WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:07.940 Well, good morning, and let me say, as always, what a pleasure it is to be here and to have 00:00:07.940 --> 00:00:09.960 fellowship with you this morning. 00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:15.300 If you have your Bible, it would be great to have it open at Romans chapter 7, which 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:17.539 was read so well for us there. 00:00:17.660 --> 00:00:18.980 Thank you for that. 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:24.839 I wonder if you ever take a detour, if you're making a journey. 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:33.000 We were driving a few weeks ago down to Northumbria, and we drove the A1, and we saw a sign for 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:33.880 St. Ab's. 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:35.899 Now, I've never been to St. Ab's. 00:00:36.019 --> 00:00:41.060 I'd never actually heard of St. Ab's until I saw something on the BBC website a few weeks 00:00:41.060 --> 00:00:45.379 ago that it's been twinned with New Asgard from the Avengers movie. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:48.240 There were some scenes from Avengers Endgame, apparently. 00:00:48.379 --> 00:00:54.000 I haven't seen it, but filmed in St. Ab's, and the locals have made much of this, and 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:58.060 they've got a sign saying, twinned with New Asgard, and what have you. 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:00.200 So we thought, well, let's go and have a look at this. 00:01:00.500 --> 00:01:06.140 And we were delighted, not only to find that there were no evil aliens, but that it was 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:07.500 a beautiful fishing town. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:12.439 And so we took a detour, and we were greatly blessed by the detour. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:18.219 And really, what we have in Romans chapter 7, verses 7 to 25, is something of a detour. 00:01:18.219 --> 00:01:24.299 It's something of an excursus the apostle Paul makes in the flow of the book. 00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:30.019 He speaks about the old life under the law, and then into chapter 8, he'll talk about the 00:01:30.019 --> 00:01:31.900 new life into the spirit. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:41.140 But we have these verses, chapter 7, 7 down to 25, and they seem to interrupt the flow of 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:44.299 thought from between 7, 6 and 8, 1. 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:48.599 In fact, if you read chapter 7, verse 6, you can go straight on and read chapter 8, verse 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:48.920 1. 00:01:49.379 --> 00:01:54.640 But Paul interrupts his argument and introduces this subject here. 00:01:55.159 --> 00:02:00.400 So we want to ask the question, why he does that, and then what does he actually say in 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:01.019 these verses? 00:02:02.539 --> 00:02:07.679 This is, I have to be honest, one of the most challenging passages in the New Testament. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:12.379 One of the commentaries I read said this is one of the most disputed passages in the New 00:02:12.379 --> 00:02:12.780 Testament. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:19.300 Martin Lloyd-Jones, if you read his commentary, has an entire chapter just about who the person 00:02:19.300 --> 00:02:21.099 in Romans chapter 7 actually is. 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:26.319 And I have to confess I was a little bit anxious about approaching this. 00:02:26.939 --> 00:02:33.039 So a couple of weeks ago I sat down to lunch with a friend who's got a PhD in Pauline theology, 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:37.599 who's taught New Testament all around the world, and I said, I'm speaking in Romans chapter 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:39.340 7 at Brunsfield in a couple of weeks. 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:41.039 And he went, tricky. 00:02:41.700 --> 00:02:42.640 And that was it. 00:02:43.900 --> 00:02:48.599 So what we're going to do is we're going to take a sort of long run up, and we're going 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:53.219 to do what you do in school, in maths, when you're not sure of the answer, you show you're 00:02:53.219 --> 00:02:57.800 working, and you hope the teacher will give you some credit for the working, even if your 00:02:57.800 --> 00:02:58.920 conclusion isn't right. 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:01.479 Firstly, we're in the book of Romans. 00:03:02.339 --> 00:03:04.719 Thank you, Ewan, for pointing that out. 00:03:05.139 --> 00:03:11.459 You're studying Romans, and particularly Romans chapter 5, I believe through to verse 8 in 00:03:11.459 --> 00:03:13.159 your series, The Christian Life. 00:03:14.279 --> 00:03:20.500 Romans chapter 5 to verse 8 is bookended by the subject of suffering and glory. 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:22.979 Chapter 5, verses 2 and 3. 00:03:22.979 --> 00:03:29.379 We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and we rejoice in our sufferings. 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:31.439 Romans chapter 8, verse 18. 00:03:31.860 --> 00:03:37.199 I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:39.979 that is to be revealed in us. 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:45.639 So the Christian life is a life that will be characterized by suffering in the here and 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:48.539 now and glory in the age to come. 00:03:48.539 --> 00:03:55.099 We live in this age, but we are people of the age to come, and therefore it's not unusual 00:03:55.099 --> 00:04:00.199 if in your Christian life you are facing trials and temptations of many kinds. 00:04:00.579 --> 00:04:04.780 We're often taught that as Christians we are to be victorious, we are more than conquerors, 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:09.780 and all that is true, but we will suffer before we enter the glory that is to come. 00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:17.259 And in Romans chapter 5 through to verse 8, there are a series of contrasts we'll consider. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:24.680 In chapter 6, we have the contrast of life outside of Christ and life in Christ. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:27.519 In Adam, all die. 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:30.180 In Christ, all shall be made alive. 00:04:30.339 --> 00:04:32.000 In Adam, we are under sin. 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:34.279 In Christ, we are under grace. 00:04:34.279 --> 00:04:37.459 In Adam, we receive the wages of death. 00:04:37.899 --> 00:04:41.419 In Christ, the wages of eternal life. 00:04:42.539 --> 00:04:46.659 There are two men, two heads of humanity. 00:04:46.819 --> 00:04:50.079 And we do well to ask ourselves, well, which one am I under? 00:04:50.599 --> 00:04:53.699 Am I in Adam or am I in Christ? 00:04:54.479 --> 00:05:00.119 Christ comes to us offering the forgiveness of sins, offering new life in his Holy Spirit, 00:05:00.479 --> 00:05:01.799 offering eternal life. 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:04.120 And he says, make your choice. 00:05:04.180 --> 00:05:06.160 Whose footsteps will you follow? 00:05:07.579 --> 00:05:11.139 When I drove here today, it was a bit of a round trip for various reasons. 00:05:11.280 --> 00:05:12.960 And I passed a lot of churches. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:14.720 A lot of churches open up. 00:05:14.780 --> 00:05:17.040 People going into churches, which is wonderful. 00:05:18.080 --> 00:05:21.379 You're in church this morning, but are you in Christ? 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:25.500 Have you committed yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:27.980 turning from sin, turning to him, 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:32.540 and then accepting him as your Lord, your master and friend? 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:35.800 So there is suffering before glory. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:37.640 There are two humanities. 00:05:37.939 --> 00:05:41.379 There is the humanity in Adam, the humanity in Christ. 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:45.939 But now, chapter 6 tells us that we are free from sin. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.759 In Christ, we are forgiven and we are free. 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:51.939 Chapter 6, verse 10, you have died to sin. 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:55.840 Chapter 6, verse 18, you have been set free from sin. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:06:00.060 There is a change of employer, a change of master. 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:02.259 No longer are we slaves to sin. 00:06:02.339 --> 00:06:05.399 Now we are slaves to God and to righteousness. 00:06:07.139 --> 00:06:08.979 And when we get to chapter 7, 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:14.539 and I listened to the very helpful sermon last week by our brother Ian, 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:19.000 Paul moves to speak about the law, the law of Moses. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:24.040 And this is a major topic in Paul's writings. 00:06:24.620 --> 00:06:26.959 It was a major issue in the first century, 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:31.180 because the church consisted of Jews and of Gentiles. 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:33.920 And the debate of that generation was, 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:38.740 what is the relationship of the law of Moses to the gospel of Jesus Christ? 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:43.379 And that provides the backdrop to so much of the New Testament, 00:06:43.379 --> 00:06:45.740 so much of the Acts of the Apostles, 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:49.259 so much of Paul's writing, among others. 00:06:50.019 --> 00:06:51.759 I think it was Martin Luther who said, 00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:53.540 if anybody wants to be a theologian, 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:57.759 they must seek to understand the relationship of the law to the gospel. 00:06:58.279 --> 00:07:01.800 And Paul seeks to explain something of that relationship here. 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:05.420 He's already explained, beginning at chapter 2, 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:09.180 that we are not justified by the law. 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:13.900 We are not declared righteous in God's sight by our own observation of the law. 00:07:14.139 --> 00:07:15.519 Romans chapter 3, verse 20. 00:07:16.340 --> 00:07:17.439 For by the works of the law, 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:20.120 no human being will be justified in God's sight, 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:23.060 since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:26.759 And in chapter 7, beginning at verse 1, 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:29.939 he says that as Christians, we are no longer under the law. 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:32.340 We have died to the law. 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:34.980 We have been set free from the law. 00:07:34.980 --> 00:07:38.720 The same language he was using of sin in chapter 6. 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:41.699 And instead of being under the law, 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:44.980 he will go on to argue in chapter 8 that we are now in the Spirit. 00:07:46.139 --> 00:07:47.900 Today is Pentecost, 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:51.079 when the Lord first sent the Holy Spirit from heaven. 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:54.639 And as Christians, we live in the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:07:55.420 --> 00:07:56.819 And Paul will next week, 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:58.420 you'll probably see this more clearly, 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:01.399 draw out that contrast between being under the law 00:08:01.399 --> 00:08:02.840 and being in the Spirit. 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:06.519 And as we go into chapter 7, therefore, 00:08:06.619 --> 00:08:09.000 I want you to have that contrast in your minds. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:13.879 And it's particularly spelt out at the end of the passage we studied last week. 00:08:14.619 --> 00:08:15.879 Chapter 7, verse 5. 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:19.219 When we were controlled by the sinful nature, 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:20.939 literally the flesh, 00:08:21.659 --> 00:08:24.879 the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.399 so that we bore fruit to death. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:30.139 But now, by dying to what once bound us, 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:31.360 we've been released from the law 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:33.759 so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:36.539 and not in the old way of the written code. 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:40.000 So I just want you to hold those verses in your mind. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:41.779 This week and into next, 00:08:42.220 --> 00:08:46.879 chapter 7, verse 5 is really a summary of our passage today. 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:49.779 Chapter 7, verse 6 is something of a summary 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:53.519 of what you'll study next week in Romans chapter 8. 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:56.679 It's like two sides of a coin 00:08:56.679 --> 00:08:59.740 where Paul describes the experience, 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.200 firstly, of life under the law 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:03.940 and then secondly, of life in the Spirit. 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:07.720 Why then do we have this detour? 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:10.139 Why then, from verse 7, 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:13.399 does Paul introduce this parenthesis? 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:16.200 And I think the reason is to reassure people 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:17.580 that actually the law of God, 00:09:17.660 --> 00:09:18.720 the law given to Moses, 00:09:18.920 --> 00:09:19.680 the moral law, 00:09:20.040 --> 00:09:21.000 the Ten Commandments, 00:09:21.259 --> 00:09:23.259 are God's good gift to humanity. 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:26.259 He's told them that they've died to sin, 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:28.680 they're set free from sin. 00:09:29.160 --> 00:09:30.500 And we think, well, that's wonderful 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:32.639 because sin's a ghastly thing, isn't it? 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:36.540 It's a terrible, toxic, radioactive thing in our life 00:09:36.539 --> 00:09:39.019 that wants to destroy us and our relationships 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:40.279 and harm us. 00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:42.339 And so we're glad to be dead to sin. 00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:44.480 We're glad to be freed from sin. 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:47.219 But people might say, well, Paul, 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:49.219 you're telling us that we've died to the law, 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:50.819 that we've been set free from the law. 00:09:50.819 --> 00:09:54.079 Are you saying that the law itself is a ghastly thing? 00:09:54.959 --> 00:09:56.000 And Paul says, no. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:58.879 The law was given to Israel by God. 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:01.279 In chapter 9, verse 4, 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:03.259 where he says of the great privileges 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:04.759 of the Jewish people, 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:06.679 theirs is the adoption to sonship, 00:10:06.819 --> 00:10:07.959 theirs the divine glory, 00:10:08.059 --> 00:10:08.720 the covenants, 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.339 the receiving of the law, 00:10:10.980 --> 00:10:11.919 the temple worship, 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:12.980 and the promises. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:15.620 So the law is good. 00:10:16.339 --> 00:10:17.839 It's not able to save us 00:10:17.839 --> 00:10:19.399 or sanctify us, 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:21.939 but the law is God's good gift 00:10:21.939 --> 00:10:22.959 to his people. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:26.459 Okay, so that's by means of introduction. 00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:27.879 So what I want to do now 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:30.259 is just to look at this passage in two halves. 00:10:30.800 --> 00:10:32.800 Firstly, verse 7 down to verse 13, 00:10:32.900 --> 00:10:35.259 we'll consider the law and sin and death. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:37.580 And then verse 14 to the end, 00:10:37.660 --> 00:10:38.500 we'll think of the law, 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:39.740 our sinful nature, 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:41.259 and our disobedience. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:45.379 So verse 7, chapter 7. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:48.460 And what Paul seems to say here 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:51.019 is a principle we see worked out 00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:52.580 in different spheres of life. 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:55.500 So I live next to a bowling club. 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:58.120 I have joined the bowling club. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:10:59.860 I've not been asked to play 00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:01.860 for the firsts in the bowling club, 00:11:01.980 --> 00:11:03.659 but who knows, one day. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.159 But recently, the bowling club had a problem 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:07.860 because there's a fox in our street, 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:10.659 and every morning the fox was digging up the green. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.120 And if you bowl, 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:14.679 you'll know how obsessional bowlers are 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:15.399 about the green, 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:17.340 and how difficult it is to bowl 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:19.419 if there's a giant hole in the centre of it, 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:21.480 and your bowls keep dropping into the hole. 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:25.120 And so the bowling club set up an electric fence. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:27.139 And they did it over a weekend, 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:29.120 and it's just a thin wire, 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:30.679 and it has a sign saying, 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:32.159 electric fence, do not touch, 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:34.659 and a picture of somebody being electrocuted 00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:36.100 in a ghastly way. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:38.820 And on the first day of the bowling season, 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:39.600 we all turned up, 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:41.159 and do you know what everybody was doing? 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.100 They were touching the electric fence. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:44.580 The sign said, do not touch, 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:46.700 and they all wanted to touch it. 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:49.539 And that's what Paul is saying here. 00:11:49.860 --> 00:11:51.500 It's sin seizing the opportunity, 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:54.360 produced in me every kind of covetous desire. 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:56.759 Sin seems to come to life 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:59.180 in the face of the law. 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:01.120 He says a number of things. 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:01.960 He says, firstly, 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:04.700 that the law reveals our sin. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.680 It shows us God's character 00:12:06.680 --> 00:12:08.700 and his standards. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.379 In a sense, 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:10.519 it shows us his holiness 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:12.659 and our sinfulness. 00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:16.200 One of the great reformed confessions of faith 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:16.899 says this, 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.720 although believers are not under the law, 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:21.600 it is of great use to them 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:22.840 as well as to others, 00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:24.600 in that as a rule of life 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:26.320 informing them of the will of God 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:27.100 and their duty, 00:12:27.420 --> 00:12:28.779 it directs and binds them 00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:29.779 to walk accordingly, 00:12:30.420 --> 00:12:32.560 discovering also the sinful pollutions 00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:33.379 of their nature, 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:34.399 hearts, 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:35.560 and lives. 00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.600 The law tells us 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:38.620 what is wrong. 00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:40.420 I parked in Broughton Street 00:12:40.420 --> 00:12:41.700 a couple of weeks ago 00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:42.980 to buy a steak pie. 00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:44.379 I went to the machine. 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.200 The machine didn't accept my money. 00:12:46.300 --> 00:12:46.580 I thought, 00:12:46.680 --> 00:12:47.420 happy days. 00:12:47.660 --> 00:12:49.340 I'm outside the parking restrictions. 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:50.560 I bought the pie. 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:51.480 I was delighted. 00:12:51.640 --> 00:12:52.580 I sat down in the car. 00:12:52.660 --> 00:12:53.440 There was a parking ticket 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:54.120 on the windscreen. 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:55.820 And I got out the car 00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:56.680 and there was a chef 00:12:56.680 --> 00:12:57.620 from a local restaurant. 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.000 He said, 00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:58.879 if you'd read the sign, 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:00.080 you wouldn't have got 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:00.940 the parking ticket. 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:03.860 The law reveals our sin. 00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:05.720 We might not realize 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.740 anything is wrong 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:09.740 until we look at the law of God. 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:10.920 Paul did not realize 00:13:10.920 --> 00:13:11.580 coveting, 00:13:11.780 --> 00:13:13.460 being jealous of others 00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:14.259 was wrong 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:16.080 until God's word 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:16.960 told him so. 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:19.379 And that's often the case, 00:13:19.420 --> 00:13:19.960 isn't it? 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.700 We can live 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:23.480 outside of Christ 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:25.160 and we just go with the flow. 00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:26.820 We just live like everybody else. 00:13:26.900 --> 00:13:27.480 We don't think 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.379 there's a problem 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:29.720 with drinking to excess. 00:13:30.139 --> 00:13:30.680 We don't think 00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.259 there's a problem 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:32.080 with gossiping 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.060 or slandering people 00:13:33.060 --> 00:13:33.900 in your workplace 00:13:33.900 --> 00:13:35.480 or telling crude jokes. 00:13:35.900 --> 00:13:36.379 We don't think 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:36.940 there's a problem 00:13:36.940 --> 00:13:38.180 living together with someone 00:13:38.180 --> 00:13:39.200 without being married. 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:40.660 And yet when we come 00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:41.480 to God's word, 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:42.660 we begin to recognize 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:44.120 that these things fall short 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:46.179 of the glory of God 00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:47.600 and the Lord has something 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:50.039 better in mind for us. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:52.740 The law reveals 00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.299 where we fall short. 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:56.379 And that was the habit 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.079 of John Wesley, 00:13:57.219 --> 00:13:57.339 you know, 00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.539 the 18th century preacher 00:13:58.539 --> 00:13:59.419 who traveled around 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:00.939 and preached all through 00:14:00.939 --> 00:14:01.759 the United Kingdom. 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.860 And he would go 00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.839 to a town 00:14:04.839 --> 00:14:05.919 and begin to preach 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:06.639 in the open air. 00:14:06.939 --> 00:14:07.839 And he explained 00:14:07.839 --> 00:14:08.839 to somebody 00:14:08.839 --> 00:14:10.000 with a marvelous name, 00:14:10.059 --> 00:14:10.639 he wrote a letter 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.360 to somebody called 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.600 Ebenezer Blackwell, 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:15.480 and I had to double take. 00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:15.919 I thought it was 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:16.839 Ebenezer Blackadder, 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.879 but it's an old letter 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:19.519 and Ebenezer Blackwell. 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.299 And he explained 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:23.379 how he uses the law 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.100 and the proclamation 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.899 of the gospel. 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:26.299 John Wesley said this, 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:28.360 I think the right method 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:29.399 of preaching is this, 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:31.240 after a general declaration 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:32.179 of the love of God 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:32.719 to sinners 00:14:32.719 --> 00:14:33.579 and his willingness 00:14:33.579 --> 00:14:34.759 that they should be saved, 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.379 to preach the law 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.559 in the strongest, 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:38.459 the closest, 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:39.399 the most searching 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:40.319 manner possible, 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:42.320 after more and more 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:43.480 persons have convinced 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.140 of sin, 00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:45.520 we may mix more 00:14:45.520 --> 00:14:47.020 and more of the gospel 00:14:47.020 --> 00:14:48.740 in order to beget faith, 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:51.480 to raise unto spiritual life 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:52.860 those whom the law 00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:54.160 hath reign. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:56.500 So John Wesley realized 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.180 that if people are 00:14:57.180 --> 00:14:58.140 to come to Christ, 00:14:58.260 --> 00:14:59.120 the friend of sinners, 00:14:59.240 --> 00:14:59.900 they need to be shown 00:14:59.900 --> 00:15:00.480 their sin. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.660 And he said, 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.900 well, the law of God 00:15:02.900 --> 00:15:04.400 shows us their sin. 00:15:04.760 --> 00:15:05.880 The law that tells us 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:07.340 that stealing is wrong, 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:09.399 deception, lying is wrong, 00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:11.179 coveting is wrong. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.620 The law reveals sin. 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:15.580 But secondly, 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:17.120 the law provokes sin, 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:19.279 verses 8 to 12. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:22.039 The world laughs about sin 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:23.320 and considers it 00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:24.399 just a bit of fun. 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:25.840 But Paul says 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:27.059 it's deadly serious. 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:30.519 Sin is aroused by the law, 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:32.019 it springs to life, 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.220 and it kills him. 00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.399 Verse 11, 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.860 sin seized the opportunity, 00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:36.740 deceived me, 00:15:37.079 --> 00:15:38.279 and through the commandment 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:40.000 put me to death. 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:42.659 There is something in us, 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.980 in our sinful nature, 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:46.679 that wants to break God's law. 00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:49.139 Because sin is a rebellion 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:50.360 against God 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:52.199 when we come up against God's law 00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:53.919 and his claims in our life, 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:55.199 we want to push against it, 00:15:55.240 --> 00:15:57.620 we want to rebel against it. 00:15:58.699 --> 00:16:00.379 If you've ever been to hospital 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.639 for an MRI scan, 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:02.860 you'll know that they're 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.720 very particular 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.879 that you don't have 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.519 any metal work on your body. 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.720 You take out your earrings 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:09.220 or whatever it is, 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.800 your watch. 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:11.220 And the reason is 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.920 the magnetic scan, 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:13.740 the MRI scan, 00:16:13.800 --> 00:16:15.019 is a gigantic magnet 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:15.940 and it creates 00:16:15.940 --> 00:16:17.540 an enormous magnetic field. 00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:18.879 And if there's anything 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.600 internally made of metal, 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.980 it'll pull it out 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:23.720 and cause all sorts of damage. 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:24.660 Apologies there, 00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:26.620 I should have given you a warning. 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:28.960 But Paul is saying 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.139 it's a bit like that 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.300 with sin and the law. 00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:32.859 We have this sinful nature 00:16:32.859 --> 00:16:33.799 and when it comes 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.539 into the presence 00:16:34.539 --> 00:16:35.620 of God's law, 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:36.639 it's sort of aroused 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.379 and activated 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:39.559 and it begins to act 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:40.719 and move within us 00:16:40.719 --> 00:16:42.759 and to cause terrible harm 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:44.079 in our lives. 00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:46.579 The law provokes sin 00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:48.359 but is itself holy 00:16:48.359 --> 00:16:49.959 and the commandment good. 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.439 I suppose an analogy of that 00:16:52.439 --> 00:16:54.059 would be adolescence, 00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:54.500 teenager, 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.500 difficult time. 00:16:56.079 --> 00:16:57.699 I recall being a teenager 00:16:57.699 --> 00:16:58.779 a long time ago now, 00:16:58.779 --> 00:17:00.539 but it was a difficult time 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:01.459 and there was always 00:17:01.459 --> 00:17:02.459 that pressure, wasn't there, 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.720 to break the law. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.019 You're told that you're not 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.700 allowed to drink 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.379 till you're 18 00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:07.660 or smoke till you're 16 00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:08.899 or drive a car 00:17:08.899 --> 00:17:09.819 till you're 17 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.599 and even then 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.019 under the speed limit. 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.700 And yet people always wanted 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.740 to do these things, 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.819 to break the law, 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.519 to do things 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:19.279 they weren't to do. 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.980 So it is with sin 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.139 and God's law. 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:23.039 The law comes, 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.420 the magnet is switched on 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:25.880 and our sin is awoken 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:28.800 and seeks to be provoked 00:17:28.800 --> 00:17:29.880 into life. 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:33.060 So the law reveals our sin. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.860 The law provokes our sin 00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.360 and finally, 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.060 verse 13, 00:17:36.120 --> 00:17:38.240 the law condemns our sin 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.840 in order that sin 00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:40.660 might be recognized 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:42.120 as sin it produced death in me 00:17:42.120 --> 00:17:43.340 through hope was good 00:17:43.340 --> 00:17:45.080 so that through the commandment 00:17:45.080 --> 00:17:48.000 sin might become utterly sinful. 00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:50.600 God declares his verdict 00:17:50.600 --> 00:17:52.900 on sin through his law. 00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:55.620 And so it's not a pretty picture. 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:57.160 Chapter 7, verse 11 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.160 really summarizes 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.780 this relationship of the law 00:17:59.780 --> 00:18:01.440 to sin and death. 00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:03.060 Sin, seizing the opportunity 00:18:03.060 --> 00:18:04.120 afforded by the law, 00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:04.880 deceived me 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:06.400 and through the commandment 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.960 put me to death. 00:18:09.660 --> 00:18:11.920 We think of the Garden of Eden, 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.440 Adam and Eve 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.500 in their innocence, 00:18:15.780 --> 00:18:17.600 sin entering the world, 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:18.400 deception, 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.780 the serpent deceiving them 00:18:20.780 --> 00:18:21.420 into sin 00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:23.500 and through his deception 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:25.980 death came to all. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.380 Sin seizes the opportunity 00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:29.460 to deceive us 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:31.740 and to put us to death. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:33.840 We need to remember that, 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.220 don't we, 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:34.860 if we're tempted, 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.640 particularly if we're tempted 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.519 into falling to 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:39.480 very serious or public sin. 00:18:39.940 --> 00:18:40.680 Sin promises 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:42.259 very great things 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:44.220 and yet it doesn't deliver. 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:47.200 Sin promises joy 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.840 and brings us sorrow. 00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:51.099 It plays us for a fool. 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:53.019 The evil one wants to deceive us 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:55.039 and then to see us die. 00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.859 The law reveals sin. 00:18:57.959 --> 00:18:58.919 The law provokes sin 00:18:58.919 --> 00:19:01.500 and the law condemns sin, 00:19:01.939 --> 00:19:04.720 showing it to be utterly sinful. 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.879 And so that seems to be 00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:09.119 what Paul is getting at 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:10.459 in verses 7 00:19:10.459 --> 00:19:12.959 down to verse 13. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:14.799 And as we enter 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.940 verse 14, 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.880 we come to the second part, 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.559 this much disputed part 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.860 of the letter. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.980 And what happens here 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.279 is Paul seems to move 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.620 to speaking about himself 00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:26.620 in the first person 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:28.059 instead of talking 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.160 about past tense, 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.019 he starts to speak 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.539 of himself 00:19:30.539 --> 00:19:32.140 in the present tense. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:34.039 And the great dispute 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.660 therefore is, 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:36.100 is Paul talking about 00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:36.700 his life 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.940 before he was a Christian, 00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.759 as a Jewish believer 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.039 seeking to keep the law, 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.859 or is Paul speaking 00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:44.139 of his present experience 00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:45.039 as a Christian, 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:45.960 somebody seeking 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.299 to glorify God 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:48.480 and yet battling 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.460 with sin? 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:52.099 There is a story told 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.079 of Alexander White 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:53.940 who was the minister 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:55.779 in what is now 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.639 Charlotte Chapel, 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:58.159 it was St Andrew's West 00:19:58.159 --> 00:19:59.879 in Shandwick Place there. 00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:01.399 And he was a very famous 00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:02.299 preacher in Edinburgh 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.200 back in the day 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.740 and he was friendly 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.779 with a Christian publisher. 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.519 And whenever a commentary 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.599 on Romans was published, 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.339 they would inform 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:10.259 Alexander White, 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.140 he would come 00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:11.720 and have a look 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:12.879 and he would turn 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:14.619 to Romans chapter 7 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:16.019 verse 14 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:17.140 and he said 00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.740 if the person 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.660 describes Paul 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.680 before he is converted, 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.619 I close the book 00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:21.619 and I put it back 00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.160 on the shelf. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:23.879 And he was very decided 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:24.740 in his own mind 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:26.299 what the right answer was. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:27.980 I would say 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.519 we have to be 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.700 a little bit more humble 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.740 than that. 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:32.500 There are lots of people 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.500 who would argue 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:34.779 this is Paul's experience 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.960 when he was unregenerate, 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:37.039 before he was a Christian, 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.539 as he sought to live 00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.579 by the law. 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.899 There are others 00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:41.399 who would say 00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:42.000 this is Paul 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.919 the regenerate man, 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.099 Paul the Christian 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:45.139 struggling as we all 00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:47.119 struggle in the Christian life. 00:20:48.159 --> 00:20:49.079 There are great 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:50.039 and godly people 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:51.240 on both sides 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.019 of that debate. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.079 And there's a very helpful 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:55.139 summary of both sides 00:20:55.139 --> 00:20:55.419 of it. 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:55.779 In fact, 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:56.779 the Gospel Coalition 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.699 website, 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.839 they invited John Piper 00:20:58.839 --> 00:21:00.199 and Tom Schreiner 00:21:00.199 --> 00:21:01.960 to godly New Testament 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.960 scholar and preacher 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.379 to give their side 00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:04.980 of the debate. 00:21:05.199 --> 00:21:06.220 And if you're interested, 00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.039 perhaps you could read 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.339 that after lunch. 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.159 But suffice to say, 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.039 what I'm going to do 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.339 today is to try 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:12.920 and explore that 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:13.579 a little bit 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:15.220 and then present 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:16.200 my own conclusion, 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:16.920 which thankfully 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.200 is the same as John Stott's. 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.619 And I'm going to hide 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.039 a little bit, 00:21:20.139 --> 00:21:20.319 therefore, 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.359 behind John Stott. 00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.659 But what we want to see 00:21:23.659 --> 00:21:24.720 is as Paul describes 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.359 his experience 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.240 in these verses, 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.879 there's a lot of repetition. 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.940 He really says 00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:30.039 the same thing twice, 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.519 14 to 18, 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:33.700 and then 19 to 24. 00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:35.019 The nub of it 00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:36.420 is that Paul wants 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.559 to do what is right, 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.259 but he has not the ability 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.359 to carry it out. 00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:42.460 He delights in the law of God 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:43.799 and yet is captive 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.059 to the law of sin 00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:46.359 that dwells among 00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:47.379 his members. 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:48.779 Verse 15, 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:49.559 I do not do 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.920 what I want to do, 00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:52.200 but the very thing I hate. 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.059 Verse 20, 00:21:53.139 --> 00:21:53.700 now if I do 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.599 what I do not want, 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.639 it is no longer 00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.319 I who do it, 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:57.859 but sin that dwells 00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:58.460 in me. 00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.579 There is this tension, 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.400 this conflict 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.140 in his writing. 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.660 Those who say 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:06.660 this is a regenerate person, 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.420 that this is Paul 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:08.299 as a Christian, 00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:10.200 have to reckon 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:10.900 with the language 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.220 he uses of himself. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.700 Could someone 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.319 who's a Christian 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:14.620 say, 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:14.779 well, 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.680 I'm of the flesh, 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:17.240 I'm sold under sin, 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:19.100 I'm captive to the law of sin, 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:20.160 I'm a wretched man, 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.440 and they say, 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:21.579 well, 00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:22.180 that's not true 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.720 of the believer, 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.100 and so this must be 00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:24.799 Paul's experience 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.960 before he was a Christian. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.759 But others would say, 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:27.980 well, 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:29.599 could the unregenerate person, 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.019 could the person 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:32.259 still living in sin 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.500 say, 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:34.220 I delight in my mind 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:35.160 and the law of God? 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.940 Do we not rebel instead 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:39.000 against the law of God? 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.360 So there are long 00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:43.740 and interesting debates 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.640 on either side. 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:46.079 But what I want to do 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:46.880 is just read to you 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.980 what John Stott says, 00:22:48.360 --> 00:22:49.259 and I want to try 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.940 and persuade you 00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.620 that I think 00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:52.380 that's where he's coming from. 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:52.940 I'm not going to be 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.039 dogmatic about this. 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:54.900 You know, 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.900 if you want to talk over lunch, 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.980 we can talk over lunch, 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.740 but I think 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.299 what we'll find 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.579 is whatever our interpretation, 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.299 the application 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:02.140 is in the main 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:02.720 the same, 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:05.180 and that's important 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:05.579 to us. 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.180 But John Stott 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:06.839 says this, 00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:09.200 the three salient features 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.940 of the person 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.220 portrayed in these verses 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:12.740 are that he or she 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.620 loves the law 00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:14.579 and therefore 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.480 is regenerate, 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:17.099 is still a slave 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.599 of sin 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.519 and therefore 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.380 is not a liberated 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:19.860 Christian 00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:20.940 and knows nothing 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.920 of the Holy Spirit 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.860 and therefore 00:23:22.860 --> 00:23:23.839 is not a New Testament 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.380 believer. 00:23:24.380 --> 00:23:25.460 who then 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.080 is this 00:23:26.080 --> 00:23:27.220 extraordinary person? 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.660 It seems accurate 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:29.380 to describe 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.620 pre-Pentecost believers 00:23:30.620 --> 00:23:31.780 in terms of 00:23:31.780 --> 00:23:32.480 love for the law 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.480 but lack of the Spirit 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:35.380 and he goes on 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.040 to explain 00:23:36.040 --> 00:23:37.540 what that might mean. 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.140 So, 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.320 let me explain 00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:40.840 a little bit. 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.440 When Paul 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.360 went to Ephesus, 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:44.180 he found believers, 00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:44.600 didn't he, 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.360 who knew the baptism 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:45.980 of John 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.880 and he said, 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.520 have you received 00:23:47.520 --> 00:23:48.180 the Holy Spirit? 00:23:48.560 --> 00:23:49.020 And they said, 00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:49.740 we didn't even know 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.660 there was a Holy Spirit. 00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:51.620 They'd been taught 00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:52.339 by Apollos 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:53.099 who knew 00:23:53.099 --> 00:23:54.519 only the name 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.079 of Jesus. 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.319 And there seems 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:56.799 to be in the 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.639 first century church 00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:57.959 therefore 00:23:57.959 --> 00:23:58.779 these earnest, 00:23:58.959 --> 00:23:59.759 these God-fearing 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:01.359 Jewish people 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.359 who knew the law 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.239 and desired 00:24:03.239 --> 00:24:04.459 to serve the Lord 00:24:04.459 --> 00:24:05.659 and yet were unable 00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:06.239 to do so 00:24:06.239 --> 00:24:07.319 because of their sin. 00:24:07.939 --> 00:24:08.839 They had not yet 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.879 been born again, 00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:10.799 liberated, 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.639 cleansed 00:24:11.639 --> 00:24:12.899 by the Holy Spirit. 00:24:13.739 --> 00:24:14.419 And it's perhaps 00:24:14.419 --> 00:24:15.439 that kind of person 00:24:15.439 --> 00:24:16.299 that Paul 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.199 has in mind, 00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.199 somebody who delights 00:24:18.199 --> 00:24:19.000 like the psalmist, 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.619 who delights 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.599 in the law of God 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.839 but is impotent 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.659 to keep that law 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:24.019 because of their sin. 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.659 And I think 00:24:25.659 --> 00:24:26.500 the argument 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.159 for that 00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:27.639 is that 00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.919 in Romans chapter 7 00:24:28.919 --> 00:24:29.759 there is no mention 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.259 of the work 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:30.959 of the Holy Spirit 00:24:30.959 --> 00:24:32.439 in this person's life 00:24:32.439 --> 00:24:33.159 whether it's Paul 00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:34.699 or whether he's dramatizing 00:24:34.699 --> 00:24:35.959 somebody else's speech. 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.379 There is no mention 00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:37.919 of the Spirit. 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.740 That has to wait 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:40.199 until chapter 8. 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:41.939 So does this therefore 00:24:41.939 --> 00:24:43.339 represent an earlier period 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.299 in somebody's life 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.139 where while they're 00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:46.019 struggling with sin, 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:47.199 they're convicted of sin 00:24:47.199 --> 00:24:48.399 but they haven't yet 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:49.659 come to newness of life 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.779 in Christ. 00:24:52.040 --> 00:24:52.800 And chapter 8 00:24:52.800 --> 00:24:53.800 as you'll go on to see 00:24:53.800 --> 00:24:55.980 talks about the contrast 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.060 between these two ways 00:24:57.060 --> 00:24:57.500 of living. 00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:59.060 Through Christ Jesus 00:24:59.060 --> 00:25:00.120 the law of the Spirit 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:00.640 of life 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.440 has set you free 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.180 from the law 00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:03.120 of sin 00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:04.320 and death. 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:05.640 Those who live 00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.900 according to the sinful nature 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.740 have their minds set 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.820 on what the flesh 00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:09.700 or the sinful nature 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.259 desires 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.460 but those who live 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:11.920 in accordance 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.720 with their spirit 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:14.100 have their minds set 00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:15.240 on what the Spirit 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.259 desires. 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:18.320 So Romans chapter 7 00:25:18.320 --> 00:25:19.400 talks as we've considered 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.019 of the law 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.540 of sin 00:25:20.540 --> 00:25:21.440 and death. 00:25:21.780 --> 00:25:22.519 Romans chapter 8 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.519 talks about the law 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.400 of the Spirit 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:25.120 of life. 00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.820 And there is the contrast 00:25:26.820 --> 00:25:27.200 therefore 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.240 between living 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.340 in the flesh 00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:30.340 and living 00:25:30.340 --> 00:25:32.040 according to the Holy Spirit. 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.440 And I think 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:34.920 the reason 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.800 these passages 00:25:35.800 --> 00:25:37.100 in chapter 7 00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:38.140 resonate so much 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:38.620 with us 00:25:38.620 --> 00:25:39.560 and people say 00:25:39.560 --> 00:25:40.340 well Paul's obviously 00:25:40.340 --> 00:25:41.660 talking as a Christian 00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:43.220 is because that is 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:44.560 so often our experience 00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:45.140 isn't it? 00:25:45.600 --> 00:25:46.300 As Christians 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.559 we want to know 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:47.980 the Lord 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.680 we want to love 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.099 the Lord 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:50.460 and grow in our faith 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.940 we want to obey Him 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.980 because of our love 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.480 for Him 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.720 and yet so often 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.559 we find ourselves 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.399 falling back 00:25:56.399 --> 00:25:57.599 into sinful ways 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.700 and patterns 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.839 of behaviour. 00:26:01.139 --> 00:26:02.059 The Christian life 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:02.460 is 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.559 as Romans 8 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.019 will go on 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.500 to tell you 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.000 next week 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.799 a struggle 00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:07.039 between the flesh 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.279 and the spirit. 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.980 The Christian life 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.579 is a battle. 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.740 Paul speaks 00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.559 of the Christian life 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.440 the good fight 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.119 of faith. 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.359 We battle 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.379 against the world 00:26:16.379 --> 00:26:17.839 with its competing 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.799 ideologies 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.639 that deny 00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:20.559 the Lord. 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.559 We battle 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.379 against the devil 00:26:22.379 --> 00:26:23.200 with his supernatural 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:24.059 opposition 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:25.059 to the kingdom 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.720 of God 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.919 and we battle 00:26:26.919 --> 00:26:28.099 against the flesh 00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:29.419 seeking to draw us 00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.759 back into the ways 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.319 of sin. 00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:32.579 Elsewhere 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.159 Paul says 00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:33.700 in Galatians 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.599 the flesh desires 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.220 what is contrary 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.859 to the spirit 00:26:35.859 --> 00:26:36.839 and the spirit 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.859 what is contrary 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:39.000 to the flesh. 00:26:40.879 --> 00:26:41.839 So we see that 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.179 don't we? 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.419 In different ways 00:26:43.419 --> 00:26:44.419 in our lives 00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:45.059 we see it 00:26:45.059 --> 00:26:46.039 perhaps most clearly 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:47.519 in those believers 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.359 who are battling 00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:49.059 addiction 00:26:49.059 --> 00:26:50.619 trying to give up 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.119 smoking 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:52.819 trying to give up 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.279 drinking 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.480 trying to give up 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.919 drugs 00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:56.359 eagerly desiring 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.279 to be free 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.419 to be dry 00:26:58.419 --> 00:26:59.480 to be clean 00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.720 and yet repeatedly 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.779 falling back 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:03.240 into the old ways. 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.179 We see it 00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:06.000 in our speech 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.460 I would love 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:07.960 to say 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:08.539 kind 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.519 encouraging 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.720 wise things 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.740 to everyone 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.279 I meet 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.639 that so often 00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:14.619 we fall back 00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:14.940 don't we 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.819 into cynicism 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:17.319 sarcasm 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:18.440 slander 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.359 gossip 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:21.799 it would be great 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.779 to be able 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.339 to exercise 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.299 self-control 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.259 eating 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.319 or drinking 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:26.720 but 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.399 you know 00:27:27.399 --> 00:27:27.779 we go to 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.599 somebody's house 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.180 and the cakes 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.240 just look so delicious 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.119 and we keep going 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:31.940 back for more 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.480 and more 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.599 or when we drive 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.639 past the fast food 00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:35.000 outlet 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.339 and the tummy 00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:37.240 begins to rumble 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.639 we just 00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:37.940 oh 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.920 I just don't want to 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.160 do it 00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:39.920 and yet I do it 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:42.040 maybe you want to 00:27:42.040 --> 00:27:42.560 cut down 00:27:42.560 --> 00:27:44.120 how long you spend 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:44.640 on the internet 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.340 what you look at 00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:45.900 on the internet 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:47.160 the hours perhaps 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:48.240 playing addictive 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:49.100 video games 00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:49.840 and yet when you're 00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.540 a bit tired 00:27:50.540 --> 00:27:51.800 or feeling a bit low 00:27:51.800 --> 00:27:52.680 after a hard hit 00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:53.800 college or the office 00:27:53.800 --> 00:27:55.060 you find yourself 00:27:55.060 --> 00:27:55.880 being drawn back 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:56.560 to the screen 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:59.079 I want to stop 00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:00.019 being so angry 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:02.179 and yet time and again 00:28:02.179 --> 00:28:03.179 I just find myself 00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:04.099 losing my rag 00:28:04.099 --> 00:28:04.720 I want to stop 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.799 being so ungrateful 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:07.119 and coveting 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:07.779 what other people 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.200 have 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.200 their homes 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.240 their lifestyle 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.139 their relationships 00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:11.940 their possessions 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.799 I just want to be 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.940 content as a Christian 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:16.319 and yet again 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.319 and again 00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.519 I find myself 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.220 being bitter 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:20.319 and jealous 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.500 and disappointed 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:23.659 every day 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:25.399 in the Christian life 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.120 is a conflict 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:27.120 between the flesh 00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:28.540 and the spirit 00:28:28.540 --> 00:28:30.300 and I think 00:28:30.300 --> 00:28:30.960 that's why people 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.820 see that conflict 00:28:31.820 --> 00:28:33.100 in Romans chapter 7 00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:34.000 and they say 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:34.740 well that's Paul's 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.180 experience 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:35.940 and I don't doubt 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.720 that it was Paul's 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.240 experience 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.360 but I think what 00:28:38.360 --> 00:28:39.640 we understand 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:40.600 as the spiritual 00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.080 struggle 00:28:41.080 --> 00:28:41.900 is the struggle 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:43.100 of Romans chapter 8 00:28:43.100 --> 00:28:44.759 and not necessarily 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.259 the struggle 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.160 of Romans 7 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:47.120 a sort of 00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:48.480 God-fearing Jew 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.500 eagerly desiring 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.360 to keep the law 00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:51.400 and yet finding 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.060 that he cannot 00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:53.460 and therefore instead 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.400 needing to call out 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.240 for Christ 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:56.440 who will deliver him 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.460 from his body 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.460 of death 00:28:58.460 --> 00:29:00.820 but it's good 00:29:00.820 --> 00:29:01.300 to be aware 00:29:01.300 --> 00:29:01.940 of that struggle 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:03.380 as Paul was aware 00:29:03.380 --> 00:29:04.140 of that struggle 00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:05.340 maybe you're here 00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:06.160 as a new Christian 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:07.320 maybe a student 00:29:07.320 --> 00:29:08.280 or a young adult 00:29:08.280 --> 00:29:09.060 maybe you've come up 00:29:09.060 --> 00:29:09.900 through the dime club 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:11.620 and you've been told 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.320 that it's a wonderful 00:29:12.320 --> 00:29:13.240 thing to be a Christian 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.000 and it is 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.420 and you've come to faith 00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:16.120 and you've come to 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:17.300 appreciate the love 00:29:17.300 --> 00:29:18.460 of God in your life 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.740 to know a newfound peace 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:21.060 to know a joy 00:29:21.060 --> 00:29:22.560 in your circumstances 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:24.019 and yet very quickly 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.899 you run into trouble 00:29:24.899 --> 00:29:25.740 and difficulty 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:27.519 and there's trial 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.899 and there's temptation 00:29:28.899 --> 00:29:30.700 and there's testing 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.720 and you think 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.740 well I didn't recognize 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.940 this was going to happen 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:36.139 and yet the New Testament 00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:37.240 is very honest 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.240 that as we seek 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.259 to live by the Spirit 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:39.819 of God 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:41.259 we also have to put 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:41.659 to death 00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:42.119 the deeds 00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:43.099 of the flesh 00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:44.899 and we will battle 00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:46.139 temptations 00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:46.919 and sins 00:29:46.919 --> 00:29:48.000 and harmful 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.119 patterns of behavior 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.740 until Christ comes 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.880 to take us home 00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:54.740 maybe you're a mature Christian 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:56.099 I'm sure many of you 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:56.940 have been walking 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.620 with the Lord 00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:59.079 for many many decades 00:29:59.079 --> 00:29:59.940 perhaps longer than 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:01.779 I've even been alive 00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:03.099 and you know 00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:04.420 as a mature Christian 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.880 you've been fighting sin 00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:06.839 and there's been victories 00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:07.519 in your life 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.319 and there are some things 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.819 you've laid to rest 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:12.120 and yet there are other things 00:30:12.120 --> 00:30:13.660 other patterns of behavior 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.940 thought or speech 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.400 or deeds 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:16.900 that just seem to linger 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:18.039 that seem to be 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:19.099 besetting sins 00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:19.980 thorns driven 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.879 into your flesh 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:23.039 and maybe you feel 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.079 like the Apostle Paul 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.339 who will rescue me 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:27.199 from this body of death 00:30:27.199 --> 00:30:29.359 and the good news 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:29.919 of the Gospel 00:30:29.919 --> 00:30:30.599 is that Christ 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.159 will come 00:30:31.159 --> 00:30:33.039 to rescue us 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.740 we live between 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.379 his first 00:30:34.379 --> 00:30:35.599 and his second 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.500 appearing 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:38.619 one day the old order 00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:39.500 will be done away 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.439 with sin 00:30:40.439 --> 00:30:41.339 and the law 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.439 and death 00:30:42.439 --> 00:30:43.859 and we will enter 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:45.000 into life 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:46.559 which is truly life 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:49.200 we sang that hymn 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.960 at the start 00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.659 come o fount 00:30:50.659 --> 00:30:51.500 of every blessing 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:53.240 one of my favorite hymns 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.879 and one of the versions 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:56.059 has those words 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.740 on that day 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:58.159 when freed from sinning 00:30:58.159 --> 00:30:59.579 we will see 00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:01.579 his glorious face 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:03.419 and we often think 00:31:03.419 --> 00:31:04.259 of heaven don't we 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:05.519 as an end to suffering 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.599 you know 00:31:06.599 --> 00:31:08.059 and be able to 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:09.460 do away with 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.079 all the sort of 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.339 medical things we need 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:12.079 and the pain 00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:12.799 and the disease 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.740 and the discomfort 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:16.079 and yet it's also 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:16.700 a day when 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.500 we will do away 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.180 with sinning 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:20.220 and we will be able 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:21.180 to stand before 00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:21.720 the Lord 00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:23.079 and gaze on his face 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:24.539 and worship him 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.980 without hindrance 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:27.660 with complete obedience 00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.460 giving to him 00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.599 all of our worship 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.599 and our praise 00:31:30.599 --> 00:31:31.519 what a wonderful thing 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.099 that will be 00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:33.799 wonderful worship 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.319 this morning 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:34.920 wasn't it 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:36.519 but we get distracted 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.440 and you know 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:37.920 I think 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:39.220 have I put money 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.180 in the parking meter 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:42.039 or our minds wander 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:44.000 and yet on that day 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:45.259 when freed from sinning 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:46.740 we will see 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:48.759 his glorious face 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.480 what a wonderful 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:51.200 thing to look forward to 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:53.119 and in the meantime 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.579 of course 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.440 we have his promise 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.480 that he will continue 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:57.220 to renovate us 00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.779 to make us 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.599 holy 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.799 to cleanse us 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:02.399 and to bear patiently 00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:02.940 with us 00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:04.460 as we battle sin 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.599 as we seek 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:06.779 to sow to the spirit 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.539 not to sow 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.740 to the flesh 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:10.579 the Lord wants 00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.660 to transform us 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.160 doesn't he 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:14.000 he wants to conform us 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:15.539 to his image 00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.599 we don't just sit here 00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:17.460 waiting for heaven 00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.579 he is doing a work 00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.420 in us 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.460 to make us 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.920 a people of pure speech 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:23.200 to make us 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.680 his holy 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:25.099 and treasured possession 00:32:25.099 --> 00:32:26.079 in all 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:26.980 the earth 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:29.000 but it's not easy 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:30.559 and it can be painful 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.819 and there can be 00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.599 growing pains 00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:33.660 in the Christian life 00:32:33.660 --> 00:32:34.859 as we face that battle 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:35.980 and endure that struggle 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:37.059 but if you've been 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:37.559 in the fight 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.279 for a long time 00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.019 keep going 00:32:39.019 --> 00:32:40.879 and be encouraged 00:32:40.879 --> 00:32:42.559 by Paul's words 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:44.019 there is no condemnation 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.659 because the spirit 00:32:45.659 --> 00:32:46.099 of life 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:46.799 has set us free 00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.460 from the law 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.319 of sin 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.440 and death 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:53.399 well Paul wants us 00:32:53.399 --> 00:32:54.399 to understand that 00:32:54.399 --> 00:32:55.059 and I think that's 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:55.779 the reason for 00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.700 this detour 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:58.200 these verses 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.759 deep 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.559 rich 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:01.440 wonderful 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.480 verses 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.980 Paul wants to 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.460 remind us 00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:04.940 that God 00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:05.839 graciously gave 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.779 the law to Israel 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:08.000 to show them 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:08.539 their sin 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.799 and to show them 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:10.279 their need 00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.399 of salvation 00:33:11.399 --> 00:33:13.039 and yet because 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:13.619 of their sin 00:33:13.619 --> 00:33:14.279 they chose to 00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:14.819 disobey 00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:16.440 against his law 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.759 as we disobey 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.639 his law 00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:20.359 and his commands 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:23.819 and he wanted to 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.159 show us 00:33:24.159 --> 00:33:25.000 our own impotence 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:25.419 in keeping 00:33:25.419 --> 00:33:25.859 the law 00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.979 even if we 00:33:26.979 --> 00:33:27.859 delight in the law 00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:28.939 and desire in our 00:33:28.939 --> 00:33:29.419 own strength 00:33:29.419 --> 00:33:30.000 to serve God 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.979 we cannot do it 00:33:30.979 --> 00:33:32.319 because of this sin 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.659 in our hearts 00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:35.039 and therefore 00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:35.679 we are taken 00:33:35.679 --> 00:33:36.539 to Christ 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.199 to call out 00:33:37.199 --> 00:33:37.879 for Christ 00:33:37.879 --> 00:33:38.959 to look to him 00:33:38.959 --> 00:33:39.659 on his cross 00:33:39.659 --> 00:33:40.439 at Calvary 00:33:40.439 --> 00:33:41.819 and having been 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.819 slain by the law 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.699 to be lifted up 00:33:43.699 --> 00:33:44.219 and exalted 00:33:44.219 --> 00:33:45.039 by the gospel 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:46.259 to be forgiven 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:46.939 of our sin 00:33:46.939 --> 00:33:47.740 to be filled 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.980 as the believers 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.460 were filled 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:50.620 that first Pentecost 00:33:50.620 --> 00:33:51.519 with his Holy Spirit 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.759 and to begin 00:33:52.759 --> 00:33:53.579 that new life 00:33:53.579 --> 00:33:54.559 to run that race 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:56.059 to fight that fight 00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:58.380 Paul teaches us 00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:59.240 about the law 00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.980 and sin 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:01.180 and death 00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:01.839 so that we might 00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:02.660 come to Christ 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.220 and understand 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.039 his love 00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:05.779 and receive his spirit 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.900 and look forward 00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:08.119 to that great deliverance 00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:08.800 that will one day 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.360 be ours 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.659 deliverance from 00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:11.860 this body of death 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:14.139 this body of sin 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:14.900 deliverance from 00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.720 the old order 00:34:15.720 --> 00:34:16.940 and the way 00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.539 things were 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:19.099 he wants us 00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.099 to see the seriousness 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.760 of sin 00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:22.500 but the salvation 00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.840 of our God 00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:26.720 well we thank the Lord 00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:28.000 for his word 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:29.660 and for the Apostle Paul 00:34:29.660 --> 00:34:31.260 who just communicated 00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:31.980 these things 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:33.160 to us 00:34:33.160 --> 00:34:33.860 let's just 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:35.360 pray together 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:40.019 Father we thank you 00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:41.420 that you have 00:34:41.420 --> 00:34:42.639 such great ambition 00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.380 for us 00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:46.380 you want to purify 00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:47.180 our hearts 00:34:47.180 --> 00:34:48.180 that we might be holy 00:34:48.180 --> 00:34:51.280 oh that your son 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.220 has gone to prepare 00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:53.280 a place for us 00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:55.480 that we might dwell 00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:57.019 with you forever 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:59.820 to gaze upon your face 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:01.660 on that day 00:35:01.660 --> 00:35:02.940 when free from sinning 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:04.820 we shall see your 00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:05.599 glorious face 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.440 and to serve you 00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:07.280 wholeheartedly 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:09.119 throughout all eternity 00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:11.860 Lord we thank you 00:35:11.860 --> 00:35:12.780 for your great honesty 00:35:12.780 --> 00:35:13.360 in your word 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:14.260 that the Christian life 00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:14.900 is a battle 00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:17.640 but that you have 00:35:17.640 --> 00:35:18.280 given to us 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:19.360 your very great 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.400 and precious promises 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:22.780 you strengthen us 00:35:22.780 --> 00:35:23.680 by your Holy Spirit 00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:26.000 and you encourage us 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.260 Lord 00:35:26.260 --> 00:35:27.460 through your word 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.260 and through our times 00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:28.780 of fellowship 00:35:28.780 --> 00:35:31.160 so Lord 00:35:31.160 --> 00:35:32.120 would you continue 00:35:32.120 --> 00:35:32.820 that good work 00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:33.140 in us 00:35:33.140 --> 00:35:33.700 that good work 00:35:33.700 --> 00:35:34.420 begun in us 00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:34.940 that you will 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:36.620 carry on to completion 00:35:36.620 --> 00:35:37.160 until the day 00:35:37.160 --> 00:35:38.000 of Christ Jesus 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:40.300 help us to be holy 00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:40.640 Lord 00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:41.540 to put to death 00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:42.559 the deeds of the flesh 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:44.840 and to keep in step 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:45.619 with your spirit 00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:47.679 not bearing fruit 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:48.139 for death 00:35:48.139 --> 00:35:48.960 but bearing the fruit 00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.920 of your Holy Spirit 00:35:49.920 --> 00:35:51.480 love and joy 00:35:51.480 --> 00:35:52.119 and peace 00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:54.039 and all the other fruit 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:55.960 in our daily conduct 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:58.300 and in our daily conversation 00:35:58.300 --> 00:36:00.259 so we thank you 00:36:00.259 --> 00:36:00.960 for our time 00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:01.820 this morning 00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:02.380 we thank you 00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:03.099 for the opportunity 00:36:03.099 --> 00:36:04.000 to worship you 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:05.739 and to encourage 00:36:05.739 --> 00:36:06.259 one another 00:36:06.260 --> 00:36:07.060 in Christ's name 00:36:07.060 --> 00:36:08.580 Amen