WEBVTT

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 The first reading is from Romans 1, 1-15.

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 For the sake of his name among all nations, 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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 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,

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 because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

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 For God is my witness, whom I serve with his spirit, 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 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,

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 in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

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 I am under obligations both to Greeks and to barbarians,

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 both to the wise and to the foolish,

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

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 In May 1738,

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 a 30-year-old man walked into a Christian meeting at Aldersgate, London,

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 and upon hearing the message, he put his faith in Christ.

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 And what makes this story remarkable

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 isn't that a young man came to faith,

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 although that's remarkable,

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 be remarkable these days, absolutely.

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 But it's that this 30-year-old man was an Anglican minister

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 for some 10 years before he walked into this meeting.

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 Not only that, he was Oxford-trained,

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 and he even spent time in the New World

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 being a chaplain for the British colony in Georgia.

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 This young man was a religious man,

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 yet to his own testimony,

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 his heart was cold towards the things of God.

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 So on that night,

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 in 1738,

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 the Reverend John Wesley heard

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 Martin Luther's preface to St. Paul's epistle to the Romans,

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 this very thing,

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 many of us are holding in our hands,

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 and his heart was warmed.

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 And he wrote about this encounter in his journal,

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 and this is what he said,

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 quote,

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 About a quarter before nine,

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 while he was describing the change

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 which God works in the heart through faith in Christ,

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 I felt my heart strangely warmed.

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 I felt I did trust in Christ,

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 Christ alone for salvation,

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 and an assurance was given me

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 that he had taken away my sins,

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 even mine.

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 And save me from the law of sin and death,

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 end quote.

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 You know,

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 all scripture we say in this church

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 is God's word written,

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 it is breathed out by God,

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 yet Romans

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 holds a very unique place in the canon

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 and in many of our lives.

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 John Wesley,

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 whom I just read this story,

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 had his heart strangely warmed

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 towards the Lord

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 through the reading

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 and explaining

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 of Paul's letter to the epistle.

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 St. Augustine as well,

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 if you're familiar with his confessions,

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 he will talk about

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 hearing this voice,

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 say,

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 pick up and read,

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 and what he ends up reading

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 is a portion from Romans.

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 I know somebody close to me

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 that it was their experience as well,

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 hearing the gospel

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 explained by St. Paul

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 in Romans

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 that opened up their eyes

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 to the fact that they were truly saved.

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 Maybe it's the case for some of you

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 this morning.

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 All of God's

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 scriptures,

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 all of scripture is God's word written,

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 yet Romans

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 is really a remarkable book.

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 And as we turn to it

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 over these next few weeks

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 leading up to Easter,

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 we'll take a break from it.

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 We'll jump back into it in September.

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 Our goal is to hit the entire book

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 probably in three to four sections

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 over the next couple years.

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 But as we get into this,

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 we're going to see what the gospel is all about.

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 We're going to see how the gospel

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 is the very means

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 by which God draws people to himself,

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 that it is the only way

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 by which men and women can be saved.

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 And it isn't

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 just a nice set

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 of intellectual propositions

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 that we ascend to,

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 but it is

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 the only good,

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 true good news

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 that can truly fulfill the human heart.

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 So we're going to turn our attention

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 this morning

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 to this opening greeting

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 in Romans chapter 1,

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 verses 1 to 15,

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 and we'll see the centrality

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 of the gospel.

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 And we're going to keep things

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 very simple,

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 and we're going to look at

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 the author,

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 the message,

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 and then the implications

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 of the gospel.

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 The author,

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 the message,

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 the implications.

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 A bit of a background

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 before we jump into it.

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 So Romans was written around,

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 the historians and theologians,

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 figure about 57 AD,

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 AD 57,

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 by the Apostle Paul.

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 In terms of the biblical timeline,

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 if you're familiar

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 with the narrative in Acts,

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 we were in Acts

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 not too long ago,

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 but this would be

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 almost certainly

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 during Paul's

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 third missionary journey.

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 He's held up in Corinth

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 for a number of months,

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 and we believe that

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 that's when he wrote this,

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 this letter to this church in Rome.

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 Regarding the geopolitical situation,

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 interestingly,

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 it was written not long

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 after Claudius' expulsion

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 of the Jews from Rome.

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 That happened around AD 41.

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 It lasted to about AD 54.

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 And this is significant for us.

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 Not so much this morning,

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 although we'll see it,

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 its significance

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 throughout the weeks to come.

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 But here's why it's significant.

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 The church in Rome

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 almost certainly

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 was a mixed group

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 of Jews and non-Jews.

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 Jews and Greeks

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 and barbarians,

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 we'll see barbarians

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 as a term simply

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 to refer to Gentiles

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 who aren't Greeks.

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 So it's a mixed church,

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 and it would seem

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 that there was a number

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 of Jewish people

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 coming to faith in Jesus,

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 and it caused frustration

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 and alarm

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 amongst the non-believing

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 Jewish population.

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 So much so

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 that Claudius

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 expelled all of the Jews

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 from Rome.

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 So what ends up happening

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 is the church continues

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 to grow,

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 but it has lost

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 its understanding

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 and its connection

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 to its Jewish roots.

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 So, again,

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 this is just for background.

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 We're not going to get

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 into it this morning,

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 but we'll see that

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 Paul's going to address

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 a lot of these questions.

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 The church in Rome

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 would have had

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 about 10 years,

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 maybe longer,

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 devoid of Jewish believers.

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 So how would this

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 once mixed church respond

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 when some Jewish believers

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 return?

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 Again, maybe two to three years

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 after the expulsion

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 edict is lifted.

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 How would this tension

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 be navigated theologically?

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 Is it enough

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 to just have Jesus

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 completely separated

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 from the Hebrew scriptures

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 and the Hebrew patriarchs

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 and the Hebrew prophets

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 and the Hebrew people?

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 Do they still have a place?

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 Paul will answer this

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 throughout the letter,

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 but again,

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 we won't touch on it today.

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 So,

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 Paul has yet to meet

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 this Roman church.

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 He's long desired

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 to see them

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 as we'll read

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 in verse 13.

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 So he introduces himself

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 to them,

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 not unlike other letters,

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 but in a more expansive way

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 and in doing so,

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 he reveals not only

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 his identity

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 and bona fides,

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 so to speak,

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 but also provides

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 a very succinct

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 yet incredibly dense

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 explainer of the gospel.

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 Okay?

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 So that's a bit of the background

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 going into the letter.

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 We're just gonna look

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 at our first point,

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 who this author is,

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 who St. Paul is,

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 verse one.

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 Paul,

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 a servant of Jesus,

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 of Christ Jesus,

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 called to be an apostle,

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 set apart for the gospel

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 of God.

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 This will be a short point,

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 I think it's,

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 though it's very helpful

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 to draw your attention

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 to a couple of things.

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 Notice how Paul leads

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 with his bona fides.

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 I guess first consider

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 what he does not include

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 in there.

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 Now later on,

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 he'll talk about

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 how he's a Hebrew of Hebrews,

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 that he's from the tribe

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 of Benjamin,

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 he's a Pharisee,

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 he's knowledgeable,

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 doesn't mention any of that.

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 What does he mention

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 first off?

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 That he is a servant

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 of Christ.

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 He also mentions

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 that he is an apostle.

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 And on the surface,

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 these titles seem

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 somewhat conflicting.

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 Why?

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 Because of the

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 the disproportionate

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 separation of status

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 between a servant

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 and an apostle.

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 A servant,

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 it would be best

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 to describe it

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 or translate it

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 as a bond servant

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 or a slave.

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 Now,

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 just right off the bat,

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 this isn't the same

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 as Roman slavery existed.

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 In fact,

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 slavery has existed

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 in almost every culture

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 throughout time.

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 Roman slavery

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 is not the same

00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:50.500
 as chattel slavery

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 with the transatlantic

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 slave trade.

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 nevertheless,

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 even though

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 these Roman slaves

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 would have had

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 status

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 and affluence,

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 they were

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 lesser on the hierarchy.

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 So much so

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 that a Roman citizen,

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 it was against the law

00:10:08.319 --> 00:10:09.179
 for a Roman citizen

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 to become a slave.

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 So even though

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 a slave

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 in Paul's day,

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 in the first century,

00:10:14.939 --> 00:10:15.339
 would have had

00:10:15.339 --> 00:10:17.459
 somewhat high status,

00:10:17.579 --> 00:10:18.039
 they were still

00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:18.720
 pretty much

00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:19.939
 close to the bottom rung

00:10:19.939 --> 00:10:21.720
 of the social hierarchy.

00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:23.560
 So Paul is

00:10:23.560 --> 00:10:25.279
 a slave of Christ.

00:10:26.300 --> 00:10:27.600
 Yet on the other hand,

00:10:27.700 --> 00:10:28.360
 he is

00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:29.420
 an apostle.

00:10:29.560 --> 00:10:30.279
 Now the apostles,

00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:31.700
 at least within

00:10:31.700 --> 00:10:32.680
 the Christian community,

00:10:32.820 --> 00:10:33.220
 were held

00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:34.540
 with the highest esteem.

00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:35.840
 The apostles

00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:36.960
 were the ones

00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:38.240
 who walked

00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:38.720
 with Jesus,

00:10:38.920 --> 00:10:39.720
 who interacted

00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:40.279
 with Jesus

00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:40.800
 intimately,

00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:42.180
 who knew

00:10:42.180 --> 00:10:42.759
 the sound

00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:43.700
 of his voice

00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:45.080
 and sat

00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:46.040
 under his teaching.

00:10:46.180 --> 00:10:47.160
 Now the apostle Paul

00:10:47.160 --> 00:10:48.480
 becomes an apostle

00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:51.279
 not with the 12

00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:51.879
 and then later

00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:52.399
 the 11,

00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:53.220
 but rather

00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:54.320
 when he is

00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:54.940
 on his way

00:10:54.940 --> 00:10:55.639
 to persecute

00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.159
 the church

00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:59.379
 on the Damascus road

00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:00.500
 and the risen Lord

00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:01.500
 Jesus Christ

00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:02.980
 reveals himself

00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:03.560
 to Paul

00:11:03.560 --> 00:11:04.840
 and commissions him

00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:06.259
 to be an apostle.

00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:06.820
 Nevertheless,

00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:08.480
 the apostle

00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:09.300
 whom Paul

00:11:09.300 --> 00:11:10.279
 says he is,

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:11.840
 I mean,

00:11:12.060 --> 00:11:12.659
 right up there

00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:13.279
 with the prophets

00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:13.539
 of old,

00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:14.420
 maybe even higher

00:11:14.420 --> 00:11:15.279
 in terms of

00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:16.100
 religious status.

00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:17.779
 So we have

00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:18.920
 a slave

00:11:18.920 --> 00:11:20.740
 on one hand

00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.379
 and an apostle

00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:22.560
 on the other.

00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:24.220
 And yet Paul

00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:25.019
 is identifying

00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:26.620
 himself as both.

00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:29.019
 Both as a servant

00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:29.960
 and an apostle

00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:31.440
 entrusted with the gospel.

00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:33.820
 I think the big

00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:34.840
 takeaway from all this

00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:35.240
 is that

00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:37.279
 the apostle Paul

00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:38.680
 is recognizing

00:11:38.680 --> 00:11:39.200
 and stating

00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.139
 right off the get-go

00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:40.879
 that his life

00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:41.660
 is not his own.

00:11:43.019 --> 00:11:43.940
 He has agency,

00:11:43.940 --> 00:11:46.560
 he is not

00:11:46.560 --> 00:11:46.960
 some kind

00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:47.620
 of automaton.

00:11:47.900 --> 00:11:48.240
 Nevertheless,

00:11:48.900 --> 00:11:49.700
 he is in

00:11:49.700 --> 00:11:50.740
 the service

00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:52.460
 of a higher power

00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:54.180
 of a higher king.

00:11:56.040 --> 00:11:57.080
 The apostle's

00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:58.000
 life is

00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:58.700
 no longer

00:11:58.700 --> 00:11:59.740
 his own.

00:12:00.420 --> 00:12:00.880
 He has been

00:12:00.880 --> 00:12:01.920
 commissioned by God

00:12:01.920 --> 00:12:02.440
 to proclaim

00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:03.000
 the gospel

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.620
 specifically

00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.980
 to the Greeks

00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:06.260
 and to the barbarians.

00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:07.660
 So,

00:12:07.900 --> 00:12:09.140
 what is this

00:12:09.140 --> 00:12:10.000
 gospel of God

00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:10.660
 that he is set

00:12:10.660 --> 00:12:11.240
 apart for,

00:12:11.380 --> 00:12:12.100
 that he is

00:12:12.100 --> 00:12:13.060
 commissioned

00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:13.819
 to proclaim?

00:12:13.979 --> 00:12:14.479
 This gets into

00:12:14.479 --> 00:12:15.759
 our second point.

00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:16.339
 This will be

00:12:16.339 --> 00:12:17.279
 the longest section

00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.239
 that we look into.

00:12:18.359 --> 00:12:20.559
 It's verses 2 to 7.

00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:22.500
 But before we get

00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:23.639
 into the text,

00:12:24.579 --> 00:12:26.239
 a bit of the term

00:12:26.239 --> 00:12:26.659
 gospel.

00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:26.939
 Now,

00:12:27.099 --> 00:12:27.779
 gospel's a very

00:12:27.779 --> 00:12:28.399
 churchy word.

00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.359
 We've heard it

00:12:29.359 --> 00:12:30.639
 if you've come to church,

00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:31.659
 if you've come to this church

00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:32.339
 for some time.

00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:33.479
 It's a very

00:12:33.479 --> 00:12:34.739
 churchy word

00:12:34.739 --> 00:12:36.699
 and I've probably

00:12:36.699 --> 00:12:38.219
 not done the greatest job

00:12:38.219 --> 00:12:40.039
 explaining it,

00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:41.239
 rather assuming

00:12:41.239 --> 00:12:42.219
 that people know

00:12:42.219 --> 00:12:42.959
 what it is.

00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:43.819
 Okay?

00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:45.099
 That's on me

00:12:45.099 --> 00:12:45.599
 if you're like,

00:12:45.719 --> 00:12:46.079
 I've been coming

00:12:46.079 --> 00:12:46.419
 to this church

00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:46.799
 for a while

00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:47.179
 and I don't know

00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:47.939
 what the gospel is.

00:12:48.739 --> 00:12:48.959
 You know,

00:12:49.119 --> 00:12:49.919
 come to me,

00:12:50.119 --> 00:12:50.619
 let me know

00:12:50.619 --> 00:12:51.599
 so I can apologize

00:12:51.599 --> 00:12:52.979
 to you about that.

00:12:53.099 --> 00:12:53.419
 Nevertheless,

00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.799
 it's a word

00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:55.879
 that a lot of us

00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:57.099
 take for granted

00:12:57.099 --> 00:12:57.919
 that we know.

00:12:58.079 --> 00:12:59.299
 We have it defined

00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:01.019
 in our minds

00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:01.359
 or at least

00:13:01.359 --> 00:13:02.359
 we think we do.

00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:03.439
 And really,

00:13:03.599 --> 00:13:03.959
 this is what

00:13:03.959 --> 00:13:04.699
 the gospel is.

00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:06.119
 The gospel literally

00:13:06.119 --> 00:13:07.539
 means a good message.

00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.859
 It's a message

00:13:09.859 --> 00:13:10.979
 of victory

00:13:10.979 --> 00:13:12.519
 that in the ancient world,

00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:13.379
 it's not exclusive

00:13:13.379 --> 00:13:14.039
 to Christianity,

00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:16.379
 would be heralded

00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:18.139
 by a messenger.

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:19.419
 So,

00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.360
 if you think about

00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:23.860
 in the first century

00:13:23.860 --> 00:13:24.620
 or the centuries

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.579
 leading up to

00:13:25.579 --> 00:13:27.179
 the writing

00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:27.879
 of the epistle,

00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:29.620
 you think of

00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.360
 a big battle,

00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:33.079
 the victory is won,

00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.600
 peace is achieved,

00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:35.899
 and then a herald

00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:37.059
 will go before the king

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:39.019
 city and proclaim

00:13:39.019 --> 00:13:39.819
 that the king

00:13:39.819 --> 00:13:40.500
 is coming back,

00:13:40.579 --> 00:13:41.399
 the victorious king

00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:42.459
 would be coming back.

00:13:44.059 --> 00:13:44.839
 This is what

00:13:44.839 --> 00:13:45.639
 a gospel is.

00:13:45.699 --> 00:13:46.219
 This is what

00:13:46.219 --> 00:13:47.719
 the good news

00:13:47.719 --> 00:13:49.419
 would entail.

00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:49.699
 Now,

00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:52.000
 this makes sense

00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.619
 in connection

00:13:53.619 --> 00:13:55.299
 to what we're

00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:56.159
 going to look at,

00:13:56.319 --> 00:13:56.719
 although,

00:13:57.079 --> 00:13:58.219
 it is not exactly

00:13:58.219 --> 00:13:59.399
 an apples to apples

00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.019
 comparison.

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.739
 Jesus truly is,

00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:03.419
 and what we'll see,

00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:04.739
 is that he truly is

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:06.080
 the victorious king,

00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:07.019
 but he is not

00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:07.820
 the victorious king

00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:08.799
 that unsheathes

00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:09.259
 the sword

00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:11.620
 and puts to death

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:13.460
 enemies,

00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:14.519
 but rather

00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.639
 a king that

00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:17.180
 himself dies

00:14:17.180 --> 00:14:18.899
 so that he can

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:19.639
 conquer sin

00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.120
 and death.

00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:21.500
 So,

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.659
 this is what

00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:23.539
 the good news is

00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:24.700
 that we will encounter

00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:25.820
 throughout this letter.

00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:26.039
 Now,

00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.180
 there's many facets

00:14:27.180 --> 00:14:27.659
 to it,

00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:28.379
 and this is going

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.320
 to be the whole

00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:31.700
 job and journey

00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.259
 of us

00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:33.080
 to figure out

00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:34.039
 as we go through

00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:36.899
 Romans

00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.579
 over the next

00:14:37.579 --> 00:14:38.079
 few weeks.

00:14:38.719 --> 00:14:39.279
 But Paul goes

00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:40.079
 on to explain

00:14:40.079 --> 00:14:41.740
 in a very succinct

00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:42.539
 way in the next

00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.259
 few verses,

00:14:43.579 --> 00:14:45.399
 outlining five

00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:46.379
 aspects of this

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:46.819
 good news.

00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.519
 This is what it

00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:48.699
 says,

00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.219
 I'll read verses

00:14:49.219 --> 00:14:49.939
 one to six,

00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:50.439
 and then we're

00:14:50.439 --> 00:14:50.819
 going to jump

00:14:50.819 --> 00:14:51.379
 right into it

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:51.740
 and look at

00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.139
 these five

00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:52.759
 aspects of the

00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:53.059
 gospel.

00:14:55.319 --> 00:14:55.719
 Paul,

00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:56.199
 a servant

00:14:56.199 --> 00:14:57.039
 of Christ Jesus,

00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:57.599
 called to be

00:14:57.599 --> 00:14:58.079
 an apostle,

00:14:58.759 --> 00:14:59.360
 set apart for

00:14:59.360 --> 00:14:59.939
 the gospel

00:14:59.939 --> 00:15:00.620
 of God,

00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:01.860
 which he promised

00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:02.500
 beforehand

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.399
 through his

00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:04.500
 prophets in

00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:05.860
 the holy scriptures

00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:06.519
 concerning his

00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:06.779
 son,

00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.019
 who was descended

00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:08.620
 from David

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.340
 according to the

00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:09.639
 flesh,

00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:10.960
 and was declared

00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:11.620
 to be the son

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.019
 of God

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:12.460
 and power

00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.000
 according to

00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.480
 the spirit

00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:14.039
 of holiness

00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:15.240
 by his

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:15.720
 resurrection

00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:16.759
 from the dead,

00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:17.740
 Jesus Christ,

00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.340
 our Lord,

00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.539
 through whom

00:15:19.539 --> 00:15:20.259
 we have received

00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:21.019
 grace and

00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:21.759
 apostleship

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:23.059
 to bring about

00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:23.620
 the obedience

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.279
 of faith for

00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.080
 the sake of

00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:25.759
 his name

00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.960
 among all

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.500
 the nations,

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.320
 including you,

00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:29.299
 who are called

00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:30.100
 to belong to

00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:30.840
 Christ Jesus.

00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:31.899
 That is a

00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:32.540
 long sentence.

00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:34.080
 Let's break it

00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:34.279
 down.

00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:34.700
 First,

00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:36.600
 you'll notice

00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.519
 that the gospel

00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.519
 originates with

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.120
 God the Father.

00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:39.740
 We see that at

00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.080
 the end of

00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:40.540
 verse 1.

00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:42.159
 It is not a

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.980
 human invention

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:43.920
 by Paul or

00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:44.779
 another earthly

00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:45.740
 church leader.

00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:47.320
 Because it

00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:48.639
 originates with

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.600
 God, it

00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:50.840
 cannot therefore

00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:52.159
 be a contingency

00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.460
 plan.

00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:52.920
 What do I mean

00:15:52.920 --> 00:15:53.320
 by this?

00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.660
 It is not as

00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:55.980
 though God

00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:56.920
 created this

00:15:56.920 --> 00:15:57.420
 beautiful,

00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.340
 perfect world

00:15:58.340 --> 00:15:59.480
 and then

00:15:59.480 --> 00:15:59.980
 Adam and

00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.560
 Eve fell,

00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:01.620
 what we call

00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.920
 original sin,

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.120
 the fall,

00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:04.920
 capital F,

00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:05.820
 and God was

00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:06.860
 scrambling to

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.340
 figure out how

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:07.960
 to fix it.

00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:08.940
 As if it

00:16:08.940 --> 00:16:10.019
 just, you

00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:11.680
 know, this

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.740
 catastrophe

00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.860
 presented itself

00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:14.980
 and caught God

00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:15.540
 unawares.

00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:17.840
 Rather, this

00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:18.320
 has been the

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.259
 plan of God

00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:21.240
 from before

00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:21.840
 all time.

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.940
 Among God's

00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:24.820
 many attributes,

00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.340
 and this is

00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:26.840
 where understanding

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:28.639
 some bits of

00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.280
 doctrine help

00:16:29.280 --> 00:16:29.759
 us to read

00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.440
 scripture better,

00:16:31.540 --> 00:16:32.139
 among God's

00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:33.120
 many attributes

00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:34.220
 that are exclusive

00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:35.000
 to him, which

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.560
 means that we

00:16:35.560 --> 00:16:36.200
 don't share

00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.580
 them with God

00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:38.040
 in any way,

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.220
 God is omniscient.

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.139
 What does that

00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:40.379
 mean?

00:16:41.800 --> 00:16:43.060
 God's omniscience

00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:43.899
 means that he

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.180
 knows all and

00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:45.980
 is surprised by

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.320
 nothing.

00:16:47.060 --> 00:16:48.080
 All of his plans

00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:48.740
 and all of his

00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:49.680
 actions are not

00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:51.360
 in response to

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.080
 surprises or

00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:55.360
 advances that

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:56.160
 come upon him.

00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:57.860
 It means that

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:58.700
 what God has

00:16:58.700 --> 00:16:59.800
 willed has been

00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:00.759
 willed from

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.600
 before time.

00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:03.480
 Now, again,

00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:04.460
 we take this

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:06.160
 mystery by faith

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.640
 because it's

00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:07.519
 hard for finite

00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.740
 minds to grasp

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:10.240
 an infinite God.

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.440
 Nevertheless, it's

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:11.880
 an important

00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:12.319
 point.

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:14.680
 God is sovereign

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.420
 in his will.

00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.740
 We do not have

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.360
 time this morning

00:17:18.360 --> 00:17:19.240
 to take this

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.720
 theological detour

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.140
 into the sovereignty

00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:22.819
 of God in

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.600
 relation to human

00:17:23.600 --> 00:17:24.240
 agency.

00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:24.319
 prophecy.

00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.539
 We're going to

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.220
 touch on that in

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:27.120
 later weeks in

00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:28.759
 Romans, especially

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.299
 when we get to

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:30.339
 Romans chapter 9.

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.059
 That's when things

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:33.400
 get really wonderfully

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.079
 complicated.

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.319
 However, I want to

00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:35.920
 make the point that

00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:37.120
 God originates, the

00:17:37.120 --> 00:17:38.079
 gospel originates with

00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:40.160
 God and is his

00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:42.359
 planned good news of

00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:44.079
 victory over sin and

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:44.620
 death forever.

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.200
 Okay, the second

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:47.500
 thing that we see in

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.180
 this short little

00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:50.059
 opening from the

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.700
 apostle Paul, that

00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.740
 it is promised good

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.099
 news.

00:17:53.679 --> 00:17:54.779
 You'll notice that in

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:56.240
 verse 2, that God

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.639
 promised beforehand

00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:59.000
 through his prophets

00:17:59.000 --> 00:17:59.639
 in the Holy

00:17:59.639 --> 00:18:00.000
 Scriptures.

00:18:00.419 --> 00:18:01.099
 He's talking about the

00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:01.919
 Old Testament here.

00:18:02.679 --> 00:18:04.119
 It is promised good

00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:04.460
 news.

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:05.759
 So this is a new

00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.980
 revelation from God,

00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:07.659
 something he wanted

00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:09.159
 to introduce through

00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:10.779
 Paul or even Jesus

00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.200
 himself.

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.079
 And yes, the gospel

00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:13.740
 for sure is fully

00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:15.139
 revealed in Christ as

00:18:15.139 --> 00:18:16.700
 we will see here this

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.440
 morning and in the

00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.980
 weeks to come.

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.519
 However, the promise

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.640
 that God would remedy

00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:21.839
 and redeem the

00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:23.099
 corruption and decay of

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:24.240
 sin and death, it

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.380
 goes all the way back

00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:26.380
 to the opening chapters

00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:27.559
 of the Bible, which

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.920
 is to say that it is

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:30.220
 the promised good news

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:30.920
 of God's victory.

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:36.579
 We see allusions, we

00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:38.920
 see symbols, we hear

00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:39.940
 prophecies.

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:43.480
 There are numerous

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:45.059
 instances in the Old

00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:47.200
 Testament that will say

00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.100
 pretty explicitly,

00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.980
 oftentimes implicitly,

00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:52.380
 that God is not okay

00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:55.259
 with what he sees with

00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.340
 sin and death and he is

00:18:56.340 --> 00:18:57.259
 looking to remedy it.

00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:59.039
 What will it look like?

00:18:59.080 --> 00:19:00.039
 He gives little clues,

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.980
 leaves a breadcrumb trail,

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.100
 so to speak.

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:06.240
 But it's not absent from

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.440
 the Old Testament.

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:10.860
 Now, this is very

00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:11.840
 important for us because

00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:14.080
 there are other religions

00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:15.200
 that have come since

00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.600
 Christianity that have

00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.880
 claimed the same thing,

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:19.500
 that claim a Genesis

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:21.059
 back to, say, Genesis.

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:24.700
 But a simple examination

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:26.740
 of Scripture shows that

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.960
 Muhammad would not be the

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:29.200
 last and final prophet.

00:19:30.340 --> 00:19:31.779
 That Joseph Smith, for

00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:35.340
 instance, he did not

00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:37.059
 stumble upon a hidden truth.

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:39.200
 In fact, so much of the

00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:42.019
 false religions that have

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.379
 taken place since

00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:45.519
 Christianity came about,

00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:47.180
 they will always tinker

00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:48.599
 and tamper in some kind

00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:50.259
 of way with God's

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:52.059
 Scripture so that they

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:53.639
 either deny it completely

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:55.420
 or they find in it

00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:58.839
 falsely proof that

00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:01.379
 justifies their religion

00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:01.920
 and beliefs.

00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:07.500
 The Gospel is promised

00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:09.400
 good news, finding its

00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:11.240
 Genesis in Genesis and

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.779
 throughout the rest of

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.960
 the Old Testament.

00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.319
 Thirdly, and most

00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:16.259
 importantly for us to

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:17.180
 truly understand, is that

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:19.019
 the Gospel concerns God

00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:19.640
 the Son.

00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.039
 God the Son.

00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:25.900
 Here is our first

00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:27.259
 example of Paul getting

00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:29.259
 incredibly specific in

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:31.140
 Romans, wasting zero ink

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:33.420
 about who Jesus is,

00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.380
 what he came to do.

00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:36.319
 The Gospel concerning the

00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:38.539
 Son is tied to the

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:41.619
 incarnation, right off the

00:20:41.619 --> 00:20:42.319
 bat, Paul says.

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.980
 God the Son descended,

00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:46.259
 taking on human flesh,

00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.379
 descended from the line

00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:49.799
 of David, yet he remained

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.599
 fully God.

00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:51.920
 Not only that, but his

00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:53.159
 earthly ministry was both

00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:54.920
 humble and powerful, as

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:56.619
 evidenced by his conquering

00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:59.299
 the greatest foe, death,

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:03.259
 and through which he would

00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:04.779
 die himself and rise again

00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.480
 from the dead.

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:07.059
 He defeats death by

00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:07.599
 death.

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.839
 And here is where we

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.740
 begin to see that this

00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:13.019
 good news is completely

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:15.680
 connected to God the Son

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:17.680
 being fully man and fully

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.019
 God.

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:21.279
 Not only has Paul cited the

00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.400
 incarnation, he has also

00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:23.660
 referenced the resurrection,

00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:25.500
 which is to say that he

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:27.420
 has in mind the entirety of

00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:30.079
 Jesus' life culminating in

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:32.200
 the victory over the grave and

00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.460
 his ascension to heaven.

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:36.380
 This eternal plan of God,

00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:37.640
 promised in the scriptures,

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:39.640
 carried out by the Son, was

00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:40.600
 for all humanity.

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.720
 And this is then the fourth

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:43.240
 point that Paul will make.

00:21:44.100 --> 00:21:45.940
 The scope of this gospel is

00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.860
 for all nations.

00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:49.160
 Later on in the letter, Paul

00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:52.120
 will talk about the primacy of

00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:53.519
 the people of Israel throughout

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.960
 the Old Testament as God's

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.660
 chosen people, and how

00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.900
 although they will continue to

00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.000
 have a special place in the

00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.840
 biblical narrative, not least

00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:03.799
 because the Savior was born a

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.599
 Jew, but that this gospel

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.720
 then is expanded and it

00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.899
 becomes good news for all

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.299
 people.

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.500
 All have sinned and fallen

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.679
 short of the glory of God,

00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.779
 Paul will say in Romans

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.459
 chapter 3.

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:20.079
 So if a human being exists

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:22.819
 that has fallen into sin or

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.419
 has missed the mark or who

00:22:24.419 --> 00:22:27.019
 has corrupted relationships or

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:29.220
 a distorted way of thinking,

00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:33.240
 whose desires are all askew,

00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.539
 Paul says the gospel is for

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:35.779
 you.

00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.839
 It is for you.

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.460
 The scope of the gospel is for

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.039
 all people.

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.640
 All have been corrupted by sin,

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.720
 which means all have the

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:47.480
 inability to fix and redeem

00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:50.700
 and to become enlightened and

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.480
 save themselves.

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:54.319
 Therefore, all need a Savior and

00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:56.059
 all are therefore in need of the

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.380
 gospel.

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:58.280
 And then finally, the fifth

00:22:58.280 --> 00:22:59.540
 point that he makes is the

00:22:59.540 --> 00:23:00.540
 purpose of the gospel.

00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:03.260
 The purpose of the gospel to

00:23:03.260 --> 00:23:05.060
 bring praise and glory to the

00:23:05.060 --> 00:23:07.220
 one and only true king of all.

00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:09.300
 And this is expressed in two

00:23:09.300 --> 00:23:09.640
 ways.

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:12.180
 The first is found in verse 6.

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:16.020
 It means it's for all who

00:23:16.020 --> 00:23:17.300
 belong to Christ.

00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:18.680
 It means that we belong to him.

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:22.760
 And again, Paul here is like he

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:25.099
 is packing this one sentence

00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:27.259
 with numerous hyperlinks that

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:29.240
 we could click on and explore

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:31.000
 and we will explore in the

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:31.500
 weeks to come.

00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.819
 But it is to say that through

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:34.339
 the Holy Spirit, God is calling

00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:36.720
 people to himself to a life

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:39.200
 under good and godly rule of

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.980
 the one true God who is king and

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.640
 lord over all.

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:44.119
 It means like the apostle Paul

00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:46.759
 says in that opening verse that

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:49.079
 if you are in Christ, you are no

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:50.199
 longer your own.

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:53.960
 You have become a new creation

00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:55.939
 and also a bondservant or a

00:23:55.939 --> 00:23:56.839
 slave of Christ.

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.859
 He is your master.

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:03.579
 I'll just pause really quickly

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:05.619
 here because I don't want to be

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.659
 mastered by anybody.

00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:09.619
 Whether you're a Christian or

00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:11.399
 somebody who is struggling with

00:24:11.399 --> 00:24:12.859
 the faith or maybe completely

00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:15.939
 outside of the faith, who wants

00:24:15.939 --> 00:24:17.139
 to be called a slave?

00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:20.200
 Who wants to be called somebody

00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.320
 who has a master?

00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:23.940
 We have moved on from such

00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:25.040
 uncomfortable statements.

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:28.060
 But I think, and the more I

00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:29.980
 thought about this, the more it

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:32.040
 made sense for me, okay, for me.

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:34.120
 Maybe for you as well.

00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:37.380
 But I fashion myself as somebody

00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:38.860
 who is in charge of my own life.

00:24:39.300 --> 00:24:42.020
 But I am mastered by many things,

00:24:42.320 --> 00:24:42.560
 okay?

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:45.140
 I am a slave to other things.

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:48.100
 The stark reality is that

00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:50.460
 I am a slave, and maybe you

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:52.060
 are as well, to your appetites,

00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:55.100
 to the pressures of performance

00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:58.100
 and achievement, to your desires

00:24:58.100 --> 00:24:59.920
 that aren't evil but terribly

00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:01.620
 disordered and thus becoming

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.460
 evil.

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.780
 You are a slave

00:25:05.780 --> 00:25:07.280
 to

00:25:07.280 --> 00:25:09.400
 the thought of

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:11.580
 kicking back, putting up your

00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:14.200
 feet, and just resting as if that

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.200
 is the pinnacle of your

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.539
 week.

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.860
 You are mastered by

00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:18.440
 things.

00:25:18.580 --> 00:25:19.880
 You are a slave to

00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.440
 things.

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:23.460
 It's an uncomfortable truth, but

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.519
 be honest with yourself.

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:27.860
 Ask yourself, if you truly are in

00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:29.840
 the driver's seat of your life,

00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.519
 in all respects,

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:37.160
 put another way,

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:40.440
 we think we are

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.540
 lords of our lives,

00:25:41.540 --> 00:25:42.160
 but we

00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:44.019
 certainly are not.

00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:45.540
 We think we sit on the throne

00:25:45.540 --> 00:25:46.960
 of our hearts, but we

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:48.480
 certainly are not.

00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:50.180
 But with Christ,

00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:52.140
 this

00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.519
 master of all,

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.380
 this lord of all,

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.259
 this king of all,

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:56.960
 he's perfectly just.

00:25:58.120 --> 00:25:59.460
 And he is

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.380
 such a just

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:00.920
 master

00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:03.220
 that he begins to shape

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.480
 us and form us

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.680
 so that the disordered parts

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.460
 of our lives

00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:09.000
 become more

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.339
 ordered.

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:11.000
 We

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.480
 begin to rightly

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.759
 enjoy the things

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.480
 that are good

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.680
 that we have

00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.500
 previously

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.720
 enjoyed a bit

00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.400
 too much

00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.740
 or put too much

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.579
 emphasis upon.

00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:22.960
 We

00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.860
 begin to,

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.519
 in a very

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.519
 real way,

00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.700
 begin to look like

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.039
 Christ.

00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:28.819
 He

00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:30.539
 shapes us

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.480
 to conform

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.839
 to him.

00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:34.119
 That's the first

00:26:34.119 --> 00:26:34.379
 way,

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.220
 in verse 6,

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:35.879
 we become

00:26:35.879 --> 00:26:36.539
 Christ's.

00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.240
 The second

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.559
 way

00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:38.740
 that we

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:40.359
 give glory

00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:40.859
 to him

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.679
 is by

00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.500
 growing in

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.339
 our fidelity

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:44.039
 and obedience

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.740
 to that king.

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.359
 So it's not just

00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:45.759
 that he

00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:47.819
 makes us

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.459
 his own,

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:48.939
 but he,

00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:49.539
 again,

00:26:49.639 --> 00:26:50.279
 like I've

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:51.099
 briefly mentioned,

00:26:51.199 --> 00:26:51.699
 he begins to

00:26:51.699 --> 00:26:52.379
 fashion us

00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:52.980
 and conform

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.599
 us to

00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.439
 look like

00:26:54.439 --> 00:26:54.659
 him.

00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:57.919
 He,

00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.919
 the apostle

00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.699
 Paul says this

00:27:00.699 --> 00:27:01.579
 in verse 5,

00:27:01.579 --> 00:27:02.319
 through whom

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:02.559
 we have

00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.399
 received grace,

00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:04.480
 that is

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.220
 the power

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.879
 and strength,

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.000
 to bring

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.740
 about the

00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.519
 obedience of

00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:08.839
 faith,

00:27:08.939 --> 00:27:09.339
 that is the

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.939
 conformity

00:27:09.939 --> 00:27:10.919
 to that

00:27:10.919 --> 00:27:11.199
 king.

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:12.919
 And he

00:27:12.919 --> 00:27:13.240
 gives us

00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:13.619
 the Holy

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.019
 Spirit,

00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:14.460
 the very

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.299
 power that

00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:15.939
 raised Jesus

00:27:15.939 --> 00:27:16.359
 from the

00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:16.579
 dead,

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:17.839
 to help us

00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:18.480
 obey him

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:18.779
 and live

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.159
 under his

00:27:19.159 --> 00:27:19.659
 good and

00:27:19.659 --> 00:27:20.019
 beautiful

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.419
 rule.

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.740
 Five points

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.980
 that mark

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.519
 the gospel,

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:24.679
 what the

00:27:24.679 --> 00:27:25.399
 gospel is all

00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:25.619
 about.

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.119
 Not an

00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:26.919
 exhaustive list,

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.460
 but certainly

00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.079
 a comprehensive

00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.059
 one for us

00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.539
 this morning.

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.599
 And in them

00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.199
 we begin to

00:27:31.199 --> 00:27:31.719
 see that

00:27:31.719 --> 00:27:32.319
 this gospel

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.059
 message is

00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.879
 not simply

00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:35.219
 this proclamation

00:27:35.219 --> 00:27:36.119
 that there

00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:37.199
 was a king

00:27:37.199 --> 00:27:37.679
 that defeated

00:27:37.679 --> 00:27:38.299
 death long

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:38.879
 ago and

00:27:38.879 --> 00:27:39.119
 we,

00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.299
 it's great,

00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:40.859
 it's wonderful,

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.319
 but that

00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:43.099
 this good

00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:43.799
 news

00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:46.779
 is actually

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:48.619
 about a

00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:49.159
 human being

00:27:49.159 --> 00:27:50.079
 that lived

00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:51.240
 and died

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.599
 and rose

00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:51.919
 again.

00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:52.619
 So less

00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.599
 about a

00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.119
 news brief

00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:54.419
 and more

00:27:54.419 --> 00:27:54.859
 about a

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.179
 person.

00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:56.579
 And all

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.059
 of which is

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.619
 summed up in

00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.039
 verse 7.

00:27:58.119 --> 00:27:58.419
 Read with

00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:58.539
 me,

00:27:58.580 --> 00:27:59.019
 verse 7.

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.200
 To all

00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:00.860
 those in

00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:01.500
 Rome who

00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.680
 are loved

00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.300
 by God,

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.400
 called to

00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:04.980
 be saints,

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:05.860
 and then he

00:28:05.860 --> 00:28:06.060
 says,

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.120
 grace to you

00:28:07.120 --> 00:28:07.620
 and peace

00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:08.140
 from God

00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:08.600
 our Father

00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:08.880
 and the

00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.980
 Lord Jesus

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.519
 Christ.

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:11.880
 The love

00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:12.380
 of God,

00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:13.360
 it fuels

00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:14.180
 all of this,

00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.000
 for God

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.460
 loves us

00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:15.880
 first,

00:28:16.120 --> 00:28:16.600
 before we

00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:17.019
 knew him,

00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.180
 before we

00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:19.000
 could recognize

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.620
 our need

00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:19.980
 for him,

00:28:20.080 --> 00:28:20.900
 before the

00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.480
 gospel was

00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:21.840
 ever a

00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.500
 concept that

00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.160
 entered into

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:23.840
 our minds.

00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:26.220
 his completely

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:27.500
 undeserved love

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.039
 for us,

00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:28.879
 marks us

00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:29.619
 above all,

00:28:29.679 --> 00:28:29.919
 for he

00:28:29.919 --> 00:28:30.599
 calls us,

00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.519
 beckons us

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.799
 to joyfully

00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.379
 live out this

00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:33.599
 life.

00:28:33.659 --> 00:28:33.839
 And that

00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:34.220
 doesn't mean

00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:35.579
 a life devoid

00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.419
 of difficulty

00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:37.720
 or sadness,

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:39.359
 but a life

00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:40.519
 of joy and

00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.299
 fulfillment in

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:41.539
 him.

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.939
 What he does

00:28:43.939 --> 00:28:44.339
 is that he

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:44.939
 makes a sinner

00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:45.619
 into a saint.

00:28:46.939 --> 00:28:48.000
 He transforms

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.740
 the lowly and

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.599
 broken into

00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.559
 redeemed

00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:51.839
 children of

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.199
 God.

00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.240
 God.

00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.100
 And this

00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:53.360
 is what

00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:54.059
 grace does

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.340
 to the

00:28:54.340 --> 00:28:54.920
 human heart.

00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.279
 It gives

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:56.860
 us a peace

00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:57.180
 that we

00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:57.980
 so desperately

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.680
 desire,

00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.180
 yet our

00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.539
 corrupted

00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.519
 hearts are

00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.380
 incapable of

00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:01.880
 enjoying.

00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.819
 Peace with

00:29:04.819 --> 00:29:05.500
 God and

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.059
 peace with

00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:06.680
 one another

00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.299
 is available

00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:07.920
 to us

00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.759
 through Christ.

00:29:09.860 --> 00:29:10.539
 This is

00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:10.799
 what the

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.660
 gospel is

00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.720
 according to

00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.180
 Saint Paul.

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.900
 That gospel

00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:15.319
 that gives

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.860
 us grace

00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:16.480
 and peace

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.100
 making us

00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:17.460
 saints

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:18.799
 because of

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.660
 God's love.

00:29:19.720 --> 00:29:20.120
 And now we

00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:20.620
 will see the

00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:21.279
 implications

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.779
 of that

00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:24.039
 gospel in

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.500
 our third

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:24.779
 point.

00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:25.119
 Look with

00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:25.399
 me at

00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.559
 verses 8

00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.500
 to 11.

00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:30.839
 Actually,

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.279
 before we

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.559
 get into

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:31.899
 this,

00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:33.339
 I'll just

00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:33.740
 say this.

00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.519
 As is the

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:34.859
 case with

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.339
 this opening

00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:35.660
 bit,

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.519
 there's a

00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.240
 lot that we

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:38.740
 could draw

00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:40.460
 from this

00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:41.039
 next section

00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:41.339
 looking at

00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:41.899
 the implications

00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:42.200
 of the

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:42.399
 gospel.

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:42.759
 We'll look

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.259
 at three

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.799
 implications

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.139
 of the

00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:44.399
 gospel.

00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.399
 Now look

00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:45.759
 with me at

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.220
 verses 8

00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.579
 to 11.

00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:48.460
 First,

00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:48.920
 I thank

00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:49.379
 my God

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:49.839
 through Jesus

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.379
 Christ for

00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:50.639
 all of

00:29:50.639 --> 00:29:51.259
 you.

00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:51.819
 Because your

00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:52.420
 faith is

00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.099
 proclaimed in

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:53.539
 all the

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:53.799
 world,

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.399
 for God

00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.019
 is my

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.539
 witness,

00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:56.440
 whom I

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:56.920
 serve with

00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:57.579
 my spirit

00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:57.980
 in the

00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:58.559
 gospel of

00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:58.960
 his son,

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.119
 that without

00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:00.879
 ceasing I

00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:01.440
 mention you

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.200
 always in

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.819
 my prayers,

00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.139
 asking that

00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:04.960
 somehow by

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:06.019
 God's will I

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.980
 may now at

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.980
 last succeed

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.500
 in coming to

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:08.680
 you.

00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:09.899
 For I

00:30:09.899 --> 00:30:10.559
 long to

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.019
 see you.

00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.440
 And now we

00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:11.960
 start to see

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.299
 that the

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:12.720
 apostle,

00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:13.599
 he's not met

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.059
 these people,

00:30:14.139 --> 00:30:14.599
 but he loves

00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.039
 these people.

00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:15.539
 For I

00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.079
 long to

00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.559
 see you that

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.420
 I may impart

00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.619
 to you some

00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:19.680
 spiritual gift

00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.799
 to strengthen

00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.119
 you.

00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:21.519
 And we'll

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.059
 pause here.

00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:23.639
 Again,

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.440
 much to draw

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.359
 from these

00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:25.759
 verses,

00:30:26.639 --> 00:30:27.319
 but three

00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:28.500
 brief implications

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.919
 of the

00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:29.259
 gospel.

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.519
 First is that

00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:31.059
 the gospel

00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:32.639
 will result

00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.240
 in you

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.960
 praying more.

00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.519
 The gospel

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.079
 will make you

00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.539
 prayerful.

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.299
 And we see

00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.779
 this in verses

00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.460
 8 to 11.

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.079
 As the gospel

00:30:39.079 --> 00:30:40.259
 begins to

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.960
 shape you,

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:42.019
 you will

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.759
 realize your

00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:43.720
 ongoing need

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.279
 for God's

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:44.779
 grace and

00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.379
 power in

00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:45.859
 your life.

00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.500
 You'll become

00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:48.119
 humble.

00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:48.239
 humble.

00:30:48.239 --> 00:30:48.579
 And when

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.319
 people become

00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:49.779
 humble,

00:30:50.139 --> 00:30:50.679
 what ends

00:30:50.679 --> 00:30:51.259
 up happening

00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:53.059
 is that the

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:53.939
 delusional

00:30:53.939 --> 00:30:54.959
 thoughts and

00:30:54.959 --> 00:30:56.519
 tendencies begin

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.919
 to disappear.

00:30:58.439 --> 00:30:59.000
 What do I

00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.559
 mean by that?

00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.759
 We can be

00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.699
 awfully delusional

00:31:02.699 --> 00:31:03.219
 about our

00:31:03.219 --> 00:31:04.099
 ability to fix

00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.699
 ourselves or

00:31:04.699 --> 00:31:05.399
 the situations

00:31:05.399 --> 00:31:06.119
 around us.

00:31:06.979 --> 00:31:07.779
 Such things

00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.599
 are beyond

00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:09.219
 our ability

00:31:09.219 --> 00:31:09.719
 to fix,

00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.379
 and yet somehow

00:31:10.379 --> 00:31:11.699
 we think that

00:31:11.699 --> 00:31:12.119
 if we only have

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:12.899
 this conversation

00:31:12.899 --> 00:31:14.099
 with this

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:14.500
 person,

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.519
 or we're

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:16.180
 able to

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.099
 tweak this

00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:17.839
 relationship

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:19.420
 or incorporate

00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:20.619
 this aspect

00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:22.279
 of a healthy

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:22.980
 lifestyle,

00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.680
 then we will

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:26.019
 remedy the

00:31:26.019 --> 00:31:26.740
 problems that

00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.240
 we face.

00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.140
 So,

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.400
 example for

00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:29.559
 me.

00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.119
 I had a

00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.500
 difficult

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.940
 situation a

00:31:32.940 --> 00:31:33.359
 couple weeks

00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:34.579
 ago with

00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:35.359
 somebody close

00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:35.720
 to me,

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:38.480
 and in

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.319
 my mind,

00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:41.000
 for hours,

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.960
 on and off,

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.440
 throughout the

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:42.759
 days,

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.440
 and I'm not

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:43.980
 exaggerating,

00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.400
 I promise

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:44.599
 you,

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:44.860
 okay?

00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:47.779
 I'm thinking

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.140
 about,

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:49.160
 I'm conspiring

00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:49.860
 about how

00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:50.360
 to fix

00:31:50.360 --> 00:31:50.799
 this,

00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:51.460
 okay?

00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.980
 How to say

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.480
 it in such

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.160
 a way that

00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:54.420
 it's going

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.019
 to be heard,

00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:56.880
 how to tweak

00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.660
 the situation

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.400
 with this one

00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:59.240
 person because

00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.180
 it's eating

00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:00.579
 me up,

00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:02.700
 until I

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.360
 realized,

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.380
 okay,

00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.759
 that I was

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.319
 delusional.

00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:08.759
 And then

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:10.000
 realizing that

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.640
 this situation

00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:11.259
 is far bigger

00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.819
 than I can

00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:12.200
 handle,

00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:14.100
 and then I

00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:14.460
 realized,

00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:14.860
 oh wait,

00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.259
 I have a

00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.799
 God that

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.100
 conquered

00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:16.420
 death.

00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:18.000
 Maybe if I

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.740
 pray to him,

00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:19.400
 he can help

00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:19.600
 me.

00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:20.640
 And maybe he

00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:20.840
 will,

00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.360
 maybe he

00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:21.720
 won't in

00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:22.259
 his timing,

00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:22.980
 in his way,

00:32:23.080 --> 00:32:23.440
 that will be

00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:24.240
 satisfactory to

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:24.460
 me,

00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.700
 but clearly

00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:26.299
 whatever he

00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:26.980
 decides to do

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.440
 will be better

00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:27.880
 than what I

00:32:27.880 --> 00:32:28.640
 can do in

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:28.920
 my own

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.279
 strength.

00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.140
 And this is

00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:31.640
 what happens

00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:31.960
 with the

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.299
 gospel.

00:32:32.580 --> 00:32:32.960
 We become

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.380
 humble,

00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.120
 okay?

00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:34.940
 I'm not saying

00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.240
 I'm like a

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:35.620
 super humble

00:32:35.620 --> 00:32:36.000
 person.

00:32:36.120 --> 00:32:36.559
 I'm using it

00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:36.779
 as an

00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.100
 example,

00:32:37.099 --> 00:32:37.480
 okay?

00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:38.339
 But

00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:38.740
 nevertheless,

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.419
 we become

00:32:39.419 --> 00:32:40.119
 humble people

00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:40.379
 and we

00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:41.019
 realize that

00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.759
 we can be

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.719
 awfully delusional.

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:43.959
 So,

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:44.839
 with the

00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.119
 gospel,

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.599
 we see our

00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.379
 great need

00:32:46.379 --> 00:32:46.879
 for God's

00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:47.359
 grace and

00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:47.779
 power in

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.240
 our daily

00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.819
 lives and

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.279
 we desire

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:49.759
 the same

00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:50.219
 for others.

00:32:50.299 --> 00:32:50.500
 So what

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:50.839
 do we do?

00:32:50.899 --> 00:32:51.379
 We call

00:32:51.379 --> 00:32:51.939
 upon the

00:32:51.939 --> 00:32:52.559
 name of

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.000
 God

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:54.199
 to help.

00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:56.379
 Second

00:32:56.379 --> 00:32:56.899
 implication,

00:32:57.959 --> 00:32:58.539
 the need

00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.359
 for godly

00:32:59.359 --> 00:32:59.799
 Christian

00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.299
 community.

00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:01.179
 Read

00:33:01.179 --> 00:33:01.939
 verse 11

00:33:01.939 --> 00:33:02.379
 and 12

00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:02.759
 with me.

00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.159
 We've read

00:33:03.159 --> 00:33:03.619
 verse 11,

00:33:03.679 --> 00:33:03.879
 but we'll

00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:04.179
 read it

00:33:04.179 --> 00:33:04.439
 again.

00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:09.620
 For I

00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:10.000
 long to

00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:10.420
 see you

00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:11.120
 that I

00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:11.660
 may impart

00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:12.100
 to you

00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:12.340
 some

00:33:12.340 --> 00:33:12.840
 spiritual

00:33:12.840 --> 00:33:13.299
 gift to

00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:13.759
 strengthen

00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.059
 you.

00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:15.100
 That is,

00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:15.580
 that we

00:33:15.580 --> 00:33:16.140
 may be

00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:16.600
 mutually

00:33:16.600 --> 00:33:17.299
 encouraged

00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:17.860
 by each

00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:18.340
 other's

00:33:18.340 --> 00:33:18.680
 faith,

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:19.500
 both

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:19.960
 yours

00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:21.380
 and mine.

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:22.940
 The

00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:23.240
 Christian

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:23.740
 faith is

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.200
 a communal

00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:24.620
 faith.

00:33:26.120 --> 00:33:26.720
 Often,

00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:27.120
 the Lord

00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:27.980
 ministers to

00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.680
 us through

00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:29.519
 the godly

00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.039
 encouragement

00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:31.059
 and exhortation

00:33:31.059 --> 00:33:32.180
 of others.

00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:33.360
 And it's

00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:33.900
 even true for

00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:34.360
 the apostles

00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:34.659
 themselves.

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.259
 So listen,

00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:35.959
 the apostle

00:33:35.959 --> 00:33:36.619
 Paul comes

00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:36.979
 to this

00:33:36.979 --> 00:33:37.399
 church in

00:33:37.399 --> 00:33:37.679
 Rome.

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:38.799
 They are

00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.299
 doing a lot

00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:39.539
 of good

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.179
 things well.

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:40.819
 He's talked

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.119
 about how

00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:41.599
 their faith

00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:42.079
 is known

00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:43.000
 across the

00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:43.359
 Christian

00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:43.859
 world.

00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:46.359
 But nevertheless,

00:33:46.659 --> 00:33:47.099
 there are people

00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:47.759
 that need

00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:49.000
 a very long

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.619
 letter to help

00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:50.159
 them navigate

00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:50.719
 some difficult

00:33:50.719 --> 00:33:51.399
 situations.

00:33:51.959 --> 00:33:52.159
 And yet,

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:52.559
 he says,

00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:52.740
 listen,

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.079
 I want to

00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:53.439
 come here,

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:53.799
 I want to

00:33:53.799 --> 00:33:54.099
 strengthen

00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:54.279
 you,

00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:54.679
 but I

00:33:54.679 --> 00:33:55.019
 need you

00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.579
 to strengthen

00:33:55.579 --> 00:33:56.059
 me.

00:33:57.159 --> 00:33:57.439
 What does

00:33:57.439 --> 00:33:57.799
 the apostle

00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.279
 Paul need

00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:58.719
 strengthening

00:33:58.719 --> 00:33:59.359
 for from

00:33:59.359 --> 00:33:59.659
 them?

00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:00.539
 And yet,

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:00.899
 that's what

00:34:00.899 --> 00:34:01.599
 he says.

00:34:02.979 --> 00:34:03.379
 I think

00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:04.159
 as we pray

00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:04.560
 and ask

00:34:04.560 --> 00:34:05.259
 the Lord's

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.840
 intervention

00:34:06.840 --> 00:34:07.400
 into our

00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:07.700
 lives,

00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:07.980
 we will

00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:08.579
 find that

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:08.860
 it will

00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:09.619
 come by

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.300
 the people

00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:11.260
 sitting around

00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:11.760
 you in

00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:12.220
 this room.

00:34:13.720 --> 00:34:14.480
 In fact,

00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:16.280
 I would be so

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:16.960
 bold to say

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.960
 that you can't

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.480
 be a Christian

00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.059
 if you are not

00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:19.760
 connected to a

00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:20.340
 local church.

00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.800
 Like,

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:22.500
 you can't be.

00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.199
 if there's a

00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:23.539
 season,

00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.260
 for whatever

00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:24.699
 reason,

00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.139
 you're not

00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:25.639
 in church,

00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:26.320
 you don't

00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:26.980
 necessarily

00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:27.659
 cease to be

00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:28.059
 a Christian,

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:28.920
 get back to

00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:29.179
 church.

00:34:29.260 --> 00:34:29.400
 I mean,

00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:29.719
 you guys are

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:30.019
 all here,

00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:31.699
 so I'm not

00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:32.300
 really speaking

00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:33.300
 to anybody

00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:33.659
 who needs

00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.059
 to hear it.

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.480
 Nevertheless,

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.360
 to be a

00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:37.099
 Christian and

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:38.300
 completely severed

00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:38.579
 from the

00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:39.199
 church is not

00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:39.559
 to be a

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:39.820
 Christian.

00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:39.860
 Christian.

00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.559
 The third

00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:45.800
 century church

00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:46.160
 father,

00:34:46.280 --> 00:34:46.800
 Cyprian of

00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.260
 Carthage,

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:47.780
 says,

00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.220
 and there's

00:34:48.220 --> 00:34:48.620
 a lot to

00:34:48.620 --> 00:34:49.400
 this statement,

00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:49.880
 but I think

00:34:49.880 --> 00:34:50.700
 it helps us

00:34:50.700 --> 00:34:51.400
 to understand

00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:52.900
 this implication

00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:53.400
 of the gospel

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.460
 that no one

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.180
 can have God

00:34:55.180 --> 00:34:55.980
 for his father

00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:56.559
 who does not

00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:57.260
 have the church

00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:57.980
 for his mother.

00:34:58.760 --> 00:34:59.320
 Which is to

00:34:59.320 --> 00:34:59.539
 say,

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.720
 this is God's

00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:01.660
 plan for your

00:35:01.660 --> 00:35:02.680
 growth and

00:35:02.680 --> 00:35:02.980
 for your

00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:03.920
 spiritual welfare.

00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:05.920
 The third

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.620
 implication of the

00:35:06.620 --> 00:35:06.900
 gospel,

00:35:07.720 --> 00:35:08.340
 you will share

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:08.880
 the faith,

00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:09.800
 evangelism,

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:10.280
 evangelism will

00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:10.940
 become a

00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:11.519
 part of your

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:11.880
 life.

00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:13.019
 Read with me

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:13.920
 verses 13 to

00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.380
 the end of our

00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:15.300
 section to

00:35:15.300 --> 00:35:15.940
 verse 15.

00:35:16.740 --> 00:35:17.280
 I do not want

00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:17.660
 you to be

00:35:17.660 --> 00:35:18.019
 unaware,

00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:18.700
 brothers and

00:35:18.700 --> 00:35:18.960
 sisters,

00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:19.420
 that I have

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.620
 often intended

00:35:20.620 --> 00:35:21.160
 to come to

00:35:21.160 --> 00:35:21.340
 you,

00:35:21.700 --> 00:35:22.400
 but thus far

00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:22.860
 have been

00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.320
 prevented.

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.519
 In order that

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.080
 I may reap

00:35:25.080 --> 00:35:25.860
 some harvest

00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:26.660
 among you as

00:35:26.660 --> 00:35:27.539
 well as among

00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:28.200
 the rest of

00:35:28.200 --> 00:35:28.780
 the Gentiles,

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.640
 I am under

00:35:29.640 --> 00:35:30.559
 obligation both

00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.019
 to Greeks

00:35:31.019 --> 00:35:31.700
 and to

00:35:31.700 --> 00:35:32.160
 barbarians,

00:35:32.240 --> 00:35:32.480
 that is,

00:35:32.580 --> 00:35:33.280
 non-Greeks,

00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:34.360
 both to the

00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:35.000
 wise and to

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:35.400
 the foolish,

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.300
 so I am

00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:37.019
 eager to preach

00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:37.740
 the gospel to

00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:38.760
 you also who

00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:39.360
 are in.

00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:40.500
 Rome.

00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:41.880
 Yes,

00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:42.519
 the apostle Paul

00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.160
 had a very

00:35:43.160 --> 00:35:44.260
 unique calling

00:35:44.260 --> 00:35:45.460
 as an apostle

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.620
 to proclaim

00:35:46.620 --> 00:35:48.320
 the gospel to

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:50.539
 a portion of

00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:51.200
 a world that

00:35:51.200 --> 00:35:52.160
 had never heard

00:35:52.160 --> 00:35:53.260
 of Jesus Christ

00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:54.019
 before,

00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:55.160
 a very unique

00:35:55.160 --> 00:35:55.559
 calling.

00:35:56.280 --> 00:35:56.620
 However,

00:35:56.700 --> 00:35:57.240
 what is not

00:35:57.240 --> 00:35:57.920
 unique about

00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.500
 the apostle

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.420
 is his

00:35:59.420 --> 00:36:00.820
 obligation to

00:36:00.820 --> 00:36:01.920
 evangelize.

00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:03.760
 What do I mean

00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.180
 by this?

00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:05.079
 Verse 14,

00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:07.199
 it says this,

00:36:07.759 --> 00:36:08.360
 I am under

00:36:08.360 --> 00:36:10.159
 obligation both

00:36:10.159 --> 00:36:10.840
 to Greeks and

00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.599
 to barbarians,

00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:13.960
 obligation to

00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.559
 preach the

00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:14.920
 gospel.

00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:15.840
 I don't like

00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:16.039
 that,

00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:16.380
 I don't like

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:17.739
 being obliged

00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:18.119
 to do

00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:18.460
 anything,

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.319
 so maybe a

00:36:19.319 --> 00:36:19.900
 better reading

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:21.400
 and some of

00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:23.039
 the commentaries

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:23.659
 I looked at,

00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:24.699
 they would say

00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:25.440
 actually there is

00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:25.980
 a better reading

00:36:25.980 --> 00:36:27.779
 and that is to

00:36:27.779 --> 00:36:28.819
 be a debtor,

00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.440
 well that doesn't

00:36:29.440 --> 00:36:30.440
 help much either

00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:30.840
 because I don't

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.200
 want to be in

00:36:31.200 --> 00:36:31.460
 debt to

00:36:31.460 --> 00:36:31.800
 anybody.

00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:35.039
 So what is

00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:35.740
 the apostle Paul

00:36:35.740 --> 00:36:36.340
 trying to

00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:37.019
 communicate to

00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:37.260
 us?

00:36:38.200 --> 00:36:38.880
 So I think

00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:39.220
 it's helpful

00:36:39.220 --> 00:36:39.860
 to consider

00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:40.940
 this debtor

00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:43.340
 language and

00:36:43.340 --> 00:36:43.559
 we can

00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:44.240
 understand debt

00:36:44.240 --> 00:36:44.780
 as two

00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:45.320
 different things.

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:45.900
 The first,

00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:47.059
 you take a

00:36:47.059 --> 00:36:47.800
 business loan,

00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:49.700
 you take a

00:36:49.700 --> 00:36:50.039
 mortgage,

00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:50.740
 whatever,

00:36:51.139 --> 00:36:51.559
 you're in debt

00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:52.099
 to the bank

00:36:52.099 --> 00:36:52.679
 until you pay

00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:53.700
 back every cent

00:36:53.700 --> 00:36:53.980
 and they're

00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:54.960
 coming for

00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:55.639
 that every cent.

00:36:56.240 --> 00:36:56.800
 The second

00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:57.800
 way is that

00:36:57.800 --> 00:36:59.400
 somebody entrusts

00:36:59.400 --> 00:36:59.900
 you with

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:03.180
 some form of

00:37:03.180 --> 00:37:03.940
 money or an

00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:06.019
 object for

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.639
 you to give

00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.139
 to somebody

00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.519
 else.

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:08.400
 I don't know

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:08.960
 if this happens

00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.460
 too much in

00:37:09.460 --> 00:37:10.019
 our day but

00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:11.380
 it would be a

00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:11.840
 very common

00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:12.240
 thing in the

00:37:12.240 --> 00:37:12.760
 ancient world.

00:37:13.039 --> 00:37:14.079
 You then become

00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:15.139
 a debtor until

00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:16.099
 you have handed

00:37:16.099 --> 00:37:17.900
 over that

00:37:17.900 --> 00:37:18.880
 message, that

00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.860
 item, that

00:37:19.860 --> 00:37:21.860
 sum of money

00:37:21.860 --> 00:37:23.019
 to the person

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:24.280
 it was intended

00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:25.240
 for.

00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:26.300
 So likewise

00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:27.079
 with the gospel

00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:28.539
 we have been

00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:29.220
 given this

00:37:29.219 --> 00:37:30.299
 enormous sum

00:37:30.299 --> 00:37:31.059
 and I think

00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.480
 by the way

00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:32.059
 it's the second

00:37:32.059 --> 00:37:33.039
 one that is

00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:33.500
 very helpful

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.000
 for us.

00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.019
 So likewise

00:37:35.019 --> 00:37:35.579
 with the gospel

00:37:35.579 --> 00:37:36.559
 we have been

00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:37.059
 given an

00:37:37.059 --> 00:37:37.919
 enormous sum

00:37:37.919 --> 00:37:38.899
 freely and

00:37:38.899 --> 00:37:39.819
 lavishly by

00:37:39.819 --> 00:37:40.199
 God.

00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:42.399
 He has given

00:37:42.399 --> 00:37:43.139
 us salvation.

00:37:44.839 --> 00:37:45.619
 He has given

00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:46.119
 us his very

00:37:46.119 --> 00:37:46.519
 son.

00:37:47.839 --> 00:37:48.419
 And Paul is

00:37:48.419 --> 00:37:49.079
 saying here

00:37:49.079 --> 00:37:49.839
 that it is not

00:37:49.839 --> 00:37:50.779
 just a prize

00:37:50.779 --> 00:37:51.419
 or a gift

00:37:51.419 --> 00:37:52.019
 for us

00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:53.159
 to hold

00:37:53.159 --> 00:37:53.739
 and to

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:54.219
 cherish

00:37:54.219 --> 00:37:55.259
 but the

00:37:55.259 --> 00:37:56.000
 way to

00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:57.719
 truly cherish

00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.279
 the gospel

00:37:58.279 --> 00:37:58.879
 to truly

00:37:58.879 --> 00:37:59.379
 cherish

00:37:59.379 --> 00:38:00.279
 Christ

00:38:00.279 --> 00:38:00.559
 is to

00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:00.939
 continue

00:38:00.939 --> 00:38:01.599
 sharing him

00:38:01.599 --> 00:38:02.000
 with others.

00:38:02.179 --> 00:38:02.619
 It's an

00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:03.839
 ongoing debt

00:38:03.839 --> 00:38:04.399
 that we owe

00:38:04.399 --> 00:38:05.079
 to all whom

00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:05.359
 the Lord

00:38:05.359 --> 00:38:06.039
 desires to

00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:06.759
 call to

00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:07.199
 himself

00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:07.559
 that we

00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.039
 are connected

00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:08.319
 to.

00:38:08.899 --> 00:38:09.279
 Now

00:38:09.279 --> 00:38:10.379
 that freaks

00:38:10.379 --> 00:38:10.779
 you out

00:38:10.779 --> 00:38:11.419
 it's okay

00:38:11.419 --> 00:38:12.919
 consider

00:38:12.919 --> 00:38:14.039
 verse 15

00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:16.179
 so I am

00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:16.739
 eager to

00:38:16.739 --> 00:38:17.179
 preach the

00:38:17.179 --> 00:38:17.759
 gospel to

00:38:17.759 --> 00:38:18.239
 you also

00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:18.839
 who are in

00:38:18.839 --> 00:38:19.059
 Rome.

00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:20.940
 Paul is

00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:21.699
 not saying

00:38:21.699 --> 00:38:22.279
 listen you

00:38:22.279 --> 00:38:23.539
 are heavy

00:38:23.539 --> 00:38:24.320
 laden with

00:38:24.320 --> 00:38:24.860
 a debt to

00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:25.719
 evangelize

00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:26.460
 suck it

00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:26.659
 up.

00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:28.000
 He is

00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:29.019
 communicating

00:38:29.019 --> 00:38:29.759
 immediately

00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:30.420
 after that

00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:31.179
 he is eager

00:38:31.179 --> 00:38:31.679
 that he is

00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:32.179
 excited

00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:32.719
 that he is

00:38:32.719 --> 00:38:33.279
 joyful

00:38:33.279 --> 00:38:34.639
 to do so.

00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.579
 Listen to

00:38:36.579 --> 00:38:38.279
 struggle with

00:38:38.279 --> 00:38:38.679
 sharing our

00:38:38.679 --> 00:38:39.380
 faith is a

00:38:39.380 --> 00:38:40.199
 real thing

00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:40.699
 but again

00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:41.480
 circling back

00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:42.420
 to prayer

00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:43.039
 and the

00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:43.460
 community

00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:43.980
 that you're

00:38:43.980 --> 00:38:44.559
 a part of

00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:45.259
 is to

00:38:45.259 --> 00:38:45.539
 rightly

00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:46.059
 understand

00:38:46.059 --> 00:38:46.559
 that you

00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:47.019
 can't do

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.619
 this by

00:38:47.619 --> 00:38:48.119
 yourself.

00:38:48.820 --> 00:38:49.000
 Again

00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:49.480
 this is an

00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:49.860
 implication

00:38:49.860 --> 00:38:50.219
 of the

00:38:50.219 --> 00:38:50.599
 gospel

00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.639
 but not

00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:52.079
 for you

00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:52.579
 solo

00:38:52.579 --> 00:38:53.039
 but for

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:53.559
 you to

00:38:53.559 --> 00:38:54.619
 look to

00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:55.099
 others

00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:56.800
 for strength

00:38:56.800 --> 00:38:58.500
 and pointers

00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:58.900
 and that

00:38:58.900 --> 00:38:59.579
 includes reading

00:38:59.579 --> 00:39:00.480
 biographies

00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:00.880
 and church

00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:01.320
 history

00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:02.420
 and digging

00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:02.860
 into the

00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:03.139
 scriptures

00:39:03.139 --> 00:39:03.719
 and asking

00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:04.119
 the Lord

00:39:04.119 --> 00:39:04.599
 for help

00:39:04.599 --> 00:39:05.940
 but nevertheless

00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.840
 this is our

00:39:06.840 --> 00:39:07.280
 calling

00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:07.780
 this is

00:39:07.780 --> 00:39:08.659
 gospel

00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:09.360
 implication.

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:11.039
 I think it

00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:11.440
 starts at

00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:11.659
 home.

00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:12.800
 I think it

00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:13.280
 starts among

00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:13.500
 us.

00:39:13.679 --> 00:39:14.199
 Notice how

00:39:14.199 --> 00:39:15.219
 Paul is

00:39:15.219 --> 00:39:16.420
 very clear

00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:17.900
 that in

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:18.519
 verse 13

00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.179
 that he

00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:20.119
 is hoping

00:39:20.119 --> 00:39:20.500
 to reap

00:39:20.500 --> 00:39:21.059
 a harvest

00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:22.019
 among you

00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:22.619
 as well

00:39:22.619 --> 00:39:23.219
 as among

00:39:23.219 --> 00:39:23.659
 the rest

00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:23.940
 of the

00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:24.460
 Gentiles.

00:39:25.239 --> 00:39:26.019
 Verse 15

00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:26.880
 he is eager

00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:27.239
 to preach

00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:27.699
 the gospel

00:39:27.699 --> 00:39:28.360
 to you

00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:28.759
 who are

00:39:28.759 --> 00:39:29.079
 in Rome.

00:39:29.639 --> 00:39:29.940
 Paul is

00:39:29.940 --> 00:39:30.179
 trying to

00:39:30.179 --> 00:39:30.480
 preach the

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:30.719
 gospel

00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:31.480
 to Christians

00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:33.280
 not because

00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:33.719
 he thinks

00:39:33.719 --> 00:39:33.980
 that they

00:39:33.980 --> 00:39:34.219
 need to

00:39:34.219 --> 00:39:34.940
 get saved

00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:35.679
 every day

00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:36.039
 or every

00:39:36.039 --> 00:39:36.480
 moment

00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:37.019
 but rather

00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.940
 the gospel

00:39:37.940 --> 00:39:38.500
 is something

00:39:38.500 --> 00:39:39.219
 for the

00:39:39.219 --> 00:39:39.900
 unbelieving

00:39:39.900 --> 00:39:40.199
 world

00:39:40.199 --> 00:39:40.699
 but also

00:39:40.699 --> 00:39:41.340
 for us

00:39:41.340 --> 00:39:42.139
 so start

00:39:42.139 --> 00:39:42.519
 at home.

00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:43.719
 Start in

00:39:43.719 --> 00:39:44.159
 your home.

00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:45.000
 Start with

00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:45.480
 your children

00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:46.099
 if you have

00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:46.259
 them,

00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:46.579
 with your

00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:46.960
 spouse

00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:47.259
 if you

00:39:47.259 --> 00:39:47.759
 have one,

00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:48.759
 with parents

00:39:48.759 --> 00:39:49.460
 or friends,

00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:50.279
 with fellow

00:39:50.279 --> 00:39:51.019
 believers here.

00:39:51.340 --> 00:39:51.719
 It doesn't

00:39:51.719 --> 00:39:52.340
 mean hey let

00:39:52.340 --> 00:39:52.840
 me tell you

00:39:52.840 --> 00:39:54.840
 about the

00:39:54.840 --> 00:39:55.639
 bridge analogy.

00:39:56.219 --> 00:39:56.880
 You know you

00:39:56.880 --> 00:39:57.819
 hand somebody

00:39:57.819 --> 00:39:58.400
 a track here

00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:58.920
 on a Sunday

00:39:58.920 --> 00:40:00.279
 but it's

00:40:00.279 --> 00:40:02.340
 saying listen

00:40:02.340 --> 00:40:03.860
 the Lord has

00:40:03.860 --> 00:40:04.460
 blessed me

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:04.980
 this week.

00:40:05.380 --> 00:40:05.779
 Let me tell

00:40:05.779 --> 00:40:06.239
 you how it

00:40:06.239 --> 00:40:06.559
 happened.

00:40:07.279 --> 00:40:07.880
 Or I was

00:40:07.880 --> 00:40:08.380
 just thinking

00:40:08.380 --> 00:40:09.559
 through this

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:10.500
 implication of

00:40:10.500 --> 00:40:11.639
 what it means

00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:12.739
 to live

00:40:12.739 --> 00:40:13.239
 according to

00:40:13.239 --> 00:40:13.739
 the gospel

00:40:13.739 --> 00:40:14.159
 in Romans

00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:14.819
 chapter 1.

00:40:14.820 --> 00:40:15.559
 this is what

00:40:15.559 --> 00:40:15.860
 the Lord

00:40:15.860 --> 00:40:16.460
 spoke to

00:40:16.460 --> 00:40:16.660
 me or

00:40:16.660 --> 00:40:16.880
 gave me

00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:17.440
 an insight

00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:17.700
 about.

00:40:17.780 --> 00:40:18.019
 And all

00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:18.460
 of a sudden

00:40:18.460 --> 00:40:19.620
 we begin

00:40:19.620 --> 00:40:20.140
 to talk

00:40:20.140 --> 00:40:20.580
 about the

00:40:20.580 --> 00:40:20.740
 Lord.

00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:21.120
 We begin

00:40:21.120 --> 00:40:21.580
 to talk

00:40:21.580 --> 00:40:22.100
 about Christ

00:40:22.100 --> 00:40:22.480
 and that

00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.080
 becomes

00:40:23.080 --> 00:40:25.420
 the next

00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:25.960
 thing after

00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:26.740
 small talk.

00:40:29.900 --> 00:40:30.660
 It also

00:40:30.660 --> 00:40:31.700
 is my

00:40:31.700 --> 00:40:32.280
 job to

00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:32.980
 help equip

00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:34.320
 us to

00:40:34.320 --> 00:40:34.960
 feel confident

00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:35.420
 to share

00:40:35.420 --> 00:40:35.920
 the gospel

00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:36.460
 to rightly

00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:37.180
 understand it

00:40:37.180 --> 00:40:37.620
 and your

00:40:37.620 --> 00:40:38.880
 job to

00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:39.539
 dig deep

00:40:39.539 --> 00:40:40.519
 and to not

00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:41.220
 give into

00:40:41.220 --> 00:40:42.400
 feelings of

00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:43.200
 apathy or

00:40:43.200 --> 00:40:43.559
 fear.

00:40:43.559 --> 00:40:45.320
 in some

00:40:45.320 --> 00:40:46.699
 there's more

00:40:46.699 --> 00:40:47.179
 implications

00:40:47.179 --> 00:40:47.860
 but in some

00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:48.320
 these three

00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:48.779
 applications

00:40:48.779 --> 00:40:49.420
 in some

00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:50.579
 the implication

00:40:50.579 --> 00:40:51.519
 of the

00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:52.099
 gospel is

00:40:52.099 --> 00:40:52.460
 that you

00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:52.779
 will be

00:40:52.779 --> 00:40:53.519
 formed and

00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:54.039
 shaped into

00:40:54.039 --> 00:40:54.679
 the likeness

00:40:54.679 --> 00:40:55.320
 of Christ.

00:40:56.199 --> 00:40:56.360
 You'll

00:40:56.360 --> 00:40:56.779
 become an

00:40:56.779 --> 00:40:57.400
 imitator of

00:40:57.400 --> 00:40:58.559
 him and

00:40:58.559 --> 00:40:59.279
 participate in

00:40:59.279 --> 00:40:59.820
 the life and

00:40:59.820 --> 00:41:00.420
 ministry of

00:41:00.420 --> 00:41:01.139
 Jesus himself.

00:41:02.619 --> 00:41:03.360
 Let's close

00:41:03.360 --> 00:41:03.880
 with this.

00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:05.340
 In Matthew

00:41:05.340 --> 00:41:06.259
 13 Jesus

00:41:06.259 --> 00:41:06.840
 tells two

00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:07.179
 parables.

00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:07.599
 They're back

00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:07.960
 to back.

00:41:08.059 --> 00:41:08.440
 They're super

00:41:08.440 --> 00:41:08.860
 short.

00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:10.039
 One is about

00:41:10.039 --> 00:41:10.599
 a man who

00:41:10.599 --> 00:41:11.000
 finds a

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:11.719
 treasure in

00:41:11.719 --> 00:41:12.199
 a field.

00:41:12.360 --> 00:41:12.820
 Another is

00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:13.299
 about a

00:41:13.300 --> 00:41:13.780
 merchant who

00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:14.600
 seeks an

00:41:14.600 --> 00:41:15.080
 expensive

00:41:15.080 --> 00:41:15.480
 pearl.

00:41:16.300 --> 00:41:16.720
 In both

00:41:16.720 --> 00:41:17.400
 cases these

00:41:17.400 --> 00:41:18.580
 men upon

00:41:18.580 --> 00:41:19.380
 finding the

00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:20.400
 treasure and

00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:21.160
 the pearl they

00:41:21.160 --> 00:41:22.019
 sell everything

00:41:22.019 --> 00:41:22.760
 they have to

00:41:22.760 --> 00:41:23.320
 acquire them.

00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:23.760
 Everything.

00:41:24.060 --> 00:41:24.480
 It seems

00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:25.140
 crazy.

00:41:25.400 --> 00:41:26.640
 It seems

00:41:26.640 --> 00:41:27.140
 crazy.

00:41:29.260 --> 00:41:30.120
 But Jesus

00:41:30.120 --> 00:41:30.700
 tells this

00:41:30.700 --> 00:41:32.060
 parable to

00:41:32.060 --> 00:41:32.800
 help us see

00:41:32.800 --> 00:41:33.240
 that the

00:41:33.240 --> 00:41:34.640
 gospel isn't

00:41:34.640 --> 00:41:35.240
 just a nice

00:41:35.240 --> 00:41:36.380
 add-on to

00:41:36.380 --> 00:41:37.200
 our life that

00:41:37.200 --> 00:41:37.680
 kind of makes

00:41:37.680 --> 00:41:39.220
 things a bit

00:41:39.220 --> 00:41:40.240
 more cheery or

00:41:40.240 --> 00:41:42.519
 guarantees us a

00:41:42.519 --> 00:41:43.280
 place in the

00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:43.639
 world to

00:41:43.639 --> 00:41:44.039
 come and

00:41:44.039 --> 00:41:44.340
 we kind

00:41:44.340 --> 00:41:44.519
 of have

00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:44.880
 that taken

00:41:44.880 --> 00:41:45.239
 care of.

00:41:45.300 --> 00:41:45.619
 We move

00:41:45.619 --> 00:41:46.599
 on with

00:41:46.599 --> 00:41:46.980
 life.

00:41:49.579 --> 00:41:50.000
 It's

00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:50.380
 something that

00:41:50.380 --> 00:41:51.199
 is to be

00:41:51.199 --> 00:41:52.099
 all-encompassing,

00:41:52.199 --> 00:41:52.619
 something that

00:41:52.619 --> 00:41:53.179
 should bring us

00:41:53.179 --> 00:41:53.980
 great joy and

00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:54.420
 excitement.

00:41:55.239 --> 00:41:55.559
 Nevertheless,

00:41:56.039 --> 00:41:56.840
 for those who

00:41:56.840 --> 00:41:58.139
 hear the gospel

00:41:58.139 --> 00:41:59.119
 and are excited

00:41:59.119 --> 00:41:59.679
 by it,

00:41:59.940 --> 00:42:00.679
 who feel like,

00:42:00.759 --> 00:42:01.360
 yes, there's this

00:42:01.360 --> 00:42:02.019
 treasure in a

00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:03.099
 field or yes,

00:42:03.139 --> 00:42:03.500
 there's this

00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:04.079
 pearl that I

00:42:04.079 --> 00:42:04.599
 have found,

00:42:06.280 --> 00:42:08.099
 yet I'm kind

00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:09.079
 of afraid of

00:42:09.079 --> 00:42:09.739
 throwing it all

00:42:09.739 --> 00:42:11.039
 into one

00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:12.019
 basket or to

00:42:12.019 --> 00:42:14.019
 put all my

00:42:14.019 --> 00:42:14.619
 eggs into one

00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:15.000
 basket.

00:42:15.619 --> 00:42:16.279
 The cost is

00:42:16.279 --> 00:42:16.739
 too much.

00:42:18.039 --> 00:42:18.719
 The implications

00:42:18.719 --> 00:42:19.139
 are too

00:42:19.139 --> 00:42:19.759
 life-changing.

00:42:20.439 --> 00:42:20.919
 I want to say

00:42:20.919 --> 00:42:21.819
 I hear you.

00:42:23.139 --> 00:42:23.699
 And yet, on

00:42:23.699 --> 00:42:24.399
 the same time,

00:42:24.539 --> 00:42:25.359
 I do not want

00:42:25.359 --> 00:42:25.919
 to diminish

00:42:25.919 --> 00:42:26.439
 those two

00:42:26.439 --> 00:42:27.139
 parables because

00:42:27.139 --> 00:42:27.879
 they are beautiful

00:42:27.879 --> 00:42:29.179
 and they, at the

00:42:29.179 --> 00:42:29.659
 same time, are

00:42:29.659 --> 00:42:30.039
 jarring.

00:42:31.259 --> 00:42:32.259
 The implications

00:42:32.259 --> 00:42:34.019
 and cost of the

00:42:34.019 --> 00:42:34.779
 gospel, they are

00:42:34.779 --> 00:42:36.219
 great, but

00:42:36.219 --> 00:42:36.899
 friends, let me

00:42:36.899 --> 00:42:37.919
 assure you that

00:42:37.919 --> 00:42:38.419
 there is no

00:42:38.419 --> 00:42:39.339
 better life than

00:42:39.340 --> 00:42:40.380
 knowing God and

00:42:40.380 --> 00:42:41.400
 being known by

00:42:41.400 --> 00:42:42.760
 him because of

00:42:42.760 --> 00:42:43.660
 what his son has

00:42:43.660 --> 00:42:44.160
 done on the

00:42:44.160 --> 00:42:45.100
 cross of Calvary.

00:42:46.720 --> 00:42:47.840
 I can, and

00:42:47.840 --> 00:42:49.240
 maybe this is me

00:42:49.240 --> 00:42:50.100
 sharing the gospel

00:42:50.100 --> 00:42:50.820
 with you guys, and

00:42:50.820 --> 00:42:51.720
 maybe after the

00:42:51.720 --> 00:42:52.420
 service you can do

00:42:52.420 --> 00:42:53.079
 the same to one

00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:53.340
 another.

00:42:54.019 --> 00:42:54.740
 God has never

00:42:54.740 --> 00:42:55.380
 left me or

00:42:55.380 --> 00:42:56.660
 forsook me.

00:42:57.579 --> 00:42:57.720
 Okay?

00:42:58.620 --> 00:42:59.500
 The times where I

00:42:59.500 --> 00:43:00.360
 think the cost is

00:43:00.360 --> 00:43:01.960
 too much, here I

00:43:01.960 --> 00:43:02.140
 am.

00:43:03.620 --> 00:43:04.380
 Maybe you guys

00:43:04.380 --> 00:43:04.980
 have a similar

00:43:04.980 --> 00:43:05.660
 testimony.

00:43:06.460 --> 00:43:06.700
 Okay?

00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:08.780
 Maybe you have

00:43:08.780 --> 00:43:11.019
 gone through a

00:43:11.019 --> 00:43:11.680
 really difficult

00:43:11.680 --> 00:43:12.680
 season and you're

00:43:12.680 --> 00:43:13.620
 thinking the cost is

00:43:13.620 --> 00:43:14.900
 too much to trust

00:43:14.900 --> 00:43:16.440
 God for the

00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:17.720
 everyday of my

00:43:17.720 --> 00:43:18.740
 life, and yet you

00:43:18.740 --> 00:43:19.400
 are still here.

00:43:19.500 --> 00:43:20.160
 He has never left

00:43:20.160 --> 00:43:21.320
 you or forsaken

00:43:21.320 --> 00:43:21.540
 you.

00:43:22.120 --> 00:43:22.260
 Okay?

00:43:23.940 --> 00:43:24.960
 This is the gospel

00:43:24.960 --> 00:43:25.960
 proclaimed to you

00:43:25.960 --> 00:43:26.980
 this morning from me,

00:43:27.060 --> 00:43:27.920
 but proclaim it to

00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:28.360
 one another.

00:43:29.040 --> 00:43:31.000
 And friends, if you

00:43:31.000 --> 00:43:32.920
 have that treasure in

00:43:32.920 --> 00:43:33.700
 the field, if you

00:43:33.700 --> 00:43:35.200
 see that pearl, sell

00:43:35.200 --> 00:43:36.200
 everything you have

00:43:36.199 --> 00:43:37.939
 and buy it.

00:43:39.099 --> 00:43:40.119
 The cost of the

00:43:40.119 --> 00:43:40.960
 field, the price of

00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:41.739
 the pearl, it is

00:43:41.739 --> 00:43:42.239
 worth it.

00:43:43.079 --> 00:43:44.279
 And remember, you're

00:43:44.279 --> 00:43:44.799
 not alone.

00:43:46.019 --> 00:43:46.839
 We get to do this

00:43:46.839 --> 00:43:47.219
 together.

00:43:48.539 --> 00:43:49.439
 As we go through

00:43:49.439 --> 00:43:50.439
 Romans these next

00:43:50.439 --> 00:43:51.799
 few weeks, this is

00:43:51.799 --> 00:43:52.619
 my prayer for our

00:43:52.619 --> 00:43:53.739
 time in this

00:43:53.739 --> 00:43:54.539
 wonderful epistle.

00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:55.980
 That we would grow

00:43:55.980 --> 00:43:56.960
 into this gospel

00:43:56.960 --> 00:43:57.960
 reality together.

00:43:59.099 --> 00:44:00.099
 That we would bless

00:44:00.099 --> 00:44:01.000
 and encourage one

00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:01.339
 another.

00:44:01.340 --> 00:44:03.880
 Yes, by meals and

00:44:03.880 --> 00:44:05.300
 nice words and kind

00:44:05.300 --> 00:44:06.340
 gestures and acts of

00:44:06.340 --> 00:44:06.860
 service, very

00:44:06.860 --> 00:44:07.280
 important.

00:44:08.160 --> 00:44:09.579
 But above all, by

00:44:09.579 --> 00:44:11.100
 proclaiming the gospel

00:44:11.100 --> 00:44:11.820
 to one another.

00:44:12.720 --> 00:44:14.220
 And growing in our

00:44:14.220 --> 00:44:15.700
 ability and strength

00:44:15.700 --> 00:44:17.160
 to proclaim the

00:44:17.160 --> 00:44:18.860
 gospel to the world

00:44:18.860 --> 00:44:20.740
 we live in.

00:44:26.740 --> 00:44:27.900
 For the good news

00:44:27.900 --> 00:44:30.539
 is that God has

00:44:30.539 --> 00:44:31.300
 loved us.

00:44:32.019 --> 00:44:32.460
 And he has

00:44:32.460 --> 00:44:33.539
 demonstrated his

00:44:33.539 --> 00:44:35.539
 love in us, to

00:44:35.539 --> 00:44:36.220
 us, in his

00:44:36.220 --> 00:44:36.880
 blessed son.

00:44:36.880 --> 00:44:36.940
 Amen.

00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:36.940


00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:37.000
 Amen.

00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:37.000


00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:37.000


00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:37.000