WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:05.600 We are continuing on in our study in the book of Romans. 00:00:05.820 --> 00:00:09.320 So if you have a copy of God's Word, go ahead and turn there. 00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:11.700 We're looking at Romans chapter 1. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:21.199 It's a continuation of what Matthew discussed last week in the first couple verses of Romans chapter 1. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:27.219 Romans chapter 1, verses 28 to 32. 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:37.859 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:44.679 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:49.879 They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:58.580 They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents. 00:00:59.480 --> 00:01:02.760 Foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 00:01:03.700 --> 00:01:09.320 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:14.579 they not only do them, but give approval to those who practice them. 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:16.359 Let's pray. 00:01:16.359 --> 00:01:21.980 Lord, your Word exposes us for who we truly are. 00:01:22.180 --> 00:01:28.519 We pray that you might use it this morning, even simply the reading of your Word, 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:31.459 to show us our need of Jesus. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:35.640 And Father, that you might work a miracle in our hearts, 00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:39.180 that we might trust Him, that we might serve Him. 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:42.239 But Father, that we would love Him. 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:44.500 And we pray this in Jesus' name. 00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:45.120 Amen. 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:51.060 Imagine you've just witnessed a new movie trailer. 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:52.299 And you know movie trailers. 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:54.480 They're all the exciting parts about the movie. 00:01:55.379 --> 00:01:57.920 And this movie trailer, whether you see it with your family, 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:02.620 or you happen across a movie poster that captures all these visual images, 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:05.599 it's a coming-of-age story, whatever that means, 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:11.099 where a young man has grown out of poverty, gone off to war, made a name for himself. 00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:12.799 He returns home. 00:02:12.799 --> 00:02:14.960 He gets involved in politics. 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:19.699 He's charged with murder and found not guilty. 00:02:20.079 --> 00:02:21.699 Not just once, but twice. 00:02:21.699 --> 00:02:23.419 He starts a new business. 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:27.299 And that new business is ultimately his demise. 00:02:27.299 --> 00:02:32.239 Not financial ruin, but his business partner has murdered him. 00:02:32.799 --> 00:02:33.899 Sounds incredible, right? 00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:35.839 I'm watching that movie. 00:02:36.099 --> 00:02:37.419 There's so much in there. 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:42.099 Whether it's silver screen or real life or a podcast or a story, 00:02:42.099 --> 00:02:43.780 I want to know more. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:50.019 Now that's the real life story of the great-grandfather of William Faulkner. 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:52.819 You know that guy that you were supposed to read in high school, 00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:54.519 and maybe you did or maybe you didn't. 00:02:54.520 --> 00:03:01.580 Now what some have argued that made Faulkner great was he was a great storyteller. 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:05.000 But he was telling stories that he knew by heart, 00:03:05.100 --> 00:03:09.820 or he had heard retold so many times that he was really familiar with them. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:15.439 And he used elements of his great-grandfather's life in most of his works. 00:03:15.860 --> 00:03:22.100 And so he could tell so well because he had heard it over and over again throughout his life. 00:03:22.099 --> 00:03:25.979 Now whether you read Faulkner in high school or not, 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:27.819 or whether you enjoy him now, 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:32.419 you have to appreciate good storytelling because it's an art. 00:03:33.259 --> 00:03:37.819 And whether it's your granddad who tells stories or spins yarns, 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:39.419 whether they're true or not true, 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:42.959 storytelling captures our imagination with words. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:45.120 And we get trapped in this world. 00:03:46.019 --> 00:03:50.120 And yes, they use rhetorical devices or ancient ideas 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:53.539 ideas of how to capture audiences and hold their attention. 00:03:54.460 --> 00:03:56.060 Storytelling takes work. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:01.719 And I'm convinced that often the best stories are the ones that are real life, 00:04:02.020 --> 00:04:05.240 just like the great-granddad of William Faulkner. 00:04:06.860 --> 00:04:14.000 Whether in written form, fiction, true life, a radio story, a podcast, 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:18.160 the best storytellers do all these same things. 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:19.459 They draw us in, 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:24.800 and they use those words to paint pictures that we can see and that we can enjoy. 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:27.519 Now the Bible is no different. 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:29.920 In fact, if you want to know good stories, 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:31.740 ask these kids that were just promoted. 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:34.480 They'll tell you the good stories of the Bible if you don't know them. 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:37.019 And they're the ones that we're generally familiar with. 00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:41.060 But when we come to this section of Romans, 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:45.680 it's not the storyteller that we think of that is often that good. 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:50.399 We don't think that Paul is in the list of like Leo Tolstoy, 00:04:50.939 --> 00:04:54.759 or Jane Austen, or Tolkien, or Lewis. 00:04:55.120 --> 00:04:58.259 We don't put Paul's name in that section. 00:04:58.259 --> 00:05:07.039 We don't compare him to Faulkner, or Stephen King, or R.L. Stine, or Paul Harvey. 00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:11.420 But he is a grand storyteller, 00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:14.439 especially in this part of Romans. 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:18.680 And so this morning, we're going to look together at this grand story of both God and man. 00:05:19.719 --> 00:05:23.420 And as we do so, we're going to do the things that we did in elementary school. 00:05:23.420 --> 00:05:27.719 We're going to dissect it and look at all those sections of a great story. 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:31.159 A great story has things like this. 00:05:32.019 --> 00:05:33.959 Setting the stage, an introduction. 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:37.000 Then there's a plot twist. 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:40.000 And of course, don't forget the conclusion. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:43.439 So we're going to see how Paul does that in Romans this morning. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:49.959 So the very best place to start is not here at the section which we've just read. 00:05:50.060 --> 00:05:53.599 But in fact, let's go back to verse 25 that we looked at last week. 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:56.379 So if you have your Bibles, turn back a few pages. 00:05:58.259 --> 00:05:58.920 Or sections. 00:06:00.159 --> 00:06:04.379 Because they exchange, and they is all of mankind. 00:06:05.019 --> 00:06:05.360 People. 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:07.819 The truth about God for a lie. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:10.959 And worshiped and served the creature rather than the creator, 00:06:11.219 --> 00:06:12.719 who is blessed forever. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:13.259 Amen. 00:06:14.219 --> 00:06:18.439 Man's kind at this point, as Paul is setting the stage for this grand story, 00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:20.339 here in the beginning part of Romans, 00:06:20.339 --> 00:06:24.919 we can't say that that relationship or that story is going very well, can we? 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:30.619 At least from verse 25, it seems to be going extremely poorly. 00:06:31.259 --> 00:06:36.199 In fact, if we look at God's law, they've been derailed by the first commandment. 00:06:36.739 --> 00:06:38.059 They didn't even get to the other ones. 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:42.739 They've exchanged worship of God for something else. 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:45.199 Now look at verse 28. 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:48.519 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:53.660 God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 00:06:55.100 --> 00:06:57.860 Instead of worshiping God as they know that they should, 00:06:58.280 --> 00:07:00.620 that they're reminded of in the first commandment, 00:07:01.340 --> 00:07:02.740 they've done this instead. 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:06.980 They did not acknowledge God or see fit to do so. 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:11.460 They didn't approve of giving him his due worship, 00:07:12.020 --> 00:07:14.960 the deference, the honor that he is owed. 00:07:16.660 --> 00:07:19.439 Paul's reiterating what he said back in verse 25. 00:07:19.900 --> 00:07:22.860 They've exchanged the worship of God, the true God, 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:27.340 for something that's fake, for something that God has made. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:31.439 They're not faking of themselves, but we shouldn't worship them as such. 00:07:32.200 --> 00:07:36.140 And by doing so, they've effectively said that God is worthless. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:37.680 Imagine that. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:42.400 God, who we are supposed to worship, now is worthless. 00:07:43.960 --> 00:07:48.240 Now you can imagine, Paul is walking them through history. 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:51.300 And as he does so, and we have arrived at this conclusion, 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:52.819 that they're saying God is worthless, 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:59.040 it is not going very well in setting the stage for the story of God and man. 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:02.960 Look back at verse 21 with me. 00:08:03.960 --> 00:08:05.200 This isn't anything new. 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:09.579 They knew him, but they did not honor him or give thanks to him. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:16.180 They launched into that foolish thinking headlong and darkened their hearts. 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:21.079 Or verse 24, that God gave man over the darkness of his own heart, 00:08:21.259 --> 00:08:25.439 and it's culminated in this serving creation instead of the creator. 00:08:26.099 --> 00:08:29.079 This story is not looking very good. 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:35.079 Now, remember up to this point, Paul is setting the stage for the story of God and man. 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:38.840 And we see it is not going very well. 00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:44.100 But a reader, or Paul's audience, based on what we heard last week, 00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:48.679 they can look at that sin of exchanging natural relations for man and woman, 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:53.779 and say, I don't do that, so this surely can't be about me. 00:08:53.879 --> 00:08:57.859 This story, this rift that's growing between God and man, that ain't me. 00:08:58.319 --> 00:08:59.079 And I'm okay. 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.659 And then Paul enters this plot twist. 00:09:03.219 --> 00:09:08.000 With any good story, the background simply sets up for what's going to advance the story. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:10.959 It's the preliminary work. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.460 But what is this plot twist? 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:16.780 Because the reader, or the audience, goes, hey, that ain't me. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:23.440 But Paul is going to turn his attention to all of us, whether they engage in that or not. 00:09:24.800 --> 00:09:28.120 You can't go bebopping along and think this isn't about you. 00:09:29.700 --> 00:09:34.500 The reader, whether or not they fall into the sexual sin that's described earlier, 00:09:35.300 --> 00:09:37.360 knows that it's just about him. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:43.500 Or maybe the absent-minded reader forgets the story in the Gospels, 00:09:43.700 --> 00:09:45.840 where the man stands up and says what? 00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:49.200 Thank you for not making me like that man, a sinner. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:53.419 And if you know Jesus' response, you know what's coming from Paul. 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:56.500 It's not going to go well for you either. 00:09:58.259 --> 00:10:01.779 Look with me at the end of verse 28 through 30. 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:08.159 God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:15.799 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, and malice. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:20.000 They're full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. 00:10:20.339 --> 00:10:26.039 They're gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:31.679 disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:35.399 Gosh, that is a long list. 00:10:35.819 --> 00:10:41.039 All told, there's something like 20 some odd different sins that are listed in here. 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:44.480 And at first, it seems like it's just this random collection. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:49.960 But they differ when we compare them to what we saw last week. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:53.539 Last week, sin was flagrant, public, visible. 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:56.700 This week, it's not necessarily so. 00:10:57.060 --> 00:10:58.460 But we see something else. 00:10:58.539 --> 00:11:02.980 We see that there is this pervasive nature of sin. 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:04.840 It extends to everyone. 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:07.399 So that man that stands up and says, 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:10.319 Thank you, Lord, for making me not like him. 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:13.959 Then turns and sees this list and realizes, 00:11:14.459 --> 00:11:17.059 Oh, this is really about me. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:19.939 As one writer has said, 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:22.679 We're at the saturation point of sin. 00:11:23.959 --> 00:11:25.199 They have filled. 00:11:25.459 --> 00:11:26.740 They have filled the earth. 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:28.799 They were commanded to fill the earth. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.860 Mankind was at the beginning to do what? 00:11:31.179 --> 00:11:32.860 Be fruitful and multiply. 00:11:33.419 --> 00:11:35.699 And then take the gospel to the ends of the earth. 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:36.519 To fill it. 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:39.019 To fill all of creation. 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:41.919 And here, we have the reversal of this. 00:11:42.199 --> 00:11:46.299 They filled the earth to the saturation point with evil. 00:11:46.819 --> 00:11:48.220 With unrighteousness. 00:11:49.439 --> 00:11:52.059 With things that are against God's law. 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:54.759 How bad is it? 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:55.980 It's real bad. 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:59.779 It's as wide and deep as water in the sea. 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:00.639 And it's everywhere. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:02.519 And there is no escape. 00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:04.899 It's everywhere. 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:08.519 If you've lived in Colorado for any amount of time, 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:11.139 especially on the south side of Colorado Springs, 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:16.699 you know something about wide and deep as far as the eye can see, 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:18.559 especially in the month of September. 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:19.860 It's not heat. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:21.899 Thank goodness it's not humidity. 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:25.740 It's something a lot more sinister than that. 00:12:27.079 --> 00:12:28.379 It's tarantulas. 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:28.620 Tarantulas. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.899 If you know about tarantulas on this side, 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:37.779 and if you've spent any amount of time outside from here and south, 00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:39.179 you know about tarantulas. 00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:41.500 And I'm not talking about one tarantula. 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:44.480 I'm talking about wave upon wave. 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:48.480 You can see them from the sky if you're flying really low. 00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:49.779 Tarantulas. 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:52.220 The spiders that'll bite you. 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:54.700 In theory, they won't kill you, but it's still stinking hurts. 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.360 Tarantulas are everywhere. 00:12:57.620 --> 00:13:02.660 One is bad, but wave upon wave of male tarantulas searching for their mate 00:13:02.660 --> 00:13:05.019 as they come north from New Mexico or Arizona. 00:13:05.180 --> 00:13:06.279 I don't know where they come from. 00:13:07.300 --> 00:13:08.680 That's way worse. 00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.860 One is bad. 00:13:11.420 --> 00:13:13.560 Wave upon wave is worse. 00:13:14.700 --> 00:13:15.720 Sin is bad. 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:18.040 We've learned that last week. 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:20.899 But sin described here is way worse. 00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:24.319 It's reached this fulfillment where there is wave upon wave 00:13:24.319 --> 00:13:26.159 that there is inescapable. 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:32.860 Sin is reaching to every corner of every heart. 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:37.279 And Paul groups them here in verses 29 and 30. 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:39.539 He says there's some kind of order. 00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:41.379 And we said at first glance, 00:13:41.439 --> 00:13:43.419 it doesn't seem like there is some kind of order. 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:46.759 But he starts with unrighteousness in this other list, 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:51.019 showing how far the reach of sin is. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:54.539 And wave upon wave, there's more and more. 00:13:54.819 --> 00:13:58.580 That next grouping shows that full brunt of wickedness, 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:00.100 that humanity has a problem, 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:02.340 and it's not just internal. 00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:04.080 It's not one type of sin, 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:07.019 but there's all kinds of sin. 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:08.379 And then there's the crescendo, 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:11.659 the final wave that makes it even worse. 00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:14.339 They're defined by sin. 00:14:14.839 --> 00:14:16.740 They should flee from these things, 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.600 but instead they are known by them. 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:19.879 It's who they are. 00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:22.439 How bad is it? 00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:25.219 It's not just visible sin, 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:28.679 but it's sin that touches every part of our lives 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:31.379 and every part of every human's life. 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:34.500 We can't say with that man, 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:37.139 thank you for not making me like this sinner. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.860 But instead, 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:42.620 we have to deal with our own sin. 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:44.580 When we talk about sin, 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:45.600 we're talking about God, 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:47.340 breaking God's law, right? 00:14:47.939 --> 00:14:50.820 But there's an aspect that's much larger than that. 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:54.399 The theologian R.C. Sproul called it cosmic treason. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:59.559 In doing so, 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:01.480 he's drawn us into an aspect 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:03.679 that's much more deeply personal. 00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:05.559 Yeah, fraud is bad, 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:07.500 but when I sin, 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:10.939 when I murder my friend or my father, 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:12.919 that is much worse. 00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:15.340 It's a betrayal. 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.939 Fraud is wrong, 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:20.539 but treason kind of hits differently. 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:26.099 The Bible describes this as enmity, 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:28.919 and there's reconciliation that's needed 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:31.819 for that enmity that comes from sin. 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:33.339 We're made enemies of God, 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:35.779 and God has to reconcile us 00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:38.000 because we've broken that relationship 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.000 in this treasonous act. 00:15:41.099 --> 00:15:42.360 As we think on this, 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:44.179 there are a couple practical things 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:46.419 that we should seek to accomplish 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:48.219 because right now, 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:49.679 the story is not looking good. 00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:53.199 The one-time Colorado pastor, 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:54.639 A.W. Pink, said this. 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.459 He wrote extensively 00:15:56.459 --> 00:15:57.799 on the righteousness of God, 00:15:57.959 --> 00:16:00.759 and we realize how much God hates sin, 00:16:01.219 --> 00:16:03.240 and that's unique to us 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:06.579 because we have wayward hearts. 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:07.179 He says, 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.719 when we study this, 00:16:09.219 --> 00:16:11.059 we should think about these three things. 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.039 The first is, 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.339 when we do this, 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:15.099 it should reorient our hearts 00:16:15.099 --> 00:16:17.379 because our hearts are wayward, 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:19.639 and thinking about this, 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:21.460 we see how often 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:22.679 and how prone we are 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.779 to deal with it lightly 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.519 and think it's, 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:25.899 eh, it's not that big of a deal. 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.879 We gloss over it. 00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.919 We make excuses for sin, 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:30.559 but that's not the picture 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:31.620 that Paul gives us. 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:34.360 The second thing we should do 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:37.199 is recapture a sense of the fear of God, 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.139 and I'm not sure I know 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:41.720 what we mean by fear in this day, 00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:43.620 but it's fear in the sense 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:45.580 of remembering that He is the Creator 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.840 and that we are the creature, 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.200 that we approach Him 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:50.700 with a holy, reverent awe, 00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:53.300 that He is completely different than us 00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:55.139 because when we lose that, 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:58.520 we have to recapture the sense 00:16:58.520 --> 00:17:02.240 that we are completely made in His image, 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:05.900 and we are dependent upon Him. 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:09.559 How often do we need to ask ourselves, 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:12.059 are we truly in awe of God? 00:17:13.379 --> 00:17:14.819 Not very often. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:18.259 The third thing for the Christian is, 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:20.220 are we praising Him 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.679 for being delivered 00:17:21.679 --> 00:17:27.039 from His righteous punishment against us? 00:17:27.679 --> 00:17:28.519 He said this, 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:30.139 how reluctant we are 00:17:30.139 --> 00:17:32.400 to meditate on His wrath towards sin 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:34.319 becomes a test 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:36.799 of our attitude towards God. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.500 He encourages us, 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.639 He encourages us, 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.579 even to this day, 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.279 that each of us needs to be 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.940 more prayerfully on His guard 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:48.019 against devising an image of God 00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:49.559 in our own image, 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:52.139 that we think of God like us 00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:54.200 instead of how He really is. 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.400 Paul reminds us 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.820 that this list, 00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:59.940 these things that we shrug at 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:01.680 and think aren't that big of a deal, 00:18:01.840 --> 00:18:02.700 I mean, after all, 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:05.120 is that big of a deal? 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.400 Haughty? 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:10.180 I don't even really know 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:11.120 what that word means. 00:18:12.600 --> 00:18:14.019 Is that that big of a deal? 00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:16.860 It is because God says so, 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.500 and Paul reminds us of that. 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:22.680 And we have to take Him at His word 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:24.680 when it comes to the story 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:26.220 of God and man. 00:18:26.840 --> 00:18:28.300 When it comes to the story 00:18:28.300 --> 00:18:29.640 of how we deal with sin, 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:31.080 even in our own hearts. 00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:33.500 Now there's a plot twist 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:35.240 that we've just identified. 00:18:36.040 --> 00:18:37.900 It goes from setting the stage 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:39.480 of sin is present in this world 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:41.220 to the plot twist of, 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.460 oh, we can't go bebopping along, 00:18:43.580 --> 00:18:45.340 that sin is even in our own hearts. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.920 And then it seems like Paul concludes it 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:48.780 with this, 00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:50.500 that it's real bad. 00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.720 Sin is really bad. 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:54.480 Paul concludes in these final verses, 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:57.160 though they knew God's righteous decree, 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:59.420 that those who practice such things 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.380 deserve to die. 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:02.240 They not only do them, 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:05.779 but give approval to those who practice them. 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:08.059 Paul reminds us that mankind 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:11.519 has to know about God's righteous requirements. 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:13.839 He has to know about God's righteousness. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:13.980 righteousness. 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:17.640 But not only did they not practice 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:19.500 that righteousness that God requires, 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:21.779 they then encouraged others to do it. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.259 And that's worse 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:25.900 because we've gone from partaking in sin, 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:28.120 knowing what's going to happen, 00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:30.700 to then encouraging others, 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:32.220 cheering them on from the sidelines 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:32.539 and saying, 00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:34.079 yeah, you go do that too. 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.559 Or you go do that. 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.779 Knowing full well 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:38.279 what is to come for them. 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:40.419 That's what makes it worse. 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:43.039 It's knowing 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:44.919 that there's a penalty coming, 00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:46.079 a just penalty, 00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.500 a known penalty. 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:50.079 It's not some shifting scale, 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.619 some sliding rule 00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:52.579 of what's going to happen, 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:54.539 and I'm trying to figure that out. 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.740 No, we've known the rule 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.440 from the beginning, 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.440 God says, 00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.099 from his word. 00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.679 We've known the rule 00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:01.220 from Deuteronomy that we read. 00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.619 It's been clear. 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:04.759 It's something that God 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:06.059 told his people of old. 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:08.359 It's not a shifting standard. 00:20:09.199 --> 00:20:10.500 It's clear from what we read 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.500 earlier in our service. 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:13.739 It's clear from what happens 00:20:13.739 --> 00:20:14.259 in the garden. 00:20:14.699 --> 00:20:16.079 It's clear from what happens 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.919 to God's people all along the way. 00:20:18.199 --> 00:20:21.459 It's clear even under those kings 00:20:21.459 --> 00:20:23.359 who led God's people astray 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:25.479 to worship things that were untrue. 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.579 It is clear. 00:20:26.919 --> 00:20:29.439 It's clear from God's own son, 00:20:29.699 --> 00:20:30.359 his witness. 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:33.240 It's clear that sin 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:34.339 is breaking God's law. 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:37.679 It's clear that it's cosmic treason, 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.179 that we are enemies of God, 00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.759 and we have to have something 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.259 to reconcile us, 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:45.199 to restore us to right relationship. 00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:46.779 That's clear. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.199 Clear that we deserve 00:20:49.199 --> 00:20:52.199 the righteous penalty for sin. 00:20:52.719 --> 00:20:54.879 You and me. 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:59.000 Isaiah reminds us of this 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.059 in chapter 59. 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.019 He writes this, 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.680 Your iniquities have made 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:04.519 a separation between you 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.259 and your God. 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:07.599 Your sins have hidden his face 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:09.279 so that he does not hear. 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:12.180 For your hands are defiled with blood 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:14.059 and your fingers with iniquity. 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.640 Your lips have spoken lies. 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:17.619 Your tongue mutters wickedness. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.880 And then he'll go on later 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:21.680 and say these famous lines, 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:23.440 Their feet run to evil, 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:24.900 and they are swift 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.779 to shed innocent blood. 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.460 This is the type of story, 00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:32.220 both in Paul and even in Isaiah, 00:21:32.340 --> 00:21:34.279 that leaves us deeply unsettled. 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:36.460 Because at this point in the story, 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.400 we're at the conclusion. 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:40.259 But we walk away from the story 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:42.759 not knowing necessarily what to do. 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.360 And you look at the story 00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:44.860 and wonder, 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:49.200 there's no good end to this. 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:51.640 I know this is an unpopular opinion, 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:53.039 but a few years ago, 00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:54.100 there was a movie that came out 00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:55.640 by Cormac McCarthy, 00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:57.340 No Country for Old Men. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.160 And the movie follows along, 00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:00.580 and you walk away from the movie 00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.779 wondering what happened. 00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:03.100 Where is the resolution? 00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:04.779 Where is the white knight coming in? 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:06.960 Some will argue there is resolution. 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:08.019 I don't think there is. 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:10.140 The same is true 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.920 if you think about 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.200 what we've gone through in Judges. 00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:15.279 You have humans doing absolute wickedness 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.039 to other humans, 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:17.120 and you're left thinking, 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.279 what is going to go on? 00:22:19.139 --> 00:22:20.759 And you're left with these words. 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:24.559 For there was no king in Israel, 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:26.839 and everyone did what was right 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:28.079 in their own eyes. 00:22:29.479 --> 00:22:30.759 The same is true 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.039 when you come to this section 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.239 of Romans 1. 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:34.979 And even more so 00:22:34.979 --> 00:22:35.699 when we think about 00:22:35.699 --> 00:22:38.119 what's gone on from 18 to here, 00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.259 verse 18 to here. 00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.559 You're left thinking, 00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.679 what is going to go on? 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:42.599 There's no hope. 00:22:42.719 --> 00:22:43.459 There's no conclusion. 00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:44.439 There's no resolution. 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:46.440 We're just left 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:48.279 knowing that 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:50.559 man has broken God's law, 00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:53.320 and we're left kind of wanting. 00:22:54.340 --> 00:22:55.880 What am I supposed to do with that, Paul? 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:58.440 Are you a great storyteller or not? 00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.080 But, 00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:02.400 in the famous 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:04.940 words of Paul Harvey, 00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:06.480 the radio storyteller, 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:08.019 he had a famous line 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.559 that he closed 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:10.940 each radio segment with. 00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:13.460 Now you know 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.559 the rest of the story. 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.559 And he did that 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.460 because when he would 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:18.220 tell his stories, 00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:19.059 he would leave out 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:20.019 a certain element 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.220 that would make you 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.320 think about the story, 00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:23.580 and then he'd flip the script, 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.580 much like Jesus 00:23:24.580 --> 00:23:25.220 in the parables. 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:26.740 He would draw 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.620 the Pharisees in, 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.559 and then he would 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.539 reveal to them 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.680 something that they had missed. 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.660 And Paul Harvey 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.700 does the same thing 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.860 when he introduces 00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:35.140 either the name of the person 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.200 or a crucial element. 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.120 The same is true 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:39.220 here in Romans 1. 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:42.620 If we just left it at this, 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.700 we would miss 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.900 the rest of the story. 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.980 It's just like we famously do 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.460 with something in Romans 3. 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.759 The wages of sin 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.200 are death, 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.620 but there's something 00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:53.380 that comes after, 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.559 and if we miss that part, 00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:56.079 the gift of God 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:56.960 is eternal life. 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.660 We've missed 00:23:58.660 --> 00:24:00.279 that big part of the story. 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:03.100 And here in Romans 1, 00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:06.420 it's not the whole story. 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:07.480 There's something 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.539 that comes later. 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.960 Thankfully, 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:13.059 Paul is that good storyteller, 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.839 and he'll follow that up 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:16.440 with all that comes in Romans, 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:18.120 exposing and looking 00:24:18.120 --> 00:24:19.640 at this beautiful gift 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.720 that is Jesus. 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.160 Now earlier, 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:26.519 I read part of Isaiah 59, 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.299 but that's not 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:29.900 even the whole story either. 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:32.539 The Puritans called Isaiah 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:34.240 the gospel of Isaiah 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:36.220 because of this. 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.220 What follows 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.980 what I read in chapter 59 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:39.640 is this. 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.140 The Lord saw it, 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.620 and it displeased him. 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.900 There was no justice. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.620 He saw there was no man 00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:46.120 and wondered 00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:47.059 why there was no one 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.700 to intercede. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:50.140 Then his own arm 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:51.059 brought salvation, 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.680 and his righteousness 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.720 upheld him. 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.339 He put on garments 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.799 of vengeance for clothing 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.720 and wrapped himself 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.380 in a cloak. 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:00.220 According to their deeds, 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.440 he will repay. 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.460 Wrath to adversaries, 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.779 repayment to his enemies, 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:06.400 so they shall fear 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.299 the name of the Lord 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:07.960 from the west 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:09.059 and his glory 00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:10.360 from the rising of the sun. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.420 That picture's pretty bleak. 00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:14.100 Where's the hope? 00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:15.100 Where's the rest 00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:15.860 of the story? 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.480 It's this. 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:18.880 And a redeemer 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.059 will come to Zion, 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.299 and those in Jacob 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:23.160 who turn from transgression 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:24.200 declares the Lord. 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:27.019 What Isaiah captured 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.380 is that redeemer 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:29.200 has come, 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:32.080 that God doesn't leave us 00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:32.960 here in this. 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:36.200 He makes a way for us. 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:38.080 He sends his own son 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:39.240 to take on 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.720 the righteous punishment 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:42.039 that is required 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.680 by the law. 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.840 That's bad. 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.940 It's really bad. 00:25:46.360 --> 00:25:47.080 It's death. 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:49.759 That those who put their faith 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:51.080 and trust in him 00:25:51.080 --> 00:25:53.440 do not receive that death. 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:57.820 for my sin, 00:25:58.080 --> 00:25:58.940 for your sin, 00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:01.380 for anyone of us 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:02.600 that would believe in him. 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.460 Have you, 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.960 will you, 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:10.000 put your faith in Christ? 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:12.440 Will you continue to do so, 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.900 or will you think 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:15.400 day by day 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:17.240 that I'm really not that bad? 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.259 And then the witness 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:20.680 of Romans 1 tells us, 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.279 no, it's you too. 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:24.759 It's all of us. 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.899 Will we see our sin 00:26:26.899 --> 00:26:27.819 more and more? 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.639 Will we not grow 00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.980 discouraged by that, 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:31.160 but see the glory 00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:32.720 of Jesus' sacrifice 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.359 as more beautiful 00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:36.079 than anything else? 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:38.039 Will we trust him 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:38.980 because of that? 00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:41.899 Now you know 00:26:41.899 --> 00:26:43.660 the rest of the story. 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.960 The setting shows us 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:47.079 sin is everywhere. 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:49.420 He introduces this plot twist 00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:49.960 to show us 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.859 we can't escape. 00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:52.180 None of us can. 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.799 He concludes, 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.319 but then doesn't tell us 00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.480 the rest of the story. 00:26:56.899 --> 00:26:58.359 The rest of the story 00:26:58.359 --> 00:27:00.019 that Christ has come. 00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:02.079 Now we know 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.920 the rest 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:04.480 of the greatest story 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.319 ever told. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.359 Let's pray. 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.660 Lord, 00:27:07.740 --> 00:27:08.160 we're thankful 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:09.019 for your word 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:10.619 in reminding us 00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:12.399 that we are sinners, 00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:13.899 but we are not left there. 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.799 That you have sent your son 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:16.779 to redeem us. 00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:17.779 Father, 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:18.799 if we put our faith 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:20.399 and trust in him 00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:21.279 for the forgiveness 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.940 of sin, 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.359 that he has righteously 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:24.879 fulfilled the requirement 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.639 of the law. 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.379 And he has truly 00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:28.539 borne the punishment 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:30.599 for our own sin. 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.299 He died, 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:34.460 and he was raised again. 00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:36.639 May we do that this day. 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.799 In Jesus' name, 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:38.339 Amen. 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:38.460 Amen. 00:27:38.460 --> 00:28:08.440 Thank you.