WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.900
 Well, good morning, everyone.

00:00:02.800 --> 00:00:04.580
 Welcome if you're visiting this morning.

00:00:04.820 --> 00:00:06.620
 See my cousin Mike and Heidi, welcome.

00:00:07.259 --> 00:00:10.519
 And John Lill from Sydney, friends from college, welcome.

00:00:11.200 --> 00:00:13.759
 Anyone else who's visiting, yeah, you're more than welcome with us

00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:16.059
 and hope you stick around for a cuppa afterwards.

00:00:19.400 --> 00:00:21.559
 Why don't we pray before we get into God's Word?

00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:22.300
 Would you pray with me?

00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:29.539
 Our Father, we ask that you would speak to us this morning

00:00:29.539 --> 00:00:32.939
 each one of us needs to hear you.

00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:35.879
 We know that we don't live on bread alone

00:00:35.879 --> 00:00:37.739
 but on every word that comes from you.

00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:39.859
 We need you, God, to live.

00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:42.479
 Lord, please speak to each one of us.

00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:47.379
 God, I pray that you would speak into our hearts

00:00:47.379 --> 00:00:49.579
 just how much we are safe in you.

00:00:50.379 --> 00:00:52.259
 In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

00:00:52.259 --> 00:00:52.339
 Amen.

00:00:55.599 --> 00:01:00.259
 Well, on what grounds are you acceptable to God?

00:01:02.699 --> 00:01:05.759
 If you already believe in Jesus, you'll be thinking,

00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:08.500
 God's grace makes me acceptable.

00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:12.920
 That's why we've got grace in our very church name,

00:01:13.259 --> 00:01:15.079
 Grace Evangelical, for this reason.

00:01:15.079 --> 00:01:18.640
 We hear the words grace and mercy and love

00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:23.120
 in our songs, in our prayers, in our children's talks.

00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:25.420
 The idea of grace is everywhere.

00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:26.859
 We talk about it a lot, don't we?

00:01:28.459 --> 00:01:30.120
 And that's excellent, so we should.

00:01:31.039 --> 00:01:33.780
 On the grounds of God's grace, through faith in Jesus,

00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:35.799
 I am acceptable to God.

00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:37.340
 That is incredible.

00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:39.280
 Such good news.

00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:43.879
 But what does our society say?

00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:49.480
 On what grounds are you acceptable at school,

00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:51.760
 at uni, at work?

00:01:52.960 --> 00:01:55.400
 How are you acceptable in your social interactions?

00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:58.700
 It's not grace, is it?

00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:03.200
 It's your own merit, I think.

00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:07.120
 Merit is about what you bring to the table.

00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:10.000
 What value do you have to offer

00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.480
 that someone should recognise it

00:02:12.480 --> 00:02:14.800
 and should welcome you for it?

00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:17.060
 What do you bring to the table?

00:02:18.420 --> 00:02:19.580
 Do you have enough money?

00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:23.080
 Are you wearing the right clothes

00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:24.340
 with the right brand names?

00:02:25.700 --> 00:02:26.659
 Are you funny?

00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:30.120
 Is your body acceptable?

00:02:30.939 --> 00:02:32.860
 Are you skilled enough?

00:02:33.860 --> 00:02:35.759
 Are you knowledgeable enough?

00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:39.340
 Have you got enough marks at uni and school?

00:02:40.579 --> 00:02:43.019
 Have you secured a respectable job?

00:02:43.179 --> 00:02:44.759
 Are you performing in that job?

00:02:44.859 --> 00:02:46.560
 Are your kids thriving in school?

00:02:46.899 --> 00:02:49.500
 Are you achieving in every area of your life?

00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:52.259
 Career and fitness and family,

00:02:52.459 --> 00:02:54.280
 socially, romantically, sport.

00:02:56.739 --> 00:02:58.399
 It's a lot of pressure, isn't it?

00:03:01.180 --> 00:03:03.519
 The grounds of acceptance in our society

00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:04.820
 is our own merit.

00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:07.380
 It's the air we breathe every day, isn't it?

00:03:10.980 --> 00:03:15.280
 Now, I think we have a love-hate relationship with merit.

00:03:17.340 --> 00:03:21.600
 We hate it because it makes us live in fear, doesn't it?

00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:26.039
 Because either I fail to meet the standards

00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:29.500
 and I feel inadequate and I feel ashamed,

00:03:29.959 --> 00:03:32.199
 or I meet the standards

00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:35.340
 and I feel proud and confident for a few moments,

00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:38.199
 but I know that tomorrow I've got to work hard again

00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:40.459
 to make sure I keep up those standards.

00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:43.439
 We're constantly living in fear.

00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:48.180
 We hate merit because of that.

00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:50.379
 It's hard work.

00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:52.359
 It's a heavy burden.

00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:55.479
 But we also love merit.

00:03:56.859 --> 00:03:58.620
 We genuinely love it.

00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.419
 We love it because if my acceptance

00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:05.340
 is based on what I've earned,

00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:07.240
 I can control it.

00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:10.079
 I can control the acceptance.

00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:11.820
 I can demand what I've earned.

00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:13.700
 I've worked hard.

00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:15.280
 I deserve this holiday.

00:04:15.460 --> 00:04:16.199
 I deserve it.

00:04:16.220 --> 00:04:16.980
 It's my right.

00:04:18.819 --> 00:04:20.280
 I've worked hard for this money.

00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:21.860
 I can spend it whenever I want.

00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:24.259
 We want to be able to control it.

00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.900
 And think about relationship advice.

00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:30.420
 Isn't most advice about give and take?

00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:33.639
 You've got to give and take in a relationship.

00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:35.400
 Isn't that just saying,

00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:37.120
 if I do X, Y, and Z,

00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:40.359
 that person has to do what I want after that?

00:04:43.139 --> 00:04:44.319
 We love merit

00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:47.560
 because we can control our life

00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:48.639
 or we think we can.

00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:51.419
 So we hate merit because we live in fear,

00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:53.779
 but we love it because we get control.

00:04:58.339 --> 00:04:59.859
 When someone becomes a Christian,

00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.500
 there's a fundamental shift

00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:04.199
 from thinking about God

00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:05.759
 and this world and yourself

00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:06.740
 according to merit

00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:07.920
 or lack thereof

00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:08.959
 and a shift

00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:10.860
 to thinking according

00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:12.540
 to what Christ has done

00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:13.379
 on my behalf

00:05:13.379 --> 00:05:15.180
 and given to me freely

00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:16.120
 out of his love.

00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:20.079
 There's a huge shift that happens.

00:05:20.300 --> 00:05:20.959
 But still,

00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:21.800
 even as Christians,

00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:23.120
 every single day,

00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:23.920
 today,

00:05:24.439 --> 00:05:25.779
 every situation we're in,

00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:26.779
 we have to choose.

00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:29.299
 Am I going to die

00:05:29.299 --> 00:05:32.500
 to this old merit way of thinking

00:05:32.500 --> 00:05:35.159
 or am I going to rest

00:05:35.159 --> 00:05:36.219
 and rejoice

00:05:36.219 --> 00:05:37.659
 in the acceptance

00:05:37.659 --> 00:05:39.179
 God has given me in Christ?

00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:39.779
 Every situation,

00:05:41.039 --> 00:05:42.279
 we're confronted with that choice.

00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:46.879
 So let me try and explain that a bit more.

00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:47.919
 Jerry Bridges,

00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:51.159
 he explains our day-to-day problem like this.

00:05:52.419 --> 00:05:53.379
 A Christian believes

00:05:53.379 --> 00:05:57.540
 that when we're originally accepted by God,

00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:58.279
 it's by grace.

00:05:58.399 --> 00:05:59.259
 We know we're sinful.

00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:00.519
 We need God's forgiveness.

00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:03.620
 So we know we start by grace.

00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:05.579
 And a Christian also believes

00:06:05.579 --> 00:06:07.040
 that we're going to end by grace,

00:06:07.300 --> 00:06:09.300
 that God will only accept us

00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:10.500
 into the new creation

00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:11.360
 that he's promised

00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:13.819
 by his grace alone.

00:06:13.899 --> 00:06:14.959
 So start and finish,

00:06:15.159 --> 00:06:16.079
 we 100%,

00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:17.399
 we talk about grace,

00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:17.839
 don't we?

00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:19.659
 But what about in between?

00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:23.900
 What about in our day-to-day Christian walk?

00:06:26.780 --> 00:06:28.560
 Jerry Bridges describes it

00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:31.120
 as like a little mouse

00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:32.740
 running on a treadmill.

00:06:34.340 --> 00:06:36.580
 And I think we can all resonate with it.

00:06:36.700 --> 00:06:37.700
 So on a good week,

00:06:38.080 --> 00:06:39.200
 when I've read my Bible,

00:06:40.320 --> 00:06:41.780
 when I've gone to church

00:06:41.780 --> 00:06:43.379
 in small group,

00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:45.740
 when I've been kind

00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:47.860
 and not nasty,

00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:49.439
 on a good week,

00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:50.639
 when I haven't given in

00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:52.360
 to those besetting sins,

00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:53.840
 on a good week,

00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:54.560
 when I pray,

00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:56.740
 aren't we confident

00:06:56.740 --> 00:06:58.220
 that God loves us

00:06:58.220 --> 00:06:59.000
 and we're acceptable?

00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:00.259
 We feel confident.

00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:01.100
 We feel bright.

00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:03.920
 We feel close to him.

00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:07.340
 But what about on a bad week?

00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:10.560
 I haven't read my Bible personally.

00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.740
 I didn't go to small group.

00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:16.399
 I have been nasty

00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:17.939
 on purpose.

00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:20.100
 I did give in

00:07:20.100 --> 00:07:21.660
 to those besetting sins.

00:07:22.899 --> 00:07:24.120
 I didn't pray.

00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:26.720
 What happens then?

00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:28.759
 Don't we despair

00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:30.920
 and just feel

00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:32.399
 a massive sense of failure?

00:07:34.259 --> 00:07:35.500
 So what's going on?

00:07:35.579 --> 00:07:36.079
 One week,

00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:37.379
 we're confident.

00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:39.060
 The other week,

00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:41.139
 we just feel like a failure.

00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:43.740
 And what do we do

00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:44.500
 to try and fix it?

00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:45.819
 We just try harder

00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:46.439
 the next week.

00:07:47.139 --> 00:07:48.379
 So this is the performance

00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:49.339
 treadmill we're in

00:07:49.339 --> 00:07:50.279
 every single day.

00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:56.779
 God says,

00:07:57.579 --> 00:07:58.339
 through Paul

00:07:58.339 --> 00:07:59.740
 in our passage today,

00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:02.819
 acceptance is received,

00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:05.139
 not earned.

00:08:05.139 --> 00:08:09.419
 He began the good work

00:08:09.419 --> 00:08:10.180
 in saving us

00:08:10.180 --> 00:08:11.939
 and he will bring it

00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:12.599
 to completion.

00:08:13.599 --> 00:08:15.419
 We don't have to perform.

00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:17.719
 We can't possibly

00:08:17.719 --> 00:08:19.099
 perform

00:08:19.099 --> 00:08:20.379
 to God's standards.

00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:22.500
 But Christ

00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:24.039
 did it for us.

00:08:25.979 --> 00:08:27.259
 We can rest.

00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:30.479
 We can rest in that.

00:08:30.599 --> 00:08:31.919
 We can rejoice

00:08:31.919 --> 00:08:33.259
 and have joy

00:08:33.259 --> 00:08:35.000
 in that truth.

00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:36.620
 Every single situation.

00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:39.879
 So,

00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:40.779
 this morning,

00:08:40.939 --> 00:08:42.220
 let's get into our passage.

00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:44.419
 We're going to hear first

00:08:44.419 --> 00:08:45.960
 about a warning.

00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:48.179
 Don't

00:08:48.179 --> 00:08:48.819
 listen.

00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:50.600
 Don't listen

00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:51.779
 to evil thinking

00:08:51.779 --> 00:08:52.360
 that says

00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:53.139
 God wants you

00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:54.399
 to earn your acceptance.

00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:55.220
 Don't listen

00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:55.919
 to that thinking.

00:08:56.919 --> 00:08:57.360
 Why?

00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:59.560
 Because we

00:08:59.560 --> 00:09:00.379
 are the people

00:09:00.379 --> 00:09:00.860
 of God

00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:01.659
 who rely

00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:02.620
 and boast

00:09:02.620 --> 00:09:03.600
 in Christ,

00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:04.480
 not in ourselves.

00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:07.620
 And then,

00:09:07.899 --> 00:09:09.039
 Paul offers himself

00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:09.960
 as the ultimate

00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:10.919
 case study

00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:12.060
 in someone

00:09:12.060 --> 00:09:12.820
 who boasts

00:09:12.820 --> 00:09:13.560
 in Christ,

00:09:13.700 --> 00:09:14.460
 not in their own

00:09:14.460 --> 00:09:14.919
 ability.

00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:16.919
 And he lets us

00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:17.919
 in on his thinking.

00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.120
 He first says,

00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:20.060
 humanly speaking,

00:09:20.180 --> 00:09:20.899
 I can claim

00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:21.500
 more merit

00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:22.180
 than anyone.

00:09:22.179 --> 00:09:25.899
 then he shows us

00:09:25.899 --> 00:09:27.959
 it's all worthless.

00:09:30.319 --> 00:09:31.599
 Zero value.

00:09:32.839 --> 00:09:33.599
 I'd rather belong

00:09:33.599 --> 00:09:34.239
 to Christ

00:09:34.239 --> 00:09:36.159
 and participate

00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:37.079
 in his death

00:09:37.079 --> 00:09:38.000
 and resurrection.

00:09:39.479 --> 00:09:40.799
 And why is that?

00:09:40.919 --> 00:09:41.759
 Because God

00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:42.799
 accepts me

00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:44.079
 by giving me

00:09:44.079 --> 00:09:44.679
 righteousness

00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:45.679
 in Christ

00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:46.799
 through faith.

00:09:48.199 --> 00:09:49.039
 And therefore,

00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:49.759
 we can rejoice.

00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:51.419
 We can always

00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:52.019
 have joy.

00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:53.500
 A deep joy.

00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:57.759
 So,

00:09:58.279 --> 00:09:58.979
 as we

00:09:58.979 --> 00:09:59.679
 put ourselves

00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:00.599
 in the shoes

00:10:00.599 --> 00:10:01.379
 of the Philippian

00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:01.899
 church,

00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:03.439
 we have to remember

00:10:03.439 --> 00:10:04.399
 one important thing.

00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:07.519
 The early church

00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:08.860
 didn't consider

00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:09.779
 itself as

00:10:09.779 --> 00:10:10.599
 an offshoot

00:10:10.599 --> 00:10:12.219
 from Judaism.

00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:14.779
 The early church

00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:15.919
 thought of themselves

00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:17.620
 as in line

00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:18.399
 with the Old Testament.

00:10:18.599 --> 00:10:19.319
 Jesus was the

00:10:19.319 --> 00:10:19.939
 promised one,

00:10:20.059 --> 00:10:20.879
 the promised Messiah.

00:10:21.419 --> 00:10:22.219
 He set up

00:10:22.219 --> 00:10:22.839
 the new covenant

00:10:22.839 --> 00:10:23.899
 which the prophets

00:10:23.899 --> 00:10:24.620
 foretold.

00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:26.059
 They were in line

00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:27.199
 with the Old Testament.

00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:28.679
 But this begs

00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:29.099
 the question,

00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:31.240
 where's the place

00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:32.059
 of the Old Covenant

00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:32.759
 law now?

00:10:35.459 --> 00:10:36.599
 And then enter

00:10:36.599 --> 00:10:37.839
 some passionate

00:10:37.839 --> 00:10:39.120
 Jewish missionaries

00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:40.139
 who are moving

00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:41.240
 around the congregation

00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:41.959
 or preaching

00:10:41.959 --> 00:10:42.500
 in public

00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:43.159
 who are saying,

00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:44.639
 you have to still

00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:45.599
 be circumcised

00:10:45.599 --> 00:10:46.500
 and obey the law.

00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:49.519
 God requires this.

00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:52.840
 How would you respond?

00:10:56.199 --> 00:10:57.079
 Seems tricky,

00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:57.559
 doesn't it?

00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:01.240
 Here's how Paul

00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:02.399
 responds in verse 2.

00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:04.779
 Have a look.

00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:06.939
 Look out

00:11:06.939 --> 00:11:07.980
 for the dogs.

00:11:09.079 --> 00:11:09.879
 Look out

00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:11.079
 for the evildoers.

00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:11.899
 Look out

00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:12.539
 for those

00:11:12.539 --> 00:11:13.480
 who mutilate

00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:15.080
 the flesh.

00:11:16.920 --> 00:11:17.620
 Can you hear

00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.480
 the seriousness

00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:20.840
 that Paul takes

00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:21.379
 this threat,

00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.279
 this way of thinking?

00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:24.200
 This is some

00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:24.740
 of the strongest

00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.840
 language he uses

00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:26.899
 in all his letters

00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:27.560
 and he repeats

00:11:27.560 --> 00:11:28.759
 the warning three times.

00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:29.399
 Look out.

00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:30.320
 Be on your guard

00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:31.100
 with this kind of thinking.

00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:32.480
 It is deadly stuff.

00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:36.399
 And to discredit

00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:36.940
 the thinking,

00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:38.080
 he uses irony

00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:39.620
 which is kind of funny

00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:40.139
 and he just

00:11:40.139 --> 00:11:41.019
 dismantles them.

00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:42.139
 The Jews

00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:43.120
 prided themselves

00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:43.899
 on being so

00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:44.939
 ritually and morally

00:11:44.939 --> 00:11:45.659
 clean that they'll

00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:46.860
 call everyone else

00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:47.620
 dogs,

00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:48.939
 filthy dogs.

00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:50.779
 But no,

00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:52.319
 these law

00:11:52.319 --> 00:11:53.579
 imposing people,

00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:54.340
 they're the dogs,

00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.439
 they're the unclean

00:11:55.439 --> 00:11:57.000
 ones in God's eyes.

00:11:58.699 --> 00:11:59.299
 These Jews

00:11:59.299 --> 00:12:00.240
 prided themselves

00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:01.319
 on doing only good

00:12:01.319 --> 00:12:02.240
 according to the law.

00:12:02.539 --> 00:12:02.840
 No,

00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:04.019
 God sees them

00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:05.120
 as only doing evil.

00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:07.319
 They're not

00:12:07.319 --> 00:12:08.299
 trusting in Christ.

00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:10.679
 These Jews

00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:11.419
 insisting on

00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:12.099
 circumcision

00:12:12.099 --> 00:12:13.299
 as being the mark

00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:14.199
 of belonging

00:12:14.199 --> 00:12:14.919
 to God's people.

00:12:15.339 --> 00:12:15.559
 No,

00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:16.899
 you are mutilating

00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:17.819
 the flesh.

00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:20.359
 Don't listen

00:12:20.359 --> 00:12:20.899
 to these people.

00:12:20.979 --> 00:12:21.459
 Don't listen

00:12:21.459 --> 00:12:22.259
 to this type

00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:22.639
 of thinking.

00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:24.039
 So why

00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:24.979
 this strong language?

00:12:28.579 --> 00:12:29.019
 Christians

00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:29.719
 at Philippi,

00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:31.779
 don't listen

00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:33.339
 to this kind

00:12:33.339 --> 00:12:33.679
 of thinking

00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:34.500
 for a second.

00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:35.559
 Verse 3,

00:12:35.559 --> 00:12:36.500
 for we,

00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:37.819
 Jews

00:12:37.819 --> 00:12:38.939
 and Gentiles,

00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:39.639
 we

00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.619
 who trust

00:12:40.619 --> 00:12:41.519
 in Jesus Christ,

00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:43.139
 we are the circumcision.

00:12:43.479 --> 00:12:44.239
 We are God's

00:12:44.239 --> 00:12:45.019
 chosen

00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:45.899
 covenant

00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:46.839
 people.

00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:50.059
 We serve God

00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:50.759
 not according

00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:52.179
 to external laws.

00:12:52.459 --> 00:12:53.199
 We serve God

00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:53.959
 according to the

00:12:53.959 --> 00:12:55.399
 inwardly empowering

00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:56.219
 Holy Spirit

00:12:56.219 --> 00:12:56.979
 who works

00:12:56.979 --> 00:12:57.619
 in us

00:12:57.619 --> 00:12:58.559
 to want

00:12:58.559 --> 00:12:59.899
 and to do

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:00.539
 what pleases

00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:01.139
 our Father.

00:13:01.139 --> 00:13:04.539
 we boast

00:13:04.539 --> 00:13:05.600
 in what

00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.199
 Jesus has

00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:07.080
 done for us.

00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:08.759
 We don't

00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:09.340
 put confidence

00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:10.059
 in ourselves.

00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:13.699
 That's

00:13:13.699 --> 00:13:14.559
 who we are.

00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:15.179
 That's

00:13:15.179 --> 00:13:15.639
 who God's

00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:16.240
 people are.

00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:19.840
 To help

00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.220
 us

00:13:20.220 --> 00:13:21.139
 see

00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:21.819
 and think

00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:22.299
 this way,

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.059
 Paul offers

00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:23.519
 himself

00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:24.539
 as the case

00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:24.840
 study.

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:25.580
 So let's

00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:25.899
 get into

00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.519
 Paul's mind.

00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:26.899
 But before

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:27.240
 we do,

00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:27.860
 can I ask

00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:28.059
 you to

00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:28.419
 take a

00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:28.600
 moment

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.139
 and think

00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:30.600
 what merit

00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:31.600
 could you

00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:32.139
 possibly

00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:32.939
 show God

00:13:32.939 --> 00:13:33.860
 that he

00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.460
 would approve

00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:34.860
 of you?

00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:35.580
 What merit

00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:35.860
 do you

00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:36.179
 have?

00:13:36.939 --> 00:13:37.439
 Humanly

00:13:37.439 --> 00:13:37.779
 speaking.

00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.240
 Would I

00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:40.679
 show this

00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:40.980
 sermon

00:13:40.980 --> 00:13:42.580
 to God?

00:13:44.059 --> 00:13:44.539
 You're

00:13:44.539 --> 00:13:44.720
 probably

00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:45.039
 thinking

00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:45.319
 that's

00:13:45.319 --> 00:13:45.639
 not a

00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.039
 good idea

00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:46.399
 Dave.

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:46.740
 Don't

00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:47.059
 do that.

00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:49.980
 What would

00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:50.360
 you show?

00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:51.879
 Would you

00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:52.240
 show your

00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:52.659
 children

00:13:52.659 --> 00:13:54.659
 as evidence

00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:55.259
 of your

00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:55.679
 parenting,

00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.779
 of all the

00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:58.299
 sacrifices

00:13:58.299 --> 00:13:58.580
 you've

00:13:58.580 --> 00:13:58.799
 made?

00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:01.419
 would you

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:01.960
 show your

00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:02.639
 Bible study

00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.019
 commitment,

00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:04.939
 your

00:14:04.939 --> 00:14:05.720
 niceness?

00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:08.039
 Would you

00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:08.899
 show how

00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:09.460
 well you

00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:10.259
 can articulate

00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:11.000
 theological

00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:11.600
 ideas?

00:14:11.819 --> 00:14:12.159
 Would you

00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:13.279
 show all

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:13.759
 the books

00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:14.059
 you've

00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:14.279
 read?

00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:15.899
 Would you

00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.539
 show how

00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:17.080
 much money

00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:17.340
 you've

00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:17.860
 given away?

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:18.240
 Would you

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:18.960
 show how

00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:19.939
 reliable you

00:14:19.939 --> 00:14:20.519
 are in

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.059
 your work

00:14:21.059 --> 00:14:21.399
 ethic?

00:14:21.939 --> 00:14:22.279
 What would

00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:22.580
 you show

00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:22.799
 God?

00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:23.259
 What merit

00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:23.519
 have you

00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:23.700
 got?

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.500
 What do

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:27.860
 you think

00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:28.659
 makes you

00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:29.100
 a good

00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:29.559
 person?

00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:33.500
 I

00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:33.939
 challenge

00:14:33.939 --> 00:14:34.439
 anyone

00:14:34.439 --> 00:14:35.919
 to have

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:36.279
 more

00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:36.600
 merit

00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.179
 than me

00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:37.539
 says

00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:37.899
 Paul

00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:39.600
 humanly

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:39.939
 speaking.

00:14:42.819 --> 00:14:43.379
 Let's

00:14:43.379 --> 00:14:43.839
 see how

00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:44.319
 we measure

00:14:44.319 --> 00:14:44.600
 up.

00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:45.679
 Circumcised

00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:45.980
 on the

00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.259
 eighth

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:46.860
 day as

00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:47.319
 the law

00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:47.919
 of Moses

00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:48.559
 required.

00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:49.559
 I too

00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:50.719
 belonged to

00:14:50.719 --> 00:14:51.179
 the covenant

00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:51.679
 people.

00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.419
 I wasn't a

00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:52.799
 convert.

00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:53.600
 I'm a

00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.240
 descendant.

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.139
 not just

00:14:56.139 --> 00:14:56.360
 any

00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:56.919
 descendant.

00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:57.860
 My

00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:58.299
 lineage

00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:58.680
 can be

00:14:58.680 --> 00:14:59.440
 traced back

00:14:59.440 --> 00:14:59.680
 to

00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:00.120
 Benjamin,

00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:01.299
 the tribe

00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:01.820
 who remained

00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:02.480
 loyal to

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.259
 King David's

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:03.799
 line, the

00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:04.560
 tribe who

00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:04.980
 was there

00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:05.580
 who returned

00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.240
 from exile.

00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:07.700
 And my

00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:08.820
 upbringing was

00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:09.519
 thoroughly

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.539
 Hebrew in

00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:11.060
 every way.

00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:12.680
 And then

00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:13.039
 there's my

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.600
 achievements.

00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:15.000
 As to the

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:15.419
 law, I

00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:16.360
 studied hard

00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:16.659
 and I

00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.299
 disciplined

00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:18.220
 my entire

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.259
 life under

00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:19.860
 the laws of

00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.519
 Moses and

00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:20.899
 the more

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.379
 careful,

00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:22.399
 stringent laws

00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:22.659
 of the

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.240
 Pharisees.

00:15:24.319 --> 00:15:24.679
 And as

00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.500
 to zeal, I

00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:26.480
 was 100%

00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.220
 loyal and

00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.100
 protective of

00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:28.779
 God's original

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.120
 covenant.

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.100
 I was burning

00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:30.759
 with passion.

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:31.919
 And as to

00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.720
 righteousness under

00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.299
 the law, I

00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:34.039
 was blameless.

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:34.399
 I wasn't

00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.259
 sinless, but

00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.159
 no one

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:37.139
 could fault

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:37.360
 me.

00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:42.179
 That's quite a

00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:42.779
 list, isn't

00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:42.939
 it?

00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:45.879
 How's your

00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.720
 merit list

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.519
 looking compared

00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.139
 to this guy?

00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:50.819
 If anyone,

00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:52.319
 anyone,

00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:52.740
 could have

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.840
 confidence based

00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:54.179
 on their

00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:54.740
 own merit

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:56.259
 that God

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:56.860
 would declare

00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:57.579
 them righteous,

00:15:57.740 --> 00:15:58.299
 this guy was

00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:58.500
 it.

00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.620
 This is the

00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:00.899
 man.

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.399
 But what

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:04.740
 does he

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.100
 think of

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:05.480
 all that?

00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:09.559
 But whatever

00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.379
 gain I had,

00:16:10.439 --> 00:16:11.100
 I counted as

00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:13.379
 loss for the

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:13.779
 sake of

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:14.220
 Christ.

00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:16.679
 When Christ

00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.679
 revealed himself

00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:18.500
 to me, I

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.379
 saw what I

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.199
 once measured

00:16:20.199 --> 00:16:21.019
 as gain for

00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:21.620
 what it really

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:24.240
 was, worthless.

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.259
 All my

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:28.080
 merit is

00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:28.659
 really just

00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:30.560
 offensive in

00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:31.179
 God's eyes

00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:31.480
 because I'm

00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:31.820
 trying to

00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.600
 control God.

00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.539
 King David

00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.539
 prays in

00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:39.740
 Psalm 143

00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.440
 verse 2, he

00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:41.100
 prays to God,

00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:43.120
 enter not into

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.960
 judgment with

00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:45.320
 your servant,

00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:46.420
 judgment for

00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:47.460
 no one living

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:48.240
 is righteous

00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.000
 before you.

00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:52.020
 No one

00:16:52.020 --> 00:16:52.560
 does what is

00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:52.900
 right.

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.040
 No one can

00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:55.740
 stand on

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.100
 their own

00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:57.660
 merit and

00:16:57.660 --> 00:16:58.280
 God look at

00:16:58.280 --> 00:16:58.980
 the evidence of

00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.600
 their life and

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.200
 go, they are

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.020
 good, they are

00:17:03.020 --> 00:17:03.560
 righteous.

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.519
 No one.

00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:06.100
 David prays for

00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:07.200
 mercy, not

00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:07.740
 justice.

00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:11.180
 And what

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:11.759
 about those

00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.640
 who try and

00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:13.140
 obey the

00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:13.480
 law?

00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:14.799
 We've seen

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.480
 in chapter 2

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.039
 of Philippians

00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.579
 already that

00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:17.240
 Christians are

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.880
 called to

00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:19.839
 stand out as

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.620
 children of

00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:21.359
 God without

00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.680
 blemish in

00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.240
 the midst of

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.059
 a crooked and

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.200
 twisted generation.

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:26.680
 Now that

00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.920
 phrase, Paul

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.500
 didn't come up

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.120
 with that phrase,

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.400
 he borrowed it

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.099
 from Moses.

00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:34.000
 Just before

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.079
 Moses died,

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:37.019
 he wrote a

00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.740
 song to

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.440
 teach God's

00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.180
 people how

00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:40.480
 to think

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.019
 about God,

00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:41.720
 how to live

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.500
 well before

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:42.879
 God.

00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:44.519
 We see it in

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.019
 Deuteronomy

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:45.579
 32.

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.019
 What does

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.940
 Moses want to

00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:48.700
 tell Israel

00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:51.220
 before he

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:51.720
 leaves them?

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:52.700
 The first

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.500
 thing he says

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.400
 about Israel

00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:55.019
 in this song

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:56.799
 is they

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.359
 have dealt

00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.059
 corruptly

00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:58.559
 with God.

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.779
 They are no

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:02.059
 longer his

00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:02.859
 children because

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.259
 they are

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:03.799
 blemished.

00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.139
 They are

00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:06.500
 crooked and

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.000
 twisted.

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.740
 generation.

00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.859
 The law

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:14.119
 never, never

00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:15.500
 gave anyone

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:17.700
 grounds or

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:19.440
 ability for

00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:19.900
 someone to

00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:20.319
 earn their

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.740
 acceptance.

00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:22.839
 The law

00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:24.359
 only exposed

00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:25.000
 our sin,

00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:26.839
 forcing us

00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:27.779
 to rely on

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.599
 what God

00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.160
 gives us,

00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:29.720
 not on our

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.220
 own merit.

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.500
 The law

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.240
 never made

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.680
 anyone

00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:33.579
 righteous.

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:38.559
 So what's

00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:38.859
 the better

00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:39.179
 way to

00:18:39.179 --> 00:18:39.399
 think?

00:18:41.399 --> 00:18:42.220
 We see

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:42.740
 Paul's

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.179
 deepest

00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:44.039
 desire in

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.879
 verses 10

00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.539
 and 11.

00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:48.379
 Here's how

00:18:48.379 --> 00:18:48.699
 to think.

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.119
 That I

00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.139
 may know

00:18:50.139 --> 00:18:51.079
 him,

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:51.799
 Christ,

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.199
 and the

00:18:52.199 --> 00:18:52.839
 power of

00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.000
 his

00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.500
 resurrection.

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:56.039
 When the

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.480
 resurrected

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.339
 Christ revealed

00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:57.819
 himself to

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.019
 Paul,

00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:58.599
 he understood

00:18:58.599 --> 00:18:59.019
 in that

00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:00.619
 moment that

00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.099
 to be in

00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:01.920
 relationship with

00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:03.140
 Christ is to

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:03.660
 be in right

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.380
 relationship with

00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:04.700
 God.

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.240
 He wanted the

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.099
 acceptance that

00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:08.180
 Christ received

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:08.660
 from the

00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.019
 Father,

00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.680
 resurrecting him.

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.359
 He wants that

00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:13.859
 sure acceptance,

00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.119
 not the arrogant,

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.920
 self-based,

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:19.140
 wishful thinking.

00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:21.780
 He wants that

00:19:21.780 --> 00:19:22.940
 sure acceptance

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.700
 in Christ.

00:19:25.300 --> 00:19:26.440
 He wants it so

00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:26.820
 much.

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.440
 He wants to

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.460
 know Christ so

00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:31.259
 much that he

00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:32.080
 wants fellowship

00:19:32.080 --> 00:19:32.780
 with him,

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:35.400
 not only in the

00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:36.340
 good times but in

00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:37.180
 sufferings.

00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.480
 He knows that to

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.300
 belong to Christ,

00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:41.040
 he needs to become

00:19:41.040 --> 00:19:42.040
 like him in his

00:19:42.040 --> 00:19:43.000
 death, that the

00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.120
 old self that

00:19:44.120 --> 00:19:45.380
 tries to earn

00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.480
 favour with God

00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.400
 needs to be put

00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:47.920
 to death.

00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:51.180
 the way we

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:52.420
 experience the

00:19:52.420 --> 00:19:53.120
 power of the

00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:54.060
 resurrected life

00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:56.180
 requires this

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.980
 putting the old

00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.740
 self to death.

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:01.180
 He wants to

00:20:01.180 --> 00:20:02.340
 live that new

00:20:02.340 --> 00:20:04.000
 resurrected life in

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.820
 right relationship

00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:05.640
 with God now.

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.100
 He wants to

00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:06.560
 call God

00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:07.300
 Father now.

00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:10.800
 And he wants

00:20:10.800 --> 00:20:11.840
 the full

00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:12.680
 experience of

00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:13.259
 that resurrected

00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:13.940
 life later,

00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:16.300
 that by any

00:20:16.300 --> 00:20:17.300
 means possible I

00:20:17.300 --> 00:20:18.340
 may attain the

00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:19.060
 resurrection from

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:19.379
 the dead.

00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:19.940
 He's not

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:21.200
 expressing any

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.859
 doubt here.

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:23.440
 We see in verse

00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:25.139
 9 that he knows

00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:25.839
 that God counts

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.440
 him as righteous.

00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.299
 He's not expressing

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:28.639
 doubt.

00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.059
 And we see in

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.720
 verses 20 and

00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.379
 21 that the

00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:32.519
 Christian is waiting

00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.299
 for that resurrection

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:33.799
 to happen.

00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:36.440
 The Christian isn't

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.899
 just wishing for it,

00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:38.659
 they know they're

00:20:38.659 --> 00:20:39.139
 going to get it.

00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.440
 So he's not

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.119
 expressing doubt.

00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.480
 I think Paul is

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:47.200
 saying the way or

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.200
 route I'm going to

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:49.240
 take to get to the

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.140
 resurrection, I'm

00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:50.559
 not sure.

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:52.779
 I could die in

00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:54.680
 prison tonight or

00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.580
 I go on serving

00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:57.299
 the church, which

00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.319
 requires a daily

00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:58.759
 dying.

00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:01.480
 Either way, I'm

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.000
 not sure what's

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:02.319
 going to happen

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.440
 there, but I want

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.360
 to experience that

00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.180
 final resurrection.

00:21:07.660 --> 00:21:08.779
 Paul treasures

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:11.480
 Christ and so he

00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.759
 wants more of him.

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:17.000
 But to do that, he

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.180
 knows that now is

00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:19.440
 the time of sharing

00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:21.319
 in his humble mind

00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.539
 of choosing to die

00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.460
 in obedience to the

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.579
 Father, in the

00:21:24.579 --> 00:21:25.440
 service of others.

00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:27.940
 And later on he

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.839
 knows that he's

00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:30.579
 going to experience

00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.339
 that final

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:31.819
 resurrection.

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.039
 That's Paul's goal,

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.740
 the resurrected

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.180
 life.

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:43.420
 So what is it

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.840
 exactly that makes

00:21:44.840 --> 00:21:46.120
 us acceptable to

00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:46.380
 God?

00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:48.140
 Let's have a look at

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:49.080
 verses 8 and 9.

00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:50.759
 They explain it for

00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.060
 us.

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.420
 Paul says,

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:56.640
 I have suffered the

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.299
 loss of all things.

00:22:00.060 --> 00:22:00.980
 I think he's

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.480
 expressing that this

00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.440
 actually hurts.

00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.680
 He has suffered the

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.039
 loss.

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:09.039
 It's actually losing

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:10.019
 what he once relied

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.480
 on to give him

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:11.860
 life.

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.160
 His reputation,

00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:14.820
 his sense of

00:22:14.820 --> 00:22:16.960
 superiority to

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.980
 others, any sense

00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.259
 of self-made

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:20.920
 accomplishments.

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:21.779
 He's had to give

00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.320
 all this up.

00:22:23.560 --> 00:22:24.840
 We actually have to

00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.519
 give it up and it's

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.019
 going to hurt.

00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.580
 But on the other

00:22:26.580 --> 00:22:29.360
 hand, Paul sees all

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:31.180
 this stuff and he

00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.220
 now sees it for what

00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:33.039
 it truly is.

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:36.039
 He uses a word that

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:37.779
 I'm not quite game to

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:39.159
 say publicly right

00:22:39.159 --> 00:22:39.440
 now.

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:41.079
 He uses crude

00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:42.619
 language to describe

00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.960
 what worth this

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:45.099
 stuff actually has.

00:22:45.899 --> 00:22:46.759
 I use the word

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.819
 manure, but it's a

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:48.720
 worse word than that

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.119
 in Greek.

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.879
 Em and I have just

00:22:52.879 --> 00:22:54.799
 started a compost bin.

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:58.039
 We're trying to help

00:22:59.119 --> 00:22:59.839
 the planet or something

00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:00.079
 like that.

00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:02.079
 Less waste, which is

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.500
 really good.

00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.579
 It's working.

00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.919
 Anyway, this compost

00:23:06.919 --> 00:23:08.500
 bin, every time I lift

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.619
 the lid to put more

00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:11.439
 veggies in, I'm just

00:23:11.439 --> 00:23:13.460
 hit with this powerful

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.279
 stench.

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.960
 It's disgusting.

00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:20.419
 It's good for the

00:23:20.419 --> 00:23:21.279
 environment, not good

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.960
 for your nostrils.

00:23:23.939 --> 00:23:25.460
 If you lift the lid and

00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.500
 have a close look at

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:28.419
 your merit, it stinks.

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:36.400
 God does not like the

00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:36.580
 smell.

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.860
 It stinks.

00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.440
 Count it for what it

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.140
 truly is.

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.320
 Here's what's actually

00:23:45.320 --> 00:23:45.820
 valuable.

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.480
 Being found in

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:50.840
 Christ, receiving

00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:53.300
 righteousness from

00:23:53.300 --> 00:23:55.840
 God, receiving it.

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:55.939
 Christ.

00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.379
 We heard in chapter

00:23:58.379 --> 00:23:59.859
 two, Christ was the

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:01.519
 obedient one to the

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:01.819
 Father.

00:24:02.179 --> 00:24:03.220
 Christ was the only

00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.559
 one with true and

00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.980
 consistent humility.

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.679
 Christ is the only

00:24:07.679 --> 00:24:08.519
 righteous one.

00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:10.159
 If you want to be

00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:11.980
 righteous, you have to

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.899
 share his righteousness.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.059
 It's on offer to you.

00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:19.939
 Share it by trusting in

00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:21.259
 Jesus, giving your life

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.599
 to him.

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:23.879
 faith is not a

00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:25.179
 different way to earn

00:24:25.179 --> 00:24:26.000
 merit with God.

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:28.839
 Faith is not relying on

00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:31.299
 yourself, but relying on

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.439
 Christ and what he's done

00:24:32.439 --> 00:24:32.879
 for you.

00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:35.519
 This is the only way to be

00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.579
 acceptable with God.

00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:40.699
 That day of God's

00:24:40.699 --> 00:24:43.980
 judgment, when he decides

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:45.459
 whether you are righteous

00:24:45.459 --> 00:24:49.359
 or evil, deserving of

00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:51.179
 eternal life or eternal

00:24:51.179 --> 00:24:53.179
 death, that judgment

00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:54.859
 has already happened

00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:57.199
 to Jesus.

00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:00.339
 He was condemned for

00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:00.899
 our evil.

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:03.139
 Our evil, which in part

00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:04.779
 is us striving for our

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:06.139
 merit, that was

00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:07.559
 condemned in Christ.

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:11.119
 When he was raised, we

00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:12.099
 are raised with him,

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.759
 counted righteous with

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:14.959
 him.

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:17.079
 That final judgment has

00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:18.919
 already happened when

00:25:18.919 --> 00:25:20.019
 Jesus rose from the

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.259
 dead.

00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:23.220
 You are righteous

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:26.220
 if you have faith in

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:28.439
 Christ because of his

00:25:28.439 --> 00:25:28.960
 righteousness.

00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.079
 We share in it.

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.559
 We receive it.

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:34.419
 Oh, what a relief.

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:40.279
 If you are entrusting

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.139
 yourself to Christ,

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.199
 heaven has started.

00:25:44.439 --> 00:25:45.419
 We're waiting for the

00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:46.460
 full thing, of course,

00:25:46.820 --> 00:25:47.360
 but it's already

00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:47.700
 begun.

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.240
 You can call God

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.600
 Father.

00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:53.300
 If you are still

00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:54.580
 trying to earn your

00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:55.620
 way in life and with

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:57.440
 God, stop living in

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.100
 this fear.

00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.400
 Stop trying to

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:02.080
 control your life.

00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:04.279
 Come and rest in

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.759
 Christ.

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:07.180
 Come and have joy in

00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:07.460
 him.

00:26:10.800 --> 00:26:11.960
 Acceptance with God is

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.519
 received.

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.500
 It's not earned.

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:19.900
 So while we are

00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:21.160
 waiting for this final

00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:22.420
 resurrection, how

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.580
 should our right

00:26:23.580 --> 00:26:24.840
 relationship with God

00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:25.759
 affect our thinking?

00:26:26.060 --> 00:26:26.980
 Let's get inside our

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.380
 minds.

00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:30.220
 Verse 1 tells us what

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.800
 we should do.

00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:34.480
 Rejoice in the

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:34.779
 Lord.

00:26:38.360 --> 00:26:39.500
 Those who rely on

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.320
 their own merit can

00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:41.720
 never rest, can never

00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.600
 have joy because in

00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:43.980
 five minutes time you

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.940
 could stuff it up big

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.240
 time.

00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.539
 But we are in

00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.000
 Christ.

00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:52.000
 We will always be in

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.460
 Christ.

00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.960
 So in him we can

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:58.200
 rest and rejoice in

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.080
 our relationship with

00:26:59.080 --> 00:26:59.299
 God.

00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:03.140
 We have relationship

00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.120
 with God now and we

00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:04.779
 know that we're going

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.380
 to be raised.

00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.920
 That's a certain hope.

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.420
 We can rejoice in

00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:09.620
 that.

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:12.600
 That frees us to lay

00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:13.660
 down our lives in

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.620
 obedience to God.

00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.480
 Not trying to earn

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:15.600
 it.

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.259
 That's not real

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.720
 obedience.

00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:19.519
 But if we know we're

00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.320
 righteous in him we

00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:21.640
 can obey God,

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.800
 delighting to obey

00:27:22.800 --> 00:27:24.340
 God in service of

00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:24.600
 others.

00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.980
 And that's going to be

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.320
 painful.

00:27:27.660 --> 00:27:28.860
 But even in that pain

00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:31.500
 that reminds us that

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.480
 we belong to Christ.

00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:33.480
 And so even in that

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.440
 pain we can rejoice.

00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:38.320
 It's a deep joy.

00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:43.919
 So what might this look

00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:45.139
 like if we think this

00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:46.639
 way, if we're rejoicing

00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:48.019
 in receiving our

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.240
 acceptance rather than

00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:50.119
 trying to earn it?

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:54.240
 Here I'm going to rely on

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.599
 Tim Keller because he

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:57.639
 really helps to show the

00:27:57.639 --> 00:28:00.259
 difference between an

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:02.700
 earning merit religious way

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:04.240
 of thinking and a gospel

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:06.279
 receiving way of thinking.

00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:07.759
 So let me just use a few

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:08.379
 of his words.

00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:13.480
 Merit thinks I obey

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:15.160
 God, therefore I'm

00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:15.559
 accepted.

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:18.599
 Gospel thinks I'm

00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:20.519
 accepted, therefore I

00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.099
 obey God.

00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:24.619
 Merit thinks motivation

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:26.420
 is based on fear and

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.119
 insecurity.

00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:30.299
 Gospel thinks motivation

00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:32.079
 is based on grateful joy.

00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:37.279
 Merit thinks when I'm

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:40.059
 criticized, I'm furious

00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:43.319
 and devastated because it

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.859
 is essential for me to

00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:46.000
 think of myself as a good

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.419
 person.

00:28:46.939 --> 00:28:48.579
 Threats to that self-image

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:50.639
 must be destroyed at all

00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.059
 costs.

00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:53.179
 That's the merit way of

00:28:53.179 --> 00:28:53.439
 thinking.

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:56.419
 Gospel thinks when I'm

00:28:56.419 --> 00:28:58.679
 criticized, I struggle.

00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:01.539
 But it's not essential for

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.799
 me to think of myself as a

00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.360
 good person.

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:06.240
 My identity is not built on

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:08.240
 my performance but on God's

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.460
 love for me in Christ.

00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:16.220
 Merit thinks my self-view

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:18.120
 swings between two poles.

00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.920
 If and when I'm living up to

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.860
 my standards, I feel

00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:23.060
 confident but then I'm prone

00:29:23.060 --> 00:29:24.680
 to be proud and unsympathetic

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.600
 to people who fail.

00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:29.959
 If and when I'm not living up

00:29:29.959 --> 00:29:31.500
 to standards, I feel humble

00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.199
 but not confident.

00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:36.000
 I feel like a failure.

00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.919
 That's the merit way of

00:29:37.919 --> 00:29:38.159
 thinking.

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:40.859
 Gospel thinks my self-view is

00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:42.939
 not based on a view of

00:29:42.939 --> 00:29:44.359
 myself as a moral achiever.

00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:47.199
 In Christ, I am at once

00:29:47.199 --> 00:29:50.539
 sinful and lost, yet accepted.

00:29:51.919 --> 00:29:55.099
 I am so bad he had to die for

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:59.559
 me and so loved he was glad

00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.379
 to die for me.

00:30:02.219 --> 00:30:04.039
 This leads me to deeper

00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:06.099
 humility and deeper

00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:06.759
 confidence.

00:30:09.939 --> 00:30:12.199
 The way of thinking along the

00:30:12.199 --> 00:30:13.619
 lines of merit and gospel,

00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:14.679
 they're completely different,

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.019
 aren't they?

00:30:16.459 --> 00:30:17.539
 Completely different.

00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:22.799
 Our passage is telling us

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:26.899
 think gospel in everyday life.

00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:28.159
 So what might this look like?

00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:34.639
 When you're tempted to sin in

00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:36.779
 that same way today as yesterday,

00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:41.259
 or when you're burdened with guilt

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:43.960
 and shame immediately after sinning

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:46.140
 in that way, let's be thinking

00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:48.420
 acceptance is received, not

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.420
 earned.

00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:54.039
 God loves me in Christ as much

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:56.840
 in this moment of temptation

00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:57.620
 or guilt.

00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:00.539
 He loves me just as much in those

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:03.000
 moments as he does in every other

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:04.779
 moment because it doesn't depend

00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.440
 on me.

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.579
 It depends on Christ.

00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:09.899
 So I can move back into the

00:31:09.899 --> 00:31:10.179
 struggle.

00:31:13.899 --> 00:31:16.559
 When you feel like you're failing

00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:18.839
 as a child, as a parent, when

00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:20.839
 you're failing as a spouse or as a

00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:23.279
 friend or in your job, let's be

00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:26.399
 thinking acceptance is received, not

00:31:26.399 --> 00:31:26.759
 earned.

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:32.460
 My main identity is that I am in full

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:35.079
 and right relationship with God

00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:37.600
 because I belong to Christ.

00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:40.960
 No amount of failure can touch that.

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:44.720
 So I can move back into the struggle.

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:51.600
 When you're weighed down and just

00:31:51.600 --> 00:31:54.299
 restrained by sickness or mental

00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:55.640
 health and you feel like you've got

00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:58.740
 nothing to offer, let's be thinking

00:31:58.740 --> 00:32:02.100
 acceptance is received, not earned.

00:32:02.460 --> 00:32:07.900
 Christ has shared all of himself, all

00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:09.840
 of his relationship with the Father, all

00:32:09.840 --> 00:32:11.779
 of his plans to restore the world with

00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:14.840
 me, all of it I have received in him

00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:17.059
 so I can have deep joy even while I'm

00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:18.600
 hurting, hurting bad.

00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:21.259
 I can have deep joy in that and I can

00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:22.579
 move back into the struggle.

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:28.819
 When we're frantically trying to serve

00:32:28.819 --> 00:32:31.180
 in those ministries, when we're

00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:33.420
 anxiously trying to put on a respectable

00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:35.960
 front as being a good Christian, let's

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:38.720
 be thinking acceptance is received, not

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.080
 earned.

00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.740
 I can rest.

00:32:43.880 --> 00:32:48.080
 I can rest in how God sees me because of

00:32:48.080 --> 00:32:48.480
 Christ.

00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:52.340
 So I can move back into the struggle of

00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:55.819
 being genuinely concerned for others.

00:32:57.980 --> 00:33:00.379
 When someone in the church doesn't meet

00:33:00.379 --> 00:33:02.959
 your standards, perhaps they are clearly not

00:33:02.959 --> 00:33:04.399
 meeting God's standards either.

00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:06.179
 Let's be thinking.

00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:10.220
 Acceptance is received, not earned.

00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:16.460
 I want them to know they are fully and always

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:19.860
 loved by God so that they can move back into

00:33:19.860 --> 00:33:20.319
 the struggle.

00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:25.759
 When we see people in our society openly

00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:28.440
 sinning against God, even proud of the fact,

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:32.980
 let's be thinking acceptance is received, not earned.

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:38.440
 I really want that person to know the love and

00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.880
 acceptance that I've received.

00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:42.279
 Please God, show them your son.

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:53.259
 If we are to live worthy of the gospel, if we are to

00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:58.000
 have joy in the Lord being our motivation, then we've got

00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:00.140
 to think acceptance is received.

00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.799
 It's not earned.

00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:04.539
 Would you pray with me?

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.039
 Let's pray.

00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:20.860
 Our Father, I pray that you would heal the broken

00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:26.599
 hearted this morning in the knowledge that you love

00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:28.219
 them fully in Christ.

00:34:29.819 --> 00:34:33.119
 Lord, give them strength in that love, in that joy to

00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:35.279
 keep struggling on trusting you.

00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:41.839
 Lord, I pray for those of us who are trying to put on a

00:34:41.839 --> 00:34:45.179
 good front, a good face in this church community,

00:34:46.279 --> 00:34:49.860
 struggling to serve in ministries just to be seen for

00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.420
 doing good.

00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:53.860
 Lord, I pray that you would help us to rest in you,

00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:57.720
 in the righteousness you've given us in Christ.

00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:01.740
 Help us to rest and have joy and serve one another out of

00:35:01.740 --> 00:35:02.220
 love.

00:35:05.240 --> 00:35:08.240
 Lord, for those of us who are weighed down in sin,

00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:14.360
 I pray that you would help us to see ourselves as you see us

00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:15.019
 in Christ.

00:35:16.700 --> 00:35:19.960
 That you love us fully in those moments as every other

00:35:19.960 --> 00:35:20.360
 moment.

00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:22.200
 Thank you, God.

00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:27.599
 Father, I pray that you would help us as a community to look at

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:30.320
 one another as you see us.

00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:37.480
 Lord, help us to extend your grace to others as much as we want

00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:38.099
 it for ourselves.

00:35:38.099 --> 00:35:45.980
 God, help us to be a people who boast in what you've given us in

00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:47.259
 Christ, not in ourselves.

00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:52.940
 Oh, that would be such a joyful way to live and so pleasing to you.

00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:54.539
 And so we pray in Jesus' name.

00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:55.179
 Amen.

00:35:55.179 --> 00:35:55.279
 Amen.

00:35:55.279 --> 00:35:55.319
 Amen.

00:35:55.319 --> 00:35:55.380
 Amen.

00:35:55.380 --> 00:35:55.400
 Amen.

00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:55.420
 Amen.

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:55.480
 Amen.

00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:55.920
 Amen.

00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:56.420
 Amen.

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:57.319
 Amen.

00:35:57.319 --> 00:35:57.420
 Amen.

00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:57.480
 Amen.

00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:58.480
 Amen.

00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:59.480
 Amen.

00:35:59.480 --> 00:36:00.480
 Amen.

00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:00.539
 Amen.

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:01.480
 Amen.

00:36:01.480 --> 00:36:02.480
 Amen.

00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:04.480
 Amen.

00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:04.539
 Amen.

00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:04.579
 Amen.