Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:03.240
We are going to be. I'm
going through the entire book of Romans,
2
00:00:03.799 --> 00:00:08.070
both read and preached over over two
sermons. Are Two services. Rather,
3
00:00:09.789 --> 00:00:14.910
will cover eight chapters this morning and
eight chapters this evening, and sets of
4
00:00:15.070 --> 00:00:18.070
two, and I hope that that
will be a real blessing to you to
5
00:00:18.190 --> 00:00:24.260
be able to hear God's word in
as it holds together. A lot of
6
00:00:24.339 --> 00:00:29.339
times we get little tiny pieces and
chunks to be able to feel the the
7
00:00:29.500 --> 00:00:34.700
flow of it, see the structure. I'm see how themes and words repeat
8
00:00:34.740 --> 00:00:40.490
over and over and over again.
I trust that many of you will see
9
00:00:40.609 --> 00:00:44.770
things for the first time that you
haven't seen before and I hope that you
10
00:00:44.850 --> 00:00:50.719
all will believe what you hear.
One of the reasons the book of Romans
11
00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:56.159
has been so loved in the church
and it's as one of its special qualities
12
00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:03.719
is the way it puts forth so
much of the faith in such a complete
13
00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:07.030
way. The things that we've just
sung in the apostles creed are found here
14
00:01:08.629 --> 00:01:15.549
in the book of Romans. Let's
begin this morning by hearing Romans Chapter One,
15
00:01:15.230 --> 00:01:26.980
and to my God bless the reading
and preaching of his word Romans Chapter
16
00:01:27.099 --> 00:01:34.129
One. Paul a Servant of Christ, Jesus called to be an apostle,
17
00:01:34.489 --> 00:01:40.609
set apart for the Gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets
18
00:01:40.689 --> 00:01:45.890
in the holy scriptures, concerning his
son, who was descended from David according
19
00:01:45.930 --> 00:01:49.760
to the flesh and was declared to
be the son of God in power,
20
00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:55.719
according to the spirit of holiness,
by his resurrection from the dead. Jesus
21
00:01:55.760 --> 00:02:00.079
Christ, our Lord, through whom
we have received grace and Apostleship, to
22
00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:05.390
bring about the obedience of faith for
the sake of his name among all the
23
00:02:05.469 --> 00:02:10.669
nations, including you, who are
called to belong to Jesus Christ, to
24
00:02:10.830 --> 00:02:15.060
all those in Rome who are loved
by God and called to be saints.
25
00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:21.780
Grace to you and peace from God, our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
26
00:02:23.580 --> 00:02:27.180
First, I think my God,
through Jesus Christ, for all of
27
00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:30.569
you, because your faith is proclaimed
in all the world. My God,
28
00:02:31.050 --> 00:02:36.050
for God is my witness, whom
I serve with my spirit in the gospel
29
00:02:36.129 --> 00:02:39.009
of his son, that, without
ceasing, I mention you always in my
30
00:02:39.210 --> 00:02:45.360
prayers, asking that somehow, by
God's will, I may at last succeed
31
00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:49.439
in coming to you, for I
long to see you, that I might
32
00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:54.199
in part to you some spiritual gift
to strengthen you, that is, that
33
00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:59.590
we may be mutually encouraged by each
other's faith, both yours and mine.
34
00:03:00.710 --> 00:03:02.990
I do not want you to be
unaware, brothers, that I have often
35
00:03:04.110 --> 00:03:07.550
intended to come to you, but
thus far have been prevented, in order
36
00:03:07.629 --> 00:03:13.539
that I may reap some harvest among
you as well as among the rest of
37
00:03:13.580 --> 00:03:19.539
the gentiles. I am under obligation
both to Greeks and to barbarians, both
38
00:03:19.659 --> 00:03:24.620
to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the
39
00:03:24.740 --> 00:03:30.330
Gospel to you also, who are
in Rome, for I am not ashamed
40
00:03:30.370 --> 00:03:35.689
of the Gospel, for it is
the power of God for salvation to everyone
41
00:03:35.770 --> 00:03:39.729
who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, for
42
00:03:39.889 --> 00:03:45.120
in it the righteousness of God is
revealed from faith, for faith, as
43
00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:51.199
it is written, the righteous shall
live by faith, for the wrath of
44
00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:58.189
God is revealed from Heaven Against All
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who buy their
45
00:03:58.189 --> 00:04:02.310
unrighteousness suppress the truth, for what
can be known about God is plain to
46
00:04:02.389 --> 00:04:06.949
them, because God has shown it
to them. For his invisible attributes,
47
00:04:08.030 --> 00:04:14.099
namely his eternal power and divine nature
have been clearly perceived ever since the creation
48
00:04:14.219 --> 00:04:18.220
of the world in the things that
have been made. So they are without
49
00:04:18.220 --> 00:04:24.180
excuse, for, although they knew
God, they did not honor him as
50
00:04:24.329 --> 00:04:28.170
God or give thanks to him,
but they became few rudle in their thinking
51
00:04:28.730 --> 00:04:32.529
and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools
52
00:04:32.649 --> 00:04:41.800
and exchanged the glory of the immortal
God for images resembling mortal man and birds
53
00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:46.920
and animals and creeping things. Therefore, God gave them up and the lusts
54
00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:53.149
of their hearts to impurity, to
the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
55
00:04:54.029 --> 00:05:00.589
because they exchanged the truth about God
for a lie and worshiped and served the
56
00:05:00.790 --> 00:05:09.819
creature rather than the creator, who
is blessed forever amn. For this reason,
57
00:05:10.699 --> 00:05:15.459
God gave them up to dishonorable passions
for their women, exchanged natural relations
58
00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:21.170
for those that are contrary to nature, and all the men likewise gave up
59
00:05:21.170 --> 00:05:28.649
natural relations with women and were consumed
with passion for one another, men committing
60
00:05:28.689 --> 00:05:33.129
shameless acts with men and receiving in
themselves the doe penalty for their error.
61
00:05:34.329 --> 00:05:40.160
And since they did not see fit
to acknowledge God. God gave them up
62
00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:45.600
to a debased mind to do what
ought not to be done. They were
63
00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:51.870
filled with all manner of unrighteousness,
evil, covetousness, malice. They are
64
00:05:51.949 --> 00:05:59.550
full of envy, murder, strife, to seat maliciousness. They are gossips,
65
00:05:59.829 --> 00:06:05.379
slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of
66
00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:14.860
evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though
67
00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:20.170
they know God's righteous decree that those
who practice such things deserve to die,
68
00:06:21.370 --> 00:06:28.730
they not only do them but give
approval to those who practice them. Therefore,
69
00:06:28.810 --> 00:06:32.040
you have no excuse, Oh man, every one of you who judges,
70
00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:36.759
for in passing judgment on one another, you condemn yourselves because you,
71
00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:44.079
the judge, practice the very same
things. We know that the judgment of
72
00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:48.389
God rightly falls on those who practice
such things. Do you suppose, Oh
73
00:06:48.509 --> 00:06:54.029
man, you who judge those who
practice such things and yet do them yourself,
74
00:06:54.870 --> 00:06:59.189
that you will escape the judgment of
God? Or do you presume,
75
00:07:00.110 --> 00:07:05.860
on the riches of his kindness and
forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's
76
00:07:05.899 --> 00:07:12.019
kindness is meant to lead you to
repentance, but because of your hard and
77
00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:16.970
impenitent heart, you are storing up
wrath for yourself. On the day of
78
00:07:17.129 --> 00:07:25.649
Wrath, when God's righteous judgment will
be revealed, he will render to each
79
00:07:25.689 --> 00:07:29.889
one, according to his works.
To those who, by patience and welldoing,
80
00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:33.600
seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
81
00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:39.959
But for those who are selfseeking and
do not obey the truth, but obey
82
00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:46.750
unrighteousness, there will be wrath and
fury, there will be tribulation and distress
83
00:07:47.589 --> 00:07:56.189
for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
84
00:07:57.350 --> 00:08:01.779
but glory and honor and peace for
everyone who does good, the Jew
85
00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:09.379
first and also the Greek, for
God shows no partiality. For All who
86
00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:13.810
have sinned without the law will also
perish without the law, and all who
87
00:08:13.810 --> 00:08:18.810
have sinned under the law will be
judged by the law, for it is
88
00:08:18.930 --> 00:08:22.930
the hearers of the law who are
righteous before God. Or for it is
89
00:08:24.050 --> 00:08:28.079
not the hearers of the law who
are righteous before God, but the doers
90
00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:33.159
of the law who will be justified. For when gentiles who do not have
91
00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:37.320
the law by nature do what the
law requires, they are a law to
92
00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:41.470
themselves, even though they do not
have the law, they show that the
93
00:08:41.549 --> 00:08:46.029
work of the laws written on their
hearts, while their conscience also bears witness
94
00:08:46.429 --> 00:08:50.509
and their conflicting thoughts accused or even
excuse them on that day when, according
95
00:08:50.509 --> 00:08:56.620
to My Gospel, God judges the
secrets of men by Christ Jesus. But
96
00:08:56.659 --> 00:09:01.299
if you call yourself a Jew and
rely on the law and boast in God
97
00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:07.019
and know his will and to prove
what is excellent, because you are instructed
98
00:09:07.059 --> 00:09:11.690
from the law, and if you
are sure that you yourself are a guide
99
00:09:11.690 --> 00:09:15.769
to the blind, a light to
those who are in darkness and instructor of
100
00:09:15.850 --> 00:09:20.730
the Foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of
101
00:09:20.929 --> 00:09:26.279
knowledge and truth. You, then, who teach others, do you not
102
00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:33.799
teach yourself? While you preach against
stealing, do you steal? You who
103
00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:39.269
say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You Who
104
00:09:39.470 --> 00:09:45.429
Abhor Idols, do rob temples?
You who boast in the law, dishonor
105
00:09:45.629 --> 00:09:50.669
God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, the name
106
00:09:50.750 --> 00:09:58.340
of God is blasphemed among the gentiles
because of you. For circumcision, indeed,
107
00:09:58.580 --> 00:10:03.340
is a value if you obey the
law, but if you break the
108
00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:11.809
law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps
109
00:10:11.850 --> 00:10:18.370
the precepts of the law, will
not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
110
00:10:18.409 --> 00:10:24.120
Then he who is physically uncircumcised but
keeps the law will con them. You
111
00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:30.879
who have the written code and circumcision
but break the law. For No one
112
00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:37.750
is a Jew who is merely one
outwardly. Nor is circumcision outward and physical,
113
00:10:37.830 --> 00:10:45.309
but a Jew is one inwardly,
and circumcision is a matter of the
114
00:10:45.470 --> 00:10:50.700
heart, by the spirit, not
by the letter. His praise is not
115
00:10:52.059 --> 00:11:01.700
from man but from God. Let's
consider what God has said in these couple
116
00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:11.370
chapters briefly. These days, after
a person dies, there's a process called
117
00:11:11.529 --> 00:11:18.320
embalming. The process involves washing the
body, massaging the limbs, putting them
118
00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:28.320
into a comfortable looking position. Fluids
are replaced with a formaldehyde solution, the
119
00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:33.950
eyes are fixed closed, the jaws
fixed shut, and then various cosmetic improvements
120
00:11:33.950 --> 00:11:39.669
are made. Clothes are put on, the hair is styled, makeup is
121
00:11:39.710 --> 00:11:46.909
applied. This, of course,
can be a controversial practice, but there's
122
00:11:46.950 --> 00:11:52.419
one thing about it that's totally uncontroversial, and that's that. Embalming does Ab
123
00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:56.860
solutely nothing to bring a dead person
to life. It's not the goal,
124
00:11:58.220 --> 00:12:01.250
and we all know it. You
can put the finest clothes on the body,
125
00:12:01.289 --> 00:12:05.730
the most expensive jewelry, you can
massage and shape the face into the
126
00:12:05.850 --> 00:12:15.049
most natural of all looking positions,
but giving the appearance of life is totally
127
00:12:15.250 --> 00:12:22.039
different than life itself. And there
is, Paul says, a spiritual reality
128
00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:28.960
that corresponds to this. Apart from
a miracle, you can't bring a dead
129
00:12:30.110 --> 00:12:35.309
person to life, and this is
as true of those who are physically dead
130
00:12:35.070 --> 00:12:41.269
as it is of those who are
spiritually dead. What does it mean to
131
00:12:41.389 --> 00:12:46.299
be spiritually dead, though? What
does it mean to be spiritually dead?
132
00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:52.179
Paul describes that in these chapters.
First he describes it of the gentiles and
133
00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:56.500
then he describes it of the Jews. At the end of the chapter.
134
00:12:56.620 --> 00:13:03.250
There you heard language about outward things
mattering nothing like circumcision if the inward things
135
00:13:03.289 --> 00:13:11.289
aren't really there. What does a
spiritually dead person look like? What are
136
00:13:11.330 --> 00:13:15.919
they like? Well, just quoting
from various things in these chapters, they
137
00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:22.120
are people filled with sins. They
suppress the truth in unrighteousness spiritually dead people
138
00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:28.309
no God, but deny God.
They refuse to honor him, they refuse
139
00:13:28.389 --> 00:13:33.470
to thank him, they refuse to
serve him. Instead of the Creator,
140
00:13:33.590 --> 00:13:39.029
they worship his creation. Spiritually dead
people are people who are feutile in their
141
00:13:39.110 --> 00:13:43.620
thinking, darkened in their hearts,
swamped by all manner of lusts and,
142
00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:48.340
despite knowing that all of this sin, in the corruption of their soul,
143
00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:58.370
deserves death, they pursue evil and
godless living with zeal. To summarize,
144
00:13:58.409 --> 00:14:03.850
spiritual death can be defined as the
state of a soul that has been corrupted
145
00:14:05.450 --> 00:14:11.679
by sin, even though a person
may know that such corruption leads to things
146
00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:18.960
like tribulation, distress, wrath,
fury and eternal death for all who commit
147
00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:24.429
such things. The corrupted soul does
nothing about it. Why? Because it's
148
00:14:24.509 --> 00:14:31.629
corrupted, because it's dead. It's
incapable of doing anything good, anything worthy
149
00:14:31.789 --> 00:14:39.100
of justification. Instead, it only
does things worthy of condemnation. A soul
150
00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:43.940
with sin is like a cup of
water that has poison in it. Poisoned
151
00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:48.940
water is now bad water. It
is not capable of doing anything good,
152
00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:52.210
of giving life, of sustaining life, just the opposite. A Cup of
153
00:14:52.690 --> 00:15:00.929
poisoned water brings death. I should
also point out that once water has poison
154
00:15:00.970 --> 00:15:07.679
in it, it's impossible for the
water to unpoison itself. It's corrupted in
155
00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:11.759
such a way that it's incapable of
doing good, it's incapable of real change,
156
00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:16.639
and that's why I say, apart
from a miracle, dead is dead,
157
00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:24.669
no matter how you might try to
dress it up. God's wrath is
158
00:15:24.830 --> 00:15:30.470
coming, Paul says, apart from
a miracle, the soul with sin will
159
00:15:30.789 --> 00:15:37.019
remain dead and like a glass of
poison water, it is worthy only to
160
00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:43.659
be cast out. All this explains
what the apostle means. In chapter one,
161
00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:50.889
verse eighteen, the wrath of God
is revealed from Heaven Against All ungodliness
162
00:15:52.169 --> 00:16:00.889
and unrighteousness of men. But this
explanation of spiritual death helps us also understand
163
00:16:00.970 --> 00:16:07.480
what Paul writes about in verses sixteen
and Seventeen, where he famously says the
164
00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:15.360
Gospel is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes, first to
165
00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:19.309
the Jew and also to the Greek. Why is it the power of God
166
00:16:19.389 --> 00:16:26.950
into salvation? Because he says in
it, the righteousness not of man but
167
00:16:26.149 --> 00:16:33.100
of God is revealed from faith for
faith, as it is written, the
168
00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:40.100
righteous shall live by faith. That's
what this book is about. It's about
169
00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:45.379
how the whole of humanity, Jews
and Greeks, have been given a miracle
170
00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:55.610
capable of bringing dead people to life, and the miracles name is Jesus.
171
00:16:56.730 --> 00:17:02.440
The miracle of Jesus, the miracle
who is Jesus, comes into the world
172
00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:07.680
with power to save us, to
give us a righteousness of God and take
173
00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:17.910
our unrighteousness for himself. So put
away your makeup bags, put away your
174
00:17:18.029 --> 00:17:26.230
combs, for in Jesus, God
actually brings the dead to life, as
175
00:17:26.349 --> 00:17:30.940
the second verse of our next Hymn
says, in thy Dear Cross a grace
176
00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:38.220
is found. It flows from every
streaming wound whose power are inbred. Sin
177
00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:52.410
Controls, breaks firm the bond and
freeze our souls. Let's continue on our
178
00:17:52.490 --> 00:18:03.480
hearing of God's word. Now in
Romans Chapter Three. Then, what advantage
179
00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:07.720
has the Jew or what is the
value of circumcision? Much in every way.
180
00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:12.589
To begin with, the Jews were
entrusted with the oracles of God.
181
00:18:15.029 --> 00:18:19.269
What if some were faithful? Does
their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
182
00:18:21.430 --> 00:18:25.549
By no means. Let God be
true, though everyone were a liar.
183
00:18:26.269 --> 00:18:30.779
As it is written that you may
be justified in your words and prevail when
184
00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:36.819
you are judged. But if our
unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God,
185
00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:41.130
what shall we say? That God
is unrighteous to Inflict Wrath upon us?
186
00:18:41.410 --> 00:18:47.089
I speak in a human way,
by no means. For then how
187
00:18:47.130 --> 00:18:52.289
could God judge the world? But
if, through my lie, God's Truth
188
00:18:52.329 --> 00:18:56.680
Abounds to his glory, Why am
I still being condemned as a sinner?
189
00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:02.839
And why does not, why and
why not? Do Evil that good may
190
00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:07.400
come? As some people slanderously charge
us with saying, their condemnation is just.
191
00:19:10.109 --> 00:19:14.549
What, then, are we Jews
any better off? No, not
192
00:19:14.750 --> 00:19:21.069
at all, for we have already
charge that all, both Jews and Greeks,
193
00:19:21.269 --> 00:19:26.339
are under sin. As it is
written, no one is righteous,
194
00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:30.259
no, not one. No one
understands, no one seeks for God.
195
00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:37.660
All have turned aside. Together,
they have become worthless. No one does
196
00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:41.490
good, not even one. Their
throat is an open grave. They use
197
00:19:41.569 --> 00:19:47.410
their tongues to deceive. The Venom
of ASPS is under their lips. Their
198
00:19:47.490 --> 00:19:52.650
mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood.
199
00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:57.000
In their paths are ruin and misery
and the way of peace. They
200
00:19:57.079 --> 00:20:04.519
have not known. There is no
fear of God before their eyes. Now
201
00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:08.589
we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under
202
00:20:08.589 --> 00:20:14.509
the law, so that every mouth
may be stopped and the whole world may
203
00:20:14.549 --> 00:20:19.509
be held accountable to God, for
by the works of the law no human
204
00:20:19.589 --> 00:20:26.460
being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of
205
00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:33.420
Sin. But now the righteousness of
God has been manifested apart from the law,
206
00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:38.049
although the law and prophets bear witness
to it. The righteousness of God
207
00:20:38.369 --> 00:20:45.410
through faith in Jesus Christ for all
who believe, for there is no distinction,
208
00:20:45.410 --> 00:20:49.680
for all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God and are
209
00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:56.319
justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ,
210
00:20:56.359 --> 00:21:02.440
Jesus, whom God put forward as
a propitiation by his blood, to
211
00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:08.390
be received by faith. This was
to show God's righteousness because in his divine
212
00:21:08.430 --> 00:21:14.829
forbearance, he had passed over former
sins. It was to show his righteousness
213
00:21:14.829 --> 00:21:21.539
at the present time so that he
might be just and the justifier of the
214
00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:26.259
one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of our boasting? It
215
00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:32.660
is excluded by what kind of law? By a law of works? No,
216
00:21:33.609 --> 00:21:37.609
but by the law of faith,
for we hold that one is justified
217
00:21:37.650 --> 00:21:41.369
by faith, apart from the works, of the law. Or is God
218
00:21:41.569 --> 00:21:45.690
the God of the Jews only?
Is he not the god of the gentiles
219
00:21:45.730 --> 00:21:52.000
also, yes, of gentiles also, since God is one who will justify
220
00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:59.680
the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcised
through faith. Do We then overthrow the
221
00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:03.869
law by for this faith? By
no means, on the contrary, we
222
00:22:03.509 --> 00:22:08.109
uphold the law. What, then, shall we say? was gained by
223
00:22:08.150 --> 00:22:14.750
Abraham, our forefather, according to
the flesh? For if Abraham was justified
224
00:22:14.789 --> 00:22:18.299
by works, he has something to
boast about, but not before God.
225
00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:26.539
For what does the Scriptures say?
Abraham believed God and it was counted to
226
00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:32.609
him as righteousness. Now to the
one who works, his wages are not
227
00:22:32.809 --> 00:22:37.130
counted as a gift, but as
his due. And to the one who
228
00:22:37.130 --> 00:22:41.130
does not work but believes in him, who justifies the ungodly, his faith
229
00:22:41.529 --> 00:22:47.799
is counted as righteousness, just as
David also speaks of the blessing of the
230
00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:53.559
one to whom God counts righteousness apart
from works. Blessed are those whose lawless
231
00:22:53.599 --> 00:23:00.910
deeds are forgiven and whose sins are
covered. Blessed is the man against whom
232
00:23:00.910 --> 00:23:07.309
the Lord Will Not Count His sin. Is this blessing, then, only
233
00:23:07.430 --> 00:23:14.859
for the circumcised, or also for
the uncircumcised? For we say that faith
234
00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:18.299
was counted to Abraham is righteousness.
How, then, was it counted to
235
00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:26.059
him? Was it before or after
he had been circumcised? It was not
236
00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:32.329
after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as
237
00:23:32.369 --> 00:23:37.970
a seal of the righteousness that he
had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.
238
00:23:37.930 --> 00:23:42.359
The purpose was to make him the
father of all who believe without being
239
00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:48.799
circumcised, so that righteousness would be
counted to them as well, and to
240
00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:53.160
make him the father of the circumcised, who are not merely circumcised but who
241
00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:59.710
also walk in the footsteps of the
faith that our father Abraham had before he
242
00:23:59.950 --> 00:24:04.869
was circumcised. For the promise to
Abraham and his offspring that he would be
243
00:24:04.910 --> 00:24:11.740
the heir of the world did not
come through the law, but through righteousness,
244
00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:17.140
through the righteousness of faith. For
it is the adherents of the law
245
00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:22.019
who are to be his heirs.
Or for if it is the in adherence
246
00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:26.609
of the law who are to be
the heirs. Faith is null and the
247
00:24:26.690 --> 00:24:32.970
promises void, for the law brings
forth wrath. But where there is no
248
00:24:33.089 --> 00:24:38.160
law, there is no transgression.
That is why it depends on faith in
249
00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:42.960
order that the promise may rest on
grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring,
250
00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:48.279
not only to the adherents of the
law, but also to the one
251
00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:52.200
who shares the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of us all.
252
00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:56.750
As it is written, I have
made you the father of many nations,
253
00:24:56.869 --> 00:25:00.710
in the presence of God, in
whom he believed, who gives life to
254
00:25:00.829 --> 00:25:07.539
the dead and calls into existence the
things that did not exist. In Hope,
255
00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:11.500
he believed, against hope, that
he should become the father of many
256
00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:17.740
nations, as he has been,
as he had been told, so shall
257
00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:22.769
your offspring be. He did not
weaken in his faith when he considered his
258
00:25:22.970 --> 00:25:26.210
own body, which was as good
as dead since he was about a hundred
259
00:25:26.250 --> 00:25:32.609
years old, or when he considered
the barrenness of Sarah's Woo woomb. No
260
00:25:33.450 --> 00:25:38.480
unbelief made him waver. Cons are
sorry, no unbelief made him waver concerning
261
00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:42.720
the promise of God, but he
grew strong in his faith as he gave
262
00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:48.119
glory to God, fully convinced that
he was able, that God was able,
263
00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:52.150
to do what he had promised.
That is why his faith was counted
264
00:25:52.230 --> 00:25:59.549
to him as righteousness. But the
words it was counted to Him we're not
265
00:25:59.710 --> 00:26:04.299
written for his sake alone, but
also for ours. It will be counted
266
00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:10.579
to us who believe in Him who
raised from the dead, Jesus, Our
267
00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:15.579
Lord, who was delivered up for
our trespasses and raised for our justification.
268
00:26:18.690 --> 00:26:22.250
This ends the reading of God's word
for the moment. May bless it to
269
00:26:22.329 --> 00:26:29.650
us all over the course of these
four chapters, God has made two things
270
00:26:29.890 --> 00:26:33.960
perfectly clear now, and you ought
to believe both with all of your heart.
271
00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:42.799
First is that our sinful works earn
US condemnation and death. But I
272
00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:48.869
can through faith, God gives us
the righteous work of Christ so that we
273
00:26:48.950 --> 00:26:55.029
may receive justification in life. If
we stand in our works, we die.
274
00:26:55.549 --> 00:26:59.230
If we stand in the works of
Christ, through faith in him,
275
00:26:59.589 --> 00:27:04.259
trusting in him, we live.
It's beautiful, isn't it? It's grace.
276
00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:11.299
Let's consider both. First, condemnation. These chapters have made it very
277
00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:18.369
clear, crystal clear, that we
are all sinners every single one of us.
278
00:27:18.410 --> 00:27:22.769
It was stated in many ways,
and and in and and very explicitly.
279
00:27:22.890 --> 00:27:29.009
No single person has the personal righteousness
that they need in order to be
280
00:27:29.289 --> 00:27:33.200
justified by God, in order for
God to say, yes, you have
281
00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:37.440
done well, you are innocent and
perfect and holy according to the law.
282
00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:41.960
This even includes the two God two
of the godliest men who have ever lived,
283
00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:48.549
Abraham and David. To put it
plainly, from chapter three, verse
284
00:27:48.630 --> 00:27:53.230
eleven, no one is righteous.
All have sinned and fallen short of the
285
00:27:53.309 --> 00:28:00.779
glory of God. No one has
an excuse. Paul has been saying that
286
00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:07.259
both Jews and gentiles have had access
to God's law. We all know this,
287
00:28:07.980 --> 00:28:11.299
we all know what is moral and
we know that we ought to obey
288
00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:18.049
it. The problem is that we
don't. We Sin Against God, we
289
00:28:18.289 --> 00:28:23.890
break his commandments, and yet we
know that every one will be judged according
290
00:28:23.890 --> 00:28:30.720
to what he has done. May
I speak plainly to you from the Bible.
291
00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:37.559
If any part of you is pretending
that maybe, just maybe, you
292
00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:44.349
happen to be the one person who
is not corrupted by sin, let's stop
293
00:28:44.470 --> 00:28:52.549
that thinking right now. You know, I know, and, most importantly,
294
00:28:52.670 --> 00:28:56.900
God knows that you know the difference
between right and wrong, good and
295
00:28:57.059 --> 00:29:03.339
evil, and yet, at least
sometimes, and honestly, much more than
296
00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:11.529
that, you still purposefully choose to
do the wrong thing. You know what
297
00:29:11.769 --> 00:29:17.210
is right, and yet you do
what is wrong. And we also know
298
00:29:17.369 --> 00:29:22.210
that God, on the other hand, is good, perfectly good, and
299
00:29:22.369 --> 00:29:29.160
God is just. And because of
these two things, God must and God
300
00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:36.440
will hold us accountable for the sins
that we have committed. He will not
301
00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:41.670
fail in this task. God is
not blind, he is perfectly good and
302
00:29:41.869 --> 00:29:47.710
fair, he is all seeing,
he is all powerful, he is holy
303
00:29:47.910 --> 00:29:56.819
and, most wise, he will
judge us according to our sins. For
304
00:29:56.019 --> 00:30:03.579
some of you, this is perhaps
a wake up call. If you have
305
00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:11.809
been pretending, ask yourself how long
have you been ignoring this fact, denying
306
00:30:11.849 --> 00:30:17.809
the true nature of your sin,
denying the judgment that is to come?
307
00:30:18.369 --> 00:30:26.000
Five years, ten, twenty,
fifty? How many more times do you
308
00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:32.400
think God will let you hit the
snooze button before he sends his angels to
309
00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:38.269
come and bring you before the judgment
seat of God? Paul is very clear
310
00:30:38.349 --> 00:30:44.190
here. No one is righteous,
not even one, and God will come
311
00:30:44.470 --> 00:30:52.380
and judge the world. You may
not have even one more hour. Is
312
00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:59.059
this a wakeup call? To you. If so, let it be and
313
00:30:59.220 --> 00:31:07.130
wake up out of great, great
love, before the judgment of the world.
314
00:31:07.769 --> 00:31:11.130
God has sent Jesus, his son, into the word old so that
315
00:31:11.329 --> 00:31:15.930
our sins, which we will all
be judged for, might be judged in
316
00:31:17.130 --> 00:31:22.519
him. God sent his son into
the world that he might be delivered up
317
00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:27.759
for our trestpasses and raised for our
justification. As he says in four hundred
318
00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:34.150
and Twenty Five, Jesus Christ provides
salvation. God is going to judge us
319
00:31:34.269 --> 00:31:37.710
one way or another. The question
is, will he judge us as we
320
00:31:37.869 --> 00:31:42.670
stand before him in our sin,
or will he judge us as those who
321
00:31:42.670 --> 00:31:48.059
have for sin is already passed away
because Christ bore it for us on the
322
00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:56.859
Cross. If we cling to ourselves
and our sinful, corrupt natures and all
323
00:31:56.019 --> 00:32:04.450
the sins that we have committed,
we will find condemnation. But the Bible
324
00:32:04.490 --> 00:32:07.970
is saying, God is telling us
if we trust in his works, we
325
00:32:07.089 --> 00:32:14.450
are given justification and all the blessings
that come with it. This is why
326
00:32:14.490 --> 00:32:23.160
it's called Gospel Good News. God
is offering us salvation from judgment, salvation
327
00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:30.309
from death, salvation from condemnation by
having our death and condemnation placed on Christ.
328
00:32:31.950 --> 00:32:36.990
This is not something we force on
him, this is something he gives
329
00:32:37.349 --> 00:32:44.700
to us out of his great love. Did you hear the words of David's
330
00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:52.660
Song in four or seven? Blessed
are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and
331
00:32:52.900 --> 00:33:00.049
whose sins are covered. Blessed is
the man against whom the Lord Will Not
332
00:33:00.250 --> 00:33:07.009
Count His iniquity. Blessed indeed,
to stand before God and not have your
333
00:33:07.210 --> 00:33:13.119
sins counted against you, to stand
before God and know that your lawless deeds
334
00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:22.680
have been forgiven. What else could
you possibly ask for? No one,
335
00:33:22.599 --> 00:33:30.390
except for God can atone for our
sins, as Christ did. That's why
336
00:33:30.630 --> 00:33:35.029
we come to him and that's why, in our next song, we sing
337
00:33:36.190 --> 00:33:40.660
thy works, not mine. O
Christ, speak gladness to this heart.
338
00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:54.380
They tell me all is done.
They bid my fear depart. Let's continue
339
00:33:54.460 --> 00:34:00.329
in our reading of Romans now in
Romans Chapter Five, and remember that the
340
00:34:00.410 --> 00:34:05.410
word of God, as he speaks
to us, is always true, true
341
00:34:05.650 --> 00:34:15.280
in everything that he says. Trust, believe Romans Chapter Five. Therefore,
342
00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:22.679
since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
343
00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:29.670
Lord Jesus Christ. Through him,
we have also obtained access by faith into
344
00:34:29.710 --> 00:34:34.469
this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice in the hope of the
345
00:34:34.550 --> 00:34:38.340
glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,
346
00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:46.300
knowing that suffering produces endurance, and
endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
347
00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:52.380
and hope does not put us to
shame, because God's love has been
348
00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:57.449
poured into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit, who has been given to us.
349
00:34:58.849 --> 00:35:02.130
For while we were still weak,
at the right time, Christ died
350
00:35:04.170 --> 00:35:09.119
for the ungodly, for one will
scarcely die for a righteous person, though
351
00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:15.280
perhaps for a good person one would
dare even to die. But God shows
352
00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:20.280
his love for us in that,
while we were still sinners, Christ died
353
00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:24.909
for us. Since, therefore,
we have now been justified by his blood,
354
00:35:24.909 --> 00:35:30.630
much more shall we be saved by
him from the wrath of God.
355
00:35:30.949 --> 00:35:35.590
For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the
356
00:35:35.670 --> 00:35:39.380
death of his son, much more, now that we are reconciled shall we
357
00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:45.980
be saved by his life. More
than that, we also rejoice in God
358
00:35:45.219 --> 00:35:52.809
through our Lord Jesus Christ, through
whom we have now received reconciliation. Therefore,
359
00:35:53.530 --> 00:35:58.889
just as sin came into the world
through one man, and death through
360
00:35:59.050 --> 00:36:04.639
sin. And so death spread to
all men because all sinned, for sin
361
00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:08.280
indeed was in the world before the
law was given. But sin is not
362
00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:15.119
counted where there is no law.
Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses,
363
00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:20.510
even over those whose sinning was not
like the transgression of Adam, who was
364
00:36:20.590 --> 00:36:25.230
a type of the one who was
to come. But the free gift is
365
00:36:25.389 --> 00:36:30.110
not like the press trespass, for
if many died through one man's trespass,
366
00:36:30.630 --> 00:36:35.780
much more have the grace of God
and the Free Gift by the grace of
367
00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:39.980
that one man, Jesus Christ,
abounded for many. And the free gift
368
00:36:40.139 --> 00:36:45.340
is not like the result of that
one man's sin. For the judgment following
369
00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:52.650
one trespass brought condemnation, but the
free gift, following many trespasses, brought
370
00:36:52.889 --> 00:36:58.929
justification. For if, because of
one man's trespass, death reigned through that
371
00:36:59.170 --> 00:37:04.960
one man, much more will those
who receive the abundance of grace and the
372
00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:09.079
Free Gift of righteousness reign in life
through the one man, Jesus Christ.
373
00:37:10.199 --> 00:37:15.989
Therefore, as one trespass led to
condemnation for all men, so one act
374
00:37:16.030 --> 00:37:22.710
of righteousness leads to justification and life
for all men. For as by the
375
00:37:22.869 --> 00:37:28.949
one man's disobedience the many were made
sinners, so by the one man's obedience
376
00:37:29.349 --> 00:37:34.900
the many will be made righteous.
Now the law came in to increase the
377
00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:39.539
trespass. But where sin increased,
grace abounded, all the more so that
378
00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:46.449
as sin reigned in death, grace
also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal
379
00:37:46.530 --> 00:37:52.650
life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. What shall we say then? Are
380
00:37:52.730 --> 00:37:59.639
we to continue in sin that grace
may abound? By no means, how
381
00:37:59.719 --> 00:38:02.800
can we who died to sin still
live in it? Do you not know
382
00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:08.119
that all of us who have been
baptized into Christ Jesus, we're baptized into
383
00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:14.389
his death. We were buried,
therefore, with him by baptism into death,
384
00:38:15.269 --> 00:38:17.630
in order that, just as Christ
was raised from the dead by the
385
00:38:17.710 --> 00:38:22.829
glory of the father, we too
might walk in the newness of life,
386
00:38:24.590 --> 00:38:30.179
for if we have been united with
him in a death like his, we
387
00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:36.139
shall certainly be united with him in
a resurrection like his. We know that
388
00:38:36.300 --> 00:38:40.449
our old self was crucified with him
in order that the body of sin might
389
00:38:40.530 --> 00:38:45.610
be brought to nothing, so that
we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
390
00:38:46.849 --> 00:38:52.409
For one who has died has been
set free from sin. Now,
391
00:38:52.489 --> 00:38:55.559
if we have died with Christ,
we believe that we will also live with
392
00:38:55.719 --> 00:39:00.760
him. We know that Christ,
being raised from the dead, will never
393
00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:06.400
die again. Death no longer has
dominion over him, for the death he
394
00:39:06.519 --> 00:39:12.230
died, he died to sin once
for all, but the life he lives,
395
00:39:12.269 --> 00:39:17.630
he lives to God. So you
also must consider yourselves dead to sin
396
00:39:17.750 --> 00:39:25.059
and alive to God. In Christ, Jesus, Let not sin therefore reign
397
00:39:25.179 --> 00:39:30.500
in your mortal body so to make
you obey its passions. Do not present
398
00:39:30.619 --> 00:39:37.619
your members to sin as instruments for
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, but present yourselves to God as
399
00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:42.730
those who have been brought from death
to life, and your members to God
400
00:39:42.849 --> 00:39:47.690
as instruments for righteousness, for sin
will have no dominion over you, since
401
00:39:47.730 --> 00:39:53.000
you are not under law but under
grace. What then, are we to
402
00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:58.639
sin, because we are not under
law but under grace? By no means
403
00:39:59.880 --> 00:40:04.800
do you not know that if you
present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,
404
00:40:05.239 --> 00:40:08.230
you are slaves of the one whom
you obey, either of sin, which
405
00:40:08.269 --> 00:40:13.349
leads to death, or of Obedience, which leads to righteousness. But,
406
00:40:13.510 --> 00:40:16.710
thanks be to God, that you, who are once slaves of sin,
407
00:40:17.389 --> 00:40:22.460
have become obedient from the heart to
the standard of teaching to which you were
408
00:40:22.539 --> 00:40:30.539
committed and, having been set free
from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
409
00:40:30.380 --> 00:40:36.250
I am speaking in human terms because
of your natural limitations. For just
410
00:40:36.449 --> 00:40:42.969
as you once presented your members as
slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, leading
411
00:40:43.010 --> 00:40:49.730
to moral lawlessness, so now present
your members as slaves to righteousness leading to
412
00:40:49.969 --> 00:40:57.679
sanctification. For when you were slaves
of sin, you were free in regard
413
00:40:57.760 --> 00:41:02.199
to righteousness. But what fruit were
you getting at that time from the things
414
00:41:02.280 --> 00:41:08.150
of which you are now ashamed?
For the end of those things is death.
415
00:41:09.510 --> 00:41:14.389
But now, now that you have
been set free from sin and if
416
00:41:14.429 --> 00:41:20.179
becomes slaves of God, the fruit
you get leads to sanctification and its end
417
00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:28.219
eternal life. For the wages of
sin is death, but the free gift
418
00:41:28.300 --> 00:41:39.090
of God is Eternal Life in Christ, Jesus our Lord. So we have
419
00:41:39.250 --> 00:41:45.050
discussed what it means to be justified
before God on the basis of faith,
420
00:41:45.289 --> 00:41:51.400
not of works, trusting not in
ourselves but in the Free Gift of God
421
00:41:51.679 --> 00:41:57.960
through Jesus Christ. But now we
have to ask what are the implications of
422
00:41:58.119 --> 00:42:01.670
this justification? What affect does it
have on our lives? What does it
423
00:42:01.909 --> 00:42:08.070
mean to be a Christian? Paul
begins to tell us in these chapters,
424
00:42:08.190 --> 00:42:15.030
and all highlight three things. First, he says that because we have been
425
00:42:15.190 --> 00:42:22.019
justified by faith in Jesus, we
now have peace with God. Have you
426
00:42:22.059 --> 00:42:28.460
ever sinned against a friend and then
been reconciled with that friend, found peace
427
00:42:28.579 --> 00:42:32.610
again with him or her? That's
a wonderful feeling, isn't it? It's
428
00:42:32.650 --> 00:42:37.570
a wonderful thing to know that once
was broken, a relationship that was broken
429
00:42:37.730 --> 00:42:42.610
is now mended and you are back
together. It's like that with God.
430
00:42:43.570 --> 00:42:50.719
Through faith in Jesus Christ, his
justification gives us access into a permanent grace,
431
00:42:51.280 --> 00:42:55.440
a permanent peace with God. And
for people that were, up until
432
00:42:55.519 --> 00:43:01.469
the our justification were constantly warring with
God, constantly at enmity with God,
433
00:43:02.590 --> 00:43:09.070
the is a very wonderful blessing.
This leads to a second benefit. Because
434
00:43:09.150 --> 00:43:14.900
Jesus is salvation is permanent, so
is our peace. And because our peace
435
00:43:15.019 --> 00:43:17.739
is permanent, it means our hope
of glory of God, the hope of
436
00:43:17.820 --> 00:43:23.420
the glory of God is unshakable.
So much more so that, Paul says,
437
00:43:23.539 --> 00:43:29.929
even in our sufferings, God blesses
us and brings us closer to the
438
00:43:30.010 --> 00:43:36.449
glories of Heaven. Suffering, and
suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character,
439
00:43:36.769 --> 00:43:42.079
and character produces hope, hope that
does not put us to shame. Why?
440
00:43:42.719 --> 00:43:45.480
Because we don't arrive at the end
and realize I was running the wrong
441
00:43:45.519 --> 00:43:51.400
race. Because we are running in
Christ, because Christ is already finished the
442
00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:58.110
race for us. We have certainty
that even our sufferings, God is using
443
00:43:58.989 --> 00:44:04.550
and bringing us closer to the glories
of Heaven. And there's more, another,
444
00:44:04.670 --> 00:44:07.949
a third thing. Not only are
our sufferings perfected and used under the
445
00:44:08.030 --> 00:44:14.300
glory of God, but we ourselves
are perfected and used under the glory of
446
00:44:14.420 --> 00:44:19.780
God. Instead of his enemies,
we become his friends, his children,
447
00:44:20.380 --> 00:44:29.730
his servants. Instead of doggedly pursuing
slavery and obedience to unrighteousness, we're now
448
00:44:29.889 --> 00:44:37.050
set free to with zeal, pursue
the things of God. Justification, God
449
00:44:37.170 --> 00:44:45.840
says in Romans, six, does
not lead to unrighteousness and sin, just
450
00:44:45.079 --> 00:44:51.760
the opposite. How can we who
died to sin still live in it?
451
00:44:52.559 --> 00:44:57.469
Paul says, it just doesn't make
sense. You can't die to something and
452
00:44:57.590 --> 00:45:00.670
yet live in that thing. No, if we are those who have been
453
00:45:00.710 --> 00:45:06.190
raised with Christ, then we are
those who walk in the newness of life,
454
00:45:07.110 --> 00:45:09.699
as he says in six, verse
five, we know that our old
455
00:45:09.860 --> 00:45:15.340
self was crucified with him in order
that the body of sin might be brought
456
00:45:15.340 --> 00:45:23.210
to nothing, so that we would
no longer be enslaved to sin. Another
457
00:45:23.289 --> 00:45:29.809
way to say this is that when
you trust in Christ, you're finally free.
458
00:45:30.969 --> 00:45:37.440
Sin Is no the longer your slave
master, you're no longer under its
459
00:45:37.559 --> 00:45:42.679
dominion and power. You are now
under the grace of God and the power
460
00:45:42.880 --> 00:45:46.320
and the Dominion of Christ, as
the very spirit of God works in you.
461
00:45:47.639 --> 00:45:52.510
Freedom from sin allows us to serve
God as we never could before.
462
00:45:52.150 --> 00:45:58.469
It allows us to be perfectly and
entirely devoted to him. The fruit of
463
00:45:58.590 --> 00:46:05.300
this is growing in holiness, sanctification, and the fruit of sanctification is eternal
464
00:46:05.460 --> 00:46:13.059
life. Before Christ, all that
is different. Paul says in Chapter Five
465
00:46:13.219 --> 00:46:17.099
that because of the sin of Adam, the spiritual and biological father of the
466
00:46:17.139 --> 00:46:23.449
human race, our human nature has
been corrupted by sin. It has been
467
00:46:23.570 --> 00:46:30.969
made sinful, it loves to sin. Before we are united to Christ,
468
00:46:30.769 --> 00:46:37.039
we love to sin, we don't
like the consequences. We get frustrated at
469
00:46:37.079 --> 00:46:42.480
ourselves. We want something better.
We know there's condemnation, so we don't
470
00:46:42.519 --> 00:46:49.309
love it because of that. But
Yet our Lust's control us. The consequence,
471
00:46:49.389 --> 00:46:53.190
Paul says, is of course death. As Paul says in Romans Twelve,
472
00:46:53.789 --> 00:46:59.070
because sin came into the world through
one man and death through sin.
473
00:46:59.550 --> 00:47:05.500
That death spread to all men.
Romans Fourteen says death reigned from Adam to
474
00:47:05.619 --> 00:47:09.139
Moses, even over those who sinning
was not like the transgression of Adam.
475
00:47:10.659 --> 00:47:19.449
Sin and suffering, transgression and death, hopelessness. These are the words for
476
00:47:19.570 --> 00:47:27.570
those who live under the death plague
of Adam, but where the wages of
477
00:47:27.730 --> 00:47:34.719
sin is death for those who have
died to sin. In Christ we find
478
00:47:34.840 --> 00:47:38.920
a new thing, the free gift
of God, Eternal Life. In Christ,
479
00:47:39.000 --> 00:47:43.880
Jesus our Lord, and it brings
a whole new set of words,
480
00:47:44.550 --> 00:47:50.590
righteousness, sanctification, character, endurance, hope. It brings in us a
481
00:47:50.710 --> 00:47:55.630
holy longing for God, instead of
enmity with God. It brings in us
482
00:47:55.630 --> 00:48:01.380
a desire for him that he satisfies
us. satify satisfies in us by giving
483
00:48:01.420 --> 00:48:08.780
US himself in Christ this is the
great change that happens when we change from
484
00:48:08.820 --> 00:48:15.489
those who were once in Adam and
in death to those who are in Christ
485
00:48:15.369 --> 00:48:22.929
and in life. Let's respond to
this grace of God by singing him six
486
00:48:23.010 --> 00:48:29.039
hundred and sixty one. This hymn
takes a comparison from psalm forty two,
487
00:48:29.920 --> 00:48:34.599
which says as the dear pants for
streams of water, so my soul pants
488
00:48:34.679 --> 00:48:45.670
for you. We come to our
last pair of chapters this morning. Pray
489
00:48:45.829 --> 00:48:52.829
that you are being blessed by hearing
a God's word. Remind you that the
490
00:48:54.110 --> 00:49:00.739
fossil Paul Tells Timothy to devote himself
to the reading of God, God's word.
491
00:49:00.860 --> 00:49:06.139
It's in that joy and spirit that
I am happy to read to you.
492
00:49:07.099 --> 00:49:15.610
Let's hear God's word now from Romans
seven and Romans A, as we
493
00:49:15.730 --> 00:49:20.610
conclude this half of the book this
morning. Give your attention to this.
494
00:49:20.730 --> 00:49:25.920
It's God's word. Or do you
not know, brothers? For I am
495
00:49:25.960 --> 00:49:30.639
speaking to those who know the law, that the law is binding on a
496
00:49:30.719 --> 00:49:35.159
person only as long as he lives. For a married woman is bound by
497
00:49:35.199 --> 00:49:38.789
law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies, she
498
00:49:38.949 --> 00:49:44.110
is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an
499
00:49:44.110 --> 00:49:47.710
adultress if she lives with another man
while her husband is alive, but if
500
00:49:47.750 --> 00:49:52.980
her husband dies, she is free
from that law, and if she marries
501
00:49:52.019 --> 00:49:57.940
another man, she is not an
adultress. Likewise, my brothers, you
502
00:49:58.219 --> 00:50:01.860
also have died to the law through
the body of Christ, so that you
503
00:50:02.019 --> 00:50:07.010
may belong to one another, to
him who has been raised from the dead,
504
00:50:07.889 --> 00:50:13.130
in order that we might bear fruit
for God. For while we were
505
00:50:13.250 --> 00:50:17.050
living in the flesh, our sinful
passions, aroused by the law, were
506
00:50:17.090 --> 00:50:22.280
at work in our members to bear
fruit for death. But now we are
507
00:50:22.320 --> 00:50:27.760
released from the law, having died
to that which held US captive, so
508
00:50:27.880 --> 00:50:30.239
that we serve in the new way
of the spirit and not in the old
509
00:50:30.320 --> 00:50:36.030
way of the written code. What, then, shall we say that the
510
00:50:36.070 --> 00:50:40.829
law is sin? By no means. Yet if it had not been for
511
00:50:40.949 --> 00:50:45.829
the law, I would not have
known sin, for I would not have
512
00:50:45.989 --> 00:50:49.230
known what it is to cove it
if the law had not said you shall
513
00:50:49.389 --> 00:50:53.900
not cove it. But sin,
seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced
514
00:50:54.019 --> 00:51:00.619
in me all kinds of covetiousness.
For apart from the law, sin lies
515
00:51:00.739 --> 00:51:05.730
dead. I was once alive apart
from the law. But when the commandment
516
00:51:05.849 --> 00:51:10.969
came, sin came alive and I
died, for the very commandment that promised
517
00:51:12.050 --> 00:51:17.599
life proved to be death to me, for sin, seizing an opportunity through
518
00:51:17.760 --> 00:51:24.239
the commandment, deceived me and through
it killed me. So the law is
519
00:51:24.440 --> 00:51:31.119
holy and the commandment is holy and
righteous and good. Did that which is
520
00:51:31.320 --> 00:51:38.550
good then bring death to me?
By no means. It was sin producing
521
00:51:38.630 --> 00:51:43.389
death in me through what was good. Well, what is good, in
522
00:51:43.590 --> 00:51:47.860
order that sin might be shown to
be sin and through the commandment, might
523
00:51:49.980 --> 00:51:55.019
and through the commandment, might become
sinful beyond measure. For we know that
524
00:51:55.139 --> 00:52:00.179
the law is spiritual, but I, I am of the Flesh, sould
525
00:52:00.260 --> 00:52:05.889
under sin, for I do not
understand my own actions, for I do
526
00:52:06.050 --> 00:52:08.329
not do what I want to do, but I do the very thing I
527
00:52:08.610 --> 00:52:14.650
hate. Now, if I do
what I do not want, I agree
528
00:52:14.690 --> 00:52:19.079
with the law that is good.
So now it is no longer I who
529
00:52:19.119 --> 00:52:22.519
do it, but sin that dwells
within me, for I know that nothing
530
00:52:22.679 --> 00:52:27.960
good dwells in me, that is
in my flesh, for I have the
531
00:52:28.079 --> 00:52:30.949
desire to do what is right,
but not the ability to carry it out,
532
00:52:31.789 --> 00:52:35.909
for I do not do the good
I want, but the evil I
533
00:52:35.989 --> 00:52:38.909
do not want. Is what I
keep on doing. Now, if I
534
00:52:39.110 --> 00:52:43.429
do what I do not want,
it is no longer I who do it,
535
00:52:44.070 --> 00:52:47.619
but sin that dwells within me.
So I find it to be a
536
00:52:47.780 --> 00:52:52.340
law that, when I want to
do right, evil lies close at hand.
537
00:52:53.460 --> 00:52:58.139
For I delight in the Law of
God in my inner being, but
538
00:52:58.219 --> 00:53:01.050
I see in my members another law, waging war against the law of my
539
00:53:01.210 --> 00:53:07.050
mind and making me captive to the
law of sin that dwells in my members,
540
00:53:07.929 --> 00:53:10.969
wretched man that I am, who
will deliver me from this body of
541
00:53:12.130 --> 00:53:16.119
death, thanks be to God,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So
542
00:53:16.400 --> 00:53:22.079
then, I myself serve the law
of God with my mind, but with
543
00:53:22.239 --> 00:53:27.909
my flesh I serve the law of
sin. There is therefore, or now,
544
00:53:27.949 --> 00:53:34.550
no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus, for the law of
545
00:53:34.710 --> 00:53:37.869
the spirit of life has set you
free, in Christ Jesus, from the
546
00:53:37.949 --> 00:53:43.619
Law of sin and death, for
God has done what the law, weakened
547
00:53:43.619 --> 00:53:49.219
by the flesh, could not do
by sending his own son in the likeness
548
00:53:49.260 --> 00:53:53.980
of sinful flesh and for sin.
He condemned sin in the flesh in order
549
00:53:54.019 --> 00:54:00.769
that the righteous requirements of the law
might be fulfilled in us who walk not
550
00:54:00.889 --> 00:54:05.570
according to the flesh but according to
the spirit. For those who live according
551
00:54:05.570 --> 00:54:08.730
to the flesh set their minds on
the things of the flesh, but those
552
00:54:08.809 --> 00:54:13.760
who live according to the spirit set
their minds on the things of the spirit.
553
00:54:14.880 --> 00:54:17.800
For to set the mind on the
flesh is death, but to set
554
00:54:17.880 --> 00:54:22.960
the mind on the spirit is life
and peace. For the mind that is
555
00:54:23.079 --> 00:54:29.309
set on the flesh is hostile to
God, for it does not submit to
556
00:54:29.429 --> 00:54:36.429
God's law. Indeed it cannot.
Those who are in the flesh cannot please
557
00:54:36.510 --> 00:54:40.940
God. You, however, are
not in the flesh but in the spirit.
558
00:54:42.579 --> 00:54:45.099
If, in fact, the spirit
of God dwells in you. Anyone
559
00:54:45.139 --> 00:54:50.139
who does not have the spirit of
Christ does not belong to him. But
560
00:54:50.300 --> 00:54:53.170
if Christ is in you, although
the body is dead because of sin,
561
00:54:53.889 --> 00:55:00.530
the spirit is life because of righteousness. If the spirit of him who raised
562
00:55:00.570 --> 00:55:05.489
Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the
563
00:55:05.530 --> 00:55:12.199
dead will also give life to your
mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in
564
00:55:12.440 --> 00:55:17.079
you. So then, brothers,
we are debtors not to the flesh,
565
00:55:17.280 --> 00:55:22.230
to live according to the flesh,
for if you live according to the flesh,
566
00:55:22.269 --> 00:55:24.710
you will die, but if,
by the spirit, you put to
567
00:55:24.869 --> 00:55:30.550
death the deeds of the body,
you will live. For All who are
568
00:55:30.550 --> 00:55:34.670
led by the spirit of God are
sons of God, for you did not
569
00:55:34.909 --> 00:55:39.340
receive the spirit of slavery to fall
back into fear, but you have received
570
00:55:39.380 --> 00:55:46.900
the spirit of adoption as sons by
whom we cry Abba Father. The Spirit
571
00:55:46.980 --> 00:55:52.530
himself bears witness with our spirit that
we are children of God, and if
572
00:55:52.610 --> 00:56:00.289
children, then heirs, heirs of
God and fellow airs with Christ, provided
573
00:56:00.369 --> 00:56:04.920
we suffer with him in order that
we might also be glorified with him.
574
00:56:06.760 --> 00:56:12.760
For I consider that the sufferings of
this present time are not worth comparing to
575
00:56:12.840 --> 00:56:16.119
the glory that is to be revealed
to us, for the creation waits with
576
00:56:16.280 --> 00:56:21.989
eager longing for the revealing of the
sons of God, for the creation was
577
00:56:22.309 --> 00:56:25.670
subjected to futility, not willingly,
but because of him who subjected it.
578
00:56:27.349 --> 00:56:31.269
In hope that the creation itself will
be set free from its bondage to corruption
579
00:56:31.309 --> 00:56:37.539
and obtain the freedom of the glory
of the Children of God, for we
580
00:56:37.820 --> 00:56:43.739
know that the whole creation has been
groaning together in the pains of childbirth until
581
00:56:43.780 --> 00:56:49.489
now, and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the
582
00:56:49.610 --> 00:56:54.369
first fruits of the spirit grown inwardly, as we wait eagerly for adoption,
583
00:56:54.610 --> 00:57:00.849
is sons, the redemption of our
bodies, for in this hope we are
584
00:57:00.889 --> 00:57:06.519
saved. Now hope that is seen
as not hope, for who hopes for
585
00:57:06.599 --> 00:57:09.400
what he sees? But if we
hope for what we do not see,
586
00:57:10.320 --> 00:57:16.389
we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the spirit helps us in our weakness.
587
00:57:17.429 --> 00:57:21.989
We do not know what to pray
for, as we ought, but
588
00:57:22.110 --> 00:57:27.789
the spirit himself intercedes for us with
groanings too deep for words. And he
589
00:57:28.070 --> 00:57:32.340
who searches hearts knows what is the
mind of the spirit, because the spirit
590
00:57:32.420 --> 00:57:37.539
the intercedes for the saints according to
the will of God, and we know
591
00:57:37.699 --> 00:57:42.460
that for those who love God,
all things work together for good and though,
592
00:57:42.780 --> 00:57:46.369
and for those who are called according
to his purpose, for those whom
593
00:57:46.369 --> 00:57:52.289
he fore knew, he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his
594
00:57:52.409 --> 00:57:58.250
son in order that he might be
the firstborn among many brothers. And those
595
00:57:58.449 --> 00:58:02.519
he whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also
596
00:58:02.679 --> 00:58:09.400
justified and those whom he justified,
he also glorified. What, then,
597
00:58:09.559 --> 00:58:15.510
shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can
598
00:58:15.550 --> 00:58:20.349
be against us? He who did
not spare his own son, but gave
599
00:58:20.389 --> 00:58:23.349
him up for us all, how
will he not also, with him,
600
00:58:23.630 --> 00:58:30.619
graciously give us all things? Who
shall bring a charge against God's elect it
601
00:58:30.780 --> 00:58:35.539
is God who justifies. Who is
to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one
602
00:58:35.579 --> 00:58:38.780
who died, more than that,
who was raised, who is at the
603
00:58:38.860 --> 00:58:45.449
right hand of God, who indeed
is interceding for us? WHO shall separate
604
00:58:45.610 --> 00:58:52.289
us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine,
605
00:58:52.530 --> 00:58:58.679
or nakedness or danger or sword,
as it is written? For Your
606
00:58:58.840 --> 00:59:01.599
Sake, we are being killed all
the day long. We are regarded as
607
00:59:01.679 --> 00:59:07.719
sheep to be slaughtered. No,
in all these things, we are more
608
00:59:07.039 --> 00:59:14.869
than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death,
609
00:59:15.389 --> 00:59:20.110
nor life, nor angels, nor
rulers, nor things present, nor
610
00:59:20.230 --> 00:59:24.099
things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor death, nor anything
611
00:59:24.139 --> 00:59:30.420
else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of
612
00:59:30.699 --> 00:59:45.130
God in Christ Jesus, Our Lord
Amen to know that nothing will separate us
613
00:59:45.210 --> 00:59:52.239
from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord, is a spectacular thing
614
00:59:54.000 --> 01:00:04.159
at it includes even our own sin. Our own sin will not separate us
615
01:00:04.639 --> 01:00:09.110
from the love of God in Christ
Jesus Our Lord. And, as we've
616
01:00:09.110 --> 01:00:14.070
been thinking about, through chapter after
chapters, Paul has been developing in all
617
01:00:14.150 --> 01:00:19.510
kinds of ways. That's amazing,
because sin leads to death, sin leads
618
01:00:19.550 --> 01:00:24.380
to condemnation, and yet here we
stand and say there is no condemnation for
619
01:00:24.500 --> 01:00:30.179
me. Somebody responds, but aren't
you a sinner? Yes, but aren't
620
01:00:30.179 --> 01:00:36.010
you ungodly? Yes, then,
how can you have no condemnation? How
621
01:00:36.050 --> 01:00:42.489
can there be no condemnation for you? Because I am in Christ, because
622
01:00:42.530 --> 01:00:49.409
I am held by the love of
God in Christ Jesus Our Lord. What
623
01:00:49.530 --> 01:00:55.039
about the strength of your sin?
Isn't it strong? Indeed? There once
624
01:00:55.159 --> 01:01:00.360
was a man who went into work. He saw a plate of cookies and
625
01:01:00.519 --> 01:01:05.750
next to the plate was a sign
that said, please take only take one.
626
01:01:07.230 --> 01:01:13.710
He takes one, but he really
wants to. Next Day comes into
627
01:01:13.710 --> 01:01:15.869
work and he sees the same plate
of cookies again. There's a plate,
628
01:01:16.550 --> 01:01:22.619
plate there and a sign next to
this as please only take two. Happily,
629
01:01:22.659 --> 01:01:28.139
he takes two. Cookies, but
strangely now he wants three. You
630
01:01:28.260 --> 01:01:32.010
know this is true. You experienced
this all the time. You see it
631
01:01:32.289 --> 01:01:36.969
happen all the time, and this
is why we have all kinds of rules
632
01:01:37.010 --> 01:01:42.170
and regulations to sort of bound these
things, to limit ourselves, to threaten
633
01:01:42.369 --> 01:01:45.809
judgment, to try and keep us
on the same track, because sin is
634
01:01:45.889 --> 01:01:53.320
so strong, whether it's a plate
of cookies or another man's wife. Conciousness,
635
01:01:53.400 --> 01:01:58.239
Paul says, came into him.
He knew it and it was hard.
636
01:02:00.199 --> 01:02:07.829
This is what Paul's helping us to
understand in chapter seven. Our Sin
637
01:02:09.070 --> 01:02:16.420
is hungry sin, the hunger of
greed and of covetousness. Sin Is not
638
01:02:16.699 --> 01:02:22.219
nearly is not merely breaking one of
God's rules. See and has this force
639
01:02:22.460 --> 01:02:28.300
in our flesh. When it comes
into contact with the law, even a
640
01:02:28.500 --> 01:02:32.610
good law, even God's Law,
Holy Law, sin begins to stir up
641
01:02:32.690 --> 01:02:37.690
in US disobedience which we commit with
our bodies and thereby earn the wages of
642
01:02:37.809 --> 01:02:42.969
sin, which is death. Here's
how Paul puts it in seven. Five
643
01:02:44.360 --> 01:02:49.719
for while we were living in the
flesh, are sinful passions aroused by the
644
01:02:49.800 --> 01:02:55.159
law. Please only take one.
Sin Gets aroused by the law works in
645
01:02:55.320 --> 01:03:01.150
our members and bears fruit for death, whether they're there. It's covetousness or
646
01:03:02.070 --> 01:03:07.869
or theft, or adultery or idolatry
or any number of things. But of
647
01:03:07.949 --> 01:03:13.780
course this power of sin that's in
US gets only worse, because when God
648
01:03:13.900 --> 01:03:17.619
judges this sin, or even when
our own conscience is judge our sin,
649
01:03:19.099 --> 01:03:22.739
how does the flesh respond? With
defiance. It stamps his foot and says
650
01:03:22.820 --> 01:03:28.889
No. The law says your guilty, and then, of course the sinner
651
01:03:29.170 --> 01:03:36.210
defiantly tries to excuse himself, often
by lying, and the cycle continues.
652
01:03:37.210 --> 01:03:40.440
This is the power of sin,
this is the power of a soul that
653
01:03:40.679 --> 01:03:49.840
is sick with sin. The cycle
continues, a selfinflicted slavery of the soul.
654
01:03:51.760 --> 01:03:54.519
But Paul wants us to understand something
more than the nature of Sin.
655
01:03:55.030 --> 01:04:00.829
He also wants us to understand the
freedom that we have from sin, what
656
01:04:00.949 --> 01:04:06.710
it means that Christ has broken that
chain, broken that cycle and made something
657
01:04:06.909 --> 01:04:15.420
new in us, given us his
spirit. People can have freedom from sin
658
01:04:15.619 --> 01:04:20.179
through faith in Christ because on the
Christ are, on the Cross, Jesus
659
01:04:20.380 --> 01:04:27.929
bore the penalty of our sins and
released us from this cycle, released us
660
01:04:27.969 --> 01:04:31.170
from the debt we owe to God. More than that, Jesus has given
661
01:04:31.210 --> 01:04:36.170
us his spirit, which is opposed
to the flesh, and this is a
662
01:04:36.250 --> 01:04:40.960
good thing, because the spirit of
God, let me tell you, is
663
01:04:41.159 --> 01:04:45.199
very strong. Do you remember,
at the very beginning of the world,
664
01:04:45.239 --> 01:04:50.199
who it was that was hovering over
the waters as all before all of creation
665
01:04:50.360 --> 01:04:57.469
came into existence? Was the spirit
of God. It is by the spirit
666
01:04:57.590 --> 01:05:00.710
that new life is brought into us, and that's why Paul says not just
667
01:05:00.909 --> 01:05:06.420
we're conquerors, but we are more
than conquerors. I'm not even sure what
668
01:05:06.500 --> 01:05:12.139
that is, but it's certainly very
high. We are powerful, we are
669
01:05:12.179 --> 01:05:16.460
strong, not because we are in
ourselves, but because God has made us
670
01:05:16.980 --> 01:05:24.530
new, because we have something from
outside of ourselves. We have been raised
671
01:05:24.610 --> 01:05:28.210
up by the spirit, the same
spirit, by the way, Paul says,
672
01:05:28.570 --> 01:05:32.849
who raised up Christ's mortal body.
If he raised up Jesus as body
673
01:05:32.969 --> 01:05:38.880
and you're in him, will he
not also raise up your mortal body?
674
01:05:40.440 --> 01:05:46.599
Death to life, not styling hair, not putting makeup on, not dressing
675
01:05:46.639 --> 01:05:53.829
up clothes or adding jewelry to make
it appear alive, real life, real
676
01:05:54.190 --> 01:06:00.829
conquering, being justified in Christ.
Apart from the law means that we're no
677
01:06:01.110 --> 01:06:06.699
longer enslave to the law as we
once were. This is what Romans eight
678
01:06:06.820 --> 01:06:14.739
six says. The spirit in US
brings forth these flowers of righteousness, were
679
01:06:14.860 --> 01:06:21.730
only the barren desert of sin used
to be. It's Christians, you may
680
01:06:21.889 --> 01:06:27.809
struggle to obey. You will struggle
to obey for the flash on the spirit
681
01:06:27.849 --> 01:06:32.320
or at war when you there is
a struggle there, but Paul makes very
682
01:06:32.639 --> 01:06:38.639
clear in these verses that that struggle
will come to an end, and it
683
01:06:38.679 --> 01:06:46.230
will come to a good end.
We are no longer held captive by the
684
01:06:46.309 --> 01:06:56.710
law. Instead, we are protected
by God's grace. How much are you
685
01:06:56.909 --> 01:07:02.500
protected by God's grace? God tells
us in Romans a. He tells us
686
01:07:02.579 --> 01:07:06.179
that the spirit of Christ himself is
in US and is working in us,
687
01:07:06.579 --> 01:07:11.300
testifying to us that we are children
of God. He tells us that the
688
01:07:11.420 --> 01:07:15.730
same spirit of Christ will raise our
mortal bodies from the dead. He tells
689
01:07:15.769 --> 01:07:19.050
us that the spirit himself is interceding
for us, helping us in our weakness.
690
01:07:19.530 --> 01:07:23.329
He tells us that we, who
are in Christ, were chosen and
691
01:07:24.010 --> 01:07:28.730
loved by him before we even knew
him, while you were yet sinners.
692
01:07:28.969 --> 01:07:34.000
Christ died for you, and that
love, which predestined us for salvation,
693
01:07:34.599 --> 01:07:44.670
will one day lead us to glorification. And so nothing can separate you from
694
01:07:44.710 --> 01:07:49.869
the love of God in Christ,
Jesus, Our Lord. The sinful flesh
695
01:07:49.949 --> 01:07:55.309
in you will tell you that you
need all kinds of things to make you
696
01:07:55.550 --> 01:08:02.500
happy and to make you free but
beloved. There's only one thing you need,
697
01:08:03.739 --> 01:08:14.090
and that's Jesus. Let's conclude this
morning service by singing him four hundred
698
01:08:14.210 --> 01:08:16.810
ninety seven. I need the precious
Jesus.
