WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:07.960 Now, can you turn in your Bibles to the book of Galatians, chapter 2? I'm going to read from verse 11 to 21. 00:00:08.339 --> 00:00:16.480 We're looking at this letter as a church, seeing how Paul time and again says to his readers, 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:20.359 there is no other gospel other than the gospel of grace. 00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:28.000 And here in this section, he speaks to Peter and he speaks to us saying, keep in line with the gospel. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:31.820 So Galatians 2 and at verse 11. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:59.320 Barnabas was led astray. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:05.859 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, 00:01:06.260 --> 00:01:10.040 you're a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:14.099 How is it then that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 00:01:15.099 --> 00:01:21.180 We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners know that a man is not justified by observing the law, 00:01:21.180 --> 00:01:23.260 but by faith in Jesus Christ. 00:01:23.980 --> 00:01:31.240 So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law. 00:01:31.660 --> 00:01:35.000 Because by observing the law, no one will be justified. 00:01:35.540 --> 00:01:41.040 If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:43.340 does that mean that Christ promotes sin? 00:01:43.980 --> 00:01:45.080 Absolutely not. 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:49.620 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:54.679 For through the law, I died to the law so that I might live for God. 00:01:55.239 --> 00:02:01.239 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 00:02:01.780 --> 00:02:10.520 The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:13.880 I do not set aside the grace of God. 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:20.260 For if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:22.280 Amen. 00:02:23.100 --> 00:02:28.439 So keeping in line with the gospel or keeping our gospel balance, 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:30.500 that's what we're thinking about this morning. 00:02:30.580 --> 00:02:36.100 I don't know whether you are one of those people that finds balance naturally an easy or a hard thing. 00:02:36.099 --> 00:02:46.219 Having taught two boys to ride bikes, I developed something of a mantra as they were getting started to help them with their balance. 00:02:46.799 --> 00:02:51.099 Tell them to get their eyes up and look straight ahead as quickly as possible. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:55.139 Because that was key for balance rather than veering off one way or the other. 00:02:55.359 --> 00:02:56.859 And it was really important for safety. 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:01.780 Because when you're on narrow paths and you've got cars on one side and you've got people and you've got bins 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:07.960 and you've got holly bushes on the other side, you really want to be able to go on that straight path. 00:03:08.140 --> 00:03:09.500 Balance is important. 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:13.199 Following the right path is safety. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:18.860 And that brings us to what Paul is talking about to Peter and to the others gathered. 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:22.240 In verse 14, he confronts Peter and says, 00:03:22.780 --> 00:03:26.599 you're not acting in line with the truth of the gospel. 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:36.099 So his idea is the gospel is a straight path to walk on, but it's possible even for Christians to veer off that. 00:03:36.979 --> 00:03:42.099 The word that Paul uses is the word ortho, which we recognize from orthopedics, 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:47.599 where people align our skeletal system or an orthodontist, where people straighten teeth. 00:03:48.379 --> 00:03:53.620 Galatians is a book all about laying out the straight path of the gospel. 00:03:53.620 --> 00:03:59.620 So let's just remind ourselves what we have discovered about that so far. 00:03:59.700 --> 00:04:01.980 We've discovered that it's good news. 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:06.759 And it's good news that comes from Paul directly from Jesus. 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:10.060 So when he brings the gospel of grace, it comes from Jesus. 00:04:10.200 --> 00:04:11.540 He tells us that in chapter 1. 00:04:12.580 --> 00:04:17.360 Part of that good news invites us to reflect honestly on ourselves. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:24.620 So Paul will say that we are sinners, that we are lost and we are unable to rescue ourselves. 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:30.560 That before a holy God, we stand guilty and condemned before him. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:38.300 Which sounds like bad news, except for the fact that God has made it possible for us to be accepted, 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:44.939 despite all of our sin, because of his great grace and goodness towards us. 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:53.259 That Paul says because of Jesus' death on the cross, because he's come to live perfectly when we couldn't, 00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:58.220 and because he's come to die as the perfect sacrifice in our place for our sins, 00:04:58.300 --> 00:05:01.159 it is possible for us to be accepted by God. 00:05:01.699 --> 00:05:06.459 Not because of our merit, not because of our law-keeping, not because of our religious performance, 00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:10.459 purely because of God's grace in Jesus. 00:05:11.339 --> 00:05:13.879 So that's the straight path of the gospel. 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:17.719 But this passage shows us there's two ways that we can veer off that. 00:05:18.659 --> 00:05:27.000 The first is Peter's error, where we see him implying the need for extra laws in order to be accepted by God, 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:29.199 sometimes known as legalism. 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:33.100 You need to do certain things in order for God to accept you. 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:37.740 Or the accusation from verse 17 onwards of Paul's opponents, 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:40.860 that preaching the gospel of grace will lead to lawlessness. 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:43.580 So there's this other way to get off the gospel. 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:46.960 It's like, Jesus saved me so I can do whatever I want. 00:05:47.460 --> 00:05:50.900 That's the mindset that some people had when they heard Paul's teaching. 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:54.800 And the answer to both of these mistakes is the gospel of grace. 00:05:54.900 --> 00:06:00.259 It's the straight path that stops us from falling into either of these ditches. 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:05.539 So Paul is going to speak to Peter about stuff that he knows. 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:08.379 He's going to remind him about gospel balance. 00:06:08.379 --> 00:06:14.199 So I want to just draw three different things that Paul invites us to remember. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:19.740 Firstly, remember that hypocrisy is horrible. 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:25.379 And when we think about the confrontation that happens in verse 11 to 14, 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:28.160 we see the danger of hypocrisy. 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:31.860 Quick recap, because some of us weren't here last week. 00:06:31.960 --> 00:06:37.139 In Galatians chapter 2, verses 1 to 10, we've got a meeting that happens in Jerusalem. 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:41.400 Paul and Barnabas and Titus go and they meet Peter and James and John, 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:45.620 the pillars of the church, and they come to agreement on what is the gospel. 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:49.899 So they shake hands on this reality that you're accepted by God 00:06:49.899 --> 00:06:52.759 through putting your faith in the Lord Jesus alone. 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:54.120 You don't need anything else. 00:06:54.259 --> 00:06:55.720 Gentile people don't need to become Jewish. 00:06:55.780 --> 00:06:56.959 So they agree to that. 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:02.399 And one of the implications of that is that then it's possible to enjoy sharing meal, 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:06.980 having fellowship, sitting down at a table with any other believer, 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:08.560 regardless of their background. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.860 So they have shaken hands on that. 00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:15.160 But now Peter and his friends have returned to Antioch. 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:16.840 Paul and his friends have returned to Antioch. 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:20.620 Peter comes to visit, and now there's confrontation. 00:07:21.520 --> 00:07:27.820 Let's see why, verse 11, let's see why Paul has to oppose Peter to his faith. 00:07:28.880 --> 00:07:33.120 In verse 12, we read, before certain men came from James, 00:07:33.900 --> 00:07:36.060 Peter used to eat with the Gentiles. 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:38.100 Okay, so that was the situation. 00:07:38.400 --> 00:07:41.660 He understood the gospel gives me this freedom to say, 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:43.020 we're all one in Christ Jesus. 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:46.120 It doesn't matter what your background is, so they're having meals together. 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:52.319 But then, when people came from James, from Jerusalem, 00:07:52.799 --> 00:07:57.000 he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles. 00:07:57.079 --> 00:08:00.799 So now this other group comes, and he begins to feel pressure. 00:08:01.479 --> 00:08:02.740 What will they think of me? 00:08:02.799 --> 00:08:05.740 What will they think of me sitting down to eat with these people in this way? 00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:07.060 So he draws back. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:11.680 So now you've got a situation where it's Jews over here and it's Gentiles over here. 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:13.800 And we're told why he does that. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:19.780 End of verse 12, he does it because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 00:08:19.939 --> 00:08:21.199 So we've met these guys before. 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:24.279 They're religious leaders, sometimes known as Judaizers. 00:08:24.699 --> 00:08:29.540 They've got this slogan, unless a person is circumcised and keeps the ceremonial laws of Moses, 00:08:29.620 --> 00:08:30.819 they cannot be saved. 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:34.639 Peter's had trouble and hassle from these guys before, 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:40.299 and so he pulls back to avoid having that confrontation again. 00:08:41.439 --> 00:08:45.539 But the impact of that is serious. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:46.620 Verse 13, 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:50.779 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, 00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:56.179 so that by their hypocrisy, even Barnabas was led astray. 00:08:57.019 --> 00:08:59.279 So the problem here is hypocrisy. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:02.620 We talk about a failure to practice what we preach, 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:04.539 and in a sense, that's what's happening with Peter. 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:06.980 The word is drawn from the theater. 00:09:07.959 --> 00:09:13.659 When an actor would put on a mask in order to play another character, 00:09:13.839 --> 00:09:17.419 to hide his own identity in order to play a part, 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:19.600 that was known as hypocrisy. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:23.639 Being two-faced. 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:26.240 What's happening here, 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:33.360 the reason why Paul confronts Peter is that Peter is masking his Christian convictions. 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:38.139 He is masking his true identity as a follower in Jesus. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:41.159 He's playing the part of an unbeliever in the gospel. 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:44.220 The gospel says we're all one in Christ, 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.320 but Peter, by his actions, is saying, 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:48.220 well, actually, no, we're not, 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:52.220 unless you start to keep our Jewish laws. 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:56.000 And because of fear of others, 00:09:56.560 --> 00:09:58.800 because of people-pleasing, 00:09:59.060 --> 00:10:00.600 there is this massive impact. 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:02.040 So the other Jews in Antioch, 00:10:02.160 --> 00:10:03.940 they're led to follow Peter, 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:05.500 and even Barnabas, 00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:07.120 the leader of the church in Antioch, 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:09.100 is led astray. 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:12.720 So here is a warning to us. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:17.160 Hypocrisy spreads like a virus. 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:24.579 And so we need to be aware of the influence that we have on others. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:27.659 As parents, for example, 00:10:27.659 --> 00:10:30.659 we need to be aware of the influence that we have on our children, 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:33.419 our children who see the true us. 00:10:34.699 --> 00:10:38.439 Do our thoughts, do our words, do our actions, 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:41.360 do they convey the gospel of love and grace, 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:42.939 or do they convey something else? 00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:48.800 We need to be aware of the influence that we can have on our family and our friends, 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:49.920 because that can be a positive, 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:54.500 but as in Peter's case, it can become a huge negative. 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:59.520 As Christians, we're encouraged not to mask who we are 00:10:59.520 --> 00:11:02.000 and what we believe as the people of God, 00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:06.960 to not try and lead some kind of a double life. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:13.879 I remember one of the first jobs I had after graduating. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:15.820 I was working in a call center, 00:11:15.920 --> 00:11:17.560 a fairly large team, 00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:19.540 and one of the members of that team, 00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:22.360 his language was appalling, 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:23.580 but worse than that, 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.920 he would often make really crude and really racist jokes. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:29.019 I was new, 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.320 and I was young, 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:32.519 and I didn't know how to handle that. 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:35.180 I didn't know how to have that conversation, 00:11:35.179 --> 00:11:36.959 and so what did I do? 00:11:37.019 --> 00:11:38.559 I masked my convictions. 00:11:38.739 --> 00:11:41.439 I was guilty of hypocrisy, 00:11:41.979 --> 00:11:44.620 failing to live out what I believe. 00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:48.179 And we can all find ourselves tempted to do that, 00:11:48.239 --> 00:11:48.539 can't we? 00:11:49.719 --> 00:11:51.819 If we're here and we're new students, 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.559 one of the best advice that I could give if you're a Christian 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:57.120 is get that out there. 00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:58.699 Get the fact that you're a Christian out there. 00:11:58.779 --> 00:11:59.599 Don't try and hide it, 00:11:59.599 --> 00:12:01.240 because it only becomes more difficult 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:03.919 to maintain a consistent witness 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.259 if you're pretending, 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:07.259 trying to lead some kind of double life. 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:09.600 So what we see from Peter's example 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:12.620 is that hypocrisy is horrible. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:13.460 It's dangerous. 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:15.519 And Paul responds, 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:17.220 a public scandal is being created. 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:18.240 So verse 14, 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.460 Paul confronts Peter publicly. 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:24.100 When I saw that they were not acting in line 00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:25.100 with the truth of the gospel, 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:25.919 I said to Peter, 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:27.100 in front of them all, 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:28.039 this is a public thing, 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:30.480 and notice he says to Peter, 00:12:30.599 --> 00:12:31.799 look, you're out of line, 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:35.980 not because you're being rude and unwelcoming 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.500 and perhaps racist, 00:12:37.579 --> 00:12:39.839 which he is by his actions. 00:12:40.459 --> 00:12:43.500 He's saying you're out of line with the gospel. 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:47.419 Because whereas faith in Jesus 00:12:47.419 --> 00:12:49.439 should be the basis of church unity, 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:52.899 Peter is implying that it's faith in Jesus 00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:56.519 and faith in these religious ceremonies 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:58.740 that's the basis for church unity 00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:00.379 because that's the way to be accepted. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:05.439 So he's going into legalism 00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:07.439 and he's leading people astray. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:11.120 And so Paul is going to call him back 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:11.899 to the gospel 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:14.899 because the key to balance, of course, 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:16.539 as we're looking up 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:17.559 and as we're looking ahead, 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:18.679 if we don't want to veer off, 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:19.899 we need to be looking straight ahead 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:22.079 and we need to be looking to Jesus. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:25.019 Not looking at the opponents 00:13:25.019 --> 00:13:27.860 who might make us quake in fear 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:29.159 to keep looking to Jesus. 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:30.899 And as we remember the gospel, 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:35.379 we remember that we're accepted by Jesus 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:37.740 while we were his enemies. 00:13:37.819 --> 00:13:39.360 When we think about divisions 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:41.179 that exist in society, 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:41.879 Jew, Gentile, 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.860 nothing was bigger than the division 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:46.220 between a holy God and us as sinners. 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:49.879 But yet God was reconciled to us 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.720 through the sending of Jesus, 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:53.100 through his sacrifice. 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:55.340 So we've been accepted by Jesus 00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:56.600 while we were still enemies. 00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:59.519 Therefore, we can and we should 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:02.040 welcome anyone in Christ 00:14:02.040 --> 00:14:04.720 who has faith in Christ. 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.620 We shouldn't add extra barriers 00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:07.800 as Peter was doing. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:10.639 And in response to the fear 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.680 that he feels 00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:13.220 and sometimes that we feel also, 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.440 there's that reminder 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:16.320 that in Christ Jesus, 00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:17.899 we have the acceptance 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:20.519 and the approval of God. 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:23.279 And as we reflect on that 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:23.740 and as we think, 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:26.139 well, what approval could possibly matter 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:27.759 more to us than that, 00:14:28.319 --> 00:14:30.360 there's how we'll be able to stick 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:32.939 to the reality that we're saved by grace 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:35.720 and by grace alone. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:38.519 So that's the first thing to remember, 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:41.659 that hypocrisy is a horrible thing. 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:44.179 Second thing to remember 00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:46.120 from verse 15 and 16 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:49.399 is that we are justified in Jesus. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.899 Let me read verse 15, 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:53.320 the beginning of verse 16 again. 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:55.759 We who are Jews by birth 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:57.860 and not Gentile sinners, 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.700 notice that's inverted commas, 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.399 that's the way Jewish people 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:02.620 would talk about Gentiles, 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:04.060 very derogatory way of talking, 00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:06.580 know that a man is not justified 00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:08.299 by observing the law, 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.779 but by faith in Jesus Christ. 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:13.419 So here is our first mention 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:15.480 in this letter of the word justified 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:17.179 and the idea of justification. 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.679 And again, take us back 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:21.579 to Martin Luther, 00:15:21.699 --> 00:15:22.519 the great reformer. 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.779 He says that if the article 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:25.879 of justification be once lost, 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:29.259 then is all true Christian doctrine lost? 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:32.379 This is a big deal idea. 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:34.740 So let's walk closely 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:36.179 and carefully and slowly 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.919 through this idea 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:40.219 and to see what is justification 00:15:40.219 --> 00:15:42.279 and also to see what does it have to do 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:44.639 with walking in line with the gospel. 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.199 So first of all, 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.799 what is justification? 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:50.219 Well, J.I. Packer, 00:15:50.339 --> 00:15:51.519 the Bible scholar, 00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.639 is very helpful in this. 00:15:52.719 --> 00:15:54.759 He says it's a legal term. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:57.039 So it's drawn from the courtroom 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:59.759 and it's the idea of a judge 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:03.539 who declares of a man on trial 00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:05.259 that he's not liable 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.679 to the penalty of the law, 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:08.759 but rather is entitled 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:09.739 to all the privileges 00:16:09.739 --> 00:16:11.699 due to those who have kept the law 00:16:11.699 --> 00:16:14.379 as he receives the verdict 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:15.500 that is the opposite 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.500 of being condemned, 00:16:17.439 --> 00:16:18.479 being acquitted, 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.679 being declared to be not guilty. 00:16:22.319 --> 00:16:23.799 So Paul is taking us 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:25.579 into God's courtroom 00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:27.579 and Paul will say, 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:29.879 Peter, remember. 00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:32.139 Remember that you and me, 00:16:32.479 --> 00:16:33.399 remember that everyone 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:35.019 were justified by faith 00:16:35.019 --> 00:16:36.620 in Jesus alone. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.439 And because of that, 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:40.019 let that shape how you live, 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:41.519 let that shape how you treat 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.799 other people. 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:46.759 Just to take a step back, 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.319 if we were to ask the question 00:16:49.319 --> 00:16:49.659 of people, 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:51.000 what's the biggest problem 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.579 that we face as human beings? 00:16:53.439 --> 00:16:54.799 Perhaps our answer in here 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:56.100 might be different 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:56.919 to the answer 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:58.299 that we would find on the streets. 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:00.039 Many people would answer 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:01.299 terrorism, 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:02.759 Brexit, 00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:04.279 and economic fear, 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.519 disease, 00:17:05.659 --> 00:17:06.099 injustice, 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:06.559 pollution, 00:17:06.659 --> 00:17:07.500 those kind of things, 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.940 which are obviously 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:10.059 significant issues 00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:10.879 troubling us today. 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:12.359 But biblically, 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:15.019 the big problem, 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.539 the big question 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.079 that we all need 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:18.019 to find an answer to is, 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.700 how can I be right with God? 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:22.720 And even more pointed 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.340 than that, 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:25.759 how can I, 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:27.319 as a sinful person, 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:30.200 be right with a holy God? 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:35.600 When Jesus was on the earth 00:17:35.600 --> 00:17:36.500 and he was teaching, 00:17:37.100 --> 00:17:38.900 he reaffirmed the two 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.920 great commandments 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:42.059 that we find in the Old Testament, 00:17:42.580 --> 00:17:44.720 summaries of the Ten Commandments. 00:17:45.360 --> 00:17:46.400 So Jesus said, 00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.559 the great commandment 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.500 is to love God 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.400 with all your heart 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:49.940 and soul 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.920 and mind and strength. 00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:53.220 And the other great commandment 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:53.700 is like it, 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:54.559 love your neighbor 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:56.440 as yourself. 00:17:57.940 --> 00:18:00.019 So with all of our heart 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.039 and all our desire, 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:03.220 with all of our mind, 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.819 all of our motivation, 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.740 with all of our actions, 00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:09.299 we are to express love to God 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:11.319 and love to others. 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.019 Not just sometimes, 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.079 but always. 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:16.660 Not just to some people, 00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:18.720 but to all people. 00:18:21.580 --> 00:18:22.580 And when we start 00:18:22.580 --> 00:18:23.980 to reflect on that, 00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:26.340 when we start to allow 00:18:26.340 --> 00:18:28.100 our conscience to kick in, 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.640 I'm sure, like me, 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.400 you recognize 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:32.360 that we stand guilty 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:35.080 of breaking those two commands. 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:37.040 And so there is for us, 00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:37.320 therefore, 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.220 a serious problem. 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:39.040 We've got a God 00:18:39.040 --> 00:18:40.380 who is perfectly holy, 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.720 a God who hates sin, 00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:44.160 a God who calls us 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:45.300 to this perfect standard 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:46.359 of perfect love, 00:18:46.879 --> 00:18:47.819 and a God who is 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.759 the judge of us all, 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.839 and then there's us 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.659 who have broken 00:18:51.659 --> 00:18:53.319 his perfect law. 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.799 So one of the things 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.539 that justification 00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:58.019 reminds us of, 00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.559 and it's really important, 00:18:59.680 --> 00:18:59.859 I think, 00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:00.919 to be reminded of this, 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.319 it reminds us 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:04.059 that we will all be 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:06.099 in God's courtroom one day. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.740 For some of us, 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.299 we may feel like 00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:09.319 that's years and years 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:10.000 into the future, 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.139 but one day, 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.279 we will all stand 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.899 in the dock before God 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.600 to give an account 00:19:14.600 --> 00:19:15.440 for our lives. 00:19:16.080 --> 00:19:17.720 And so the question for us 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.860 is on that day, 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.880 how can we hear 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:23.100 a verdict of not guilty, 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.400 given what we know 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.019 about God, 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.060 given what we know 00:19:26.060 --> 00:19:26.860 about ourselves? 00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:29.340 How can we escape 00:19:29.340 --> 00:19:30.780 the guilty verdict? 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:31.700 How can the breach 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.460 in the relationship 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.100 be fixed? 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.980 And what we discover 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.840 in this passage, 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.640 and what we discover 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:38.780 as we listen to 00:19:38.780 --> 00:19:40.640 all the voices around us, 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.220 that there's really 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.900 two alternatives 00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:43.580 that are suggested. 00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:45.380 How can I be accepted 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:45.960 by God? 00:19:46.360 --> 00:19:47.180 Well, it's either 00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:49.200 by our work 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:51.820 or by faith in Jesus 00:19:51.820 --> 00:19:53.640 and His finished work. 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.080 There really are 00:19:54.080 --> 00:19:55.320 no other alternatives 00:19:55.320 --> 00:19:56.700 suggested. 00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:58.800 And Paul uses 00:19:58.800 --> 00:20:00.060 three different ways 00:20:00.060 --> 00:20:01.780 to drive us 00:20:01.780 --> 00:20:03.019 to the reality 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.040 that we are justified 00:20:04.040 --> 00:20:06.019 by faith in Jesus alone. 00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:07.580 There is no other way. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.600 So he begins 00:20:08.600 --> 00:20:10.800 with that general observation 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.680 that we read 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.619 in verses 15 00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:13.720 and into verse 16. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.000 So this is something 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.960 that Jews had discovered. 00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:18.339 Jews, 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.200 with all the privileges 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.079 of God's law 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:21.000 and God's promises, 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.119 being God's people, 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.659 living in God's place, 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:25.779 Paul can say, 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.259 as a Jew, 00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.579 I know 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:30.839 that the only way 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.859 anyone 00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:33.960 can be right with God 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:35.240 is through trusting 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.759 in Jesus, 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.700 not by trying 00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.819 to keep the law. 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:41.639 The law 00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.480 is there 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.099 to remind us 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:43.879 God is holy 00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:45.439 and we are not. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.119 The law is there 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:46.819 to remind us 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.439 that we need 00:20:47.439 --> 00:20:48.519 a Savior. 00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:49.019 So we've got 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.799 that general observation, 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.599 but remember 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:52.079 he's speaking 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.099 to Peter here 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:54.759 and he makes it personal. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.179 In the second part 00:20:56.179 --> 00:20:57.059 of verse 16, 00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.119 he says to Peter, 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.759 so we too 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:02.059 have put our faith 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.919 in Christ Jesus 00:21:02.919 --> 00:21:04.720 that we may be justified 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.799 by faith in Christ 00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.720 and not by observing 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.079 the law. 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:08.079 So he turns to Peter, 00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:08.599 you and me, 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:08.919 Peter, 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:10.220 this is true for us. 00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:11.859 We didn't put 00:21:11.859 --> 00:21:12.740 our faith in Jesus 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.460 so we could have 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:15.460 a spiritual top-up, 00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:16.839 so we're kind of 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.519 trusting in Jesus 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.379 but kind of trusting 00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:18.859 in the law. 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:21.299 We trust it in order 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:22.500 that we would be justified. 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:23.519 Peter, 00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.220 you know as well 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:24.679 as I do, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.240 the only way 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:25.720 that anyone 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.319 can be saved 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.099 is through trusting 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.779 in Jesus. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:30.299 And then to drive 00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:31.259 it home further, 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.939 he reminds Peter 00:21:32.939 --> 00:21:33.579 that this is what 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:34.259 was taught 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.799 in the Old Testament. 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:37.339 So the last part 00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.579 of verse 16 00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:40.819 is a reference 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:42.099 to Psalm 143 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.779 in verse 2 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:44.700 which we sang earlier 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:46.500 because by observing 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.279 the law 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.759 no one 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:50.180 will be 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.339 justified. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:54.200 One point made 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.819 three ways. 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.700 We can never 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:57.159 ever by ourselves 00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:57.980 be good enough 00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.500 for God 00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.279 to declare us 00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.839 not guilty. 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:03.039 So Peter 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:04.819 is damaging 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.119 the message 00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:06.939 of the gospel 00:22:06.939 --> 00:22:08.839 by implying 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.959 that people 00:22:09.959 --> 00:22:10.720 need Jesus 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:11.639 plus 00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:13.019 ceremonial law 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.619 in order 00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.339 to be saved. 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.939 We do damage 00:22:15.939 --> 00:22:16.519 the gospel 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.619 whenever we suggest 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.059 that we need 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.659 anything other 00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:19.220 than faith 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.740 and trust 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.659 in the Lord 00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:21.019 Jesus 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.959 to be saved. 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.500 To be justified, 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.899 to be declared 00:22:25.899 --> 00:22:26.519 innocent, 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.359 we need 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.339 Jesus. 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.519 We need 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.000 the great 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.719 exchange 00:22:30.719 --> 00:22:31.439 that happens 00:22:31.439 --> 00:22:32.240 at the cross. 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.679 What is it 00:22:33.679 --> 00:22:34.419 that happens 00:22:34.419 --> 00:22:35.240 at the cross? 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.759 We have Jesus 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.799 the one who comes 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.839 as our representative, 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:39.459 the one who 00:22:39.459 --> 00:22:41.079 lives in perfect 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.599 obedience 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:43.199 to the extent 00:22:43.199 --> 00:22:44.419 that he obediently 00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:46.000 goes to the cross 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.579 to be 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.919 the sacrifice 00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:48.679 and the savior 00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:49.179 that God 00:22:49.179 --> 00:22:49.799 had promised. 00:22:51.139 --> 00:22:51.919 So there 00:22:51.919 --> 00:22:52.939 on the cross 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:53.640 the law 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.220 keeper 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.519 dies 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.700 for law 00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.980 breakers. 00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:59.500 And what happens 00:22:59.500 --> 00:22:59.920 is that 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.880 God, 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:01.660 when we put 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.180 our faith 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:02.700 in Jesus, 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.200 God declares 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:04.759 us to be 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.140 righteous 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:06.200 because the 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:06.680 righteousness 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:07.600 of Jesus Christ 00:23:07.600 --> 00:23:08.500 is credited 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.420 to our account 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.080 just as 00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:11.259 Jesus takes 00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.640 our guilt 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.600 and sin 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.920 and dies 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:16.059 for it 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.059 on the cross. 00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.980 So he 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.620 gifts 00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.200 us 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.320 his record 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:21.960 of righteousness 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:23.099 so that we 00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:23.960 can be declared 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.839 by God 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:26.000 justified. 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:27.779 And there's 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.579 wonderful assurance 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.399 for our faith 00:23:29.399 --> 00:23:29.839 in this. 00:23:30.659 --> 00:23:31.399 As John Murray, 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:31.939 the Scottish 00:23:31.939 --> 00:23:32.539 theologian, 00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.099 puts it, 00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:34.519 God must 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.099 accept 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:35.720 into his 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.099 favor 00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:37.139 those who 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:38.279 are invested 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:39.599 with the 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:40.099 righteousness 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:41.539 of his 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.399 own son. 00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:45.279 Let's use 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.159 an analogy 00:23:46.159 --> 00:23:46.879 of a 00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:48.179 bank account. 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.839 So imagine 00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:50.700 that you 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.159 are somebody 00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:51.720 who is in 00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.440 a huge 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:52.840 amount of 00:23:52.840 --> 00:23:53.180 debt. 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:54.519 Monday 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:54.980 morning 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:56.160 rolls in, 00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:57.140 you wake 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:57.480 up, 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.300 terrified, 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:58.640 how am I 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:58.800 going to 00:23:58.800 --> 00:23:59.259 pay off 00:23:59.259 --> 00:23:59.660 all these 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.320 bills? 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:01.500 Posty 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:01.840 delivers 00:24:01.840 --> 00:24:02.600 some letters, 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.140 got some 00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.200 more credit 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.940 card debt 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:05.200 that's 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.920 mounting up, 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:06.700 you got 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.560 payday loans 00:24:07.560 --> 00:24:07.940 that you need 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.700 to pay back, 00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:09.560 you've got a 00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:09.980 letter from 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.560 the bailiff 00:24:10.560 --> 00:24:11.000 saying that 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.440 he's coming 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:11.840 to take 00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:12.460 your possessions 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.040 unless you 00:24:13.040 --> 00:24:13.340 can pay 00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:13.580 and you 00:24:13.580 --> 00:24:14.100 have nothing 00:24:14.100 --> 00:24:14.460 so you 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:14.840 are about 00:24:14.840 --> 00:24:15.519 to lose 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.680 everything. 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.060 So you're 00:24:18.060 --> 00:24:18.259 in that 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.860 position of 00:24:18.860 --> 00:24:19.620 guilt and fear 00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.259 and anxiety, 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:20.700 you get no 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.200 idea where 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:21.680 to turn, 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.120 you get no 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:22.840 hope and 00:24:22.840 --> 00:24:23.180 then you get 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:24.039 a message, 00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:24.860 a phone call 00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:25.240 from your 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:25.940 bank manager 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.340 to say that 00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:28.400 somebody has 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:28.819 come into 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.460 the branch 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.400 and he's 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:30.880 paid off 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:31.220 all those 00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:31.960 payday loans 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:33.559 and he's 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.299 paid off 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.559 all the 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.140 credit card 00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:36.259 debt and 00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:36.980 he's satisfied 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.620 the demands 00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:38.259 of the bailiffs 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.220 and so you 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:40.180 have no more 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:40.920 debt and not 00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:41.860 only that, 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.580 he's placed 00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.080 a vast 00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:46.039 fortune into 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:47.339 your account. 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.420 Now that 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:50.859 is what 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.440 God has 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.019 done for 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.299 us in 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:52.920 the gospel 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:53.720 of grace. 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.000 Jesus has 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.559 cancelled 00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:56.079 the debt 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.519 of our 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.680 sin and 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.359 he's given 00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:59.399 us his 00:24:59.399 --> 00:24:59.859 perfect 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.359 righteousness. 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.180 That's the 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:01.839 only way 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.399 that we 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.059 can ever 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:04.159 possibly be 00:25:04.159 --> 00:25:05.220 declared not 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:06.139 guilty before 00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:06.720 a holy 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.099 God. 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.899 So to 00:25:08.899 --> 00:25:09.460 keep our 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.000 gospel 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.619 balanced, 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.619 to stop 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:12.460 veering off 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.279 into legalism 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:13.559 where we 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:13.879 think we 00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:14.619 need to add 00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:15.139 to our 00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:15.839 salvation or 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.319 we need to 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.439 contribute in 00:25:17.439 --> 00:25:17.879 any way, 00:25:18.219 --> 00:25:18.679 we need to 00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:19.819 remember this 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:21.000 truth, that 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.899 we are justified 00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:22.859 in Jesus 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:23.659 and Jesus 00:25:23.659 --> 00:25:24.639 alone. 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.079 If we're not 00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.479 a Christian, 00:25:27.619 --> 00:25:28.319 here is truth 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:29.719 for us to 00:25:29.719 --> 00:25:31.379 receive, that 00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:32.039 bearing in mind 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.559 that one day 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.339 we'll all stand 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.119 before God in 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.739 the dock, let 00:25:34.739 --> 00:25:36.379 Jesus be a 00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:37.039 representative. 00:25:37.939 --> 00:25:38.779 Let him be 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.579 the one whose 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.739 record you 00:25:40.739 --> 00:25:41.219 place your 00:25:41.219 --> 00:25:41.899 hope in rather 00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:42.539 than your own 00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.939 because he is 00:25:43.939 --> 00:25:44.559 willing to 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:46.179 save you and 00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:46.960 to credit his 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.839 righteousness to 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.619 your account so 00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:50.019 you can be in 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.720 the family of 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.000 God. 00:25:51.919 --> 00:25:52.819 And for us as 00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:53.759 Christians, let's 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:55.500 represent this 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.539 unlike Peter who 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.399 falls off into 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.119 legalism and 00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:58.839 pulls the church 00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.319 astray. 00:26:00.159 --> 00:26:00.819 Let's avoid 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:01.700 things like being 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:03.940 judgmental or 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.579 being full of 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:05.799 pride or maybe 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:06.460 making our 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.279 salvation really 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.960 centered on 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:08.799 ourselves so if 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.200 we're having a 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:09.700 good day we 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:11.119 feel really good 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.559 and think that 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.379 God's bound to 00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:12.940 be pleased with 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:13.460 us whereas if 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.200 things go badly 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.740 we start to 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.779 have all kinds 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.420 of doubts and 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.000 fears because 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.640 we've made it 00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:18.740 more about us 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.240 rather than we 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.340 have about 00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:21.700 trusting in what 00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:23.160 Jesus has done 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:23.640 for us. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.580 So remember that 00:26:26.580 --> 00:26:27.319 we are justified 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:27.960 in Jesus. 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.620 The third thing 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:31.940 to remember from 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:33.220 Paul's confrontation 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:34.019 with Peter is 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:35.360 remember that the 00:26:35.360 --> 00:26:37.559 cross is central. 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:40.019 Now verse 17 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:43.259 is a complex one 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.039 I think it's hard 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:45.559 to exactly see 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:46.220 what's going on 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:46.940 but let's read it. 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:48.019 If while we seek 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.900 to be justified 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:50.400 in Christ it 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.220 becomes evident 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:52.139 that we ourselves 00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:52.819 are sinners 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:54.099 does that mean 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:54.599 that Christ 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.440 promotes sin? 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.579 Absolutely not. 00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.339 Now this seems 00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.379 to come from 00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:01.259 an accusation 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.879 and Paul is 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:02.359 getting lots of 00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:03.160 accusations from 00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:03.879 the other false 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.500 teachers and it 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.639 seems to be the 00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:06.539 accusation that 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.920 that the faith 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:08.940 in Christ alone 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.980 for God's acceptance 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.960 is a dangerous 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.940 thing to teach 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:12.960 because they 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.899 imagine that it 00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:14.700 will encourage 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.859 people to then 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:17.180 abandon God's law. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.559 People will get 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.480 the idea oh great 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.180 I just need to 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.159 trust in Jesus 00:27:21.159 --> 00:27:21.759 and then I can do 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.480 whatever I want 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.119 and I'll be 00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:23.899 absolutely saved. 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:25.519 And so people 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.339 are saying Paul 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:26.839 that's what your 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.519 gospel is going 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.259 to lead people to 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.279 and Paul responds 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:29.759 at the end of 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.460 verse 17 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.980 absolutely not 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.559 God forbid. 00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:35.420 And the big point 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.640 of verses 17 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:37.539 to 21 is that 00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:38.400 the gospel of 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.720 grace does not 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:41.300 lead us towards 00:27:41.300 --> 00:27:43.279 lawlessness because 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:45.220 as he makes clear 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:46.640 in the gospel we 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:48.019 are united to 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.840 Jesus Christ. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.360 That we have been 00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:52.880 crucified with Christ 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:53.900 we are made new 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:54.980 creations in Christ 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:56.640 Christ lives in 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:58.300 us and because of 00:27:58.300 --> 00:27:59.620 that we have new 00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:02.100 power new desire 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:02.779 for holiness 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:04.779 we've got this new 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.579 identity 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:07.379 we've got a new 00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:09.059 motivation for 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.879 obeying the law 00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:12.119 not out of fear 00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:14.099 but out of gratitude 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:15.500 because of what 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:17.059 Jesus has done 00:28:17.059 --> 00:28:17.539 for us. 00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:20.039 So the gospel of 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.819 grace does not 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.839 lead to lawlessness 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.960 because it connects 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:24.660 us to the perfectly 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.440 holy and obedient 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:25.799 one. 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.059 And Paul uses 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.420 dying and rising 00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:30.899 language to make 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:32.019 that point and to 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.279 show that the 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.399 transformation that 00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:36.000 happens in the 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.379 gospel. 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.359 So in verse 19 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:39.980 for example he 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.339 says, 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:41.279 For through the 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:43.680 law I died to 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:45.920 the law so that I 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:47.480 might live for 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.240 God. 00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.619 What does he mean 00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:49.899 there? 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.899 He means that he 00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:53.740 died to the law as 00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.779 the way to be right 00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.359 with God. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.399 He died to trying to 00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:59.160 use the law to earn 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:00.180 his way to God. 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:02.180 And in actual fact 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:02.940 the Old Testament 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:04.620 law was what 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:05.340 showed him that 00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:06.080 that was pointless 00:29:06.080 --> 00:29:06.600 and wrong. 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.560 That he could never 00:29:07.560 --> 00:29:08.759 meet the standards 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.420 of a perfectly 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.220 holy God. 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:11.460 So that now he's 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.320 trusting in Jesus 00:29:12.320 --> 00:29:13.539 he can live by 00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:13.900 faith. 00:29:14.100 --> 00:29:14.700 Trusting in the 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.460 death of Jesus 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.480 as his source of 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:16.940 salvation. 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:18.240 Not trying to 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:19.460 trust in himself 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.600 and his own 00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.940 ability to perform. 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.400 And that brings 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:23.980 all the difference 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.500 in the world. 00:29:25.320 --> 00:29:26.100 Verse 20. 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.539 I have been 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.699 crucified with 00:29:28.699 --> 00:29:30.659 Christ and I 00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:31.919 no longer live 00:29:31.919 --> 00:29:34.139 but Christ lives 00:29:34.139 --> 00:29:35.399 in me. 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:39.259 So when a person 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.119 becomes a Christian 00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:41.539 when by the Spirit 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.459 Jesus comes to 00:29:42.459 --> 00:29:43.740 dwell in us 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:45.539 the perfect one 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.439 comes to dwell in 00:29:46.439 --> 00:29:46.599 us. 00:29:46.699 --> 00:29:47.459 The holy one 00:29:47.459 --> 00:29:48.159 comes to dwell in 00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:48.259 us. 00:29:48.699 --> 00:29:49.480 Therefore there is 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.379 a new ability 00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:51.399 and a new desire 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:52.039 for holiness. 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:53.619 A true Christian 00:29:53.619 --> 00:29:54.339 is never going to 00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:55.139 say I have no 00:29:55.139 --> 00:29:56.079 interest in obeying 00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:56.539 God. 00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:59.199 Jesus said many 00:29:59.199 --> 00:30:00.279 times you will 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.879 show love by 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.740 obeying. 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.379 And then he goes 00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.519 on to say the 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:07.000 life I live in 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:08.819 the body I live 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:10.859 by faith in the 00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.579 Son of God who 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:13.559 loved me and gave 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.480 himself for me. 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.460 Not trusting my 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.679 work Paul says 00:30:17.679 --> 00:30:19.220 trusting in his 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.519 finished work. 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:21.799 Living in 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:23.339 obedience out of 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:25.179 gratitude for the 00:30:25.179 --> 00:30:26.059 costly salvation. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:27.179 salvation that he 00:30:27.179 --> 00:30:27.839 has received. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.939 And as he ends 00:30:29.939 --> 00:30:30.599 his confrontation 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:32.199 verse 21 he 00:30:32.199 --> 00:30:33.379 reminds Peter once 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:33.980 again that it's 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.919 all down to 00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:35.559 grace. 00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:37.879 He says I do 00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.879 not set aside the 00:30:38.879 --> 00:30:39.759 grace of God 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:41.299 for if righteousness 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.199 could be gained 00:30:42.199 --> 00:30:43.139 through the law 00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:45.980 Christ died for 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.359 nothing. 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:49.119 Peter remember 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:49.500 that. 00:30:49.699 --> 00:30:50.919 Church remember 00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:51.179 that. 00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:52.380 if there was any 00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:53.700 other way to be 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:55.880 saved why would 00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:56.880 God have sent his 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:58.200 son Jesus to die? 00:30:59.080 --> 00:30:59.720 That just makes 00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:01.080 Jesus' death a 00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:02.580 pointless tragic 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:04.660 waste if we by our 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:06.060 own steam can find 00:31:06.060 --> 00:31:08.779 our way into God's 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.500 acceptance. 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:09.619 sins. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.700 We can think about it 00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.220 like this. 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.960 Now imagine a man 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:16.519 who comes home one 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.400 evening and he turns 00:31:17.400 --> 00:31:18.839 the corner of his 00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:19.700 street and he sees 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:21.880 his house is up in 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:22.759 flames and he begins 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:24.559 to run towards the 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.140 house and he hears 00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:26.160 the sirens but they're 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:26.940 in the distance. 00:31:27.619 --> 00:31:28.319 They're still going to 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.519 be a wee while and he 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:30.579 charges into the house 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.660 and he gets his wife 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:33.039 and his children out of 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.299 the house. 00:31:33.380 --> 00:31:34.200 So they're safely on 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:35.359 the street and then the 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:36.539 fire engine arrives, the 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:38.039 fire crew come out and 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:40.659 the first fireman rushes 00:31:40.659 --> 00:31:43.099 into the blaze and 00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:43.599 perishes. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:46.899 Now if we were to hear 00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:48.000 that kind of story we'd 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:50.079 say that's a pointless 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.799 waste. 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:53.639 He didn't need to go and 00:31:53.639 --> 00:31:55.059 risk everything because 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:57.019 everybody was safe. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.680 But when we think about 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:02.480 another story, same man 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:04.339 coming home from work, 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.519 turns the corner of his 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.599 street, house is ablaze, 00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.980 he runs to his front door 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:09.079 and he can't get in the 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:10.440 front door because of 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.420 the flames and he sees 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.980 his wife and children on 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:14.059 the second floor and he 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:14.860 can't reach them. 00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:16.500 Then he hears the sirens, 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:18.099 then the fire crew come 00:32:18.099 --> 00:32:19.420 with their ladders and 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:21.980 then a fireman risks his 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:23.660 life and gives his life in 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:25.259 order to rescue. 00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:28.500 Changes everything, 00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.019 doesn't it? 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:33.380 Now the man has seen what 00:32:33.380 --> 00:32:36.259 true love is, seen true 00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:37.259 rescue. 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:40.319 And Paul says to Peter and 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:42.940 says to us, remember, Jesus 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:46.779 came on a real rescue to 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:49.400 rescue us in our need, in our 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:51.680 helplessness when we could not 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.759 save ourselves. 00:32:53.379 --> 00:32:56.379 He gave himself to death to 00:32:56.379 --> 00:32:58.619 rescue us and all because of 00:32:58.619 --> 00:33:00.640 his love and his grace. 00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:03.200 And it's as we remember that, 00:33:03.300 --> 00:33:05.280 as we remember the cross as 00:33:05.280 --> 00:33:07.040 central, as we remember that 00:33:07.040 --> 00:33:08.759 reality, that's the antidote to 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:10.120 the virus of hypocrisy. 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:12.880 Remembering what Jesus has done 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:13.320 for us. 00:33:14.120 --> 00:33:15.520 It's the answer to the false 00:33:15.520 --> 00:33:18.440 paths of legalism and lawlessness 00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:22.160 to reflect with gratitude on the 00:33:22.160 --> 00:33:25.640 Son of God who loved me and gave 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:26.440 himself for me. 00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:28.840 It's the key to gospel balance, 00:33:29.100 --> 00:33:31.700 to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus 00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:34.000 and his finished work on the cross.