WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.500 And Kim is going to read that. Thanks Kim. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.480 Thanks very much, Kim. 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:03.379 Well, please keep your Bibles open in that passage there. 00:01:03.500 --> 00:01:13.579 You'll need your Bibles this morning because we're going to be doing a little bit of flicking backwards and forwards in the first few chapters of Romans. 00:01:14.859 --> 00:01:17.780 You need to be wide awake this morning. 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:22.199 It's going to take a little bit of hard work, so keep with me on this. 00:01:22.199 --> 00:01:26.859 But this is exciting news. The title we have given it is the greatest news ever. 00:01:26.859 --> 00:01:29.599 What the Gospel provides. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:38.680 As I say, it comes at a conclusion of a lot of bad news. 00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:42.079 And eventually we come to some great news. 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:47.780 Well, let's talk to God as we pray and ask for His help in this together. 00:01:47.780 --> 00:01:58.519 Our Father, we thank You for Your Word. 00:01:58.680 --> 00:02:04.260 Help us to be people who take seriously what Your Word says. 00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:32.960 Father, please burn within our hearts the wonder of Your salvation. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:38.280 What is familiar and what is known to us. 00:02:39.420 --> 00:02:45.120 May it become fresh and like news that we have heard for the first time. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:49.599 May it penetrate deep into our own lives. 00:02:52.140 --> 00:02:53.980 Giving us a greater joy. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:56.259 A greater love for You. 00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:03.920 And a greater desire to share this love with a world that is in desperate need. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:07.699 So please help us all this morning. 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:10.319 Pour out Your Spirit generously upon us all. 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:12.619 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:03:13.359 --> 00:03:13.739 Amen. 00:03:13.740 --> 00:03:24.159 Well, if I say to you the name Thierry Henry, what comes to mind? 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:26.719 Handball? 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:28.420 Cheat! 00:03:28.820 --> 00:03:29.560 Unfair! 00:03:30.480 --> 00:03:31.320 Unjust! 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:39.659 The infamous handball that sent Ireland out of the World Cup qualifiers. 00:03:39.780 --> 00:03:43.159 It was one of the greatest injustices in the world of sport. 00:03:44.359 --> 00:03:52.500 And we all love our sport so much that if a referee gets it wrong, we demand that justice is done. 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:58.360 On a more serious note, I read this week about Naomi Campbell. 00:03:59.819 --> 00:04:01.280 I'm sure you've heard about her. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:05.819 She's a supermodel that's earned millions and millions of dollars. 00:04:07.939 --> 00:04:15.039 Well, a number of years ago, she received two uncut diamonds from the president of Liberia. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:20.240 She kept it a secret for all of these years. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:29.599 And what's so terrible about that is, these diamonds have been mined by children as young as six and seven. 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:32.620 Often captured and taken away. 00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:35.199 Many of them often die. 00:04:36.139 --> 00:04:43.000 The sale of those diamonds, what have become blood diamonds, have been used to fund the Civil War. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:50.540 Which has seen countless thousands murdered and the rape of many women and children. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:57.139 Of course, she says, I didn't know anything about that sort of thing. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:02.199 Now, how do you feel when you hear news like that? 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:07.100 I think we all feel a sense of anger and outrage. 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:10.819 Because the world wants justice. 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:13.420 We want the guilty punished. 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:16.360 And we want the innocent set free. 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:18.699 We all long for fairness. 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:21.379 We want all wrongs put to right. 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:24.500 In fact, we demand that justice be done. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:29.879 Now, as we read through the book of Romans, we discover that God not only loves justice, 00:05:30.039 --> 00:05:32.480 He demands that justice is done. 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:34.620 So, look at chapter 2. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:37.420 And in verse 2. 00:05:38.420 --> 00:05:45.420 Here, it's speaking about God's anger at all the wickedness and all the evil that there is in the world. 00:05:46.200 --> 00:05:48.100 And we read in chapter 2, verse 2. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:54.180 Now, we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:56.459 Verse 6. 00:05:56.459 --> 00:05:56.480 Verse 6. 00:05:57.579 --> 00:06:02.000 For God will give to each person according to what he has done. 00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:04.439 Verse 11. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:09.100 For God does not show favoritism. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:12.899 You see, God is not like some corrupt judge. 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:16.699 He doesn't turn a blind eye or accept bribes. 00:06:16.960 --> 00:06:18.100 All He does is fair. 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:21.300 Everything He does is just because it's based on truth. 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:27.600 And when we get to Romans, chapter 3, verse 21, the section that was just read to us, 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:30.680 this whole theme of justice is picked up again. 00:06:31.540 --> 00:06:38.080 It's telling us how God works out and satisfies His justice in this world. 00:06:40.139 --> 00:06:43.639 Just as an aside, the little phrase that we have in verse 21, 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:48.819 this righteousness, and again in verse 22, 00:06:48.819 --> 00:06:52.300 can be translated as the justice of God. 00:06:53.339 --> 00:06:59.939 So in verse 26, we read that He is keen to demonstrate His justice. 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:07.480 Now that's all good news for us because we want a judge who is fair, 00:07:08.300 --> 00:07:10.719 a judge who is going to put all wrongs to right, 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:16.100 and who's going to correct all the injustices that we have in our own lives 00:07:16.100 --> 00:07:17.760 and in the world around us. 00:07:19.260 --> 00:07:21.020 So this is exciting news. 00:07:21.140 --> 00:07:24.640 We're introduced to a God who demands that justice is done. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:29.539 But there's a problem. 00:07:32.659 --> 00:07:37.500 You see, the big argument of Romans 1-3, as we've been looking at over the last few weeks, 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:41.039 is that we are all under God's judgment. 00:07:42.539 --> 00:07:47.319 Back in chapter 2, verse 5, it describes the world like this. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:53.540 Because of our stubbornness and our unrepentant hearts, 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:58.579 we are storing up wrath against ourselves for the day of God's wrath, 00:07:58.659 --> 00:08:01.740 when His righteous judgment will be revealed. 00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:07.879 And in case we think we are somehow different from those kind of people, 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:11.420 because we're in church this morning and we're reading our Bibles 00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:12.959 and we're very good people, 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:17.100 His conclusion is terrifying. 00:08:18.019 --> 00:08:20.199 Chapter 3, the end of verse 22. 00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:23.060 He says, 00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:26.019 There is no difference. 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:29.659 For all have sinned. 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:32.080 Whether you go to church or read your Bibles or not, 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:36.159 we all fall short of the glory of God. 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:39.259 And this is the big message, 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:40.840 that we are all guilty. 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:44.019 We may never have murdered 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:46.519 or had a terrorist activity 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:49.179 or plotted a bomb or anything like that, 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:50.579 but we've all gossiped 00:08:50.579 --> 00:08:51.860 and disobeyed. 00:08:53.199 --> 00:08:54.740 And as far as God is concerned, 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:56.159 He treats us all the same. 00:08:56.319 --> 00:08:57.960 We're all deserving of His judgment. 00:08:59.439 --> 00:09:02.679 But that's not the only message of Romans 1-3. 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:06.219 There was a good news aspect to it as well. 00:09:06.219 --> 00:09:09.459 Back in chapter 1, verse 16 and 17, 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:12.500 we were introduced to the gospel, 00:09:13.339 --> 00:09:16.599 which is described in verse 16 as the power of God 00:09:16.599 --> 00:09:20.259 for the salvation of everyone who believes. 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:22.519 Verse 17, 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:24.519 For in this gospel, 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:27.559 a righteousness from God is revealed. 00:09:28.819 --> 00:09:30.779 It's telling us that there is a way 00:09:30.779 --> 00:09:32.860 that guilty people like you and me 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:34.220 can be right with God, 00:09:34.460 --> 00:09:35.899 we can escape His judgment, 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:37.360 we can receive forgiveness, 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:39.500 and we can have the wonderful blessing 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:40.559 of being His children. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:43.979 So even though we are guilty, 00:09:44.459 --> 00:09:46.219 the good news is we can be forgiven. 00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:51.059 Now that creates tension for us, 00:09:51.119 --> 00:09:51.639 doesn't it? 00:09:52.119 --> 00:09:53.299 On the one hand, 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:54.159 can we see this? 00:09:54.579 --> 00:09:56.539 That God demands justice, 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:58.779 which is bad news for us 00:09:58.779 --> 00:09:59.879 because we're all guilty. 00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:02.299 But on the other hand, 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:03.979 we have God's offer of forgiveness, 00:10:04.219 --> 00:10:05.619 which is good news for us 00:10:05.619 --> 00:10:06.879 because we all need it. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:11.100 But let's think about this. 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:13.720 If God is fair in His judgment, 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:16.840 how can He forgive people 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:18.799 if we're guilty? 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:21.759 If God is supposed to be just 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:23.320 and righteous in all He does, 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:25.620 how can He remove the punishment 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:28.039 that we justly deserve? 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.940 If God were to forgive us, 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:34.620 it would be like turning a blind eye 00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:36.120 to our wickedness and sin. 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:38.539 God would be seen as nothing more 00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:39.820 than a corrupt judge 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:41.240 who is open to bribes 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:43.259 and who cares very little for justice. 00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:47.159 So how can God be both just 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:49.799 and forgiving at the same time? 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:51.679 How can God be gracious 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:52.779 and compassionate 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:55.759 while being righteous and fair? 00:10:58.360 --> 00:10:59.799 Well, this is the tension 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:01.039 that is being built up 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.480 through the first few chapters. 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:05.779 It's a little bit like a tug of war. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:08.480 If we could imagine God 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:09.259 on the one side 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.299 being the anchorman 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:11.700 for justice, 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:15.019 but then on the other side, 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.700 God is also the anchorman 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:18.039 for the side of forgiveness. 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:20.220 And we have this tension. 00:11:20.659 --> 00:11:22.419 One is pulling against the other. 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:26.060 Justice on this side, 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:27.620 forgiveness on the other side. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:30.340 And it's like we're stuck in the middle, 00:11:30.340 --> 00:11:32.440 being ripped apart. 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:34.420 Our life is in the balance. 00:11:36.160 --> 00:11:37.960 Of course, if justice wins, 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:41.660 then what about God's desire to forgive? 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:44.980 And if forgiveness wins, 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:48.339 what about God's promise to be just? 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:53.240 How can God express simultaneously 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:56.799 his justice and his forgiveness? 00:11:56.799 --> 00:12:00.139 Well, in an age 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:01.500 when we all want justice, 00:12:01.599 --> 00:12:03.419 but we don't want to be judged, 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:05.959 the gospel provides 00:12:05.959 --> 00:12:07.359 the solution. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:12.919 First, we have God's faithful intervention. 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:15.320 In chapter 3, verse 21, 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:17.100 it comes out with this great, 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:18.860 big, enormous statement, 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.159 but now, 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:22.519 something has happened. 00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.519 He's introducing us 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:27.220 to the good news of the gospel. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:29.779 The tension is finally broken 00:12:29.779 --> 00:12:31.759 so that we can be forgiven, 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.679 while at the same time, 00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:35.679 God's justice can be satisfied. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:38.639 And it's all possible because, 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:39.720 look at verse 21, 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:42.980 a righteousness from God, 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.659 apart from law, 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:46.240 has been made known. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.519 As we've been saying, 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:50.419 the uncomfortable truth all along 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:52.779 is that we can never be good enough 00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.700 for God. 00:12:55.100 --> 00:12:57.159 Look at chapter 3, verse 10. 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:00.919 It says there that there is 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:03.399 no one righteous. 00:13:04.959 --> 00:13:06.139 Not even one. 00:13:07.979 --> 00:13:09.379 The end of verse 12, 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:12.179 there is no one who does good. 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:14.459 Not even one. 00:13:15.439 --> 00:13:16.519 Our own performance, 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:17.539 our own goodness, 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:18.659 our own life, 00:13:18.719 --> 00:13:19.719 whether we go to church 00:13:19.719 --> 00:13:21.159 and read our Bibles and pray, 00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:22.360 whatever we do, 00:13:22.579 --> 00:13:24.579 it's never going to make us acceptable. 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:27.740 To come to God the way we are 00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:29.719 is just going to leave us condemned. 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:34.659 There is no one righteous, 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:36.979 but now, 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:38.500 verse 21, 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.759 a righteousness from God 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:41.939 has come. 00:13:42.479 --> 00:13:44.659 There is a performance record 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:46.879 that will make us acceptable to God. 00:13:47.319 --> 00:13:48.979 God has made it known to us. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:51.279 And this is God's faithful intervention 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.939 into a helpless world. 00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:57.380 His righteousness is a perfect record. 00:13:57.380 --> 00:14:00.320 It is nothing less than God's own record. 00:14:00.640 --> 00:14:02.140 It is His life 00:14:02.140 --> 00:14:04.220 because it comes from God 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:06.240 and it is now offered to you 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:06.960 and to me. 00:14:07.020 --> 00:14:07.320 He said, 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:09.660 you can now have this performance. 00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:13.439 So it means that our whole struggle 00:14:13.439 --> 00:14:14.539 to be accepted, 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:16.659 our desire to be right with God 00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:17.500 is now over. 00:14:18.459 --> 00:14:20.379 The fear of facing God's judgment 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.199 is gone 00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:23.779 because God has made His righteousness, 00:14:24.219 --> 00:14:25.039 His record, 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.860 His perfect performance 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:28.360 available to us. 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:31.779 He's offering it to us. 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:35.720 So that we can stand before God, 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.320 accepted and welcomed, 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:42.220 seen as perfect and blameless 00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:44.000 in His sight. 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:47.259 He has done something about it. 00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:52.179 The second, 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.860 this intervention from God 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:56.299 results in a wonderful declaration. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.720 Verse 24. 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:00.360 It tells us there 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:03.000 that we have been justified freely 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:05.200 by His grace 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.919 through the redemption 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.740 that came by Christ Jesus. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.759 This word justified 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:13.799 relates to the righteousness 00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:15.360 from God in verse 21. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.000 But justified has a double action. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.240 On the one hand, 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:22.659 it deals with our deserved punishment, 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.820 but on the other hand, 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:27.320 it provides our desired forgiveness. 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:30.159 On the one hand, 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:31.860 it means that we are no longer 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:33.680 treated as guilty rebels. 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:37.399 Romans 1 to 3 is telling us 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.340 that we are guilty, 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.000 that we are people outside of God. 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:43.500 But now, 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:45.300 because of Christ, 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:47.600 our deserved punishment 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:49.000 has been dealt with. 00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:49.960 And we'll get to that 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.639 in just a minute. 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:51.740 So we're no longer 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:53.600 treated as a guilty person. 00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:56.560 But that's only one side 00:15:56.560 --> 00:15:57.320 of the good news. 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:59.080 The other side of the good news 00:15:59.080 --> 00:15:59.980 is that we are now 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:01.960 treasured as a forgiven child. 00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:05.060 We can receive forgiveness, 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.700 and we are now welcomed 00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:08.820 and accepted into God's family. 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:10.379 And we are now treasured 00:16:10.379 --> 00:16:11.879 like a son or a daughter. 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.639 He looks upon us 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.580 and he treats us 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.360 like he does 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.620 his very own son. 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:24.600 And if we pull this 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.560 into our lives, 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:27.539 if we experience this 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:29.100 through our faith in Christ, 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:31.820 our whole life is transformed. 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.320 God's love is transformed. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:37.140 But it brings us back 00:16:37.140 --> 00:16:38.280 to the same question 00:16:38.280 --> 00:16:38.980 that we're having 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:40.200 the whole way through this. 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:42.440 How can God do that? 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:45.320 What about his justice? 00:16:46.760 --> 00:16:48.720 How could God treat somebody 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.820 who is guilty 00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:51.460 as innocent? 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.900 That's completely unfair 00:16:54.900 --> 00:16:55.980 and unjust. 00:16:56.180 --> 00:16:57.660 How could God do that? 00:16:57.659 --> 00:17:01.439 How would you feel like it 00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:04.139 if somebody had robbed 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:04.920 your house 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:07.920 and smashed up the place 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:08.839 while you were out? 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.740 And you come back 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.619 and you see the mess 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:12.480 all over the place. 00:17:13.379 --> 00:17:14.859 But the guards arrive 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:15.899 to tell you that 00:17:15.899 --> 00:17:18.059 the robber has been caught. 00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:20.139 They've been sentenced 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:21.879 and, well, you read 00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:23.039 in the newspaper 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.859 the next week 00:17:23.859 --> 00:17:25.299 that the judge 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:26.460 just felt very kind 00:17:26.460 --> 00:17:26.920 that week 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:28.019 and he's just let them off 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.299 and said, 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:29.400 that's okay, you can go. 00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:30.960 Don't worry about it. 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.120 Wouldn't you feel 00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:33.779 a little angry 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.680 and a little annoyed? 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.059 Well, that's exactly 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:38.880 what God is doing to us. 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:40.779 How can he treat somebody 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.579 who is guilty 00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.779 like us as innocent? 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.500 That's unfair. 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:47.259 How can he do it? 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:50.299 Well, this gets 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.200 to the very heart 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:51.860 of the gospel 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:53.100 in verse 24. 00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:58.079 Let's read 00:17:58.079 --> 00:17:59.840 verse 24 again. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.759 We are justified 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.680 freely by his grace 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:03.759 through the redemption 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:05.539 that came by Christ Jesus. 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:08.759 God presented him, 00:18:09.319 --> 00:18:10.079 that's Jesus, 00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:11.299 as a sacrifice 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:13.259 of atonement. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.559 The death of Jesus Christ 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:17.299 on the cross 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:18.860 is how God deals 00:18:18.860 --> 00:18:20.940 with our deserved judgment 00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:22.740 and our desired forgiveness. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:25.220 And when we understand 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.019 the cross, 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:28.000 we see how the tension 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.460 between God's justice 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.859 and God's forgiveness 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.559 is settled 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:34.240 so that at the same time 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:35.519 God remains fair 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.700 and just. 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.900 And the key phrase 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:38.700 in this passage 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:40.859 is in verse 25 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:42.539 where it says, 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:44.079 God presented him 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:46.480 as a sacrifice 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:48.099 of atonement. 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:51.819 Whenever we come across 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.839 the word atonement 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:53.619 in the Bible, 00:18:54.439 --> 00:18:56.119 it's always in relation 00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:57.379 to God's wrath 00:18:57.379 --> 00:18:58.559 or anger. 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:00.319 Atonement simply means 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:01.639 turning aside 00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:02.599 or turning away 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:03.259 God's anger. 00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:04.500 You may have a little note 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.039 at the bottom of your Bible 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:07.019 to tell you that. 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:10.240 Now, to help us understand 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.159 this a little bit more, 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.259 I'd like us to turn back 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:13.240 to Numbers 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:15.599 in the Old Testament, 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:18.439 chapter 16. 00:19:19.419 --> 00:19:20.299 Now, I haven't got 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:21.019 a page number 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.980 so whoever's there first 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.139 can call it out. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.799 Numbers chapter 16. 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.179 Genesis, Exodus, 00:19:28.419 --> 00:19:29.839 Leviticus, Numbers. 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:32.319 Pardon? 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:32.359 Pardon? 00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:38.839 I didn't get that. 00:19:38.939 --> 00:19:39.319 I'm sorry. 00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:41.579 1-5-3. 00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:42.259 Okay. 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:44.379 1-5-3, Numbers, 00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:45.640 chapter 16. 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.040 And we're going to look 00:19:48.040 --> 00:19:49.200 at verse 46. 00:19:51.320 --> 00:19:52.320 Now, as you're turning 00:19:52.320 --> 00:19:52.640 to that, 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.360 let me just give you 00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:54.340 a little context 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.620 for this in Numbers. 00:19:56.840 --> 00:19:57.540 The people, 00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:58.600 God's people, 00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:00.580 have continually rebelled 00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:01.580 against God. 00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:05.120 They have grumbled 00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:05.820 against Him. 00:20:06.840 --> 00:20:08.160 They've disobeyed Him. 00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:10.280 They've continually 00:20:10.280 --> 00:20:11.620 pushed the boundaries. 00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:13.519 And because of their sin, 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:14.539 God is angry. 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:16.099 He's rightly angry 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.259 at their behaviour. 00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:19.799 And He sends a plague 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.779 amongst the people. 00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:22.959 A plague that has 00:20:22.959 --> 00:20:24.199 serious consequences 00:20:24.199 --> 00:20:25.039 because people 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.819 are dying. 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.759 So the big question 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.659 that's being asked 00:20:28.659 --> 00:20:29.639 at this stage is, 00:20:29.939 --> 00:20:31.399 what are we going to do 00:20:31.399 --> 00:20:32.579 about God's anger? 00:20:33.439 --> 00:20:35.239 How can we turn it aside? 00:20:35.439 --> 00:20:36.739 How can we stop it? 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:40.180 Well, look at verse 46. 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.500 Moses, who was the leader 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.059 of the people, 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.059 said to Aaron, 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:44.920 his assistant, 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:46.859 take your censer 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:48.200 and put incense in it 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:49.059 along with fire 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.740 from the altar 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:51.640 and hurry to the assembly 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:53.740 to make atonement 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.380 for the people. 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:58.579 Wrath, or anger, 00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.599 has come out 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.940 from the Lord. 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.740 The plague has started. 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.339 started. 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.759 So Aaron did 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.720 as Moses said 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.319 and he ran 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:08.000 into the midst 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:08.720 of the assembly. 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.599 The plague 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:12.000 had already started 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.900 among the people 00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:14.480 but Aaron offered 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.200 the incense 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:17.079 and he made 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.940 atonement 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:19.079 for them. 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.079 He stood 00:21:21.079 --> 00:21:22.160 between the living 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:23.920 and the dead 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.900 and the plague 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.700 stopped. 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:31.640 Through that sacrifice, 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:35.039 through that work, 00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:37.340 atonement was made. 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:40.360 The wrath of God 00:21:40.360 --> 00:21:41.160 stopped. 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.400 Now in Romans 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.900 chapter 1 00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:47.120 verse 18 00:21:47.120 --> 00:21:49.920 we read that 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.940 God's anger 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:53.299 is presently 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.160 being revealed, 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.960 is presently 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.000 being poured out 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.440 against the wickedness 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.980 and the godlessness 00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.740 of men 00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:00.680 in this world. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.920 And we've got to ask 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:05.559 exactly the same question. 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:06.799 How are we going 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.559 to deal 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:08.720 with his anger? 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.059 Answer, 00:22:11.860 --> 00:22:12.580 we need 00:22:12.580 --> 00:22:13.480 atonement. 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:14.880 We need 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.420 someone 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.160 who is going 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:17.460 to turn aside 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.259 God's anger. 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.160 And how does 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:19.840 he do that? 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.519 Well, 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:21.319 in chapter 3 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.139 verse 25 00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:22.799 it says, 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.419 God presented 00:22:24.419 --> 00:22:25.000 Jesus 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.299 as a sacrifice 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:27.699 of atonement. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.379 Jesus 00:22:29.379 --> 00:22:30.000 becomes 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.899 the anger 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:31.619 absorber 00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:32.279 for us. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:33.799 The wrath 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:34.379 of God 00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.259 was deflected 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.959 from us 00:22:35.959 --> 00:22:37.159 onto Christ. 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:37.879 Jesus 00:22:37.879 --> 00:22:38.659 bore the punishment 00:22:38.659 --> 00:22:39.240 that we 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:40.259 justly deserve. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.459 Now we 00:22:45.459 --> 00:22:46.099 struggle 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.599 with all 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.099 this kind 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.759 of talk 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:49.579 because we 00:22:49.579 --> 00:22:50.119 don't like 00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:50.579 to think 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.259 of God 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.379 who gets 00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.240 angry with 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.519 us. 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.379 We like 00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:55.700 to think 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.220 of a God 00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:56.740 who's a bit 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.420 of a grandfather 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:58.420 figure who sits 00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:58.920 in a nice 00:22:58.920 --> 00:22:59.879 comfortable chair 00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:01.279 and hands out 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.019 sweeties and 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.599 lets us do 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.319 what we like. 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.879 We're troubled 00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:07.559 with a God 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.259 who is angry. 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.099 You see, 00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:10.720 when we get 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.220 angry, 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.759 it's uncontrolled 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.839 and it's temper-like. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.319 we start 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.419 throwing things 00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:16.119 and we get 00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.679 into a fit 00:23:16.679 --> 00:23:17.439 of rage. 00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:19.519 But with God, 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.000 his anger 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.439 is always 00:23:20.439 --> 00:23:21.079 controlled 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:22.659 and it's 00:23:22.659 --> 00:23:23.159 reasoned. 00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:23.559 It's never 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.039 temper. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:25.959 It is his 00:23:25.959 --> 00:23:26.619 personal 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:27.379 hostility 00:23:27.379 --> 00:23:28.220 to evil 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.619 and his 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.279 acts of 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:30.959 involvement 00:23:30.959 --> 00:23:32.199 to punish 00:23:32.199 --> 00:23:32.819 sin. 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:35.839 But you 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.000 say, 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:36.279 okay, 00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:36.679 I can 00:23:36.679 --> 00:23:37.419 kind of 00:23:37.419 --> 00:23:38.079 get that. 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.619 But couldn't 00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.219 we say 00:23:40.219 --> 00:23:41.719 that God 00:23:41.719 --> 00:23:42.759 hates sin 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:44.159 but he 00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:44.659 loves the 00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:44.939 sinner? 00:23:45.219 --> 00:23:45.639 How about 00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.039 that? 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:47.959 Well, 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:48.359 I've said 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:48.959 that before 00:23:48.959 --> 00:23:50.039 but I 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.399 think it's 00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:50.619 a little 00:23:50.619 --> 00:23:51.519 bit unhelpful 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.979 because the 00:23:52.979 --> 00:23:53.519 Bible makes 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:53.799 it very 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.299 clear that 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.000 God does 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.099 hate sin 00:23:56.099 --> 00:23:57.579 and we 00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.299 the sinners, 00:23:58.599 --> 00:23:58.959 the people 00:23:58.959 --> 00:23:59.419 who do 00:23:59.419 --> 00:23:59.859 all these 00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.439 wrong things, 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.000 we must 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.739 be punished. 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:03.559 And the 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.399 most uncomfortable 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:05.319 truth is 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.339 we too 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:06.939 are under 00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:07.519 God's 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:07.979 wrath. 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:10.519 Because our 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:11.120 sin is 00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.799 always first 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.539 and foremost 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.200 an offence 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.799 to God. 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.460 So you 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:15.880 can never 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:16.779 separate the 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.740 sin from 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.240 the sinner. 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:18.940 The two 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.180 of them 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.779 are together. 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:22.160 So if God 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.920 is angry 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.700 at sin, 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.460 God is 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.299 also angry 00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:28.299 at me. 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:29.799 And he's 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.360 angry at 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:30.839 you. 00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.079 Now 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.839 because God 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.579 is just 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.059 and he 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.819 can't ignore 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:38.339 sin and 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:38.879 pretend it 00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.279 was not 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.559 there. 00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:40.079 He must 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:40.740 deal with 00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.039 it. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.379 But it's 00:24:44.379 --> 00:24:45.419 also true 00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:45.839 that he 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.299 must be 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:46.720 forgiving, 00:24:46.939 --> 00:24:47.399 he must 00:24:47.399 --> 00:24:48.039 be kind, 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:48.819 he must 00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.740 be compassionate. 00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:52.099 So when 00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:52.659 we come 00:24:52.659 --> 00:24:53.039 to the 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.539 cross, 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.859 what we 00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.379 see is 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:55.939 God's 00:24:55.939 --> 00:24:56.460 wrath or 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.299 his anger 00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.619 being dealt 00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.859 with and 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.619 at the same 00:25:00.619 --> 00:25:02.159 time we 00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:02.740 see his 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.500 compassion as 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.220 our sins 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:06.240 are forgiven. 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:09.220 remember we 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.079 talked about 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:10.579 the tug 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.059 of war. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:12.799 On the 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.399 one side 00:25:13.399 --> 00:25:13.839 we have 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.200 God, 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:14.460 the 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:14.960 anchorman 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.700 for justice 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.679 and pulling 00:25:16.679 --> 00:25:17.119 in this 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:17.639 direction. 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.480 And then on 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.740 the other 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.159 side we 00:25:19.159 --> 00:25:19.700 have God, 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.819 the anchorman 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.559 for forgiveness 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.279 pulling the 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:22.500 other. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.339 And both 00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.019 are attributes 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.700 of God 00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.119 that can 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:26.720 never give 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.039 way. 00:25:27.919 --> 00:25:28.279 And we 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:28.799 have this 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.419 tension 00:25:29.419 --> 00:25:30.159 and our 00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:30.740 life is 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.339 held in 00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:31.699 the very 00:25:31.699 --> 00:25:32.179 balance. 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.539 And what 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.240 happens is 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.379 God in 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:39.059 Christ, 00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:41.279 he steps 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.839 into the 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.079 middle. 00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:44.019 And as 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.879 he dies 00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:45.240 on the 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.779 cross with 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.459 his arms 00:25:46.459 --> 00:25:47.319 outstretched, 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.240 he spans 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.059 the tension 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.480 that exists. 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.279 And on 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:52.659 the one 00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:52.980 hand, 00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:53.859 as he's 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.379 nailed to 00:25:54.379 --> 00:25:54.779 the cross, 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.639 he's holding 00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:56.500 justice in 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.339 one hand. 00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.339 And as 00:25:59.339 --> 00:25:59.859 his hand 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.199 has been 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.519 nailed, 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.440 he's holding 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.000 forgiveness 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.420 in the 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:02.740 other. 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.480 And it's 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:06.880 like he 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:07.920 pulls them 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.779 together in 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.480 his death. 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:10.940 So that 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.259 simultaneously 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.539 our 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.240 deserved 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:14.900 wrath is 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:15.279 dealt 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:17.539 with and 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:17.740 our 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.279 desired 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:18.940 forgiveness 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:20.360 is 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:20.860 provided. 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.720 All of 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.440 this happens 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:24.920 on the 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.819 cross where 00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.400 God 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.460 satisfies 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:27.980 his 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:28.519 justice. 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.200 God 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.200 is 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.400 not 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:32.880 going to 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.200 do it. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:35.100 Now before we move on, we must make something else very clear. 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:38.740 Sometimes people talk about that God is angry. 00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:41.539 The God of the Old Testament is just a big angry head. 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:44.460 He goes around slaughtering people and killing people. 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:49.400 Whereas when we come to the New Testament, it's all full of flowers and Jesus loves everybody. 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.400 God is just a big angry head. 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.400 He is just a big angry head. 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:52.400 He holds the two together. 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:54.080 He holds the two together. 00:26:54.080 --> 00:27:00.640 God is both full of wrath and full of love. 00:27:01.280 --> 00:27:04.340 He is just and forgiving. He holds the two together. 00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.339 God is just a big angry head. 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:09.579 And then, have a flick back to Exodus chapter 34. 00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:15.399 This is a very well-known passage. 00:27:15.399 --> 00:27:17.099 Exodus 34. 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:28.759 Verse 6. 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:32.920 And here we see the full character of God. 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.960 Let's read from verse 6. 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.519 It says, 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:53.359 The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:55.400 Remember, this is the God of the Old Testament. 00:27:56.660 --> 00:28:03.700 Slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:05.519 rebellion and sin. 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:18.799 Yet, he does not leave the guilty unpunished, abounding in love. 00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:22.900 But he doesn't leave the guilty unpunished. 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.519 How can he do that? 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:29.940 Well, this is what Christ has done. 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:35.500 As Jesus dies on the cross, it is God in Christ. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.519 It is God who dies. 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:40.460 It is God who comes down in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:43.460 It is God himself who hangs on the cross. 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:49.039 And it is God who absorbs the anger himself instead of us. 00:28:51.379 --> 00:28:54.579 So that he remains just and forgiving. 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.339 Compassionate and gracious. 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:02.420 But yet he never leaves the guilty unpunished. 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:05.359 For Christ was punished for us. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:08.819 Isn't that amazing? 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:13.460 It all means that God's justice has been satisfied. 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.539 Verse 25. 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:19.779 The middle of verse 25 of Romans chapter 3. 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:24.519 He did this to demonstrate his justice because in his forbearance, 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:29.859 he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. 00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.859 He did it to demonstrate his justice. 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:34.279 He did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time. 00:29:34.939 --> 00:29:36.359 So as to be just. 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:43.539 Now when we say God is satisfied, it's not like he's rubbing his hands together with excitement and thinks, 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:46.299 Oh, I've had an opportunity to dish out my anger. 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:56.220 No, he's satisfied in that he has been forgiving, but never at any cost to his justice. 00:29:56.220 --> 00:30:01.460 Even though the guilty are now treated as treasured children of God, 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:05.640 it has never been to the expense of his justice. 00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:13.540 In fact, the whole death of Jesus proves how fair and how kind he is. 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:17.560 See what it says in the second part of verse 25. 00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:25.640 He did it to demonstrate his justice because in his forbearance, he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:31.680 Throughout the history of the world, as we read through the Old Testament, 00:30:33.540 --> 00:30:35.000 people died. 00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:36.940 People died because of their sin. 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:39.100 It was part of God's judgment. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:42.100 But it was never the ultimate judgment. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:44.300 There was an ultimate judgment to come. 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:56.059 But now because of the cross, when Jesus dies, he takes all the sins, the sins of the past, the sins of the present, and the sins of the future, 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:59.440 and he takes them all on himself. 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:06.220 And all of that punishment, all of that judgment, falls on Christ. 00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:12.639 The cross is the ultimate place of justice. 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:18.640 This is where all sin, once and for all, is dealt with. 00:31:19.520 --> 00:31:22.980 This is where your sin was dealt with. 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:26.420 This is where your future sin is dealt with. 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:29.120 It's where my sin is dealt with. 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:33.520 That's why Jesus cried on the cross. 00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.880 It is finished. 00:31:36.800 --> 00:31:37.800 It's over. 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.200 It's complete. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:44.100 God is satisfied with what he has done. 00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:46.799 The work is done. 00:31:47.580 --> 00:31:48.799 We are set free. 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.880 We're liberated. 00:31:50.340 --> 00:31:52.880 We can go as his children rejoicing, 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:56.340 filled with joy because we are his children. 00:31:56.339 --> 00:32:03.000 The end of verse 26 summarizes it all. 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:07.000 He did it to demonstrate his justice, 00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:09.779 so as to be just, 00:32:10.919 --> 00:32:15.659 and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:21.080 In this once and for all event, 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:26.380 God takes action both to punish and to forgive. 00:32:28.080 --> 00:32:31.000 Simultaneously, we see his love and anger. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.360 We sang earlier, 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:37.359 where wrath and mercy meets. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.479 In a minute, 00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:41.199 we're going to sing another song 00:32:41.199 --> 00:32:44.339 as we think about the wrath of God 00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:46.639 that is poured out on Christ, 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.899 absorbed and taken by him, 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:51.599 that we, the guilty, 00:32:52.959 --> 00:32:54.779 might be declared righteous, 00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:56.819 blameless, 00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:58.599 in his sight. 00:32:58.599 --> 00:33:01.659 It's the greatest news ever, 00:33:02.719 --> 00:33:03.719 and it deals 00:33:03.719 --> 00:33:05.799 with the greatest problem, 00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:07.419 our sin. 00:33:08.139 --> 00:33:09.319 Let's pray together. 00:33:09.319 --> 00:33:09.439 Amen.