WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.419 You may be seated. 00:00:04.419 --> 00:00:05.179 Good morning. 00:00:06.740 --> 00:00:11.560 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm one of the pastors here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:11.560 --> 00:00:15.280 ! And it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:24.039 I have been telling you for four or five months now that we are heading back into the book of Romans. 00:00:24.219 --> 00:00:27.120 And in fact, this morning, we are back in the book of Romans. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:31.400 So I'm going to invite you to turn with me there now, Romans chapter 4. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:39.260 And I'll remind you that the book of Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul in the 50s A.D. 00:00:39.900 --> 00:00:47.579 It is called Romans for a very simple reason, which is that the Apostle Paul wrote it to the churches in the city of Rome. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:54.560 And it is about the good news of the gospel, the news of Jesus' death and his resurrection. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:01:01.800 I want to call your attention to page 7 of your worship guide, where you'll see this quite bold quote, bold claim. 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:11.540 Paul's letter to the Romans is arguably the single most important piece of literature in the history of the world. 00:01:11.540 --> 00:01:19.440 And I tell you that to ask you to sit up and take notice. 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:33.480 There may be few things that are more important this week than learning what Paul has to tell us in this letter. 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:35.620 So we want to learn more. 00:01:35.700 --> 00:01:37.620 We want to learn more about Romans, about this book. 00:01:38.100 --> 00:01:44.600 This passage that's before us this morning teaches us some of the fundamentals of human nature. 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:51.159 It's about what we've already talked about in our confession of faith, which is the concept of justification. 00:01:52.219 --> 00:01:55.060 And so with that, I invite you to turn with me. 00:01:55.580 --> 00:01:56.939 Romans chapter 4. 00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:57.900 You can turn in your Bible. 00:01:58.020 --> 00:02:00.240 It's on page 7 of your worship guide. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.319 And I want to remind you that this is God's word. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:10.620 Jeremiah chapter 23 tells us that God's word is like a hammer that breaks a rock into pieces, 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:18.299 which means that there is nothing so powerful that it can stand against God's word. 00:02:18.979 --> 00:02:23.579 And so that's why we read now Romans chapter 4, starting at verse 1. 00:02:23.580 --> 00:02:31.480 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather, according to the flesh? 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:41.100 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 00:02:42.140 --> 00:02:44.340 For what does the scripture say? 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:50.780 Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:56.400 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:06.939 Our Father in heaven, we praise you again that you do speak to us through your word. 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:14.639 We ask that we would not take that for granted, that we would continue to marvel at it, to delight in it. 00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:17.379 We ask that you would honor your promises this morning. 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:26.000 We would honor your promise in Isaiah chapter 55, that your word does not return to you void, but it accomplishes your purposes. 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:31.439 So we ask that you would accomplish great things in our lives, our hearts, and our minds, 00:03:31.819 --> 00:03:38.280 as we turn to this great letter that is also the very words of God. 00:03:39.139 --> 00:03:42.859 We ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:03:42.859 --> 00:03:43.000 Amen. 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:56.199 Samsonite, the luggage company, was started in Denver in 1910, and very shortly after they were started, 00:03:56.300 --> 00:04:01.500 they began their advertisements based around this idea of a stress test. 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:09.740 So in the 1910s, one of their first advertisements showed a Samsonite suitcase, and it was opened up, 00:04:09.740 --> 00:04:17.259 and then on top of the cover there was a board, and standing on top of the board were four full-grown men. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:22.660 Which is to say, look how strong our suitcase is. 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:31.300 If you fast forward to 1976, they ran a TV commercial where the Samsonite suitcase was stress tested by an elephant. 00:04:31.960 --> 00:04:33.100 You can find this on YouTube. 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:36.080 And as it starts, printed on the screen, it says, 00:04:36.260 --> 00:04:43.160 the Samsonite suitcase used in this film was not reinforced in any way for the purpose. 00:04:43.980 --> 00:04:45.680 And then we get to watch this elephant. 00:04:45.840 --> 00:04:50.020 He takes the suitcase, he drags it with his trunk, he kicks it with his legs. 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:52.120 But you think, well, it can be dragged and kicked. 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:54.519 Then the elephant steps on it. 00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:58.759 After he steps on it, he sits on it. 00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:04.680 And then the elephant takes it in his trunk, and he throws it up in the air. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:08.299 The advertisement ends by saying this, 00:05:08.579 --> 00:05:12.939 Samsonite, the strength you need to travel. 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:18.339 Our luggage can hold up under an elephant, 00:05:19.100 --> 00:05:23.379 which means it can hold up under anything. 00:05:24.740 --> 00:05:29.220 Here, the beginning of chapter 4 of Romans, 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:38.240 Paul is stress testing everything he taught in chapters 1 through 3. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:47.759 Can what Paul just taught hold up under the test of Abraham? 00:05:48.620 --> 00:05:50.240 Now, I say that, and you might be thinking, 00:05:50.400 --> 00:05:53.600 well, what did Paul teach in Romans chapters 1 through 3? 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:58.079 We haven't looked at it in 9 or 10 months. 00:05:58.400 --> 00:06:03.000 In Romans chapters 1 through 3, Paul is working to make one point. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:05.480 And the one point he's working to make is this, 00:06:06.180 --> 00:06:09.079 everyone deserves God's wrath. 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:14.480 Chapter 1 of Romans, he makes the argument that Gentiles, 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:18.620 that is non-Jews, non-religious people, deserve God's wrath. 00:06:19.300 --> 00:06:26.259 Then in chapter 2, he sets his focus, his lens, on Jews, religious people. 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:28.300 And he says, you know what, it's not just Gentiles. 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:30.699 Jews also deserve God's wrath. 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:34.240 Then in chapter 3, he proceeds to sum up his argument 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:36.819 and tie together the loose ends. 00:06:37.159 --> 00:06:41.479 The summary comes in Romans chapter 3, verse 23, which says this, 00:06:42.139 --> 00:06:47.680 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:06:48.839 --> 00:06:51.459 That's Romans chapters 1 through 3. 00:06:51.740 --> 00:06:53.759 Of course, we don't want to forget the next verse. 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:56.139 He doesn't just say everyone deserves God's wrath. 00:06:56.139 --> 00:07:01.479 Verse 24, and are justified by his grace as a gift 00:07:01.479 --> 00:07:05.639 through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. 00:07:06.479 --> 00:07:08.319 So everyone deserves God's wrath. 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:11.039 There is a way out. 00:07:11.419 --> 00:07:16.319 The only way out is through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:26.740 Okay, Paul, let's see if your theory holds up for Abraham. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:32.219 Because to the Jews, if anyone was saved by works, 00:07:32.420 --> 00:07:35.620 if there was anyone who did not need God's grace, 00:07:35.779 --> 00:07:37.480 it was Abraham himself. 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:39.759 And this might not make sense to you. 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:43.060 As we've looked at Abraham over the last four or five months, 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:45.000 we've seen his failures, right? 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:47.660 We've seen the places where Abraham fell short. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:50.180 But if you were a Jew living in the first century, 00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:55.759 Abraham might as well be George Washington to Americans. 00:07:56.840 --> 00:07:58.699 I cannot tell a lie. 00:08:00.279 --> 00:08:05.100 Abraham might as well be Mary to the Roman Catholics, right? 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:07.439 Practically sinless. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:12.860 Maybe your suitcase works most of the time, 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:16.339 but can it stand up under an elephant? 00:08:18.660 --> 00:08:23.800 Maybe most people deserve God's wrath. 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:28.680 Maybe most people need to receive God's grace as a gift. 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:30.800 What about Abraham, though? 00:08:31.659 --> 00:08:33.539 What about Abraham? 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:35.379 That's the question of verse 1. 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:38.139 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:42.360 our forefather, according to the flesh? 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:45.220 Now this phrase, the flesh, can be confusing 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:50.100 because it means different things in different places in Scripture. 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:54.159 And so you can't just know one meaning and apply it across the board. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:58.100 You have to know how Paul is using it in each instance. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:00.440 Paul uses it in at least two or three different ways. 00:09:00.820 --> 00:09:02.940 We're not going to go into all of those this morning. 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:07.500 I'll simply tell you that here, when he's talking about the flesh, 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:12.420 Paul is talking about your resume or your accomplishments. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:21.840 When he says the flesh, he is saying the good things that you have done in this life. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:28.139 What was gained by Abraham, then, according to all the great things he did? 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:34.180 What was gained by Abraham because of what he did in chapter 22, 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:37.100 when he bound Isaac when God told him? 00:09:38.100 --> 00:09:46.320 What was gained by Abraham for making sure his son Isaac married someone from his own people? 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:55.320 Verse 2 confirms this for us, clarifies that flesh here goes along with justified by works. 00:09:55.900 --> 00:09:59.120 Now justified is another word we need to make sure we're crystal clear on. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:02.360 We already talked about it this morning in our confession of faith. 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:09.100 To be justified means that you have right standing before God. 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:17.040 If you are justified, your life is free of sin and it is full of righteousness. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:20.420 So remember what we confessed this morning. 00:10:20.800 --> 00:10:24.500 With justification, we talked about how we become innocent before God. 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:28.220 I told you about the double imputation, the two givings. 00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:31.139 We give our sin to Jesus. 00:10:32.040 --> 00:10:34.879 Jesus gives his righteousness to us. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:36.980 There are two declarations. 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:43.740 God declares us innocent and he declares us righteous. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:46.899 That's the basics of the gospel. 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:51.840 Very basics of the gospel means that we begin with the bad news, 00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:57.639 which is that humanity has been called to worship, love, follow, serve, and obey God. 00:10:58.259 --> 00:11:04.200 But we fail in that every single day in every way. 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:07.920 So as we talk about justification, we need to know what it is. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.040 It's those two declarations. 00:11:10.580 --> 00:11:12.640 Declared innocent, declared righteous. 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:18.900 We also need to be clear that in and of ourselves, we are in fact not justified. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:21.379 We are not innocent, not righteous. 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:24.160 Come back with me to verse 2. 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:35.740 Therefore, it means if Abraham is justified by his works, not by Jesus' death, but by his resume, then he can boast. 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:44.139 If Abraham is good because of his resume, then he can brag, then he's good, then he's covered. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:49.220 But verse 2 tells us at the end, but not before God. 00:11:50.180 --> 00:11:55.799 Now this is confusing if you just read it on the surface level, because it can sound like, you know what? 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:59.840 Abraham can boast before whoever he wants to boast before. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:02.860 As long as he doesn't boast in front of God. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:05.519 As long as he's boasting to other people, he's fine. 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:07.700 That's actually not what this passage is saying. 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:12.399 When it says, but not before God, it's saying the hypothetical is false. 00:12:13.040 --> 00:12:19.120 Okay, if Abraham was justified by works, but not before God, meaning no, actually he wasn't. 00:12:19.540 --> 00:12:22.660 The hypothetical if is false. 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:33.819 If Abraham is innocent before God because of his resume, then he can boast, but he isn't, so he can't. 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:39.819 Even Abraham needs God's grace. 00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:48.039 Does Abraham disprove chapters 1 through 3 of Romans? 00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:50.120 No. 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:52.879 How do we know? 00:12:53.799 --> 00:13:01.720 How do we know that Abraham, this super example of God's people, is just like the rest of us? 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:10.500 Well, that takes us to verse 3, which tells us righteousness comes by faith. 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:13.960 And here he quotes Genesis chapter 15. 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:18.820 Scott already read for us this morning when he says, 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:23.500 For what does the scripture say? 00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:29.600 Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:33.500 Counted here is that declaration that we're talking about. 00:13:33.560 --> 00:13:39.560 When it's counted, it means that God declared him to have a status. 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:44.000 We talked already about those two declarations, those two statuses. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.799 Both innocent and righteous. 00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:50.199 And so the point is this. 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:56.079 Abraham's righteousness did not come by works. 00:13:56.819 --> 00:14:00.799 Abraham's righteousness came by belief. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:05.759 Abraham's righteousness did not come by what he did. 00:14:06.859 --> 00:14:10.559 Abraham's righteousness came by faith. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:16.259 Now, it's easy at this point for us to still mess this up because some people will say, 00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:20.299 Oh, well, Abraham still did do something. 00:14:21.359 --> 00:14:22.500 Abraham believed. 00:14:22.719 --> 00:14:25.219 That belief is a type of work then. 00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:29.299 And so we can still look to Abraham as some kind of example. 00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:30.899 The problem is this. 00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:37.019 Faith is the instrument of justification. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:40.299 It is the means by which justification comes. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:46.159 It is not the basis or the foundation of justification. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:49.199 Faith is a means or an instrument. 00:14:49.439 --> 00:14:51.639 It is not the grounds or the basis. 00:14:51.819 --> 00:14:59.120 In our confession of faith this morning, we said justification is received by faith alone. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:07.100 We did not say justification is earned by faith alone. 00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:12.120 It's received by faith alone, not earned by faith alone. 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:19.000 Charles Spurgeon, a famous Baptist preacher in the 1800s, explained it this way. 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:23.220 He said, Faith is the pipe and grace is the water. 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.480 It's just an instrument. 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.960 It's just a means. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:31.639 The pipe is merely the means by which the water flows. 00:15:32.660 --> 00:15:35.920 The water is merely received by the pipe. 00:15:37.660 --> 00:15:41.960 Abraham's righteousness merely received by faith. 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:49.600 Is it true that everyone deserves God's wrath? 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:59.139 Is it true that everyone must receive God's grace as a gift? 00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:01.540 Yes. 00:16:02.180 --> 00:16:07.580 And it's so true that it's even true of Abraham. 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:11.879 That's how true it is. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:17.960 Even Abraham had to receive God's mercy and grace by faith. 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:34.180 Now, I told you earlier, Romans is the most important work of literature in the history of the world. 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:36.939 And now I'm going to tell you why. 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:50.699 Romans is the most important piece of literature in the history of the world because it tells us things that are fundamental and universal to human nature. 00:16:51.359 --> 00:16:54.359 It tells us about the human nature, human experience. 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:58.779 And what justification tells us about the human experience is this. 00:17:00.180 --> 00:17:06.819 The human heart has a burning desire to be right. 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:14.039 The human heart has a burning desire to be right. 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:22.899 The human heart has this burning desire to justify its right to exist, to be enough, to be good. 00:17:23.179 --> 00:17:28.279 Even wicked people are trying to be good by their own definition. 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:36.379 I told you before that when I was a college student, I was part of our college ministry of our denomination of RUF. 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:41.420 And in my junior year, there were some major conflicts within that ministry. 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:44.680 And I ended up sort of being collateral damage for two of them. 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:51.660 And I met at one point with my campus pastor, my version of Jonathan Clark, you know, 15, 16 years ago. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:56.720 And he was trying to work with the people involved for some repentance and reconciliation. 00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:59.600 And I was sort of involved in the outside of all of it. 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:01.320 And he said this to me, which I'll never forget. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:13.039 He said, I have never met a force more powerful than a person's need to be right. 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:20.120 Never met a force more powerful than a person's need to be right. 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:23.539 He was saying that because he was in the middle of conflict, right? 00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:29.019 And he was trying to convince people to admit where they had failed and fallen short. 00:18:31.060 --> 00:18:38.140 If you have been a Christian for a while, everything I told you at the beginning, you've already heard. 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:41.140 You already know about justification. 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:44.220 You've heard that word before. 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:48.900 Or, you know, you might be tempted as you're listening to think, man, I'm so glad we have this review. 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:52.960 Because I'm sure there are other people who need to hear this. 00:18:54.279 --> 00:19:01.339 Now, I want to tell you, if you're ever in the Bible and you think that to yourself, you are in a really dangerous place spiritually. 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:07.460 Anytime we think, man, I'm so glad other people can learn this truth from the Bible. 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:14.480 Because the reality is we're always digging deeper, looking and examining our own hearts. 00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:25.240 Do you have a hard time admitting that you're wrong? 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:37.740 Is criticism extremely painful for you? 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:44.059 And does it make you feel at times like you're going to crumble? 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:58.379 Do you find that you often or maybe even constantly are defending yourself? 00:19:58.380 --> 00:20:10.200 Do you find yourself from time to time or maybe frequently comparing yourself to other people? 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:23.600 If, by the way, I would say all of those things are probably issues for all of us at some level. 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:34.160 If you truly and fully find your standing with Jesus Christ, 00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:37.920 not a single one of those will be an issue for you. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.180 And if you find your standing with Jesus Christ, 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:46.240 if you find your standing, your rightness fully in Jesus Christ, 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:50.660 you will have no problem admitting that you're wrong. 00:20:52.420 --> 00:21:00.039 If you know that you're so bad that Jesus had to come die for you, 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:03.680 and when you receive criticism, you'll say, of course. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.080 It's actually worse than you think. 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:10.980 You think I'm, you know, this bad. I'm actually a lot worse. 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:13.399 You don't even know how bad it is. 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:19.699 And I can say that because my standing actually is based on Jesus' life. 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:26.579 I'm not justified in the flesh. Those aren't things I'm leaning on. 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:29.839 I'm leaning on Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:33.919 Since that's my footing, my grounding, my foundation, 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:38.200 anything you have to say to me actually can't wipe that out. 00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:41.960 There's nothing that can remove that. 00:21:45.820 --> 00:21:51.500 Romans doesn't just tell us about the desperate need of the human heart to be right. 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:59.660 also tells us of our desperate struggle working to be right. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:06.200 Because what do we do in our lives if we're not trying to prove that we are worthy and worth it, 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:07.440 that we're a good person? 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:13.119 Whether it's our romance, our accomplishments, our lifestyle, our wealth, our education, our social class. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:16.519 I'm a good person because I belong to the right political party. 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:19.819 I'm not crazy like those people on the other side. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:23.160 I'm okay because I'm educated and accomplished and disciplined. 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:27.940 I'm okay because I know what matters in life unlike those other people who are so distracted. 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:32.299 I'm okay because I'm a good Christian who comes to church every single Sunday. 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:36.539 I'm okay because I'm pretty attractive and I have great style. 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:41.240 I'm okay because I'm really funny and people like me. 00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:46.879 I'm okay because I've never been divorced. 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:51.740 I'm okay because I've never declared bankruptcy. 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:55.639 I'm okay because we're not like those other couples. 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.720 We've never had to go to counseling. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:02.900 By the way, if you've ever said that or thought that, 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:06.980 it's probably a good sign that you're overdue to be in counseling. 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:12.180 Find this on the back of your worship guide. 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:19.059 We can scarcely conceive of ourselves any more apart from our doing 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:22.019 or what Christians call works. 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:28.859 We construct ladders out of whatever materials we have at hand, 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.440 shoddy or not, 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:37.539 and erect scoreboards where they do not belong. 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:43.480 Everyone has a law. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:47.920 They're trying to observe a scoreboard. 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:50.119 They're trying to rack up, 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:53.459 which takes us right back to Romans chapter 2, 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.459 the very beginning. 00:23:54.659 --> 00:23:55.579 Paul makes this point. 00:23:55.719 --> 00:23:58.699 Look, whatever standard you have, 00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:01.859 you can't live up to your own standard. 00:24:03.219 --> 00:24:06.439 Everyone in this world is a hypocrite. 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:09.000 Even, let's say, for the sake of argument, 00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:10.599 you're on the right team. 00:24:11.919 --> 00:24:15.439 You're still not living up to what that team is about. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:22.200 So whether you've been a Christian your entire life, 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:28.960 or you're just asking questions about Christianity at this point, 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:31.380 the question of this passage is this. 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:39.420 Where do you look for your worth in this world? 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:48.519 Where do you look for your worth in this world? 00:24:49.600 --> 00:24:52.840 What thing, if you lost it, would you say, 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:55.320 it is all over? 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:05.180 Christian, there is only one sure and stable place to look, 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:07.000 and it is this, 00:25:07.580 --> 00:25:11.019 the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.500 It is Jesus' death 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:17.320 that takes the penalty for our sins. 00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:18.960 His resurrection, 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:21.160 reminding us that he has conquered death 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:23.420 and his life is credited to us. 00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:27.460 That is the place and the only place 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:31.660 you will find freedom and joy. 00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:39.060 That is where the treadmill ends 00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:41.960 and rest begins. 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.580 If you have a good memory, 00:25:49.060 --> 00:25:50.320 you may remember last year, 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:52.200 I told you many times, 00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:57.620 the book of Romans is often called the fifth gospel. 00:25:57.619 --> 00:26:00.639 And it's often called the fifth gospel 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:03.839 because whatever Paul teaches, 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:07.000 Jesus taught first. 00:26:08.479 --> 00:26:12.319 Jesus taught this same thing in Matthew chapter 11. 00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:14.759 Come to me, 00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:18.719 all who labor and are heavy laden, 00:26:19.719 --> 00:26:23.500 and I will give you rest. 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:26.640 Take my yoke upon you 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:28.319 and learn from me, 00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:32.759 for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:36.599 and you will find rest for your souls. 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:40.839 For my yoke is easy 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:44.279 and my burden is light. 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:52.960 Look to Jesus 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:56.859 for your worth in this world. 00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:02.240 It's the only easy yoke 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:06.599 and the only light burden. 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.119 Let's pray. 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:12.000 Our Father in heaven, 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.759 we thank you 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:15.980 that you don't meet us 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:20.000 with a longer to-do list. 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:23.039 You don't come to us 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:26.640 to tell us to work harder or faster. 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:30.200 Instead, you meet us 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.440 with your mercy and your grace. 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:35.140 We ask that we would rest in and on that, 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:36.220 that it would change us 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:37.839 from the inside out, 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:40.319 that we would be people filled with joy 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:42.000 because we know 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:44.000 we've been justified by you. 00:27:44.139 --> 00:27:45.359 We ask all of these things 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.939 in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:47.720 Amen. 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:50.599 I invite you to stand 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.539 for our closing hymn.