WEBVTT

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 Okay, everybody, we're going to start the reading for today.

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 We are going through Romans 3, verses 1-20, page 1130.

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! God's faithfulness.

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 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew?

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 Or what value is there in circumcision?

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 Much in every way.

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 First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

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 What if some were unfaithful?

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 Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness?

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 Not at all.

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 Let God be true, and every human being a liar, as it is written,

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 so that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.

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 But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly,

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 what should we say?

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 That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us?

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 I'm using human argument.

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 Certainly not.

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 If that were so, how could God judge the world?

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 Someone might argue,

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 if my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory,

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 why am I still condemned as a sinner?

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 Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say,

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 let us do evil, the good may result.

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 Their condemnation is just.

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 What shall we conclude, then?

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 Do we have any advantage?

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 Not at all.

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 For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.

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 As it is written,

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 there is no one righteous, not even one.

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 There is no one who understands.

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 There is no one who seeks God.

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 All have turned away.

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 All have together become worthless.

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 There is no one who does good, not even one.

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 Their throats are open graves.

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 Their tongues practice deceit.

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 The poison of vipers is on their lips.

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 Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.

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 Their feet are swift to shed blood.

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 Ruin and misery mark their ways,

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 and the way of peace they do not know.

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 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

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 Now we know that whatever the law says,

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 it says to those who are under the law,

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 so that every mouth may be silenced

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 and the whole world held accountable to God.

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 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight

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 by the works of the law.

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 Rather, through the law, we become conscious of our sin.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Thanks, Teddy, for reading.

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 Keep that passage open in front of you.

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 It's going to help you to follow along.

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 I'm going to pray for us,

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 that the Lord might give us help

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 as we come to look at his word.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father, we do want to pray

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 and ask for your help this morning.

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 We know how easily distracted we are.

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 And so we pray that you might,

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 by your spirit, quieten our hearts

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 to listen to what you are saying to us

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 through your word.

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 I pray that what I say,

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 that what we all hear,

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 would be helpful to us,

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 that you might speak and be glorified.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 What you might notice as you look at the passage

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 is that it is shaped around

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 a contradictory answer to a repeated question.

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 Here's the question.

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 If you look down at verse one,

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 what advantage then is there in being a Jew

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 or what value is there in circumcision?

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 What advantage is there in those things?

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 Answer, verse two,

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 much in every way, he says.

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 Then in verse nine,

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 you get the same question.

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 What should we conclude then?

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 Do we have any advantage?

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 Answer, not at all.

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 None whatsoever.

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 Same question,

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 two different answers.

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 Now, that apparent contradiction,

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 and it isn't a contradiction,

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 we'll see that in a moment,

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 that apparent contradiction

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 gets to the heart

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 of what our passage this morning

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 is all about.

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 That is,

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 what is the advantage

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 of being a Jew?

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 What is the advantage

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 of being around God's words?

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 What is the advantage

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 of being familiar

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 with the content of the Bible?

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 Probably a person now

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 of kind of Christian heritage,

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 someone who's been to church a bit.

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 And the answer is,

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 well, there are many advantages,

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 but still all of those advantages

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 will not on their own save you.

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 And so that the warning here

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 is not to imagine

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 that simply being around the Bible

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 or the message of the Bible

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 is enough for you this morning,

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 enough for me.

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 On the 28th of January 1986,

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 the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger

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 exploded just 73 seconds

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 after liftoff.

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 It killed all seven astronauts

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 whose bodies were found

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 a few weeks later

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 in the Atlantic Ocean.

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 It was perhaps one of the first

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 televised disasters

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 that unfolded live on the news.

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 And I'm sure some of us here,

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 I can remember watching it.

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 Others of you are thinking,

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 wow, 1986,

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 that's like a lifetime ago.

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 But anyway,

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 some of us remember it.

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 The morning of the flight,

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 it was cold

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 and the engineers had warned

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 that the rubber rings,

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 that O-rings

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 that stop flammable gases

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 escaping from the boosters,

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 had not been tested

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 in cold weather.

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 But their concerns were ignored

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 and the launch went ahead.

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 Later, investigations showed

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 that the people

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 who were making the decision

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 over whether or not

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 they should launch

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 just ignored those people

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 because they thought,

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 well, we've launched rockets before.

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 We've never had a problem before.

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 Surely it will be all right.

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 And those who had doubts,

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 they stopped speaking up

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 because, well,

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 what's the point in saying anything

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 because no one listens to us anyway?

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 So they kept their mouths shut.

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 So the pressure

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 to appear successful

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 and not to have negative publicity

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 meant that the decision

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 to launch was taken.

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 And 73 seconds later,

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 seven people lost their lives.

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 The Challenger disaster

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 has become a sort of case study

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 of what's called groupthink,

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 where a group of otherwise

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 perfectly competent people

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 can convince themselves

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 to do something stupid

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 and terrible results happen.

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 And when you look, I think,

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 at Romans 1 to 3,

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 I think you see that

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 Paul's concern

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 is that in churches

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 there's a kind of groupthink,

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 a theological groupthink

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 that goes on in churches,

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 where the idea of universal judgment,

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 original sin,

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 the presence of judgment,

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 moral responsibility,

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 warnings of future wrath,

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 all of those are ignored,

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 not because they've been proved wrong,

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 not because they're shown

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 to be untrue,

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 but because they're deeply unpopular,

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 they're unpleasant,

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 they're difficult to accept.

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 And so churches,

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 like ours and others,

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 can stop talking about them,

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 fearing that if they do that,

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 they're going to empty their building.

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 You know, we want a positive message,

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 we don't want a negative message,

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 we don't want three chapters

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 on sin and its judgment.

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 That's so heavy.

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 We want light.

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 We don't want heavy.

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 That's so negative

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 and we want to be positive.

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 But Paul,

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 under the inspiration of the Spirit,

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 will not drop it.

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 And so for the third week in a row,

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 we find ourselves,

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 don't we,

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 considering God's judgment

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 at human sin.

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 And I want us just to split our time

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 in this passage together this morning,

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 just around those two answers

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 to the same question.

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 So let's take the first answer.

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 The first answer is,

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 it's good to be here.

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 It's good to be here.

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 Look down at verse two.

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 Paul is pretty clear

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 about the significant advantage

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 of being a Jew.

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 Being raised as part of God's people

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 means that you are exposed

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 to what he calls

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 the very words of God.

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 Here Paul is referring

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 to the Old Testament law

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 and he says that,

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 that knowing the Old Testament law

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 is literally knowing what God says.

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 Those are his words.

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 The instructions for moral living,

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 the instructions around the temple,

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 the design of the kingdom,

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 all those in the scriptures

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 and are part of what God says.

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 And knowing what God says

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 is a significant advantage in life.

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 That's still true today.

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 If you've been brought up

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 going to church,

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 if you've been along

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 to Sunday school,

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 if you've had a Christian friend

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 who's opened a Bible with you

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 over the years,

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 that is a good thing.

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 The Bible is God speaking

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 and hearing what God says

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 is a good thing for you.

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 Verse three underlines that point.

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 Which he begins by noting

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 that people who are exposed

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 to the Bible

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 are not always faithful.

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 Sometimes they are unfaithful.

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 Here's some news for you.

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 Church people can be

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 as bad as anybody.

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 But that, says Paul,

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 doesn't undermine

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 the advantage of hearing the Bible.

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 Because the unfaithfulness

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 of people is not the same

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 as the unfaithfulness of God.

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 Look what he says in verse three.

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 What if some were unfaithful?

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 Will their unfaithfulness

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 nullify God's faithfulness?

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 Not at all.

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 Let God be true

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 and every human being a liar

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 as it is written

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 so that you may be proved

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 right when you speak

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 and prevail when you judge.

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 In other words,

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 his point here is

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 that the faithfulness of God

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 is not dependent

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 on the morality of his people.

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 God can be true

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 and everyone else a liar.

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 That's the nature of being God.

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 His character and his goodness

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 are not dependent on me

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 or you or anybody else.

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 They were present

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 before anyone existed.

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 So God's word is still good

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 and having it

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 is still an advantage to you

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 even if the story

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 of the people

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 who spoke God's word to you

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 is one of consistent unfaithfulness.

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 I wonder if it's worth

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 pausing with me a moment here.

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 I think there are probably

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 some of us here this morning

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 who need to hear this.

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 Maybe what's putting you off

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 if you're not a Christian this morning,

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 maybe what's put you off

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 becoming a Christian

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 over the years

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 or maybe as a Christian

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 what's really making you struggle

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 as a Christian

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 is you look at the people

00:09:38.060 --> 00:09:39.540
 who say they believe it

00:09:39.540 --> 00:09:40.980
 and they behave so badly.

00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:42.700
 Maybe really badly

00:09:42.700 --> 00:09:43.920
 towards you personally.

00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:45.680
 Perhaps the church

00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:46.300
 that you've been to,

00:09:46.420 --> 00:09:47.300
 perhaps this church

00:09:47.300 --> 00:09:48.720
 has let you down in somewhere.

00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:50.759
 Maybe a Christian friend

00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:51.420
 has let you down,

00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:52.200
 betrayed you.

00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:54.120
 Maybe the Christian parents

00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:54.660
 that you had

00:09:54.660 --> 00:09:55.820
 fought terribly at home.

00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:56.600
 No one would have known it

00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:57.759
 at church but you knew it

00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:58.759
 because you were at home with them.

00:10:00.540 --> 00:10:01.940
 Maybe it was even worse than that.

00:10:01.940 --> 00:10:02.980
 Maybe someone who went

00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:04.080
 by the name of Christian

00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:04.960
 abused you

00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:07.080
 and treated you appallingly.

00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:09.460
 And maybe because of that

00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:09.900
 you conclude,

00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:10.880
 well the Bible can't be true,

00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:11.320
 can it?

00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:13.260
 Because, you know,

00:10:13.280 --> 00:10:13.980
 if the Bible was true,

00:10:14.040 --> 00:10:15.020
 people who believe the Bible

00:10:15.020 --> 00:10:16.020
 would behave better

00:10:16.020 --> 00:10:16.980
 than they are behaving

00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:17.960
 or have behaved.

00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:19.840
 Now that might seem

00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:20.560
 perfectly reasonable

00:10:20.560 --> 00:10:21.420
 to us on the surface

00:10:21.420 --> 00:10:22.100
 but Paul says

00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:23.000
 it's a false logic

00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:24.860
 because God's word

00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:25.820
 can be true

00:10:25.820 --> 00:10:28.620
 even when everyone else

00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:29.600
 is bad.

00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.220
 God's goodness

00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:32.019
 and the goodness

00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:32.700
 of his word

00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:33.480
 is independent

00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:34.259
 of people,

00:10:34.540 --> 00:10:35.320
 even the people

00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:36.300
 who claim his name.

00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:39.500
 It's just like

00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:41.340
 the cooker instructions,

00:10:41.779 --> 00:10:42.379
 the instructions

00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:43.279
 that you received

00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:44.200
 when you bought a cooker,

00:10:44.300 --> 00:10:44.980
 if you bought a cooker

00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:46.000
 or got a cooker,

00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:47.100
 those instructions

00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:48.220
 are separate,

00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:48.560
 aren't they?

00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:49.320
 They are independent

00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:50.100
 from the cooker itself.

00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:51.399
 So the instructions

00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:52.300
 aren't wrong

00:10:52.300 --> 00:10:53.779
 just because you burn

00:10:53.779 --> 00:10:54.240
 the dinner,

00:10:54.560 --> 00:10:54.740
 right?

00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:56.919
 God's word

00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:57.700
 can be true

00:10:57.700 --> 00:10:58.539
 and good

00:10:58.539 --> 00:10:59.820
 even if everyone else

00:10:59.820 --> 00:11:00.299
 is a liar

00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:01.379
 because his goodness

00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:02.259
 is independent

00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:03.159
 from the behaviour

00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:03.639
 of you,

00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:05.500
 me or anybody else.

00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:07.120
 So let me encourage you

00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:07.399
 this morning,

00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:08.120
 don't give up

00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:09.360
 on God and his word

00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:10.159
 because the people

00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:11.019
 who taught it to you

00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:11.759
 are fools.

00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:13.460
 That won't help you.

00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:15.560
 It will only make it worse.

00:11:16.820 --> 00:11:17.720
 Then comes a slightly

00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:18.360
 different argument.

00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:19.320
 The goal is the same.

00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:20.000
 The goal is still

00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:20.500
 this kind of

00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:21.200
 trying to wiggle out

00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:22.019
 of the difficult truth

00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:22.759
 about God's judgment

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:23.320
 but it takes

00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:24.340
 a slightly different tack

00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:25.160
 So look down

00:11:25.160 --> 00:11:26.120
 at verse 5.

00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:28.080
 But if our unrighteousness

00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:29.460
 brings out God's righteousness

00:11:29.460 --> 00:11:30.120
 more clearly

00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:31.040
 what should we say?

00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:32.600
 That God is unjust

00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:33.420
 in bringing his wrath

00:11:33.420 --> 00:11:33.940
 on us?

00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.060
 I'm using a human argument.

00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:37.120
 Here his point is

00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:38.340
 that if God is true

00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:40.080
 and every man a liar

00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:41.600
 and the lies

00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:42.480
 and the unfaithfulness

00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.180
 of humanity

00:11:43.180 --> 00:11:44.300
 just exposes

00:11:44.300 --> 00:11:45.540
 the faithfulness of God

00:11:45.540 --> 00:11:47.500
 then why is unfaithfulness

00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:48.060
 and lying

00:11:48.060 --> 00:11:48.940
 such a big deal?

00:11:49.660 --> 00:11:50.560
 Surely God loves

00:11:50.560 --> 00:11:51.180
 the opportunity

00:11:51.180 --> 00:11:51.780
 to be made

00:11:51.780 --> 00:11:53.060
 to look greater

00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:54.859
 and more faithful?

00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:56.799
 Well the response

00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.279
 listen to it

00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:57.899
 verse 6

00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:59.019
 certainly not.

00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:00.159
 If that were so

00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:00.779
 how could God

00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:01.619
 judge the world?

00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:02.919
 Here again

00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:03.699
 Paul is unpicking

00:12:03.699 --> 00:12:03.959
 isn't he

00:12:03.959 --> 00:12:04.959
 the logic of the claim?

00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:06.099
 The logic is

00:12:06.099 --> 00:12:07.179
 that wickedness

00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:08.219
 makes God look great

00:12:08.219 --> 00:12:09.179
 so therefore wickedness

00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:10.079
 is not wicked anymore.

00:12:10.479 --> 00:12:11.039
 Well that means

00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:12.159
 judgment can't happen

00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:13.479
 and nobody thinks

00:12:13.479 --> 00:12:14.419
 judgment shouldn't happen

00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:15.539
 because wickedness

00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:15.979
 is wicked

00:12:15.979 --> 00:12:17.819
 and it needs to be judged.

00:12:19.199 --> 00:12:20.199
 He repeats the argument

00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:20.759
 and the answer

00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:21.680
 in verses 7 and 8

00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:22.500
 some might argue

00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:23.360
 if my falsehood

00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:24.560
 enhances God truthfulness

00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:25.940
 and so increases his glory

00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:27.259
 why am I still condemned

00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:27.780
 as a sinner?

00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:29.440
 Why not say

00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:30.600
 as some slanderously claim

00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:31.100
 that we say

00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:31.940
 let us do evil

00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:32.800
 that good may result

00:12:32.800 --> 00:12:33.680
 their condemnation

00:12:33.680 --> 00:12:34.360
 is just.

00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:36.900
 Let me go back

00:12:36.900 --> 00:12:37.320
 to the cooker

00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:37.920
 for a moment

00:12:37.920 --> 00:12:39.800
 and the instructions.

00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:41.940
 If you are

00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:42.500
 in possession

00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.120
 of a cooker

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:45.080
 is it an advantage

00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:46.060
 that you are also

00:12:46.060 --> 00:12:46.660
 in possession

00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:47.820
 of the instructions

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:48.720
 for that?

00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:50.420
 Yes it is.

00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:51.500
 They're the words

00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:52.360
 of the manufacturer.

00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:53.920
 They are important.

00:12:54.520 --> 00:12:55.280
 They are true.

00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:56.320
 They show you

00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:57.240
 how to use it.

00:12:57.900 --> 00:12:58.960
 What if you burn

00:12:58.960 --> 00:12:59.379
 the dinner

00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:00.120
 by ignoring

00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.000
 the instructions?

00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:02.440
 Does it then follow

00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.280
 that the instructions

00:13:03.280 --> 00:13:04.480
 are somehow bad?

00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:05.980
 No it does not.

00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:07.220
 The freedom

00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:08.140
 to burn the dinner

00:13:08.140 --> 00:13:09.520
 is entirely yours

00:13:09.520 --> 00:13:10.680
 outside of the goodness

00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:11.460
 of the instructions

00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:12.540
 on how to use it.

00:13:13.160 --> 00:13:13.640
 In fact

00:13:13.640 --> 00:13:15.740
 a series of burnt dinners

00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:16.360
 shows you

00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.380
 just how important

00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:18.120
 and wonderful

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.500
 the instructions are.

00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:20.480
 As you look

00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.080
 at the pictures

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:22.100
 in the instruction manual

00:13:22.100 --> 00:13:23.480
 of beautifully cooked dinners

00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:25.100
 and your burnt offerings

00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:26.100
 you go wow

00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:28.059
 this is even better.

00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:29.879
 I want this.

00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.600
 Well then surely

00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:34.320
 the manufacturer

00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:35.220
 is really pleased

00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:36.159
 with my burnt dinners

00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:36.799
 because they make

00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.500
 his instructions

00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:38.259
 look better.

00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:39.659
 No.

00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:40.939
 That's illogical

00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:41.519
 and stupid.

00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:42.960
 The manufacturer

00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:43.820
 produced the cooker

00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:44.700
 for you to have

00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:46.059
 fine tasting meals

00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:47.340
 not burnt ones.

00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:50.000
 Well so it is

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.539
 for the Jew

00:13:50.539 --> 00:13:51.840
 or today

00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:52.740
 for the young person

00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:53.600
 raised in the church

00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:54.519
 or the adult

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.740
 with a Christian heritage.

00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:57.240
 Is it good for you

00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:58.000
 to be familiar

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.299
 with the moral expectations

00:13:59.299 --> 00:13:59.980
 of God's word?

00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.419
 It is really good

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.259
 for you to be familiar

00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:02.539
 with those.

00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.519
 Those are God's words.

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:04.679
 It's what God says.

00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:06.080
 It's brilliant

00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.059
 for you to know them.

00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:08.919
 But you say

00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:09.179
 well

00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:10.939
 but I've messed up.

00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.259
 I've not kept

00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.159
 the moral instructions.

00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:14.139
 That means

00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.220
 the instructions are bad.

00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.039
 They don't work.

00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:16.899
 No it doesn't mean

00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:17.500
 that at all.

00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.659
 Our failure

00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.779
 is not God's failure.

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:20.719
 Our freedom

00:14:20.719 --> 00:14:21.779
 to ignore his word

00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.519
 is not a denial

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.079
 of God's goodness.

00:14:23.219 --> 00:14:23.980
 It's our freedom

00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:25.079
 to ignore his words.

00:14:25.439 --> 00:14:25.860
 In fact

00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:26.360
 our freedom

00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:27.219
 to ignore his words

00:14:27.219 --> 00:14:27.899
 and our wickedness

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.740
 make his goodness

00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:29.379
 look greater.

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.179
 Oh well

00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:31.740
 if his goodness

00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:32.199
 looks greater

00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:32.959
 by my wickedness

00:14:32.959 --> 00:14:33.599
 is my wickedness

00:14:33.599 --> 00:14:34.519
 not so bad anymore?

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:35.399
 No.

00:14:36.079 --> 00:14:37.000
 Don't be ridiculous.

00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:39.899
 It doesn't mean that.

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:41.019
 The very definition

00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.599
 of the life

00:14:41.599 --> 00:14:42.179
 that you were given

00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:43.019
 was to be given

00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:43.840
 to you to live

00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:44.699
 for God's glory

00:14:44.699 --> 00:14:46.460
 for you to know

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.100
 what is good.

00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:49.559
 Alan McDonald

00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:50.659
 was an engineer

00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:51.379
 with a company

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.399
 that built the rockets

00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:53.460
 for the Challenger shuttle.

00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:55.259
 He had persistently

00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:56.379
 told the NASA managers

00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:58.319
 and his own superiors

00:14:58.319 --> 00:14:59.980
 that the launch

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.319
 should not go ahead

00:15:01.319 --> 00:15:02.860
 if the temperature

00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:03.460
 was below

00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:05.559
 53 degrees Fahrenheit.

00:15:06.299 --> 00:15:07.220
 Whatever that means.

00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:08.539
 The Americans

00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:08.939
 in the room

00:15:08.939 --> 00:15:09.480
 you can tell me

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.639
 what 53 degrees Fahrenheit

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.559
 but apparently it's cold.

00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:13.439
 He said listen

00:15:13.439 --> 00:15:14.359
 if it's below

00:15:14.359 --> 00:15:14.939
 that temperature

00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:15.719
 the O-rings

00:15:15.719 --> 00:15:16.439
 are going to fail.

00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.500
 Nobody listened to him.

00:15:19.099 --> 00:15:20.119
 Nobody took him seriously.

00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:21.639
 Let me ask you

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.799
 was it good

00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:23.739
 that Alan was there?

00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.759
 Yes it was really good.

00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:27.419
 Was he any less right

00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:28.439
 because he was ignored?

00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:29.439
 No.

00:15:30.119 --> 00:15:30.719
 Does their failure

00:15:30.719 --> 00:15:31.179
 to listen

00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:31.899
 make his advice

00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:32.779
 stand out as better?

00:15:33.239 --> 00:15:34.579
 Absolutely it does.

00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:37.199
 Does Alan looking better

00:15:37.199 --> 00:15:37.899
 absolve them

00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:38.939
 of moral responsibility

00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:39.959
 for launching the shuttle?

00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.860
 Absolutely not.

00:15:42.800 --> 00:15:43.340
 And so it is

00:15:43.340 --> 00:15:43.940
 for you and me.

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.080
 Is it good

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:45.600
 that you're here

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.100
 this morning?

00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:47.040
 It is brilliant

00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:47.460
 that you're here

00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:47.900
 this morning.

00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:49.440
 Thank God

00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:50.379
 for every time

00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.540
 you've been in a church.

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.060
 Thank God

00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:52.879
 for every time

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.820
 you've opened his word

00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:54.680
 and someone's explained

00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.000
 it to you

00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:55.840
 or shown it to you.

00:15:56.040 --> 00:15:57.259
 It's been a great thing.

00:15:58.420 --> 00:15:58.840
 It's great

00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.420
 that we've heard

00:15:59.420 --> 00:16:00.740
 of God's moral expectations.

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.160
 It's really good

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:02.740
 to be here.

00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.840
 But does our failure

00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:06.240
 to keep God's moral commands

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.480
 mean that God's moral commands

00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.420
 are no longer any good?

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:10.199
 No not at all.

00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:11.799
 Does our failure

00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.759
 and the mess

00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:14.199
 make God look greater?

00:16:14.459 --> 00:16:15.219
 It does.

00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.659
 Does that absolve me

00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:17.259
 of responsibility?

00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:19.179
 No it does not.

00:16:19.719 --> 00:16:21.120
 It's good to be here

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.839
 but it's of no saving advantage.

00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.279
 So that's the second point.

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.839
 We are no better off

00:16:26.839 --> 00:16:27.579
 for being here.

00:16:28.479 --> 00:16:29.479
 This is Paul's point

00:16:29.479 --> 00:16:30.319
 in verse 9.

00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:31.240
 Look down at verse 9

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.199
 let me read it to you.

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.240
 What shall we conclude then?

00:16:34.699 --> 00:16:36.240
 Do we have any advantage?

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:36.480
 Advantage.

00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:37.820
 Not at all.

00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:39.139
 We have already

00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:40.560
 made the charge

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:42.120
 that Jews and Gentiles

00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:43.220
 alike are under

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.539
 the power of sin.

00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:47.080
 It's worth noting

00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.440
 that although our translation

00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.399
 states the question

00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.519
 in a very similar way

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.799
 in verse 1 and verse 9

00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:52.940
 the word translated

00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:53.460
 advantage

00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:55.139
 is actually different

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.399
 in verse 1 and verse 9.

00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.580
 Verse 1

00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:58.560
 is something to do

00:16:58.560 --> 00:16:59.580
 with sort of the benefits.

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.340
 What are the benefits

00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.240
 of being a Jew?

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.560
 But here the question

00:17:02.560 --> 00:17:03.240
 is really whether

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.240
 being a Jew

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.279
 being exposed to God's word

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:05.980
 gives you some kind

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:07.319
 of superiority.

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.779
 Whether exposure

00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:10.420
 to God's word

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:12.039
 gives you a spiritual advantage.

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.940
 Literally does God's moral law

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.079
 give you a free pass

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.839
 on God's judgment?

00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:18.440
 And the answer to that

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:18.960
 says Paul

00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.279
 not at all.

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:22.079
 Because he says

00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:22.740
 that the problem

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.599
 with all of humanity

00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.839
 whether you're a Jew

00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:25.460
 a Gentile

00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.700
 whether this is the first time

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.319
 you've been in church

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.160
 or whether you've been

00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:29.599
 to church all your life

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.500
 the problem

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.959
 is not so much

00:17:31.959 --> 00:17:33.619
 ignorance of God's word

00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.939
 but rebellion

00:17:34.939 --> 00:17:36.079
 against God's word.

00:17:36.179 --> 00:17:36.799
 That's the problem

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.559
 in the universe.

00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.459
 Look at how verse 9 puts it

00:17:39.459 --> 00:17:39.759
 he says

00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.619
 we are all alike

00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:42.079
 under the power of sin.

00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.259
 The word power there

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.059
 is not actually there

00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:44.399
 in the Greek

00:17:44.399 --> 00:17:45.000
 it's just literally

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.899
 under sin

00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:47.699
 as if sin is a master

00:17:47.699 --> 00:17:49.159
 under which we are

00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:50.839
 squashed.

00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.919
 He has dominion

00:17:51.919 --> 00:17:52.819
 over us.

00:17:53.719 --> 00:17:54.539
 And Paul then proves

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.199
 that with a string

00:17:55.199 --> 00:17:56.339
 of Old Testament quotes

00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:57.359
 that he blends together.

00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:58.740
 Now I don't think

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.519
 these verses really

00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.880
 verse 10b

00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:01.859
 down to verse 18

00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:02.740
 take much explaining

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.180
 at all.

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.579
 Let me just read them

00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.279
 to you slowly

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.279
 look down at your Bibles

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.359
 and notice with me

00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.259
 all the no ones

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.940
 and the alls.

00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.380
 This includes everybody

00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:10.880
 in the room.

00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:14.799
 There is no one

00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.319
 righteous

00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:18.039
 not even one.

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:20.319
 There is no one

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.259
 who understands.

00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:23.160
 There is no one

00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:24.420
 who seeks God.

00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:27.200
 All have turned away.

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.779
 They have together

00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:29.720
 become worthless.

00:18:30.360 --> 00:18:31.600
 There is no one

00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:32.620
 who does good

00:18:32.620 --> 00:18:34.059
 not even one.

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:35.640
 Their throats

00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:36.600
 are open graves.

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.680
 Their tongues

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.700
 practice deceit.

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.400
 The poison of vipers

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.180
 is on their lips.

00:18:41.340 --> 00:18:41.799
 Their mouths

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.700
 are full of cursing

00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.240
 and bitterness.

00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:44.720
 Their feet

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.500
 are swift

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.259
 to shed blood.

00:18:46.840 --> 00:18:47.779
 Ruin and misery

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.779
 mark their ways

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:50.019
 and the way of peace

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.900
 they do not know.

00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:53.140
 There is no fear

00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:53.539
 of God

00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.480
 before their eyes.

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:58.279
 I don't know

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:58.799
 what you're thinking

00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:00.039
 as that list is read.

00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:00.880
 Maybe you think

00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:01.500
 goodness me

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.240
 it's a bit overstated

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.720
 isn't it?

00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:05.279
 Is it

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.420
 is it really

00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:07.240
 that bad?

00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:08.799
 Are you really

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.420
 saying that

00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:11.220
 nobody seeks God?

00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:11.799
 Really?

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.180
 I thought everyone

00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:14.640
 was looking

00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.559
 after God

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.599
 this day and age.

00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.480
 My friends

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.519
 are interested in God.

00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:21.160
 No one does good

00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:21.380
 really?

00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.039
 Have you ever met

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.539
 my gran?

00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.839
 She's a lovely woman.

00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.420
 She was a good woman.

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.640
 Notice Paul's point

00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:28.440
 is not that everyone

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.660
 is morally the same.

00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.700
 He's not saying that.

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.779
 Nor is he saying

00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.579
 that morally

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.480
 everybody is as bad

00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.279
 as they could be.

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.779
 It might well be

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.500
 that you are better

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.039
 than the person

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:38.599
 sat next to you.

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.200
 I don't want to comment.

00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:39.839
 I don't know them

00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.099
 and I don't know

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:41.880
 how well they're living.

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.700
 It could be that.

00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:45.160
 But his point is

00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:45.839
 it doesn't matter

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.599
 whether you're morally

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.480
 superior to the person

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.220
 next to you

00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.440
 because none of us

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:51.059
 have enough moral credit

00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:52.319
 to pay God

00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:53.779
 so we can escape judgment.

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.440
 All of us

00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.460
 have a moral debt

00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:56.819
 to pay.

00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.620
 It may be small.

00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:58.819
 It may be smaller

00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.240
 than the person

00:19:59.240 --> 00:19:59.720
 next to you.

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:01.099
 It may be big

00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:03.240
 but it's always

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.400
 enough to condemn us.

00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:06.220
 We're all in the same boat.

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.200
 And the impact of that

00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:08.960
 is supposed to be

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.640
 verse 19.

00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.980
 If we've understood it

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.599
 we're supposed to

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.559
 just fall silent.

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:16.099
 Have nothing to say.

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:18.859
 The church just sit

00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:20.339
 and feel the weight of it.

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.939
 No one righteous.

00:20:24.199 --> 00:20:25.480
 Universal judgment

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:27.799
 for every single man

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.439
 and woman

00:20:28.439 --> 00:20:30.159
 who ever lived.

00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:32.799
 Condemnation for every

00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.279
 moral trespass.

00:20:35.179 --> 00:20:37.819
 Mine, yours, everyone's.

00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.639
 Big or small.

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:42.400
 Ronald Reagan

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.259
 who was president

00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:44.440
 of the United States

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:44.860
 at the time

00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.820
 of the Challenger disaster

00:20:45.820 --> 00:20:46.780
 appointed a guy

00:20:46.780 --> 00:20:47.759
 called William Rogers

00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.940
 and Neil Armstrong

00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:50.200
 to chair an investigation

00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.320
 into what went wrong.

00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:53.380
 Alan McDonald

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.240
 I think was too junior

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.380
 to be in the meeting himself

00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:56.140
 so his bosses

00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:57.259
 spoke to him

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.040
 and tried to suggest

00:20:58.040 --> 00:20:59.160
 that despite concerns

00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.020
 about the cold weather

00:21:00.020 --> 00:21:01.100
 the engineers

00:21:01.100 --> 00:21:01.920
 collectively

00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.640
 were happy to launch.

00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:05.460
 When Alan understood

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.660
 what they were going to say

00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:08.340
 he walked into the meeting himself

00:21:08.340 --> 00:21:10.220
 and he said that

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.660
 he and the other engineers

00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.800
 had told them

00:21:12.800 --> 00:21:14.160
 not to launch

00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:16.460
 and the room fell silent.

00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:18.279
 McDonald was called

00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:19.340
 into the middle of the room

00:21:19.340 --> 00:21:20.800
 and his testimony

00:21:20.800 --> 00:21:22.460
 exposed what had happened

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.620
 and it brought justice

00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.779
 for the astronauts

00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:25.400
 who were killed.

00:21:26.820 --> 00:21:27.380
 In a sense

00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:28.060
 verse 19

00:21:28.060 --> 00:21:28.800
 is that kind of

00:21:28.800 --> 00:21:30.060
 Alan McDonald moment

00:21:30.060 --> 00:21:31.040
 isn't it for us?

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.759
 That kind of

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.840
 collective group think

00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:34.420
 of churches

00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.060
 where we can look

00:21:35.060 --> 00:21:35.519
 at each other

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:35.800
 and think

00:21:35.800 --> 00:21:36.640
 well we're pretty much

00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.600
 sure right aren't we?

00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:39.340
 We're probably better

00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:40.340
 than most people

00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:41.060
 aren't we?

00:21:42.080 --> 00:21:43.040
 That kind of group think

00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:44.060
 is called out by Paul.

00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:45.700
 The law

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.460
 his word for the

00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.240
 Old Testament scriptures

00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:48.360
 has been calling us

00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:48.780
 sinners

00:21:48.780 --> 00:21:50.400
 for as long as

00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.520
 we've been exposed to it.

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.240
 The problem is

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.060
 when we choose

00:21:54.060 --> 00:21:55.440
 to do nothing about it.

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:56.800
 The law said

00:21:56.800 --> 00:21:58.240
 your works are bad

00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:00.280
 and we've doubled down

00:22:00.280 --> 00:22:00.860
 on our works

00:22:00.860 --> 00:22:01.900
 and kept trying

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:03.100
 to earn favour with God

00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:04.340
 so we're without excuse.

00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:05.919
 there is no saving

00:22:05.919 --> 00:22:06.379
 advantage

00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:07.139
 in having the word

00:22:07.139 --> 00:22:07.559
 of God

00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.839
 unless you listen

00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.599
 to its warning

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.459
 says Paul.

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.179
 Literally

00:22:12.179 --> 00:22:13.000
 I mean there's no

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.199
 there's literally

00:22:14.199 --> 00:22:15.559
 no point in being here

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:17.359
 unless you're going

00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:18.279
 to hear the warning

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:18.839
 of God's word

00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.599
 about the emptiness

00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:20.519
 of your works

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.859
 and the conclusion

00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:23.000
 is there in verse 20

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.000
 therefore no one

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.539
 will be declared

00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.659
 righteous in God's sight

00:22:25.659 --> 00:22:26.639
 by works of the law

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:28.599
 rather through the law

00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:29.339
 we become conscious

00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:29.859
 of sin.

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:32.279
 Let me try

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.619
 and simplify it

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:33.979
 let me try

00:22:33.979 --> 00:22:35.119
 and put the point

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.859
 of these verses

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.519
 just as simply

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.059
 as I can.

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.279
 Listen it's something

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:38.659
 like this

00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.879
 it's great you're here

00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:41.619
 but being here

00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.379
 won't save you

00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:43.679
 that's it.

00:22:44.959 --> 00:22:45.659
 Now in a way

00:22:45.659 --> 00:22:46.359
 we could leave it there

00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.099
 I think that's a fair

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.939
 summary of the content

00:22:47.939 --> 00:22:48.559
 of these verses

00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.379
 but the truth is

00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:49.899
 that our job

00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.319
 this morning

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.139
 is not just

00:22:51.139 --> 00:22:52.839
 to summarise neatly

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:54.299
 what the verses say

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.599
 we need to know

00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.319
 what it means for us

00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:56.639
 don't we?

00:22:57.659 --> 00:22:58.479
 So before we finish

00:22:58.479 --> 00:22:59.159
 let me just try

00:22:59.160 --> 00:22:59.600
 and draw out

00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.440
 a couple of implications

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.080
 for us

00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:02.240
 from what we've seen

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.640
 the first one is this

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:05.840
 you cannot be

00:23:05.840 --> 00:23:06.840
 a true Christian

00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:08.800
 without being convinced

00:23:08.800 --> 00:23:09.600
 of your sin

00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.620
 you cannot be

00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:11.460
 a Christian

00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.980
 without being convinced

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.600
 of your sin

00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:15.620
 this is what Paul means

00:23:15.620 --> 00:23:16.340
 in verse 20

00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:17.100
 by being conscious

00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.300
 of your sin

00:23:18.300 --> 00:23:19.380
 that really

00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:19.800
 if you're going to

00:23:19.800 --> 00:23:21.340
 understand who Jesus is

00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:22.400
 if you're going to

00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.220
 put your faith

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.000
 in Jesus

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.060
 in the way in which

00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:26.480
 the Bible is inviting you to

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.600
 if you're going to

00:23:27.600 --> 00:23:28.600
 receive salvation

00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.839
 in Jesus' name

00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.639
 in the way in which

00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:31.919
 the Bible is inviting you to

00:23:31.919 --> 00:23:32.859
 if you're going to

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.519
 live a life which

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.779
 pleases God

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.500
 and the Lord Jesus

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.799
 in a way that the Bible

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.779
 is inviting you to

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:39.859
 then you're going to

00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:41.119
 have to do more

00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:43.219
 than just be convinced

00:23:43.219 --> 00:23:44.379
 that Jesus gives you

00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:45.639
 a purpose in life

00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.240
 right?

00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.299
 If you're going to know

00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.199
 that the joy

00:23:49.199 --> 00:23:50.319
 and the hope

00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.000
 that comes from

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.679
 knowing Christ

00:23:51.679 --> 00:23:53.159
 you need to be persuaded

00:23:53.159 --> 00:23:54.519
 of more

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.659
 than just

00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:56.919
 I don't really know

00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.660
 what I'm living for

00:23:57.660 --> 00:24:00.180
 you need to know more

00:24:00.180 --> 00:24:00.900
 and be persuaded

00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:01.180
 of more

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.060
 that Jesus

00:24:02.060 --> 00:24:03.140
 is not just the one

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:03.920
 who can help you

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.560
 through the challenges

00:24:04.560 --> 00:24:05.039
 of life

00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.080
 there are as many

00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:06.960
 challenges in life

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.580
 as there are people

00:24:07.580 --> 00:24:08.140
 in this room

00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.160
 and more besides

00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.519
 right?

00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:11.259
 If you're persuaded

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.019
 that Jesus

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.140
 is the only person

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.920
 who can help you

00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.500
 in the challenges

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:15.380
 that you face in life

00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:16.500
 that's brilliant

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:18.700
 but it's not enough

00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:20.740
 it's not enough

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:24.099
 because more than that

00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:24.920
 in a sense

00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:26.339
 ahead of all of that

00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:27.259
 you and I

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.240
 need to be convinced

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.339
 that without the death

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:29.900
 of Jesus

00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:31.099
 on the cross

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.480
 in my place

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.920
 bearing the punishment

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.359
 of God

00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:35.579
 that I deserved

00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:37.019
 I would rightly

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:38.039
 be condemned

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.640
 to hell

00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:42.620
 and God

00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.640
 would not be good

00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.440
 and would not be holy

00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:47.279
 if he didn't do that

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:50.140
 this is uncomfortable

00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:51.060
 I know it's uncomfortable

00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.860
 I can imagine

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.460
 that Paul took

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.640
 absolutely no delight

00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.500
 in stringing these

00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.400
 Old Testament quotes

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:56.020
 together in verses

00:24:56.020 --> 00:24:56.860
 11 to 18

00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:58.780
 Paul has no twisted

00:24:58.780 --> 00:24:59.820
 satisfaction in making

00:24:59.820 --> 00:25:00.220
 us feel better

00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:01.080
 I don't

00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:03.160
 rather the point

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:03.640
 of this is

00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.220
 he's quoting

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.740
 these scriptures

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.420
 because he wants

00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:06.080
 you to know

00:25:06.080 --> 00:25:06.759
 not only that his

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.480
 message is true

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.420
 but it's important

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.820
 it's repeated

00:25:09.820 --> 00:25:10.620
 over and over

00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:12.340
 because if we don't

00:25:12.340 --> 00:25:13.100
 know that we're sinners

00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:13.820
 we won't know

00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:15.040
 that we need a saviour

00:25:15.040 --> 00:25:17.920
 now perhaps I can

00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:18.800
 anticipate an objection

00:25:18.800 --> 00:25:19.440
 to this

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.960
 maybe you're thinking

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.559
 something like this

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:21.840
 I don't know

00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:22.259
 whether you are

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.960
 but maybe you are

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.440
 you're thinking

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.840
 this is terrible

00:25:24.840 --> 00:25:26.160
 for my self-esteem

00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.720
 Steve

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:29.420
 maybe there's a

00:25:29.420 --> 00:25:30.059
 conversation going

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:30.519
 on in your head

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:30.920
 which goes

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.259
 listen

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:32.799
 I came in this

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.059
 morning

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.460
 and I was feeling

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:34.960
 pretty rubbish

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.519
 about myself

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.160
 before I even

00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.620
 came in

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.960
 and now you're

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.440
 telling me some

00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.160
 stuff that I spent

00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.000
 all week trying

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.519
 to ignore

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.580
 you're making it

00:25:41.580 --> 00:25:42.200
 worse

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:44.980
 now I came to

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.420
 church with a

00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:46.120
 kind of imposter

00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.600
 syndrome

00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:48.019
 now you're telling

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.539
 me that at the

00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:49.320
 heart of Christianity

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:50.799
 is a belief in my

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.559
 own failure

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:55.000
 but listen if that's

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.500
 you let me try and

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:55.759
 give you an

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.099
 illustration

00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:57.079
 imagine at home

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.819
 you've got a sofa

00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.259
 right

00:25:58.259 --> 00:26:00.039
 you've bought yourself

00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:01.539
 a beautiful cream

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:02.439
 sofa

00:26:02.439 --> 00:26:04.639
 but then that thing

00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.339
 happens which always

00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:06.259
 happens when you buy a

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.200
 cream sofa which is

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.419
 what

00:26:07.419 --> 00:26:09.539
 people stain it

00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:09.779
 yeah

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.899
 and it gets marks

00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:11.299
 on it

00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:13.119
 the dog jumps up

00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.559
 with his muddy

00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.359
 paws on it

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:15.519
 and the sofa is

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.319
 covered with stains

00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:17.279
 and you're embarrassed

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.619
 now

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.579
 you're embarrassed

00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:19.139
 about the state

00:26:19.139 --> 00:26:19.599
 of your cream

00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:19.979
 sofa

00:26:19.979 --> 00:26:21.719
 so you strategically

00:26:21.719 --> 00:26:22.740
 place cushions

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.639
 on your sofa

00:26:23.639 --> 00:26:24.459
 to cover over the

00:26:24.459 --> 00:26:24.979
 stains

00:26:24.979 --> 00:26:26.599
 and a throw as

00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:26.859
 well

00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:28.519
 and if someone

00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.599
 points out a

00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:29.939
 stain

00:26:29.939 --> 00:26:30.639
 you're like oh

00:26:30.639 --> 00:26:31.799
 don't do that

00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.139
 please

00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:32.939
 or don't move

00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:33.379
 the cushion

00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:34.299
 because I don't

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:34.819
 want you to show

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.439
 the stain

00:26:35.439 --> 00:26:36.379
 I'm trying to

00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:36.939
 hide it from

00:26:36.939 --> 00:26:37.259
 everybody

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:39.400
 well imagine

00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:40.339
 then that

00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:41.500
 someone comes

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.859
 around

00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:43.359
 and they give

00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.460
 you stain

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.640
 removal spray

00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:47.099
 works every time

00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:47.740
 on every stain

00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:49.460
 that doesn't exist

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:49.740
 by the way

00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.400
 but imagine

00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:50.819
 it does

00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.160
 right

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:54.079
 and so you

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.319
 you throw

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:55.960
 all the cushions

00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.519
 on the floor

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.500
 you get all the

00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.240
 throws that you've

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:59.119
 strategically placed

00:26:59.119 --> 00:26:59.720
 to cover over the

00:26:59.720 --> 00:26:59.940
 stains

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.960
 you lob them

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.519
 off yourself

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.740
 and you get

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.559
 about spraying

00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.319
 and wiping it

00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:04.819
 down so that

00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:05.180
 you've got a

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:06.160
 beautiful cream

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.160
 sofa again

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:10.100
 now that's

00:27:10.100 --> 00:27:10.620
 the gospel

00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:11.060
 right

00:27:11.060 --> 00:27:12.800
 conviction of

00:27:12.800 --> 00:27:13.800
 sin is really

00:27:13.800 --> 00:27:14.640
 really important

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:16.200
 not because there's

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.860
 any spiritual

00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:17.820
 merit in feeling

00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:18.460
 rubbish about

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:18.880
 yourself

00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:19.779
 rather it's

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.460
 because sin

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.200
 is the problem

00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.040
 and Christ

00:27:22.040 --> 00:27:22.860
 is the answer

00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:25.100
 and so because

00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:26.320
 we know the

00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:26.960
 one who has

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.620
 the answer to

00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.440
 sin and guilt

00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.519
 we are not

00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.500
 embarrassed to

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.100
 be convicted

00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:31.779
 of our sin

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.700
 or shown our

00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.400
 sin because

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.500
 every time we

00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.180
 see it we

00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:36.100
 turn to him

00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:36.440
 and we

00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:37.840
 remove the

00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:38.440
 stain

00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.279
 Lord Jesus

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.779
 let me come

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.580
 to you again

00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:43.380
 in a sense

00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:43.900
 as a Christian

00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.580
 even being

00:27:44.580 --> 00:27:45.420
 caught in

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.240
 sin is a

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.740
 kind of

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.279
 mercy

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.560
 because it

00:27:48.560 --> 00:27:49.120
 turns me to

00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:49.600
 the saviour

00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:50.140
 who has the

00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:50.640
 solution

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:52.940
 here it is

00:27:52.940 --> 00:27:53.100
 really

00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:53.540
 listen

00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:54.880
 self-esteem

00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:55.580
 is a hollow

00:27:55.580 --> 00:27:56.120
 gift

00:27:56.120 --> 00:27:56.500
 right

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.880
 if you

00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.920
 think you're

00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.240
 brilliant

00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.720
 and your

00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.240
 self-esteem

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.660
 is like you

00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:01.779
 know

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.180
 through the

00:28:02.180 --> 00:28:02.540
 roof

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:04.759
 doesn't

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:04.920
 really

00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.180
 matter

00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:06.879
 it doesn't

00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:07.379
 really matter

00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:09.059
 because there's

00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.759
 something way

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.200
 better than

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:11.579
 that and

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.079
 that is that

00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.700
 knowing Jesus

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.379
 loves you

00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:16.259
 even with

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.460
 the rottenness

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.339
 of your

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:18.920
 sin

00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.079
 loves you

00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.799
 enough to

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:22.440
 die for

00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:23.740
 you in the

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.339
 rottenness of

00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:24.759
 your sin

00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.319
 do you know

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.500
 that is so much

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:26.920
 better than

00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:27.220
 self-esteem

00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.860
 you could keep

00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:28.700
 your self-esteem

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.960
 I want to

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.240
 know that

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.839
 Jesus loves

00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.120
 me

00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:32.299
 and I want

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:32.600
 you to

00:28:32.600 --> 00:28:32.900
 know that

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:33.160
 too

00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.660
 and so we

00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:35.019
 need to be

00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.579
 convinced of

00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.000
 our sin

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.420
 finally

00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:39.120
 we cannot be a

00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:40.039
 faithful church

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:41.539
 without preaching

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.460
 about sin

00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:45.000
 I think it's

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.640
 probably a fair

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.440
 assessment to say

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.980
 that the church

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.339
 in Britain

00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:48.120
 in general

00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.900
 is probably

00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.620
 not as clear

00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:50.460
 on sin and

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.339
 judgment as we

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.880
 could be

00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:52.740
 or should be

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:54.079
 I don't know

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.299
 whether you

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.900
 followed in the

00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:55.480
 Christian press

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.259
 actually in the

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.980
 secular press a bit

00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:57.480
 as well about

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.059
 this quiet

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.799
 revival that's

00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.579
 going on amongst

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.160
 younger people

00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:00.740
 who are starting

00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.220
 to come back

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:01.880
 to church

00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:03.039
 listen that's

00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:04.000
 great isn't it

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.759
 there are some

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.380
 of you here

00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:05.860
 this morning

00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.819
 and it's great

00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.500
 that you're here

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.759
 it's brilliant

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.920
 and we are

00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:10.640
 delighted to have

00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:10.860
 you

00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:12.759
 but it seems

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.559
 that as you

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.460
 read about it

00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:14.819
 a bit more

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.259
 that what's

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:15.799
 sparking that

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.519
 is not so much

00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:16.980
 a conviction

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.380
 of sin

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.319
 but a realisation

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:18.720
 that the

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.360
 materialistic

00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:20.099
 atheism that's

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.279
 been sold to

00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:21.920
 us by the

00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:22.620
 school system

00:29:22.620 --> 00:29:23.019
 and the

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.400
 government system

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.120
 basically is

00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:25.759
 kind of hollow

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.319
 right

00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:29.000
 and that's

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.779
 good that you've

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.419
 seen through that

00:29:30.419 --> 00:29:30.879
 if you've seen

00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.279
 through that

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.619
 but the

00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:32.299
 shallowness of

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.179
 materialism is

00:29:33.179 --> 00:29:34.000
 not really the

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.819
 big problem that

00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.480
 Jesus came to

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:35.759
 solve

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:38.039
 and unless we're

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.779
 really clear on

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.480
 this as a church

00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.599
 we're no better

00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.179
 than the NASA

00:29:41.179 --> 00:29:41.720
 committee that

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.439
 decided to launch

00:29:42.439 --> 00:29:42.939
 the Challenger

00:29:42.939 --> 00:29:43.819
 because we're

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.419
 ignoring the

00:29:44.419 --> 00:29:44.859
 reality

00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:47.119
 and our church

00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:47.639
 won't help

00:29:47.639 --> 00:29:48.039
 people

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:50.500
 a friend of

00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:50.879
 mine used to

00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:51.439
 illustrate it like

00:29:51.439 --> 00:29:51.899
 this he said

00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:52.759
 imagine that you're

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.559
 a steward on an

00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:54.139
 aeroplane

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:55.259
 where the

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:55.800
 engines have

00:29:55.800 --> 00:29:56.180
 failed

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:56.780
 okay

00:29:56.780 --> 00:29:59.400
 and there are

00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.180
 enough parachutes

00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:01.060
 on the aeroplane

00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:02.240
 to provide one

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.840
 for everybody

00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:03.620
 on the plane

00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:05.500
 and so as a

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:06.120
 steward on the

00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:06.700
 plane where the

00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.200
 engines have

00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.780
 failed you're

00:30:07.780 --> 00:30:08.960
 trying to persuade

00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.700
 people to put

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:10.560
 their parachutes on

00:30:10.560 --> 00:30:11.140
 and clip them on

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:11.520
 properly

00:30:11.520 --> 00:30:13.940
 and so you

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.720
 walk down the

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.140
 aisle and you

00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:15.580
 say listen this

00:30:15.580 --> 00:30:15.960
 is a really

00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.800
 comfy attachment

00:30:16.800 --> 00:30:17.340
 for you to

00:30:17.340 --> 00:30:17.600
 wear

00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:19.060
 it will make

00:30:19.060 --> 00:30:19.660
 life in that

00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.400
 seat much more

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.840
 bearable

00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:21.520
 I know it's a

00:30:21.520 --> 00:30:22.000
 bit uncomfortable

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.640
 you're in economy

00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.380
 class aren't you

00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:23.900
 and you can't

00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:24.440
 lean back as

00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.820
 far as you'd

00:30:24.820 --> 00:30:25.220
 like to but

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.320
 this is like a

00:30:26.320 --> 00:30:26.840
 kind of cushion

00:30:26.840 --> 00:30:28.440
 it goes lovely

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.020
 with the outfit

00:30:29.020 --> 00:30:29.560
 that you're wearing

00:30:29.560 --> 00:30:30.140
 by the way as

00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:30.400
 well

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.120
 would be a

00:30:31.120 --> 00:30:31.700
 great addition

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.820
 to your outfit

00:30:32.820 --> 00:30:33.920
 this afternoon

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:36.320
 well if you do

00:30:36.320 --> 00:30:37.560
 that is anyone

00:30:37.560 --> 00:30:38.080
 going to put the

00:30:38.080 --> 00:30:38.840
 parachute on with

00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:39.300
 a sense of

00:30:39.300 --> 00:30:40.060
 urgency that it's

00:30:40.060 --> 00:30:40.500
 required

00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.940
 are people going

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:43.080
 to just ignore

00:30:43.080 --> 00:30:43.520
 it

00:30:43.520 --> 00:30:44.720
 I know you

00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.300
 walk back down

00:30:45.300 --> 00:30:45.760
 some are kind

00:30:45.760 --> 00:30:46.520
 of holding it

00:30:46.520 --> 00:30:47.540
 over one shoulder

00:30:47.540 --> 00:30:48.480
 and some are

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:48.960
 kind of leaning

00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.500
 on it like a

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:49.800
 pillow

00:30:49.800 --> 00:30:51.420
 now listen if

00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:51.980
 you want people

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.460
 to put the

00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.140
 parachute on

00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:53.600
 properly

00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:55.120
 to understand

00:30:55.120 --> 00:30:55.960
 its importance

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.440
 you have to

00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:57.980
 tell them

00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:59.180
 the plane

00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:00.220
 is crashing

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.820
 and then they

00:31:01.820 --> 00:31:02.440
 will understand

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:04.240
 and that's it

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.600
 here

00:31:04.600 --> 00:31:06.259
 judgment

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.080
 the judgment

00:31:07.080 --> 00:31:07.600
 of God

00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:08.400
 the fact that

00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:09.980
 everyone in

00:31:09.980 --> 00:31:10.500
 this room

00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:11.860
 all of us

00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.660
 without exception

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.380
 everybody that

00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:13.820
 you meet

00:31:13.820 --> 00:31:14.880
 will stand

00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:15.560
 before their

00:31:15.560 --> 00:31:16.259
 maker to give

00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:16.940
 an account for

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.520
 the life that

00:31:17.520 --> 00:31:18.200
 they have lived

00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:19.180
 is not the

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:20.300
 craziness of a

00:31:20.300 --> 00:31:21.060
 street preacher

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:22.119
 it's the truth

00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:22.619
 of God's

00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:22.940
 word

00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:24.799
 and it's the

00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:25.919
 inevitable truth

00:31:25.919 --> 00:31:27.000
 of a holy God

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.619
 and a sinful

00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.179
 creation

00:31:28.179 --> 00:31:29.579
 and Christ

00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:31.220
 is the only

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:32.519
 answer

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:35.059
 not your works

00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:36.079
 not the fact

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:36.539
 you went to

00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.000
 church

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.960
 not the fact

00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.259
 that you're

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:38.700
 less of a

00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.059
 sinner than

00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:39.539
 someone else

00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:39.919
 you know

00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:41.859
 only Jesus

00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.859
 and so to

00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:44.240
 preach Jesus

00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:46.019
 we can't just

00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:47.399
 speak Jesus

00:31:47.399 --> 00:31:48.299
 speak about

00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:48.639
 Jesus

00:31:48.639 --> 00:31:49.720
 we need to

00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.259
 speak about

00:31:50.259 --> 00:31:51.180
 sin and

00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:52.000
 judgment and

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.379
 hell

00:31:52.379 --> 00:31:53.579
 we need to

00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.119
 show that the

00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:54.740
 peril that we

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.619
 face is greater

00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.039
 than the

00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.879
 discomfort or

00:31:56.879 --> 00:31:57.759
 grief or lack

00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.419
 of purpose or

00:31:58.419 --> 00:31:59.480
 sadness because

00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.059
 without the

00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.680
 reality of

00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.740
 judgment the

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.500
 cross of Jesus

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.139
 Christ makes

00:32:03.139 --> 00:32:04.000
 no sense

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.700
 and with it

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:07.480
 it's the most

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.299
 beautiful thing

00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:08.859
 in the world

00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:11.299
 let's pray

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:11.680
 together

00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:21.740
 we don't get

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:22.039
 lots of

00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.720
 opportunity for

00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.560
 quiet so let's

00:32:23.560 --> 00:32:24.140
 just have a few

00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:25.720
 moments of

00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.220
 quiet we can

00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:26.920
 pray in our own

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:27.759
 hearts as we

00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:29.680
 thank and ponder

00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:30.100
 on what God

00:32:30.100 --> 00:32:30.600
 has said to us

00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:30.880
 from his

00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.279
 words

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:32.940
 thank you

00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


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00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


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00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


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00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:32.940


00:32:32.940 --> 00:33:02.920
 Thank you.

00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:32.920
 Thank you.

00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:34.940
 Thank you.

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:04.940
 Thank you.

00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:06.940
 Thank you.

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:08.940
 Thank you.

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:10.940
 Thank you.

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:12.940
 Thank you.

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:14.940
 Thank you.

00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:16.940
 Thank you.

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:22.940
 Thank you.

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:24.940
 Thank you.

00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:29.039
 united with you as our loving Heavenly Father.

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:31.980
 I pray this morning that there might not be a single person

00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:35.320
 in the room who leaves without that kind of confidence

00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:37.159
 in Jesus.

00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:41.079
 Please Lord, convince us of our sin

00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:43.920
 and convince us too of the power of Jesus alone

00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:47.539
 to forgive us as we pray in his name.

00:34:47.539 --> 00:34:48.380
 Amen.