WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.700 Thank you to the young people for that awesome sermon. 00:00:07.219 --> 00:00:10.439 I don't have to preach a whole lot because you guys already did a bunch. 00:00:10.660 --> 00:00:12.320 ! So that was great. Thank you for that. 00:00:13.040 --> 00:00:16.260 I feel like between y'all and Jared, we pretty much went to camp with you. 00:00:16.339 --> 00:00:17.160 That was pretty cool. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:20.120 Turn in your Bibles, if you would, to Romans chapter 7. 00:00:20.240 --> 00:00:22.080 We have been in our study of Romans, 00:00:22.740 --> 00:00:25.760 but I need to pause for a minute and talk about referees. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:31.260 Because, look, they're a problem, okay? 00:00:31.460 --> 00:00:34.380 And I know we have referees in the room with us right now. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:39.920 Matt Murphy has the ability to mute my microphone right now, and he's a referee. 00:00:40.700 --> 00:00:41.640 Billy Carlton. 00:00:42.299 --> 00:00:44.520 Who else has done officiating in game? 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:46.400 Yep, Al Benzing. There you go. 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:49.600 Wade. What do you officiate, Wade? 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:53.140 Kindergarten football, yeah. 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:54.620 That's about your speed. 00:00:54.619 --> 00:00:57.239 I mean, that's about your speed. 00:00:57.399 --> 00:00:58.219 No, look. 00:01:01.419 --> 00:01:06.319 Officiating referees, they're an essential part of sporting activity. 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:12.780 But when the game becomes about them, it's a problem, all right? 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:16.539 How many of you have watched a sporting event, either live or online? 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:21.879 We don't need to talk about the last playoffs that the Henrietta Bearcats went to. 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:23.219 And, yeah. 00:01:23.459 --> 00:01:25.640 I mean, that whole thing made national news. 00:01:25.780 --> 00:01:32.000 Anyway, fortunately, some referees lost their jobs over that, which, you know, look, they brought it on themselves. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:32.420 All right. 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:33.859 Here's the deal. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:44.439 When you start making it about you and you're kind of inserting yourself into the game and just calling every little thing that you could possibly call, it's like, look, this ain't fun for anybody, okay? 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:46.140 Let them play a little bit, right? 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:48.679 Have you ever yelled at the television, let them play? 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:51.739 Now, that's usually when they're calling it on your team. 00:01:51.859 --> 00:01:55.039 When they're not calling it for your team, it's like, why didn't you call that? 00:01:55.040 --> 00:02:06.280 The whistle on the field, it might be technically correct according to the rule book, but it can often make the whole experience miserable for everyone. 00:02:07.420 --> 00:02:14.920 Have you ever felt like your spiritual life is being officiated by an overzealous referee? 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:33.359 Every single time you take a step, a whistle blows in your conscience or somebody calls attention to the fact you didn't pray long enough today, you didn't read enough chapters of the Bible, you had a bad thought, you were selfish, you missed an opportunity. 00:02:34.899 --> 00:02:39.419 It's like every time you turn around, you're breaking a rule. 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:43.299 It's exhausting to live that way. 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:54.100 It's exhausting to live walking through eggshells, running on empty, waiting for the next flag to be thrown on your life. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:58.700 Over the last two weeks, we went through Romans chapter 8. 00:02:58.820 --> 00:03:06.100 We started several weeks ago at the end of Paul's letter to the Romans, and we're working our way from back to front just to be different this time. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:08.340 We went through Romans 8. 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:14.200 We rejoice together with Paul that there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:24.159 But today we're going into Romans chapter 7, and Paul shows us exactly how Jesus got that referee off our backs, so to speak. 00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:27.360 Got him to swallow his whistle, if you know what that means. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:34.500 It all comes down to the legal reality we're going to call the death clause. 00:03:35.160 --> 00:03:36.320 Can you all say that with me? 00:03:36.680 --> 00:03:38.080 The death clause. 00:03:38.460 --> 00:03:41.100 In case you missed it, it was the death clause. 00:03:41.200 --> 00:03:41.700 There you go. 00:03:41.699 --> 00:03:48.839 Paul's message to us today from Romans 7 is a life-giving message. 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:55.419 You have been completely released from the weight of the old contract that you were bound by. 00:03:55.979 --> 00:04:03.639 You have been released and now belong to a living Savior instead. 00:04:03.919 --> 00:04:05.719 Romans chapter 7. 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:08.340 We're going to read the first six verses. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:13.520 If you're there, would you mind standing with me just for this initial reading of the Scriptures? 00:04:14.020 --> 00:04:15.599 Romans 7, verse 1. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:19.399 We've been in Romans for several weeks in our study, When in Romans. 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:25.759 We're going to pick this up in Romans chapter 7 and verse 1. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:35.000 Now, dear brothers and sisters, you who are familiar with the law, don't you know that the law, the rule book, applies only while a person is living? 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:39.060 Well, yeah, it doesn't apply to dead people, right? 00:04:39.819 --> 00:04:40.379 Verse 2. 00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:46.079 For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:52.120 But if he dies, till death do us part, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. 00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:57.240 So while her husband's alive, she would be committing adultery if she went and married another man. 00:04:58.259 --> 00:05:04.560 But if her husband dies, she's free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:05.680 Verse 4. 00:05:05.840 --> 00:05:08.920 So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point. 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:11.600 I always love it when the Bible—just look up here for a second. 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:14.319 Don't you love it when the Bible actually says this is the point? 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:19.720 Sometimes we're trying to figure out the point, and Paul actually is nice enough to say, here's the point. 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:26.240 You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. 00:05:27.140 --> 00:05:31.320 And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:36.000 As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:40.480 When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us. 00:05:41.380 --> 00:05:43.180 Man, the young people just talked about this. 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:51.220 And the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in a different kind of death. 00:05:52.019 --> 00:05:59.120 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it, and are no longer captive to the law's power. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:01.300 Now we can serve God. 00:06:01.860 --> 00:06:07.000 Not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:12.240 God, eliminate our minds from your word, by your Spirit, that we can understand what Paul was writing. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:13.759 Shine your light in. 00:06:14.379 --> 00:06:16.060 We can see the liberty we have in you. 00:06:16.139 --> 00:06:17.220 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:06:17.339 --> 00:06:17.560 Amen. 00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:18.240 You can be seated. 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:19.019 Thanks for standing. 00:06:19.980 --> 00:06:27.360 Point number one in the death clause is escaping the old relationship. 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:32.120 Paul talks about that, especially these first three verses that we just read. 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:39.639 So number one, when we study this death clause that Paul's using as an illustration to describe our freedom from the law, 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:42.160 is escaping the old relationship. 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:47.759 Paul begins in verses 1 through 3 by referring to a legal principle that everybody understands. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:51.920 If you've got half a brain, you understand, even with just that half, 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:58.000 that marital contracts are only good if one of, or both parties are alive. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:02.959 If one of them dies, everybody says it when they get married, till death do us part, right? 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:08.899 Then that covenant is no longer binding if one of the spouses dies. 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:18.480 If a spouse walks away in these days, these ancient days, with both parties still alive, 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:20.819 then that marital contract is still binding. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:25.639 The legal obligation remains. 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:29.620 But when death enters the picture, everything changes. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:34.240 This is why we're calling this the death clause. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:40.459 Because the moment death occurs, all previous agreements are null and void. 00:07:43.039 --> 00:07:44.279 Contract is over. 00:07:44.979 --> 00:07:46.719 You're under no more obligation. 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:51.899 The surviving party is entirely legally free. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.019 So why is Paul talking about this? 00:07:55.019 --> 00:08:03.419 Because he wants us to understand what our relationship to God looked like before we met Jesus. 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:11.759 Before Christ, our primary obligation was to sin and death because of the law. 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:18.680 God put his law down, said this is the rule book you have to live by. 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:24.699 If you break this law, you are under obligation to your owner. 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:27.620 We were owned by sin and death. 00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:31.980 Belong to the powers of darkness. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:36.779 Until Christ, by his death and resurrection, set us free. 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:39.580 So, let's be clear. 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:41.820 God's law was not the problem. 00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:44.560 Our sin was the problem. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:47.559 The fact that we were in bondage to sin was the problem. 00:08:47.819 --> 00:08:49.500 We could never abide by the law. 00:08:49.599 --> 00:08:50.659 God's law was perfect. 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:53.719 But we couldn't abide by it. 00:08:54.079 --> 00:08:54.899 It was holy. 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:55.819 It was right. 00:08:56.519 --> 00:08:59.599 But the law was an incredibly demanding partner. 00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:02.239 An incredibly demanding spouse. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:05.739 You think your spouse gives you problems. 00:09:05.959 --> 00:09:07.439 That's nothing compared to the law. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.420 The law of God. 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:12.260 Make your life miserable. 00:09:12.880 --> 00:09:14.740 Because you can't ever live up to it. 00:09:14.920 --> 00:09:16.740 You can't ever live up to the standard. 00:09:17.140 --> 00:09:18.920 That's why we read in Romans chapter 3. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:20.100 We'll get to in a few weeks. 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:25.960 The wages of sin is death. 00:09:26.640 --> 00:09:28.100 All have sinned. 00:09:28.220 --> 00:09:30.840 All have come short of the glory of God. 00:09:31.540 --> 00:09:33.560 None of us live up to that standard. 00:09:33.660 --> 00:09:35.420 We've all fallen short of it. 00:09:35.419 --> 00:09:35.919 We've all fallen short of it. 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:41.099 So, the referee standing there with his whistle in his mouth, 00:09:41.199 --> 00:09:45.240 getting ready to throw the flag every time you break God's law. 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:48.319 And we break it constantly. 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:53.500 If not by our actions, then by our words. 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:56.159 If not by our words, then by our thoughts. 00:09:57.379 --> 00:10:00.259 If not even by our thoughts, then by our instincts. 00:10:01.439 --> 00:10:04.279 We're constantly going against God's law. 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:06.579 We're constantly going the wrong way. 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:09.439 None of us can ever live up to that. 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:11.500 We always fall short. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:14.459 So, the referee is standing there saying, 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.179 do this perfectly. 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:18.120 You've got to abide by the rules of the game. 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:22.299 You've got to follow the rules perfectly, and you'll live. 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:25.399 But if you fail in any tiny area, I'm throwing the flag. 00:10:25.939 --> 00:10:27.319 You break the contract. 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:31.300 Paul wrote in Galatians chapter 3 and verse 10, 00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:35.900 all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse. 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:38.320 You're cursed. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:39.780 I'm cursed. 00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:43.200 Until Jesus breaks the curse. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:46.379 Cursed is everyone, it was written, 00:10:46.740 --> 00:10:50.940 who does not continue to do everything written in the book of the law. 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:52.800 You've got to do it all. 00:10:53.800 --> 00:10:55.960 Say, man, I'm about 90% there. 00:10:57.060 --> 00:10:58.880 There's about 10% of it I struggle with, 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:00.280 but I'm about 90% there. 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:02.600 You might as well be 90% wrong. 00:11:03.180 --> 00:11:05.700 Because if you break it in one tiny area, 00:11:05.820 --> 00:11:07.240 you've broken it all. 00:11:07.380 --> 00:11:10.920 That's the bad news that Jesus had to drop on a Pharisee one time 00:11:10.920 --> 00:11:12.400 who said, I've kept it all. 00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:13.200 He said, no, you haven't. 00:11:13.900 --> 00:11:15.500 If you fail in the smallest area, 00:11:16.140 --> 00:11:17.180 you've failed in all of it. 00:11:17.179 --> 00:11:24.519 So, there is a way to escape the old relationship. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.739 Because you need an escape. 00:11:27.339 --> 00:11:28.419 Nobody can live that way. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:30.099 It's oppressive. 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:31.099 It's miserable. 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:37.259 And that's the religion that Jesus came down to free us from. 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:43.099 Bondage to sin because we can't keep the law. 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:46.539 The only way we could be free was to be perfect. 00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:49.299 None of us can achieve that. 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:54.019 So, Jesus had another way to free us. 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:57.659 Under human power, there was no way out of our contract. 00:11:57.779 --> 00:12:01.500 It held authority over us unless a death clause was triggered. 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:03.620 We would have to die. 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:09.600 Well, Jesus came down and said, how about I die in your place? 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:12.899 How about I die for you? 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:17.679 And that leads us to number two, the radical release of the cross. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:20.679 This is what the cross meant. 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:23.879 Everybody knew when they came in here this morning that Jesus died on the cross. 00:12:24.079 --> 00:12:29.279 We could have taken a poll, and I'm confident we would have gotten 100 out of 100 responses that say, 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:32.439 Yes, I know that Jesus died on the cross. 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:37.880 And I bet you just about every one of them, if not every one of them, would say, I believe he rose from the dead. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:43.460 So, I think the vast majority of you this morning are in agreement on these things. 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:47.639 And if you're not, I'd love to have a conversation with you and talk about why we believe this. 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:50.939 But this is what it was about. 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:54.419 The reason was we needed a death clause. 00:12:55.220 --> 00:13:03.360 We needed to be freed from the legal obligation we were under because we couldn't fulfill our end of the deal. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.759 We couldn't live according to the law. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:08.120 We constantly broke the rules. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:10.240 But look at verse 4. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:12.980 So, my dear brothers and sisters, Romans 7. 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.159 This is the point. 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:19.500 You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:21.339 Listen to what he's not saying. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.459 He's not saying the law died. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:27.199 He's not saying God came down and said, Ah, forget the rule book. 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:27.899 Throw it out. 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:30.779 It's not really that important after all. 00:13:31.719 --> 00:13:33.439 No, that didn't change. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:35.559 Jesus died. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:39.779 And when you place your faith in him, 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:42.759 when you say, I choose to follow Jesus, 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:46.519 then he's inviting you to die with him. 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:49.679 He's saying, good, then you're going to die. 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:53.500 If you want to follow me, it's the path leading to death. 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:57.100 I think it was two years ago or so that I brought the big wooden cross. 00:13:57.240 --> 00:13:58.379 Y'all, you've been around here a while. 00:13:58.460 --> 00:13:59.899 You know that big wooden cross talking about. 00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:02.439 How many of you remember when I had that big wooden cross up here? 00:14:02.440 --> 00:14:05.420 You're about to tear up my jacket that I was wearing. 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:06.840 That big old rough cross. 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:10.100 And it was heavier than I anticipated it would be. 00:14:10.660 --> 00:14:14.720 But I was talking about how when Jesus calls us to follow him, 00:14:14.780 --> 00:14:17.800 he says, pick up your cross and die daily. 00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:21.440 You don't win a lot of followers when you're saying, 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.440 Hey, come with me. 00:14:22.540 --> 00:14:23.720 We're going to die together. 00:14:24.760 --> 00:14:27.080 Not a whole lot of people want to come with you at that point, right? 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:35.320 But when you're talking to a bunch of people that are trapped in a toxic relationship, 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:39.800 that they can't ever live up to the expectations of the other person, 00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:42.400 and it's constant failure, failure, failure, failure. 00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:46.440 And then you say, hey, I've got an escape clause. 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:51.020 You have to die first, but you'll be brought back to life. 00:14:52.580 --> 00:14:56.580 Suddenly, the prospect of death looks a whole lot more appealing. 00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:58.879 That's what Jesus did. 00:14:59.780 --> 00:15:03.680 He said, I've got an escape clause for you, but it's a death clause. 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:06.220 You have to die. 00:15:07.660 --> 00:15:09.320 And then I'll give you real life. 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:12.620 Because what you have right now, that's no way to live. 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:18.700 There's nothing attractive about that. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.500 There's nothing fulfilling about that. 00:15:21.020 --> 00:15:23.420 I can give you real life. 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.320 What did Paul say? 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:30.900 In Galatians chapter 2 and verse 20, I have been crucified. 00:15:31.400 --> 00:15:35.680 That was the very difficult form of death that Jesus endured. 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:40.800 That's not a nice lethal injection where they just put something in your bloodstream and you're gone. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:43.819 It's not even the electric chair. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.919 It's not dying in your sleep in old age. 00:15:48.699 --> 00:15:54.159 This was a very difficult, painful, torturous death. 00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:58.179 It says, I have been crucified with Christ. 00:15:58.179 --> 00:16:03.939 Listen, the process of dying to your old self is often very difficult. 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:05.879 It can be painful. 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:10.120 But the reward is the only reward worth having. 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:12.940 I've been crucified with Christ. 00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:14.980 So I no longer live. 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:19.379 I'm no longer under contract with the law anymore. 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:21.559 Because one of the parties died. 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:22.340 It was me. 00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:27.639 But now Christ lives in my place. 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:30.659 I couldn't raise myself from the dead. 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:32.299 But Jesus could. 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:35.379 And he gives me his life. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:37.919 So I get to live his life now. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:41.059 That's why he says, you're not your own. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:44.319 I bought you with a price. 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:48.519 So the life that you now have, it comes from me. 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:51.659 The old life, you don't want that anymore. 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.620 You were trapped. 00:16:54.199 --> 00:16:55.839 That was no way to live. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:17:02.180 But the life I now live in this body, same body, totally different life. 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:07.380 The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God. 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.640 We're not saved because we could keep the law. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.660 We're not saved because we could follow the rules. 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:15.240 We don't have new life because of anything we could do. 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:20.559 We have new life because of our faith in the one who could die and rise from the dead. 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:23.480 We live by the faith in the Son of God. 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:30.259 Because he loved me and he gave himself for me to free me, to release me by the cross. 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:34.460 When Jesus died, the death clause was officially triggered. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.299 And now any of you can claim it. 00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.539 Anybody can claim it. 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:47.559 Say, by faith in Jesus, I claim his clause, his escape clause. 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:50.640 Get me out of this contract that I can't abide by. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:57.120 Get me out of trying to live by this rule book that I'll never be able to measure up to. 00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:59.780 The referee can't throw the flag on you anymore. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:03.020 Because it's not your life. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.160 It's someone else's. 00:18:04.360 --> 00:18:05.520 It's not your righteousness. 00:18:05.840 --> 00:18:06.420 It's his. 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.840 It's not your perfection. 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:09.100 It's Christ's. 00:18:10.100 --> 00:18:12.940 We claim him now, not ourselves. 00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:15.180 And that leads us to finally number three. 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.960 A new way to serve. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:25.240 We saw, first of all, that we can't escape the old relationship that we had to get out of. 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:26.080 We were trapped in. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:28.279 And it's through the radical release of the cross. 00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:29.559 And now look down at verse four. 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.500 He didn't leave us in the grave. 00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:34.180 He calls us to resurrection. 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.799 He calls us to new life. 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:40.720 We just, we weren't just released from the old contract to be left alone to our own devices. 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.779 We were given a new purpose. 00:18:42.919 --> 00:18:47.240 He says in verse four, the second part, that you might belong to another. 00:18:48.159 --> 00:18:49.440 But look back at the first part. 00:18:49.919 --> 00:18:56.259 You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ so that you might belong to someone else, to another. 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:58.339 To him who was raised from the dead. 00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:58.819 Who's that? 00:18:58.899 --> 00:19:00.139 Let's say his name together, church. 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:05.340 I think y'all can do better than that as a first Baptist church on a Sunday morning. 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:05.540 Right? 00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:06.460 Who is it? 00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:07.880 Yes, it is. 00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.400 That's right. 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:11.120 We could say his name with our chest here, right? 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:15.320 That we might belong to Jesus, him who was raised from the dead. 00:19:15.560 --> 00:19:21.240 In order that, here's the new purpose, we might bear fruit for God. 00:19:21.780 --> 00:19:23.920 We have been remarried. 00:19:24.560 --> 00:19:28.980 We got out of the old toxic relationship that you couldn't get out of. 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.259 You and the law. 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:31.539 It was no fun. 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:34.120 Now we've been remarried. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:37.779 And we're called the bride of who? 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.200 Christ. 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.759 We are the bride of Christ. 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:44.319 So now we have a new way to serve. 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:46.660 And we get to see what a good, healthy marriage looks like. 00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:48.519 Paul gives us instructions. 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:54.180 We get to read Jesus' teaching and see that in a healthy relationship, we're here to serve one another. 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.559 What did Jesus come to do? 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:59.599 He came to seek and to serve those who were lost. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:02.919 Jesus, the son of God, humbled himself and came to serve us. 00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:05.200 I mean, how backwards is that? 00:20:05.639 --> 00:20:09.799 The king of the universe stepping down from his throne and saying, I'm coming to serve you. 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:13.200 And then he says, now you're called to serve me. 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.480 Why? 00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:15.220 Because we're in this relationship together. 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:18.380 We're in this marriage relationship together. 00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:22.059 So we're called to a new way to serve. 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.880 Not out of obligation. 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:25.680 Not out of bondage. 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:28.120 Not because we're contractually obligated to. 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:32.640 But because of the heart of Christ replacing our heart. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.640 Not out of bondage. 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:35.440 So, Ezekiel. 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.620 We get to read about this. 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.640 The prophet Ezekiel. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.640 Centuries before Jesus ever showed up on the scene. 00:20:43.040 --> 00:20:45.400 He got this word from God and he shared it with the people. 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:47.280 And God predicted. 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:49.580 He said, I will give you a new heart. 00:20:50.020 --> 00:20:52.040 And I'll put a new spirit in you. 00:20:52.280 --> 00:20:53.580 Who's that spirit, church? 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.560 The Holy Spirit. 00:20:55.559 --> 00:21:01.139 I will remove from you your heart of stone and I'll give you a heart of flesh. 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:06.859 I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees. 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:09.960 I'm not going to require you. 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:16.299 Hold you with a gun to your head and say, follow my decrees. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:22.279 I'm going to move you by my spirit through your new heart to follow my decrees. 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:24.220 The decree of love. 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:27.839 The call of love. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:32.940 That is so much more effective than the law could ever be. 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:36.039 Now, why do we still operate? 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:39.460 As though God is still operating by the law. 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.000 He's not. 00:21:41.919 --> 00:21:42.980 But we look at him that way. 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.419 We look at his church that way. 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:49.059 We look at this, what we call the Christian life that way. 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:52.059 Well, I got to follow the rules or God's not going to be happy with me. 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:57.839 God loves you beyond what you could ever imagine. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:00.779 That's why he gave you this escape clause. 00:22:01.159 --> 00:22:03.579 That's why he died to free you. 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:06.220 And he invites you to die with him. 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.019 And then be born again. 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:10.139 With a new purpose. 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:12.440 A new way to serve. 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.379 Not out of obligation. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.559 But out of the call of love from him to you. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:23.740 And then in response, it kindles, it sparks this love in your heart for him. 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.700 And for the ones he loves. 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.080 So look around the room. 00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:29.680 These are the ones he loves. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.039 The people next to you. 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:33.400 The people in front of you and behind you. 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:34.920 Even you. 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:38.460 Pull out your wife's mirror from her purse and look at yourself. 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:39.640 You don't have to do that, right? 00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:41.759 God loves that one too. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:44.500 That's who he died for as well. 00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:48.259 You don't belong to the referees anymore. 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.880 You don't belong to the laws anymore. 00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:52.660 You don't belong to sin and darkness anymore. 00:22:52.840 --> 00:22:54.059 Jesus bought you. 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:56.259 He paid the highest price for you. 00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:57.899 And now you belong to him. 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:59.139 And he has released you. 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:02.379 He's freed you into a new way of life. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.960 So you belong to a savior. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.899 Not a rule book. 00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:08.519 You belong to a savior. 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.059 Not a rule book. 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:12.159 Thank God for salvation. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.339 Thank God for my savior. 00:23:15.179 --> 00:23:15.980 And for yours. 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:19.000 The referees can't call penalties on you anymore. 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:21.419 They got to step out of the game. 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.679 The death clause has been used. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:25.400 You belong to Jesus. 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.500 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:30.840 Listen, there are so many takeaways that we could have this morning. 00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:32.100 But I just want to remind you. 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:33.960 I'm going to let the Holy Spirit do the application. 00:23:34.620 --> 00:23:39.240 He's got his ways of knowing what's going on in your heart and in your life. 00:23:39.320 --> 00:23:45.360 And maybe you've been holding yourself to a standard that you can't live up to anymore. 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:48.879 Maybe others have been holding you to that standard. 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:53.379 I'm here to tell you with the authority of Jesus from his words. 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:57.120 That you are no longer under the law. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:59.200 You don't belong to that old system. 00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.580 He has freed you. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:02.500 You belong to him and him alone. 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:05.720 You are now held to the standard of love. 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:08.880 It's going to be demanding. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:10.480 But so rewarding. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:13.400 And it's constantly forgiving. 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:16.880 And it's what God has to offer you today. 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:19.380 If you've never accepted that gift. 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:21.120 Today is the day. 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:26.500 Don't walk out of this room today resisting Jesus and his call to you. 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:32.259 If there's anyone in the room today who says today is the day I want to respond to Jesus and say yes. 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:38.380 By faith in you, your death, your resurrection, I believe that you love me and you want me to become your child. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:41.000 And today is the day I'm going to say yes to Jesus. 00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:42.039 Would you slip your hand up? 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:42.960 Say yes. 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.400 That's me. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:45.900 Today is the day I'm going to say yes to Jesus. 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.059 Thank you. 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:54.180 For most of you in the room, I believe that by not raising your hand, you're testifying that you've already done that. 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:57.820 And you know without a shadow of a shadow of doubt that you are a child of God. 00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:59.560 So let me invite you to do this. 00:25:01.060 --> 00:25:05.140 Let me invite you to remind yourself right now in this moment as Jared plays. 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:07.259 And we're going to sing the chorus of a song before we dismiss. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:13.420 But right now in this moment, while everybody's heads bowed, there's nothing else going on, nothing else you need to worry about. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.460 Lunch can wait. 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.279 We'll get there in a minute. 00:25:17.539 --> 00:25:22.640 But right now, say God remind me who I am every day. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.300 That I belong to you. 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:26.240 Remind me what really matters to you. 00:25:27.560 --> 00:25:29.700 Remind me what your expectations are of me. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:32.620 Not that I follow every rule correctly. 00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:35.320 But that I listen to your spirit. 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:38.680 And when I fall, you pick me back up. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.360 When I fail, you forgive. 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:44.459 In Jesus' name. 00:25:45.179 --> 00:25:45.459 Amen. 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.719 You can keep your seats. 00:25:47.179 --> 00:25:49.159 Can we just sing through that chorus one more time? 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:53.679 In praise and adoration of our Savior, the one who freed us. 00:25:54.139 --> 00:25:55.839 You're worthy of it all. 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.459 You're worthy of all. 00:25:57.959 --> 00:25:59.359 For from you are all things. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.919 To you are all things. 00:26:01.199 --> 00:26:02.459 You deserve glory. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.319 Let's sing it together. 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:08.319 You're worthy of all. 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.079 You're worthy of all. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:15.319 Yes, you're worthy of all. 00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:16.319 You're worthy of all. 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:21.419 For from you are all things. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:24.319 Praise to you are all things. 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:27.319 For you deserve glory. 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:29.139 Let's get in the glory. 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.819 Sing it one final time together. 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:34.399 You're worthy of all. 00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:36.079 All our praise. 00:26:36.179 --> 00:26:37.279 All our glory. 00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:41.200 You're worthy of all. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:43.819 We have nothing without him. 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:47.799 For from you are all things. 00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:51.200 Yes, you are all things. 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:54.080 For you deserve glory. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.480 God, that's our testimony to you. 00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:58.480 That's our cry to you. 00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.660 That's our prayer to you. 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:04.500 Thanksgiving, you are worthy of all of our praise. 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:09.240 Not because you held the rule book over our head and said you've got to live up to it. 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:15.299 But because you freed us through your death, through your resurrection, that you offer to us. 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.319 That's why you deserve glory. 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:20.339 So you're worthy of all. 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:22.620 But let our lives glorify you. 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.460 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.240 Amen.