WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.500 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:30.060 A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans. 00:00:31.740 --> 00:00:37.460 I'm under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:41.420 So I'm eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 00:00:42.260 --> 00:00:44.359 For I am not ashamed of the gospel. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:51.100 For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 00:00:51.100 --> 00:00:55.859 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed for faith. 00:00:56.300 --> 00:01:00.160 As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith. 00:01:00.700 --> 00:01:02.240 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:03.980 Thanks be to God. 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:12.719 Father, your Son said that blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:16.200 And I just pray that you would give us that hunger. 00:01:16.620 --> 00:01:17.819 You would give us that thirst. 00:01:17.819 --> 00:01:21.719 Not for a righteousness of our own, but for a better one. 00:01:21.799 --> 00:01:23.759 A righteousness that comes from you. 00:01:23.979 --> 00:01:32.359 And would we know the wonderful truth of the gospel that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are satisfied and filled in Christ. 00:01:32.699 --> 00:01:39.099 Would we experience that deeply and truly in the preaching of your word today, I pray in the name of Jesus. 00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:39.500 Amen. 00:01:39.500 --> 00:01:40.019 Amen. 00:01:41.419 --> 00:01:41.939 All right. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:44.439 So we're continuing our series in the gospel. 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:45.219 Not the gospel. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:46.019 We're done with the gospel. 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:46.319 Sorry. 00:01:46.699 --> 00:01:49.479 In the epistle of the Romans. 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:49.939 All right. 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:54.479 This is Apostle Paul's letter to that first century church in Rome. 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:56.000 And if you're new here, don't worry. 00:01:56.119 --> 00:01:59.639 We've only been two sermons into this series. 00:01:59.919 --> 00:02:02.959 And today we're arriving at really the thesis of this letter. 00:02:03.099 --> 00:02:07.039 The thesis of this letter, which you can find in verses 16 and 17. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:08.680 But we're just going to jump right in, okay? 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:10.020 No fun intro today. 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:13.520 We're just going to jump right in, starting with verses 14 and 15. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:19.540 And what I want to do is I want to take a second to give us some of the background context for this letter to the Roman church. 00:02:19.640 --> 00:02:26.280 You see, I think a temptation for many of us is to approach the book of Romans like a systematic theology textbook. 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:32.620 And the tendency of many interpreters of Romans can be to, like, dehistoricize this letter. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:37.420 To kind of ignore the specific context Paul is writing to in the first century. 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:44.759 And while, yes, Paul is super theological in this letter, I think it's important to humanize this situation, this letter, 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:49.060 and not see it as some kind of impersonal theological statement of faith. 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:53.620 We have to listen for not just Paul the theologian, but Paul the pastor. 00:02:54.659 --> 00:02:59.400 Because, see, what Paul is doing here is not primarily writing up a doctrinal statement, 00:03:00.140 --> 00:03:03.659 defining, like, what the gospel is with systematic clarity. 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:09.360 But as with all his letters, he is at least equally interested in applying the gospel. 00:03:10.140 --> 00:03:13.180 So I want to take that lens to the book of Romans as we're going through it. 00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:22.840 This is Paul applying the good news about Jesus to a particular people in a particular place in this thriving church at the heart of the Roman Empire, 00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:24.900 at this church that he has not yet visited. 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:27.200 All right, so let's turn now to verse 14. 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:28.700 Look what Paul writes. 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:29.860 Paul writes, 00:03:29.860 --> 00:03:35.500 I am under obligation both to the Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:39.980 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 00:03:39.979 --> 00:03:43.859 And what we have to understand here is that the concern in this letter is not just the question of, 00:03:44.539 --> 00:03:45.819 how can I be right with God? 00:03:46.419 --> 00:03:49.259 But also, how can we be right with one another? 00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:56.259 So you see, the gospel, the Christian faith, though it, of course, is about the vertical relationship we have with our Creator, 00:03:56.319 --> 00:04:02.459 we must never forget that it is also about our horizontal relationship with the rest of creation and with one another. 00:04:02.819 --> 00:04:07.219 And it's super important that we always hold both the vertical and the horizontal. 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:13.219 Because see, throughout church history, the church has gone wrong when we've emphasized one and neglected the other. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:18.980 When the church has upheld the vertical dimension of the gospel while neglecting the horizontal dimension of the gospel, 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:24.779 we have tended to turn a blind eye toward injustice, toward prejudice, toward bias against our neighbors, 00:04:24.779 --> 00:04:30.399 and we've easily gotten into the trap of othering different kinds of people that are easy to other. 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:37.919 But when the church has emphasized the horizontal dimension of the gospel and neglected the vertical aspect of the gospel, 00:04:38.539 --> 00:04:45.399 well, this has resulted in us forgetting the divine and transcendent foundation on which we believe in human equality 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.939 and the love for our neighbors that we owe, right? 00:04:49.339 --> 00:04:53.599 So again, we have to hold both, and that's what Paul is doing here in verses 14 through 17. 00:04:53.679 --> 00:04:55.899 He's holding both, the vertical and the horizontal. 00:04:55.899 --> 00:04:58.839 Now, in verse 14, he's basically saying this. 00:04:58.899 --> 00:05:07.139 He's saying that the gospel, the good news about Jesus, obligates him to be an equal opportunity preacher, all right? 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:08.759 This gospel is for everyone. 00:05:08.799 --> 00:05:09.399 That's what he's saying. 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:14.279 To barbarians, to the foolish, to the wise, to the Greeks, all right? 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:19.779 And this might sound super basic and just super commonsensical to us, right? 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:26.139 It sounds pretty standard to our modern Western ears, but the very reason that this sounds so commonsensical to us 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:30.899 is actually because of the way that Christianity has shaped modern Western thought. 00:05:31.739 --> 00:05:36.899 Really, if you're of the mind that Christianity is about imperialism and uniformity, 00:05:37.059 --> 00:05:39.379 and it's maybe this, like, white man's religion, 00:05:40.179 --> 00:05:43.839 I mean, sure, people have done terrible things in the name of Christianity, 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:51.219 but historic, orthodox, spirit-led Christianity, according to the Scriptures, is anything but that. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:58.979 See, the early church is actually the very first institution in history to truly unite a diversity of people, 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:03.339 a diversity of cultures, without the use of force, without the use of the sword, 00:06:03.419 --> 00:06:10.120 or without dangling, you know, self-interest, like dangling money or consumeristic preferences in front of people. 00:06:10.120 --> 00:06:16.079 This is the only institution that's ever been able to do that, without dangling a carrot or without using force. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:22.459 And you have to understand, in the ancient world, even equality and the dignity of every human being, 00:06:22.840 --> 00:06:25.079 that was a radical idea. 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:28.879 That was an incredibly radical idea in the ancient world. 00:06:29.340 --> 00:06:32.780 In the ancient world, yes, they had all kinds of gospels, all kinds of good news, 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:38.680 but no one had good news that was good news for literally everyone, right? 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:41.060 No one had good news that was good news for everyone. 00:06:41.699 --> 00:06:45.420 In that day, how they understood this word gospel, good news, 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.379 was usually in the context of these people called heralds, right? 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:51.920 They would go from city to city, heralding the good news. 00:06:52.400 --> 00:06:53.240 Rome has won. 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:57.819 They would say, hear ye, hear ye, let us celebrate, dun-dun-dun-dun, 00:06:57.960 --> 00:07:00.660 that Rome is victorious, right? 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:01.699 Rome is victorious. 00:07:02.460 --> 00:07:05.819 They would say that in Athens, in Corinth, all over the empire. 00:07:05.819 --> 00:07:10.639 We have conquered yet another barbarian people, and this is the gospel. 00:07:11.159 --> 00:07:14.279 We've subjected others to our utopian empire. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:16.759 But don't you see what that is? 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:21.519 It's good news, yes, for the conqueror, but is it good news for the conquered? 00:07:22.159 --> 00:07:22.459 No. 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:27.100 But what Paul is saying is that he has a better kind of good news. 00:07:27.459 --> 00:07:32.219 He has an announcement that can be good news for both the sophisticated and wise Greeks 00:07:32.220 --> 00:07:35.500 and the supposedly foolish barbarians. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:39.980 The gospel of God, Paul is saying, is good news for truly everyone. 00:07:39.980 --> 00:07:43.500 The gospel of the Creator is good news for all God's creatures, 00:07:43.900 --> 00:07:47.740 and this was absolutely radical in the ancient world. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.040 And the reason Paul was writing this to the church in Rome 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:55.480 was because of a specific historical context that was going on in this church. 00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:59.860 You see, the church in Rome was made up mostly of the Jewish people who were there in Rome 00:07:59.860 --> 00:08:02.360 and also the Greco-Romans, all right? 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:04.240 Two very different cultures. 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:08.340 And what you should also know is that not long before Paul wrote this letter, 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:12.180 under the reign of Emperor Claudius, for at least five years, 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:16.240 the whole Jewish community was expelled from Rome. 00:08:16.400 --> 00:08:17.640 They had to leave, all right? 00:08:17.700 --> 00:08:18.259 They had to leave. 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:20.900 And what that meant was that for a significant amount of time, 00:08:20.899 --> 00:08:25.159 at least for five years, this multi-ethnic church of Jewish people 00:08:25.159 --> 00:08:27.879 and Greco-Roman people being together in the same church, 00:08:28.299 --> 00:08:30.399 it had become a monocultural church. 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:34.519 Just Greco-Romans for at least five years, all right? 00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:38.439 Now, in the time that Paul is writing to them, this has changed. 00:08:38.699 --> 00:08:43.360 Claudius has died, and the Jewish community has started to move back home, back into Rome. 00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:46.639 You have people like Paul's ministry partners, Priscilla and Aquila, 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:48.699 moving back into Rome. 00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:52.220 But becoming a multicultural church, once again, 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:55.960 would not be a super easy thing to navigate, right? 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:57.740 You can imagine, right? 00:08:57.840 --> 00:08:59.340 Like even here at Christ Church, you know, 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:02.040 some of us come from the African-American church tradition. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:04.540 I come from the Asian-American church tradition. 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:08.200 Others here grew up in more of a predominantly white church tradition. 00:09:08.400 --> 00:09:10.660 We all have a sense of nostalgia, right? 00:09:10.660 --> 00:09:14.900 We all have certain preferences, certain things that we just love, 00:09:14.900 --> 00:09:18.680 that really formed us, but that maybe we don't practice here at Christ Church. 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:24.280 Musical style, preaching style, what night of the week to have youth group on, right? 00:09:25.140 --> 00:09:29.879 Or like what our kids address others as in this church, right? 00:09:30.040 --> 00:09:31.180 Very different things. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.800 And that's what they were up against in the Church of Rome. 00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:37.940 Paul is addressing this church in Rome, 00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:40.080 and he's not just wanting to define the gospel for them 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.860 so that they can have their theological ducks in a row. 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:46.259 He's wanting to apply the gospel to this church 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:48.879 so they can live as the beautiful community, 00:09:49.680 --> 00:09:54.139 the beautiful community, the radically diverse community that God wants them to be. 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:58.500 And not only does he want the Jewish people and the Greco-Roman people in Rome 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:01.419 to get together and get along united in Christ, 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:04.200 but we also know in chapter 15 of this letter 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:07.180 that he's hoping that this multi-ethnic church 00:10:07.180 --> 00:10:12.600 will also support him as he goes to even more barbarians west in Spain. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:17.220 So that's the big historical context behind this letter to the Romans. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.220 He's challenging them to believe the whole gospel 00:10:20.220 --> 00:10:24.060 and the vast implications for how Christians of various cultures 00:10:24.060 --> 00:10:26.400 ought to relate to people of other cultures, 00:10:26.400 --> 00:10:30.940 even when to our culture they might seem barbaric and foolish. 00:10:30.940 --> 00:10:34.260 And see, Paul's strategy for unity, it's not just saying, 00:10:34.380 --> 00:10:35.320 hey, you've got to be more progressive. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:37.380 You've got to be more open-minded. 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:38.420 Stop being racist. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:39.580 Be more tolerant. 00:10:40.800 --> 00:10:44.020 No, his strategy is to point this church 00:10:44.020 --> 00:10:48.900 to the gospel of God concerning the crucified and risen Christ. 00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:52.520 Like, remember, there's this place in Galatians chapter 2 00:10:52.520 --> 00:10:56.800 where Paul tells this story about his interaction with another apostle, Peter. 00:10:57.060 --> 00:10:58.980 This guy who actually walked with Jesus Peter, 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:01.700 Paul says when he met up with Peter, 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:05.500 they were there at the very first multi-ethnic church in Antioch. 00:11:05.560 --> 00:11:07.019 They're meeting up and he's like, 00:11:07.060 --> 00:11:07.700 hey, what's up, Peter? 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:08.500 Hey, what's up, Paul? 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:10.879 But he noticed something different about Peter. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:16.460 Peter initially was cool just hanging with his Gentile friends in the church, 00:11:16.560 --> 00:11:17.519 eating meals with them. 00:11:18.060 --> 00:11:19.100 And then all of a sudden, 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:22.700 there was this Jewish party that came to visit their church 00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:24.580 and this particular group of Jewish people 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:26.580 believed that you have to become culturally Jewish 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:28.900 to have a right relationship with God. 00:11:29.420 --> 00:11:30.400 And then all of a sudden, 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:34.480 Peter stopped eating with his Gentile friends in the church. 00:11:35.520 --> 00:11:36.480 And so Paul says, 00:11:36.800 --> 00:11:39.139 and I opposed Peter to his face on this. 00:11:39.800 --> 00:11:41.280 Now, what did Paul say to Peter, though? 00:11:41.700 --> 00:11:42.000 Did he say, 00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:44.100 yo, Peter, you're not being woke enough? 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:44.879 No. 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:46.100 He didn't say, 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:48.240 you're breaking the no racism rule? 00:11:49.040 --> 00:11:49.900 No, he didn't say, 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:52.360 you're being a Jewish supremacist right now? 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:54.700 No, he says to Peter, 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.840 just as he's saying to the church in Rome, 00:11:57.860 --> 00:12:00.860 you're walking out of accord with the gospel. 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:02.240 He says, 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:04.919 you need to live in line with the gospel. 00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:07.060 Because at the ground, 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.899 at the foot level of the cross, 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:09.879 it's all level. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:12.680 Seated in the high places at the right hand of God, 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:13.480 it's all level. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:18.740 The gospel is where we get our notion of human equality 00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:19.980 and diversity and unity. 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:22.639 And so the application for us is 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:24.879 to have such an understanding of the gospel, 00:12:25.420 --> 00:12:27.740 such an understanding of this amazing thing 00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:29.680 that Jesus has done to save the world 00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:31.560 and to make disciples of all the nations 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:34.840 that we cannot help but feel the same obligation 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:38.240 as the word Paul uses in verse 14. 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:40.700 For every kind of person, 00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:41.680 every kind of people, 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:43.779 that we cannot help but have the same eagerness, 00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:44.980 it says in verse 15, 00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:46.740 to announce this good news 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:48.620 that is good news for everyone. 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:51.259 For those of us who are here today 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.360 who claim to follow Jesus, 00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:54.940 who claim to believe the good news of God, 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.399 this is not a recommendation. 00:12:57.340 --> 00:12:58.560 This is an obligation. 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:02.080 And if we don't also see this duty as a delight, 00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:03.639 if we don't also have an eagerness 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.759 to share this good news, 00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:05.620 the question for us is, 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:06.960 do we even believe it? 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:10.980 Do we even believe that this is the gospel, 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:12.139 that this is good news, 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:13.759 or are we ashamed of the gospel? 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.419 Verse 16, that's why he says in verse 16, 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:20.339 for I am not ashamed of the gospel, Paul says. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:23.339 For it is the power of God for salvation 00:13:23.339 --> 00:13:25.099 to everyone who believes, 00:13:25.199 --> 00:13:28.360 to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 00:13:28.959 --> 00:13:32.279 To this now probably very Greco-Roman-led church in Rome, 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:34.659 Paul reminds them that this gospel, 00:13:34.819 --> 00:13:37.279 this salvation is to everyone. 00:13:37.939 --> 00:13:39.179 Everyone who believes, 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:41.919 everyone who has faith and trust in the promises of God, 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:44.959 he's reminding them that because God has opened up access 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:48.460 to the Greeks to enter into the covenant family of Abraham, 00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:50.800 Greco-Romans have every reason 00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:53.180 to accept their Jewish brothers and sisters 00:13:53.180 --> 00:13:54.940 back into the church in Rome, 00:13:55.280 --> 00:13:57.960 and also to support his missionary work 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:00.580 to those barbarians over in Spain. 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:03.580 And in fact, to not welcome them, 00:14:03.660 --> 00:14:05.879 to not pursue the barbarians of Spain, 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:08.519 would be to be ashamed of the gospel, 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:12.660 to be ashamed of the very power of God for salvation. 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:15.699 Now how so, you may be wondering. 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:19.100 We see, if we insist on privileging one culture, 00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:21.139 one people group over another, 00:14:21.219 --> 00:14:23.319 what we are basically saying is that the good news 00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:25.719 of this beautiful humanity 00:14:25.719 --> 00:14:28.019 that Jesus is bringing into existence, 00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:29.879 this beautiful unity and equality 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:32.799 with others in the eyes of God, 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:34.919 we're saying that that is shameful. 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:37.740 Or maybe it'd help if we asked this, 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.159 like why did Paul put it this way, 00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:41.639 that I am not ashamed of the gospel? 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.659 Why did he put it that way? 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:44.319 Why didn't he just say, I'm proud of the gospel? 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.639 Well, I think he said it this way 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.539 because the gospel really is a scandalous thing. 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:53.000 It really is a shameful thing 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.740 to many of our sensibilities. 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:57.720 You know, this reminds me of the parable 00:14:57.720 --> 00:14:59.340 of the prodigal son that Jesus told, 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:02.379 where the younger son basically says to his father, 00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:05.059 I wish you were dead, just give me your money, dad, 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:05.919 give me my inheritance, 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:08.620 and he goes and he spends it extravagantly 00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:10.500 on like worthless things, right? 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:12.659 Only to return home penniless 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:14.740 and having squandered all the wealth. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.879 And yet, what does his father do? 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:18.240 He throws a party for him. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:21.360 He slaughters the prized, fattened calf. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:23.560 He puts a ring and a robe on his son 00:15:23.560 --> 00:15:25.360 who had just come out of a pig pen. 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:29.220 And the older brother is so ashamed, right? 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.519 He is so ashamed. 00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:31.560 He's so scandalized. 00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:35.039 He refuses to go and celebrate with his father. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:38.399 He refuses to go and celebrate the return of his brother. 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:40.240 He hates his father's prodigal treatment 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.299 of his prodigal son. 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:44.559 The love of the father is too scandalous for him, 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:46.599 too foolish, too dishonorable, 00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:48.819 so, so shameful, right? 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:52.019 And I remember sharing this story with our youth, 00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:54.139 with our high schoolers in January, 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:55.699 and they agreed. 00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:59.240 They agreed, like maybe you can let him back 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:00.379 into your house, 00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:02.799 but don't throw a party for this guy. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.419 Don't give him a ring. 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.339 Don't give him a robe. 00:16:07.459 --> 00:16:09.679 Don't broadcast it everywhere. 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:12.039 Don't be a fool. 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:14.799 What kind of example is that going to set? 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:16.399 And how is this younger son 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.779 ever going to learn a lesson? 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.319 And like the older brother, 00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:22.099 they couldn't help but be incredulous 00:16:22.099 --> 00:16:25.219 about the father's treatment of the son. 00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:28.279 And they weren't sure that that was the kind of parent 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:29.240 that they wanted to be. 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:32.620 And they weren't sure that that's the kind of parent 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.919 that they wanted to even have. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.439 Or that they could even respect. 00:16:38.699 --> 00:16:40.079 Because in their eyes, 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:42.019 what the younger son had done, 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.980 disrespecting his father, 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:44.899 wishing he were dead, 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.439 running away, 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:47.779 spending it all on worthless things, 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.299 in their eyes, 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:51.659 he didn't deserve this measure of love 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.559 from the father. 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.759 Far too scandalous. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:55.839 Far too shameful. 00:16:56.939 --> 00:16:59.299 This notion that everyone can be loved 00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:01.799 and accepted and even celebrated back 00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:03.179 into the family of God 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:05.119 if they just turned to him in faith. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.119 Or to use the language here in verse 16, 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:09.899 this notion that everyone can be saved. 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:12.079 I mean, it sounds good at first, 00:17:12.159 --> 00:17:13.899 but when you think about the whole swath 00:17:13.899 --> 00:17:16.899 of corrupted humanity throughout history, 00:17:17.899 --> 00:17:19.740 doesn't it make you wonder at least a little bit? 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:20.980 Right? 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:24.460 This scandalous and shameful truth 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:26.200 that all you have to do is have faith 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:29.019 and believe and trust in God's promises 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:30.799 offered to us in Jesus 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:32.039 and you can be saved. 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:35.839 You can have the same status as Mother Teresa 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:38.399 or fill-in-the-blank holy person. 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:39.539 Like, really? 00:17:40.679 --> 00:17:42.459 What about Larry Nassar, 00:17:43.439 --> 00:17:45.519 the convicted child molester 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:47.659 who was involved in sports medicine 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:49.359 with young gymnasts? 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:54.179 Is the gospel the power of salvation for him too? 00:17:54.939 --> 00:17:57.439 If he just repents and believes, that's all. 00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:58.699 Really? 00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:01.559 He can have a seat next to me 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:03.279 at my father's table. 00:18:04.679 --> 00:18:05.079 Really? 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:05.199 Really? 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:08.879 I want to read the words of one of his victims, 00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:10.099 Rachel Denhollander. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.879 She is a Christian 00:18:11.879 --> 00:18:14.859 who testified against Nassar for his crimes 00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:17.919 and asked the judge to give him a just sentence, 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:20.659 but also who prays for Nassar 00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:23.139 to know the sweetness of the gospel 00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:25.099 and the forgiveness of God. 00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:27.460 At a hearing, she said to him, 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.980 in our early hearings, 00:18:30.159 --> 00:18:31.839 you brought your Bible into the court. 00:18:31.939 --> 00:18:32.899 She's speaking to Nassar. 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:35.560 And you have spoken of praying for forgiveness. 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:38.920 So it is on that basis that I appeal to you. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:43.220 The Bible you carry speaks of a final judgment 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:45.560 where all of God's wrath 00:18:45.560 --> 00:18:47.700 in all its eternal terror 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:50.380 is poured out on men like you. 00:18:51.580 --> 00:18:52.880 Should you ever reach the point 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:54.920 of truly facing what you have done, 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:58.519 the weight of guilt in the face of the horrific evil 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.700 you committed will be crushing. 00:19:02.100 --> 00:19:06.240 And that is what makes the gospel of Christ so sweet. 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:09.700 Because it gives hope and grace 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:11.580 where none should be found. 00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:14.579 And I pray, she says to him, 00:19:14.879 --> 00:19:18.639 you experience the soul-crushing weight of guilt someday 00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:23.159 so that it can be followed by true repentance 00:19:23.159 --> 00:19:26.079 and forgiveness from God. 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:29.279 What other kind of faith 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:32.539 can lead people to say things like that? 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:35.839 Righteousness and mercy together. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.879 And that's the gospel. 00:19:37.899 --> 00:19:39.539 The gospel is scandalous. 00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:41.740 The gospel is shameful. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.720 And yet the Apostle Paul, 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:45.039 who says elsewhere in the New Testament, 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:46.339 you know, as a murderer, 00:19:46.439 --> 00:19:47.139 a former murderer, 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:48.279 the chief of all sinners, 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:49.039 Apostle Paul, 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:50.959 he is not ashamed of this shameful gospel. 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:54.319 Precisely because it is the power of God 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:58.539 for salvation for everyone who believes. 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:02.839 Paul recognizes that as shameful as it is, 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:05.319 the gospel is his only hope. 00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:07.039 And it's your only hope, 00:20:07.179 --> 00:20:08.240 and it's my only hope, 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:09.679 the only hope for the world. 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:11.919 Salvation from the wrath of God 00:20:11.919 --> 00:20:13.579 reserved not just for Larry Nassar 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:15.859 and his sins of child molestation, 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:18.079 but for all of us 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:20.459 who've introduced way more pain 00:20:20.459 --> 00:20:23.220 and way more poison into this world 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:25.159 than we even know. 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:27.199 Through our selfishness, 00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:30.299 through our disregard for God 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:32.799 and our neighbors every single day, 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:36.579 honestly, the difference between Larry Nassar 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:39.419 and us is almost indistinguishable 00:20:39.419 --> 00:20:42.079 compared to the difference in righteousness 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:45.399 between us and our holy God. 00:20:46.679 --> 00:20:48.459 And that's why we need the gospel, 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:50.279 the power of God, 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:53.159 the only kind of power that can save us. 00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:56.099 And notice how Paul says that the gospel 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:57.439 is the power of God, 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:59.659 not that it just leads to the power of God 00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:01.159 or tells us about the power of God, 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:03.220 but that this news itself about Jesus 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.100 and what he's done, 00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:07.279 it is itself the very power of God. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.180 It doesn't say do more, 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.080 it says it's done. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.320 It's not advice, 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.980 it's not a command to help us attain 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.400 to God's power and salvation, 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:15.660 nor is it just the means 00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:17.180 to the power of God unto salvation. 00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:21.040 It is the power of God unto salvation. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:22.279 And how so you may ask, 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:22.859 verse 17, 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.079 for in it, 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.359 for in the gospel, 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.720 the righteousness of God 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:30.460 is revealed from faith to faith 00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.440 as it is written, 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:34.139 the righteous shall live by faith. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.299 And this right here, 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:38.399 this is the key to the whole letter, 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:40.799 the whole letter to Rome. 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:44.019 Righteousness is by faith, 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.899 from faith to faith, 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.799 from first to last, 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.319 from the beginning to the end. 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:49.240 It's always by faith 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.460 and by nothing else. 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.359 What makes the gospel, 00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.939 the power of God unto salvation 00:21:53.939 --> 00:21:55.220 for all who believe 00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.779 is that it is a revelation 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.919 of this thing 00:21:57.919 --> 00:22:00.039 called the righteousness of God 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:00.939 that is from faith. 00:22:01.659 --> 00:22:02.639 Now please bear with me, 00:22:02.679 --> 00:22:03.299 I need to take a second 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.240 to explain this. 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.879 And let me start by 00:22:05.879 --> 00:22:06.839 making sure we notice 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.439 how Paul says, 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.839 for in the gospel, 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.819 the righteousness of God 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:11.439 is revealed. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:11.960 He doesn't say 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:13.200 the love of God is revealed, 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.700 he doesn't say 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.919 the mercy of God is revealed, 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.439 he doesn't say 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.640 the grace of God is revealed. 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:19.539 He says the righteousness of God 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:21.480 is revealed from faith to faith. 00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:22.460 What's he saying here? 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:25.240 Well, Paul will talk about this more 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.019 in chapter 3, 00:22:26.320 --> 00:22:27.059 we're going to look at that 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.640 in a couple weeks, 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.759 but absolutely key 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.940 to understanding the gospel 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:31.600 is not merely understanding 00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:32.500 the love, grace, 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.460 and mercy of God, 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.980 but maybe even more importantly, 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:37.039 the righteousness of God. 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.759 And let me draw your attention 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.600 to another passage 00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:40.380 outside of Romans 00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:41.400 from Philippians 00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:42.160 to help us understand 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.200 what Paul means 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.519 by talking about 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.960 this revealed righteousness 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.720 of God from faith. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.400 If you want to open up 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:48.860 your Bibles, 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.700 your pew Bibles, 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:51.860 to page 952. 00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:53.240 In his letter, 00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:54.500 Paul's letter to Philippian, 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.819 to the Philippian church 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:57.600 in chapter 3, verse 8, 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.340 Paul says that he considers 00:22:59.340 --> 00:23:00.440 everything, 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.580 all his good works, 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.620 his whole spiritual, 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:03.519 social, 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:05.019 and academic resume 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:05.600 as lost, 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:06.200 as garbage, 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.080 as trash compared 00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:08.840 to knowing and gaining Jesus. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.860 That he desires 00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:12.700 only to be united to Jesus. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.000 Then in verse 9, 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:14.340 he says, 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:16.480 not having a righteousness, 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.039 what? 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:18.920 Of my own 00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:20.400 that comes from the law, 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.340 or like from his own 00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:22.539 record of obedience, 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.860 but that which is through 00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:25.580 faith in Christ. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:25.900 Listen, 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.160 the righteousness 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:29.240 that comes from God. 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:30.360 From who? 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.080 From God. 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:32.539 On what basis? 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.759 On the basis of faith. 00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:37.360 So when Paul is talking 00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:38.480 about the power of God 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.740 or the power of the gospel 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:41.420 unto salvation, 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.539 what that power is 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:43.460 is the way that God 00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.119 has revealed 00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:45.599 how he's going to 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.960 credit righteousness 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.480 to those who don't 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.039 deserve it. 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.279 To his beloved 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.779 people of faith. 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:52.799 Theologians call this 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.559 the imputation 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.619 of righteousness 00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:56.599 or the great exchange. 00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.539 Just as Paul says 00:23:58.539 --> 00:24:00.039 in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, 00:24:00.099 --> 00:24:00.359 he says, 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:01.859 God made him 00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:03.119 who knew no sin 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.919 to be sin 00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:05.079 on the cross 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:06.679 in our place 00:24:06.679 --> 00:24:07.619 for us 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.839 so that in him 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:10.059 by faith 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:11.119 we might become 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:11.699 what? 00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:13.159 The righteousness 00:24:13.159 --> 00:24:14.519 of God. 00:24:15.479 --> 00:24:15.699 So you see, 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.859 the power of God 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:17.639 unto salvation, 00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:19.000 the gospel 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:20.159 is that the salvation 00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:20.939 of sinners 00:24:20.939 --> 00:24:22.159 and the righteousness 00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:22.819 of God 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:24.240 are not at odds, 00:24:24.879 --> 00:24:25.899 but that they are met 00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:27.000 and satisfied 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.819 in the crucified 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:29.679 and risen Christ. 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:31.319 Revealing to us 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.759 a God 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.500 who is willing 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.539 to credit to us 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.879 his own 00:24:34.879 --> 00:24:36.859 perfect righteousness. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:37.740 The righteousness 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.700 of his perfectly 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.980 obedient son 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.579 at his expense. 00:24:42.399 --> 00:24:43.259 Not ours. 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.259 We'll just unite 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.139 ourselves to him 00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:46.099 by faith. 00:24:47.379 --> 00:24:47.960 And I'm sorry 00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:48.599 if that got a little 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:48.919 heady, 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:49.960 if that got a little 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.480 theological, 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.579 but this matters. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.220 Why? 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:54.480 Because we're all 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.120 seeking some kind 00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:55.620 of righteousness. 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:57.839 If not before God, 00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:58.860 before someone else. 00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:00.120 But we're all seeking 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:01.039 some kind of status 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.660 before God 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.380 or some kind of 00:25:02.380 --> 00:25:03.440 highest court 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.680 of opinion. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.160 Some kind of 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.660 honorable, 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.680 elevated, 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.960 exalted status. 00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:09.620 A status we can 00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.420 count on 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.600 and fall back on 00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:12.380 and brag about 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:13.319 and trust that we are 00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.240 fine and secure 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.059 and lovable 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:15.779 and lovely 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.720 and delightful 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.759 in the highest court 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.460 of opinion. 00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.460 But the thing is, 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.000 if we're honest 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.640 with ourselves, 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:23.319 none of us 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.299 actually measures up. 00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:24.759 None of us 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.619 actually arrives 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.099 at the righteous 00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.700 standard we all 00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.460 try to live by. 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.240 Or is it just me 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.259 that's insecure? 00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.079 We're all trying 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.799 to attain that 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.599 righteous status 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.900 by all manner 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.319 of efforts 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:36.880 or by following 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:37.579 this or that 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.920 constructed tradition. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:39.339 For me, 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.220 it's be a good 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.539 Christian, 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.240 be a good husband, 00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:42.019 be a good dad, 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.019 be a good basketball 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.900 player, right? 00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:45.359 Be a good preacher. 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.779 Those are my 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.259 righteousness. 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:50.559 And I fail at all 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:50.980 of them except 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.660 for basketball. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.200 No, I failed 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.819 that one too. 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:56.980 And it's exhausting. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.559 It's exhausting. 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.619 I've fallen way 00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.579 short, right? 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:01.559 And the distance 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.099 between me 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.680 and my standard 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.400 only increases 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.619 every single day. 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.579 I'll never be enough 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.539 no matter how hard 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.180 I try, 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:08.759 at least not for long. 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.799 And this is a 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.660 universal human 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.220 experience. 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:13.599 This is why 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.619 Romans chapter 1 00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:15.339 verse 17 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:16.420 changed the world 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:16.859 and launched 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.359 the Protestant 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:18.099 Reformation 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:18.839 and it did so 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.779 because this monk 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:21.339 in the 16th century 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:22.159 named Martin, 00:26:22.899 --> 00:26:23.539 he felt all 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.659 these things too. 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.459 Like he could never 00:26:26.459 --> 00:26:27.719 measure up before God. 00:26:27.719 --> 00:26:28.819 Even as a monk 00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:29.799 in one of the strictest 00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:30.859 monastic orders 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.980 in all of Europe, 00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:33.659 he devoted his whole life 00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:34.879 to following God. 00:26:35.719 --> 00:26:36.759 Even as that kind 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.159 of a monk, 00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:38.480 peace and assurance 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.359 of God's love 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:39.879 and forgiveness 00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:40.659 and pardon 00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:42.219 would always elude him. 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:44.339 And he went all in. 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:45.919 Like all night 00:26:45.919 --> 00:26:46.679 prayer vigils, 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:47.779 long periods 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.299 of fasting. 00:26:48.439 --> 00:26:48.879 He was known 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:50.059 to spend six hours 00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:50.720 at a time 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:52.119 in the confessional booth 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:52.879 just trying to get 00:26:52.879 --> 00:26:54.359 everything off of his chest 00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:56.079 and yet still wondered, 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.319 have I really confessed 00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:57.919 every sin? 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:00.220 Have I been righteous 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.119 enough to escape 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:02.639 the judgment of God? 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.220 Luther wrote, 00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:04.679 I went to confession 00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:05.240 frequently 00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.319 and I performed 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.419 the assigned penances 00:27:07.419 --> 00:27:08.339 faithfully. 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.079 Nevertheless, 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.899 my conscience 00:27:10.899 --> 00:27:12.199 could never achieve 00:27:12.199 --> 00:27:12.799 certainty 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:14.559 but was always in doubt 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.059 and said, 00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.319 you have not done 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.079 this correctly. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:19.720 You were not contrite enough. 00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:21.240 You omitted this 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.159 in your confession. 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:24.159 No matter what, 00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:24.960 Luther did. 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.559 Even as he ascended 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.460 into the ranks 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.319 of the church, 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:29.379 he joined the theology 00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:30.059 faculty at the 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:31.139 University of Wittenberg. 00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:32.419 Every standard 00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:33.039 of righteousness 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:34.680 he tried to abide by, 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.299 he never felt secure 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:37.139 before the judge 00:27:37.139 --> 00:27:38.079 of the universe. 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.039 There was even this 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:41.500 carving out at Wittenberg. 00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:42.339 It was carving 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:42.819 a thing of Jesus 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:44.319 and this Jesus, 00:27:44.399 --> 00:27:44.740 I don't know why, 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.599 but had some swords 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.879 coming out of its mouth 00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:48.059 trying to indicate 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:49.959 that Jesus is the judge 00:27:49.959 --> 00:27:50.740 of the universe. 00:27:51.439 --> 00:27:51.919 And Luther said, 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:53.099 I couldn't look at that thing. 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:53.839 He had to walk by it 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:54.819 every single day 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.939 to daily prayer 00:27:55.939 --> 00:27:56.759 and every single day 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.379 he would walk by 00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:58.179 and cover his eyes 00:27:58.179 --> 00:27:59.179 because he could not gaze 00:27:59.179 --> 00:28:00.659 upon the judge 00:28:00.659 --> 00:28:02.139 of the universe. 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.779 He was never sure 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.459 if he was enough. 00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.599 He was never sure 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:06.919 if he was worthy. 00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:07.299 Actually, 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.099 he was quite certain 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.839 that he wasn't 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.539 and he was plagued 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.059 with guilt 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:10.940 and fear 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:11.599 and dread 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.079 and shame 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:13.440 over that reality. 00:28:14.879 --> 00:28:15.720 And this wasn't 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:17.079 just Martin's experience. 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:19.159 Isn't it yours too? 00:28:20.159 --> 00:28:20.960 It's mine. 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.339 Sensing our need 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:24.180 to be righteous 00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:25.759 in the sight of God 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.259 or even 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.819 for those of us 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:29.819 who aren't sure 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.899 we even believe in God, 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.879 we all sense 00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:34.000 this need to be righteous 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:35.140 in the highest 00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:37.640 of high halls 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.799 of judgment, right? 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:41.099 And yet we also sense 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.240 how far short 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.900 we all fall 00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:43.700 of that standard. 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:46.079 Do you feel that today? 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:48.259 Like you can't wipe out 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.480 the stains of your past, 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:51.000 the stains of your present, 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.720 that resentment 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:54.119 and that malice 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:54.619 that you feel 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.779 towards those people 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.279 at work, 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.079 those people 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.859 in your family, 00:28:58.839 --> 00:28:59.339 the greed 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.259 and the selfishness 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:01.140 and the covetousness 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:02.200 that no one else 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:02.779 knows about 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.519 but that is surely 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.240 there in your heart 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.859 and that controls 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:05.259 your life 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.740 way more than you'd like. 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:08.339 That that porn 00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:09.720 or substance habit 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.480 that you can't put 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:10.980 behind you 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.879 for more than a week 00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:12.700 at a time 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:13.779 falling again 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.339 and again 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:15.139 to this or that 00:29:15.139 --> 00:29:15.859 sinful habit 00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:17.720 or maybe you've been able 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.440 to kick these habits 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.160 for years, 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.379 maybe for decades 00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:21.660 but your past 00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.460 still haunts you 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:24.099 and your record 00:29:24.099 --> 00:29:25.160 of unrighteousness 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:26.160 just seems so 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.480 insurmountable 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:28.039 that you feel 00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:29.259 nothing but shame 00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:30.119 and guilt 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:31.139 in the presence 00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:32.039 of God. 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:33.519 Well, 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.139 if that's you, 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.920 God has a word 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:36.539 for you today, 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.159 a gospel, 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.619 good news 00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.899 for your weary soul 00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:41.579 just as he did 00:29:41.579 --> 00:29:42.039 for Luther 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.319 500 years ago 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:44.500 and it's this thesis 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.460 statement right here 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.359 in Romans 1, 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.599 verse 17, 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:48.940 this passage 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.619 that changed 00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:50.740 Martin Luther's life 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.680 and altered the course 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.440 of world history 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.319 as we know it 00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:54.359 that he would not live 00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:55.460 by his own righteousness 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:58.099 but by someone else's 00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:58.599 righteousness, 00:29:58.599 --> 00:29:58.799 righteousness, 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.439 that the righteous 00:30:00.439 --> 00:30:01.799 will live not by 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.539 their own efforts, 00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.519 not by their own 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.459 striving or their own 00:30:04.459 --> 00:30:05.519 merits but as it says 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:06.199 in verse 17, 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:06.919 quoting the Hebrew 00:30:06.919 --> 00:30:07.859 prophet Habakkuk, 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.079 the righteous shall 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:11.000 live by faith. 00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.859 This is the scandal. 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.659 This is the shamefulness 00:30:15.659 --> 00:30:17.559 of the gospel of God 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:19.539 that no matter what 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.019 you've done, 00:30:20.699 --> 00:30:21.539 that no matter who 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:21.980 you are, 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:23.219 we can be righteous 00:30:23.219 --> 00:30:25.319 in the eyes of the 00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:26.399 holy God of the 00:30:26.399 --> 00:30:27.219 universe and we can 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:28.600 live eternally in his 00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:32.039 presence just by faith, 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:34.079 just by faith. 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.160 And you see, 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:37.140 this is what the whole 00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:37.819 letter of Romans is 00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.839 about, all right? 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.559 This is the gospel, 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:41.339 the good news of God 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.200 about how one can be 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.779 seen as righteous 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:44.140 in the eyes of God, 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:45.059 the eyes that matter 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:45.680 the most, 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.740 how one can be vindicated 00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:47.519 in his presence or to 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.539 use a theological word 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.180 that we want everyone 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.640 here to know, 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:50.900 how one can be justified 00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:52.240 before God, 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.940 justified by faith 00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:56.559 and seen by God 00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:58.099 just as the prodigal 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:59.539 father saw his beloved 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.799 son, right? 00:31:01.399 --> 00:31:02.960 Clothed in his robe, 00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:05.139 just as the prodigal 00:31:05.139 --> 00:31:07.279 son was seen by his 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:08.500 father wearing that 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.659 robe, so does God see 00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:10.879 us clothed in the 00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:11.940 righteousness of Christ 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.519 and that is what 00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:14.059 justification by faith 00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.759 is about. 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.359 And what God is 00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:17.559 calling us to today 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:19.299 is to have this kind 00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:19.759 of faith, 00:31:20.399 --> 00:31:21.379 to believe what he 00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.220 says about us, 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:23.659 just to believe what he 00:31:23.659 --> 00:31:24.079 says about us, 00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:24.899 to believe what he 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:26.300 believes about those 00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:27.240 who trust in him, 00:31:27.300 --> 00:31:28.280 that we really are 00:31:28.280 --> 00:31:30.320 the righteousness of 00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:31.900 God in Christ. 00:31:32.780 --> 00:31:33.680 And I know that that 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.860 can be hard to believe 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:36.080 with all the voices 00:31:36.080 --> 00:31:37.400 all around us telling 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:38.440 us who we are and 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.620 how much we suck, 00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:41.360 and maybe those voices 00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:42.900 are inside your own 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:44.320 head, coming from your 00:31:44.320 --> 00:31:45.240 own heart, 00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:47.759 but God has a better 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.040 word for us, 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.860 not a word of shame, 00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.600 but a word of honor, 00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:54.099 and not because of 00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:54.579 our merits, 00:31:54.679 --> 00:31:55.579 but because of Christ. 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.939 So will we listen to 00:31:57.939 --> 00:31:58.639 his voice? 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.339 Will we celebrate his 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.219 love for us? 00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:02.639 And for the countless 00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.959 others around us who 00:32:03.959 --> 00:32:05.740 once felt unlovable and 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.759 forever stuck in 00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.740 unrighteousness and 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.659 shame, can we celebrate 00:32:08.659 --> 00:32:10.539 that God has a word for 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.079 them too? 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:13.439 I want to close by 00:32:13.439 --> 00:32:14.339 reading this extended 00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.199 quote from a biblical 00:32:15.199 --> 00:32:16.399 counselor, a really good 00:32:16.399 --> 00:32:17.099 friend of mine, her name 00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.539 is Esther, about 00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.339 listening to the 00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:21.259 justifying voice of God 00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:22.539 and paying attention 00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:24.379 to his verdict over 00:32:24.379 --> 00:32:24.700 us. 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.500 She writes this, 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:29.220 with shame, we tend 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:30.019 to hear only one 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:31.480 voice, the self-condemning, 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:33.779 self-hating voice, all 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.920 day, every day, not 00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:36.240 good enough, ugly, 00:32:36.619 --> 00:32:37.660 outcast, dirty, 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:39.140 unworthy, disposable, 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.019 failure. 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.700 If the voice of shame 00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:44.119 is a soloist in our 00:32:44.119 --> 00:32:45.039 hearts, we must work 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:45.960 hard to listen to the 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:47.839 voice of truth, God's 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.200 voice. 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:50.400 We may not completely 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:51.660 eradicate the voice of 00:32:51.660 --> 00:32:52.840 shame in this lifetime, 00:32:53.340 --> 00:32:54.420 but even if the voice of 00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:55.279 shame continues to 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.400 clamor at the highest 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.860 volume and the voice of 00:32:57.860 --> 00:32:59.100 God sings only one 00:32:59.100 --> 00:33:01.019 faint, barely perceptible 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:03.440 note, the solo has 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:05.400 officially become a duet 00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:07.960 when belief has begun to 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:09.120 break into unbelief. 00:33:09.840 --> 00:33:12.240 And over time, one note 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:13.460 of God's voice in your 00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:15.200 heart becomes two notes. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:18.080 Then 50, you can hear 00:33:18.080 --> 00:33:19.120 hints of a beautiful 00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:20.700 melody now, even if 00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:22.200 still frequently interrupted 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:23.740 by the voice of shame. 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:26.019 And rest assured, there 00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:27.940 will be a day when this 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:30.140 clashing duet will end. 00:33:31.180 --> 00:33:32.500 The duet will become a 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.580 solo again. 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:37.039 But this time, you will 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:39.360 stand face to face with 00:33:39.360 --> 00:33:41.740 your God, and he will be 00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:43.539 the soloist of your heart 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.720 and your soul. 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.759 No more shame. 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:49.099 No more self-condemnation. 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:51.859 Only favor, acceptance, 00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:55.940 honor, and love forevermore. 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.480 The righteousness of God 00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:00.859 declared from his lips over 00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:01.319 us. 00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:04.500 The righteous will live by 00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:04.980 faith. 00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:06.940 Will you pray with me? 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:19.480 Father, we are hungry, so 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:23.200 hungry for righteousness, so 00:34:23.200 --> 00:34:25.420 thirsty for righteousness. 00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:29.260 And you know that. 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:31.940 And we thank you that you 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.800 call us blessed. 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:36.000 Would we look nowhere else 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:37.380 but to Christ, our Savior, 00:34:38.080 --> 00:34:39.320 and to his righteousness, the 00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:40.380 righteousness of God that 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:42.000 comes through faith in 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.500 Christ. 00:34:44.780 --> 00:34:46.420 And would we wear his 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:49.280 righteousness by faith with 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:51.380 incredible humility because 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:53.980 it is not ours, but also 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:55.420 with incredible boldness 00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:57.220 because it is ours forevermore 00:34:57.220 --> 00:34:59.660 by your promise, by the word 00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:01.059 you've spoken over us. 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.699 Make us that kind of people, 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:06.699 so satisfied in the 00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:09.500 righteousness of Christ, and 00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:10.779 transform us with that truth. 00:35:10.859 --> 00:35:11.879 I pray in the name of Jesus. 00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:12.940 Amen. 00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:13.099 Amen.