WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.540 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:09.919 Please turn with me to Romans chapter 7. 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:17.620 And we're going to read from verses 4 to verse 13. 00:00:18.400 --> 00:00:23.500 First few verses of the chapter give marriage as an illustration. 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:36.840 And then from verse 4 it explains how that relates to us as Christians giving us freedom from the law. 00:00:38.259 --> 00:00:44.859 So Romans chapter 7 and starting at verse 4. 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:52.579 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, 00:00:52.740 --> 00:00:56.960 so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, 00:00:57.259 --> 00:00:59.359 in order that we may bear fruit for God. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:05.239 But while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions aroused by the law 00:01:05.239 --> 00:01:08.420 were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 00:01:09.539 --> 00:01:13.900 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:19.200 so that we serve in a new way of the spirit and not in the old way of the written code. 00:01:20.580 --> 00:01:21.880 What then shall we say? 00:01:22.740 --> 00:01:23.700 That the law is sin? 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:25.500 By no means. 00:01:26.360 --> 00:01:31.140 Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. 00:01:32.080 --> 00:01:36.080 For I would not have known what it was to covet if the law had said, 00:01:36.660 --> 00:01:37.320 You shall not covet. 00:01:38.180 --> 00:01:41.500 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, 00:01:41.500 --> 00:02:10.960 deceived me and through it killed me. 00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:17.520 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:22.039 Did that which is good then, death to me? 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:23.759 By no means. 00:02:23.860 --> 00:02:28.000 It was sin producing death in me through what is good, 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:30.960 in order that sin might be shown to be sin, 00:02:31.460 --> 00:02:35.800 and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 00:02:35.800 --> 00:02:41.060 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:49.960 Welcome to Jacob and Annabelle and Little Adelaide. 00:02:50.160 --> 00:02:51.380 It's the first Sunday with us, right? 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:51.719 Yeah. 00:02:53.060 --> 00:02:53.500 All right. 00:02:53.580 --> 00:02:55.280 Look forward to seeing Little Adelaide. 00:02:56.720 --> 00:02:58.300 Well, why don't we pray as we come to God's word. 00:02:58.380 --> 00:02:58.680 Let's pray. 00:02:58.680 --> 00:02:58.720 Let's pray. 00:02:58.720 --> 00:02:58.740 Let's pray. 00:02:58.740 --> 00:02:58.780 Let's pray. 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:05.780 Let's pray. 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:12.760 Lord in heaven, please open your word to each of our hearts. 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:16.680 Please fill me with your spirit as I speak. 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:26.200 Fill all of us with your spirit so that we might go deeper in our grasp of your word, 00:03:26.200 --> 00:03:28.600 which points us to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:40.620 Holy Spirit, lead us deeper into the promised land of rest in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:42.079 In Jesus' name. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:42.460 Amen. 00:03:44.460 --> 00:03:53.660 Well, do you have such a big view of grace, God's grace, 00:03:54.220 --> 00:04:01.540 that we feel the problem that Paul is addressing in what Gareth read for us, 00:04:01.540 --> 00:04:06.220 that we need to be freed from God's law? 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:10.759 There's something jar in your head. 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:20.560 Do you have such a big view of grace that we even understand the problem that Paul is addressing? 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:31.259 He keeps making these radical, total, negative statements about the law. 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:33.139 And we've got to remember who Paul is. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:35.240 He is a Hebrew of Hebrews. 00:04:35.699 --> 00:04:42.680 As to the law of Pharisee, like the Torah was everything to this man at one point in his life. 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:43.800 It was his identity. 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:45.439 It was his purpose for living. 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:48.560 He saw everything revolving around it. 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:50.620 We've got to remember who is saying these things. 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:54.699 But now he says in Romans things like this. 00:04:56.180 --> 00:04:57.280 Chapter 3, verse 20, 00:04:58.340 --> 00:05:01.340 Through the law comes knowledge of sin. 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:04.060 Chapter 4, verse 15, 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:07.220 The law brings wrath. 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:10.400 Chapter 5, verse 20, 00:05:11.060 --> 00:05:14.320 Talking about the period in time between Adam and Moses. 00:05:15.380 --> 00:05:19.500 The law came in to increase the trespass. 00:05:21.460 --> 00:05:23.040 Chapter 6, verse 14, 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:26.140 Speaking to believers who are united to Jesus, 00:05:27.020 --> 00:05:30.140 Sin will have no power, no dominion over you, 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:34.640 Since you are not under law, but under grace. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:38.879 He's connecting law with being under the power of sin. 00:05:40.860 --> 00:05:42.360 And then as we heard last week, 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:43.339 Chapter 7, verse 5, 00:05:43.860 --> 00:05:45.180 While we were living in the flesh, 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:48.159 Our sinful passions aroused by the law. 00:05:50.599 --> 00:05:53.219 We're at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 00:05:55.300 --> 00:05:56.959 What are you saying, Paul? 00:05:57.959 --> 00:06:01.199 How does your gospel align with Psalm 19? 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:05.180 The law of the Lord is perfect. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:09.060 The commandment of the Lord is pure. 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:12.899 The rules of the Lord are true. 00:06:14.719 --> 00:06:16.399 By them is your servant warned. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:19.639 In keeping them there is great reward. 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:21.899 But, Paul, 00:06:22.980 --> 00:06:25.319 You are saying that God's law, 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:26.360 Given through Moses, 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:27.199 Is sinful. 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:30.039 As if it's opposed to God somehow. 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:33.420 You are making God's law, 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:35.560 Out to be a murderer. 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:37.460 Bringing death. 00:06:43.220 --> 00:06:44.480 Paul's gut response, 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:46.460 His instinctive response, 00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:48.100 Before he gives any explanation, 00:06:48.320 --> 00:06:48.620 Is just, 00:06:48.860 --> 00:06:49.580 By no means. 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:51.379 By no means. 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:53.899 So, 00:06:54.180 --> 00:06:55.740 As we come to this, 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:57.519 We need to ask ourselves, 00:06:57.699 --> 00:07:01.540 Do you have such a big view of grace, 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:05.899 That you feel the weight of this problem? 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:09.199 How does that fit with God's law? 00:07:10.659 --> 00:07:12.839 How do you feel these negative view of the law? 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:17.619 Paul has two purposes in this paragraph, 00:07:17.619 --> 00:07:19.959 That we're going to go through. 00:07:20.359 --> 00:07:22.159 The first is to vindicate the law. 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:23.879 The law is not the problem. 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:26.939 And the second purpose is to demonstrate, 00:07:27.219 --> 00:07:29.599 All these negative claims he's been saying, 00:07:29.899 --> 00:07:31.620 He now demonstrates it. 00:07:33.059 --> 00:07:35.959 The law cannot break the power of sin. 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:38.180 In fact, 00:07:38.239 --> 00:07:39.939 The law brings sin to life. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:44.659 We need to understand this, 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:50.019 So that we can grasp how wonderful the news is, 00:07:50.659 --> 00:07:53.079 That Jesus has freed us from the law. 00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:54.339 We need to understand this. 00:07:56.219 --> 00:07:57.299 To understand it, 00:07:57.919 --> 00:07:59.779 There's going to be a mirror put up, 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:01.459 For all of us. 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:02.859 Because Paul is going to, 00:08:02.859 --> 00:08:05.699 Invite us into his own soul. 00:08:06.059 --> 00:08:07.139 Into his own mind. 00:08:07.979 --> 00:08:08.799 And that's going to, 00:08:09.459 --> 00:08:10.459 Make us, 00:08:11.039 --> 00:08:12.339 Look into our own soul. 00:08:14.019 --> 00:08:15.259 And it's not pretty. 00:08:16.500 --> 00:08:17.599 It is not pretty. 00:08:18.779 --> 00:08:19.159 We do, 00:08:19.339 --> 00:08:21.219 We go to great lengths to avoid, 00:08:21.319 --> 00:08:22.759 Analyzing ourselves. 00:08:24.219 --> 00:08:25.679 But the more you look, 00:08:26.859 --> 00:08:27.879 The more, 00:08:28.539 --> 00:08:29.479 It will lead you, 00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:32.120 To God's super abounding grace. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:35.240 You will end up singing in the end. 00:08:35.439 --> 00:08:36.259 But you've got to look. 00:08:38.939 --> 00:08:40.100 If you don't look, 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:42.439 You will love Jesus less. 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:45.319 We've got to look into this mirror. 00:08:49.459 --> 00:08:50.459 Okay, Paul, 00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:51.759 Explain yourself. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:56.419 Why do you say such negative things, 00:08:56.419 --> 00:08:57.699 About God's law? 00:08:57.700 --> 00:09:01.960 And he uses the tenth commandment, 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:04.759 The last of the ten commandments, 00:09:04.980 --> 00:09:06.180 You shall not cover, 00:09:06.280 --> 00:09:07.160 As a case study. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:08.660 Now why? 00:09:09.140 --> 00:09:10.900 Did he just pluck one out at random? 00:09:11.800 --> 00:09:13.960 Did Paul have a particular problem, 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:14.720 With coveting? 00:09:15.400 --> 00:09:16.340 Maybe you've got a problem, 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:17.360 With one of the others, 00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:18.520 But he's got a problem with this. 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:20.360 Well, 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:21.159 We need to understand, 00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:22.019 What coveting is. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:25.199 I think the original commandment, 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:25.659 The wording, 00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:26.319 The context, 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:27.720 Kind of explains it. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.000 We grasp it pretty quickly. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:31.059 Exodus 20, 00:09:31.579 --> 00:09:33.019 You shall not cover, 00:09:33.139 --> 00:09:34.240 Your neighbour's house. 00:09:35.179 --> 00:09:36.579 You shall not cover, 00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:37.679 Your neighbour's wife. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:40.259 Or his male servant, 00:09:40.459 --> 00:09:41.739 Or his female servant, 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:42.559 Or his ox, 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:43.339 Or his donkey, 00:09:43.479 --> 00:09:44.139 Or anything, 00:09:44.659 --> 00:09:45.979 That is your neighbour's. 00:09:47.979 --> 00:09:49.979 So coveting is more than saying, 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:52.659 That'd be really nice to have that. 00:09:53.339 --> 00:09:54.679 It's more than that attitude. 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:57.939 Let me try and illustrate it, 00:09:57.940 --> 00:09:58.600 And myself, 00:09:58.740 --> 00:09:59.380 Like sometimes, 00:09:59.640 --> 00:10:00.020 Emma and I, 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:00.780 We go for a walk, 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:01.540 Around our neighbourhood, 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:03.540 And I'm just looking around, 00:10:03.680 --> 00:10:04.580 Looking at the houses, 00:10:04.660 --> 00:10:05.520 As we walk by, 00:10:05.640 --> 00:10:07.500 And I look at someone's, 00:10:07.500 --> 00:10:09.060 Really well kept garden, 00:10:09.560 --> 00:10:11.320 And appreciate how beautiful it is. 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:13.340 And then I see this, 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:14.840 Lovely car, 00:10:15.140 --> 00:10:15.900 In the driveway, 00:10:15.900 --> 00:10:17.980 And then my eye is drawn, 00:10:18.140 --> 00:10:18.920 To the next house, 00:10:19.020 --> 00:10:20.400 Which has this huge deck, 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:22.160 This barbecue area, 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:24.420 That's lovely. 00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:25.080 Now, 00:10:26.060 --> 00:10:26.280 Now, 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:27.120 Please understand, 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.720 There's nothing inherently wrong, 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:29.259 With going, 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:30.240 That is quality. 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:32.039 That's beautiful. 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:33.560 Nothing wrong with that. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.720 But something else can creep in. 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:38.779 This disquiet, 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:39.740 In my heart, 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:40.060 This, 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:42.259 This discontentment, 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:43.259 With my own lot, 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:44.039 In life. 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:46.279 This desire, 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:47.679 To possess that, 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:48.620 For myself. 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:51.039 Something else creeps in. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:52.740 Ruining the walk, 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:53.259 By the way, 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:53.500 Like, 00:10:56.460 --> 00:10:56.940 Now, 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:57.879 Before we think, 00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:59.139 This is just a minor sin, 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:02.240 Coveting can lead, 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:04.120 To awful violence, 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:05.179 Against our neighbour. 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:08.100 It led to King David's adultery, 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:11.759 It led to Cain, 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.060 Murdering his brother. 00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:16.600 James 4 tells us, 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:17.779 What causes fights, 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:18.960 And quarrels among you, 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:19.600 In the church? 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.000 Coveting. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:22.039 Coveting. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:29.539 So what's changed, 00:11:29.539 --> 00:11:31.679 From admiring something as good, 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:34.379 To needing to possess it? 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:36.320 Something's changed. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:39.220 Two things I can see. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:40.679 The first is, 00:11:40.779 --> 00:11:42.179 It's not letting God be God. 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:44.779 You could say, 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:46.879 That person owns a lovely house, 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:48.000 I don't own a house, 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:48.840 But that's okay, 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:50.200 The Lord knows best. 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:50.759 No, 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.900 God doesn't know best. 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:57.280 He is withholding life from me, 00:11:57.640 --> 00:11:59.720 I must change my lot in life. 00:12:00.280 --> 00:12:02.180 So I think the first thing that's going on is, 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:02.740 You're not letting, 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:04.520 We're not letting God be God. 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:08.820 I think the second thing that's going on is, 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.940 We're looking horizontally, 00:12:10.940 --> 00:12:14.500 What will only be made to find, 00:12:15.020 --> 00:12:16.180 Vertically in God. 00:12:17.260 --> 00:12:19.420 It's believing that a created thing, 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:20.500 Can give life, 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:21.280 Joy, 00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:23.460 And peace in my soul. 00:12:28.040 --> 00:12:29.480 Does it remind you of anyone? 00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:32.940 Like apart from me, 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:34.320 I've already confessed that, 00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:35.900 Does it remind you of anyone? 00:12:37.420 --> 00:12:38.980 I think in Paul's mind, 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:40.680 We've got Adam and Eve, 00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:41.320 Very, 00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:42.140 Very, 00:12:42.560 --> 00:12:43.900 Behind the surface here. 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:46.680 It's the essence of the original sin. 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:51.640 Paul isn't picking the tenth commandment, 00:12:51.940 --> 00:12:52.440 At random. 00:12:52.560 --> 00:12:53.160 It's not random. 00:12:53.780 --> 00:12:55.500 Coveting is at the essence of sin. 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:58.060 It's rebellion against God's authority, 00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.720 And it's idolatry. 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:01.600 Looking in a created thing, 00:13:03.660 --> 00:13:05.580 For that wholeness in your heart, 00:13:06.160 --> 00:13:07.320 That you can only find in God. 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.160 It's rebellion, 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:09.200 And it's idolatry. 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:10.640 And so it actually, 00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:12.360 I think it actually bookends, 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.180 The ten commandments. 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:15.920 It's breaking those first two, 00:13:16.900 --> 00:13:17.960 In how we treat our neighbour. 00:13:20.160 --> 00:13:21.860 The other thing about the tenth commandment, 00:13:22.020 --> 00:13:23.180 And it's worth noting this, 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.600 Is that, 00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:26.460 It's an internal attitude. 00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:28.240 So, 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:29.180 The other commandments, 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:31.520 About keep the Sabbath holy, 00:13:31.680 --> 00:13:32.260 Don't work. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:33.620 That's a behaviour. 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:36.159 But you hit the tenth commandment, 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:37.579 And suddenly, 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:38.500 Don't covet. 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:40.860 That's an internal attitude. 00:13:44.699 --> 00:13:46.120 You might be able to control, 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:47.259 Not working on the Sabbath, 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:48.600 But can you control, 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:51.019 Your internal heart? 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:55.699 So as Paul uses the tenth commandment, 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:56.419 As a case study, 00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:58.480 Because coveting is at the essence of sin, 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:01.519 We need to hear this as the dynamic, 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.939 Between sin and law, 00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:04.139 For all of God's law. 00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:12.000 So why does God's law increase sin, 00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:13.480 Rather than stop sin? 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.139 He says, 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:17.500 If it had not been for the law, 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:19.580 I would not have known sin. 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:23.780 God's law defines sin. 00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.840 In chapter 5, 00:14:26.900 --> 00:14:27.379 Verse 13, 00:14:27.520 --> 00:14:28.100 Paul has said, 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:30.759 That before the law came through Moses, 00:14:31.420 --> 00:14:33.200 Sin and the consequences of sin, 00:14:33.300 --> 00:14:34.639 Were in the world since Adam. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.320 So sin was in the world, 00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:36.879 But, 00:14:37.400 --> 00:14:38.480 In verse 13, 00:14:39.160 --> 00:14:39.480 It says, 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.940 Sin is not counted, 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.680 Where there is no law. 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:45.540 That doesn't mean there's no sin. 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:46.200 There's sin, 00:14:47.780 --> 00:14:48.600 And the flood, 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.580 God, in the time of Noah, 00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:50.240 Proves that. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:52.540 God treats people as sinners, 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:54.500 Even if they don't have a written law. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:55.700 And, 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.560 Go back and read Romans 1-3, 00:14:58.800 --> 00:15:00.139 To work out why. 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.759 None of us live up, 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:03.159 What we know is right. 00:15:03.300 --> 00:15:03.480 We've got, 00:15:03.820 --> 00:15:04.420 To some extent, 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:05.659 All of us as image bearers, 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:07.460 Have God's law written on our hearts. 00:15:07.540 --> 00:15:08.240 To some extent, 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.259 We all have a conscience. 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.980 But the word counted here, 00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:14.259 Has the idea of, 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:14.899 In a ledger. 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:15.460 It's not, 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.960 You don't have a criminal record. 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:19.519 It's not written down. 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:20.540 Your sin, 00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:22.920 Sin isn't recorded as law breaking, 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:25.060 Because you don't know the law. 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:28.259 But then, 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:30.120 A commandment comes in, 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.440 And it increases, 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:34.580 The seriousness of the wrongdoing. 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:35.600 The wrongdoing was there. 00:15:36.540 --> 00:15:37.680 But when the law comes in, 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:38.800 It increases, 00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:40.279 How serious it is. 00:15:41.700 --> 00:15:42.980 Let me try and give an illustration. 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:43.279 Okay, 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:44.340 It's Tuesday afternoon. 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:48.660 Your children are home from school, 00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:52.120 And your child is playing on their Nintendo Switch. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:53.420 Alright, 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.040 And you ask, 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.180 You got any homework to do? 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:56.680 Yes. 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:58.160 Have you done it? 00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.200 No. 00:16:00.540 --> 00:16:01.580 Then comes the command, 00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:02.440 Turn that off, 00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:03.639 Finish your homework, 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.120 And then you can play it. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.560 You go, 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:09.100 You bring in the washing, 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.560 You come into the lounge room, 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.320 And behold, 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:14.639 Your sweet dear child, 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:16.480 Is on that switch. 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:20.120 Now we all know what comes next. 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.299 Wrath. 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:25.700 Wrath. 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:28.280 Now why does wrath come? 00:16:29.520 --> 00:16:31.000 Because that general, 00:16:31.520 --> 00:16:33.120 Vague wrongness, 00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:35.879 Is now crossing a clear line. 00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:39.560 They've transgressed a clear line. 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.580 And more than that, 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:44.040 They are now rebelling against you, 00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:45.780 As the rightful authority. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:46.860 Sorry kids. 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.160 Not sorry. 00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:49.020 Listen up kids. 00:16:50.660 --> 00:16:52.700 It's an act of rebellion. 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:54.900 And so wrath comes. 00:16:55.700 --> 00:17:01.040 Law increases sin. 00:17:01.160 --> 00:17:03.420 It shows the greatness of the offence. 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.980 It turns it into transgression, 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.500 And rebellion, 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.680 Bringing more wrath. 00:17:11.840 --> 00:17:13.140 Now we haven't come yet, 00:17:13.360 --> 00:17:15.160 To why the commandment brings death. 00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:17.500 Because defining, 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:19.319 Educating us on what is right, 00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:20.039 And what is wrong, 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.160 That would be a really wonderful thing, 00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:24.900 If we had the power to stop doing wrong, 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:26.120 And delighted, 00:17:26.360 --> 00:17:27.560 In choosing to do the right. 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:29.400 We haven't come to the problem yet. 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.240 And that brings us, 00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:31.519 To verses 8 to 11. 00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:34.880 The law arouses sin. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:36.300 It wakes sin up. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.240 How does it do that? 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:37.740 To grasp, 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:43.859 To grasp, 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:46.620 More clearly, 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.059 I think, 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:48.279 What's going on here, 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:50.839 There's lots of language of life and death. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.299 Sin is dead. 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:54.440 The commandment comes, 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.519 And it comes to life. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.240 I was alive. 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.440 The commandment comes, 00:17:58.880 --> 00:17:59.579 And I die. 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:02.059 There's lots of life and death going on here. 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:06.879 To understand what Paul is saying, 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:11.619 It helps to know Paul's theology of the law as a Jew, 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:16.539 And what his Jewish contemporaries thought the theology was. 00:18:17.659 --> 00:18:21.000 And in case you're thinking that's going to be really complex, 00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:22.899 Paul quotes one verse. 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:25.059 You want to understand the theology, 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:27.539 Of Jewish theology? 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.220 One verse. 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:30.799 It's Leviticus 18 verse 5. 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.779 He quotes it, 00:18:33.360 --> 00:18:35.680 In Romans 10 and Galatians 3, 00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:39.180 In two very critical passages about salvation by faith. 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:45.860 This verse is almost as important as understanding Genesis 15, 6, 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:49.039 That Abraham believed God, 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:50.460 And it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:52.259 This is a big verse in Paul's thinking. 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:56.220 So Leviticus 18, 5. 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.519 I am the Lord your God. 00:18:58.220 --> 00:19:00.680 You shall therefore keep my statutes, 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:01.579 My written laws, 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:03.259 And my rules. 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:06.799 If a person does them, 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:10.319 He shall live by them. 00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.339 I am the Lord. 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:16.059 The law is about doing. 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:18.680 If a person does them. 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:22.720 And life is the reward for doing. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:27.079 I think in the original context, 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:29.960 Life would have been understood as the blessings of the covenant. 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:33.579 So I could live in the land under the blessings of the covenant. 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:35.680 Later on in Jewish thinking, 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:38.339 That life turned into eternal life. 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:40.799 The law promises life. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.359 The law promises life. 00:19:42.159 --> 00:19:45.480 But it depends on a person doing the law. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.659 If a person doesn't do them, 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:51.059 They get covenant curse. 00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:51.980 Cut off. 00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:52.959 Exiled. 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:53.799 Put to death. 00:19:54.199 --> 00:19:55.759 Out of the camp of God's people. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:58.200 It's all dependent on doing. 00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:06.160 You hear Leviticus 18, 5 in Jesus' words in Luke 10, 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:09.099 In the introduction to the Good Samaritan parable. 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.460 You can have a look at that later. 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:14.920 So the law promised life as a reward for doing. 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:18.180 That's key here. 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:22.080 And I think it unlocks why Paul is using the language of life and death. 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:23.160 He's confronting that. 00:20:27.380 --> 00:20:31.340 Sin uses the law to launch an attack. 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:35.100 It seizes the opportunity. 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:38.740 It uses that to launch an attack on us. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:41.180 To incite us to do more sin. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:44.840 You think law puts sin to death. 00:20:45.360 --> 00:20:45.740 No. 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:50.000 Apart from the law, sin lies dead. 00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:54.539 Now that dead most likely has the meaning of powerless. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.880 It can only do so much. 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:59.220 It's dormant. 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:03.259 It can't be saying that sin doesn't exist. 00:21:04.080 --> 00:21:05.900 That would contradict the rest of Romans. 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:09.519 It's lying dormant. 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:13.560 But then the commandment comes and sin comes to life. 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:18.800 Now, again, let's remember who's saying this. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:23.740 This is the Apostle Paul, the spiritual giant, saying, 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:32.380 sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:37.240 This is the Apostle saying all kinds of covetousness. 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:45.940 Once I know what coveting is, sin creates covetous desires everywhere. 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:51.180 Emma and I went out for dinner. 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:52.700 I can't even remember when it was. 00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.259 Monday? 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:55.900 Anyway, a couple of days ago. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:59.119 We went out for dinner and we ordered our meals. 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:03.519 And as soon as they arrived, I wanted hers. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:09.200 Now, once I understood what coveting is, I wasn't thankful to God. 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.819 Thank you so much, God, for my meal. 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:12.339 I was coveting hers. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.759 Now I know what coveting is. 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:18.539 I can covet someone's health and their fitness. 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:22.839 I can covet someone's intelligence and their knowledge. 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:26.539 I can covet someone's charisma, their discipline. 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:30.379 I can covet someone's spiritual gifts that they're using in the church. 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:32.839 I can covet another church that's flourishing. 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:38.180 Once you know what coveting is, it's everywhere. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:42.779 It's every waking moment. 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:50.519 The law promises life to those who do not covet, but sin uses it to show me, 00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:54.240 just to awaken sin, and I'm transgressing left, right, and center. 00:22:56.539 --> 00:23:05.639 St. Augustine, in his really famous book, The Confessions, 00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:08.799 the whole book is a prayer, really. 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:11.420 He's reflecting on this one time as a youth. 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:17.139 He and some other kids, they stole some pears, some pears from an orchard. 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:21.339 And he was reflecting on why he did that. 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:23.539 What was his motivation in doing that? 00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.500 Because he wasn't hungry. 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:29.240 He didn't steal the pear because it would be pleasurable to eat, 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.539 because they threw the pears away. 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:38.839 And then he reflects, they wouldn't have done it if they were allowed to. 00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:46.200 He concludes, he stole the pear for the pleasure of knowing it was wrong. 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:52.140 And he's just like, whoa, what is that in me? 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:59.200 The rule created in him a desire to break it, to be the one who makes the rules. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:07.440 I think people designing diets understand this principle. 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:12.740 You tell yourself you can't have chocolate and dessert, and you turn up at Bible study. 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:17.080 Does that eradicate the desire to dig in? 00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:19.500 It does not remove the desire. 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.720 I don't know what you've found. 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.279 It increases the desire. 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:24.600 I'm distracted, the whole Bible study. 00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:25.500 I want to eat that. 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.699 Sin deceives me. 00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:38.159 Thinking I could do the law and get life and blessing as a reward, 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:44.139 sin used what promised life to murder me by increasing my transgression. 00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:45.140 Sin deceives me. 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:56.280 So how could Paul say as a Jew he was once apart from the law? 00:24:57.060 --> 00:25:01.220 This has led some, there's debate as to who the I is in this passage, 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:03.460 so you can go away and read about that. 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:07.000 But this has led some to think he's talking about Adam in the garden, 00:25:07.540 --> 00:25:11.000 because surely only Adam was fully alive apart from the law. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:13.859 But then I think that creates huge problems, 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:18.740 because then it makes out that Adam has a sinful nature, which is not true. 00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.299 Not before the fall. 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:27.980 Others conclude this is talking about, he's talking about Israel as a whole. 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.740 Anyway, you can go read about that. 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:35.160 But I don't see why this can't be true of Paul himself. 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:41.740 But there was a time in his life where he thought he was deserving of life and blessing from God 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.980 based on what he did. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:46.539 Now maybe that was when he was a child, 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:52.240 and he didn't fully understand his moral obligations until he became an adult. 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:56.660 Maybe, I think it's possible even as a Pharisee, 00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:59.259 he thought he was blameless, 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:02.680 but the Tenth Commandment just kept nagging. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:05.000 I think that's possible, 00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:08.259 that everyone else thought he was blameless, 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:11.259 but this internal command of don't covet, 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:13.040 maybe he was very aware of that. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:14.300 I think that's possible. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:18.960 I heard someone else have this theory, 00:26:19.300 --> 00:26:24.920 that the Spirit was convicting him just before the Damascus Road. 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:28.019 So you've got Stephen, the stoning of Stephen. 00:26:28.800 --> 00:26:33.640 And Paul, he prided himself on advancing beyond his peers. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:37.539 And then Stephen, with his wisdom, no one can refute him. 00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:39.000 And what ends up happening? 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:40.980 Paul is approving of his death. 00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:46.400 So maybe he was being convicted just before his conversion, 00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:48.300 or maybe after his conversion, 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:51.240 I thought my righteousness was based on the law. 00:26:51.800 --> 00:26:53.380 And then the Spirit brings that conviction. 00:26:53.380 --> 00:26:55.340 I think any of these are possible. 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:58.400 Whatever the case, before the commandment came, 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:01.800 he once thought he was deserving of God's blessing, 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:02.740 based on what he did. 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.000 The commandment came, 00:27:04.560 --> 00:27:08.480 and he got deeper conviction of his sin, 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.000 his transgression, 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.000 and he knows, 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.640 I deserve wrath, 00:27:14.320 --> 00:27:15.800 not life, 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.020 curse. 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:24.420 The law doesn't break the power of sin. 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:27.259 It increases it. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:31.099 It awakens it. 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:38.279 So we come to Paul's two conclusions in verse 12 and 13. 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:43.639 He returns to that objection. 00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:45.599 Paul, you're making the law to be evil. 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:46.859 No. 00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:48.059 Verse 12, no. 00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:50.000 The law isn't the cause. 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:52.399 It's just the circumstance. 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.480 It's not the cause. 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:56.940 The Mosaic law is holy. 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:58.400 It is from God. 00:27:59.120 --> 00:28:00.160 It is pure. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.799 The commandment, 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:03.620 you shall not covet, 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.599 that is holy. 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:07.059 It is from God. 00:28:07.120 --> 00:28:07.759 It is pure. 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.019 It is righteous. 00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:11.620 It represents God's righteous character. 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.720 It is good. 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.620 It results in life. 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:18.000 Like, imagine if everyone in the world just stopped coveting. 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.819 Wars would stop. 00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:22.919 Marriages would thrive. 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.859 Churches would be unified. 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:27.700 It would bring life. 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.460 It is good. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:34.619 The law in promising life for those who do it is not the problem. 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:36.019 It's not the problem. 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:44.299 So that leads us to the second conclusion in verse 13. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:46.639 Did that which is good then bring death to me? 00:28:46.879 --> 00:28:47.899 Did the law bring death? 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:48.500 No, no, no. 00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:49.759 It's sin. 00:28:49.819 --> 00:29:01.419 Sin producing death in me through what is good in order that sin might be shown to be sin 00:29:01.419 --> 00:29:05.039 and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 00:29:06.179 --> 00:29:07.220 Exceedingly sinful. 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:17.860 If you see yourself as just a bit selfish here and there but otherwise good, 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:23.900 the law teaches us otherwise. 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:34.700 If you blame external influences for turning a person bad, like something that happened in their childhood or whatever, 00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:39.019 if that is your total explanation for why someone turns bad, 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:43.000 the law actually disagrees with you. 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:46.259 There's something internal that's the problem. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:58.019 If you think people are basically selfish and that only if people understood God's law and took it seriously, 00:29:58.019 --> 00:30:00.420 that would solve the problem. 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:04.259 That's not true. 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.519 Sin is more powerful. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:12.539 It will take God's law and make more sin, increase the sin. 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:21.240 Any of these assessments would be deceiving ourselves as to the power of sin in human nature, 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:23.420 handed down since Adam. 00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:26.799 Like think about it. 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:33.839 If not even God's law can restrain your sin but provoke you to more sin, 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:42.379 wow, wow, wow, sin is an enemy that is so strong in us. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:49.879 The law shows me the terrible grit that sin has over me. 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:57.240 It should lead me to feel utterly helpless in saving myself. 00:30:57.240 --> 00:31:04.079 The law isn't sinful but it is weak. 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:10.039 It doesn't have the power to break sin, the power of sin. 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.539 Romans 8 verse 3, 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:20.460 God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do by sending his own son. 00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:25.720 God's law can't break the power of sin. 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.859 I want to keep repeating that. 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:31.960 He can only show us how utterly sinful sin is. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.960 It is so powerful. 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:49.259 I'd like to go back to the original objection that in chapter 6 verse 15, 00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:52.000 what then? 00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:55.019 Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? 00:31:55.019 --> 00:32:02.220 In that objection there is a really wrong view of God's purpose of the law, 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.460 why he gave it. 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:08.579 And if you've got a wrong view of God's purpose in giving the law, 00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:12.279 it's going to lead you to a very superficial understanding of sin 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:18.319 and a very cheap and superficial understanding of grace. 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:23.639 God's purpose in giving the law. 00:32:23.639 --> 00:32:29.419 The wrong view of God's purpose for the law is that the written code gives you power to stop sinning and choose what is right. 00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:36.299 God never gave the law to give you power to conquer sin. 00:32:36.419 --> 00:32:37.679 Otherwise Christ died for nothing. 00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:40.600 Galatians tells us. 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:44.060 Chapter 5 verse 20 has already said, 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:48.180 the law came in to increase the trespass. 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:56.100 We've got to get rid of any idea that God gave his law to provide a way to do what is right and pleasing to him. 00:32:56.099 --> 00:33:01.779 Because it's not just a wrong view of law in the end, 00:33:01.859 --> 00:33:03.059 it's a wrong view of God. 00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:09.679 As if he is the kind of God who needs you to earn his blessing. 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:23.120 And this wrong view of God's purpose for the law leads to a superficial view of sin, I think. 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:26.920 If you think a written code can conquer sin. 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:30.539 It's not that we all have certain vices. 00:33:30.840 --> 00:33:32.120 Someone struggles with pride. 00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:34.259 Another with lust. 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.700 Another with gambling. 00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:38.640 It's not that we all have vices here and there. 00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:41.560 Do you see what's in the mirror? 00:33:42.120 --> 00:33:43.740 Sin is so strong. 00:33:44.040 --> 00:33:44.780 It is an enemy. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:51.480 We've got to get rid of any idea that the written code has the power to break your sin. 00:33:55.020 --> 00:33:57.880 It leads to this superficial definition of sin. 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:01.120 Sin is a powerful enemy in me. 00:34:04.300 --> 00:34:08.180 Because that ends up leading to a cheap and superficial view of grace. 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:13.859 You will think that grace is only forgiveness for the occasional times that you get it wrong. 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:20.079 God's law was given to us to teach us how exceedingly sinful sin is. 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:23.300 To show me I don't only need occasional mercy. 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:25.920 I need someone to deliver me. 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:28.180 To deliver me from me. 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:32.920 We need deliverance from a strong enemy. 00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:35.680 Not just the occasional mercy. 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:39.039 It leads to a shallow view of grace. 00:34:40.659 --> 00:34:43.480 If we have a wrong understanding of God's purpose for the law. 00:34:46.399 --> 00:34:48.619 So should we avoid God's law altogether? 00:34:49.099 --> 00:34:52.059 It's just negative thinking to focus on the law. 00:34:52.879 --> 00:34:54.239 Some Christians seem to do that. 00:34:54.319 --> 00:34:55.639 Some churches seem to do that. 00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:59.099 And sometimes in the name of living by the Spirit. 00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:05.859 If you don't let God's law be a mirror to you. 00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:09.440 To reveal the depths of the power of sin over your human nature. 00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:16.039 It leads to, like I've tried to show, it leads to a very shallow view of grace. 00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:18.359 You can't delight in grace as we should. 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:30.120 God's purpose is to cause us to come to Paul's conclusion in verse 24 of chapter 7. 00:35:32.140 --> 00:35:34.680 Wretched man that I am. 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:37.539 Wretched man that I am. 00:35:39.720 --> 00:35:41.420 In my Adam-like nature. 00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:46.420 Who will deliver me from this body of death? 00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.680 Thanks be to God. 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:53.360 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:35:55.960 --> 00:36:01.980 This is why it's such good news that in the death of Jesus you have been freed from the written code. 00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:04.500 Because the written code arouses your sin. 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:07.039 It's such good news. 00:36:07.120 --> 00:36:08.059 You're free from that. 00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:11.300 That we now have a new husband. 00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:16.099 Who renews us from the inside out. 00:36:16.860 --> 00:36:17.900 By his Spirit. 00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:24.660 Who, as Tim Keller talks about, delivers us from a battle with sin we could not win. 00:36:24.840 --> 00:36:25.620 Sin is too strong. 00:36:25.740 --> 00:36:27.920 Into a battle we can't lose. 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:29.000 Because we're under grace. 00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:32.160 Forgiveness is empowering. 00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:33.019 He's changing. 00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:35.539 Hope of the resurrection. 00:36:36.200 --> 00:36:37.160 When sin will be gone. 00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:46.219 I like how John Piper puts it. 00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:47.319 Belonging to our new husband. 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:50.059 This is no belonging to Jesus. 00:36:50.279 --> 00:36:52.639 This is no external slate of duties. 00:36:52.839 --> 00:36:54.420 This is a spiritual union. 00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:57.039 With an all glorious. 00:36:57.739 --> 00:36:58.899 All providing. 00:36:59.899 --> 00:37:01.319 All satisfying. 00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:03.500 Ever living person. 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:04.039 Ever living person. 00:37:05.660 --> 00:37:08.080 More real than the person sitting next to you. 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:10.539 Our new husband. 00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:14.860 Can provide us with all we need. 00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:19.519 And I think looking to our new husband. 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:20.860 In the Lord Jesus. 00:37:22.120 --> 00:37:24.780 Leads us to another totally positive. 00:37:25.500 --> 00:37:26.940 Purpose of God giving the law. 00:37:28.200 --> 00:37:29.940 It's been very negative purpose of the law. 00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:33.820 Paul is totally negative about the law. 00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:37.039 If you rely on doing it. 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.280 For God to bless you. 00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:39.760 He is totally negative. 00:37:39.900 --> 00:37:41.000 You have died to that. 00:37:43.059 --> 00:37:44.619 But he's totally positive. 00:37:45.679 --> 00:37:46.659 About the law. 00:37:47.480 --> 00:37:48.619 If you see it. 00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:50.240 It's pointing to Christ. 00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:57.019 In what many find to be the greatest paragraph in the Bible. 00:37:57.639 --> 00:37:58.780 In chapter 3. 00:37:58.780 --> 00:38:01.019 How is that introduced? 00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:02.800 Chapter 3 verse 21. 00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:06.140 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested. 00:38:06.300 --> 00:38:07.180 Apart from the law. 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:09.580 Apart from doing the law to earn God's blessing. 00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:11.840 It does not lead to righteousness. 00:38:12.760 --> 00:38:13.780 Only more sin. 00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.160 Although. 00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:18.019 The law. 00:38:18.720 --> 00:38:20.480 And the prophets bear witness to it. 00:38:21.060 --> 00:38:22.000 This new righteousness. 00:38:23.260 --> 00:38:25.280 The righteousness of God through faith. 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:27.880 In Jesus Christ for all who believe. 00:38:27.880 --> 00:38:29.039 Chapter 10. 00:38:29.160 --> 00:38:31.180 He says Christ is the goal. 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:33.940 That the law was always pointing towards. 00:38:34.860 --> 00:38:36.660 If you look to Christ. 00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:38.680 As your new husband. 00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:39.880 Not rule keeping. 00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:43.780 It leads you to a positive purpose. 00:38:43.860 --> 00:38:45.140 In giving to the law as well. 00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:46.139 It leads you to a positive purpose. 00:38:46.139 --> 00:38:47.139 It leads you to a positive purpose. 00:38:47.139 --> 00:38:48.139 It leads you to a positive purpose. 00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:49.139 It leads you to a positive purpose. 00:38:49.139 --> 00:38:50.139 It leads you to a positive purpose. 00:38:50.139 --> 00:38:52.259 So let me finish by urging us. 00:38:54.659 --> 00:38:56.619 Don't fight sin. 00:38:57.119 --> 00:39:00.759 By trying to do the law. 00:39:02.539 --> 00:39:05.900 It cannot break the power of sin. 00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:10.119 It will arouse more sin. 00:39:10.119 --> 00:39:11.720 If you try and do. 00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:19.039 You know that God has released you from the law through the death of his son. 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:20.880 Totally. 00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:24.220 And look to your new husband. 00:39:27.539 --> 00:39:28.320 To give you. 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:30.619 To do for you. 00:39:32.480 --> 00:39:33.360 All that you need. 00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:35.559 Because. 00:39:36.119 --> 00:39:37.619 God has never been a God. 00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:40.760 Who needs you to earn his favour. 00:39:40.900 --> 00:39:41.800 He's never been like that. 00:39:43.240 --> 00:39:44.059 He isn't today. 00:39:44.140 --> 00:39:44.800 He never will be. 00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:46.580 He's always been a God. 00:39:46.700 --> 00:39:48.580 Who loves to give life as a free gift. 00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:49.320 Through his son. 00:39:52.180 --> 00:39:53.300 Don't fight sin. 00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:54.780 By trying to do the law. 00:39:56.380 --> 00:39:56.660 Look. 00:39:56.960 --> 00:39:57.800 Look to Christ. 00:40:00.340 --> 00:40:01.340 Will you pray with me? 00:40:01.460 --> 00:40:01.680 Let's pray. 00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:06.880 Lord thank you for. 00:40:08.080 --> 00:40:08.760 Putting up. 00:40:09.760 --> 00:40:11.519 The mirror of your law. 00:40:13.060 --> 00:40:14.600 Your righteous character. 00:40:14.800 --> 00:40:15.860 In your law. 00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.920 So that we can see just. 00:40:19.240 --> 00:40:21.300 How unrighteous we are. 00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:23.280 Lord thank you. 00:40:24.360 --> 00:40:25.120 Thank you. 00:40:25.240 --> 00:40:25.560 Because. 00:40:26.220 --> 00:40:28.800 That leads us to despair of ourselves. 00:40:29.140 --> 00:40:29.620 And to. 00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:32.539 Look for life in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:40:32.680 --> 00:40:33.900 And when we come to you. 00:40:35.080 --> 00:40:35.560 Our. 00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:36.880 Our loving husband. 00:40:37.019 --> 00:40:38.080 Who only gives us grace. 00:40:38.519 --> 00:40:41.180 We find that you have so much life to give. 00:40:42.300 --> 00:40:43.980 So Lord I pray that you would convince. 00:40:43.980 --> 00:40:46.059 All of our hearts. 00:40:46.780 --> 00:40:47.699 To stop. 00:40:48.059 --> 00:40:49.079 Trying to do. 00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:50.780 Start. 00:40:51.340 --> 00:40:53.480 And just keep looking to your son. 00:40:54.139 --> 00:40:55.159 And what he has done. 00:40:55.340 --> 00:40:56.380 And what he can do. 00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:57.639 And what he will do. 00:40:58.199 --> 00:40:58.719 For us. 00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:00.880 In Jesus name. 00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:01.199 Amen. 00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:17.460 God bless you. 00:41:17.719 --> 00:41:18.379 Thank you.