WEBVTT

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 I'm going to read a quote from a Citizen article two and a half weeks ago.

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 Philippe Hébert will serve no time in prison following his guilty plea to manslaughter in the homicide of his partner, his husband and partner for over 40 years, Richard Rutherford, a judge has ruled.

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 It's the first sentence of that article.

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 Like I mentioned, it was written in the Citizen two and a half weeks ago.

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 The title of the article was, quote,

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 Don't let me down, sir. Judge gives man no prison time in mercy killing of husband.

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 If you read the story, it's very clear that Philippe Hébert faced hardship and turmoil.

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 His partner was elderly and was dying.

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 It was COVID lockdowns and there was a lot of confusion of what was available for help.

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 He was a primary caregiver.

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 He was experiencing compassion fatigue.

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 He reluctantly promised his ailing partner that he would end his suffering when the time would come, when Richard Rutherford deemed it so.

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 Hébert was living a very difficult life.

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 A lot of stressors, a lot of difficulty.

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 However, in the end, he killed a man.

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 It's in my notes, but I'm not going to describe how it's done.

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 He killed a man.

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 Call it a mercy killing.

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 Take into account all the extenuating circumstances.

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 Consider all the stressors and variables.

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 Do it all.

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 In the end, Mr. Hébert committed murder.

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 And he was not given jail time.

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 He was essentially exonerated from his crime of murder.

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 I tell this story not to complain about the justice system, not to rehash COVID legislation,

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 or even debate the ethics of assisted suicide.

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 All legitimate things.

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 We're not talking about that today.

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 Instead, I tell this story to highlight a deeply problematic reality that exists in our city,

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 in our neighborhoods, in our homes, in our hearts.

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 Everybody here struggles with this.

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 And what is it?

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 It's that we seek to excuse and avoid responsibility for our sin at any cost.

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 And we want to be exonerated without any recourse.

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 As the Apostle Paul concludes his discussion of humanity,

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 and specifically the human problem from verses, chapter 1, verse 18,

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 to the end of our section today, Romans 3, verse 20,

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 he makes an unmistakable point that all humanity is plagued with sin.

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 He sums up that entire section from 1, 18 to 3, 20.

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 And in this summary statement, he pulls no punches.

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 He is as clear as crystal about the problem with humanity.

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 We're going to jump right into it, looking at verses 9 to 20.

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 And we're going to look at three aspects of what the Apostle Paul says about sin.

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 And I'll just say this before we get into it.

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 We've been looking at sin and God's wrath and God's judgment for five weeks, more or less.

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 And it's heavy.

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 And the argument's going to shift in verse 21.

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 If you're feeling like it's heavy and it's a bit much like I am, if I'm honest,

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 stick with me for one more week.

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 Because what we have here isn't just another week of Paul explaining how crummy humans are.

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 But it is the basis by which liberation will come.

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 So, he's going to talk about sin.

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 First, that sin is ubiquitous.

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 It is everywhere.

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 It touches everyone.

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 Second, that sin is penetrating.

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 And then finally, and most importantly, that sin is ungodly.

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 Look with me at verse 9.

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 What then?

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 Are we Jews any better off?

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 No, not at all.

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 For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin.

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 Verse 10.

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 As it is written, none is righteous.

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 No, not one.

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 If you were here last week, you'd remember Paul argued that the religiously observant Jewish person

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 was just as much under God's just wrath as the pagan, as the non-Jew.

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 Relying on the law and circumcision as the basis for right standing before God.

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 It didn't serve them at all as a means of salvation, as a means of justification.

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 So, what he does next is he continues the argument by anticipating those objections to what he said in the previous chapter.

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 And it's addressed in verses 1 to 8.

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 They're important verses for the sake of time and focus.

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 We're not going to discuss them today.

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 But simply put, the Jewish people, despite having the privilege of being responsible for spreading God's word among the nations,

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 are still subject to God's wrath because of their sin.

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 And this actually touches on this first point, the ubiquity of sin.

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 How sin touches all.

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 Paul has laid out this devastating truth.

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 That whether Jew or Greek, pagan or Torah observant, licentious or very devoted,

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 all people are equally under God's rightful wrath.

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 Because, as he says in verse 10,

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 none is righteous.

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 No, not one.

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 He doesn't give an exception to this.

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 He's making a very, very sweeping general statements.

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 We struggle, I think, in rightly, with people that make general statements.

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 You never do this.

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 You always do that.

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 Early on in our premarital counseling,

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 and something I've used for the people that I've married in premarital counseling,

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 avoid saying such things.

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 Avoid it.

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 Don't say you always do this, because nobody always does that.

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 It's super dismissive.

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 You never do this.

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 Do they really never do that?

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 No.

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 So, we avoid such sweeping comments.

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 Here, the apostle Paul is making a sweeping comment.

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 There is no exception to this.

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 Paul is quoting this none righteous, no, not one.

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 He's quoting from Psalm chapter 14.

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 And it's not as if here that, and this is an important bit,

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 because it's not as if Paul here has made this elaborate case that all have sinned,

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 and this is some new revelation that God has beamed down to him.

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 God used to do things differently in the Old Testament, in the Old Covenant,

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 but in this new dispensation, this new covenant,

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 he's moved the goalposts, so to speak.

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 He has changed the rules.

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 He has raised the bar.

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 Not at all.

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 Throughout Scripture, again and again,

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 we can see how God's most faithful servants,

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 kind of the cream of the crop of God's people,

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 constantly commit wicked acts.

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 You think of Abraham.

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 He flees a famine.

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 He goes to another kingdom.

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 He lies about his wife, being his wife,

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 says it's his sister,

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 all to avoid the possibility of getting murdered.

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 You think of Moses.

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 What does he do?

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 He, in a fit of anger and rage,

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 takes it upon himself to provide for God's people,

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 and as a result, it costs him the chance to see the promised land.

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 King David, we've talked about this actually a number of times in the past few weeks,

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 he commits the most atrocious kind of adultery.

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 Not that there's lesser kinds of adultery,

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 but for him, it's followed by murder,

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 and followed by cover-up,

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 and complete deception.

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 You can think of Jonah saying to God,

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 I'm not going to listen to you.

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 You can think of the patriarchs,

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 or the judges,

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 or the kings of Israel.

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 Fast forward to the disciples.

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 What's the point?

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 That the best of God's people

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 are constantly doing unrighteous things.

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 No one is righteous.

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 None.

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 No, not one.

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 Sin is the great tyrant

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 behind all tyrants.

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 The tyrants like the Kims in North Korea,

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 or the Avatans of Stitzville.

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 Sin is the thing

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 that is touching every human being.

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 Just listen to this next part.

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 Paul emphasizes how widespread this sin is.

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 Again, no one.

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 No one.

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 Not one.

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 Altogether.

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 No one.

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 He is doubling down,

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 tripling down on this.

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 And at the heart of this unrighteousness,

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 what do we see?

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 We see a heart that is turned away from the Lord,

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 that is cold towards the things of God.

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 I'll read verse 10 again,

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 and then we'll read 11 and 12.

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 As it is written,

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 none is righteous.

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 No, not one.

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 No one understands.

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 No one seeks for God.

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 All have turned aside.

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 Together they have become worthless.

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 No one does good.

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 Not even one.

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 It is a knockout blow

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 for the self-righteous person,

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 which happens to be a lot of us this morning.

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 And maybe you're here,

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 and you are nodding,

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 because you are like a very good churchgoer.

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 Yes.

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 Amen.

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 The Bible is right.

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 But deep down in your heart of hearts,

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 you might be thinking,

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 yeah, not me.

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 Yeah, little bits here and there.

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 Okay.

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 But am I really that bad?

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 My good deeds are actually very good.

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 I'm very kind.

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 I have acts of kindness.

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 I'm committed to those around me,

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 to my friends,

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 to my family.

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 If you have children,

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 your children,

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 to your spouse,

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 if you have a spouse,

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 to your coworkers.

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 Actually,

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 like,

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 take a poll of the people in my life.

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 I'm actually pretty solid.

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 What Paul isn't suggesting here

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 is that good cannot come from human beings.

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 If I was to say that,

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 well,

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 it doesn't matter about your goodness at all.

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 It's not really good.

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 That's not true.

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 That's not what Paul is saying.

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 What Paul is suggesting,

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 however,

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 is that no matter what we do,

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 even our good acts,

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 they can never be considered righteous

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 by God's standards.

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 Why?

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 Because they are stained and strained

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 by the effects of sin.

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 We've looked at this,

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 I think about two weeks ago

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 or three weeks ago,

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 that even our motives of doing good

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 are inherently self-satisfying,

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 self-justifying.

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 So yes,

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 we do good,

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 but our good is,

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 again,

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 stained and strained

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 by the effects of sin.

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 How so?

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 God's glory,

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 which is really at the core

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 of what it is

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 to be a part of God's people,

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 it's not at the forefront

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 of our decision making,

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 at least not in a consistent way.

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 Faith that seeks to follow

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 and trust isn't readily exercised.

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 And again,

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 the heart

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 that isn't

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 regenerated,

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 isn't infused

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 by God's help

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 is the heart

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 that is turned inward,

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 never directed

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 towards the Lord.

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 Let me give some proof.

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 Isn't our tendency

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 to excuse

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 or downplay

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 or nuance

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 our sin?

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 Is this not a reality

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 that proves

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 what the apostle

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 is saying?

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 We all have personal kingdoms

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 that compete

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 with the kingdom of God.

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 We don't want to

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 show ourselves weak

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 in a way

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 that will inhibit

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 or get in the way

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 of what we're trying

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 to build,

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 the good things

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 we're trying to build,

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 the progress

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 we're trying to make

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 as a family

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 or as an individual

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 in my career.

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 So when we sin,

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 when we do something

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 contrary to God's law,

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 by the way,

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 that's why we read

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 the entirety

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 of the Ten Commandments

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 during the Lenten season.

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 It's to help us

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 to understand

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 the ways

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 we've tripped up.

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 One of the reasons

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 why we read it.

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 But anyways,

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 what do we do?

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 We don't

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 readily admit

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 our sins

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 because in doing so

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 that might hinder

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 our progress.

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 It might mean

00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:55.700
 we have to take

00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:56.759
 a few steps back.

00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:58.440
 It means we're

00:12:58.440 --> 00:12:59.340
 maybe not as

00:12:59.340 --> 00:12:59.980
 put together

00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:01.519
 as we put forward

00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:02.440
 to others.

00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:03.160
 So what do we do?

00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:04.000
 We excuse,

00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.860
 we downplay,

00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:05.440
 we nuance.

00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:10.519
 We have these

00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.639
 pseudo-kingdoms

00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:12.480
 we are compelled

00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.200
 to defend.

00:13:14.800 --> 00:13:15.899
 And these fortifications

00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:17.019
 that we build,

00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:18.440
 they must be

00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:19.100
 reinforced

00:13:19.100 --> 00:13:20.700
 and they must

00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:22.300
 exist to guard

00:13:22.300 --> 00:13:23.379
 against any threat

00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:24.420
 even if that threat

00:13:24.420 --> 00:13:24.920
 is God

00:13:24.920 --> 00:13:25.899
 and his perfect word.

00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:26.500
 Oof.

00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:28.740
 So what do we do?

00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:29.540
 We diminish

00:13:29.540 --> 00:13:30.320
 God's word.

00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:31.240
 Right?

00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.440
 We treat it

00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:32.940
 in a way

00:13:32.940 --> 00:13:33.600
 so that it is

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.060
 arbitrary

00:13:34.059 --> 00:13:34.599
 and we

00:13:34.599 --> 00:13:36.099
 just

00:13:36.099 --> 00:13:37.559
 take its

00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:38.099
 legitimacy

00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:39.199
 down a notch.

00:13:39.859 --> 00:13:39.979
 Okay?

00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:40.899
 Because if God's word

00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:41.659
 isn't legitimate

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:43.239
 then it ceases

00:13:43.239 --> 00:13:43.939
 to have claim

00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:44.699
 on my life

00:13:44.699 --> 00:13:45.979
 and then I can

00:13:45.979 --> 00:13:46.719
 get away with things

00:13:46.719 --> 00:13:47.719
 or I can just

00:13:47.719 --> 00:13:48.559
 take the edge off

00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:49.119
 or I don't have

00:13:49.119 --> 00:13:50.239
 to truly repent.

00:13:51.359 --> 00:13:52.139
 I don't have to

00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:52.879
 truly come into

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.659
 agreement with

00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.259
 God's good

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:54.779
 and perfect

00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:55.599
 and holy will.

00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:59.060
 it touches

00:13:59.060 --> 00:14:00.680
 all of us

00:14:00.680 --> 00:14:02.200
 in different ways

00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.040
 but in many ways

00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:03.500
 the same.

00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.080
 But how deep

00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:08.600
 does this sin

00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.060
 really run?

00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:10.399
 Is it merely

00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:10.940
 an issue

00:14:10.940 --> 00:14:11.779
 of our motivations?

00:14:12.800 --> 00:14:13.519
 Is it something

00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.060
 that we can

00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.040
 easily overcome

00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:16.040
 with a bit more

00:14:16.040 --> 00:14:16.639
 hard work,

00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:17.120
 a bit more

00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.659
 mindfulness?

00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:19.240
 Let's look at

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:19.980
 this next section

00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:20.899
 and this brings us

00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:21.680
 to our second point.

00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:23.820
 The question

00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:24.379
 before I read

00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:25.419
 verses 13 to 17.

00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:26.159
 How deep

00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.240
 does sin go?

00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.200
 How affected,

00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:30.179
 how infected

00:14:30.179 --> 00:14:30.899
 are we really?

00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:32.360
 Verse 13.

00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:34.500
 Their throat

00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:35.439
 is an open grave.

00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:36.919
 They use their tongues

00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:37.480
 to deceive.

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.720
 The venom of asps

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.720
 is under their lips.

00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:41.000
 Their mouth

00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:41.860
 is full of curses

00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.320
 and bitterness.

00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:43.299
 Their feet are swift

00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:44.100
 to shed blood

00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:46.059
 and their paths

00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:46.720
 are ruin

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.500
 and misery

00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.720
 and the way

00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.259
 of peace

00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:50.419
 they have not known.

00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:52.259
 Paul here

00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:52.940
 in these

00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:54.059
 few

00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:54.879
 sentences

00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.359
 uses

00:14:55.359 --> 00:14:55.899
 eight

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.639
 scripture

00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.099
 references

00:14:57.099 --> 00:14:57.919
 mostly from

00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:58.479
 the Psalms

00:14:58.479 --> 00:14:59.539
 and he gives

00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:00.679
 seven observations

00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:02.359
 about how deeply

00:15:02.359 --> 00:15:03.439
 this sin penetrates

00:15:03.439 --> 00:15:04.859
 and it goes

00:15:04.859 --> 00:15:05.759
 all the way down.

00:15:06.699 --> 00:15:07.619
 It goes all the way down.

00:15:07.719 --> 00:15:08.159
 It extends right

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:08.759
 into the depths

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.439
 of our being

00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:10.679
 and what does it do?

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:11.279
 It influences

00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:11.899
 our will,

00:15:12.599 --> 00:15:13.959
 our volition,

00:15:14.199 --> 00:15:14.799
 our words,

00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:15.659
 our actions,

00:15:16.339 --> 00:15:17.879
 all of which

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.799
 again are directed

00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.339
 away from God

00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:21.779
 towards the self

00:15:21.779 --> 00:15:24.059
 and the self

00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:26.959
 is elevated,

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:27.699
 the self

00:15:27.699 --> 00:15:28.360
 is preserved,

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.019
 the self

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.740
 is justified.

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.299
 It affects

00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:32.919
 our realities,

00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:34.740
 our perception

00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.240
 of reality,

00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.059
 our relationships,

00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:36.639
 our goals,

00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.299
 our values,

00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:38.799
 everything that

00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.500
 makes us

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.259
 who we are,

00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.600
 sin touches

00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:43.659
 and it's pervasive,

00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:44.399
 it penetrates

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.240
 all the way down.

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:52.279
 We are a church

00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:52.879
 of the English

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.419
 Reformation

00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:54.340
 but of the

00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:55.860
 Reformation as well,

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:56.360
 a part of the

00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.000
 Church Catholic

00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.620
 and the reformers

00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:01.580
 would call this

00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:04.180
 total depravity

00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:05.200
 and again

00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:06.139
 it is not to say

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:06.620
 that humans

00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.320
 are incapable

00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.139
 of doing good

00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.220
 but that every

00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:10.139
 aspect of the

00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:11.200
 human experience

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.039
 is touched

00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:12.620
 by sin

00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:14.460
 and it has been

00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:14.879
 the case

00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:15.240
 since the

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:15.540
 beginning

00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:15.900
 when our

00:16:15.900 --> 00:16:16.460
 first parents

00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:17.080
 disregarded

00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:17.680
 and obeyed

00:16:17.680 --> 00:16:18.200
 God in the

00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:18.800
 garden.

00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.280
 That's not the

00:16:20.280 --> 00:16:20.540
 way God

00:16:20.540 --> 00:16:21.100
 intended it.

00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:22.820
 It's not the

00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:23.080
 way God

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.519
 intended it.

00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:24.120
 Our bodies

00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:24.800
 and our minds

00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:25.400
 they are gifts

00:16:25.400 --> 00:16:26.000
 from God.

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.220
 This material

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:27.680
 world,

00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:28.400
 a gift from

00:16:28.400 --> 00:16:28.800
 God.

00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:30.420
 He made

00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:30.920
 our bodies

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:31.460
 and minds

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.160
 to enjoy

00:16:32.160 --> 00:16:32.920
 all that

00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:34.240
 he created.

00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:34.920
 We were

00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:35.340
 created to

00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:35.680
 bring him

00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:36.280
 glory which

00:16:36.280 --> 00:16:36.840
 means living

00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:37.720
 lives aligned

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.280
 with God's

00:16:38.280 --> 00:16:38.920
 ways through

00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:39.519
 worship and

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.000
 praise which

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.980
 is like the

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:43.240
 focal high

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.879
 point of the

00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.820
 human experience.

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.200
 We are also

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:46.580
 called to

00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.179
 serve others

00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:49.039
 ensuring our

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.580
 lives are

00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.100
 directed to

00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:50.779
 bless and

00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.279
 support,

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.679
 helping rather

00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:53.279
 than hindering.

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:54.659
 Additionally,

00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:55.840
 we are to

00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:56.740
 enjoy creation

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.879
 again using

00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.799
 all of our

00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.799
 senses but in

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.379
 a properly

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.080
 ordered way.

00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:03.360
 Only then can

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.579
 we truly enjoy

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.859
 these godly

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:06.500
 pursuits.

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:08.980
 What we see

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:10.140
 instead in this

00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:10.839
 section is the

00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.559
 complete opposite.

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.980
 No matter

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.740
 how hard we

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:14.279
 try to live

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.359
 this godly

00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:16.019
 life in our

00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.740
 own strength,

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:17.159
 we find

00:17:17.159 --> 00:17:17.539
 ourselves

00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.639
 constantly

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.539
 facing our

00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:20.159
 own faults

00:17:20.159 --> 00:17:21.339
 or those of

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:21.619
 others.

00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.379
 Our pursuits

00:17:22.379 --> 00:17:23.379
 become hampered

00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:24.000
 and hindered

00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.139
 and we

00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:26.720
 indulge in

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.179
 pleasures

00:17:27.179 --> 00:17:28.500
 excessively,

00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:30.519
 often at the

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.700
 expense of

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.659
 or the

00:17:32.659 --> 00:17:33.399
 neglect of

00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:33.779
 others.

00:17:34.639 --> 00:17:34.960
 Again,

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:35.819
 how can we

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.539
 mess this up?

00:17:36.659 --> 00:17:36.839
 Like,

00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.339
 unlimited

00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:38.899
 ways.

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:41.340
 So,

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.300
 two examples

00:17:42.300 --> 00:17:43.080
 from this

00:17:43.080 --> 00:17:43.660
 list that

00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.460
 the Apostle

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:44.860
 Paul gives.

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.380
 The first

00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:47.460
 is he

00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:49.000
 mentions our

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.519
 words and

00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.000
 how we use

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.420
 our words.

00:17:50.540 --> 00:17:50.960
 You can

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.780
 read with me

00:17:51.780 --> 00:17:52.380
 again verses

00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:53.420
 13 and

00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:53.800
 14.

00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.460
 Their throat

00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:54.960
 is an open

00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:55.300
 grave.

00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:55.680
 They use

00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.120
 their tongues

00:17:56.120 --> 00:17:56.680
 to deceive.

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:57.540
 The venom

00:17:57.540 --> 00:17:58.340
 of asps

00:17:58.340 --> 00:17:58.960
 is under

00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.480
 their lips.

00:18:00.100 --> 00:18:00.600
 Their mouth

00:18:00.600 --> 00:18:01.259
 is full of

00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.580
 curses and

00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:02.860
 bitterness.

00:18:04.280 --> 00:18:04.460
 So,

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:04.759
 the first

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.180
 example,

00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:05.840
 how we use

00:18:05.840 --> 00:18:06.440
 our words.

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.700
 Our words

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.320
 should be used

00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:08.799
 to bless

00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:09.279
 and encourage,

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.220
 to build

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.619
 up,

00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:11.799
 to speak

00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.159
 words of

00:18:12.159 --> 00:18:12.759
 life to

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:12.980
 others.

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:13.220
 Yet,

00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:13.639
 often,

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.200
 we use

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.659
 our words

00:18:14.659 --> 00:18:15.220
 to deceive

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.859
 and justify

00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:17.039
 others,

00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:17.480
 but really

00:18:17.480 --> 00:18:17.939
 ourselves.

00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:21.460
 We struggle

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:22.480
 with others

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.779
 when,

00:18:23.879 --> 00:18:24.119
 sorry,

00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:24.559
 we struggle

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.079
 when others

00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:25.919
 enjoy what

00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.460
 we want.

00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:27.519
 So,

00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:28.799
 even when

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:29.460
 we congratulate

00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.099
 others,

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:30.740
 do we do

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.279
 so in a

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.059
 way that's

00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:32.759
 fully

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:34.439
 authentic

00:18:34.439 --> 00:18:35.079
 and happy

00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:35.579
 for them?

00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:37.279
 or do

00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:37.599
 we do

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.220
 it with

00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.319
 a tinge

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:39.939
 of jealousy

00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:40.439
 and envy?

00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:41.819
 Some bitterness

00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:42.839
 maybe.

00:18:43.619 --> 00:18:44.500
 Why am I

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:45.359
 not experiencing

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.879
 the blessings

00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:46.399
 that they

00:18:46.399 --> 00:18:47.720
 are enjoying?

00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:49.720
 Our hearts

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.199
 are not

00:18:50.199 --> 00:18:51.119
 focused above

00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:51.759
 but within.

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:52.359
 So,

00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:52.779
 therefore,

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:53.699
 our hearts

00:18:53.699 --> 00:18:55.779
 then will

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.399
 dictate what

00:18:56.399 --> 00:18:57.019
 our mouths

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.740
 speak.

00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:00.059
 The second

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.460
 example,

00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:00.839
 I could have

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:01.339
 gone longer,

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.099
 but just for

00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.639
 the sake of

00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:02.799
 time,

00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:03.119
 the second

00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:03.539
 example,

00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:04.279
 verses 15

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:04.839
 and 16,

00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:05.839
 their feet

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.200
 are swift

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.519
 to shed

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:06.839
 blood,

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:07.819
 and their

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:08.460
 paths are

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.759
 ruin and

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.299
 misery.

00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.000
 The human

00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:12.740
 experience has

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.319
 always been

00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:13.779
 marked by

00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.299
 conflict.

00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:15.519
 I'm going

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:15.720
 to give

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:17.819
 two stats.

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:18.639
 Did I

00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:19.000
 fact check

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.180
 them?

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:19.579
 No.

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.279
 Okay,

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.059
 so sue

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:21.279
 me.

00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.599
 One was

00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:22.980
 from the

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.680
 commentary I

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.019
 used.

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.299
 It sounded

00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:25.579
 good,

00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:25.960
 and I'm

00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:26.339
 going with

00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:26.480
 it.

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:26.980
 It sounded

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:28.399
 legit,

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:28.940
 so here we

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.099
 are.

00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.139
 In the

00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:32.279
 last roughly

00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.160
 3,500

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.019
 years of

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.379
 recorded

00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:34.839
 history,

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:37.980
 only 268

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.500
 years have

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.059
 been without

00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.359
 war.

00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.139
 Okay,

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.980
 maybe it's

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.200
 more,

00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:43.660
 maybe it's

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:43.819
 a bit

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.119
 less.

00:19:44.420 --> 00:19:44.799
 It makes

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.200
 sense to

00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:45.339
 me.

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:46.500
 That's

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.960
 93% of

00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:48.299
 the last

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:48.920
 3,500

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:50.339
 years have

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.039
 seen some

00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.740
 kind of

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.079
 armed

00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:52.639
 conflict

00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.019
 between

00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.639
 two groups.

00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.279
 So here's

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:55.940
 the other

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:57.660
 bit of

00:19:57.660 --> 00:20:00.039
 unsighted

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.700
 statistics,

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.160
 and I

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:01.359
 use

00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:01.599
 chat

00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:02.000
 GBT.

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:02.279
 I'll be

00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:02.859
 very honest

00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:03.119
 with you

00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:03.259
 guys.

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.379
 I resist

00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:05.259
 on a

00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:05.500
 daily

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.259
 basis,

00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:06.799
 to be

00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:07.039
 honest,

00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:07.379
 using

00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:07.699
 chat

00:20:07.699 --> 00:20:08.139
 GBT,

00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:08.919
 but I

00:20:08.919 --> 00:20:09.219
 felt like

00:20:09.219 --> 00:20:09.500
 this was

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:09.819
 a great

00:20:09.819 --> 00:20:10.339
 question

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:10.759
 to ask.

00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:11.919
 I asked

00:20:11.919 --> 00:20:12.139
 chat

00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:12.659
 GBT this

00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:13.019
 question,

00:20:13.439 --> 00:20:13.899
 again,

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.459
 pouring out

00:20:14.459 --> 00:20:14.879
 of the

00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:15.539
 first stat

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:15.799
 I gave

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:15.939
 you.

00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:16.819
 How many

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.399
 rounds of

00:20:17.399 --> 00:20:17.919
 ammunition

00:20:17.919 --> 00:20:18.539
 were fired

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.299
 in 2025

00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:20.240
 across all

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.519
 armed

00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:20.979
 conflicts

00:20:20.979 --> 00:20:21.459
 worldwide?

00:20:23.699 --> 00:20:24.179
 First

00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:24.459
 thing it

00:20:24.459 --> 00:20:24.679
 said,

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:25.740
 there's no

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.339
 way this

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.959
 stat can be

00:20:27.959 --> 00:20:28.539
 fully known,

00:20:28.879 --> 00:20:29.479
 but here's a

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.180
 best estimate,

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.279
 and the

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:31.779
 estimate was

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.680
 10 to

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.339
 30 plus

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.339
 billion rounds,

00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.599
 billion rounds,

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:36.960
 in armed

00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:37.339
 conflict.

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:37.860
 I was very

00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:38.599
 specific to

00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:38.980
 say armed

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:39.400
 conflict,

00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.360
 not like

00:20:40.360 --> 00:20:41.279
 robberies,

00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:41.700
 or not

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.120
 like,

00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:42.920
 you know,

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:43.759
 murders in

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.299
 the streets,

00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:44.799
 but armed

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.279
 conflict.

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:46.799
 Could it be?

00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:47.339
 I mean,

00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:49.259
 it seems,

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:51.500
 it seems

00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:52.039
 likely that

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.940
 that's maybe

00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:53.759
 even downplaying

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:53.940
 it.

00:20:55.620 --> 00:20:56.480
 Here's the

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.079
 point.

00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:57.879
 whether or

00:20:57.879 --> 00:20:58.179
 not you

00:20:58.179 --> 00:20:58.599
 fact check

00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:58.980
 all this,

00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.379
 and I'm

00:20:59.379 --> 00:20:59.919
 wrong or

00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:00.399
 just off a

00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:00.539
 bit,

00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.299
 we are a

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:01.619
 warring

00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:01.960
 people.

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.419
 We are a

00:21:03.419 --> 00:21:03.779
 warring

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.199
 people.

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.500
 What we've

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.799
 experienced in

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:09.579
 Canada post-World

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.659
 War II is an

00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:11.240
 anomaly.

00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:13.199
 An anomaly.

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:16.019
 We call our

00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:17.299
 military up for

00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.299
 domestic issues

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:20.279
 to clear the

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.159
 sidewalks and

00:21:21.159 --> 00:21:21.599
 streets of

00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.419
 Toronto because

00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:23.039
 they're not

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.759
 strong enough,

00:21:23.939 --> 00:21:24.720
 like us Ottawa

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.579
 people, to

00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:25.899
 clear the

00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:26.199
 snow.

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.920
 That is what

00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.980
 our military

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.519
 does domestically.

00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:31.039
 Now, our

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.759
 military is an

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.779
 incredible unit,

00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.759
 but all that to

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.140
 say is we don't

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.580
 have armed

00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:37.180
 conflicts within

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.740
 our borders.

00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:42.299
 And praise God

00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:42.779
 for that.

00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:43.920
 But understand

00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.880
 that we live in

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.720
 the exception of

00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:48.500
 exceptions that

00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.220
 just prove the

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:49.779
 rule of how

00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.740
 violent humanity

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.120
 is.

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.160
 We might

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.120
 believe we are

00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:55.880
 immune, but we

00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:56.360
 are certainly

00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:56.780
 not.

00:21:58.300 --> 00:22:00.200
 Sin, it is

00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.880
 not only

00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.840
 ubiquitous, but

00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:02.480
 it goes to the

00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.560
 very depths of

00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:04.720
 who we are as

00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.900
 a human race.

00:22:07.280 --> 00:22:08.020
 Maybe you want

00:22:08.020 --> 00:22:08.620
 to push back.

00:22:08.760 --> 00:22:09.280
 That's okay.

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.020
 I think it's good

00:22:10.020 --> 00:22:10.660
 to push back.

00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:12.300
 Not everybody's

00:22:12.300 --> 00:22:12.840
 like this.

00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:14.860
 In fact, it's

00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:15.480
 not the common

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.400
 person that starts

00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:16.860
 the war.

00:22:17.520 --> 00:22:19.380
 It is the

00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.020
 power brokers.

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:20.540
 It is the

00:22:20.540 --> 00:22:20.940
 tyrants.

00:22:21.040 --> 00:22:21.400
 It is the

00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:22.280
 leaders of every

00:22:22.280 --> 00:22:22.720
 generation.

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.200
 They are the

00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.519
 ones that

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:27.140
 should have

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:29.740
 these accusations

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:32.000
 hoisted upon

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.180
 them.

00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.259
 And I think

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:33.480
 there is

00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:34.259
 legitimacy to

00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:34.500
 that.

00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:36.600
 But Paul

00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:37.640
 isn't just

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.460
 using hyperbole

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.000
 to make a

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.259
 point.

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.720
 He is

00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:43.759
 really giving

00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.100
 us the

00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:44.759
 knockout blow

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:46.460
 of the human

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.000
 experience.

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.640
 and he

00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:48.579
 really, really

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.119
 goes for the

00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:49.680
 knockout blow

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.799
 in verse 18.

00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:51.980
 And this will

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.559
 be our third

00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.279
 and final point.

00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:53.859
 Verse 18.

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.279
 There is no

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.420
 fear of God

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.440
 before their

00:22:59.440 --> 00:22:59.880
 eyes.

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.740
 The question

00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.500
 is what lies

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.220
 at the core

00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:03.980
 of all our

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.559
 human problems?

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.140
 How deep

00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:05.579
 does sin

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.240
 truly go?

00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:08.140
 Why are we

00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:08.779
 unable to

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.480
 resist sin?

00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:10.059
 Why do you

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.839
 find it impossible

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:11.559
 to live even

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.240
 one day?

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.799
 Be honest.

00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:14.859
 Okay?

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:15.799
 Why do you

00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.420
 find it impossible

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:18.000
 to live even

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.660
 one day without

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.279
 thinking ill

00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:19.680
 thoughts,

00:23:19.800 --> 00:23:20.360
 saying hurtful

00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:20.759
 words,

00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.180
 or holding

00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:21.519
 on to

00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:21.779
 bitterness,

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.320
 or giving

00:23:22.320 --> 00:23:23.000
 into temptation?

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:23.900
 Why?

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:23.940
 Why?

00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.660
 Why have you

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.800
 been unsuccessful

00:23:26.800 --> 00:23:28.900
 even this

00:23:28.900 --> 00:23:29.279
 morning?

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.860
 Verse 18 is

00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:31.220
 the answer.

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.720
 There is no

00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.279
 fear of God

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.440
 before their

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:34.700
 eyes.

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.060
 There is no

00:23:35.060 --> 00:23:35.460
 fear of God

00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:36.220
 before our

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.720
 eyes.

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:37.860
 We have

00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:38.360
 turned away

00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:38.880
 from God

00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.380
 and as a

00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:40.240
 result we

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.420
 plunge headlong

00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.180
 into sin.

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.220
 We effectively

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:45.240
 reject God's

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.600
 rule.

00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:46.759
 Again,

00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:47.220
 I've mentioned

00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:47.700
 this just

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.140
 briefly in

00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:48.460
 the other

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:48.800
 section,

00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.320
 but we

00:23:49.320 --> 00:23:49.680
 are the

00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.259
 new king.

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.120
 We are

00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:54.660
 upon our

00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.300
 own throne.

00:23:57.580 --> 00:23:58.080
 We

00:23:58.080 --> 00:23:58.539
 effectively

00:23:58.539 --> 00:23:59.140
 say we

00:23:59.140 --> 00:23:59.460
 do not

00:23:59.460 --> 00:23:59.980
 believe that

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.380
 the source

00:24:00.380 --> 00:24:00.940
 of life

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:03.620
 is strong

00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.100
 enough to

00:24:04.100 --> 00:24:04.860
 sustain us.

00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:06.240
 No amount

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.800
 of money or

00:24:06.800 --> 00:24:07.480
 possessions can

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.259
 satisfy us.

00:24:08.320 --> 00:24:08.759
 For long we

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.920
 deny that

00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:10.759
 true satisfaction

00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:11.480
 can be found

00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.080
 in worshipping

00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:12.519
 and praising

00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.740
 anyone other

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.539
 than ourselves.

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.680
 our desire

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.200
 for praise

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.619
 and glory

00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:17.079
 is never

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.519
 fulfilled.

00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:17.859
 There is

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.379
 no fear

00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:18.940
 of God

00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.740
 before our

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.200
 eyes.

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.420
 In fact,

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:23.879
 you'll notice

00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:24.940
 that the

00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:25.819
 neglect of

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.379
 God is

00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:27.180
 precisely what

00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:27.619
 drives this

00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.460
 entire section.

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.279
 Notice that

00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.339
 Paul, he

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.220
 frames this

00:24:31.220 --> 00:24:33.000
 section at

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.420
 the beginning

00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.019
 and at the

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.680
 end with

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.759
 this sentiment.

00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:36.859
 Turn with me

00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.379
 back to verse

00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:38.159
 11 and the

00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:38.940
 second part of

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.440
 verse 11.

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.159
 What does it

00:24:40.159 --> 00:24:40.379
 say?

00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:41.579
 No one

00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.099
 understands.

00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:42.779
 No one

00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.480
 seeks for

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:43.879
 God.

00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.000
 And then he

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.419
 ends the

00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:45.720
 section,

00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.199
 there is no

00:24:46.199 --> 00:24:46.679
 fear of

00:24:46.679 --> 00:24:47.099
 God before

00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:47.480
 their eyes.

00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:48.579
 It frames

00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.059
 the whole

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.419
 thing.

00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:50.319
 Okay?

00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:51.919
 Sin at

00:24:51.919 --> 00:24:52.299
 its very

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.099
 core is

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.000
 ungodly.

00:24:54.699 --> 00:24:54.919
 It's

00:24:54.919 --> 00:24:55.519
 ungodliness.

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.399
 And ungodliness

00:24:57.399 --> 00:24:58.819
 isn't, again,

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.619
 just a neutral

00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.039
 thing.

00:25:00.199 --> 00:25:01.339
 It causes us

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:02.659
 to be less

00:25:02.659 --> 00:25:03.480
 flourishing,

00:25:03.699 --> 00:25:05.399
 less bright,

00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:07.000
 less upright.

00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.220
 We are dull,

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:08.859
 we are bent,

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.779
 we are sputtering.

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:11.119
 It does not

00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:11.379
 make us

00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:11.879
 strong, it

00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.200
 makes us

00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:12.539
 weak.

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.019
 And not in

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.859
 the good kind

00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.539
 of weakness

00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.019
 where we,

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.259
 we'll see

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.680
 shortly,

00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:19.879
 admits that we

00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.379
 need help,

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.019
 but a type of

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.639
 weakness that

00:25:21.639 --> 00:25:22.539
 parades itself

00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.259
 around like

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.180
 ultimate strength.

00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.319
 The worst

00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.619
 kind of

00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:25.899
 weakness.

00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:33.920
 When our

00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.599
 heart is

00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.440
 turned away

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.299
 from the

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:36.899
 fear of the

00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:37.139
 Lord,

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.139
 virtues become

00:25:38.139 --> 00:25:38.639
 vices.

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:43.740
 good things

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.680
 are twisted

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.440
 into evil

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:45.899
 things.

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.339
 What Paul is

00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.200
 saying here,

00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:50.799
 and what he has

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.319
 said in verses

00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:52.059
 1 to 8,

00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.559
 and what he has

00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.099
 been saying

00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:55.000
 from chapter 1

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.660
 verse 18

00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.180
 all the way

00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:56.519
 here,

00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:57.639
 is that whether

00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:58.339
 you are people

00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:58.980
 of the law,

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.379
 the law given

00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:01.119
 at Sinai,

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.700
 the Jews,

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.299
 or people who

00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:03.779
 have the law

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:05.000
 written on their

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.299
 hearts,

00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:05.940
 we saw that in

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.440
 chapter 2,

00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.200
 which is to say

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.160
 a God

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.759
 consciousness,

00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:10.640
 we are both

00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.920
 Jew and

00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.600
 Gentile,

00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:13.519
 all people

00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.360
 inclined to

00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:16.039
 deny God's

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.539
 rule and

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.059
 standards,

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:17.920
 and what do

00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:18.180
 we do?

00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:18.819
 We minimize,

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.080
 we downplay,

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.160
 we excuse our

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.660
 sin,

00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:25.799
 and we are

00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.740
 experts at this.

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:28.660
 we are experts

00:26:28.660 --> 00:26:29.120
 at this,

00:26:29.120 --> 00:26:30.440
 and in a way,

00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:34.460
 we regularly

00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:36.079
 commit,

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:37.519
 at least by way

00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.000
 of a thought

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.539
 experiment,

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.180
 a kind of

00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:40.220
 regicide against

00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:40.599
 God.

00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:46.599
 His judgments

00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:49.000
 are so perfect

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.160
 and just

00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.259
 that we have

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.259
 to find a way

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.940
 around them.

00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.359
 But here's the

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:55.539
 thing,

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.940
 I can rail

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.680
 at the

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:59.099
 justice who

00:26:59.099 --> 00:26:59.539
 all had

00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.220
 exonerated

00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:00.700
 Philippe

00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:02.799
 Hebert for

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.379
 his partner's

00:27:03.379 --> 00:27:03.639
 murder.

00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.579
 I can,

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.659
 and I think

00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.279
 there's a place

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.180
 to rail against

00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:08.960
 that kind of

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.359
 injustice.

00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:11.899
 But I

00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.559
 exonerate

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.379
 myself every

00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:13.740
 day.

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.000
 I do.

00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.399
 I do.

00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:18.440
 And maybe

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:18.940
 you do as

00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.159
 well.

00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:20.639
 Exonerate

00:27:20.639 --> 00:27:21.359
 yourself every

00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.240
 day by ignoring

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.940
 what God has

00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.500
 said and who

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.059
 he is.

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:25.859
 how often

00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.779
 do you say,

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.599
 as the

00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.279
 justice said

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.460
 in his

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:29.839
 ruling,

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.659
 I've gone

00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:34.720
 through too

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.139
 much, or

00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:36.639
 the situation,

00:27:36.879 --> 00:27:37.119
 I mean,

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.359
 like can you

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.899
 blame me?

00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:40.740
 I look to

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.579
 exonerate myself

00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:42.240
 all the time.

00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:44.359
 The reality is

00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:45.000
 God is holy.

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:46.919
 And no matter

00:27:46.919 --> 00:27:47.339
 how much

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.519
 self-exoneration

00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.079
 I do,

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.200
 I, apart

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:50.679
 from him,

00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.200
 am not.

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:53.640
 sin is

00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:55.080
 incredibly

00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:55.819
 ungodly,

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.140
 and that

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.900
 ungodliness

00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:57.980
 at the very

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.759
 core of all

00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.120
 our sin,

00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.640
 that's the

00:27:59.640 --> 00:27:59.980
 problem.

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.360
 So,

00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.299
 sin,

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.460
 it's ubiquitous.

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.080
 Sin,

00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:05.720
 it penetrates

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.440
 all the way

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:06.940
 down,

00:28:07.180 --> 00:28:07.960
 and sin

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.539
 at its very

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.319
 core is

00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:10.080
 ungodly.

00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.440
 It is

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:12.480
 giving

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.900
 God

00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:15.400
 the finger,

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.140
 saying to

00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.440
 him,

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.420
 to hell

00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:17.860
 with you.

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:19.919
 Paul has

00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.519
 presented us

00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:20.879
 with this

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.259
 problem,

00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:22.979
 and I believe

00:28:22.979 --> 00:28:23.439
 he has done

00:28:23.439 --> 00:28:24.099
 a marvelous

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:24.579
 job,

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.279
 because,

00:28:26.459 --> 00:28:26.779
 again,

00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:27.719
 I can only

00:28:27.719 --> 00:28:28.139
 speak for

00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:28.619
 myself and

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.199
 how I feel

00:28:29.199 --> 00:28:29.639
 from this.

00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:30.479
 I feel pretty

00:28:30.479 --> 00:28:30.939
 crummy.

00:28:31.719 --> 00:28:32.319
 I'm kind of

00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:32.899
 glad to move

00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:33.439
 on from this

00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:34.059
 in some way,

00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:34.539
 which only

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.179
 shows that

00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:36.779
 I'm very

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:37.279
 uncomfortable

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.919
 with my

00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:38.179
 sin,

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.439
 and that

00:28:38.439 --> 00:28:39.099
 really Paul

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:39.379
 has done

00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:39.699
 a great

00:28:39.699 --> 00:28:40.240
 job here.

00:28:41.479 --> 00:28:42.099
 The evidence

00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.759
 has accumulated

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.619
 since verse

00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:44.299
 18 of chapter

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:44.639
 1,

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.699
 the prosecution

00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:46.479
 has finished,

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.680
 now it is

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.319
 our turn

00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:49.019
 to defend

00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.519
 ourselves.

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.620
 Verse 19,

00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:52.620
 we're there,

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:54.220
 the prosecution

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.599
 has said

00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:54.920
 everything,

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:55.559
 what are we

00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:56.120
 going to say

00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:56.740
 in our

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.140
 defense?

00:28:58.360 --> 00:28:58.960
 Verse 19,

00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.720
 now we

00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.259
 know that

00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:00.759
 whatever the

00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.339
 law says,

00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.140
 it speaks

00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:02.440
 to those

00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:02.660
 who are

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.059
 under the

00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.240
 law,

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.200
 so that

00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.079
 every mouth

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.599
 may be

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.079
 stopped,

00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:06.539
 and the

00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.180
 whole world

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.559
 may be

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:07.720
 held

00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.099
 accountable

00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:08.640
 to God.

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:09.660
 What can

00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.099
 we say?

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.120
 The answer

00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:11.620
 is nothing.

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.339
 What can

00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:14.860
 we say that

00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:15.380
 holds any

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.079
 weight against

00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.819
 the damning

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:17.559
 evidence laid

00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:18.019
 out before

00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.439
 us?

00:29:18.919 --> 00:29:19.220
 Can we

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.899
 appeal to

00:29:19.899 --> 00:29:20.240
 our good

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.740
 behavior?

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.000
 Can we

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.879
 self-justify?

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.299
 Can we

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:23.779
 simply work

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.359
 harder to

00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:25.419
 uphold God's

00:29:25.419 --> 00:29:25.759
 law?

00:29:26.159 --> 00:29:26.639
 The answer

00:29:26.639 --> 00:29:27.099
 is no.

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.879
 Paul concludes

00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:29.500
 in verse 20,

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:31.259
 for by works

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.019
 of the law,

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:32.740
 whether that

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.960
 is from the

00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:35.079
 Torah of

00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:35.879
 Sinai or

00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:37.720
 the morality

00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.579
 that we know

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.319
 to be true

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:39.960
 in our

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.339
 hearts,

00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:42.220
 for by works

00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:42.759
 of the law

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.639
 no human

00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.179
 being will

00:29:44.179 --> 00:29:44.899
 be justified

00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:45.759
 in God's

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:45.980
 sight,

00:29:46.100 --> 00:29:46.560
 since through

00:29:46.560 --> 00:29:46.960
 the law

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.800
 comes knowledge

00:29:47.800 --> 00:29:49.100
 of sin.

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.440
 The verdict

00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.100
 is in,

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.200
 friends,

00:29:52.300 --> 00:29:52.880
 you're guilty.

00:29:54.040 --> 00:29:54.780
 I'm guilty.

00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:57.900
 But here

00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:58.259
 at Messiah

00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:58.620
 West,

00:29:59.040 --> 00:29:59.580
 we don't

00:29:59.580 --> 00:29:59.880
 like to

00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:01.220
 end our

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.600
 sermons

00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:02.480
 without hope.

00:30:03.840 --> 00:30:04.320
 Okay?

00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:04.780
 So where

00:30:04.780 --> 00:30:05.160
 is the

00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:05.420
 hope?

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:08.940
 Even though

00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.380
 we may

00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:10.040
 have endured

00:30:10.040 --> 00:30:10.860
 difficult

00:30:10.860 --> 00:30:11.759
 childhoods,

00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.000
 we struggle

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.940
 with self-esteem,

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:14.740
 we have

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.299
 challenges

00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.359
 with school

00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:16.740
 or had

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.140
 challenges

00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:17.740
 with school,

00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:19.059
 with society,

00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:19.819
 with parents,

00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.480
 with marriages,

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.519
 with friendships,

00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:23.480
 with family,

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:25.099
 real problems,

00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:25.379
 okay?

00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:25.799
 I don't want to

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.579
 downplay any of

00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:27.079
 these things,

00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:27.700
 and I'm sure

00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.140
 you could fit

00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:28.500
 in a few

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.440
 more things.

00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:30.740
 Real problems,

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:31.859
 okay?

00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.740
 Things that

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.559
 kind of put us

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.279
 on the edge

00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:37.400
 of sanity,

00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:38.279
 put us on the

00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:39.119
 edge of

00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:40.339
 of what we

00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:40.899
 can take.

00:30:41.979 --> 00:30:42.259
 Nothing

00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.579
 can justify

00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.279
 sin.

00:30:46.479 --> 00:30:47.439
 Sin is so

00:30:47.439 --> 00:30:48.059
 heinous and

00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.699
 sinister that

00:30:48.699 --> 00:30:49.239
 it will take

00:30:49.239 --> 00:30:49.719
 our deepest

00:30:49.719 --> 00:30:50.299
 hurts and

00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:50.959
 biggest struggles

00:30:50.959 --> 00:30:53.079
 and use

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.839
 them as

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.819
 an excuse

00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:56.639
 to justify

00:30:56.639 --> 00:30:58.199
 behavior

00:30:58.199 --> 00:30:59.359
 and to

00:30:59.359 --> 00:30:59.819
 call sin

00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.679
 something else

00:31:00.679 --> 00:31:01.500
 other than

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:01.739
 what it

00:31:01.739 --> 00:31:02.379
 truly is.

00:31:03.199 --> 00:31:03.679
 Sin is

00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:04.519
 unbelievably

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.379
 deceptive.

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.059
 Because of

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.279
 this,

00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:07.919
 we can never

00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:09.099
 truly diagnose

00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:09.839
 sin.

00:31:10.419 --> 00:31:10.919
 And friends,

00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.639
 if you can't

00:31:11.639 --> 00:31:12.459
 diagnose a

00:31:12.459 --> 00:31:12.839
 problem,

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.859
 there is no

00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:15.379
 hope for a

00:31:15.379 --> 00:31:15.799
 solution,

00:31:16.439 --> 00:31:16.699
 okay?

00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:18.799
 You can't

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:19.159
 just see a

00:31:19.159 --> 00:31:19.859
 lump and say,

00:31:20.219 --> 00:31:20.679
 is it cancer,

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.159
 is it not

00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:21.519
 cancer?

00:31:21.639 --> 00:31:21.779
 Like,

00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:24.319
 you need to

00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:24.899
 have a full

00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:26.279
 diagnosis before

00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.959
 a solution

00:31:26.959 --> 00:31:29.439
 can happen.

00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.779
 So this is

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.119
 why,

00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.599
 here's the

00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:32.779
 hope,

00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:33.279
 the law,

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:33.980
 even though

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:34.879
 everybody is

00:31:34.879 --> 00:31:35.339
 guilty under

00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:35.659
 the law,

00:31:35.740 --> 00:31:36.179
 it is a

00:31:36.179 --> 00:31:36.500
 gift.

00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:37.500
 Okay,

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.059
 the law of

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.759
 God is a

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.460
 gift to

00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:39.819
 us.

00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:40.980
 It was

00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.539
 never meant

00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:41.960
 to be the

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.379
 means for

00:31:42.379 --> 00:31:42.639
 us to

00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.220
 climb out

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:43.480
 of the

00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:43.720
 pit,

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.980
 but rather

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.759
 it shows

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.339
 us how

00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:47.039
 deep and

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.539
 dark that

00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.099
 pit truly

00:31:48.099 --> 00:31:48.519
 is,

00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.379
 and how

00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:50.039
 no length

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:50.440
 of rope

00:31:50.440 --> 00:31:50.839
 or number

00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:51.319
 of rungs

00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:51.779
 can help

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.079
 us to

00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:52.480
 escape.

00:31:53.139 --> 00:31:53.759
 It is

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.159
 good to

00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:54.480
 know the

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:54.859
 problem

00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:55.539
 before you,

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.079
 okay?

00:31:56.599 --> 00:31:57.079
 It is never

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.460
 good to

00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:57.819
 stick your

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:59.039
 head in the

00:31:59.039 --> 00:31:59.419
 sand like

00:31:59.419 --> 00:32:00.000
 an ostrich.

00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:02.079
 What the law

00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:02.339
 does,

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.339
 it reveals our

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:03.639
 nature,

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.000
 and more

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.480
 importantly,

00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:04.799
 though,

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:05.819
 it reveals

00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:06.380
 God's

00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:06.779
 nature.

00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.099
 And what

00:32:08.099 --> 00:32:08.660
 is God's

00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:08.940
 nature?

00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:09.440
 That he is

00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:09.960
 holy and he

00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.400
 is perfect

00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:10.700
 and we

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.079
 are not,

00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:12.319
 but more

00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:13.220
 that he is

00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:13.900
 good and

00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:14.299
 that he is

00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:14.980
 patient and

00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:15.680
 that he is

00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.380
 mighty to

00:32:16.380 --> 00:32:16.640
 save.

00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:16.940
 Why?

00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.620
 Because he is

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.180
 a God of

00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:18.380
 love.

00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:18.940
 In fact,

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:19.940
 it says that

00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.440
 God is

00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:20.799
 love.

00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:22.860
 So,

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.579
 with sin

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.480
 and the

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.539
 utter totality

00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.819
 of depravity

00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.360
 as the

00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:28.860
 background,

00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.779
 we then

00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:30.420
 consider the

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:30.860
 gospel,

00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.839
 the good news

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.619
 of salvation,

00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:33.759
 that God

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.359
 will not

00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:35.319
 leave us

00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:35.959
 to wallow

00:32:35.959 --> 00:32:36.579
 in hopeless

00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.059
 darkness,

00:32:37.179 --> 00:32:37.539
 but will

00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:38.139
 save us.

00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.279
 And here's

00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:39.579
 the thing,

00:32:39.639 --> 00:32:40.119
 we know how

00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:40.759
 deep the

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.439
 darkness is,

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:41.959
 and maybe

00:32:41.959 --> 00:32:42.439
 it's even

00:32:42.439 --> 00:32:43.000
 darker than

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.439
 we think,

00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.159
 and God,

00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:44.439
 what he

00:32:44.439 --> 00:32:44.980
 doesn't do

00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:45.699
 is just,

00:32:46.179 --> 00:32:46.339
 you know,

00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:46.779
 this God

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.419
 is fantastic,

00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:48.379
 he knows

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:48.859
 how deep

00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:49.199
 this pit

00:32:49.199 --> 00:32:49.480
 is,

00:32:49.959 --> 00:32:50.359
 so he

00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:50.799
 has the

00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.319
 length of

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.019
 rope needed

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:52.939
 to reach

00:32:52.939 --> 00:32:53.199
 us.

00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:53.759
 So we

00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.299
 climb out,

00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.240
 he throws

00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:55.599
 us the

00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:55.859
 rope,

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.319
 he doesn't

00:32:57.319 --> 00:32:57.839
 do that,

00:32:58.059 --> 00:32:58.199
 okay,

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:58.539
 he doesn't

00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:58.879
 just take

00:32:58.879 --> 00:32:59.579
 this giant

00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.359
 cosmic ladder

00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:00.859
 and put it

00:33:00.859 --> 00:33:01.819
 down the

00:33:01.819 --> 00:33:02.159
 pit.

00:33:02.679 --> 00:33:03.039
 What does

00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:03.419
 he do?

00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.480
 He belays

00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.939
 himself down,

00:33:08.919 --> 00:33:09.259
 okay,

00:33:09.379 --> 00:33:10.039
 all the way

00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.500
 down to

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:10.960
 the pit,

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:11.799
 from the

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.279
 top to

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.779
 the bottom.

00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:13.779
 We are

00:33:13.779 --> 00:33:14.099
 there,

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:14.519
 we are

00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.119
 blind,

00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:15.899
 we are

00:33:15.899 --> 00:33:17.079
 dirty,

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:17.740
 we are

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.259
 scared,

00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:18.980
 we are

00:33:18.980 --> 00:33:20.000
 hopeless,

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:20.460
 and what

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:20.700
 does he

00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:20.939
 do?

00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:22.000
 He

00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:22.700
 attaches

00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.700
 us to

00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:24.039
 him,

00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.079
 and then

00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:25.439
 he brings

00:33:25.439 --> 00:33:25.919
 us up,

00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:26.339
 okay?

00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:27.299
 He's the

00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:27.559
 one who

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:27.899
 does the

00:33:27.899 --> 00:33:28.240
 climbing,

00:33:28.439 --> 00:33:28.740
 he's the

00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.519
 one who

00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.220
 gets us

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:30.779
 out of

00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.679
 the pit,

00:33:31.819 --> 00:33:32.359
 and what

00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:32.619
 do we

00:33:32.619 --> 00:33:32.899
 need to

00:33:32.899 --> 00:33:33.119
 do?

00:33:33.679 --> 00:33:34.119
 We need

00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:34.500
 to cry

00:33:34.500 --> 00:33:34.799
 out for

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.240
 help and

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:37.419
 then embrace

00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:38.819
 him as

00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:39.579
 he saves

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:41.179
 us from

00:33:41.179 --> 00:33:41.679
 certain

00:33:41.679 --> 00:33:43.059
 defeat and

00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:43.480
 despair.

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:45.059
 So you

00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:45.299
 see,

00:33:45.879 --> 00:33:46.980
 there is no

00:33:46.980 --> 00:33:47.419
 amount of

00:33:47.419 --> 00:33:47.899
 climbing we

00:33:47.899 --> 00:33:48.339
 can do,

00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:49.839
 but friends,

00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.859
 it is to

00:33:50.859 --> 00:33:51.460
 our benefit

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:51.960
 that we know

00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.619
 how deep we

00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:53.200
 truly are.

00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.339
 So the law

00:33:55.339 --> 00:33:55.740
 is good,

00:33:56.159 --> 00:33:56.559
 and it's

00:33:56.559 --> 00:33:56.939
 glorious,

00:33:56.940 --> 00:33:57.420
 not

00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:57.840
 for its

00:33:57.840 --> 00:33:58.279
 intended

00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:58.840
 purpose.

00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:00.720
 So read

00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.140
 God's

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:01.400
 word.

00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:02.940
 Become

00:34:02.940 --> 00:34:03.660
 convicted

00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:04.240
 of your

00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:04.519
 sins.

00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.200
 Don't

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:06.580
 try to

00:34:06.580 --> 00:34:06.900
 cloak

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.160
 them,

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.700
 dissemble

00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:08.240
 or cloak

00:34:08.240 --> 00:34:08.760
 them before

00:34:08.760 --> 00:34:09.179
 the face

00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:09.599
 of Almighty

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.000
 God,

00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:10.700
 but instead

00:34:10.700 --> 00:34:11.519
 be very

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.340
 honest with

00:34:12.340 --> 00:34:13.420
 your sins.

00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:13.980
 And yet

00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.579
 more importantly,

00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:16.360
 remember that

00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.139
 even though you

00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:17.760
 are a great

00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.139
 sinner,

00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:18.860
 that God

00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:20.019
 is an

00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:20.619
 even greater

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.079
 savior,

00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.200
 and that he

00:34:22.200 --> 00:34:22.740
 is not just

00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:23.099
 willing,

00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:23.480
 but he

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.360
 delights in

00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:25.280
 salvation.

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.059
 So remember

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:28.059
 that the

00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:30.500
 gospel is

00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:30.960
 the power

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:31.440
 to save

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.059
 all people,

00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:33.920
 for in it

00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.700
 the righteousness

00:34:34.700 --> 00:34:35.599
 of God that

00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.280
 we need,

00:34:36.680 --> 00:34:37.160
 that we do

00:34:37.160 --> 00:34:37.660
 not have,

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:38.079
 is being

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:38.440
 revealed.

00:34:40.180 --> 00:34:41.539
 Praise be

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.180
 to God

00:34:42.180 --> 00:34:42.880
 and his

00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:43.300
 son Jesus

00:34:43.300 --> 00:34:43.940
 Christ forever.

00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:44.260
 Amen.