Father, sometimes we think that we're very good and you do bad things.
Sometimes we worry and act as if you are very distant and powerless.
And we have all the power.
And Father, sometimes we get in trouble and we want you to act with great power
and just completely and utterly rescue us.
And we confess before you, Father, that we are often unbalanced and confused.
We ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would gently but deeply be poured out upon us
as we open your word, that your word would come into our lives,
that your word would touch our hearts,
and that we would bear much fruit in our daily life for your glory.
Father, do this powerful thing in our midst and in our lives at this time.
And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Amen. Please be seated.
So, one of the things that we occasionally wonder about
when we rent the Ottawa Little Theatre for our Sunday morning services,
and occasionally we wonder whether we should take like a 10-year lease of this space.
We only go year to year.
And maybe one of the things that we would like to do is be able to have a sign on the outside.
You know, maybe something like Church of the Messiah come worship with us or something like that.
Worship the Lord with us.
It would have been very funny if this past month we'd had a sign like that out in the front
because if it had something like Church of the Messiah come worship with us,
right beside it would have been the play that the Ottawa Little Theatre,
which is putting on, which is called The God of Carnage.
So, come worship the God of Carnage with us.
That actually is sort of very resonant to a lot of our culture.
If you notice in lots of movies lately,
if they want to say that they're going to do something that's going to bring about a lot of destruction,
what do they say?
They say it's going to be biblical.
Maybe you don't watch action movies, but often in action or spy movies,
they're going to have lots of explosions, lots of death, lots of carnage.
They say it's going to be biblical.
We, in fact, as a people, a lot of us do in fact worry that God is,
if he does exist, if he's able to do anything at all,
that if he does things, it's going to be violent.
It's a very, very common cultural belief.
Most of us just, you know, live our lives not even thinking about God whatsoever.
We can go day by day, week by week.
Maybe we fire off an odd prayer.
Some of us are maybe very puzzled about the way the world is going.
What does it mean that in the U.S. election,
people have to choose between Trump and Clinton?
What does it mean to the world that the U.K. has voted to leave the European Union?
For a lot of people, they find it very, very unsettling.
A lot of people, not only do they tie the belief that things are maybe getting better or better
or worse and worse with what human beings are like.
Many of us sort of struggle with the idea of the God of Carnage.
The whole play is, in fact, about an idea that if you strip away the civilized veneer of people,
that underneath we love carnage and we love violence and that the tether of civilization is very, very, very weak
and easily broken and our nature of carnage comes out.
So where does the Bible fall on all of this?
Like, what does it have to say about what God is like?
And maybe just as important for many of us, although actually the first question is the more important one,
but for many of us, are human beings good?
Are we bad?
Are we prone to doing lots of violent stuff?
Are we prone to doing more and more good things?
Like, what are human beings like?
Well, the book of Titus talks about this in a very, very powerful way,
in a way which is, I think, very unique amongst the spiritualities and the religions of the world,
and that if we look at it and take the time to look at it, I think we'll see that it's very wise
and speaks into our life in a powerful way.
So it would be a great help to me if you would take your Bibles and open up to Titus,
and let's just look at how the Bible speaks about God and about our human situation
and whether we're sort of good or bad or a bit of good and bad
or just what goes on with human beings and makes human beings the way they are.
Titus 3.
It's sort of close to the end of your Bibles if you're using paper versions,
which I still recommend at least at times to use paper versions.
It helps to remind us that there's a book and that there's context,
a literary and grammatical context.
And here's how it begins.
So the last two weeks we've looked at Titus 1 and 2.
We preached the books of the Bible.
Now we're looking at Titus 3, bringing the book of Titus to an end,
and here's how it begins.
And it actually begins in a very, very curious way about talking about civic virtues.
How you actually are to try to live your life in a pagan society.
In fact, it's very, very interesting.
As I read these next few verses, you have to remember that if Paul was alive today
and dying today, we probably wouldn't like him.
Paul was short, probably within a year or so of the writing of this letter,
Paul was arrested by the Roman authorities.
And he did very brief but very hard time in a dungeon in Rome.
And then he was executed by beheading just outside the city gates.
And if the papers of the time were reporting Paul's execution,
they would have said two things about Paul.
They would have said that he was well known to the authorities
because he'd spent much of his life, he'd spent many years in jail.
And the second thing is he would have said that he was a person of no fixed address.
And if we're honest ourselves, when we read about somebody doing something bad in the paper
or being sentenced and we read that they have a long history of spending time in jail
and they have no fixed address, we don't think very highly of the person.
That's the person who's writing that which we now call Titus 3.
And it's very interesting to hear how he begins by talking about civic virtues.
If you just understand this historical context, he begins by saying this.
I guess it's not really begin since it's chapter 3, but this part begins.
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities,
to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling,
to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Now that's a very, very interesting thing for somebody to say.
He's writing this letter in between having been in jail in Rome
and history reveals that Paul, it's recorded in the book of Acts
and after Acts, the last chapter of Acts is written,
and Paul probably had two or three years where he was free.
It is during that time period that he goes to Crete,
which is where Titus is, and he evangelizes the island.
And then sometime after this, he's captured by the authorities,
does a short period of hard time,
and then he's executed by beheading.
But he talks about Christians being submissive to rulers and authorities,
to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling,
to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Now, how does he ground this, so to speak?
Like, why does he tell you to do it?
There's lots of people who will give you similar advice,
but the reason that they give you the advice can matter a great deal.
So it might be that in a shame and honor culture,
they'll talk to you about how you should maybe show courtesy to each other
because it's the honorable thing to do.
It would bring shame upon you to not show courtesy.
Maybe in another culture or in another context,
they would tell you that you should show courtesy to people because of karma.
If you show courtesy to them, then they're going to maybe show courtesy to you.
Maybe another reason why you might be told to show courtesy to somebody
is that it's just practical.
It helps things to go smoother.
Others will actually maybe give you a utilitarian reason,
actually a selfish reason.
It's a way to manipulate people,
that if you show courtesy to them,
they're much more likely to do what you want.
And therefore, you're going to get what you want.
And if you want to get what you want,
then if you show courtesy, you're more likely to get what you want.
So show courtesy.
In other words, the suggestion or the advice to do courtesy
is ultimately based on enlightened, skillful selfishness.
And I've just basically summarized virtually every leadership book in chapters.
It's often built on enlightened, skillful selfishness to get what you want.
Or is it just maybe tradition?
There's a tradition of showing courtesy.
So how is it now that Paul, who said these quite surprising things,
given that he spent much time in jail,
and given he doesn't know, obviously, when he's writing,
in 2 Timothy, which is written after this,
he knows that he's about to die.
But when he writes Titus,
he doesn't know that he's going to be executed by Nero.
So how does Paul explain it?
Like, why does he say that you should do it?
Well, it's in verse 3 and following,
and he actually begins with a really, really, really surprising,
in a very, very surprising way.
Look what he says in verse 3.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray,
slaves to various passions and pleasures,
passing our days in malice and envy,
hated by others and hating one another.
Now there's an uplifting view of human nature,
if you've ever seen one, isn't it?
It's actually quite surprising that he roots the basis,
because look, it begins with for.
Look, for or because.
It could have also been translated as because.
Because.
You know, why should you show courtesy toward all people
and speak evil of no one and avoid quarreling?
Because we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray,
slaves to various passions and pleasures,
passing our days in malice and envy,
hated by others and hating one another.
Now, many people would say,
George, that's extremely,
that's an extreme understanding of human beings.
And obviously, George, you don't think that's true.
Like, nobody thinks that's true.
It's very extreme.
Sort of a very bleak way of understanding human beings.
Well, here's the part that's often missing
when we think, when we read a Bible text like this,
there's something we miss in there.
You know, if Nietzsche says similar types of things
about human beings,
or if Ayn Rand says something similar about human beings,
if Hegel says as part of a development of human beings
that this is what they're like,
if Freud says something similar as part of human beings,
they all have a very, you know,
the Bible isn't saying anything at all like what,
I mean, it might sound a bit,
but it's very different.
It has a very, very different context.
I'll try to give you a bit of an example.
Imagine for a moment that it turns out you had a long-lost aunt
who lived in Australia,
and she'd found you in Facebook
and liked what she saw in Facebook,
and she dies, and she leaves you $100 million.
That's real money.
$100 million.
And so you have $100 million tax-free,
and you end up after a couple of months
thinking that you should give back in some way.
And so maybe through the church or some other place,
you come across a person, 16 years old,
really, really rough life.
They've been living on the streets,
and you decide to take them in,
and you're going to make a difference in their life.
And so you have this 16-year-old,
and you pay for them to be detoxed
and get out of their addictions,
and you have them live with you,
and you make sure that they have clothes,
they have money.
You pay for driving lessons for them eventually.
You give them a car.
Different times, you come and you pick them up,
and you drive them home.
You pay for them to have French lessons
and dance lessons and computer lessons
and just about any lesson that they want.
And they go to university.
A very elite university.
You pay for tutors.
You do all of this.
And you do all of this just because you want to give back,
and it's hardly anything out of $100 million.
But let's say that, you know,
some night their car's broken down,
and they text you to come and pick them up,
and you go and you pick them up,
and you pick up their friends,
and as you're driving them home,
this person that you've helped,
they, first of all,
never even say hi to you when you pick them up.
They don't thank you.
They don't say hi to you.
The entire drive while you drive them home,
back to your home,
and drive that person's friends all the way home different places,
they never talk to you even once.
They pretend as if you're not even there.
And, in fact, as they're driving home,
the person that you've helped regales people
about how great they are at French,
how great they are at dancing,
how great they are at computers.
They regale you about the stupid little notes
that somehow show up at your house occasionally,
like after you've had breakfast,
put your plates back in the sink
that helped me as I wash them for you.
And you regale friends with how ridiculous
and stupid and foolish this is.
And you talk all about your accomplishments,
all the while completely and utterly ignoring
the person who's driving the car,
which is you.
And you gave them the house.
You gave them the lessons.
You got them detoxed.
You pay all of the bills.
You're picking them up at 3 o'clock in the morning
when their car broke down.
That's how it is with every human being with God.
Every single person here with God.
He gave you life.
He gives you your every breath.
He weaves whatever talents and gifts you have
into your being.
He has the sun to rise every day.
Every single thing you have was given to you.
Nothing is your own.
Wouldn't you have described the person
in the first case as being foolish and disobedient,
living his life in malice and envy?
I've just described myself.
You see, that's what makes,
when the Bible is saying these particular things
about human beings,
it's what makes it different
than what Ayn Rand says or Nietzsche or Freud
or other philosophers or social theorists,
is if there is in fact a God who does exist,
who is the creator and sustainer of all things,
and we live our lives in such a way
that we basically never talk to God,
never thank him,
and just basically ignore him.
That's why the Bible says that we're foolish.
And even this very, very hard thing
about hated and hating,
and it might very well be
that if we really pressed into your life
that there isn't a single person you hate,
that might very well be the case.
Often what happens is
we just don't remember the people that we hate.
But all that would have to happen
is that as you walk out of here,
you bump into a person,
and maybe you're with your friends
and they just see a person,
I don't know,
a woman with brown hair
wearing shorts and a,
you know, a shirt.
But you stiffen
because this person stopped you
from getting that promotion.
This person claimed that what you did,
they did,
and they got the praise for it.
Or they did something wrong
and they made it
so that people thought
it was you who did wrong
and you got the punishment.
Or maybe you think
you don't hate people
or don't have anything to forgive
or anything like that,
but you walk out that same situation
and what happens is
it's not the particular person,
but you smell a smell,
a perfume,
and it brings you back
to your mother or your father
or a former boss or a teacher
and all of a sudden you realize
how much you still,
actually if you were honest with yourself,
hate that person.
And the fact of the matter is
is that for many of us,
even if we think that there's not,
maybe we are a blessed person
who doesn't have anybody
that we hate
or who hates us.
Because it might very well be
that we walk out
and that person walks away
because we're the ones
who've done all those things to her.
In fact, isn't it so much easier
for us to think in that analogy
of us going out to meet somebody
who's done all those wrong things to us
and we feel hurt
than it is for us to imagine
that we walk out the door
and she sees us
and we're the ones
who've caused the damage to her?
Why is it that we find it easier
to identify with the first case
and not the second?
Why is it that probably 99% of people
find it easier to identify
with the first case
of the person having wronged us
than it is for us to think
that we might walk out the door
and another person,
their whole day is ruined
because they've seen us
and are reminded
of what we've done to them.
The Bible has a very, very frank discussion
of what it means to be human
in the context of the living God.
Andrew, if you could,
or Rebecca,
if you could put the first point up.
Here's the point of God,
of the Bible,
saying this particular thing
here in verse 3.
And it seems like a very, very odd way
to begin to discuss civic virtues.
But it's put there
for me to understand,
for you to understand
that I cannot make myself right
with the living God.
I cannot save myself.
I cannot make myself right
with the living God.
I cannot save myself.
Even at my best moments,
I can't.
And that's what the Bible here
is trying to communicate to us.
But then some of you
might say,
okay, well, George,
now that you've painted
a complete and utter bleak picture
of human beings,
although I have to say
that you caught me by surprise
with some of your analogies.
But George,
like, what are you saying?
Does that mean that human beings
have no hope?
That God just reveals our hearts
and what really goes on
in our hearts,
but there is no hope?
Like, George,
even if there is a God,
like, it doesn't look
as if God does anything
that's very helpful to me.
Yeah, sure,
there's been the odd time
I've said a prayer
and something's happened.
And sure,
you know,
I've had some promotions
and I've had some success
in life and all that type of stuff.
But George,
look at what's going on
in the States
and look at what's going on
in Europe
and look at what's going on
in Ottawa.
How on earth can you believe
that God cares
or that he's good
or kind or loving
or that he'd actually
do something for me,
that he knows me?
Look at the stars, George.
Don't you sometimes
stand outside
and if it's a cloudless night
and it's dark
and you can look
and you can see,
you know,
in Ottawa,
you can only see a few stars.
Maybe you've been
in Algonquin Park
or somewhere far more
remote than that
and you look up
and you look at all the stars
and the galaxies.
George,
how on earth
could you possibly believe
that God cares
about you
or me?
Like,
George,
isn't that more reasonable?
Doesn't that fit
with experience?
Well,
the Bible's not finished.
So,
look at verse 4.
So,
verse 3 is,
you know,
for we ourselves
were once foolish,
disobedient,
led astray,
slaves to various passions
and pleasures,
passing our days
in malice and envy,
hated by others
and hating one another.
But,
but,
that's not the end
of the story.
There's a contrast.
That's what the but
is there for.
It's a big but.
Praise God
for big buts.
You can keep that in that
and have it recorded,
Andrew.
Praise God
for big buts.
There's a big but.
But when the goodness
and loving kindness
of God our Savior
appeared,
he saved us
not because of works
done by us
in righteousness,
but according
to his own mercy
by the washing
of regeneration
and renewal
of the Holy Spirit
whom God
poured out
on us richly
through Jesus Christ
our Savior
so that being justified
by his grace,
we might become
heirs
according to the hope
of eternal life.
A very, very, very
glorious text.
Could you just put up
the third point
please right now?
Or did I just say
the second point,
I guess.
Am I out of order?
Some I've miscounted.
Oh yes,
I missed that
second point, yes.
If God has to do
something to save us,
that was the second point.
Put up the third point.
Sometimes, you know,
I don't do things perfect.
Keep praying for me.
The gospel is the good news
of what God really,
truly did
in space and time
in human history
and which he offers
to you
as pure gift.
The gospel is the good news
of what God really,
truly did
in space and time
in human history
in which he offers
to you as pure gift.
Look at this,
how it begins.
It doesn't sound like
it's very dramatic,
but what it says here
is, but when the,
verse four,
but when the goodness
and loving kindness
of God our Savior
appeared,
he saved us.
And the image here
of appeared,
in the original language,
it's a light image.
a light image.
And it's an image
of the room
being completely
and utterly dark.
And actually,
probably this room
could be made
to be fairly dark
if you just put some things
underneath the doors
and you turned
all the lights off,
this room would be
pretty, pretty dark.
But let's say you could
make the room
completely and utterly dark,
get rid of even
the exit sign
so it's completely dark.
And all of a sudden,
somebody turns on
a flashlight,
light appears
in the room.
And that's the image here
that God,
who is by himself
goodness and loving kindness,
the Savior appears,
comes into this dark world
and he's really present.
Now, this,
Paul is making a claim
that this really,
really, really,
really truly happened,
that it's not just a story.
I love the Lord
of the Rings books.
I've probably read them
ten times.
You know,
if Jesus tarries
and I continue
to be able to read,
I'll probably read them
another few times
before I die.
I like reading them
every couple of years.
I like the movies.
And, you know,
in the movie,
just a little while ago,
I was re-watching
the third Lord
of the Rings movie
and one of my favorite
scenes in all of movies
is towards the end
of the third
Lord of the Rings movie
and Aragorn,
if you don't know
anything about
the Lord of the Rings,
you know,
you can think about
your grocery list
or something,
but hopefully
you can follow the image.
The Aragorn
has led this small group
of fighters,
the good guys,
right to the gates
of Mordor
where the evil ruler is
and the gates open up
and there's this
vast, vast, vast army
that's about to approach them.
There are this small number
of soldiers,
this vast army
is about to approach them
and I almost had Andrew
put the speech up there
but there's this wonderful thing,
one of my favorite parts
of movies
where Aragorn
starts to ride around
and he said,
there will come a day
when the light of men
will fade
and the strength of men
will fade
but this is not that day.
This is not that day
and he keeps saying this
as he's running around
with his horses
rallying the men.
And I love watching that.
I just love watching it.
But it's just a story.
Just made up.
It's inspiring
but it's just a story.
And after you watch it,
I maybe have to turn it off
because I'm watching it downstairs
because I have to go up
and do the dishes
because Louise wants me
to do the dishes.
You go back to the real world.
The person who wrote this text,
who had a record
as long as your arm,
who was well known
to the authorities,
who had died by beheading,
died because he saw Jesus
after Jesus had risen from the dead.
And he,
that so completely transformed him.
He already was from Jerusalem.
He knew that the grave was empty.
He knew that nobody had taken the body.
He saw Jesus
after Jesus had resurrected from the dead
and had led this man
to leave his well-educated,
politically, socially, culturally,
and educationally secure role
to a life that would mean
that he'd eventually spend much time in jail
and eventually be beheaded
by a Roman soldier
outside one of the gates of Rome.
The entire,
why is it that in Islam
it doesn't matter
if there's any miracles?
It doesn't matter
if there's any miracles in Buddhism.
It doesn't matter
if there's any miracles in Hinduism.
But it matters to the Christian faith
because at the very heart
of the Christian faith
is this claim
that God breaks in,
that God comes
and actually acts
in our midst.
It doesn't matter
whether things in the Koran
on one level
are completely historical.
It doesn't matter at all
whether anything
about Buddha's life
actually happened.
In Hinduism,
it doesn't matter
whether things
are historically accurate.
It doesn't matter
to any of these things.
But why is it
that Christians
are concerned about
whether or not
Jesus actually rose from dead?
Why is it?
Well, it's because
there's this belief
that it really happened,
that it's not just a story.
It's not like listening
to an actor
pretend to be
a fictional character
giving a rousing speech
to carry on
and to fight
against immeasurable odds.
The claim is
that it's not just a story,
that it actually happened,
that the God
who really does exist
is good and kind.
He's not distant.
He's not asleep.
He's not powerless.
He actually listens.
He's involved in creation.
He broke into time and space
and human history
in the person of his son.
And his son lived
a sinless life
and then died
a violent death
upon the cross
that if you went back in time,
you would have seen
the soldiers sweating
and cursing
just like soldiers do
when they have a job
they don't want to do
on a hot day,
probably muttering
about stupid Jewish
troublemakers
causing them
to have to spend the time
on this hot and dusty day
when they'd rather
be in the shade
with some nice wine
and some hummus
and some tabbouleh
and cursing
and the thing place
was so public
it had to,
the charge against Jesus
had to be in three languages.
And the claim of the Bible
is it really happened.
The tomb was empty.
And it was empty
because Jesus
had risen from the dead
vindicating
all of the promises of God
and vindicating
what he had said
about who he is
and that his death
was not a mere death
but was God's
unbelievable
but I hope you believe it.
Counterintuitive
action
to save
ordinary human beings
like you and me.
Human beings
who are disobedient
and foolish
and led astray
by various passions
and pleasures
and days of malice
and cannot save ourselves.
That the God
who actually exists
actually acted
in human history.
His salvation
appears.
And that's
the Christian claim.
And you'll notice
that this is
the spectacular thing.
It just gives here
three different images
of what it is
that God does.
What it is
that God does
as his son
who's lived
a sinless life
dies upon the cross
and dies
and tastes
all there is to death
and then rises again
on the third day.
Actually Andrew
if you could put up
the fourth point
it sort of summarizes it
but we'll just go through it.
When I receive
the gospel
by faith alone
God
pours out
his Holy Spirit
upon me
to give me
new life
he makes me
right with himself
and he
adopts me
as his
precious
child.
Look at verses
four to six again
we'll see the three images
but when the goodness
and loving kindness
of God
our Savior
appeared
he
saved
us
not because
of works
done by us
in righteousness
but according
to his
own mercy
and here's
the first image
by the washing
of regeneration
and renewal
of the Holy Spirit
and that
that image
it's an image
it's if
it tries to picture
that when you put
your hands
in the hands
of Jesus
and you trust him
to be your Savior
and your Lord
when you put that
you think of what
Jesus has done
for us on the cross
you hear that
it's God's provision
to make us right
you put our hands
in the hands
of Jesus
and this isn't
this once again
this isn't an
Aragorn story
this isn't a
Lord of the Rings story
this isn't just
something that's
there to inspire
you
the Bible
claims that
this is God's
own description
of what he
himself does
for ordinary
people who put
their faith
and trust in him
and we can trust
the word of God
because
the tomb
is empty
and Jesus
is risen
and that when
we put our hands
in the hands
of Jesus
as an ordinary
person
unable to save
ourselves
one of the things
to understand
is if God
pours out
just like we
can have
consent underneath
a waterfall
and the water
pours out
but here the
image is
that it's as if
the Holy Spirit
is like a waterfall
and it not only
comes and falls
upon us
as our body
but actually
comes and
enters into
our mind
and our heart
and our will
and our soul
that the Holy Spirit
is richly
deeply poured out
upon who we are
and the result
of that
pouring out
is that it
is if I
have been
given a new
life
that comes
from God
that's what
regeneration
means
and restored
means that I'm
still human
he doesn't
turn me
into an angel
he makes me
restored
to what I was
originally meant
to be
and the second
image comes
right after it
whom he poured
out
so verse 6
whom he poured
out on us
richly through
Jesus Christ
our Savior
so that being
justified
by his grace
just a couple
of weeks ago
I was in
Vancouver
because I
helped to
organize a
conference that
was there
and on the
Monday night
before the
conference began
I was with
several
and we also
took out
one of the
guest speakers
and we took
him out to
this simple
restaurant
and I said
I'm going to
pay for the
guest speakers
so I give
the waitress
my credit card
and you know
it's just all
chatting
declined
well this is
a bit
embarrassing
and so
I say
well let's
just try it
again
and you know
because
we all know
that's how
things work
right
it's declined
try it again
maybe it won't
be declined
the second
time
I don't know
why
maybe Pixies
will you know
sprinkle Pixie
dust on it
but I try it
the second
time
it's declined
again
this is very
embarrassing
fortunately
I have a
second credit
card
I give them
the second
credit card
it goes
through
and then
afterwards
I'm
calling
after as I'm
walking back
to the hotel
I call
the credit
card company
and they say
we can't tell you
why it was
declined
but you have
to go to
a bank
branch
and bring
two pieces
of ID
so the next
day I go
to the bank
branch
passport
driver's
license
it turns
out that
Julie Lynn
Spence
had applied
for a
second credit
card
and an
additional
credit card
on mine
and
purchases
all that
type of
stuff
the alarm
bells
went off
they froze
the card
so now
I'm on
the phone
with them
and what
do I
want
I want
them to
make it
right
I'm not
mad
I want
them to
make it
right
isn't that
what you'd
want
I can't
make it
right
what do I
want
I want
them to
make it
right
I want
the other
person's
credit card
cancelled
they're going
to have
to cancel
my credit
card
they're going
to have
to mail
me another
credit card
by express
delivery
because they
want to do
it as quickly
as possible
they have
to make
sure that
there's no
purchases on
there that
if there are
purchases on
that card
that weren't
made by me
but by this
person who
was trying to
defraud and
steal from
me that
those purchases
are reversed
they don't have
to pay for it
I can go on
right
I want
to make
it right
I want
them to
make it
right
that's what
the word
justified
means
God makes
it right
God makes
it right
for me
and what's
the third
image of
what God
does
what is
it that
when we
see Jesus
dying upon
the cross
and rising
from the
dead
and when
we
accept
him
when we
trust
that this
is God's
provision
to save
us
he not
only
pours out
the Holy
Spirit
upon us
to make
us
like give
us actual
new life
that comes
from God
he also
makes it
right with
him
and the
third
thing
is
what is
the third
thing
look at
this again
so that
being
justified
by his
grace
we might
become
heirs
according to
the hope
of eternal
life
he adopts
you
he adopts
you
in Roman
culture
you could
adopt a
person
at any
age
and
here's
the
wonderful
thing
about
this
image
look at
that
first
image
the
image
I
just
gave
you
about
the
problem
with
the
credit
card
that
I
had
at
the
end
of
the
day
they
made
it
right
but
all
it
making
it
right
means
is
that
all
the
debts
that
are
mine
I
still
have
to
pay
but
this
is
a
different
image
it's
not
just
that
God
removes
things
the
actual
sinless
life
of
Jesus
is
now
going
to
stand
for
me
that
the
actual
riches
of
God
are
now
going
to
be
mine
this
is
going
beyond
the
second
image
to
discover
you
wake
up
and
discover
that
Bill
Gates
adopted
you
I
don't
know
how
many
billions
of
dollars
is
he
worth
all
of a
sudden
you've
been
adopted
by
a
billionaire
who
cares
about
the
credit
card
balance
you
can
pay
anyone
off
and
that's
the
third
image
here
this
is
what
God
does
for
you
in
the
person
of
his
son
when
his
son
dies
upon
the
cross
now
and
you
see
this
is
a
really
important
thing
if
you
could
put
up
the
next
point
please
that
would
be
very
helpful
another
way
to
express
what
I
just
expressed
is a
very
classic
way
of
referring
to
it
that
I
am
saved
by
God's
grace
alone
in
Christ
alone
through
faith
alone
God
saves
me
because
he's
gracious
he
saves
me
in
Jesus
I
receive
his
salvation
by
putting
my
faith
and
trust
in
him
by
recognizing
that
it's
not
what
I
do
or
can
do
or
ever
can
do
but
that
God
does
it
for
me
when
I
turn
to
him
and
acknowledge
that
I
need
him
to
save
me
you
see
for
many
people
in
Canada
we're
going to
wrap
it up
very
quickly
for
many
people
in
Canada
so
for
many
people
in
Canada
they
would
now
just
say
that
when
you
die
that's
it
you
die
you
die
before
I
became
a
Christian
that's
what
I
would
have
said
you
die
you
die
it
doesn't
matter
that
you
live
on
in
somebody's
memories
as
Woody Allen
famously
said
I
have
no
comfort
in
the
fact
that
when
I
die
I
live
on
in
people's
memories
because
I
want
to
live
in
my
apartment
and
so
for
many
people
you
die
you
die
but
for
many
other
people
you
say
when
you
die
you
go
to
a
better
place
and
so
for
the
average
Canadian
what
they
sort
of
think
about
it
is
that
every
day
I've
done
five
good
things
it's
as if
there's
this
heavenly
bank
account
better
place
bank
account
I
do
five
good
things
it's
a
little
bit
of
some
money
going
in
my
better
place
bank
account
I
better
place
bank
account
you'd
see
that
you
know
it's
pretty
close
to
at least
affording
a down
payment
on a
mortgage
and
God
gives
interest
free
loans
and
I'm
sure
I'm
going to
go to
a
better
place
and
the
Bible
shocking
news
is
that
if
you
could
actually
look
at
your
better
place
bank
account
you'd
see
that
you
owe
500
million
dollars
you have
absolutely
no
hope
and so
for the
average
Canadian
when they
me
yeah
like
your
poop
smells
better
than
mine
does
not
that's
why
you see
verse
three
is
so
central
to
the
gospel
and
why
how
I've
summarized
it
in
that
I
am
saved
by
God's
grace
alone
in
Christ
alone
through
faith
alone
is
so
unbelievably
important
to
communicate
because
we can
get it
wrong
I grew
up in
a
house
my
parents
are
Northern
Ireland
Protestants
I'm
a
child
of
immigrants
and
my
parents
if
I
had
done
something
that
was
really
good
or
really
smart
or
really
beautiful
they'd
say
that's
very
Protestant
of
you
that's
very
Protestant
of
you
the
implication
being
that
Catholics
aren't
like
that
but
Protestants
our
poop
smells
better
than
Catholic
poop
which
of
course
is
completely
and utterly
ridiculous
you
see
it's
so
easy
to
quickly
get
back
to
believing
what
you
see
that's
why
the
gospel
is
so
important
it's
easy
to
turn
the
gospel
into
a
list
of
rules
about
Old
Testament
rules
or
about
genealogies
you
know
you
have
a
Protestant
genealogy
see
that's
what
Paul
is
talking
about
when
he
keeps
on
going
right
here
I've
skipped
a
look
on
verse
8
this
saying
is
trustworthy
the
gospel
and I
want
you
to
insist
on
those
things
so
that
those
who
have
believed
in
God
may
be
careful
to
devote
themselves
to
good
works
I'm
going to
explain
that
in a
moment
these
things
are
excellent
and
profitable
for
people
but
avoid
foolish
controversies
genealogies
dissensions
and quarrels
about the
law
for they
are
unprofitable
and worthless
as for
a person
who stirs
up the
vision
after
warning
them
once
and
then
twice
have
nothing
more
to
do
with
them
knowing
that
such
a
person
is
warped
and
sinful
he
is
self
condemned
you
see
if you
could
put up
the
next
point
a
gospel
centered
church
will
humbly
but
firmly
guard
the
gospel
from
those
who
push
false
gospels
because
it's
the
gospel
that
saves
us
it's
so
easy
for
us
to
start
to
think
that
it's
about
our
own
righteousness
that
it's
about
our
own
being
somehow
better
than
other
people
Spurgeon
tells
it
truer
the
Christian
gospel
the
Christian
faith
is
one
beggar
telling
another
beggar
where
to
receive
free
bread
and
I'm
saved
by
faith
alone
because
God
is
gracious
and
what
he
did
for
me
in
Jesus
he
does
not
weigh
my
merits
at
all
but
you
know
this
whole
thing
and
Christians
now
aren't
saying
that
they're
perfect
we
live
in
the
already
not
yet
the
time
of
Jesus
appearing
the
second
time
in
glory
when
we
will
receive
our
new
resurrection
bodies
and
complete
transformation
of who
we
are
that
is
still
in
the
future
and
that
describes
us
we
have
been
given
new
life
in
Jesus
when
we
put
our
faith
and
trust
in
him
he
is
the
one
who's
made
it
right
he's
done
that
completely
and utterly
and
it's
very
important
to be
gripped
in
the
gospel
by
this
because
you
see
when
we're
gripped
by
how
we
justify
ourselves
or
how
we
make
ourselves
righteous
it's
as
if
you
have
to
fix
the
eaves
on the
third
floor
of
a
house
and
your
ladder
is
not
long
enough
so
you
put
the
ladder
on
a
trampoline
do
not
try
this
and
you
put
the
ladder
on
a
trampoline
and
then
you
go
and
try
to
fix
stuff
in
the
eaves
on
the
third
floor
it's
inherently
unstable
and
that's
why
when we
base
our
lives
on
our
own
righteousness
and
our
own
justification
it's
very
hard
young
woman's
life
when I
walked
out
the
door
because
she
remembered
the
terrible
things
that I
did
to
her
and
if
you
entirely
are
trying
to
justify
yourself
and
make
yourself
righteous
how
can
you
look
at
the
black
hole
within
but
when
we're
gripped
by
the
gospel
when
we
realize
that
when
I
it
is
God
through
the
person
of
his
son
he
did
everything
with
nothing
left
over
to
make
me
right
with
himself
that
it's
Jesus
his
death
upon
the
cross
his
resurrection
the
point
out
of
the
Holy
Spirit
that's
what
gives
me
new
life
God
gives
me
that
new
life
I
didn't
evolve
into
new
life
I
didn't
invent
or
create
this
God
does
it
that
God
adopts
me
as
his
child
that
no
amount
of
good
things
that
I
can
ever
possibly
do
can
add
to
God
being
my
father
who
has
taken
me
as
his
child
but
nothing
that
I
can
do
can
add
to
that
it's
all
been
dealt
with
by
the
person
of
Jesus
and
as
the
gospel
grips
us
in
my
day-to-day
life
I
can
look
at
the
fact
of
how
I
hate
another
person
I
have
to
deal
with
that
where
a
person
hates
me
I
have
to
deal
with
that
I
can
look
at
that
I
am
not
trying
to
fix
something
on the
third
floor
of
a
shaky
ladder
on a
trampoline
and
you
see
that's
why
in
this
entire
thing
there's
this
surprising
reversal
you
don't
show
courtesy
to
perfect
courtesy
to
everyone
to
make
God
love
you
and
to
look
righteous
but
as
you
are
gripped
by
what
Jesus
did
for
you
on
the
cross
as
you
are
grounded
on
that
and
begin
to
have
the
ability
to
look
at
those
parts
of
who
you
are
that
are
very
bad
as
you
consider
the
courtesy
that
God
showed
to
you
to
save
you
start
to
want
to
show
courtesy
makes
sense
even
to a
person
who's
wronged
you
courtesy
begins
to
make
sense
when
you
realize
how
gently
God
has
dealt
with
you
gentleness
makes
sense
that's
why
virtue
emerges
out of
being
gripped
by the
gospel
whereas
if you
try to
make
yourself
right
with
God
through
virtue
you
will
always
be
anxious
and
insecure
but
when
your
identity
is
rooted
in
verses
3
to
7
of
Titus
you
start
to
have
the
type
of
security
and
wholeness
to
deal
with
hatred
and
being
led
astray
and
to
apologize
and
to
be
gentle
life
transformation
comes
from
being
gripped
by the
gospel
could
you
put
the
final
point
up
Andrew
could
you
all
stand
please
I
don't
know
where
you
are
with
God
and
you're
here
today
but
you
know
there's
an
old
way
about
how
do
you
become
a
Christian
there's
the
ABCD
method
I'm
a
very
simple
minded
man
my
wife
will
tell
you
that
I'm
very
simple
minded
some
of
you
say
George
you
aren't
simple
minded
no
I
really
I'm
very
simple
minded
and
how
do
you
become
a
Christian
ABCD
there's
something
to
acknowledge
that's
verse
three
you
can't
save
yourself
you
have
to
have
God
save
you
there's
something
to
believe
that
God
has
done
something
in the
person
of
his
son
that
will
make
you
right
with
him
and
there's
C
something
to
consider
to
consider
that
if
you
put
your
hands
in
the
hands
of
Jesus
your
life
will
start
to
change
you
will
have
to
start
dealing
God
the
gospel
will
start
to
lead
you
to
deal
with
people
who
hate
you
might
have
to
make
amends
that
people
whom
you
hate
you
might
have
to
begin
a
journey
of
forgiveness
but
then
there's
something
to
decide
that
it's
worth
it
and
there's
no
better
time
than
right
now
if
you
haven't
put
your
hands
in
the
hands
of
Jesus
there
is
no
time
better
what's
keeping
you
from
doing
it
right
now
what's
stopping
you
from
putting
your
hands
in
the
hands
of
Jesus
who
knowing
every
single
thing
there is
to
know
about
you
not
as
an
abstraction
but
knowing
you
really
and
yet
he
died
on
the
cross
for
you
and
God
knowing
you
perfectly
will
pour
out
his
Holy
Spirit
upon
you
in
such
a
way
that
you
have
given
new
life
that
God
will
make
you
right
with
himself
what
is
stopping
you
from
doing
this
right
now
for
some
this
is
a
conversion
prayer
and
for
the
rest
of
us
it's
a
sanctification
prayer
to
realize
our
need
to
be
gripped
by
the
gospel
to
face
the
things
in
our
lives
which
are
good
and
bad
and
live
in
a
way
that
is
both
wise
and
good
for
others
and
brings
glory
for
God
would
you
please
pray
it
with
me
dear
Lord
please
make
me
a
disciple
of
Jesus
gripped
by
the
gospel
and
then
grow
in
me
godly
and
God
glorifying
civic
virtues
and
a
life
of
good
works
done
well
for
you
in
Jesus
name
amen
father
pour
out
your
holy
spirit
upon
us
make
us
disciples
of
Jesus
gripped
by
the
gospel
who
are
living
for
your
glory
and
if
there
is
any
here
who
for
the
first
time
gave
their
life
to
Jesus
father
pour
out
your
holy
spirit
upon
them
grant
them
the
courage
to
share
with
another
person
what
they
have
done
to
help
seal
it
in
their
lives
father
thank
you
for
what
you've
done
for
us
in
Jesus
in
all
this
we
ask
in
Jesus
name
amen
the
at