WEBVTT STYLE ::cue { color: #ffffff; } 00:00:00.970 --> 00:00:02.174 Dear brothers and sisters in 00:00:02.212 --> 00:00:04.698 Christ, in the name of Jesus, 00:00:04.874 --> 00:00:07.386 amen. Hallelujah. 00:00:07.498 --> 00:00:10.080 Christ is coming to judge us. 00:00:15.650 --> 00:00:16.974 That's better than I thought 00:00:17.012 --> 00:00:17.840 it would be. 00:00:21.250 --> 00:00:22.766 Thought you might find that 00:00:22.788 --> 00:00:23.870 a little awkward. 00:00:24.290 --> 00:00:26.486 Maybe it it would be a little 00:00:26.508 --> 00:00:28.326 bit uncomfortable to 00:00:28.348 --> 00:00:29.480 say it like that. 00:00:31.370 --> 00:00:32.582 22 days ago, 00:00:32.636 --> 00:00:34.966 we were in this sanctuary a 00:00:34.988 --> 00:00:36.006 little bit fuller than 00:00:36.028 --> 00:00:37.000 it is today. 00:00:38.010 --> 00:00:39.426 We were gathered for a packed 00:00:39.458 --> 00:00:40.522 house. It was Call Night. 00:00:40.576 --> 00:00:41.802 Of course it was a packed house. 00:00:41.856 --> 00:00:43.242 That's why we're here. 00:00:43.376 --> 00:00:44.970 That's why you study. 00:00:45.120 --> 00:00:48.202 That's why we teach to send 00:00:48.256 --> 00:00:50.134 servants of the Word out into 00:00:50.192 --> 00:00:51.678 the church with the good news 00:00:51.764 --> 00:00:55.070 of Jesus for our salvation. 00:00:56.850 --> 00:00:58.222 Of course. It's a great night. 00:00:58.276 --> 00:00:59.950 My favorite part of call night, 00:01:00.020 --> 00:01:02.350 actually, is the processional. 00:01:02.770 --> 00:01:04.206 When we come in, 00:01:04.388 --> 00:01:06.270 it starts down in the basement. 00:01:06.850 --> 00:01:08.234 You fourth years know this. 00:01:08.292 --> 00:01:09.426 All the students line up on 00:01:09.448 --> 00:01:10.174 one end of the hallway, 00:01:10.222 --> 00:01:11.534 and the faculty and the council 00:01:11.582 --> 00:01:12.578 presidents line up on a 00:01:12.584 --> 00:01:13.646 different end of the hallway. 00:01:13.758 --> 00:01:16.066 And then we file out down the 00:01:16.088 --> 00:01:17.374 hallway, up those stairs, 00:01:17.422 --> 00:01:18.354 through the Northex, 00:01:18.402 --> 00:01:19.686 and finally we come down this 00:01:19.708 --> 00:01:22.360 aisle. It's a slow walk, 00:01:23.210 --> 00:01:24.646 and I actually kind of like it 00:01:24.668 --> 00:01:26.646 that way. I like walking in. 00:01:26.668 --> 00:01:27.794 It's usually third or fourth 00:01:27.842 --> 00:01:29.686 verse of our opening hymn by the 00:01:29.708 --> 00:01:32.410 time I get up the aisle. 00:01:32.910 --> 00:01:34.778 And so I enjoy taking that 00:01:34.864 --> 00:01:36.218 walk up the aisle in. 00:01:36.304 --> 00:01:37.946 And I especially like it when I 00:01:37.968 --> 00:01:38.906 get to right about where 00:01:38.928 --> 00:01:40.038 you're sitting, Josh, 00:01:40.134 --> 00:01:42.702 to about the 6th row back, 00:01:42.836 --> 00:01:44.766 because then as I'm walking up, 00:01:44.868 --> 00:01:47.006 that's where the students who 00:01:47.028 --> 00:01:49.262 are taking their calls are 00:01:49.316 --> 00:01:51.102 standing in their tidy black 00:01:51.156 --> 00:01:52.774 shirts and their blue 00:01:52.842 --> 00:01:54.180 outfits up front. 00:01:54.950 --> 00:01:57.170 And so I like to slow down there 00:01:57.320 --> 00:01:59.650 and just look down each aisle. 00:02:01.590 --> 00:02:05.070 It fills me with a mash of 00:02:05.160 --> 00:02:08.949 pride and thanksgiving 00:02:10.250 --> 00:02:11.366 and occasionally a 00:02:11.388 --> 00:02:12.470 little relief. 00:02:15.610 --> 00:02:16.822 I'd like to just stop, 00:02:16.876 --> 00:02:17.926 but people are coming behind me, 00:02:17.948 --> 00:02:18.870 so I got to keep moving. 00:02:18.940 --> 00:02:20.198 So I come up the rest of the 00:02:20.204 --> 00:02:21.862 aisle, and then I turn right. 00:02:21.996 --> 00:02:23.414 And as I turn right, 00:02:23.532 --> 00:02:25.318 I look back across 00:02:25.404 --> 00:02:26.438 all the students, 00:02:26.604 --> 00:02:28.006 and they're usually looking up, 00:02:28.028 --> 00:02:28.966 and I usually catch a couple 00:02:28.988 --> 00:02:29.542 of their eyes. 00:02:29.596 --> 00:02:31.006 It's kind a special moment I 00:02:31.028 --> 00:02:32.334 have just briefly with a couple 00:02:32.372 --> 00:02:34.222 of students. And then I finish. 00:02:34.276 --> 00:02:35.930 I get to the end of the pews, 00:02:36.010 --> 00:02:38.110 and then I look to the north, 00:02:41.260 --> 00:02:42.570 and there He is. 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:47.910 There's that face. 00:02:52.610 --> 00:02:54.320 I'll be honest with you. 00:02:55.650 --> 00:02:57.694 I have a conflicted relationship 00:02:57.892 --> 00:03:00.750 with the Judgment Window. 00:03:02.530 --> 00:03:04.974 The face of Jesus in that 00:03:05.012 --> 00:03:06.880 window perplexes me. 00:03:07.730 --> 00:03:09.486 It's not the face of Jesus in 00:03:09.508 --> 00:03:11.466 this window. In this window, 00:03:11.578 --> 00:03:14.234 his face is filled with grief. 00:03:14.282 --> 00:03:16.170 He is the man of sorrows, 00:03:16.329 --> 00:03:18.590 suffering for those he loves. 00:03:21.329 --> 00:03:23.818 In this window, he's the victor, 00:03:23.914 --> 00:03:25.526 the vindicated one, 00:03:25.628 --> 00:03:27.446 the one who has burst forth from 00:03:27.468 --> 00:03:29.478 the tomb and is ready to share 00:03:29.564 --> 00:03:31.350 his resurrection with all 00:03:31.420 --> 00:03:32.726 who will follow him. 00:03:32.828 --> 00:03:34.280 I like that face. 00:03:38.920 --> 00:03:42.250 And then there's that face. 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:47.210 It's a very serious face. 00:03:47.820 --> 00:03:50.600 You might even call it stern. 00:03:52.220 --> 00:03:53.531 It's the face of someone 00:03:53.586 --> 00:03:54.990 you don't mess with. 00:03:57.760 --> 00:04:01.100 It's the face of the judge. 00:04:05.160 --> 00:04:05.572 Now, 00:04:05.626 --> 00:04:06.464 I don't know if it's 00:04:06.512 --> 00:04:07.540 intentional, 00:04:08.860 --> 00:04:09.704 and I don't know who 00:04:09.742 --> 00:04:10.900 made this decision, 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:12.904 but it strikes me well, 00:04:12.942 --> 00:04:14.136 it just strikes me that the 00:04:14.158 --> 00:04:16.248 faculty, during call service, 00:04:16.334 --> 00:04:17.255 sit right underneath the 00:04:17.278 --> 00:04:18.360 judgment window. 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:22.300 It must be the faculty marshal, 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:25.596 which actually would 00:04:25.618 --> 00:04:26.670 make some sense. 00:04:28.080 --> 00:04:29.544 But if it is intentional, 00:04:29.592 --> 00:04:30.876 I'll just point out that the 00:04:30.898 --> 00:04:32.056 council president is sitting 00:04:32.087 --> 00:04:33.230 right next to us. 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:36.640 And as long as we're at it, 00:04:36.710 --> 00:04:37.808 you know who else is right in 00:04:37.813 --> 00:04:39.280 line of the judgment window? 00:04:40.820 --> 00:04:42.080 The candidates. 00:04:46.350 --> 00:04:47.706 I want to say thank you to our 00:04:47.728 --> 00:04:49.306 Dean of the Chapel for indulging 00:04:49.337 --> 00:04:50.558 me and roping off some of 00:04:50.563 --> 00:04:52.670 the seats in the pews. 00:04:56.820 --> 00:05:00.063 I'd like for all of us today to 00:05:00.102 --> 00:05:02.640 experience life beneath 00:05:03.140 --> 00:05:05.200 the Judgment Window. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:11.884 In fact, if you can't see it, 00:05:12.002 --> 00:05:12.967 if you happen to have 00:05:12.994 --> 00:05:13.611 come in late, 00:05:13.676 --> 00:05:14.895 there's plenty of seats up here. 00:05:14.918 --> 00:05:15.808 You're welcome to make your 00:05:15.813 --> 00:05:16.800 way up here if you'd like. 00:05:16.870 --> 00:05:18.044 Otherwise, you can just imagine. 00:05:18.092 --> 00:05:19.056 But we're going to be reflecting 00:05:19.087 --> 00:05:20.464 on that window throughout 00:05:20.512 --> 00:05:22.150 the sermon this morning. 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:23.792 Wherever you're sitting, 00:05:23.856 --> 00:05:24.470 however, 00:05:25.159 --> 00:05:26.916 I'd like to spend some time 00:05:27.018 --> 00:05:28.004 thinking about what 00:05:28.042 --> 00:05:30.470 this life is like 00:05:32.039 --> 00:05:33.760 when you stand beneath 00:05:33.919 --> 00:05:35.140 the judge. 00:05:36.520 --> 00:05:37.824 Because make no mistake, 00:05:37.872 --> 00:05:39.604 we all live beneath the 00:05:39.642 --> 00:05:41.380 Judgment Window, 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:43.864 not just when we're sitting 00:05:43.912 --> 00:05:45.260 in this sanctuary. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.236 And this life beneath the 00:05:48.337 --> 00:05:50.264 Judgment Window is a conflicted 00:05:50.312 --> 00:05:52.632 life. It's a life of struggle. 00:05:52.696 --> 00:05:55.340 It's a life of paradox. 00:05:56.159 --> 00:05:57.544 You guys remember paradox, 00:05:57.592 --> 00:05:59.159 right? From Intro to Systems? 00:06:00.170 --> 00:06:02.362 Okay? Two truths, 00:06:02.506 --> 00:06:04.266 two biblical truths that seem 00:06:04.298 --> 00:06:05.294 to contradict each other, 00:06:05.332 --> 00:06:06.670 that do contradict each other. 00:06:06.740 --> 00:06:08.302 But you hold them in common. 00:06:08.436 --> 00:06:10.110 You hold them in tension. 00:06:10.610 --> 00:06:14.266 Both affirmed, both confessed, 00:06:14.458 --> 00:06:16.430 both maintained. 00:06:20.610 --> 00:06:21.870 Paradoxes, 00:06:22.610 --> 00:06:25.200 now not yet 00:06:26.410 --> 00:06:28.198 perfectly free from all. 00:06:28.284 --> 00:06:30.902 A dutiful servant to all. We 00:06:30.956 --> 00:06:33.640 love paradoxes, right? 00:06:34.970 --> 00:06:35.334 Well, 00:06:35.372 --> 00:06:37.960 we love to talk about them. 00:06:41.750 --> 00:06:43.170 Back to the window. 00:06:44.630 --> 00:06:45.860 On the one hand, 00:06:46.950 --> 00:06:47.362 life 00:06:47.416 --> 00:06:50.946 beneath the Judgment Window is a 00:06:50.968 --> 00:06:53.560 life that is filled with hope. 00:06:55.450 --> 00:06:57.026 The window centers on Jesus, 00:06:57.058 --> 00:06:57.778 for goodness sake. 00:06:57.794 --> 00:06:59.430 How can it not be hopeful? 00:07:00.810 --> 00:07:02.150 There you have him, Christ, 00:07:02.220 --> 00:07:03.750 the eternal Lord, 00:07:04.409 --> 00:07:06.134 whose promise here we claim, 00:07:06.182 --> 00:07:07.813 whose gifts of grace are freely 00:07:07.861 --> 00:07:10.780 poured on all who name his name. 00:07:11.230 --> 00:07:13.180 And you see who he is, right? 00:07:14.270 --> 00:07:15.754 He carries with him that 00:07:15.792 --> 00:07:17.710 window and that window. 00:07:19.090 --> 00:07:21.034 His hands rich wounds 00:07:21.082 --> 00:07:22.590 yet visible above. 00:07:26.020 --> 00:07:28.492 The crucified, the risen, 00:07:28.635 --> 00:07:29.872 the reigning one, 00:07:29.926 --> 00:07:32.100 the one who will come to judge 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:35.792 by his death, 00:07:35.856 --> 00:07:38.580 salvation won for every 00:07:38.650 --> 00:07:40.020 child of earth. 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:42.144 Every child of earth, 00:07:42.192 --> 00:07:44.330 including you. 00:07:47.370 --> 00:07:49.110 This window fills me with hope 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:50.210 because of the promises 00:07:50.290 --> 00:07:51.590 it proclaims. 00:07:53.690 --> 00:07:56.406 There's the river coming out of 00:07:56.428 --> 00:07:59.494 the city of God jerusalem, 00:07:59.542 --> 00:08:00.570 the golden. 00:08:02.670 --> 00:08:04.150 There's the new creation 00:08:04.230 --> 00:08:06.662 bursting forth with colorful 00:08:06.726 --> 00:08:08.010 splendor down at the bottom. 00:08:08.080 --> 00:08:09.610 In those blossoms. 00:08:12.050 --> 00:08:13.354 There's the multitude, 00:08:13.402 --> 00:08:16.062 the multitude of believers from 00:08:16.116 --> 00:08:17.818 every tribe, every nation, 00:08:17.914 --> 00:08:19.614 every race, every people. 00:08:19.732 --> 00:08:21.130 If you look really closely, 00:08:21.210 --> 00:08:22.446 there's even a couple of 00:08:22.467 --> 00:08:23.950 Germans in that window. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.380 I look at that window, 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:35.500 and my faith is strengthened in 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:37.683 the promises of God. 00:08:37.882 --> 00:08:39.844 The promises that are 00:08:39.882 --> 00:08:41.190 all in Christ, 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:43.990 that await us at his return. 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:48.800 And looking at the promises 00:08:48.880 --> 00:08:49.856 depicted in those windows 00:08:49.888 --> 00:08:50.948 is really important, 00:08:51.114 --> 00:08:52.564 because there are plenty of 00:08:52.602 --> 00:08:55.476 other judgment windows that 00:08:55.498 --> 00:08:56.819 aren't so gracious. 00:08:59.240 --> 00:08:59.890 I'm thinking of 00:09:00.090 --> 00:09:01.534 the judgment window on your 00:09:01.572 --> 00:09:04.270 laptop when you flip it open 00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:05.850 to log into SIMNET, 00:09:05.930 --> 00:09:07.550 to check your grades, 00:09:08.930 --> 00:09:10.846 assuming the professors actually 00:09:11.028 --> 00:09:12.640 post them at some point. 00:09:14.770 --> 00:09:16.346 There's no promise attached 00:09:16.378 --> 00:09:17.550 to that window. 00:09:20.210 --> 00:09:21.374 I'm thinking about the little 00:09:21.412 --> 00:09:22.494 windows we carry around 00:09:22.532 --> 00:09:23.790 in our pockets, 00:09:24.610 --> 00:09:25.954 those little judgment 00:09:26.002 --> 00:09:28.498 windows with every picture, 00:09:28.594 --> 00:09:31.474 every post. We invite judgment, 00:09:31.522 --> 00:09:32.994 and there are plenty of judges 00:09:33.122 --> 00:09:34.550 who will oblige. 00:09:37.130 --> 00:09:38.902 I'm thinking about that judgment 00:09:38.966 --> 00:09:42.074 window that hangs above the 00:09:42.112 --> 00:09:44.330 sink in your bathroom. 00:09:48.230 --> 00:09:50.290 The judge in that window 00:09:51.430 --> 00:09:53.240 is at the same time 00:09:54.090 --> 00:09:55.590 far too harsh, 00:09:57.130 --> 00:10:00.390 recalling things long forgiven, 00:10:02.250 --> 00:10:04.200 and yet at the same time 00:10:04.590 --> 00:10:06.250 far too lenient, 00:10:07.390 --> 00:10:09.514 excusing things that need 00:10:09.552 --> 00:10:10.890 to be confessed. 00:10:14.330 --> 00:10:15.654 It's because of all these other 00:10:15.692 --> 00:10:17.846 judgment windows that we have to 00:10:17.867 --> 00:10:19.322 keep our eye on this 00:10:19.376 --> 00:10:20.342 Judgment Window. 00:10:20.406 --> 00:10:22.902 Because under this Judgment 00:10:22.966 --> 00:10:24.778 Window, there is life. 00:10:24.944 --> 00:10:26.266 There is life because there 00:10:26.288 --> 00:10:28.090 are promises of Jesus. 00:10:29.950 --> 00:10:31.238 That's where we live. 00:10:31.344 --> 00:10:33.165 Looking forward to the 00:10:33.188 --> 00:10:35.470 promises of Jesus. 00:10:37.090 --> 00:10:37.710 You see, 00:10:37.780 --> 00:10:39.006 the common problem with those 00:10:39.028 --> 00:10:40.766 other judgment windows is that 00:10:40.788 --> 00:10:42.319 there's no grace in them. 00:10:44.150 --> 00:10:46.114 But this judge this judge is 00:10:46.152 --> 00:10:48.478 merciful, and he's kind hearted, 00:10:48.574 --> 00:10:50.574 and he's slow to anger, 00:10:50.622 --> 00:10:51.742 and he's quick to forgive. 00:10:51.806 --> 00:10:52.994 He's abounding and 00:10:53.032 --> 00:10:54.500 steadfast love. 00:10:56.569 --> 00:10:59.560 Paul nailed it in Romans eight. 00:11:00.090 --> 00:11:02.550 There is therefore now no 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:04.086 condemnation for those who 00:11:04.108 --> 00:11:05.634 are in Christ Jesus. 00:11:05.762 --> 00:11:07.634 You are in Christ Jesus. 00:11:07.762 --> 00:11:09.334 There is no condemnation 00:11:09.382 --> 00:11:10.140 for you. 00:11:12.430 --> 00:11:14.165 And so life beneath the judgment 00:11:14.198 --> 00:11:15.766 window is a life filled 00:11:15.798 --> 00:11:16.700 with hope. 00:11:21.280 --> 00:11:22.990 But that's not all it is. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:27.420 Remember the paradox? 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:32.860 100% forgiven 00:11:35.040 --> 00:11:37.030 and yet at the same time, 00:11:39.160 --> 00:11:41.670 100% 00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:43.620 sinful. 00:11:48.030 --> 00:11:49.660 I wish it weren't so. 00:11:52.270 --> 00:11:53.642 I wish there was no 00:11:53.696 --> 00:11:55.514 paradox here. 00:11:55.712 --> 00:11:57.286 I wish we could just dissolve 00:11:57.318 --> 00:11:59.800 the paradox and rejoice in our 00:12:00.090 --> 00:12:00.910 forgiveness. 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:05.588 That will happen actually, 00:12:05.674 --> 00:12:08.212 one day that will happen. 00:12:08.346 --> 00:12:09.588 One corinthians 15. 00:12:09.674 --> 00:12:11.364 Scott just read about it. 00:12:11.562 --> 00:12:12.996 Did you notice what Paul said 00:12:13.018 --> 00:12:14.144 to the Corinthians? 00:12:14.272 --> 00:12:16.688 We shall all be changed 00:12:16.864 --> 00:12:17.668 in a moment, 00:12:17.754 --> 00:12:19.776 in the twinkling of an eye 00:12:19.808 --> 00:12:21.088 at the last trumpet. 00:12:21.184 --> 00:12:22.500 For the trumpet will sound, 00:12:22.570 --> 00:12:23.792 and the dead will be raised 00:12:23.856 --> 00:12:24.768 imperishable, 00:12:24.864 --> 00:12:26.632 and we shall be changed. 00:12:26.736 --> 00:12:28.444 You know what that change is? 00:12:28.642 --> 00:12:30.140 No more sin. 00:12:31.520 --> 00:12:33.340 No more paradox. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.504 Only forgiveness. Only glory. 00:12:36.632 --> 00:12:39.810 Only life as God intended it. 00:12:42.180 --> 00:12:43.324 But all those verbs 00:12:43.372 --> 00:12:44.960 are future tenses. 00:12:47.380 --> 00:12:48.464 All of that is still 00:12:48.502 --> 00:12:51.010 to come. For now 00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:53.668 as Paul pointed out, 00:12:53.754 --> 00:12:57.332 death still stings and 00:12:57.386 --> 00:13:00.580 sin still clings. 00:13:02.040 --> 00:13:03.350 To your life 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:05.930 and to my life. 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:10.490 And to our life together. 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:14.410 I wish it weren't so. 00:13:19.670 --> 00:13:22.046 This sin will go with you 00:13:22.168 --> 00:13:23.480 to your first call. 00:13:24.330 --> 00:13:26.322 All of you who just took calls 00:13:26.466 --> 00:13:29.080 22 days ago. It'll go with you. 00:13:29.850 --> 00:13:31.058 There will already be plenty 00:13:31.074 --> 00:13:31.846 of sin there from your 00:13:31.867 --> 00:13:32.710 congregation. 00:13:33.230 --> 00:13:34.250 You'll deal with that. 00:13:34.319 --> 00:13:35.258 But I want to think about the 00:13:35.264 --> 00:13:37.020 sin that's going to go with you. 00:13:39.550 --> 00:13:43.260 Your pride will go with you. 00:13:45.730 --> 00:13:47.200 Trust me on this one. 00:13:50.170 --> 00:13:54.306 Your willingness to let noble 00:13:54.418 --> 00:14:00.220 ends justify ignoble means 00:14:01.950 --> 00:14:03.340 will go with you. 00:14:05.310 --> 00:14:08.314 Your insecurity that makes you 00:14:08.352 --> 00:14:09.334 really super sensitive 00:14:09.382 --> 00:14:10.410 to criticism. 00:14:11.569 --> 00:14:13.200 It'll go with you, 00:14:15.250 --> 00:14:17.946 as will your baser instincts. 00:14:18.138 --> 00:14:20.234 That will invite you to abuse 00:14:20.282 --> 00:14:21.950 the freedom of the gospel, 00:14:23.569 --> 00:14:25.502 and that will tempt you to play 00:14:25.636 --> 00:14:28.510 in the dark, antinomian shadows. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:37.090 I know what I'm talking about. 00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:41.464 And I think you do, too. 00:14:46.450 --> 00:14:48.080 Well, Paul sure did. 00:14:49.250 --> 00:14:50.542 Paul was on to us. 00:14:50.596 --> 00:14:51.920 Paul was on to this. 00:14:52.690 --> 00:14:53.454 Which is why, 00:14:53.492 --> 00:14:54.798 in his next letter to 00:14:54.804 --> 00:14:55.950 the Corinthians, 00:14:56.530 --> 00:14:58.062 he's talking in chapter five 00:14:58.116 --> 00:14:59.006 about how we should make 00:14:59.028 --> 00:14:59.740 it our aim to please. 00:15:00.250 --> 00:15:00.846 God. 00:15:01.028 --> 00:15:02.522 And then he gives this warning. 00:15:02.586 --> 00:15:03.646 He's encouraging us to live 00:15:03.668 --> 00:15:04.334 the Christian life. 00:15:04.372 --> 00:15:04.894 And then he gives 00:15:04.932 --> 00:15:05.950 us this warning. 00:15:06.290 --> 00:15:08.830 For we must all appear before 00:15:08.900 --> 00:15:11.854 the judgment seat of Christ so 00:15:11.892 --> 00:15:13.886 that each 1 may receive what is 00:15:13.908 --> 00:15:14.846 due for what he has 00:15:14.868 --> 00:15:15.840 done in the body, 00:15:16.610 --> 00:15:18.510 whether good or evil. 00:15:20.610 --> 00:15:23.626 Life beneath the Judgment Window 00:15:23.818 --> 00:15:26.290 with a stern face of a judge 00:15:26.370 --> 00:15:29.270 like our righteous Lord Jesus, 00:15:30.090 --> 00:15:32.022 is a very uncomfortable place 00:15:32.076 --> 00:15:34.566 to be for those who 00:15:34.588 --> 00:15:37.510 are 100% sinful. 00:15:41.140 --> 00:15:42.370 So we live 00:15:43.560 --> 00:15:45.060 in this tension, 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:49.232 in this perplexing paradox, 00:15:49.376 --> 00:15:50.816 fully forgiven, 00:15:51.008 --> 00:15:52.308 drenched in the waters 00:15:52.324 --> 00:15:53.332 of baptism, 00:15:53.476 --> 00:15:55.240 fully righteous before God, 00:15:55.310 --> 00:15:56.490 and yet also 00:15:58.380 --> 00:16:00.040 hopelessly corrupt, 00:16:01.900 --> 00:16:03.720 drowning in sin, 00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:07.480 constantly and desperately 00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:08.350 in need 00:16:09.520 --> 00:16:11.832 of God's gifts of grace. 00:16:11.976 --> 00:16:14.830 So what shall we do? 00:16:17.060 --> 00:16:18.752 What shall we do in our life 00:16:18.806 --> 00:16:20.352 together beneath this 00:16:20.406 --> 00:16:21.628 Judgment Window? 00:16:21.724 --> 00:16:24.720 Do we repent or do we rejoice? 00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:28.268 Do we hang our heads in shame? 00:16:28.364 --> 00:16:30.260 Or do we lift our voice? 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:33.830 You know the answer. 00:16:35.319 --> 00:16:36.390 It's yes. 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:39.044 It's yes, we do 00:16:39.082 --> 00:16:39.670 both. 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:43.590 Paradoxically at the same time. 00:16:49.770 --> 00:16:50.706 Remember the theme 00:16:50.738 --> 00:16:51.830 of these windows? 00:16:52.890 --> 00:16:53.826 Remember the theme 00:16:53.858 --> 00:16:54.870 of these windows? 00:16:56.170 --> 00:16:59.130 It's the Te Deum Laudamus, 00:17:00.750 --> 00:17:02.346 the ancient hymn back to 00:17:02.367 --> 00:17:03.542 the fourth century. 00:17:03.686 --> 00:17:05.980 This praise to Christ. 00:17:08.210 --> 00:17:11.021 What shall we do when we are 00:17:11.076 --> 00:17:14.430 soaked and saved in our baptism? 00:17:15.810 --> 00:17:17.866 What shall we do when we partake 00:17:17.978 --> 00:17:20.126 of the foretaste of 00:17:20.147 --> 00:17:21.540 the feast to come, 00:17:22.069 --> 00:17:25.422 when we hear the angels playing 00:17:25.485 --> 00:17:27.470 that distant triumph song? 00:17:27.550 --> 00:17:28.994 What shall we do when we look 00:17:29.032 --> 00:17:31.426 through this window out into a 00:17:31.448 --> 00:17:33.502 creation that is still groaning, 00:17:33.646 --> 00:17:35.306 that longs to be restored? 00:17:35.358 --> 00:17:36.886 What shall we do when we hold on 00:17:36.908 --> 00:17:38.662 to these promises that have 00:17:38.716 --> 00:17:40.054 always been more than 00:17:40.092 --> 00:17:41.030 just words? 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:43.702 What shall we do as figures of 00:17:43.756 --> 00:17:46.034 faith who walk by sight? 00:17:46.162 --> 00:17:48.262 What shall we do when we 00:17:48.316 --> 00:17:50.389 contemplate the crucifixion 00:17:51.850 --> 00:17:53.606 and when we gaze at 00:17:53.628 --> 00:17:54.594 the resurrection, 00:17:54.722 --> 00:17:56.966 this explosion of Jesus from the 00:17:56.988 --> 00:17:59.066 tomb as a phoenix rises 00:17:59.178 --> 00:17:59.770 from the dead? 00:18:00.650 --> 00:18:02.000 What shall we do? 00:18:06.130 --> 00:18:07.200 We sing. 00:18:09.090 --> 00:18:11.150 We sing the Te Deum. 00:18:14.290 --> 00:18:17.022 We don't sing it because it 00:18:17.076 --> 00:18:18.926 benefits us in any way. 00:18:19.108 --> 00:18:20.142 Not because we love 00:18:20.196 --> 00:18:21.600 Matins so much. 00:18:23.890 --> 00:18:26.310 And not only in this sanctuary. 00:18:28.170 --> 00:18:30.274 We make a life of singing 00:18:30.322 --> 00:18:32.200 the Te Deum to God. 00:18:35.770 --> 00:18:37.590 It's your theme song, 00:18:38.110 --> 00:18:40.118 your walk up song, 00:18:40.294 --> 00:18:42.010 your fight song, 00:18:43.470 --> 00:18:45.850 your swan song. 00:18:49.630 --> 00:18:52.394 Our life beneath this Judgment 00:18:52.442 --> 00:18:54.160 Window is life. 00:18:54.770 --> 00:18:56.474 It's life beneath the Judgment 00:18:56.522 --> 00:18:58.426 Window because the Judge 00:18:58.538 --> 00:19:01.870 gives us His own life, 00:19:02.020 --> 00:19:03.966 and He puts a song in our hearts 00:19:03.998 --> 00:19:05.986 that pours out of our lips so 00:19:06.008 --> 00:19:07.314 that our entire life 00:19:07.432 --> 00:19:10.210 is one long Te Deum. 00:19:11.590 --> 00:19:13.854 We don't sing for our benefit. 00:19:13.902 --> 00:19:15.406 We don't sing for God's benefit. 00:19:15.438 --> 00:19:16.850 He doesn't need our song. 00:19:16.930 --> 00:19:18.902 Creation is doing just a good 00:19:18.956 --> 00:19:20.166 job praising his name 00:19:20.188 --> 00:19:21.080 without us. 00:19:21.690 --> 00:19:22.150 No. 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:26.182 We sing the Te Deum for those 00:19:26.236 --> 00:19:27.586 people who are up in the right 00:19:27.628 --> 00:19:29.130 corner of that window. 00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:37.456 The people separated from 00:19:37.478 --> 00:19:38.880 the love of Jesus, 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.072 who, 00:19:41.126 --> 00:19:42.204 without the proclamation 00:19:42.252 --> 00:19:42.944 of the word, 00:19:43.062 --> 00:19:45.460 will be separated for 00:19:45.530 --> 00:19:47.700 all eternity. 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:51.460 We sing for their sake. 00:19:52.520 --> 00:19:54.240 We sing and we preach. 00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:55.632 We sing and we witness. 00:19:55.696 --> 00:19:57.052 We sing and we forgive. 00:19:57.136 --> 00:19:58.372 We sing and we promise. 00:19:58.436 --> 00:20:00.410 We sing. We sing. 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:02.010 We sing 00:20:04.780 --> 00:20:07.560 for their sake. You and I, 00:20:07.630 --> 00:20:09.572 sinner saints through 00:20:09.646 --> 00:20:10.590 and through. 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:14.172 We do what this seminary has 00:20:14.226 --> 00:20:16.220 done for all of its existence. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:20.716 The reason we exist here is to 00:20:20.738 --> 00:20:23.420 sing a lifelong Te Deum, 00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:26.044 in deed and in Word, 00:20:26.162 --> 00:20:28.188 so that all may honor Christ 00:20:28.274 --> 00:20:32.376 today and follow Him as Lord. 00:20:32.568 --> 00:20:35.570 We rise to sing now.