WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.159 Good morning, Watermark. 00:00:04.620 --> 00:00:08.419 My name is Chris, for those of you who don't know me. 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:14.400 I help oversee the community groups at Watermark. 00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:23.719 We've been looking over the last six weeks at the Book of Romans, 00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:30.099 and we've seen how Paul has dealt with three different kinds of people. 00:00:30.979 --> 00:00:33.759 First of all, he proclaimed that he was not ashamed of the gospel. 00:00:33.939 --> 00:00:36.960 He was going to preach the gospel wherever he went. 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:40.320 But then he talked about these three types of people. 00:00:40.500 --> 00:00:45.759 He talked about the Gentiles, the kind of people who don't care about God. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:49.960 They go at the weekend to Lan Kui Fong to sleep with whoever they want to, 00:00:50.060 --> 00:00:53.340 to drink as much as they want to, to feel good about themselves. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.679 He's then talked about the moral people, 00:00:57.039 --> 00:00:59.500 the people who at the weekend go and do charity work 00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:04.620 or go and be good family people to make themselves feel good about themselves. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:08.799 And then he's talked about the religious people, the kind of the Jews, 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:11.500 the people who maybe go to church at the weekend 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:13.460 to make themselves feel good about themselves. 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:17.599 And Paul has basically leveled the ground, and he said, 00:01:18.620 --> 00:01:22.539 it doesn't matter what are the kind of people you are, 00:01:22.540 --> 00:01:26.000 before God, none of you have any standing. 00:01:28.320 --> 00:01:33.000 Last week we saw how just when we'd reached the bottom of the pit, 00:01:33.740 --> 00:01:34.900 then Paul says, 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:41.080 but now God has come up with a different way that you can be right with him. 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:45.800 Now in Christ, through Jesus' death and resurrection, 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:48.039 you can be right with God. 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:52.920 And today we're looking at chapter 4 of Romans, 00:01:53.019 --> 00:01:56.319 where basically Paul is going to give the example of Abraham 00:01:56.319 --> 00:02:02.579 to show exactly what he means by what he's been talking about in chapters 1 to 3. 00:02:02.579 --> 00:02:06.560 So we're going to look at the story of Abraham. 00:02:06.759 --> 00:02:10.219 We're going to look at it in three different parts. 00:02:11.060 --> 00:02:16.099 We're going to look at justification by faith in Christ. 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:20.079 We're going to be saying how justification liberates you, 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:23.840 how it means there's no spiritual hierarchy. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:26.439 And fourthly, we're going to say, 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:30.199 how do we live by justification in Jesus? 00:02:31.859 --> 00:02:34.300 So firstly, justification, being made right, 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:37.340 declared right in God's eyes, is by faith in Christ. 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:42.319 Abraham is, in the Jewish faith, 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:45.199 the founding father of the Jewish faith. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:48.879 Every good Jew, and also the Christian Gentiles, 00:02:48.979 --> 00:02:53.039 would have known that Abraham was the creme de la creme. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:59.039 He was the model of obedience for every Jewish person 00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:03.120 and every Christian who had come into the faith. 00:03:03.459 --> 00:03:08.199 They knew that Abraham was right up there with the big guys. 00:03:10.219 --> 00:03:13.299 And Abraham was there because God had promised to him 00:03:13.299 --> 00:03:17.079 a promise of blessing which ran through the whole of the Bible, 00:03:17.979 --> 00:03:22.780 a promise that God was going to bless his descendants, 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:27.539 and he was going to fill the nations with blessing through Abraham. 00:03:28.539 --> 00:03:32.120 And in Genesis 26, we read this. 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:38.500 I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:41.739 and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed 00:03:41.739 --> 00:03:47.280 because Abraham obeyed me and kept my commandments. 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:49.599 Seems pretty clear, Paul, doesn't it? 00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:51.399 Abraham obeyed. 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:52.539 That's why he was blessed. 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:55.420 That's why he had this great relationship with God. 00:03:56.340 --> 00:03:58.879 So, Paul, what you've been saying in chapters 1 to 3, 00:03:59.080 --> 00:04:01.800 I think you better rethink it because look at Abraham. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:07.120 And, I mean, you can remember the stories about Abraham. 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:09.319 If you know the stories where he went and sacrificed, 00:04:10.060 --> 00:04:12.379 was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:15.919 I mean, he showed incredible obedience to God. 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:20.939 Surely that's why Abraham was given this promise. 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:23.500 That's why Abraham was the man. 00:04:25.579 --> 00:04:29.980 And Paul, basically, in chapter 4, is saying to any of his readers 00:04:29.980 --> 00:04:31.300 who are thinking this about Abraham, 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:34.420 guys, you don't know the story of Abraham. 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:38.600 Let me tell you some of the story of Abraham to make it clear. 00:04:39.960 --> 00:04:44.939 So, let's just refer back to that passage we read, first of all, in Genesis 15. 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:48.560 God basically comes to Abraham and he says, 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:51.060 I'm going to reward you. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:52.740 I'm going to bless you. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:54.819 And Abraham says to him, 00:04:55.719 --> 00:04:56.439 Thanks, God. 00:04:57.319 --> 00:04:58.120 But what's the point? 00:04:59.019 --> 00:05:00.980 Because I don't have any children. 00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:04.480 Someone else is going to inherit everything from me. 00:05:05.019 --> 00:05:08.060 And basically, my life was a waste of time. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:10.120 Because what you've got to remember, 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:13.079 in that culture, your sense of validation, 00:05:13.300 --> 00:05:15.040 your sense of who you were worth, 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:16.439 came through your family. 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:18.139 Who you were a son of, 00:05:18.740 --> 00:05:21.220 and who was your son, 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:24.360 was an important status in society. 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:26.519 It mattered. 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:29.360 And so, when Abraham had no children, 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:32.180 what that meant in society was, 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:33.220 he was useless. 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:34.759 He was a failure. 00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:38.579 No one to carry on his name. 00:05:39.259 --> 00:05:39.759 He'd failed. 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:44.099 And God then comes to him and says, 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:46.899 Go outside and look at the stars. 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:48.800 If he'd been in Hong Kong, 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:50.740 it wouldn't have taken him very long to count them. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:51.579 But he says, 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:53.779 Count all the stars out there. 00:05:54.699 --> 00:05:58.339 That's how many children I am going to give you. 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:00.139 And do you know what it says? 00:06:00.219 --> 00:06:00.639 It says, 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:04.680 Abraham believed God, 00:06:05.659 --> 00:06:07.639 and it was credited to him. 00:06:07.740 --> 00:06:10.000 It was reckoned to him as righteousness. 00:06:10.659 --> 00:06:11.379 In other words, 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:13.000 he trusted what God said, 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:13.939 and God said, 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:15.659 Now you're right with me. 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:18.259 Now we're in right standing. 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:21.719 But surely there was more than that. 00:06:22.139 --> 00:06:22.339 I mean, 00:06:22.599 --> 00:06:24.800 didn't Abraham have to go on a five-week course 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:26.159 to be how to be a good Jew? 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:28.139 And then God was going to say, 00:06:28.219 --> 00:06:29.079 Okay, now you're good. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:32.979 Didn't Abraham have to kind of spend three months 00:06:32.979 --> 00:06:35.279 going to the synagogue children's ministry, 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:36.939 and then afterwards he'd say, 00:06:37.060 --> 00:06:39.180 Hey, you're a good Jew. 00:06:40.539 --> 00:06:40.899 No. 00:06:41.979 --> 00:06:43.719 He just believed what God said. 00:06:44.919 --> 00:06:45.839 And that was it. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:48.039 He was right with God. 00:06:49.039 --> 00:06:49.560 Accepted. 00:06:49.939 --> 00:06:52.079 In good relationship with God. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:55.680 Now, 00:06:57.180 --> 00:07:00.120 does that mean, 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:03.159 what does that mean for us? 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:04.680 Because what Paul is saying 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:08.860 is that the same way Abraham was made right with God 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:10.699 is the way that you 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:12.360 and I 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:13.959 are made right with God. 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:16.699 We trust, 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:18.579 we believe what God says 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:20.719 through His Son 00:07:20.719 --> 00:07:22.399 dying on the cross 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:24.019 and you're right with Him. 00:07:25.539 --> 00:07:26.759 You're right with Him. 00:07:28.039 --> 00:07:29.740 Does that mean your behavior is not important? 00:07:29.859 --> 00:07:30.079 No. 00:07:31.359 --> 00:07:32.620 Your behavior is important, 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:34.939 but your behavior flows out 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:36.579 of your standing with God. 00:07:37.099 --> 00:07:37.779 Your behavior, 00:07:37.779 --> 00:07:39.240 your standing with God 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:41.560 is not based on your behavior. 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:44.379 your standing with God 00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:46.180 flows into your behavior, 00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:48.360 but your behavior 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:50.120 is not the basis 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:51.500 on which you're right with God. 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:53.959 Now, 00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:58.040 if you look in verses 4 and 5, 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:04.160 Paul is now going to say, 00:08:04.819 --> 00:08:06.759 give a comparison. 00:08:07.720 --> 00:08:07.980 He says, 00:08:08.139 --> 00:08:09.040 Now to the one who works, 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:10.340 his wage is not credited 00:08:10.340 --> 00:08:11.540 as a favor. 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:13.040 but as what is due. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:15.620 But to the one who does not work, 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:16.620 but believes in Him 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:18.160 who justifies the ungodly, 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:20.100 his faith is credited 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:21.939 as righteousness. 00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:23.439 You see, 00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:24.759 Abraham could live 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:26.220 by vindicating himself 00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:28.319 through his family, 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:29.040 but he'd failed. 00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:30.920 He'd failed. 00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:33.519 Or he could trust God 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:34.720 and His vindication 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:36.840 and he became righteous. 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:38.139 You see, 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:39.340 there are two ways to live. 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:42.259 Either you trust 00:08:42.259 --> 00:08:44.700 in what God says 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:48.300 or you trust in what you say 00:08:48.300 --> 00:08:51.019 or what others say about you. 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:53.720 Either you trust in your performance 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:57.060 or you trust in God's performance 00:08:57.060 --> 00:08:58.120 through Jesus. 00:08:58.660 --> 00:08:59.860 What I mean by that is this. 00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:00.560 Last week, 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:02.000 Tobin talked about faith 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:03.820 as being like a chair. 00:09:03.820 --> 00:09:06.220 He said, 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:07.020 when you believe, 00:09:07.260 --> 00:09:07.920 it's not just 00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:09.379 you believe the idea 00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:10.560 that God makes you right 00:09:10.560 --> 00:09:11.680 through trusting 00:09:11.680 --> 00:09:13.060 in what Jesus has done 00:09:13.060 --> 00:09:13.580 on the cross. 00:09:13.660 --> 00:09:14.580 It's not just the idea. 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:15.320 You've got to put 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:16.680 your full weight 00:09:16.680 --> 00:09:17.879 on that. 00:09:18.300 --> 00:09:19.280 And you've got to say, 00:09:19.680 --> 00:09:20.680 this is where 00:09:20.680 --> 00:09:21.960 I am trusting. 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:23.060 My full weight. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:23.980 Not just kind of 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:24.740 half weight on. 00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:26.260 You put your full weight 00:09:26.260 --> 00:09:27.220 on what God has done. 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:28.540 But you see, 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:29.860 there are two chairs in life. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:31.720 One chair is yourself. 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:33.960 One chair is God. 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:35.220 Now, 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:36.040 as you look at them, 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:37.399 they both seem to be pretty equal. 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:38.660 They both seem to be pretty good. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:40.160 Maybe this one's got a back. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:40.700 Maybe it feels 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:41.639 a little bit more comfortable. 00:09:43.060 --> 00:09:43.300 But, 00:09:43.660 --> 00:09:46.860 when I come to sit on this one, 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:50.639 I'd just like you to have a look 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:54.060 at what's on the bottom of this. 00:09:54.059 --> 00:09:55.699 You see, 00:09:55.839 --> 00:09:58.000 if I was to put my full weight 00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:59.179 on this chair, 00:09:59.859 --> 00:10:00.919 what is going to happen? 00:10:03.579 --> 00:10:04.579 I'm going to fall through. 00:10:06.699 --> 00:10:07.759 And it might be, 00:10:07.819 --> 00:10:08.639 you could sit on the edge 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:10.139 for a few minutes, 00:10:10.219 --> 00:10:11.179 but sooner or later, 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:13.419 it's going to break. 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:16.339 That's what Paul is saying 00:10:16.339 --> 00:10:17.339 about what it means 00:10:17.339 --> 00:10:19.599 to trust in your performance. 00:10:19.599 --> 00:10:20.039 Because, 00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:24.299 you are broken. 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:26.579 You are unreliable. 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:28.019 You 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:30.000 are bankrupt. 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:31.399 If you want to use 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:32.339 a financial term, 00:10:32.459 --> 00:10:33.339 you are bankrupt 00:10:33.339 --> 00:10:34.639 spiritually. 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:36.399 What that means is, 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:39.199 you have no credit rating 00:10:39.199 --> 00:10:39.959 before God. 00:10:40.939 --> 00:10:43.199 You are in default mode. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:45.079 Your payments have been, 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:45.959 you have not been able 00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:46.620 to pay back 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:47.779 any of your debts. 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:49.839 And so, 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:50.959 if you trust in yourself, 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:51.299 listen, 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:53.159 you've got no standing 00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:54.039 before God. 00:10:56.339 --> 00:10:57.399 But then there's one 00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:58.939 who's got a perfect credit rating, 00:10:59.399 --> 00:11:01.019 who's never defaulted once, 00:11:01.199 --> 00:11:02.579 who is totally solid, 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:03.639 totally secure, 00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:04.879 totally trustworthy, 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:06.379 and he's the one 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:08.000 that we lean 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:09.879 and put our full weight on. 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:12.840 Now, 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:17.000 let's think about 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:17.799 what that means. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:19.720 So secondly, 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:20.500 let's think about 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:21.759 what does it really mean 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:22.939 to trust 00:11:22.939 --> 00:11:23.879 that Jesus 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.600 justifies you. 00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:26.340 Jesus, 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:28.000 through trusting his word, 00:11:28.059 --> 00:11:28.620 makes you right. 00:11:28.700 --> 00:11:29.399 Let's think about that. 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:30.000 Secondly, 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:30.799 justification, 00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:32.080 it liberates you. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:33.139 Now, 00:11:33.659 --> 00:11:34.299 Paul says, 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:35.879 him who justifies, 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:36.960 justifies, 00:11:37.580 --> 00:11:38.159 we trust, 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:39.080 believes in him 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:40.980 who justifies the ungodly. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:41.480 Now, 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:41.960 I want you to think 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:42.460 for a moment, 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:43.960 because the word justification, 00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:44.939 we've talked about it, 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:46.139 it's a legal word. 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:47.519 It's a legal term. 00:11:48.179 --> 00:11:48.820 It's a picture 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:50.360 of a courtroom scene. 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:51.340 Now, 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:53.799 I want you to imagine 00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:55.860 that when I was younger, 00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:57.279 me and my brother 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.700 go to a restaurant, 00:11:58.700 --> 00:12:01.040 and we order 00:12:01.040 --> 00:12:02.620 leek and potato soup. 00:12:03.940 --> 00:12:05.259 And my parents 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:06.080 are there, 00:12:06.160 --> 00:12:06.920 they're chatting away 00:12:06.920 --> 00:12:07.480 in the corner, 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.780 and I've got my lovely 00:12:09.780 --> 00:12:10.940 leek and potato soup. 00:12:11.800 --> 00:12:12.300 And then, 00:12:13.280 --> 00:12:14.540 just at that moment, 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:15.460 my brother 00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:16.820 knocks the soup, 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:18.840 pours it all over me. 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:20.320 I now look like 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:21.080 a soup monster. 00:12:22.620 --> 00:12:24.420 My parents turn around, 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:25.220 they look at me, 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.480 and they say to me, 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:29.200 what happened? 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:31.500 At that moment, 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:32.519 I look at my brother 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:32.980 and I say, 00:12:33.060 --> 00:12:33.639 he did it. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:35.879 My brother looks at me 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:36.420 and he said, 00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:37.600 it wasn't me. 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:39.440 Now, 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:40.480 at that point, 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:42.500 my mother or father 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:44.379 becomes the judge 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.519 in the trial. 00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:47.220 One of us 00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:48.180 has to be declared 00:12:48.180 --> 00:12:49.120 in the right. 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:50.159 One of us is going to be 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.080 declared in the wrong. 00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:52.139 One of us 00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:52.920 is going to be 00:12:52.920 --> 00:12:53.920 justified. 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:55.320 One of us 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:56.240 is going to be 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:56.960 condemned. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:59.480 And you don't want 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:00.039 to be the one 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:00.820 who's condemned 00:13:00.820 --> 00:13:02.000 with my mother. 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.519 But in the same way, 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:09.340 the Bible says, 00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:11.580 we stand before God 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:15.960 and he is the offended party 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:16.060 guilty. 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:19.440 And we stand before him 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:20.660 totally guilty. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:22.560 All the evidence 00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:23.200 is there. 00:13:23.800 --> 00:13:24.440 It's not a, 00:13:24.680 --> 00:13:25.560 oh, he said that, 00:13:25.780 --> 00:13:26.500 she said that 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:27.600 kind of situation. 00:13:27.920 --> 00:13:29.379 No, it's as clear 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.580 as clear can be. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.080 That's what Romans 1-3 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:32.540 is about. 00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:33.920 You stand 00:13:33.920 --> 00:13:34.820 utterly guilty. 00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:37.340 And just as the judge 00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:38.440 is about to pass 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.420 sentence on you, 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.940 something extraordinary 00:13:40.940 --> 00:13:41.620 happens. 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:43.659 the judge 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:44.460 comes down 00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:46.740 and he 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:47.940 takes 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:49.279 the punishment. 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:50.220 He says, 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:51.120 he declares 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.139 his son 00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:54.000 condemned. 00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.340 Even though 00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:56.080 he is innocent 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:57.259 of all crime, 00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:58.100 he declares 00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:59.179 him in the wrong 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:00.500 and declares 00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:01.000 you, 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:02.039 the guilty one, 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:03.200 in the right. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:04.700 Righteous 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:05.500 before him. 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:11.419 You see, 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:13.919 at that point, 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.659 there is no, 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:17.720 it's not a suspended 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:18.879 sentence for you. 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.960 God hasn't got you 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:21.659 on probation 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:22.620 just to see, 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.340 well, 00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:24.320 how are you going to do 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.440 over the next little while 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.039 because maybe I'm going 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.259 to revisit my verdict. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.620 At that moment, 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:32.039 he has declared 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:33.019 your past, 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:33.600 present, 00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:35.240 future sins. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:38.360 declared, 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:39.559 wiped away, 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:40.600 innocent, 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:41.759 justified 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:42.820 in his sight. 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:46.320 There's no probation 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:47.480 period with God. 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:50.080 You're justified. 00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:51.860 But what that means 00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:52.259 is this, 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:52.940 you need to hold 00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:54.519 two things together. 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:56.480 One, 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:58.159 you need to remember 00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:59.500 that you 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.759 are personally 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.659 responsible 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:02.940 for your sin. 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:05.179 You are worse 00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:05.899 than you could 00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:06.599 imagine 00:15:06.599 --> 00:15:07.539 that you are. 00:15:07.839 --> 00:15:08.639 You've got to hold that. 00:15:08.959 --> 00:15:09.659 God's not saying 00:15:09.659 --> 00:15:10.579 your sin doesn't matter. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.719 He's not saying, 00:15:12.099 --> 00:15:12.359 oh, 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:13.919 your sin doesn't exist. 00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:15.120 He knows it exists 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:15.959 because it matters 00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:16.559 so much. 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.620 Jesus had to die 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.219 for you. 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.459 That's how much 00:15:19.459 --> 00:15:20.199 sin matters. 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.639 You are personally 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.399 responsible. 00:15:22.859 --> 00:15:23.479 You are sinful. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:25.139 But the second thing is, 00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:25.819 Jesus 00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:27.299 has taken 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:28.259 your punishment, 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.000 which means 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:29.899 you are accepted, 00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:31.339 dearly loved, 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.519 more than you can 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:33.959 possibly imagine 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:34.500 you are. 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.060 Two things. 00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:37.180 Nothing 00:15:37.180 --> 00:15:38.180 can make God 00:15:38.180 --> 00:15:39.139 love you anymore. 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:39.960 Nothing 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.019 that you do 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:41.560 can make Him 00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:42.400 love you any less. 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.580 Justified. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:45.740 Righteous 00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:46.460 in His sight. 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.320 That's why 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:47.879 in the passage 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.740 it then says, 00:15:49.800 --> 00:15:49.860 blessed 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:51.000 are those 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.120 whose lawless deeds 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:52.900 have been forgiven 00:15:52.900 --> 00:15:53.980 and whose sins 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:54.720 have been covered. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.019 Blessed is the man 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:56.460 whose sin 00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:56.780 the Lord 00:15:56.780 --> 00:15:57.420 will not take 00:15:57.420 --> 00:15:58.100 into account. 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:01.100 You're blessed 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:03.040 through justification. 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:04.779 Now there are 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.480 two implications 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.200 of this. 00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:07.139 Because, 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:07.519 yeah, 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.180 I know that. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.240 There's two 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.120 implications of this. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:10.740 One is, 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:11.580 it brings 00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:12.639 incredible humility 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:13.420 to you 00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:15.080 because you can 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:16.019 own up 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:17.080 to your failings 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:18.800 and your sins 00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:20.060 without excuse. 00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:22.279 Because, 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.139 think about it, 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.000 every one of us 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.899 goes on trial, 00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:26.460 probably daily, 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:27.700 in our offices, 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.100 in our families, 00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:31.040 in our workplaces, 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.200 in our schools. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:33.940 Imagine, 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:34.960 if you're one 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.600 of the youth, 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.080 let's say, 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.300 your youth leader 00:16:38.300 --> 00:16:39.259 or your parent 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:39.980 suspects 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:41.639 that you have been 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.759 looking at pornography. 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:46.940 And they bring 00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:48.259 the charge against you. 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:51.159 And so the trial begins. 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:53.180 They bring out 00:16:53.180 --> 00:16:53.740 the witnesses 00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:54.840 and the evidence. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.519 Exhibit A, 00:16:57.420 --> 00:16:58.320 dodgy websites 00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.800 on your browser's history 00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:00.879 on your phone 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.640 or your computer. 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:03.420 Exhibit B, 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.799 a guilty look 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.700 on your face. 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.820 Exhibit C, 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:10.440 avoiding answering questions 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.640 about what you were doing 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:12.500 ten minutes ago. 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.140 The verdict, 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:16.460 guilty of looking at porn, 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:18.240 ready to be sentenced. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.220 Or maybe, 00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:20.980 at work, 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:22.820 you have the same trial. 00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:23.720 Exhibit A, 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:24.620 you forgot to do 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.440 a piece of work. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:26.519 Exhibit B, 00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:27.680 you left work early. 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.299 Exhibit C, 00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:30.420 you failed to say, 00:17:30.600 --> 00:17:31.940 to tell anyone about it. 00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:33.200 What's the verdict? 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.960 Guilty of being 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.080 a useless employee. 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:40.500 And you see, 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:41.380 your accuser 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:42.759 is your judge. 00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:44.820 If it's your employer, 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.080 the punishment, 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:46.759 there's going to be, 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.100 he's going to look down on you. 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:49.340 There's going to be 00:17:49.340 --> 00:17:50.220 tension in the office. 00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:51.860 If it's your parent, 00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.279 your mother 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:53.920 or your father, 00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.279 there's going to be trouble. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:57.259 If it's your spouse, 00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:57.740 there's going to be 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.680 even more trouble. 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:01.779 And all of us 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:03.500 live under these 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.599 verdicts 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:06.019 of useless, 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.420 failure, 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:08.740 guilty, 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.259 not good enough 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.440 in our lives. 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.119 Sometimes daily. 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:15.980 And sometimes 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.759 they may be fair. 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:18.619 Sometimes they may be unfair. 00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:22.079 But the thing is, 00:18:22.179 --> 00:18:24.299 when you understand 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.139 what it means 00:18:25.139 --> 00:18:26.199 to be justified 00:18:26.199 --> 00:18:27.099 by faith, 00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:28.819 it changes your response. 00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:30.019 Because 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.519 if you're going to trust 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.959 in your own performance, 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:35.240 you're going to respond 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.299 when you fail 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:38.640 in some different ways. 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:40.500 I don't know if you remember 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.220 last year, 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:41.860 I talked about 00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:42.900 some friends of mine. 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:46.140 How they respond 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:47.640 when they fail. 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.539 I talked about 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.920 defensive Diana. 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:51.700 You see, 00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:52.680 when she 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.840 comes across 00:18:53.840 --> 00:18:54.079 with 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.160 her guilt, 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:57.799 her sin, 00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.440 her mistakes 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.160 are exposed, 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.440 she says, 00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:01.640 why do you always 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:02.420 pick on me? 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.840 It's always me 00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:04.539 who's got the problem, 00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:04.860 isn't it? 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.860 What about you? 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.299 What about what you 00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:08.220 did the other day? 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.900 That's defensive Diana. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:11.880 Or 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:13.380 you have 00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.519 blaming on anything 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.019 but me, 00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:15.460 Brenda. 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:16.779 You see, 00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:18.340 when you come to her 00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.039 with her fault, 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:19.579 she says, 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:19.940 sorry, 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.720 I was tired. 00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:22.640 I was having a bad day. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.920 It's my genes. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:25.200 I'm just naturally 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.799 bad at those kind of things. 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.299 She made me do it. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.460 Anything 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.460 but her. 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.100 Or then, 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:32.859 it's not just 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.619 defensive Diana 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.059 or blaming 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.819 anything but me, 00:19:34.939 --> 00:19:35.179 Brenda. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:35.980 There's minimizing 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.519 Martin. 00:19:37.219 --> 00:19:37.399 You know, 00:19:37.419 --> 00:19:37.599 he says, 00:19:37.699 --> 00:19:37.799 well, 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.939 it's not that bad. 00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:40.059 Haven't you seen 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.119 what Tobin did 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:41.599 the other day? 00:19:41.659 --> 00:19:42.799 It's much worse. 00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:46.379 Defensive Diana, 00:19:46.699 --> 00:19:47.359 blaming on anything 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:47.779 but me, 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.099 Brenda, 00:19:48.219 --> 00:19:49.079 minimizing Martin. 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:50.179 And then finally, 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.459 beat yourself up, 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:51.839 Bob. 00:19:52.919 --> 00:19:53.699 He says, 00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:54.759 I know I'm 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.799 a terrible failure. 00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:57.599 I'm a bad parent. 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:59.759 I'm a useless employee. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.779 I'm hopeless. 00:20:00.919 --> 00:20:01.719 I'm a bad Christian. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.319 I know. 00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:07.119 Things, 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:08.619 all four of those things 00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:10.139 are the responses 00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:10.959 when you're trusting 00:20:10.959 --> 00:20:11.779 in your performance. 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.459 And sometimes, 00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:16.419 all of us do those things. 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.740 Sometimes we don't do it verbally, 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:19.019 but sometimes we do it 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:19.779 in our minds. 00:20:20.439 --> 00:20:21.219 When you're faced 00:20:21.219 --> 00:20:21.859 with failure, 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.539 when you're faced 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.179 with criticism, 00:20:23.179 --> 00:20:24.159 you're in the dock. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:27.040 And the question is, 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:27.740 where are you going to put 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:29.140 your trust at that moment? 00:20:30.560 --> 00:20:31.420 If you put it 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.200 in your performance, 00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:33.140 you're always going to be 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:33.700 in denial. 00:20:34.040 --> 00:20:34.900 You're always going to be 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.620 blame-shifting. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:37.000 You're always going to be 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.259 trying to minimize it. 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:38.680 Why? 00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:39.860 Because you've got to 00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:41.019 justify yourself 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:42.060 as a good, 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.620 upstanding person. 00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:45.200 Because you've got to prove 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.680 that you are worth something 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:48.440 from your own performance. 00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:51.680 You see, 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:53.220 the boss who always 00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:54.600 blames his employees 00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:56.339 for his mistakes. 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.380 That's a man 00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:58.420 who's putting his trust 00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:00.100 in his performance. 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.620 But when you realize 00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:05.160 that you are sinful, 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.120 ungodly, 00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:07.400 you've got nothing 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.380 in your bank account 00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:09.579 except sin and shame, 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.640 it gives you a freedom 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.860 to admit 00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:14.240 and to confess 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.160 when you're wrong, 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.700 when you've sinned, 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:18.000 without excuses, 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.480 without minimizing, 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.500 without trying 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.420 to defend yourself. 00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.660 There's no mitigating 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.560 circumstances. 00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:26.039 Because churches 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.660 are filled with people, 00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:28.980 including myself, 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:31.080 who are pretending. 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.820 We're trying to hide 00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:34.380 and trying to pretend 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:35.160 that we're okay. 00:21:35.800 --> 00:21:36.860 We look good 00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:37.840 on the outside. 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:40.860 We're trying to make sure 00:21:40.860 --> 00:21:41.700 everybody thinks, 00:21:41.800 --> 00:21:41.900 yeah, 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:43.539 he's a good family person, 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.539 she's a good mother, 00:21:45.100 --> 00:21:46.800 he's a great son, 00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:48.200 he's or she, 00:21:48.620 --> 00:21:49.860 they're good Christian. 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:51.059 We all want to put up 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:51.719 these appearances 00:21:51.719 --> 00:21:52.339 so that everyone 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:53.379 sees we're okay. 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:56.119 But what we need 00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:56.699 in our church 00:21:56.699 --> 00:21:57.859 is a greater realization 00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:59.219 that we are all 00:21:59.219 --> 00:22:00.359 a broken chair. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.979 We're all like that 00:22:02.979 --> 00:22:04.099 by ourselves. 00:22:06.699 --> 00:22:07.740 And the moment 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:08.819 you're willing 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.979 to see that, 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.240 it is liberating. 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.179 It's so tiring 00:22:12.179 --> 00:22:13.240 putting up a pretense 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.879 all the time. 00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:14.939 It's tiring. 00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:16.299 Because you've got to be 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.259 a schizophrenic. 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.019 You've got to be 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.659 two people. 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:19.800 You've always got to 00:22:19.800 --> 00:22:20.680 put up the mask. 00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:24.820 But when you know 00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:25.820 that you're a broken sinner 00:22:25.820 --> 00:22:26.720 and need of grace, 00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:27.840 it liberates you. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.460 That's when you've messed up. 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:31.240 But what about 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.300 when you succeed? 00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:34.360 Because the other thing, 00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.720 knowing that you're a sinner 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:37.120 and the depth 00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.940 of your sinfulness, 00:22:38.060 --> 00:22:38.720 it humbles you 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.240 when you think 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.380 you are good enough. 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.440 You know, 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.340 this is my friend, 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:43.400 Superior Sam. 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:44.740 You see, 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.779 he's competent. 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.519 He does things well. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.920 And when he looks 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.660 at other people 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:51.579 who don't do things 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.339 as well as him, 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.779 he looks down on them 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:55.039 because he thinks, 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.139 why are you so slow? 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:58.559 Why can't you do it 00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.460 like I can do it? 00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:01.980 And maybe he looks 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:03.079 at other Christians 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.819 who are struggling 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.359 and he thinks, 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:04.740 well, 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.779 they're a useless Christian, 00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.240 aren't they? 00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:08.920 You know, 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.660 the kind of people 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.279 they exchange 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.079 knowing glances 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:11.660 in the office 00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:13.339 when the colleague 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:14.000 makes a mistake. 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.299 Oh, 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.299 did it again. 00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:16.319 Yeah. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.379 They laugh 00:23:17.379 --> 00:23:18.819 at other people's expense 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:22.720 because what you're doing, 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.259 you're trusting 00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:24.240 in your own performance. 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.119 And what you'll become 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:28.339 is the judgmental hypocrite 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.259 that Paul talked about 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.460 in chapter two of Romans. 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:32.019 You become the judge, 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:33.559 but you don't realize 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.559 that naturally 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.299 you're in the dock. 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:39.119 You see, 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:40.759 when you understand 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.519 God's justification, 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.399 it humbles you 00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:42.980 to be real 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.879 about who you are. 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.980 You don't have to hide. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.860 You don't have to pretend. 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.160 Neither do you need 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:47.960 to feel superior. 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.360 Secondly, 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:53.259 it brings you confidence 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:55.079 because at the moment 00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.700 you recognize 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.440 that you're sinful, 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.759 it hasn't actually helped 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.460 beat yourself up, 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:00.740 Bob, 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:03.079 because he already knows 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:03.740 that he's sinful 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:06.640 and he's being very honest. 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.299 Now, 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.180 in our society, 00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.279 what we do is 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.759 we diagnose 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:11.579 beat yourself up, 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:11.880 Bob, 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:13.120 as having 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:14.500 lower self-esteem. 00:24:14.800 --> 00:24:16.180 That's his main problem. 00:24:16.620 --> 00:24:17.380 He just needs 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:18.060 to have more 00:24:18.060 --> 00:24:18.860 esteem 00:24:18.860 --> 00:24:20.120 in himself. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.580 And you know, 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.300 when Beat Yourself Up 00:24:22.300 --> 00:24:23.100 Bob comes to you, 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:23.380 he says, 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.700 I'm such a bad Christian. 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:26.300 I'm so terrible. 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:26.900 I can't, 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.720 I don't know 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.940 if God will love me anymore. 00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.140 And often, 00:24:32.040 --> 00:24:32.940 what I find 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.700 people say 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.380 to that kind of say, 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:34.900 they say, 00:24:35.260 --> 00:24:35.480 hey, 00:24:35.540 --> 00:24:36.600 you're not that bad. 00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:37.980 Don't you remember 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.839 you helped your grandmother 00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.500 over the road 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.079 the other day? 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:41.819 But, 00:24:41.919 --> 00:24:43.599 but what we're doing there, 00:24:44.199 --> 00:24:45.319 when you try and 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.839 massage people's ego, 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.519 all you're doing 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.139 is trying to get them 00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:49.319 to justify themselves. 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.399 You're putting their trust 00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:51.219 in their performance. 00:24:53.719 --> 00:24:54.159 Because, 00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.299 when somebody comes to me 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:55.799 and says that, 00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:56.959 usually I say to them, 00:24:57.959 --> 00:24:58.299 yep, 00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.459 you're a total, 00:24:59.699 --> 00:25:00.719 complete failure. 00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:02.179 Listen, 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.299 you're even worse 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:04.299 than you could imagine 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.799 you are. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.680 Now, 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:06.639 at that point, 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.720 they weren't expecting that. 00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.619 But then I say to them, 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.799 but you know what? 00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.159 It's not based 00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:15.980 on your performance. 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.039 It's based on 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.399 Christ's performance. 00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.220 Because, 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.839 and this is the amazing thing, 00:25:26.419 --> 00:25:27.740 he declares you 00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:29.519 completely right 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.539 in his sight. 00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:31.740 Acceptable, 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:32.680 dearly loved. 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.779 When you see his face, 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:35.000 you don't see a frown, 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:36.339 you see a smile. 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:38.359 And when you see him, 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:38.759 he says, 00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:40.299 I am pleased 00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:41.759 with you. 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.240 And you say, 00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:44.579 how can he be pleased 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:44.960 with me? 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:45.799 Doesn't he know 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.579 all that I've done? 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.259 Yeah, 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.399 he knows all you've done. 00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:51.079 It's not about you. 00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:53.500 It's about him. 00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:56.399 He knows that you are not, 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.759 you are not pleasing 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.579 by yourself, 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:00.240 but Christ is pleasing. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.799 And you're in Christ, 00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:03.059 so you are pleasing 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:03.819 in his sight. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.539 And then others come up 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:06.980 to you and say, 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:07.759 but, 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:09.019 you know, 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.500 I wish I had your faith. 00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:12.180 I just lack faith 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:12.900 to believe it. 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.019 Oh, 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:15.160 I have so many doubts, 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:15.839 and I just, 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.839 I just doubt 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.799 that God loves me. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.599 And you know what? 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:22.579 It's not about 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.819 your level of faith. 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.099 Don't put faith 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:26.299 in your level of faith. 00:26:26.899 --> 00:26:28.299 That's not what saves you. 00:26:29.699 --> 00:26:30.159 Because, 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:31.919 Jesus said, 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.719 you only need faith 00:26:32.719 --> 00:26:34.359 the size of a mustard seed. 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.259 Someone once said, 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:39.599 you can have strong faith 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:41.179 in thin ice, 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.519 and when you walk on it, 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:44.059 you're still going to fall through. 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:47.159 But you can have weak faith 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:49.259 in thick ice, 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.700 and you're going to be 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:52.400 just fine walking over it. 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.259 Because, 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.579 it's not about 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.359 your performance, 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.559 it's about his performance. 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.660 It's not about 00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.900 your level of faith, 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:02.119 it's about his faithfulness. 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:04.480 His work on the cross, 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:06.559 that is liberation. 00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:08.180 Which means your problem 00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:10.339 is not low self-esteem. 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:13.720 Your problem is low God-esteem. 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:15.720 Because you think 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.920 far too much 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:18.019 about what you think 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.759 about yourself, 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.839 and what others 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:20.700 think about you, 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.940 and far too little 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.799 about what God 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.779 says about you. 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:26.339 The solution is not 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:26.700 to be, 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.420 try and be, 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:28.480 think positive, 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.079 either. 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:29.440 You know, 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.279 I just need to believe 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:30.839 in myself. 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:31.500 You know, 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:33.039 I am really a throne. 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:34.140 You know, 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.860 I can take a thousand kilograms, 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:36.940 I just need to believe. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.019 Well, 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.900 you can say that 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:39.440 about yourself, 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.180 but I tell you, 00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:41.299 you sit on there, 00:27:41.360 --> 00:27:41.980 and very soon, 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.779 you're going to fall through. 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.220 What we need to do 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:48.900 is we need to speak 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.700 more of ourselves 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.460 the truth about 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.420 what Christ says 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.059 than about what 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.240 we say about ourselves. 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:56.279 That is liberation. 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.339 And as a church, 00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:58.099 we need to be doing 00:27:58.099 --> 00:27:59.039 that with each other. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:01.200 We need to be 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.500 reminding each other 00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.779 of what Christ 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.360 has done 00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:05.299 in our lives. 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.440 That is liberation 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.079 in Hong Kong 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.700 because we live 00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.099 in a world 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:09.860 of criticism. 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:11.339 We live in a world 00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:11.859 where you're never 00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:12.500 good enough, 00:28:12.659 --> 00:28:13.599 where 98% 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:15.179 is not good enough 00:28:15.179 --> 00:28:15.980 because what about 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.839 the other 2%? 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.599 But you can walk 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.240 into your office, 00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:20.819 you can walk 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.539 into your school, 00:28:21.679 --> 00:28:22.240 you can walk 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:23.079 into your home, 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.439 and it doesn't matter 00:28:24.439 --> 00:28:25.179 what people say 00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:25.819 about you. 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:26.959 It doesn't matter 00:28:26.959 --> 00:28:27.759 about what you say 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.419 about yourself. 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:29.599 It matters what Christ 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.500 says about you. 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.439 So you can go 00:28:31.439 --> 00:28:32.279 with confidence 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:33.439 for Him. 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:35.939 Thirdly, 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:36.480 and we'll just 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.459 do this very quickly, 00:28:39.419 --> 00:28:40.699 verses 9 to 12. 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:44.099 verses 9 to 12. 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:46.899 Here, 00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:48.000 he says, 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:48.819 is this blessing 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:50.039 then on the circumcised 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:51.859 or on the uncircumcised 00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:52.299 also? 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.240 For we say, 00:28:53.459 --> 00:28:53.939 faith was credited 00:28:53.939 --> 00:28:55.000 to Abraham's righteousness. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.339 How then was it credited 00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.359 while he was circumcised 00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:59.139 or uncircumcised? 00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.619 Not while he was circumcised, 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:02.240 but while uncircumcised. 00:29:03.199 --> 00:29:03.879 Now you see here, 00:29:03.939 --> 00:29:04.639 what's going on is 00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:05.699 Paul's readers 00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:06.240 may have said, 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:06.500 okay, 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.119 I get that stuff 00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:07.779 about faith. 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.160 But, 00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:08.720 you know, 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:09.160 Abraham, 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.299 he just had, 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.639 he was just a little bit 00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.259 of a step up 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.200 on everybody else. 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:14.019 You know, 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.639 Abraham, 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.559 he was already 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:17.139 in God's special people. 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.700 He was already circumcised, 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:20.099 the sign of being 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.500 part of God's special people. 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.680 He was already there. 00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:23.660 So he was already 00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.119 in a kind of 00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:24.879 different category 00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.460 from me. 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.299 Now, 00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.220 did Abraham have 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.240 kind of a fast track 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.799 to God? 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.859 Paul's saying no. 00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:32.859 Listen, 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.980 Abraham was declared 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.420 righteous 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:36.079 while he was a Gentile, 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:38.139 an ungodly Gentile 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.119 is what verse 5 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:39.659 is saying. 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.859 The most spiritual person 00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:42.500 that the Jews 00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.339 could think of 00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:44.559 was classified 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.339 by Paul 00:29:45.339 --> 00:29:46.319 as ungodly, 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:49.019 but made righteous 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:50.960 by faith alone. 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:51.539 Now, 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.179 think for a moment. 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.439 What that means is, 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:55.939 I think many of us 00:29:55.939 --> 00:29:56.519 have this idea 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:57.939 of a spiritual hierarchy. 00:29:58.919 --> 00:29:59.879 We think 00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:00.419 that, 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:00.619 you know, 00:30:00.659 --> 00:30:01.439 there are good Christians 00:30:01.439 --> 00:30:02.319 and bad Christians. 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.359 There are, 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:04.059 there are kind of 00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:05.119 the Mother Therese's, 00:30:05.199 --> 00:30:05.980 the Billy Graham's, 00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:07.059 the Tim Kellers, 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.120 the Pastor Tobin's, 00:30:08.140 --> 00:30:08.559 who are kind of 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.680 somewhere floating up 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:10.259 near the ceiling. 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.339 And you know, 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:13.599 and then there's me 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.200 down here. 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:15.319 You know, 00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:16.599 I'm this second class Christian. 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:18.000 I struggle to read the Bible. 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.360 I struggle to tell anybody 00:30:19.360 --> 00:30:20.099 about my faith. 00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:20.819 I feel, 00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:21.779 I feel defeated 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.880 in all of my life. 00:30:23.900 --> 00:30:24.559 And I think 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.200 I'm never going to, 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.620 I'm never going to reach up there. 00:30:29.099 --> 00:30:29.819 Because we think 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.319 maybe they, 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:31.519 they received a kind of, 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.839 a take 10 spaces 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:34.759 forward card, 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.240 you know, 00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:35.960 a kind of 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:37.059 VAP past 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.680 God's ear. 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:38.980 And, 00:30:39.140 --> 00:30:41.099 and you come away 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.019 struggling and thinking 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:43.119 I'm just not good enough. 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:45.119 And you think, 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.579 well maybe, 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:47.339 maybe if I just get 00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:47.940 some more knowledge, 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.279 I need to, 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.039 I need to know more 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.519 of the Bible. 00:30:49.640 --> 00:30:50.339 Once I know more 00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:50.839 of the Bible, 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:51.319 then, 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.339 then I'll be able 00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:53.579 to kind of float up 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.460 somewhere out there. 00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:57.420 But let me tell you, 00:30:57.759 --> 00:31:00.299 getting Bible knowledge 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.779 is great. 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:03.019 But it's not going 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.799 to move you 00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:04.759 up some kind 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.759 of spiritual ladder 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:07.279 in God's sight. 00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:08.180 You know, 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.599 that is more Buddhist 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.339 than the Bible. 00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:12.180 That is more Confucian 00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:13.059 than Christianity. 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:15.259 Because the way 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.440 every single person 00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:17.759 has ever got right 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.319 with God 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:20.240 is only one way, 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:21.500 through trusting in Christ, 00:31:21.619 --> 00:31:22.440 not through trusting 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:22.980 in themselves. 00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:24.940 That means 00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:26.519 that every single one 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:26.799 of you, 00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:27.980 if you've trusted in Christ, 00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:29.759 is on exactly the same 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:31.240 spiritual level 00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:32.599 with God, 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.599 exactly the same 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.900 standing with God, 00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:36.599 you have his ear 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:37.860 as much as any 00:31:37.860 --> 00:31:39.500 Christian hero 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.740 that you might have. 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:43.120 That is amazing. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:46.400 You see his smile 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:47.319 on your life. 00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.279 So we've looked 00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:52.360 at how it's justification 00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:54.420 by trusting in Christ alone. 00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:57.640 We've seen how 00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:58.820 it humbles you. 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.380 It gives you confidence 00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:01.080 when you hold 00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:01.779 those two things, 00:32:01.840 --> 00:32:02.480 you're sinful 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:04.160 and yet you're loved together. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:05.300 And finally, 00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.720 I'm just going to finish 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.240 with this, 00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:09.720 living out justification. 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.220 Now some of you 00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:11.960 may have thought, 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:13.820 I know this message already. 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.160 I've heard it before. 00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:18.759 But let me tell you something, 00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:19.500 there is no one 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.040 in this room 00:32:20.040 --> 00:32:22.720 who has fully grasped 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:25.940 this idea 00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:26.960 that you are justified 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.540 by faith. 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.400 What I mean by that 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:28.880 is this, 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:30.660 every single day 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:32.380 you are going to be 00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:32.820 tempted 00:32:32.820 --> 00:32:34.880 through new circumstances 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:36.160 and through new 00:32:36.160 --> 00:32:37.200 situations 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.640 to put your trust 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.279 in yourself. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.820 Every day. 00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:42.100 Every day 00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:42.740 you're going to be 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.100 tempted 00:32:43.100 --> 00:32:44.220 when you go 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:45.100 and look on Facebook 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:46.259 and then you see 00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:47.639 just how many likes 00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:48.619 you've got on Facebook, 00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:50.459 you're either going 00:32:50.459 --> 00:32:51.539 to become very proud 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.139 or you're going 00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:52.980 to become crushed 00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.639 and you're going 00:32:53.639 --> 00:32:54.099 to be tempted 00:32:54.099 --> 00:32:54.859 to put yourself 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.859 in your own performance. 00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:57.599 Every time you go 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.559 and face criticism, 00:32:58.919 --> 00:32:59.659 every time you make 00:32:59.659 --> 00:33:00.219 a mistake, 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.240 every time someone 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.639 puts you in that dock again, 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:04.439 you then have got 00:33:04.439 --> 00:33:05.259 another decision, 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:06.699 where am I going to trust? 00:33:07.659 --> 00:33:08.559 Faith is not about 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.699 just believing the idea 00:33:09.699 --> 00:33:10.599 that you are justified, 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.980 made right in God's eyes 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:13.659 through His Son. 00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:14.740 It's about putting 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.579 your full weight 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:15.900 on Him 00:33:15.900 --> 00:33:16.880 in the realities 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:17.579 of life. 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:21.000 So every time 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:21.559 you fail 00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:22.259 and are criticized, 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.740 that's a new opportunity 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.880 to understand 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.920 in greater depth 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:27.500 how amazing it is 00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:28.660 that it's not based 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.099 on you, 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.019 it's based on Him. 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:33.279 So the final two things, 00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:34.539 what this looks like 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.240 in practice, 00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.740 I think it looks like 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:40.559 when you come across 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.480 those situations, 00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:43.420 people who understand 00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:45.000 this idea, 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.059 they're people 00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:48.160 who confess 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:49.859 quickly and regularly 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:50.420 their sin. 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:52.779 They are happy 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.359 to admit 00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.359 their brokenness. 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.240 They don't hide. 00:33:55.539 --> 00:33:56.019 They admit 00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.960 their eating disorders. 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:57.740 They admit 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.980 their porn habit. 00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:00.079 They admit 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:01.140 their bad temper. 00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.160 They admit 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:03.140 where they got it wrong. 00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.860 Not just to God, 00:34:06.380 --> 00:34:07.640 but also to other people 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:09.119 in their community groups, 00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.699 other people 00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:11.539 in their church family, 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:11.920 because you've got 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:12.639 nothing to hide. 00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:13.659 They're quick 00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.380 to apologize 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.320 to their wife 00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:16.099 or their husband 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:18.659 or to their father 00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:19.260 or their mother. 00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:22.160 because confession 00:34:22.160 --> 00:34:23.100 of sins 00:34:23.100 --> 00:34:27.000 is a beautiful, 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:28.520 beautiful thing 00:34:28.520 --> 00:34:30.360 because it shows you 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.320 what we're really like, 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:33.000 but we don't leave it there. 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.800 But then the other thing is 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:36.520 we are reminding each other 00:34:36.520 --> 00:34:37.440 in the midst 00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.260 of our brokenness 00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:39.620 of how amazing Christ is 00:34:39.620 --> 00:34:40.300 and what He's done. 00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:42.520 So confession 00:34:42.520 --> 00:34:43.560 should be, 00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:44.340 now think about it, 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:45.420 when was the last time 00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:46.420 that you confessed 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:46.900 your sin 00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:47.720 to somebody else? 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:50.019 because that might 00:34:50.019 --> 00:34:50.879 give you an understanding 00:34:50.879 --> 00:34:51.659 of how deeply 00:34:51.659 --> 00:34:52.899 you've really understood this. 00:34:54.259 --> 00:34:55.299 The second thing 00:34:55.299 --> 00:34:56.139 and the final thing 00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:59.299 is people who understand this 00:34:59.299 --> 00:35:00.719 are people of thanksgiving. 00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:02.539 Defensive Diana, 00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:03.519 minimizing Martin, 00:35:03.659 --> 00:35:04.379 blaming on anything 00:35:04.379 --> 00:35:05.159 but me, Brenda, 00:35:05.439 --> 00:35:06.299 beat yourself up Bob, 00:35:06.419 --> 00:35:07.159 superior Sam, 00:35:07.259 --> 00:35:08.199 they are not people 00:35:08.199 --> 00:35:09.259 who are thankful 00:35:09.259 --> 00:35:10.379 when they fail 00:35:10.379 --> 00:35:11.699 or when they succeed. 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:15.119 But those who know 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:16.379 they're justified by faith, 00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:17.379 when their sins 00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:17.980 are revealed, 00:35:18.700 --> 00:35:19.460 when you show 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.019 that actually 00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:20.820 you've messed up 00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:22.340 and you've screwed up 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:23.900 in so many ways, 00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:25.740 and when others 00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:26.800 point it out to you, 00:35:27.059 --> 00:35:28.340 after the initial shock, 00:35:28.660 --> 00:35:29.440 you are thankful 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:31.619 because you realize, 00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:32.099 man, 00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:33.480 I am such a deep sinner, 00:35:34.039 --> 00:35:36.000 but isn't grace amazing? 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.940 Isn't it amazing 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:39.760 that in spite of who I am, 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:41.220 I'm totally accepted? 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.880 And you give thanks 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:45.200 because you've got 00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:45.960 nothing to prove. 00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:48.400 It's not your performance. 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:50.240 And when you succeed, 00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:50.820 you're thankful 00:35:50.820 --> 00:35:51.860 because you realize, 00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:54.880 I'm a broken sinner, 00:35:55.200 --> 00:35:56.740 but God would grace me 00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:59.340 with this amazing opportunity. 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.640 This is the gospel 00:36:01.640 --> 00:36:02.720 that Hong Kong needs. 00:36:03.400 --> 00:36:04.420 This is the gospel 00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:06.000 that we need to be sharing 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:07.960 with each other regularly. 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:09.980 It's not about you, 00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:10.699 it's about him. 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:14.340 It gives you humble confidence 00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:15.119 before him. 00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.380 He's amazing. 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:19.480 Let's live to glorify him. 00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.079 Let's pray. 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:29.719 Father, thank you 00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:31.679 that we see 00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:33.420 that in the cross, 00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:35.559 it liberates us. 00:36:36.380 --> 00:36:37.739 It liberates us 00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:38.719 from the fears 00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:39.759 that hold us back. 00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:41.199 We fear people finding out 00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:42.340 about what we're really like 00:36:42.340 --> 00:36:44.000 and what we've really done. 00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:47.259 And Lord, forgive me, 00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:47.900 forgive us 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.860 where we live behind 00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:50.200 so many masks. 00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.519 And thank you, Lord, 00:36:52.599 --> 00:36:53.880 that your word 00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:55.300 liberates us to see 00:36:55.300 --> 00:36:56.840 that we can be honest 00:36:56.840 --> 00:36:57.880 about who we are 00:36:57.880 --> 00:37:00.559 and we can just be delighting 00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:01.720 in who you are. 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:03.200 Please let that become 00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:04.980 so much more precious to us. 00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:07.140 Let that be a common language 00:37:07.140 --> 00:37:09.039 that we talk about regularly 00:37:09.039 --> 00:37:10.260 in our community groups, 00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:11.400 in our families, 00:37:11.700 --> 00:37:12.620 in our offices, 00:37:12.620 --> 00:37:14.340 that we proclaim the gospel, 00:37:15.180 --> 00:37:17.000 that it's only through you, 00:37:17.380 --> 00:37:18.360 only through your death, 00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:19.720 that we accept it. 00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:20.660 Amen.