Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:08.029
If you would turn with me to
the reading from Romans chapter, Chapter Three,
2
00:00:08.070 --> 00:00:18.469
Verse Twenty Eight through Chapter Four,
Verse Eight. For we maintain that
3
00:00:18.589 --> 00:00:22.940
a man is justified by faith,
apart from the works of the law?
4
00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:28.699
Or is God the God of Jews? Only he is not God of is
5
00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:33.020
he not God of gentiles? Also? Yes, of gentiles. Also.
6
00:00:33.020 --> 00:00:38.969
So, if indeed God is one
and he will justify the circumcised by faith
7
00:00:39.530 --> 00:00:45.450
and the uncircumcised through faith, do
we then nullify the law through faith?
8
00:00:46.369 --> 00:00:51.640
May It never be. On the
contrary, we establish the law. What,
9
00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:56.679
then, shall we say of Abraham, our fourth our forefather, according
10
00:00:56.719 --> 00:01:03.119
to the flesh has found? For
if Abraham is justified by works, he
11
00:01:03.240 --> 00:01:07.310
has something to boast about, but
not before God. For what does the
12
00:01:07.390 --> 00:01:15.430
Scripture say? And Abraham believed God
and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
13
00:01:15.390 --> 00:01:19.739
Now to the one who works,
his wage is not reckoned as a
14
00:01:19.819 --> 00:01:25.579
favor but as what is due.
But to the one who does not work
15
00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:32.540
but believed in him, who it
justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned
16
00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:38.290
as righteousness. Just as David also
speaks of the blessing upon man to whom
17
00:01:38.370 --> 00:01:46.010
God reckons righteousness. Apart from works. Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have
18
00:01:46.170 --> 00:01:51.439
been forgiven and whose sins have been
covered. Blessed is a man who sin
19
00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:57.319
the Lord will not, will not
take into account. Is this blessing,
20
00:01:57.480 --> 00:02:06.150
then, upon the circumcised only,
or the uncircumcised also? For we say
21
00:02:06.269 --> 00:02:17.300
faith was reckoned Abraham as righteousness less
reading of God's Holy Word? Let me
22
00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:27.300
read once again our theme verse in
Chapter Three, Verse Twenty Eight, for
23
00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:31.770
we maintain that a man is justified
by faith apart from works of the law.
24
00:02:34.930 --> 00:02:38.849
Before we move on end to that, let me say it's been a
25
00:02:38.969 --> 00:02:44.840
long time since I had the privilege
to open the word with this congregation,
26
00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:50.319
and quite a few years ago,
but there were a variety of times in
27
00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:54.199
however, one of the blessings of
retirement, if I might throw that in,
28
00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:00.669
for a pastor, is being able
to visit various churches from week to
29
00:03:00.789 --> 00:03:04.430
week, if you can sneak away
and get by with it, and see
30
00:03:04.469 --> 00:03:12.550
what others are preaching and how healthy
churches are and what one might report back
31
00:03:12.629 --> 00:03:16.539
to the faithful and all of those
kinds of things. However, churches which
32
00:03:16.659 --> 00:03:23.819
begin well and Orthodox, there's always
a however, you realize on these things,
33
00:03:23.939 --> 00:03:29.330
and maybe even before I say that, I should say that most of
34
00:03:29.370 --> 00:03:35.930
their reform churches that I've gone to
and worshiped with, I've been very pleased
35
00:03:36.050 --> 00:03:42.000
and happy with what I found and
on balance we are in good shape,
36
00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:49.560
that we can always be improved.
But there are churches out there who begin
37
00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:53.879
well. They start, they've got
a plan, they stick with it for
38
00:03:53.919 --> 00:04:01.229
a time, but inside and in
times things begin to loosen and churches start
39
00:04:01.310 --> 00:04:09.430
to go astray and many new churches
often begin or come out of liberal churches.
40
00:04:09.949 --> 00:04:13.620
After there are those who have gotten
tired of the movement out of the
41
00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:17.899
Orthodoxy that they've enjoyed and a new
church will begin and they're sort of a
42
00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:23.620
cycle sometimes that we see there.
That that I've picked up and one of
43
00:04:23.660 --> 00:04:29.610
the things that I have been and
concerned about is churches that begin with a
44
00:04:29.730 --> 00:04:39.600
strong foundation and become basically reformed churches
in name but are broadly only broadly evangelical,
45
00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:45.560
if that it may be. Even
worse. Now, my observation in
46
00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:50.480
visiting various churches and always to see
one of the weaknesses that I found with
47
00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:59.389
the lack of doctrinal preaching. There's
a lot of stories, a lot of
48
00:04:59.790 --> 00:05:03.589
inspiration, a lot of good preaching, as it were, but they're just
49
00:05:04.110 --> 00:05:10.899
isn't very much talk about doctrine or
teaching of it in families anymore. How
50
00:05:10.939 --> 00:05:16.339
many of you catechise your children?
And there's there's weaknesses to come and before
51
00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:23.250
long a church begins to decline or
forget about things and the evening worship is
52
00:05:24.370 --> 00:05:30.329
stopped because no one was coming or
few were coming, and the things are
53
00:05:30.410 --> 00:05:38.680
just dying down. The confession scripture
alone is is not stressed that much any
54
00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:46.560
word. The Count Can the confessional
foundation is it isn't seen evening, I
55
00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:51.269
say evening service, cuts, unbiblical
divorces permitted by the session on one occasion
56
00:05:51.310 --> 00:05:57.709
and other things begin to get looser
and all matter standard, standard start to
57
00:05:57.790 --> 00:06:03.459
go. And My lone observation is
that I like to jump into doctrine from
58
00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:06.620
time to time because, one,
I enjoy it, but be two,
59
00:06:06.740 --> 00:06:15.620
because I think it's absolutely necessary.
And what I want to look at is
60
00:06:15.779 --> 00:06:18.649
and work around that. Thung is
one of the very important doctrines for us
61
00:06:19.730 --> 00:06:29.529
in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Was the long drive down here got dry
62
00:06:30.449 --> 00:06:39.360
on the way. I want to
have in mind that famous slogan of the
63
00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:44.800
reformation. That's where we sort of
go back to to where we got established
64
00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:47.550
and and all of us, I
think it, that have been exposed to
65
00:06:47.949 --> 00:06:53.949
our churches at all, know of
justification by faith alone. It's a slogan
66
00:06:54.069 --> 00:06:58.269
that that has stood the past the
time. It needs to be expanded to
67
00:06:59.189 --> 00:07:02.420
fill in what all is involved in
that, but it is a clue which
68
00:07:02.459 --> 00:07:09.139
we do have, and the the
wonderful thing about it is that it is
69
00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:15.129
simple enough if we keep it simple
and explicit. But some have made faith
70
00:07:15.170 --> 00:07:23.810
a work, a good work,
that they see their their their faith is
71
00:07:23.850 --> 00:07:26.370
a see it as kind of loose
and they have even doing well in the
72
00:07:26.410 --> 00:07:30.240
ankle. I need to move this
up some or I'll be in trouble with
73
00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:34.720
God, and before long they're looking
as a good work rather than SIMP thantly
74
00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:40.839
the receiving of what God has given
to us. And that is a dangerous
75
00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:46.189
thing if we begin to boast in
anything that we bring. So it's some
76
00:07:46.350 --> 00:07:50.550
of that that kind of danger.
I'll thinking we are in the faith that
77
00:07:50.750 --> 00:07:57.029
has that is based on grace and
a faith which becomes a work by which
78
00:07:57.069 --> 00:08:03.060
we earn our salvation and are being
good or better and thinking that God will
79
00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:07.100
bless us more highly on that basis. Now I want us to keep that,
80
00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:13.569
that praise, in mind and I
hope to underscore the grace of justification.
81
00:08:13.410 --> 00:08:16.529
It's, you know, the key
to the slogan is faith, but
82
00:08:16.689 --> 00:08:22.129
it's centered on grace. It's it's
a reception of the grace that we have
83
00:08:22.449 --> 00:08:28.360
as a gift from God, and
sometimes we one gets so wrapped up in
84
00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:35.519
his faith that the centrality of grace
is lost and we think we are really
85
00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:41.240
saving ourselves by getting into this justification
by faith thing, and that's what I'm
86
00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:46.230
wanting to work against from the negative
side. Now, my intention is to
87
00:08:46.350 --> 00:08:52.590
examine something all this grace of faith, which is very important and for us,
88
00:08:52.629 --> 00:08:58.980
and the specific text with which I
would do this is our text,
89
00:08:58.100 --> 00:09:05.820
verse from Romans Twenty Eight, for
we maintain that a man is justified by
90
00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:09.970
faith. And here's the most important
thing you can get out of this,
91
00:09:11.490 --> 00:09:18.970
apart from the works of the law. That's where the slip comes in the
92
00:09:18.169 --> 00:09:26.919
grace and takes any thing on our
part away. It's all of grace.
93
00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:35.759
We are proud of our doctrines of
grace that we live by as calvinist or
94
00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:41.029
reform people. But grace is in
this and it's that to which faith is
95
00:09:41.309 --> 00:09:46.029
welcoming. But it's not something we
do. We are not, we would
96
00:09:46.029 --> 00:09:48.830
not come to faith on our own. It's a gift of God. The
97
00:09:48.909 --> 00:09:52.019
Bible calls it that. It's a
faith, is a gift from God.
98
00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:56.779
So we've got to grasp the faith. And one of the most important things
99
00:09:56.899 --> 00:10:01.340
that struck me when I decided to
go down this route, and just in
100
00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:07.100
terms of doctrine in the needs,
is the that last part of the the
101
00:10:07.929 --> 00:10:13.610
verse. They're apart from works of
the law. Every time you think of
102
00:10:13.690 --> 00:10:20.370
justification by faith alone, remember that
exclusion. Now there's another interesting part from
103
00:10:20.370 --> 00:10:26.720
the reformation about this that struck me
when Martin Luther was producing the German translation
104
00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:31.039
of the New Testament, in fifteen
twenty one, by the way, and
105
00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:35.710
the weas and vacation I had the
opportunity to see that Bible that he translated
106
00:10:37.149 --> 00:10:43.470
in a museum and as we were
for the five hundredth anniversary of the reformation.
107
00:10:43.549 --> 00:10:48.669
And writing takes a lot of paper
and while it's about the a size,
108
00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:54.419
in this way, sitting there in
the under the glass, it's about
109
00:10:54.460 --> 00:10:58.100
that tall. I mean it's like
you had a stack of these as your
110
00:10:58.179 --> 00:11:01.259
Bible. It was just an interesting
thing. That has nothing to do with
111
00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:05.450
what I'm saying, but I thought
you might want to get something that you
112
00:11:05.529 --> 00:11:11.049
might remember out of all of this. But at Inter when Martin Luther was
113
00:11:11.169 --> 00:11:15.289
producing that translation, which was an
amazing task, to get it into the
114
00:11:15.409 --> 00:11:20.320
German language so the ordinary people that
at least could speak a language could read
115
00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:24.240
the scriptures, that have access to
it. But one of the interesting things
116
00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.480
was in when he was doing that, in one thousand five hundred twenty one
117
00:11:31.159 --> 00:11:39.909
is he translated the text verse in
this way. Therefore, we conclude that
118
00:11:41.070 --> 00:11:48.700
a man is justified by faith alone
without the deeds of the law. Same
119
00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:50.539
thing, basically, is what I
read from my version of the Bible,
120
00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:58.580
except what works instead of deeds.
But it's faith alone without the works of
121
00:11:58.659 --> 00:12:05.370
the law. Always remember that when
you're dealing with that, that great slogan
122
00:12:05.450 --> 00:12:09.330
we have of the wonderful faith of
recognizing that everything we have and the only
123
00:12:09.529 --> 00:12:18.639
thing we have alone is the grace
of God. And one of the things
124
00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:26.159
even about the translationary. If someone
challenges a translation which they have because alone
125
00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:31.909
wasn't in the Greek Bible at that
time. The the doctrine is clearly implied
126
00:12:31.029 --> 00:12:39.350
by that exclusion apart from the works
of the law. Interesting in that is
127
00:12:39.549 --> 00:12:43.539
had luther and the other reformers been
willing to move away from that one little
128
00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:50.460
word alone in setting forth the doctrine
of justification by faith, if they had
129
00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:56.419
taken that out of there, even
though it's explicit by the apart from phrase
130
00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:01.690
the writ thereformation probably wouldn't have continued. It just would have gone on because
131
00:13:01.809 --> 00:13:09.409
that was the cutting point. Is
it grace alone that saves us, or
132
00:13:09.529 --> 00:13:13.840
do we have some work to offer
in order to be saved? And that's
133
00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:18.720
what well, I'll say more at
the end about what I'm wanting to hammer
134
00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:24.000
hone at that home in that and
why. But it would have saved a
135
00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:30.149
lot of conflict. But Luther and
the reformers were in no quarrel, no
136
00:13:30.269 --> 00:13:37.990
quarter combat at that time in making
clear that justification is because of the grace
137
00:13:37.149 --> 00:13:43.379
that is represented in Christ's sacrifice and
the whole picture we have there and was
138
00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:52.059
exclusive all the works of the law. Now the reformation and recovery of the
139
00:13:52.139 --> 00:14:00.009
Gospel came because they did not let
go and kept the battle going William Childs
140
00:14:00.090 --> 00:14:07.370
Robinson wrote in one of his works, Luther grasps the hand of God stretched
141
00:14:07.409 --> 00:14:13.399
out to them in Jesus Christ and
Europe woke up to glad tidings of God,
142
00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:18.679
our savior, not the church,
not Rome, not our works,
143
00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:26.110
but God, grace of God as
the as the answer here at John Gersner
144
00:14:26.190 --> 00:14:31.750
put it in one of his one
of his remarks in his writing, by
145
00:14:31.990 --> 00:14:39.299
one mighty effort the church swept the
stables clean of the debris of centuries air
146
00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:46.740
had piled up and the real orthodoxy
was not understood until their reformation clarified those
147
00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:54.210
things years now, if we loose
famers, a much quote, a statement
148
00:14:54.450 --> 00:15:00.529
was again. Justification by faith alone
is the article by which the Church stands
149
00:15:00.570 --> 00:15:03.289
or falls. That's another thing I
don't want, I want you not to
150
00:15:03.450 --> 00:15:11.000
miss. That's the battleground. Justification
by faith alone, properly understood, is
151
00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:16.080
the article by which the Church stands
or it falls. is going to go
152
00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:22.909
one way of the other based on
that doctrine. This is no mere slogan.
153
00:15:22.029 --> 00:15:28.029
Neither is Sola Fida Fida, the
faith alone, the soulas of the
154
00:15:28.429 --> 00:15:31.830
reformation that come in there. But
if we fail to understand what Luther meant
155
00:15:31.870 --> 00:15:37.220
by that statement. Justification by faith
alone is the article by which the Church
156
00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:43.379
stands or falls. Will never understand
why he was willing to give everything he
157
00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:48.899
had or risk everything he had to
change the Roman church's practice. That was
158
00:15:50.009 --> 00:15:56.289
the battle line. A curious question
for our day is one which is much
159
00:15:56.450 --> 00:16:00.850
there's much confusion, is whether that
battle is over. Is the reformation battle
160
00:16:00.929 --> 00:16:07.080
over, my contentions ends. We're
still in the battle with Rome and with
161
00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:15.000
evangelicalism, a weakening, softening evangelicalism
which maybe instead of broad evangelicalism, a
162
00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:22.230
broad evangelicalism or on the process to
that. And and there are many people
163
00:16:22.389 --> 00:16:30.070
that begin a new church at times
over in all these things and it starts
164
00:16:30.110 --> 00:16:34.980
out well and they're fighting the battle. They go back to the scripture alone,
165
00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:40.019
they have a confession that is sound, they practice those things, they
166
00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:45.419
do discipline in the church, they
take worship seriously. But then with the
167
00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:48.850
get things begin to weaken and they
made of come out of a liberal church
168
00:16:48.929 --> 00:16:53.370
and they start over. But in
time it's sometimes it takes along. I've
169
00:16:53.409 --> 00:16:57.210
been in time. Well, not
many people are coming in the evening,
170
00:16:57.250 --> 00:17:06.519
will cancel even in church and before
long this, the discipline of the church
171
00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:15.710
disappeared, disappears even with serious moral
things or doctrinal things, and and discipline
172
00:17:15.829 --> 00:17:21.910
is not used in the church,
and then people are not learning doctrine of
173
00:17:22.029 --> 00:17:25.630
any kind and it's just sort of
a feelgood sort of thing. You know
174
00:17:25.750 --> 00:17:30.259
the thing. We see it all
around us and it's a certain a problem
175
00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:36.539
that is very serious. But the
battle does not seem to be over in
176
00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:41.859
Rome. It's with Rome, it's
with evangelicalism. Roman Romanism, at least
177
00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:45.130
since the end of the sixteen century, is not a brand such of the
178
00:17:45.170 --> 00:17:51.049
true church at all, because grace
alone was cut out. That's why we
179
00:17:51.569 --> 00:17:57.569
can't buy that. Romanism is at
Best Occult Without The Gospel. If reformation
180
00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:06.200
theology is correct, a consistent Roman
Catholic cannot be saved and will perish in
181
00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:12.589
hell. Now let me also say
if Rome and the pope are correct,
182
00:18:14.630 --> 00:18:18.950
you are all lost. If you
believe what I think you believe, you
183
00:18:19.069 --> 00:18:23.910
are condemned to help. The battle
is still there. I'm not trying to
184
00:18:23.950 --> 00:18:30.980
be bombastic or insensitive, ormain,
but any Catholic worth their choice salt would
185
00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:34.619
agree with me on that. In
fact, one did, interestingly, in
186
00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:42.490
a small gathering in a radio reformation
weekend program on the radio and we were
187
00:18:42.569 --> 00:18:49.890
discussing Catholicism and Reform Theology or prior
reformation theology, and and it was a
188
00:18:51.009 --> 00:18:56.200
part of that program back several years
ago to try to get Rome and protestantism
189
00:18:56.359 --> 00:19:00.480
together again. And and the Catholic
man agreed when I when I helped spell
190
00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:04.759
out what his position was, and
he agreed to it, that this is
191
00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:10.829
true in and that both of these
we can't both be true one of this.
192
00:19:10.910 --> 00:19:14.430
One has to be right and the
other wrong on that. So the
193
00:19:14.750 --> 00:19:19.430
battle is still there. One of
the reasons we street see this strange ignorance
194
00:19:19.470 --> 00:19:26.420
among Protestants of time is even in
our comfortable reformed churches, is that.
195
00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:36.380
But we've never been free from the
continuing fight of Orthodoxy. We're always even
196
00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:41.210
in our presbyteries and general assemblies or
sometimes our sessions, we have to battle
197
00:19:41.289 --> 00:19:45.529
over these things, happily in a
good setting, but to be sure we
198
00:19:45.650 --> 00:19:53.079
are on the right path, a
battle continues. An interesting sidebar story to
199
00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:59.279
all of that that I think is
worth mentioning again as an example of where
200
00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:04.160
people are, where the battle is. World magazine and I think of what's
201
00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:11.190
several years ago, made a report
on the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. These
202
00:20:11.230 --> 00:20:18.470
are men, maybe women to who
are in broadcasting and they specialized and religious
203
00:20:18.509 --> 00:20:22.740
broadcasting. So you can imagine that
most of them are church whore anded to
204
00:20:22.859 --> 00:20:26.579
some extent, whatever it might be, and ought to know something. But
205
00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:36.089
apparently someone put up in the organization
put up a survey, a informal survey
206
00:20:36.289 --> 00:20:41.250
was given with different questions, and
the different people that were there at that
207
00:20:41.529 --> 00:20:47.529
conference or convention were to give agree
or disagree, and one of the state's
208
00:20:47.809 --> 00:20:55.960
statements was this justification is a process
by which I am made wholly by God's
209
00:20:55.960 --> 00:21:06.190
spirit. Twenty four out of twenty
six respondents indicated agreement with that statement.
210
00:21:07.990 --> 00:21:15.869
Ninety two percent of these religious broadcasters, the religious media, had affirmed a
211
00:21:15.069 --> 00:21:22.460
thoroughly Roman Catholic statement. And we
are infused that. We were infused with
212
00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:29.099
righteousness rather than having the righteousness of
Christ imputed to us and received by faith
213
00:21:29.140 --> 00:21:33.730
alone, wherein God looked on it
as though it were our good works,
214
00:21:33.890 --> 00:21:40.289
but it isn't. We don't become
wholly to become a Christian. We become
215
00:21:41.170 --> 00:21:45.809
holier as a result of that,
but that's not the basis of our becoming
216
00:21:45.849 --> 00:21:51.359
a Christian, and so we've got
to be careful where the battle is.
217
00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:57.640
Justification is a process by which I
am made wholly by God's spirit. How
218
00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:03.309
would you have answered that survey?
Do you know for sure what the Gospel
219
00:22:03.349 --> 00:22:08.710
is? How would you answer the
survey? Many may be most that of
220
00:22:08.829 --> 00:22:15.230
Professing Protestants, would give a version
of Rome's answer. Maybe not that particularly
221
00:22:15.309 --> 00:22:18.980
one, but it would be on
that side. They deny the Gospel,
222
00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:22.900
works will be in there. It
will be something they've done. That is
223
00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:27.900
part of it and that's why ecumenicalism
is possible. Is We've got the weakening
224
00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:34.009
in what maybe we're once solid churches
but are no longer so. For Most
225
00:22:34.089 --> 00:22:41.890
Protestants, religion has replaced Christianity.
Now, and if you understand what I
226
00:22:41.970 --> 00:22:47.319
mean by that, for Most Protestants
religion has replaced Christianity, and if you
227
00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:51.480
don't understand that difference, you may
be part of the problem, not necessarily,
228
00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:56.720
but you may not have have got
that down. But religion in this
229
00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:00.950
sense, as usually used, is
what man does you talk about? A
230
00:23:00.990 --> 00:23:04.670
religious man, a religious book or
you did something religious, you had you
231
00:23:04.750 --> 00:23:08.869
know you're talking. You may be
promoting us out of the other. But
232
00:23:10.029 --> 00:23:18.660
religion is something we do. Christianity
is what God does to save us from
233
00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:26.690
utter damn nation. It's a big
difference and and that's again a part of
234
00:23:26.730 --> 00:23:32.970
the battle. Christianity is what God
does to save man. Most Protestants think
235
00:23:33.089 --> 00:23:37.289
salvation is by being religious. They'll
tell you that. I've knocked on a
236
00:23:37.369 --> 00:23:42.519
lot of doors and talked to a
lot of people within churches, good members,
237
00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:48.319
solid members, there every Sunday,
and ask the question what their trust
238
00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:55.789
is, and it's not the right
answer. And there are many people that
239
00:23:56.390 --> 00:24:02.430
we need to ourselves, and others
are families, to be firm in our
240
00:24:02.549 --> 00:24:07.150
doctrinal position, not just our faithfulness
or hard work, to serve in different
241
00:24:07.190 --> 00:24:11.579
ways or do things for the church, but to have the right faith and
242
00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:25.809
defended overwhelmingly. Sadly, the overwhelming
conviction of the counterfeit Christian is God grades
243
00:24:25.890 --> 00:24:33.730
on a curve and I'm good enough
to make the cup. I'm as good
244
00:24:33.849 --> 00:24:38.799
or better than my neighbor or even
that guy that's sitting next to God.
245
00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:44.440
If God is fair, he'll take
me. That's a kind of answers you
246
00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:48.599
get. In essence, it may
be neader than that, but that's what
247
00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:53.789
I hear so frequently if I'm asking
a person about what they are counting on
248
00:24:53.910 --> 00:25:03.349
for their salvation when that time comes
before the judgency, overwhelmingly they're trusting themselves
249
00:25:03.390 --> 00:25:10.980
and not the grace of God,
which we receive and accept as a gift
250
00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:21.019
by God's grace. Thus we conclude
that a Roman Catholic is as likely to
251
00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:25.250
be saved if there is a heaven
or hell, or a good Protestant one
252
00:25:25.289 --> 00:25:30.569
who is doing religious things. Now
I want to get to the meat of
253
00:25:30.609 --> 00:25:34.329
this topic before the run out of
time here, but after a shamefully long
254
00:25:34.529 --> 00:25:40.279
introduction, if you will, I
want to just set before us the a
255
00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:45.839
shorter catechism question, which is this, by the way. The shorter catechism
256
00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:51.589
is for people that aren't to I
mean on the original version, that for
257
00:25:51.670 --> 00:25:53.950
people aren't too smart. That's nothing
exact words, but that what it means.
258
00:25:55.269 --> 00:26:00.470
The larger cat a Chism is people
that are are more able and to
259
00:26:00.670 --> 00:26:04.539
take things that way, and that
a shameful thing. I'm sad to say.
260
00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:10.579
I fit in that passage to a
large degree, as many of us
261
00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:15.700
do, but that's again the kind
of things we work with this but this
262
00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:19.930
is the shorter catechism. Question number
eighty six. What is faith in Jesus
263
00:26:21.009 --> 00:26:27.890
Christ? Simple question. This answer
the short one. Faith in Jesus Christ
264
00:26:29.049 --> 00:26:33.359
is a saving grace. It's a
grace. It's not a work whereby we
265
00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:40.480
receive and rest upon him alone for
salvation, as he's offered to us in
266
00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:45.720
the Gospel. Now in that three
points are given. It's a saving grace,
267
00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:49.549
it's not a word. We receive
and rest on him alone for salvation.
268
00:26:51.589 --> 00:26:53.390
And the third part of it,
and any kind of breaking it down,
269
00:26:53.549 --> 00:26:59.190
is it's offered to us in the
Gospel. Now, well, I
270
00:26:59.269 --> 00:27:03.619
can cover is the first of those
points, but you understand the risk.
271
00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:07.740
But the important thing that I want
to get across is this side the grace
272
00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:12.500
that is in the Gospel, that
is in faith. If you are trusting
273
00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:17.769
faith, it's a gift God gave
you and it's a and the grace is
274
00:27:17.849 --> 00:27:21.809
a gift. It's not something you
earned in any way. We're back to
275
00:27:21.890 --> 00:27:25.730
that point. Apart from works of
the law, you need to cut that
276
00:27:26.289 --> 00:27:30.880
tail end off of that leaving it
there. But make a copy of a
277
00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:33.759
let me say that, and carry
it with you when you're doing the justification
278
00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:41.960
by grace alone, apart from good
works. That that's the key on that.
279
00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:45.309
But anyway, first of all it's
a saving grace, we're told.
280
00:27:47.190 --> 00:27:55.190
Now let me illustrate a controversy or
a discussion that still exists around it's often
281
00:27:55.630 --> 00:28:02.859
cut pops up one place or another
of people is if you could could give
282
00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:08.259
one concept by which to discern whether
you or someone else in the is,
283
00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:12.009
in the large picture, how to
cut someone down to what they are so
284
00:28:12.130 --> 00:28:22.329
you know what you're doing with would
be to break it down to to this
285
00:28:22.410 --> 00:28:27.279
kind of a question. which comes
first, faith or regeneration? I don't
286
00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:30.400
know if you've ever heard that question. It pops up at times. In
287
00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:34.599
fact, one of my favorite things
is John Gershner was a best professor I
288
00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:40.359
ever had and probably impacted more ministers
in this country than any but at any
289
00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:45.670
rate he tells a story in his
conversion as young man out east. He's
290
00:28:45.710 --> 00:28:49.589
a memory. Well, he's been
dead for several years now, but he's
291
00:28:51.869 --> 00:28:57.859
was for a long time very active
in the reform faith and he would he
292
00:28:57.980 --> 00:29:03.700
became a Christian, he said,
in our Manian church out east when he
293
00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:07.859
was a young man and took it
very seriously. And studied and read the
294
00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:11.490
Bible and went to church and all. And then when he couple years later
295
00:29:11.650 --> 00:29:17.849
in college, the first year he
was in some Bible, Bible Studies and
296
00:29:18.289 --> 00:29:26.160
and prayer groups and all, and
he went to some of the meetings and
297
00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:29.920
was regular in church and his Bible
again and he felt he would pretty well
298
00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:33.759
conquered it. I imagine he had, except for Mistak or two along the
299
00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:41.309
line, because he is that kind
of a mind. But the doctor or
300
00:29:41.509 --> 00:29:45.109
one of the professors was welcoming the
new students. I think it may have
301
00:29:45.190 --> 00:29:48.269
been just a class that one of
the two, but he tells the story.
302
00:29:48.390 --> 00:29:52.579
He was he was in the group
there and DR or, when they
303
00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:56.900
came in, on a blackboard had
written which comes first, faith or regeneration,
304
00:29:57.740 --> 00:30:03.059
and Gerston was all worked up and
he he got his hand up the
305
00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:11.529
board anyone else did, and and
gave the question that faith came first because
306
00:30:11.569 --> 00:30:15.809
he'd grown up in the arminian background
of you know you you have to do
307
00:30:15.049 --> 00:30:22.279
something before you are are regenerated.
Was the point for you to become.
308
00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:29.240
I don't know what they think would
be added in that way, but at
309
00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:37.150
any rate the professor use me gave
him a rough time and ever question that
310
00:30:37.230 --> 00:30:41.430
had come up with he couldn't deal
with, and that's the point at which
311
00:30:41.470 --> 00:30:47.910
he became a Calvinist, and he
tells that story to this day of how
312
00:30:48.029 --> 00:31:00.740
his genuine conversion to grace was able
to get the job done. So that
313
00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:03.059
had always caught me as kind of
a curious thing. But here's here's the
314
00:31:03.410 --> 00:31:11.170
what's involve, Falk let me illustrate
in its way. He does any child
315
00:31:11.369 --> 00:31:18.680
of Adam possess sufficient ability, power, spiritual desire and wisdom to offer faith
316
00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:25.319
as his contribution to his salvation,
after which alone God will reward his faith
317
00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:33.349
with regeneration and resulting salvation? Do
you understand the question which comes first?
318
00:31:33.430 --> 00:31:40.430
Faith or regeneration? Or is every
child of Adam so depraved and dead in
319
00:31:40.670 --> 00:31:47.259
sin that the only the sovereign,
unilateral act of God regenerating him by the
320
00:31:47.420 --> 00:31:52.259
power of the Holy Spirit, who
was dead in spiritually, can enable him
321
00:31:52.380 --> 00:32:01.170
freely to embrace Christ and to have
faith in the promise of God? As
322
00:32:01.250 --> 00:32:06.450
a member of the church or Presbyterian
Church, one would hope we would be
323
00:32:07.369 --> 00:32:15.720
instinctively knowing the answer to that question. The first view is known as arminianism.
324
00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:22.039
Or Semi Pelagianism, and it's a
view of Roman Catholicism but is also
325
00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:30.869
behind much of what evangelicals say.
The view of regeneration precedes faith, is
326
00:32:31.029 --> 00:32:40.789
calvinism. We must be brought from
the dead, regenerated before we can do
327
00:32:42.109 --> 00:32:50.819
or have anything. You now in
is important to realize the reformation is not
328
00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:57.420
just in opposition to Roman Catholicism but
against our menionism and what theology teaches.
329
00:32:57.700 --> 00:33:02.049
And there's not a question of a
arguing or wanting my theology versus theirs in
330
00:33:02.170 --> 00:33:07.450
a General Way. But if it's
the issue of salvation or not, it
331
00:33:07.690 --> 00:33:12.920
has to be a battle that we're
in. Now let me attempt to give
332
00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:16.160
it maybe a silly illustration, and
I did it as a time when,
333
00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:20.400
one of the few times in my
thirty seven years in the same church of
334
00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:25.440
having a the children come up because
I was preaching to the Westons or confession
335
00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:32.150
and I got an object lesson every
every every week for the children particularly,
336
00:33:32.269 --> 00:33:37.230
but it really helped the grit old
people better, but for the children to
337
00:33:37.589 --> 00:33:43.579
have some image of what was being
talked about that they might envision. And
338
00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:49.740
I might say, well, I'll
say that at the end let me go
339
00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:52.900
on here, but anyway, I've
got some really good news for you.
340
00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:55.329
I'm sure you're good will be glad
of that, but it maybe will help
341
00:33:55.410 --> 00:34:00.569
illustrate my issue here. I've got
from really good news. I've got a
342
00:34:01.410 --> 00:34:07.650
million dollar home, how's here in
the best area of Tuston, and I'm
343
00:34:07.769 --> 00:34:14.440
offering it as a gift and I'm
also I'm I'm throwing in a ninety thousand
344
00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:17.440
dollar Jaguar so you can play around
and show off that you've got some wealth
345
00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:22.119
or something, and there's a trust
fund that's going to be set up so
346
00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:25.670
you can keep the expenses up so
you can maintain these things and enjoy them.
347
00:34:27.590 --> 00:34:30.190
Now that's a pretty good offer for
someone, and the only thing that
348
00:34:30.710 --> 00:34:37.510
the person has to do is to
be willing to receive it. That's pretty
349
00:34:37.510 --> 00:34:40.099
good news for someone. There's people
that would murder and sell their souls for
350
00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:45.940
that deal on the spot. In
our day. That's really good news,
351
00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:52.460
isn't it? Well, maybe here's
the rest of the story. The person
352
00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:58.010
to whom the offer is made is
a John Doe, laid out on a
353
00:34:58.210 --> 00:35:04.650
slab in the county morgue. You
describe to him how nice the House is
354
00:35:05.130 --> 00:35:08.880
and and and the car, how
great it is, and all you have
355
00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:13.960
to do is receive it. Tell
me you receive receive it. And he
356
00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:20.880
didn't say anything. He's dead and
your tible. You know, maybe if
357
00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:22.789
I add some to make it richer, you know, throwing, throwing a
358
00:35:23.230 --> 00:35:29.349
some other things, and try to
to make it easier. Just raise your
359
00:35:29.389 --> 00:35:31.230
hand. That's that's good enough.
Lot of churches have people do they do
360
00:35:31.389 --> 00:35:40.380
raise your hand and you can have
it and nothing. He's dead. And
361
00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:45.420
you try some more and maybe sing
a verse or two of a him.
362
00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:51.170
That works in some churches. And
nothing happened. If you try that,
363
00:35:57.130 --> 00:36:04.440
maybe, and here's the rest of
the story, there's a reason why he
364
00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:07.119
doesn't give the answer. And that's
why I wanted to mention the children,
365
00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:10.000
because because by the end they were
getting all wrapped up to say he's dead
366
00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:15.199
each time. They got the point, I think on that one, and
367
00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:21.230
that was why I like that such. But that's what happens. Dead people
368
00:36:22.190 --> 00:36:29.750
cannot bring themselves back to life.
That's not in our power. Well,
369
00:36:29.829 --> 00:36:36.380
you say, it's the same thing
with every in the spiritual realm of every
370
00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:39.059
childhood had him. By the way, there's no one that is accepted from
371
00:36:39.179 --> 00:36:45.460
that and we can dead in sin. We can do no spiritual thing affecting
372
00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:52.690
our salvation. Only God can,
and do that now. If you must
373
00:36:52.929 --> 00:36:59.050
first exercise faith even though you are
dead spiritually, there is no gospel.
374
00:36:59.769 --> 00:37:05.039
That's a sad bad news. A
church that believes that is wrongly named evangelical.
375
00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:08.800
There's no gospel there. If a
church that offers the dead corpse in
376
00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:14.760
the House and the car and the
money is not good news. If you
377
00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:21.070
are dead, and this is what
luther correctly discovered, there's no salvation based
378
00:37:21.110 --> 00:37:27.190
on righteousness man does, including faith. Righteousness is a gift of God,
379
00:37:27.510 --> 00:37:30.019
and even our faith is a gift
of God. We've got to remember that.
380
00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:36.539
And it's apart from works of the
law. No one comes unless the
381
00:37:36.659 --> 00:37:42.820
father draws him. The good news
is that the father does draw and the
382
00:37:42.900 --> 00:37:46.409
father does give the gift of faith
through his Holy Spirit. Jesus saves in
383
00:37:46.610 --> 00:37:52.210
whole, not in part, and
this is done by making this is is
384
00:37:52.329 --> 00:38:00.840
done by making spiritually dead men alive
or born again or regenerated. which comes
385
00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:09.000
first? Faith or regeneration? Until
we are alive, we get nowhere.
386
00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:15.150
Praise God that he is good to
those whom he has chosen and will see
387
00:38:15.150 --> 00:38:22.429
us to the end, the perseverance
of the saints. I could spend a
388
00:38:22.590 --> 00:38:27.300
half hour, half hour just reading
in verses of scripture which teach this doctrine
389
00:38:27.380 --> 00:38:30.500
in one way or another. They
time to do if God said at once,
390
00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:34.820
it's sufficient. But just let me
mention one verse. You might want
391
00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:39.500
to test yourself. One Romans four
five, if you want to look at
392
00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:44.530
it at in your leisure. You
may want to think about it if there's
393
00:38:44.610 --> 00:38:52.210
five words in that one verse that
are exemplary of the grace part of the
394
00:38:52.250 --> 00:38:58.159
verse setting forth the grace of salvation. But back to the text, verse
395
00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:06.559
Romans Twenty Eight, for we maintain
that a man is justified by faith apart
396
00:39:06.719 --> 00:39:10.670
from the works of the law.
The phrase apart from the works of the
397
00:39:10.710 --> 00:39:16.309
law excludes anything we might do.
That's what I hope is is hit into
398
00:39:16.389 --> 00:39:22.949
our minds somehow, and that is
why we say it is by faith alone,
399
00:39:22.989 --> 00:39:28.940
a faith that is itself of the
grace of grace and rests in Jesus
400
00:39:29.019 --> 00:39:38.170
Christ alone. No Sin can preclude
you from salvation. Nothing stands between the
401
00:39:38.449 --> 00:39:46.889
sinner and God except the sinner's good
works. That's a hangar. That's a
402
00:39:46.929 --> 00:39:52.440
stumbling block. There's our good works
get in the way and until we can
403
00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:59.679
really say what we hopefully sing correctly, nothing in my hands. I bring.
404
00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:05.639
You all know the him I suspect
and and what it says just but
405
00:40:05.840 --> 00:40:10.710
it is we were to boarder,
we bring nothing with us in this whole
406
00:40:12.110 --> 00:40:19.869
issue. We're justified by grace and
not works. Dear Congregation, that's the
407
00:40:19.989 --> 00:40:25.500
Gospel. And do you see that
great divide between us? There's the Gospel
408
00:40:27.420 --> 00:40:31.699
and there's another Gospel that is no
gospel. There's a gospel in the papacy.
409
00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:37.690
There's a gospel and Arminianism, there's
the Gospel and your good works,
410
00:40:37.650 --> 00:40:46.409
substituting religion for Christianity. All of
these things opposite one another and we may
411
00:40:46.449 --> 00:40:52.199
be a part of any any one
of these things are a part of not
412
00:40:52.639 --> 00:40:57.400
fighting against him strong enough. But
that's a great divide. And please,
413
00:40:57.679 --> 00:41:00.840
please, please, one day,
when you are at the point of death
414
00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:06.510
and your pastor of Russias through the
hospital room or to your home to to
415
00:41:06.710 --> 00:41:10.710
and you still have your mind functioning
clearly, and he asked You, ask
416
00:41:10.789 --> 00:41:15.510
you of your hope and what you
are trusting and he wants to see and
417
00:41:15.710 --> 00:41:21.260
hear clearly, for your sake and
his, that you are ready to leave
418
00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:25.340
this life for eternity. Don't look
at him and say hopefully, what is
419
00:41:25.699 --> 00:41:31.969
said so frequently, I've done the
best I could. That's a lie.
420
00:41:34.449 --> 00:41:37.250
None of us do the best we
can, and if that's what we're hoping
421
00:41:37.329 --> 00:41:43.210
on, we're in sad shape.
You want to lie on your lips when
422
00:41:43.210 --> 00:41:52.039
it's time to meet the Judgment Day. Don't tell him you've been a faithful
423
00:41:52.079 --> 00:41:57.119
church member, etcetera. Don't tell
him you've tried to keep the commandments.
424
00:41:57.559 --> 00:42:00.880
Don't tell him you've tried to lead
a good life. I hope you have
425
00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:05.789
been faithful and obedient and will be
such. God requires that of us,
426
00:42:06.230 --> 00:42:12.949
but please don't tell him that you're
hoping you will get to heaven by something
427
00:42:13.630 --> 00:42:17.860
you have done. Some of you
are probably thinking, why is he pounding
428
00:42:17.940 --> 00:42:24.659
such an obvious theme? Doesn't everyone
here know that this is an Orthodox Presbyterian
429
00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:30.889
Church? For going to say many
of you here probably cut your teeth,
430
00:42:30.050 --> 00:42:37.010
theological teeth, on that stuff.
Don't I know that you know reformation theology?
431
00:42:38.610 --> 00:42:45.119
No, I don't know. Your
pastor doesn't know that not necessarily I
432
00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:49.079
don't know because I see so many
church, good churches, that do not
433
00:42:49.280 --> 00:42:52.679
know and I talk to people.
I've knocked on a lot of doors.
434
00:42:52.239 --> 00:42:55.440
People go to church every suny.
They know the Bible better than I do,
435
00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:02.429
but you ask about their hope and
it's it's that what we're cutting off
436
00:43:04.989 --> 00:43:08.429
or what we're hanging to. It's
what is cut off from our grace.
437
00:43:08.590 --> 00:43:14.860
In that justification, my faith alone, apart from works of the law.
438
00:43:15.260 --> 00:43:21.380
It's apart from that and I don't
understand why people do not know, in
439
00:43:21.579 --> 00:43:27.099
part because they're not taught doctrine sufficiently
in our churches. It's not just the
440
00:43:27.250 --> 00:43:30.849
person's or the families. We've got
catechisms, we've got all of the tools,
441
00:43:31.889 --> 00:43:37.849
but it doesn't get done so frequently
and if they fall back on the
442
00:43:37.929 --> 00:43:43.599
will filthy rags of their own righteousness
and hey, oh, I you know,
443
00:43:43.679 --> 00:43:45.559
I do the best I can.
I think I'll be all right with
444
00:43:45.760 --> 00:43:50.960
God. He'll take me. I'm
better than all those people in the church.
445
00:43:51.639 --> 00:43:54.599
They won't get it. That won't
save it. And when you pass
446
00:43:54.710 --> 00:43:59.150
from the valley the shadow of death, please do not come for yourself and
447
00:43:59.230 --> 00:44:04.070
deceive yourself by telling me or anyone
else about your good works. Tell me
448
00:44:04.230 --> 00:44:08.750
Christ and Christ alone. Cling to
Jesus only and hope in him is if
449
00:44:08.829 --> 00:44:16.260
Christ is your righteousness, you have
all things. If Christ alone is what
450
00:44:16.460 --> 00:44:21.980
you look to, that is what
is there. When you're thinking justification by
451
00:44:22.099 --> 00:44:30.409
faith alone, don't look at your
faith, look at Jesus Christ. I
452
00:44:30.570 --> 00:44:37.170
don't understand why so many, even
in good churches, do not know that
453
00:44:37.329 --> 00:44:45.000
it will not save him. Tell
me Christ and Christ alone when you pass
454
00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:50.960
through the Valley of the shadow of
death. That is altimately what the reformation
455
00:44:51.159 --> 00:44:55.750
discovered and gave to the world.
That's the essence of it. It involves
456
00:44:55.829 --> 00:45:00.469
the whole counsel of God. But
the heart of the matter is justification,
457
00:45:01.269 --> 00:45:08.659
God's grace. Rome and much of
Evangelicalism has missed the gospel of justification by
458
00:45:08.739 --> 00:45:15.139
the Merit of Christ received by faith
alone, just receiving the gift. Were
459
00:45:15.179 --> 00:45:22.929
not bringing any work where God owes
us anything? No, not. I
460
00:45:23.130 --> 00:45:28.809
do the Best I can, but
Christ, Christ only and Christ completely,
461
00:45:30.170 --> 00:45:37.119
even my faith. God's Gift of
grace to me for Christ's sake, for
462
00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:43.440
we maintain that a man is justified
by faith apart from the works of the
463
00:45:43.480 --> 00:45:51.030
law. Grace alone, the grace
of our faith, which is our salvation.
464
00:45:51.070 --> 00:45:52.869
Let us pray
