WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.000 Good morning everyone, I'm going to read our Bible passage, which is from Romans chapter 5, and we're going to start at verse 12 and it's on page 1132. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:18.580 So Romans 5, and I'll start from verse 12 to the end of the chapter. 00:00:18.579 --> 00:00:33.700 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people because all sinned. 00:00:34.899 --> 00:00:43.899 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. 00:00:43.899 --> 00:00:57.539 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. 00:00:59.299 --> 00:01:02.000 But the gift is not like the trespass. 00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:13.359 For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:15.420 overflow to the many. 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:22.080 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin. 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:31.680 The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:50.180 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ? 00:01:50.180 --> 00:02:20.159 For if, by the trespass, the one man, the trespass, the one man, the many will be made sinners. 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:24.539 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. 00:02:25.939 --> 00:02:41.639 But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:02:42.780 --> 00:02:43.079 Amen. 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:43.180 Amen. 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:44.120 Great. 00:02:44.200 --> 00:02:44.700 Thank you, Michael. 00:02:44.760 --> 00:02:46.880 Let's pray as we come to God's word. 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:47.600 Let's pray together. 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:55.500 Heavenly Father, we do pray and ask for your help this morning. 00:02:55.500 --> 00:03:09.620 Lord, I'm very conscious of not just my own personal weakness, but just sort of the weakness of the moment of us just trying to sit and listen and concentrate and the things that might distract us. 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:16.599 And yet, Lord, we recognize that hearing your word is the most urgent and important thing for us this morning. 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:20.259 So please be at work by your spirit. 00:03:20.519 --> 00:03:21.139 Do us good. 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:25.219 Help what I say to be true and useful. 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:28.799 And help all of us to have tender hearts to you, we pray. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:30.599 In Jesus' name. 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:31.599 Amen. 00:03:31.979 --> 00:03:32.379 Amen. 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:35.079 I want to start this morning with a simple question. 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:37.439 It's a profound question, but a simple one. 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:38.900 Who are you? 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:41.120 Who are you? 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:47.360 It's one of those questions, I think, as you think about it more and more, it gets harder and harder, right? 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:50.060 So you might go, well, I'm Steve. 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:50.900 That's an easy question. 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:51.860 I am Steve. 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:55.900 But then you think, well, actually, no, I'm more than just that. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:57.020 I'm more than my name. 00:03:57.259 --> 00:03:58.480 I'm a husband. 00:03:58.599 --> 00:03:59.180 I'm a father. 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:03.280 I'm also more than my relationships as well. 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:08.360 I don't really want to get into the weeds of all the different ways that you might identify yourself this morning, 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:15.540 only to show you that if you keep asking that who are you question, you eventually end up at the root of it all, 00:04:15.940 --> 00:04:20.300 which is the Romans 5, 12 to 21 answer, which is something like this. 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:23.960 I am a son or daughter of Adam. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:29.240 Which means simply, really, at its very root, who am I? 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:31.879 I am part of the human race. 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:36.500 That regardless of whatever else I add afterwards, this is who I am. 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:38.360 I am a son of Adam. 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:41.579 It doesn't matter whether I'm black or white, rich or poor. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:46.319 It doesn't matter whether I've got PhDs and masters coming out of my ears 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:49.740 or whether I went to the University of Life and the School of Hard Knocks. 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:51.659 All of us are people. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:57.680 Born as babies into the world, not by our own choice, not in a location that we decided, 00:04:58.139 --> 00:05:01.279 not with the circumstances that we could have designed for ourselves. 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:12.319 I am, you are, body, mind and spirit, a human person, living, breathing, loving and working. 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:18.259 And Romans 5 says that that sort of core fundamental identity that we all share, 00:05:18.359 --> 00:05:23.119 that identity, that humanity comes with a huge problem. 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:24.299 Look at verse 12. 00:05:24.300 --> 00:05:38.120 Here it is. 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:46.160 My humanity, your humanity, given to us by Adam, comes with the problem of sin and death. 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:50.079 Sin and death enter the world through him, it says. 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:54.220 In other words, this is our inheritance along with our identity. 00:05:55.019 --> 00:05:56.800 Our inheritance from the one man. 00:05:58.280 --> 00:05:59.500 There's no getting away from this. 00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:06.420 The Bible is really clear that Adam, whilst being an ordinary man, just like us, 00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:10.540 was unlike us by being in an extraordinary position. 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:15.500 So in Adam, humanity is in some senses on probation. 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:19.779 So humanity is being put to the test in Adam. 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:23.939 The whole fate of the human race is resting on his shoulders in the garden. 00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:28.000 And the question is something like, will we obey? 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.040 And so we're tied up with Adam. 00:06:32.180 --> 00:06:35.180 Not just kind of biologically, but morally and spiritually. 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:37.139 He's our head, our representative. 00:06:38.339 --> 00:06:41.759 Will Adam obey and bring life to humanity? 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.000 Or will he, like the fallen angels before him, 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:47.860 reject God's right to rule and bring down with him the whole human race? 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:52.439 Now, this idea of representation we've thought about, haven't we, 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:53.759 with the children earlier, 00:06:53.960 --> 00:06:58.379 where in sport an individual carries with him or her the hopes of the nation. 00:06:58.500 --> 00:07:00.020 If they win, we win. 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:01.180 If they lose, we lose. 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:02.780 And it's like that in a way here. 00:07:02.840 --> 00:07:04.280 All of humanity on his shoulders. 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:06.439 But there's an obvious distinction, isn't there? 00:07:07.460 --> 00:07:09.600 It's not a penalty kick or a game of cricket. 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:12.840 It's not a matter of skill with everyone, including Adam, 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:14.500 willing himself to win. 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:17.939 This is not really a matter of will like that. 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:19.500 It's a matter of desire. 00:07:20.980 --> 00:07:26.660 We're told in Genesis 3 that Adam desires to be like God. 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:29.660 And so he eats the forbidden fruit. 00:07:30.980 --> 00:07:32.759 He desires rebellion. 00:07:34.019 --> 00:07:35.620 And so pursues it. 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:37.519 And Adam falls. 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:39.439 And so, verse 12, 00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:43.240 sin enters the world and death comes to all people 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:45.160 because all sins. 00:07:45.460 --> 00:07:46.660 Or if you're looking down at your Bible, 00:07:46.780 --> 00:07:47.980 as verse 15 puts it, 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:51.439 the many died by the trespass of the one man. 00:07:53.340 --> 00:07:54.759 Now, there's lots to say about this, right? 00:07:55.259 --> 00:07:58.680 And I know in a sense it's sort of abstract and complicated, 00:07:58.860 --> 00:07:59.939 but it is really important. 00:08:00.699 --> 00:08:02.579 I want you to notice with me very firstly 00:08:02.579 --> 00:08:05.600 that sin and death is not a natural thing. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:09.100 We often talk like it is, don't we? 00:08:09.640 --> 00:08:10.800 You know, when someone screws up, 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:11.879 we often say something like, 00:08:12.400 --> 00:08:13.240 oh, he's only human. 00:08:15.960 --> 00:08:19.580 But screwing up is not actually essential to our humanity. 00:08:19.780 --> 00:08:20.980 We're not made like that. 00:08:21.140 --> 00:08:22.220 Adam brought that in. 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:25.340 We weren't designed to sin, get old, and die. 00:08:25.700 --> 00:08:27.600 Rather, death itself is a kind of condemnation 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:31.180 on humanity because of the sin of Adam. 00:08:31.180 --> 00:08:34.720 It's why sin and death hurt so much. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:36.799 If you're grieving, it's why it hurts so much 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:41.240 because death is an unnatural imposter into our life. 00:08:42.060 --> 00:08:44.019 Verse 16 puts the judgment this way. 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:47.919 The judgment followed one's sin and brought condemnation. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:52.399 So that, verse 17, death reigned through one man. 00:08:54.180 --> 00:08:56.240 To go back to the image of the sports ground, 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:58.440 our representative lost, the penalty was missed, 00:08:58.539 --> 00:09:00.539 the match was lost, the catch was dropped. 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:02.319 We all lost in Adam. 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:07.319 Sin entered and we took on his status, losers, 00:09:08.339 --> 00:09:11.740 and faced with him the condemnation of those who lost. 00:09:14.059 --> 00:09:16.240 I don't purport to be able to work out 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:17.399 what's going on in your head right now, 00:09:17.439 --> 00:09:18.019 but maybe you're thinking, 00:09:18.179 --> 00:09:19.240 well, that seems a bit unfair, Steve. 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:23.439 Are you saying that we are guilty in Adam 00:09:23.439 --> 00:09:25.779 outside of anything that we have done wrong? 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:28.639 Don't condemn me for Adam's sin. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:30.000 Give me a chance, God. 00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:33.819 Well, you don't get the answers to all of those questions in the passage, 00:09:33.959 --> 00:09:37.259 but Paul does say in verse 13 that our actions do matter. 00:09:38.319 --> 00:09:40.379 He tells you that after Adam, a law was added, 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:42.839 a law that was given by God to Moses, 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:47.099 and that law is given for the purpose of what he calls counting sin, 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:48.519 adding it up. 00:09:48.519 --> 00:09:51.340 And it's that sin that we are condemned for, 00:09:51.560 --> 00:09:53.159 because it turns out we're no better than Adam, 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:55.399 and our own actions have consequences, 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:57.060 even if we're not in Adam's position. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:09:59.460 But still he points out, 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:02.060 we don't need the law to condemn us, 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:04.100 because even before Moses gave the law, 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:05.379 people still died. 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:08.259 Not as lawbreakers, for there is no law, 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:10.420 but as inheritors of the guilt of Adam, 00:10:11.060 --> 00:10:13.000 enough to condemn us to death. 00:10:13.659 --> 00:10:15.460 Nevertheless, he says, verse 14, 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:20.159 death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:24.600 even over those who did not sin by breaking a command as Adam did, 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:26.500 who is a pattern of the one to come. 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:30.440 Maybe it helps to think about it like this. 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:33.460 Imagine, as you grow up, 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.220 you can see in yourself, can't you, 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:36.840 that the family traits, 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:38.920 that you can't seem to get rid of, 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:39.639 or shake. 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:44.080 Maybe it's the baldness of your maternal grandfather, 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:44.740 for example. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.899 And try as you may, 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.560 it comes and gets you. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:51.879 Maybe it's the metabolism of your father, 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:54.240 or the eyesight of your mother, 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:56.139 or the gray hair of your auntie. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:59.720 We here then inherit, don't we, 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:03.040 the ultimate family trait of all humanity. 00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:04.180 It's unmistakable. 00:11:04.179 --> 00:11:06.479 You see it around you all the time. 00:11:07.179 --> 00:11:09.219 It's the family trait of death. 00:11:10.219 --> 00:11:13.219 And all of us, without exception, 00:11:14.099 --> 00:11:15.639 will die. 00:11:16.359 --> 00:11:17.500 So who am I? 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.639 I am a son of Adam. 00:11:20.199 --> 00:11:22.739 And what happens to sons or daughters of Adam? 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.979 We die. 00:11:25.439 --> 00:11:27.899 In condemnation for Adam's sin, 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:31.459 and in the counting up of our own rebellion, 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:33.879 no one has escaped. 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:36.420 Not a single person. 00:11:37.280 --> 00:11:38.639 Walk around a graveyard, 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:39.980 and you will see it. 00:11:40.519 --> 00:11:44.040 No one has ever avoided the family likeness of humanity, 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:47.100 except for one person. 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:50.000 Jesus Christ. 00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:52.680 Jesus Christ, we're told in this passage, 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:54.100 is born as a second Adam. 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:56.820 He is born, as it puts it in verse 14, 00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:58.620 in the pattern of Adam. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:00.740 Jesus is a new representative. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.779 Jesus is God in flesh, 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:04.060 a real man, 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:08.019 united in frail, broken flesh, 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:09.500 but unique in his perfection, 00:12:10.100 --> 00:12:11.440 born of a virgin woman, 00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:13.200 but conceived by the Holy Spirit. 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:15.899 And this man, Jesus, 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.879 did not fall into disobedience, 00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:20.899 but obediently lived his life 00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:22.879 in full submission to his father's will, 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:26.259 even to the point of giving up his life on the cross 00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:27.500 because of the sins of his people. 00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:29.919 And because of his obedience, 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:32.200 he was raised to a new life by the Spirit, 00:12:32.319 --> 00:12:33.659 defeating sin and death. 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:35.740 And so this is the big point. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:38.639 This is the big point of Romans 5, 12 to 21. 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:40.759 It's one of those greater to lesser arguments. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:41.819 Look at verse 15. 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:44.639 But the gift is not like the trespass. 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:47.639 For if the many died by the trespass of one man, 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:51.559 how much more did God's grace 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:54.100 and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:56.080 Jesus Christ overflowed to the many? 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.440 Here's how this works, right? 00:12:58.800 --> 00:13:02.200 If Adam's disobedience brought death and condemnation, 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:05.240 how much more significant do you think 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.379 the obedience of the Son of God is 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.740 that brings grace and forgiveness? 00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:11.180 Look at verse 16. 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.879 Nor can the gift of God be compared 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.139 to the result of one man's sin. 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:19.080 You just, they're not even in the same categories of value. 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:22.660 The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, 00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:24.860 but the gift followed many trespasses 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:26.039 and brought justification. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:28.480 Here it is there. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:32.219 Adam's sin brought death to the entire human race. 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:35.079 It stained us with sin and guilt. 00:13:35.719 --> 00:13:40.419 But Jesus' obedience gifts his people with justification. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:44.719 It declares the guilty righteous before him 00:13:44.719 --> 00:13:46.939 through his death in their place. 00:13:49.939 --> 00:13:51.339 Think about it like this. 00:13:51.340 --> 00:13:55.620 How easy is it to ruin a white shirt? 00:13:58.460 --> 00:13:59.800 It's dead easy, isn't it? 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.460 To ruin a white shirt, 00:14:01.580 --> 00:14:03.560 all you have to do is spill your coffee, right? 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.720 Or your spag bowl, 00:14:05.920 --> 00:14:07.360 or mark it with pen or something. 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:09.560 And the job is done, right? 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.759 The shirt is ruined. 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.200 It's stained. 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:17.240 How difficult is it to remove that 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:21.520 and to perfect a stained and ruined white shirt? 00:14:22.660 --> 00:14:24.500 Well, it's often impossible, isn't it? 00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:25.620 It's very hard. 00:14:26.280 --> 00:14:27.460 And here's Paul's point. 00:14:27.800 --> 00:14:29.100 Adam did the easy thing. 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:31.879 He stained humanity with his guilt. 00:14:32.020 --> 00:14:32.860 It brought death. 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:35.120 Jesus has done the difficult thing, 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.520 the impossible thing. 00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:38.659 He, by his death in our place, 00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:39.600 bearing our sin, 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:41.299 has made the dirty clean. 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:43.939 What we've been thinking about for weeks now, 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.500 that Jesus' death on the cross 00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:47.620 has the power to justify the sinner. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:50.699 That God is able to look on Christ 00:14:50.699 --> 00:14:51.740 and his work on the cross 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:53.620 and look at you in your sin 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:54.500 and me in my sin 00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:54.840 and say, 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:56.360 they are perfect, 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.399 they are justified, 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.480 they are clean 00:14:58.480 --> 00:14:59.740 because of him. 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:02.100 And so here's the argument. 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:04.120 If the lesser thing that Adam did 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:06.080 had such significant consequences, 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:08.500 don't you think that the greater thing 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.419 that Jesus did 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:12.539 will have even more significant consequences? 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:15.379 And what will those consequences be? 00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:16.820 Well, it's obvious, isn't it? 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.980 If Adam's thing brings death, 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:20.919 then Jesus' justifying obedience 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:23.120 will bring life. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:24.759 Life. 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.379 Verse 18. 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:27.779 Consequently, 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:29.839 just as one trespass 00:15:29.839 --> 00:15:31.220 resulted in condemnation 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:32.139 for all people, 00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:34.419 so also one righteous act 00:15:34.419 --> 00:15:35.579 resulted in justification 00:15:35.579 --> 00:15:36.980 and life for all people. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:39.039 But just as through the disobedience 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:39.759 of the one man 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.799 the many were made sinners, 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.399 so also through the obedience 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.319 of the one man 00:15:43.319 --> 00:15:46.360 the many will be made righteous. 00:15:48.819 --> 00:15:49.839 Perhaps an illustration 00:15:49.839 --> 00:15:50.720 will help us grasp this. 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.439 It's a good illustration. 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:52.139 It's not mine. 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:52.899 It's Paul's. 00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.539 Verse 21. 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:55.559 You notice there he compares 00:15:55.559 --> 00:15:57.159 sin and grace 00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:58.799 like two different kings. 00:15:59.219 --> 00:15:59.339 Yeah? 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.439 Two rulers. 00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:01.159 Two kingdoms. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.819 He uses the word reign 00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:04.019 actually over and over 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:04.539 in the passage. 00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:05.759 So here's the image. 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.899 Imagine two kingdoms. 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.219 One kingdom 00:16:08.219 --> 00:16:10.059 is called death. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:11.419 And the kingdom of death 00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:12.719 is ruled by a king 00:16:12.719 --> 00:16:13.939 called sin. 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.600 And sin is a weak, 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.399 pathetic king 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:18.100 who reigns terribly. 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:20.339 He is a pathetic, 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.039 weak king. 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:22.860 But even in his weakness 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:25.579 he is capable of bringing death 00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:26.919 to all his subjects 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:27.759 without exception. 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.019 Everybody dies. 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.860 Some die young, 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.719 others die old. 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:32.039 It's of no consequence 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:33.139 because all die. 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:34.919 But there is then, 00:16:34.959 --> 00:16:35.259 he says, 00:16:35.319 --> 00:16:36.399 another kingdom. 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:39.699 And it's ruled by a strong king 00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:42.500 called righteousness by grace. 00:16:43.099 --> 00:16:44.919 And that king is more powerful 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.519 than sin. 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:48.000 So even while the weak king sin 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.480 manages to inflict death 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.620 on all his subjects, 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.940 so the more powerful king, 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.480 righteousness by grace, 00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:55.519 can give life 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.800 to all his subjects. 00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.560 So that if you belong 00:16:58.560 --> 00:16:59.500 to his kingdom, 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.500 you will live. 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:01.940 Everybody does. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.080 The king of righteousness 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.480 by grace sees to it 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.140 that they do. 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:07.039 Because the king of righteousness 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.140 by grace is stronger 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:09.579 than the king sin. 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.559 So this really is, 00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:12.500 this is the question 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.099 for you and I 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:14.019 from the passage this morning. 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:14.980 Where do you want to live? 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:17.460 Who do you want to be your king? 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.019 Who's going to be 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:19.799 your representative? 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:22.160 Whose actions are going 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.259 to define your destiny? 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.420 Which king is going 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.619 to define your identity? 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:28.579 Do you want Jesus 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.440 to be your king 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.460 and to live? 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.960 Or do you want Adam 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:33.639 to be your king and die? 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.339 Which do you want? 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:34.980 Which will it be? 00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.139 Of course, 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.000 the answer is obvious, 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:37.720 isn't it? 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.220 I want Jesus. 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:41.420 I want to belong to him. 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.660 I want the life 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:44.339 that flows from his victory, 00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:45.559 not the death 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:47.000 that flows from Adam's failure. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.720 And that really is 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.640 the passage this morning, 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.519 King Jesus 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:52.079 reigning in life 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.400 to bring life 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:54.720 to all who belong to him. 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.319 As we finish, 00:17:57.400 --> 00:17:58.059 I want to draw out 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.079 two lessons for us. 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:00.339 One about our identity 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:02.579 and one about our confidence. 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.460 Let's start with identity firstly. 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.799 I want you to see with me 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:09.200 that Romans 5 tells you 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:10.339 that being a Christian 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:11.900 is about having 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:13.119 a whole new identity. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:15.339 I hope you can see this 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:16.259 in the passage this morning 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:18.419 that being a Christian 00:18:18.419 --> 00:18:20.459 in a kind of Romans 5 way 00:18:20.459 --> 00:18:22.119 is not about getting a hobby, 00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:22.579 right? 00:18:23.239 --> 00:18:24.679 It's not about taking up golf. 00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.139 I don't know why you'd do that, 00:18:26.199 --> 00:18:26.739 but if you did, 00:18:26.899 --> 00:18:28.159 it's not like that. 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:30.099 It's not like learning to knit 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:31.819 or going to the gym. 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.359 Being a Christian 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:35.119 is not sort of tagging on 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:35.899 something to your 00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:37.399 already established identity. 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:39.599 Instead, being a Christian, 00:18:39.699 --> 00:18:40.719 this is the only way 00:18:40.719 --> 00:18:41.439 that Paul is able 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:42.460 to explain it, right? 00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:43.840 Being a Christian 00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:45.320 is as fundamental 00:18:45.320 --> 00:18:46.680 as no longer belonging 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.340 to Adam 00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:48.660 but belonging to Jesus. 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.940 It's a whole new life. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:52.240 It's new creation. 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:54.420 It's being born again. 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:55.860 In other words, 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:57.000 what has happened to us 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.160 for us in Christ 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:00.140 is the most important thing 00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:01.180 about us. 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:03.500 Who are you? 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.980 I'm a son of the living God 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.039 through Jesus Christ. 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:10.340 Now, we're not yet receiving 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:11.240 all the benefits 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.059 that we've been promised, 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:13.439 but we know we will 00:19:13.439 --> 00:19:15.299 because Jesus is stronger 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:15.779 than Adam. 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:19.039 Let's try and think about 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.899 how this works with me. 00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:21.159 Imagine it like this, right? 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.199 Life, in a way, 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.419 is like living in a small, 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:27.059 damp, condemned-to-destruction 00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:28.019 flat, right? 00:19:28.459 --> 00:19:29.399 The paint is peeling off 00:19:29.399 --> 00:19:29.899 the walls, 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:31.259 the windows are broken, 00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:31.879 the front door 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:32.759 is hanging off the hinges. 00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.399 I mean, I know that's 00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:35.500 a depressing view of life, 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:37.039 but it's kind of true, 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.459 isn't it? 00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:38.939 Life is not always 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.680 terribly miserable, 00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:41.320 but it is basically 00:19:41.320 --> 00:19:43.000 living in a thing 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.759 that's condemned 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.960 to destruction, right? 00:19:45.620 --> 00:19:46.200 And we all know 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.160 that the day is coming 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.259 when the door will fall off, 00:19:48.320 --> 00:19:49.100 the damp will take over, 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:50.880 the paint will crumble completely, 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.680 and the bulldozer 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.360 will move in. 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:54.400 And it's a depressing 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.080 place to live, 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:56.259 so for the most part, 00:19:56.340 --> 00:19:57.680 we just try and ignore it. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.440 All right, put it 00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.220 out of our minds. 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:02.019 Focus on other things. 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.100 Or maybe we try 00:20:04.100 --> 00:20:04.980 and fix it up. 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:06.960 Perhaps we find a religion 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.420 that offers to hang 00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.120 a few paintings 00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:09.779 on the walls 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.920 of our condemned flat. 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:13.460 Or maybe we find 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.740 a career that offers 00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.519 a can of paint 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.140 to paint over 00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:17.160 a few of the cracks. 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.980 But still we know 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.220 that it is crumbling 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.160 and there's no escape 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:21.940 and the flat is condemned. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.920 But then along comes Christ 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.640 and he builds 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:27.140 a whole new house. 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.759 It's got walk-in showers, 00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:29.660 balconies, 00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:30.720 jacuzzi bathtubs, 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.620 giant bedrooms 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.579 with king-sized beds. 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:33.960 The walls never fall 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.380 or crumble 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:35.720 and he offers us 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.060 the keys as a gift. 00:20:39.040 --> 00:20:40.320 Justification by faith 00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:41.260 that we've been thinking about 00:20:41.260 --> 00:20:42.460 is the handing over 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.260 of the keys 00:20:43.260 --> 00:20:44.420 to the new house. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.980 It's being liberated 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:47.180 from the condemnation 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:47.820 of the flat. 00:20:48.340 --> 00:20:49.640 You've not moved in yet, 00:20:50.060 --> 00:20:50.940 but we have the keys. 00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:52.060 The work has all been done. 00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:53.300 You can see the house. 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:53.800 It's finished. 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:54.260 It's ready. 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.860 And the Christian life 00:20:55.860 --> 00:20:56.960 is the invitation 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:00.180 to think with increasing clarity 00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:01.780 that that house 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.700 is my home, 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:04.899 not this crumbling flat. 00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:07.660 Realizing that fundamentally 00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:09.819 that is where I belong. 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:11.399 I have the keys already. 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:13.319 I know that Jesus 00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.420 has finished the house. 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:16.220 I'm no longer defined 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:16.940 by the weakness 00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:18.180 and suffering of this life. 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:20.000 Not because I don't experience it. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.839 I do experience it. 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.399 But because they're not 00:21:23.399 --> 00:21:24.779 the most important thing to me. 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.859 Because I'm in Christ. 00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:28.339 I'm new creation. 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:31.519 When Vanessa and I 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.220 were first married, 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.500 we had a week 00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:35.519 in a pontines 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.419 where they were 00:21:36.419 --> 00:21:37.720 knocking down 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.679 the apartment blocks 00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:39.619 that we were staying in. 00:21:40.199 --> 00:21:41.459 So we were in one end 00:21:41.459 --> 00:21:42.679 and the bulldozer 00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:43.879 was at the other end, right? 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:46.339 And it was Easter time 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:47.459 and it was wet 00:21:47.459 --> 00:21:48.299 and it was damp 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.220 and it was cold 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.199 and it was kind of miserable. 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:52.879 But we had a really fun time 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:55.000 because why did we have a fun time? 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.539 Because we knew 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.879 that's not where we lived. 00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:58.400 Right? 00:21:59.060 --> 00:21:59.760 That's that. 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:01.120 We're going home 00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:03.360 to somewhere better than this 00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:05.480 where they're not knocking it down. 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:08.380 And that's true, isn't it? 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.840 That's the Christian life. 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:12.440 Life is tough and difficult. 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:14.100 But God in Christ 00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:15.080 has done everything 00:22:15.080 --> 00:22:16.000 that is necessary 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.980 to liberate us 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.080 from sin and death. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:19.140 So one day 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:20.320 we will be home. 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.820 And Christian living 00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:23.640 is increasingly seeing 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:25.860 that as where we belong. 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:29.819 I'm a son of my father in heaven. 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:31.939 I'm destined to live with him. 00:22:32.919 --> 00:22:33.779 So let me just ask you, 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.979 have you understood that before 00:22:34.979 --> 00:22:35.939 about the Christian life? 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.519 Have you seen 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.559 what a radical thing 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.439 it is to be a Christian? 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.619 Or maybe you're not yet 00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:41.399 a Christian this morning 00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:42.279 and you're just thinking it through. 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:43.339 Listen, this is what 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.299 the Christian life is all about. 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.719 You can go anywhere else 00:22:45.719 --> 00:22:46.139 in the world 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:46.759 and they will offer 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.479 to patch up 00:22:47.479 --> 00:22:48.759 your falling down flat 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.539 for you, right? 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.799 Only Christ can offer you 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.740 a new home. 00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.440 Only Christ. 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.680 New birth, new life, 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.339 new creation 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.559 through Christ forever. 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:00.839 Maybe you've been 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.579 a Christian for years. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.720 It's still possible, isn't it? 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.139 That you've made 00:23:03.139 --> 00:23:03.680 the Christian life 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.559 a bit too small. 00:23:05.399 --> 00:23:06.159 That you've kind of 00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:07.319 tagged it onto your life 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:07.740 and you wonder 00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.259 why you find 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.839 the Christian life 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.819 so dissatisfying. 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.500 Living the Christian life 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.159 as if the keys 00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:13.500 to eternal home 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.720 and eternal security 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.700 are not yet in your pocket. 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.599 As if being a Christian 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.440 was mostly about 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:20.340 fixing up the crumbling flesh. 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.580 That's never what 00:23:21.580 --> 00:23:22.640 the Christian life was. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.900 Christian life is not a poster 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:26.900 on the crumbling humanity 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.779 of this life. 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:29.380 It's a whole new creation 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.360 to be longed for 00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:31.440 and excited about 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:33.900 and to live in the light of. 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.519 So that's the first one, 00:23:35.580 --> 00:23:35.960 identity. 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:37.259 Second one, confidence. 00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.080 I wonder just as we finish 00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:39.820 if I can invite you 00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:40.299 to think about 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:41.160 why Paul writes 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.900 this little section. 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.059 I mean, you have to admit 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:45.000 as you read this section 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.140 it is a little bit technical. 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:47.980 I do a sermon read-through 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.480 on a Friday 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.779 to a few staff 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.660 and other volunteers. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:51.779 You're welcome to come 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.460 if you want to ask me. 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.720 And words like 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.640 heavy, 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:56.860 dense, 00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.140 difficult 00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.940 were used to describe 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.480 the passage 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.279 and the sermon. 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.640 You have to admit, 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:02.860 don't you, 00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:03.779 that second Adam 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.880 is not really 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.599 the sort of language 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.640 that we would use. 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.339 You know, 00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:08.079 if someone comes to you 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.259 and says, 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.000 oh, tell me about 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.059 what it means to be a Christian, 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.360 you go, 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:10.900 it's all about 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:12.319 a second Adam. 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.240 You wouldn't really talk 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:13.740 like that, would you? 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:15.140 You know, 00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:15.859 people memorize 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:16.579 the first half 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.220 of Romans 5 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.019 but not many bother 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.000 with the second half. 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.099 So perhaps you think, 00:24:20.180 --> 00:24:20.900 well, maybe this is just 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:22.220 aimed at theological geeks. 00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:23.480 And maybe I've not done 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.000 a brilliant job 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.099 of explaining it this morning. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.380 It's all been a bit obscure. 00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.940 But if I could just ask you 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:29.180 to think why for a moment. 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:29.559 Why, 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:31.339 what is Paul writing this for? 00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:32.440 Is Paul's purpose 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.779 to confuse you this morning? 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.859 Is that what he wants to do? 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.420 I don't think it is. 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.200 Instead, 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.319 I think Paul is concerned 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.440 that if you don't understand 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.160 the significance 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.980 of Jesus, 00:24:41.320 --> 00:24:42.100 in the terms 00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:43.600 that he describes him here, 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.940 you will not have 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:46.200 appropriate confidence 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.920 as a Christian. 00:24:48.060 --> 00:24:48.259 See, 00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:49.080 I think Paul here 00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:50.560 is being a brilliant pastor. 00:24:51.540 --> 00:24:52.120 Paul knows 00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:53.380 that one of the great struggles 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:54.300 in our Christian lives 00:24:54.300 --> 00:24:54.920 is a battle 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.820 with confidence 00:24:55.820 --> 00:24:56.640 or assurance. 00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:59.019 Can I really be sure? 00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.740 Can I be certain? 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.140 How can I know 00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:03.019 that life with God 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.740 is a reality? 00:25:04.540 --> 00:25:05.380 And for some of us, 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:07.460 we see that lack 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:07.900 of confidence 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:09.240 in a perpetual worry. 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:10.820 Now, 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.519 our doubt is maybe 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.040 not so much 00:25:12.040 --> 00:25:12.960 is the gospel true, 00:25:13.060 --> 00:25:13.660 but is it really, 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:15.220 is it really for me? 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:17.340 Does God love me? 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:19.060 Am I saved? 00:25:19.300 --> 00:25:21.800 I'm sure I don't feel saved often. 00:25:22.580 --> 00:25:23.340 I come to church 00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.080 and other people feel 00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:24.779 they seem to be 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.300 really emotionally engaged 00:25:26.300 --> 00:25:27.240 and I'm not. 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.800 For others of you, 00:25:30.820 --> 00:25:32.040 you see this lack of confidence 00:25:32.040 --> 00:25:32.980 in something 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:34.700 which is like half-heartedness. 00:25:35.340 --> 00:25:36.660 You're basically living your life, 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.540 hedging your bets. 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.340 You know, 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.519 I want to do enough 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.200 to assume that 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:41.059 if the gospel is true, 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:41.879 I will be saved 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.519 on the day that I meet 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.059 the Lord Jesus, 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:45.220 but I'm not going to do so much 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:47.879 that it makes this life 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:48.359 more difficult 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:48.920 because that might be 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:49.480 a big mistake, 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:49.839 wouldn't it? 00:25:50.859 --> 00:25:51.980 I might miss out. 00:25:52.619 --> 00:25:53.579 That'd be a waste. 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:55.299 It's the same disease, 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:56.279 it's just different symptoms. 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.400 It's a lack of confidence. 00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.980 And so Paul writes, 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.740 Romans 5, 12 to 21, 00:26:00.859 --> 00:26:01.839 to fill you and me 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:02.420 with confidence 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:04.000 that justification by faith 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.920 is enough to bring you 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:05.740 eternal life. 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:07.400 And he does it 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:08.420 by basically asking you 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.539 to compare the magnitude 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:12.319 of two historical events. 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:14.039 In one event, 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:16.240 a man ate fruit 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.000 as he desired 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:18.099 to be like God. 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:20.700 In the other historical event, 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:22.640 God in flesh 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.700 desired to show you 00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:26.039 grace and forgiveness 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.660 and mercy. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:29.299 The man who ate the fruit 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.980 died and brought death 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.559 to us all. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:33.140 And you know that's true 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:34.200 because you see it 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:35.080 all around you. 00:26:37.080 --> 00:26:38.340 The God man 00:26:38.340 --> 00:26:40.480 also died 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.500 in our place 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:44.340 and was resurrected 00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:45.299 to new life, 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.400 a life of a whole 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:47.220 different quality. 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.900 And Paul effectively 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.920 holds those two 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.400 historical men 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:52.840 in front of you 00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.940 and says, 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.220 have a think about this. 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.539 Which one is more 00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.000 significant? 00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.860 Which is more 00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.740 seismic? 00:27:00.580 --> 00:27:01.480 The one man's 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.160 disobedience 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:03.140 that brought death 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.720 or the obedience 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.860 of God the Son 00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.860 that brings life? 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:09.280 What's more precious? 00:27:10.080 --> 00:27:11.060 The blood of Adam 00:27:11.060 --> 00:27:13.020 or the blood of Jesus? 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:16.640 The infinitely valuable 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:19.120 blood of the God 00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:20.160 man Jesus. 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:21.860 And the answer 00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:22.820 is obvious, isn't it? 00:27:23.280 --> 00:27:24.560 The righteous death 00:27:24.560 --> 00:27:25.520 of the Son of God 00:27:25.520 --> 00:27:26.480 in human flesh 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.740 has to be 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.740 more significant 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:30.460 than the unrighteous 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:32.020 death of a mere man. 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:33.000 It has to be. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.519 And because 00:27:34.519 --> 00:27:36.079 that is the case, 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.359 if you and I 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:37.940 are Christians 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.579 this morning, 00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:39.220 if we're believing 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.740 and trusting 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.799 in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:42.019 we can be 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:43.379 as sure 00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:44.319 that we will receive 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:45.500 eternal life 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:47.339 as you are certain 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:49.119 now that everybody dies. 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.740 That's how sure 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.359 you can be. 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.079 It's as if Paul 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:54.480 is kind of 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:56.019 putting his arm 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.539 around us 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:58.400 and lifting our chins 00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:58.900 and saying, 00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.360 listen, 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:00.720 anxious saint, 00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:02.300 have another look 00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:02.720 at Jesus. 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.800 Have another look 00:28:04.800 --> 00:28:05.580 at the cross. 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.220 Have another look 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:07.940 at the magnitude 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.720 of his obedience. 00:28:09.780 --> 00:28:10.440 Have another look 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.120 at the significance 00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:11.980 of his resurrection. 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.200 Take courage. 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.120 Don't despair. 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.800 There is a day coming, 00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:20.360 isn't there? 00:28:21.360 --> 00:28:21.800 Where because 00:28:21.800 --> 00:28:22.840 of our connection 00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:23.360 with Adam, 00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.360 we will die. 00:28:25.820 --> 00:28:26.300 And where will 00:28:26.300 --> 00:28:26.759 our hope be 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.299 on that day? 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.819 It will be 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:30.500 that Jesus Christ's 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.220 resurrection 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:34.480 is even more powerful. 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.539 So don't despair. 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.039 There's a sense 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.539 in which don't 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.920 overthink your sin. 00:28:40.819 --> 00:28:41.519 Repent of your sin. 00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:42.200 Bring it to the one 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.000 who loves to forgive. 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:45.359 Don't hedge your bets. 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.480 Don't try 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.680 and build heaven now. 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:48.480 Instead, 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.339 look to the life 00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:49.980 ahead of you. 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.859 This is the life 00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:52.859 of Christ himself 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:54.359 because confidence 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:55.839 comes from understanding 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.619 the significance 00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:57.179 of Jesus. 00:28:58.599 --> 00:28:59.439 Look at him. 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.579 Tell your doubts. 00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.419 Listen, 00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.819 doubting hearts say. 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.659 Do you know 00:29:05.659 --> 00:29:06.759 that God 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.879 in human flesh 00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.679 died 00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.839 and rose again? 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.240 Did you know 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.459 there's an empty grave? 00:29:13.679 --> 00:29:14.599 Take courage. 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.480 Live for Jesus 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:18.899 because he will 00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.579 take us home. 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:21.619 Let me pray 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.119 as we close. 00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:22.319 Amen. 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:22.399 Amen. 00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:22.399 00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:22.459 Amen. 00:29:22.459 --> 00:29:22.459 00:29:26.339 --> 00:29:26.679 Let's do this. 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:26.679 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:31.500 Let's have just a few moments of quiet and we can pray in our own hearts. 00:29:56.680 --> 00:30:06.660 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much that because of Jesus, we are not who we were, but we're now your sons and daughters. 00:30:07.860 --> 00:30:11.259 We are united to Jesus Christ and to his life. 00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:15.360 We're no longer identified by Adam and his sin and death. 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:24.279 And help us, we pray, to take courage that as sure as we are now that people die because of Adam's sin, 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:28.660 we can be that sure that we will live because of Jesus' resurrection. 00:30:29.899 --> 00:30:31.660 I'll keep our eyes fixed on him. 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:35.660 Pray especially this morning, maybe for people in this room, 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:42.519 for whom death doesn't feel like a far off thing, but maybe a close by thing. 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:46.899 Give them great courage and confidence in Jesus' resurrection. 00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:51.759 Maybe for others in the room who have been hedging their bets. 00:30:51.759 --> 00:30:56.599 Please, Lord, fix our eyes on what Jesus has promised to us, 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:59.599 this eternal home that will be ours through him. 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:04.539 And help us to live in the light of that now, we pray. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:07.319 In his name and for your glory. 00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:08.200 Amen. 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:08.420 Amen. 00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:08.480 Amen.