WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.600 Let me invite you to take your copy of God's Word and turn to Romans chapter 4. 00:00:05.960 --> 00:00:08.080 It's very good to be back with you this morning. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:13.339 I forgot about how many children this church has. 00:00:15.339 --> 00:00:17.240 I'm glad for each and every one of them. 00:00:19.339 --> 00:00:24.539 We've been working verse by verse through the book of Romans as I've had the occasion to preach. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:31.079 And the plan for this week was Romans chapter 4 verses 1 through 12. 00:00:31.299 --> 00:00:39.879 When the bulletins were produced on Thursday, folded and stapled very carefully by yours truly, this was the plan. 00:00:39.979 --> 00:00:45.200 But then I began to write the introduction to Romans chapter 4. 00:00:46.140 --> 00:00:52.039 We've been thinking a lot in these early chapters of the book of Romans about justification by grace alone, 00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:54.719 through faith alone, in Christ alone. 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:58.740 I've said to you repeatedly, that's the theme of this letter. 00:00:58.839 --> 00:01:02.479 And it begins in Romans chapter 1 and verse 16. 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:09.420 There Paul says he's not ashamed of the gospel, for it's the power of God for salvation to all who believe. 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:13.799 For the righteous shall live by faith. 00:01:14.539 --> 00:01:16.219 And it begins to expound upon that. 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:23.179 Why? Why do we need this alien righteousness, this righteousness that comes from God? 00:01:23.219 --> 00:01:26.840 And he begins to lay that out for us in verse 18 of chapter 1. 00:01:27.819 --> 00:01:37.120 And then he begins to think about and write about the relationship between the gospel and the Jewish people and the Gentile people. 00:01:37.319 --> 00:01:39.620 But again, driving this point all along. 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:45.579 Justification comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. 00:01:45.579 --> 00:01:51.459 And I've said to you, I think this is timely for our church, because if we don't get clear the gospel, 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:58.819 if we're not redundantly clear on the gospel, then we're going to get distracted by other things. 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:05.780 And so, as I come to chapter 4, and I'm looking to expound on these first 12 verses, 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:10.020 if you're there now, you may have in your Bible a subheading similar to mine, 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:13.659 Abraham justified by faith. 00:02:13.659 --> 00:02:21.639 He's going to go make an Old Testament argument to us about justification coming through faith from Abraham. 00:02:21.979 --> 00:02:25.539 And then he makes an argument from the mouth of David. 00:02:26.519 --> 00:02:32.460 And I begin to think, why are we still talking about this? 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:36.000 And so I start to write an introduction to set you up for that. 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:40.240 And it's an introduction that became a sermon itself in the process. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:49.120 I thought yesterday, I really need to do this first, and then we'll get back into Romans chapter 4. 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:54.500 So, go with me, if you will, to 2 Timothy chapter 3. 00:02:54.500 --> 00:03:05.520 I want to talk in brief about the five solas of the Protestant Reformation, 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:13.639 and then draw our attention more narrowly to sola scriptura. 00:03:13.639 --> 00:03:20.099 The Bible alone is God's final authority. 00:03:20.459 --> 00:03:23.819 In Latin, sola scriptura. 00:03:24.819 --> 00:03:31.060 And it is on its pages that we learn that we are saved by God's grace alone, sola gratia. 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:34.299 Through faith alone, sola fide. 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:39.020 In Jesus Christ alone, sola Christus. 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:46.140 And this salvation and all things that exist for the glory of God alone. 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:49.060 Soli Deo Gloria. 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:52.820 We are Protestants. 00:03:53.600 --> 00:03:57.260 And this is not an insignificant declaration. 00:03:57.259 --> 00:04:03.659 More than 500 years ago, the Protestant Reformation began, and we are still protesting. 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:10.419 Not just against Roman Catholicism, but also against any world system that says, 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:14.159 you can be saved by your works. 00:04:14.519 --> 00:04:17.279 Which they all do. 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:21.060 That is the mantra of our day. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:27.180 We are not Protestants in theory or by name only. 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:31.160 It's not a tip of the hat to our history. 00:04:31.780 --> 00:04:38.579 A little more than five years ago, the leadership of your church had to stand against our own denomination's campus ministry. 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:45.560 Because they thought it a good idea to partner with the Catholic organization on campus for an evangelistic event. 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:48.740 And we cried, no. 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:50.139 No. 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:50.180 No. 00:04:51.099 --> 00:04:55.259 Justification comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. 00:04:55.459 --> 00:04:58.419 Let us not be unclear about this. 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:05.539 Let us not be a people who are distracted by lesser in-house disagreements. 00:05:06.539 --> 00:05:09.139 We need to grip tightly to the solas. 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:12.159 For there is much work to be done. 00:05:13.599 --> 00:05:18.759 Beloved, the boldest thing you can do is not take to social media to decry or defend 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:20.579 every disparate view. 00:05:20.579 --> 00:05:26.800 The boldest thing you can do is preach the good news of Jesus Christ to your children, 00:05:27.039 --> 00:05:31.399 to your spouse and other family members, to your neighbors and co-workers, 00:05:31.800 --> 00:05:33.360 and to one another. 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:35.480 We are Protestants. 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:37.540 We are Protestants. 00:05:38.180 --> 00:05:43.939 And we are at our best when we hold fast to the solas. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:46.460 We do not innovate. 00:05:46.960 --> 00:05:48.060 We hold. 00:05:48.960 --> 00:05:50.180 We do not waver. 00:05:50.340 --> 00:05:51.180 We hold. 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:53.620 We do not become distracted. 00:05:53.620 --> 00:05:54.620 We hold. 00:05:54.620 --> 00:05:55.620 We hold. 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:56.259 We hold. 00:05:57.259 --> 00:06:02.060 We contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:06.399 And so you may see, as I begin to write an introduction, 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:14.340 my concern is that you might get bored with the message of justification by grace alone, 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:16.959 through faith alone, in Christ alone. 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:22.300 My concern is that we have in us a desire to be innovative, 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:26.340 to expand and to explore. 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:31.339 And I want to call us this morning to the old ways. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:35.099 If you want to think of it as boring, go right on ahead. 00:06:36.099 --> 00:06:40.299 But the text, back to the text, back to the text, back to the text. 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:44.699 May we never grow tired of hearing the gospel proclaimed. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:47.919 Now, I want to be clear. 00:06:48.259 --> 00:06:51.459 The Protestant Reformation was not the beginning of Christianity. 00:06:51.459 --> 00:06:51.659 Christianity. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:55.919 God has had a people that he has sovereignly rescued from the fall 00:06:55.919 --> 00:06:59.019 by a promise that has been fulfilled in Christ. 00:06:59.739 --> 00:07:04.839 The truth of God had not been lost to the world to be rediscovered by an Augustinian monk 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:07.599 by the name of Martin Luther in the 16th century. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:11.240 The truth of God had been preserved by God, 00:07:11.299 --> 00:07:13.560 although largely lost to the Western world, 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:18.819 buried in a Latin translation and by Roman Catholic tradition and papal infallibility, 00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:24.060 which at very best obscured the truth and at very worst replaced it. 00:07:25.099 --> 00:07:28.040 God had long been working among his people in Europe 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:32.040 to ignite the purifying flame of the Protestant Reformation. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:37.480 A popular analogy goes that God had been stacking the kindling for centuries 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:42.100 and that he used Martin Luther's writing as a spark to ignite the fire 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:46.620 that burned so brightly across Europe to purify the church. 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:52.459 Faithful men, known and unknown, were used of God. 00:07:53.280 --> 00:07:57.899 Men like John Wycliffe, who in the 14th century defied Rome 00:07:57.899 --> 00:08:00.980 and translated the Bible from Latin into English. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:07.959 They were all fallible men, but they were men used of God. 00:08:08.620 --> 00:08:11.579 Our history traces through redemptive history 00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:14.399 by way of the church we see in the book of Acts, 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:17.620 through the Reformers and the Puritans to today. 00:08:18.299 --> 00:08:21.379 The events of the Reformation were significant 00:08:21.379 --> 00:08:26.659 and we would not exist as a people for God's possession if not for them. 00:08:27.699 --> 00:08:30.679 I am not saying that God couldn't have established a church in the Americas 00:08:30.679 --> 00:08:32.100 without the Reformation, 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:36.500 but I am saying that God chose to start a church in the Americas 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:38.059 with the Reformation, 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:41.419 and we should want to know our history. 00:08:42.579 --> 00:08:46.039 We do not want to be known for what we are against, 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:49.119 but sometimes to be clear about what you are for, 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:51.839 you must state what you are against. 00:08:52.819 --> 00:08:56.539 The Protestant Reformation began as an attempt to bring correction 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:58.179 to the Roman Catholic Church, 00:08:58.839 --> 00:09:01.779 but upon Rome's rejection of the plain teaching of Scripture, 00:09:01.779 --> 00:09:04.439 the Reformers abandoned Rome. 00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:07.620 We are Protestants, 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:10.419 and we will protest any teaching, 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:13.000 not just Roman Catholic teaching, 00:09:13.339 --> 00:09:16.059 any teaching against justification 00:09:16.059 --> 00:09:17.500 by grace alone, 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:19.000 through faith alone, 00:09:19.419 --> 00:09:21.779 in Jesus Christ alone. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:25.699 We must be clear on this. 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:27.720 Luther once said, 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:30.139 the time for silence is past, 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:33.560 and the time to speak has come. 00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:37.540 So let's talk just a bit about Martin Luther 00:09:37.540 --> 00:09:41.019 before we get into our text today, 00:09:41.180 --> 00:09:45.440 and the event that happened on October 31st, 1517, 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:48.420 as well as the events that followed. 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:52.460 Martin Luther was training to be a lawyer, 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:57.180 and he was deeply troubled by the status of his soul. 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:59.220 In a lightning storm, 00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:01.340 ironically praying to Saint Anne, 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:03.980 Luther promised that if he survived the storm, 00:10:04.560 --> 00:10:06.180 he would become a monk. 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:09.720 It was seen as the highest devotion to God in his day. 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:12.440 Well, he did survive the storm, 00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:13.940 and he kept his promise. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:17.120 He became an Augustinian monk. 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:20.139 Still troubled by the state of his soul, 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:23.080 he was tasked with translating the book of Romans, 00:10:23.620 --> 00:10:25.779 and not far into chapter 1, 00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:27.659 he came to verse 17, 00:10:27.659 --> 00:10:29.240 and the phrase, 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:33.259 the righteous shall live by faith. 00:10:34.319 --> 00:10:36.159 See, the trouble of his soul was that he thought, 00:10:36.439 --> 00:10:37.819 I can never do enough. 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:40.519 I am not measuring up to God's law, 00:10:40.579 --> 00:10:42.240 and he was right about this. 00:10:43.019 --> 00:10:45.500 But then he saw the good news, 00:10:46.059 --> 00:10:49.500 that the righteous shall live by faith. 00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:53.379 On October 31st of 1517, 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:57.419 Luther nailed a document that we know as the 95 Theses 00:10:57.419 --> 00:10:59.580 to the Wittenberg church door, 00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:02.179 which outlined 95 reasons 00:11:02.179 --> 00:11:05.360 that the selling of indulgences was not biblical. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:09.100 You see, the Roman Catholic Church had constructed, 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:11.519 as all worldly moral systems do, 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:14.340 a system of works-based salvation, 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:18.300 do good and good will follow. 00:11:18.420 --> 00:11:20.120 And they had monetized it 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:22.460 in order to build a massive building. 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:25.800 At the end of February 00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:28.160 to the beginning of March of 1518, 00:11:28.780 --> 00:11:31.300 the 95 Theses were translated into German 00:11:31.300 --> 00:11:33.300 without Luther's permission 00:11:33.300 --> 00:11:36.879 by a printer and widely distributed. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:40.379 A lot of people want to give Luther all the credit. 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:42.259 He did write the document, 00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:44.860 but didn't intend for it to be widely distributed. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:48.379 Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:50.419 in January of 1521, 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.139 and he was then summoned to the Diet of Worms 00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:55.799 in April 17th of 1521, 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:58.259 where he was asked the questions, 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:01.960 Do you acknowledge the authorship of books 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:03.980 that had been brought to the Diet 00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:05.659 and bore your name? 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:08.379 And will you stand by them 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:11.120 or retract anything in them? 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:14.539 Luther asked for 24 hours 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:16.139 to consider his response, 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:18.960 and it was at the end of this 24-hour period 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:21.399 on April 18th of 1521 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:24.659 where he said the following famous words, 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:27.299 Unless I am convinced 00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:28.720 by the testimony of Scripture 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.460 or by clear reason, 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:33.580 for I trust neither Pope nor Council alone, 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:34.720 since it is well known 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.259 that they have often erred 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:37.840 and contradicted themselves, 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:40.360 I am bound by the Scriptures 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:41.240 I have cited, 00:12:41.519 --> 00:12:43.700 for my conscience is captive 00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:45.000 to the Word of God. 00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:48.120 I cannot and will not recant anything, 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.939 since to act against one's conscience 00:12:49.939 --> 00:12:52.139 is neither safe nor right. 00:12:52.939 --> 00:12:54.120 I cannot do otherwise. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:55.779 Here I stand. 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:57.460 May God help me. 00:12:57.460 --> 00:13:00.980 Martin Luther was declared a heretic 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:02.680 and traitor to the state 00:13:02.680 --> 00:13:04.460 and sentenced to death. 00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:06.580 But a kidnapping was staged 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:08.019 and he was hidden away in a castle 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:10.040 where he promptly translated 00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:10.700 the New Testament 00:13:10.700 --> 00:13:12.160 into German 00:13:12.160 --> 00:13:14.560 in a matter of months. 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:15.340 Why? 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:17.280 Because he believed 00:13:17.280 --> 00:13:19.920 in sola scriptura. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.060 He saw the great importance 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:23.379 of putting the Bible 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:26.799 into the people's hands. 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.219 And so let's look at 2 Timothy chapter 3, 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.939 verse 14, 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:34.119 and into chapter 4, 00:13:34.699 --> 00:13:37.099 and verse 4 briefly this morning. 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:39.440 Before we read it, 00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:40.580 I would like to remind you, 00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:42.139 as I do each Lord's Day, beloved, 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:44.420 that this is God's Word to us, 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:46.180 written for His glory 00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:46.980 and our good. 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:48.220 We would all do well 00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:49.259 to listen to it 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:50.700 in order to believe its promises 00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:52.820 and obey its commands. 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:55.760 Paul writes to Timothy, 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.879 but as for you, 00:13:57.660 --> 00:13:58.940 continue in what you have learned 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:00.060 and have firmly believed, 00:14:00.160 --> 00:14:01.800 knowing from whom you learned it. 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:03.260 And now from childhood 00:14:03.260 --> 00:14:04.100 you have been acquainted 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:05.280 with the sacred writings 00:14:05.280 --> 00:14:06.940 which are able to make you wise 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:07.640 for salvation 00:14:07.640 --> 00:14:09.379 through faith in Christ Jesus. 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:12.500 All scripture is breathed out by God 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.980 and profitable for teaching, 00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:15.379 for reproof, 00:14:15.660 --> 00:14:16.520 for correction, 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:18.360 and for training in righteousness, 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:19.940 that the man of God 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:20.840 may be complete, 00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:22.800 equipped for every good one. 00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:25.800 I charge you in the presence of God 00:14:25.800 --> 00:14:26.760 and of Christ Jesus 00:14:26.760 --> 00:14:28.620 who is to judge the living and the dead 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:30.740 and by His appearing and His kingdom 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:32.740 preach the word. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.260 Be ready in season and out of season. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:37.480 Reprove, rebuke, and exhort 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:40.040 with complete patience and teaching. 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:41.920 For the time is coming 00:14:41.920 --> 00:14:43.600 when people will not endure sound teaching, 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:45.100 but having itching ears, 00:14:45.180 --> 00:14:46.400 they will accumulate for themselves 00:14:46.400 --> 00:14:49.120 teachers to suit their own passions 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:51.260 and will turn away from listening 00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:52.000 to the truth 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.740 and wander off into myths. 00:14:56.100 --> 00:14:58.139 So a brief outline for this morning. 00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:58.819 Number one, 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:03.179 the scripture alone is God's final authority. 00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:04.899 Number two, 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:07.539 the scripture alone is God's final authority 00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:09.379 for justification. 00:15:10.819 --> 00:15:11.819 And number three, 00:15:11.899 --> 00:15:14.019 the scripture alone is God's final authority 00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:16.259 for sanctification. 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:18.240 So firstly, 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:22.120 the scripture alone is God's final authority. 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:24.319 We'll take the text a bit out of order. 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:26.059 Look at chapter four, 00:15:26.240 --> 00:15:29.059 verses one through four. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:31.960 Here we see Paul give to Timothy 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:35.039 a simple charge. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:37.079 A big charge, 00:15:37.199 --> 00:15:39.120 but a simple one. 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:39.679 Two, 00:15:40.039 --> 00:15:40.579 verse two, 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:43.079 preach the word. 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.500 Be ready, 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:46.199 all the time is what he's saying, 00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:48.279 to bring about the correction 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.500 and the encouragement 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:52.379 that the church is going to need. 00:15:52.699 --> 00:15:54.000 And at the end of verse two, 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:54.740 he says, 00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:57.659 with complete patience 00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:59.319 and teaching. 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:03.319 Do this work of preaching the word 00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:04.679 with patience 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:06.759 and careful attention. 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:09.699 Do it in season and out of season. 00:16:10.219 --> 00:16:13.319 Do it in various forms and fashions. 00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:16.059 It's important that you do this work, 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:16.839 Timothy, 00:16:17.319 --> 00:16:18.000 because, 00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:20.639 verse three tells us, 00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:22.519 a time is coming, 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.379 and I say to you, 00:16:23.459 --> 00:16:25.000 and is here, 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:28.179 when people don't want to hear 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:30.179 sound teaching. 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:31.779 They don't want to sit 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:33.419 under the plain explanation 00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:34.659 of scripture. 00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:36.440 They want it entrapped 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:39.159 with lots of frivolities. 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:40.799 Beloved, 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:41.320 I will tell you, 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.879 I am so tired of seeing 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:45.679 the kind of youth group shenanigans 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:47.580 that go on around us in church. 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:50.759 It is absolute silliness 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.620 that goes on 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:54.460 in the churches of our age. 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:57.080 Why is this allowed to happen? 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.480 Why is it tolerated? 00:16:58.580 --> 00:16:59.500 I just look at these things 00:16:59.500 --> 00:16:59.860 and I go, 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:01.820 you all would leave immediately 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:03.080 if I did some of the things 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.460 I see happening. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:07.099 Why do these guys get away 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:08.299 with this stuff? 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:10.680 It's because the people, 00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:12.640 they're gathering for themselves, 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:14.980 they're accumulating teachers. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:17.160 There's lots of them 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:18.579 piled up 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:20.799 that are suiting their passions, 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:23.259 their desire to be entertained, 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:25.539 their desire to live the lives 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:27.279 that they want to live, 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.500 to make a Christ 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:30.660 of their own creation. 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.839 They're gathering teachers 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.759 that will support 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.519 this very thing, 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:37.720 not men that will just boldly 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:40.400 proclaim what the text says. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.660 And they're wandering off 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:43.859 into myths, 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:47.379 away from the truth. 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:49.980 If there was ever a day 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.140 to cry, 00:17:51.340 --> 00:17:52.360 Sola Scriptura, 00:17:52.780 --> 00:17:54.040 this is that day. 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.840 Now the doctrine of Sola Scriptura 00:17:56.840 --> 00:17:57.840 is known 00:17:57.840 --> 00:18:00.720 as the formal principle. 00:18:02.040 --> 00:18:03.040 When the Supreme Court 00:18:03.040 --> 00:18:04.580 is trying a difficult case, 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:06.480 they look to other legal decisions 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.180 and laws 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:08.880 to see what unites them 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:11.260 or norms them. 00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:12.760 They look for precedent. 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:15.420 They look to consensus 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.599 among legal decisions 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.579 and laws 00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:18.319 as an appeal 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.200 to an authority 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:19.960 that is greater 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.480 than themselves. 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.299 If you keep up 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.700 with Supreme Court decisions, 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.460 you'll hear much 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:26.119 of this language. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:27.859 Martin Luther, 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.819 during the Reformation, 00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:31.779 pulled in his legal training 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.480 when referring 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.440 to Scripture 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.920 as the norm 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:35.740 of norms 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:37.339 that cannot 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:38.759 be normed. 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:40.240 Stating, 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.779 it is the absolute 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.980 authority 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.920 because it is from 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.680 God himself. 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.359 Nothing else 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.819 can change 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:49.139 the meaning 00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:49.599 of the Scripture. 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.119 The text, 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.819 it stands 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:52.920 on its own. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:53.519 The norm 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.160 of norms 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:55.599 that cannot be normed 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:55.920 or, 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.059 in the Latin, 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.899 if you want to nerd 00:18:58.899 --> 00:19:00.079 with me for a moment, 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:02.059 norma normus 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.059 non normata, 00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:04.899 which is cooler to say. 00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:06.259 Norma normus 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:08.180 non normata. 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.759 All this to say, 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.759 we believe 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.759 in Sola Scriptura 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.680 and saying that 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.200 is to say 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:15.440 that we believe 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.319 that the Bible 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.619 is God's 00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:18.379 final 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:19.700 authority. 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:20.920 It is a 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:22.379 closed canon. 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:23.539 We're not looking 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.480 for extra 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.299 revelatory 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.299 information. 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.559 God has spoken 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:28.119 in 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:29.119 his 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:30.339 word. 00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.579 If somebody 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.240 says to me, 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.619 God told me, 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.799 I say, 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:35.779 book, 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:36.240 chapter, 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:36.819 and verse, 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.460 please. 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.920 How has God 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.460 told you? 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.480 from the text, 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:41.340 I would love 00:19:41.340 --> 00:19:41.840 to see it 00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:42.680 there. 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:44.180 Now, 00:19:44.340 --> 00:19:45.579 to say that 00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.160 Scripture is the 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:46.840 final authority 00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:48.200 is not to be 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:48.720 misunderstood, 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:49.519 that Scripture 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:51.059 is the only 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:52.319 authority. 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:53.279 The Bible 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:53.980 should not be 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:55.620 read alone. 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:56.779 Martin Luther 00:19:56.779 --> 00:19:57.340 once said, 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:57.940 the Scripture's 00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:59.019 authority is not 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.000 a naked 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.120 authority. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.180 So we have 00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:03.200 helps as we 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:03.700 open up 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.700 the text. 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.799 I'm glad for this. 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:06.359 I don't sit 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:07.059 in a cave 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.000 just with 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.519 the text. 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:09.259 We have 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:09.779 some helps 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.180 and some 00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:10.759 ways that 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.159 we can 00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:11.839 bring 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.720 understanding 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.740 and bearing 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:15.119 to the text. 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.419 We have 00:20:16.419 --> 00:20:17.599 church history. 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.700 We're making 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.500 a bit of an 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:19.980 appeal to that 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.279 today, 00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:20.619 aren't we? 00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:21.039 Not as an 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.279 ultimate 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:21.720 authority, 00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.139 but as 00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:23.940 an authority. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.279 What has 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.339 the church 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.019 believed 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.259 about this, 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.639 one doctrine 00:20:29.639 --> 00:20:30.379 or another? 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.720 If we find 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.299 ourselves coming 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:32.919 up with some 00:20:32.919 --> 00:20:33.799 novel idea 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:34.279 about the 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:34.619 Bible, 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:35.440 it may 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:35.940 be, 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.039 likely is, 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.059 dangerous. 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.359 Something new 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.619 to be discovered. 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:41.299 Hmm. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.740 If perhaps no 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.619 Christian in the 00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:44.079 history of the 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.759 church has 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.139 thought what 00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:45.639 you think 00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:46.819 could be a 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.819 problem for 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.420 your theology, 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:49.980 what has 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.859 time taught 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:51.279 us about 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.799 any given 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:54.019 doctrine? 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.980 And we see 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:56.579 helps from 00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:57.180 church history 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:57.740 in the form 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.759 of creeds, 00:20:59.139 --> 00:20:59.639 confessions, 00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.559 and catechisms. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:02.980 These tools 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.839 are a great 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.339 way to 00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.179 discover what 00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:05.819 the church 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:07.079 has believed 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:08.419 historically. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.500 We have 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.259 used here 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.459 the Apostles 00:21:12.459 --> 00:21:12.819 Creed. 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.299 That's 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.359 found embedded 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:16.039 in the 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.839 Heidelberg 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.619 Catechism. 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:18.379 The Heidelberg 00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:19.039 Catechism, 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.039 as we've been 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.959 reciting it 00:21:20.959 --> 00:21:21.439 together on 00:21:21.439 --> 00:21:21.980 Sunday mornings, 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:22.539 has been 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.319 explaining 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.720 the Apostles 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.079 Creed, 00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:25.759 what is meant 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.519 by that. 00:21:27.199 --> 00:21:27.579 And you 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.179 will note, 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:28.699 if you ever 00:21:28.699 --> 00:21:29.159 look at any 00:21:29.159 --> 00:21:29.399 of these 00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:29.980 confessions, 00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:30.599 at the 00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:31.179 footnoting 00:21:31.179 --> 00:21:31.500 that's right 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:31.799 there in 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.420 your bulletin 00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:33.180 for the 00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:33.619 Scripture 00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:34.740 reference, 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.099 right? 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.039 The Bible 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.799 being the 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.539 ultimate 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.799 authority, 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:39.240 right? 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:39.799 The Norma 00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.279 Normas 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.680 Non 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.740 Normata, 00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.160 right? 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.220 The confession 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.980 is not on the 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.680 same level 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.279 as the 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:45.579 Scripture, 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.180 but helps 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:46.559 us to 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.240 understand 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:47.740 what the 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.019 Scripture 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.160 teaches 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:50.480 on any 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:50.880 given 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:51.980 doctrine. 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.400 These are 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:53.759 helpful 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.559 things to 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:54.859 us. 00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:56.039 They ought 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.539 to be 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.500 taken up 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:57.900 and 00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:58.359 considered 00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:58.940 carefully 00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:00.180 as they 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:00.539 read the 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.079 text. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:02.680 Jeremiah 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.619 chapter 6 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:04.839 and verse 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.940 16, 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.720 there God 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.200 says, 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.220 stand by 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.980 the roads 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:09.839 and look 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.380 and ask 00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:11.859 for the 00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.400 ancient 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.039 paths 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.900 where the 00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:14.680 good way 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.400 is and 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:16.000 walk in 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.380 it and 00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:17.220 find rest 00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:18.420 for your 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:18.960 souls. 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:19.880 Isn't that 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:20.119 good? 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:20.839 Stand by 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.420 the roads 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:21.960 and look 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.559 and ask 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:22.859 for the 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:23.200 ancient 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.700 paths 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.460 where the 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.059 good way 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.740 is and 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.279 walk in 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:27.079 it and 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:27.960 find rest 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:29.119 for your 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:29.619 souls. 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:30.519 But then 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.019 God says 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.579 in Jeremiah 00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.619 chapter 6 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:33.059 and verse 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:33.859 16 of 00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.240 Israel, 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:34.679 but they 00:22:34.679 --> 00:22:35.119 said, 00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:35.919 we will 00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:36.960 not walk 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.319 in it. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.319 And I 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:38.740 pray that 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.199 we would 00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:39.759 be ones 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:40.220 who say 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.139 we will 00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:42.220 walk in 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:42.519 it, 00:22:42.679 --> 00:22:42.819 right, 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:43.439 the good 00:22:43.439 --> 00:22:44.899 way and 00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:46.199 find rest 00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:47.379 for our 00:22:47.379 --> 00:22:47.799 souls. 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.899 You also 00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.279 have, 00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:51.019 along with 00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:51.559 the Scripture 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.220 as a way 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.319 of reading 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:53.659 it and 00:22:53.659 --> 00:22:54.139 understanding 00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:54.339 it, 00:22:54.399 --> 00:22:55.099 the teaching 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.619 of your 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.839 leaders. 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:57.659 The author 00:22:57.659 --> 00:22:58.059 of Hebrews 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.539 says in 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.139 Hebrews 13 00:22:59.139 --> 00:22:59.419 and verse 00:22:59.419 --> 00:22:59.699 7, 00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.179 remember 00:23:00.179 --> 00:23:00.419 your 00:23:00.419 --> 00:23:00.879 leaders, 00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:02.039 those who 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.619 spoke to 00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:02.939 you the 00:23:02.939 --> 00:23:04.379 word of 00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:04.699 God, 00:23:05.199 --> 00:23:06.539 those who 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.539 worked to 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.119 faithfully 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:09.139 unpack the 00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:09.599 text for 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:09.839 you, 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.059 those who 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:11.899 are considering 00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:13.059 the culture 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.579 in which we 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.699 live and 00:23:14.699 --> 00:23:15.079 the needs 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.399 of our 00:23:15.399 --> 00:23:16.179 fellowship and 00:23:16.179 --> 00:23:16.980 are working 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:18.220 prayerfully to 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:18.819 get out ahead 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:19.899 of you and 00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.740 help equip you 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.519 for the days 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.799 in which we 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.119 live. 00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.519 So the 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:24.799 Scripture 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.719 alone is 00:23:25.719 --> 00:23:26.199 God's 00:23:26.199 --> 00:23:27.059 final 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:28.259 authority. 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.639 Paul says 00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:30.259 this to 00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:30.839 Timothy, 00:23:31.159 --> 00:23:31.799 you need 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.319 to continue 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.079 to preach 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:34.299 the word 00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:34.919 because people 00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:35.339 aren't going 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:35.679 to want to 00:23:35.679 --> 00:23:36.139 hear it, 00:23:36.459 --> 00:23:36.879 but keep 00:23:36.879 --> 00:23:37.479 doing it 00:23:37.479 --> 00:23:38.539 anyway. 00:23:38.679 --> 00:23:38.919 And as 00:23:38.919 --> 00:23:39.979 we'll see 00:23:39.979 --> 00:23:40.839 at the very 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.059 end of 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.719 chapter 3, 00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.159 it's because 00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:43.099 God is 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:44.219 himself its 00:23:44.219 --> 00:23:44.959 source and 00:23:44.959 --> 00:23:45.419 it is a 00:23:45.419 --> 00:23:46.019 sufficient 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:47.379 text. 00:23:47.380 --> 00:23:49.100 Second 00:23:49.100 --> 00:23:49.340 point, 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:49.720 the Scripture 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.300 alone is 00:23:50.300 --> 00:23:50.640 God's 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.080 final 00:23:51.080 --> 00:23:51.580 authority 00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.200 for 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:53.960 justification. 00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:55.460 If you're 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.200 unfamiliar with 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:56.780 this term, 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:57.340 it means 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:57.740 to be 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.680 declared 00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.940 righteous, 00:24:00.780 --> 00:24:01.160 holy, 00:24:01.540 --> 00:24:01.820 without 00:24:01.820 --> 00:24:02.760 wrong, 00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.060 with all 00:24:04.060 --> 00:24:04.640 the law 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:05.000 keeping 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.760 required of 00:24:05.760 --> 00:24:06.560 you before 00:24:06.560 --> 00:24:07.480 God. 00:24:07.540 --> 00:24:07.920 You can see 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.560 why we use 00:24:08.560 --> 00:24:08.880 the word 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.440 justification. 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.260 We're not 00:24:10.260 --> 00:24:10.620 trying to be 00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.060 churchy, 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:12.020 but it summarizes 00:24:12.020 --> 00:24:12.800 a big 00:24:12.800 --> 00:24:13.720 idea. 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:14.680 We will 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.260 all stand 00:24:15.260 --> 00:24:15.680 before the 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.120 judgment of 00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:16.880 God one 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.620 day. 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.580 We will 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:19.140 either be 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:19.620 sent to 00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:19.960 eternal 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:21.000 punishment as 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.660 a reprobate, 00:24:21.860 --> 00:24:22.820 or we 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:23.140 will be 00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:24.100 seen as 00:24:24.100 --> 00:24:25.220 justified, 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.120 as having 00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:27.680 all of our 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.800 sins expunged 00:24:28.800 --> 00:24:29.120 from our 00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:29.680 record and 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.580 being given 00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.640 righteousness 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:33.220 by Christ. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.380 And the 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:34.680 Scripture 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.720 alone is 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.240 God's 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.020 authority 00:24:37.020 --> 00:24:37.820 for 00:24:37.820 --> 00:24:38.400 justification. 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.900 We see 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.180 this in 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:40.860 verse 14 00:24:40.860 --> 00:24:41.920 and 15 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:43.100 of chapter 00:24:43.100 --> 00:24:43.580 3. 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.140 There's this 00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:45.940 exhortation 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.520 there to 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.139 Timothy to 00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:48.180 continue in 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.559 what he 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.139 had learned, 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.440 what he 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:49.720 had learned 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.900 from Paul 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.740 and how 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.259 as a 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.000 child he 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.660 was acquainted 00:24:53.660 --> 00:24:54.279 with the 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.440 writings by 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.099 his mother 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:56.799 and his 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.639 grandmother. 00:24:58.859 --> 00:24:59.039 And at 00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.759 the end of 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.980 verse 15, 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:01.980 Paul there 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:02.259 says, 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:02.660 which are 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.720 able to 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.279 make you 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:05.119 wise for 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:05.680 salvation 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.680 through faith 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:08.039 in Christ 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.900 Jesus. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.680 The Scripture 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.519 teaches us that 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.220 we are saved 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:12.859 by grace 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.299 alone, 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.539 through faith 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.039 alone, 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.139 in Jesus 00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:16.819 Christ 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.879 alone. 00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:18.940 And we 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.899 must hear 00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:21.379 this message. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:22.339 It must be 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:22.899 taken up and 00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:23.139 read. 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:23.819 It must be 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.759 proclaimed to 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.159 us. 00:25:25.659 --> 00:25:26.480 We must 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.700 hear the 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.460 good news 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:28.980 of the 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:30.599 word that 00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:30.899 we might 00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:32.200 be saved. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.819 I was 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:34.319 really grateful 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:34.779 for a bit 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.059 of an 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.379 anecdote. 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.460 Many years 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:36.899 ago I went 00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:37.599 together for 00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.019 the gospel 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:38.379 with some 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:38.680 men from 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:39.339 our church 00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:40.619 and a 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.000 man named 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.599 Ash Harris 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:41.939 who some 00:25:41.939 --> 00:25:42.259 of you 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.439 know was 00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:43.779 there with 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.019 us. 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:44.519 And at 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:44.980 the beginning 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.879 as a 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:46.759 curiosity, 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.439 most of 00:25:48.439 --> 00:25:48.720 the men 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.759 at this 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.139 conference 00:25:50.139 --> 00:25:51.199 are leaders 00:25:51.199 --> 00:25:51.699 in churches 00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:52.980 or seminary 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.519 students. 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:54.859 And they 00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:55.240 had us all 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.859 stand up 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.980 and then be 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.459 seated as 00:25:58.459 --> 00:25:59.579 questions were 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.000 asked about 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.619 how it was 00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.259 we heard 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.099 the gospel. 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.899 And I was 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:05.019 very encouraged 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.599 as a 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:07.359 pastor of, 00:26:07.939 --> 00:26:08.679 a father of 00:26:08.679 --> 00:26:08.919 children, 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.580 a pastor of 00:26:09.580 --> 00:26:10.019 a church 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.519 full of 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.380 children, 00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.180 that the 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.320 predominant 00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:14.100 group that 00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:14.560 sat, 00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.500 sat when 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.500 the question 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.980 was asked 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.500 if your 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.779 parents shared 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.360 the gospel 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:20.140 with you 00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:20.860 and you 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:21.220 came to 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.560 faith in 00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:22.100 Christ because 00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:22.539 of that 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.180 proclamation, 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:23.880 sit down. 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.240 And I mean 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.300 the stadium 00:26:25.300 --> 00:26:25.680 was like 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.840 kind of 00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:28.640 sitting. 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.480 A massive 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:31.019 number of 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.400 the people 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:32.000 in that 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:33.259 room came 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:33.720 to faith 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.120 because of 00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:35.160 the faithful 00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:35.680 preaching of 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.120 the gospel 00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:37.320 by their 00:26:37.320 --> 00:26:38.680 parents being 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.680 encouraged 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:40.140 parents. 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.120 But then I 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:41.660 was especially 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:43.000 encouraged as 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.039 Ash Harris did 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.980 not sit for 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.940 that or 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:47.000 many other 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:48.700 invitations to 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.140 sit and 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:49.840 finally he was 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.220 part of the 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.759 group of 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.080 like, 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.120 okay, 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.460 well any 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:52.920 other way I 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.320 can't think 00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:53.460 of, 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:53.940 go ahead and 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.420 sit down. 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.420 And so I 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:55.720 just leaned 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.060 over and 00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:56.220 said, 00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:56.480 Ash, 00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.400 when did 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.019 you first 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.900 hear the 00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.240 gospel? 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.259 And Ash 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.779 first heard 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.240 the gospel 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.660 when he 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:03.820 was deployed 00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:04.460 in Iraq 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:05.380 and had 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:05.860 been handed 00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.420 a New 00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:06.819 Testament 00:27:06.819 --> 00:27:07.660 by a 00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:08.059 military 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.539 chaplain 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.600 handing him 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.799 out and 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.340 Ash said, 00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:11.940 this seems 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:12.579 important and 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.019 stuck it in 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.480 his pocket. 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.779 And he'd 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.299 come back 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:15.920 from a 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.279 particular 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.140 mission that 00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:20.140 was rattling 00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:21.740 to him and 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.400 he sat in the 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:22.840 shade of a 00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.460 Humvee and 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.079 he opened up 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.500 the book of 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.140 John and 00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.559 began to 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.480 read about 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.400 the word 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.380 made flesh. 00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:29.799 And Ash 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.240 became a 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.079 Christian through 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.660 the reading 00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:33.340 of the text. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:33.860 So whether 00:27:33.860 --> 00:27:35.040 it's proclaimed 00:27:35.040 --> 00:27:35.560 from our 00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:36.960 mouths or 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.500 taken up 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.160 and read, 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.120 the scripture 00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:39.560 is what 00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:40.540 teaches us 00:27:40.540 --> 00:27:41.220 how it is 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:41.800 we come 00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:42.740 to faith 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:44.200 in Christ. 00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:46.040 Paul writes 00:27:46.040 --> 00:27:46.680 in Romans 10, 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.220 I'll look forward 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.840 to unpacking 00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:48.580 this in 00:27:48.580 --> 00:27:49.680 some time, 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:51.840 a year 00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:52.279 maybe. 00:27:52.580 --> 00:27:53.080 How then 00:27:53.080 --> 00:27:54.160 will they 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.860 call on him 00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:55.180 in whom 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.540 they have 00:27:55.540 --> 00:27:56.259 not believed? 00:27:56.860 --> 00:27:57.220 And how 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:57.540 are they to 00:27:57.540 --> 00:27:58.080 believe in 00:27:58.080 --> 00:27:58.700 whom they 00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.080 have never 00:27:59.080 --> 00:27:59.700 heard? 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:00.580 And how 00:28:00.580 --> 00:28:00.900 are they to 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:01.620 hear without 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.079 someone 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.839 preaching? 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.679 And how 00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:04.000 are they to 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:04.759 preach unless 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.139 they are 00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:05.599 sent? 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:06.519 As it is 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:06.719 written, 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.319 how beautiful 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:07.719 are the 00:28:07.719 --> 00:28:08.019 feet of 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.459 those who 00:28:08.459 --> 00:28:08.979 preach the 00:28:08.979 --> 00:28:10.279 good news. 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.339 But they 00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:11.759 have not all 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.139 obeyed the 00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:12.459 gospel, 00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:13.019 for Isaiah 00:28:13.019 --> 00:28:13.359 says, 00:28:13.479 --> 00:28:13.699 Lord, 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:14.019 who has 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.479 believed 00:28:14.479 --> 00:28:14.699 what he 00:28:14.699 --> 00:28:15.119 has heard 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.859 from us? 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.079 So faith 00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:18.139 comes from 00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:18.579 hearing, 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.739 and hearing 00:28:19.739 --> 00:28:20.639 through the 00:28:20.639 --> 00:28:22.159 word of 00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:22.639 Christ. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.639 Psalm 19, 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.579 verse 7 and 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:25.959 following, 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.359 the law of 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:27.939 the Lord is 00:28:27.939 --> 00:28:28.519 perfect, 00:28:28.719 --> 00:28:29.599 reviving the 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:29.979 soul. 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.159 The testimony 00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.680 of the Lord 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.220 is sure, 00:28:32.340 --> 00:28:33.300 making wise 00:28:33.300 --> 00:28:34.120 the simple. 00:28:35.040 --> 00:28:35.720 The precepts 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.100 of the Lord 00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:36.680 are right, 00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:37.779 rejoicing the 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.120 heart. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:38.820 The commandment 00:28:38.820 --> 00:28:39.220 of the Lord 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.779 is pure, 00:28:40.300 --> 00:28:41.340 enlightening the 00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:41.820 eyes. 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.200 The fear of 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:43.620 the Lord is 00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:43.980 clean, 00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:44.820 enduring forever. 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:46.000 The rules of 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.620 the Lord are 00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.700 true and 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.220 righteous 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.019 altogether. 00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:50.240 More to be 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.040 desired are 00:28:51.040 --> 00:28:51.620 they than 00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:52.100 gold, 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.420 even much 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:54.240 fine gold, 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.160 sweeter also 00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:56.080 than honey and 00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:57.500 drippings of 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.160 the honeycomb. 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.320 moreover, 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.000 by them 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.420 is your 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.279 servant warned, 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:01.880 and keeping 00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:03.040 them there 00:29:03.040 --> 00:29:04.259 is great 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.480 reward. 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.140 The Bible, 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:07.980 like sola 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.660 scriptura, 00:29:08.800 --> 00:29:09.180 the Bible 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:10.100 alone is 00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:10.700 God's 00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.800 authority 00:29:11.800 --> 00:29:12.740 for 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.220 justification. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:14.200 It is 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:14.840 the way 00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:15.300 in which 00:29:15.300 --> 00:29:15.880 we are 00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:16.880 made wise 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.940 for salvation 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:19.500 through faith 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.600 in Christ 00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.120 Jesus. 00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:22.500 Beloved, 00:29:22.560 --> 00:29:22.900 we should be 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.660 a people 00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.340 of the book 00:29:24.340 --> 00:29:25.360 for our 00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:25.820 sake, 00:29:26.300 --> 00:29:27.200 for the sake 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.700 of others. 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:29.920 Thirdly, 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.319 the scripture 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.759 alone is 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.100 God's 00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:31.819 final authority 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.279 for 00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:33.920 sanctification. 00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.539 Look at 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:36.080 verses 16 00:29:36.080 --> 00:29:37.799 and 17. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.140 For growing 00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:40.059 up in the 00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:40.319 faith, 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.100 having been 00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:41.819 justified, 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:42.980 how is it 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.279 that we 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:44.500 then pursue 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.299 holiness? 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.860 We're given 00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:47.740 the spirit 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.340 of Christ 00:29:48.340 --> 00:29:49.019 that we 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.319 might 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.400 understand, 00:29:51.340 --> 00:29:51.720 apply, 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:52.160 and be 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.680 empowered 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.620 to live 00:29:53.620 --> 00:29:54.460 the word 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.940 of Christ. 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.019 Christ. 00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:58.160 Here Paul 00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:58.580 writes, 00:29:58.860 --> 00:29:59.559 all scripture 00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:01.440 breathed out 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.100 by God, 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:03.900 exhaled 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:04.740 by God, 00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.000 he's the 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.660 very source 00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.120 of it, 00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.160 and it's 00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:07.720 profitable 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:09.000 for teaching, 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:09.660 reproof, 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.259 correction, 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.140 and training 00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:13.259 in righteousness, 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:15.019 in holiness, 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.259 in right 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.779 living, 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:17.860 in law 00:30:17.860 --> 00:30:18.960 keeping. 00:30:19.580 --> 00:30:20.000 It's 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.440 profitable 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:20.900 for these 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:21.120 things, 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:21.480 and it's 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:21.900 profitable 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:22.480 to the 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.220 extent, 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.279 he qualifies, 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.039 that the 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.400 man of 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:26.019 God may 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.140 be complete, 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:29.200 equipped for 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.980 every good 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:32.279 work. 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.980 Not some 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.500 good work. 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.360 We don't 00:30:35.360 --> 00:30:35.819 need extra 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.600 revelation to 00:30:36.600 --> 00:30:37.100 tell us 00:30:37.100 --> 00:30:38.039 those things. 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.259 For every 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.940 good work, 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.420 it's a 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.960 sufficient 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:43.860 guide for 00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:44.640 all 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.799 holiness. 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.200 Again, 00:30:48.620 --> 00:30:49.360 Martin 00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:49.640 Luther, 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:51.100 he said, 00:30:51.099 --> 00:30:51.500 a simple 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:51.919 layman 00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:52.439 armed 00:30:52.439 --> 00:30:52.759 with 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.119 scripture 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:53.419 is to 00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:53.559 be 00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.059 believed 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.319 above 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:54.500 a 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:54.839 pope 00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:55.539 or 00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:55.719 a 00:30:55.719 --> 00:30:56.179 council 00:30:56.179 --> 00:30:57.240 without 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.579 it. 00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.259 Scripture 00:30:59.259 --> 00:30:59.579 is 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.379 powerful, 00:31:01.459 --> 00:31:02.000 sharper 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.500 than any 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.500 two-edged 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:03.980 sword, 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:04.399 piercing 00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:04.899 to the 00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:05.279 joint 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:07.059 and the 00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.339 marrow. 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:07.919 It lays 00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:08.859 bare our 00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.519 hearts. 00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.179 It shows 00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:10.799 us where 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.319 we need 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:11.959 to repent 00:31:11.959 --> 00:31:13.019 and pray 00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:13.319 for the 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:13.919 grace to 00:31:13.919 --> 00:31:14.439 pursue 00:31:14.439 --> 00:31:15.099 holiness 00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.939 in Christ. 00:31:18.379 --> 00:31:19.000 So we 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.500 should want 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.019 to hear 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:20.240 it. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.140 We should 00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:21.599 want to 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.059 hear its 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:23.059 corrections. 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.039 It should 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:25.180 be sweet 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:25.859 to us 00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:26.700 to be 00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:27.359 shown our 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:28.019 sin that 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:28.440 we might 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.000 repent 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:30.380 and pursue 00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:31.500 Christ. 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.220 Psalm 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:33.980 119, 00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:34.839 verse 9 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.420 and following, 00:31:35.579 --> 00:31:35.960 how can a 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:36.480 young man 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.539 keep his 00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.200 way pure? 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.359 By 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.059 guarding it 00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:40.880 according to 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:41.480 your word. 00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:42.700 With my 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.480 whole heart 00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:44.079 I seek 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:44.279 you. 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:44.740 Let me 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.599 not wander 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.420 from your 00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.519 commandments. 00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:48.880 I have 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:49.420 stored up 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:49.779 your word 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.059 in my 00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.420 heart 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:51.299 that I 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:51.879 might not 00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:52.319 sin 00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:54.039 against you. 00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:56.619 So the 00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:57.079 word is 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.759 of great 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.420 importance 00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:59.879 and working 00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:00.519 through it 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.359 with care 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.539 matters 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:03.480 greatly. 00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:05.059 Coming 00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:05.559 back 00:32:05.559 --> 00:32:07.460 to what 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:08.740 may feel 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.119 like the 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:09.980 simple truth 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.359 of the 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:10.779 gospel. 00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:12.680 We say 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:12.940 to you 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.240 beloved, 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:13.839 especially 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.319 men, 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.139 the hill 00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:17.520 we need 00:32:17.520 --> 00:32:18.240 to die 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:18.580 on. 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:19.800 The 00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:20.400 justification 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:21.120 by grace 00:32:21.120 --> 00:32:21.500 alone, 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.480 through faith 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:22.880 alone, 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.140 in Christ 00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:24.480 alone. 00:32:25.560 --> 00:32:25.960 Everything 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.440 else 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.940 is subservient 00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.460 to this. 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:29.940 Things to 00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:30.560 discuss and 00:32:30.560 --> 00:32:30.960 consider, 00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:31.940 but not 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.800 the hill 00:32:32.800 --> 00:32:34.100 to die 00:32:34.100 --> 00:32:34.340 on. 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.400 I am 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:36.940 grateful that 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.240 when we 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:37.800 began meeting 00:32:37.800 --> 00:32:38.360 as a church 00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:39.080 almost 15 00:32:39.080 --> 00:32:39.600 years ago, 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.120 God had 00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:40.580 firmly 00:32:40.580 --> 00:32:41.660 concreted in 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:42.220 our hearts 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:42.860 the doctrine 00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:43.700 of the 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.180 sufficiency 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:45.540 of scripture. 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:47.220 I am so 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.880 glad that 00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:48.380 God had 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:49.400 exposed us 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:50.560 to the 00:32:50.560 --> 00:32:51.060 Reformation 00:32:51.060 --> 00:32:51.640 and to 00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:52.480 the Puritans, 00:32:52.840 --> 00:32:53.340 that we 00:32:53.340 --> 00:32:54.140 could cry 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.759 together as 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.500 young men 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:55.960 sola 00:32:55.960 --> 00:32:56.540 scriptura. 00:32:57.580 --> 00:32:58.240 I am 00:32:58.240 --> 00:32:58.640 grateful that 00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.440 God kindly 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:00.340 took us to 00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:00.900 the text 00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.460 and to 00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:02.100 faithful Christians 00:33:02.100 --> 00:33:02.840 of the past 00:33:02.840 --> 00:33:03.360 that took 00:33:03.360 --> 00:33:04.500 us to 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:04.980 the text. 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.420 I am 00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:06.860 grateful that 00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:07.380 our great 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.060 desire was 00:33:08.060 --> 00:33:08.420 to see 00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:08.820 Christ 00:33:08.820 --> 00:33:09.540 magnified 00:33:09.540 --> 00:33:09.940 through the 00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:10.380 teaching, 00:33:10.600 --> 00:33:11.240 understanding, 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.000 and living 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.160 of his 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:13.500 word. 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.039 I am 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.200 grateful that 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:16.660 God has 00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:17.700 gathered a 00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:18.299 people who 00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.839 desire the 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.120 same. 00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:21.859 I am 00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:22.400 grateful that 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:22.960 the pressure 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:23.779 I feel from 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:25.059 you is a 00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:26.240 pressure toward 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.440 faithfulness. 00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.480 I am so 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.319 glad for that. 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.039 I don't 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.940 stand up here 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.720 in opposition 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:33.400 to you as 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:33.920 I try to be 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:34.420 faithful with 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:34.859 the text. 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.420 I know you 00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:36.460 want faithfulness. 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:36.980 That's such 00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:37.599 an encouragement 00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:39.079 to me and I 00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:39.460 know to the 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:39.900 other men 00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:40.920 who preach 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.640 on Sundays. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.279 You just 00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:42.920 want us to 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.440 bring you 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:44.640 the text. 00:33:44.800 --> 00:33:45.200 Keep at 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:45.519 that. 00:33:45.800 --> 00:33:46.600 Pressure us 00:33:46.600 --> 00:33:47.340 in that 00:33:47.340 --> 00:33:48.220 way. 00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.580 I am 00:33:49.580 --> 00:33:50.100 grateful that 00:33:50.100 --> 00:33:50.340 you would 00:33:50.340 --> 00:33:51.320 take serious 00:33:51.320 --> 00:33:51.840 issue with 00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:52.920 me dressing 00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:53.620 up as a 00:33:53.620 --> 00:33:54.259 Disney character 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:55.180 on a Sunday 00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:55.539 morning. 00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.160 Ask me if 00:33:58.160 --> 00:33:58.480 you don't know 00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:58.759 what I'm 00:33:58.759 --> 00:33:59.400 talking about. 00:34:00.380 --> 00:34:01.120 Fire me 00:34:01.120 --> 00:34:01.740 the Sunday 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.200 that I do 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:02.420 it. 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.039 That's how 00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:05.440 you know I'm 00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:05.820 ready to be 00:34:05.820 --> 00:34:06.340 fired, right? 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:07.120 I show up. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:08.800 I show up as 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.100 a Disney 00:34:09.100 --> 00:34:09.480 character. 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:11.640 I am 00:34:11.640 --> 00:34:13.440 grateful that 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.220 next week you 00:34:14.220 --> 00:34:14.620 will gather 00:34:14.620 --> 00:34:15.539 once again and 00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.400 hear me Lord 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:17.340 willing proclaim 00:34:17.340 --> 00:34:18.240 the excellencies 00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:19.080 of a salvation 00:34:19.080 --> 00:34:20.560 that is told to 00:34:20.560 --> 00:34:21.100 us in the 00:34:21.100 --> 00:34:22.039 scripture alone 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:23.180 and that comes 00:34:23.180 --> 00:34:24.360 to us by 00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:25.080 grace alone 00:34:25.080 --> 00:34:25.700 through faith 00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.320 alone in 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:27.120 Jesus Christ 00:34:27.120 --> 00:34:28.240 alone to 00:34:28.240 --> 00:34:29.380 the glory of 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:31.260 God alone. 00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:34.120 so that was 00:34:34.120 --> 00:34:34.700 my introduction 00:34:34.700 --> 00:34:35.540 to Romans 00:34:35.540 --> 00:34:36.240 chapter 4 00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:37.440 verses 1 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:37.960 through 12. 00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:39.260 I hadn't 00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:39.880 quite written 00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:40.540 all that but 00:34:40.540 --> 00:34:40.940 I had written 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.340 a lot of 00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:41.900 it and so 00:34:41.900 --> 00:34:43.380 we'll pick 00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:44.020 up the text 00:34:44.020 --> 00:34:44.800 next week 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:45.760 Lord willing 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.200 but in 00:34:46.200 --> 00:34:47.580 closing let 00:34:47.580 --> 00:34:47.960 me read to 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.740 you a 00:34:48.740 --> 00:34:49.540 poem by 00:34:49.540 --> 00:34:49.780 Martin 00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:50.060 Luther. 00:34:51.640 --> 00:34:52.100 Feelings 00:34:52.100 --> 00:34:53.580 come and 00:34:53.580 --> 00:34:54.480 feelings go 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.640 and feelings 00:34:55.640 --> 00:34:56.960 are deceiving. 00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.740 My warrant 00:34:58.740 --> 00:34:59.360 is the word 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:00.260 of God not 00:35:00.260 --> 00:35:01.600 else is worth 00:35:01.600 --> 00:35:02.700 believing. 00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:04.440 Though all 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.120 my heart 00:35:05.120 --> 00:35:05.740 should feel 00:35:05.740 --> 00:35:06.620 condemned for 00:35:06.620 --> 00:35:07.760 want of some 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:08.720 sweet token 00:35:08.720 --> 00:35:10.320 there is one 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:11.520 greater than 00:35:11.520 --> 00:35:12.200 my heart 00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:13.460 whose word 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.460 cannot be 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:14.820 broken. 00:35:16.040 --> 00:35:17.200 I'll trust 00:35:17.200 --> 00:35:18.040 in God's 00:35:18.040 --> 00:35:18.700 unchanging 00:35:18.700 --> 00:35:19.540 word till 00:35:19.540 --> 00:35:20.560 soul and 00:35:20.560 --> 00:35:21.720 body sever 00:35:21.720 --> 00:35:23.280 for though 00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:24.220 all things 00:35:24.220 --> 00:35:24.920 shall pass 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:26.200 away his 00:35:26.200 --> 00:35:27.240 word shall 00:35:27.240 --> 00:35:28.760 stand forever. 00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:30.020 Let's pray 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:30.300 together. 00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:31.259 Let's pray 00:35:31.259 --> 00:35:30.340 together.