WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.000
 Well, good morning, church. Would you turn with me to the book of Galatians? We are looking at chapter 3, verses 6-22.

00:00:13.500 --> 00:00:29.580
! So, let me invite you to turn there with me. That's page 914 in the Pew Bible. Now, as we come to our passage today, you'll see that in our ESV Pew Bibles, and maybe this is even going to be the case on the screens above, verse 6 is

00:00:29.579 --> 00:00:51.340
 translated or sort of taken as the continuation of a rhetorical question that begins in verse 5. So, the ESV connects verse 6 to verse 5. Do you see that there? Now, that is a perfectly legitimate translation. There's nothing wrong with that, but in the Greek manuscripts, there actually isn't any punctuation, so we have to make some interpretive decisions.

00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:59.259
 Another perfectly legitimate way to translate verse 6 is not to see it as a question, but as the beginning of a new sentence that continues into verse 7.

00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:14.659
 And maybe if you've read the NIV or the NRSV, you'll see that that's how they translate that. Now, the meaning of the passage doesn't really change no matter which way you take it, but as Matt and I have studied this passage, we think it's a little smoother to translate verse 6 with verse 7.

00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:31.539
 And that is all to say why we are starting in verse 6 today. So, as you look at the ESV, just imagine that verse 5 ends with a question mark and verse 6 starts a new sentence. All right. Let me go ahead and read this passage for us. Galatians 3, 6 through 22.

00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:42.480
 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:50.520
 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying,

00:01:50.519 --> 00:02:01.979
 in you shall all the nations be blessed. So then those who are of faith are blessed, along with Abraham, the man of faith.

00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:08.240
 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse, for it is written,

00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:14.159
 Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law and do them.

00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:21.620
 Now, it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for the righteous shall live by faith.

00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:28.219
 But the law is not of faith, rather the one who does them shall live by them.

00:02:30.140 --> 00:02:36.200
 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,

00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:40.039
 for it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.

00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:45.399
 So that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles,

00:02:45.539 --> 00:02:49.639
 so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

00:02:51.379 --> 00:02:54.379
 To give a human example, brothers, even with a man-made covenant,

00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:57.079
 no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.

00:02:57.699 --> 00:03:00.079
 Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring.

00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:06.700
 It does not say, and to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one,

00:03:07.380 --> 00:03:09.760
 and to your offspring, who is Christ.

00:03:10.580 --> 00:03:11.360
 This is what I mean.

00:03:11.820 --> 00:03:19.380
 The law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God

00:03:19.380 --> 00:03:21.580
 so as to make the promise void.

00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:25.660
 For if the inheritance comes by law, it no longer comes by promise,

00:03:26.160 --> 00:03:29.740
 but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:32.040
 Why then the law?

00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:34.939
 It was added because of transgressions,

00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:39.140
 until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made.

00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:42.900
 And it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.

00:03:43.660 --> 00:03:45.700
 Now, an intermediary implies more than one,

00:03:46.320 --> 00:03:48.540
 but God is one.

00:03:48.539 --> 00:03:52.659
 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?

00:03:53.299 --> 00:03:54.179
 Certainly not.

00:03:55.239 --> 00:03:57.819
 For if a law had been given that could give life,

00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:00.959
 then righteousness would indeed be by the law.

00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:06.019
 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin,

00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:10.000
 so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ

00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:13.659
 might be given to those who believe.

00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:15.739
 All right, let's pray.

00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:18.420
 Father, we ask for your help not just to understand,

00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:19.640
 what this passage is saying,

00:04:20.140 --> 00:04:22.840
 but also to experience in our hearts the good news

00:04:22.840 --> 00:04:25.180
 and the freedom that this passage proclaims,

00:04:25.180 --> 00:04:29.160
 so that we might live in the freedom and the blessing

00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:31.620
 that this passage proclaims,

00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:33.500
 on the basis of your Son,

00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:35.740
 our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:38.520
 through whom all your blessings come to us.

00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:40.540
 In His name we pray.

00:04:40.900 --> 00:04:41.200
 Amen.

00:04:41.900 --> 00:04:42.319
 Amen.

00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:43.180
 Well, all right.

00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:45.420
 Well, as we've seen over the past six weeks

00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:46.620
 in our series in Galatians,

00:04:46.740 --> 00:04:49.580
 Paul has been arguing the radical,

00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:51.259
 liberating message

00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:54.140
 that our acceptance with God,

00:04:54.540 --> 00:04:56.300
 our right standing before God,

00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:58.640
 our confidence and assurance before God,

00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:01.140
 our Creator and the Judge of all things,

00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:04.460
 the basis on which God declares us righteous,

00:05:04.460 --> 00:05:06.480
 that is fully accepted by Him,

00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:10.759
 that comes not from works that we do

00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:12.140
 in obedience to the law,

00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:15.220
 but through faith in Jesus Christ.

00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:19.100
 Now, last week, Paul advanced an argument

00:05:19.100 --> 00:05:22.640
 in favor of this proclamation of the gospel.

00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:25.340
 He advanced an argument from the Galatians' own experience.

00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:26.740
 He asked them,

00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:30.139
 did you receive the Spirit by works of the law

00:05:30.139 --> 00:05:31.759
 or by hearing with faith?

00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:33.560
 The answer, of course,

00:05:33.660 --> 00:05:36.160
 was that the Spirit's work in their midst,

00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:38.379
 the Spirit's work of conversion,

00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:40.579
 of peace, of unity, of holiness,

00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:41.680
 yes, even of miracles,

00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:43.800
 didn't happen because they'd gone back

00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:45.019
 and started keeping the law.

00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:48.680
 It had happened because they believed

00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:51.759
 what they heard about Christ crucified.

00:05:52.860 --> 00:05:55.280
 So He could appeal to their own experience

00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:59.500
 that the full acceptance of God came through faith.

00:06:00.739 --> 00:06:02.239
 But now, in our text today,

00:06:02.379 --> 00:06:04.000
 Paul advances an argument,

00:06:04.139 --> 00:06:05.299
 not from experience,

00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:07.039
 but from Scripture.

00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:10.719
 What does the Scripture have to say

00:06:10.719 --> 00:06:13.000
 about this good news that Paul

00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:15.500
 and all the other apostles in unity proclaim?

00:06:16.539 --> 00:06:20.579
 What is it that God's Word actually teaches?

00:06:22.419 --> 00:06:23.679
 And now, before we dive into that,

00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:26.439
 I think the fact that Paul here turns to Scripture

00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:28.959
 and the fact that he spends so much more time

00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:30.040
 arguing from Scripture

00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:32.459
 is in itself a good point for us to consider.

00:06:33.379 --> 00:06:34.379
 You see, for Paul,

00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:37.139
 an argument of Old Testament Scripture support.

00:06:38.280 --> 00:06:41.560
 Well, consider first, Paul says,

00:06:42.780 --> 00:06:44.300
 Abraham's blessing.

00:06:46.280 --> 00:06:47.240
 Abraham's blessing.

00:06:47.340 --> 00:06:49.420
 Now, it is most likely that the teachers

00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:51.259
 who were agitating the Galatians' churches

00:06:51.259 --> 00:06:53.779
 and whom Paul's kind of refuting in this letter,

00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:56.279
 it's likely that they were saying

00:06:56.279 --> 00:07:00.159
 that in order to be sure of God's blessing of salvation,

00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:02.879
 in order to be included in the rich inheritance

00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:04.740
 of God's salvation,

00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:08.240
 you had to be a member of Abraham's family.

00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:10.120
 After all,

00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:12.800
 God said in Genesis that His blessing

00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:15.379
 would come to Abraham's offspring.

00:07:16.379 --> 00:07:16.719
 Right?

00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:19.300
 And these teachers probably went on to say

00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:21.740
 that the way you get into Abraham's family

00:07:21.740 --> 00:07:23.820
 is by circumcision,

00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:26.920
 and the way you stay in Abraham's family

00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:28.260
 is by keeping the law.

00:07:30.660 --> 00:07:32.660
 So, in response to all this,

00:07:33.700 --> 00:07:36.300
 Paul also goes back to Abraham.

00:07:36.300 --> 00:07:41.759
 What do we learn from Abraham after all?

00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:43.660
 Paul asks,

00:07:44.340 --> 00:07:48.280
 how did Abraham come to be accepted by God as righteous?

00:07:49.259 --> 00:07:52.139
 That is, on what basis did God give

00:07:52.139 --> 00:07:55.040
 His full acceptance and favor to Abraham?

00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:59.000
 And therefore, how does someone today

00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:01.100
 really become a child of Abraham?

00:08:02.620 --> 00:08:06.019
 Well, Paul says Genesis 15 is clear.

00:08:06.960 --> 00:08:07.840
 What does it say?

00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:10.920
 Abraham believed God,

00:08:11.460 --> 00:08:14.500
 and it was counted to him as righteousness.

00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:19.220
 Now, notice, it doesn't say

00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:21.500
 Abraham merely believed in God, right?

00:08:22.020 --> 00:08:24.259
 As in, Abraham sort of knew that God existed.

00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:28.180
 Abraham didn't merely believe certain facts

00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:29.259
 about God to be true.

00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:32.320
 No, it says Abraham believed God.

00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:37.140
 That is, Abraham trusted the promise God had made to him,

00:08:37.660 --> 00:08:41.060
 trusted that God would do what God said He would do.

00:08:42.140 --> 00:08:43.660
 And in Abraham's case,

00:08:44.060 --> 00:08:46.940
 he trusted that God would cause he and Sarah

00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:48.740
 to have a child in their old age,

00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:51.760
 even though, humanly speaking, it was impossible.

00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:56.319
 And when Abraham believed God,

00:08:58.419 --> 00:09:00.100
 Genesis says on that basis,

00:09:00.819 --> 00:09:03.539
 God treated him as if he was totally righteous.

00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:07.960
 Now, think about how radical that is.

00:09:08.939 --> 00:09:11.679
 Abraham, obviously, if you read the story of Genesis,

00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:16.439
 wasn't totally morally righteous in himself, right?

00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:19.400
 He had lots of doubts, didn't he?

00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:21.560
 He had lots of moral failures.

00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:24.840
 Do you remember what happened when Abraham,

00:09:25.320 --> 00:09:28.340
 during a famine, goes down to Egypt, right?

00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:30.420
 He gets really scared.

00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:32.600
 So he tells his wife, Sarah,

00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:35.180
 hey, let's tell a half-truth

00:09:35.180 --> 00:09:37.440
 and tell everyone you're my sister.

00:09:38.160 --> 00:09:39.580
 That way they won't kill me

00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:41.080
 and steal you from me, right?

00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:44.240
 And God actually thinks that's a really bad idea.

00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:46.879
 And you read Genesis and God sort of delivers Abraham out of that.

00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:48.740
 And then, a little bit later,

00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:50.740
 what does Abraham do?

00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:53.980
 He does the exact same thing again.

00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.919
 He's stuck in a pattern of habitual sin, right?

00:09:58.060 --> 00:10:01.779
 You know, is Abraham a morally flawless character?

00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:06.139
 Is he in and of himself a righteous person?

00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:08.320
 No.

00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:13.260
 He's full of flaws and doubts and fears,

00:10:13.260 --> 00:10:14.860
 just like you and me.

00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:18.980
 But rather than treating Abraham

00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:22.560
 according to what his works deserved,

00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:27.680
 God looked upon Abraham's trust in his promise,

00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:29.300
 and on that basis,

00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:33.200
 considered him as if he was completely righteous.

00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:38.700
 And was this just special treatment for Abraham?

00:10:39.560 --> 00:10:41.320
 Did God sort of make an exception for Abraham?

00:10:41.580 --> 00:10:44.400
 Did God think, well, you know, just this once,

00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:47.300
 Abraham can be justified by faith in my promise,

00:10:47.400 --> 00:10:49.660
 but you know, everyone else is going to have to earn it.

00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:51.540
 No.

00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:55.379
 What Paul sees and what he shows

00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:57.759
 is that Abraham wasn't an exception

00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:02.899
 because God had already said in Scripture,

00:11:04.059 --> 00:11:05.019
 in you, Abraham,

00:11:05.700 --> 00:11:07.559
 shall all the nations be blessed.

00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:09.700
 In other words,

00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:13.620
 the blessing of God would come to everyone

00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:17.980
 in the exact same way as it came to Abraham,

00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:20.960
 not by works that we do,

00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:26.220
 but by trusting the God who keeps his promise.

00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:33.379
 Now, I imagine not many of us today

00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:36.539
 think a whole lot about Abraham, right?

00:11:37.419 --> 00:11:40.100
 Most of us probably don't lose a lot of sleep

00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:41.980
 over wondering whether we are

00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:43.819
 or are not a child of Abraham, right?

00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:44.840
 When you woke up this morning,

00:11:44.939 --> 00:11:46.980
 you didn't sort of suddenly have

00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:49.059
 an existential moment of crisis and think,

00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:51.460
 am I a son of Abraham?

00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:54.819
 No, you're like, make some coffee, I'm tired,

00:11:54.899 --> 00:11:55.819
 or whatever it was, right?

00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:55.900
 Right?

00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:02.379
 But consider what Paul is saying

00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:04.120
 at the heart of what he's saying here.

00:12:06.300 --> 00:12:07.660
 Most of us, aren't we?

00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:11.660
 Most of us are living for a blessing

00:12:11.660 --> 00:12:13.480
 of some kind.

00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:16.620
 And, you know, I don't mean blessing

00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:17.900
 in some sort of cheesy,

00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:20.540
 materialistic, financial way, right?

00:12:20.539 --> 00:12:24.240
 We're living for a deeper blessing than that.

00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:26.419
 And blessing in the Bible means

00:12:26.419 --> 00:12:31.759
 favor, acceptance, belonging,

00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:36.519
 being known, being loved,

00:12:37.319 --> 00:12:39.179
 having someone for you.

00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:43.659
 And that's what all of our souls

00:12:43.659 --> 00:12:44.459
 are longing for.

00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:48.099
 And we can seek this deep acceptance

00:12:48.099 --> 00:12:50.059
 and belonging through any number of means,

00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:50.579
 can't we?

00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:53.599
 In the accolades of a professional circle,

00:12:54.219 --> 00:12:55.979
 in the arms of a lover,

00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:58.779
 in a tight-knit group of friends.

00:12:58.779 --> 00:13:03.480
 But the real blessing that you seek

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:06.480
 cannot ultimately be found there,

00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.839
 as good as those things may be.

00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.259
 The real blessing that we seek

00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.159
 can't be found there,

00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:13.339
 and that's why those things

00:13:13.339 --> 00:13:15.419
 never really satisfy for long,

00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:17.939
 because it's a deeper blessing

00:13:17.939 --> 00:13:18.879
 that we're built for.

00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:22.259
 You see, when God created humans,

00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:25.059
 what was the first thing that God did?

00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:28.099
 He blessed us.

00:13:29.699 --> 00:13:32.579
 He spoke a blessing over us.

00:13:34.079 --> 00:13:37.000
 Humans were created to operate

00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:40.500
 under the favor of God,

00:13:41.099 --> 00:13:43.439
 the loving acceptance of our Creator,

00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:47.899
 like flowers opening up to the sun.

00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:51.199
 Our lives were meant to flourish

00:13:51.199 --> 00:13:54.359
 with the face of God shining upon us.

00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:59.119
 But the way back into this favor,

00:13:59.219 --> 00:14:00.619
 the way back into this blessing

00:14:00.619 --> 00:14:01.479
 and this belonging,

00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:04.099
 this righteousness before God,

00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:06.139
 isn't through striving

00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:08.159
 or through earning.

00:14:10.139 --> 00:14:11.619
 What we see in Abraham,

00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:14.179
 it's that it is offered to all

00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:17.379
 who believe God's promise.

00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:20.559
 And we know that that promise

00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:23.639
 has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:27.299
 So, you see, you don't have to chase

00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:30.220
 the fleeting blessings of money

00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:32.299
 or love or profession.

00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:36.580
 The good news is that you can have

00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:38.980
 the blessing that lasts forever.

00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:40.980
 Your life can open up

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:43.120
 in the created flourishing

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.659
 you were meant to have

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:47.480
 through God's promise.

00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:52.420
 So, Paul's first scriptural argument

00:14:52.420 --> 00:14:54.340
 is about blessing.

00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:56.440
 It's about Abraham's blessing,

00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:58.480
 that those who are of faith

00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.460
 are blessed along with Abraham,

00:15:00.920 --> 00:15:01.899
 the man of faith.

00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:04.700
 His second argument, then,

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:07.820
 is about the law's curse.

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.279
 The law's curse.

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:11.100
 Again, the false teachers in Galatia

00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:12.180
 probably made the claim

00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:13.600
 that the way to be righteous

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.700
 and get God's blessing

00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:16.039
 was to keep the law, right?

00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:17.219
 I mean, on the surface,

00:15:17.319 --> 00:15:19.019
 that obviously sounds right,

00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:19.519
 doesn't it?

00:15:19.599 --> 00:15:20.699
 After all, in practically

00:15:20.699 --> 00:15:22.139
 every other area of life,

00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.539
 that's how it operates,

00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.019
 doesn't it?

00:15:24.459 --> 00:15:26.519
 I work up to a certain standard

00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.699
 and then I receive

00:15:27.699 --> 00:15:28.899
 a certain reward.

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.360
 If I want to get into

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.259
 a good college,

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.959
 I have to earn good grades, right?

00:15:32.959 --> 00:15:34.120
 If I want to play a sport,

00:15:34.199 --> 00:15:35.719
 I have to earn my place

00:15:35.719 --> 00:15:36.219
 on the team.

00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:37.259
 If I want to get a promotion

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.599
 at work, I have to earn

00:15:38.599 --> 00:15:39.860
 more clients and more money

00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.519
 for the company.

00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.500
 I get out what I put in.

00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:45.700
 But is that how it works

00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:46.279
 with God?

00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:48.519
 Do we have to rely

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.860
 on our works

00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:51.059
 in the same way?

00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:55.080
 Well, what does the Scripture say?

00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:59.200
 Paul quotes Deuteronomy 27, 26

00:15:59.200 --> 00:15:59.980
 that says,

00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.279
 Cursed be everyone

00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:04.879
 who does not abide by

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.759
 all things written

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.580
 in the book of the law

00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.320
 and do them.

00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:11.879
 Have you abided

00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.680
 by all things

00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:13.640
 written in the book of the law?

00:16:16.420 --> 00:16:18.240
 Have you actually done them?

00:16:19.560 --> 00:16:20.460
 This is the question

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.440
 Paul's putting before

00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:23.340
 his audience and us.

00:16:24.560 --> 00:16:25.680
 Oh, you who would rely

00:16:25.680 --> 00:16:26.560
 on works of the law.

00:16:27.040 --> 00:16:28.300
 What does the law say?

00:16:30.060 --> 00:16:30.920
 What does the law

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:31.900
 actually require?

00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:34.240
 It doesn't merely require

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.740
 a few religious observances

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:37.460
 here and there, right?

00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:39.560
 It doesn't even merely require

00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:40.460
 that we refrain

00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:41.519
 from murder

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.620
 or adultery, right?

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:44.399
 It requires that we love God

00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.539
 with all our heart

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.460
 and soul

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.060
 and mind

00:16:47.060 --> 00:16:47.560
 and strength

00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:48.320
 and that we love

00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:49.019
 our neighbor

00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:50.000
 as ourselves.

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.139
 It requires

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:53.879
 not just that we don't murder,

00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:55.379
 but that we don't harbor

00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:56.419
 hatred in our hearts,

00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.759
 that we don't speak evil

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.659
 of another person,

00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.720
 that we forgive

00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.539
 and bless those

00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:01.360
 who wrong us.

00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.840
 It requires that we do

00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.440
 to others

00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.720
 what we expect others

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.600
 to do to us.

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:10.420
 But when we actually

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:11.900
 consider God's law,

00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:15.440
 we realize that we don't

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:17.620
 abide by all things

00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.279
 written in the book

00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:18.720
 of the law

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.380
 and do them.

00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.299
 And that's true

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.420
 even of the commandments

00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:24.799
 that we agree with.

00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:27.339
 Even the commandments

00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:28.620
 we think are good

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.000
 and right,

00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:29.759
 we don't keep,

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.500
 let alone the commandments

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.039
 that we choose

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:32.680
 to ignore,

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:33.579
 right?

00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:37.319
 And what does the law,

00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:39.460
 what does God's law

00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.000
 pronounce

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.779
 over those

00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.819
 who don't keep it?

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.119
 It says

00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:45.819
 it pronounces a curse.

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:49.099
 God's face

00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:50.220
 is turned away.

00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.059
 We no longer

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.859
 belong in His favor.

00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.899
 We deserve to be

00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:57.639
 cast out

00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:58.720
 from His presence

00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.000
 in darkness,

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:01.100
 in judgment,

00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:01.759
 in death.

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:05.000
 So because no

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.059
 fallen human being

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:06.900
 can keep the law,

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.259
 relying

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:10.079
 on the works

00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:10.680
 of the law

00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:13.400
 only places us

00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.620
 and keeps us

00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:15.660
 under a curse.

00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.360
 Paul cites

00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:20.059
 two more verses

00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:20.700
 to drive home

00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.140
 this point.

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:21.640
 Verse 11,

00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:21.920
 he says,

00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:22.420
 now it's evident

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:23.640
 that no one is justified

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.460
 before God

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.039
 by the law

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.559
 because,

00:18:26.120 --> 00:18:26.600
 as the prophet

00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:27.460
 Habakkuk said

00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.220
 so many years ago,

00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:28.819
 the righteous

00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:29.860
 shall live,

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.539
 really live

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.319
 before God

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:32.960
 in His favor.

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:33.360
 How?

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.240
 By faith.

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.140
 In other words,

00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:37.860
 the Old Testament

00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:38.720
 itself said

00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.259
 that faith

00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.039
 in God's promise

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.779
 is how the righteous

00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.600
 will live.

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.839
 And then in verse 12,

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:44.420
 he clarifies,

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.360
 but the law

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:46.980
 is not of faith.

00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:47.360
 Rather,

00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.440
 the one who

00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.779
 does them

00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.579
 shall live by them.

00:18:50.620 --> 00:18:51.160
 In other words,

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:53.539
 works and faith,

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:56.519
 trying and trusting

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.700
 are two totally

00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:58.700
 different things.

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:01.180
 And only one of them

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.680
 will put us

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.579
 in a right relationship

00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.200
 with God.

00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.160
 And it can't be

00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:05.980
 works of the law.

00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:07.259
 It can't be trying.

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:07.740
 Why?

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.579
 Because the only,

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.680
 the one

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.720
 who actually

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.019
 does them,

00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:14.700
 who actually

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.420
 keeps them

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:16.579
 and obeys them,

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.059
 only that one

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.519
 will live

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.319
 in God's favor

00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.460
 by means of them.

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:25.100
 So where does

00:19:25.100 --> 00:19:25.660
 this leave us?

00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:28.700
 You know,

00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.600
 we're often too quick

00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:30.920
 to kind of jump over

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.860
 verses like these.

00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.120
 It's easy to say,

00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:34.340
 well,

00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:35.140
 I'm not relying

00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:36.319
 on works of the law.

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.299
 Well,

00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:39.059
 that may be true,

00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:41.720
 but don't you see?

00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:44.259
 Whether you think

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.059
 of God's law

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.779
 every day

00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:47.759
 or whether you think

00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.000
 of it

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.079
 not much at all,

00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:50.960
 the passage

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.640
 that Paul quotes

00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.240
 in verse 10

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:52.819
 is true.

00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.000
 Either way,

00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:55.960
 cursed be

00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.940
 everyone

00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:58.420
 who does not

00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:59.299
 abide by all things

00:19:59.299 --> 00:19:59.880
 written in the book

00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:00.359
 of the law

00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.019
 and do them.

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.680
 All of us

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.799
 stand condemned.

00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:07.880
 A dreadful curse

00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:10.079
 hangs over

00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.220
 all of us

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.960
 because we have

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.059
 disobeyed our Creator.

00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:16.019
 We have ignored

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:17.019
 His good laws

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:18.240
 and failed

00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:18.960
 to keep them.

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.779
 Even the moral standards

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.700
 that we have

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:26.720
 by means of reason

00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.799
 or by means of conscience,

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.539
 even those

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.440
 we do not keep.

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.720
 And you know,

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:34.359
 if this rejection

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:36.599
 were sort of

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.460
 the mere rejection

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.680
 of a colleague

00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.359
 or a friend,

00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:39.779
 you know,

00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:41.000
 if this curse

00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.639
 that came

00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.660
 was sort of

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:43.220
 the sentence

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:43.920
 of some

00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:45.400
 merely human court,

00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:45.839
 right,

00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:47.659
 if that was

00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.179
 the curse

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:49.079
 that we were facing,

00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.799
 we could endure it,

00:20:51.459 --> 00:20:51.740
 right?

00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:53.379
 We could find

00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:54.759
 some other place

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.480
 for solace.

00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:56.119
 We could find

00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:56.740
 some other group

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.240
 of friends,

00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:58.419
 some other workplace.

00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:00.119
 We could move countries.

00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:00.239
 things.

00:21:00.739 --> 00:21:04.139
 But this is no

00:21:04.139 --> 00:21:06.219
 idle word

00:21:06.219 --> 00:21:08.500
 spoken by some

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.259
 mere human.

00:21:11.479 --> 00:21:12.679
 This is the verdict

00:21:12.679 --> 00:21:13.359
 of God,

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:15.699
 the one in whom

00:21:15.699 --> 00:21:16.399
 we live

00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:17.799
 and move

00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:18.959
 and have

00:21:18.959 --> 00:21:19.500
 our being.

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:23.140
 imagine a grain

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:23.740
 of sand

00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:26.039
 suspended

00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.039
 above the ocean.

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.220
 Do you see

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.200
 those dark waves

00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:30.700
 churning,

00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.660
 those endless

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.359
 depths

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:34.299
 of the sea?

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:36.859
 Do you see

00:21:36.859 --> 00:21:37.700
 how fragile,

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.420
 how lost

00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:40.200
 that falling

00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:40.940
 grain of sand

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:41.380
 is

00:21:41.380 --> 00:21:42.660
 in comparison?

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.039
 Any moment

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:45.579
 it would just

00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:47.319
 be swallowed up.

00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:50.559
 friend,

00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:51.599
 that seemingly

00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:53.679
 infinite distance

00:21:53.679 --> 00:21:54.919
 between the

00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:55.619
 immensity

00:21:55.619 --> 00:21:56.419
 of the ocean

00:21:56.419 --> 00:21:58.339
 and that small

00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.339
 piece of sand,

00:22:00.679 --> 00:22:00.819
 oh,

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.599
 that is nothing

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.179
 compared

00:22:02.179 --> 00:22:04.399
 to the difference

00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.460
 between God's

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.399
 infinite majesty

00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:08.740
 and every single

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.659
 created thing

00:22:09.659 --> 00:22:10.480
 gathered up

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:10.899
 together.

00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:15.200
 Picture earth.

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:17.920
 Now zoom out,

00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.700
 zoom out

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:19.400
 from this planet

00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:19.819
 of ours

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.799
 further and

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.120
 further.

00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:22.660
 See the earth

00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.400
 get smaller

00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:24.160
 and smaller

00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:24.819
 and smaller

00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.819
 just hanging

00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.580
 in space

00:22:26.580 --> 00:22:27.559
 until it is

00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.440
 the size

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:28.900
 of a grain

00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.420
 of sand.

00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:31.559
 And now

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.140
 do you see

00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.799
 the waves

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.400
 of God's

00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:33.920
 majesty

00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.580
 filling your

00:22:34.580 --> 00:22:34.940
 view,

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.039
 making not

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.440
 just our

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.039
 little planet

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.799
 but all

00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:39.420
 of the universe

00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:41.240
 seem like

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:41.819
 nothing but

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.539
 a drop

00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.420
 in the scales.

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:46.180
 there is

00:22:46.180 --> 00:22:47.200
 no escaping

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.700
 God.

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.019
 Only

00:22:58.019 --> 00:23:00.300
 God's

00:23:00.300 --> 00:23:00.720
 verdict

00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.700
 matters.

00:23:04.100 --> 00:23:05.100
 To be

00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:05.880
 cursed by

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.380
 God

00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:07.060
 is to

00:23:07.060 --> 00:23:07.380
 lose

00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:08.039
 everything,

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.039
 is to

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.840
 be lost.

00:23:11.060 --> 00:23:11.480
 Don't you

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:11.740
 see?

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:15.519
 What hope

00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:15.819
 is there

00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:16.299
 for us?

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.099
 Have we

00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.039
 not spurned

00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.720
 His blessing

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:23.880
 and deserve

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:24.460
 His curse?

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.059
 Have we

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.680
 not as humans

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.440
 exalted

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.640
 in wickedness?

00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:29.920
 Have we

00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.240
 not

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:32.900
 enjoyed

00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.819
 our own

00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.620
 selfishness?

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:37.579
 have we

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.439
 not laughed

00:23:38.439 --> 00:23:40.019
 while the

00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:40.419
 oppressed

00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:40.979
 suffer

00:23:40.979 --> 00:23:42.859
 and worst

00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.379
 of all?

00:23:45.379 --> 00:23:46.239
 Have we

00:23:46.239 --> 00:23:46.959
 not taken

00:23:46.959 --> 00:23:48.079
 God's

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.479
 name

00:23:48.479 --> 00:23:50.539
 in vain

00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.919
 upon our

00:23:51.919 --> 00:23:52.339
 lips?

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.459
 And the

00:23:58.459 --> 00:23:58.959
 waves

00:23:58.959 --> 00:24:00.579
 of His

00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:01.019
 infinite

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:01.839
 majesty

00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:03.159
 continue

00:24:03.159 --> 00:24:03.839
 to roll.

00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.619
 hope

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:08.159
 is there

00:24:08.159 --> 00:24:08.679
 for us?

00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.439
 How can

00:24:12.439 --> 00:24:13.279
 this dreadful

00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:13.959
 curse

00:24:13.959 --> 00:24:14.879
 ever be

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.239
 lifted?

00:24:16.679 --> 00:24:17.519
 How can

00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.219
 the shining

00:24:18.219 --> 00:24:18.879
 face of

00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:19.479
 our Creator

00:24:19.479 --> 00:24:20.939
 ever turn

00:24:20.939 --> 00:24:21.459
 toward us

00:24:21.459 --> 00:24:21.839
 again,

00:24:22.699 --> 00:24:23.319
 who have

00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.059
 sinned so

00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:24.759
 willingly,

00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:27.279
 so flippantly

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:29.000
 against His

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:29.919
 holy character

00:24:29.919 --> 00:24:30.399
 and law?

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:31.400
 God

00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:31.660
 will

00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:31.400
 give us

00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:32.400
 to

00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:32.940
 God

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.400
 to

00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:33.780
 God

00:24:33.780 --> 00:24:34.740
 and

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:34.980
 Paul

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.380
 says the

00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:35.920
 answer

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:38.360
 comes not

00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:39.019
 from us

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:40.780
 but from

00:24:40.780 --> 00:24:41.320
 God

00:24:41.320 --> 00:24:41.880
 Himself.

00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.340
 God

00:24:44.340 --> 00:24:45.040
 Himself

00:24:45.040 --> 00:24:46.500
 provides

00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:47.040
 the way.

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:49.980
 as this

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.440
 curse

00:24:50.440 --> 00:24:51.420
 hangs

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.079
 over us

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:52.500
 heavy

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:53.159
 and thick

00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:55.799
 the bright

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.359
 ray of the

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:56.740
 gospel

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.220
 shines

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:57.659
 forth.

00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.619
 Christ

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:01.460
 redeemed

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:01.920
 us

00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.899
 from the

00:25:02.899 --> 00:25:03.279
 curse of

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.720
 the law.

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.259
 How?

00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:06.619
 By

00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.180
 becoming

00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:07.759
 a curse

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.779
 for us.

00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:10.519
 For it is

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:10.819
 written

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:12.159
 Deuteronomy

00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:13.299
 21-23

00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:13.819
 cursed

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.039
 is

00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.500
 everyone

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.339
 who

00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:15.500
 is

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:15.779
 hanged

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:15.879
 on

00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:16.019
 a

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.339
 tree

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:18.000
 so

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.539
 that

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.740
 in

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.200
 Christ

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.740
 Jesus

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.899
 the

00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:22.500
 blessing

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.359
 the

00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.000
 blessing

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.259
 of

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:24.659
 Abraham

00:25:24.659 --> 00:25:25.539
 might

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:25.859
 come

00:25:25.859 --> 00:25:26.319
 yes

00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:26.879
 even

00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.379
 to

00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:27.539
 the

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.200
 Gentiles

00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:29.079
 so

00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:29.240
 that

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:29.440
 we

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:29.680
 might

00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.579
 receive

00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.180
 the

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.740
 promised

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.460
 spirit

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.279
 through

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:33.759
 faith.

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.119
 When

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.359
 Paul

00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:37.700
 writes

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:37.919
 that

00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:38.419
 Christ

00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:40.079
 became

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.519
 a

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.000
 curse

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.440
 for

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:41.740
 us

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:41.940
 what

00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.159
 does

00:25:42.159 --> 00:25:42.339
 he

00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:42.720
 mean?

00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:44.299
 He

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.559
 means

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:44.779
 that

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.819
 all

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.240
 our

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.680
 sin

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.559
 our

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:47.960
 guilt

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.460
 our

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.059
 curse

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.680
 is

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.259
 imputed

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.539
 to

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.000
 Christ.

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.519
 It

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:53.680
 is

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.240
 legally

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.899
 transferred

00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.319
 to

00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:55.759
 him

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.700
 before

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:56.919
 the

00:25:56.919 --> 00:25:57.159
 bar

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:57.339
 of

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:57.659
 God's

00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.000
 judgment.

00:25:59.379 --> 00:25:59.680
 On

00:25:59.680 --> 00:25:59.859
 the

00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.180
 cross

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.779
 Christ

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:01.039
 the

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.480
 sinless

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:01.879
 one

00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.379
 is

00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:02.919
 reckoned

00:26:02.919 --> 00:26:03.099
 with

00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:03.379
 all

00:26:03.379 --> 00:26:03.639
 our

00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.039
 sin

00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:05.099
 for

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:05.599
 us

00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:05.940
 in

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.200
 our

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.599
 place

00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:06.779
 as

00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.000
 our

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.579
 substitute

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:08.960
 and

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.099
 in

00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:09.839
 exchange

00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.759
 what

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:10.919
 does

00:26:10.919 --> 00:26:11.079
 he

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.460
 offer

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:13.019
 as

00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.299
 he

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.279
 takes

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:14.500
 our

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:14.840
 curse

00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:15.220
 down

00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:15.420
 into

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:15.640
 the

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.100
 oceans

00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:16.319
 of

00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:16.779
 God's

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.460
 wrath

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.980
 what

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:19.279
 do we

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:19.640
 receive

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:19.799
 in

00:26:19.799 --> 00:26:20.480
 exchange?

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.840
 The

00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.279
 blessing.

00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.460
 And what

00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:25.779
 is that

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.200
 blessing?

00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:27.240
 The

00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:27.620
 blessing

00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:28.079
 of being

00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.500
 counted

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.059
 fully

00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:29.940
 and

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.539
 completely

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.519
 righteous.

00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.200
 And now

00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:33.519
 there is

00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.120
 no more

00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:34.519
 curse

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:34.960
 for those

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.200
 who are

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:35.400
 in

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:35.680
 Christ

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.059
 Jesus.

00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:38.120
 Only

00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.579
 blessing.

00:26:40.219 --> 00:26:40.659
 Only

00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:41.119
 God's

00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:41.599
 smiling

00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.079
 face

00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.299
 now

00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:42.579
 upon

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:42.959
 us.

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.239
 And

00:26:45.239 --> 00:26:45.439
 is

00:26:45.439 --> 00:26:45.699
 this

00:26:45.699 --> 00:26:46.179
 blessing

00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:47.339
 only

00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:47.879
 offered

00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:49.319
 to

00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:49.599
 Jews

00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:49.759
 who

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:49.979
 keep

00:26:49.979 --> 00:26:50.159
 the

00:26:50.159 --> 00:26:50.419
 law?

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.459
 No.

00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.019
 It

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:54.159
 is

00:26:54.159 --> 00:26:54.419
 offered

00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:54.639
 to

00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:55.239
 everyone

00:26:55.239 --> 00:26:56.500
 in

00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.459
 Christ

00:26:57.459 --> 00:26:58.299
 Jesus.

00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.099
 Gentiles

00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:00.419
 too.

00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.519
 But

00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:05.679
 Paul

00:27:05.679 --> 00:27:05.959
 says,

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.219
 you

00:27:06.219 --> 00:27:06.399
 know,

00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.600
 the

00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:08.140
 blessings

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.660
 abound.

00:27:09.040 --> 00:27:09.320
 It's

00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:09.540
 not

00:27:09.540 --> 00:27:09.980
 just

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.380
 right

00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:10.820
 standing

00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:11.100
 with

00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:11.440
 God

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:11.740
 that

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:11.860
 we

00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:12.220
 receive

00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:12.380
 in

00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:12.780
 Christ.

00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:13.840
 It's

00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:14.120
 also

00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:14.360
 the

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:14.860
 promised

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.380
 spirit

00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:15.680
 through

00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.200
 faith.

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:17.820
 Not

00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:18.120
 just

00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:18.480
 a new

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.100
 standing,

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:19.480
 a new

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:19.960
 status

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:20.220
 with

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.460
 God,

00:27:20.540 --> 00:27:20.759
 but a

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:20.900
 new

00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.300
 heart,

00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:21.840
 a new

00:27:21.840 --> 00:27:22.320
 power,

00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.080
 a new

00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:23.700
 internal

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.380
 principle

00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:24.740
 within

00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:24.960
 us,

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.660
 a new

00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.160
 internal

00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.720
 reality

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:26.980
 that

00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.720
 can

00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.180
 delight

00:27:28.180 --> 00:27:28.380
 in

00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:28.759
 God

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.900
 and

00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.040
 that

00:27:30.040 --> 00:27:30.440
 loves

00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:30.860
 God

00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:31.480
 and

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:31.920
 others

00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:32.180
 in

00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:32.620
 freedom.

00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:34.600
 And

00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:34.800
 through

00:27:34.800 --> 00:27:35.019
 the

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.460
 Spirit

00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:35.900
 we're

00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:36.300
 able to

00:27:36.300 --> 00:27:36.940
 love

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.360
 and

00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:38.000
 rejoice

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.340
 in

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:38.759
 God

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:38.940
 and

00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.100
 in

00:27:39.100 --> 00:27:39.500
 others

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.560
 in

00:27:40.560 --> 00:27:40.900
 a way

00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:41.060
 that

00:27:41.060 --> 00:27:41.259
 the

00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:41.519
 law

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:41.759
 by

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.140
 itself

00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:42.380
 could

00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:42.780
 never

00:27:42.780 --> 00:27:43.220
 produce

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:43.380
 in

00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:43.700
 us.

00:27:47.320 --> 00:27:48.040
 Friend,

00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:48.320
 are you

00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:48.720
 still

00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.300
 relying

00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:50.940
 on your

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.820
 moral

00:27:51.820 --> 00:27:52.580
 performance

00:27:52.580 --> 00:27:53.380
 to give

00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:53.640
 you

00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.320
 assurance

00:27:54.320 --> 00:27:54.720
 before

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.120
 God?

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.340
 Are you

00:27:57.340 --> 00:27:57.600
 still

00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:58.040
 looking to

00:27:58.040 --> 00:27:58.519
 your own

00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:58.880
 efforts

00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.700
 to gauge

00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:00.500
 whether

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:00.860
 God

00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:01.060
 will

00:28:01.060 --> 00:28:01.360
 bless

00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:01.720
 you?

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:04.799
 Christian,

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.500
 are you

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:06.819
 still

00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.160
 looking

00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:07.700
 to your

00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.220
 own

00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.039
 performance

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.420
 to

00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:10.059
 gauge

00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:10.799
 whether

00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.279
 God

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.500
 is

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:11.799
 going

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.059
 to

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.380
 bless

00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:12.680
 you?

00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.160
 Now,

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.420
 if you've

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:16.700
 ever been

00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:16.860
 there,

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.519
 you know

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:19.000
 what shaky

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.720
 ground that

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.039
 is,

00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:20.420
 right?

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.140
 You know

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.759
 how one

00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.100
 day,

00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.420
 looking to

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:24.779
 our own

00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.180
 performance,

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.600
 it feels

00:28:25.600 --> 00:28:26.000
 great,

00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:26.559
 right?

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.180
 It feels

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:28.620
 so good.

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:28.940
 You look

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.140
 out at

00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:29.539
 other people

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:29.859
 and think,

00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:30.180
 how can

00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:30.359
 those

00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:30.619
 idiots

00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.519
 not be

00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:31.980
 like me?

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.240
 Right?

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:35.980
 But the

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.579
 next day,

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.059
 it fills

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.379
 you with

00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.019
 anxiety

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:40.019
 and

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.680
 uncertainty.

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.480
 Oh,

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:42.859
 you know

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:43.180
 how it

00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.480
 makes you

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:43.940
 compare

00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.460
 yourself

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.859
 endlessly

00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:45.500
 to others.

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.059
 You know

00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.379
 how it

00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:47.740
 makes you

00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.339
 dread at

00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:48.779
 times to

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.680
 even read

00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.440
 God's

00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:50.859
 Word or

00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.399
 to pray

00:28:51.399 --> 00:28:52.379
 for fear

00:28:52.379 --> 00:28:52.700
 that you'll

00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.399
 find another

00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.139
 command you

00:28:54.139 --> 00:28:54.639
 can't live

00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:55.079
 up to.

00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.259
 You know

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.779
 how heavy

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.180
 it makes

00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:58.740
 your soul

00:28:58.740 --> 00:29:00.000
 to rely

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.460
 on works

00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:00.700
 of the

00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:00.940
 law.

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.160
 But look,

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:04.799
 friend,

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.680
 look again

00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.680
 to Christ.

00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.099
 Do you

00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:10.620
 see how

00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.420
 He willingly

00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:13.380
 became

00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:14.039
 a curse

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.519
 for you?

00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:17.920
 All the

00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:18.400
 sins that

00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:18.920
 you have

00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:19.319
 committed

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:19.759
 for which

00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.700
 you do

00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:21.160
 deserve

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:21.539
 judgment,

00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.039
 He took

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.440
 those on

00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:22.779
 Himself.

00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:25.700
 Why?

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:28.200
 Because of

00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.620
 His great

00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:29.019
 love for

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.259
 you.

00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:31.460
 So that

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:31.840
 the dark

00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:32.519
 clouds of

00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:33.000
 that curse

00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.400
 might be

00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:33.860
 forever

00:29:33.860 --> 00:29:34.559
 dispelled

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:36.299
 and so that

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:36.700
 the bright

00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.360
 rays of

00:29:37.360 --> 00:29:37.700
 God's

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.279
 favor might

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.860
 shine down

00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.180
 on you

00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:39.620
 forever.

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:42.759
 You don't

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.080
 need to

00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:43.440
 live under

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:43.940
 that curse

00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:44.460
 any longer.

00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:48.319
 For all

00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:48.680
 who are

00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:49.580
 in Christ

00:29:49.580 --> 00:29:50.220
 by faith,

00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:50.660
 the curse

00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.140
 is gone

00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:52.680
 and nothing

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.240
 but blessing

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:53.780
 remains.

00:29:55.060 --> 00:29:55.720
 The blessing

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.280
 won by

00:29:56.280 --> 00:29:57.020
 Christ's

00:29:57.020 --> 00:29:57.440
 righteousness.

00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.460
 So these

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:01.820
 are Paul's

00:30:01.820 --> 00:30:02.320
 first two

00:30:02.320 --> 00:30:02.740
 scriptural

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.160
 arguments.

00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:03.720
 First,

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:04.980
 the blessing

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.360
 of God

00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:06.040
 has always

00:30:06.040 --> 00:30:06.600
 come through

00:30:06.600 --> 00:30:07.040
 faith,

00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:07.940
 even all

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.300
 the way

00:30:08.300 --> 00:30:08.840
 back to

00:30:08.840 --> 00:30:09.300
 Abraham.

00:30:09.820 --> 00:30:10.540
 It's always

00:30:10.540 --> 00:30:11.100
 been through

00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:11.440
 faith.

00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.700
 And second,

00:30:13.560 --> 00:30:14.200
 relying on

00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:14.540
 the law

00:30:14.540 --> 00:30:15.700
 only keeps

00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.080
 us under

00:30:16.080 --> 00:30:16.800
 the curse,

00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:17.720
 the very

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.180
 curse that

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.720
 Christ came

00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.320
 to redeem

00:30:19.320 --> 00:30:19.960
 us from.

00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:22.680
 Paul's

00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:22.980
 third and

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.200
 fourth

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.700
 arguments

00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.140
 in verses

00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.660
 15 through

00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.720
 22 now,

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:26.700
 having set

00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:27.000
 out the

00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:28.220
 blessing by

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.280
 promise and

00:30:29.280 --> 00:30:29.780
 the curse

00:30:29.780 --> 00:30:30.120
 under the

00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:30.340
 law,

00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:30.900
 now they

00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:31.180
 have to

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:31.440
 do with

00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:31.560
 the

00:30:31.560 --> 00:30:32.140
 relationship

00:30:32.140 --> 00:30:33.100
 between

00:30:33.100 --> 00:30:33.440
 the law

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:33.680
 and the

00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.040
 promise.

00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:35.960
 And even

00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:36.380
 though these

00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:37.700
 verses 15

00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.160
 through 22

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:38.520
 are some

00:30:38.520 --> 00:30:38.880
 of the most

00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.300
 densely

00:30:39.300 --> 00:30:39.900
 packed verses

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.240
 in all

00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.640
 of Galatians,

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.300
 I think

00:30:41.300 --> 00:30:42.040
 they're actually

00:30:42.040 --> 00:30:42.800
 very practical,

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.120
 very good

00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:44.700
 lessons for

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.200
 us today.

00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.840
 In the

00:30:46.840 --> 00:30:47.480
 first half

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:47.860
 of this

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.380
 passage,

00:30:48.840 --> 00:30:49.280
 Paul tells

00:30:49.280 --> 00:30:49.680
 us what the

00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:50.220
 law can't

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:50.440
 do,

00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:51.440
 and then

00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:51.660
 in the

00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.019
 second half

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.200
 of this

00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:52.420
 passage,

00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:52.980
 Paul tells

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.220
 us what

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.500
 the law

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.140
 can do.

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.759
 So first,

00:30:55.860 --> 00:30:56.120
 what the

00:30:56.120 --> 00:30:56.840
 law can't

00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:57.200
 do,

00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:57.600
 this is

00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:58.160
 verses 15

00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:58.539
 through 18

00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:58.940
 as Paul

00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.960
 continues his

00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.299
 scriptural

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.820
 arguments.

00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:01.539
 He says,

00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:01.920
 what the

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.620
 law can't

00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:03.820
 do is

00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:04.480
 annul the

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:04.980
 promise.

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.120
 It can't

00:31:06.120 --> 00:31:06.820
 cancel it and

00:31:06.820 --> 00:31:07.460
 make it void.

00:31:08.320 --> 00:31:08.860
 Paul reminds

00:31:08.860 --> 00:31:09.259
 us here that

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:09.920
 God's promise

00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.480
 to Abraham

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:12.140
 came first,

00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.980
 and that

00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:14.700
 promise isn't

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.779
 somehow overridden

00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.539
 or canceled

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.299
 by the

00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:17.819
 law that

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.240
 God put

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.759
 in place

00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:20.460
 430 years

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:20.819
 later.

00:31:22.920 --> 00:31:23.339
 Now,

00:31:23.399 --> 00:31:23.839
 keep that

00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:24.440
 in mind,

00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:24.819
 friend,

00:31:24.879 --> 00:31:25.379
 as you read

00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:25.740
 Scripture.

00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:27.059
 When you

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.659
 come across

00:31:27.659 --> 00:31:28.420
 God's commands

00:31:28.420 --> 00:31:28.879
 in the Old

00:31:28.879 --> 00:31:29.700
 Testament or

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.079
 in the New

00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:30.480
 Testament,

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.720
 remember that

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.480
 those commands,

00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.779
 they don't

00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:35.379
 cancel or

00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:36.700
 annul the

00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:38.279
 promise that

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.720
 came first and

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.539
 has priority

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.200
 over them

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.659
 all.

00:31:41.660 --> 00:31:44.080
 God's

00:31:44.080 --> 00:31:44.960
 inheritance of

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.720
 salvation comes

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:47.000
 not by your

00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:47.640
 keeping the

00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:47.980
 law.

00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.279
 It comes by

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:51.240
 God keeping

00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:52.340
 His promise

00:31:52.340 --> 00:31:54.480
 because you

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.480
 see what God

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.880
 demanded in the

00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:58.540
 law, He

00:31:58.540 --> 00:31:59.500
 fulfilled in

00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.220
 Christ for

00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.519
 you.

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.740
 He's kept

00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.480
 His promise

00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.320
 in Jesus.

00:32:05.840 --> 00:32:06.519
 That's Paul's

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:06.720
 point,

00:32:06.820 --> 00:32:06.980
 actually,

00:32:07.040 --> 00:32:07.779
 in verse 16.

00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.220
 Some of you

00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:08.460
 might have

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:08.860
 scratched your

00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:09.279
 head at that

00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:09.660
 one as we

00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.259
 read it earlier.

00:32:11.100 --> 00:32:11.519
 Paul's actually

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.299
 making a subtle

00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:13.339
 point here based

00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:13.779
 on the word

00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.660
 offspring in

00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:15.000
 Genesis.

00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.460
 He's arguing

00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:16.879
 that the

00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:18.599
 promise to

00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:19.240
 Abraham's

00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:21.099
 offspring actually

00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:22.259
 wasn't fulfilled

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.220
 by the

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.279
 collective people

00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.779
 of Israel

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.359
 keeping the

00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:25.619
 law.

00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:27.240
 He says that

00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:28.099
 wasn't actually

00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:28.720
 the offspring

00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.440
 God had in

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:29.839
 mind.

00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:30.720
 In fact,

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.339
 the offspring

00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:32.079
 God really

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:32.839
 had in mind

00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:34.420
 was a single

00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:34.839
 person,

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.259
 Jesus,

00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.139
 who would

00:32:36.139 --> 00:32:36.859
 represent His

00:32:36.859 --> 00:32:37.220
 people,

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.859
 who would

00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:39.500
 do for them

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:39.819
 on their

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.299
 behalf,

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:40.660
 in their

00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:40.940
 place,

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:41.259
 what they

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:41.620
 themselves

00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:42.039
 could never

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.400
 do.

00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:43.940
 He would

00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:45.960
 be the

00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.799
 true Israel.

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.740
 He would

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:50.120
 be their

00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:50.620
 righteousness.

00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:52.460
 He would

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.400
 be their

00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:54.820
 king and

00:32:54.820 --> 00:32:55.279
 keep the

00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.860
 law in its

00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:56.340
 entirety.

00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:58.039
 He would

00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.640
 face the

00:32:58.640 --> 00:32:59.840
 curse and

00:32:59.840 --> 00:33:00.320
 bear the

00:33:00.320 --> 00:33:00.759
 wrath of

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.019
 sin,

00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:02.080
 and He

00:33:02.080 --> 00:33:02.559
 would rise

00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:02.980
 again in

00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.340
 victory,

00:33:03.820 --> 00:33:04.680
 and He

00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:05.039
 would do it

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.400
 for all

00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:06.000
 those united

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.360
 to Him

00:33:06.360 --> 00:33:06.980
 by faith.

00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:09.500
 That's

00:33:09.500 --> 00:33:09.819
 what the

00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.400
 Abrahamic

00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:10.960
 promise was

00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:11.680
 really all

00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:12.019
 about,

00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:12.720
 Paul says.

00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.299
 The seed

00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:15.000
 of Abraham

00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:16.460
 is a

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.039
 messianic

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.700
 promise

00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:18.720
 fulfilled in

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.059
 Jesus,

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:19.720
 Israel's

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.120
 Messiah.

00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.259
 Practically

00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:23.620
 speaking,

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:23.839
 then,

00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.059
 God's promise

00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:25.799
 isn't fulfilled

00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.220
 by your

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:26.640
 keeping the

00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:26.799
 law,

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:27.339
 it's fulfilled

00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:27.799
 by Jesus

00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.339
 keeping the

00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:28.460
 law,

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.039
 and now

00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:30.319
 your part

00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:30.700
 is to

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.599
 trust Him.

00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:33.360
 United,

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.140
 unite yourself

00:33:35.140 --> 00:33:35.600
 to Him

00:33:35.600 --> 00:33:36.400
 by faith,

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.360
 and you

00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:39.120
 are united

00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:40.580
 by faith

00:33:40.580 --> 00:33:41.280
 in Christ

00:33:41.280 --> 00:33:42.400
 to the

00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:43.020
 ancient

00:33:43.020 --> 00:33:43.980
 promised

00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:44.520
 blessing

00:33:44.520 --> 00:33:45.160
 of God

00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:45.940
 that

00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:46.640
 overthrows

00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.100
 the curse

00:33:47.100 --> 00:33:47.640
 of sin

00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:48.980
 and restores

00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.680
 our relationship

00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:50.080
 to our

00:33:50.080 --> 00:33:50.500
 Creator.

00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:52.180
 No law

00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:53.160
 can annul

00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:54.120
 that promise.

00:33:56.280 --> 00:33:56.780
 Now,

00:33:56.840 --> 00:33:57.140
 that doesn't

00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:57.540
 just help us

00:33:57.540 --> 00:33:57.920
 to read our

00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:58.640
 Bibles properly,

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:58.980
 right?

00:33:59.360 --> 00:33:59.980
 It also helps

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.580
 us to be filled

00:34:00.580 --> 00:34:01.520
 with joyful hope.

00:34:02.060 --> 00:34:02.500
 Verse 18

00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:02.780
 says,

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:04.420
 for if the

00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:05.200
 inheritance comes

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.600
 by law,

00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:06.140
 it no longer

00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:06.940
 comes by promise,

00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:07.980
 but God gave

00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:08.579
 it to Abraham

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.519
 by a promise.

00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:11.260
 Your inheritance,

00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.139
 your eternal

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:12.920
 future in the

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:13.280
 new heavens

00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:13.720
 and new earth

00:34:13.720 --> 00:34:14.820
 are secured

00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:16.639
 by His

00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:17.280
 promise.

00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:20.320
 God promised

00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:20.840
 Abraham that

00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:21.139
 he would have

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:22.000
 a great family

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.420
 and that his

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:22.940
 family would

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.860
 dwell in the

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.119
 land,

00:34:24.180 --> 00:34:24.460
 but you know,

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.099
 that promise

00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:25.700
 wasn't just

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.159
 about the

00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:26.740
 ancient land

00:34:26.740 --> 00:34:27.240
 of Canaan.

00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:28.980
 Not even

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.519
 from the very

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.260
 beginning was it

00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.119
 limited to that.

00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:32.340
 If Abraham's

00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:33.000
 family would

00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.860
 include all

00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:35.120
 nations because

00:34:35.120 --> 00:34:36.000
 all nations

00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:36.599
 would be blessed

00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:37.140
 in him,

00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.079
 what does that

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:38.320
 mean?

00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.079
 It must mean

00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:39.920
 that all the

00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:40.480
 earth would be

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.160
 his inheritance.

00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:42.960
 And that is

00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:44.380
 exactly how Jews

00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:45.260
 came to understand

00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:45.940
 the Abrahamic

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.800
 promise and

00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:47.440
 exactly how the

00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:47.940
 New Testament

00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:48.820
 understands it.

00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:49.920
 The gospel

00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:51.900
 is for all

00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:52.360
 people,

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:52.820
 for the

00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:53.840
 whole world.

00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:57.640
 God's promise

00:34:57.640 --> 00:34:58.340
 is that one

00:34:58.340 --> 00:34:58.960
 day the whole

00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.840
 world will be

00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.380
 covered with

00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:01.099
 His glory like

00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.519
 the waters

00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.000
 cover the

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:02.279
 sea.

00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:04.460
 His promise

00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:04.880
 is that one

00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:05.159
 day there

00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:05.920
 will be no

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.719
 more sickness

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.819
 or sorrow

00:35:07.819 --> 00:35:08.339
 or death

00:35:08.339 --> 00:35:08.799
 or dying

00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:09.719
 in any

00:35:09.719 --> 00:35:10.339
 corner of

00:35:10.339 --> 00:35:10.980
 His creation.

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.639
 Christ will

00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.380
 return and

00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:13.920
 God will be

00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.860
 all in all

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.480
 and that

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.480
 is secure

00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.460
 to you

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:19.239
 because God

00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:20.500
 promised it

00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:21.940
 and He is

00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:22.259
 faithful.

00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:25.519
 And until

00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.139
 that day,

00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:28.739
 as His church,

00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:30.159
 we pray and

00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.739
 we partner

00:35:30.739 --> 00:35:32.000
 and we labor

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:33.299
 to take this

00:35:33.299 --> 00:35:34.439
 gospel to the

00:35:34.439 --> 00:35:35.159
 ends of this

00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:36.219
 earth and

00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:36.919
 everywhere in

00:35:36.919 --> 00:35:37.439
 between,

00:35:38.959 --> 00:35:40.079
 still confident

00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:41.419
 that God

00:35:41.419 --> 00:35:42.299
 will keep

00:35:42.299 --> 00:35:43.719
 His promise

00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:47.000
 and God

00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.559
 will have a

00:35:47.559 --> 00:35:48.000
 people for

00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:49.379
 Himself from

00:35:49.379 --> 00:35:50.000
 every tribe

00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.379
 and tongue

00:35:50.379 --> 00:35:50.859
 and nation.

00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:52.399
 You know,

00:35:52.439 --> 00:35:53.000
 this is why we

00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:53.679
 do missions as

00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:54.159
 a church,

00:35:54.479 --> 00:35:55.059
 right?

00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:57.039
 Because we are

00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:58.480
 confident that

00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:59.019
 the promise

00:35:59.019 --> 00:35:59.480
 of God

00:35:59.480 --> 00:36:00.039
 fulfilled in

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:01.639
 Jesus will

00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:02.300
 be fulfilled

00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:02.940
 and take root

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:03.480
 in all the

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:04.019
 nations.

00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:05.480
 Whether all

00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.019
 those nations

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:06.579
 are in

00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:07.719
 Central Asia

00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:08.960
 or whether

00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.420
 all those

00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:09.880
 nations are

00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:10.619
 jammed right

00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:10.980
 here in

00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.320
 Little New

00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:11.659
 Haven,

00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.840
 God is

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:14.539
 going to

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.199
 save a

00:36:15.199 --> 00:36:15.800
 people from

00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:16.500
 every tribe

00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.079
 and tongue

00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:18.039
 and language

00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:18.779
 and nation

00:36:18.779 --> 00:36:20.719
 and we can

00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:21.380
 be confident

00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:22.679
 and filled

00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:23.440
 with joyful

00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:24.920
 hope for

00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.699
 this age

00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:26.919
 and for

00:36:26.919 --> 00:36:27.239
 the age

00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:27.719
 to come.

00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:29.779
 The law

00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:30.159
 doesn't

00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:30.679
 annul

00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.559
 the promise.

00:36:34.899 --> 00:36:35.599
 So that's

00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:35.939
 what the law

00:36:35.939 --> 00:36:36.519
 can't do.

00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:37.579
 Last,

00:36:37.699 --> 00:36:38.239
 Paul tells us

00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:38.719
 what the law

00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:39.699
 can do.

00:36:40.719 --> 00:36:41.279
 The law

00:36:41.279 --> 00:36:43.000
 can point

00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:43.439
 us back

00:36:43.439 --> 00:36:44.119
 to Christ

00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:45.059
 as our

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.419
 greatest

00:36:45.419 --> 00:36:45.819
 treasure.

00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:47.639
 Paul asks

00:36:47.639 --> 00:36:48.219
 in verse 19,

00:36:48.299 --> 00:36:48.659
 so why did

00:36:48.659 --> 00:36:49.059
 God give us

00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:49.279
 the law

00:36:49.279 --> 00:36:49.539
 anyway?

00:36:51.399 --> 00:36:51.839
 Well,

00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:52.419
 the Mosaic

00:36:52.419 --> 00:36:52.839
 law was

00:36:52.839 --> 00:36:53.500
 given because

00:36:53.500 --> 00:36:55.039
 of transgressions

00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:56.619
 until the

00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:57.239
 offspring should

00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:58.260
 come to whom

00:36:58.260 --> 00:36:58.719
 the promise

00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.300
 had been made.

00:37:00.139 --> 00:37:00.639
 In other words,

00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:01.500
 the Mosaic law

00:37:01.500 --> 00:37:02.300
 was a temporary

00:37:02.300 --> 00:37:03.380
 administration

00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:04.559
 until the

00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.199
 Messiah came.

00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.480
 The ceremonies

00:37:07.480 --> 00:37:08.119
 and festivals

00:37:08.119 --> 00:37:08.940
 of the Mosaic law

00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:09.559
 were never meant

00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:10.139
 to be permanent.

00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:11.239
 They were just

00:37:11.239 --> 00:37:11.900
 a scaffolding

00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:12.420
 as it were

00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:13.719
 until the real

00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.340
 work was done

00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:14.739
 through Jesus

00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:15.320
 the Messiah.

00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:16.539
 And now that

00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:17.360
 that true building

00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:17.699
 is up,

00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:18.420
 the scaffolding

00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:19.219
 can come down.

00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:21.159
 And the

00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:22.239
 provisional nature

00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:23.000
 of the law

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:24.659
 is probably

00:37:24.659 --> 00:37:25.159
 what the end

00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:25.819
 of verse 19

00:37:25.819 --> 00:37:26.379
 and verse 20

00:37:26.379 --> 00:37:26.879
 are getting at.

00:37:26.959 --> 00:37:27.099
 Now,

00:37:27.939 --> 00:37:28.539
 we all admit

00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:28.879
 that those

00:37:28.879 --> 00:37:29.399
 are confusing

00:37:29.399 --> 00:37:29.699
 verses.

00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:30.419
 It's not entirely

00:37:30.419 --> 00:37:30.979
 clear what Paul

00:37:30.979 --> 00:37:31.439
 means there.

00:37:31.859 --> 00:37:32.719
 But the big idea

00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:33.379
 seems to be

00:37:33.379 --> 00:37:34.000
 that the law

00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.419
 was just

00:37:34.419 --> 00:37:35.419
 an intermediary

00:37:35.419 --> 00:37:35.959
 stage,

00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:36.639
 a provisional

00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:37.179
 arrangement

00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:37.899
 that would

00:37:37.899 --> 00:37:38.899
 eventually pass.

00:37:40.399 --> 00:37:40.799
 Ah,

00:37:40.839 --> 00:37:41.379
 but you asked,

00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:42.279
 but what about

00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:42.859
 the moral

00:37:42.859 --> 00:37:43.639
 commands of the law?

00:37:43.719 --> 00:37:43.959
 What about

00:37:43.959 --> 00:37:44.399
 the commands

00:37:44.399 --> 00:37:45.019
 that continue

00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:45.599
 into the New

00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:45.939
 Testament,

00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:46.179
 right,

00:37:46.199 --> 00:37:46.479
 that we're

00:37:46.479 --> 00:37:46.879
 supposed to

00:37:46.879 --> 00:37:47.219
 keep?

00:37:49.319 --> 00:37:49.579
 Well,

00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:50.359
 those laws,

00:37:51.139 --> 00:37:51.779
 do they not?

00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:52.360
 Just like

00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:53.180
 those ceremonial

00:37:53.180 --> 00:37:53.900
 laws and just

00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:55.300
 like those laws

00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:56.000
 that pointed to

00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:56.480
 Christ through

00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.019
 pictures and

00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:57.260
 signs,

00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:57.920
 don't those

00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:59.100
 moral commands

00:37:59.100 --> 00:38:01.040
 also point us

00:38:01.040 --> 00:38:01.640
 to Jesus?

00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:03.320
 Don't they

00:38:03.320 --> 00:38:04.820
 also remind us

00:38:04.820 --> 00:38:06.180
 that we need

00:38:06.180 --> 00:38:07.320
 a Savior?

00:38:09.600 --> 00:38:10.660
 Because the laws

00:38:10.660 --> 00:38:11.260
 by themselves

00:38:11.260 --> 00:38:11.900
 don't have the

00:38:11.900 --> 00:38:12.700
 power to give

00:38:12.700 --> 00:38:13.300
 us life.

00:38:15.160 --> 00:38:16.160
 The laws don't

00:38:16.160 --> 00:38:17.019
 carry any power

00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:17.800
 to change us

00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:18.600
 or empower us

00:38:18.600 --> 00:38:19.360
 to keep them.

00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:19.400
 sin.

00:38:20.220 --> 00:38:20.860
 The laws

00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:21.440
 by themselves

00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:22.400
 only remind

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:23.980
 us that we're

00:38:23.980 --> 00:38:24.960
 sinners and that

00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:25.720
 we need a Savior.

00:38:27.400 --> 00:38:28.440
 They remind us

00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:29.220
 that sin really

00:38:29.220 --> 00:38:30.039
 is sin,

00:38:30.940 --> 00:38:32.099
 but they show

00:38:32.099 --> 00:38:32.579
 us that our

00:38:32.579 --> 00:38:33.220
 Savior really

00:38:33.220 --> 00:38:33.900
 is a great

00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:35.539
 Savior and

00:38:35.539 --> 00:38:36.039
 that our only

00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:37.420
 hope is to be

00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:38.099
 justified by

00:38:38.099 --> 00:38:38.940
 faith in Him.

00:38:40.260 --> 00:38:41.160
 So the law

00:38:41.160 --> 00:38:42.420
 drives us to

00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:43.160
 Christ as our

00:38:43.160 --> 00:38:43.720
 only hope.

00:38:44.980 --> 00:38:45.760
 In verse 25,

00:38:45.880 --> 00:38:46.360
 Paul will say

00:38:46.360 --> 00:38:46.900
 it's like a

00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:48.539
 schoolmaster that's

00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.639
 been teaching us

00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:50.860
 and training us

00:38:50.860 --> 00:38:52.219
 and directing us

00:38:52.219 --> 00:38:53.000
 to Jesus.

00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:57.659
 So this is what

00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.440
 the law can do.

00:38:59.039 --> 00:38:59.719
 It can help us

00:38:59.719 --> 00:39:00.440
 to see again and

00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:01.000
 again what a

00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:01.699
 treasure we have

00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:02.219
 in Christ.

00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:04.480
 Now at this point

00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:04.800
 you might be

00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:05.300
 asking, well is

00:39:05.300 --> 00:39:05.860
 there any hope

00:39:05.860 --> 00:39:06.500
 for us humans

00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:07.119
 to actually

00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:08.000
 obey the law?

00:39:09.840 --> 00:39:10.320
 And Paul's

00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:10.800
 answer to that

00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:11.880
 is emphatically,

00:39:12.380 --> 00:39:15.159
 yes, yes, yes.

00:39:15.159 --> 00:39:16.159
 We humans can

00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:17.019
 begin to live a

00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:17.940
 life that reflects

00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:18.759
 God's character

00:39:18.759 --> 00:39:19.960
 as displayed in

00:39:19.960 --> 00:39:20.659
 the moral law.

00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:22.159
 Yes, we can

00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:22.860
 start to keep

00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:23.599
 God's laws,

00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:26.239
 but the power

00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:27.079
 to do that

00:39:27.079 --> 00:39:28.699
 doesn't come

00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:29.139
 from the law

00:39:29.139 --> 00:39:29.579
 itself,

00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:31.639
 and our standing

00:39:31.639 --> 00:39:32.300
 before God

00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:33.139
 doesn't depend

00:39:33.139 --> 00:39:34.420
 on that.

00:39:35.940 --> 00:39:37.099
 The power

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:38.119
 to keep God's

00:39:38.119 --> 00:39:39.659
 law doesn't

00:39:39.659 --> 00:39:40.099
 come from the

00:39:40.099 --> 00:39:40.360
 law.

00:39:41.380 --> 00:39:42.099
 It comes from

00:39:42.099 --> 00:39:42.579
 the Spirit

00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:44.000
 living inside of

00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:45.759
 us, the Spirit

00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:46.380
 that Christ

00:39:46.380 --> 00:39:46.980
 has poured

00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:48.120
 out on those

00:39:48.120 --> 00:39:49.040
 whom He has

00:39:49.040 --> 00:39:49.600
 redeemed from

00:39:49.600 --> 00:39:50.100
 the curse.

00:39:51.100 --> 00:39:51.800
 The Spirit

00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:52.340
 of freedom,

00:39:52.820 --> 00:39:53.480
 of love,

00:39:53.580 --> 00:39:54.200
 of peace.

00:39:55.320 --> 00:39:55.820
 Now Paul will

00:39:55.820 --> 00:39:56.320
 have a lot to

00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:56.900
 say about that

00:39:56.900 --> 00:39:57.600
 in chapters 5

00:39:57.600 --> 00:39:58.100
 and 6,

00:39:58.620 --> 00:39:59.420
 so stay tuned

00:39:59.420 --> 00:39:59.900
 for when we get

00:39:59.900 --> 00:40:00.420
 to those chapters

00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:00.820
 in a couple

00:40:00.820 --> 00:40:01.180
 of weeks,

00:40:01.260 --> 00:40:01.820
 but for now

00:40:01.820 --> 00:40:04.180
 we end by

00:40:04.180 --> 00:40:04.960
 realizing what

00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:05.620
 the law can

00:40:05.620 --> 00:40:05.880
 do.

00:40:06.840 --> 00:40:07.560
 The law

00:40:07.560 --> 00:40:09.780
 can point

00:40:09.780 --> 00:40:10.520
 us to Christ.

00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:12.080
 So when you

00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.440
 are reading

00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:13.160
 Scripture and you

00:40:13.160 --> 00:40:13.880
 come across the

00:40:13.880 --> 00:40:14.900
 commands of God,

00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.340
 look to Christ.

00:40:18.720 --> 00:40:19.340
 Realize that they

00:40:19.340 --> 00:40:20.039
 are telling you

00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:21.400
 more about Him

00:40:21.400 --> 00:40:22.760
 than they are

00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:23.320
 about you.

00:40:24.300 --> 00:40:25.200
 And realize that

00:40:25.200 --> 00:40:25.800
 you need His

00:40:25.800 --> 00:40:26.220
 blood and

00:40:26.220 --> 00:40:26.920
 righteousness to

00:40:26.920 --> 00:40:27.619
 make you clean,

00:40:28.160 --> 00:40:28.740
 that you can't

00:40:28.740 --> 00:40:29.700
 do it by yourself,

00:40:30.579 --> 00:40:31.340
 but rejoice that

00:40:31.340 --> 00:40:32.180
 He has taken

00:40:32.180 --> 00:40:33.039
 away your curse

00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:33.980
 and given you

00:40:33.980 --> 00:40:34.680
 His blessing,

00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:36.360
 and then rely on

00:40:36.360 --> 00:40:37.300
 His Spirit within

00:40:37.300 --> 00:40:38.099
 you to empower

00:40:38.099 --> 00:40:39.180
 you and lead

00:40:39.180 --> 00:40:39.840
 you to live a

00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:40.660
 life of love,

00:40:41.880 --> 00:40:43.180
 which after all

00:40:43.179 --> 00:40:44.500
 is, as Paul

00:40:44.500 --> 00:40:44.839
 will say,

00:40:44.899 --> 00:40:45.440
 the fulfillment

00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:45.960
 of the law.

00:40:47.500 --> 00:40:48.139
 Let's pray.

00:40:51.500 --> 00:40:52.239
 Oh, Lord,

00:40:52.980 --> 00:40:56.199
 we give You

00:40:56.199 --> 00:40:56.679
 praise.

00:40:57.899 --> 00:40:59.079
 You are our

00:40:59.079 --> 00:41:00.579
 holy and

00:41:00.579 --> 00:41:01.099
 majestic

00:41:01.099 --> 00:41:02.799
 Creator.

00:41:03.480 --> 00:41:04.359
 Triune God,

00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:05.480
 nothing exists

00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:06.500
 apart from

00:41:06.500 --> 00:41:07.059
 Your will,

00:41:07.819 --> 00:41:08.239
 from Your

00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:09.480
 sustaining choice.

00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:12.539
 Lord, we give

00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:13.199
 You praise

00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:13.840
 this morning

00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:15.460
 that when we

00:41:15.460 --> 00:41:16.240
 had fallen

00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:17.159
 deep into the

00:41:17.159 --> 00:41:18.820
 curse of our

00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:19.579
 own sin,

00:41:20.519 --> 00:41:21.380
 when the law

00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:22.179
 had spoken over

00:41:22.179 --> 00:41:23.059
 us not a blessing

00:41:23.059 --> 00:41:24.420
 but a curse,

00:41:24.579 --> 00:41:25.260
 we praise You

00:41:25.260 --> 00:41:25.980
 that Christ has

00:41:25.980 --> 00:41:29.860
 come to handle

00:41:29.860 --> 00:41:31.039
 that curse for us,

00:41:31.780 --> 00:41:34.079
 to step under

00:41:34.079 --> 00:41:35.059
 its weighty load,

00:41:35.059 --> 00:41:37.519
 to be even

00:41:37.519 --> 00:41:38.480
 crushed by it,

00:41:38.679 --> 00:41:40.079
 so that we

00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:40.759
 could be blessed

00:41:40.759 --> 00:41:41.400
 and made whole.

00:41:43.219 --> 00:41:43.900
 Oh, Lord,

00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:44.860
 fill us with Your

00:41:44.860 --> 00:41:46.199
 Spirit, risen Christ.

00:41:46.759 --> 00:41:47.659
 Help us to live

00:41:47.659 --> 00:41:48.320
 in the blessing

00:41:48.320 --> 00:41:49.400
 that is now ours

00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:50.239
 because You

00:41:50.239 --> 00:41:50.779
 have died

00:41:50.779 --> 00:41:51.500
 and risen again.

00:41:53.360 --> 00:41:54.019
 Lord, and with

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:54.719
 those here this

00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:55.259
 morning who are

00:41:55.259 --> 00:41:56.599
 not in You

00:41:56.599 --> 00:41:57.279
 through faith,

00:41:58.179 --> 00:41:58.799
 turn,

00:42:00.440 --> 00:42:01.239
 admit that they

00:42:01.239 --> 00:42:02.519
 need a rescuer,

00:42:02.639 --> 00:42:03.219
 need a Savior,

00:42:03.219 --> 00:42:05.299
 and fall into

00:42:05.299 --> 00:42:06.259
 Your open arms.

00:42:07.519 --> 00:42:08.519
 Lord, confident

00:42:08.519 --> 00:42:09.139
 that You

00:42:09.139 --> 00:42:10.119
 receive all

00:42:10.119 --> 00:42:10.879
 who come to You.

00:42:11.799 --> 00:42:12.519
 We pray this

00:42:12.519 --> 00:42:12.980
 in Your mighty

00:42:12.980 --> 00:42:13.519
 name, Jesus.

00:42:13.839 --> 00:42:14.059
 Amen.