WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.520 A very good morning to everybody. It's very good to see you this Lord's Day. 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:13.660 Let me ask you to tape your copy of God's Word, which I hope you have with you this day, and turn to Paul's epistle to the Romans chapter 11. 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:27.580 We've been working our way through Romans now for quite some time, and we have finally arrived at verse 33 of chapter 11, 00:00:27.579 --> 00:00:34.640 which starts a doxology. Many people call this the doxology. In fact, the song that we sang earlier, 00:00:34.820 --> 00:00:41.560 which I hope is actually getting this ingrained in your mind, that you've even possibly memorized these four verses as a result of that song, 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:53.420 is called the doxology, but it in fact is just a doxology in the Scriptures, which translated in Greek means literally glory saying. 00:00:53.420 --> 00:01:01.640 It's a phrasing that ascribes praise to God, and we find them all throughout the Scriptures. 00:01:02.740 --> 00:01:11.200 Paul, on numerous occasions, kind of bursts into these doxologies as he's writing his letters. 00:01:12.320 --> 00:01:21.879 And here we come in Romans to the end of 9, 10, and 11, working through the sovereign grace of God in his purpose of election, 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:28.060 what that means for both Gentiles and for Jews, and here he bursts into this one. 00:01:28.979 --> 00:01:31.039 Let's read it together, beginning in verse 33. 00:01:32.379 --> 00:01:33.039 He says, 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:45.140 Amen. 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:48.400 Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? 00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:52.819 For from him and through him and to him are all things. 00:01:52.939 --> 00:01:54.659 To him be glory forever. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:55.900 Amen. 00:01:56.680 --> 00:01:57.400 Pray with me. 00:01:57.819 --> 00:02:00.359 Father, I pray this morning you bless the preaching of your word. 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:03.200 That as I prepared this week and studied it, 00:02:03.740 --> 00:02:08.259 that you will, by your spirit, have true words come from my mouth. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:13.159 That you will help us to understand and apply the truths contained herein, 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:14.960 appropriately in our lives. 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:20.680 That we might serve you and advance the kingdom as you're working and moving through us. 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:22.560 By the truth. 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:24.740 We pray this in Christ's name. 00:02:25.579 --> 00:02:25.859 Amen. 00:02:26.979 --> 00:02:31.659 So as I said, he's coming to the end of this, these great truths that he's presented. 00:02:32.079 --> 00:02:33.639 We're about to turn in Romans. 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:38.800 The last five chapters become a much more practical outworking of our faith in Christ. 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:46.380 I don't believe that the response in 33 through 36 is just simply to chapters 9, 10, and 11. 00:02:46.480 --> 00:02:50.140 Although it certainly has fueled it on. 00:02:50.540 --> 00:02:51.880 But from the whole book. 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:55.660 He starts out in the beginning talking about man's fallen state. 00:02:55.760 --> 00:03:01.660 The fact that no man, Jew or Gentile, before God can be justified by his works. 00:03:02.260 --> 00:03:02.900 By anything. 00:03:03.020 --> 00:03:03.500 His lineage. 00:03:03.720 --> 00:03:04.260 His blood. 00:03:04.259 --> 00:03:04.899 His blood. 00:03:04.899 --> 00:03:05.599 Any of those things. 00:03:05.679 --> 00:03:08.919 But must be justified by faith alone. 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:10.500 Through grace alone. 00:03:10.579 --> 00:03:11.479 In Christ alone. 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:13.579 Chapter 3. 00:03:13.819 --> 00:03:16.120 Martin Luther called the center of the whole Bible. 00:03:16.780 --> 00:03:20.019 We see that our justification comes by Christ alone. 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:22.399 He is the propitiation for our sin. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:24.500 The replacement for our sin. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:28.599 Then he moves into talking about what it means to live by the Spirit. 00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:36.000 And that then he moves to talk about the sovereign saving and keeping power of God in chapter 8. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:43.500 And then he wrestles through 9, 10, and 11 with the implications of God's sovereignty over all things. 00:03:43.539 --> 00:03:45.459 Including our salvation. 00:03:46.039 --> 00:03:48.240 And then he comes to verse 33. 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:52.780 But before we talk in more depth about 33 through 36. 00:03:52.780 --> 00:03:58.400 Let me just draw your attention to some of Paul's other doxologies in his writing. 00:03:59.080 --> 00:04:08.780 He always writes in this way, springing forth from some great exclamation of truth about who God is. 00:04:09.740 --> 00:04:17.500 And my question for you as we look at these doxologies is, does the truth do the same for you? 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:23.879 I picture Paul, this is total conjecture, but I picture Paul as he's pinning these letters. 00:04:24.839 --> 00:04:29.100 Suddenly getting very exciting as he's writing these great truths about who God is. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:31.839 And he picks up his pace a little bit and he bears down a little bit harder. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:34.920 And he writes out these doxological statements for us. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:35.920 Great excitement. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:39.680 Probably stood up and kicked back his chair and had to just walk around the room a little bit. 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:40.339 He was so excited. 00:04:40.699 --> 00:04:41.480 And then he sat back down. 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:46.540 Does the truth bring forth praise from you in that way? 00:04:47.500 --> 00:04:52.199 We have sang two beautifully true songs already this morning. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:54.399 We won't count the sheep song. 00:04:54.660 --> 00:04:55.720 The two following that. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:00.379 Beautiful, beautiful truths contained therein. 00:05:00.860 --> 00:05:04.680 And how often do we stand numb to the songs that we sing? 00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:07.399 Gospel songs. 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:11.699 You notice that the songs we sing here are always gospel presentations. 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:14.920 Thematically, exactly alike. 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:18.600 And it ought to cause us great joy. 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:20.939 The same should be true of any good sermon. 00:05:21.280 --> 00:05:23.960 And I will not say that every sermon I've ever preached has been a good sermon. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:27.720 But a good sermon presents the gospel truth to you. 00:05:27.780 --> 00:05:30.540 And it ought to cause you to praise. 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:36.420 It ought to spring forth from within you these great and glorious truths. 00:05:36.420 --> 00:05:40.340 So, he does this quite often in his writing. 00:05:40.840 --> 00:05:49.580 From speaking of who God is and God's provision in his life for the spiritual provision of saving faith and strength for obedience. 00:05:49.960 --> 00:05:52.540 As well as the temporal provision. 00:05:52.540 --> 00:06:03.160 So, usually this time of year, today is going to be our Thanksgiving Sunday as a church before many of you will go home to celebrate the actual day of Thanksgiving. 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:08.500 And around that time, we often as families share things that we're thankful for. 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:10.060 And what do we typically share? 00:06:10.220 --> 00:06:12.120 Typically temporal things, right? 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:13.500 We're thankful for the food. 00:06:13.700 --> 00:06:15.080 We're thankful for our families. 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:17.300 We're thankful for the homes we get to live in. 00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:20.840 Which are certainly things that we should be thankful for, right? 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:23.719 We're thankful for turkey, right? 00:06:24.459 --> 00:06:26.359 Today, you're not allowed to be thankful for turkey. 00:06:27.799 --> 00:06:29.639 We attempted to do turkey in a hole. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:34.000 And I will say, I'm thankful for how much fun we had trying to pull it off. 00:06:34.739 --> 00:06:36.439 But they were raw this morning. 00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:38.479 And we are not feeding them to you. 00:06:38.719 --> 00:06:42.599 We scrambled and replaced them with some ham this morning. 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:44.500 But just the same. 00:06:44.599 --> 00:06:46.219 So, those are things that we ought to be thankful for. 00:06:46.299 --> 00:06:49.500 Certainly, all of the things that we have, all of the things that we experience, 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:53.980 the relationships that we have, which are temporal, should be praised. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:55.720 We should be thankful for them. 00:06:55.860 --> 00:07:00.459 But ultimately, we should praise the one who provides those things. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:03.100 So, Philippians 4, 19 and 20. 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:04.759 Paul says, 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:10.819 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. 00:07:11.220 --> 00:07:12.379 And then he says in verse 20, 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:16.259 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:16.959 Amen. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:24.719 So, you're picturing him talking about the provision of God to us for our temporal needs in Christ. 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:28.799 And then he pins quickly, and I think bearing down harder, 00:07:29.019 --> 00:07:31.500 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:32.219 Amen. 00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:35.279 For the temporal blessings that he's given us. 00:07:36.419 --> 00:07:37.939 How about saving faith? 00:07:38.599 --> 00:07:40.659 Galatians 1, 3-5. 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:42.159 You can turn that with me if you want to. 00:07:42.199 --> 00:07:42.779 It's okay if you don't. 00:07:42.779 --> 00:07:46.179 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:51.000 Who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, 00:07:51.119 --> 00:07:53.519 According to the will of God our Father. 00:07:53.739 --> 00:07:54.739 And here it is, verse 5. 00:07:55.179 --> 00:07:58.339 To whom be glory forever and ever. 00:07:58.739 --> 00:07:59.159 Amen. 00:07:59.719 --> 00:08:02.659 Because of the provision of saving faith, 00:08:03.619 --> 00:08:06.579 We ascribe to him glory forever and ever. 00:08:07.179 --> 00:08:07.559 Amen. 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:10.199 Ephesians 3. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:11.220 Do turn to this one. 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:12.000 Verse 20. 00:08:23.340 --> 00:08:24.560 I'm sorry, let's start in 14. 00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:26.259 Chapter 3, verse 14. 00:08:26.259 --> 00:08:28.560 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:31.660 From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:36.200 That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:38.220 Through his spirit in your inner being, 00:08:38.540 --> 00:08:41.379 So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:44.400 That you, being rooted and grounded in love, 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:47.379 May have strength to comprehend with all the saints 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:50.800 What is the breadth and length and height and depth, 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:53.660 And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, 00:08:53.660 --> 00:08:56.800 That you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:59.100 And there's the great proclamation of truth, 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:00.920 And then the doxology. 00:09:01.400 --> 00:09:05.240 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:06.879 According to the power at work within us, 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:10.960 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:12.720 Forever and ever. 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:13.539 Amen. 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:17.860 Does it warm your heart to hear such truths? 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:23.299 Last week we finished the last week of our CFC 101, 00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:24.399 Our new members class. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:26.360 And that week I shared with them, 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:29.100 I was just glancing back over our statement of faith, 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:32.279 And I was reading the statement on the freeness of salvation. 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:33.860 And I cried. 00:09:34.199 --> 00:09:35.899 It was so moving the word, 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.500 Because it was the gospel presented there in our words, 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:43.679 Pinned down as a statement of faith for our church. 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:46.539 Does it move you in that way? 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:48.699 About the provision, 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:50.779 The spiritual provision of strength for obedience. 00:09:51.939 --> 00:09:53.779 We've been given a high calling in Christ, 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:54.959 To be set apart, 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:56.079 And to be holy. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:56.960 Right? 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:01.040 But God provides for all that he asks. 00:10:02.040 --> 00:10:02.720 1 Timothy, 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:03.900 Chapter 6, 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.060 Beginning in verse 13, 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:09.360 I charge you in the presence of God, 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:11.480 Who gives life to all things, 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:12.900 And of Christ Jesus, 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:16.580 Who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 00:10:17.160 --> 00:10:20.200 To keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach, 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:22.300 And to the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:10:22.660 --> 00:10:24.620 Which he will display at the proper time. 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:25.399 And here it is again. 00:10:25.940 --> 00:10:28.060 He who is the blessed and only sovereign, 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:29.419 The King of kings, 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:30.679 And the Lord of lords, 00:10:30.860 --> 00:10:32.419 Who alone has immortality, 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:34.200 Who dwells in unapproachable light, 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:36.980 Who no one has ever seen or can see, 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.879 To him be honor and eternal dominion. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:40.600 Amen. 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:43.279 Isn't that good? 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:45.379 And again in Hebrews, 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:46.179 Chapter 13, 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:46.740 Verse 20, 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:48.639 Now may the God of peace, 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:50.419 Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, 00:10:50.539 --> 00:10:51.720 The great shepherd of the sheep, 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:53.519 By the blood of the eternal covenant, 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:56.699 Equip you with every good that you may do his will, 00:10:57.179 --> 00:10:59.980 Working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:02.139 Through Jesus Christ, 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:05.039 To whom be glory forever and ever. 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:06.139 Amen. 00:11:08.199 --> 00:11:09.340 And the last one, 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:10.699 2 Timothy 4.18, 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:14.179 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:16.879 And bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom, 00:11:17.079 --> 00:11:20.059 To him be the glory forever and ever. 00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:20.899 Amen. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:23.359 So these truths, 00:11:23.439 --> 00:11:25.739 And these are just a sampling, 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:27.259 Of just Paul's doxologies, 00:11:27.359 --> 00:11:29.799 Much less all the ones contained in the scriptures, 00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:31.719 These truths move him, 00:11:32.579 --> 00:11:33.739 To ascribe to God, 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:35.279 All the glory, 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.559 All the dominion, 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:37.619 All the honor, 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:39.439 Forever and ever. 00:11:40.079 --> 00:11:40.659 Amen. 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:43.199 Let it be the case. 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:46.300 And that's what happens here, 00:11:46.560 --> 00:11:47.940 In verse 33. 00:11:49.140 --> 00:11:50.920 Some beautiful truths, 00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:52.520 Contained herein. 00:11:52.580 --> 00:11:53.780 He begins in verse 33, 00:11:54.560 --> 00:11:54.860 By saying, 00:11:55.040 --> 00:11:55.280 Oh, 00:11:55.420 --> 00:11:56.820 The depth of the riches, 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.040 And wisdom and knowledge of God, 00:11:58.080 --> 00:11:59.480 How unsearchable are his judgments, 00:11:59.660 --> 00:12:01.820 And how inscrutable his ways. 00:12:03.160 --> 00:12:04.379 Now some have said, 00:12:05.040 --> 00:12:06.280 That what Paul is saying, 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:07.780 Is that it's impossible to know, 00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:11.860 God's purpose in sovereign salvation. 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:14.120 We can't really fully understand it. 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:14.740 It's really, 00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:16.819 It's really not ours to have. 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:19.600 But that is not what Paul is saying. 00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:20.220 Right? 00:12:20.939 --> 00:12:21.600 Paul is saying, 00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:24.620 The things that we can understand about God, 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:26.000 Have been given to us. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:27.899 It's the mystery that he refers to, 00:12:28.079 --> 00:12:29.299 Earlier in chapter 11. 00:12:30.100 --> 00:12:31.519 We have been shown, 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:34.519 Aspects of God's saving grace. 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:36.919 We can know those things. 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.039 But oh, 00:12:38.179 --> 00:12:40.279 The depth of such knowledge. 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:42.799 How can we possibly know, 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:44.039 The beginning from the end? 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:46.980 How can we possibly know enough, 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:48.000 To stand in judgment, 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:49.480 Over God's word? 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.879 Romans chapter 9. 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:53.379 But he has spoken, 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:54.519 By his word. 00:12:54.939 --> 00:12:56.139 And if you are a believer, 00:12:56.299 --> 00:12:57.139 You have a spirit, 00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:58.259 And you can understand, 00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.460 The words here. 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:01.699 Will we know all things? 00:13:01.699 --> 00:13:01.699 00:13:01.939 --> 00:13:02.259 No. 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:03.919 But we certainly can know, 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:07.179 The purposes of sovereign salvation. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.419 We can see it. 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.740 He's written it down for us. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:11.579 He just got done explaining it to us. 00:13:11.939 --> 00:13:12.459 Did he not? 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:14.019 And we ought to search it out. 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:16.719 We ought to seek to understand. 00:13:17.599 --> 00:13:18.699 The word inscrutable, 00:13:19.059 --> 00:13:20.459 If you're looking in the ESV, 00:13:20.459 --> 00:13:21.459 In other translations, 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:22.919 May say, 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:24.719 Unknowable, 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:25.599 His ways. 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:28.459 Refers to tracks. 00:13:28.839 --> 00:13:30.259 I say tracks in the snow, 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:31.079 Or in the sand. 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.000 You can see the tracks, 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.900 That are before you, 00:13:34.259 --> 00:13:35.120 But you don't know, 00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:36.379 From where they came, 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:38.440 Or to where they're going. 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:41.500 So we've come to that place. 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:43.340 We've seen here, 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.100 Justification by faith alone, 00:13:45.160 --> 00:13:46.180 That God is entirely, 00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:47.400 Sovereign over. 00:13:48.400 --> 00:13:49.560 We can see that, 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.860 And we can know it to be true. 00:13:51.060 --> 00:13:52.259 And it can benefit our living. 00:13:53.020 --> 00:13:54.200 But yet we don't know, 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:56.000 The beginning of that. 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:56.960 And we don't know, 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:57.580 Ultimately, 00:13:57.920 --> 00:13:58.879 The end of that. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:01.379 How unsearchable, 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:02.340 Are His judgments, 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:03.379 And inscrutable, 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:04.620 His ways. 00:14:05.899 --> 00:14:06.759 A reference, 00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:08.159 A great cross reference for this, 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:09.019 Is Psalm 77, 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:09.580 19. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:10.360 It says, 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:10.960 Your way, 00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:12.720 Your way was through the sea, 00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:14.700 Your path through the great waters, 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.919 Yet your footprints were unseen. 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:21.039 So we ought to seek. 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:22.759 Many have used this as a, 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.399 As an excuse to go, 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:24.600 Well, 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.720 I can't know anything about God. 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.879 Right? 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:29.080 There's so much, 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:30.920 Of the great depth, 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:31.740 Of God's character, 00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:32.980 Contained in the scriptures. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:33.940 And we ought to seek it, 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.700 And we ought to know it, 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:36.180 For all that it has, 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.040 Herein. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.440 We ought to say with Paul, 00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:38.800 Oh, 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:39.560 The depths, 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.560 Of the riches, 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:41.820 Of the wisdom, 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.639 And knowledge of God. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:43.560 And then accept, 00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:45.200 That we're not going to know, 00:14:45.420 --> 00:14:46.100 It all. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:47.300 Right? 00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.300 God has given to us, 00:14:48.300 --> 00:14:50.000 A very specific amount, 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:50.660 Of revelation. 00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:52.300 And it's perfect, 00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:53.060 Sufficient. 00:14:53.680 --> 00:14:53.820 Right? 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:54.960 The sufficiency of scripture, 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:56.140 Is a doctrine you ought to, 00:14:56.420 --> 00:14:57.580 Take hold of. 00:14:57.780 --> 00:14:58.780 And as such, 00:14:59.040 --> 00:14:59.780 You ought to know, 00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:00.700 Your scriptures. 00:15:02.020 --> 00:15:03.000 And then he asks, 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:04.379 Two rhetorical questions, 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:05.340 In verse 34, 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.379 And 35. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:07.200 Right? 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:07.940 He asks, 00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:09.280 For who has known the mind of the Lord? 00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:10.580 Or who has been, 00:15:10.900 --> 00:15:11.620 His counselor? 00:15:12.260 --> 00:15:14.560 The obvious answer to which is, 00:15:15.400 --> 00:15:16.200 No one. 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:19.160 Or who has given a gift to him, 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.060 That he might be repaid? 00:15:20.660 --> 00:15:21.500 No one. 00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:22.320 Right? 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:24.060 He's quoting roughly, 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.180 In verse 34, 00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:26.340 Isaiah 40, 00:15:26.420 --> 00:15:26.879 13. 00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.300 Who has measured the spirit of the Lord? 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:30.440 Or what man shows him, 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:31.560 His counsel? 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.280 Job 15, 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:33.720 8 says, 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.600 Have you listened, 00:15:34.760 --> 00:15:36.160 In the counsel of God? 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:38.040 And do you limit wisdom, 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:39.280 To yourself? 00:15:40.560 --> 00:15:40.740 Right? 00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:41.920 God, 00:15:42.280 --> 00:15:42.820 Is, 00:15:43.420 --> 00:15:44.000 God. 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:46.060 If you can, 00:15:46.180 --> 00:15:47.680 Know his mind entirely, 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.020 And counsel him, 00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:50.400 He ceases by definition, 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.060 To be God. 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.100 Right? 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:54.440 God's wisdom is a great theme, 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.259 In the scriptures. 00:15:56.040 --> 00:15:56.700 His wisdom, 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.800 Set against ours, 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.759 Makes us, 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.100 Foolish, 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.200 Foolish, 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:01.940 Men. 00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:05.200 Who has given a gift, 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:06.019 To him, 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.460 That he might, 00:16:07.920 --> 00:16:08.740 Be repaid? 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:09.820 Job 35, 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.540 7 says, 00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.779 If you are righteous, 00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:13.480 What do you give to him? 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:15.100 Or what does he receive, 00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:16.460 From your hand? 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:17.920 Job 41, 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:18.360 11, 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:19.100 Which is the, 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:19.860 Citation, 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:21.340 Who has first given to me, 00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:22.940 That I should repay him, 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:25.320 Whatever is under the whole heaven, 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.500 Is mine. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:29.440 All that we have, 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:31.700 All that we possess physically, 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:33.259 Our giftedness, 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:35.320 Our mental astuteness, 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:37.419 Any talents that you possess, 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.779 Were given to you, 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.379 As a gift, 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.300 By God. 00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:41.719 Don't think you have, 00:16:41.719 --> 00:16:43.559 Anything within yourself, 00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:46.399 That puts you above him, 00:16:46.459 --> 00:16:47.240 To serve him. 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:47.979 Right? 00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:50.019 He doesn't need, 00:16:50.459 --> 00:16:50.699 You. 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:52.839 He uses you, 00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:54.039 Because he loves you. 00:16:54.699 --> 00:16:55.879 You've become a means, 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.079 To his ends, 00:16:57.199 --> 00:16:58.559 And you ought to employ, 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:00.099 All of the things, 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:00.740 That he's given you, 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.599 To his service. 00:17:01.859 --> 00:17:03.059 But not because, 00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:04.220 He needs it. 00:17:04.899 --> 00:17:05.099 Right? 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.200 It's his. 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:08.799 If he really needed it, 00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:09.440 And you weren't willing, 00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.000 To give it to him, 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.000 He would take it away, 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:11.980 And he would use it, 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.759 Some place else. 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:13.720 Right? 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:15.039 Don't think, 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:16.460 Don't elevate yourself, 00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:18.240 To be a God. 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:20.000 It's the great sin, 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:21.299 Of Adam and Eve. 00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:22.539 The great sin of Satan, 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.059 That they wanted to be, 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.500 Like God. 00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:27.299 God is God, 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:29.080 And you are not. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.120 Verse 36, 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:35.480 Connects into, 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.839 This is the reason that, 00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:38.160 Verse 34, 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:38.640 33, 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.099 34, 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:39.720 And 35, 00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:40.980 Are realities. 00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:42.099 For from him, 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:44.120 And through him, 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.559 And to him, 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.120 Are all things, 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.360 To him be glory, 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.079 Forever. 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:49.720 Amen. 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.220 For from him, 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:52.700 And through him, 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.079 And to him, 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:55.480 Are all things. 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:57.420 In God's great revelation, 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.579 Of his name, 00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.319 To Moses. 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:00.259 When Moses says, 00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:02.079 The scene with the burning bush, 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:03.740 Who shall I tell them, 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.440 Sending me? 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.480 He says, 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.140 I am. 00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:08.600 Tell them, 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:09.840 I am, 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.860 Is sending you. 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:13.080 Isn't that an odd name, 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:13.920 To give yourself? 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.840 I am. 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:18.480 It speaks to the, 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:21.000 Self-sustaining power, 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.140 Of God. 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:22.980 Right? 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.380 God is, 00:18:25.120 --> 00:18:25.740 Everything. 00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:26.820 And everything, 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:28.620 Then flows out of him. 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.440 You've heard me say, 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.960 That everything plugs into God, 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:32.519 God plugs into nothing. 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:34.039 God needs, 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:35.059 No one. 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:36.500 God needs no thing, 00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:37.779 To sustain his power. 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:38.500 Right? 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.500 He is God, 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.660 And he is at the center of, 00:18:40.840 --> 00:18:42.079 Everything. 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.299 Right? 00:18:43.860 --> 00:18:45.160 If you take something with you, 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:45.799 I want you to hear this. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:46.319 From, 00:18:46.840 --> 00:18:47.180 Through, 00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.039 And to. 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:48.860 From him, 00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:49.819 Through him, 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:50.740 To him. 00:18:50.840 --> 00:18:51.920 The Greek words here are, 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:52.360 Ek, 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.159 Dea, 00:18:53.479 --> 00:18:53.819 Ice. 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.500 You remember that? 00:18:54.719 --> 00:18:55.019 Ek, 00:18:55.479 --> 00:18:55.839 Dea, 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:56.639 Ice. 00:18:56.899 --> 00:18:57.979 He is the source, 00:18:58.459 --> 00:18:59.699 He is the sustainer, 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.539 And he, 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.539 Is the goal. 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:02.919 Right? 00:19:03.959 --> 00:19:05.919 God came down from heaven, 00:19:05.919 --> 00:19:06.599 And died, 00:19:07.479 --> 00:19:09.519 Not ultimately for us. 00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:12.139 We're the great byproduct, 00:19:12.399 --> 00:19:13.099 Of his character. 00:19:13.879 --> 00:19:15.779 We're the wonderful recipients, 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.459 Of his grace, 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.819 Because he is gracious. 00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:19.159 Right? 00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:21.119 It's meant to point back, 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.099 To him. 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:22.819 Right? 00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:24.599 The glorious proclamation, 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.319 Of the gospel, 00:19:25.439 --> 00:19:26.419 And the conversion of sinners, 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.379 The building of the church, 00:19:27.439 --> 00:19:28.479 The final perfection of it, 00:19:28.699 --> 00:19:29.740 Is meant to cause, 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.439 Praise, 00:19:30.699 --> 00:19:31.179 And honor, 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.439 To him. 00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:33.500 Not to us. 00:19:34.439 --> 00:19:34.639 Right? 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:35.639 Ek, 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:36.679 Dea, 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:37.500 Ice. 00:19:38.439 --> 00:19:39.379 He's a source, 00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:40.579 The sustainer, 00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:42.219 And the goal, 00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:43.219 Of all, 00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.539 Things. 00:19:45.979 --> 00:19:46.979 First Corinthians, 00:19:47.139 --> 00:19:47.299 Eight, 00:19:47.399 --> 00:19:47.740 Six. 00:19:48.139 --> 00:19:48.539 Paul writes, 00:19:48.979 --> 00:19:49.459 For us, 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.579 There is one God, 00:19:50.719 --> 00:19:51.359 The Father, 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:53.479 From whom are all things, 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:55.219 And for whom we exist, 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.539 And one Lord, 00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.539 Jesus Christ, 00:19:57.959 --> 00:19:59.899 Through whom are all things, 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:02.719 And through whom we exist. 00:20:03.919 --> 00:20:04.959 Colossians 1, 00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:06.399 16 and 17, 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.379 Excuse me, 00:20:07.479 --> 00:20:08.419 15 through 17, 00:20:08.419 --> 00:20:09.319 He is the image, 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.539 Of the invisible God, 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:12.159 The firstborn of all visible, 00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.619 And invisible, 00:20:13.979 --> 00:20:14.819 Whether thrones, 00:20:14.919 --> 00:20:15.459 Or dominions, 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.000 Or rulers, 00:20:16.139 --> 00:20:16.639 Or authorities, 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:18.100 All things were created, 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.080 Through him, 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.259 And for him, 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:21.720 And he is before all things, 00:20:22.020 --> 00:20:22.759 And in him, 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:25.180 All things hold together. 00:20:27.040 --> 00:20:28.140 Have you ever even thought about, 00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:29.360 What it is that holds you, 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.340 In the shape of you? 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:33.600 Don't say science. 00:20:34.600 --> 00:20:34.800 Right? 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.740 That is the means, 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:38.480 To his ends. 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:40.160 It is the very power, 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.280 Of God's word, 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:42.960 That sustains this shape. 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.480 Right? 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.960 Whether or not you like your shape, 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.880 God is holding you, 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.860 In that shape. 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:50.180 Yet if God ceased, 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.319 By his word, 00:20:51.860 --> 00:20:53.059 To have me be me, 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:55.140 All my atoms would just, 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.360 Expand. 00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:57.480 Right? 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:59.120 I would no longer exist, 00:20:59.380 --> 00:20:59.880 To be. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.799 He holds it, 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.559 All, 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:02.539 Together. 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.299 Last night, 00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.480 To fall asleep, 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.860 To get my brain to disengage, 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:07.960 I usually watch, 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.319 Some sort of boring documentary. 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:11.539 There are a lot of them, 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.339 Out there, 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.299 On the computer. 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:15.119 And last night, 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.740 I watched a documentary on, 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.440 It was essentially on volcanoes, 00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:19.980 This plate tectonics. 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:20.799 Right? 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.039 Which is really fascinating. 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.279 Our earth, 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.240 If you didn't know this, 00:21:24.359 --> 00:21:25.720 Is a giant ball, 00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:27.000 Of revolving magma. 00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:28.359 And if it's the size, 00:21:28.399 --> 00:21:29.059 Of a basketball, 00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:30.579 The crust that we live on, 00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:31.139 Would be the size, 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:32.079 Of a sheet of paper. 00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.299 So if you can imagine, 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:35.059 This huge ball, 00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:36.720 Of molten rock. 00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.579 And they were talking, 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.480 About how this, 00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:39.819 Moves the world, 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:41.440 Gravity is created by it, 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.440 All of these things, 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.720 The revolution of the earth, 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:45.039 Is created by the revolving, 00:21:45.080 --> 00:21:45.799 Of this magma. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:46.759 And they talk about, 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:47.660 How it revolves, 00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.539 How it cools, 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.180 And settles, 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.080 And does all this stuff. 00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:50.840 And then, 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:52.000 The narrator said, 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:53.740 But no scientists know, 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:55.220 What sustains, 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.700 This revolution. 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.240 Right? 00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.700 And I was like, 00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:00.779 Dozing at that time, 00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:01.259 And I went, 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:01.779 I do. 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.620 I said it out loud, 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:02.980 I do. 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.380 God, 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.019 By the power of his word, 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:09.740 He holds the power, 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.619 In its sway. 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:11.400 Right? 00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:12.440 The beginning of Hebrews, 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.460 That's where we get the word, 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.500 Providence from. 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:15.940 Hebrews chapter, 00:22:16.639 --> 00:22:17.440 1 verse 3, 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:17.920 I believe. 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:18.900 Where we get the word, 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.559 Providence from. 00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.240 He holds it, 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.079 By the power, 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.200 Of his word. 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.559 He is God. 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:25.019 Ek, 00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:25.660 Dia, 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:26.700 Ice. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.500 It all, 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.240 Springs, 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.019 Forth, 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.980 From him. 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.200 The great, 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.279 Culmination, 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.420 Of God's character. 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.539 We can see it, 00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:37.059 Expressed, 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:39.480 In so many ways. 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.319 Crazy documentaries, 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:43.099 From National Geographic. 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.859 We can see, 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.200 That God is in fact, 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.000 The ruler, 00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:46.940 The source, 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:47.440 Sustainer, 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:47.819 And goal, 00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:48.720 Of all things. 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:50.079 But the great culmination, 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:51.220 Of all of that, 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:52.579 Of his character, 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.339 And everything, 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.059 Was the cross, 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.399 That Jesus Christ, 00:22:56.399 --> 00:22:56.940 Died on. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:57.679 All of it, 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.419 Came together. 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.279 This great story, 00:22:59.339 --> 00:22:59.759 Of who God is. 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.639 It compacted, 00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:01.079 Right into this, 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.259 Into this scene. 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:03.940 And now it's being, 00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:04.879 Expanded again, 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:06.000 In the redemption of the world. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.960 All of it, 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:09.000 The great display, 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:09.940 Of his goodness, 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:10.960 His kindness, 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.000 His severity, 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:12.799 His wrath, 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:14.099 All came down, 00:23:14.380 --> 00:23:15.440 In that moment. 00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.200 Christ, 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:18.740 Bleeding, 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.500 Dying, 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.579 Being resurrected, 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.880 That whole scene, 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.259 Is the great culmination, 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:23.660 Of that. 00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:25.900 In that, 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:28.059 In Jesus Christ, 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.660 All the promises of God, 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:31.099 Are yes. 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:33.059 It's in 1 Corinthians. 00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:35.099 All the promises of God, 00:23:35.179 --> 00:23:35.839 Are yes, 00:23:36.179 --> 00:23:37.119 In Christ. 00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:40.200 The provisions that we have, 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:41.240 For the spiritual blessing, 00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:42.059 Saving faith, 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.619 Our perpetuation, 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.339 Our final, 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.940 Keeping as Christians, 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:49.440 Our temporal provision, 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.519 Everything, 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:51.899 That we possess, 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.639 In Christ. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:56.319 All of those things. 00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.079 So when we proclaim, 00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.240 The gospel to one another, 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.680 It ought to cause us, 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.480 To leap up, 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.180 With joy. 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:05.380 It ought to work in us, 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:07.079 An abiding joy, 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:10.299 To understand who we are, 00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:10.839 To know, 00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:12.839 Beginning in chapter 1 of Romans, 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.920 That we are sinful, 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.620 Absolutely. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.680 We inherited it, 00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:17.160 And we willingly sin. 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.480 Enemies of God. 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:21.960 To feel the weight of that, 00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:23.220 I pray that in your life, 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:23.920 At some point, 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:25.339 You felt the weight, 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.299 Of your sinfulness. 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.440 You have known, 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.779 What a wretch you are. 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:30.120 If you've never felt that, 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:32.019 You are a wretch. 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:35.080 An enemy of God, 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:37.680 Before Christ. 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.640 If you're in this room now, 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.200 And you've never placed, 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.880 Saving faith in Jesus Christ, 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:42.820 That's where you are. 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.600 An enemy of God. 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:44.539 Your final destination, 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.299 Is destruction. 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:50.000 If you have Christ, 00:24:50.100 --> 00:24:51.400 If you've believed in him, 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.820 You've been made new. 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:56.599 You're being made back, 00:24:56.679 --> 00:24:57.619 Into the image, 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.399 Of your creator. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.139 He is working on you, 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.159 And I know that sometimes, 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.039 It feels so, 00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:04.000 Incredibly slow. 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:06.119 You still feel, 00:25:06.419 --> 00:25:07.139 The baggage, 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:08.559 Of your sinful flesh. 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.359 I know I do. 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.419 But he's working, 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.480 By his spirit in you, 00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:13.359 Bringing about, 00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.299 Regeneration, 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.079 Change. 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:15.740 You're being, 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.839 Sanctified. 00:25:17.179 --> 00:25:17.659 Finally, 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.359 Fully, 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.259 One day, 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.039 You will, 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.139 Be perfect. 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:22.040 You'll shed the baggage, 00:25:22.040 --> 00:25:23.020 Of your sin, 00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.060 Your flesh, 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.800 And we will praise God, 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:26.580 Forever, 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.720 And ever. 00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:30.440 This is the reality, 00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.220 Of the world. 00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:32.940 Ek, 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:33.900 Dia, 00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:35.000 Ice. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.060 This is the way, 00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:37.680 God, 00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.680 Has shown, 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:40.300 Chosen to show himself, 00:25:40.820 --> 00:25:41.440 To us. 00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:43.420 As the great source, 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.980 Sustainer, 00:25:45.540 --> 00:25:46.640 And goal, 00:25:47.040 --> 00:25:48.220 Of all things. 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.040 Let's pray together.