WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.379 It is very good to see all of you here this morning and to hear you sing the praises of God. Truly our God is a great God. Let's pray together to Him. Father God, we praise you this morning for your greatness. 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:43.960 Which you have most displayed to us by the Gospel. The person and the work of Jesus Christ. You are the standard for living. You are the great example of holiness. And we have fallen so very short. 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:58.620 But I thank you that in Christ, because of what He's done on our behalf, we can be seen as righteous in your eyes. What a glorious truth to revel in this morning. 00:00:59.160 --> 00:01:13.340 To lie a soak in the fact that we were once your enemies but are now your friends. That all of your promises are yes in Christ. And we are found in Him. 00:01:13.959 --> 00:01:30.419 Father, I pray that in this room, those who know Christ are having their affections turned towards Him as we sing and as I pray and as I preach and we listen to the preaching of Your Word. 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:41.740 And I pray, Father, if anyone here does not know Christ, has not placed saving faith in Him, that this will be the last morning that that would be true of them. 00:01:42.320 --> 00:01:52.000 That they will see that there is no forgiveness of sins apart from Christ. That their destination is destruction apart from Him. 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:57.219 And that they will believe that He is the way and the truth and the life. 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:01.819 And we pray all of this in His precious name. Amen. 00:02:02.900 --> 00:02:11.360 I ask you to take your copy of God's Word, which I hope you have with you this morning, and turn to the book of Romans, chapter 12. 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:16.340 And continue our verse by verse exposition of the book. 00:02:16.480 --> 00:02:23.980 And we've come to some exhortation following 11 chapters of doctrine. 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:26.360 Chapters 1 through the end of 11. 00:02:27.380 --> 00:02:31.400 Paul unfolds for us the beautiful doctrine of the Gospel. 00:02:31.640 --> 00:02:36.100 Justification by faith alone, in Christ alone, forever. 00:02:36.099 --> 00:02:43.979 And he's turned now, at the beginning of chapter 12, to place those truths into practice. 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:47.579 To answer the question, so what? 00:02:47.699 --> 00:02:49.719 So now we know the truths of the Gospel. 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:54.780 How does that change who we are and affect our very living? 00:02:56.299 --> 00:02:59.979 We started in chapter 12, verses 1 and 2. 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:01.219 Let's read that together. 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:02.159 Paul says, 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:31.639 And so we see that our reasonable service to God, 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:35.399 in light of the truth that He has saved us by His Son, 00:03:35.839 --> 00:03:41.619 is to offer ourselves fully to Him as a living sacrifice. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:45.439 To give who we are to His service. 00:03:46.359 --> 00:03:52.259 And as we're doing this, we are to transform by the renewing of our mind, 00:03:52.399 --> 00:03:54.759 so we can discern what is His will. 00:03:55.379 --> 00:04:00.179 And I've said to you that I believe we can apply this truth generally to our living. 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:03.460 How is it that we're meant to make decisions? 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:05.240 Where are we going to go to school? 00:04:05.340 --> 00:04:06.520 What's our major going to be? 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:07.439 Who are we going to marry? 00:04:07.540 --> 00:04:09.780 What job should we take and where should we live? 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:11.480 But more specifically, 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:14.780 Paul is referring to the rest of the book. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:20.180 He's calling us to know the truth of God. 00:04:20.540 --> 00:04:24.620 He's calling us to listen to what it is He has to say to us 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:27.600 in the rest of the letter to the Romans. 00:04:28.280 --> 00:04:32.939 What are the good and acceptable and perfect things he's talking about? 00:04:34.300 --> 00:04:36.079 What we've been studying together. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:40.879 So he goes on to speak about the gifting that God has given to the church. 00:04:40.980 --> 00:04:42.160 The varying graces. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:47.019 And the way in which we work those together to advance the kingdom. 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:49.840 He does that through the end of eight. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:53.979 And then he turns more generally to talk about all Christians. 00:04:54.119 --> 00:05:00.519 How is it that we are meant to carry out this act of being a living sacrifice? 00:05:00.979 --> 00:05:03.620 What does that look like? 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:08.739 And I made the argument to you as we see this list of exhortations 00:05:08.739 --> 00:05:13.799 that the first one, let love be genuine, 00:05:14.039 --> 00:05:16.579 is the overarching exhortation. 00:05:16.579 --> 00:05:20.859 That the things that follow, the exhortations that follow, 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:24.979 are an expounding upon that phrasing. 00:05:25.379 --> 00:05:28.039 Let love be genuine. 00:05:29.159 --> 00:05:32.339 Matthew chapter 22, beginning in verse 36, 00:05:33.299 --> 00:05:34.240 a lawyer asked Jesus, 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:37.120 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:39.279 And Jesus responded to him, 00:05:39.599 --> 00:05:41.680 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:44.120 and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:46.500 This is the great and first commandment. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:47.879 And a second is like it. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:49.879 You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:05:50.259 --> 00:05:54.740 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets. 00:05:55.699 --> 00:06:00.740 So, godliness can be summarized in one word 00:06:00.740 --> 00:06:03.699 if we are going to make it extra simple. 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:06.740 Certainly a challenge to do so, 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:08.459 but if we had to, 00:06:08.780 --> 00:06:11.579 we could summarize godliness by one word, 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:13.959 and that word is love. 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:18.379 But not by our culture's standard of love. 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:21.539 Not the way we would typically think of love 00:06:21.539 --> 00:06:24.419 as we watch the latest romantic comedy. 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:28.879 Not love that's an emotion that makes you feel sappy. 00:06:29.959 --> 00:06:31.659 But an unconditional love, 00:06:31.799 --> 00:06:34.519 a merciful, a self-sacrificial love, 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:36.419 a subservient love, 00:06:36.420 --> 00:06:39.040 that is not dependent on the circumstance. 00:06:41.180 --> 00:06:42.800 This is the love we're talking about. 00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:45.240 Genuine love. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.700 Now, as we look through the end of chapter 12, 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:52.740 and we see this list of exhortations, 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:57.939 I've tried to break it into a logical fashion for us, 00:06:57.939 --> 00:07:00.800 and Chris did a great job last week 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:03.160 of beginning in verse 10 and stopping in 13 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:07.019 to talk about what genuine love looks like to the saints. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:11.459 It's kind of a neat package for us there. 00:07:12.339 --> 00:07:13.759 We get on beyond that, 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:15.639 and 14 through the end 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:19.839 gets a little more difficult to break down in that way. 00:07:19.899 --> 00:07:21.560 So I'm going to kind of overlap 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:26.620 and, yep, do some tricks with the text. 00:07:27.300 --> 00:07:29.639 So today, I want us to focus on 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:31.819 verse 15 and 16, 00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:34.079 which would be genuine love to all people, 00:07:34.340 --> 00:07:35.740 generally, all people. 00:07:36.300 --> 00:07:39.779 And then we'll take 14 and then 17 00:07:39.779 --> 00:07:40.720 through the end of the chapter 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:42.199 to talk about what love, 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:45.199 genuine love looks like to our enemies. 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:48.620 But before we focus our attention in 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:50.660 on verses 15 and 16, 00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:52.920 let's read starting in verse 9 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:55.840 through the end of 16 together. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.740 It's verse 9, chapter 12. 00:07:59.760 --> 00:08:01.920 Let love be genuine. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:03.700 Abhor what is evil. 00:08:03.900 --> 00:08:05.860 Hold fast to what is good. 00:08:06.540 --> 00:08:08.540 Love one another with brotherly affection. 00:08:08.820 --> 00:08:11.160 Outdo one another in showing honor. 00:08:12.100 --> 00:08:13.740 Do not be slothful in zeal. 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:15.060 Be fervent in spirit. 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:16.940 Serve the Lord. 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:18.420 Rejoice in hope. 00:08:18.540 --> 00:08:19.740 Be patient in tribulation. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:21.300 Be constant in prayer. 00:08:21.840 --> 00:08:23.439 Contribute to the needs of the saints. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:25.639 And seek to show hospitality. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:27.759 Bless those who persecute you. 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:29.519 Bless and do not curse them. 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:31.319 Rejoice with those who rejoice. 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:33.620 Weep with those who weep. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:35.740 Live in harmony with one another. 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:37.200 Do not be haughty, 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:38.639 but associate with the lowly. 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:42.039 Never be wise in your own sight. 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:50.000 So, verse 15, the exhortation that begins where we'll be this morning, 00:08:50.599 --> 00:08:53.959 is to rejoice with those who rejoice. 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:57.259 And to weep with those who weep. 00:08:57.259 --> 00:09:03.379 It's a call to share in the emotional response of the people around us. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:09.519 Now, that's an easy thing to do when you sympathize with somebody. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:13.340 Which simply means when you've also been in their shoes. 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:14.139 Right? 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:19.419 When you've experienced the same circumstance that's causing their joy or their sorrow, 00:09:19.659 --> 00:09:21.299 it's fairly easy to connect. 00:09:21.439 --> 00:09:22.120 You've been there. 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:25.960 You understand exactly what's going on in their life. 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:28.120 An example of that would be the loss of a loved one. 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:29.560 If you've ever lost a loved one, 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:33.000 you know the pain of losing somebody that's dear to you. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:35.840 And you can readily sympathize. 00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:40.980 But empathy is a little more difficult than that. 00:09:42.040 --> 00:09:47.180 Empathizing with somebody is the act of trying to understand where they are. 00:09:47.540 --> 00:09:50.240 Not having experienced what they're going through, 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:55.000 but recognizing that what they're experiencing is real to them. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:59.179 The emotion that they're going through exists in their life. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.460 And rejoicing with them. 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:04.679 And weeping with them in those moments. 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:08.320 I struggle with empathy. 00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:12.620 I'm a fairly rational human being. 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:14.919 And I'm going to address this in just a moment. 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:19.620 But I have a hard time because I want to logic my way out of everything. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:24.940 And so if I haven't personally felt the pain that somebody's going through, 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:29.100 I want to quickly give them the formula for not feeling that way any longer, 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:32.000 so we can wipe our hands and move on. 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:40.379 But God changes who we are so that we can empathize with those around us. 00:10:40.419 --> 00:10:45.120 And it's that idea of empathy that I want to primarily speak about today. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:48.980 Here are some reasons, observations. 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:53.940 This is certainly not exhaustive, but some reasons why we struggle with empathy. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:11:02.299 Number one, we are too self-centered to rejoice or weep with others. 00:11:02.980 --> 00:11:08.220 We are so wrapped up in what we have going on in our little universe, 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:14.240 that we just simply don't care about what's going on in other people's lives. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:22.220 We are too self-centered often to really share in the joy and the pain of other people's lives. 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:32.100 Secondly, we feel often above the emotional life of ordinary people. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:42.960 We think ourselves so great that we aren't willing to get down on the same level as those who are hurting. 00:11:43.700 --> 00:11:48.139 We think that we're above feeling deep pain. 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:54.740 Thirdly, we are hypercritical. 00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:59.940 And our main reaction when we see emotion is to analyze it 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:09.799 and to point out its distortions or excesses or poor motivation or shallow roots in the truth. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:13.100 We want to quickly dismiss the way people are feeling 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:17.200 because we just don't think they should feel that way. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:27.680 Fourthly, we are resentful or envious of someone when they're joyful 00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:30.820 because we don't have that same joy. 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:33.720 We feel in some way that we've been passed over. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.440 When something good is happening in someone else's life, 00:12:36.540 --> 00:12:40.840 we fail to rejoice with them because we want good things to happen to us. 00:12:41.020 --> 00:12:44.940 We want what they're experiencing and it's not happening for us. 00:12:44.940 --> 00:12:51.180 And so therefore, we're not willing to share with them in the good things that are happening in their life. 00:12:54.780 --> 00:12:58.720 Fifthly, this is what I was referring to about myself. 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:06.220 We have personalities that do not readily lend themselves to sharing in the emotions of others. 00:13:06.760 --> 00:13:10.520 It's just a challenge for some people to do so. 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:19.460 I think in some way, all of us can find ourselves in one of these. 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:23.259 Again, it's not exhaustive, but just the same. 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:26.759 If we fail to empathize with the people around us, 00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:32.879 in some way, one of these reasons is probably what's going on. 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:39.419 Now, certainly we can give some grace to those who don't readily show empathy due to their personality. 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:46.819 However, it's not an excuse. 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:51.679 I cannot use my personality as an excuse to not empathize, 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:54.360 to not show genuine love to people around me who are hurting. 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:59.519 This is where I lean heavily on the good grace of God 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:02.500 to make me different than I naturally am. 00:14:03.459 --> 00:14:05.679 To break my heart for people. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:10.120 To cause me when I initially react to go rational on people, 00:14:10.199 --> 00:14:12.939 to want to formulize them out of their emotion, 00:14:13.719 --> 00:14:15.679 to have my heart break. 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:18.319 And to sit with somebody and weep with them. 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:22.179 And to rejoice when the good things are happening in their life. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:28.339 But the first four have a very similar root. 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:30.179 And I want to focus on that root. 00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:34.419 And the root of that is the sin of pride. 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.739 It's the sin of pride. 00:14:38.179 --> 00:14:40.399 Such a deceptive sin. 00:14:40.719 --> 00:14:44.959 When we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:49.839 The opposite of which is humility. 00:14:50.479 --> 00:14:54.419 But we must be really careful in our understanding of humility. 00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:59.240 There's a humanistic humility that exists in the world around us. 00:14:59.319 --> 00:15:02.479 And it's that self-effacing humility that's like, 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:03.579 Oh no, no, no. 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:05.059 It's not really that great. 00:15:05.219 --> 00:15:08.459 This talent I have, there's better people at it than I am. 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:12.839 Which typically is actually aimed at how we want others to perceive us. 00:15:13.839 --> 00:15:17.039 So we slough off the good things that are happening, 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.279 the things that we're accomplishing. 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:20.319 Because really we want people to look at us and go, 00:15:20.579 --> 00:15:21.620 He is so humble. 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:28.019 Admire us for the praise we put off someplace else. 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:30.379 It's a humanistic humility. 00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:31.860 It's improper. 00:15:33.659 --> 00:15:39.679 Proper humility finds its root in faith. 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.240 Catch that. 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:46.139 Proper humility finds its root in faith. 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:52.240 In knowing that we have no value apart from Christ. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.159 In Christ, great value. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.100 Infinite value. 00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:57.539 But apart from Christ, no value. 00:15:58.299 --> 00:16:02.819 Sin has utterly distorted who we were created to be. 00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:07.039 In our fallen state, we are depraved. 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:08.299 Are you familiar with that term? 00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:10.859 It's a metalological term. 00:16:11.219 --> 00:16:13.639 Which literally means worthless. 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:18.240 When the impurities, when metals being refined, the impurities float to the top. 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.639 It gets skimmed off. 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:20.299 Right? 00:16:20.459 --> 00:16:23.000 It's the stuff that's not good for making anything. 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:24.279 Right? 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:27.959 And the smith takes that and tosses it aside. 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:33.800 That's the idea of who we are apart from Christ. 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:37.920 But in Christ, we have infinite value. 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:41.320 He is the great restorer of our fallen state. 00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:45.300 At our very core, we were once enemies of God. 00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:50.100 But now we've recognized this truth and we've placed our faith in Him. 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:53.200 That He will restore us to our right standing. 00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:56.159 The place in which God intended us to be. 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.779 His own. 00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.440 His people. 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:02.580 It changes our core. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:06.279 And it causes us to love God and to walk in His ways. 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:09.000 That is proper humility. 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.779 It's faith. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:17.660 The godly Christian life has kind of its own sort of pride. 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:20.560 If you'll let me play with our English words a little bit. 00:17:21.060 --> 00:17:22.140 Kind of have its own sort of pride. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:24.220 It's not a pride that boasts in ourselves. 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:26.600 But rather boasts in who we are. 00:17:27.040 --> 00:17:28.000 In Christ. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:32.180 So the Christian version of pride is humility. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.380 Right? 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:36.920 Proper humility is really the Christian version of pride. 00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:37.820 Right? 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:41.100 To say, I am nothing apart from Christ. 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:45.640 But in Christ, I have infinite value. 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.360 Right? 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:49.900 This is exactly what Paul meant in Galatians 6.14. 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:51.100 When he says, 00:17:51.280 --> 00:17:57.720 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:57.820 --> 00:17:59.680 That is exactly what he's trying to say. 00:17:59.800 --> 00:18:01.380 That is the picture of humility. 00:18:01.520 --> 00:18:05.820 I cannot boast in me, but I certainly can boast in Jesus Christ. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:08.620 And I am found in Him. 00:18:08.619 --> 00:18:08.859 Right? 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:18.179 So this proper humility is necessary for us to love genuinely. 00:18:19.179 --> 00:18:24.119 And the exhortation is that we break when people break. 00:18:24.479 --> 00:18:27.699 And we rejoice with them when they rejoice. 00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:33.759 That we don't think so highly of ourselves that it manifests in these varying ways. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.599 And we become unrelatable. 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:45.079 The arrogance that exists amongst American Christians is staggering. 00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:49.900 We are the most judgmental people. 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:51.460 Right? 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:53.579 People hate that about us. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:59.759 Let them hate Christ, but don't let them hate your judgmental, arrogant attitude. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:08.660 So, if this is so key to properly loving people for rejoicing with those who rejoice, 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:10.619 for weeping with those who weep, right? 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.140 Am I just pulling this randomly? 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:15.299 I just thought I'd take this course with this. 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:19.079 If it's so key, why does Paul not say that here? 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:22.500 Why does he not quickly connect the idea? 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:26.680 And in fact, he really kind of does in verse 16. 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:34.680 But prior to that, recall that he spent 11 chapters doing that. 00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:37.039 If you asked Paul that question, he'd go, 00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:39.160 Were you not listening to me? 00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:45.460 He spent 11 chapters showing us who we are apart from Christ. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:48.680 And now who we are in Him. 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:55.580 The first 11 chapters is very abasing to man and very exalting to Christ. 00:19:55.579 --> 00:20:00.779 By the time we get to the end of chapter 11, flip there, I'm going to read it to you. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:02.879 This is where Paul is moved. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.519 This praise of God. 00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:08.039 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:11.339 How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.039 For who has known the mind of the Lord? 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.199 Or who has been His counselor? 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:17.679 Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:22.000 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:23.899 To Him be glory forever. 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:24.740 Amen. 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:27.880 He exalts God high above man. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.620 The first 11 chapters. 00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:32.099 Now we break it down. 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:37.180 We break it down into smaller sections so that we can consume it more readily. 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:41.980 So that we can wrap our minds around all of the implications of this. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:45.720 I think we've been, since we finished the end of chapter 11, 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:49.759 I think it's been 6 or 7 weeks for us to get to where we are now. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:53.480 It takes us time to consume this and to understand it. 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:57.960 It's translated into our English language, but it was written in an original language. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:02.039 And we have to know that and study it and tear it apart and really take a hard look at it. 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:05.759 But we can't forget there's context behind it all. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:09.480 At the end of 11, Paul says loudly, 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:11.119 Be humble. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:16.319 Your value and worth is tied up in Christ. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:27.399 I fear that I have often, in an attempt to get you to be humble, have neglected to show you your value in Christ. 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:32.100 I've said to you, recognize who you are apart from Christ. 00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:34.820 Don't think too highly of yourself than you ought to. 00:21:35.300 --> 00:21:41.640 And fail to turn and say, but you are of infinite value in Christ. 00:21:43.060 --> 00:21:47.640 And Paul does that for us very carefully in those first 11 chapters. 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:52.220 And so we're to work that out practically. 00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:55.660 Be transformed. 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:57.900 By the renewing of your mind. 00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.980 Do you know this to be true? 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:03.080 Do you know who you were apart from Christ? 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:05.320 And who you now are in Him? 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:09.220 That's going to have implication in your life. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:13.040 Your life will necessarily look differently. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:18.519 If you believe those things to be true, it's going to work out in your life. 00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:21.380 And he's showing us what that will look like. 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:25.840 Praise God he didn't leave it just to work out however we thought best. 00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:29.360 But he said, as it's working out, I'm going to give you the prescription. 00:22:29.800 --> 00:22:31.360 It's going to look like this. 00:22:31.800 --> 00:22:39.280 So continue to check and adjust and make sure that you truly believe the glorious truths of the gospel. 00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:44.920 Do you rejoice with those who rejoice? 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:48.299 And do you weep with those who weep? 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:50.899 Verse 16. 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:56.619 We're going to neglect the phrase, live in harmony with one another. 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.259 And I'm going to address it next week. 00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:01.980 So please know I'm intentionally skipping over it. 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:07.799 And I will try to tie it all together next week by a miraculous work of God. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:08.620 All right. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:12.079 The next two exhortations, though, let's look at these. 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:15.380 Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.680 Never be wise in your own sight. 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.880 So he speaks of pride. 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:25.980 Again, he comes back in to talk about pride one more time as if the first 11 chapters wasn't enough. 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:41.720 He comes back around to talk about pride's effect both on certain tasks and people, the lowly, as well as pride's effect on self, on how we think of ourselves. 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:46.620 So he begins by saying, do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:53.099 To expand this and maybe put my own version on it. 00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:55.199 What is Paul saying to us? 00:23:55.679 --> 00:23:58.619 Don't think changing a diaper is beneath you. 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:10.339 Don't think running an errand or typing a report or sweeping the floor or doing tasks that our culture may call menial or simple. 00:24:11.139 --> 00:24:20.219 Don't think that you're above such things or that you're above the people that do such things. 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.700 Right? 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:20.779 Right? 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:26.160 The lowly includes not just the tasks, but the people themselves. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.100 Right? 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:30.200 The very people that we ought to be spending our days with. 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:38.579 Recently, I had the opportunity to represent Set Free, which is the ministry my dad started and helps run here. 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:41.440 And they were at the Dahlonega prayer breakfast. 00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.299 And they sang. 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:45.720 And I got to come and just bring a little bit of a word to those people. 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:49.419 And had not intended to say this at all, but I did it anyway. 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.379 Which sometimes gets me in a lot of trouble. 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:55.019 And sometimes it's the perfect thing that needed to be said. 00:24:55.659 --> 00:24:59.440 And what I said to these people, and I say to you now, 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:04.359 is that Jesus will not return until he finally comes to conquer and reign. 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:04.659 Okay? 00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.579 So I firmly believe that. 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:11.019 But let's just pretend for a moment that he decided to step off the throne and come down to hang out. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:14.859 He would probably stop by and see us. 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:20.059 He'd make an appearance in our buildings on our Sunday mornings. 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.279 He'd probably step in and say, 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:23.480 Hey guys, how's it going? 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:27.119 But you know where I think Jesus would hang out? 00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:34.460 I think he'd hang out under the bridges where all the Set Free guys go to share the gospel with homeless people. 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:39.160 I think that Jesus would get in the van with the Set Free guys. 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:45.940 And he'd be the one that would lead them in the prayer that the van would make it to their location to do that. 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:51.500 And I don't know about you, but I want to be where Jesus is. 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:55.539 Where he is working these things out. 00:25:55.539 --> 00:26:03.819 I want to associate with the lowly because I believe that's where Jesus would spend all of his time. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:11.059 The phrase here, associate with, is an interesting phrase. 00:26:11.139 --> 00:26:13.079 It's actually only used three times in the New Testament. 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:16.000 And it would have been kind of a shocking phrase. 00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:21.819 It was not a phrase that was used and understood in this particular culture. 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:30.419 Because it means literally to be carried along by or to be carried along with. 00:26:31.919 --> 00:26:39.019 It was the idea that there was something else moving the action. 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.799 Are you with me? 00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:45.379 So it's not just that we choose to associate with the lowly, which we certainly do, 00:26:45.579 --> 00:26:48.559 but that we're actually drawn to do so. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.779 That would have been the idea there. 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:53.619 Is that equally shocking to you? 00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:56.160 I hope not as you sit in this church. 00:26:57.139 --> 00:27:03.200 But to many people, many Christians, this idea would be very shocking. 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:03.759 Wait a minute. 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:07.500 Certainly Paul didn't mean to use those very words. 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:10.740 Moved by the Spirit, he did. 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:13.920 He meant to make us go, okay, wait, what? 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:20.940 We're not only supposed to hang out with the lowly, do the lowly things, 00:27:21.080 --> 00:27:25.920 but we're actually meant to be carried along by, we're meant to be drawn to, 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:30.039 we're meant to be affected, moved, sustained. 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:38.920 And what Paul is saying is that if you are in Christ, you will associate with the lowly. 00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:42.480 That you will be moved to do so. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:50.779 As Christians, we are new creations, and we're being changed from the inside out. 00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:55.759 Previously, I said if we believe the gospel, 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:59.700 if we can actually say of those first 11 chapters, 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:03.940 I fully affirm the truths contained therein. 00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:08.559 It's going to change the way we live. 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:10.319 It will necessarily. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:16.700 If it doesn't, you've stopped believing the gospel. 00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:20.859 That does not mean that you lose your salvation. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:24.579 I do not believe that if you've placed saving faith in Christ, 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:27.679 you will ever lose your salvation. 00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:32.460 It's a great doctrine called the perseverance of the saints. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:36.960 What God has affected, what God has chosen, 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.259 He's placed in His hand, 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:41.900 and nothing and no one, including yourself, 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:44.900 can ever undo what He has done. 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.420 Let me be clear about that. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:50.840 But day to day, we forget the truths of the gospel. 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.840 We stop believing it. 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:56.720 That's why I'm encouraging you. 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:58.900 Preach the gospel to yourself. 00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:01.160 Read your scriptures. 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.600 You can't get very far 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:05.779 without becoming very aware of who you are apart from Christ, 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:07.339 and now who you are in Him. 00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:10.660 Preach the gospel to one another. 00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:12.519 Do it constantly. 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:16.759 If we're to die to ourselves daily, 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:19.480 we must be humbled daily. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:21.519 We must renew our faith. 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:24.000 Repent and believe as a process. 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.079 Turn from sin. 00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:27.319 Turn to Christ. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:29.839 Over and over and over again. 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:33.299 And that's the picture that He's painting for us. 00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:35.059 As you're a new creation, 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:37.259 you're going to look this way. 00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:39.899 The practical implication is 00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:41.079 when you don't look that way, 00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.440 cycle back through. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.700 Repent and believe. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:47.519 Place your haughtiness aside. 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:49.559 Do not be haughty. 00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:52.039 Recognize that your value and your worth, 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.700 the infinite worth that you have, 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:55.279 is found in Christ, 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.740 and you will be compelled 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:58.799 to live rightly, 00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:02.460 to associate with the lowly. 00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:06.099 This type of humility 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:08.039 that moves us to action 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:10.980 is the opposite of pride, 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:12.359 or the opposite of haughtiness, 00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:14.899 as said here in verse 16. 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:19.359 It also exhorts us to not be wise 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.420 in our own sight. 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.920 Not be wise in your own sight. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:26.039 Certainly, 00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:28.720 the way we think 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:31.080 affects the way we live. 00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:33.220 Chapter 12, verse 2. 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:35.940 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:38.580 If you think yourself wise, 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:40.700 if you think yourself brilliant, 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:42.640 the way you think 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:46.279 will affect the way you live. 00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:49.220 The great example of Christ, 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.640 as Paul spells out for us 00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:52.880 in Philippians chapter 2, 00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:54.980 verses 5-8, 00:30:55.560 --> 00:30:55.980 he writes, 00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:58.580 Have this mind among yourselves, 00:30:58.740 --> 00:31:00.900 which is yours in Christ Jesus. 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.680 Catch that language? 00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:05.000 Have this mind among yourselves. 00:31:05.740 --> 00:31:06.180 Repent. 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.000 Believe. 00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:07.800 Repent. 00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:08.560 Believe. 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.120 Repent. 00:31:09.280 --> 00:31:09.600 Believe. 00:31:09.760 --> 00:31:11.840 Because it's yours in Christ. 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:13.820 He has made you new. 00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:16.540 Who, though he was in the form of God, 00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:18.240 did not count equality with God 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:20.500 a thing to be grasped. 00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:22.740 Christ himself 00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:25.559 didn't count equality with God 00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.120 a thing to be grasped, 00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:27.319 but he emptied himself 00:31:27.319 --> 00:31:29.180 by taking the form of a servant, 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:30.720 being born in the likeness of men, 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.960 and being found in human form. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.180 He humbled himself 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:36.519 by becoming obedient to the point of death, 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.359 even death, 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.759 on a cross. 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:40.140 There is the picture. 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:43.420 The great empathy 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:46.379 that Christ showed to us. 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:47.379 Right? 00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:49.500 Could Christ sympathize 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.960 with our sinful fallen state? 00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:51.819 Absolutely not. 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:52.940 He was perfect. 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.759 He was holy. 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:57.480 But he perfectly empathized. 00:31:58.519 --> 00:32:00.200 He's the great example 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:02.339 of weeping 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:05.220 with those who weep. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.460 Those who are broken 00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:07.700 over their sin. 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.920 You remember he cried 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:10.819 for the state of Israel. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:14.960 He's the perfect picture of this. 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.460 And certainly, 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:18.039 he's rejoicing now 00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:19.079 as we rejoice 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:21.640 in our great salvation. 00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:24.160 So, 00:32:24.300 --> 00:32:25.300 as we have understood 00:32:25.300 --> 00:32:27.259 that Paul is expanding for us, 00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:29.140 what genuine love looks like. 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:31.340 And I hope you're tracking me on that. 00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.160 Okay? 00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:33.240 I hope you're tracking me 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:35.259 that this is the umbrella exhortation. 00:32:35.360 --> 00:32:36.900 Let your love be genuine. 00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:37.640 Right? 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:39.340 We can see that genuine love 00:32:39.340 --> 00:32:40.200 is rooted in faith. 00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.360 And it's rooted in faith 00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:43.259 in Jesus Christ. 00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.080 His person 00:32:44.080 --> 00:32:45.100 and His work. 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:47.040 And it is therefore 00:32:47.040 --> 00:32:48.380 a humble love 00:32:48.380 --> 00:32:50.060 that empathizes 00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:50.880 with the sorrows 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:51.880 and joys of others 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:54.480 and willingly participates 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.840 in and with 00:32:55.840 --> 00:32:56.940 the lowly. 00:32:57.420 --> 00:32:58.280 Let's pray together. 00:32:58.280 --> 00:32:58.400 Amen. 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.400 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.400 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.400 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.400 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.400 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.400 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.400 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.400 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.400