WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.980 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life. 00:00:07.060 --> 00:00:08.279 Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:16.460 Wow, last week I felt like I was sweating up here like a, I don't know what, I think I lost 10 pounds. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:25.679 This week I feel like I'm putting pounds on as my fat cells try to gain energy with the cold here. 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:29.379 And so it's amazing, you know, we don't know where we're going to meet every Sunday. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.200 So the fact that we meet here is a blessing from the Lord and God provided this place. 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:43.159 And so each Sunday we figure out what's open and God for the last three and a half years has allowed us a place to come and worship him. 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:50.159 Which is an amazing, amazing thing and we don't ever want to take that for granted, I think. 00:00:51.500 --> 00:00:56.920 If you're here for the first time or a couple times, my name is Tobin, I'm one of the pastors here. 00:00:56.920 --> 00:01:03.859 I've shared before that I have some issues in my life, I have some problems, I'm very teachable. 00:01:04.980 --> 00:01:06.320 I have four kids. 00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:15.340 I'm still trying to learn about what that means to have four kids and not leave one of them in the store when we go home or forget where they're at. 00:01:15.379 --> 00:01:17.560 And making sure that we do a head count when we leave. 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:22.480 I feel like I'm very teachable in issues of children and childhood. 00:01:22.859 --> 00:01:25.180 And I think that Christina and I are learning together. 00:01:25.320 --> 00:01:31.159 One of our biggest tensions or differences is just when it comes down to the idea of disciplining our kids. 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:37.140 We grew up in very different homes and we experienced different discipline and different parenting styles. 00:01:37.140 --> 00:01:46.659 And so we still talk about this and dialogue with this and try to figure out what it looks like to honor the Lord as we parent our kids and discipline our kids. 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:51.780 And just recently one of our kids, I have to be very careful because my kids are actually sitting in here. 00:01:51.960 --> 00:01:53.740 So I wasn't expecting that. 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:55.540 It's kind of like when I did the sex talk. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:58.019 I did the sex talk and I wasn't expecting my kids to be here. 00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:00.579 And they were here hearing their dad talk about sex. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:05.379 But I think that's good because I need to know that the parents have sex and that's how they came about. 00:02:07.420 --> 00:02:14.560 But we had this issue where one of our kids had did something that required discipline on both of our thoughts. 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:16.039 We said we need to discipline this kid. 00:02:16.620 --> 00:02:20.699 And so we brought them into their room and we had the talk. 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:27.500 And when we were about to do the discipline of this certain individual who will remain nameless, 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:30.539 they yelled out, 00:02:31.659 --> 00:02:32.099 Grace! 00:02:34.659 --> 00:02:35.819 I need grace! 00:02:38.759 --> 00:02:40.599 We talk about it all the time in church. 00:02:42.860 --> 00:02:44.120 Can you give me some grace? 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:49.219 To which Christina and I looked at each other and we did this thing that parents do. 00:02:49.400 --> 00:02:50.819 You know, you kind of... 00:02:50.819 --> 00:02:53.420 You laugh, right? 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:57.259 But you try not to laugh because it's just so neat and precious. 00:02:57.500 --> 00:02:58.500 You know, and... 00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:01.340 And so we asked this person, 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:03.560 What does that mean to you? 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:05.020 And they said, 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:06.919 Well, it means you get a free pass, right? 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:11.319 It means you do something wrong and God just forgets about it. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:12.680 He doesn't do anything about it. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:13.939 And you just... 00:03:13.939 --> 00:03:15.500 You can go on your way. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:17.819 And you don't have to worry about it because we have grace. 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:21.180 We don't have to worry about making mistakes because it's all covered in the blood of Jesus. 00:03:21.180 --> 00:03:23.140 And I'm free! 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:25.180 So I need grace. 00:03:26.340 --> 00:03:27.900 To which I kind of laughed and I said, 00:03:27.980 --> 00:03:32.140 Well, you know, I don't think that's exactly what God talks about when he talks about that. 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:35.700 And it certainly is not what he talks about in a parent-child relationship. 00:03:35.699 --> 00:03:40.739 And so we pursue to put discipline on that kid. 00:03:41.539 --> 00:03:44.060 Which, again, is something I hate doing. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:47.759 But I know that God's called us to do it as parents in different standards and different ways. 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.759 That night I went back to the room and I sat down with the kid. 00:03:51.979 --> 00:03:56.060 And what I find is some of the best times in parenting is right before they're going to bed 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:58.879 because our mind's unwinding and it was talking and all these things. 00:03:59.740 --> 00:04:02.060 And the person said... 00:04:02.860 --> 00:04:11.819 The person who we remain nameless said, 00:04:11.979 --> 00:04:15.640 You know, Dad, it's really hard for me sometimes. 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:21.980 I feel like I want to do the right thing, but I can't do the right thing. 00:04:22.980 --> 00:04:27.300 I know what the right thing is and I struggle with doing the right thing. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:30.700 And it's almost as if there's this battle going on inside of me. 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:37.140 And sometimes the bad side wins and I don't do the thing that I want to do. 00:04:38.060 --> 00:04:39.840 And then they looked at me and said, 00:04:40.460 --> 00:04:41.759 You ever have that problem? 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:44.259 And I said, 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:46.920 All the time. 00:04:48.379 --> 00:04:49.200 All the time. 00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:51.780 Grace. 00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:53.620 I need grace. 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:57.000 We've been in the book of Romans for a couple weeks. 00:04:57.200 --> 00:04:58.600 We've taken a four-week break. 00:04:58.700 --> 00:05:00.200 We're coming back to Romans 6. 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:02.540 What we've seen in Romans so far... 00:05:02.540 --> 00:05:04.759 Remember, Paul is writing the book of Romans to a church. 00:05:04.840 --> 00:05:06.700 The church has been going on for 25 years. 00:05:07.020 --> 00:05:08.220 So it's a mature church. 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:09.120 It has a foundation. 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:11.060 It has all the things in place. 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:14.180 But he's writing this letter to give them even a firmer foundation. 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:17.680 And he's talking through what does it mean to walk with the Lord. 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:20.960 And he's gone through chapters 1, 2, and 3. 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:26.039 And he's looked at different people in the Roman culture and in the Roman world and looked at how they live. 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:28.219 And how they try to make themselves right. 00:05:28.299 --> 00:05:30.019 And how they try to justify themselves. 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:31.680 And how they try to do the right thing. 00:05:31.739 --> 00:05:32.979 And there's some people who don't care at all. 00:05:33.039 --> 00:05:33.939 And they just do whatever they want. 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:36.180 There's some people who are mostly the Jews. 00:05:36.259 --> 00:05:37.319 And they're very legalistic. 00:05:37.419 --> 00:05:38.479 And they want to do the right thing. 00:05:38.500 --> 00:05:39.819 And they want to know what the right thing is. 00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:42.120 And they want to make sure that you see them do the right thing. 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:46.319 And then there's some people who are just kind of lost. 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:48.639 And then he talks about Christ. 00:05:48.740 --> 00:05:50.099 And he talks about how God's come in there. 00:05:50.420 --> 00:05:52.120 And God has given us grace. 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:56.639 And it's unlike any other religion or philosophy in the world. 00:05:56.719 --> 00:05:57.959 There's nothing like it ever. 00:05:58.300 --> 00:05:59.219 When you talk to people. 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:00.240 You study philosophy. 00:06:00.579 --> 00:06:01.900 You're never going to hear this again. 00:06:02.019 --> 00:06:08.460 Because in Christianity what it's saying is that God gives you his righteousness. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:12.100 God saves you. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:15.019 Every other philosophy, every other religion is going to say. 00:06:15.220 --> 00:06:16.100 You do this. 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:16.759 And you do this. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:17.280 And you do this. 00:06:17.300 --> 00:06:18.259 And if you do this well enough. 00:06:18.259 --> 00:06:19.259 Then God's going to go. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:20.480 Great job. 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:21.120 I love you. 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:21.740 Come on in. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:23.180 But Christianity isn't like that. 00:06:23.280 --> 00:06:24.920 Christianity says it's a gift. 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:28.600 And people have a hard time with receiving gifts. 00:06:28.660 --> 00:06:29.740 Especially in Asian cultures. 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:30.160 Don't we? 00:06:30.960 --> 00:06:32.780 We always look for giving back something else. 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:33.540 And try to make it different. 00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:34.300 Or try to make it right. 00:06:34.340 --> 00:06:35.280 We try to change it. 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:37.160 But he says it's a gift. 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:39.120 And it's given to you. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:41.720 And Paul continues in this talking. 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:44.019 And what he's done in every one of his books. 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:45.040 And every one of his writings. 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:46.040 Is what he does is he says. 00:06:46.379 --> 00:06:47.500 He uses this teaching technique. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:48.639 And the teaching technique is this. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:50.220 Let's look at what God has done. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:53.220 Now let's look at what we should be doing. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:56.259 He never says this is what you should be doing. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:57.620 And so God will do this. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:06:59.480 But he always says this is what God has done. 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:02.259 This is what God has done for you. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:03.200 This is what grace means. 00:07:03.259 --> 00:07:04.280 This is what the gospel means. 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:05.960 This is what his son coming means. 00:07:06.020 --> 00:07:08.040 This is what his death on a cross means. 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:11.800 This is what his blood shed out for you. 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:14.379 Atoning for everything you've ever done wrong. 00:07:14.420 --> 00:07:15.259 And ever will do wrong. 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:16.280 And everything you have done. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:16.960 And you shouldn't have done. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:17.579 And you might have done. 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:18.340 And you wanted to do. 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:19.819 And everything you should have thought. 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:21.319 It just wiped out of there. 00:07:22.100 --> 00:07:23.960 He says this is what grace is. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:26.699 And in light of that. 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:29.580 Then how do we live as God's people? 00:07:30.580 --> 00:07:31.840 Do we just say grace? 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.580 And sin doesn't matter? 00:07:33.579 --> 00:07:40.779 Or does God call us to live a life that's different than everyone else around us? 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:41.979 What does it look like? 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:45.439 And we talked about that in Romans 6. 00:07:46.599 --> 00:07:48.519 And we come to the passage today. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:50.259 And I think the passage is so appropriate. 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:54.519 Because it deals with the issue of what my kids are struggling with. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:56.319 What I'm struggling with. 00:07:56.379 --> 00:08:00.079 What does it look like for this gift to be given to me? 00:08:00.919 --> 00:08:03.459 What does it look like for me not to be under the law. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:04.579 But to be under grace? 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:07.359 In Romans 6.12 it starts off. 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:08.180 He says therefore. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:09.180 Whenever you see therefore. 00:08:09.339 --> 00:08:11.120 It means what did we talk about? 00:08:11.159 --> 00:08:12.159 We talked about the gospel. 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:13.240 We talked about Jesus coming. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:14.439 We talked about the gift. 00:08:14.779 --> 00:08:17.019 He says therefore because of all these things. 00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:18.939 Do not let sin. 00:08:19.799 --> 00:08:21.060 Do not let selfishness. 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:24.219 Do not let things that are against God's will reign. 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:25.599 Be a part of. 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:26.639 Be king of. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:26.699 Be king of. 00:08:27.019 --> 00:08:30.019 Rule completely in your mortal bodies. 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:30.699 Your parts. 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:31.259 Your eyes. 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:31.759 Your ears. 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:32.759 Who you are. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:33.199 Tobin. 00:08:33.299 --> 00:08:33.919 All of you. 00:08:34.699 --> 00:08:36.279 Do not let it reign in your body. 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:37.419 So that you will obey. 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:38.379 The word there. 00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:38.679 Obey. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:40.279 Actually means answer the door. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:43.679 So don't give your parts over to sin. 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:45.720 So that when it knocks on the door of your life. 00:08:45.819 --> 00:08:46.419 You open it up. 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:47.340 And say hey come on in. 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:50.639 He says because in light of everything that Jesus has done. 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:52.019 In light of the gospel. 00:08:52.439 --> 00:08:53.199 In light of grace. 00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:56.159 Do not give your parts to sin. 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:57.740 To be king of your life. 00:08:57.740 --> 00:08:59.360 Do not go present. 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:00.240 To present. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:01.440 The word means active. 00:09:01.580 --> 00:09:02.399 It means continual. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:03.440 It means to put in front. 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:04.700 It means put inside. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:05.580 It means put beside. 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:06.779 It means come alongside. 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:08.200 It means help. 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:11.700 Don't allow your body members to help you. 00:09:12.220 --> 00:09:13.299 Do sin. 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:13.940 Guilt. 00:09:14.299 --> 00:09:14.700 Shame. 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:15.419 Evil. 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:18.620 Don't act as tools for unrighteousness. 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:20.560 But present. 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:23.179 Give yourself to God. 00:09:23.580 --> 00:09:26.659 As those who are alive now from the dead. 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:28.139 In your members. 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:28.779 Your eyes. 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:29.320 Your ears. 00:09:29.460 --> 00:09:29.980 Your hands. 00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:30.560 Your heart. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:31.620 Your words. 00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:32.560 Your gifting. 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:33.279 Your talents. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:37.159 You give all of these things as instruments to righteousness of God. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.659 For sin shall not be Lord. 00:09:41.700 --> 00:09:42.659 Over you. 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:45.500 For you are not under law. 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:48.439 But you're under grace. 00:09:49.539 --> 00:09:52.279 For some of that means if we struggle with lust. 00:09:53.179 --> 00:09:56.600 It means that we don't go down to Wan Chai. 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:57.699 To the emperor club. 00:09:57.819 --> 00:10:00.219 And do your business there with your clients. 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:02.039 And watch the prostitutes come in. 00:10:02.219 --> 00:10:04.480 Because as you do that you're presenting your members. 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:06.720 To sin and unrighteousness. 00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:07.740 And you're struggling with that. 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:10.019 For some of us if we're struggling with lust. 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:14.220 It doesn't mean troll the internet and see how many different websites you can go to. 00:10:14.939 --> 00:10:16.299 Because every time you do that. 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:18.100 What you're doing is you're opening the door. 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:20.159 And you're allowing sin to come into your life. 00:10:20.220 --> 00:10:22.120 And you're allowing it to control you. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:26.019 For some of us we struggle with just materialism. 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:30.399 And it means if we struggle with materialism. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:33.579 It means don't present your members to materialistic things. 00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:35.699 Be careful of what you look at in the internet. 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:36.980 Maybe if you struggle with the internet. 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:38.240 With the materialism. 00:10:38.420 --> 00:10:40.420 It's not a good idea to be going on the websites. 00:10:40.539 --> 00:10:41.659 And checking all the shopping things. 00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:42.700 And all the things you should be doing. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:43.560 And what it looks like. 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:48.060 For some of us we struggle with pride. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:50.680 Or anger. 00:10:52.139 --> 00:10:53.779 Whatever that is that you're struggling with. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:55.580 Whatever that is that's trying to grab you. 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.700 To get you open the door. 00:10:56.759 --> 00:10:57.860 So it can come into your life. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:59.759 Paul's saying be careful. 00:10:59.879 --> 00:11:01.000 Because if you let it in. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.620 It's going to control you. 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:04.639 And by the way. 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:06.740 You're a child of God now. 00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:10.580 And you're no longer in that realm. 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:11.519 That kingdom. 00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:14.700 You're in a new kingdom. 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:17.019 You're in my kingdom. 00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:19.440 And you have a choice. 00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:21.700 Before we just walked. 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:22.580 And we were in the kingdom. 00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:23.460 And we had no choice. 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:24.419 We didn't know where we were. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.079 But now. 00:11:26.459 --> 00:11:27.319 Because of Christ. 00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:28.099 Because of grace. 00:11:28.219 --> 00:11:28.979 Because of the gospel. 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.360 He's picked us up. 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:31.319 And he's taken us into. 00:11:31.740 --> 00:11:32.759 A new kingdom. 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:34.860 In a new realm. 00:11:35.979 --> 00:11:37.079 And we have a choice. 00:11:37.199 --> 00:11:38.699 Who we're going to open the door up to. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:41.740 And who we're not going to open the door up to. 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:45.199 We can choose who we let in our life. 00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:46.079 And what we give our eyes. 00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:46.519 And our ears. 00:11:46.599 --> 00:11:47.059 And our hearts. 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:47.620 And our minds. 00:11:47.699 --> 00:11:48.399 And our words. 00:11:48.839 --> 00:11:49.519 And our money. 00:11:50.319 --> 00:11:51.179 And our talents. 00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:51.799 And our time. 00:11:52.079 --> 00:11:54.079 We can choose what we give all those things to. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:56.379 And Paul's just exhorting. 00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:57.000 And exhorting. 00:11:57.079 --> 00:11:57.599 And encouraging. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:58.199 Watermark. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:58.439 And saying. 00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:00.219 God has done amazing things. 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:01.620 Give your stuff to God. 00:12:02.599 --> 00:12:03.919 Because he's going to take care of you. 00:12:03.959 --> 00:12:04.860 He's going to control you. 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:06.199 He's going to be there for you. 00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:10.299 Romans 6. 00:12:11.819 --> 00:12:12.839 14 and 15. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.879 And it's almost as if Paul knows. 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:17.299 That somebody's going to ask a question. 00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:19.759 He knows there's going to be a question asked. 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:20.819 Because within his church. 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:23.620 There are people struggling with different ways of life. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.279 Within our lives. 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:27.139 In my heart. 00:12:27.479 --> 00:12:29.079 I struggle with these things. 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:32.379 Some of us are struggling with legalism. 00:12:33.079 --> 00:12:34.500 It's this chair right here. 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:36.899 You can think of Paul's congregation. 00:12:37.079 --> 00:12:37.620 Most of them. 00:12:37.699 --> 00:12:38.539 A lot of them were Jews. 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:40.139 They knew the law. 00:12:40.319 --> 00:12:42.019 They wanted to obey the law. 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:44.179 They wanted outward things that you could see. 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:45.939 So that you could see them obeying the law. 00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:48.059 They wanted you to do things that you could do outwardly. 00:12:48.099 --> 00:12:49.839 So they could make sure that you were obeying the law. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:51.540 But they never looked at the heart. 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:54.820 They never looked at why you did things. 00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:57.440 And for who are you doing the things? 00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:59.680 They just looked at you doing the things. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:02.060 And then there was another group of people who were just. 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:03.240 It's really. 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:05.060 The word is licentiousness. 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:05.940 And I say it that way. 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:06.759 Because I took Latin. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:07.759 Ninth grade. 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:08.280 Tenth grade. 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.379 And I had this really. 00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:11.680 Kind of creepy Latin teacher. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:13.139 And he would always go. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:14.440 Licentiousness. 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:16.760 Which means uncontrolled. 00:13:17.020 --> 00:13:18.380 That you can do whatever you want. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:20.040 That you can just let your passions go. 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:23.960 I mean it's like the worst of the Greek and Roman cultures. 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:24.900 It's not just sex. 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:25.640 But it's everything. 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:27.780 And you have these licentious people there. 00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:28.440 And they're struggling. 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.820 And they say no. 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:31.460 Grace. 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:32.620 Grace alone. 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:34.080 Grace is all we need. 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.340 Sin doesn't matter. 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:36.340 You can do sin. 00:13:36.520 --> 00:13:38.840 Because God has covered your sin with grace. 00:13:39.160 --> 00:13:40.400 Don't worry about it. 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:43.520 And the church is kind of swinging back and forth. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:43.960 Pendulum. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:45.919 And you know. 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:47.519 Some of us are also in our lives. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:51.319 Some of us camp over here. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:53.980 And then we become really convicted. 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:55.259 And then we come back here. 00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:57.740 And then we come back here. 00:14:00.079 --> 00:14:01.699 And Paul says if you have that question. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:02.860 In chapter four. 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:03.819 In verse 14. 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:04.220 15. 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:07.179 Because he knows you're going to ask. 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.480 Well if there's grace. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:10.279 Then why don't we just sin? 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:12.240 Because everything is forgiven. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:14.000 And it doesn't really matter. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:15.320 And I really want to do these things. 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:17.960 I really want to do these things. 00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:19.860 These things are going to bring me happiness. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:22.519 These things are going to make me excited. 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:24.019 Why can't I just do that? 00:14:25.680 --> 00:14:26.820 And in the rest of the chapter. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.279 Paul shares. 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.639 Why not do an illustration. 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:32.240 There's three things I want us to learn. 00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:33.019 In this illustration. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.320 The first thing we're going to look at really quickly. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.480 Is what is our true identity? 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:39.139 Who are we? 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:41.420 What is our identity? 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:44.379 The second thing I want us to look at is. 00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:46.940 How does our identity change? 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.740 Well we know this identity. 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:50.800 But there's this change that's happening in us. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.940 How does that change happen? 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:55.399 And the third thing I want to briefly look at. 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.860 Is just in ten minutes. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:57.620 We want to look at. 00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:59.279 We want to look at. 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:01.620 What does it look like now that we've changed. 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:02.860 And how do we do these things? 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.279 So what's our identity? 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:06.240 How does it change? 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:07.879 And what should we look like right now? 00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:08.319 Okay. 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:08.899 You ready? 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.159 Okay. 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:12.079 So the first thing he says here. 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:14.519 As we look at in verses 15 and on. 00:15:14.699 --> 00:15:16.839 He says this is what our identity is. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.360 Because remember. 00:15:17.579 --> 00:15:18.740 We're talking about our identity. 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:20.779 And Paul says our identity is we're slaves. 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.539 Paul says that every one of us in Watermark. 00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:28.120 Every one of us in the world are slaves. 00:15:29.579 --> 00:15:32.199 How do you feel when I say that? 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:34.700 I mean some of us feel. 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:38.020 I mean if you watch 12 Years a Slave. 00:15:38.820 --> 00:15:39.640 Or the Butler. 00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:43.080 I've been watching this Civil War series by Ken Burns. 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:43.620 It's amazing. 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:45.580 But it's all about what's going on with the slaves. 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.240 And when we think of slavery we go. 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.080 Oh that's terrible. 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:49.780 That's incredibly bad. 00:15:51.020 --> 00:15:53.060 But you know in Paul's day when people heard that. 00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:55.420 They just thought that's just what life is. 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.180 It was interesting. 00:15:57.179 --> 00:16:00.079 This week I was helping my kids study for a sociology test. 00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:01.120 A social studies test. 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:05.039 And we did a wiki search on slavery in Rome. 00:16:05.319 --> 00:16:06.719 Because that was what their test was on. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:09.739 And if you do a wiki search on slavery in Rome. 00:16:09.899 --> 00:16:14.000 You see that 30 to 40 percent of the people who lived in Rome were slaves. 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:17.739 That there were probably one slave for every three. 00:16:17.959 --> 00:16:19.759 Three slaves for every one person. 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:23.339 I mean there was a majority of slaves walking around. 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:26.320 And the slavery was a lot different than we think of it. 00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:28.480 It wasn't racially oriented. 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.300 It was just. 00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:32.519 It just happened sometimes in war and in life. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.060 And people were abandoned. 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:37.160 Actually often the slaves were really educated. 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:38.540 And they were tutors. 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:43.240 The people who tutored the kids of the Greek and Roman leaders. 00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:45.040 Were often slaves. 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.639 Very highly educated. 00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:50.180 So slavery has this very different view. 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:52.939 To Paul and to the people in his church. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:54.019 As he hears these things. 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:57.179 You know sometimes people would become slaves. 00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:58.539 Because they had a debt. 00:17:00.099 --> 00:17:03.299 I mean sometimes they owed large sums of money. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:07.619 And there was no chance of them getting rid of the debt. 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.519 And so what they would do is they would come. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.899 And they would sell themselves. 00:17:11.879 --> 00:17:13.519 So if I owed E money. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.899 I would come to her. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:15.859 And I said I can't pay it. 00:17:15.919 --> 00:17:18.359 But I'm going to put myself into slavery for you. 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:21.139 And let's decide how long that's going to be. 00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:23.059 And maybe it's two months. 00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:24.000 Maybe it's two years. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.839 Maybe it's ten years. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:26.359 But at the end of that time. 00:17:26.459 --> 00:17:27.519 My debt is paid. 00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.479 And I'm free. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:30.240 I'm no longer a slave. 00:17:32.939 --> 00:17:35.699 The interesting and the thing I often would forget. 00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:37.359 Is that when I became E slave. 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:39.099 It meant that I gave up all my rights. 00:17:40.179 --> 00:17:42.479 That she was in control of me totally. 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:45.119 Whatever she said I had to do. 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.919 Because I was now her slave. 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:49.960 I had no rights whatsoever. 00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:55.880 And Paul says that we here in Watermark in the world. 00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:57.920 There are only two types of people. 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:02.920 Either we're slaves to sin. 00:18:03.820 --> 00:18:05.279 Which leads to death. 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:08.519 Or we're slaves to obedience. 00:18:09.800 --> 00:18:11.340 Which leads to righteousness. 00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:15.679 There's not any other types of people. 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:17.139 Either you're a slave to sin. 00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:17.980 Which leads to death. 00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:19.659 Or you're a slave to obedience. 00:18:19.879 --> 00:18:21.099 Which leads to righteousness. 00:18:22.939 --> 00:18:25.199 So you're working out your slavery. 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:27.500 And you're paying off your debt. 00:18:27.679 --> 00:18:29.759 And you're hoping that one day you're going to be free. 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:31.279 And when I get free. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.099 He signs this certificate. 00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:35.019 And I'm a free person again. 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:37.660 But slavery was very common. 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:40.400 And everyone knew that in that day. 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:43.019 And everyone experienced it. 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:46.819 And Paul changes his tactic. 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:49.579 And he says we're not now just talking about physical slaves. 00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:51.819 We're talking about spiritual slaves. 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:56.759 And what he's saying to us, Watermark, is that in this room right now. 00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:59.579 There are only two types of people. 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:03.579 Either you're a slave to sin. 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.480 Which leads to death. 00:19:06.139 --> 00:19:08.240 Or you're a slave to obedience. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.359 Which leads to righteousness. 00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:14.679 Now I have drawn this out on a piece of paper. 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:18.480 And I have in this illustration and example. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:22.700 I'm not exaggerating probably 10,000 times in my life. 00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:25.680 And whenever I draw this illustration out. 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:27.400 And I said there's only two types of people in the world. 00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:29.720 There's people who are slaves to sin. 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.799 Which leads to death. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:32.440 There's people who are slaves to obedience. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.480 Who leads to righteousness. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:34.339 Here's a sheet of paper. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:35.099 Which one are you? 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.860 How do you think most people answer? 00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:43.000 What do they say? 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.920 They usually say I'm in between. 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.019 I'm in between. 00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:52.940 I mean I'm not a total slave to sin. 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:54.360 I mean I do some bad things. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:55.360 But I'm a pretty good person. 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.980 And I'm not totally obeying God. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:59.039 But sometimes I obey God. 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:01.360 I mean I obey God when I go to church on Christmas and Easter. 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:03.480 And some things like that. 00:20:03.860 --> 00:20:06.440 Or I put money in that little bag when people are asking for donations. 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:08.339 So I'm not totally obeying God. 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:09.140 But I obey him a little. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.339 So I'm in between. 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:13.279 And what Paul says is no. 00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:16.839 You're either in here a slave to sin. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:21.959 Or you're a slave to obedience and to righteousness. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:26.480 So the question is. 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.119 Which one are we? 00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:36.739 If you had to write out in your journal right now privately. 00:20:37.739 --> 00:20:38.799 Which one are you? 00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:40.579 What would you say? 00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:43.259 I mean what would it look like? 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.799 I mean he uses this illustration. 00:20:45.979 --> 00:20:46.479 Two types. 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:48.279 And it's not the first time. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.599 He's not making up something different. 00:20:49.739 --> 00:20:51.639 I mean Jesus talked that way all the time. 00:20:51.679 --> 00:20:52.019 Didn't he? 00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:54.160 I mean Jesus talks and he says. 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:57.480 Hey there's two builders. 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:00.059 One's wise and one's foolish. 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.759 There's two gates. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.420 One's wide and one's narrow. 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:05.039 There's two types of trees. 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:07.639 One is good fruit and one is bad fruit. 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:10.639 You can't serve two masters. 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:12.319 You either hate the one or love the other. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.759 Or you love the one or you hate the other. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:17.400 Who is your spiritual master? 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:20.519 And Paul says something really interesting. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.920 He says you're going to know your master by who you serve. 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:27.299 So the question I want to ask us is. 00:21:27.379 --> 00:21:28.400 Who are you serving today? 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.799 Who do you serve with your hands? 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:37.220 Who do you serve with your heart? 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.660 Who do you serve with your mind? 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:42.660 I'm not going to ask who do we say we serve. 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:46.440 Because I've learned in my life that words often mean nothing. 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:51.820 But I watch my hands. 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:54.800 And wherever my hands go to. 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:56.560 Wherever my time goes to. 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:59.620 Paul says that's who you serve. 00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:01.820 That's your master. 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:05.420 So who's your master today? 00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:13.900 Who's your master today? 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.160 I mean think about it. 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:18.640 Every one of us in here lives for something. 00:22:19.340 --> 00:22:23.019 I mean something gives us strength today. 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:25.640 Something makes us feel strong. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.920 Something makes us feel valuable. 00:22:27.080 --> 00:22:28.100 Something makes us feel important. 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.600 Something makes us in control. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.779 Something makes us feel significant. 00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:34.160 Something makes us feel loved. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.140 What is it for you? 00:22:41.820 --> 00:22:43.840 What is it that gives you significance? 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:48.240 For some of us it might be our work. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.240 Or our health. 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.180 Or our bodies. 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.160 Or our family. 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.500 Or our friends. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.720 Or our kiddos. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:56.140 Or our money. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:57.279 Or just security. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:59.339 And Paul says whatever that thing is. 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:02.160 Whatever that thing that gives you happiness and security and health. 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:03.299 Whatever that thing is. 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:05.480 That is your God. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:13.460 So what's your God today? 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:18.120 What is the master that you're serving? 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:20.740 What is it that you are a slave to? 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:22.420 Because we all have gods. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.960 We all have things that control us. 00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:31.059 We all have things that bring us happiness and hope and health and security and meaning. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:33.860 What is it that ultimately does that for you today? 00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:37.419 Maybe if I asked the question. 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:39.219 If we followed you around after today. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:42.859 And we just watched and videotaped your life for one day. 00:23:42.979 --> 00:23:45.539 If we watched and videotaped your life for one day. 00:23:45.679 --> 00:23:46.779 And we looked at your life. 00:23:46.979 --> 00:23:48.519 What would we say is your master? 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:52.179 What would we say that you're clinging to? 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:53.500 What is the thing that you're serving? 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:55.559 What is the thing that you're a slave to? 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:58.000 And Paul says you're only a slave to one of two things. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.339 Either you're a slave to sin. 00:23:59.439 --> 00:24:01.099 Or you're a slave to righteousness. 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:02.319 There's no in between. 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:05.339 So which one are we today? 00:24:07.439 --> 00:24:09.899 Which one is our master? 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:18.219 I often find my master by asking where I spend my time. 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:24.079 Because usually I spend my time with the thing that masters my life. 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:29.539 Sometimes when I'm wandering off I ask questions like. 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.279 What makes me angry? 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:37.279 If something were taken away from my life. 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.419 What would make me really angry? 00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:40.399 I mean not just angry but furious. 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.519 That's my master. 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:50.159 That's my God. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:53.000 That's the thing I need in my life. 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:54.000 To keep me going. 00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:54.859 To give me hope. 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.799 To help me walk with him. 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:01.399 And so Paul says what is your master today? 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:05.480 Because we all serve one or the other. 00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:07.779 And it's not an in between thing. 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.799 So what is it? 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:13.819 And then he says something amazing. 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.700 Verse 17. 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:18.339 He said God comes in. 00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:21.279 And he changes us. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:25.180 He changes our hearts. 00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:27.660 He changes our minds. 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:30.599 He changes our affections. 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:32.000 The things that we desire. 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.619 The things that we want. 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:35.180 The things that we strive to. 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:39.200 And when he opens our eyes and our minds and our mouth and our ears. 00:25:39.379 --> 00:25:41.359 To see his son Jesus. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.899 We fall in love with him. 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.519 And when we fall in love with him. 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.740 And we understand the gospel. 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:47.899 And we understand grace. 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:51.140 And what it costs God to give it to us. 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.560 It changes us. 00:25:56.560 --> 00:25:57.720 We live differently. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:01.440 We serve different things. 00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:04.420 We spend our time differently. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:07.140 Our words are different. 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:10.480 The things we read are different. 00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:15.740 Maybe even the things we do are different. 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:19.900 Because we live in this new realm. 00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:22.060 This new master has come into our life. 00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:27.640 So the question maybe we should ask is. 00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:29.200 How are we different now? 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.519 If you're sitting in here and you say. 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.420 Yes I'm a Christian. 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:38.140 I serve the obedience and righteousness. 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:39.120 Which comes from God. 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:40.980 And it's making me more like Christ every day. 00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:42.420 And everything that Christ done. 00:26:42.560 --> 00:26:43.340 Is coming to me. 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.120 And when God looks at me. 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:45.100 He looks at his son. 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:47.019 Because that's what happens in Romans. 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:48.000 We've talked about that. 00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.799 There's this exchange. 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.920 And so when God looks at us now. 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.819 And we've been serving him. 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:55.339 How are our lives different. 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:58.359 Than they were before. 00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:04.259 Tobin are you more loving? 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.519 Are you more gracious? 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:11.339 Are you more caring? 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.440 Are you more gentle? 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.160 Are you more kind? 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:20.839 Do you use your time and your money differently? 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:23.980 Do you invest in my kingdom now? 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:27.940 Or do we still build into. 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:30.660 The kingdom of sin. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.619 The kingdom that I live. 00:27:33.619 --> 00:27:37.759 Now Paul's not saying. 00:27:37.959 --> 00:27:39.859 That once you come into this new kingdom. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.019 That everything is perfect. 00:27:41.219 --> 00:27:42.239 That you never sin. 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:42.979 You never tempted. 00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:44.419 You never mess up. 00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:45.679 He's not saying that. 00:27:45.719 --> 00:27:47.679 He's not saying you become perfect Christians. 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:50.539 But he's saying there's a difference. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:53.079 There's a change. 00:27:55.239 --> 00:27:56.639 If I ever was going to write a book. 00:27:56.699 --> 00:27:57.239 I've told you that. 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:58.339 The title of my book would be. 00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:59.599 A turtle on a fence post. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:02.279 Because you see a turtle on a fence post. 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:02.599 And you wonder. 00:28:02.699 --> 00:28:03.539 Well how did that turtle get up there? 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:04.059 And you just know. 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:04.859 The only reason it got up there. 00:28:04.919 --> 00:28:06.179 Is because somebody put it up there. 00:28:06.219 --> 00:28:07.339 And that's my life. 00:28:07.419 --> 00:28:08.599 God just put us there. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.000 But chapter one of that story. 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.839 Would probably be. 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:13.519 The dumb things I've done in my life. 00:28:14.659 --> 00:28:16.480 My wife is very happy. 00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.539 That I've done most of them. 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:19.039 Before I got married. 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.539 But one of the dumbest things. 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.899 Was I decided to go with some friends. 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:24.139 We went into Cambodia. 00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:26.259 When they were kind of having this civil war going on. 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:26.740 In 88. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:29.240 And we were walking through. 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.359 Khmer Rouge territory. 00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.299 And Angkor Wat. 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.980 And we were exploring all these things. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.380 With this Khmer little kid. 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.160 Was showing us around. 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:38.200 And we walked into this area. 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.039 And all of a sudden. 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:40.400 I walked up to this Dutch. 00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:42.140 Or Danish UN guy. 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.160 In a blue outfit with a hat. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.120 And there's three Khmer guys. 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:44.759 And he goes. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.140 Stop. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.099 And I'm like. 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:49.859 He goes. 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:51.779 You are walking in a land mine field. 00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:56.160 Stand right there. 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:59.680 And he came over. 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:01.259 And he got us out of the land mine field. 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.779 And we walked out of the land mine field. 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:04.400 And we walked to the safe place. 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.880 And we're talking about what he was doing. 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.519 And all of a sudden. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:10.539 The walkie talkie comes on. 00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:13.740 And they're all panicking. 00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:14.180 Freaking out. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:14.339 He goes. 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:14.700 What's going on? 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:14.859 He goes. 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:16.160 There's this group of Khmer Rouge. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.059 They're coming through right now. 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.819 And they're coming in the way you came. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.140 And so we have to go out that way. 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.420 I'm like. 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.900 So we have to go out through. 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.539 The land mine field. 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:29.180 You can see why it's number one in the dumb things I've done. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.339 He said. 00:29:30.399 --> 00:29:30.700 Yes. 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.740 Follow me. 00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:36.539 And we step by step. 00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:39.180 Followed him out of the land mine field. 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:43.720 Paul's saying that our conversion is kind of like that. 00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:47.159 That you and I were playing in this land mine field. 00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:48.059 We didn't know we were there. 00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:49.039 The things that we wanted. 00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:49.899 And we thought were cool. 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:50.720 And we were playing with them. 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.539 And we thought they were great. 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:52.559 He actually says. 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.500 Those things are going to kill us. 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.079 They're going to blow up. 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:55.240 And destroy our lives. 00:29:55.879 --> 00:29:57.339 We think they're going to give us life. 00:29:57.439 --> 00:29:58.819 But they're actually going to kill us. 00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.659 And the scary thing is. 00:30:00.679 --> 00:30:01.740 We don't even know that. 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.399 I mean. 00:30:03.419 --> 00:30:04.319 We think it's great. 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.139 I mean. 00:30:06.679 --> 00:30:07.779 Porn is amazing. 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:10.359 Having sex with whoever you want. 00:30:10.399 --> 00:30:11.119 That's amazing. 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.519 Accumulating all these things. 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.039 Just for me. 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.879 That's amazing. 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:16.780 And Paul says. 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:19.580 You're playing with something that's going to destroy you. 00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:22.500 That's going to kill you. 00:30:23.540 --> 00:30:25.580 And you're blind to your blindness. 00:30:28.080 --> 00:30:29.820 Scripture says we're blinded to our blindness. 00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.900 We don't even know that. 00:30:32.800 --> 00:30:33.060 And so. 00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.200 God comes in. 00:30:34.260 --> 00:30:36.120 And he grabs us out of this land mine field. 00:30:36.320 --> 00:30:37.920 And he puts us in this new field. 00:30:38.080 --> 00:30:40.080 And there's this wall between these two fields. 00:30:40.699 --> 00:30:43.079 And we start playing around in this field here. 00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:43.799 And we're doing life. 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:44.339 And we're walking. 00:30:44.439 --> 00:30:45.059 And we're doing things. 00:30:45.339 --> 00:30:46.579 And all of a sudden we hear this voice. 00:30:47.439 --> 00:30:47.899 Hey Tobin. 00:30:48.139 --> 00:30:48.859 Come back over here. 00:30:50.939 --> 00:30:52.279 You remember all the fun we used to have? 00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:52.819 Come on. 00:30:53.419 --> 00:30:54.119 We're still having fun. 00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:55.359 And we want you to come into the field. 00:30:55.419 --> 00:30:55.639 Come on. 00:30:55.679 --> 00:30:56.259 We need you over here. 00:30:57.699 --> 00:30:59.339 And Paul says we have this choice now. 00:31:00.399 --> 00:31:00.960 The choice is. 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.899 Are we going to open the door. 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:03.139 And walk into the field. 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.779 And start playing with the land mines. 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:06.740 Or are we going to say. 00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:08.619 No that's not me anymore. 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:12.399 That's not who I am. 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:14.559 Augustine. 00:31:14.639 --> 00:31:15.720 One of the early church writers. 00:31:15.899 --> 00:31:17.720 Tells this amazing story in his biography. 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.980 He was just licentious. 00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.240 As a young man. 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.819 And he knew every woman in the town. 00:31:22.899 --> 00:31:23.700 And everything that happened. 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:25.660 And he had this conversion experience. 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.519 It was pretty amazing. 00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:28.480 And he's walking down in the middle of town. 00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.460 And he sees this woman. 00:31:29.619 --> 00:31:30.519 Who was a courtesan. 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.799 Who had been with him for many years. 00:31:31.799 --> 00:31:33.139 And she was just. 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:34.440 And she saw him. 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.839 And she wanted to be with him. 00:31:36.139 --> 00:31:37.460 And it started up a fling again. 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.019 And he said. 00:31:39.059 --> 00:31:39.240 Hey. 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:39.700 How are you? 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:39.919 She goes. 00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:40.779 I want to be with you. 00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:41.220 And he goes. 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:41.980 Thank you so much. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.879 I really appreciate that. 00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:44.299 But I'm sorry. 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.200 I'm not really interested. 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:47.119 And he walks away. 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.519 And she's thinking in her mind. 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.720 Well maybe he doesn't recognize me. 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.899 Maybe he doesn't know who I am. 00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:52.839 And so she yells out. 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.319 Augustine. 00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:55.000 It's me. 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.599 It's me. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:58.779 And he looks at her. 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.180 And he goes. 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.159 I know. 00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:02.779 But it's not me. 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.139 It's not me. 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.139 I'm different. 00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:12.059 I've changed. 00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.740 And Paul says. 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:16.339 You and I are going to be playing in these fields. 00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:19.240 And these voices are going to continually beckoning us back into the fields. 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.579 And now we have a choice. 00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:21.799 Because before we didn't have a choice. 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:23.200 We were just playing with the landmines. 00:32:24.639 --> 00:32:25.859 But now we're free. 00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:29.500 Now we can choose life. 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:33.700 Now we can choose things that aren't going to kill us and destroy us. 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:38.359 Now we can choose the good things that God wants for us. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:41.440 And the question is. 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.279 Will we? 00:32:47.880 --> 00:32:48.900 Do we want that? 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:54.460 To be honest. 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:55.680 Sometimes I hear this voice. 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.259 And it says. 00:32:57.220 --> 00:32:59.200 You can have more fun doing these things. 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:03.700 You can have more fun going back into the line of mine field. 00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:07.800 I always struggle in myself. 00:33:07.900 --> 00:33:10.180 And I wonder why it's so hard for me. 00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:12.759 To give my life to God. 00:33:12.759 --> 00:33:18.779 I mean it's one of the things that offends people the most in church. 00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:21.160 If I'm going to offend you today. 00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:23.019 And I probably offended you multiple times. 00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:25.279 One of the ways I'm going to offend you. 00:33:25.339 --> 00:33:25.740 Is I'm going to say. 00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:27.079 You know God has called us. 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:28.379 As his people. 00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.460 And to becoming his people. 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:31.099 To give all of our life to him. 00:33:32.920 --> 00:33:33.759 And to most people. 00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:35.500 That's really really offensive. 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.680 Because they don't know. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.779 If they can trust God. 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:42.259 They don't know if God is good. 00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:44.000 Is God this electric octopus. 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.019 That's going to shock them. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.119 And cling on to them. 00:33:46.139 --> 00:33:47.119 As they grab on to him. 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:49.079 Or is he going to be good for them. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.700 And help them. 00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:51.799 And want the best things for them. 00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:52.480 They don't know that. 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.559 We don't know that. 00:33:56.680 --> 00:33:58.279 It's because we don't realize who we are. 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:02.079 We don't realize the change that's happened in us. 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.700 I love sports. 00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:08.300 I agree with Alfie. 00:34:09.019 --> 00:34:10.200 Soccer is for girls. 00:34:13.140 --> 00:34:14.519 Growing up in a military family. 00:34:14.620 --> 00:34:15.460 My dad always told me. 00:34:15.560 --> 00:34:16.920 That soccer was a communist sport. 00:34:19.160 --> 00:34:21.200 He said Americans use Boy Scouts. 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:21.800 And soccers. 00:34:22.040 --> 00:34:23.240 And communists use soccer. 00:34:23.600 --> 00:34:24.519 So don't ever do soccer. 00:34:25.680 --> 00:34:26.940 I'm still trying to get over that. 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.200 Right. 00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:29.340 But I love baseball. 00:34:29.440 --> 00:34:30.800 And I played 16 years of baseball. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:31.760 I think it's one of the things. 00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:32.740 Probably people keep saying. 00:34:32.780 --> 00:34:33.760 You're really gifted in baseball. 00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:35.000 You're really excellent in baseball. 00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:36.500 And I remember. 00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:38.100 After about my fifth or sixth year. 00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:39.440 We had this new coach. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.739 And this coach was. 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:44.139 He was like the coach from hell. 00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:47.119 Coach Kilgore. 00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:49.279 I'm going to go back and strike his name off. 00:34:49.339 --> 00:34:50.339 So I don't want anybody calling him. 00:34:50.340 --> 00:34:53.280 But he was the worst coach. 00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:54.539 He was mean. 00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:56.280 He was terrible. 00:34:56.579 --> 00:34:57.500 He was strict. 00:34:57.720 --> 00:34:58.579 He cussed. 00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.960 He yelled at everybody. 00:35:00.220 --> 00:35:01.640 He made the athletes cry. 00:35:01.860 --> 00:35:03.360 He made the parents cry. 00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:09.940 He was just the meanest, orneriest coach and leader and master I've ever had in my whole life. 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:11.980 Four months. 00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:14.760 I played baseball under this guy. 00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:17.320 And I just couldn't wait to get off and get out of that season. 00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:20.760 The next season, he wasn't my coach anymore. 00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:21.679 I had a new team. 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:23.480 I had a new coach come up to me. 00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.920 And we're talking about that. 00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:26.240 And it was just, oh, wow. 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:28.480 But all of a sudden, Coach Kilgore walks up. 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:31.539 What did I feel? 00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:36.219 I mean, I'm like, yes, sir. 00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:36.820 Yes, sir. 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:42.119 And if he said drop and give me 20 push-ups, I probably would have given myself 20 push-ups. 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.320 Why? 00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:48.659 Because I forgot whose team I was on. 00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:52.360 I forgot which coach I had. 00:35:52.360 --> 00:36:00.099 Now, what if you had a coach Kilgore for 25 years, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? 00:36:07.180 --> 00:36:07.579 Sin. 00:36:09.700 --> 00:36:10.059 Death. 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:19.599 And praise be to God who comes in and he changes our life and he shows us Jesus Christ. 00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:20.640 And we see gospel. 00:36:20.780 --> 00:36:21.380 We see the grace. 00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.160 We see our need. 00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:23.640 We repent of our sins. 00:36:23.760 --> 00:36:25.240 We turn around and we follow him. 00:36:28.620 --> 00:36:31.180 Do our actions change right away? 00:36:37.660 --> 00:36:39.680 I mean, our position changes right away. 00:36:40.160 --> 00:36:41.099 We're in this new kingdom. 00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:42.160 We're in this new realm. 00:36:42.280 --> 00:36:43.880 We have this new king who controls everything. 00:36:43.880 --> 00:36:45.900 But do our actions change right away? 00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:52.019 They must not because Paul is writing Romans to a church that's 25 years old. 00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:54.239 And Paul talks about it even in his life. 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.239 I'm still trying to learn. 00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.780 I'm still going forward. 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.659 I'm still struggling. 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:00.239 It takes time. 00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:03.960 It takes us reminding each other who we are. 00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:05.679 Whose we are. 00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:06.679 Who's in control? 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.279 Who's in control? 00:37:07.279 --> 00:37:08.779 Who's our God? 00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:10.199 What's our God like? 00:37:10.419 --> 00:37:11.719 What does God want for us? 00:37:14.339 --> 00:37:15.599 That's why we come to church. 00:37:15.599 --> 00:37:20.099 That's why we worship him every Sunday. 00:37:20.239 --> 00:37:22.420 We worship him because he's the only one worthy of our worship. 00:37:22.819 --> 00:37:24.759 But we come together to encourage each other. 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:29.960 So Paul ends this whole chapter and he says, be careful. 00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:33.360 Be careful who you're serving. 00:37:35.100 --> 00:37:39.920 Because if you go back to that old life, Romans 6.23 is a very interesting verse. 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:41.360 We quote it sometimes. 00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.840 We talk about the wages of sin is death. 00:37:43.240 --> 00:37:47.380 The wage, that word, actually isn't like a lifetime going to hell type of thing. 00:37:47.380 --> 00:37:50.400 It actually, in Greek, it means your day's pay. 00:37:51.300 --> 00:37:54.260 So you work a day and it actually means your fish wages. 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:55.840 So Roman soldiers were paid in fish. 00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:56.740 They work a day. 00:37:56.820 --> 00:37:57.940 They get paid fish to eat. 00:37:59.019 --> 00:38:03.559 And he says, so the wages, your daily wage for sin is death. 00:38:03.720 --> 00:38:07.599 He's saying that you didn't die physically when you sin at that moment. 00:38:07.720 --> 00:38:10.500 But you're building death into your life. 00:38:10.599 --> 00:38:12.099 You're playing with the landmines. 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:14.660 You're touching things that are going to destroy you. 00:38:15.039 --> 00:38:16.780 You're going to touch things that are going to kill you. 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:19.800 And Paul says, don't do it. 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:23.360 Because you have a new master now. 00:38:25.160 --> 00:38:29.840 And this new master is good and he's kind and he's gentle and he's fair and he's loving and he's gracious. 00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:33.039 And he's giving you a gift that you can never earn. 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:41.800 I've often thought about that in the very beginning when we said, I owed a debt to E and however long it took for me to pay off my debt, that's how long I had to work for E. 00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:46.960 How long do you think it would take us to pay off our debt to E, O God? 00:38:47.380 --> 00:38:59.760 We can never do it. 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:00.140 We can never do it. 00:39:04.140 --> 00:39:05.280 But he pays it off. 00:39:07.660 --> 00:39:08.920 His son pays it off. 00:39:08.920 --> 00:39:16.200 Paul's saying as we go through the journey of life, we're going to have struggles. 00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:18.780 Who's your master? 00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:20.860 Who's your God? 00:39:20.860 --> 00:39:22.840 What are you serving? 00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:24.880 What brings you life? 00:39:25.519 --> 00:39:26.660 What brings you hope? 00:39:27.360 --> 00:39:28.920 What makes your life worth living? 00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:36.820 And he's saying that anything besides God is going to ultimately destroy you. 00:39:36.820 --> 00:39:49.740 Any choice besides obedience and righteousness is going to kill us. 00:39:56.740 --> 00:39:57.780 Who are you serving today? 00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:01.300 Who's your master? 00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:05.519 What kingdom are you in? 00:40:09.680 --> 00:40:11.460 Who are you opening the door for in your life? 00:40:15.460 --> 00:40:17.039 That's what Romans 6 is all about. 00:40:18.260 --> 00:40:19.640 Father, we thank you for this day. 00:40:19.740 --> 00:40:22.000 We thank you for your goodness and your mercy in our life. 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:27.079 We thank you for your word which is living and active and never changes. 00:40:27.400 --> 00:40:29.840 And it hits us differently each time we read it. 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:32.480 But it presents the message of your son Jesus. 00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:38.059 Who is more loving and beautiful than we could ever imagine. 00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:46.340 Who pays a debt that we could never, ever even comprehend or pay out. 00:40:46.340 --> 00:40:50.200 Who gives it to us as a gift. 00:40:52.760 --> 00:40:57.900 Who now encourages us to walk in a way that is worthy of that. 00:40:58.140 --> 00:40:58.760 It's his people. 00:41:01.100 --> 00:41:05.320 We're not asked to walk in a way worthy of it before we get the gift because that would be impossible. 00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:13.240 But we're asked to walk in a way that shows how much we love God for all that he's given us. 00:41:13.239 --> 00:41:19.339 Father, I pray for this church, your church, the people in here. 00:41:20.399 --> 00:41:22.939 I know that we're all at different stages of life on the journey. 00:41:23.059 --> 00:41:23.939 We're all at different places. 00:41:25.279 --> 00:41:27.719 There's some of us in here who are still playing in a landmine field. 00:41:27.779 --> 00:41:28.839 And we're picking up landmines. 00:41:28.899 --> 00:41:29.579 And they're blowing up. 00:41:29.619 --> 00:41:30.639 But we say it's not that bad. 00:41:30.779 --> 00:41:31.519 It'll get better. 00:41:31.879 --> 00:41:35.939 And we don't realize that we're sowing death daily into our lives. 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:39.119 We're paying a wage that will never be able to be paid back. 00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:44.980 And I pray for them, those of us in here who are there, that we would, you would open their eyes. 00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:51.519 Verse 17, that you would come into their life and that they would be just presented to you face to face. 00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:53.679 And they would have to make this decision. 00:41:53.819 --> 00:41:59.599 And the decision is a no-brainer as they see who you are and their need for you. 00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:03.900 And I pray that they would invite you into their life. 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:10.500 They would surrender our lives and ask you to be the Lord of their life and the King of their life and their God. 00:42:12.779 --> 00:42:17.239 Lord, I know there's some of us in here who, like me, we abuse your grace. 00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:18.579 We abuse your mercy. 00:42:18.719 --> 00:42:20.960 We abuse your love and your justice. 00:42:21.239 --> 00:42:25.199 And we just, we enter into the field again and again. 00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:27.899 And we just think, well, it doesn't really matter. 00:42:28.299 --> 00:42:29.500 But it does matter. 00:42:30.859 --> 00:42:33.339 It shows us that we don't really understand what you've done. 00:42:33.960 --> 00:42:35.219 We don't understand grace. 00:42:35.299 --> 00:42:36.319 We don't understand mercy. 00:42:36.439 --> 00:42:38.079 If we ask, why not? 00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:40.659 Lord, help us. 00:42:40.939 --> 00:42:45.239 I just confess for us as a church, we need you. 00:42:46.819 --> 00:42:50.759 We're so thankful that you are the God of second chances and that you change us. 00:42:50.760 --> 00:42:58.520 And as we sing over and over again, you don't give up on us as your children because you've pursued us from eternity. 00:43:00.380 --> 00:43:06.540 Lord, help us to encourage each other and speak the words of affirmation of who is our King and who are we as slaves to. 00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:09.600 And what does that mean to be slaves to the righteous King of Heaven? 00:43:12.020 --> 00:43:14.020 Help us to encourage each other in that way. 00:43:15.920 --> 00:43:17.600 And Lord, I pray for us as a church. 00:43:17.720 --> 00:43:18.760 I pray for Watermark. 00:43:18.760 --> 00:43:19.320 Watermark. 00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:24.860 We're not here just to come together and encourage each other and get our needs met and go away. 00:43:24.900 --> 00:43:31.940 But we're here to present your son to people who don't know him yet, to people who are walking in the landmine field, to people who are getting blown up. 00:43:34.500 --> 00:43:35.920 Help us to realize that. 00:43:37.020 --> 00:43:38.400 That the church isn't about us. 00:43:38.460 --> 00:43:40.700 The church is about your son and about you. 00:43:40.780 --> 00:43:42.100 And you're the hero of the church. 00:43:42.140 --> 00:43:43.320 And you're the hero of the story. 00:43:43.320 --> 00:43:45.740 And you've grafted us into this story. 00:43:45.860 --> 00:43:48.620 And you've done amazing things in us and through us. 00:43:48.660 --> 00:43:49.740 And now we're your children. 00:43:50.860 --> 00:43:52.039 Help us not to go back. 00:43:52.160 --> 00:43:53.820 Help us not to open the door and let things in. 00:43:53.880 --> 00:43:57.680 Help us to show us what it means to walk with you in your mercy and your grace. 00:43:59.180 --> 00:44:03.940 Help us be a church that invites people to church and invites people to community and invites people to our home. 00:44:04.340 --> 00:44:06.980 And shares with them and just are friends with them. 00:44:06.980 --> 00:44:11.420 Help us to be intentional with people who don't know you. 00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:21.340 Help us to make this part of Hong Kong different, not through our efforts, but through your efforts living through us. 00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:25.619 So Father, we thank you for this day and we love you. 00:44:27.679 --> 00:44:29.679 We desperately, desperately need you. 00:44:33.400 --> 00:44:36.400 Thank you that you are the good master. 00:44:36.980 --> 00:44:39.480 The good God. 00:44:41.480 --> 00:44:42.579 Our Lord and Savior. 00:44:44.300 --> 00:44:45.960 In your son Jesus' name we pray. 00:44:46.199 --> 00:44:46.519 Amen.