WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.379 Good morning. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:10.179 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:13.700 And it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:14.540 --> 00:00:17.379 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us. 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:18.320 We're glad that you're here. 00:00:18.859 --> 00:00:21.940 And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:22.460 --> 00:00:25.420 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:30.220 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good, 00:00:30.300 --> 00:00:34.200 they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:38.640 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:42.820 This week we're continuing our series in the book of Romans, 00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:48.680 and you'll remember that the book of Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul in the 50s AD. 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:52.140 And it is called Romans for a very simple reason, 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:55.799 which is that it is written to the churches in the city of Rome. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:58.460 Romans is about the gospel. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:01.740 It's about the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:01:02.579 --> 00:01:07.540 And Paul's hope as he's writing it is that this church would be established in the gospel. 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:13.040 Remember, we looked at that just a couple weeks ago in verse 11 of chapter 1. 00:01:13.819 --> 00:01:17.260 And I've been telling you that there are many applications in the book of Romans. 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:22.939 Paul is especially concerned with the mission and the unity of God's church. 00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:27.800 And there are many spokes, many different topics we're going to explore. 00:01:28.380 --> 00:01:33.760 Those spokes are always constantly coming back to the hub of the gospel. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:39.960 Last week, Andy Perch finished up for us Paul's introductory remarks. 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:45.280 Really, we could see verses 1 all the way through verse 17 as Paul telling us, 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:48.780 hey, this is my greeting and this is what this letter is going to be about. 00:01:49.379 --> 00:01:55.000 Verses 16 and 17 were, in a sense, Paul's thesis statement for the book of Romans. 00:01:55.400 --> 00:01:59.640 And so now we are really going to get into the meat of Paul's first argument. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:04.140 And now if you're like me, sometimes it's tempting when you show up to church, 00:02:04.180 --> 00:02:07.460 especially when I was growing up, to think, well, here's another random passage 00:02:07.460 --> 00:02:09.800 and some points that are going to be made. 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:12.400 And I hope that's not true for us. 00:02:12.460 --> 00:02:18.660 What I hope you see is the overarching arguments that Paul is making as we go through week by week. 00:02:19.160 --> 00:02:21.900 And so as we get into the meat of Paul's first argument, 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:25.260 this is going to continue all the way through chapter 3. 00:02:25.600 --> 00:02:30.380 From verse 18 of chapter 1 to essentially the end of chapter 3, 00:02:30.500 --> 00:02:33.060 Paul is making one point. 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:37.340 And that one point he's going to summarize in chapter 3, verse 23, 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:38.180 when he says, 00:02:38.620 --> 00:02:41.860 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:45.560 So Paul's making, we're going to spend multiple weeks in this argument, 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:47.640 but he's making essentially one argument, 00:02:48.219 --> 00:02:50.099 both Jews and Gentiles, 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:52.900 and by Gentiles he means everyone who's not a Jew, 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:58.379 both Jews and Gentiles deserve God's wrath and punishment. 00:02:58.379 --> 00:03:01.939 So I want you to see that there's a larger argument that's happening here. 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:05.960 This morning we're focusing on the Gentile part of the argument. 00:03:06.579 --> 00:03:09.000 So Paul's going to wait till later to talk about the Jews. 00:03:09.139 --> 00:03:10.819 First he's going to talk about the Gentiles. 00:03:11.299 --> 00:03:13.180 And we'll see in this passage, 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:15.680 Paul is pressing to us the witness 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:20.120 that the created world gives to God and his glory. 00:03:21.079 --> 00:03:25.680 The ways in which we look around and we see the world that God has made, 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:31.300 and it teaches us that God is the great creator and sustainer. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:36.180 It's with that that I invite you to turn with me now to the book of Romans. 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:37.580 We're going to start at verse 18. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:40.000 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:41.860 You can turn on your phone. 00:03:42.600 --> 00:03:43.819 You can turn in your Bible. 00:03:44.620 --> 00:03:47.379 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word. 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:51.060 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:52.300 even the finest gold, 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:54.020 and it's sweeter than honey, 00:03:54.020 --> 00:03:56.320 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:03:57.060 --> 00:04:00.880 And so that's why we read now Romans 1, starting at verse 18. 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:05.379 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven 00:04:05.379 --> 00:04:08.719 against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:12.740 who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:16.540 For what can be known about God is plain to them 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:18.480 because God has shown it to them. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:24.319 For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, 00:04:24.900 --> 00:04:28.879 have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.480 in the things that have been made. 00:04:32.140 --> 00:04:34.540 So they are without excuse. 00:04:35.580 --> 00:04:36.220 Verse 21. 00:04:36.220 --> 00:04:38.980 For although they knew God, 00:04:39.080 --> 00:04:42.060 they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:44.600 but they became futile in their thinking, 00:04:44.780 --> 00:04:47.140 and their foolish hearts were darkened. 00:04:48.020 --> 00:04:50.400 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 00:04:50.400 --> 00:04:53.900 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God 00:04:53.900 --> 00:04:56.400 for images resembling mortal man 00:04:56.400 --> 00:04:59.780 and birds and animals and creeping things. 00:04:59.779 --> 00:05:04.859 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:07.639 Our Father in heaven, 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:11.559 we do thank you this morning that you have spoken to us. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:15.239 We thank you that you've spoken to us in creation 00:05:15.239 --> 00:05:19.179 and the world around us that we can see and touch and taste and smell. 00:05:20.119 --> 00:05:22.479 And we thank you even more that you've spoken to us, 00:05:22.659 --> 00:05:24.019 especially in your word. 00:05:24.619 --> 00:05:26.559 We thank you for that in the book of Romans, 00:05:26.599 --> 00:05:28.500 and we ask that you would help us this morning, 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:32.300 that you would send your spirit to do what you've promised to do, 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:33.720 which is to open our minds, 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:36.639 that you would give us the spirit 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:38.639 so that we can understand spiritual things. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:40.220 You'd give us clarity, 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:42.360 and you'd speak to us directly. 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:45.639 We ask most of all that you would show us Jesus, 00:05:46.420 --> 00:05:49.680 that we would see him in all his glory and beauty and majesty 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:53.579 and power and holiness and mercy and grace and love. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:57.899 Use Romans chapter 1 to grow our love and affection for Christ. 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:02.399 We ask that you'd use it to grow our reverence and our awe for Christ. 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:05.540 We ask that you'd use it to grow our obedience to him. 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:08.480 And we thank you that we don't worry this morning 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:10.839 about whether we've earned or deserved those things. 00:06:11.300 --> 00:06:12.439 We know that we haven't, 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:15.740 and so we simply ask for them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:06:16.300 --> 00:06:16.500 Amen. 00:06:16.500 --> 00:06:16.639 Amen. 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:27.139 Some of you know that I moved to Colorado Springs in June of 2017, 00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:29.899 and when I was first at Cheyenne Mountain, 00:06:29.899 --> 00:06:32.379 I was actually only part-time here at the church, 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:35.300 and then I worked part-time at the Vanguard School, 00:06:35.399 --> 00:06:37.019 which is a local public charter school, 00:06:37.139 --> 00:06:40.259 just a stone's throw away from our church off Southgate, 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:40.979 if you go north, 00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:42.300 on 115, 00:06:43.400 --> 00:06:47.460 and the first or second week I was teaching in August of 2017. 00:06:48.020 --> 00:06:49.360 Some of you may remember this. 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:51.680 It was Monday, August the 21st. 00:06:52.080 --> 00:06:53.879 We had here in Colorado Springs 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:56.080 and across much of North America 00:06:56.080 --> 00:06:59.080 a total solar eclipse. 00:07:00.460 --> 00:07:02.560 Of course, we also had a solar eclipse this year. 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:06.379 As teachers, though, this was, of course, a historic event. 00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:10.420 A solar eclipse of this type had not happened for 99 years. 00:07:11.379 --> 00:07:14.899 And so, of course, we had all the glasses that you use for these things. 00:07:15.159 --> 00:07:16.600 We handed them out to the kids. 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:19.779 There was a break in class when we knew that it would appear, 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:20.980 and everyone went outside. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:23.680 We're out on the sidewalk with kids and teachers 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:26.259 getting to see this glorious event. 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:30.699 USA Today that summer published two articles 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:33.699 about what an emotionally overwhelming experience 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:38.159 the eclipse was for many people across our nation. 00:07:39.099 --> 00:07:41.979 David Wysa of Beaverton, Oregon said this, 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:45.039 Short of the birth of my kids, 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:49.379 it was the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life. 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:53.319 Carrie White from Santa Cruz, California, 00:07:53.980 --> 00:07:56.719 we're told she choked up and wiped away tears 00:07:56.719 --> 00:08:00.060 after a group hug with family and friends. 00:08:00.699 --> 00:08:03.759 In the midst of it, I teared up, White said. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:07.339 It was just a glorious feeling. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:10.659 And then we learned that this man, actually a woman, 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:12.439 Kev Brock in Oregon said, 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:15.819 One of the most incredible things I've ever seen. 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:20.719 It made me cry, and my children cheered. 00:08:22.419 --> 00:08:25.079 Now, that same summer, I had learned from a couple of folks 00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:26.500 in this congregation 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:29.319 about a podcast called The Briefing 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:31.399 where Al Mohler breaks down world events 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:32.700 from a Christian worldview. 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:35.399 And in his podcast that week, he said, 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:36.559 Look, of course, 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:40.799 this sort of overwhelming emotional response makes sense. 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:44.100 Why is it that people are weeping 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:46.059 at the sight of a solar eclipse? 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:48.139 Well, it's what we've already read, 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:49.639 what John read for us 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:52.679 in Psalm 19, 00:08:53.299 --> 00:08:56.840 that the heavens declare the glory of God. 00:08:57.799 --> 00:09:00.699 That there is something incredibly powerful 00:09:00.699 --> 00:09:03.100 that we experience and learn 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:05.279 as we look at God's creation. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:07.740 Of course, we don't have to think merely of a, 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:09.860 or simply, or only of a solar eclipse. 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:11.960 You can think about the same thing that happens 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:14.500 every time you're in Colorado Springs 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:15.779 and you drive west. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:17.759 What do you see? 00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:20.740 The glory of Pikes Peak, right? 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:23.419 And there's something overwhelming about that. 00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:24.980 There's something majestic about it. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:29.259 When we had our generosity initiative last year, 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:31.200 we had a man named Joe Brand 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:32.279 who was helping us with that, 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.220 and he would come out and visit Colorado Springs, 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:37.179 and he was overwhelmed by the sight of Pikes Peak. 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:38.779 And so at one point, he said to me, 00:09:38.820 --> 00:09:40.799 You know, I wonder if I lived here 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:43.079 if I would get used to that, 00:09:43.959 --> 00:09:46.039 if it would ever become boring to me. 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:47.799 And then he said, 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:49.219 If it did, 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:53.339 that would say something about me and my heart. 00:09:54.439 --> 00:09:56.359 That wouldn't be a problem with the mountains. 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:59.399 That would show that I had lost this sense 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:01.839 of God's greatness and his glory. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:04.459 As we've looked at the book of Romans, 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:06.659 we've seen that already there's this connection 00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:09.099 between the Old Testament and the New Testament, 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:11.740 and we've seen that in our worship service this morning. 00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:17.139 Psalm 19 and Romans 1, verses 19 and 20 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:19.960 are saying the same thing. 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.800 And so look with me now at verses 19 and 20. 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:25.879 What can be known about God is plain to them 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:27.860 because God has shown it to them. 00:10:28.920 --> 00:10:30.720 For his invisible attributes, 00:10:31.040 --> 00:10:33.720 namely his eternal power and divine nature, 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:39.379 have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:43.620 in the things that have been made. 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:51.500 And so Paul and the psalmist are making a very simple point for us. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:55.220 God reveals himself in nature. 00:10:55.220 --> 00:11:00.220 God reveals himself in nature. 00:11:00.800 --> 00:11:04.379 I joke sometimes that it's great that we have this setup in our sanctuary 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:07.000 that you can look out and you can see the mountains. 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:09.019 You can see Cheyenne Mountains specifically. 00:11:09.540 --> 00:11:11.759 It's especially helpful if you get to a point 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.320 where the sermon's very boring for you. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.920 You can pretend that you're so wrapped in attention, right? 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:22.339 As you slowly look over the preacher's shoulder. 00:11:23.439 --> 00:11:25.620 What Paul is telling us, though, is if you do that, 00:11:26.599 --> 00:11:29.120 you are still learning something about God. 00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:35.099 You can't help but learn something about God. 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:39.199 In his book, Nature's Case for God, 00:11:39.860 --> 00:11:42.779 John Frame lays out nine different ways. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.039 There's nine chapters, 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:47.259 all the different ways that creation teaches us about God. 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:49.740 Now, one of the tensions of the book of Romans 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:51.159 that we've already discussed a little bit 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:53.819 is how slow or fast do we go through the book? 00:11:55.179 --> 00:11:57.179 There's a sense in which we could unpack 00:11:57.179 --> 00:12:00.439 just verses 19 and 20 in one entire sermon. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:02.019 I say that to say, 00:12:02.139 --> 00:12:04.340 I'm not going to give you all nine reasons this morning. 00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:05.980 I'm going to give you a quick sampler. 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:08.360 Not all of them, but two of them. 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:10.159 And that's, again, that's the challenge, right? 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:11.259 How fast do we move? 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.120 Because there's reasons that people spend years 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:15.519 working through the book of Romans 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:19.000 because it's so rich and deep when it comes to theology. 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:21.179 One of the first reasons, 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:23.259 in fact, the first reason he gives us 00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:25.220 is the greatness of creation. 00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:29.500 Frame reminds us that there is the great size of it all 00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:31.500 that should teach us something about God. 00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:34.799 I've told you all before about the time in 2016 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:36.620 when I visited the Grand Canyon, 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:41.799 and my main response was simply to feel extremely small. 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:45.939 If you are struggling with pride and ego, 00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:47.459 and if you think you're all that, 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:50.500 I recommend a trip to the Grand Canyon for you. 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:54.719 A helpful, right, could solve it. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:56.539 It also might not solve it. 00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:59.759 Paul tells us that we suppress the truth. 00:13:00.079 --> 00:13:01.899 There are some people who go to the Grand Canyon, 00:13:01.959 --> 00:13:03.339 and they see the greatness of it. 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:06.120 They're reminded of God's glory and his power. 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:09.060 And there are other people who show up 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:11.279 and only take a selfie. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:14.679 I'm not saying selfies are bad. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:17.000 I'm saying they only do that, right? 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.779 They're saying, look at me. 00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:21.279 Look at this experience that I had. 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:23.399 And of course, they missed the point, right? 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:25.039 Look at God. 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:29.179 Look at this great thing that he has made. 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:32.919 It's sad that we are disconnected in many ways 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:34.639 from the stars when we live in big cities 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:37.179 like Colorado Springs because of light pollution. 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:39.220 What does Psalm 19 say? 00:13:39.319 --> 00:13:41.759 The heavens declare the glory of God. 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:44.679 There is something overwhelming 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:46.799 about being in the great sand dunes 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.080 and being able to look and see 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:53.720 actually how great and majestic our solar system is. 00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:57.699 I've told you before that there is a irony 00:13:57.699 --> 00:14:00.139 when it comes to climbing 14ers. 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:01.559 And don't hear what I'm not saying. 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:03.100 Climbing 14ers is great. 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:06.860 But it doesn't make you great. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:12.860 Which is greater, to climb a 14er 00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:16.860 or to create a 14er? 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:21.560 The greatness of the mountains 00:14:21.560 --> 00:14:23.879 is not in those who climb them. 00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:27.019 The greatness is in the God who made them. 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:33.819 The size of creation teaches us something about God. 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:38.039 Frame also mentions for us the goodness of creation. 00:14:38.699 --> 00:14:40.980 Remember, Paul is the author of the letter 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:42.419 to the churches in Rome. 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:45.139 We meet Paul also in the book of Acts, 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:46.860 which tells us about the early church. 00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:48.639 And in Acts chapter 14, 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:51.039 Paul is talking to these men at Lystra 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.599 and talking about God. 00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:55.599 He says, look, you knew about God 00:14:55.599 --> 00:14:57.860 even though you didn't have his special revelation. 00:14:58.579 --> 00:14:59.639 He says this, 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:03.459 yet he did not leave himself without witness, 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:08.139 for he did good by giving you rains from heaven 00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:09.860 and fruitful seasons, 00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:14.819 satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. 00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:18.180 We learn something about God 00:15:18.180 --> 00:15:23.280 because nature is good and nurturing and life-giving. 00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:26.460 Why are you here this morning? 00:15:27.940 --> 00:15:30.000 There are many reasons you're here this morning. 00:15:30.260 --> 00:15:31.240 One of them is this, 00:15:31.800 --> 00:15:34.000 God has provided food for you 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.500 and each of your ancestors. 00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:39.100 God has created the world 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:42.480 to be a good and nurturing and beautiful place. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:46.920 In fact, he provides the glory of the mountains, 00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:48.460 the beauty of the Grand Canyon, 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:51.879 whether you believe in him or not. 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:55.560 Remember, our Lord Jesus teaches the same thing. 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:58.720 Matthew chapter five, verses 44 and 45, 00:15:58.960 --> 00:15:59.539 he says, look, 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:03.879 the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:07.060 God's goodness, it's all around us. 00:16:07.680 --> 00:16:10.480 It's everywhere to be seen and known. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:13.840 This hints at a third reason that Frame gives 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.759 that I'll mention briefly, 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:16.639 which he calls the oneness of God, 00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:21.800 which is to say there must be one God 00:16:21.800 --> 00:16:24.779 to hold together the complexity of the universe. 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:31.500 For something as complex and detailed as this world, 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:35.460 it would not make sense for nothing to hold it together, 00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:38.519 and it wouldn't make sense for many different gods 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.960 to be competing to hold it together. 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:43.899 No, this universe is so complicated 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.600 and beautiful and detailed, 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:50.159 it must be one God and one God only. 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:54.679 Now, Paul tells us here, 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:59.539 not that creation or nature reveals everything about God, 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:03.159 but that it reveals specific things about God. 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.900 Look with me in verse 20. 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:07.820 It shows his invisible attributes, 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:11.860 namely his eternal power and divine nature. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.780 So we know two things. 00:17:13.840 --> 00:17:14.840 We know that God is a God. 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:17.440 We know that he's a really powerful God. 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.720 We still need, 00:17:20.100 --> 00:17:21.640 this is called general revelation, 00:17:21.780 --> 00:17:23.240 what we learn about God from creation. 00:17:23.540 --> 00:17:25.759 We still need special revelation, right? 00:17:25.800 --> 00:17:28.200 We do not learn from the mountains and the trees 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:31.580 and the rivers that Jesus Christ is God's only son 00:17:31.580 --> 00:17:32.880 who's come to die for sinners. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:35.280 And so that might raise a question for us. 00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:37.640 In what sense can God condemn people 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:38.940 for not knowing him 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:43.520 if creation is the only witness that they have? 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:48.720 Well, verse 21 gives us the answer. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.980 For although they knew God, 00:17:51.300 --> 00:17:53.380 they did not honor him as God 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:55.680 or give thanks to him. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:58.060 In other words, 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:01.420 even if we didn't know about Jesus, 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:04.900 we know enough to know 00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:07.600 there's a God that we should be praising. 00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:11.560 We know enough to know he's one God. 00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:14.019 And so you'll look with me 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:18.000 on page seven of your worship guide 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.320 and says this, 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:21.240 the truth is, 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:25.220 it takes a concerted act of the will 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:28.939 to deny that a vastly powerful God 00:18:28.939 --> 00:18:32.000 made and sustains the creation. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:37.919 If one is not at least searching after God, 00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:42.220 he or she is suppressing the truth. 00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:45.679 And so you might say, 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.960 oh, I didn't know about Jesus. 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:50.880 This passage raises a question though. 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:52.420 Well, okay, you didn't know about Jesus. 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.299 Who were you praising? 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:57.120 Were you praising the creator 00:18:57.120 --> 00:19:00.480 or were you praising the creation? 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:03.819 That leads us to Paul's next point. 00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:06.519 The very beginning, this is verse 18. 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.420 He tells us, 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:10.160 the wrath of God is revealed from heaven 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:12.160 against all ungodliness 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.960 and unrighteousness of men 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:15.960 who by their unrighteousness 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:19.400 unrighteousness suppress the truth. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.100 In other words, 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.480 these truths about God 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:26.900 should be incredibly obvious. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.779 We should receive them 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:32.000 with burning clarity. 00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:34.799 He goes even further, verse 20, 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:37.539 for although they knew God. 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.720 He's not just saying it's clear 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.700 and it's suppressed. 00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:43.160 No, he's saying everyone in this world 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:45.400 ultimately knows God. 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:48.259 And if they're not worshiping him, 00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:49.259 they're stiff-arming him. 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:51.820 They're pushing him away. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:54.600 It's a bit of a shocking statement. 00:19:56.360 --> 00:19:57.140 Paul says it's true. 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:00.180 The creation gives us 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:02.019 everything we need to know 00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.920 that there's a God, 00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:04.019 that he's good, 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.120 that he's great, 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.400 that we should thank him, 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:07.860 we should honor him. 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:12.079 I've mentioned before, 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.199 in 2022, 00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:16.119 I herniated one of my discs, 00:20:16.479 --> 00:20:17.799 so I had a very painful journey 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:20.259 going to see a physical therapist 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:21.919 and a chiropractor. 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:24.179 And both my chiropractor 00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:25.299 and my physical therapist, 00:20:25.439 --> 00:20:26.759 when they found out I was a pastor, 00:20:26.919 --> 00:20:28.479 wanted to talk about spiritual things, 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.559 which I thought was great. 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:32.279 And so I've talked to my physical therapist 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.379 a lot about these things, 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.560 and she would tell me 00:20:34.560 --> 00:20:35.600 that she was unsure 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:37.060 of what exactly it was 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:38.080 that she believed 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:38.960 about the world 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:40.860 and who was in charge. 00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.900 And so I pointed out to her one day, 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:43.180 I said, 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:43.480 you know, 00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:46.600 you use creator language a lot. 00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:49.120 You say things like, 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:51.300 your body was made to, 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:54.760 your body was designed to, 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:55.560 right? 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:57.420 Your body is set up 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:59.200 to function in such a way, 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.800 and that's language 00:21:00.800 --> 00:21:01.800 that implies there's someone 00:21:01.800 --> 00:21:03.240 who created the body, right? 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.620 There's a designer. 00:21:05.520 --> 00:21:06.140 And she said, 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.140 yeah, that's interesting. 00:21:07.280 --> 00:21:08.400 I do use that kind of language. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.900 Verse 18, 00:21:13.300 --> 00:21:14.120 the wrath of God 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:15.220 is revealed from heaven 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:17.200 against all ungodliness 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.780 and unrighteousness of men 00:21:18.780 --> 00:21:20.820 who by their unrighteousness 00:21:20.820 --> 00:21:23.120 suppress the truth. 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:26.520 My physical therapist knew God. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:30.040 And despite what she might say 00:21:30.040 --> 00:21:30.760 she believed, 00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:31.720 her stated beliefs, 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:33.740 she couldn't escape the fact 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:36.360 that the witness of the human body 00:21:36.360 --> 00:21:37.740 was that it had a designer 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:40.680 and a creator, right? 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:43.400 There's a suppression of the truth. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:43.980 In fact, 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.079 people use this sort of language 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.620 all the time. 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.519 It's hard to escape. 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.500 Even when you're talking to people 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.720 who say they don't believe in a God, 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.480 they'll talk about 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:52.579 what something was designed to do, 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:54.319 how things are created, right? 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.839 Because it's hard to escape that. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:58.919 As you look at the world around us, 00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.879 we could say, 00:22:00.439 --> 00:22:01.179 verse 19, 00:22:01.699 --> 00:22:02.879 what can be known about God 00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:04.519 is plain to us 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:06.859 because God has shown it to us. 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:09.559 For his invisible attributes, 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:11.059 namely his eternal power 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.119 and divine nature, 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:14.139 have been clearly perceived 00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:16.039 ever since the creation 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:17.619 of the world. 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:24.199 Paul's making a challenging statement here. 00:22:25.219 --> 00:22:26.859 No matter where you are 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:28.099 in your spiritual journey, 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:31.099 no matter what you claim to believe, 00:22:31.979 --> 00:22:34.139 you deep down know 00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:37.059 God created the world. 00:22:37.879 --> 00:22:39.539 He deserves to be worshipped 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:40.599 and praised. 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:44.019 And at the end of the day, 00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:47.619 you will have no excuse. 00:22:49.219 --> 00:22:51.719 God, as creator and sustainer 00:22:51.719 --> 00:22:52.879 of this earth, 00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:55.899 is clear for anyone 00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:58.859 who's willing to see. 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:03.019 The problem, of course, 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:05.159 is that often we don't. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.500 And that's the point 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.759 Paul goes on to make 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.899 in verse 23. 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:10.900 There's this tragic exchange 00:23:11.560 --> 00:23:12.240 that's happening. 00:23:14.060 --> 00:23:14.900 Verse 22, 00:23:15.019 --> 00:23:15.580 we'll start there. 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.040 Claiming to be wise, 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:18.180 they became fools 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.900 and exchanged 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.460 the glory of the immortal God 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.900 for images resembling 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:25.080 mortal man and birds 00:23:25.080 --> 00:23:26.000 and animals 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.420 and creeping things. 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:30.580 There's a tragic exchange. 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.480 There's a trade. 00:23:32.580 --> 00:23:33.240 Paul's saying 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.620 what we've talked about before, 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.860 what Bob Dylan says, 00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:37.940 you have to serve somebody. 00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:41.880 Humans are worshipping creatures. 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:44.120 We will worship 00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.759 someone or something. 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.519 We will either 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:49.680 worship the true God 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:51.940 or we will worship 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:53.740 something created. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.780 There's a variety of ways 00:23:55.780 --> 00:23:56.920 this plays out in our world. 00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:58.820 Some people actually, 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:01.120 in a very explicit way, 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.580 worship nature and the earth. 00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:06.160 You'll see bumper stickers 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:07.400 around Colorado Springs 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:07.900 that say, 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.180 love your mother. 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:11.180 And they have a little sign 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:11.980 of the earth, right? 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.019 Which is to say, 00:24:14.100 --> 00:24:15.200 our source and our origin, 00:24:15.300 --> 00:24:16.000 it's not from God, 00:24:16.080 --> 00:24:16.660 it's from the earth, 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.800 it's from the created things. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.900 Now, don't hear what I'm not saying. 00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:22.480 We are stewards of God's earth. 00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:24.080 We should be taking care 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.700 of the creation 00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.519 he's given us. 00:24:25.880 --> 00:24:27.620 We want to be good stewards. 00:24:28.280 --> 00:24:29.160 C.S. Lewis writes 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:30.740 this essay, though, 00:24:30.780 --> 00:24:31.200 where he says, 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.840 we don't have a mother earth, 00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:35.500 we have a sister earth. 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:38.000 And it's a sister earth 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.420 because the earth is created, 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.200 you are created. 00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.740 Worship the creator, 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:46.160 not the created things. 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:49.240 Some people worship the creation 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:51.080 when they put all their hope 00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:52.680 into a political figure. 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:54.580 It is not uncommon 00:24:54.580 --> 00:24:56.380 for a politician, 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:58.259 especially a presidential candidate, 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.619 to show up on the scene. 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:00.920 And suddenly, 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:01.819 the language 00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:03.759 that surrounds this man 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:05.680 is messianic language. 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.920 The imagery that's used 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:09.119 to depict him 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.400 depicts him as the savior 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.599 of the world or the earth. 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:13.039 And this is not something 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:15.140 that's true of only Republicans 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:16.079 or only Democrats. 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.779 We can pick figures 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.599 throughout the 20 00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:19.740 and the 21st century 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.619 who have been treated 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.299 in this way 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.839 both sides of the aisle. 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:24.960 Why? 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:26.619 Because there's this desire 00:25:26.619 --> 00:25:28.079 right within the human heart 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:29.359 for someone 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.939 to come and save us. 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:33.519 And if it's not going to be God, 00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:36.599 we'll find a man. 00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.500 There's many other things 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.059 we can worship 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:42.019 that God has created. 00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:43.619 We can worship experiences 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:44.740 in nature. 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.460 We can worship sex. 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:48.059 We can worship money. 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.779 We can worship power. 00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:53.000 But as we've already talked about 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.039 in the book of Romans, 00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:56.139 it is in God's glory 00:25:56.140 --> 00:25:57.880 that we discover 00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:58.920 our good. 00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:02.120 It is worshiping God 00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:03.440 that actually leads us 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.580 to life 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:06.080 and flourishing. 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.500 And so that's why I say 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.880 it's a tragic exchange. 00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:12.480 It's changing the glory 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.640 of God 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:17.900 for images resembling 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:18.620 mortal man 00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:19.180 and birds 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:19.880 and animals 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:22.080 and creeping things. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:24.740 we're jumping around 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.339 in this passage 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:25.960 a little bit, 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.980 but that helps us 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.919 understand now 00:26:27.919 --> 00:26:29.039 the very first verse, 00:26:29.139 --> 00:26:29.859 verse 18, 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:31.779 for the wrath of God 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:33.019 is revealed from heaven 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:35.019 against all ungodliness 00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:36.740 and unrighteousness 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:38.299 of men. 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:40.899 In other words, 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.419 since we have refused 00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:43.639 to worship God, 00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:45.180 since mankind 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.259 has worshipped 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.240 the creation 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.940 rather than the creator, 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.960 God's justice 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:52.000 and wrath 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:54.200 is being poured out 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:55.220 on the earth. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:59.599 Now this is a challenging doctrine 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:01.440 for many people. 00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:02.099 They say, 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.039 why is God 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.700 a God of wrath? 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.500 Shouldn't he be 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.720 a God of goodness 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:07.079 and love, right? 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:08.519 I want to serve 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.519 a good and loving God. 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.220 I can't believe 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:11.199 in a wrathful God. 00:27:12.399 --> 00:27:13.079 The problem 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.740 with all of that 00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.240 is this, 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:16.119 a loving God 00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:17.659 must be 00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:18.879 a wrathful God 00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:20.699 because if he is 00:27:20.699 --> 00:27:21.759 a loving God, 00:27:21.879 --> 00:27:23.799 he wants all evil 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.720 cast out of his universe. 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.799 Sometimes people will say, 00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.980 why has God not 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:30.419 solved this problem 00:27:30.419 --> 00:27:31.199 or that problem? 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.679 Why has he not dealt 00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:33.879 with evil 00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:35.460 once and for all? 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:37.299 And the problem 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:37.960 with that question 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.500 is this, 00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.740 you are part 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.319 of the problem. 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:45.319 The problem 00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.059 is that you're 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.799 part of the problem. 00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:48.620 Remember, 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.799 Alexander Solzhenitsyn 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.100 said, 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:50.920 the line between 00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.559 good and evil 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.279 cuts through 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.259 every human heart. 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.140 Yes, 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.380 God could deal 00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:55.920 with evil 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.840 once and for all 00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.680 right now. 00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:59.480 If he did, 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.600 what would happen 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:01.100 to you? 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:06.480 That's what we 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.099 talked about 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:08.339 many years ago now 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:08.759 when we were 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:10.079 in 2 Peter 3. 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.439 Peter, 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.500 the apostle Peter 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.559 addresses this question, 00:28:13.699 --> 00:28:15.179 why is God delaying? 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:16.379 Why has he not 00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:17.599 purged the world? 00:28:18.439 --> 00:28:19.039 And Peter gives 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:20.099 this very simple answer. 00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:21.559 God has delayed 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.119 his judgment 00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:22.799 so that you would 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.639 have time to repent. 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.679 Imagine that God 00:28:26.679 --> 00:28:27.819 had fully and finally 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:29.099 purged the world 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:30.240 in 1950. 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.299 What would that 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:33.859 mean for you? 00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:35.759 Some of you 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.199 would be fine. 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.740 Many of us 00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:39.119 would not have 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:39.500 been born, 00:28:39.679 --> 00:28:39.859 right? 00:28:41.959 --> 00:28:43.259 God's forbearance, 00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:44.379 his patience 00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:46.119 is holding back 00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:47.259 his judgment. 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:50.099 God is so good 00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.919 that he will 00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:52.500 eliminate all evil 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.539 from his world. 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:56.019 The problem is, 00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.399 Paul's going to 00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:58.399 go on to say this, 00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:59.860 all have sinned 00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:00.680 and fall short 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.500 of the glory 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.160 of God. 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.440 Everyone deserves 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.780 God's wrath 00:29:05.780 --> 00:29:06.960 and his judgment. 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.300 You'll see this 00:29:08.300 --> 00:29:08.960 on page 8 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.860 of your worship guide. 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:11.340 God is planning 00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:12.340 a perfect world 00:29:12.340 --> 00:29:12.960 in which there 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:14.180 will be only good 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.200 and no evil 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.500 and there will be 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.620 no place 00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:19.300 in that perfect world 00:29:19.300 --> 00:29:20.380 for people 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:22.120 who are unwilling 00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:23.440 to repent. 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.540 Yes, 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:27.360 God is going to 00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.259 deal with all evil, 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:30.060 and have a perfect world. 00:29:31.540 --> 00:29:32.800 Will you 00:29:32.800 --> 00:29:34.040 be there? 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.660 Paul goes on 00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:40.640 to provide a clear answer 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:41.180 for us about 00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:41.920 who will be there 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.500 and who won't. 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.920 What are we supposed 00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:45.900 to do with the fact 00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:46.820 that all have sinned 00:29:46.820 --> 00:29:47.360 and fall short 00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:48.180 of the glory of God? 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.519 In other words, 00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:49.840 everyone is part 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:50.640 of the problem 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.140 of evil 00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:52.300 that needs to be solved. 00:29:53.580 --> 00:29:53.960 Well, 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.980 that's why we have 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:55.920 Paul's discussion. 00:29:56.540 --> 00:29:56.880 Remember, 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.600 at the very beginning, 00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:58.700 he says he's a servant 00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.860 of Jesus Christ, 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:01.220 that the hope 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.620 for us to be part 00:30:02.620 --> 00:30:03.460 of God's good 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.560 and perfect world 00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:06.040 is not in our behavior 00:30:06.040 --> 00:30:07.180 or our performance 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:09.220 because we fall so short. 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.220 No, 00:30:10.300 --> 00:30:10.940 our hope 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:12.220 and our only hope 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.300 is in our Lord 00:30:13.300 --> 00:30:13.920 and Savior, 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:14.760 Jesus Christ. 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:16.460 our hope 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.279 and our only hope 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.480 is that Jesus came 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.319 and took 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:21.079 God's wrath, 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:21.960 the wrath of God 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.960 that's revealed from heaven. 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:24.099 That as he died 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:24.879 on the cross, 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:26.279 he took the punishment 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.279 that we deserve 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:29.200 and as he lived 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.259 his life on this earth, 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.680 he lived the perfect life 00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:34.259 that we should have lived. 00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.559 And so, 00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.440 for everyone 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.680 who has faith 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.519 and trust 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.180 and follows 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:40.519 after Jesus Christ, 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.920 your hope 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:43.639 is that you will be 00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:45.400 in God's perfect world 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.700 when he comes 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.400 and makes 00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:48.500 all things 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:49.440 right. 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:52.139 If you do not 00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:53.480 have faith 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.180 and trust 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.900 and follow 00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:55.539 after Jesus, 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.579 verse 18 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:58.379 is a sober warning. 00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:00.019 For the wrath 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.480 of God 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.019 is revealed 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.579 from heaven 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.440 against all 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.220 ungodliness 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.440 and unrighteousness 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:04.940 of men 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:06.519 who by their 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.380 unrighteousness 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:09.000 suppress the truth. 00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.140 Yes, 00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.180 God is patient 00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:12.940 for a time. 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.559 He will not 00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.259 be patient 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:15.980 forever. 00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:17.900 And so, 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.519 the time 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.720 to have faith 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.400 in Christ 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:21.600 is now. 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.039 The time 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:25.440 to stop 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.059 exchanging 00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:26.920 the glory 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:28.180 of the immortal God 00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:29.360 for created things 00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:30.460 is now. 00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:35.620 Mary Oliver 00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:36.319 is a famous 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:38.039 American poet, 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:39.319 Pulitzer Prize winner 00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.079 who died 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:41.400 in 2019 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:43.200 and it's widely 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.340 known that Oliver 00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:45.340 survived a very 00:31:45.340 --> 00:31:46.000 challenging 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.400 and difficult 00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:48.360 childhood 00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:49.579 and one of the ways 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:50.500 that she survived 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.160 that childhood 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:51.980 is by spending 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:53.519 an enormous amount 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.400 of time in nature. 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.519 In fact, 00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.180 that went on 00:31:56.180 --> 00:31:56.680 to become 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.519 one of the major 00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.240 themes 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.539 of her poetry. 00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:00.779 It's not clear 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:02.099 whether or not 00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.960 Oliver ended up 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:04.059 coming to explicit 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:04.960 assured faith 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:05.879 in Jesus Christ. 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:06.859 There are reasons 00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.299 to believe 00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:08.000 that she didn't 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:08.659 although ultimately 00:32:08.659 --> 00:32:09.579 that's probably 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.079 not something 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:10.700 that we're going 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.019 to know. 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.359 It is clear 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:13.200 from her poems 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:13.759 that she was 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.759 very familiar 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.420 with scripture. 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.559 She was familiar 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.159 with stories 00:32:17.159 --> 00:32:17.740 about Jesus, 00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:18.599 about the reality 00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:19.019 of the world 00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.519 and I would go 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:20.099 on to say 00:32:20.099 --> 00:32:21.519 she was probably 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.259 familiar with 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.079 Psalm 19 00:32:23.079 --> 00:32:23.759 and Romans 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.500 chapter 1. 00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:25.940 And she, 00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:27.019 regardless of what 00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:27.619 she believed 00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:28.779 ultimately about Jesus, 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:30.660 knew that the 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.639 created world 00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:33.240 reveals God. 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.299 She writes clearly 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:34.940 about this 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:36.019 in her poem. 00:32:36.139 --> 00:32:36.779 This is on the back 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.700 of your worship guide 00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.019 called 00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:38.539 I Wake 00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:39.819 Close to Morning. 00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:42.399 Why do people 00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:43.180 keep asking 00:32:43.180 --> 00:32:44.339 to see God's 00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.519 identity papers 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:48.139 when the darkness 00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:49.279 opening into 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:49.799 morning 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.960 is more 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:52.740 than enough? 00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.299 Certainly, 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.480 any God 00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:57.200 might turn 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.740 away 00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:59.420 in disgust. 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.500 In other words, 00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:02.599 God's not interested 00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:03.380 in you asking 00:33:03.380 --> 00:33:04.079 him to prove 00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:04.860 himself to you. 00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:06.500 He already has. 00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:09.160 Think of Sheba 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:10.039 approaching the 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:11.099 kingdom of Solomon. 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.019 Do you think 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:14.539 she had to ask, 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.839 is this 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:17.240 the place? 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:21.980 for what can be 00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.700 known about God 00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.720 is plain to them 00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.779 because God 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.440 has shown it 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:25.839 to them. 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:26.819 For his 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:28.019 invisible attributes, 00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.120 namely his 00:33:29.120 --> 00:33:30.019 eternal power 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.059 and divine nature, 00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:31.900 have been 00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.900 clearly perceived 00:33:32.900 --> 00:33:34.240 ever since 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:35.200 the creation 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:36.539 of the world. 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.460 Let's pray. 00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:41.259 Our Father in heaven, 00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:41.779 we do 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.880 thank you 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:43.539 and praise you 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.319 that you 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:45.000 uphold 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.980 this world 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:47.279 by the word 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:47.839 of your power, 00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:49.180 that in all 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:50.119 its complexity, 00:33:50.839 --> 00:33:52.279 all its detail, 00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:53.180 all its beauty, 00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.140 you, 00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:55.519 one God, 00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.220 hold it together. 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.319 We ask that you 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:58.839 would show us 00:33:58.839 --> 00:33:59.380 your glory 00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:00.299 more and more. 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:01.500 You'd lead us 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:02.200 to trust you 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:03.180 that we would 00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:03.779 choose 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.799 the glory 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.759 of the immortal God 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.140 and we would 00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:06.700 turn away 00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.460 from the images 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.699 of men 00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:09.380 and animals 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.440 and creeping things. 00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.380 We thank you 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.059 for the grace 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:12.539 and mercy 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.320 of your Son 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:13.820 and our Savior, 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:14.599 our Lord Jesus. 00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:15.880 We ask that you 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.320 would lead us 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:16.900 to trust him 00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:17.400 more and more 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:18.280 and we ask 00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:18.820 these things 00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.599 in the mighty name 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.480 of Jesus Christ. 00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:21.039 Amen.