WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.900 Peace for our time. I'm sure those four words can be guessed. Who said those four words can be guessed this morning. 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:24.080 ! Of course, they were said by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in September of 1938 as he got off a plane and he addressed the empire that he had come to a peace agreement with Adolf Hitler. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:38.460 He had just returned back from Germany and he held up a piece of paper and he said, peace in our time. Less than a year after that, World War II started and death ensued. 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:44.980 Tens of millions of lives were lost. Anything but peace in our time was the result. 00:00:44.979 --> 00:00:55.099 I bring this up to talk about misplaced hope and how misplaced hope is actually an incredibly dangerous thing. It's not a thing we ought to be indifferent about. 00:00:55.919 --> 00:01:01.179 Having faith in the wrong person or thing, it can have absolutely dire consequences. 00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:08.140 It's a problem that we can all relate to on maybe a big scale, but for sure on a small scale. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:18.939 Maybe some of us have experienced faith in the wrong person or misplaced hope this past week. 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:22.480 Maybe some of us will experience it in the week to come. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:31.460 As we get into chapter 4 of Romans, we will find Paul addressing this very issue of misplaced hope. 00:01:31.800 --> 00:01:35.820 An issue that every soul will experience to some degree or another. 00:01:36.600 --> 00:01:42.120 Paul will show that there is actually a proper way to place our hope. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:45.340 That there is a true faith to be had. 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:49.579 That there is a faith that is sure and true. 00:01:50.100 --> 00:01:51.240 That will never disappoint. 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:53.299 That will be guaranteed. 00:01:55.359 --> 00:02:04.000 As we open up Romans chapter 4, we'll look at how the faith that Paul will articulate is a faith that works for all people. 00:02:04.100 --> 00:02:05.580 Not just a select few. 00:02:05.579 --> 00:02:17.039 That this faith will be one that is based on a promise made to us rather than a law or work that we have to keep ourselves. 00:02:17.240 --> 00:02:20.780 And finally, it is a faith that is incredibly flawed. 00:02:21.560 --> 00:02:25.159 But is actually at the same time flawless. 00:02:26.460 --> 00:02:28.939 So if you can turn with me to Romans chapter 4. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:32.460 Matt read starting in verse 13 of 4. 00:02:32.460 --> 00:02:34.360 We're going to be going back to verse 9. 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:35.780 So we'll be in 9 to 25. 00:02:36.020 --> 00:02:39.159 If you have a scripture journal, you can turn to page 20. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:42.620 If you have your own Bible, you can turn there now as well. 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:44.120 The first point. 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:48.219 A faith that works for all people and not a select few. 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:52.540 So last week we were in Romans chapter 4 verses 1 to 8. 00:02:53.020 --> 00:02:58.680 And found that the righteousness that Abraham enjoyed was a gift from God. 00:02:59.100 --> 00:03:01.800 It was not a wage that he earned. 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:06.920 We talked about how this is an imputed righteousness. 00:03:06.920 --> 00:03:10.260 A foreign righteousness that is given as a gift. 00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:15.600 Not by way of works or merit earned. 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:20.159 And therefore it needed to be received with humility and thankfulness. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:23.520 This is an important doctrine to understand. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:27.120 I mean really it is important to understand for the entirety of the gospel. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:30.680 Especially in Romans and especially chapter 4. 00:03:31.159 --> 00:03:33.939 And going forward in 5 in the following chapters. 00:03:35.480 --> 00:03:37.900 It's the core of the gospel. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:41.719 But for us this morning, it has further implications. 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:43.219 This gifted righteousness. 00:03:43.460 --> 00:03:44.520 This imputed righteousness. 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:47.400 A righteousness that is a gift by faith. 00:03:48.659 --> 00:03:51.200 A gift of God by grace that we accept by faith. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:51.639 Faith. 00:03:51.679 --> 00:03:57.000 It comes through faith in such a way that it ought to be enjoyed. 00:03:57.239 --> 00:03:59.439 Not just by a select few people. 00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:01.780 But available to everyone who. 00:04:02.019 --> 00:04:03.699 And this is where Abraham comes in big time. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.560 Who like Abraham receive it properly and humbly. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:11.959 Look with me at verses 9 to 11. 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:14.019 We're just going to read the first half of verse 11. 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:16.399 But 9 to 11a. 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:18.620 This is what it says. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:20.939 In this blessing then. 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:25.560 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised or for the uncircumcised? 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:29.539 For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:32.459 How then was it counted to him? 00:04:33.019 --> 00:04:37.219 Was it before or was it after he had been circumcised? 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:40.439 It was not after but before he was circumcised. 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:43.120 He received the sign of circumcision. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:47.000 As a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith. 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:49.879 While he was still uncircumcised. 00:04:51.180 --> 00:04:54.680 You know I was telling Christine earlier this week. 00:04:55.019 --> 00:05:01.759 That the hardest part in preparing this sermon this week. 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:04.040 Was trying to be concise. 00:05:04.579 --> 00:05:05.759 There is so much packed. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:09.220 There is a lot of double clicking that could be done with this text. 00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:13.720 A big part of that is understanding the life of Abraham. 00:05:14.940 --> 00:05:18.300 The whole Abrahamic story in Genesis. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:20.480 In the early part of Genesis. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:22.940 It is so important that we grasp it. 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:24.560 I'll try my best to summarize it. 00:05:24.880 --> 00:05:27.420 It's either that or I'm preaching for like an hour and 15. 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:29.600 So you take your pick. 00:05:30.960 --> 00:05:32.840 We're not going to be here for an hour and 15. 00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:37.459 So it's important that we have a little bit of a grasp on who Abraham is. 00:05:37.739 --> 00:05:39.699 In light of Romans chapter 4. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:42.039 God chose Abraham. 00:05:43.299 --> 00:05:44.399 This is the story. 00:05:44.919 --> 00:05:48.759 Abraham was in what would likely be modern day Iraq. 00:05:48.819 --> 00:05:50.059 In this place called Ur. 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:56.139 And he calls him to leave his place of birth. 00:05:56.219 --> 00:05:56.979 Where he was native. 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:58.879 And to come to this new land of Canaan. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:04.939 And what's interesting here is that God chose to bless Abraham. 00:06:05.060 --> 00:06:08.719 And to call Abraham without any conditions or requirements. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:10.800 I mean in the text itself. 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:13.040 If we were to go through Genesis. 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:18.399 Abraham whether or not he was important or noteworthy or not. 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:19.139 It doesn't say. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.240 It just simply says that God called him. 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:26.659 The Bible does not speak of him as being a noble person. 00:06:26.659 --> 00:06:28.719 Or a religiously upright person. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:32.380 In fact he almost certainly would have been a pantheist. 00:06:33.080 --> 00:06:36.680 He would have worshipped the sun or the moon. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:42.280 Or some combination of local and national gods. 00:06:42.960 --> 00:06:44.440 But the Bible doesn't even talk about that. 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:47.420 It just simply says that God called Abraham. 00:06:48.660 --> 00:06:50.060 God did not either. 00:06:50.760 --> 00:06:53.320 In addition to calling him without conditions or requirements. 00:06:53.780 --> 00:06:54.620 God doesn't say. 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:54.939 Hey listen. 00:06:54.939 --> 00:06:57.379 I'm going to hook you up with blessing. 00:06:57.899 --> 00:07:01.560 But we need to negotiate how this relationship is going to work out beforehand. 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:04.579 If you can agree to it. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:04.980 Listen. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:06.579 We're going to draft the contract. 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:07.459 You're going to sign it. 00:07:07.780 --> 00:07:08.879 And then the blessings will come. 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.920 What's interesting with the call of Abraham. 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:12.660 Is that doesn't happen either. 00:07:12.660 --> 00:07:19.620 God does not strike up a deal with Abraham before he calls him or blesses him. 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:26.520 Simply God chooses Abraham and Abraham responds to the call. 00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:29.740 And that is how it begins. 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:48.180 It was only after God had called Abraham and blessed Abraham and promised a future blessing that was remarkably relational and wealthy in terms of legacy. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:53.759 Only then did God give him a sign of the promise which was circumcision. 00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:55.420 This is what Paul is getting at. 00:07:55.420 --> 00:07:56.420 All the promise. 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:57.319 All of the blessing. 00:07:58.259 --> 00:07:59.040 All of the calling. 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:02.360 All of it happens before Abraham is circumcised. 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:04.640 Circumcision. 00:08:04.960 --> 00:08:06.300 Again we could double click on it. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:10.740 But in short it's a physical sign of a spiritual reality. 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:16.819 In effect it was as if God was saying to Abraham and his offspring that would come after him. 00:08:16.819 --> 00:08:22.839 That the blessing and promise made to him would invoke every aspect of his life. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:27.040 Including and especially the most private and intimate parts of his life. 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:32.279 This relationship was so all encompassing and so deeply personal. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:36.659 That no part of Abraham's existence would be left untouched. 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:43.740 It was a reminder to Abraham and his descendants that God had made these promises to them. 00:08:43.740 --> 00:08:53.120 But what ends up happening is that Abraham's offspring that would come centuries and centuries after. 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:59.980 They either forgot about or reinterpreted the sign and the covenantal promises that it signified. 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:04.980 Instead the sign was confused with the thing that it was supposed to signify. 00:09:04.980 --> 00:09:11.300 So it wasn't that the sign of the covenant was to remind them of the promises that God made. 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:19.580 Somehow in some way the sign itself came to represent who was in and who was out of the covenant community. 00:09:19.920 --> 00:09:20.879 It's a confusion. 00:09:22.680 --> 00:09:29.100 This isn't the greatest example but hopefully it helps to shed some light on what I'm trying to say here. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:31.860 It would be as if you were road tripping this summer out east. 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:32.960 Okay. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:33.860 Summertime. 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:35.039 It's beautiful. 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:36.740 You're heading to Halifax. 00:09:36.820 --> 00:09:37.820 You're heading to PEI. 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:42.779 Wherever you're going on a road trip out east. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:46.139 And you pack up. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:49.600 You're passing Quebec City. 00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:53.360 You go into New Brunswick. 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:57.700 And then there's a sign that says Halifax in X amount of kilometers. 00:09:57.820 --> 00:09:58.340 You stop. 00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:00.539 You snap a picture with it. 00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:03.039 Maybe you have a picnic next to the sign. 00:10:03.599 --> 00:10:04.579 And then you pack up. 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:05.839 And you drive home. 00:10:06.459 --> 00:10:06.639 Okay. 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:10.399 The sign is supposed to point to the destination. 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:12.279 But the sign itself isn't the destination. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:12.860 Okay. 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:17.480 That would be a giant colossal waste of your time. 00:10:18.459 --> 00:10:21.759 It would be a misunderstanding of the point of a sign. 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:25.139 The sign signifies something. 00:10:25.639 --> 00:10:25.879 Okay. 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:29.220 The sign isn't the destination or the thing that was promised. 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:32.500 The sign is merely a reminder of that. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:36.820 Charles Hodge, he was a reformed pastor. 00:10:36.939 --> 00:10:38.460 He talks of it like this. 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:44.460 What answers well as a sign is a miserable substitute for the things signified. 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:45.259 And isn't that true? 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:49.980 A vacation at the sign is not a vacation. 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:52.419 It is a waste of time. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:58.460 Circumcision and the law that was connected to it. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.259 Circumcision in some ways is like a short form for the law. 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:14.539 Well, unfortunately was misinterpreted so that what made the people of God wasn't so much the promise that was given to Abraham. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:18.279 And therefore embraced as a gift by faith. 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:21.960 It actually became the keeping of the law itself. 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:23.860 Of circumcision. 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:28.039 Righteousness no longer was found in God's promise. 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:31.680 But in the thing that pointed to God's promise. 00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:42.080 Therefore, what ends up happening is that counterfeit boundaries were established to define who was in and who was out of God's covenant people. 00:11:42.300 --> 00:11:44.940 Of the people that God made a promise to. 00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:46.519 And listen. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:49.340 If you are on the inside looking out. 00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.720 If you're a part of the covenant people. 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.180 Lucky you. 00:11:52.800 --> 00:11:53.159 Fantastic. 00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:54.379 Or. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:57.860 If this faith that we find in the Bible. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:02.019 Is just one road up the same mountain of salvation. 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:03.060 But you can take another road. 00:12:03.300 --> 00:12:03.419 Okay. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:05.060 So there can be insiders and outsiders. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.080 But whatever. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:08.139 I'm an insider to this faith. 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:08.940 You're an outsider. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:09.279 But. 00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:11.340 I'm an outsider to your faith. 00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:11.899 You're an insider. 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:12.460 It doesn't matter. 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:13.860 We're all going to the same destination. 00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:14.740 Okay. 00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:15.899 But that's not what's happening. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:18.060 It's not what the Bible teaches. 00:12:18.379 --> 00:12:18.840 And it's. 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:22.420 Because this isn't the reality. 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:24.159 Of what the scriptures teach. 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:25.559 That there is only one God. 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:26.939 And that there is only one faith. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:29.399 And that there is only one way of salvation. 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:30.439 And it is only through. 00:12:30.579 --> 00:12:32.899 The promise made by the one true God. 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:34.899 It's very problematic. 00:12:34.899 --> 00:12:35.740 It's very problematic. 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:36.620 When you. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:39.259 Redefine what it means to be. 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:40.240 In. 00:12:41.319 --> 00:12:42.379 God's family. 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:44.179 In God's people. 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:44.799 Or. 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:46.319 Out of God's people. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.019 They're counterfeit boundaries. 00:12:48.019 --> 00:12:52.000 But you under. 00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:53.100 You have to understand. 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:53.579 That. 00:12:54.079 --> 00:12:54.480 And we'll. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:55.240 We'll see here. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.340 In the rest of chapter four. 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:57.919 That this was never the intention. 00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.039 Of. 00:12:59.220 --> 00:12:59.799 Of the faith. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:01.620 That God gave to Abraham. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.179 This was never the intention. 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:03.399 Of. 00:13:03.579 --> 00:13:04.460 Of what it meant to be. 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.600 In covenant relationship. 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:06.539 With God. 00:13:06.579 --> 00:13:06.899 In fact. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:08.000 The Abrahamic family. 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.899 Rather than being. 00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:11.579 This exclusive group. 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:13.139 Was actually. 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:13.620 To be. 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:14.279 A herald. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:15.519 To evangelize the world. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.100 That actually. 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:17.159 There's only one true God. 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:17.799 Okay. 00:13:18.719 --> 00:13:19.819 And like Abraham. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:20.379 Who. 00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.019 Who left. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.519 A pantheon of gods. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:23.839 And left. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:25.719 Potentially. 00:13:26.059 --> 00:13:26.839 Ancestor worship. 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:27.799 Or all sorts. 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:28.519 Of different faiths. 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:29.419 You're called. 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:30.299 To leave that too. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.819 Because there's only one true God. 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:32.439 And guess what. 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.519 He is for you. 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:34.379 And he's not against you. 00:13:34.439 --> 00:13:35.579 He is wanting to bless you. 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:36.439 And not to curse you. 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:39.919 God's people. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:40.699 Have always been. 00:13:40.819 --> 00:13:41.959 An evangelistic people. 00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:44.639 The call has always been. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:45.240 To proclaim. 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:45.839 The goodness. 00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:46.779 And grace. 00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:47.919 Of the one true God. 00:13:48.319 --> 00:13:49.299 To all people. 00:13:49.459 --> 00:13:50.419 Wherever they are. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.240 And like Abraham. 00:13:53.199 --> 00:13:54.759 That God calls people. 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.600 Without condition. 00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:59.039 Or requirement. 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:03.579 So Paul is addressing this very thing. 00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:05.259 And he addresses it. 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.439 By returning to scripture. 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:08.539 And he addresses it. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:11.579 By returning to the father of faith himself. 00:14:11.579 --> 00:14:13.199 To show that the promise made. 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:15.079 And the righteousness received. 00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:16.399 Was counted to Abraham. 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:19.379 Not after circumcision. 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:20.899 Or not through circumcision. 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:21.620 But before. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.879 That is what he's getting at. 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:24.740 Therefore. 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:26.019 That is what Paul is doing. 00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.700 Therefore. 00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:28.259 What Paul is doing. 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:29.240 Is he is. 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.700 Taking down. 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:32.100 These counterfeit boundaries. 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:32.960 That have somehow. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.919 Been erected. 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.899 Over the centuries. 00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:37.759 Ever since Abraham's time. 00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:41.399 Abraham is the father of faith. 00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.700 To all people. 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:44.960 Not the circumcised. 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:46.299 But to the uncircumcised. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:46.939 Which is to say. 00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:47.840 To all people. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:49.920 In all places. 00:14:50.560 --> 00:14:51.500 At all time. 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:53.759 Look with me at verses. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.620 The second half of verse 11. 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:57.259 All the way to verse 12. 00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.200 This is what it says. 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.500 Actually we'll read. 00:15:01.660 --> 00:15:02.480 All of verse 11. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:04.600 He received the sign of circumcision. 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.899 As a seal of the righteousness. 00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:07.280 That he had by faith. 00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:08.139 While he was still. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:09.500 Uncircumcised. 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.920 The purpose was to make him. 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:13.639 The father of all who believe. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:16.120 Without being circumcised. 00:15:16.220 --> 00:15:17.440 So that righteousness. 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:19.420 Would be counted to them. 00:15:19.580 --> 00:15:20.300 As well. 00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:21.200 Verse 12. 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:22.640 And to make him the father. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.020 Of the circumcised. 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.800 Who are not merely circumcised. 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:27.200 But who also walk. 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:27.820 In the footsteps. 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:28.520 Of the faith. 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.680 That our father Abraham. 00:15:30.180 --> 00:15:32.140 Had before he was circumcised. 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:34.120 This means that we have a faith. 00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:35.760 That is not exclusive. 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:36.380 Okay. 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:37.540 It is for all people. 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.760 It works for all people. 00:15:39.140 --> 00:15:40.800 Regardless of what nation. 00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:41.580 They come from. 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:43.220 This is wonderful. 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.420 Because the call then. 00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:44.940 Isn't. 00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:45.880 Hey listen. 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:47.759 For sake. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:47.779 For sake. 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:48.379 Everything. 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.740 That God. 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:49.759 That God. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:50.899 Has sovereignly. 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.340 Placed you in. 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.659 The person you are. 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:55.759 The food you enjoy. 00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:56.500 You have to. 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:58.080 You have to forsake it all. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:58.840 And then. 00:15:59.419 --> 00:15:59.899 Adapt. 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:01.580 To this one monolith. 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:02.600 It's not like that. 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.519 The faith that God proclaims. 00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:06.159 It's always. 00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:06.820 And I. 00:16:06.820 --> 00:16:08.480 I feel like I'm a broken record. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:08.960 Saying this. 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:11.440 Because it is a faith of love. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.600 It is always looking to expand. 00:16:14.160 --> 00:16:14.960 And include. 00:16:15.560 --> 00:16:16.600 And to stretch out. 00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.340 And to welcome. 00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:24.320 It is a faith that works for all people. 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:28.980 Because ultimately it is rooted in the one true God. 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.019 And what he offers. 00:16:30.780 --> 00:16:31.960 And not what we do. 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:34.460 It is simply. 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:38.160 A gift that ought to be received by faith. 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:40.680 So the big idea in this section. 00:16:40.780 --> 00:16:41.420 This first point. 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:43.379 Is that there is only one people of God. 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:47.300 And actually the boundaries are pretty darn wide open. 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:50.000 It is not just about circumcision. 00:16:50.160 --> 00:16:51.180 Or uncircumcision. 00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:52.820 It's not about keeping the law. 00:16:52.900 --> 00:16:54.660 It's actually about receiving faithfully. 00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:57.320 What God is gifting to us. 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:59.780 This faith is available. 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.500 To all people. 00:17:01.680 --> 00:17:02.640 Because God chooses. 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.080 Unlikely people. 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:06.460 Abraham being the perfect example. 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.039 Right. 00:17:07.340 --> 00:17:09.360 The perfect example of an unlikely person. 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:09.840 Is Abraham. 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:12.100 Therefore you unlikely people here. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.640 It's offered to you. 00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:17.880 Paul addresses this very point. 00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:18.799 Doubles down on it. 00:17:18.860 --> 00:17:19.820 In this next. 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.019 Chunk of scripture. 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:22.360 Verses 13 to 17. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:24.740 Because we also see that this faith. 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.519 That is offered. 00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:26.539 Again. 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:29.159 And he's addressed this earlier. 00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:30.940 But it is based on a promise. 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.819 That he makes. 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:33.599 Not a law that we have to keep. 00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:36.799 Read verses 13 to 15 with me. 00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:39.899 For the promise to Abraham. 00:17:40.139 --> 00:17:40.980 And his offspring. 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.920 That he would be heir of the world. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:44.579 Did not come through the law. 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:46.839 But through the righteousness. 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.220 Of faith. 00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:51.220 For if it is the adherents of the law. 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.379 Who are to be the heirs. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.579 Faith is null. 00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:55.039 And the promise is void. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.659 For the law brings wrath. 00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:58.319 But where there is no law. 00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:00.039 There is no transgression. 00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:01.920 There is. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:03.599 An emphatic. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.759 In the first verse. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:05.519 Here. 00:18:05.639 --> 00:18:06.299 Verse 13. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.159 Paul will say. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:09.220 For the promise. 00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.599 To Abraham and his offspring. 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.240 That he would be heir of the world. 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:13.740 Did not. 00:18:13.859 --> 00:18:14.180 It's like. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:14.700 Like. 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.440 Cap locks. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.099 Bold. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.940 Underline. 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:18.759 Italics. 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.019 Not. 00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:21.619 Come through the law. 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.160 And then the same thing. 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:23.740 For but. 00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:25.980 So it did not come through the law. 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:27.940 But it came through the righteousness of faith. 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.259 He is. 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:31.000 He is emphatically making this point. 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.180 That it is. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:35.180 Based on the promise of God himself. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.180 And promise actually features very prominently in this section. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:41.299 And refers to the promise that God made to Abraham. 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:44.039 specifically in Genesis chapter 15. 00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:44.579 Namely. 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:46.559 That he would give. 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:48.339 An offspring. 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:49.759 To Abraham. 00:18:49.899 --> 00:18:50.139 In fact. 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:50.759 Offspring. 00:18:50.899 --> 00:18:51.279 That would. 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:53.339 Possess the land of Canaan. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.559 They would be so numerous. 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.200 The land of Canaan would be. 00:18:56.399 --> 00:18:58.139 The land of Israel. 00:18:58.419 --> 00:19:00.879 That we see this especially in Genesis chapter 15. 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.519 Verses 18 to 21. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.000 And it simply says. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.319 And again. 00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:04.659 This is. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.299 The key verse that. 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:07.379 That Paul is going to quote. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.139 Time and again. 00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:10.259 Is that Abraham believed in God. 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.640 And it was credited. 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:13.119 Or counted. 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.539 Or imputed to him. 00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:15.420 As righteousness. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.519 And then there's something else. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:18.819 And again. 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.819 Another double click here. 00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.879 We're not going to get into it. 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.859 I'll just try to sum it up quickly. 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:23.859 Then God makes. 00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.480 A covenant with Abraham. 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.279 A covenant is like. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.339 A deal on steroids. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:27.700 Okay. 00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:28.579 And they're. 00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:29.839 With this covenant. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.200 Two parties would come together. 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.460 They would lay out. 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.640 What this covenant would look like. 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.259 And then. 00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:34.900 They would lay out. 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:36.460 The consequences of the covenant. 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.440 If you break. 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.220 The covenant. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:39.819 There would be. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.839 Death to pay. 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:42.599 So to speak. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.900 What ends up happening. 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:45.839 In the story. 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.079 Again. 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:46.680 You can read it. 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.819 In Genesis chapter 15. 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:49.079 It's a bit of a bizarre story. 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.259 But really. 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.900 To sum it up. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.660 Is that God makes. 00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.819 A unilateral covenant. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:53.400 With Abraham. 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.619 One Abraham. 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:56.980 Could never truly keep. 00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:58.559 So what does God do? 00:19:58.660 --> 00:19:59.700 He assumes. 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.140 All of the consequences. 00:20:01.140 --> 00:20:02.400 For breaking that covenant. 00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:03.480 Now. 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.819 We could just park it there. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.160 Okay. 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:08.099 We could talk about. 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.720 How this points to the cross. 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.819 How Jesus. 00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:12.019 Is the one who suffers. 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.980 The consequences. 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:14.079 For our breaking of the covenant. 00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.700 There is so much to be said. 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:17.019 About Genesis chapter 15. 00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.240 But. 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.519 Just in short. 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:20.480 God makes a unilateral covenant. 00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:21.140 With Abraham. 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.480 Assumes all the consequences. 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.920 For breaking this covenant. 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:26.819 But. 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.940 And this is what Paul is going to. 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:30.059 He's going to anticipate. 00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:31.880 A rebuttal to this. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.380 But what about the law? 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.660 The law should matter. 00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.259 For something. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:38.220 The law has come to define God's people. 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:40.980 Surely that must factor into the economy of faith. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.279 In some kind of way. 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:43.259 In some kind of form. 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:43.779 And again. 00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:45.579 Paul is anticipating this objection. 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:47.339 What about keeping the law? 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.079 Paul says this. 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:50.559 Listen. 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:52.220 If the law could bring about righteousness. 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:55.819 It would ultimately void the promise of God. 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.640 Made to Abraham. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.400 The question is why? 00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.940 For two reasons. 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:00.480 Okay. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.000 The first. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.779 The law wouldn't come. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.299 For some 500 years. 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.599 After Abraham. 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.880 Received this promise from God. 00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:09.200 Okay. 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.900 Maybe a promise. 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:12.500 Takes a generation. 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:13.839 To. 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.240 To. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:15.799 To come about. 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:16.480 All right. 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.440 That's not like. 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.460 The second. 00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:18.799 It. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.759 It's instituted. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:21.819 It comes into effect. 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.180 I'm not saying that's the case. 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:24.099 It certainly does here. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.259 But I could understand that. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.339 Maybe two generations. 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:29.000 This is 10 to 12 generations. 00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:30.140 This is half a millennium. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:30.720 Okay. 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.620 If. 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:34.059 If righteousness. 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.599 If our right standing. 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.120 If our. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.660 Connection to God. 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.519 Was through the law. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.460 Man. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:41.940 The law wasn't given for 500 years after. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.120 That's a long. 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:43.860 Long time. 00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:45.240 Generations come. 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:45.839 And go. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.640 That would hardly be a promise. 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.079 If it took that long. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:51.640 The second. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.960 Reason that. 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.220 That no. 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.740 Keeping of the law. 00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:57.019 Could bring about the righteousness. 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.460 And how it would. 00:21:58.700 --> 00:22:00.339 Negate the promise of God. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:01.640 Is because. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:02.779 Ultimately. 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.839 We can't keep the law. 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.539 And I mean. 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:04.860 If. 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.140 If. 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:05.940 If you remember. 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.099 It's a few weeks back now. 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:09.319 Paul has gone to great lengths. 00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:10.079 To. 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.960 To articulate. 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.640 Why we can't keep the law. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.940 Why we are law breakers. 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:16.380 Romans chapter 1. 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.180 The. 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:17.880 After. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.160 Starting verse 18. 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.400 All the way to. 00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:21.140 Chapter 3. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:21.680 Verse 20. 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:22.680 Paul makes it very clear. 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:22.940 Listen. 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.799 Any which way. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.120 You try to figure it out. 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.420 You can't keep the law. 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.340 You just can't do it. 00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:28.759 Okay. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:30.299 Whether it's the law that God gives. 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.320 On Mount Sinai. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.220 To the people of Israel. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.440 Or whether it's the moral law. 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.200 That is just. 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:36.740 Baked into what it means. 00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:37.400 To be a human. 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.620 There's just no way. 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.340 You're keeping the law. 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:40.420 Maybe you can keep it. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.759 But are you keeping it perfectly? 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.279 No. 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.460 And then if you get puffed up. 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.740 And proud about keeping the law. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.180 Man. 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.799 You are really breaking the law. 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:51.539 Nobody can keep the law. 00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:54.240 This is what Paul is getting at here. 00:22:55.620 --> 00:22:58.539 The law was never actually intended for us to keep. 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.420 In its fullness. 00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.560 So that we could somehow. 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:02.000 Come to. 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:04.700 Righteous standing before God. 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:06.080 Where he would accept us. 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:08.580 Not weighing our sins. 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:10.080 But looking at our merits. 00:23:11.580 --> 00:23:12.740 What's interesting is that. 00:23:12.820 --> 00:23:14.660 God already calls the people of Israel. 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.940 Back with Abraham. 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:17.340 But he also reiterates it. 00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:20.259 When he rescues Israel out of Egypt. 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:22.539 He says listen. 00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:23.279 You're my people. 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:24.500 And then he gives the law. 00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:26.759 The law comes after his promise. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:28.480 After his adoption. 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:30.160 After his acceptance of the people. 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:34.100 The purpose of the law. 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.500 And again. 00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:38.019 This is a sweeping statement about the law. 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.720 But I think it stands. 00:23:39.840 --> 00:23:41.259 That the law was really given. 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:43.680 To show us our deep need. 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.680 For the grace. 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:44.720 For the grace. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.900 That God offers. 00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:49.039 To remind us of the promises that God made. 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:52.860 That we have no hope at all. 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:56.779 To satisfy his righteous requirements. 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:59.180 We are at his mercy. 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:02.480 The law makes that very clear. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.059 So you see. 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:05.640 In the same way that. 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:08.380 Paul makes it very clear. 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:10.559 That circumcision has been. 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.180 Manipulated. 00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:12.880 Has been. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.680 Reinterpreted. 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.299 Has been. 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:16.740 Twisted. 00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:18.140 To communicate something. 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.559 It is not. 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.400 So too the law. 00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:20.880 To treat the law. 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.740 As a barometer. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.839 To show how righteous we are. 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.980 It fails to understand. 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.220 What the law is really about. 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:30.519 Do we not fall into this trap constantly? 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:34.799 This is what it means to have misplaced hope. 00:24:35.959 --> 00:24:39.099 Israel is putting their hope in the sign. 00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:40.359 Rather than the destination. 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:40.720 Right? 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:48.959 They are putting their hope on the means of exposing their sinful hearts. 00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.899 And their need for grace. 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:50.860 And they are saying no, no, no. 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:53.640 It is the basis for which we can be made righteous. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:55.140 It is a misplaced hope. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.460 Do we not do the same thing? 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:05.400 Are we all not guilty of consistently putting our hope in our next paycheck. 00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:06.540 Or our next prospect. 00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:12.140 Or in the kind admiration of people in our lives. 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:14.700 That we so desperately want approval from. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:21.519 The problem with all these things is that sometimes they work. 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:22.600 Okay? 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:24.519 Sometimes they actually give us what we want. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:27.900 But they never give us what we want in an eternal sense. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:28.740 Okay? 00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:30.860 So the money would run out. 00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:32.019 The prospects. 00:25:32.580 --> 00:25:34.180 Maybe we'd hit a ceiling. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:37.380 Maybe we'd enjoy the admiration for a season. 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:39.440 But then we get in the way. 00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:40.720 And we hurt people. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:41.779 Or we're hurt by them. 00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:44.339 The point of all of this is. 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:46.039 Is that our hope. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:48.680 Our ultimate hope is constantly misplaced. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.960 It's constantly misplaced. 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:58.480 We are looking for a well done. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:01.420 And I think it is an admirable. 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:08.740 And I think it's a God given desire to have a well done come our way. 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:11.900 But we are looking for a well done from things. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:18.079 And from people that can't give us the well done that we truly want to hear. 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:23.579 The well done that we need is from God's own lips. 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.859 To hear that from his lips. 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.900 And he's unchanging. 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:29.900 So that well done isn't like well done now. 00:26:30.420 --> 00:26:33.359 For the next five seconds before you mess things up. 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.579 It's a well done forever. 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:37.460 I think that is what we are after. 00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:42.099 And when we put our faith and hope in anything other than that. 00:26:42.199 --> 00:26:43.639 It becomes misplaced. 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:51.939 We want a salvation. 00:26:52.179 --> 00:26:52.960 We want a righteousness. 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:55.819 We want a hope that is guaranteed. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.500 That will not run out. 00:26:58.500 --> 00:27:05.700 Friends, I think Paul makes a very excellent case that it can only come from the grace of God. 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:10.579 Look with me at verses 16 and the first half of verse 17. 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:14.480 This is where he's getting at here. 00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:18.880 That is why it depends on faith. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:27.060 In order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring. 00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:29.060 Not only to the adherent of the law. 00:27:29.520 --> 00:27:32.580 But also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham. 00:27:32.820 --> 00:27:33.900 Who is the father of us all. 00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:34.600 There it is again. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:37.200 Verse 17, the first part of it. 00:27:37.340 --> 00:27:41.300 As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. 00:27:43.280 --> 00:27:44.820 That's where we'll pause quickly. 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:48.799 God cannot and will not fail you. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.399 When your hope is in him. 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:55.720 And it's not that he's just really strong and able-bodied. 00:27:55.980 --> 00:28:01.119 And he has this kind of gumption and grit about him that he just will not give up. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:03.159 It's that he cannot fail. 00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:05.519 It's an impossibility for him. 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:09.659 To fail is to render him not God. 00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:17.560 And therefore to live in such a way that renders his promise void. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:22.240 Is to really call God something that he is not. 00:28:25.040 --> 00:28:26.779 God will not fail. 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:30.340 A hope placed in him is never misplaced. 00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.540 His word is always true. 00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:42.960 Friends, we fall prey to this all the time by speaking to the universe. 00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.559 Manifesting what we want. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:48.399 Trusting in power of positive thinking. 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:54.960 All ideals, all ideas that provide a facade of surety. 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:58.180 A facade of a sure hope. 00:28:58.180 --> 00:29:02.740 But such actions, they're far from consistent. 00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:05.039 They're far from trustworthy. 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.740 They're not absolute. 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:07.580 They're not guaranteed. 00:29:07.840 --> 00:29:09.080 Yet, what do we have? 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:11.000 We have a God who is unchanging. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:13.600 Who proclaims that he will do something. 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:15.500 And then it happens. 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.240 Then it happens. 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:23.080 And often times, and what we'll see closer to the end of our text. 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:28.460 Is that it happens always in a way that is far greater than what we hope for. 00:29:30.919 --> 00:29:34.319 This is the God that we are called to put our faith and trust in. 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:41.799 However, we are called to believe in some, quite frankly, outlandish things. 00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:51.500 If we are to have faith like Abraham, then we are called to have faith in something that seems to transcend the natural world. 00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:56.359 Abraham is called to have faith that God will give him an offspring when he is 100 years old. 00:29:56.859 --> 00:30:00.359 When his wife is not approaching menopause. 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:02.079 She's in her 90s. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:02.879 Okay? 00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.559 It's an impossibility. 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.940 God's like, listen, you just need to believe me. 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:08.259 Abraham goes, okay. 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:08.339 Okay. 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:15.259 Let's put on our skeptic hat for a minute and say, this seems a bit bizarre. 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.619 And this is what we're called to. 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:22.119 So, the question is, is God calling us to an irrational faith? 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:26.819 Is he calling us to a faith that suspends reason and logic? 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:30.440 And this leads us to our third and final point. 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:38.799 That the faith that Paul is going to proclaim is a flawed faith, but an incredibly flawless faith. 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:41.039 Abraham, what does he do? 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:49.580 He believes God for these completely over-the-top, skeptically speaking outlandish things. 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:52.680 Certainly not in the realm of natural happenings. 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:57.920 It says that in hope he believed against hope. 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:02.240 And that seems to me like a kind of an irrational thing to do. 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:06.720 If there's no hope in something, why would you believe in it and put your hope in it? 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:11.820 And I think that is actually a very logical thing to say. 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:23.720 If the thing you're putting your hope in is not the creator God, who is powerful, who spoke the entire world into creation. 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:27.379 Verse 17, the second part of verse 17, what does it say? 00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:36.179 In the presence of God in whom he, that is Abraham, believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:49.160 If God is the creator of all things, if he is powerful to do everything, then when he calls the 100-year-old man and his 90-year-old wife to have a child, 00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:53.940 it's not irrational to believe in that. 00:31:55.880 --> 00:31:57.180 Unless he doesn't exist. 00:31:58.180 --> 00:32:01.600 But if he does, then what is this to him? 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:08.980 If he spoke, if Genesis 1 and 2 communicate to us that God is the creator and he created it of nothing, 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:15.779 it's not like he had a whole studio full of supplies that he just accessed, but he spoke it of nothing. 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:18.740 What is a 90-year-old woman's womb? 00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:22.859 How is that going to get in the way for him to do something incredible and creative? 00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:29.299 So we see here in verses 17, the second part of verse 17 and verse 8, 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:35.699 is that the hope of Abraham, this remarkable hope, it is rooted in the truth of God, 00:32:36.139 --> 00:32:39.240 that he is the creator of all things and creates out of nothing, 00:32:39.459 --> 00:32:44.359 that he has power and he uses it to fulfill good and godly promises. 00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:52.339 He does it to, that a part of his power is to even resurrect the dead. 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:56.000 But this shouldn't be too surprising for us. 00:32:56.079 --> 00:33:01.579 For something or someone that is worthy of our hope ought to have power to overcome obstacles. 00:33:02.679 --> 00:33:07.859 Why would one put their faith and trust in something that is weak and ineffective? 00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:17.119 I think one of the issues that young people are having these days is a giant mistrust of institutions, 00:33:17.459 --> 00:33:21.039 partly because they have over-promised and under-delivered. 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:27.319 And I think this is a very rational thing to do, 00:33:27.459 --> 00:33:33.599 is to want to put our hope into something or someone that will do what it says. 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:37.779 I think this is what Paul is pointing to, 00:33:38.159 --> 00:33:40.480 and especially what he's pointing to in the next three verses. 00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:42.959 Look with me at verses 19 to 21. 00:33:44.439 --> 00:33:48.539 And he, Abraham, did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, 00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:50.639 which was as good as dead. 00:33:50.659 --> 00:33:54.480 Remember, he's putting his hope in the God who can resurrect the dead. 00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:55.279 Okay? 00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:57.459 Read that again. 00:33:57.579 --> 00:33:59.839 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:03.039 which was as good as dead since he was about 100 years old. 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:05.619 Already considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:09.900 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, 00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:13.259 but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.360 Verse 21. 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:18.239 Fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:20.119 Again, that word promise. 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:23.639 It says in verses 19 and 20 and 21, 00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:24.480 he did not weaken. 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:26.579 No belief made him waver. 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:28.199 He was fully convinced. 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:32.419 But again, if we were to double click and jump into the Abrahamic story, 00:34:33.319 --> 00:34:34.939 does his faith weaken? 00:34:35.839 --> 00:34:37.460 Oh, most certainly it does. 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:39.799 Does he have unbelief? 00:34:39.859 --> 00:34:40.639 Does he waver? 00:34:40.779 --> 00:34:42.980 Well, it seems he certainly wavers. 00:34:43.919 --> 00:34:48.579 Was he fully convinced that God would bring about a child through Sarah? 00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:56.799 I mean, if you consider the fact that he ended up having a son with his slave servant woman in his household, 00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:59.039 it doesn't seem that he was fully convinced. 00:34:59.779 --> 00:35:01.239 So what is going on? 00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:03.500 What is Paul getting at? 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:06.920 Is Paul a bit fuzzy about the Abrahamic story? 00:35:07.860 --> 00:35:11.299 Is his scroll just full of dust and cobwebs? 00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.840 Okay, he hasn't read it in a while. 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:14.719 He forgets what the story's about. 00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:18.399 Or is Paul implying something else here? 00:35:19.779 --> 00:35:20.480 What is happening? 00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:24.939 I think the apostle, by the way, his scroll is not dusty. 00:35:25.259 --> 00:35:26.399 Okay, he knows the Bible. 00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:28.639 Just to clear that up. 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:33.219 The apostle Paul is highlighting something very important for us, 00:35:33.819 --> 00:35:36.219 especially us, to understand about faith. 00:35:37.139 --> 00:35:42.599 That true faith will suffer some degree of doubt. 00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:47.019 But that God's promises are far greater than our flawed faith. 00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:51.099 God's promises are flawless. 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:56.079 They are without blemish or mistake. 00:35:57.319 --> 00:36:01.279 God promises knowing the end from the beginning. 00:36:02.179 --> 00:36:06.099 It's not that he failed to consider an aspect of the future. 00:36:06.699 --> 00:36:08.239 His promises are flawless. 00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:12.059 They cannot be undone by the first stumble of unbelief. 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:18.619 You know, as Christians, we trust in God until things become a bit too uncomfortable for us. 00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:19.699 So what do we do? 00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:22.059 We want to create fallbacks or contingencies. 00:36:22.820 --> 00:36:27.059 We want to augment our faith with our own ingenuity. 00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:28.759 We want to backstop, so to speak. 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:32.159 Because either God's solutions are not what we want, 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:34.480 or we perceive them as too costly. 00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:39.440 So our faith, all too often, 00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:46.099 is added to by our own works. 00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:48.340 At the very least, our own worries. 00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:51.599 We do not want to cede complete control over to God. 00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:52.079 And yet, 00:36:52.719 --> 00:36:55.440 even with this augmented, flawed faith, 00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:57.420 God, in his goodness and kindness, 00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:58.360 in his graciousness, 00:36:58.400 --> 00:36:58.940 what does he do? 00:36:58.940 --> 00:37:05.780 He doesn't allow his promise to falter in any way. 00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:08.880 It still remains flawless. 00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:13.059 May God be true, yet every man a liar. 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:15.679 He is never going to trip up. 00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:17.179 He is never going to 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:21.960 be undermined with his promises. 00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:23.920 So the question is, 00:37:23.980 --> 00:37:25.119 why do we struggle with faith? 00:37:25.900 --> 00:37:29.220 Why do we struggle to believe the promises of God 00:37:29.220 --> 00:37:35.740 when you are desperately trying to not be angry, 00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:38.559 and yet you fly into a fit of rage 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:41.679 for the 477th time 00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:46.480 saying hurtful words to your parents? 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:48.960 Or maybe you are, 00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:51.440 you've resolved it in yourself 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:53.860 to deal with conflict 00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:56.519 and not turn into the ice man 00:37:56.519 --> 00:37:59.380 and have a frosty existence at home 00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:00.139 for the next week 00:38:00.139 --> 00:38:01.559 with your spouse. 00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:05.099 Or maybe you have decided 00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:07.000 that God, by your strength, 00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:09.240 I am going to trust you 00:38:09.240 --> 00:38:12.539 to help me live out this godly life 00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:15.219 and to look to you for strength. 00:38:15.219 --> 00:38:17.199 I'm not going to harangue my child 00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:19.500 when disobedience comes, 00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:21.459 when the same issue arises, 00:38:21.639 --> 00:38:23.599 when the talkback starts to happen, 00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:25.079 or when the frustration mounts. 00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:27.319 And yet it ends up happening 00:38:27.319 --> 00:38:30.139 time and time and time again. 00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:32.419 Why do we struggle with faith? 00:38:32.500 --> 00:38:33.799 Why do we struggle with trusting 00:38:33.799 --> 00:38:36.019 that the Lord has our best intentions, 00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:38.079 that his promises are yes and amen, 00:38:38.739 --> 00:38:40.339 and that he wants to bless us 00:38:40.339 --> 00:38:41.159 and not curse us? 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:42.619 And why do we constantly 00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:44.379 fail to believe him 00:38:44.380 --> 00:38:46.380 and fall into what seems to be 00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:47.480 a cursed life, 00:38:48.099 --> 00:38:49.660 or at least cursed behaviors? 00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:53.000 I think the law keeper in us 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:54.660 would say that ultimately 00:38:54.660 --> 00:38:56.519 we can modify our own behavior. 00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:59.599 We can be the savior of our own souls. 00:38:59.720 --> 00:39:01.960 We can fix whatever is before us. 00:39:02.059 --> 00:39:03.680 We have the power. 00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:07.399 But doesn't the fact that we are 00:39:07.399 --> 00:39:08.440 in the same position 00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:10.239 time and time again prove the opposite? 00:39:11.059 --> 00:39:13.259 Even when we see incremental change, 00:39:13.759 --> 00:39:15.079 does it again not prove 00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:17.019 that our abilities 00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:20.679 are actually lacking 00:39:20.679 --> 00:39:22.599 in a far greater way 00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:23.599 than we would like to admit? 00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:28.440 Once again, I think we have 00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:30.759 a prime example in Abraham 00:39:30.759 --> 00:39:32.440 where we see that, 00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.500 like him, 00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:34.759 all of this, 00:39:35.059 --> 00:39:36.699 all of this wavering, 00:39:36.860 --> 00:39:38.299 all of this doubting, 00:39:38.440 --> 00:39:40.460 all of this kind of engaging 00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:41.440 with unbelief 00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:43.179 is rooted in allowing 00:39:43.179 --> 00:39:44.099 our situations 00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:45.019 and our fears 00:39:45.019 --> 00:39:45.880 and our self-justifications 00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:47.579 and our pride 00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:48.779 to completely 00:39:48.779 --> 00:39:50.900 overshadow the truth 00:39:50.900 --> 00:39:51.920 about who God is 00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:52.740 and what he does. 00:39:54.980 --> 00:39:56.180 So what's the solution? 00:39:56.300 --> 00:39:56.900 I think it is 00:39:56.900 --> 00:39:58.260 really plain. 00:39:58.820 --> 00:39:59.800 It is constantly 00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:00.700 coming back to 00:40:00.700 --> 00:40:01.880 the truth about 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:02.579 who God is 00:40:02.579 --> 00:40:03.280 and what he has 00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:04.139 promised to do. 00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:06.220 Again, his power 00:40:06.220 --> 00:40:07.059 and his promise. 00:40:08.240 --> 00:40:09.519 That he has the power 00:40:09.519 --> 00:40:10.380 and the authority 00:40:10.380 --> 00:40:11.940 to ensure that 00:40:11.940 --> 00:40:12.599 the promises 00:40:12.599 --> 00:40:13.180 that he makes 00:40:13.180 --> 00:40:13.880 come to pass. 00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:16.079 I think 00:40:16.079 --> 00:40:17.400 it also has to do 00:40:17.400 --> 00:40:18.820 with being encouraged 00:40:18.820 --> 00:40:19.400 with one another 00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:20.680 to live out this godly life. 00:40:20.780 --> 00:40:21.900 You cannot live out 00:40:21.900 --> 00:40:22.740 the Christian life 00:40:22.740 --> 00:40:23.420 by yourself. 00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:25.200 And he has given us gifts. 00:40:25.300 --> 00:40:26.200 He has given us his word. 00:40:26.280 --> 00:40:27.000 He has given us 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:28.200 sacraments 00:40:28.200 --> 00:40:29.220 to remind us, 00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:29.579 again, 00:40:30.119 --> 00:40:32.099 similar to circumcision, 00:40:32.559 --> 00:40:32.720 right, 00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:34.119 to point us 00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:34.960 to his promises. 00:40:35.880 --> 00:40:35.980 Right? 00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:37.000 They bolster 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:37.900 our inner man, 00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:38.619 our inner woman. 00:40:39.360 --> 00:40:40.119 They help us 00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:41.519 to have strength 00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:43.440 in spiritual hearts, 00:40:43.619 --> 00:40:44.700 to have good 00:40:44.700 --> 00:40:45.800 and nourishing 00:40:45.800 --> 00:40:46.660 spiritual food. 00:40:47.579 --> 00:40:48.840 So what does Paul do here? 00:40:48.900 --> 00:40:49.700 He is highlighting 00:40:49.699 --> 00:40:51.159 not the strength 00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:52.259 of Abraham's faith, 00:40:52.379 --> 00:40:53.799 but the flawed aspects 00:40:53.799 --> 00:40:54.259 of it, 00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:55.500 which wavered. 00:40:56.460 --> 00:40:58.019 But he is doing that 00:40:58.019 --> 00:40:58.879 in such a way 00:40:58.879 --> 00:41:00.359 as to lift high 00:41:00.359 --> 00:41:02.239 the flawless promises 00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:03.039 of God. 00:41:04.539 --> 00:41:04.980 You know, 00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:05.599 the wonderful thing 00:41:05.599 --> 00:41:06.599 about trusting God 00:41:06.599 --> 00:41:07.419 is that it helps us 00:41:07.419 --> 00:41:08.239 to trust him more 00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:08.639 and more, 00:41:08.699 --> 00:41:10.019 and we grow in this faith 00:41:10.019 --> 00:41:11.000 by his strength, 00:41:11.579 --> 00:41:13.339 by putting ourselves 00:41:13.339 --> 00:41:13.980 to his mercy. 00:41:13.980 --> 00:41:14.699 So, 00:41:15.480 --> 00:41:16.699 we say no 00:41:16.699 --> 00:41:17.400 to the things 00:41:17.400 --> 00:41:19.320 that in previous days 00:41:19.320 --> 00:41:19.840 and weeks 00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:20.320 and months 00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:20.619 and years 00:41:20.619 --> 00:41:21.519 we would say yes to. 00:41:21.659 --> 00:41:22.260 Temptations 00:41:22.260 --> 00:41:24.019 we can stand firm 00:41:24.019 --> 00:41:25.719 in and have victory over 00:41:25.719 --> 00:41:27.980 that in previous time 00:41:27.980 --> 00:41:29.659 we would totally crumble. 00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:31.420 Our faith grows. 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:33.440 Consider Abraham's life. 00:41:34.039 --> 00:41:35.019 The culmination 00:41:35.019 --> 00:41:36.440 of the Abrahamic story 00:41:36.440 --> 00:41:38.300 is that he obeys God 00:41:38.300 --> 00:41:40.099 by taking his son 00:41:40.099 --> 00:41:41.679 on a three-day journey 00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:43.039 to Mount Moriah 00:41:43.039 --> 00:41:44.839 where he is obeying God 00:41:44.839 --> 00:41:46.339 believing that even if, 00:41:46.359 --> 00:41:47.039 and this is what it says 00:41:47.039 --> 00:41:47.679 in Hebrews 11, 00:41:47.899 --> 00:41:50.639 even if he was to slay Isaac 00:41:50.639 --> 00:41:52.480 that God could raise him 00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:53.419 from the grave. 00:41:54.659 --> 00:41:55.919 By the end of his story 00:41:55.919 --> 00:41:57.299 we have a different guy, 00:41:57.379 --> 00:41:58.199 not because Abraham 00:41:58.199 --> 00:41:58.879 is so wonderful 00:41:58.879 --> 00:42:00.019 but because he was 00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:01.460 slowly, 00:42:02.019 --> 00:42:02.719 gradually 00:42:02.719 --> 00:42:04.259 trusting in the Lord 00:42:04.259 --> 00:42:04.859 and his goodness 00:42:04.859 --> 00:42:05.699 and his promises. 00:42:06.279 --> 00:42:08.460 He grew as a result. 00:42:09.679 --> 00:42:10.419 It's actually 00:42:10.420 --> 00:42:11.900 a wonderful, 00:42:12.099 --> 00:42:12.840 wonderful story. 00:42:12.940 --> 00:42:13.639 Genesis 22. 00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:13.940 Again, 00:42:14.340 --> 00:42:14.940 double click it. 00:42:15.240 --> 00:42:15.960 We're not going to 00:42:15.960 --> 00:42:17.619 but consider reading 00:42:17.619 --> 00:42:18.639 the Genesis story 00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:19.860 or the Abraham story 00:42:19.860 --> 00:42:20.860 in Genesis this week. 00:42:21.159 --> 00:42:22.079 It's an incredible one. 00:42:23.240 --> 00:42:23.619 You see, 00:42:24.840 --> 00:42:25.940 a triumphal faith 00:42:25.940 --> 00:42:26.820 according to scripture 00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:27.900 is not one 00:42:27.900 --> 00:42:29.340 that is flawless. 00:42:29.900 --> 00:42:30.780 Your ability to, 00:42:31.500 --> 00:42:31.920 okay, 00:42:31.980 --> 00:42:32.860 to trust in God 00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:34.579 but it is 00:42:34.579 --> 00:42:38.159 when we trust in God 00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:39.960 when we are afraid. 00:42:40.420 --> 00:42:41.720 And when we are weak. 00:42:42.480 --> 00:42:43.280 And when we 00:42:43.280 --> 00:42:46.200 are a bit unsure 00:42:46.200 --> 00:42:46.880 of how things 00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:47.539 are going to pan out 00:42:47.539 --> 00:42:48.320 but we are saying, 00:42:49.559 --> 00:42:49.920 God, 00:42:50.119 --> 00:42:51.280 I am hoping 00:42:51.280 --> 00:42:52.039 in you 00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:53.200 even though 00:42:53.200 --> 00:42:54.019 there doesn't seem 00:42:54.019 --> 00:42:54.619 like there's hope 00:42:54.619 --> 00:42:55.400 in this situation. 00:42:55.559 --> 00:42:56.260 I am hoping in you. 00:42:57.400 --> 00:42:58.200 This is the faith 00:42:58.200 --> 00:42:58.579 of Abraham. 00:42:58.780 --> 00:42:59.300 This is the faith 00:42:59.300 --> 00:43:00.079 that we are called to. 00:43:00.639 --> 00:43:01.519 This is the faith, 00:43:02.300 --> 00:43:03.619 the flawed faith 00:43:03.619 --> 00:43:04.740 in our flawless God. 00:43:04.739 --> 00:43:04.779 God. 00:43:05.579 --> 00:43:07.019 We'll close with this. 00:43:08.059 --> 00:43:08.939 Abraham held on 00:43:08.939 --> 00:43:09.639 to the promises 00:43:09.639 --> 00:43:10.439 of God 00:43:10.439 --> 00:43:12.239 that he would have 00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:13.639 innumerable offspring 00:43:13.639 --> 00:43:15.099 but in the end 00:43:15.099 --> 00:43:16.379 he had two. 00:43:17.139 --> 00:43:17.219 Right? 00:43:17.379 --> 00:43:18.079 One was 00:43:18.079 --> 00:43:19.599 out of wedlock. 00:43:19.699 --> 00:43:20.379 One was not 00:43:20.379 --> 00:43:21.319 the promised child. 00:43:22.359 --> 00:43:23.299 He did not have 00:43:23.299 --> 00:43:24.519 innumerable children 00:43:24.519 --> 00:43:24.919 or at least 00:43:24.919 --> 00:43:26.000 he did not see them. 00:43:26.500 --> 00:43:27.299 He was promised 00:43:27.299 --> 00:43:28.439 the land of Canaan 00:43:28.439 --> 00:43:30.299 and yet in two generations 00:43:30.299 --> 00:43:31.079 his family 00:43:31.079 --> 00:43:31.739 would be foreigners 00:43:31.739 --> 00:43:32.259 in Egypt 00:43:32.260 --> 00:43:33.280 and not long after that 00:43:33.280 --> 00:43:34.640 they would be slaves. 00:43:36.700 --> 00:43:37.600 Abraham believed 00:43:37.600 --> 00:43:38.460 God for promises 00:43:38.460 --> 00:43:40.360 that he would never see. 00:43:41.900 --> 00:43:42.960 But Abraham believed 00:43:42.960 --> 00:43:43.580 that God would 00:43:43.580 --> 00:43:44.500 bring it about 00:43:44.500 --> 00:43:46.860 not as a kind of 00:43:46.860 --> 00:43:48.080 Genghis Khan figure. 00:43:48.500 --> 00:43:48.660 Okay? 00:43:48.740 --> 00:43:49.420 So that the promise 00:43:49.420 --> 00:43:49.840 of God 00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:51.840 to have innumerable 00:43:51.840 --> 00:43:52.700 children would be 00:43:52.700 --> 00:43:53.700 to spread his seed 00:43:53.700 --> 00:43:54.580 over the known world. 00:43:55.160 --> 00:43:55.440 No. 00:43:56.100 --> 00:43:56.720 But that through 00:43:56.720 --> 00:43:57.380 his offspring 00:43:57.380 --> 00:43:58.100 singular 00:43:58.100 --> 00:43:59.600 okay? 00:44:00.180 --> 00:44:01.220 Jesus Christ 00:44:01.219 --> 00:44:03.059 the son of Abraham 00:44:03.059 --> 00:44:04.559 the Messiah himself 00:44:04.559 --> 00:44:06.079 through him 00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:07.599 and the faith 00:44:07.599 --> 00:44:08.599 in his life 00:44:08.599 --> 00:44:09.219 and death 00:44:09.219 --> 00:44:09.959 and resurrection 00:44:09.959 --> 00:44:11.399 the same faith 00:44:11.399 --> 00:44:12.019 that Abraham 00:44:12.019 --> 00:44:13.179 enjoyed 00:44:13.179 --> 00:44:15.159 would be the faith 00:44:15.159 --> 00:44:16.619 for all of God's people 00:44:16.619 --> 00:44:17.339 for all time 00:44:17.339 --> 00:44:17.879 and therefore 00:44:17.879 --> 00:44:18.919 he would be called 00:44:18.919 --> 00:44:19.219 what? 00:44:19.599 --> 00:44:20.959 The father of all nations. 00:44:21.559 --> 00:44:22.379 Verse 23 00:44:22.379 --> 00:44:23.599 24 and 25 00:44:23.599 --> 00:44:24.980 Paul will close 00:44:24.980 --> 00:44:25.419 this section 00:44:25.419 --> 00:44:25.980 with this. 00:44:27.099 --> 00:44:27.599 But the words 00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:28.659 it was counted to him 00:44:28.659 --> 00:44:29.279 were not written 00:44:29.279 --> 00:44:30.699 for his sake alone 00:44:30.699 --> 00:44:31.599 that is Abraham's sake 00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:31.859 alone 00:44:31.859 --> 00:44:33.099 but for ours also. 00:44:33.759 --> 00:44:34.379 It will be counted 00:44:34.379 --> 00:44:34.899 to us 00:44:34.899 --> 00:44:35.919 who believe in him 00:44:35.919 --> 00:44:37.179 who raised 00:44:37.179 --> 00:44:38.159 from the dead 00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:39.500 Jesus our Lord 00:44:39.500 --> 00:44:41.099 and here is the gospel 00:44:41.099 --> 00:44:41.619 in short 00:44:41.619 --> 00:44:42.960 who was delivered up 00:44:42.960 --> 00:44:44.339 for our trespasses 00:44:44.339 --> 00:44:45.059 and raised 00:44:45.059 --> 00:44:46.319 for our justification. 00:44:47.319 --> 00:44:48.159 The life 00:44:48.159 --> 00:44:48.619 and death 00:44:48.619 --> 00:44:49.239 and resurrection 00:44:49.239 --> 00:44:50.319 of Christ 00:44:50.319 --> 00:44:51.279 we like Abraham 00:44:51.279 --> 00:44:52.639 we receive salvation 00:44:52.639 --> 00:44:53.179 and justification 00:44:53.179 --> 00:44:54.779 we receive 00:44:54.779 --> 00:44:55.440 the righteousness 00:44:55.440 --> 00:44:56.159 of God 00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:57.759 as a gift 00:44:57.759 --> 00:44:58.659 by faith. 00:44:58.919 --> 00:44:59.779 All we need to do 00:44:59.779 --> 00:45:00.759 is rightly receive it 00:45:00.759 --> 00:45:01.319 with humility. 00:45:02.379 --> 00:45:02.980 So in the end 00:45:02.980 --> 00:45:04.039 faith is not 00:45:04.039 --> 00:45:05.539 some ignorant optimism 00:45:05.539 --> 00:45:07.139 nor is it 00:45:07.139 --> 00:45:09.559 this rational pessimism 00:45:09.559 --> 00:45:10.239 instead it is 00:45:10.239 --> 00:45:11.460 a sober understanding 00:45:11.460 --> 00:45:12.279 of the gravity 00:45:12.279 --> 00:45:13.759 of our situation 00:45:13.759 --> 00:45:15.739 that we are sinners 00:45:15.739 --> 00:45:17.039 and that we are lost 00:45:17.039 --> 00:45:19.199 but that God 00:45:19.199 --> 00:45:19.940 is powerful 00:45:19.940 --> 00:45:20.799 and faithful 00:45:20.800 --> 00:45:21.980 and he makes promises 00:45:21.980 --> 00:45:23.440 and he keeps promises. 00:45:24.220 --> 00:45:24.300 Okay? 00:45:25.240 --> 00:45:26.220 That is what the faith 00:45:26.220 --> 00:45:27.019 of the scripture is. 00:45:27.320 --> 00:45:28.060 That is what the faith 00:45:28.060 --> 00:45:29.100 of Abraham is. 00:45:29.880 --> 00:45:31.039 The faith of Abraham 00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:31.840 is a hope 00:45:31.840 --> 00:45:33.120 that is sure and true. 00:45:33.820 --> 00:45:35.200 It is peace 00:45:35.200 --> 00:45:36.600 not just for our time 00:45:36.600 --> 00:45:38.720 but for all time. 00:45:38.820 --> 00:45:39.300 So friends, 00:45:39.440 --> 00:45:39.740 listen. 00:45:40.740 --> 00:45:41.680 If you are 00:45:41.680 --> 00:45:42.740 a child of Abraham 00:45:42.740 --> 00:45:43.420 okay, 00:45:43.539 --> 00:45:44.039 this morning 00:45:44.039 --> 00:45:44.920 praise God 00:45:44.920 --> 00:45:47.720 lean into 00:45:47.720 --> 00:45:48.640 those promises 00:45:48.640 --> 00:45:49.460 afresh 00:45:49.460 --> 00:45:50.240 this morning. 00:45:51.039 --> 00:45:51.840 Remind yourself 00:45:51.840 --> 00:45:52.580 of the good news 00:45:52.580 --> 00:45:53.120 of Christ 00:45:53.120 --> 00:45:54.400 and ask him 00:45:54.400 --> 00:45:55.640 to rid yourself 00:45:55.640 --> 00:45:56.480 of all 00:45:56.480 --> 00:45:57.780 false hopes 00:45:57.780 --> 00:45:58.820 and misplaced hopes 00:45:58.820 --> 00:46:00.420 and if you are not yet 00:46:00.420 --> 00:46:01.519 a child of Abraham 00:46:01.519 --> 00:46:02.980 okay, 00:46:03.140 --> 00:46:03.360 listen, 00:46:03.480 --> 00:46:03.800 there is room 00:46:03.800 --> 00:46:04.320 in the family. 00:46:04.880 --> 00:46:05.360 There is room. 00:46:06.340 --> 00:46:07.320 The false counterfeit 00:46:07.320 --> 00:46:08.440 boundaries have been 00:46:08.440 --> 00:46:09.820 taken down. 00:46:10.760 --> 00:46:11.580 The arms of Christ 00:46:11.580 --> 00:46:12.260 are wide open. 00:46:12.860 --> 00:46:13.100 Come, 00:46:13.300 --> 00:46:13.620 join, 00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:14.080 alright? 00:46:14.260 --> 00:46:14.660 To join. 00:46:14.920 --> 00:46:15.500 Put your faith 00:46:15.500 --> 00:46:16.519 in Christ 00:46:16.519 --> 00:46:17.300 in the same way 00:46:17.300 --> 00:46:18.180 that Abraham did. 00:46:18.720 --> 00:46:19.440 Join the family 00:46:19.440 --> 00:46:19.860 of God.