WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning. I'm glad you're here with us this morning. Please take your copy of God's Word and turn to Romans chapter 4.

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 Today's text is Romans chapter 4, verses 13 through 25.

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! We will see in today's text, once again, that we are justified, which means to be declared righteous or morally perfect through faith alone.

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 Do not grow weary of hearing such good news. We will read it, and we will preach it, and we will recite it, we will pray it, we will sing it each Lord's Day when we gather.

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 Because of my fickle heart and wayward emotions, I need to be reminded of God's loving kindness to me in the person and work of Jesus Christ as often as possible.

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 And I believe that you do, too.

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 So, just this week, in addition, on social media, a platform that's strangely now called X, I dipped my toe into a debate amongst professing conservative Christians concerning justification by faith alone.

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 And to my great surprise, saw many deny this important doctrine.

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 Beloved, I said to you some weeks ago, we are Protestants.

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 And we are at our very best when we hold fast to the solas.

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 We believe and declare that the Bible alone teaches us that we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

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 And all of this is to the glory of God alone.

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 We do not innovate.

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 We hold.

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 We do not waver.

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 We hold.

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 We do not become distracted.

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 We hold.

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 We contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

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 This is the hill to die on.

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 For our sake, for the sake of others, to the glory of God, we hold.

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 And so join me as Paul continues to make his case in Romans chapter 4, verse 13, through the end of the chapter.

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 Beloved, this is God's word to us, written for his glory and our good.

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 And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.

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 Verse 13, for the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

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 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

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 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, there is no transgression.

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 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring.

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 Not only to the adherent of the law, but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

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 As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations.

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 In the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

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 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations.

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 As he had been told, so shall your offspring be.

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 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead, since he was about a hundred years old.

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 Or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.

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 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.

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 Fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

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 This is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.

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 But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also.

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 It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus, our Lord.

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 Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

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 Now, this is a lot of text for today.

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 Thirteen verses.

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 And there are phrases in here that I want to just stop on for weeks at a time.

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 But I think that the church will be better served to take it in a chunk and to move past it.

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 So, as I read that to you, if there was a phrase that popped in your mind, you said,

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 Oh, I can't wait to hear the extensive explanation of that.

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 It may not come today.

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 And the scripture so often gets to be unfolded or peeled back like an onion.

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 There's much to mine out of the text.

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 We won't be able to cover it all today.

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 Our time together is brief.

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 The argument can be a little bit difficult to track, but we're going to do so our best with a simple outline,

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 which is often three points, but today it's five.

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 So, let me give those to you quickly, and then we'll dive into the first point.

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 So, number one, by grace alone through faith alone.

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 We see this in verses 13 through 16.

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 Secondly, the object of faith, verse 17.

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 Thirdly, the obstacles of faith, verses 18 and 19.

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 Fourthly, the nature of faith, verses 20 and 21.

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 And lastly, the result of faith, verses 22 through 25.

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 So, first, by grace alone through faith alone.

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 Paul is going on to make this case that this is how we are justified.

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 This is how we are saved from the wrath of God.

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 By grace alone through faith alone.

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 He speaks in today's text about the relationship between the law and the gospel,

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 which we will see carried throughout the letter.

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 And it's an important, but sometimes difficult thing to get exactly right.

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 The relationship between law and gospel.

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 But we need to get it right.

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 In verses 13 and 15, Paul teaches us two important facts concerning the law.

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 The first one is that you cannot be saved by the law.

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 You are not and cannot be morally perfect.

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 And therefore, cannot be declared righteous because of your works.

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 This is an absolute impossibility.

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 All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

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 Notice there in verse 13, the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be the heir of the world

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 did not come through the law, because it could not, but through the righteousness of faith.

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 This is the way that Abraham was justified.

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 We see that at the beginning of chapter 4.

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 If you weren't with us last week, I really encourage you to go back and read chapter 4, beginning in verse 1.

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 Or, perhaps just read from the beginning of the letter.

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 We are justified by faith alone.

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 But what do we make of verse 14?

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 There he says,

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 It is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs.

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 If this is the case, faith is null and the promise is void.

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 It doesn't seem to suggest that some people are able to keep the law?

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 If anybody were to do it, then the promise would be void.

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 But perhaps we're helped by another translation of this verse from the NASB 95,

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 where there it says,

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 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified.

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 You'll also notice in verse 16 that same thing.

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 Not only to the adherent of the law, but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham.

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 So this verse could be understood sociologically or nationalistically.

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 I think that the former is correct.

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 I think Paul is meaning to reference the Jewish people,

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 but I think more than that what he's saying is those who attempt to live by the law.

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 Which largely would have been the partly Jewish audience that he's writing to here,

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 but also applies to us.

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 Those who have God's law and try to live by it.

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 Endeavor to be a people of or adherence to the law

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 and to find our justification there.

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 If we were able to do so,

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 then the promise that comes through faith would be void.

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 But nobody can.

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 Nobody has and nobody will be a faithful adherent to the law.

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 And therefore, faith is not null and the promise is not void.

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 If you back up a little bit into Romans chapter 4,

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 there in verse 9 and following, Paul says,

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 is this blessing then only for the circumcised or also for the uncircumcised?

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 For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.

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 How then was it counted to him?

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 Was it before or after he had been circumcised?

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 So here there, him keeping the law.

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 God commanded a thing that he did.

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 He says,

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 No, it was not after but before he was circumcised.

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 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith

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 while he was still uncircumcised.

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 His obedience and circumcision was the evidence of the faith

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 that he had already expressed in God's promises.

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 The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised

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 so that righteousness would be counted to them as well

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 and to make him the father of the circumcised who were not merely circumcised

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 but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had

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 before he was circumcised.

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 So if you're tracking with me, I hope that you are.

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 The point is that you cannot be saved by the law.

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 Secondly, we learn in verse 15 that the law exposes our sinfulness.

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 There Paul says,

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 again, this is a verse I think we could spend much time on,

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 but he says,

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 in brief,

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 the law brings wrath,

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 but where there is no law,

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 there is no transgression.

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 Now he is not saying that we get to remain blissfully ignorant.

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 Not at all what he's trying to say.

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 He's not saying run from any command

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 because he's made the case extensively in the previous chapters

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 that whether Jew or Greek,

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 we have sinned.

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 Hear what he says in Romans chapter 3, verse 9 and following.

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 He says,

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 we have already charged.

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 And he's referring to chapter 1, verse 18,

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 all the way through chapter 2, verse 29.

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 We have already charged that all,

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 both Jews and Greeks,

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 are under sin.

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 As it is written,

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 none is righteous.

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 No, not one.

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 No one understands.

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 No one seeks for God.

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 All have turned aside together.

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 They have become worthless.

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 No one does good.

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 Not even one.

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 The law,

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 whether written on paper

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 or written in our hearts,

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 exposes our rebellion

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 against the most holy God.

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 It makes us aware of a need.

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 And that need is met by Christ.

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 The law is meant to lead us to Christ.

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 Let me show you another place that Paul speaks to this

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 in Galatians chapter 3.

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 I think it would serve you to join me there.

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 Galatians chapter 3.

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 This letter being written specifically

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 to address a heresy that was being taught

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 in the church

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 where Jewish people

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 who had professed faith in Christ

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 were coming and telling

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 Greek-professing Christians

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 that they must be circumcised

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 in order to be found right with God.

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 You're going to be justified

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 by faith plus circumcision

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 is the claim that they were making.

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 And Paul is addressing this

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 and he is clear and pointed

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 in his words.

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 But he says this beginning in verse 23.

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 Now before faith came,

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 we were held captive under the law,

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 imprisoned until the coming faith

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 would be revealed.

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 So then the law was our guardian

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 until Christ came

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 in order that we might be justified

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 by faith.

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 But now that faith has come.

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 We are no longer under a guardian

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 for in Christ Jesus

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 you are all sons of God

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 through faith.

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 So here we see

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 in our text for today,

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 Romans chapter 4,

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 the law brings wrath.

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 It shows us our transgression.

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 And here Paul says

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 it's a guardian for us.

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 Let me read to you a quote

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 from an article published

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 in Ligonier Ministries

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 Table Talk magazine.

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 I'd like to attribute it

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 to an author

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 but they didn't

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 so I can't.

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 But from Table Talk magazine

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 an author writes,

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 in ancient Rome

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 the guardian was a slave

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 entrusted with the care

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 of another's child

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 when the child reached age six.

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 Until the child reached adolescence

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 the guardian was like a nanny

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 who watched over the child

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 and ensured that he made it

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 to and from school.

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 The guardian was not

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 a professional teacher

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 but he did serve as a tutor

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 who at home reviewed

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 with the child

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 the material learned

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 in the classroom.

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 Additionally,

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 the guardian was the child's

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 main disciplinarian.

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 He corrected bad manners

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 and helped his charge

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 learn etiquette.

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 Depending on the individual,

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 a guardian might discipline

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 the child harshly

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 with canings and whippings

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 or with greater tenderness

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 and care.

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 Some children hated

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 their guardian.

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 others formed a strong

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 lifelong bond with him.

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 This background enriches

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 our understanding

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 of the purpose of the law

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 and why it is no longer

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 the defining principle

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 of the life of the believer.

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 If the Mosaic law

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 is like a guardian,

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 then by definition

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 it was not a permanent guardian

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 since the job of the guardian

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 was over when the child

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 was grown up.

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 Though the believing community

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 learned much from the law,

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 just as a child

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 learned manners

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 from his guardian,

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 the law had the important job

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 of taking us to school,

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 of leading us to Christ.

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 So this is the point of the law

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 Paul is arguing here

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 in Galatians, right?

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 To move us along,

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 to bring us up

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 into adulthood, right?

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 Into a proper understanding

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 of the gospel

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 of Jesus Christ.

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 It prods us

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 in that direction.

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:56.139
 So,

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.139
 the law exposes

00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:59.060
 our sinfulness

00:15:59.060 --> 00:16:00.220
 that we might

00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:02.179
 by faith

00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:03.539
 believe in Christ.

00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.000
 Verse 16,

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:05.740
 that is why

00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.840
 it depends on faith.

00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:07.639
 In order that the promise

00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:09.080
 may rest on grace

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:10.940
 and be guaranteed

00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:13.139
 to all his offspring,

00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:13.639
 right?

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.320
 The faith that is granted

00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:17.060
 by grace.

00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:17.680
 God,

00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:18.620
 in his loving kindness,

00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.940
 saving a people

00:16:20.940 --> 00:16:22.720
 for his praise.

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.500
 Not only to the

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.700
 adherent of the law,

00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:26.820
 but also to the one

00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:28.120
 who shares the faith

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:28.620
 of Abraham,

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.220
 who is the father

00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:31.780
 of us all.

00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.480
 We are justified

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:35.420
 by grace alone,

00:16:36.060 --> 00:16:37.160
 through faith alone,

00:16:37.160 --> 00:16:39.420
 in Jesus Christ

00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:41.400
 alone, right?

00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.300
 Beloved,

00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:44.019
 this is of dire

00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.159
 importance.

00:16:45.839 --> 00:16:47.039
 And brings us

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:49.039
 to our next point.

00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.439
 Let's observe

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:51.079
 some things

00:16:51.079 --> 00:16:52.559
 about Abraham's

00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:53.699
 faith.

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:54.659
 So,

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.779
 the object

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:57.620
 of Abraham's

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.279
 faith.

00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:00.079
 Verse 17,

00:17:00.319 --> 00:17:01.319
 as it is written,

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.399
 the text says,

00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:03.159
 and this is from

00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.379
 Genesis chapter 17

00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:05.279
 and verse 5,

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.339
 I have made you

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:06.879
 the father

00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:08.700
 of many nations.

00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:10.099
 In the presence

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:10.619
 of the God

00:17:10.619 --> 00:17:11.539
 in whom he believed,

00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:12.359
 who gives life

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:12.920
 to the dead

00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.160
 and calls into existence

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.000
 the things

00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:16.420
 that do not

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.519
 exist.

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.420
 The object

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.519
 of faith,

00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.519
 Paul tells us,

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:23.420
 was the God

00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:24.339
 of the promise.

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.599
 This is what

00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:26.700
 Abraham believed in,

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:27.460
 the God

00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:29.259
 of the promise.

00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:30.839
 His faith

00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.240
 was not

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.200
 an aimless

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:32.980
 faith.

00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:33.059
 faith.

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.420
 He believed

00:17:34.420 --> 00:17:34.860
 that God

00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:36.200
 could and would

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.460
 do exactly

00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:38.000
 what he had

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.920
 promised to do.

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:41.680
 Now,

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.759
 this deserves

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.480
 some exploration,

00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.180
 so join me

00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:44.620
 in the book of

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:44.900
 Genesis,

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:45.759
 and let's look

00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.099
 briefly at the

00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:47.400
 account.

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:47.980
 We looked at it

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.900
 a bit last week.

00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.299
 Let's go to

00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:50.759
 Genesis chapter 15

00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:53.900
 and verse 1.

00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.140
 Genesis chapter 15.

00:17:55.140 --> 00:18:03.180
 Begin

00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:03.940
 reading in verse 1,

00:18:04.020 --> 00:18:04.660
 and it'll lead us

00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.480
 to a phrase

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.380
 in verse 6,

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.040
 which Paul

00:18:07.040 --> 00:18:09.320
 is recounting

00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:09.620
 for us

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.880
 again and again.

00:18:11.120 --> 00:18:11.960
 He's quoting

00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:13.540
 again and again.

00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:14.400
 He believed

00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:14.800
 the Lord,

00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:15.640
 and he counted

00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:16.280
 it to him

00:18:16.280 --> 00:18:17.740
 as righteousness.

00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:18.060
 So,

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:18.880
 beginning in verse 1.

00:18:19.780 --> 00:18:20.640
 After these things,

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.220
 the word of the Lord

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.080
 came to Abram

00:18:22.080 --> 00:18:22.640
 in a vision.

00:18:22.820 --> 00:18:23.240
 Fear not,

00:18:23.340 --> 00:18:23.600
 Abram,

00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:25.059
 I am your shield,

00:18:25.199 --> 00:18:25.879
 your reward

00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:27.099
 shall be very great.

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.699
 But Abram said,

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.359
 O Lord God,

00:18:29.399 --> 00:18:30.339
 what will you give me?

00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.039
 For I continue

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.819
 childless,

00:18:31.959 --> 00:18:33.199
 and the heir of my house

00:18:33.199 --> 00:18:33.839
 is Eleazar

00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:36.199
 of Damascus.

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.839
 He's remembering

00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.359
 these grand promises

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:40.419
 that God has made,

00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:40.819
 and he said,

00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:41.779
 but I'm still childless.

00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:43.079
 How will it come

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:44.219
 to pass?

00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:45.699
 Verse 3,

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.500
 And Abram said,

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:46.959
 Behold,

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.639
 you have given me

00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:48.259
 no offspring,

00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.480
 and a member of my household

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:51.399
 will be my heir.

00:18:52.139 --> 00:18:52.519
 And behold,

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.119
 the word of the Lord

00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.739
 came to him,

00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:54.699
 This man shall not

00:18:54.699 --> 00:18:55.399
 be your heir.

00:18:55.719 --> 00:18:57.219
 Your very own son

00:18:57.219 --> 00:18:58.719
 shall be your heir.

00:18:59.319 --> 00:18:59.879
 And he brought him

00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:00.819
 outside and said,

00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.859
 Look toward heaven

00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:03.079
 and number the stars

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.639
 if you are able

00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:04.319
 to number them.

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.799
 Then he said to him,

00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:07.659
 So shall your offspring

00:19:07.659 --> 00:19:08.719
 be.

00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:09.659
 And then verse 6,

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:10.739
 And he,

00:19:11.159 --> 00:19:11.500
 Abram,

00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:12.579
 believed the Lord

00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:13.639
 and he counted it

00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.839
 to him

00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:16.239
 as righteousness.

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.799
 He believed,

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.599
 he believed

00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.659
 that God would do

00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:20.759
 what God said

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:23.420
 that he would do.

00:19:24.360 --> 00:19:24.840
 Now,

00:19:25.080 --> 00:19:26.940
 this belief

00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:28.279
 is tested

00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:29.340
 later in the book

00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:30.400
 of Genesis.

00:19:30.600 --> 00:19:31.200
 So turn to

00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:33.080
 Genesis chapter 22.

00:19:35.560 --> 00:19:36.560
 A number of things

00:19:36.560 --> 00:19:37.019
 have happened.

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:37.840
 Verse 1 says,

00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.080
 After these things,

00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.820
 I encourage you

00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:40.380
 to read them,

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.400
 God tested

00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.759
 Abraham.

00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:46.420
 What was he testing?

00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:48.700
 He was testing his faith.

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.640
 Testing his faith.

00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:52.060
 And he said to him,

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.380
 Abraham,

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.259
 and he said,

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.160
 Here I am.

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:55.880
 He said,

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.680
 Take your son,

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:58.039
 your only son Isaac,

00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.940
 whom you love,

00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:00.400
 and go to the land

00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:00.940
 of Moriah

00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:02.180
 and offer him there

00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:03.200
 as a burnt offering

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.279
 on one of the mountains

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:06.420
 of which I shall tell you.

00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:08.019
 Kill your son.

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.759
 Sacrifice your son.

00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:10.100
 Right?

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:12.000
 The one whom I've said

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.880
 the promise will come.

00:20:13.560 --> 00:20:13.759
 Right?

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.840
 And the account says

00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:16.380
 simply this.

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:16.779
 Verse 3,

00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:17.840
 So Abraham rose

00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:19.000
 early in the morning,

00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:20.900
 saddled his donkey,

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.480
 and took two of his young men

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:24.100
 with him and his son Isaac.

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.740
 And he cut the wood

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.539
 for the burnt offering

00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:27.500
 and arose and went

00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.019
 to the place

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.660
 of which God

00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:29.980
 had told him.

00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.700
 On the third day,

00:20:31.800 --> 00:20:33.140
 Abraham lifted up his eyes

00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:34.300
 and saw the place

00:20:34.300 --> 00:20:36.080
 from afar.

00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:38.560
 So he takes the things

00:20:38.560 --> 00:20:39.100
 he needs,

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:41.100
 he travels three days

00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:42.940
 and comes to the place.

00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:43.600
 Verse 5,

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.700
 Then Abraham said

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:45.840
 to his young men,

00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:48.019
 Stay here with the donkey.

00:20:48.859 --> 00:20:49.539
 I and the boy

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:50.639
 will go over there

00:20:50.639 --> 00:20:51.199
 and worship

00:20:51.199 --> 00:20:53.039
 and come again

00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.199
 to you.

00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:55.339
 Very significant verse

00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:55.839
 we'll see

00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:56.819
 in just a moment.

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.179
 Right?

00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:58.579
 I and the boy

00:20:58.579 --> 00:20:59.119
 will go

00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:00.559
 and here

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.519
 I and the boy

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.720
 will return.

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.459
 And Abraham

00:21:04.459 --> 00:21:05.679
 took the wood

00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:06.419
 of the burnt offering

00:21:06.419 --> 00:21:07.019
 and laid it

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.959
 on Isaac's son

00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:09.039
 and he took

00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.579
 in his hand

00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.180
 the fire

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:12.319
 and the knife.

00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.460
 So they went

00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.220
 both of them

00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.500
 together.

00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.140
 If you read on

00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:18.039
 or if you're familiar

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.620
 with the story,

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.779
 we discover that Abraham

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:21.240
 intended to follow through

00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:22.660
 on the sacrifice

00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:24.019
 of his son.

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:25.579
 At the very last moment,

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:27.120
 God stays his hand

00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:28.559
 and provides instead

00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.380
 a ram

00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.299
 for the sacrifice

00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:32.299
 and then restates

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:32.940
 the promise

00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:34.000
 that he made

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.140
 to Abraham.

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.960
 So we pick up

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:37.280
 in verse 15.

00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:38.200
 And the angel

00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:38.540
 of the Lord

00:21:38.540 --> 00:21:39.380
 came to Abraham

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.340
 a second time

00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:40.820
 from heaven

00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:41.560
 and said,

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.060
 By myself

00:21:43.060 --> 00:21:43.840
 I have sworn,

00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:44.480
 declares the Lord,

00:21:44.520 --> 00:21:45.080
 because you have

00:21:45.080 --> 00:21:45.780
 done this

00:21:45.780 --> 00:21:46.420
 and have not

00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.240
 withheld your son,

00:21:47.360 --> 00:21:48.380
 your only son,

00:21:49.020 --> 00:21:49.580
 I will surely

00:21:49.580 --> 00:21:50.160
 bless you

00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.180
 and I will surely

00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.280
 multiply your offspring

00:21:52.280 --> 00:21:53.380
 as the stars of heaven

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.020
 as the sand

00:21:54.020 --> 00:21:54.940
 that is on the seashore

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:56.020
 and your offspring

00:21:56.020 --> 00:21:56.840
 shall possess

00:21:56.840 --> 00:21:57.520
 the gate

00:21:57.520 --> 00:21:58.140
 of his enemies

00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:59.740
 and in your offspring

00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:01.200
 shall all the nations

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.820
 of the earth

00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:02.980
 be blessed

00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.640
 because

00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:05.060
 you have obeyed

00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:06.299
 my voice.

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.940
 Now remember,

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.740
 the whole matter

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.700
 was a test

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.940
 of his faith

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:12.119
 so his obedience

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:13.779
 proved

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:15.119
 his belief.

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.179
 This is why

00:22:16.179 --> 00:22:17.000
 we have to read

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.440
 and understand

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:17.819
 the Bible

00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:19.679
 in its context.

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.480
 You can simply

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.339
 pull out verse 18

00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:21.599
 and go,

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:21.960
 See?

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:23.240
 It was the obedience

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:25.059
 that justified him.

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.759
 But if we look

00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.240
 at the narrative

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.039
 in its total,

00:22:27.179 --> 00:22:27.500
 no, no,

00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.339
 it's his obedience

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:30.059
 that simply showed

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:31.220
 that he believed.

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:33.359
 It's a confident belief,

00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:34.559
 an unwavering

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.339
 belief

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.940
 in God's providence.

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.759
 It evidenced

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.319
 his faith.

00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:39.319
 But it was

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.179
 his faith

00:22:40.179 --> 00:22:40.839
 that was counted

00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.359
 to him

00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:43.139
 as righteousness.

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.819
 Now with this

00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.519
 in mind,

00:22:45.679 --> 00:22:46.599
 I want you to join me

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.639
 in a New Testament

00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:48.299
 text.

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:48.960
 Go to the book

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.019
 of Hebrews,

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:52.599
 chapter 11.

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.599
 Remember Genesis 22

00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.279
 and verse 5.

00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:57.740
 I kind of

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.839
 pointed out

00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.299
 to you.

00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:01.399
 The author

00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:02.019
 of Hebrews

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.940
 in chapter 11,

00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:03.799
 a chapter that

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.779
 begins with a

00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:06.639
 definition of faith.

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.680
 There he says,

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.519
 Now faith

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.460
 is the assurance

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.559
 of things

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.039
 hoped for,

00:23:12.399 --> 00:23:13.059
 the conviction

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.859
 of things

00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:16.200
 not seen.

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.019
 And he launches

00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:18.659
 into this great

00:23:18.659 --> 00:23:19.639
 hall of witnesses.

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.720
 All of these

00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:21.500
 people that

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.680
 by faith

00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.839
 were commended

00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:25.240
 before God.

00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.359
 And in verse 17

00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.179
 of Hebrews 11,

00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.119
 he says this,

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:30.859
 By faith,

00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.059
 Abraham,

00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:33.439
 when he was

00:23:33.439 --> 00:23:33.939
 tested,

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:35.740
 offered up

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.079
 Isaac,

00:23:36.179 --> 00:23:36.819
 and he who

00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.579
 had received

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.119
 the promises

00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:39.579
 was in the act

00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.419
 of offering up

00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:41.299
 his only son,

00:23:41.399 --> 00:23:41.959
 of whom it was

00:23:41.959 --> 00:23:42.299
 said,

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.439
 Through Isaac

00:23:43.439 --> 00:23:44.059
 shall your

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.619
 offspring

00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:46.439
 be named.

00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:47.980
 And then,

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.519
 verse 5.

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.980
 Verse 19

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:53.660
 is widely

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.480
 agreed to be

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.579
 divine commentary

00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:57.480
 on Genesis 22,

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:58.960
 verse 5.

00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.859
 Remember it said,

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.119
 Abraham said to

00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:02.079
 his young men,

00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.240
 Stay here with

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.700
 the donkey.

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.720
 I and the boy

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.599
 will go over there

00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.259
 and worship

00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:07.619
 and come again

00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.099
 to you.

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:08.660
 I and the boy

00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.079
 will go,

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:09.980
 will worship,

00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:10.900
 and I and the boy

00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:12.039
 will return.

00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:12.539
 Listen to the

00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.200
 divine commentary

00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.180
 from Hebrews 11,

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.940
 verse 19.

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:16.440
 He, Abraham,

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:18.359
 considered that God

00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.420
 was able even

00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.440
 to raise him

00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:22.440
 from the dead.

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.779
 Abraham went

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.560
 to go sacrifice

00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.000
 his son,

00:24:26.100 --> 00:24:26.940
 believing in God's

00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.440
 promise.

00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:28.800
 God had said,

00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.180
 It's going to be

00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:29.960
 through Isaac

00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:31.320
 that all of my

00:24:31.320 --> 00:24:32.600
 promises will be

00:24:32.600 --> 00:24:33.200
 realized.

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.580
 And Abraham had

00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:35.500
 the kind of faith

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:35.920
 that believed

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.600
 that promise,

00:24:36.800 --> 00:24:37.860
 so much so

00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:38.519
 that God would

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.539
 still accomplish

00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.560
 his purpose.

00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:43.019
 We'll just let it

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.700
 read the scripture

00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.120
 for us.

00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.660
 That's okay.

00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.640
 So, Abraham

00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:48.560
 believed that God

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.639
 could and would

00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:50.519
 do what he had

00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.639
 promised to do.

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.519
 This is incredible.

00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:55.940
 I don't know how

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.679
 you wiggle out

00:24:56.679 --> 00:24:57.399
 of justification

00:24:57.399 --> 00:24:58.259
 by faith alone.

00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:59.220
 I don't understand it.

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.500
 I don't understand it.

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.960
 I think, perhaps,

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.179
 people have different

00:25:03.179 --> 00:25:03.980
 Bibles than

00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:05.259
 I have.

00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.799
 Verse 17

00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:10.079
 of Romans 4,

00:25:10.419 --> 00:25:11.720
 as it is written,

00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:13.139
 Genesis 17, 5,

00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:13.680
 that I have made you

00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.900
 the father of many

00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.680
 nations.

00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:18.040
 In the presence

00:25:18.040 --> 00:25:18.900
 of the God

00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.620
 in whom

00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:21.420
 he believed.

00:25:21.820 --> 00:25:22.759
 Who gives life

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.380
 to the dead.

00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:26.780
 Little stars go off

00:25:26.780 --> 00:25:27.300
 in your head.

00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:27.560
 Right?

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.360
 He gives life

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:28.860
 to the dead

00:25:28.860 --> 00:25:30.320
 and calls into

00:25:30.320 --> 00:25:31.000
 existence

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.500
 the things

00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.759
 that do not

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.960
 exist.

00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:36.600
 I think here,

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.540
 Paul is talking

00:25:37.540 --> 00:25:38.720
 about God's

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:40.000
 massive might,

00:25:40.280 --> 00:25:41.180
 his bringing about

00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:41.779
 the creation

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:42.660
 of the world,

00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:43.720
 to give us

00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.860
 confidence that

00:25:44.860 --> 00:25:45.220
 he can also

00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:45.680
 bring about

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.980
 faith in us.

00:25:48.320 --> 00:25:49.140
 It wasn't

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.720
 humanly rational

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.539
 for Abraham

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.299
 to think that

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:52.620
 he could be

00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:53.080
 the father

00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:54.460
 of many nations,

00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:55.860
 but he believed

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:56.380
 in the God

00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:56.880
 who made

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.759
 the promise,

00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.600
 despite the

00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.400
 obstacles to

00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:00.660
 that belief.

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.460
 So let's

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.620
 consider briefly

00:26:02.620 --> 00:26:04.000
 the obstacles

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.420
 of faith.

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:04.840
 Point number

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.140
 three,

00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:05.980
 verses 18 and

00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.259
 19,

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.140
 the obstacles

00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:08.660
 of faith.

00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.720
 In hope he

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.799
 believed against

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.980
 hope that

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.180
 he should

00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:12.559
 become the

00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.119
 father of

00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.680
 many nations,

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.259
 as he had

00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:14.819
 been told,

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:15.960
 so shall

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.480
 your offspring

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.220
 be.

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:17.980
 He did not

00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.659
 weaken in

00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:19.099
 faith when

00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:19.559
 he considered

00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:19.879
 his own

00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:20.200
 body,

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.579
 which was

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:20.919
 as good

00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:21.359
 as dead,

00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:21.960
 since he

00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:22.399
 was about

00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:22.839
 a hundred

00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.720
 years old,

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.579
 or when he

00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:24.980
 considered

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.720
 the barrenness

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.639
 of Sarah's

00:26:26.639 --> 00:26:27.720
 womb.

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.659
 I notice

00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:29.740
 two obstacles

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:31.079
 in these

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.579
 verses.

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.259
 Do you see

00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.440
 them?

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:34.919
 Let's

00:26:34.919 --> 00:26:35.799
 note the

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.220
 easy one

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:37.019
 first from

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.399
 verse 19.

00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:39.759
 It was not

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.720
 biologically

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.140
 possible for

00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:42.879
 Abraham and

00:26:42.879 --> 00:26:44.119
 Sarah to

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.680
 have a baby.

00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.299
 Not biologically

00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.720
 possible.

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.799
 I sometimes

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.220
 just adore

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.019
 Paul's writing

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:52.160
 when he calls

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.180
 Abraham here

00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:53.720
 that he was

00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.379
 as good as

00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:54.700
 dead.

00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:55.920
 He was

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.839
 essentially a

00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.299
 dead man,

00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.960
 and then he

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.859
 parenthetically

00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.660
 says he was

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.759
 almost a hundred.

00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.539
 He was 99

00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:03.200
 years old.

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:04.119
 They would

00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:05.940
 require divine

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:07.359
 intervention for

00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:08.359
 this promise to

00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:08.879
 come true.

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.439
 Abraham had to

00:27:11.439 --> 00:27:12.059
 believe that

00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.599
 God would

00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:12.979
 bring this

00:27:12.979 --> 00:27:13.759
 thing to

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.259
 pass because

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.819
 it was not

00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.719
 biologically

00:27:15.719 --> 00:27:17.719
 possible for

00:27:17.719 --> 00:27:18.299
 this to be

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.099
 the case.

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.759
 God calls

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:21.279
 us to the

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.740
 same kind

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.240
 of faith,

00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.039
 a faith that

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.919
 rests on

00:27:23.919 --> 00:27:25.259
 his word,

00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:25.839
 on the things

00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.139
 that he

00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:27.079
 has said

00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:27.819
 would happen,

00:27:27.919 --> 00:27:28.479
 his character

00:27:28.479 --> 00:27:29.699
 and his

00:27:29.699 --> 00:27:30.559
 promises

00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:32.159
 for us.

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.679
 This is an

00:27:33.679 --> 00:27:34.059
 astounding

00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:34.579
 hurdle to

00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.059
 overcome.

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:35.879
 God told him

00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:36.259
 a thing would

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.639
 happen that

00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:36.939
 was not

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.519
 biologically

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.180
 possible to

00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:38.640
 happen and

00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:39.539
 he believed

00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.080
 that it

00:27:40.080 --> 00:27:40.539
 would come

00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:41.620
 to pass.

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.360
 But there's

00:27:43.360 --> 00:27:44.299
 also a second

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.539
 obstacle that

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.059
 I notice.

00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.480
 There's an

00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.100
 interesting turn

00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:48.700
 of phrase at

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.000
 the beginning

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.519
 of verse

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.320
 18.

00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.240
 In hope,

00:27:51.620 --> 00:27:52.539
 he believed

00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:55.019
 against hope.

00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:57.279
 Paul distinguishes

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.700
 between belief

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.940
 and hope.

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.759
 They are similar,

00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:03.559
 but they are not

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.980
 the same.

00:28:05.340 --> 00:28:05.680
 I'm going to

00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:06.240
 spare you the

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:07.380
 Greek this

00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:08.299
 morning for

00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:08.660
 the sake of

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.279
 time and

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.360
 perhaps my

00:28:10.360 --> 00:28:11.279
 small understanding

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.759
 of Greek.

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.759
 Hope is the

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.460
 desire for

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.080
 something that

00:28:15.080 --> 00:28:16.420
 may become

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.560
 true.

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.039
 The desire for

00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.440
 something that

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.220
 may become

00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:20.519
 true.

00:28:20.620 --> 00:28:21.440
 In this case,

00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:22.460
 that he should

00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.000
 become the

00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.880
 father of

00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:24.980
 many nations.

00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:26.759
 Paul says,

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.840
 in hope,

00:28:28.120 --> 00:28:29.740
 he believed.

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:31.160
 He had faith

00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.779
 that the thing

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.519
 hoped for,

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.960
 God's promise,

00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:34.320
 that he would

00:28:34.320 --> 00:28:34.779
 become the

00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.299
 father of

00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:35.879
 many nations

00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:37.379
 would come

00:28:37.379 --> 00:28:38.559
 to pass.

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.839
 He hoped

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.039
 that it

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.379
 would be,

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:40.639
 and he

00:28:40.639 --> 00:28:42.019
 believed in

00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.680
 hope.

00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:43.940
 Recall the

00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.319
 author of

00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:44.599
 Hebrews'

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.440
 definition of

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:45.859
 faith from

00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:46.240
 the beginning

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.759
 of chapter

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.200
 11.

00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:47.480
 Now,

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.899
 faith is

00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:49.859
 the assurance

00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:51.480
 of things

00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.480
 hoped for,

00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.399
 the confidence

00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.859
 of things

00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:55.619
 hoped for,

00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.539
 good promises,

00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.579
 things we

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.240
 would like to

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:58.859
 see come

00:28:58.859 --> 00:29:00.399
 to pass.

00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:00.519
 hope.

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.120
 So,

00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:02.500
 what does

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.280
 Paul mean

00:29:03.280 --> 00:29:04.880
 in hope?

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.740
 He believed

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:08.180
 against hope.

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:08.660
 It feels

00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.660
 contradictory,

00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.800
 doesn't it?

00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:13.040
 I think that

00:29:13.040 --> 00:29:13.380
 Paul is

00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:14.259
 communicating that

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.300
 an obstacle to

00:29:15.300 --> 00:29:16.280
 Abraham's faith

00:29:16.280 --> 00:29:17.660
 was that the

00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:18.380
 promise was

00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:19.860
 such a grand,

00:29:20.300 --> 00:29:21.660
 wonderful promise

00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.580
 that it just

00:29:22.580 --> 00:29:23.740
 seemed too

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:25.320
 good to be

00:29:25.320 --> 00:29:25.700
 true.

00:29:26.540 --> 00:29:26.780
 I mean,

00:29:26.780 --> 00:29:27.500
 what a thing

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:29.000
 to hope in.

00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:29.660
 A man

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.759
 with no

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.180
 heir,

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:32.779
 he's 99

00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.400
 years old,

00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:34.259
 he has no

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.740
 heir,

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.500
 no potential

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.460
 posterity,

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.599
 a man who

00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.299
 Paul says

00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:40.079
 was as good

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.980
 as dead,

00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:42.420
 to hope

00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:42.740
 that he

00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.299
 would have

00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.339
 children,

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.160
 and grandchildren,

00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:47.660
 and great

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.160
 grandchildren.

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:50.160
 Not only that,

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:50.599
 but that he

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.460
 would be the

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.180
 father of a

00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:53.180
 thousand generations

00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:53.680
 that would

00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.640
 span the

00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.059
 globe,

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:55.759
 and they

00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.539
 would belong

00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.819
 to God.

00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.680
 A grand

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.819
 number for

00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.399
 the praise

00:30:01.399 --> 00:30:01.879
 of our

00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.299
 God.

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.220
 What a

00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.579
 thing to

00:30:04.579 --> 00:30:05.079
 hope in.

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.059
 Now,

00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:07.299
 I am

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:07.960
 approaching my

00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.819
 mid-forties,

00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:10.079
 which is not

00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:10.720
 very old in the

00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.139
 grand scheme.

00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.339
 It's far away

00:30:12.339 --> 00:30:13.259
 from 99.

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.180
 But I can

00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.799
 already feel a

00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.359
 tug in my

00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:17.279
 soul to make

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.279
 my last

00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:20.039
 years last.

00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:21.680
 I want to

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.460
 leave behind a

00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:23.700
 rich legacy

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.779
 of faithfulness

00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:26.079
 to our God,

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.759
 which expands

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.699
 beyond my

00:30:27.699 --> 00:30:28.399
 biological

00:30:28.399 --> 00:30:28.839
 children,

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.619
 and grandchildren,

00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:30.799
 and great

00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:31.859
 grandchildren.

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.899
 That's one of

00:30:32.899 --> 00:30:33.639
 the reasons I

00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:34.819
 love pastoring

00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:35.359
 a church.

00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:37.079
 I love that

00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:37.759
 you're having

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.179
 children,

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.419
 and we're

00:30:39.419 --> 00:30:39.960
 raising up

00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:41.139
 generations that

00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:41.559
 we are

00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:42.879
 endeavoring

00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:43.619
 prayerfully,

00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:45.419
 and fervently

00:30:45.419 --> 00:30:46.359
 to see be

00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:48.079
 faithful for

00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.740
 our God.

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.879
 Maybe this is

00:30:50.879 --> 00:30:51.899
 why I

00:30:51.899 --> 00:30:52.679
 sometimes wear a

00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:53.460
 cardigan and

00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.059
 start to forget

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.480
 things,

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.079
 because I'm

00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:56.579
 looking forward

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:58.559
 to where we

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.339
 might go

00:30:59.339 --> 00:30:59.919
 someday.

00:31:00.179 --> 00:31:00.899
 What a

00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:02.500
 thing to

00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.059
 hope in.

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.240
 The thing

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.679
 that Abraham

00:31:04.679 --> 00:31:05.119
 was hoping

00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:05.919
 in was much

00:31:05.919 --> 00:31:06.139
 higher.

00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:06.480
 He was going

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:06.759
 to be the

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:08.279
 father of

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.220
 the nations

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.679
 that would

00:31:09.679 --> 00:31:10.919
 praise God.

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.359
 What an

00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:12.159
 incredible,

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:14.799
 lofty thing.

00:31:16.179 --> 00:31:17.059
 So in hope,

00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:18.319
 Abraham believed

00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:19.240
 against the

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.359
 audacity of

00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:20.899
 his hope.

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.059
 What a

00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:23.980
 massive promise.

00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.399
 It's a very

00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:27.119
 cool turn

00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:28.519
 of phrase.

00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.559
 In spite of

00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:32.200
 the obstacles

00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.379
 of faith,

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.460
 he had

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.659
 faith.

00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:37.039
 So let's

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.559
 look fourthly

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:37.960
 at the

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:39.980
 nature of

00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:40.299
 faith.

00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.099
 We're going

00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:41.399
 to land the

00:31:41.399 --> 00:31:41.799
 plane very

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:42.059
 soon.

00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:42.599
 Verse 20

00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:43.720
 and 21.

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.399
 No unbelief

00:31:45.399 --> 00:31:45.940
 made him

00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:46.980
 waver concerning

00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.619
 the promise

00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:48.200
 of God,

00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:48.759
 but he grew

00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.480
 strong in

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.000
 his faith

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.079
 as he gave

00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:51.839
 glory to

00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:52.240
 God,

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.740
 fully convinced

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.079
 that God

00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:54.579
 was able

00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:55.220
 to do

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.259
 what he

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:56.680
 had promised.

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.200
 So let's

00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.640
 note two

00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:58.539
 things about

00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.680
 the nature

00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.740
 of faith.

00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:01.599
 And we've

00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:02.039
 said this

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.480
 to some

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.279
 extent already.

00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:03.940
 Number one,

00:32:04.920 --> 00:32:05.920
 faith is

00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:07.579
 unwavering.

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:08.980
 Notice in

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.539
 verse 20,

00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.880
 no unbelief

00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:12.360
 made him

00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:13.059
 waver.

00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:13.460
 And in

00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.079
 verse 21,

00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:14.539
 he was

00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.420
 fully

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:16.960
 convinced.

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:18.200
 Now,

00:32:18.340 --> 00:32:19.160
 I don't

00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:20.920
 think that

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.380
 he had

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:22.340
 no doubt

00:32:22.340 --> 00:32:22.700
 ever.

00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.240
 In fact,

00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:23.700
 if you read

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.220
 the account,

00:32:24.360 --> 00:32:24.720
 there's some

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.799
 doubts that

00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:27.019
 creep in.

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.079
 I don't

00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:28.460
 think this

00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.180
 is suggesting

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.600
 that he

00:32:29.600 --> 00:32:30.440
 never had

00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:32.039
 any unbelief,

00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:32.840
 that his

00:32:32.840 --> 00:32:33.360
 faith was

00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:34.220
 absolutely

00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.240
 perfect.

00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:35.900
 I think we

00:32:35.900 --> 00:32:36.840
 see Abraham

00:32:36.840 --> 00:32:37.579
 have some

00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:39.759
 weak faith,

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.620
 but it

00:32:40.620 --> 00:32:41.299
 ultimately

00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:41.840
 did not

00:32:41.840 --> 00:32:42.680
 cause him

00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.559
 to abandon

00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.799
 his faith.

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.440
 He was

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:46.940
 fully

00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:48.039
 convinced

00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.620
 that this

00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.380
 grand thing

00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:49.740
 that God

00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.200
 had promised

00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.779
 would come

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:52.100
 to pass.

00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.120
 John Calvin

00:32:54.120 --> 00:32:54.660
 wrote of this

00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:54.960
 text,

00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.440
 Believers

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:55.920
 are never

00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.860
 so enlightened

00:32:56.860 --> 00:32:57.960
 that there

00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:58.460
 are no

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.140
 remains

00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:00.140
 of ignorance,

00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:01.019
 nor is

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.340
 the heart

00:33:01.340 --> 00:33:02.320
 so established

00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:02.700
 that there

00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:03.660
 are no

00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:05.279
 misgivings.

00:33:07.840 --> 00:33:08.360
 Secondly,

00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:09.279
 notice about

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:09.740
 the nature

00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:10.240
 of faith,

00:33:10.320 --> 00:33:10.860
 that faith

00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:12.700
 grows as

00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:13.299
 we center

00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.880
 it on

00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:15.240
 God.

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.240
 Paul says

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:17.799
 he grew

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.640
 strong.

00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.860
 He grew,

00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.279
 which means

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:20.440
 there was

00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:21.259
 a process.

00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:22.160
 He started

00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:22.759
 at one

00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:24.140
 point and

00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:25.480
 grew strong,

00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:26.580
 got stronger

00:33:26.580 --> 00:33:27.740
 in his

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:29.480
 faith as

00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.000
 he gave

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:32.039
 glory to

00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:32.340
 God.

00:33:33.580 --> 00:33:33.920
 Beloved,

00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:35.600
 the meter,

00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.299
 the measure

00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:36.740
 of your

00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.299
 faith,

00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.240
 the place

00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:38.460
 that you

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:39.259
 focus your

00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:39.720
 attention,

00:33:39.940 --> 00:33:40.360
 should not

00:33:40.360 --> 00:33:41.000
 be on

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:42.400
 your self.

00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:43.980
 It should

00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:44.400
 not be on

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:44.640
 your

00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:45.740
 performance.

00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:46.560
 It most

00:33:46.560 --> 00:33:46.780
 certainly

00:33:46.780 --> 00:33:47.100
 should not

00:33:47.100 --> 00:33:47.480
 be on

00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:47.820
 your

00:33:47.820 --> 00:33:49.060
 feelings,

00:33:49.560 --> 00:33:50.040
 but should

00:33:50.040 --> 00:33:50.759
 be centered

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:52.240
 on God,

00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.140
 the one

00:33:53.140 --> 00:33:53.960
 who is

00:33:53.960 --> 00:33:54.620
 unchanging

00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.140
 and the

00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:55.840
 one who

00:33:55.840 --> 00:33:56.220
 made

00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.759
 the promise.

00:33:58.580 --> 00:33:59.500
 His faith

00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.100
 grew and

00:34:00.100 --> 00:34:00.660
 our faith

00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:01.140
 will grow

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:01.540
 as we

00:34:01.540 --> 00:34:02.420
 center our

00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:03.000
 faith

00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:04.200
 on God

00:34:04.200 --> 00:34:05.140
 himself.

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.620
 Fifthly,

00:34:07.860 --> 00:34:08.320
 and lastly,

00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.200
 the result

00:34:10.200 --> 00:34:10.639
 of faith,

00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:11.380
 verse 22

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.079
 through the

00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:13.099
 end of

00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:13.519
 the chapter.

00:34:15.059 --> 00:34:15.840
 That is

00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:16.280
 why his

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:16.760
 faith was

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.380
 counted to

00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:18.079
 him as

00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:18.519
 righteousness.

00:34:19.220 --> 00:34:19.800
 But the

00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:20.440
 words it

00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:20.940
 was counted

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.660
 to him

00:34:21.660 --> 00:34:22.960
 were not

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.900
 written for

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.619
 his sake

00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.260
 alone,

00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.360
 but for

00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:27.440
 ours also.

00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.640
 It will

00:34:28.640 --> 00:34:29.140
 be counted

00:34:29.140 --> 00:34:29.820
 to us who

00:34:29.820 --> 00:34:30.320
 believe in

00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.720
 him who

00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:31.460
 raised from

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:31.980
 the dead

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.500
 Jesus,

00:34:33.160 --> 00:34:33.740
 our Lord,

00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:34.680
 who was

00:34:34.680 --> 00:34:35.140
 delivered up

00:34:35.140 --> 00:34:35.440
 for our

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.640
 trespasses and

00:34:36.640 --> 00:34:37.880
 raised for

00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:38.300
 our

00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.420
 justification.

00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:41.519
 the salvation

00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:42.000
 of Abraham

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:43.139
 and the

00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:43.780
 salvation of

00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.599
 all his

00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:45.200
 spiritual

00:34:45.200 --> 00:34:46.440
 offspring.

00:34:47.180 --> 00:34:47.659
 This is the

00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:48.800
 result of

00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:49.200
 faith.

00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:50.639
 Paul will

00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.940
 speak of

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.180
 Jesus'

00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:51.720
 active

00:34:51.720 --> 00:34:52.380
 obedience to

00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:52.720
 the law

00:34:52.720 --> 00:34:53.200
 in chapter

00:34:53.200 --> 00:34:53.780
 5.

00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.300
 Here he

00:34:54.300 --> 00:34:54.880
 focuses our

00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.659
 attention on

00:34:55.659 --> 00:34:56.840
 his passive

00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:57.280
 obedience,

00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:58.500
 his sacrificial

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.920
 death on

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.519
 our behalf,

00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.980
 and his

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.500
 third day

00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.720
 resurrection.

00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:06.579
 Jesus died

00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:07.700
 in our

00:35:07.700 --> 00:35:08.440
 place,

00:35:08.680 --> 00:35:09.260
 took the

00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:09.700
 wrath of

00:35:09.700 --> 00:35:10.340
 God on

00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:11.220
 himself that

00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:12.520
 we deserve.

00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:13.560
 And he

00:35:13.560 --> 00:35:14.220
 rose three

00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:14.920
 days later

00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:16.680
 proving that

00:35:16.680 --> 00:35:18.040
 he is the

00:35:18.040 --> 00:35:18.480
 Christ.

00:35:20.620 --> 00:35:21.400
 Paul here

00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:21.900
 helps us to

00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.340
 see that

00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:23.260
 God's promise

00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.820
 to Abraham

00:35:23.820 --> 00:35:24.760
 is fulfilled

00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:25.680
 in the

00:35:25.680 --> 00:35:26.820
 person and

00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:28.100
 the work of

00:35:28.100 --> 00:35:28.520
 the Lord

00:35:28.520 --> 00:35:29.700
 Jesus Christ.

00:35:30.780 --> 00:35:31.560
 He'll write

00:35:31.560 --> 00:35:32.140
 later in

00:35:32.140 --> 00:35:33.060
 Romans chapter

00:35:33.060 --> 00:35:33.500
 10,

00:35:34.060 --> 00:35:34.600
 verse 9

00:35:34.600 --> 00:35:34.960
 and 10,

00:35:35.040 --> 00:35:35.420
 if you

00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.620
 confess with

00:35:36.620 --> 00:35:37.080
 your mouth

00:35:37.080 --> 00:35:37.660
 that Jesus

00:35:37.660 --> 00:35:38.360
 is Lord,

00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:39.460
 and believe

00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:39.720
 in your

00:35:39.720 --> 00:35:40.180
 heart that

00:35:40.180 --> 00:35:40.760
 God raised

00:35:40.760 --> 00:35:41.140
 him from

00:35:41.140 --> 00:35:41.620
 the dead,

00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:42.780
 you will

00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:43.700
 be saved.

00:35:44.620 --> 00:35:45.079
 For with

00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.360
 the heart

00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:46.099
 one believes

00:35:46.099 --> 00:35:46.900
 and is

00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:47.300
 justified,

00:35:47.720 --> 00:35:48.320
 and with

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:48.800
 the mouth

00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:49.920
 one confesses

00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:51.360
 and is

00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:51.700
 saved.

00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:51.779
 saved.

00:35:52.939 --> 00:35:54.059
 So we

00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:55.739
 believe and

00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:57.799
 confess that

00:35:57.799 --> 00:35:58.159
 the Bible

00:35:58.159 --> 00:35:58.859
 alone teaches

00:35:58.859 --> 00:35:59.319
 us that we

00:35:59.319 --> 00:35:59.980
 are justified

00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:01.139
 by grace

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:01.559
 alone,

00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:02.799
 through faith

00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.199
 alone,

00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:03.980
 in the

00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:04.539
 person and

00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:05.059
 work of

00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.899
 Jesus Christ

00:36:05.899 --> 00:36:06.539
 alone,

00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:08.119
 all to the

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:08.859
 glory of God

00:36:08.859 --> 00:36:09.839
 alone.

00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:11.159
 Let's pray.

00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:32.460
 as

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:32.460


00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:32.460


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