WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.439
 We pray the word, we recite the word, sing the word, we see the word in the ordinances, and we preach the word.

00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:20.600
 Paul, in his final letter, wrote to his prodigy Timothy, in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16, you're probably familiar.

00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:29.679
 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.939
 That the man of God may be complete equipped for every good work.

00:00:35.420 --> 00:00:43.100
 It has its very source as God. It is sufficient for the task of making us holy in Christ.

00:00:44.340 --> 00:00:51.000
 And then I think, in this case, the chapter break doesn't serve us well because Paul goes on to say to Timothy,

00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:59.560
 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing in his kingdom.

00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:03.359
 Right? So there's a weighty thing that needs to be talked about.

00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:07.740
 Verse 2, he says, preach the word.

00:01:08.460 --> 00:01:15.820
 Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching.

00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:18.800
 And then he tells Timothy why.

00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:29.319
 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to soothe their own passions,

00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:34.439
 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:45.959
 So his response to this coming reality, the time is coming and is now here, I'm sure that Timothy experienced in his day as well, is to preach.

00:01:46.539 --> 00:01:50.000
 To continue to open up the word and to proclaim it.

00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:59.099
 The spirit of God wields the word of God to bring about transformation in his people for the praise of his name.

00:01:59.739 --> 00:02:08.360
 And we don't see this most regularly in big and astounding ways, but in little, patient, steadfast ways.

00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:13.939
 This happens prominently as we study God's word together.

00:02:13.939 --> 00:02:26.240
 Secondly, I am grateful to be in fellowship with believers who want the word preached and not necessarily preached by me.

00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:33.620
 The following are five reasons that I don't preach every single Sunday.

00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:36.919
 It's by design. It's a strategy.

00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:39.400
 And here they are in ascending order.

00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:42.020
 That means that this gets more important as I go along.

00:02:42.020 --> 00:02:44.260
 So least important to more important.

00:02:44.480 --> 00:02:45.300
 Minor to major.

00:02:46.700 --> 00:02:48.780
 First, it's simply good for me.

00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:55.860
 I've been on sabbatical for the past five weeks, and it was good that I could take a time away and to do that.

00:02:55.939 --> 00:02:57.680
 It's good for my family.

00:02:57.980 --> 00:03:05.660
 It's good for me to sit with them and sing with them and lead my boys in what it looks like to be churchmen.

00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:10.800
 For them not to resent the church as the thing that always took daddy away.

00:03:12.020 --> 00:03:16.700
 Secondly, it's good for me just to have some time to catch up on other things.

00:03:16.699 --> 00:03:32.359
 I've told you all before that usually the weeks that I don't preach are the busiest weeks because I feel like I have infinite time available to me, and I pack it very full to be in prayer and study, to counsel, to develop leaders, etc.

00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:43.800
 Third, it is good for us as a church to develop future leaders by giving other men the opportunity to preach.

00:03:44.320 --> 00:03:51.240
 Men have varying teaching gifts which are improved by practice.

00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:58.280
 Public gospel preachers are both born and they are made.

00:03:58.640 --> 00:04:07.820
 So it's good for us to give men opportunity to stretch their legs and to give it a try and to get helpful feedback.

00:04:08.500 --> 00:04:13.420
 And it's much different to preach a sermon in front of a congregation than in a preaching class.

00:04:13.419 --> 00:04:23.879
 Number four, it is good for you to hear the gospel preached in other voices and from unique perspectives.

00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:26.459
 Things said differently.

00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:33.779
 I'm going to get into a repetition of phrasing, and it's good for you to hear stuff afresh from someone else.

00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:40.259
 You and I need to witness the manifold grace of God in the life of his people.

00:04:40.619 --> 00:04:46.319
 How is the gospel at work in us, not just in me?

00:04:47.599 --> 00:04:59.479
 And fifth and finally, it is good for you to value the word of God preached, proclaimed, not necessarily a particular person doing so.

00:04:59.679 --> 00:05:01.939
 And this is so very countercultural.

00:05:01.939 --> 00:05:06.459
 Many churches have become cults of personality.

00:05:07.660 --> 00:05:09.779
 Praise God that I can go away for five weeks.

00:05:09.939 --> 00:05:11.000
 Y'all kept coming.

00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:11.759
 That's amazing.

00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:16.360
 Maybe you came to hear Zach preach, and maybe you'll leave now that I'm back.

00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:16.899
 I don't know.

00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:19.220
 I hope not.

00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:22.579
 But it's helpful for us to see Jesus Christ as the head of the church.

00:05:23.579 --> 00:05:28.860
 Pastors are only ever under-shepherds of the great shepherd.

00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:32.860
 And it's good for us all, including myself.

00:05:32.980 --> 00:05:38.720
 It's good for me to be away and see the Lord hold it together using the many efforts of y'all.

00:05:39.580 --> 00:05:42.819
 So it's really good that I don't preach every Sunday.

00:05:43.020 --> 00:05:46.860
 In fact, I have a constraining quota.

00:05:46.860 --> 00:05:51.740
 I'm only supposed to preach half the Sundays that we're together.

00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:54.240
 And it's kept track of.

00:05:55.400 --> 00:05:58.800
 Your elders ask me, it seems like it's been a little bit.

00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.000
 How many weeks have you been preaching now?

00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:06.439
 It's good for us to be okay with this.

00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:12.839
 And I hope you will join me this morning in enjoying God's manifold grace to our congregation

00:06:12.839 --> 00:06:19.720
 as his word is preached every Sunday, not necessarily by me.

00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:24.579
 Now, that said, we are going to try something new, a little bit different.

00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:32.240
 But, although not a dramatic departure, we think as a general habit, the church is best served by verse-by-verse exposition.

00:06:32.539 --> 00:06:35.859
 So I mentioned we're starting the book of Romans this morning.

00:06:36.719 --> 00:06:41.860
 But for the sake of continuity, typically what we would do is we would split it up amongst different guys that are preaching.

00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:48.520
 But it has been suggested as a thing to try that when I'm preaching, I'll be preaching the book of Romans.

00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:52.240
 And it was asked to me at that time, like, what would you want to preach?

00:06:52.699 --> 00:06:55.360
 And I said, okay, Romans, that's what we want to preach.

00:06:55.580 --> 00:07:00.840
 If I get to preach the whole book, I definitely want to preach the book of Romans.

00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:03.600
 But we will still take some breaks from Romans.

00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:10.400
 And we'll have some verse-by-verse expositions of text in between my preaching in Romans.

00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:11.639
 So that's where we're headed.

00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:17.560
 I wanted you to be both aware of what we'll be doing and why we'll be doing it.

00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:23.799
 Now to Romans, which I argue is the greatest lever ever written.

00:07:24.799 --> 00:07:28.379
 It is placed in our canon at the beginning of Paul's epistles.

00:07:29.479 --> 00:07:34.139
 Some say because it's the longest, but I strongly disagree.

00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:39.319
 I think because it is the most important.

00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:43.279
 Martin Luther wrote of the book of Romans,

00:07:43.719 --> 00:07:50.219
 This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and is truly the purest gospel.

00:07:51.219 --> 00:07:56.519
 It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word by heart,

00:07:56.679 --> 00:08:02.719
 but also that he should occupy himself with it every day as the daily bread of the soul.

00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:06.400
 We can never read it or ponder over it too much,

00:08:06.400 --> 00:08:12.220
 for the more we deal with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.

00:08:13.080 --> 00:08:14.660
 How phenomenal, right?

00:08:14.960 --> 00:08:16.020
 Martin Luther said,

00:08:16.540 --> 00:08:19.040
 At the very center of our practice together,

00:08:19.180 --> 00:08:23.640
 we ought to be memorizing and meditating on this letter.

00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:29.339
 I will add that we will have keener minds to understand the rest of Scripture

00:08:29.339 --> 00:08:32.039
 if we can get Romans right.

00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:38.000
 So we have both a significant and a delightful work ahead of us.

00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:43.919
 Paul most probably wrote Romans from Corinth in A.D. 57.

00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:48.080
 There's a little bit of dispute over this, but most have settled in on this,

00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:53.040
 and that he intended it to precede a visit to the church located in Rome.

00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:57.120
 It is his most fully formed theological work,

00:08:57.340 --> 00:09:02.060
 but it should not be thought to be a complete summary of Paul's theological mind.

00:09:02.160 --> 00:09:04.960
 It is not Paul's systematic theology.

00:09:06.040 --> 00:09:09.920
 He does not, for example, address in detail the doctrine of Christ,

00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:11.520
 like he does in Colossians,

00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:14.920
 or the church like he does in Ephesians,

00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:19.740
 or the last days like he does in 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:25.519
 The thrust of the entirety of Paul's letter to the Romans is this.

00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:28.959
 If you can get your mind into this,

00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:29.959
 this is the thrust of it.

00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.219
 This is where he's going.

00:09:32.319 --> 00:09:34.620
 Salvation by grace alone,

00:09:35.439 --> 00:09:36.599
 through faith alone,

00:09:37.319 --> 00:09:40.379
 in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:45.980
 And I am looking forward to unpacking this with you in the coming months,

00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:48.600
 which will likely turn into years.

00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:51.779
 So all that said,

00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:58.059
 let's begin with the first four verses of Romans chapter 1.

00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:01.740
 Before I read them, let me remind you, beloved,

00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:05.399
 this is God's word to us,

00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:08.600
 written for his glory and our good.

00:10:08.600 --> 00:10:12.120
 We would all do well to listen to it

00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:14.040
 in order to believe its promises

00:10:14.040 --> 00:10:17.159
 and to obey its commands.

00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:20.480
 Romans 1, verses 1 through 4.

00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:24.980
 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,

00:10:25.180 --> 00:10:26.659
 called to be an apostle,

00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:29.440
 set apart for the gospel of God,

00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:32.700
 which he promised beforehand through his prophets

00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:33.980
 in the holy scriptures,

00:10:34.899 --> 00:10:36.060
 concerning his son,

00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:38.919
 who was descended from David according to the flesh

00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:40.639
 and was declared to be the son of God

00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:43.039
 in power according to the spirit of holiness

00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:45.719
 by his resurrection from the dead.

00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:47.539
 Jesus Christ,

00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:49.879
 our Lord.

00:10:51.359 --> 00:10:53.379
 In the beginning of the salutation

00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:55.539
 of Paul's letter to Roman believers,

00:10:56.319 --> 00:10:58.159
 he establishes the authority

00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:59.939
 by which he writes.

00:10:59.940 --> 00:11:03.300
 And it is theologically rich.

00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:05.720
 We'll skip a stone off of it this morning.

00:11:06.420 --> 00:11:09.680
 This morning's outline will follow three points,

00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:12.500
 which are available to you on your bulletin,

00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:13.860
 should you like to take notes.

00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.520
 Number one, the authority of Paul.

00:11:16.660 --> 00:11:19.180
 Number two, the authority of the Bible.

00:11:20.140 --> 00:11:22.960
 And number three, the authority of Jesus Christ.

00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:29.019
 Firstly, the authority of Paul we see in verse one.

00:11:29.900 --> 00:11:31.720
 In Paul's introduction of himself

00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:33.200
 as the writer of this letter,

00:11:33.300 --> 00:11:38.120
 he gives to his readers three titles for himself.

00:11:39.160 --> 00:11:44.420
 First, he calls himself a servant of Christ Jesus.

00:11:45.420 --> 00:11:49.780
 The word servant could also be translated bond servant.

00:11:49.779 --> 00:11:53.759
 Mosaic law provided for an indentured servant

00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.839
 to permanently become a bondservant of a master

00:11:56.839 --> 00:11:59.339
 that he loved and respected.

00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:02.639
 A voluntary servanthood.

00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:06.279
 The term signifies total ownership

00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:09.120
 and total obedience.

00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:12.019
 That is to say that Paul viewed himself

00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:15.100
 as belonging completely to Christ Jesus

00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:20.019
 and called to a complete obedience to Christ Jesus.

00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:23.960
 Not a pick and choose kind of faith.

00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:26.040
 Paul is saying, I belong to him

00:12:26.040 --> 00:12:30.100
 and therefore I serve at his whim.

00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.820
 And note here that Paul,

00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:35.580
 as he introduces himself in this letter,

00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:39.920
 begins, he starts with humility.

00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.399
 Even as he is establishing his authority,

00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:48.679
 he recognizes that it is a granted authority.

00:12:50.079 --> 00:12:52.879
 Paul could have begun with his apostleship.

00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:56.419
 Rather significant position that he held.

00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:58.879
 He is authoring this letter

00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:01.379
 toward the end of his third missionary journey.

00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:04.919
 He could have began with his mission credentials.

00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:05.799
 Credentials.

00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:10.219
 Was no greater missionary than Paul in his day.

00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:13.559
 He had traveled further and accomplished more.

00:13:14.719 --> 00:13:16.559
 But he doesn't do either of these things.

00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:20.799
 He begins with his servant status.

00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:23.379
 He begins with humility

00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:27.500
 that all praise might belong to Christ.

00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:29.620
 He says, I am Paul.

00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:33.159
 I am a servant of Christ Jesus.

00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:38.799
 He goes on to say that he was called to be an apostle.

00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:44.240
 The word translated apostle simply means sent one.

00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:46.539
 So in a sense,

00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:50.699
 everyone who belongs to Christ is sent into the world,

00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:51.740
 light in a dark place,

00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:53.579
 city on a hill.

00:13:54.339 --> 00:13:56.159
 That's not what Paul is referring to here.

00:13:56.839 --> 00:13:59.799
 He's specifically referring to his calling

00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:04.240
 that's only shared with 12 other men.

00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:08.359
 The calling of apostle as a formal title.

00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:11.219
 Think capital A, apostle.

00:14:12.339 --> 00:14:13.979
 And I will say without reservation,

00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:16.939
 there was nobody else beyond Paul

00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:19.959
 called to be an apostle in this way.

00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:23.259
 Paul did not volunteer for the role,

00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:26.980
 but he was divinely appointed.

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.899
 And he founds the authority of his ministry

00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:31.779
 on this calling.

00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:34.620
 Listen to what he says in Galatians chapter one.

00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.899
 There in verse one,

00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:36.899
 he introduces himself,

00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:37.960
 Paul, an apostle,

00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:41.519
 not from men nor through man,

00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.639
 but through Jesus Christ

00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:44.819
 and God the Father

00:14:44.819 --> 00:14:47.700
 who raised him from the dead.

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:50.720
 And then he says on in chapter one of Galatians

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.820
 verse 11 and 12,

00:14:52.180 --> 00:14:53.300
 for I would have you know, brothers,

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:55.220
 that the gospel that was preached by me

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:57.660
 is not man's gospel.

00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.300
 For I did not receive it from any man,

00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.300
 nor was I taught it,

00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:03.180
 but I received it through a revelation

00:15:03.180 --> 00:15:05.379
 of Jesus Christ.

00:15:07.040 --> 00:15:09.360
 This calling was not a feeling

00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.580
 that Paul experienced,

00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:13.100
 but it was an encounter

00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:15.500
 with the risen Christ.

00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:18.659
 This is unique and it is significant.

00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.879
 We see a record of this

00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:23.100
 in Acts chapter nine.

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:25.019
 We know that Paul has been commissioned

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:27.399
 to go and take captive

00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:29.440
 those who are claiming the name of Christ

00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.120
 to imprison them.

00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:33.700
 And in verse three of Acts nine says,

00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:34.860
 now as he went on his way,

00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:36.279
 he approached Damascus

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:38.440
 and suddenly a light from heaven

00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:39.759
 shone around him

00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.940
 and falling to the ground,

00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:42.820
 he heard a voice saying to him,

00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.639
 Saul, Saul,

00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.679
 why are you persecuting me?

00:15:48.819 --> 00:15:49.419
 And he said,

00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.580
 who are you, Lord?

00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:52.179
 And he said,

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.460
 I am Jesus,

00:15:53.819 --> 00:15:55.980
 whom you are persecuting.

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:59.960
 He encountered the risen Christ.

00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:01.059
 Not only that,

00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:03.460
 but Paul was also schooled

00:16:03.460 --> 00:16:05.679
 by the risen Christ.

00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:08.580
 I just read to you Galatians chapter one,

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.919
 verse 11 and 12.

00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:12.539
 The gospel didn't come to him by man.

00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:16.579
 He received it through a revelation of Christ.

00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:19.639
 And then in Galatians 1, 15 and following,

00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:20.519
 Paul says,

00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:23.099
 but when he would set me apart

00:16:23.099 --> 00:16:24.120
 before I was born

00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.899
 and called me by his grace,

00:16:26.219 --> 00:16:28.939
 was pleased to reveal his son to me

00:16:28.939 --> 00:16:30.480
 in order that I might preach him

00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:31.980
 among the Gentiles,

00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:35.740
 I did not immediately consult with anyone.

00:16:35.959 --> 00:16:37.039
 Now that's the ESV.

00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.199
 That's the end of verse 16.

00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:40.200
 I did not consult with anyone,

00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:44.160
 but I prefer the translation

00:16:44.160 --> 00:16:46.180
 of the New American Standard Bible

00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:47.080
 in this case.

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:47.580
 It says,

00:16:47.680 --> 00:16:49.100
 I did not immediately consult

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:52.060
 with flesh and blood.

00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:53.960
 Verse 17,

00:16:54.040 --> 00:16:55.259
 nor did I go up to Jerusalem

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:57.060
 to those who were apostles before me,

00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:59.259
 but I went away into Arabia

00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:01.900
 and returned again to Damascus.

00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:03.960
 Then after three years,

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.960
 I went up to Jerusalem

00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.259
 to visit Cephas.

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:07.819
 It's the Greek name for Peter

00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:11.099
 and remained with him 15 days.

00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.720
 And so it's understood

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.920
 that Paul is led away

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:18.220
 into a school with Christ.

00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:21.180
 That Jesus spends these three years

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.079
 teaching him

00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:23.379
 and he comes back

00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:25.240
 to confirm the things

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.619
 that he has been taught.

00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:28.339
 He comes and he spends time

00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:30.859
 with Peter a little over two weeks,

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:32.759
 being sure that he's clear

00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.259
 and he understands

00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.200
 before he goes on this ministry.

00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:37.180
 to the Gentiles.

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.080
 So he is an apostle,

00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:41.799
 called to be an apostle.

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.059
 And thirdly,

00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:45.140
 he says of himself

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:46.819
 that he is set apart

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:49.779
 for the gospel of God.

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.019
 Paul was a servant

00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:53.920
 and a sent one

00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:57.319
 with a particular purpose.

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:59.720
 And it is very easy

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.379
 to be distracted

00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:01.740
 with lots of purposes.

00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:03.700
 But Paul was clear

00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:04.500
 that he was to be

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.279
 a proclaimer

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.559
 of the good news

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.059
 of Jesus Christ.

00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.619
 The good news,

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.259
 he will spend

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:12.119
 the rest of this book

00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:13.480
 extolling.

00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:16.879
 So on these three titles,

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.419
 Paul establishes

00:18:18.419 --> 00:18:20.200
 his authority to speak

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:22.179
 and he ought to be

00:18:22.179 --> 00:18:23.419
 listened to.

00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.320
 Significant.

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.400
 Don't miss

00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.360
 what Paul is saying

00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:28.940
 about who he is,

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:29.740
 who he has been

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:32.740
 made in Christ.

00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:34.240
 This kind of writing

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:35.360
 is precious

00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:38.000
 and we so often

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:40.140
 take it for granted.

00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:41.720
 And I want to read

00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.240
 to you at this point

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.100
 a short excerpt

00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:44.660
 from the Pilgrim's Progress.

00:18:45.560 --> 00:18:46.360
 I commend this to you

00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:47.279
 all the time

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.140
 and then I also joke

00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:49.060
 if you stick around long enough

00:18:49.060 --> 00:18:49.820
 I'll read the entirety

00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:50.580
 of it to you

00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:52.500
 in bits and pieces

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.039
 but I think you'll

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:53.679
 appreciate it

00:18:53.679 --> 00:18:55.500
 read linearly.

00:18:56.639 --> 00:18:57.439
 And there's a character

00:18:57.439 --> 00:18:57.899
 in it

00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:59.379
 named Christian.

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.839
 And in the middle

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:02.480
 of his conversion experience

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:05.079
 he's led to a house

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.980
 that is the interpreter's house.

00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:08.799
 And there are lessons

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.220
 there

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.879
 taught to him.

00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:12.639
 So I want to pick up

00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:13.779
 just a couple paragraphs here

00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:15.599
 when Christian arrives

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.220
 at the house

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:16.839
 and he says,

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.279
 Sir,

00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.019
 I am a man

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.579
 who has come

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.099
 from the city

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.680
 of destruction

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.519
 and I am going

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.539
 to Mount Zion.

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.160
 I was told

00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:24.680
 by the man

00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.160
 who stands

00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:26.099
 at the entrance gate

00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:26.920
 to this way

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:28.940
 that if I called here

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:30.559
 the house of the interpreter

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:30.639
!

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.519
 You would show me

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.480
 excellent things

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.259
 that would help me

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.240
 on my journey.

00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:37.700
 Then said the interpreter

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:39.180
 come in

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:39.900
 I will show you

00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:40.559
 those things

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.379
 that will be profitable

00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:41.960
 to you.

00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.660
 So he commanded

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.079
 his servant

00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:44.960
 to light the candle

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.019
 and then asked Christian

00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.799
 to follow him

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.740
 to a private room

00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:49.299
 that when the man's

00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.339
 servant opened the door

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.859
 revealed a picture

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:53.799
 of a very grave person

00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:55.480
 hanging on the wall.

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.019
 It was an empty room

00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.160
 with a photo

00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.599
 a painting perhaps

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.420
 on the wall

00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:02.900
 of a serious person.

00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:05.099
 This is what the man

00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:05.599
 in the picture

00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.339
 looked like.

00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:07.940
 He had eyes

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.779
 lifted up to heaven

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:10.839
 the best of books

00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.900
 in his hand

00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:13.880
 the law of truth

00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:15.019
 written upon his lips

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.779
 the world

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:17.019
 behind his back.

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.839
 He stood as if

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.879
 pleading with men

00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:21.539
 and a crown of gold

00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:23.000
 hung over his head.

00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:25.160
 Then said Christian

00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:26.980
 what does this mean?

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.720
 The man in this picture

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:31.680
 represents one of a thousand.

00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:33.839
 He can conceive children

00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:34.960
 travail in birth

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.519
 with children

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.240
 and nurse them himself

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.639
 when they are born.

00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:40.139
 And Bunyan was not

00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:40.859
 gender confused

00:20:40.859 --> 00:20:42.240
 just to be clear.

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:45.079
 You see him

00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:45.759
 with his eyes

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.559
 lifted up to heaven

00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:47.539
 the best of books

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.079
 in his hand

00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.000
 and the law of truth

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.200
 written on his lips.

00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:52.480
 All this is to show you

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.440
 that his work

00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.140
 is to know

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.980
 and unfold

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.960
 dark things

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.500
 to sinners.

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.140
 You see him

00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:59.039
 pleading with men

00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.539
 the world cast behind him

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.120
 and a crown

00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:02.019
 hanging over his head

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.740
 to show you

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:04.079
 that by rejecting

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.019
 and despising

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.660
 the things

00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.700
 of this present world

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.380
 for the love

00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:08.000
 that he has

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.380
 for his master's service

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:10.700
 he is sure

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.360
 to have glory

00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:12.200
 as his reward

00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:13.220
 in the world to come.

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.080
 I have shown you

00:21:15.080 --> 00:21:16.120
 this picture first

00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:17.480
 because the man

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.120
 whom it represents

00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:19.440
 is the only man

00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:20.820
 authorized by the Lord

00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:21.340
 of the place

00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:22.100
 where you are going

00:21:22.100 --> 00:21:23.460
 to be your guide

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.820
 in all the difficult places

00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:25.560
 you will encounter

00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:26.980
 on the way.

00:21:27.760 --> 00:21:28.740
 So pay attention

00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.800
 to what I have shown you

00:21:29.800 --> 00:21:31.280
 and keep this picture

00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:32.840
 foremost in your mind

00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:34.200
 so that if you meet

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.640
 with someone

00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.600
 who doesn't resemble

00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:36.840
 this picture's likeness

00:21:36.840 --> 00:21:37.960
 but who pretends

00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:38.500
 to lead you

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.259
 in the right way

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.400
 you will not

00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.400
 follow him down

00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:43.019
 to destruction.

00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:45.740
 And I say to you

00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:47.279
 we know that we

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:49.079
 hold in our hands

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:50.099
 the inspired word

00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:50.700
 of God

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:52.019
 but I just

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.299
 on that point

00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.299
 want to commend

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.259
 Paul to you

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.440
 as that kind

00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:57.420
 of man.

00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:59.339
 A man with his eyes

00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.859
 fixed toward heaven

00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:02.180
 the world behind

00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:03.359
 looking to

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.839
 plead with us

00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.940
 that we might believe

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:07.000
 the gospel.

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:09.200
 we should listen

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:10.000
 to him.

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.680
 Second,

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.680
 let's talk a bit

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:15.140
 about the authority

00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:15.759
 of the Bible.

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.599
 What did Paul

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.180
 think

00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.980
 of the scriptures?

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.619
 He had a very

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:22.740
 high

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.539
 view

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:25.000
 of the scriptures

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.339
 of his day

00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:27.180
 which is what we have

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.019
 as our Old

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:29.259
 Testament.

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.400
 Paul had been

00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.700
 to the seminary

00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:34.180
 of his time.

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:35.720
 He was trained

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.640
 as a Pharisee

00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.460
 under the tutelage

00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.039
 of a highly

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.880
 esteemed teacher

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:40.400
 of the law

00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.100
 a man named

00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:41.680
 Gamaliel.

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.519
 He knew

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.120
 what the prophets

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:44.640
 of his Bible

00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:45.480
 predicted about

00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.160
 the Christ

00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.400
 and he knew

00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.180
 that the promises

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.140
 of the Old Testament

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:50.400
 had now been

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.740
 kept in the person

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.420
 and work

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.860
 of Jesus.

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.560
 Shortly

00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:56.259
 in this letter

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.200
 he will proclaim

00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.759
 in verse 16

00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:00.440
 I am not ashamed

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.180
 of the gospel

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.079
 for it is the power

00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:02.579
 of God

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.259
 for salvation

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.519
 to everyone

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:06.019
 who believes.

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.339
 Paul is going

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.379
 to root

00:23:09.379 --> 00:23:10.599
 the assertions

00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.339
 of this letter

00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.200
 that we are saved

00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.900
 by grace alone

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.680
 through faith alone

00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.220
 in the person

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.599
 and work

00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:16.240
 of Jesus Christ alone.

00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:16.980
 He's going to root

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.879
 that in

00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:18.879
 God's

00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:19.859
 word.

00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:21.680
 We will see him

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.819
 time and time

00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.339
 again

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:25.180
 quote the Old Testament

00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.180
 as an appeal

00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.299
 to see

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.339
 and savor.

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.539
 the gospel.

00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.819
 It is astounding

00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.460
 to me

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.500
 that Paul

00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.140
 as an apostle

00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.400
 carried along

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:36.259
 by the Spirit

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.879
 in the writing

00:23:36.879 --> 00:23:38.099
 of these letters

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:40.640
 still so values

00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:41.259
 the word of God

00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:42.379
 already spoken

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.299
 that it gets

00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:44.480
 brought into the text

00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.000
 again

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.920
 and again

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.400
 and again

00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:47.400


00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.839
 This is the

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:50.879
 very purpose

00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.619
 that he has been

00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:52.559
 set apart for

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:54.119
 the proclamation

00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.539
 of the gospel

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.819
 and he has

00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.759
 great confidence

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.440
 to do so

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.360
 because of his

00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.080
 belief in the

00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:00.960
 authority of God

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.640
 and therefore

00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:02.519
 the authority

00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:04.000
 of his word.

00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:05.240
 So

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.640
 he will

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.720
 proclaim it.

00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.180
 He will speak

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:10.100
 boldly of the

00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:10.920
 judgment of God

00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.980
 and he will speak

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.620
 boldly

00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:13.840
 of the grace

00:24:13.840 --> 00:24:14.299
 of God.

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.200
 He will plumb

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.880
 the depths

00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.600
 of God's

00:24:17.600 --> 00:24:18.640
 sovereign purpose

00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:19.880
 in salvation

00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:21.140
 and he will

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.820
 call us

00:24:21.820 --> 00:24:22.940
 to obedient

00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.440
 faith

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:25.039
 all because

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.600
 he believes

00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:26.299
 in the authority

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.019
 of a God

00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:27.580
 who has given

00:24:27.580 --> 00:24:28.220
 to us

00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:30.259
 this gospel.

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.980
 Paul was a man

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.920
 uniquely used

00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:36.380
 of God

00:24:36.380 --> 00:24:37.120
 in the history

00:24:37.120 --> 00:24:37.960
 of the world.

00:24:39.080 --> 00:24:40.460
 He was a man

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.759
 that by God's grace

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:43.140
 turned the world

00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:44.380
 upside down

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.660
 as he was accused

00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.120
 of.

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:48.160
 He was a man

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:49.019
 of conviction

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.460
 conviction

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:51.460
 and we can see

00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.879
 at least in part

00:24:52.879 --> 00:24:54.220
 where that conviction

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:55.099
 came from

00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:56.139
 came from

00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:57.379
 his understanding

00:24:57.379 --> 00:24:59.099
 his illuminated

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.799
 understanding

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:01.639
 of the scripture.

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.859
 He knew

00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.500
 that the

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.099
 gospel

00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:06.359
 the word

00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:06.980
 of God

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.400
 was powerful

00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:10.259
 and it totally

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:10.680
 changed the

00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.299
 trajectory of his

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.720
 life.

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.359
 He lived for it

00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:15.460
 he died for it.

00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:17.680
 the power

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.380
 of the gospel.

00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:20.819
 Charles Spurgeon

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.400
 once said

00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:22.100
 this is on your

00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:23.059
 bulletin

00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.440
 if you'd like

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.279
 to follow along

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.720
 quote

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:27.640
 see what vitality

00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.940
 the gospel

00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.539
 has

00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.980
 plunge her

00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.579
 under the wave

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.299
 and she rises

00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:32.840
 the pure

00:25:32.840 --> 00:25:33.700
 for her washing

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.920
 thrust her

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.440
 in the fire

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.000
 and she comes

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.519
 out the more

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.299
 bright for her

00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.660
 burning

00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:39.079
 cut her in

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.380
 thunder

00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:40.140
 and each piece

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.600
 shall make

00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:41.480
 another church

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.120
 behead her

00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:42.660
 and like the

00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.500
 hydra of old

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.340
 she shall have

00:25:44.340 --> 00:25:45.039
 a hundred heads

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.879
 for every one

00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:46.619
 you cut away

00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:48.559
 she cannot die

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:50.099
 she must live

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.779
 for she has

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.420
 the power

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.519
 of God

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.799
 within her

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.819
 and beloved

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.680
 we have all

00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:57.220
 the more

00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.039
 reason to be

00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.599
 confident

00:25:58.599 --> 00:26:00.379
 in this text

00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:02.279
 because of

00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.180
 the faithfulness

00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.619
 of men

00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:04.399
 like Paul

00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.039
 carried along

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.639
 by the spirit

00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:06.359
 help us

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.960
 to understand

00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:09.579
 we have all

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:10.159
 the more reason

00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:11.779
 to be bold

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:13.460
 in the gospel

00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.480
 and bold

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.640
 in the entirety

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.360
 of God's

00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:17.279
 word

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:19.259
 so we see

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.940
 Paul express

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.779
 his authority

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:21.480
 we see his

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.299
 expression of

00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:22.779
 the authority

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.640
 of the scripture

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:25.240
 and also

00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:25.799
 and most

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.259
 importantly

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:28.220
 the authority

00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:28.880
 of Jesus

00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:29.380
 Christ

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:31.279
 see the last

00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.160
 two verses

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:35.259
 this gospel

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:35.900
 message

00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:36.920
 the scripture

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.759
 declared

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.759
 was concerning

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.180
 God's

00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:40.860
 son

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:42.279
 who was

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.699
 descended

00:26:42.699 --> 00:26:43.299
 from David

00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:43.799
 according to

00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.159
 the flesh

00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:44.459
 and was

00:26:44.459 --> 00:26:44.899
 declared

00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:45.279
 to be

00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:45.679
 the son

00:26:45.679 --> 00:26:46.099
 of God

00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:46.740
 in power

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.459
 according to

00:26:47.459 --> 00:26:47.959
 the spirit

00:26:47.959 --> 00:26:48.559
 of holiness

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.719
 by his

00:26:49.719 --> 00:26:50.199
 resurrection

00:26:50.199 --> 00:26:51.619
 from the dead

00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:52.259
 Jesus

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.019
 Christ

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.419
 our Lord

00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:57.019
 Paul begins

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.899
 speaking of

00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:58.379
 Christ

00:26:58.379 --> 00:26:59.679
 as the

00:26:59.679 --> 00:27:00.139
 son of

00:27:00.139 --> 00:27:00.579
 God

00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.839
 which is a

00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:02.699
 great statement

00:27:02.699 --> 00:27:03.379
 of Jesus

00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:04.679
 divinity

00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:05.899
 he is

00:27:05.899 --> 00:27:06.699
 himself

00:27:06.699 --> 00:27:08.059
 God

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:09.179
 and this

00:27:09.179 --> 00:27:09.399
 is an

00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:09.839
 example

00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:10.740
 on Paul's

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:10.960
 part

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.179
 of a

00:27:11.179 --> 00:27:11.639
 fulfillment

00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:12.299
 of the

00:27:12.299 --> 00:27:12.659
 prophetic

00:27:12.659 --> 00:27:13.279
 word

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:13.659
 you could

00:27:13.659 --> 00:27:13.960
 see

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:14.480
 Psalm

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.220
 chapter 2

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.700
 in verse

00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:17.039
 7

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.639
 and it is

00:27:18.639 --> 00:27:19.440
 very difficult

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.139
 for my mind

00:27:20.139 --> 00:27:20.700
 not to draw

00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.639
 a straight line

00:27:21.639 --> 00:27:22.819
 from Romans

00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.619
 chapter 1

00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.259
 verse 2

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.879
 and 3

00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.700
 to Hebrews

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.559
 chapter 1

00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.940
 verse 1

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:29.399
 and 2

00:27:29.399 --> 00:27:30.720
 where the

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.200
 author of

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.639
 Hebrews

00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:33.059
 who many

00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.440
 say was

00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:33.759
 Paul

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.359
 I think

00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:35.500
 it was

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:35.960
 Apollos

00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.240
 but

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.899
 that's

00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:37.399
 neither here

00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:37.779
 nor there

00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:39.039
 writes

00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:40.579
 long ago

00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.559
 at many

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.160
 times

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.579
 and in

00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:43.240
 many ways

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.519
 God

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.220
 spoke to

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:44.440
 our

00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:44.940
 fathers

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.539
 by

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.480
 the

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.000
 prophets

00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:48.279
 but in

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:48.420
 these

00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:49.200
 last days

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.279
 he has

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:50.759
 spoken to

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.079
 us

00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:51.879
 by his

00:27:51.879 --> 00:27:52.339
 son

00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:53.519
 whom he

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:53.799
 appointed

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.180
 the heir

00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:54.519
 of all

00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:54.920
 things

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.240
 through

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.599
 whom

00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.039
 also

00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.440
 he

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.420
 created

00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:58.420
 the

00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:58.879
 world

00:27:58.879 --> 00:27:59.899
 so

00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:00.059
 for

00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.339
 Paul

00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:00.579
 to

00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.119
 begin

00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:01.660
 speaking

00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:01.980
 of

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:03.059
 Christ

00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.339
 as

00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:03.559
 the

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.139
 son

00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.339
 of

00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:04.700
 God

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:04.920
 has

00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.099
 a

00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:05.920
 massive

00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:06.539
 significance

00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.000
 packed

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.379
 into

00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:07.559
 it

00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:07.799
 which

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.339
 we

00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:08.539
 don't

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:08.759
 have

00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.079
 all

00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:09.259
 the

00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:09.740
 time

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.440
 we

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:10.559
 would

00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:10.899
 like

00:28:10.899 --> 00:28:11.259
 for

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.839
 this

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.200
 morning

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:13.139
 but

00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:13.279
 we

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:13.440
 will

00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:13.720
 spend

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.039
 the rest

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:14.200
 of

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.460
 this

00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:14.819
 life

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:15.339
 and

00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:15.700
 in

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:15.819
 the

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.039
 life

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.220
 to

00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.619
 come

00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:17.339
 for

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.000
 eternity

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:20.079
 figuring out

00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.599
 all

00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:21.000
 that that

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.379
 means

00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:23.179
 Paul

00:28:23.179 --> 00:28:23.599
 goes on

00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:23.980
 to give

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.559
 an example

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.220
 of another

00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.659
 fulfillment

00:28:25.659 --> 00:28:25.980
 of the

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.259
 prophetic

00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.639
 word

00:28:26.639 --> 00:28:27.139
 concerning

00:28:27.139 --> 00:28:27.639
 Jesus'

00:28:27.639 --> 00:28:29.480
 humanity

00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.319
 so his

00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:30.759
 divinity

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.379
 and now

00:28:31.379 --> 00:28:31.799
 his

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:33.200
 humanity

00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.840
 an

00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:35.220
 example

00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:35.680
 Jeremiah

00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:36.360
 23

00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:36.559
 in

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:36.759
 verse

00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.120
 5

00:28:37.120 --> 00:28:37.519
 behold

00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:37.720
 the

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:37.980
 days

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.120
 are

00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:38.420
 coming

00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:38.799
 declares

00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.000
 the

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.319
 Lord

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:40.279
 when I

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:40.380
 will

00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:40.660
 raise

00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:40.840
 up

00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:41.259
 for

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:42.480
 David

00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:42.720
 a

00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:43.380
 righteous

00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:44.140
 branch

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:45.059
 and he

00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:45.200
 shall

00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:45.680
 reign

00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:45.900
 as

00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.319
 king

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:46.779
 and deal

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.340
 wisely

00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:47.700
 and shall

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.240
 execute

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.880
 justice

00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:49.259
 and

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:49.840
 righteousness

00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:51.279
 in the

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.700
 land

00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.740
 so he

00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:52.860
 is

00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.299
 God's

00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:53.620
 son

00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.180
 and he

00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:54.460
 is

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:54.819
 in

00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:55.019
 the

00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:55.480
 flesh

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.059
 descended

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:56.860
 from

00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:58.519
 David

00:28:58.519 --> 00:28:59.119
 he's

00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.539
 hearkening

00:28:59.539 --> 00:28:59.900
 back

00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.059
 to

00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:00.259
 these

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.799
 types

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.359
 of

00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:01.700
 predictions

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:01.960
 of

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.220
 who

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:03.039
 the

00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.319
 Christ

00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:03.500
 would

00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:03.839
 be

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:05.720
 Paul

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:05.920
 then

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.160
 says

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.319
 in

00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:06.539
 verse

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:06.859
 4

00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:07.019
 that

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.180
 his

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.680
 confidence

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.000
 in

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.119
 the

00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:08.599
 authority

00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:08.839
 of

00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.039
 Jesus

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:09.579
 Christ

00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:10.559
 his

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.059
 confidence

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.339
 that

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:11.599
 he

00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.059
 is

00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.359
 in

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:12.980
 fact

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.279
 the

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:13.740
 Messiah

00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:15.059
 comes

00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:15.440
 in

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:15.980
 power

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.759
 from

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:16.980
 the

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.460
 spirit

00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:17.960
 of

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.379
 holiness

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:19.599
 through

00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:19.920
 Jesus'

00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.759
 resurrection

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:23.779
 just

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.039
 think

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.259
 about

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:24.519
 it

00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:26.099
 Paul

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.299
 was

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:26.460
 a

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:27.160
 success

00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:27.480
 in

00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:28.319
 terms

00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:28.679
 of

00:29:28.679 --> 00:29:28.799
 the

00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.159
 religion

00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:29.779
 of

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:29.919
 his

00:29:29.919 --> 00:29:30.200
 day

00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:31.460
 he

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:31.599
 had

00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.539
 prominence

00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.079
 and

00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.200
 he

00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:33.379
 had

00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:34.299
 esteem

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.139
 he

00:29:35.139 --> 00:29:35.259
 was

00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.399
 a

00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:35.679
 high

00:29:35.679 --> 00:29:36.139
 achiever

00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:36.579
 top

00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:36.700
 of

00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:36.819
 his

00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:37.299
 class

00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:37.939
 kind

00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:38.039
 of

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.399
 guy

00:29:38.399 --> 00:29:39.279
 he

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:39.379
 had

00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:39.539
 been

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.099
 educated

00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:40.439
 in

00:29:40.439 --> 00:29:40.659
 the

00:29:40.659 --> 00:29:41.519
 best

00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:42.079
 school

00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.299
 he

00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:43.439
 was

00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:43.659
 being

00:29:43.659 --> 00:29:44.019
 given

00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.700
 important

00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.480
 assignments

00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.619
 he

00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:46.759
 had

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:46.879
 a

00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:47.439
 platform

00:29:47.439 --> 00:29:48.519
 and

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:48.619
 he

00:29:48.619 --> 00:29:48.720
 had

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:48.839
 a

00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:49.259
 following

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.919
 what

00:29:50.919 --> 00:29:51.079
 would

00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:51.399
 cause

00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:51.599
 a

00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:51.879
 man

00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:52.119
 like

00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:52.519
 that

00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:52.859
 to

00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:53.179
 give

00:29:53.179 --> 00:29:53.700
 up

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.500
 all

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:54.619
 of

00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:54.799
 it

00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:56.039
 everything

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:58.079
 Paul

00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:58.680
 encountered

00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.259
 the

00:29:59.259 --> 00:29:59.619
 living

00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.740
 Christ

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:02.279
 he

00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:02.680
 knew

00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:02.920
 that

00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.259
 all

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.420
 he

00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:03.539
 had

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:04.279
 believed

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:04.720
 was

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.740
 realized

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.819
 in

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.180
 Jesus

00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:08.799
 he

00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.180
 knew

00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:09.420
 that

00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:09.779
 Jesus

00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.039
 was

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.220
 the

00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:10.779
 fulfillment

00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:11.039
 of

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.180
 the

00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:11.539
 promises

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:11.759
 of

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.059
 God

00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.359
 because

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:12.579
 he

00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:12.879
 was

00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.720
 crucified

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.000
 and

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.319
 buried

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.200
 but

00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:15.740
 rose

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:15.899
 from

00:30:15.899 --> 00:30:16.099
 that

00:30:16.099 --> 00:30:16.559
 grave

00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.059
 three

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.720
 days

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.879
 later

00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:19.920
 Paul

00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:20.619
 encountered

00:30:20.619 --> 00:30:21.079
 him

00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.039
 spent

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.619
 time

00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:22.839
 with

00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:23.039
 him

00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:23.399
 this

00:30:23.399 --> 00:30:24.539
 risen

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.980
 Christ

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:27.059
 and

00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.279
 it

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.720
 radically

00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.420
 transformed

00:30:28.420 --> 00:30:28.720
 him

00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.740
 by

00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:29.899
 the

00:30:29.899 --> 00:30:30.259
 spirit

00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:32.539
 here's

00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.039
 Paul's

00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.319
 words

00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:33.519
 from

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.139
 Philippians

00:30:34.139 --> 00:30:35.059
 chapter

00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.599
 three

00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.940
 he

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.159
 is

00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:37.879
 making

00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.139
 the

00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.500
 case

00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:38.680
 to

00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:38.799
 the

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.099
 Philippian

00:30:39.099 --> 00:30:39.460
 believers

00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:39.659
 that

00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:39.799
 we

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.220
 can't

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:40.420
 have

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:40.839
 confidence

00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:41.159
 in

00:30:41.159 --> 00:30:41.279
 our

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.619
 flesh

00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:41.799
 in

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.019
 our

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:43.159
 works

00:30:43.159 --> 00:30:44.579
 and

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:44.639
 he

00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:44.799
 says

00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.059
 beginning

00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.240
 in

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.420
 verse

00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:45.639
 three

00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:45.799
 and

00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.200
 following

00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:46.759
 for

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.200
 we

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.359
 are

00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:47.519
 the

00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.159
 circumcision

00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:48.420
 who

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:48.920
 worship

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.240
 by

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.440
 the

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:49.759
 spirit

00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:49.940
 of

00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.220
 God

00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:50.440
 and

00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:50.859
 glory

00:30:50.859 --> 00:30:51.180
 in

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:51.539
 Christ

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:51.920
 Jesus

00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:52.799
 and

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.019
 put

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.539
 no

00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.220
 confidence

00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:54.980
 in

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.099
 the

00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:55.519
 flesh

00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.639
 he

00:30:56.639 --> 00:30:56.899
 says

00:30:56.899 --> 00:30:57.200
 then

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.500
 though

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:57.799
 I

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.419
 myself

00:30:58.419 --> 00:30:58.740
 have

00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.200
 reason

00:30:59.200 --> 00:30:59.399
 for

00:30:59.399 --> 00:30:59.859
 confidence

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.119
 in

00:31:00.119 --> 00:31:00.259
 the

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.639
 flesh

00:31:00.639 --> 00:31:01.359
 also

00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.480
 if

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:02.700
 anyone

00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:02.960
 else

00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:03.180
 thinks

00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:03.279
 he

00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:03.399
 has

00:31:03.399 --> 00:31:03.639
 reason

00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:03.799
 for

00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:04.200
 confidence

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:04.440
 in

00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:04.539
 the

00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:04.839
 flesh

00:31:04.839 --> 00:31:05.299
 I

00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:05.759
 have

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.339
 more

00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:08.940
 circumcised

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.379
 on the

00:31:09.379 --> 00:31:09.619
 eighth

00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:10.000
 day

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.500
 of

00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:10.639
 the

00:31:10.639 --> 00:31:10.980
 people

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.180
 of

00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:11.579
 Israel

00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:11.799
 of

00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:11.960
 the

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.440
 tribe

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:12.639
 of

00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:13.079
 Benjamin

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.779
 a

00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:14.200
 Hebrew

00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:14.500
 of

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.059
 Hebrews

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.960
 as

00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.059
 to

00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:16.180
 the

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:16.500
 law

00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:16.779
 a

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.299
 Pharisee

00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:17.819
 as

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.019
 to

00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.419
 zeal

00:31:18.419 --> 00:31:18.659
 a

00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:19.419
 persecutor

00:31:19.419 --> 00:31:19.980
 of

00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:20.119
 the

00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:20.559
 church

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.119
 as

00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:21.299
 to

00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.819
 righteousness

00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.559
 under

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.159
 law

00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:24.619
 blameless

00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:26.639
 top

00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:26.759
 of

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:26.879
 his

00:31:26.879 --> 00:31:27.200
 game

00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:29.180
 then

00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:29.279
 he

00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.440
 says

00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:29.559
 in

00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:29.759
 verse

00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.180
 seven

00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:31.319
 but

00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:31.599
 whatever

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.200
 gain

00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:32.639
 I

00:31:32.639 --> 00:31:33.299
 had

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:34.539
 I

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:34.980
 counted

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.259
 as

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:35.919
 loss

00:31:35.919 --> 00:31:36.740
 for

00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:36.879
 the

00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:37.039
 sake

00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.200
 of

00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:37.619
 Christ

00:31:37.619 --> 00:31:39.119
 indeed

00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:39.619
 I

00:31:39.619 --> 00:31:39.979
 counted

00:31:39.979 --> 00:31:40.959
 everything

00:31:40.959 --> 00:31:41.439
 as

00:31:41.439 --> 00:31:41.899
 loss

00:31:41.899 --> 00:31:43.000
 because

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.459
 of

00:31:43.459 --> 00:31:43.659
 the

00:31:43.659 --> 00:31:44.559
 surpassing

00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.019
 worth

00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.259
 of

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:45.739
 knowing

00:31:45.739 --> 00:31:46.299
 Christ

00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:46.759
 Jesus

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:48.019
 my

00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:48.359
 Lord

00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:49.859
 for

00:31:49.859 --> 00:31:50.059
 his

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.239
 sake

00:31:50.239 --> 00:31:50.379
 I

00:31:50.379 --> 00:31:50.539
 have

00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:50.779
 suffered

00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:50.939
 the

00:31:50.939 --> 00:31:51.179
 loss

00:31:51.179 --> 00:31:51.279
 of

00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:51.439
 all

00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:51.739
 things

00:31:51.739 --> 00:31:51.919
 and

00:31:51.919 --> 00:31:52.179
 count

00:31:52.179 --> 00:31:52.439
 them

00:31:52.439 --> 00:31:53.439
 as

00:31:53.439 --> 00:31:54.019
 rubbish

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.279
 garbage

00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:56.679
 in

00:31:56.679 --> 00:31:57.059
 order

00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.679
 that

00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:58.099
 I

00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:58.619
 may

00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.419
 gain

00:31:59.419 --> 00:31:59.419


00:31:59.419 --> 00:32:01.079
 Christ

00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:04.159
 radically

00:32:04.159 --> 00:32:05.579
 encountered

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.819
 the power

00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:07.199
 of the

00:32:07.199 --> 00:32:07.559
 risen

00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:09.039
 Christ

00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:10.960
 Paul

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:11.339
 through the

00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:11.939
 intervening

00:32:11.939 --> 00:32:12.379
 work of

00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:12.759
 God

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.899
 came to

00:32:13.899 --> 00:32:14.220
 believe

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.939
 that all

00:32:14.939 --> 00:32:15.460
 his effort

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:15.980
 to be made

00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:16.539
 right before

00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:16.980
 God

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:18.519
 was worthless

00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.500
 apart from

00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:19.939
 faith

00:32:19.939 --> 00:32:21.000
 in Jesus

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.439
 Christ

00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:22.899
 again

00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:23.939
 we are

00:32:23.939 --> 00:32:24.539
 saved

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.720
 justified

00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.699
 made right

00:32:26.699 --> 00:32:27.240
 before God

00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:28.259
 by grace

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:28.759
 alone

00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.619
 through

00:32:29.619 --> 00:32:30.000
 faith

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.500
 alone

00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.519
 in the

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:31.859
 person

00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:32.259
 and work

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:32.460
 of

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:32.720
 Jesus

00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:33.319
 Christ

00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:34.640
 alone

00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:36.339
 this is

00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:36.900
 the good

00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:37.400
 news

00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:38.759
 of the

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.119
 gospel

00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:41.000
 every

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.359
 world

00:32:41.359 --> 00:32:41.799
 religion

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.900
 invites

00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.119
 its

00:32:43.119 --> 00:32:43.599
 adherents

00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:43.819
 to

00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.299
 climb

00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:44.519
 a

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:44.839
 mountain

00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.799
 that

00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:45.920
 they

00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:46.119
 might

00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:46.420
 know

00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:46.619
 the

00:32:46.619 --> 00:32:46.920
 God

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.059
 or

00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:47.440
 gods

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:47.660
 of

00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:47.900
 that

00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.539
 particular

00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:49.440
 religion

00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.900
 lays

00:32:50.900 --> 00:32:51.420
 forth

00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:51.740
 the

00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:52.700
 philosophy

00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:53.259
 and the

00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.680
 rules

00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.339
 by which

00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:55.819
 adherents

00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:56.259
 must

00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.859
 obey

00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:59.019
 our

00:32:59.019 --> 00:32:59.459
 God

00:32:59.459 --> 00:33:00.599
 because of

00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:01.000
 his great

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.779
 loving kindness

00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.359
 and mercy

00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:03.279
 in the

00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:03.819
 accomplished

00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:04.399
 work of

00:33:04.399 --> 00:33:04.839
 his son

00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.119
 and by

00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.659
 the power

00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:06.059
 of his

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.439
 spirit

00:33:06.439 --> 00:33:07.759
 comes down

00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:08.319
 the mountain

00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:09.099
 to us

00:33:09.099 --> 00:33:10.679
 and offers

00:33:10.679 --> 00:33:11.179
 to carry

00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:11.699
 us to the

00:33:11.699 --> 00:33:12.039
 top

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.079
 to abide

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:13.539
 with him

00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.559
 forever

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:16.500
 this

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.859
 is good

00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:19.519
 news

00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:21.059
 it is because

00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:21.439
 of this

00:33:21.439 --> 00:33:22.299
 accomplished

00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:22.939
 work of

00:33:22.939 --> 00:33:23.259
 Christ

00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:23.719
 that he

00:33:23.719 --> 00:33:24.559
 is called

00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.699
 Lord

00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:27.259
 that he

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.080
 reigns

00:33:28.080 --> 00:33:28.900
 now

00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:29.819
 and

00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:30.920
 forever

00:33:30.920 --> 00:33:32.080
 more

00:33:32.080 --> 00:33:33.680
 this is

00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.160
 such good

00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:34.539
 news

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.460
 it is

00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:35.819
 news

00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.160
 worth

00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:36.640
 living

00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.080
 for

00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:38.080
 as

00:33:38.080 --> 00:33:38.299
 Paul

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:38.620
 did

00:33:38.620 --> 00:33:39.580
 it is

00:33:39.580 --> 00:33:39.819
 news

00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.100
 worth

00:33:40.100 --> 00:33:40.700
 dying

00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:41.160
 for

00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:42.680
 as

00:33:42.680 --> 00:33:42.920
 Paul

00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.259
 did

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:45.220
 it is

00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:45.680
 a news

00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:45.960
 that he

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.440
 would have

00:33:46.440 --> 00:33:47.120
 you hear

00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:48.900
 and believe

00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:50.279
 and give

00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:50.779
 your whole

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:51.440
 self

00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.880
 to

00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:54.540
 beloved

00:33:54.540 --> 00:33:55.160
 I am

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:55.520
 eager

00:33:55.520 --> 00:33:56.020
 to talk

00:33:56.020 --> 00:33:56.340
 with you

00:33:56.340 --> 00:33:56.800
 each

00:33:56.800 --> 00:33:57.480
 Lord's

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:57.760
 day

00:33:57.760 --> 00:33:59.240
 given

00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.420
 the

00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:00.000
 opportunity

00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.740
 Lord

00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.160
 willing

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:01.540
 about

00:34:01.540 --> 00:34:01.940
 this

00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.780
 good

00:34:02.780 --> 00:34:03.080
 news

00:34:03.080 --> 00:34:03.940
 let's

00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.060
 pray

00:34:04.060 --> 00:34:04.360
 together