WEBVTT

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 You may be seated.

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 Good morning.

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 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church,

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 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today.

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 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us.

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 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats,

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 but because we're following Jesus together as one community.

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 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good,

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 they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it,

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 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word.

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 This week we are continuing our series in the book of Romans,

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 and before we jump in, I want to make a couple corrections from last week.

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 A couple of you reminded me that Daniel, in fact, does not appear in Daniel chapter 3.

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 It's just Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

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 And it is Moses, not Abraham, who's almost killed for failing to circumcise his son.

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 So I'm going to keep on the straight and narrow path.

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 This morning I got into the shower. I still have my glasses on, so I'm just trying to make it here, you know.

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 We are continuing our series in the book of Romans,

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 and you'll remember that the book of Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul in the 50s A.D.,

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 and it is called Romans for a very simple reason,

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 which is that it is written to the churches in the city of Rome.

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 This letter is about the gospel.

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 It's about the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection.

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 And Paul's hope, as we saw in chapter 1,

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 is that those who receive this letter would be established in the gospel.

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 Paul will make many applications, as we've already seen, as we go throughout this letter,

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 but he is especially focused on the mission and the unity of the church.

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 And while we will go on many spokes,

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 we're going to go on many different side quests like we did last week,

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 we will be constantly returning back to the hub of the gospel.

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 It is tempting, as I've said many times now,

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 to come to passages like the one we come to this morning

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 and believe this is a random section of Scripture making random points.

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 But in fact, Paul is actually making one argument

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 from chapters 1 through 3 of Romans,

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 and it's summed up in verse 23, which we'll get to in just a couple weeks,

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 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

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 Chapter 1, he's establishing that non-religious people fall short of God's glory.

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 Chapter 2, he established that religious people fall short of God's glory.

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 Chapter 3, he's been responding to some potential objections from chapter 2,

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 and soon he will tie it all together.

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 This week is our last week dealing with these objections

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 before he really ties it together for us in chapter 3.

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 Following up from last week, remember we talked about the fact

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 that the Bible is this great blessing,

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 that one of the greatest privileges of growing up in the church

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 is having access to the Word of God.

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 And so another objection then rises up that Paul wants to respond to,

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 and it's this, if the Bible is such a great blessing,

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 why do so many Christians fail?

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 The Bible is such a great blessing,

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 why do so many Christians still fail?

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 And on that theme,

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 is it actually fair for God to judge the world?

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 So with those two questions,

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 I invite you to turn with me now to Romans chapter 3.

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 We're going to start at verse 3,

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 and as we come there,

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 remember that Proverbs chapter 30, verse 5,

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 tells us,

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 every word of God proves true.

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 He's a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

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 And so that's why we read now Romans chapter 3,

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 starting at verse 3.

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 What if some were unfaithful?

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 Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?

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 By no means.

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 Let God be true,

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 though everyone were a liar,

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 as it is written,

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 that you may be justified in your words

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 and prevail when you are judged.

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 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God,

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 what shall we say?

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 That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?

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 I speak in a human way.

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 By no means.

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 For then how could God judge the world?

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 But if through my lie,

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 God's truth abounds to His glory,

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 why am I still being condemned as a sinner?

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 And why not do evil that good may come,

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 as some people slanderously charge us with saying,

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 their condemnation is just.

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 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word.

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 Our Father in heaven,

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 we do again praise You and we thank You

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 that You have given us Your very words,

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 that You as a loving Father instruct Your children,

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 that You guide us and direct us.

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 Even more than that,

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 You show us the great mercy and grace

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 that You offer us through Your Son.

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 We ask that You would do that again this morning,

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 that You would pour out Your Spirit here among us,

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 that You would make Your Word clear and alive

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 to our hearts and our minds,

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 and most of all,

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 that You would show us, Jesus,

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 that we would see Him

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 in all His glory and beauty and authority

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 and holiness and majesty

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 and mercy and grace and love.

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 We ask all of these things

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 in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Just a few weeks ago,

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 on October the 3rd,

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 the New York Times published an article

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 with this title,

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 Around Dallas,

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 the church scandals seem to have no end.

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 And then the subtitle was this,

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 In this part of Texas,

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 a pastor with a clean reputation

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 is not to be taken for granted.

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 The article then goes on to discuss

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 the number of scandals that have happened in Dallas

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 over the last year.

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 They tell us that there's a radio station in Dallas

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 that has been keeping a tally,

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 and it now contains 17 names,

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 including five involving criminal charges.

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 Now, those sorts of articles

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 raise a lot of questions for us.

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 One of them is this.

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 It seems like the Bible perhaps is not so great after all,

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 and perhaps God isn't so faithful after all.

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 Because, of course,

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 if the Bible was and if God was,

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 how in the world would this be happening?

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 Is God actually true to his word?

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 Paul here in this section of Romans 3

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 is responding to an almost identical objection.

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 Verse 3 here, he says,

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 What if some were unfaithful?

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 Does their faithlessness nullify

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 the faithfulness of God?

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 Last week, we talked about the fact

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 that the Old Testament

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 was this tremendous blessing to the Jews,

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 and I told you it was a blessing ultimately

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 because it showed them Jesus.

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 If God's word is so powerful,

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 Paul is saying,

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 why did the Jews fail so magnificently?

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 If God's word is so powerful,

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 why did the Jews fail so magnificently?

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 If it was such a great privilege,

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 if it was such a great blessing,

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 why didn't they do better?

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 And you just have to think back

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 to our previous sermon series,

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 right in the book of Judges,

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 what did we see time and time again,

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 if not God's people failing over and over?

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 Not just the Old Testament.

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 We could also talk about the New Testament.

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 If the Jews were so blessed,

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 if this was such a great thing

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 for them to have the oracles of God,

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 why did so many of them reject Jesus when he came?

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 If the great blessing of the oracles of God,

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 if the great blessing of the word

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 is that it shows Jesus,

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 and yet the people who have it reject Jesus,

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 how can you say that God is actually faithful?

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 That doesn't sound like a blessing.

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 It sounds like a waste.

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 That's the objection that Paul is raising here,

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 and he immediately gives a response in verse four.

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 And he says essentially this,

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 God's faithfulness shines brightly even in man's sin.

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 God's faithfulness shines brightly even in man's sin.

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 Verse four, he says,

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 by no means let God be true,

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 though everyone were a liar,

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 as it is written,

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 that you may be justified in your words

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 and prevail when you are judged.

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 And he's making a quotation from the Old Testament there.

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 He's quoting from Psalm 51.

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 And if you're familiar with the Psalms,

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 you know that Psalm 51 is King David's psalm of repentance

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 after his great sin with Bathsheba.

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 He's been exposed.

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 He's in a sense this religious leader,

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 this king of God's people,

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 who's been caught in this extramarital affair.

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 And he says, look, when God has condemned me in this,

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 he's actually being faithful.

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 He's faithful in his judgment.

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 He's faithful in his punishment.

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 We saw the same thing.

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 Deuteronomy chapter seven,

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 which Jim read for us earlier this morning,

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 God makes these promises of faithfulness,

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 promises of his steadfast love.

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 And then he also makes promises of punishment.

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 Both of those things are part of God's word.

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 And so whichever one falls,

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 God is being true to what he has said.

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 And so Paul's making a simple point.

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 Whether God shows mercy or he shows judgment,

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 God is still faithful.

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 Whether God shows mercy or judgment,

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 he is still true to everything that he's promised.

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 Even in and as he judges,

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 he's showing that we can trust his character.

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 And so as we go back and think about these churches in Dallas,

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 we can ask, how was God faithful?

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 How is he faithful?

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 I'm sure there's a number of ways we could answer that.

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 I'm going to give you three examples

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 of God being faithful to his promises.

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 First, he's faithful to Jesus' promise in Luke chapter 12.

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 Jesus says this,

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 nothing is covered up that will not be revealed

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 or hidden that will not be known.

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 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark

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 shall be heard in the light

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 and what you have whispered in private rooms

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 shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

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 Why is it that we know about these 17 pastors

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 and their failure?

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 We know because God has honored his promise

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 that what has been whispered in private rooms

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 will be shouted from the rooftops.

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 God's faithful to his people.

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 He's kept his promise.

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 He's kept his promise in Galatians chapter six.

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 Do not be deceived.

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 God is not mocked.

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 For whatever one sows, that he will also reap.

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 We see this failure, right?

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 We see these things being brought into the light.

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 That too is an expression of God's faithfulness.

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 That too is God doing what he said he would do.

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 And in the midst of that, we might think,

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 okay, good, God is being faithful.

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 He's saying that he's going to bring things to light

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 and he has,

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 but what about his promise to the church?

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 We could look again, Matthew chapter 16, verse 18.

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 Jesus says this,

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 on this rock, I will build my church

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 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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 How can God be faithful?

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 How can the word be so powerful

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 in the midst of such failure?

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 And the answer is this,

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 God's kingdom continues.

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 17 pastors are not powerful enough

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 to derail the mission of the living God.

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 Let God be true,

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 though everyone is a liar.

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 Paul's reminding them,

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 God is faithful in every situation.

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 God is faithful in every circumstance.

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 Nothing can thwart his purposes.

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 Nothing can stop his promises.

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 God is faithful when he shows mercy.

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 He is faithful when he shows judgment.

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 We've talked before,

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 2 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 20,

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 reminds us all the promises of God

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 are yes and amen in Jesus Christ.

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 Romans chapter 8,

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 which we'll get to, you know,

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 in a few decades,

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 reminds us, it says,

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 look, if God gave us his own son,

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 will he not also with him give us all things?

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 In other words,

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 in the midst of the imperfection and scandal

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 and sin of God's people,

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 he will build his church.

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 The gates of hell will not prevail against it.

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 Let God be true,

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 though everyone were a liar.

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 There's a deeper point here for us as well,

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 that God will accomplish his purposes

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 no matter what.

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 One pastor has put it this way,

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 you cannot stand in the way

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 of the freight train of God's kingdom.

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 Your imperfection and sin and failure

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 cannot thwart or stop

00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:57.580
 God's purposes and his plan.

00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:03.600
 Your flawed and imperfect parenting

00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.879
 is not powerful enough

00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:09.500
 to block God's work

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:11.580
 in the life of your child.

00:16:11.580 --> 00:16:14.759
 Your trauma

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.980
 from your past

00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:18.840
 is not so powerful

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:21.100
 to stop God

00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.300
 from using you

00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:23.600
 as his instrument

00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.900
 in this world.

00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:29.080
 And pastor's failures

00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.139
 are not so great

00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:33.480
 that God has been blocked

00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:33.980
 somehow

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:36.140
 from working his will

00:16:36.140 --> 00:16:38.220
 in the city of Dallas.

00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:41.820
 Let God be true,

00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:43.139
 though everyone

00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:44.060
 were a liar.

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:47.100
 Now I'm not saying

00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:47.899
 there aren't real,

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.320
 deep,

00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.800
 and painful consequences.

00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:51.300
 I am not saying

00:16:51.300 --> 00:16:52.139
 it doesn't matter

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:53.080
 how you live.

00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.740
 What I am saying

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.320
 is this.

00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.840
 God is faithful

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.820
 to his word.

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:00.980
 He's faithful

00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:02.300
 to his people.

00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.100
 What I reminded you of

00:17:05.100 --> 00:17:05.920
 multiple times

00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:06.880
 during the series

00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.460
 in Judges,

00:17:07.540 --> 00:17:08.900
 2 Timothy 2,

00:17:09.020 --> 00:17:10.120
 verse 13,

00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:13.060
 if we are faithless,

00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:15.880
 he remains faithful,

00:17:16.820 --> 00:17:20.460
 for he cannot deny himself.

00:17:29.060 --> 00:17:30.240
 Nothing's changed

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:32.160
 since Paul wrote

00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:33.120
 Romans chapter 3.

00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:35.199
 God was faithful

00:17:35.199 --> 00:17:36.239
 to his people then.

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:37.799
 God is faithful

00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:39.339
 to his people today.

00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:43.619
 God gave us his son,

00:17:43.959 --> 00:17:44.859
 Romans chapter 8.

00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:46.679
 Will he not also

00:17:46.679 --> 00:17:47.479
 with him

00:17:47.479 --> 00:17:48.500
 give us

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.839
 all things?

00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:53.279
 Nothing can separate us

00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.359
 from the love of God.

00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.639
 In the midst

00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:57.979
 of man's failures,

00:17:58.959 --> 00:18:00.379
 God's kingdom

00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:02.279
 marches on.

00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:04.119
 God's faithfulness

00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:14.799
 after addressing that,

00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:16.219
 Paul goes on

00:18:16.219 --> 00:18:17.379
 to lay out

00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:18.539
 another objection.

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:20.619
 Okay, Paul,

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:24.159
 if man's unfaithfulness

00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:27.000
 shows God's faithfulness,

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.859
 isn't sin

00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:30.419
 kind of a good thing?

00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:32.660
 That's what's happening

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:34.039
 here in verses 5 and 6.

00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:35.039
 Verse 5,

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.900
 but if our unrighteousness

00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:38.160
 serves to show

00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:38.860
 the righteousness

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:39.360
 of God,

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.360
 what shall we say?

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:42.340
 That God is unrighteous

00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:43.279
 to inflict wrath

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:43.740
 on us?

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.680
 In other words,

00:18:45.800 --> 00:18:46.160
 hey, look,

00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.640
 you've said here

00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:49.300
 that when we sin,

00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:51.380
 it shows God's glory

00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:51.840
 somehow.

00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.960
 It shows that he's faithful.

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:54.039
 Great.

00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:55.720
 Let's sin more

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.660
 so we can show

00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.940
 his faithfulness more.

00:18:57.940 --> 00:19:00.299
 Now, if that doesn't

00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:00.980
 really make sense,

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.580
 I want you to think

00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:02.460
 about it this way.

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:05.080
 Many pastors

00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:06.140
 will explain the gospel

00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:06.779
 like this.

00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:07.740
 The gospel is this

00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.539
 bright diamond,

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.559
 and diamonds look best

00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:12.840
 on a black background.

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:14.740
 Right?

00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:16.000
 So what you want

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.100
 is you have to understand

00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:17.680
 that the gospel

00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.600
 is beautiful

00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.960
 against the background

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:20.559
 of our sin,

00:19:20.620 --> 00:19:21.080
 the backdrop

00:19:21.080 --> 00:19:21.779
 of our sin.

00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.299
 Now, one of the most

00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:24.360
 interesting jobs

00:19:24.360 --> 00:19:25.019
 I think that someone

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.480
 could have,

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.480
 maybe it's a boring job,

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.120
 I'm not sure,

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:29.319
 it's to pick the names

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:30.339
 of paint colors.

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.360
 Right?

00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.519
 Who is it that imagines

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.539
 up all of these things?

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.579
 And I looked into this,

00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.200
 there are actually

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:39.039
 a variety of shades

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.700
 of black

00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:40.480
 that you can get.

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.980
 You might be thinking,

00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:42.700
 well, if it's a shade

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:43.059
 of black,

00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:43.720
 then it's gray.

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:44.759
 False.

00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:45.920
 Okay?

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.279
 Here's a list.

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:49.059
 You have obsidian black.

00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:50.980
 There is ink black.

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.839
 There's also jet black,

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:53.740
 coal black,

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.660
 and leather black.

00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:56.240
 And so what Paul's

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.100
 objectors are saying

00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:57.519
 is, look,

00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:59.100
 the more we sin,

00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:00.980
 the darker the shade

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.580
 of black.

00:20:02.040 --> 00:20:02.700
 And the brighter

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.640
 the diamond shines.

00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:05.900
 So let's sin more.

00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:08.200
 The more we sin,

00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:09.779
 the brighter that diamond is.

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.259
 So why would God judge us?

00:20:11.300 --> 00:20:12.320
 We're helping him.

00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:14.200
 We're making God's jewels

00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:14.980
 look great.

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.680
 He shouldn't judge us.

00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.380
 We're making his diamond

00:20:20.380 --> 00:20:21.779
 shine brighter and brighter.

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.540
 Wow, God,

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.599
 you're welcome.

00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:28.180
 Aren't you so glad

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:30.379
 for having people like us?

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:32.700
 How can you punish us

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:35.680
 for making you look so good?

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.940
 Paul in verse five,

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:40.680
 at the end,

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.579
 starts his response.

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:41.920
 He says,

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:43.759
 I speak in a human way,

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.799
 which is his way of saying

00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:46.740
 only a human

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.839
 could say something

00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.720
 that stupid.

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:52.860
 And then he goes on

00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:53.480
 in verse six,

00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.759
 by no means,

00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:55.819
 of course,

00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:56.900
 this can't be true.

00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:57.640
 Why?

00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:59.740
 For then how could God

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.799
 judge the world?

00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.279
 In other words,

00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.200
 if you follow that logic out,

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:06.279
 no one will ever be judged.

00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:08.600
 You might think that Paul here

00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:09.740
 would defend the idea

00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.140
 of judgment,

00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:10.900
 but he doesn't.

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:12.700
 He's speaking to a Jewish audience

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:14.539
 who are all in

00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.440
 on the concept

00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.799
 of judging the Gentiles.

00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.059
 And so Paul's saying,

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:19.099
 your beliefs actually

00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:19.960
 don't match up.

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.299
 You want the Gentiles

00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:22.039
 to be judged,

00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.379
 then you can't make

00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:24.039
 this argument

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.319
 end of discussion.

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:28.000
 If we follow it through,

00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:30.500
 then we end up

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:32.559
 with zero judgment.

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.579
 And of course,

00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:34.579
 you,

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:36.319
 my Jewish receivers

00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:36.960
 of this letter

00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.359
 and me,

00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:37.740
 Paul,

00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.500
 know that that's

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.039
 not going to work.

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.659
 Now,

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.279
 that might not be

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.500
 as obvious to us today

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.720
 because most of us

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.879
 are in fact not Jewish.

00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.780
 And in our culture,

00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:48.200
 we are not committed

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:49.540
 as people were

00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:50.420
 in Paul's culture

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.200
 to the idea

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:51.980
 of a judgment.

00:21:52.800 --> 00:21:53.460
 And so this argument

00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.300
 is not necessarily,

00:21:54.520 --> 00:21:55.640
 at least on the face,

00:21:56.080 --> 00:21:57.720
 of it as powerful to us

00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.960
 as it was

00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.940
 to them.

00:22:01.800 --> 00:22:03.340
 It ended the discussion

00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:04.180
 for the Jews.

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:06.240
 It may not end it for us.

00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:07.340
 However,

00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.740
 I'd like to suggest this.

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:11.940
 If we are truly honest

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:13.000
 with ourselves,

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:16.079
 we also believe

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.180
 in judgment.

00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:20.200
 If we're truly honest,

00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.259
 whether you're a Christian

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.819
 or a non-Christian,

00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.920
 you believe

00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.880
 in judgment.

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.160
 You might say you don't.

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.680
 You might say that

00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.880
 as your stated belief,

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.240
 right?

00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:32.539
 And yet,

00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.880
 you cannot live

00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:35.000
 consistently with that.

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.140
 Just think for a minute

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:38.339
 about the way people

00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:39.220
 talk about their

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.099
 political enemies.

00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:42.659
 Think about the way

00:22:42.659 --> 00:22:43.559
 people talk about

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.099
 other people

00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:44.899
 who vote differently

00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:45.599
 than they do.

00:22:46.399 --> 00:22:47.719
 We hear this all the time.

00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.459
 These are words

00:22:49.459 --> 00:22:51.019
 filled with judgment,

00:22:51.179 --> 00:22:51.359
 right?

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:53.139
 Filled with judgment.

00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:55.159
 We all make sorts

00:22:55.159 --> 00:22:56.579
 of moral valuations,

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.759
 on the one hand,

00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.379
 claiming that we're

00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:59.679
 more merciful than God,

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.759
 and then the other hand,

00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:02.579
 when someone crosses us

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:04.039
 or violates us,

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.699
 our anger rises up.

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.480
 We actually,

00:23:06.719 --> 00:23:07.279
 deep down,

00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:09.459
 long to see justice done.

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:12.240
 Whether we admit it or not,

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.380
 all of us

00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:15.579
 believe in judgment.

00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.500
 We are closer

00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:20.059
 to first century Judaism

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.759
 than we'd like

00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:21.700
 to admit.

00:23:22.660 --> 00:23:23.759
 Now, this is on the back

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.900
 of your worship guide,

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:27.380
 speaking of Paul's words here.

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.480
 Paul asks us

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.660
 to imagine a world

00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:32.100
 where there is no judgment,

00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:34.319
 no accountability,

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.759
 and no recompense

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.160
 for evils that are done.

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:40.380
 Such a world

00:23:40.380 --> 00:23:42.420
 is intolerable

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.800
 and senseless,

00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:46.140
 degrading our humanity

00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:48.040
 since what we do

00:23:48.040 --> 00:23:48.779
 with our lives

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.960
 would be insignificant

00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:53.720
 and have no moral value.

00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:55.940
 Without judgment,

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:59.259
 everything would be permitted.

00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:02.759
 Nothing would be verboten,

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:04.500
 and goodness

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.019
 would vanish

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.440
 into the midst

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:09.019
 of nothingness.

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.160
 In other words,

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:12.440
 do you believe in goodness?

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.680
 Then you believe

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.119
 in judgment.

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.400
 Do you believe

00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.220
 that your actions

00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.859
 in this world

00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.879
 matter at all?

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.559
 You believe in judgment.

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:25.940
 Are there moral things

00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:27.500
 that you find reprehensible

00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.299
 and believe

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:29.140
 should be punished?

00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:30.960
 you believe

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.920
 in judgment.

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:35.720
 I speak in a human way

00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:37.600
 by no means,

00:24:38.280 --> 00:24:40.040
 for then how could God

00:24:40.040 --> 00:24:41.820
 judge the world?

00:24:43.600 --> 00:24:45.020
 We all want judgment.

00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:47.620
 We all want justice to come

00:24:47.620 --> 00:24:49.460
 if we're truly honest.

00:24:50.340 --> 00:24:50.880
 In fact,

00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.880
 we demand it, right?

00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.080
 What are protests

00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:53.140
 about

00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:56.040
 if not a cry for justice?

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:58.819
 The only problem is this.

00:24:58.899 --> 00:24:59.799
 The catch is this.

00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:00.940
 We want justice

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:02.220
 for other people,

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.700
 not for ourselves.

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.619
 We want to be

00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:08.399
 the dispensers of judgment,

00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:10.259
 not the receivers

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.000
 of judgment.

00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:14.000
 That's the catch.

00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:16.899
 That's the dark backdrop

00:25:16.899 --> 00:25:17.899
 against the diamond

00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:19.119
 of the gospel, right?

00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:20.359
 That is what Paul

00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:21.659
 is trying to push us towards.

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.779
 Back all the way

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.579
 in chapter one

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:23.940
 where he says

00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.740
 there's a righteousness

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.960
 that comes from faith,

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.759
 for faith.

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.460
 Judgment is coming

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.940
 not just to those

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:31.039
 who have hurt us,

00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:32.480
 but to us as well.

00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:35.139
 And so there must be

00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:36.759
 another answer.

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.799
 We want,

00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.639
 we demand

00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.539
 to live in a world

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.119
 with judgment.

00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:44.079
 We just don't want

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.759
 to receive judgment.

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.420
 Paul then goes on

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:50.119
 to push things

00:25:50.119 --> 00:25:51.639
 one step further.

00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:54.240
 Verse six,

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:54.960
 how could God

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.579
 judge the world?

00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:57.339
 Then verse seven,

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.740
 he says,

00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:57.960
 hey,

00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.980
 if you think

00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:00.079
 that your sin

00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:02.399
 shows God's glory

00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.000
 even more,

00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.859
 then let's take that

00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:05.359
 to its logical conclusion.

00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.480
 But if through my lie

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.220
 God's truth

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.379
 abounds to his glory,

00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.819
 why am I still

00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:11.339
 being condemned

00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:11.859
 as a sinner?

00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:14.700
 And why not do evil

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:16.339
 that good may come?

00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.920
 As some people

00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:19.480
 slanderously charge us

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:20.379
 with saying.

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:21.639
 Okay,

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.619
 so first he responded

00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.479
 to this objection.

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:25.659
 Every time we sin,

00:26:25.719 --> 00:26:26.559
 we're helping God,

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.839
 so why stop?

00:26:29.559 --> 00:26:30.000
 Next,

00:26:30.219 --> 00:26:30.419
 okay,

00:26:30.479 --> 00:26:31.259
 let's continue it.

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.599
 Every time we sin,

00:26:32.699 --> 00:26:33.719
 we're helping God,

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:35.119
 so let's sin

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:36.839
 more and more.

00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:39.239
 Let's do it.

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.139
 Let's do as much

00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:40.779
 as possible

00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.919
 because every time

00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:42.359
 we do it,

00:26:42.379 --> 00:26:43.439
 the more we do it,

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.679
 the greater God

00:26:44.679 --> 00:26:45.399
 appears.

00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:49.200
 and Paul basically

00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:49.820
 says this,

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:51.200
 if you argue for that,

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.680
 you are arguing

00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:53.880
 for evil.

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.040
 If you're arguing

00:26:56.040 --> 00:26:56.440
 for that,

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.960
 you're arguing

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.519
 for evil.

00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.940
 You're not on the

00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.660
 side of the good,

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:00.860
 you're on the side

00:27:00.860 --> 00:27:02.040
 of the wrong.

00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:03.540
 It's a very simple

00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:03.860
 argument.

00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.600
 Paul doesn't spend

00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.600
 much time responding

00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:05.980
 to it.

00:27:06.040 --> 00:27:07.120
 He concludes with this,

00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:09.160
 their condemnation

00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:10.519
 is just.

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.780
 He's saying,

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:12.960
 look,

00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:14.120
 your argument's so bad.

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:16.279
 It's self-condemning.

00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:17.439
 I'm not going to

00:27:17.439 --> 00:27:17.959
 waste time

00:27:17.959 --> 00:27:18.859
 responding to it.

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:21.119
 If that's what you think,

00:27:21.879 --> 00:27:22.500
 then judgment

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.279
 is coming

00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:24.419
 for you.

00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.459
 Remember,

00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.139
 I've been telling you

00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.919
 that Paul here

00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:31.979
 is responding

00:27:31.979 --> 00:27:32.879
 to this idea

00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:34.259
 since chapter 2

00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:34.959
 from the Jews

00:27:34.959 --> 00:27:35.559
 that somehow

00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.719
 they can presume

00:27:36.719 --> 00:27:37.899
 on God's grace

00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:38.679
 that since they're

00:27:38.679 --> 00:27:39.759
 God's chosen people,

00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:40.779
 they have access

00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.679
 to circumcision

00:27:41.679 --> 00:27:42.459
 and the law.

00:27:42.739 --> 00:27:43.959
 There's nothing else

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.700
 that they need

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.640
 to worry about.

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.279
 And Paul again

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.360
 is telling them

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:49.759
 as he's told them

00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.900
 many times before,

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:51.720
 no.

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.059
 No,

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.920
 you can't presume

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.380
 on that.

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.220
 You will show

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.279
 God's faithfulness

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.360
 whether he has mercy

00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:58.840
 on you

00:27:58.840 --> 00:28:00.279
 or whether he judges you.

00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:02.600
 You cannot presume

00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.440
 and live

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:05.220
 however you want.

00:28:06.340 --> 00:28:07.480
 I've also been telling you

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.380
 that this Romans

00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:09.579
 is the fifth gospel.

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:12.119
 that what Paul teaches

00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:13.399
 Jesus taught first.

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.119
 In Matthew chapter 3,

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:15.819
 John the Baptist

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.980
 comes to prepare

00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:17.859
 the way for Jesus

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:19.379
 and he says this,

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.720
 Do not presume

00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.839
 to say to yourselves,

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:22.819
 We have Abraham

00:28:22.819 --> 00:28:23.659
 as our father.

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.319
 For I tell you,

00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.659
 God is able

00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.740
 from these stones

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.179
 to raise up children

00:28:29.179 --> 00:28:30.279
 for Abraham.

00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.439
 Even now,

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.720
 the axe is laid

00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.399
 to the root

00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:35.480
 of the trees.

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:37.120
 Every tree,

00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:37.599
 therefore,

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.640
 that does not

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.720
 bear good fruit

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:41.319
 is cut down

00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:42.380
 and thrown

00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:43.720
 into the fire.

00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:47.099
 God's glory

00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:48.339
 is shown

00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.519
 in his mercy.

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.599
 His glory

00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.500
 is shown

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.720
 in his judgment.

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.720
 And so to tie

00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.779
 all of these things together,

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.940
 I'll simply say this.

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.460
 No one

00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:03.160
 wants to live

00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.799
 in a world

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.620
 without judgment.

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:07.360
 And

00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:08.480
 no one

00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.279
 is prepared

00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:10.019
 to face

00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.759
 God's judgment.

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.640
 Say that again.

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.599
 No one

00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.200
 wants to live

00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:14.559
 in a world

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.220
 without judgment.

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.839
 No one

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.420
 is prepared

00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:18.160
 to face

00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:19.240
 God's judgment.

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.799
 We want

00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.400
 to be the ones

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.140
 dishing it out,

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.940
 not the ones

00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:24.059
 receiving it.

00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:26.779
 That second point

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.740
 drives us back

00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.660
 to the first point.

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.400
 Our only hope

00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.000
 is this,

00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.299
 that God

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.339
 is faithful

00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:34.579
 no matter

00:29:34.579 --> 00:29:35.500
 what.

00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:38.039
 That's the only way

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.519
 we resolve

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.119
 those things.

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.659
 How do we

00:29:40.659 --> 00:29:41.059
 handle it

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.619
 that we can't

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.399
 live without judgment

00:29:42.399 --> 00:29:43.259
 and we can't

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.839
 face it?

00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:45.299
 Our only hope

00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:46.500
 is in Jesus

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.559
 and Jesus

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.339
 alone.

00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.159
 After John the Baptist

00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:52.119
 introduces him,

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.859
 Jesus goes on

00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:53.539
 to say this,

00:29:53.659 --> 00:29:54.619
 John chapter 3,

00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:55.240
 again,

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:57.099
 whoever believes

00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:57.839
 in the Son

00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:59.180
 has eternal

00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.660
 life.

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.559
 Whoever does

00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.220
 not obey

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:02.779
 the Son

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.579
 shall not

00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:04.319
 see life,

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.759
 but the wrath

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.819
 of God

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.880
 remains on him.

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.200
 God's judgment

00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:14.819
 is coming

00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:15.740
 and it is just.

00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.579
 God's justice

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.359
 is shown

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:19.599
 in his mercy

00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.079
 and his justice

00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:21.880
 is shown

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:23.120
 in his wrath.

00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:25.559
 Do you believe

00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:26.239
 in the Son?

00:30:28.439 --> 00:30:29.679
 Do you have

00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:30.879
 eternal

00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:32.059
 life?

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.899
 If you do,

00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:37.779
 then you can sing

00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.339
 with us

00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:40.239
 in our closing hymn.

00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:40.879
 We're going to say

00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:41.919
 exactly what it is

00:30:41.919 --> 00:30:42.599
 that's our hope.

00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.579
 Those he saves

00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.299
 are his delight.

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.379
 Christ

00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:50.500
 will hold me fast.

00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.819
 precious

00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:53.259
 in his holy sight,

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.759
 he will hold

00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.279
 me fast.

00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.380
 He'll not let

00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:57.940
 my soul

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:58.640
 be lost.

00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:00.480
 His promises

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:02.359
 shall last.

00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:03.779
 Right?

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.859
 Let God be true

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.440
 through everyone

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.059
 be a liar.

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.740
 Bought by him

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.619
 at such a cost,

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.859
 he will hold

00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:11.920
 me fast.

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.480
 Let's pray.

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.700
 Our Father

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.119
 in heaven,

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.680
 we do

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.839
 thank you

00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:18.700
 and praise you

00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.099
 that you are

00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:19.900
 true to your words.

00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:22.200
 That your faithfulness

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:23.220
 is proved

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:23.819
 no matter

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.640
 what man does.

00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.619
 We ask

00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:27.380
 that you would,

00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:29.920
 for those of us

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.519
 who are Christians,

00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.180
 that you would

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.980
 establish

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.799
 our belief

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.339
 in the Son

00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:34.279
 who has eternal life.

00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:35.700
 For those of us

00:31:35.700 --> 00:31:36.200
 who are not,

00:31:36.299 --> 00:31:37.059
 you would show us

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:37.880
 the contradiction

00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:39.039
 that we want judgment

00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:40.359
 but we can't face judgment.

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:42.019
 That we would run

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.019
 to the only one

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:43.619
 who's offered

00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.579
 to take it for us.

00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:46.279
 We ask all of these things

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:46.960
 in his name,

00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:47.660
 the mighty name

00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:48.500
 of Jesus Christ.

00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:49.099
 Amen.

00:31:49.099 --> 00:31:49.240
 Amen.

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.160
 I invite you to stand

00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.119
 for our closing hymn.

00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.720
 Amen.

00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:53.839
 Amen.

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.619
 Amen.

00:31:54.619 --> 00:31:55.019
 Amen.