1 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:09,400 Oh, that is what the gospel means. 2 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,400 Good news. 3 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,500 Because that's what the gospel is. 4 00:00:13,500 --> 00:00:16,500 It's good news. 5 00:00:16,733 --> 00:00:19,533 I feel like I need to say this as a pastor, 6 00:00:19,533 --> 00:00:22,533 and especially as an American pastor. 7 00:00:23,333 --> 00:00:26,333 The gospel is good news, 8 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,466 and it's better news 9 00:00:30,466 --> 00:00:32,466 than the news of the inauguration on Monday. 10 00:00:32,466 --> 00:00:35,466 But I want us to understand that 11 00:00:35,866 --> 00:00:38,866 the good news is the gospel of Christ, 12 00:00:39,433 --> 00:00:42,433 not the inauguration of President Trump. 13 00:00:43,233 --> 00:00:46,233 I feel like I need to say that because, 14 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,000 in my church world, 15 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:53,933 I see things 16 00:00:53,933 --> 00:00:56,933 like pastors preaching in a Maga shirt, 17 00:00:58,166 --> 00:01:01,166 which boggles my mind. 18 00:01:02,066 --> 00:01:04,466 I say that because 19 00:01:04,466 --> 00:01:07,000 I see and hear 20 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,700 church folk who are more aware of 21 00:01:09,700 --> 00:01:13,000 President Trump's policies than they have Scripture memorized. 22 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,266 Something's wrong with their discipleship. 23 00:01:15,266 --> 00:01:16,000 If that's the case. 24 00:01:18,166 --> 00:01:18,900 I see it 25 00:01:18,900 --> 00:01:22,900 because there's more celebrations and the inauguration on the 20th. 26 00:01:22,900 --> 00:01:25,933 Then there is heartache over the fact that there are people under 27 00:01:25,966 --> 00:01:28,966 huddle, are lost without Christ, and going to hell. 28 00:01:29,966 --> 00:01:32,433 Something is profoundly wrong with our discipleship. 29 00:01:32,433 --> 00:01:35,133 If those things are the case. 30 00:01:35,133 --> 00:01:38,766 And so I want to draw us to the main thing and make sure that at least 31 00:01:38,766 --> 00:01:41,266 that this church and those who hear my voice understand 32 00:01:41,266 --> 00:01:44,266 the main thing will always be the main thing 33 00:01:44,366 --> 00:01:46,800 that our hope and our good news 34 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,800 is in Christ him crucified and resurrected, 35 00:01:50,466 --> 00:01:53,466 and that will drive everything we do 36 00:01:53,733 --> 00:01:57,066 and will be more burdened over people in our huddle 37 00:01:57,066 --> 00:02:01,133 who don't know Jesus, who are lost without him eternally. 38 00:02:02,233 --> 00:02:04,833 Then we are excited and beating 39 00:02:04,833 --> 00:02:08,033 the drum of anything that happens on the political scale. 40 00:02:08,066 --> 00:02:10,100 Do you understand? They understand. 41 00:02:12,833 --> 00:02:14,466 And until we 42 00:02:14,466 --> 00:02:17,900 have more scripture hidden in our heart than policy in our head. 43 00:02:19,900 --> 00:02:21,900 Something's faulty with our discipleship. 44 00:02:21,900 --> 00:02:24,900 And we need to make sure that is never the case. 45 00:02:26,666 --> 00:02:29,666 The good news of the gospel of Christ. 46 00:02:30,133 --> 00:02:33,133 Paul outlines it in the book of Romans. 47 00:02:33,133 --> 00:02:35,466 And so in the book of Romans is where we are. 48 00:02:35,466 --> 00:02:38,466 And we'll go chapter through chapter every week through this book. 49 00:02:38,933 --> 00:02:40,800 Spend a couple chapters on chapter two, 50 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,800 a couple weeks on chapter eight, because it is so profound. 51 00:02:44,566 --> 00:02:47,500 The Book of Romans is divided into four sections. 52 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:50,533 Chapters one through chapter three, verse 20. 53 00:02:50,533 --> 00:02:52,900 That was all about the wrath of God. 54 00:02:52,900 --> 00:02:55,900 And Paul does a profound, 55 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,500 it makes a profound work, an argument 56 00:02:58,500 --> 00:03:02,366 for the fact that our human souls, apart 57 00:03:02,366 --> 00:03:07,166 from Christ and his work on the cross, are profoundly dark and sinful. 58 00:03:08,466 --> 00:03:09,100 And he makes the 59 00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:12,400 case in the first two chapters, whether you're one of those 60 00:03:13,066 --> 00:03:17,633 that it's apparent to good folk how bad they are, 61 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,933 or if you're one of those who think that we're pretty good, 62 00:03:23,133 --> 00:03:27,066 both on equal ground and both profoundly 63 00:03:27,066 --> 00:03:30,833 missed the glory of God, and both profoundly deep 64 00:03:30,833 --> 00:03:33,900 in the darkness of sin and profoundly 65 00:03:34,233 --> 00:03:37,066 need a Savior. 66 00:03:37,066 --> 00:03:39,900 And in chapter three, verse 21 and four, 67 00:03:39,900 --> 00:03:42,600 and all the way through chapter eight, he talks about the grace of God. 68 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,200 So he deals with the wrath of God, and that we're all deserving of it. 69 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,066 Apart from Christ, and then the grace of God, 70 00:03:48,066 --> 00:03:51,600 and then he'll deal with the plan of God, and then the will of God. 71 00:03:52,166 --> 00:03:55,200 And so we're just as the beginning parts 72 00:03:55,300 --> 00:03:59,033 where Paul unpacks what is called the grace of God. 73 00:04:01,100 --> 00:04:02,133 And he's he's 74 00:04:02,133 --> 00:04:05,133 he's the he's helped us understand 75 00:04:05,166 --> 00:04:08,166 our need for a Savior, regardless of how good we think we are. 76 00:04:09,333 --> 00:04:11,766 And in introducing what grace is 77 00:04:11,766 --> 00:04:14,766 and how we are saved through faith by grace. 78 00:04:14,866 --> 00:04:19,700 In chapter four, he introduces to us two models. 79 00:04:20,233 --> 00:04:25,166 And these two models were profoundly important for the Jewish people. 80 00:04:26,133 --> 00:04:28,066 There are two of their heroes. 81 00:04:28,066 --> 00:04:31,066 For us, we would look at these two and think, oh, they're pretty good guys. 82 00:04:31,633 --> 00:04:34,633 But for the Jew, they were, 83 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,800 they're, they're, they're they're top shelf. 84 00:04:37,866 --> 00:04:40,866 And one of them is Abraham, the father of the Jews. 85 00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:43,000 And the other is David. 86 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,566 And the reason why Paul deals with Abraham and David 87 00:04:47,133 --> 00:04:50,033 in supporting his teaching 88 00:04:50,033 --> 00:04:56,366 that were saved through faith by grace, and because Abraham was the father 89 00:04:56,366 --> 00:05:02,000 of the Jewish race, and David was the father of the Jewish royal line. 90 00:05:02,766 --> 00:05:05,166 And so he says, both of these streams are important. 91 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:07,733 And says, 92 00:05:07,733 --> 00:05:10,700 both of these guys that, that that everything it is to be a Jew, 93 00:05:10,700 --> 00:05:13,766 both of these guys derive our identity from these two. 94 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,700 And they were both right with God. 95 00:05:17,700 --> 00:05:20,000 That's what it means to be justified, to be right with God. 96 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,466 Both of these guys were right with God because of their faith, 97 00:05:25,300 --> 00:05:26,500 through their faith, 98 00:05:26,500 --> 00:05:29,766 because of God's grace, not because of what they did. 99 00:05:31,133 --> 00:05:34,000 And so chapter four talks about these two guys. 100 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:35,933 And we're going to dive into that. 101 00:05:35,933 --> 00:05:38,466 And so if you have a Bible and brought one with you, you're 102 00:05:38,466 --> 00:05:39,333 looking at your smart device. 103 00:05:39,333 --> 00:05:42,000 I wanted to encourage you to go to Romans four. 104 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:47,766 Now in this Bible that's on page 100, 1649, if that helps anybody. 105 00:05:49,266 --> 00:05:53,500 This is, so this is, I have three Bibles that I use. 106 00:05:54,633 --> 00:05:57,633 One of them is the one I've had for decades. 107 00:05:57,666 --> 00:06:00,800 And friends of mine, Jim and Patty helped pay to get it 108 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,800 all rebound because it was absolutely just falling apart. 109 00:06:03,900 --> 00:06:06,400 And I have decades, decades of notes 110 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:10,133 written in it, almost, where I can't see the the printed text. 111 00:06:10,133 --> 00:06:10,333 I have. 112 00:06:10,333 --> 00:06:14,266 So and I love using that Bible because it's just so rich and full for me. 113 00:06:14,266 --> 00:06:16,900 But I'm getting so far I can't use anymore. 114 00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:19,900 And I have this other Bible, 115 00:06:19,933 --> 00:06:21,733 and it's a new King James Version. 116 00:06:21,733 --> 00:06:25,166 I like kind of how it reads, and I've got a lot of and it's it's in better shape. 117 00:06:25,166 --> 00:06:28,166 There's only about 2 or 3 sections that are falling apart, and that one. 118 00:06:28,833 --> 00:06:30,533 And so I'm like, well, which one do I use? 119 00:06:30,533 --> 00:06:31,666 I don't want this stuff on. 120 00:06:31,666 --> 00:06:35,833 And so then I got this Bible, and this Bible is one 121 00:06:35,833 --> 00:06:39,600 that Sean I bought for our son Wyatt when he was about in junior high. 122 00:06:40,900 --> 00:06:41,500 And then as 123 00:06:41,500 --> 00:06:44,533 he got older and, and through college, you wanted a different Bible. 124 00:06:44,533 --> 00:06:45,466 So we got him different Bible. 125 00:06:45,466 --> 00:06:49,866 But I keep this one because it's a good it's it's I like how it's lays out. 126 00:06:49,866 --> 00:06:53,266 It's it's not it's not as marked up and I can write more notes in it. 127 00:06:53,266 --> 00:06:56,833 But what I love about this, this particular one 128 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:01,100 is that when I first started to open this up and reading it, 129 00:07:01,833 --> 00:07:04,833 I found page after page after page 130 00:07:05,133 --> 00:07:08,333 where my son Wyatt in junior high and high school 131 00:07:08,433 --> 00:07:13,066 underlined and underlined and underlined as he would read his Bible every day. 132 00:07:13,933 --> 00:07:16,866 And it just I just I when I hold off, I think I just think 133 00:07:16,866 --> 00:07:19,866 thank you Lord. 134 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:23,266 Thank you for your grace. 135 00:07:25,466 --> 00:07:27,133 In spite of what 136 00:07:27,133 --> 00:07:30,133 I've done and didn't do as a father, 137 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,433 and in spite of my son learning 138 00:07:32,433 --> 00:07:35,433 how to walk in obedience, still, 139 00:07:35,566 --> 00:07:38,566 thank you for your grace. 140 00:07:39,766 --> 00:07:42,766 Love the fact that our sons are men of the word. 141 00:07:43,100 --> 00:07:44,666 And they're figuring it out with Jesus. 142 00:07:44,666 --> 00:07:46,633 And it's beautiful 143 00:07:46,633 --> 00:07:49,333 to see some more of that began. 144 00:07:49,333 --> 00:07:52,333 And so from this particular scripture, 145 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,900 the first three verses, what then shall we say that Abraham, 146 00:07:56,900 --> 00:07:59,900 our forefather, according to Flashman, remember he's talking to Jews. 147 00:08:00,133 --> 00:08:02,866 He said, so you want to talk about being right with God by faith? 148 00:08:02,866 --> 00:08:04,766 Well, let's talk about Abraham. 149 00:08:04,766 --> 00:08:07,366 What are we going to say about him as far as our flesh is 150 00:08:07,366 --> 00:08:10,433 concerned, us being Jews, what did he discover in this matter? 151 00:08:10,433 --> 00:08:13,533 In fact, if in fact Abraham was justified, made 152 00:08:13,533 --> 00:08:17,000 right with God by works, he'd have something to boast about. 153 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,000 But number four, God, what does Scripture say? 154 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:24,900 Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 155 00:08:27,566 --> 00:08:30,933 Abraham believed God and it was credited to him. 156 00:08:30,933 --> 00:08:34,066 It was a charge to his account, as if he was righteous and right before 157 00:08:34,066 --> 00:08:37,966 God because of he his belief, he believed God's Word. 158 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,166 Now, Abraham is an interesting scripture in that regard, 159 00:08:41,166 --> 00:08:46,266 because it would make more sense to us if Paul tells us that Abraham was right 160 00:08:46,266 --> 00:08:49,533 with God, because what he did, does that make sense to us? 161 00:08:49,700 --> 00:08:53,366 And consider Abraham for a moment in Genesis 12, 162 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,600 God called Abraham and said, Abraham, I want you to leave 163 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,833 your home, your family, your mother, father, 164 00:08:59,833 --> 00:09:01,533 and I want you to go to a place I'll show you. 165 00:09:01,533 --> 00:09:05,100 So just start walking and I'll I'll tell you when you get there. 166 00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:06,233 But just be obedient. 167 00:09:06,233 --> 00:09:08,133 And Abraham was obedient. Genesis 12. 168 00:09:08,133 --> 00:09:11,033 You can read about it, but the Bible doesn't say 169 00:09:11,033 --> 00:09:13,766 that Abraham was made right with God because he was obedient. 170 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:16,166 Just hang with me for a minute. 171 00:09:16,166 --> 00:09:18,800 Just. Just stay here. 172 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,300 Later in Genesis 22, 173 00:09:21,300 --> 00:09:24,933 God will say, Abraham, I want you to exhibit how much you love me 174 00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:28,933 and sacrifice your only son to me on Mount Moriah. 175 00:09:29,866 --> 00:09:33,300 And Abraham was obedient in sacrificing his only son. 176 00:09:33,300 --> 00:09:35,866 Now God stopped his answer. You didn't have to do it. 177 00:09:35,866 --> 00:09:39,833 But Abraham was prepared to show God the depth of his love by his sacrifice. 178 00:09:40,166 --> 00:09:41,700 So it would even make sense 179 00:09:41,700 --> 00:09:45,733 if Paul were to say Abraham was made right with God by his sacrifice. 180 00:09:45,733 --> 00:09:49,500 But please understand, Abraham was right with God, not because of his obedience. 181 00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:52,666 Abraham was right with God, not because of sacrifice. 182 00:09:52,666 --> 00:09:55,666 Abraham was right with God because he believed God. 183 00:09:56,500 --> 00:09:58,466 Genesis 15. 184 00:09:58,466 --> 00:10:00,966 It wasn't because of his obedience in Genesis 12. 185 00:10:00,966 --> 00:10:03,833 It wasn't because of his sacrifice in Genesis 22. 186 00:10:03,833 --> 00:10:07,300 It was because of his belief in faith. 187 00:10:07,300 --> 00:10:10,266 And what God said in Genesis 15. 188 00:10:12,300 --> 00:10:13,433 It would make sense to 189 00:10:13,433 --> 00:10:17,100 us because most of us believe at some level 190 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:20,566 that we are right with God because we're obedient, 191 00:10:22,066 --> 00:10:24,733 right? 192 00:10:24,733 --> 00:10:28,866 It would make sense to us if we said, well, we're we're we're right with God. 193 00:10:28,866 --> 00:10:32,100 If we're if we sacrifice for him and His kingdom, it makes us right with God. 194 00:10:32,100 --> 00:10:34,133 That would make sense to us. 195 00:10:34,133 --> 00:10:36,700 That's what the Bible says. 196 00:10:36,700 --> 00:10:39,700 The Bible says apart from what you do 197 00:10:40,566 --> 00:10:43,166 and apart 198 00:10:43,166 --> 00:10:45,300 from your behavior, 199 00:10:45,300 --> 00:10:48,300 you can be right with God 200 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,033 through faith 201 00:10:51,033 --> 00:10:54,033 because of his grace. 202 00:10:55,633 --> 00:10:56,866 Abraham God said, 203 00:10:56,866 --> 00:10:59,866 Abraham, you're going to be the father of a nation. 204 00:11:00,133 --> 00:11:03,666 That blew Abraham's mind because he hadn't had a kid. 205 00:11:05,100 --> 00:11:08,100 And by the like, he's 100 years old. 206 00:11:08,433 --> 00:11:09,300 It's not going to happen 207 00:11:10,233 --> 00:11:10,900 in his mind. 208 00:11:10,900 --> 00:11:12,300 Do you see what I'm saying? 209 00:11:12,300 --> 00:11:15,633 But he believed God, and that belief in 210 00:11:15,633 --> 00:11:18,633 God is what made him right with God, 211 00:11:19,033 --> 00:11:22,033 not his obedience nor his sacrifice. 212 00:11:22,933 --> 00:11:25,966 See, now, here's what happens when we start 213 00:11:25,966 --> 00:11:29,600 to walk this life of belief in faith. 214 00:11:30,233 --> 00:11:33,233 There will be there is no doubt 215 00:11:33,233 --> 00:11:36,233 that we will have times of doubt. 216 00:11:36,633 --> 00:11:39,266 Okay, so if we say, I'm going to believe you 217 00:11:39,266 --> 00:11:42,300 in faith, God, there will come times of doubt. 218 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:44,500 And Abraham's no different. 219 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:46,400 But we have to understand, 220 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,066 a very significant difference. 221 00:11:49,066 --> 00:11:51,966 Abraham may have doubted the method of the promise, 222 00:11:51,966 --> 00:11:54,966 but he never denied the outcome of it. 223 00:11:55,300 --> 00:11:57,600 Abraham doubted the method 224 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,600 because he's 100 years old, his wife 90. 225 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,166 We all realize what happens, right? 226 00:12:03,166 --> 00:12:05,733 Like it's stuff doesn't work. 227 00:12:05,733 --> 00:12:06,966 They're not having a baby. 228 00:12:06,966 --> 00:12:09,566 And so he may have doubted the method. And he did. 229 00:12:10,566 --> 00:12:11,500 That's why 230 00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:14,500 Hagar and Ishmael are in the story. 231 00:12:14,866 --> 00:12:16,666 He figured, I can't do it through Sarah. 232 00:12:16,666 --> 00:12:21,166 I'm going to do this through her maidservant, Hagar and Ishmael was born. 233 00:12:21,666 --> 00:12:25,200 He doubted the method, but he never denied the outcome. 234 00:12:26,766 --> 00:12:29,400 So, friends, let me help you understand. 235 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,600 Though we may believe in faith, there will come times 236 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,900 because of who we are, that we may doubt the method. 237 00:12:35,900 --> 00:12:39,000 The disciples even said, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. 238 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:41,333 So I believe this much. I want to believe this man. 239 00:12:41,333 --> 00:12:42,266 So I got this. 240 00:12:42,266 --> 00:12:45,133 Help me with this right? 241 00:12:45,133 --> 00:12:48,133 But there's a difference between doubt and denial. 242 00:12:48,866 --> 00:12:50,000 You may doubt the method. 243 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:51,333 God understands that. 244 00:12:51,333 --> 00:12:54,333 But don't you ever deny the outcome. 245 00:12:54,433 --> 00:12:57,433 God will do what he says 246 00:12:57,933 --> 00:13:01,966 he will do, and he has done what he has said. 247 00:13:02,133 --> 00:13:02,833 He has done. 248 00:13:07,866 --> 00:13:09,566 And so 249 00:13:09,566 --> 00:13:14,766 when we look at this whole process, that that we are right with God by faith 250 00:13:14,766 --> 00:13:18,633 and not by works, it begs the question, well, then, 251 00:13:18,633 --> 00:13:21,633 what role does obedience have? 252 00:13:22,133 --> 00:13:25,133 If Abraham was made right with God because of what he did? 253 00:13:25,533 --> 00:13:28,533 Doesn't matter what we do. 254 00:13:30,166 --> 00:13:33,166 Yes, of course it does not for salvation, 255 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,600 but because we're saved. 256 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,066 It looks like this 257 00:13:39,066 --> 00:13:43,600 when we do those acts of righteousness, 258 00:13:44,666 --> 00:13:46,800 those religious things, 259 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,866 when we try to live right with God, that's a word called sanctification. 260 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,566 I'm gonna throw some words at you. You're ready? 261 00:13:53,566 --> 00:13:54,433 Yeah. 262 00:13:54,433 --> 00:13:56,066 If you don't write this down, you want to forget it? 263 00:13:56,066 --> 00:13:57,033 By the time I'm done, 264 00:13:57,033 --> 00:13:59,933 this is going to be like drinking water out of a fire hose for a minute. 265 00:13:59,933 --> 00:14:00,800 But just hang with me. 266 00:14:01,866 --> 00:14:03,166 The the the 267 00:14:03,166 --> 00:14:07,233 work of living rightly before God of obedience 268 00:14:07,233 --> 00:14:10,866 is called the work of sanctification, where God sanctifies us. 269 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,633 Ultimately, that will culminate in glorification 270 00:14:14,633 --> 00:14:17,166 when we're made perfect in heaven. 271 00:14:17,166 --> 00:14:19,600 Okay, but those things don't happen 272 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,600 without the previous three things being in place. 273 00:14:23,766 --> 00:14:27,800 Godly living sanctification culminates in a glorification in heaven 274 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,300 because of God's redemption through 275 00:14:29,300 --> 00:14:33,266 Jesus is propitiation, resulting in our justification. 276 00:14:33,333 --> 00:14:36,333 Let me put it in English. 277 00:14:37,366 --> 00:14:40,366 Last week we talked about these three issues 278 00:14:40,433 --> 00:14:43,200 redemption, justification, propitiation. 279 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,400 Redemption is being bought at a price. 280 00:14:47,166 --> 00:14:49,800 Propitiation is the substitute 281 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,166 that Jesus took on our place to pay that price. 282 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:55,766 Justification is being right with God. 283 00:14:55,766 --> 00:15:00,400 So I am right with God because God bought me back because of the price 284 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:04,900 Jesus paid with his life to understand, okay, because that's happened. 285 00:15:04,900 --> 00:15:08,033 Now I begin the process of sanctification. 286 00:15:08,500 --> 00:15:12,100 Now because that's happened, God gives me the desire 287 00:15:12,100 --> 00:15:16,733 and the ability to begin obeying him, being sanctified. 288 00:15:16,733 --> 00:15:17,833 You understand? 289 00:15:17,833 --> 00:15:21,300 Ultimately, I'll never reach the totality of that on this earth 290 00:15:21,333 --> 00:15:23,833 when I get to heaven. Glorification. 291 00:15:23,833 --> 00:15:26,833 Most of us get the cart and the horse backwards. 292 00:15:27,466 --> 00:15:31,800 We think I have to live rightly at this, the work of sanctification. 293 00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:33,100 I got to do stuff right. 294 00:15:33,100 --> 00:15:36,900 I got to be so that God justifies me. 295 00:15:37,166 --> 00:15:39,766 I can be in right standing with him. You understand? 296 00:15:40,733 --> 00:15:41,933 That is so based 297 00:15:41,933 --> 00:15:45,266 backwards that Paul says it doesn't work that way. 298 00:15:47,166 --> 00:15:49,433 First, Jesus is our propitiation. 299 00:15:49,433 --> 00:15:51,633 He paid the price 300 00:15:51,633 --> 00:15:54,133 so that our redemption could 301 00:15:54,133 --> 00:15:57,866 we could be bought back to be in right standing with God. 302 00:15:58,933 --> 00:16:02,533 And we will never experience the work of sanctification, 303 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:06,166 living rightly apart from what Jesus did on the cross. 304 00:16:06,233 --> 00:16:09,233 So he most of us can 305 00:16:10,100 --> 00:16:12,100 take steps of being 306 00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:15,100 a better person and a moral person on our own. 307 00:16:15,266 --> 00:16:16,933 That's not hard. 308 00:16:16,933 --> 00:16:19,233 A lot of moral people, 309 00:16:19,233 --> 00:16:22,233 but we can only be sanctified 310 00:16:22,966 --> 00:16:24,833 through the indwelling of God 311 00:16:24,833 --> 00:16:27,833 because of the price Jesus paid on the cross for us. 312 00:16:28,033 --> 00:16:31,766 And we enter into that relationship through faith because of God's grace. 313 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:35,200 Once that happens, he starts 314 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,433 the sanctification process you follow. 315 00:16:38,966 --> 00:16:41,666 So obedience 316 00:16:41,666 --> 00:16:44,666 life, the way we live, it does matter, 317 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,633 as it's a reflection of the work that's already been done, 318 00:16:50,533 --> 00:16:54,233 not so that God will work on our behalf. 319 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,400 You got it. 320 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:01,400 This flies in the face of religion 321 00:17:02,300 --> 00:17:06,500 because religion says I will do so, that God will move. 322 00:17:07,633 --> 00:17:10,633 Christianity says Jesus has done 323 00:17:11,966 --> 00:17:14,966 period. 324 00:17:21,266 --> 00:17:23,566 Look at verse four and five. 325 00:17:23,566 --> 00:17:27,066 Now to the one who works is better than the King James Version. 326 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,166 Now to him who works the wages 327 00:17:30,166 --> 00:17:33,533 paid him are not counted as grace, but as debt. 328 00:17:34,500 --> 00:17:39,900 But to him who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the what? 329 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,366 The ungodly, his faith 330 00:17:43,366 --> 00:17:46,366 is it counted for righteousness. 331 00:17:47,566 --> 00:17:49,800 Here's what he's saying. 332 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:51,966 God's word, God's blessing. 333 00:17:51,966 --> 00:17:55,066 God's move is not motivated 334 00:17:55,066 --> 00:17:58,066 because of our fervent prayer and our devotion. 335 00:18:00,433 --> 00:18:01,566 God's blessing 336 00:18:01,566 --> 00:18:05,833 and his move is not motivated 337 00:18:06,266 --> 00:18:09,266 because of our obedience and sacrifice. 338 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:12,300 If God or 339 00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:16,600 to move on our behalf because we have worked, 340 00:18:18,266 --> 00:18:19,733 that wouldn't be grace. 341 00:18:19,733 --> 00:18:22,200 It would be out of debt. 342 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,400 Do you see what I'm saying? 343 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,566 I get so concerned when good church folk 344 00:18:28,533 --> 00:18:32,400 have the idea that we prayed hard and we were fervent in our devotion, 345 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:33,233 and God moved. 346 00:18:33,233 --> 00:18:36,233 I'm like, you're skating on real thin ice. 347 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:38,600 Because if we think that 348 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,600 because of our devotion and fervent 349 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:43,866 God will, you'll have to. 350 00:18:43,866 --> 00:18:45,900 He'll be indebted to us to move on our behalf. 351 00:18:45,900 --> 00:18:48,633 That. 352 00:18:48,633 --> 00:18:51,900 That makes him in debt. 353 00:18:53,533 --> 00:18:55,133 And can I just tell you that God will be indebted 354 00:18:55,133 --> 00:18:58,133 to nobody? 355 00:18:58,500 --> 00:19:01,033 God moves 356 00:19:01,033 --> 00:19:04,033 not because we've worked hard and he owes us our wages. 357 00:19:05,666 --> 00:19:08,733 He moves because of his grace. 358 00:19:12,733 --> 00:19:17,100 See, every time that we religious folk 359 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:21,300 assume 360 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:22,800 that I have been 361 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,200 diligent and I have been devoted, and I have been good, 362 00:19:27,366 --> 00:19:30,100 God will move on my life because of the or. 363 00:19:30,100 --> 00:19:33,100 I have to be good and I have to be 364 00:19:34,533 --> 00:19:35,333 right before. 365 00:19:35,333 --> 00:19:36,233 And I have to 366 00:19:36,233 --> 00:19:39,400 pray, and I have to read my Bible because that's what God is supposed. 367 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,200 I said duty nullifies grace. 368 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,800 And so I want to suggest. 369 00:19:54,033 --> 00:19:56,400 Quit striving to be obedient 370 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,400 so that God will be good. 371 00:20:00,100 --> 00:20:02,366 Quit working to be right 372 00:20:02,366 --> 00:20:05,366 so that God will be gracious. 373 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,600 We have to be very careful about this. 374 00:20:15,166 --> 00:20:18,600 To the one who works, what they're given isn't grace. 375 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,400 It's debt. 376 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,866 And when God moves, it's not because he's dead into us. 377 00:20:23,866 --> 00:20:26,100 It's because of grace. 378 00:20:26,100 --> 00:20:29,100 Biblically, grace, it's a Greek word called is. 379 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,566 And it means literally favored, done 380 00:20:32,566 --> 00:20:35,566 without expectation of return. 381 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,900 And in every sense, this Greek word was used in ancient times. 382 00:20:40,500 --> 00:20:43,866 It was always grace given for a friend, never for an enemy. 383 00:20:44,533 --> 00:20:47,600 So grace is favor 384 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:50,933 that's given without expectation of anything coming back. 385 00:20:51,133 --> 00:20:54,200 And it was never done for an enemy. 386 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:58,533 It was always done for a friend until the New Testament and the cross, 387 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,000 the New Testament and the cross. 388 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:05,966 Grace at the cross was favor 389 00:21:05,966 --> 00:21:08,966 done for enemies. 390 00:21:10,100 --> 00:21:13,100 To understand, 391 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:17,866 Without any expectation 392 00:21:17,866 --> 00:21:20,633 of anything coming back. 393 00:21:20,633 --> 00:21:21,166 Favored. 394 00:21:21,166 --> 00:21:23,933 And not for a friend, but for enemies. 395 00:21:23,933 --> 00:21:27,633 For while we were sinners, Christ died for you. 396 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,000 Still, while you were enemies with God. 397 00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:37,700 So you got to be very careful. 398 00:21:38,766 --> 00:21:40,533 Have you ever heard the phrase, 399 00:21:40,533 --> 00:21:43,333 well, they fallen from grace? 400 00:21:43,333 --> 00:21:43,933 Yeah. 401 00:21:43,933 --> 00:21:48,000 It's usually in the context of people who were supposed to almost be perfect 402 00:21:49,033 --> 00:21:52,033 and doing something really bad, right? 403 00:21:53,100 --> 00:21:54,900 Right. 404 00:21:54,900 --> 00:21:58,733 Did you know that the phrase fallen from grace is only one time in Scripture 405 00:21:58,733 --> 00:22:01,933 and has nothing to do with someone's bad sin? 406 00:22:05,366 --> 00:22:08,333 Galatians five for 407 00:22:08,333 --> 00:22:11,333 Galatians five four says this. 408 00:22:12,366 --> 00:22:14,966 You who are trying to be right with God, 409 00:22:14,966 --> 00:22:18,833 justified by the law, by your obedience, have been alienated from Christ. 410 00:22:18,833 --> 00:22:19,633 You have what 411 00:22:21,500 --> 00:22:23,833 fallen from grace? 412 00:22:23,833 --> 00:22:26,833 The moment I have the position 413 00:22:27,433 --> 00:22:30,433 that I am right with God, 414 00:22:30,866 --> 00:22:32,166 that he's indebted to me 415 00:22:32,166 --> 00:22:35,166 because of my obedience, 416 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,400 I have fallen from grace. 417 00:22:42,500 --> 00:22:43,633 So to everyone who's 418 00:22:43,633 --> 00:22:46,933 ever been disappointed in those who shouldn't 419 00:22:46,933 --> 00:22:49,933 sin and who do 420 00:22:50,066 --> 00:22:52,533 and have thought of them, they have fallen from grace. 421 00:22:52,533 --> 00:22:55,233 No, my friend, 422 00:22:55,233 --> 00:22:56,400 you are the one. 423 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,400 I am the one. 424 00:23:03,333 --> 00:23:04,866 Those who have made 425 00:23:04,866 --> 00:23:08,666 grave errors and sinned haven't fallen from grace. 426 00:23:08,666 --> 00:23:11,666 They've fallen into grace. 427 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:18,000 Us religious people. 428 00:23:18,233 --> 00:23:21,233 We've fallen from it. 429 00:23:24,833 --> 00:23:26,933 To see 430 00:23:26,933 --> 00:23:30,933 how profoundly liberating grace is. 431 00:23:33,966 --> 00:23:36,900 And how. 432 00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:40,500 Scripture flies in the face of religion. 433 00:23:42,666 --> 00:23:43,933 That's why one of our taglines 434 00:23:43,933 --> 00:23:47,433 here is a little less religion, a little more relationship 435 00:23:49,233 --> 00:23:52,800 with this God who loves us, who gave His Son to die for us, 436 00:23:54,333 --> 00:23:57,333 who invites us through faith in the grace 437 00:23:58,300 --> 00:24:01,266 so he can work his process 438 00:24:01,266 --> 00:24:03,600 of sanctification, 439 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,600 not have us wear ourselves out with duty. 440 00:24:12,466 --> 00:24:15,466 Is this stuff good or what? 441 00:24:19,133 --> 00:24:22,266 I got so excited this week that I got to preach two messages today. 442 00:24:22,266 --> 00:24:25,266 I was like, oh. 443 00:24:28,233 --> 00:24:29,366 Look at this. 444 00:24:29,366 --> 00:24:30,000 In verse six, 445 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,000 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one, 446 00:24:34,033 --> 00:24:36,633 of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works. 447 00:24:36,633 --> 00:24:40,466 And then, and then and then Paul quotes David from Psalm 448 00:24:40,466 --> 00:24:44,466 32, blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 449 00:24:44,466 --> 00:24:46,466 Blessed is the one who sinned. 450 00:24:46,466 --> 00:24:48,466 The Lord will never count against them. 451 00:24:48,466 --> 00:24:51,966 That this blows my mind, that Paul goes here. 452 00:24:53,366 --> 00:24:56,000 He said, now we would understand 453 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,866 if God credited righteousness to Abraham because of all his good works. 454 00:25:00,033 --> 00:25:03,066 But God also credited righteousness to David. 455 00:25:03,900 --> 00:25:07,766 But in referring to David, Paul does not refer to David's 456 00:25:07,766 --> 00:25:09,166 good works, which were many. 457 00:25:10,166 --> 00:25:12,733 He refers to David's bad works 458 00:25:12,733 --> 00:25:18,566 because that verse, those two verses in Psalm 32, are written in response 459 00:25:18,566 --> 00:25:22,800 to David's conviction and over his sin of adultery with that Sheba 460 00:25:23,066 --> 00:25:26,066 and contracting her husband's death. 461 00:25:26,633 --> 00:25:29,633 And so what Paul is saying here is God 462 00:25:30,500 --> 00:25:33,233 makes us right with him through faith, 463 00:25:33,233 --> 00:25:35,833 apart from our good works, and in spite of our bad 464 00:25:35,833 --> 00:25:38,833 works. 465 00:25:42,300 --> 00:25:45,300 He credits righteousness, 466 00:25:45,766 --> 00:25:48,566 makes us right with the father, 467 00:25:48,566 --> 00:25:50,700 both apart from our good works 468 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:53,700 and in spite of our bad works. 469 00:25:54,566 --> 00:25:57,766 He gives us the righteousness of Christ and places 470 00:25:57,766 --> 00:26:01,333 it on us, regardless of the good or bad we've done. 471 00:26:01,500 --> 00:26:02,433 Here's what I know. 472 00:26:02,433 --> 00:26:06,500 Some people sit in this place and hear my voice and think I'm 473 00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:07,800 a pretty good person. 474 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:12,133 And Paul would say, in spite your good works don't matter. 475 00:26:13,533 --> 00:26:16,533 You're right with God through faith. 476 00:26:17,466 --> 00:26:19,366 And there are others who would hear my voice 477 00:26:19,366 --> 00:26:22,366 that would say, you don't know what I've done. 478 00:26:22,866 --> 00:26:25,866 You don't know where I've been. 479 00:26:26,133 --> 00:26:28,566 I got a lot to make up for. 480 00:26:28,566 --> 00:26:30,766 For God. 481 00:26:30,766 --> 00:26:33,333 And likewise, Paul would say, 482 00:26:33,333 --> 00:26:36,000 you're right with God 483 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,000 by faith, not by trying to make stuff up. 484 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,500 So no matter which side of that aisle 485 00:26:43,500 --> 00:26:46,500 you sit. 486 00:26:48,766 --> 00:26:51,466 The thing I love about some of David's writings is if he were to go back 487 00:26:51,466 --> 00:26:54,700 and read some of his early Psalms, he just beats the drum 488 00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:57,700 about his purity. 489 00:26:58,466 --> 00:27:00,866 And then 490 00:27:00,866 --> 00:27:03,033 he grows up. 491 00:27:03,033 --> 00:27:06,033 And his later songs are not about his own purity. 492 00:27:06,533 --> 00:27:09,533 They're about the mercy and grace of God. 493 00:27:10,700 --> 00:27:12,766 Here's what I know. 494 00:27:12,766 --> 00:27:14,300 Some of us been around the block 495 00:27:15,933 --> 00:27:18,366 right? 496 00:27:18,366 --> 00:27:21,366 Some of us have been down those alleys. 497 00:27:22,133 --> 00:27:25,133 And for those of us who have lived enough, 498 00:27:25,966 --> 00:27:28,000 they've been around the block and down the alleys. 499 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,566 We know 500 00:27:30,566 --> 00:27:33,566 we don't measure up. 501 00:27:33,966 --> 00:27:35,900 And Scripture would tell us, you're right. 502 00:27:35,900 --> 00:27:38,366 You don't measure up. 503 00:27:38,366 --> 00:27:41,133 But in spite of your badness, 504 00:27:41,133 --> 00:27:44,733 you are right with God, not because of your newfound goodness. 505 00:27:45,466 --> 00:27:46,500 You are right with God. 506 00:27:46,500 --> 00:27:51,100 Only through faith, because of his grace, has nothing to do with you. 507 00:27:52,833 --> 00:27:55,833 Thank God. 508 00:27:57,100 --> 00:27:57,966 I appreciate that one. 509 00:27:57,966 --> 00:27:58,266 Clap. 510 00:27:58,266 --> 00:28:02,500 You got a jewel in the crown for that one. And. 511 00:28:08,366 --> 00:28:09,600 I wish I had time 512 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:12,600 to go through this whole thing, man. 513 00:28:12,966 --> 00:28:15,733 Paul develops this idea of verses 514 00:28:15,733 --> 00:28:18,733 nine through 12 or so and 515 00:28:19,133 --> 00:28:21,366 and basically what he says in those, in 516 00:28:21,366 --> 00:28:25,200 those verses is just walk in the footsteps of Abraham. 517 00:28:25,566 --> 00:28:26,133 Choices. 518 00:28:27,633 --> 00:28:28,366 It takes a while to 519 00:28:28,366 --> 00:28:32,400 say it, but it's a let's walk in the footsteps of Abraham. 520 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:34,500 What are the footsteps of Abraham? 521 00:28:34,500 --> 00:28:38,500 The footsteps of Abraham are those who walk in faith 522 00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:41,500 before they ever do a thing. 523 00:28:41,500 --> 00:28:43,200 He was made right with God before 524 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,200 he had the law or obey the law. 525 00:28:47,266 --> 00:28:48,366 The footsteps of Abraham 526 00:28:48,366 --> 00:28:53,200 are those who walk in faith apart from 527 00:28:54,266 --> 00:28:57,266 the laws of God. 528 00:29:01,966 --> 00:29:03,400 But in other words, 529 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,400 that by the laws of God does not make us 530 00:29:06,433 --> 00:29:09,433 people of faith. 531 00:29:09,433 --> 00:29:12,066 The strict laws of God without faith 532 00:29:12,066 --> 00:29:15,066 in Christ in the cross makes us religious, 533 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,200 not righteous. 534 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,266 Righteous is imputed to us, given to us 535 00:29:22,466 --> 00:29:24,233 through faith, 536 00:29:24,233 --> 00:29:26,833 as it was for Abraham 537 00:29:26,833 --> 00:29:29,666 before he was ever obedient 538 00:29:29,666 --> 00:29:32,666 to the law. 539 00:29:34,666 --> 00:29:35,666 Let me just look at, 540 00:29:38,500 --> 00:29:41,400 At verse 13 1415. 541 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:46,433 It was it was not enough that the through the law that Abraham 542 00:29:46,433 --> 00:29:51,133 and his offspring receive the promise that he would be the heir of the world, 543 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,800 but through the righteousness that comes by faith, 544 00:29:54,933 --> 00:30:00,133 for of those who depend on the law are heirs faith means nothing, 545 00:30:00,433 --> 00:30:04,100 and the promise is worthless because the law brings wrath. 546 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:06,800 And where there's no law, there's no transgression. 547 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:11,300 When he uses that word transgression, he's talking to a certain set of people. 548 00:30:12,233 --> 00:30:16,500 So you see, when the Bible talks about sin, it uses multiple different words. 549 00:30:16,500 --> 00:30:18,900 One is sin, one is transgression. 550 00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:21,133 All these things. 551 00:30:21,133 --> 00:30:24,400 When Paul uses that word transgression, here's what he means. 552 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:26,333 He means crossing the line. 553 00:30:26,333 --> 00:30:29,333 You know the law and you crossed the line. 554 00:30:29,333 --> 00:30:32,333 That's to transgress, to understand, 555 00:30:32,466 --> 00:30:35,566 okay, so that we are without excuse. 556 00:30:36,633 --> 00:30:39,633 We know the law, know God's rules. 557 00:30:39,700 --> 00:30:41,466 We've crossed it. 558 00:30:41,466 --> 00:30:43,733 We've transgressed. 559 00:30:43,733 --> 00:30:46,266 Okay, but but Paul has already said, 560 00:30:46,266 --> 00:30:49,266 even for those who don't have the law, 561 00:30:49,733 --> 00:30:52,200 they have still sinned because sin and that. 562 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:53,533 So where do you sin? 563 00:30:53,533 --> 00:30:56,533 Because sin simply means missing the mark. 564 00:30:57,266 --> 00:31:00,266 So here's, here's, here's the biblical truth. 565 00:31:00,633 --> 00:31:04,100 Even without the law of God and transgression, there's still sin, 566 00:31:05,033 --> 00:31:07,133 because we have enough of the law of God 567 00:31:07,133 --> 00:31:10,166 in our hearts to know right and wrong at some level. 568 00:31:10,900 --> 00:31:13,200 And we can't even live up to our own standard, 569 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:14,633 let alone God's perfect standard. 570 00:31:14,633 --> 00:31:16,666 We've missed the mark. 571 00:31:16,666 --> 00:31:18,133 Do you see what I'm saying? 572 00:31:18,133 --> 00:31:21,500 That's why good people still need a savior. 573 00:31:22,566 --> 00:31:25,566 Because good people missed the mark. 574 00:31:25,833 --> 00:31:29,300 So whatever side you think you're on, I just missed the mark. 575 00:31:30,333 --> 00:31:30,700 Oh, no. 576 00:31:30,700 --> 00:31:33,000 I've transgressed. 577 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,866 Both are right with God through faith. 578 00:31:35,866 --> 00:31:38,866 Not behavior, not works, not law. 579 00:31:40,666 --> 00:31:43,666 Look at this. 580 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:46,566 Verse 16. 581 00:31:46,566 --> 00:31:51,533 Therefore the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace 582 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:54,800 and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring. 583 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,333 He guaranteed to us. 584 00:31:58,333 --> 00:32:01,500 Being right with God is guaranteed to us through grace. 585 00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:03,700 Because of God's grace. 586 00:32:03,700 --> 00:32:07,200 Verse 17 as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations. 587 00:32:07,333 --> 00:32:10,400 He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed the God. 588 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:13,800 Watch this the God who gives life to the dead 589 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,800 and calls into being things that were not. 590 00:32:18,966 --> 00:32:21,100 Verse 18 against all hope, 591 00:32:21,100 --> 00:32:25,200 Abraham in hope believed, and so became the father of many nations, 592 00:32:25,766 --> 00:32:30,300 just as it had been said to him by God that he believed. 593 00:32:30,333 --> 00:32:32,100 So shall your offspring be. 594 00:32:33,666 --> 00:32:36,666 Here's what he's saying. 595 00:32:37,166 --> 00:32:40,366 God, said Abraham, this is how I work, and this is what I'm going to do. 596 00:32:40,466 --> 00:32:44,033 And Abraham, against all hope in hope, believed God 597 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,000 that God could do what he said. 598 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:52,600 He had faith. 599 00:32:52,666 --> 00:32:54,600 In what God said. 600 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:57,600 And that faith made him righteous with God, 601 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:00,600 made him right before God. 602 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:03,266 Now I want to help us understand what faith is. 603 00:33:03,266 --> 00:33:07,000 Faith is not well, you know, I believe God and skeptical of God's going to do 604 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:07,500 is going to do it. 605 00:33:07,500 --> 00:33:12,266 No, faith doesn't mean doing nothing but doing everything with reliance on God. 606 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:14,966 That's what faith is. 607 00:33:14,966 --> 00:33:17,900 In other words, just because God told Abraham, you're going to have a baby, 608 00:33:17,900 --> 00:33:18,400 you know? 609 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:19,766 And, sure, 610 00:33:19,766 --> 00:33:23,633 it doesn't mean Abraham and Sarah didn't do what they had to do to have a baby. 611 00:33:26,733 --> 00:33:29,133 You understand? 612 00:33:29,133 --> 00:33:31,666 We don't just get to sit back, say, okay, you got I got faith going. 613 00:33:31,666 --> 00:33:34,600 Do whatever you want. 614 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:37,300 It mean it doesn't mean doing nothing means doing everything 615 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:38,766 with reliance on God. 616 00:33:38,766 --> 00:33:41,833 And so here's what we've got to understand about this whole faith thing. 617 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:44,533 Some people erroneously in two ways. 618 00:33:44,533 --> 00:33:48,200 One, I got to perform so God will be pleased and do no. 619 00:33:48,900 --> 00:33:52,666 But secondly, because I have faith, I don't have to do anything. 620 00:33:52,666 --> 00:33:55,666 No, here's the truth 621 00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:59,400 all true believers obey. 622 00:34:01,566 --> 00:34:04,366 All true believers obey. 623 00:34:04,366 --> 00:34:07,366 See, faith in action is obedience. 624 00:34:07,866 --> 00:34:10,866 And conversely, faith without action is disobedience. 625 00:34:12,233 --> 00:34:16,433 So because I understand that Jesus is my propitiation, the price 626 00:34:16,833 --> 00:34:19,433 that was paid for my redemption, to buy me back and know I'm right 627 00:34:19,433 --> 00:34:23,633 with God justification and he's working this work of sanctification in me. 628 00:34:23,633 --> 00:34:27,233 That work of sanctification means I will obey, 629 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:30,066 because that is the sign of my faith. 630 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:33,900 Do you see what I'm saying? 631 00:34:33,900 --> 00:34:36,700 But if we were to sit here and say, no, no, no, no, I believe that. 632 00:34:36,700 --> 00:34:39,033 Yeah, Jesus paid my the price and I'm right with God. 633 00:34:39,033 --> 00:34:40,366 But I don't have to do anything. 634 00:34:40,366 --> 00:34:43,366 It betrays what we say, that we believe 635 00:34:46,033 --> 00:34:46,333 faith. 636 00:34:46,333 --> 00:34:49,333 That action is dead is way James will say it. 637 00:34:49,533 --> 00:34:52,533 Disobedience. 638 00:34:57,300 --> 00:34:59,533 Look at verse 19. 639 00:34:59,533 --> 00:35:01,933 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact 640 00:35:01,933 --> 00:35:04,033 that his body was as good as dead. 641 00:35:04,033 --> 00:35:07,933 Since he's about 100 years old, and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 642 00:35:09,066 --> 00:35:12,300 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God. 643 00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:14,933 Maybe the message, but not the outcome. Right? 644 00:35:14,933 --> 00:35:16,833 He knew the outcome was coming, 645 00:35:16,833 --> 00:35:19,233 but was strengthened in his faith and give glory to God. 646 00:35:19,233 --> 00:35:24,866 Being fully persuaded that God had the power to do all that he promised. 647 00:35:26,666 --> 00:35:27,933 This is why it was credited 648 00:35:27,933 --> 00:35:30,933 to him as righteousness. 649 00:35:32,066 --> 00:35:35,066 In hope he had hope 650 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:37,433 without weakening in the state, 651 00:35:37,433 --> 00:35:40,433 that that God could raise the dead, 652 00:35:41,533 --> 00:35:44,033 that God could call into being things that are not. 653 00:35:44,033 --> 00:35:46,800 What did he call to be 654 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:49,266 Sarah's womb, 655 00:35:49,266 --> 00:35:52,000 what was dead that he created life 656 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,000 in Sarah's womb? 657 00:35:56,800 --> 00:35:58,466 If we believe, as Scripture teaches, 658 00:35:58,466 --> 00:36:01,466 that God spoke all things into existence. 659 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:07,000 Calling out of nothing that which is now. 660 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:13,800 If you believe in that God, it's not hard to have faith 661 00:36:14,300 --> 00:36:17,300 and what God says he will do now. 662 00:36:21,233 --> 00:36:22,766 Without weakening in his faith. 663 00:36:22,766 --> 00:36:27,166 The interesting thing in verse 20, yet he did not waver through unbelief 664 00:36:27,366 --> 00:36:30,366 regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith. 665 00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:34,166 That word in his faith can also mean by his faith. 666 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:39,000 So Abraham was strengthened in his faith and he was also strengthened by his faith. 667 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:40,800 Here's what I know. Faith is contagious 668 00:36:42,533 --> 00:36:44,566 and so is fear. 669 00:36:44,566 --> 00:36:47,200 And this is why it's so important, my dear friends, to be involved 670 00:36:47,200 --> 00:36:51,300 in a huddle, in a small group, to share like minded faith with each other. 671 00:36:51,300 --> 00:36:55,800 Because faith is contagious and sometimes we need to be strengthened in our faith. 672 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:57,733 And oftentimes our strength is in our faith 673 00:36:57,733 --> 00:37:00,800 because we're by people of faith that make sense. 674 00:37:02,433 --> 00:37:05,433 The one feeds the other. 675 00:37:06,933 --> 00:37:08,266 I don't have any notes on this. 676 00:37:08,266 --> 00:37:10,733 I just want to share with you. This is free for you this morning. 677 00:37:10,733 --> 00:37:12,733 This part one I'm gonna tell you right now, 678 00:37:12,733 --> 00:37:17,466 if you want to know how to live in faith and want to know how to live by faith, 679 00:37:18,233 --> 00:37:21,233 verse 19, 20 and 21. 680 00:37:23,366 --> 00:37:24,733 We live by faith. 681 00:37:24,733 --> 00:37:27,733 We live in faith when, like Abraham, 682 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:31,133 we don't consider the limitations of our situation. 683 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:35,333 We say, God, all I see are my limitations, but 684 00:37:35,333 --> 00:37:38,666 I'm not going to consider my limitations because I understand who you are. 685 00:37:40,133 --> 00:37:42,500 People of faith and people who live by faith 686 00:37:42,500 --> 00:37:45,500 don't first consider their own limitation. 687 00:37:47,266 --> 00:37:50,766 Without weakening his faith, he face the fact that his body as good as dead. 688 00:37:50,833 --> 00:37:52,500 God, this is what you got to work with. 689 00:37:52,500 --> 00:37:55,500 Good luck. 690 00:37:56,266 --> 00:37:58,500 Not only do they not consider their own limitation 691 00:37:58,500 --> 00:38:01,800 and their own situation, they don't lower the expectation of God. 692 00:38:03,566 --> 00:38:05,700 Yet he did not waver through unbelief. 693 00:38:05,700 --> 00:38:07,866 People of faith. People by faith. 694 00:38:07,866 --> 00:38:11,800 Don't consider my own limitation and don't limit my expectation. 695 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:15,466 You follow me to what it means to live by faith. 696 00:38:17,533 --> 00:38:21,233 People of faith not only don't consider our own limitation 697 00:38:21,233 --> 00:38:25,266 nor lower our expectation of God, we also, no matter the circumstance, 698 00:38:25,266 --> 00:38:28,500 give God adulation, which is glory, which is what the Bible says. 699 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:32,400 He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, 700 00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:34,800 but will strengthen his faith and give glory to God. 701 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:36,633 For 14 years 702 00:38:38,566 --> 00:38:40,666 without any response. 703 00:38:40,666 --> 00:38:42,566 Continue to give God glory. 704 00:38:42,566 --> 00:38:46,366 So I understand my limitations, but I'm not going to lower my expectation of God. 705 00:38:46,533 --> 00:38:49,533 And through all those ups and downs, I'm going to give glory to God. 706 00:38:51,366 --> 00:38:53,000 Because people of faith at the end. 707 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:57,100 The fourth thing, we live with Paul, full persuasion 708 00:38:58,766 --> 00:39:00,466 and God's ability. 709 00:39:00,466 --> 00:39:02,300 He was fully persuaded. 710 00:39:02,300 --> 00:39:04,866 The Bible says 711 00:39:04,866 --> 00:39:07,533 that God had the power to do all it promised 712 00:39:07,533 --> 00:39:10,533 that God was able. 713 00:39:10,566 --> 00:39:14,000 Listen, if God can make me right with him through faith, 714 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:17,000 not my obedience, because of the work of Jesus on the cross, 715 00:39:17,933 --> 00:39:20,933 if God can do that 716 00:39:21,300 --> 00:39:24,300 and start this work of sanctification in me, 717 00:39:25,100 --> 00:39:26,166 there's nothing I'm going to do. 718 00:39:26,166 --> 00:39:28,100 If he cannot do. 719 00:39:28,100 --> 00:39:31,933 But we have to understand when we say that we believe God can. 720 00:39:32,100 --> 00:39:36,033 It's being able to do means that I know God will perform, 721 00:39:36,033 --> 00:39:37,666 not simply that he can perform. 722 00:39:39,233 --> 00:39:39,566 And this 723 00:39:39,566 --> 00:39:42,733 is where so many people, we just kind of get off the horse at this point. 724 00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:45,866 We don't finish a race 725 00:39:45,866 --> 00:39:47,200 like I know God can. 726 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:50,266 And God I'm going to trust that you will, you know, please, maybe if you choose to. 727 00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:54,966 Abraham was fully persuaded. 728 00:39:54,966 --> 00:39:57,966 I know that I can, and what that means is I know God will. 729 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:00,566 I might doubt the process. 730 00:40:00,566 --> 00:40:03,066 I get that, but I'm not going to deny the outcome. 731 00:40:03,066 --> 00:40:06,066 He will. 732 00:40:06,533 --> 00:40:09,400 And I'm going to believe him in faith, because I know he will. 733 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:13,300 Because I know his hand of grace towards me is not motivated by what I do. 734 00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:16,800 Just by my fact of believing. 735 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:21,400 It's a righteous act. 736 00:40:24,333 --> 00:40:27,333 Let me just finish up here. 737 00:40:28,433 --> 00:40:29,433 Someone told me this last week. 738 00:40:29,433 --> 00:40:32,200 They said, hey, you need to quit apologizing for going long. 739 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:35,766 If I don't, if I don't want you to go on, I'll leave. 740 00:40:35,766 --> 00:40:36,800 But you just do your thing. 741 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:39,566 I'm like, all right, so I guess you all got permission. 742 00:40:39,566 --> 00:40:41,100 It's. I'm not going to be. 743 00:40:41,100 --> 00:40:42,266 Well, I might be a little offended. 744 00:40:42,266 --> 00:40:44,133 I'll act like I'm not offended. 745 00:40:44,133 --> 00:40:45,100 I'll pray about it later. 746 00:40:45,100 --> 00:40:48,100 Will be all right. But. 747 00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:52,500 Look at what the Scripture says in verse 23. 748 00:40:52,700 --> 00:40:54,966 The words it was credited to him were written 749 00:40:54,966 --> 00:40:59,133 not for him alone, but also for us to whom God will credit righteousness 750 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:02,600 for us, who believe in him, who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 751 00:41:03,466 --> 00:41:05,666 He was delivered over to Jesus, was delivered over 752 00:41:05,666 --> 00:41:08,700 to death for our sins, and was raised to life for our justification. 753 00:41:08,700 --> 00:41:09,900 Here's the deal. 754 00:41:09,900 --> 00:41:12,566 The resurrection of Jesus was proof 755 00:41:12,566 --> 00:41:15,833 that his payment was enough, and God accepted it for you and for me. 756 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:21,233 See, at the end of the day, 757 00:41:21,233 --> 00:41:23,533 Abraham believed that God would raise up 758 00:41:23,533 --> 00:41:26,533 Isaac from a dead womb. 759 00:41:27,100 --> 00:41:28,533 And that was credited to him 760 00:41:28,533 --> 00:41:31,533 as righteousness. 761 00:41:31,800 --> 00:41:33,766 You and me. 762 00:41:33,766 --> 00:41:35,666 We believe that God raised up 763 00:41:35,666 --> 00:41:38,666 Jesus from a dead tomb. 764 00:41:39,900 --> 00:41:42,900 And that is credited to us as righteousness. 765 00:41:44,366 --> 00:41:46,866 And resurrection faith is so much greater. 766 00:41:46,866 --> 00:41:49,866 The reproductive faith. 767 00:41:51,733 --> 00:41:54,733 And that faith makes us right with God. 768 00:41:56,366 --> 00:41:57,766 And it's only through that faith 769 00:41:57,766 --> 00:42:00,766 in Jesus and His work on the cross. 770 00:42:03,333 --> 00:42:03,966 And the faith 771 00:42:03,966 --> 00:42:07,133 in his resurrection that saves anybody. 772 00:42:08,700 --> 00:42:11,700 And without that faith. 773 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,400 We receive God's wrath. 774 00:42:18,633 --> 00:42:22,100 And what makes that message all good? 775 00:42:22,100 --> 00:42:24,566 The good news 776 00:42:24,566 --> 00:42:29,233 is the brilliance of grace on the backdrop of complete 777 00:42:29,233 --> 00:42:32,233 and utter darkness. 778 00:42:33,700 --> 00:42:36,700 That's what we're invited into. 779 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:40,633 And I want to invite you, 780 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:45,000 by the invitation of Christ, 781 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:48,366 to be right with him through faith. 782 00:42:48,766 --> 00:42:51,366 Because of his grace, 783 00:42:51,366 --> 00:42:54,900 and to drop all our religious baggage. 784 00:42:59,333 --> 00:43:02,333 Why don't you pray with me? 785 00:43:07,700 --> 00:43:10,700 Father, I thank you. 786 00:43:11,300 --> 00:43:14,300 That you love us so much that you gave your son. 787 00:43:14,766 --> 00:43:17,766 That whoever would believe in him would have eternal life. 788 00:43:22,633 --> 00:43:25,500 Thinking that you've given us the invitation 789 00:43:25,500 --> 00:43:28,500 to simply believe. 790 00:43:29,233 --> 00:43:32,233 The truth of what you've said 791 00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:34,233 and the truth of what you've done 792 00:43:34,233 --> 00:43:37,233 through Jesus. 793 00:43:37,500 --> 00:43:39,966 Father, I thank you 794 00:43:39,966 --> 00:43:43,100 that you haven't asked nor expected us. 795 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:47,600 To be good enough 796 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:51,233 to be made right with you by our own actions and behavior. 797 00:43:51,266 --> 00:43:54,266 You knew we couldn't do it. 798 00:43:56,400 --> 00:44:00,733 I thank you that you paid our sin price 799 00:44:02,666 --> 00:44:05,666 through your son on the cross. 800 00:44:05,766 --> 00:44:06,766 Forgive us 801 00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:11,400 for one thinking we're good enough 802 00:44:11,633 --> 00:44:14,700 for you to be indebted to us, and two, for thinking we're bad enough 803 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:18,800 that we have to prove ourselves to you. 804 00:44:19,933 --> 00:44:22,933 Father, I ask in this moment over us 805 00:44:23,866 --> 00:44:27,866 that we would lay down our religious duty and behavior. 806 00:44:29,966 --> 00:44:32,966 Come to you by faith. 807 00:44:33,266 --> 00:44:36,266 Through faith, because of your grace. 808 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:39,733 And so, friends, in this moment, I want to invite you into this. 809 00:44:44,233 --> 00:44:46,033 I want invite you in 810 00:44:46,033 --> 00:44:49,033 whatever words make sense to you, between you and God, 811 00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:52,200 just to say, God, thank you. 812 00:44:54,533 --> 00:44:56,233 That I don't have to strive 813 00:44:56,233 --> 00:44:59,233 to be good enough for you. 814 00:45:00,466 --> 00:45:03,466 Because I admit I am not. 815 00:45:05,300 --> 00:45:08,300 I confess my sin to you. 816 00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:13,600 And I lay my sin before you. 817 00:45:16,066 --> 00:45:19,066 And I believe through faith 818 00:45:19,466 --> 00:45:20,833 that by your grace 819 00:45:22,800 --> 00:45:25,800 your son Jesus is my Savior. 820 00:45:28,633 --> 00:45:29,166 Apart 821 00:45:29,166 --> 00:45:33,266 from what I've done, and in spite of what I've done, I accept 822 00:45:33,266 --> 00:45:36,566 Jesus as the Savior and leader of my life. 823 00:45:42,133 --> 00:45:44,100 Friends, still in this moment of prayer, if you've done that, 824 00:45:44,100 --> 00:45:47,533 I invite you to take this next step and just simply say, God, 825 00:45:48,900 --> 00:45:51,500 I give you permission 826 00:45:51,500 --> 00:45:54,166 through your spirit to begin 827 00:45:54,166 --> 00:45:57,166 the work of my sanctification, 828 00:45:58,133 --> 00:46:00,300 giving me the desire 829 00:46:00,300 --> 00:46:04,000 and the ability to live rightly before you. 830 00:46:06,400 --> 00:46:08,100 And thank you 831 00:46:08,100 --> 00:46:11,100 that one day in heaven. 832 00:46:13,966 --> 00:46:16,966 All things will be completed. 833 00:46:19,200 --> 00:46:21,466 Father, we love you, 834 00:46:21,466 --> 00:46:21,900 Jesus. 835 00:46:21,900 --> 00:46:24,166 We love you. 836 00:46:24,166 --> 00:46:24,633 God help us. 837 00:46:24,633 --> 00:46:26,300 Love you more. 838 00:46:26,300 --> 00:46:27,733 Thank you. 839 00:46:27,733 --> 00:46:30,100 In your name I pray. Amen. 840 00:46:30,100 --> 00:46:33,100 A sin okay 841 00:46:33,766 --> 00:46:34,766 Romans, a big book. 842 00:46:34,766 --> 00:46:37,666 I'm proud of you. 843 00:46:37,666 --> 00:46:38,966 Here's what I'd like you to, 844 00:46:38,966 --> 00:46:42,833 if I may ask, this week, read Romans four 845 00:46:44,066 --> 00:46:47,066 and just soak in it for a little while 846 00:46:47,366 --> 00:46:50,366 and understand the liberation and freedom that's been offered, 847 00:46:51,533 --> 00:46:52,800 salvation that's offered. 848 00:46:52,800 --> 00:46:55,800 And then read Romans five 849 00:46:56,233 --> 00:46:58,766 and get ready for next week. 850 00:46:58,766 --> 00:47:01,666 Paul's just going to keep the throttle down, 851 00:47:01,666 --> 00:47:03,933 especially through chapter eight. 852 00:47:03,933 --> 00:47:06,933 A lot of fun. 853 00:47:07,600 --> 00:47:08,100 I'm looking forward 854 00:47:08,100 --> 00:47:11,100 to going through with us together. 855 00:47:11,100 --> 00:47:14,100 You know, people in your world, in your huddle that don't have a church home 856 00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:18,200 and you know, your assignment, 857 00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:19,266 right? 858 00:47:19,266 --> 00:47:21,900 Right. 859 00:47:21,900 --> 00:47:22,333 Let's see.