WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.219 Read for us. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.980 Read for us. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:29.980 Read for us. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 Read for us. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.000 Read for us. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.000 Read for us. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:38.000 Read for us. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.000 Read for us. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.000 Read for us. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:44.000 Read for us. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:46.000 Read for us. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:02:16.000 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.000 Read for us. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:20.000 Read for us. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:22.000 Read for us. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:24.000 Read for us. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:28.000 Jonathan, thank you very much for that reading. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:32.000 It's not very cheerful, is it? 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.000 Read for us. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:36.000 Read for us. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:38.000 Read for us. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:40.000 Read for us. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:42.000 Read for us. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:44.000 Read for us. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.000 Read for us. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:50.819 at the front here and some pens. Anybody want one? If you haven't got one, you can stick 00:02:50.819 --> 00:02:58.280 up your hand and Kirstie will pass one to you. And if there are any questions about 00:02:58.280 --> 00:03:03.740 this morning's talk or indeed any of our talks through Romans, then I'd be delighted if you 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:11.479 would come and chat about it afterwards. This is a very difficult section in this book. 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:17.259 So, one I'd like to be able to say, well, let's just jump to something else, but we continue 00:03:17.259 --> 00:03:22.079 through with it and we'll see what God has to say. So we're going to pray and we're going 00:03:22.079 --> 00:03:29.719 to ask for his help as we look at this together. Our Father God, we do thank you for your word. 00:03:30.539 --> 00:03:37.419 We thank you for all that it contains. But we do recognise that when we read through your 00:03:37.419 --> 00:03:46.079 word, there are some parts that are really quite difficult. It's hard to take in. And 00:03:46.079 --> 00:03:52.419 therefore we ask for your help to understand it and how this applies to our life and to 00:03:52.419 --> 00:04:03.979 society today. May we first allow it to challenge us and shape us before we begin to think of 00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:12.780 applying it to other people. So we pray for us all as we look at your word in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:27.860 Well, what I am about to say to you, you may find very shocking. And it's this. God is angry. 00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:38.180 In fact, God is very angry. And if we are observant enough, there are signs of his anger all around 00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:47.259 us, even in our own lives. What do you say? You can't say that. What kind of Bible are you 00:04:47.259 --> 00:04:53.720 reading? The God that I know is a God of love. He's a kind and he's a compassionate God. 00:04:53.720 --> 00:05:01.720 He doesn't get mad and he doesn't get annoyed. He's a caring and gentle God. How on earth could 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:13.560 you say that God is angry? Well, look at verse 18. The wrath, that's the anger, the anger of 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:25.819 God is being revealed. In other words, God's anger is present among us. When we were away 00:05:25.819 --> 00:05:32.920 on holiday, we went to visit Dachau. It was the first concentration camp built during the 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:40.300 Second World War. In fact, it became the prototype, the model for every other concentration camp that 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:49.740 the Nazis built. And as I stood there in this huge open courtyard, I tried to imagine what 00:05:49.740 --> 00:06:00.220 had happened. And as I thought, I felt sad and I was very upset. But I also felt very angry. 00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:07.900 I was angry at those who had committed such awful crimes, many of whom had escaped prosecution. 00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:15.500 I was angry at those who had lived in the surrounding neighbourhood and had done nothing to prevent it. 00:06:17.739 --> 00:06:25.839 Listen to this letter sent home by a Lieutenant Bill Cowling, an American soldier who was part of the 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:32.620 liberation task force of the camp towards the end of the war. This is what he wrote home to his family. 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:41.100 As we approached the camp, the first thing we came to was a railroad track leading out of the camp with a lot of 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:49.500 open box cars on it. As we crossed the tracks, we looked back into the cars and the most horrible sight I 00:06:49.500 --> 00:07:01.180 have ever seen met my eyes. The cars were loaded with dead bodies. Most of them were naked. All of them were skin and bones. 00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:14.620 Many of them had bullet holes in the back of their heads. It made us sick in our stomachs. And so mad we could do nothing but clench our fists. 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:27.420 You see, sometimes it is right to be angry. Anger can be a right response. In fact, to be unmoved at such 00:07:27.420 --> 00:07:41.420 terrible atrocities such as Dachau would be cold and hard-hearted. Anger is a sign that you do care. And that you are loving. And that you don't want these things to happen again. 00:07:41.420 --> 00:08:07.740 Now the problem with my anger, and I suggest the problem with your anger too, is that it's uncontrolled. Our anger is temper-like. It can be an outburst that can be as terrible as the act to which you are angry at. In other words, your anger makes you as guilty as the person who committed the crime. 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:30.160 But when we look at God's anger, it is uncontrolled. It is fair. And it is his just response to sin. God is not hot-headed. He never loses it. He doesn't throw a hissy fit. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:49.980 Rather, it is his personal hostility to evil and his act of involvement to punish sin. That's the definition of God's anger. His personal hostility to evil and his act of involvement to punish sin. 00:08:49.980 --> 00:09:10.860 So we need to ask the question, what is God angry at? Why is God angry? Well, look at verse 18 again. It says that the anger of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men. 00:09:10.860 --> 00:09:29.919 God is angry at the atrocities that are being revealed from heaven against all the gods. God is angry at the murder and assault of that 12-year-old girl, Michaela Davis, in Dublin last week. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:59.899 And he's also very angry at the atrocities that are being revealed from heaven against all the gods. 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:29.879 God is angry at the atrocities that are being revealed from heaven against all the gods. 00:10:29.879 --> 00:10:30.879 God is angry at the atrocities that are being revealed from heaven against all the gods. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:31.879 He's also angry at the atrocities that are being revealed from heaven against all the gods. 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:51.879 God is not just angry with Hitler. He's also angry with me. With all of us. But there's a deeper reason behind all this wickedness as to why God is angry. 00:10:51.879 --> 00:11:08.720 And it's unpacked for us in these following verses. First of all, we've all rejected God. Look at verse 18, the end of verse 18. It says there that we have suppressed the truth by our wickedness. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:16.580 Since what may be said. Since what may be known about God is plain to us. Because God has made it plain to us. 00:11:16.580 --> 00:11:28.440 You see, we've all been given knowledge about God. We may never have read our Bible or been given a Bible. We may never have been to church. 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:36.880 But the fact of God's existence surrounds us, everybody, every day. Look at verse 20. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:12:06.860 He says, 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:36.860 That God exists. 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:50.600 I am here. In fact, when we look at the universe and see the way in which it holds together in such an orderly and harmonious way, reminds us that there is a creator. 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:57.120 Somebody is controlling this planet. And we're all dependent on our creator gods. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:59.120 There is too much. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:02.399 There is too much order for it just to be chanted. 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:06.700 But what have we done with this knowledge? 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:11.179 Well, we're told in verse 18, the end of verse 18, we have suppressed. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:16.220 We have pushed down the truth about God. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:18.379 We have rejected God. 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:23.240 We have ignored his advertising campaign and we pretend that he's not there. 00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:25.320 Verse 21. 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:32.939 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. 00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:40.560 Now, I'm sure a few of you of children like us were always reminding our children to say thank you. 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:42.420 Say thank you. 00:13:43.160 --> 00:13:45.180 Did you get something? Say thank you. 00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:49.279 And not to say thank you is not just rude. 00:13:49.959 --> 00:13:52.699 It's ignoring the person who has given you something. 00:13:53.259 --> 00:13:56.019 It's blocking them out, isn't it, if you don't say thank you. 00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:58.679 It's treating them as if they don't even exist. 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:02.279 And that's what we've done with God. 00:14:02.599 --> 00:14:08.099 By not giving thanks to him continually for all that we have, we're rejecting him. 00:14:08.579 --> 00:14:11.139 We're saying, I don't need you, God. 00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:13.319 I'm quite self-sufficient. 00:14:13.739 --> 00:14:15.479 I can live life all on my own. 00:14:15.979 --> 00:14:17.139 We're blocking them out. 00:14:20.359 --> 00:14:22.219 So we have rejected God. 00:14:23.479 --> 00:14:25.219 But it's not just rejection. 00:14:25.939 --> 00:14:28.459 The second thing is we have replaced God. 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:29.740 Look at verse 22. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:37.960 For although we claim to be wise, we've become fools. 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:47.680 And exchange the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:52.160 You see, it's not just rejecting God. 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:55.519 There's a second step in the process. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:59.399 It's replacing God with something else altogether. 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:02.620 It's our way of getting rid of God. 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:07.539 For example, you know that I'm married to Kirsty. 00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:08.620 Well, I hope you do. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:10.779 And that we belong to each other. 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:15.360 Now imagine if I lived my life as if Kirsty wasn't there. 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.279 Every day I was at home. 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:18.560 Just ignored her. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.979 She probably thinks that anyway. 00:15:22.219 --> 00:15:23.279 Which isn't true. 00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:24.659 Pretends. 00:15:25.619 --> 00:15:27.139 That I never referred to her. 00:15:27.239 --> 00:15:28.299 Never talked to her. 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:29.739 It would be awful. 00:15:30.219 --> 00:15:32.119 It would be a terrible relationship. 00:15:32.339 --> 00:15:34.759 It would be a complete rejection of who she is. 00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:39.720 But imagine if I went and lived with somebody else. 00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:42.659 It's more than rejection, isn't it? 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:48.039 It's a completely removing and replacing Kirsty with somebody else. 00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:49.779 It's awful. 00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:52.980 And that's what we've done with God. 00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:55.559 We've taken God out of the equation. 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:58.379 We've not just ignored him. 00:15:58.379 --> 00:16:02.559 We've substituted him with something else. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.039 Verse 25. 00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:09.080 It says there that we've exchanged the truth of God for a lie. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:17.519 And we have worshipped and served created things rather than our creator. 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.799 Who is forever praised. 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.179 Amen. 00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:29.139 Now in other cultures, images and idols can be very common. 00:16:29.839 --> 00:16:37.139 And the people to whom Paul was writing within that culture, there was lots of temples with idols and images all around them. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:43.599 And if we were to go to somewhere like Thailand today, you would find all kinds of images there and statues. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:17:01.120 Now just because we mightn't have a little carved out wooden idol in our house or some kind of shrine in our back garden where we have incense going and we put our vegetables at it and all this sort of thing, it doesn't mean to say that we don't have idols. 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:07.960 An idol, the Bible says, is anything that replaces God. 00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:12.259 Listen to this from Os Guinness. 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:18.640 Os Guinness comes from the great dynasty of that family who created the black pint. 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:22.740 Some of them were brewers, others were missionaries and bankers. 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:25.119 He came from the line of the missionaries. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.319 And this is what he says. 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:33.460 When we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing. 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:35.920 We worship anything. 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:39.180 We do not just eliminate God. 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:43.400 We erect God's substitutes in his place. 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:48.340 The biblical writers call these counterfeits idols. 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:58.480 An idol is something within creation that is inflated to function as a substitute for God. 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.539 I'll read that again. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.619 I think it's on the screen. 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:09.339 An idol is something within creation that is inflated to function as a substitute for God. 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:11.819 All sorts of things are potential idols. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:14.579 An idol can be a physical object. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:17.200 It could be a property like your house. 00:18:17.639 --> 00:18:18.440 A person. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.799 An activity. 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.079 A role. 00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.379 An institution. 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:23.120 A hope. 00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:24.320 An image. 00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:25.660 An idea. 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:26.960 A pleasure. 00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:27.980 A hero. 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:32.760 Anything that can substitute for God. 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:45.660 Now can you see how we have all taken something within God's good creation and we've inflated it to function as a substitute for God. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:48.500 In other words, it becomes the very centre of our lives. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:50.779 And that's the only thing that we want. 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:54.039 And if we haven't got it, our life falls apart. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:19:03.159 So we've not only rejected God, we have replaced God altogether. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:06.299 Now the consequences of doing this are disastrous. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.980 And that's why God is angry. 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:14.779 God's not just angry because he's treated as second best and he's sitting there in a bit of a huff thinking, 00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:17.399 oh they don't love me the same as other things. 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.960 That is part of it. 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:29.640 But he's angry because when he is treated as second best, we destroy ourselves and each other and the world in which we live. 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:38.340 Now I'm not a scientist, but I know that the sun is at the centre of the universe. 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:43.840 All the other planets, including Earth, they all are around the sun. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:54.679 Now if one of those planets decided, hmm, I'd like to be at the centre of the universe and push the sun out, 00:19:55.439 --> 00:19:58.879 then the whole universe would collapse, it would break down. 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:02.159 We would either melt or we would freeze to death. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:10.740 And that's exactly what happens when we replace God and put someone or something else in his place. 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:13.639 The whole moral order of the world breaks down. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:17.299 Instead of order, we have disorder. 00:20:17.639 --> 00:20:20.119 Instead of beauty, we find brokenness. 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:24.679 And because we no longer have one God at the very centre, 00:20:25.159 --> 00:20:27.359 who we all must worship and obey, 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:30.980 we've all got many gods, many idols, 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:33.059 that we are pushing into the centre 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:35.379 and they're all fighting for centre stage 00:20:35.379 --> 00:20:37.699 and the world falls apart. 00:20:39.939 --> 00:20:42.879 Look at the downward spiral we have in these verses. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:46.140 It starts off by saying that although we knew God, 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:49.680 verse 18, we suppress the truth. 00:20:50.760 --> 00:20:52.940 And from there, at the end of verse 21, 00:20:53.300 --> 00:20:56.300 it says our thinking becomes futile. 00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:02.380 In other words, we have no category for deciding what is right or wrong any longer. 00:21:02.760 --> 00:21:04.920 What's right for you might be right for me. 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:08.259 And our hearts become darkened. 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:13.060 That means we become desensitised to what's wrong. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:16.840 We become de-human. 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:21.320 We don't behave the way we are meant to behave. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:25.460 And if we remove God out of the scene altogether, 00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:30.700 well then we are the ones who are left to make up all the rules about how life should be. 00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:33.619 And we decide what is right or wrong. 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:36.240 And we become the moral standard. 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:38.679 And everybody has to do what we say. 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:42.860 Frederick Nietzsche 00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:46.580 is a very famous atheist and philosopher. 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:51.400 And he wrote what was one of his most famous well-known works. 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:53.460 It was called God is Dead. 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:57.180 The main obstacle in life, he claimed, 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.259 was that the person 00:21:58.259 --> 00:22:00.539 was the person who believed in God. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:02.360 Those kind of people shouldn't be. 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:06.979 Do you know who his most famous admirer was? 00:22:08.479 --> 00:22:10.339 A man called Adolf Hitler. 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:14.219 From the philosophy of Nietzsche who said 00:22:14.219 --> 00:22:15.119 God is dead, 00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:18.579 came the living hell of places like Dachan. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:21.459 Because if God is dead, 00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:24.539 if you replace God, 00:22:25.399 --> 00:22:27.819 you can do whatever you like. 00:22:29.479 --> 00:22:31.159 And so it is in our lives. 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:32.300 Without God, 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:34.200 we are accountable to no one. 00:22:35.580 --> 00:22:37.500 We can live and do as we like 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:40.360 because we have all made up our own gods. 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.300 And our own gods 00:22:42.300 --> 00:22:45.240 are never ever going to get angry with us. 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:47.880 They are only going to approve of what we do 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:49.340 and tap us on the back and say, 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:51.019 well done, good boy, good girl. 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.500 Do whatever you like. 00:22:55.340 --> 00:22:56.420 Verse 32. 00:22:56.420 --> 00:23:01.560 For although they know God's righteous decree 00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:04.440 that those who do such things deserve death, 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:08.200 they not only continue to do these very things, 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:11.740 but also approve of those who practice them. 00:23:13.820 --> 00:23:14.940 God is angry 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:17.380 because we've pushed them out. 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:20.019 And when we push God out, 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:22.140 the whole moral order 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:23.160 breaks down. 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:25.800 Then society turns in on itself. 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:30.140 So how, 00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:31.620 the next question, 00:23:31.800 --> 00:23:33.279 how is God's anger 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.420 actually expressed? 00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:39.820 Well, remember what we said at the beginning. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:42.240 God's anger is not temper-like. 00:23:43.040 --> 00:23:44.620 He doesn't lose his cool. 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:47.359 It is his controlled, 00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:50.119 personal hostility to evil 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:52.899 and his active involvement 00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:54.579 to punish sin. 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.819 Now, three times in this passage 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:59.719 we're told how we have behaved 00:23:59.719 --> 00:24:01.839 and three times we are told 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.959 how God responds. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.239 So what have we done? 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.119 Verse 23. 00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:08.839 We're told that we have exchanged 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:10.859 the glory of the immortal God 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:11.500 for images. 00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:14.039 We've put something else in place of God. 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:15.559 How does God respond? 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.440 Verse 24. 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:17.720 Therefore, 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.579 God gave them over 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.779 in the sinful hearts 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.859 of their, 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.000 gave them over 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:24.399 in their sinful desires 00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:25.200 of their hearts. 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.200 What have we done? 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.019 Verse 25. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:30.799 We've exchanged the truth of God 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.519 for a lie. 00:24:32.879 --> 00:24:34.259 And we serve other things 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.099 instead of God. 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.500 How does God respond? 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.519 Verse 26. 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:39.180 Because of this, 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.940 God gave them over 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:42.039 to shameful lusts. 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:43.039 lusts. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.159 Third, 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.899 what have we done? 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.779 Verse 28. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:47.740 Furthermore, 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:49.159 since we did not think 00:24:49.159 --> 00:24:49.879 it worthwhile 00:24:49.879 --> 00:24:50.920 to retain the knowledge 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:51.480 of God, 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.220 how does he respond? 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:55.039 He gave them over 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.420 to a depraved mind 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.379 to do what they ought 00:24:57.379 --> 00:24:58.099 not to do. 00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:00.559 Now, 00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.339 this act 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:02.599 of giving over, 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.279 it's repeated 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.279 three times 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:05.159 in those verses, 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:07.259 is God's act 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.920 of judgment 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:09.139 against our sin. 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:10.680 You see, 00:25:10.800 --> 00:25:12.400 in a perfect world, 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:14.820 God is at the very 00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:15.400 centre. 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.280 And God, 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.240 and our desire 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.200 is for God 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:19.860 and we want to 00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:20.500 worship God 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.460 and obey God. 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.240 But when we 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.460 replace God, 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:26.300 we have desires 00:25:26.300 --> 00:25:27.280 for other things 00:25:27.280 --> 00:25:28.180 and other people 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:29.140 and we worship 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.800 and we serve 00:25:29.800 --> 00:25:30.740 something else. 00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:33.080 So when we 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:34.220 reject God, 00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:36.140 he gives us 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.820 over 00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:38.639 to those desires. 00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:40.039 He lets 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:41.119 those desires 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:42.379 control us 00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:44.139 and consume us. 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.059 He takes away 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.480 his hand of restraint 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:49.740 and he purposefully 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:51.500 allows those desires 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.579 to destroy us 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.639 and to break us. 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.539 It's as if God 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:56.980 is saying, 00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:57.980 if this is how 00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.779 you want to live, 00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.579 if you want to live 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.059 in a world 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.200 where you don't have me 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.519 and you want to be 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.379 your own boss, 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.859 I'm not just going 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:06.039 to let you do it. 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.819 I'm going to give 00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:09.039 you over to it. 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.519 I'm going to push 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.220 you into that 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.259 kind of lifestyle. 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:13.899 It's not just 00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:15.059 cause and effect 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:16.659 whereby we do 00:26:16.659 --> 00:26:17.319 something wrong 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:18.179 and this happens. 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.379 It's an act of 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.639 involvement on God's 00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:21.819 part. 00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:22.099 He says, 00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:23.000 I give you over 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.579 to it. 00:26:26.639 --> 00:26:27.639 And we see this 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.399 being worked out 00:26:28.399 --> 00:26:29.419 in three ways. 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.519 Now I had great 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.500 difficulty working 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:32.899 through this 00:26:32.899 --> 00:26:33.579 because it's very 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.159 hard. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:36.040 But I want you 00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:36.620 just to stay 00:26:36.620 --> 00:26:37.420 with me on this 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.920 and to follow 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.680 right to the end 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.440 of this section 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.660 to see how it 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.640 all fits together. 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.759 There's three ways 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.400 in which God 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.340 gives us over 00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:45.279 to these over 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.240 desires in our 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.500 lives that cause 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.860 all kinds of 00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:49.300 problems. 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.440 Firstly, 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:52.160 sexual impurity. 00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:53.120 Verse 24. 00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:55.040 It says there, 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:55.980 therefore God 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.880 gave them over 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:57.620 in their sinful 00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:58.160 hearts, 00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.460 sinful desires 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.080 of their hearts, 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.160 to sexual impurity 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.680 for the degrading 00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.340 of their bodies 00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:04.120 with one another. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.100 Now for whatever 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:08.279 people may say, 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.820 a string of 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:10.920 one-night stands 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.680 and affairs, 00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:13.480 indulging in 00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.180 pornography, 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:15.700 demanding sex 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:16.519 from your wife, 00:27:16.820 --> 00:27:17.680 is not a sign 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.660 of sexual freedom, 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.299 it's a sign 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.560 of God's anger. 00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.500 Doing what you 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.720 want with who 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:24.440 you want, 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.080 well it might 00:27:26.080 --> 00:27:26.700 bring pleasure 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.580 for a moment, 00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:30.360 but it ultimately 00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.779 destroys us 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:33.000 and breaks us. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.559 It's hurtful. 00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:37.299 It kills trust 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:38.299 between people 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.599 and it degrades 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.119 people. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:43.200 It's God's 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:44.279 act of judgment 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.660 against us. 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.619 It's not freedom. 00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:48.480 It's a judgment. 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.920 Second, 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:52.819 we see it 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.899 expressed in 00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:55.200 shameful lusts. 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.019 That's the phrase 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.139 in verse 26. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.059 Let's read that. 00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.440 Because of this, 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.299 God gave them 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.539 over to shameful 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.360 lusts. 00:28:02.900 --> 00:28:04.019 Even their women 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:05.240 exchanged natural 00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:06.019 relations for 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:07.100 unnatural ones. 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.440 In the same way, 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.200 the men also 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.420 abandoned natural 00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:11.220 relations with 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.360 women and were 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.180 inflamed with 00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:14.059 lust for one 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:14.400 another. 00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.920 Men committed 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.900 indecent acts 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.779 with other men. 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.100 Now, 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.799 same-sex 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.480 relationships, 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.380 and we hear a lot 00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:24.180 about this in the 00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:25.059 news and in the 00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:25.400 media, 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:27.640 are not a sign 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.300 that we have 00:28:28.300 --> 00:28:29.460 finally grown up 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:30.280 and matured 00:28:30.280 --> 00:28:30.880 as a nation. 00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:33.080 It is a sign 00:28:33.080 --> 00:28:34.360 of God's anger. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.220 The practice 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.300 of lesbianism, 00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:38.759 of homosexuality, 00:28:39.280 --> 00:28:40.780 it's not natural. 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:43.020 It is a denial 00:28:43.020 --> 00:28:44.320 of what we were 00:28:44.320 --> 00:28:45.460 created to be 00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.580 and what is 00:28:46.580 --> 00:28:47.440 actually best 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.140 for us. 00:28:48.980 --> 00:28:49.860 It breaks 00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:51.000 God's good order 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.060 and his design 00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:52.500 for us. 00:28:52.780 --> 00:28:53.820 The family unit 00:28:53.820 --> 00:28:54.740 was to be a man 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.200 and a woman 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.300 together with 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.139 children if God 00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:57.680 should bless 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.039 them with 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.460 children. 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.039 So living 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:02.000 outside of 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.779 that is not 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.419 a sign of 00:29:04.419 --> 00:29:05.180 maturity. 00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.419 It's not a 00:29:06.419 --> 00:29:07.059 sign that we've 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.759 grown up. 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:10.019 It's actually a 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.940 sign of God's 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.879 judgment against 00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:12.240 us. 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.599 That's really 00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.339 hard, isn't 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.680 it? 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.419 But there's 00:29:19.419 --> 00:29:20.579 another section. 00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.599 It talks about 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.480 being given over 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.399 to a depraved 00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:23.899 mind. 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:24.060 judgment. 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.180 Now before we 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:27.100 jump to wrong 00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:29.200 conclusions and 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:30.300 think that sexual 00:29:30.300 --> 00:29:31.280 sin is the only 00:29:31.280 --> 00:29:32.019 way that God 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:32.860 displays his 00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:34.800 judgment, look 00:29:34.800 --> 00:29:35.920 at verse 28. 00:29:38.540 --> 00:29:39.680 Furthermore, since 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.580 they did not think 00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:41.600 it worthwhile to 00:29:41.600 --> 00:29:42.240 retain the 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:43.060 knowledge of God, 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.200 he gave them 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.920 over to a 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:45.900 depraved mind to 00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.519 do what not 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.220 ought to be 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:47.480 done. 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.920 You see, some 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.600 of us reading 00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:51.200 through this 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:53.100 passage here might 00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:53.980 be taking the 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.740 moral high 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.139 ground. 00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.299 We can be 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.899 sitting here 00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:58.779 thinking ourselves 00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.319 a little bit 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:00.799 kind of superior 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.719 and better than 00:30:01.719 --> 00:30:02.399 other people. 00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.480 And we're kind 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.119 of thinking to 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:06.259 ourselves, well, 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.039 you know what, 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.039 I'm not sexually 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:08.699 impure. 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.480 I've never had 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.000 an affair. 00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:12.799 I don't indulge 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.500 in pornography. 00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:17.359 I'm not a 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.019 homosexual. 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:20.099 Therefore, God's 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:21.000 not angry with 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.319 me. 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.960 God's only angry 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:24.019 with those kind 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.400 of people. 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:24.960 You know, that 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:26.539 kind of lifestyle. 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.339 He's only angry 00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.039 but with me. 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.339 Not me. 00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:31.279 But look at 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.000 verse 29. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.559 He doesn't let 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.460 anybody off the 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:35.779 hook. 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:37.519 It says, 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.099 they have become 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:38.740 filled with 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.500 every kind 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.200 of wickedness, 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.319 evil, greed 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:42.160 and depravity. 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.359 They are full 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:45.099 of envy, murder, 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:47.119 strife, deceit 00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:47.660 and malice. 00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:48.519 They are 00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.220 gossips, 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.160 slanderers, 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:51.920 god-haters, 00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:52.599 insolent, 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:54.539 arrogant, boastful. 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:56.079 They invent 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.859 ways of doing 00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.180 evil. 00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.559 They disobey 00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.400 their parents. 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.720 They are senseless, 00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:02.400 faceless, 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.059 heartless, 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:03.900 ruthless. 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:07.759 Has anybody 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.460 here ever 00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.100 disobeyed 00:31:09.100 --> 00:31:09.860 their parents? 00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.740 Has anybody 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.320 here ever 00:31:16.320 --> 00:31:17.120 gossiped? 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.740 Has anybody 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.460 ever suffered 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.180 from envy? 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.400 Do you see 00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.040 what he does 00:31:26.040 --> 00:31:26.500 through this 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:26.840 passage? 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:27.400 He places 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.580 sexual impurity 00:31:28.580 --> 00:31:29.120 alongside 00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.900 gossiping. 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.880 God never 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.759 grades one 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.519 sin as more 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.279 serious than 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:35.900 other sins 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:37.379 and neither 00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:38.039 should we. 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:40.000 God is angry 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.819 with us all 00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:42.740 because whether 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.200 it's been 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.240 sexual impurity 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:45.180 or gossiping, 00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:45.900 whether it's 00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.720 been disobeying 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.379 our parents 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.960 or homosexuality, 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:52.960 he puts it 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:53.460 all in the 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.180 same camp. 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.299 Every kind 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:56.920 of moral 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.539 disorder, 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.799 every hint 00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.599 of brokenness 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.220 in our lives, 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:01.279 it's not just 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.940 a sin. 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:04.220 but it's 00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:05.080 God in his 00:32:05.080 --> 00:32:06.160 just anger 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:07.200 giving us 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.940 over to 00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:09.700 destructive 00:32:09.700 --> 00:32:10.600 behaviour 00:32:10.600 --> 00:32:11.940 because we 00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.420 have pushed 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:12.960 him out. 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:22.519 now if we 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.240 stopped here 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:23.539 it would 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:23.980 leave us 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.720 all feeling 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.480 very down 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:25.920 and quite 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:26.519 depressed. 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:29.259 But as we 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:29.860 were reminded 00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:30.660 last week, 00:32:31.340 --> 00:32:32.620 this is all 00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:33.160 about the 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:33.620 gospel. 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:34.559 And the 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:35.480 gospel means 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:37.900 good news. 00:32:38.620 --> 00:32:38.840 Well, 00:32:38.840 --> 00:32:39.319 where's the 00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:39.900 good news 00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.440 in all of 00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:40.820 this? 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:41.960 It doesn't 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.720 sound very 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:43.279 good news, 00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:43.720 it's pretty 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.759 awful stuff. 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.080 But the 00:32:46.080 --> 00:32:46.680 good news 00:32:46.680 --> 00:32:47.600 is that 00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:48.220 God has 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.720 come to 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.779 rescue us 00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:51.759 from his 00:32:51.759 --> 00:32:52.680 anger. 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:54.019 This big 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.559 issue that 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:54.980 we've been 00:32:54.980 --> 00:32:55.580 looking at, 00:32:55.799 --> 00:32:56.640 this is why 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:57.259 the gospel 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:57.740 has come, 00:32:57.820 --> 00:32:58.460 to rescue 00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:58.980 us from 00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.460 his anger, 00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:00.440 to deliver 00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:01.019 us from 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.279 it. 00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:02.860 Look back 00:33:02.860 --> 00:33:03.240 at verse 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:04.019 17 of 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:04.660 chapter 1. 00:33:06.080 --> 00:33:06.640 It says 00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.080 therefore, 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:07.880 in the 00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:08.320 gospel, 00:33:08.580 --> 00:33:08.940 in the 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.600 good news, 00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:10.860 a righteousness 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.779 from God 00:33:11.779 --> 00:33:12.660 is revealed. 00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:14.539 Why? 00:33:15.840 --> 00:33:16.440 Because, 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.680 verse 18, 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.500 and what you 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:18.960 should write 00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.279 in there 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:19.779 before, 00:33:20.140 --> 00:33:20.320 the, 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:20.880 is the 00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:21.600 word for 00:33:21.600 --> 00:33:22.600 or because. 00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:24.019 That's the 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.840 right translation. 00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.420 So read 00:33:25.420 --> 00:33:25.980 verse 17, 00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:26.680 for in the 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.000 gospel, 00:33:27.140 --> 00:33:27.519 a righteousness 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.140 from God 00:33:28.140 --> 00:33:28.820 is revealed 00:33:28.820 --> 00:33:29.799 because, 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.299 verse 18, 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.240 the wrath 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:32.759 of God 00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.279 is being 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.720 revealed. 00:33:34.840 --> 00:33:35.640 The gospel 00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.100 has come 00:33:36.100 --> 00:33:36.440 to us 00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:37.019 to rescue 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:38.000 us because 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:39.940 we are 00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:40.379 all under 00:33:40.379 --> 00:33:40.779 God's 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.079 anger. 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.240 And God 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:43.579 in his 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.180 love has 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:44.579 come to 00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:45.160 do something 00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:45.819 about us. 00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.660 It's telling 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:47.059 us that 00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:47.539 God has 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:48.200 provided a 00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:48.559 way for 00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.099 us who 00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:50.079 have replaced 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.619 him to 00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:52.240 be right 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:52.720 with him. 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:53.779 He comes 00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.440 to deal 00:33:54.440 --> 00:33:54.859 with the 00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:55.599 problem of 00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.379 living under 00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.019 his anger. 00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.160 And how 00:33:59.160 --> 00:33:59.700 does he do 00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:00.200 that? 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:01.920 Well, 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.400 let's have a 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.079 little sneak 00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:03.700 preview. 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:04.960 We will get 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:05.400 to it in 00:34:05.400 --> 00:34:05.700 time, 00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.240 but chapter 00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:06.740 5, 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.360 verse 8. 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:12.000 Chapter 5, 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.619 verse 8. 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:25.360 But God 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.460 demonstrates 00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.059 his own 00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:28.260 love for 00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:28.659 us in 00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:28.980 this. 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.519 While we 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.220 were still 00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:31.900 sinners, 00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.460 Christ 00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:35.039 died for 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:35.460 us. 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.500 You see, 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:37.980 it's only 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.380 when we 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:38.840 look back 00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:39.219 to the 00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:40.300 cross where 00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:41.239 Jesus died. 00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:43.800 We have 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.940 substituted 00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:46.139 God. 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.159 But Jesus 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.079 became the 00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.779 ultimate 00:34:49.779 --> 00:34:50.920 substitute for 00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:51.400 us. 00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:52.900 He replaced 00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:53.539 us. 00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.340 He took 00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:54.920 all our 00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:55.980 ungodliness. 00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:56.739 He took 00:34:56.739 --> 00:34:57.559 all our 00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.519 wickedness 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.380 on himself. 00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:00.940 So when 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:02.119 Jesus suffered, 00:35:02.259 --> 00:35:02.960 when he died 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.659 on the cross, 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.460 he suffered 00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.119 the full 00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:05.679 blow of 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.079 God's 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.940 anger for 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.500 us. 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:09.340 On the 00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:09.820 cross, 00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:10.780 Jesus was 00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:11.780 crushed beneath 00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.500 the weight of 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.280 God's wrath. 00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:15.380 And when we 00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:16.280 look to Jesus 00:35:16.280 --> 00:35:17.159 and we see 00:35:17.159 --> 00:35:17.800 what happened 00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:18.099 there, 00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:19.460 we see God's 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.940 personal hostility 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:22.220 to evil and 00:35:22.220 --> 00:35:22.980 his active 00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:23.940 involvement to 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.559 punish sin 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.880 poured out 00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:27.280 on Jesus. 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:29.960 When Jesus 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.920 died on the 00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:31.320 cross, 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:32.620 he absorbed 00:35:32.620 --> 00:35:33.680 God's 00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:34.200 anger for 00:35:34.200 --> 00:35:34.580 us. 00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:37.820 And that's 00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:38.260 the good 00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:38.900 news. 00:35:39.300 --> 00:35:39.880 That if we 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:40.280 put our 00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:41.039 faith in 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:41.420 Jesus, 00:35:41.660 --> 00:35:42.120 if we 00:35:42.120 --> 00:35:42.980 entrust our 00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:43.539 lives to 00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:43.840 him, 00:35:44.160 --> 00:35:44.700 we are 00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:46.059 given over 00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:47.140 into his 00:35:47.140 --> 00:35:47.620 family. 00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:48.280 We are 00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:49.000 released from 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:49.400 his anger. 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:49.780 We are 00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.600 treasured and 00:35:50.600 --> 00:35:51.340 cared for as 00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:51.880 his children. 00:35:52.300 --> 00:35:52.600 We are 00:35:52.600 --> 00:35:53.200 given his 00:35:53.200 --> 00:35:54.059 spirit to 00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:54.700 live a new 00:35:54.700 --> 00:35:55.039 and a 00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:55.760 different way. 00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:57.039 We are 00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:57.760 filled with 00:35:57.760 --> 00:35:58.460 joy and 00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.280 peace and 00:35:59.280 --> 00:35:59.620 we are 00:35:59.620 --> 00:36:00.680 satisfied and 00:36:00.680 --> 00:36:01.300 fulfilled 00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:02.500 and contented 00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.280 because we 00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:04.200 have everything 00:36:04.200 --> 00:36:04.900 in life 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:06.240 from Christ. 00:36:06.740 --> 00:36:07.280 We don't 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:08.080 need to go 00:36:08.080 --> 00:36:08.820 searching for 00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.440 other things 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.060 or to 00:36:10.060 --> 00:36:10.920 replace God 00:36:10.920 --> 00:36:11.740 because in 00:36:11.740 --> 00:36:12.400 Christ we 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.240 have everything. 00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.100 And as we 00:36:17.100 --> 00:36:17.680 will go on 00:36:17.680 --> 00:36:18.060 to see, 00:36:18.160 --> 00:36:19.140 he transforms 00:36:19.140 --> 00:36:20.100 our lives so 00:36:20.100 --> 00:36:20.720 much that he 00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:21.280 gives us a 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:22.019 new way to 00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:22.300 live. 00:36:23.780 --> 00:36:24.440 Where we 00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.260 don't want to 00:36:25.260 --> 00:36:27.039 live as a 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:27.660 depraved 00:36:27.660 --> 00:36:29.440 person or 00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:30.720 sexually impure. 00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:32.240 sinful lusts or 00:36:32.240 --> 00:36:33.440 shameful lusts. 00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:33.940 He will 00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:34.760 forgive it all 00:36:34.760 --> 00:36:35.360 and he will 00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:36.240 change our 00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:37.200 lives around so 00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:37.640 that we can 00:36:37.640 --> 00:36:38.280 live a brand 00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:39.420 new way under 00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:40.460 his design and 00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:41.039 under his 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:41.400 order. 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.539 The way he 00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:45.500 intended life 00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:45.960 to be. 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.840 God loves us 00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:51.260 so much that 00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:52.060 while we were 00:36:52.060 --> 00:36:52.980 still sinners, 00:36:53.200 --> 00:36:54.180 Christ died for 00:36:54.180 --> 00:36:54.460 us. 00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:56.200 He came to 00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:57.240 rescue us from 00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:57.780 his anger. 00:36:57.780 --> 00:36:57.860 anger. 00:36:59.000 --> 00:36:59.540 And the 00:36:59.540 --> 00:37:00.280 truth that we 00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:00.900 all need to 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:01.780 take home this 00:37:01.780 --> 00:37:02.540 morning before 00:37:02.540 --> 00:37:03.880 we start applying 00:37:03.880 --> 00:37:04.680 it to anybody 00:37:04.680 --> 00:37:06.740 else is we 00:37:06.740 --> 00:37:07.720 all need the 00:37:07.720 --> 00:37:09.060 gospel every 00:37:09.060 --> 00:37:10.040 single day 00:37:10.040 --> 00:37:12.200 because without 00:37:12.200 --> 00:37:13.820 it we are 00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.660 left open to 00:37:14.660 --> 00:37:15.240 the awful 00:37:15.240 --> 00:37:17.140 prospect of 00:37:17.140 --> 00:37:17.840 God's anger. 00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:19.940 Let's pray 00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:20.460 together. 00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:40.059 our father we 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:40.480 have been 00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.559 working through 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.340 something that 00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:43.139 has been really 00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:43.699 hard. 00:37:44.179 --> 00:37:44.699 It's been 00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:45.740 difficult for us 00:37:45.740 --> 00:37:46.699 to take in and 00:37:46.699 --> 00:37:48.220 to try and get 00:37:48.219 --> 00:37:49.119 our heads around 00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:49.500 this. 00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:52.199 And so we 00:37:52.199 --> 00:37:53.099 keep praying that 00:37:53.099 --> 00:37:53.879 you will help us 00:37:53.879 --> 00:37:54.819 to work it into 00:37:54.819 --> 00:37:55.519 our lives. 00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:58.659 Help us to see 00:37:58.659 --> 00:37:59.959 the seriousness of 00:37:59.959 --> 00:38:01.039 rejecting you and 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:02.000 replacing you. 00:38:03.459 --> 00:38:04.719 Help us to see 00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:06.399 the ways in which 00:38:06.399 --> 00:38:08.699 each day we can 00:38:08.699 --> 00:38:09.839 replace God with 00:38:09.839 --> 00:38:10.619 someone or 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.219 something. 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.899 Please help us to 00:38:13.899 --> 00:38:16.059 put Christ back 00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:16.579 at the very 00:38:16.579 --> 00:38:17.539 centre of our 00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:18.019 lives. 00:38:18.840 --> 00:38:19.440 That we would 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:20.159 worship and 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:21.340 serve and obey 00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:23.840 him and put 00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:24.639 everything else in 00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.300 its place. 00:38:26.779 --> 00:38:29.400 And help us to 00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:30.420 always be so 00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:32.179 thankful for your 00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:34.119 amazing love for 00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:35.000 the Lord Jesus, 00:38:35.800 --> 00:38:37.880 for his death and 00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:39.039 dealing with God's 00:38:39.039 --> 00:38:40.820 anger for us so 00:38:40.820 --> 00:38:41.920 that we don't have 00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:42.719 to face it. 00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:44.679 In Jesus' name. 00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:45.960 Amen. 00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:52.880 Well, we're going 00:38:52.880 --> 00:38:53.759 to sing our 00:38:53.759 --> 00:38:55.079 final song together. 00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:58.559 Oh, see the dawn. 00:38:58.559 --> 00:39:00.880 if you could turn to the chorus for me Rob 00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:02.619 thank you very much 00:39:02.619 --> 00:39:03.739 this is 00:39:03.739 --> 00:39:06.599 what we've been summing up this morning 00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:08.380 this is the power of the cross 00:39:08.380 --> 00:39:10.519 that Christ became 00:39:10.519 --> 00:39:11.500 sin for us 00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:14.920 he took the blade 00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:16.639 he bore the