WEBVTT

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 Amen. Well, you can please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the book of Psalms.

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 The book of Psalms. If you did not bring a Bible with you, that's okay.

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 We have Bibles there in the seat back in front of you, and you're going to need one this morning.

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 We're going to be flipping to several different places, because as I mentioned, I was not here last week,

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 and so I'm preaching two Psalms this morning. I'm making up for lost time.

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 We're going to do Psalm 14 and also Psalm 53, and we'll see the reason why, Lord willing, as we begin.

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 But we're going to stand in honor of the reading of God's Word as I read Psalm chapter 14 this morning.

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 Let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word.

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 To the choir master of David, the fool says in his heart,

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 There is no God.

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 They are corrupt.

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 They do abominable deeds.

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 There is none who does good.

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 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand,

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 who seek after God.

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 They have all turned aside.

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 Together they have become corrupt.

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 There is none who does good.

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 Not even one.

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 Have they no knowledge?

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 All the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord.

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 There they are in great terror.

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 For God is with the generation of the righteous.

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 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.

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 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion.

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 When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice.

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 Let Israel be glad.

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 This is God's holy word.

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 Let's pray once more.

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 Lord, we thank you for your word.

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 Father, it is good.

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 It is true.

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 It is pure.

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 And it is necessary for us even when it hurts.

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 So we pray, Father, would you teach us this morning through your word.

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 We pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 You may be seated.

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 Well, several years ago I was playing basketball outside.

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 And I did what I had done a thousand times before.

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 I shifted my weight onto one leg.

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 And I went to jump off of that leg.

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 But instead of going up into the air, my leg gave out on me.

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 And I went down to the ground.

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 And I lay there for a minute, but eventually got up.

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 And I hobbled my way to the car.

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 And I drove home.

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 And I cleaned myself up.

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 And I tried to convince myself that things were not as bad as it seemed.

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 Maybe it's just a sprain.

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 Maybe it'll get better.

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 Well, a week or two went by.

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 And it still didn't get better.

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 The pain had gotten a little bit better.

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 But it still didn't feel quite right.

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 And I had to be careful how I moved, how I shifted.

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 Because if I shifted just the wrong way, the pain would come back.

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 And my leg would give out.

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 But even still, I'm stubborn.

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 So I refused.

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 And I continued to try and convince myself I'm fine.

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 Things will get better.

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 Things will improve.

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 It's not that bad.

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 Well, eventually a couple of months went by.

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 And Amanda, like a good wife does, gave me an ultimatum.

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 She said, if it's not better, by X day, you are going to go to the doctor.

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 And you're going to get this thing looked at.

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 So the day came.

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 Still, it was not any better.

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 And so reluctantly, I went to the doctor.

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 And he began to assess the damage.

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 He began to shift my leg back and forth.

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 He took my leg and my knee and shifted it all around.

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 And then he scheduled an X-ray, which I knew was a waste of time.

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 Because I knew there were no bones broken.

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 But that's the next step in the process.

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 So we did an X-ray.

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 And when we confirmed there were, in fact, no bones broken, we scheduled the MRI.

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 Which was to get a good look at what is going on inside of me.

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 So we did the MRI.

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 And eventually, once the doctor got his hands on the results, he called me back into the office to confirm what I had hoped was not the case.

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 Things were worse than I thought.

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 And they were worse than I had tried to pretend that they were.

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 I had torn my ACL in my good knee.

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 And now, now that I knew the truth of what was wrong with me, what was going on inside of me, now I would have to decide how we would go about fixing the problem.

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 Let me tell you something.

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 I did not enjoy that conversation.

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 Nobody enjoys conversations like this.

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 Nobody wants to hear what is wrong with us.

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 Nobody wants to hear that things are worse than you thought.

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 Or worse than maybe you're pretending that they are.

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 But sometimes, you come across a passage in God's Word that functions like a truthful doctor.

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 It tells us exactly what is going on with us.

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 That's exactly what Psalm 14 does.

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 Psalm chapter 14 is like an honest doctor with no bedside manner.

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 It is direct.

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 It is uncomfortable.

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 It is honest.

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 It is a straightforward diagnosis of a sickness, a condition that's going on not just in some people here and there, but in all people, in every single one of us.

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 And what's the condition?

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 The condition is that we are sinners.

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 That we have, all of us, rebelled against a holy God.

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 We have denied Him.

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 We have rejected Him.

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 We have become corrupt.

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 We are sick.

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 Nobody wants to have this conversation.

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 Because we think that we're better off than we are.

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 We try and convince ourselves that it's not so bad.

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 But then passages like this come along and they show us the obvious truth of the situation.

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 This is our diagnosis.

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 And we see it in three parts this morning.

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 Three parts.

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 Here we see the foolishness, the lawlessness, and the pervasiveness of rejecting God.

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 This will be our outline this morning.

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 If you're taking notes, we're going to see the foolishness, the lawlessness, and the pervasiveness of rejecting God.

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 And here's the payoff.

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 If you can stick with me through the bad news, okay?

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 And if you can stick with me through the uncomfortable bad news of our diagnosis,

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 I promise you we will get to some good news of how we can fix it at the end.

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 Okay?

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 The first, rejection of God is foolishness.

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 Rejection of God is foolishness.

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 Look there to verse 1.

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 He says,

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 The fool says in his heart,

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 There is no God.

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 David says,

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 Atheism is foolishness.

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 And that's a fairly bold claim, isn't it?

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 Because what it means is that many of our higher elites,

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 academic professors and scholars, scientists, politicians,

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 those who we might think would be the smartest and most elite among us,

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 actually, David says, if they deny God, actually they are fools.

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 Richard Dawkins,

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 Niels Bohr,

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 Alfred Nobel,

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 Sigmund Freud,

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 Carl Rogers,

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 Stephen Hawking,

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 some of the brightest, most intelligent,

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 most influential minds in human history,

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 according to David,

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 have been fools.

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 Why?

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 Because although they study his creation,

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 and although they live within his creation every day,

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 although they have studied it,

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 and in many ways understand it at a far deeper level than you and I probably ever will,

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 they completely miss the message.

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 Psalm 19 tells us that creation has a message.

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 Creation speaks a message.

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 Psalm 19 says,

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 The heavens declare the what?

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 The glory of God.

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 The skies above proclaim his handiwork.

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 Day to day pours out speech.

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 Night to night reveals knowledge.

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 There is no speech,

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 nor are there words,

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 whose voice is not heard.

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 Their voice goes out through all the earth,

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 and their words go to the end of the world.

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 In other words,

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 everyone has heard the voice of creation.

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 Every single person who lives underneath the sky

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 has enough evidence available to them day in and day out

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 to know for a fact that there is a God who made the world and everything in it.

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 If you live in creation,

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 you have evidence of the existence and the glory and the creative power of God.

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 So then the question becomes,

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 well then,

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 why don't all people acknowledge him?

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 Why is it that so many people deny this God?

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 If the evidence is so readily available,

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 why do so many brilliant people deny him?

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 Romans chapter 1 speaks to that question.

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 Romans chapter 1.

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 I want you to flip there with me,

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 because we're going to come back to Romans here in just a minute.

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 I want you to keep a finger there.

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 We're going to come back there again in just a minute.

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 But Romans chapter 1,

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 starting in verse 18,

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 Paul says,

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 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven

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 against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men

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 who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

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 Did you hear that?

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 It is not that they don't know the truth.

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 The heavens itself declares it.

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 That's what Psalm 19 told us.

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 But by their unrighteousness,

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 they suppress the truth.

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 They know that there's a God.

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 And Paul says they know that there's a God.

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 This is a shocking common knowledge

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 that exists within every person on the planet.

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 Paul says there's not a single person on the planet,

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 Christian, atheist, or otherwise,

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 who doesn't know deep down in their hearts

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 that there is a God.

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 They know it, but they suppress it.

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 It would be ignorance to not know the truth,

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 but it's foolishness to know the truth

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 and to suppress it.

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 Listen to this, verse 19 of Romans 1.

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 He says,

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 The fool says in his heart,

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 There is no God.

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 Atheism is foolishness.

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 But I want you to look and notice back in Psalm 14

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 where the fool says this.

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 Where does the fool say that there is no God?

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 It's not with his lips, is it?

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 In Psalm 14, he's not saying this out loud with his lips.

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 Where does he say it?

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 It's in his heart.

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 The fool says in his heart there is no God.

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 This type of atheism goes deeper than just verbal atheism.

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 This is a denying, a suppressing of the truth of God

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 within your own heart.

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 It's not just verbal atheism.

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 It's as the English Puritan, Stephen Sharnock, would call it.

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 He called it a practical atheism.

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 Do you realize you can claim all the right things with your lips?

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 You can acknowledge that there is a God with your lips

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 and yet deny him in your heart.

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 Do you realize this?

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 You cannot be a verbal atheist,

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 but you may be a practical atheist

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 if you know there's a God

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 and yet suppress the truth of his existence within your own heart.

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 What could possibly cause someone to do something so foolish?

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 What could possibly cause someone to suppress the truth of the existence of God

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 and pretend like he doesn't even exist?

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 The answer is our condition.

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 It's sin.

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 It's foolishness.

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 Sin does not behave rationally.

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 It is a sickness.

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 Our sin, what it does is it turns us away from God and his glory

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 and drives us instead to ourself.

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 And not only we don't want what God wants,

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 we want what we want.

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 We don't want God's fame.

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 We want our fame.

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 And it's so much easier to pursue the passions of our flesh

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 if we can convince ourselves that there is no God,

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 that we're not accountable to anyone.

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 This is foolishness, David says.

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 The fool says in his heart there is no God

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 and they are without excuse.

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 Not only this, but second.

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 Second, we see the result of this rejection.

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 Second, this rejection of God produces lawlessness.

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 Verse 1 says they are corrupt.

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 They do abominable deeds.

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 There is none who does good.

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 In verse 4, David, he just throws up his hands.

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 He says, have they no knowledge?

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 All the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread

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 and do not call upon the Lord,

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 don't they know better?

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 Why do they do the things that they do?

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 David can't wrap his mind around all the wicked behavior that he sees.

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 But look again and ask yourself,

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 what is at the root of their wicked behavior?

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 Why are they corrupt?

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 Why do they do abominable deeds?

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 It's because they have rejected the Lord.

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 Rejection of God is at the root,

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 is at the foundation of all lawlessness.

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 All wickedness at the very foundation

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 has at its root a rejection of God.

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 Again, Stephen Sharnock, he says,

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 all sin is founded in a secret atheism.

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 Atheism is the spirit of every sin.

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 Church, we have to remember this.

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 When we look around at our culture,

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 and we look around at our friends,

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 when we look around at our family members

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 who aren't believers,

00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.299
 and when we just toss up our hands

00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:07.419
 and we say, well, why are they acting this way?

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:10.000
 Don't they know better?

00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:12.720
 Why are they doing the things that they do?

00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:15.720
 We have to remember that external actions

00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:18.040
 are just the symptoms,

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:23.860
 but the sickness is actually a rejection of God.

00:15:25.060 --> 00:15:25.860
 David says,

00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:29.060
 this denial of God has produced in them

00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:30.639
 all sorts of corruption.

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:33.399
 They actively do abominable deeds,

00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.399
 and at the same time,

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:36.600
 they do not do what is good.

00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:39.560
 They actively pursue evil,

00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:42.120
 and they resist doing good.

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:46.460
 This rejection of God has flipped everything upside down,

00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:47.039
 and again,

00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:49.460
 that's what sin does, isn't it?

00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:54.519
 Sin is a foolish rejection of God

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:58.620
 that twists and distorts our desires

00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.960
 and our ambitions,

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:02.320
 so that we hate what is good,

00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.480
 and we love what is evil.

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:06.519
 So that we resist what is good,

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:08.980
 and we pursue what is abominable.

00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:11.920
 So that we reject God and His glory,

00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:15.080
 and we worship instead all sorts of false gods

00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.139
 of our own making.

00:16:16.300 --> 00:16:17.000
 And this is, again,

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.860
 exactly what Paul tells us in Romans chapter 1.

00:16:19.940 --> 00:16:21.940
 Hopefully you still have your finger there.

00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:22.820
 Romans 1.

00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:25.700
 And we'll pick right up where we left off.

00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.560
 Paul says,

00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:30.879
 Those who reject God are without excuse for,

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:31.599
 verse 21.

00:16:31.859 --> 00:16:32.539
 Listen to this.

00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:36.079
 For although they knew God,

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:39.079
 that is in a general, intellectual way,

00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:40.199
 they knew He was there.

00:16:40.599 --> 00:16:41.799
 Although they knew God,

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:43.679
 they did not honor Him as God,

00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.379
 or give thanks to Him.

00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:48.179
 But they became futile in their thinking,

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.399
 and their foolish hearts were darkened.

00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.419
 Claiming to be wise,

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.500
 they became fools,

00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:56.980
 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God

00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:59.360
 for images resembling mortal man,

00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.019
 and birds,

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:00.759
 and animals,

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.939
 and creeping things.

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:03.279
 Therefore,

00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:05.299
 God gave them up

00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.799
 in the lust of their hearts

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.579
 to impurity,

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.700
 to the dishonoring of their bodies

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.599
 among themselves.

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.079
 Why?

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.079
 Verse 25.

00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:15.039
 Because they exchanged the truth

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.920
 about God for a lie,

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:19.839
 and worshipped and served the creature

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:21.500
 rather than the Creator,

00:17:21.659 --> 00:17:22.700
 who is blessed forever.

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.059
 Amen.

00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:25.259
 Listen to this.

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.019
 Verse 26.

00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:30.339
 Their women exchanged natural relations

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:32.799
 for those that are contrary to nature.

00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.619
 And the men likewise gave up

00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:37.639
 natural relations with women,

00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:39.240
 and were consumed with passion

00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.180
 for one another.

00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:43.259
 Men committing shameless acts with men,

00:17:43.399 --> 00:17:44.839
 and receiving in themselves

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:47.000
 the due penalty for their error.

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.939
 Verse 29.

00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.959
 They were filled with all manner

00:17:50.959 --> 00:17:51.639
 of unrighteousness,

00:17:52.439 --> 00:17:52.859
 evil,

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:53.639
 covetousness,

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:54.759
 malice.

00:17:54.859 --> 00:17:56.119
 They are full of envy,

00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:56.679
 murder,

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:57.759
 strife,

00:17:57.939 --> 00:17:58.379
 deceit,

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.299
 maliciousness.

00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:00.639
 They are gossips,

00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.839
 slanderers,

00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:03.279
 haters of God,

00:18:03.439 --> 00:18:03.980
 insolent,

00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:04.480
 haughty,

00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.079
 boastful,

00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:06.179
 inventors of evil,

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:08.259
 disobedient to parents,

00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:09.359
 foolish,

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.459
 faithless,

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.439
 heartless,

00:18:11.879 --> 00:18:12.279
 ruthless.

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:15.200
 Though they know God's righteous decree

00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:17.039
 that those who practice such things

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.279
 deserve to die,

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.859
 they not only do them,

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:22.319
 but give approval to those who practice them.

00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:24.299
 Does this sound familiar to anybody else?

00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:31.599
 Romans chapter 1 reads like America's obituary.

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:35.879
 How in the world

00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:38.000
 could something written almost 2,000 years ago

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.579
 in a different country,

00:18:39.919 --> 00:18:40.919
 in a different place,

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.779
 in a different time

00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:43.419
 sound so familiar

00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:45.119
 and so true to our culture

00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:46.319
 right here and right now?

00:18:46.379 --> 00:18:46.980
 I'll tell you.

00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.799
 It rings true to us

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.539
 because

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:51.519
 this same sickness

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:53.959
 that existed in David's day,

00:18:54.439 --> 00:18:56.219
 that existed in Paul's day,

00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:58.000
 exists right here

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.899
 and right now

00:18:58.899 --> 00:18:59.899
 in our day.

00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.460
 What is it?

00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:01.620
 It's the sickness

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:03.380
 of sinful rejection

00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:04.460
 of God.

00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:05.920
 Do you see the root issue here?

00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:08.560
 At the root,

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.240
 at the foundation

00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:12.519
 of every sinful behavior

00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:14.300
 is denial

00:19:14.300 --> 00:19:15.300
 and rejection

00:19:15.300 --> 00:19:16.340
 of the glory

00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:17.140
 of God.

00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:19.680
 This rejection

00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:21.360
 is the root cause

00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:23.460
 of all sexual perversion.

00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:24.560
 We deny God

00:19:24.560 --> 00:19:25.240
 and we pursue

00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:25.920
 the desires

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.780
 of our own flesh.

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:29.299
 It's the foundation

00:19:29.299 --> 00:19:30.519
 of all greed

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:32.000
 and theft.

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.099
 We deny God

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.519
 and we worship money.

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.500
 It's the foundation

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:38.200
 of all covetousness.

00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:39.240
 We deny the worth

00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:39.899
 of God

00:19:39.899 --> 00:19:40.700
 and we deny

00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.579
 the satisfaction

00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.240
 that can be found

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:42.799
 in Him alone

00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:44.500
 so we crave more.

00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:45.720
 We crave satisfaction

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:47.099
 in some earthly good,

00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:48.259
 some bigger home,

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.039
 a better job,

00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:49.819
 a nicer car,

00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:50.700
 a dream vacation,

00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:51.759
 whatever it may be.

00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.779
 It's the foundation

00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.819
 of rebelliousness

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.619
 in children.

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.599
 We deny the structures

00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.579
 of order and authority

00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.519
 God has given us

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.679
 and we all want

00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:01.819
 to be God

00:20:01.819 --> 00:20:03.759
 of our own world.

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.480
 Denial of God

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.679
 is the foundation

00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:09.279
 of every evil pursuit.

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:10.879
 Are we in agreement?

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.899
 That's good.

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:19.099
 Because it's third point.

00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:22.000
 Before we point our finger

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:23.219
 out at everybody else

00:20:23.219 --> 00:20:24.319
 and shake our head

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.459
 at the sin in our culture

00:20:25.459 --> 00:20:27.079
 and in our world

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:28.500
 and the sin of our neighbor,

00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.240
 we have to realize

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.159
 point number three,

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.899
 rejection of God

00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.839
 is pervasive.

00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:35.079
 It's pervasive.

00:20:35.939 --> 00:20:36.799
 In other words,

00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:38.799
 it's not just a them problem.

00:20:38.919 --> 00:20:40.439
 It's a us problem.

00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:44.139
 It's not just an out there issue

00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:45.599
 where other people

00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:46.359
 are sinning

00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:47.219
 and we are not.

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:49.259
 This is an us problem.

00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.100
 Look there to verse two.

00:20:52.360 --> 00:20:53.240
 Verse two shifts

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:55.160
 to the Lord's perspective

00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.039
 on all of this.

00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:56.700
 Look what he says.

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:57.640
 It says,

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.279
 The Lord,

00:20:58.360 --> 00:20:59.460
 he looks down from heaven

00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:00.460
 on the children of man

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:01.400
 to see if there are

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:02.860
 any who understand.

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.440
 If there are any

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.839
 who seek after God.

00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.400
 And verse three

00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.299
 gives us the answer.

00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:09.779
 They have all turned aside.

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:12.400
 Together they have become corrupt.

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.720
 There is none

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.740
 who does good.

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.220
 Not even one.

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:16.740
 One.

00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.200
 Let me tell you

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.240
 how we tend to read this.

00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:23.200
 Our natural inclination

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.079
 is to read this

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.440
 and say,

00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:25.440
 Yeah, I agree.

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.819
 It is terrible out there.

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.299
 Right?

00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:29.240
 All those sinners

00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.160
 out there.

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.100
 Why can't they

00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:32.279
 get it all together?

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.620
 But look what it says again.

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:33.900
 It says,

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:35.059
 There is none

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.920
 who does good.

00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:38.200
 None understand.

00:21:38.380 --> 00:21:40.220
 No one seeks after God.

00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.539
 Not even one.

00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.759
 Not even me.

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:44.160
 Not even you.

00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:48.200
 This is a universal issue.

00:21:50.300 --> 00:21:51.400
 You and I

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.279
 and everyone else

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:54.560
 are all guilty

00:21:54.560 --> 00:21:55.840
 of making the same

00:21:55.840 --> 00:21:57.180
 foolish exchange.

00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:59.019
 We are guilty

00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:00.940
 of rejecting God.

00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:03.040
 It's our very nature

00:22:03.040 --> 00:22:03.940
 to do so.

00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:06.420
 All we like sheep

00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.440
 have gone astray.

00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.980
 We have turned

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:11.340
 everyone to his own way.

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:12.579
 And that is exactly

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.839
 Paul's point

00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:15.720
 in Romans chapter 3.

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.839
 Flip there back with me

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.919
 again one last time.

00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.379
 I've had us

00:22:18.379 --> 00:22:19.519
 looking at Romans

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.519
 because Paul has been

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.619
 building up

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:22.659
 to this point.

00:22:25.659 --> 00:22:26.799
 Paul quotes

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.819
 Psalm 14

00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:29.859
 in Romans chapter 3.

00:22:30.959 --> 00:22:31.959
 He spends all

00:22:31.959 --> 00:22:32.799
 of chapter 1

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.839
 illustrating

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.559
 the sinfulness

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.699
 of the nations,

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.779
 the Gentiles

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.539
 who have rejected God

00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:39.399
 and who have followed

00:22:39.399 --> 00:22:40.339
 their own passions,

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.000
 who have chased

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.819
 after idols.

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.680
 And he says,

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:42.839
 hey,

00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:43.960
 we all agree

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.599
 that the judgment

00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.259
 of God rightly

00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.000
 falls on people

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.859
 who does stuff

00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.180
 like that,

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.399
 right?

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.119
 We all agree

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.240
 that that's wrong

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.960
 and I just imagine

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.440
 all the Jews

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.279
 nodding their head.

00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:52.579
 Yep,

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.619
 I get it.

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.379
 Yes,

00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:54.899
 of course.

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.240
 How could they do that?

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.659
 They've rejected God.

00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.700
 The judgment of God

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.839
 rightly falls on them.

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.460
 They deserve

00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.500
 to be punished.

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:02.879
 And then Paul

00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.500
 turns the tables

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:03.839
 on them.

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.959
 And he says,

00:23:06.419 --> 00:23:06.679
 therefore,

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:09.980
 you have no excuses,

00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:10.519
 oh man.

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.859
 Every one of you

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.919
 who judges,

00:23:15.199 --> 00:23:16.500
 for in passing judgment

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.220
 on another,

00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.599
 you condemn yourself

00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:19.379
 because you,

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.000
 the judge,

00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.240
 practice the very

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.919
 same things

00:23:22.919 --> 00:23:24.839
 as it is written,

00:23:24.959 --> 00:23:25.519
 chapter 3,

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.139
 verse 10,

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.500
 as it is written,

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:29.319
 none is righteous,

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:29.919
 no,

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.480
 not one.

00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.419
 No one understands.

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:34.960
 No one seeks for God.

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:37.060
 All have turned aside.

00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:38.320
 Together,

00:23:38.560 --> 00:23:40.100
 they have become worthless.

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.800
 No one does good,

00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:44.240
 not even one.

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.600
 In other words,

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.120
 church,

00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:50.860
 this is our problem.

00:23:52.060 --> 00:23:53.039
 This problem

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.880
 is universal.

00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.880
 So he asks,

00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.539
 well what then?

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.620
 Are we Jews

00:23:57.620 --> 00:23:58.480
 any better off?

00:23:58.560 --> 00:23:58.680
 I mean,

00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.620
 surely we Jews

00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:00.380
 are better off,

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:00.640
 right?

00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:02.240
 Romans 3,

00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:02.920
 verse 9,

00:24:03.280 --> 00:24:03.620
 no,

00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:05.140
 not at all.

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.500
 You fill in the blank

00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:10.000
 however you like.

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.360
 Whatever you think

00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.340
 makes you superior

00:24:12.340 --> 00:24:13.259
 to anybody else,

00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:14.240
 you fill it in right there.

00:24:14.540 --> 00:24:15.060
 What then?

00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:15.880
 Are we Americans

00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.640
 any better off?

00:24:18.040 --> 00:24:19.040
 Any better off

00:24:19.040 --> 00:24:20.700
 than the Iraqis

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:22.060
 or the Russians?

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.480
 Are we any better off?

00:24:24.300 --> 00:24:24.680
 No,

00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:26.160
 not at all.

00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:28.500
 What about us Republicans?

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.380
 Are we better off,

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:29.560
 right?

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:29.859
 Surely,

00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.480
 than the Democrats,

00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:30.899
 right?

00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:32.859
 No,

00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:34.559
 not at all.

00:24:34.879 --> 00:24:35.339
 Democrats,

00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.039
 we're better off,

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.220
 right?

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.480
 We're better than the Republicans.

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:39.879
 Not at all.

00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:40.960
 Why not?

00:24:41.919 --> 00:24:42.619
 Because you,

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:42.879
 me,

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.740
 and everybody else

00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.879
 all have sinned

00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.559
 and fallen short

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.460
 of the glory of God,

00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.299
 every one of us.

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:50.639
 Our sin nature

00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:55.039
 is the great equalizer.

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:57.759
 we have to understand this,

00:24:58.139 --> 00:24:58.579
 church.

00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:01.059
 A rejection of God

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:03.240
 is a universal condition

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:04.960
 which ought to lead

00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:07.379
 to a complete demolition

00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:09.279
 of any streak of pride

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.039
 in our hearts.

00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:13.720
 We are all in the same boat here.

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:15.019
 We can't read this

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.519
 and place ourselves

00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.839
 in any group

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.519
 that we think

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.319
 is outside

00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:21.139
 of this natural condition.

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.779
 We are not exempt.

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:25.139
 We gotta wipe our hearts clean

00:25:25.139 --> 00:25:25.859
 of any idea

00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:27.019
 of superiority

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.819
 to anyone else.

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.240
 Why?

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:31.079
 We all share

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:31.920
 this same

00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:33.700
 natural condition.

00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:35.740
 Jew and Gentile alike,

00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:38.079
 Republican and Democrat alike,

00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:38.759
 black,

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.299
 white,

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:39.940
 Hispanic,

00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:41.019
 American citizen,

00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:41.500
 illegal,

00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:42.000
 alien,

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:42.500
 rich,

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.099
 poor,

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:43.900
 Auburn,

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.400
 Clemson,

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:44.980
 USC,

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.579
 University of Georgia.

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:51.400
 All of us are in this

00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:52.680
 same broad category

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.720
 of sinners.

00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:57.440
 That college too,

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.980
 whichever one

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.579
 you just mentioned

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:58.940
 right there.

00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.539
 I didn't hear what it was,

00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.259
 but you're included.

00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:06.039
 We have all turned aside.

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:07.920
 Together,

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:10.980
 we have become corrupt.

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:13.579
 This is all of our problem.

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:17.339
 We have to start thinking

00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:18.700
 in biblical terms.

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:21.000
 Understanding the world

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.240
 and everything in it,

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.259
 everyone else in it,

00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.420
 and ourselves as well

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:25.420
 in biblical terms.

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.160
 This is hard.

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.940
 It's hard to shake off

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.920
 all the other things

00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.820
 that try to determine

00:26:29.820 --> 00:26:30.920
 our identity

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.800
 and our worth

00:26:31.800 --> 00:26:32.920
 and to put us

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:34.200
 in buckets and categories.

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:35.720
 The Bible teaches us

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:37.720
 there are only two types

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.440
 of people.

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.700
 Only two types of people

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.300
 in the world.

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:43.700
 It's not us and them,

00:26:43.800 --> 00:26:44.700
 whatever your definition

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.860
 of us might be.

00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:47.460
 It is those who have been

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:49.220
 forgiven of their sin

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:51.080
 and those who remain in it.

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:54.699
 those who have been forgiven

00:26:54.699 --> 00:26:56.819
 of our rejection of God

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:58.039
 and those who continue

00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.879
 still to reject Him.

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:03.619
 Those who have been forgiven

00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:05.220
 of our natural rebellion

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.039
 against the Lord

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:07.319
 and those who continue

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:08.759
 to rebel.

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:10.960
 understanding these two categories

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.460
 of people

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:13.940
 is absolutely crucial

00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:15.660
 to understanding the Psalms

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.559
 and understanding

00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.480
 what's going on here

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.539
 in Psalm chapter 14.

00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:20.140
 We've seen it over and over

00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:21.859
 and over and over and over again

00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:23.420
 throughout the book of Psalms.

00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:25.680
 There are only two types of people.

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.759
 You remember what they are?

00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.519
 It's the righteous

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:29.339
 and the wicked.

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.879
 Look back there with me

00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:32.600
 to Psalm 14.

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.060
 And once you're there,

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.940
 put a finger there

00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:39.360
 and flip over to Psalm 53.

00:27:41.700 --> 00:27:43.140
 This is why I wanted to preach

00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:45.440
 two Psalms this morning.

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:48.680
 Psalm 14 and Psalm 53.

00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:50.200
 I want you to make your way

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:51.540
 to Psalm 53

00:27:51.540 --> 00:27:53.040
 and I want you to tell me

00:27:53.040 --> 00:27:53.900
 if this sounds familiar

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:54.580
 at all to you.

00:27:55.340 --> 00:27:56.120
 Psalm 53.

00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.920
 Psalm 53 goes like this.

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:02.140
 The fool says in his heart

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:03.039
 there is no God.

00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:05.160
 They are corrupt

00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:07.560
 doing abominable iniquity.

00:28:08.300 --> 00:28:10.140
 There is none who does good.

00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:12.660
 God looks down from heaven

00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.740
 on the children of man

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.820
 to see if there are any

00:28:14.820 --> 00:28:15.539
 who understand,

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.740
 who seek after God.

00:28:17.080 --> 00:28:18.620
 They have all fallen away

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:21.000
 and together they have become corrupt.

00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.960
 There is none who does good,

00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:24.600
 not even one.

00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:26.420
 Have those who work evil

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.160
 no knowledge,

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.700
 who eat up my people

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.560
 as they eat bread

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:31.259
 and do not call upon God.

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.940
 Stop there.

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:33.039
 Does that sound familiar

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.639
 to you yet?

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.859
 These two Psalms

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:38.839
 are almost identical.

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.440
 Why are we repeating

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.299
 the same thing?

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:43.039
 Why is David going back

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:45.119
 and saying the same thing

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:47.000
 in Psalm 14 and Psalm 53?

00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:47.879
 That's the question.

00:28:48.379 --> 00:28:49.940
 And the answer is found

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.759
 in the one verse

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.519
 that's different.

00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:55.379
 Psalm 53 and Psalm 14

00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:57.200
 verse 5.

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:59.200
 There's only one verse

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.660
 that's completely different.

00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:03.759
 Verse 5 of Psalm 53 says,

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.880
 There they are in great terror

00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:07.480
 where there is no terror.

00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:09.860
 For God scatters the bones

00:29:09.860 --> 00:29:11.640
 of him who encamps against you.

00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:13.600
 You put them to shame

00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:16.220
 for God has rejected them.

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:19.259
 But Psalm 14 verse 5,

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.500
 you flip back there,

00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:20.880
 it says,

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:22.799
 There they are in great terror

00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:24.600
 for God is with the generation

00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:25.379
 of the righteous.

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:27.119
 You would shame

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:28.079
 the plans of the poor,

00:29:28.179 --> 00:29:30.699
 but the Lord is his refuge.

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.619
 Do you see the difference?

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.519
 Stay with me here.

00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.019
 Do you see it?

00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:35.179
 Psalm 53

00:29:35.179 --> 00:29:37.539
 is God's response

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.599
 of judgment

00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.699
 on the wicked.

00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:41.299
 He says,

00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:42.719
 You have rejected me,

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.879
 I have rejected you.

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.639
 That's what our sins deserve.

00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:49.079
 We are at odds

00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:50.039
 with a holy God

00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.480
 and justice demands

00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:53.219
 that our sins be dealt with.

00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:54.100
 Psalm 53

00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:55.620
 is God's response

00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.299
 to the wicked.

00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:57.579
 But look at the focus

00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.420
 in Psalm 14.

00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.860
 Psalm 14 says,

00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:02.440
 You have rejected me,

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.279
 all have turned aside,

00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:07.440
 and I will be your refuge.

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.500
 You are guilty,

00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:11.600
 you are in the all here

00:30:11.600 --> 00:30:12.980
 who have become corrupt,

00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:15.299
 and yet I will shield you

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:17.039
 from what your sins deserve.

00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:18.299
 You have denied me,

00:30:18.600 --> 00:30:19.920
 I will call you righteous

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.880
 even though you're guilty.

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:23.240
 Two types of people.

00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:23.860
 You see it?

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:26.380
 Again, Psalm 53 says,

00:30:26.620 --> 00:30:27.300
 All have sinned,

00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:28.460
 the wicked will be judged.

00:30:28.780 --> 00:30:30.020
 Psalm 14 says,

00:30:30.100 --> 00:30:30.820
 All have sinned,

00:30:30.840 --> 00:30:32.120
 and God is with the righteous.

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.800
 How in the world

00:30:33.800 --> 00:30:35.220
 do we understand this?

00:30:37.300 --> 00:30:39.860
 The answer is found

00:30:39.860 --> 00:30:42.080
 only in the gospel

00:30:42.080 --> 00:30:43.560
 of Jesus Christ.

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.240
 Listen to this.

00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:46.759
 The difference between

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:48.359
 these two people,

00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.900
 the righteous

00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:51.200
 and the wicked,

00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:52.539
 is not whether or not

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.620
 you are guilty.

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.500
 We are all guilty.

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:58.259
 The answer is whether or not

00:30:58.259 --> 00:31:00.120
 you are in Christ.

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.700
 Listen to this.

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:06.819
 The gospel is the bad news

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:08.579
 that all of us

00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:10.359
 are guilty of rebelling

00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:11.279
 against God,

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:13.139
 but it is the unthinkably

00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:14.339
 good news

00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:15.259
 that God

00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.319
 pardons

00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:17.879
 guilty sinners

00:31:17.879 --> 00:31:19.519
 by punishing

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.519
 His own Son

00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.259
 in our place.

00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:23.519
 The gospel

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.599
 is the bad news

00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.420
 that yes,

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.160
 we are guilty,

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.039
 every one of us,

00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:28.059
 but it's the good news

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:29.339
 that Jesus Christ

00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.839
 came for the guilty.

00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.359
 It's the bad news

00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:34.460
 that we're sinners,

00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.799
 we are sick,

00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:37.059
 we share this condition,

00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:38.359
 we have all done

00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:39.379
 abominable deeds,

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.279
 we have rejected God,

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:42.579
 we have become corrupt,

00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:43.720
 but the good news

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.859
 is that Christ Jesus

00:31:44.859 --> 00:31:45.759
 came into the world

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.920
 to save sinners

00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:49.220
 of whom I am the foremost.

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.639
 The bad news,

00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:53.500
 this psalm describes

00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:54.819
 all of our fallen

00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:55.680
 sinful nature,

00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:56.680
 but the good news

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.500
 of the gospel,

00:31:57.960 --> 00:31:58.920
 Christ Jesus

00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.819
 came to give us

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.740
 a new nature.

00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.759
 The bad news

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.559
 is that our sins

00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.940
 deserve death,

00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.779
 but the good news

00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:08.019
 is Christ Jesus

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:09.759
 died for us,

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.500
 and more than that,

00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:12.039
 rose from the grave

00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:13.440
 and defeated death

00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:15.140
 so that any sinner

00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:17.440
 who turns from their sin

00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.279
 and puts their faith

00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:19.019
 in Christ

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:21.019
 can be made righteous

00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:24.119
 and live forever

00:32:24.119 --> 00:32:25.180
 in the sight of God.

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.200
 That's the gospel

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:28.319
 and it's our only hope.

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.519
 That is the cure

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:32.079
 for our condition.

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:34.619
 You know,

00:32:34.679 --> 00:32:37.159
 our natural response

00:32:37.159 --> 00:32:38.519
 to a text like this,

00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.460
 to Psalm 14

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.599
 or Psalm 53

00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:43.099
 is either to point the finger

00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:44.359
 out at other people

00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:45.919
 or to pretend like

00:32:45.919 --> 00:32:47.059
 it's not so bad.

00:32:47.179 --> 00:32:48.379
 And if you felt that tendency

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:49.179
 this morning to say,

00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:50.199
 I'm not that bad.

00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:52.679
 That doesn't describe me.

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:55.179
 Or if you read through this

00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:56.720
 and you thought of somebody else

00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:58.339
 and not of yourself,

00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.059
 you've missed it.

00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:02.179
 But if you hear this

00:33:02.179 --> 00:33:03.319
 and you are pricked

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:04.139
 to the heart

00:33:04.139 --> 00:33:04.899
 and you know

00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:06.139
 that you're sick

00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:06.679
 and you know

00:33:06.679 --> 00:33:07.419
 that you've sinned

00:33:07.419 --> 00:33:08.079
 against the Lord,

00:33:08.159 --> 00:33:09.940
 I have good news for you.

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.700
 Jesus says,

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.960
 those who are well

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.019
 have no need

00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:13.659
 of a physician

00:33:13.659 --> 00:33:14.359
 but those

00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:15.599
 who are sick.

00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.519
 I came not

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:18.819
 to call the righteous

00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:20.259
 those who think

00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:21.240
 they're doing alright,

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.960
 but I've come

00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:23.879
 to call sinners.

00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:26.280
 God's word

00:33:26.280 --> 00:33:28.380
 has shown us

00:33:28.380 --> 00:33:28.980
 this morning

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:30.460
 that we are broken.

00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:30.900
 Now,

00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:32.060
 you can choose

00:33:32.060 --> 00:33:32.480
 to pretend

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:32.960
 that it's better

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.740
 than it is

00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:35.640
 and you can try

00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.440
 to deny it

00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:37.500
 as long as you can.

00:33:37.580 --> 00:33:38.060
 You can walk

00:33:38.060 --> 00:33:38.720
 with a limp

00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.320
 or

00:33:39.320 --> 00:33:41.560
 you can cast yourself

00:33:41.560 --> 00:33:42.300
 totally,

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.780
 helplessly,

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:44.900
 completely,

00:33:45.460 --> 00:33:46.140
 confidently

00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:47.000
 into the arms

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.600
 of Jesus,

00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.620
 the great physician

00:33:49.620 --> 00:33:51.140
 who came

00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:51.760
 to take

00:33:51.760 --> 00:33:52.620
 your sin

00:33:52.620 --> 00:33:53.500
 away.

00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:54.940
 And to give

00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.260
 you

00:33:55.260 --> 00:33:57.020
 his righteousness.

00:33:59.040 --> 00:33:59.940
 Here's the point,

00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:00.460
 church.

00:34:00.560 --> 00:34:02.080
 This is the thought

00:34:02.080 --> 00:34:02.460
 that I want

00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:03.100
 to leave you with

00:34:03.100 --> 00:34:04.300
 as we leave

00:34:04.300 --> 00:34:04.880
 this place.

00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:06.940
 Our sinful condition

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:08.079
 is far worse

00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:08.519
 than we could

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.320
 possibly think.

00:34:10.140 --> 00:34:11.160
 But the grace

00:34:11.160 --> 00:34:11.640
 of God

00:34:11.640 --> 00:34:12.160
 towards us

00:34:12.160 --> 00:34:12.780
 in Christ

00:34:12.780 --> 00:34:14.640
 is far greater

00:34:14.640 --> 00:34:15.599
 than we could

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.480
 possibly imagine.

00:34:18.260 --> 00:34:19.180
 So what's our

00:34:19.180 --> 00:34:20.180
 response then

00:34:20.180 --> 00:34:20.820
 as we close?

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.360
 Two-fold.

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:22.960
 Two-fold.

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:25.200
 Pray for salvation

00:34:25.200 --> 00:34:27.400
 and rejoice

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.320
 in what God

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:28.800
 has done.

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.220
 This is how

00:34:29.220 --> 00:34:29.940
 David closes

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.599
 this psalm.

00:34:30.660 --> 00:34:31.220
 Psalm 14,

00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:31.820
 verse 7.

00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:33.300
 He says,

00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:33.720
 Oh,

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.680
 that salvation

00:34:34.680 --> 00:34:35.619
 for Israel

00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:36.240
 would come

00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:37.079
 out of Zion.

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.800
 When the Lord

00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:40.059
 restores the fortunes

00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:40.700
 of His people,

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:42.619
 let Jacob rejoice.

00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:43.940
 Let Israel

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.840
 be glad.

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.700
 Pray for salvation.

00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:47.699
 if you have

00:34:47.699 --> 00:34:48.579
 experienced

00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:49.379
 the saving

00:34:49.379 --> 00:34:50.960
 grace of God.

00:34:51.419 --> 00:34:52.000
 Pray,

00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:52.960
 pray,

00:34:53.799 --> 00:34:54.319
 pray,

00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.179
 and pray

00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:55.839
 some more

00:34:55.839 --> 00:34:56.679
 that the Lord

00:34:56.679 --> 00:34:57.599
 would extend

00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.559
 that same

00:34:58.559 --> 00:34:59.739
 saving grace

00:34:59.739 --> 00:35:00.619
 to others

00:35:00.619 --> 00:35:01.339
 around you.

00:35:02.339 --> 00:35:03.319
 How do we

00:35:03.319 --> 00:35:04.139
 expect to see

00:35:04.139 --> 00:35:04.879
 the Lord reach

00:35:04.879 --> 00:35:05.519
 this community

00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:06.299
 of all and all?

00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:08.059
 We desire to see

00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.000
 the Lord save

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:09.799
 many in this

00:35:09.799 --> 00:35:10.079
 community,

00:35:10.219 --> 00:35:10.539
 don't we?

00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.419
 The way He's

00:35:12.419 --> 00:35:13.079
 going to do it

00:35:13.079 --> 00:35:13.460
 is through

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.619
 your prayers

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.099
 and through

00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:17.119
 faithful evangelism.

00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.019
 Pray

00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:20.059
 that the Lord

00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:20.920
 would save,

00:35:21.619 --> 00:35:21.900
 forgive,

00:35:22.279 --> 00:35:22.739
 and convert

00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.319
 even the most

00:35:23.319 --> 00:35:23.920
 unlikely,

00:35:24.059 --> 00:35:24.779
 most rebellious

00:35:24.779 --> 00:35:25.599
 sinner you know.

00:35:26.859 --> 00:35:27.500
 And pray for

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.579
 salvation and pray

00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:29.559
 for the coming

00:35:29.559 --> 00:35:30.279
 day when the Lord

00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:31.079
 will return and

00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:32.179
 bring final and

00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:33.179
 total salvation

00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:33.880
 for all of His

00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:34.219
 people.

00:35:34.599 --> 00:35:35.420
 Not only this,

00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.099
 if you have

00:35:37.099 --> 00:35:38.079
 received the

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:39.239
 grace of God,

00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:41.259
 rejoice in what

00:35:41.259 --> 00:35:42.559
 God has done.

00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:45.619
 rejoice and be

00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:45.960
 glad.

00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:46.980
 Christians of

00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:48.219
 all people

00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:49.579
 ought to be

00:35:49.579 --> 00:35:51.420
 full of joy

00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:53.699
 and gladness.

00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.039
 We of all

00:35:55.039 --> 00:35:55.559
 people ought to

00:35:55.559 --> 00:35:57.159
 be rejoicing.

00:35:57.320 --> 00:35:57.519
 Why?

00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:58.420
 Because we

00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.739
 have received

00:35:59.739 --> 00:36:00.539
 an eternal

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:01.679
 inheritance that

00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.539
 none of us

00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:02.960
 deserve.

00:36:04.259 --> 00:36:05.059
 We've been

00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.980
 healed by the

00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:06.860
 grace of God

00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:07.500
 through the

00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.799
 gospel of

00:36:08.799 --> 00:36:09.579
 Jesus Christ.

00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.079
 Let's pray.

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:10.779
 Lord,

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:15.280
 Father,

00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:16.560
 we confess we

00:36:16.560 --> 00:36:17.640
 have sinned and

00:36:17.640 --> 00:36:18.380
 fallen short of

00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:18.920
 your glory.

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:20.120
 There's not a

00:36:20.120 --> 00:36:21.260
 person in this

00:36:21.260 --> 00:36:21.960
 room who can

00:36:21.960 --> 00:36:22.980
 claim that we've

00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:24.060
 lived perfectly as

00:36:24.060 --> 00:36:24.780
 you desire.

00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:27.360
 Father,

00:36:27.580 --> 00:36:28.640
 we praise you

00:36:28.640 --> 00:36:29.540
 that you sent

00:36:29.540 --> 00:36:31.060
 Christ to live

00:36:31.060 --> 00:36:31.960
 in our place as

00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:32.460
 we should have

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.660
 lived, to die in

00:36:33.660 --> 00:36:34.460
 our place as we

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.400
 deserve to die,

00:36:35.540 --> 00:36:36.780
 and to rise from

00:36:36.780 --> 00:36:37.660
 the grave that we

00:36:37.660 --> 00:36:38.980
 might have certain

00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:39.960
 hope of eternal

00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:40.540
 life through

00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:41.880
 faith in him

00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:42.259
 alone.

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.139
 God, we pray if

00:36:44.139 --> 00:36:44.539
 there are any

00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:45.400
 here who do

00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:46.519
 not know you,

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:47.779
 Lord, would you

00:36:47.779 --> 00:36:48.579
 give them the

00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:49.340
 gift of salvation

00:36:49.340 --> 00:36:49.940
 this morning?

00:36:51.179 --> 00:36:52.219
 God, we pray

00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:53.440
 for salvation,

00:36:53.820 --> 00:36:54.639
 and we pray that

00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:55.320
 we would rejoice

00:36:55.320 --> 00:36:55.900
 in what you've

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:56.099
 done.

00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.739
 We ask this in

00:36:56.739 --> 00:36:57.300
 Jesus' name.

00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:58.759
 Amen.

00:36:58.759 --> 00:36:58.920
 Amen.

00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:11.760
 Do just

00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:13.500
 let you

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:16.000
 более

00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:16.599
 song

00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:17.980
 Jesus' name