WEBVTT

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 Romans chapter 1, verses 1 to 17.

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 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

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 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

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 concerning his son, who was descended from David according to the flesh,

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 and was declared to be the son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness,

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 by his resurrection from the dead.

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 Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship

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 to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

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 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

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 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints,

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 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Firstly, I thank God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

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 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son,

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 that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers,

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 asking that somehow by God's will I may know, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

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 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,

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 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

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 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you,

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 but thus far have been prevented, in order that I may reap some harvest among you,

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 as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

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 I am under obligation, both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish,

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 so I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

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 For I am not ashamed of the gospel.

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 It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,

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 to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

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 For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith.

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 As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith.

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 Well, the question I want to put in your mind this morning to get your thinking juices going

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 is a very simple one, and we'll end with it as well.

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 What is God like?

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 What is God like?

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 Now, that question is a question that every person asks and answers at some point in their lifetime.

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 Every person.

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 Of course, some decide, haven't asked the question and answer it by deciding that God doesn't even exist.

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 So, there comes a conclusion, our vast universe,

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 life itself, from the biggest point down to the most detailed experience of our own personal existence,

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 is simply the product of natural forces.

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 And yet, I found it really interesting that people who decide that

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 often still speak of spiritual experience.

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 When they engage with nature, for instance.

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 And so, simply deciding God doesn't exist doesn't seem to close out their craving for something spiritual.

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 Most, of course, decide that God is real.

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 And I think people decide that it's because people need a beating heart,

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 something real, something personal at the center of our universe.

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 And these people, generally, are openly religious people.

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 Some, of course, then, there's subdivisions in there.

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 Some are driven by their own sort of warm, fuzzy feelings.

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 And so, they decide that God is like an indulgent grandfather,

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 or a best buddy type figure.

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 He's the one who always thinks you're special.

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 It doesn't matter what you do.

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 He's the one who will always accept you,

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 and just be happy to hang out with you.

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 No rules, no demands.

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 Just spoils you, just like that indulgent grandfather.

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 Even though he might be thinking about different things inside.

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 Others are driven by a deep-seated fear.

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 Fear of death.

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 A fear of standing before God's justice.

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 Fear of being rejected by God.

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 The God they believe in is somewhere out there.

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 And oftentimes, they decide that God is something akin to a cruel tyrant.

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 Often, these same people are desperate.

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 They please God through their religious actions.

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 And yet, for all their religious actions,

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 they don't seem to be able to discover a sense of peace,

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 or a sense of being accepted,

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 and the joy that that might bring them.

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 But let's make it more personal.

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 Most in this room,

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 if not all in this room,

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 I'm only excluding the very, very young here,

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 most in this room, that is from toddlers up,

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 are already forming,

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 or have already formed,

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 your view of God.

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 Then the question becomes,

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 on what basis have you decided your view of God?

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 And with what degree of certainty

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 do you hold your view of God?

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 Do you have any sense of embarrassment

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 in speaking of God

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 to those you rub shoulders with on a daily basis?

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 Paul declares,

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 he's not ashamed of the gospel.

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 He's not ashamed of God

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 as displayed in the gospel.

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 Now, I assume,

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 and it is an assumption,

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 but I assume that since Paul leads with that,

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 then it is fairly likely

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 that some Christians in the church at Rome

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 were indeed ashamed of God

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 or ashamed of the gospel.

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 Perhaps that's you too.

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 In some hidden part of your brain,

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 you're not even game to give voice to.

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 Well, friends,

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 I want to say to you this morning

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 that studying Paul's letter

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 to the Christians at Rome,

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 I believe,

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 will radically change your life,

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 whether you're a Christian or not,

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 at this moment.

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 Why?

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 Why am I so confident in that?

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 Because the letter

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 to the Christians at Rome

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 is all about God's gospel,

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 and God's gospel

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 is all about showing us God,

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 what he's like.

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 And you can't really discover

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 what God is like

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 without being profoundly impacted

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 and changed by that.

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 In his introduction,

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 Paul,

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 which we're looking at this morning,

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 the first 17 verses,

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 in his introduction,

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 Paul gives a beautiful summary

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 of what God has done

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 and how it so perfectly suits

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 what we need.

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 everything by nature

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 of the introduction,

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 everything will be dealt with

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 in depth

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 in the subsequent chapters.

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 The intro is just

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 to whet our appetite,

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 as it were,

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 just to make us drool

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 over what's coming

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 when we see something

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 and what God's like,

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 what God has done,

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 what God is doing

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 in our lives,

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 that which we sort of summarize

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 as the gospel of Jesus.

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 And I want to use

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 three headings to unpack it

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 and then come back

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 to a more personal thing.

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 So the first one is

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 that the gospel

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 is God's initiative.

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 Paul's introduction

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 begins and ends

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 with an emphasis

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 on the gospel of God.

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 Verse 2,

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 the focus is on

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 what God has announced,

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 what God has done

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 for his people.

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 The gospel,

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 in Paul's mind,

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 is entirely

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 God's doing.

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 Verse 17,

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 as we understand

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 what God has done

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 in his gospel,

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 we also learn heaps

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 about what God is like.

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 The gospel reveals

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 God's righteousness

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 or God's character.

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 But what does that mean?

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 What does it mean

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 to talk about

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 the righteousness of God?

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 Well,

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 it means lots of things,

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 but in part,

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 it refers to his character.

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 God always does

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 things properly.

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 God always acts

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 with integrity.

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 He maintains

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 perfect justice,

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 yet manages to show

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 mercy and generosity

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 to his guilty,

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 rebellious people.

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 God,

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 in his righteousness,

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 doesn't fudge

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 or cover over sin.

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 He confronts it

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 and deals with it

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 and the guilt

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 of his people.

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 And in part,

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 God's righteousness

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 refers to his actions.

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 In the gospel,

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 we see God acting.

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 Acting to do what?

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 acting to deal

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 with the basic dilemma

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 of human life.

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 That is,

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 we are sinful,

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 dirty people

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 and God,

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 being clean and holy,

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 cannot relate to us,

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 will not relate to us

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 in that condition.

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 So,

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 the righteousness of God

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 is God's action

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 to make dirty,

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 undeserving people

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 clean and acceptable to him.

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 God's action

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 is about God

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 doing for us

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 that which we could

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 never ever

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 do for ourselves.

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 Meet God's standard

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 of obedience

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 and justice

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 and truth.

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 That's not the most

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 amazing thing,

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 that's amazing as it is.

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 The most amazing thing

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 about that

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 is that it's all

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 available to anybody

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 who wants it

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 through faith.

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 Verse 17,

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 by faith

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 from first to last.

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 Hard to know exactly

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 what that means

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 but it seems to mean

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 that from the start

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 to the finish,

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 it's just about faith.

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 God has done

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 what he has done.

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 We receive

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 what God has done

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 through faith.

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 And what is faith?

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 Well, faith

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 is taking God

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 at his word.

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 It's not simple.

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 It's believing

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 what God has said.

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 The gospel of Jesus

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 is God's declaration

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 that in recognizing

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 our need to be rescued

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 or saved

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 from the consequences

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 of our rebellion

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 or sin

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 and simply trusting Jesus

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 to be our righteousness,

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 to be the means

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 by which we will be

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 acceptable to God

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 and loved by God,

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 we find therefore

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 forgiveness

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 and restoration

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 to relationship

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 with God.

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 In a very real sense,

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 God does all

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 the heavy lifting

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 and then says,

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 it's all yours

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 if only you will believe,

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 if only you will take me

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 at my word

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 that I've done this for you.

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 Something you can never

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 do for yourself.

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 Friends,

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 the gospel shows us

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 what God is like,

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 but in more detail,

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 the gospel shows us

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 how much God

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 loves his

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 fallen,

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 distorted,

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 grotesque image bearers,

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 grotesque because of sin,

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 how much he wants

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 to relate to them,

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 how much he wants

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 to restore them

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 to be that

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 which he created them

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 to be.

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 He's announced

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 this way of restoring

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 full relationship

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 to people

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 who deserve

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 only his condemnation.

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 We call it

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 the gospel of Jesus.

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 Second point then

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 is that God's initiative

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 comes with

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 all God's power

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 guaranteeing

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 therefore it will be

00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:24.799
 successful

00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:25.720
 or it is successful.

00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:28.039
 Paul describes himself

00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:28.939
 as a servant

00:12:28.939 --> 00:12:29.740
 or an apostle,

00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.519
 a special messenger

00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.539
 of God in other words.

00:12:33.459 --> 00:12:34.360
 We might use

00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:35.120
 more modern terms,

00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:36.399
 a contract worker

00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:40.159
 with a specific task

00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:41.319
 of making known

00:12:41.319 --> 00:12:42.639
 this wonderful initiative

00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:43.279
 from God

00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.219
 to anyone

00:12:44.219 --> 00:12:45.299
 and everyone

00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:46.139
 who will listen.

00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:48.419
 The next cab

00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:48.879
 off the rank

00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:49.379
 for Paul

00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:50.299
 is coming to Rome

00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:50.919
 and then he hopes

00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:51.740
 to get to Spain.

00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.259
 Wherever people

00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:53.819
 will listen,

00:12:54.319 --> 00:12:55.339
 wherever Paul can go,

00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.219
 he's contracted

00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:58.160
 to speak of this

00:12:58.160 --> 00:12:59.200
 wonderful initiative

00:12:59.200 --> 00:12:59.840
 of God

00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.580
 to rescue

00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:03.139
 undeserving people.

00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.080
 But God's gospel

00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:06.879
 is never dependent

00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:07.480
 on Paul

00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:08.460
 or any of the other

00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.500
 apostles for success.

00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:10.540
 Look at verse 2.

00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:13.580
 What Paul is speaking,

00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:14.160
 his message,

00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:15.320
 is not a new message.

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.279
 In fact,

00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:17.860
 it's the culmination,

00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:18.960
 it's the final piece

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:19.779
 of a jigsaw

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:20.879
 that's been built

00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:21.639
 throughout the whole

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.460
 of the Old Testament.

00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:27.980
 God's one plan

00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:28.639
 of salvation

00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.540
 promised over generations

00:13:30.540 --> 00:13:31.519
 the plan

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.259
 to re-engage

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.060
 with his people

00:13:33.060 --> 00:13:33.680
 in rich,

00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:35.019
 everlasting relationship.

00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:37.040
 And God's power

00:13:37.040 --> 00:13:38.019
 over the generations

00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:38.540
 was seen

00:13:38.540 --> 00:13:40.060
 in keeping his plan

00:13:40.060 --> 00:13:40.660
 on track

00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:42.500
 in spite of all sorts

00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:43.580
 of white-anting

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:44.259
 of his plan

00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:45.780
 by evil people.

00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:47.180
 God's power

00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:48.460
 was clearly evident.

00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:53.080
 but never more clearly

00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:54.680
 than in the birth,

00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:55.860
 life,

00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:56.759
 death,

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:57.519
 and resurrection

00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.480
 and return to heaven

00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:00.019
 of Jesus

00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:01.660
 as Lord and Savior.

00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:04.460
 And we see there

00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.460
 in verse 4,

00:14:06.160 --> 00:14:08.060
 Jesus was clearly human,

00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.740
 descended from King David.

00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:11.480
 God's promise to David

00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:12.560
 was that a descendant

00:14:12.560 --> 00:14:14.000
 of his would re-establish

00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.639
 God's kingdom

00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.780
 as an eternal kingdom.

00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:18.659
 And God's power

00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:20.220
 demonstrated

00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:21.439
 in Jesus' resurrection

00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:22.079
 from the dead

00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:23.500
 proved that Jesus

00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.419
 was truly God

00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:26.659
 as well as truly human.

00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.559
 And therefore,

00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:30.799
 perfectly qualified

00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:32.179
 Jesus to establish

00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:33.439
 God's eternal kingdom

00:14:33.439 --> 00:14:34.980
 and rule.

00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:37.279
 And so he returns

00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:38.159
 to heaven

00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:39.699
 as Lord and Savior.

00:14:43.319 --> 00:14:43.939
 And verse 5

00:14:43.939 --> 00:14:44.779
 is that same

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:46.100
 power

00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:47.579
 which underpins

00:14:47.579 --> 00:14:48.240
 the authority

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:48.819
 of Paul

00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:49.980
 and other apostles

00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:50.919
 and which

00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:52.399
 in Paul's own generation

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:52.919
 has resulted

00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:54.480
 in so many people

00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:56.699
 being saved,

00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.639
 being changed

00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.559
 from the inside out,

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.319
 coming to Jesus

00:14:59.319 --> 00:15:00.039
 for salvation.

00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:02.720
 And verses 6

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.319
 through to 12

00:15:03.319 --> 00:15:05.259
 is very personal details

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.100
 as Paul just

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.079
 reflects

00:15:07.079 --> 00:15:08.220
 on his desire

00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:08.639
 to visit

00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.159
 with the Christians

00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:09.600
 at Rome.

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.679
 The fact that there

00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:12.980
 are so many Christians

00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:13.339
 in Rome,

00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:13.879
 the fact that there

00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.620
 are any Christians

00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.019
 in Rome,

00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:16.779
 confirms the reality

00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.460
 of the gospel

00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:17.960
 to Paul.

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.899
 But very simply,

00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:22.720
 it's just hard

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.399
 to argue

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.879
 with the evidence

00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:25.480
 of radically

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.639
 changed lives.

00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.000
 Everywhere Paul goes,

00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:29.500
 he's seen

00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.179
 those radically

00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:31.179
 changed lives

00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:33.120
 with people

00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.060
 who've been confronted

00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:36.299
 by God's

00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:37.240
 powerful gospel.

00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:37.299
 gospel.

00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.320
 Paul had heard

00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:42.580
 about the changing

00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:43.580
 power of the gospel

00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.299
 in the Christians

00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:44.740
 in Rome.

00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.500
 Changed from the inside out,

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:49.000
 changed in their actions,

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.320
 changed in their attitudes,

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.120
 changed in their thinking.

00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.200
 And Paul couldn't wait

00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:54.960
 to meet them

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.680
 and swap stories

00:15:56.680 --> 00:15:58.180
 of how they'd experienced

00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:58.799
 God's grace,

00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.960
 God's powerful gospel

00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:01.600
 to encourage

00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.120
 one another.

00:16:05.300 --> 00:16:06.519
 And so powerful

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:08.180
 is this gospel.

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:09.019
 Paul uses

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.920
 a very interesting word

00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:10.660
 in verse 16.

00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.519
 He describes it

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.519
 as God's dynamite.

00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:14.300
 The Greek word

00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:14.820
 is dunamis,

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:15.580
 the word we get

00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.300
 dynamite from.

00:16:18.300 --> 00:16:18.759
 The gospel

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:19.340
 is God's

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.400
 blasting powder.

00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:25.379
 Blasting

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.159
 as dirty,

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:26.819
 sinful people,

00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:27.600
 as Beck said

00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:28.379
 in the talk,

00:16:28.439 --> 00:16:29.259
 but I won't do

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:30.299
 all the theatrical things.

00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.980
 The old technology

00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:32.699
 of a piece of paper

00:16:32.699 --> 00:16:33.779
 works so well for me.

00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.220
 I don't have to dance

00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.199
 and jig around

00:16:36.199 --> 00:16:38.079
 unless my pages

00:16:38.079 --> 00:16:38.659
 blow away.

00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.360
 But yeah,

00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:44.079
 the gospel

00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:45.639
 just blasts

00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.579
 the dirt away.

00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:48.699
 Not just on the outside,

00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:50.319
 but on the inside

00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:51.320
 right to the depth

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:51.960
 of our being.

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:54.260
 Blasts us free

00:16:54.260 --> 00:16:55.520
 from the guilt

00:16:55.520 --> 00:16:56.640
 and power of sin

00:16:56.640 --> 00:17:00.080
 and leaves us

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:01.220
 totally renewed

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.620
 from the inside out.

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.000
 Which in turn

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.620
 allows God

00:17:06.620 --> 00:17:07.400
 to treat me

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:08.240
 and everyone else

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:08.860
 who believes

00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:10.259
 like we'd never

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:10.900
 ever sinned

00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.700
 in the first place.

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.700
 Complete restoration

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.640
 of relationship.

00:17:16.100 --> 00:17:17.160
 Complete removal

00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:17.740
 of dirt

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.920
 so that clean

00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.120
 now relates again

00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:20.599
 to clean

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.259
 in Christ.

00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:22.079
 Clean in Christ.

00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:26.119
 That's a wonderful

00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:26.739
 picture word,

00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.059
 isn't it?

00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.000
 One little stick

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:29.699
 of dynamite

00:17:29.699 --> 00:17:31.219
 doesn't look like

00:17:31.219 --> 00:17:31.739
 very much.

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:32.679
 Not that many of us

00:17:32.679 --> 00:17:33.239
 have seen a stick

00:17:33.239 --> 00:17:33.619
 of dynamite,

00:17:33.699 --> 00:17:34.359
 but one little stick

00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:34.939
 of dynamite

00:17:34.939 --> 00:17:36.019
 doesn't look like

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.539
 very much.

00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:37.899
 But boy,

00:17:37.959 --> 00:17:38.219
 oh boy,

00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.319
 when it's well applied,

00:17:40.159 --> 00:17:41.239
 it's powerful

00:17:41.239 --> 00:17:42.839
 in what it achieves.

00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:50.259
 in exactly the same

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.539
 way,

00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.220
 my friends.

00:17:52.459 --> 00:17:53.379
 The gospel

00:17:53.379 --> 00:17:54.419
 may not look

00:17:54.419 --> 00:17:56.019
 or sound

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.839
 powerful

00:17:56.839 --> 00:17:58.959
 in comparison

00:17:58.959 --> 00:17:59.939
 to what others

00:17:59.939 --> 00:18:00.539
 in the world

00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.939
 says is the way

00:18:01.939 --> 00:18:02.839
 to the good life,

00:18:03.679 --> 00:18:04.679
 the way to security.

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:11.560
 But it is the solution

00:18:11.560 --> 00:18:12.740
 for our deepest

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.480
 problems.

00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:14.980
 It is the answer

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.720
 to our deepest

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.620
 cravings.

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.700
 It demolishes

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:20.700
 the solid walls

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.440
 of unbelief

00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.340
 and resistance

00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:24.299
 to God's rule.

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:25.779
 No trouble

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.160
 at all.

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:30.420
 And the third

00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:31.200
 point then is

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.460
 this power

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:32.860
 of God

00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:34.100
 has a purpose,

00:18:34.340 --> 00:18:35.680
 the unbelievably

00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:37.360
 radical outcome

00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:38.580
 intended in God's

00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:39.360
 powerful gospel.

00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:41.800
 So as best

00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:42.360
 we can say,

00:18:42.560 --> 00:18:43.220
 Paul wrote this

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:43.800
 letter about

00:18:43.800 --> 00:18:44.840
 57 AD,

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.300
 which means

00:18:46.300 --> 00:18:46.700
 it's a little

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.600
 over 20 years

00:18:47.600 --> 00:18:48.759
 since Paul himself

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:50.019
 was confronted

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.700
 by Jesus

00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.460
 and the gospel.

00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:53.519
 He himself,

00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.740
 while trying

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.540
 to persecute

00:18:55.540 --> 00:18:56.040
 Christians,

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.340
 was so radically

00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:58.060
 captured

00:18:58.060 --> 00:18:59.240
 and blasted

00:18:59.240 --> 00:18:59.940
 by the gospel,

00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.300
 blasted into

00:19:01.300 --> 00:19:01.900
 a whole new

00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:03.000
 orientation in life

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:07.480
 and contracted

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.340
 to take the message

00:19:08.340 --> 00:19:09.000
 of salvation

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:09.940
 both to Jews

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.800
 and to every

00:19:10.800 --> 00:19:11.259
 other nation

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:11.700
 on earth.

00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.480
 20 years on,

00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.040
 what's Paul

00:19:15.040 --> 00:19:15.940
 excited about still?

00:19:17.040 --> 00:19:17.800
 The gospel.

00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.540
 He's still pushing

00:19:21.540 --> 00:19:22.980
 this radical gospel

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.360
 of God,

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.380
 that salvation,

00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:24.980
 forgiveness,

00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:25.880
 new relationship

00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.340
 with God

00:19:26.340 --> 00:19:26.880
 and guaranteed

00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.660
 place in heaven

00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:30.380
 is promised

00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:31.240
 to everyone

00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:32.160
 who recognizes

00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.740
 their need

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.640
 and simply

00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.820
 turns to Jesus

00:19:34.820 --> 00:19:37.780
 for the righteousness

00:19:37.780 --> 00:19:39.620
 that's necessary

00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:40.440
 to get into heaven,

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.180
 a righteousness

00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:41.860
 they can never

00:19:41.860 --> 00:19:42.700
 produce by themselves

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.720
 but is on offer

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.480
 in Jesus.

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:44.620
 Jesus.

00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:50.259
 We probably

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.900
 find it a bit

00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:52.500
 hard to understand

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.240
 how radical

00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:53.860
 this would have

00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:54.980
 been in Paul's

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.160
 day.

00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.299
 We're so familiar

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.200
 with the terminology

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:58.759
 that it's just,

00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.779
 well I think in some

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.039
 cases,

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.000
 ho-hum for us

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.019
 but this was

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:03.099
 radical stuff

00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:05.240
 in Paul's day

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.599
 and age.

00:20:07.360 --> 00:20:07.940
 Let me try

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.279
 and illustrate.

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:08.819
 The Jews

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.400
 for instance,

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.220
 if you ask them

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.319
 what a person

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:12.799
 needs

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:14.019
 to get to heaven,

00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.039
 they would say,

00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:15.799
 well the first thing

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.240
 they have to do

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.940
 is become a Jew

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.600
 in every shape

00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:18.079
 and form

00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:20.960
 and do all

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.380
 the things

00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:21.960
 that are required

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.319
 of the Jew.

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.940
 Pray and sacrifice

00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.059
 and go to the temple

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.740
 and do this

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.299
 and do that

00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:26.700
 and have your

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.160
 alms days

00:20:27.160 --> 00:20:27.660
 and your holidays

00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:28.420
 and do,

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:28.559
 do,

00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:28.660
 do.

00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.279
 Yeah,

00:20:29.620 --> 00:20:29.940
 that's what,

00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:30.319
 that's,

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.720
 do that for a start

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.380
 and then we'll see.

00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:37.160
 the Romans.

00:20:38.560 --> 00:20:39.660
 The Roman worldview

00:20:39.660 --> 00:20:41.120
 was that they were

00:20:41.120 --> 00:20:42.320
 a superior race.

00:20:43.040 --> 00:20:43.680
 We've heard that

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.720
 in our own sort of

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.660
 20th century,

00:20:45.800 --> 00:20:46.100
 haven't we?

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.200
 They believed

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.380
 they were the superior race

00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:48.900
 in the world

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:50.780
 and therefore naturally

00:20:50.780 --> 00:20:51.620
 would be acceptable

00:20:51.620 --> 00:20:52.440
 to the gods.

00:20:53.260 --> 00:20:53.640
 In fact,

00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:54.980
 the gods would consider

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:56.220
 an honour

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:58.340
 to be friends

00:20:58.340 --> 00:20:58.960
 and associated

00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.820
 with the Romans

00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:03.299
 and the evidence

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.619
 of that

00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.419
 was the physical

00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:05.659
 prowess of the Romans.

00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:07.419
 The superior intellect,

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.379
 the good character.

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:08.980
 In fact,

00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.799
 that's why

00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:11.299
 the Roman would say

00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:11.700
 that's why

00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.579
 we're the rulers

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.659
 of the known earth.

00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:16.299
 Biggest civilization

00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:16.779
 and empire

00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.579
 had ever been seen.

00:21:19.919 --> 00:21:20.399
 Again,

00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:20.919
 adoption

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:22.579
 was a big thing

00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:23.419
 in Roman society.

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.939
 Adoption into a family

00:21:24.939 --> 00:21:26.059
 but only when

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.960
 the adopted person

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:27.779
 was respectable

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.740
 and commendable

00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:30.180
 and came with

00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.380
 a list of great achievements.

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.420
 So yes,

00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.120
 it was a great thing

00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:33.980
 to adopt somebody

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.259
 but they had to be somebody

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:36.339
 before you would adopt them.

00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.220
 God's gospel

00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:45.940
 is so radically different

00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.420
 to anything

00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.420
 the Romans would have known

00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:49.120
 because God's gospel

00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:50.539
 is big on adopting

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.079
 those

00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:53.099
 who are down and outs,

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.700
 who are

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.460
 dirty,

00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.720
 unlovely,

00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.000
 undesirable

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.720
 before God.

00:21:58.740 --> 00:22:05.599
 God's gospel

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.140
 is clear

00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.839
 that anyone

00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.799
 and everyone

00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:09.200
 regardless of their race,

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:11.019
 regardless of their

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.960
 circumstance in life

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.779
 will receive

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.599
 a fresh start.

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.279
 Grace and salvation

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.940
 if they'll receive it

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.460
 as a gift

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.640
 through trusting Jesus.

00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.940
 It's that simple.

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:27.620
 And again,

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.620
 we can feel

00:22:28.620 --> 00:22:30.200
 Paul's excitement

00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:32.180
 at this incredible truth.

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:32.580
 If you look at

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.420
 verse 6 there,

00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:36.140
 in the church

00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.660
 at Rome,

00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:39.039
 Paul knew

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.059
 there were people

00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.559
 from all over the world

00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:46.679
 sitting shoulder

00:22:46.679 --> 00:22:47.279
 to shoulder

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:49.839
 in unity

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:51.159
 together

00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:51.799
 recipients

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.079
 of God's righteousness,

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:53.940
 together

00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.960
 loved by God,

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:55.759
 together

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.940
 assured of his favor.

00:22:56.940 --> 00:23:03.480
 and as a direct result

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:03.860
 of that,

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.400
 they loved each other.

00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.080
 People who naturally

00:23:08.080 --> 00:23:08.779
 would hate

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.559
 and divide each other,

00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.460
 they loved each other.

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.759
 They were committed

00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.779
 to helping each other

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:14.100
 and Paul wanted

00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:14.980
 to be part of it.

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.960
 He soaked it in

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.319
 and just,

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:17.579
 wow,

00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:18.819
 this is the result

00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:20.140
 of God's powerful gospel.

00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:25.360
 If I put it

00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.220
 in modern terms,

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.860
 I think I could say this,

00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.279
 that the gospel

00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:29.840
 was doing

00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:30.840
 around the world

00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:31.519
 at that time

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.819
 what the United Nations

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:34.039
 would long to do,

00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:35.440
 what the United Nations

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.579
 was set up to do

00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:37.720
 and which everybody

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.500
 in the world knows

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.360
 the United Nations

00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:40.620
 will never be able to do.

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.000
 Now,

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.420
 I'm not saying

00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:44.819
 they haven't done

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.279
 good things.

00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:45.940
 Don't misunderstand.

00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.360
 me.

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.460
 But they're just

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.400
 on the surface.

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.799
 The gospel

00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:55.079
 reunites humanity

00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:56.319
 so hopelessly

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:57.559
 divided by ethnic,

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.819
 religious,

00:23:59.100 --> 00:23:59.920
 and nationalistic

00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.340
 boundaries.

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.259
 And boy,

00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:02.900
 how I wish

00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:03.319
 the gospel

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:03.799
 would sweep

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.539
 through Europe

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:06.620
 in the coming weeks

00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:10.259
 before warfare does.

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:13.900
 So,

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.420
 moving towards

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:15.920
 conclusion,

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.240
 to the conclusion

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.500
 now,

00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.019
 now we're in a

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.300
 position,

00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:17.620
 I think,

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.580
 to understand

00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:20.120
 what Paul's

00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:20.640
 getting at

00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:21.480
 in verse 16

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.300
 when he says,

00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:22.980
 I'm not ashamed

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.500
 of the gospel.

00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:25.240
 Because to understand

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:25.779
 that phrase,

00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.700
 we need to understand

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.920
 something of shame

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.539
 and honor.

00:24:30.300 --> 00:24:31.800
 And why Paul says

00:24:31.800 --> 00:24:32.620
 he's not ashamed

00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:33.160
 of the gospel.

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.860
 It's Paul's great thing

00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:35.960
 which the rest

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.640
 of this letter

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.880
 explains in detail.

00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:41.140
 So, shame and honor

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:42.700
 were huge categories

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.860
 in Roman society

00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:45.200
 as indeed

00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.720
 in many

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.440
 Middle Eastern

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.900
 societies

00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.760
 still are.

00:24:51.020 --> 00:24:51.900
 Perhaps some

00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.960
 Christians in Rome

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:54.240
 thought that

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.540
 aspects of

00:24:55.540 --> 00:24:56.620
 Paul's person,

00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.320
 Paul's character,

00:24:59.280 --> 00:25:00.300
 or of the gospel

00:25:00.300 --> 00:25:00.900
 itself

00:25:00.900 --> 00:25:02.540
 as a body of truth

00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:03.680
 were shameful.

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:05.960
 Now, how might

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.019
 that work

00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:08.460
 for these people?

00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.240
 Well, perhaps

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.320
 Paul's background.

00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.799
 He was a Jew

00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:15.960
 and a Roman citizen.

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.600
 Now, lots in Rome

00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:18.740
 really resented

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:20.180
 dual citizenship,

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.080
 especially when

00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:22.640
 it was a Jew

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.860
 who was a Roman citizen.

00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:26.279
 It was embarrassing.

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.019
 It was actually

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.240
 unpalatable to some.

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.180
 Then, perhaps,

00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:30.140
 if you add into that

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:31.279
 the circumstances

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.240
 in which Paul

00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:32.980
 was commissioned

00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.640
 to speak the

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:33.980
 gospel.

00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:36.120
 In Roman circles,

00:25:36.540 --> 00:25:37.640
 to be a rhetorician

00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.800
 or a public speaker

00:25:38.800 --> 00:25:40.480
 or a teacher

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.820
 in public places,

00:25:42.300 --> 00:25:42.759
 you needed

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:44.120
 an illustrious

00:25:44.120 --> 00:25:44.680
 background.

00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.240
 When they dig

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.840
 into Paul's

00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:47.160
 background,

00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:47.860
 what did they find?

00:25:48.540 --> 00:25:48.780
 Hmm.

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:49.540
 He was a bit

00:25:49.540 --> 00:25:50.240
 of a rat pack.

00:25:51.080 --> 00:25:51.940
 He had blood

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.600
 on his hands.

00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:54.620
 And he,

00:25:55.020 --> 00:25:55.640
 according to some

00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:56.240
 sources,

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:56.820
 he was a bit

00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:57.600
 of a roughneck.

00:26:00.040 --> 00:26:00.640
 Perhaps he was

00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.100
 embarrassing

00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:01.600
 to know

00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:02.160
 that he was coming

00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:03.940
 to Rome.

00:26:07.580 --> 00:26:08.340
 Perhaps some

00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:08.740
 Christians

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.560
 struggled with

00:26:09.560 --> 00:26:10.240
 the apparent

00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:12.160
 shameful beginnings

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:12.800
 of the gospel.

00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:14.580
 Well,

00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.640
 we understand

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.220
 the gospel

00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.460
 and the results

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.880
 of the gospel,

00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.360
 but boy,

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.620
 we want to play

00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.400
 down the fact

00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.240
 that, again,

00:26:21.320 --> 00:26:21.840
 the gospel

00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.540
 is sourced

00:26:22.540 --> 00:26:23.940
 in the person

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.460
 Jesus,

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.400
 the Jewish nation,

00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.460
 Jewish history.

00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:28.380
 And my goodness

00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:28.660
 me,

00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:29.420
 we Romans,

00:26:29.540 --> 00:26:30.500
 we're persecuting,

00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:31.040
 we're trying to get

00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.779
 rid of the Jews.

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.420
 The suspicious

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.220
 circumstances

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:38.759
 of Jesus'

00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.240
 birth,

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.319
 the ordinariness

00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:44.119
 of Jesus'

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:44.619
 life,

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.859
 his crucifixion

00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:46.420
 as a criminal,

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.099
 and that was

00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:47.799
 crucifixion under

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.379
 Roman law,

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:48.759
 remember.

00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:51.180
 His claim

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:51.899
 for resurrection,

00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:53.159
 people just don't

00:26:53.159 --> 00:26:53.659
 come back

00:26:53.659 --> 00:26:54.099
 from the dead.

00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:55.259
 Jewish links,

00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.039
 indebtedness

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.700
 to the Jewish nation,

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.740
 and so on and so forth.

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.380
 Yeah,

00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:58.859
 you could well

00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.539
 imagine that people

00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.859
 might be a tad

00:27:00.859 --> 00:27:02.220
 embarrassed

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:03.339
 slash ashamed

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:05.400
 of this guy

00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:06.559
 coming to preach

00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:06.980
 the gospel.

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.720
 Sort of,

00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:09.640
 we love the outcome

00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:10.120
 of the gospel,

00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.059
 but Paul,

00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:11.500
 can you just

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.039
 tone down the

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.380
 background?

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.680
 Perhaps some

00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.120
 Christian,

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:18.859
 Roman Christians

00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:19.559
 find the gospel

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.420
 itself shameful

00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:21.940
 because it

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.960
 flies in the face

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.660
 of Roman

00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:25.460
 self-value.

00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:27.400
 It identifies

00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:29.259
 individual Romans

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.160
 as being equally

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.400
 guilty before God.

00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:31.880
 Yes,

00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:33.100
 those wretched

00:27:33.100 --> 00:27:34.140
 barbarians out there

00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:34.759
 that we conquer

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.560
 because we're better,

00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:35.759
 well,

00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:36.460
 actually the gospel

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.000
 says you're not

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.660
 a whit better

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.300
 than them

00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:40.279
 in terms of God.

00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.480
 Equally in need

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.100
 of a rescue

00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:44.900
 because of a bad

00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.720
 heart towards God,

00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.460
 because of your

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.380
 determination for

00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:48.400
 rebellion and autonomy.

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:53.360
 perhaps even some

00:27:53.360 --> 00:27:54.000
 people find the

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.160
 gospel or ashamed

00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.640
 of the gospel

00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.240
 or embarrassed

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.680
 by the gospel

00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:58.000
 because of what

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.500
 it says about

00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:59.300
 God's heart.

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:03.080
 See,

00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:04.300
 Romans took

00:28:04.300 --> 00:28:04.840
 their lead

00:28:04.840 --> 00:28:05.720
 from their idea

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.320
 of the gods

00:28:06.320 --> 00:28:07.779
 and the top gods

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:09.120
 were merciless.

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.200
 The old idea,

00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.259
 if you got power,

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.000
 you got wanted.

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:18.080
 But this God

00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:18.779
 of the Christians,

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.720
 this God

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.279
 of the gospel,

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.039
 well,

00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:21.680
 for goodness sake,

00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:23.160
 he actually takes

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:24.600
 the cost of

00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.800
 repairing relationship

00:28:25.800 --> 00:28:26.740
 upon himself.

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.580
 He's known

00:28:30.580 --> 00:28:31.180
 and characterized

00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:31.900
 by mercy

00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:32.640
 and kindness.

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.420
 He doesn't

00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.160
 treat his enemies

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:38.420
 as they deserve.

00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.140
 He treats them

00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:39.600
 with honor

00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:40.680
 in spite of

00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.360
 what they deserve.

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:43.740
 My friends,

00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:44.380
 these are not

00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.039
 the qualities

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.620
 that the world

00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.180
 in general

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.900
 appreciate,

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:49.460
 let alone

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.900
 the Roman world

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.620
 in particular.

00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.780
 Paul knew

00:28:55.780 --> 00:28:57.360
 that he deserved

00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:58.820
 to be treated

00:28:58.820 --> 00:28:59.780
 shamefully

00:28:59.780 --> 00:29:01.960
 before the righteousness

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.540
 of God

00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:03.820
 because he had brought

00:29:03.820 --> 00:29:05.240
 shame on God.

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.740
 God's name,

00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:08.620
 God's character

00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:10.140
 by his horrible,

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.580
 persistent rebellion.

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:13.139
 God's power

00:29:13.139 --> 00:29:15.059
 and the gospel

00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:15.960
 but then Paul says,

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.359
 but how could I

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.179
 be ashamed

00:29:18.179 --> 00:29:21.000
 of God

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.759
 or the gospel

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:23.819
 which treats me

00:29:23.819 --> 00:29:24.579
 with such honor?

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:24.639
 honor.

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.339
 So,

00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:34.019
 for you and me,

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:37.639
 if you've experienced

00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:39.480
 God's powerful gospel,

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:43.720
 how could you be ashamed?

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.679
 How could you be embarrassed?

00:29:51.179 --> 00:29:52.379
 We've been treated

00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:53.100
 with honor

00:29:53.100 --> 00:29:55.460
 contrary to what

00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.060
 we deserve

00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:56.780
 in the gospel.

00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.840
 We've been rescued,

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.860
 renewed,

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.100
 adopted into

00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:03.080
 God's own family

00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:04.840
 and all of that

00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:05.460
 when we know

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.160
 actually

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.840
 that it was Jesus

00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.600
 who was treated

00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.340
 shamefully

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:10.820
 on our behalf

00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:12.400
 so that we might

00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:12.760
 be treated

00:30:12.760 --> 00:30:13.240
 with honor.

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:13.360
 Amen.

00:30:13.360 --> 00:30:13.400
 Amen.

00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:13.440
 Amen.

00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:13.500
 Amen.

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:13.540
 Amen.

00:30:13.540 --> 00:30:13.560
 Amen.

00:30:13.560 --> 00:30:13.600
 Amen.

00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:13.640
 Amen.

00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:13.660
 Amen.

00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.040
 Amen.

00:30:14.040 --> 00:30:14.060
 Amen.

00:30:14.060 --> 00:30:14.560
 Amen.

00:30:14.560 --> 00:30:14.640
 Amen.

00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.440
 Amen.

00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:15.560
 Amen.

00:30:15.560 --> 00:30:15.600
 Amen.

00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:15.640
 Amen.

00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:16.560
 Amen.

00:30:16.560 --> 00:30:17.560
 Amen.

00:30:17.560 --> 00:30:17.640
 Amen.

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:17.720
 Amen.

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.560
 Amen.

00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:18.640
 Amen.

00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.560
 Amen.

00:30:19.560 --> 00:30:19.640
 Amen.

00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.560
 Amen.

00:30:20.560 --> 00:30:20.640
 Amen.

00:30:22.380 --> 00:30:30.640
 Ethered is

00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.180
 the

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.840
 way

00:30:31.840 --> 00:30:32.020
 that

00:30:32.020 --> 00:30:32.340
 by

00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:33.320
 May

00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:34.220
 God

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:35.340
 God

00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:35.740
 we

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:35.780
 collect

00:30:35.780 --> 00:30:37.920
 on

00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.440
 back

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:38.720
 to the

00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.220
 old

00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:39.500
 way

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:39.640
 of

00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.000
 thinking

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.160
 that we

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:41.780
 can create

00:30:41.780 --> 00:30:42.360
 our own

00:30:42.360 --> 00:30:42.900
 righteousness

00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.520
 that we

00:30:43.520 --> 00:30:43.880
 can bring

00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:44.320
 our own

00:30:44.320 --> 00:30:44.960
 assets

00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:45.320
 to the

00:30:45.320 --> 00:30:45.700
 bargaining

00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:46.100
 table

00:30:46.100 --> 00:30:46.960
 and say

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.620
 actually God

00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.060
 you need

00:30:48.060 --> 00:30:49.100
 to let

00:30:49.100 --> 00:30:49.980
 me an

00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:50.100
 heart

00:30:50.100 --> 00:30:50.180
 I

00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.560
 deserve

00:30:50.560 --> 00:30:50.700
 it

00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:52.660
 On this basis and that basis and that basis.

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.019
 My religious actions here.

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.640
 My attitude there.

00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.700
 My good works here.

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:59.620
 That brings incredible shame.

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.319
 To the Lord.

00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:09.360
 Or if we claim to be Christ's renewed people.

00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.720
 But fail to be concerned.

00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:14.400
 To be his single united community.

00:31:16.860 --> 00:31:17.860
 I said before.

00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:19.140
 Changed lives.

00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:20.900
 Are hard to argue with.

00:31:21.340 --> 00:31:22.200
 And if we want to speak.

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:25.000
 And adorn God's powerful gospel.

00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:26.880
 Then there's no better way.

00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.000
 To do that.

00:31:28.780 --> 00:31:30.640
 Than the model of changed lives.

00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:33.420
 A radically.

00:31:34.100 --> 00:31:35.340
 Different community.

00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:38.180
 Where all the natural divisions of the world.

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.400
 Just mean nothing.

00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:51.800
 My final comment then.

00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:54.320
 Is if you've not yet experienced.

00:31:54.560 --> 00:31:56.360
 God's powerful gospel.

00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:59.020
 Then why not.

00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:01.320
 Ask to be changed.

00:32:02.060 --> 00:32:03.120
 From the inside out.

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.700
 This morning.

00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:05.040
 Right here now.

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:06.039
 Why?

00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:07.099
 Why?

00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:08.139
 Why?

00:32:08.139 --> 00:32:08.460
 Why?

00:32:10.899 --> 00:32:12.259
 Because renewal by Jesus.

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:14.500
 Is precisely what you need.

00:32:15.399 --> 00:32:16.279
 To fix.

00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:18.819
 The deep-seated problem of guilt.

00:32:19.399 --> 00:32:22.180
 That manifests itself in a whole heap of ways.

00:32:22.680 --> 00:32:23.119
 In your life.

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:25.119
 Even though you may not realize at this point.

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:26.859
 That it is the deep-seated problem.

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.339
 Of sin and rebellion of God.

00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:30.680
 That manifests itself in all these different ways.

00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:36.360
 and the beauty of the gospel is that this morning

00:32:36.360 --> 00:32:40.220
 the Lord doesn't ask you to produce your own righteousness

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:44.340
 he doesn't ask you to achieve

00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:47.120
 a standard that he knows is impossible for you to achieve

00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:49.560
 he says I've done it for you

00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:53.279
 and what I want you to do is take out your hand

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:55.340
 put out your hand and take it as a gift

00:32:55.340 --> 00:32:57.860
 take me at my word

00:32:57.859 --> 00:33:02.740
 and believe that your whole relationship with God

00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:05.779
 is going to be transformed and renewed

00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:09.579
 simply by believing that Jesus has died

00:33:09.579 --> 00:33:11.139
 and dealt with your sin

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:17.199
 see at the end of the day

00:33:17.199 --> 00:33:19.259
 you may not realise it but I can tell you

00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:22.899
 that renewal by Jesus is the answer

00:33:22.899 --> 00:33:25.399
 to your deepest longing to be loved

00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:28.460
 to be accepted by God

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.640
 that's where we started at

00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:35.040
 it's the key to the good life

00:33:35.040 --> 00:33:37.000
 a life of purpose

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:39.580
 and a life of security

00:33:39.580 --> 00:33:41.480
 that's what we're all craving for

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:43.320
 that's why we ask that question

00:33:43.320 --> 00:33:45.380
 to start with in life

00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:47.100
 what is God like

00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:52.240
 and from there we ask the question

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.019
 well okay

00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:54.379
 if God's like this then

00:33:54.379 --> 00:33:56.519
 how do I engage in the good life

00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:59.619
 so my friends I end where I started

00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:03.799
 what is your God like

00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:07.339
 I'm not talking theory

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:10.639
 I'm talking on the ground

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.900
 rubber meeting the road

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.440
 practical stuff

00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:15.079
 on any given day

00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:16.940
 in any given circumstance

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:18.579
 what is your God like

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:20.699
 and what sort of world

00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:21.960
 are you building around that

00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:24.900
 because the world you build around that

00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:26.079
 the answer to that question

00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:28.360
 will determine your security

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.400
 and your future

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:34.759
 make sure you consider the question well

00:34:34.759 --> 00:34:36.179
 and consider the answer

00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:38.019
 in the light of what God himself says

00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:40.500
 not in what you might think

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.739
 pray with me

00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:42.439
 please

00:34:42.439 --> 00:34:45.619
 Lord what an exciting start

00:34:45.619 --> 00:34:46.199
 to this letter

00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:49.359
 as we just have you showcased

00:34:49.359 --> 00:34:52.099
 what you've done for us

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:54.239
 what you keep on doing in us

00:34:54.239 --> 00:34:56.179
 and ultimately what you intend us to be

00:34:56.179 --> 00:34:58.279
 we thank you Lord

00:34:58.279 --> 00:35:01.199
 that you've not demanded from us

00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:02.000
 a righteousness

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:03.879
 which you know is not possible

00:35:03.879 --> 00:35:04.779
 for us to deliver

00:35:04.779 --> 00:35:07.339
 but instead Lord

00:35:07.339 --> 00:35:08.839
 have provided that righteousness

00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:09.960
 for us in Christ

00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:12.180
 and offered it to us

00:35:12.180 --> 00:35:13.180
 as a free gift

00:35:13.180 --> 00:35:14.500
 a gift Lord

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.940
 that's been ever so costly

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.579
 for you

00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.960
 to formulate

00:35:17.960 --> 00:35:19.500
 but Lord

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.660
 a gift which is free

00:35:20.660 --> 00:35:21.559
 to us to take

00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:23.700
 help us Lord

00:35:23.700 --> 00:35:24.700
 not to be ashamed

00:35:24.700 --> 00:35:26.700
 help us to live

00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:27.500
 as people who

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.780
 are fully aware

00:35:28.780 --> 00:35:30.260
 of how you honor us

00:35:30.260 --> 00:35:32.059
 in a daily basis

00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:35.440
 and I pray this in Jesus name

00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:35.880
 Amen

00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:37.300
 thank you

00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:38.900
 God bless you

00:35:38.900 --> 00:36:04.920
 God bless you