WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.980 Okay, well we are talking about the book of Romans. 00:00:07.780 --> 00:00:15.860 We were reminded last week that Paul is taking us into this deep, dark place, this pit, 00:00:16.460 --> 00:00:21.600 where every one of us should be going, oh my gosh, I don't know if I can handle that. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:27.940 And that is his intent, to show us that we can't handle it. 00:00:27.940 --> 00:00:30.040 That it's impossible. 00:00:30.780 --> 00:00:32.219 Hopefully you picked up this book of Romans. 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:34.480 We made them for everybody so that you could take them and read them. 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:37.840 I've been reading mine throughout the week and trying to catch up with things. 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:45.820 You know that no one emailed or text messaged a question on Romans this week. 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:47.859 I mean there was one. 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:51.100 It was, how come you always wear a blue shirt and khaki pants? 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:54.120 But that wasn't really covered in Romans 1 or 2. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:00:55.579 That's like Romans 5. 00:00:55.579 --> 00:00:58.140 So I purposely didn't wear a blue shirt today. 00:00:58.299 --> 00:00:59.299 I was white with that. 00:00:59.699 --> 00:01:02.439 But besides that, no one emailed me any questions. 00:01:02.519 --> 00:01:04.060 So I just figured, wow, we must be doing really good. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:08.239 Everybody doesn't have any questions on the book of Romans and we're doing really good. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:09.400 But I did get something emailed. 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:13.959 My wife emailed me an article from Forbes. 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:17.340 And so I thought I would just share that, which I thought was kind of interesting. 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:19.159 So I got it. 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:19.780 It's in this week. 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:22.739 It's Forbes ranking the nine toughest leadership roles. 00:01:22.739 --> 00:01:28.199 Number one, or number nine, corporate CEO. 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:32.799 And after each one of these things, they gave pros and cons, pros and cons of each one of them. 00:01:33.399 --> 00:01:36.479 Number eight, United States congressperson. 00:01:38.039 --> 00:01:42.119 Number seven, editor for a daily newspaper. 00:01:43.879 --> 00:01:45.459 These are the toughest leadership roles. 00:01:46.119 --> 00:01:48.259 Number six, a mayor. 00:01:48.260 --> 00:01:54.080 Number five, pastor. 00:01:55.640 --> 00:01:59.600 I thought this was very interesting because each one of them, they gave a pros and cons. 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:02.240 And so let me read to you what the pros of being a pastor are. 00:02:04.580 --> 00:02:05.960 You're seen as a man of God. 00:02:06.820 --> 00:02:08.360 I don't know if we have the pro up there, do we? 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:08.480 Yeah. 00:02:08.640 --> 00:02:12.520 You're seen as a man of God and what you say is taken seriously, at least for a moment. 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:16.380 I was like, whoa, okay, yeah. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:18.500 They're going to have people lining up for that job, right? 00:02:18.980 --> 00:02:20.180 So the cons. 00:02:21.160 --> 00:02:36.560 Being a pastor is like death by a thousand paper cuts, says Reverend Dr. Ken Fung, senior pastor at Baptist, Rosemead, California, and program director at Fuller. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:40.400 You're scrutinized and criticized from the top to the bottom, stem and stern. 00:02:40.939 --> 00:02:42.920 You work for an invisible perfect boss. 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:47.280 And you're supposed to lead a ragtag gaggle of volunteers towards God's coming future. 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:50.280 It's like herding cats, but it's harder. 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:54.080 So I'm not going to make any comments on that whatsoever. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:59.340 But I felt like, wow, that's very interesting how people feel some of that pain. 00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:03.000 Remember, we're going through Romans. 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:08.300 Romans, if you're here for the first time and you're hearing this, you're like, oh, we're building a foundation. 00:03:09.300 --> 00:03:10.860 And Paul is building a foundation. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:14.919 Paul was probably the most brilliant mind in the New Testament time. 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:17.240 He studied under the greatest leaders. 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:18.560 He was a rabbi. 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:20.460 He was a scribe. 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:22.139 He was a Pharisee. 00:03:22.740 --> 00:03:27.340 And so far in chapters one and two, these are the things that we've learned as part of this foundation. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:28.840 We've learned about Paul. 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:36.159 His name was Saul, and he met Christ as he was persecuting the church, and he had a conversion experience. 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:37.439 We talked about the gospel. 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:39.199 The gospel says it is the good news. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:42.300 It's God saves dead people. 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:44.920 Not God saves 51% good people. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:46.340 God saves dead people. 00:03:46.819 --> 00:03:47.879 We've talked about righteousness. 00:03:48.180 --> 00:03:50.140 Righteousness means to be put in right standing. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:52.740 It's both a legal and a relational term. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:56.520 And the focus in Romans is to be put in right standing with God. 00:03:56.520 --> 00:03:57.120 God saves us. 00:03:57.120 --> 00:03:57.520 God saves us. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:00.380 We've learned in Scripture, and again, this is what we've been learning. 00:04:00.480 --> 00:04:01.320 This is what Scripture says. 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:05.080 Whether we believe it or not or whether we live like it or not, that's another question. 00:04:05.160 --> 00:04:07.120 But this is what God's Word says. 00:04:07.820 --> 00:04:10.760 That God created us, number one, to serve and worship Him. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:14.680 God created us, two, to live unselfish lives. 00:04:15.740 --> 00:04:18.900 And God created us, three, to live an amazing life with Him. 00:04:20.060 --> 00:04:24.240 We also learned that sin entered into His creation and into us. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:29.060 We saw in chapter 1, verse 22 and 23, that sin disorders our worship. 00:04:29.900 --> 00:04:34.420 We went from worshiping the God who is the creator to worshiping created things. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:39.579 We saw that in chapter 121, that sin disorders our beliefs and our thinking. 00:04:40.280 --> 00:04:44.120 That we knew God, but we refused to worship Him as God. 00:04:44.780 --> 00:04:46.720 We refused to worship Him as God. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:47.639 We worshiped other things. 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:48.540 We didn't give Him thanks. 00:04:48.540 --> 00:04:52.620 We saw that sin disorders our desires and our actions, chapter 124. 00:04:52.939 --> 00:04:56.400 We treat people poorly because sin has come into our life. 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:00.340 We also saw that because of this disorder, God is angry. 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:02.939 We use the word wrath. 00:05:03.640 --> 00:05:06.160 But God hates things that hurt us. 00:05:06.280 --> 00:05:06.840 Do you know that? 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:08.840 God hates things that hurt you? 00:05:10.400 --> 00:05:13.240 God hates things that hurt His creation? 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:21.160 And the scripture says that that's going to be played out in wrath, His anger, one day. 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:24.840 We learn in chapter 2 that there are these moral people. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:29.720 And as they hear the gospel, they don't relate to what Paul is saying at all. 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:34.960 The moral person is quick to find failure and brokenness in others, but not necessarily themselves. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:43.259 We saw that the longer they, us, deny our problems because of our stubbornness and our unrepentant hearts. 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:48.159 Remember, those are words for idols and idolatry, that we worship things in our lives and we don't want to confess. 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:55.000 And so the longer we not confess that more judgment is stored up for us before the Lord. 00:05:55.779 --> 00:05:58.899 We saw that one day we all will stand before God to be judged. 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:01.539 That's what scripture says. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:03.519 Judgment will be sure. 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:04.859 It's on a specific day. 00:06:05.799 --> 00:06:07.299 It's going to be according to the truth. 00:06:08.500 --> 00:06:10.659 You're not going to be able to say, well, I didn't mean that. 00:06:10.739 --> 00:06:13.180 You know, I have a kid who always says, well, that wasn't my fault. 00:06:13.219 --> 00:06:13.719 It happened here. 00:06:13.859 --> 00:06:15.199 That is not going to be that. 00:06:15.219 --> 00:06:16.139 It's going to be impartial. 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:19.699 The word there is God doesn't give face to anybody. 00:06:20.579 --> 00:06:21.939 He looks at us just as we are. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:27.839 He doesn't see rich people or poor people or Americans or Australians and treat Americans better. 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:30.000 But He just sees everybody. 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:32.039 You know where that's going. 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:38.000 We saw that His judgment is objective and we saw that it's based on our works. 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:39.520 Remember we talked about that. 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:43.280 That God in the end time will come and He's going to look at the works that we've done for Him. 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:49.259 The works don't bring us to God, but the works are a result of coming to God. 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:49.620 Right? 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:53.439 So we're not saying I'm working really hard to be a better person so God would like me. 00:06:53.660 --> 00:06:55.819 But we're saying God came into my life. 00:06:55.899 --> 00:06:56.560 He changed me. 00:06:56.620 --> 00:06:57.360 He opened my eyes. 00:06:57.459 --> 00:06:58.959 He redeemed and renewed my heart. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:04.319 And because of that, I'm changed and I live out my life differently. 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:06.920 We gave the illustration of God as a venture capitalist. 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:07.459 Remember that? 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:08.740 We said God's this venture capitalist. 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:11.139 He's given you a ton of money to do things. 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:15.740 He's given you talents and gifting and where you were born and your house and your education. 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:22.639 And all these things God has given you and in the end day, He's going to come and He's going to see what kind of investment you gave Him. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:26.460 Was He stupid for investing in us? 00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:28.900 He's going to see how did we do with that. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:34.079 And in verse 4, which I felt like was one of the verses that I kept coming back to over and over and over again, 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:35.360 we saw that God is patient. 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:38.400 But God's kind. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:42.960 But God doesn't want to pour His wrath out on us. 00:07:42.960 --> 00:07:45.680 In fact, the Old Testament says His wrath is His unusual work. 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:46.740 He doesn't want to do that. 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:50.819 He wants us to repent and to come to Him and to love Him. 00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:59.280 And then it's almost as if Paul is looking out his window and he's writing the gospel and he's thinking of people who've walked by his room. 00:07:59.939 --> 00:08:03.319 And he's saying, well, how are they going to respond to the gospel? 00:08:03.699 --> 00:08:04.740 And then he sees this moralist. 00:08:04.819 --> 00:08:06.100 How are they going to respond to it? 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:06.920 What are they going to say? 00:08:06.980 --> 00:08:08.139 What are their excuses going to be? 00:08:08.139 --> 00:08:15.600 And he finally gets to this group of people who are the leading people in his society, the religious people. 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:20.980 The Jew, the leaders, they're the top of the pyramid. 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:25.840 And Paul is going to write to them this letter in chapter 2, verses 17 to 29. 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:27.840 And he wants to look at their hearts. 00:08:27.900 --> 00:08:29.080 He wants to look at our hearts. 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:33.460 And he wants to show us what's going to happen to us. 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:36.700 How do we respond to the gospel as a religious person? 00:08:36.800 --> 00:08:37.399 What are the things? 00:08:37.800 --> 00:08:42.200 And as a religious person, do we understand that we have this massive, massive need? 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:46.440 Do we understand that we have this massive, massive problem? 00:08:47.560 --> 00:08:50.740 Or do we think we're just okay and everything is good? 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:52.640 He's writing to the religious people. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:55.720 They're the people who followed traditions and rituals. 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:59.980 I mean, they're the people who think they're okay because they're doing all the right things. 00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:00.960 They're doing all the religious things. 00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:01.639 They're going to church. 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:02.180 They're in a group. 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:02.840 They're reading their Bible. 00:09:03.540 --> 00:09:09.980 He's talking to people who perform well on the outside or pretty good or at least better than the people beside them. 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.639 He's talking to us who perform. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:15.080 And as we perform, we believe that, you know, I'm doing pretty good. 00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:17.860 And so God must be happy with me. 00:09:18.179 --> 00:09:20.439 And things must be pretty good between myself and God. 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:24.799 He's talking to people who tend to think outwardly instead of inwardly. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:27.879 He's talking to people who deal with the outward instead of the inward reality. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:37.860 I mean, wicked people, evil people, people in chapter 1 and 2, tax collectors, lawyers, prostitutes, Democrats, members of the NRA, Australians, South Africans. 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:39.620 They all know they're sinful. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:42.299 They all know that they have this big problem. 00:09:42.299 --> 00:09:45.759 They all know that they're in bondage, that they're out of control. 00:09:45.859 --> 00:09:47.579 They wonder if God could ever forgive them. 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:50.620 But the religious person, they don't think those things. 00:09:51.379 --> 00:09:55.019 The religious person doesn't think they need forgiveness because they're not really that bad. 00:09:55.099 --> 00:10:00.139 Religious people, maybe at one time in their life, they ask for forgiveness of sin, but they don't do it anymore. 00:10:00.199 --> 00:10:01.379 They don't want to talk about sin. 00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:02.779 Sin's a bad thing. 00:10:02.859 --> 00:10:03.620 Let's not talk about that. 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:04.699 I've been forgiven. 00:10:04.819 --> 00:10:06.339 Let's just look outwardly. 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:07.219 Let's not look inwardly. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:09.459 The religious people, they grow up. 00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:10.740 They grow up in Catholic homes. 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:12.780 They grow up in Baptist homes. 00:10:13.300 --> 00:10:14.540 They grow up in Methodist homes. 00:10:14.620 --> 00:10:15.540 They grow up in Christian homes. 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:18.560 They grow up in every type of home. 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:30.980 He's talking to people who get baptized as a baby or as an adult, who've been dedicated, who've been confirmed, who've been bar mitzvahed, who've walked down the aisle one time or another. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:50.039 He's talking to people who go to the right church, who study the Bible, who memorize scripture, who pray when they have a need or at least when they think they have a need, who people who serve in the choir, people who count the offering, people who know the books of the Bible. 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:55.259 He's talking to the people who even know how to share about religion, to people who are lost. 00:10:56.539 --> 00:11:02.539 Remember, the religious people, they felt like everything they do outwardly is perfect or almost perfect. 00:11:03.419 --> 00:11:11.939 And so when they hear Paul talk about the lostness in the gospel, they don't need that type of savior because they're not that lost or not that broken. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:13.839 They're actually pretty good. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:15.899 They're okay. 00:11:17.800 --> 00:11:28.280 Remember, Paul, in these 10 or so verses, he's talking to people in his day and at watermark. 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:32.580 People who take God's word very, very seriously. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:37.440 And people who are doing the best to be religious outwardly. 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:38.840 They're going to do all the right things. 00:11:39.540 --> 00:11:42.139 It's almost as if you can divide the section in two parts. 00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:43.600 The first part is 17 to 24. 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:46.879 24 is inwardly and 24 to 29 is outwardly. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:51.279 And he's talking to us who do all the things right inwardly and we try to do all the things right outwardly. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:54.860 And we're hoping that if we do all these things that God's going to look at us and we're going to be okay. 00:11:57.920 --> 00:11:59.000 He's talking to Tobin. 00:12:03.560 --> 00:12:08.259 And Paul is going to, in his passage, he's going to take this baseball bat and he's basically going to beat Tobin over the head. 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:11.120 And maybe some of us over the head. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:14.919 And he's going to show us that our religion doesn't save us. 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:19.340 And that no matter how religious we are, we're in trouble. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.480 No matter how religious we are, we're going to fail. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:30.419 The first thing the passage says, if you look at it in verses 17 through 20, Paul gives these ideas of what it means to be religious. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.340 He gives these incredible things. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:34.620 He says they're a Jew. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:36.379 The word is from Judah. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:37.939 It means to praise God. 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:39.139 It's an amazing name. 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:40.559 People were really proud of it. 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:42.799 They would say, like, I'm Tobin Miller Jew. 00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:45.759 Because it was such an important and great honor. 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:50.460 I mean, they had God's law and God had given it to Moses and they came down to Mount Sinai. 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:52.480 I mean, they had a relationship with God. 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:55.620 In verse 17, they knew God's will. 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:56.960 They knew what was right and wrong. 00:12:57.740 --> 00:13:00.559 I mean, all the other people walking around them, they don't have God's word. 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:01.779 So they don't know what is right and wrong. 00:13:02.479 --> 00:13:07.239 But the religious person, they know what's right and what's wrong. 00:13:08.119 --> 00:13:08.979 And they can look at it. 00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:10.659 They've been taught by God's word. 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:15.019 And they had this huge badge on them, like Sunday school, like 20 gold stars. 00:13:15.239 --> 00:13:17.319 Because God has been teaching them over and over and over. 00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:24.439 In fact, they've been instructed so well that they can even instruct foolish people and blind people and infants and Texans. 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:27.239 They can teach them all the gospel. 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:31.360 Maybe a modern day version of this would be something like this. 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.879 You, you watermarker. 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:36.539 You say you're a Christian and you have no doubt that you've experienced with God. 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:39.620 You prayed that prayer on the bulletin several times that day. 00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:43.399 And you remember the relief and the emotion that you felt that Sunday or at the community group. 00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:47.700 Now you take communion with confidence and no worry like you had before. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:48.500 God is awesome. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:50.320 You went to the membership class. 00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:51.080 You signed the document. 00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:51.820 You met with the elders. 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:55.639 You died right into community group and men's group and women's group and accountability group. 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.439 You started Porterbrook studies. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.240 BSF studies. 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.779 You started serving. 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:02.480 You know your Bible. 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.240 You read it every day. 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:05.980 You have this really cool app on your phone and you can read it from your phone. 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:08.100 You know how to act and not act in church. 00:14:08.199 --> 00:14:09.480 You know what to say and what not to say. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:11.059 How to look and what not to look. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:16.580 You're pretty confident, even, that you can save lost people. 00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:20.820 And make them religious like you. 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:24.580 All these things are really, really good. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:32.680 But what Paul warns us is these things is if we just cling to these things, if we just think of them inwardly, we're lost. 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:37.920 I mean, religion can show you the law and it can show you things outwardly. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:40.799 But it can't bring it into your heart. 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:44.379 It can't show you what's going on in your heart at the heart level. 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:49.899 In fact, the passage says instead in verse 17 that what it does is religion, it feeds your pride. 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:53.019 It doesn't humble you. 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:56.439 17, but if you bear the name Jew, so praise the Lord. 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:58.579 It says you rely on the law. 00:14:58.819 --> 00:15:00.279 It doesn't say you obey the law. 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.439 It says you use the law. 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:02.199 It's a tool. 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:04.599 It's something that you use to make yourself feel good. 00:15:04.819 --> 00:15:06.059 And you boast in God. 00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:08.179 It's not like you boast that God is great. 00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:11.199 You boast that you're a Christian. 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:16.739 That you're doing so much better than other people. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.279 There's this really interesting passage that Jesus taught about. 00:15:20.359 --> 00:15:22.299 And we talked about it maybe a year ago in Luke. 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:24.459 Because we've been going through Luke for so long. 00:15:25.839 --> 00:15:28.839 Luke 18, verses 10 to like 11. 00:15:29.459 --> 00:15:30.619 Jesus is telling this story. 00:15:30.719 --> 00:15:32.719 And he says two men went up into the temple to pray. 00:15:33.339 --> 00:15:35.479 One a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:38.659 The Pharisee stood and he was praying thus to himself. 00:15:38.819 --> 00:15:42.039 God, I thank you that I'm not like other people. 00:15:43.119 --> 00:15:48.500 Swindlers, unjust, adulterers, and even this tax collector. 00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:51.159 I mean, I fast twice a week. 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:54.679 I tithe out of all that you give me. 00:15:54.679 --> 00:16:04.959 Paul's talking to people like that who rely on God's law to make themselves look big and important. 00:16:05.959 --> 00:16:08.479 They use God's law as a tool. 00:16:09.339 --> 00:16:11.939 The word boast there is really specific. 00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:14.120 It's not saying you're giving glory to God. 00:16:14.199 --> 00:16:16.620 It means you're honoring yourself. 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:20.620 Every morning the rabbis would get up and they would pray. 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:23.620 And they say, oh God, thank you that I'm not a dog. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.899 Thank you that I'm not a woman. 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:29.519 Thank you that I'm not a tax collector or a Gentile. 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:33.700 There wasn't a praise to how great and amazing God is. 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:38.340 But there was a praise and a greatness to how amazing they are. 00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:47.280 Paul says that if we're religious, if we struggle with these things, we're going to boast and we're going to rely on things besides God. 00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:50.100 So the question here is this. 00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:53.200 What do you rely on? 00:16:57.259 --> 00:17:00.280 What is it in your life that you boast in? 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:06.840 What is it you say, this is what I am and this is who I am and this is what makes me important? 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:14.519 In my life, I feel like I've boasted and relied on things like being disciplined. 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:21.480 And waking up early and knowing God's word and having quiet times and being orthodox. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:24.339 In my name, in integrity. 00:17:25.399 --> 00:17:26.179 And being baptized. 00:17:27.099 --> 00:17:28.419 And being a member of a church. 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:32.679 But Paul says if we rely on those things and those things by themselves, 00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:36.740 we'll fail. 00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:41.199 We're lost. 00:17:43.879 --> 00:17:45.220 What is it that you boast in? 00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:52.519 Verse 17 through 24, Paul says the problem is, is that not that we're doing it, 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:54.639 the problem is that we're not practicing what we're preaching. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:59.500 I mean, Paul knows that religious people, the most important thing is their appearance. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.720 Not inwardly. 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:06.480 So religious people like me and like you, we can talk a good game. 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.240 We can put up a good front. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.120 But Paul says be careful. 00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:15.640 Because inside you might be hollow. 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:19.620 Or you might be plastic. 00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:25.079 Maybe a question we should ask ourselves is, do we practice what we preach? 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:32.899 I mean, as a parent, how many times has your kiddos caught you being a hypocrite? 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:38.660 How many times have they taught you doing things that you told them not to do? 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:44.300 Paul says be careful because if you're religious, it's going to prevent you from examining your heart. 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.759 And you're never going to teach yourself first. 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:54.640 So the question we need to ask ourselves as we come to these passages is, what is God teaching us through this passage? 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:58.099 What does he want us to learn? 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:59.400 What does he want us to gain? 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:04.799 What does he want us to hear for us today in Hong Kong? 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:07.980 What is it that he wants us to apply to our lives? 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:15.140 Paul says religious people come to church, they listen and they go, well, that was really cool, good illustration, great music. 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.599 And then they walk away. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:20.700 And nothing changes in their life. 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:25.220 And he warns you. 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:30.779 And he warns me that if we're not careful, we're going to be hollow. 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.980 And we're going to be judged. 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:41.940 In verses 21 and 22, he makes some very strong accusations, especially to the leaders of his time. 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:46.740 They're the same things that the Jewish guy prayed at in what Jesus said in Luke 18. 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.660 He says, 00:19:48.220 --> 00:20:09.480 Paul's saying here that if you're religious, all you do is you think about the outside, but you never think about your heart. 00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:11.599 You never realize what's going on in your heart. 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:14.480 You never realize the idols and the things that we cling to. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:17.839 So we ask the question, do you steal? 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.980 I mean, I'm talking just outwardly. 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:25.559 You go to the office and grab a whole bunch of pens with watermark on them. 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:28.000 And we're going, where are all the watermark pens? 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:33.220 They're given to you so that you can hand them to other people and they can do that. 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:35.500 But do we steal? 00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:39.960 I mean, do we look at our hands and we say no? 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:43.120 But do we dare look at our hearts? 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:47.440 I mean, if we're husbands, do we steal from our families? 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:51.100 I mean, yeah, we have to be gone. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.319 We have to be these certain amount of times. 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.400 Our work demands these things. 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.180 That's great. 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:54.720 I understand that. 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.480 I totally understand that. 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.440 I think that's right. 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.340 But when we're home, 00:20:59.100 --> 00:21:01.740 are we present for our kids? 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:06.319 I mean, when we're home and work is gone, 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.839 do we spend time with them? 00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:12.700 Are we on the Blackberry or playing computer games 00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:14.500 or doing something like I do? 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:19.380 Do we steal from our families? 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:22.460 I mean, do we steal from work? 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:25.099 I mean, think about it. 00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:26.259 When you go to work on Monday, 00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:29.839 are you giving your work and your boss the best that you can give them? 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:33.679 I mean, is your heart 100% into what you're doing? 00:21:34.459 --> 00:21:36.539 And you're saying, I'm here to honor the Lord 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:38.599 and to serve my boss and to serve the company? 00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.919 Do we steal from ourselves? 00:21:46.699 --> 00:21:48.359 And God has given us all these talents 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:50.779 and these gifts 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:53.059 in our bodies, 00:21:53.679 --> 00:21:55.299 in our health, 00:21:56.379 --> 00:21:57.759 in our time. 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.919 Are we making good use of those? 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:05.000 Do we steal 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:07.000 from God? 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:13.220 I mean, the passages say 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.079 that all we're to do 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.959 is to worship Him 00:22:14.959 --> 00:22:15.799 and to come and give Him 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.439 all the praise 00:22:16.439 --> 00:22:17.319 and the honor. 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.839 But do we do that? 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.500 I mean, are there things in our life 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.899 that we take away for ourselves 00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:24.679 and we put them off 00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:25.720 because this is for me, 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.439 this is important? 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:28.400 And when we do that, 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:30.740 are we taking away from God? 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.440 Paul's saying, 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.840 be really, really careful 00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:36.559 because all of us have this problem 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.500 and this problem in our heart 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.200 is called religion. 00:22:39.259 --> 00:22:40.180 And as religious people, 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.140 we just look at the law 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:42.380 and we look at how it deals with things 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:42.900 on the outside, 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:44.320 but we never look inwardly. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:46.259 We never look at our self-centeredness. 00:22:46.320 --> 00:22:47.259 We never look at our idols. 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:49.080 We never look at the hypocrisy in our heart. 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:50.440 And if we don't do that, 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.039 we're in trouble. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:54.559 When Moses got given the Ten Commandments 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.759 and he said, 00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:56.539 do not steal, 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:58.079 that wasn't just one law. 00:22:58.139 --> 00:23:00.059 It was a part of a whole big set of laws 00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:02.119 and rules and heart issues. 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.720 And the issue was, 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:07.859 are we going to not envy also? 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.460 Do we envy? 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:16.460 When a person gets that promotion 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.680 and we should have got it, 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:19.659 how do we respond? 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.759 When the person gets a new whatever 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:23.779 and you wanted it, 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.799 how do we respond? 00:23:26.899 --> 00:23:27.359 And Paul says, 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:29.159 all of these things point to our heart 00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:31.079 and all of these things show us 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:31.980 that we have a problem. 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.200 And the problem is called 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.859 that we're religious. 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:40.799 Verse 23 and 24 says this, 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:41.980 and this is the sad thing. 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:42.940 It says, 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:44.259 you who boast in the law, 00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:45.859 through your breaking the law, 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.879 do you dishonor God? 00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:49.819 For the name of God is blasphemed. 00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:51.379 The word in Greek is abused, 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:53.039 thrown through the dung 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.539 among the Gentiles 00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:55.299 because of you, 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:56.939 just as it's written. 00:23:58.179 --> 00:23:59.579 So when we as religious people 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:00.519 have all these standards, 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.299 we're going to do these things, 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:01.879 we're going to perform, 00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:02.919 we're telling everybody else 00:24:02.919 --> 00:24:03.939 to perform and do all these things. 00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:05.200 When we don't do them, 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.939 when we fail, 00:24:06.179 --> 00:24:07.619 because Paul says we're going to fail 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:09.079 because we're just looking outwardly, 00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:10.039 we're not looking at our heart. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:10.819 When we fail, 00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:13.720 Paul says we dishonor God. 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:18.039 Do we dishonor God? 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:23.180 What would you do 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:25.380 if someone from church 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:26.880 came to your office tomorrow 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:28.980 and they start asking people 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:30.640 about the church? 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:33.579 What would they say about Watermark? 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:37.859 What would you do 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:41.099 if someone met somebody in your office 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:43.819 and they started asking questions about you? 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:45.939 Well, tell me, 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:47.220 what kind of person is, 00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.859 I see Colin back here, 00:24:49.899 --> 00:24:50.359 two Collins, 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.639 or what kind of person is Christina? 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:53.519 What would they say? 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:58.059 How does Melanie do her work in the office? 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.399 I mean, is she a good employee? 00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:02.060 Does she honor you 00:25:02.060 --> 00:25:03.220 by the time and the talents 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:03.980 that you've given her 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:05.680 and in the time that she spent there? 00:25:07.040 --> 00:25:08.700 Paul says as religious people, 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:13.680 if we try to live religious lives, 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.160 we're always going to fail. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.220 And the downside of that 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.340 is that we dishonor God 00:25:19.340 --> 00:25:22.420 and God's name gets hurt. 00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.980 Paul has one more thing. 00:25:25.060 --> 00:25:26.519 So we talked about 17 to 24. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.820 He's talking about inwardly things, 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:28.780 things that are true of us, 00:25:29.080 --> 00:25:29.840 things that we hold on 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.559 as religious people, 00:25:30.659 --> 00:25:31.199 things that we say, 00:25:31.459 --> 00:25:32.599 these are the things that we value, 00:25:32.699 --> 00:25:33.639 this is what gives me identity, 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.539 this is what gives me meaning. 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:36.099 He says if you follow those things, 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:36.759 you're going to fail. 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.899 He says one more thing. 00:25:37.959 --> 00:25:39.419 He says verse 25 to 29. 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.819 He says there's an outward thing. 00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:43.240 And this outward thing is a ritual. 00:25:44.439 --> 00:25:46.059 This outward thing is something that you do 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.299 and the more you do it, 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:47.799 you feel like, 00:25:47.899 --> 00:25:48.579 oh, this is great, 00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:49.379 I'm doing good 00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:50.559 and God is happy with me 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.579 and God is pleased with me. 00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:52.559 And for the Jew, 00:25:52.679 --> 00:25:53.799 the ritual was circumcision. 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.939 Now I wanted to do a PowerPoint, 00:25:56.199 --> 00:25:57.299 but people said I couldn't do it. 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.899 And my wife said, 00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:00.640 be very careful how you talk about circumcision 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.620 because you're going to get in trouble. 00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:04.440 So I'm going to be very careful. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.040 But in Genesis, 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:08.460 the first book of the Bible, 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.480 God comes to Moses 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.140 and he makes a covenant with him. 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:14.240 And in Genesis 15, 00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:15.400 part of that covenant is 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:17.380 that God cuts these animals 00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:19.600 and he puts them off to the side 00:26:19.600 --> 00:26:22.780 and Moses and God walk between the animals. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.340 And the animals and what they represent 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:28.159 is a symbolism of what would happen to us 00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:29.659 or to Moses 00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:31.559 if he were to break that covenant. 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:34.059 It would mean that he would be separated. 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.859 He'd be cut off. 00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:38.179 He'd be pushed aside. 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.959 It was incredibly bloody. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.000 It was incredibly painful. 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.919 The animals were screaming. 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:44.279 It was something you didn't want to experience. 00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:47.079 In Genesis 17, 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:49.199 God comes to Abraham 00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:51.720 and he makes him circumcise himself. 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:54.860 Again, it was a symbol of a covenant. 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.920 It was something that had already happened inside. 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:59.160 God had already came into Abraham's heart 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.480 and changed Abraham's heart. 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.819 And part of this change 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:03.259 was a symbol of an outward, 00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:04.880 this is who I am. 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:08.779 And God brought circumcision on that scene. 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:11.400 It was a cutting and a separation 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:13.140 of a part of Abraham. 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:15.559 And it was to remind Abraham 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:17.660 every time he had to shall be in 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.440 or go to the bathroom 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.180 or whatever he did, 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:21.039 every time he looked down there, 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:23.960 he reminded himself of the covenant 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:26.159 that God made with him. 00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:28.599 But he didn't just remind himself 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:30.000 of the covenant that God made with him. 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:31.180 He reminded himself 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.859 that this is what was going to happen to him 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:34.720 if he broke that relationship. 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.639 That he'd be cut off. 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.839 He would be separated. 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.539 There'd be pain. 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:40.019 And it would be a really bad thing. 00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:42.539 Circumcision. 00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:45.119 In Jesus' day, in Paul's day, 00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:46.639 the Jews had taken circumcision 00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:48.180 to this huge, huge level. 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.619 So it wasn't just a covenant. 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:51.219 They didn't think about the heart. 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:53.199 All they thought about was the outside. 00:27:53.739 --> 00:27:55.399 If you have it, it's like a tattoo. 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.419 If you have it, you're in. 00:27:57.239 --> 00:27:59.339 And so they just circumcised themselves. 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:00.839 And it came to a point 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.919 where the rabbis were teaching 00:28:01.919 --> 00:28:03.779 that if you are circumcised, 00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.719 you will go to heaven. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.979 He says, if you are circumcised, 00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:08.500 Father Abraham is standing 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.259 at the gates of hell 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:10.679 and he's not going to let anybody 00:28:10.679 --> 00:28:12.579 enter into hell who's circumcised. 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:14.779 And so they've taken this idea 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.439 of a covenant, 00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.839 an inward change, 00:28:17.159 --> 00:28:18.099 an outward expression, 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.099 and they just made it 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:19.699 something outward. 00:28:20.939 --> 00:28:22.079 And they said, if you do this, 00:28:22.139 --> 00:28:22.859 God's going to be happy. 00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:23.699 He's going to be pleased. 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.379 It's going to happen. 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.059 You're going to be okay. 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.579 Today, 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:32.139 we do it with things like baptism 00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:35.179 and communion. 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:38.920 And we say, 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:39.880 if you are baptized, 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:41.080 you're going to go to heaven. 00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:42.019 You know there are churches 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:42.920 in Hong Kong that preach 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.039 that if you are baptized, 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.240 you're going to heaven for sure. 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.759 And Paul says in this passage 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.220 in Romans, 00:28:49.340 --> 00:28:49.860 that's not true. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.400 That's not true. 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:50.940 That's not true. 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.019 That's an outward expression 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.259 of an inward reality. 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.460 If the inward reality 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.160 hasn't happened, 00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:56.259 then the outward expression 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.160 means nothing. 00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.519 He says, 00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:00.799 even if you've been circumcised 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.039 or even if you've been baptized, 00:29:02.360 --> 00:29:03.440 if you're living a life 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.580 that doesn't match up 00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.399 to the covenant, 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.639 that it's basically 00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.919 you become uncircumcised. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.079 You become unbaptized. 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.539 Now, we're not going to have people 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.439 getting baptized again 00:29:11.439 --> 00:29:11.980 and forth and back. 00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.980 But what he's saying is, 00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.500 it's a heart issue. 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:17.000 And don't do things 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.599 unless your heart is changed. 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.759 And religion 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:23.859 cannot change your heart. 00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:27.399 Being religious inwardly, 00:29:27.399 --> 00:29:28.839 being religious outwardly, 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:30.720 they cannot change you. 00:29:30.839 --> 00:29:32.000 You are lost. 00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:33.879 And Paul is talking 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.680 to the most powerful, 00:29:34.800 --> 00:29:35.540 most influential people 00:29:35.540 --> 00:29:36.020 in the culture. 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.540 And they sat there 00:29:38.540 --> 00:29:38.880 and they're going, 00:29:39.020 --> 00:29:40.060 oh my gosh. 00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:42.080 There's no hope. 00:29:43.580 --> 00:29:44.960 What hope do I have? 00:29:46.040 --> 00:29:47.320 What can I do? 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:49.580 And Paul says, 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.000 nothing. 00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.740 Have a nice day. 00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:56.680 See why Romans chapter 1, 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.060 2, and 3 00:29:57.060 --> 00:29:58.020 is such a cheery passage? 00:29:58.019 --> 00:30:01.259 Paul is teaching this to us 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:03.119 so that we can understand 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:05.220 how bad off we are. 00:30:06.119 --> 00:30:07.000 There's going to be some of us 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.980 who are going to be moralist. 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.039 I've done this. 00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:09.480 I've done that. 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.099 I haven't done this. 00:30:10.139 --> 00:30:10.519 I'm okay. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:11.779 There's going to be some of us 00:30:11.779 --> 00:30:12.160 who are going to say, 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.259 I don't know if there's a God. 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:13.660 If there's a God, 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.059 I don't care. 00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:14.839 I'm going to do my own thing. 00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:15.799 And if God comes to me one day, 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.079 I'm going to say, 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.660 hey, you're unfair. 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.139 You're unjust. 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:18.000 I can do this. 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:19.019 And who cares? 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:20.420 And there's going to be some of us 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:20.740 who are going to say, 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.660 I believe in God. 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.279 I want to please Him. 00:30:22.299 --> 00:30:22.980 I want to do the right things. 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:23.620 I'm going to study my Bible. 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.180 I'm going to do these things. 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:24.680 I'm going to do these things. 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.559 I'm going to do this and do that 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:26.339 and do this and all these things. 00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:27.180 And all these things are true of me. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.620 And in the end, 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:29.120 Paul says, 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:32.700 all of those people are lost. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:37.480 They've all failed. 00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.799 There's no hope 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:43.120 in and of themselves. 00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:47.200 Have a nice day. 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:53.240 Paul was trying to show you and me 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:56.000 that in and of ourselves, 00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.840 we're doomed. 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.920 In and of ourselves, 00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:02.559 we're lost. 00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:05.600 But I don't want to end here 00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:07.600 because you're going to be depressed 00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:09.380 because chapter three 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.759 and chapter four are coming. 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:12.240 But you know, 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.920 if you don't understand 00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:14.100 how bad things are, 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:16.460 you never appreciate 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.620 how good things really are. 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.279 If you don't understand 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:21.740 how bad our heart is, 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.319 then when we say things like, 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:23.980 God loves you, 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:24.720 God saves you, 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.539 that means nothing 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:27.980 to a person who's 85% good. 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:30.039 But to a person 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:31.579 who is 100% lost, 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:33.380 and they understand 00:31:33.380 --> 00:31:34.200 that in their heart, 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:34.940 there's nothing, 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:35.640 nothing, 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:36.539 nothing they can do, 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.799 nothing that can make them happy, 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:39.240 nothing they can put to God 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.420 to make them feel, 00:31:40.620 --> 00:31:41.380 oh, you're doing well, 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.980 to that type of person, 00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:44.960 then God's love, 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:46.799 God's grace, 00:31:47.600 --> 00:31:48.319 God's mercy, 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.960 it's amazing. 00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.660 It's amazing. 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:56.079 One last thing. 00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.100 Verse 29. 00:32:02.360 --> 00:32:04.640 But he is a Jew inwardly, 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:06.420 in circumcision is that 00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:07.200 which is of the heart, 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.740 by the Spirit, 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:10.680 not by the letter of the law, 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:12.799 and his praise is not from men, 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:13.799 but from God. 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:16.460 What is he saying here? 00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.519 He's saying that there's going to be 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.019 any hope, 00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:21.299 any hope, 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.980 any heart change, 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:26.379 anything that's going to change in us, 00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:28.899 God has to do it. 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.379 Colossians 2, 00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:35.480 verses 9 through 13. 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:36.619 Listen to this, 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.379 and we'll close. 00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:39.760 For in him, 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:45.200 the fullness of deity dwells 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:46.960 in bodily form. 00:32:47.860 --> 00:32:48.600 In Christ, 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:50.040 you have been made complete. 00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.880 He is the head 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:53.760 over all rule and authority. 00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.800 In him, 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:58.300 you were also circumcised 00:32:58.300 --> 00:33:01.500 with a circumcision made without hands 00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:04.320 in the removal of the body. 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:06.819 My eyes are going out. 00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:08.359 The removal of the body 00:33:08.359 --> 00:33:10.019 of the flesh 00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:13.339 by the circumcision of Christ. 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:15.399 You have been buried with him 00:33:15.399 --> 00:33:16.019 in baptism, 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:18.019 in which you were also raised up with him 00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:20.059 through faith in the working of God. 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:21.419 In him, 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:23.679 the removal of the body of the flesh 00:33:23.679 --> 00:33:25.200 by the circumcision of Christ, 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:27.179 having been buried with him in baptism. 00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:28.179 What is he saying there? 00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:29.000 He's saying this. 00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:32.399 Our only hope is if God steps in, 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:34.800 and on the cross, 00:33:35.800 --> 00:33:37.380 Christ stepped in. 00:33:38.300 --> 00:33:40.100 You and I had a covenant with God. 00:33:40.620 --> 00:33:43.140 This covenant meant separation and death 00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.160 if we broke the covenant. 00:33:44.780 --> 00:33:45.960 We broke the covenant. 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.759 Christ did not break the covenant. 00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:51.820 And Colossians says that on the cross, 00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:57.200 Christ was circumcised 00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:59.580 for our sin. 00:33:59.580 --> 00:34:02.180 Christ was cut off and removed 00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:04.220 and thrown away 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:07.240 for our sin. 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:10.740 And because of Christ being cut off, 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:12.139 thrown away, 00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:14.740 and removed because of our sin, 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:18.500 Colossians says that God has come in 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.440 with his spirit 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:21.619 into our heart, 00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:24.000 and he has given us 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.820 a new heart. 00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:29.380 Romans 1, 2, and 3, 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:31.360 everybody's trying to get 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:32.440 the new heart on themselves. 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:33.980 And at the end, 00:34:34.059 --> 00:34:34.619 Paul says, 00:34:34.680 --> 00:34:34.840 you know, 00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:36.220 no matter how moral you are, 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:38.240 no matter how good you are, 00:34:38.640 --> 00:34:40.140 no matter how religious you are, 00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.900 no matter how perfect you are, 00:34:42.140 --> 00:34:43.820 you're never going to change 00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:44.700 your heart. 00:34:45.740 --> 00:34:47.559 Your heart has to be circumcised 00:34:47.559 --> 00:34:49.579 by something you cannot do. 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:51.619 Colossians says, 00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:52.559 on the cross, 00:34:53.279 --> 00:34:54.259 Christ died, 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:56.000 he was cut away, 00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.400 he was bloodied, 00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:58.279 he was beaten, 00:34:58.639 --> 00:34:59.380 it was terrible, 00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.579 it was a terrible sound, 00:35:00.839 --> 00:35:01.719 it was something awful, 00:35:01.839 --> 00:35:02.000 terrible. 00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:02.719 Okay. 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.779 When Kip was born, 00:35:05.719 --> 00:35:06.359 immediately, 00:35:06.619 --> 00:35:08.179 I started asking the physician, 00:35:08.759 --> 00:35:10.339 can I be there for the circumcision? 00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:12.679 There's just something about it, 00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:13.179 I want it, 00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:14.099 I've read about it, 00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:14.639 as a pastor, 00:35:14.759 --> 00:35:15.619 I'm reading about it, 00:35:15.779 --> 00:35:16.500 I thought it was something 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.359 I wanted to see, 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:18.179 it's part of the covenant, 00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:19.319 it's part of all these things, 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:19.819 I said, 00:35:19.879 --> 00:35:20.659 can I see this? 00:35:21.319 --> 00:35:21.719 And he goes, 00:35:21.779 --> 00:35:22.059 no. 00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:23.759 He goes, 00:35:23.799 --> 00:35:24.019 I go, 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:24.359 why? 00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:24.639 He goes, 00:35:24.699 --> 00:35:24.819 well, 00:35:24.839 --> 00:35:25.480 there's blood, 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.679 there's screaming, 00:35:27.219 --> 00:35:28.059 it's painful, 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.759 the only man I ever allowed 00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:30.859 to see his son do that, 00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:32.059 the minute the cut happened, 00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.960 the guy passed out, 00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:33.799 hit his head, 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:35.359 and the nurses were working on him 00:35:35.359 --> 00:35:36.059 instead of the kid. 00:35:37.699 --> 00:35:38.379 He says, 00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:40.239 that it's so gruesome, 00:35:40.339 --> 00:35:43.559 and so uncontrollably, 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:43.859 whoa, 00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:46.000 you don't want to see that. 00:35:47.620 --> 00:35:48.840 And the passage says 00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:51.000 that when Christ was crucified, 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:53.519 it was so gruesome, 00:35:54.640 --> 00:35:56.019 it was so bloody, 00:35:56.680 --> 00:35:57.900 it was so loud, 00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:59.720 he was being cut off, 00:35:59.780 --> 00:35:59.960 he said, 00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:00.599 my God, 00:36:00.660 --> 00:36:01.160 my God, 00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:03.599 why have you cut me off? 00:36:06.660 --> 00:36:08.120 And the passage says, 00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:12.200 he did it because of you. 00:36:13.860 --> 00:36:17.519 He did it for Tobin. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:21.059 He did it for Colin. 00:36:21.260 --> 00:36:22.059 He did it for Christina. 00:36:22.180 --> 00:36:22.900 He did it for Charles. 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:23.860 He did it for everyone. 00:36:25.160 --> 00:36:27.280 So that by his son being cut off, 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:29.620 you and I 00:36:29.620 --> 00:36:32.599 are given new hearts. 00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:34.739 He did it for him. 00:36:34.739 --> 00:36:36.259 And we can call him father 00:36:36.259 --> 00:36:38.980 and be his children. 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:41.539 You understand where Paul's going? 00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:43.559 He's trying to make it hard, 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.360 difficult, 00:36:44.819 --> 00:36:45.940 not focused on yourself, 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:46.839 not focused on yourself. 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.440 It's impossible. 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:48.039 It's impossible. 00:36:48.539 --> 00:36:49.059 Chapter three, 00:36:49.239 --> 00:36:50.019 it's going to be hard. 00:36:50.339 --> 00:36:50.920 Chapter four, 00:36:51.380 --> 00:36:51.699 God. 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.339 And what he's trying to show us 00:36:54.339 --> 00:36:55.360 is as his people, 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:57.980 the only hope we have 00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:59.480 of changing our lives 00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:02.920 is by God reaching into our heart 00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:06.139 and changing it. 00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:09.159 Father, 00:37:09.219 --> 00:37:10.159 we thank you for this day. 00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:11.980 We thank you for your word. 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.940 We thank you for your word 00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:13.920 that's living and active. 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:15.840 We pray as we ponder 00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:16.900 and think about 00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.920 what these ideas 00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:19.179 of being religious is. 00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:21.219 I confess, 00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:21.579 Lord, 00:37:21.679 --> 00:37:24.319 that I am the religious person. 00:37:26.219 --> 00:37:27.419 And I think that there are 00:37:27.419 --> 00:37:28.399 probably many of us 00:37:28.399 --> 00:37:29.460 like that in this congregation. 00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:33.119 Help us to read your word. 00:37:34.339 --> 00:37:35.519 Help us to pray on it. 00:37:35.659 --> 00:37:36.639 Help us to understand 00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:37.259 what it means 00:37:37.259 --> 00:37:38.819 to not be religious. 00:37:40.219 --> 00:37:40.619 Lord, 00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:41.919 I pray that we would just confess 00:37:41.919 --> 00:37:44.059 our religiosity, 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:45.500 if that's even a word, 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:48.299 that we would realize 00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:50.480 that the gospel message 00:37:50.480 --> 00:37:51.380 and truth is 00:37:51.380 --> 00:37:52.680 is that man is lost 00:37:52.680 --> 00:37:55.000 whether he ignores you, 00:37:55.700 --> 00:37:56.580 whether he chooses 00:37:56.580 --> 00:37:57.920 to be perfect and good 00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:59.160 and gets everything done, 00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:01.560 or whether he says, 00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:02.700 I'm going to be very religious 00:38:02.700 --> 00:38:03.220 and I'm going to do 00:38:03.220 --> 00:38:03.940 everything I should do 00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:05.400 as a religious person. 00:38:06.660 --> 00:38:08.300 But the message of Romans is 00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:09.920 is that religion can't save us. 00:38:11.620 --> 00:38:13.660 Only relationship with God 00:38:13.660 --> 00:38:14.740 can save us. 00:38:16.019 --> 00:38:16.240 Father, 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:17.380 I pray for those of us in here 00:38:17.380 --> 00:38:18.840 who are not on that journey yet. 00:38:18.900 --> 00:38:19.980 We're here by friends 00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:21.320 and we wonder what the heck's going on 00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:22.599 and why this guy's jumping around 00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:23.619 in a not blue shirt. 00:38:24.240 --> 00:38:24.960 I pray, Father, 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:26.039 for their hearts. 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:27.980 I pray for those of us 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:28.519 who brought them 00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:29.400 that we would just continue 00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:30.059 to live lives 00:38:30.059 --> 00:38:30.660 that are consistent 00:38:30.660 --> 00:38:32.280 and be mindful of verse 24 00:38:32.280 --> 00:38:33.860 that if we try to live 00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:35.300 religiously and morally 00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:36.599 when we fail, 00:38:36.900 --> 00:38:38.099 everybody else looks at God 00:38:38.099 --> 00:38:38.940 and they laugh. 00:38:40.500 --> 00:38:41.099 Nietzsche said 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:42.140 the greatest testimony 00:38:42.140 --> 00:38:43.760 against God 00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:45.480 and Jesus is his people 00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:47.520 in their lives. 00:38:48.680 --> 00:38:49.500 And I pray, Lord, 00:38:49.540 --> 00:38:51.020 that that would not be true of us. 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:53.500 Help us to be humble. 00:38:55.180 --> 00:38:56.200 Help us to be gentle. 00:38:57.600 --> 00:38:58.520 Help us to realize 00:38:58.520 --> 00:38:59.820 that we all have aspects 00:38:59.820 --> 00:39:00.480 of morality, 00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:01.260 religion, 00:39:01.860 --> 00:39:02.880 and I just don't care 00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.700 in our lives 00:39:03.700 --> 00:39:04.580 and you're continually 00:39:04.580 --> 00:39:05.780 showing those to us. 00:39:06.760 --> 00:39:07.720 Give us the courage 00:39:07.720 --> 00:39:09.120 to confess those things, 00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:12.059 to repent of those things 00:39:12.059 --> 00:39:13.759 and allow your spirit 00:39:13.759 --> 00:39:14.679 to change us. 00:39:15.759 --> 00:39:15.980 And Lord, 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:16.920 I pray for this message 00:39:16.920 --> 00:39:17.759 as we think about it 00:39:17.759 --> 00:39:18.299 this week. 00:39:18.460 --> 00:39:19.179 I hope that we just 00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:20.319 don't walk out of here 00:39:20.319 --> 00:39:23.119 but we ponder 00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:24.019 what it means. 00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:25.839 We ponder what it means 00:39:25.839 --> 00:39:26.359 to steal. 00:39:26.519 --> 00:39:27.420 We ponder what it means 00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:28.299 to walk with you. 00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:29.279 We ponder what it means 00:39:29.279 --> 00:39:30.639 to be good singles 00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:31.239 and neighbors 00:39:31.239 --> 00:39:32.159 and workers 00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:32.900 and husbands 00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:33.779 and wives 00:39:33.779 --> 00:39:35.380 and help us to ponder 00:39:35.380 --> 00:39:36.639 that we can only do that 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:37.599 through your power 00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:38.619 and through your strength. 00:39:39.699 --> 00:39:41.019 We need you to change us, 00:39:41.179 --> 00:39:41.299 Lord. 00:39:42.380 --> 00:39:43.539 We pray as a church 00:39:43.539 --> 00:39:44.440 that you would use us 00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.239 in mighty ways 00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:45.779 as we think about 00:39:45.779 --> 00:39:47.339 the pastors being trained up 00:39:47.339 --> 00:39:48.239 and the church planters 00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:49.019 and the new churches 00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:49.619 being planted. 00:39:50.359 --> 00:39:52.000 And it's not to our praise 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:53.339 and it's not to watermarks, 00:39:53.579 --> 00:39:54.500 wow, look at them, 00:39:54.639 --> 00:39:55.940 but it's to your glory 00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:57.099 and to your honor. 00:39:58.139 --> 00:39:59.179 And so we give it to you 00:39:59.179 --> 00:40:00.420 knowing that you have to move 00:40:00.420 --> 00:40:02.480 and do incredible things 00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:03.679 for people to be changed. 00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:05.779 Father, again, 00:40:05.819 --> 00:40:06.539 we come before you 00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:07.059 and we thank you 00:40:07.059 --> 00:40:08.199 that you didn't leave us. 00:40:09.539 --> 00:40:10.699 That when we ran away 00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:12.000 you pursued us. 00:40:13.219 --> 00:40:14.039 That you're the God 00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:14.859 of second chances. 00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.139 I know that there are 00:40:17.139 --> 00:40:17.880 many of us in here 00:40:17.880 --> 00:40:19.440 who need to hear that today 00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:22.500 because we've lost 00:40:22.500 --> 00:40:23.460 our first chance 00:40:23.460 --> 00:40:25.940 and we don't realize 00:40:25.940 --> 00:40:26.759 that you're pursuing us 00:40:26.759 --> 00:40:27.380 even now 00:40:27.380 --> 00:40:29.500 with your son. 00:40:31.079 --> 00:40:31.880 Father, we thank you 00:40:31.880 --> 00:40:32.339 most of all 00:40:32.339 --> 00:40:33.339 that you allowed your son 00:40:33.339 --> 00:40:34.319 to hang on a cross 00:40:34.320 --> 00:40:36.300 to take our punishment. 00:40:37.200 --> 00:40:38.519 That he would be separated. 00:40:39.240 --> 00:40:40.640 That he would be cast off. 00:40:40.700 --> 00:40:41.600 That he would be bloodied. 00:40:42.039 --> 00:40:42.960 That he would be beaten. 00:40:43.140 --> 00:40:44.059 That he would be killed 00:40:44.059 --> 00:40:46.100 so that we didn't have to be. 00:40:47.519 --> 00:40:48.539 So that we can take 00:40:48.539 --> 00:40:49.820 his separation 00:40:49.820 --> 00:40:51.460 and apply that 00:40:51.460 --> 00:40:52.380 to our heart 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:53.860 and your spirit 00:40:53.860 --> 00:40:54.720 changes us 00:40:54.720 --> 00:40:55.720 and gives us new hearts. 00:40:55.719 --> 00:40:57.699 So Lord, 00:40:57.719 --> 00:40:58.439 we come before you 00:40:58.439 --> 00:40:59.319 and we just are in awe 00:40:59.319 --> 00:40:59.879 of your mercy 00:40:59.879 --> 00:41:00.619 and your grace 00:41:00.619 --> 00:41:01.299 and your love 00:41:01.299 --> 00:41:03.000 and your righteousness 00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:04.939 and your justice. 00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:06.919 We love you 00:41:06.919 --> 00:41:07.799 and we pray these things 00:41:07.799 --> 00:41:08.359 in your son Jesus' 00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:08.980 holy name. 00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:10.039 Amen.