 0:14:51.641,0:14:52.989 they'd already spit on Him. 0:14:52.989,0:14:56.295 Now the Romans are spitting on Him. 0:14:56.295,0:15:02.303 Luke's account says they beat Him. 0:15:02.303,0:15:05.838 They robed Him with purple. 0:15:05.838,0:15:09.221 They fell down before Him. 0:15:09.221,0:15:16.480 "Hail, King of the Jews!" 0:15:16.480,0:15:19.315 And you know what they did? 0:15:19.315,0:15:24.651 They nailed Him to a tree. 0:15:24.651,0:15:26.996 They hung Him on that tree by nails. 0:15:26.996,0:15:33.262 He bore our sins in [br]His own body on that tree. 0:15:33.262,0:15:36.639 And He hung there and He suffered. 0:15:36.639,0:15:38.417 And He came to the place where 0:15:38.417,0:15:39.843 He bowed His head 0:15:39.843,0:15:41.520 and He gave up His spirit. 0:15:41.520,0:15:43.844 He gave up His spirit. 0:15:43.844,0:15:46.397 His spirit left His body. 0:15:46.397,0:15:48.353 He was dead. 0:15:48.353,0:15:51.114 He was actually physically dead. 0:15:51.114,0:15:52.806 And they made certain He was dead. 0:15:52.806,0:15:56.194 And they rammed a [br]spear up through His side 0:15:56.194,0:15:58.240 and blood and water came out. 0:15:58.240,0:16:01.350 And His lifeless body was taken down. 0:16:01.350,0:16:03.711 And they brought myrrh [br]and they brought aloes, 0:16:03.711,0:16:05.438 and there was a nearby tomb, 0:16:05.438,0:16:07.190 and they put His body in there, 0:16:07.190,0:16:09.171 and they took a great big stone 0:16:09.171,0:16:11.008 and they sealed the tomb. 0:16:11.008,0:16:12.777 And that's historical fact. 0:16:12.777,0:16:15.751 And they sealed it. 0:16:15.751,0:16:17.428 And He was dead. 0:16:17.428,0:16:19.448 And He was in there and He was dead. 0:16:19.448,0:16:21.509 For three days. 0:16:21.509,0:16:23.220 That is the reality. 0:16:23.220,0:16:29.442 Jesus Christ laid down [br]His life for His sheep. 0:16:29.442,0:16:31.008 He was dead. 0:16:31.008,0:16:32.877 He was physically, actually, 0:16:32.877,0:16:36.577 historically, literally dead. 0:16:36.577,0:16:38.945 He was dead for three days. 0:16:38.945,0:16:41.565 It's historical fact. 0:16:41.565,0:16:43.302 And Paul's looking at that. 0:16:43.302,0:16:45.790 And he says Christian, 0:16:45.790,0:16:48.470 you are not separated from that. 0:16:48.470,0:16:50.160 You are integral with it. 0:16:50.160,0:16:52.712 You are one with what happened there. 0:16:52.712,0:16:54.571 That is not something separate. 0:16:54.571,0:16:56.454 What was happening there, 0:16:56.454,0:16:57.990 you're tied to it. 0:16:57.990,0:16:59.696 You're united to it. 0:16:59.696,0:17:01.125 You're one with it. 0:17:01.125,0:17:03.524 And glory to God that it be so, 0:17:03.524,0:17:05.967 because there is such spiritual realities 0:17:05.967,0:17:08.288 that Paul means to communicate to us 0:17:08.288,0:17:10.669 about our connection to that. 0:17:10.669,0:17:11.955 Here's the thing. 0:17:11.955,0:17:13.702 He didn't stay dead. 0:17:13.702,0:17:15.224 On the first day of the week, 0:17:15.224,0:17:16.671 at the early dawn, 0:17:16.671,0:17:19.062 some of His disciples went to the tomb. 0:17:19.062,0:17:20.858 And what did they find? 0:17:20.858,0:17:22.375 I'll tell you what they found. 0:17:22.375,0:17:24.589 They found an earthquake. 0:17:24.589,0:17:27.809 They found that the angel [br]of the Lord had descended. 0:17:27.809,0:17:31.075 They found the stone, [br]but it had been rolled away. 0:17:31.075,0:17:35.132 They found the guards, [br]but they were unconscious from fear. 0:17:35.132,0:17:37.299 They found the grave clothes. 0:17:37.299,0:17:44.268 They found the linen [br]that had covered His face. 0:17:44.268,0:17:50.416 But they didn't find any body. 0:17:50.416,0:17:56.502 You go to Mohammad's grave, [br]there's a body there. 0:17:56.502,0:18:03.034 You go to all the pope's graves, [br]there are bodies there. 0:18:03.034,0:18:08.131 This one was empty. 0:18:08.131,0:18:12.027 The body of Christ was gone. 0:18:12.027,0:18:13.462 Do you remember the account? 0:18:13.462,0:18:16.184 Two angels in dazzling apparel - 0:18:16.184,0:18:17.877 says to these ladies, 0:18:17.877,0:18:24.594 why are you seeking the [br]living among the dead? 0:18:24.594,0:18:27.314 It's not appropriate for [br]them to be here anymore. 0:18:27.314,0:18:29.638 Don't you remember what He said to you? 0:18:29.638,0:18:31.695 He said He would be taken by the hands 0:18:31.695,0:18:33.204 of sinful men, 0:18:33.204,0:18:35.072 and they would crucify Him, 0:18:35.072,0:18:37.823 and on the third day, [br]He was going to rise. 0:18:37.823,0:18:39.424 And that's exactly what happened. 0:18:39.424,0:18:41.225 That morning of the third day, 0:18:41.225,0:18:44.583 the grave of the Savior [br]of the world was empty. 0:18:44.583,0:18:47.513 And Christian, it's got [br]everything to do with you. 0:18:47.513,0:18:50.141 That's what Paul is saying here. 0:18:50.141,0:18:52.310 He had been dead. 0:18:52.310,0:18:54.910 That was very much real. 0:18:54.910,0:18:57.826 The truth is there had been a dead body 0:18:57.826,0:18:59.327 in that tomb. 0:18:59.327,0:19:02.250 Sin and death had done their uttermost 0:19:02.250,0:19:03.425 to keep Him there. 0:19:03.425,0:19:05.634 All seemed lost, did it not? 0:19:05.634,0:19:08.176 The two on the road to Emmaus, 0:19:08.176,0:19:10.972 they're saying we thought it had been Him, 0:19:10.972,0:19:12.033 but all is lost. 0:19:12.033,0:19:13.505 I mean, they killed Him. 0:19:13.505,0:19:14.432 What now? 0:19:14.432,0:19:16.830 Our hope is dashed. 0:19:16.830,0:19:18.135 And the reality is, 0:19:18.135,0:19:20.756 as a man, Christ was dead 0:19:20.756,0:19:22.487 just as any man dies. 0:19:22.487,0:19:24.706 He was in the realm of the dead. 0:19:24.706,0:19:27.209 It appeared to be the end. 0:19:27.209,0:19:29.647 But, it was not so. 0:19:29.647,0:19:34.827 And this is where the [br]raw power of God comes in. 0:19:34.827,0:19:38.665 God raised Him up [br]loosing the pangs of death. 0:19:38.665,0:19:43.055 For it was not possible [br]for death to hold Him. 0:19:43.055,0:19:45.442 Why? 0:19:45.442,0:19:51.010 The wages of sin is death. 0:19:51.010,0:19:56.722 But if sin is paid, death has no hold. 0:19:56.722,0:19:58.970 It couldn't hold Him. 0:19:58.970,0:20:07.159 There was no legal [br]right for it to hold Him. 0:20:07.159,0:20:10.112 God loosed the pangs of death. 0:20:10.112,0:20:11.882 Don't you love that? 0:20:11.882,0:20:15.237 It was not possible for death to hold Him. 0:20:15.237,0:20:17.510 And when Jesus came to life, 0:20:17.510,0:20:18.922 here's the thing, 0:20:18.922,0:20:20.580 we looked at last week - 0:20:20.580,0:20:21.882 life! life! 0:20:21.882,0:20:23.181 But you know what? 0:20:23.181,0:20:24.775 When Christ came alive, 0:20:24.775,0:20:26.607 can you imagine if [br]He would come alive 0:20:26.607,0:20:28.072 and then just stayed there. 0:20:28.072,0:20:29.781 Well, this is a comfortable place. 0:20:29.781,0:20:32.935 I think I'll just relax [br]here and sleep awhile. 0:20:32.935,0:20:35.115 I think I'll just hang out [br]here in the tomb. 0:20:35.115,0:20:37.508 That's not what happened. 0:20:37.508,0:20:40.370 Living people don't stay [br]under the death clothes. 0:20:40.370,0:20:42.620 They come out! 0:20:42.620,0:20:45.799 Our Christ is the living Christ. 0:20:45.799,0:20:47.424 That's the reality. 0:20:47.424,0:20:50.051 He no longer stays there [br]wrapped in the death clothes. 0:20:50.051,0:20:51.271 He's alive. 0:20:51.271,0:20:53.279 He's arisen. 0:20:53.279,0:20:54.699 He's come forth. 0:20:54.699,0:20:56.269 We say to Catholicism, 0:20:56.269,0:20:59.369 we abominate your dead [br]Christ on that crucifix! 0:20:59.369,0:21:01.957 Our Christ isn't there any longer. 0:21:01.957,0:21:02.986 He came out! 0:21:02.986,0:21:04.076 He's alive! 0:21:04.076,0:21:05.124 He's really alive! 0:21:05.124,0:21:06.979 And forevermore. 0:21:06.979,0:21:09.060 He's not going back there. 0:21:09.060,0:21:11.365 Be gone with that. 0:21:11.365,0:21:14.058 Forty days later, 0:21:14.058,0:21:17.058 He rose even higher. 0:21:17.058,0:21:19.416 He soared through the heavens. 0:21:19.416,0:21:22.177 And He came down on that throne 0:21:22.177,0:21:24.177 at the very right hand of God. 0:21:24.177,0:21:26.359 And the reality is, brethren, 0:21:26.359,0:21:28.320 this is history. 0:21:28.320,0:21:30.324 This is not fiction. 0:21:30.324,0:21:33.742 This is a historical fact. 0:21:33.742,0:21:35.560 And what Paul is doing 0:21:35.560,0:21:37.967 is he says that historical fact 0:21:37.967,0:21:40.865 and you, Christian, where you are today, 0:21:40.865,0:21:42.921 there is a vital connection. 0:21:42.921,0:21:46.249 That's the teaching at the [br]beginning of verse 6 here. 0:21:46.249,0:21:52.946 You have been raised [br]together with Christ. 0:21:52.946,0:21:55.919 That's the reality. 0:21:55.919,0:21:58.430 That's the historical reality. 0:21:58.430,0:22:01.883 What the Apostle Paul is [br]saying to these Ephesians 0:22:01.883,0:22:08.100 is that your salvation is tied to that, 0:22:08.100,0:22:12.982 and your salvation is comparable to that. 0:22:12.982,0:22:18.526 In other words, what happened there 0:22:18.526,0:22:23.636 is true, just as actual, [br]just as historical 0:22:23.636,0:22:27.679 a fact it is that He rose, 0:22:27.679,0:22:31.743 so there are actual and historical facts 0:22:31.743,0:22:33.647 that are true about your life. 0:22:33.647,0:22:35.655 Oh yes, what happened [br]to Him was physical. 0:22:35.655,0:22:37.317 What happens to you is spiritual. 0:22:37.317,0:22:41.700 But just as real, just as historical. 0:22:41.700,0:22:47.277 Just as true, just as living and actual. 0:22:47.277,0:22:49.010 You think of Christ. 0:22:49.010,0:22:51.145 There He was. 0:22:51.145,0:22:53.437 He was in a state of corruption. 0:22:53.437,0:22:57.686 Now, I know, the psalm [br]says that He wasn't left 0:22:57.686,0:22:59.406 in the state of corruption, 0:22:59.406,0:23:00.814 but He was dead. 0:23:00.814,0:23:02.864 He was dead for real. 0:23:02.864,0:23:04.693 For three days. 0:23:04.693,0:23:06.920 God didn't leave Him [br]in a state of corruption. 0:23:06.920,0:23:08.609 But death is a state of corruption. 0:23:08.609,0:23:10.834 And He was in that state. 0:23:10.834,0:23:12.973 He was in that realm of death. 0:23:12.973,0:23:14.574 That's where He was. 0:23:14.574,0:23:16.532 The tomb was closed. 0:23:16.532,0:23:19.362 It was dark in there. 0:23:19.362,0:23:21.083 But then He's alive. 0:23:21.083,0:23:23.890 And once alive, He doesn't [br]keep company with the dead. 0:23:23.890,0:23:25.590 What does He do? 0:23:25.590,0:23:27.470 Paul over in 1 Corinthians 15 says 0:23:27.470,0:23:30.685 He went and He showed [br]Himself to 500 people, 0:23:30.685,0:23:32.406 most of whom were still alive 0:23:32.406,0:23:35.708 when Paul penned that [br]letter to the Corinthians. 0:23:35.708,0:23:38.241 See, brethren, this is real. 0:23:38.241,0:23:41.642 Real brethren, upwards of 500 0:23:41.642,0:23:44.225 actually saw Him risen. 0:23:44.225,0:23:47.577 They were actually able to [br]see what Thomas saw. 0:23:47.577,0:23:52.301 Nail prints in His hands. 0:23:52.301,0:23:54.897 He bore the wounds. 0:23:54.897,0:23:56.464 This is real. 0:23:56.464,0:23:58.756 He really appeared. 0:23:58.756,0:24:00.949 Paul really wrote a [br]letter to the Corinthians, 0:24:00.949,0:24:02.534 and at the time when He wrote it, 0:24:02.534,0:24:04.254 there really were the vast majority 0:24:04.254,0:24:06.926 of these 500 brethren still alive. 0:24:06.926,0:24:11.569 Can you imagine that? 0:24:11.569,0:24:14.262 Can you imagine... 0:24:14.262,0:24:16.519 you come in from somewhere, 0:24:16.519,0:24:21.677 and it's like yeah, 500 of us saw Him! 0:24:21.677,0:24:23.464 Tell me! 0:24:23.464,0:24:27.480 What was it like? 0:24:27.480,0:24:30.225 Man, 500 of you got to see Him? 0:24:30.225,0:24:34.591 Lord, why couldn't I have [br]been one of them? 0:24:34.591,0:24:36.230 That was real. 0:24:36.230,0:24:37.657 But here's the thing, 0:24:37.657,0:24:40.381 when you rise from the dead, 0:24:40.381,0:24:43.707 you don't go on living in the tomb. 0:24:43.707,0:24:45.975 That's the reality. 0:24:45.975,0:24:47.887 He doesn't keep the grave clothes on. 0:24:47.887,0:24:48.668 Why? 0:24:48.668,0:24:50.088 He's alive. 0:24:50.088,0:24:55.229 Paul is drawing a direct [br]correlation between 0:24:55.229,0:24:57.484 that which was true of Him 0:24:57.484,0:25:01.251 and what is true of you, [br]if you are a Christian. 0:25:01.251,0:25:06.020 So what does that tell [br]us about a Christian? 0:25:06.020,0:25:09.747 Brethren, I'll tell you what it [br]tells us about the Christian. 0:25:09.747,0:25:11.420 Do you remember those women? 0:25:11.420,0:25:15.656 What were they going [br]there to the tomb to find? 0:25:15.656,0:25:17.448 What were they going looking for? 0:25:17.448,0:25:21.139 What were they talking about [br]when they were going there? 0:25:21.139,0:25:24.199 Anybody remember? 0:25:24.199,0:25:25.864 The stone. 0:25:25.864,0:25:29.515 What was their concern? 0:25:29.515,0:25:31.327 How are we going to roll it away? 0:25:31.327,0:25:32.717 We're just a group of women. 0:25:32.717,0:25:34.355 That thing is big. [br]That thing is heavy. 0:25:34.355,0:25:35.992 It probably took a whole [br]bunch of strong men 0:25:35.992,0:25:37.294 to roll that thing there. 0:25:37.294,0:25:38.622 They sealed it. 0:25:38.622,0:25:41.565 See, they were bringing more spices. 0:25:41.565,0:25:43.967 They wanted to anoint [br]His body even furthermore 0:25:43.967,0:25:48.510 than the 75 pounds that Nicodemus brought. 0:25:48.510,0:25:50.684 But what was the reality? 0:25:50.684,0:25:53.000 I'll tell you what the reality is. 0:25:53.000,0:25:55.208 The reality is that [br]when they got to the tomb, 0:25:55.208,0:25:56.602 they found a bunch [br]of things there. 0:25:56.602,0:25:58.497 They found a bunch [br]of things to be true, 0:25:58.497,0:26:00.223 but they didn't find a body. 0:26:00.223,0:26:02.307 Christ wasn't in there. 0:26:02.307,0:26:04.258 Let me tell you this. 0:26:04.258,0:26:06.023 You can send a group of women 0:26:06.023,0:26:09.204 to go look in the first [br]three verses for you, 0:26:09.204,0:26:10.570 if you're a true Christian, 0:26:10.570,0:26:12.331 they're not going to find you there. 0:26:12.331,0:26:13.874 Same reality. 0:26:13.874,0:26:15.154 You're not there anymore. 0:26:15.154,0:26:16.355 That's the tomb. 0:26:16.355,0:26:17.171 Don't you get it? 0:26:17.171,0:26:21.397 The first three verses [br]are the spiritual tomb. 0:26:21.397,0:26:23.280 That is death. 0:26:23.280,0:26:25.448 Dead in trespasses and sins. 0:26:25.448,0:26:27.443 There it is. 0:26:27.443,0:26:28.963 That's the grave. 0:26:28.963,0:26:31.171 That's the place of death. 0:26:31.171,0:26:33.047 Send somebody there to find you now, 0:26:33.047,0:26:35.096 you're not there. 0:26:35.096,0:26:36.375 Why? 0:26:36.375,0:26:42.497 Because you're not going to [br]find the living among the dead. 0:26:42.497,0:26:44.228 Same truth. 0:26:44.228,0:26:46.368 You see, there's a correlation. 0:26:46.368,0:26:48.974 That's the reality. 0:26:48.974,0:26:50.847 And the question is, 0:26:50.847,0:26:52.181 the question that I have 0:26:52.181,0:26:54.494 and the question that I [br]brought up last week is 0:26:54.494,0:26:56.279 how do we know this? 0:26:56.279,0:26:57.646 I mean, experientially? 0:26:57.646,0:26:59.914 That's what I'm interested in. 0:26:59.914,0:27:04.517 How do I know this reality? 0:27:04.517,0:27:07.445 I don't have it tattooed on my head. 0:27:07.445,0:27:09.233 What does this feel like? 0:27:09.233,0:27:14.174 What does being raised [br]with Christ look like 0:27:14.174,0:27:18.128 in actual experience and practice? 0:27:18.128,0:27:20.426 I want to know this. 0:27:20.426,0:27:22.353 I think you should [br]want to know this. 0:27:22.353,0:27:23.763 Why? 0:27:23.763,0:27:26.649 Because one thing I know about this book, 0:27:26.649,0:27:30.095 is that this book never assumes that 0:27:30.095,0:27:34.449 everybody that's in the church is genuine. 0:27:34.449,0:27:36.630 I want the real deal. 0:27:36.630,0:27:38.384 I want to see in my life 0:27:38.384,0:27:44.342 what this being raised [br]together with Christ looks like. 0:27:44.342,0:27:47.248 I want to know that that's real. 0:27:47.248,0:27:48.373 What is this? 0:27:48.373,0:27:49.823 What does this mean? 0:27:49.823,0:27:52.046 We've got wheat and tares. 0:27:52.046,0:27:53.899 What's the distinction? 0:27:53.899,0:27:55.843 We've got some that Jesus described 0:27:55.843,0:28:00.414 as not having root in themselves. 0:28:00.414,0:28:02.485 I want the real deal. 0:28:02.485,0:28:03.808 I want to know this. 0:28:03.808,0:28:05.639 What does it look like in real life 0:28:05.639,0:28:08.284 to genuinely be raised [br]together with Jesus Christ? 0:28:08.284,0:28:16.805 What is the experience that a [br]person has when this happens? 0:28:16.805,0:28:22.847 Because Paul is not saying this [br]happens to some people. 0:28:22.847,0:28:25.624 This is Christianity. 0:28:25.624,0:28:30.456 Remember, by grace you have been saved. 0:28:30.456,0:28:32.508 Those are the words right before this. 0:28:32.508,0:28:35.341 This has to do with salvation. 0:28:35.341,0:28:37.713 Not just the elite. 0:28:37.713,0:28:40.204 Not just apostles. 0:28:40.204,0:28:46.333 Not just certain privileged [br]early first century Christians. 0:28:46.333,0:28:50.735 This is saved. 0:28:50.735,0:28:53.707 Well, brethren, the Apostle Paul 0:28:53.707,0:28:59.978 gives us the most detailed commentary 0:28:59.978,0:29:04.229 on this in Romans 6. 0:29:04.229,0:29:06.001 So let's go to Romans 6. 0:29:06.001,0:29:10.550 We're going to spend the [br]rest of our time there. 0:29:10.550,0:29:13.579 Because there really is no place... 0:29:13.579,0:29:17.438 for one, this is great, because it's Paul. 0:29:17.438,0:29:20.532 Because it's the same author of Ephesians. 0:29:20.532,0:29:23.389 His terminology, his thought process, 0:29:23.389,0:29:25.725 the way he communicates is going to tend 0:29:25.725,0:29:26.892 to be the same. 0:29:26.892,0:29:30.602 It's the same person. 0:29:30.602,0:29:33.828 This is where the apostle gives us 0:29:33.828,0:29:45.128 the greatest commentary [br]on this whole idea. 0:29:45.128,0:29:49.401 Just to let a little light through 0:29:49.401,0:29:51.976 let's read the first 14 verses. 0:29:51.976,0:29:56.030 I know we simply cannot attempt to fathom 0:29:56.030,0:30:01.097 and explore the depths of this right now. 0:30:01.097,0:30:04.723 And I don't even want to try to do that. 0:30:04.723,0:30:07.092 But I want to pull [br]several things out of here 0:30:07.092,0:30:10.300 that I think are extremely helpful. 0:30:10.300,0:30:12.595 So, Romans 6:1, 0:30:12.595,0:30:16.866 "What shall we say then?" 0:30:16.866,0:30:19.114 Ok, that tells us something else has 0:30:19.114,0:30:20.584 already been said here. 0:30:20.584,0:30:22.207 Let me tell you what's been said 0:30:22.207,0:30:25.168 in very compact form. 0:30:25.168,0:30:34.184 Paul has just said that where sin abounds, 0:30:34.184,0:30:39.500 grace also doth much more abound. 0:30:39.500,0:30:46.884 In other words, nobody [br]is too bad to be saved. 0:30:46.884,0:30:49.620 You say, yeah, I see that [br]guy over there got saved, 0:30:49.620,0:30:52.336 but I've got ten times as much. 0:30:52.336,0:30:55.104 And Paul says, where sin abounds, 0:30:55.104,0:31:02.469 God's grace is sufficient to [br]go even higher than that. 0:31:02.469,0:31:05.576 There's no amount of [br]sin you can confess 0:31:05.576,0:31:09.095 that God's grace is not higher still. 0:31:09.095,0:31:10.798 That's the point. 0:31:10.798,0:31:13.049 But see, somebody comes along and says, 0:31:13.049,0:31:15.393 Whoa, whoa, whoa... you teach that, 0:31:15.393,0:31:17.480 and you are basically going to give people 0:31:17.480,0:31:20.143 a license to sin. 0:31:20.143,0:31:22.676 Because people will say, [br]well, if that's true 0:31:22.676,0:31:25.684 what prohibits me from being twice as bad 0:31:25.684,0:31:27.555 as the worst man who ever lived? 0:31:27.555,0:31:31.579 And still isn't grace sufficient? 0:31:31.579,0:31:37.672 And we would say, yes, it is. 0:31:37.672,0:31:40.394 What then? 0:31:40.394,0:31:42.405 Should we just continue in sin, 0:31:42.405,0:31:43.845 that grace may abound? 0:31:43.845,0:31:45.069 I'll tell you this. 0:31:45.069,0:31:49.486 Brethren, the Gospel is a dangerous truth. 0:31:49.486,0:31:50.795 But I'll tell you this, 0:31:50.795,0:31:53.402 you're not preaching it right if you don't 0:31:53.402,0:31:56.922 lead people to think [br]that it's so absolutely free 0:31:56.922,0:32:00.065 that it produces this [br]question in their minds. 0:32:00.065,0:32:03.556 You're not preaching [br]the Gospel free enough, 0:32:03.556,0:32:05.588 if it's not leading people to say, 0:32:05.588,0:32:06.697 wait a second! 0:32:06.697,0:32:08.621 Because that's what [br]happens in people's minds. 0:32:08.621,0:32:10.893 If you say that there's [br]nothing for me to do 0:32:10.893,0:32:13.264 and it's not my works [br]and it's not my morality 0:32:13.264,0:32:16.423 and it's not my goodness [br]and it's none of that? 0:32:16.423,0:32:17.917 You're saying the grace of God 0:32:17.917,0:32:20.410 just comes in and nothing on my part, 0:32:20.410,0:32:22.916 no merit on my part, 0:32:22.916,0:32:25.617 and it's just going to [br]wash away all my sins, 0:32:25.617,0:32:27.826 I'm going to be forgiven [br]and taken to heaven? 0:32:27.826,0:32:31.803 And we say, that's exactly right. 0:32:31.803,0:32:33.222 But if that's true, 0:32:33.222,0:32:36.606 what keeps me from just living on in sin? 0:32:36.606,0:32:38.153 Grace. 0:32:38.153,0:32:40.119 It should be sufficient even to cover 0:32:40.119,0:32:43.302 the sin I commit tomorrow, right? 0:32:43.302,0:32:45.195 And Paul confronts that. 0:32:45.195,0:32:47.427 And he says, what then? 0:32:47.427,0:32:48.832 Is that what we're saying? 0:32:48.832,0:32:52.712 Do we just continue in sin [br]now that we're Christians? 0:32:52.712,0:32:56.303 That grace might abound? 0:32:56.303,0:32:58.548 And he says, 0:32:58.548,0:33:02.929 how can you? 0:33:02.929,0:33:04.852 There's a reason why you can't. 0:33:04.852,0:33:05.858 Watch. 0:33:05.858,0:33:07.604 By no means. 0:33:07.604,0:33:10.487 How can we? 0:33:10.487,0:33:13.217 Why? Well, something has happened. 0:33:13.217,0:33:17.967 How can we who [br]died to sin still live in it? 0:33:17.967,0:33:19.762 "Do you not know that all of us 0:33:19.762,0:33:21.776 have been baptized into Christ Jesus?" 0:33:21.776,0:33:23.974 That we're baptized into His death. 0:33:23.974,0:33:25.954 So what you see here is... 0:33:25.954,0:33:30.101 with Christ; into Christ; 0:33:30.101,0:33:32.975 there's "into His death." 0:33:32.975,0:33:34.329 There's a oneness. 0:33:34.329,0:33:35.759 The union. 0:33:35.759,0:33:38.218 We were buried therefore, with Him, 0:33:38.218,0:33:39.772 by baptism into death. 0:33:39.772,0:33:41.448 Now, here it is. 0:33:41.448,0:33:42.979 Here's the resurrection. 0:33:42.979,0:33:46.689 Here's the being raised. 0:33:46.689,0:33:49.972 "Just as Christ was raised from the dead 0:33:49.972,0:33:52.542 by the glory of the Father..." 0:33:52.542,0:33:58.486 we too will be raised. 0:33:58.486,0:34:00.161 Now he doesn't use that language, 0:34:00.161,0:34:02.490 but that's clearly what he implies. 0:34:02.490,0:34:08.582 He describes it as we too... what? 0:34:08.582,0:34:13.342 "We too walk in life." 0:34:13.342,0:34:15.295 See, we've been [br]raised to life with Him. 0:34:15.295,0:34:18.968 It's a newness of life. 0:34:18.968,0:34:25.226 "For if we have been united with Him," 0:34:25.226,0:34:27.194 see the union? 0:34:27.194,0:34:28.558 "in a death like His, 0:34:28.558,0:34:31.654 we shall certainly be united with Him 0:34:31.654,0:34:38.245 in a resurrection like His." 0:34:38.245,0:34:41.971 Now, brethren, he's not talking here 0:34:41.971,0:34:46.523 about resurrection when your [br]body comes out of the grave. 0:34:46.523,0:34:48.524 That's not what he's talking about. 0:34:48.524,0:34:51.182 He's talking about why Christians 0:34:51.182,0:34:54.669 don't continue in sin right now. 0:34:54.669,0:34:57.626 You say, but it's future tense. 0:34:57.626,0:34:59.597 We shall certainly be united with Him 0:34:59.597,0:35:00.819 in a resurrection. 0:35:00.819,0:35:02.167 Yeah, but see, the thing is 0:35:02.167,0:35:06.506 he's putting it in [br]relationship to the death. 0:35:06.506,0:35:07.687 There's a death 0:35:07.687,0:35:11.525 and the resurrection follows. 0:35:11.525,0:35:16.659 We have a resurrection like His. 0:35:16.659,0:35:19.558 You basically look at the vast majority 0:35:19.558,0:35:20.723 of commentators - 0:35:20.723,0:35:22.492 they're all on the same page here. 0:35:22.492,0:35:25.131 That the argument has to do, 0:35:25.131,0:35:27.475 notice verse five starts with a "for." 0:35:27.475,0:35:30.439 It means, he's going on to explain further 0:35:30.439,0:35:33.303 the idea, the concept of [br]Christ being raised from the dead, 0:35:33.303,0:35:37.356 and we too also being [br]raised to this newness of life. 0:35:37.356,0:35:39.749 We've been united with [br]Him in a death like His. 0:35:39.749,0:35:41.551 And then what follows is 0:35:41.551,0:35:43.323 we shall certainly be united with Him 0:35:43.323,0:35:45.274 in a resurrection like His. 0:35:45.274,0:35:46.287 And the argument is, 0:35:46.287,0:35:49.414 why doesn't the Christian continue in sin? 0:35:49.414,0:35:50.757 Newness of life. 0:35:50.757,0:35:52.077 Regeneration. 0:35:52.077,0:35:55.545 We have experienced [br]a resurrection like His. 0:35:55.545,0:35:57.296 He came forth from the grave. 0:35:57.296,0:35:59.142 We come forth from the grave. 0:35:59.142,0:36:02.277 We're no longer in those [br]first three verses of Ephesians 2. 0:36:02.277,0:36:03.150 We've come out. 0:36:03.150,0:36:04.471 Send the women [br]to look for you. 0:36:04.471,0:36:06.636 If you're a Christian, [br]you're not in there. 0:36:06.636,0:36:08.732 If you can look and [br]somebody can finds you 0:36:08.732,0:36:10.389 back in those first three verses, 0:36:10.389,0:36:13.159 it's because you have not been raised. 0:36:13.159,0:36:15.152 That's the reason. 0:36:15.152,0:36:16.633 Six. 0:36:16.633,0:36:18.293 "We know that our old self 0:36:18.293,0:36:21.278 was crucified with Him [br]in order that the body 0:36:21.278,0:36:24.101 of sin might be brought to nothing. 0:36:24.101,0:36:26.432 So that we would no [br]longer be enslaved to sin." 0:36:26.432,0:36:28.161 This is why you cannot continue. 0:36:28.161,0:36:29.218 Regeneration. 0:36:29.218,0:36:30.281 You are a new person. 0:36:30.281,0:36:32.588 You're no longer enslaved to sin. 0:36:32.588,0:36:33.900 You can't. 0:36:33.900,0:36:37.448 The body of sin being brought to nothing. 0:36:37.448,0:36:40.553 "For the one who has died..." 0:36:40.553,0:36:44.916 The word here "set free," 0:36:44.916,0:36:47.926 in the ESV is actually [br]the word "justified." 0:36:47.926,0:36:49.983 It seems like what he's saying here is 0:36:49.983,0:36:53.256 you who are dead to sin 0:36:53.256,0:36:55.621 are the ones who are truly justified. 0:36:55.621,0:36:56.494 In other words, 0:36:56.494,0:37:02.114 this free reality of grace abounding 0:37:02.114,0:37:07.058 to the chief of sinners. 0:37:07.058,0:37:13.394 That if you've actually experienced this, 0:37:13.394,0:37:14.892 you've died to sin. 0:37:14.892,0:37:16.221 The two go hand in hand. 0:37:16.221,0:37:18.112 That seems like the truth there. 0:37:18.112,0:37:19.902 But we don't have time to stay there. 0:37:19.902,0:37:22.928 "Now, if we have died with Christ, 0:37:22.928,0:37:25.762 we believe we will also live with Him." 0:37:25.762,0:37:26.521 There it is. 0:37:26.521,0:37:28.057 The life with Him. 0:37:28.057,0:37:28.942 Now notice, 0:37:28.942,0:37:30.863 he's not talking about the future. 0:37:30.863,0:37:33.124 He's not talking about when we die. 0:37:33.124,0:37:35.624 He's not talking about [br]when Christ returns. 0:37:35.624,0:37:38.467 Notice, "we know that Christ being raised 0:37:38.467,0:37:41.661 from the dead will never die again. 0:37:41.661,0:37:43.806 Death no longer has dominion over Him. 0:37:43.806,0:37:46.506 For the death He died, He died to sin." 0:37:46.506,0:37:48.440 How did He die to sin? 0:37:48.440,0:37:51.543 He died because He became sin for us 0:37:51.543,0:37:53.486 in our place, 0:37:53.486,0:37:56.111 that we might become the [br]righteousness of God in Him. 0:37:56.111,0:37:57.910 That's how He died to it. 0:37:57.910,0:37:59.836 And He was done with it. 0:37:59.836,0:38:03.659 Look, the reality is, [br]the life He lives now, 0:38:03.659,0:38:04.955 He lives to God. 0:38:04.955,0:38:07.735 So, here's the conclusion of all of that. 0:38:07.735,0:38:09.834 Not something out there in the future 0:38:09.834,0:38:12.056 about your body being [br]raised from the dead. 0:38:12.056,0:38:14.275 The reality of this truth has to do 0:38:14.275,0:38:16.428 with how you live your life right now. 0:38:16.428,0:38:19.823 And why you cannot [br]continue in sin right now. 0:38:19.823,0:38:23.297 So, you must right now consider yourselves 0:38:23.297,0:38:28.696 dead to sin, alive to God in Christ Jesus. 0:38:28.696,0:38:31.085 Now, brethren, here's the thing. 0:38:31.085,0:38:37.816 Death here is not the same as 0:38:37.816,0:38:41.740 death in Ephesians 2. 0:38:41.740,0:38:45.112 In Ephesians 2:1, it says you were dead 0:38:45.112,0:38:48.463 in trespasses and sins. 0:38:48.463,0:38:50.577 That's when you were lost. 0:38:50.577,0:38:55.000 The death here in Romans 6 0:38:55.000,0:38:58.656 is death to sin. 0:38:58.656,0:39:01.488 Not dead in sin. 0:39:01.488,0:39:03.802 It's dead to sin. 0:39:03.802,0:39:09.281 It's actually the death that [br]you experience as a Christian. 0:39:09.281,0:39:11.881 The death over in Ephesians 2 is a death 0:39:11.881,0:39:14.356 you experience as a non-Christian. 0:39:14.356,0:39:16.129 That is the importance. 0:39:16.129,0:39:20.252 The resurrection here is the [br]same as the resurrection over there. 0:39:20.252,0:39:26.214 But Paul is speaking [br]about two different deaths. 0:39:26.214,0:39:28.382 It's important that you see that. 0:39:28.382,0:39:31.323 But here's the thing, 0:39:31.323,0:39:35.994 brethren, are we supposed [br]to continue in sin? 0:39:35.994,0:39:38.807 That's the question that's on the table. 0:39:38.807,0:39:40.889 He takes us to resurrection. 0:39:40.889,0:39:42.765 He takes us to newness of life. 0:39:42.765,0:39:45.008 He takes us to being raised with Him. 0:39:45.008,0:39:48.863 He takes us to being alive to God. 0:39:48.863,0:39:53.965 But here's the reality of all of it. 0:39:53.965,0:39:58.848 Here's the flow of the argument. 0:39:58.848,0:40:00.771 He's not trying to convince us about 0:40:00.771,0:40:04.308 any realities concerning [br]our future resurrection. 0:40:04.308,0:40:06.153 Now all that's true. 0:40:06.153,0:40:08.772 As a Christian, your body's [br]coming out of the grave. 0:40:08.772,0:40:11.785 But if you want to know about that, 0:40:11.785,0:40:13.745 this isn't the text. 0:40:13.745,0:40:15.372 Some place like 1 Corinthians 15, 0:40:15.372,0:40:17.506 that's where you want to go to see 0:40:17.506,0:40:20.591 the beauties and the reality of that. 0:40:20.591,0:40:24.744 Here he's speaking about [br]the same spiritual reality 0:40:24.744,0:40:27.609 that takes place in [br]the life of the Christian 0:40:27.609,0:40:29.872 as he's talking about over in Ephesians 2. 0:40:29.872,0:40:33.360 Which is directly [br]connected with this reality 0:40:33.360,0:40:38.477 that we are raised together with Christ. 0:40:38.477,0:40:41.709 That's the thing. 0:40:41.709,0:40:45.419 And the whole thrust of the argument, 0:40:45.419,0:40:47.787 what shall we say then? 0:40:47.787,0:40:49.723 Are we to continue in sin? 0:40:49.723,0:40:53.806 Now, brethren, he's [br]not talking perfection. 0:40:53.806,0:40:56.723 Don't miss that. 0:40:56.723,0:40:59.132 You say how do you know that? 0:40:59.132,0:41:02.339 What makes you think that [br]this isn't perfection here? 0:41:02.339,0:41:08.068 Saying you're dead to [br]sin sounds pretty dogmatic. 0:41:08.068,0:41:13.666 Sounds pretty all-encompassing. 0:41:13.666,0:41:15.617 Well, we could go over some place 0:41:15.617,0:41:17.282 like 1 John and I could say, 0:41:17.282,0:41:20.971 little children, I write to [br]you that you sin not, 0:41:20.971,0:41:23.631 but if you sin, we have [br]an Advocate with the Father. 0:41:23.631,0:41:24.952 We could go somewhere else. 0:41:24.952,0:41:26.867 But just looking right in the context, 0:41:26.867,0:41:28.244 what might be some giveaways 0:41:28.244,0:41:37.116 that he's not actually speaking [br]about total perfection here? 0:41:37.116,0:41:42.704 Brethren, I think the reality of this 0:41:42.704,0:41:47.622 is that you see the battle. 0:41:47.622,0:41:51.789 For one, he uses the terminology dominion. 0:41:51.789,0:41:53.719 Notice it in verse 9. 0:41:53.719,0:41:58.446 "Death no longer has dominion over Him." 0:41:58.446,0:42:01.671 No longer dominates Christ. 0:42:01.671,0:42:03.119 But notice this word again, 0:42:03.119,0:42:05.941 at least in the ESV if you go down to 14, 0:42:05.941,0:42:13.709 "Sin will have no dominion over you." 0:42:13.709,0:42:15.480 That's the issue. 0:42:15.480,0:42:18.819 It's dominance. 0:42:18.819,0:42:20.389 It's dominion. 0:42:20.389,0:42:22.537 It's not total eradication. 0:42:22.537,0:42:25.188 In fact, you get a further idea of this 0:42:25.188,0:42:30.366 just in the nature of the battle 0:42:30.366,0:42:32.710 as it's portrayed by Paul here. 0:42:32.710,0:42:37.043 Do you all see it there? 0:42:37.043,0:42:41.042 Notice, verse 10, 0:42:41.042,0:42:42.863 "the death He died, He died to sin 0:42:42.863,0:42:44.905 once for all, but the life He lives, 0:42:44.905,0:42:46.427 He lives to God. 0:42:46.427,0:42:51.181 So, you also must consider yourselves 0:42:51.181,0:42:57.082 dead to sin and alive [br]to God in Christ Jesus." 0:42:57.082,0:43:02.045 This is a reality that he [br]wants flooding your minds. 0:43:02.045,0:43:04.420 But notice the battle here. 0:43:04.420,0:43:08.895 Let not sin, therefore, [br]reign in your mortal body 0:43:08.895,0:43:11.643 to make you obey its passions. 0:43:11.643,0:43:15.374 In other words, sin is [br]going to seek to reign 0:43:15.374,0:43:17.602 in your mortal bodies. 0:43:17.602,0:43:19.267 Fight it. 0:43:19.267,0:43:22.737 You go further in this [br]letter to Romans 8:13, 0:43:22.737,0:43:26.378 "by the Spirit, we put to death [br]the deeds of the body." 0:43:26.378,0:43:28.399 That's life. 0:43:28.399,0:43:31.400 This is life here. 0:43:31.400,0:43:32.576 Verse 13. 0:43:32.576,0:43:33.573 This is the battle. 0:43:33.573,0:43:36.390 "Do not present your members to sin 0:43:36.390,0:43:39.324 as instruments for unrighteousness, 0:43:39.324,0:43:42.089 but present yourselves to God as those 0:43:42.089,0:43:43.918 who have been brought..." 0:43:43.918,0:43:45.421 Here it is. 0:43:45.421,0:43:53.414 Live as one who's been [br]brought from death to life. 0:43:53.414,0:43:59.937 You have come out with Christ. 0:43:59.937,0:44:03.878 Here's the experiential reality 0:44:03.878,0:44:06.265 about being raised together with Christ. 0:44:06.265,0:44:08.405 It's got everything to do with sin. 0:44:08.405,0:44:10.638 Because listen, 0:44:10.638,0:44:15.313 the death of those first [br]three verses of Ephesians 2, 0:44:15.313,0:44:20.049 it's dead in sin. 0:44:20.049,0:44:24.144 Dead in sin. 0:44:24.144,0:44:26.986 The opposite: alive to God. 0:44:26.986,0:44:29.242 Because sin is everything [br]that's against Him. 0:44:29.242,0:44:31.801 Sin falls short of the glory. 0:44:31.801,0:44:33.250 It doesn't seek the glory. 0:44:33.250,0:44:35.101 It doesn't desire the glory of God. 0:44:35.101,0:44:36.735 It's beneath the glory. 0:44:36.735,0:44:39.187 It's constantly living for self. 0:44:39.187,0:44:42.203 God isn't in the focus. 0:44:42.203,0:44:43.170 It's not that. 0:44:43.170,0:44:47.713 And it's coming away [br]from that death of sin. 0:44:47.713,0:44:50.325 Being made alive to God. 0:44:50.325,0:44:52.272 That's the reality. 0:44:52.272,0:44:57.024 How can we who have [br]died to sin still live in it? 0:44:57.024,0:44:58.055 Why? 0:44:58.055,0:44:59.145 You can't. 0:44:59.145,0:45:01.576 Because you've been [br]raised together with Christ. 0:45:01.576,0:45:03.385 He came out of the grave. 0:45:03.385,0:45:06.468 You've come out of the grave [br]of those first three verses. 0:45:06.468,0:45:09.329 Listen. 0:45:09.329,0:45:12.008 Think about how ludicrous it would be 0:45:12.008,0:45:14.817 to imagine Him being made alive 0:45:14.817,0:45:18.533 and to stay there under the linen, 0:45:18.533,0:45:20.189 in the dark, 0:45:20.189,0:45:21.944 in the tomb, 0:45:21.944,0:45:26.091 behind the rock. 0:45:26.091,0:45:28.134 The women didn't find Him. 0:45:28.134,0:45:29.371 Why? 0:45:29.371,0:45:30.953 Because when you're made alive, 0:45:30.953,0:45:33.123 you don't stay in the tomb. 0:45:33.123,0:45:34.958 When you're made alive, 0:45:34.958,0:45:36.881 it's an obvious fact. 0:45:36.881,0:45:39.158 Didn't the angels think [br]it was very obvious? 0:45:39.158,0:45:44.474 Why are you seeking Him among the dead? 0:45:44.474,0:45:46.968 Don't you know that you don't find 0:45:46.968,0:45:51.818 the living among the dead? 0:45:51.818,0:45:55.259 This is the experiential reality. 0:45:55.259,0:45:59.083 Brethren, we came out from among the dead. 0:45:59.083,0:46:01.329 Among whom we all once lived 0:46:01.329,0:46:04.288 in the passions of our flesh. 0:46:04.288,0:46:07.745 Carrying out the desires, 0:46:07.745,0:46:10.756 the lusts of the flesh, 0:46:10.756,0:46:12.504 the lusts of the body, 0:46:12.504,0:46:14.871 the lusts of the mind. 0:46:14.871,0:46:17.019 This is what we came out of. 0:46:17.019,0:46:19.909 But you don't stay there. 0:46:19.909,0:46:22.126 That's the reality. 0:46:22.126,0:46:23.735 Brethren, that is the reality. 0:46:23.735,0:46:25.917 That's what we find to be. 0:46:25.917,0:46:29.332 Our relationship with sin [br]has entirely changed. 0:46:29.332,0:46:32.331 Jesus' relationship with sin, with death, 0:46:32.331,0:46:33.684 had entirely changed, 0:46:33.684,0:46:35.748 and He doesn't stay in the grave. 0:46:35.748,0:46:38.409 He was dead to sin forevermore. 0:46:38.409,0:46:40.247 Not that He ever committed any sin. 0:46:40.247,0:46:41.853 He was dead to it in another way. 0:46:41.853,0:46:42.826 He conquered it. 0:46:42.826,0:46:43.805 He became sin. 0:46:43.805,0:46:44.746 He paid it. 0:46:44.746,0:46:46.301 He was done with it, period. 0:46:46.301,0:46:48.242 Once and for all. 0:46:48.242,0:46:49.872 All over. 0:46:49.872,0:46:51.764 You have been brought out of the grave, 0:46:51.764,0:46:53.343 once and for all. 0:46:53.343,0:46:54.952 You are no longer a slave to sin. 0:46:54.952,0:46:56.682 You are no longer a servant to sin. 0:46:56.682,0:46:59.556 You're a slave to God. 0:46:59.556,0:47:00.734 Peter says it. 0:47:00.734,0:47:01.740 Paul says it. 0:47:01.740,0:47:02.975 A slave to God. 0:47:02.975,0:47:05.067 Yes, the translations [br]don't like to use it. 0:47:05.067,0:47:08.516 It's politcally an incorrect term. 0:47:08.516,0:47:10.493 You listen to some of the translators 0:47:10.493,0:47:12.655 as they talk about why they chose one word 0:47:12.655,0:47:14.986 over another in the English translations. 0:47:14.986,0:47:16.696 It's a hot topic. 0:47:16.696,0:47:17.663 It's a hot word. 0:47:17.663,0:47:19.023 People don't like to use it. 0:47:19.023,0:47:21.486 Because it just produces [br]too much negative imagery. 0:47:21.486,0:47:24.992 Especially with the history that we [br]have in the United States of America. 0:47:24.992,0:47:26.652 But I'll tell you this, brethren, 0:47:26.652,0:47:28.346 we are free. 0:47:28.346,0:47:29.242 We are free. 0:47:29.242,0:47:36.052 And the truest freedom is [br]to live unto the will of God. 0:47:36.052,0:47:37.782 That is true freedom. 0:47:37.782,0:47:40.702 True freedom is when we love God 0:47:40.702,0:47:43.111 and we're no longer in the bondage of sin. 0:47:43.111,0:47:46.307 To be a slave under that master, 0:47:46.307,0:47:49.186 is to be under the whip all the time. 0:47:49.186,0:47:53.226 Do this, do that, do this other thing! 0:47:53.226,0:47:56.882 Brethren, that's not how [br]we live any longer. 0:47:56.882,0:47:58.408 You get people that say, 0:47:58.408,0:48:05.048 "show me in the Bible where that's wrong!" 0:48:05.048,0:48:07.622 Brethren, that's to miss the whole spirit. 0:48:07.622,0:48:09.692 Of course, we go to our Bibles. 0:48:09.692,0:48:14.478 But it's like we found there in Peter. 0:48:14.478,0:48:18.868 It's the will of God. 0:48:18.868,0:48:20.999 It's what God loves. 0:48:20.999,0:48:22.182 We're not always asking, 0:48:22.182,0:48:23.379 what's the rules? 0:48:23.379,0:48:26.976 Show me the rules? 0:48:26.976,0:48:29.697 Show me all the lists. 0:48:29.697,0:48:31.730 That's not it. 0:48:31.730,0:48:33.793 That's what people do who are 0:48:33.793,0:48:36.071 under the slave master. 0:48:36.071,0:48:39.047 Who are under law. 0:48:39.047,0:48:42.598 We are free to live to the will of God. 0:48:42.598,0:48:43.353 Why? 0:48:43.353,0:48:44.423 We've been made alive, 0:48:44.423,0:48:45.861 alive to God. 0:48:45.861,0:48:51.353 Our heart jumps for the things of God. 0:48:51.353,0:49:01.305 Listen, Christ entered into [br]the realm of sin once. 0:49:01.305,0:49:03.920 And He came out. 0:49:03.920,0:49:05.682 So have we. 0:49:05.682,0:49:09.372 The realm of sin by becoming sin. 0:49:09.372,0:49:11.724 He finished with it. 0:49:11.724,0:49:13.874 So have we. 0:49:13.874,0:49:17.960 Brethren, sin has no claim on you. 0:49:17.960,0:49:20.230 You can look at every temptation, 0:49:20.230,0:49:23.046 you can look at the devil [br]himself straight in the face 0:49:23.046,0:49:25.606 and say I don't have to follow you. 0:49:25.606,0:49:27.920 I'm a free man. 0:49:27.920,0:49:30.839 Good day. 0:49:30.839,0:49:35.680 My Lord is alive and I'm one with Him. 0:49:35.680,0:49:38.015 And we haven't even got here yet. 0:49:38.015,0:49:40.848 But you can look at the devil and say 0:49:40.848,0:49:44.195 do you recognize I am seated [br]in the heavenly places 0:49:44.195,0:49:50.808 with Christ Jesus, by the way? 0:49:50.808,0:49:55.265 Brethren, the truth of all this is, 0:49:55.265,0:50:01.225 we need to recognize who we are. 0:50:01.225,0:50:03.568 Everything that Jesus Christ did, 0:50:03.568,0:50:07.605 it was designed to take [br]us out of the realm of sin 0:50:07.605,0:50:09.852 and death and to put us into this realm 0:50:09.852,0:50:12.542 of being alive to God. 0:50:12.542,0:50:13.402 That's it. 0:50:13.402,0:50:15.016 That's Paul's meaning. 0:50:15.016,0:50:18.688 Have you been raised up to this? 0:50:18.688,0:50:21.321 Being made alive to God. 0:50:21.321,0:50:23.644 Not where sin is just a bunch of rules 0:50:23.644,0:50:24.895 that you have to keep. 0:50:24.895,0:50:26.287 Not always asking, 0:50:26.287,0:50:27.712 well, what's wrong with that? 0:50:27.712,0:50:29.448 Do you ever hear people like that? 0:50:29.448,0:50:31.480 It's like that's how they live their life. 0:50:31.480,0:50:33.303 "What's wrong with that?" 0:50:33.303,0:50:37.523 Brethren, that's slave talk. 0:50:37.523,0:50:41.994 It's like what does God delight in? 0:50:41.994,0:50:44.507 Let me do that. 0:50:44.507,0:50:47.786 What's going to bring His smile upon me? 0:50:47.786,0:50:51.016 Oh, is there a possibility [br]He's going to frown on that? 0:50:51.016,0:50:52.990 Is there a possibility [br]that this is going 0:50:52.990,0:50:54.797 to cause a shadow [br]to pass between us? 0:50:54.797,0:50:58.066 Then I don't want to go there. 0:50:58.066,0:51:01.242 Versus: "Show me in the [br]Bible where it says that!" 0:51:01.242,0:51:03.736 Well, of course, we want [br]to be shown in the Bible. 0:51:03.736,0:51:10.624 But that's to totally miss it. 0:51:10.624,0:51:16.839 Brethren, we should be disgusted [br]with that kind of attitude 0:51:16.839,0:51:19.127 among those who profess to be Christians. 0:51:19.127,0:51:21.594 That is purely slave talk. 0:51:21.594,0:51:26.216 It's just basically what must [br]I do to avoid punishment? 0:51:26.216,0:51:29.964 Show me the list of rules. 0:51:29.964,0:51:36.122 Christians have been raised [br]way up above and beyond that. 0:51:36.122,0:51:40.087 Up into the heights and the majesty. 0:51:40.087,0:51:42.117 Up there on that mountain top. 0:51:42.117,0:51:44.497 The glory. 0:51:44.497,0:51:47.883 That's where we're seated. 0:51:47.883,0:51:53.427 Brethren, it's David coming [br]along and saying 0:51:53.427,0:51:59.917 I pant after God like a [br]deer pants after water. 0:51:59.917,0:52:03.318 You see, people like that [br]aren't constantly asking, 0:52:03.318,0:52:04.879 show me the rules! 0:52:04.879,0:52:06.563 Show me where it says that I can't 0:52:06.563,0:52:07.874 listen to music like that. 0:52:07.874,0:52:11.279 Show me where it says I [br]can't go to a move like that. 0:52:11.279,0:52:20.152 Show me where it says I can't wear that. 0:52:20.152,0:52:23.592 Yes, we want to search Scripture 0:52:23.592,0:52:26.304 to find out the will of God. 0:52:26.304,0:52:27.959 We want to be taught. 0:52:27.959,0:52:29.670 We're ignorant about so much. 0:52:29.670,0:52:31.126 I recognize that. 0:52:31.126,0:52:34.408 Scripture needs to be [br]our basis for sanctification, 0:52:34.408,0:52:37.821 our basis for truth. 0:52:37.821,0:52:41.045 But that is just a world away from saying 0:52:41.045,0:52:45.557 oh, my heart hungers, it longs after God. 0:52:45.557,0:52:47.647 Where can I find God? 0:52:47.647,0:52:49.822 The sighs and moans... 0:52:49.822,0:52:52.259 It's like, hey, brother, you [br]want to go do this? 0:52:52.259,0:52:54.782 And you're thinking man [br]my ache in my heart 0:52:54.782,0:52:56.338 is to find God. 0:52:56.338,0:52:59.582 If I do that, that may take me backwards. 0:52:59.582,0:53:01.081 That may take me in a direction 0:53:01.081,0:53:02.176 I don't want to go. 0:53:02.176,0:53:03.561 That may interrupt [br]the fellowship, 0:53:03.561,0:53:05.141 and I'm trying to [br]get more fellowship. 0:53:05.141,0:53:07.145 And you want to take me [br]over there to do that? 0:53:07.145,0:53:08.589 It'll be fun! 0:53:08.589,0:53:11.915 No, it's not fun if I lose [br]the sight of His smile. 0:53:11.915,0:53:15.479 That isn't fun. 0:53:15.479,0:53:21.076 That's exactly what you don't want. 0:53:21.076,0:53:25.272 Brethren, what we've been raised to, 0:53:25.272,0:53:28.133 is think about Christ raised up. 0:53:28.133,0:53:30.823 He's the delight of His Father. 0:53:30.823,0:53:32.152 Proverbs 8 0:53:32.152,0:53:33.529 The delight... 0:53:33.529,0:53:35.354 that's what happens with us. 0:53:35.354,0:53:38.480 It becomes a relationship of delight 0:53:38.480,0:53:40.543 and feeling the smile of God 0:53:40.543,0:53:42.318 and enjoying His joy. 0:53:42.318,0:53:44.240 Delighting in His salvation. 0:53:44.240,0:53:47.092 It's living this thankful life, 0:53:47.092,0:53:48.718 and living in holiness, 0:53:48.718,0:53:50.122 and wanting to be holy. 0:53:50.122,0:53:51.998 Christ said, "Blessed are those who 0:53:51.998,0:53:54.691 hunger and thirst after righteousness. 0:53:54.691,0:53:57.285 Blessed are the pure in heart." 0:53:57.285,0:54:00.297 There's a singleness. 0:54:00.297,0:54:04.410 We're evaluating things, not [br]on a list of rules all the time. 0:54:04.410,0:54:06.136 Show me where I can do this, 0:54:06.136,0:54:08.589 or show me where I can't do that. 0:54:08.589,0:54:10.792 We should abominate that as much as 0:54:10.792,0:54:16.094 we abominate Catholicism's dead Christ. 0:54:16.094,0:54:20.405 Brethren, there's a life that spills forth 0:54:20.405,0:54:21.873 from being raised up; 0:54:21.873,0:54:23.383 a life that is within us. 0:54:23.383,0:54:25.900 Because we're no longer in the grave. 0:54:25.900,0:54:27.087 We've come forth. 0:54:27.087,0:54:30.073 We've been raised up. 0:54:30.073,0:54:32.046 You think of Polycarp. 0:54:32.046,0:54:34.122 Some of us were talking about him. 0:54:34.122,0:54:39.251 His famous quote when they told him 0:54:39.251,0:54:42.201 they wanted him to offer [br]the incense to Caesar. 0:54:42.201,0:54:44.266 They wanted him to deny Christ. 0:54:44.266,0:54:46.730 And he said, 0:54:46.730,0:54:49.528 "80 and six years have I served Christ, 0:54:49.528,0:54:52.367 nor has He ever done me any harm. 0:54:52.367,0:54:57.701 How then could I blaspheme [br]my King who saved me." 0:54:57.701,0:55:02.868 You see, they wanted him to blaspheme. 0:55:02.868,0:55:05.544 He didn't turn to the [br]other Christians and say 0:55:05.544,0:55:07.424 show me a law in the Bible 0:55:07.424,0:55:12.281 that says that I can't do that. 0:55:12.281,0:55:14.363 Brethren, that's not being raised. 0:55:14.363,0:55:19.932 Being raised is... what kindness! 0:55:19.932,0:55:24.067 He has loved me even when I was dead 0:55:24.067,0:55:26.632 in my trespasses. 0:55:26.632,0:55:28.916 He loved me with a great love. 0:55:28.916,0:55:31.682 He showed me great mercy. 0:55:31.682,0:55:34.324 Riches of mercy. 0:55:34.324,0:55:37.430 He spilled the blood of His Son. 0:55:37.430,0:55:40.971 I just think of all the different times 0:55:40.971,0:55:42.885 that He was spit on. 0:55:42.885,0:55:45.229 They plucked out His beard. 0:55:45.229,0:55:46.723 You get that from the Psalms, 0:55:46.723,0:55:50.409 not so much from the Gospel accounts. 0:55:50.409,0:55:53.482 Smitten. 0:55:53.482,0:55:57.625 Think of God smiting His Son. 0:55:57.625,0:56:00.774 He's the Beloved. 0:56:00.774,0:56:04.984 He's hitting Him. He's hitting Him. 0:56:04.984,0:56:10.323 He didn't spare His own Son 0:56:10.323,0:56:12.629 for you. 0:56:12.629,0:56:18.498 And brethren, you've been raised. 0:56:18.498,0:56:25.429 You need to consider yourselves raised. 0:56:25.429,0:56:26.591 Dead to sin. 0:56:26.591,0:56:28.363 Alive to God. 0:56:28.363,0:56:31.258 That needs to be the mindset. 0:56:31.258,0:56:34.052 You can go out of here, 0:56:34.052,0:56:36.411 to be quite honest, 0:56:36.411,0:56:39.099 the computer does not own you. 0:56:39.099,0:56:40.955 You are raised. 0:56:40.955,0:56:44.404 Pornography does not own you. 0:56:44.404,0:56:48.596 You are raised. 0:56:48.596,0:56:50.079 Food doesn't own you. 0:56:50.079,0:56:51.477 Drink doesn't own you. 0:56:51.477,0:56:54.641 Entertainment doesn't own you. 0:56:54.641,0:56:58.137 The truth is, your family [br]does not own you. 0:56:58.137,0:57:00.115 You're a slave to God. 0:57:00.115,0:57:01.762 And as a slave to God, 0:57:01.762,0:57:05.206 free to do right. 0:57:05.206,0:57:08.035 Free to live holy. 0:57:08.035,0:57:12.888 Free, free, yearning, living like David. 0:57:12.888,0:57:16.104 As a deer pants for flowing streams, 0:57:16.104,0:57:18.551 so pants my soul for You, O God. 0:57:18.551,0:57:21.494 My soul thirsts for God, 0:57:21.494,0:57:22.802 for the living God, 0:57:22.802,0:57:25.052 when shall I come and appear before God. 0:57:25.052,0:57:29.321 My tears have been my food day and night. 0:57:29.321,0:57:30.102 Why? 0:57:30.102,0:57:31.902 Because they're saying [br]where is your God? 0:57:31.912,0:57:33.621 And he's saying, yeah, where is He? 0:57:33.621,0:57:35.028 He's weeping for Him. 0:57:35.028,0:57:36.903 He's longing. He's groaning. 0:57:36.903,0:57:38.288 He's crying. 0:57:38.288,0:57:40.391 That's what drives us. 0:57:40.391,0:57:41.873 This is the life. 0:57:41.873,0:57:43.444 Alive to God. 0:57:43.444,0:57:46.423 We've been raised. 0:57:46.423,0:57:49.904 You've been raised to this. 0:57:49.904,0:57:54.310 Consider this reality 0:57:54.310,0:57:56.499 as one being raised... 0:57:56.499,0:57:58.422 we find in Colossians, 0:57:58.422,0:58:02.785 set your minds on things above. 0:58:02.785,0:58:07.361 You're not in those [br]first three verses anymore. 0:58:07.361,0:58:11.211 Set your mind on things outside of there. 0:58:11.211,0:58:15.320 Don't send your mind back in there. 0:58:15.320,0:58:17.317 Colossians 3:1 0:58:17.317,0:58:19.854 As one who has been raised with Christ, 0:58:19.854,0:58:22.731 you are to set your [br]minds upon things above 0:58:22.731,0:58:24.060 where Christ is seated. 0:58:24.060,0:58:26.241 And what we're going [br]to find in Ephesians 2 0:58:26.241,0:58:29.713 is you're seated there too. 0:58:29.713,0:58:31.533 That's next week. 0:58:31.533,0:58:32.958 But alive to God. 0:58:32.958,0:58:36.231 That's what Paul says happens when [br]we're resurrected and raised up. 0:58:36.231,0:58:38.201 Brethren, do you know that? 0:58:38.201,0:58:43.841 Is that a reality? 0:58:43.841,0:58:45.130 Hunger pangs. 0:58:45.130,0:58:47.823 Tears, aching, groaning... 0:58:47.823,0:58:49.485 What a change this is! 0:58:49.485,0:58:52.439 Out of the realm of sin. 0:58:52.439,0:59:01.498 Brethren, Christ made an end to sin. 0:59:01.498,0:59:04.121 It's over. 0:59:04.121,0:59:08.244 That's an end to you living [br]beneath the glory of God. 0:59:08.244,0:59:11.257 All have sinned and fallen [br]short of the glory of God. 0:59:11.257,0:59:14.567 You don't live there anymore. 0:59:14.567,0:59:16.232 Dive into the glory. 0:59:16.232,0:59:23.700 God is saying, Come up! Higher! Come up! 0:59:23.700,0:59:27.228 You're not living in [br]those first three verses 0:59:27.228,0:59:28.750 of Ephesians 2. 0:59:28.750,0:59:31.249 Don't even put your mind there. 0:59:31.249,0:59:32.987 Come up. 0:59:32.987,0:59:34.904 Set your mind on these things up here. 0:59:34.904,0:59:35.921 Come up. 0:59:35.921,0:59:37.730 Up, up, up. 0:59:37.730,0:59:39.253 Sensitive to God. Loving God. 0:59:39.253,0:59:40.239 Seeking God. 0:59:40.239,0:59:42.543 This is the test. 0:59:42.543,0:59:45.757 Do you sincerely desire [br]to draw near to God? 0:59:45.757,0:59:48.148 Have a revelation of this knowledge of Him 0:59:48.148,0:59:49.854 that we're talking about here? 0:59:49.854,0:59:54.653 So, Christian, you've been [br]raised together with Christ. 0:59:54.653,0:59:59.774 Consider yourselves dead to sin 0:59:59.774,1:00:02.528 and alive to God. 1:00:02.528,1:00:03.905 Why? 1:00:03.905,1:00:09.011 Because it's true. 1:00:09.011,1:00:12.705 And may God help us to do just that.