WEBVTT

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 Please take out your copy of God's Word and turn to Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 11.

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!

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 And we did so in this way to talk and kind of to bring to some finality Paul's discussion of the Jews and what's happening with them now and what will eventually be the case for them.

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 And I don't have time to recap everything that I said last week, but essentially I showed in a pattern throughout chapter 11 that I believe in verse 26 when he says,

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 And in this way all Israel will be saved, he's talking about the process by which his grace is still being extended to the people of Israel, to the nation of Israel.

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 That he is talking present day and that this grace has not left Israel as a nation, but that it has been extended to Gentiles as well as Jews.

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 And so his grace is running prevalent across the earth this day.

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 Either way, the result's the same.

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 Some believe that this text is talking about a final, full salvation of Israel.

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 And we talked in brief about that.

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 But either way, the point remains that what he's trying to say to Gentile believers, which I will presume that every single one of us are,

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 is that we ought not be proud.

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 We ought not become haughty towards the Israelites.

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 We ought not be anti-Semitic in any way whatsoever because it's by grace that we're saved.

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 Not works, right?

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 It's not because we're Gentile that we now have the grace of God.

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 And so I want to talk about that.

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 I want to kind of rewind into chapter 11 and talk a bit more about that, focusing on verses 17 through 24 and particularly 20 through 22.

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 So let's pray together and then I'll begin reading that.

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 Father God, I love you because you first loved me.

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 And I thank you for the great grace that you've poured out on my life and on the lives of so many in this room.

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 Surely, us coming together this morning is a picture of your loving kindness toward mankind.

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 I pray we don't miss that this morning.

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 And Father, you know what a mess I am generally.

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 And certainly this morning, frantic.

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 Even with an extra hour in my day, I'm running around.

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 And I just pray, Father, that you will work through my frailty by your Spirit.

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 That you will be powerful in me.

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 And that you will work in the hearers of your word.

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 That they might know and understand who you are.

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 That they might serve you best this coming week.

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 And we pray this in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 Alright, so let's read together.

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 Beginning in verse 17 through verse 24.

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 But if some of the branches were broken off.

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 And you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others.

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 And now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree.

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 Do not be arrogant toward the branches.

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 If you are, remember it is not you who support the root.

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 But the root that supports you.

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 Then you will say, branches were broken off.

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 So that I might be grafted in.

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 That is true.

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 They were broken off because of their unbelief.

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 But you stand fast through faith.

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 So do not become proud, but fear.

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 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

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 Note then the kindness and the severity of God.

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 Severity towards those who have fallen.

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 But God's kindness to you.

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 Provided you continue in his kindness.

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 Otherwise you too will be cut off.

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 And even if they do not continue in their unbelief.

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 Will be grafted in.

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 For God has the power to graft them in again.

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 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree.

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 And grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree.

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 How much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree?

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 So Paul uses this beautiful analogy of grafting.

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 And as I was thinking this week through the analogy.

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 I actually thought about not talking about it at all.

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 But then realized that there is a really good chance.

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 That many of you have no idea what he's talking about.

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 When he speaks of grafting.

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 What that means.

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 It's to cut off a branch.

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 This happens in cultivation all the time.

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 You cut off a branch.

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 And you take another branch.

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 And you cut it in just such a way.

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 I almost showed you guys a video of it happening today.

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 But you cut it in just such a way.

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 So that it can be inserted into the root, the tree, whatever that may be.

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 And it will then get its sustenance from the tree.

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 And you will have then a new tree.

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 The practice happens as farmers try to cultivate a better product.

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 So it happens with olives.

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 Quite often, in fact.

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 There's a trait in a wild olive that is beneficial.

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 Let's say drought tolerance to the cultivated tree.

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 And so the farmer cuts and grafts in the other part.

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 Now obviously in this case, he's not saying that in some way the Gentiles had something to offer to the kingdom of God.

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 Therefore, they were a better version.

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 And he needed to graft them into the old version.

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 But that's the picture that we're seeing here.

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 Is that because of their unbelief, because of their unfruitfulness, parts of Israel were trimmed away.

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 And new, wild olive branches were grafted in.

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 That they might bear fruit.

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 And so here's the analogy that he gives us.

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 And he calls us in this to humility.

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 And he does it three times in chapter 11.

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 Look at verse 18.

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 He says,

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 Do not be arrogant toward the branches.

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 Verse 20.

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 So do not become proud, but fear.

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 Verse 25.

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 He says,

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 Lest you be wise in your own sight.

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 Do not be haughty.

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 Just because you're part of the tree now,

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 do not be arrogant, proud, boastful, haughty towards those who have been cut off.

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 And why?

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 It's because you stand fast through faith.

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 Faith.

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 Not because of your works.

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 Isn't that the great message of Romans?

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 Justification by faith alone.

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 Not because of works.

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 Not because of anything we could have ever possibly done to earn God's favor.

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 But because of the faith that he has given us to believe in his son.

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 Faith is the opposite of pride.

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 Thinking that we can somehow do anything is the opposite of faith.

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 Because faith in Jesus Christ, the son of God, the person and his work, his death and resurrection for us, brings nothing but humility.

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 It impedes pride.

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 You cannot be proud if you truly believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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 So faith then is set in juxtaposition to pride.

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 And we stand fast through faith.

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 So we see then in verse 20 through 22 that they were broken off because of their unbelief.

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 But we stand fast through faith.

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 So we shouldn't become proud.

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 But instead, we should fear.

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 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

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 Note then the kindness and the severity of God.

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 The severity of those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness.

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 Otherwise, you too will be cut off.

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 You see the warning here.

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 Is that if we become proud, if we think that we have obtained our justification before God by our own doing, what does that mean?

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 We weren't Christians to begin with.

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 Somehow, we made our way into the tree, but we too will be cut off.

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 The analogy breaks down at that point, right?

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 But that is what he is saying.

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 Truly regenerate believers, those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, will not be proud.

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 And he calls us to fear.

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 And the challenge here is putting in proper balance fear and faith.

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 Trembling, being in awe at the holiness of God.

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 And then believing that we can stand before him justified.

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 There's a challenge in that.

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 And it's a challenge that's talked about all throughout scriptures.

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 Turn with me, if you will, to Matthew chapter 20.

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 This is a parable.

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 Jesus is talking to a Jewish audience at this time.

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 Those who had the privileges of the Old Testament, the prophets, the temple, the sacrificial system,

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 had all these things giving them windows into the ultimate and final culmination of God's grace to mankind.

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 However, I don't want to find myself in this position.

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 Verse 1, chapter 20.

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 Jesus says,

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 The kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

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 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, or a day's wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

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 And going about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

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 And to them he said,

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 You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right, I will give you a day's wage.

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 So they went.

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 Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.

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 And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing.

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 And he said to them, Why do you stand here idle all day?

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 They said to him, Because no one has hired us.

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 He said to them, You go into the vineyard too.

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 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,

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 Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last up to the first.

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 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.

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 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more.

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 But each of them also received a denarius.

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 And on receiving it, they grumbled at the master of the house, saying,

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 These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.

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 But he replied to one of them, Friend, I am doing you no wrong.

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 Do you not agree with me for a denarius?

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 Take what belongs to you and go.

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 I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.

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 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?

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 Or do you begrudge my generosity?

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 So the last will be first, and the first last.

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 And this is Paul's warning, just turned to the Gentile believers.

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 That we might see that God's grace to people is not deserved, but he pours it out because he's God.

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 That we might not be proud in any way that we've received it,

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 but that we pray for those who have not yet received it.

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 There's another great story, an Old Testament story, of who I don't want to be in the book of Jonah.

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 Jonah is called and sent to go to the Ninevites, but yet he runs away.

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 And why does he run away onto a ship to Tarshish?

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 Because he knows God is good.

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 He knows God loves even the evil and wicked Ninevites.

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 He knows that if he goes proclaiming the judgment of God,

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 that there's a good chance that God's going to pour out his grace on these people,

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 who in his mind don't deserve it.

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 And if that's the case, then he did.

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 In his own mind, he was so proud to think that he deserved God's love toward him.

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 And so in Jonah 3, 4, he says,

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 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey.

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 And this is the message he proclaimed.

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 So when God finally swallowed him up in a big fish, spit him out onto the beach,

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 he goes to Nineveh and he calls out,

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 Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

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 He goes proclaiming a message of God's wrath to the Ninevites.

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 And then in 4, 1 and 2, it's recorded,

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 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,

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 and he was angry after the repentance of the whole city of Nineveh.

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 And he prayed to the Lord and said,

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 O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country?

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 That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish,

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 for I knew that you were a gracious God and merciful,

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 slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love

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 and relenting from disaster.

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 I don't want to have the heart of Jonah.

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 I want to believe that God is a good and loving and kind God.

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 I want to have that type of faith

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 that properly balances in the case with fear.

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 So we ought to have fear and faith in proper measure.

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 And you could put other words on that as well,

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 like in our text, severity and kindness,

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 mercy and wrath,

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 justice and forgiveness.

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 You can put the two things anywhere you would like to in there,

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 the words that you prefer.

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 In this case,

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 we see both fear and faith,

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 as well as severity and kindness.

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 So what is the prescription that he gives to us

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 to not be proud,

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 to not be boastful,

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 to not think in this way

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 about those who have not yet received

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 the grace of God?

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 He tells us

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 to note.

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 We're told to note

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 the severity and kindness of God.

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 Verse 22.

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 Note then the kindness

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 and the severity of God.

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 That word note

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 is most commonly

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 translated in our scriptures

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 as behold,

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 look.

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 In the ESV,

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 which is the translation I'm preaching from,

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 it's found 1,061 times.

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 Look, look, look.

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 Over and over and over again,

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 which leads me to believe

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 that God must think

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 that we're not very good

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 at seeing things.

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 Right?

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 Note, look,

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 behold the kindness

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 and the severity of God.

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 And if we do this properly,

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 we have no room

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 to be proud.

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 None.

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 Whatsoever.

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 Where do we do that?

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 Where do we look?

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 Where do we behold?

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 How is it that we note this?

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 From our scriptures.

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 Isn't this the record

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 of God's,

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 both His severity

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 and His kindness

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 toward mankind?

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 It all culminates,

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 it all comes together,

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 converges

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 in the personal work of Christ

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 as Christ bore

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 the full wrath of God

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 for the sins of the church,

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 giving to them justification,

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 giving to them the grace

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:03.319
 because of what He did.

00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:04.419
 It all comes together.

00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.120
 We see that

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:07.480
 in the scriptures.

00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:09.300
 the Bible

00:16:09.300 --> 00:16:10.460
 in its entirety

00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:12.039
 speaks of Christ.

00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:13.679
 I challenge you

00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.439
 in your reading of it

00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:15.219
 to see that

00:16:15.219 --> 00:16:16.120
 to be the case.

00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.599
 Shows us

00:16:17.599 --> 00:16:18.579
 who we are

00:16:18.579 --> 00:16:19.679
 and who God is.

00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:20.980
 And that in the middle

00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:22.360
 stands in that

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.839
 vast, vast,

00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:24.860
 unfillable gap

00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:26.279
 the one who could,

00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.120
 Jesus Christ.

00:16:28.079 --> 00:16:29.179
 That is how

00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:30.579
 we note.

00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:31.559
 That is how we look.

00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:33.099
 That's how we gaze upon

00:16:33.099 --> 00:16:35.000
 the severity

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:36.639
 and the kindness

00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:38.099
 of God.

00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:41.379
 Do you do that?

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.759
 Do you value

00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.340
 your scripture?

00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:44.840
 Do you read

00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:46.060
 your scriptures?

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.920
 One of the great challenges

00:16:47.920 --> 00:16:49.100
 of the American church

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:49.759
 is that we are

00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.560
 biblically illiterate.

00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:54.440
 We are at a place

00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:55.899
 in American Christianity

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:57.940
 much like the days

00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:58.980
 of the Reformation.

00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.060
 Reformation.

00:17:00.060 --> 00:17:00.539
 Recently,

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.879
 as a nation,

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:02.500
 we celebrated

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.240
 Halloween.

00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:04.259
 It's also known

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.160
 as Reformation Day.

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.160
 October 31st,

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:07.860
 1517

00:17:07.860 --> 00:17:09.039
 is when Martin Luther

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:10.339
 nailed the 95 Theses

00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.120
 to the door of the church

00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:12.299
 in Wittenberg.

00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.839
 That's when it happened.

00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:15.059
 October 31st.

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.420
 And what was happening

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.039
 at that time

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.240
 is that the church at large,

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:19.079
 the Catholic church,

00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.319
 had led the people astray

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.380
 because the Bible

00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:22.480
 was only written

00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.480
 in Latin.

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:24.759
 In fact,

00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:26.059
 the priests preached

00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:27.240
 in Latin.

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.900
 And nobody knew

00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:30.280
 what was going on.

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:33.060
 In the same way,

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.360
 we now have the scriptures

00:17:34.360 --> 00:17:36.420
 in our own language,

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:38.019
 in multiple translations

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:39.140
 with study notes.

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.060
 Right?

00:17:40.300 --> 00:17:40.900
 And yet,

00:17:41.560 --> 00:17:43.160
 many people this morning

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.380
 sit across our country

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:46.680
 entirely biblically illiterate.

00:17:47.060 --> 00:17:48.100
 A pastor can stand up

00:17:48.100 --> 00:17:49.280
 and because of his position

00:17:49.280 --> 00:17:50.740
 can say anything he wants

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.680
 and it's swallowed

00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.820
 hook, line, and sinker.

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.160
 And many people

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:55.980
 are going to be dragged

00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:56.600
 onto shore

00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:57.840
 and they're going to die

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.599
 because he's not

00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:01.379
 preaching the truth.

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:04.179
 God himself

00:18:04.179 --> 00:18:06.059
 has penned words

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.079
 for our lives.

00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.199
 Why do we not

00:18:08.199 --> 00:18:08.859
 read it

00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:09.879
 more?

00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:11.899
 Right now,

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:13.220
 our Sunday school class,

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.139
 the men's and the women's,

00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.639
 are reading through the Bible

00:18:15.639 --> 00:18:16.799
 in a year.

00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:18.799
 And that has

00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:20.199
 posed itself

00:18:20.199 --> 00:18:21.339
 as a challenge

00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:23.179
 for people to

00:18:23.179 --> 00:18:24.759
 spend the time

00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.420
 it takes

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.259
 to read

00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.319
 the assigned reading

00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:28.059
 to get through

00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:29.379
 the entire Bible

00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.420
 in a year.

00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:31.339
 I put myself

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.200
 in the same boat.

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.359
 I'm not judging you.

00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:33.799
 Right?

00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.420
 It can be

00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:36.559
 a challenge.

00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:37.559
 Can't it?

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.859
 We're so busy.

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.680
 We have so much

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.700
 going on.

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.160
 Will you get

00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:43.940
 less done

00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.440
 if you read

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.299
 your scriptures more?

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.779
 Quite possibly.

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.440
 But I believe

00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.339
 you'll get the right

00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.059
 things done

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.160
 and they'll be done

00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:51.740
 well

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.759
 if you read

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.160
 your scriptures

00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:53.900
 more.

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.519
 That you will be

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.779
 properly fueled

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.539
 by a proper

00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.359
 balance of

00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:00.880
 fear and faith,

00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:01.620
 severity

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.900
 and kindness.

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.740
 Let me give you

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.200
 an example.

00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.640
 If you've been

00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.240
 around here long,

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:07.839
 you know that

00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.339
 George Mueller

00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:09.880
 is one of my heroes.

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.339
 A man who

00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.140
 pastored a church

00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:13.120
 in England

00:19:13.120 --> 00:19:14.620
 as well as

00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:15.700
 ran an orphanage.

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.279
 Reached

00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:18.120
 thousands and thousands.

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.000
 He ran a missionary

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.620
 society,

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.559
 funded all kinds

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.179
 of mission efforts

00:19:22.179 --> 00:19:22.879
 around the world.

00:19:23.399 --> 00:19:24.319
 In his last days,

00:19:24.399 --> 00:19:25.139
 he spent his time

00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:26.700
 traveling around

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.099
 the world.

00:19:27.899 --> 00:19:29.000
 An amazing man

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.359
 of faith.

00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.359
 And this is where

00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:30.919
 it kind of all

00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:31.539
 rooted in.

00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:32.919
 It was in his

00:19:32.919 --> 00:19:34.960
 diligence in

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:35.659
 studying the

00:19:35.659 --> 00:19:35.919
 scriptures.

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.500
 Four years

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.220
 after he became

00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.619
 a believer,

00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.059
 this was written

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.779
 of him by A.T.

00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.059
 Pearson,

00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:41.519
 who wrote the

00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.059
 best biography

00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:42.480
 on him.

00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:43.399
 It says,

00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.200
 after a true

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:45.059
 relish for the

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:45.539
 scriptures had

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.119
 been created,

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.379
 he could not

00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.379
 understand how

00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.139
 he could ever

00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:49.659
 have treated

00:19:49.659 --> 00:19:50.460
 God's book

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:50.919
 with such

00:19:50.919 --> 00:19:51.440
 neglect.

00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.440
 It seemed

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.179
 obvious that

00:19:53.179 --> 00:19:53.500
 God,

00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:54.940
 having condescended

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.639
 to become

00:19:55.639 --> 00:19:56.200
 an author,

00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:57.700
 inspired holy

00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:58.319
 men to write

00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:58.799
 the scriptures.

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.099
 He would in

00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:00.940
 them impart

00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:01.919
 the most vital

00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:02.659
 truths.

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.740
 His message

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.279
 would cover

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.179
 all matters

00:20:05.179 --> 00:20:07.139
 which concern

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.859
 man's welfare,

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:08.960
 and therefore,

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:09.940
 under the double

00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:11.299
 impulse of duty

00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:12.399
 and delight,

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.179
 we should

00:20:13.179 --> 00:20:14.099
 instinctively

00:20:14.099 --> 00:20:15.000
 and habitually

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.079
 turn to the

00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:16.319
 Bible.

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:17.480
 Moreover,

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.299
 as he read

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.859
 and studied

00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.339
 this book

00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:19.759
 of God,

00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:20.480
 he felt

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:20.879
 himself

00:20:20.879 --> 00:20:23.659
 admitted to

00:20:23.659 --> 00:20:24.399
 more and more

00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:24.879
 intimate

00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.639
 acquaintance

00:20:25.639 --> 00:20:26.000
 with the

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.279
 author.

00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:27.359
 During the

00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.879
 last 20

00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.220
 years of

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:28.579
 his life,

00:20:28.659 --> 00:20:28.919
 he read

00:20:28.919 --> 00:20:29.559
 it carefully

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:31.019
 through four

00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:31.740
 or five

00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.779
 times annually

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.619
 with a

00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:34.500
 growing sense

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.259
 of his own

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:36.279
 rapid increase

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:36.899
 in the knowledge

00:20:36.899 --> 00:20:37.419
 of God

00:20:37.419 --> 00:20:38.159
 thereby.

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.059
 In the last

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:40.779
 20 years of

00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:41.079
 his life,

00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:41.459
 George Mueller

00:20:41.459 --> 00:20:41.839
 lived,

00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:43.039
 I'm pretty

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.399
 sure,

00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:43.879
 to the age

00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:44.680
 of 92.

00:20:46.060 --> 00:20:46.640
 At the

00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:47.740
 age of 71,

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.400
 in his own

00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.500
 writing and

00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.000
 his journaling,

00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:51.560
 he said that

00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:52.180
 he had read

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.840
 the scriptures

00:20:52.840 --> 00:20:53.860
 through a

00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:54.680
 hundred times.

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.360
 So in the

00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.300
 last time of

00:20:56.300 --> 00:20:56.640
 his year,

00:20:56.780 --> 00:20:57.440
 it increased

00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:57.800
 even,

00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.560
 even more

00:20:58.560 --> 00:20:59.080
 so.

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.600
 It's a great

00:21:00.600 --> 00:21:01.320
 story of Mueller

00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:02.120
 when he was a

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:02.700
 young Christian

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:04.200
 who went to

00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:05.420
 a meeting

00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.040
 and spoke

00:21:06.040 --> 00:21:06.980
 about infant

00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.440
 baptism.

00:21:07.860 --> 00:21:08.200
 You know,

00:21:08.260 --> 00:21:08.760
 we're not on

00:21:08.760 --> 00:21:09.200
 board with that

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.200
 here as a

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.840
 Baptist church.

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.580
 We're credo

00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:12.100
 Baptists,

00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:13.319
 and he

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:13.959
 spoke in

00:21:13.959 --> 00:21:15.079
 defense of

00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:15.959
 infant baptism

00:21:15.959 --> 00:21:17.059
 and afterwards

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:18.699
 an old lady

00:21:18.699 --> 00:21:19.219
 sitting in the

00:21:19.219 --> 00:21:19.899
 group said to

00:21:19.899 --> 00:21:20.139
 him,

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.679
 Mr. Mueller,

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.719
 I would

00:21:21.719 --> 00:21:22.179
 encourage you

00:21:22.179 --> 00:21:22.559
 to never

00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.480
 speak on

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:23.799
 such a

00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:24.379
 topic until

00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:24.699
 you've

00:21:24.699 --> 00:21:25.219
 searched the

00:21:25.219 --> 00:21:26.139
 scriptures in

00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:26.659
 regards to

00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:26.839
 it.

00:21:27.959 --> 00:21:28.599
 And he

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.419
 felt so

00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:30.759
 pricked by

00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.839
 that that

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.399
 he spent

00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:33.459
 his studies

00:21:33.459 --> 00:21:33.879
 from there

00:21:33.879 --> 00:21:34.379
 reading the

00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:35.039
 entire

00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:35.619
 scriptures

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.579
 with

00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.579
 baptism in

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:37.859
 mind.

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.199
 At the

00:21:39.199 --> 00:21:39.579
 end of that

00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:40.099
 process,

00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:40.919
 he was a

00:21:40.919 --> 00:21:41.199
 credo

00:21:41.199 --> 00:21:41.459
 Baptist.

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.679
 Praise God.

00:21:44.679 --> 00:21:46.000
 As you

00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.399
 should be.

00:21:47.399 --> 00:21:48.019
 And he

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:48.740
 began a

00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.219
 habit of

00:21:49.219 --> 00:21:49.659
 doing that

00:21:49.659 --> 00:21:50.339
 with any

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.079
 topic that

00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:51.579
 vexed him.

00:21:51.959 --> 00:21:52.199
 He would

00:21:52.199 --> 00:21:52.719
 read the

00:21:52.719 --> 00:21:53.980
 entirety of

00:21:53.980 --> 00:21:54.359
 the scriptures

00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:55.019
 with that

00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.539
 topic in

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:55.839
 mind,

00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.480
 trying to

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:56.939
 search the

00:21:56.939 --> 00:21:57.459
 counsel of

00:21:57.459 --> 00:21:58.459
 God in

00:21:58.459 --> 00:21:59.799
 regards to

00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.139
 that.

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.079
 A man who

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:03.439
 loved the

00:22:03.439 --> 00:22:03.740
 scriptures,

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.379
 read it

00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:06.500
 through over

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.819
 200 times

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.599
 in his life.

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:10.319
 And we're

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.000
 challenged to

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.339
 even get

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:11.639
 up and

00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:12.240
 spend any

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.839
 time in

00:22:12.839 --> 00:22:13.019
 the word

00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.359
 of God

00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:13.740
 in the

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:13.959
 morning.

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.980
 It's worth

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.939
 the sacrifice.

00:22:17.459 --> 00:22:18.139
 It's worth

00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:19.399
 the sleep.

00:22:19.959 --> 00:22:20.679
 It's worth

00:22:20.679 --> 00:22:21.799
 putting something

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.359
 else off.

00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:22.619
 You know

00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:22.939
 what?

00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.619
 The dishes

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:24.319
 can stay

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:24.659
 dirty.

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.199
 We must

00:22:26.199 --> 00:22:27.480
 know our

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.579
 scriptures to

00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:29.199
 see these

00:22:29.199 --> 00:22:30.339
 things in

00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:30.899
 proper

00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:31.899
 balance.

00:22:32.679 --> 00:22:33.539
 Fear and

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:33.859
 faith,

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:35.019
 severity and

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.459
 kindness.

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.940
 God

00:22:36.940 --> 00:23:00.799
 proclaims his

00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.799
 name when

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.720
 Moses is on

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.360
 Mount Sinai.

00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:04.620
 He says,

00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.059
 the Lord

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.859
 passed before

00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.099
 him and

00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:06.459
 proclaimed,

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.119
 the Lord,

00:23:07.239 --> 00:23:07.799
 the Lord,

00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:08.379
 a God

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.500
 merciful and

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:09.939
 gracious,

00:23:10.659 --> 00:23:11.339
 slow to

00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:11.879
 anger and

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.679
 abounding in

00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:13.379
 steadfast love

00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:14.079
 and faithfulness,

00:23:14.459 --> 00:23:15.399
 keeping steadfast

00:23:15.399 --> 00:23:15.959
 love for

00:23:15.959 --> 00:23:16.639
 thousands,

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:18.099
 forgiving iniquity

00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:18.939
 and transgression

00:23:18.939 --> 00:23:19.799
 and sin,

00:23:20.219 --> 00:23:20.979
 but who will

00:23:20.979 --> 00:23:22.139
 by no means

00:23:22.139 --> 00:23:22.779
 clear the

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.139
 guilty,

00:23:23.659 --> 00:23:24.239
 visiting the

00:23:24.239 --> 00:23:24.839
 iniquity of

00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:25.339
 the fathers

00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:25.719
 on the

00:23:25.719 --> 00:23:26.659
 children and

00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:27.179
 the children's

00:23:27.179 --> 00:23:27.719
 children to

00:23:27.719 --> 00:23:28.319
 the third

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.039
 and the

00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.359
 fourth

00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.099
 generation.

00:23:30.239 --> 00:23:30.439
 So in

00:23:30.439 --> 00:23:30.859
 God's very

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.679
 presentation of

00:23:31.679 --> 00:23:31.979
 his own

00:23:31.979 --> 00:23:32.539
 character,

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.519
 he says,

00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.159
 I am

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.519
 merciful,

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.000
 I am

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.519
 good,

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.160
 I am

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.200
 kind to

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.040
 thousands,

00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:38.420
 I'm

00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:38.840
 forgiving

00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.440
 iniquity,

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:39.960
 I'm

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.380
 being

00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:40.940
 gracious

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.500
 to

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:41.820
 sinners,

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.560
 yet,

00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:44.340
 yet,

00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.560
 I'm

00:23:45.560 --> 00:23:45.880
 also

00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:46.660
 wrathful,

00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:47.000
 I'm

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.580
 vengeful,

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.580
 I will

00:23:48.580 --> 00:23:50.279
 punish

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.980
 sin.

00:23:51.800 --> 00:23:52.060
 And we

00:23:52.060 --> 00:23:52.779
 see the

00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.360
 two things

00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:54.340
 together,

00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.480
 severity of

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.420
 God and

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:56.920
 his kindness.

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.580
 Matthew

00:23:58.580 --> 00:23:58.920
 10,

00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.840
 28-31,

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:02.419
 Jesus said,

00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:02.859
 and do

00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.319
 not fear

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.220
 those who

00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:04.740
 kill the

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.299
 body but

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.159
 cannot kill

00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:06.619
 the soul,

00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:07.740
 rather fear

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.419
 him who

00:24:08.419 --> 00:24:09.220
 can destroy

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.279
 both soul

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.839
 and body

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.359
 in hell.

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.480
 Are not

00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.339
 two sparrows

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:13.859
 sold for

00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.220
 a penny?

00:24:14.459 --> 00:24:14.879
 And not

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.279
 one of

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:15.539
 them will

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:15.879
 fall to

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:16.199
 the ground

00:24:16.199 --> 00:24:16.740
 apart from

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.179
 your father,

00:24:17.439 --> 00:24:17.859
 but even

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.279
 the hairs

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.519
 of your

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.019
 head are

00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:19.959
 all numbered.

00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:20.759
 Fear

00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:21.139
 not,

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:21.599
 therefore,

00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:22.379
 you are

00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:22.699
 of more

00:24:22.699 --> 00:24:23.720
 value than

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.559
 many sparrows.

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.319
 Interesting

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:26.799
 language.

00:24:26.939 --> 00:24:27.119
 Jesus

00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.579
 says,

00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:28.719
 do not

00:24:28.719 --> 00:24:29.199
 fear

00:24:29.199 --> 00:24:30.639
 those who

00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.359
 kill the

00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:31.639
 body but

00:24:31.639 --> 00:24:31.919
 can't kill

00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:32.139
 the soul,

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:32.559
 rather,

00:24:32.979 --> 00:24:33.519
 fear him,

00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.139
 being God,

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.599
 who can

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.259
 destroy both

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.599
 soul and

00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:35.979
 body in

00:24:35.979 --> 00:24:36.199
 hell.

00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:37.979
 The severity

00:24:37.979 --> 00:24:38.419
 of God,

00:24:38.719 --> 00:24:38.919
 right?

00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:40.359
 Fear God.

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.379
 He can

00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:42.339
 destroy you.

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.779
 That's what's

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.319
 due you

00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.739
 because of

00:24:45.739 --> 00:24:46.139
 your sin.

00:24:46.419 --> 00:24:46.939
 He can

00:24:46.939 --> 00:24:48.119
 destroy you.

00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:48.639
 But then

00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.099
 look at the

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.539
 kindness.

00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.159
 Are not

00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:52.119
 two sparrows

00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:52.799
 sold for

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.139
 a penny,

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.579
 and not

00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.139
 one of

00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:54.579
 them will

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.039
 fall to

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.500
 the ground

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.159
 apart from

00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:56.579
 your father?

00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:58.119
 Even the

00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:58.819
 hairs on

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.299
 your head

00:24:59.299 --> 00:24:59.679
 are numbered.

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.179
 So,

00:25:00.719 --> 00:25:01.519
 fear not

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:03.559
 the severity

00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.259
 and the

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:04.719
 kindness

00:25:04.719 --> 00:25:06.199
 of God.

00:25:06.679 --> 00:25:07.519
 We are

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.439
 owed

00:25:08.439 --> 00:25:09.439
 destruction.

00:25:10.339 --> 00:25:11.059
 We were

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:12.079
 enemies

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.079
 of God,

00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:13.699
 but now

00:25:13.699 --> 00:25:14.539
 we're called

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.759
 his friends.

00:25:16.919 --> 00:25:17.439
 So,

00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:17.979
 we ought to

00:25:17.979 --> 00:25:18.379
 both

00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.639
 fear

00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.259
 and then

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.239
 be comforted

00:25:21.239 --> 00:25:22.000
 by his

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.459
 kindness

00:25:22.459 --> 00:25:23.779
 to us.

00:25:24.919 --> 00:25:25.539
 Romans

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.119
 chapter 2.

00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.819
 verses 4

00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.379
 and 5.

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.379
 Paul wrote,

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:30.959
 Or do you

00:25:30.959 --> 00:25:31.839
 presume on

00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.239
 the riches

00:25:32.239 --> 00:25:32.579
 of his

00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:32.979
 kindness

00:25:32.979 --> 00:25:34.199
 and forbearance

00:25:34.199 --> 00:25:35.719
 and patience,

00:25:35.939 --> 00:25:36.739
 not knowing

00:25:36.739 --> 00:25:37.279
 that God's

00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:37.819
 kindness is

00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.459
 meant to

00:25:38.459 --> 00:25:38.839
 lead you

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.399
 to repentance,

00:25:39.959 --> 00:25:40.579
 but because

00:25:40.579 --> 00:25:40.859
 of your

00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.599
 hard and

00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.699
 impenetent

00:25:42.699 --> 00:25:43.239
 heart,

00:25:43.719 --> 00:25:44.019
 you are

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.679
 storing up

00:25:44.679 --> 00:25:45.219
 wrath for

00:25:45.219 --> 00:25:45.939
 yourself on

00:25:45.939 --> 00:25:46.500
 the day of

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:46.839
 wrath,

00:25:47.179 --> 00:25:47.859
 when God's

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.239
 righteous

00:25:48.239 --> 00:25:48.719
 judgment

00:25:48.719 --> 00:25:49.939
 will be

00:25:49.939 --> 00:25:50.559
 revealed.

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.000
 Again,

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.399
 the kindness

00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:52.919
 of God

00:25:52.919 --> 00:25:53.339
 to us,

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:53.979
 meant to

00:25:53.979 --> 00:25:54.239
 lead us

00:25:54.239 --> 00:25:54.779
 to repentance,

00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:56.319
 set against

00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.399
 the wrath

00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:57.920
 when God

00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.660
 will judge

00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:59.420
 the world

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.420
 and those

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:00.899
 who are not

00:26:00.899 --> 00:26:02.220
 found in

00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:02.539
 him.

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.279
 So,

00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:05.660
 it's a

00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.799
 simple

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.720
 gospel message,

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:08.019
 right?

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.899
 The faith

00:26:09.899 --> 00:26:11.019
 that should

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:12.099
 be preventing

00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:13.379
 us from

00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:14.480
 being proud.

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.539
 We ought

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.039
 not be

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.500
 proud,

00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.539
 but we

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.519
 should fear

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:22.900
 because if

00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.779
 we continue

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.420
 in the

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:25.000
 kindness

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.519
 of God,

00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:28.279
 we are

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:29.099
 his.

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.660
 You see

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:30.920
 how the

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.700
 two things

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.400
 can live,

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.099
 exist

00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:33.740
 together,

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.000
 that we

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.319
 can both

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.220
 fear him,

00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:36.400
 but continue

00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.240
 in his

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.759
 kindness,

00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:38.879
 because we

00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:40.460
 are his.

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.480
 So,

00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.559
 then how

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:43.799
 do those

00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.559
 two things

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:45.319
 kind of

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:45.819
 press

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.200
 together?

00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:46.579
 How do

00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:48.299
 they increase?

00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:48.799
 How do

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.940
 they cause

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.320
 us to

00:26:50.320 --> 00:26:50.580
 live

00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.120
 rightly?

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.000
 And this

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.380
 is the

00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:53.400
 practical.

00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:55.559
 Number

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:55.960
 one,

00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:57.779
 fear

00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:58.460
 causes

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:58.740
 your

00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.400
 faith

00:26:59.400 --> 00:26:59.860
 in the

00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:00.180
 kindness

00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:00.799
 of God

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:02.160
 to grow.

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:03.759
 It

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.200
 causes

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.460
 your

00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:04.960
 faith

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.660
 in the

00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:06.140
 kindness

00:27:06.140 --> 00:27:07.220
 of God

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.620
 to grow.

00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.279
 Verse 22,

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:08.920
 provided you

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.539
 continue in

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.019
 his kindness,

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.440
 severity

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.440
 is meant

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:13.200
 to lead

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.620
 us

00:27:13.620 --> 00:27:14.420
 to

00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.880
 kindness.

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.080
 Understanding

00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:17.299
 the weight

00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:18.039
 of our

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.440
 sin

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:20.019
 leads

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.240
 us

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.400
 to

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:21.019
 understand

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.279
 the

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.759
 kindness

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:22.200
 of

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.500
 God

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:22.700
 to

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.059
 us

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.900
 in

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.100
 Jesus

00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:24.640
 Christ.

00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:26.380
 It's

00:27:26.380 --> 00:27:27.000
 a fear

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.519
 of mine

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.120
 that the

00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.660
 church,

00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.240
 that even

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:29.640
 our

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.160
 church,

00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:31.440
 doesn't

00:27:31.440 --> 00:27:32.039
 quite

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.140
 understand

00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:34.100
 their

00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:34.980
 just

00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:35.960
 condemnation

00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.620
 before

00:27:36.620 --> 00:27:37.220
 they were

00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.640
 justified

00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:38.580
 by Christ.

00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:39.500
 That we

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:39.980
 think,

00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:40.940
 well,

00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:41.980
 I mean,

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.400
 I wasn't a

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.120
 good person,

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.460
 but I wasn't

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:43.820
 really a

00:27:43.820 --> 00:27:44.240
 bad

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.759
 person.

00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.420
 Compare me

00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:46.779
 to the

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.380
 others

00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:47.840
 around

00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:48.100
 me.

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.440
 I was

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:48.700
 doing

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.220
 okay.

00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.120
 Many of

00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:51.480
 us probably

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:51.840
 grew up

00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:52.300
 in Christian

00:27:52.300 --> 00:27:52.680
 homes.

00:27:52.800 --> 00:27:53.039
 We were

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.720
 moral,

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.660
 but we

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.340
 were not

00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:57.519
 righteous.

00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.039
 Understanding

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:01.279
 God's

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.880
 severity

00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:02.320
 towards

00:28:02.320 --> 00:28:02.720
 sinners,

00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.200
 how much

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.500
 he hates

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.500
 sin,

00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.340
 leads you

00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:09.480
 to increase

00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.180
 your faith

00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:10.980
 in the

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.519
 kindness

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:12.740
 of God,

00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.099
 cause you

00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:15.079
 to hold

00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:16.460
 fast to

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.339
 that love

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.299
 towards us.

00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:20.299
 I'm

00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:20.740
 familiar

00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.539
 with 1

00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.039
 John 4

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.879
 18 that

00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:23.119
 says,

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:23.879
 perfect love

00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.759
 casts out

00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.660
 fear.

00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.480
 I know

00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.039
 the text.

00:28:27.379 --> 00:28:28.319
 I understand

00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:28.740
 it.

00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:29.700
 Do you?

00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.440
 If there's

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:30.879
 a question

00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:31.200
 in your

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.639
 mind,

00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:33.539
 this side

00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:33.980
 of heaven,

00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:34.639
 this side

00:28:34.639 --> 00:28:35.220
 of glory,

00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.339
 none of

00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.000
 us will

00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.819
 experience

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:39.200
 love

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.980
 perfected.

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.980
 fear.

00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.880
 So fear

00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:42.559
 will always

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.079
 play a

00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.640
 part in

00:28:43.640 --> 00:28:43.759
 our

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.039
 living.

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:46.519
 After our

00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:46.819
 death,

00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:47.779
 glorification,

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.400
 one day,

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:48.880
 it will no

00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:49.779
 longer anymore,

00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.079
 but for

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:51.640
 now,

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:53.000
 fear and

00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:54.259
 faith must

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.400
 combine that

00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:56.039
 our faith

00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.259
 in the

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.680
 kindness of

00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:57.420
 God will

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:57.700
 grow.

00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.039
 Number

00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.339
 two,

00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.559
 fear brings

00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:03.120
 joy to

00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.740
 our faith

00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.420
 in the

00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:04.839
 kindness of

00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:05.099
 God.

00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.759
 So if

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.640
 we're further

00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:08.279
 believing that

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.980
 this is true,

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.960
 that the

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.720
 severity of

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.019
 God is

00:29:11.019 --> 00:29:11.380
 what was

00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:12.240
 due us,

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.000
 and yet

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.819
 the kindness

00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.259
 of God

00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:14.539
 is what

00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:14.840
 we've

00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:15.660
 received,

00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:16.200
 we will

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.340
 find great

00:29:17.340 --> 00:29:18.500
 joy in

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:18.819
 that.

00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.140
 The

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.660
 doxology

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.360
 found here

00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:21.840
 at the

00:29:21.840 --> 00:29:22.299
 end of

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.240
 chapter 11,

00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:23.640
 which I'm

00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:24.079
 looking forward

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:24.420
 to preaching

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.840
 on next

00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:25.180
 week,

00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:27.700
 we read

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.200
 the scriptures

00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:29.340
 so horribly

00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:30.299
 at times,

00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:30.620
 and it's

00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.039
 difficult,

00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.500
 of course,

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.019
 to read

00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:32.960
 tone and

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.440
 inflection

00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:34.340
 into things.

00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:34.720
 I think we

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.240
 all experience

00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:35.980
 that to be

00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.400
 true with

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.420
 text messages.

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.539
 What did he

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:38.920
 mean by

00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.240
 that?

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:42.460
 But the

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.099
 translators have

00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:43.640
 helped us,

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.519
 they've given

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.400
 us punctuation,

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:45.900
 they've helped

00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.880
 try to emphasize

00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.920
 some things,

00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:48.859
 and many people

00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.279
 read this,

00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:49.759
 oh the depth

00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.140
 and the riches

00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:50.539
 of the wisdom

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:50.839
 and knowledge

00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.200
 of God,

00:29:51.539 --> 00:29:52.259
 how unsearchable

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.559
 are his

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:52.839
 judgments,

00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.339
 and how

00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:53.740
 inscrutable

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.700
 his ways.

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.720
 But they're

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.500
 ignoring the

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.359
 exclamation

00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:58.099
 points on

00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.240
 the end of

00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.720
 this type of

00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:00.039
 thing.

00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.640
 Paul, as he's

00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.220
 talked through

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.539
 us, this

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.599
 whole process

00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:05.420
 introduced the

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:05.819
 doctrine of

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.319
 election to

00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:07.119
 us in

00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:07.859
 chapters 8

00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:08.839
 and chapters

00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:09.700
 9, and

00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:10.379
 moving through

00:30:10.379 --> 00:30:10.980
 what's going

00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.480
 to eventually

00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.319
 happen to

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.039
 his people,

00:30:13.159 --> 00:30:13.500
 the people

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:13.859
 that he

00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:14.659
 loves and

00:30:14.659 --> 00:30:15.039
 desperately

00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:15.480
 wants to

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.119
 see come

00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:16.559
 to Christ,

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.279
 he finally

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:17.779
 at the end

00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.439
 of all of

00:30:18.439 --> 00:30:19.200
 that says,

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:19.980
 oh the

00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.819
 depth of

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.299
 the riches

00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:21.599
 and the

00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:22.019
 wisdom and

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.460
 knowledge of

00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:23.579
 God, how

00:30:23.579 --> 00:30:24.279
 unsearchable

00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.579
 are his

00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:25.039
 judgments and

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.799
 how inscrutable

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.500
 his ways,

00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.639
 for who has

00:30:27.639 --> 00:30:27.899
 known the

00:30:27.899 --> 00:30:28.359
 mind of the

00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:28.700
 Lord, or

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:29.000
 who has

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.439
 been his

00:30:29.439 --> 00:30:29.859
 counselor,

00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:30.700
 or who has

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.259
 given a gift

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:32.179
 to him that

00:30:32.179 --> 00:30:32.740
 he might be

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.259
 repaid.

00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.220
 For from

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.900
 him and

00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.539
 through him

00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.220
 and to

00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:36.559
 him are

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.440
 all things,

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:37.980
 to him be

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.779
 glory forever.

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:39.740
 Amen.

00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.019
 I think that's

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.940
 how Paul would

00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.440
 have read it.

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:44.640
 Right?

00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:45.900
 Moved to

00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:47.579
 joy because

00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.240
 he understood

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.559
 the severity

00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:50.900
 of God, the

00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:51.960
 fear that he

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:53.099
 should have in

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.920
 his relationship

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:55.220
 with God, and

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.960
 therefore he was

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.119
 moved to joy in

00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:59.180
 the kindness of

00:30:59.180 --> 00:30:59.460
 God.

00:30:59.460 --> 00:30:59.500
 God.

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.920
 And those two

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.620
 things, our

00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:04.380
 faith increasing,

00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:05.079
 our dependency

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.259
 on God, and

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.400
 our joy increasing

00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:08.519
 in his kindness,

00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.660
 should move our

00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.600
 faith into action.

00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.700
 So fear, thirdly,

00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:14.180
 fear moves our

00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:15.759
 faith into action

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:18.259
 for the sake of

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:18.620
 others.

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.279
 For the sake of

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:20.600
 others.

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:23.059
 If you have

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:24.000
 wrapped your mind

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:25.500
 around, as much

00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.019
 as you can, the

00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.940
 severity of God

00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:28.559
 towards sinners,

00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.799
 sinners, you

00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.779
 know that you

00:31:30.779 --> 00:31:31.619
 stood in that

00:31:31.619 --> 00:31:32.839
 place, but

00:31:32.839 --> 00:31:33.240
 because of the

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.839
 justification of

00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.519
 Christ, you no

00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.200
 longer do, because

00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:35.839
 you've experienced

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.879
 his kindness, you

00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:39.059
 no longer do, it

00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:40.179
 will grieve you

00:31:40.179 --> 00:31:41.379
 that others still

00:31:41.379 --> 00:31:42.139
 stand in that

00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:42.559
 place.

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.779
 Knowing what

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.779
 their final

00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:47.379
 destination is,

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.659
 knowing how

00:31:49.659 --> 00:31:50.480
 severe the

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.139
 severity of God

00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:51.619
 is going to

00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:54.759
 be, he hates

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.700
 sin.

00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.599
 He's going to

00:31:56.599 --> 00:31:57.940
 pour out his

00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:59.640
 wrath on

00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:00.080
 sinners.

00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:01.340
 It's going to

00:32:01.340 --> 00:32:02.180
 be bad.

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.140
 It's going to

00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:04.279
 be really, really

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:06.400
 bad for those

00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:07.559
 who don't have

00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:08.720
 faith in Jesus

00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.259
 Christ.

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.840
 Understanding that

00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:12.360
 should move our

00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:13.400
 faith into action.

00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:16.140
 How selfish of

00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:17.180
 us, how

00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:19.120
 Jonah-esque

00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:21.600
 to sit on our

00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.480
 hands and say,

00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.779
 these people don't

00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:24.640
 deserve the grace

00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.220
 of God.

00:32:25.220 --> 00:32:25.980
 God, I

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:26.680
 deserved it.

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:27.339
 They don't

00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:27.960
 deserve it.

00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:30.480
 God is loving

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.620
 and kind and

00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:33.160
 wants to pull

00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:34.600
 people into

00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:35.460
 his hand where

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.240
 he can hold

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.019
 them for

00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:37.620
 eternity.

00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:41.420
 Fearing God's

00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.120
 retribution,

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:45.000
 his wrath on

00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.500
 those who don't

00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:46.180
 know him ought to

00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:47.539
 move us to

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.559
 share our faith.

00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:50.480
 2 Corinthians 5.11,

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.059
 Paul wrote,

00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:53.480
 therefore, knowing

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.880
 the fear of the

00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:56.120
 Lord, we

00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:58.200
 persuade others.

00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.779
 Is that true of

00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.519
 you this morning?

00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:03.039
 Do you have a

00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:04.579
 proper view of

00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:06.860
 the fear of God

00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:07.680
 and your faith,

00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:09.440
 the severity and

00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:09.880
 kindness?

00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:10.000
 righteousness?

00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.680
 And are these

00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:12.460
 things working

00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:13.560
 themselves out into

00:33:13.560 --> 00:33:14.400
 increasing your

00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.520
 faith and bringing

00:33:15.520 --> 00:33:16.480
 you great joy and

00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:18.260
 moving your faith into

00:33:18.260 --> 00:33:19.260
 action for others?

00:33:20.140 --> 00:33:22.240
 If not, some

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:23.560
 self-examination is

00:33:23.560 --> 00:33:24.120
 necessary.

00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:27.420
 Some time spent in

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.160
 the scriptures that

00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:29.940
 you might see who

00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:31.800
 God is and who you

00:33:31.800 --> 00:33:33.100
 are and see that

00:33:33.100 --> 00:33:34.260
 Christ comes in the

00:33:34.260 --> 00:33:36.260
 middle of all of

00:33:36.260 --> 00:33:36.740
 that.

00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:36.819
 Christ.

00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:38.900
 It's a great

00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:40.000
 adage.

00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.099
 I can't remember

00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.880
 who said this.

00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.180
 I'll just take some

00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:43.799
 credit for it this

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.059
 morning.

00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:46.740
 We have been saved

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:50.420
 from God, by God,

00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:51.839
 to God.

00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:52.980
 Isn't that good?

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:53.920
 We've been saved

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:56.460
 from God's wrath, by

00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:58.039
 God's work in Jesus

00:33:58.039 --> 00:34:00.359
 Christ, to God.

00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.859
 He himself is the

00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:03.500
 end goal of the

00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.099
 gospel, that we

00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:05.339
 might experience him,

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.400
 enjoy him,

00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.599
 forever.

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:10.260
 Are you being

00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:11.719
 shaped in this way

00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:12.960
 as a Gentile

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:14.079
 believer?

00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:16.920
 If not, let's pray

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.219
 together.

00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:17.320
 Amen.

00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:17.320


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00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:17.320