WEBVTT 00:00:00.380 --> 00:00:12.000 This morning we're continuing on in our series through Romans 4. We're in chapter 4. We're picking up where we left off after spending some time in Genesis. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:23.219 And you'll see why here in a second. It feels like we just keep talking about Abraham. And we are because Paul is using him as an example to us all. 00:00:23.219 --> 00:00:31.399 So if you have a Bible or you have a bulletin in front of you, we're looking at Romans 4 verses 9 through 15. 00:00:34.820 --> 00:00:35.960 Romans 4. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:42.799 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised or also for the uncircumcised? 00:00:43.239 --> 00:00:46.799 For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 00:00:48.239 --> 00:00:50.280 How then was it counted to him? 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.300 Was it before or after he had been circumcised? 00:00:53.800 --> 00:00:56.600 It was not after but before he was circumcised. 00:00:56.859 --> 00:01:04.299 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:10.879 The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:14.579 So that righteousness would have been counted to them as well. 00:01:14.579 --> 00:01:19.239 And to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised. 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:26.299 But who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 00:01:26.780 --> 00:01:32.319 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be the heir of the world did not come through the law. 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:34.620 But through the righteousness of faith. 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:38.740 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be heirs. 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:41.680 Faith is null and the promise is void. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:43.600 For the law brings wrath. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:46.580 But where there is no law there is no transgression. 00:01:47.020 --> 00:01:47.600 Let's pray. 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:49.719 Lord we are thankful for your word. 00:01:49.820 --> 00:01:52.500 We pray that you might use your spirit in our lives. 00:01:52.960 --> 00:01:54.719 To open it to us. 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:56.960 Let us see the beauty of Jesus. 00:01:57.659 --> 00:02:00.320 And may we cling to him more tightly. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:02.579 We ask this in Christ's name. 00:02:02.839 --> 00:02:03.139 Amen. 00:02:04.679 --> 00:02:07.819 Recently I had lunch with a family from church. 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:10.579 And we were talking about a number of things. 00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:12.819 And then the topic of music came up. 00:02:13.620 --> 00:02:19.039 And I shamefully and embarrassingly admitted to them. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:21.039 I don't know anything about music. 00:02:21.780 --> 00:02:23.099 I can't play music. 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:28.159 It seems like magic when people are up here beating these wooden things together. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:31.280 And then sound comes out and it kind of all works together. 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:38.879 They're literally wizards and maybe witches up here that are doing magic to create beautiful sounds. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:40.939 I have no idea how they work. 00:02:42.019 --> 00:02:45.759 And they told me that they have a term for people like me. 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:48.019 And I said well let's hear it. 00:02:48.039 --> 00:02:48.479 I'm all ears. 00:02:48.859 --> 00:02:50.159 And they said I'm a music appreciator. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:50.960 Music appreciator. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:54.960 So as a newly minted music appreciator. 00:02:55.659 --> 00:02:57.079 Not just an admirer. 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:01.300 I have to admit that whenever I look through scripture. 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:04.379 I'm constantly reminded of music. 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:06.139 Whenever I walk about my day. 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:07.319 Whenever I do life. 00:03:07.419 --> 00:03:09.280 Or I'm talking to my kids or other people. 00:03:09.699 --> 00:03:11.519 I am reminded of music. 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:13.740 And if you remember from last week. 00:03:13.900 --> 00:03:15.120 Paul is no different. 00:03:15.780 --> 00:03:18.340 Where does he go when he needs evidence. 00:03:18.340 --> 00:03:20.180 Or when he's reminded of something. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:21.620 He goes to the Psalms. 00:03:21.740 --> 00:03:23.520 Which oh by the way are music. 00:03:23.700 --> 00:03:23.900 Right? 00:03:24.340 --> 00:03:26.699 They might not be the chart toppers today. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:30.560 But it's the thing that Paul goes to when he needs evidence. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:32.520 When he doesn't know what to say. 00:03:32.740 --> 00:03:35.699 Or he wants to point back to something. 00:03:35.860 --> 00:03:37.319 He goes to the Psalms. 00:03:38.340 --> 00:03:41.080 Now as I was looking at this section of Romans 4. 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:45.219 I turned to the great prophet of a couple years ago. 00:03:45.219 --> 00:03:50.740 And I couldn't get out of my head the song from little Stevie Wonder. 00:03:52.259 --> 00:03:53.360 As some of you might know it. 00:03:53.860 --> 00:03:56.259 Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:59.219 That's the perennial refrain. 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:00.079 Right? 00:04:00.579 --> 00:04:02.340 And as you look through Romans 4. 00:04:02.460 --> 00:04:05.240 I'm not saying that Paul consulted Stevie Wonder. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:09.199 Or Stevie Wonder consulted Paul when he wrote that song about love. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:12.259 But those themes are present here. 00:04:12.359 --> 00:04:14.659 And those words are repeated over and over. 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:15.780 Just like in the song. 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:18.519 Signed, sealed, delivered. 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:22.959 In fact, you could even look a little closer and say. 00:04:23.039 --> 00:04:30.519 Paul actually talks about faith in the same way that Stevie Wonder talks about love. 00:04:30.899 --> 00:04:37.500 That righteousness by faith is signed, sealed, and it's delivered. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:42.420 And as we look at righteousness by faith, we're going to look at those headings. 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:44.379 Signed and sealed, and then delivered. 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:46.040 And we'll see why in a minute. 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.819 Now if you're here this morning and you've spent any time around Christianity, 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:53.939 that righteousness by faith, that's kind of a big scary term. 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:55.600 It's familiar to us. 00:04:55.980 --> 00:04:58.339 But it's kind of hard to define. 00:04:58.339 --> 00:05:05.279 After all, how can anyone, let alone me, be right before God? 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:09.319 Maybe it's the same question that gnaws at you. 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:13.139 And if you're not a Christian here this morning, I'm going to let you in on a secret. 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:15.839 Christians really struggle with that question too. 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:18.259 And that's why Paul is writing this. 00:05:18.459 --> 00:05:22.120 To kind of wade through all the feelings about this. 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:24.199 And explain that. 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:28.800 And if you spent any amount of time with us over the summer, 00:05:29.019 --> 00:05:33.300 as we walked through the life of Abraham, we saw this again and again. 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:39.360 We asked the question, is Abraham, is he actually trying to wreck this thing? 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:41.259 Does he actually have faith in God? 00:05:41.780 --> 00:05:44.600 Because he keeps acting like a knucklehead. 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:52.780 You see, the most pressing issue in Romans 4 is how do we reconcile these people's lives? 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:57.140 They look like train wrecks and they say that they're loved by God. 00:05:57.580 --> 00:05:59.800 Or other people say that they're loved by God. 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:03.320 Or they're right before God and they're a mess. 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:06.600 That should resonate with us this morning. 00:06:06.700 --> 00:06:08.100 Whether we're Christians or not, 00:06:08.700 --> 00:06:13.040 we have to look at our own failings as we fail time and time again. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:16.960 And say, am I really right before God? 00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:19.879 I've done things wrong again. 00:06:19.980 --> 00:06:21.720 That's the thing I said I wouldn't do. 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:24.840 And how does that fit with my faith? 00:06:25.820 --> 00:06:28.220 I know that Christ died for sin. 00:06:28.420 --> 00:06:31.100 But did Christ die for me? 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:36.080 If you remember, so far in Romans, 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:38.500 Paul has been working through this bigger argument 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:40.060 that everybody's guilty. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:40.600 Everybody. 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:41.800 Alright? 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:42.780 No one is righteous. 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:43.699 No, not one. 00:06:43.840 --> 00:06:48.480 And last week we saw these great mountains of men in the faith. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:49.660 Abraham and David. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:52.840 And even them were saved by faith. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:56.900 Even them are made right in the presence of God by faith. 00:06:57.080 --> 00:06:58.780 Not by what they had done. 00:06:59.100 --> 00:07:00.460 And here in this text, 00:07:00.780 --> 00:07:04.620 there's this weird, peculiar fascination 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:06.439 and zeroing in on circumcision. 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:09.600 And so as we look at that, 00:07:09.699 --> 00:07:12.339 we have to deal with what did it mean? 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:16.399 It meant to be righteous by faith. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:18.100 And we'll explain that in a minute. 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:20.639 So first, faith signed and sealed. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:23.259 If you notice as we read through Romans 4, 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:26.579 it seems like Paul is like actually fighting somebody. 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:27.980 He's debating them, 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:29.060 but we don't know who. 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:32.439 He's responding to some kind of argument. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:34.360 And if we miss that idea, 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:37.839 and we just read it as Paul talking about what he thinks, 00:07:38.019 --> 00:07:40.139 it seems like Paul is going nuts. 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:41.040 And you're like, 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:42.459 Paul, you just said this, 00:07:42.540 --> 00:07:43.780 but then you said this again. 00:07:45.019 --> 00:07:46.759 These ideas are all mixed up. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:50.000 Now, Paul might not be actually responding to a person, 00:07:50.259 --> 00:07:51.800 but it's kind of like shadow boxing. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:53.920 And if you were a middle school boy 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:55.579 or a middle school boy once, 00:07:55.780 --> 00:07:59.020 you've all shadow boxed on the playground, right? 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:01.360 You're fighting that imaginary person. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:03.379 It might be even your own shadow, 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:05.100 but they're really there 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:06.759 and you're really slugging it out. 00:08:07.220 --> 00:08:08.480 Paul's doing the same thing, 00:08:08.580 --> 00:08:10.580 except for he's not slugging out with a shadow. 00:08:10.840 --> 00:08:12.540 He's slugging out over theology. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:14.460 Look with me at verse nine. 00:08:15.580 --> 00:08:17.340 We see the battle lines of this argument 00:08:17.340 --> 00:08:18.980 are clearly drawn. 00:08:19.960 --> 00:08:20.920 And they are this. 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:23.060 He asks this kind of question. 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:25.819 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:28.080 or also for the uncircumcised? 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:31.480 We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:35.600 So it's circumcision versus uncircumcision. 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:39.080 And we have to figure out what's going on. 00:08:39.139 --> 00:08:41.019 Now that blessing that he's talking about, 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:43.519 he's pointing back to what he just talked about 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:44.580 a few verses earlier. 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:46.320 When we said that blessing, 00:08:46.680 --> 00:08:48.920 is it tied to something somebody does 00:08:48.920 --> 00:08:49.899 or who they are? 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:52.319 Or is it tied to something different? 00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:55.899 Remember, Paul is parroting back the songs of his day 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:56.459 when he says, 00:08:57.199 --> 00:08:59.959 blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, 00:09:00.319 --> 00:09:01.579 whose sins are covered. 00:09:02.299 --> 00:09:03.860 Blessed is the man against whom 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:06.019 the Lord will not count his sin. 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:10.199 So blessing or being blessed is tied to those things 00:09:10.199 --> 00:09:13.539 and not to who Abraham is 00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:14.600 and what he's done, 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:15.419 his actions, 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:17.899 or what David has done. 00:09:18.219 --> 00:09:20.199 That might seem obvious to us 00:09:20.199 --> 00:09:22.139 if we know the lives of those two men. 00:09:22.219 --> 00:09:24.559 I just said Abraham acts like a knucklehead. 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:26.699 David is no better. 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:29.319 We see all of his sin on display. 00:09:29.839 --> 00:09:31.399 But these men are righteous 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:34.019 because they put their faith in the Lord. 00:09:34.019 --> 00:09:39.699 Now we see this kind of foray into circumcision. 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:41.039 It's both. 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:42.559 It's for both, it says. 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:43.779 Look at verse 10. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:46.079 How then was this righteousness 00:09:46.079 --> 00:09:48.819 or this blessedness counted to him? 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:51.759 So we know that he received it, 00:09:51.939 --> 00:09:54.360 but was it before he was circumcised 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:55.620 or was it after? 00:09:55.620 --> 00:09:57.320 So the question is, 00:09:57.560 --> 00:09:58.840 can circumcision, 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:01.240 can it secure righteousness? 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:03.820 Oh, man. 00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:07.700 Abraham was righteous because of his faith, 00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:09.539 not because of circumcision. 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:11.679 And we see that in the timing 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:13.899 that Paul is trying to draw out. 00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:17.039 He's trying to show us how this works out, 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:20.440 that he was righteous before he was circumcised. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:22.840 So think back as we walk through Genesis. 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:26.180 He was righteous in Genesis 15. 00:10:26.580 --> 00:10:29.660 And he gets circumcision much later. 00:10:31.040 --> 00:10:33.160 Paul kind of goes on about this 00:10:33.160 --> 00:10:33.620 and he says, 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:35.480 not only does it secure, 00:10:35.700 --> 00:10:36.980 not secure righteousness, 00:10:37.460 --> 00:10:39.740 but it plays no part in it whatsoever. 00:10:40.540 --> 00:10:42.240 It's not even a portion. 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:44.220 It's not even one little iota. 00:10:47.280 --> 00:10:49.960 If we think about that in our own faith, 00:10:50.400 --> 00:10:52.259 we can understand that. 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:53.659 None of our works, 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:55.379 none of the things that we do 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:58.639 actually secures our right standing before God 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:00.220 or our faith in Jesus. 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:02.659 That we can identify with. 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:05.539 But as we look back to Genesis 15, 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:07.779 we know this, 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:10.620 that Abraham is counted as righteous 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:15.379 and God is the one that's doing the work. 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:18.399 And then after a period of time, 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:21.059 he receives the sign of circumcision. 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:23.879 Now sometimes that's difficult for us to grasp 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.159 because when we read the Bible, 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:26.279 we think about, 00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:30.159 it seems like maybe not that much time passed. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.759 Like if he's talking in Genesis 15 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:34.159 and then in Genesis 17, 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.500 is that the next day 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:37.639 or is that like breakfast the next morning? 00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:39.860 Like how do we know how long has passed? 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:41.720 For just for perspective, 00:11:42.419 --> 00:11:44.240 in 15 to 17, 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.639 he's talking about maybe 10 to 15 years. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:48.860 So it's not like he put his faith 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:50.039 and is declared righteous 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:53.500 and then he receives the covenant sign the next morning. 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:55.700 Some time elapses. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:11:59.800 When we think about that, 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:02.620 we have to think about the fact that 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:04.779 Abraham is called righteous 00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:07.000 and then many years later, 00:12:07.319 --> 00:12:08.319 receives the sign. 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:10.699 But it's not just a sign. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:12.039 It does something different. 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:14.120 As Stevie Wonder reminds us, right? 00:12:14.339 --> 00:12:15.100 It seals. 00:12:15.839 --> 00:12:17.379 What in the world does that mean? 00:12:18.059 --> 00:12:19.459 Well, when we think about that, 00:12:19.799 --> 00:12:21.059 we have to think through 00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:22.679 all the struggles 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:24.679 that the New Testament church had. 00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:25.919 And one of those 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.319 is the fact that 00:12:27.319 --> 00:12:29.759 they get really confused about circumcision. 00:12:30.179 --> 00:12:31.819 Think about Paul's own interactions 00:12:31.819 --> 00:12:33.059 with some of the other apostles. 00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:35.539 They actually kind of duke it out over this. 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.519 And they say, 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:38.519 hey, some people are saying, 00:12:38.699 --> 00:12:40.179 you got to be circumcised first 00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:41.799 and then you come to faith in Jesus 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:42.739 and then you get baptized 00:12:42.739 --> 00:12:43.379 and you're good. 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:44.719 Or something like that. 00:12:44.819 --> 00:12:46.279 But they're mixing it up 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:48.019 because they're not understanding 00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:49.579 this part about sealing. 00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:52.199 And up until this point, 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:54.919 the language of sign is obvious to us. 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:55.719 We know that. 00:12:55.799 --> 00:12:56.859 We see signs everywhere. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:58.099 Signs on the highway 00:12:58.099 --> 00:12:59.739 that point us to get off on the exit. 00:13:00.179 --> 00:13:01.959 Signs that tell us to do stuff 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:03.879 or signs that point us to things. 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:06.220 But seal is a little bit more squishy. 00:13:06.780 --> 00:13:07.840 If we think about seal 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:09.120 like sealing an envelope, 00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:10.639 not licking the back 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:11.720 over and over again 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:12.840 and then get that nasty taste 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.200 in your mouth, 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:14.259 not that seal, right? 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:16.300 But putting a wax on something 00:13:16.300 --> 00:13:18.440 to verify that it's true, 00:13:18.560 --> 00:13:19.580 to authenticate it. 00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:21.139 And then maybe if I'm a king, 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:22.620 I'm putting my ring in it 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:23.519 and sealing it 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:24.420 to make sure nobody 00:13:24.420 --> 00:13:26.259 is going to falsify those things. 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.580 That's what seal means. 00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:28.580 And that's what Paul 00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:30.580 is pointing us to here. 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:31.960 Look with me at verse 11. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.700 He, being Abraham, 00:13:34.900 --> 00:13:36.300 received the sign of circumcision 00:13:36.300 --> 00:13:38.080 as a seal of the righteousness 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:39.360 that he had by faith 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:41.560 while he was still uncircumcised. 00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:42.780 The purpose, 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:44.320 which we'll get to in a minute, 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:45.600 was to make him 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:47.400 the father of all who believe 00:13:47.400 --> 00:13:48.780 without being circumcised 00:13:48.780 --> 00:13:49.680 so that righteousness 00:13:49.680 --> 00:13:52.320 would be counted to them as well. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:55.060 So that sealing is ratifying 00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:57.200 and securing in some capacity 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:59.200 what is already true 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:01.340 in Abraham's life. 00:14:02.040 --> 00:14:04.280 We're all familiar with that seal, 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:05.700 closing that envelope 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:07.560 and knowing that it's protected 00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:08.960 and it's kept. 00:14:10.140 --> 00:14:11.900 This seal is ratifying 00:14:11.900 --> 00:14:14.440 what Abraham had by faith, 00:14:14.520 --> 00:14:15.460 that righteousness. 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:18.340 Now, if you've been around 00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:20.720 a Reformed or Presbyterian church, 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.480 you know that this section 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:25.180 is what we go to 00:14:25.180 --> 00:14:26.440 when we talk about baptism. 00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:27.759 So let's just talk about it 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:28.460 there for a second. 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:30.580 It doesn't say the word in here, 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:32.899 but the concept is ever present. 00:14:33.560 --> 00:14:34.200 Now, immediately, 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:35.660 I just got puzzled looks 00:14:35.660 --> 00:14:36.580 when I said that 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.540 because you're like, 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:38.840 hey, I didn't see baptism 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:39.540 in this at all. 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.980 Why are we talking about this? 00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:42.779 And some of you 00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:43.440 are probably thinking, 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:45.019 okay, here goes the shell game 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.080 of Presbyterians. 00:14:46.180 --> 00:14:47.000 They're going to trick me 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:48.420 and I don't see it in the text. 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.779 Just follow along with me, okay? 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:52.919 Yes, it does not say baptism in here. 00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:54.360 But what does it say? 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:56.339 It does say circumcision, 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.379 which is what? 00:14:57.839 --> 00:14:59.539 A sign and seal 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:02.179 of righteousness by faith. 00:15:02.459 --> 00:15:04.179 And as we think about that, 00:15:04.339 --> 00:15:05.879 what is baptism doing? 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:08.179 It's doing the same exact thing, 00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:09.919 signing and sealing 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:11.839 righteousness by faith. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:15.460 So this is Abraham, 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:17.800 who was righteous by faith, 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:18.920 very clearly, 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:20.820 receiving the sign. 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.440 So who's it applied to? 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:24.360 Abraham and who else? 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:26.200 All of his believing children? 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:27.780 Some. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:30.480 All of his unbelieving children? 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.100 Them too. 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:34.139 It's applied to believers 00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:35.280 and their children, 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.800 whether they believe or not. 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:37.500 Okay? 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:39.379 So the sign of righteousness 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.139 by faith, 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:41.240 which is circumcision, 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:43.200 is applied to believers, 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:44.240 people that are righteous 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.299 by faith like Abraham, 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:47.259 and then all of their children. 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:47.879 Okay? 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:49.600 That sounds very similar 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:50.200 to baptism. 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.559 It's because it is. 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.620 If you remember 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:54.159 in places like Colossians, 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.179 that connection 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:56.399 is made very clearly. 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.779 It's even called something like 00:15:57.779 --> 00:15:59.620 the circumcision of Christ. 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:00.480 Okay? 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.120 The relationship between 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.820 baptism and circumcision 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:05.480 is that they both signal 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:07.019 righteousness by faith. 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.399 And when we see that 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.500 applied to believers 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.580 and their children, 00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:14.960 then the consistent thing 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:16.120 is to say baptism 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:17.460 is applied to believers 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.420 and their children. 00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:21.340 Even though nowhere in this text 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.300 does it say baptism. 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.700 We're talking about 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:25.100 the same thing. 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.539 So often we can fall 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.399 into this idea 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.920 of a word concept fallacy. 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.460 If it doesn't say the word, 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:32.460 it's not talking about the thing. 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:33.800 But we don't do that 00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:34.860 with other parts of scripture. 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:35.620 Right? 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.480 Think about the Trinity. 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.919 It doesn't say the word Trinity, 00:16:38.180 --> 00:16:39.279 but we know it's there. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.419 We know it's going on. 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.320 The same is true 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:42.080 here in baptism. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:44.440 The Old Testament sign 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:45.720 of faith is circumcision 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:47.440 and the New Testament sign 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.700 of faith is baptism. 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.259 It's signifying 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:51.779 and sealing the same thing. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.200 Righteousness by faith 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.539 and they're applied 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:55.240 to believers 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:56.139 and their children 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:57.039 just like Abraham 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.940 and his children. 00:16:58.899 --> 00:16:59.379 Now, 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.360 with that, 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:02.580 let's turn our attention 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.200 back to 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:04.720 what is he talking about? 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.480 That's one practical application 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.360 of this text. 00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:08.779 But what are we supposed 00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:10.299 to do with all of this? 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.100 Abraham, 00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:12.740 you're righteous by faith, 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.779 but how are we supposed 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:14.920 to think about that? 00:17:16.080 --> 00:17:16.500 Well, 00:17:16.580 --> 00:17:17.840 he's talking to us 00:17:17.840 --> 00:17:18.960 about this idea 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.160 that both Jews 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.120 and Gentiles 00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:23.180 have a share 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:23.799 in the kingdom. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:25.700 Abraham is the father 00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:27.160 to both of these people, 00:17:27.340 --> 00:17:28.539 whether they have circumcision 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.259 or not. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.159 And that last phrase 00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:32.099 that we just looked at 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:32.779 is kind of, 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:33.539 in verse 11, 00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.740 is indicative of this. 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.319 Those who walk 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.799 in the footsteps 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:39.539 of faith. 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.159 He's talking about 00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:42.420 anybody that walks 00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:42.899 in faith 00:17:42.899 --> 00:17:43.700 after Abraham. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.899 Those people 00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:47.240 have the sign 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.399 and those people 00:17:48.399 --> 00:17:49.359 are the people 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:50.039 of faith. 00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:51.779 I love college football. 00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:52.859 I love it. 00:17:53.139 --> 00:17:53.839 It's awesome. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.000 It's really fun 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.480 to be all wrapped up 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:56.819 in there. 00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:57.859 I get some grins 00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:59.379 of some opponents here, 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.799 but let me tell you what. 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:03.720 I think college football 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.220 is great. 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:06.399 It can be all-consuming 00:18:06.399 --> 00:18:07.559 if we're really honest. 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:09.799 And I love nothing more 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:11.319 that when my team, 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.460 the Clemson Tigers, 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:14.039 stomp out the people 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:14.720 that are evil, 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:16.179 that are in my family, 00:18:16.419 --> 00:18:17.240 the Duke Blue Devils. 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.019 I love it. 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:20.019 It makes me so happy inside 00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:21.240 and when we stomp them 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:21.740 in football 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.759 and in basketball. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.720 But there's some people 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.960 that are all consumed 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:27.019 by college football. 00:18:27.840 --> 00:18:28.720 My college roommate 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.500 was one of those. 00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.700 He referred to himself 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.900 only in the third person, 00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:32.700 Mr. Peets. 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.480 He just got married. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.960 And Mr. Peets, 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.840 not only did he love 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:37.680 the color orange 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.380 and did he love 00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:39.200 the Clemson Tigers 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.539 and did he go to every game? 00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.000 Yes. 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:42.940 He also only had hair 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:44.340 in the shape of a Tiger Paul 00:18:44.340 --> 00:18:45.420 on the back of his head. 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:47.100 He was that committed. 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:49.100 So he might show up 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:49.720 on Saturday. 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:51.000 He might have 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.960 a really weird haircut 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.620 that got him 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.220 no girlfriends. 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:56.539 And he might only obsess 00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.680 about Clemson football. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:59.799 He might skip class 00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:00.940 to go watch practice. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.039 When he shows up 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:03.660 on Saturday, 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:05.200 he's wearing the jersey. 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.980 He has the sign 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:08.019 of being a Clemson 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:08.779 football player. 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:11.100 But nobody mistakes him 00:19:11.100 --> 00:19:12.620 for a Clemson football player. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.579 That might be because 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.680 he's not wearing the pads 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:16.460 and he's about five nothing. 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.180 Right? 00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:18.319 He's got no future 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.019 in college football. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.559 But he's still wearing 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.900 the thing that says 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:24.139 I am a Clemson football player. 00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:26.319 But why does nobody think 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.839 that he's a Clemson football player? 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.339 You see, 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:31.619 it's what's inside of that. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.920 It's not just the sign, 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.900 but it's the actual act 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:37.059 of going on the field 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:38.519 on Saturday and playing. 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:40.940 Mr. Peets never became a player. 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.259 He never was a player. 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:44.299 But those same people 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.660 that wore that same jersey 00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:47.200 were on the field. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:48.460 It makes certain 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:50.000 what's already true 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.700 by nature 00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.860 when they suit up. 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:54.039 That they're playing football. 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:56.519 That is the substance 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.340 of the argument 00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:58.240 that Paul makes. 00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.740 Is the sign 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:00.980 doesn't make them 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.860 a football player. 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:03.799 The jersey doesn't make them 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.539 a football player. 00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:06.059 The sign of circumcision 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:07.319 doesn't make them righteous. 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:09.600 It just seals it 00:20:09.600 --> 00:20:10.880 and validates it. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:15.799 But as we think about this, 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.279 we have to remember 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:19.879 that it's not unimportant, 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:22.099 but the physical mark 00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:22.879 of circumcision 00:20:22.879 --> 00:20:24.339 doesn't make us part 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:25.279 of God's family 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.399 just like baptism 00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.579 doesn't make us part 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.700 of God's family either. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.720 It doesn't make us righteous, 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:33.180 but it's still important 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:35.579 because it seals us 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:36.899 and it reminds us 00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:39.519 of how God has kept us thus far. 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:42.579 We also see the freeness 00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:44.259 of the offer of salvation. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.619 Both in the Old Testament, 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:47.279 Abraham got it freely, 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.819 and for us, 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.259 and even Paul. 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.579 Paul reminds us 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.839 of that in chapter 3. 00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:54.279 We have no room to boast. 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:57.240 We have nothing to boast in, 00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:58.500 even circumcision. 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.980 It's also showing us 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:02.119 a lot about God, 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.319 who he is. 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:04.480 If you joined us 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.400 for adult community 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.460 over the last couple weeks, 00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:07.359 we've been looking 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.339 through the minor prophets, 00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.699 and there's this moment 00:21:09.699 --> 00:21:10.299 in Jonah, 00:21:10.419 --> 00:21:10.599 you know, 00:21:10.639 --> 00:21:11.419 the guy who gets eaten 00:21:11.419 --> 00:21:12.079 by the fish, 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:13.740 and he gets all this judgment, 00:21:13.939 --> 00:21:14.859 and he's dropping down 00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:16.339 into the weeds 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:17.519 and all that kind of stuff 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.199 because he doesn't want 00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:19.219 to go do what God's 00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:19.939 told him to do. 00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:21.859 There's a moment in there 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:24.019 when Jonah is really mad, 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:25.740 but he's really mad, 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.740 and he confesses 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.479 who God is, 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.099 and he says back to God 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.699 who he is, 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.159 and he says, 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.839 God, you are merciful, 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.119 and I don't like it, 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.500 slow to anger, 00:21:35.959 --> 00:21:37.039 abounding in love, 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:38.859 you're gracious. 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:43.539 This sign, 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.279 both circumcision 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.039 and baptism, 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.259 shows us 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.699 the same thing 00:21:48.699 --> 00:21:49.419 about God, 00:21:49.699 --> 00:21:50.879 that God is the one 00:21:50.879 --> 00:21:51.639 that is working, 00:21:52.179 --> 00:21:53.179 that God is the one 00:21:53.179 --> 00:21:53.919 that is doing. 00:21:54.979 --> 00:21:56.559 This is who God is. 00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.459 Remember, 00:22:00.139 --> 00:22:01.199 that confession 00:22:01.199 --> 00:22:02.839 of God about himself 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:04.559 is coming on the heels 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.899 of not Israel 00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:07.059 doing great things, 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:08.379 but Israel being 00:22:08.379 --> 00:22:09.839 really, 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.200 really faithless 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:12.319 when they had 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:13.940 stooped so low 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:14.480 that they were going 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:16.220 to worship metal idols, 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:19.059 and God says that 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.980 about himself. 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.919 That's the same God 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:23.200 who works 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:25.259 through these covenant signs. 00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:26.220 That's the same God 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.519 who gives us the gospel, 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:27.619 people. 00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:30.160 And so when we think 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:30.960 of ourselves, 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.460 we have to remember 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.700 how God has worked 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:35.400 and how God is the one 00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:36.480 who's taken the priority, 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:38.099 that God is the one 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:40.039 who sent his son 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:41.220 to die on our behalf 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.259 for our sin. 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.900 And when we receive 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.539 baptism, 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.279 or when Abraham 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:48.519 received circumcision, 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:50.039 that wasn't the thing 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.879 that saved him, 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:52.359 that Christ's work 00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:53.139 on the cross 00:22:53.139 --> 00:22:53.920 that he was looking 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:54.700 forward to, 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:56.240 that is the thing 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:56.960 that secured 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.779 his righteousness. 00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.940 And if we're honest, 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:01.259 that should change us. 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:02.039 That should change 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.880 how we think 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:03.700 about ourselves. 00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:06.019 We're not boastful anymore. 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:08.259 We look at other people 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.500 and we don't get angry 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.019 with them, 00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:10.759 but we're moved 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:11.880 with compassion 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:13.100 because God, 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.240 the one who is gracious 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.140 and merciful 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:16.720 and slow to anger 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:18.820 has been merciful to us. 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.460 And that should extend 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.300 in this room 00:23:21.300 --> 00:23:23.100 and beyond the walls 00:23:23.100 --> 00:23:24.800 to our neighbors, 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.640 to our friends, 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.200 to the people 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.280 that we work with, 00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:29.300 that we are called 00:23:29.300 --> 00:23:30.660 to be gracious 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:32.440 and slow to anger, 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:33.720 abounding 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.900 in steadfast love 00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:37.620 because we've been sealed, 00:23:38.260 --> 00:23:39.060 we've been marked 00:23:39.060 --> 00:23:40.260 by that same righteousness 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.160 that's at work 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.839 in our hearts 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.000 if we trust in Christ. 00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:45.279 Now, 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.799 righteousness delivered. 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.319 Look with me 00:23:49.319 --> 00:23:50.279 at verses 15 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.619 or 13 and following, 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.160 excuse me. 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:54.200 For the promise 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.759 to Abraham 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.640 and his offspring 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:57.420 was that he would be 00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:58.819 the heir of the world, 00:23:58.940 --> 00:23:59.539 did not come 00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.220 through the law, 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.359 but through the righteousness 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.240 of faith. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.759 For if the adherents 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.240 of the law 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.259 were to be heirs, 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:07.000 received it, 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.039 faith is null 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:09.180 and the promise is void. 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:11.100 For the law brings wrath, 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.580 but where there is no law, 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.920 there is no transgression. 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.880 Faith is not just 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.720 the instrument 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.799 of righteousness 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.539 as we saw 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.340 in the life of Abraham 00:24:19.340 --> 00:24:20.920 in our own lives as well. 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.500 It does, 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.519 we start to see 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.860 it's bigger than just Abraham. 00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:26.660 It's bigger than just Israel. 00:24:27.080 --> 00:24:28.380 That faith is the thing 00:24:28.380 --> 00:24:30.180 that delivers this promise. 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:32.000 And what is that promise? 00:24:32.340 --> 00:24:33.440 It's that same thing 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:33.980 that was told 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.980 to Abraham before, 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:35.820 that he would have 00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:36.519 many descendants 00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.140 and he would have 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.160 all this land. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:39.440 and he would have 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.000 it forever. 00:24:40.860 --> 00:24:43.060 That came through faith 00:24:43.060 --> 00:24:44.560 that could never, 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:46.580 ever come through 00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:47.120 the law. 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.860 He says that 00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.860 in verse 14. 00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:51.940 That's really clear 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.400 to us. 00:24:52.580 --> 00:24:53.640 That if it did come 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.240 through the law, 00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:55.360 then the faith 00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:56.120 is worthless 00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:56.920 and the promise 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:58.300 doesn't even actually happen. 00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:58.980 It's void. 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:01.660 And what he's doing here, 00:25:01.820 --> 00:25:03.340 Paul is reminding us 00:25:03.340 --> 00:25:04.580 that if we associate 00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:05.400 with the law, 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:07.720 giving life to us 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.900 when we are sinners, 00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:11.300 especially those 00:25:11.300 --> 00:25:12.660 who had the law themselves, 00:25:12.780 --> 00:25:13.920 not just normal sin, 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:15.880 but full-on transgression, 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.620 he calls it. 00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:18.040 For Israel, 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:19.000 they had the law 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.800 and they should know 00:25:19.800 --> 00:25:20.900 this most of all. 00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:23.040 And instead of doing that, 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:25.100 they just didn't care about it. 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.180 There would be no land. 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.519 There would be no descendants. 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:31.079 All of it would be gone. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.559 All of it. 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:35.700 I love showing my kids 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.879 videos of dogs 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:38.279 because I love dogs. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.680 And one of my favorite 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.859 things to do 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:42.160 is to show them 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:44.160 when dogs behave badly. 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:45.660 Specifically, 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:47.220 when they're left home alone 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:49.119 and they start to pull, 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.440 you know, 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.519 just a little bit 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.859 of stuffing out of something, 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.259 right? 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.379 It might be a stuffed animal. 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:55.379 And then it goes to, 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.879 oh man, 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.520 the furniture 00:25:57.520 --> 00:25:58.680 and what happens. 00:25:59.020 --> 00:25:59.540 You might have seen 00:25:59.540 --> 00:26:00.580 one of these videos before 00:26:00.580 --> 00:26:02.380 where a dog is left alone 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:04.520 and his owner returns 00:26:04.520 --> 00:26:05.560 and he's happy. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.300 He's elated 00:26:06.300 --> 00:26:07.740 because he has shredded 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.540 that couch. 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:10.620 He's disemboweled that thing 00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.500 and he is sitting 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.860 in all the fluff there. 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.920 And he is so happy. 00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:16.140 And what is the, 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.680 without fail, 00:26:18.060 --> 00:26:19.220 the response from the owner 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.920 is like something 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:21.020 like bad dog, 00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:21.620 right? 00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:23.600 But it starts small 00:26:23.600 --> 00:26:24.400 with pulling out 00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:25.660 a little bit of tufts 00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.220 of the arm 00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:27.120 and then 00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:28.360 that dog 00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:28.900 will gut 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.759 the back 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.900 of the couch, 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.220 the cushions 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:34.360 and yet they're so happy. 00:26:34.860 --> 00:26:35.839 It's a disaster 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:38.200 waiting for the owner. 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.539 None of that, 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.079 that little, 00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:42.079 little pulling 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.400 out of the couch 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.000 ends up 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.660 with this giant disaster. 00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:46.980 The same thing 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.460 is true 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.339 if we think about 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:50.220 relating to the law. 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:51.200 If the law 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:51.579 is the thing 00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.440 we're looking to, 00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.460 it feels like 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.079 we're just pulling 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:54.720 a little bit 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.420 and we might not 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.380 think it's a big deal. 00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:58.200 But Paul is reminding us 00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.380 it's such a big deal, 00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.620 it's not just pulling 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.720 a lot of little stuffing, 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:02.960 it's undoing 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.059 all of history. 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:05.360 It's undoing 00:27:05.360 --> 00:27:06.319 this fact 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:06.900 that God 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.559 has promised 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.480 them land 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:10.360 and many descendants. 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.600 Something small 00:27:12.600 --> 00:27:14.000 has become 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.900 something better, 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:15.799 bigger, 00:27:16.600 --> 00:27:18.279 because they should 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:18.819 know better, 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:19.100 right? 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.620 Israel should know better. 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.700 That's exactly 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:23.200 what Paul is telling them. 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.299 They should know 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.380 better than this. 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.700 The Jews should 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.360 know better 00:27:27.360 --> 00:27:28.200 and that's why 00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:28.980 it's so bad. 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.100 They have the law, 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:31.240 they should know better. 00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:32.480 Their sin is more grave 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.640 because they have the law. 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:36.559 But it's not just Israel, 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.580 it's each 00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.420 and every 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.460 one of us. 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.220 The promise 00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.779 is not just to them, 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.039 but it's to us. 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:45.779 Abraham 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.960 isn't just a recipient 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.759 of righteousness, 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.279 so are we 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.140 if we put our faith 00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:50.720 in Christ? 00:27:51.800 --> 00:27:52.620 Why should we 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:53.220 turn again 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.860 to the law 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:55.660 which can't do 00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.180 the thing 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:57.000 that we want it 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.440 to do? 00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.660 We can't 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.259 turn back 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.700 to it. 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:01.980 We're pulling 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.600 the stuffing 00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.460 out of the arm 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.060 of the couch 00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:04.759 and we end up 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.840 with no couch 00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:06.320 at all. 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.680 It's completely 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.600 undone. 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.660 That same God 00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:12.259 who's slow 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.820 to anger, 00:28:13.040 --> 00:28:13.960 abounding in love, 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:15.160 steadfast 00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:15.880 in that, 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.180 it attacks 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:18.900 when we go 00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.720 back to the law 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.140 and look 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.819 for righteousness, 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.480 when we go 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.500 back to circumcision 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.740 and put our faith 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.319 in that 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.279 and not what 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.180 Christ has done, 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:27.539 it's completely 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.380 undone. 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.660 That's what Paul 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.559 is trying to remind 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:31.940 us of. 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.860 There's no heirs, 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.720 there's no promise, 00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:36.039 there's no land, 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.240 there's no descendants. 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.839 Here's the good news. 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:42.460 It doesn't depend 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.180 upon us. 00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:44.259 We should be 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.240 really comforted 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:45.740 by that. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.180 We are held 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.860 and kept 00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:48.920 by Christ, 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:51.220 not our own 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:51.740 attempts 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.900 to live 00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.500 through the law. 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:55.240 It doesn't come 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:56.120 through circumcision, 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.340 it doesn't come 00:28:57.340 --> 00:28:58.080 through us being 00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:59.460 Jews or not Jews, 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:01.120 it doesn't come 00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:01.860 from our family, 00:29:02.060 --> 00:29:03.000 our smarts, 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.860 our skills, 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.539 our ability, 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.539 our toughness, 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:07.120 our righteousness 00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:09.000 comes the same way 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.480 that Abraham 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.080 got it, 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.299 through faith 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:12.240 in Christ. 00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:15.859 Signed, 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:16.839 sealed, 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.639 and delivered. 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.500 You belong 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.259 to Christ 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.960 and he keeps 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.419 you there, 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:23.839 not you. 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.019 Let's pray. 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.180 Lord, 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:27.619 we're thankful 00:29:27.619 --> 00:29:28.159 this morning 00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:28.899 for the reminder 00:29:28.899 --> 00:29:30.220 that we are kept 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.180 by Christ 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:32.240 and Father, 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:32.899 the righteousness 00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.700 that we have 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.779 is through faith 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.240 in him, 00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:36.319 just like Abraham, 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.379 just like the saints 00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:37.899 of old. 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:39.200 We ask that you 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:39.940 might remind 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.500 our hearts 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.380 even when we 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:42.000 struggle 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.920 to see it clearly 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.840 that you would 00:29:44.840 --> 00:29:45.580 point us back 00:29:45.580 --> 00:29:46.759 again and again 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.880 to what Christ 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:48.900 has done on the cross 00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:50.559 and not ourselves. 00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:52.000 And we pray these things 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.900 in Christ's name. 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:53.340 Amen.