WEBVTT

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 Good job, Clark.

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 Thank you very much.

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 What is special about October the 31st?

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 What happens, okay, Halloween, October the 31st.

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 First thing that comes into your mind, a lot of people, Halloween.

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 You know what that says about you, don't you?

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 You're a pagan.

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 Absolute pagan for thinking.

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 October the 31st is all about Halloween.

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 No, I'm joking.

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 If you've got a calendar on your calendar,

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 most likely there's little writing that says October the 31st is Halloween.

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 But there is a much more significant celebration, observation,

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 that we should be acknowledging on October the 31st.

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 What is it?

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 Somebody say the Reformation?

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 October the 31st is Reformation Day.

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 And this year, in 16 more days,

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 this will be the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

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 It all began on October the 31st, 1517,

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 when a Roman Catholic monk by the name of Martin Luther,

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 I've got to move this or I might break out into song.

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 And that would clear this building quicker than a fire.

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 A Roman Catholic monk named Martin Luther

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 posted his 95 theses

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 on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

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 Now that was like a community bulletin board.

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 I'm sure from history or in some place,

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 you are familiar with Martin Luther posting these 95 theses

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 on that castle door.

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 What's not always known is

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 that was like a community bulletin board.

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 And Luther posted that to get a discussion started

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 mainly among scholarly people,

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 church theologian types.

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 But what those 95 theses,

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 what those 95 protests or criticisms were

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 was of the Roman Catholic practice of selling indulgences.

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 Now an indulgence was something like a pardon,

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 a pardon for your sin.

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 It was a gift of forgiveness granted by the Pope

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 for a price.

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 You heard me right.

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 The Roman Catholic Church was selling,

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 for all practical purposes,

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 the forgiveness of sins.

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 Now you think, well that couldn't happen.

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 That's not possible.

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 Well, truly it couldn't really happen,

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 but they did it.

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 And the people,

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 wherever this was done,

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 people lined up

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 to buy their way into heaven

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 or to pay the price

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 for their relative to get out of purgatory.

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 That was part of what the indulgences were.

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 You can buy forgiveness from the Pope,

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 bypass purgatory,

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 go straight into heaven.

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 Or for your relatives.

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 I mean, you think about it.

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 If you didn't know any better,

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 you've got a mother or father,

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 brother or sister who's died,

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 and you think they're in purgatory,

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 which by the way does not exist.

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 But you're told by the authorities from the church,

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 if you pay this amount,

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 you can get them out of purgatory

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 and on into heaven.

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 Well, one well-known preacher of that day,

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 Johann Tetzel,

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 he went around Germany selling indulgences.

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 He was a real salesman.

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 He knew how to attract the crowd.

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 He had little jingles that he would say or sing.

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 And one of them,

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 his most well-known was this.

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 As soon as the coin in the coffer rings,

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 the soul from purgatory springs.

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 And that was not intended to be funny.

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 That was intended to say to people,

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 you can buy your way out of purgatory

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 or your relative's way.

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 Well, that enraged Luther,

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 who was a Roman Catholic monk.

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 But he knew that was not right.

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 He knew that they were leading people astray.

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 And so he wrote those 95 articles of protest.

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 And what he wrote was so well-received

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 that it was published

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 and widely circulated.

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 And Luther's protests

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 were the sparks that ignited the fire,

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 the fire of change

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 that started the Protestant Reformation.

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 As we are approaching this significant milestone,

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 the 500th anniversary,

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 it's important for us to understand

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 that the Protestant Reformation

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 was one of the most important,

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 most significant events,

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 not just in the history of the church,

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 but in the history of the world.

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 Over time,

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 it changed

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 not only the religious practices,

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 but the political, social,

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 and intellectual practices

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 of Western civilization.

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 Now, what I want us to do today

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 is to focus on the most important contribution

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 of the Reformation,

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 really to all the world,

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 the recovery of the gospel.

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 Yes, the Protestant Reformation

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 was what really brought back

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 to the forefront

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 the biblical truth

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 of how a person is made right with God.

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 What salvation really is,

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 is by the grace of God

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 through faith in Jesus Christ.

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 The underlying problem

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 in the Roman Catholic Church at that time

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 was that they lost the gospel.

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 Or they changed the gospel.

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 And that's what led to things like

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 the selling of indulgences.

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 They were basically teaching

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 that salvation comes from the church.

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 And salvation is dependent upon

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 how good you are,

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 how righteous you are personally,

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 what you do,

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 what you don't do.

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 Well, the Reformers,

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 like Luther,

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 and the other major ones,

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 like Calvin, Zwingli,

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 there were many.

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 The Reformers challenged

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 those false teachings

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 by calling attention

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 to what the Bible said.

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 They called attention

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 to what the Scripture

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 clearly taught

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 about these matters.

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 They emphasized

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 the authority of Scripture

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 over the authority

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 of the church.

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 And they recovered

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 the biblical gospel

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 that salvation

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 has always been

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 and still is

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 by the grace of God

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 through faith in Jesus Christ

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 plus nothing.

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 It's all of God.

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 What He's done for us

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 in Christ.

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 And our response

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 is simply to believe it.

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 As we prepare to observe

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 the Lord's Supper this morning,

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 I want us to look at

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 the way this discovery

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 of the gospel

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 is usually explained.

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 It was recovery

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 of the Bible's teaching

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 about justification.

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 How we are made right

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 with God.

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 If you want to look

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 in your Bible,

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 I'm going to put most of this

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 on the screen,

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 but look in Romans chapter 3,

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 and I want to see

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 how this important concept

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 of being declared

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 right with God,

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 being justified,

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 is the only way

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 that anyone

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 has ever,

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 can ever

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 be made right

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 with God.

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 Let's read in Romans 3,

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 verse 21,

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 to start with.

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 21 through 24.

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 But now,

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 apart from the law,

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 the righteousness of God

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 has been made known

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 to which the law

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 and the prophets testify.

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 That last phrase,

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 to which the law

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 and the prophets testify,

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 what Paul was writing is,

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 saying is,

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 the Old Testament.

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 The Old Testament writers,

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 they spoke

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 about how salvation

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 comes through faith.

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 The Old Testament,

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 where it all begins,

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 Genesis chapter 12.

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 Abraham,

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 the father of all

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 the faithful.

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 Abraham believed God,

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 it says,

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 and it was credited

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 to him as righteousness.

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 Genesis 12

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 and Genesis 15.

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 Abraham believed God

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 and his faith

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 in God's promise

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 is the reason God

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 declared him

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 to be right.

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 Not because of what he did,

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 but because he trusted God.

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 But now,

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 look at it again,

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 verse 21.

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 But now,

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 apart from the law,

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 apart from keeping the law,

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 apart from you trying

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 your best

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 to do what God says,

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 the righteousness of God,

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 being right with God,

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 has been made known

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 to which the law

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 and prophets testify,

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 this righteousness

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 is given

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 through faith

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 in Jesus Christ

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 to all who believe.

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 There is no difference

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 between Jew and Gentile,

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 for all have sinned

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 and fall short

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 of the glory of God,

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 and all are justified

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 freely by his grace

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 through the redemption

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 that came by Christ Jesus.

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 Look at verse 28.

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 For we hold

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 that one is justified

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 by faith

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 apart from works

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 of the law

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 or apart from any good works.

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 Romans 5.1.

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 Therefore,

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 since we have been justified

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 by faith,

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 declared right with God

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 by faith,

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 we have peace with God

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 through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Let's think about it.

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 What does it mean

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 to be justified?

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 Justification is God's response

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 to our faith

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 in the Lord Jesus.

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 That's what we've

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 just been reading.

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 Look at a very simple definition

00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:22.079
 of what justification is,

00:11:22.299 --> 00:11:23.419
 to be declared righteous,

00:11:23.539 --> 00:11:24.860
 to be declared right with God.

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 It is important

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 that we understand that.

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 Every person in here,

00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.759
 most every person in here,

00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:33.419
 has some kind of interest

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 in being right with God

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 or you wouldn't be here,

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 I'm going to guess.

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 We need to understand

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 fully, clearly,

00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:43.699
 what the Bible teaches

00:11:43.699 --> 00:11:45.459
 about how anyone,

00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:46.920
 you and me,

00:11:47.400 --> 00:11:48.920
 can be right with God.

00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:51.019
 A person who is right with God

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 is someone who has been

00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:54.180
 declared right with God

00:11:54.180 --> 00:11:55.460
 by God Himself.

00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:57.700
 To be justified

00:11:57.700 --> 00:11:59.420
 means to be declared righteous,

00:11:59.560 --> 00:12:00.940
 to be declared right with God.

00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.040
 But let's look at a more

00:12:02.040 --> 00:12:04.460
 detailed definition

00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:05.580
 from Wayne Grudem.

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:07.540
 He says justification

00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:08.980
 justification is an instantaneous,

00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:10.779
 legal act of God

00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:12.000
 in which He,

00:12:12.139 --> 00:12:12.659
 number one,

00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:14.339
 thinks of our sins

00:12:14.339 --> 00:12:15.259
 as forgiven

00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:18.319
 and Christ's righteousness

00:12:18.319 --> 00:12:20.559
 as belonging to us.

00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:21.459
 And number two,

00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:23.579
 declares us to be righteous

00:12:23.579 --> 00:12:25.120
 in His sight.

00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:26.659
 Let's look at the second part

00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:28.099
 of that definition first.

00:12:28.319 --> 00:12:29.719
 Justification is a legal declaration

00:12:29.719 --> 00:12:30.240
 by God.

00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:32.240
 justification,

00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:32.480
 justification,

00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:34.379
 God declaring

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.539
 that you are right with Him

00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:37.720
 is something that God

00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:40.759
 actually does to us

00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:43.820
 is not something

00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:44.919
 that God does to us

00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:45.820
 but something

00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:47.100
 that He declares about us.

00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:48.419
 Justification,

00:12:48.560 --> 00:12:49.620
 being declared right with God.

00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:52.779
 That's something

00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:54.240
 that God declares

00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.360
 is true about us.

00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:58.620
 It's not something

00:12:58.620 --> 00:12:59.899
 that He really does

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:02.240
 to make us that way.

00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:04.379
 Now don't misunderstand.

00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:07.019
 When God saves a person,

00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:08.600
 He brings about a new birth.

00:13:08.800 --> 00:13:09.620
 It's called regeneration.

00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.840
 When God saves a person

00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:12.899
 who turns from their sin

00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:14.220
 and puts their trust in Jesus

00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:14.919
 as their Savior,

00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:16.539
 God brings about

00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:18.320
 new life,

00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.200
 a new way of looking at life.

00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:20.539
 He puts His Spirit in us.

00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:21.759
 So in that way,

00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:23.019
 we certainly are changed

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:24.120
 when we become a Christian.

00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:30.399
 But we are still sinners.

00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.600
 We're not perfect.

00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:37.419
 So God declares us to be right

00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:40.159
 like a judge would declare

00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:42.279
 someone who stood before Him

00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:44.440
 guilty or innocent.

00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.460
 Think about it.

00:13:47.300 --> 00:13:48.159
 A judge would,

00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.700
 if you had to go to court tomorrow

00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:52.159
 and your case was going to be

00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.360
 before the judge,

00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:54.680
 he was going to make the decision.

00:13:54.680 --> 00:13:56.139
 No jury, just the judge.

00:13:56.840 --> 00:13:59.220
 If He declares that you are not guilty,

00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:01.519
 then legally you are not guilty,

00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:04.139
 even if really and truly you are.

00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:07.399
 If He says you are guilty,

00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:09.840
 but you really aren't,

00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:12.200
 legally you're guilty

00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:13.139
 and you're going to jail.

00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:15.800
 Justification

00:14:15.800 --> 00:14:18.940
 is God's declaration.

00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:21.080
 And whatever God declares,

00:14:21.700 --> 00:14:22.860
 it's the way it is.

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:24.860
 He's the greatest judge.

00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:29.399
 If God declares that we are right

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.120
 in His sight,

00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:32.600
 that means we're no longer guilty.

00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:36.800
 It means we no longer have to fear judgment

00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:38.500
 if God declares that we're right.

00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:40.300
 And unlike a human judge,

00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:41.519
 God's always right.

00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:42.639
 He never makes a mistake.

00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:43.940
 He knows who we are,

00:14:44.180 --> 00:14:44.919
 how we are,

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.519
 and when God declares us

00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:47.419
 to be right with Him

00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:49.300
 because we're trusting in His Son,

00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:50.359
 Jesus is our Savior,

00:14:51.359 --> 00:14:54.159
 we are right with Him.

00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:57.299
 We are no longer guilty.

00:14:58.219 --> 00:15:00.159
 Now, a natural question comes up,

00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.879
 how can this be?

00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:08.200
 I know most everybody in here.

00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:11.740
 And you know me.

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:14.340
 And I know you're not perfect.

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:20.159
 And if you have any slight knowledge of me,

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:22.019
 you know I'm not perfect.

00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:24.579
 So how in the world

00:15:24.579 --> 00:15:26.659
 can we sit here,

00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.379
 stand here,

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:28.480
 and think to ourselves,

00:15:28.939 --> 00:15:30.259
 I'm right with God.

00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:31.720
 I'm going to heaven when I die.

00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:34.100
 I'm no longer held responsible for my sin.

00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.220
 When you know well and good

00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.960
 that you are guilty still

00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:38.379
 of sinning against God,

00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:40.179
 living life your way instead of His way,

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.919
 being selfish a lot of the time,

00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:44.879
 not pleasing God a lot of the time,

00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.439
 well,

00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:48.019
 here's how it happens.

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:49.939
 Our justification,

00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:51.840
 our being declared right with God

00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:53.679
 is based on the fact

00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:55.779
 that we are united with Jesus.

00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:58.480
 We're one with Him.

00:15:59.439 --> 00:16:00.819
 He is in us.

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.939
 We are in Him.

00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:03.879
 Think about it this way.

00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:05.039
 When we turn from our sin

00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.299
 and put our faith and trust in Jesus,

00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:09.100
 from God's perspective,

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:11.699
 we are one with Christ.

00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.759
 We are in Him.

00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:14.259
 In Christ.

00:16:14.939 --> 00:16:16.579
 Paul uses that little phrase

00:16:16.579 --> 00:16:18.000
 over and over again in his letters.

00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:21.840
 That means what Jesus Christ did

00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.759
 in His life and His death,

00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:27.399
 that's credited to us.

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.039
 Think about it this way.

00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.919
 Jesus died on the cross

00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:34.840
 to pay the penalty for our sin.

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:40.480
 His death is credited to us

00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:42.579
 when we trust in Him.

00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:44.759
 Therefore, we are forgiven.

00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:46.279
 The penalty for our sin has been paid.

00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:48.819
 Jesus lived a perfect life.

00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:50.480
 He perfectly obeyed God,

00:16:50.579 --> 00:16:52.620
 perfectly obeyed God's law.

00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:55.079
 So His perfect obedience

00:16:55.079 --> 00:16:57.759
 is credited to us

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.480
 when we trust in Him.

00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.100
 Therefore,

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:02.879
 that's how we can be right with God.

00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:05.660
 That's what God declares

00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:07.279
 our condition to be

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:11.019
 by virtue of our faith in Christ.

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:13.019
 Look at how Paul says it in Romans 8.1.

00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.559
 There is therefore now

00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:16.200
 no condemnation for those

00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:17.759
 who are in Christ Jesus.

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:18.799
 Now,

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.339
 this is maybe hard to grasp hold of,

00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:25.220
 but you need to understand.

00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.519
 You and me right now,

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.480
 if we're trusting in Jesus,

00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.519
 we're one with Him.

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:34.819
 And even though we are not perfect,

00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.920
 God declares us to be

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:39.579
 because of the perfect life of Jesus.

00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:41.500
 That's credited to us.

00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:44.019
 We haven't done anything

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:46.379
 to suffer for our own sins.

00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.139
 We haven't paid for our own sins.

00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.059
 Jesus did, though,

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.920
 when He died on the cross.

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:53.680
 He suffered the wrath of God against sin.

00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.980
 When we trust in Jesus,

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:57.839
 the penalty for our sin has been paid.

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:59.699
 Jesus did it for us.

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.619
 We didn't do anything.

00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:03.379
 We might picture it like this.

00:18:04.659 --> 00:18:06.159
 God accepts us

00:18:06.159 --> 00:18:09.099
 based on Jesus,

00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.059
 on the merit,

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.519
 the value,

00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.459
 the love He has for Jesus.

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.480
 Let's put it this way.

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.980
 Suppose you have a daughter

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.819
 who marries a man

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:20.019
 that you consider

00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:22.000
 unworthy of her.

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.639
 And some of you,

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.559
 I can see it right now,

00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:25.740
 my daughter did that.

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:28.640
 I was originally

00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:29.339
 going to tell this

00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:30.099
 in the form of,

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.660
 suppose you had a son

00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:33.079
 who married a girl

00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.319
 who was unworthy

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:36.460
 of your son.

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.960
 But I didn't want

00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:39.019
 my daughters-in-law

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:40.579
 to read anything into that.

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:43.099
 Because I'm glad

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.480
 that my daughters-in-law

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:46.140
 married my boys

00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:47.539
 and took them away.

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.779
 I'm no longer responsible.

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.519
 They are now responsible.

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.799
 No, I love my boys

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.619
 and love my girls.

00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.319
 But I want you

00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:59.019
 to think with me.

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.619
 Suppose you have a daughter

00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:03.139
 or, if it's true,

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.819
 have a son.

00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.079
 You have a daughter

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.680
 who marries a man

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.960
 you consider unworthy of her.

00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:09.039
 Even though that man

00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:09.819
 in and of himself

00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.859
 is unworthy,

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.400
 you receive him

00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:14.599
 into your family

00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:16.720
 because of your daughter.

00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.879
 By the way,

00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.920
 that's what good parents

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:23.980
 do when at all possible.

00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:26.620
 When you look at that guy,

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:30.080
 you see your daughter's husband.

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:34.279
 You focus on your daughter.

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.519
 He's accepted,

00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:38.220
 not because of who he is,

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:38.960
 what he's done,

00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.580
 but because he is married

00:19:41.580 --> 00:19:42.480
 to your daughter.

00:19:42.560 --> 00:19:43.340
 He is united

00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:44.380
 to your daughter

00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:45.900
 in marriage.

00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:48.000
 As Christians,

00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:49.540
 our acceptance by God,

00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:50.440
 our forgiveness,

00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.380
 our right standing with him

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:55.259
 has absolutely nothing to do

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.940
 with who we are

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.720
 or what we've done.

00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:59.440
 It has every single thing

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.180
 to do with

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:01.980
 who Jesus is

00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:03.600
 and what Jesus

00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:04.519
 has done

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.740
 for us.

00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:09.420
 none of us

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:12.259
 can undo our past.

00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:13.880
 None of us

00:20:13.880 --> 00:20:14.779
 can start right now

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.579
 being perfect.

00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:17.359
 But the good thing is

00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.980
 we don't have to.

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.140
 If we have truly

00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.240
 repented of our sin,

00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.099
 we hate it,

00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.019
 we've turned from it,

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:23.859
 we've put our trust

00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:24.299
 in Jesus'

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.700
 absolute confidence.

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:26.480
 He paid the penalty

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.000
 for our sins

00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.779
 when he died on the cross.

00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:30.099
 We're trusting him

00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:30.620
 and him alone

00:20:30.620 --> 00:20:31.420
 for our salvation.

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.519
 That our sins

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.079
 are forgiven.

00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.440
 He paid the penalty.

00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:37.559
 We are accepted by God.

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.480
 We are right with God

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:40.000
 because Jesus is perfect.

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.720
 And that is credited

00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.039
 to us.

00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:44.900
 The importance

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:46.079
 of this Reformation's

00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.940
 emphasis on

00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:48.220
 justification by faith

00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:50.039
 cannot be overstated.

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.339
 The fact that God

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.099
 accepts us

00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:52.740
 when we are

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:54.380
 united to Jesus

00:20:54.380 --> 00:20:55.140
 by faith

00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:56.140
 means

00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:58.059
 some very important things

00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:58.700
 that we need to think about

00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.019
 right now

00:20:59.019 --> 00:20:59.539
 just quickly.

00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:00.279
 Number one,

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.859
 we can have confidence

00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:02.920
 that our sins are forgiven.

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.980
 You can be certain

00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.339
 right now

00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:04.960
 if you are united

00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.640
 to Jesus in faith

00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:06.860
 your sins

00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:08.020
 are forgiven

00:21:08.020 --> 00:21:10.920
 because of him.

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.940
 You don't have to worry

00:21:12.940 --> 00:21:13.720
 about being good enough

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.120
 for God.

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:14.780
 You aren't.

00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:15.560
 I'm not.

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.259
 And never will be.

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.280
 But God accepts us

00:21:21.280 --> 00:21:22.080
 based on

00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:23.480
 the perfect life

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:24.040
 of Jesus

00:21:24.040 --> 00:21:26.240
 and not our own.

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:27.920
 And this means,

00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:28.700
 listen to this,

00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:30.720
 we can offer genuine hope

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.460
 to the worst

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.539
 of sinners.

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.100
 No matter what a person

00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:35.700
 has done,

00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.559
 they can be forgiven,

00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:39.220
 made right with God,

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.759
 accepted by God

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.259
 because it's Jesus.

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.360
 Think with me for a moment.

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.920
 What if this morning

00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:46.759
 you think about it personally,

00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:48.360
 the worst human being

00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:48.759
 you know

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.720
 was standing right there.

00:21:50.080 --> 00:21:51.779
 The absolute worst,

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.019
 sorriest,

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.000
 low down,

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.580
 sinful person you know

00:21:55.580 --> 00:21:56.200
 on the face of the earth

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.200
 was standing right there.

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.080
 And over here

00:21:59.080 --> 00:22:01.200
 is the best,

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:04.200
 most kind

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.500
 and gracious

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.080
 human being

00:22:06.080 --> 00:22:06.559
 you know

00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.200
 standing right there.

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.120
 If they both

00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:10.779
 were standing there

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.160
 and they looked up

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.539
 and said to us,

00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:15.660
 I'm not a Christian.

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.840
 But I right now

00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:20.120
 want to turn from my sin,

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:20.620
 admit it,

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.140
 I hate it,

00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.740
 I'm sorry,

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.720
 I truly trust

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.019
 that Jesus died for me.

00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.259
 I'm counting on him

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.759
 and him alone

00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.680
 for my salvation.

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.460
 God would save them both

00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:32.339
 the exact same way

00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:33.680
 they don't,

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.779
 either one deserve it.

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.240
 It's by his grace.

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:39.099
 He's going to save them

00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:40.660
 because they're trusting in Jesus.

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.460
 Jesus lived a perfect life.

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.400
 Even the best person you know

00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:44.960
 is not perfect.

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:47.339
 And Jesus paid the penalty

00:22:47.339 --> 00:22:49.059
 for the worst person you know sins.

00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:51.859
 That's how we all

00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:53.559
 come to faith in Christ.

00:22:54.179 --> 00:22:54.799
 That's how we all

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.839
 experience salvation

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:57.599
 or rightness with God

00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:59.500
 if we are Christians.

00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.419
 So when you partake

00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:02.200
 of those elements

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:02.839
 of the Lord's Supper

00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.299
 this morning,

00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:05.339
 you think about what

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.179
 God has done

00:23:06.179 --> 00:23:07.059
 for you in Christ.

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:09.179
 You think about Jesus

00:23:09.179 --> 00:23:10.279
 giving up his life

00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.119
 to die for you.

00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:12.399
 But also you think about

00:23:12.399 --> 00:23:12.899
 how he lived

00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:13.759
 a perfect life

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:15.359
 in this world

00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:16.460
 for you.

00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:18.340
 Let this be a time

00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:19.279
 of real worship

00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.059
 and thanksgiving

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.799
 before God.

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.140
 And if you're not a Christian,

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:25.660
 right now I encourage you

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:28.840
 if you want to be different,

00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.700
 you want God to save you,

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.740
 you're tired of living

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.420
 for yourself,

00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.539
 you will turn from your sin.

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.400
 If you will do that

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:36.740
 and put your trust in Jesus

00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:37.500
 and call upon him

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.160
 to save you,

00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.079
 he will.

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.160
 And let's just all

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.100
 bow together right now

00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:43.000
 and I want to encourage you

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.640
 if you're not a Christian

00:23:43.640 --> 00:23:44.360
 call upon Jesus

00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:45.279
 to save you,

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.059
 trust him.

00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.200
 He will.

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.680
 If you are a Christian,

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:50.819
 thank God

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:51.759
 for what he has done

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.720
 for you.

00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:55.180
 Thank him

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.039
 for the salvation

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.940
 that is yours

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:58.620
 as a gift of his grace

00:23:58.620 --> 00:24:00.840
 through faith in Jesus,

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.640
 his perfect life

00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:04.319
 and his death on the cross

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.000
 for your sins.

00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:06.220
 Let's all pray together.

00:24:06.579 --> 00:24:07.000
 Dear God,

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.460
 help us now

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.500
 to respond to you

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.220
 appropriately.

00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:12.640
 Help every Christian

00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.460
 in here to prepare

00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.180
 to observe

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.200
 the Lord's Supper

00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.700
 together.

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.799
 and in an attitude

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.180
 of prayer,

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.700
 let's get ready

00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.240
 to do that.

00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:49.220
 Thank you.