WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.500 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.419 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:34.840 This Sunday's text is Romans 1, 16-18, and Romans 2, 17-29. 00:00:35.399 --> 00:00:37.859 A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans. 00:00:38.859 --> 00:00:45.240 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:47.880 first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 00:00:48.620 --> 00:00:51.159 For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed, 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:54.039 a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:59.119 just as it is written, the righteous will live by faith. 00:00:59.699 --> 00:01:04.560 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:07.280 who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 00:01:09.179 --> 00:01:15.039 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew, if you rely on the law and boast in God, 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:19.719 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law, 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:22.799 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, 00:01:23.299 --> 00:01:26.379 a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:31.400 a teacher of the little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:35.019 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:38.659 You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:42.879 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:46.759 You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:51.039 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 00:01:52.039 --> 00:01:57.219 As it is written, God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. 00:01:58.219 --> 00:02:01.620 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:03.699 you have become as though you have not been circumcised. 00:02:03.700 --> 00:02:07.900 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, 00:02:08.420 --> 00:02:10.900 will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:15.560 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you, 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:20.099 you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:24.120 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, 00:02:24.580 --> 00:02:27.020 nor circumcision merely outward and physical. 00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:31.000 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, 00:02:31.480 --> 00:02:33.740 and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, 00:02:34.020 --> 00:02:36.660 by the spirit, not by the written code. 00:02:37.320 --> 00:02:40.719 Such a person's praise is not from other people, but from God. 00:02:41.700 --> 00:02:42.939 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:43.660 --> 00:02:44.660 Thanks be to God. 00:02:48.460 --> 00:02:50.240 Thank you, Denise, for that scripture reading, 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:51.320 and good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:51.740 Welcome. 00:02:52.480 --> 00:02:54.379 We're so glad that you're worshiping with us. 00:02:54.480 --> 00:02:56.000 My name's Andrew, one of the pastors here, 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:00.520 and we're looking forward to continuing our series through this book of Romans. 00:03:00.699 --> 00:03:01.979 You know, it's been 17 years, 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:04.020 and this is our first time going through this book, 00:03:04.139 --> 00:03:05.879 so it's been quite a ride, 00:03:06.139 --> 00:03:07.560 and we look forward to keep going. 00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:08.020 Right, Jonathan? 00:03:08.680 --> 00:03:09.139 That's right. 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:13.139 Will you pray with me before we get into the text? 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:19.360 Father, on this Pentecost Sunday, 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:25.139 we marvel at the incredibly unique reality 00:03:25.139 --> 00:03:31.699 that your divine spirit fell on people from all over the place, 00:03:31.699 --> 00:03:33.439 every kind of person. 00:03:34.359 --> 00:03:36.199 And we thank you for that truth, God, 00:03:36.299 --> 00:03:39.119 that the gospel is for everybody, 00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:41.859 that there is good news for the nations, 00:03:41.860 --> 00:03:45.540 and that you are not a respecter of persons, 00:03:45.540 --> 00:03:49.200 but you desire those who will come to you simply by faith. 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:51.280 We pray that we'd be those kinds of people, 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:54.660 that we might know the righteousness of God in Christ 00:03:54.660 --> 00:03:57.940 and celebrate that glorious gospel truth, 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.640 that the righteous will live by faith, 00:04:01.420 --> 00:04:02.980 the power of God unto salvation. 00:04:02.979 --> 00:04:06.039 Make that ring powerfully, I pray, 00:04:06.519 --> 00:04:08.679 this morning in the preaching of your word 00:04:08.679 --> 00:04:10.699 as we receive the sacraments 00:04:10.699 --> 00:04:12.359 and the fellowship that's had here. 00:04:12.939 --> 00:04:14.019 Would you do that, God, 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:15.179 by the power of your spirit, 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:17.539 in Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:17.660 Amen. 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:28.120 You know, I have these moments in my life 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:32.000 where I just kind of roll back the tape 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:37.879 and I just replay these really regrettable moments in my head. 00:04:38.580 --> 00:04:40.980 And one of them I've shared here before. 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:43.040 It's a time when I was in high school. 00:04:43.140 --> 00:04:44.680 Maybe some of you remember that story 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:48.939 where I, like, cheerfully, smugly 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:51.819 yelled at a group of other students 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:53.860 that they were all going to hell. 00:04:55.879 --> 00:04:58.480 And I, like, I remember it like it was yesterday. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:01.220 My buddies and I, you know, 00:05:01.280 --> 00:05:04.079 we were kids who went to a private Christian school 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:07.100 and we were running past this other school 00:05:07.100 --> 00:05:11.040 that, you know, didn't share the same religious tradition as we did. 00:05:11.840 --> 00:05:13.259 And the students of that school, 00:05:13.379 --> 00:05:14.460 they began to jeer at us 00:05:14.459 --> 00:05:15.039 and I yelled back, 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:16.060 you're all going to hell. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:19.779 And I yelled it with, like, a smile on my face 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:22.879 and an air of superiority 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:26.019 and self-satisfaction. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:29.799 And, you know, as I've kind of rolled back the tape 00:05:29.799 --> 00:05:31.339 on that moment again and again, 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:33.560 and I remember this every single week, 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:35.500 you know, I've tried to understand 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:39.519 how I could utter such, like, hateful words. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:44.019 And I think it had to do with this tribalistic, 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:47.659 self-righteous understanding of my religion, 00:05:47.660 --> 00:05:49.640 of my Christian faith. 00:05:49.640 --> 00:05:53.080 Like, in my mind, I was on the right religious team, 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:54.200 the winning team, 00:05:54.400 --> 00:05:55.660 and those other students, 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:56.780 they weren't. 00:05:57.080 --> 00:06:00.060 Because they didn't go to my private Christian school. 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:02.379 And that's what made me better than them. 00:06:02.660 --> 00:06:03.579 Me and my team, 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:04.579 we believed the Bible. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:05.879 Me and my team, 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:07.819 we worshipped the true and living God. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:08.379 And so, therefore, 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:10.459 me and my team were superior. 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:13.259 And everyone else deserved hell 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:16.259 for not being on my winning team. 00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:19.920 In my simplistic mind, 00:06:20.060 --> 00:06:21.000 I was saved, 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:22.860 not primarily by the grace of God 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:24.659 through faith in Christ, 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:27.099 but because I belonged to the right team. 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.240 All because I'd grown up on the winning team, 00:06:30.339 --> 00:06:31.560 the Christian team. 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:35.060 And it was everybody else then. 00:06:35.719 --> 00:06:37.420 Everybody else that needed to be saved, 00:06:37.579 --> 00:06:38.379 but not me. 00:06:39.099 --> 00:06:40.920 Because my status before God was fine 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:42.699 because I identified as a Christian. 00:06:42.699 --> 00:06:45.620 I identified with the right religion. 00:06:47.019 --> 00:06:48.439 And that was a huge part 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:50.339 of my meager understanding 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:52.019 of what it meant to be a Christian, 00:06:52.099 --> 00:06:53.480 to have the truth about God 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:55.819 and thus to be religiously superior. 00:06:57.560 --> 00:06:58.279 And now you wonder 00:06:58.279 --> 00:07:01.579 why so many people loathe Christians, right? 00:07:02.039 --> 00:07:03.099 For being so combative, 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:04.079 so arrogant, 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:05.560 so self-righteous. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:07.099 It's because of people like me, 00:07:07.159 --> 00:07:07.800 if I'm honest. 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:09.439 It's crazy to me 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:10.959 that I'm up here preaching the gospel. 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:13.180 It's because of people like me. 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:15.719 This understanding of religion 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:16.740 or of Christianity 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:18.280 in which there are good guys 00:07:18.280 --> 00:07:19.300 on the winning team 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:20.280 bound for heaven 00:07:20.280 --> 00:07:22.400 and bad guys on the losing team 00:07:22.400 --> 00:07:23.600 bound for hell. 00:07:23.700 --> 00:07:25.060 And for the rest of my life, 00:07:25.400 --> 00:07:26.620 I will be repenting 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:28.280 of these shameful words 00:07:28.280 --> 00:07:29.320 that came from my lips. 00:07:29.440 --> 00:07:31.080 And I thank God every day 00:07:31.080 --> 00:07:34.160 that his grace is greater than my sin. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:36.980 Now I do believe though 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:38.360 that there is a right religion 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:40.720 and that there are many wrong religions. 00:07:41.580 --> 00:07:42.940 And that you do have, 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:46.540 and that there is an insideness 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:47.500 to the kingdom of God 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:49.080 and you can also be outside 00:07:49.080 --> 00:07:50.060 of the kingdom of God. 00:07:50.140 --> 00:07:50.480 Yeah, sure. 00:07:50.520 --> 00:07:51.720 I do believe that that's what Jesus 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:53.160 and all the scriptures teach. 00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:56.740 But does simply affiliating 00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:58.580 with the right religious group 00:07:58.580 --> 00:08:00.720 automatically secure someone 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:01.940 inside the kingdom of God 00:08:01.940 --> 00:08:03.160 and make them superior? 00:08:03.760 --> 00:08:04.040 No. 00:08:04.660 --> 00:08:05.300 Not at all. 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:08.120 See, I share this shameful story 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:08.620 from my life 00:08:08.620 --> 00:08:09.420 to demonstrate how 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:11.139 even when we are in possession 00:08:11.139 --> 00:08:12.720 of God's truth, 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:14.300 if God's truth 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:16.500 does not actually possess us, 00:08:17.139 --> 00:08:18.139 all we'll ever do 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:19.520 is weaponize God's truth 00:08:19.520 --> 00:08:22.519 for our own evil supremacist ends. 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:25.180 Like man, I was in high school. 00:08:25.280 --> 00:08:26.480 I believed in the gospel 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:27.460 as a high schooler 00:08:27.460 --> 00:08:28.900 that Jesus died for my sins, 00:08:28.980 --> 00:08:29.639 that I was a sinner 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:30.720 who needed to be saved 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:31.519 by God's grace 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:32.879 totally apart from any merits 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:33.600 of my own 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:35.040 and yet my sinful heart 00:08:35.040 --> 00:08:36.440 was so twisted 00:08:36.440 --> 00:08:38.800 that I weaponized 00:08:38.800 --> 00:08:40.399 God's beautiful message 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:41.960 of mercy and grace 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:42.980 and I turned it into 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:44.379 something that allowed me 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:45.120 to condemn 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:46.940 and disparage others 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:48.820 who did not belong 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:50.420 to the tribal religious 00:08:50.420 --> 00:08:51.040 in-group 00:08:51.040 --> 00:08:52.800 that I called Christianity. 00:08:54.420 --> 00:08:55.180 And honestly, 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:55.960 maybe that's why 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:57.139 some of you in this room, 00:08:57.800 --> 00:08:58.560 whether you're a Christian 00:08:58.560 --> 00:08:59.180 or not, 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:00.600 honestly kind of hate Christians. 00:09:01.680 --> 00:09:02.759 And I don't blame you. 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:04.460 I hate myself too. 00:09:04.779 --> 00:09:05.720 I hate what I said 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:06.779 20 years ago. 00:09:07.439 --> 00:09:08.279 And you'd be right 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:08.879 to reject 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:10.360 this kind of divisive, 00:09:10.519 --> 00:09:11.059 combative, 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:13.360 self-righteous religiosity 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:14.779 that calls itself 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:15.700 Christianity. 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:18.360 Listen, if you're here today, 00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:19.460 maybe you're exploring 00:09:19.460 --> 00:09:20.460 the Christian faith, 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:21.679 but you're not sure 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:22.559 if you want to identify 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:24.419 with Christians like me. 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:26.639 Or maybe you're in a season 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:27.779 of deconstructing 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:29.120 your Christian faith 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:29.759 and you're tired 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:31.200 of just all the toxic division 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:32.340 and all the hypocrisy 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:33.220 in the church 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:34.480 because of people like me. 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:36.879 Will you please hear me 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:37.500 when I say 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:38.600 you're absolutely right 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:39.900 to be disappointed 00:09:39.900 --> 00:09:41.220 in the church, 00:09:41.400 --> 00:09:42.060 to be disappointed 00:09:42.060 --> 00:09:43.640 in Christians? 00:09:44.520 --> 00:09:45.640 You're absolutely right 00:09:45.640 --> 00:09:46.360 to be skeptical. 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:48.860 But please also hear me say 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:49.640 that while Christians 00:09:49.640 --> 00:09:50.660 and the church 00:09:50.660 --> 00:09:52.780 will surely disappoint you, 00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:55.720 Jesus will never disappoint you. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.879 And maybe you're thinking, 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.879 well, that's a crummy religion, right? 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:02.000 Like a religion that admits 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.799 it's full of flawed followers, 00:10:03.939 --> 00:10:04.720 but I'm here to tell you 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:06.759 that that's exactly the point. 00:10:07.700 --> 00:10:09.159 That's exactly the point. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:10.039 There's actually nothing 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:10.919 more humbling, 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:12.320 equalizing, 00:10:12.860 --> 00:10:13.340 unifying, 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:14.700 and reconciling 00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:16.460 than the Christian faith. 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:18.100 Precisely, 00:10:18.439 --> 00:10:19.980 precisely because it admits 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:21.100 that we are all sinners 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:23.740 in need of one common Savior, 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:24.500 the Lord Jesus. 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:26.120 And this is what makes 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:27.500 Paul's letter to the Romans 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:29.159 so unique and also 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:30.600 so relevant for us 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:31.820 in our present age 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:32.519 of like outrage 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:33.480 and polarization 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:35.120 and disunity, right? 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:37.299 So as we come to Paul's letter 00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:38.039 to Rome, 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:39.059 let me remind you 00:10:39.059 --> 00:10:40.259 what Paul's doing here. 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:41.519 Paul is writing to a church 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:42.480 at the center of, 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:43.960 at the center stage 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:44.860 of world history, right? 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:45.799 Right in Rome, 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:47.539 a cosmopolitan church 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:48.960 made up of both Jewish 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:50.840 and Greco-Roman converts. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:52.720 Converts that likely have 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:54.279 tons of cultural baggage 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:56.159 and tons of cultural biases 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:57.339 making it hard for them 00:10:57.339 --> 00:10:58.740 to get along, right? 00:10:59.459 --> 00:11:00.339 So in this letter, 00:11:00.439 --> 00:11:01.319 Paul is explaining 00:11:01.319 --> 00:11:02.679 the gospel and its logic 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:04.000 so that his Jewish 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:04.919 and Gentile brothers 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:06.059 and sisters in Rome 00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:07.240 will not only embrace 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:08.059 one another, 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:09.879 but also they'll embrace 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:10.639 and support his 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:11.819 missionary efforts 00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:13.620 westward towards Spain 00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:14.559 amongst people 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:15.539 that even Jews 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:16.819 and Greco-Roman people 00:11:16.819 --> 00:11:18.819 would consider as barbaric. 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:20.480 And so we've been following 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.740 Paul's careful argument 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:23.360 about what the gospel is 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.879 and also what the gospel does 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:27.019 and how it changes 00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:28.240 the way we view those 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:30.399 who are other to us. 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:32.120 And Paul's argument 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:33.019 is that the good news 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:33.680 about Jesus 00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:36.080 is the power of God 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:37.180 unto salvation 00:11:37.180 --> 00:11:38.740 and not just for a select few, 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:40.000 but for everyone, 00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:42.060 that is every kind of person 00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:43.779 who simply believes. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:45.399 Anyone. 00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:47.000 Good news, 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:48.500 not just for the Jewish people, 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:49.399 but for the nations 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:50.100 and good news, 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:50.960 not just for everyone 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:51.780 who behaves, 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:52.740 but for everyone 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:54.100 who believes. 00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:55.879 Anyone who hopes 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:57.700 and trusts in Jesus 00:11:57.700 --> 00:11:58.580 by faith. 00:11:58.660 --> 00:11:59.500 For the righteous, 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:00.980 he says. 00:12:01.540 --> 00:12:02.720 Those who are truly righteous 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.120 in the eyes of God 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:06.320 are those who live by faith. 00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:07.879 Faith in God's righteous 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:09.600 and only Son, 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:10.759 Jesus Christ. 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:13.220 Now in making this case 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:15.180 that everyone can be saved 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:16.320 by the power of God 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.019 through faith, 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:18.300 Paul starts by explaining 00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:19.639 the other side of that coin, 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:21.080 which is that everyone 00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:22.480 needs to be saved 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:23.799 by the power of God, 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.399 particularly from 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:26.740 the wrath of God. 00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:28.439 Saved from the wrath of God, 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.860 this righteous wrath 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:31.199 that seethes and rages 00:12:31.199 --> 00:12:32.879 against all our unfaithfulness, 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:34.299 all our unrighteousness, 00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.759 all of our idolatry. 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:36.759 Judgment is coming, 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:37.480 Paul writes. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:40.139 Justice against all injustice, 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.080 all the injustice 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:42.360 that we've all committed 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:43.620 against our God 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.740 and against his creation, 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:46.220 all the ways we've suppressed 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:47.840 the truth in our unrighteousness 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:49.500 and exchanged the truth 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:50.899 about God for a lie 00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:51.980 and worshipped and served 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:52.720 created things 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:54.019 rather than the creator 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:54.920 and dishonored 00:12:54.920 --> 00:12:56.060 our glorious creator 00:12:56.060 --> 00:12:58.480 and disordered his good creation. 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.259 Judgment is coming. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:02.560 And so I want us to imagine 00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:03.540 this letter being read 00:13:03.540 --> 00:13:05.340 in these mixed congregations 00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:06.060 in Rome, right? 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:06.960 You have Jewish people 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.820 in these congregations, 00:13:07.920 --> 00:13:08.840 you have Greco-Roman people 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:10.000 in these congregations, 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.240 and imagine the Greco-Romans, right? 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.700 Hearing the gospel, 00:13:14.540 --> 00:13:15.560 like tearing up, 00:13:16.280 --> 00:13:17.200 deeply convicted 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.840 about their past ways of life, right? 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:21.400 How they once bowed down 00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:23.360 to statues of Jupiter 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:24.480 and Aphrodite 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:26.340 and Apollo and Mars, 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.580 these gods of thunder 00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:28.640 and power and art 00:13:28.640 --> 00:13:29.440 and beauty and war, 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:30.420 these created things, 00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.340 these gods that 00:13:31.340 --> 00:13:32.620 they could never really count on, 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:33.560 these gods that never, 00:13:33.640 --> 00:13:34.840 ever saved them 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:35.620 and yet demanded 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:36.580 so much of them. 00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:38.620 And imagine how good 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:39.259 the good news 00:13:39.259 --> 00:13:40.080 of Paul's gospel 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:41.520 must have sounded to them, 00:13:42.160 --> 00:13:42.680 that they, 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:44.879 these former pagan idolaters, 00:13:45.439 --> 00:13:46.219 even they, 00:13:46.839 --> 00:13:47.539 could be saved 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:49.979 simply by faith in Christ. 00:13:51.179 --> 00:13:52.359 But now also imagine 00:13:52.359 --> 00:13:53.799 the Jewish listeners 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:55.179 in this congregation 00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:56.459 who Paul begins to address 00:13:56.459 --> 00:13:57.559 in our text today 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:59.099 in verse 17. 00:13:59.839 --> 00:14:00.979 Chapter 2, verse 17. 00:14:01.099 --> 00:14:02.159 You see, Paul is a Hebrew 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:02.799 of Hebrews. 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:03.839 He's a former Pharisee 00:14:03.839 --> 00:14:05.000 and expert in the law of Moses, 00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:06.559 and so he can anticipate 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:07.939 how the Jewish listeners 00:14:07.939 --> 00:14:09.319 are going to be receiving 00:14:09.319 --> 00:14:10.379 what he has to say 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:11.139 up to this point 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:11.860 in the letter. 00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.319 And what he does 00:14:13.319 --> 00:14:14.539 is he gets into their shoes 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:15.919 and into their state of mind 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:17.399 and he articulates back to them 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.759 their own self-conception, 00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:19.779 starting in chapter 2, 00:14:19.819 --> 00:14:20.340 verse 17. 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.379 Now if you, 00:14:21.819 --> 00:14:22.279 now you, 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.840 if you call yourself a Jew, 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.899 if you identify 00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.939 with the chosen people of Israel, 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.360 if you rely on the law 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:27.879 of Moses, 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:28.159 you know, 00:14:28.199 --> 00:14:28.799 the Torah, 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:30.840 and boast in the one true God, 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:31.480 verse 18, 00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:32.679 if you know his will 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:34.299 and approve what is superior, 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:34.799 that is, 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.179 if you know God's ways, 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.480 if you know right from wrong, 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.279 verse 19, 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:39.019 if you are convinced 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:40.059 that you are a guide 00:14:40.059 --> 00:14:41.439 and that others are blind, 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:43.059 that you are a light to others, 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:45.059 and others are in the dark, 00:14:45.459 --> 00:14:47.000 that you are a wise instructor, 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:48.019 and others are fools, 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:49.059 that you are a teacher, 00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:50.139 others are infants, 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.500 and all because you 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.139 and your people, 00:14:52.319 --> 00:14:52.879 your tribe, 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.379 your team, 00:14:53.459 --> 00:14:54.620 you have the law of Moses, 00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.579 and therefore all this truth 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:57.519 and knowledge from God, 00:14:58.079 --> 00:14:59.139 if you are convinced 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:00.839 that you belong 00:15:00.839 --> 00:15:02.759 to this elite, 00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:03.939 privileged class 00:15:03.939 --> 00:15:05.799 of especially righteous people, 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:06.379 Paul says, 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:08.539 then he flips the script 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:10.019 on them in verse 21, 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.819 you then who teach others, 00:15:12.439 --> 00:15:14.539 do you not teach yourself? 00:15:15.719 --> 00:15:15.939 See, 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:17.039 Paul anticipates here 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:17.719 in verse 17 00:15:17.719 --> 00:15:18.259 and following 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:21.000 that for every tearfully repentant 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:22.939 and convicted Greco-Roman listener 00:15:22.939 --> 00:15:23.859 to his letter, 00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:26.539 there might also very well be 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:28.099 a Jewish congregant 00:15:28.099 --> 00:15:29.299 smugly, 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.899 self-righteously 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.199 nodding their heads 00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:32.639 in agreement 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.620 with every word 00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:34.719 of Paul's letter 00:15:34.719 --> 00:15:35.439 up to this point 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.600 concerning God's wrath 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.840 and God's justice 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:38.480 and his judgment 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:40.000 against pagan idolatry 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.580 and all unrighteousness. 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:43.440 Paul anticipates 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:44.600 the judgmental 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.560 Jewish glances 00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:46.260 aimed toward 00:15:46.260 --> 00:15:47.800 their Greco-Roman neighbors 00:15:47.800 --> 00:15:48.580 in the pews 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.480 around them 00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.680 because, 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:51.620 like, 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.800 to most Jews, 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.620 these were filthy Gentiles 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:56.100 who came from cultures 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:57.860 of pagan religiosity, 00:15:58.040 --> 00:15:58.560 idol worship, 00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:58.960 greed, 00:15:59.140 --> 00:15:59.560 insolence, 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.700 unstable families, 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.300 alternative sexual practices, 00:16:02.700 --> 00:16:03.780 and various other 00:16:03.780 --> 00:16:04.800 depraved habits 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:05.620 that would disgust 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:07.699 any Torah-respecting Jew. 00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:11.219 So to every Jewish congregant 00:16:11.219 --> 00:16:12.899 tempted to self-righteously 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:13.959 gaze upon 00:16:13.959 --> 00:16:14.839 their Greco-Roman 00:16:14.839 --> 00:16:16.339 brothers and sisters 00:16:16.339 --> 00:16:16.859 in Christ 00:16:16.859 --> 00:16:17.579 with contempt 00:16:17.579 --> 00:16:19.439 and with an air of superiority, 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:21.019 Paul has a word for them, 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:23.259 and it's also a word for us. 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.799 Paul asks his Jewish listeners, 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:28.240 are you really as faithful? 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:30.299 Are you really as righteous 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:33.240 as you believe yourselves to be? 00:16:34.199 --> 00:16:36.079 Have you really taught yourselves? 00:16:36.219 --> 00:16:37.219 While preaching against theft, 00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:38.259 do you ever steal? 00:16:38.819 --> 00:16:40.120 While preaching against adultery, 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.500 do you ever commit adultery? 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:43.079 While preaching against idolatry, 00:16:43.219 --> 00:16:46.179 do you ever do anything sacrilegious? 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:48.379 And you know what? 00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:50.019 At least externally, 00:16:50.219 --> 00:16:50.839 there probably were 00:16:50.839 --> 00:16:52.559 many Jewish listeners, 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:53.699 just like many of us today, 00:16:54.359 --> 00:16:55.659 who've never really stolen anything, 00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.279 never slept with someone 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.259 other than our spouse, 00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.659 never robbed any temples. 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.199 And the temptation here is to be like, 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:04.039 oh, so maybe I am righteous 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.319 in the eyes of God, 00:17:05.419 --> 00:17:06.899 saved by my own obedience 00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:07.639 to the law, 00:17:07.679 --> 00:17:08.419 but Paul isn't done. 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.399 And he asks in verse 23, 00:17:10.399 --> 00:17:12.200 you who boast in the law, 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.059 all of it, 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:15.379 do you dishonor God 00:17:15.379 --> 00:17:17.639 by breaking the law? 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.500 And he's saying, 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:19.819 you know, 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.700 don't even answer 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.619 whether or not you steal, 00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:22.539 commit adultery, 00:17:22.679 --> 00:17:23.460 or rob temples. 00:17:23.659 --> 00:17:25.220 Have you ever dishonored God 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:27.000 by breaking the law? 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:28.960 And at this point, 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.039 every mouth is silenced 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.019 because honestly, 00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:31.759 no one, 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.700 no one can plead innocence. 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:34.700 I mean, 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.220 even with the sins of stealing, 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:36.539 right, 00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:37.159 and adultery 00:17:37.159 --> 00:17:38.559 and sacrilegious things, 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:40.059 even if we haven't explicitly 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.960 done any of these things, 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:41.859 ultimately the root 00:17:41.859 --> 00:17:43.079 of every sin 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:44.099 is the same. 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.399 All these sins 00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:46.659 come from the same place 00:17:46.659 --> 00:17:48.039 all other sins come from, 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:50.059 from a sense of self-interest 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.059 and superiority 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:51.879 and hubris 00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:52.579 and arrogance 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.299 and disdain 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:53.879 and contempt 00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:55.979 and just this desire 00:17:55.979 --> 00:17:56.459 and willingness 00:17:56.459 --> 00:17:57.859 to treat other people 00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:58.939 not as people 00:17:58.939 --> 00:18:00.019 but as things, 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.359 to look down on them, 00:18:01.419 --> 00:18:02.159 to use them 00:18:02.159 --> 00:18:03.439 as if we were God 00:18:03.439 --> 00:18:05.059 and God was not. 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:07.179 That the rotten fruit 00:18:07.179 --> 00:18:09.139 might be different 00:18:09.139 --> 00:18:10.379 but the roots 00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:11.259 are always the same. 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.979 And the only difference 00:18:12.979 --> 00:18:13.639 between us 00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:14.399 and a thief 00:18:14.399 --> 00:18:15.159 or an adulterer 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:15.859 or a blasphemer 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.759 or a murderer 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:18.759 is often just opportunity, 00:18:19.919 --> 00:18:20.659 our context, 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.299 desperation, 00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.199 and maybe just 00:18:22.199 --> 00:18:23.139 how far down 00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:24.339 the same wayward path 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.579 we all are. 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:28.539 So Paul says, 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.519 just as it was 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.220 for our people 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:30.879 who had the law 00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:31.659 in the olden days 00:18:31.659 --> 00:18:32.119 of Israel, 00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:33.500 when the prophet Isaiah 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:35.000 indicted our people, 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:36.639 the people who received 00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:37.339 the law of Moses 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:38.740 for being terrible 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.539 representatives 00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.379 of Yahweh 00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:41.079 among the nations, 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.099 so also today, 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:42.940 verse 24, 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.039 as it is written, 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.519 God's name 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.500 is blasphemed 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.899 among the Gentiles 00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:49.200 because of you. 00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:51.899 Because of you, 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.619 he says to them. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:53.659 He's saying, 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.600 in case you thought 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:56.180 that merely having the law, 00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.620 having the truth 00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:58.720 would make you special 00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.980 and invulnerable, 00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:00.900 think again. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.860 Not even circumcision, 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.900 the Jewish sign 00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:04.940 of belonging to God 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.120 and his covenant people, 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.680 not even circumcision, 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.840 in and of itself, 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:10.259 automatically makes you 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:12.540 truly right with God. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:15.119 Now, if you're young 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:15.819 in here 00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:16.500 and you don't know 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.319 what circumcision is, 00:19:17.399 --> 00:19:18.339 go ahead and ask your parents. 00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:19.720 Or if you need 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:21.019 a plan B, 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.619 you can ask Pastor Jonathan 00:19:22.619 --> 00:19:23.740 and he'll explain that to you. 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.259 So I'm not going to do that. 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:26.799 But circumcision 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.420 was this thing 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:29.220 that a lot of Jewish people 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.220 in the first century 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.460 trusted in 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:33.099 for their righteousness, 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:35.000 for their safety 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.940 and security before God. 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.899 Just like some people today 00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:37.599 put more faith 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:38.859 in their baptism 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:40.339 than in Christ 00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:41.599 and thus live 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:42.259 however they want, 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.519 thinking, 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.240 I'm good. 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:44.240 I'm good with God 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.879 just because I got 00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:45.599 some water on me 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:46.839 at some point in my life. 00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:47.599 In the same way, 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:50.059 some of Paul's Jewish readers 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:51.339 thought that their circumcision 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.839 was some kind of magical, 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.259 protective mark 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:54.839 on their bodies 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:55.799 that kept them 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.140 in God's good graces. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:59.720 There was one ancient rabbi 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.519 who even taught 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.839 that Abraham sat 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.799 at the very entrance 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.579 of Gehenna 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.720 and would not let 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:06.200 any circumcised person 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.039 from Israel 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:08.680 go down into Gehenna. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.200 But here in verses 25 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.539 and following, 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:11.960 Paul says, 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.720 it's not enough 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.779 to be Jewish 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:15.100 on the outside 00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:17.420 if you aren't circumcised 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.960 on the inside. 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.380 Verse 28, 00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:22.600 A person is not a Jew 00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:24.560 who is one only outwardly 00:20:24.560 --> 00:20:25.940 nor is circumcision 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:27.280 merely outward and physical. 00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:27.720 No, 00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:29.280 a person is a Jew, 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.600 a person truly belongs 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.460 to God's people 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:33.540 who is one inwardly. 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:35.120 And circumcision 00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:35.960 is circumcision 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.340 of the heart 00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:39.420 by the Spirit, 00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:41.540 not by the written code. 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.840 Such a person's praise 00:20:42.840 --> 00:20:44.020 is not from other people 00:20:44.020 --> 00:20:45.220 but from God. 00:20:45.260 --> 00:20:45.520 And you see, 00:20:45.580 --> 00:20:46.340 what Paul is saying 00:20:46.340 --> 00:20:48.500 directly to his Jewish listeners 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.880 and even to those of us 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.819 who think that we are safe 00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.200 and sound 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.799 because maybe 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.900 we have the Bible, 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.720 we have the truth, 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.819 we've picked the right religion, 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:55.660 we've been baptized, 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:56.779 we're members of a church, 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:58.220 we go to church on Sundays. 00:20:59.059 --> 00:20:59.980 What God's Word 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:01.299 is saying to all of us 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.900 is that it's not enough 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:05.119 to possess God's truth 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:07.000 but God's truth 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.960 has to possess us. 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.940 It's not enough 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:11.960 to have God's truth 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.920 but God's truth 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:14.059 has to have a hold 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:15.119 hold on us, 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.039 all of us, 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.559 on our hearts. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.319 Like just because 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.039 we have the truth 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.879 doesn't mean the truth 00:21:20.879 --> 00:21:21.480 will necessarily 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.579 work itself out 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:23.139 in our lives, 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.720 Paul says. 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.759 I think about a Peloton, 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.359 all right? 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.460 You know, 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.259 I actually have a friend 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:31.259 and he's a little overweight 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:31.799 and, 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.799 well he's a lot overweight 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:35.379 and he decided to get 00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:37.599 an expensive stationary bike 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.639 and put it in his room 00:21:38.639 --> 00:21:39.500 to get healthy. 00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:40.919 But you know, 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:41.659 the last time 00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.720 I was in his room, 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:45.400 his bike was not being used. 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:45.680 In fact, 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:47.120 it was being misused 00:21:47.120 --> 00:21:48.799 as a laundry rack. 00:21:50.100 --> 00:21:51.140 And so even though 00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:53.339 he had the stationary bike, 00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:55.299 he hadn't allowed the bike 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:56.440 to have any of him. 00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:58.980 Even though he had this resource 00:21:58.980 --> 00:22:00.259 to help him lose weight 00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:00.880 and get healthy, 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:02.279 he never worked this helpful 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.759 life-giving resource 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:05.019 into his life. 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:05.640 And I wonder 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:07.360 how many of us Christians 00:22:07.360 --> 00:22:09.980 are in this similar situation today. 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:12.259 We feel secure 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.460 in our relationship with God 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.140 because maybe 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:15.660 one prayer that we prayed 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:16.920 when we were in third grade, 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.720 we feel secure 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.619 in our relationship with God 00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.319 because we have 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:21.279 and know our Bibles 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:23.119 and we say we believe them 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:24.019 and agree with them 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.539 even though we don't 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.359 really open them up, 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.759 we don't meditate on them, 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:28.220 we don't memorize them, 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.119 we don't study them. 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.779 Or we find security 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.379 before God 00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:31.879 because we know 00:22:31.879 --> 00:22:32.960 all the right things about God. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.339 Oh yeah, 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.519 I believe he's triune. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:35.759 I believe that Jesus 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.879 is God and man, 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.099 that God is omnipotent. 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:38.839 I know those words, 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.599 omniscience, 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:41.160 omnipresence, 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:42.779 that he's a sovereign creator. 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.860 We know all these things 00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:44.380 about him, 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:46.000 but so do the demons 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.700 and so does Satan. 00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:50.220 Even though this knowledge 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.759 mostly just stays in our heads 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.900 without affecting our hearts 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:53.880 and our hands. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.360 We know he's God, 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.060 but we don't worship 00:22:57.060 --> 00:22:58.480 and serve him as such. 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.800 Or maybe we've been baptized, 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.660 but we don't live 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.900 like we've been washed clean. 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.680 We don't live 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.800 like the Holy Spirit 00:23:04.800 --> 00:23:07.019 has been poured out upon us. 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.160 You see, 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.799 just as Paul was saying, 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.980 it's not enough 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.180 to simply identify 00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.579 as being Jewish 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.259 or to have 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.839 or know the law 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:19.099 or even to be circumcised. 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.839 And the same goes for us. 00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:21.420 It's not enough 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.940 to identify as a Christian 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:24.200 or to have and know the Bible 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.619 or to even be baptized. 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:26.819 To be a Christian 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:28.319 isn't merely to agree 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:30.400 with the doctrines 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:31.240 of Christianity. 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:33.180 To be a Christian 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.700 is not just to assent 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:36.480 to something in your head. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.680 No, to truly be a Christian, 00:23:39.580 --> 00:23:41.519 we must be so cut to the heart 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:43.120 by the truth of God 00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:45.220 that it works itself out 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.720 in our hands as well. 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.819 The God of Christianity, 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.240 the God of the Scriptures 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.980 isn't simply after our heads 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:53.100 just wanting us to know 00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:54.880 and believe the right things, 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:55.640 you know, intellectually 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.960 and rationally, 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.680 and neither is he 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:59.180 simply after our hands 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.779 needing us to serve him 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:02.180 and do the right things 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:03.660 to earn our righteous status 00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:04.240 before him 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:04.900 or save the world 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:05.279 on our own. 00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:06.660 No, the God of the Bible 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:08.300 is a God who, 00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.300 first and foremost, 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:11.200 he's after our hearts. 00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:14.140 He's after our affections. 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:16.540 He wants us to love him 00:24:16.540 --> 00:24:18.220 with all our heart, soul, 00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.180 mind, and strength 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.420 and to love others 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:21.540 as ourselves 00:24:21.540 --> 00:24:22.480 just like he has. 00:24:23.360 --> 00:24:24.940 He wants to cut out 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:27.220 a special, central section 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.120 in our hearts 00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:29.720 forever marked as his own. 00:24:30.060 --> 00:24:30.740 And that's what Paul 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.300 is getting at 00:24:31.300 --> 00:24:32.100 in verse 29 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.539 when he says, 00:24:32.659 --> 00:24:33.399 a person is a Jew 00:24:33.399 --> 00:24:35.159 who is one inwardly 00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:36.379 and circumcision 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:37.099 is circumcision 00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:38.359 of the heart 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:39.759 by the Spirit 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:41.579 not by the written code. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.379 Paul is saying 00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:44.219 it's one thing 00:24:44.219 --> 00:24:46.379 to be circumcised externally 00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:47.699 but what matters more 00:24:47.699 --> 00:24:49.240 is a circumcision 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.779 of the heart. 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.459 And by that he means 00:24:52.459 --> 00:24:53.819 a heart that is tender 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:55.439 and set apart 00:24:55.439 --> 00:24:56.639 and marked off 00:24:56.639 --> 00:24:57.219 and dedicated 00:24:57.219 --> 00:24:57.859 to loving 00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:59.439 and serving God 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.600 fully, heart, soul, 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:02.019 mind, and strength. 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:03.120 That's what God deems 00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.820 it says here 00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:05.440 as most praiseworthy 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:07.460 compared to whatever else 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.600 other people might praise. 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.880 A circumcised heart 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:10.860 is what God praises. 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.779 Something only the Holy Spirit 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.559 can do 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:15.220 and not the written code 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.000 of the law. 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:19.620 Now maybe you're here today though 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.980 and you think to yourself 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.360 well that's precisely my problem 00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:24.460 that I can't circumcise 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.320 my own heart. 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:27.659 Like I know that there are 00:25:27.659 --> 00:25:29.259 some of us here today 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:32.740 and maybe you even want this. 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.779 Maybe you got it all lined up 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.359 in your head. 00:25:35.899 --> 00:25:36.599 You're trying to live 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.179 this Christian way 00:25:37.179 --> 00:25:38.019 but there's something 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:39.480 that's just not fitting right 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.779 with your heart. 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.220 And maybe you want it 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.059 but you're just not there yet. 00:25:43.179 --> 00:25:44.220 Your head, your heart, 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:44.960 and your hands 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.240 just aren't all lined up 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:47.460 and it's frustrating to you 00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:49.460 how little control you have 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:51.259 over your own heart. 00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:53.379 And I want to encourage you 00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:55.840 to continue drawing near to God 00:25:55.840 --> 00:25:57.620 as he draws near to you. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:00.160 And I want you to know 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.500 that even in your frustration, 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.380 this frustration of yours 00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:04.800 that you cannot circumcise 00:26:04.800 --> 00:26:05.540 your own heart, 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:06.740 I want you to know 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.880 that that is the whole point 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.760 of the gospel. 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:11.380 That God has to do it for you. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.960 And that God always comes 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:15.340 where he's truly wanted. 00:26:16.320 --> 00:26:17.600 So I want to encourage you 00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:18.420 to continue meditating 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.400 on the gospel. 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:21.620 The good news about Jesus 00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:22.519 is that really circumcision 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:24.339 was always really meant 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.559 to point to in the first place. 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.579 You see, circumcision, 00:26:27.419 --> 00:26:29.479 the sign of covenant inclusion, 00:26:29.979 --> 00:26:30.779 was never meant to be 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:33.379 some kind of magical identity badge 00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:34.439 marking out some people 00:26:34.439 --> 00:26:35.959 as special or superior 00:26:35.959 --> 00:26:37.399 in comparison to others 00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:38.859 without the sign of circumcision. 00:26:38.979 --> 00:26:39.759 No, circumcision 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:41.219 was always meant to be 00:26:41.219 --> 00:26:42.959 a picture of something 00:26:42.959 --> 00:26:44.239 that we could not do 00:26:44.239 --> 00:26:45.579 for ourselves. 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:47.299 Really, circumcision 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.479 was a sign of the covenant 00:26:48.479 --> 00:26:50.000 insofar as it was a picture 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.980 of the seriousness 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.920 of the covenant 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.619 that those who violated 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:55.359 their covenant relationship 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.299 with their maker, 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:56.940 with Yahweh, 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.759 deserved to be cut off 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.259 and torn apart. 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.000 And don't you see 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:03.059 that this is exactly 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:05.619 what happened in Christ? 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.400 In our place, 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:07.900 Christ, 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.339 the only covenant keeper, 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.019 the only one 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:11.339 who never broke the law, 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.880 the only one 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:12.519 who always, 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:13.380 ever, 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:15.579 always honored God. 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.279 Paul says elsewhere 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.519 in his letter to Colossae 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.660 that in Christ, 00:27:20.139 --> 00:27:20.920 by his death, 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.359 we were circumcised. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.960 Our sin natures 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.680 put to death 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.720 and buried with him, 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.759 nailed to a cross, 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:28.079 our debts canceled. 00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:29.579 And this, 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.639 this gospel truth 00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:32.759 is the only kind of truth 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.680 that can change our hearts. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.359 The truth of God's 00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:37.359 sacrificial love 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.740 for us in Christ. 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:39.599 In other words, 00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:41.079 the written code of the law 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:42.000 could only ever tell us 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.859 to obey 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:44.500 and to get circumcised. 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:46.019 The spirit of the gospel 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:47.059 proclaims to us 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:47.819 that Christ 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:49.919 has obeyed the law 00:27:49.919 --> 00:27:50.720 in our place 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.099 and that Christ 00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:53.379 is our circumcision, 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.240 the one who bore 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.299 our covenant curse 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.519 and was cut off 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:57.720 so that we might live, 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.019 so that we might be forgiven. 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:01.159 And the question for us is, 00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:02.299 do we just have 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.339 a hold of this truth 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.059 in our heads 00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.819 or does this truth 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.839 have a hold of our hearts 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:07.039 and our hands as well? 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:08.440 You know, 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.599 in verse 29, 00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.460 chapter 2, 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.159 verse 29, 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.139 chapter 2, 00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:13.619 it closes 00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:15.079 with this interesting line 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:16.159 about the person 00:28:16.159 --> 00:28:17.480 whose heart is circumcised 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.519 by the spirit 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.439 rather than the written 00:28:19.439 --> 00:28:20.659 code of the law. 00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.500 And Paul says 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:24.079 that such a person's praise, 00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:24.460 listen, 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.720 such a person's praise 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:27.639 is not from other people 00:28:27.639 --> 00:28:29.179 but from who? 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.919 It's from God. 00:28:31.199 --> 00:28:32.119 And I think that 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:33.159 that is so key 00:28:33.159 --> 00:28:34.519 to what Paul 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.799 is trying to accomplish 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.579 in his letter 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.480 to the Romans 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:39.079 in this mixed congregation 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.879 of Jewish 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:41.439 and Greco-Roman people. 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.319 I think it's so key 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.799 to what he's doing there 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.759 and what God's doing 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.339 here through us. 00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:48.539 What God wants to do 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.359 by the logic 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:50.279 of his gospel. 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:51.939 You know, 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.119 when I yelled 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:54.379 at those high schoolers 00:28:54.379 --> 00:28:55.619 that were, 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.019 when I told them, 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.179 you know, 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:57.899 you're all going to hell 00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:58.720 20 years ago, 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:01.079 I was doing so 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:02.519 from my tribe, 00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.220 right? 00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:04.259 And on behalf 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.200 of my tribe. 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:06.960 And I even remember 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:08.319 my two Christian buddies 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:09.960 running beside me 00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.379 chuckling 00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:11.859 at what they understood 00:29:11.859 --> 00:29:12.319 to be, 00:29:12.399 --> 00:29:12.500 yeah, 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.559 maybe brash, 00:29:13.979 --> 00:29:15.000 but in their minds 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.559 probably a true statement. 00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:19.059 And this was all part 00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:19.779 of our tribal 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.740 understanding 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:22.019 of Christianity. 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.259 And you know, 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.019 their chuckles, 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.539 it made me feel affirmed, 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:26.819 right? 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.240 I felt like I had 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:28.779 their praise, 00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:29.799 I had their affirmation, 00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:30.740 I had the approval 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:32.859 of my tribe. 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:34.779 You know, 00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.279 this is how 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.299 every single 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.559 tribal identity 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.219 works though. 00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.879 Every hostile 00:29:39.879 --> 00:29:40.479 in-group, 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.219 out-group 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:41.839 dynamic, 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.660 it's always about 00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.680 seeking the praise 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:46.039 of mere mortals 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:47.259 from within 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:47.880 our tribe, 00:29:48.620 --> 00:29:48.900 right? 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.500 And even when 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.220 God is often 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:51.779 involved 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:53.440 in our tribalistic 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.220 ways, 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.039 God is made out 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.620 to be a God 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.339 in our own image, 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:56.519 right? 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.440 Some parochial God 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.039 who only serves 00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.660 our interests, 00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:58.920 right? 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.420 A God who 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:01.980 hates the uncircumcised 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.579 or who hates 00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:03.279 those who don't 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:03.860 eat kosher 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.920 or a God who hates 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.539 those who vote 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.680 differently than we do. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.279 A God who hates 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.559 the particular sins 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.759 of this certain group 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.680 but tolerates 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.920 all of our behavior. 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.460 But Paul says 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.680 that those who have 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.279 had their hearts 00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.079 circumcised 00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:18.259 by the Spirit, 00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:20.420 hearts made tender 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.480 by the gospel, 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:23.319 this message 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:24.019 about the righteous 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.720 Son of God, 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:26.680 sacrificing His life 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.200 to save 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:28.440 the unrighteous, 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:30.539 they no longer 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.039 need, 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:31.799 want, 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:33.200 or even satisfied 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.900 by the hollow 00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:34.460 praises 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.720 of mere 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.700 mortals. 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:38.539 but their praise, 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.160 Paul says, 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.620 is from God. 00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:42.180 And man, 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:42.960 isn't that 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:44.299 not only 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:46.200 incredibly liberating 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:48.400 to not have to live 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:48.900 for the praise 00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.400 of fickle, 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:49.819 flawed, 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.500 and finite 00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.920 human beings anymore 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:52.600 but isn't it 00:30:52.600 --> 00:30:53.340 just altogether 00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:54.039 better? 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.059 Like who cares 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.680 what the peasants 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.500 think if I have 00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:57.980 the love 00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.960 and affirmation 00:30:58.960 --> 00:30:59.900 of the King, 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:00.600 right? 00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:01.519 If I have 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.279 the adoration 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.400 of the King, 00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:04.620 who cares 00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.200 how the world 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:05.900 values me 00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:06.400 or how much 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:07.580 praise they give me 00:31:07.580 --> 00:31:08.420 if the creator 00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:09.160 of the world 00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:10.060 praises me 00:31:10.060 --> 00:31:11.280 for my immaculate 00:31:11.280 --> 00:31:12.380 righteousness 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:13.620 in Christ 00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.820 by faith. 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.220 And not only 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:18.080 is this liberating 00:31:18.080 --> 00:31:19.259 and life-giving 00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.040 and the highest 00:31:20.040 --> 00:31:21.420 possible honor 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.019 to receive 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.780 the praise 00:31:22.780 --> 00:31:23.320 of God 00:31:23.320 --> 00:31:23.900 because of what 00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.680 Christ has done 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.259 for us, 00:31:25.320 --> 00:31:25.840 but don't you see 00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:26.780 how it also opens 00:31:26.780 --> 00:31:27.560 up our hearts 00:31:27.560 --> 00:31:28.500 toward any 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.700 and everybody 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.160 no matter 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:31.060 how different 00:31:31.060 --> 00:31:31.840 they are 00:31:31.840 --> 00:31:32.800 from us? 00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.420 Like how 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:36.600 simultaneously 00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:38.840 destroys any 00:31:38.840 --> 00:31:39.840 reason we might 00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:40.759 have to boast 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:41.680 of our own 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.460 superiority. 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:44.320 And yet it 00:31:44.320 --> 00:31:45.600 doesn't reduce us 00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.160 to a humility 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:47.480 that is humiliating 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.779 and dehumanizing 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:49.720 and dishonorable, 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.500 but rather it 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.180 maintains for us 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.740 a noble, 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.660 confident, 00:31:53.060 --> 00:31:53.400 secure, 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.160 and honorable 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:55.100 humility 00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:56.320 in Christ. 00:31:57.300 --> 00:31:58.120 See, this is the 00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:59.440 incredible logic 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.380 of the gospel 00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:01.640 that Paul is 00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:02.080 commending 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:02.779 to the church 00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.139 in Rome. 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:04.679 In Christ's church, 00:32:05.099 --> 00:32:05.799 God commends it 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:06.859 to us today 00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.720 as well. 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:09.859 The power of God 00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:10.939 unto salvation, 00:32:11.899 --> 00:32:12.699 the good news, 00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:13.000 right? 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.019 The power of God 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.859 unto salvation 00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:16.939 for everyone, 00:32:17.639 --> 00:32:18.799 every kind of person 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:20.220 who believes. 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:21.639 And that's the 00:32:21.639 --> 00:32:22.559 good news of Jesus, 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.679 that's the good news 00:32:23.679 --> 00:32:24.720 of Pentecost, 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.819 and that's the good news 00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:28.059 that will transform 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:28.879 our lives 00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:30.119 and our city. 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:31.539 In the name of the 00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:31.799 Father, 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.379 the Son, 00:32:32.699 --> 00:32:33.539 and the Holy Spirit. 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:34.299 Will you pray with me? 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:42.159 Father, would you 00:32:42.159 --> 00:32:43.079 forgive our 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:44.699 tribalistic 00:32:44.699 --> 00:32:45.799 instincts, 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:47.239 our tribalistic 00:32:47.239 --> 00:32:48.539 ways, 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.819 our scarcity 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:52.199 mindsets, 00:32:52.359 --> 00:32:53.299 and all the divisions 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.919 and barriers 00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.839 that we put up 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:57.879 to position 00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:58.379 ourselves 00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:59.980 as superior 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:01.919 to others? 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:03.839 God, the truth 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:04.639 of the matter 00:33:04.639 --> 00:33:05.139 is that we are 00:33:05.139 --> 00:33:05.519 insecure 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:07.699 because we know 00:33:07.699 --> 00:33:08.179 we've rebelled 00:33:08.179 --> 00:33:08.759 against you. 00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:09.359 We know what's 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:10.139 coming to us 00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:10.639 and we're just 00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.039 trying to get 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.879 as much as we can 00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:12.980 before we meet 00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:13.819 our maker. 00:33:14.419 --> 00:33:14.720 But God, 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.459 you've offered us 00:33:15.459 --> 00:33:16.139 a better way. 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.220 You've offered us 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.659 abundance in Christ. 00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:22.720 You've offered us 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:23.599 not uniformity, 00:33:23.679 --> 00:33:24.879 but true unity 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.780 in diversity 00:33:25.780 --> 00:33:27.900 by your Spirit. 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:29.540 You've leveled 00:33:29.540 --> 00:33:30.420 the playing field. 00:33:30.860 --> 00:33:31.500 We're all sinners 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.240 before you 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.780 and we can all 00:33:33.780 --> 00:33:34.460 be saved 00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.740 the same way 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.940 by grace 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.860 through faith 00:33:37.860 --> 00:33:38.880 in Christ. 00:33:40.280 --> 00:33:40.860 Would you make 00:33:40.860 --> 00:33:41.480 this a church, 00:33:41.560 --> 00:33:41.980 oh God, 00:33:42.820 --> 00:33:43.640 that bears witness 00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:44.400 to that wonderful 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.000 reality? 00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.340 Would you make 00:33:47.340 --> 00:33:47.980 us a church 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.460 that tears down 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:50.120 these barriers 00:33:50.120 --> 00:33:50.620 in the name 00:33:50.620 --> 00:33:51.100 of Jesus 00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:53.840 and with the Spirit, 00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.540 with the power 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.139 of the Spirit 00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:55.980 be so evident 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:59.019 here as we go forth 00:33:59.019 --> 00:34:00.420 making disciples 00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.379 of all the nations 00:34:01.379 --> 00:34:02.440 in the name 00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:02.899 of Jesus. 00:34:02.899 --> 00:34:04.019 Amen.