WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 Great. Thank you, Christina. Great. Good morning, everybody. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:11.240 Welcome. Welcome to you. If you're a guest of ours or visiting, it's wonderful to have you with us. 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:15.679 Let's pray together as we consider this very interesting and challenging passage. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:21.539 Fathers, we come to your word this morning. We want to meet with you. 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:26.440 We want to know more about you. We want to understand your ways. 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:30.220 God, we want to understand your nature and your character. 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:34.100 But we don't just want to learn about you. We want to meet with you. 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:41.799 We want to, God, be confronted by your holiness and your grace, your righteousness and your mercy. 00:00:43.100 --> 00:00:46.659 And so, God, we pray, come and speak to us from your word. 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:50.820 God, I pray that you'll protect me from saying anything that is not of you. 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:54.579 Anything that I say that is not of you may fall on deaf ears. 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:56.219 God, we want to hear from you this morning. 00:00:56.359 --> 00:01:04.480 And so, we bring just the rest of our service before you and ask you, God, be glorified in our hearts and in our sight as we consider your word. 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:08.439 We pray these things in your wonderful name. Amen. 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:14.439 This morning, we are starting a six-week series called Christ in the Old Testament. 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:26.920 And the reason we're doing this is that many people, both followers of Jesus and spiritual seekers, we have this idea that the Bible is in two distinct parts, right? 00:01:27.219 --> 00:01:28.859 The Old Testament is bad news. 00:01:29.039 --> 00:01:30.439 New Testament is good news. 00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:33.680 Or maybe the Old Testament God is angry. 00:01:34.459 --> 00:01:36.560 And in the New Testament, there's a different God. 00:01:36.620 --> 00:01:40.140 And he's merciful and gracious and kind and forgiving. 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:42.079 And yet, that's not true. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:48.200 The Bible is one story of the glory of God, the God who made all things. 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:53.280 It's the story of the fallenness of humanity, how we've rebelled against God and gone our own way. 00:01:53.759 --> 00:02:03.700 And it's the story from beginning to end of how God sought to reconcile his creation back to himself by his own sending himself to die on the cross for us. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:10.219 And so, the Bible from beginning to end, Old Testament through the New Testament is one story, the story of the gospel. 00:02:10.219 --> 00:02:13.560 But it's not always easy to see that. 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:15.520 Augustine said it like this. 00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:21.180 He said, the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New. 00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:24.560 So, it's one story, but sometimes it does feel hidden. 00:02:24.680 --> 00:02:25.659 It's hard to see that. 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:32.360 Sometimes it's like when you read the Old Testament, and you're struggling to find out where's the gospel, where's Jesus Christ in this? 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:34.960 It can be like hiking through a forest, right? 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:36.840 Which is why the picture of trees in the back. 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:41.500 It's like you're hiking through a dense forest, and you know that there's a path in there somewhere. 00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:51.140 You know there is a way out, but unless you see the big picture, the map, unless you see where you're going, you can sometimes lose the trees from the forest. 00:02:51.139 --> 00:02:59.019 And so, really, this series is designed to help us see the gospel in the entire Bible from beginning to end. 00:02:59.119 --> 00:03:06.479 To see how even the most obscure and unusual passages of the Old Testament are, in fact, pointing us to Christ and a hope found in Him. 00:03:06.739 --> 00:03:08.679 So, we're going to be doing this for the next six weeks. 00:03:09.419 --> 00:03:13.039 Now, the passage of scripture that we looked at this morning is a very interesting one. 00:03:13.619 --> 00:03:17.979 I've often read it as a young man and thought to myself, Abraham, what are you doing? 00:03:18.479 --> 00:03:20.799 You're very brave to negotiate with God. 00:03:21.139 --> 00:03:23.759 And yet, God somehow allows him to do it. 00:03:24.119 --> 00:03:28.479 And then, just when he gets to the crunch time, he walks away. 00:03:29.099 --> 00:03:30.899 Like, what on earth is going on? 00:03:31.779 --> 00:03:38.279 Well, I've consulted many theologians and commentators this week and have sought help from many people. 00:03:38.899 --> 00:03:44.339 And just to say, Tim Keller has been very helpful in helping me understand this passage. 00:03:45.139 --> 00:03:47.219 Now, the background to the story is this. 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:49.439 Genesis chapter 12, a few chapters before. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:51.800 God calls this man called Abraham. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:57.500 He doesn't call him because Abraham is particularly special or righteous or worthy. 00:03:57.699 --> 00:03:59.520 Abraham is a pagan. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:02.240 He is worshiping the sun and the moon and the stars. 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:07.480 And yet, God calls him to leave his family and his land to go to a new land. 00:04:07.659 --> 00:04:09.640 And God promises amazing blessings. 00:04:10.260 --> 00:04:17.220 He says, through you and your descendants, or more specifically, your descendant, I will bless all the nations of the world. 00:04:17.740 --> 00:04:23.439 Everyone will be able to come to know who I am through your descendants. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:26.100 And so, God gives him this amazing promise. 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:28.180 And Abraham trusts God. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:29.839 And so, he follows him. 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:35.360 He goes, he leaves the land where he came from, and he goes to Canaan and settles there. 00:04:35.899 --> 00:04:38.300 But Abraham has a nephew called Lot. 00:04:38.740 --> 00:04:40.279 Abraham's brother, Haran, died. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:41.920 And so, Lot is without a father. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:44.100 And so, Abraham says to his nephew, come with me. 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:45.860 And so, they travel together. 00:04:45.860 --> 00:04:51.860 And after a couple of years, they both accumulate more and more wealth and herds and cattles. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.259 And their estates are growing. 00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:57.740 And eventually, the place where they settle is too small for both families. 00:04:58.300 --> 00:05:01.080 And so, Abraham says, Lot, you decide which way to go. 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:02.660 You go one way, I'll go the other. 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:04.120 And so, Lot says, great. 00:05:04.259 --> 00:05:05.199 I'll go east. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:08.500 And he goes to this valley called the Jordan Valley. 00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:10.879 And he finds a town there called Sodom. 00:05:11.460 --> 00:05:13.480 And Lot settles in that town. 00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:15.759 And Abraham says, okay, fine, I'll go west. 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:17.220 And so, they go their separate ways. 00:05:17.740 --> 00:05:21.780 But we're told in chapter 13 that Sodom is a very wicked place. 00:05:22.100 --> 00:05:23.480 The sin there is very great. 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:28.460 And the reason for this, the reason why God considers Sodom a very wicked place is twofold. 00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:35.340 The one reason is because of the abundant, I guess, promiscuity, sexual promiscuity. 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:37.860 Everyone there is living for their own pleasure. 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:41.720 They are using and abusing other people to satisfy themselves. 00:05:42.620 --> 00:05:49.220 Relationships are not marked by a commitment and a self-serving, but rather how I can use other people to fulfill my own pleasure. 00:05:49.860 --> 00:05:55.320 And so, but in addition to that, Sodom is also a place where they are mistreating the poor. 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:56.620 They are mistreating the needy. 00:05:56.760 --> 00:05:58.280 There's great injustice there. 00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:00.099 Everyone is just looking out for themselves. 00:06:00.819 --> 00:06:05.879 In fact, in verse 20, I don't know if you noticed, twice God talks about the outcry in Sodom. 00:06:06.699 --> 00:06:11.179 Elsewhere in the Bible, that word outcry is used to talk about the cries of the oppressed. 00:06:11.719 --> 00:06:15.439 So, there are people in Sodom that are being oppressed by the wealthy and the powerful. 00:06:15.979 --> 00:06:17.819 And they're crying out to God, where are you? 00:06:17.819 --> 00:06:27.060 And so, because of the injustice and the promiscuity and the lack of righteousness in Sodom, God says, things are not well in Sodom. 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:38.639 And so, what's happening is the people there, all the relationships, both with God, vertically, I have to think about that for a second, and each other horizontally, things are not going well. 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:42.719 There's a sense of selfishness, self-righteousness, self-entitlement. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:48.980 There's not much that's right or just or moral in these relationships. 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:53.840 In other words, there's not much righteousness in the town, the city of Sodom. 00:06:54.440 --> 00:06:57.760 Now, this picture of Sodom doesn't just come out of nowhere. 00:06:58.380 --> 00:07:02.260 We sometimes think that Sodom was the only bad place in the world and everyone else was right. 00:07:02.700 --> 00:07:07.460 But actually, as we read the book of Genesis, we read that this is the story of the world. 00:07:07.960 --> 00:07:10.980 Remember Genesis chapter, I think it's three or four. 00:07:10.980 --> 00:07:14.900 Right after the fall, Adam and Eve fall, well, they've got two sons. 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:16.819 One is called Cain, the other one is called Abel. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:19.400 And Cain is jealous of his brother. 00:07:19.900 --> 00:07:21.500 And so, he waits in the field for him. 00:07:21.660 --> 00:07:25.960 Abel comes walking along and Cain rises up and attacks his brother and kills him. 00:07:26.280 --> 00:07:28.140 Right in the beginning, Genesis chapter 4. 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:34.720 In Genesis chapter 6, there's such wickedness of the world that God says, I think it's time we just wipe it out and start again. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:38.840 And so, God picks Noah and says, you're going to be kind of like a new Adam. 00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:40.460 You're going to start again with you. 00:07:41.039 --> 00:07:43.000 But Noah himself isn't too much better. 00:07:43.139 --> 00:07:47.279 And so, straight after the flood, things don't go so well themselves. 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:53.439 And then chapter 11, we've got the story of the Tower of Babel where humanity says, we don't need God. 00:07:53.799 --> 00:07:54.500 We've got science. 00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:55.439 We've got technology. 00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:57.179 We've got our own industriousness. 00:07:57.419 --> 00:07:58.439 Why do we need God? 00:07:58.479 --> 00:08:00.159 Let's build a tower to the sky. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:01.740 We can manage on our own. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:03.879 Who needs God with everything we've invented? 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:05.439 And so, they build this tower. 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:13.240 And it actually says in chapter 11, they say, let us make a temple with its tops in the heavens that we can make a name for ourselves. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:15.180 And then you get Abraham. 00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:18.779 And you think in chapter 12, okay, finally we've got someone who's righteous. 00:08:18.779 --> 00:08:22.579 And then chapter 13, Abraham goes to Egypt with his wife. 00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:27.319 And he says to his wife, listen, Sarah, you and I both know that you're quite a stunner, right? 00:08:27.939 --> 00:08:29.819 Everyone's going to be turning their heads to look at you. 00:08:30.159 --> 00:08:31.359 So, let's make a deal. 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:34.699 When we go to Egypt, let's pretend that you're my sister. 00:08:34.700 --> 00:08:39.500 Because if everyone knows that you're my wife, maybe they'll attack me so that they can marry you. 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:43.879 And so, Abraham pretty much sells his wife down the river. 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:46.940 And so, he goes to Egypt and he says, this is my sister, Sarah. 00:08:47.400 --> 00:08:51.259 And the Pharaoh says, wow, I would like to have her as my wife. 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:56.440 And so, he gives Abraham a whole lot of gold and money and silver to marry his wife. 00:08:57.080 --> 00:09:00.140 Even Abraham himself has got some issues. 00:09:00.140 --> 00:09:02.940 But all this, God still has a purpose for Abraham. 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:07.080 And that then brings us to our passage today in Genesis chapter 18. 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:09.660 Now, I've got three points today. 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:12.000 The first one is God calls Abraham. 00:09:12.680 --> 00:09:14.640 Secondly, Abraham calls on God. 00:09:14.800 --> 00:09:17.540 And then thirdly, learning to pray like Abraham, okay? 00:09:17.800 --> 00:09:19.740 So, firstly, God calls Abraham. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:25.880 Now, this passage that we have today, remember where Abraham kind of wrestles with God in prayer. 00:09:25.880 --> 00:09:31.380 It's a famous passage about interceding or praying for a nation or a city on behalf of them. 00:09:31.379 --> 00:09:36.600 But before we get there, what's interesting is to note who initiates this conversation. 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:40.539 Who starts this dialogue between Abraham and God? 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:42.240 Well, look at verse 17. 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:43.860 It says this. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:48.159 God says to Abraham, shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:49.980 Now, think about that for a second. 00:09:50.779 --> 00:09:54.179 In this story, there are three people that have arrived at Abraham's tent. 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:58.179 Two of them are angels, and one of them is God himself in human form. 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:03.799 And so this man, the Lord, Yahweh, says, shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do? 00:10:04.239 --> 00:10:06.039 But Abraham's standing right next to him. 00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:11.219 Now, if you ever say to somebody, love, I'm wondering if I should tell you this or not. 00:10:11.599 --> 00:10:12.319 What have you done? 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:15.019 You've really decided that you're going to tell them, right? 00:10:15.059 --> 00:10:17.759 You don't say that to someone if you're wondering whether you should tell them. 00:10:17.859 --> 00:10:19.019 You've really made up your mind. 00:10:19.139 --> 00:10:21.079 You only say that if you're going to tell them, right? 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:23.960 But what you're doing is you're conveying the importance of this. 00:10:24.040 --> 00:10:26.220 You're saying, this is not just a passing comment. 00:10:26.540 --> 00:10:28.680 I want you to really take note of what I'm going to do. 00:10:29.160 --> 00:10:32.320 So God says to Abraham, should I tell Abraham what I'm about to do? 00:10:33.160 --> 00:10:35.379 And he says the same thing in verse 20. 00:10:35.560 --> 00:10:40.080 It says, because of the outcry against Sodom is very great and their sin is grave, 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:47.100 I will go down and see whether they have altogether done according to the outcry that has come to me. 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:49.259 So why does God go down? 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:52.019 I mean, does God, does he not know what's going on? 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:54.059 Does he need Abraham's help? 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:57.179 Why does God say, let me go down and see what's going on? 00:10:57.259 --> 00:10:58.000 What's God doing? 00:10:58.539 --> 00:11:00.639 He's drawing Abraham into the conversation. 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:02.620 He's saying, Abraham, I want to talk with you. 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:03.799 I want to engage with you. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:08.460 It's kind of like if I say to my daughters, Sarah, will you help me set the table? 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:12.620 Or as last night I created, Sarah, will you help me cook dinner together? 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:16.340 And when you do that, I don't really need my daughter to help me set the table. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:18.120 If anything, it's going to take longer, right? 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:19.340 It's going to get more complicated. 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:20.440 They're going to get in the way. 00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:22.679 And I'm going to have to fix everything that they do anyway. 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:25.820 Even though actually Sarah sets the table more than me and our family. 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:27.340 But just pretend I do, okay? 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:29.580 But why do I do that? 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:30.840 It's because I'm drawing her in. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:33.220 It's because I want to include her in what I'm doing. 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:34.279 I want to be with her. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:37.320 I could set the table on my own, but I want her to be with me. 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:38.960 And that's what God's doing here. 00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:41.679 He's drawing Abraham into the conversation. 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:43.320 He's saying, Abraham, I have a plan for you. 00:11:43.680 --> 00:11:44.660 I've got a purpose for your life. 00:11:44.740 --> 00:11:46.040 Come and see what I'm going to do. 00:11:46.420 --> 00:11:47.780 And why does God do this? 00:11:48.140 --> 00:11:49.840 Well, he tells us in verse 18. 00:11:50.040 --> 00:11:50.860 Look at what he says. 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:51.920 He says, 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:54.579 Shall I hide from Abraham what I'm about to do? 00:11:55.259 --> 00:12:02.159 Seeing that I have chosen him to become a great nation, through whom all the nations of the world will be blessed. 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:06.559 For I have chosen him that he may teach his children the ways of the Lord. 00:12:07.299 --> 00:12:11.279 So for Abraham to become the man that God has called him to be. 00:12:11.719 --> 00:12:16.779 For Abraham to become this great man through whom him and his descendants, the world will be blessed. 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:24.639 For Abraham to be the father of Israel and to teach Israel who God is, Abraham himself needs to know who God is. 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:26.339 That's what God's drawing him in. 00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:27.879 He's saying, come and be with me. 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:33.579 I want to reveal to you, Abraham, more of who I am, my nature and my character. 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:36.019 You see, what does Abraham need? 00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:38.240 He needs to know God deeply. 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:40.939 He doesn't just need to know God superficially. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.879 He needs to know God deeply. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:48.080 He doesn't just need to know Jesus loves me, this I know, for my Sunday school teacher told me so. 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:56.779 He needs to have a profound revelation of the nature and the character of who is this God that has called him and is going to bless the whole world. 00:12:57.580 --> 00:12:59.700 And so God reveals it to him. 00:13:00.820 --> 00:13:03.659 Friends, can I ask you, do you know God deeply? 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:06.439 Do you know him profoundly? 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:12.059 Do you know the intricacies of the nature and the character of God? 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:18.159 Friends, I hope you know that God has got a calling and a plan and a purpose for your life. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:19.159 You're not an accident. 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:22.379 Maybe your parents didn't plan to have you, but God planned for you. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:26.000 If you're a Christian, you got saved not just to become religious. 00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:32.259 You got saved into a worldwide program to make a difference for the glory of God in our world. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:37.000 If you're a seeker here this morning, God wants you to become a follower of Jesus. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:42.820 Not that you can become more religious or more moral, but that you can join his worldwide plan for the glory of God. 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:47.299 God has a plan and a purpose for your life, just like he did for Abraham. 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:52.600 But for both Christians and seekers of life, you'll never become the person God's called you to be. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.100 You'll never fulfill your purpose in life. 00:13:55.100 --> 00:14:00.759 Until you understand the depth of who God is, until you know God deeply. 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:05.120 Friends, if you're a Christian here this morning, if you know God just superficially, 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:12.460 when the storms of life come, and they will come, you'll be confused, you'll be dazed, you'll be rocked at your core. 00:14:13.040 --> 00:14:15.659 We have to know who God is and to know him deeply. 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:17.639 And that's what God wants for Abraham. 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:18.720 And so God calls him. 00:14:19.160 --> 00:14:19.700 He calls him. 00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:21.860 He says, Abraham, I want you to engage with me. 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:27.360 For Abraham to become this person, he needs to know both the righteousness of God and the mercy of God. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:30.399 He needs to know what will one day be called the gospel. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:33.620 And so God draws him in to reveal himself to Abraham. 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:34.440 Okay? 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:36.500 First thing, God calls Abraham. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.740 Secondly, Abraham then calls on God. 00:14:40.560 --> 00:14:44.700 Now, look at what happens here from verse 22 onwards. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.800 Look at this very unusual prayer of Abraham's. 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:51.460 It's a prayer in which Abraham is wrestling with God, right? 00:14:51.460 --> 00:14:57.180 Remember, he starts off and he says, God, Sodom, I know it's very wicked. 00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:58.220 I know it's very evil. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:02.060 But if there are 50 people in there, will you save it? 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:04.780 And God says, for 50 people, righteous people, I'll save it. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:07.540 And then Abraham says, pardon me, God. 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:09.080 I know I'm dust and ashes. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:10.900 I know I don't have the right to ask you this. 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:12.040 But what about 45? 00:15:12.420 --> 00:15:13.560 And he's wrestling. 00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:17.980 He's, I guess, negotiating in some ways with God. 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.160 Very brave of him. 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:21.459 Now, what is Abraham's dilemma? 00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:24.120 What's he wrestling with in this passage? 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:26.959 Well, he knows that God is holy. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.120 He knows that God is without blemish. 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:32.559 God cannot stand sin and wickedness and evil. 00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:36.759 In chapter 17, just before God comes to Abraham and he says, I am God. 00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:40.600 Walk before me and be blameless that I may make my covenant with you. 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:43.540 And Abraham falls on his face before God. 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:48.519 So Abraham knows something of the holiness and the righteousness of God. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:50.440 He's seen it. 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:51.700 He's not questioning it. 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:55.720 But the question he's asking is, is God also kind? 00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:58.139 I know that he's righteous. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.600 Is he also merciful? 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.139 I know that he's holy. 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:02.440 Is he also gracious? 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:07.660 Can God's righteousness and his mercy coincide together? 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:10.120 And so look at what he says. 00:16:10.219 --> 00:16:13.480 He says, will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:16.240 Suppose there are 50 righteous people in the city. 00:16:16.339 --> 00:16:22.000 Will you sweep away the whole place and not spare it, even for the sake of the 50 people who are in it? 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:23.779 So Abraham's trying to work this out. 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:26.699 God, I know you're holy and righteous, but are you also merciful? 00:16:27.579 --> 00:16:32.919 Now, friends, this is actually something that we have to wrestle with ourselves all the time. 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:40.219 Now, if you are a parent here this morning, you know the struggle between, I want to teach my children right and wrong. 00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:43.139 I want to teach them righteousness and justice and truth. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:46.159 But I also want to teach them graciousness and forgiveness. 00:16:46.819 --> 00:16:51.299 I want to train my children the way that they should go, but I don't want to be a strict disciplinarian. 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:56.500 I also want to teach them the joys of forgiveness and mercy and forgiveness in our family. 00:16:56.500 --> 00:17:04.960 Or if you work in an office and you've got people that report to you, that you oversee a team, you've got standards, you've got objectives you need to achieve. 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:08.140 But you don't just want to be a strict authoritarian leader. 00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:12.380 You've also got to exhibit kindness and grace and mercy when people make mistakes. 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:14.579 How do we bring these things together? 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:18.019 When someone makes a mistake, are you holy and righteous? 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:19.039 Are you merciful? 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:21.180 How do we bring these things together? 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:23.940 And this is what Abraham is wrestling with. 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:29.480 Now in order to understand this, we need to think about something that Abraham understood. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:35.600 Abraham knew something that many people, most people in the history of the world have understood. 00:17:35.840 --> 00:17:37.420 And many cultures in the world understand. 00:17:38.080 --> 00:17:42.480 But it's something that as Westerners, if you've been trained or grew up in the West here, 00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:46.200 it's something that as Westerners like myself, we often struggle with. 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:48.640 And the reason is because we live in what? 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:52.200 The most individualistic period in the history of the world, right? 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:58.500 And so a lot of Westerners, and I guess young people in Hong Kong today, I'm guessing that, 00:17:59.600 --> 00:18:05.319 we tend to think it doesn't matter what, oh, this is this thing of corporate responsibility, okay? 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:07.840 We struggle with the idea of corporate responsibility. 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:12.319 So many Westerners and young people in Hong Kong today, we tend to think, 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:18.039 it doesn't matter what my family's done or my community's done or my clan has done. 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:21.480 I am not responsible for anybody else's actions. 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.960 Only what I do. 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:26.240 My actions and my beliefs and my attitudes and my behaviors. 00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:30.599 I stand or fall on, I'm accountable for myself and myself only. 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:37.099 What my family does, what my parents do, what my clan does, what my team does, has got nothing to do with me. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.460 Okay, does that make sense? 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:41.720 That's how many people in the West think. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:45.500 Now that may sound very independent and modern and democratic, 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:50.519 but actually most people, even today, but definitely throughout the history of the world, 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:55.400 have understood that actually as human beings we are far more complex than that. 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:58.759 We're far more relational and community orientated than that. 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:01.700 In other words, throughout the history of the world, 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:04.680 we've understood that of course there's something called individual responsibility. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:06.700 Of course I'm responsible for my actions. 00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:10.500 But there's a far more balanced understanding of relationships, 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:12.279 that actually I'm a community person. 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:19.519 And what that means is that my actions do in some ways affect the people with whom I am in solidarity. 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:23.420 And likewise, some of their actions and beliefs and behaviors affect me. 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:25.400 I'll give you a couple of examples. 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:30.940 I was reading a book this weekend that Eric lent me called Come Back Barbara. 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:33.000 The most incredible book. 00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:34.460 I've never read a book so quickly. 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:40.200 It's the story of this Christian family in America and this young lady. 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:42.539 She turns 18 and she says to her mom and dad, 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:47.480 Mom and dad, I want nothing to do with your ways, your beliefs, your morality, 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:49.579 or your system of viewing the world. 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.500 And so she goes off on her own. 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.720 She says, I'm 18 years old. 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.319 I'm independent. 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.720 I'm going to be my own person. 00:19:55.340 --> 00:19:59.420 And for the next 10 years, she lives this life of absolute hedonism, 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:01.380 just pursuing her own pleasures. 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:07.460 And she doesn't realize the absolute heartache and brokenness and pain that she's causing her family. 00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:12.160 And she wrestles with him and says, why can't you just let me be my own person? 00:20:12.520 --> 00:20:13.640 Why are you so concerned? 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:15.260 Just let me make my own decisions. 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:22.220 Not realizing that her own decisions dramatically and profoundly affect the people in her life. 00:20:22.520 --> 00:20:22.700 Okay? 00:20:22.780 --> 00:20:23.380 Does that make sense? 00:20:24.020 --> 00:20:24.900 I'll give you another example. 00:20:25.520 --> 00:20:27.920 Think of when a terrorist attack happens in a city. 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:28.580 Right? 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:30.020 There's a terrorist attack. 00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:31.000 What do we do? 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.400 We stand together. 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:34.100 We say, we will not be beaten. 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:36.440 We will not be defeated like that. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.080 Why? 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:41.480 Because we realize an attack on our city, on our people, is an attack on us. 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:47.460 And the last example of this is, I didn't really realize this until the last few years. 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:52.779 But in South Africa, there's been a lot of social unrest over the last few years, 00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:55.200 especially along the lines of race and ethnicity. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:06.319 And I kind of didn't really understand this until I started to ponder the question of my own culpability as a white South African male. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:14.600 How much am I responsible for apartheid and the sins of my people against another people group in my own nation? 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:19.720 And it's interesting because a lot of that happened when I was a child or somebody even before I was born. 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:26.059 And yet I've come to realize that I actually came to benefit with a lot of the sins and the wickedness of my people. 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.799 I got a fantastic education. 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.140 I was given job opportunities. 00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:30.640 I lived in a big house. 00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:35.980 And I am the beneficiary of my own people's actions against someone else. 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:40.380 In other words, there is a sense of my response. 00:21:41.100 --> 00:21:42.640 There's a corporate responsibility. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:49.860 There is a sense in which I am culpable or I stand responsible with those in whom I find solidarity. 00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:55.100 So we tend to think it doesn't matter what my family or my race or my people have done. 00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:57.020 I'm not responsible for anyone else. 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:58.720 But that's just not realistic. 00:21:59.540 --> 00:22:04.960 And so as a Middle Eastern man brought up in a community, Abraham would have understood this idea of corporate responsibility. 00:22:05.520 --> 00:22:06.980 Do you understand what I'm talking about? 00:22:07.040 --> 00:22:08.320 Does that make any sense at all? 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:08.720 Okay? 00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:22.899 Now, Gerald von Rad, who's a German theologian and Old Testament scholar, he points out that Abraham in this passage is asking a very interesting question. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.019 Abraham is saying this. 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:31.200 He says, I know that in some ways the sins of others with whom I am in solidarity come to me. 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.779 I understand that. 00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:34.899 But could it work in reverse? 00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:37.480 Could it work the other way around? 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:43.779 In other words, Abraham is asking the question, what could determine God's treatment of this community in Sodom? 00:22:44.439 --> 00:22:46.939 Is it only the wickedness of the majority? 00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:52.419 Or could the righteousness of a few count towards the way that God treats them? 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:55.720 He says, God, I know your assessment of the place is right. 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.700 The majority are wicked. 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.279 I get that. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.659 The outcry is great and their sin is very grave. 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:02.359 But what is going to determine the way you treat them? 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:06.479 Is it only the wickedness of the majority and the righteous get to suffer with them? 00:23:06.719 --> 00:23:07.819 Or could it be? 00:23:08.479 --> 00:23:18.119 Could it be that God, you so love righteousness that the righteousness of a few is enough to determine your kind treatment towards this community? 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:30.979 Is there a way that the righteousness of someone else could be credited to my account so that God could treat me, not as I deserve individually, but in accordance with the solidarity or accordance with the righteousness of someone with whom I am in solidarity? 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.539 Does that make any sense? 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:34.379 So another way of saying it is this. 00:23:34.879 --> 00:23:37.759 Is my only hope my own record? 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:48.519 Or does God, who is righteous and loves righteousness, does he so love righteousness that the righteousness of someone else could be credited to me on my behalf? 00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:49.539 Okay? 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:51.859 Jared from Rod writes it like this. 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.079 I think there's a quote. 00:23:53.819 --> 00:24:02.220 It says, Abraham is in great anguish in mind, knowing that as modern people do not, that as dust and ashes, we have no right to ask God of this. 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:17.339 But what is amazing is how Yahweh's merciful righteousness dawns on Abraham until he arrives at the astonishing fact that even a very small number of righteous people could so please a righteous God that it could hold back the whole judgment. 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:22.859 So predominant is God's will to save over his will to punish. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.559 So you see what he's saying? 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:27.359 As modern people, we tend to think, oh, come on. 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:29.299 God, just forgive, right? 00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:32.519 I mean, I know I'm bad, but I'm not as bad as Hitler, right? 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:34.819 I know I'm bad, but I'm not as bad as that guy. 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:37.079 God, can't you just sweep my sin under the carpet? 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.559 Can't you just forgive me? 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:40.659 But that's not what Abraham's saying. 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:42.879 Abraham's saying, God, your assessment is right. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.220 That place is very wicked. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.019 You're right. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.859 Sin is a problem. 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:48.500 God, it is unjust. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:51.539 I know that you are righteous and I know you love righteousness. 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:53.599 I know that you are a judge of all the earth. 00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.180 I know that. 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:56.279 I know that I am but dust and ashes. 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:58.200 But God, could it be? 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:04.339 Could it be that you so love righteousness that if you found enough righteous people in 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:06.720 that place that it would hold back your judgment? 00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:11.940 God, is your will to save so predominant that the righteousness of a few would hold back 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:12.440 your judgment? 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:15.359 And surprisingly, what is God's answer? 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:18.339 The answer is yes. 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.579 Yes. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:23.579 And if that's true, Abraham says, well, how far does this principle go? 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:31.699 God, for 50 righteous people, 50 righteous people, will you stem back your judgment? 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:34.379 And God says, for 50 people, I will spare the place. 00:25:35.199 --> 00:25:36.779 Abraham says, God, forgive me for asking. 00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:38.359 What about for 45 people? 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:40.119 Would you hold back your judgment? 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:42.559 And God says, for 45, I won't destroy Sodom. 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:45.720 Abraham says, God, what about 40? 00:25:46.360 --> 00:25:48.600 For 40 people, will you be gracious? 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:51.319 And God says, for 40 people, I will hold back my judgment. 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:55.900 He says, God, excuse me asking, what about 30 people? 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.200 For 30? 00:25:57.279 --> 00:26:00.620 And God says, for 30 people, for the sake of 30, I will not destroy Sodom. 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:04.079 He says, God, 20 people? 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:07.860 God says, for 20 people, I will not destroy Sodom. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:11.680 And then finally, he says, God, excuse me one last time. 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.620 What about 10 people? 00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:16.639 For the sake of 10 people, will you not destroy Sodom? 00:26:16.679 --> 00:26:19.339 And God says, for the sake of 10, I will not destroy it. 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:21.019 And then what? 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.919 And then what? 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:25.879 He's on a cliffhanger, for goodness sake. 00:26:26.159 --> 00:26:27.919 He's got one more question to ask. 00:26:27.959 --> 00:26:28.919 And what is the question? 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:32.819 What's the question Abraham wants to ask, but doesn't they ask? 00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:34.779 For one, right? 00:26:35.199 --> 00:26:35.779 For one. 00:26:36.239 --> 00:26:40.179 God, if there is one righteous person, will you destroy Sodom? 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:42.400 And what would God's answer be? 00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:44.320 Yes. 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:46.240 For the sake of one. 00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.700 For the sake of one. 00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:50.640 If you can find the right one. 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:53.240 If you can find the right one. 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:58.539 Friends, where on earth, in the planet, are you going to find one righteous person, good 00:26:58.539 --> 00:27:02.080 enough to stem the judgment that is deserving to come to us? 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:08.019 I guess Abraham must have looked in the mirror and thought, I am the one person in all the 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.039 world that God has chosen. 00:27:09.439 --> 00:27:12.259 That through me and my descendants, God is going to bless the world. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:15.639 Through me and my descendants, the ultimate Messiah is going to come. 00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:20.000 And Abraham, as he looked in the mirror and thought, if God has chosen me out of all the 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:25.339 people in the world, and I am as unrighteous as I am, I am as broken and sinful as I am, 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:30.140 where on earth is God going to find one righteous person to hold back his judgment? 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:33.019 Well, what about Moses? 00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:35.380 Maybe Moses could have been good enough, right? 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:36.700 The great prince of Egypt. 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:37.799 The great deliverer. 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:43.019 Well, friends, God wouldn't allow Moses into promised land because of his sin and his disobedience. 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.619 What about King David? 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:46.979 The greatest king Israel ever had? 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:49.259 A man after God's own heart? 00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.500 A worshiper? 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.699 God's shepherd to his people? 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:54.659 Could David be the one righteous man? 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:58.139 Well, friends, remember Psalm 51. 00:27:58.279 --> 00:28:00.119 I read it this morning in my devotions. 00:28:00.939 --> 00:28:02.379 David writes this and he says, 00:28:02.379 --> 00:28:06.019 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love. 00:28:06.459 --> 00:28:10.419 According to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions. 00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:12.339 Against you have I sinned. 00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:14.299 Your judgment is justified. 00:28:15.419 --> 00:28:18.779 What about someone like Isaiah, the greatest prophet Israel ever had? 00:28:19.639 --> 00:28:23.159 Well, Isaiah sees the righteousness of God and he falls on his face and he says, 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.059 Woe is me. 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:28.219 I'm a man of unclean lips and I live amongst the people of unclean lips. 00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:29.519 You see the corporate responsibility? 00:28:30.239 --> 00:28:33.399 Friends, none of these people, as righteous and as God-fearing as they were, 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:37.519 none of them were able to deliver humanity from the consequences of our sin. 00:28:38.219 --> 00:28:39.559 Where would we find such a man? 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:42.659 Well, friends, this is the gospel of the Old Testament. 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:45.259 This is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:50.600 Because looming over this passage, in fact, looming over the entire Old Testament, 00:28:51.080 --> 00:28:57.840 large over the entire Old Testament is the shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ and the shadow of the cross. 00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:02.559 Friends, here Jesus Christ, the only righteous man, enough to stand in the gap, 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:05.619 the only one righteous enough to bring us before God, 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:10.119 the only one righteous enough to bring to bear his righteousness on our behalf, 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:14.199 and on Sodom's behalf, and behalf of the whole world, to save us. 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:19.080 And so in many ways, Abraham is the first picture we see in the Bible of a priest. 00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:27.340 A priest is not someone who dresses up in fancy clothes or wears a black gown and performs religious ceremonies. 00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:30.840 A priest is someone who mediates on behalf of someone else. 00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:34.640 A priest is someone who stands before God on behalf of a people. 00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:37.480 A priest is someone who represents people before God. 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:40.839 And Abraham, in some senses, is the very first priest in the Bible. 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:44.980 Now, friends, Jesus Christ is the ultimate high priest. 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:46.640 Listen to how Hebrews describes it. 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:46.980 He says, 00:29:46.980 --> 00:30:16.960 He says, 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:42.400 Friends, Jesus Christ is the great high priest. 00:30:42.400 --> 00:31:12.380 He says, 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:29.200 Friends, in Jesus Christ on the cross, we see that God is so righteous and just that he would not and could not just brush sin under the carpet. 00:31:29.840 --> 00:31:36.759 But in Jesus, we also discover the mercy of God and the kindness of God that he would gladly and willingly take our sin upon himself. 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:38.759 Remember 2 Corinthians chapter 5? 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:40.759 God says, 00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:59.920 Friends, in many ways, Abraham acts like a priest. 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:01.920 He intercedes on behalf of the people who are living in Sodom. 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:05.660 He brings them before God and he represents them before God. 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:12.220 But not even Abraham, the great father of Israel, the great father of our faith, not even he could save the city. 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:15.779 Because ultimately, in chapter 19, Sodom is destroyed. 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.580 Lot is rescued. 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.920 Lot's family is rescued. 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.640 But Sodom is destroyed. 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:23.500 But friends, Jesus Christ didn't just pray for the world. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:25.340 He didn't just pray for us. 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:27.019 He went to the cross for us. 00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:29.099 He didn't just ask God to save us. 00:32:29.139 --> 00:32:30.079 He did save us. 00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:34.500 He accomplished the salvation that Abraham so longed for but couldn't accomplish himself. 00:32:35.199 --> 00:32:37.179 And still today, Christ is praying for us. 00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:40.119 He's there in the throne room of heaven interceding for us. 00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:43.980 He's there bringing the blood of the lamb, the cross, before God the father. 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:50.420 And friends, if you've ever sinned or done anything wrong, which you do every single day, you know what Satan does? 00:32:50.980 --> 00:32:52.500 Satan comes and he accuses you. 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:56.980 He comes to the father and says, Father, how can you accept this sinner? 00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:59.680 Don't you know that you're holy and they've sinned against you? 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:03.180 How can their unrighteousness and your righteousness live together? 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.940 Father, you need to reject them. 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.220 You need to kick them out of your kingdom. 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:07.200 And what does Jesus do? 00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:09.920 He says, Father, I've died for them. 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:11.599 I've covered them with my righteousness. 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:16.619 Friends, even today, Christ is in the throne room of heaven interceding for you, praying for you, 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:21.679 priesting for you, representing his righteousness before God the father for you. 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.939 Abraham calls on God. 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:26.939 God calls Abraham. 00:33:27.399 --> 00:33:28.379 Abraham calls on God. 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:30.519 Finally, let's land with this. 00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:33.279 Thirdly, we need to learn to pray like Abraham. 00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:36.339 Friends, let's close with this. 00:33:36.459 --> 00:33:37.319 What about us? 00:33:37.879 --> 00:33:41.079 God calls Abraham to know him because he has a plan for his life. 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:44.039 He's going to use Abraham to change the world. 00:33:44.139 --> 00:33:46.480 He's going to use Abraham to glorify himself. 00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:48.899 God has plans and purposes for him. 00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:53.179 Abraham is the one through whom the great high priest, Jesus Christ, will ultimately come. 00:33:53.659 --> 00:33:55.000 Christ, the descendant of Abraham. 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:58.779 But that didn't make Abraham unimportant. 00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:00.480 God still has a plan for him. 00:34:01.139 --> 00:34:03.519 And friends, as we said earlier, God has a plan for you. 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:05.299 He's got a purpose for your life. 00:34:05.719 --> 00:34:06.500 You're not an accident. 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:09.079 He's going to use your life for his glory. 00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:11.840 But we, like Abraham, encounter others. 00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:13.420 We stand before God. 00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:18.539 Or will we, like Abraham, encounter others, stand before God on behalf of our city and behalf of the nations? 00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:21.619 Friends, will we plead with God for Hong Kong? 00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:24.340 Will we, like Abraham, wrestle and pray? 00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:26.719 Will we plead with God for our great city? 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:30.380 Will we bring our city before God week in and week out and say, 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:34.019 God, for your glory's sake, we bring Hong Kong before you. 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:35.740 And what about the nations of the world? 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:42.140 God, in India and Australia and Japan and China, God, we pray, come and visit us. 00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:43.519 God, be gracious for us. 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:45.240 God, be merciful to us. 00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:47.680 Friends, will we pray, like Abraham, for our city. 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:50.500 But like Abraham, we need to learn something. 00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:52.340 We need to understand the gospel. 00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:55.420 We need to know both the righteousness and the mercy of God. 00:34:55.420 --> 00:35:02.180 Because if we come to Christ as our great high priest, we have to come and delight in his righteousness and his mercy. 00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:05.780 We have to come and revel in his holiness and his forgiveness. 00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:15.780 We have to come and see in Christ our high priest, both the wonder and the splendor of his forgiveness and his grace and his profound perfection. 00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:18.000 Because if we don't, what will happen? 00:35:18.659 --> 00:35:23.380 If we don't see God's righteousness, we'll come in our own self-confidence. 00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:24.639 We'll come self-righteously. 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:26.500 We'll demand that God hears our prayers. 00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:28.339 Say, God, we prayed for you long enough. 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:29.420 Why aren't you hearing us? 00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:31.839 We'll think that we are entitled to God's favor. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:33.779 We're entitled to his mercy. 00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:43.460 But if we come before God and we just come, we just see God's forgiveness, we just see his mercy, what will we do? 00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:44.579 We'll come in dust and ashes. 00:35:44.839 --> 00:35:47.739 Say, God, we don't really deserve to pray to you. 00:35:48.299 --> 00:35:50.339 God, we don't think that you can hear our prayers. 00:35:50.340 --> 00:35:53.100 And every time we sin, we'll say, God, we are sinners. 00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:57.100 We're not even going to bother to pray because we know you're so holy. 00:35:57.900 --> 00:36:01.700 Friends, if we see both the righteousness of God, we'll come in confidence. 00:36:02.240 --> 00:36:05.800 But if we see the mercy of God, we'll come when we don't feel worthy at all. 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:08.320 Friends, we come to God in Jesus' name. 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:10.780 We come in the name of Christ, our great high priest. 00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:14.460 We don't look down on those that we feel don't deserve it. 00:36:15.140 --> 00:36:17.700 We do pray for those that we find it hard to pray for. 00:36:18.120 --> 00:36:21.720 We pray for those that we're intimidated by and those that we feel don't deserve it. 00:36:22.220 --> 00:36:24.280 But friends, we do this because we come in Jesus' name. 00:36:25.080 --> 00:36:27.940 Can we become a church that Christ has called us to? 00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:34.620 Can we become a church that loves and revels in Christ, our great high priest, full of wonder, full of worship, 00:36:34.620 --> 00:36:38.160 of who he is and what he's done in the cross for us? 00:36:38.580 --> 00:36:39.400 Let's pray together. 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:44.960 Will you, actually, maybe let's stay seated and let's pray together. 00:36:57.840 --> 00:37:02.840 Heavenly Father, as we consider this passage, God, 00:37:02.840 --> 00:37:11.620 it is scandalous to think about the fact that the righteousness of Christ, 00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:16.380 the only righteous one, the only sinless one, 00:37:17.460 --> 00:37:20.940 that Jesus, you willingly and gladly went to the cross, 00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:23.620 that you might pour out your righteousness on us. 00:37:23.619 --> 00:37:29.779 God, we think of David's words in Psalm 51. 00:37:31.179 --> 00:37:34.420 Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love. 00:37:35.359 --> 00:37:38.659 According to your abundant mercy, God, blot out our transgressions. 00:37:39.759 --> 00:37:41.839 God, wash us thoroughly from our sin. 00:37:42.819 --> 00:37:44.019 Cleanse us from our iniquity. 00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:52.940 God, wash us, God, whiter than snow. 00:37:53.800 --> 00:37:56.239 But Jesus, our only hope for this is to come to you. 00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:59.940 And so we do come to you, God. 00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:02.639 We come and we cast ourselves on you. 00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:04.300 We throw ourselves at your feet. 00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:13.180 Jesus, thank you that because of you and your death on the cross, 00:38:13.780 --> 00:38:16.620 our only record is not what we have done, 00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:20.440 but the record of Christ can be attributed to us. 00:38:21.100 --> 00:38:22.360 We revel in that. 00:38:24.060 --> 00:38:28.100 Father, like Abraham, we want to be a church that prays for our city. 00:38:28.200 --> 00:38:30.539 We want to be a church that loves our city. 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:34.739 We want to be a church that makes a difference for your glory, God. 00:38:36.219 --> 00:38:40.119 But God, won't you help us to understand the depth and the extent 00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:42.420 and the magnitude of your gospel grace, God? 00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:44.860 Won't you drive the gospel deep into us? 00:38:44.920 --> 00:38:48.279 Won't you help us to understand you better, Lord God? 00:38:49.199 --> 00:38:52.320 Won't you help us to see both your holiness and your grace? 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:55.860 God, we pray these things in your wonderful name. 00:38:58.019 --> 00:38:58.380 Amen.