WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.220 Good morning, everyone. So the reading is going to be from Romans chapter 9, verse 30, through to chapter 10, verse 1 to 23, I believe it's 21. 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:16.539 ! Okay. 00:00:16.539 --> 00:00:46.519 Right. 00:00:46.539 --> 00:00:50.700 They stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, 00:00:51.519 --> 00:01:03.340 See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble, and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame. 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:16.180 Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved, for I can testify about them that they are zealous for God. 00:01:16.540 --> 00:01:28.980 But their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God, and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 00:01:28.980 --> 00:01:38.060 Christ is the culmination of the law, so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. 00:01:38.060 --> 00:01:43.519 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law. 00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:48.759 The person who does these things will live by them. 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:56.680 But the righteousness that is by faith says, do not say in your heart, who will ascend into heaven? 00:01:57.180 --> 00:01:59.260 That is to bring Christ down. 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:02.280 Or who will descend into the deep? 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:05.460 That is to bring Christ up from the dead. 00:02:05.459 --> 00:02:09.359 But what it does say, but what does it say? 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:11.379 The word is near you. 00:02:11.379 --> 00:02:14.359 It is in your mouth and in your heart. 00:02:14.959 --> 00:02:18.579 That is the message concerning faith that we proclaim. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:29.180 If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:33.740 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified. 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:38.879 And it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:45.120 As scripture says, anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame. 00:02:45.819 --> 00:02:49.140 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:55.240 The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him. 00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:59.500 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 00:03:00.980 --> 00:03:04.900 How then can you call on the one they have not believed in? 00:03:06.580 --> 00:03:10.640 And how can they believe in the one in whom they have not heard? 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:16.920 And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 00:03:17.820 --> 00:03:21.760 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:27.419 As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. 00:03:28.340 --> 00:03:31.419 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:36.299 For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? 00:03:37.539 --> 00:03:40.459 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message. 00:03:40.840 --> 00:03:43.939 And the message is heard through the word about Christ. 00:03:43.939 --> 00:03:51.479 But I asked, did they not hear? 00:03:51.900 --> 00:03:52.859 Of course they did. 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:55.979 Their voice has gone out into the earth. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:59.300 Their words to the ends of the world. 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:03.079 Again I asked, did Israel not understand? 00:04:04.079 --> 00:04:10.460 First Moses said, I will make you envious by those who are not a nation. 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:15.620 I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding. 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:22.319 And Isaiah boldly says, I was found by those who did not seek me. 00:04:22.900 --> 00:04:27.540 I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me. 00:04:28.259 --> 00:04:37.579 But concerning Israel, he says, all day long I have held out my hand to a disobedient and obstinate people. 00:04:37.579 --> 00:04:41.500 May God continue to bless his word. 00:04:43.339 --> 00:04:45.479 Well thank you Sharon for reading for us. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:46.319 It was a long reading. 00:04:46.979 --> 00:04:49.839 And so we're very grateful to you for reading for us. 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:51.539 Do keep that passage open. 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:54.120 I know that every preacher says that as he starts. 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:55.180 But I really mean it. 00:04:55.419 --> 00:04:55.519 Yeah? 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.279 So, and maybe others do too. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:59.500 But really do keep that passage open. 00:04:59.620 --> 00:05:03.120 Because I'm going to put a couple of slides up with some of the text. 00:05:03.219 --> 00:05:05.399 But most of it is just in the Bible for you. 00:05:05.419 --> 00:05:07.000 So you can follow along there. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:07.459 Let's pray. 00:05:07.899 --> 00:05:08.919 And ask for the Lord's help. 00:05:09.019 --> 00:05:09.339 Let's pray. 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:15.300 Father, we do want to pray and ask for your help this morning. 00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:19.000 We're conscious both of our own weakness. 00:05:19.319 --> 00:05:21.139 But also our neediness. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:24.799 We long to hear your voice. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:27.779 We long to know what you're like. 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:28.479 What you say. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:30.519 What you want from us. 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:35.759 And so, Lord, we pray that by your spirit, through your word, you might speak to us this morning. 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:38.019 For our good and for your glory. 00:05:38.479 --> 00:05:39.459 In Jesus' name. 00:05:40.039 --> 00:05:40.319 Amen. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:40.459 Amen. 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:45.500 Now, it's great to have a lot of visitors in the room. 00:05:45.659 --> 00:05:54.000 And in a way, you have come into what essentially is part two of a sermon that we started last Sunday from Romans chapter 9. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:06:01.160 But it is entirely possible that those who were here with us last week have no idea what it was that we said last week. 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:09.200 So, by way of reminder, for those who have forgotten, and for those of you who are visiting here, cast your eyes back to chapter 9, verse 3. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:13.740 This is the issue that Paul is dealing with in Romans at this stage. 00:06:14.219 --> 00:06:15.860 He says, and this will come up on the screen. 00:06:16.379 --> 00:06:27.639 For I wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, or better, kindred, the people of Israel. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:29.740 Here's the issue, right? 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:36.779 So, Paul knows theologically that the gospel, the good news of Jesus, is for Jews first. 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:39.819 This is what he said at the beginning of his letter. 00:06:40.479 --> 00:06:42.599 The Jews are the nation of the Old Testament. 00:06:43.299 --> 00:06:47.539 They are the ones who had the promises that are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 00:06:48.099 --> 00:06:50.639 Jesus is their Messiah, if you like. 00:06:51.239 --> 00:06:53.539 He's from their ethnic group with their cultural heritage. 00:06:53.679 --> 00:06:54.919 He's followed in their history. 00:06:55.539 --> 00:07:05.699 But despite that, as Paul knows that about Christ, he then sees that actually not that many of his fellow Jews are following Christ. 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:08.459 Not in Rome and not in his ministry. 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:10.819 And in chapter 9, verse 3, that troubles him. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:13.379 He wishes it wasn't the case. 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:19.719 And in chapter 10, verse 1, which we read a few moments ago, it is still troubling him. 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:28.339 Brothers and sisters, he says, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 00:07:28.339 --> 00:07:33.099 Now, this, I think, presents us with a challenge. 00:07:33.719 --> 00:07:42.199 What you are encountering here is the truth that Romans is not written directly to West Kilburn Baptist Church. 00:07:43.039 --> 00:07:49.739 Romans is written at a specific time in history with a particular set of questions behind it. 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:53.439 I would imagine that for most of us, I mean, you can see this here, can't you? 00:07:53.439 --> 00:08:03.100 You imagine that for most of us, when we hear the word Israel, we don't think so much of a theologically defined group of people whose inheritance is from the Old Testament. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:09.920 In lots of ways, that group, as Paul describes it here, has been dispersed around the world. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:13.340 It doesn't really exist in the same way as Paul encountered it. 00:08:13.339 --> 00:08:19.819 Instead, when you and I hear the word Israel, we think of a nation state that's currently bombing Iran and Lebanon. 00:08:20.419 --> 00:08:23.039 But that's not who Paul is talking about here. 00:08:23.119 --> 00:08:24.519 It's not really what he means. 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:28.599 So you and I have a translation challenge this morning. 00:08:29.139 --> 00:08:35.959 Translating what Paul says about the Old Testament Israelites responding to their Messiah, who they largely rejected, 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:40.179 and translating that into our situation today. 00:08:41.319 --> 00:08:42.740 Now, this is possible. 00:08:43.340 --> 00:08:45.899 In fact, this is how the whole Bible works, right? 00:08:46.780 --> 00:08:48.899 This is what the Bible does. 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:57.800 It is written by particular people in a point in history, and yet what they're writing are eternal truths about who God is and what it means to follow him. 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:05.660 And so what we need to do this morning is listen to Paul's answer to the question about Old Testament Israel, 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:09.800 and see how that translates to questions that we are all asking. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:12.240 And we saw that in part last week. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:19.220 We might not be wondering why the church in Rome in AD 55 wasn't flooded with Jewish converts. 00:09:19.220 --> 00:09:26.220 But we do wonder, don't we, why our cousin or our son or our brother or our daughter or our sister, 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:33.180 who came to church as a child, who knew their Bible so well, now wants absolutely nothing to do with Jesus. 00:09:33.179 --> 00:09:35.179 Why is that? 00:09:35.179 --> 00:09:40.939 Why is it that our friend who seemed so interested in listening to my testimony at work is now hostile? 00:09:40.940 --> 00:09:51.580 Why is it that some random people just seem to walk into church and become Christians and others who hear the truth for years and years and years never really bother? 00:09:51.580 --> 00:09:58.020 Now part one of the answer to that question was Romans chapter 9, which we saw last week, 00:09:58.520 --> 00:10:07.780 which is that because God is sovereign, God chooses to have mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and hardens whom he wants to harden, chapter 9, verse 18. 00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:14.579 In other words, you shouldn't look at the unbelief of first century Israel or the unbelief of our friends and family and conclude, 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:17.419 oh, that must be because God's too weak or too distant. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:20.839 Rather, we found God is free to do as God chooses to do. 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:22.259 That was last week. 00:10:22.299 --> 00:10:24.459 If you want to know more about that, you need to listen to last week's sermon. 00:10:25.059 --> 00:10:26.220 This time we move on. 00:10:26.319 --> 00:10:27.480 Part two of the answer. 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:32.300 And let me show you first the mistake that everyone makes. 00:10:32.899 --> 00:10:34.100 This is part one of the answer. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:36.600 The mistake that everyone makes. 00:10:36.800 --> 00:10:38.920 Part one of part two of the answer. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:39.899 That's confusing, isn't it? 00:10:40.180 --> 00:10:41.159 This is the first point. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:43.159 The mistake that everyone makes. 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:47.860 Now, before we zoom out and think more generally about our situation, 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:50.600 let's close in on what Paul is saying about Israel. 00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:51.820 Look down at verse 30. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:54.340 What then shall we say? 00:10:54.340 --> 00:11:00.580 That the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith. 00:11:01.040 --> 00:11:06.740 But the people of Israel who pursued the law as the way of righteousness have not attained their goal. 00:11:07.060 --> 00:11:07.660 Why not? 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:13.000 Because they pursued it not by faith, but as if it were by works. 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:17.200 Here then is the big mistake that Paul's Israel are making. 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:19.600 And notice it's not a lack of earnestness. 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:20.920 It's not a lack of desire. 00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:25.259 Here, the Israelites are in what he calls hot pursuit of righteousness. 00:11:26.079 --> 00:11:27.860 And it's not a bad goal either. 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:29.599 Righteousness is a good thing. 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:32.299 Rather, their mistake is what? 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:37.819 Well, they are seeking righteousness by works and not by faith. 00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:39.319 That's their mistake. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:41.379 That's the mistake that everyone makes. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:42.939 Look at it carefully. 00:11:43.099 --> 00:11:44.159 See it in verse 31. 00:11:44.699 --> 00:11:49.459 The Israelites have been committed to what they call the law as a way of righteousness. 00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:54.160 Literally there, it is committed to law righteousness. 00:11:54.940 --> 00:12:02.300 That is, they are committed to obeying the rules as a means of establishing righteousness before God. 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:10.320 And in doing that, then, end of verse 31, the people of Israel have not attained their goal, is how it's put it. 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:15.300 Literally there, it is they have not obtained the law. 00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:17.939 It's confusing, isn't it? 00:12:17.979 --> 00:12:27.219 But what they've tried to do is they've tried to obey the law with law righteousness, but have then missed the goal of the law. 00:12:28.339 --> 00:12:35.000 In other words, they've sought to keep all the instructions, but they have not arrived at the destination that the law was pointing to. 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:45.320 It's like they've put perfect righteousness or home with God into the spiritual sat-nav, right? 00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:52.620 And the correct route has come up on the screen in their car, but they've gone the wrong way. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:54.879 And they've driven in the opposite direction. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:13:01.259 And the sat-nav of the law is saying, make a U-turn, make a U-turn, proceed to the route, proceed to the route. 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.779 And they're just ignoring it. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:05.419 And they never arrive. 00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:13.000 And they do that while the Gentiles, in verse 30, literally the nations, that is everyone who is not belonging to Israel, 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:16.200 they haven't even bothered putting anything in the sat-nav. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:19.340 They didn't pursue righteousness, but they've obtained it. 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.420 How come? 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:23.780 They've made it home with God by faith. 00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:26.620 Now, perhaps this seems a bit harsh. 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:30.160 You know, a group of people earnestly seeking to make it home to God, but never arriving, 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:33.180 while those who weren't earnestly seeking did arrive. 00:13:34.259 --> 00:13:35.259 Well, there's a reason, isn't there? 00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:37.300 Verse 32 to 33. 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:41.220 It's because the Jews have stumbled over the stumbling stone. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:44.400 They've tripped up where everyone trips up, 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:50.299 which is that they thought salvation was arrived at by works and not by faith. 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.980 Look down at verse 33. 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:58.039 See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble, 00:13:58.259 --> 00:13:59.959 and a rock that makes them fall. 00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:04.559 And the one who believes in him will never be put to shame. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:09.100 Paul here is paraphrasing two passages from Isaiah to make his point. 00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:11.559 And notice that the stone is really a hymn. 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:13.519 And this is their mistake, then, isn't it? 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:15.699 They think that they can achieve in their own works 00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:19.239 what really the Messiah could only achieve for them. 00:14:19.719 --> 00:14:22.939 So they don't believe in him, the rock, Jesus, 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:28.339 and instead they trip over him because they think that it's their own works. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.699 They're offended by his offer of salvation. 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:34.000 Don't you tell me that you can give to me what I can earn. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:36.359 I'm going to earn it in my works. 00:14:36.979 --> 00:14:38.519 And so they fail to believe in him. 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:45.859 Go back to the spiritual sat-nav illustration for a moment. 00:14:45.959 --> 00:14:47.739 It's like they put this home with God in, 00:14:47.859 --> 00:14:50.639 and the sat-nav system, listen, 00:14:50.839 --> 00:14:54.219 you are unable on your own to arrive at that destination. 00:14:55.559 --> 00:15:00.299 You are incapable of driving home with God. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:03.639 You will not possibly be able to make it. 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:07.460 What you need to do is move into the passenger seat, 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:10.319 and I will send someone to take the wheel for you. 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.580 And the Israelites go, 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:15.399 no way, I love driving. 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.939 I love driving. 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:19.019 And so they never arrive. 00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:22.220 Chapter 10, verse 2 describes it like this. 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:44.759 Zealous, ignorant, self-belief has led them to disaster. 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:49.439 Because, verse 4, the reality is that Christ is the culmination, 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:51.879 or literally the end of the law. 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:55.600 But they never got there because they're too offended by his claim 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:58.019 that they could never get there in their own strength. 00:15:59.100 --> 00:16:00.759 Now that's the specifics, right? 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:03.319 That's how Paul engages with this question about 00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:07.100 why are there not so many Jews in the church in Rome? 00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:09.319 Now zoom out with me for a moment, 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:12.360 and I think you can see the bigger implications of this for us. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:16.560 In essence, what Paul is saying here in these opening verses 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:20.019 is telling us that basically there are two religions in the world, okay? 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:24.080 There are two religions that all people in the world, 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.700 without exception, live by. 00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:27.779 And it's not Islam or Christianity. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.500 It's not Hinduism or Buddhism. 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:33.240 It's not even secularism versus mysticism or something. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:35.680 No, the two religions in the world are these. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:39.060 Works and faith. 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:40.080 That's it. 00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:42.180 Those are the two ways to live. 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:47.080 All of us in our quest for purpose, for meaning, for salvation, 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:50.300 for righteousness, if we want to use that language of the Israelites, 00:16:50.680 --> 00:16:53.960 all of us, without exception, fall into one of these two categories. 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:58.259 Either we think we do it in our strength, 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:03.779 or we think we have to trust in a saviour who alone can do it in his strength. 00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:07.720 Now undoubtedly, not everybody talks in the same way. 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:11.200 We don't all have the same categories or the same beliefs. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.019 But ultimately, it doesn't really matter. 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:19.140 Because the essential distinction is whether you believe life is measured in the terms of your own achievements. 00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:26.140 Be they religious achievements, academic achievements, financial achievements, sporting achievements, 00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:29.600 family achievements, whatever it is, works. 00:17:30.040 --> 00:17:34.080 Or you believe that life is about confidence in a saviour who is not you, 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:37.880 but who has come to do what you could not do. 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:42.200 And salvation comes from being credited with his achievements by faith. 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:45.100 And this is the big trap. 00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.779 This is the stumbling stone. 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:53.400 Because by nature, all of us, without exception, are works-based religion people. 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.660 All of us. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.900 All of us, by nature, are offended at the idea that we need a saviour. 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:02.799 We naturally want to drive the car and rely on our works. 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:05.059 It's so important to see this. 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.960 It might not be as obvious as you first think. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:13.279 Because on the surface of it, the actions of the works-based believer and the faith believer look the same. 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:16.879 Both of these groups of people might deeply care about morality. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:20.379 They might really be concerned about the life that they live. 00:18:20.419 --> 00:18:25.000 They might really be concerned to be a good person and to be kind to those around them. 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:29.099 They might really make massive sacrifices as well. 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:33.559 They might make massive sacrifices of time or money or energy. 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.279 They might both be really zealous as well. 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:41.099 It's not even that those of faith worship and those of works don't. 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:44.139 Both these groups might be worshippers. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:47.179 In fact, there's a sense in which we're all worshippers of something or someone. 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:55.799 In fact, you might find these two groups of people in the same building, in the same meeting, singing the same songs. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:00.319 The distinction is not on the outside. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:01.500 It's in the heart. 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:08.740 It's whether we think we are driving the car or whether we've handed the wheel to Jesus. 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:14.400 It's whether we're self-reliant or Christ-reliant. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:17.200 So let me ask you a question this morning. 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.340 Perhaps I can put it this way. 00:19:19.280 --> 00:19:20.540 What religion are you? 00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:22.360 What religion are you? 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:26.140 Oh, you might say, well, I'm a Christian. 00:19:26.280 --> 00:19:27.180 I'm in church. 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.560 My parents were Christians. 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:30.200 I tried to follow the teachings of the Bible. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.600 I sing the songs. 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.320 I share the supper. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:37.420 I've even done that thing which nobody does, which is scan the QR code in the back of the notice sheet to give money. 00:19:38.060 --> 00:19:38.240 Right? 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.660 Nobody does that. 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:40.460 I'm sure of it. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.359 Well, that might be true, but it's not that simple. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:48.000 The distinction is not between those who make an effort and those who don't. 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:51.599 Really, the question is, are you relying on your own efforts? 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:59.099 Be they Christian-sounding efforts or be they some other religious-sounding efforts or even some secular-sounding efforts? 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:03.579 Are you relying on those or are you relying on Christ? 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:06.319 Because it cannot be both. 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:14.740 To quote someone I heard this week, they said in the New Christianity Explored course, they say this, 00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:22.619 you cannot hold on to your own efforts and your own treasures and embrace Christ at the same time. 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:24.579 You can't do both those things. 00:20:24.579 --> 00:20:28.220 It's either self-reliance or Christ-reliance. 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:33.639 Now, perhaps this morning you're thinking, wow, we're raging against self-reliance. 00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:34.240 Right? 00:20:34.399 --> 00:20:38.179 That's all very well, but you need to know about me that my life is in tatties. 00:20:38.699 --> 00:20:38.839 Right? 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:41.899 I have zero self-confidence. 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:43.359 I have zero self-reliance. 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.439 I'm a total failure. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.240 I never achieved at school. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:47.279 I don't have a great job. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:48.699 My family relationships are a mess. 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.839 I can't seem to hold it together. 00:20:49.919 --> 00:20:51.159 It's a wonder I'm even here. 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:57.360 If that's you this morning, let me say to you, you're very welcome to be here. 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.759 It's great you're here. 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:05.840 Because there's a truth in that, that actually, if that's how you feel, you're not far from salvation. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:16.640 Because it is impossible to move from faith in our works to faith in Christ without realizing how broken and bankrupt and weak we are. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:24.960 The biggest barrier to you becoming a Christian this morning is probably your illusion of strength. 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:28.360 Not that you know you're weak. 00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:36.620 If you think this morning that you're smashing life, that you have no weakness, no moral guilt, no fear before a holy God before whom all of us will one day stand, 00:21:37.080 --> 00:21:40.080 then the truth is you've tripped up over the stumbling stone. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:47.139 But if you know that you're a mess, if you know that your guilt before God is impossible to hide, that you have no hope of saving yourself, 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:51.240 well, perhaps then this morning you might see that Christ specializes in people like you. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:54.000 People like me. 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:59.099 It's those who will admit they need him who will find him. 00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:04.059 Okay, so that's the first thing, the mistake that everyone makes, self-reliance. 00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:07.419 Secondly, the message we all need to hear. 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:12.500 Now again, let's kind of come back to Rome and to the detail of the passage here and to Paul's question. 00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:15.640 Remember, Paul is thinking about the Israelites of his day, 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:19.759 why the Old Testament people didn't accept Christ as their Savior in large numbers. 00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:23.019 And it's because they've stumbled over Jesus' grace. 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:26.160 They think it's works, works of the law, not faith in Jesus that matters. 00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:30.120 And the next part of the question then is, well, what do I do, says Paul? 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:35.640 Do I just throw my hands up in the air and go, oh, this is just utterly hopeless, right? 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:37.340 What is the point? 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:40.800 Well, no, he thinks there is something to do. 00:22:41.340 --> 00:22:43.160 So notice how he starts, verse 5. 00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:44.759 Moses, he says. 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:48.280 Ah, everybody in the Old Testament, they love Moses. 00:22:49.060 --> 00:22:52.880 And Paul's point here is that Moses himself described these two ways to live. 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:55.620 Moses, he says, describes works and faith. 00:22:56.540 --> 00:22:57.740 And notice what he says. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:01.120 This is not my idea, this is an idea of the Bible, says Paul. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.320 Self-reliance has been diagnosed long ago. 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:08.119 So Moses said that if you want righteousness by obedience, then you have to live by them. 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:08.919 Verse 5. 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:12.279 The person who does these things will live by them. 00:23:13.139 --> 00:23:18.599 Moses is saying, listen, if you want law righteousness, if you want works religion, 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:23.839 you're going to have to obey every law in every way, in every aspect, in every moment. 00:23:26.399 --> 00:23:26.960 Impossible. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.539 Absolutely impossible for us. 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:33.539 So instead, Moses also describes righteousness by faith. 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:35.059 Look at verse 6. 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:38.740 The solution, righteousness by faith, is actually not that difficult, he says. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.980 It's not locked away in heaven. 00:23:40.399 --> 00:23:41.680 You don't have to go up and get it. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:44.700 It's not locked away in the deep, so you have to die to find it. 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:47.559 Instead, verse 8, the answer is near you. 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:49.720 It's in your mouth and in your heart. 00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:52.480 That is the message concerning faith that we proclaim. 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:59.019 In fact, the solution is so close, it's so simple, you can summarize it in three words. 00:23:59.160 --> 00:23:59.720 Verse 9. 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:02.539 Jesus is Lord. 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.400 That's it. 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:08.620 Jesus, the man of Nazareth, is God in flesh. 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.680 The Lord. 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.819 Yahweh of the Old Testament. 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:13.200 In human flesh. 00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.420 Sent to save. 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:17.480 He alone is the rightful ruler of our lives and our world. 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:19.279 He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:21.200 He died for sin and rose victorious. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:32.600 And all you have to do, all anyone has to do, is believe in their heart and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord risen from the dead and they will be saved. 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.360 Says Moses. 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:36.000 Says Paul. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.500 So verse 11, look down at it. 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:43.940 As scripture says, anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame. 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:46.860 But there's no difference between Jew and Gentile. 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:50.819 The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him. 00:24:50.979 --> 00:24:54.779 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 00:24:56.479 --> 00:24:57.240 Remarkable, isn't it? 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.179 In a world of unbelief. 00:24:58.240 --> 00:25:02.740 In a world in which Paul is deeply concerned about the unbelief of his Jewish brothers and sisters. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.079 What's the solution? 00:25:04.959 --> 00:25:05.679 A message. 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:08.479 A message that Moses writes. 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:10.719 A message that Paul speaks. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:13.980 A message so simple a child can understand it. 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:18.440 The message is, Jesus is Lord. 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:23.559 But they cannot say it unless they've heard about it. 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.180 So verse 14. 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:28.400 How then can they call on the one that they've not believed in? 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:30.600 And how can they believe in the one in whom they've not heard? 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:33.460 And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:35.480 And how can they preach unless they are sent? 00:25:35.600 --> 00:25:39.019 As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:43.759 Now that doesn't mean that everyone who hears will believe. 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.000 Verse 16 tells you that. 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:48.420 The Israelites have been hearing about the promise of Jesus for centuries. 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:52.460 In fact, they heard wherever they were in the world, according to verse 18. 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:55.619 But still we speak, we share, we preach. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:59.619 Because, and this is the key to all this, chapter 10, verse 17. 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.539 Look down at it. 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:04.599 Faith comes from hearing the message. 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:08.700 And the message is heard through the word about Christ. 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:17.819 Now, just for our last time this morning, let's jump beyond Rome and to London and have a think about what this means for us. 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:21.579 We live, we've heard, in this world of two religions. 00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:27.299 It's either works, faith in ourselves, or it's faith in Christ. 00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:28.379 Those are the two options. 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:30.279 All of us are in one of those two categories. 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:33.500 And faith in Christ here is not complicated. 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.740 It's not difficult to explain. 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:36.539 It's not rocket science, right? 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:40.539 It doesn't involve complex religious rituals or activities. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:42.160 You don't have to go on a pilgrimage. 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.779 You don't have to fast. 00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:45.279 You don't have to say a special prayer. 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:51.799 It's saying Jesus is Lord and believing it and believing in his resurrection. 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.379 That's it. 00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:53.059 That's faith. 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:58.480 But notice that that faith is not something that you and I can generate by ourselves. 00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:00.940 Keep your eyes on chapter 10, verse 17. 00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:02.720 Notice it does not say this, does it? 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:06.319 It doesn't say, consequently, faith comes by human effort. 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:10.460 People make this mistake all the time. 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:12.299 Listen up, because this is really important. 00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:16.039 Faith is not the golden work, right? 00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:19.000 It's not as if, okay, Steve, I understand, right? 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:20.639 You're saying it's not by works. 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.480 It's by faith. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:25.940 So I'll forget works and I'll really try hard to be a person of faith. 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:27.420 That's what I'm going to try hard to do. 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:30.279 I'm going to put all my efforts into believing. 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.559 Belief is the work. 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.740 Faith is the work. 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:39.059 And you think, well, if I try really hard, then maybe that will be okay. 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:41.740 Listen, if you think like that, you haven't understood. 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:45.700 Faith does not come by trying really hard to believe. 00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:49.319 Faith comes by hearing. 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:53.839 And hearing not about you, not about what you should do, 00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:58.259 but hearing about what Christ has done. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:04.460 In other words, faith is what God gives you as you listen to the news 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:07.420 and the stories about what Jesus has done and who he is. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:11.599 Faith is the work, if you like, that God performs in you 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:14.000 as you hear the message about Jesus. 00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:18.639 Perhaps you can imagine it like this. 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:21.039 This doesn't kind of work perfectly, but it might help, right? 00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:21.960 Imagine it like this. 00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:25.240 Imagine you're trying to counsel a man whose marriage is on the rocks. 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:30.500 He comes to see you and he sits down with you over coffee or whatever it is. 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:33.220 And he says, listen, my marriage is a terrible mess. 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:35.220 I wonder if you can help me. 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:37.700 He says, well, just tell me what's going on at home. 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.380 What's it like? 00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:41.400 He says, I cannot begin to tell you how much I do. 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:44.560 I do all the cleaning. 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:45.960 I do all the cooking. 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:47.440 I do the laundry. 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.740 I earn the money. 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.920 I buy the food. 00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:51.580 I take the kids to the park. 00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:55.120 And yet still, for some mysterious reason that I don't understand, 00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:56.820 my wife is cold towards me. 00:28:58.620 --> 00:29:00.400 I don't have the marriage that I was hoping for. 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:02.200 What do you say to him? 00:29:03.780 --> 00:29:05.400 Well, I think you probably say something like this. 00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:06.500 Listen, friends. 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:09.960 Anyone could do those things for your wife. 00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:14.339 You could even say, listen, I know your wife. 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:19.819 I know your wife is rich enough to pay for someone to do all those things for her. 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:25.400 What your wife wants from you is not you to do jobs for her. 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:29.059 What she wants is for you to love her. 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:32.799 She wants you to give yourself up for her. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.059 She wants you to treasure her. 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:40.179 And now in that point in the conversation, what are you going to do to persuade that guy to do that, 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:42.779 to move towards his wife in love like that? 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.980 Well, you have to accept there's nothing you can do, is there? 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:48.599 You don't have access to his heart, to change his heart towards his wife. 00:29:49.419 --> 00:29:53.079 But what would begin to do that work in his heart? 00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:55.460 Well, you describe to him, don't you? 00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:57.879 Just think about what your wife is like. 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.559 She's beautiful, isn't she? 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:02.139 What brought you first together? 00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.720 Can't you remember? 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:08.559 Can you not think about what you first found attractive? 00:30:08.679 --> 00:30:12.740 Can you not remember how you felt when you first met, when you first embraced? 00:30:14.379 --> 00:30:16.399 Now, in a sense, that's it here. 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:21.440 Faith in Christ is not a work that we do for him. 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:26.519 It's more a movement of our heart towards him in love. 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:39.420 And that movement of our heart towards Christ in love comes as we hear about how beautiful and how brilliant and how wonderful he is. 00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:47.940 And the Spirit takes that message about Jesus' love and glory and kindness and generosity. 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:51.700 And he exposes us to it. 00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:58.039 So that as we hear the gospel, we fall in loving faith with Jesus. 00:30:58.039 --> 00:31:04.839 So we hear, don't we, that God loves us. 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:10.279 And because we're incapable of saving ourselves, he comes into the world in the person of the Son. 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:12.700 He lived the life that we failed to live. 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:15.319 He died the death that we deserve, that we might be forgiven. 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:20.399 And we hear that, and by the Spirit we say, that's my Lord. 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:22.439 That's my Savior. 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:24.799 He died for me. 00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:30.099 He rose again in victory, and I will rise in him in victory. 00:31:30.439 --> 00:31:33.339 He ascended into heaven, and he's returning in power. 00:31:33.679 --> 00:31:34.720 It's his achievements. 00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:36.240 He was morally perfect. 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:44.460 And it's those achievements which now mark my life, secure my future, seal my glory. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:47.640 I'm not destroyed by my sin or my weakness. 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:52.359 They show me I need Jesus, and Jesus loves me, and I love him. 00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:57.120 So let me speak to you if you're a Christian this morning. 00:31:57.480 --> 00:32:03.759 You and I, if we're Christians this morning, we should feel, like Paul, troubled by the unbelief in the world. 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:09.599 It should cause a sadness that our church is not bursting at the seams this morning. 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:16.660 If you're sat here, maybe you've been a member of this church or of Redeemer Queen's Park for a long time, right, 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:19.140 before our church has merged together last year. 00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:24.299 And maybe you just think, well, there are more people here than there were in our church last year. 00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:26.960 So that's all right then, isn't it? 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:32.460 Let me say to you, if you think like that, you need your pulse taking, your spiritual pulse taking. 00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:37.900 We live here in probably the most unreached quarter of London. 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:43.120 We worship Jesus in earshot of tens of thousands of people who are lost, 00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:49.559 of people who are trying to earn their way to heaven by their own religious efforts. 00:32:50.360 --> 00:32:54.900 We're surrounded by people who think that they can provide all the life that they want, 00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:57.720 or live in the belief that there's nothing beyond the grave. 00:32:57.720 --> 00:33:04.240 We're surrounded by people every day who are running headlong to judgment, trusting in themselves. 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:12.200 And there is a simple message that all of them need to hear, because it's the only hope. 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:15.519 You don't need a degree in theology to understand it. 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:17.720 You don't need to know Greek or Hebrew to speak it. 00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:21.059 The message is Jesus is Lord and he died and rose. 00:33:21.620 --> 00:33:25.319 And Christian, this morning, there is not a person that you meet who doesn't need to hear that. 00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:28.399 And you don't know whether God will save them. 00:33:28.659 --> 00:33:34.519 You don't know how they will respond and you don't know whether their instant response to you is going to be their forever response to the message. 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:38.779 You don't know whether God will open their heart or harden it. 00:33:39.159 --> 00:33:40.059 So what do you do? 00:33:40.659 --> 00:33:42.480 You keep speaking. 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:43.639 Not about yourself. 00:33:44.399 --> 00:33:46.740 Not about how being a Christian can make you a better person. 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:48.859 Not about how science has disproved the Bible. 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.879 None of those are the gospel. 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:51.099 Jesus is the gospel. 00:33:51.099 --> 00:33:53.939 It's his beauty that will win them. 00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:56.319 So you keep speaking about him. 00:33:56.819 --> 00:34:02.599 We as a church keep preaching about him so that God by his spirit might reveal to people his beauty and his wonder. 00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:06.980 That people might fall into faith in Christ like lovers fall in love. 00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:11.400 Because they see, don't they, not simply that Jesus is kind of reliable for salvation. 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:15.880 But he is desirable above all things to save them. 00:34:18.099 --> 00:34:20.059 What about you if you're not a Christian this morning? 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:22.400 It's so great that you're here this morning. 00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:23.639 You're so welcome. 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:27.099 And listen, I don't have a philosophy for you. 00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:29.860 I don't even have a list of things for you to do. 00:34:30.779 --> 00:34:34.059 You know, if you wanted a list of things to do, you should have gone to the mosque next door. 00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.920 They would have given you one. 00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:38.940 I don't have for you a new diet, a new dress code, a new religious calendar. 00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:41.400 Instead, what I have for you is a message. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:45.000 It's a message about a man called Jesus. 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:47.760 Jesus, who is God in flesh. 00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:49.960 And he died for your sin. 00:34:50.340 --> 00:34:52.079 And he rose again victoriously. 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:58.300 And everyone, that everyone includes you this morning. 00:34:58.500 --> 00:35:01.420 Whoever you are, wherever you're from, whatever your background. 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:08.599 Everyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.739 Praise him. 00:35:10.339 --> 00:35:11.099 Let's pray together. 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:23.500 Let's just take a moment of quiet and maybe we can respond in our own hearts as we have heard God's words. 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:23.619 Amen. 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:23.619 00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:58.059 Heavenly Father, thank you that by your spirit you've shown us the beauty of Jesus. 00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:02.199 Thank you that he's our Lord, our Savior. 00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:07.959 Thank you that it's his works, not ours, that have achieved salvation for us. 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:14.980 Thank you that as we go forward in life and death, our confidence is not in ourselves, but in him. 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:22.340 And we say this morning, we want to turn from our own works, our own religious efforts or moral efforts. 00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:23.920 And we turn to Jesus. 00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:26.380 And we say we love him. 00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:29.119 And we put all our faith and hope in him alone. 00:36:29.860 --> 00:36:30.880 In his name we pray. 00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:31.860 Amen. 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.400 00:36:38.400 --> 00:37:08.380 Thank you.