WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.339 Okay, tonight we're going to be looking at Romans chapter 5, verses, we'll be focusing on verses 18 to 21, but I'm going to read from verse 12. 00:00:16.339 --> 00:00:23.339 But first of all, I think it's important when we're looking at Romans to kind of give an overview of the previous chapters. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:32.340 Because in Romans, everything Paul says is like one long, continuous argument from the first chapter to the next to the next. 00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:35.600 And it's quite important for this chapter. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:50.039 So for the first two and a half chapters of Romans, Paul kind of describes that the problem we have as humanity, that we've been, no matter who we are, all humans have been separated from God. 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:56.620 We've turned away from Him, and we've done what is evil, and therefore God is bringing judgment upon everyone. 00:00:56.619 --> 00:01:06.659 Then for the next couple of chapters, Paul reveals that there's been another way that God has chosen to bring us back to Him. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:09.179 And that's through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:01:09.979 --> 00:01:19.840 And now in chapter 5, he's stepping back a bit and giving a more in-depth explanation of how did humanity end up in this situation in the first place. 00:01:20.179 --> 00:01:25.799 And why is it out of all the people in the world that Jesus is the only one who can bring salvation? 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:31.400 So, from verse 12 in Romans chapter 5, 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:37.700 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:41.800 and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:45.260 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, 00:01:45.800 --> 00:01:49.080 but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. 00:01:49.740 --> 00:01:54.240 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, 00:01:54.239 --> 00:02:00.399 even over those who did not sin by breaking a command as Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. 00:02:01.699 --> 00:02:03.839 But the gift is not like the trespass. 00:02:04.419 --> 00:02:07.140 For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, 00:02:07.619 --> 00:02:13.439 how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, 00:02:13.799 --> 00:02:14.879 overflow to the many? 00:02:15.459 --> 00:02:18.740 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin. 00:02:18.740 --> 00:02:22.159 The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, 00:02:22.540 --> 00:02:26.020 but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:31.040 For if by the trespass of one man, death reigned through that one man, 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:35.379 how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace 00:02:35.379 --> 00:02:40.040 and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ? 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:46.239 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:51.539 so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 00:02:52.079 --> 00:02:56.379 For just as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were made sinners, 00:02:57.060 --> 00:03:00.659 so also through the obedience of the one man, the many will be made righteous. 00:03:01.299 --> 00:03:04.539 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:08.139 But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 00:03:08.539 --> 00:03:10.379 so that just as sin reigned in death, 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:12.859 so also grace might reign through righteousness 00:03:12.859 --> 00:03:16.120 to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:03:19.180 --> 00:03:23.079 Now, if you went up to someone on the street and you asked them, 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:26.439 who are the two most important people in history, 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:30.599 the most influential, you might get a few different answers. 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:36.460 So one group of people might mention a great political or military hero 00:03:36.460 --> 00:03:38.240 who brought massive change to society, 00:03:38.819 --> 00:03:41.340 someone like Julius Caesar or Napoleon. 00:03:42.019 --> 00:03:47.299 Other people might mention a great religious leader like Buddha or Mohammed, 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:53.579 or maybe you'll have a great moral example like Gandhi or Martin Luther King. 00:03:54.219 --> 00:03:58.959 But for Paul, really there's only two answers to that question. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:06.200 The two most important people in world history are Adam, the first man, and Jesus Christ. 00:04:07.100 --> 00:04:10.700 And so we're going to think about who is Adam? 00:04:11.140 --> 00:04:16.939 Why is it that Adam's actions had this drastic effect on all the rest of humanity? 00:04:17.379 --> 00:04:18.379 And then we're going to think, 00:04:18.900 --> 00:04:23.400 if Jesus Christ is a solution to the actions of Adam, 00:04:23.780 --> 00:04:25.500 why does it have to be Jesus? 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:30.819 Why can't it be some other person, some other great leader, some other great hero? 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:35.079 So firstly, who is Adam? 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:39.980 So when God created the world, he created the world good. 00:04:40.819 --> 00:04:43.959 He created Adam in the image of God. 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:48.660 When we say Adam is created image of God, what does that mean? 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:52.760 Well, an image is a representation or a copy. 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:57.939 So Adam, if you like, is God's representative on earth. 00:04:58.340 --> 00:05:01.560 He's almost like God's ambassador to the rest of creation. 00:05:01.900 --> 00:05:04.340 He's supposed to look after it, to rule over it. 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:07.640 But that's not all Adam is. 00:05:08.260 --> 00:05:10.680 Because Adam isn't just a regular person. 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:16.560 Because he's not just an ambassador from God to creation. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:21.000 He's also, if you like, the ambassador of humanity to God. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.340 He's like the ruler or the king of humanity. 00:05:24.339 --> 00:05:32.959 So for example, if the ruler of one kingdom or country travels to another one, 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:35.539 whatever actions he takes in that country, 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:39.679 his conduct, how he carries himself, 00:05:39.899 --> 00:05:44.979 will reflect back on his own country and every single person in that country. 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:47.159 So when Adam is before God, 00:05:48.099 --> 00:05:52.579 Adam's actions before God have consequences for all the rest of us, 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:56.699 all the rest of humanity who are descended from Adam. 00:05:58.819 --> 00:06:05.560 So what exactly did Adam do that caused the situation that humanity is in? 00:06:06.099 --> 00:06:09.639 So if we recall the passage that Arthur read, 00:06:11.159 --> 00:06:16.939 there is a chain of events that happen that have this result. 00:06:16.939 --> 00:06:22.560 Firstly, Adam misjudges the situation. 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:26.219 Secondly, he uses the wrong method. 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:28.060 He takes the wrong set of actions. 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:30.680 And so he ends up with the wrong result. 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:34.300 So his misjudgment of the situation came about 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:36.740 because he didn't listen to God. 00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:40.560 So God's plan for the world would be that through Adam, 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:41.680 there's a connection. 00:06:42.460 --> 00:06:44.980 There's harmony between God and between humanity 00:06:44.980 --> 00:06:46.220 and between the rest of creation. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:49.340 But the snake said, that's not how it works. 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:50.579 God's lying to you. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:53.560 Really, what you need to do is, 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:57.379 he's trying to stop you from eating from this tree. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:59.319 And if you eat from the tree, you'll be like God. 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:01.840 You don't have to accept your place in this world. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:03.159 You can rise up higher. 00:07:04.119 --> 00:07:07.239 And so because of that, Adam takes the wrong action. 00:07:07.739 --> 00:07:09.799 Instead of living in harmony with God 00:07:09.799 --> 00:07:12.060 and with the rest of creation, 00:07:12.679 --> 00:07:14.599 he breaks away from God's plan. 00:07:15.359 --> 00:07:19.439 And the end result is that the whole of humanity 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:21.679 is cursed because of Adam's actions. 00:07:22.539 --> 00:07:26.259 And this seems like maybe a bit of an overreaction on God's part. 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:28.799 Well, I mean, all Adam did was eat some fruit, right? 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:33.600 But when we look at how Paul thinks about sin, 00:07:34.060 --> 00:07:37.699 it's not just that you do one or two bad things. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:40.780 It's about being in different categories. 00:07:41.220 --> 00:07:44.400 Either you're living in perfect harmony with God 00:07:44.400 --> 00:07:47.340 or you're completely separated from him. 00:07:47.540 --> 00:07:50.420 What Adam did wasn't just he did one bad thing, 00:07:50.840 --> 00:07:53.660 but he turned himself and with him all of humanity 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:54.980 on a course away from God. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:58.120 No longer was he following God's plan for the world, 00:07:58.120 --> 00:07:59.879 but he was following his own plan. 00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:01.540 He was putting himself first 00:08:01.540 --> 00:08:04.740 and putting himself in the place of God. 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:09.280 Therefore, this is consequences. 00:08:10.540 --> 00:08:13.079 Because God is life, 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:15.019 when Adam turns away 00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:18.600 and breaks the connection between humanity and God, 00:08:19.379 --> 00:08:21.860 humanity is cut off from the source of life itself. 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:25.360 So the natural consequence of that is that we will die. 00:08:26.080 --> 00:08:29.000 But not only that, God is also good. 00:08:29.860 --> 00:08:33.440 And when God sees that there's this disarray in society, 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:34.460 there's this evil, 00:08:34.940 --> 00:08:36.680 this turning away from his plan, 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:38.639 he wants to put things right. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:42.279 And so when Paul talks about in the earlier chapters of Romans, 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.460 God bringing righteousness and justice, 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:48.519 he's talking about God's plan to fix the world. 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:50.759 In the first few chapters, he says, 00:08:51.419 --> 00:08:54.019 well, humanity is evil. 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:56.960 So God has a way of fixing the world, 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:59.460 a way of removing all the evil from the world, 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:01.059 and that's to bring judgment 00:09:01.059 --> 00:09:02.819 and to destroy all evil, 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:05.159 including humanity. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:10.679 So that's the situation that we're in. 00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:14.179 But then in the next few chapters, 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:16.100 Paul again says that, 00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:17.259 well, there's another way. 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:21.060 One man has brought us into this situation, 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:23.700 and so one man can bring us out. 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:26.500 And that man is Jesus Christ. 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:29.580 So if you look in verse 18, 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:34.480 just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, 00:09:34.940 --> 00:09:37.759 so also one righteous act resulted in justification 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:38.820 and life for all people. 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:42.259 For just as through the disobedience of one man, 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:43.259 the many were made sinners, 00:09:43.259 --> 00:09:43.379 sinners. 00:09:43.819 --> 00:09:45.799 So also through the obedience of one man, 00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:47.700 the many will be made righteous. 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:52.460 And so a lot of people have, 00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:53.659 like Paul, 00:09:53.779 --> 00:09:55.399 seen that there's problems in the world. 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:56.799 They've seen that there's evil, 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:57.860 there's injustice, 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:01.519 there's a breaking of the relationship 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.360 between us and God, 00:10:02.439 --> 00:10:03.879 there's a breaking of the relationship 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:05.600 between us and one another. 00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:08.120 And this results in death, 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:08.740 in evil, 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:09.439 in conflict. 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:13.380 And so many people have come to the same conclusion 00:10:13.380 --> 00:10:14.560 that Paul's come to. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:15.520 They've said, 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:18.880 we need someone to come fix our problems. 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:21.200 And roughly, 00:10:21.540 --> 00:10:24.860 you can group these people into two different camps. 00:10:26.280 --> 00:10:28.520 One group says, 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:28.680 well, 00:10:28.700 --> 00:10:31.440 the problem is that society is messed up. 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:33.860 They're not very concerned about their relationship with God. 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:34.140 They think, 00:10:34.300 --> 00:10:34.420 okay, 00:10:34.460 --> 00:10:35.420 society's messed up. 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:37.800 There's a system in place as humans with God. 00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:39.899 But it's not working. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:44.459 And the roots of the evil in society are so deep 00:10:44.459 --> 00:10:47.899 that we can't just get it out using the system. 00:10:48.319 --> 00:10:51.279 There's this oppression of the poor by the rich. 00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:54.019 One group's privileged over another. 00:10:55.599 --> 00:10:57.799 And so what we need is we need someone to come along 00:10:57.799 --> 00:10:59.799 and he needs to break the system, 00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:00.719 smash it up, 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:02.759 and fix everything. 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:05.840 So you have, 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:09.059 those are people looking for some kind of military leader 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:10.259 or a political leader 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:12.600 who'll bring big change to society. 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:15.480 Then your second group of people say, 00:11:15.580 --> 00:11:15.700 well, 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:17.379 we want someone 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:19.639 who fixes, 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:20.200 who doesn't, 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:20.740 I mean, 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:23.419 the problem's not just out here in society, 00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:25.139 but the problem's in here in our hearts 00:11:25.139 --> 00:11:26.120 and between us and God. 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:28.080 So what we need is someone to come from God 00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:30.220 to tell us how to live. 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:33.860 We need to be showing the right path. 00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:35.580 And if we all just get together 00:11:35.580 --> 00:11:39.039 and follow this right path that God gives us, 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.440 then everything will be sorted out. 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:45.799 Now there's big problems with both of these groups. 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:48.820 And so if we compare and contrast both these groups 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:50.100 with Jesus, 00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:52.920 we see that in fact, 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:57.920 it's only Jesus that can bring the solution we need. 00:11:59.420 --> 00:12:00.580 So the first group 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:03.379 who are looking for one man 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:06.800 to be their great military or political leader. 00:12:07.800 --> 00:12:07.920 Now, 00:12:08.560 --> 00:12:09.860 the Book of Romans is of course 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:11.220 written to people living in Rome, 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:13.680 in the middle of the Roman Empire. 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:14.920 And they were very, 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:18.399 they had a very good idea of this sort of notion 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:20.799 of one man coming to fix 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:22.299 all of society's problems. 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:22.919 Because, 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:24.319 in fact, 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.100 the Roman Empire 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:28.220 wasn't always an empire. 00:12:29.199 --> 00:12:30.100 So originally, 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:32.079 they were a republic. 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:32.840 And they thought, 00:12:32.939 --> 00:12:33.079 okay, 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:34.819 we don't like kings. 00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:35.579 They're, 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:37.579 we can't have one guy ruling the place. 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:38.159 It's unjust. 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:38.699 It's unfair. 00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:41.120 What's better is if every year 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.379 we vote in a couple of people 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:45.079 and they'll keep society fair 00:12:45.079 --> 00:12:46.720 and people are voting. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:48.519 And so if they're bad, 00:12:48.580 --> 00:12:49.840 we can remove them the next year. 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:52.120 But over time, 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:53.399 in Roman society, 00:12:53.779 --> 00:12:54.639 it became apparent 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.940 that there were still problems with the system. 00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:59.440 Because people are evil, 00:13:00.300 --> 00:13:03.060 the slowly and slowly problems seep in. 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:04.399 And people began to realize 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:06.420 that even in their system, 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:08.700 the people in control 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:10.480 were still the rich aristocrats. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:12.259 And those who were poor 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:15.879 didn't really stand much of a chance. 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:16.879 For example, 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.539 if you're an Italian farmer, 00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:20.000 a poor Italian farmer, 00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.179 it's quite likely 00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:22.340 that you can outcompete 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:23.820 the rich Italian farmers 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:25.279 who could use slaves 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:26.279 without paying them 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:28.740 to grow loads of crops. 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:30.340 So they'd buy your farm. 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:32.460 You'd have to go to Rome, 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.320 try and find a job, 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:34.240 not find a job. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.980 You'd be out begging on the streets. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:38.340 And so you have this building 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:40.559 kind of chaos in Roman society. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:45.279 But the Romans had a solution for this. 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:47.479 Because they realized 00:13:47.479 --> 00:13:50.000 that sometimes systems don't really work. 00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:52.339 So you need one guy 00:13:52.339 --> 00:13:53.219 with absolute power 00:13:53.219 --> 00:13:53.839 to come in, 00:13:54.239 --> 00:13:55.059 fix the problem. 00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:58.439 And then once the problem's fixed, 00:13:58.839 --> 00:13:59.259 he goes, 00:13:59.339 --> 00:14:00.619 okay, I'll give up my absolute power 00:14:00.619 --> 00:14:02.179 and we'll go back to normal. 00:14:02.739 --> 00:14:04.739 And the Romans used to call 00:14:04.739 --> 00:14:06.419 these guys dictators. 00:14:06.419 --> 00:14:07.679 Which if you know 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:10.059 the modern English meaning of the word, 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.360 you can probably tell 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.959 where this is going to go. 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:15.019 So originally dictators, 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:16.319 that's how it worked. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:16.979 Everything was fine. 00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:17.639 They'd take power. 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:18.299 They'd give it up. 00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:19.639 No problems. 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:22.839 But then about 50 years 00:14:22.839 --> 00:14:24.159 before the birth of Jesus, 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.399 again, you have these problems 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.179 in Roman society. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.039 And so one man, 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:30.899 Julius Caesar, comes along. 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:31.860 And he says, 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:32.279 you know, 00:14:32.319 --> 00:14:34.959 he's a very popular general. 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:35.439 And he says, 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:35.679 okay, 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:36.879 I'm going to stand up 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.859 for the rights of the people. 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:39.439 I've got the people, 00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.179 these people are oppressed 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:41.799 by the rich. 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:43.120 I'm going to come along 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.379 and I'm going to fix society. 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:46.339 I'm going to bring justice. 00:14:46.479 --> 00:14:47.459 I'm going to bring equality. 00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:50.379 But he couldn't do it 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.879 by using the system 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:53.659 because all the rich aristocrats 00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:54.419 were against him. 00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:55.399 So instead, 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.419 he brings in an army, 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:57.919 takes over Rome 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:59.879 by military might, 00:14:59.939 --> 00:15:00.500 and he says, 00:15:00.859 --> 00:15:01.099 you know what, 00:15:01.099 --> 00:15:02.219 you make me dictator 00:15:02.219 --> 00:15:03.099 for a few years, 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:03.859 I'll fix everything. 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:07.019 But then he says, 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:07.340 well, 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:07.820 okay, 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:08.419 I've been dictator 00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:09.440 for a few years. 00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:11.740 Maybe you can make me 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.600 dictator for life. 00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:13.879 That would be a bit better. 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:14.759 And then he says, 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:16.159 maybe I could go around 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:18.300 wearing a nice purple robe 00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:19.899 with a crown of leaves 00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:20.519 on my head. 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:22.179 And if you remember 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:23.899 Jesus' crucifixion 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:25.000 or the trial 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.199 James was talking about 00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:26.659 this morning, 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.939 where they make Jesus 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:28.539 wear purple 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:29.519 and have a crown of thorns, 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:30.960 these sort of things 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:31.480 in Roman society 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.419 represent royalty. 00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:34.659 Then Caesar says, 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:35.840 oh, 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.019 maybe I could have 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.559 a nice big golden chair 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:39.340 I can sit into. 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.659 And then all the Romans 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.379 are suddenly thinking, 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.340 hold on a second, 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:43.799 this guy doesn't care 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:45.360 about helping people at all. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.240 He just wants 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.179 to make himself king. 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:49.259 But actually, 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.219 Caesar went further 00:15:50.219 --> 00:15:50.679 than that 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:52.019 because Caesar 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:53.679 then got the Roman society 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:55.219 to declare himself a god 00:15:55.219 --> 00:15:56.699 and to build him a temple. 00:15:57.239 --> 00:15:58.179 And eventually, 00:15:58.539 --> 00:16:00.139 the people had enough 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:01.579 and some of his 00:16:01.579 --> 00:16:03.279 previous followers 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.519 assassinated him. 00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:06.899 So, 00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:08.599 if we compare 00:16:08.599 --> 00:16:10.500 Caesar with Jesus, 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.620 if we compare 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:13.279 the situation, 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:16.659 the methods used, 00:16:16.659 --> 00:16:17.740 the end result, 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:18.500 and then finally, 00:16:18.719 --> 00:16:19.500 the difference 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.459 between the two people. 00:16:22.319 --> 00:16:22.839 Firstly, 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:24.279 the situation. 00:16:24.740 --> 00:16:25.679 The Romans assumed 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.639 that their main problem 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.199 was just that there's 00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:29.919 a few bad eggs 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:30.500 in society. 00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:31.919 There's a few rich people 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.719 who are causing an issue. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:35.279 And if that could be sorted out, 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:36.879 there'd be peace, 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:37.819 there'd be prosperity. 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.659 But what Paul says 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.279 in Romans 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:40.799 is that, 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:41.799 well, actually, 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.100 no, 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:43.899 the problem goes way back. 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.799 And it's in every single 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:46.379 human being. 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:47.919 Every single human heart 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.980 has been corrupted 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.399 by sin. 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:52.220 And therefore, 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.959 the methods that they use 00:16:53.959 --> 00:16:54.539 are very different. 00:16:54.959 --> 00:16:55.740 Because if you think, 00:16:55.819 --> 00:16:56.360 well, the problem 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:58.019 isn't really in here, 00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:58.679 it's not about 00:16:58.679 --> 00:17:00.899 us walking right before God, 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:03.419 you justify any sort of 00:17:03.419 --> 00:17:04.799 actions in order to bring 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:06.359 about your necessary 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:08.180 desired results. 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.960 So Caesar, for example, 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.859 was no better than any 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:12.619 of the other politicians. 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.919 He was perfectly happy 00:17:13.919 --> 00:17:14.819 to bribe people, 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:17.019 to lock people up 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.839 who disagree with him. 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.299 I mean, Caesar himself 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.939 previously committed genocide. 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.819 He fought a whole civil war 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.779 to bring about 00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:26.279 his desired conclusions. 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.619 But this isn't 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.699 the actions of Jesus. 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.539 Jesus comes and he says, 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.859 my kingdom's not of this world. 00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:34.399 He doesn't come with an army. 00:17:35.219 --> 00:17:36.299 He comes by himself. 00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:38.139 And this isn't due to, 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:40.359 like, a lack of power. 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:42.339 Because, you know, 00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:43.500 Caesar had his legions 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:45.799 of Roman soldiers. 00:17:46.399 --> 00:17:47.819 But Jesus at any moment 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.439 in his life 00:17:48.439 --> 00:17:49.259 could have called down 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:50.039 legions of angels. 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.500 And in fact, 00:17:52.219 --> 00:17:53.259 Jesus didn't even need 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.099 his angels. 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:56.119 Because as we recall 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:57.859 in the Gospels, 00:17:58.639 --> 00:18:00.179 Jesus meets the man 00:18:00.179 --> 00:18:00.619 who's possessed 00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:01.559 by a legion of demons. 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:03.579 And simply by speaking to him, 00:18:03.939 --> 00:18:04.719 he defeats them 00:18:04.719 --> 00:18:05.479 and casts them out. 00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:08.179 Jesus comes with absolute power. 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:10.000 But he doesn't use it. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.940 Where Caesar comes 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.920 only to claim power. 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.160 He came, 00:18:15.940 --> 00:18:16.720 Caesar came 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.140 with these promises 00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:21.360 that he would serve the people. 00:18:21.519 --> 00:18:21.960 But instead, 00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:22.840 he really just wanted 00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:23.840 to be served as king. 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.380 But Jesus comes 00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:25.940 and he says, 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.580 I've come 00:18:27.580 --> 00:18:29.700 not to be served, 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:30.759 but to serve 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:32.140 and to give my life 00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:33.440 as a ransom for many. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:35.340 And that's the difference 00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:35.840 is that 00:18:35.840 --> 00:18:39.360 even in the end results, 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:40.580 Caesar 00:18:40.580 --> 00:18:42.440 didn't even get 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:42.960 what he wanted. 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.559 His life was taken 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.200 from him. 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:48.059 But Jesus did succeed 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:49.120 by giving up 00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:49.740 his own life 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.500 for the sake 00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.299 of other people. 00:18:51.840 --> 00:18:52.680 And that's the difference 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.460 between the two 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:54.680 is that 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:56.400 really Caesar actually 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.440 is a lot more like Adam 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.000 than we thought. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.000 because 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.940 as Paul says, 00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:04.480 in order to undo 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.500 what Adam did, 00:19:06.119 --> 00:19:07.019 you can't have 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.640 another evil person 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.140 come in 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:10.079 who's just going 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:11.019 to smash things up. 00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.859 Because what you need 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.859 is not just another Adam, 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.880 you need almost like 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:15.980 a new Adam, 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.680 a reversal 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:18.599 of who Adam is. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:20.019 Because 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:23.240 if the condemnation 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.500 comes through one trespass, 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:25.579 there must be 00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:26.660 a righteous act 00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:27.839 to undo 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.740 what Adam has done. 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:31.720 If Adam was disobedient, 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.720 the new Adam 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:34.359 has to be obedient. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:37.400 But Caesar simply 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:37.960 copied Adam. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:39.299 Adam in the garden 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:39.940 said, 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.140 okay, 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:40.920 I'm going to become 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.619 like God. 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:42.680 And Caesar did 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.319 the exact same thing. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:43.960 He was a man 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.859 who wished to become God. 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.740 But Jesus is a God 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.539 who became man. 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:50.180 He's the perfect one 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.079 who came down. 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:53.480 And 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:55.880 he has this 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:56.940 connection 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:58.460 between him 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.039 and the father. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.900 You see, 00:20:00.340 --> 00:20:00.840 for Paul, 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:02.200 you can't move 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:05.539 from being disconnected 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.340 from God 00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:07.660 back to being connected 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.500 by God 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.299 simply by 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:11.200 trying your best 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.460 or doing enough 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.720 good things. 00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:14.920 You must already 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.980 have that previous 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:17.100 connection. 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:18.880 And that's where 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.340 we come 00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:20.559 to the second group 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:20.960 of people. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.160 because the second 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:22.840 group of people 00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:23.160 say, 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:23.960 okay, 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:27.000 this is our way 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:28.000 Caesar or these 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.600 political leaders 00:20:28.600 --> 00:20:29.500 are doing things 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.460 isn't right. 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:31.620 What we need 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.420 is someone to come 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:32.900 from God 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:33.740 and to come to us 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.120 and say, 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.640 here's the way 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.860 you need to live. 00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:38.240 We need a religious 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:38.720 leader. 00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:40.539 And so these people, 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:41.400 you know, 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:42.120 they might follow 00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:44.200 Buddha or Mohammed. 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.980 and some of these 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:46.160 people even claim 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:46.880 to follow Jesus. 00:20:47.360 --> 00:20:48.000 And they think, 00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:48.180 well, 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.120 what Jesus has done 00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:50.019 is he comes from God 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.420 and he says, 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:52.500 you have to do 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.640 X, Y, Z 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.819 and then you'll get 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.700 back into God's 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.200 good books. 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:57.920 And the way Paul 00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:58.759 talks about this 00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.400 is he says, 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.160 describes this 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.299 as the law, 00:21:02.600 --> 00:21:03.180 the way you're 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.059 supposed to live 00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:05.600 before God. 00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:08.200 But the problem 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:09.259 is these people 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.180 don't understand 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.480 the situation 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:11.799 either. 00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:13.940 For them, 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.380 they think that 00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.299 simply by doing 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:17.319 enough good things 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.380 we can move 00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:19.400 from being separated 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:19.940 from God 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.299 back into 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:22.860 relationship 00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.740 with Him. 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:27.440 But 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.180 if we read 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:31.200 what Paul 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.740 is saying, 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:32.759 he's saying, 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:33.960 so if you go back 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:35.579 to in chapter 3, 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:37.880 he says, 00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.039 you know, 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:40.299 whatever the law says, 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.160 it says to those 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:41.980 who are under the law 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:43.240 so that every mouth 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.059 may be silenced 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.140 and the whole world 00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:45.799 held accountable 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.339 to God. 00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.140 Therefore, 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.019 no one will be declared 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.200 righteous in God's sight 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.180 by the works of the law. 00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.039 Rather, 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.440 through the law 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.579 we become conscious 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.480 of our sin. 00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:56.799 So the reason 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.899 people 00:21:57.899 --> 00:21:59.619 make this mistake 00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.879 is that they 00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:01.939 think that God 00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:02.859 gave us the law 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.240 in order that we 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.460 follow its rules 00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.199 and make our way 00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:07.019 back to God. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.679 So they would think, 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:09.899 well, 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.159 if we just get together 00:22:11.159 --> 00:22:12.159 and obey the works 00:22:12.159 --> 00:22:12.679 of the law, 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.799 then the most sin 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.220 in the world 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.919 will decrease 00:22:14.919 --> 00:22:15.639 and the world 00:22:15.639 --> 00:22:16.359 will improve. 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.740 But when Paul 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.879 looks at this, 00:22:19.919 --> 00:22:21.779 he says in verse 20, 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.879 the law was brought 00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:24.359 in so that the trespass 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:26.079 might increase. 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.720 And you might think, 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.339 well, hold on, Paul. 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.200 That's the opposite 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.839 of what's happening. 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.220 Why would God 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.019 give us the law 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.740 to increase the amount 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.920 of sin in the world? 00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.420 It doesn't make any sense. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.740 But what Paul's 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.779 really saying here 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:41.160 is that the law 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:42.000 simply reveals 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.819 how bad our situation is. 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:46.519 it tells us 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.579 that there's no way 00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.619 you can do enough 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:50.779 to get back 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.879 into God's good books. 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:56.019 When we see this 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:57.039 between, 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:58.019 but when we 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.679 look at the example 00:22:59.679 --> 00:23:00.519 of the Pharisees, 00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.519 so the Pharisees 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.980 are this same example 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.799 and they thought, 00:23:04.419 --> 00:23:05.179 look, we've got 00:23:05.179 --> 00:23:05.859 the law of Moses. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:08.220 If we obey the law, 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.480 then God, 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.679 then we'll earn 00:23:10.679 --> 00:23:11.779 our place before God. 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:14.259 And sometimes people 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.799 make a mistake 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.220 and they think, 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.099 well, the problem 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.859 with the Pharisees 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:19.160 is they're too 00:23:19.160 --> 00:23:20.539 big on law. 00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:22.460 Where Jesus is about love 00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:23.539 and he's not so, 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.139 like, hardcore 00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:25.579 about all these 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.619 specific rules. 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.440 But actually, 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:29.000 for Jesus, 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.160 the law of Moses 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:31.000 is about love. 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.519 He sums up the law 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:32.960 by saying, 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.839 you should love 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:35.579 the Lord your God 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.440 with all your heart, 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.680 mind, soul, and strength, 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.519 and you should love 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:38.960 your neighbor 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:40.759 as yourself. 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:49.200 And what happens 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:50.539 is there's just 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.700 this natural consequence 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:53.539 of how people 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:54.279 treat the law. 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.700 And what they do 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:58.480 is like the Pharisees, 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.759 they change the law. 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:00.460 So the Pharisees 00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.079 would actually make 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:01.799 some of the commandments 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.279 easier. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.000 So for example, 00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:05.119 when it says, 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.119 honor your father and mother, 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.000 they'd come up 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.899 with all these sort of 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:09.899 excuses and reasoning 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:10.579 where they don't really 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:11.679 have to follow that rule. 00:24:12.199 --> 00:24:13.119 Or they'd invent 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:13.879 some new rules 00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:14.799 that they could follow 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.339 that other people couldn't. 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:19.099 So when Jesus comes to them, 00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:19.579 he says, 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.839 he doesn't say, 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.039 you know, 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.779 the problem with you guys 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.559 is you're too hardcore 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.399 about the rules. 00:24:23.939 --> 00:24:24.799 He actually says, 00:24:25.179 --> 00:24:26.240 you guys aren't being 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.980 hardcore enough 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.579 about the rules. 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:30.659 Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount, 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.740 he says, 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:33.019 you know, 00:24:33.699 --> 00:24:35.199 you think you've not 00:24:35.199 --> 00:24:35.699 killed anyone. 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:37.619 But if you're angry at anyone, 00:24:38.179 --> 00:24:39.179 you've broken that law. 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:39.720 You think, 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.159 you said, 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.199 I've not cheated on my wife. 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.939 And he says, 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:42.480 well, 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.199 if you've looked at anyone 00:24:43.199 --> 00:24:43.799 with lust, 00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.619 you've committed adultery. 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.720 And so when Jesus 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:51.019 came, 00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:52.059 he didn't come to say, 00:24:52.139 --> 00:24:52.220 okay, 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.480 the law is a bad thing. 00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.720 We're going to get rid of that. 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:56.360 He came to reveal 00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:57.519 the true purpose of the law, 00:24:58.380 --> 00:25:00.339 which is why 00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:03.339 when he speaks to the people 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.620 and he says, 00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:06.140 you know, 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:06.980 I didn't come 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:09.000 for the righteous, 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.779 but for sinners. 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:11.819 And it's not those who are, 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.480 well, 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.059 you need a doctor, 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:14.900 but those who are sick. 00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.900 What he's saying is not that 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:18.640 there are two categories of people. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.539 There's those who've obeyed the law 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.660 and those who haven't. 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.559 And I've just come for those who haven't. 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.140 He said, 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.280 well, 00:25:24.280 --> 00:25:24.759 actually, 00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:26.620 there's only people who haven't. 00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:27.720 There's only people 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.840 who haven't obeyed the law. 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.700 And if anyone thinks, 00:25:31.340 --> 00:25:31.420 oh, 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.460 they have obeyed the law, 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.460 really, 00:25:33.520 --> 00:25:34.380 they've not understood 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:36.940 its commandments correctly. 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.360 So that's 00:25:41.360 --> 00:25:43.220 the problem 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.920 with using 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.060 the method 00:25:45.060 --> 00:25:46.340 of obeying the law. 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.759 But then Paul says 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.780 that there's another method. 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:54.180 in chapter 3, 00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:55.259 verse 21, 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.519 But now, 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.400 apart from the law, 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.759 the righteousness of God 00:25:58.759 --> 00:25:59.599 has been made known, 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.579 to which the law 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.559 and the prophets testify. 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.819 This righteousness 00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.839 is given through faith 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.700 in Jesus Christ 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:06.079 to all who believe. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:10.859 So, 00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:13.079 this, 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.639 the method 00:26:15.639 --> 00:26:16.679 of going by the law 00:26:16.679 --> 00:26:17.460 doesn't work, 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.659 but God 00:26:19.659 --> 00:26:20.220 has, 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:22.220 through Jesus Christ, 00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:22.579 has 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:25.319 shown us another way. 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.460 So, 00:26:26.899 --> 00:26:28.579 and, 00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.659 and this is the reality 00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:30.139 is that 00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:32.740 when we say, 00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:33.279 okay, 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:34.159 we need someone 00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:35.179 to come and save us, 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:37.019 whether that's 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.379 Buddha 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.899 or Muhammad 00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:40.079 or even when we say 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.539 it's Jesus, 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.519 and what they're doing 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.599 is they're giving us 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:45.019 a rule book 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.480 to follow. 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:47.079 We follow these steps 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.859 and we get to God. 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.500 We're not really following 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.859 those people. 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.819 We're not really saying, 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:53.819 oh, 00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.059 they're, 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:54.240 oh, 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.299 Jesus is bringing me 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:55.720 to God. 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.099 Really, 00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:56.379 we're saying, 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:56.539 oh, 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.259 I'm doing it. 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.099 So, 00:26:58.180 --> 00:27:00.399 Adam has brought us into, 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.259 has broken the connection, 00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:02.859 but I, 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.720 and I alone 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:05.960 can do enough 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:07.220 to bring us back over. 00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:09.919 But, 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.819 really, 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.279 if that, 00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:12.940 if that happens, 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:17.659 this only has two consequences 00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:18.599 and end results. 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:20.419 Either we're going to despair. 00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:22.599 If we try our hardest, 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.019 oh, 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.240 thanks. 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:32.379 Yeah, 00:27:32.379 --> 00:27:33.200 so, 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:35.399 the end result 00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:38.039 of going by the law 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:41.500 is that either we'll despair 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.099 of our sin 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:43.240 and realize that we can't 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.940 make it ourselves 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:47.019 or we'll become self-righteous 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.460 and say, 00:27:47.580 --> 00:27:47.680 well, 00:27:47.820 --> 00:27:49.059 I'm not that great, 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:51.539 but at least I'm better 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:53.900 than that guy over there. 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:55.420 Because, 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:55.940 ultimately, 00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:57.000 all that does is 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:58.960 set us back on the treadmill 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.680 of trying to work 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:02.320 our way up to God. 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.359 world. 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.079 But, 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:09.099 Jesus Christ 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:10.220 offers us 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.220 something different. 00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:13.439 He doesn't offer us, 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:16.779 sorry, 00:28:16.919 --> 00:28:17.259 hold a second. 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:21.240 But, 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:27.339 Jesus Christ offers us 00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:28.059 something different. 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.619 He's not like 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:32.440 the political leaders, 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.339 the Caesars, 00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:35.500 who come with 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.379 their false promises 00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:37.759 and come with 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:40.619 their evil actions 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:42.400 only to kill and destroy. 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:44.180 but he came to save 00:28:44.180 --> 00:28:45.580 and to rescue 00:28:45.580 --> 00:28:46.180 and to heal. 00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:47.820 And he's also not like 00:28:47.820 --> 00:28:49.780 the religious teachers 00:28:49.780 --> 00:28:50.860 who simply say, 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.920 here's some rules to follow. 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.900 If you try your hardest, 00:28:54.300 --> 00:28:55.440 maybe you'll make it back. 00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:56.440 But, 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:56.880 instead, 00:28:57.060 --> 00:28:57.660 Jesus comes 00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:59.200 and he says, 00:28:59.420 --> 00:29:00.540 I've done it for you. 00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:03.940 Jesus is the only one 00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.900 who can obey the law 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.600 in our place. 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.100 And so, 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:08.740 if we look at what Paul is saying, 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.840 through all of chapter five, 00:29:11.300 --> 00:29:12.040 over and over, 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:13.359 he repeats the word gift. 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.579 It's a gift of God, 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.420 a gift of righteousness 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.619 through one man, 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.420 Jesus Christ. 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.440 And what we need 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.099 to understand 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:21.639 is that 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:23.720 when we see 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.159 the reality 00:29:24.159 --> 00:29:24.940 of our situation, 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:25.779 that in Adam 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.899 we're completely cut off. 00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:27.960 We're separated 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:29.000 from God 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.839 by our sins. 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:32.159 It's only then 00:29:32.159 --> 00:29:33.200 that we really realize 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:33.899 the true 00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:35.920 message of the gospel. 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:37.720 That, 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.500 as Paul says, 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.799 where sin increased, 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.099 grace increased 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.740 all the more. 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.339 So that just as 00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:45.099 sin reigned in death, 00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.920 so also grace 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.440 might reign 00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:47.079 through righteousness 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.539 to bring eternal life 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.399 through Jesus Christ, 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:49.859 our Lord. 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.259 Because, 00:29:53.420 --> 00:30:04.259 Jesus Christ 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.579 has, 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.240 sorry, 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:16.299 God, 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:16.299 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:16.299 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:16.299 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:16.799 a chance 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.319 to try again, 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:19.200 to try hard. 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:20.539 It offers us 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:22.599 a way back 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.099 to God. 00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:24.059 It's not 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.920 him saying, 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:27.019 like Adam, 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.519 you have to work 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.480 and try your best. 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.039 You, 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.579 as a man, 00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.480 have to work your way 00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:33.240 up to me as God. 00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:35.900 But in Jesus Christ, God came down to us. 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:39.339 He came down to fix the problems that we caused. 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:51.819 The message that Paul is bringing is not a new set of rules by which us as humans can fix our relationship with God. 00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:55.460 Instead, Paul's message is a message of good news. 00:30:56.539 --> 00:31:00.740 It's saying that Jesus Christ has come and he's already fixed this relationship. 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:02.640 He's already done it for us. 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:04.640 There's nothing we can do to change that. 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:10.840 And if we think that we need to fix it ourselves, we don't have the gospel. 00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:13.240 We don't understand who Jesus is. 00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:18.960 And we're trying to replace him with a substitute, something different. 00:31:19.360 --> 00:31:29.000 But when we realize that there's no other human being who can do what Jesus did, not us, not me, not you, 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:35.920 that's when we really realize the unique value of Jesus. 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:45.840 And that's the emphasis of what Paul is saying here. 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.800 So let's thank God for that. 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:58.839 Lord, you've shown us that we are so far away from you. 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:07.059 Ever since Adam sinned and turned from you and done what was wrong, we've been separated from you and from one another. 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:10.659 We've done what is evil and we've turned far from you. 00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:15.980 But Lord, we also thank you that you have given us our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:24.560 A Savior who is perfect and righteous. 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:27.940 And that you've given him freely as a gift. 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:30.079 There's nothing that we have to do to earn it. 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:34.359 There's nothing we can do to win our way back to you. 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:38.039 But it's only by grace that you've given him to us. 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.319 We thank you. 00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:41.480 We thank you for this. 00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:45.159 And may, in Jesus' name, amen. 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:49.259 And now I think we're going to sing our final hymn, 00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:52.720 Yet Not I, But Through Christ in Me.