WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.400 If you have the Bible, go ahead and turn with me to Romans 1. 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:13.540 And we're going to be looking at verses 16 and 17 today. 00:00:14.540 --> 00:00:20.500 We're continuing our march through Romans at a somewhat slow pace. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:26.039 But fret not, there'll be some breaks. 00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:30.160 But today we're looking at Romans 1, 16 and 17. 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:35.879 This is God's word. 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:43.560 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:47.079 to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:54.259 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith. 00:00:54.259 --> 00:00:59.039 As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith. 00:00:59.399 --> 00:00:59.839 Let's pray. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:03.379 Lord, we're thankful for your word which you've given us this morning. 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:09.480 We pray that you might use it, that we might see Christ as more glorious through it. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:12.239 And we pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:01:12.739 --> 00:01:12.979 Amen. 00:01:12.980 --> 00:01:18.240 If you're like me, you kind of check your email, either a lot or a little. 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:19.460 I won't tell you which one I am. 00:01:19.939 --> 00:01:21.780 I'm a persistent email checker. 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:23.460 It's not just my computer. 00:01:23.800 --> 00:01:27.340 It's also other things like my phone. 00:01:28.040 --> 00:01:33.159 Maybe you check your email on an iPad or some kind of e-reader or some other kind of device. 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:35.420 But that's not necessarily a bad thing. 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:36.480 We want to stay connected. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:39.079 Even here at this church. 00:01:39.540 --> 00:01:44.920 Now, this isn't a paid advertisement to join into the church email list, although that's a good idea. 00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:47.560 But we want to stay connected. 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:56.320 And each week, Miss Kathy and Matthew can send out news updates and reminders and all those kinds of things. 00:01:56.920 --> 00:01:57.640 And that's good. 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:02.700 Now, this doesn't happen every week to me, but it happens a lot. 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:05.180 But I read those emails. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:11.819 I get that weekly announcement in my email inbox, and I think, what in the world is going on? 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:18.039 Because I glance at that subject line, and I read it again, and I think, oh, my goodness. 00:02:18.140 --> 00:02:19.580 Is anyone paying attention? 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:21.500 Who is running this operation? 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:29.620 I've said this even out loud where the guy who works in the office next to me will say, what is going on with you? 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:31.300 I'll show you what I mean. 00:02:31.300 --> 00:02:34.380 And here are some of the subject lines of the emails that I read. 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:37.340 Make a significant impact. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:38.340 I think, oh, yeah, great. 00:02:38.420 --> 00:02:39.939 I want to make a significant impact. 00:02:41.020 --> 00:02:45.980 I think when I hear or when I read, join us for member enrichment. 00:02:46.140 --> 00:02:48.000 I want to be rich in all areas of my life. 00:02:48.140 --> 00:02:48.680 Don't you? 00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:51.740 But this is where the panic sets in. 00:02:53.100 --> 00:02:54.980 Come meet Dot and Chico. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:58.720 I think to myself, who are Dot and Chico? 00:02:58.800 --> 00:02:59.620 I've never met them. 00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:07.259 And then full-on pandemonium sets in when I read, Cora, the one-year-old panda, is settling in. 00:03:07.580 --> 00:03:09.599 Like, what in the world is going on? 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:12.259 Grizzly bear housewarming party. 00:03:12.420 --> 00:03:14.099 Now I'm speed dialing Kathy. 00:03:14.360 --> 00:03:16.400 I'm trying to call her to make sure she's okay. 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:20.420 And then it finally dawns on me when I read something like this. 00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:23.960 Our zootacular auction is on the way. 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:27.420 Ah, it's not Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:03:27.500 --> 00:03:28.560 It's Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. 00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:33.200 And when I check it on my phone, I think it's on my phone, I just see Cheyenne Mountain. 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:35.580 And this happens every single time. 00:03:35.600 --> 00:03:37.280 I just assume that it's the church. 00:03:37.760 --> 00:03:40.080 But it's, in fact, the zoo. 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:46.460 And I get worried because those subject lines are so descriptive, I know what is happening. 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:49.960 But I think it's happening at church and not up the mountain at the zoo. 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:55.900 Those subject lines give you a snippet of what's happening at the zoo. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:04:00.840 They tell us what you're about to learn, what you're about to see when you visit. 00:04:01.480 --> 00:04:08.780 The subject line of this letter in Romans tells us exactly what is going to happen for the rest of the letter. 00:04:08.780 --> 00:04:18.860 It reminds us in these two jam-packed verses that righteousness is really, really important. 00:04:19.660 --> 00:04:21.600 Righteousness that comes from the gospel. 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:23.879 Righteousness that is of God. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:30.019 And how far it reaches, how deep it reaches, and how it is accomplished. 00:04:30.779 --> 00:04:31.519 So we're going to look at that. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:37.180 How it's the reach of gospel righteousness and the means for how it is accomplished. 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:40.420 First, let's turn our attention to the reach. 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.519 Paul very narrowly is talking about the gospel noun form. 00:04:45.280 --> 00:04:46.980 Gospel adjective form is good. 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:51.699 But it seems we're inundated these days with that as an adjective. 00:04:51.900 --> 00:04:54.500 But he's talking very specifically about the gospel. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:57.100 The message of salvation through Christ. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:04:59.759 And the righteousness that flows from that. 00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:02.259 And the righteousness that creates that. 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:04.639 As we'll see in a second. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:09.939 He points us to that in the very first phrase of verse 16. 00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:13.039 For I am not ashamed of the gospel. 00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:16.519 Now very much has been said. 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:19.639 Ink has been spilt over what he's talking about. 00:05:19.719 --> 00:05:23.199 I'm sure you have heard someone say, you should not be ashamed. 00:05:23.379 --> 00:05:25.000 That is absolutely true. 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:31.159 If the gospel is that important and that life-changing, you should not be ashamed. 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:33.480 In fact, you should glory over it. 00:05:33.660 --> 00:05:38.640 But what Paul is doing here is using this kind of technique. 00:05:38.760 --> 00:05:42.120 It's a rhetorical device where he uses almost a double negative. 00:05:42.660 --> 00:05:44.600 And he says, I don't want you to be sorry. 00:05:44.880 --> 00:05:45.740 Sorry is not a negative. 00:05:46.340 --> 00:05:47.960 But he doesn't want you to be sorry. 00:05:48.300 --> 00:05:53.260 Or my favorite from growing up is, you don't want to leave hungry. 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:55.100 So it means you want to be filled. 00:05:55.100 --> 00:05:58.300 In fact, grandfathers say these things all the time. 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:04.960 And when my brother and I were younger, we would write these things down to try to figure out exactly what my granddad was saying. 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:06.960 Because he would use phrases like this. 00:06:07.300 --> 00:06:11.120 And if we're going to write this phrase down and try to figure out what Paul is saying, 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:14.660 he is saying very clearly, I glory in the gospel. 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:16.120 I delight in it. 00:06:16.640 --> 00:06:17.720 I rejoice in it. 00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:21.939 And he's still not ashamed. 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:22.840 But why? 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:27.479 If you remember last week, we ended with verse 15. 00:06:27.739 --> 00:06:27.839 Right? 00:06:27.899 --> 00:06:28.839 It's right before 16. 00:06:29.039 --> 00:06:32.979 He said he was eager to bring the gospel to Rome and preach it to those that were there. 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:38.399 He's eager because he, in verse 16, glories in it. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:39.659 He delights in it. 00:06:39.899 --> 00:06:41.079 It's his everything. 00:06:42.059 --> 00:06:43.279 He relishes it. 00:06:44.359 --> 00:06:46.459 And it's not just him personally. 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:48.599 It's much more than that. 00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:50.419 Which we'll see in a minute. 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:53.140 Now, this question of reach. 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:56.180 It's a reach in terms of scope. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:59.660 It's a reach in terms of depth and breadth. 00:07:00.080 --> 00:07:01.000 And that's how we're going to look at it. 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:01.759 Depth and breadth. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:02.640 Depth. 00:07:04.379 --> 00:07:10.900 Anticipating the question about the gospel that Paul describes here is not just in terms of what it accomplishes. 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:12.540 He starts with the oomph behind it. 00:07:12.580 --> 00:07:13.100 The power. 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:14.560 He says that very clearly. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:17.819 It is the power of God for salvation. 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:21.159 He starts with God. 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:23.379 It's how he saves. 00:07:23.599 --> 00:07:27.939 Just like how he created all things, he brought them into being in creation. 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:31.600 That's the story of God working powerfully to make things. 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:40.219 Salvation is the story, is the means by which God saves people, shows his righteousness. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:42.579 As we'll see in a minute. 00:07:42.579 --> 00:07:46.300 The great theologian John Murray described it like this. 00:07:46.719 --> 00:07:48.800 Salvation is proclaimed in the gospel. 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:49.560 Got that. 00:07:50.359 --> 00:07:55.019 The gospel as a message is the embodiment of power. 00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:57.759 We don't often think like that. 00:07:58.180 --> 00:08:01.860 That salvation is how God shows his power. 00:08:02.379 --> 00:08:04.539 But that's what Paul is reminding us of. 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:09.080 And that display of power is in the very depth of salvation. 00:08:09.080 --> 00:08:11.560 He reminds us the gospel is for everyone. 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:13.220 It's for anyone. 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:18.520 It's not just for those who think they're within the pale. 00:08:18.760 --> 00:08:21.220 It's for those who are beyond the pale. 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:24.500 Those that think they can't even darken the door. 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:29.420 But the power of God is that light that invades the darkness in each of our hearts. 00:08:30.579 --> 00:08:34.620 And changes us from sinner into saint. 00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:42.580 This power of God, this message of the gospel, this salvation is for everyone. 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:45.720 And sometimes we think that we are too far gone. 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:49.240 But it's for those people. 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:50.620 It's for the lawless. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:51.620 It's for the righteous. 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:53.480 It's for the self-righteous. 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:56.539 It's for the people that have everything together. 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:59.080 It's for those people that their lives are a mess. 00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:01.300 It is for everyone and anyone. 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:06.879 And sometimes we trick ourselves into thinking it's just for us here in Colorado Springs. 00:09:07.060 --> 00:09:09.080 It's just for us here in this church. 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:11.720 It's just for us in the Western world. 00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:15.980 It's just for us that can read, that speak English. 00:09:16.580 --> 00:09:22.659 It's for everyone at all times, in all places, for everyone that is to come. 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:26.000 And everyone that has been. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:31.340 It's for every Pharisee, perfectionist, for every tribe, tongue, and nation. 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:32.000 We know that. 00:09:34.180 --> 00:09:36.160 But we need to be reminded of that. 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:38.060 We all need the gospel. 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:41.519 And it is free. 00:09:42.460 --> 00:09:43.740 Isaiah reminds us of this. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:44.200 He writes, 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:48.100 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. 00:09:50.160 --> 00:09:54.200 And he who has no money, come buy and eat. 00:09:54.300 --> 00:09:58.100 Come buy wine and milk without money and without price. 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:00.400 This good news is free and for everyone. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:04.439 May we never lose sight of that fact. 00:10:05.439 --> 00:10:06.139 But there's a catch. 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:06.939 Right? 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:07.740 There's always a catch. 00:10:07.819 --> 00:10:11.000 The guy who comes and knocks on my door and gives me the free estimate. 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:11.980 I know there's a catch. 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:12.659 I know it's coming. 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:14.740 There's a catch to this. 00:10:15.939 --> 00:10:17.199 But it's a pretty easy one. 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:18.720 Believe. 00:10:19.419 --> 00:10:23.179 Simply believe that message is true and trust in it. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:27.000 Paul reminds the wayward church of Corinth of this very thing. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:28.879 He writes in this later letter, 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:33.980 It pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:41.200 If the gospel makes sense, that means the power of God is working in your heart to understand it. 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:43.120 It's being made manifest. 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:45.940 Just because like Paul said in 1 Corinthians, 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:51.200 if it doesn't make sense, it's because God hasn't made himself known. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:52.700 He's not working. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:56.259 That sounds super foolish. 00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:58.460 But that is how he works. 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:03.319 Now in that 1 Corinthians quote, and here, who's doing all the work? 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:04.919 It ain't me. 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:05.819 It ain't you. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:07.879 It's God. 00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:10.000 He's the one that's operative. 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:13.100 He's the one that can freely offer the gospel to us. 00:11:13.319 --> 00:11:15.360 And that's kind of a little bit of a mystery. 00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:16.559 And Paul knows this. 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:18.899 But he knows that God is at work. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:23.080 He knows God's power is the thing that causes salvation. 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:26.060 And that's the only thing that can cause it. 00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:30.800 Because sinners are captive to the law. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:34.000 They've had the penalty of sin and death. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:37.139 Death because of their sin pinned upon them. 00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:38.960 And they're dead. 00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:41.819 Dead things don't live. 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:46.819 Dead ice makers in refrigerators don't make ice, as I found out. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:52.799 No matter how much I want to massage them or reset them and will their existence into being, 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:56.039 but when the circuit board is fried, it is dead. 00:11:58.039 --> 00:11:58.979 We are dead. 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:02.819 Nothing we can do can will ourselves out of that. 00:12:02.820 --> 00:12:10.520 And that's the beauty of this gospel message, that God has sent his son to die for sin, 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:12.320 for your sin and my sin. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:17.120 And we receive that righteousness if we put faith in him. 00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:21.879 God and man sent here on earth to pay the penalty for sin. 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:26.000 All that's required is that we believe in him. 00:12:26.659 --> 00:12:28.039 And he rose from the dead. 00:12:29.059 --> 00:12:33.700 And one day, this world will pass away and we will rise as well. 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:39.639 But not just for us, those long ago and those to come. 00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:41.899 Everyone who believes, no matter their background. 00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:46.659 I think sometimes that's a confusing idea for us in the modern day. 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:52.079 We hear that we are so informed and shaped by our culture. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:52.939 And that's true. 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:56.039 But that's where the gospel is unique, right? 00:12:56.100 --> 00:13:02.100 That message that's so simple that God works to come to fruition, it transcends all of that. 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:09.579 And Paul reminds us of that in these unique phrases, first to the Jew and then to the Greek. 00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:16.279 Now, Hatfields and McCoys, there can't be two groups that are more diametrically opposed than Jews and Greeks. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:17.399 They're different. 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.379 They have different values. 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:19.399 They have different beliefs. 00:13:19.959 --> 00:13:23.539 They speak different languages most often in this context. 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:25.860 They simply don't like each other. 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:31.559 And if you read the New Testament, a lot is written about getting those people who now have faith in Jesus 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:34.539 to come and work together and actually care about each other. 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:35.759 They have the gospel. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.079 They believe in Christ. 00:13:37.220 --> 00:13:41.159 But they're holding on to who they are so tightly that they don't like each other. 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:47.579 Paul reminds us the gospel works no matter where we come from or who we are. 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:52.419 Oftentimes, we'll hear that phrase Gentile, which is a.k.a. not a Jew. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:54.839 Greek is the same way. 00:13:54.840 --> 00:14:00.080 It has the same connotation that they are not Jewish. 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:03.580 But here, there's an introduction of an interesting wrinkle. 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:04.899 Time. 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:07.480 First to the Jew and then to the Greek. 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:10.379 We see in other places that Paul writes in like Galatians. 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.759 He wrote that letter before this. 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:16.879 That there is either Jew nor Greek nor slave nor free nor man or woman. 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.620 We're all one in Christ Jesus. 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.740 Okay, we get that. 00:14:19.819 --> 00:14:20.699 We're all coming together. 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.659 We have faith in Jesus. 00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:23.799 But here, he introduces time. 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.139 Why does he do that? 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:33.159 He's doing that to show us how the gospel is at work, even in the past. 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:36.539 Because that gospel message came to the Jews first. 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:41.360 And all those promises, and all those warnings, and all those reminders. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:48.720 As one other has said it, that God was laying the lines of preparation in Israel for the gospel. 00:14:49.059 --> 00:14:50.259 It was there. 00:14:51.439 --> 00:14:52.179 They missed it. 00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:59.519 And now, it's come to everyone in the freeness, in the fullness of Jesus. 00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:04.819 This is a quick pivot here by Paul from talking about how one is saved. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:06.479 Kind of the order of that's going on. 00:15:06.699 --> 00:15:09.620 The fancy term for that is, in Latin, order salutis. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.919 How things are ordered, right? 00:15:11.079 --> 00:15:11.959 I love order. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:14.159 I'm a Presbyterian in the army. 00:15:14.359 --> 00:15:15.319 I love order. 00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:17.359 I love it. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:21.879 And so, I get really uncomfortable when we talk about this other thing. 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:25.339 The history of salvation. 00:15:25.979 --> 00:15:27.259 The historia salutis. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:33.299 How the gospel is at work, weaving through all of time to come to fruition. 00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:37.019 But that's exactly what Paul is pointing us to. 00:15:37.359 --> 00:15:38.799 He's pointing to us. 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:41.339 He's pointing to these Jews that missed it. 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:43.939 That it has always been there. 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:47.820 It is always, it was always there. 00:15:50.900 --> 00:15:53.880 To anyone and everyone who believes. 00:15:54.420 --> 00:15:55.580 To the Jew first. 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.640 Now to all people. 00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:59.600 No matter what they have done. 00:15:59.900 --> 00:16:01.080 The depth of their sin. 00:16:01.400 --> 00:16:02.900 The breadth of our world. 00:16:03.420 --> 00:16:05.020 The gospel is for all of those. 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:09.460 In the spring of 1738, a young man entered a church. 00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:10.399 Wasn't a Christian. 00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:15.199 And he heard a man kind of stumbling his way through reading a commentary. 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:18.439 Imagine if Matthew came here every week and read through a commentary. 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:20.360 I don't know if I could make it. 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:24.779 But this man was so taken by what he heard. 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:27.839 He described his experience this way. 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:33.159 While he was describing the change by which God works in the heart through faith in Christ. 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:36.179 I felt my heart strangely warmed. 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:38.519 I felt I did trust Christ. 00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:40.399 Christ alone for my salvation. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:44.539 And assurance was given to me that he had taken away my sins. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:46.860 Even mine. 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:49.079 That man was John Wesley. 00:16:49.459 --> 00:16:52.539 And that experience would inform his entire ministry. 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.879 And would change a nation. 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:56.179 Change the western world arguably. 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:01.079 Christ had taken away my sin. 00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.599 Even mine. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:08.559 His, mine, yours. 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:11.879 We delivered from the law of sin and death. 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:16.440 And delivered into glorious marvelous light of faith in Christ. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:19.339 Because sin is paid by Christ. 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:21.539 That's what Paul is reminding us of. 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:21.980 Of. 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:24.399 That's what John Wesley experienced. 00:17:25.899 --> 00:17:29.200 And even if we need to be reminded of that gospel. 00:17:29.399 --> 00:17:31.180 Because that gold has become dim. 00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:35.559 That glorious truth is no longer so fresh within us. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:37.559 The thing that makes you more holy. 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:39.539 That makes me love my wife more. 00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:41.960 That makes me love my kids more. 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:44.180 That makes me want to do good at work. 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:47.740 The thing that drives all that. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.620 The powerhouse. 00:17:49.340 --> 00:17:50.220 The engine. 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.960 Is that power of God. 00:17:52.060 --> 00:17:53.340 It is the gospel message. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.580 Even now. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:57.860 It's not something that happens and is set upon the shelf. 00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:59.419 God is at work. 00:17:59.419 --> 00:18:01.479 God is at work. 00:18:01.879 --> 00:18:03.439 Even to make us more holy. 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.839 From the gospel. 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.979 To root out sin. 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:08.819 And to walk in Christ likeness. 00:18:09.659 --> 00:18:11.419 We can't deceive ourselves though. 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:14.659 And we often do. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.519 And think it's all on my own. 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.740 Yes it is. 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:19.139 In some sense. 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.720 But God is the power. 00:18:21.139 --> 00:18:21.859 Behind this. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.480 God is the power in salvation. 00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:25.200 It's not in us. 00:18:25.639 --> 00:18:27.240 And even when we share the gospel. 00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:29.099 We're talking about being a gospel hub. 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:31.579 And having a fervent witness in this community. 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:34.579 We can think that everything is in our technique. 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:36.259 Our tactics. 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:38.859 How conversant we are in modern culture. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:41.779 Do I know the latest rap song. 00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:43.139 So I can talk to teenagers. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.139 Or soldiers. 00:18:44.879 --> 00:18:45.639 Or my neighbor. 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:49.640 Do I read those monthly periodicals. 00:18:50.820 --> 00:18:52.300 So I can talk about those things. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.700 And then transition to the gospel. 00:18:54.020 --> 00:18:55.580 Those aren't bad things. 00:18:57.060 --> 00:19:00.860 But we must know that the power of God is what changes hearts. 00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:03.720 It's me on my knees praying for my children. 00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:05.820 No matter my parenting techniques. 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:09.759 It's me praying for my neighbor. 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:14.580 And wanting parents and wayward children. 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:16.119 To come home to faith. 00:19:16.439 --> 00:19:17.439 That is the power. 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.859 We must be reminded of that. 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:21.819 Paul is reminding this church. 00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:23.439 He's reminding us. 00:19:24.139 --> 00:19:27.879 That God gives righteousness through the gospel. 00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:29.419 Through the power of God. 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:31.759 No matter our sin. 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.339 No matter our culture. 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:36.419 The depth and breadth of gospel righteousness. 00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:38.699 But how does he accomplish it? 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:40.059 What are the means he uses? 00:19:40.419 --> 00:19:42.019 He's alluded to this a little bit before. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.900 It's just believing. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:44.980 And then he expounds on this. 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:48.539 He keeps turning back to that one key point. 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.139 Verse 17. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:55.200 For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed. 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:58.259 The starting point is not the righteousness we receive. 00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.740 But it's God's righteousness. 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:02.579 It's kind of a weird phrase if we think about it. 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:05.179 Oftentimes we think about God's holiness a lot. 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:07.419 We don't think about God's righteousness. 00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:11.019 But it's distinct. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:14.740 We think about our own lack of righteousness. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:16.139 We're really familiar with that. 00:20:17.919 --> 00:20:20.139 Shorter catechism and Puritans remind us of this. 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:22.619 My favorite is the want of original righteousness. 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:24.859 Just makes you sound smart, right? 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:27.500 The want of original righteousness. 00:20:27.679 --> 00:20:29.179 Just means you don't have any righteousness. 00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:31.400 But God has righteousness. 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:36.400 And sometimes in the modern sense, we think of righteousness as moral. 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:42.259 But Paul is bringing forth this Old Testament idea of it being legal. 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.320 Righteousness is legal. 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:51.580 It thinks about a judge in a courtroom with one of the gavel things. 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:51.840 Yep. 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:53.120 Not the wooden hammer. 00:20:54.539 --> 00:20:56.080 He declares that you're righteous. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:01.759 It's not the sense in which people that live in my home, when they get disgruntled, they say, 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.220 Oh, Dad, that ain't right. 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:05.059 It's not moral. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.099 It's legal. 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:10.199 But there is a moral quality. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:14.480 There's a moral quality in God. 00:21:14.679 --> 00:21:17.299 But righteousness is part of who he is. 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:19.220 Holiness is being set apart. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.639 Completely other. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:24.640 We have that after being made in God's own image. 00:21:24.780 --> 00:21:27.100 We also have a righteousness that we receive from him. 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:31.380 But when sin enters in the world, we know how that goes. 00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:34.340 We don't have the holiness. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:37.280 We don't have the righteousness in his image. 00:21:40.780 --> 00:21:43.460 Righteousness is part of who God is. 00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:45.200 But he reveals it to us. 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.759 But how does he reveal it to us? 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:50.019 It's not like he pulls up the curtain and goes, Ta-da, this is my righteousness. 00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:52.259 He reveals it in salvation. 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:55.379 He reveals it in the gospel. 00:21:57.480 --> 00:22:01.960 But this is not done without consideration of justice. 00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:04.960 It's not done and he puts justice aside. 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:09.039 He just merely redirects justice towards his son. 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:11.240 And that is right. 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:17.399 Lest we think this is something that only happens in the New Testament. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:22.920 Isaiah records this idea together of salvation and righteousness being linked together. 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:25.159 He says this, 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.619 I bring near my righteousness. 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.759 It is not far off. 00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:30.200 My salvation will not delay. 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:34.440 Soon salvation will come and my righteousness will be revealed. 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:38.480 Salvation and righteousness are linked together and we can't separate them. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:44.279 God's righteousness is on display in salvation. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:49.160 He doesn't just save us from sin, but he gives us Christ's righteousness. 00:22:50.360 --> 00:22:55.259 The Christian actually receives the righteousness of Christ when they believe. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:57.120 That is a glorious fact. 00:22:57.460 --> 00:23:01.019 And it starts with God's righteousness because that's who he is. 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:04.620 Now, how does he accomplish that? 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:06.240 This is the curious part. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:11.099 Paul points back to that critical component of believing or faith. 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:11.980 He writes, 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:23.319 When we see this, Paul is pointing back to verse 16 when he says, 00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.500 everyone who believes. 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:29.940 There's actually a lot of contention over what's going on here. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:32.860 But we know that you have to believe to be righteous. 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:37.059 There's a disagreement over the phrase. 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:38.079 Is it from faith, 00:23:38.439 --> 00:23:38.959 for faith, 00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:39.479 from faith, 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.099 to faith? 00:23:40.919 --> 00:23:42.500 Does it mean degrees of faith? 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:44.019 I have weak faith or strong faith. 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:47.099 Does it mean faith alone justifies? 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:50.419 Key is always context. 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:53.419 And many problems of heresies or good idea fairies, 00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:55.039 of things that pop up in the text, 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.440 we know if we just keep reading, 00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:58.319 either before or behind it, 00:23:58.619 --> 00:24:00.559 nine times out of ten we'll figure it out. 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.839 And here, it's a lot closer. 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:04.119 16, it says, 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:04.980 Whoever believes, 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.539 if we have faith in Christ, 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.779 then we receive justification. 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.700 We are made righteous. 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:13.559 In that earlier letter that Paul wrote 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:16.159 to the church in Galatia, 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:16.960 he said, 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:19.059 the promise of faith in Jesus 00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:20.720 is given to those who believe. 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.860 That is the condition. 00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:22.920 That is the grounds. 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:25.600 But this is an old, old story. 00:24:26.100 --> 00:24:27.039 As we see, 00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:30.480 Paul reminds us and points us back to Habakkuk. 00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:33.019 It's kind of a weird quotation. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:36.240 Some have said Romans is an entire sermon, 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:37.759 a really stinking long sermon, 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.720 about Habakkuk, 00:24:39.840 --> 00:24:41.660 about this one verse in Habakkuk. 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:45.059 And Paul spends 16 some odd chapters 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.779 explaining it. 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:50.000 He's quoting not Jesus, 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.640 not the events of the disciples, 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:54.360 but he's quoting an Old Testament idea 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:56.240 because it's that important, 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.620 because it's not new, 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.940 that faith is the means 00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:02.600 by which God's people achieve righteousness 00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.620 or receive it. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.920 It's how it's accomplished. 00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:08.299 We talked about righteousness earlier, 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.880 but whenever I think of righteousness, 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:11.340 I think of NBA basketball. 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.759 I think of NBA basketball a lot. 00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:14.539 I love the NBA. 00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:18.379 And if you're around in the 90s and early 2000s, 00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:22.000 you'll remember this very famous basketball player. 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:24.960 He was an African named Mutombo. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:27.379 He played for the Hawks, 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:29.859 and he was kind of a journeyman of other teams. 00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:32.599 But what he did is when he would block shots, 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:35.539 he would celebrate by doing this, 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:36.359 like a mom. 00:25:37.179 --> 00:25:37.859 And he would say, 00:25:37.959 --> 00:25:38.159 no, 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:40.959 whenever I hear the word righteousness, 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:43.199 that I'm good, 00:25:44.199 --> 00:25:45.819 I think in my mind, 00:25:45.899 --> 00:25:47.079 I think back to Mutombo, 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:49.579 even in the Geico commercial of a couple of years ago, 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:53.139 him waving his finger at that person and saying, 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:54.240 you don't need righteousness. 00:25:56.840 --> 00:25:58.320 You need God's righteousness. 00:25:58.660 --> 00:26:00.200 I need God's righteousness. 00:26:00.520 --> 00:26:01.600 I need Christ. 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:06.140 It needs to be given to me through faith. 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:09.020 We need his righteousness 00:26:09.020 --> 00:26:12.900 as it's revealed to accomplish 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:15.320 the means of salvation. 00:26:16.100 --> 00:26:18.120 Righteousness revealed in salvation, 00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:19.380 as Paul reminds us. 00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.880 We all need it. 00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:23.980 And it's freely offered to us. 00:26:24.080 --> 00:26:24.940 Gospel righteousness 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:26.760 that reaches the vilest of sinners 00:26:26.760 --> 00:26:27.760 that are on death row. 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:30.560 The righteousness that is revealed to us 00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:31.320 in our homes, 00:26:32.080 --> 00:26:32.700 even me, 00:26:33.060 --> 00:26:33.400 you, 00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:36.980 we need Christ's work on our behalf. 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:38.580 Christ's work on the cross. 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:42.560 But I can't escape this one thing. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:43.620 Why Habakkuk? 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:46.600 Why does Paul use Habakkuk? 00:26:47.040 --> 00:26:47.900 I'll tell you why. 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:49.580 It's for context. 00:26:50.560 --> 00:26:52.180 It's not going well for Israel. 00:26:52.320 --> 00:26:53.680 They found themselves in darkness, 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.680 oppressed, 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.600 downtrodden, 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:57.780 no visible hope of deliverance. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.820 Things were not going well. 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:04.540 But God is reminding his people 00:27:04.540 --> 00:27:05.820 that evil will not triumph. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:08.440 Wickedness will not always be. 00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:11.700 Broken bodies will not always be broken. 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:15.380 Relationships will not always be fractured. 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.580 They will be restored. 00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:19.480 Salvation is, 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.099 yes, 00:27:20.159 --> 00:27:20.819 for us, 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.519 from sin. 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:24.379 But it accomplishes all these things. 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:26.299 A restoration of all of that. 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:28.579 God's righteousness invades. 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:31.139 And Habakkuk writes this. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.619 Instead, 00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:34.799 there is coming a day that he says, 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:41.240 the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as water covers the sea. 00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:43.680 Until that day comes, 00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:45.700 let us live by faith. 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:48.960 Let us live by faith. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:49.819 Let's pray. 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:52.359 the news of Christ. 00:27:52.879 --> 00:27:54.439 Both for our own sin, 00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:58.419 but also as a display of your power 00:27:58.419 --> 00:28:00.579 to make all things right. 00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:03.720 And may we live by faith in your promises 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:05.759 until that day comes. 00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.579 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.220 Amen. 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.299 Amen. 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:08.359 Amen. 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:08.419 Amen. 00:28:08.419 --> 00:28:10.359 Amen. 00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:10.419 Amen. 00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:11.359 Amen. 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:11.419 Amen. 00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:12.419 Amen. 00:28:12.419 --> 00:28:12.439 Amen. 00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:12.480 Amen. 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:12.899 Amen. 00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:13.439 Amen. 00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:13.480 Amen. 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:13.500 Amen. 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:14.439 Amen. 00:28:14.439 --> 00:28:15.439 Amen. 00:28:15.439 --> 00:28:15.500 Amen. 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:15.539 Amen. 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:15.579 Amen. 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:15.599 Amen. 00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:15.619 Amen. 00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:15.700 Amen. 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.079 Amen. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:16.119 Amen. 00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:16.500 Amen.