1 00:00:02,066 --> 00:00:05,066 just to reiterate what Jeff said at the beginning, there was a little, 2 00:00:05,533 --> 00:00:08,700 medical issue at the beginning, at the end of last service. 3 00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:11,800 And that's why we got, just holding people off. 4 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:13,066 So thank you for your patience. 5 00:00:13,066 --> 00:00:16,066 And, I think everything's going to be all right. 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,100 But if you think about it, just just put a man named Mark 7 00:00:20,100 --> 00:00:24,333 in your prayers this week, that, he continues to walk. 8 00:00:24,333 --> 00:00:27,333 And I think what what God intervened in, 9 00:00:27,633 --> 00:00:30,633 in a good way. So, 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:32,500 we're in Romans nine, 11 00:00:32,500 --> 00:00:35,333 and we're going to we're going to we're going to unpack Romans nine. 12 00:00:35,333 --> 00:00:37,800 But before we do, I need 13 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:41,666 to let you know that, Sean, I got really good news this week. 14 00:00:41,666 --> 00:00:45,333 And yesterday our third grandson was born, which is really cool. 15 00:00:46,166 --> 00:00:48,566 They named him Randy after my dad. 16 00:00:48,566 --> 00:00:51,600 And, he is perfect and precious. 17 00:00:51,966 --> 00:00:52,633 And at the. 18 00:00:52,633 --> 00:00:57,366 I leave today to go to Portland to run the Discovery Center till Wednesday 19 00:00:57,666 --> 00:01:00,500 of church planters and a bunch of planters from Ukraine 20 00:01:00,500 --> 00:01:03,600 that were coming over to so I can go do churches there. 21 00:01:05,366 --> 00:01:06,000 And then we 22 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,000 leave on Friday after I get back to be in Idaho 23 00:01:09,100 --> 00:01:12,233 with our family for a few days, which is going to be a lot of fun. 24 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,266 Our eldest grandson gets to play in his first flag football game, 25 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:19,700 which is exactly as God intended it to be, 26 00:01:20,466 --> 00:01:22,933 although there is still sin in the world 27 00:01:22,933 --> 00:01:26,033 and he has to be on the Patriots team, which is 28 00:01:27,666 --> 00:01:30,666 really unfortunate. 29 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:32,866 In chapter nine. 30 00:01:32,866 --> 00:01:35,600 Most people who have read the Bible, 31 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,566 when it comes to Rome and say, I love the book of Romans, 32 00:01:38,566 --> 00:01:41,566 what I've discovered is what they love is chapter eight 33 00:01:42,566 --> 00:01:43,566 on love the book of Romans. 34 00:01:43,566 --> 00:01:46,333 They love chapter eight because we love the idea. 35 00:01:46,333 --> 00:01:48,533 There's no condemnation in Christ. I love that 36 00:01:49,833 --> 00:01:51,766 God works all things together for good. 37 00:01:51,766 --> 00:01:54,600 I love that nothing can separate him from his love. 38 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,766 I love that I have no clue what's at nine, ten, 11. 39 00:02:00,333 --> 00:02:04,100 The way the book is, is structured verse chapters 40 00:02:04,100 --> 00:02:08,266 one through the first part of chapter three is about the wrath of God, 41 00:02:09,733 --> 00:02:12,066 and that we're separated from God by sin. 42 00:02:12,066 --> 00:02:13,733 The last part of chapter three 43 00:02:13,733 --> 00:02:16,733 all the way through chapter eight, is about the grace of God. 44 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,366 And that's what people love from nine, ten, 11. 45 00:02:20,366 --> 00:02:23,400 Those chapters is about the plan of God 46 00:02:24,366 --> 00:02:27,366 specifically as it relates to the Israel nation. 47 00:02:28,933 --> 00:02:32,533 And then 12 through 16 is about the will of God 48 00:02:32,900 --> 00:02:37,933 and how we live this out in the world as apprentices of Jesus. 49 00:02:38,566 --> 00:02:42,333 And so we finished the section on the Grace of God last week, 50 00:02:42,833 --> 00:02:46,966 and we enter this section about the plan of God 51 00:02:46,966 --> 00:02:51,166 specifically as it relates to the, the, the Israel nation. 52 00:02:51,166 --> 00:02:54,700 And so most people, when they read this like, what does this have to do with me? 53 00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:58,100 There are so many parallels 54 00:02:58,100 --> 00:03:01,200 and so many truths that we can gain 55 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:06,300 from the study of nine, ten, 11 as God relates to his people 56 00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:10,800 and how he relates to those who are not Jews, in other words, called Gentiles. 57 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,700 Chapter nine is about his rules past. 58 00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:19,566 Chapter ten is about Israel's present, and chapter 11 is about their future. 59 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,966 And so there is there's a lot for us in this. 60 00:03:23,633 --> 00:03:26,100 But before we get into it, I need 61 00:03:26,100 --> 00:03:29,100 I just need to give it a little bit of of, 62 00:03:29,700 --> 00:03:32,700 insight as to where this where chapter nine is headed. 63 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:36,900 It Paul talks a lot about the Jews 64 00:03:37,266 --> 00:03:40,233 and the Jews he talks about are Jews 65 00:03:40,233 --> 00:03:43,266 ethnically those born Jewish 66 00:03:43,833 --> 00:03:47,200 and religiously those who obey Jewish. 67 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:48,600 So it makes sense. 68 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,366 And then he talks about Gentiles. 69 00:03:50,366 --> 00:03:53,033 That's just a fancy word for non-Jews. 70 00:03:53,033 --> 00:03:56,566 And so biblically, the whole world is divided, been Jews and Gentiles. 71 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:02,700 We I haven't checked your DNA, but most of us are Gentiles, okay. 72 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:04,266 Just non-Jews. 73 00:04:04,266 --> 00:04:07,200 And then as in unpacking 74 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,100 what he does in chapter nine about the grace of God, 75 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:16,900 Paul goes back to Jewish Hebrew Old Testament, had deep history 76 00:04:17,966 --> 00:04:20,200 because he wants to drive home 77 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,766 the fact that though the Jews have been called, God shows, right? 78 00:04:23,766 --> 00:04:26,000 Anybody here that God's chosen people, the Jews. 79 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,466 You heard that even though they're known as God's chosen, they're God's chosen. 80 00:04:30,466 --> 00:04:33,600 Not because they merit it, not because they're good, 81 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,300 not because there's something valuable innately in them. 82 00:04:36,300 --> 00:04:39,133 They're chosen because of God's grace. 83 00:04:39,133 --> 00:04:42,466 Just like anybody who has a relationship with the father 84 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,700 is not because we've done something to merit it. 85 00:04:44,700 --> 00:04:46,233 It's because of God's grace. 86 00:04:46,233 --> 00:04:50,066 And so Paul goes back to the Old Testament, deep in the Old Testament 87 00:04:50,500 --> 00:04:54,600 to say, these people are mine, but not because they're so special. 88 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,166 I chose them now because I chose them. 89 00:04:58,166 --> 00:05:01,600 They're special, but I didn't choose them because they're special. 90 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:02,533 Same thing with us. 91 00:05:04,366 --> 00:05:05,466 And so he goes all the way 92 00:05:05,466 --> 00:05:06,233 back to talk, 93 00:05:06,233 --> 00:05:10,233 to talk about the history of Abraham, and then talks about the history of 94 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,766 Ishmael and Isaac, the two sons of Abraham. 95 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,933 And then he talks about Esau and Jacob, the two sons of Isaac. 96 00:05:18,500 --> 00:05:23,600 And then he talks about Moses the liberator out of slavery in Egypt. 97 00:05:23,966 --> 00:05:26,966 And he talks about the Exodus and the golden calf. 98 00:05:27,066 --> 00:05:32,133 Exodus 31 3233 and then he talks about the prophet 99 00:05:32,133 --> 00:05:37,166 Jeremiah, Leah and Hosea, and Isaiah, and he uses all of this stuff. 100 00:05:37,166 --> 00:05:40,166 This is a deep dive in Old Testament. 101 00:05:40,466 --> 00:05:43,466 Here's part of understanding the Bible. 102 00:05:43,700 --> 00:05:47,966 We cannot understand the New Testament, Matthew through revelation 103 00:05:48,166 --> 00:05:51,166 if we don't understand the Old Testament that came before it. 104 00:05:51,366 --> 00:05:55,533 And so Paul is writing to those who understand Old Testament history, 105 00:05:56,466 --> 00:05:59,600 the Romans, and in Rome, right to Judah. 106 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:01,000 They understand Old Testament history. 107 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,366 So he draws on all this Old Testament. 108 00:06:03,366 --> 00:06:06,133 So we're going to take a deep dive into the Old Testament 109 00:06:06,133 --> 00:06:08,500 as you go through chapter nine. You okay with that? 110 00:06:08,500 --> 00:06:10,500 Okay. This is what I love about our church. 111 00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:13,500 Like we don't mind getting in the weeds of the Bible. 112 00:06:13,566 --> 00:06:16,633 And I love the fact that we're becoming Bible students. 113 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:19,366 And so if that's already you, you're going to love this. 114 00:06:19,366 --> 00:06:22,200 If this is newer to you, you're gonna be like, wow, that was a whole bunch. 115 00:06:23,233 --> 00:06:26,233 But we'll make it through it. 116 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,766 And so, 117 00:06:29,766 --> 00:06:32,766 Paul has just got done and through these first eight chapters, 118 00:06:33,333 --> 00:06:36,333 making the case that everybody, 119 00:06:36,833 --> 00:06:39,833 Jew and Gentile alike, are separated from God by sin. 120 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:43,500 And what has repaired that relationship is not 121 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,333 the Jewish law of do's and don'ts, but what's repair? 122 00:06:47,333 --> 00:06:53,233 That relationship is faith in Jesus because of God's grace, not our own doing. 123 00:06:53,566 --> 00:06:57,900 And so he spent all this time saying, look, I know that you have the law. 124 00:06:57,900 --> 00:07:01,900 I know you've tried to be good, but your religion has failed 125 00:07:02,066 --> 00:07:05,100 because religion cannot make that. 126 00:07:05,133 --> 00:07:07,933 It can't fill in the gap. 127 00:07:07,933 --> 00:07:11,000 The only thing that is faith in Jesus is what he did on the cross 128 00:07:11,166 --> 00:07:12,566 because of God's grace. 129 00:07:12,566 --> 00:07:16,366 And so the natural reaction to those statements 130 00:07:16,366 --> 00:07:20,633 from the Jew is, well then what good is being a Jew, 131 00:07:21,866 --> 00:07:22,266 right? 132 00:07:22,266 --> 00:07:26,733 I mean, if non-Jews get what we get, we're supposed to get what good is earned? 133 00:07:26,733 --> 00:07:28,633 Meaning, what good is all this? 134 00:07:28,633 --> 00:07:30,066 Does it even matter? 135 00:07:30,066 --> 00:07:33,066 And Paul's point is that, oh, it matters greatly. 136 00:07:33,566 --> 00:07:35,900 Greatly. 137 00:07:35,900 --> 00:07:39,966 And so to that end, verse one two and three, he says this I'm speaking. 138 00:07:39,966 --> 00:07:41,633 Just follow along. Back there on the computer. 139 00:07:41,633 --> 00:07:43,800 I am speaking the truth in Christ. 140 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:44,900 I am not lying. 141 00:07:44,900 --> 00:07:47,100 My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit 142 00:07:47,100 --> 00:07:51,333 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 143 00:07:52,566 --> 00:07:57,000 For I wish I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off 144 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,933 from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen, according to the flesh. 145 00:08:00,933 --> 00:08:02,000 Here's what he's saying. 146 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:07,733 He's saying God loves the Jews so much, and I do, too, that if I could 147 00:08:07,733 --> 00:08:12,833 trade places with those who have rejected Jesus, I would trade places with them. 148 00:08:12,833 --> 00:08:16,800 I would choose to be cursed and damned to hell if, 149 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,833 my brethren, the Jews, could come to faith in Jesus. 150 00:08:19,833 --> 00:08:22,200 Can you imagine? That's what he's saying. 151 00:08:23,733 --> 00:08:26,033 I remember I read this when I was in high school 152 00:08:26,033 --> 00:08:29,033 and I thought, you have got to be kidding me. 153 00:08:29,466 --> 00:08:32,466 Like when you understand what hell is. 154 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,200 To say, I'll take that so someone else can be in heaven. 155 00:08:37,966 --> 00:08:40,966 Let me just tell you, I don't love any of you all that much. 156 00:08:41,133 --> 00:08:42,100 I don't know that. 157 00:08:42,100 --> 00:08:43,200 If you understand. 158 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,366 Hell, that's a profound statement. 159 00:08:48,066 --> 00:08:51,333 If you understand hell, you want to do everything 160 00:08:51,333 --> 00:08:54,366 within your power to make sure that those 161 00:08:54,366 --> 00:08:57,366 in your heart all know Jesus. 162 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,900 And Paul isn't just simply being altruistic here. 163 00:09:01,133 --> 00:09:04,133 He is going back to the Old Testament Exodus, 164 00:09:04,466 --> 00:09:07,166 chapter 32 verses 31 and 32. 165 00:09:07,166 --> 00:09:09,400 Let me set the stage. 166 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:13,033 He knows Old Testament history, and he knows that when Moses 167 00:09:13,033 --> 00:09:17,166 was up on Mount Sinai and met with God, and God downloaded to him 168 00:09:17,166 --> 00:09:21,000 the Ten Commandments chisel them out and stone Moses. 169 00:09:21,266 --> 00:09:24,400 God's like, hey, Moses, something's going on in the camp down the hill. 170 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,800 You better get that he's Moses gone for 40 days. 171 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,400 And so Moses goes back down and finds all the 172 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:32,433 Hebrews. 173 00:09:32,433 --> 00:09:37,066 What would be the Jewish people just living in debauchery and sin? 174 00:09:37,066 --> 00:09:38,200 And they'd taken all the gold 175 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:42,133 they got from leaving Egypt and melted it down and made a golden calf, 176 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,300 and rejected God, who had been so good of them and liberating them, 177 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:50,066 and started worshiping a golden calf and God's like. 178 00:09:50,066 --> 00:09:51,866 I'm done with these people. 179 00:09:51,866 --> 00:09:53,800 I'm going to kill them all. 180 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:55,566 I started without them. 181 00:09:55,566 --> 00:09:58,566 I'll kill them and start over with some other people. 182 00:09:59,100 --> 00:10:01,633 And Moses says, 183 00:10:01,633 --> 00:10:05,300 he says, alas, this people have sinned a great sin, 184 00:10:05,966 --> 00:10:08,633 and they've made for themselves gods of gold. 185 00:10:08,633 --> 00:10:09,500 Look what he says. 186 00:10:09,500 --> 00:10:11,900 But now, if you will forgive their sin. 187 00:10:11,900 --> 00:10:16,733 But if not, please blot me out of your book that you've written. 188 00:10:16,766 --> 00:10:19,766 He's saying, God, you chose these people. 189 00:10:19,966 --> 00:10:22,966 You've chosen them when they didn't deserve to be chosen. 190 00:10:23,100 --> 00:10:24,833 You said you'll be faithful to them. 191 00:10:24,833 --> 00:10:28,400 And if you're not going to be, then white me out of your book. 192 00:10:29,566 --> 00:10:30,600 Moses has said 193 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,166 the same thing that Paul said Moses said about God's people 194 00:10:34,166 --> 00:10:37,166 when they were running away from him in the desert. 195 00:10:37,300 --> 00:10:38,900 So this isn't something new. 196 00:10:38,900 --> 00:10:40,900 This is profound. 197 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:42,933 And Moses is reiterating, I'm sorry. 198 00:10:42,933 --> 00:10:46,800 Paul is reiterating what Moses had said generations earlier about God's people. 199 00:10:47,300 --> 00:10:51,666 I wish if they could just come, I would sacrifice my eternity for them. 200 00:10:53,300 --> 00:10:56,766 Now, the good thing is that God doesn't operate like that. 201 00:10:57,633 --> 00:11:00,000 There's one who did sacrifice herself 202 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,366 for the saving of many, and that was Christ and Christ alone. 203 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,800 But they do understand Paul's heart here. 204 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:08,466 You feel his heart. 205 00:11:08,466 --> 00:11:11,100 He's got such a love for his people. 206 00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:13,266 Now look at verse four. 207 00:11:13,266 --> 00:11:14,966 They are these these people. 208 00:11:14,966 --> 00:11:17,133 They are the Israelites. They are Israelites. 209 00:11:17,133 --> 00:11:20,033 And to them belong the adoption, the glory, 210 00:11:20,033 --> 00:11:23,033 the covenants, the giving to the law, the worship and the promise. 211 00:11:23,466 --> 00:11:27,566 What he's saying is these people are special, not because there was 212 00:11:27,566 --> 00:11:31,433 something innate in them to begin with, but because God chose them, 213 00:11:32,266 --> 00:11:36,933 and God chose them to reveal to the world God's plan. 214 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,833 And he starts from them, from the Israelites, from the Jews 215 00:11:41,100 --> 00:11:43,033 comes the adoption. Now, 216 00:11:44,100 --> 00:11:47,100 earlier when Paul talked about adoption, 217 00:11:47,566 --> 00:11:51,366 we understood that as when a benevolent 218 00:11:52,333 --> 00:11:56,266 person sees something of value that's in peril, 219 00:11:56,266 --> 00:12:02,300 adopts them into their family, wipes out all of their bad past, and gives them 220 00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:06,000 all the rights and responsibilities and identity of the adopted family. 221 00:12:06,166 --> 00:12:09,166 And that's what God has done to us Gentiles. 222 00:12:09,166 --> 00:12:09,933 He's a doll. 223 00:12:09,933 --> 00:12:12,300 He saw something in us. He paid a great price for us. 224 00:12:12,300 --> 00:12:16,600 His son and adoption shown that we are co-heirs with Jesus, his son. 225 00:12:17,133 --> 00:12:22,866 Now Paul says that same adoption first happened with the Jews. 226 00:12:22,866 --> 00:12:23,866 Here's why. 227 00:12:23,866 --> 00:12:27,933 Because when God started this whole thing, he didn't have a special people. 228 00:12:28,166 --> 00:12:30,200 There was Adam and there was Eve. 229 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,933 And out of Adam came Noah and all these others, all 230 00:12:33,933 --> 00:12:36,966 before Abraham, everybody was 231 00:12:38,100 --> 00:12:39,300 they were just people. 232 00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:44,266 And it was with Abraham in Genesis 12 that God says, I will call you out 233 00:12:44,566 --> 00:12:48,233 and take you to and out of you will come, my people. 234 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,733 So even the Jews were adopted by God. 235 00:12:52,066 --> 00:12:54,633 And the reason why God adopted the Jews, 236 00:12:54,633 --> 00:12:58,500 Abraham's offspring is not because they were worthy, 237 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:01,866 and not because they were credible, and not because they were special. 238 00:13:02,366 --> 00:13:05,366 They were the least of all the people on the earth. 239 00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:08,700 And God said so that I can look good. 240 00:13:08,966 --> 00:13:11,166 I'm going to choose someone like you 241 00:13:11,166 --> 00:13:15,033 as my special people, and I'm going to put my specialness on you. 242 00:13:15,033 --> 00:13:16,700 Do you understand? 243 00:13:16,700 --> 00:13:20,600 Israel is one of the names of God, 244 00:13:21,500 --> 00:13:24,500 and the people of God bear his name. 245 00:13:24,733 --> 00:13:27,333 Those who struggle with God, that's what it means. 246 00:13:27,333 --> 00:13:30,466 So he put his name on them, not because they were special, 247 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,033 but because he chose them because of his grace. 248 00:13:33,033 --> 00:13:34,433 Same thing with me in you. 249 00:13:35,733 --> 00:13:36,966 He has sought us. 250 00:13:36,966 --> 00:13:40,700 He has called us not because there's something innately 251 00:13:40,700 --> 00:13:44,033 good and special about us, but because of his grace. 252 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:45,800 Do you understand God? 253 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,200 And the moment we respond to that grace, 254 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:51,533 then he pours his special ness on us. 255 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:55,800 So we are special and chosen, but not because of who we are. 256 00:13:56,466 --> 00:13:58,266 And Paul saying, yeah, the Jews are important 257 00:13:58,266 --> 00:14:00,933 because it's through them first that the adoption came. 258 00:14:00,933 --> 00:14:04,400 So any Gentiles been adopted into God's family is only there 259 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,400 because God adopted the Jews first, 260 00:14:07,633 --> 00:14:10,133 the special because God means so, 261 00:14:10,133 --> 00:14:12,633 and then he goes through this ordeal and the glory. 262 00:14:12,633 --> 00:14:14,833 It's through the Jews that the glory of God was revealed. 263 00:14:14,833 --> 00:14:17,933 The glory he's talking about is the Hebrew word, Tina. 264 00:14:18,066 --> 00:14:19,400 It's the presence of God. 265 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,133 The presence of God was shown to the world in his glory 266 00:14:23,333 --> 00:14:28,266 through the desert, by a pillar of fire at night, and a pillar cloud in the day. 267 00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:30,266 And then when the tabernacle was set up 268 00:14:30,266 --> 00:14:33,333 in the ark of the covenant, all this Old Testament things, God's 269 00:14:33,333 --> 00:14:37,500 glory rested on the ark of the covenant, on the mercy seat. 270 00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:41,300 It was the mercy of God that expressed and held the presence of God. 271 00:14:41,300 --> 00:14:43,066 His glory is said. 272 00:14:43,066 --> 00:14:46,300 It's through the Jews that you even are aware of the glory of God 273 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,500 and the covenants, 274 00:14:49,500 --> 00:14:52,733 the covenant of land through Abraham, the covenant of law through Moses, 275 00:14:52,733 --> 00:14:55,733 the covenant of the Messiah, of a kingdom through David, 276 00:14:55,933 --> 00:14:57,600 the New Covenant in Jeremiah 277 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,133 31 of a new law written on our hearts that we celebrate in communion. 278 00:15:01,333 --> 00:15:04,333 The covenants, he said, have all come through the Jews. 279 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:06,100 God chose them. 280 00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:10,933 The giving up the law, the law that that was intended to express, 281 00:15:10,933 --> 00:15:15,300 our inability to keep it and foreshadow the one who would keep it for us. 282 00:15:15,533 --> 00:15:19,133 That all came through the Jews, the worship, 283 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:23,300 all the worship elements that had to take place through the Jews, 284 00:15:23,933 --> 00:15:27,100 the sacrificial system, the washing of everything. 285 00:15:27,233 --> 00:15:30,133 So one would be able to come into God's presence, 286 00:15:30,133 --> 00:15:33,900 foreshadowing the one who would be the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus. 287 00:15:34,300 --> 00:15:36,033 All of that came through the Jews 288 00:15:37,166 --> 00:15:38,900 and the promises. 289 00:15:38,900 --> 00:15:41,900 God has made special promises to the Jews 290 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:46,000 specific to that nation that he will fulfill. 291 00:15:46,500 --> 00:15:50,366 And what Paul is saying is, God has chosen you people. 292 00:15:50,366 --> 00:15:54,766 So and he's placed his his love, his choosing of you on him, 293 00:15:55,233 --> 00:15:58,766 not because you're special, but God has placed the revelation 294 00:15:58,766 --> 00:16:01,766 of who he is to the world through you 295 00:16:02,766 --> 00:16:05,600 because of his grace, 296 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,800 not just for you, but for the world. 297 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,800 And then and then Paul says this, and this is a big deal. 298 00:16:11,066 --> 00:16:13,833 Verse five, to them, to the the Israelites, 299 00:16:13,833 --> 00:16:16,933 the Jews belong the Patriarch Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 300 00:16:17,166 --> 00:16:20,166 And from their race, according to the flesh 301 00:16:20,466 --> 00:16:24,600 is the Christ who was God overall blessed forever. 302 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:25,333 Amen. 303 00:16:25,333 --> 00:16:29,100 This is the strongest statement of the divinity of Christ 304 00:16:29,233 --> 00:16:31,366 that Paul makes in all of Scripture. 305 00:16:31,366 --> 00:16:34,400 And what we mean by the divinity of Christ is this truth 306 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,266 that Jesus was fully God and fully human. 307 00:16:39,266 --> 00:16:42,133 It's called the hyper static union, 308 00:16:42,133 --> 00:16:44,166 the only one in all of history 309 00:16:44,166 --> 00:16:48,833 to be fully God and fully human. 310 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,933 Jesus had to be fully both 311 00:16:51,933 --> 00:16:54,266 complete deity in flesh. 312 00:16:54,266 --> 00:16:57,266 We used to call it back in the day, God in a bad. 313 00:16:58,366 --> 00:16:59,666 And he had to be that. 314 00:16:59,666 --> 00:17:00,700 Here's why. 315 00:17:00,700 --> 00:17:04,400 Because for sin to be forgiven, it required a perfect sacrifice 316 00:17:04,933 --> 00:17:08,200 and the only perfect eternal sacrifice is God Himself. 317 00:17:09,300 --> 00:17:11,533 But so you and I can't make a charge 318 00:17:11,533 --> 00:17:14,533 against God said, you don't know what it's like to be me. 319 00:17:14,633 --> 00:17:16,500 You've never been me. 320 00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:19,200 Jesus had to also be fully human. 321 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,200 So Jesus can say, oh yeah, I do. 322 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:26,433 I was tempted in every way like you and yet without sin. 323 00:17:27,100 --> 00:17:30,100 So Jesus had to be fully both to understand. 324 00:17:30,566 --> 00:17:34,466 So this is Paul strongest statement of the divinity of Christ in 325 00:17:35,533 --> 00:17:36,533 you, saying that this 326 00:17:36,533 --> 00:17:39,833 God has placed his specialness on you 327 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,400 not because you deserve it, but because I've chosen you. 328 00:17:45,066 --> 00:17:47,400 Look at verses six and seven, 329 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:51,366 but it is not as though the Word of God has failed, 330 00:17:51,766 --> 00:17:54,766 because you made all these promises to the to the Jews. 331 00:17:56,933 --> 00:18:00,433 For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 332 00:18:00,733 --> 00:18:05,266 and not all are children of Abraham, because they are of his offspring. 333 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,400 But through Isaac shall your offspring be name. 334 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,000 Let me just explain what's going on. 335 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,000 He's saying, God's made all these promises to his people, 336 00:18:13,333 --> 00:18:16,333 the Jews, and most of them reject him. 337 00:18:16,466 --> 00:18:19,466 So what good are his promises? 338 00:18:20,133 --> 00:18:21,900 Did God fail? 339 00:18:21,900 --> 00:18:24,266 He chose them. They rejected him. 340 00:18:24,266 --> 00:18:25,766 Doesn't seem like a success, right? 341 00:18:26,733 --> 00:18:28,633 Here's what he's saying. 342 00:18:28,633 --> 00:18:30,800 He said that the rejection by the majority 343 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,800 does not negate his promises to the minority, 344 00:18:34,366 --> 00:18:37,366 that there will always be some of his people who believe 345 00:18:39,233 --> 00:18:40,533 and what he says here. 346 00:18:40,533 --> 00:18:43,900 For not all who descended from Israel belong to Israel, 347 00:18:44,033 --> 00:18:47,066 and just because they were born a Jew doesn't mean they're God's. 348 00:18:50,366 --> 00:18:53,366 Not all are children of Abraham because they're his offspring. 349 00:18:53,566 --> 00:18:55,566 Through Isaac, your offspring will be named. 350 00:18:55,566 --> 00:18:56,933 Now look at verse eight. 351 00:18:56,933 --> 00:19:00,933 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, 352 00:19:01,066 --> 00:19:04,066 but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 353 00:19:04,166 --> 00:19:07,166 Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. 354 00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:11,733 Before Abraham had any sons, God told Abraham, you're going to have a son. 355 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:13,933 And he and his wife sure were really old. 356 00:19:13,933 --> 00:19:14,900 They couldn't do it. 357 00:19:14,900 --> 00:19:17,900 And so they were waiting and waiting, waiting for the promise, 358 00:19:17,966 --> 00:19:21,000 the grace of God to bless them with their son. 359 00:19:21,233 --> 00:19:22,966 They got tired of waiting. 360 00:19:22,966 --> 00:19:26,700 And so, like we they said, I'm going to do it on my own. 361 00:19:26,933 --> 00:19:28,700 Obviously God's taken too long. 362 00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:30,133 I'm going to do it on my own. 363 00:19:30,133 --> 00:19:35,166 He gets this other gal pregnant name, Hagar, and he has a son named Ishmael. 364 00:19:35,766 --> 00:19:37,633 So that's the son of the flesh. 365 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,600 Later, God fulfilled the promise 366 00:19:41,766 --> 00:19:46,133 through his wife Sarah, and she had a boy and they named him Isaac. 367 00:19:46,366 --> 00:19:49,366 And what Paul is saying here is, just because you're 368 00:19:49,366 --> 00:19:53,100 of the flesh of Abraham doesn't mean you're descendant of him. 369 00:19:53,866 --> 00:19:58,800 Only those who are sons of the promise, which is the grace of God. 370 00:19:59,166 --> 00:20:02,500 So every one of us, though Gentile, 371 00:20:02,833 --> 00:20:07,200 are related through the promise to God. 372 00:20:07,633 --> 00:20:08,166 Do you understand? 373 00:20:08,166 --> 00:20:11,633 I'm saying that's Israel, that's spiritual Israel. 374 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,300 So even Gentiles are spiritual Israel 375 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:18,300 because we're children of the promise. 376 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,600 Some may choose to follow God through the flesh. 377 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,600 The law, the Jews. 378 00:20:24,966 --> 00:20:26,466 It doesn't work. 379 00:20:26,466 --> 00:20:29,466 Those of us who choose to follow God through the promise 380 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,966 spiritual Israel have the relationship with the father. 381 00:20:32,966 --> 00:20:34,966 You follow, you follow. 382 00:20:35,933 --> 00:20:38,033 God's promise, are still to his people. 383 00:20:38,033 --> 00:20:41,033 He's made other promises to spiritual Israel 384 00:20:41,466 --> 00:20:45,033 who believe through the promise, not through the work of the flesh. 385 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:46,666 Look at verse. 386 00:20:46,666 --> 00:20:49,033 Let me jump down to ten. 387 00:20:49,033 --> 00:20:49,933 Oh, let me just say that. 388 00:20:49,933 --> 00:20:52,933 Let me just say this. 389 00:20:53,366 --> 00:20:57,000 Just because someone claims the name Israel, 390 00:20:57,500 --> 00:21:00,700 the name of God, doesn't mean they're people of God. 391 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,633 Similarly, just because someone claims the name Christian 392 00:21:05,266 --> 00:21:08,266 doesn't mean they're like Christ. 393 00:21:08,700 --> 00:21:11,333 That's the point Paul is making. 394 00:21:11,333 --> 00:21:14,333 Israel was the part of the. 395 00:21:14,366 --> 00:21:18,333 The L was the name of God is is that to wrestle with? 396 00:21:18,333 --> 00:21:21,333 And so they claim the name of God, but they're not God's. 397 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,166 Just like how many I how many people claim, yeah, I'm a Christian. 398 00:21:24,166 --> 00:21:27,033 Sure. 399 00:21:27,033 --> 00:21:28,600 Without ever having a relationship. 400 00:21:30,100 --> 00:21:30,600 And so 401 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,800 what Paul saying here is look what Christian means. 402 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,900 It was a derogatory term that means little Christs. 403 00:21:38,866 --> 00:21:42,500 And the early followers of Jesus were made fun of 404 00:21:43,366 --> 00:21:45,700 by calling them Christians. 405 00:21:45,700 --> 00:21:48,866 Because why would you want to be, Why would you want to be 406 00:21:48,866 --> 00:21:52,000 like a poor itinerant preacher who was crucified? 407 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,766 That's shameful. 408 00:21:53,766 --> 00:21:57,000 So they made fun of them because it was identity with Christ. 409 00:21:57,700 --> 00:22:01,500 What it means to be a Christian is an apprentice of Jesus. 410 00:22:02,033 --> 00:22:06,066 That as I an apprentice of Jesus, I walked so closely to him 411 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,333 I get the dust of his footprints on my clothes. 412 00:22:10,900 --> 00:22:13,900 So though one claims to be a Christian 413 00:22:14,333 --> 00:22:17,333 but doesn't walk as an apprentice 414 00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:20,500 isn't in relationship, that's what Paul saying. 415 00:22:21,266 --> 00:22:23,133 You follow. 416 00:22:23,133 --> 00:22:27,933 So although I may claim the name, when you look at the dust that's on me, 417 00:22:27,933 --> 00:22:31,500 I have the dust of the culture, but not the dust of the Messiah. 418 00:22:32,733 --> 00:22:33,900 I don't act like 419 00:22:33,900 --> 00:22:38,700 I don't date, like I don't post, like I don't talk like an apprentice 420 00:22:39,533 --> 00:22:42,533 and claim the name all you want, just like the Jews do. 421 00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:45,900 I mean, there's a relationship. 422 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:48,833 You follow 423 00:22:48,833 --> 00:22:50,433 jump down to verse ten. 424 00:22:50,433 --> 00:22:53,133 And not only so, but also when. 425 00:22:53,133 --> 00:22:56,733 Rebecca, this is a whole nother Old Testament thing had conceived 426 00:22:56,733 --> 00:23:01,200 children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they they the babies, 427 00:23:01,266 --> 00:23:05,433 though they were not yet born, had that nothing either good or bad, 428 00:23:05,666 --> 00:23:08,433 in order that God's purpose of election might continue 429 00:23:08,433 --> 00:23:11,633 not because of works, but because of him who calls. 430 00:23:12,666 --> 00:23:15,866 She was told the older will serve the younger. 431 00:23:15,866 --> 00:23:18,933 As it is written, Jacob, I've loved Esau. 432 00:23:18,933 --> 00:23:21,933 I've hated. 433 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:25,200 That sound harsh? 434 00:23:25,666 --> 00:23:26,100 Yeah, 435 00:23:26,100 --> 00:23:29,100 it sounds harsh, but let's understand what he's saying. 436 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:30,700 He's saying Rebecca had these, 437 00:23:32,700 --> 00:23:35,700 had these two babies in her. 438 00:23:37,966 --> 00:23:40,966 And God chose one over the other. 439 00:23:43,933 --> 00:23:45,300 Though they had done nothing yet. 440 00:23:45,300 --> 00:23:47,266 Good or bad, 441 00:23:47,266 --> 00:23:49,866 they were in the womb. 442 00:23:49,866 --> 00:23:52,866 And God chose one over the other, 443 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,000 Jacob over Esau. 444 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:00,133 And God says, I'm doing it differently. 445 00:24:00,133 --> 00:24:02,933 Normally, the younger would serve the older. 446 00:24:02,933 --> 00:24:05,933 I'm switching it. And here's why. 447 00:24:06,466 --> 00:24:08,433 Because God, in his omniscience 448 00:24:08,433 --> 00:24:11,433 and foreknowledge, knows how these lives are going to go. 449 00:24:11,900 --> 00:24:13,133 He knows the nations 450 00:24:13,133 --> 00:24:16,166 that will come from them, because each will bear nation in them. 451 00:24:16,900 --> 00:24:21,600 And he says, because I know how this is going to go, though I will call both. 452 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,500 One will respond, Esau is going to reject 453 00:24:25,500 --> 00:24:28,800 me, and his people that eat him will reject me. 454 00:24:29,333 --> 00:24:32,033 Jacob will choose me. 455 00:24:32,033 --> 00:24:35,533 So because I know he's going to choose me, I'm going to choose him. 456 00:24:36,533 --> 00:24:38,733 You follow. 457 00:24:38,733 --> 00:24:42,533 And so when the Scripture says, is Jacob, I've loved Esau. 458 00:24:42,533 --> 00:24:45,100 I've hated what he's really saying is not love. 459 00:24:45,100 --> 00:24:46,733 Hey, like I don't like him. 460 00:24:46,733 --> 00:24:49,800 God loved Esau still because he 461 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:54,300 I mean, he blessed him incredibly, but he didn't choose him for the promise. 462 00:24:54,300 --> 00:24:57,633 What God is saying is, I have chosen one for the promise. 463 00:24:57,633 --> 00:25:00,300 I have rejected the other for the promise. 464 00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:02,533 It's not a love hate like I don't like you. 465 00:25:02,533 --> 00:25:04,733 It's a rejection of the promise. 466 00:25:04,733 --> 00:25:08,133 Because he knew in his foreknowledge that Esau was going to reject him. 467 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,766 So here's what election looks like. 468 00:25:11,766 --> 00:25:16,500 We make the choice to follow God, and we step through the door 469 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:17,833 and knock on the door. 470 00:25:17,833 --> 00:25:20,133 Behold, if anybody hears my knock and opens are all come, 471 00:25:20,133 --> 00:25:24,033 and we open the door and Christ comes in and we think, yeah, I chose him. 472 00:25:24,533 --> 00:25:27,100 And then we look behind us and we see written on the door, yeah, 473 00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:27,966 but I chose you first. 474 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,000 Do you understand? 475 00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:33,866 And chose not. 476 00:25:33,866 --> 00:25:35,000 My God hated. He saw. 477 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,733 He loved him, but he knew that he was going to reject him, which he did. 478 00:25:44,033 --> 00:25:46,900 Before they done anything, 479 00:25:46,900 --> 00:25:49,900 just like us, we can't do anything to make God love us. 480 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:53,433 He just offers the invitation 481 00:25:53,433 --> 00:25:56,433 to be his, to receive the promise, 482 00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,000 not the work. 483 00:26:00,300 --> 00:26:00,833 Verse 14. 484 00:26:00,833 --> 00:26:03,300 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? 485 00:26:03,300 --> 00:26:04,533 By no means. 486 00:26:04,533 --> 00:26:07,233 For he says to Moses, I'll have mercy on whom all have 487 00:26:07,233 --> 00:26:10,166 mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I'll have compassion. 488 00:26:10,166 --> 00:26:15,300 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy. 489 00:26:15,500 --> 00:26:18,500 Again, Paul's going back to Old Testament 490 00:26:18,933 --> 00:26:22,800 and way back in the Old Testament and Exodus 33 verse 19, 491 00:26:23,033 --> 00:26:26,566 When Moses comes down from the mountain, sees the people 492 00:26:26,566 --> 00:26:30,266 getting stupid, throws the law on the ground, breaks the law. 493 00:26:31,466 --> 00:26:33,233 What he's saying is, 494 00:26:33,233 --> 00:26:37,666 in that Old Testament scenario, God had just downloaded his law. 495 00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:40,700 This is how you walk in step with me. 496 00:26:40,866 --> 00:26:44,233 The moment he gave that law, the people broke it, 497 00:26:44,933 --> 00:26:49,033 which was symbolized by Moses breaking the statute, the tablets on the ground 498 00:26:49,466 --> 00:26:53,000 and the moment that happened, God said, Moses, I told you, 499 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:57,200 these people are stiff necked rebellions, and they keep rejecting me. 500 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,466 I'm going to wipe them out and start over. 501 00:26:59,466 --> 00:27:00,400 And that's what Moses said. 502 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:03,300 But if you do that, kill me first. 503 00:27:03,300 --> 00:27:05,000 That's a no, no, no. Okay, fine. 504 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,100 I'll have compassion. 505 00:27:07,100 --> 00:27:10,800 God, then 3000 people died. 506 00:27:11,866 --> 00:27:13,900 There was consequence for breaking the law. 507 00:27:13,900 --> 00:27:17,166 No consequence, because that's what the law does. 508 00:27:17,566 --> 00:27:20,333 We can't keep it. We always break it. 509 00:27:20,333 --> 00:27:24,466 And because we break the law, we stand as law breakers, condemned to death. 510 00:27:25,700 --> 00:27:28,400 And in that, in Exodus 33, 3000 people died. 511 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:29,566 But here's the correlation. 512 00:27:29,566 --> 00:27:32,566 This is what we don't later 513 00:27:32,766 --> 00:27:35,666 in in acts two, 514 00:27:35,666 --> 00:27:38,666 verse 41, 515 00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:41,633 the Holy Spirit is given 516 00:27:41,633 --> 00:27:44,000 by God's grace. 517 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:45,800 When the law came, was broken. 518 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,300 3000 died. In acts two. 519 00:27:48,300 --> 00:27:51,600 When the spirit was given by grace, 3000 came alive, 520 00:27:52,766 --> 00:27:56,400 3000 were saved, and God was painting this picture. 521 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,400 Listen, the law, 522 00:27:59,900 --> 00:28:01,266 you're going to break it. 523 00:28:01,266 --> 00:28:02,666 And the consequences. Death. 524 00:28:02,666 --> 00:28:05,666 That's what Paul talked about in Romans 123. 525 00:28:06,833 --> 00:28:10,633 But the gift of God by his grace is the spirit of life. 526 00:28:11,766 --> 00:28:14,766 And when you make yourself open to that, 527 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:17,900 you're no longer dead. 528 00:28:17,900 --> 00:28:21,266 And what God said to Abraham back then is, I will have compassion. 529 00:28:21,966 --> 00:28:24,933 God does say, everybody deserves death. 530 00:28:24,933 --> 00:28:26,900 Everybody. Why? 531 00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:28,800 Because everybody sinned. 532 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:30,266 Everybody deserves death. 533 00:28:30,266 --> 00:28:32,766 The amazing thing is not that that some die. 534 00:28:32,766 --> 00:28:35,433 The amazing thing is that God had compassion on most. 535 00:28:37,066 --> 00:28:38,500 You do understand that. 536 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:41,600 And so God says, yeah, my initial reaction 537 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,600 was, I'm done with these people, but I will have compassion. 538 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:46,933 I will have compassion. 539 00:28:46,933 --> 00:28:49,933 And you know what he says over me and you. 540 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:53,233 Now your sin deserves death, 541 00:28:53,233 --> 00:28:55,866 but I will have compassion, 542 00:28:55,866 --> 00:28:56,866 I will. 543 00:28:56,866 --> 00:28:59,866 It's a promise. 544 00:29:01,300 --> 00:29:04,000 And watch this. 545 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,000 Verse 17. 546 00:29:07,166 --> 00:29:07,900 For the Scripture 547 00:29:07,900 --> 00:29:12,100 says to Pharaoh, for this very purpose I've raised you up, 548 00:29:12,100 --> 00:29:13,500 that I might show my power in you, 549 00:29:13,500 --> 00:29:15,933 and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 550 00:29:15,933 --> 00:29:18,933 So then verse 18, he has mercy on 551 00:29:18,933 --> 00:29:22,166 whom whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 552 00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:25,800 Again, Paul's going back to Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. 553 00:29:26,433 --> 00:29:27,600 And favorite one. 554 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:31,500 And God had this real interesting dialog ongoing. 555 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:33,233 And God says, fair. 556 00:29:33,233 --> 00:29:36,766 I set you up so I can show the world how great I am. 557 00:29:37,266 --> 00:29:41,333 But Pharaoh kept rejecting God and rejecting his work. 558 00:29:41,666 --> 00:29:44,833 And in the Bible there are Pharaoh and God. 559 00:29:45,166 --> 00:29:47,900 And sometimes the Bible says Pharaoh hardened his heart. 560 00:29:47,900 --> 00:29:50,433 And sometimes the Bible says God hardened Pharaoh's heart. 561 00:29:51,433 --> 00:29:53,666 So. So his heart gets hardened. 562 00:29:53,666 --> 00:29:55,566 Targets are sometimes it's Pharaoh's choice. 563 00:29:55,566 --> 00:29:58,200 Sometimes says God does it. 564 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,600 Does it make any sense? 565 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:03,600 Is it just for God to condemn someone 566 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,600 when God's the one who hardened his heart? 567 00:30:09,133 --> 00:30:10,500 Now, yeah, 568 00:30:10,500 --> 00:30:12,000 most of you don't want to answer because we're in church 569 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,000 and we're supposed to say the right thing, but it's 570 00:30:15,366 --> 00:30:17,133 here's the difference. 571 00:30:17,133 --> 00:30:21,466 There are two words used for hardened between Pharaoh and God. 572 00:30:22,333 --> 00:30:23,400 One is the word. 573 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:26,200 I'm making the choice to reject you. 574 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:29,666 The other is I am confirming your choice to reject me. 575 00:30:30,833 --> 00:30:33,833 And so when Pharaoh hardened his heart, 576 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,266 Pharaoh made the choice. 577 00:30:36,266 --> 00:30:38,566 God, I've heard your law. 578 00:30:38,566 --> 00:30:44,166 I've seen your work, and I am choosing to reject you and do my own thing. 579 00:30:44,500 --> 00:30:48,800 And so God confirms his choice of a hardened heart. 580 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:51,500 That's how God works with me. 581 00:30:51,500 --> 00:30:53,333 And you. 582 00:30:53,333 --> 00:30:56,866 When we've heard the word, when we've heard the truth, 583 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:00,333 when we understand the standard, when we get it, it's faith. 584 00:31:00,333 --> 00:31:02,366 Because of God's grace. 585 00:31:02,366 --> 00:31:07,100 And we say, God, no, I'm going to do my own thing. 586 00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:08,400 I'm going to live my own life. 587 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,433 I'm going to make my own standard. 588 00:31:10,433 --> 00:31:13,733 That is you, me choosing a hard heart. 589 00:31:13,833 --> 00:31:16,833 And God will confirm your choice. 590 00:31:16,900 --> 00:31:20,200 That's why the more we say no to God, the easier 591 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:23,200 it is to say no to God. 592 00:31:23,733 --> 00:31:26,433 Conversely, when I say God, 593 00:31:26,433 --> 00:31:30,566 my heart is soft and open and tender, and I will respond, 594 00:31:31,633 --> 00:31:32,800 that's my choice. 595 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,400 And God hardens that choice in me. 596 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:40,600 And the more you and I say yes to God, the easier it gets to say yes to God 597 00:31:42,166 --> 00:31:44,366 to understand. 598 00:31:44,366 --> 00:31:46,433 And that's what he did with Pharaoh. 599 00:31:46,433 --> 00:31:47,333 It's interesting. 600 00:31:47,333 --> 00:31:49,433 God worked through both Moses and Pharaoh. 601 00:31:49,433 --> 00:31:52,433 Both were sinners, and both were murderers. 602 00:31:54,700 --> 00:31:55,966 And one chose to harden 603 00:31:55,966 --> 00:31:58,966 his heart and one chose to soften it. 604 00:31:59,100 --> 00:32:02,100 God confirmed both. 605 00:32:02,766 --> 00:32:05,766 And he will, and you and me to. 606 00:32:08,900 --> 00:32:09,033 Know. 607 00:32:09,033 --> 00:32:11,566 Look, I realize I'm three minutes over already, 608 00:32:11,566 --> 00:32:14,566 and I got verses 19 through 33 to get through. 609 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:18,000 And so I'm to do my best to go fast. 610 00:32:19,466 --> 00:32:21,133 Verse 19. 611 00:32:21,133 --> 00:32:25,000 But you will say to me, why does he, God still find fault? 612 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:26,400 For who can resist his will? 613 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:28,333 Who can resist God's will? 614 00:32:28,333 --> 00:32:29,133 But who are you? 615 00:32:29,133 --> 00:32:33,600 Oh man, to answer back to God, well, what's molded say to its molder? 616 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:35,066 Why have you made me this? 617 00:32:35,066 --> 00:32:35,900 Like this. 618 00:32:35,900 --> 00:32:40,233 Verse 21 has the potter no right over the clay to make out of the 619 00:32:40,233 --> 00:32:44,000 same lump one vessel for honorable use, another for dishonorable use. 620 00:32:44,766 --> 00:32:45,833 Here's what he's saying. 621 00:32:45,833 --> 00:32:47,366 He's going back to the prophet Jeremiah. 622 00:32:47,366 --> 00:32:50,100 Jeremiah chapter 18, verses one through six. 623 00:32:50,100 --> 00:32:54,533 God tells Jeremiah his prophet, go down and watch this potter make some call. 624 00:32:54,633 --> 00:32:56,300 Make some pots out of clay. 625 00:32:56,300 --> 00:32:58,033 So Jeremiah goes to the potter's house 626 00:32:59,066 --> 00:33:01,033 and he sees the potter making clay. 627 00:33:01,033 --> 00:33:04,800 And in this one pot he's got this real hard 628 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:08,866 like knob of clay that he just can't work out and mold what he wants to mold. 629 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:10,666 And so the Potter digs in. 630 00:33:10,666 --> 00:33:14,033 It's like he digs in and he removes that hard piece of clay, 631 00:33:14,700 --> 00:33:18,400 and it puts more water on and keeps molding and molding and molding 632 00:33:18,466 --> 00:33:21,466 and makes out of that clay that's marred and scarred, 633 00:33:22,233 --> 00:33:24,800 that vessel that he wants. 634 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:27,400 And he's saying, this is what I do with my people. 635 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:29,500 I'm the potter, 636 00:33:29,500 --> 00:33:33,000 and I can make it out of my people what I want to make out of my people. 637 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:36,866 And sometimes they get real nasty, hard stuff stuck in them, 638 00:33:37,500 --> 00:33:40,500 and they won't let me mold them. 639 00:33:40,766 --> 00:33:43,500 And rather than cast them away and throw them out in the potter's 640 00:33:43,500 --> 00:33:46,533 field, just broken and cast off, I dig that out. 641 00:33:46,533 --> 00:33:50,066 And there might be scars there, and but I dig that out, 642 00:33:50,066 --> 00:33:53,466 and so I can put the water of my spirit on them and keep molding them. 643 00:33:54,300 --> 00:33:56,933 So what right does the pot have to say to the potter? 644 00:33:56,933 --> 00:33:57,900 I don't know what I'm doing. 645 00:34:00,500 --> 00:34:01,800 I'm going to make out of you 646 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:06,066 something that's crafted by me, not because you're a worthy piece of clay, 647 00:34:07,133 --> 00:34:10,000 but because of my grace. 648 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:13,000 Because my grace is greater than your hardness. 649 00:34:13,933 --> 00:34:16,933 You get it. 650 00:34:21,100 --> 00:34:23,200 What if God is trying to show wrath visible? 651 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:24,966 Verse 22. 652 00:34:24,966 --> 00:34:27,333 What if God designed to show his wrath 653 00:34:27,333 --> 00:34:30,833 and to make known his power has endured with much patience? 654 00:34:30,833 --> 00:34:33,466 Vessels of, of wrath 655 00:34:33,466 --> 00:34:37,133 prepare for destruction in order to make known the riches of his glory. 656 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:40,366 For vessels of mercy which has prepared beforehand for glory. 657 00:34:40,366 --> 00:34:42,100 Look at Paul gets hard to understand. 658 00:34:42,100 --> 00:34:44,166 I get it right so much. 659 00:34:44,166 --> 00:34:45,266 You're like, what are you talking about? 660 00:34:45,266 --> 00:34:48,000 I don't even know what you're like. 661 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:50,000 Let me explain. You're seeing. 662 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,233 He said some vessels are prepared for wrath. 663 00:34:52,233 --> 00:34:53,533 Not that God made him for wrath. 664 00:34:53,533 --> 00:34:57,066 They prepare themselves for wrath because they kept saying no. 665 00:34:57,933 --> 00:34:59,833 So God confirmed their decision. 666 00:34:59,833 --> 00:35:02,700 Say no and they prepared themselves for wrath. 667 00:35:02,700 --> 00:35:07,433 But what if God allowed that to happen so he can show them how impatient he is? 668 00:35:10,633 --> 00:35:11,666 Hasn't God been really 669 00:35:11,666 --> 00:35:14,666 patient with some of us? 670 00:35:17,100 --> 00:35:18,600 I mean, 671 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:22,366 look, God already knows what a knucklehead we've been, so let's just smile about it 672 00:35:22,366 --> 00:35:25,366 and admit it. We've been knuckleheads 673 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:28,633 and we prepared ourself for wrath. 674 00:35:28,633 --> 00:35:31,633 We kept saying no, and God's confirmed that decision. 675 00:35:31,733 --> 00:35:34,000 Yet he's still patient 676 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:36,800 and he's still merciful. 677 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:40,166 He says, I will still make out of you an object of my grace 678 00:35:41,633 --> 00:35:44,633 if you let me. 679 00:35:47,100 --> 00:35:50,100 So that you can be shown as a vessel for mercy. 680 00:35:50,166 --> 00:35:51,633 And then watch this. 681 00:35:51,633 --> 00:35:55,600 He goes back to Hosea, even as us whom is called 682 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:57,933 not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles, 683 00:35:57,933 --> 00:36:01,033 as indeed verse 25, he quotes this passage from Hosea, 684 00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:04,633 those who weren't my people, I call my people those who were never loved. 685 00:36:04,633 --> 00:36:07,566 I called, loved the very place where is written of them. 686 00:36:07,566 --> 00:36:08,600 You're not my people. 687 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:09,966 They're going to be called sons of the living God. 688 00:36:09,966 --> 00:36:10,900 Here's what he's going back to. 689 00:36:10,900 --> 00:36:11,500 Hosea, 690 00:36:11,500 --> 00:36:15,833 if you know the story of the prophet Hosea, Hosea had a really tough ministry. 691 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:19,300 Hosea was a prophet. 692 00:36:19,300 --> 00:36:21,866 And God said, Hosea, I want you to go marry this name, 693 00:36:21,866 --> 00:36:24,866 this girl named Gomer, okay, that's strike one right there. 694 00:36:25,733 --> 00:36:29,266 Like if you're never going to have a baby like don't name her Gomer. 695 00:36:29,766 --> 00:36:32,233 That's I don't know if there's anybody named Gomer here I apologize. 696 00:36:32,233 --> 00:36:35,233 But that's just like really like 697 00:36:35,933 --> 00:36:37,433 here's the problem. 698 00:36:37,433 --> 00:36:39,800 Gomer is a prostitute. 699 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:41,400 So God said marry this woman. 700 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:44,400 She's going to start hooking. 701 00:36:44,900 --> 00:36:47,900 Like way like I 702 00:36:48,233 --> 00:36:51,433 when I wanted to be a pastor I didn't want to be that kind of like this. No 703 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:54,800 he said not only is she going to be a prostitute, 704 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,266 she's going to keep prostituting herself. You're going to marry her. 705 00:36:57,266 --> 00:36:59,833 And she was going to have all these babies from all these other men, 706 00:36:59,833 --> 00:37:00,800 and you got to raise them. 707 00:37:04,100 --> 00:37:06,733 Not only that, she's going to go back to the house, to prostitution, 708 00:37:06,733 --> 00:37:11,133 and you got to go there as an average John and buy her out of prostitution. 709 00:37:11,133 --> 00:37:13,733 She's already your wife now. 710 00:37:13,733 --> 00:37:18,200 You got to go pay for her as a prostitute to buy her from her pimp. 711 00:37:20,300 --> 00:37:22,933 So anybody want to go to ministry with me? 712 00:37:22,933 --> 00:37:23,500 Anybody? 713 00:37:23,500 --> 00:37:25,866 No, I wouldn't want to do that. 714 00:37:25,866 --> 00:37:28,066 I'm like, you got to get somebody else. 715 00:37:28,066 --> 00:37:31,066 But here's what God was saying. 716 00:37:31,566 --> 00:37:34,566 We are not Hosea in the story. 717 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:38,700 We're Gomer. 718 00:37:38,700 --> 00:37:41,966 Because spiritually we keep prostituting ourselves 719 00:37:42,733 --> 00:37:45,100 to disobedience 720 00:37:45,100 --> 00:37:47,266 and rejecting God 721 00:37:47,266 --> 00:37:50,866 when he has loved us and committed himself to us 722 00:37:51,233 --> 00:37:54,966 and continues to come back to us time and time and time again. 723 00:37:54,966 --> 00:37:57,233 Those spiritually were whores. 724 00:38:01,366 --> 00:38:04,566 So much so, we bear fruit of sin 725 00:38:05,633 --> 00:38:09,033 and he comes back to us and pays our price. 726 00:38:11,733 --> 00:38:14,733 Not because we were worthy. 727 00:38:16,033 --> 00:38:19,033 Gomer wasn't worthy. 728 00:38:19,833 --> 00:38:22,800 But because he's faithful. 729 00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:24,900 Second Timothy 222. 730 00:38:24,900 --> 00:38:27,900 When you are faithless, I remain faithful. 731 00:38:33,300 --> 00:38:36,300 And God says, I will never divorce you. 732 00:38:37,500 --> 00:38:40,500 I will always choose you. 733 00:38:40,966 --> 00:38:43,833 You don't deserve it. 734 00:38:43,833 --> 00:38:46,833 But I love you and I've chosen you, and I've called you my. 735 00:38:48,066 --> 00:38:51,666 Because my grace is greater than your affair 736 00:38:53,166 --> 00:38:56,166 with sin. 737 00:38:56,300 --> 00:38:59,300 You get it? 738 00:39:01,500 --> 00:39:03,766 You just go quickly. 739 00:39:03,766 --> 00:39:06,600 He then goes to Isaiah 740 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:08,766 and he says, though the number of the sons of Israel 741 00:39:08,766 --> 00:39:11,400 be as the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved. 742 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:13,366 What he's saying is what we said in the beginning. 743 00:39:13,366 --> 00:39:16,300 The majority have rejected, but the rejection 744 00:39:16,300 --> 00:39:20,633 of the majority doesn't negate the promise to the minority because God is faithful, 745 00:39:21,333 --> 00:39:24,700 not because they deserve to receive his blessing, but because he is 746 00:39:24,700 --> 00:39:26,200 gracious and full of mercy. 747 00:39:29,633 --> 00:39:30,366 Let me jump to 748 00:39:30,366 --> 00:39:33,366 30 and 31 and 32 749 00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:37,200 says witness by faith. 750 00:39:38,100 --> 00:39:42,200 But that Israel, who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness, 751 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:45,800 did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? 752 00:39:46,300 --> 00:39:49,766 Because Israel didn't pursue it by faith based on works. 753 00:39:50,700 --> 00:39:53,700 They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 754 00:39:55,733 --> 00:39:57,833 But when it's through the law, the Jews tried that. 755 00:39:57,833 --> 00:40:00,833 They missed faith and they tripped over Jesus. 756 00:40:01,866 --> 00:40:04,200 The Gentiles had no idea about the law. 757 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:07,533 We're just dumb and happy, had no idea about God. 758 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:11,400 And then we hear the message of Jesus 759 00:40:12,266 --> 00:40:15,800 faith by grace and we receive it by faith. 760 00:40:16,633 --> 00:40:18,600 Beautiful. 761 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:19,366 And Jesus. 762 00:40:19,366 --> 00:40:21,466 The Bible says 763 00:40:21,466 --> 00:40:25,666 in verse 33, he's he's quoting in Isaiah, behold, I'm laying in Zion 764 00:40:25,666 --> 00:40:28,066 a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, 765 00:40:28,066 --> 00:40:29,700 and whoever believes in him will not be put. 766 00:40:30,766 --> 00:40:33,766 So look, Jesus is offensive to the Jew. 767 00:40:33,933 --> 00:40:35,733 It's just he's just offensive. 768 00:40:35,733 --> 00:40:39,466 Because how does the how does the Messiah, the chosen one, how does God himself 769 00:40:39,666 --> 00:40:42,666 come as a, as a as a, 770 00:40:42,966 --> 00:40:45,566 a homeless 771 00:40:45,566 --> 00:40:46,633 cross? 772 00:40:46,633 --> 00:40:48,233 It's just shameful. 773 00:40:48,233 --> 00:40:51,233 And they look at that and they think, there's no way. 774 00:40:51,266 --> 00:40:54,266 And God has said it is so simple. 775 00:40:54,266 --> 00:40:55,966 It's not about your religious behavior. 776 00:40:55,966 --> 00:40:57,366 It's not about who you are. 777 00:40:57,366 --> 00:41:02,033 It's about what I've done and the simplicity of faith and grace. 778 00:41:02,733 --> 00:41:05,733 Don't trip over this. 779 00:41:05,933 --> 00:41:08,933 See, and that's what the Jews have done, not all of them. 780 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:12,200 And God's still faithful to the minority. 781 00:41:13,266 --> 00:41:16,266 Don't trip over this, 782 00:41:16,266 --> 00:41:18,800 as those who don't understand the totality of God's law were like, 783 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:21,033 well, yeah, manifest through Jesus. Fine. Give me Jesus. 784 00:41:23,433 --> 00:41:26,433 Don't trip over it. 785 00:41:26,833 --> 00:41:30,066 So because I'm going to take these vessels 786 00:41:30,833 --> 00:41:33,833 and I want to share and bear the name of God. 787 00:41:35,633 --> 00:41:38,433 You follow. 788 00:41:38,433 --> 00:41:41,433 He is so good. 789 00:41:42,833 --> 00:41:44,833 And so 790 00:41:44,833 --> 00:41:47,833 choose a soft heart 791 00:41:48,366 --> 00:41:50,400 and a responsive heart. 792 00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:53,400 And let God confirm that in you. 793 00:41:55,366 --> 00:41:56,100 Otherwise, 794 00:41:56,100 --> 00:41:59,100 what will be confirmed is your hard heart. 795 00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:02,200 And I want to warn you about that. 796 00:42:03,933 --> 00:42:05,733 Let's pray. 797 00:42:05,733 --> 00:42:07,166 God, thank you. 798 00:42:07,166 --> 00:42:10,000 Thank you for your faithfulness to your people. 799 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:12,166 Thank you that down through the air 800 00:42:12,166 --> 00:42:14,833 so we can see how you have chosen those 801 00:42:14,833 --> 00:42:17,700 who weren't worthy to be chosen 802 00:42:17,700 --> 00:42:20,833 as objects of your mercy and your grace. 803 00:42:21,533 --> 00:42:24,533 Thank you that you confirm the choices that we choose 804 00:42:24,533 --> 00:42:27,533 about you. 805 00:42:27,733 --> 00:42:29,966 That those who would choose a soft. 806 00:42:29,966 --> 00:42:32,600 That's right. You confirm that in us. Thank 807 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:35,266 that repentance. 808 00:42:35,266 --> 00:42:35,566 What? 809 00:42:35,566 --> 00:42:38,566 So, dear friends, I invite 810 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:41,600 to turn a no into a yes 811 00:42:42,700 --> 00:42:45,700 and say father. 812 00:42:46,166 --> 00:42:49,166 God, I agree with your word 813 00:42:50,233 --> 00:42:53,233 that apart from Jesus, I'm separated from you 814 00:42:54,700 --> 00:42:58,966 and I cannot solve that problem on my own. 815 00:43:01,133 --> 00:43:04,166 So give your promise 816 00:43:04,966 --> 00:43:07,966 of both forgiveness and eternal life 817 00:43:08,966 --> 00:43:11,966 through Christ. 818 00:43:12,400 --> 00:43:15,400 As I make the decision to say yes, 819 00:43:15,833 --> 00:43:18,833 confirm that decision in my heart 820 00:43:19,500 --> 00:43:24,500 so that it becomes easier to say, all of you who would so choose this, 821 00:43:24,500 --> 00:43:27,900 I encourage you in this moment, you are profound. 822 00:43:30,100 --> 00:43:33,100 Help us to live in that truth. 823 00:43:33,266 --> 00:43:35,033 Help us live in that truth. 824 00:43:35,033 --> 00:43:35,366 Bible. 825 00:43:35,366 --> 00:43:39,300 You're going to read chapter nine this week, and as students of the Bible, 826 00:43:39,300 --> 00:43:42,300 you're going to read chapter ten and get ready for next week. 827 00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:44,600 This word is profound, man. 828 00:43:44,600 --> 00:43:47,400 It is life changing, a life giving. 829 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:48,900 And I want us all to experience that. 830 00:43:48,900 --> 00:43:51,733 I love you, it's been good to be here today. 831 00:43:51,733 --> 00:43:54,466 We got one song right. Let's stand up and sing.