WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.120 Go ahead with me and turn in your copy of God's Word, which I hope you have with you this day, to the book of Romans chapter 9. 00:00:08.120 --> 00:00:23.400 ! I am always and forever dependent on God's favor in preaching. I'm always looking to Him for grace. 00:00:23.399 --> 00:00:32.060 And this day, I feel the weight of that a little bit more. This could have possibly been the worst week for us to start at 10.30. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:39.759 I've had a very busy week. We took a bunch of the college students to Tallulah Gorge yesterday, which is a young man's game. 00:00:40.780 --> 00:00:46.920 And I am having to admit that I'm no longer a young man. I'm very sore this morning. 00:00:47.620 --> 00:00:56.240 Last night, I was doing some more studying, and we were watching the steward children, so our family went from 4 to 8 in a day. 00:00:56.740 --> 00:01:03.579 And we were downstairs as Sam was going to the grocery store, and I had a book in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other hand at 9 o'clock, 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:07.320 hoping to stay up for a few more hours. And I had drank about half a cup of coffee. 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:10.420 And then the next thing I knew, Sam was shutting the door coming home. 00:01:10.420 --> 00:01:16.420 And I had fallen asleep with a cup of coffee sitting on my chest in a book just like this for about 20 minutes. 00:01:17.540 --> 00:01:18.599 And so I'm tired. 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:24.879 I also, I'm a type 1 diabetic, and for the last hour, I've been trying to get my blood sugar level up. 00:01:25.060 --> 00:01:28.520 And I've drank lots of sugary liquid, so I might be bouncing off the walls in a minute. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:31.640 But I'm also recouping from that. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:36.980 Beyond that, we have ahead of us just the weight of opening God's word. 00:01:36.980 --> 00:01:45.400 Lord, it's a privilege to even get to hear these words, as we so often take for granted the fact that we even have it in our language, 00:01:45.880 --> 00:01:47.260 and that we can read. 00:01:48.380 --> 00:01:51.719 More than that, it's a privilege to get to preach it to you this day, 00:01:51.780 --> 00:01:56.600 to get to spend a good bit of my time each week studying it to bring to you. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:01:59.719 So I'm saying all that to say, I need grace. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:00.740 Let's pray together for that. 00:02:02.600 --> 00:02:05.439 Father God, I pray this morning you'll bless the reading of your word. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:09.620 You'll bless the preaching of it, and you'll bless the hearing of it. 00:02:10.539 --> 00:02:13.639 Nothing of any value happens here this morning apart from you. 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:18.780 And so by your spirit that dwells within those who are known by Christ, 00:02:19.659 --> 00:02:23.460 I pray, Father, this day we will learn and we will grow, we will love you more, 00:02:23.819 --> 00:02:27.060 and we will be turned to love the world more as a result. 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:33.000 I pray that in all things this day, Christ is exalted above everything. 00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:35.180 And I pray this in his precious name. 00:02:36.140 --> 00:02:36.439 Amen. 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:36.579 Amen. 00:02:38.139 --> 00:02:45.780 So we have taken a pretty big break over the summer from our expositional verse-by-verse preaching of the book of Romans. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:49.819 We stopped, took a little kind of a topical series break through the summer, 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:55.159 and we are back at the time, back to Romans chapter 9. 00:02:55.159 --> 00:03:03.079 And to this point in Romans, Paul has, in varying ways and kind of over and over again, to our benefit, 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:08.939 laid out a case for justification before God by faith alone. 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:12.159 We're not saved by our works, we're not saved by our lineage, 00:03:12.379 --> 00:03:17.419 we're not saved by any type of status we may have, or anything else whatsoever, 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:20.759 but by the goodness and loving kindness of God. 00:03:20.759 --> 00:03:25.139 God has bestowed that upon those who are his, 00:03:25.219 --> 00:03:30.139 and it has nothing to do with anything we've done to earn that favor. 00:03:30.239 --> 00:03:34.359 He gives it to us freely, the very definition of grace itself. 00:03:36.239 --> 00:03:41.939 In chapter 8, he speaks to us about God's sovereign goodness that sustains us 00:03:41.939 --> 00:03:44.699 as we endure the battle that rages within, 00:03:45.180 --> 00:03:48.280 between our flesh and the spirit that now abides within us, 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:52.400 as well as the suffering that will endure from external sources. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:04:00.560 And he hinges all of this upon the sovereign goodness of God towards those who are his. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:04.159 So let's read together verse 28 to the end of the chapter. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:09.159 Of chapter 8, just to be clear. 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:14.520 And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:16.279 for those who are called according to his purpose. 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:20.279 For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:23.019 in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 00:04:23.399 --> 00:04:25.319 And those whom he predestined, he also called. 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:27.560 And those whom he called, he also justified. 00:04:27.980 --> 00:04:30.959 And those whom he justified, he also glorified. 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:33.459 What then shall we say to these things? 00:04:33.939 --> 00:04:36.120 If God is for us, who can be against us? 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:39.079 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:42.699 how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:45.899 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:47.439 It is God who justifies. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:48.399 Who is to condemn? 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:50.420 Christ Jesus is the one who died. 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:51.680 More than that, who was raised. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:52.860 Who is at the right hand of God. 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:54.980 Who indeed is interceding for us. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.319 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:00.379 Such tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:02.340 or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:03.340 As it is written, 00:05:03.340 --> 00:05:05.920 For your sake we are being killed all the day long. 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:08.199 We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 00:05:08.980 --> 00:05:09.379 No. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:13.639 In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:16.060 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:19.100 nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:21.139 nor powers, nor height, nor depth, 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:23.360 nor anything else in all creation 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:28.379 will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 00:05:28.379 --> 00:05:29.620 And if you're a Christian this morning, 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:33.439 your heart must be saying amen to something like that. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:37.160 So then we begin chapter 9. 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:39.780 And we go from chapter 9 to 10 to 11 00:05:39.780 --> 00:05:43.879 to talk about the doctrine of election. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:45.959 And intermixed in all of this, 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:50.439 we see Israel and what has happened to Israel. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:51.819 What is going on? 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:53.280 If God is sovereign over all things, 00:05:53.340 --> 00:05:54.959 and Israel was his special people, 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:59.659 why is it that all of Israel has not turned to Christ at this point? 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:01.899 And Paul starts out with a lament. 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:03.659 In verse 2 of chapter 9, he says, 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:08.139 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart 00:06:08.139 --> 00:06:11.179 over the lostness of the Israelites. 00:06:12.299 --> 00:06:14.079 And he begins to work that out. 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:18.240 It seems kind of random, interjected, where it's at. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:19.519 And I can assure you that it's not, 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:22.799 and we're going to come to understand that further in the coming weeks. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:25.759 But it just feels like, Paul, couldn't you have just skipped 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:29.379 from the end of chapter 8 to the very end of chapter 11? 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:31.639 Oh, the depths of the ridges in wisdom and knowledge of God. 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:34.460 Couldn't you have just jumped over all this really challenging stuff 00:06:34.460 --> 00:06:38.600 about election and Israel and how that all plays together? 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:42.540 I have had some times this week that I really wish he had. 00:06:43.340 --> 00:06:46.800 I have been literally studying my brains out 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.060 for the past couple of weeks on this. 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:53.120 And I can say to you, I'm not sure I'm ready yet 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:55.579 to understand it in its entirety. 00:06:56.579 --> 00:07:01.019 I have sensed in our congregation an eager expectation, 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:05.199 a good expectation, for this place in Paul's letter 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:08.899 to the Roman Christians, coming to chapter 9 and learning from it. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:11.879 But my fear is that as individuals, 00:07:12.459 --> 00:07:17.319 you're either, one, not prepared to learn the truth contained therein, 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:19.019 for multiple reasons. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:21.219 Maybe you just need to grow up a little bit, 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:23.620 or maybe you don't know me well enough to know my heart, 00:07:23.719 --> 00:07:26.879 to know that I love the Scriptures, 00:07:27.099 --> 00:07:30.000 and I love people, and I want to see the kingdom advance. 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:31.699 This concerns me. 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:35.539 But secondly, and I actually fear this most, 00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:39.379 that you believe that you've already taken hold 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:42.079 of all that is offered in the doctrine of election, 00:07:42.339 --> 00:07:44.139 that you think you've totally wrapped your mind around it, 00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:46.459 and you hold to it tightly, and what you've been waiting for 00:07:46.459 --> 00:07:49.839 is for us to get to 9 and me prove you right. 00:07:51.139 --> 00:07:55.680 Me to arm you to go out and be self-indignant 00:07:55.680 --> 00:08:00.099 and tell everybody how very, very smart you are. 00:08:00.100 --> 00:08:05.660 And for those two reasons, I need another week. 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:08.040 I need seven more days. 00:08:08.760 --> 00:08:12.120 And what I hope is accomplished in those seven days 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:13.220 is two things. 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:16.180 I want to better prepare my head. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:17.820 There's some really, 00:08:18.260 --> 00:08:20.620 I'd encourage you to read 9, 10, and 11. 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:22.540 There is some weighty stuff in here, 00:08:22.640 --> 00:08:26.500 and some things that even on the surface seem contradictory. 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:30.040 There are varying opinions across Christendom 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:33.120 from men I highly respect on these issues. 00:08:33.460 --> 00:08:35.700 And I labor to do the work myself. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:38.000 I labor to look at the language 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:40.440 and to study well on my own. 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:44.759 But I also want to look to as many sources as I can, 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:46.639 men that are wiser than me, 00:08:46.679 --> 00:08:48.940 because they're most men are, 00:08:49.580 --> 00:08:53.159 and glean what I can to properly bring to you 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:56.000 what can be understood of the next three chapters. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:58.299 So I want to better prepare my head, 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:02.639 but mostly I want all of us to better prepare our hearts. 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:07.139 The doctrine of election is weighty. 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:09.039 It is taught throughout all of Scripture. 00:09:09.220 --> 00:09:11.120 I will not for a moment back down 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:14.559 that it is in fact the teaching of Scripture, 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:17.279 but it has been very divisive. 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:20.940 Currently in the Southern Baptist Convention, 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:21.960 which we are a part of, 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:25.060 it is ripping things apart, 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:27.519 and I believe that God's going to put it all back together. 00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:30.740 I believe this is going to be to the benefit of the convention 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:32.540 and not to the detriment of it. 00:09:33.060 --> 00:09:35.500 But there have been some statements that have come out 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:36.860 and signed by a bunch of guys. 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:38.480 There's been a lot of positioning. 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:41.019 Much of it is political, 00:09:41.019 --> 00:09:43.639 and it can be sickening at times 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:46.519 for those of us who stand on this side 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:49.819 of the understanding of the doctrine of election. 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:56.579 We receive the Scriptures from above. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:58.100 You get that, right? 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:01.039 God's Word is breathed out by God. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:03.819 It comes down to us from above. 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:05.440 And as Christians, 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:07.920 we are to humbly submit ourselves to it. 00:10:09.379 --> 00:10:12.940 All of your questions will not be answered by this book. 00:10:14.040 --> 00:10:15.020 Understand that. 00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:19.060 It doesn't clarify everything for us. 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:23.040 It gives us exactly what we need, though. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:27.060 There are some ends that seem so loose 00:10:27.060 --> 00:10:28.340 and hanging out there. 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:31.120 If this is so, how can this be so? 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.899 There are things that appear to be paradoxical, 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:37.519 appear contradictory. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:39.820 They're not, but they appear that way 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:41.440 as we begin to study. 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:46.639 You will not solve the world's questions 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:48.279 from the Scriptures. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:49.299 All of them. 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:53.820 But we should humbly submit ourselves to the Scripture. 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:55.639 Let it come down to us. 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:56.740 And say to God, 00:10:56.740 --> 00:10:59.299 when you don't answer something, 00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:00.899 that's okay. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:04.159 When I can't completely work this out 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:06.019 from your inspired Word, 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:08.759 that must be for a reason. 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:12.039 Let me give you an example of that. 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:14.019 Romans 9, 20. 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:15.299 Paul says, 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:17.779 Who are you, O man, 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:19.440 to answer back to God? 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:20.700 Up to this point, 00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:23.220 he has been directly quoting God 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:24.000 from the Old Testament. 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:25.180 He doesn't use the prophets. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:26.560 He doesn't quote Moses. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.759 He's directly quoting God 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:30.560 as we work through this doctrine of election. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:31.919 What it means for us. 00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:32.719 Okay? 00:11:33.079 --> 00:11:34.939 And then there's a question asked. 00:11:35.219 --> 00:11:37.779 Which seems to be a very reasonable question 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:38.959 in verse 19. 00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:40.699 It's a question I had asked 00:11:40.699 --> 00:11:44.119 before I ever read Romans 9, verse 19. 00:11:44.819 --> 00:11:45.859 Seems very reasonable. 00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:48.099 And I want a clear answer to it. 00:11:48.179 --> 00:11:48.779 In my flesh, 00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:50.099 I really want to know 00:11:50.099 --> 00:11:51.359 how it can be then. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:52.360 I want a clear answer to it. 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:52.360 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:53.360 I want a clear answer to it. 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.000 And Paul says, 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:56.360 Who are you, Nathan Rainer? 00:11:57.240 --> 00:12:00.620 How dare you question God? 00:12:02.659 --> 00:12:04.139 God says to us, 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.539 Be quiet. 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:09.100 I have spoken. 00:12:10.039 --> 00:12:12.800 And it is for you to try to understand. 00:12:13.580 --> 00:12:14.440 Are you with me? 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:16.420 We do the opposite so often. 00:12:16.680 --> 00:12:18.120 Particularly with this topic. 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:19.880 We turn the whole thing around 00:12:19.880 --> 00:12:22.320 and we stand over the Word of God 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:24.220 and have it serve us. 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:25.580 Right? 00:12:25.780 --> 00:12:27.720 There are fancy terms for this. 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:28.360 Right? 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:29.660 That is called, 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:30.960 when we stand over the Word of God 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:32.360 and we read out of it 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:33.660 what we want to hear, 00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:35.480 that's called eisegesis. 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:37.520 We pull out, 00:12:37.660 --> 00:12:40.540 we apply to what we think 00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:42.480 the Word of God has to say 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.639 about God and His character. 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:45.680 And we don't practice that. 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.100 Faithful Christians 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:48.720 do not practice that. 00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:50.519 We practice exegesis. 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:52.620 We look at what the Word of God 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:54.060 actually says. 00:12:54.300 --> 00:12:55.539 And we wrestle with it 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:57.019 and we come to understand it 00:12:57.019 --> 00:12:58.240 in that way. 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:00.440 Humble yourself. 00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:01.639 Submit yourself 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:03.500 to God's revelation 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:05.060 to us. 00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:08.139 So we need to prepare our hearts. 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:11.060 And I pray that we'll all approach 00:13:11.059 --> 00:13:12.119 the study of God's 00:13:12.119 --> 00:13:13.559 holy, inspired, 00:13:15.179 --> 00:13:16.579 absolutely perfect 00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:18.199 Word to us 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:19.879 with great reverence 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:21.299 as we begin this time 00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:22.539 throughout the fall. 00:13:23.819 --> 00:13:24.339 So, 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:26.179 let's turn away now 00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:27.079 from the book of Romans 00:13:27.079 --> 00:13:27.879 for this week. 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:29.299 We'll start next week. 00:13:29.599 --> 00:13:30.199 And turn with me 00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:31.319 to the book of 1 Corinthians 00:13:31.319 --> 00:13:32.319 chapter 13. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:37.900 I'll have you know 00:13:37.900 --> 00:13:38.879 just so you can join me 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.860 in this chuckle. 00:13:40.140 --> 00:13:40.900 I decided to 00:13:40.900 --> 00:13:43.040 change this path 00:13:43.040 --> 00:13:43.820 when I woke up 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:44.480 with a cup of coffee 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:45.220 in my hand 00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:46.280 last night. 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:48.020 You have those moments 00:13:48.020 --> 00:13:48.600 in your life 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:48.980 where 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:51.400 it's as if 00:13:51.400 --> 00:13:51.879 God 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:53.720 were just a little louder. 00:13:53.800 --> 00:13:54.460 He would have been audible. 00:13:54.920 --> 00:13:55.780 It really felt like 00:13:55.780 --> 00:13:57.000 God said something to you. 00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:58.180 You can almost 00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:59.340 taste the fact 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:00.140 that He's telling you 00:14:00.140 --> 00:14:01.000 to do something different 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:01.759 than what you were already 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:02.399 intending to do. 00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:04.460 And that was one of those 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.259 moments for me. 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:05.639 So, 00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:07.200 I'm going to begin reading 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.019 in chapter 13 00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:09.320 verse 1. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:09.700 I'm going to read 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:10.779 the entire chapter to you. 00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:11.240 I'm just praying 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:11.600 that you'll 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.940 really listen 00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:13.679 to these words. 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.519 Chapter 13 verse 1. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.440 If I speak in the tongues 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:18.559 of men and of angels 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.940 but have not love 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:21.620 I am a noisy gong 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:23.039 or a clanging cymbal. 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:24.639 And if I have 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.519 prophetic powers 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:26.179 and understand 00:14:26.179 --> 00:14:27.039 all mysteries 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.080 and all knowledge 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:29.179 and if I have 00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:29.820 all faith 00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:30.980 so as to remove mountains 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:32.399 but have not love 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:33.580 I am nothing. 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:35.300 If I give away 00:14:35.300 --> 00:14:35.940 all I have 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:36.580 and if I deliver 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.139 my body 00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:38.220 to be burned 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:39.519 but have not love 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.920 I gain nothing. 00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.639 Love is patient 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:43.399 and kind. 00:14:44.060 --> 00:14:44.480 Love does not 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:45.320 envy or boast. 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:46.600 It is not arrogant 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.399 or rude. 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:48.960 It does not insist 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.860 on its own way. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.279 It is not irritable 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:52.259 or resentful. 00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:53.460 It does not rejoice 00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.019 at wrongdoing 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:54.700 but rejoices 00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.399 with the truth. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:57.300 Love bears all things, 00:14:57.580 --> 00:14:58.620 believes all things, 00:14:58.940 --> 00:14:59.960 hopes all things, 00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:01.740 endures all things. 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:04.560 Love never ends. 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.340 As for prophecies 00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:07.160 they will pass away. 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:07.860 As for tongues 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:08.480 they will cease. 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:09.280 As for knowledge 00:15:09.280 --> 00:15:10.259 it will pass away. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.660 For we know in part 00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:12.900 and we prophesy in part 00:15:12.900 --> 00:15:14.379 but when the perfect comes 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.860 the partial will pass away. 00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:17.600 When I was a child 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:18.920 I spoke like a child. 00:15:19.060 --> 00:15:20.100 I thought like a child. 00:15:20.220 --> 00:15:21.379 I reasoned like a child. 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:22.940 When I became a man 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:24.720 I gave up childish ways. 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:26.139 For now we see 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:26.840 in a mirror dimly 00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:28.500 but then face to face. 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:30.220 Now I know in part 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:31.700 then I shall know fully 00:15:31.700 --> 00:15:33.860 even as I have been fully known. 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:35.899 So now faith, hope, 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.000 and love abide. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.039 These three. 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.500 But the greatest of these 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.860 is love. 00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:42.240 Not just a passage 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:42.879 to be read 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:43.919 at a wedding. 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:44.360 Right? 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.519 Paul takes a pause 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.980 here in 1 Corinthians 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.519 chapter 3 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.159 is that the Corinthians 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:49.059 had become 00:15:49.059 --> 00:15:51.299 over consumed 00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:52.379 with gifts. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:53.860 Much arguing 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.279 was going on 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:54.539 in the church. 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:55.639 Too much emphasis 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.759 being placed on 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:58.100 the gifts of the Spirit. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:58.960 And Paul doesn't 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.220 belittle the gifts. 00:16:00.439 --> 00:16:01.360 They're valuable. 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.419 They're given to the church. 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.480 They're graces to us 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.879 for our growth in Christ. 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:06.740 However, 00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:07.559 here in 13 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:08.980 he shows us 00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:09.799 a still 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:11.480 more excellent way. 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:12.360 The very end of 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:13.220 chapter 12 00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:13.539 he says, 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.439 and I will show you 00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:14.960 still 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:16.539 a more excellent 00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:17.740 way. 00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:19.480 And I want to draw 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.019 your attention 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:21.419 to the first three verses. 00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:22.379 It's primarily 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.840 where I want to sit today. 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:24.980 The first three verses. 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:26.220 And you see him 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:27.680 speak of some gifts. 00:16:28.180 --> 00:16:28.860 Speaking in the tongues 00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:29.759 of men and angels. 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:31.779 Being an eloquent speaker. 00:16:31.920 --> 00:16:32.740 I'm sure you know 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.580 somebody like that. 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.519 I don't count myself 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.460 amongst them 00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:36.920 who just speaks 00:16:36.920 --> 00:16:38.740 so well. 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:40.039 Has that gift of gab. 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.220 Can captivate you 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.600 with their words. 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.120 And of angels 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:47.120 that speak prophetic things. 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.440 But if these people 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.759 don't do so 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.039 from love, 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:52.500 what are they? 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:54.360 noisy gongs 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.779 and clanging cymbals. 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:56.899 Not appealing 00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:59.039 sound at all. 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:00.000 Just 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:01.340 talk. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:05.079 Prophetic powers. 00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:06.319 Understanding all 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:06.819 mysteries 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:07.980 and all knowledge. 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.019 Faith to remove 00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:10.519 mountains. 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:11.920 But not love. 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:13.579 Nothing. 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.519 Give away 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.119 all that you have. 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:17.180 These pious acts. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.380 Deliver up your body 00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:18.960 to be burned. 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:19.839 To be martyred 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.699 for the sake of Christ. 00:17:20.879 --> 00:17:21.959 But you don't do it 00:17:21.959 --> 00:17:22.679 from love. 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:23.899 You gain 00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:25.459 nothing. 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.480 And notice that 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:28.439 the gifts themselves 00:17:28.439 --> 00:17:29.480 are not likened 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.399 to noise 00:17:30.399 --> 00:17:31.559 or called nothing 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:33.480 or devalued. 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:35.000 The gifts have value 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.480 but it's the person 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.859 who exercises it 00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:38.779 without love 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:40.379 who is 00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:42.139 a noisy gong 00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:43.299 called nothing. 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:44.939 Is devalued. 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:48.500 If your giftedness 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.200 the things that 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:49.960 God has given you 00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:50.920 is practiced 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:53.220 apart from love 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.140 then it's motivated 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.059 by selfishness. 00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:56.900 You're doing it 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:57.660 for 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.559 you. 00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:00.860 The Christian life 00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:01.240 should 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.420 necessarily 00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.620 be characterized 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:05.140 by Christian love. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:07.140 The doctrine of election 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:08.380 I would 00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:10.200 just love it 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:10.980 if every time 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.779 somebody really 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.759 wraps their mind 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.759 around the fullness 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.420 of the doctrine 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.480 and what it means 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:15.920 for them 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.940 I wish we could 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.740 quickly lock them 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.359 in a cage 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:19.460 with a mirror 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.099 and let them 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:20.839 argue with themselves. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:23.000 I'd give it a year. 00:18:24.980 --> 00:18:26.379 I've stood in this place 00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:27.799 the arrogance 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:28.579 that comes from 00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:29.900 thinking we've arrived 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:31.119 at some grand truth 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:31.740 that other people 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.400 don't get 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.599 and how it becomes 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:34.299 our mission 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:35.059 to go around 00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:35.759 informing everybody 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:37.460 how stupid they are 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:38.379 and how brilliant 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:38.980 we are. 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:42.160 it's grace 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:42.759 to us 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:44.180 if you understand 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:45.019 anything I say 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.480 this morning 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.740 anything I say 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.160 this morning 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:48.500 that you can even 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.339 hear me say 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.420 if you understand 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:50.960 anything I say 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:51.360 this morning 00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:51.819 is a grace 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.200 to you. 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.599 Understanding a truth 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:55.000 of scripture 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.839 makes me no better 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.759 than anybody else. 00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:59.059 It's just 00:18:59.059 --> 00:18:59.700 a grace 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.640 a free gift 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:01.759 given to me 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.000 and how I should 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.640 use that 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.980 to be 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.980 from 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.360 Christian love. 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:08.360 What I do 00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:09.360 with that 00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.240 should be 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.440 from Christian love 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:12.059 because the gifts 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.860 are given 00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:14.299 for the edification 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:16.240 of other Christians. 00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.259 Not for the demeaning 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.920 of other Christians 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:18.259 they're given 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.120 for the edification 00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:20.200 for the building up 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.380 of other Christians. 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.660 In Romans 1 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:24.180 verse 11 and 12 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:24.599 Paul says 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:25.660 for I long to see you 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.819 that I may impart 00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:27.339 to you 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:28.620 some spiritual gift 00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:29.839 to strengthen you. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:30.740 That is 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.360 he clarifies 00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:32.000 that is 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.980 that we may be 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:34.339 mutually encouraged 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.460 by each other's faith 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.400 both yours 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.559 and mine. 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.380 And so the gifting 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:39.019 that we're given 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.660 is given 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:41.660 to operate 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.940 from faith 00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:43.880 for faith. 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:45.000 That's how we're 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.100 meant to operate 00:19:46.100 --> 00:19:47.059 from a dependency 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:47.680 on God 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.400 to give us 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:49.660 proper motivation 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:51.000 to use 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.539 and exercise 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.319 those gifts 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:53.600 for the sake 00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:54.880 of faith 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.900 to increase 00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:56.920 other people's 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:58.160 dependency on God. 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.600 Now 00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:03.340 God may use 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:05.439 noisy gongs 00:20:05.439 --> 00:20:06.359 and clanging cymbals 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:07.319 and men 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:07.899 who are nothing 00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:08.740 and men 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.359 who are gaining 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:09.679 nothing 00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:10.379 by their action. 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:10.859 God 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.899 in his sovereign 00:20:11.899 --> 00:20:12.220 will 00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.419 can use 00:20:13.419 --> 00:20:14.500 their gifts 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.519 even when 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:17.000 improperly motivated. 00:20:17.159 --> 00:20:17.919 That can happen. 00:20:18.459 --> 00:20:18.919 So I'm not 00:20:18.919 --> 00:20:19.619 lessening God's 00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.399 ability here. 00:20:20.959 --> 00:20:21.879 What I'm telling you 00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:22.559 is that we 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:24.179 rob ourselves 00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:25.059 of the joy 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.699 that is 00:20:25.699 --> 00:20:27.099 given to us 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:27.500 when we 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.519 properly love 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.099 and use our 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:29.439 gifts 00:20:29.439 --> 00:20:30.539 as such. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.659 Use our knowledge 00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.920 as such. 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.240 Matthew 27, 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:35.200 21-23 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.340 you have a 00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:36.920 group 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.740 standing in front 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.080 of God 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:38.640 to be judged 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.580 and it says 00:20:39.580 --> 00:20:39.940 not everyone 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.480 who says to me 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:40.860 Lord, Lord 00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:41.220 will enter 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:41.540 the kingdom 00:20:41.540 --> 00:20:41.940 of heaven 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.720 but the one 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.140 who does 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:43.380 the will 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:43.840 of my Father 00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:44.440 who is in heaven. 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.500 On that day 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.019 many will say 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.279 to me 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:46.960 Lord, Lord 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.540 do we not 00:20:47.540 --> 00:20:48.200 prophesy 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.740 in your name 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.080 and cast out 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:50.980 demons in your name 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.660 and do many 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.320 mighty works 00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:52.779 in your name? 00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:53.240 So these are 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.060 people who are 00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:55.360 doing things 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.820 that are good 00:20:56.820 --> 00:20:57.880 that are gifts 00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:59.660 that God 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.300 could use 00:21:00.300 --> 00:21:01.000 to advance 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.500 his kingdom 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.640 and then I 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.000 will declare 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.279 to them 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.839 I never 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.519 knew you 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.559 depart from me 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:06.299 you workers 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.500 of lawlessness 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:09.559 So our 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.299 activity 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.099 in the spiritual 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:11.480 gifting 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.279 in the things 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:12.619 that God's 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:13.099 given us 00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:14.259 to turn around 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.099 and give to the church 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:16.000 should be motivated 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.339 by love 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:16.960 because that 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:18.119 is the evidence 00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:19.119 that we are Christ 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:21.740 Now we must be 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.440 careful at this point 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:25.099 Our culture 00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:25.900 has lost sight 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.619 of what love 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.180 is 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:28.700 If you type 00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:29.240 into Google 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:31.140 definition of love 00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:32.380 you'll get 00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:33.440 lots of definitions 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.460 just look in the feed 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.059 you'll get all kinds 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.599 of definitions 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.660 about love 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.819 being this emotion 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.779 this affection 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.380 for 00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.299 I mean it really 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:42.039 misses the point 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.599 Love is 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:45.000 ultimately 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.599 it's an affection 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.079 for another 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.779 but it's an affection 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.279 that seeks 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.539 their highest good 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:50.279 over yours 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:50.700 it seeks 00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:52.680 their highest good 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:54.600 And so 00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:56.240 we quickly 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:56.960 and I think 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.840 so many Christians 00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:58.380 do that 00:21:58.380 --> 00:22:00.600 we trade love 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:01.460 for the truth 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.820 and we don't think 00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:03.240 that the two 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.200 can coincide 00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:04.759 we think they're 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.600 mutually exclusive 00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:07.120 that if we're going 00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:09.259 to love one another 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:09.920 and by that 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.400 we mean 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:11.019 get along 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:12.299 and have cozy feelings 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.480 when we show up 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.140 to church together 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:15.460 that we 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.620 must dismiss 00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.060 the truth 00:22:17.060 --> 00:22:17.600 because sometimes 00:22:17.600 --> 00:22:17.980 the truth 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.000 hurts 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:22.299 but proper love 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:25.000 seeks to confront 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.779 the fallacies 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.740 in somebody's life 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:28.420 proper love 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:30.160 helps people 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:31.099 grow 00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:32.019 in Christ 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.640 so hear me 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:34.019 carefully 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.640 I'm not saying 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:36.380 we shouldn't talk 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:37.759 about hard doctrines 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:39.099 I'm not saying 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:39.799 you shouldn't call 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.420 people out 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.480 for their sin 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.539 but you should do 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.000 so 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.619 from a motivation 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:45.839 to love them 00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.920 not yourself 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:49.320 and you know 00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:49.900 the difference 00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.620 I don't have to 00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:51.380 give you examples 00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:52.200 you know 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.279 when you're 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.420 teaching somebody 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:55.060 something because 00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:55.700 you love them 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.200 and you want them 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.660 to grow 00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:57.300 and when you're 00:22:57.300 --> 00:22:57.880 teaching somebody 00:22:57.880 --> 00:22:58.500 something because 00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.360 you want to be 00:22:59.360 --> 00:22:59.840 right 00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:02.060 guess what 00:23:02.060 --> 00:23:03.060 we are all 00:23:03.060 --> 00:23:03.759 wrong 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:05.360 God is right 00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:06.900 so glad 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:07.640 he uses us 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:08.279 as vessels 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:12.380 verse 2 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:16.400 I'm going to 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:17.060 shorten the verse 00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:17.660 just a bit 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.460 not to be 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.340 unfaithful to the 00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:19.580 scripture 00:23:19.580 --> 00:23:20.080 but I want to 00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:20.500 talk about 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.260 specifically 00:23:21.260 --> 00:23:22.560 having prophetic 00:23:22.560 --> 00:23:23.320 powers and 00:23:23.320 --> 00:23:24.340 understanding all 00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:25.600 mysteries and all 00:23:25.600 --> 00:23:26.080 knowledge 00:23:26.080 --> 00:23:28.140 but you don't have 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:28.420 love 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.280 you're nothing 00:23:29.280 --> 00:23:30.040 and Paul uses 00:23:30.040 --> 00:23:30.560 himself 00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:31.780 in this case 00:23:31.780 --> 00:23:33.840 certainly in my 00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:34.660 mind if anybody 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:36.600 was able to 00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:37.620 boast in having 00:23:37.620 --> 00:23:38.880 prophetic powers 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.460 and understanding 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.120 all mysteries and 00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:40.540 all knowledge 00:23:40.540 --> 00:23:41.060 it would have 00:23:41.060 --> 00:23:41.420 been Paul 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.539 he wrote the 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.200 vast majority 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:43.620 of the New 00:23:43.620 --> 00:23:43.940 Testament 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.180 certainly if there 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.080 were things being 00:23:46.080 --> 00:23:47.000 revealed in a new 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.740 way to an 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.160 individual in time 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.460 it would have 00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.060 been Paul 00:23:52.060 --> 00:23:53.600 the prophetic 00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:54.440 powers he's speaking 00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:55.080 about here I 00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:56.820 believe are not 00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:57.539 the way we would 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:58.200 refer to prophetic 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.820 powers now 00:23:58.820 --> 00:23:59.920 a prophet now is 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:01.960 someone who draws 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.840 people back to the 00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:03.440 truth of God 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:04.340 who shows people 00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:05.180 the black and white 00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:05.820 of situations 00:24:05.820 --> 00:24:07.440 and helps the 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.240 people of God 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:10.500 stay intact 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.619 and on purpose 00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:12.319 with God 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.160 but in this 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:13.720 time I think 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.259 it was a special 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.400 time when there 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:15.880 were new 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.660 revelations of 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:17.319 God coming to 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.819 the people of 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:19.519 God like these 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.440 letters Paul 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:21.140 himself never 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.940 calls himself a 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.359 prophet he 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:22.700 calls himself 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.519 apostle one who 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.319 is sent but he 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:25.119 never calls himself 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:26.779 a prophet and I 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.960 would imagine as 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.599 he's pinning these 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:29.920 letters he's being 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.720 carried along by the 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.359 spirit and he 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:32.380 never knew that 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.359 someday they would 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.380 be canonized and 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.259 they would be in 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:37.220 millions and 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.880 millions and billions 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.500 of which to be 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:40.260 sure copies of 00:24:40.260 --> 00:24:41.520 the scripture and 00:24:41.520 --> 00:24:41.940 that they would be 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.880 used by God to 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:43.940 guide Christians for 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.520 ages he didn't even 00:24:45.520 --> 00:24:47.040 call himself a 00:24:47.040 --> 00:24:49.200 prophet surely but 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:49.780 he could have and 00:24:49.780 --> 00:24:50.320 he said in Ephesians 00:24:50.320 --> 00:24:50.980 2 20 that the 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.780 church is built on 00:24:52.780 --> 00:24:53.540 the foundation of the 00:24:53.540 --> 00:24:54.640 apostles and the 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:57.740 prophets something to 00:24:57.740 --> 00:25:00.620 be desired the 00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:01.580 prophet speaks 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:03.180 directly from God 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:05.400 the prophet receives 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:07.940 messages straight from 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:11.040 the source what an 00:25:11.040 --> 00:25:12.440 amazing thing that 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.740 would be and on top 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:15.220 of that this 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.100 hypothetical person 00:25:16.100 --> 00:25:17.000 Paul speaks of 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:19.120 understands all 00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:21.140 mysteries and all 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:22.759 knowledge he has all 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.940 the facts and all 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:25.980 the meaning he has a 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:28.280 mind filled with God's 00:25:28.280 --> 00:25:30.060 truth and all of its 00:25:30.060 --> 00:25:31.800 outworking you could 00:25:31.800 --> 00:25:33.060 say this man is 00:25:33.060 --> 00:25:34.680 theologically omniscient 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:37.299 he gets everything 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.640 if there was ever a 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.460 gift to be envy this 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.740 would be it I can 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:42.460 as a guy that has to 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.220 prepare sermons every 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:45.299 week boy do I wish I 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:48.960 had all wisdom all 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.900 understanding of all 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:51.340 mysteries and all 00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:53.779 knowledge that would 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.500 make life phenomenal 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:56.240 just in my study of the 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.820 beginning of Romans 00:25:57.820 --> 00:26:00.240 chapter 9 as Paul 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.900 laments over the 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:02.000 Israelites he speaks of 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.740 the benefits that they 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.580 had received from God 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.699 and one of the things 00:26:04.699 --> 00:26:05.659 they received was the 00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:07.579 glory to them belongs 00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:09.179 the glory and I spent a 00:26:09.179 --> 00:26:09.939 good portion of this 00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:11.759 week studying the Old 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.500 Testament because when 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.220 he talks about the 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.460 glory he's talking about 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:16.439 the physical manifestation 00:26:16.439 --> 00:26:18.079 the dwelling of God with 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.220 the Israelites which 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.399 started in the Exodus 00:26:20.399 --> 00:26:22.099 when he went before them 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:23.619 as a cloud in the day 00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:24.480 and as a pillar of fire 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:27.199 by night and ended in 00:26:27.199 --> 00:26:29.519 the book of Ezekiel when 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:30.899 his glory his physical 00:26:30.899 --> 00:26:32.059 dwelling in the temple was 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:34.279 lifted up and taken from 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.440 the Mount of Olives we're 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:36.039 going to talk about that 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:38.579 more next week so I've 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:40.039 been reading a lot from 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:42.059 Exodus to Ezekiel this 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:44.039 week what do I wish I 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:45.039 just already had all that 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:46.339 information in my head 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:47.019 wouldn't that be 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:49.379 phenomenal to know it 00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:51.059 would be incredible but 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.839 what Paul says is I have 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:55.859 all that do you know 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:57.039 what kind of preacher I 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:59.379 would be if I had all that 00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:00.520 I could pull stuff out of 00:27:00.520 --> 00:27:02.060 my head at random I could 00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:03.540 just take you through all 00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:04.840 of the scriptures at any 00:27:04.840 --> 00:27:06.900 moment of any day but I 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:10.060 don't have love I'm nothing 00:27:10.060 --> 00:27:14.320 so what is a guy like me 00:27:14.320 --> 00:27:17.560 who is a very very far 00:27:17.560 --> 00:27:20.180 degree from that what am I 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:23.420 if I have not love less than 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:26.160 nothing I'm less than 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:27.340 nothing because I can't be 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.859 this guy this hypothetical 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:31.279 character so I'm less than 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.299 nothing if I don't have 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:35.879 love the equation he gives 00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:39.139 us is gift knowledge minus 00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:42.000 love equals nothing 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:45.159 Matthew Henry said on this 00:27:45.159 --> 00:27:47.500 a clear and deep head is of 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:49.659 no signification without a 00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.980 benevolent and charitable 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:53.879 heart and John Calvin said 00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:55.760 love alone is the rule 00:27:55.760 --> 00:27:58.160 governing our actions the 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:59.840 only guide is the right way 00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:01.800 to use the gift of God God 00:28:01.800 --> 00:28:03.280 approves of nothing that 00:28:03.280 --> 00:28:04.580 lacks it no matter how 00:28:04.580 --> 00:28:06.000 magnificent man may think 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.860 it without love the fairness 00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:09.520 of all virtues is mere 00:28:09.520 --> 00:28:12.440 veneer it is empty jangling it 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:15.820 is not worth straw in short it 00:28:15.820 --> 00:28:22.260 is rank and offensive so at 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.319 this point you might say 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:26.079 why should we even study such 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:28.099 topics wouldn't it be a lot 00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:29.819 easier if we just skipped 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:32.400 let's get to the end of the 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:34.279 glorious end of chapter 8 in 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:36.420 Romans and let's just skip over 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:39.119 to the practical outworking in 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.619 chapter 12 let's just jump right 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:44.279 over the top of it some of you 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:48.099 might say if if knowing things 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:50.579 causes us to be responsible for 00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:52.259 teaching those things with love 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:54.879 for proving and rebuking people 00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:56.419 in love and that's such a hard 00:28:56.419 --> 00:29:00.059 thing to do then why do it do we 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:02.279 focus too much on doctrine on the 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:04.619 truth of God as a church and and 00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.379 I'm going to tell you that the 00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:07.259 answer to that question is no and 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.459 I hope you never ask the question 00:29:08.459 --> 00:29:10.959 again there's no such thing as 00:29:10.959 --> 00:29:14.919 over emphasizing doctrine there is 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:16.640 such a thing as under emphasizing 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:21.460 love Paul's not saying to us that 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:23.140 love is better than all these 00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:24.279 things and all these things should 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:26.320 be dismissed Paul saying that all 00:29:26.320 --> 00:29:28.840 these things are valuable to us and 00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:31.779 they should always be accompanied by 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.259 love 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:39.060 do not fall prey to the lie that the 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:40.960 truth and Christian love are 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:44.060 mutually exclusive it's not a choice 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:45.980 we don't have to choose between the 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:49.859 truth and love he's not saying choose 00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:52.839 between truth and love choose love 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:55.639 he's saying combine truth and love for 00:29:55.639 --> 00:29:59.720 the sake of Christ's church this 00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:04.099 teaching Romans 9 10 and 11 has great 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:06.440 value for us you might say okay well 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:08.359 you've kind of been talking like it's 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:10.000 gonna be really challenging how is it 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.399 that it has great value for us it 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:13.960 shows us a greater picture of Jesus 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:17.240 Christ any study of scripture ought a 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:21.280 greater magnify Jesus Christ our 00:30:21.280 --> 00:30:23.360 vision statement Wes said it this 00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:25.160 morning Christ the only church exists 00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:27.580 to experience proclaim and display the 00:30:27.580 --> 00:30:29.240 supremacy of Jesus Christ in all 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:30.820 things and you know how we do that we 00:30:30.820 --> 00:30:32.640 preach the Bible because if you preach 00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:36.700 the Bible that happens the Bible is 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:39.940 constantly uplifting Jesus Christ even 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:41.180 some of those boring parts in the old 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.279 Testament that you don't understand 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:45.460 someday we'll get there I hope you 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:47.740 understand I hope you understand how 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:50.940 everything in the scriptures points to 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:55.360 Jesus Christ this church is about the 00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:58.680 centrality of Jesus Christ to all 00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:02.000 things we must be careful this is why 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:05.180 we we as a general habit preach verse 00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:08.240 by verse expositionally because we must 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:11.740 be careful not to allow the enemy to set 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:15.779 our agenda for us he'd have us avoid 00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:18.920 this kind of teaching the enemy wants us 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:20.880 to feel like we're dangling out on the 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:24.079 end and anything we might do on any 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:26.720 given day will push us off the edge will 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:28.740 no longer receive the goodness and 00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:31.500 loving kindness of God the doctrine of 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:33.640 election teaches the opposite it teaches 00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:35.839 us that nothing can take us out of God's 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:40.639 hand there is no thing even yourself that 00:31:40.639 --> 00:31:43.299 can remove you from the hand of almighty 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:49.899 God he is sovereign over all things I 00:31:49.899 --> 00:31:51.679 can't fully work that out there are some 00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:53.279 things of questions that pop up in my 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:55.799 head and I go what does that mean what 00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:58.079 does that mean for this what about this I 00:31:58.079 --> 00:32:01.299 don't know I don't know but there are 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:02.559 things taught to us the doctrine of 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.819 election being one of them that are 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:07.439 supremely valuable for us and cause us to 00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:12.879 live proper Christian lives during all 00:32:12.879 --> 00:32:14.559 of our cromwell's reign as Lord 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:17.139 protector over all of England a young 00:32:17.139 --> 00:32:19.519 soldier was sentenced to die as a result 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:22.279 of some egregious offense the young woman 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:24.019 to who he had been engaged pleaded with 00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:25.579 cromwell to spare the life of her 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:29.079 fiance all to no avail the young man was 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:30.919 to be executed when the curfew bell 00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:33.940 sounded at the appropriate moment as he 00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:36.180 had done for many years the sextant of 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:38.039 the church grabbed the rope and pulled 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:40.800 on it repeatedly but unlike any time 00:32:40.800 --> 00:32:44.539 before the bell made no sound the young 00:32:44.539 --> 00:32:46.480 woman had climbed into the bell tower and 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:48.380 had wrapped her body around the clapper 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:52.000 said it could not strike the bell with 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:53.519 every pull of that rope her body was 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:55.519 pummeled and smashed against the sides of 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:58.180 that giant bell but she refused to let go 00:32:58.180 --> 00:33:01.460 until the clapper stopped swinging when 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:03.079 the sextant finally stopped tugging on 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:04.319 the rope the young woman managed to 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:05.779 climb down from the bell tower and 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:07.839 stepped out to meet those who had 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:10.379 gathered to watch the execution she was 00:33:10.379 --> 00:33:11.700 bruised from head to toe and was 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:14.460 bleeding terribly when she explained what 00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:16.420 she had done the overwhelmed cromwell 00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:19.160 commuted the sentence a poet who was 00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:21.039 there that day gathered with the crowd to 00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:23.279 see the execution captured the scene 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:27.039 with these words at his feet she told the 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:30.319 story showed her hands all bruised and 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:32.299 torn and her sweet young face still 00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:34.859 haggard with the anguish it had worn 00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:38.480 touched his heart with sudden pity lit his 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:42.319 eyes with misty light go your love lives 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:45.980 said cromwell curfew will not ring tonight 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:49.819 the doctrine of election is the blessed 00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:52.700 truth that for the church of Christ the 00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:59.259 curfew bell will never ring that's why it's a 00:33:59.259 --> 00:34:02.039 value to us that's why we're gonna spend 00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:05.600 three chapters talking about it and the 00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:09.840 implications for Israel and I hope that 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:12.699 you will come and learn that you'll come up 00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:14.699 underneath the word of God not me but 00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:17.400 underneath the word of God humbly let it 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:20.320 speak to you you won't stand over it 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:23.380 passing judgment on it as if you are God 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:26.000 but you will learn from the most holy 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:30.660 who stays the ringing of the curfew bell 00:34:30.660 --> 00:34:31.880 let's pray together 00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:32.320 together 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.320 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:40.980 together 00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:40.980