WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:48.620 If you've got your Bibles, going up to Galatians chapter 3. 00:00:49.580 --> 00:00:54.320 As you turn there, I want to talk about something as we intro into our message this morning, 00:00:54.320 --> 00:01:03.400 and it is this, oftentimes in our lives, God gives us and grants us people and situations 00:01:03.400 --> 00:01:09.740 to help us see things in ourself that we're incapable to see. 00:01:10.500 --> 00:01:15.040 About two months ago, I was standing in our kitchen, I was cooking breakfast. 00:01:15.800 --> 00:01:20.580 We were going to have, oh, I'm sorry, I was cooking dinner, but I was cooking breakfast for dinner. 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:21.860 Anybody else like to do that around your house? 00:01:22.100 --> 00:01:23.860 So we were cooking breakfast for dinner. 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:29.740 Aaron was running the griddle and cooking bacon and pancakes, because nothing is better than 00:01:29.740 --> 00:01:31.880 a pancake that's flavored in bacon, right? 00:01:32.180 --> 00:01:34.620 And so I was in charge of the grits and eggs. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:38.420 And so I'm standing there behind her, I'm at the stove, she's at the aisle, and she's doing 00:01:38.420 --> 00:01:39.220 what she needs to do. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:41.960 And I go, and I grab the canister of grits. 00:01:42.740 --> 00:01:45.460 And I began to read the back of them. 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:50.280 And she turned around, and what she watched was this. 00:01:58.320 --> 00:02:01.760 She said, I think it's time you go to the eye doctor. 00:02:02.940 --> 00:02:04.760 And I said, I've never been to the eye doctor. 00:02:04.860 --> 00:02:06.080 I don't need to go to the eye doctor. 00:02:06.140 --> 00:02:09.240 And she said, for that very reason, I think it's time that you go to the eye doctor. 00:02:09.760 --> 00:02:11.380 So two weeks ago, I go to the eye doctor. 00:02:12.200 --> 00:02:15.540 He puts up the screens in front of my face for me to read. 00:02:16.320 --> 00:02:17.360 I'm like, that's a little blurry. 00:02:17.440 --> 00:02:19.420 I can't really quite make out what's going on. 00:02:19.480 --> 00:02:20.080 He said, on what? 00:02:20.140 --> 00:02:20.960 I said, on any of them. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:25.780 And then he started pressing things on the side for these lenses. 00:02:27.140 --> 00:02:30.400 And for the first time in forever, I could see. 00:02:31.940 --> 00:02:37.020 So then two weeks later, I come back, and my glasses are ready, and I get the glasses, and 00:02:37.020 --> 00:02:38.260 I put them on. 00:02:38.920 --> 00:02:44.300 And the thought came to myself, how in the world have I been driving, you know? 00:02:46.540 --> 00:02:47.500 So nice. 00:02:48.640 --> 00:02:50.140 Colors are better, right? 00:02:50.480 --> 00:02:52.000 You see people around you. 00:02:52.320 --> 00:02:57.480 And I've been reintroduced to these things called words that you can see on paper. 00:02:58.340 --> 00:02:59.300 But here's the thing. 00:03:00.140 --> 00:03:04.680 If Aaron wouldn't have pointed out to me two months earlier, you need to go to the eye doctor. 00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:11.580 If the eye doctor through the exam wouldn't have pointed out to me, you need glasses. 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:17.940 Then more than likely, I would have continued on in a pattern of my life thinking that the 00:03:17.940 --> 00:03:20.140 perception around me is what's normal. 00:03:20.940 --> 00:03:24.160 That the perception around me is what's right. 00:03:24.160 --> 00:03:33.420 When the reality is that God had to use people and individuals and situations to help me see 00:03:33.420 --> 00:03:34.700 something about myself. 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:41.380 That I was unwilling to see, or I was incapable of seeing on my own. 00:03:41.920 --> 00:03:48.540 As we're going through Galatians, as we're thinking through the power of the gospel, I want to ask 00:03:48.540 --> 00:03:49.340 you this question. 00:03:50.540 --> 00:03:58.040 Who do you know, maybe who are three individuals that you know that need the gospel? 00:03:59.320 --> 00:04:01.060 I want you to think about that for a moment. 00:04:02.540 --> 00:04:10.900 Think of three names of people that you're close to, of people that you know that desperately 00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:12.360 need the gospel. 00:04:13.540 --> 00:04:18.060 Now, if we were to go around the room and were to ask you those names, who would they be? 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:21.880 Here's the part I want to challenge you with this morning. 00:04:22.520 --> 00:04:29.400 Here's the part that I think that God is sending us as a church, as for the most part, a group 00:04:29.400 --> 00:04:34.520 of individuals of men and women and children who would say that we are a people of faith, 00:04:34.760 --> 00:04:38.160 that we have trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. 00:04:38.440 --> 00:04:39.640 Here's what I would say. 00:04:40.280 --> 00:04:49.780 If your name is not on your list of people who desperately need the gospel, then your list is 00:04:49.780 --> 00:04:50.360 insufficient. 00:04:51.400 --> 00:04:59.960 Because what we are finding in this study is that, yes, there are people that we need to take the gospel to, 00:05:00.400 --> 00:05:08.740 but it's just as important that you and I, as those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ, 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:18.280 that we also, every single day, desperately need the truth and the transformation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:05:19.100 --> 00:05:27.980 That it's not just enough about coming into faith, but it's what a life of faith really, truly begins to look like. 00:05:28.740 --> 00:05:36.340 If you were to come to me and say, Bo, help me find a passage of Scripture that says this is what walking with the Lord 00:05:36.340 --> 00:05:43.540 looks like on a day-in and day-out basis, I'm brought to the passage of Scripture in the book of Acts. 00:05:44.140 --> 00:05:53.500 It's the final part of Acts chapter 15, I'm sorry, of Acts chapter 16, and it says in verse 23 00:05:53.500 --> 00:06:04.200 that when they had inflicted many blows upon them, talking about Paul and Silas, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:10.040 Having received this order, he put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:21.960 We could spend an hour explaining what is happening in this prison to Paul and Silas, but it's sufficient to say that they're not in a good spot. 00:06:22.960 --> 00:06:27.500 That their circumstances are not what they would desire for them to be. 00:06:28.380 --> 00:06:33.060 That it's not where they woke up that morning hoping they would find themselves. 00:06:35.260 --> 00:06:42.440 But when we continue on reading, what we see is the power of the gospel in the life of a believer. 00:06:43.140 --> 00:06:49.160 That they've taken the gospel and they've dove down into in that situation. 00:06:49.520 --> 00:06:52.420 That in that moment, as bleak as it seems. 00:06:52.700 --> 00:06:55.440 That in that moment, as awful as it seems. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:59.540 That in that moment, they don't know if they're going to lose their life. 00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:06.180 That in that moment, the gospel penetrates and what comes from that is the fruit of faith in the life of the individual. 00:07:07.640 --> 00:07:09.260 It continues on, verse 25. 00:07:10.380 --> 00:07:10.600 It says, 00:07:10.840 --> 00:07:16.920 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. 00:07:18.380 --> 00:07:19.740 That's what it looks like. 00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:22.100 That's what faith is. 00:07:22.940 --> 00:07:25.360 That's what living for the Lord looks like. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:28.960 That in the middle of all the devastating news. 00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:31.980 In the middle of all that's gone wrong. 00:07:32.420 --> 00:07:35.680 In the middle of everything that is falling apart. 00:07:35.960 --> 00:07:42.780 That my positioning and my posturing before the Lord is filled with prayers and praise. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:49.200 And as a result of that, it says, 00:07:50.520 --> 00:07:54.520 And the prisoners were listening to them. 00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:56.220 Oh, wow. 00:07:57.220 --> 00:07:57.700 Faith. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:07:59.900 A life that's impacted. 00:08:00.620 --> 00:08:01.740 A life that's counting. 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:03.600 A life that matters. 00:08:03.880 --> 00:08:08.200 A life that is central and centered in to the gospel. 00:08:08.440 --> 00:08:13.640 So what does that begin to look like for us in our life? 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:19.120 Well, the individual who this is happening to, Paul, is the author of the letter that we are reading. 00:08:19.760 --> 00:08:23.040 And so join me as we read Galatians 3, 1 through 5. 00:08:23.960 --> 00:08:29.200 Paul is done with this section of his autobiography of what's going on. 00:08:29.420 --> 00:08:31.580 And he says this starting in verse 1. 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:36.280 Oh, foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? 00:08:36.280 --> 00:08:42.040 It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:43.880 Let me ask you this. 00:08:44.660 --> 00:08:49.680 Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:53.860 Are you so foolish, having begun by the Spirit? 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:57.100 Are you now being perfected by the flesh? 00:08:57.780 --> 00:09:03.200 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if indeed it was in vain? 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:14.180 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 00:09:14.180 --> 00:09:21.500 And so we see this argument being proposed from Paul to the church at Galatia, 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:28.820 which is the same argument that you and I, as believers, if we're not careful, 00:09:29.260 --> 00:09:31.700 is the same argument we need to hear, 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:34.680 and that we need to be drawn to our attention, 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:38.080 and that we need to be brought before ourselves. 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:44.820 And it is this, the concept or the idea of chasing our own perfection. 00:09:45.920 --> 00:09:49.340 The understanding that so many times, 00:09:49.920 --> 00:09:51.700 as we want to be a people of faith, 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:55.420 as we've surrendered our life to Christ to save us, 00:09:55.900 --> 00:09:59.740 is that we walk out of that moment chasing something. 00:10:00.300 --> 00:10:02.560 Not chasing after the glory of God. 00:10:03.280 --> 00:10:05.280 Not chasing after Him. 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:13.440 But chasing our own perfection in who we are and in what we can do. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:15.960 Paul's accusation of them in verse 1, 00:10:16.220 --> 00:10:20.720 O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:23.360 Here's Paul's struggle with the church. 00:10:24.280 --> 00:10:25.800 They have heard the gospel. 00:10:26.680 --> 00:10:28.420 They know the gospel. 00:10:29.020 --> 00:10:31.660 They have responded to the gospel, 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:35.800 and yet their life does not mirror the truth that they know. 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:39.700 He says, O foolish Galatians, because they're not ignorant. 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:42.240 It's not a group of people who would say, 00:10:42.400 --> 00:10:43.820 we've never heard that. 00:10:44.660 --> 00:10:46.480 It's not a group of people who would say, 00:10:46.820 --> 00:10:48.940 no, this is different from what we understand. 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:51.540 It's not a group of people who wouldn't even say, 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:52.740 we believe differently. 00:10:52.740 --> 00:10:58.160 It's a group of people who have checked all of those boxes in their life, 00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:01.560 of what they know, of what they believe, of what they understand. 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:08.520 But when it comes to the application of the gospel as believers in their life, 00:11:08.660 --> 00:11:10.700 they have fallen short. 00:11:11.420 --> 00:11:12.960 And so Paul comes to them and he says, 00:11:13.060 --> 00:11:14.880 look, if you know what the gospel is, 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:18.760 if you agree with what the gospel is, 00:11:19.400 --> 00:11:24.260 then why can't we apply what the gospel is? 00:11:24.920 --> 00:11:25.760 He says to them, 00:11:25.820 --> 00:11:27.920 if you came to salvation through faith, 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:29.040 through hearing, 00:11:29.400 --> 00:11:31.220 through the power of the Spirit, 00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:33.500 then why is it now? 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:37.700 Why is it now as children, 00:11:38.520 --> 00:11:39.760 as believers, 00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:45.940 why is it now that your trust has moved to your works, 00:11:46.540 --> 00:11:47.580 to the law, 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.100 and to the flesh? 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:53.080 You see, because if you know the gospel, 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:58.200 right, so to know the gospel means that we have a head agreement 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:00.360 of this is what the gospel is. 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:03.320 But then you agree with the gospel, 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:06.020 meaning that as you know the gospel, 00:12:06.020 --> 00:12:09.180 there is something within you that says this is true. 00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:11.480 Not that this is a truth, 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:13.240 but that this is true. 00:12:13.920 --> 00:12:17.020 Then what should result from knowing the gospel 00:12:17.020 --> 00:12:19.600 and to internally agreeing with the gospel, 00:12:19.900 --> 00:12:21.540 that what should come from that 00:12:21.540 --> 00:12:24.760 is the application of the gospel. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.020 But for us, 00:12:28.040 --> 00:12:30.120 for you and for me so many times, 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:32.620 that becomes void in our life. 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:34.420 You would seem silly. 00:12:34.420 --> 00:12:35.420 It would seem foolish. 00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:38.180 If I were to say to you, 00:12:39.140 --> 00:12:40.840 I desperately need glasses. 00:12:42.040 --> 00:12:44.520 I know that I need glasses. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:48.440 I agree that nothing I can do 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:51.520 is going to help me get better within this, 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:54.500 but I refuse to put them on. 00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:57.880 But the truth for us within the gospel 00:12:57.880 --> 00:13:00.820 is that it isn't just enough to know it. 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:03.480 It isn't just enough to agree with it. 00:13:04.040 --> 00:13:05.660 But even as believers, 00:13:06.540 --> 00:13:10.660 the application of the gospel in our life. 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.180 I read a commentator this week that says this. 00:13:13.760 --> 00:13:14.560 He said, 00:13:14.640 --> 00:13:17.260 the same way that the Spirit of God entered your life 00:13:17.260 --> 00:13:21.500 is the same way the Spirit of God advances in your life. 00:13:22.140 --> 00:13:22.780 Through faith. 00:13:23.760 --> 00:13:24.620 Through faith. 00:13:25.260 --> 00:13:27.200 So what you and I need 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:31.480 is continual gospel application of that. 00:13:31.920 --> 00:13:33.640 And when the gospel is heard, 00:13:34.040 --> 00:13:36.380 both for the lost and for the saved, 00:13:36.780 --> 00:13:38.900 the posturing of what it brings us to, 00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:42.000 the positioning of our heart that it draws us to, 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:43.400 is to a point of repentance, 00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:46.180 is to a point of brokenness, 00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:51.420 to realize that I need this both for salvation and my life. 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:56.880 And when the gospel is applied to sin for me as a believer, 00:13:57.180 --> 00:14:00.800 what it brings me to is to the point of repentance 00:14:00.800 --> 00:14:03.160 that in my life that I understand 00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:07.260 that the only way that I grow from the sin of my life 00:14:07.260 --> 00:14:10.840 is through the work of God through faith. 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:16.100 And so we begin to see this for you and I. 00:14:16.540 --> 00:14:19.560 We begin to see where this comes from 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:21.940 is in our life tangibly. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:24.700 When you see victory over sin, 00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:29.040 where does the credit and where does the power come from? 00:14:29.880 --> 00:14:32.160 Where does the credit go to? 00:14:33.060 --> 00:14:35.880 When we all battle the things that we do in our life, 00:14:36.380 --> 00:14:38.340 of all of the sins that we face, 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:43.080 of greed, of lust, of lies, 00:14:43.780 --> 00:14:46.220 of anger, of deception, 00:14:46.540 --> 00:14:50.740 over being unwilling to submit to authority, 00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:54.760 or being an abuser in authority. 00:14:55.400 --> 00:14:58.360 When we begin to see that we're treading in a way 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:00.420 that more in lines with scripture, 00:15:00.660 --> 00:15:02.740 then where is the credit given? 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:04.880 Where is the power noticed from? 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:08.940 Is it something that we've willed ourselves into existence? 00:15:10.540 --> 00:15:14.420 Or do we give credit from where it begins? 00:15:15.140 --> 00:15:17.180 You see, because when it is us doing it 00:15:17.180 --> 00:15:19.440 in and through our own power, 00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:23.280 we're masking the things in and of ourself that we do. 00:15:23.540 --> 00:15:27.140 But when it is a work that is happening from God 00:15:27.140 --> 00:15:29.080 through the power of His Spirit, 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.640 in faith in Him, 00:15:30.880 --> 00:15:33.060 and in application of the gospel, 00:15:33.280 --> 00:15:35.560 what we will know is we are no longer 00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:37.940 modifying the behaviors in our life, 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.220 but we're being transformed and renewed 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:41.520 by the power of the gospel. 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:45.000 And it's what we begin to live in 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.460 and what we begin to experience 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:51.600 in the authority that rings true in our life. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:54.280 And we begin to step in 00:15:54.280 --> 00:15:57.800 and to experience the life of faith. 00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:00.860 Let's keep reading about this life of faith 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:03.060 starting in verse 6 of chapter 3. 00:16:04.400 --> 00:16:04.840 It says, 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:07.800 Just as Abraham believed God 00:16:07.800 --> 00:16:09.860 and it was counted to him as righteousness, 00:16:10.700 --> 00:16:13.360 know then that it is those of faith 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.880 who were sons of Abraham. 00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:17.840 And the scripture foreseeing that God 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:20.440 would justify the Gentiles by faith, 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:23.980 preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying, 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:26.740 In you shall all the nations be blessed. 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:29.000 So then those who are of faith 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.580 are blessed along with Abraham, 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:33.760 the man of faith. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:37.300 And so what you and I want to be known for, 00:16:37.900 --> 00:16:40.980 what you and I want to be said about ourselves, 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:44.760 what you and I want to have seen in our life 00:16:44.760 --> 00:16:48.200 is what does it mean being a person of faith? 00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:50.720 To where our faith in God, 00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:52.320 our faith in the gospel 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:54.160 is what is known and what is there. 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:58.580 Now Paul here is largely talking to a Gentile audience, 00:16:58.820 --> 00:17:00.980 a non-Jewish audience, 00:17:01.140 --> 00:17:04.580 and he gives them the example of Abraham. 00:17:05.320 --> 00:17:08.000 Why in the world would he choose Abraham? 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:10.280 Why not someone else? 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:13.240 Well, what we see in verse 6 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:16.480 is quoted from Genesis 15 verse 6. 00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.240 It says this, 00:17:19.040 --> 00:17:22.060 Just as Abraham believed God, 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:26.080 it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.820 Well, verse 15, 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.320 if you remember all the way back 00:17:29.320 --> 00:17:31.520 to our Genesis study that we did. 00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:34.240 I'm sorry, in chapter 15 of Genesis, 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:37.720 God is establishing a covenant with Abraham. 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:41.340 And the covenant is based in this, 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.220 what God is going to do, 00:17:44.820 --> 00:17:48.840 the work that God is going to put in place, 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:51.320 and that God will uphold. 00:17:51.840 --> 00:17:54.340 And what we find as we continue in reading 00:17:54.340 --> 00:17:56.720 in the narrative in the life of Abraham, 00:17:57.040 --> 00:17:59.820 of what comes from this, 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:01.860 is all of this takes place, 00:18:02.560 --> 00:18:04.520 not because of who Abraham is, 00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:07.440 not because of what Abraham does, 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:11.500 but God upholds the covenant that is there 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:15.800 in spite of Abraham's failures and sins. 00:18:16.420 --> 00:18:17.860 And so verse 6 00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:20.380 is just as much a statement of belief 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:22.140 that brings into salvation 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:24.460 as it is a statement of belief 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:26.160 or a statement of faith 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:29.320 that empowers the life of the believer 00:18:29.320 --> 00:18:31.480 for us to live in faith, 00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:36.280 that it was counted to him as righteous. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:39.200 When you see the word counted here, 00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:41.320 this is an accounting term 00:18:41.320 --> 00:18:43.040 that means to credit. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.800 And so in Genesis chapter 15, 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:49.640 what we see is that Abraham believed in God, 00:18:49.800 --> 00:18:53.120 and what God did was God gave credit 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:56.120 or made credit on behalf of Abraham. 00:18:56.600 --> 00:18:59.580 So that as Abraham goes forward in life, 00:18:59.580 --> 00:19:01.700 there is a credit on him 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:03.260 that comes from God 00:19:03.260 --> 00:19:06.320 so that Abraham is not partially, 00:19:07.080 --> 00:19:09.960 but so that Abraham is fully seen 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:11.780 both as righteous, 00:19:12.300 --> 00:19:13.540 both in his success 00:19:13.540 --> 00:19:15.560 and even in his failure. 00:19:16.540 --> 00:19:18.300 God says through this word, 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.320 what I'm going to do, 00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:21.480 because you believed in faith, 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.900 I'm going to count it. 00:19:23.060 --> 00:19:24.420 I'm going to credit it. 00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:27.480 I'm going to pay ahead of what is there 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:29.340 so that in who you are, 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:33.040 it is established as righteousness forever. 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.620 And then it happens in faith 00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:38.580 and through faith alone. 00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:41.200 And so being a person of faith 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:44.260 means that we rest in the knowledge 00:19:44.260 --> 00:19:45.680 that our standing 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.720 of who we are, 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:50.220 of what we have received, 00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:53.500 has been given in credit. 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.380 So what does that mean 00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:57.200 to be a person of faith? 00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:58.720 What does it mean 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.360 as we look at the life of Abraham? 00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:01.980 How do we take that, 00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:04.720 how do we apply that to your life? 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:07.960 And it's believing fully 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:09.280 in the gospel promise. 00:20:10.080 --> 00:20:10.480 Fully. 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:13.360 Fully, not just partially 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:14.860 in that God saves, 00:20:15.520 --> 00:20:17.560 but in the full gospel promise 00:20:17.560 --> 00:20:20.520 that what God does through faith 00:20:20.520 --> 00:20:21.980 is that God saves, 00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.780 that God keeps, 00:20:24.100 --> 00:20:25.380 and that God grows. 00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:27.620 I've said this quote here, 00:20:27.800 --> 00:20:28.100 I don't know, 00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:29.480 probably a thousand times, 00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:31.920 but that God loves us too much 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.900 to save us 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:34.580 and then leave us right where we are. 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.780 But that God 00:20:35.780 --> 00:20:37.360 in his full love for us, 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.420 he saves us, 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.680 he takes us in, 00:20:39.800 --> 00:20:41.500 and he grows us 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:43.220 in our faith through him. 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:45.940 And so to believe in God, 00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:48.280 to place our faith in him, 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:50.000 to trust the gospel 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.840 is an area for our life 00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:53.700 where we believe in the saving, 00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:55.140 praise God for it. 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.580 But we believe in the keeping, 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:59.460 that that which he loves, 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:02.760 he holds on to dearly and forever. 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:05.860 But then he also grows. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.980 That he grows you 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.620 and that he grows me. 00:21:10.760 --> 00:21:12.840 And so we see a miracle happen 00:21:12.840 --> 00:21:15.500 when we're broken free from our sins, 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:18.240 when we see the victories that take place. 00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:21.200 It's the power of God 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.920 and the miracle 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:23.800 just as he multiplied the fish 00:21:23.800 --> 00:21:24.720 to feed the thousands 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:26.300 as he is when he sets you free 00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:26.980 from your lust. 00:21:27.800 --> 00:21:29.260 He sets you free from your anger. 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:31.460 He sets us free from our pride. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:34.000 It's in who he does. 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:36.560 But to be a person of faith 00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:39.040 is believing in God's provision 00:21:39.040 --> 00:21:42.060 and not our performance. 00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.380 Abraham, 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:48.740 Abraham is promised a great nation. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.920 Abraham is promised 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:52.040 that from his line, 00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:53.300 from his lineage, 00:21:53.300 --> 00:21:54.300 this will come. 00:21:55.020 --> 00:21:56.380 But the problem is 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:58.300 he has no kids. 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.640 And the provision 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.300 and the belief 00:22:02.300 --> 00:22:03.900 comes from God 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:06.260 and not from Abraham. 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:08.280 When Abraham takes matters 00:22:08.280 --> 00:22:09.180 into his own hands, 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.260 what we see is failure. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:12.560 When Abraham takes the situation, 00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:13.220 control, 00:22:13.340 --> 00:22:13.460 and says, 00:22:13.560 --> 00:22:13.620 well, 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:15.140 then this is what I'm going to do, 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:17.260 then it's found in disobedience. 00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:19.700 But when it is found in God 00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:21.220 and who God is, 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:22.380 what we see 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.660 is the provision 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.840 of the gospel 00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.820 that rings true. 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:28.080 We'll conclude 00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:28.800 with reading verses, 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.980 starting in verse 10. 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.080 Paul writes, 00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:32.680 he says this, 00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:35.420 for all who rely 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.640 on works of the law 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.600 are under a curse. 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:39.620 For it is written, 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:42.160 curse be everyone 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.660 who does not abide 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:44.960 by all things 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.360 written in the book of law 00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:47.520 and do them. 00:22:48.280 --> 00:22:49.200 I want to read 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.020 that verse again. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.620 I want to let that sink in 00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:54.660 to our minds 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.500 and to our hearts. 00:22:56.860 --> 00:22:58.440 Cursed be everyone 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:00.800 who does not abide by, 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.460 if you've got your Bible out, 00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:03.200 circle it, 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.200 all, 00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:06.720 all things 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:09.060 written in the book of the law 00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:10.300 and do them. 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:12.220 Now it is evident 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.820 that no one is justified 00:23:13.820 --> 00:23:15.320 before God by the law 00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:16.360 for the righteous 00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:18.300 shall live by faith. 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.020 But the law 00:23:20.020 --> 00:23:21.460 is not of faith, 00:23:21.580 --> 00:23:22.380 rather the one 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:23.380 who does them 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.600 shall live by them. 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.720 Verse 13, 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.720 underline this, 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:28.180 Christ redeemed us 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.040 from the curse 00:23:29.040 --> 00:23:29.740 of the law 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.540 by becoming 00:23:30.540 --> 00:23:31.700 a curse for us. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:32.780 For it is written, 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:34.160 cursed is everyone 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.880 who is hanged 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.480 on a tree 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:37.500 so that in Christ Jesus 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:39.220 the blessing of Abraham 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.160 might come 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:41.160 to the Gentiles 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.000 so that we 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.960 might receive 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:44.920 the promised spirit 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.780 through faith. 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.420 And so we see Paul 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:50.900 come before 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:52.960 the old foolish Galatians 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:55.380 to bring a need 00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:56.740 aware to themselves 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:58.620 of the battle 00:23:58.620 --> 00:23:59.760 that is before them 00:23:59.760 --> 00:24:00.240 and the battle 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.000 they're going to face. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.500 And he draws a picture 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.480 of two people, 00:24:05.560 --> 00:24:06.400 one who's going 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:06.800 to find it 00:24:06.800 --> 00:24:07.400 in themselves, 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.340 one who's going 00:24:09.340 --> 00:24:09.760 to find it 00:24:09.760 --> 00:24:10.380 in their faith, 00:24:11.280 --> 00:24:11.980 one who's going 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.480 to find it 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.200 in the works 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.920 that they do, 00:24:14.580 --> 00:24:15.460 and one who's going 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.040 to find it 00:24:16.040 --> 00:24:16.680 in the work 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.660 that Christ has done. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:19.340 And so my question 00:24:19.340 --> 00:24:20.400 for you this morning 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.040 is this, 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:23.000 who are you 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:24.500 going to be? 00:24:25.820 --> 00:24:27.160 Who are you 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.660 going to be? 00:24:29.540 --> 00:24:30.100 Yes, 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.180 yes it is faith 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:33.240 that saves us, 00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:35.300 but it's the faith 00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:37.240 that we live 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.000 through. 00:24:39.280 --> 00:24:39.860 In verse 12 00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:40.800 he says that the person 00:24:40.800 --> 00:24:42.300 that relies on the law, 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.740 he says this, 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.520 they live 00:24:45.520 --> 00:24:47.500 by them. 00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.220 And the result 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:50.220 of living by them, 00:24:50.280 --> 00:24:51.540 of the continuation 00:24:51.540 --> 00:24:53.000 of works-based 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.560 righteousness 00:24:53.560 --> 00:24:54.960 is what Paul says 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.680 is to be under a curse. 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.360 And so if a person 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:58.840 says, 00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:00.160 I'm going to live 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.760 by the law 00:25:00.760 --> 00:25:01.500 and desires 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.160 to be blessed 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.040 by God 00:25:03.040 --> 00:25:04.360 to live a life 00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:04.940 of faith, 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:06.060 to not live 00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:07.200 in the reality 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.700 of the circumstances 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:10.180 that surround them 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.060 or the demand 00:25:11.060 --> 00:25:11.780 that is there 00:25:11.780 --> 00:25:12.520 or everything, 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.320 they can never 00:25:13.320 --> 00:25:14.540 rise above 00:25:14.540 --> 00:25:15.720 because they live 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:17.180 in their own perception, 00:25:17.560 --> 00:25:18.220 they live 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.600 in the impossible task 00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:20.520 and they're living 00:25:20.520 --> 00:25:21.440 as a person 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.660 who's being cursed. 00:25:24.560 --> 00:25:25.720 And so what God does, 00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:28.060 what God says, 00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:30.360 is that those 00:25:30.360 --> 00:25:31.400 who live by faith, 00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:33.840 not just for salvation, 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:35.940 but those who live 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.620 by faith 00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:38.020 and being kept 00:25:38.020 --> 00:25:38.960 by the hand of God, 00:25:39.820 --> 00:25:40.840 that those who live 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.620 by faith 00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.820 and growth 00:25:42.820 --> 00:25:43.760 in the hand 00:25:43.760 --> 00:25:44.600 of God, 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.140 that Christ 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:48.180 redeemed us 00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:49.960 from the curse 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:51.540 by becoming 00:25:51.540 --> 00:25:52.620 a curse 00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:54.280 for us. 00:25:55.320 --> 00:25:56.520 It's a beautiful phrase 00:25:56.520 --> 00:25:57.840 that is used 00:25:57.840 --> 00:25:59.180 in talking about 00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:00.560 substitutionary atonement 00:26:00.560 --> 00:26:01.160 of Christ 00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:02.680 and it's called 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:04.280 the great exchange, 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:06.560 that Jesus Christ 00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:08.060 as our substitute 00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:09.820 and we begin 00:26:09.820 --> 00:26:10.340 to think 00:26:10.340 --> 00:26:11.640 about this exchange, 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.800 about what He did 00:26:13.800 --> 00:26:14.740 and about what 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.440 we've done, 00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:18.020 about what we deserve 00:26:18.020 --> 00:26:18.980 and about what 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.360 He deserved. 00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:22.320 We begin to see 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:23.600 this void 00:26:23.600 --> 00:26:24.440 that separates 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:25.000 the two, 00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:26.320 the void 00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:26.860 that Scripture 00:26:26.860 --> 00:26:28.180 says that in 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:28.900 this place 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.500 and throughout 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.240 the world 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.960 that there is not 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.840 one that is righteous 00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:34.400 in themselves 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.460 other than 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.620 through Him. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.320 That there's not 00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:39.920 one who's fulfilled 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.640 the law 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:42.220 other than Him. 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.600 There's not 00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:45.460 one who is perfect 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.900 other than Him 00:26:46.900 --> 00:26:48.420 and so in the 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:49.980 great exchange 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:52.100 is He received, 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:54.220 Jesus received 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:56.900 what we deserve. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.800 Punishment. 00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:00.540 Death. 00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:02.820 Let's don't forget 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:04.880 this wasn't just 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.620 the means. 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.800 It wasn't just 00:27:07.800 --> 00:27:08.360 what needed 00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:09.020 to happen. 00:27:09.760 --> 00:27:10.600 It was what 00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:11.740 had to happen 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:13.680 because the law 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.700 says 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:16.340 that when you 00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:16.920 break one, 00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:18.620 one, 00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:20.320 one thought, 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.880 one word, 00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:23.200 one deed, 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.040 when one 00:27:25.040 --> 00:27:25.720 is broken, 00:27:27.040 --> 00:27:27.360 guilty, 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:28.880 guilty, 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.340 guilty, 00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:31.660 guilty. 00:27:32.800 --> 00:27:33.240 and the 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.760 punishment, 00:27:33.760 --> 00:27:35.520 it isn't a 00:27:35.520 --> 00:27:35.960 fine, 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.620 it isn't a 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.440 job to go do, 00:27:39.540 --> 00:27:40.380 it isn't going to 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:40.780 make yourself 00:27:40.780 --> 00:27:41.160 better, 00:27:41.780 --> 00:27:42.760 it's death 00:27:42.760 --> 00:27:44.840 for just one, 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.860 just one. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.300 And so what 00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:49.940 Jesus did 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:52.060 is Jesus said, 00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:54.180 not for just one, 00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:57.100 but for the many, 00:27:58.100 --> 00:27:59.360 for the many, 00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:01.240 I'll take it 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.240 I'll take it 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.440 on. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:03.100 I'll take it 00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:03.280 on. 00:28:04.820 --> 00:28:05.660 And so I'm 00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:05.980 going to step 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.780 out of perfection. 00:28:08.780 --> 00:28:09.560 I'm going to 00:28:09.560 --> 00:28:10.340 step out 00:28:10.340 --> 00:28:12.260 of heaven 00:28:12.260 --> 00:28:14.160 and step foot 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.740 on the cross 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:16.480 in the great 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.180 exchange 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.840 for what the 00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:19.300 people who 00:28:19.300 --> 00:28:19.900 mocked him 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.580 deserved, 00:28:21.580 --> 00:28:22.240 for what the 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:23.120 people who 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:23.800 spit at him 00:28:23.800 --> 00:28:24.540 deserved, 00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:25.940 for what the 00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.380 people who 00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:27.140 abandoned him 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:28.060 deserved, 00:28:28.760 --> 00:28:29.440 and for what 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:29.880 the people 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.500 who were 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.380 gathered in 00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:32.040 this place 00:28:32.040 --> 00:28:32.860 deserved, 00:28:33.300 --> 00:28:33.920 and for the 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.940 pastor that 00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:35.720 stands on this 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.780 stage for what 00:28:36.780 --> 00:28:37.300 he deserved. 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:38.940 And I will 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:40.620 pay the penalty 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.740 on the cross. 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:43.700 It's the great 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.300 exchange. 00:28:45.280 --> 00:28:46.060 And then the 00:28:46.060 --> 00:28:46.780 exchange doesn't 00:28:46.780 --> 00:28:47.180 end there, 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:48.920 is that we 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.940 gain something. 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.960 You and I, 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:54.220 not only is 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.740 the penalty 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:56.140 paid for us, 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.480 but there's 00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.160 a reward 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.660 given for 00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.240 a life 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.920 lived in 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:01.380 perfection. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:02.780 And that 00:29:02.780 --> 00:29:04.020 reward is 00:29:04.020 --> 00:29:04.560 righteousness. 00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:06.020 What that 00:29:06.020 --> 00:29:07.000 reward is, 00:29:07.100 --> 00:29:07.680 is proper 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.680 standing before 00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:09.240 the Lord. 00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:10.040 What that 00:29:10.040 --> 00:29:10.980 reward is, 00:29:11.060 --> 00:29:11.720 is a credit 00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.260 that never 00:29:12.260 --> 00:29:12.740 ends. 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.260 What that 00:29:13.260 --> 00:29:14.260 reward is, 00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:15.080 is an adoption 00:29:15.080 --> 00:29:15.660 that's brought 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.400 into a family 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.300 where divorce 00:29:17.300 --> 00:29:18.240 never is the 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:18.580 case. 00:29:18.800 --> 00:29:19.160 What that 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:20.080 reward is, 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:20.580 is what 00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:21.960 none of us 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:23.580 deserved. 00:29:25.320 --> 00:29:26.260 none of us 00:29:26.260 --> 00:29:26.720 deserved 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:28.840 righteousness in 00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:29.100 him. 00:29:30.280 --> 00:29:30.900 But it's 00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.380 found, 00:29:32.300 --> 00:29:33.220 not in what 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:33.820 we've done, 00:29:34.780 --> 00:29:35.580 but what 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.320 he's done. 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:37.980 It's not 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.540 found in 00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:40.320 what we do, 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.660 but what 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.340 he's done. 00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:43.680 And it's 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.020 not even 00:29:44.020 --> 00:29:45.780 found in 00:29:45.780 --> 00:29:46.120 who we 00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:46.460 are, 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.020 but it is 00:29:48.020 --> 00:29:49.280 found in 00:29:49.280 --> 00:29:50.660 who he 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.720 is. 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.440 In just a 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:53.580 minute, 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:53.940 we're going 00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.180 to go to 00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:54.500 the Lord in 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:54.760 prayer. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.380 I want to 00:29:56.380 --> 00:29:56.800 ask you this 00:29:56.800 --> 00:29:57.320 question this 00:29:57.320 --> 00:29:57.560 morning. 00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.280 If you don't 00:29:59.280 --> 00:29:59.740 know Jesus 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.440 Christ as your 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.080 personal Lord 00:30:01.080 --> 00:30:01.480 and Savior, 00:30:02.340 --> 00:30:02.940 where it will 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:04.500 begin for 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:06.520 you is 00:30:06.520 --> 00:30:08.380 repentance for 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.060 who you are 00:30:09.060 --> 00:30:09.520 and for what 00:30:09.520 --> 00:30:10.000 you've done. 00:30:10.320 --> 00:30:10.960 It only takes 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.260 one. 00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:14.320 And faith 00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:15.820 in who he 00:30:15.820 --> 00:30:16.160 is. 00:30:17.300 --> 00:30:18.140 But for all 00:30:18.140 --> 00:30:18.740 of us in 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:18.980 here, 00:30:20.140 --> 00:30:20.900 for all of 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.600 us in this 00:30:21.600 --> 00:30:21.920 room, 00:30:23.020 --> 00:30:23.780 chasing our 00:30:23.780 --> 00:30:24.120 own 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:24.740 perfection, 00:30:25.820 --> 00:30:26.320 determining 00:30:26.320 --> 00:30:26.900 what we 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:27.280 are going 00:30:27.280 --> 00:30:27.760 to do. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.160 And we 00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:29.860 wonder why 00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:31.360 in our 00:30:31.360 --> 00:30:32.940 life when 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.340 the beating 00:30:33.340 --> 00:30:33.900 comes. 00:30:34.580 --> 00:30:35.520 We wonder 00:30:35.520 --> 00:30:36.080 in our 00:30:36.080 --> 00:30:37.260 life when 00:30:37.260 --> 00:30:38.020 the shackles 00:30:38.020 --> 00:30:38.760 arrive. 00:30:39.780 --> 00:30:40.600 We wonder 00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:41.600 in our 00:30:41.600 --> 00:30:43.260 life when 00:30:43.260 --> 00:30:43.720 the jail 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.520 cell door 00:30:44.520 --> 00:30:45.420 spiritually 00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.440 closes on 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.920 us. 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.700 We wonder 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:50.080 why our 00:30:50.080 --> 00:30:50.820 world falls 00:30:50.820 --> 00:30:51.280 apart. 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:52.660 And the 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.220 question is 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.640 this, 00:30:54.580 --> 00:30:55.140 because we've 00:30:55.140 --> 00:30:55.580 been chasing 00:30:55.580 --> 00:30:55.860 it in 00:30:55.860 --> 00:30:56.300 ourselves. 00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:57.940 Or is 00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.760 there rest 00:30:58.760 --> 00:31:00.080 in faith 00:31:00.080 --> 00:31:01.400 that above 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:01.640 my 00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:02.300 circumstances, 00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:03.920 above what 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.240 I can 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.940 understand, 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.560 above what 00:31:06.560 --> 00:31:07.120 is before 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:07.540 me, 00:31:08.060 --> 00:31:08.660 that I 00:31:08.660 --> 00:31:09.480 trust God 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.680 to save 00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:10.960 me, 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.080 that I 00:31:12.080 --> 00:31:12.840 trust God 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:13.780 to keep 00:31:13.780 --> 00:31:14.180 me, 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:15.200 and that I 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.980 trust God 00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.780 to grow 00:31:16.780 --> 00:31:17.020 me. 00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:17.940 Would you 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.240 pray with 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.380 me? 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.020 Lord, we 00:31:23.020 --> 00:31:23.300 come to 00:31:23.300 --> 00:31:23.580 you this 00:31:23.580 --> 00:31:23.860 morning 00:31:23.860 --> 00:31:25.860 thanking you 00:31:25.860 --> 00:31:26.200 for who 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.680 you are, 00:31:28.080 --> 00:31:28.500 thanking you 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.800 for what 00:31:28.800 --> 00:31:29.040 you've 00:31:29.040 --> 00:31:29.340 done. 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.080 Lord, may 00:31:32.080 --> 00:31:32.900 every day 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.460 and every 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:33.940 moment, 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:35.320 may the 00:31:35.320 --> 00:31:36.100 clarity of 00:31:36.100 --> 00:31:36.740 the gospel 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:38.020 and the 00:31:38.020 --> 00:31:38.500 importance 00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:38.940 and the 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.600 value of 00:31:39.600 --> 00:31:40.180 the gospel 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:43.560 rest in 00:31:43.560 --> 00:31:45.560 us and 00:31:45.560 --> 00:31:45.960 who we 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:47.700 are so 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.300 that every 00:31:48.300 --> 00:31:49.220 day, every 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:49.760 moment that 00:31:49.760 --> 00:31:49.980 we are 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:50.600 people of 00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:50.920 faith, 00:31:53.120 --> 00:31:53.920 faith doesn't 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:54.420 mean that 00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.240 we're trusting 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.920 as long as 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:56.380 it's good. 00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:58.160 Faith does 00:31:58.160 --> 00:31:59.120 not mean that 00:31:59.120 --> 00:31:59.660 we're trusting 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.280 as long as 00:32:00.280 --> 00:32:01.100 we understand. 00:32:02.340 --> 00:32:02.740 Faith is 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.460 not trusting 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:04.680 as long as 00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:05.260 we agree, 00:32:06.520 --> 00:32:07.340 but faith, 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:09.200 faith, Lord, 00:32:09.260 --> 00:32:09.980 give us faith 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.600 in every 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:10.980 moment, 00:32:11.780 --> 00:32:12.280 in every 00:32:12.280 --> 00:32:12.820 battle, 00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:14.300 in every 00:32:14.300 --> 00:32:14.780 victory, 00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:16.200 in every 00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:16.800 circumstance 00:32:16.800 --> 00:32:18.520 to trust 00:32:18.520 --> 00:32:19.080 in you 00:32:19.080 --> 00:32:20.640 and in you 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.060 alone. 00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:23.140 With every 00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:23.660 head bowed 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:23.960 and every 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.640 eyes closed, 00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:26.600 no one 00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.220 looking around. 00:32:29.320 --> 00:32:29.680 If you 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:30.260 don't know 00:32:30.260 --> 00:32:31.020 Jesus Christ 00:32:31.020 --> 00:32:31.340 as your 00:32:31.340 --> 00:32:31.740 Lord and 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.020 Savior, 00:32:33.040 --> 00:32:33.700 I pray that 00:32:33.700 --> 00:32:34.240 today would 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.680 be the day 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:34.980 that you 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:35.400 would trust 00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:35.620 Him. 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:37.640 If you 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:38.000 do, 00:32:39.340 --> 00:32:40.120 if you 00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:40.440 do, 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:42.340 and you're 00:32:42.340 --> 00:32:42.860 spending so 00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:43.340 much of your 00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:46.640 life chasing 00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:47.420 after something 00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:47.740 that you're 00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:48.040 never going 00:32:48.040 --> 00:32:48.440 to catch, 00:32:50.340 --> 00:32:51.040 chasing your 00:32:51.040 --> 00:32:51.940 own perfection 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.880 that's found 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:54.580 in who you 00:32:54.580 --> 00:32:55.160 are and 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.760 what you 00:32:55.760 --> 00:32:56.400 do and 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.280 what you 00:32:57.280 --> 00:32:58.100 overcome, 00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:00.340 and the 00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:01.140 testimony of 00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:01.800 your life 00:33:01.800 --> 00:33:04.600 may begin 00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:05.340 with Jesus, 00:33:06.340 --> 00:33:08.960 but it 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.120 continues in 00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:10.420 you. 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:12.600 Could 00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:14.900 today be 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:15.300 the day 00:33:15.300 --> 00:33:15.500 of 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.040 repentance? 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:20.900 Lord, 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.220 give us 00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:21.800 the faith 00:33:21.800 --> 00:33:24.520 to sing 00:33:24.520 --> 00:33:24.760 in the 00:33:24.760 --> 00:33:25.420 prison cell 00:33:25.420 --> 00:33:27.620 or give us 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.200 the faith 00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:30.460 to cry 00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:30.920 out 00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:32.800 in the 00:33:32.800 --> 00:33:33.400 midst of 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:33.980 tragedy 00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:36.400 or give us 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:37.000 the faith 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:39.220 to trust 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:39.760 in you 00:33:39.760 --> 00:33:41.580 fully 00:33:41.580 --> 00:33:43.600 to save 00:33:43.600 --> 00:33:43.980 us, 00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:45.880 to keep 00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:46.280 us, 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:47.740 and to 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.340 grow us. 00:33:49.560 --> 00:33:49.960 It's in 00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:50.400 Jesus' name 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:50.760 we pray. 00:33:51.520 --> 00:33:51.820 Amen. 00:33:51.820 --> 00:33:51.920 Amen. 00:33:51.920 --> 00:34:09.700 thanks again 00:34:09.700 --> 00:34:10.200 for listening 00:34:10.200 --> 00:34:10.580 to the 00:34:10.580 --> 00:34:11.000 Willow Ridge 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.360 Church 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:11.720 weekly 00:34:11.720 --> 00:34:12.340 podcast. 00:34:12.660 --> 00:34:13.080 We hope 00:34:13.080 --> 00:34:13.320 that you 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:13.660 enjoyed 00:34:13.660 --> 00:34:14.160 listening to 00:34:14.160 --> 00:34:14.600 this week's 00:34:14.600 --> 00:34:14.960 message. 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:15.840 If you'd 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:16.140 like to 00:34:16.140 --> 00:34:16.520 learn more 00:34:16.520 --> 00:34:16.960 about who 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.340 we are 00:34:17.340 --> 00:34:18.020 or explore 00:34:18.020 --> 00:34:18.440 additional 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.000 resources, 00:34:19.560 --> 00:34:19.980 visit us 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.760 online at 00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:24.000 www.willowridgechurch.com 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.220 or by searching 00:34:25.220 --> 00:34:25.900 for Willow Ridge 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.500 Church on 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.200 Facebook and 00:34:27.200 --> 00:34:27.580 Instagram.