WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:15.280 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:40.780 This is a reading from Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 3, verses 28-30, and chapter 4, verses 1-8, and 16-25. 00:00:42.780 --> 00:00:48.020 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:50.659 Or is God the God of Jews only? 00:00:50.659 --> 00:00:53.339 Is he not the God of Gentiles too? 00:00:54.279 --> 00:01:03.519 Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 00:01:05.060 --> 00:01:10.959 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 00:01:11.819 --> 00:01:18.679 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:20.800 What does Scripture say? 00:01:21.300 --> 00:01:25.620 Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:31.720 Now, to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. 00:01:32.780 --> 00:01:40.000 However, to the one who does not work, but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:47.260 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works. 00:01:47.260 --> 00:01:53.560 Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 00:01:54.260 --> 00:01:57.859 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them. 00:01:57.859 --> 00:02:06.939 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring, 00:02:07.739 --> 00:02:12.800 not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:15.360 He is the father of us all. 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:17.360 As it is written, 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:46.660 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead. 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:51.340 Since he was about a hundred years old, and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 00:02:52.480 --> 00:02:55.880 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, 00:02:56.440 --> 00:02:59.620 but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:03.660 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 00:03:04.740 --> 00:03:07.900 This is why it was credited to him as righteousness. 00:03:08.640 --> 00:03:09.600 The words, 00:03:09.600 --> 00:03:14.120 It was credited to him, were written not for him alone, but also for us, 00:03:14.700 --> 00:03:16.360 to whom God will credit righteousness. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:20.720 For us who believe in him, who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:26.760 he was delivered over to death for our sins, and was raised to life for our justification. 00:03:28.660 --> 00:03:30.020 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:30.720 --> 00:03:31.600 Thanks be to God. 00:03:32.980 --> 00:03:34.120 Good morning, everyone. 00:03:34.380 --> 00:03:36.900 My name is Andrew, and I'm one of the pastors here. 00:03:36.900 --> 00:03:40.460 All right, so last week, Jonathan, he got a little bit theological, right? 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:46.300 He explained three important terms that Paul uses in his letter here throughout the church to Rome. 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:51.180 And one of those three terms is a very important concept, probably the most important concept in this letter. 00:03:51.580 --> 00:03:54.540 It's central to Paul's message, and it is the word justification. 00:03:54.539 --> 00:04:02.359 Like, if you get anything out of this sermon series, please, please, please make sure you understand the central aspect of the gospel. 00:04:02.459 --> 00:04:04.939 You have to understand the concept of justification. 00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:10.079 Even for those of us in the room who aren't Christians and don't know if we ever will be Christians, 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:15.319 none of us can avoid the universal relevance of this concept of justification. 00:04:16.180 --> 00:04:21.300 Because, see, no matter what God you believe in, or whether or not you believe in God at all, 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:25.060 I don't care what you tell me, we are all seeking to be justified. 00:04:25.060 --> 00:04:32.780 Yeah, sure, maybe in various different courts of opinion, but in some way or another, we are all seeking to be justified, 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:40.340 to be seen and declared as good and worthy and accepted by whatever court of judgment we most highly esteem. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:43.060 Whether you're seeking to be accepted by some divine being, 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:49.699 or whether we're seeking to be declared as worthy by our parents, our families, our bosses, our peers, or this or that institution, 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:53.199 or maybe we're just seeking justification in our own eyes. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:59.560 We all have some court of judgment, maybe multiple judges from whom we are seeking validation, 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:05.039 and that satisfying stamp of approval confirming to us that we are enough. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:07.060 We all live under that gaze, right? 00:05:07.099 --> 00:05:08.599 The gaze of someone or something. 00:05:08.740 --> 00:05:13.899 We're all seeking justification, a positive verdict upon our lives and our identities. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:18.240 And so two important questions for us to consider this morning are, 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:22.500 who or what are we ultimately seeking to be justified by? 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:26.460 And then how will we be justified in their sight? 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:30.160 You know, how we answer these questions, I believe, will change our lives. 00:05:30.220 --> 00:05:36.259 Because see, ultimately, whoever it is that you are most ultimately seeking justification from, 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:42.240 whoever it is whose opinion and judgment you deem as carrying the highest value, the greatest weight, 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.540 well, functionally, that is your Lord. 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:46.579 Functionally, that is your God. 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:48.420 That is your Master. 00:05:48.540 --> 00:05:50.360 We're all seeking to be justified. 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:55.019 And then whatever Lord you do serve, however you seek to be justified by that Lord, 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:57.660 will ultimately determine how you live, 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:00.199 and how you relate to this Lord and to others, 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:04.500 and how you understand what it means to be righteous and upright and noble and worthy and honorable. 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:11.519 Our understanding of justification, particularly who justifies us and how we are justified, 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:15.959 these are absolutely foundational matters for all of our lives. 00:06:16.579 --> 00:06:20.639 Are we seeking to be justified by our parents, our colleagues, our religious community, 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:24.279 our own inner voices, or are we seeking to be justified by God? 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:29.379 And whichever of these it is, how will we be justified in their sight? 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:32.220 You know, get good grades, get a good job, 00:06:32.220 --> 00:06:36.720 achieve the American dream to be justified in the eyes of my immigrant parents, 00:06:37.440 --> 00:06:41.740 or my boss, or my self-determined standards of success? 00:06:42.580 --> 00:06:45.520 Live a moral or upright, unselfish life, 00:06:45.640 --> 00:06:49.620 sacrificing for others in order to be deemed as righteous in my, you know, 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:52.480 holy religious community, or in the eyes of God himself. 00:06:53.820 --> 00:06:56.580 What Paul has been arguing throughout this whole letter 00:06:56.580 --> 00:06:59.920 is that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:03.300 He is the ultimate standard of justice and righteousness, 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:07.300 the only one whose voice and verdict is true and truly matters, 00:07:07.520 --> 00:07:11.620 and He alone is worthy and able to justify us. 00:07:12.280 --> 00:07:15.360 Even when we've exchanged the truth about God for a lie, 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:17.639 even when we've worshipped and served created things, 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:20.939 even when we've sought ultimate justification from other lords, 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.780 from mere creatures like ourselves, 00:07:23.020 --> 00:07:24.620 Paul's good news to us, 00:07:24.620 --> 00:07:27.420 His good news for us is that in Jesus Christ, 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:29.860 God has revealed not just His mercy, 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:30.879 not just His love, 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:32.040 not just His grace, 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:33.600 but His righteousness. 00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:36.759 A way to be justified in His holy sight, 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:39.860 accepted and honored in His own divine eyes, 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:41.720 the only eyes that really matter, right? 00:07:42.280 --> 00:07:44.500 He has made a way for us to be justified, 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:46.079 and not by the works of the law, 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:47.600 but simply by faith. 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:49.980 And so that brings us to our text today, 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:52.660 starting at the end of chapter 3, verse 28. 00:07:52.660 --> 00:07:54.040 Paul says, 00:07:54.120 --> 00:08:02.120 Just like he said at the beginning, right? 00:08:02.200 --> 00:08:03.860 The righteous will live by faith, 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:05.820 not by diligent obedience to the Torah, 00:08:06.380 --> 00:08:09.760 not by cultural assimilation into the Orthodox culture, 00:08:09.860 --> 00:08:11.300 circumcised Jewish community. 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:13.000 No, the righteous will live, 00:08:13.400 --> 00:08:15.960 the righteous will be justified by faith, 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:17.680 apart from works of the law. 00:08:18.220 --> 00:08:19.900 And so what we have in chapter 4 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:23.959 is Paul's defense of justification by faith. 00:08:24.459 --> 00:08:25.519 And he starts his defense, 00:08:25.919 --> 00:08:27.939 as every good Christian defense should, 00:08:28.179 --> 00:08:29.299 appealing to the Scriptures. 00:08:29.539 --> 00:08:30.219 And in particular, 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:31.679 starting in chapter 4, verse 1, 00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:33.519 he points his readers all the way back 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:35.779 to the great patriarch of the Jewish faith, 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.079 Abraham himself. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:38.379 He basically says, 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:40.120 What might our forefather Abraham 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:41.539 have to say on this matter 00:08:41.539 --> 00:08:43.639 of justification by faith? 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:44.199 Now remember, 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:46.799 even in Jesus and John the Baptist's day, 00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:49.299 Abraham was the OG, 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:49.939 all right? 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:50.659 He was the OG, 00:08:51.100 --> 00:08:52.439 the very ancestor, right? 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:54.519 So many religious people have claimed 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:56.439 as their spiritual forefather, 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:57.600 the original person 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:59.819 that God made his covenant promise with 00:08:59.819 --> 00:09:01.059 to bless his offspring 00:09:01.059 --> 00:09:02.580 and to make him into a great nation 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:04.199 and to bless all the nations 00:09:04.199 --> 00:09:05.379 through his family. 00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:08.200 And this gave many Jewish people, 00:09:08.319 --> 00:09:09.639 particularly reading this letter 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:10.379 to the church in Rome, 00:09:10.439 --> 00:09:11.200 a lot of security 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:13.220 about their status before God. 00:09:13.300 --> 00:09:13.879 They thought that 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:15.680 because they descended from Abraham, 00:09:16.140 --> 00:09:17.940 they were automatically justified. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:19.020 They're automatically good, 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:21.759 included into the covenant community of God. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:23.060 You can read about that 00:09:23.060 --> 00:09:23.720 in the Gospels, 00:09:23.800 --> 00:09:24.720 in Matthew chapter 3, 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:25.820 in John chapter 8. 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:27.240 The Pharisees and the religious leaders 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:28.580 are constantly rejecting 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:29.340 the words of Jesus 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:30.840 and the words of John the Baptist. 00:09:31.300 --> 00:09:31.540 Why? 00:09:32.020 --> 00:09:33.140 Because they think they're good. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:33.900 They think they're fine 00:09:33.900 --> 00:09:35.740 because Abraham is their father. 00:09:36.800 --> 00:09:36.980 And yet, 00:09:37.060 --> 00:09:38.220 what does John the Baptist say 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:39.860 to the Pharisees? 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:41.659 Do not presume, 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:42.080 he says, 00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:43.580 do not presume to say to yourselves, 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:45.580 we have Abraham as our father. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:46.779 For I tell you, 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:48.220 God is able from these stones 00:09:48.220 --> 00:09:50.019 to raise up children for Abraham. 00:09:50.680 --> 00:09:53.080 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance, 00:09:53.539 --> 00:09:54.200 he tells them. 00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:55.980 So what Paul does here 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:57.300 in Romans chapter 4 00:09:57.300 --> 00:09:58.600 is he actually shows his readers 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:00.519 that Abraham himself, 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:02.259 their great forefather, 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:04.779 was justified not by the works of the law, 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:07.440 not by being Jewish or circumcised, 00:10:08.060 --> 00:10:08.920 but by faith. 00:10:08.919 --> 00:10:11.099 Paul quotes here in verse 3 00:10:11.099 --> 00:10:11.839 from the Torah, 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:13.299 Genesis chapter 3, 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:15.360 Genesis chapter 15, verse 6. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:17.240 What does Scripture say? 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:20.419 Abraham believed God 00:10:20.419 --> 00:10:22.740 and it was credited to him 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:23.620 as righteousness. 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:24.339 The Hebrew Scriptures 00:10:24.339 --> 00:10:25.699 didn't say that Abraham 00:10:25.699 --> 00:10:27.399 was justified by being obedient 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:28.939 or hardworking 00:10:28.939 --> 00:10:29.899 or sacrificial 00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:30.939 or pious. 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:32.679 No, Abraham believed God. 00:10:32.779 --> 00:10:33.899 He trusted what God said. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.079 He held on to what God promised 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:38.220 and God justified him. 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:40.160 His faith was credited to him 00:10:40.160 --> 00:10:41.379 as righteousness, 00:10:41.540 --> 00:10:43.300 righteousness in the eyes of God. 00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:44.960 So Paul demonstrates here 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:45.320 to his readers 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:46.520 that the very Hebrew Scriptures 00:10:46.520 --> 00:10:48.180 have taught justification 00:10:48.180 --> 00:10:50.139 by faith all along. 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:51.480 You know, 00:10:51.540 --> 00:10:52.980 what I especially love 00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:54.300 about Paul's argument here 00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:54.960 is that he doesn't just 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:55.940 point to the Scriptures 00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:56.340 and say, 00:10:56.520 --> 00:10:57.860 I've got truth on my side. 00:10:58.139 --> 00:11:00.060 I'm theologically correct. 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:00.960 You've got it wrong 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.280 because just look what it says 00:11:02.280 --> 00:11:03.640 right here in the Holy Book. 00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:05.620 Now at the very same time 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:06.899 as he points to the truth 00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:08.500 and the logic of justification 00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:09.679 by faith 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:10.879 and the authoritative 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:12.000 biblical witness 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:12.639 on his side, 00:11:12.699 --> 00:11:13.740 he also points them 00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:14.960 to the beauty, 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.899 the beauty of justification 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:18.199 by faith. 00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:19.899 And so what I want to do 00:11:19.899 --> 00:11:20.419 with the remainder 00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:20.899 of this sermon 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:22.379 is for us to observe 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:22.939 this argument 00:11:22.939 --> 00:11:23.600 that Paul makes 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:24.240 about the truth 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:25.699 and logic of justification 00:11:25.699 --> 00:11:26.939 by faith 00:11:26.939 --> 00:11:28.460 but also the beauty 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:29.500 of justification 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:30.460 by faith. 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:31.200 And to sum that up, 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:32.120 let me put it like this. 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:34.600 Justification by faith 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:36.720 transforms our gloating 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:37.860 into gratitude, 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.100 our guesses 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:40.159 into guarantees, 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:41.740 and our foes 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:42.360 into family. 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:43.519 I'll say that again. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:44.899 Justification by faith 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:46.220 transforms our gloating 00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:47.019 into gratitude, 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:48.100 our guesses 00:11:48.100 --> 00:11:49.159 into guarantees, 00:11:49.700 --> 00:11:50.519 and our foes 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.419 into family. 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:52.700 Alright, so let's get to 00:11:52.700 --> 00:11:53.360 how does justification 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.279 by faith 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:55.759 transform our gloating 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.659 into gratitude? 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.220 Look with me 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:57.980 at chapter 4, 00:11:58.060 --> 00:11:58.539 verse 2. 00:11:59.159 --> 00:11:59.580 Paul writes, 00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:01.340 if in fact Abraham 00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:02.220 was justified 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:03.080 by works, 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:04.720 well then he 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:05.620 has something 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.420 to boast about 00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:08.160 but not before God. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:09.680 And what Paul 00:12:09.680 --> 00:12:10.379 is arguing here 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:11.220 from verse 2 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:11.920 to all the way 00:12:11.920 --> 00:12:12.360 to 16 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.379 is that if justification 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:14.879 is not by faith, 00:12:15.400 --> 00:12:16.120 if justification 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.480 is by works, 00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:18.960 by diligent effort 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:19.480 to obey, 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:20.600 and by cultural 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:21.340 assimilation 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:22.460 into Jewishness, 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:23.800 then those who 00:12:23.800 --> 00:12:24.340 are justified 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:25.640 would have every reason 00:12:25.640 --> 00:12:26.580 to boast 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:27.520 and to gloat 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.659 about their justification. 00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:30.500 Like even before God, 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:31.100 they could boast 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:31.699 that they basically 00:12:31.699 --> 00:12:33.039 justified themselves 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:33.840 in God's sight 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:34.720 by doing the right 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:36.100 things themselves. 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:38.139 But, you know, 00:12:38.199 --> 00:12:38.980 as Harvard Law 00:12:38.980 --> 00:12:40.179 professor Michael Sandel 00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:41.100 points out in his book 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:41.899 The Tyranny of Merit, 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:42.779 the more we think 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:43.379 of ourselves 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.899 as self-made 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:45.960 and self-sufficient, 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:47.539 the harder it actually 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:48.639 is to learn gratitude 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:50.139 and humility. 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:51.600 Because, 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:52.360 think about it, 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.100 if people are justified 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:53.819 by the works 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:54.600 they do, 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:56.779 they could view God 00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:57.740 as owing them 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.480 justification. 00:12:58.820 --> 00:12:59.379 Look at verse 4. 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.100 Now, to the one 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:00.920 who works, 00:13:01.580 --> 00:13:03.180 wages are not credited 00:13:03.180 --> 00:13:03.920 as a gift 00:13:03.920 --> 00:13:05.500 but as an obligation. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.080 See, if justification 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:09.040 is not by faith 00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:10.100 but by the works 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:10.519 of the law, 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:11.720 then creatures like us 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:12.940 could point our fingers 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:13.879 into the heavens, right, 00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:14.180 and say, 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:14.920 O Creator, 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:16.580 hello, right, 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:17.840 you're obligated 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:18.840 to justify us 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:19.519 because of the works 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:20.080 we've accomplished. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.519 You ought to reward us, 00:13:21.560 --> 00:13:22.740 you ought to congratulate us, 00:13:22.800 --> 00:13:23.160 you ought to, 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:24.220 you owe us 00:13:24.220 --> 00:13:24.720 justification, 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:25.720 you're obligated 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:26.420 because look at 00:13:26.420 --> 00:13:27.759 what we have done. 00:13:29.180 --> 00:13:29.460 But now, 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.019 does that sound 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:31.279 like an appropriate posture 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:32.560 toward our maker, 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:33.980 toward the one 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:35.480 who holds the world together 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:36.560 and sustains the breath 00:13:36.560 --> 00:13:37.240 in our lungs? 00:13:37.300 --> 00:13:38.139 Does it make sense 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:38.980 that creatures, 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.139 particularly sinful creatures, 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:42.680 might be able to gloat 00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:43.740 before God 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:45.100 and obligate Him 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:45.840 to do anything? 00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:47.180 No. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.200 That's why verse 2 says, 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:50.300 but not before God. 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:51.480 For creatures, 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:52.740 the gloat before their Creator 00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:53.740 is madness. 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:54.580 It's nonsense. 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:55.539 As the psalmist says, 00:13:55.779 --> 00:13:57.519 it is He who has made us 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.320 and not we ourselves. 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:01.240 If justification 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:02.320 is not by faith 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.159 but by works, 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.700 then we would be relating 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:05.080 to God 00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:06.519 not as grateful children 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.620 before our benevolent 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.799 and gracious Father, 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:10.220 but as gloating employees 00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:11.360 before our dutiful, 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:12.899 divine boss. 00:14:13.820 --> 00:14:14.620 And that's what verse 4 00:14:14.620 --> 00:14:15.259 is getting at. 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.700 To the one who works, 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:18.299 wages are not credited 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.279 as a gift 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:20.480 but as an obligation, 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.379 a mere business transaction. 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.620 If justification 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.399 is by works, 00:14:24.439 --> 00:14:25.019 it is earned 00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:25.639 and not something 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.720 to be grateful for. 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:27.600 Like really, 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:27.980 who here, 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.840 when they receive 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:29.820 their paycheck, 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:31.139 writes a nice thank you note 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:31.700 to their employer? 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:32.639 Anyone do that here? 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.039 Every single time? 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.039 Anyone? 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:36.860 Heck no, right? 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:37.759 No. 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:38.980 That wasn't a gift. 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:39.799 You earned it. 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:40.299 Your paycheck, 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:40.820 your wages 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:41.779 were due to you, 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:42.279 owed to you 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.820 because of your work. 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.259 And also, 00:14:45.439 --> 00:14:46.039 think about how this 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:46.960 affects your relationships, 00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:47.360 right? 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.019 Your relationship 00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:48.679 with your employer. 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:49.239 Your relationship 00:14:49.239 --> 00:14:51.120 is not based on benevolence 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.259 and gifts of grace 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:52.839 and mercy 00:14:52.839 --> 00:14:54.259 but on merit 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:56.459 and transactional exchanges 00:14:56.459 --> 00:14:57.339 for the sake 00:14:57.339 --> 00:14:58.839 of mutual benefit, 00:14:58.959 --> 00:14:59.099 right? 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:00.120 Your relationship 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:00.779 isn't primarily 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.479 one of gratitude 00:15:01.479 --> 00:15:02.339 and humility 00:15:02.339 --> 00:15:04.299 but of consumeristic 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:06.359 and capitalistic exchange. 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:07.559 Now, 00:15:07.599 --> 00:15:08.279 I don't want to be 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:08.879 overly critical 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.979 of this kind of relationship 00:15:09.979 --> 00:15:10.659 but I do want us 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:11.059 to consider, 00:15:11.479 --> 00:15:12.120 is this the kind 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:12.679 of relationship 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:13.979 we want and long for 00:15:13.979 --> 00:15:15.059 with God? 00:15:16.079 --> 00:15:16.740 A primarily 00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:18.279 transactional relationship 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:19.459 based on merit 00:15:19.459 --> 00:15:20.759 and performance. 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:23.259 In verses 5 to 8, 00:15:23.339 --> 00:15:24.100 Paul shows us 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.000 how justification 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.699 by faith 00:15:25.699 --> 00:15:26.339 before God 00:15:26.339 --> 00:15:27.279 is so much better. 00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:28.299 It's so much better 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.159 than justification 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.299 by the works 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.019 of the law. 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.139 Verse 5, 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.339 However, 00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:34.419 to the one 00:15:34.419 --> 00:15:35.319 who does not work 00:15:35.319 --> 00:15:36.299 but trusts God 00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:37.039 who justifies 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:38.179 even the ungodly, 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.439 their faith 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.360 is credited 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:41.459 as righteousness. 00:15:41.699 --> 00:15:42.139 Paul shows 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.319 not only from Genesis 00:15:43.319 --> 00:15:43.980 in the Torah 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.220 but also from the Psalms 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.419 that the great king David 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:47.259 just like Abraham 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:48.580 also understood 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.580 that justification 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:50.819 has to be 00:15:50.819 --> 00:15:51.559 by faith. 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:52.080 Verse 6, 00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:53.480 David says the same thing 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:53.960 when he speaks 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:55.039 of the blessedness 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:55.740 of the one 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.439 to whom God 00:15:56.439 --> 00:15:57.840 credits righteousness 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.120 apart from works. 00:15:59.139 --> 00:15:59.840 And notice that word 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:01.100 blessedness right there. 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.480 That word blessedness. 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.240 Again, 00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:04.319 when you get your paycheck, 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:05.779 sure you might say 00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:06.779 that God blessed me 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:07.319 with a job 00:16:07.319 --> 00:16:08.279 in the first place 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:08.899 but you don't say 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:10.279 my employer blessed me 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:10.899 with a paycheck 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.620 this week. 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:12.399 Right? 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:14.600 That's what your employer 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:15.799 contractually agreed 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:16.579 to pay you 00:16:16.579 --> 00:16:17.840 contingent upon your work, 00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:19.319 contingent upon your performance. 00:16:20.319 --> 00:16:20.699 But see, 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:21.679 if justification 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.779 is by faith, 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.899 we can truly call 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:25.559 justification 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.659 a blessing. 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:27.779 Like it's something 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:28.419 to actually be 00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.259 thankful for, 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:29.939 grateful for, 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.659 not a commission 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.639 that's owed to us 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:33.139 that we might gloat about. 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:33.600 Like, 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.740 check out my commission 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.480 this month. 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:36.039 No. 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:37.720 Here the psalmist 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.519 says in verse 7, 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.579 blessed are those 00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:40.539 whose transgressions 00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.419 are forgiven, 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.299 whose sins are covered. 00:16:43.439 --> 00:16:43.759 Verse 8, 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.679 blessed is the one 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.480 whose sin the Lord 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.299 will never account 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:47.519 against them. 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:48.679 See, 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.740 in justification by faith 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.480 apart from works, 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.799 our debts are forgiven 00:16:51.799 --> 00:16:53.220 at someone else's expense. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:53.939 Right? 00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.919 Our sins are covered 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:56.720 by someone else's blood. 00:16:56.819 --> 00:16:57.659 Our sin is not counted 00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:58.340 against us 00:16:58.340 --> 00:16:58.960 because the Lord 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:00.159 has laid on his Son 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:01.299 the iniquity 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:02.779 of us all. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:03.519 Right? 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.440 Put it to death 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.119 on the cross. 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:06.839 That's what he's done 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:07.579 for us 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.480 in our place. 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.160 Verse 16, 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:10.579 therefore, 00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.420 the promise comes 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.220 by faith 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:15.180 so that it may be 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:16.240 by grace. 00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:17.960 You see, 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.599 justification by faith 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:21.000 is ultimately 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:22.099 justification 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.720 by grace. 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.960 And if we are justified 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:27.379 not by our performance 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.240 but by grace, 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:29.480 the costly grace 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.660 of Christ crucified 00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.619 for our sins 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:33.819 when he had no sins 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:34.700 of his own, 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.099 then all boasting, 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:36.759 all gloating 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.539 is excluded. 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.180 Right? 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.720 All of our gloating 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.920 is transformed 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.579 by justification 00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.180 by faith 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:42.920 into gratitude. 00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:45.019 For those who are 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.059 justified by faith 00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:46.500 in Christ, 00:17:46.639 --> 00:17:48.359 crucified for their sins, 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.559 for our sins, 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.339 our only boast 00:17:50.339 --> 00:17:51.460 could possibly be 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.579 the cross 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.619 of Christ. 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.319 And do you know 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:55.960 what this does 00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:57.720 when we internalize 00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.220 justification 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.359 by faith 00:17:59.359 --> 00:17:59.799 and realize 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.779 that our only boast 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:02.059 could possibly be 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:02.879 the cross? 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.500 Tim Keller 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.379 said something like this. 00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:05.620 He said, 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:06.720 if you build your life 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:08.400 on being justified 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.120 by anything 00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:09.700 or anyone 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.480 other than God, 00:18:10.540 --> 00:18:11.340 such as your colleagues, 00:18:11.600 --> 00:18:12.080 the crowds, 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:13.080 or a romantic partner, 00:18:13.300 --> 00:18:14.260 it will distort you, 00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:15.400 it will puff you up. 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.000 If you get it, 00:18:16.040 --> 00:18:16.980 it will create conflicts 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.800 in this world, 00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:18.320 it will make you 00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:19.160 a slave to it. 00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:21.240 And if you ever lose it, 00:18:21.280 --> 00:18:22.180 you'll kill yourself 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.680 or you'll hate yourself. 00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:25.540 There is only one 00:18:25.540 --> 00:18:26.460 kind of justification 00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:27.940 that doesn't puff up, 00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:29.120 that you cannot lose, 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:29.980 that heals you 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:31.200 instead of rots your soul, 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.080 and that is the 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:33.699 justification of God. 00:18:34.639 --> 00:18:35.659 The minute you begin 00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:36.299 to understand 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:37.139 that in Christ 00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:38.579 you have God's applause, 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:39.699 God's praise, 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:41.819 God's thunderous affirmation, 00:18:42.099 --> 00:18:42.579 adoration, 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.279 honor, 00:18:43.439 --> 00:18:44.259 and acclamation 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.139 by grace 00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:45.960 through what Christ 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.379 has done, 00:18:46.419 --> 00:18:47.139 not on the basis 00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:48.220 of your performance, 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.119 on the one hand, 00:18:49.179 --> 00:18:49.879 that destroys 00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:51.159 your inferiority 00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:52.240 complex forever, 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.159 and on the other hand, 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.059 it humbles you 00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:56.599 and drowns your pride 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.960 deeper and deeper 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.699 and deeper. 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.579 That's the dynamic 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.259 of justification 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.200 by faith. 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.180 It inspires humility 00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:04.920 and confidence 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.660 at the same time 00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.640 like nothing else. 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.740 Zero reason to gloat, 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:10.640 every reason to be grateful, 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.779 that's what justification 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:13.420 by faith does. 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.099 And get this, 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:16.079 not only does justification 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:17.079 by faith transform 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:17.660 our gloating 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:18.500 into gratitude, 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.660 but also our guesses 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:20.940 into guarantees. 00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:22.440 Look with me 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.599 at verse 16 again. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.379 See, 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:26.839 the promise 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.899 comes by faith 00:19:27.899 --> 00:19:29.439 so that it may be 00:19:29.439 --> 00:19:30.139 by grace 00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:32.719 and may be guaranteed. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.559 Guaranteed. 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:35.619 See, 00:19:35.699 --> 00:19:36.179 if justification 00:19:36.179 --> 00:19:38.439 is not by faith, 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.759 then this not only 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.099 excludes the possibility 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:41.719 of grace 00:19:41.719 --> 00:19:42.459 and gratitude, 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:43.319 but if justification 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:44.500 wasn't by grace 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:44.980 through faith, 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:46.299 it also couldn't be 00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.339 guaranteed to us. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:48.339 See, 00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.379 the beauty of justification 00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:50.339 apart from the works 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.019 of the law 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.839 is that the initiative 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:53.019 doesn't rest on me 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.440 in my fallibility 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.500 and in my finitude, 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:56.440 but in the strong, 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.079 mighty, 00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:58.319 and more than capable 00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:00.160 hands of our mighty God. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.279 Like, 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.700 what is a surer thing? 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:03.960 Justifying myself 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:05.779 through my diligent works 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.220 or being justified 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:08.099 by God 00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:09.460 by His grace 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.619 through faith? 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.279 Think about that 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.779 for a second. 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:13.819 You know, 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.579 throughout this series, 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.259 we've been referring 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.400 to Jesus' parable 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:17.839 of the two sons, right? 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:18.960 About that one 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.639 who ran away 00:20:19.639 --> 00:20:21.000 and wasted his 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.480 inheritance 00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.579 and the older son 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.339 who worked so hard, 00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:23.480 right, 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.240 for so long 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:25.500 living obediently 00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:26.319 to his father. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.980 And maybe you remember 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.480 this line 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.200 that the older son 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.640 angrily shouts 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:32.799 to his prodigal father 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.539 who had just slaughtered 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.359 the fattened calf 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:36.619 for his wayward son 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:37.779 who just returned home. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.619 The older brother says 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.339 to his father, 00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:41.180 look, 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:42.799 these many years 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:44.000 I have served you 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.640 and I never disobeyed 00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:46.299 your command, 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.900 yet you never gave me 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.819 a young goat 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:50.380 that I might celebrate 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:51.540 with my friends. 00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:53.620 And I want us 00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.300 to sympathize 00:20:54.300 --> 00:20:55.040 with this older brother 00:20:55.040 --> 00:20:55.780 here for a second. 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.700 Imagine him, right? 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.400 Toiling faithfully 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.020 every day. 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:00.540 He never disobeyed. 00:21:01.020 --> 00:21:01.900 Never, it says. 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:02.620 That's amazing. 00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:03.920 It's amazing, right? 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.160 And yet he's toiling 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:07.280 and he's toiling 00:21:07.280 --> 00:21:07.880 and yet also 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.640 never knowing 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:10.520 if he's obeyed 00:21:10.520 --> 00:21:11.160 enough, 00:21:11.760 --> 00:21:13.060 if he's performed 00:21:13.060 --> 00:21:14.640 at a high enough level. 00:21:14.760 --> 00:21:15.120 And therefore, 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.780 every day, 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.380 he's been guessing, 00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:19.380 guessing whether or not 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.380 this might be the day 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:21.180 that his father 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.280 might just give him 00:21:22.280 --> 00:21:23.820 a young goat. 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:25.560 But it's always 00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:26.680 ever a guess, right? 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.540 Never a guarantee 00:21:27.540 --> 00:21:29.440 and he's forever waiting 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.640 because of how he understands 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:33.040 that he will be justified 00:21:33.040 --> 00:21:34.840 in the eyes of his father. 00:21:35.560 --> 00:21:36.560 See, the older brother 00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:37.620 seeking to be justified 00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:39.180 by his works of obedience, 00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:41.620 he's unable to appreciate 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:43.100 justification by grace 00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:43.700 through faith. 00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:45.460 Because of his understanding 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:46.539 of how he will be justified 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.779 in the eyes of his father 00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.380 through his works, 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:49.819 he had to live his whole life 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:51.559 guessing whether he even 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.420 was justified. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.160 Even justified enough 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.759 to merit a young goat. 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:57.480 He was never sure, 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.740 always guessing. 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:00.960 You know, I wonder 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.180 if maybe that's how 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:03.299 some of us here 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.039 feel today. 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:06.000 Always guessing 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.940 about our status 00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.740 with God 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:09.860 or whatever is 00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:11.100 functionally our Lord 00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:11.840 and God, right? 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.159 And I was counseling 00:22:13.159 --> 00:22:14.079 someone this week, 00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:14.879 probably the brightest 00:22:14.879 --> 00:22:16.339 Cal student that I've met 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.199 in my time here 00:22:17.199 --> 00:22:18.720 and she described herself 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:20.619 as having religious OCD. 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.819 Never, you know, 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.819 sure, 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:25.319 never sure of her status 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:25.859 with God. 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.480 Incredibly bright. 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.819 She's read tons 00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.579 of religious literature 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.639 seeking confirmation, 00:22:31.199 --> 00:22:32.019 always questioning 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.119 whether she was right 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:34.359 and worthy in God's eyes, 00:22:34.459 --> 00:22:35.579 whether he loved her 00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:36.359 and was truly willing 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:37.579 to be her personal God, 00:22:37.699 --> 00:22:38.539 like whether she could 00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:39.259 call him her own 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.000 and whether he actually 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.359 called her his own. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.379 And as your pastor, 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.559 I know that many of you 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.240 here can relate 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.859 to this religious OCD 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.980 because it is true 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:49.119 none of us 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.199 has clean hands. 00:22:51.179 --> 00:22:51.939 And this eats at our 00:22:51.939 --> 00:22:52.839 consciences daily, 00:22:52.919 --> 00:22:53.339 doesn't it? 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.240 But the beauty 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:56.039 of the gospel 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:57.799 is that our justification 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:59.259 in the eyes of God 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.059 does not depend 00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.740 on our own 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.919 self-exertion 00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:02.619 but simply 00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.819 upon the firm 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:05.419 promise of God. 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.339 We can be justified, 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.319 we can be right 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:08.099 and accepted 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:08.980 with God 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:10.699 simply by faith. 00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:12.440 simply by trusting 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.440 what God says. 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:15.620 We don't have to live 00:23:15.620 --> 00:23:16.640 guessing about 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.319 our performance, 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.519 we can live by faith 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.900 in God's gracious 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:20.759 guarantee, 00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:22.519 already paid for 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.360 by Christ, 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.700 our perfect older brother. 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.680 Our perfect older brother. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:29.420 Now we must not miss 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:29.880 how justification 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:31.420 by faith also affects 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.299 not just our vertical 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.380 relationship with God, 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.580 but our horizontal 00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:35.319 relationship 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:36.439 with one another. 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:38.000 Rightly understood, 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.879 justification by faith 00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.919 also transforms 00:23:40.919 --> 00:23:41.980 our foes 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:42.939 into family. 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:44.599 Verse 16 again. 00:23:45.419 --> 00:23:46.119 The promise comes 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:46.740 by faith 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:48.179 so that it may be 00:23:48.179 --> 00:23:48.740 by grace 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.579 and may be guaranteed 00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.859 to all 00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:52.119 Abraham's offspring. 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:52.419 Listen, 00:23:52.659 --> 00:23:53.679 not only to those 00:23:53.679 --> 00:23:54.500 who are of the law 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:54.839 or, you know, 00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:55.740 like circumcised, 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.179 but also to those 00:23:57.179 --> 00:23:58.319 who have the faith 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.179 of Abraham. 00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:00.220 He is the father 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.559 of us all. 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:03.059 You see, 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.960 if justification 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:05.379 is not by faith, 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.759 but by works 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.319 of the law, 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.559 or really like 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:10.279 by functionally 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.119 becoming Jewish, 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.319 right, 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:12.000 that's what it means 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.700 to engage in the 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.159 works of the law, 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.259 then basically 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.359 every nation, 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:15.839 tribe, 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.299 people, 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.579 would pretty much 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.639 have to become Jewish 00:24:18.639 --> 00:24:20.240 in order to be right 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.159 with God. 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.159 They would need 00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:22.759 to eat culture, 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.339 all the men 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.819 would need to be 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.399 circumcised, 00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.079 and on and on 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:26.259 according to the Torah, 00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:26.859 right? 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.339 And thus the Jewish 00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:29.079 people could rightly 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:30.099 assert and gloat 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:31.039 about their cultural 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.879 supremacy, 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.859 for their national 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:34.799 and cultural identity 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.440 would be their 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:35.859 righteousness, 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:36.980 even giving them 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.220 reason to mistreat 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.279 and villainize 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.960 and demonize 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.960 all other cultures 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.980 as inferior. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.440 Justification by works 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.319 gives us reason 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.000 to gloat, 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.019 reason to dominate 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.700 and oppress, 00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:48.119 right, 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.099 with violence. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:51.180 But Paul argues 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.899 Abraham and his people 00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:54.099 were never actually 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.599 justified, 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.639 never made right 00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.220 with God 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:57.159 because of who 00:24:57.159 --> 00:24:57.759 they were, 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.059 because of the things 00:24:59.059 --> 00:24:59.559 they did, 00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:00.440 but only ever 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.480 by faith. 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.779 It's always been 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.299 by faith. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.519 Now you might have 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.539 noticed we skipped 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.440 over verses 9 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.140 through 15 00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:08.200 for the sake of time, 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.980 but if I could just 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.980 sum that up 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.940 briefly, 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:11.700 what Paul argues 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.779 there is that 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.480 if you read the book 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:13.900 of Genesis 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.779 about the life 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.380 of Abraham, 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.059 right here you'll see 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.100 that Genesis 15 00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:19.059 is quoted by Paul 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.740 in verse 3. 00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:20.180 He quotes 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.740 Genesis chapter 15 00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.799 where God justifies 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:24.059 Abraham by faith. 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.299 Abraham's justification 00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:27.839 comes in chapter 15 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:28.680 and it comes 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:30.819 before his circumcision 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:32.159 which happens 00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:33.639 in chapter 17. 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:34.700 And it also happens 00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:36.119 like hundreds of years 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:37.879 before Moses 00:25:37.879 --> 00:25:38.940 and the law. 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.779 And so Paul 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.680 is making an argument 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.599 just like Jesus, 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.519 just like John the Baptist 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.700 that the true children 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.500 of Abraham, 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.559 the true children 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.299 of the covenant 00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:48.220 and of God's promises, 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.019 the true heirs 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.940 of God 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.960 are not those 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:52.139 who share Abraham's 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.340 faith. 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.400 You know, 00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.200 as a kindergartner 00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.620 in church, 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:00.380 I remember the first time 00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:00.980 I heard the song, 00:26:01.320 --> 00:26:02.060 Father Abraham 00:26:02.060 --> 00:26:03.080 had many sons 00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:04.780 and I am one of them 00:26:04.780 --> 00:26:05.500 and so are you 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.460 and I had no idea 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.480 what that song was about. 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.880 It made no sense to me. 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:10.480 No, my dad is Dennis Ong, 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.120 all right? 00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:14.080 But it was because 00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:14.860 I hadn't read 00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.360 and understood 00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:16.300 the Apostle Paul. 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.800 Verse 17, 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.020 as it is written, 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.520 I have made you 00:26:20.520 --> 00:26:22.000 a father of many nations 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:23.519 He is our father 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.559 in the sight of God 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:26.539 in whom he believed. 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:27.819 You see, 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.460 justification by faith 00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:30.579 is what God 00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:31.779 always had in mind 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:33.180 when he promised Abraham 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:34.400 that he would make him 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.059 a great nation 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:35.720 and a blessing 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.559 to all the nations. 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.599 God did not have 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.720 cultural supremacy 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.220 or imperialism in mind 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:41.259 but a gift of grace. 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:43.480 Justification not by being Jewish 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.799 but by faith 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:46.400 in the God of Abraham. 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:48.279 And this is the basis 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.000 for Christianity 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.980 really being the most 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:51.019 diverse movement 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:52.299 in all of history. 00:26:53.059 --> 00:26:54.099 I recently met someone 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:55.299 here at Christ Church 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:56.099 who is not a Christian 00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:57.599 but fairly interested 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.660 in Christianity. 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.599 His family comes from Iran 00:27:00.599 --> 00:27:01.740 and he actually sent me 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.839 a YouTube video recently 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:04.379 about how Christianity 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:05.940 is booming in Iran 00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:07.079 and how a lot of people 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.799 don't know about it. 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.299 And one thing 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:10.420 that this guy alluded to 00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.339 that was mentioned 00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:12.099 in this video 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:13.879 was how Iran is unique. 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.680 It's unique because 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:16.160 it is a Muslim country 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:17.639 but it also has 00:27:17.639 --> 00:27:18.940 its own distinct culture. 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:20.660 Like most Muslim countries 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.759 are Arab cultures 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:23.140 but Iran is distinct 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:24.500 because it's a Muslim country 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.680 that has a distinctly 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.559 Persian culture. 00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:28.559 Like that region of Iran 00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:29.320 was Persian 00:27:29.320 --> 00:27:30.900 long before it was Muslim. 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.759 But now if you know 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.720 anything about Islam 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:35.720 basically to become Muslim 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.580 you pretty much have to 00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.700 become Arab 00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.680 in some way. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:41.759 Like according to Islam 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.779 if you've read 00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.640 even the Quran 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.640 in another language 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.299 other than Arabic 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:46.440 you haven't actually 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:47.360 read it. 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:48.840 And so how that's 00:27:48.840 --> 00:27:49.660 played out in Iran 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.259 or I should say 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:51.420 in the Islamic Republic 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.200 of Iran 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:52.840 is that Islam 00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:54.400 and the Arabic culture 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.799 with it have been imposed 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:57.380 on these Persian people. 00:27:58.440 --> 00:27:59.559 And so many Iranians 00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.420 like increasingly more 00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:00.900 each year 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:01.900 have found Christianity 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.860 to be a faith 00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.440 that doesn't 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:05.019 imperialistically oppress 00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:07.400 or culturally impose itself 00:28:07.400 --> 00:28:08.680 but rather refreshingly 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.380 liberates 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:10.279 and affirms 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:11.680 them as Persians 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.360 in a way that 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.160 Shia Islam 00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:14.400 their official state religion 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.640 never could do. 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.220 Many Iranians 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.740 are realizing 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.640 that with Christianity 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:20.480 they can be justified 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.700 and in right relationship 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.280 with God 00:28:22.280 --> 00:28:23.519 not by becoming Arab 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:25.320 or becoming Jewish 00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:27.019 but they can be justified 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:28.140 by faith 00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:29.540 as Persians 00:28:29.540 --> 00:28:31.140 just like the Chinese 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:32.580 just like the Nigerians 00:28:32.580 --> 00:28:33.680 and just like the Germans. 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.759 And see my point here 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.340 is that justification 00:28:36.340 --> 00:28:37.120 by faith 00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:38.460 and not by adherence 00:28:38.460 --> 00:28:39.680 to Moses' Torah 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.980 it's not just 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.480 a powerful 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.680 personal spiritual truth 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.080 about you 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.899 and some high God 00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:44.599 in the heavens 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:46.059 but it has amazing potential 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:48.199 to bring the nations together 00:28:48.199 --> 00:28:49.059 without destroying 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:50.319 their differences either. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:51.919 Justification 00:28:51.919 --> 00:28:52.699 by the one 00:28:52.699 --> 00:28:53.639 and same faith 00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.579 in the Lord Jesus Christ 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:55.919 unlike anything else 00:28:55.919 --> 00:28:57.199 can transform 00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:58.379 has transformed 00:28:58.379 --> 00:28:59.819 foes into family 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.899 even people from nations 00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:01.460 at war 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.199 with each other 00:29:02.199 --> 00:29:03.019 for centuries. 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.740 The horizontal good news 00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.379 of justification 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.079 by faith 00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:08.039 is that this God 00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:09.519 can be your God 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:12.139 and your super different 00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:13.119 neighbor's God 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:14.579 at the same time 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:16.319 even if the only thing 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.079 you have in common 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:18.220 is your faith 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.099 in Christ 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:19.960 this Christ 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:21.240 who in his own body 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.079 took down 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.980 the dividing wall 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.660 of hostility 00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:25.259 and bore our sins 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.420 the sins of the nations 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.339 against each other 00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.000 and nailed them 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.920 to the cross 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:30.220 and this is the beauty 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.119 of justification 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:32.339 by faith. 00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.660 It transforms 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.319 our gloating 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.039 into gratitude 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:35.839 our guesses 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.639 into guarantees 00:29:36.639 --> 00:29:37.579 and our foes 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.500 into family. 00:29:38.500 --> 00:29:40.160 Now maybe 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.140 hopefully 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:42.859 you've been convinced 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:44.140 of the beauty 00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.839 of justification 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.619 by faith 00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:46.880 apart from the works 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.420 of the law 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:48.740 and maybe you even 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.920 want to believe it 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:51.519 but I also recognize 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.420 that for many of us 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.339 both those of us 00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:54.500 who identify as Christians 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.200 and those of us 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.880 who don't 00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:56.579 for all of us 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.200 really justification 00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:58.000 by faith 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.960 might sound beautiful 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:01.039 but I think for a lot of us 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.740 it also might sound 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:03.539 actually harder to believe 00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:05.039 than justification 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:06.200 by works. 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.720 Maybe even 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.940 too good to be true. 00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:10.819 And if that's you 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.299 this morning 00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:12.480 I just want to close 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.279 by begging you 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.140 to consider 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:15.960 what if justification 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.960 by faith 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:18.079 isn't too good 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.620 to be true? 00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:20.039 What if justification 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.160 by faith 00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:21.960 might actually be 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.740 too good 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:24.059 to not be true? 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:26.420 Like I get it 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.160 faith is hard. 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.480 Faith is hard. 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:28.980 I've been walking 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:29.440 with some of you 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.380 for a couple years now 00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.960 and you're wanting 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.440 to be there 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:33.200 but you're not there. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:35.539 that the faith 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:35.920 you realize 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:36.500 it really 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.160 very much 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:37.680 is a gift 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.240 from God 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:38.759 and you can't 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.480 just muster it up 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.360 in yourselves. 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:41.860 And for those of us 00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:42.200 in the room 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.860 who are Christians 00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.819 we have trouble 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.700 believing the promises 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.160 of God 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.620 don't we? 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:47.080 That we are right 00:30:47.080 --> 00:30:47.700 and righteous 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.880 in the eyes of God. 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:50.420 I get it 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:51.080 faith is hard. 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.980 Maybe even harder 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:53.299 to believe 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.700 than just trying 00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.059 to obey 00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.660 some code 00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.360 of law. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:58.220 But don't you 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:58.720 at least want 00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.180 to believe 00:30:59.180 --> 00:31:00.340 in this God 00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:00.959 of Abraham? 00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:02.079 This God 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.819 that he believed in 00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.740 who justifies 00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.500 by grace 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.079 through faith? 00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:06.659 This God 00:31:06.659 --> 00:31:07.299 as it says 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.199 in verse 17 00:31:08.199 --> 00:31:09.819 who gives life 00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:10.559 to the dead 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:12.279 and calls into being 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.859 the things 00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:13.619 that we're not. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.439 Maybe you're here 00:31:15.439 --> 00:31:16.159 today and you feel 00:31:16.159 --> 00:31:16.919 like having faith 00:31:16.919 --> 00:31:17.459 is impossible 00:31:17.459 --> 00:31:18.039 for you. 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.240 Like faith 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.879 is that thing 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:21.659 that will never be. 00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.679 Like your skepticism 00:31:23.679 --> 00:31:24.439 about God 00:31:24.439 --> 00:31:25.059 and what he says 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:25.899 is too strong 00:31:25.899 --> 00:31:27.659 to ever be overcome. 00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:29.980 But may I just 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.680 point out to you 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:31.700 that this is precisely 00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.620 the context 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:33.660 in which we are 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.900 invited to reach out 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.920 to God in faith. 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.700 Opening our hands 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:38.259 to receive 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.059 from this God 00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:40.220 who does the impossible, 00:31:40.360 --> 00:31:40.980 who gives life 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.440 to the dead 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.299 and calls into being 00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:43.620 things that we're not. 00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.839 Like might it be 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:47.640 that all our doubts 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.799 are merely 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.819 an occasion 00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.920 for God 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:52.160 to break through 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.160 and to show us 00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:53.940 that he is greater 00:31:53.940 --> 00:31:55.240 than our doubts. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.819 He is greater 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.539 than our doubts. 00:31:58.460 --> 00:31:59.319 To those of us 00:31:59.319 --> 00:32:00.099 who find it impossible 00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:01.000 to trust God 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.119 and his promises, 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:03.019 Paul reminds us, 00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:03.439 verse 18, 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.720 that against all hope, 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.559 Abraham in hope 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.399 believed 00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:08.639 and so became 00:32:08.639 --> 00:32:09.139 the father 00:32:09.139 --> 00:32:10.059 of many nations 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:11.119 just as it 00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:12.139 had been said to him, 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.259 so shall your offspring 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:14.039 be. 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.339 This guy was 00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.639 a hundred years old 00:32:16.639 --> 00:32:18.299 and without an offspring, 00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.159 with his probably 00:32:19.159 --> 00:32:21.059 post-menopausal wife, 00:32:21.659 --> 00:32:22.899 they had no reason 00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:23.480 to believe 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.200 what God said 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:24.720 other than 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:26.099 that God said it. 00:32:26.099 --> 00:32:27.980 and yet he trusted 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.879 that God 00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:29.980 could do the impossible. 00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:31.599 Verse 19, 00:32:32.459 --> 00:32:33.259 without weakening 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.019 in his faith, 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.359 he faced the fact 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:36.099 that his body 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:37.619 was as good as dead 00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.740 since he was about 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.699 a hundred years old 00:32:39.699 --> 00:32:40.859 and that Sarah's womb 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.839 was also dead, 00:32:42.659 --> 00:32:43.779 yet he did not waver 00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:44.939 through unbelief 00:32:44.939 --> 00:32:46.299 regarding the promise 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.240 of God, 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.839 but was strengthened 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.639 in his faith 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:50.919 and gave glory to God 00:32:50.919 --> 00:32:51.939 by trusting him, 00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:53.219 being fully persuaded 00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:55.440 that God had power 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.680 to do what he 00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:57.579 had promised. 00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.299 And so I just want 00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.259 to close by asking, 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.319 what is your 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:02.539 impossible thing today? 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:03.759 What is your 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.539 impossible thing today 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:05.519 and what if your 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:06.299 impossible thing 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:07.799 is merely an opportunity 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.740 to bring glory 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.519 to God 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.799 by simply trusting him 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.400 by faith? 00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:13.559 Maybe for you 00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:14.500 your impossible thing 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.559 is that God 00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:16.240 would accept 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.279 and justify you 00:33:17.279 --> 00:33:18.319 after all the messed up 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:19.539 things that you've done. 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:20.819 But yo, 00:33:20.900 --> 00:33:21.660 look at Abraham, 00:33:21.860 --> 00:33:22.059 alright? 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.579 He was a coward. 00:33:24.359 --> 00:33:25.220 He jeopardized 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:26.059 the promise of God. 00:33:26.159 --> 00:33:26.720 He let his wife 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.819 be taken by Pharaoh. 00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:28.879 Then he let his wife 00:33:28.879 --> 00:33:29.539 be taken again 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:30.319 by another king, 00:33:30.399 --> 00:33:31.500 King Abimelech. 00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:32.460 And then he was 00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:33.099 so impatient 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:33.700 with the promise 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.579 of God, 00:33:34.639 --> 00:33:35.480 he slept with his 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:36.259 maidservant 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:37.379 to help God 00:33:37.379 --> 00:33:38.079 get his heir. 00:33:39.899 --> 00:33:40.480 Then look at 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:40.940 King David, 00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:41.240 right? 00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:42.819 He had a man killed 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.659 after sleeping 00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:45.139 with that man's wife. 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.159 But what do 00:33:47.159 --> 00:33:47.919 the Scriptures say? 00:33:48.679 --> 00:33:49.759 These two foolish 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:51.279 and dishonorable men 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.019 were justified 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:53.740 not by their works 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.980 but by faith, 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:57.059 credited as righteous 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:58.619 in God's eyes. 00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:00.879 And as it says 00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:01.639 in verse 23, 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:02.920 the words 00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:03.359 that was credited 00:34:03.359 --> 00:34:03.859 to him 00:34:03.859 --> 00:34:04.559 were written 00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:05.399 not for him alone 00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:07.460 but also for us. 00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:08.940 To whom God 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.960 will credit righteousness 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:11.519 for us who believe 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.239 in him 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:13.000 who raised Jesus 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.659 our Lord 00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.980 from the dead. 00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:16.820 But again, 00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:17.639 maybe that's precisely 00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:18.739 your impossible thing, 00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.360 right? 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.380 Just having faith 00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:21.000 at all. 00:34:21.700 --> 00:34:22.400 You just don't think 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.059 it's possible 00:34:23.059 --> 00:34:23.920 for you to have 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:25.079 this kind of faith 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:26.300 and trust in God 00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:27.720 and in what he says. 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:29.640 Well, God's word 00:34:29.640 --> 00:34:30.440 to you today 00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:31.660 is that it, 00:34:32.660 --> 00:34:33.300 is that though 00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:34.440 it was unthinkable, 00:34:34.700 --> 00:34:35.400 it was unthinkable 00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.180 that the Son of God 00:34:36.180 --> 00:34:37.059 would die in the place 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.480 of sinners. 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:39.000 And though it was 00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:39.780 unthinkable 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:40.960 for such sinners 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:41.780 to be justified 00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:42.700 and clothed 00:34:42.700 --> 00:34:43.300 in the righteousness 00:34:43.300 --> 00:34:44.380 of God. 00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:45.680 and though everyone 00:34:45.680 --> 00:34:46.700 has always known 00:34:46.700 --> 00:34:47.780 that it is impossible 00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:49.500 to raise someone 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.400 from the dead, 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.260 God's word to you 00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:52.880 is that nothing 00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:54.160 is impossible 00:34:54.160 --> 00:34:55.280 for God. 00:34:56.220 --> 00:34:57.640 Not even the impossibility 00:34:57.640 --> 00:34:58.780 of your faith 00:34:58.780 --> 00:34:59.700 in the face 00:34:59.700 --> 00:35:00.720 of all your doubts 00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:01.559 because as it says 00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.220 in verse 25, 00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:02.619 Jesus, 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:04.180 the Son of God, 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.640 was delivered over 00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.380 to death 00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:07.280 for our sins 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:09.340 and raised to life 00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:10.700 for our justification. 00:35:11.700 --> 00:35:13.240 And this is the gospel. 00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:14.819 that nothing 00:35:14.819 --> 00:35:15.859 is impossible. 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:17.459 Neither your justification 00:35:17.459 --> 00:35:19.059 as righteous 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:19.539 in the eyes 00:35:19.539 --> 00:35:20.019 of your maker 00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:20.899 nor the faith 00:35:20.899 --> 00:35:21.919 by which you can receive 00:35:21.919 --> 00:35:22.559 that justification. 00:35:22.899 --> 00:35:24.159 Nothing is impossible 00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:24.919 even today 00:35:24.919 --> 00:35:27.619 if you believe, 00:35:27.779 --> 00:35:28.379 if you'll trust 00:35:28.379 --> 00:35:29.000 in Christ. 00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:30.399 This is God's 00:35:30.399 --> 00:35:31.239 gracious gift, 00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.459 a gracious gift 00:35:32.459 --> 00:35:33.439 from a loving Lord 00:35:33.439 --> 00:35:34.339 who gave everything 00:35:34.339 --> 00:35:35.979 to call us our own. 00:35:36.739 --> 00:35:37.359 And that's the beauty 00:35:37.359 --> 00:35:38.439 of justification 00:35:38.439 --> 00:35:39.279 by faith 00:35:39.279 --> 00:35:40.379 from the word of God. 00:35:41.239 --> 00:35:41.939 Will you pray with me? 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:49.399 Lord, we 00:35:49.399 --> 00:35:51.579 cannot 00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:55.219 muster up faith 00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:55.939 on our own. 00:35:57.859 --> 00:35:58.639 Some of us 00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.500 want to believe 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.899 but we need help 00:36:00.899 --> 00:36:01.819 in our unbelief. 00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:06.219 God, would you 00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:08.259 send forth your spirit 00:36:08.259 --> 00:36:10.419 to grant us 00:36:10.419 --> 00:36:11.299 the gift of faith? 00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:13.700 Would you give us 00:36:13.700 --> 00:36:14.539 eyes to see 00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.700 the beauty 00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:16.560 of justification 00:36:16.560 --> 00:36:18.039 by faith? 00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:20.560 This precious gift. 00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:22.080 We claim the promise 00:36:22.080 --> 00:36:22.660 of your son 00:36:22.660 --> 00:36:23.160 who said, 00:36:23.620 --> 00:36:25.280 ask and you will receive, 00:36:26.140 --> 00:36:27.120 seek and you will find, 00:36:27.260 --> 00:36:27.960 knock and the door 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:28.660 will be opened. 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:30.400 Give us that kind 00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:30.940 of a faith 00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:32.539 and make us 00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:33.220 this kind of 00:36:33.220 --> 00:36:34.840 humble and confident 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:35.639 people marked 00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:36.320 by grace. 00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:38.159 The grace of our 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:38.980 Lord Jesus Christ 00:36:38.980 --> 00:36:40.700 poured out upon us 00:36:40.700 --> 00:36:42.039 by his 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:43.659 sacrificial cross. 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:46.539 Make us a community, 00:36:46.700 --> 00:36:47.019 oh God, 00:36:47.099 --> 00:36:47.639 that is marked 00:36:47.639 --> 00:36:48.340 by justification, 00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:49.659 by faith. 00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:51.980 And use us 00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:53.220 for the good 00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:53.760 of this city, 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:54.300 for the good 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:54.820 of this world, 00:36:54.900 --> 00:36:55.480 we pray in the name 00:36:55.480 --> 00:36:55.920 of Jesus. 00:36:56.679 --> 00:36:56.960 Amen. 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.059 Amen. 00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:57.099 Amen. 00:36:57.099 --> 00:36:57.119 Amen. 00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:57.159 Amen. 00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.200 Amen. 00:36:57.200 --> 00:36:57.240 Amen. 00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:57.260 Amen. 00:36:57.260 --> 00:36:57.320 Amen. 00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:59.200 Amen. 00:36:59.200 --> 00:37:00.920 Amen.