WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.359 And to protect them, as we're going to see, to protect them from the false teaching and false doctrine that was coming out of a particular branch, a group of people inside the church. 00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:19.080 ! But I was going to read you this quote by a short quote by Martin Luther, and he said, 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:25.379 The gospel cannot be heard enough, for it cannot be grasped enough. 00:00:25.379 --> 00:00:35.460 Moreover, our greatest task as preachers is to keep you faithful to this article and to bequeath this treasure to you when we die. 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:46.500 So the greatest thing that we can have to give you as the people in our congregations he's saying is the gospel, and to entrust that to you. 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:51.460 And when we die, you'll know that, and you'll treasure it and live in it. 00:00:51.460 --> 00:01:06.480 And so the thing about this passage also is it's such an amazing passage that, though, if I was just to sit down with you kind of one-on-one and walk through the passage, it would be really easy. 00:01:06.620 --> 00:01:10.519 But to actually teach through it, there's like so many different ways. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:15.280 So I hope that I just picked a good way to go about it. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:19.280 And then we're going to finish the other part of it next week. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:26.740 But it all has to do, to some degree, we're going to look at this and ask them three questions. 00:01:28.299 --> 00:01:33.319 The first question is, what awaits us after death? 00:01:33.980 --> 00:01:36.240 What awaits us after death? 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:42.259 And the answer is the judgment of God. 00:01:43.679 --> 00:01:46.519 God is called the righteous judge in Scripture. 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:49.819 It's one of the things about God. 00:01:49.899 --> 00:01:57.939 He is a holy, righteous, and pure judge, and the perfect judge, if you want to look at it that way. 00:01:57.939 --> 00:02:06.719 And all of us, every one of us in here, are going to stand in front of the judgment seat of God one day. 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:11.359 And we have to think of this like in terms of like a courtroom idea. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:16.520 And it's something that we can tremble about. 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:20.860 And probably I remember many times getting scared by when I was a kid. 00:02:20.860 --> 00:02:26.020 And hearing about it, I'm not actually having a good understanding of actually what it was. 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:33.360 But we have to understand that God's holiness, that's one of the things that God is. 00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:39.180 It means He's totally separated from all things that are sinful and evil. 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:40.760 It has nothing to do with them. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:44.540 And that He's like pure in all His ways and upright and perfect. 00:02:45.379 --> 00:02:53.139 And so His holiness doesn't just mean He's separated from evil, but it also means that He's devoted to destroying evil. 00:02:54.099 --> 00:02:58.099 And how we want God to be that way. 00:02:58.819 --> 00:03:03.739 We don't want Him to be a God that sees evil going on and has no problem with it. 00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:11.739 All we have to do is just look on the news or kind of look around and what's going on in our own country and places in the world. 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:16.100 And you see like awful, awful, heinous things being done. 00:03:16.640 --> 00:03:22.219 And there's something inside of you, most of you probably, that just says there's got to be justice for that. 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:22.860 That's wrong. 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:25.100 Like that's got to be made right. 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:35.260 And if we who are sinful, if we think that way, how much more would a holy and righteous God. 00:03:35.259 --> 00:03:37.539 And I'm trying to help. 00:03:38.239 --> 00:03:41.739 I've been having a lot of talks with people about God's attributes lately. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:47.199 I've been writing about God's attributes and who God is. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:50.939 Because how you understand God is going to shape the rest of your life. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:56.659 If you have a puny, weak understanding of God, that's probably what your life will look like. 00:03:56.659 --> 00:04:04.960 But if you have a huge biblical idea about God and your knowledge of God is increasing, then God's going to get bigger and bigger in your mind. 00:04:05.979 --> 00:04:10.259 But something about the attributes of God. 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:23.000 I've come to kind of learn this, that we as humans, as finite human beings, we like to kind of look at God and like put Him in categories called attributes. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:30.339 You know, we want to say God is holy, God is just, God is loving, God is gracious, you know, so forth. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:31.720 God is omniscient. 00:04:31.819 --> 00:04:32.779 He's all powerful. 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:33.879 These little things. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:42.279 But the truth is that it's not that God is sometimes those attributes. 00:04:42.660 --> 00:04:48.860 You know, we can look at our lives and say right now, you know, I can be a loving person. 00:04:48.939 --> 00:04:49.379 You know that? 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:50.740 Some of you know me. 00:04:50.779 --> 00:04:52.639 We'll have to know that I cannot be a loving person too. 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:54.540 And so what happened? 00:04:54.819 --> 00:04:58.740 You know, I can be those things, but I am not those things. 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:06.959 And that's a major difference because God, not just that God can be loving, it's that God is love and that He is just. 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:08.399 He is holy. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:20.360 And His attributes are brought together in such a way to where His goodness is a demonstration of His justice. 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:23.980 And His justice is a demonstration of His goodness, vice versa. 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:30.080 It's also, so when God shows judgment, it's not just He's being just, it's that He's being good. 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:33.300 He's being loving in that same instant. 00:05:33.420 --> 00:05:40.560 You can't really, it's just our puny efforts as finite creatures to try to understand something of who God is. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:44.639 But God will punish evil. 00:05:44.740 --> 00:05:46.339 He will punish sin. 00:05:46.579 --> 00:05:50.819 All those who have sinned and rebelled against God will pay. 00:05:50.899 --> 00:05:52.019 This is what Scripture teaches. 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:56.920 Old and New Testament, out of the mouths of the prophets, out of the mouth of the apostles, out of Christ. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:58.840 This is what is taught. 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:03.339 There's a payday, if you want to call it that, coming for sin. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:07.639 For the wages of sin is death, the gift of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus. 00:06:07.799 --> 00:06:13.919 Romans 6.23, the Old Testament calls it the day of the Lord, the day of wrath. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:21.819 It's called many things in the Scripture, but Psalm 7.11 says that God, it calls God the righteous judge. 00:06:21.819 --> 00:06:25.459 And He's going to do like what good judges do. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.560 He's going to punish evil. 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:35.019 And if you want to flip in your Bibles, I'm just going to give you just one picture of this. 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:39.000 Flip to, excuse me, Revelation 20. 00:06:41.899 --> 00:06:46.779 That's Revelation singular, not the book of Revelations, like a lot of people say. 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:51.639 So Revelation, flip over there. 00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:54.459 I'm going to go into chapter 20. 00:06:55.719 --> 00:07:00.139 And there's a picture of the judgment here. 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:12.139 And it's kind of sandwiched in between chapter 19, where Christ returns with the armies of heaven, 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:18.199 and He wipes out all the evil on the earth and kind of brings them to that next stage of judgment. 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:24.159 And then after this chapter we're about to read is the creation of the new heavens and the new earth, 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:29.779 where everything is beautiful and awesome and the way it should have been and even better. 00:07:30.300 --> 00:07:34.000 So this is where we find the judgment is actually between these two things, 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:36.680 the return of Christ and the new heaven and new earth. 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:40.699 But I wonder how many have actually read this before. 00:07:40.780 --> 00:07:42.139 It's really, really sobering. 00:07:43.139 --> 00:07:46.740 This is John seeing this go down. 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:49.560 And so look at verse 11. 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:52.740 It says, 00:07:52.740 --> 00:08:22.720 It says, 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:28.819 Those are just symbolic meanings for death. 00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:31.980 Simply put, there's a lot more there, but death and Hades. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:34.480 I gave up the dead who were in them, 00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:36.960 and they were judged, each one of them, 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:39.139 according to what they had done. 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:43.120 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:46.860 This is the second death, the lake of fire. 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:50.759 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:53.460 he was thrown into the lake of fire. 00:08:53.460 --> 00:09:00.900 So, chilling, sobering passage to think about. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:02.639 This is where we're all going to be one day. 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:06.960 And we're going to be judged according to what we've done. 00:09:07.040 --> 00:09:08.840 It says that twice in there. 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:11.200 So, what's going to make the difference? 00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:14.440 Just to walk you through this passage, 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:16.240 it's a white throne. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:19.019 And a throne always, in Scripture, 00:09:19.180 --> 00:09:22.320 means it's a symbol of power, authority, sovereignty. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:27.360 And white, meaning like pure and clean and upright. 00:09:28.760 --> 00:09:32.960 And the sheer presence of God's holiness and purity 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:37.420 causes all the creation that has been tainted by sin 00:09:37.420 --> 00:09:39.379 and messed up by sin to flee. 00:09:39.540 --> 00:09:40.160 That's what happens. 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:42.680 Like the whole creation just disappears. 00:09:42.780 --> 00:09:43.379 Because think about it. 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:46.200 This is before the creation of the new heaven and the new earth. 00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:47.500 So, you see that? 00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:48.700 Like it's like fleeing away. 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:50.660 The old is passing away. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:52.040 In front of the very presence of God, 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:54.959 it just kind of takes off and flees. 00:09:55.939 --> 00:09:59.779 And from God, this is before the new was made. 00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:03.620 And all men, where it says there in verse 12, 00:10:03.719 --> 00:10:05.139 the dead, the great, the small, 00:10:06.219 --> 00:10:08.360 this just means everyone. 00:10:09.099 --> 00:10:12.339 The weak, the powerful, the rich, the poor. 00:10:13.059 --> 00:10:14.699 Everyone from the beggar on the street 00:10:14.699 --> 00:10:17.439 to the most powerful person on the planet. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:19.659 All are going to stand before God. 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:24.959 And it says here that books, books were open. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:26.919 Books, books plural. 00:10:28.079 --> 00:10:33.659 And these books record every thought, every word, every deed 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:36.439 that we've ever done throughout our lives. 00:10:37.059 --> 00:10:40.659 And that's, again, I'm thinking about things I've done right now 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:41.919 and things I've said 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:47.740 and how chilling it would be to be exposed. 00:10:48.079 --> 00:10:50.079 There's another, this isn't, 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:52.159 John's not the first one to write about this. 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:54.559 Hundreds and hundreds of years before 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:56.360 John ever came on the scene, 00:10:56.459 --> 00:10:58.259 the prophet Daniel spoke about the same thing. 00:10:58.339 --> 00:11:00.659 You can just write down Daniel chapter 7 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:03.459 and you'll read the same kind of language here. 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:07.980 And so they're judged according to what they've done in the books. 00:11:08.820 --> 00:11:10.440 Then it says the book of life 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:14.220 that contains all the names 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:17.620 of those who have looked to Christ for salvation, 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.080 those who have been redeemed by Christ, 00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:21.620 hence the book of life. 00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:23.379 They'll have life. 00:11:23.560 --> 00:11:25.879 And they're judged differently 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:28.940 than the others who are not reading the book of life. 00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:35.220 And so when the people's thoughts, words, deeds, and actions, whatever, 00:11:35.380 --> 00:11:37.540 when they were in light of God's holiness, 00:11:38.020 --> 00:11:40.380 they all fail the test, every one of them. 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:42.340 They don't meet what's required. 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:44.460 They all fall short. 00:11:45.520 --> 00:11:47.760 And if their names were not in the book of life, 00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:49.200 they were cast into the lake of fire. 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:55.840 And I want you to think about that. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:12:02.019 Like, how embarrassed or how frightened would you be right now 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:03.920 like if I were to say, 00:12:04.060 --> 00:12:06.259 hey, we're going to like watch a video of your life, 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:08.519 like every thought, word, deed, and action 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:09.680 that you've ever committed. 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:12.280 Like, all of you would probably just flee. 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.139 Like, I'm leaving. 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:13.740 I'm not watching. 00:12:13.820 --> 00:12:14.860 Like, I'm getting out of here. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:17.480 I'm running to the mountains and not coming out again. 00:12:17.540 --> 00:12:18.700 That's definitely what I would do. 00:12:20.220 --> 00:12:21.759 I've mentioned this before. 00:12:22.540 --> 00:12:23.940 You're just going to feel utterly exposed. 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:25.340 Anybody ever felt that before? 00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:26.820 Like, utterly exposed? 00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:29.019 You have for, like, maybe something you've done. 00:12:31.160 --> 00:12:32.399 You've been found out. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:35.180 And I've mentioned this show before, 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:38.940 but I don't have cable or satellite or anything. 00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:42.500 But a long time ago, I was with some crazy friends of mine 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.879 and they were watching a show called 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.259 To Catch a Prayer. 00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:46.600 Has anybody ever heard of that before? 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:57.220 It's a show that they try to find men who were wanting to have sex with underage girls. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:01.139 And they, like, talk to them on the Internet and all these things. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:02.159 They set up meetings with them. 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:06.699 And eventually, these guys, if they keep following through with it, 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:08.579 and even with the girl, they're saying, 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:11.279 Hey, I'm just, I'm underage, I'm underage. 00:13:11.319 --> 00:13:13.799 And if they're undeterred by it, they, the cops, 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:17.159 like, you'll see, they're organized like a meeting place. 00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:18.199 And this is all, like, on video. 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:22.159 You'll see the guy just kind of creeping around. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:26.860 And then all of a sudden, like, a camera will come in his face. 00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:29.120 And, like, the cops will come around him. 00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:30.879 He's just like, oh, my goodness. 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.879 Like, he's caught. 00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:34.279 And, like, this total look of exposure. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:35.639 Some of them just break down and cry. 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.139 Other ones run. 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:43.240 And just a feeling of total exposure being caught on national television. 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:46.559 You know, many of them have families, 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:48.679 have real prominent positions in society, 00:13:49.319 --> 00:13:50.559 and they're caught. 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:53.179 And as bad as that is, 00:13:53.619 --> 00:13:57.239 like, this will be infinitely much worse, 00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.739 this, the judgment of God. 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.679 And we all face this. 00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:05.559 And so, you only have just a few places to turn tonight, 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.759 actually less than usual. 00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:08.779 But look over at Jeremiah, 00:14:10.219 --> 00:14:14.739 verse, or chapter, chapter 17. 00:14:17.839 --> 00:14:19.859 It's going to be just a verse out of this. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:22.119 Jeremiah 17. 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:27.399 And this is something that the Lord says. 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.219 He says, 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:34.239 I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind 00:14:34.239 --> 00:14:37.399 to give every man according to his ways, 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:39.339 according to the fruit of his deeds. 00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:43.780 So, God isn't just looking at your external, 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:45.980 you know, just what you do on the outside, 00:14:46.060 --> 00:14:46.840 your outward behavior. 00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:49.980 He's looking, like, right through what's going on in your mind 00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:51.019 and what's going on in your heart. 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:55.259 And earlier in Jeremiah, chapter 11, 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:56.579 it says, 00:14:56.579 --> 00:14:58.799 the Lord of hosts who judges righteously, 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:01.240 who tests the heart and the mind. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:04.899 So, this is what God's going to do. 00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:08.220 And it's a day that none of us can escape. 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:15.180 And so, my responsibility, 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:19.799 and those of you in here who are followers of Christ, 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:25.099 is to do our best to help others to prepare for that day 00:15:25.099 --> 00:15:26.639 and also to examine ourselves 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:29.279 and make sure that we're prepared for that day. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:32.139 And you may think this might be a strange way 00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:34.039 to approach this passage in Philippians. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:35.980 Flip back to Philippians 3. 00:15:36.100 --> 00:15:38.360 We're going to jump in there. 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:43.100 But the first question was, you know, 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.639 what awaits us after death? 00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:46.959 And the answer was the judgment of God, 00:15:47.079 --> 00:15:49.360 the righteous judgment of God. 00:15:49.939 --> 00:15:52.539 The second question is, 00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:55.339 what is the wrong way to prepare for that day? 00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:58.639 What is the wrong way to prepare for that day? 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:01.740 And look back in chapter 3. 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:05.860 And we'll look at verse 2 there. 00:16:08.199 --> 00:16:10.319 Paul is giving a warning and he says, 00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:12.339 look out for the dogs. 00:16:13.079 --> 00:16:14.620 Look out for the evildoers. 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:17.259 Look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 00:16:18.319 --> 00:16:20.279 And then jump to verse 4 real fast. 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:24.980 Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also, 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:30.379 if anyone else thinks he has reason to be confident in the flesh, 00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:31.720 I have more. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:36.300 Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.860 of the tribe of Benjamin, 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:39.000 a Hebrew of Hebrews, 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.659 as to the law, 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.360 a Pharisee, 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.019 as to zeal, 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:43.440 a persecutor of the church, 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:45.800 as to righteousness under the law, 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.139 blameless. 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:54.699 And he's giving himself as an example of something not to put confidence in. 00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:57.940 And the answer to the question is, 00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:58.900 you know, 00:16:59.000 --> 00:16:59.180 well, 00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.580 the question, 00:16:59.680 --> 00:17:01.360 what is the wrong way to prepare for that day? 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:04.480 The answer is to place confidence in your own righteousness, 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:06.460 your own goodness, 00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:09.319 produced in your flesh, 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:11.360 to place confidence in that. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:12.099 So when Paul says, 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.740 placing confidence in the flesh, 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.819 you're just saying in your own, 00:17:14.899 --> 00:17:16.199 your own abilities, 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:16.779 your own, 00:17:17.459 --> 00:17:17.839 your own, 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:19.279 your own self-righteousness, 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.259 like what you've done, 00:17:20.679 --> 00:17:21.879 how good you are, 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:25.819 apart from what comes from Christ. 00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:27.719 So that's what he's implying. 00:17:28.479 --> 00:17:33.099 And because our own righteousness will just infinitely fall short of what God's going to require. 00:17:33.479 --> 00:17:35.179 He's going to require absolute, 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.879 total perfection. 00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:38.619 And none of us have that to offer. 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:39.819 So, 00:17:40.219 --> 00:17:43.779 being the good apostle, 00:17:43.939 --> 00:17:44.759 pastor he is, 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:45.199 he's like, 00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:46.259 look out, 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.119 beware, 00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:50.279 beware of these kind of men. 00:17:51.399 --> 00:17:53.199 And dogs, 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:55.439 he uses that description there, 00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:56.759 dogs, 00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:58.119 he might sound like, 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:01.399 either you're thinking like that's sweet or that's derogatory. 00:18:02.239 --> 00:18:03.379 It's derogatory. 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:06.299 He's using that kind of like a play on words. 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:09.559 It's used in scripture as a term of reproach. 00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:11.899 And in ancient societies, 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:14.039 and in particularly Jewish societies, 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:17.879 dogs were not like your cute domesticated pets. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:22.799 They were seen as like scavengers and dirty, 00:18:23.159 --> 00:18:23.899 flea-bitten, 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.059 you know, 00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:26.119 tramps kind of thing. 00:18:26.899 --> 00:18:30.379 And they roamed the streets and carried like dangerous infections. 00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:31.480 And so they were just kind of saying, 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:37.200 he's using that figuratively speaking about false teachers. 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:40.520 They were coming around and saying things that were, 00:18:40.520 --> 00:18:41.920 they were perverting the gospel. 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:46.860 And particularly this group was a group of Jews and they were called the, 00:18:46.860 --> 00:18:49.840 the Judaizers that would try to, 00:18:49.840 --> 00:18:52.080 to add to the gospel. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:54.079 That's what the gospel was like. 00:18:54.659 --> 00:18:56.899 Come by the grace of God and be saved. 00:18:57.539 --> 00:18:58.240 Come with, 00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:59.619 without money and by, 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.619 come, 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.019 you know, 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.299 and be saved by Christ. 00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:03.099 And, 00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:04.240 and they will throw in there, 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:10.199 plus obeying all the old Testament Jewish rituals and customs and laws. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:10.539 They would, 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:12.720 I'm a Gentile. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:16.180 I'm sure that most of you in here are probably Gentile. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.039 You're, 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:17.079 you're, 00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:17.980 you're a non-Jew. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:20.680 And so they would tell you, 00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:22.539 if you wanted to become a follower of Christ, 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:22.940 okay, 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.480 well, 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:25.420 they would tell the men in this room, 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.480 you need to be circumcised. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:29.059 And like say like a lot of like things, 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:32.420 we would need to become Jewish before we became Christian. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:33.539 And that's, 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.839 that was like in their mind. 00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:38.019 And this was a total perversion of the gospel. 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.400 The gospel is, 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.600 is Jesus. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:42.600 The gospel is not Jesus plus this, 00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:45.899 and that it's come to Jesus and be saved. 00:19:46.419 --> 00:19:48.119 And so he's using this as a term to, 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:52.659 to say that those are the, 00:19:52.659 --> 00:19:55.679 the Jews that were seeking to be righteous outside of, 00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:57.299 of God's righteousness. 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:59.039 He was calling them dogs. 00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:01.179 And he calls them evil workers, 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.459 evil doers. 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:04.079 They're like all their, 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.079 all their energies, 00:20:05.179 --> 00:20:06.659 all their labors were trying to, 00:20:06.659 --> 00:20:11.259 to point people to the law and not point them to Christ. 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:14.819 And to find a righteous in keeping the law of God. 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.879 And so any attempt, 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.700 and you got to just be aware of this, 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:20.740 like even when you're sharing the gospel with somebody, 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:26.500 make sure they understand that they violated the law of God, 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:29.740 but also make sure they understand that they can't keep that law. 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:33.400 You don't wait for them to like get their lives together, 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:35.980 get cleaned up and then come to Christ. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:36.900 Cause that won't ever happen. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:41.720 They have to come to Christ to be saved and then to be cleaned up by Christ. 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:44.019 And so then he says, 00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:48.099 this idea of like being a mutilator of the flesh. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.440 He was, 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:53.119 he's talking about like the external circumcision that the Jews would have. 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:58.059 And remember that like circumcision, 00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:03.920 the old Testament was used as an outward sign that had like two different meanings. 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.180 One, 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:07.519 it identified you as being part of the people of God. 00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:09.799 It was an outward sign that kind of like a, 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:12.119 like a tattoo or a t-shirt kind of thing. 00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:15.119 Like it showed that you belong to the people of God. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:20.839 But circumcision itself is symbolic of something. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:25.299 It was expressing the need for God to do something else, 00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:28.359 which was to circumcise their heart and to change their heart. 00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:29.339 And that's, 00:21:29.439 --> 00:21:31.779 so it pointed to a greater fulfillment. 00:21:31.919 --> 00:21:34.799 It was a foreshadowing of what Christ would come and do. 00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:37.899 And so he's basically saying like, 00:21:37.939 --> 00:21:38.099 look, 00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:40.919 it doesn't matter if you got the outward sign or not. 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:43.900 what matters is like what's going on in the inside. 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.160 So, 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:49.519 so he says these things like beware of these guys. 00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:52.960 But then it gets around to, 00:21:53.080 --> 00:21:54.840 let's see, 00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:57.120 verse, 00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:58.600 verse four there. 00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:00.380 He basically says, 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:03.320 if anyone has confidence in the flesh, 00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:08.680 if anybody should have confidence in how awesome they are, 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:10.019 it's me. 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.299 It's like what he says. 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:14.500 If anybody should, 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.000 that would be me. 00:22:16.080 --> 00:22:16.420 He's not, 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.900 he's not taking confidence in that, 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.820 but he's just going to make a point to them. 00:22:20.580 --> 00:22:25.259 He wanted them to know that based on his religious pedigree, 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:33.900 he was far more advanced than any of those guys that were trying to attack him and trying to bring down the gospel. 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:37.619 And impeccable pedigree. 00:22:37.619 --> 00:22:42.859 And he wanted to outdo everybody like on being the religious, 00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:43.439 awesome, 00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.159 upright guy. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:46.419 And he did by far. 00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:49.659 And in this text, 00:22:49.739 --> 00:22:50.679 it's as if he's saying, 00:22:50.919 --> 00:22:54.359 I had all these things and I missed it. 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.679 Like I was, 00:22:55.739 --> 00:22:59.059 I was like a guy who was studying the signpost, 00:22:59.139 --> 00:23:00.459 but never went to the location. 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:01.640 He was like, 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:03.960 I'm trying to think of an example. 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:12.519 Like we don't really have like a lot of signs that tell you where this location is throughout Dahlonega. 00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:14.120 Let's just say we did. 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:21.180 And we were coming here one Sunday morning and we saw a few of you just gathered around one of the signs, 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.240 like a few miles out. 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:24.140 And y'all were just kind of standing there. 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:24.480 And I'm like, 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.299 what are you doing? 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.579 And you said, 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:26.759 well, 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:27.000 we're, 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:29.100 we've come to Christ family church. 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:31.399 And like being, 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.539 hopefully just say, 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:32.759 Hey, 00:23:33.219 --> 00:23:33.559 uh, 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.000 that's not, 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.480 that's not where we gather. 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:37.919 That's a sign pointing to where we are. 00:23:37.959 --> 00:23:39.419 Like the party is like down the road, 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:41.519 like follow me. 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:42.740 Uh, 00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:45.000 so all these things, 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:45.639 the law, 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.980 the prophets, 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:48.519 the rituals and sacrifices, 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:51.019 all of that were pointing to something. 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:51.819 And Paul is saying, 00:23:51.919 --> 00:23:53.939 I had all these things and I, 00:23:53.959 --> 00:23:55.119 and I missed the point of it. 00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:55.659 I wasn't, 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:58.459 I didn't see them for what they were intended to do. 00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:03.859 And he was like weaving his own garment, 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:05.839 if you want to call it that of self-righteousness. 00:24:05.899 --> 00:24:10.459 He was putting together how awesome he was so that he could stand before God one day. 00:24:11.199 --> 00:24:12.759 And that would have fallen, 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.199 fallen short. 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:17.559 He was aware of the scripture and Isaiah 64. 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:19.059 We're going to revisit this next week. 00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:20.059 Uh, 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:25.200 it says that all of our righteous deeds are as filthy rags. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:31.480 And no English translation has been daring enough to actually say what that means. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.460 I'm not going to tell you what it means either, 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.119 but if you're interested, 00:24:33.919 --> 00:24:34.559 go look it up. 00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.079 It's a pretty, 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.480 uh, 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.000 um, 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:43.779 vivid picture of what our righteous deeds are apart from Christ and how God views those. 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.240 But he's not pleased. 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.279 So he's saying, 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:51.619 if any of you guys think you were religious and had it all together, 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:54.900 I'm telling you that I had you outdone by far. 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:56.100 And then he, 00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:56.720 he gets into, 00:24:57.060 --> 00:24:58.860 we're going to walk through these things. 00:24:58.860 --> 00:25:05.180 And I want you to think about your own life as we walk through some of these things. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.440 But, 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:08.160 um, 00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:08.400 sorry, 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:10.340 I have some congestion. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:13.120 So I'm sorry if my voice is scratchy tonight, 00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:17.400 but we're going to look at five things. 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:19.759 This is all underneath that second question. 00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:24.519 Five things that do not make us right before God. 00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.000 Okay. 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:27.579 Five things that don't make us right before God. 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.160 First of all, 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:31.819 not by ritual, 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.200 not by ritual. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:38.099 You see how it says there in Philippians, 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:40.019 say he was circumcised on the eighth day. 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:46.539 And that was the prescribed day for a Jewish boy to be circumcised under the Levitical law. 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:46.900 So, 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.359 so from the womb, 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.839 Paul went through all the right stuff. 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:54.440 Like he went through all the proper rites and rituals that were required. 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.259 At that time. 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:57.079 And he followed, 00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.619 followed all of that from the beginning. 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.339 Excuse me. 00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:00.940 Somebody get me, 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.299 uh, 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:02.440 Zach, 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:04.000 can you give me some water or kitchen? 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.680 One of you guys. 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:06.119 I appreciate it. 00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:06.599 Um, 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:07.839 so, 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:07.899 um, 00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:07.879 so, 00:26:07.879 --> 00:26:07.959 um, 00:26:07.959 --> 00:26:08.179 um, 00:26:08.179 --> 00:26:07.879 so, 00:26:07.879 --> 00:26:09.459 in the same way, 00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:16.639 we can't be made right with God according to any kind of ceremony or ritual that we have done or are doing. 00:26:17.520 --> 00:26:21.300 Understand that like no infant baptism, 00:26:22.080 --> 00:26:23.240 no adult baptism, 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.600 um, 00:26:24.600 --> 00:26:26.500 whether you're Methodist, 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.580 Presbyterian Baptist, 00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:29.380 and however you view baptism, 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:31.180 which is an ordinance the church has, 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:35.660 it's not what makes us right with God. 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:37.539 When Paul says on the eighth day, 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:39.039 it's kind of funny in Greek. 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:41.120 It means I was an eighth dayer. 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.880 I was an eighth dayer. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.279 Kind of. 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:43.640 I, 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.700 I obeyed the ritual. 00:26:44.860 --> 00:26:49.259 I obeyed the law and not taking the Lord's supper, 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.480 attending church services. 00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:53.860 None of these things can give us right standing with God. 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:54.179 So, 00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:56.019 so not by ritual. 00:26:56.919 --> 00:26:57.399 Um, 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.519 thanks man. 00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.599 I appreciate it. 00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:01.519 No, 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:01.819 I'm good. 00:27:02.439 --> 00:27:03.119 Appreciate it. 00:27:03.179 --> 00:27:05.119 And then secondly, 00:27:05.399 --> 00:27:07.419 it's not by race. 00:27:08.679 --> 00:27:12.159 And he says three things kind of about that. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.399 You could look at them individually, 00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:18.240 but excuse me guys. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.679 Um, 00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:21.419 he says of the nation of Israel. 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.779 Okay. 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:24.980 So the nation of Israel, 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:28.160 he was a direct racial descendant of Abraham, 00:27:29.139 --> 00:27:29.660 Isaac, 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.160 and Jacob. 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:30.980 He was in that, 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.480 the perfect line, 00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:37.539 born into the very people that God chose in the old Testament to manifest his law to, 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:38.460 and to, 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:40.079 and to give his statutes to, 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:44.680 and who he preserved and protected and delivered and spoke to. 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:45.940 He was of, 00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.779 of that people. 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.000 Uh, 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.399 so, 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.539 so Jews, 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:49.799 you know, 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:52.379 relied heavily on their heritage to, 00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:52.500 uh, 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.780 to make them right with God. 00:27:54.580 --> 00:27:57.000 And then he goes on even further. 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:58.500 He says of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:27:59.540 --> 00:27:59.980 Um, 00:28:00.840 --> 00:28:03.340 Benjamin was the second son of, 00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:03.960 of Rachel, 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:06.040 Joseph's younger brother. 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:11.079 and Rachel was the most loved wife of Jacob, 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.339 who became known as Israel. 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:14.480 That's why it's called the sons of Israel. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.519 Um, 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:17.399 Benjamin was one of the most prominent, 00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:20.619 most influential tribes, 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:21.720 noble tribes. 00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:23.279 Those of you have heard of, 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.440 of Mordecai and Esther. 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.859 They were from the tribe of Benjamin. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:31.440 They were the tribe that remained true to David during the civil war for the Davidic dynasty. 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:37.900 So they were a pretty happening tribe of all the tribes for sure. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:40.740 And so it's been interesting is that, 00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:44.460 did you know that like the Jews at this time in Jesus day, 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:47.340 most of them did not know which tribe they came from. 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:48.480 And it was, 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:48.799 uh, 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.299 so many, 00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:50.639 you know, 00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:52.759 hundreds and hundreds of years of, 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:55.899 of intermarrying and the exiles, 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.879 the Babylonian exile and coming back. 00:28:57.980 --> 00:29:00.799 Most of them didn't know what tribe they came from, 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.919 but Paul was able to say with confidence, 00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:04.319 like my people, 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.699 my family, 00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:09.339 like we remained like true to the tribe of Benjamin the whole time. 00:29:09.939 --> 00:29:11.899 So we know you probably don't know. 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.319 I do. 00:29:12.919 --> 00:29:13.519 It's like what he's, 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.359 what he's trying to say. 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.000 So then he goes on. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:18.279 He says a Hebrew of Hebrews. 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.539 This is all under, 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.339 not by race. 00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:23.420 So he was born to Hebrew speaking parents. 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.680 They taught him, 00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.559 they taught him all the, 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.420 the, 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:28.099 the social customs and, 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:29.380 and, 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:31.039 and traditions of the people. 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.799 So a rich heritage, 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:34.220 he's got, 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:36.440 he's from like the people that you want to be by. 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:39.599 And so likewise, 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:43.680 most of us in here are probably be aware of this, 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:48.539 but just because you're born into a certain family or a certain people group, 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:52.140 a race does not make you right with God. 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:55.740 It's living in America, 00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:58.200 even living in the Bible belt doesn't make you right with God. 00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.820 People just have this impression. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:02.340 There's just so many Christians around here. 00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:10.079 And because it's the Bible belt and it doesn't matter what kind of rank we have in society or in the church, 00:30:10.159 --> 00:30:10.779 you can be a, 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:12.419 you can be a pastor or whatever. 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.179 It doesn't matter. 00:30:14.179 --> 00:30:14.980 So it's not by, 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:16.539 not by race. 00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.939 It has no value before God, 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.759 not by tradition. 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:20.400 And thirdly, 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.279 not by religion. 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.779 You look back in Philippians, 00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.200 he says, 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.539 as to the law, 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:27.400 I was a Pharisee. 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:32.940 And they were the most orthodox of all the religious sects. 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.460 Pharisee, 00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:34.940 the word, 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:39.099 the word itself means separated ones. 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.000 That's like what it means, 00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:40.900 separated ones. 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.700 And they were very, 00:30:43.800 --> 00:30:48.220 very influential and lived extremely disciplined lives, 00:30:48.360 --> 00:30:49.320 strict lifestyles. 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.780 They were teachers of the law. 00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:54.780 They would have had the entire Old Testament memorized. 00:30:55.080 --> 00:30:56.120 They would have had it right here. 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:59.320 And they would have taught it and declared it to people. 00:30:59.820 --> 00:31:02.540 And they had the best upright behavior. 00:31:02.540 --> 00:31:06.000 They were the guys who didn't do anything kind of out of line. 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:11.059 And Paul actually told King Agrippa in Acts 26, 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.200 he says, 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:14.279 I lived in this group. 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.599 And he says, 00:31:15.619 --> 00:31:17.539 they were the strictest party of our religion. 00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.720 And I lived with them as a Pharisee. 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:20.500 That's like what he said. 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.039 Like we were, 00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:24.039 so I was top of the ladder. 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:24.500 You know, 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:24.980 I wasn't, 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.960 I wasn't t-ball or peewee. 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:27.700 Baseball, 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.000 I was, 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.579 I was pro, 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:28.900 you know, 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.279 like I was, 00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:33.099 I was the best in the religious system. 00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.240 So, 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:36.359 likewise, 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:40.039 even the most talented, 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:42.579 popular Christian pastor, 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.120 teacher, 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:44.299 author, 00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.380 evangelist, 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:47.160 theological scholar, 00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:47.620 writer, 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:47.980 whatever, 00:31:48.120 --> 00:31:48.700 it doesn't matter. 00:31:49.700 --> 00:31:50.079 Like it doesn't, 00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:51.799 it's not going to square you away with God one day. 00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:52.160 He's not, 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:57.700 he's not impressed by how much religion you have and what you've done. 00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.920 Reciting prayers, 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:01.099 going on mission trips, 00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:03.859 going and preaching the gospel to many, 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.439 many people. 00:32:04.899 --> 00:32:06.919 It's not going to make one difference to God whatsoever. 00:32:07.199 --> 00:32:08.819 He's not going to be pleased. 00:32:08.919 --> 00:32:09.659 You still not, 00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:12.579 your name will not be in the book of life. 00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:13.119 Like that's, 00:32:13.459 --> 00:32:14.359 that's what's going to matter. 00:32:14.439 --> 00:32:16.799 He's going to judge you according to the evil you've done. 00:32:17.939 --> 00:32:18.339 And, 00:32:18.419 --> 00:32:20.299 and then here's a big one. 00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:21.659 A shocker. 00:32:21.719 --> 00:32:23.919 This is going to be a question that we're going to talk about in a minute. 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:25.279 But fourthly, 00:32:25.320 --> 00:32:26.300 not by sincerity, 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.380 not by sincerity. 00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:29.720 That doesn't make it right with God. 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.380 He says, 00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.400 as to zeal, 00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:34.960 a persecutor of the church. 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:37.940 So he makes a point to say, 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:40.920 of these Judaizers who want to destroy the church, 00:32:41.080 --> 00:32:44.800 I had far more zeal to annihilate the church than any of them. 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:48.200 Like I had far greater zeal to destroy the church. 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:50.320 Paul persecuted them. 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.640 He killed them. 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.860 He threw many of them in prison. 00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:55.599 And that was his goal before he was a, 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.579 before he was a Christian. 00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:57.479 So he wasn't just, 00:32:57.919 --> 00:32:58.639 you know, 00:32:59.939 --> 00:33:00.240 you know, 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:01.240 aggravated by Christians. 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:03.059 He was out to kill them and destroy them. 00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:07.259 And he had more zeal than any of those guys who were like going out to, 00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:08.319 to down, 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:08.799 you know, 00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.839 to slam the gospel. 00:33:10.419 --> 00:33:11.759 And this is what's scary. 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:17.139 God really doesn't care about good intentions and, 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:20.199 and right motives. 00:33:20.419 --> 00:33:20.619 He, 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.799 he doesn't. 00:33:21.799 --> 00:33:26.319 just because someone is genuine about something and believe something, 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.319 you know, 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:29.059 very zealously does not make it right. 00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:31.000 That's kind of the bottom line. 00:33:31.059 --> 00:33:32.659 You can be zealous about the wrong things. 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.299 I know that. 00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:35.700 I'm being zealous about a lot of ridiculous, 00:33:35.919 --> 00:33:37.099 stupid things in my life that, 00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:38.339 that really don't matter. 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.259 I was wrong. 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.259 So, 00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:41.240 so he was saying, 00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:44.400 I was zealous to destroy Christ. 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:46.319 What an idiot I was, 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:47.460 you know, 00:33:47.460 --> 00:33:48.980 so he was zealous about those things. 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:50.640 So even zeal doesn't make something right. 00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:54.039 So when you turn on the TV or the radio and you hear, 00:33:55.059 --> 00:34:00.539 I know some guys will hear a pastor on the radio or the TV and thought they are so captivating. 00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:00.639 You know, 00:34:00.639 --> 00:34:00.779 like, 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.839 he's just so passionate. 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:03.019 Like, 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:03.980 he just must be right. 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:04.480 And I'm like, 00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:05.440 no, 00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:05.940 no, 00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:06.240 like, 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.940 listen to what he's saying. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:09.360 Don't just follow the guy's passion. 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.559 So passion doesn't make you right. 00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:13.400 The guy's sincerity doesn't. 00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.619 In Galatians 1, 00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:15.840 13, 00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.739 this is Paul writing. 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:17.579 This is something he says, 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:21.719 for you heard of my former life in Judaism, 00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:26.259 how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 00:34:26.779 --> 00:34:31.219 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age. 00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:34.099 So extremely zealous was I for the, 00:34:34.199 --> 00:34:35.799 for the traditions of my fathers. 00:34:36.259 --> 00:34:37.000 So he, 00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:38.259 he reflects back on that. 00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:38.659 It's like that, 00:34:38.759 --> 00:34:41.179 that was me before I knew Christ, 00:34:41.239 --> 00:34:43.699 before Christ came to save me. 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.420 So, 00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:47.559 so good intentions don't make a, 00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:48.420 it's right before God. 00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:49.960 here's, 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:51.219 here's a verse you can write down. 00:34:51.299 --> 00:34:51.980 I'll read it to you, 00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:52.360 but like, 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:52.679 it's, 00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:54.320 it's a sobering verse. 00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:56.480 This is Proverbs 19, 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:57.079 verse two. 00:34:58.039 --> 00:34:58.539 It says, 00:34:58.679 --> 00:34:59.259 desire, 00:35:00.179 --> 00:35:00.960 or zeal, 00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:04.420 desire without knowledge is not good. 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:07.840 And whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:09.460 It's like what it says. 00:35:09.699 --> 00:35:09.940 So, 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.860 just because we're passionate, 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:13.139 you know, 00:35:13.199 --> 00:35:13.380 rah, 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:14.719 rah about God, 00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:16.219 doesn't make us right. 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:19.519 We have to have like a right understanding about who God is. 00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:22.419 And then be passionate about that. 00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:25.439 God desires to be worshiped in spirit and truth. 00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:26.039 John four. 00:35:27.319 --> 00:35:30.659 So we can't worship God for like a false idea of who he is. 00:35:30.879 --> 00:35:33.179 He cares about how he's viewed and how he's seen. 00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:34.539 And so, 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:34.899 uh, 00:35:34.899 --> 00:35:36.119 there's a lot more to say about that. 00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:36.659 But fifthly, 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:37.339 and lastly here, 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.940 um, 00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:42.059 not by legalistic righteousness. 00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:43.719 And in Philippians, 00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:44.679 as to the righteousness, 00:35:44.899 --> 00:35:45.739 which is in the law, 00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.500 I was found blameless. 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:51.239 So no one can look at Paul's lifestyle and, 00:35:51.239 --> 00:35:51.500 and, 00:35:51.500 --> 00:35:52.259 and say, 00:35:52.379 --> 00:35:54.099 and accuse him of anything like, 00:35:54.819 --> 00:35:56.239 like it looked bad. 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:59.500 He had it just all together on the outside. 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.039 He was, 00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.360 uh, 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:02.500 no loose living whatsoever. 00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:04.519 And so, 00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:05.840 in the same way, 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:07.500 our own morality and our own, 00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:08.400 uh, 00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.119 if we, 00:36:09.639 --> 00:36:12.380 do you know anybody that's just kind of like driven by keeping the rules? 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:13.300 I mean, 00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:14.179 you might be that way. 00:36:14.260 --> 00:36:14.739 Just like, 00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:15.920 which isn't a bad thing. 00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.599 You should keep the rules. 00:36:16.699 --> 00:36:18.099 I'm just saying that, 00:36:18.900 --> 00:36:20.179 like they're almost driven by that. 00:36:20.199 --> 00:36:21.480 I've got to keep the rules. 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:23.420 And I can't do anything bad. 00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:23.700 And, 00:36:23.700 --> 00:36:24.860 and to some degree, 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:27.400 I think that's going to make you right with God, 00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:29.059 depending on how well you keep the rules. 00:36:29.780 --> 00:36:30.579 You don't drink, 00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:33.220 cuss or chew or party or sleep around. 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:34.200 And so you think that you're, 00:36:34.220 --> 00:36:36.940 you're right with God because you don't do those things. 00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:39.539 And still God's, 00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:42.400 your righteousness is not going to be based on that. 00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:43.980 So all, 00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:47.740 those are all wrong ways to prepare for this day of judgment, 00:36:47.740 --> 00:36:49.579 to like rely on those things. 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:51.940 Paul's renouncing those things. 00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:52.400 He's saying, 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:53.820 that's who I was. 00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:55.599 Now that is where I was placing my hope, 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.900 but no longer. 00:36:57.700 --> 00:36:58.900 These are the things that he says, 00:36:58.940 --> 00:37:01.039 I count as loss a little later in this passage. 00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:01.300 I, 00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:02.280 I, 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:03.360 I forget those things. 00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:03.720 Like I, 00:37:04.320 --> 00:37:08.160 I push those things aside and they were good things, 00:37:08.160 --> 00:37:08.940 right? 00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:09.960 They weren't bad things. 00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.539 You just named, 00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:11.260 but he was just saying, 00:37:11.340 --> 00:37:12.940 I have my hope to be, 00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:14.559 to be saved by those things. 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.920 And that's not right. 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.280 So, 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:17.960 so the last question, 00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:21.860 and then we'll break out in a group such as this one is, 00:37:21.860 --> 00:37:24.460 what is the right way to prepare for that day, 00:37:25.120 --> 00:37:26.059 the day of judgment? 00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:28.500 And that's, 00:37:28.620 --> 00:37:30.260 that's in the whole rest of the passage. 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:33.740 And that's what we're going to spend next week talking about the whole time. 00:37:34.120 --> 00:37:34.920 But briefly, 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.880 look at verse three. 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:47.840 For we are the true circumcision who worship by the spirit of God and the glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. 00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:50.620 So what's the right way to prepare for that day? 00:37:51.140 --> 00:37:53.840 To put no confidence in the flesh, 00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:56.200 no confidence in your own righteousness whatsoever. 00:37:57.460 --> 00:37:58.559 Nothing you've done. 00:37:59.700 --> 00:38:00.140 And, 00:38:00.200 --> 00:38:06.940 and to look totally to Christ to provide like that righteousness for you and that you can't provide for yourself. 00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:08.720 So he calls the church, 00:38:08.720 --> 00:38:10.440 the true circumcision, 00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:11.679 right? 00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:16.800 Because the true circumcision are those that don't just have an outward sign that they belong to God, 00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:19.480 but they actually have the heart that's been circumcised. 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:23.179 The heart has been changed by God and regenerated by God. 00:38:24.500 --> 00:38:25.480 And so that's what it, 00:38:25.480 --> 00:38:26.800 what it symbolizes. 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:29.280 Deuteronomy 30 verse six, 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:30.159 you could write that down. 00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:30.420 That's, 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:32.300 that speaks of how God is saying one day, 00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:34.500 I will circumcise your heart and I'll, 00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:37.720 I'll enable you to love me because right now, 00:38:37.840 --> 00:38:38.420 you know, 00:38:38.420 --> 00:38:39.480 apart from my own work, 00:38:39.539 --> 00:38:40.800 you can't love me. 00:38:40.900 --> 00:38:41.240 You, 00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:43.840 you love sin and you despise me. 00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:46.480 And so in the new Testament, 00:38:46.580 --> 00:38:49.300 whenever a circumcision is mentioned to some degree, 00:38:49.300 --> 00:38:51.980 it's synonymous with being born again, 00:38:52.080 --> 00:38:53.240 it's synonymous with the new, 00:38:53.300 --> 00:38:54.180 the new birth. 00:38:54.760 --> 00:38:55.500 Colossians two, 00:38:55.580 --> 00:38:57.519 nine through 13 kind of talks about that. 00:38:57.900 --> 00:39:01.640 So the true people of God actually possess the new heart. 00:39:02.300 --> 00:39:04.900 And not just an outward sign that they belong to God. 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:05.140 So, 00:39:05.560 --> 00:39:12.780 so I could go to the coolest tattoo parlor and just write like the whole gospel of John on my arm in Greek. 00:39:13.120 --> 00:39:14.220 And it means nothing. 00:39:15.180 --> 00:39:18.460 It doesn't mean that like I belong to Christ at all. 00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:19.820 God, 00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:20.980 God examines the heart. 00:39:21.800 --> 00:39:22.620 And in Galatians, 00:39:22.740 --> 00:39:23.620 he actually says, 00:39:24.539 --> 00:39:26.720 this is something he says towards the end of the book of Galatians. 00:39:26.719 --> 00:39:30.439 It's not by a circumcision or not, 00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:31.519 or non circumcision, 00:39:31.739 --> 00:39:33.779 but a new creation that matters. 00:39:33.859 --> 00:39:34.619 That's like what he says. 00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:35.480 Like, 00:39:35.539 --> 00:39:36.639 it's not that you have a sign, 00:39:36.839 --> 00:39:37.659 an outward sign or, 00:39:37.779 --> 00:39:39.339 or don't have an outward sign. 00:39:40.219 --> 00:39:42.119 You have a tattoo or you don't have the tattoo. 00:39:42.279 --> 00:39:42.579 He's like, 00:39:42.619 --> 00:39:49.099 but what matters is that you're a new creation changed by the Holy Spirit and given a new heart by the Holy Spirit. 00:39:49.099 --> 00:39:55.159 And so where it says that they worship in the spirit of God and the glory of Jesus Christ, 00:39:55.639 --> 00:39:56.519 it means that they're, 00:39:56.579 --> 00:39:57.679 they're the true worshipers. 00:39:57.739 --> 00:40:02.239 They're the ones that worship God for who he actually is and, 00:40:02.339 --> 00:40:05.739 and have the right zeal and they worship by the Holy Spirit. 00:40:05.880 --> 00:40:06.519 That's what happens. 00:40:07.119 --> 00:40:07.880 And I mean, 00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:09.159 huge stressing there. 00:40:09.239 --> 00:40:09.380 They, 00:40:09.699 --> 00:40:12.400 it says that we don't put confidence in the flesh. 00:40:12.420 --> 00:40:12.819 Like we, 00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:14.880 we despair of who we are. 00:40:15.179 --> 00:40:16.619 We have nothing to offer. 00:40:16.719 --> 00:40:17.039 We are, 00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:18.219 our righteousness, 00:40:18.219 --> 00:40:19.239 these are filthy rags. 00:40:19.339 --> 00:40:25.019 So we look to Christ to save us and then turn here and then we're going to read this and then go into groups. 00:40:25.119 --> 00:40:26.019 But Titus three, 00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:28.559 flip over to the Titus three. 00:40:29.459 --> 00:40:32.219 And this is going to sum up this last question. 00:40:35.219 --> 00:40:35.919 Titus three, 00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:36.819 verse four. 00:40:44.879 --> 00:40:45.319 So, 00:40:45.320 --> 00:40:49.460 this will sum up that. 00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:51.140 It says, 00:40:51.220 --> 00:40:53.980 but when the goodness and loving kindness of God, 00:40:54.140 --> 00:40:56.059 our savior appeared, 00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:58.440 he saved us. 00:40:59.100 --> 00:41:00.220 Key word there. 00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:00.980 Saved from what? 00:41:01.180 --> 00:41:03.320 Saved from the wrath of God. 00:41:03.620 --> 00:41:04.340 Saved from judgment. 00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:07.340 He saved us. 00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:07.340 00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:07.340 00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:10.760 Not because of works done by us in righteousness, 00:41:11.240 --> 00:41:13.480 but according to his own mercy. 00:41:14.440 --> 00:41:17.800 By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:18.700 There's the new birth. 00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:20.220 That's the idea of the Holy Spirit. 00:41:20.780 --> 00:41:23.940 Coming in and changing and making you a new creation. 00:41:25.140 --> 00:41:26.039 Circumcising your heart. 00:41:26.039 --> 00:41:27.360 That's what that's a picture of. 00:41:28.500 --> 00:41:29.179 Verse six. 00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:33.759 Whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ, 00:41:33.860 --> 00:41:34.440 our savior. 00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:38.420 So that being justified by his grace, 00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:42.340 we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 00:41:43.880 --> 00:41:44.779 And that word justified, 00:41:45.060 --> 00:41:48.260 that's what we're going to really talk about even more next week. 00:41:48.340 --> 00:41:50.920 But in a courtroom to be justified is being, 00:41:51.060 --> 00:41:52.360 is the opposite of being condemned. 00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:53.840 You know, 00:41:54.080 --> 00:41:56.860 it means like you're declared to be innocent. 00:41:57.620 --> 00:41:58.480 You can go, 00:41:58.580 --> 00:42:00.060 you're set free because you're innocent. 00:42:00.160 --> 00:42:01.340 I'm going to allow you to go. 00:42:01.900 --> 00:42:03.920 And it says we're justified by the, 00:42:04.040 --> 00:42:05.080 by his grace. 00:42:05.560 --> 00:42:07.800 So that we'll have hope of eternal life. 00:42:08.040 --> 00:42:13.019 And so this is the first part of that is that it doesn't matter. 00:42:13.019 --> 00:42:13.219 Um, 00:42:14.300 --> 00:42:14.519 I, 00:42:14.579 --> 00:42:16.960 I grew up in a Christian home. 00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:18.900 My parents were Christians. 00:42:19.259 --> 00:42:22.239 My grandparents are Christians and my great grandparents are Christians. 00:42:22.960 --> 00:42:28.259 And a rich heritage of people that all love the Lord and poured their lives out to, 00:42:28.259 --> 00:42:30.300 to see the kingdom advance. 00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:32.719 I was born in the South, 00:42:32.820 --> 00:42:33.679 in the Bible belt. 00:42:34.440 --> 00:42:34.840 Um, 00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:36.579 been the church, 00:42:36.699 --> 00:42:38.380 been the church my whole life. 00:42:39.199 --> 00:42:41.559 And I have no confidence in that now. 00:42:41.559 --> 00:42:42.340 I usually think, 00:42:42.340 --> 00:42:43.960 probably when I was a kid, 00:42:44.059 --> 00:42:44.840 I guess I'm more right. 00:42:44.920 --> 00:42:51.240 Cause I'm kind of in this camp and God looks at every individual and he tests their hearts and he tests their minds. 00:42:51.700 --> 00:42:53.180 And he sees where they stand. 00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:55.960 And so if you're here tonight and you don't have, 00:42:56.720 --> 00:42:58.440 if you have been putting confidence in, 00:42:58.539 --> 00:43:02.539 and how good you've been and how many good deeds you've done, 00:43:03.240 --> 00:43:07.220 just throw it all away and just come and just humble yourself. 00:43:07.219 --> 00:43:08.219 Uh, 00:43:08.219 --> 00:43:09.439 at the foot of the cross and, 00:43:09.439 --> 00:43:12.219 and let Christ be all that you need. 00:43:12.980 --> 00:43:13.419 And, 00:43:13.480 --> 00:43:13.699 uh, 00:43:13.699 --> 00:43:15.000 let us take hope in that. 00:43:15.719 --> 00:43:15.980 Um, 00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:18.739 that's what we're going to talk about next week. 00:43:18.739 --> 00:43:19.299 And, 00:43:19.359 --> 00:43:19.619 uh, 00:43:20.319 --> 00:43:21.619 this little book is a, 00:43:21.719 --> 00:43:23.559 is a picture of justification. 00:43:24.019 --> 00:43:24.479 It's, 00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:24.759 uh, 00:43:24.819 --> 00:43:26.699 it's out of an old Testament story called, 00:43:26.779 --> 00:43:28.579 I was Zachariah and, 00:43:28.579 --> 00:43:29.259 and Joshua, 00:43:29.459 --> 00:43:32.779 the high priest who had these filthy garments that he, 00:43:32.839 --> 00:43:33.879 he stood before God. 00:43:33.879 --> 00:43:34.079 And, 00:43:34.319 --> 00:43:35.139 uh, 00:43:36.179 --> 00:43:36.599 cool, 00:43:36.719 --> 00:43:37.799 cool way to learn about that. 00:43:37.800 --> 00:43:40.300 So we're going to look at that next week. 00:43:40.320 --> 00:43:42.620 And then the rest of the verses, 00:43:42.760 --> 00:43:44.060 they're up to verse 11, 00:43:44.560 --> 00:43:44.960 where he says, 00:43:45.019 --> 00:43:47.700 I count all that loss in comparison to knowing Christ and, 00:43:47.740 --> 00:43:49.980 and having Christ as my righteousness. 00:43:51.120 --> 00:43:53.900 So we're going to respond and seeing, 00:43:53.900 --> 00:43:55.500 and then we're going to bust out into the groups. 00:43:56.420 --> 00:43:56.500 Um, 00:43:56.500 --> 00:43:58.320 so let me just pray for us and, 00:43:58.320 --> 00:44:00.620 and Alex and reach. 00:44:00.740 --> 00:44:01.300 I can come up. 00:44:03.980 --> 00:44:04.380 Father, 00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:04.720 we, 00:44:04.820 --> 00:44:06.120 we look to you. 00:44:07.800 --> 00:44:09.560 Lord, 00:44:09.620 --> 00:44:09.760 I, 00:44:09.760 --> 00:44:11.240 I know I can, 00:44:12.080 --> 00:44:13.760 things even come to my mind now, 00:44:13.880 --> 00:44:14.700 things I've done, 00:44:14.820 --> 00:44:15.300 things I've, 00:44:15.300 --> 00:44:22.780 I've said in public and in private behind closed doors that have been utter rebellion against you. 00:44:22.780 --> 00:44:25.480 Things that have dishonored you, 00:44:27.180 --> 00:44:27.880 have brought, 00:44:27.880 --> 00:44:30.019 have brought great harm to me and to others. 00:44:31.480 --> 00:44:32.260 And God, 00:44:32.340 --> 00:44:32.560 uh, 00:44:32.560 --> 00:44:34.940 I know there's nothing I can do to, 00:44:35.039 --> 00:44:36.460 to make myself right with you. 00:44:36.460 --> 00:44:37.780 And, 00:44:37.780 --> 00:44:37.980 and so, 00:44:38.099 --> 00:44:38.440 Lord, 00:44:38.519 --> 00:44:38.699 I, 00:44:38.740 --> 00:44:39.699 I pray that, 00:44:40.820 --> 00:44:42.440 that anyone here that feels that way, 00:44:42.500 --> 00:44:42.840 they would, 00:44:42.840 --> 00:44:43.119 um, 00:44:43.199 --> 00:44:52.139 despair of themselves and they would find complete hope and complete trust in the work of Christ to make them right before you. 00:44:52.139 --> 00:44:52.539 And, 00:44:52.539 --> 00:44:54.379 and to prepare for that, 00:44:54.500 --> 00:44:55.299 that day of judgment, 00:44:55.400 --> 00:44:58.059 that our names will be found in the book of life and that we'll, 00:44:58.739 --> 00:45:02.400 we'll have eternal life and that we'll dwell in your presence and, 00:45:02.400 --> 00:45:04.059 and be with you, 00:45:04.179 --> 00:45:04.500 um, 00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:05.319 for all eternity, 00:45:05.319 --> 00:45:07.059 um, 00:45:07.059 --> 00:45:09.319 all from a gift of grace is found in Christ. 00:45:09.319 --> 00:45:09.759 So, 00:45:11.099 --> 00:45:11.420 so Lord, 00:45:11.480 --> 00:45:14.079 I pray that would be just the meditation of our hearts this evening. 00:45:14.079 --> 00:45:14.359 And, 00:45:14.359 --> 00:45:16.319 and even as we go to bed, 00:45:16.420 --> 00:45:18.619 that we can find ourselves completely in Christ. 00:45:18.619 --> 00:45:21.619 It's in his name we pray. 00:45:21.759 --> 00:45:21.980 Amen.