WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.500 Well, good morning, church. Would you turn with me again to the book of Galatians chapter 2. 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:15.179 ! That's page 914 in the Pew Bible. We are going to be considering verses 17 through 21 in detail today. 00:00:15.780 --> 00:00:21.679 ! But for context, I'm going to read starting back in verse 11 so we can get the sweep of Paul's argument here. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:26.719 So that's Galatians chapter 2 starting in verse 11, and then I'll read to the end of the chapter. 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:31.000 Let me pray for us as we come to God's Word. 00:00:33.140 --> 00:00:38.259 Father, we ask that you would bless now the reading and the teaching of your Word. 00:00:39.519 --> 00:00:44.359 Lord, would the words of my mouth and the meditation of all of our hearts be 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:51.759 pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen. 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:55.159 All right, Galatians 2, 11 through 21. 00:00:56.099 --> 00:01:02.839 But when Cephas, that is Peter, came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. 00:01:03.619 --> 00:01:08.159 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles. But when they came, 00:01:08.219 --> 00:01:13.439 he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:17.780 hypocritically along with him so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:24.340 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:31.439 before them all, if you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:40.799 Gentiles to live like Jews? We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners. Yet we know that a 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:47.379 person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. So we also have 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:53.920 believed in Christ Jesus in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, 00:01:54.699 --> 00:02:04.459 because by works of the law, no one will be justified. But if in our endeavor to be justified 00:02:04.459 --> 00:02:15.019 in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not. 00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:24.879 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law, 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:34.699 I died to the law so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I 00:02:34.699 --> 00:02:41.560 who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:49.960 God who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God. For if righteousness 00:02:49.960 --> 00:03:01.620 were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. All right, so in verses 17 through 21, 00:03:01.740 --> 00:03:10.040 this last paragraph of chapter 2, Paul is answering one of the main objections to the gospel. 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:16.980 And this is an objection I'm wondering if you too might be feeling at this point in our study 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:23.879 of this book of Galatians. It's an objection most people feel when they really start to understand 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:28.979 the gospel. In fact, some have even suggested that if you don't feel the weight of this objection 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:35.500 yourself, if you don't start to ask this question in your mind, then maybe you don't quite see just 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:46.179 how radical the gospel message truly is. So what is this objection? Well, Paul lays it out in verse 17. 00:03:46.180 --> 00:03:50.300 He says, but if in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, 00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:59.939 is Christ then a servant of sin? Or we might say, does trusting in Christ alone for salvation mean 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:09.980 that we can live however we want? After all, Paul has just reminded Peter in verses 15 through 16 00:04:09.979 --> 00:04:19.699 that even they themselves as Jews who are not Gentile sinners, that they too have come to trust in Christ 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:28.099 alone in order to be declared in the right to be justified by God. Why? Because works of the law 00:04:28.099 --> 00:04:34.800 cannot justify anyone. So what does that mean about Peter and Paul as Jews? What does it mean 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:41.040 about all their law keeping, all of their Torah observance? Surely it must count for something, 00:04:41.139 --> 00:04:50.520 right? But no. As Paul says in verse 17, he says, we too were found to be sinners, 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:54.560 just like the Gentiles who didn't keep the law. 00:04:54.560 --> 00:05:01.339 In other words, Paul and Peter, even though they had done their best to keep the law, 00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:08.860 in Christ they now see that they're no better off than the Gentiles when it comes to being righteous 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:18.560 before God. Their law keeping, their Torah observance contributes nothing to the basis of 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:26.699 their justification. Their righteousness is found totally and completely in Jesus, the Messiah. 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:34.860 But here's where the objection comes in. If we are justified by faith in Christ alone, 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:41.160 then that means our works contribute nothing to the basis of our standing before God. 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:48.700 But if our works contribute nothing to our justification, then won't that just lead people 00:05:48.700 --> 00:05:55.060 to live lives of total moral indifference? Aren't we just giving people a free ticket 00:05:55.060 --> 00:06:00.700 to selfishness and self-indulgence? Aren't we making Christ a servant of sin? 00:06:01.960 --> 00:06:07.520 It's very interesting that the word servant here is the Greek word diakonos, which is where we get the 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:13.079 word deacon from, right? It literally means someone who waits on tables. It's a table servant in the 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:19.659 ancient world. So, Paul's saying something like, is Christ just serving up sin on a platter? 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:26.819 You're justified by grace through faith in Christ. Your works don't add a thing, so here you go. 00:06:27.599 --> 00:06:34.060 Have a giant steak of sin. Enjoy it. Or if you're a vegan, you can have the sin salad. No one's going 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:40.759 to judge you here because it doesn't matter what you do. So, this is the objection Paul was confronting. 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:45.360 And it's one of the main objections that the gospel will always face in every age, 00:06:46.060 --> 00:06:52.579 the objection that a gospel of justification by faith alone in Christ alone apart from works of 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:59.660 the law, the objection is that it just inevitably leads to antinomianism. In other words, it will just 00:06:59.660 --> 00:07:06.320 make people think that they have a license to sin. It will shut down any concern people have for living 00:07:06.320 --> 00:07:13.100 truly moral lives. So, the objection goes on to say justification then can't be by faith alone. 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:21.600 It must also be by our works. We have to keep the works of the law in some kind of central place, 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:30.060 right? I mean, the objection goes, surely our works must provide some basis for our justification, 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:40.340 right? Right? So, how does Paul respond to this objection? Well, he actually has three things to 00:07:40.340 --> 00:07:47.360 say in response. And, you know, this paragraph here and what we talked about last week, this is really 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:54.040 the thesis of Paul's whole letter of Galatians. And if you feel like things move at about a hundred 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:58.980 miles an hour in this part of Galatians, that's okay because Paul's going to unpack this in the rest 00:07:58.980 --> 00:08:03.879 of the letter. This is where he just lays it all out and then he's going to unfold it as we go. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:12.280 But tightly packed in here, Paul has three things very tightly to say in response to this objection. 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:19.159 In fact, he's going to argue that this sort of objection to the gospel actually suffers from a 00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:25.899 deep misunderstanding of three things. In short, Paul's going to say, if you think that you have 00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:34.120 to put works of the law back into your justification in order to uphold moral living, then you don't 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:41.939 truly understand the law, and you don't truly understand faith, and you definitely don't 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:48.840 understand the cross. So let's look at each one of those. First, Paul says, you don't truly understand 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:54.840 the law. More specifically, you don't understand the purpose of the law. Look again at verse 18. 00:08:54.980 --> 00:08:59.900 Paul says, if I rebuild what I tore down, what's he talking about here? Well, most likely he's talking 00:08:59.900 --> 00:09:05.080 about the law of Moses. There's a nice parallel passage in Ephesians 2 where Paul talks about 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:11.740 a dividing wall that has come crashing down in Christ, not just a wall that divided sinful humans 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:18.200 from God, but a wall that divided Jews from Gentiles. Jews who had the law of Moses, who lived within God's 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:23.159 covenant promises, and Gentiles who were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to 00:09:23.159 --> 00:09:27.740 the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. In Christ, Paul says, 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:34.600 this wall that divided them has come down, and the two have become one. So the law of Moses now 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:41.139 no longer defines the people of God. It's not what reconciles us together to God. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:48.960 Its function has ceased. Christ has brought the law of Moses to its climax, to its fulfillment, 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:51.480 and begun a new era of salvation history. 00:09:53.899 --> 00:10:00.259 But in verse 18 here, Paul says, well, let's say I do what these agitators in Galatia are 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:08.200 recommending. Let's say we rebuild the law of Moses. Let's build it back up. Put that wall back in place. 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:18.120 What do we achieve? Well, Paul says, here's what we achieve. If I rebuild what I tore down, 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.899 I just prove myself to be a transgressor. 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:32.240 What is the true function and real purpose of the Mosaic law? Does the law make us holy? 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:41.079 Does the law make us morally upright people? Does the law give us the ability to stop sinning? 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:53.840 No, Paul says. The law doesn't have the power to do any of those things. Here's what the law really does. 00:10:54.920 --> 00:11:03.540 It proves that we are transgressors. It shows us that we're sinners. Yes, the moral law shows us 00:11:03.540 --> 00:11:09.100 something of God's character, and it shows us how as humans we ought to live. But in showing us how we 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:18.399 ought to live, we see how far we fall short. So, if you think that you need to put the works of the law 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:25.379 back into justification, think again, Paul says. But a law can't make you good. 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:34.139 It will only show you how much you need a Savior. And Paul presses that point even deeper in verse 19. 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:40.779 He says, for through the law, I died to the law so that I might live to God. When Paul says, 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:46.980 I died to the law, he means that he died to the law as the basis of his justification. He died 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:53.960 to law-keeping, to Torah observance as a way of securing a righteous verdict before God. 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:59.679 And how did that come about? Paul says that he died to the law through the law itself. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:09.599 If you take the law seriously, you begin to realize that sinful humans cannot keep it. 00:12:11.839 --> 00:12:17.379 The false teachers in Galatia were really big on circumcision, right? They were probably also 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:23.379 pretty big on the food laws, most likely on Sabbath observance too. It seems that they stressed the 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:29.000 outward markers of the Mosaic law. But Paul says later in this letter that, look, if you accept 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:34.019 circumcision on those terms as your righteousness before God, you have to keep the whole law in order 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:39.299 to be righteous. You can't pick and choose. You can't just pick the bits of the law you think you 00:12:39.299 --> 00:12:46.519 can keep and then say, look, I'm justifying myself, and then ignore the rest. No, Paul says, when you 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:56.379 really feel the weight of the law's demands, when you really see that God requires perfect righteousness, 00:12:57.819 --> 00:13:04.120 then you start to see that human law-keeping can never be a means of salvation. 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:14.360 through the law. I died to the law, Paul says. But then surprisingly, he adds, so that I might live to God. 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:21.820 You see, it's only when Paul stopped trying to justify himself through the works of the law 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:27.040 that he finally and truly began to live for God. 00:13:29.540 --> 00:13:38.620 Do you see what he's saying here? He's saying, who was I really living for when I was thinking that my 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:44.560 own Torah observance would gain me a righteous verdict from God's throne? Who was I living for when I thought 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:52.099 that I could construct my own righteousness through these observances? Who was I living for? For God? 00:13:53.779 --> 00:14:02.439 No! He was living for himself. This obedience wasn't really done for God. It was done to get something 00:14:02.439 --> 00:14:11.119 from God. You see, here's the great irony. If we think we have to put the law back into our justification 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:16.879 in order to preserve moral living, we accomplish the very opposite. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:23.860 It doesn't make us live for God more. It makes us live for God less. 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:34.440 People are not fun and all-around not fun people. Why? 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:40.519 Because if we don't get the gospel of grace, we're living for ourselves. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:48.279 We're working really hard to keep ourselves looking good so that our sense of self doesn't collapse. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:52.560 But of course, it's not just religious people who do this, right? 00:14:53.899 --> 00:15:01.240 Everybody does this. Everybody does it. If my works are the basis of my identity and my life, 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:09.080 right, if I'm looking at something I am or I do or I've constructed to be my identity, to be my life, 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:16.320 to be my righteousness, then I'm inevitably going to be proud when I'm doing good. 00:15:17.520 --> 00:15:18.240 Look at me. 00:15:20.040 --> 00:15:22.300 Or I'm going to be depressed when I'm not doing good. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.480 Woe is me. 00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:27.280 And nearly all of the time, 00:15:27.280 --> 00:15:30.620 I'm going to be deeply hypocritical. 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:32.940 Why? 00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:36.440 Because I have to pick and choose. 00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:38.060 I have to pick and choose. 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:46.100 The fallen human heart knows that it can't possibly be completely moral, completely righteous. 00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:48.679 So we pick something we're good at, 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:51.360 make that the really important thing, 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:53.560 and then downplay or disregard the rest. 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:58.679 And then, because I may be naturally inclined to be a little bit better in this one area, 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:02.099 I cast myself as the morally superior one. 00:16:02.479 --> 00:16:03.579 I've got it all together. 00:16:05.619 --> 00:16:07.719 But if you were to look at my whole life, 00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:12.439 you'd see that I'm not better than anyone else. 00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:16.859 In fact, I don't even live up to my own standards, 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.619 let alone God's. 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:26.679 Friend, do you really want to live? 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:30.419 Do you want to really live? 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:33.460 To live not for yourself, 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:34.720 but for God. 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:38.700 To live free of hypocrisy and self-centeredness 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:40.519 and the endless circles of pride 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:42.519 and self-loathing that come 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:44.100 when you base your identity 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:45.560 on your own performance? 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:49.179 If you really want to live, 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:52.779 then you have to die to the law. 00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:56.719 You have to die to the idea 00:16:56.719 --> 00:16:59.859 that your law-keeping will put you right with God 00:16:59.859 --> 00:17:01.379 and make you acceptable to Him. 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:04.440 You have to die to the idea 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:07.879 that your identity can be founded on anything in you. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:13.559 That's the first misunderstanding that Paul clears up. 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.200 The purpose of the law. 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:18.899 We see the second one in verse 20. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:21.639 Now remember, Paul's responding to the objection 00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:23.779 that the gospel of justification 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:25.480 by faith alone in Christ alone 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:27.079 will make people morally lazy. 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.559 It'll give them a license to sin. 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.799 That's what he's responding to. 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:32.339 But this objection isn't just working 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:33.859 with a faulty view of the law. 00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:38.059 It also deeply misunderstands the nature of faith. 00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:40.579 So in verse 20, Paul goes on to say, 00:17:40.679 --> 00:17:42.419 if you think you have to put works of the law 00:17:42.419 --> 00:17:43.899 back into your justification 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:45.980 in order to uphold moral living, 00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:48.640 not only do you not understand 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.840 the true purpose of the law, 00:17:50.840 --> 00:17:52.640 you also don't understand 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:56.460 the transforming power of faith. 00:17:56.460 --> 00:18:02.000 You don't understand the transforming power of faith. 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:03.420 Look again at verse 20. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.559 Paul says, 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:09.380 I have been crucified with Christ. 00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:12.860 It is no longer I who live, 00:18:13.540 --> 00:18:15.360 but Christ who lives in me. 00:18:16.120 --> 00:18:18.880 And the life I now live in the flesh, 00:18:19.300 --> 00:18:21.360 I live by faith in the Son of God 00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:24.940 who loved me and gave himself for me. 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:28.200 You see, 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:31.360 when someone truly comes to understand 00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:33.279 who Jesus is 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:35.500 and what Jesus has done, 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:38.340 when they realize that they can't save themselves 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:41.039 and that they're dead before the law, 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.820 when they repent 00:18:42.820 --> 00:18:45.480 and turn from trusting in their own self 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.920 and their own goodness 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.680 and their own moral efforts, 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.500 when they repent of all the things 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.940 they made their identity, 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:57.339 and when they place their faith 00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:59.819 in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus, 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:02.099 that is when they trust Him 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:03.420 and Him alone 00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.759 for righteousness, 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.000 life, and salvation, 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:09.099 when that happens, 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:12.319 they are no longer 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.039 the same old person. 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:17.980 They are united to Christ. 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:22.160 Their old self dies with Christ 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.279 in His crucifixion. 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:26.279 Their new self rises with Christ 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:27.279 in His resurrection. 00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:30.160 That's why, by the way, 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:33.599 the very first public act of faith 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:34.480 for a Christian, 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:39.360 their very first public act 00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:41.819 is to publicly identify 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:43.240 with Christ and His church 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.920 through what? 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:44.960 Baptism. 00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:47.079 Why baptism? 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:49.699 Why is that the first public act of faith? 00:19:50.639 --> 00:19:52.919 Because baptism is symbolic 00:19:52.919 --> 00:19:53.839 of when a believer, 00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:56.119 when they go underwater 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.480 and come back up again, 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:59.179 it's symbolic that they've died 00:19:59.179 --> 00:20:00.500 and risen with Christ. 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:06.059 The old eye, 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:08.939 the eye that wanted to build 00:20:08.939 --> 00:20:09.799 its own righteousness, 00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:11.539 the eye that put its identity 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.399 in its own record, 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.259 its own accomplishments, 00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:14.939 the eye that thought God 00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:15.919 would owe it something 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:17.360 if it kept its end of the bargain. 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:20.080 That eye was crucified with Christ. 00:20:20.560 --> 00:20:21.960 That eye no longer lives. 00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:24.580 That eye actually deserved to die. 00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:26.180 It deserved to be put in the grave. 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:28.740 And united to Christ by faith, 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.759 it has died, 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:32.160 and it is left in the grave. 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:36.539 But even though that eye 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.820 has died, 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.640 crucified with Christ, 00:20:40.120 --> 00:20:40.480 sentenced, 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.039 condemned, 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:41.560 buried, 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:43.379 even though that eye 00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:44.279 is now dead, 00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:46.179 there's a new eye. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.200 Paul goes on to say, 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:52.059 the life I now live 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.960 in the flesh, 00:20:54.419 --> 00:20:57.039 a new eye has risen. 00:20:58.399 --> 00:21:01.299 And how does this new eye live? 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.980 Does it live for itself anymore? 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:07.819 Does it live for sin? 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.360 Does it thrash about 00:21:10.360 --> 00:21:11.980 trying to find a secure spot 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:13.140 to place its identity 00:21:13.140 --> 00:21:14.599 in family, 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.940 or in sports, 00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:16.799 or in academics, 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.819 or in career, 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:19.360 or in moral performance? 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:23.180 What is this new eye? 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:26.759 How does this new eye live its life? 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.039 What fuels it? 00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:29.140 What sustains it? 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.380 What secures it? 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:34.700 The life I now live 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.340 in the flesh, 00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:37.760 I live by faith 00:21:37.760 --> 00:21:39.420 in the Son of God 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:41.480 who loved me 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:44.080 and gave himself for me. 00:21:46.320 --> 00:21:47.440 You see, a Christian 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.160 is someone 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:50.240 who is in a vital, 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:53.260 relational union 00:21:53.260 --> 00:21:54.740 of trust 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:56.740 with the risen Lord Jesus. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:59.820 There's a whole new center 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.159 to your life, 00:22:01.379 --> 00:22:02.259 and that center 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.359 is not a thing, 00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:04.819 and it's not an object, 00:22:05.179 --> 00:22:06.480 and it's not a job, 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:08.000 and it's not a project, 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.980 and it's not an aspiration. 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:11.539 It's not a series 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.220 of good deeds 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.099 done or undone. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.399 No, the new center 00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:14.839 of your life 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.639 is a person. 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.899 And what of this person? 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.419 Who is he? 00:22:23.419 --> 00:22:25.220 He's the very Son of God. 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:27.259 God from God, 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.059 light from light, 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:31.200 the eternal Son of the Father, 00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:33.500 become flesh for us, 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:36.139 Israel's Messiah, 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:38.399 the world's true Lord. 00:22:39.659 --> 00:22:41.859 And what has this Son of God done? 00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:45.099 He loved me 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:47.960 and gave himself for me. 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:52.519 His self-donation in love, 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:54.599 his self-giving on the cross, 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:56.939 that was for you. 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:02.419 How stupid it is 00:23:02.419 --> 00:23:03.919 to think 00:23:03.919 --> 00:23:06.000 that someone can say, 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.319 the Son of God 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:08.039 loved me 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.319 and gave himself for me, 00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:11.199 and then say, 00:23:11.639 --> 00:23:13.019 if you believe that, 00:23:13.179 --> 00:23:13.980 you're just going to go out 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.419 and sin. 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:18.199 That is the stupidest 00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:18.859 line of reasoning 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:19.699 of all time. 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.980 You don't understand 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:22.219 the gospel at all. 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.759 You don't understand 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:25.019 what it means to say, 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.240 the Son of God 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.220 loved me, 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.640 loved me 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.799 in all my sin 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.519 and in all my selfishness, 00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:33.519 in all my rightly deserved 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.860 condemnation and death, 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:36.200 loved me 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:39.299 and gave himself for me. 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.759 Gave himself. 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:43.200 No one forced him. 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.640 No one demanded 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.539 that he do it. 00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.339 Jesus gave himself 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:47.980 freely, 00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.079 generously, 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.160 willingly, 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.340 eagerly. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.600 He gave himself 00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:56.560 for me, 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:57.640 for you. 00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:00.120 On the cross, 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:02.580 it was for you, 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:04.759 for your sin, 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:07.440 for your condemnation, 00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:08.580 for your death, 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.660 for your hell. 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.220 That's who 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:15.519 I am united to 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.200 in faith, 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:18.100 the King of love, 00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:20.419 who died my death 00:24:20.419 --> 00:24:21.599 and bore my curse 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.879 and suffered my hell 00:24:22.879 --> 00:24:24.439 so that I can live 00:24:24.439 --> 00:24:25.639 and live forever, 00:24:26.959 --> 00:24:28.079 so that I can share 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:28.779 his righteousness, 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.419 life, 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.679 and eternal joy 00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:31.679 now and forever. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:33.639 You see, 00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.519 in faith, 00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:36.639 we flee to Christ 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:38.000 and are united to him 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.119 so that we can be 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.339 done with sin, 00:24:40.459 --> 00:24:41.079 so that we can be 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.500 done with the old nature, 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.159 so that we can be 00:24:43.159 --> 00:24:44.839 done with the old 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:46.619 present evil age, 00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:47.359 as Paul says 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:47.779 in the opening 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.379 of this book. 00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:51.559 We go to Christ 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.359 in union with him 00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:52.919 so that we can 00:24:52.919 --> 00:24:54.519 be done with sin. 00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:56.659 Think of it this way. 00:24:57.739 --> 00:24:58.759 Why do you go, 00:24:58.959 --> 00:24:59.859 why do you go 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.979 to an oncologist? 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.779 You go to an oncologist 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.919 so that you can be 00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:07.019 done with cancer, 00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:07.399 right? 00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:10.119 And no one 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:10.819 who is done 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.719 with cancer says, 00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.079 you know, 00:25:12.939 --> 00:25:13.579 what am I going to do today? 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:14.979 I'm going to go out 00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.940 and get me some more cancer. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.680 Just so. 00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:21.740 Friends, 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:23.579 when we flee to Christ, 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.860 we do so because 00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:27.019 we want to be done 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.599 with sin 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.740 and so that we can 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.880 live in his love. 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:33.799 And that is exactly 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.640 what happens. 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:37.000 The old self 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.339 that loves sin 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:40.640 is crucified with him. 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:42.680 And the new self 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:45.520 that is fueled 00:25:45.520 --> 00:25:46.620 by his love 00:25:46.620 --> 00:25:48.300 is raised with him. 00:25:50.120 --> 00:25:50.820 Now, of course, 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.360 as Christians, 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.259 we will continue 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.980 to be tempted 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.940 by sin, right? 00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:55.940 We will even at times 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:56.780 give in to that 00:25:56.780 --> 00:25:57.800 temptation of sin. 00:25:58.660 --> 00:26:00.340 But united to Christ, 00:26:01.040 --> 00:26:02.980 we no longer love sin. 00:26:04.980 --> 00:26:06.740 It's lost its taste. 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:11.279 And united to Christ, 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.880 we now have the power, 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:14.819 the power that the law 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:16.120 could never give us 00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:17.960 to turn from sin 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.740 and walk more 00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.640 and more in holiness. 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:23.700 And what is that power? 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:25.940 Is it the power 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.819 of a demand, 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.940 do this or else? 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:28.960 No. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:31.460 Paul says it's the power 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.740 of his love. 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:36.039 He loved me 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:38.099 and gave himself for me. 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:41.420 When that truth 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.519 becomes real 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.400 to your heart, 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.759 when the Holy Spirit 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:47.359 awakens your faith 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.640 to that reality, 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:52.259 sin loses its power. 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:54.559 And the heart longs 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:56.059 to live no longer 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:56.859 for itself, 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.359 but for God. 00:26:58.359 --> 00:27:02.299 There's one more 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.879 understanding 00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:04.379 that Paul addresses here. 00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.159 Not just about 00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:07.039 the purpose of the law 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:07.899 or the power of faith, 00:27:07.979 --> 00:27:08.459 but lastly, 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.799 it's about the magnitude 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:11.579 of the cross. 00:27:12.699 --> 00:27:13.559 The magnitude 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.119 of the cross. 00:27:14.219 --> 00:27:14.879 Look again with me 00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.500 at verse 21. 00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:16.019 Paul says, 00:27:16.419 --> 00:27:17.479 I do not nullify 00:27:17.479 --> 00:27:18.519 the grace of God. 00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:19.439 Apparently, 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.019 there were people 00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.819 accusing Paul 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:22.399 in preaching justification 00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:23.059 by faith alone 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.639 of nullifying God's grace, 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.699 of making God's grace 00:27:25.699 --> 00:27:26.939 meaningless in their life. 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:27.939 But Paul says, 00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.759 I do not nullify 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.539 the grace of God. 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.059 For if righteousness, 00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:32.600 that is justification, 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:33.580 if righteousness 00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:34.700 were through the law, 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.940 then Christ died 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:38.019 for no purpose. 00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.240 You know, 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.840 it's very easy 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.519 to believe 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:42.900 in a version 00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.720 of Christianity 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:45.039 or so-called Christianity 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.740 that goes something 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.340 like this. 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.920 God does His part. 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.779 God provides you 00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.500 with some grace. 00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.080 God provides you 00:27:54.080 --> 00:27:55.019 with some fresh start. 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.539 He even puts 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.340 His Spirit in you. 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.299 But if you want 00:27:59.299 --> 00:27:59.920 to be justified, 00:28:00.840 --> 00:28:01.779 if you want to maintain 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.960 that friendship with God, 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:04.600 then you have to do 00:28:04.600 --> 00:28:05.100 your part. 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:07.220 You have to cooperate 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.019 with this grace. 00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:09.660 You have to get to work 00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:10.779 alongside this grace. 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.380 You have to live 00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:13.200 a righteous life. 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.320 And on the basis 00:28:14.320 --> 00:28:15.200 of that life 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.039 that you live, 00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:18.039 on the righteousness 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.940 you perform, 00:28:19.820 --> 00:28:20.840 through your effort 00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:21.980 in concert 00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.799 with God's grace, 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:22.859 grace, 00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:25.919 then God will justify you. 00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:27.940 Maybe, 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:30.379 if you've cooperated enough. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.299 But in the face 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:37.039 of all such thinking, 00:28:38.159 --> 00:28:39.759 the Bible holds up 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:42.180 the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:46.480 If God could save you 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:48.940 by giving you some grace 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:51.180 so that through your law-keeping 00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:52.539 you could justify yourself, 00:28:53.340 --> 00:28:55.060 if God could just 00:28:55.060 --> 00:28:56.440 give you a push, 00:28:56.620 --> 00:28:57.420 give you a boost, 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.299 so that you could then 00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:00.200 become the forger 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:01.160 of your own righteousness, 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:03.320 if all that were possible, 00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.480 Paul simply says, 00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:09.200 then why did the Son of God 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.980 need to be crucified? 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:15.940 If the law was enough, 00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:18.500 why did He have to die? 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.120 In fact, 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.599 if the law was enough, 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:25.039 then His gruesome death 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:26.279 on a Roman cross 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:28.539 was utterly pointless. 00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:32.259 It was gratuitous violence. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.559 Nothing else. 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.799 But when you see 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:39.599 the magnitude of the cross, 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:41.899 when you, 00:29:42.399 --> 00:29:43.519 it is then, 00:29:43.699 --> 00:29:44.319 when you see 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:46.219 the magnitude of the cross, 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:47.659 then you realize 00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:50.359 that law-keeping 00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.839 of any kind, 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.179 whether that pure 00:29:54.179 --> 00:29:56.599 sort of Pelagian legalism 00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:58.779 or some sort of 00:29:58.779 --> 00:30:00.819 semi-Pelagian cooperation, 00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:03.039 that could never be 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.659 the basis 00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:04.959 of our justification. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:08.180 any such thinking 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.420 is an offense 00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:11.200 to the cost 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:12.620 and the achievement 00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.960 of the cross. 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:16.140 At the cross, 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:17.900 the curse of sin 00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:20.400 was dealt out in full 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:22.200 so that the blessing 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:23.059 of righteousness 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:24.799 might be given in full 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:27.680 to all 00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:29.779 who turn 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:31.539 and trust in Christ. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.019 No 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:34.659 cooperation 00:30:34.659 --> 00:30:36.059 necessary. 00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:38.279 Now, 00:30:38.399 --> 00:30:39.019 do good works 00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:40.200 flow from our union 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.799 with Christ? 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.379 Of course, 00:30:41.740 --> 00:30:42.019 yes. 00:30:42.419 --> 00:30:43.579 That's what Galatians 2.20 00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.079 is all about. 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.779 But will those good works 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.460 be the basis 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.279 of your justification 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:48.119 before God? 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.119 No! 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:51.439 The cross of Christ 00:30:51.439 --> 00:30:52.739 has already won 00:30:52.739 --> 00:30:53.399 your verdict. 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.239 Your sins 00:30:55.239 --> 00:30:56.259 have been condemned 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:58.319 and by the righteousness 00:30:58.319 --> 00:30:58.959 of Jesus 00:30:58.959 --> 00:30:59.759 with whom you are 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.639 united by faith, 00:31:00.719 --> 00:31:02.119 you've been pronounced, 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.019 accepted, 00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:04.099 loved, 00:31:04.439 --> 00:31:05.019 and righteous 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.799 forevermore. 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.179 Do you see 00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:07.319 what justification is? 00:31:08.219 --> 00:31:08.779 Justification 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.839 is the verdict 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:11.339 of the end 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:13.139 come crashing 00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:13.979 into the present 00:31:13.979 --> 00:31:14.719 and pronounced 00:31:14.719 --> 00:31:15.419 over your life 00:31:15.419 --> 00:31:16.159 now. 00:31:17.679 --> 00:31:18.659 When God, 00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.320 the judge 00:31:19.320 --> 00:31:20.300 of all things 00:31:20.300 --> 00:31:21.940 pronounces His judgment, 00:31:22.300 --> 00:31:23.440 what will that verdict 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:24.800 be over your life? 00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:26.519 Paul says 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.400 you can know 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.300 what that verdict is 00:31:28.300 --> 00:31:29.440 right now 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:31.060 because justification 00:31:31.060 --> 00:31:32.140 means it comes in 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:32.720 now 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.840 into the present 00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:34.440 and says 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.700 what if you're in Christ? 00:31:36.840 --> 00:31:37.840 You're forgiven 00:31:37.840 --> 00:31:40.000 and you're mine 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:41.480 and you're righteous. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.279 Friend, 00:31:46.080 --> 00:31:46.840 do you see 00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:47.620 the magnitude 00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:49.639 of the cross 00:31:49.639 --> 00:31:50.319 of Christ? 00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:52.379 It cleanses 00:31:52.379 --> 00:31:53.039 every sin. 00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:55.379 It silences 00:31:55.379 --> 00:31:56.699 every accusation. 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:59.059 It fulfills 00:31:59.059 --> 00:32:00.359 every precept 00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:01.039 of the law. 00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.339 It ends 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.059 the age 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:05.019 of sin and death. 00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.779 It inaugurates 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.739 the new creation. 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:13.160 Now to live 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:15.900 as if that's true. 00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.599 That's our task. 00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:20.180 Don't go back 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:20.900 to the law 00:32:20.900 --> 00:32:22.319 as if you needed 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:23.339 to complete something 00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:25.059 of what Christ 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.980 has already finished 00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.839 as if you needed 00:32:26.839 --> 00:32:27.660 to now somehow 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.400 save yourself. 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:28.759 No! 00:32:29.319 --> 00:32:30.319 Christ has died. 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:32.019 Christ has risen. 00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:33.339 Now Paul says 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:34.120 go forward. 00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:34.259 Go forward. 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.579 Go forward 00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:38.259 as people 00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:39.539 of the new creation 00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:40.619 that you are. 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:42.339 Go forward 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:43.199 in love. 00:32:44.399 --> 00:32:45.159 Go forward, 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:45.599 yes, 00:32:45.699 --> 00:32:46.259 and fulfill 00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:47.299 God's commands. 00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:48.799 Not because 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.799 you need to save yourself 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.359 but because 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:51.399 Christ has already 00:32:51.399 --> 00:32:51.959 saved you 00:32:51.959 --> 00:32:52.759 and loved you 00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.319 and freed you 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:53.879 from sin. 00:32:54.659 --> 00:32:55.659 Run in the path 00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:56.399 of His commands 00:32:56.399 --> 00:32:57.439 because He set 00:32:57.439 --> 00:32:58.159 your heart free. 00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:01.040 love because 00:33:01.040 --> 00:33:02.220 He first loved you 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:03.740 and gave Himself 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.279 for you. 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:07.640 You are justified 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.980 totally and freely 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:10.360 by His self-giving love 00:33:10.360 --> 00:33:11.620 through faith alone. 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:15.279 Is Christ 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:16.000 then a servant 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.700 of sin? 00:33:18.920 --> 00:33:19.940 Certainly not, 00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:20.560 Paul says. 00:33:21.320 --> 00:33:22.320 Certainly not. 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.880 Let's pray. 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:24.580 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:24.580 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:24.580 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:24.580 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:24.580 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:24.580 00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:24.580 00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:33.860 Father, 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:34.740 we take just a moment 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.519 and pause 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:37.480 before You. 00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:38.180 Lord, 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:39.240 our lives are very busy. 00:33:40.560 --> 00:33:41.700 They're full of distraction 00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.300 and worries 00:33:42.300 --> 00:33:42.960 and cares. 00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:45.300 But in this moment 00:33:45.300 --> 00:33:46.019 as we sit 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.580 before 00:33:46.580 --> 00:33:48.080 the magnitude 00:33:48.080 --> 00:33:49.000 of the cross 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:51.200 and the deep 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.519 mysterious wonder 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.040 and joy 00:33:53.040 --> 00:33:53.680 of our union 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.259 with You, 00:33:54.259 --> 00:33:57.059 O Lord, 00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:58.379 help us again 00:33:58.379 --> 00:34:01.240 to experience 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:01.819 the goodness 00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.720 of these things, 00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.339 the power 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:05.000 of these things, 00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:05.660 the joy 00:34:05.660 --> 00:34:06.539 of these things. 00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:10.139 Lord, 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.579 for those 00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.219 who've been 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.780 contemplating You 00:34:12.780 --> 00:34:14.159 and contemplating 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.639 the gospel 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:15.760 but not sure yet 00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:16.659 where they stand 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.159 with You, 00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:19.440 Holy Spirit, 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.519 open their eyes 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:23.820 to what is true 00:34:23.820 --> 00:34:25.700 here 00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:27.780 that Christ, 00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.700 the Son of God, 00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:31.080 loved me 00:34:31.080 --> 00:34:31.800 and gave Himself 00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:32.360 for me. 00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:33.320 Would that 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:35.760 great affirmation 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.880 rise in the hearts 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.580 of all of us 00:34:37.580 --> 00:34:38.320 here this morning 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:41.740 and help us 00:34:41.740 --> 00:34:42.600 to live lives 00:34:42.600 --> 00:34:43.559 of new creation, 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:44.019 joy, 00:34:44.120 --> 00:34:44.539 and holiness 00:34:44.539 --> 00:34:45.300 as a result. 00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:46.600 Amen. 00:34:46.600 --> 00:34:46.740 Amen.