WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.360 Hey, guys, today we're talking about the very first substitute teacher. 2 00:00:04.919 --> 00:00:05.919 That's kind I like it. 3 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:08.720 Well, Jesus is the teacher. He has the substitution for 4 00:00:08.759 --> 00:00:11.519 our sins. Christ is taking the punishment for our sins. Well, 5 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:14.800 Jeff is in India. So today he's Kyle. I'm Chris, 6 00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:29.120 and we are the Bible guys. So Kyle, always good 7 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:31.160 to have you here on the podcast. 8 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:31.800 That's right, man. 9 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:34.520 And so Kyle works with us at the church that 10 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.320 we serve at Heritage Church, and he's the connections pastor 11 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:39.479 and was in charge of the weekends for years. And 12 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:41.679 you've also done a lot of things. And you were 13 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:44.880 also over a youth as a youth pastor. In fact, 14 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:47.320 even before you came to Heritage, you were you were 15 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:47.920 a youth pastor. 16 00:00:48.359 --> 00:00:49.880 And that's something that we haven't come We just found 17 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:51.880 that out we both were youth pastors for eleven years. 18 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:55.079 That we exactly yes, which is pretty cool. So and 19 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:58.119 I'm older than you, I've done more adult stuff. 20 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.960 Yes, you have old people stuff on your trajectory. It 21 00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:03.840 looks like that's funny. So here's a good question. 22 00:01:03.880 --> 00:01:06.319 This is this is a good segment for today. So 23 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:08.760 as a youth pastor. I've always said to my wife 24 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:13.359 that my best memories and my best experiences in ministry 25 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:16.319 are with high school students, yes, love or middle school 26 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.239 and sometimes but mostly high school. 27 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:22.439 Yeah, yeah, middle school. So here's the question. 28 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:25.239 The question is tell us one of your most memorable 29 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:28.760 moments or experiences that you've had working with teenagers. 30 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:29.680 That's a good question. You know. 31 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:31.079 One of the things I know. 32 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:31.719 You know this, Chris. 33 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:33.719 Anybody who's done ministry for a minute knows that. You know, 34 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:35.680 you can have a program like a Wednesday Night or 35 00:01:35.719 --> 00:01:37.560 Sunday night or whatever it may be, and those are 36 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:39.480 all great, but it's not until you get away on 37 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:41.879 a retreat or a camp or a missions trip. Just 38 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.439 because you you know that one hour each week or 39 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:46.719 two hours each week, doesn't, you know, compare it to 40 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:49.760 that week long time together or a weekend. But I 41 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:51.640 remember when I first felt called in a ministry. It 42 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:53.040 was two thousand and eight and I was on a 43 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:57.599 missions trip in West Virginia. I was volunteering. They're part 44 00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:00.680 of a church nearby, and I was volunteering as a leader. 45 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:02.760 And it was there that I felt called into ministry 46 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:04.599 like I really had. And this only happened like twice 47 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:05.959 in my life where I felt like God was like 48 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:08.080 do this, Like it was very clear, Yeah, and it 49 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:10.240 happened to be on this trip and it was totally 50 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:12.840 like one to eighty from what I was currently following 51 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:15.360 or planning for my life. And so when that happened, 52 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:16.759 it was just kind of a marking moment for me. 53 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:18.879 Everything kind of changed. I went into ministry, you got 54 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:22.000 my degree in Biblical studies, all that stuff, but I 55 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:24.039 had the privilege maybe like five or six years ago 56 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:26.639 to go back to that same location, that same spot, 57 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:28.840 that same mission trip with a group of students after 58 00:02:28.919 --> 00:02:30.759 God had kind of like, you know, kind of fulfilled 59 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:32.599 this promise to me, he said, don't do this. You know, 60 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:34.439 I think it had been like eight years prior or 61 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:36.159 something like that, and they got the chance to go 62 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:38.800 back and just people to experience that with the students, 63 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:39.639 and you know, I could. 64 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:40.080 Share that with them. 65 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:42.240 And of course the students they don't care as much, 66 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:44.039 but for me as a pastor, I would say that 67 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:45.919 was one of the my favorite moments. You will go 68 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:47.560 back to the place where God kind of called me 69 00:02:48.199 --> 00:02:50.800 into ministry and experience that with students and bring them there, 70 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:52.840 see them grow in their faith, serve all that stuff. 71 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:54.479 Yeah, that's a significant moment. 72 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:57.879 I remember speaking at a camp that I surrendered at 73 00:02:57.879 --> 00:02:59.719 as well, and I went back years later as the 74 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:01.039 guest speak and it was. 75 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:03.039 It was pretty wild. Yes, and it's cool. It was 76 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:05.319 even my home church. Such a cool God thing. Yes, 77 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:06.360 And God does that. 78 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.240 God brings stuff around, you know, and he brings a 79 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:11.240 full circle and it's extremely cool. 80 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:12.840 In ways that you don't even realize in the moment. 81 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:14.240 You're like, wow, this be really cool. And I'm not 82 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:17.080 a super emotional, but like being there in that moment 83 00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:19.520 and just knowing, like wow, all these memories that I've 84 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:21.080 experienced up to that point and when I'm about to 85 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:23.960 experience in life, like God was preparing me back then 86 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:26.479 to kind of say yes and step on face. So anyways, 87 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:28.960 really cool. But today we're actually reading. We're going to 88 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:33.319 segue to the Bible portion of today reading Romans chapter three, 89 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:35.639 and so if you have a physical Bible or you 90 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:37.240 want to open up your Bible app that's great. And 91 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:40.120 if not, if you're watching and watching us and like 92 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:42.479 seeing this live, you will see the verses on the screen. 93 00:03:42.520 --> 00:03:45.319 But we're starting off in verse twenty one, Romans, Chapter three, 94 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:49.439 And this is from the NLT version, And this is 95 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:52.400 like Chris was saying, this is Jesus taking on our punishment. 96 00:03:52.479 --> 00:03:55.039 It says this, but now God has shown us a 97 00:03:55.080 --> 00:03:57.639 way to be made right with Him without keeping the 98 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:00.280 requirements of the law, as was promised in the ightings 99 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.280 of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made 100 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:06.400 right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. 101 00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:09.159 And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter 102 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:11.479 who we are. This next verse, which is kind of 103 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:13.159 like a part of the Romans road that if you 104 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:15.039 ever heard that saying, But this next verse twenty three 105 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:18.519 says this, for everyone has sinned. We all fall short 106 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:23.240 of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely 107 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:26.519 makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ, Jesus, 108 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:28.439 when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. 109 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:32.720 For God presented Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. People 110 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:35.759 are made right with God when they believe that Jesus 111 00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:40.160 sacrificed his life shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that 112 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:42.759 God was being fair when he held back and did 113 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:46.759 not punish those who sinned in times past, for he 114 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:49.160 was looking ahead and including them in what he would 115 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:51.800 do in his present time. In this present time, God 116 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:55.360 did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is 117 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:57.759 fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his 118 00:04:57.879 --> 00:05:02.600 sight when they believe in Jesus. And then it says, 119 00:05:02.759 --> 00:05:04.839 can we boast then that we have done anything to 120 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:08.120 be accepted by God? No, because our quiddal is not 121 00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:10.839 based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 122 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:13.639 So we are made right with God through faith and 123 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.839 not by obeying the law. After all, is God the 124 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:19.759 God of the Jews only? Isn't he also the God 125 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:20.560 of the Gentiles? 126 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:21.680 Of course he is. 127 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:24.399 There's only one God, and he makes people right with 128 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:28.839 himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Well, 129 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.279 then if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we 130 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:33.920 can forget about the law? Of course not. In fact, 131 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:37.759 only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law. 132 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:43.639 Yeah? Yeah, jump right into it. So it's important to 133 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:46.319 know the context first of all for our listeners. 134 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:48.879 If you're jumping in right at this moment, we're sort 135 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:50.959 of walking through the Book of Acts. Really, that's what 136 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:53.240 the series is, and the Book of Acts is right 137 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:55.920 after the Gospels, after Jesus had left the earth and Paul. 138 00:05:56.519 --> 00:05:58.959 It basically you know, goes through Paul's life and so 139 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:01.720 chronologically were walking through the Book of Acts and. 140 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:03.839 Then everywhere throughout Paul's life. 141 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:06.360 What do you want on a missionary journey or decided 142 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:09.120 to write a letter that became a part of the Bible. 143 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:12.800 We sort of branch off and we are you know, writing. 144 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:17.800 So just to keep in mind in chronology, in the chronology, 145 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:22.639 Paul had just finished up his third missionary journey and 146 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:23.600 he has not yet. 147 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:24.199 Been to Rome. 148 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:29.240 So this letter serves as an introduction for himself as 149 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:31.920 well as laying out the theology of a church that 150 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:34.800 he has not yet been to or started. Now, you 151 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:38.000 know that Paul started so many churches, and oftentimes he. 152 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.680 Would visit, like for instance, Ephesus. 153 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:41.759 He would start a church and then he would leave 154 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.120 and then he would write back to that church and 155 00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:46.639 it would be you know, people that he's familiar with. 156 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.079 But in this case, there's a church that started in Rome. 157 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:53.920 It's mostly Jews, but also you know, acquired some gentiles, 158 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:56.639 because he refers to those which are basically anybody who's 159 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:59.199 not Jewish, and he had finished up his work in 160 00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:00.720 the East, and he was on his way to Spain, 161 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:05.360 and and and actually he's in Corinth right now, about 162 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:09.399 to go to Jerusalem. Actually, and he's writing to Rome 163 00:07:09.800 --> 00:07:12.680 and he's basically hoping to go there on his way 164 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:15.480 to Spain. So so anyway, so he has somebody writing 165 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:18.759 for him. He has a you know, a dictator, you know, 166 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:21.720 somebody who's copying this down. I don't I don't remember 167 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:26.160 that guy's name, but I know it. It's bothering me. 168 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:28.480 So I'm gonna go ahead and say it. 169 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:29.199 It is. 170 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:35.480 Tedious, turtious, turious, and so anyway, so that's that's where 171 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:35.839 we have it. 172 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:38.600 So anyway, Also, the writing that he puts together, I mean, 173 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:40.720 it kind of sounds like something Paul would say, right, 174 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:42.079 So he must have been doing a pretty good job. 175 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:42.639 Because even. 176 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:46.759 Even this chapter here, just the way asks the question. 177 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:47.920 Answers that I think it's pretty cool. 178 00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:51.480 So so really, yeah, these these ten verses talk about 179 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:53.759 Christ taking our punishment, and I here's what. 180 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:55.199 Here's the thing that stands out to me. 181 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:57.680 First of all, is obviously the most famous, one of 182 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.160 the most famous verses in all the Bible, for all 183 00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:02.639 for everyone is sinned, and we all fall short of 184 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:06.560 God's glorious standard. And that means it translates into missing 185 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:09.079 the mark. If you think of a bulls eye and 186 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.680 you think of you know, throwing something and missing the mark. 187 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:15.439 Another version says, we all fall short of God's glory. 188 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:18.199 And I think that that's first of all, something that 189 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:22.680 we have to understand, because after all, up to this point, 190 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:25.519 people had, you know, been under the. 191 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:27.319 Mindset that the Jewish. 192 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:29.720 All they really have heard is the Jewish people have 193 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:32.840 a Jewish God, the God of Israel, and this God 194 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:35.320 is a god of laws. And all the way through 195 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:38.200 the Book of Romans, Paul refers to the laws, and 196 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:43.159 sometimes he's referring to you know, actually you can understand that. 197 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:46.559 Sometimes he's referring to the interaction with one another, right, 198 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:49.240 the laws of the land, those kind of things. But 199 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:51.559 most of the time in this case, he's referring to 200 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:55.200 the laws of the ten Commandments and the six hundred 201 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:58.879 and thirteen precepts, of all of which came in Exodus 202 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:01.720 chapter twenty. You know, two hundred and forty eight thous 203 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:05.240 shouts three hundred and sixty five thou shout notts for 204 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.919 six hundred and thirteen precepts. 205 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:08.360 And what he's saying is is like. 206 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:11.159 Even though you may have heard that, you know, it's 207 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:14.759 by obeying these laws of this God that is what 208 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:19.919 makes you righteousness righteous. He's saying, Jesus gave us his 209 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:24.519 righteousness because we fall short. The law helps us, you know, 210 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:27.919 reveals to us that we fall short. Yeah, what's what's 211 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:28.759 one thing that stands out? 212 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:29.240 I know for me? 213 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:31.519 Like the one thing that idea there is you know 214 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:33.519 we're talking, we're hearing from Paul and you mentioned this. 215 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:36.039 I mean, he was somebody who knew the law. He 216 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:38.399 was a teacher in the law, he knew these things. 217 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:40.960 And then also somebody who was very aware of his sin. 218 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:43.840 He was very aware of his mistakes. He was somebody 219 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:46.559 who was you know, persecuting those who are Christians and 220 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.279 that sort of thing. And so here he is writing 221 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:50.879 this very aware of the law, very aware of his 222 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:53.960 own humanity, his own mistakes, and he's saying to us like, 223 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:57.519 for all have sinned and fallen short. And to me, honestly, 224 00:09:57.559 --> 00:09:59.519 that that statement right there, obviously that does like a 225 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:03.399 foundationtional part of the gospel message. And I mentioned earlier 226 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:05.440 like the Romans Road that's kind of like step one, 227 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:08.320 all have sinned and fallen short. And I think it's 228 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:10.240 just a reminder for us and anybody who's watching this 229 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:12.120 who calls himself a christ Father, We're all like, yeah, 230 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:14.639 I got that. But I also love the humility of 231 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:17.000 Paul remembering that as the first thing is that all 232 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:18.919 have sinned and fallen short. And then also, like to 233 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:21.559 one of the words he that's brought up is I'm 234 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:24.279 talking about somebody being acquitted. How Yeah, No, because our 235 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:26.200 acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is 236 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:29.440 based on faith. That word acquittal. I just love that 237 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:31.840 because it makes me, honestly think of you know, just 238 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:33.759 that that just a first thought is going back to 239 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:36.399 the story of Jesus when he's kind of on trial 240 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:39.320 and they end up freeing Brabbis and they put Brabbis 241 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:42.360 up and they choose Brabbus over Jesus or Bravis was. 242 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:44.399 Essentially that's the first thing you think of. I think, 243 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:45.919 I think of that. I just think of the fact 244 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.159 that now Brabbis is free. 245 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:48.559 Of I think of OJ Simpson. 246 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:55.720 Doesn't Yeah, if it does not, you must be so good, Okay, right, 247 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:57.480 Brabbits is the second thing now that I'm gonna think 248 00:10:57.480 --> 00:10:59.759 of when I think this, But it just makes me 249 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:03.039 think that, you know, the story of Bravis, although it 250 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:06.360 was you know, two thousand years ago, that's literally our story. 251 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.320 We were freed, we were sinners, we didn't have what 252 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:12.080 it takes, we couldn't fulfill a lot perfectly, and yet 253 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:14.919 Jesus paid the price and made us right. We are 254 00:11:14.919 --> 00:11:17.360 now seeing as righteous because of what he had to do. 255 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:19.240 So anyways, that's just what comes to mind when I 256 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:20.840 see that word a quittal. It stood out to me. 257 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:21.320 You know. 258 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:23.399 You know what actually is standing out even as I'm 259 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:25.759 looking at it right now is the very first two 260 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:28.000 words that you read in verse twenty one, because he 261 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:31.080 says butt now, which means but now means is a 262 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.320 brand new thought. But now it means this is a 263 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:36.720 brand new idea. So you know, try to transport yourself 264 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:40.159 back into the first century where like, you know, imagine 265 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:42.159 if this was brand new news right now. What's so 266 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:44.639 interesting is a lot of our listeners are listening because 267 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:46.120 they have been Christians. 268 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:46.159 For a while. 269 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:49.360 But we all need to understand and it's actually a 270 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:52.279 great reminder that that phrase button now is a great 271 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:54.600 reminder that, like when you walk in, for instance, through 272 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:57.840 the doors of Heritage Church, which is probably displayed on 273 00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:59.759 your teacher undersweats. 274 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:02.600 You're representing it, right, It's the sweatshirt I wear like 275 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:06.120 every fourth podcast. I wanted to try to match Chris today, 276 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:07.799 we're gonna try I was gonna try to twin him. 277 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.600 Yeah, but it did happen, but I end up wearing 278 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:10.039 my champion. 279 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:13.360 So anyway, the uh when you walk in through the 280 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:17.360 doors of Heritage Church, Uh, we have this phrase. We 281 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:19.159 need to get a new sign for it. But the 282 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:22.600 sign says today is someone's first day, and we have 283 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:25.759 to understand that, like the church service isn't just made 284 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:29.519 for us. The church service is designed to reach those 285 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:33.000 who have who this is brand new news for them. 286 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:35.399 It's their very first day. They're far from God. They 287 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:37.840 know about the things of God, but they don't quite 288 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:42.080 understand the truth. And so but now means you know, 289 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:45.639 regardless of your church background or how you've been raised. Heck, 290 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:48.919 it's not too much to ask or even think that 291 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:52.639 there's somebody on this podcast today who's listening, maybe even 292 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:56.159 in another country, who's hearing this for the very first time. 293 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:58.120 And we take this for granted. 294 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:00.720 All the time, and we just assume this is old 295 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:03.279 news that's been around for two thousand years. But there 296 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:07.919 may be somebody listening right now who who's like, this 297 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:10.519 is brand new news that you cannot. 298 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:11.519 Get to heaven by yourself. 299 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:14.360 That the law of the Old Testament was not given 300 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:20.639 to obey to obtain righteousness. Paul's clearly saying, Jesus came 301 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:24.279 to give us righteousness because all of us have sinned, 302 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:27.279 and we missed God's standard, we missed the mark, We've 303 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:30.519 gone astray, we fall short, he's saying, But now you 304 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:33.879 have to understand that Jesus took on our sin, he 305 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:35.279 took on our punishment. 306 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:38.559 And and by the way, there was a phrase. 307 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:41.200 Here in my NLT we love the Life Application Bible, 308 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:45.679 and the Life Application Bible says, just because grace is there, 309 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:48.200 it doesn't make sin any. 310 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:50.919 Less serious, isn't it? Isn't that great. 311 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:55.240 Saying, yes, it doesn't make sin any less serious, you. 312 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:56.559 Know, piggyback off something you're saying. 313 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:58.159 There he said the butt now, and it's just this 314 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:00.200 new idea. And it's so interesting because after you go 315 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.480 to verse twenty three, right, so that's the popular for 316 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.519 everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God's Gloria Sander. 317 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:07.600 The next two words, what does it say, says yet God, 318 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:10.159 and then it follows up in his grace really makes 319 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:11.519 us right in his sight? And I just love that. 320 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:13.200 It's kind of like a piggyback, Like really it's a 321 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:15.559 it's play off the same idea like yet God in 322 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:18.200 his grace. So it's like, hey, we don't have what 323 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.320 it takes yet God, And it's kind of like what 324 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:22.600 you're saying, he gives us a second chance. And I 325 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:24.639 want to read something really that I noticed this morning 326 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:27.120 out of the Life Application Sudy Bible as well. I 327 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.399 want to read this and actually think this is kind 328 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:31.480 of interesting insight Chris. It says this as like a footnote. 329 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:35.039 It says, most religions prescribe specific duties that must be 330 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.600 performed to make a person acceptable to a God. And 331 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:40.759 that's lowercase ge. Christianity is unique in teaching that the 332 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:43.200 good deeds we do will not make us write with God. 333 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:46.279 No amount of human achievement or progress progress in person 334 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:49.159 development will close the gap between God's moral perfection and 335 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:52.559 our imperfect daily performance. Good deeds are important, but they 336 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:54.960 will not earn us eternal life. We are saved only 337 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:57.360 by trusting what God has done for us. And honestly, 338 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:59.559 for those of us who have been Christians for a minute, 339 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:01.360 we get that. But have you seen that with other 340 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:03.159 I mean, what other religions or what other types of 341 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:05.799 like hoops you have to jump through in other religions 342 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:07.600 in order to get to God. When it comes to this, 343 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:09.919 it's like, it's just interesting, Like I mean, how many 344 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.480 I've even heard of? I don't know if we're allowed 345 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:13.559 to talk about other religions on it. I'm sure we can, right, 346 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:16.159 but like I know, like doing some research on like scientology, 347 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:18.399 there's certain levels you have to get to, and even 348 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:20.600 those levels come with a cost and things like that, 349 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:23.519 and you know, you're slowly learning more and progressing, and 350 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:25.879 it's just so interesting the way you have to achieve that. 351 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:30.279 It's it's it's really interesting actually, because there are definitely 352 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.679 people out there, plenty of people who want to believe 353 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:36.440 that all all past lead to God. That you know, 354 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:38.799 and they asked the question, they say, don't all religions 355 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.720 lead to God? I mean, you know, as long as 356 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.399 as long as you are worshiping, there's a God there's 357 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:45.120 a creator, there's a being, there's. 358 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:46.080 A higher power. 359 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:49.799 And you know it's interesting is that salvation is laid. 360 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.080 Out all the way through the Bible and through the 361 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:51.600 Old Testament. 362 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:54.519 That's right, clearly, not as the fact that you know, 363 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:57.559 not in the fact that there is a creator. Yeah, right, 364 00:15:57.639 --> 00:16:00.840 because because that doesn't solve our sin problem. The fact 365 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:04.840 that God is the creator. It's so interesting. So I've 366 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.360 once heard Andy Stanley talk about this. He said this, 367 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.639 why can't we just let people believe. 368 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:12.279 What they want to believe? Why can't we just let 369 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:13.759 people alone? Right? 370 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:15.960 Like why do we have to bother people by saying 371 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:18.279 do you know Jesus? You know, it's like, why do 372 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:20.879 we have to do that? And I remember hearing him 373 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:25.279 say this that it's because Christianity is not intuitive. Like 374 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:27.799 you can sit under a tree and you know, just 375 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:30.240 without any knowledge, you could probably come to the conclusion 376 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:32.559 that there is a creator, right, which is like sort 377 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:35.440 of all world religions or I should say most world religions, right, 378 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:39.080 But you can never buy yourself come. 379 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:41.440 To the conclusion that, hey, I bet you. 380 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:43.519 That God sin has only some Jesus Christ down to 381 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.960 the earth who basically took you know, live this endless 382 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.840 life and died in the cross for our sins and 383 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:50.519 then rose from the grave, proving as power over sin 384 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:52.240 and death. And then you know, all we have to 385 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:54.519 do is believe in him. And you know you can 386 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:56.279 never do that. And here's the reason why. And it's 387 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:59.840 simply simply this. Because Christianity is an event and it 388 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.360 is grounded in history. 389 00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:01.720 That's good. 390 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:04.079 And the only way that history can be known is 391 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:06.079 for history to be shared and. 392 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:08.720 So and so that's good. Bro. Yeah, well it's not mine. 393 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:13.680 Quoted by it's not mine Michael Scott with Michael Jordan. 394 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.440 You missed one hundred percent of the shots you don't 395 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:22.920 take Michael Scott, Michael Jordan, slive Michael Scott. So yeah, 396 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:23.720 and that's good. 397 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:26.440 And it stuck with me because and actually I heard 398 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:29.440 him say that live when I attended his church in 399 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.119 two thousand and three. 400 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:32.480 Yeah, which was amazing. 401 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:35.880