WEBVTT

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 As we've gone through the first chapter of Jonah,

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 as it stood out to you

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 how it seems everyone on the ship but Jonah

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 have shown signs of spiritual interest,

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 even moral goodness,

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 except Jonah, more than Jonah.

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 For example, when the storm struck,

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 what did everybody on the ship besides Jonah do?

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 They prayed.

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 Jonah slept.

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 He never prayed.

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 They showed signs of a troubled conscience.

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 Those sailors, pagans,

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 they were worried they might have offended one of their gods

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 and we know they were not real but they thought they were

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 and when that storm struck,

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 they were afraid they might have offended one of their gods

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 and he was going to get them.

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 That's one of the reasons why they prayed.

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 But that didn't do any good so they cast lots

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 and God worked through that to single Jonah out.

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 My point here is they showed signs of a troubled conscience

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 but Jonah didn't.

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 Jonah showed signs of having a calloused conscience,

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 a hard heart.

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 He showed no interest in the one true God that he did know.

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 He's God's prophet.

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 He showed no interest,

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 at least recorded in chapter one,

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 about his own relationship with God.

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 The sailors even showed concern for Jonah,

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 a stranger,

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 that the lot revealed he was the cause of the trouble.

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 But they showed concern for Jonah

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 by trying to save his life

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 even when Jonah told him himself,

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 if you want the storm to stop,

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 throw me overboard.

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 But Jonah didn't show any concern

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 for anyone on the ship

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 until God revealed that he was the cause of the storm

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 and only then did Jonah tell them

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 they could save their lives by throwing him overboard.

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 Now, the contrast I'm trying to show is

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 these sailors,

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 if you just read chapter one of Jonah

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 and go by how their conduct,

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 well, there's a whole lot more to admire

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 in these sailors

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 than there is in Jonah.

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 Now, I want you to think with me for a minute.

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 What made these sailors show

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 such spiritual interest

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 and even moral goodness?

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 Well, two things,

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 two things on your outline in Roman numerals,

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 God's natural law and common grace.

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 I want us to think about these two things tonight

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 and I want us to see how they explain

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 why most people in this world are religious.

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 Most people in this world are religious.

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 And most people in this world have

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 what we'd call an innate sense of right and wrong.

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 We don't all, no one does everything

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 that we know to be right

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 and avoids, shuns doing everything

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 we know to be wrong,

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 but there is within people

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 this innate understanding

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 of basic right and wrong

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 or even what we might call morality.

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 Let's pray and let's look at it.

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 Dear God,

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 help us tonight

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 to see

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 your hand

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 everywhere in this world

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 as we look

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 at these concepts

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 of natural law

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 and how they're revealed in Scripture

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 and common grace

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 and how it's seen.

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 Help us, Father,

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 to open our eyes

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 to just the way you work

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 in every dimension

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 of our lives.

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 in the people around us,

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 in the things

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 that are happening.

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 And Lord,

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 help us to learn

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 to recognize the good

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 and be appreciative

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 to praise you

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 and thank you

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 and recognize

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 that a lot of things

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 come to us

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 through your common grace.

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 And Lord,

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 help us to be thankful

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 for people,

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 even unbelievers,

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 through whom you work

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 to bless our world

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 and bless our individual lives.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 I've been looking forward

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 to doing this

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 at some point

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 as we've been going through

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 Romans or

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 Jonah chapter 1.

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 So tonight's tonight.

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 Natural law.

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 Most Christian writers

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 who write about ethics

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 point to natural law

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 to explain

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 why most people

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 have a basic understanding

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 of right and wrong.

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 The sailors

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 on Jonah's ship

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 probably had never heard

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 of the Ten Commandments.

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 Things like

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 you shall not murder.

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 Yet they clearly

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 demonstrate

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 a commitment

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 to the sanctity

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 of human life

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 by not throwing

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 Jonah overboard

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 when they were told

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 he's the cause

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 of the storm

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 and he's the solution

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 to the storm,

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 to its ending.

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 Look at it.

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 From Jonah 1

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 verses 12 and 13.

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 He said to them,

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 Pick me up

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 and hurl me

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 into the sea

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 then the sea

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 will quiet down

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 for you

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 for I know

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 it's because of me

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 that this great tempest

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 has come upon you.

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 Nevertheless,

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 the men rode hard

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 to get back

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 to dry land

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 but they could not

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 for the sea

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 grew more

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 and more

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 tempestuous

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 against them.

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 It was only

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 when they saw

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 we've got no choice.

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 we either throw

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 him overboard

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 or die

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 that they did it

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 but

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 they demonstrate

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 a good understanding

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 of the sacredness

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 of human life.

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 Look at it.

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 Even in the prayer

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 even when they know

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 we've got to do this

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 look at it.

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 Therefore they called out

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 to the Lord,

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 O Lord,

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 let us not perish

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 for this man's life

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 lay not on us

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 innocent blood

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 for you, O Lord,

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 have done it

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 as done

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 as it pleased you.

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 As I said last Sunday,

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 this may indicate

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 that these men

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 were already

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 under conviction

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 by God

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 as he was working

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 to save them

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 as it turns out

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 at the end.

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 But even if that's true,

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 they still show

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 a God-given

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 natural awareness

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 that life

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 is sacred.

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 The reformer,

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 John Calvin,

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 explains the actions

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 of these sailors

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 as an example

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 of natural law.

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 Look at what he says there.

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 Now I haven't numbered

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 or anything

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 but you can follow along

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 when you're outlined

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 the scriptures

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 and the quotes.

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 He says,

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 there is by nature

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 implanted in all

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 an abhorrence

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 of cruelty.

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 Though these men

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 had never known

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 the doctrine of the law,

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 they were yet

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 so taught by nature

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 that they knew

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 that the blood of man

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 is dear and precious

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 in the sight of God.

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 Now I want you

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 to look on this,

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 on your sheet.

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 The Bible clearly

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 teaches this idea

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 of natural law

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 in many places.

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 Some of the clearest

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 statements are in

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 Romans chapter 1

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 and 2.

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 Look at Romans 2 first.

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 God has written

00:08:19.100 --> 00:08:19.640
 his law

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 on people's hearts.

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 Paul is writing,

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 he says,

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 for when the Gentiles

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 who do not have the law

00:08:25.540 --> 00:08:26.840
 by nature

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 do what the law requires,

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 they are a law

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 to themselves.

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 Even though they

00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:32.840
 do not have the law,

00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:34.779
 they show that the work

00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:35.200
 of the law

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 is written

00:08:35.680 --> 00:08:36.740
 on their hearts

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 while their conscience

00:08:38.680 --> 00:08:40.159
 also bears witness

00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:41.300
 and their conflicting

00:08:41.300 --> 00:08:42.220
 thoughts accuse

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 or even excuse them.

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 The point here is

00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:46.039
 God's put his law

00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:47.860
 on people's hearts.

00:08:48.340 --> 00:08:49.539
 They have a basic,

00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:50.539
 innate sense

00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:51.599
 of right and wrong

00:08:51.599 --> 00:08:53.839
 which at the end

00:08:53.839 --> 00:08:54.819
 of all this discussion,

00:08:55.219 --> 00:08:55.799
 Paul is saying,

00:08:56.699 --> 00:08:57.799
 which is another reason

00:08:57.799 --> 00:08:58.519
 why everybody

00:08:58.519 --> 00:08:59.279
 who sins

00:08:59.279 --> 00:08:59.919
 is condemned

00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:00.599
 in their sin

00:09:00.599 --> 00:09:02.159
 and rightly judged

00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:02.779
 by God

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 because we violate

00:09:03.819 --> 00:09:05.419
 our own conscience

00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:07.759
 when we do

00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.360
 what we know

00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:09.399
 is wrong

00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:10.339
 or don't do

00:09:10.339 --> 00:09:11.259
 what we know

00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:12.159
 is right.

00:09:12.719 --> 00:09:13.339
 The next one

00:09:13.339 --> 00:09:13.959
 in Romans 1,

00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:14.679
 19 and 20,

00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:15.699
 God has given people

00:09:15.699 --> 00:09:17.419
 a natural awareness

00:09:17.419 --> 00:09:18.360
 of himself

00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:19.939
 which is often

00:09:19.939 --> 00:09:21.240
 called natural revelation

00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:23.179
 or general revelation.

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 He says,

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 for what can be known

00:09:25.219 --> 00:09:25.699
 about God

00:09:25.699 --> 00:09:26.659
 is plain to them

00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:29.759
 because God

00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.799
 has shown it to them

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 for his invisible

00:09:32.519 --> 00:09:33.479
 attributes,

00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:35.379
 namely his eternal power

00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:36.519
 and divine nature

00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:37.779
 have been clearly

00:09:37.779 --> 00:09:38.879
 perceived

00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:40.179
 ever since the creation

00:09:40.179 --> 00:09:40.799
 of the world

00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:41.699
 and the things

00:09:41.699 --> 00:09:42.620
 that have been made

00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:43.240
 so that they are

00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:44.120
 without excuse.

00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:47.580
 God has made himself

00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:48.100
 known

00:09:48.100 --> 00:09:50.519
 through nature,

00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:52.659
 through his creation.

00:09:53.179 --> 00:09:53.659
 Everybody

00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:55.560
 has this sense

00:09:55.560 --> 00:09:57.320
 there is a creator.

00:09:57.840 --> 00:09:59.179
 Things just don't happen.

00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:00.580
 There had to be

00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:01.460
 a cause.

00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:04.080
 Wayne Grudem

00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:05.580
 does a good job

00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:06.179
 of explaining

00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:06.980
 the Bible's teaching

00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:08.220
 about natural law.

00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:09.539
 He says,

00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:10.659
 I must affirm

00:10:10.659 --> 00:10:11.879
 that people can indeed

00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:12.960
 know something

00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:14.860
 of God's moral laws

00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:16.100
 apart from the Bible.

00:10:16.820 --> 00:10:17.620
 Even without

00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:18.639
 the specific moral

00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:19.519
 teachings of the Bible,

00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:20.639
 human beings

00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:22.360
 have consciences

00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:24.100
 that give them

00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:25.300
 an inward sense

00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:26.240
 of right and wrong.

00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:27.340
 In addition,

00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:28.480
 people are able

00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.200
 to observe

00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:30.379
 the way many

00:10:30.379 --> 00:10:32.139
 other people act

00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:33.460
 and the way

00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:34.620
 everything functions

00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:35.519
 in the world

00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:36.920
 and then they can

00:10:36.920 --> 00:10:37.700
 reason

00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:40.000
 about those observations

00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.019
 and draw conclusions

00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:43.419
 about human nature

00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:44.759
 and about the right

00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:45.799
 and wrong actions

00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:47.220
 that are appropriate

00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:48.379
 to human nature.

00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:50.039
 The set of moral

00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:51.220
 conclusions resulting

00:10:51.220 --> 00:10:52.220
 from this type of study

00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:52.720
 is known as

00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:54.559
 natural law.

00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.000
 Things we see,

00:10:57.299 --> 00:10:58.379
 things we observe,

00:10:58.699 --> 00:10:59.620
 we can reason.

00:10:59.819 --> 00:10:59.980
 Now,

00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:01.059
 he's not saying

00:11:01.059 --> 00:11:01.799
 and certainly

00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:02.539
 the Bible doesn't talk

00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:04.819
 about our perceptions,

00:11:05.059 --> 00:11:05.799
 our reasonings

00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:06.659
 are infallible.

00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:09.679
 that sometimes

00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:10.500
 lead us to the wrong

00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:11.019
 conclusion.

00:11:12.199 --> 00:11:12.639
 But nonetheless,

00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:15.579
 there's some things

00:11:15.579 --> 00:11:17.159
 that we just observe,

00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.699
 we see how it works,

00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:19.559
 how it doesn't work,

00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:21.299
 we can figure things out.

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.879
 That's a God-given ability.

00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:24.899
 Now,

00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:26.480
 what these scriptures

00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.399
 in Grudem describe

00:11:27.399 --> 00:11:28.439
 about natural law

00:11:28.439 --> 00:11:29.500
 and natural revelation

00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:31.139
 explain why

00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:33.620
 most unbelievers,

00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:35.060
 like the sailors

00:11:35.060 --> 00:11:36.740
 there in Jonah 1,

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.220
 why most people

00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:39.960
 demonstrate

00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:41.460
 some kind of interest

00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:42.340
 in religion,

00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:44.679
 people are religious

00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:47.039
 and an ability

00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:49.220
 to act morally good

00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:50.539
 at times.

00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:53.039
 When unbelievers

00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:54.419
 act in such good ways,

00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:57.720
 we need to understand

00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:58.820
 and think about it

00:11:58.820 --> 00:11:59.700
 in a positive way,

00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:00.879
 they are following

00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:02.060
 their God-given

00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:03.579
 inclinations.

00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:07.059
 That's a God-given

00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:08.619
 gift to everyone,

00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:10.859
 including us.

00:12:12.979 --> 00:12:14.099
 What God has done

00:12:14.099 --> 00:12:15.459
 through natural law,

00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:17.979
 through our conscience,

00:12:18.699 --> 00:12:20.159
 through an awareness

00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.179
 of His presence

00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:21.739
 through nature,

00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:23.459
 that's what keeps people

00:12:23.459 --> 00:12:24.459
 from being any worse

00:12:24.459 --> 00:12:25.079
 than they are.

00:12:25.219 --> 00:12:26.099
 That gives order

00:12:26.099 --> 00:12:27.079
 to society.

00:12:27.079 --> 00:12:29.079
 Even in prisons.

00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:33.199
 People are not as bad

00:12:33.199 --> 00:12:34.639
 as they could possibly be.

00:12:35.979 --> 00:12:36.139
 You know,

00:12:36.199 --> 00:12:36.639
 what was it,

00:12:36.699 --> 00:12:37.259
 last year,

00:12:37.319 --> 00:12:37.959
 year before last,

00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:38.599
 the riots

00:12:38.599 --> 00:12:40.079
 at Bishopville

00:12:40.079 --> 00:12:41.199
 when about nine

00:12:41.199 --> 00:12:42.059
 or eleven men

00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:42.659
 were killed,

00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:43.759
 they just went wild.

00:12:44.439 --> 00:12:45.119
 Why doesn't that

00:12:45.119 --> 00:12:46.059
 happen every day?

00:12:48.859 --> 00:12:50.819
 God has put

00:12:50.819 --> 00:12:51.839
 restraints

00:12:51.839 --> 00:12:53.059
 within

00:12:53.059 --> 00:12:55.939
 most people,

00:12:55.939 --> 00:12:58.059
 even in the worst

00:12:58.059 --> 00:12:58.939
 environments.

00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:01.560
 that is God's

00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:02.500
 working,

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:03.240
 that is God's

00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:03.620
 grace.

00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:05.420
 And we need

00:13:05.420 --> 00:13:06.000
 to be thankful

00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:07.620
 to God

00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:07.960
 and we need

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.480
 to be thankful

00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:09.300
 for unbelievers

00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:10.200
 who treat us

00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:11.460
 like these sailors

00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:13.720
 treated Jonah.

00:13:15.140 --> 00:13:16.220
 They're blessings

00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:16.980
 to everyone.

00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:20.260
 But natural law

00:13:20.260 --> 00:13:21.320
 and natural revelation

00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:22.160
 are not sufficient

00:13:22.160 --> 00:13:23.160
 to save anyone.

00:13:25.160 --> 00:13:25.840
 It's as good

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.620
 what God has done

00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:27.200
 in this world,

00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:28.640
 this general revelation.

00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:30.580
 this doing something

00:13:30.580 --> 00:13:31.100
 within people,

00:13:31.180 --> 00:13:31.940
 putting it on your heart,

00:13:32.040 --> 00:13:33.440
 putting it on your conscience

00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.160
 about right and wrong.

00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:36.620
 But it's not

00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:38.380
 what leads people

00:13:38.380 --> 00:13:39.020
 to salvation.

00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.120
 God's general

00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.220
 revelation of Himself

00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:42.960
 in nature

00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:45.060
 makes people aware

00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:45.900
 that He's real,

00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.860
 that He's there,

00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:48.400
 but people don't

00:13:48.400 --> 00:13:49.600
 naturally submit

00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.840
 to and worship

00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:52.500
 Him as their creator.

00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:55.460
 Look at Romans 1,

00:13:55.640 --> 00:13:56.420
 the next verse,

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.540
 21 through 23.

00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:59.159
 Fallen sinful people

00:13:59.159 --> 00:14:00.819
 naturally choose

00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:01.679
 to worship

00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:03.079
 some aspect

00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:04.819
 of creation

00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:06.519
 rather than

00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.019
 the creator.

00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:08.099
 He says,

00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:09.139
 For although they knew God,

00:14:09.199 --> 00:14:09.980
 they did not honor Him

00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:10.339
 as God

00:14:10.339 --> 00:14:11.299
 or give thanks to Him,

00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.459
 but became futile

00:14:12.459 --> 00:14:13.120
 in their thinking

00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.480
 and their foolish hearts

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:15.620
 were darkened.

00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:17.480
 Claiming to be wise,

00:14:17.579 --> 00:14:18.639
 they became fools

00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:19.639
 and exchanged

00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.139
 the glory

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:21.219
 of the immortal God

00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:21.980
 for images

00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:23.500
 resembling mortal man

00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.459
 and birds

00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.759
 and animals

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.560
 and creeping things.

00:14:29.280 --> 00:14:29.900
 And He's just,

00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:31.460
 that's just a representative list.

00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:32.460
 He could talk about

00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.320
 and exchange

00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:34.139
 the glory

00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:35.160
 of the immortal God

00:14:35.160 --> 00:14:36.900
 for images

00:14:36.900 --> 00:14:37.800
 resembling

00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:41.460
 technology

00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:43.980
 or whatever else

00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:44.500
 you want to

00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:46.340
 put in there

00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:46.840
 for today.

00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:48.580
 Paul's point

00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.139
 in Romans 1

00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:49.460
 is to show

00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:50.180
 that all people

00:14:50.180 --> 00:14:51.400
 reject the true God.

00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:54.340
 All people

00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:55.279
 live for themselves

00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:57.299
 and all people

00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:58.299
 deserve the harmful

00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:59.559
 effects of sin

00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:01.159
 that result

00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:02.259
 and Paul

00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:03.159
 talks about

00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:03.759
 a lot of that

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.759
 if you read

00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.259
 the rest of

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.159
 Romans chapter 1.

00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:08.419
 The sailors

00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:10.159
 on Jonah's ship

00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.919
 have many

00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.120
 positive qualities,

00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:15.059
 but they're still

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:15.840
 sinners in need

00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:16.379
 of a Savior.

00:15:18.199 --> 00:15:19.439
 They have rejected

00:15:19.439 --> 00:15:20.539
 the true revelation

00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:20.919
 of God

00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:21.419
 that He gave

00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:21.839
 in nature.

00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:23.479
 And they're not

00:15:23.479 --> 00:15:24.519
 worshiping the Creator.

00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:25.679
 They're calling

00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:27.240
 on their false gods,

00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:29.519
 the many,

00:15:30.599 --> 00:15:31.339
 everything they've

00:15:31.339 --> 00:15:32.299
 heard of probably.

00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:34.059
 No doubt

00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:35.000
 in that storm

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.639
 they were calling

00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.419
 on gods

00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.179
 of wind

00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:38.000
 and water

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.860
 and all this

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.439
 kind of stuff.

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:42.939
 They,

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:44.439
 they act,

00:15:44.599 --> 00:15:45.399
 give them their due,

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:46.399
 they act better

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:47.299
 than God's man

00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:47.699
 Jonah

00:15:47.699 --> 00:15:48.620
 in chapter 1.

00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:51.139
 But in spite

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.659
 of all these

00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.159
 good things

00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.620
 I've said,

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.440
 they are still

00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.100
 in need

00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.240
 of God's salvation

00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:57.080
 because they are

00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:58.100
 spiritually dead

00:15:58.100 --> 00:15:59.759
 in their spiritual,

00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.980
 in their sinful condition.

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:02.600
 Now here's where

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.159
 I want us to get

00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:03.980
 more personal.

00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:05.560
 That applies

00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:06.460
 to our morally

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:07.560
 good family members

00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:08.299
 and friends

00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:10.120
 who do not have

00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:10.580
 a relationship

00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.279
 with Christ.

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:15.299
 You may know

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:16.419
 in your family,

00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:17.459
 in your immediate

00:16:17.459 --> 00:16:17.919
 family,

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.279
 you may have

00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.299
 some good friends

00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:21.019
 that are not

00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:21.500
 Christians,

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.939
 but they are

00:16:22.939 --> 00:16:25.259
 good moral people

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.360
 in a general way.

00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:27.659
 Maybe better

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.139
 than you.

00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:30.120
 I mean,

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:31.299
 you're honest.

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.319
 They're just

00:16:32.319 --> 00:16:33.019
 better than you.

00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.939
 And you think,

00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:38.860
 aren't they good

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.319
 enough?

00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:42.020
 And the Bible

00:16:42.020 --> 00:16:42.640
 is real clear.

00:16:42.760 --> 00:16:42.900
 No,

00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.480
 they're not.

00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:46.140
 We're all

00:16:46.140 --> 00:16:47.180
 sinners by nature

00:16:47.180 --> 00:16:48.160
 and by choice.

00:16:48.660 --> 00:16:49.500
 Even the best

00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.220
 of people.

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:51.920
 We all

00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:52.879
 come into this

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:53.180
 world.

00:16:53.420 --> 00:16:53.600
 We don't,

00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.620
 nothing happens.

00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.220
 We come into this

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.879
 world spiritually

00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.060
 dead and separated

00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:57.660
 from God.

00:16:58.260 --> 00:16:59.060
 Paul explains

00:16:59.060 --> 00:16:59.700
 the reality

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.440
 of every person

00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.020
 born into this

00:17:01.020 --> 00:17:02.500
 world from Romans

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.700
 1, 18 through

00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.360
 chapter 3,

00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.000
 verse 20.

00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:06.279
 I want you to

00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:06.620
 look at the

00:17:06.620 --> 00:17:07.440
 beginning part of

00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.420
 Romans 3,

00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:10.380
 verse 9.

00:17:11.600 --> 00:17:12.039
 He says,

00:17:12.140 --> 00:17:12.820
 For we have

00:17:12.820 --> 00:17:14.240
 already charged

00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.019
 that all,

00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:15.799
 both Jews and

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.160
 Greeks,

00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:17.420
 are under sin.

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.420
 That's what he's

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:18.980
 been talking about

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:20.580
 from 1, 18 to

00:17:20.580 --> 00:17:21.080
 that point.

00:17:22.080 --> 00:17:22.840
 As it is written,

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:24.279
 none is righteous,

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.460
 no, not one.

00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:26.880
 No one understands.

00:17:27.080 --> 00:17:28.279
 No one seeks for

00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:28.660
 God.

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.279
 All have turned

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:30.840
 aside.

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.720
 Together they have

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.539
 become worthless.

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:34.200
 No one does good,

00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:36.180
 not even one.

00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:38.799
 Not your good

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.180
 friend.

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:41.680
 Not your family

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.039
 member.

00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:44.299
 Not you.

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.380
 Not me.

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:47.080
 In and of

00:17:47.080 --> 00:17:48.140
 ourselves.

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:50.299
 In terms of

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:52.580
 fulfilling God's

00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.440
 commandments.

00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.400
 Then in verse 20,

00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:57.920
 For by works of the

00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:00.500
 law, no human being

00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:01.799
 will be justified in

00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:03.639
 his sight, since

00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:04.659
 through the law

00:18:04.659 --> 00:18:06.700
 comes knowledge of

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:06.980
 sin.

00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:10.859
 There are many

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:12.139
 benefits of natural

00:18:12.139 --> 00:18:13.379
 law, of what God

00:18:13.379 --> 00:18:14.200
 has done that we've

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.740
 been looking at.

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.159
 But it's not

00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:17.579
 sufficient to save

00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:19.819
 or control human

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.299
 behavior.

00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.519
 Let's look now at

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.379
 this idea of common

00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:23.839
 grace.

00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:26.279
 We can describe the

00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:27.159
 virtue of the sailors

00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:27.899
 on the ship with

00:18:27.899 --> 00:18:30.319
 Jonah as an example

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.519
 of God's common

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.099
 grace.

00:18:32.679 --> 00:18:33.299
 Look, here's two

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.079
 definitions from

00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:34.779
 Wayne Grudem and

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.399
 Timothy Keller.

00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.899
 Common grace is the

00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:37.960
 grace of God by which

00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:38.799
 he gives people

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:41.399
 innumerable blessings

00:18:41.399 --> 00:18:43.039
 that are not a part

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:43.679
 of salvation.

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.480
 Keller says the

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.220
 doctrine of common

00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:46.819
 grace is the

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.599
 teaching that God

00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.139
 bestows gifts of

00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:50.960
 wisdom, moral

00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:52.599
 insight, goodness,

00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:54.460
 and beauty across

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:56.599
 humanity regardless of

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:58.159
 race or religious

00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:58.980
 belief.

00:18:58.980 --> 00:19:00.860
 And this is what,

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.640
 this is found in

00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.279
 scripture in just

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.140
 simple ways.

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.000
 Look at what Jesus

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.759
 said in the Sermon on

00:19:04.759 --> 00:19:05.039
 the Mount.

00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:06.759
 He said, but I say to

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:08.039
 you, love your enemies

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.980
 and pray for those who

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.279
 persecute you so that

00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:11.620
 you may be sons of

00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:13.099
 your Father who is in

00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:14.559
 heaven for he makes

00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:16.620
 his son rise on the

00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:18.900
 evil and on the good

00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:21.039
 and sends rain on the

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:23.720
 just and on the

00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.339
 unjust.

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:28.779
 God shows his common

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.119
 grace to all people,

00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:32.079
 the good and the bad

00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:32.919
 and those in between.

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.579
 Paul said something

00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:36.599
 similar in a sermon to

00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:38.000
 Gentiles in Acts 14.

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.359
 He said, in past

00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:41.159
 generations he allowed

00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:42.480
 all nations to walk in

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.139
 their own ways.

00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:43.899
 Talking about God.

00:19:44.399 --> 00:19:45.659
 Yet he did not leave

00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:46.779
 himself without witness

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:49.439
 for he did good by

00:19:49.439 --> 00:19:51.079
 giving you rains from

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:52.639
 heaven and fruitful

00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:55.000
 seasons, satisfying your

00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:57.640
 hearts with food and

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.520
 gladness.

00:19:59.560 --> 00:20:00.700
 God's common grace.

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:01.940
 It's everywhere.

00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:04.020
 Tim Keller uses James

00:20:04.020 --> 00:20:06.200
 117 to elaborate on

00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:06.620
 this idea.

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:07.259
 I think he does a

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:07.860
 great job.

00:20:08.360 --> 00:20:09.880
 James 117 says, for

00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:11.360
 every good and perfect

00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:12.660
 gift is from above,

00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:14.000
 coming down from the

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.740
 Father of the heavenly

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.460
 lights.

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.320
 He goes on to say,

00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:20.400
 that is, God is

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.800
 ultimately enabling

00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:23.619
 every act, listen to

00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:24.680
 this, every act of

00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:26.139
 goodness, wisdom,

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:28.159
 justice, and beauty,

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.779
 no matter who does it.

00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:32.000
 Isaiah 45.1 speaks of

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.720
 Cyrus, a pagan king

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.279
 whom God anoints and

00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.139
 uses for world

00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:36.519
 leadership.

00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:39.460
 Isaiah 28.23-29 tells

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.319
 us that when a farmer

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.220
 is fruitful, it is God

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.119
 who has been teaching

00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:43.960
 him to do so.

00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:45.339
 That means that all

00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:47.099
 good and great artistic

00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:49.159
 expressions, skillful

00:20:49.159 --> 00:20:50.159
 farming, effective

00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:51.980
 governments, and scientific

00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:53.980
 advances are God's

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:55.600
 gifts to the human

00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:55.980
 race.

00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:57.480
 They are undeserved,

00:20:58.060 --> 00:20:59.120
 gifts of God's mercy

00:20:59.120 --> 00:21:00.700
 and grace that are also

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.279
 common.

00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.140
 That is, they are

00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:04.040
 distributed to any and

00:21:04.040 --> 00:21:04.519
 all.

00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.900
 There is no indication

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:07.300
 that the monarch or the

00:21:07.300 --> 00:21:08.620
 farmer mentioned in

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:10.800
 Isaiah embraced God by

00:21:10.800 --> 00:21:11.180
 faith.

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.120
 Now, I want to emphasize

00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:13.560
 this next sentence.

00:21:14.560 --> 00:21:16.040
 Common grace does not

00:21:16.040 --> 00:21:17.060
 regenerate the heart,

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:19.279
 save the soul, or create a

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.279
 personal covenant

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.619
 relationship with God.

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:24.619
 Understand.

00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:27.259
 Yet, without it, the

00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:28.200
 world would be an

00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:30.000
 intolerable place to

00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.279
 live.

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:33.339
 It is wonderful

00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:34.559
 expression of God's love

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.220
 to all people.

00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.859
 The eyes of all look to

00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.119
 you, this is Psalm 145,

00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:40.740
 and you give them their

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.899
 food in due season.

00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:43.720
 You open your hand, you

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:46.059
 satisfy the desire of

00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:47.000
 every living thing.

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:52.599
 All of our lives, we have

00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:54.960
 seen evidence of God's

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:57.240
 common grace in big ways,

00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:59.019
 well-known ways, and in

00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:00.359
 more personal ways.

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.680
 The New York City

00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:02.720
 firefighters and

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:05.180
 policemen who raced up the

00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:07.859
 stairway of the Twin Towers

00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:11.059
 on September the 11th, 2001,

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:14.079
 they raced up those stairways

00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:15.519
 to save countless lives,

00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:18.659
 knowing that in all

00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:19.940
 likelihood they would lose

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:21.940
 their own in the process.

00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:26.500
 The dedicated men and women

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:28.200
 in the emergency room,

00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:31.819
 at Cannon, Easley, St. Francis,

00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:33.139
 General, Greenville Memorial,

00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:36.300
 these people in the ER,

00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:39.140
 when we or our family

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:41.580
 members are rushed there

00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:44.100
 with serious, life-threatening

00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:48.380
 emergencies, that's God's

00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.980
 grace, God's common grace

00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:51.200
 in action.

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.160
 All the people in all these

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.060
 emergency rooms are not

00:22:55.060 --> 00:22:55.420
 Christians.

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.280
 All the people who went up

00:22:58.280 --> 00:22:59.880
 those steps at the World

00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:00.980
 Trade Center were not

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.380
 Christians.

00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:04.280
 Maybe most of them were not,

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:08.280
 but they did, and they do

00:23:08.280 --> 00:23:13.640
 today, much good that we

00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.320
 profit from.

00:23:15.800 --> 00:23:17.780
 We all have unbelieving

00:23:17.780 --> 00:23:21.680
 people in our lives that

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.320
 we're thankful for.

00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:26.500
 We all have had unbelieving

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:29.660
 doctors, teachers, coaches,

00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:32.640
 neighbors, maybe even parents

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:34.820
 or grandparents, that God

00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:40.800
 used to bless us in countless

00:23:40.800 --> 00:23:41.500
 ways.

00:23:42.560 --> 00:23:44.440
 That was God's common grace.

00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:49.540
 Whenever we benefit from such

00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:54.560
 virtue, nobility, and

00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:57.320
 unbelievers, we need to thank God

00:23:57.319 --> 00:24:00.000
 because it's coming from Him.

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.099
 It's a part of His common

00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:01.980
 grace.

00:24:02.439 --> 00:24:04.579
 And we also need to thank those

00:24:04.579 --> 00:24:05.559
 people.

00:24:06.679 --> 00:24:07.700
 We can make it even more

00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:09.200
 personal right now if we think

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.579
 about it.

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:11.599
 In this room, there's a lot of

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.480
 people on medication,

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:15.259
 keeping your blood pressure in

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:17.619
 check, keeping your arteries

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.339
 flowing.

00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:21.619
 We've got people on medication for

00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.559
 all kinds of things.

00:24:22.679 --> 00:24:23.659
 I'm talking about good things

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.180
 right now.

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:29.620
 Most likely, most of the people

00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.940
 involved in the research of

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:34.180
 those drugs, the development of

00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:37.000
 those drugs, the distribution of

00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:39.640
 those drugs, were not Christians.

00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.880
 But you're reaping the benefits of

00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:46.660
 that stuff right now that flows

00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:48.019
 through your body.

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:51.480
 That's God's common grace.

00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:52.980
 It's everywhere.

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:56.680
 And we need to acknowledge it.

00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:58.599
 And we need to be thankful.

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:04.619
 And we as Christians, we need to be

00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:07.400
 challenged to respond to what we

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:09.759
 have received, God's special saving

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.019
 grace in our own lives.

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:14.460
 When we see this in everybody else,

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:19.100
 we need to look at it as, well, I've

00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:21.460
 received God's special saving grace.

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:26.039
 So I, of all people, need to be more

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:30.640
 thankful and cooperate with God as

00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:33.539
 He works in our lives to enable us to

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:38.460
 be more godly, more Christ-like, more

00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:40.900
 loving, need, meeting of other people.

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.180
 What do you think?

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:44.380
 Any thoughts on this stuff?

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:44.900
 Yeah.

00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.079
 Yeah.

00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:54.400
 It's, I mean, it's just amazed me.

00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:55.539
 I've read Jonah.

00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:58.700
 I've heard the story all my life when I

00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.720
 was a kid like you did.

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.799
 I've read it a bunch of times.

00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:02.940
 I preached through it one time a long

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.480
 time ago.

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:06.420
 But I've just read through Jonah 1 and

00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:07.400
 just thought about that.

00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:09.620
 The good guys in Jonah 1 are the

00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:10.840
 sailors, the pagans.

00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:14.279
 Everything about them shines brighter,

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:17.160
 than anything about Jonah in chapter 1.

00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:20.579
 And all you can rack that up to, all you

00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:23.299
 can do is ask God's example of God's

00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:27.259
 natural law at work in them.

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.259
 God's common grace.

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.740
 God's common grace.

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:34.240
 But then when you start thinking about it, we

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:39.420
 benefit from God's common grace every day of our lives.

00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:43.720
 And I think that's just another thing to thank Him for.

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:47.779
 And I think it can help us be more appreciative of

00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:53.319
 unbelievers and the things they do for us.

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:55.400
 I'll be real honest with you.

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:58.220
 If I start having chest pains tonight and I go to the

00:26:58.220 --> 00:27:02.380
 emergency room, I'm not going to ask and I'm not going to

00:27:02.380 --> 00:27:03.279
 care if they're Christians.

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:07.960
 I don't care if they're atheists or Muslims or Hindus or what

00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:11.960
 not, if they can do something to prevent me from having a

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:15.600
 heart attack, I'm going to thank God and I'm going to thank

00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:15.920
 them.

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.220
 Aren't you?

00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.039
 Everything.

00:27:24.840 --> 00:27:25.400
 Everything.

00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:30.319
 Yeah.

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.399
 Yeah.

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.720
 Yeah.

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:41.079
 We don't, we're going to have to have crooked sticks that we

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:42.919
 hope draw some straight lines, aren't we?

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.659
 And that's what common grace is.

00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:50.379
 In fact, I read something somebody said about some of the

00:27:50.379 --> 00:27:51.700
 things in Jonah.

00:27:52.439 --> 00:27:55.359
 That's just a good example of God using crooked sticks to draw

00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.179
 straight lines.

00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:57.779
 And we see it everywhere.

00:27:57.779 --> 00:28:02.359
 And we need to be thankful and we don't need to sit on the

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.619
 sidelines like that.

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:08.799
 I lost some respect for some Christian leaders who sat on the

00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:10.859
 sideline and said, well, we just weren't going to vote this

00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:13.119
 last time because they didn't like Trump or Hillary.

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:15.720
 I didn't like either one of them, but I voted for the, what I

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:17.960
 thought was the lesser of two evils because one of them is

00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.599
 going to be president.

00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:23.180
 So I think we just can't stick your head in the sand.

00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:25.399
 You got to recognize God's in control of it all.

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:29.280
 And God works through awful people.

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:32.160
 Always has, always will.

00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:38.380
 And just be thankful for what he does and look to him and pray

00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:39.620
 that he'll change people.

00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:43.120
 Pray that he'll work good from bad.

00:28:43.959 --> 00:28:58.679
 Dogsong of faut singe gay

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:00.859
 Means E weather

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:01.699
 throughoutrique отдель

00:29:01.699 --> 00:29:02.179
 is a

00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:03.119
 more

00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.179
 than

00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.179
 three

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.819
GM