WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.820 The church in Galatia have got a particular problem. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:10.500 ! They'd become Christians through the Apostle Paul. 00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:12.419 ! They'd heard the message. 00:00:12.419 --> 00:00:14.160 They'd received it by faith. 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:16.719 They believed with great joy. 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:19.320 Persecution came. 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:21.420 There was pressures. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:22.719 There were struggles. 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:23.899 There was persecution. 00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:26.240 But the church in Galatia stood. 00:00:27.259 --> 00:00:30.140 They were brave in the face of conflict. 00:00:31.240 --> 00:00:34.079 The question for them was now what? 00:00:35.400 --> 00:00:38.859 They didn't instantly become perfect. 00:00:40.120 --> 00:00:43.179 They still, as a church, had difficulties. 00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:45.479 Like you and I have difficulties. 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:47.519 They struggled with envy. 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:49.899 And with anger. 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:52.100 And with idolatry. 00:00:53.579 --> 00:00:55.460 They struggled with lust. 00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:59.659 They struggled with immorality and arrogance. 00:01:00.379 --> 00:01:01.079 And greed. 00:01:02.760 --> 00:01:04.920 And their very practical question was this. 00:01:05.039 --> 00:01:07.719 How do I go on in the Christian life? 00:01:09.039 --> 00:01:11.420 How do I get more love? 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:14.159 How do I get more forgiveness? 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:19.500 How do I grow in self-control? 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:23.439 How do I go ahead in the Christian life? 00:01:24.920 --> 00:01:28.319 And for those of us who've trusted in the Lord Jesus, it's a question for all of us, isn't it? 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:32.899 It's a question which we all struggle with. 00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:42.619 And of course, for the Galatians, it was even more difficult because a group of Christian teachers, or so-called Christian teachers, had come from headquarters in Jerusalem. 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:47.579 And they were bringing the latest cutting-edge growth tool. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:49.780 They were very impressive. 00:01:50.660 --> 00:01:52.100 And they were very sincere. 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:53.920 And they were very nice. 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:56.000 And their simple answer was this. 00:01:56.140 --> 00:02:01.599 That the way to go forward as a Christian is you go back to the law. 00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:03.560 That was their message. 00:02:04.460 --> 00:02:06.740 And the way to go forward was to go back. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:10.719 The way to go forward as a Christian was to go back to the law. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:21.060 And so what God said to Moses, they said to the church in Galatia, what God said to Moses is a beautiful religious frame for your life. 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:25.699 And it will help you if you go back to the law of Moses. 00:02:25.979 --> 00:02:27.979 It will control what you eat. 00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:30.060 And what you wear. 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:32.960 And what day you do things. 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:36.939 And it will give you all sorts of religious observance. 00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:39.599 That's the way to go forward, to go back. 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:44.919 And to the Galatians, as well as to us Presbyterians, that is very attractive. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:50.359 To be told what to do and when to do it and how to do it. 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:53.719 To be told exactly what you need. 00:02:53.859 --> 00:02:54.979 And this is what you need. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:55.799 Let me give it to you. 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:00.219 And it's very, very attractive. 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:03.699 We've called it before, haven't we? 00:03:04.219 --> 00:03:05.060 Bop it, Christianity. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:06.259 You know that game, Bop it? 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:07.459 You've seen the game, Bop it? 00:03:07.460 --> 00:03:11.340 And so you press the game on it and it shouts at you, doesn't it? 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:13.140 It says pull it, twist it, push it. 00:03:13.580 --> 00:03:14.640 And we love that. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:15.860 Churches love that. 00:03:16.180 --> 00:03:20.460 You love it on a Sunday morning when I get up and give you a bit of a kick in and tell you what to do. 00:03:20.620 --> 00:03:21.819 That's what churches love. 00:03:23.460 --> 00:03:25.879 But it's a massive problem in the Christian faith. 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:30.340 Because it's the opposite of the way that we ought to think. 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:41.099 The way we advance in the Christian life, according to the Apostle, is exactly the same way that we entered the Christian life at the beginning. 00:03:41.099 --> 00:03:47.500 The way that we advance in the Christian life is exactly the same way as we entered into the Christian life. 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:49.879 They're not two different things. 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:53.180 We enter the same way that we grow. 00:03:54.900 --> 00:03:58.060 And so we begin the Christian life by faith. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:01.780 By forsaking all, I take him. 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:05.099 By resting and relying on Jesus Christ alone. 00:04:06.379 --> 00:04:08.379 That's how we begin the Christian life, by faith. 00:04:08.379 --> 00:04:11.000 We live the Christian life by faith. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:15.219 And we end the Christian life by faith. 00:04:16.759 --> 00:04:20.540 Let me remind you of what Paul said in the passage we looked at last time. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:22.819 Look at chapter 3 and verse 1. 00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:27.920 O foolish Galatians, who's bewitched you? 00:04:28.139 --> 00:04:29.379 Who's cast a spell on you? 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:40.000 Before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:43.399 And so let me ask you only this. 00:04:43.779 --> 00:04:45.920 Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law? 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:47.839 Or by hearing with faith? 00:04:49.139 --> 00:04:49.540 Verse 5. 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:51.379 Does he now... 00:04:52.719 --> 00:04:53.259 Verse 5. 00:04:53.579 --> 00:04:54.259 Does he... 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:55.980 We're in the present tense right now. 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:56.740 We're in the present tense. 00:04:56.740 --> 00:05:08.060 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law or hearing with faith? 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:17.420 You see, it is infuriatingly humbling to our pride. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:24.040 And I think it only gets worse as I get older as a Christian. 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:30.459 It feels like, doesn't it, there must be something that I have to do. 00:05:30.459 --> 00:05:34.579 There must be something that I have to do. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:39.919 If I know God utterly accepts me in the death of Jesus Christ. 00:05:40.099 --> 00:05:43.339 But surely, surely I must make some contribution. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:47.399 Surely I don't just grow by mere faith. 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:53.279 And I think most of us think that we become Christians by faith. 00:05:53.899 --> 00:05:56.939 And that we grow by hard work and effort. 00:05:58.379 --> 00:06:04.439 And in these verses 6 to 14, the Apostle wants us to see this amazing, remarkable thing. 00:06:05.599 --> 00:06:14.259 That at the heart of the daily, hourly, minute by minute, practical life of the Christian is living by faith. 00:06:14.259 --> 00:06:19.139 And what he does is he opens up a chasm in this chapter. 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:22.079 And he says there are two ways to live. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:26.360 And both of them look very religious from the outside. 00:06:26.920 --> 00:06:31.539 In fact, sometimes when you look at them from the outside, they look very similar. 00:06:33.159 --> 00:06:34.719 One is living by faith. 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:38.259 And the other is living by law or works of the law. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:40.860 So let me just show you the two contrasts quickly. 00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:45.879 In verse 7, it literally says, so you see that it is those who are of faith. 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:50.319 It is those who are of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:52.900 And then verse 9. 00:06:54.280 --> 00:06:58.660 It is those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham. 00:06:59.780 --> 00:07:00.639 And then verse 10. 00:07:00.699 --> 00:07:03.199 The contrast is there for the second half of the passage. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:07.000 All who rely on works of the law. 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:12.899 Well, literally, all who are works of the law are under a curse. 00:07:13.019 --> 00:07:14.019 So that's what I want to do this morning. 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:14.899 It's very simple. 00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:16.599 Two ways to live. 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:20.439 What does it mean to live the life of faith, firstly? 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:23.259 To live in faith. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:25.500 To live a life based on faith. 00:07:25.659 --> 00:07:27.139 To live a life out of faith. 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:31.939 And in verse 6 to 9, the apostle uses the illustration of Abraham. 00:07:32.979 --> 00:07:34.680 It's a brilliant illustration. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:39.599 Because you remember the teachers from Galatia were saying, 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:41.699 listen, you've got to go backwards to go forwards. 00:07:42.339 --> 00:07:43.860 You've got to go back to Judaism. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:45.659 You've got to go back to the law. 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:50.839 And Paul says, okay, let's go back and see how they lived out the Christian life. 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:53.919 Let's go back to Abraham, the father of the faith. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:58.819 Because right from the beginning to the end of Abraham's life, 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:01.979 the big issue is not whether Abraham was a decent bloke, 00:08:02.419 --> 00:08:04.079 but the promise of God. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:07.759 It was whether Abraham believed. 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:09.439 Verse 6. 00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:14.199 Thus, just as Abraham believed God. 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:17.659 Abraham believed God. 00:08:18.539 --> 00:08:21.579 And it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:08:23.579 --> 00:08:27.420 Notice, it doesn't say there that Abraham believed in God. 00:08:29.539 --> 00:08:31.360 He doesn't believe in God. 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:34.720 It's not just I'm ticking a box on a census. 00:08:35.779 --> 00:08:37.600 They're ticking a box on the creed. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:41.220 It says, Abraham believed God. 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:45.740 That means he believed the words that God said to him. 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:48.480 And the promise of God came to him. 00:08:48.800 --> 00:08:50.840 And it came to Abraham and said, 00:08:51.040 --> 00:08:53.620 salvation is not going to come from you, Abraham. 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:57.519 It is going to come from my intervention in your life. 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:00.840 And Abraham believed God's word. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:03.100 And it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:05.759 And it's an accounting word. 00:09:07.180 --> 00:09:08.399 It's a money word. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:14.120 God takes the funds from one account. 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:18.600 And he reckons them into another's account. 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:24.459 So that what was not Abraham's is now Abraham's. 00:09:25.439 --> 00:09:28.000 And he reckons it to him as righteousness. 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:32.759 Abraham did not become righteousness in himself. 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:36.379 But through faith in the promise of God, 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:37.819 it was reckoned to him. 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:39.419 It was credited to him. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:40.860 It was put to his account. 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:42.799 It was transferred to him. 00:09:43.179 --> 00:09:45.419 God treats him as righteous. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:48.259 It's exactly the same for us. 00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:52.740 We are not righteous in our souls. 00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:56.399 In our heart of hearts, 00:09:57.320 --> 00:09:59.980 righteousness is not a quality that lives in us. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:03.480 It is a gift from God. 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:05.680 It is external to us. 00:10:05.779 --> 00:10:07.240 But we enjoy it by faith. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:10.720 It's the mark of the true Christian. 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:13.340 The real Christian this morning, 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:17.259 who's living in faith, 00:10:17.419 --> 00:10:18.600 looks into his own heart. 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:20.519 And what does the true Christian see 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:22.000 when they look into their heart? 00:10:22.060 --> 00:10:22.680 They see poverty. 00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:25.220 They see a mess. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:27.740 They see their sinfulness. 00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:30.920 And they cry out in mercy. 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:34.379 And they look out to the Lord Jesus 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:38.519 and his death for righteousness. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:41.340 They don't look into their own life. 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:45.259 And I know that is absolutely contradictory 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:46.840 to all the self-help books 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:48.139 published in the last 30 years 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:50.500 and nearly every Instagrammer 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.980 who's influencing people. 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:54.800 The self-help gurus. 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:57.160 But I want you to see something 00:10:57.160 --> 00:10:57.899 of the power of this. 00:10:58.360 --> 00:10:59.379 Paul quotes the Old Testament 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:00.740 a number of times in this passage. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.500 And I want to just look at one of them with you. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.500 That quote in verse 6 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:06.280 comes from Genesis chapter 15. 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:09.160 So put your hand in Galatians 3 00:11:09.160 --> 00:11:11.139 and come back with me to Genesis chapter 15. 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:14.180 Come back with me. 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:15.639 Write to the first book of the Bible 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:17.600 and Genesis chapter 15. 00:11:17.700 --> 00:11:18.780 And look at this promise. 00:11:24.780 --> 00:11:26.500 Chapter 15 and verse 1. 00:11:29.300 --> 00:11:30.139 After these things, 00:11:30.300 --> 00:11:31.700 the word of the Lord came to Abraham 00:11:31.700 --> 00:11:32.940 in a vision 00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:35.700 saying, 00:11:36.100 --> 00:11:36.639 Fear not. 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:38.560 Fear not, Abraham. 00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:39.620 I am your shield 00:11:39.620 --> 00:11:43.000 and your very great reward. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:44.340 Your shield 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:45.379 and your reward 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.100 shall be very great. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:47.100 It's a beautiful promise, isn't it? 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:48.519 And then look at verse 6. 00:11:50.779 --> 00:11:51.539 It says, 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:53.740 Abraham believed the Lord 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:57.299 and he counted it to him. 00:11:57.779 --> 00:11:58.919 He reckoned it to him 00:11:58.919 --> 00:11:59.940 as righteousness. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:02.340 Now here's the question. 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:04.639 When did the story of Abraham begin? 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.080 Well, 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:09.060 for you Bible nerds, 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:09.519 Bible scholars, 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:10.480 it began in chapter 12, 00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:10.840 didn't it? 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:13.860 And by chapter 15, 00:12:13.940 --> 00:12:15.180 a lot of water has gone under the bridge 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:16.320 and a lot of murky water. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:19.740 At the end of chapter 12, 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:21.000 Abraham goes down to Egypt 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:23.200 and his wife is so beautiful. 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.900 His wife is so stunning 00:12:25.900 --> 00:12:28.080 that Abraham is frightened 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.220 that the king will kill him 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:30.160 to get his wife. 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:33.300 And so he concocts a plan 00:12:33.300 --> 00:12:34.220 with his wife Sarah 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:34.840 and he says, 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:36.520 I'm going to call you my sister. 00:12:38.400 --> 00:12:40.820 It's a strange, strange episode. 00:12:41.900 --> 00:12:43.620 The king marries Abraham's wife. 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:45.519 It's an interesting story. 00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:46.500 I'm not going to preach it to you today. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.879 But it is a wrong thing. 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:50.759 It is a very wobbly thing 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:51.659 for Abraham to do. 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.899 Read through the Abraham narrative 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:56.000 and again and again, 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:58.820 you see how Abraham is a letdown. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:00.080 How he wobbles. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:03.419 But here we are in chapter 15 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:04.840 and here's the point. 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:06.519 Chapter 15 is in the middle 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:08.159 of Abraham's life of faith. 00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:11.539 He's been a believer for a long time. 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:13.200 He's not beginning. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:14.020 He's been beginning his life of faith. 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:14.740 That's the point. 00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:18.100 That's why the apostle uses this verse. 00:13:19.540 --> 00:13:21.340 Paul goes back to Genesis chapter 15 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:24.640 not to show how Abraham started off in faith 00:13:24.640 --> 00:13:27.620 but to show, chapter 15, 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.540 how Abraham continued in faith. 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:33.720 So go back to Galatians chapter 3 and verse 9 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:35.460 and Paul says this. 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.160 So then, those who are of faith 00:13:39.160 --> 00:13:41.540 are blessed along with Abraham, 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:43.799 the man of faith, 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:47.219 those who are of faith 00:13:47.219 --> 00:13:48.980 are blessed along with Abraham 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:49.899 who had faith. 00:13:50.099 --> 00:13:51.019 It is continuous. 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:53.439 It is ongoing. 00:13:55.579 --> 00:13:56.740 And so again and again, 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.559 I want to say to you 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:59.099 that the way we come into the kingdom 00:13:59.099 --> 00:14:00.959 is by simple faith. 00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:02.959 Most of us think that the way 00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:03.860 that we go on in the kingdom 00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:06.219 is by trying harder. 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:09.300 So test yourself with me. 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.680 Have you ever said to yourself, 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:14.080 I've been a Christian for such and such a time, 00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:14.740 10 years, say? 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:17.180 I've been a Christian for 10 years 00:14:17.180 --> 00:14:19.840 and I really ought to not be so angry. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.840 I ought to be more forgiving. 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.399 I ought to try harder. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:27.759 I ought to not think those things. 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:30.279 I ought to get my act together. 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:34.000 What the apostle is saying here 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.039 is that if you're having trouble 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:36.179 with self-control 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:38.639 and that if this morning 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:40.539 you can't control your sexual appetites 00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:43.220 or if this morning 00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:44.299 you find it impossible 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:45.539 to forgive yourself 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:46.559 or to forgive others, 00:14:48.339 --> 00:14:50.600 the only way to advance 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.279 through that issue 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:54.079 is exactly the same way 00:14:54.079 --> 00:14:56.000 that you came to Christ 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:56.879 in the first place. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:00.960 And that is by having 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:01.879 Jesus Christ 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:03.919 and him crucified 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:05.299 publicly portrayed 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:06.960 before your eyes. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:10.039 And it is to see him 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:12.439 and as we see him 00:15:12.439 --> 00:15:13.639 that the Holy Spirit 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:15.259 works in our hearts 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:16.879 and gives us faith. 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.779 The way that we receive 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:20.320 the Holy Spirit, 00:15:20.419 --> 00:15:20.779 do you remember, 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.299 is by hearing, 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.679 the hearing of faith. 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:25.740 We've already seen that 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.419 in chapter 3 00:15:26.419 --> 00:15:27.939 and so what we do 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:28.939 is we go back 00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:30.079 and we go back 00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:31.199 and we go back 00:15:31.199 --> 00:15:32.179 and we go back 00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:33.579 again and again and again 00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:35.000 to the death of Jesus Christ 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.620 on the cross. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.620 And that is how we advance 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:40.959 and that is how we grow. 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:44.279 It is through believing the gospel. 00:15:46.339 --> 00:15:47.399 And I want to just point out 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.179 one stunning verse 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:48.860 in verse 8. 00:15:48.959 --> 00:15:49.860 I want to leave it with you 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:50.799 as a little bit of homework. 00:15:52.459 --> 00:15:53.059 Can you see verse 8? 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.459 It's a puzzling verse. 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:58.600 It says this, 00:15:58.800 --> 00:15:59.680 the scriptures, 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.240 the scripture foreseeing 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:04.060 that God would justify 00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:05.500 the Gentiles by faith 00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:07.180 preached the gospel 00:16:07.180 --> 00:16:08.519 beforehand to Abraham 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.560 saying, 00:16:09.780 --> 00:16:10.400 in you 00:16:10.400 --> 00:16:11.960 shall all the nations 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:12.600 be blessed. 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:14.080 So here's my homework 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:14.500 for you. 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.460 How on earth 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.900 can Paul say 00:16:18.900 --> 00:16:19.460 that scripture 00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:21.980 preached the gospel 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:22.840 to Abraham 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:24.700 when scripture 00:16:24.700 --> 00:16:25.220 wasn't written 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:26.360 at that point? 00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:30.519 And I'm not sure. 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.300 So you can bring me 00:16:32.300 --> 00:16:32.659 your answers 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.320 in the next week. 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.980 But I think it means this. 00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:37.700 It means that 00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:38.700 whenever we sit down 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:40.000 and we open 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.820 the word of God, 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:43.720 there is as much 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:45.080 revealing power 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:47.420 as when God spoke 00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:48.480 to Abraham from heaven. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.420 because every time 00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:52.960 we open God's word, 00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:54.940 God preaches 00:16:54.940 --> 00:16:55.500 the gospel. 00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:58.539 Every time 00:16:58.539 --> 00:16:59.460 we read 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:00.000 the Bible, 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.279 if we're reading 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:02.899 Nehemiah 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.460 or we're reading 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.360 the book of Judges 00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:04.920 or we're reading 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:05.599 the Psalms, 00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:07.500 God is preaching 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:09.279 Jesus Christ 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.539 to us 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.779 and him crucified. 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:13.879 That is the life 00:17:13.879 --> 00:17:14.399 of faith. 00:17:17.379 --> 00:17:18.180 Let's turn secondly, 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.420 let's look briefly 00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:20.779 at the opposite. 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:21.559 What does the life 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:22.579 of law look like? 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.660 Look at verse 10. 00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:29.319 For all who rely 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.279 on works 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.440 of the law 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:33.599 are under a curse. 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.279 For it is written, 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.579 cursed be everyone 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:38.799 who does not abide 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.960 by all things 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.079 written in the book 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:41.599 of the law 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.699 and do them. 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:45.859 And the problem 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.439 for many of us 00:17:46.439 --> 00:17:47.659 who grew up 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:48.139 in the West 00:17:48.139 --> 00:17:49.159 is when we hear 00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:50.159 the word curse, 00:17:50.419 --> 00:17:51.480 if you're of a certain age, 00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:53.279 you think of Harry Potter. 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.579 And for those of us 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.379 who are a little bit older, 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.419 when we hear the word curse, 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:59.319 we think of kind of mummies, 00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:00.819 the curse of the mummies 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:02.079 or something from Scooby-Doo. 00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:05.599 But when the Bible 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.079 uses the word curse, 00:18:07.199 --> 00:18:08.299 it is using the word 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.220 to speak about 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:10.139 a spiritual condition. 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.599 And the life 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:13.500 of blessing 00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.899 is the life 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:15.720 promised by God. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.379 But when we live 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:19.119 out of the works 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:19.740 of the law, 00:18:19.879 --> 00:18:20.839 not out of faith, 00:18:21.139 --> 00:18:22.519 we turn from blessing 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.399 to curse. 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.159 Now, 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.279 some understand me here, 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:28.159 there is nothing wrong 00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:29.079 with the law of God. 00:18:30.439 --> 00:18:31.419 And the law of God 00:18:31.419 --> 00:18:31.879 is good 00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:32.619 and it is upright 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:33.919 and it is wholesome. 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:36.699 We should take delight 00:18:36.699 --> 00:18:38.479 in the law of the Lord. 00:18:39.639 --> 00:18:40.659 The law of the Lord 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:42.139 was given to shape 00:18:42.139 --> 00:18:42.959 the people of God. 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:43.279 Do you remember? 00:18:43.399 --> 00:18:43.919 I am the Lord, 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:44.379 your God, 00:18:44.419 --> 00:18:44.839 who brought you 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:45.519 out of the land of Egypt, 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.439 out of the house of slavery. 00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:48.539 It is given to the people 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:48.859 of God 00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:49.699 to shape them. 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.779 It is given 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:51.799 to them 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:53.000 to give them boundaries 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.839 on to know 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.979 how to love God. 00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:56.940 the law 00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:58.019 is not opposed 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.839 to faith. 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.860 And if you have 00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:02.680 true Christian faith, 00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:04.940 it will show itself 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:05.480 in the works 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:05.960 of the law. 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.059 And so the issue, 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.019 don't misunderstand the issue, 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.980 the issue is not 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.500 whether we're trying 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.220 to keep the law. 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.420 The issue is this, 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.579 whether we're relying 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:16.180 on the works 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:16.660 of the law. 00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:19.720 You see, 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:20.519 the law 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:22.180 will justify 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.299 every person, 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:24.039 verse 10 says, 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.380 who keeps 00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.360 every single part 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:25.600 of it. 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.440 The problem is, 00:19:27.580 --> 00:19:28.020 we don't 00:19:28.020 --> 00:19:28.760 and we can't. 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.060 Unless we keep 00:19:31.060 --> 00:19:31.520 all of it 00:19:31.520 --> 00:19:32.700 with all our hearts 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.680 all the time, 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:34.840 we are under 00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:35.620 the curse of God. 00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.320 And that is why 00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:38.920 you see, 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.680 to rely on the law 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.580 is completely 00:19:41.580 --> 00:19:42.280 frustrating 00:19:42.280 --> 00:19:43.240 and futile. 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.540 It is futile 00:19:45.540 --> 00:19:46.740 to live one's life 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:48.100 based on one's 00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:48.980 works of the law. 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:50.960 Of course, 00:19:51.060 --> 00:19:52.380 we seek to obey it 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.060 and we seek 00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:53.720 to keep it. 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.400 Again, 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.039 that's not the issue. 00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:55.880 The issue 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:57.579 is whether I live 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.839 on the works 00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.339 of the law, 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.620 resting on it, 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.700 relying on it. 00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:02.339 The issue 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.440 is not law-breaking 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.519 or law-keeping 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.860 but law-relying. 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:08.440 It's one thing 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.160 to live a good life, 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.980 I hope we all are, 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:11.100 but it's another thing 00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:12.059 to put our hope 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:12.940 in that life 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:14.799 or to imagine 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.579 that you stand 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.200 before God 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.700 on the basis 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.400 of that life 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:21.860 or imagine 00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:22.640 that you stand 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.800 and look at the world 00:20:23.800 --> 00:20:24.940 in kind of 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.980 a way that you're 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.400 above them 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.380 because of that life. 00:20:29.800 --> 00:20:30.220 And I think 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:31.320 every single one of us 00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:32.259 is tempted 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:33.140 to do that 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:35.620 even when we know 00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:36.580 the love of the Lord Jesus. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.620 We're always tempted, 00:20:39.780 --> 00:20:41.019 we are constantly tempted 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:42.420 to rely on the works 00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:42.960 of the law. 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:45.279 And the Apostle Paul 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.299 says it's a contradiction. 00:20:47.360 --> 00:20:48.299 You cannot do it. 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.400 And our life 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:51.799 is either relying 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.620 on faith 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:54.799 or relying 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.240 on works 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.680 of the law. 00:20:56.880 --> 00:20:57.740 And if we trust 00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.440 our works 00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:59.200 and if we trust 00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.960 our growth 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:01.940 and if we trust 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.819 in anything 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.960 we do 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.860 for our salvation, 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.160 we are under 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:06.840 God's curse. 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.559 And that is again, 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:11.819 isn't it, 00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:12.720 why we have to go back 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.700 again and again 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.460 and again 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:18.100 to Jesus Christ 00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:18.700 and him crucified. 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.819 And I just want to show you 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.259 as we finish 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.700 in verses 13 and 14 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.480 that is exactly 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.700 what the Apostle Paul does. 00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:28.740 It's a beautiful illustration 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.339 of verse 1, 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.299 verse 13 and 14. 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:32.120 He holds up Jesus Christ 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.880 and him crucified 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.700 before us 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:35.839 so that our hearts 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.539 would be ravished, 00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:37.779 so that our faith 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:39.000 would be attracted 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:40.220 and attached to him 00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.120 and not to ourselves. 00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.100 Verse 13. 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:47.120 It says, 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.640 Christ redeemed us 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:50.839 from the curse 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.440 of the law 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:53.600 having become 00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:54.180 a curse 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.960 for us. 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.539 For it is written, 00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.579 cursed be 00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.460 everyone 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:01.299 who hangs 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:02.120 in a tree 00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:04.980 that in Christ Jesus 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.460 the blessing 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.160 of Abraham 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.700 might come 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:11.100 upon the Gentiles 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:12.139 that we might receive 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:12.959 the promise 00:22:12.959 --> 00:22:14.119 of the Holy Spirit 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:15.419 through faith. 00:22:18.699 --> 00:22:19.480 Verse 13, 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.579 he quotes Deuteronomy, 00:22:20.679 --> 00:22:20.959 doesn't he? 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.319 He says, 00:22:21.419 --> 00:22:22.599 cursed is everyone 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.659 who hangs on a tree. 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.279 It's speaking of somebody 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:27.159 who's been executed 00:22:27.159 --> 00:22:27.899 for blasphemy 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:30.060 and then their bodies 00:22:30.060 --> 00:22:30.980 hang on a tree 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.100 as a sign 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:32.759 that the person 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.360 who died 00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:34.040 is under the curse 00:22:34.040 --> 00:22:34.519 of God. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.420 And when God 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:38.019 said those words 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.519 in Deuteronomy 21, 00:22:39.780 --> 00:22:40.680 he had one person 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.140 in mind. 00:22:42.280 --> 00:22:43.300 It was his only 00:22:43.300 --> 00:22:44.100 begotten son. 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.740 And what Paul says here 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:46.880 is, 00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:47.680 it's not merely 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.620 that Jesus was punished 00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:49.019 for us. 00:22:51.280 --> 00:22:52.280 It's not that Jesus 00:22:52.280 --> 00:22:52.880 was treated 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.900 as sinful 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.800 instead of us. 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.419 No, 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:55.940 Paul says 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.579 he became 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:57.440 a curse 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.480 for us 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:00.000 so that we 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.359 might become 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:00.759 a blessing. 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.879 And that is so 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.700 important for our 00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.500 day-to-day living 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.000 this week. 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.659 It's not just 00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:09.099 that when we 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:09.859 come to Christ, 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.659 he wipes 00:23:11.659 --> 00:23:12.659 our slate clean 00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:13.339 and we're forgiven. 00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:14.099 Wonderful though 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:14.519 that is. 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.819 But the gospel 00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.399 is much, 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:17.899 much bigger 00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:18.339 than that. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.680 It is that 00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.980 God transfers 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.220 the righteousness 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.620 of Jesus Christ 00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:25.259 to us. 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.660 And so 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.799 we are regarded 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.819 by God 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.480 this morning 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.440 as those 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:31.900 who are in 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:32.299 Christ 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.620 as beautiful, 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:35.799 delightful, 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:37.180 righteous. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.019 It is not 00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.740 just that 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.539 God takes 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.039 away 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.779 our sin 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.500 and puts it 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.039 onto the Lord 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.339 Jesus 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:47.700 and then says, 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:48.440 you've got another 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.000 second chance 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.319 this week, 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.039 go for it again, 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.720 try your best. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:53.120 get a better 00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:53.620 record 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:55.940 and we come 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.380 back, 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.460 failure, 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.100 failure 00:23:58.100 --> 00:23:58.539 and we have 00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:58.799 to get the 00:23:58.799 --> 00:23:59.559 slate clean 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.380 and again 00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:00.799 and again 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.120 and again 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:01.620 we go through 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.160 this process. 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:02.759 That's not 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.299 what the Christian 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:03.940 life is like. 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.380 Living that way, 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.000 what does it do? 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.240 It puts enormous 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.100 pressure on us 00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:10.819 to live lives 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.740 based on the 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.519 works of the Lord. 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:12.920 No, 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.240 no, 00:24:13.360 --> 00:24:13.600 no. 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:16.120 The Apostle Paul 00:24:16.120 --> 00:24:17.079 in 2 Corinthians 5 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.360 said, 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:17.759 didn't he, 00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:19.079 that he, 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:19.799 the Lord Jesus, 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.879 became sin 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.639 for us 00:24:21.639 --> 00:24:23.619 so that in him 00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:24.339 we might become 00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:24.759 the righteousness 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.319 of God 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:27.940 and our righteousness 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.779 does not come 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.500 from our works. 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:31.960 It comes, 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.399 doesn't it, 00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:33.339 from this glorious 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.019 swap, 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:34.740 this glorious 00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.379 exchange 00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:37.000 in the death 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:37.700 of Jesus Christ 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:40.639 and that is why 00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.220 the death 00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:41.919 of the Lord Jesus 00:24:41.919 --> 00:24:42.579 is so, 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.240 so important 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.839 for us 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:46.500 because it is 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.399 in the death 00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:48.259 of the Lord Jesus 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:49.140 that God 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:49.920 makes him 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.700 accursed, 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.640 that God 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.720 makes him 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.640 sin 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:56.759 and that God 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.460 makes us 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.259 righteous, 00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.779 all the righteousness 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.519 of God. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.379 And that's why 00:25:04.379 --> 00:25:05.240 it's so important. 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.480 So in this word, 00:25:06.700 --> 00:25:07.440 in this passage, 00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:08.900 Paul gives us 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:10.680 three finance words. 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.339 Three finance words. 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.160 This week was the budget, 00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:14.519 isn't it? 00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:16.339 I can never understand 00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:16.740 the budget, 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:18.160 but I complain about it. 00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:20.519 And one of the worst 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.299 moments in church life 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.900 is when 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:23.139 the treasurer 00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:23.839 or the finance people 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.220 in church 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.720 bring the 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:28.019 spreadsheet. 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.579 I couldn't even 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.139 remember the word. 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:31.039 They bring the spreadsheet 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.019 and I sit with the elders 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.200 and I chair the discussion 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.180 on finance 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:35.279 and I can't understand 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.740 the spreadsheet. 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.440 And so I gauge 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.279 what the room is doing 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.599 and nod along 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.299 with the majority. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.160 Income and outcome, 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:45.080 but here 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:46.000 there's a spreadsheet 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.700 that you can understand. 00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:48.120 So three spreadsheet words. 00:25:48.300 --> 00:25:49.040 The first word 00:25:49.040 --> 00:25:50.019 is the word 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.500 counted. 00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:53.220 It's pretty easy 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:53.660 to understand, 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:53.980 isn't it? 00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:54.720 Counting something. 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.640 So verse 6, 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.340 reckoned. 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.920 He reckons, 00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:00.200 he counts us 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:01.580 as righteous. 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.400 It's really easy, 00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:05.259 the transferring 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.759 of funds 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.340 from one account 00:26:07.340 --> 00:26:07.800 to the other. 00:26:09.800 --> 00:26:11.160 And so he transfers 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:12.320 into our account 00:26:12.320 --> 00:26:13.120 the righteousness 00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:13.960 of Jesus Christ. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:16.480 That's the first 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.420 finance word. 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.700 Counted. 00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.779 Second finance word 00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:21.480 is in verse 8 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.100 and verse 11. 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.600 It's the word 00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:23.060 justify. 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:25.400 So the accountants 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.200 know what that word 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:26.600 means. 00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.700 To justify the accounts. 00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.820 The word means 00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:31.880 it's all placed 00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:32.860 to our credit. 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.540 The righteousness 00:26:35.540 --> 00:26:36.120 of Christ 00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:36.759 is placed 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.720 to our credit. 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.720 the account. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.620 The account 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.420 now has 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.299 our name on it. 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:45.039 And then even 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.600 more wonderfully, 00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.680 verse 13, 00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.500 Christ 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.839 redeemed us 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:50.360 from the curse 00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:50.640 of the law. 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.380 That's the third word. 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.620 It's an ordinary 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.759 common garden word 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:56.259 for going out 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.600 of the house, 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.220 taking your money 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.940 with you to shop, 00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.579 and buying something 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.200 and bringing it home. 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:02.600 And Paul is saying 00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:03.180 that God 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.360 paid this price 00:27:04.360 --> 00:27:04.799 for us. 00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.519 Christ 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.559 redeemed us 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.860 by giving, 00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:09.299 by making 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:09.940 himself 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.920 a curse 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.500 and freely 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.600 offering us 00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.900 his righteousness. 00:27:17.560 --> 00:27:18.420 And that's why 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:19.240 to be of 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.900 the works 00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.720 of the law 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.779 is a total 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.500 contradiction 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:24.019 to being of faith. 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.940 We receive 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.600 the righteousness 00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.400 and the blessing 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:28.759 of God 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.640 not by works 00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:31.279 but by faith. 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.500 Not just once 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:35.880 but every day 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.640 and every hour 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:37.620 of every day. 00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:39.940 And this is the heart 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.700 of the Christian faith, 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.360 brothers and sisters. 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.259 It is substitution. 00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:46.960 And we try 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.480 to substitute 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.039 ourselves 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.720 for God 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:50.940 and God's response 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.720 in his mercy 00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.640 and in his love 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.480 is to substitute 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.360 himself for us 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:56.259 and to take 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.759 our curse. 00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.779 And that is why 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.640 in the death 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.940 of Jesus Christ 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:03.480 we have resources 00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:05.620 we've never 00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.640 begun to realise yet. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:09.799 It is not just 00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.539 an entry 00:28:10.539 --> 00:28:11.500 into eternal life. 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.559 It is not just 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:13.079 a slate 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.779 wipe clean. 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.519 It means that 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.319 God gives us 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.139 all the righteousness 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.680 of Jesus 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.920 and he regards us 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:19.619 as beautiful. 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.180 And it's not about 00:28:22.180 --> 00:28:23.659 beginning the Christian life. 00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.480 This life of faith, 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.659 faith in what God 00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.099 has done 00:28:27.099 --> 00:28:28.559 begins the life, 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.440 continues the life 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.639 and it is faith 00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:31.420 that will bring us 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.299 to the point of completion 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.119 in the Christian life. 00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:35.979 And so our exercise 00:28:35.979 --> 00:28:36.659 today 00:28:36.659 --> 00:28:38.000 and every day 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.879 is to place 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:39.859 our faith 00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:41.819 in Jesus Christ. 00:28:43.219 --> 00:28:44.579 In the Son of God 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.500 who loved me 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.959 and gave himself 00:28:46.959 --> 00:28:47.659 for me. 00:28:48.159 --> 00:28:49.539 To hear the words 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.159 of the gospel 00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:51.699 which God is preaching 00:28:51.699 --> 00:28:52.779 to us even now 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:54.099 and to accept them 00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:55.279 by faith 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.739 that Jesus Christ 00:28:56.739 --> 00:28:57.839 was made 00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:59.740 and he became 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.859 a curse for us 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:03.019 that we might become 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.539 his righteousness. 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:06.679 Amen, 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.079 Amen, 00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.679 and Amen. 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:13.680 Let's pray.