WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.700 The truth is that this passage is at the very heart of everything that Paul is communicating 00:00:06.700 --> 00:00:09.839 to Titus and to these believers in Crete. 00:00:11.019 --> 00:00:18.519 It is, in one sense, it is the sound doctrine with which Christian behavior is to accord. 00:00:19.179 --> 00:00:21.640 We remember that from the very first verse of this chapter. 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:24.320 Just put your eye on it in chapter 2 and verse 1. 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:28.760 But as for you, Paul says, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:34.520 The behaviors, the mindsets, the attitudes, the things that harmonize with sound doctrine. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:40.400 When we get to verses 11 through 14, this is essentially the sound doctrine with which 00:00:40.400 --> 00:00:44.920 our behavior and our lifestyles are to be in harmony with. 00:00:45.859 --> 00:00:52.400 And what he gives is a concise explanation of the gospel of Jesus. 00:00:52.399 --> 00:01:01.200 And the importance of teaching it as the foundation for practical instruction cannot be overstated. 00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:05.379 Consider this from Graham Goldsworthy. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:06.620 He wrote, 00:01:06.620 --> 00:01:22.680 To say what we should be or do and not link it with a clear exposition of what God has done about our failure 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:25.920 is to reject the grace of God. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:36.940 And it is to lead people to lust after self-help and self-improvement in a way that to call a spade a spade is godless. 00:01:37.980 --> 00:01:39.200 Do you see what he's saying there? 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:47.420 For us to give exhortation and practical instruction about what people should be and what people should do, 00:01:47.420 --> 00:01:53.000 but not to immediately accompany that exhortation with an exposition of the gospel 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:58.960 is to actually remove grace from the equation, and it is to preach a works salvation. 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:06.040 If we think that, think of Christian conduct or religious practice, 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:08.819 the things that we're doing this morning even in our gathered worship, 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:13.239 if we think of those things apart from the gospel of Jesus, 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:20.039 we will inevitably labor to go through our list of do's and don'ts, 00:02:20.519 --> 00:02:26.120 either in hopes of earning God's favor or in fear of losing it. 00:02:27.780 --> 00:02:32.039 If it's not about the gospel, if it's really about fulfilling our list and doing our things, 00:02:32.079 --> 00:02:37.280 if we're living in fear that we don't have God's favor and we need to get it, 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:41.180 or we're living in fear that we have it but we might lose it, 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:43.599 then we've missed the gospel. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:52.400 And think about this in relation to our evangelism and our efforts at cultural engagement. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:59.900 If our confrontations of sin and our calls for people to repent 00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:06.699 are not immediately linked with what Christ has accomplished through his death and resurrection, 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:13.580 we are preaching a message of behavior modification, moralism. 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:17.520 We are not preaching a gospel of grace. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:25.600 And if we go through and we're witnessing to people or maybe what we do in the influences that we have 00:03:25.600 --> 00:03:28.960 through social media or social engagement in some other way, 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:32.860 and some of us, we're very faithful to say what everybody's doing wrong, 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:34.640 that you are a bad person. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:39.059 But how many of us are actually faithful to immediately say, 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:40.919 but Christ is good, 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:45.219 and he has come to redeem you from this 00:03:45.219 --> 00:03:48.719 and demonstrate the glories of the gospel, 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:53.339 not just the depravity of the world in which we live. 00:03:53.340 --> 00:03:57.140 If we don't immediately pair it with the gospel, 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:01.120 immediately pair it with the glories of Christ, 00:04:01.780 --> 00:04:03.460 then we've gone wrong. 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:06.560 And we're not actually preaching a gospel. 00:04:07.640 --> 00:04:10.759 We're preaching people into a different form of bondage, 00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:12.240 moralism. 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:17.220 So it's no surprise then that when Paul gets to the end of these exhortations, 00:04:17.220 --> 00:04:22.800 he immediately grounds the entire letter in the gospel message. 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:29.700 And the spring from which this saving gospel burst forth off of this page in verse 11 00:04:29.700 --> 00:04:33.920 is the limitless grace of God. 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:41.400 Biblical grace is God's favor toward undeserving sinners. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:46.100 In the simplest way, we typically define it as unmerited favor. 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:47.680 But in a biblical sense, 00:04:47.939 --> 00:04:53.540 it is God's unmerited favor toward undeserving sinners. 00:04:54.740 --> 00:04:58.360 But the grace of God is not some abstract idea 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:00.080 that's kind of floating around out there, 00:05:00.100 --> 00:05:02.320 and we just hope that at some point along the way, 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:03.660 we grasp it. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:06.060 No, that's not what it is. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:10.480 Paul says in verse 11 that the grace of God has appeared. 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:15.780 It is a tangible thing that has been made visible. 00:05:16.100 --> 00:05:17.100 To us. 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:18.800 It's not just some kind of idea. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:21.100 He brings it in concrete terms. 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:23.620 It has appeared to us. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:25.120 And this is an interesting word. 00:05:25.379 --> 00:05:28.000 It's the word from which we get epiphany. 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:34.060 It means a sudden manifestation or a sudden appearance of something. 00:05:34.340 --> 00:05:38.200 And what Paul intends to say here is that the grace of God 00:05:38.200 --> 00:05:42.980 has been manifested, made visible in a person. 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:44.680 And a person. 00:05:44.939 --> 00:05:45.740 It's not an idea. 00:05:46.020 --> 00:05:47.340 The grace of God is a person. 00:05:47.580 --> 00:05:49.819 And that person is Jesus Christ. 00:05:50.980 --> 00:05:55.759 In other words, if you want to see and understand God's favor 00:05:55.759 --> 00:05:57.740 toward undeserving sinners, 00:05:58.319 --> 00:05:59.879 look at Jesus. 00:06:01.340 --> 00:06:03.840 He is God's grace personified. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:11.479 He is God's grace manifested to us and manifested for us. 00:06:13.039 --> 00:06:16.919 And his gospel, this gospel of grace, 00:06:17.459 --> 00:06:24.779 is the proper motivation and focus of Christian belief and behavior. 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:28.339 All of the things that Paul says in chapter 2, 00:06:28.479 --> 00:06:30.899 it's not about fashioning a group of people 00:06:30.899 --> 00:06:33.419 to live according to his personal preference. 00:06:33.599 --> 00:06:35.859 That's not what Paul is commanding these people to do. 00:06:36.479 --> 00:06:40.739 He is commanding them to live in the grace of God. 00:06:41.579 --> 00:06:43.759 And if we are to live in the grace of God, 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:47.179 it's going to radically affect the way that our lives look 00:06:47.179 --> 00:06:49.339 and the decisions that we make. 00:06:49.339 --> 00:06:52.859 So let's walk through the verses together 00:06:52.859 --> 00:06:55.639 and examine this glorious gospel of grace. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:57.539 The first thing I'd like to point out to you 00:06:57.539 --> 00:06:59.739 is the work of God's grace. 00:07:00.339 --> 00:07:01.479 The work of God's grace. 00:07:01.719 --> 00:07:02.919 Look with me again at verse 11. 00:07:03.339 --> 00:07:04.839 For the grace of God has appeared, 00:07:05.599 --> 00:07:07.599 bringing salvation for all people, 00:07:08.559 --> 00:07:12.079 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, 00:07:12.339 --> 00:07:14.839 and to live self-controlled, upright, 00:07:15.679 --> 00:07:18.179 godly lives in the present age. 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:22.439 We've already established that the grace of God 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:24.420 has been manifested in a person 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:27.319 and in the work of Jesus Christ. 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:30.340 It's not just a theological concept. 00:07:30.340 --> 00:07:31.259 It's a person. 00:07:32.400 --> 00:07:35.819 But what does the grace of God through Jesus accomplish? 00:07:36.579 --> 00:07:39.060 What does it actually do for us? 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:42.540 And I think Paul gives two dynamics of God's grace here 00:07:42.540 --> 00:07:43.759 that we need to see. 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:45.319 The first thing that he says is this. 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:48.620 God's grace saves sinners. 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:52.420 God's grace saves sinners. 00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:53.879 Verse 11. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:55.540 For the grace of God has appeared, 00:07:55.939 --> 00:08:00.040 bringing salvation for all people. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:05.420 Jesus has come, and with him he has brought salvation for us. 00:08:06.459 --> 00:08:10.060 Let's make sure we understand this in the appropriate way. 00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:15.360 This is not a promise that all people will ultimately be saved. 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:18.040 That's not what Paul means to say here. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:19.060 That's universalism. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.000 That's a damning doctrine. 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:22.600 We don't need to follow that. 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:24.079 That's not what the Bible teaches us. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:25.800 That's not what Paul is teaching here. 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:30.259 The Bible is actually very clear that while many people receive God's mercy, 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:32.700 many will also face his judgment. 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:38.460 And God's mercy and God's judgment both are eternal. 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:42.560 Consider Matthew chapter 25 and verse 46. 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:44.320 Jesus himself says, 00:08:45.020 --> 00:08:47.340 All of these, those who do not follow him, 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:49.800 those who do not live this gospel of grace, 00:08:50.060 --> 00:08:53.780 all of these will go into eternal punishment, 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:59.140 but the righteous into eternal life. 00:08:59.139 --> 00:09:02.259 There's a distinction, clearly, in the New Testament. 00:09:02.620 --> 00:09:04.559 Some people will receive eternal life. 00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:07.399 Some people will receive eternal hell. 00:09:08.059 --> 00:09:10.539 So Paul can't be saying in Titus chapter 2 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:12.299 that all people will ultimately be saved. 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:13.299 That's not his point. 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:15.259 Consider Revelation chapter 21. 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:19.980 When we get to the very end in this vision that John has of heaven, 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:22.120 the revelation of Christ, 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:23.819 he says, 00:09:23.820 --> 00:09:28.100 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, 00:09:28.560 --> 00:09:33.060 murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, all liars, 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:38.660 their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, 00:09:39.280 --> 00:09:41.540 which is the second death. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:47.100 Paul's not saying that all people will ultimately be saved. 00:09:47.300 --> 00:09:49.180 So what then does this verse actually mean? 00:09:49.180 --> 00:09:53.040 What does it mean that God has brought salvation for all people? 00:09:53.820 --> 00:09:56.080 Well, think about the immediate context here. 00:09:56.540 --> 00:09:59.379 What has he just said in verses 9 and 10? 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:02.680 He's addressed slaves in the church. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:06.020 Slaves who have been converted, 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:10.720 they belong to the church in the process of instructing them here. 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:16.480 He declares that Jesus has brought salvation for all people. 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:20.640 He means that no person is excluded from salvation 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:24.779 on the basis of their race or their gender or their nationality 00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:26.159 or their social status. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:29.220 There is nothing about you that is deserving of God's grace 00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:32.639 and there is nothing about you that excludes you from God's grace. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:33.600 That's his point. 00:10:34.319 --> 00:10:36.299 That the grace of God has appeared in Christ 00:10:36.299 --> 00:10:39.439 and he has brought salvation for all people. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:41.220 For all people. 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:48.879 And while Christ's atonement is applied particularly to those who believe, 00:10:49.800 --> 00:10:53.700 it is sufficient for the entire human race, 00:10:53.700 --> 00:11:00.920 which is what allows for Jesus to give a universal call to believe the gospel. 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:05.199 So in other words, not everyone will be saved, 00:11:05.459 --> 00:11:11.199 but the invitation to receive eternal salvation through Jesus extends to everyone. 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:13.059 It extends to the whole world. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:14.740 So Jesus says, go. 00:11:15.319 --> 00:11:17.179 Go and preach the gospel. 00:11:18.059 --> 00:11:22.279 He says, come to me all who are burdened and heavy laden 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:24.939 and I will give you rest. 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:29.620 Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 4. 00:11:29.940 --> 00:11:32.720 He said, God desires all people to be saved 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.980 and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:37.300 All people. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.120 So if God desires all people to be saved 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:47.660 and Jesus's atonement is sufficient for the whole human race, 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:52.180 then this eternal salvation is offered to you. 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:55.419 And it's offered to me. 00:11:56.959 --> 00:12:02.419 On the cross, Jesus bears the wrath of God against sinners. 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:05.819 And by his resurrection, God proclaims, 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:10.359 I have received with satisfaction, complete satisfaction, 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:13.459 the sacrifice of Jesus on behalf of sinners. 00:12:14.599 --> 00:12:16.979 So what then does God's grace accomplish? 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:23.820 It brings salvation to all who believe and follow Christ. 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:28.440 Ephesians chapter 2, Paul makes it clear. 00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:33.480 For by grace, you have been saved through faith. 00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:36.460 And this is not your own doing. 00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:39.259 It's the gift of God. 00:12:39.800 --> 00:12:43.840 Not a result of works, so that none of us may boast. 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:46.920 The work of God's grace, the first thing it does, 00:12:47.280 --> 00:12:49.000 God's grace saves sinners. 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:50.820 But then, notice in verse 12, 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:54.120 God's grace transforms sinners. 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:57.740 God's grace transforms sinners. 00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:59.240 Look again at verse 12. 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:03.240 Training us to renounce ungodliness 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.879 and worldly passions, 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.720 to live self-controlled, upright, 00:13:08.300 --> 00:13:11.240 godly lives in the present age. 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:13.200 Training us. 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:14.740 What's the subject of the verse? 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:15.860 The subject of the sentence? 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.600 The grace of God. 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:20.080 The grace of God brings salvation. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:23.299 The grace of God trains us 00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:25.299 to do certain things, 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:27.000 to live in righteousness. 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:30.139 In fact, the gospel itself, 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:31.419 this is the point, 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:34.279 the gospel itself teaches us 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:36.139 to renounce ungodliness 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:39.240 and pursue godly lives instead. 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:41.000 Instead, he says, 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.180 renounce ungodliness 00:13:42.180 --> 00:13:43.740 and worldly passions, 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:45.120 which is an interesting term here. 00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:48.299 Because both of these words, 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:50.060 on their own, 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:51.700 are morally neutral. 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:55.279 We could say desires or passions. 00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:58.440 Well, passions and desires, 00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.460 on its own, 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:02.200 are not inherently immoral 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.539 or moral things. 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:05.139 They're just passions. 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.980 The world, 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:07.879 on its own, 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.580 is not a moral thing. 00:14:09.699 --> 00:14:11.059 It is a thing. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.019 It is a thing that exists. 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.679 But when the Bible 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:14.759 brings these two things together, 00:14:15.199 --> 00:14:16.580 worldly passions, 00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:19.840 it gives it a significant moral weight, 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:22.860 which refers to the desires 00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:24.580 that are entirely centered 00:14:24.580 --> 00:14:27.600 on the systemic thinking 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.860 of a fallen world, 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:33.200 a world that is in rebellion against God. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:35.220 When Paul says worldly passions, 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:36.820 he's talking about a mindset 00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:38.660 that is focused entirely 00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:39.420 in the way 00:14:39.420 --> 00:14:41.640 that a rebellious world is focused. 00:14:42.140 --> 00:14:43.580 So that the decisions 00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:46.360 a person with worldly passions makes, 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:47.780 the decisions that they make, 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.060 the life that they live, 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.660 is really motivated 00:14:50.660 --> 00:14:52.340 by what they see in the world 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:55.240 rather than what they see in God. 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:59.360 We belong to a fallen world, 00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:00.720 a world that is apart from God. 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:02.320 Yet, we are responsible 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:05.180 to fulfill God's purposes 00:15:05.180 --> 00:15:06.840 and desires for our lives. 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:09.620 But on our own, 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:12.399 we cannot possibly do this. 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:14.960 It's not possible. 00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:18.639 But through the salvation 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.759 of God's grace, 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:24.039 God transforms our affections. 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:26.279 He gives us a new heart. 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.879 This is what God does for us. 00:15:28.319 --> 00:15:29.360 This is his work. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.980 He takes our greatest desires, 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.399 which are fixed on self 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:34.379 and on pleasure 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.419 and on happiness 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.899 and on worldly passions, 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.700 and he transforms them. 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.439 So now, in Christ, 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.919 our greatest passion, 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.379 our greatest desire 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.759 is to please God. 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.559 God. 00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:48.259 So that the grace of God 00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.419 then trains us. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.500 It actively disciplines. 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.860 It teaches us 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:55.299 to renounce those worldly passions, 00:15:55.939 --> 00:15:58.340 to say no to those things 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:01.000 in order to live self-controlled 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:03.899 and upright and godly. 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:08.139 Brian Chappell said, 00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:10.019 by adding the word godly 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:12.559 to the ways grace teaches us to live, 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:15.019 the apostle reminds us 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.519 that the Christian life 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:18.599 is one of dependence on God. 00:16:20.099 --> 00:16:21.959 Godliness is not a consequence 00:16:21.959 --> 00:16:23.919 of human resolution 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:25.319 or willpower. 00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:29.000 It is a relationship with God 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.519 that results in a life 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:33.859 that is honoring to God. 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:36.000 You see, it's not about 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.139 what you just want to do 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.599 and willing yourself into this. 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:41.019 It begins with knowing God. 00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:43.199 And as we know God, 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:45.779 the gospel itself transforms us 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:46.740 and it trains us 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.899 to pursue him 00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:49.819 and to pursue his desires 00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:50.579 for our lives. 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:53.059 You see how incredible this is? 00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:56.179 God doesn't save us 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.659 and then leave us on our own 00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:59.000 to figure the rest of it out. 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:00.960 He saves us 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:02.379 by the power of his grace 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:04.639 and he actively transforms us 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:06.019 by the power of his grace. 00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:08.000 Philippians chapter one 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.859 or, excuse me, 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.700 Philippians chapter two, 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:11.779 we are his workmanship. 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:14.400 He is working in us. 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:16.400 Created in Christ Jesus 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.259 for good works. 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.319 What are good works? 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.200 It is the things that honor him. 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:23.420 It is the things that glorify him. 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:26.840 And those who truly know Christ 00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:28.960 will willfully pursue 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.779 this transforming work 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:32.039 out of love 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:34.039 for what God has done for them 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:35.039 in Jesus. 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:37.600 So what does the grace of God 00:17:37.600 --> 00:17:38.160 actually do? 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.620 Well, it saves sinners 00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:40.880 and then it transforms them. 00:17:41.840 --> 00:17:43.080 And the sequence here 00:17:43.080 --> 00:17:43.700 is crucial. 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:46.700 God doesn't train us 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:47.480 in godliness 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:49.100 so that we might earn 00:17:49.100 --> 00:17:50.420 his favor in salvation. 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.900 No, the order here 00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:53.500 is absolutely critical. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:57.540 He saves us by his grace. 00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:59.940 Then he transforms us 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:01.720 from the inside out. 00:18:02.300 --> 00:18:03.000 In other words, 00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:04.180 our motivation 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.279 for godliness 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.900 is not to earn God's favor, 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:09.019 but it is in recognition 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.420 that in Christ 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:12.259 we have already received 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:15.100 God's gracious favor. 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:17.900 That's the work 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:18.620 of God's grace. 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:19.280 Secondly, 00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:19.840 I want you to see 00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:21.300 the hope of God's grace. 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:23.640 The hope of God's grace. 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:25.700 Verse 13, 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:28.180 waiting for our blessed hope, 00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:30.440 the appearing of the glory 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.380 of our great God 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:31.960 and Savior, 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.460 Jesus Christ. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.340 Well, set your eyes 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:35.959 at the very end 00:18:35.959 --> 00:18:36.799 of verse 12 again. 00:18:37.199 --> 00:18:38.059 At the end of verse 12, 00:18:38.179 --> 00:18:38.659 Paul says, 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:40.240 believers are to live godly 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:42.779 in the present age. 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.279 He's not simply referring 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.019 to a particular 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:47.179 historical moment. 00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:48.459 That's not what he means 00:18:48.459 --> 00:18:49.059 by that. 00:18:49.579 --> 00:18:50.459 That's not excluded, 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:51.559 but it's not really 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:52.599 what he intends to say. 00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.599 He's speaking 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:55.379 of a unique time frame 00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:57.319 in God's plan 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:57.819 of redemption. 00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.419 When we get 00:18:59.419 --> 00:19:00.379 to verse 13 here, 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.639 we get more clarity 00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:02.500 as to what he's 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.099 actually saying. 00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:04.519 And he uses this word 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.459 appearing again. 00:19:05.659 --> 00:19:06.240 Do you see that? 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.359 Look at verse 13. 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.159 Waiting for our blessed hope, 00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.240 the appearing 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.679 of the glory 00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.759 of our great God 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.319 and Savior, 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.119 Jesus Christ. 00:19:15.399 --> 00:19:16.899 Just as God's grace 00:19:16.899 --> 00:19:17.899 was manifested 00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:19.939 in Jesus' first coming, 00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:22.559 so will it again 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.599 be manifested 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:25.279 in the Lord's 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:26.359 second coming. 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:29.359 The present age then 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.619 is this time frame 00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.740 between the two things. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.779 The present age 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.539 is the time frame 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:34.259 between Jesus' 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.620 first appearance 00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:36.980 and Jesus' 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.259 second appearance. 00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:40.200 In his first appearance 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.039 in verse 11, 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.180 Jesus came 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.000 and the glory 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.660 that he had 00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.620 as being God, 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.299 the Son of God, 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.180 was veiled. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:47.559 That's why people 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.339 were so confused 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:48.779 by him. 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.299 That's why the disciples 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.460 were so blown away 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:51.940 on the Mount 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.960 of Transfiguration. 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.460 They've seen this man, 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.400 powerful man, 00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.259 but this man, 00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:57.180 but then all of a sudden 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.680 on the Mount 00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.920 of Transfiguration, 00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.960 they get a glimpse 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.700 of his glory, 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:02.319 his glorified state. 00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:04.279 So when he first comes, 00:20:04.360 --> 00:20:05.140 the glory is veiled, 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:05.940 but when he comes 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:06.519 the next time, 00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.500 Paul says right here, 00:20:07.860 --> 00:20:09.460 it will be in full display 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.140 of the glory 00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:11.680 of our great God 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.380 and Savior, 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:13.759 Jesus Christ. 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.900 Jesus is coming again 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.299 and it's going 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:17.980 to be magnificent. 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:18.600 It's going to be 00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:19.819 a magnificent appearance 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:20.720 of God's grace. 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:21.799 And Paul's point 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:23.299 is that our lives now 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.559 in the present age 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.779 should reflect 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:27.399 a hopeful expectation 00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:28.980 of this return. 00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:31.899 And we immediately 00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:32.919 see the past, 00:20:33.399 --> 00:20:33.759 present, 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:35.339 and future realities 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.440 of salvation here. 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:39.059 The past reality 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.759 of salvation, 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.980 we have been saved. 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.980 That's verse 11. 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.379 The grace of God 00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:44.859 has appeared 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:46.339 bringing salvation. 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.480 At some point, 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.339 if you know Christ, 00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:49.159 at some point, 00:20:49.159 --> 00:20:50.440 the regenerative work 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.240 of the Holy Spirit 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:53.059 has transformed your life 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:55.039 and you are saved. 00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:56.019 Past tense. 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:57.799 You have been saved. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.779 That's verse 11. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.659 But then we see 00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:00.879 the present tense. 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.379 That's verse 12. 00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:04.179 We are being saved. 00:21:04.679 --> 00:21:06.539 He is actively training us, 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.619 disciplining us, 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.779 fashioning us 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.720 to live a life 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.339 that is worthy 00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:12.000 of the gospel. 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:13.500 We are being saved. 00:21:13.659 --> 00:21:14.279 But then there's 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:16.299 this future salvation, 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.980 the future dynamic. 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:19.980 We will be saved. 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.799 That's verse 13. 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:23.720 That right now, 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.399 as we are being trained 00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.460 by God's grace, 00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:29.359 we longingly await 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:31.700 our future salvation, 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:34.139 that glorified state. 00:21:35.159 --> 00:21:36.240 We taught the kids 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:38.139 about this on Thursday night 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.639 and it was in conjunction 00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:40.460 with the dynamic 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:42.519 of our security in Christ 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.879 and in salvation. 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.879 But a big part of it 00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:46.639 was the benefits 00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:48.779 of the glorified state, 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:49.879 a new body, 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:51.760 whose back 00:21:51.760 --> 00:21:52.720 doesn't get thrown out, 00:21:53.840 --> 00:21:56.120 who can lay down 00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:57.040 and breathe just fine, 00:21:57.820 --> 00:21:59.640 who doesn't have to spend 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.600 a week in the hospital 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:02.960 because of congestive 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.520 heart failure. 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:05.820 There's no more sickness there. 00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:08.260 There's no more sin. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.380 There's no more heartache. 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.260 There's no more sadness. 00:22:13.260 --> 00:22:14.500 We long for that. 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.420 Paul tells us 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.180 in the book of Romans 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.400 that the whole creation 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.440 groans for it. 00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.560 We will be saved. 00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:23.259 That's what Paul's 00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:23.880 getting at here. 00:22:25.060 --> 00:22:25.940 And in the meantime, 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.240 in this present age, 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.799 our lives should reflect 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.680 what we know 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.400 will be true 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:32.220 in that moment. 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.460 And he calls it 00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.320 our blessed hope. 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:36.840 Of course, 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.600 biblical hope 00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:38.380 is not a wish. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:40.539 It is a certain expectation 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:42.539 that God will do 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.879 what God has promised 00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:44.579 he will do. 00:22:45.659 --> 00:22:46.420 And Christians 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:47.259 can rejoice 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.200 in hope 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.519 of Christ's return 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.119 because the scriptures 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:51.920 guarantee 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:55.099 our future glorification. 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.420 All those things 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:57.180 that I just mentioned. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.680 He guarantees it 00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:59.700 in Romans chapter 8, 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:00.379 verse 30. 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.779 Those whom he predestined, 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:04.000 he also called. 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:06.019 And those whom he called, 00:23:06.379 --> 00:23:07.379 he also justified. 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:10.240 And those whom he justifies, 00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:12.600 he will glorify. 00:23:14.020 --> 00:23:14.960 It's a guarantee 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.740 of God's word. 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.220 It's a guarantee 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.260 of God's grace. 00:23:19.040 --> 00:23:20.840 This is what we will be. 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:23.280 Philippians 1, 6. 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.160 I'm sure of this, 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:24.620 Paul says, 00:23:24.760 --> 00:23:25.520 that he who began 00:23:25.520 --> 00:23:26.300 a good work in you 00:23:26.300 --> 00:23:27.540 will bring it 00:23:27.540 --> 00:23:28.360 to completion 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.880 at the day 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.820 of Jesus Christ. 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:34.300 Now it is this certain 00:23:34.300 --> 00:23:35.020 expectation 00:23:35.020 --> 00:23:36.160 of Christ's return 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.400 and the benefits 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:39.500 of what awaits us 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.860 in the glorified state 00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:42.320 that motivates 00:23:42.320 --> 00:23:43.840 and informs 00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:45.019 our pursuit 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.580 of godliness now. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.279 And I want to show you 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.759 a passage 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.740 that makes this clear. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.820 In 1 John chapter 3, 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.640 it's on the screen 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.580 if you want to follow along 00:23:53.580 --> 00:23:54.340 or you can turn to it 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:54.820 in your Bible. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.420 In 1 John chapter 3, 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.880 John says, 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:58.420 beloved, 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.779 we are God's children now. 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:03.300 And what we will be, 00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.600 that is in the glorified state, 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.579 what we will be, 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:07.699 has not yet appeared. 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.980 But we know that 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.359 when he appears, 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:13.859 we shall be like him 00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:15.980 because we shall see him 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.699 as he is. 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.399 So John is setting us up 00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:19.500 for this future expectation. 00:24:19.959 --> 00:24:20.959 This is what we will be 00:24:20.959 --> 00:24:21.659 in heaven. 00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:23.119 We are going to be like Christ. 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.000 We are going to be fashioned 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.480 after him. 00:24:24.619 --> 00:24:25.399 Now look what he says 00:24:25.399 --> 00:24:26.059 in verse 3. 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:28.440 And everyone 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:30.659 who thus hopes, 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:33.099 everyone who is certain 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:34.079 of this reality, 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:37.440 purifies himself. 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.599 Why? 00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:40.379 Because he sees 00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:41.039 the purity 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.240 of Christ. 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:46.059 The hope of God's grace 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.879 is such 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:48.240 that it informs 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.859 and motivates 00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.460 our godliness 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.460 because as we keep 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.639 our eyes set on heaven 00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:53.099 and we keep our focus 00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.179 set on Christ, 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.580 we see his purity 00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:57.200 and we see his loveliness 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.700 and we see his glory 00:24:58.700 --> 00:25:00.000 and it makes us 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.519 want to purify ourselves 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.400 and pursue 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.259 that glory 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.600 which will be ours 00:25:04.600 --> 00:25:05.320 in eternity. 00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:08.440 Understanding the fullness 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.299 of the gospel 00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:10.180 means recognizing 00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:11.500 that God 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:12.220 will finally 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.400 transform us. 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:18.080 and the word 00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:18.720 that John uses 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.220 for this 00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:19.740 is pure. 00:25:22.320 --> 00:25:23.220 Those who have been 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.540 saved by God's grace 00:25:24.540 --> 00:25:25.560 and are being 00:25:25.560 --> 00:25:26.140 transformed 00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.400 by God's grace 00:25:27.400 --> 00:25:28.720 should desire 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.900 to exemplify 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.680 this purity 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:32.500 in the present 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.320 age. 00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.940 And once again, 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.320 the truth 00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:37.880 of the gospel 00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:38.480 of grace 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:40.200 drives us 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:42.019 to godliness. 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:45.000 thirdly, 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.619 I want you to see 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.220 the agent 00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:47.879 of grace. 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.099 We've seen 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:49.900 the work of grace, 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:51.160 what grace does. 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:52.099 We've seen 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.839 the hope of grace. 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.579 We set our eyes 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:53.980 on heaven 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:55.000 and we live 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.819 as if we are 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.400 there already. 00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:56.920 Okay? 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.180 Number three, 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.639 the agent of grace. 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.279 Verse 14. 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.039 Perhaps the most 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:02.859 important verse 00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:03.460 of all of it. 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.680 Who gave himself 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.559 for us 00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:08.339 to redeem us 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.440 from all lawlessness 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:11.620 and to purify 00:26:11.620 --> 00:26:12.840 for himself 00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:13.960 a people 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:15.140 for his own 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.660 possession 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:17.519 who are zealous 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:19.340 for good works. 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.759 This is the heart 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.539 of the whole discussion. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.059 At the center 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:26.900 of the gospel 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:29.240 is the self-sacrifice 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.920 of God's son 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:32.620 for undeserving 00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:33.000 sinners. 00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:34.880 That's the grace 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:35.299 of God. 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.160 That's the grace 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.460 of God 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:38.140 that has appeared. 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:40.200 the self-sacrifice 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.780 of Jesus 00:26:40.780 --> 00:26:42.300 for sinners. 00:26:44.320 --> 00:26:45.220 He's provided 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.400 eternal salvation 00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:48.320 according to this verse 00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:50.940 by giving himself 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:52.740 for us. 00:26:53.840 --> 00:26:54.680 But how is it 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.180 that Jesus 00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:56.280 gave himself? 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.740 Philippians chapter 2 00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.460 helps us with this. 00:26:59.540 --> 00:27:00.259 The men studied this 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.940 on Wednesday morning 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:01.600 at Chick-fil-A. 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.259 It says, 00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:02.820 though he was 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.940 in the form of God, 00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:05.380 he did not account 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.980 equality with God 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:08.120 a thing to be grasped, 00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:10.740 but he emptied himself, 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:13.120 taking on the form 00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:13.720 of a servant, 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.160 being born 00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:15.819 in the likeness 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.319 of men, 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.140 and being found 00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:19.059 in human form, 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:20.360 he humbled himself 00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:21.940 by becoming obedient 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:23.339 to the point of death, 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.720 even death 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:25.519 on a cross. 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.660 So first, 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.660 Jesus gives himself 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:31.240 by leaving the throne 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:31.720 of heaven 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:33.120 to become a man. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:35.239 he condescends 00:27:35.239 --> 00:27:35.819 to us. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.599 Then the sinless 00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:40.000 son of God 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.759 gave himself 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:43.359 by submitting 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.000 to death 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.819 on a cross, 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:47.159 a criminal's execution 00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:49.319 for a sinlessly 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.559 perfect man. 00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:53.639 The one who knew 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.799 no sin 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:56.419 bore God's wrath 00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:57.339 against sinners 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.919 so that they could 00:27:58.919 --> 00:27:59.639 then know 00:27:59.639 --> 00:28:01.199 his righteousness. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:01.279 righteousness. 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.420 That's 2 Corinthians 5. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.420 For our sake 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.080 he made him 00:28:05.080 --> 00:28:05.740 to be sin 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:07.059 who knew no sin 00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:08.460 so that in him 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:10.559 we might become 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.299 the righteousness 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.779 of God. 00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.779 And why did he 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.259 give himself? 00:28:15.779 --> 00:28:17.000 That's how he gave himself. 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:18.480 Why did he give himself? 00:28:18.920 --> 00:28:20.120 What was Jesus' 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.880 substitutionary death 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:23.140 meant to accomplish? 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.539 Well, Paul tells us 00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:25.360 right here in the verse. 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.000 He gives us 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.700 three reasons. 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:27.440 First, 00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:28.580 he gives himself 00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:30.159 to rescue us 00:28:30.159 --> 00:28:31.119 from sin. 00:28:31.679 --> 00:28:32.879 To rescue us. 00:28:34.199 --> 00:28:35.159 He says he gave himself 00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:37.000 to redeem us 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.399 from all lawlessness. 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.279 Lawlessness, 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.119 according to John, 00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:41.019 says lawlessness 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.799 is sin. 00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.659 Redemption here, 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.079 redeem, 00:28:44.179 --> 00:28:45.579 it means to release 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.319 on receipt 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:47.039 of ransom. 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:49.199 He redeems us 00:28:49.199 --> 00:28:50.139 in his death 00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:51.319 from sin, 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.639 from the bondage 00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:53.159 of sin 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:55.040 and from 00:28:55.040 --> 00:28:56.779 our deadness 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.800 in sin. 00:28:59.340 --> 00:29:00.640 The penalty of sin. 00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:02.460 But he doesn't just 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.200 stop at the rescue. 00:29:03.340 --> 00:29:03.920 That's the thing. 00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:04.620 See, this is where 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:05.120 a lot of people 00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:05.800 get confused. 00:29:06.080 --> 00:29:06.800 They come to Christ 00:29:06.800 --> 00:29:07.720 expecting the rescue, 00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:08.600 but they stop there. 00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:10.220 Look at what he also says. 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.040 He gave himself 00:29:11.040 --> 00:29:11.960 to rescue us from sin, 00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:12.920 but he gave himself 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:14.160 to cleanse us 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:15.360 of sin. 00:29:16.580 --> 00:29:17.060 Redeem us 00:29:17.060 --> 00:29:17.900 from all lawlessness 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:18.980 and to 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.380 purify 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.540 us. 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:23.299 You see, 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.680 Jesus is not content 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:26.619 to leave us 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.420 in sin. 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.639 It's not as if 00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:30.399 he saves us 00:29:30.399 --> 00:29:30.899 and he says, 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:31.259 all right, 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:32.059 you're good. 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.440 Go on. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:34.279 No. 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:36.159 He saves us, 00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.240 he keeps us, 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:38.319 he rescues us, 00:29:38.399 --> 00:29:39.639 and then he cleans us. 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.539 I remember when 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:43.200 Julie gave birth 00:29:43.200 --> 00:29:44.000 to both the girls. 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.240 It's bizarre. 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.259 Those of you 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.659 who have been there 00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:46.859 know, 00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:48.379 most people say 00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:49.039 it's a beautiful thing. 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:49.779 It's not a beautiful thing. 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.659 It's a bizarre thing. 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:52.960 And I remember 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.660 both girls 00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:55.000 when they emerge, 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:57.140 all of these people 00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:58.040 gather around 00:29:58.040 --> 00:29:59.080 and they pick up 00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.340 the girls. 00:29:59.420 --> 00:29:59.920 And what's the first 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.460 thing that they do? 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.800 They put them 00:30:01.800 --> 00:30:02.440 on Julie's chest. 00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:03.040 They say, 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:04.220 hey to mom, 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.080 and then they rip her 00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:06.060 right back out of her hands. 00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:06.940 And they go over 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:08.600 to the sink 00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:09.500 or whatever the thing is 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.080 and they weigh her 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:11.720 and then they get that thing 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.060 and they start 00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:12.700 to scrub her down, 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:12.960 right? 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.460 They're not content 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.660 to leave them 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:16.620 in the mess. 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:17.700 They say, 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.660 this is what Jesus does. 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:19.180 You see, 00:30:19.300 --> 00:30:19.860 at the point 00:30:19.860 --> 00:30:20.820 that he saves us, 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:22.040 it's like being born. 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:22.700 In fact, 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.259 that's exactly 00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.200 what Jesus says. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.140 We receive 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:26.200 a new birth, 00:30:26.820 --> 00:30:27.360 regeneration. 00:30:28.820 --> 00:30:29.820 And Jesus doesn't 00:30:29.820 --> 00:30:31.100 come to that moment 00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:31.900 of birth 00:30:31.900 --> 00:30:33.040 and then just kind of 00:30:33.040 --> 00:30:34.060 throw us out there 00:30:34.060 --> 00:30:34.460 and say, 00:30:34.800 --> 00:30:35.800 hope things work out 00:30:35.800 --> 00:30:36.180 for you. 00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.220 No. 00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:38.279 No, 00:30:38.360 --> 00:30:39.040 he takes us 00:30:39.040 --> 00:30:39.660 and he takes us 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.560 and he loves on us 00:30:40.560 --> 00:30:41.540 and he gives us attention 00:30:41.540 --> 00:30:42.860 and he cleans us. 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.660 He washes us. 00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:45.660 He purifies us. 00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.259 He cleanses us. 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.380 And then he says, 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.620 not only does he rescue us 00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:50.080 from sin, 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.000 he gave himself 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.620 to cleanse us 00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:53.100 but then to make us 00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:54.480 his own. 00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:56.640 To make us his own. 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:57.779 A people 00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:59.019 for his own 00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.960 possession 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:01.519 who are zealous 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.220 for good works. 00:31:02.300 --> 00:31:03.040 Here's the transformation 00:31:03.040 --> 00:31:03.620 again. 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.080 Paul says to another church, 00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:07.700 we are not our own. 00:31:08.840 --> 00:31:10.100 We have been bought 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:11.500 with a price 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:13.980 which pushes against 00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:15.039 the common mindset 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.039 not only in our culture 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:17.220 but honestly I think 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.960 in a lot of cultural 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.799 Christian circles. 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.039 That says, 00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:21.259 yeah, 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:23.240 I follow Jesus 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:26.319 but this is my life. 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.460 This is my body 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:31.680 and this is my money 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:34.079 and this is my stuff 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:36.940 and I'm going to do it 00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:38.339 the way that I want to do it. 00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:39.500 Paul says, 00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:39.819 no, 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:41.400 that's not actually true. 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:43.500 You are not your own. 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.759 If you know Christ, 00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:47.779 you belong to him. 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:49.019 He's bought you. 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.759 There's a lot of misconceptions 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:55.640 about the purpose 00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:56.380 of God's grace 00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:56.920 and salvation. 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.119 There's a lot of 00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:58.900 cultural Christians 00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.799 who identify 00:31:59.799 --> 00:32:01.839 as with Christianity 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.240 in some sense 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:05.039 out of, 00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:06.279 to gain what 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.079 MacArthur says 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:08.160 is fire insurance. 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:11.200 they're not really 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:11.880 interested in being 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.800 rescued from sin 00:32:12.800 --> 00:32:13.500 or knowing Christ. 00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:15.279 They just come to a point 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.900 where if there is a hell, 00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:18.019 maybe this is the way 00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:19.400 that I can possibly escape it. 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.259 So they do whatever 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.880 the church says 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:21.740 that they're supposed to do. 00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:22.360 They get baptized 00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:23.420 or they attend 00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.019 or they volunteer. 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:24.759 They do the stuff 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.319 but there's really, 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.980 there's nothing about Christ 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.859 that's at work 00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.420 in their life. 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.460 And they think grace 00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.299 is just there 00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:32.099 so that I don't have 00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:32.720 to go to hell. 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:36.019 And they've misunderstood grace. 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:38.180 There's others 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:39.720 who maybe don't take 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:41.180 quite that position 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:42.140 but in their minds 00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:42.980 they think, 00:32:43.119 --> 00:32:43.180 well, 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:44.799 grace just makes me free now. 00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:46.440 It makes me free 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.799 so that I can kind of 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.279 live the way 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:49.059 that I want to live 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:49.839 without consequence. 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:51.819 And there's a lot 00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.220 of Christians 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.879 that probably 00:32:52.879 --> 00:32:53.940 you even know yourself, 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:55.099 maybe you're one of them, 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.680 that lives in that kind 00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:57.480 of state of mind 00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:58.339 or at least practically. 00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:01.379 There's even some 00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.359 genuine Christians 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:04.139 that can be 00:33:04.139 --> 00:33:05.480 carelessly indifferent 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:07.799 to behaviors 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:08.899 that dishonor God. 00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.639 But the Bible 00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.740 directly confronts 00:33:11.740 --> 00:33:12.500 these attitudes. 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:15.539 Romans chapter 6. 00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:16.700 You know the passage. 00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:18.240 Paul says, 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:18.819 how can we 00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:19.940 who died to sin 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:21.180 still live in it? 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:23.000 Do you not know 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:23.839 that all of us 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.619 who have been baptized 00:33:24.619 --> 00:33:25.480 into Christ 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.059 were baptized 00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:26.960 into his death? 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.099 We were buried, 00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:28.619 therefore, 00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.359 with him by baptism 00:33:30.359 --> 00:33:31.319 into death 00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:32.660 in order that 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:34.619 as Christ was raised 00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:35.299 from the dead, 00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:37.200 we too might walk 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:38.500 in newness of life. 00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.359 That means there's 00:33:40.359 --> 00:33:40.960 a transformation 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:42.099 that has now happened. 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.480 It's not God 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:45.319 has given me his grace. 00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:46.140 I don't have to go to hell. 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:46.960 I can just keep doing 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.619 my thing here 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.400 and just feel comfortable 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:48.900 about it. 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.680 You've misunderstood grace. 00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.680 Paul goes on to say, 00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.480 let not sin, 00:33:54.660 --> 00:33:54.940 therefore, 00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:56.920 reign in your mortal body 00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.920 to make you 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:58.900 obey its passions. 00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:00.660 Do not present 00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:01.920 your members to sin 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:02.980 as instruments 00:34:02.980 --> 00:34:04.059 for unrighteousness, 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.500 but present yourselves 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:06.079 to God 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:08.179 as those who have been 00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:09.019 brought from death 00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:09.599 to life 00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.679 and your members 00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:11.239 to God 00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:12.219 as instruments 00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:13.039 for righteousness. 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.579 To the one 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:16.539 who has been gripped 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.639 by the truth 00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:18.279 of the gospel, 00:34:19.279 --> 00:34:21.480 they will routinely say, 00:34:22.599 --> 00:34:24.000 I don't want 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.579 to live in sin. 00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:28.360 Christ has saved me 00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:28.880 from that. 00:34:29.639 --> 00:34:30.559 I don't want 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.500 to go back to it. 00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.219 And think about it 00:34:34.219 --> 00:34:35.339 in terms of the instructions 00:34:35.339 --> 00:34:36.319 Paul has given. 00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:36.860 Hang with me, 00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.519 we're almost there, 00:34:37.640 --> 00:34:37.800 okay? 00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:38.700 Think about it 00:34:38.700 --> 00:34:39.720 in terms of the instructions 00:34:39.720 --> 00:34:40.220 Paul gave 00:34:40.220 --> 00:34:41.039 in the first ten verses. 00:34:42.019 --> 00:34:42.760 Someone gripped 00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:43.880 by the gospel says, 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.960 I do not want 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:47.420 to live a slanderous life. 00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:48.980 Christ saved me 00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:49.420 from that. 00:34:50.160 --> 00:34:50.599 I don't want 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:51.160 to do that. 00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.460 I don't want 00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.599 to live in drunkenness. 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.740 Christ saved me 00:34:54.740 --> 00:34:55.220 from that. 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.059 I don't want 00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:56.620 to do that. 00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:57.760 I don't want 00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:58.260 to live 00:34:58.260 --> 00:34:59.360 in constant conflict 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:00.059 with my husband 00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.880 or with my wife. 00:35:01.180 --> 00:35:02.320 Christ saved me 00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:03.000 from that. 00:35:03.120 --> 00:35:03.500 I don't want 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.240 to go back 00:35:04.240 --> 00:35:05.120 to that. 00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:08.679 You see, 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:09.619 we need to evaluate 00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:10.799 all of our conduct 00:35:10.799 --> 00:35:11.519 on the basis 00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.179 of the fact 00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:13.859 that Christ died 00:35:13.859 --> 00:35:14.679 to rescue 00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:16.799 and cleanse us 00:35:16.799 --> 00:35:17.940 from sin. 00:35:19.819 --> 00:35:20.940 I want to ask you 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:22.980 maybe this hypothetical 00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:23.659 question, 00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:24.559 maybe you were asked 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.960 this as a young person 00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.539 growing up. 00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.699 So maybe even 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:29.380 the kids would need 00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:29.839 to hear me. 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.759 Give me your ear here. 00:35:32.779 --> 00:35:33.779 If Jesus was 00:35:33.779 --> 00:35:34.519 with you today, 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:35.880 physically with you, 00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:37.519 he was spending 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:38.280 the day with you, 00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:41.320 would you be 00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:42.139 at peace 00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:44.239 with the typical 00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:45.099 decisions that you 00:35:45.099 --> 00:35:45.400 make? 00:35:47.719 --> 00:35:48.199 Or, 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:50.440 would a part 00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:51.300 of the conversation 00:35:51.300 --> 00:35:52.059 with your Lord 00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:52.380 be, 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:54.820 Jared, 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.679 I was crucified 00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:56.400 to rescue 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:57.199 you from that. 00:35:58.880 --> 00:35:59.719 Why would you 00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:00.199 do that? 00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:00.199 00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:00.199 00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:05.599 Jared, 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:06.419 I was crucified 00:36:06.419 --> 00:36:08.759 to redeem you 00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:10.019 from those 00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.599 words 00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:11.639 and the sin 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:12.299 of your mouth. 00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:13.960 Why would you 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.819 continue in that? 00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:16.539 Jared, 00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.419 I was crucified 00:36:17.419 --> 00:36:18.699 to rescue you 00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:19.439 from those things 00:36:19.439 --> 00:36:19.759 that you're 00:36:19.759 --> 00:36:20.719 entertaining yourself 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:21.559 with on the TV 00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.359 and on your phone. 00:36:23.779 --> 00:36:24.500 Why would you 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:24.919 do that? 00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:27.379 And we could go 00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:27.960 down the list. 00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:33.180 Jesus gave 00:36:33.180 --> 00:36:33.780 himself to 00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.460 redeem us 00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:36.240 and this 00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:37.240 gospel of grace 00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:38.800 literally, 00:36:39.800 --> 00:36:41.280 it teaches us. 00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:43.240 If you understand 00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:43.780 the gospel, 00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:45.760 then you understand 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:47.059 it's never okay 00:36:47.059 --> 00:36:47.740 for me to sin. 00:36:47.739 --> 00:36:49.279 I shouldn't 00:36:49.279 --> 00:36:49.839 want to. 00:36:50.879 --> 00:36:51.500 I shouldn't 00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.219 desire it 00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:54.379 because Christ 00:36:54.379 --> 00:36:55.399 has died for it 00:36:55.399 --> 00:36:57.119 and he wants 00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:57.759 to cleanse me 00:36:57.759 --> 00:36:58.319 from it 00:36:58.319 --> 00:36:59.759 and one day 00:36:59.759 --> 00:37:01.839 he will finally 00:37:01.839 --> 00:37:02.379 cleanse me 00:37:02.379 --> 00:37:02.899 from it 00:37:02.899 --> 00:37:04.679 and I'm going 00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:05.259 to live for him 00:37:05.259 --> 00:37:06.000 now because of 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.479 what he's done 00:37:06.479 --> 00:37:06.899 for me. 00:37:09.159 --> 00:37:09.859 Do you remember 00:37:09.859 --> 00:37:10.419 the question 00:37:10.419 --> 00:37:10.939 that I asked 00:37:10.939 --> 00:37:11.219 you at the 00:37:11.219 --> 00:37:11.479 beginning? 00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:13.679 What's the 00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:15.719 why behind 00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:16.279 the way 00:37:16.279 --> 00:37:16.839 that you live 00:37:16.839 --> 00:37:17.419 your life 00:37:17.420 --> 00:37:18.099 and make 00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:18.579 your decisions? 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:21.559 Why do you 00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:21.920 do what you 00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:22.119 do? 00:37:22.220 --> 00:37:22.559 Why do you 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.019 say what you 00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.240 say? 00:37:23.340 --> 00:37:23.880 Why do you 00:37:23.880 --> 00:37:24.659 enjoy what 00:37:24.659 --> 00:37:25.159 you enjoy? 00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:27.639 If the 00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:28.000 dominant 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:28.639 motivation 00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:29.000 of your 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.400 life 00:37:29.400 --> 00:37:30.960 is self 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.480 fulfillment, 00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.320 that is 00:37:33.320 --> 00:37:33.760 it's my 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:34.240 life, 00:37:34.860 --> 00:37:35.599 I'll do it 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:35.860 how I 00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:36.180 want. 00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:38.200 If that's 00:37:38.200 --> 00:37:38.659 the dominant 00:37:38.659 --> 00:37:39.139 reason in 00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:39.460 your mind, 00:37:39.720 --> 00:37:40.900 I don't 00:37:40.900 --> 00:37:41.260 know that 00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:41.519 you're a 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:41.880 Christian. 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:46.220 The call 00:37:46.220 --> 00:37:46.880 to salvation 00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:47.320 is a 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:47.700 call to 00:37:47.700 --> 00:37:48.400 self-denial. 00:37:48.519 --> 00:37:48.700 That's 00:37:48.700 --> 00:37:49.119 what Jesus 00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:49.480 says. 00:37:49.539 --> 00:37:49.800 He says, 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:50.559 whoever will 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:51.019 come to me 00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.320 will have 00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:51.760 to deny 00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:52.260 himself, 00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:53.340 not pursue 00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:53.800 himself. 00:37:56.660 --> 00:37:57.380 The grace 00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:57.760 of God 00:37:57.760 --> 00:37:58.440 in salvation 00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:59.380 transforms our 00:37:59.380 --> 00:37:59.820 affections. 00:37:59.900 --> 00:38:00.200 The Bible 00:38:00.200 --> 00:38:00.940 makes that 00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:01.320 clear and 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:01.640 if your 00:38:01.640 --> 00:38:02.380 dominant 00:38:02.380 --> 00:38:03.500 affection in 00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:03.920 your life, 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:04.519 your dominant 00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:05.519 desire is not 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:06.140 to please the 00:38:06.140 --> 00:38:06.760 Lord, I 00:38:06.760 --> 00:38:07.079 don't think 00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:07.360 you're a 00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:07.780 Christian, 00:38:08.780 --> 00:38:10.260 at least 00:38:10.260 --> 00:38:10.700 according to 00:38:10.700 --> 00:38:11.200 the Bible. 00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:11.319 people. 00:38:13.079 --> 00:38:13.939 But as we 00:38:13.939 --> 00:38:14.539 discovered in 00:38:14.539 --> 00:38:15.199 verse 11, 00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:17.339 God extends 00:38:17.339 --> 00:38:18.239 this offer of 00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:18.739 grace to 00:38:18.739 --> 00:38:19.059 you. 00:38:20.919 --> 00:38:21.599 Receive his 00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:21.960 grace. 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:24.119 Receive the 00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:24.539 grace in 00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:24.879 Christ. 00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:26.039 Let him 00:38:26.039 --> 00:38:27.439 rescue you 00:38:27.439 --> 00:38:28.579 from sin 00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:30.460 and cleanse 00:38:30.460 --> 00:38:31.639 you from it 00:38:31.639 --> 00:38:32.000 forever. 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:35.419 Now that's 00:38:35.419 --> 00:38:36.259 one way you 00:38:36.259 --> 00:38:36.599 could answer 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.059 the question. 00:38:37.359 --> 00:38:37.779 The other way 00:38:37.780 --> 00:38:38.380 that some 00:38:38.380 --> 00:38:38.740 of you may 00:38:38.740 --> 00:38:39.100 have answered 00:38:39.100 --> 00:38:39.540 the question 00:38:39.540 --> 00:38:40.880 is if you 00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:41.380 do what you 00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:42.480 do out of 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:44.180 fear that 00:38:44.180 --> 00:38:44.780 God will be 00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:46.360 angry and 00:38:46.360 --> 00:38:46.900 remove his 00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:49.440 favor, I 00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:49.780 don't think 00:38:49.780 --> 00:38:50.340 you understand 00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:50.860 the gospel. 00:38:53.780 --> 00:38:54.940 Our motivation 00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:55.660 for godliness 00:38:55.660 --> 00:38:56.340 is not to 00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:57.160 gain God's 00:38:57.160 --> 00:38:57.460 favor. 00:38:57.940 --> 00:38:58.660 It's actually 00:38:58.660 --> 00:38:59.260 a loving, 00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:00.000 worshipful 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:01.320 response to 00:39:01.320 --> 00:39:02.040 the favor that 00:39:02.040 --> 00:39:02.480 he's already 00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.240 given us. 00:39:04.160 --> 00:39:04.880 That's the 00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:05.460 motivation. 00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:08.440 Jesus said, 00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:09.480 we read it 00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:09.740 in Matthew 00:39:09.740 --> 00:39:10.720 11, Jesus 00:39:10.720 --> 00:39:12.039 said that his 00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:12.760 salvation would 00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:13.720 give you rest, 00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:15.659 not anxiety. 00:39:16.699 --> 00:39:17.059 Rest. 00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:19.599 And if you're 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:20.579 constantly living 00:39:20.579 --> 00:39:21.240 in fear, 00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:24.179 you're probably 00:39:24.179 --> 00:39:24.960 not trusting 00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:25.619 Christ. 00:39:27.019 --> 00:39:28.440 You're probably 00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:29.199 trusting your 00:39:29.199 --> 00:39:31.820 ability to do 00:39:31.820 --> 00:39:32.960 your best and 00:39:32.960 --> 00:39:33.619 try your hardest 00:39:33.619 --> 00:39:34.780 and do the 00:39:34.780 --> 00:39:35.340 list of things. 00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:36.179 And somebody's 00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:36.960 told you, if you 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:37.619 fall short of 00:39:37.619 --> 00:39:38.780 that, you're 00:39:38.780 --> 00:39:39.760 not doing it 00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:39.980 right. 00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:41.559 We need to 00:39:41.559 --> 00:39:41.920 care about 00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:42.320 godliness. 00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:43.940 But our 00:39:43.940 --> 00:39:44.579 godliness is 00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:44.880 not what 00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:45.539 saves us. 00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.340 We cling 00:39:47.340 --> 00:39:48.199 trustingly to 00:39:48.199 --> 00:39:48.539 the Lord 00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:49.960 Jesus, even 00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:50.720 when we fail, 00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.260 even when we 00:39:52.260 --> 00:39:52.559 fall. 00:39:53.159 --> 00:39:53.880 We're grieved 00:39:53.880 --> 00:39:54.559 by our sin. 00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:56.079 But it should 00:39:56.079 --> 00:39:56.679 never bring us 00:39:56.679 --> 00:39:57.220 to a point, if 00:39:57.220 --> 00:39:57.820 we know Christ, 00:39:58.199 --> 00:39:58.860 and if we 00:39:58.860 --> 00:39:59.340 understand the 00:39:59.340 --> 00:40:00.300 gospel, it 00:40:00.300 --> 00:40:00.720 should never 00:40:00.720 --> 00:40:01.300 bring us to a 00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:01.940 point that in 00:40:01.940 --> 00:40:03.699 our sin, we're 00:40:03.699 --> 00:40:04.760 now overwhelmed 00:40:04.760 --> 00:40:06.380 with fear that 00:40:06.380 --> 00:40:06.860 God's going to 00:40:06.860 --> 00:40:09.000 take it away, that 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:09.440 he doesn't love 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:11.040 us anymore, that 00:40:11.040 --> 00:40:11.340 he's going to 00:40:11.340 --> 00:40:12.000 cast us out. 00:40:13.040 --> 00:40:13.540 Remember what 00:40:13.540 --> 00:40:15.300 Jesus said, all 00:40:15.300 --> 00:40:15.840 that the Father 00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:16.500 gives me will 00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.740 come to me, and 00:40:17.740 --> 00:40:18.460 whoever comes to 00:40:18.460 --> 00:40:19.560 me, I will 00:40:19.560 --> 00:40:21.880 never cast out. 00:40:23.160 --> 00:40:23.880 And if you're 00:40:23.880 --> 00:40:24.840 living in constant 00:40:24.840 --> 00:40:26.780 fear, I think you 00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:27.460 just don't understand 00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:29.480 the gospel, and you 00:40:29.480 --> 00:40:30.120 need to study the 00:40:30.120 --> 00:40:30.480 gospel. 00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:32.039 You need to 00:40:32.039 --> 00:40:32.539 study these 00:40:32.539 --> 00:40:32.940 verses. 00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:34.820 You need to 00:40:34.820 --> 00:40:35.500 learn the gospel 00:40:35.500 --> 00:40:37.579 of grace, so 00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.119 that you might 00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:40.920 look to Jesus, and 00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:41.340 then live.