WEBVTT

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 We're going to be reading now from the book of Romans, chapter 1, starting at verse 18

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 through the end of the chapter.

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 For the wrath of God is arreled from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness

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 of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

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 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

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 For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly

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 perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.

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 So they are without excuse.

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 For although they know God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they

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 became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

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 Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for

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 images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

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 Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonouring

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 of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and

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 worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 For this reason, God gave them up to dishonourable passions.

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 For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature.

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 And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for

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 one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due

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 penalty for their error.

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 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do

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 what ought not to be done.

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 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice.

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 They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness.

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 They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil,

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 disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

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 Though they know God's righteous decrees that those who practice such things deserve to

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 die, they not only do them, but give approval to those who practice them.

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 Well, good morning, everyone.

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 Those on Zoom as well.

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 Well, I'd like to start with a question, and today is no different.

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 So here it goes.

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 Confronting question, what matters most to you when you think about God?

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 What matters most to you when you think about God?

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 I'm going to give you two options.

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 Is it how well you feel your life is going?

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 God's in charge of life, as it were.

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 So is it how well you feel your life is going, or is it how you stand before God, or how God's

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 view of you?

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 Just take a couple of seconds, literally take a few seconds, just to decide which one matters

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 most to you when you think about God.

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 I think if we're honest, most of us default to self-interested thinking in most things.

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 Even when thinking about God and God's powerful gospel.

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 Will it fix my brokenness, my bad habits, my struggling relationships?

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 Will it deliver me a hassle-free life?

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 Does it promise me an enjoyable experience?

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 That's a fairly modern one.

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 Happiness.

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 When we come to read Paul's letter to the Christians at Rome, it's anything but self-interested.

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 His focus constantly, especially in the introduction, in the first 17 verses, is very strongly God-centered.

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 God's powerful gospel.

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 And this morning, the God of the gospel.

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 Paul knows that what matters most is not whether we feel good, whether we have our needs met,

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 whether we've had a meaningful experience when we come to church.

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 What matters most is how God thinks of us, whether we're in a good relationship with God,

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 and on what basis we believe we're in that relationship with God.

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 And in verse 16 and 17, which was the sort of climax of Paul's introduction,

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 he says,

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 For I am not ashamed of the gospel.

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 Why is he not ashamed of the gospel?

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 Because it's the power of God for salvation.

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 God's gospel, the God of the gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,

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 the Jew first and also to the Greek.

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 For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed.

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 In it, in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed.

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 The gospel, God's powerful gospel, does two things.

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 It shows us both what God is like, his righteousness,

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 and it shows us God's way of salvation,

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 God's way of people coming back into right relationship with him.

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 But if that's the introduction, then it raises a very, very big question.

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 And that's what Paul turns his attention to in this next section of his letter

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 that runs all the way from chapter 1, verse 18, through to chapter 3, verse 20.

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 The question is this.

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 Who needs the gospel?

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 And why do we need the gospel to come back into right relationship with God?

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 It's almost as if, I remember when I first came down here,

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 there's an advertising billboard out in Hexham Way,

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 and it actually had great big letters.

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 If Jesus is the answer, then what is the question?

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 Paul tells us in his introduction that Jesus is the answer.

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 Now we're starting to jump into the question.

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 What is the question?

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 The question is, who needs this gospel, this powerful gospel,

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 and why do we need it?

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 Why do we need it to be put back into the right relationship with God?

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 Because I guess most people in their natural state,

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 if you ask them what God thinks of them,

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 they'll say, well, I'm not perfect,

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 but I've done this and this and this and this.

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 And so I think overall they'll think,

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 I'm acceptable to God.

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 So this question of who needs the gospel and why,

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 we'll unpack over the next three Sundays.

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 But before I jump into the details of 1, 18 verse 32,

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 18 through to 32,

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 I want you to step back and frame the argument

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 at a sort of big picture level.

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 So I want you to talk first about salvation and wrath

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 as two sides of the one coin of God's righteousness.

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 Now, if you look at verse 17,

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 it says,

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 the righteous for in it,

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 that is God's powerful gospel,

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 in it the righteousness of God is revealed.

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 Paul's introduction finishes verse 17

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 with a spotlight on God's righteousness.

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 And righteousness means, as I said last week,

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 faithfulness to his promise to love

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 and deliver his special covenant people.

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 And that's been revealed in an ongoing way.

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 The righteousness of God is being revealed.

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 How is it being revealed?

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 It's been revealed through the gospel.

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 God's salvation powerfully delivered

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 through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

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 But then Paul's next sentence,

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 the beginning of verse 8,

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 launches into this idea of the wrath of God.

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 How did we get from this glorious notion

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 of the righteousness of God in the gospel

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 to the wrath of God in the next sentence?

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 The connection's really, really important,

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 I think, to our understanding

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 of what Paul's going to do

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 over the next few chapters.

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 The next sentence goes really dark,

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 shifting to the wrath of God,

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 which he says in verse 18,

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 is also being revealed in an ongoing way,

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 present tense, present continuous.

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 So the question is,

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 why the sudden shift from hugely positive

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 to darkly negative?

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 Answer,

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 because Paul's starting to address this question

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 and spell out the answer to this question,

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 who needs the gospel and why we need it?

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 Who needs God's righteousness as a gift

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 through the gospel,

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 that which is spoken about in verses 16 and 17?

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 And why we need God's righteousness as a gift

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 through the gospel?

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 Why?

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 Well,

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 because of God's wrath.

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 Now, God's wrath is his sort of considered response.

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 It's not that just God flies off the handle

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 in a temper tantrum.

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 Wrath is a considered response

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 or judgment on unrighteousness.

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 That's what it says.

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 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven

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 against all ungodliness

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 and unrighteousness of mankind,

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 humankind.

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 So the wrath of God is God's considered response.

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 What's unrighteousness then?

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 Well,

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 if the righteousness of God

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 is a reflection of God's character

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 and God's character responding

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 to unrighteousness,

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 then by definition,

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 unrighteousness

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 is anything that's contrary

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 to God's character.

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 Anything that's at odds

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 with God's status

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 as creator

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 and Lord of this universe.

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 Which is, of course,

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 otherwise described in the Bible

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 as sin

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 or rebellion.

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 So,

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 the wrath of God,

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 a considered response

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 against anything

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 that's contrary to his character

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 or his standing

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 as creator

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 and Lord of this universe,

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 where he sees it

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 in mankind,

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 humankind,

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 sinners,

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 sinners rather.

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 Now,

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 what we have to understand here

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 is that for Paul,

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 it's not a change

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 of focus at all

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 because God's wrath

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 is equally

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 an expression

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 of God's righteousness.

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 It's one coin

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 with two sides.

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 And we see that

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 throughout the history of Israel

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 if you read through the Old Testament.

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 God's righteousness

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 was seen

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 either in

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 magnificent deliverances

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 of God's people

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 and salvation

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 or at other points

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 in the history of Israel,

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 God's righteousness

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 was seen as calling

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 his people to account

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 and bringing judgment

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 upon them.

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 Either partial judgment

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 or more complete judgment

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 or total judgment.

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 Both were acts

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 of God's righteousness

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 in respect of his people.

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 And so,

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 Paul's intention here,

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 I think,

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 and it's been a bit

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 of a long-winded argument,

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 hopefully I haven't lost you on it,

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 but I think it's an important argument.

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 Paul's intention here,

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 I think,

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 as we move from verse 16, 17

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 into verse 18

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 and the rest of the letter,

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 Paul's intention here

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 is to highlight

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 the wonder,

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 the splendor

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 of God

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 gifting us

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 his righteousness

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 in the gospel,

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 that which makes us

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 acceptable to God.

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 He wants to highlight that

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 against

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 the dark

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 and hopeless

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 condition

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 of mankind

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 in their natural state,

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 that is,

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 in their unrighteousness.

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 So Paul's

00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:13.379
 making a contrast here

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 to answer the question

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 why we need it.

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 Why do we need it?

00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:16.320
 Well,

00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:16.980
 this is an expression

00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:17.740
 of God's righteousness

00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:19.060
 in the gospel.

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 Why do we need it?

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 Because we're unrighteous.

00:13:23.300 --> 00:13:24.080
 We do that

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 which is contrary

00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:26.300
 to God's status,

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 which challenges

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 God's status,

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 which is at odds

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 with God's character.

00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:33.899
 which leaves us

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 unacceptable to God

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 and facing condemnation.

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 So,

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 who needs the gospel then?

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 Who needs this gospel

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 of God's,

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 of the gift

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 of God's righteousness

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 in Jesus?

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 Answer here again,

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 all mankind.

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 The word men there

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 is actually humankind.

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 which means,

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 if you go back

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 to verse 14

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 where Paul mentioned

00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.940
 Greeks and barbarians,

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 it means that

00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:03.080
 the barbarian,

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:04.360
 and that was a term

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 by the Romans

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 and the Greeks

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 for everybody else

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 in the world,

00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:08.919
 apart from the Jews.

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 So,

00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:11.820
 the barbarians,

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:12.940
 and these barbarians

00:14:12.940 --> 00:14:13.720
 had very,

00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:14.919
 very little knowledge

00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:17.120
 of the one true God.

00:14:17.420 --> 00:14:18.100
 All they had

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 was what they could

00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.879
 observe in the

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.600
 physical creation.

00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:21.480
 Do they need the gospel?

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.360
 Absolutely,

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:22.940
 says Paul.

00:14:23.800 --> 00:14:24.259
 The Greeks

00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:24.779
 and the Romans,

00:14:25.180 --> 00:14:26.920
 sophisticated civilizations

00:14:26.920 --> 00:14:27.840
 who have a finely

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:28.680
 tuned conscience,

00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:29.659
 do they need the gospel?

00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:30.460
 Absolutely,

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.100
 says Paul,

00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:32.700
 because they're unrighteous.

00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:33.879
 What about the Jews?

00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:34.580
 They've actually got

00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:35.460
 God's written word.

00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:36.740
 God spoke to them directly.

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.180
 Do they need the gospel?

00:14:38.920 --> 00:14:39.060
 Well,

00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:39.899
 we'll see in chapter 3.

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.379
 Absolutely,

00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:40.960
 says Paul.

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:42.720
 They also are unrighteous.

00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:48.080
 All are without excuse.

00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:48.340
 Now,

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:49.779
 why are all

00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.820
 without excuse?

00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:53.039
 big point,

00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:53.720
 which is the point

00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:54.440
 you need to take away

00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:54.940
 from all of what

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:55.320
 I've been saying

00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:56.000
 up to this point,

00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.220
 because nobody,

00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.420
 none live

00:14:59.420 --> 00:15:00.860
 according to what

00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:02.139
 they know about God.

00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:03.980
 None live

00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.920
 according to what

00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:06.200
 they know about God.

00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.340
 Now,

00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:10.759
 the problem of unrighteousness

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.100
 is not a problem

00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.960
 of a lack of knowledge

00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:14.539
 of God.

00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:17.959
 It's a problem

00:15:17.959 --> 00:15:19.159
 of the choice

00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:20.559
 to live

00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:21.219
 contrary

00:15:21.219 --> 00:15:22.079
 to what they do

00:15:22.079 --> 00:15:22.819
 know about God.

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:23.759
 That's the problem

00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.599
 of unrighteousness.

00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:25.699
 It's a deliberate

00:15:25.699 --> 00:15:26.319
 choice.

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:29.879
 Let me put it

00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.419
 another way,

00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:31.559
 perhaps a little bit

00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:32.219
 more confronting.

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.839
 Why will God

00:15:34.839 --> 00:15:35.419
 condemn,

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.379
 sorry,

00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.179
 let me try that word

00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:37.399
 again.

00:15:37.819 --> 00:15:38.719
 Why will God

00:15:38.719 --> 00:15:39.579
 condemn

00:15:39.579 --> 00:15:41.019
 people who might

00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:41.439
 have lived

00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:42.159
 in the deepest,

00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.039
 darkest part

00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.599
 of the Amazon,

00:15:45.079 --> 00:15:46.480
 who have never

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.559
 heard of Jesus

00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:49.299
 or God

00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:50.120
 or the Bible

00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:50.779
 in any sort

00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.299
 of written way?

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:51.879
 Why will God

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:52.559
 condemn them?

00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:55.959
 Answer,

00:15:56.839 --> 00:15:57.719
 not because

00:15:57.719 --> 00:15:58.120
 of what they

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.000
 don't know

00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.759
 about the Bible

00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.419
 or Jesus,

00:16:01.539 --> 00:16:03.759
 but because

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.379
 they refuse

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.259
 to live in the light

00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.019
 of what they do

00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.919
 know about God

00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:07.939
 from observing

00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:09.000
 the physical universe

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.899
 around them.

00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:15.899
 So,

00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:16.719
 let's

00:16:16.719 --> 00:16:17.819
 jump into

00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:18.719
 18 to 32

00:16:18.719 --> 00:16:19.519
 now and see

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:19.879
 if we can

00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:20.579
 demonstrate that

00:16:20.579 --> 00:16:21.319
 principle under

00:16:21.319 --> 00:16:21.899
 two headings.

00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.459
 The first one

00:16:22.459 --> 00:16:22.799
 is this,

00:16:22.959 --> 00:16:23.759
 both autonomy

00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.120
 headings.

00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:25.000
 The first one

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.379
 is that

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.099
 autonomy

00:16:26.099 --> 00:16:27.659
 is pursued

00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.919
 as people

00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:29.899
 seek freedom

00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:31.179
 at any cost.

00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:34.399
 Now,

00:16:34.459 --> 00:16:34.959
 we all know

00:16:34.959 --> 00:16:35.479
 the idea

00:16:35.479 --> 00:16:35.979
 of autonomy.

00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:36.939
 It's been

00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:37.519
 sort of

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:37.959
 fascinating

00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:38.559
 and scary

00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:38.979
 at the same

00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:39.419
 time

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.599
 to look

00:16:40.599 --> 00:16:41.259
 at autonomy

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.399
 just in the

00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:42.919
 motor vehicle

00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:43.699
 industry alone.

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:44.719
 Autonomous

00:16:44.719 --> 00:16:45.159
 vehicles,

00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:45.539
 for goodness

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:45.859
 sake.

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.659
 They drive

00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:48.120
 themselves,

00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:48.559
 apparently.

00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:49.439
 In other words,

00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:50.659
 the driver's

00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:51.479
 been displaced.

00:16:54.719 --> 00:16:55.620
 That's autonomy

00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:56.079
 for you.

00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:59.340
 But we all

00:16:59.340 --> 00:16:59.620
 know it

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.240
 personally too,

00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:00.620
 don't we?

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.460
 We all know

00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:01.900
 it as a

00:17:01.900 --> 00:17:02.840
 constant desire

00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.660
 for freedom.

00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:05.240
 And boy,

00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:05.720
 has that been

00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.220
 a big word

00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:06.579
 through the

00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:06.940
 pandemic,

00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.059
 an increasingly

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.740
 big word

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.640
 through the

00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.039
 pandemic.

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.279
 We all

00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.920
 want to do

00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.500
 what we

00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.100
 want to do

00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:13.660
 when we

00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.140
 want to do

00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:14.259
 it,

00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:14.720
 as we

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.059
 want to

00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.380
 do it.

00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.160
 Freedom.

00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:16.259
 Freedom.

00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:21.940
 Freedom at any

00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:22.400
 cost,

00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:23.779
 I would dare

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.319
 to add.

00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:30.480
 Now,

00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:31.599
 Paul argues

00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:32.799
 in these

00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.500
 verses here

00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:35.639
 that the

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.460
 desire for

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.059
 autonomy

00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:39.460
 is a key

00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.399
 driver in

00:17:40.399 --> 00:17:40.859
 the way

00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:42.019
 people respond

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.500
 to God.

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:44.299
 And the

00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:44.839
 reason why

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.960
 all people,

00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:46.759
 without exception,

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.079
 naturally

00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:49.019
 attract and

00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.939
 deserve God's

00:17:49.939 --> 00:17:50.439
 wrath or

00:17:50.439 --> 00:17:50.779
 judgment.

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:54.539
 you look at

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.079
 verses 19

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.500
 and 20.

00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:58.839
 For what

00:17:58.839 --> 00:17:59.599
 can be known

00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.200
 about God

00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:00.940
 is plain

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:01.359
 to them,

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:03.839
 because God

00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:04.539
 has shown it

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:04.899
 to them.

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.759
 For his

00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.259
 invisible

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.839
 attributes,

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.480
 namely his

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.399
 eternal power

00:18:10.399 --> 00:18:10.859
 and divine

00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.319
 nature,

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.680
 have been

00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.720
 clearly perceived

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.759
 ever since the

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.539
 creation of the

00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:16.720
 world in the

00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.299
 things that

00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:17.740
 have been

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.119
 made.

00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:21.179
 so they

00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:22.000
 are without

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.739
 excuse.

00:18:27.899 --> 00:18:28.599
 Any

00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.139
 person

00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:30.279
 observing our

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.299
 physical world

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.599
 is but

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:34.259
 confronted by

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:34.839
 the reality

00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:35.419
 of God.

00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:37.419
 We cannot

00:18:37.419 --> 00:18:38.339
 actually see

00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:39.500
 him, but

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.339
 his fingerprints

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.259
 are everywhere.

00:18:44.719 --> 00:18:45.559
 And it's a

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:46.059
 very simple

00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:46.439
 argument,

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:46.799
 really,

00:18:46.899 --> 00:18:47.419
 that we can

00:18:47.419 --> 00:18:47.919
 understand.

00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:48.779
 If you

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.559
 look at a

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:49.939
 computer,

00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.619
 my laptop,

00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:51.339
 for instance,

00:18:52.179 --> 00:18:52.699
 if you look

00:18:52.699 --> 00:18:52.899
 at the

00:18:52.899 --> 00:18:53.659
 complexity of

00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:54.279
 my laptop,

00:18:54.959 --> 00:18:56.000
 it's obvious

00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.099
 that it

00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:59.079
 required somebody

00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.819
 bigger than

00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.599
 the laptop to

00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.419
 actually design

00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.179
 and construct

00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:02.479
 it.

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:06.919
 So,

00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:08.379
 when you look

00:19:08.379 --> 00:19:08.639
 at our

00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:09.439
 physical world

00:19:09.439 --> 00:19:09.879
 in all its

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.339
 beauty and

00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:10.839
 complexity,

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:11.959
 it points

00:19:11.959 --> 00:19:12.839
 to a very

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.500
 real and

00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.079
 powerful

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:14.599
 designer.

00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:14.659
 mirror.

00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.079
 But verse

00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:18.480
 18,

00:19:18.819 --> 00:19:19.399
 the problem

00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:21.480
 is that

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.199
 people want

00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:23.059
 to suppress

00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:24.879
 that which

00:19:24.879 --> 00:19:25.339
 is obvious,

00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:25.980
 the truth

00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.539
 about God.

00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:28.879
 Why do they

00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:29.459
 want to suppress

00:19:29.459 --> 00:19:29.839
 the truth

00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.240
 about God?

00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.339
 because to

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:32.200
 admit that

00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:32.640
 truth,

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.519
 to embrace

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.279
 that truth,

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.799
 is also to

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.579
 embrace that

00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:38.500
 that God may

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.339
 well have

00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:40.319
 some designs

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.819
 on relationship

00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.359
 with you.

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.539
 If he's bigger

00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.059
 than you,

00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:44.960
 you are then

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.620
 under him.

00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:46.440
 There's,

00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.299
 by definition,

00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:48.140
 a relationship

00:19:48.140 --> 00:19:49.579
 that's implied

00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:49.980
 there.

00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.839
 People suppress

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.460
 the truth

00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.799
 because they

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.220
 want to

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.799
 avoid the

00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.380
 relationship.

00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:00.519
 Freedom.

00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.319
 We want

00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:02.740
 to do our

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.180
 own thing,

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.000
 answer to

00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.460
 ourselves.

00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.039
 So,

00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:07.680
 verses 21,

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.059
 22,

00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:08.500
 and 23,

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.559
 instead of

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.440
 honoring God,

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.120
 what do they

00:20:11.120 --> 00:20:11.279
 do?

00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.200
 They treat

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.059
 him shamefully.

00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.400
 And there's

00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:13.860
 that theme

00:20:13.860 --> 00:20:14.160
 again,

00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:14.779
 shame and

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:14.940
 honor,

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.180
 that we

00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:15.700
 saw last

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:15.960
 week.

00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:17.440
 They treat

00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:18.160
 him shamefully.

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.140
 How do they

00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:19.420
 treat him

00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:19.720
 shamefully?

00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:19.920
 Well,

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.380
 listen to the

00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:20.660
 verses.

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.400
 When I can

00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:23.819
 find them.

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.639
 For although

00:20:24.639 --> 00:20:25.099
 they knew

00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.539
 God,

00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.399
 they did

00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:28.000
 not honor

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.319
 him as

00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:28.939
 God or

00:20:28.939 --> 00:20:29.639
 give thanks

00:20:29.639 --> 00:20:30.019
 to him.

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.079
 But they

00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:31.939
 became futile

00:20:31.939 --> 00:20:32.220
 in their

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.539
 thinking,

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.000
 and their

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.720
 foolish hearts

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.379
 were darkened.

00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:35.819
 Claiming to

00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.220
 be wise,

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:36.619
 they became

00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:37.200
 fools,

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.919
 and exchanged

00:20:38.919 --> 00:20:39.919
 the glory of

00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:40.379
 the immortal

00:20:40.379 --> 00:20:40.859
 God for

00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:41.939
 images resembling

00:20:41.939 --> 00:20:42.759
 mortal man and

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.159
 birds and

00:20:43.159 --> 00:20:43.599
 animals and

00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.079
 reptiles.

00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.899
 Instead of

00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.619
 acknowledging

00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.879
 their existence

00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:52.039
 to God and

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:53.000
 dependence on

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.279
 him,

00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.240
 they treat

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.819
 him shamefully.

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.200
 How do they

00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:56.439
 treat him

00:20:56.439 --> 00:20:56.720
 shamefully?

00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:56.980
 Well,

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.159
 they're

00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:57.619
 constantly

00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:58.480
 reducing

00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:58.980
 God.

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:00.779
 They're

00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.059
 constantly

00:21:01.059 --> 00:21:01.519
 trying to

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.200
 bring God

00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:02.639
 down to

00:21:02.639 --> 00:21:03.159
 a size

00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:03.980
 which is

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.539
 comfortable

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.319
 to exist

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:05.740
 with,

00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:07.119
 and perhaps

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.960
 even control.

00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:09.539
 So if God's

00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.099
 way up there

00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:10.539
 big,

00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:11.319
 whoa,

00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:11.960
 that's scary.

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.659
 Let's bring

00:21:12.659 --> 00:21:13.240
 him down and

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.720
 make him into

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.319
 a stone or

00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:14.980
 a totem pole,

00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.519
 and we'll

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:15.720
 say,

00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:15.960
 okay,

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:16.559
 we'll carve

00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:16.679
 him,

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.159
 we'll fashion

00:21:17.159 --> 00:21:17.279
 him,

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:17.679
 we'll stick

00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:18.059
 him here,

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:18.759
 and then

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:20.079
 that's ours

00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.599
 to control.

00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:22.319
 That's God.

00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:25.879
 blurring

00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:26.639
 distinction

00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:28.980
 between God

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.460
 and that

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:29.819
 which he

00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.159
 has made.

00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:30.579
 So God

00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:30.919
 is now

00:21:30.919 --> 00:21:31.659
 part of

00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:31.939
 a piece

00:21:31.939 --> 00:21:32.279
 of wood

00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:32.799
 or part

00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.159
 of a piece

00:21:33.159 --> 00:21:33.579
 of stone

00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:34.480
 or part

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:34.919
 of a

00:21:34.919 --> 00:21:35.359
 building.

00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.159
 And we're

00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:40.500
 told here

00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:40.899
 the ultimate

00:21:40.899 --> 00:21:41.839
 consequence

00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:43.159
 of continually

00:21:43.159 --> 00:21:43.839
 suppressing

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:45.819
 truth is

00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:46.720
 that ultimately

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.019
 reality becomes

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.000
 so distorted

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.420
 that we can

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:50.960
 no longer

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.000
 access truth.

00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.380
 In other

00:21:54.380 --> 00:21:54.500
 words,

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.299
 we've lived

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:55.960
 under a lie

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.720
 so long

00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.619
 that now

00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:58.039
 the lie

00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.440
 has become

00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:58.799
 the truth

00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.180
 for us.

00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.599
 We can't

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.000
 actually get

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.460
 back to

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:00.839
 what it was

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.299
 before the

00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:01.559
 lie.

00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.339
 And the

00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:06.940
 lie is

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.440
 that people

00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.519
 can decide,

00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.400
 individuals can

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:10.500
 decide what

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.400
 God is like,

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.539
 or they can

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.079
 even decide

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:13.880
 to replace

00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:14.579
 him completely

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.359
 if they don't

00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.180
 like the

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.619
 idea of

00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:16.900
 God.

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:17.839
 And what

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.039
 do they

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.480
 replace him

00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:18.740
 with?

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.259
 Well,

00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.599
 we're told

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:20.819
 they're

00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.279
 autonomy,

00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:22.920
 self-wisdom,

00:22:24.180 --> 00:22:24.980
 and self-worship.

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:30.980
 Now,

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.180
 friends,

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:31.599
 this is the

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.099
 culture we

00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:32.599
 live in.

00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:37.539
 And therefore,

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.160
 we must say

00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:38.819
 it's a culture

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:40.079
 under God's

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.420
 wrath,

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.140
 and a

00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:43.059
 culture without

00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:43.860
 excuse.

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.019
 For all

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:47.319
 our knowledge

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.240
 and discovery

00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.079
 and science

00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:49.759
 and research,

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:50.700
 and it's

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.420
 vast.

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.420
 There are a

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:52.740
 lot of

00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:53.460
 really clever

00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:54.039
 people out

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:54.420
 there doing

00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:54.859
 a lot of

00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:56.299
 really amazing

00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:56.980
 research.

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.640
 But all

00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.200
 of it is

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.240
 predicated by

00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:02.000
 desire to

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.819
 suppress the

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.120
 truth.

00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.380
 That's a

00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:05.160
 general statement,

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.819
 I should say.

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.099
 I'm talking

00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:07.539
 about in

00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.400
 cultural terms.

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:16.140
 as a

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.540
 nation,

00:23:17.540 --> 00:23:18.200
 and

00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:18.759
 individually,

00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.519
 we've

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.040
 rejected

00:23:20.040 --> 00:23:20.600
 God,

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:21.960
 most clearly

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.620
 seen in

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.180
 Jesus and

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.660
 the gospel.

00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:25.180
 But here's

00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:25.500
 the rub,

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:25.780
 you see,

00:23:26.080 --> 00:23:26.860
 having rejected

00:23:26.860 --> 00:23:27.480
 God and the

00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:27.820
 gospel,

00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.000
 our culture

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:29.740
 is not any

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.620
 less spiritual.

00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.060
 It is just

00:23:34.060 --> 00:23:34.680
 as spiritual

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.120
 as ever.

00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:38.799
 what's

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.479
 happened now

00:23:39.479 --> 00:23:39.859
 is,

00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:40.599
 and you

00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:40.839
 only have

00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:41.159
 to listen

00:23:41.159 --> 00:23:41.439
 to your

00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:42.039
 TV for a

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.259
 day to

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.899
 see this

00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:43.799
 demonstrated,

00:23:44.199 --> 00:23:44.539
 what's

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.139
 happened now

00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:45.500
 is that

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.619
 any form

00:23:46.619 --> 00:23:47.299
 of spirituality

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:47.939
 is now

00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:48.679
 welcomed and

00:23:48.679 --> 00:23:49.119
 accepted.

00:23:51.939 --> 00:23:52.839
 And every

00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.339
 form of

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:53.739
 spirituality

00:23:53.739 --> 00:23:54.559
 appears on

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.139
 the TV

00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:56.159
 except

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:59.159
 Jesus

00:23:59.159 --> 00:24:04.119
 suppressing

00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:04.599
 the truth.

00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.519
 There's a

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.139
 long list

00:24:08.139 --> 00:24:08.979
 which are

00:24:08.979 --> 00:24:09.339
 becoming

00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:10.099
 increasingly

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:10.639
 popular,

00:24:11.439 --> 00:24:11.959
 increasingly

00:24:11.959 --> 00:24:12.559
 mainstream.

00:24:16.139 --> 00:24:16.659
 Each

00:24:16.659 --> 00:24:17.299
 appears to

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.939
 seek God,

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.500
 and this

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.399
 is something

00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:19.759
 we've been

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.319
 pushed into

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:20.799
 as Christians

00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.179
 and we've

00:24:21.179 --> 00:24:21.739
 wrongly given

00:24:21.739 --> 00:24:22.199
 up ground

00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:22.379
 here.

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.419
 We've been

00:24:23.419 --> 00:24:24.019
 pushed to

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.359
 say that

00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:25.339
 First Nations

00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.199
 culture and

00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:26.799
 First Nations

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.419
 spirituality

00:24:27.419 --> 00:24:28.439
 has its

00:24:28.439 --> 00:24:28.619
 own

00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.179
 integrity.

00:24:30.959 --> 00:24:31.500
 Wrong,

00:24:31.739 --> 00:24:32.059
 says the

00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:32.359
 Bible.

00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:33.500
 First Nations

00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.019
 spirituality

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.960
 and every

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.500
 other form

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:35.660
 of

00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.259
 spirituality

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:36.660
 we see

00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:36.880
 in our

00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:37.099
 nation,

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:37.420
 whether it's

00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:38.180
 consumerism

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.240
 or celebrity

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.859
 worship in

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.539
 sport and

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:40.900
 Hollywood,

00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:42.140
 every one of

00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:42.359
 those

00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:43.339
 spiritualities

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:45.940
 is designed

00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.839
 to suppress

00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:47.240
 the truth

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.759
 about God.

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.200
 It's a

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.099
 strategy to

00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:55.920
 suppress truth,

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:57.099
 hide from

00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.359
 God,

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.279
 reduce God,

00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.000
 or in some

00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.619
 cases even

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.359
 replace God.

00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:01.819
 Autonomy

00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.859
 at any

00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:03.279
 cost.

00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.059
 But that's

00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:06.299
 not the

00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:06.500
 end of

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:06.839
 the problem.

00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.339
 The deliberate

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:09.980
 choice has

00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.599
 real and

00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:10.919
 dramatic

00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.579
 consequences,

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.200
 which is

00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:12.700
 the second

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.059
 part of

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.480
 our text

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:13.879
 this morning

00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:14.279
 from verse

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.139
 24 onwards.

00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.319
 Autonomy

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.419
 is actually

00:25:17.419 --> 00:25:18.319
 experienced,

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:22.659
 but it

00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:23.159
 becomes a

00:25:23.159 --> 00:25:23.939
 grotesque

00:25:23.939 --> 00:25:24.460
 form of

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:24.799
 freedom

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.579
 with

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.299
 debasing

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.819
 destructive

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.859
 costs.

00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:34.819
 God's

00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:35.459
 wrath is

00:25:35.459 --> 00:25:35.819
 being

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.179
 revealed,

00:25:36.439 --> 00:25:36.719
 present

00:25:36.719 --> 00:25:37.259
 continuous.

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:37.979
 Well,

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.299
 the question

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:38.459
 is,

00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.240
 how do we

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:39.919
 see God's

00:25:39.919 --> 00:25:40.339
 wrath being

00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.579
 revealed in

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.019
 a present

00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.740
 continuous

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.719
 context,

00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.179
 sense?

00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:46.039
 How do we

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.759
 experience it?

00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:49.119
 Well,

00:25:49.199 --> 00:25:49.500
 in these

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.199
 verses 24

00:25:50.199 --> 00:25:50.599
 through to

00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.000
 31,

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.439
 the awfulness

00:25:52.439 --> 00:25:53.139
 of God's

00:25:53.139 --> 00:25:53.679
 wrath in

00:25:53.679 --> 00:25:54.599
 its current

00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:56.059
 expression among

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.479
 us as a

00:25:56.479 --> 00:25:57.279
 culture is

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:58.159
 emphasized by

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:59.040
 threefold

00:25:59.040 --> 00:25:59.900
 repetition.

00:26:00.560 --> 00:26:01.300
 Verse 24,

00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:03.019
 where am I?

00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:04.480
 Verse 24,

00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:04.980
 here we go.

00:26:05.620 --> 00:26:05.960
 Therefore,

00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:06.980
 there's your

00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.680
 connection back

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.160
 to what was

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.980
 been said,

00:26:09.100 --> 00:26:09.460
 therefore,

00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:12.360
 God gave

00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:12.860
 them up,

00:26:13.120 --> 00:26:13.600
 that's the

00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:13.960
 repetition

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.519
 phrase,

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.500
 God gave

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.940
 them up

00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:18.000
 in the

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.500
 lusts of

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.019
 their heart

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:20.500
 to impurity,

00:26:21.120 --> 00:26:22.060
 to the

00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:22.800
 dishonoring of

00:26:22.800 --> 00:26:23.180
 their bodies

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:23.900
 among themselves

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:25.400
 because they

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.300
 exchanged the

00:26:26.300 --> 00:26:26.820
 truth about

00:26:26.820 --> 00:26:27.480
 God for a

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.360
 lie and

00:26:28.360 --> 00:26:29.500
 worshipped and

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.539
 served the

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.319
 creature rather

00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:32.579
 than the

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.019
 creator who

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.420
 is blessed

00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.779
 forever.

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.160
 Amen.

00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.920
 God gives

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:40.059
 people up to

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:41.000
 lust and

00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.539
 impurity.

00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:47.099
 The human

00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:48.360
 craving to be

00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:50.160
 loved, to be

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.460
 valued, to be

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.980
 validated, to be

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:55.220
 secure, that's a

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.160
 natural human

00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:56.540
 craving.

00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:57.360
 Well, Paul's

00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:57.980
 point here is

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.640
 that when

00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:59.279
 that's not

00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:00.720
 sought in

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.300
 relationship with

00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:05.660
 God, it will

00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:07.400
 be pursued in

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:08.480
 all kinds of

00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.660
 false intimacy.

00:27:11.320 --> 00:27:12.080
 And there's a

00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:13.019
 whole range of

00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.820
 false intimacies,

00:27:14.040 --> 00:27:14.500
 which I'm not

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.100
 going to detail

00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:15.920
 this morning, but

00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.420
 there's just a

00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.100
 plethora of

00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:17.240
 them.

00:27:17.800 --> 00:27:18.380
 But that's the

00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:18.580
 thing.

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.320
 When we're not

00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:20.160
 seeking these

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:22.000
 identifying,

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:25.359
 defining relationships

00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.240
 in the Lord,

00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:26.900
 then we will

00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:27.700
 find them and

00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.079
 seek them

00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:28.660
 elsewhere.

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.660
 And this

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.460
 false intimacy,

00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:34.880
 when it's

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:36.420
 pursued, apart

00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:37.059
 from God,

00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:38.460
 actually becomes

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.599
 consumerist.

00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:41.180
 We consume one

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.500
 another.

00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:44.220
 When we use our

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.880
 bodies, and do

00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.559
 use our bodies,

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.180
 in destructive

00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.680
 ways, we use our

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.480
 bodies in destructive

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.759
 ways, trying to

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.400
 get positive

00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.099
 validation.

00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:54.000
 It's a crazy

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.299
 thing.

00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.240
 And we can see,

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.099
 therefore, the

00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:56.880
 futility of

00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:57.940
 thinking that's

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.660
 been spoken about

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.059
 in the earlier

00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.400
 verses.

00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:05.000
 We keep on

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.559
 thinking these

00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.099
 destructive

00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:07.279
 behaviors will

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.440
 deliver the good

00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:09.200
 things we need

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.200
 in our heart of

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.579
 hearts.

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.660
 Verse 26.

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:21.420
 For this reason,

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.279
 again, the link,

00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.000
 for this reason,

00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:24.940
 God gave them

00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.160
 up.

00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.620
 There's the

00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:25.980
 repetition.

00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:27.140
 God gave them

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:28.099
 up to

00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:28.759
 dishonorable

00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:29.360
 passions.

00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.259
 For their

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:32.180
 women exchanged

00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.180
 natural relations

00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:33.740
 for those that

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.079
 are contrary

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.059
 to nature,

00:28:35.380 --> 00:28:36.120
 and the men

00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:37.640
 likewise gave

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.220
 up natural

00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.980
 relations with

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.759
 women and were

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.480
 consumed with

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.259
 passion for one

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.559
 another.

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.319
 Men committing

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.259
 shameless acts

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.380
 with men and

00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:46.180
 receiving in

00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:47.380
 themselves the

00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:48.620
 due penalty for

00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.120
 their error.

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:52.839
 God gives

00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:53.660
 people up to

00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.400
 dishonorable

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.980
 passions.

00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:58.420
 My friends,

00:28:58.599 --> 00:28:59.759
 again, the

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.900
 personal craving

00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:03.000
 for personal

00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.700
 identity,

00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:07.160
 that's what's

00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:07.880
 common right

00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:09.599
 across gender

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:11.059
 dysphoria and

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:12.240
 homosexuality,

00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:14.039
 is a craving

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:15.380
 for identity,

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.500
 a craving for

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.400
 transformation,

00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:17.540
 salvation,

00:29:18.540 --> 00:29:19.259
 something that

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.820
 will lift them

00:29:19.820 --> 00:29:20.240
 out of the

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.940
 sadness and

00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.660
 the limitations

00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.060
 of their

00:29:22.060 --> 00:29:22.720
 current life,

00:29:23.040 --> 00:29:23.360
 something that

00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:23.800
 will deliver

00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:24.580
 happiness and

00:29:24.580 --> 00:29:25.460
 hope into a

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:25.860
 world that

00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:26.780
 seems despairing

00:29:26.780 --> 00:29:27.140
 to them.

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.759
 When these

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.340
 things,

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.340
 that sort of

00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:33.880
 identity,

00:29:34.360 --> 00:29:35.420
 is not sought

00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:36.700
 in transformational

00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.660
 relationship with

00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:38.120
 the Lord,

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.320
 then it will be

00:29:39.320 --> 00:29:40.300
 sought and found

00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:42.140
 in all sorts of

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:42.620
 abnormal

00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.340
 relationships.

00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:43.459
 relationships.

00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.500
 And the

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.039
 strange thing

00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.559
 about it is,

00:29:46.939 --> 00:29:47.980
 when it's sought

00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.859
 apart from God,

00:29:49.199 --> 00:29:50.079
 then the things

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.480
 that we would

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:52.039
 normally consider,

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.480
 then the things

00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.179
 that would normally

00:29:54.179 --> 00:29:54.759
 be considered

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:56.699
 boundaries in

00:29:56.699 --> 00:29:57.399
 these relationships

00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:58.579
 are so easily

00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.859
 removed and

00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:00.319
 replaced.

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:03.619
 because the

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.419
 drive is for

00:30:04.419 --> 00:30:05.099
 this freedom,

00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:05.799
 for happiness,

00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:06.619
 for a

00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.059
 transformation.

00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:07.839
 And we'll

00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.700
 try anything

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:12.460
 rather than

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.919
 go down the

00:30:13.919 --> 00:30:14.419
 path of

00:30:14.419 --> 00:30:15.279
 transformational

00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:16.139
 relationship with

00:30:16.139 --> 00:30:16.539
 the Lord.

00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:23.720
 And when such

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.700
 relationships are

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.339
 formed with

00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:25.899
 people who

00:30:25.899 --> 00:30:26.919
 already reject

00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:27.679
 any notion of

00:30:27.679 --> 00:30:28.559
 being made in

00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.000
 the image of

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.980
 God, made to

00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.599
 reflect God's

00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.099
 character and

00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:31.500
 relationship,

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.380
 then as I say,

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.440
 natural boundaries,

00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:34.779
 natural restraints,

00:30:35.380 --> 00:30:36.380
 which once seemed

00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:37.660
 so obvious and

00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.500
 so fixed,

00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:41.039
 now become so

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.079
 easily removed

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:43.240
 and redefined.

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:48.400
 Self-wisdom.

00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.539
 Self-worship.

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.299
 Verse 28.

00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:00.099
 The third.

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:02.019
 The trifecta.

00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:05.359
 And since they

00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:06.799
 did not see fit to

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.660
 acknowledge God,

00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:10.160
 God gave them up

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:12.259
 to a debased mind

00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:14.740
 to do what ought

00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.539
 not to be done.

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.099
 And then you get

00:31:17.099 --> 00:31:17.839
 that list.

00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:20.279
 And it really is a

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:22.440
 shotgun list of

00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:22.940
 relationships,

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.400
 isn't it?

00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.579
 I spent some time

00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:26.339
 pondering this week

00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:26.819
 and I couldn't

00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:28.019
 think of anything

00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.359
 in any of my

00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.119
 relationships over

00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:31.299
 my 65 years

00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:33.539
 that's not in

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.000
 that list.

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:35.899
 It's a

00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:37.059
 comprehensive list.

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.019
 But mind you,

00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:40.000
 it sits alongside

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:42.240
 the two previous

00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.179
 God gave them up.

00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:44.019
 So it's not as if,

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:44.899
 as this is what

00:31:44.899 --> 00:31:45.619
 some Christians have

00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:45.779
 done,

00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.859
 have made this text

00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:47.559
 all about

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.419
 homosexuality.

00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.539
 But it's not all

00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.419
 about homosexuality,

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.539
 it includes homosexuality,

00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:52.599
 but it involves

00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:54.599
 the destructive things

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.159
 we bring to

00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:56.619
 relationships generally

00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:57.819
 at every point

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:58.879
 in every relationship.

00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:02.980
 Gay,

00:32:03.139 --> 00:32:03.379
 bi,

00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:03.879
 straight,

00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.599
 whatever you want

00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:05.059
 to call them.

00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:08.179
 The problem's the same.

00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:14.240
 God gave people up

00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.159
 to a debased mind

00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:15.799
 and destructive

00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.379
 behaviors.

00:32:17.679 --> 00:32:18.519
 And here's where

00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.500
 we're so clever

00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.079
 as people

00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:20.899
 and so stupid.

00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:22.179
 Made in the image

00:32:22.179 --> 00:32:22.699
 of God,

00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:23.299
 sorry,

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.779
 I should only

00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.839
 call myself stupid,

00:32:24.919 --> 00:32:25.819
 I shouldn't call you stupid,

00:32:25.919 --> 00:32:26.220
 but anyway,

00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:26.960
 that's a generic

00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.399
 sort of thing.

00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.519
 Made in the image

00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:29.940
 of God,

00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:30.859
 we've got this

00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:31.919
 wonderful human

00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:33.000
 ability to think,

00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:35.359
 to set goals,

00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:37.039
 and then to strategize

00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:38.339
 to achieve those goals.

00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.480
 And this

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:45.659
 incredible creativity,

00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:48.079
 when not shaped

00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:48.899
 and informed

00:32:48.899 --> 00:32:50.079
 by God's mind

00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:50.859
 and character,

00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:52.839
 then becomes

00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:53.819
 self-interested,

00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:56.099
 exploitative,

00:32:57.439 --> 00:32:58.179
 and ruthless.

00:33:00.959 --> 00:33:01.659
 And that's

00:33:01.659 --> 00:33:02.579
 exactly what

00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:03.359
 Paul describes

00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:04.199
 in verses 29

00:33:04.199 --> 00:33:04.819
 to 31.

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.379
 It could be

00:33:07.379 --> 00:33:07.819
 a summary

00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:08.719
 of any given

00:33:08.719 --> 00:33:09.559
 news report

00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:10.579
 on any given

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.319
 day in Australia.

00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:15.439
 Even more sadly,

00:33:15.659 --> 00:33:16.039
 it could be

00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:16.419
 a summary

00:33:16.419 --> 00:33:18.039
 of many family

00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.579
 interactions

00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:19.240
 on any given

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.079
 day in Australia.

00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:28.279
 It's as if

00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:29.139
 God is saying

00:33:29.139 --> 00:33:29.559
 to people

00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.139
 through these,

00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.399
 God gave them over.

00:33:31.479 --> 00:33:31.819
 It's as if

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:32.399
 God's saying

00:33:32.399 --> 00:33:32.759
 to people,

00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:34.299
 you don't want

00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:34.899
 him to know me,

00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:35.379
 you don't want

00:33:35.379 --> 00:33:35.919
 him to honour me,

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.319
 you don't want

00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:36.579
 him to live

00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:37.299
 under my rule,

00:33:37.699 --> 00:33:37.979
 well,

00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:40.039
 I'll leave you

00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:40.399
 to it.

00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:41.679
 Here it is,

00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:43.139
 see how you like it,

00:33:43.199 --> 00:33:43.699
 see how well

00:33:43.699 --> 00:33:44.240
 you do with it.

00:33:46.979 --> 00:33:47.719
 I'll give you

00:33:47.719 --> 00:33:48.519
 over to the

00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:49.559
 autonomy you want.

00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.559
 I promise

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.379
 I won't interfere

00:33:51.379 --> 00:33:51.799
 with you.

00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:52.599
 I'll step back

00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:53.460
 and let you

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.019
 have your head.

00:33:54.139 --> 00:33:55.179
 I'll let you

00:33:55.179 --> 00:33:57.139
 loose to experience

00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:57.759
 the autonomy

00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.720
 you've been craving.

00:34:01.980 --> 00:34:03.059
 I'll not prevent

00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.220
 you from spiralling

00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:05.799
 downwards into

00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:07.079
 thinking and actions

00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:08.380
 which will debase

00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.380
 yourself and

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.340
 destroy yourself

00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:11.259
 and everybody

00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:12.000
 around you.

00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:15.119
 Have a good

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.940
 sacrifice and see

00:34:15.940 --> 00:34:16.579
 how you like it,

00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.059
 says the Lord.

00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.099
 God.

00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.820
 And again,

00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:21.159
 my friends,

00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:21.519
 this is our

00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:21.900
 culture.

00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:25.179
 People are

00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:26.320
 obsessed with

00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:26.679
 freedom.

00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:30.059
 They're demanding

00:34:30.059 --> 00:34:30.940
 a lack of

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.480
 restraints,

00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:32.679
 a removal of

00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.639
 restraints in

00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.559
 almost every

00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.639
 sphere of life.

00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:40.480
 Don't ask me to

00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:41.179
 wear a mask

00:34:41.179 --> 00:34:42.179
 because it might

00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:42.880
 be helpful for

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.659
 people around me.

00:34:43.759 --> 00:34:44.519
 I don't want to

00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:45.179
 wear a mask and

00:34:45.179 --> 00:34:46.039
 I won't wear a

00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:46.340
 mask.

00:34:46.340 --> 00:34:54.780
 But here's the

00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:55.320
 rub you see.

00:34:57.860 --> 00:34:58.920
 When people

00:34:58.920 --> 00:35:00.620
 think they're

00:35:00.620 --> 00:35:01.440
 enjoying their

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.539
 greatest freedom,

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:06.640
 they're actually

00:35:06.640 --> 00:35:08.240
 experiencing God's

00:35:08.240 --> 00:35:08.680
 judgment.

00:35:11.300 --> 00:35:12.579
 In part now,

00:35:13.120 --> 00:35:13.860
 but chapter 2

00:35:13.860 --> 00:35:14.640
 verse 5 says

00:35:14.640 --> 00:35:15.100
 there's much

00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:15.740
 worse to come.

00:35:17.100 --> 00:35:17.760
 That partial

00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:18.360
 judgment now

00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:18.960
 will become a

00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:19.579
 final judgment

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.059
 one day.

00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.019
 And the

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:30.539
 consequences are

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.420
 everywhere to be

00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:32.260
 seen around us

00:35:32.260 --> 00:35:33.740
 in this grotesque

00:35:33.740 --> 00:35:34.860
 distortion of

00:35:34.860 --> 00:35:35.780
 truth about people

00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:36.740
 and human

00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:37.660
 relationships at

00:35:37.660 --> 00:35:38.200
 every level.

00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:39.199
 victimhood.

00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:41.019
 And again,

00:35:41.159 --> 00:35:41.699
 in keeping with

00:35:41.699 --> 00:35:42.419
 what Paul says

00:35:42.419 --> 00:35:42.679
 here,

00:35:43.319 --> 00:35:44.159
 victims of

00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:44.539
 their own

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.599
 passion for

00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.179
 autonomy,

00:35:47.299 --> 00:35:47.879
 the thing

00:35:47.879 --> 00:35:48.539
 they once

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.819
 chose to

00:35:49.819 --> 00:35:50.359
 pursue

00:35:50.359 --> 00:35:52.679
 now controls

00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:52.960
 them.

00:35:53.779 --> 00:35:54.879
 So they're

00:35:54.879 --> 00:35:55.599
 unable to

00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:56.059
 break away

00:35:56.059 --> 00:35:56.619
 from it.

00:35:59.939 --> 00:36:01.299
 Even as

00:36:01.299 --> 00:36:02.319
 they experience

00:36:02.319 --> 00:36:03.159
 and recognize

00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:03.759
 the damage

00:36:03.759 --> 00:36:04.299
 it causes.

00:36:09.299 --> 00:36:10.379
 So how

00:36:10.379 --> 00:36:10.699
 do we

00:36:10.699 --> 00:36:12.059
 address this

00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:12.679
 massive,

00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:13.779
 terrible blight

00:36:13.779 --> 00:36:14.319
 on society

00:36:14.319 --> 00:36:14.839
 of domestic

00:36:14.839 --> 00:36:15.259
 violence?

00:36:15.879 --> 00:36:16.679
 Well, we need

00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:17.259
 more money

00:36:17.259 --> 00:36:18.079
 put into the

00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:18.440
 coffers.

00:36:18.839 --> 00:36:19.119
 We need

00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:19.980
 more counselors

00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:23.619
 unable to

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:24.299
 break free

00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:24.800
 from it.

00:36:28.780 --> 00:36:29.640
 Which leads

00:36:29.640 --> 00:36:30.140
 Paul to

00:36:30.140 --> 00:36:30.539
 conclude,

00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:31.260
 ever so

00:36:31.260 --> 00:36:31.620
 sadly,

00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.019
 in verse

00:36:32.019 --> 00:36:32.519
 32,

00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:35.200
 people know

00:36:35.200 --> 00:36:36.720
 experientially

00:36:36.720 --> 00:36:38.240
 that their

00:36:38.240 --> 00:36:39.480
 thinking and

00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:40.340
 actions have

00:36:40.340 --> 00:36:41.140
 not delivered

00:36:41.140 --> 00:36:41.480
 the good

00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:41.880
 life.

00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.019
 They know

00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:43.800
 the pain of

00:36:43.800 --> 00:36:44.720
 competition in

00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:45.200
 relationships.

00:36:45.600 --> 00:36:46.080
 They know

00:36:46.080 --> 00:36:47.740
 the effects of

00:36:47.740 --> 00:36:48.980
 jealousy and

00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.940
 exploitation of

00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:50.539
 being used,

00:36:50.640 --> 00:36:51.320
 being consumed

00:36:51.320 --> 00:36:52.060
 in relationships.

00:36:52.780 --> 00:36:53.300
 They sense

00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:53.680
 they're made

00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:54.160
 for something

00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:55.539
 better than

00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:56.239
 the relationships

00:36:56.239 --> 00:36:56.619
 they now

00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:57.099
 experience.

00:36:57.399 --> 00:36:57.920
 They long

00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.500
 for something

00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.539
 superior,

00:36:59.699 --> 00:37:00.460
 someone superior

00:37:00.460 --> 00:37:01.519
 to transform

00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:01.960
 them, to

00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:02.319
 make their

00:37:02.319 --> 00:37:03.159
 relationships the

00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:03.539
 things they

00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:03.980
 want them to

00:37:03.980 --> 00:37:04.259
 be.

00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:08.059
 But in

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:08.699
 spite of that

00:37:08.699 --> 00:37:09.879
 painful experience,

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.480
 their commitment

00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.420
 to autonomy

00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:13.839
 makes them

00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:16.239
 continue in

00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:16.859
 their destructive

00:37:16.859 --> 00:37:17.379
 freedom.

00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.420
 And how do

00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:21.679
 they reassure

00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:22.239
 themselves?

00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:24.039
 foolishness that

00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:24.839
 this pathway

00:37:24.839 --> 00:37:25.279
 is the right

00:37:25.279 --> 00:37:25.619
 pathway?

00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:26.659
 Well, they

00:37:26.659 --> 00:37:27.359
 encourage others

00:37:27.359 --> 00:37:27.939
 around them to

00:37:27.939 --> 00:37:28.359
 do the same

00:37:28.359 --> 00:37:28.739
 things.

00:37:31.939 --> 00:37:32.539
 Is that

00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.239
 foolishness or

00:37:33.239 --> 00:37:33.619
 what?

00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:35.859
 It's like

00:37:35.859 --> 00:37:36.339
 lemons,

00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:37.559
 lemons,

00:37:37.819 --> 00:37:38.159
 lemmings,

00:37:38.399 --> 00:37:38.799
 those little

00:37:38.799 --> 00:37:39.299
 things that used

00:37:39.299 --> 00:37:39.719
 to go over the

00:37:39.719 --> 00:37:40.179
 cliff anyway,

00:37:40.399 --> 00:37:41.039
 one after the

00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:41.199
 other.

00:37:41.199 --> 00:37:41.259
 Okay.

00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:49.780
 friends, with

00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:50.420
 the graphic

00:37:50.420 --> 00:37:52.880
 backdrop of

00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.740
 the reality of

00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:54.560
 God's righteousness

00:37:54.560 --> 00:37:55.560
 expressed in

00:37:55.560 --> 00:37:56.480
 his wrath and

00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:57.340
 condemnation of

00:37:57.340 --> 00:37:58.860
 all sin, and

00:37:58.860 --> 00:37:59.360
 that's every

00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:00.880
 sinner, we

00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:01.600
 come full

00:38:01.600 --> 00:38:03.240
 circle and

00:38:03.240 --> 00:38:04.080
 the need to

00:38:04.080 --> 00:38:04.840
 identify and

00:38:04.840 --> 00:38:05.400
 engage with the

00:38:05.400 --> 00:38:06.000
 challenge of

00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:07.560
 what matters

00:38:07.560 --> 00:38:08.640
 most when you

00:38:08.640 --> 00:38:09.260
 think of God.

00:38:09.260 --> 00:38:12.000
 the immediate

00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:14.380
 reality of

00:38:14.380 --> 00:38:15.240
 living daily

00:38:15.240 --> 00:38:16.660
 with the

00:38:16.660 --> 00:38:17.240
 reality of

00:38:17.240 --> 00:38:17.960
 God's wrath,

00:38:18.240 --> 00:38:18.820
 my friends, has

00:38:18.820 --> 00:38:19.520
 to be sobering,

00:38:19.580 --> 00:38:19.940
 does it not?

00:38:22.240 --> 00:38:23.280
 But again, here's

00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:24.100
 another twist in

00:38:24.100 --> 00:38:24.740
 this story, because

00:38:24.740 --> 00:38:25.880
 at the same time,

00:38:27.080 --> 00:38:27.960
 partial judgment

00:38:27.960 --> 00:38:28.540
 is a great

00:38:28.540 --> 00:38:29.320
 blessing from

00:38:29.320 --> 00:38:29.740
 the Lord.

00:38:30.860 --> 00:38:32.160
 In that, it

00:38:32.160 --> 00:38:33.440
 warns us of

00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:34.220
 even greater

00:38:34.220 --> 00:38:35.080
 judgment to

00:38:35.080 --> 00:38:36.100
 come and

00:38:36.100 --> 00:38:37.020
 pushes us to

00:38:37.020 --> 00:38:37.760
 take up the

00:38:37.760 --> 00:38:38.400
 offer of the

00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:39.180
 gospel presented

00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:39.899
 in verse 16

00:38:39.899 --> 00:38:42.019
 and 17, that

00:38:42.019 --> 00:38:42.559
 we can actually

00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:43.359
 find a

00:38:43.359 --> 00:38:43.960
 righteousness, we

00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:44.779
 can be given a

00:38:44.779 --> 00:38:45.759
 righteousness as

00:38:45.759 --> 00:38:48.699
 a gift in the

00:38:48.699 --> 00:38:49.699
 Lord Jesus, in

00:38:49.699 --> 00:38:50.199
 the gospel.

00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:52.879
 And that's the

00:38:52.879 --> 00:38:53.619
 means by which

00:38:53.619 --> 00:38:54.239
 both we can

00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:54.919
 escape his

00:38:54.919 --> 00:38:55.460
 wrath and

00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:56.719
 judgment and

00:38:56.719 --> 00:38:58.339
 become acceptable

00:38:58.339 --> 00:39:00.519
 to him and

00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:01.440
 secure and have

00:39:01.440 --> 00:39:02.719
 an identity and

00:39:02.719 --> 00:39:03.679
 have fulfillment and

00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:04.199
 meaning and

00:39:04.199 --> 00:39:04.659
 purpose and

00:39:04.659 --> 00:39:05.319
 ultimately have

00:39:05.319 --> 00:39:05.980
 happiness and

00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:06.739
 joy in life.

00:39:06.739 --> 00:39:06.799
 life.

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.219
 So I just

00:39:10.219 --> 00:39:10.839
 finished on this

00:39:10.839 --> 00:39:11.259
 and I've run

00:39:11.259 --> 00:39:11.879
 over time, I'm

00:39:11.879 --> 00:39:13.239
 sorry, but I'm

00:39:13.239 --> 00:39:13.819
 going to finish on

00:39:13.819 --> 00:39:14.439
 it anyway, so

00:39:14.439 --> 00:39:16.079
 how sorry is that

00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:16.199
 one?

00:39:16.219 --> 00:39:16.599
 I'm going to keep

00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:16.839
 going.

00:39:19.459 --> 00:39:21.759
 Either you're not

00:39:21.759 --> 00:39:22.459
 a believer here

00:39:22.459 --> 00:39:23.000
 this morning.

00:39:24.879 --> 00:39:26.039
 If that's you, if

00:39:26.039 --> 00:39:26.459
 you're not a

00:39:26.459 --> 00:39:27.000
 believer here this

00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:27.479
 morning, then it

00:39:27.479 --> 00:39:28.219
 means you're still

00:39:28.219 --> 00:39:29.079
 committed to

00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:30.359
 autonomy, your own

00:39:30.359 --> 00:39:30.779
 autonomy.

00:39:30.780 --> 00:39:30.860
 autonomy.

00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:32.519
 Perhaps you're

00:39:32.519 --> 00:39:33.000
 committed to

00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:33.800
 living the lie

00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:34.680
 that you can

00:39:34.680 --> 00:39:36.440
 live successfully

00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:37.100
 as though God

00:39:37.100 --> 00:39:37.560
 doesn't even

00:39:37.560 --> 00:39:37.980
 exist.

00:39:38.620 --> 00:39:39.460
 You'll just be

00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.100
 the master of

00:39:40.100 --> 00:39:40.680
 your own ship.

00:39:44.519 --> 00:39:45.140
 Convinced that

00:39:45.140 --> 00:39:45.980
 your authority is

00:39:45.980 --> 00:39:46.760
 the only authority

00:39:46.760 --> 00:39:47.640
 that matters, that

00:39:47.640 --> 00:39:48.340
 you just need to

00:39:48.340 --> 00:39:49.220
 answer to yourself

00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:51.260
 and be happy in

00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:51.880
 your own skin.

00:39:54.240 --> 00:39:55.060
 And that by your

00:39:55.060 --> 00:39:55.820
 own efforts you can

00:39:55.820 --> 00:39:56.560
 achieve the good

00:39:56.560 --> 00:39:57.900
 life now and

00:39:57.900 --> 00:39:58.560
 then be able to

00:39:58.560 --> 00:39:59.360
 do a deal with

00:39:59.360 --> 00:39:59.940
 God when you

00:39:59.940 --> 00:40:00.559
 die and stand

00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:01.099
 before him that

00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:01.760
 your righteousness

00:40:01.760 --> 00:40:02.579
 is sufficient to

00:40:02.579 --> 00:40:03.039
 get you over the

00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:03.320
 line.

00:40:06.099 --> 00:40:06.920
 Well I'd ask you

00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:07.720
 to re-read these

00:40:07.720 --> 00:40:08.420
 verses this morning

00:40:08.420 --> 00:40:08.880
 my friend.

00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:10.599
 Because that ain't

00:40:10.599 --> 00:40:10.900
 true.

00:40:11.940 --> 00:40:12.579
 You're in big

00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:12.980
 danger.

00:40:18.120 --> 00:40:19.059
 You can ignore

00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:19.920
 what's obvious from

00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.800
 experience, the

00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:22.000
 things that are not

00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:23.019
 right about yourself,

00:40:23.800 --> 00:40:24.740
 not right in your

00:40:24.740 --> 00:40:25.079
 world.

00:40:25.660 --> 00:40:26.640
 You can work

00:40:26.640 --> 00:40:27.480
 harder to be even

00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:27.960
 nicer.

00:40:29.900 --> 00:40:30.740
 You can spend

00:40:30.740 --> 00:40:31.420
 your life trying

00:40:31.420 --> 00:40:31.820
 to make the

00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:32.360
 world a better

00:40:32.360 --> 00:40:32.900
 place.

00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:37.079
 You can make

00:40:37.079 --> 00:40:37.740
 up the rules as

00:40:37.740 --> 00:40:38.019
 you go.

00:40:38.120 --> 00:40:38.700
 You can run your

00:40:38.700 --> 00:40:39.260
 own life.

00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:41.660
 But you're still

00:40:41.660 --> 00:40:42.160
 in danger.

00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:46.940
 Or you're a

00:40:46.940 --> 00:40:47.220
 believer.

00:40:49.120 --> 00:40:49.820
 You're a believer

00:40:49.820 --> 00:40:50.340
 and if you're a

00:40:50.340 --> 00:40:51.059
 believer then I

00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:52.380
 hope and pray that

00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:53.099
 you've given up your

00:40:53.099 --> 00:40:54.019
 desire for autonomy.

00:40:55.019 --> 00:40:56.240
 And any thought of

00:40:56.240 --> 00:40:57.160
 being able to build

00:40:57.159 --> 00:40:58.319
 your own righteousness

00:40:58.319 --> 00:40:59.359
 because you know

00:40:59.359 --> 00:40:59.839
 that from the

00:40:59.839 --> 00:41:01.099
 inside out your

00:41:01.099 --> 00:41:01.819
 thinking, your

00:41:01.819 --> 00:41:02.519
 attitude, your

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.399
 desires, your

00:41:03.399 --> 00:41:04.759
 actions, they're all

00:41:04.759 --> 00:41:06.019
 so distorted in your

00:41:06.019 --> 00:41:06.980
 natural state because

00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:08.119
 of sin that you need

00:41:08.119 --> 00:41:08.980
 a complete renewal.

00:41:09.319 --> 00:41:10.500
 And that complete

00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:11.579
 renewal comes in the

00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:11.920
 gospel.

00:41:15.539 --> 00:41:16.659
 So you come to

00:41:16.659 --> 00:41:17.480
 Jesus to receive

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.519
 God's righteousness as

00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.839
 a free gift and

00:41:19.839 --> 00:41:20.539
 therefore you gladly

00:41:20.539 --> 00:41:21.619
 live now under

00:41:21.619 --> 00:41:22.279
 God's rule.

00:41:22.280 --> 00:41:23.660
 no longer craving

00:41:23.660 --> 00:41:25.060
 autonomy but craving

00:41:25.060 --> 00:41:26.680
 dependence and

00:41:26.680 --> 00:41:27.740
 closer relationship

00:41:27.740 --> 00:41:28.320
 with God.

00:41:29.340 --> 00:41:30.340
 Welcoming the way

00:41:30.340 --> 00:41:31.420
 his character shapes

00:41:31.420 --> 00:41:32.420
 you and gives you

00:41:32.420 --> 00:41:33.660
 security and gives

00:41:33.660 --> 00:41:34.620
 you joy and hope.

00:41:34.900 --> 00:41:35.600
 All the things you

00:41:35.600 --> 00:41:36.820
 crave naturally as a

00:41:36.820 --> 00:41:37.340
 human being.

00:41:39.720 --> 00:41:40.780
 And you share also

00:41:40.780 --> 00:41:41.840
 Paul's excitement

00:41:41.840 --> 00:41:44.100
 about God's powerful

00:41:44.100 --> 00:41:45.700
 gospel which delivers

00:41:45.700 --> 00:41:47.660
 from sin and renews

00:41:47.660 --> 00:41:49.160
 our ability to live

00:41:49.160 --> 00:41:50.160
 properly as God's

00:41:50.160 --> 00:41:50.680
 image bears.

00:41:52.280 --> 00:41:53.700
 My final sentence.

00:41:55.120 --> 00:41:56.500
 Make no mistake.

00:41:57.660 --> 00:41:59.220
 It is impossible to

00:41:59.220 --> 00:42:00.840
 avoid God's

00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:01.940
 righteousness in

00:42:01.940 --> 00:42:02.680
 action in his

00:42:02.680 --> 00:42:03.000
 world.

00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:05.580
 So here are the two

00:42:05.580 --> 00:42:06.160
 options again.

00:42:07.540 --> 00:42:08.820
 Will you seize the

00:42:08.820 --> 00:42:10.060
 opportunity to come

00:42:10.060 --> 00:42:10.780
 to Jesus in the

00:42:10.780 --> 00:42:12.180
 gospel and know

00:42:12.180 --> 00:42:13.180
 God's righteousness

00:42:13.180 --> 00:42:15.180
 in your life as

00:42:15.180 --> 00:42:16.140
 deliverance and

00:42:16.140 --> 00:42:16.960
 salvation and

00:42:16.960 --> 00:42:17.340
 renewal?

00:42:19.120 --> 00:42:20.860
 Or will you push

00:42:20.860 --> 00:42:21.880
 the barrel of

00:42:21.880 --> 00:42:25.220
 autonomy and crash

00:42:25.220 --> 00:42:26.140
 into God's wrath

00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:26.940
 and condemnation?

00:42:35.820 --> 00:42:36.460
 Normally I would

00:42:36.460 --> 00:42:36.960
 pray at the end of

00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:38.760
 this talk but I'm

00:42:38.760 --> 00:42:40.519
 just going to let

00:42:40.519 --> 00:42:41.200
 you use this time

00:42:41.200 --> 00:42:42.280
 as I sit down and

00:42:42.280 --> 00:42:43.079
 Adam comes up again

00:42:43.079 --> 00:42:45.059
 just to be in your

00:42:45.059 --> 00:42:45.840
 own space with the

00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:46.019
 Lord.

00:42:46.019 --> 00:42:46.140
 Amen.

00:42:46.140 --> 00:42:46.220
 Amen.

00:42:46.220 --> 00:42:46.300
 Amen.

00:42:46.300 --> 00:42:46.320
 Amen.

00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:46.340
 Amen.

00:42:46.340 --> 00:42:46.360
 Amen.

00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:54.720
 Thank you very much.