WEBVTT

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 So, as Johnny said, the Bible reading is taken from Romans chapter 3, verses 27 to Romans

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 chapter 4, verse 8.

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 And the Bible says, where then is boasting?

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 Is it excluded?

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 On what principle?

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 On what?

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 On that of observing the law?

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 No, but on that of faith.

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 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

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 Is God the God of Jews only?

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 Is he not the God of Gentiles too?

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 Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God who will justify the circumcised by faith

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 and the uncircumcised through the same faith.

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 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith?

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 Not at all.

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 Rather, we uphold the law.

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 What, then, shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?

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 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

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 What does the scripture say?

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 Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

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 Now, when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.

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 However, to the man who does not work, but trusts God, who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

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 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.

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 Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

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 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against them.

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 Here ends reading.

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 Thank you, Joanna.

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 Well, let's have our Bibles open there at Romans, and we'll pray together.

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 Father, thank you for the truth of your word.

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 Thank you that it is your voice to us, your word written down, so that we can hear about what we are like, about what you are like, what you have done for us, and how we should live in response.

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 Father, we pray that you would give us faith.

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 Faith to not only hear what you are saying, but faith that will apply it to our own lives, so that we become all that you call us to be.

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 We need your help.

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 We rest upon you.

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 We trust you.

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 We rely upon you.

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 Father, help us.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 How do you feel about facing God's judgment?

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 Just think about that for a moment.

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 Standing before God and giving an account to him of your entire life.

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 How do you feel about facing God's judgment?

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 Well, maybe you feel a little bit like our friend that we've been learning about, Martin Luther.

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 Luther was terrified of God's judgment.

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 Here's what he said.

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 You might identify with it.

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 He said,

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 I hated that word, justice of God.

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 That justice by which God is just, and by which he punishes sinners and the unjust.

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 I did not love.

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 No, rather I hated the just God who punishes sinners.

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 In silence, if I did not blaspheme, then certainly I grumbled vehemently and got angry at God.

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 He was so afraid of God's judgment that he joined the Augustinian monks in an effort to make himself a better person in the hope that he would become acceptable to God.

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 You see, the church that he grew up in had taught him that, well, you had to earn your way to God.

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 You had to earn your salvation.

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 So by doing things like going to confession, taking communion, praying to the saints, doing good deeds, you earned favour with God.

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 In some sense, you earned grace from God.

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 So in response to all your good things, God would give you some grace that would enable you and help you, equip you to be a more righteous kind of person.

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 And the more grace that you received, the more righteous you became and the closer you got to salvation.

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 It was salvation by works or salvation by efforts.

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 The problem with that was you were never sure if you had done enough.

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 You were never sure if God would accept you.

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 In fact, trying to earn our salvation would always lead to that experience that Martin Luther had a terrible fear and a hatred of God's judgment.

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 But as Luther began to read his Bible, and especially as he read the book of Romans, which we have just read together,

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 he rediscovered the wonderful truth that salvation was not earned by our works,

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 but was something that you received by faith in Jesus Christ.

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 He came to discover that you didn't need to fear or be terrified of God's judgment.

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 Here's how he put it, which is very helpful.

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 He said, on the one hand, Christ is full of grace and life and salvation.

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 On the other hand, speaking of himself and all people, the soul is full of sins, death and damnation.

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 Then he says, now let faith come between them both.

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 Let faith come between them and sins, death and damnation will become Christ's,

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 while grace, life and salvation will be the soul's.

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 There's a transfer, an exchange, which happens by faith.

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 So he came to discover that faith was the key.

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 Faith is the means by which we receive salvation.

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 And this rediscovered truth can be summarized, which is in your handouts or in your news sheets, you can see it there.

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 Salvation is according to scripture alone, so the source is God's word.

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 It's in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, to the glory of God alone.

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 And we're going to be thinking about what it means to have faith in Christ alone.

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 Let's see how that is true from the passage that we read together in Romans.

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 Look at verse 27, chapter 3, verse 27.

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 Where then is boasting?

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 If salvation is all by faith, can anybody boast and say, I've earned it?

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 Is there anybody here in this room who thinks they can earn their salvation before God by being a better person?

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 Is there anyone here who can look at their life and all the things that they have not done and all the things they have done and say,

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 you know what, I've lived such a good life that God is going to accept me.

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 Well, what does verse 27 say?

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 Where then is boasting?

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 Well, it's excluded.

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 In other words, nobody can boast.

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 On what principle or on what basis?

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 On that of observing the law by doing good things?

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 No.

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 But on that of faith.

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 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

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 He's making a statement that we don't earn salvation.

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 We receive it by faith.

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 And to help us understand what that means to receive salvation by faith, we're going to look at it under three headings.

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 Here's the first one.

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 Declared righteous.

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 Let's read verse 28 again.

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 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith.

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 So that's the little phrase justified by faith apart from observing the law.

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 Now, to be justified by faith means to be declared righteous by God.

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 It's a legal term.

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 Here's what one writer said to explain it, which is very helpful.

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 It's the exact opposite of condemnation.

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 So to condemn is to declare somebody guilty.

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 To justify is to declare them righteous.

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 And in the Bible it refers to God's act of unmerited favour or God's act of grace by which God puts a sinner right with himself,

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 not only acquitting him, but accepting and treating him as righteous.

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 Now, most of Romans up to this point before chapter 3 has been showing us that every single person is not righteous.

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 That we are guilty before God.

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 Let's have a look at what that looks like.

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 Look at chapter 1, verse 18.

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 Chapter 1, verse 18.

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 So it says there,

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 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

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 So God is rightly angry with all the unrighteous behaviour,

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 all the wickedness, the evil, the godlessness that we see in the world.

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 All around us, all the time.

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 And we're included in that.

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 Because instead of turning back to God and running to God for help,

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 we've run further away from God.

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 So chapter 2, verse 5.

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 Chapter 2, verse 5.

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 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart,

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 you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath,

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 when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

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 And instead of getting better,

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 and again, instead of running back to God in repentance,

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 we've gotten worse.

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 In fact, there is no desire within us to want God.

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 So look at chapter 3, verse 9.

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 Chapter 3, verse 9.

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 What shall we conclude then?

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 Are we any better?

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 Not at all.

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 We have already made the charge that Jews,

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 that is religious people,

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 or Gentiles,

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 non-religious people,

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 everybody,

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 whoever we are,

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 we're all the same.

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 We're all under sin.

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 As it is written,

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 there is no one righteous,

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 not even one.

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 There is no one who understands,

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 no one who seeks God.

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 All have turned away.

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 They have together become worthless.

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 There is no one who does good,

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 not even one.

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 You see,

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 even if we wanted to be good people,

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 even if we wanted to improve ourselves,

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 by ourselves,

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 we can't.

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 No matter how hard we try,

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 we cannot be better people.

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 And what does all that mean?

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 Well, look at chapter 3, verse 20.

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 Therefore,

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 no one,

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 no one,

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 will be declared righteous

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 in God's sight

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 by observing the law,

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 by doing good things.

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 So it leaves us in a predicament,

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 in a great difficulty.

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 But the good news of the gospel is,

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 is that God declares us to be righteous.

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 So look down at verse 28,

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 chapter 3, verse 28,

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 what we just read.

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 For we maintain

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 that a person is justified

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 by faith

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 apart from observing the law.

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 So there is a way

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 to be made righteous.

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 And it's something that God does for us.

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 In other words,

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 God gives us a righteousness

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 that is not ours.

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 So we who are unrighteous,

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 guilty,

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 deserving of God's judgment,

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 by faith,

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 are now declared righteous,

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 not guilty,

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 and free from God's judgment.

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 Again, look how Martin Luther

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 puts it.

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 He says,

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 there is a righteousness

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 that God imputes

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 or attributes to us

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 apart from works.

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 In other words,

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 it is a passive righteousness.

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 So it's not something we work for,

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 something we earn.

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 He asks the question,

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 so then,

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 have we nothing to do

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 to obtain this righteousness?

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 No,

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 nothing at all.

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 For this righteousness

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 comes by doing nothing,

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 hearing nothing,

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 knowing nothing,

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 but rather in knowing

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 and believing this only,

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 that Christ has gone

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 to the right hand of the Father

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 not to become our judge,

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 but to become for us

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 our righteousness,

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 our salvation.

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 So you see,

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 I do not make myself righteous,

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 rather God declares me

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 to be righteous.

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 He doesn't make me righteous

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 as a process over time.

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 It's an immediate act.

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 He declares me

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 just as a judge

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 would pronounce in court

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 to somebody,

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 you are not guilty.

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 So God declares us

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 to be absolutely righteous.

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 Now,

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 we must understand

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 that what that means is

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 it's a change in our status,

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 not a change in our nature.

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 That means,

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 on the one hand,

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 we will always be righteous

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 before God

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 if our faith is in God.

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 We will always be righteous

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 in our status.

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 That is never going to change.

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 But at the same time,

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 we will always be sinful

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 in our nature.

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 Always righteous

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 in our status,

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 but at the same time,

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 always sinful

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 in our nature.

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 So as God looks upon us,

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 as God views me,

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 he looks at me,

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 he says,

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 you are righteous.

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 Yes,

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 you fail

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 and you mess up

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 and you do things

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 that are wrong,

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 but you know what?

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 The sins,

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 the failure,

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 that will never ever

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 change your status.

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 we have been declared

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 righteous by God

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 and that will not change

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 because of my sinful behaviour.

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 We are justified,

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 declared righteous,

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 not guilty,

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 by faith in him.

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 So that's the first thing

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 that we need to understand.

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 That we are justified

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 by faith,

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 that first of all means

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 we have been declared

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 righteous,

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 not guilty,

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 before God.

00:17:21.100 --> 00:17:21.940
 The second thing

00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:22.940
 that we need to understand

00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:24.000
 that this faith

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.900
 is faith in Jesus.

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.480
 We are declared righteous

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.220
 by faith

00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:34.080
 in Jesus.

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.079
 Have a look at chapter 3,

00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:36.980
 verse 22.

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:41.000
 This righteousness

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:44.000
 from God

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:46.779
 comes through faith

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:48.379
 in Jesus Christ

00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:50.099
 to all who believe.

00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:51.779
 The same is said

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.220
 at the end of verse 26.

00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:57.960
 The one who justifies

00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:59.379
 those who have faith

00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:00.759
 in Jesus.

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.779
 So our faith

00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:04.339
 is not just faith

00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:05.400
 in an abstract

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:08.240
 or kind of a...

00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.480
 We describe sometimes

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.019
 people say,

00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.379
 oh I've got faith.

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:12.759
 Well,

00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:14.140
 where is that faith

00:18:14.140 --> 00:18:14.700
 placed?

00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:16.700
 It must be faith

00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:17.400
 that is placed

00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:18.099
 in the person

00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:19.200
 of Jesus Christ.

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.839
 And this is the same

00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.819
 for everybody.

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:22.859
 Have a look down

00:18:22.859 --> 00:18:23.720
 at verse 29.

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:27.200
 Is God

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.480
 the God of Jews only?

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:30.220
 Is this only applying

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:30.720
 to people

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.440
 who are religious?

00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:33.799
 Is he not

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.279
 the God

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.400
 of Gentiles

00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:36.620
 or irreligious,

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:38.200
 non-religious people too?

00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.000
 Those who don't

00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.559
 read the Bible

00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.420
 or go to church?

00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:41.339
 Yes,

00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:42.680
 of Gentiles too.

00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:44.180
 Since there is

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:45.360
 only one God

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:46.620
 who will justify,

00:18:46.860 --> 00:18:47.539
 who will declare

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:49.000
 people right before God,

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.559
 the circumcised,

00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:51.900
 the religious people,

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.940
 by faith,

00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:54.920
 and the uncircumcised,

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.940
 the non-religious,

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:58.680
 through that same faith.

00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:01.220
 So it's exactly

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.380
 the same for everybody,

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.340
 whoever we are,

00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.559
 whatever culture

00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.680
 we were raised in,

00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.120
 whatever our religious

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:08.480
 background might have been,

00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:11.440
 whatever our racial identity,

00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:13.120
 it is the same

00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:14.840
 for every single person.

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.420
 The only way

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.539
 we can be declared

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.920
 right before God

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:20.340
 is by faith

00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:21.759
 in the person

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.400
 of Jesus Christ.

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:24.960
 Now,

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.799
 faith isn't just

00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:27.079
 an intellectual exercise

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.240
 saying something like,

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:28.799
 oh yes,

00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:30.079
 I have faith in Jesus,

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:32.059
 I believe Jesus exists,

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.500
 and I have kind of

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.819
 a faith in him.

00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:35.799
 No,

00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:37.819
 it's a trusting exercise.

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.980
 It's a personal trust

00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:41.660
 or reliance,

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.579
 a complete dependence

00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:45.579
 on the person of Jesus.

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:45.779
 Jesus.

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:49.000
 And our trust is in Jesus

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.460
 that his righteous life

00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:54.639
 becomes my righteous life.

00:19:55.639 --> 00:19:57.159
 Let me try and explain

00:19:57.159 --> 00:19:58.079
 that for you.

00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:01.019
 When you go for a job interview,

00:20:01.199 --> 00:20:02.119
 or if you can remember

00:20:02.119 --> 00:20:03.220
 back to the last time

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.859
 you had a job interview,

00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:06.379
 you bring with you

00:20:06.379 --> 00:20:07.079
 your CV.

00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:07.199
 CV.

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:10.859
 And it's a record

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:13.199
 of your complete performance

00:20:13.199 --> 00:20:14.899
 over your life so far.

00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:15.919
 It has a list

00:20:15.919 --> 00:20:16.859
 of all your grades,

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.679
 how well you've done

00:20:17.679 --> 00:20:18.299
 in school,

00:20:18.439 --> 00:20:19.139
 in college,

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.839
 all the points

00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:21.599
 that you earned.

00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.819
 It might tell you

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.419
 the position

00:20:24.419 --> 00:20:25.199
 that you had

00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:26.240
 in your last job

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.799
 or any promotion

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.460
 that you got

00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.980
 and how that was deserved.

00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:32.279
 And whether you get

00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.299
 that job or not

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.039
 will depend

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:35.199
 on how well

00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:35.960
 you've performed

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.860
 in the past

00:20:36.860 --> 00:20:37.940
 and how well

00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.640
 you perform

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.680
 in the interview.

00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:41.319
 So you get the job

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:43.200
 completely by merit,

00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.960
 by all your performances

00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.940
 over time.

00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.900
 But when it comes

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.940
 to our salvation,

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.400
 when it comes

00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.120
 to the record

00:20:53.120 --> 00:20:53.840
 of our life,

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.259
 our CV,

00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:56.120
 if you like,

00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:56.980
 before God,

00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:59.039
 it's not good enough.

00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.539
 The grades

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.559
 that we have scored,

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.220
 the points

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.279
 that we have built up,

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.200
 all the times

00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:05.100
 I've been to church,

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.059
 all the times

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.100
 that I've told people

00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:07.880
 about Jesus,

00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.920
 all the times

00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:09.620
 that I've prayed,

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.740
 all the good things

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.279
 that I've done,

00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:12.299
 it will count

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.519
 for nothing.

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.360
 Zero.

00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:18.140
 So in God's grace,

00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.019
 in his goodness,

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.059
 what he does

00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.319
 is he offers us

00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.440
 the free gift

00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.819
 of Christ's

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:25.360
 performance record.

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:27.100
 So what God does

00:21:27.100 --> 00:21:28.200
 is he gives us

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:30.240
 the CV of Jesus.

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.620
 He credits us

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:33.900
 with the performance

00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:35.140
 of Jesus Christ.

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:36.440
 He gives us

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.759
 the righteousness

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.680
 of Christ

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.840
 in place

00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:40.580
 of our

00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:42.240
 unrighteousness.

00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:46.080
 That is what it means

00:21:46.080 --> 00:21:47.080
 to have faith

00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:48.100
 in Jesus.

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.440
 We're given two examples

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:51.000
 of what that true

00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:52.120
 faith looks like.

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.000
 Have a look at

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.720
 chapter 4.

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:55.640
 Two great heroes,

00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:57.280
 Abraham

00:21:57.280 --> 00:21:58.940
 and David.

00:21:59.580 --> 00:22:01.100
 Two religious people.

00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:02.579
 And if anybody

00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.619
 was going to make it

00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:03.980
 to God,

00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.199
 well,

00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:05.279
 they would.

00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.959
 And how did they do it?

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.679
 Well, let's look at

00:22:07.679 --> 00:22:08.480
 the first example,

00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.699
 chapter 4, verse 1.

00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.679
 What then shall we say

00:22:11.679 --> 00:22:12.659
 that Abraham,

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.099
 our forefather,

00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.519
 discovered in this matter?

00:22:16.439 --> 00:22:17.519
 If, in fact,

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:19.179
 Abraham was justified

00:22:19.179 --> 00:22:20.279
 by works,

00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.919
 he had something

00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.899
 to boast about.

00:22:23.679 --> 00:22:25.419
 But not before God.

00:22:26.159 --> 00:22:27.099
 So the question

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:28.099
 here before us is,

00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:30.240
 what did Abraham do

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:32.019
 to earn his salvation?

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:34.359
 Well, the answer is

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.740
 absolutely nothing.

00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:37.240
 There was nothing

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.339
 that he could point to

00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:39.019
 in his life

00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.259
 that he had done

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.000
 or said

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:42.159
 that would earn

00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:43.240
 favour with God.

00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:45.139
 He simply believed

00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:46.599
 in what God said

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.119
 he would do.

00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.819
 Verse 3.

00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.679
 What does Scripture say?

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.799
 Abraham believed God.

00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:54.839
 He had faith in God

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:57.019
 and it was credited

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.740
 to him

00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.359
 as righteousness.

00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.659
 He did not trust

00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:01.939
 in his own righteousness

00:23:01.939 --> 00:23:03.439
 or in his own record,

00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.839
 but in God's gift

00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:07.159
 of righteousness.

00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:10.059
 Another example

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:11.399
 we're given in verse 6.

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:12.659
 David,

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.779
 King David,

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.159
 another hero

00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:16.519
 of the faith.

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.839
 David says the same thing

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.740
 when he speaks

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.859
 of the blessedness

00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:22.980
 of the person

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.680
 to whom God credits

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.700
 righteousness

00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:27.039
 apart from works.

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.980
 Blessed are they

00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.440
 whose transgressions

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.240
 are forgiven,

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.440
 whose sins

00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:33.299
 are covered.

00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.539
 Blessed is the man

00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:36.380
 whose sin

00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.380
 the Lord

00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:38.400
 will never

00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:39.339
 count

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.660
 against him.

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.839
 That is what it is

00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:43.559
 to receive

00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.519
 the righteousness

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:46.599
 of God.

00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:48.039
 It means that

00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.160
 God does not

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.220
 look upon us

00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:52.100
 the way our sins

00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:53.640
 show us up to be.

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:56.079
 He never holds

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:56.600
 our sin

00:23:56.600 --> 00:23:57.400
 over us

00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:58.940
 or against us.

00:23:59.299 --> 00:23:59.980
 They have been

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:01.620
 removed completely.

00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:04.319
 David did not

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.039
 trust in his

00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.120
 own righteousness,

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.960
 but in the gift

00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.860
 of God's

00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:09.640
 righteousness.

00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:11.200
 It's what we call

00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.740
 the great exchange.

00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.980
 By faith,

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.400
 our record

00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.220
 is given

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.019
 to Christ

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.819
 and Christ's

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.400
 record is

00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.039
 completely

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.779
 given over

00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.839
 to us.

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.379
 So Christ

00:24:24.379 --> 00:24:25.240
 takes all

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:27.279
 our unrighteousness,

00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.259
 the complete

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.079
 record of how

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.619
 we've lived

00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:30.339
 before God,

00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.119
 all our

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.960
 disobedience

00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.920
 is taken

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.940
 from us

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.119
 and placed

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:36.039
 upon Christ.

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.940
 And in

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.859
 exchange for

00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:39.119
 that,

00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:39.779
 by faith,

00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:40.539
 all the

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.000
 righteousness,

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.960
 the complete

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.160
 record of

00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.779
 Christ's

00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.680
 perfect life,

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.879
 his perfect

00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.500
 obedience,

00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.559
 is now

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.500
 transferred

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.359
 and

00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.079
 credited

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:51.500
 to us.

00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:52.880
 It's the

00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:54.099
 complete exchange,

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:56.119
 my unrighteous

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:56.640
 life,

00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:59.180
 for Christ's

00:24:59.180 --> 00:24:59.880
 unrighteous

00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:00.319
 life.

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:04.200
 Now that

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:04.500
 means,

00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.059
 as we've been

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.420
 saying,

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:05.920
 that we are

00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.980
 now declared

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.680
 righteous,

00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:09.099
 not guilty

00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:09.960
 before God.

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.220
 But that

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:11.859
 does not

00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.339
 mean

00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.500
 that we

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.500
 are perfect,

00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:15.699
 that we

00:25:15.699 --> 00:25:16.439
 never ever

00:25:16.439 --> 00:25:16.819
 sin.

00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.159
 It does

00:25:18.159 --> 00:25:18.619
 mean that

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.199
 our position

00:25:19.199 --> 00:25:20.079
 before God

00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:20.799
 has changed,

00:25:20.959 --> 00:25:21.659
 our status

00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:22.399
 before him

00:25:22.399 --> 00:25:22.879
 is clear,

00:25:23.179 --> 00:25:24.059
 we now have

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.599
 the record

00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.119
 of his

00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:25.659
 righteousness,

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.720
 so as God

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.319
 looks at us,

00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:27.679
 we are

00:25:27.679 --> 00:25:28.220
 perfectly

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:28.720
 right.

00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:30.959
 But,

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:32.539
 it means

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:32.919
 that I

00:25:32.919 --> 00:25:33.839
 will continue

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.399
 to sin,

00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:34.980
 I will

00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:35.779
 continue to

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.359
 mess up.

00:25:36.959 --> 00:25:37.379
 There will

00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:37.679
 be an

00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:38.059
 ongoing

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.899
 change and

00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:39.619
 process in

00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:40.119
 that as I

00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:40.659
 become more

00:25:40.660 --> 00:25:41.400
 like Christ,

00:25:42.060 --> 00:25:43.620
 but I

00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:44.340
 will still

00:25:44.340 --> 00:25:44.759
 sin.

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.440
 And that

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:45.980
 can be a

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.620
 complication

00:25:46.620 --> 00:25:47.040
 for us,

00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:47.800
 because sometimes

00:25:47.800 --> 00:25:48.220
 we think,

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.279
 I'm declared

00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:50.220
 righteous before

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.560
 God,

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.200
 God looks

00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.820
 upon me as

00:25:51.820 --> 00:25:52.460
 not guilty,

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:54.259
 but I do

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:54.980
 sin and I

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.940
 am guilty.

00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.800
 How is God

00:25:57.800 --> 00:25:58.360
 going to treat

00:25:58.360 --> 00:25:58.840
 me now,

00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.440
 because I've

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.060
 messed up?

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.480
 Well,

00:26:01.540 --> 00:26:01.940
 listen to

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:02.380
 this,

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.200
 again from

00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.920
 Martin Luther,

00:26:07.060 --> 00:26:07.940
 although I

00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.920
 still sin,

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.420
 I

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.060
 don't

00:26:11.060 --> 00:26:11.660
 despair,

00:26:12.560 --> 00:26:13.800
 because Christ

00:26:13.800 --> 00:26:14.320
 lives,

00:26:15.060 --> 00:26:15.880
 who is both

00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:16.880
 my righteousness

00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.980
 and my

00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.180
 eternal life.

00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:20.720
 In that

00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:21.300
 righteousness,

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.340
 in Christ's

00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:22.700
 righteousness,

00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.640
 I have no

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:23.980
 sin,

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.060
 no fear,

00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.019
 no guilty

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.660
 conscience,

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.779
 no fear of

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.200
 death.

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:30.340
 I am

00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:30.900
 indeed a

00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:31.460
 sinner in

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.140
 this life

00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:32.580
 of mine

00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:32.980
 and in

00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.500
 my own

00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:34.000
 righteousness,

00:26:34.800 --> 00:26:35.660
 but I

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.380
 have another

00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:36.900
 life,

00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:38.140
 another

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:38.740
 righteousness

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.600
 above this

00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.039
 life,

00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:40.919
 which is

00:26:40.919 --> 00:26:41.480
 Christ,

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.719
 the Son

00:26:42.719 --> 00:26:43.240
 of God.

00:26:44.139 --> 00:26:44.759
 So can

00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.059
 you see

00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:45.779
 what he's

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.299
 saying there,

00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:46.959
 that at

00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:47.619
 one level,

00:26:48.199 --> 00:26:48.519
 yes,

00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:49.379
 I have a

00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:50.359
 status before

00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:50.759
 God,

00:26:50.859 --> 00:26:51.299
 declared

00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:51.779
 righteous,

00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.459
 that will

00:26:52.459 --> 00:26:53.139
 never ever

00:26:53.139 --> 00:26:53.819
 change.

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.299
 No matter

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:55.740
 how many

00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.299
 times I

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:56.759
 sin or

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.259
 fail or

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.659
 mess up,

00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.579
 God will

00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.419
 always see

00:26:59.419 --> 00:26:59.779
 me as

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.619
 not guilty.

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.259
 That's a

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.699
 wonderful

00:27:02.699 --> 00:27:03.259
 truth,

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.579
 a wonderful

00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:05.099
 way to

00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.579
 live life.

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.159
 On the

00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:06.379
 other

00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:06.879
 hand,

00:27:07.679 --> 00:27:08.519
 my sinful

00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.159
 nature is

00:27:09.159 --> 00:27:09.480
 I will

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.299
 continue to

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:10.740
 mess up,

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.039
 I will

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.759
 continue to

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.119
 fail.

00:27:13.179 --> 00:27:13.639
 Yes,

00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:14.419
 we continually

00:27:14.419 --> 00:27:15.339
 need God's

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:15.960
 grace and

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.819
 strength and

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.539
 help and

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.259
 the power of

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.019
 his spirit to

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:20.539
 put sin to

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:20.960
 death.

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.740
 That will

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.619
 always be an

00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.579
 ongoing struggle.

00:27:25.419 --> 00:27:26.019
 But if our

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.980
 faith is in the

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.519
 Lord Jesus,

00:27:27.699 --> 00:27:28.339
 know this

00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:28.740
 today,

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:30.059
 you are

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.799
 declared

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.899
 righteous,

00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.120
 righteous,

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.820
 no matter

00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:34.500
 how much

00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.580
 you sin.

00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.400
 So,

00:27:39.800 --> 00:27:41.980
 we are

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.660
 declared

00:27:42.660 --> 00:27:43.900
 righteous by

00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:45.400
 God through

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.759
 our faith in

00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.420
 Jesus Christ.

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.360
 So, it all

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:49.180
 depends on

00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:50.000
 having enough

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.640
 faith.

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.080
 If I have

00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:52.980
 enough faith,

00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.000
 then I will

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.660
 be saved.

00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:56.280
 Right?

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.680
 If I've got

00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.560
 enough faith

00:27:58.560 --> 00:27:59.480
 within myself,

00:28:00.060 --> 00:28:01.100
 I can be

00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:01.560
 saved.

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:03.040
 Is that

00:28:03.040 --> 00:28:03.420
 right?

00:28:04.800 --> 00:28:05.759
 It's wrong.

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.240
 You see,

00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:08.019
 the danger is

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.900
 we think that

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.620
 faith is

00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:10.200
 something that

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.920
 I have.

00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.940
 It comes from

00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.519
 within me.

00:28:12.840 --> 00:28:13.820
 I can muster

00:28:13.820 --> 00:28:14.560
 it up myself.

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.080
 I can kind

00:28:15.080 --> 00:28:16.240
 of spur

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:17.200
 myself on

00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.880
 to faith.

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.700
 But that's

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.040
 wrong.

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.080
 Faith is

00:28:22.080 --> 00:28:23.600
 also a

00:28:23.600 --> 00:28:24.220
 gift from

00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.640
 God.

00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:25.780
 Look at

00:28:25.780 --> 00:28:26.580
 verse 27,

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.420
 chapter 3,

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.440
 back to

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.320
 verse 27.

00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:35.440
 where

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:35.920
 then

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:37.060
 is the

00:28:37.060 --> 00:28:37.460
 boasting?

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:40.980
 Where's

00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.480
 the boasting?

00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.340
 If we can

00:28:42.340 --> 00:28:43.220
 say, I

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:43.900
 did it.

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.460
 I earned

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.420
 my salvation.

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.420
 He's saying,

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.560
 nobody should

00:28:49.560 --> 00:28:49.940
 boast.

00:28:51.140 --> 00:28:51.780
 Let me put it

00:28:51.780 --> 00:28:52.160
 this way.

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.820
 If somebody

00:28:52.820 --> 00:28:53.820
 asks you

00:28:53.820 --> 00:28:55.920
 why you are

00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.380
 a Christian,

00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:56.880
 so if you're

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.300
 a Christian

00:28:57.300 --> 00:28:58.259
 here, and

00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:58.759
 somebody comes

00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.060
 up and says,

00:28:59.059 --> 00:29:00.279
 why are you

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:00.839
 a Christian?

00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.220
 And you

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.779
 answer and

00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.539
 respond something

00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.079
 like this,

00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.799
 because of

00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.819
 my faith,

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.099
 or because

00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:09.039
 I had

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:09.720
 faith,

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:12.779
 you're

00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:13.599
 actually

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.139
 boasting.

00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.779
 You're saying,

00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:16.679
 I have

00:29:16.679 --> 00:29:17.079
 faith.

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.940
 It's me.

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:19.039
 My faith

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.759
 saved me.

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.139
 I had the

00:29:21.139 --> 00:29:21.940
 ability to

00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.700
 respond to

00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:22.980
 God.

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:24.419
 I saw what

00:29:24.419 --> 00:29:24.839
 God was

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.299
 saying and

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:25.779
 what I was

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.200
 like and

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.519
 what I

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:27.000
 needed and

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:28.880
 I mustered

00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:29.339
 up that

00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:29.960
 faith and

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:31.140
 I trusted

00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:31.779
 in God.

00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:33.640
 So it's

00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:34.460
 my faith.

00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.880
 But that's

00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:37.319
 boasting.

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:37.880
 That's saying

00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.420
 it's coming

00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.059
 from me.

00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:40.660
 Salvation

00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.319
 no longer

00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:42.460
 becomes God's

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:42.940
 gift, but

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.680
 something we

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.440
 deserve because

00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:45.420
 of my ability

00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:45.920
 to have

00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.339
 faith.

00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.839
 But that's

00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:49.220
 wrong.

00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:50.740
 Let me try

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.220
 and explain

00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.039
 that a bit

00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:52.339
 more.

00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.579
 Sometimes we

00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:54.140
 can treat

00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:55.559
 faith like

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.240
 our Tesco

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:57.059
 club cards

00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.620
 or whichever

00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.200
 shop you

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.559
 go to.

00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:58.880
 You have

00:29:58.880 --> 00:29:59.180
 your little

00:29:59.180 --> 00:30:00.000
 plastic card,

00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:00.799
 you buy

00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.400
 some things,

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:01.980
 it scans

00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.700
 in and

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:03.000
 you get

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.980
 points put

00:30:03.980 --> 00:30:04.559
 onto your

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.200
 card.

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.099
 And after

00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:06.579
 so many

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.059
 weeks or

00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.440
 so many

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.059
 items of

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:08.299
 buying

00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:08.660
 things,

00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:09.559
 you can

00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.400
 cash in

00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.120
 your points

00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:12.259
 and get

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.779
 your shopping

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.400
 for free.

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.940
 Except for

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.259
 it's not

00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.940
 really free,

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.440
 is it?

00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.680
 The selling

00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.339
 point says

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:19.880
 it's free,

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.599
 but in

00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:21.400
 reality you've

00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:22.120
 had to pay

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.759
 for all of

00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.299
 those points

00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:23.680
 in your

00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.620
 previous shops.

00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.380
 And then

00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:25.900
 what you do

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.220
 is you

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:26.920
 exchange

00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.680
 those points

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.259
 and you

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.580
 get a

00:30:28.580 --> 00:30:29.140
 free bag

00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.620
 of spuds

00:30:29.620 --> 00:30:30.160
 or whatever,

00:30:30.320 --> 00:30:30.840
 something like

00:30:30.840 --> 00:30:31.160
 that.

00:30:32.300 --> 00:30:32.840
 Now in

00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.280
 the same

00:30:33.280 --> 00:30:33.740
 way we

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.220
 can think

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.519
 that we

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:34.920
 have to

00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.560
 cash in

00:30:35.560 --> 00:30:36.300
 our faith

00:30:36.300 --> 00:30:37.259
 to God.

00:30:38.060 --> 00:30:38.740
 We kind

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.640
 of earn

00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.460
 some faith

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:40.900
 along the

00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.080
 way,

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.180
 we add

00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:42.600
 to our

00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:43.040
 faith

00:30:43.040 --> 00:30:43.800
 points by

00:30:43.800 --> 00:30:44.440
 doing good

00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:44.900
 and right

00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:45.320
 things,

00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:46.060
 and when

00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:46.440
 we've

00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.960
 built up

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.300
 enough

00:30:47.300 --> 00:30:47.780
 faith

00:30:47.780 --> 00:30:48.480
 points,

00:30:49.540 --> 00:30:50.460
 then we

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.200
 can cash

00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.680
 it in

00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.100
 and God

00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:53.720
 in return

00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.420
 gives us

00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:55.259
 his salvation.

00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:57.620
 I've got

00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:58.600
 enough faith

00:30:58.600 --> 00:30:59.140
 today,

00:30:59.360 --> 00:31:00.300
 I feel

00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:00.800
 I've got

00:31:00.800 --> 00:31:01.460
 that faith,

00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.220
 so I

00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.759
 cash it

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.940
 in and

00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:04.720
 God accepts

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.140
 me and

00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:05.700
 God loves

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.040
 me and

00:31:06.040 --> 00:31:06.759
 I know

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.340
 I'm saved.

00:31:07.580 --> 00:31:08.100
 But on the

00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:08.560
 days where

00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:09.019
 I'm not

00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:09.560
 quite so

00:31:09.560 --> 00:31:09.960
 sure I

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.480
 haven't got

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.100
 enough faith,

00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:11.840
 I can't

00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:12.440
 quite cash

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:12.740
 it in

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:12.980
 yet,

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.340
 and where

00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:14.759
 am I?

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:17.160
 faith is

00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.660
 measured

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.440
 like that.

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.500
 Faith is

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.000
 a gift

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.779
 from God,

00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:22.740
 a faith

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.099
 that is

00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:23.680
 complete

00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:24.460
 and sufficient

00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.359
 and enough

00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.259
 that comes

00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.099
 from God.

00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.359
 So look

00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:28.740
 at chapter

00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:29.180
 four,

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.119
 verse

00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.460
 four.

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.680
 Now

00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:35.039
 when a

00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:35.960
 man works,

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:36.740
 so when

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.019
 you go

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.359
 to your

00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:37.819
 job in

00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:38.220
 the morning,

00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.099
 his wages

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:40.319
 are not

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.200
 credited to

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.759
 him as a

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.140
 gift,

00:31:42.140 --> 00:31:44.020
 but as

00:31:44.020 --> 00:31:44.880
 an obligation.

00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:45.900
 So when

00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.220
 you get

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:46.759
 your weekly

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.300
 or your

00:31:47.300 --> 00:31:47.660
 monthly

00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:48.220
 wages,

00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.420
 it's not

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.040
 a gift

00:31:50.040 --> 00:31:50.560
 that your

00:31:50.560 --> 00:31:51.040
 boss comes

00:31:51.040 --> 00:31:51.220
 and says

00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.560
 here's

00:31:51.560 --> 00:31:51.980
 something I'd

00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.300
 like to

00:31:52.300 --> 00:31:52.940
 give to

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.280
 you.

00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:53.900
 No,

00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.420
 you earned

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:54.759
 it by

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.240
 your hard

00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.540
 work,

00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.160
 you deserve

00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.380
 it,

00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:56.900
 it's yours

00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:57.800
 by right,

00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:58.940
 it came

00:31:58.940 --> 00:31:59.580
 by your

00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:00.080
 effort,

00:32:00.520 --> 00:32:01.060
 your boss

00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:01.820
 is obliged

00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:02.560
 to give

00:32:02.560 --> 00:32:03.020
 you what

00:32:03.020 --> 00:32:03.840
 is owed

00:32:03.840 --> 00:32:04.420
 to you.

00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:06.140
 It's not

00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:06.640
 a gift.

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.820
 However,

00:32:09.560 --> 00:32:09.980
 look at

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.660
 verse five,

00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:12.540
 to the

00:32:12.540 --> 00:32:13.140
 man who

00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:13.900
 does not

00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:14.460
 work,

00:32:15.560 --> 00:32:16.900
 but trusts

00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.580
 God,

00:32:18.120 --> 00:32:19.440
 who justifies

00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:19.960
 the wicked,

00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:21.620
 his faith

00:32:21.620 --> 00:32:22.640
 is credited

00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:23.820
 as righteousness.

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.200
 You see,

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:25.660
 when we

00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:26.519
 receive

00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.200
 righteousness,

00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:29.340
 it's a

00:32:29.340 --> 00:32:30.480
 gift from

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:30.740
 God,

00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.140
 it's something

00:32:31.140 --> 00:32:31.600
 we don't

00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:32.140
 earn or

00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:32.500
 deserve,

00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:34.120
 we're not

00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:34.840
 cashing in

00:32:34.840 --> 00:32:35.460
 our hard

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:35.740
 earned

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.400
 faith,

00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:38.279
 it is a

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.140
 gift from

00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:39.580
 God.

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:39.619
 God,

00:32:39.859 --> 00:32:40.460
 so that

00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:40.960
 implies

00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.559
 that even

00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:43.019
 faith itself

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:44.419
 is something

00:32:44.419 --> 00:32:45.059
 that God

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.659
 gives to

00:32:45.659 --> 00:32:46.740
 us so

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.220
 that we

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.879
 are enabled

00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:49.079
 to receive

00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:50.159
 righteousness.

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.339
 So it's

00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:52.199
 never dependent

00:32:52.199 --> 00:32:53.139
 about how

00:32:53.139 --> 00:32:53.779
 great or

00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.539
 how high or

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.119
 how low

00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:55.859
 my faith

00:32:55.859 --> 00:32:56.339
 is,

00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:57.059
 or how

00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:57.919
 great my

00:32:57.919 --> 00:32:58.659
 faith is,

00:32:59.419 --> 00:33:00.000
 but the

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:00.819
 faith that

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.539
 God gives

00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:03.039
 me to

00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:03.659
 enable me

00:33:03.659 --> 00:33:04.359
 to believe

00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:05.259
 and trust

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:07.119
 so that

00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:07.500
 I can

00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.379
 be declared

00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:09.140
 righteous,

00:33:09.379 --> 00:33:10.099
 not guilty

00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:11.539
 in God's

00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:11.920
 sight.

00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:13.740
 Well,

00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.160
 you're sitting

00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.579
 there going,

00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:14.879
 well,

00:33:15.660 --> 00:33:16.400
 where do I

00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:16.960
 get this

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:17.720
 faith from?

00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:18.819
 How can I

00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:19.379
 have this

00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:19.859
 faith for

00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:20.359
 myself?

00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:21.339
 Well,

00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:22.039
 that answer,

00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:22.960
 or that

00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:23.680
 question is

00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.299
 answered if

00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:24.759
 you go to

00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:25.539
 chapter 10.

00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:26.819
 Have a look

00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:27.259
 there just

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:27.700
 briefly.

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:28.519
 Romans

00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.440
 chapter 10,

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:32.900
 verse 13.

00:33:33.580 --> 00:33:34.140
 Here's where

00:33:34.140 --> 00:33:34.640
 we get an

00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:35.200
 answer to

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.740
 that question.

00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:36.299
 Well,

00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.299
 how do I

00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:37.840
 get that

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.120
 faith?

00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:38.840
 Where does

00:33:38.840 --> 00:33:39.480
 faith come

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.100
 from for

00:33:40.100 --> 00:33:40.620
 me to be

00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:41.039
 able to

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:41.500
 believe?

00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.160
 So let's

00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:44.620
 pick it up

00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.340
 in chapter

00:33:45.340 --> 00:33:45.759
 10,

00:33:45.840 --> 00:33:46.480
 verse 13.

00:33:46.580 --> 00:33:46.980
 He makes

00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.880
 this statement.

00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.059
 Everyone,

00:33:50.360 --> 00:33:51.220
 religious or

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:51.880
 non-religious,

00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.220
 who calls

00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:53.820
 on the name

00:33:53.820 --> 00:33:54.360
 of the Lord,

00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:55.140
 that is,

00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:55.840
 when it says

00:33:55.840 --> 00:33:56.259
 calls,

00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:56.680
 that is,

00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.500
 who has

00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.259
 faith or

00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:59.180
 trusts in

00:33:59.180 --> 00:33:59.720
 the name

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.080
 of the

00:34:00.080 --> 00:34:00.460
 Lord,

00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:01.400
 will be

00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:01.920
 saved.

00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:03.160
 So we

00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.600
 can agree

00:34:03.600 --> 00:34:03.960
 with that,

00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:04.380
 we get

00:34:04.380 --> 00:34:04.640
 that.

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:05.440
 Everybody

00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:05.840
 who has

00:34:05.840 --> 00:34:07.060
 faith in

00:34:07.060 --> 00:34:07.360
 the name

00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:07.600
 of the

00:34:07.600 --> 00:34:08.119
 Lord will

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:08.840
 be saved.

00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:10.780
 Where does

00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:11.340
 faith come

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:11.619
 from?

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.380
 Well,

00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:13.820
 he answers

00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:14.320
 the question,

00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:15.039
 verse 14,

00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:16.039
 how then can

00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.559
 they call?

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:16.940
 How can

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.220
 they have

00:34:17.220 --> 00:34:17.700
 faith in

00:34:17.700 --> 00:34:17.960
 the one

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.220
 they've

00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:18.420
 not

00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:18.820
 believed

00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.079
 in?

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.180
 And how

00:34:21.180 --> 00:34:21.559
 can they

00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.200
 believe in

00:34:22.200 --> 00:34:22.500
 the one

00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:22.780
 of whom

00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.039
 they've

00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.659
 not heard?

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.559
 And how

00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:25.920
 can they

00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:27.000
 hear without

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.519
 somebody

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.200
 preaching to

00:34:28.200 --> 00:34:28.400
 them?

00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:29.539
 And how

00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.039
 can somebody

00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:30.779
 preach unless

00:34:30.779 --> 00:34:31.179
 they are

00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:31.619
 sent?

00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:33.319
 As it is

00:34:33.319 --> 00:34:33.579
 written,

00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:34.559
 how beautiful

00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.079
 are the

00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:35.480
 feet of

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:35.899
 those who

00:34:35.899 --> 00:34:36.500
 bring good

00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:36.980
 news.

00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:38.879
 But not

00:34:38.879 --> 00:34:39.199
 all the

00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:39.480
 Israelites

00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.379
 accepted the

00:34:40.379 --> 00:34:40.960
 good news.

00:34:41.319 --> 00:34:41.899
 For Isaiah

00:34:41.899 --> 00:34:42.259
 said,

00:34:42.819 --> 00:34:43.079
 Lord,

00:34:43.219 --> 00:34:43.719
 who has

00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:44.239
 believed

00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:45.139
 our message?

00:34:46.259 --> 00:34:46.899
 So how

00:34:46.899 --> 00:34:47.299
 can we

00:34:47.299 --> 00:34:48.379
 have this

00:34:48.379 --> 00:34:48.719
 faith?

00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.379
 How can

00:34:49.379 --> 00:34:50.099
 we believe?

00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:50.859
 Well,

00:34:50.919 --> 00:34:51.359
 the answer,

00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.179
 verse 17,

00:34:52.399 --> 00:34:53.239
 consequently,

00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:55.299
 faith comes

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:56.440
 from hearing

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:57.280
 the message.

00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:58.880
 And the

00:34:58.880 --> 00:34:59.539
 message is

00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.120
 heard through

00:35:00.120 --> 00:35:00.760
 the word

00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:01.880
 of Christ.

00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:03.980
 So,

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:05.080
 as we're

00:35:05.080 --> 00:35:05.660
 reading

00:35:05.660 --> 00:35:06.340
 scripture,

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:06.940
 as we're

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.620
 reading the

00:35:07.620 --> 00:35:08.140
 good news

00:35:08.140 --> 00:35:08.820
 about Jesus

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.220
 Christ,

00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:09.980
 as you

00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.580
 listen,

00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:11.340
 as you

00:35:11.340 --> 00:35:11.860
 hear,

00:35:13.140 --> 00:35:13.980
 so God

00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.860
 is at work

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.620
 in at the

00:35:15.620 --> 00:35:16.240
 same time

00:35:16.240 --> 00:35:16.800
 by his

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.539
 Holy Spirit,

00:35:18.060 --> 00:35:18.680
 that as we

00:35:18.680 --> 00:35:19.340
 hear the

00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:19.800
 good news

00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:20.600
 about Jesus,

00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:22.960
 God,

00:35:23.139 --> 00:35:23.619
 by his

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.039
 Spirit,

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:25.019
 gives us

00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:27.179
 faith that

00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:27.819
 we may be

00:35:27.819 --> 00:35:28.339
 able to

00:35:28.339 --> 00:35:29.900
 respond to

00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:30.360
 him.

00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:32.339
 Other parts

00:35:32.339 --> 00:35:32.539
 of the

00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:33.039
 Bible talk

00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:33.420
 about it,

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:34.179
 rebirth,

00:35:35.739 --> 00:35:36.940
 a renewing

00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.259
 of our

00:35:37.259 --> 00:35:37.759
 life.

00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:40.059
 God gives

00:35:40.059 --> 00:35:40.980
 us faith.

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.819
 As we hear

00:35:41.819 --> 00:35:42.519
 the good news

00:35:42.519 --> 00:35:43.019
 of Jesus

00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:43.699
 explained,

00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:45.400
 God works

00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:45.900
 through his

00:35:45.900 --> 00:35:46.799
 word by his

00:35:46.799 --> 00:35:48.299
 Spirit and

00:35:48.299 --> 00:35:49.239
 enables us

00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:50.159
 to have

00:35:50.159 --> 00:35:51.659
 faith and

00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.339
 to trust

00:35:52.339 --> 00:35:53.379
 in him.

00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.259
 So,

00:35:54.339 --> 00:35:54.920
 maybe you're

00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:55.339
 here this

00:35:55.339 --> 00:35:55.679
 morning,

00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:56.219
 you're thinking,

00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.519
 I always

00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.599
 feel guilty

00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:59.460
 before God.

00:35:59.839 --> 00:36:00.440
 Maybe you've

00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:01.379
 never trusted

00:36:01.379 --> 00:36:01.739
 him.

00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.319
 And as you

00:36:03.319 --> 00:36:03.759
 hear,

00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:05.399
 we can cry

00:36:05.399 --> 00:36:06.019
 out to God

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:06.299
 and say,

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.500
 give me that

00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:09.399
 faith that I

00:36:09.399 --> 00:36:10.299
 might trust

00:36:10.299 --> 00:36:11.339
 in him

00:36:11.339 --> 00:36:11.699
 alone.

00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.539
 Maybe,

00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:14.059
 on the other

00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:14.259
 hand,

00:36:14.319 --> 00:36:15.039
 you struggle

00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:15.519
 with your

00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.259
 sinful life

00:36:16.259 --> 00:36:16.960
 and you're

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.839
 always bogged

00:36:17.839 --> 00:36:18.559
 down by the

00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.039
 fact that,

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:19.659
 well,

00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:20.179
 I do

00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:20.639
 sin and

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.139
 I get

00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:21.759
 things wrong

00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.059
 and I'm

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:22.899
 so guilty.

00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:24.879
 We need

00:36:24.879 --> 00:36:25.339
 to look at

00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:25.980
 how God

00:36:25.980 --> 00:36:26.839
 views us,

00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:28.079
 that he

00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:28.899
 declares us

00:36:28.899 --> 00:36:30.039
 as righteous

00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:30.679
 in his

00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.179
 sight,

00:36:31.839 --> 00:36:32.500
 a gift

00:36:32.500 --> 00:36:33.219
 from God

00:36:33.219 --> 00:36:34.480
 through faith

00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:35.259
 in the Lord

00:36:35.259 --> 00:36:35.859
 Jesus and

00:36:35.859 --> 00:36:36.500
 that status

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:37.119
 will never

00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:37.759
 change.

00:36:38.500 --> 00:36:38.859
 You are

00:36:38.859 --> 00:36:40.440
 his forever,

00:36:40.759 --> 00:36:41.359
 which will

00:36:41.359 --> 00:36:41.960
 enable you

00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:42.559
 and encourage

00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:43.119
 you to go

00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:43.619
 on living

00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:44.159
 for him,

00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:45.639
 knowing that

00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.199
 we do not

00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:47.059
 have to sin

00:36:47.059 --> 00:36:48.279
 any longer.

00:36:49.539 --> 00:36:49.920
 So,

00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.500
 faith alone,

00:36:52.779 --> 00:36:53.880
 it's faith

00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.659
 in the person

00:36:54.659 --> 00:36:55.259
 of Jesus

00:36:55.259 --> 00:36:56.400
 Christ and

00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:56.860
 as we

00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:58.000
 exercise that

00:36:58.000 --> 00:36:58.880
 gift of

00:36:58.880 --> 00:36:59.500
 faith from

00:36:59.500 --> 00:36:59.880
 God,

00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:00.779
 we are

00:37:00.779 --> 00:37:01.259
 declared

00:37:01.259 --> 00:37:01.900
 righteous

00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:03.440
 in his

00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:03.900
 sight.

00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:06.019
 Let's pray

00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:06.639
 together.

00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:07.879
 God,

00:37:11.719 --> 00:37:12.619
 we are

00:37:12.619 --> 00:37:16.119
 you

00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:18.420
 guilty

00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.179
 of

00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:23.900
 you

00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.519
 you

00:37:24.519 --> 00:37:26.460
 you

00:37:27.699 --> 00:37:31.739
 you

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:36.579
 you