WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:06.280 Lord, my God, I was moved this morning by reciting the Ten Commandments. 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:12.780 You speak to us, Lord, and as Jonathan said, the law drives us to grace, 00:00:13.540 --> 00:00:16.500 and you pour out your grace on us, Lord God. 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:20.519 And because of that, we just pray again, thank you for the cross. 00:00:21.339 --> 00:00:22.620 Thank you for the cross, Lord. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:26.800 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.500 our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.420 I read a story this week about a missionary family that was overseas, 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:40.340 and as happens, we find this in the military as well, 00:00:40.420 --> 00:00:44.240 when you go overseas, you go without a lot of creature comforts. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:49.760 And so, like Amy does for me when I'm overseas, they had some family members send to them 00:00:49.760 --> 00:00:52.439 one thing that they really liked, which was peanut butter. 00:00:52.900 --> 00:00:57.079 So this young missionary family, every now and then, family from home would send them some peanut butter, 00:00:57.079 --> 00:01:01.320 and they'd have this lavish gift on their table that they would enjoy for the next couple of weeks. 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:05.259 What they didn't know, until they received said peanut butter, 00:01:05.459 --> 00:01:11.539 was that there were other missionaries involved in their circle who really believed that it was a badge of honor 00:01:11.539 --> 00:01:16.799 that they didn't have condiments, that they didn't have these creature comforts that they could enjoy. 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:22.259 They really felt like carrying your cross meant not having peanut butter. 00:01:22.260 --> 00:01:29.859 Now, this young family was more than happy to let them believe and feel that way and worship the Lord in that way, 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:32.560 and they went on, in the privacy of their own home, 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:36.080 enjoying their peanut butter and whatever condiments that had been sent to them, 00:01:36.500 --> 00:01:38.240 not making a big deal out of it. 00:01:38.340 --> 00:01:41.140 You fill your boots, I'll fill mine, and we'll just all go on our merry way. 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:50.540 Unfortunately, it became a thing, because legalism almost always becomes a thing. 00:01:51.040 --> 00:02:00.620 And this disagreement about the spirituality of peanut butter became a catalyst for a lot of difficulty that they had. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:02.819 There was just all kinds of issues after this, 00:02:03.260 --> 00:02:07.879 and the issues that started with the spirituality of peanut butter ended up burning that family out, 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:10.759 because anybody who's been involved in mission work, it's hard enough, 00:02:11.379 --> 00:02:15.000 without fighting over legalistic stuff like that with your fellow missionaries who are around you, 00:02:15.019 --> 00:02:18.699 just burn them out to the point that the family left, and the family went home. 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:26.139 Now, to me, this story that I read this week was, it's a silly story, 00:02:26.539 --> 00:02:30.139 but it's a classic example of legalism, 00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:33.579 and what legalism does within the body of Christ, 00:02:34.539 --> 00:02:38.659 attacking when we seek out and attack each other's liberty, 00:02:39.239 --> 00:02:42.159 based on maybe a conviction that we have in our own heart. 00:02:43.939 --> 00:02:47.839 Basically, someone saying, you know, to be completely right with God, 00:02:48.259 --> 00:02:49.579 you need to do this. 00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:50.839 You need to go without peanut butter. 00:02:50.959 --> 00:02:52.699 You need to do this sort of thing. 00:02:52.699 --> 00:02:54.159 You need to live in this sort of way, 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:57.359 and it's imposing that on everybody else that's around them. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:01.060 In Romans, our passage from Romans, 00:03:01.860 --> 00:03:03.900 Paul, speaking to Rome, 00:03:04.440 --> 00:03:09.240 is writing to a people who have had legalists come up along beside them, 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:11.280 and start speaking to them, 00:03:11.320 --> 00:03:14.140 and trying to get them to change their way away from Christian liberty. 00:03:14.440 --> 00:03:15.820 Trying to say, you know, you need to follow, 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:17.900 that's all well and good, the gospel's all well and good, 00:03:17.920 --> 00:03:20.420 but you need to follow the law of Moses. 00:03:21.180 --> 00:03:23.040 You need to follow, not only the law of Moses, 00:03:23.160 --> 00:03:26.040 but you need to follow the law of Moses in this particular way, 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:28.639 in order to really be accepted by God. 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:32.879 And so, that's kind of like the spirituality of peanut butter 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:35.039 that they were putting onto the Romans. 00:03:35.180 --> 00:03:38.500 And so, Paul is writing to the Romans in our passage this morning, 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:39.859 721 to 8.4, 00:03:40.379 --> 00:03:43.719 and he's addressing this very thing that they're talking about. 00:03:44.539 --> 00:03:45.079 He's saying, 00:03:46.079 --> 00:03:47.259 he saw, in our passage, 00:03:47.259 --> 00:03:48.719 Paul is setting the record straight, 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:51.840 pretty much exactly on the role of the law. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:53.259 So, if you'll turn with me then, again, 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:54.419 to the passage that was just read. 00:03:54.739 --> 00:03:55.620 If you don't have a Bible, 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:57.379 there are Bibles available down front here. 00:03:57.799 --> 00:03:59.699 It's a gift from Messiah Church to you, 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:01.259 if you want to take one home. 00:04:01.699 --> 00:04:04.039 So, Romans 7.21 to 8.4. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:06.699 And basically, what this is, 00:04:06.739 --> 00:04:07.439 what we're reading, 00:04:07.519 --> 00:04:08.739 and what we had read this morning, 00:04:09.139 --> 00:04:10.539 is the summary, 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:11.899 Paul's summary, 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:14.459 of what the role of the law is 00:04:14.459 --> 00:04:16.480 in the life of the Christian. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:19.280 We just recited the Ten Commandments 00:04:19.280 --> 00:04:19.680 and said, 00:04:19.780 --> 00:04:21.220 Lord, have mercy upon us, 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:23.180 incline our hearts to keep this law, 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:24.879 but we don't follow law, 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:27.220 so it can be kind of confusing sometimes. 00:04:27.400 --> 00:04:29.140 What is the role of the law? 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:31.460 Any law, 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:33.160 in the life of the Christian. 00:04:33.460 --> 00:04:35.200 That's what Paul is dealing with in here. 00:04:36.700 --> 00:04:37.620 I'm working on a major, 00:04:37.840 --> 00:04:38.600 I was talking this morning, 00:04:38.660 --> 00:04:40.920 I was working on a major paper 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:42.780 for one of my courses that I have to get done, 00:04:42.779 --> 00:04:45.019 and one of the things I'm learning how to do 00:04:45.019 --> 00:04:47.779 for the first time in my school-a-stack career 00:04:47.779 --> 00:04:49.259 is how to write an abstract. 00:04:50.119 --> 00:04:51.759 Now, if you've ever seen kind of the summary 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:53.059 on the back page of a book, 00:04:54.179 --> 00:04:55.799 on what that book is so you can read it, 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:56.899 go, okay, I want to read that book, 00:04:56.919 --> 00:04:57.619 it looks interesting. 00:04:58.059 --> 00:04:59.719 An abstract is kind of like that. 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:01.179 You're taking 150 pages, 00:05:01.659 --> 00:05:03.439 and you're putting it down into about 200, 00:05:03.539 --> 00:05:04.579 well, exactly, not about, 00:05:04.739 --> 00:05:06.759 exactly 250 words, no more. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:08.879 I know that because I wrote more than 250 words, 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:09.579 I had to make it less. 00:05:10.599 --> 00:05:12.599 It's actually a very difficult thing to do, 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:14.740 I think I'm on my fourth iteration of my abstract. 00:05:14.980 --> 00:05:16.000 Of the 450 pages, 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:18.140 it seems like the hardest thing I have to do. 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:20.920 Paul is writing, 00:05:21.260 --> 00:05:23.020 in these few passages we have, 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:24.320 his abstract, 00:05:24.780 --> 00:05:25.700 his summary 00:05:25.700 --> 00:05:28.600 of what the law is 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:30.160 and what it does 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:31.560 in the life of the Christian. 00:05:33.220 --> 00:05:34.760 As we look at Romans 7, 00:05:35.260 --> 00:05:36.260 if we look at Romans 7, 00:05:36.660 --> 00:05:38.420 if you look just above it, 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:40.100 the part preceding this 00:05:40.100 --> 00:05:41.220 is where Paul is, 00:05:41.520 --> 00:05:42.740 that kind of famous passage 00:05:42.740 --> 00:05:43.180 where he's like, 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:44.780 I don't know what I want to do, 00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:46.140 I do what I don't want to do, 00:05:46.200 --> 00:05:47.040 even though I know what's right, 00:05:47.080 --> 00:05:47.800 I do what's wrong, 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:48.780 I don't have it memorized, 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:50.480 I probably should if I was a good pastor, 00:05:50.860 --> 00:05:52.439 but it's that famous passage 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:53.379 where he's just talking about 00:05:53.379 --> 00:05:54.360 that inner turmoil 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:55.900 of the Christian's life 00:05:55.900 --> 00:05:58.240 and of within life, 00:05:58.300 --> 00:05:59.460 and there's two ways 00:05:59.460 --> 00:06:01.939 that scholars actually interpret 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:02.700 that passage 00:06:02.700 --> 00:06:03.879 and then our passage as well. 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:04.800 First, 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:07.519 is that this is the, 00:06:08.500 --> 00:06:10.439 that Paul is talking about someone 00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:12.159 before they come to faith. 00:06:13.139 --> 00:06:13.300 Okay, 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:14.219 Paul is talking about 00:06:14.219 --> 00:06:15.480 the unregenerate Christian 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:16.759 because, 00:06:17.019 --> 00:06:18.219 and one of the key markers 00:06:18.219 --> 00:06:19.019 that scholars would say 00:06:19.019 --> 00:06:20.680 is no Christian would ever say 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:22.199 wretched man that I am, 00:06:22.379 --> 00:06:23.699 no Christian would ever feel 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:25.159 that level of failure, 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:27.659 so Paul must be talking about 00:06:27.659 --> 00:06:29.199 someone before they come to faith. 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:30.540 Now, 00:06:30.719 --> 00:06:32.199 more Orthodox scholars, 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:32.620 some, 00:06:32.719 --> 00:06:32.920 or sorry, 00:06:32.979 --> 00:06:33.879 different scholars, 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:35.019 Orthodox as well, 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:37.360 state that actually Paul, 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:37.699 no, 00:06:37.779 --> 00:06:39.039 he's talking about someone 00:06:39.039 --> 00:06:41.019 after they's come to faith. 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:43.439 And kind of the key marker there 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:44.579 is that Paul says 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:45.899 he delights in God's law 00:06:45.899 --> 00:06:47.339 and delighting in God's law 00:06:47.339 --> 00:06:48.079 is actually a marker 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:49.180 of a regenerate heart. 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:49.740 So, 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:50.779 it's something that happens 00:06:50.779 --> 00:06:51.639 when we can only do 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:52.759 after we come to faith. 00:06:53.039 --> 00:06:53.980 And I have to admit, 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:56.120 I spent far too much time 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:57.659 on that one theological question. 00:06:57.939 --> 00:06:58.879 Was he talking about this? 00:06:58.899 --> 00:06:59.659 Is he talking about that? 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:00.819 Just to kind of land on 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:02.939 something from my own 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:03.540 personal experience. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:05.259 I actually read this 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:06.420 and resonate with it. 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:07.159 I don't know about you, 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:09.079 but I resonate in my faith life 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:10.240 with what Paul's saying. 00:07:10.379 --> 00:07:11.599 I think he's speaking 00:07:11.599 --> 00:07:13.060 very clearly 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:15.040 to the Christian experience. 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:16.579 I might be projecting 00:07:16.579 --> 00:07:18.420 my own experience on it, 00:07:18.459 --> 00:07:19.259 but I really think 00:07:19.259 --> 00:07:20.060 it's true to life 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:21.019 and the life of the Christian. 00:07:21.500 --> 00:07:23.079 This battle to live up 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:24.019 to the life that God 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:25.039 has given us in Jesus, 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:26.199 it's a real battle. 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:27.459 He talks about it being at war, 00:07:27.539 --> 00:07:28.379 and that's my experience. 00:07:28.459 --> 00:07:29.060 I don't know about yours. 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:30.579 And so that's what I think 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:31.220 he's talking about. 00:07:31.540 --> 00:07:32.500 The Christian life 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:34.879 is not all puppies 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.060 and rainbows and prosperity. 00:07:37.939 --> 00:07:38.939 I hate to break it to you. 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:41.420 And one thing you're probably, 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:41.780 you know, 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:43.620 one thing that we tried to do here 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:45.180 in this church 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:47.259 is we try to be, 00:07:47.459 --> 00:07:48.759 take me to the next slide, please. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:52.079 We try to be as real as possible 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:53.420 as we can here 00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:54.980 at Church of the Messiah. 00:07:55.300 --> 00:07:56.899 One thing that Pastor George 00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:59.120 will probably never be accused of 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:00.179 is sugarcoating things. 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:03.019 We are all trying to be 00:08:03.019 --> 00:08:04.679 very honest in who we are. 00:08:04.719 --> 00:08:05.919 And that's what Paul's doing here. 00:08:05.979 --> 00:08:07.199 I think he's opening up for us 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:08.199 and we can all just open our hearts 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:09.139 and say if we're honest, 00:08:09.699 --> 00:08:11.299 this is the experience 00:08:11.299 --> 00:08:12.159 that we have as well. 00:08:12.459 --> 00:08:13.579 I look at Paul's struggle. 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:15.139 It's the struggle of faith 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:15.819 being called, 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:16.819 being a human 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:18.099 who's called to new life. 00:08:18.459 --> 00:08:19.379 But it's a struggle 00:08:19.379 --> 00:08:20.000 with a purpose. 00:08:20.099 --> 00:08:21.099 As Jonathan said this morning, 00:08:21.419 --> 00:08:22.599 the struggle of faith 00:08:22.599 --> 00:08:23.859 drives us to the cross 00:08:23.860 --> 00:08:26.540 and calls us to press deeper 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:27.220 into the grace 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:28.240 that God has given us. 00:08:28.780 --> 00:08:29.319 Because I love, 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:30.000 if you look between 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:31.379 verse 24 00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:33.659 and verse 25 there, 00:08:34.440 --> 00:08:35.480 very quickly 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:37.220 Paul turns to grace. 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:39.440 I love how fast 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:39.980 it's boom, 00:08:40.180 --> 00:08:41.100 but thanks be to God. 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:43.460 Very quickly, 00:08:43.800 --> 00:08:44.639 Paul turns 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:45.600 from the clash 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:46.360 between his consciousness 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:46.800 and actions 00:08:46.800 --> 00:08:47.480 to power, 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:48.200 faith, 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:49.120 and hope in Christ. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:50.060 In that, 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:51.399 basically what I'm saying 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:52.240 this morning is that 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:53.759 in our own spirituality, 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:54.860 in our own Christian walk, 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:55.120 friends, 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:56.500 that is a move 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:57.860 that we need to learn 00:08:57.860 --> 00:08:59.259 to make spiritually 00:08:59.259 --> 00:09:00.379 consistently. 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:03.120 Because we've experienced failure. 00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:04.060 Wow, 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:05.279 that shows me my need 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:05.940 for Christ. 00:09:06.680 --> 00:09:07.560 That shows me my need 00:09:07.560 --> 00:09:08.039 for the cross 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:08.480 and I'm just going to 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:09.659 press in more to God. 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:11.120 That whenever I feel 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.600 the weight of my sin, 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:13.580 it's not a moment 00:09:13.580 --> 00:09:14.340 to start feeling 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:15.340 terribly guilty 00:09:15.340 --> 00:09:15.980 about myself. 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:18.060 It's a moment 00:09:18.060 --> 00:09:18.840 to turn to God 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:19.960 and offer that to God. 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:22.100 In that way, 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.180 the law fulfills 00:09:24.180 --> 00:09:25.500 its true role 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:26.220 in the life 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:26.820 of the Christian. 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:29.580 That is to make 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:30.220 our sin known 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:31.460 so we can turn to God. 00:09:32.060 --> 00:09:32.200 Now, 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:32.799 nomos, 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:33.480 or law, 00:09:34.060 --> 00:09:34.759 you can see it here, 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:35.419 has a number 00:09:35.419 --> 00:09:36.519 of different nuances 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:37.340 in the New Testament, 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:38.639 especially in Romans 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:39.980 where Paul is talking here. 00:09:40.299 --> 00:09:41.180 The primary sense, 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:41.860 the first sense, 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:43.460 is the law of Moses. 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:45.220 Whenever the law 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:45.840 and the prophets 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:46.879 the Bible will talk about, 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:48.539 Paul in here 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:49.000 talks about 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:50.240 the law of the mind 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:51.519 or the law of God. 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:51.860 So, 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:53.960 sometimes in our passage 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:55.240 when he talks about 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:56.659 the law of the mind 00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:57.939 or the law of God, 00:09:58.100 --> 00:09:58.899 he's talking about 00:09:58.899 --> 00:09:59.899 the Mosaic law. 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:01.980 Everything in the Old Testament 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:03.360 and all the traditions 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:04.639 that build up around that, 00:10:04.679 --> 00:10:05.659 the law and the prophets. 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:06.199 So, 00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:07.059 that's the first way 00:10:07.059 --> 00:10:07.559 he's talking about. 00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:09.000 The second way 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:10.299 Paul uses law 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:11.220 in our passage 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:12.879 is he's talking about 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:14.159 the law of sin. 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:15.419 So, 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:15.939 this is like, 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:17.159 this is the compulsion, 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:19.759 the law of the world 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:21.919 that works against God. 00:10:23.779 --> 00:10:24.179 So, 00:10:24.219 --> 00:10:24.959 the first law 00:10:24.959 --> 00:10:26.039 is the law of God. 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:26.879 The second is, 00:10:26.959 --> 00:10:27.519 or the law of Moses. 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:28.699 The second is the law of sin. 00:10:28.959 --> 00:10:30.399 It's that compulsion we have. 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:31.439 And whenever Paul 00:10:31.439 --> 00:10:32.079 in our passage, 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:33.039 when you see he says, 00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:34.480 the law of the flesh 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:36.339 or the law of our members, 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:37.219 our body, 00:10:37.819 --> 00:10:38.579 he's talking about 00:10:38.579 --> 00:10:39.439 the law of sin, 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:40.759 that compulsion we have 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:42.059 to go against God's law 00:10:42.059 --> 00:10:43.220 that he has there. 00:10:44.160 --> 00:10:45.180 And when he talks about 00:10:45.180 --> 00:10:46.240 the law of the flesh 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.180 or the law of the body, 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:48.259 the law of our members, 00:10:48.560 --> 00:10:49.379 he's not saying 00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:50.360 our body is bad. 00:10:51.300 --> 00:10:52.680 Whenever the Bible 00:10:52.680 --> 00:10:53.420 uses the term 00:10:53.420 --> 00:10:54.519 sarx or flesh, 00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:56.300 not necessarily saying, 00:10:56.660 --> 00:10:56.740 oh, 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:57.680 the body is bad 00:10:57.680 --> 00:10:58.740 and the spirit is good. 00:10:58.779 --> 00:10:59.440 We don't believe that. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:00.680 Jesus came in the body. 00:11:01.139 --> 00:11:02.600 He came 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:03.940 enfleshed. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:04.580 So, 00:11:04.680 --> 00:11:05.620 there is goodness. 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:07.600 But when he talks 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:08.700 about the law of the flesh 00:11:08.700 --> 00:11:09.720 in contrast 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:10.440 to God's law, 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:11.240 he's talking about 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:12.360 that corrupt nature 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:12.980 in our flesh. 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:14.180 That fallen part 00:11:14.180 --> 00:11:14.519 of our nature, 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:15.340 that sinful part 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:15.779 of our nature. 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:17.019 The shadow side 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:17.720 of human existence. 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:19.700 So, 00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:20.220 that's what he's talking 00:11:20.220 --> 00:11:22.560 about in the second part. 00:11:22.820 --> 00:11:24.000 The third sense 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:25.420 that he uses law 00:11:25.420 --> 00:11:26.659 in this short passage 00:11:26.659 --> 00:11:27.360 that we have 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.860 is he's basically saying 00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:29.500 it's a principle. 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:30.720 It's a rule of thumb 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:32.220 that whenever 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:33.539 I think about 00:11:33.539 --> 00:11:34.720 the law of Moses, 00:11:35.420 --> 00:11:36.500 number two comes along 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:37.100 and battles it. 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:38.800 So, 00:11:39.060 --> 00:11:40.240 it's law 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:40.980 in the sense of rules, 00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:42.460 one and two, 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:43.840 a different set 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:44.240 of rules. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:45.360 And number three 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:46.340 is just a principle, 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:48.000 kind of a rule of life 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:49.779 that whenever one comes, 00:11:50.180 --> 00:11:51.000 number two is going 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:51.379 to happen. 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:52.920 Now, 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:53.899 by using law 00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:55.279 in all these different ways, 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:56.180 Paul isn't like 00:11:56.180 --> 00:11:56.920 one of those teachers 00:11:56.920 --> 00:11:58.080 you may or may not have 00:11:58.080 --> 00:11:58.920 that stood up 00:11:58.920 --> 00:11:59.779 at the front of the class 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:01.620 and purposely confused you 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:02.519 so they would feel smart 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:03.420 and you would feel dumb. 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:05.439 what Paul is doing 00:12:05.439 --> 00:12:06.159 is he's using 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:07.179 a turn of phrase, 00:12:07.299 --> 00:12:07.740 he's using 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:08.879 Greek rhetoric 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.860 that his readers 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:11.279 immediately would have 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:11.799 recognized 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:12.599 and known what it was 00:12:12.599 --> 00:12:13.299 he's talking about. 00:12:14.299 --> 00:12:15.019 Problem, of course, 00:12:15.099 --> 00:12:15.439 is we're almost 00:12:15.439 --> 00:12:16.299 2,000 years later 00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:17.459 and we don't understand that 00:12:17.459 --> 00:12:18.099 so it takes us 00:12:18.099 --> 00:12:18.679 a little more 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:20.459 time to kind of 00:12:20.459 --> 00:12:21.719 unpack what it is 00:12:21.719 --> 00:12:23.240 that Paul is saying there. 00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:24.939 He's using a rhetorical 00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:25.819 device from the time. 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:26.919 What he's basically 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:27.799 saying is this. 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:29.899 Inside, 00:12:30.219 --> 00:12:31.139 I delight in the law 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:31.539 of Moses. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:32.719 I'm a regenerate heart. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:33.779 I love God's law. 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:36.159 But it's a rule of nature 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:38.259 that a competing authority 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:39.659 works in my body. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:40.559 It works in my members. 00:12:41.939 --> 00:12:42.979 So it's a principle 00:12:42.979 --> 00:12:44.159 that the law of our minds, 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.039 the law of God, 00:12:45.359 --> 00:12:47.479 is always at war 00:12:47.479 --> 00:12:49.019 with the law of our bodies. 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:50.559 That is a fact 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:51.479 in the Christian life 00:12:51.479 --> 00:12:52.500 and something that 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.539 not even Paul 00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:54.779 rid himself of. 00:12:55.899 --> 00:12:56.779 And so if you are doing 00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:57.639 battle with the sin 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:58.120 in your life, 00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:58.980 if there is some sort of 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:00.279 some sin that's really 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:01.120 besetting you 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.139 and you're struggling with, 00:13:02.439 --> 00:13:03.519 welcome to the human race. 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.519 Welcome to being a Christian. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.679 Because it's a law 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:08.480 that that's going to happen 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:09.639 within the Christian life. 00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:13.059 In fact, 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:14.220 in the life of the Christian, 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:16.179 that exact thing 00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:18.100 is the role of the law. 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:19.139 It's not a bunch of rules 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.199 we follow to find God. 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:21.840 The role of the law 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:23.159 is simply this. 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.980 To show us our need for God. 00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:28.879 The law of the Old Testament 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.779 shows us our need for God. 00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:32.320 This battle shows us 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:33.940 our need to go to the cross. 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:38.259 Romans 3.20 00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:39.600 says, 00:13:39.940 --> 00:13:40.580 Through the law 00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:42.700 comes the knowledge of sin. 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:44.480 That's its function now 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:46.680 in the Christian life. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.940 That's what Paul believed 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:48.940 and that's what he's teaching us. 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.879 The new role of the law 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.720 is how it helps us 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:52.940 see our fallenness 00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:54.460 imperfection 00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:56.340 and it makes us cry out 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:57.260 for more of God. 00:13:57.800 --> 00:13:58.780 When I was growing up, 00:13:59.520 --> 00:14:00.760 my father was a contractor 00:14:00.760 --> 00:14:03.320 and one of my jobs was, 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.600 we didn't have anything nice 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:05.060 like this, 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.340 which is a magnetic wand. 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:08.420 We had a magnet on a rope 00:14:08.420 --> 00:14:09.900 because we didn't like 00:14:09.900 --> 00:14:10.900 to spend money at that time. 00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.320 And my job, 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:13.460 Amy will tell you, 00:14:13.540 --> 00:14:14.440 I am not the best 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:15.260 at swinging a hammer, 00:14:15.780 --> 00:14:16.960 but I can drag a magnet 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:17.800 like no one's business. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:18.980 And so my job 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:20.220 was to basically 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:21.640 walk around the job site 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:22.659 dragging this hammer, 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:23.419 or his hammer, 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:25.319 dragging this magnet 00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:26.939 so that any of the nails, 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:27.779 any of the screws, 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:28.559 anything like that 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:29.259 from that day 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.000 that had ended up 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:30.460 on the ground 00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.879 was picked up by the magnet. 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:32.699 Because when the new people 00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:33.259 move in, 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:35.159 you don't want to have 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:36.059 this stuff coming up 00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:36.699 every spring 00:14:36.699 --> 00:14:37.480 out of the backyard. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.360 A good contractor 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:41.159 will clean up the backyard 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.240 every one to two days 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:42.639 like that 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:44.379 or pay some young schmuck 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:45.340 like myself to do that. 00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:47.319 Amy and I moved 00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:47.980 to Petawawa. 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:49.639 No surprise. 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:50.899 Because the contractor 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:51.840 didn't do that 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:52.500 before they fixed 00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:53.059 the house up 00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.799 that we moved into. 00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:55.759 And so for eight years, 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:56.639 because they hadn't 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.659 simply taken one of these 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.080 every day 00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:59.100 and cleaned up the yard, 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:00.879 there were rusty nails 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.480 coming up. 00:15:01.699 --> 00:15:02.860 There were like screws 00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:03.879 about that long. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:04.899 We had pieces 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:05.960 of sheet metal 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.980 appear out of the ground. 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.299 And as you've seen 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:10.299 our brood of children, 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:11.240 we have four kids, 00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:11.720 young ones, 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.259 running around. 00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:13.600 It can be a little bit 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.360 disconcerting. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.759 You have to clean up 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:16.519 the little bits 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:18.439 as you go along 00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:19.879 in order to make 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.840 the law unusable. 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.139 So when we talk 00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:25.639 about the law 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.220 in the life 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:26.759 of the Christian, 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:29.659 it's not a weapon 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:31.799 that we use 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:32.539 against sin 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.379 in order to overcome 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.539 ourselves by our own power 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:35.319 and impress God. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.079 That's not what the law is. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.299 And what Paul is explaining 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:39.539 is the law 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:40.699 is more of a magnet 00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:42.919 that draws out 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.879 those areas of sin 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.539 in our lives 00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:45.779 that we need to offer 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:46.220 to God. 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:48.319 That is the function 00:15:48.319 --> 00:15:49.799 of the law 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.879 in the Christian life. 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.399 Makes us aware 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:53.919 of the areas 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:54.639 we need to give over 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.159 to God 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:56.860 because Jesus met 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.159 every dot and comma 00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:58.899 of the law 00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.500 for us. 00:15:59.579 --> 00:16:00.679 He sacrificed himself 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:01.960 to meet the requirements 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:02.559 of the law 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:03.699 so that we can have 00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:04.360 that relationship 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:04.860 with him 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.860 in which we walk 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.279 with him 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.600 and by his Holy Spirit 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.379 he deals with these 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.279 areas of our lives. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:10.519 This matters 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:12.199 because life of faith 00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:13.840 is not a life 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.620 under the law. 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.259 It's a life 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.120 in the spirit. 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.939 I'm not a big fan 00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:18.519 of movies. 00:16:19.319 --> 00:16:20.019 Unless it's 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.720 Lord of the Rings 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.699 or Star Wars 00:16:21.699 --> 00:16:22.879 I am probably 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.600 not watching it. 00:16:23.819 --> 00:16:24.419 I haven't watched 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:24.980 Han Solo 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:26.000 because newsflash 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:26.539 hot take 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.460 it's not really 00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.179 a Star Wars movie. 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:30.779 I don't watch movies 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:32.439 other than those things 00:16:32.439 --> 00:16:34.399 but what I will do 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:36.179 is I will watch 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:37.419 a movie with my kids. 00:16:38.359 --> 00:16:38.719 I don't even 00:16:38.719 --> 00:16:39.459 really eat popcorn. 00:16:39.599 --> 00:16:40.199 They all love popcorn. 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:40.879 It makes me feel ill. 00:16:41.479 --> 00:16:41.879 However, 00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:42.819 I'll sit there 00:16:42.819 --> 00:16:43.639 and I'll eat the popcorn 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.839 because you know 00:16:44.839 --> 00:16:45.439 what those really 00:16:45.439 --> 00:16:46.500 intense moments 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.179 in a movie 00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:49.039 my kids turn back 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.699 into my little 00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:50.639 my little critters 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.459 and they snuggle 00:16:52.459 --> 00:16:53.159 right in 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:53.899 you know 00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.899 right into my side 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:56.519 and that's that 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.379 moment of intimacy 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.199 I haven't had 00:16:58.199 --> 00:16:58.860 since they were 00:16:58.860 --> 00:16:59.779 they were really young. 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:02.299 And so I kind of live 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:02.879 in movies 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.059 function like that 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.779 for me. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.160 The proximity 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.119 to my kids. 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:09.680 The law itself 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.319 in the life 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:10.839 of this people 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.559 is not about 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.660 entertaining him 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.579 with our greatness. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.319 That's not the function 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:15.680 of the law. 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.859 The law is about 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:18.759 the intensity 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.559 of our lives 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.740 realizing what's going on 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.660 and God 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:22.599 drawing us 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:23.779 into greater intimacy 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.460 with him. 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:26.000 That's what God wants 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.980 with you 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:28.740 is greater intimacy. 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.660 It's the life 00:17:32.660 --> 00:17:33.160 in the spirit 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:35.279 which gives life. 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.900 I love how emphatic 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:38.099 again in 8.1 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:39.660 Paul makes that transition 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.579 to life in the spirit. 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:41.740 Sometimes he says 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.079 therefore 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.960 sometimes he says now 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:44.980 but in our passage 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.779 he uses both 00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:46.559 which is a big deal 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.299 apparently in the Greek. 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.140 Therefore 00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:49.420 now 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.960 life in the spirit 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.740 he talks about. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.759 In Christ 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.940 life guided by the spirit 00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:58.580 replaces condemnation 00:17:58.580 --> 00:17:59.120 and death. 00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:00.080 And then 00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:00.759 if we look at 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.740 8.3 and 4 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:03.039 for God has done 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.660 what the law 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:04.420 weakened by the flesh 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.039 could not do 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.120 by sending his own son 00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:06.740 in the likeness 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.500 of sinful flesh 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.160 and first sin 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:09.660 he condemned sin 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:10.200 in the flesh 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.759 in order that 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.980 the righteous requirement 00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:13.340 of the law 00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:14.300 might be fulfilled in us 00:18:14.300 --> 00:18:15.940 who walk not 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:17.000 according to the flesh 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.720 but according to the spirit. 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.279 so that we were drawn 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.079 closer to him 00:18:21.079 --> 00:18:22.019 not by showing 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.000 how great our flesh is 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.160 but by coming to him 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:25.620 and walking in the Holy Spirit. 00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.480 And it's a continual battle. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.600 If we go back to 7.23 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:30.600 Paul talks about war. 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:32.140 He uses imagery 00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:32.860 from war 00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:33.579 and from battle 00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:35.160 throughout his writings 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.000 in the New Testament 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.380 talking about 00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:38.079 being a soldier 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:38.660 for Christ 00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:40.240 and other authors 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.140 talk about as well. 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.079 This imagery 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:43.180 of the Christian life 00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.000 being a battle 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.900 permeates it. 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:46.500 And when we think 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.220 about a war 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.839 wars take 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.740 a lot of time. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.019 You know 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.059 it takes an awful lot 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:53.299 once a war is won 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:55.500 we think about a war 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.680 the way we understand it 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:56.900 I mean 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.960 I think a lot about a war 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.539 it's my job 00:18:58.539 --> 00:19:00.480 when we think about war 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.859 when a battle 00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:02.339 when the battle 00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:03.200 is finally won 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:03.779 when the war 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:04.660 is actually won 00:19:04.660 --> 00:19:05.619 in a lot of ways 00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.779 that's kind of the midpoint. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.599 That's not the end point. 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.660 Take us to the next slide please. 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:11.180 If we think about Syria 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:12.480 what's going on right now 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.779 you see the little black area 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.259 up there 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:15.200 and there's some other areas here 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.559 you know ISIS has been contained 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:17.100 to there 00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:18.940 but in the battle was won 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:20.640 the actual war was won folks 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:21.519 a long time ago 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.940 but it's taking time 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:26.059 to kind of mop up the extra. 00:19:26.840 --> 00:19:27.920 It's taking time 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:29.920 for them to rid it of ISIS 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.900 and stability operations 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:33.440 which is the next phase 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.299 of the war 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:36.819 comes after ISIS has left. 00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:37.920 And one of the problems 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:39.200 is stability 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.120 building stability 00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:40.840 in a place you just 00:19:40.840 --> 00:19:41.840 clean people out from 00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:43.160 who are doing evil things 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:44.740 doesn't make for very good 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.540 front page news. 00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:47.560 And so often times 00:19:47.560 --> 00:19:48.500 peacemaking countries 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.500 will move out too early 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:51.080 because it takes time 00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:53.100 to win a war 00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:54.920 and to rebuild. 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.519 If you think about it 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.700 when on D-Day 00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.940 next slide 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.480 on D-Day 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.759 when they hit the beaches 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.940 and they won that war 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:04.019 it took time 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.920 to march towards Germany. 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.140 It took time 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.880 after that 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:09.580 to not make the same mistakes 00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:10.980 they made in World War I 00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:12.220 which led to World War II. 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:14.259 It takes time 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.180 to win a war. 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:15.900 So yes 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.820 on the cross 00:20:16.820 --> 00:20:17.759 Jesus won the war 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:19.860 and now we are moving 00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.500 into the time 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.740 when we're cleaning up 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.040 our lives 00:20:22.040 --> 00:20:23.120 when he is cleaning up 00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:23.560 our lives 00:20:23.560 --> 00:20:24.460 by the power 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.160 of his Holy Spirit. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.400 And it doesn't just happen 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.360 in an instant. 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.320 My point is this 00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:30.720 Paul uses military language 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.860 because even once 00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:33.019 a war is past 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.779 its tipping point 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:35.019 it takes a great deal 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.279 of time 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.880 to finish up. 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.720 There's a great deal 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.700 of work to be done 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.460 to put away 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.120 our old self 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:42.800 as Paul says. 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.460 And they take on 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.340 the new self 00:20:45.340 --> 00:20:46.740 that God has given us. 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.940 And so we are called 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:49.140 to do something 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.580 this morning. 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.180 We are called 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:51.700 by the power 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.500 of the Holy Spirit 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:54.080 to put the law 00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:55.900 into its proper view. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.820 I want to tell you 00:20:57.820 --> 00:20:58.640 what I mean by that. 00:20:59.540 --> 00:21:00.360 Christ put away 00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:01.960 the legal requirements 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.700 of the law 00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.519 so that we could 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.259 be zoomed out. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:05.519 Okay, here's a picture 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.340 of downtown Ottawa. 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.940 We're kind of way up there. 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:10.180 Anyways, up there. 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:13.299 We're zoomed out now 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.840 to the 10,000 foot view 00:21:14.840 --> 00:21:15.580 of the law. 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.860 That's what Jesus gave us. 00:21:17.340 --> 00:21:18.200 And what do we see? 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.680 What did Jesus say 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.220 the law was? 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.680 All the law 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.160 and the prophets. 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.240 What did he say? 00:21:23.360 --> 00:21:23.580 Anybody? 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.200 Point to him. 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.539 Love God. 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.620 Love your neighbor. 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.560 Love God. 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.560 Love your neighbor. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.659 That's the 10,000 foot view 00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:36.079 of the law. 00:21:36.159 --> 00:21:37.500 It's not the minute details, 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.500 all the little side streets 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:38.980 of the law. 00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:40.440 It's the broad law. 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:42.339 And so even when we recited 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.480 the Ten Commandments, 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.359 if you notice, 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.980 there's two tablets 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.779 of the Ten Commandments. 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.960 Those that have to do 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.759 with loving God 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:50.299 and those that have to do 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.399 with loving one another. 00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:53.559 And that is the 10,000 foot view 00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.460 now of the law 00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.919 that we measure ourselves by. 00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:57.460 We allow that to search us out 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.759 so that we can find the way, 00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.679 the places in our lives 00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:01.200 that we need to invite God into 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.779 in order to do it all over again 00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:04.460 and allow God to continue 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:06.660 that process of sanctifying us 00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:07.379 and bringing us 00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:08.599 into relationship with him. 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.559 From this level, 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.660 God, Jesus showed us 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.220 and he said, 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.160 love God 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.700 and love your neighbor. 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.740 It's summed up by Jesus. 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:20.019 So that's why when we look to Jesus, 00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:21.879 he draws us into the living 00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:23.720 in the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:25.119 not under the law. 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:27.379 Later, Paul will say in 8.6 00:22:27.379 --> 00:22:28.319 after this passage 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.059 to set our minds on the Spirit. 00:22:30.379 --> 00:22:31.399 Coupled with 8.4, 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.800 it's a call day by day 00:22:32.800 --> 00:22:33.620 to cultivate 00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:36.140 a spiritual inclinement 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.800 towards him. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.500 To incline our hearts 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.660 towards spiritual things. 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.200 So that, 00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:43.840 as 2 Corinthians 9.8 says, 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.960 God will be able 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.060 to make all the grace 00:22:46.060 --> 00:22:46.820 abound in us, 00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:48.200 not by our own power, 00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.960 but by having sufficiency 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.820 in all things 00:22:50.820 --> 00:22:51.480 at all times 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.040 will abound 00:22:52.040 --> 00:22:52.860 in every good work 00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.920 in the power 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.580 of the Holy Spirit. 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:55.420 Not because we're following 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:55.940 some law, 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.880 because we've allowed him 00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.600 to search us out 00:22:58.600 --> 00:23:01.100 and do battle 00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:02.180 for us in our hearts. 00:23:02.600 --> 00:23:03.300 The law helps us 00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:03.980 see our weakness 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.320 so we can continually 00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:06.360 offer those areas 00:23:06.360 --> 00:23:06.840 to Jesus 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:08.900 and let him transform us 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:09.620 by the power 00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:10.620 of his Holy Spirit. 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:11.800 It's a celebration, 00:23:12.020 --> 00:23:12.200 friends, 00:23:12.260 --> 00:23:12.800 of the cross. 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.320 That's what Paul's doing here. 00:23:16.020 --> 00:23:17.060 He's celebrating the fact 00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:17.460 that the cross 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:18.440 put all that stuff away 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.460 so that we can truly 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.380 have an open, 00:23:21.260 --> 00:23:21.700 honest, 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:23.120 dynamic relationship 00:23:23.120 --> 00:23:23.580 with him 00:23:23.580 --> 00:23:24.980 in which, 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:26.140 when things come to light, 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.240 we're just honest 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:28.220 and we allow him 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.720 to move on it. 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.240 I'm going to move on 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.700 to the big finish, 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.019 I think. 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:35.640 The big finish for me 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:36.240 is sometimes 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:37.019 there's some cutting room 00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:37.680 floor stuff 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.819 that comes out 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:40.440 of my sermon prep. 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.799 Some of you here 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:44.480 might be questioning 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.420 whether or not 00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:46.279 there's actually 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:48.559 this law out there 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.720 that everybody 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.519 is measured by. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.839 That there's what we call 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.980 the meta story. 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.099 There's a big story 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:54.740 out there 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.940 all-encompassing 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.799 universal law 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.539 or truth 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.759 that we're measured by. 00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:00.299 That's not very popular 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.039 in Canada 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.079 in 2019 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:03.339 to think that. 00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:04.359 However, 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:04.960 at the same time, 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:05.480 while our culture 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.180 tries to tell us 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:06.579 there's no 00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.680 all-encompassing truth, 00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.380 our culture also believes 00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:12.039 in inalienable 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:13.140 human rights. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.779 Is that the right term? 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.140 Inhuman rights. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:17.700 At the same time, 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:17.880 well, 00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:18.299 there's no truth 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.240 but there is such a thing 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:19.940 as human rights. 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.859 And the reason we believe 00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.440 in such a thing 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.000 as human rights 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:23.019 is because 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:25.079 the law of God 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:25.339 is written 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:25.819 on our hearts. 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:28.240 You know what's wrong. 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:29.160 I know what's wrong. 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:31.039 After I'm finished 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:32.299 beaking on up here 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:32.879 about Paul, 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:34.180 we're going to be praying 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.519 and we're going to pray 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.000 about 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:38.160 the 25th anniversary 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:38.859 of the genocide 00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:39.720 in Rwanda. 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:41.480 Friends, 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.339 killing upwards 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.119 of a million people 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:43.940 in a hundred days, 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.019 if anybody in here 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:46.960 thinks that's not wrong, 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.000 well, 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.720 you've got problems. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.759 we know, 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.980 we know 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.759 the difference 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.200 between right and wrong. 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.880 There is such a thing 00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.519 as right and wrong 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.620 and it's not, 00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:58.920 friends, 00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.960 just a matter of opinion. 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:01.759 Genocide is wrong 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.860 is not a matter of opinion. 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.319 If you disagree, 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.200 we can talk afterwards. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:07.299 There is a freedom 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.259 from the discord 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.519 each human feels 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.960 and we know 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.539 there's a way 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.519 things ought to be 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:14.180 and there's a way 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.720 things are. 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.200 And friends, 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.860 there's a freedom 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:17.699 from the discord 00:25:17.699 --> 00:25:18.399 between the way 00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:19.179 we think things 00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:19.679 ought to be 00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:20.479 and the way things are. 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.519 Between the way 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.599 we are 00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:24.459 and the way 00:25:24.459 --> 00:25:25.119 we believe 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:25.759 we should be. 00:25:26.219 --> 00:25:26.939 And that freedom 00:25:26.939 --> 00:25:28.419 comes through 00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:29.099 faith in Jesus 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:31.519 and it comes 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.000 through the life 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.659 of the Holy Spirit 00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.639 that he calls us to. 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.859 So if you're thinking 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.719 about it here this morning 00:25:35.719 --> 00:25:36.679 and you feel that discord, 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.339 I really would like 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.119 to invite you 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:39.399 to consider Jesus 00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:40.079 and the freedom 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.639 that he brings. 00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:42.179 Let's pray together. 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:45.119 Loving God, 00:25:45.219 --> 00:25:46.219 you have given us 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.600 the law 00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:48.259 to drive us 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.779 to grace 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:50.360 and you lavish 00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:51.400 your grace on us. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:53.079 We pray that you would 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:54.440 have your mercy upon us 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:56.120 and incline our hearts 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:57.039 to keep your law 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.500 in our hearts, 00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.740 measure ourselves by it 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:01.220 and offer ourselves to you 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.200 when we find ourselves wanting. 00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:03.019 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:03.759 Amen.