There isn't a topic under more question and attack than that of salvation.
See, all the enemy has to do is not confront it head on.
! That would be ridiculous.
That would be...
It just wouldn't work for him.
Just put it that way.
Just wouldn't work.
But what he does do is he attacks the details.
He attacks the little things.
The things that maybe from our vantage point,
from our viewpoint, isn't that big of a deal.
For example,
liberal evangelicals pleading with conservatives
to drop the harshness and vulgarity of the cross.
The blood.
Get rid of the blood.
Because it's hard to hear.
People don't want to listen to that.
It's harsh.
The problem is if you get rid of the blood,
you get rid of the atonement.
If you get rid of the atonement,
you get rid of Christ's death,
meaning anything.
Then you get rid of salvation altogether.
It's a horrible, slippery slope.
Or the enemy will get us fighting ourselves
instead of the enemy himself.
Like maybe a theological debate
over Calvinism versus Arminianism.
Where we become more for what we're against
than what we're for.
Or he can use the seeker-sensitive modernists
who have turned salvation
into a walk down the aisle.
Some of you have come from a church like that.
Where the line is so vague
and so skewed together
that you can't tell
if they're talking about walking down the aisle
or saying a prayer
or knowing Jesus himself
or being reborn.
Regenerate.
Nathan last week,
or two weeks ago,
I'm sorry,
used a great illustration
to open up his sermon.
He talked about the crux
of mountain climbing.
The hardest part of mountain climbing.
The hardest move.
The hardest problem
that he faces
or you face
in a climb.
Everything works up to it
and then once you get it,
the rest is cakewalk.
The rest is celebrating
what you've accomplished.
And this morning,
we're still on the crux
of the book of Romans
and of all Christianity.
We are still there
with the biggest problem
that we have to get right.
Christianity differentiates itself
from any other religion
by this doctrine of salvation.
any religion,
pagan or Catholic,
Muslim or Jehovah's Witness,
Mormon,
cult,
Hindu,
Buddhist,
all other religions
have a works-based salvation.
I will do this
and I will achieve glory.
I will achieve a salvation.
Christianity sits firmly,
or at least it's supposed
to sit firmly,
on the doctrine of salvation
by faith alone,
by grace alone,
without works.
See,
the enemy has
even brought that
into question.
Now,
it's one thing to say it.
It's one thing to say,
I believe in the justification
by faith alone,
by grace alone.
It's,
you may know it in your head,
but I think sometimes
there's a disconnect
between the head
and the feet.
You may know it,
but you don't do anything about it.
You may know it,
but you don't know the details.
You don't know the ins and outs.
Whatever the case may be.
So this morning,
I want to help.
I want to help the college student,
the teacher,
the nurse,
the firefighter,
the lawyer.
I want to help this morning
so we're all rooted
and grounded
in the truth of God's Word.
So that we can all ask
the question that Paul does
in verse 3 of chapter 4,
what does the Scripture say?
And we can answer it.
That's what I want to happen
this morning
over this topic.
So we must let the Scripture
be our foundation.
Let it be our authority.
So let us learn
what Scripture says.
Romans chapter 4,
verses 1 through 8.
God's Word says,
What then shall we say
was gained by Abraham,
our forefather,
according to the flesh?
For if Abraham
was justified by works,
he has something
to boast about,
but not before God.
For what does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God
and it was counted to him
as righteousness.
Now to the one who works,
his wages are not counted
as a gift,
but as his due.
And to the one
who does not work,
but believes in him
who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is counted
as righteousness.
Just as David
also speaks of the blessing
of the one to whom
God counts righteousness
apart from works,
blessed are those
whose lawless deeds
are forgiven
and whose sins
are covered.
Blessed is the man
against whom the Lord
will not count
his sin.
I ask you to pray
with me now.
Great God,
Almighty God,
our Father,
this is your Word.
we pray God
that your Word
speaks this morning.
I pray God
that you use me,
that you hide me
behind your cross
and the work on the cross
by your Son Jesus,
that His name
will be proclaimed,
that He will receive
all the glory.
Spirit,
I ask that you would move
in our hearts,
that we would be able
to respond
to what we hear
this morning
by and from you.
we trust
in what you're going
to do this morning.
We are excited
about what you're going
to do
and the lives
that you're going
to change.
In Jesus' name
I pray.
Amen.
I have three points
this morning
and they're straight
from the text.
They're nothing,
no fancy alliteration
or anything like that.
In fact,
John MacArthur
uses these too
and there's nothing
special about them.
the first point
is Abraham
was not justified
by works.
Abraham was not
justified by works.
Verses 1 and 2.
What then shall we say
was gained by Abraham
our forefather
according to the flesh?
For if Abraham
was justified by works,
he has something
to boast about,
but not before God.
Paul,
like he does
in other writings,
uses logic.
He's using logic
here for his argument.
What shall we say
was gained by Abraham?
The faithful,
obedient patriarch
of the Jewish people.
If Abraham
was justified
by works,
he would have
something to boast about.
Clear logic,
nothing fancy,
nothing hidden there.
True words.
We would,
if we would be
justified by works,
we would fall
right there with him.
Meaning,
if we obey God
perfectly,
if we were good
and loving
to all people,
if we did all
the religious activities,
attended all the church
things going on,
if we spoke
Christianese,
if we said the right
things,
if we get baptized,
if we act good
in front of certain people,
maybe the pastor
or other people,
if we followed
every rule
and every law,
every written,
we then would have
something to boast about.
if, of course,
our salvation
resulted in
those activities.
It would be
centered on us.
We would have
received the praise
for what we accomplished
and what we did.
We accomplished
something great
by getting to heaven.
The problem is
we can't.
It is impossible.
This is the point
that Paul
is making here
in this letter
to the Romans.
See, without God,
we have no hope.
See, Abraham
was called
by God.
Abraham was called
and didn't know
where he was going.
He just went.
God didn't say
to Abraham,
Abraham,
why don't you
go to Birmingham?
Jump on I-20,
head west,
you'll be there
in two hours.
It wasn't that way.
God said,
go,
and I'll show you
where you're going to go.
Abraham needed God
to lead him.
Likewise,
for us,
we need God
to lead us.
Now,
we've all used maps.
We've all used
Google Maps
or MapQuest
or whatever.
Now,
mind-blowing statement here.
A map is only helpful
if it's accurate,
right?
It's only helpful
if it tells you
where you are
and where you're
trying to go.
Otherwise,
it's useless.
For our map
this morning
and our map
as a Christian
is the Word of God
and is Christ Jesus Himself.
See,
other religions
are maps
that are inaccurate.
Other religions
are maps
that take you nowhere.
But this morning,
we have a map.
We have the Word of God
sitting in your lap,
on your phone,
on your iPad,
whatever it is.
Sitting on your shelf.
And we're able
to follow God
and know
where we're going.
So see,
it's God's action
on our life.
See,
so if
we have something
to boast about,
if we
receive salvation
by our works,
justification
by works,
if that was possible,
the end of verse 2,
Paul clearly says
it's not going to happen.
Abraham cannot boast
before God.
Can't do it.
It's not possible.
Which means,
stop playing the game.
Stop pretending
you're somebody
that you're not.
Stop being in bondage
to a set of rules
and laws
that you cannot keep.
You are enslaved
to those laws
and to your hard work
to do right.
Stop.
I've used this
illustration before
and I'm going to use it again
because it works so well
for this application.
You guys know
in mythology,
in Greek and Roman mythology,
the king named Sisyphus,
great name,
Sisyphus,
his eternal punishment
was to push
a giant boulder
up a hill.
When the boulder
got almost to the top,
the boulder would roll
all the way back down
and he would have to repeat
over and over
and over
throughout eternity.
This is what you
and me,
you and I,
proper grammar,
do
when we try
to achieve salvation
by works.
When we try
to do things,
when we pretend
to be something
we're not.
When we,
I've given you
the list of works.
When we do
those things
and we try
to do those things,
we are pushing
a rock up a hill
for it just to
roll back down
and not get anywhere.
It is all pointless
and it leads to death.
Don't be fooled.
Don't be fooled
into believing
that you just need
to be good.
Don't be fooled
into believing
that you just have
to do a certain thing
or pray a certain prayer.
You need God
to call you.
You need God.
Do not be fooled.
If you are trying
to be someone you're not,
if you're trying
to be moral
and be good,
if you're trying
to gain your salvation
through works,
you are condemned.
But there's good news.
Romans 8.1
There is therefore
now no condemnation
for those who are
in Christ Jesus.
Which means
because of what
we were enslaved to,
what we were condemned
by,
what we tried to achieve,
we were sentenced
to death for,
has been removed
and can be removed
by Christ
and His life,
death,
and resurrection.
Then,
there is no condemnation.
There is life,
life eternal
with Jesus Christ
because of His work
on the cross
and His death
and resurrection.
Now,
I would have to imagine
that no one
would come out
and say that they
were trying to
ascend to heaven
by works.
I'm pretty sure
that nobody would say that.
But you would say
something like,
I'm just trying
to be a good person.
Or people around you
would say,
I'm just trying
to be good.
I'm just trying
to love those people
around me.
I'm just trying
to live a good,
balanced life.
But see,
we do
when we try
to gain salvation
by works.
I'm going to answer,
I'm going to ask you
a question.
One,
if you're 100% honest,
are you humble
towards God?
Another way to ask,
are you repentant?
Are you repentant
for the things
that you have done?
Is God,
is Jesus Christ
your Lord?
Or is He just
your parole officer
where you check in
and tell Him
how many good things
you've done for Him?
Because I'm afraid
that that's a lot
of what we,
we won't say it,
but that's the picture
we have.
Is Jesus,
think of all these
things I've done
for you.
Look at God,
look at how good I am
and the prayers I've prayed
and the people I've loved.
Jesus says,
whoever follows me
must deny himself,
must die to himself
and take up his cross.
Luke 9.
Notice which is first.
Deny yourself
and then take up your cross.
See,
if you deny yourself,
if you die to yourself,
you will not boast
about what you've done
for Him.
Instead,
you'll say,
have mercy on me,
a sinner.
Let me,
let me please you today.
This is the day
that you have made.
It's a big difference.
Big,
big difference.
So,
we know the,
we know the religious activities
here in,
in,
in our churches.
We,
we,
we can name them all.
How about some religious activities
in two other religions?
Hindu.
A Hindu religion.
Live a life
that has a growing awareness
of God.
Learn about God.
He's around everywhere.
Sounds okay.
Worship an icon
of your choosing.
Okay?
Pick a statue
and worship it.
Pray with chants
and songs
so that the gods
can hear you.
Hindu is where we get
the word karma from
or where the word karma
comes from
and the definition
of karma
is the path
of right action.
So,
it's a work,
it's a do,
do,
do religion
that leads to nowhere.
Islam.
Islam's big.
Five pillars
of Islam.
Do you know what they are?
I'm going to
pronounce these incorrect
so don't judge me.
Shahada,
there is no God
but Allah
and Muhammad
is his messenger.
Okay?
Number one.
Salat,
the practice of praying
five times a day
at times set
by Allah.
Zarkat,
giving up,
giving of a set amount
to charity.
Psalm,
fasting during Ramadan
and haji.
Muslims from all
ethnic groups
stand together
in front of the
Kaaba,
I think,
the cube-shaped
building in Saudi Arabia.
You've seen it.
It's supposed to be
the holiest place
for Muslims.
works-based religion.
Do, do, do, do, do,
and it leads to nothing.
It's all works
and it doesn't work.
We have nothing
to boast about
before God
and ourselves.
If, however,
you are a Christian,
if you are born again,
regenerate believer,
and you believe
that Jesus Christ
came, died,
and resurrected
for your sins,
then you can boast.
But you boast
about Christ
and you boast
in Christ.
Galatians 6, 14.
But Paul says,
but far be it
from me to boast
except in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by which the world
has been crucified
to me
and I
to the world.
So,
Abraham was not
justified
by works.
Paul clearly
communicates that.
So, second point,
Abraham was justified
by faith.
And this we find
in verses 3-5.
It says,
For what does
the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God
and it was counted
to him as righteousness.
Now, to the one
who works,
his wages are not
counted as a gift,
but as his due.
And to the one
who does not work,
but believes in him
who justifies the ungodly,
his faith
is counted
as righteousness.
See,
Paul uses
the patriarch
of the Jewish people.
The father of them.
They would all claim him.
He uses him
to make his argument.
A man who lived
2,000 years
before Christ,
which means he lived
2,000 years
plus some
before Paul
is writing
this letter.
He chooses
Abraham
because what we do
so often by
we tend
to elevate guys
and put them
on pedestals,
don't we?
John Piper,
Billy Graham,
David Platt,
Bono.
Come on,
you're laughing,
but it's true.
That is
an odd collection
of people,
but
throw Bono in there.
But we do it.
We lift up people
and we say,
sometimes we lift up
our pastors.
I did.
And now I'm a pastor.
I'm like,
please don't lift me up.
I lifted up my pastor
and I thought,
man,
this guy,
he's got it.
He looks perfect like it.
And we lift him up.
See,
the Jewish people
lifted and elevated
Abraham.
The perfect,
faithful patriarch.
And because of that,
let's dig a little deeper.
Abraham was called
by God
out of Ur,
land of the Chaldeans.
Okay?
It was an evil,
pagan,
worshiping country.
Evil.
Abraham
was his name
before Abraham.
He was a pagan.
He
did not know
who this God was
when God called him.
Out of the millions
of people
that God could have chosen,
He chose Abram
and God had no idea
or Abram had no idea
who this God was.
But God called him
and he followed.
He went where he didn't know.
He obeyed without understanding.
This is where the story ends
for a lot of people.
See,
we pick out
this story
and we pick out
Abraham with Isaac
where he obeys God
and he takes Isaac up
to sacrifice Isaac
and God provides
a goat for him.
So we say,
oh,
Abraham,
he's so faithful.
Hebrews 11
talks about Abraham
being faithful,
but
there's more to the story.
How about the story
in Genesis 12
where Abraham
tells Sarah,
his wife,
to lie and say
she's his sister
because he feared his life.
Not so honest.
So we have
Abraham who is faithful
and we have Abraham
who's sinful.
What about
later on?
God has given
Abraham the covenant.
I'm going to bless
you.
I'm going to bless
generations after you.
Your people,
your children's
children's children
will be blessed.
Abraham didn't believe
God
or didn't trust
completely
because what did he do?
He had
an adulterous affair
with Hagar.
Coming,
his wife's idea,
Sarah's idea,
you need to have a son
because you don't have one yet
and you're getting old.
the luster is
being removed.
The shine
from Abraham
is being
removed.
The elevated
Jewish
leader
is just a man
and a man
in need
of salvation.
And this salvation
comes
to the conduit
called faith.
Faith is the conduit.
Now,
some people will teach
that my faith,
I give Jesus,
I give God my faith
and I receive righteousness.
That it's an exchange.
That I have so much faith
that God saves me.
That is incorrect.
Faith is the conduit
by which we receive
salvation.
And I'll explain
in just a minute.
Verse 3 says,
For what does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God
and it was counted to him
as righteousness.
Counted.
This word is a credit,
a transaction,
an exchange.
See,
Abraham believed
the conduit
and our Lord's
righteousness
came on him.
Transaction,
exchange,
credit.
Here's why faith
is a conduit
and not
an exchange.
Okay?
There's an exchange
that happens
but faith
is not that
trade.
I hope I'm not
confusing you.
If our faith
wasn't
a conduit
but the payment
for the price
then we would have
all room to boast.
And then what Paul
is saying here
would not mean anything
because
we would be able
to boast.
Verse 4 says,
Now to the one
who works
his wages
are not counted
as a gift
but as his due.
Okay?
Clear.
God makes
perfect sense.
Which
then
is works-based
salvation
which Paul
is proving
impossible.
If this happens
then the person
who worked
and received
salvation,
justification
through his works
receives glory
and steals
the glory
reserved
for God
Almighty.
All creation
was created
for God's glory.
Romans 11
36
For from him
and through him
and to him
are all things.
To him
be glory
forever.
Amen.
Now this is not
just a conclusion
to a thought.
This is a proclamation.
To him
be glory
forever and ever.
Amen.
John MacArthur
says the primary
purpose of the
gospel is not
to save men
but to glorify
God.
Now let's
John MacArthur
said it
but it's rooted
in Scripture.
Ephesians 3
20 and 21
Now to him
who is able
to do far
more abundantly
than all that we
ask or think
according to the
power at work
within us
to him
be glory
in the church
and in Christ
Jesus
throughout all
generations
forever and ever.
All generations
forever and ever.
Amen.
It is an act
by God
on our lives
and not
the reverse.
Now we do
have responsibility.
We do have
we do respond
but not after
or not until
God has
worked.
Verse 5
And to the
one who does
not work
but believes
in him
who justifies
the ungodly
his faith
is counted
as righteousness.
Praise God
for verse 5.
For the ungodly
is you
and it is me.
That's the
Muslim.
That's the
Hindu man.
That's the
pagan
atheist.
All of us
before Christ
with a need
greater than
any other
need.
with a debt
we could
not pay.
I'm going to
read a story
to you
called
A Great
Debt
Who Can
Pay.
I hope I
don't bore
you.
Harry
Ironside
used to
tell about
a young
Russian
soldier
because his
father was
a friend
of Tsar
Nicholas I.
The young
man had
been made
paymaster
in one
of the
barracks.
The young
man meant
well but
his character
was not up
to his
responsibility.
He took
to gambling
and eventually
gambling away
a great deal
of the
government's
money as
well as
all of
his own.
In due
course the
man received
notice that
a representative
of the Tsar
was coming
to check
accounts and
he knew
he was in
trouble.
That evening
he got out
the books
and totaled
the funds
he owed.
Then he
went to
the safe
and got
out his
own
pitifully
small
amount
of
money.
As he
sat and
looked at
the two
he was
overwhelmed
at the
astronomical
debt
versus his
own
small
change.
He was
ruined.
He knew
he would
be disgraced.
At last
the young
soldier
edit that
for me
John.
at last
the young
soldier
determined
to take
his
life.
He
pulled
out
his
revolver
placed
it
on
the
table
before
him
and
wrote
a
summation
of
his
misdeeds.
At
the
bottom
of
the
ledger
where
he
had
totaled
up
his
illegal
borrowings
he
wrote
a
great
debt
who
can
pay.
He
decided
that
at
the
stroke
of
midnight
he
would
die.
As
the
evening
wore
on
the
young
soldier
drew
drowsy
sleep.
That
night
Tsar
Nicholas
I
as
was
sometimes
his
custom
made
the
rounds
of
the
barracks.
Seeing
a
light
he
stopped
looked
in
and
saw
the
young
man
asleep.
He
recognized
him
immediately
and
looking
over
his
shoulder
saw
the
ledger
and
realized
all
that
had
taken
place.
He
was
about
to
awaken
him
and
put
him
under
a
rest
when
his
eyes
fastened
on
the
young
man's
message
a
who
can
pay.
Suddenly
with a
surge
of
magnanimity
he
reached
over
wrote
one
word
at
the
bottom
of
the
ledger
and
slipped
out.
When
the
young
man
awoke
he
glanced
at
the
clock
and
saw
that
it
was
long
after
midnight
he
reached
for
his
revolver
to
shoot
himself
but
his
eyes
stood
upon
the
ledger
and
he
saw
something
that
he
had
not
seen
!
before
there
beneath
his
writing
a
great
debt
who
can
pay
was
written
Nicholas
he
was
dumbfounded
it
was
the
tsar's
signature
he
said
to
himself
the
tsar
must
have
come
by
when
I
was
asleep
he
has
seen
the
book
he
knows
all
still
he
is
willing
to
forgive
me
the
young
soldier
then
rested
on
the
word
of
the
tsar
and
the
next
morning
a
messenger
came
from
the
palace
and
with
exactly
the amount
of
the
tsar
could
pay
and
the
tsar
did
pay
now
we
compare
God's
righteousness
with
our
own
tawdry
performance
we
asked
the
question
a
great
debt
to
God
who
can
pay
but
then
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
says
for
the
signs
his
name
Jesus
Christ
only
he
can
pay
Jesus
paid
the
debt
that
we
could
not
pay
remember
that I
said
that
faith
is the
conduit
by which
the
righteousness
of our
Lord
Jesus
was
imputed
or
exchanged
or counted
to us
there was
another
exchange
used
by the
same
God
conduit
our
sin
was
imputed
or counted
on him
he
bore
the wrath
of the
Father
intended
for us
Isaiah
53
verse
4 and
5
surely
he
has
borne
our
griefs
and
carried
our
sorrows
yet
we
esteemed
him
stricken
smitten
by
God
and
afflicted
but
he
was
wounded
for
our
transgressions
he
was
crushed
for
our
iniquities
upon
him
the
chastisement
that
brought
us
peace
and
with
his
stripes
we
are
healed
2nd
Corinthians
5
21
some
of you
have
this
memorized
for
our
sake
he
made
him
to
be
sin
who
knew
no
sin
so
that
in
him
we
might
become
the
righteousness
of
God
Abraham
was justified
by faith
not
by works
the third
point
this
morning
justification
is a
blessing
verse
6
through
8
says
just as
David
also speaks
of the
blessing
of the
one
to whom
God
counts
righteousness
apart
from
works
blessed
are
those
who
lawless
deeds
are
forgiven
and
whose
sins
are
covered
blessed
is
the
man
against
whom
the
Lord
will
not
count
his
sin
now
Paul
used
Abraham
for his
argument
and now
he brings
in
David
whom
God
the
king
whom
God
chose
a
man
after
God's
own
heart
to
make
his
argument
a
man
who
clearly
understood
God's
grace
turn to
Psalm 51
and we
have
referenced
this
a few
times
throughout
the book
of Romans
so far
Psalm 51
is the
psalm
that
David
wrote
after
Nathan
calls him
out
with his
adulterous
act
with Bathsheba
and the
murderous
act
of killing
her husband
Uriah
David
understood
God's
grace
verse 1
have
mercy
on me
O
God
according
to
your
steadfast
love
according
to
your
abundant
mercy
blot
out
my
transgressions
verse 2
wash
me
thoroughly
from
my
iniquity
and
cleanse
me
from
my
sin
for
I
know
my
transgressions
and my
sin
is ever
before
me
against
you
only
have
I
sinned
and
done
what
is
evil
in
your
sight
so
that
you
may
be
justified
in
your
words
and
blameless
in
your
judgment
skip
over
to
verse
10
created
me
a
clean
heart
oh
God
and
renew
a
right
spirit
within
me
cast
me
not
away
from
your
presence
and
take
not
your
Holy
Spirit
from
me
restore
to
me
the
joy
of
your
salvation
and
uphold
me
with
a
willing
spirit
that
I
will
teach
transgressors
your
ways
and
sinners
will
turn
to
you
deliver
me
for
blood
guilt
ness
oh
God
oh
God
of
my
salvation
and
my
tongue
will
sing
aloud
for
your
righteousness
David
understood
God's
grace
the
person
of
genuine
faith
is
blessed
another
word
for
blessed
is
privileged
or
fortunate
blessed
are
those
whose
lawless
deeds
are
forgiven
and
whose
sins
are
covered
privileged
fortunate
are
you
Abraham
was
justified
only
by
faith
and
he
was
blessed
David
was
justified
blessed
not in
a
stuff
not in
things
he
was
blessed
because
he
knew
the
creator
God
he
was
blessed
because
he
knew
at
some
point
when
he
died
he
was
going
to
be
eternally
with
him
he
knew
the
promises
of
God
and
he
believed
them
privileged
and
fortunate
David
was
justified
only
by
faith
and
every
believer
has
been
justified
only
by
faith
I
close
with
a
story
is
told
of
a
poor
farmer
who
had
saved
his
money
for
years
in
order
to
buy
an
ox
to
pull
his
plow
when
he
thought
he
had
enough
he
started
a
long
journey
to
town
great
distance
he
soon
discovered
the
paper
money
that
he
was
saving
has
been
replaced
by
a
new
currency
the
date
had
long
passed
for
the
exchange
because
the
man
was
illiterate
he
asked
the
schoolboy
to
write
a
letter
to
the
president
told
the
president
in his
letter
about
his
dire
situation
and
asking
for
an
exception
the
president
was
touched
by
the
letter
and
wrote
back
to
the
man
said
this
the
law
must
be
followed
because
the
deadline
for
exchanging
bills
has
already
passed
the
government
can
no
longer
change
your
bills
for
the
new
ones
even
the
president
is
not
exempt
from
this
rule
however
because
I
believe
that
you
really
worked
hard
to
save
this
money
I
am
changing
your
money
for
new
money
for
my
own
personal
funds
so that
you
will be
able
to
buy
your
ox
there
was
nothing
the
farmer
could
do
he
was
shown
favor
by
the
president
he
was
blessed
by
the
president
he
was
shown
grace
likewise
when
sinners
us
before
christ
have
no
ability
none
to
buy
their
salvation
we
have
to
cast
ourselves
at
the
mercy
of
almighty
god
and
accept
by
faith
the
lord's
atoning
work
on
their
behalf
on
our
behalf
then
we
can
stand
we
can
stand
forgiven
and
righteous
not
because
of our
works
not
because
of
what
we've
done
but
because
of
our
lord
jesus
christ
let's
pray
father
we
thank you
for
this
time
thank you
for your
word
thank you
that your
word
proclaims
truth
and in
that
truth
tells
of a
redeeming
story
the
redeeming
story
of
us
of
abraham
!
of david!
and the
call that you
have on
lives
god
i pray
that you
would
call
those
to you
this
morning
those
that you
have
called
that you
have
chosen
god
that you
would
bring
people
to you
this
morning
for the
first
time
they
could
not
do
anything
but
respond
to the
call
that you
have
on
their
life
i
thank you
for
justification
i
thank you
that
that i
have
nothing
to boast
about
that
nothing
i've
done
has
earned
what
you
have
done
for
me
but
what
i
can
boast
about
i
can
boast
about
you
and
your
son
lord
jesus
christ
i
can
boast
about
his
life
his
death
and
his
resurrection
i
can
boast
about
the
grace
that
you
have
shown
us
i
can
boast
about
the
work
that
you're
doing
in
this
world
around
us
i
thank
you
for
calling
me
i
thank
you
that
i
can
stand
here
and
call
you
father
and
i
can
pray
to
you
i
thank
you
for
the
people
in
this
room
that
can
do
!
we
love
you
in
Jesus
name
!
in