WEBVTT

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 stories. Before we listen to those stories, we're going to pray.

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 Our Father God, we thank you so much for the true story of the Bible from the beginning

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 of time, from eternity past to eternity to come. Your great plan, your plan of salvation

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 for mankind. And it's our prayer this morning that we would grasp afresh your plan of salvation,

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 what you have done for us, how it changes us, and how it provides for our deepest and greatest

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 need. Father, would you please speak to us afresh through your word, we pray in Jesus'

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 name. Amen.

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 Well, here's the story. It was just one week before her wedding day. Annie had dreamed of

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 it ever since she was a little girl, and now it was soon to become a reality. Together

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 with her fiancé, they had saved up to buy a house. And over the weeks, they had been painting

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 and decorating, making sure everything was in order so that they could move in after

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 the wedding. On this particular evening, after being out for dinner, they called by the house

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 to drop off a couple of gifts a friend had kindly bought them. As they went in, it became obvious

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 that somebody else that somebody else was in the house. Before they could do anything about

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 it, the intruder ran past and pushed Annie's fiancé to the floor. He fell awkwardly, banged his

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 head against the radiator, causing severe trauma. It was later that evening that Annie got the

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 news from the news from the hospital that her fiancé had sadly died due to his injuries. What would

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 you want to happen to that intruder? What would you want to happen to that intruder? Jimmy was a hard-working

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 young lad. He lived at home with his mum and was managing to hold down two jobs to get through

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 college and to help his mum out. After an evening out, Jimmy was walking home with friends. Passing

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 by what seemed like an empty house, one of them dared Jimmy to see if he could climb through one of the

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 open windows, get into the house and let himself out through the front door. Jimmy had just managed

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 to get through the window when he heard somebody come into the house. For fear of being caught, he made a

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 run for it and he pushed the man out the way. Later that evening, Jimmy was picked up by the guards

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 when he learned that the man he had pushed died. He was devastated. What would you want to happen to the

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 intruder now? It's not easy, is it, to make those kinds of decisions. On one side of the story, it has us

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 demanding justice. But the other side of the story has us desiring grace. I guess what we want is for

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 justice to be done and for grace to be given. We want the criminal punished, but we want some compassion

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 to be shown. But how is that actually possible? How can Jimmy be sentenced to life, which is what he

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 deserves for the crime he committed, and at the same time have his sentence suspended, which is what Jimmy

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 himself desires? How can justice and grace sit side by side without giving way to the other?

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 Well, that's one of the big issues confronting us as we read through the story of the Bible.

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 You remember how the story began. God created a good and a beautiful world,

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 God. And central to his creation were people. God provided for them and gave to them everything

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 that they needed. And in return, we were made to love God, to obey him and to enjoy him.

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 Everything was good and perfect and beautiful. But instead, we rebelled against God. We rejected him

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 and ignored him. Instead of listening to God, we decided we want to be God and we want to live

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 life as we please. And as a result, everything broke. Our relationship to God broke. We became

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 separated from him. We became separated from each other and with creation. Everything broke down.

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 And the question that we ask is, well, how would God respond to all of this rebellion?

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 Would he be angry and judge? Or would God be loving and forgiving? Would God bring his justice,

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 which is what we deserve? Or would he show grace, which is what we all desire?

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 Well, have a look at Exodus chapter 34 and see how God introduces himself. It's one of the great

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 summaries of how God introduces himself to us. Exodus 34 verse 5.

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 This is where Moses has come to meet God. And verse 5 reads, then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there

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 with him, that's Moses, and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And God passed in front of Moses, proclaiming,

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 the Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

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 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.

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 Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. He punishes the children and their children for the sin of their fathers to the third and fourth generation.

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 Do you see what we have there? A picture of who God is? A God who is both full of justice and full of grace.

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 He brings punishment, but yet he offers forgiveness. He does not treat us as our sins deserve, but yet he holds the guilty accountable.

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 He's gracious with us, but yet brings judgment upon us. And this is the tension that we see running through the whole story of the Bible.

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 Every story and every action of God, we see God responding in justice or in grace.

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 God cannot ignore our sin. It must be punished.

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 But yet God longs to forgive our sins so that we do not perish.

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 So here's the big question before us all this morning.

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 How can God judge us, which is what we deserve,

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 but yet show grace,

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 which is what we all desire?

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 Well, at the centre of the story and the climax of the whole Bible story

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 is the cross

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 where God dies.

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 Because at the cross,

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 we see God both punish our sin

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 and provide for our salvation.

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 At the cross,

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 grace and justice flow

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 to the world.

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 It's summarised for us so well

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 in Romans chapters 1 to 3.

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 So turn in your Bible.

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 We're going to be looking at Romans 1 to 3,

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 which is almost like a summary.

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 The first three chapters are like a summary of the whole story of the Bible,

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 which climax

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 in the death of God

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 on the cross.

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 So Romans

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 chapter 1.

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 And the first thing we notice in Romans chapter 1 is,

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 is that we all deserve

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 judgment.

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 The justice of God

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 should flow

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 on us.

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 You see, that's the whole story of the Bible, isn't it?

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 As we've been following along the story,

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 is that we're all under God's judgment.

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 Have a look at chapter 1, verse 18.

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 The wrath of God,

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 the anger of God,

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 is being revealed from heaven

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 against all the godlessness

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 and wickedness of men

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 who suppress the truth

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 by their wickedness.

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 What a great summary

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 of the story of the Bible

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 and the human race.

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 Chapter 2, verse 5.

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 Because of your stubbornness

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 and your unrepentant heart,

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 you are storing up wrath

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 against yourself

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 for the day of God's wrath

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 when his righteous judgment

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 will be revealed.

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 God will give to each person

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 according to what he has done.

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 And in case we think

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 we are somehow different

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 to anyone else,

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 have a look at chapter 3, verse 10.

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 It makes it abundantly clear.

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 that we are included in this.

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 Chapter 3, verse 10.

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 As it is written,

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 there is no one righteous.

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 Not even one.

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 There is no one who understands.

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 No one who seeks God.

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 All have turned away.

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 They have together become worthless.

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 There is no one who does good.

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 Not even one.

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 In fact, we are told in chapter 3, verse 23.

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 All, for all have sinned

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 and fall short of the glory of God.

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 Just as Adam did at the very beginning

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 in the Garden of Eden,

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 so we, his ancestors,

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 have followed on in the same ways.

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 We're all guilty

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 and deserving of God's judgment.

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 That's been the escalating problem

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 as we've read through the story of the Bible.

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 But that's not the only story, is it?

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 God has also promised

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 to respond in grace

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 and has demonstrated grace

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 time and time again

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 to a rebellious people.

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 So Romans chapter 1, verse 16.

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 The Apostle Paul, who's writing,

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 he says,

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 I am not ashamed of the Gospel.

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 The Gospel is the good news,

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 the declaration of great news from God.

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 Because it is the power of God

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 for the salvation of everyone who believes.

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 First for the Jew,

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 and then for the Gentiles.

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 So for all people,

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 salvation is being offered.

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 Chapter 2, verse 4.

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 Or do you show contempt

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 for the riches of his kindness?

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 God's tolerance and his patience,

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 not realizing that God's kindness

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 leads us towards repentance.

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 You see, it's telling us

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 that salvation and forgiveness

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 is available through our repentance.

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 repentance.

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 Even though we are guilty,

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 we can be forgiven.

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 And this has been the repeated hope

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 as we've read through the story

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 of the Bible.

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 As the problem escalates,

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 so the hope also escalates.

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 So on the one hand,

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 as it's summarized here in Romans,

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 God demands justice,

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 which is bad news for us

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 because we're all guilty.

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 But on the other hand,

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 God offers grace,

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 which is good news for us

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 because we all need it.

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 But if God is fair in his judgment,

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 how can he forgive us

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 if we're guilty?

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 If God is just and righteous

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 in all that he does,

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 how could God possibly remove punishment

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 that we justly deserve?

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 If God were to forgive us,

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 it would be like turning a blind eye

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 to all our wickedness and sin.

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 God would be seen to be nothing more

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 than some corrupt judge

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 who's open to some kind of bribe

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 or a backhander

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 and who cares little

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 for any kind of justice.

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 It would be like Jimmy in our story

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 that we read at the very beginning,

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 walking away without any sentence at all.

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 And we'd say,

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 where is the justice in that?

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 How can you just let somebody go free

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 for a crime they've committed?

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 So how can God be both compassionate

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 and gracious

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 while at the same time

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 being righteous and fair?

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 And this is the big story of the Bible.

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 How is God going to respond to you and to me?

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 Is he going to come in justice?

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 Or is he going to give us grace?

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 It's a little bit like a tug of war.

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 God is the anchorman on one side for justice,

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 pulling this direction.

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 And God is the anchorman

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 on the other side of grace,

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 pulling in the other direction.

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 One seems to be pulling against the other.

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 And the human race sits in the middle,

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 in the balance.

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 If justice wins,

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 then what of God's desire to forgive?

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 And if grace wins,

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 what of God's promise to be just?

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 How can God simultaneously

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 express his justice and grace

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 to the world?

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 Well, the answer to this is

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 the cross of Jesus Christ.

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 God himself dies on the cross,

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 both punishing our sin

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 and providing for our salvation.

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 It is the solution

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 to the problem or the dilemma

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 that we face.

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 So here's the first big theme

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 of the cross.

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 The grace of the cross.

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 Salvation provided.

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 Have a look at

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 Romans chapter 3

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 and verse 23.

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 Romans 3 verse 23.

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 See what it says?

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 For all have sinned,

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 all that you and I,

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 regardless of our nationality

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 or our religion

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 or wherever we come from,

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 we have all sinned

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 and all fall short

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 of the glory of God.

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 And are justified freely

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 by his grace

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 through the redemption

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 that came by Christ Jesus.

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 Now I just want to pick up

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 on that one word there,

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 that word redemption

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 that comes through Christ Jesus.

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 Redemption in the Bible

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 is all about freeing someone

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 from the threat of death

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 or punishment.

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 So we saw that

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 in the story of Israel.

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 Do you remember

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 when they were in slavery in Egypt

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 and the angel of death

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 was to pass over

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 and God said,

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 I will redeem you?

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 So that redemption

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 is freeing someone

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 from the threat of death

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 or punishment.

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 And that's what we see

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 throughout the story

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 of the Bible.

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 We see God coming

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 to redeem people

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 from the punishment

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 they deserve.

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 He's constantly

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 setting people free.

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 But his redemption

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 is always partial.

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 Because the next time

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 somebody sins

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 or the nation sins,

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 they find themselves

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 under God's judgment again.

00:18:08.300 --> 00:18:09.820
 But now as we come

00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:10.740
 into the climax

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.720
 of the story,

00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:13.320
 we're reading that

00:18:13.320 --> 00:18:14.620
 God has redeemed us

00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:15.860
 fully and finally

00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:17.279
 by his grace.

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:18.940
 You see,

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.620
 the threat of God's judgment,

00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:22.019
 which is just and fair,

00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:24.340
 hangs over the entire world,

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.700
 over the human race,

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.000
 over all history

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:27.920
 and all time.

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:30.519
 But God has come

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.440
 in his grace

00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:33.680
 and he now removes

00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.980
 the deserved judgment

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.620
 from us.

00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.900
 Redemption means

00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:41.440
 we are set free.

00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:43.279
 We are no longer living

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:44.400
 under the weight

00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.880
 of God's justice.

00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.880
 As a result,

00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:49.200
 look at verse 24,

00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:52.500
 we are justified

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:53.480
 freely

00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:55.100
 by his grace

00:18:55.100 --> 00:18:55.779
 through redemption.

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.839
 We're justified.

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.119
 Justified

00:18:59.119 --> 00:18:59.899
 is another word

00:18:59.899 --> 00:19:01.059
 we need to be clear on.

00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:01.539
 It means

00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:03.500
 though we are guilty

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.559
 before God,

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:07.440
 we are declared

00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.619
 by God

00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:10.160
 to be in the right.

00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.599
 Though we're guilty

00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:13.660
 before God,

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:15.460
 we are declared

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.440
 by God

00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.960
 to be in the right.

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:20.079
 Now there's something

00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.579
 really scandalous

00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:22.500
 and shocking

00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.399
 about this.

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.019
 We should be reading

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.879
 this and going,

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:26.819
 what?

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.480
 You can't be serious.

00:19:31.379 --> 00:19:32.940
 It doesn't seem right.

00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.339
 It doesn't seem fair.

00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:36.039
 It's like Jimmy

00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:37.059
 in our story

00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:38.460
 being set free

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.460
 from the sentence

00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:40.259
 he deserves.

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:42.240
 Except in our case,

00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:44.740
 there is absolutely

00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:46.059
 nothing within us

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.799
 that suggests

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.519
 we deserve

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:48.500
 any grace.

00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:50.420
 We're rebels

00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:51.220
 who refuse

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:52.519
 to change our ways.

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.660
 but God

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.460
 in his grace

00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.299
 declares us

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.299
 to be right

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:58.160
 before him.

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:01.639
 I was at a funeral

00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:02.299
 recently

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:04.500
 and I was talking

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.839
 to the guy

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.299
 outside,

00:20:06.379 --> 00:20:07.119
 a friend of mine

00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:09.119
 and he said,

00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.460
 he said,

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.500
 so what is it?

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:10.819
 He said,

00:20:10.879 --> 00:20:11.379
 what is it

00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:12.539
 that you believe?

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:15.099
 So in the

00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:15.480
 literally

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.539
 the few moments

00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.200
 that I had

00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:17.700
 I said,

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.579
 it's all about

00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:19.159
 grace.

00:20:20.139 --> 00:20:21.119
 And I explained

00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:21.839
 something along

00:20:21.839 --> 00:20:22.460
 those lines

00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.159
 that God,

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.899
 even though we're

00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:25.139
 guilty before God,

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.720
 we can be declared

00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.480
 by God

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.519
 to be in the right.

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.259
 He says,

00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.940
 you can't be serious.

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.519
 He says,

00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:33.159
 that sounds

00:20:33.159 --> 00:20:34.000
 really great.

00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.119
 Those were his words

00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:37.279
 because it's like,

00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.079
 it can possibly

00:20:39.079 --> 00:20:39.720
 be true

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.299
 but it is true.

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:43.240
 guilty people

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.899
 are put in the right

00:20:44.899 --> 00:20:45.740
 before God.

00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.240
 We are now

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:47.940
 treated

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:50.099
 as if we had

00:20:50.099 --> 00:20:50.980
 obeyed God

00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.659
 perfectly.

00:20:52.639 --> 00:20:53.419
 We're now

00:20:53.419 --> 00:20:54.220
 treasured

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:54.899
 as his own

00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:55.460
 child

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.539
 as if we had

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.299
 never ever

00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.480
 disobeyed him

00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.419
 in our life.

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.379
 We are declared

00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:02.279
 by God

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:03.119
 to be

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:04.000
 not

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.180
 guilty.

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:07.079
 No longer

00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:07.599
 waiting

00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.500
 a sentence

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.339
 or punishment.

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:11.699
 We are set

00:21:11.699 --> 00:21:12.559
 free to live

00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.220
 with God

00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.519
 without shame

00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.559
 or fear,

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.119
 standing before

00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:17.459
 him,

00:21:17.939 --> 00:21:18.599
 knowing that we

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.579
 are loved by him

00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:20.599
 and cared for him.

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.459
 It's true.

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.579
 But how can God

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.399
 do this?

00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.259
 What about

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.139
 his justice?

00:21:31.559 --> 00:21:32.579
 Treating somebody

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.639
 who is guilty

00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:35.379
 as an innocent

00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:36.000
 person

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.759
 is very unfair

00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:39.160
 and very unjust.

00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.440
 How can God

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.240
 do it?

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.299
 Well,

00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.079
 here's the second

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.599
 part.

00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:48.079
 And we must

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.920
 keep the two

00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.420
 together.

00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.299
 We dare not

00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.579
 divide them.

00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.940
 Gone too far.

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:54.940
 Oh,

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:57.960
 I'll tell you

00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.539
 what it is.

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.700
 The justice

00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:02.160
 of the cross,

00:22:02.840 --> 00:22:03.860
 sin punished.

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.559
 The justice

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.400
 of the cross,

00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:07.480
 sin punished.

00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:08.500
 That's the second

00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:08.940
 part.

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.799
 Verse 24

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:13.400
 of chapter 3.

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:14.860
 Let's read

00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:15.360
 that again.

00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.620
 We are justified

00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.920
 freely by his

00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:18.600
 grace through

00:22:18.600 --> 00:22:19.420
 the redemption

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.940
 that came

00:22:20.940 --> 00:22:21.660
 by Christ

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.080
 Jesus.

00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.740
 God

00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.899
 presented him,

00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:25.819
 that's Jesus,

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.319
 as a sacrifice

00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.319
 of atonement

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:29.579
 through faith

00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.559
 in his blood.

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.119
 He did this

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:33.740
 to demonstrate

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:35.639
 his justice.

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:37.740
 You see,

00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.399
 the death

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:39.500
 of Jesus Christ

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.220
 on the cross

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:41.279
 is how God

00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:41.899
 deals

00:22:41.899 --> 00:22:42.819
 with our

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.919
 deserved judgment

00:22:43.919 --> 00:22:44.759
 and our

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:46.119
 desired forgiveness.

00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.199
 When we

00:22:48.199 --> 00:22:48.899
 understand

00:22:48.899 --> 00:22:49.799
 the cross,

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.960
 when we

00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.500
 see the

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.200
 tension

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.740
 between

00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:53.359
 God's

00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:53.759
 justice

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.819
 and God's

00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.159
 grace,

00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:55.899
 we see

00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:56.299
 that it

00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:57.039
 is settled

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.480
 at the

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:57.919
 cross

00:22:57.919 --> 00:22:58.700
 so that

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.059
 God

00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.659
 remains

00:22:59.659 --> 00:23:00.180
 fair

00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:00.779
 and true

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.500
 to himself

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:01.919
 and to

00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:02.619
 his character.

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.519
 And the

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.220
 key phrase

00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:05.619
 for us

00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.019
 here in

00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.740
 verse 25

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.359
 is

00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:09.039
 sacrifice

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:11.419
 of atonement.

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.859
 God

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.460
 presented

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.180
 Jesus

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:15.819
 as a

00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:16.379
 sacrifice

00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:18.000
 of atonement.

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.440
 that's

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.059
 how God

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.619
 deals

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.059
 with our

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:21.519
 deserved

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.039
 judgment

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.920
 and our

00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.420
 desired

00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:23.920
 forgiveness.

00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:25.900
 Now we've

00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:26.380
 come across

00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:27.000
 this before

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.400
 as we've

00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:27.759
 been going

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.200
 through the

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:28.740
 story of

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.200
 the Bible

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.240
 and every

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.880
 time we

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.740
 come across

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.740
 sacrifice

00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.680
 of atonement

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.460
 in the

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:34.819
 Bible

00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:35.839
 it's always

00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.559
 in relation

00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.319
 to God's

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.839
 wrath or

00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.240
 anger

00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:38.779
 towards

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.740
 his people.

00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:41.940
 And we

00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:42.420
 find it

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:42.880
 hard to

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.240
 think of

00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:43.740
 God being

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.339
 angry.

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.599
 We don't

00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.160
 like that

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:46.579
 idea.

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.740
 You see

00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.160
 when I

00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:48.859
 get angry

00:23:48.859 --> 00:23:50.519
 it's

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.299
 uncontrolled

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.799
 and it's

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.559
 temper-like.

00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.059
 It could

00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.359
 be a

00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:53.660
 fit of

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.299
 rage.

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.420
 But with

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.099
 God

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:58.859
 his anger

00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.940
 is always

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.519
 controlled.

00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:01.819
 It is

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:03.019
 his reasoned

00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:04.099
 and just

00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:04.920
 response

00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.980
 to our

00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.500
 sin.

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:09.759
 Maybe

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.039
 you've

00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:10.460
 heard this

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.900
 phrase

00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:12.620
 from people.

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:13.960
 God

00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.460
 hates

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.000
 sin

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.460
 but he

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.000
 loves the

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.279
 sinner.

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.579
 You

00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:18.740
 ever

00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:19.059
 heard it?

00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:19.299
 Maybe

00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:19.519
 you've

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:19.859
 said it.

00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.140
 I've

00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.599
 said it.

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.220
 God

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:21.620
 hates

00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:21.900
 sin

00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.819
 but he

00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.039
 loves

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.240
 the

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.480
 sinner.

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.079
 Well I

00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:25.500
 think it's

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.180
 unhelpful

00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.460
 because the

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.000
 Bible makes

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.299
 it very

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:28.799
 clear that

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.120
 God

00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:29.980
 hates

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.359
 sin

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:31.779
 and we

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.019
 the

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.539
 sinners

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.940
 must be

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.400
 punished.

00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.019
 And the

00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.799
 most uncomfortable

00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.680
 truth as we're

00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.500
 seeing here is

00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.599
 that we're all

00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.339
 under God's

00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:41.099
 wrath because

00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:42.000
 our sin is

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.779
 always an

00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.420
 offence to

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:43.819
 God.

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.599
 We can

00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.480
 never separate

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.059
 the sin

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.940
 from the

00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.240
 sinner.

00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:48.519
 So if

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.019
 God is

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.900
 angry at

00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:50.360
 sin,

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:51.039
 if God

00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.720
 is angry

00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.099
 at the

00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.519
 rebellion,

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.220
 then God

00:24:54.220 --> 00:24:54.720
 is angry

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.380
 at me.

00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:59.299
 Now because

00:24:59.299 --> 00:24:59.839
 God is

00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.539
 just and he

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.279
 can't ignore

00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:01.819
 sin and

00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.460
 pretend it's

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.000
 not there,

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:03.759
 he must

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.460
 deal with

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:04.779
 it.

00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:06.500
 He can't

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.120
 just sweep

00:25:07.120 --> 00:25:07.480
 it under

00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:07.980
 the carpet

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.380
 and go,

00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.059
 oh let's

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:09.579
 just forget

00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.279
 about it.

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:11.960
 And everybody

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.640
 do as they

00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.059
 please.

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.819
 That's not

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.220
 the kind

00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:14.659
 of world

00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:15.139
 that God

00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:15.759
 has made.

00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:17.839
 But it's

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.519
 also true

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.000
 that God

00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.740
 must be

00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.720
 forgiving and

00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.440
 he must be

00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.000
 kind and

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.599
 compassionate.

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.579
 That's his

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.200
 character.

00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.679
 So at

00:25:26.679 --> 00:25:27.319
 the cross

00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:27.980
 we see the

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.659
 two come

00:25:28.659 --> 00:25:29.099
 together.

00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:29.839
 We see

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.399
 our sin

00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:30.940
 punished

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:32.859
 and salvation

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.500
 provided.

00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.659
 And how

00:25:35.659 --> 00:25:36.119
 does God

00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:36.519
 do it?

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.220
 Well it's

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:37.559
 through,

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.200
 as we see

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:38.539
 in verse

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.019
 25,

00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.819
 the sacrifice

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:42.759
 of atonement.

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.960
 he presented

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.079
 Jesus.

00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:47.460
 The God

00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:48.659
 man came

00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:49.399
 into the

00:25:49.399 --> 00:25:50.319
 world and

00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.659
 Jesus became

00:25:51.659 --> 00:25:52.679
 the anger

00:25:52.679 --> 00:25:53.599
 absorber

00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:54.859
 for us.

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.240
 Jesus came

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.000
 like one of

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.679
 us, a human

00:25:58.679 --> 00:25:59.579
 being, and

00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:00.539
 he takes my

00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.220
 sin and your

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.379
 sin upon

00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:03.539
 himself and

00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:04.399
 so the wrath

00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.119
 of God which

00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:05.819
 comes down

00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.279
 upon the

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.059
 world is

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:08.079
 deflected from

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:09.059
 me and it

00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:10.059
 falls

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:13.220
 unto Christ

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.059
 on the

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.579
 cross.

00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:17.019
 Jesus bore

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.839
 the punishment

00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:19.519
 that you

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.019
 and I

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.839
 justly

00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:21.940
 deserve.

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.740
 Do you

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.299
 remember the

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:25.960
 tug of war?

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.659
 On one

00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:29.419
 side we have

00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.139
 God, the

00:26:30.139 --> 00:26:30.599
 anchorman

00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:31.539
 for justice,

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.159
 and on the

00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:33.879
 other side we

00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:34.700
 have God, the

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.139
 anchorman

00:26:35.139 --> 00:26:35.980
 for grace.

00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.379
 Both are

00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.319
 attributes of

00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.039
 God that can

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.599
 never give

00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:39.899
 way.

00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:40.960
 And so we

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.420
 have this

00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.240
 tension with

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.159
 the human

00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:43.859
 race, if

00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:44.680
 you like, in

00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.279
 the balance.

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:45.819
 Is God

00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.240
 going to

00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:46.920
 bring justice

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.399
 or is he

00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:47.819
 going to

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.519
 bring grace?

00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.920
 Well what

00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.659
 happens is

00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.440
 that God

00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:53.220
 steps into

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.720
 the middle.

00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.119
 He steps

00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.619
 into the

00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:56.180
 middle through

00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:56.899
 his son,

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.420
 Jesus Christ.

00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.319
 And as he

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:01.200
 dies on the

00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.700
 cross with

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.420
 his arms

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.220
 outstretched,

00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.299
 it's like he

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.339
 spans this

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.180
 great divide.

00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:07.299
 He holds

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.159
 justice in

00:27:08.159 --> 00:27:08.539
 the one

00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:08.879
 hand.

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:10.299
 And he

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.180
 holds grace

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:11.599
 in the

00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.299
 other hand.

00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:13.639
 And it's

00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:14.420
 as if Christ

00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.839
 on the

00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:16.059
 cross pulls

00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:16.799
 them together

00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:17.599
 so that

00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:18.720
 simultaneously

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:20.240
 our deserved

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.899
 wrath is

00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:21.500
 dealt with,

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.139
 the wrath of

00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:23.139
 God falls on

00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:24.000
 us, and

00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:24.819
 our desired

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.420
 forgiveness

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.420
 reaches out

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.480
 to a broken

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.500
 and dying

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.099
 world.

00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:31.019
 At the

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.819
 cross, sin

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.519
 is punished

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:35.859
 and salvation

00:27:35.859 --> 00:27:38.079
 is provided.

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:40.659
 Now we

00:27:40.659 --> 00:27:41.759
 must understand

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.219
 this.

00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:43.859
 Sometimes it's

00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:44.599
 portrayed that

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.539
 God is the

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.139
 angry one.

00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:46.819
 You read

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.199
 through the

00:27:47.199 --> 00:27:47.779
 Old Testament,

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.839
 oh God is

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:49.240
 full of

00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.679
 justice.

00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.079
 And we get

00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:51.579
 to the New

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.299
 Testament and

00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:53.500
 Jesus is the

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.159
 loving one and

00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:55.539
 he's gracious.

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.059
 But that's a

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:58.000
 complete distortion

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.719
 of the truth.

00:27:58.979 --> 00:27:59.799
 As we've seen

00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.419
 through the whole

00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:01.159
 story of the

00:28:01.159 --> 00:28:02.299
 Bible, God is

00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.119
 both full of

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:04.500
 wrath and full

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.039
 of love.

00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.480
 He is just

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.619
 and forgiving.

00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:09.940
 He loves

00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.980
 sinners and

00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.859
 he's angry

00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:12.500
 with sinners.

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.420
 And so when

00:28:14.420 --> 00:28:15.579
 Jesus comes to

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.079
 die on the

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.900
 cross for you

00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.960
 and for me,

00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.599
 it's not a

00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.460
 separate third

00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:21.759
 party, it is

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:23.579
 God in Christ

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.720
 who dies on

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.400
 the cross for

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:26.119
 you and for

00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:26.279
 me.

00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:27.480
 God himself

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.519
 comes down

00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:29.599
 as a man

00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.640
 and is punished

00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.660
 for my sin

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.680
 and provides

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:34.039
 for my salvation.

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:35.880
 God

00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:37.380
 that is

00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:37.740
 what he

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.160
 does.

00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:40.200
 And how

00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:40.599
 can we

00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.740
 experience this

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.559
 for ourselves

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:43.559
 and make this

00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.480
 a reality in

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:44.940
 our own

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.400
 lives?

00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.299
 Well again,

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:47.740
 look at

00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.519
 verse 25.

00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.079
 God

00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:51.079
 presented Jesus

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:51.599
 as a

00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:52.460
 sacrifice of

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.079
 atonement

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.220
 through

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:55.279
 faith

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.960
 in his

00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.400
 blood.

00:28:59.099 --> 00:29:00.299
 The only

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.059
 thing that

00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.839
 we bring to

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.420
 the table,

00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.259
 the only

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.940
 thing that

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.300
 we can

00:29:04.300 --> 00:29:04.820
 bring to

00:29:04.820 --> 00:29:05.680
 this is

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.460
 our sin,

00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:07.820
 our mess,

00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.600
 our rebellion.

00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.720
 And in

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.600
 response,

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.259
 have faith

00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:14.080
 and trust

00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:14.820
 in the

00:29:14.820 --> 00:29:15.500
 God-man

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.460
 Jesus Christ

00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:16.960
 who says,

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.140
 I have

00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:18.539
 come

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:20.519
 to deal

00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:20.920
 with your

00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:21.279
 sin,

00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:21.960
 past,

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:22.759
 present and

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:23.200
 future,

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.000
 so that

00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.860
 you can

00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:25.600
 stand

00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:26.680
 guilty

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:27.200
 though you

00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:27.600
 are,

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.960
 as innocent

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:30.019
 before God,

00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.539
 holy,

00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:32.860
 blameless

00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:33.660
 in his

00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.180
 sight.

00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:36.980
 And at

00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:37.460
 the same

00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:37.840
 time,

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.799
 receive that

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:39.360
 forgiveness,

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.980
 receive that

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.500
 grace,

00:29:41.799 --> 00:29:42.380
 so that we

00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:42.779
 are now

00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.720
 treasured as

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.200
 God's

00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.680
 children,

00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.400
 as if we

00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:46.960
 had never

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.900
 disobeyed,

00:29:48.360 --> 00:29:49.279
 as if we

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:50.160
 had obeyed

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:51.220
 God perfectly.

00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:52.980
 That is how

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.559
 he treats

00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:53.840
 us,

00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:54.819
 that is how

00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.259
 he loves

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:55.620
 us,

00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.539
 and that

00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.140
 is how it

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:57.600
 was all

00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.619
 achieved at

00:29:58.619 --> 00:29:59.439
 the cross.

00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:01.679
 And so we

00:30:01.679 --> 00:30:02.480
 respond in

00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.159
 faith,

00:30:04.159 --> 00:30:04.879
 trusting in

00:30:04.879 --> 00:30:05.619
 his work,

00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:06.740
 his perfect

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.699
 work for

00:30:07.699 --> 00:30:08.759
 you and

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.259
 for me.

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.159
 You see,

00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:10.740
 this is the

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.539
 climax of

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.119
 the story.

00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.099
 This is what

00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:13.639
 all the

00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:14.459
 little stories

00:30:14.459 --> 00:30:14.899
 are all

00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.199
 about.

00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:15.799
 As we

00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.679
 watch God's

00:30:16.679 --> 00:30:17.459
 action through

00:30:17.459 --> 00:30:17.919
 it all,

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.919
 we see him

00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:19.819
 bringing grace,

00:30:20.139 --> 00:30:20.799
 we see him

00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.459
 bringing his

00:30:21.459 --> 00:30:21.919
 justice,

00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:23.099
 and it's all

00:30:23.099 --> 00:30:23.980
 pointing forward

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.659
 to this one

00:30:24.659 --> 00:30:25.079
 event,

00:30:25.439 --> 00:30:26.299
 as Jesus

00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.299
 dies.

00:30:28.439 --> 00:30:28.939
 At the

00:30:28.939 --> 00:30:29.459
 cross,

00:30:30.199 --> 00:30:31.079
 justice and

00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:31.639
 grace are

00:30:31.639 --> 00:30:32.699
 demonstrated in

00:30:32.699 --> 00:30:33.240
 all its

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.579
 fullness.

00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:34.679
 That's why

00:30:34.679 --> 00:30:35.279
 when Jesus

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.059
 died on the

00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:36.299
 cross,

00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:36.719
 he says,

00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:38.159
 it is

00:30:38.159 --> 00:30:39.219
 finished.

00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:40.879
 It's all

00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:41.579
 over.

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.039
 God has

00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.039
 been satisfied

00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:44.679
 with the

00:30:44.679 --> 00:30:45.219
 work that

00:30:45.219 --> 00:30:45.619
 he has

00:30:45.619 --> 00:30:45.879
 done.

00:30:46.199 --> 00:30:46.500
 There is

00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.319
 nothing more

00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:47.939
 for us to

00:30:47.939 --> 00:30:48.159
 do.

00:30:48.459 --> 00:30:48.759
 There is

00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.179
 no more

00:30:49.179 --> 00:30:49.899
 fear of

00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:50.559
 his justice,

00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.259
 no more

00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:51.939
 fear of

00:30:51.939 --> 00:30:52.519
 his judgment.

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.319
 We can

00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:55.279
 stand as

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:56.059
 his child.

00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:59.000
 welcomed into

00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:00.000
 his presence.

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.279
 This is a

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.579
 once and

00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.439
 for all

00:31:04.439 --> 00:31:05.259
 event,

00:31:06.139 --> 00:31:07.039
 where God

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:08.039
 both punishes

00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:10.019
 sin and

00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:10.939
 provides for

00:31:10.939 --> 00:31:11.519
 salvation.

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.619
 It's at the

00:31:13.619 --> 00:31:14.719
 cross where

00:31:14.719 --> 00:31:15.959
 wrath and

00:31:15.959 --> 00:31:16.859
 mercy meet,

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.659
 and justice

00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:19.480
 and grace

00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:21.379
 flow to a

00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.179
 needy world.

00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.960
 at the

00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:26.140
 cross is

00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:26.560
 where we

00:31:26.560 --> 00:31:27.000
 need to

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.360
 live our

00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:28.240
 lives daily,

00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:30.400
 in remembrance

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.180
 of all that

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.820
 he has done

00:31:31.820 --> 00:31:33.120
 and remembrance

00:31:33.120 --> 00:31:34.180
 of who we

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.720
 are,

00:31:36.360 --> 00:31:37.320
 welcomed and

00:31:37.320 --> 00:31:39.160
 treasured as

00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:39.880
 his children.

00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.500
 Let's pray

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.279
 together.

00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:57.160
 tomorrow,

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.019
 and

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.579
 as

00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.119
 who

00:31:59.119 --> 00:31:59.240
 are

00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.299
angled

00:31:59.319 --> 00:31:59.619
,