Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/callanish/sermons/14529/the-comforter-will-come/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] We shall resume our public worship of God by singing to his praise from Psalm 32.

[0:11] Psalm 32 and singing from the beginning of the psalm down to the double verse marked 5. Psalm 32.

[0:22] O blessed is the man to whom is freely pardoned, all the transgression he hath done whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not his sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile nor fraud is found therein.

[0:40] When as I did refrain my speech, and silent was my tongue, my bones then walked old, because I roared all day long.

[0:50] For upon me both day and night thine hand doth heavy lie, so that my moisture turned days in summer's drought thereby. I thereupon have unto thee my sin acknowledged, and likewise mine iniquity I have not covered.

[1:09] I will confess unto the Lord my trespasses, said I, and of my sin thou freely didst forgive the iniquity. And so on.

[1:20] These verses, Psalm 32, from the beginning, O blessed is the man to whom is freely pardoned. O blessed is the man to whom is freely pardoned, All the transgression he hath done whose sin is covered.

[2:04] Blessed is the man to whom is freely pardoned, Blessed is the man to whom is female and realizar so vibrations of decks are named, Blessed is the man to whom is low and horror ifever shows the Lord takeeth not his sin.

[2:23] ете of heaven andarlo may force the hundreds of Jews. Blessed is the man to whom is earned, Blessed is the man to whom is malewear, There was no guile, nor protest from heaven.

[2:42] When as I did refrain my speech, and silent was my time, my bones and hearts and all, because I brought it all day long.

[3:17] For upon me volted the night, thine mounted heavy light, so that my wise shirts are finished, and some are stuck thereby.

[3:51] I there upon the night, my sin upon the church, and my wise man iniquity, I have not covered it.

[4:29] I will confess unto the Lord, my trespasses said I, and of my sin I've believed it, forgive me with me.

[5:10] Let us join together in prayer for this prayer. O Lord, O God, as we bring our prayers and petitions into your presence, we give thanks for every living soul that can speak these words truthfully concerning this forgiveness of sin.

[5:39] The blessedness that marks out the child of God who has experienced the shed blood of Jesus Christ being applied.

[5:55] And that is what is at the heart of what the psalmist is singing. The experience of knowing what it is to not only discover sin, but the nature of it, the extent of it, the destructive potential it possesses.

[6:23] But the overwhelming power of the provision made by God in Christ Jesus. And we bless you for every soul that understands something of that.

[6:39] Those who have in their day struggled with the reality of their own sinfulness, who experience the conviction of the Holy Spirit, bringing to their attention their desperate wickedness, even those who are outwardly conformed to their own understanding of a moral law, and who believe themselves to be free from the guilt that those who have been breached of it suffered from.

[7:21] And yet, when your spirit came, and when the power of his work became effectual in their lives, they were able to confess, without restriction and without hindrance, the truth concerning their own heart.

[7:43] He understood the reality of what it was. To confess that the heart of man was desperately wicked. Who can know it?

[7:56] And only those who have experienced that ministration of the Spirit can truly confess it. We pray, Lord, that you would leave none of us without that experience.

[8:12] Even those who are many years in the Christian life, still need to be reminded and to bring to remembrance the capacity that we have for iniquity in all its shades and all its forms.

[8:32] We pray that you would keep our feet free from falling, our eyes free from tears. Such is the portion of the people of God in the world that they frequently have to weep because of their sinfulness, because of their neglect of the things of God, because of the way that we fail to heed, and to act upon the truth that you bring to our attention.

[9:07] We would ask, even at this evening hour of worship, that you would undertake for us and minister to us through the words of Holyrood, so that every one of us would believe themselves to be sitting with rapt attention to the tutelage of your own word, believing that you are speaking to us, not to someone else, but to us, even preacher and hearer without exception, being under the same discipline and under the same apprehension that you are at work in our midst, and even going out beyond this building, beyond these walls, to places that may be dark, even by way of sin, whose door is shut to the gospel, who seldom visit this place of worship, or have any interest in what goes on within its walls.

[10:18] We would bring them to your remembrance, just as surely as we would bring your homes and our families, children and children's children, and ask that the Spirit of the Most High God would work amongst us, that you would pour out your blessing upon us, rend the heavens and come down, that the blessing of the Most High God would be our portion, not because we are deserving of it, but that because if we are without it, then we are truly impoverished.

[10:55] We ask that you would remember your people and grant to them that spirit of prayer, even perseverance in prayer, that we would beat upon the doors of heaven, that you would constantly bring to your remembrance the needs of our generation, the needs of our denomination, the needs of our congregation, the needs of our homes, our families, our own hearts, that we would be perfectly convinced that you are a God who hears prayer just as truly as you are a God who answers prayer.

[11:35] We bring before you all the cares and concerns that may be upon our hearts at this time, beginning with those amongst us that have fallen part of this congregation and were for a long time at the heart of all its activities, and now, by reason of the passage of time, the frailty of the flesh, the way decrepitude overtakes each one if they are spared, the way illness and other issues affecting the body and the mind affect each one without exception.

[12:20] we bring them before you, mindful of those confined to their homes, being cared for by others, those visiting hospitals, some even taking up a permanent residence in places of care.

[12:36] we pray for them and ask, Lord, that you would remember them according to the needs that they have, be they temporal or spiritual. Remember those who are dealing with the terminal illnesses and ask that you would sustain them even in the depth of their being where communication to their fellow is limited, but they are still able to have the communion of the Holy Spirit as their portion is your people.

[13:11] We pray that you would remember those who are suffering because of COVID amongst us, we remember them to you and ask that they would know that your own eye is upon them and that recovery will come in your time.

[13:31] We pray for those who are responsible for caring for the needy and we ask that you would keep them from harem and allow them to execute their duties without hindrance, be they doctors or nurses or whatever part of the caring profession you seek to occupy.

[13:52] We pray for the grieving and the sorrowful and we ask that you would sanctify the soreness of heart that inevitably accompanies bereavement even though when you people are taken home we have that joy in our heart and the thought that to be with the Lord for them is far better and yet the gaping void that they leave behind even in the lives of your own people is not able to be easily filled but if not for yourself and we pray that that would be true of them that you would be the widow's stay that you would be the orphan's help that you would be the one who speaks into the dark void and make your voice heard and may your countenance light upon them.

[14:54] We ask that you would remember every situation even things that are hidden from sight that are known to yourself and only yourself.

[15:05] We pray Lord that you would remember our nation and those who govern us fearful as we are for the gross negligence that they apparently display with regard to the things of God they are so careless and indifferent about the world of the Most High and they seldom bring it to bear upon their thinking in order that they might find answers to the predicaments of the day.

[15:36] For those who believe in God and who trust in God we give thanks and we pray that you would preserve their witness that they may not be be the prey of the tempter who often focuses his attention on those who are in the gaze of the populace.

[15:59] They are all too easily ridiculed if they but trip or fall and yet it is easily forgotten that they are fragile and their human frailties are there as all our frailties are.

[16:15] We pray that you would preserve the integrity of your church and those who proclaim Christ may they do so fearlessly in a day where it is despised to even speak his name.

[16:31] Remember the nations that are at war where there is civil war where there is war against one nation against the other. We pray for the preservation of life and especially that the witness of your people would be maintained and those who are persecuted for Christ's name we pray that you would sustain them and minister to them in their time of need.

[16:57] So help us to remember one another's burdens to bear one another's burdens and continue with an eye to your glory seeking all in the name of Christ cleanse us from sin in him.

[17:11] Amen. Amen. We are going to hear the word of God as we have it in the New Testament scriptures reading from the Gospel of John and we are reading from chapter 16.

[17:26] The Gospel of John chapter 16. Verse 1 These things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended.

[17:42] They shall put you out of the synagogues. Yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God's service. And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me.

[17:58] But these things have I told you that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning because I was with you.

[18:13] But now I go my way to him that sent me. And none of you asketh me whether goest thou. But because I have said these things unto you sorrow hath filled your heart.

[18:27] Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away the comforter will not come unto you.

[18:37] But if I depart I will send him unto you. And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.

[18:48] Of sin because they believe not on me. Of righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more. Of judgment because the Prince of this world is Judge.

[19:01] I have yet many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he the Spirit of truth has come he will guide you into all truth.

[19:16] For he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak. And he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you.

[19:32] All things that the Father hath are mine. Therefore said I that he shall take of mine and shall show it unto you. A little while and ye shall not see me.

[19:45] And again a little while and ye shall see me because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves what is this that he saith unto us a little while and ye shall not see me.

[20:01] And again a little while and ye shall see me. And because I go to the Father they said therefore what is this that he saith a little while.

[20:13] We cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were deciduous to ask him and said unto them do ye inquire among yourselves of that.

[20:25] I said a little while and ye shall not see me and again a little while and ye shall see me. Verily I say unto you that ye shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoice and ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

[20:44] A woman when she is in travel hath sorrow because her hour is come but as soon as she is delivered of the child she remembereth no more the anguish for joy that a man is born into the world and ye now therefore have sorrow.

[21:03] But I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you.

[21:21] Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name. Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in Proverbs but the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in Proverbs but I shall show you plainly of the Father.

[21:41] At that day ye shall ask in my name and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you. For the Father himself loveth you because you have loved me and have believed that I came out from God.

[21:54] I came forth from the Father and am come into the world. Again I leave the world and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him Lov, now speakest thou plainly and speakest no proverb.

[22:09] Now I wish you that thou knowest all things and it is not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them Do ye now believe?

[22:25] Behold, the hour cometh. He is now come that ye shall be scattered every man to his own and shall leave me alone.

[22:36] And yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.

[22:55] Amen. And may the Lord add his blessing to this reading of his word. To his name be the praise. We're going to sing now from Psalm 72.

[23:07] Psalm 72 from the beginning of the psalm. O Lord, thy judgments give the King his Son by righteousness. With right he shall thy people judge, thy poor with uprightness.

[23:23] The lofty mountains shall bring forth unto the people peace. Likewise the little hills, the same shall do by righteousness.

[23:34] The people's poor ones he shall judge, the needy's children save. And those shall he in pieces break who them oppress at hand. They shall be fear while sun and moon do last.

[23:48] Through age is all. Like rain on moon grass he shall drop or shout on earth at fall. The just shall flourish in his days and prosper in his reign.

[24:00] He shall, while death and moon endure, abundant peace maintain. His large and great dominion shall from sea to sea extend. It from the river shall reach forth unto earth's utmost end.

[24:14] And so on. These verses of Psalm 72 from the beginning, O Lord, thy judgments give the King his Son by righteousness.

[24:28] O Lord, thy judgments give the King his Son by righteousness.

[24:44] With righty shall thy people judge, thy pure without brightness.

[25:02] The Lord Sees and the Lord bring forth the same shall bear thy righteousness the people's bear wants each of the needy's children save and both shall thee in pieces break in them o blessed have they shall thee fear while sound and men who has to reach us all like rain on moon grass he shall throw our charge on earth that fall the just shall flourish in this days and prosper in this rain he shall he

[27:30] Whose large and little mill shall from sea to sea extend.

[27:50] Who from the river shall reach for unto earth most gain.

[28:09] Amen.

[28:39] These things unto you. Sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away.

[28:50] For if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart I will send him unto you. And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin.

[29:04] And of righteousness. And of judgment. Of sin because they believe not on me. Of righteousness because I go to my Father.

[29:16] And ye see me no more. Of judgment because the Prince of this world is judged. If a question were addressed to a Christian believer.

[29:38] Which required of you. To respond honestly. And with a bit of forethought.

[29:53] If somebody said to you. That they were to take Christ away from you.

[30:04] And give you something else in his place. Or someone else in his place.

[30:14] How would you feel. How would you feel? What kind of emotion would that evoke? Talking to a Christian who is aware of the importance of Christ.

[30:32] Christ. And yet. And yet. Presented. With this predicament. That Christ being taken from you. And an offer being made.

[30:44] Of something. Or someone else. Being given in his place. How would you feel. How would you feel? Maybe you're thinking.

[30:58] It's not a fair question. It's not a right question. But just think about the disciples. The disciples. Were being told.

[31:10] By Christ. That he was going to leave them. And in his place. He was going to give.

[31:21] Someone else. Now can you imagine. What that felt like. For them. If we believe.

[31:33] That they. Took delight. In his company. And enjoyed. Much time. In his presence.

[31:44] And. No doubt. They had exceptional. Fontness. Often. Love for them. Like. They had for no other.

[31:56] And yet. Here he was saying to them. That he was going to go away. Now. If you're genuinely struggling. With that thought.

[32:08] Perhaps you can understand. How the disciples felt. Read again. The words of verse five. Now. Now. Now. Now. I go. My way.

[32:18] To him. That sent me. That is. What he was. Saying to them. He was going away. There's no doubt. Above it. None of you. Asketh me.

[32:29] Further. Goes. Though. And. I think. When you. When you. When you. When you. When you. Analyse. What he's saying. In the. In the context.

[32:40] I don't. Think. They believed. That that would happen. How could he go away. And leave them. Why would they ask him.

[32:50] A question. About where are you going. Because. How could he go away. How could he leave them. And yet. That is exactly. What he is preparing them for.

[33:02] Because. I have said these things. Unto you. Sorrow. Hath filled your heart. Nevertheless. I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you.

[33:13] That I go away. I have to go away. That's the. Long and the short of it. Comforter.

[33:27] Christ is promising. He's. He's already spoken of. Of him. In. The previous chapter. In verse 26.

[33:37] When the comforter is come. Whom I will send unto you. From the father. Even the spirit of truth. Which proceedeth from the father. He shall testify.

[33:48] Of me. Jesus is. Preparing the disciples. For this. Eventuality. Preparing them. For the meaning.

[33:59] Of this. And yet. They are not. They are not. Prepared. They are not. They are not. Understanding.

[34:10] Why. This has to be. I was thinking. Well. Why. Why would they not. Understand. What Christ is saying. Why would they not.

[34:20] Appreciate. The truth. Of what he is saying. But. It must be like this. And. The reason. The reason I suppose. Is simple.

[34:31] That very often. When we. Live our lives. In the world. Especially. With regard. To our faith. We seldom.

[34:42] Take in the big picture. As it were. Our. Interaction. With the Christ. Of the gospel. Is usually. A personal one.

[34:55] And. When. He is dealing with us. It is usually. At the level. Level of. It being. Personal.

[35:07] And we seldom. Take in the. The work. That Christ. Is doing. In the. Broad. Expense. Of.

[35:18] The outcomes. That he. Plans. If you think of that. In the terms of. The church. For example. How difficult.

[35:29] Is it for us. To. To understand. Much of what. God is doing. In the world. Through his church. When we.

[35:42] When we. When our focus. Is usually. On ourselves. On our. On our. On our. On our congregation. On our personal.

[35:54] Lives. As Christians. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. Think. We. Think. Outside of that. Setting.

[36:05] And forget. That what God is doing. He. He. Is doing. With regard. To the body. That bears. His name. In the world. And while.

[36:17] We might not. Be able. To understand. That what he is doing. Will. Profit us. Because of. The negative. The view.

[36:28] We have offered. And our failure. To understand. That while he. While he may not. Be working. To. To. To the level. Or. In the way.

[36:39] That we would want him. To work in our lives. We. Overlook. That he is working. In the lives of others. In the world. I'm not making excuses. For anything.

[36:49] That is true of ourselves. But I'm using it. As an illustration. To. The kind of response. That the. That the disciples. Have. To this.

[37:00] Major truth. That Christ. Is presenting them with. He is telling them. In advance. This is how. It's going to be. I am going.

[37:11] To leave this world. I am going. To my father. And for. Christ. To say that. Very simple. Statement. I am going.

[37:21] To my father. There is only. One. Roo. To his father. And that is. By way of the cross. He can't. Make his way. To the father. Bypassing.

[37:32] Calvary. He can't. Go. To. The provision. That he is. Speaking of here. Without. Embracing. The death.

[37:42] Of the cross. And he understands that. And he wants his disciples. To understand it. But they don't have. The capacity. To do that. But he still.

[37:52] Must tell them. This is how. It's going to be. So. Jesus. Is. Saying. To them. You're going.

[38:04] You're going to have. To forgo. My company. My companionship. My counsel. You're going to have. To forgo. All of these things.

[38:16] But. Better than that. Is going to be yours. I don't know. If they could see that. Or even. If we can see it. When we're looking at it.

[38:28] From the point. Of reading the gospel. That the promise. Of the spirit. The. Outpouring.

[38:38] Of the spirit. At Pentecost. Is. An improvement. To the presence. Physical presence. Of Christ.

[38:49] It's very hard. To understand. And very hard. To believe. But what Jesus. Is saying. I. Am going. To leave. By implication. He is saying.

[39:00] It is better. It is better. For you. And. The focus. Is going to fall. On the activity.

[39:10] Of the Holy Spirit. Now. Jesus. Has. Many things. To tell them. And he. He indicates that. In this passage.

[39:22] And. His teaching. To them. Here. Is not going to have. An immediate impact. But he tells them.

[39:32] That they will remember it. Once he goes. Meet again. At the beginning. Of the chapter. These things. Have I spoken. Unto you. That you should not.

[39:43] Be offended. They shall put you. Out of the synagogues. Yea. The time will come. That whosoever killeth. You will think. That he doeth. God's service. These things.

[39:54] Will they do. Unto you. Because they have not. Known the father. Not me. But these things. Have I told you. That when the time. Shall come. You may. Remember.

[40:06] That I told you. Of them. And these things. I said. Not unto you. At the beginning. Because. I was with you. There is a time. And a place.

[40:16] For the instruction. That he has to give. To them. Well. Let us consider. What the Holy Spirit. Is going to do. Once.

[40:27] He comes. And. On one level. Seems. Straightforward enough. We understand. What Jesus. Is saying.

[40:38] To them. He is telling them. That when. He comes. He will do this. He will. Reprove the world.

[40:48] Of sin. And of righteousness. And of judgment. Of sin. Because they believe. Not in me. Of righteousness. Because I go.

[40:59] To my father. And you see me. No more. Of judgment. Because the prince. Of this world. Is judged. I wonder.

[41:11] If. You've. Heard a sermon. On this passage. Before. Maybe. Some of you. Will have heard. A sermon. On this before. I can't think.

[41:21] That I've preached. On it. Myself. I refer. To these. Words. In sermons. But I've never preached. On this text. And I was thinking.

[41:33] As I was preparing this. Who would you preach. This text to? Is it a passage. That the focus. Of the passage. Is such.

[41:44] That it is meant. To be. For. Believers. Or is it a passage. Where the. Attention.

[41:55] Of the. Unbeliever. Is. The one. That you seek. To grasp. Well. Maybe. You could.

[42:06] Choose either. You could. Think. That it's suitable. For one person. And not another. But I think. You need to understand.

[42:18] That at this point. Jesus. Is telling. His disciples. About the passion. Of the Holy Spirit. That he is going to come. Come. And.

[42:29] He is telling them. This is what he is going to do. When he does come. This is what the Holy Spirit. Is going to do. I don't know.

[42:44] If you. Believe this. Or not. And. Certainly. The. World.

[42:55] In general. Seems. Oblivious. To the fact. Of sins. But. If.

[43:06] If. The Christ. Of God. Is saying. That this is what. The Holy Spirit. Is going to do. He is going to. Reprove. The world.

[43:17] Of sin. That you would expect. That. The world. And. By that. Is meant. Every person.

[43:27] The. The mass. Of humanity. Are going to be. Taught. About. Sin. Not just. Taught.

[43:37] About it. But. Reproved. The word. Reproof. Is used. That. Those. Who are. In the world. At the hand. Of the Holy Spirit.

[43:48] Will experience. The reproof. Of the Spirit. And. And. My question is.

[44:01] Will. The world. Receive. The reproof. Of the Holy Spirit. Regarding. Sin. Do.

[44:13] The world. Receive. If we believe. That the Holy Spirit. Has come. As Christ. Has promised. Christ. And if we believe.

[44:24] That on the day of. Pentecost. The Holy Spirit. Was poured out. Without measure. We have to believe. That the Spirit. Was at work. In the world. Prior.

[44:34] To Pentecost. What Jesus. Is promising. And. Prophesying. In part. Is. That. There will come. A point. Where. The Spirit.

[44:45] Will work. In the world. In a way. That he has. Not been working. Prior to this. In a measure. That has not.

[44:55] Been known. Before. Now. Could we. Say. That. Until that. Happens. The world.

[45:06] In general. Will remain. Oblivious. To. Sin. Sin. Well. I think. That we have. To remember. That there's also.

[45:17] Scripture. Passages. That tell us. That. Regardless. Of who. The person is. That the Bible.

[45:29] Tells us. That there is. An awareness. In their life. Of sin. Whatever they call it. By. However. They choose. To. Identify it.

[45:39] There is. Not a soul. Living in the world. Who is. Not. At some point. Or in some way. Aware. Of. Sin. Now.

[45:51] You may not. Think that. You not. May not. Appreciate that. But the apostle Paul. For example. Is someone. Who. Who.

[46:03] Points. To. The reality. Of the sinfulness. Of. All mankind. And. Speaks. Of it. As.

[46:13] Something. That. All. Who are. Guilty. Of it. Or. Who are. Susceptible. To sin. Because of. The nature. Of it.

[46:24] That. They. Understand. It. For themselves. In a measure. In Romans. Chapter 1. Paul. Gives.

[46:35] Us. A. Horrifying. Description. Of. The effect. Of sin. In the life. Of many. In the world. We read.

[46:50] In. Chapter 1. Verse 21. Because. That. When they. New. God. They glorified. Him. Not. As. God. Neither. Were. Thankful. But. Became. Vain.

[47:00] In. Their. Imaginations. And. Their. Foolish. Heart. Was. Starkened. Professing. Themselves. To be wise. They. Became. Fools. And. Changed. The glory. Of. The incorruptible.

[47:10] God. Into. An image. Made. Like. To. Corruptible. Man. To. Birds. And. Four-footed. Beasts. And. Creeping. Things. Wherefore. God. Also. Bodies.

[47:26] Between. Themselves. Who. Changed. The truth. Of. God. Into. A lie. And. Worship. And. Served. The creature. More. Than. The creator. Who. Is. Blessed. Forever. Amen. For.

[47:38] This. Cause. Gave. Them. Up. Into. Vile. Affections. For. Even. Their. Woman. To. Change. The. Natural. Use. Unto. That. Which. Is. Against. Nature. Likewise. Also.

[47:49] The men. Leaving. In. The. Natural. Use. Of. The. Woman. Burned. In. Their. Lust. One. Toward. Another. Men. With. Men. Working. That. Which. Is. Unseemly. And.

[47:59] Receiving. In. Themselves. That. Recompense. Of. The. Error. Which. Was. Meat. Even. As. They. Did. Not. Like. To. Retain. God. In. Their. Knowledge. God.

[48:10] Gave. Them. Over. To. Reprobate. Fornication.

[48:21] Wickedness. Covetousness. Maliciousness. Full of envy. Murder. Debate. Deceit. Malignity. Whispers. Backbiters. Haters. Of. God.

[48:32] Despite. Full. Proud. Boasters. Inventors. Of. Evil. Things. Disobedient. To. Parents. Without. Understanding. Covenant. Breakers. Without.

[48:42] Natural. Affection. Implacable. Unmeasurable. It's a very comprehensive list. And it's a very. It's a description.

[48:55] Of a cesspool. Of iniquity. And you think. Well these people. Who are guilty. Of such sin. Clearly. Are content. Living.

[49:05] In that sin. Without. Without. In any way. Being offended. Or. Affected. By. These sins. They see it as their normal.

[49:16] Their abnormalities. Normalized. By the frequency. Of their practices. And. The multiplicity. Of those. Who practice.

[49:26] These sins. With them. Encourages them. Even into. Groser sins. But this is what. Paul ends up saying. Who.

[49:38] Knowing. The judgment. Of God. That they. Which commit. Such things. Are worthy. Of death. Not only. Do the same. But have pleasure. In them. And do them.

[49:48] This is the thing. Paul is pointing to. Despite. Their wickedness. And their. Their contentedness.

[49:59] In practicing. Such wickedness. They. At the same time. Are aware. Of the fact. That. God.

[50:09] Will judge. What they're doing. Whatever the level. Of awareness is. This is what. The scripture. Says. About them. Who.

[50:19] Knowing. The judgment. Of God. They're the ones. That know. These people. Who are listed. There. With all their. Gross. Wicked sins. They know.

[50:30] The judgment. Of God. That they. Which commit. Such things. Are worthy. Of death. And in chapter. Two. The apostle.

[50:42] Describes. Two. Two. Is again. The same. Kind. Of mindset. Verse 14. Verse 15. For the Gentiles. Which have not the law.

[50:53] Do by nature. The things contained. In the law. These having not the law. Are a law unto themselves. Which show the work of the law. Written in their hearts. Their conscience.

[51:04] Also bearing witness. Their thoughts. The meanwhile. Accusing. Or else. Excusing. One another. Now Paul's mind.

[51:14] On this. Is clear. The fact. That these people. Of which he is speaking. Are gross sinners. And their sins.

[51:27] Are there. For all to see. Does not mean. That they're ignorant. Of the fact. That they're sinful. Or that God. Takes offense. At their sin. But that they are willing.

[51:40] To continue in them. Regardless. So. Why then. Is the apostle.

[51:51] Why then. Is Jesus saying. That there is going to. Come a time. When the Holy Spirit. Will come. And he will. Convict.

[52:04] The person. Of sin. If there. If there. If there is. A knowledge. Already. That the behavior. That is condemned. Is sinful. John Owen.

[52:18] The Puritan. Tells us. In his own writings. That. All men. In every nation. Have. Some. Sense.

[52:29] Of sin. And of God's. Hatred. Of sin. The first. The very first idea. Men have.

[52:39] Of God. In this world. Is that he is the rewarder. Of good and evil. Imagine that. That's the description.

[52:51] Of a Puritan. Theologian. And he is convinced. That. Man. Who is.

[53:03] In denial. Of God. Has a sense. Of God. An understanding. Of God. Whatever level. Of understanding. Is. It comes.

[53:15] To them. Through. The. The understanding. That they have. That what they are doing. That is sinful. God hates it. Now.

[53:28] However well. Developed. That may be. In. In. In. An individual. What must. Happen. According. To the teaching. That Christ.

[53:39] Brings. To our attention. Here. Is that. The Holy Spirit. Must. Work. In the heart. And mind.

[53:49] Of a person. To bring home. To that person. The extent. Of. Sin. In the life. Of. Any person.

[54:01] The nature. Of sin. The effect. Of sin. The outcome. Of sin. And. Without. The help. Of the Holy Spirit. However. Far.

[54:13] A person. By nature. Is able. To come. With their conscience. Being pricked. Or. With their own. Awareness. Of God. Condemning.

[54:24] Their activity. Being. As it is. By nature. It is. Necessary. For the Holy Spirit. To come. And begin. His work.

[54:35] And this. Begins. With conviction. This. Begins. With conviction. Now. Again.

[54:45] Come back. To my question. Who is this. Passage. Directed at. Is this. Passage. Designed. To bring. The sinner. To an.

[54:57] Awareness. Of the. Gross. Nature. Of sin. In order. To direct them. To the remedy. For that sin. Or is this.

[55:07] Passage. Designed. To remind. The believer. Of the. Difference. That there is. Between. A person. Who. Is a sinner.

[55:18] By nature. And who is aware. Of. God's. Condemnation. Of that sin. And who.

[55:29] By reason. Of God. Working. In their lives. Have moved. From that. Basic. Understanding. Of. God's. Condemnation. Of sin.

[55:39] To an understanding. Of the destructive. Potential. That there is. In sin. In their lives. If God. Does not intervene. So if you're a believer.

[55:51] Tonight. You'll know the difference. Between. What you thought. About sin. Until God. Came into your experience. And convinced you. That sin.

[56:03] There was more to it. Than you had ever given. Credence to. But that's. In fact. I think here.

[56:14] I mistoked on it. When I was. Thinking of this. Before. Where does. Jesus. Begin. He tells them.

[56:27] Where the spirit. Begins. Of sin. He says. Because. They believe. Not in me. They believe.

[56:38] Not on me. No. If. If the spirit. Was going to work. In the life. Of any one of these people. That we've recognized.

[56:49] Are in this world. And who are guilty. Of any number. Of gross sins. The list. Is endless. It's not. A fine. A limit.

[57:00] On these sins. That are in the world. You know that. Where would you expect. The holy spirit. To begin. To convince.

[57:11] The sinner. Of sin. Would it be. To. Teach the murderer. That. Taking somebody's life. Is wrong.

[57:22] Would it be. To teach the thief. That to take somebody's property. Is wrong. Would it be. To teach. The adulterer. That to take somebody else's wife. Is wrong.

[57:32] Or husband's wrong. Or some other. Moral issue. That's not where Jesus says. The. Holy Spirit. Is going to begin.

[57:44] But. Pointing. To the heart. Of a problem. That needs to be addressed. They believe.

[57:54] Not. On me. They believe. Not. On me. Now. Does that surprise you.

[58:06] That that is where Christ. Points us to. When he. Describes to us. The work of the Holy Spirit. The believer.

[58:18] Should be able. To discern. As an evidence. The knowledge. They have of sin. Now. As opposed. To what they were.

[58:29] Before Christ. Before Christ. Came into their lives. And if that difference. Is not there. There is something wrong.

[58:39] But. When it comes to Christ. You understand. That if. Things. Are wrong. As far as Christ.

[58:51] Is concerned. Everything. Is wrong. If Christ. Is not. In. His. Proper. Place. In the life.

[59:01] Of any individual. Then. Nothing. Can be right. The. Theologian. B.B.

[59:13] Warfield. Makes. The following. Comment. The proclamation. Of Christ. Is. The great. Revealer. Of sin. When.

[59:25] Christ. Is preached. The touchstone. Is applied. There is. No revelation. Of character. So accurate.

[59:35] So powerful. So unmistakable. So inevitable. As wrapped up. In this. Simple.

[59:46] Question. What. Think. He. Of Christ. What. Think. He. Of Christ. You think.

[59:57] One. Can't be as simple. As that. But it has to be. Because. If you don't. Address. That question. If you don't. Answer.

[60:07] That question. If Christ. Is. Not. Your. All. In all. If Christ. Is. Not. At the heart. Of. Your. Christianity.

[60:18] If Christ. Is. Not. The be. All. And. End. All. Of. Your. Human. Existence. Something. Is. Wrong. The.

[60:33] Holy. Spirit. Is. The. Great. Revealer. Of. This. Truth. And. How.

[60:44] We. Respond. Probably. He. Is. Best. At. Making. Us. Respond. In a way. That.

[60:55] We. Must. Respond. The. Second. Question. Well. The. Second. Thing. That. We. Have.

[61:05] Here. That. The. Holy. Spirit. Speaks. Of. Is. This. He. Speaks. Of. Righteousness. Of. Righteousness.

[61:15] Because. I. Go. To. My. Father. And. You. See. Me. No. More. How. How. Do. You. How.

[61:25] Do. You. Understand. That. It. Must. Seem. Strange. To. You. When.

[61:37] He. Is. Come. He. Will. Reprove. The. Word. Of. Sin. And. Of. Righteousness. And. Righteousness. Because. I. Have. To. Go. To. My. Father. What.

[61:48] Has. That. Got. To. Do. With. Righteousness. That. Jesus. Has. To. Go. To. His. Father. But. Then. Order. Is. Not. Only. Logical.

[62:00] But. Sensible. Sin. Is. A. Breach. Of. God's. Holy. Law. And. His. Standard. Which. Conforms. To. Himself. In. All. His. Glory.

[62:12] Remember. This. Holy. Spirit. Is. Going. To. Come. To. The. World. And. The. World. Must.

[62:23] Hear. This. Message. That. Comes. To. Them. There. Is. None. Righteous. Not. One. And. Once. They. Hear. This. Message.

[62:33] They. They. Have. To. Understand. What. The. Scripture. Needs. Them. To. Understand. Because. Just. As. Surely.

[62:44] As. We. Can. Understand. That. We. Understand. That. There. Is. Sin. In. Our. Heart. And.

[62:55] We. Acknowledge. It. As. Far. As. We. Are. Able. To. Do. It. By. Nature. We. Understand. That. There. Is. A. Righteous. God. Who. Must. Require. Our. Answer. To.

[63:05] Our. Sin. You. Know. If. We. Put. It. Like. This. Have. You. Ever. Sought.

[63:18] To. Justify. Your. Actions. Even. In. Your. Heart. Not. To. Anybody. In. Particular. But.

[63:28] You. Found. Yourself. Well. I've. Done. This. And. This. Is. Why. I've. Done. It. Why. Do. You. Need. To. Say. Anything. To. Anybody. About.

[63:39] What. You. Done. Or. Not. Done. Why. Would. You. Want. To. Do. That. Because. There's. An. Innate. Desire.

[63:49] In. All. Of. Us. That. Makes. Us. Want. To. To. Give. An. Answer. To. Someone. And. That. Someone. Is. God. And. Because. God. Is. There. Requiring. An. Answer.

[64:00] Then. We. Have. In. Our. Mind. A. Standard. Of. Righteousness. Which. We. Believe. Ourselves. Capable. Of. Of. Attaining. But. We. Don't.

[64:12] There's. Two. Passages. Of. Scripture. Because. The. Time. Is. Going. I've. Spent. Too. Much. Time. In. The. First. Beginning. Of. This. When. We. Think. About. The. Righteousness.

[64:23] Of. God. And. Think. About. The. Cross. And. Think. About. Christ. Saying. Well. I'm. Going. To. My. Father. And. We've. Said. It. Already. There. Is. No. Way. That. Christ. Can. Go. To. His. Father. Who.

[64:33] Accept. By. Way. Of. The. Cross. And. Yet. On. The. Cross. What. Is. God. Doing. He. Is. Condemning. His. Son. He.

[64:44] Is. Judging. His. Son. He. Is. Judging. His. Son. As. The. Holy. Unspotted. Lamb. Of. God. That.

[64:54] Lamb. Must. Die. Why. Must. The. Lamb. Die. Because. The. Lamb. Is. Bearing. The. Sin. Of. The. World. A. Holy. And. Just. God. Must. Deal. With. The.

[65:05] Sin. Of. The. World. Even. When. It. Is. On. This. Holy. Consecrated. Lamb. Appointed. From. All. Eternity. It.

[65:16] Hardly. Seems. Righteous. But. It. Is. Because. Christ. Tells. Us. That. If you. Go. To. The. The. Words. Of. The. Apostle. Paul.

[65:28] That. Christ. Was. Reconciling. Us. The. World. Reconciling. The. World. To. Himself. By. Not.

[65:38] Imputing. That. Espaces. Unto. Them. The. Apostle. Paul. Himself. Is. The. Best. Person. Who.

[65:48] Give. You. Exactly. An. Understanding. Of. What. Christ. Was. Doing. On. The. Cross. All. Things. Are. Of. God. Who. Hath.

[65:59] Reconciled. Us. To. Himself. By. Jesus. Christ. Hath. Given. To. Us. The. Ministry. Of. Reconciliation. To. With. That. God. Was. In. Christ. Reconciling. The. World.

[66:09] Unto. Himself. Not. Imputing. Their. Trespasses. Unto. Them. And. Hath. Committed. Unto. Us. The. Word. Of. Reconciliation. Now. Then. He says.

[66:19] We. Are. Ambassadors. For. Christ. As. Though. God. Did. Beseech. You. By. Us. We. Pray. You. In. Christ. Dead. Be. Reconciled. To. God. For. He. Hath. Made. Him. To.

[66:30] Be. Sin. For. Us. Who. Knew. No. Sin. That. We. Might. Be. Made. The. Righteousness. Of. God. In. Him. And.

[66:40] That. Is. The. Role. Of. The. Holy. Spirit. To. Direct. Us. To. That. Christ. That. We. Might. See. A. Righteous. God. A. Righteous. And.

[66:50] A. Holy. Judge. A. Righteous. And. A. Holy. Sacrifice. And. A. Righteous. And. A. Holy. Redemption.

[67:04] The. Whole. Passage. From. Start. To. Finish. That. We. Read. There. Lifts. Up. Before. Us. A. Just. And. A. Holy. God. Finally.

[67:17] He. Speaks. Of. Judgement. And. Yet. Again. You see. When you read this passage. And. I would. Ask. You. To. Read. This. For. Yourself. Read. It. Again.

[67:28] Ponder it. Think. About. The. Words. That. Are. There. That. You. Can't. Think. Of. Why. They. Should. Be. There. At. All. But. They. Are. There. Because. Christ. Means. Them. To.

[67:39] Be. There. He. Means. To. Ask. The. Question. And.

[67:52] You. See. Me. No. More. Christ. Has. Fulfilled. All. Righteous. He. Satisfied. The. Law. He. He. He. He. He. Lifted. It. Up. So. That. All. Eyes. Can. See. The.

[68:03] Holiness. Of. A. God. Who. Is. Satisfied. With. The. Finished. Work. Of. His. Own. Son. Of. Judgment. Because. The. Prince. Of. This.

[68:13] World. Why. Does. He. Speak. Of. The. Prince. Of.

[68:23] This. World. At. This. Point. Again. It's. Something. That. Clearly. Is. Meant. To. Make. You. Ask. The. Question. But.

[68:35] Perhaps. We're. Meant. To. Go. Right. Back. To. The. Beginning. When. Sin. Came. Into. The. World. And. When. God's. Wrath. Against. Sin. Was. Revealed.

[68:46] And. When. We. Have. The. Revelation. Of. God's. Provision. Of. A. Saviour. In. The. Prove. Evangelicum. Of. Genesis. Genesis. Three. And. There. The.

[68:56] Word. Directs. Us. To. The. Very. First. Gospel. Promise. Satan. Is. Destined. To. Be. Bruised. Under. The. Feet. Of. Christ. Believing.

[69:06] People. That. Is. The. Promise. And. Paul. Writes. The. God. Of. Peace. Shall. Bruise. Satan. Under. Your. Feet.

[69:17] Shortly. He. Is. The. Arch. Enemy. Of. God's. People. But. Victory. Is. Certain. Because. Christ. Is. Going.

[69:27] To. Triumph. Over. Him. He. Has. Secured. Salvation. For. His. People. And. The. Destruction. Of. The. Enemy.

[69:38] Of. Their. Souls. We. Mentioned. John. And. John. Owens. Got. A. Book. That. Well. It's. Concise.

[69:49] Taking note. Of. His. Writing. The. Death. Of. Death. And. The. Death. Of. Christ. And. Owen. Says. The. Greatest. Sample.

[70:01] Or. Example. Of. The. Last. Judgment. God. Punished. And. Condemned. Sin. In. The. Flesh. Of. His. Own. Son.

[70:12] in the sight of men and of angels and of devils. God did that and the enemy, much as it stuck in his throat, much as he probably did not understand because we can't attribute the wisdom that God possesses to him.

[70:42] Whatever wisdom he has accumulated in his years of activity, he probably still doesn't understand that he is a vanquished foe, but he is that.

[70:55] The very active he is in this world, and active he is. But the victory is secure. The prince of this world is judged.

[71:07] That's what the Gospel tells you. That's what the Gospel proclaims. And may you, under the Gospel, plead for the guiding and the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, so that the reality of sinfulness may be brought home to you.

[71:26] the awesome wonder of the righteousness, the days of faith may be your own, and the assurance that the enemy of the soul has been triumphed over.

[71:42] Lord, let us pray. Let us pray. Let us pray. Lord, be merciful to us in our stumblings and in our ramblings. May your word, your word, may it lodge in our hearts.

[72:00] Anything that is said, I must be overlooked, blotted out, forgotten. May the truth, may the truths that need to be magnified, may that take place, that we may see.

[72:15] See Christ more than we see anything and anyone. Have mercy upon us in his name. Amen. Our closing psalm is Psalm 103, and at verse 3.

[72:31] Psalm 103, at verse 3. All thine iniquities, who doth most graciously forgive, who thy deceases all, and pains doth heal, and thee reveal.

[72:44] Relieve. Who doth redeem thy life, that thou to death misnoth go down, who thee with lovingkindness doth and tender mercy crown, who with abundance of good things, doth satisfy thy mouth, so that even as the eagle's age renewed as thy youth, God righteous judgment executes.

[73:04] For all oppressed ones is way to Moses, he is acts, made known to Israel's sins. All thine iniquities, you doth most graciously forgive.

[73:15] O thine iniquities, who doth most graciously forgive, forgive.

[73:35] forgive. Who thy deceases all, and pains, could he love thee, relieve.

[73:54] who doth redeem thy life, but thou to death misnoth go down, to thee with lovingkindness doth, and tender mercy shine, who with abundance of good things, who with abundance of good things, to satisfy thy life, so that in thy kingdom's age, renew it is the end.

[75:14] God righteous judgment executes.

[75:25] God of all oppressed ones, His ways to listen, He is acts, may God kill their sins.

[75:56]  May God bless, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with you all, now and always. Amen.