I'm going to talk to you this morning about being ransomed, righteous, and reconciled.
Good alliteration there, okay?
Ransomed, righteous, and reconciled.
We're going to start in 1 Samuel 21.
You can either, I can either read it to you or you can look it up yourself.
Either way, it's fine with me.
But we're going to start in 1 Samuel 21.
Again, ransomed, righteous, and reconciled.
So, 1 Samuel 21, this is after Jonathan and David got together.
And they had their little plan to figure out whether Saul was for David or not.
Finds out that David, or Saul, Jonathan just finds out actually Saul wants to kill David.
And Jonathan gives him the heads up and he gets his 1 Samuel 21.
1 Samuel 21, starting in verse 1, says,
Then David came to Nab, to Ahimelech the priest.
And Ahimelech came to meet David, trembling, and said to him,
Why are you alone and no one with you?
David said to Ahimelech the priest,
The king has charged me with a matter and said to me,
Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you and with which I have charged you.
I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place.
All right, time out.
Is that true?
No, that's not true.
He just lied to him.
The king did not send him.
The king's trying to kill him.
Right?
So, that's not true.
So, this is the beginning of David's...
What's that one book?
It's like David's very bad, no good, horrible day, whatever.
That would be this day for David.
Okay, this is the beginning of a really bad day.
Okay?
But what does it start with?
It starts with David telling a lie.
Okay?
Give me some of the bread.
Before he gets that, he's like, you know, what are you doing here?
He's like, oh, I have this, you know, king sent me.
I got this secret matter you can't tell anybody about.
No, he's lying.
That's not true.
That's not what happened.
Verse 3.
Now then, what do you have on hand?
Give me five loaves of bread or whatever is here.
And the priest answered David, I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread.
Yet the young men have kept themselves from women.
And David answered the priest, truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on expedition.
The vessels of the young men are holy, even when it is an ordinary journey.
How much more today would their vessels be holy?
So the priest gave him the holy bread.
There was no bread there but the bread of the presence, which is removed from before the Lord,
to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.
Verse 7.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord.
His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen.
Okay, so this is one of Saul's guys.
David said to Himalek,
Then have you not here a spear or sword at hand?
For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
Again, he's lying.
This is not about the king's business.
This is about him actually running away from the king.
Okay?
The priest said,
Sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom he struck down in the valley of Elah,
behold, it is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod.
If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.
And David said,
There is none like that.
Give it to me.
David and David rose and fled that day from Saul.
Again, that gives you the real story here.
David rose and fled.
Not on some secret mission for Saul.
David rose and fled Saul on that day.
Okay?
Fast forward a little further to 1 Samuel 22, verse 6.
Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him.
Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarass tree on the height with a spear in his hand,
and all his servants were standing about him.
Saul said to his servants who stood about him,
Hear now, people of Benjamin,
will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards?
Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds,
that all of you conspired against me?
No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse?
None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me
to lie in wait as at this day?
Verse 9.
Then answered Doeg the Edomite.
This is the guy who was there when he went to the priest.
Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul.
I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech, the son of Ahittab.
And he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahittab,
and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob.
And all of them came to the king.
And Saul said, Hear now, son of Ahittab.
And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
And Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me,
you and the son of Jesse,
that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him,
so that he has risen against me to lie in wait as at this day?
Then Ahimelech answered the king,
And who among all your servants is so faithful as David?
Who is the king's son-in-law and captain over your bodyguard and honored in your house?
Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him?
No!
Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father,
for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.
And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech,
you and all your father's house.
And the king said to the guard who stood about him,
Turn and kill the priests of the Lord,
because their hand also is with David.
And they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.
But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord.
Then the king said to Doeg, You turn and strike the priests.
And again, this is the guy who saw him there.
It says,
How many?
He killed on that day 85 persons who wore the linen ephod.
And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword.
Both man and woman, child and infant,
ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.
Consequential lied, wouldn't you say?
But one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahithub, named Abiathar,
escaped and fled after David.
And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord.
And David said to Abiathar,
I knew on that day when Doeg the Edomite was there,
that he would surely tell Saul,
I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house.
Stay with me.
Do not be afraid.
For he who seeks my life seeks your life.
With me you shall be in safe keeping.
Okay?
So David knows it.
He says, I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house.
He takes responsibility for it.
But that's a bad day.
Romans 3.23 says,
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We all know sin.
We all have fallen short.
We've all sinned.
Okay?
So we can all relate to sinning.
But maybe we can't relate to this kind of consequence for sin.
And yet sometimes when we sin,
we feel this weight of responsibility as we should.
We feel condemnation sometimes.
We feel the consequences of our sins
because there is consequences to sins,
sometimes worse than others.
But this lie that David's told,
85 priests get killed,
men and the women,
children and the infants,
all the animals.
That's rough.
Imagine having that on your conscience.
Oh my gosh.
Look what just happened.
Right?
That's a weight that was on him.
And we don't have to wonder
whether or not he did actually take that on
because he said,
I have occasioned the death
of all the persons of your father's house.
So we can relate to the fact
that we've sinned and fallen short.
But you've probably never sinned
where 85 pastors were killed
because of what you did.
And then all their wives and kids as well.
You know,
this is a big thing.
The great thing about David
is when we read about David,
there's more about David in the Bible
than really any other person in the Bible.
And so there's all these Psalms that he wrote.
You can kind of find out what he was thinking
during particular times.
So if you look at Psalm 52,
on the top of Psalm 52,
and it kind of says when this was written
or what's,
they give you that little kind of insight there.
It says to the choir master,
a mascal of David,
when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul,
David has come to the house of Ahimelech.
Okay?
So this is basically the Psalm he wrote
after all this, right?
What does he say?
Let's get insight into what David was thinking.
Surely he's going to write this Psalm
about how horrible of a person he is
and how he just deserves to die himself
and probably beats himself up.
Surely you would think that's what he's going to write, right?
Well, let's take a look.
Why do you boast of evil, almighty man?
The steadfast love of God endures all the day.
Your tongue plots destruction like a sharp razor,
you worker of deceit.
You love evil more than good
and lying more than speaking what is right.
You love all the words that devour,
oh deceitful tongue.
But God will break you down forever.
He will snatch and tear you from your tent.
He will uproot you from the land of the living.
The righteous shall see in fear
and shall laugh at him,
saying, see the man who would not make God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches
and sought refuge in his own destruction.
Okay, so stop there.
That's him talking about Doeg, right?
He has some strong feelings about Doeg, clearly, here,
and refers to him as an evil man
and just pronounces all these things.
But the question is, what about David?
What's David thinking about David after all this?
Well, verse 8 tells us what David thinks about David.
This is David's perspective on himself
right after this happened.
I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
I will thank you forever because you have done it.
I will wait for your name for it is good
in the presence of the godly.
Isn't that an interesting take on it?
When you have just fallen into sin
and you think, wow, there's a lot of consequence to this.
I feel really bad about this.
I feel tempted to be condemned.
Do you usually say,
I'm an olive tree thriving in the house of God?
Is that usually what you say?
You usually say,
I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
I'm thriving.
Thriving?
What do you mean you're thriving?
85 priests were killed.
A whole city was wiped out,
including children and infants.
And you're an olive tree thriving in the house of God?
Is this not the good news?
Did David not have an insight into something that was real,
that we were going to get way more insight
when people like Paul would write about it later
and when Jesus would come?
That our sins don't ultimately define us
when we trust in his steadfast love,
when we trust in the blood of Christ,
when we trust in God's redeeming power,
we can say,
I am an olive tree thriving in the house of God.
I would actually believe what you believe about God
right after you sin
is one of the most important things
you believe about God in all time.
Because if you don't believe,
like Seth talked about justification last week,
if you don't believe in justification
and being right with God,
if you only believe that when you do good things,
but when you do bad things,
you don't believe it,
is it really justification in Christ
that you believe in it?
Or is it justification by your good works?
And if it is justification by your good works,
I got news for you.
It ain't good enough.
Never has been, never will be.
Nobody can do enough good things to earn God's love.
And your attempt to do good things to earn God's love
is the biggest offense of them all.
It's an affront.
It's the most arrogant thing you can do
is to thank God.
I can do this without you.
I can do this on my own.
I am my own redeemer.
I am my own savior.
What is more arrogant than to say,
I am an olive tree thriving in the house of God
only when I do good things,
rather than to boast on the cross of Christ
and say, I'm an olive tree thriving in the house of God
because of what Jesus did,
not because of what I've done
or haven't done or whatever.
That's the challenge.
What do you believe after you've sinned?
Now, I'm not saying we don't take a,
we should have a sense of weight, remorse, urgency.
We should have a sense of godly grief that happens there.
But again, when we sin and sin will come,
what do we believe about God in that moment?
What do we believe about ourselves in Christ?
Now, those who are in Christ,
those who call yourselves Christians,
who are believers in Christ,
do you believe in Christ after you've sinned?
Or do you only believe in Christ
after three days of walking in penance?
You know, after feeling bad about myself for three days,
my form of paying for my sin
is to feel bad for a few days.
Few hours, few days, few weeks.
You pick.
Everyone's different.
At the end of the day,
your few hours, your few days, your few weeks,
none of them pay for your sin.
Only one thing is good enough to pay for your sin
because all have sinned and fallen short.
And that is the blood of Jesus.
That's the blood of Jesus.
So I want to look at three aspects of the gospel
that if we believe,
we could become like David in that,
the man after God's own heart,
and start to believe that I'm an olive tree
thriving in the house of God,
not because of my goodness,
but actually despite my badness,
because of God's goodness and righteousness
that's been imputed to me through Christ.
All right?
So we're going to look at these three things.
Ransomed,
ransomed, righteous, and reconciled.
Okay?
Let's look at the first one.
Ransomed.
Okay?
What does ransom mean?
Definition of ransom is to free from captivity
or punishment by paying a price.
To free from captivity or punishment
by paying a price.
Okay?
So there's a certain captivity to sin,
and there's a punishment of sin
that is justly upon every sinner
called the wrath of God.
It's just.
It's right.
And some people say,
well, isn't hell kind of an extreme thing?
You live this short little life,
and if you've fallen short of God's glory
in this little life,
you're supposed to,
it's a just punishment
to have eternal suffering and pain
forever and ever and ever?
Well, it depends how bad the crime is.
You might say,
well, surely the amount of sins
I could commit
in that amount of time
wouldn't equate
a just punishment
of eternal fire and pain.
Well, it's not the time frame
that you sinned in,
it's who you sinned against.
It's not the time frame
that you sinned in,
it's who you sinned against.
It's kind of like, you know,
if I walk up to Adam one day
and I just slapped him in the face,
you know,
he might get upset at me,
he slapped me back,
and maybe that'd be the worst thing.
Or, but I'm not, you know,
no one's going to arrest me
or anything, right?
If I walked up to a police officer
and slapped him in the face,
well, that might be
a little different, right?
The consequences will be different.
If Mayor Lucas, you know,
was walking downtown
and I saw him
and I walked up
and slapped him in the face,
consequences would be
even stronger.
And if Biden just happened
to be in town,
President Biden,
and I went up
and slapped him in the face,
you might not see me
for a while, okay?
Why?
Why is it different?
It's the same crime.
Slapping in the face.
Slapping Adam.
Slapping a cop.
Slapping Mayor Lucas.
Slapping President Biden.
Why the same crime
having different consequences?
Because it's all about
who you've sinned against.
You understand?
And so the reason
the just punishment
for our sin
is eternal punishment
in hell
where the fire
does not go out
is because it's a sin
against the Holy God.
It's a sin
against God himself.
And God isn't just
holy with limits.
God is holy,
perfect,
righteous,
demanding holiness
himself
from us
without limit.
Like there's no limit
to his holiness.
It's not like
if you dive into
God's holiness,
eventually you get to a point
where like,
I've exhausted it.
I've seen all God's holiness.
No, it never ends.
He's so other,
so much bigger,
so much greater,
so much pure.
Like to even,
it's infinite.
Therefore,
the sin against
an infinitely holy God
is infinitely wicked.
Therefore,
requiring of a punishment
that lasts forever.
That's the just punishment.
You could say
we are under punishment
and captivity
to our sin.
We need a ransom.
If someone doesn't pay
for our ransom,
it's still upon us.
The wrath of God
is still upon us.
And the truth is,
all who walk
the face of the earth
and have ever walked
the face of the earth,
all the people
who have ever been,
even if they haven't walked,
every single person
who's ever existed,
okay,
unless that ransom
is paid,
they are under
the wrath of God.
But,
Jesus came to pay
our ransom.
Mark 10, 45 says,
for even the Son of Man
came not to be served,
but to serve
and to give his life
as a ransom for many.
His life
was sacrificed
to pay
the penalty
to ransom us
from captivity.
1 Peter 1, 18-19
says,
you were ransomed
from the futile ways
inherited from your forefathers,
not with perishable things
such as silver or gold,
but with the precious
blood of Jesus.
Precious blood of Christ,
like that of a lamb
without blemish
or spot,
okay,
so there was a payment
that was paid
and with anyone
who's in captivity,
who's being,
who's held captive,
in order for them
to get out,
they need a ransom.
The ransom has to be paid.
Jesus paid our ransom
with himself,
with his own blood.
Revelation 5, 9 says,
you were slain,
speaking of Jesus,
and by your blood,
you ransomed people
for God
from every tribe
and language
and people
and nation.
Colossians 2 goes further
to say,
in verse 13 through 15,
and you were dead
in your trespasses
and the uncircumcision
of your flesh.
God made alive
together with him,
having forgiven us
all our trespasses
by canceling
the record of debt
that stood against us
with its legal demands.
This he set aside,
nailing it to the cross.
He disarmed the rulers
and authorities
and put them to open shame
by triumphing
over them in him.
So one of the worst parts
about sin is
once you sin,
you feel this demand
on you.
You feel like,
I have committed a crime
that must be paid for,
that must be atoned for.
And there's this,
the reason oftentimes
we feel bad
or we try to do
certain things
is because inherently
without even anybody
telling us,
we believe sin
needs to be paid for
or atoned for.
That a crime
has been committed
that now needs
to be paid for.
We feel that.
And the question is,
do you believe
that there is a ransom
for your sin?
And if you do believe that
and you are in Christ,
do you believe it
sometimes or all the time?
Do you believe
that the ransom
that was paid
was good enough
for all the sins
you have committed,
are committing,
and will commit?
Was the sacrifice sufficient?
Was Jesus' blood enough?
Or do you have to add to it
some kind of penance
and moral flagellation
and beating yourself up
and I must stay
under condemnation
for you days?
Essentially because
what I'm saying is,
you know what?
The blood of Jesus
just doesn't quite cut it.
I gotta make sure
I add to it
because the ransom
wasn't enough to pay.
I have to pay for it
myself as well.
It's disgusting.
That's a disgusting thought.
It's gross.
It's gross to tarnish
the perfect,
pure blood of Christ
that paid our ransom
and canceled the debt
that stood there.
Canceled the debt.
Nailed it to the cross.
Debt paid.
It is finished.
What did Jesus mean
when he said that?
He didn't say
it's almost done.
You know,
on Good Friday
we don't read
the Gospels
and say
Jesus cried out
it's almost done.
He said
it's finished.
He didn't say
it's almost done.
Now you finish it.
I went as far
as I could go
but I'm such a wimpy
little God
I couldn't do it.
You have the power
to do it
because you're so amazing.
No,
he didn't say that.
He said
it is finished.
He didn't say it
weekly.
He said it confidently
hanging on a cross
because he knew
that he just paid
the price
and the record
was cancelled
that was against us.
It's been nailed
to the cross
and died with him
and is no longer there.
Do you believe that?
Do you believe it
in the noonday sun
and the pouring rain?
Do you believe it
when it's good
and things are bad?
Do you believe it
when you've sinned
or when you haven't sinned?
You cannot be selective
in your belief.
That is not Christianity.
That's every other religion
that says you have
to be good enough.
You got to make sure
your good deeds
outweigh your bad deeds.
Do not tarnish
the gospel of Christ
by adding to your salvation.
The work of Christ
is sufficient.
The work of Christ
is enough.
The question is
do you believe it?
Do you believe it?
Do you believe
your ransom
was paid
with the blood of Christ?
And do you believe it
when you first come to him
but do you believe it
every day since?
Do you believe it
when you've sinned
and you're feeling
the weight
and you're feeling
this need for atonement
and do you believe it
in that moment
that no it's already
been atoned for?
The blood of Jesus
is cleansing power.
That's an important question.
It's a very important question.
This is mercy.
Not getting what you deserve.
We deserve to be punished
for our sin.
Ransom is mercy.
It's saying
I'm going to take away
the just punishment
for your sin
and I'm going to take it away.
I'm going to pay it
on your behalf.
This is mercy.
But you're not just right.
You're not just
you're not just ransomed.
He makes you
righteous.
So it's not just like
you know
sometimes people
pay for something
but there's still
this kind of memory
that you know
yeah you're paid
you're good
or you're out of jail now
you've served your time
but I mean
come on
you're a criminal.
You got a record now.
You're a bad person.
Yes
the sin is paid for
but you're not quite right.
You know
you're kind of
hey
you
you did what?
Do you know what I'm saying?
And I think sometimes
we as Christians
there's some people say
okay I get it Josh
yep
ransom thing
got it.
But
I mean
yeah it's paid for
but I
I mean I still did
all those things.
I'm not
I don't feel right.
I mean I
I get it.
I'm not going to get
like you took away
the punishment
but I still feel like
I'm not quite there.
Well
I got another word for you.
Romans 5
18 to 19
says
therefore as one trespass
led to condemnation
for all men
so one act
speaking of Adam
so one act
of righteousness
speaking of Christ
leads to justification
and life for all men
for by the one man's
disobedience
Adam
the many were made sinners
and by the one man's
obedience
Jesus
the many will be made
righteous.
Do you believe
that what Jesus did
not only
takes away the punishment
that's mercy
but gives you righteousness
that's grace.
Mercy is not getting
what you deserve
grace is being given
what you don't deserve.
Does that make sense?
So he takes away
the punishment
and gives you grace
and says
righteous.
It's not just
okay
your penalty
has been paid
but now you have
the scarlet letter
for the rest of your life.
You're on the
registered offenders list
you know
the registered
sin offenders list.
No.
What Jesus does
is says
I forgive you
I've paid your ransom
and now I declare
that you are righteous.
I declare
that you are righteous.
One man's obedience
the many
will be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 1
7 and 9
puts it this way
our Lord Jesus Christ
will sustain you
to the end.
Listen to this
guiltless
in the day
of our Lord Jesus Christ
God is faithful.
Guiltless
not tarnished
not like
okay
your penalty's gone
but you're still
damaged goods.
Guiltless
do you believe that?
Again
do you believe it
on the good days
and the bad days?
Do you believe it
when your lie
causes 85 priests
to get killed
and women
children
infants?
Do you believe it
in that moment
that you're guiltless
before God
because you are not
trusting
in your own righteousness
and you're
you're not qualified
by your righteousness
and you're not
disqualified
by your unrighteousness
your qualification
is the righteousness
of another
imputed to you
so that you can be
called righteous
for something
that you never did.
You're righteous
do you believe
you're righteous?
Have you notified
your face?
Do you carry yourself
like you're righteous?
Do you walk around
like I am righteous?
But it's not a
boastful righteousness
in the sense of
like a
self-confident
hubris
but it's
a humble righteousness
that says
I carry
and am clothed
in the righteousness
of another.
I'm confident in it
because I am righteousness
and I'm proud
of my God
for attaining
it for me
but I am righteous
I cling to
his righteousness
alone
faultless to stand
before the throne
right?
Our Lord Jesus Christ
will sustain you
to the end
guiltless in the day
of our Lord Jesus Christ
do you carry
do you walk around
as a Christian
carrying guilt
or are you guiltless?
Listen
you have to answer
that question
you can't play games
with that question
you can't flirt around
with saying
oh I'm not gonna
I'm not gonna believe that
this is the gospel
do you believe
that you are faultless?
If you're not faultless
then what do we have?
God has made you
righteous
Romans 5
1 to 2
since we have been
justified by faith
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ
through him
we have also obtained
access by faith
into this grace
in which we stand
and we rejoice
in the hope of glory
of God
we stand in grace
those who are in Christ Jesus
you stand in grace
which means
God's undeserved
forgiving love
so you might say
well I don't deserve this
so what?
you're standing in grace
well I don't deserve this
I've sinned
it's forgiven
you're standing in grace
well I feel tarnished
you're standing in grace
grace is grace
or grace is not grace
there's no such thing
as partial grace
God's undiluted
200 proof grace
is on you
and it either means it
or it doesn't
don't act like you have
some partial form of grace
that is like
it's not living in a matter
worthy of the gospel
it's to taint the word grace
in its meaning
grace is very
definition
is undeserved
you say I don't deserve it
so I can't stand in grace
that is the whole point of grace
well I can't stand in it
because I don't deserve it
that's the only people
grace is for
if you deserved it
you wouldn't need grace
that's called merit
well you can't get merit
you get undeserved merit
that's called grace
it was given to you
and it makes you righteous
do you believe you're righteous
do you believe you're not just ransom
but you're righteous
this is the truth
in Christ Jesus
to all who put their hope in him
this grace in which we stand
are you standing in grace
today are you standing in grace
after you sin
where do you go stand
do you go pout in the corner
exalting your ability
to screw things up
or do you go stand in grace
exalting God's ability
to make you clean
who gets the glory
your sin
your own ineptitude
your weakness
or the greatness and grandeur
of the gospel of Jesus Christ
magnifying the grace of God
what are you going to exalt
do you think you're actually
doing God a favor
by wallowing your sin
and making it seem to be so great
and having this little pity party
that's not God glorifying
what's God glorifying
is to accept
with full acceptance
that you are made righteous
in Christ
through his grace
that
my friends
is God glorifying
dare to believe that
dare to risk
this audacious
scandalous thought of grace
if grace is not scandalous
it's not grace
it's a scandal
to be given
the status of righteous
when you don't deserve it
that is grace
how could I do this
I didn't deserve it
grace
you stand
in grace
you stand
in grace
where are you standing
you're standing in grace
that's what it says
1 Peter
Peter puts it another way
chapter 113
he says
prepare your minds
for action
being sober minded
set
your hope
fully
on what
on the grace
that will be brought to you
at the revelation
of Jesus Christ
set your hope fully
so if you sin
you don't think
oh no
what am I going to do
you say
my hope
is fully set
on that day
I'm going to stand
before the judge
at the great white throne
all my sins
will be laid bare
everything I've ever done
will be laid bare
I am not putting my hope
in some belief
that maybe I did
more good than bad
or maybe when I did bad
I made sure I felt
really bad about it
or I wallowed in it
that's my hope
to stand before him
on that day
no your hope
should be set fully
on the future grace
that's going to be
given to you on that day
when he declares you
not guilty
because of the blood
of Christ
when all the books
are open
and you say
oh no
I'm damned
like this is
this is
this is bad
nope
not for those in Christ
he will declare
not guilty
these are my
righteous ones
made righteous
in the blood
of the lamb
you might say
okay
I get that
Josh
I understand
the mercy
and grace
you know
okay
old stuff
ransom
paid for
I understand
like okay
you're made
righteous
you don't have
to wear this
scarlet letter
and the shame
I get that
but
what about
like now with God
you know
I mean
I get that
I don't have to
carry that around
I don't have to
walk in shame
but I don't know
if I can come to God
I feel like I can't
come to him
I feel like there's
still something
in between us
well the Bible's
got another word
for you
you've been
reconciled
the rift that
was there
has been
taken away
the enmity
that stood
between you
has been
removed
okay
all that was
hindering you
and God
in this
relationship
you've not
just been
brought into
right standing
being made
righteous
you've also
been brought
into right
relationship
with God
this is called
being reconciled
this is an
amazing truth
okay
it's not just
that he took
away
he paid
your penalty
it's not just
that he declared
you righteous
he also said
hey
you and me
we're restoring
this thing
we're making
this right
okay
I'm making
this right
Colossians 1
21 to 23
and you who
once were
alienated
and hostile
in mind
doing evil
deeds
he has now
reconciled
okay
so you were
alienated
there was this
alienation
this distance
between you
and God
and this is
what some
people feel
like
okay
yeah
I believe
those things
but I still
feel like
there's this
distance
between me
and God
I'm grateful
for what he's
given to me
but I can't
I feel like
I'm not
fully reinstated
to him
we're not
close
there's still
this alienation
he said
you were once
alienated
and hostile
in mind
doing evil
deeds
but he has
now reconciled
in his body
of flesh
by his death
in order to
present you
holy
and blameless
and above
reproach
before him
the word
that's used
there to
stay above
reproach
is the same
word that was
used in that
verse that I read
before that says
guiltless
okay
so
the reconciliation
that happens
presents you to
him as
holy
blameless
above reproach
or guiltless
between you
and God
if indeed
you continue
in faith
in the faith
stable and
steadfast
not shifting
from the hope
of the gospel
that you heard
which has been
proclaimed in all
creation under
heaven
and of which I
call become a
minister
notice he doesn't
say if indeed
you continue to
never spin
do you notice
the absence of
that phrase
that's a really
important absence
right there
he doesn't say
hey listen
you will be
presented holy
blameless
above reproach
faultless
as long as you
don't sin
or as long as you
sin less
or make sure
you pay penance
and feel bad
about things
for the right
amount of time
or as long as
your good deeds
outweigh your bad
deeds
then
we're all good
no no no
that's not what
he says
he says if indeed
you continue in the
faith stable
and steadfast
not shifting
from what
the hope
of the gospel
hope that you
have
there is something
that has given
you that has
nothing to do
with any work
you can do
it's the work
of another
and your hope
is in that work
your hope
is in what
Christ did
made me
so that I
can be reconciled
to God
our relationship
is restored
to what it
was always
meant to be
and that nothing
stands between
us now
do you believe
that
do you believe
that today
do you believe
that after
you've sinned
do you believe
that you can
repent
turn to God
and that
you
that reconciliation
that happened
is still there
it hasn't gone
anywhere
how do I know
that
well let's look
at how it came
in the first
place
that'll help
us understand
how it stays
there after
that
Romans 5
chapter
chapter 5
6 to 11
while we were
still weak
at the right
time
Christ died
for who
the ungodly
wait a second
he died for
the ungodly
he didn't die
for the godly
he didn't die
for the good
people
no he died
for the ungodly
he died
for the ungodly
for one will
scarcely die
for a righteous
person
though perhaps
for a good
person
one would
dare even
to die
but god
shows his
love for us
and that
while we were
still sinners
Christ died
for us
if he died
for you
in your sin
and reconciled
you in your
sin
why do you
believe that
after you've
sinned
you've lost
your reconciliation
do you realize
how foolish
that sounds
if he
reconciled
you in
your sin
how in the
world would
your sin
disqualify you
from the very
thing that came
while you were
in sin
do you see
how foolish
that is
while we were
sinners
Christ died
for us
since therefore
now we have
been justified
by him
by his blood
much more
shall we be
saved by him
from the wrath
of God
for if while
we were enemies
he's making the
point I just made
if while we were
enemies we were
reconciled to God
by the death
of his son
much more
now that we
are reconciled
shall we be
saved by his
life
more than
that we
also rejoice
in God
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ
through whom
we have now
received
reconciliation
we've received
reconciliation
okay
but we
we feel like
oh no but
I've sinned
I'm not
we must not
be reconciled
anymore
something stands
in between me
like my
relationship to
God is all
ruined
hold on
your relationship
to God was
reconciled
without you
doing anything
it was done
by him
he reconciled
you while
you were
an enemy
so how
in the world
can you
sinning now
disqualify you
from the thing
that came
while you
were an enemy
in the first
place
okay
well does this
mean that you
just go on
sinning then
who cares
it's just sin
if God
just reconciles
no
this is grace
there's nothing
more compelling
to not sin
than grace
but you
don't
you don't
not sin
so that you
you don't
get good
so you can
get God
you get God
so you can
be good
it's the
getting of God
first
it's him
loving you
while you
didn't deserve
it
loving you
in the midst
of your
sin
loving you
while you
were a sinner
reconciling you
while you
were enemies
if while we
were enemies
we were
reconciled to
God
by the death
of his son
much more
now
that we
are reconciled
shall we
be saved
by his life
some of us
need to
meditate on
the fact
that God
reconciled us
while we
were enemies
because subtle
things come in
and say
oh the reason
he reconciled
to me
me is
because
I you know
I was starting
to get my act
together
he reconciled
me because
I started
really seeking
him
he reconciled
me because
I started
being a good
person
he reconciled
me because
I started
reading my
Bible
listen
you were
reconciled
while you
were an
enemy
don't
muddle
that up
that's
what it
says
and the
reason
you can't
muddle that
up is it
takes away
the potency
of grace
and when the
potency of
grace is
taken away
your passion
and impetus
to love God
is taken away
because you
feel like
God giving
you grace
is just
a paycheck
you deserved
it which
isn't grace
you start
thinking it's
your own
merits
you will
never be
over the top
loving to
someone who
gives you
a paycheck
this is the
reason you
don't jump
up and down
and hug
your boss
when he
pays you
you're glad
to get paid
but you're
not excited
about it
because you
earned that
and if he
didn't give
you that
it would be
unjust
the thing is
if God
doesn't give
us something
that wouldn't
be unjust
he chose
to give it
to us
in his
mercy
and his
grace
and it's
way over
the top
we didn't
earn it
it would
be like
the difference
between
getting a
paycheck
or if your
boss
all of a sudden
you found
on this
week's
paycheck
they gave
you a
hundred thousand
dollar bonus
now you
might give
him a
hug
right
now you
might jump
around a
little bit
like wait
what
there's a
hundred thousand
dollar bonus
I didn't
earn that
therefore
now I really
want to do a
good job
for you
you're giving
out a hundred
thousand dollar
bonuses
that's amazing
well Jesus
gave way better
than a hundred
thousand dollar
bonus he gives
eternal life
he gives
redemption
he gives
righteousness
reconciliation
it can't
call it
cannot
disqualify
you if it
never
qualified
you in
the first
place
does that
make sense
you have
to think
about that
2 Corinthians
5 17
to 20
said
therefore
if anyone
is in
Christ
he's a
new
creation
the old
has passed
away
behold
the new
has come
all this
is from
God
who
through
Christ
reconciled
us
to
himself
and gave
us the
ministry
of
reconciliation
that is
in Christ
God
was
reconciling
the world
to himself
not counting
their
trespasses
against
them
the very
definition
of
reconciliation
is to
not count
your
trespasses
against
you
that's
what
reconciliation
means
there's
no longer
beef
there's
no longer
any
friction
here
what was
standing
against
you
I'm
not
counting
against
you
it
no
longer
counts
we're
good
now
we're
reconciled
to
count
the
sins
you
commit
against
yourself
is
the
spit
in
the
face
of
reconciliation
do
you
understand
that
do
you
understand
that
you're
not
doing
God
favors
by
counting
your
sins
against
yourself
as if
you
think
that
that's
some
way
you're
going
to
honor
the
Lord
in
that
you
honor
the
Lord
by
rejoicing
and
boasting
in
the
fact
that
his
blood
has
reconciled
you
and
that
your
sins
are
no
longer
counted
against
you
that's
how
you
honor
him
that's
how
you
glorify
him
do
you
believe
that
your
sins
are
not
counted
against
are
you
walking
around
after
you
sin
acting
like
oh
my
sins
are
counted
against
you
this
tells
me
you're
not
believing
an
aspect
of
the
gospel
I'm
not
necessarily
saying
in
that
moment
you're
not
saved
I
don't
know
where
you're
!
but
I'm
who
no
counts
!
who
are
forgiven
who
sins
are
covered
blessed
is
the
man
against
whom
the
Lord
will
not
count
his
sin
that's
reconciliation
there's
nothing
that stands
between
us
anymore
do
you
ever
come
before
him
sometimes
to
worship
and
say
I
don't
know
if
I
can
worship
I
haven't
spent
enough
time
with
Jesus
you
don't
believe
in
reconciliation
you ever come before him and say oh i can't read my bible because i i sinned you don't believe in
reconciliation i i can't uh serve in some form of ministry because i've i i sinned this week or i
did something it's like do you believe that your sins are counted against you what is your boasting
and what is your hope in is your hope held steadfast in the gospel or is it in your own
religious performance your religious performance is like a dirty bloody menstrual rag to the lord
okay that is not there's no merit in that only the only thing that pleases him is his own
sacrificial blood and that's what he sees when we trust in it and it's enough hebrews 8 12 says for
i will be merciful toward their iniquities and i will remember their sins no more that's that's
reconciliation so people say water under the bridge right like i'm not it's it's all gone i'll remember
your sins no more so how what do we conclude from this romans 8 1 therefore there is now no condemnation
for those in christ jesus you believe that i know you can quote it i know some of you have it memorized
you live like it do you live under condemnation some of us can quote it but we can't live it
we need to start living it when you sin do you walk under condemnation are you letting this this
oppressive thing that god ransomed you from come back on you there is no condemnation for those who
are in christ jesus why because you're in christ jesus why does being in christ jesus mean there's no
condemnation because if you're in christ jesus you're covered by the blood you're made righteous
you've been redeemed you're reconciled therefore if you're if you're redeemed if you're righteous and
if you're reconciled how in the world could there ever be condemnation if there would be it would be
unjust it would be unjust you ever wondered why it says in first john 1 that if you confess your sins
he's faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness do you realize
that to let condemnation dirtiness unrighteousness stick to you is unjust you ever thought about that
so often we think oh it's actually justice to feed to to beat myself up over my sin that's not justice
that sin's been why would it be just to beat yourself up for a sin that has been taken away and that has
been paid for sounds like injustice to me being punished for a sin that was already paid for
that's unjust being uh stained with unrighteousness when you've already been made righteous
that sounds unjust to me living as if you're not reconciled when god has reconciled you to himself
sounds pretty unjust if you want to talk about justice talk about the justice that comes with the
blood of christ which cleanses us from all unrighteousness that's justice that's the justice
i want to cling to therefore in hebrews 10 22 it says let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure
water full assurance of faith hearts sprinkled clean is your heart sprinkled clean this morning
are you carrying a little residue of your sin or are you saying i'm clean i have full assurance do you
have kind of assurance or do you have full assurance what is it is it good enough or is it not good enough
if jesus isn't good enough then your response is going to be lame as can be you ever wonder sometimes
though it's like christianity to you seems like drudgery if christianity is some drudgery uh just making
yourself do something that you constantly don't want to do i would suggest to you that you probably
don't really believe the gospel that you probably have no grid for grace because when you understand
grace you are that you've been forgiven that that you've been loved while you were an enemy that you
have been redeemed you've been made righteous and that you've been reconciled how can you not say god
i'm gladly spend to be spent for you like you have given so much to me this is this is like the easiest
thing i've ever done after at that point no one has loved me like you no one has been as good as me i
have full assurance of faith my heart is sprinkled clean from an evil conscience my body's been washed
with pure water i trust in that i boast in it i boast in the cross of christ why because the cross of
christ means that i'm redeemed i'm righteous and i'm reconciled i boast in it i boast in it first john
321 if our heart does not condemn us we have confidence before god do you have confidence
before god in christ jesus through the gospel we should romans 10 11 says for the scripture says
everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame and for john 3 18 says whoever believes in him is not
condemned when he shall come with trumpet sound oh may i then in him be found dressed in his righteousness
alone faultless to stand before the throne do you believe that you believe it this morning do you
believe it every day some of you believe it sometimes but you don't believe it every day some of you have
never believed it and you're being invited this morning to believe it for the first time if that's
the case believe it it's the greatest news of all there is no greater news than this but it's true
and it is liberating and it is the greatest thing that could possibly ever happen that that un uh
unredeemed people could be redeemed unrighteous people could be made righteous and those who are
enemies of god could be reconciled this is the good news in christ jesus to all who turn from their sin
and believe in him and have their hope be in him and in the gospel they will be dressed in his
righteousness alone and they will faultless stand before his throne amen amen let's stand
with him and with him and with him and with him and with him and with him and with him and with him and