WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.560 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm one of the pastors here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:10.859 And it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:11.299 --> 00:00:15.899 This morning we're continuing our series in the book of Romans. 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:22.140 You'll remember that Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul in the 50s AD. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:29.019 It's called Romans for a very simple reason, which is that Paul writes it to the churches located in the city of Rome. 00:00:29.940 --> 00:00:31.699 And the book of Romans is about the gospel. 00:00:32.219 --> 00:00:36.379 It's about the good news of Jesus' life and death and resurrection. 00:00:37.380 --> 00:00:38.920 We've been on a little bit of a break. 00:00:39.040 --> 00:00:44.660 The last time we were in Romans was Sunday, December 21st, right before Christmas. 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:46.960 So I'm guessing that you have forgotten everything. 00:00:47.780 --> 00:00:50.219 So I'm quickly going to review for you where we've been. 00:00:50.300 --> 00:00:53.140 We just started chapter 7. 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:57.300 And chapter 7 of the book of Romans is about the law. 00:00:58.120 --> 00:01:01.359 Now we want to be clear, want to define our terms and be precise. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:11.079 When we talk about the law in chapter 7, we are talking about the law of God, that is God's commands to mankind. 00:01:12.379 --> 00:01:16.980 The law is what God has commanded for humanity. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:21.939 And the law is summarized in the Bible in two particular ways. 00:01:22.260 --> 00:01:27.879 In the Old Testament, the law is summarized in the Ten Commandments. 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:34.939 In the New Testament, Jesus summarizes the law in Matthew chapter 22. 00:01:35.679 --> 00:01:40.899 He says the law is to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. 00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:44.319 And those are not in conflict with one another. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:48.699 When Jesus says the law is two things, he's actually summarizing the Ten Commandments. 00:01:49.099 --> 00:01:52.379 So he's saying, look, Commandments 1 through 4, love God. 00:01:52.379 --> 00:01:56.679 Commandments 5 through 10, love your neighbor as yourself. 00:01:57.060 --> 00:01:58.179 So that's the law. 00:01:58.399 --> 00:01:59.539 That's what we're talking about. 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:01.780 That's our definition, our terms defined. 00:02:02.459 --> 00:02:08.280 And then we talked about it a little bit in the first six verses of Romans chapter 7 last month. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:15.259 And in those first six verses, Paul pointed out three problems with the law. 00:02:15.259 --> 00:02:18.560 And two of those problems appear in the song we just sang. 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:19.840 Funny how that works. 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:22.819 Which you'll find on page 6 of your worship guide. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:24.199 And I'm going to review those for you. 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:30.879 So problem one we saw a month ago is that the law condemns and accuses. 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:34.359 The law says obey me or die. 00:02:34.659 --> 00:02:35.819 And we just sang that. 00:02:36.239 --> 00:02:40.919 My accuser, he may roar of countless sins that I have done. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:43.780 That's the law accusing you and condemning you. 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:45.060 So that's problem one. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:51.420 Problem two with the law is that the law gives you the command to obey. 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:55.759 But it does not give you the ability to obey. 00:02:56.300 --> 00:02:57.539 And we just sang that as well. 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:03.800 Run and run, the law demands, but gives me neither feet nor hands. 00:03:04.460 --> 00:03:05.879 Command, but no ability. 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:09.979 The law says love your neighbor as yourself, but the law does not change your heart. 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:12.819 It doesn't give you the ability to love your neighbor. 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:18.419 Third problem with the law, and we're going to especially focus on this Sunday, is this. 00:03:18.859 --> 00:03:22.620 The law actually makes your behavior worse. 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:30.219 When we find out we can't do something, we suddenly want to do it more than ever before. 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:34.079 You'll remember I gave you this one quote that says, 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:35.819 We hear you shall not. 00:03:35.819 --> 00:03:38.199 And it makes us think, why not? 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:41.400 So when we see the law, it makes us want to sin more. 00:03:41.539 --> 00:03:42.400 That's our review. 00:03:42.579 --> 00:03:43.900 That's what we looked at a month ago. 00:03:44.019 --> 00:03:45.259 The three problems of the law. 00:03:45.379 --> 00:03:47.079 It accuses and condemns. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:49.579 It commands with no ability. 00:03:50.099 --> 00:03:51.500 Makes behavior worse. 00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:54.099 With that, we have a lot before us this morning. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:58.479 Romans chapter 7 is one of the most challenging chapters in all of the Bible. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:00.639 And so I'll say what I've been saying a lot recently. 00:04:00.799 --> 00:04:03.560 I'm going to say something, not everything. 00:04:04.359 --> 00:04:07.399 This passage this morning presents us with a problem. 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:09.500 We've looked at all these problems with the law. 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:11.179 We saw that in verses 1 through 6. 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:13.560 And yet, what did Scott read for us this morning? 00:04:14.419 --> 00:04:15.060 Psalm 19. 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:17.159 And what does Psalm 19 say? 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:20.379 The Psalm 19 says, hey, the law is actually really good. 00:04:21.379 --> 00:04:22.579 So we're caught in a bind. 00:04:22.659 --> 00:04:23.319 There's a contradiction. 00:04:23.540 --> 00:04:26.279 Paul just said, here's these three major problems with the law. 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:30.980 How do we put that up against the Old Testament that says the law is wonderful? 00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:33.819 That is our question this morning. 00:04:33.819 --> 00:04:38.839 What is the relationship between the law and sin? 00:04:39.899 --> 00:04:44.139 What is the relationship between the law and sin? 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:49.680 It's with that that I invite you to turn with me to Romans chapter 7, starting at verse 7. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:53.259 You'll find it on page 7 of your worship guide. 00:04:53.340 --> 00:04:56.620 No matter where you find it, remember that this is God's word. 00:04:57.280 --> 00:05:03.960 Jeremiah chapter 23 tells us that God's word is like a hammer that breaks a rock into pieces, 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:11.240 which means that God's word is so powerful that nothing can stand against it. 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:16.079 And so that's why we read now Romans chapter 7, starting at verse 7. 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:18.459 What then shall we say? 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:20.419 That the law is sin? 00:05:21.019 --> 00:05:21.979 By no means. 00:05:22.979 --> 00:05:26.539 Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. 00:05:27.339 --> 00:05:32.779 For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, you shall not covet. 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:40.719 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:44.780 For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 00:05:45.780 --> 00:05:52.300 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 00:05:53.140 --> 00:05:57.560 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 00:05:58.860 --> 00:06:05.580 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:12.879 So the law is holy and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 00:06:13.620 --> 00:06:17.039 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:27.180 Our Father in heaven, we do praise you and thank you this morning that your law is holy and righteous and good. 00:06:27.180 --> 00:06:34.259 We ask that you would use your words in a powerful way in our lives this morning. 00:06:35.400 --> 00:06:40.680 That you would show us our sin, our great need for you. 00:06:41.620 --> 00:06:47.660 And even more than that, you'd show us your grace that you meet us at that very same point of need. 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:50.399 We ask that you would show us Jesus. 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:55.840 That we would see his glory and beauty and holiness and power and authority. 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:58.719 His mercy and his grace and his love. 00:06:59.719 --> 00:07:02.259 That we would grow in our love and our affection for him. 00:07:03.019 --> 00:07:04.779 Our reverence and our awe for him. 00:07:05.179 --> 00:07:06.319 Our obedience to him. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:09.419 We ask all of these things in his mighty name. 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:10.419 Amen. 00:07:14.159 --> 00:07:22.159 This weekend and next weekend, there is a limited time event happening across the country. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:23.700 Which is this. 00:07:23.760 --> 00:07:33.920 There are movie theaters that are replaying the three Lord of the Rings movies that came out, if you're old like me, in the early 2000s. 00:07:34.260 --> 00:07:40.400 And if you are familiar with the trilogy, you know that there are these creatures called orcs. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:44.539 And the orcs are slaves or servants of the dark lords. 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:49.120 And the dark lords are evil figures like Sauron or Saruman or others. 00:07:49.359 --> 00:07:51.000 And they're these ugly monsters. 00:07:51.859 --> 00:07:55.000 They were originally elves or men. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:56.339 That's the simple explanation. 00:07:56.919 --> 00:08:00.120 It gets a little bit more complicated depending on how nerdy you are. 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:03.620 But they are these terrible, ugly monsters. 00:08:03.739 --> 00:08:03.859 Right? 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:08.639 If you've seen the movies, you're not thinking, man, I would love to sit down and get a beer with an orc. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:17.279 And there's a scene in the last book of the trilogy, The Return of the King, where Frodo and Sam are talking about the orcs. 00:08:17.539 --> 00:08:21.620 And Sam asks Frodo, do the orcs need to eat and drink? 00:08:22.819 --> 00:08:26.560 Or do they have some kind of other way of existing? 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:31.039 And Frodo answers him, this is on page 7 of your worship guide. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:33.379 He says, yes, they do eat and drink. 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:37.939 The shadow that bred them can only mock. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:39.759 It cannot make. 00:08:40.500 --> 00:08:42.840 Not real new things of its own. 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:46.320 I don't think it gave life to the orcs. 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:51.299 It only ruined them and twisted them. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:54.620 So Frodo is saying, yeah, they're like us. 00:08:55.259 --> 00:08:59.200 They're like us, just ruined and twisted. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:03.740 And he's making a really critical point that we have to understand about the nature of evil. 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:07.360 Evil can only mock. 00:09:08.020 --> 00:09:09.420 It cannot make. 00:09:10.560 --> 00:09:14.100 Evil can only ruin and twist. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:15.820 Can't create anything. 00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:16.900 It can't make anything new. 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:18.220 It doesn't have creative power. 00:09:18.660 --> 00:09:19.820 All it can do is corrupt. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:22.080 C.S. Lewis makes the same point. 00:09:22.180 --> 00:09:24.100 He writes a letter in 1933. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:26.259 This is on page 8 of your worship guide. 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:29.700 I'm not going to read the whole thing, but there's two phrases that are important. 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:33.899 He says evil is simply good spoiled. 00:09:34.939 --> 00:09:37.319 And then he says evil is a parasite. 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:46.259 And these are all ways of saying the same thing, which is that evil comes in, it takes what God has created that is good, and it twists it. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:47.939 We could put this another way. 00:09:48.980 --> 00:09:51.559 Evil is lazy. 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:55.559 Evil doesn't create new things. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:59.699 No, it just takes things that already exist and turns them upside down. 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:03.399 Once you see this principle, you cannot unsee it. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:13.359 There is no sexual perversion unless we first have God's great gift of sexual intimacy to a husband and a wife. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:20.460 There is no greed unless we first have God's great gift of wealth. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:29.060 And so understanding this, understanding the nature of evil, helps us understand and resolve the tension that's here in this passage. 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:31.919 Remember, we just reviewed verses 1 through 6. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.919 The law has all these problems. 00:10:34.440 --> 00:10:36.320 And so that takes us now to verse 7. 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:37.060 Paul says, 00:10:37.059 --> 00:10:43.399 And that's in a certain sense a legitimate question. 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:48.979 If the law is so problematic, is not the law itself bad? 00:10:49.739 --> 00:10:51.759 Paul immediately responds to that same verse, 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:52.939 By no means. 00:10:53.719 --> 00:10:58.639 And Paul's saying that in part because he's drawing on the rich tradition from the Old Testament, 00:10:59.139 --> 00:11:03.479 which Scott read for us this morning in Psalm 19, also Psalm 119, 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:08.420 but our reading this morning was from Psalm 19, which says the law is really great. 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:11.279 So what do we do? 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:17.019 How can the law both be really great and have all these problems? 00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:19.080 And Paul's answer is this. 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:22.740 The law is really great. 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:24.899 That's how he concludes in verse 12. 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:35.679 The law is fantastic, but sin uses the law to accomplish its purposes. 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:38.299 What did we just see about evil? 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:40.079 It takes things. 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:41.379 It spoils them. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:43.399 It twists them. 00:11:44.439 --> 00:11:46.500 And so now we're just going to work through from top to bottom. 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:48.360 Paul's identified this challenge. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:48.720 He said, 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:59.720 Paul here is making just a very simple statement of logic. 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:02.259 If you look on page four of your worship guide, 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:06.519 you'll see our confession of faith from this morning, 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:08.379 which gives us the definition of sin. 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:14.680 Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God. 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:20.259 So by definition, if there is no law, you actually can't have sin. 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:24.019 Paul's really saying the most simple thing here. 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:28.120 Sin exists in relationship to God's law. 00:12:28.199 --> 00:12:29.879 It's derivative of it in a sense. 00:12:30.859 --> 00:12:31.919 Then again, verse 7, 00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:33.959 for I would not have known what it is to covet 00:12:33.959 --> 00:12:37.639 if the law had said you shall not covet. 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:40.179 Remember I told you at the beginning, 00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:42.939 one of the summaries of the law is the Ten Commandments. 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:46.920 Paul here is referring to the tenth of the Ten Commandments, 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:48.860 which tells us do not covet. 00:12:49.920 --> 00:12:50.360 And Paul's saying, 00:12:50.420 --> 00:12:54.440 look, I actually didn't realize I was coveting until the law told me. 00:12:56.660 --> 00:12:59.960 And so we're seeing here the law does a number of things, 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:04.220 and one of the things it does is it shows us our sin. 00:13:05.320 --> 00:13:06.800 The law came to Paul. 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:08.640 It said do not covet, 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:14.460 and Paul in that moment realizes how sinful he is. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:17.000 Simple enough, right? 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:20.899 The next verse, though, is where things start to get more interesting. 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:24.319 Sin here is where we see the principle applied. 00:13:24.439 --> 00:13:27.480 It takes what's good and it twists the law. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.179 We're now in verse 8. 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:37.299 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, 00:13:37.699 --> 00:13:40.639 produced in me all kinds of covetousness, 00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:45.299 for apart from the law, sin lies dead. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:49.079 So it's not just that the law shows us our sin. 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:50.979 It's not just that it reveals our sin. 00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:54.139 The law actually increases our sin. 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:59.419 And it increases our sin because there is something about the nature of the human heart 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:02.480 that wants what it can't have. 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:09.500 The forbidden fruit is attractive because it is forbidden. 00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:13.439 When we find out that we're not supposed to do something, 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:17.100 we want to do it even more. 00:14:18.319 --> 00:14:22.019 And so it's not just that Paul has now discovered what coveting is. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:25.039 He actually thinks coveting is better than ever before. 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:30.000 He is coveting more than he has ever coveted in his life. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:34.600 That's how sin uses the law against us. 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:38.019 That's how it twists it and spoils it. 00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:40.600 It says, look, here's sin. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:43.079 Isn't it attractive? 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:46.019 Oh, this is something you're not supposed to do? 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:50.340 Wow, that must be something really, really good. 00:14:52.019 --> 00:15:00.539 There's a book that came out a number of years ago called Think Like a Freak, 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:03.740 which is written by the same people who wrote Freakonomics. 00:15:04.579 --> 00:15:09.360 And it tells the story of Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:15.299 That park had a problem, which is that people would come to Petrified Forest National Park 00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:17.979 and they would steal the petrified wood. 00:15:18.839 --> 00:15:21.099 So they wouldn't just come to view it, they came to take it. 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:23.219 And there was a sign that said this, 00:15:23.959 --> 00:15:27.639 your heritage is being vandalized every day 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:34.839 by theft losses of petrified wood of 14 tons a year, 00:15:35.579 --> 00:15:38.519 mostly a small piece at a time. 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:43.199 So it's telling people, look, your national forest is being destroyed little by little. 00:15:43.939 --> 00:15:46.019 There was a man who decided to run an experiment. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:51.259 He seeded multiple trails with little pieces of petrified wood. 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:54.319 On some of the trails, he put that sign. 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:56.879 Some of the trails had no sign. 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.399 And then they watched it for a while. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:06.519 The trails with the sign saw almost three times as much petrified wood stolen 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:09.199 as the trails without the sign. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:13.699 So when people saw they weren't supposed to take the petrified wood, 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:16.639 they actually became more likely to pick up some. 00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:18.559 We might say this, 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:22.799 sin, seizing an opportunity through the sign, 00:16:23.319 --> 00:16:27.319 produced in park guests all kinds of stealing. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:30.939 And so the book goes on to make some guesses 00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:34.419 as to why it is that people would steal more wood because of the sign. 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:39.459 The park's warning sign, designed to send a moral message, 00:16:39.959 --> 00:16:42.639 perhaps sent a different message as well. 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:44.139 Something like, 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:47.779 wow, the petrified wood is going really fast. 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.159 I better get mine now. 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:53.579 Or, 14 tons a year, 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:58.639 surely it won't matter if I take a few pieces. 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:07.799 The sign against stealing produced three times as much theft. 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:17.579 Sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:22.579 commandment produced in me all kinds of covetousness. 00:17:24.419 --> 00:17:29.199 That's how sin twists and spoils the law. 00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:32.639 Then verse 8, the end, he says, 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:34.159 for apart from the law, 00:17:34.699 --> 00:17:36.859 sin lies dead. 00:17:37.619 --> 00:17:38.899 It's the same thing we've seen before. 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:41.899 There's a sense in which sin requires the law 00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:43.500 because by definition, 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.240 sin is a violation of the law. 00:17:47.300 --> 00:17:49.240 When I was in high school, 00:17:49.300 --> 00:17:51.220 I took a class on U.S. government 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:53.980 and I learned that in the U.S. Constitution, 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:56.900 it is forbidden for any state 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:58.180 or the federal government 00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:01.640 to enact what's called an ex post facto law. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:04.100 An ex post facto law 00:18:04.100 --> 00:18:05.759 is a law that's instituted 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:07.960 after the fact to make something illegal. 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.600 So think for a second, 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:11.799 if Colorado in 2026 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:14.159 decides to make it illegal 00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:16.359 to drink coffee, 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:20.099 they cannot prosecute me 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:22.579 for all the coffee I drank in 2025. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.279 Praise God. 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:25.559 I'd be in trouble. 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:28.679 Because they can't make an ex post facto law, right? 00:18:28.699 --> 00:18:30.319 They can't make a law after the fact 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:32.579 and say it was sinful in the past 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.599 to drink coffee. 00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:34.819 No, if they're gonna make the law, 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:37.740 it's gotta start with the coffee I drank in 2026. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:41.399 My coffee drinking in 2025 00:18:41.399 --> 00:18:43.279 was not a sin. 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.559 I want you to know 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.959 because there was no law against it. 00:18:47.939 --> 00:18:49.159 And that's part of what Paul is saying. 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.919 For apart from the law, 00:18:51.419 --> 00:18:53.459 sin lies dead. 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:57.039 The two concepts actually rely on each other. 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:59.719 Sin by definition is a violation of God's law. 00:19:00.159 --> 00:19:02.579 It cannot exist apart from law. 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:05.460 The forbidden fruit is not forbidden 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:07.379 until it is forbidden. 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.779 You cannot have orcs 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:13.599 until you first have elves and humans. 00:19:14.399 --> 00:19:15.740 You can't have sin 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:18.220 unless you first have the law. 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.699 Okay, that takes us to verse nine. 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:27.159 I'm gonna tell you guys about verse nine 00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:28.279 and then we're gonna pause for a second. 00:19:28.939 --> 00:19:30.899 Verse nine is the toughest verse 00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:31.840 in this section 00:19:31.840 --> 00:19:34.820 because Paul uses death and life 00:19:34.820 --> 00:19:36.940 not in the way he normally uses it. 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:39.320 He kind of uses it autobiographically here. 00:19:39.600 --> 00:19:41.200 Okay, verse nine, he says, 00:19:41.300 --> 00:19:43.259 I was once alive apart from the law, 00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:45.259 but when the commandment came, 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:47.280 sin came alive and I died. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:48.600 When Paul says, 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:50.040 I was once alive, 00:19:50.080 --> 00:19:51.160 what he's saying is this. 00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:53.900 I was living life 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:56.340 oblivious to the fact 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:58.099 that I was under God's judgment. 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:01.059 Sin didn't bother me. 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:03.500 I didn't think it was a big deal. 00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.519 I was living life 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:06.959 and it was great. 00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:09.139 Verse nine, 00:20:09.919 --> 00:20:11.459 but when the commandment came, 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:14.199 sin came alive. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.500 Sin came alive here 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.980 in at least a couple ways. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.759 First, the law does 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.639 what we've already talked about. 00:20:20.699 --> 00:20:22.000 The law condemned him. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.420 So the law came alive 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:26.019 in the sense that it could accuse him. 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:28.299 The law also came alive 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.299 and now that he knew it, 00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:31.059 it had the chance to stir up 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:33.099 more rebellion in him. 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:35.859 One pastor uses this illustration. 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.200 He says, 00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:37.599 when sin came alive, 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.000 it is like insects 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:41.839 when a stone is lifted. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.359 So they were there, 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:47.039 but man, you lift the stone, 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:47.819 what are they gonna do? 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.259 Gonna be all over the place. 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:49.299 All over the place. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:53.019 Then Paul says, 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:53.599 I died. 00:20:54.640 --> 00:20:55.319 So he's saying, 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:57.279 I became aware of the sin 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.400 that was in my life, 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:02.900 became aware of God's judgment. 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:04.900 So I was living life 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:05.680 apart from the law. 00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:06.640 Things were great. 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.720 The law came along, 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.779 did two things. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.599 It accused me, 00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:11.460 it condemned me. 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.779 It made my sin even worse 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:15.900 because it stirred it up. 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.579 Okay. 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:20.920 If you feel confused at this point, 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:22.160 that's legitimate, 00:21:22.840 --> 00:21:25.880 this is one of the most confusing chapters 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:26.960 in all of scripture. 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:28.779 So I'm gonna pause for a second. 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:30.080 Remember I've been telling you 00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:32.279 Romans is complex and intricate. 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.019 It is hard. 00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:33.920 It's climbing a mountain, 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.100 but it's worth it. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.820 So if you've tuned out, 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.900 this is a great chance 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:38.640 to tune back in. 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:41.180 Here's what I've told you so far. 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.960 First, we talked about 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.820 the nature of evil. 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:45.319 And I told you, 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:47.720 evil cannot create anything. 00:21:47.939 --> 00:21:49.039 It only twists 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:51.779 and spoils what is good. 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:53.519 Evil has no generative power. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:54.639 Okay. 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:56.619 Then we talked about 00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:57.859 how that applies to the law. 00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.179 The law comes. 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.019 First of all, 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.960 the law shows 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.519 or reveals my sin. 00:22:02.619 --> 00:22:03.679 I finally find out 00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:04.639 that coveting is wrong. 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.859 When I find out 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.399 about the law, 00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:10.399 I realize that I'm 00:22:10.399 --> 00:22:11.259 under God's judgment. 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.379 judgment. 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:13.160 So there's that sense 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.059 in which the law 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.240 comes alive. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.480 Then the law 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:20.839 accuses and condemns me. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.480 And not only that, 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.379 I actually sin more 00:22:23.379 --> 00:22:24.039 than ever before. 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:26.680 So the law shows my sin. 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.660 It condemns me. 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:30.220 It stirs up my sin. 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.660 It makes me more sinful 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:33.160 than ever before. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.960 That takes us to verse 10. 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.119 It says, 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.079 the very commandment 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:39.099 that promised life 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:41.220 proved to be death to me. 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.519 We've already seen 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.140 that the commandment 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:44.859 promised life. 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.099 This is from Psalm 19, 00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.539 which we read earlier 00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.119 this morning. 00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:50.140 The law of the Lord 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.279 is perfect, 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:53.859 reviving the soul. 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:59.079 But sin came and twisted it 00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:00.519 and used it 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:02.640 to produce death. 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:05.279 How did sin use the law 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.160 to produce death? 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.660 Well, verse 11 answers that. 00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:10.040 Sin, seizing an opportunity 00:23:10.040 --> 00:23:11.860 through the commandment, 00:23:12.320 --> 00:23:13.360 deceived me 00:23:13.360 --> 00:23:16.140 and through it killed me. 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:19.000 Now how did sin deceive Paul? 00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:21.880 How does sin deceive you? 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:24.200 How does sin deceive us? 00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:27.240 Think back to Genesis chapter 3. 00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:29.779 Adam and Eve are in the garden. 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:32.080 The serpent comes to Eve. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:33.559 God has forbidden 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:35.379 the eating of a specific fruit. 00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.859 What does the serpent say? 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:39.799 God forbid that 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:41.720 because he's trying to keep from you 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.919 what's really good. 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:46.779 God actually doesn't want 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:48.839 what's best for you. 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:51.579 God said not to do that? 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.519 Wow, that's something 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.779 you should really consider doing. 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.179 It's actually a sign 00:23:56.179 --> 00:23:56.740 that that's something 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.599 that's pretty positive. 00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:59.619 In other words, 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:01.359 sin deceived Paul 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:04.039 because sin lied to him 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:06.079 about the goodness of God. 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.740 Sin deceived Paul 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:11.779 because it told him 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:14.119 God does not want 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:15.959 what is best for you. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.699 In the law, 00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:19.879 it's actually a path to frustration. 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:21.959 It's not a path to life. 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:25.600 Sin lies about 00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:26.920 what will bring us 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:29.840 true joy and delight. 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.680 In that sense, 00:24:32.840 --> 00:24:33.380 the law, 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.039 or sorry, 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:37.539 sin deceives and kills. 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.539 Paul tells us, 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.380 final verse, 00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:43.380 here's what's actually true 00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:44.019 about the law. 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:44.779 Verse 12, 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.799 the law is holy 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.539 and the commandment 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:50.140 is holy and righteous 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:51.380 and good. 00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:53.279 The law isn't here 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:54.440 to kill your joy. 00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.240 No, the law is actually 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.380 here to give you joy. 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.620 The law isn't here 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.920 to steal your life. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.660 The law is here 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.819 to restore your life. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:06.480 The law is the manual 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.940 written by the creator 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.880 of the universe 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:10.319 telling you 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.539 how to prosper. 00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:15.019 The law is informing you 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.519 how to live in line 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.600 with the grain 00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:18.840 of the universe. 00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:22.659 The law is telling you 00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:24.159 the path 00:25:24.159 --> 00:25:25.339 to a life 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:26.500 of blessing. 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.559 You want to know 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.679 what a life of blessing 00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:30.339 looks like? 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:32.079 Looks like keeping 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.939 the Ten Commandments. 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.299 You want to know 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.559 what a joyful life 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.259 looks like? 00:25:36.679 --> 00:25:38.779 It looks like loving God 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.519 and loving your neighbor 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.899 as yourself. 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:44.280 That's what's actually 00:25:44.280 --> 00:25:44.660 true. 00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:46.180 But sin 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:47.160 comes in 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.540 twists it 00:25:48.540 --> 00:25:50.180 and spoils it 00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:51.420 and says 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:53.259 God is trying 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:54.040 to keep 00:25:54.040 --> 00:25:55.259 the best 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.220 things 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.040 from you. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.759 God says 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.440 don't do it. 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.780 Even more reason 00:26:01.780 --> 00:26:02.400 to do it. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:04.060 Do it as much 00:26:04.060 --> 00:26:05.340 as you can. 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:08.720 There's still more 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.539 for us to see 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.720 in chapter 7 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.079 in the next two weeks 00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:13.039 about the law. 00:26:13.959 --> 00:26:14.839 What I hope 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.879 is clear now 00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:16.839 and this is part 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.179 of the point 00:26:17.179 --> 00:26:17.639 Paul is trying 00:26:17.639 --> 00:26:17.980 to make 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.279 that the Jews 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.759 in that time 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.240 thought hey 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:21.740 the law 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.319 is going to be 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.039 able to make us 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.339 good. 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:25.919 And Paul's 00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:26.519 trying to say 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:26.799 actually 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:27.579 the law 00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.159 isn't going to 00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:29.059 make you good. 00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:30.179 Even worse than that 00:26:30.179 --> 00:26:30.959 it's going to make you bad. 00:26:31.919 --> 00:26:33.220 The law by itself 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:34.740 becomes an instrument 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.480 of sin. 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:37.000 The law by itself 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.420 is going to be 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.640 twisted and spoiled 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.620 so we need something 00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:40.779 actually more than the law. 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:41.339 We need something 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.259 greater than the law. 00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:44.120 We need someone 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:45.000 who can do two things. 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.480 We need someone 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.480 who can release us 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.220 from the penalty 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:48.740 of the law 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:50.980 and we need someone 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.640 who will change 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.140 our hearts. 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:54.059 We need someone 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:55.220 who will help us 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.240 to actually love 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.700 our neighbor 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.420 as ourself. 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.759 We need someone 00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.339 to come 00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.120 and give us 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.779 a desire 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.700 to love 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.620 God. 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.019 Of course 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.539 that's what Jesus 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:05.339 does at the cross. 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.940 At the cross 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.880 Jesus takes 00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.519 the penalty 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.360 that we deserve 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:10.220 for our sins. 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.400 He frees us 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:12.579 from the penalty 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.120 of sin 00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:15.759 and then 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.759 Jesus is risen 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.440 right? 00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.339 He rises from the dead. 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.120 He ascends 00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:19.680 into heaven 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.440 at the right hand 00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.180 of God the Father 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.200 and what does Jesus 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.880 do when he's sitting 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.480 at the right hand 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.140 of God the Father? 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:26.380 He sends 00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:27.279 the Holy Spirit 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.100 to his people. 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.900 What does the Holy Spirit 00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.160 do? 00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.819 The Holy Spirit 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.500 does what we've 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:32.900 discussed 00:27:32.900 --> 00:27:34.019 so many times 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.580 in Romans 00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:36.380 changes our hearts 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.500 takes them 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:37.940 from hearts 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.420 of stone 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:38.960 and gives us 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.880 hearts of flesh 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:40.740 that we can walk 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.259 in what Paul 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:42.259 has already called 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:44.200 newness of life. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.360 That is the life 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:46.980 enabled 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:48.060 and empowered 00:27:48.060 --> 00:27:49.720 by the Holy Spirit. 00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.640 So Jesus 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.480 keeps the law 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.180 for us 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:55.640 and he enables 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.120 us 00:27:56.120 --> 00:27:57.259 to obey it. 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.480 That's what actually 00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.300 changes our hearts. 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:01.559 in other words 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.460 it's not the law 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.799 that saves us 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:05.220 it's love. 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.440 We're already 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.019 saying that 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.659 this morning 00:28:08.659 --> 00:28:10.359 page 3 00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:11.720 of your worship 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.039 guide 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.339 love 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:12.940 constraining 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.680 to obedience. 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.480 How is it 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.079 that we obey 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:17.059 and love the law? 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.159 The last verse 00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:18.779 says this 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:20.440 to see the law 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.159 by Christ 00:28:21.159 --> 00:28:21.859 fulfilled 00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:23.220 and hear 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.059 his pardoning 00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:24.460 voice 00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:26.880 changes a slave 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:28.680 into a child 00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:30.140 and duty 00:28:30.140 --> 00:28:31.480 into choice. 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:33.259 Let's pray. 00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:36.559 Our Father in Heaven 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.079 we do 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.019 thank you 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.579 and praise you 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.039 this morning 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.559 that you have 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.200 changed us 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.319 from slaves 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:42.600 into children. 00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.200 The law 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:46.019 can no longer 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:47.000 accuse us 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.400 and condemn us 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.980 because we have 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.519 your forgiveness. 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:53.700 the law 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.180 gives us 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:54.740 no ability 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.119 to keep 00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:55.639 your commands 00:28:55.639 --> 00:28:56.180 but you do 00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:57.160 by your Holy Spirit 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:58.039 by your 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.420 supernatural 00:28:58.420 --> 00:29:04.779 truth this morning 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:06.000 that you would 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.660 stir up 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.160 our love 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:07.759 and our affection 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.579 for you 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:09.799 we follow you 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.220 in faith 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.839 and obedience 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.579 and we ask 00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.099 these things 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.859 in Jesus name 00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:13.579 Amen.