utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This is the gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Please remain standing as we together recite
the affirmer Christian faith by saying the Apostles' Creed.
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is sitting at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
He shall come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Just remaining standing for another moment
and just bow our heads in prayer.
Father,
I thank you that you are a God
who has spoken
and has spoken in your word
and continues to speak to us,
not just in private revelations, Father,
but everything, Father,
ultimately is at one in harmony
with how you have spoken to us
in your word written in the Bible.
And Father,
we ask that you help us
to use the best of our minds
and the best of our hearts
and the best of our wills
to understand your word.
But Father,
as we ask for this,
we confess before you
that the best of our minds
is not enough,
that we need, Father,
you to meet us in the Bible
as you pour out
your Holy Spirit upon us,
that our mind unaided
is inadequate
to truly digest your word
and have your word
enter into us
so that our lives
will bear fruit for your glory.
So Father,
we stand before you,
we ask that you would pour out
your Holy Spirit upon us
with might and power
and deep conviction
so that we might
perfectly love you
and worthily magnify
your holy name
today and every day
until we see you face to face.
And this we ask
in Jesus' name,
your Son and our Savior.
Amen.
Please be seated.
Just a little while ago,
I discovered that
a friend of mine
whom I've known
for quite a few years,
that he's probably
about the same age as me,
that his marriage
of 30 plus years
has probably come to an end.
And that's, of course,
a very sad thing.
Ever since I've heard about it,
I've been praying for him
and his wife.
And he and his wife
attend a very, very,
very solid church
where they have been
very, very active
and involved.
And, you know,
they've done all sorts
of the things
that you would think
to be right
in terms of their kids
and all sorts
of other things.
And I don't know,
obviously,
what goes on
inside the house
and I don't know
what's, you know,
brought the marriage
maybe to an end.
Maybe not to an end,
but maybe to an end.
But it's just very sad.
And it raises
a very interesting
type of problem.
It sort of touches
on a deep fear
that many of us have
about the Christian faith
is that it sometimes
it just seems
as if it doesn't work.
Right?
That here's this couple
that could be married
for over 30 years
and attend
a really solid church
and they probably
read the Bible
and prayed
and maybe even read
the Bible
and prayed together
and did all sorts
of the things
that you think
they should do.
So how on earth
could something
like this happen?
And because you see
at a very, very deep level
many of us believe
and think
that Christianity
should make us better
and it will work out
so that our lives
are better
and that they're an example
and they bring glory
to Christ.
And that's not only
how we think
it's how many people think
that, you know,
doing something like that
things should turn out different
and if they don't
we think to ourselves
like where on earth
is God?
And maybe even start
to think
well why on earth
would we even bother
with all of this stuff?
So when we hear stories
about this
apart from the fact
that we might now
be very touched
and maybe some of you
will pray for this
unnamed couple
that I learned about
a couple of months ago
but it raises
sort of real issues
for us
like how on earth
can Christianity be true?
How on earth
can the Bible be true?
if things like that
happen to people
who seem to do
the right things?
And if that's the case
why bother?
So as I said
we're going through
the book of Romans
and the book of
the text of scripture
believe it or not
with all that odd language
about circumcision
and uncircumcision
it actually goes
to the very heart
of this particular question
and this particular fear
and expectation
that many of us
carry around.
But just before we go there
if you have your Bibles
you might want to start
turning to Romans for it.
Andrew could you put up
our verse Romans 1
16 to 17?
So if you're a guest
here this morning
as we've been going
through the book of Romans
the text that we're reading
the way the book of Romans
is written
the book of Romans
is a book
and Paul sat down
and he wrote the book
and the way it's written
is that the first 15 verses
are basically
hi I'm Paul
this is a few things
about me
and these are some
of the things I've done
and he's trying to make
a personal connection
and then in verse 16
and 17
he almost models
those of you
who are used to academia
he almost models
the universe
the abstract
that appears
at the beginning
of academic papers
where they try to summarize
the entire article
in a paragraph
and in fact
many people
don't read articles
they just read
the abstracts
because it's a lot quicker
get rid of all
the other bump
confession is afterwards
if that's what you've been doing
and pretending
that you've been reading
the whole paper
and Paul actually
models this
it's almost like an abstract
verses 16 and 17
Paul gives an abstract
of the entire book
of Romans
and then after
verse 16 and 17
he tries to sell
the problem
in verses 18
in chapter 1
to chapter 3
verse 20
is Paul selling
the problem
if you're used to
management type
of language
where you have to
first sell the problem
before you sell
the solution
that's what happens
118 to 320
and then 321
which we looked at
last week
is Paul beginning
to outline
what the solution
to the problem is
and chapter 4
that's all part of Paul
trying to outline
the solution
so we're sort of
oriented in the book
because everything
in the book
is summarized
in these two verses
would you read
these two verses
out loud
with me
for I am not
ashamed of the gospel
for it is the power
of God
for salvation
to everyone
who believes
to the Jew
first
and also
to the Greek
for in the gospel
the righteousness
of God
is revealed
from faith
to faith
as it is written
the righteous
shall live
by faith
so that's what
the whole book
is about
and it doesn't
sound like
it's talking
about anything
like that
very much
with all this
going on
and on
about circumcision
but it's dealing
directly with
this problem
how is it
that somebody
could go to
a good church
for 30 years
a solid church
and believe
the right things
and probably
be pretty good
at prayer
and reading the bible
at least
if not exemplary
at least average
in those circles
and how
can
why isn't it
why is it
that something
like that
would happen
why isn't it
that their lives
are better
well let's
let's listen
to what Paul
says here
in Romans
chapter 4
beginning
at the first verse
what then
shall we say
was gained
by Abraham
our forefather
according to the flesh
just pause
right off the bat
so what's
happening here
is this
when I was
in the Anglican
Church of Canada
people called
me a fundamentalist
and it was
a slur
it was
an insult
and
and one
of the reasons
that they called
me
would insult
me
by calling
me a fundamentalist
is because I would
ask the question
what does the Bible
say
as if that's
somehow
a narrow-minded
anti-intellectual
fundamentalist
question
but the Bible
teaches you
to ask
what does the Bible
say
so what Paul
has just done
in chapter 3
in verses 21
to 31
which is just
before this
is he outlines
this
these series
of images
about what it is
that God has done
for us
in the cross
how God
has acted
in a way
which is right
with effective
power
to make
human beings
right with
himself
and he gives
these series
of images
about it
and then the reader
might be saying
well that's alright
that just popped
out of his head
and Paul
who's writing
to Jewish
and to others
he says
he really says
to himself
you might be saying
well that's just
popped out of your head
Paul
what does the Bible
say
and that's what
Paul does right now
he says
well I've said this
what does the Bible
say
it's not a
fundamentalist question
it's a Bible
question
if you read the Bible
you realize
that the Bible
wants us to ask
that question
what does the Bible
say
and the other thing
and I'm not going
to try to prove it
or disprove it
right now
but it's interesting
that when Paul
says well what
does the Bible
say
as you read it
you'll see that
basically
he believes
that the Bible
teaches
that when you
hear the Bible
speaking
you're hearing
God speaking
you know
Paul knows
all about
different authorship
and all that
but that ultimately
there's one divine
author of all
of the scriptures
whether the scriptures
are written by
Moses in the year
1400 BC
or David
400 years later
that ultimately
even though there
were different
human authors
there's one divine
author telling
one story
one coherent
story that begins
at Genesis 1
and goes to
Revelation 22
and so Paul
asks the question
what does the Bible
say
is this whole
image that God
does something
with effective
power in a way
which is right
to make human
beings right
with himself
is this something
that the Bible
teaches
and that's why
he says
goes to Abraham
and he's also
going to go
to King David
he's going to go
to the book
of Genesis
and the book
of Psalms
so we'll just
read that verse
one again
what then shall
we say was
gained by Abraham
our forefather
according to the
flesh
by human descent
because Paul
was Jewish
for if Abraham
was justified
by works
he has something
to boast about
but not before God
and we'll just
pause here for a second
because you'll notice
as we go through
this chapter
and a lot in the
book of Romans
that the word
justified
is going to keep
coming up
and in this
particular case
for justified
what it primarily
means
is an official
authoritative
declaration
that you are
right
with God
so it's not
like if I was
to say
you know
to somebody
oh that's fine
you know
your debts
are all cleared
away
you can't just
say your debts
are all cleared
away
I mean
George
you're just
a pastor
you have
hardly any
money
you can't
cover my
debts
you don't
own the bank
you're not
my car company
you know
you're not
the student
loan
organization
you can't
just say
it's alright
so the word
justified
it's as if
there's an
official
declaration
by one
in authority
proper authority
with the power
to make such
a declaration
and know
whether it's
true
and in this
particular case
as Paul
unfolds it
it's not only
that God
is able to
make that
declaration
but that
he's the one
who's actually
made it right
it's the
complete opposite
of what we're
used to
when you're
dealing with
the insurance
company
and you're
dealing with
some little
minion
who gives
little
minion
types
of answers
and has
very little
authority
and you just
sort of wish
you could
leap through
the phone
and grab
them by
the lapel
or the shirt
and say
I want to
talk to
somebody
who can
make a
real decision
that's
going to
be right
and that's
what we're
sort of
used to
in our
bureaucratic
world
but this
word
justified
every time
you see
it
it's
an image
that comes
from the
law courts
of Rome
and it's
as if
a person
who has
the authority
and the power
to make
such a
declaration
they declare
that it is
right
that you are
right with
the organization
that it's
right with
you now
and it's
Paul is
saying that
God declares
as God
that you are
now right
with him
the creator
and sustainer
of the entire
universe
and the end
to which the
entire universe
he will bring
everything to
its proper end
with the new
heaven and the
new earth
and this
very same
God
can declare
for ordinary
human beings
like you
and me
in an
official
declaration
you are
right with
me
I have
made you
right
with me
in a way
which is
right
it's an
official
declaration
okay
let's
go back
to reading
go back
to verse
two
again
for
Abraham
was
had
this
declaration
by God
that he
was right
if he had
this by
works
I'm going
to talk
about that
in a moment
because it's
really important
he has
something to
boast about
just pause
here for a
second
if
well no
okay
we'll keep
reading
then we'll
go back
sorry
I'm going
to get
it can
go
okay
never
keep
but not
before God
he has
nothing to
boast about
before God
verse three
for what
does the
Bible
say
he says
what does
the Bible
say
Abraham
believed
God
and it
was
I'm going
to explain
this in a
moment
but
counted to
him
as
righteousness
and every
time you
see the
word
righteousness
understand
it as
right with
God
it's
it's more
than just
being a
good person
because God
is more
than good
God is
true
he is
beautiful
he is
wise
he is
just
he is
merciful
and
right with
God
you know
you can hear
a note
that's not
right
and you want
to get
the note
right
God is
the author
of music
it's a
bigger
concept
than
mere
morality
that you
are
right
with
God
who
is
more
than
just
moral
but
the
true
the
beautiful
the
just
he's
merciful
he's
the creator
he's
the
sustainer
he's
the end
of our
longings
and of
our
yearnings
he is
sovereign
he will
bring
all
things
to their
proper
end
and
we
are
right
with
him
in
the
full
sense
of
who
God
is
so
back
to
verse 3
for what
does
the
Bible
say
Abraham
believed
God
and it
was
counted
to him
as
being
as
righteousness
as
Abraham
is now
right
with
God
verse 4
now to
the one
who
works
his
wages
are counted
are not
counted
as a
gift
but as
his
due
and to
the one
who
does
not
work
but
believes
in
him
who
declares
that
you
are
right
the
ungodly
his
faith
is
counted
as
righteousness
and just
sort of
pause
here
for a
second
how
can
God
declare
that
the
ungodly
are
right
with
him
how
can
God
declare
that
the
ungodly
are
right
with
him
how
can
God
declare
in
verse 5
that
the
ungodly
are
right
with
him
this
doesn't
make
any
sense
to
us
doesn't
make
any
sense
to
us
it
would
be
as
if
a
Buddhist
where
Hindu
was
told
that
you
see
that
Hindu
monk
who's
been
fasting
and
doing
all of
these
religious
observances
and
has
been
meditating
and
doing
all of
that
and
then
you
see
this
other
person
over
here
and
they're
from
the
lowest
caste
and
all
they
do
is
they
rob
and
they
rape
and
they
pillage
and
that
one's
achieving
nirvana
and
this
one's
not
doesn't
make
any
sense
it's
as if
a
Muslim
would
say
here
is
this
person
and
they're
doing
all
of
these
things
they've
actually
learned
7th
century
Arabic
they're
following
everything
in the
Quran
and
there's
this
person
and
he
has
no
interest
in
going
to
Mecca
he
eats
pork
all
the
time
drinks
lots
of
alcohol
has
dogs
does
everything
that
doesn't
fast
during
Ramadan
and
he
is
going
to
heaven
and
he
is
not
it
is
as
if
we
heard
that
there
is
this
person
and
their
great
grandfather
was
a
bishop
and
their
grandfather
was
a
bishop
and
their
father
was
a
bishop
and
their
mother
was
a
famous
evangelist
and
they
go
to
church
every
Sunday
and
there's
this
person
and
they're
drunk
all
the
time
and
they
cheat
on
their
wife
and
they
do
they
are
the
one
going
to
heaven
George
this
is
wrong
that
is
not
how
the
world
works
and
yet
here
it
is
it
says
in
complete
and
utter
opposition
to
all
religion
and
all
spirituality
it
says
here
in
verse
five
who
justifies
the
ungodly
his
faith
is
counted
as
righteousness
who
declares
right
with
himself
the
ungodly
their
faith
is
counted
as
being
right
with
God
that's
a
really
astounding
thing
it's a
very
deeply
astounding
thing
and if
you could
put up
my
first
point
I can't
remember
now
I don't
know
if I
wrote
it
correctly
to
spirituality
and
religion
it
makes
no
sense
that
God
justifies
the
ungodly
to
spirituality
and
religion
it
makes
no
sense
that
God
justifies
the
ungodly
you
know
at the
heart
of all
spirituality
and
religion
and
we
make
a
big
difference
between
this
and
our
culture
we
say
that
we
are
spiritual
but
not
religious
but
the
Bible
would
say
that
ultimately
if
you
look
at
it
from
a
functional
viewpoint
that
functionally
spirituality
and religion
are exactly
the same
and at
the heart
of them
they believe
in works
they might
believe in
very very
different
works
a Buddhist
and a
Hindu
and a
Muslim
and a
Christian
might believe
in somebody
who's
spiritual
but not
religious
they might
believe in
very different
types of
works
but they
all ultimately
believe in
certain types
or combinations
of works
and by
that
I mean
we have
a basic
understanding
a basic
belief
that if
we do
certain
types
of
things
God
will
owe
us
so
if
you're
a
pagan
you might
believe
that if
you do
certain
types
of
sacrifices
you'll
both
get
God
or the
gods
off
your
back
but at
the
same
time
you're
not only
getting
the
God
or the
gods
off
your
back
but
you're
doing
certain
things
that
they're
indebted
to
you
and
for
Christians
this
comes
in the
form
of
this
sort
of
basic
belief
that
yeah
I
became
a
Christian
because
I
said
the
sinner's
prayer
yada
but the
fact
of the
matter
is
that
we
live
as if
our
standing
with
God
depends
upon
our
accomplishments
how do
I know
that this
is the
case
I
know
that
there
are
people
who
maybe
even
left
this
church
after
two
years
because
they
believed
that
God
owed
us
a
building
of
our
own
and
if
we
didn't
have
a
building
of
our
own
within
two
years
it
must
be
because
we've
continued
to do
something
wrong
now
they
would
never
say
that
they're
too
well
trained
but
in
their
heart
they
believe
that
it's
the
same
type
of
thing
that
says
how
is
it
after
I've
sacrificed
and
I've
given
all
these
tithes
and I've
given
all
this
money
to
the
church
and
I
had
that
opportunity
to
sleep
with
this
man
and
I
didn't
sleep
with
this
man
and
I
taught
Sunday
school
and
I
endured
the
youth
group
good
grief
and
then
this
happens
to
me
well
once
we
say
that
what
we're
saying
is
that
we've
done
all
these
things
to
put
God
in
our
debt
we've
been
working
God
working
the
angles
and
God
doesn't
recognize
that he
owes us
and goes
ahead and
does this
so I'm
finished
with God
where's
the bar
or whatever
spiritual
be spiritual
but not
religious
and
and that's
very very
very deeply
rooted
that we
either do
certain
things
to
merit
God
noticing
us
or we
do
things
to
put
God
in
our
debt
or
we
make
some
basic
claim
of our
being
connected
to the
right
way
well I
mean
my
dad
was
an
evangelist
and my
grandfather
you know
he was
a pastor
and my
great
grandfather
you know
he built
this
church
he
was
his
money
that
built
this
church
and
that's
how
Christianity
stops
being
listening
to
this
you see
if that's
your
understanding
of what
the
Christian
faith
is
then
that
God
justifies
the
ungodly
makes
no
sense
makes
no
sense
whatsoever
we're
talking
about
something
completely
and
utterly
different
but
here's
the
thing
you
go to
a lot
of the
bars
of the
city
on a
Friday
night
or a
Saturday
night
or maybe
if you
go
you know
right
I don't
know
when the
bars open
at 11 o'clock
and you'll meet
lots of
people
if you ask
them what do
they think
about religion
they'll go
oh
what a waste
of time
those guys
and gals
they're just
completely and
utterly
self-righteous
all they do
is just
bend
themselves
out of
shape
and you
know what
it's a
complete
and utter
waste
of time
it doesn't
work
I know
this guy
and he
was he
went to
the right
church
and his
wife went
to the
right
church
and they
went there
for 30
years
and then
after 30
years
of doing
all the
tithing
they did
and all
the stuff
with youth
groups
and all
the right
stuff
still their
marriage
ends
it's all
a waste
of time
that's why
I'm here
Jack Daniels
my buddy
in a football
game on
screen is
not a
waste
of time
the shocking
thing is
that the
Bible isn't
agreeing with
the Jack
Daniels
and the
football
game
but the
fact of
the matter
is that
the Bible
agrees
with the
irreligious
person's
assessment
of religion
and spirituality
that's what
Paul was
doing in
chapter 1
verse 18
to chapter
320
and he's
going to
go back
to it
here again
in a
moment
that it
doesn't
work
it's a
waste
of time
you can't
put God
in your
debt
you can't
manipulate
God
you can't
work God
you can't
do a
charm
offensive
you can't
do any
of those
things
it all
works
it all
fails
but
unlike
the
irreligious
the Bible
doesn't just
say that
in a cynical
type of
way and
then say
the best
thing to
do is
just get
some
Jack
Daniels
or
something
like that
and watch
football games
or whatever
it is
it turns
you on
get lots
of toys
make lots
of money
make lots
of money
then get
toys
like whatever
the order
is
get lots
of toys
make no
money
lose all
the toys
bankrupt
whatever it
is
just
the Bible
doesn't go to
that cynical
type of route
it says
there's another
option
there's a
completely
other option
that you need
to consider
that maybe
there is a
way
that God
wants you
to maybe
think about
these
to realize
that
spirituality
and religion
doesn't work
but you don't
have to
despair
because there's
a God
who exists
who can
act in a
way which
is right
to make
ordinary
human beings
right with
himself
and maybe
God
has done
something
maybe
there's news
of God
having done
something
and that's
what Paul
is going
to look
at
so the
Bible
isn't
promoting
irreligion
and not
being
spiritual
the
Bible
dethrones
idols
the
Bible
knocks
idols
off their
throne
and
reveals
to human
beings
the
real
idolatrous
state
of their
heart
and the
Bible
reveals
this
in the
context
of the
existence
of God
who in
grace
does
something
that human
beings
can't do
that he
provides
the way
to make
us right
with him
with effective
power
the Bible
is always
dethroning
our idols
revealing
our fantasies
and illusions
illusions
the fantasies
and illusions
of our
heart
in the
context
of the
reality
of a
God
of
grace
who
acts
to make
human
beings
right
with
himself
that's
what we
see here
just look
at these
verses
again
verse
three
for what
does
the
Bible
say
Abraham
believed
God
and it
was
counted
to him
as
righteousness
now to
the one
who
works
his wages
are not
counted
as a
gift
but as
his
due
and to
the one
who does
not work
but believes
in him
who justifies
the ungodly
his faith
is counted
as right
standing
with God
continue
reading
just as
David
also
speaks
of the
blessing
of the
one
to whom
God
counts
righteousness
in other
words
counts
right
with
himself
apart
from
works
blessed
are
those
whose
lawless
deeds
are
forgiven
and
whose
sins
are
covered
blessed
is
the
man
against
whom
the
Lord
will
not
count
his
sin
actually
Andrew
if you
could put
the next
point
up
because
all
of
these
different
words
covered
forgiven
counted
they're
all
financial
images
God
by
free
grace
credits
us
a
right
standing
with
himself
God
by
free
grace
credits
us
a
right
standing
with
himself
what
happens
if
you
owe
me
ten
thousand
dollars
and
I
forgive
the
debt
I
forgive
the
debt
in
a
sense
your
ten
thousand
dollars
you've
given
a
different
credit
of
being
debt
free
the
debt
is
covered
and
the
word
counted
is
it's
one
of
the
interesting
things
about
this
Bible
translation
that
I'm
using
it was
a bit
different
in
Ken's
a bit
different
maybe
if
you're
using
the
NIV
the
New
Living
Translation
one
of
the
high
values
of
the
version
I
use
here
when
I
preach
it
it's
an
essentially
literal
translation
and
one
of
their
high
values
is
if
there's
the
same
word
in
the
original
language
all
the
way
through
something
they
try
to
use
the
exact
same
English
word
all
the
way
through
to
help
you
understand
what's
going
on
underneath
the
text
in
terms
of
the
original
language
sometimes
it
means
it's
a
little
bit
harder
to
explain
but
the
word
counted
is
also
translated
as
credited
and
it's
a
bookkeeping
term
so
it's
like
if I
say
you've
done
something
bad
it's
going
to
count
against
you
it
can
be
used
in
a
negative
sense
but
it
also
means
something
good
if
you
call
up
and
you
make
a
complaint
about
a
bill
payment
they'll
say
okay
we've
credited
your
account
and
we've
put
the
money
back
in
and
that's
the
image
behind
this
idea
it's
a
financial
image
one
of the
things
about
the
Bible
is
that
the
mystery
of
what
Jesus
accomplishes
for us
on the
cross
it's
a
profound
and
deep
mystery
and
the
Bible
will
use
an
image
of
the
law
courts
of
being
acquitted
and
then
it
will
use
an
image
as
if
you
do
something
to
satisfy
the
proper
anger
that
somebody
has
against
you
and
then
it
will
use
an
image
of
as
if
you
were
a
slave
and
somebody
pays
for
your
freedom
from
slavery
and
then
it
will
use
an
image
from
personal
relationships
about
being
reconciled
and
then
it
will
use
the
image
of
being
an
orphan
and
not
having
a
mother
and
father
and
being
adopted
and
then
it
will
use
an
image
of
accounting
as if
you
have
no
money
and
God
does
something
to
cover
the
debt
to
pay
the
debt
to
forgive
the
debt
and
God
the
Bible
the
mystery
of
what
Jesus
accomplishes
for us
on the
cross
is
so
deep
and
so
far
reaching
that
the
Bible
tries
to
use
about
12
13
14
different
images
to
try
to
help
us
to
enter
into
the
mystery
of
what
God
accomplishes
for
human
beings
in a
way
which
is
right
to
make
us
right
with
himself
and
in
all
of
these
images
it's
not
that
all
of
a
sudden
you're
supposed
to
wander
away
and
who's
he
paying
or
who's
this
doing
it's
as if
at
certain
times
in
your
life
if
you're
struggling
with
people
living
under
anger
then
the
image
that
the
death
of
Jesus
upon
the
cross
is
it
frees
you
for
those
of
you
whose
record
is
as
long
as
your
arm
and
is
in
constant
legal
trouble
the
image
of
being
acquitted
is
something
that
can
grip
you
I
can
well
imagine
that
if
you're
a
prisoner
in
jail
and
the
message
you're
going
to
preach
the
gospel
you
might
want
to
constantly
use
this
image
of
acquitted
and
for
those
of
us
who
say
they're
saying
as
out
I've
just
lost
my
job
I'm
completely
and utterly
overwhelmed
with
finances
the
image
of
Jesus
his
death
upon
the
cross
being
something
that
is
credited
to
us
so
that
we
are
now
dead
free
before
God
is
a
powerful
image
and
the
Bible
gives
image
after
image
after
image
of
all
trying
to
open
up
and
help
us
to
enter
into
the
mystery
of
what
Jesus
accomplishes
for
us
on
the
cross
and
so
the
image
which
is
here
is
this
imagine
in
the
ancient
world
the time
that
the
Bible
was
written
if you
went
into
debt
and
you
couldn't
pay
you
didn't
go to
Doyle
and
Salusky
or
whatever
their
name
is
and
get
out
and
just
go
bankrupt
no
you
would
become
a
slave
you
owe
somebody
fifty
thousand
dollars
that
you
can't
pay
you
don't
just
lose
your
house
you
lose
your
liberty
so
imagine
in a
time
that
imagine
that
you're
in a
culture
where
that
happens
and
you
owe
you
know
you're
a
poor
widow
and
you
have
you
just
have
your
daughter
and
there's
just
the
two
of
you
and
you
owe
hundreds
of
thousands
of
dollars
you
know
maybe
your
husband
racked
up
the
debt
and
then
he
died
but
the
debt
still
stands
you
owe
hundreds
of
thousands
of
waiting
for
them
to
come
and
put
you
and
your
daughter
into
slavery
and
if
you're
that
person
that
elderly
lady
that
you
might
think
it
would
be
alright
if
they
would
just
even
take
me
but
the
idea
that
your
daughter
would
also
be
sold
into
slavery
for
the
debt
would
be
an
overwhelming
experience
and
imagine
one
day
you
go
and
you
hope
that
you
know
it's
going
to
be
any
day
now
that
they're
going
to
take
everything
away
from
you
and
you
go
and
you
just
hope
that
you
might
be
able
to
get
that
one
little
tiny
bit
of
extra
credit
because
you
just
need
a little
bit
of
food
for
this
day
and
you're
just
hoping
you can
get
that
little
bit
of
flour
that
little
bit
of
sugar
that
little
bit
of
oil
so
you
can
maybe
have
one
last
meal
with
your
daughter
and
you
and
your
daughter
go
before
they're
going
to
come
and
take
you
away
and
you
go
and
you're
really
worried
and
you're
weighed
down
with
doubt
and
the
guy
you
go
in
and
the
store
owner
doesn't
frown
at
you
but
smiles
at
you
and
welcomes
you
in
and
you
get
the
stuff
and
you
start
to
say
to
you
know
I'm
going
to
try
to
pay
it
back
and
he
says
you
don't
have
to
worry
about
it
all
of
your
debts
have
been
covered
all
of
your
debts
have
been
covered
every
one
of
them
you're
completely
and utterly
free
go
ahead
and
order
whatever
you
want
and
you
ask
who
did
this
and
he
says
this
you
know
that
powerful
Lord
that
you
see
going
by
here
he
did
it
he
paid
all
your
debts
that's
the
image
which
is
trying
to
get
to
you
here
you're
still
a
widow
you're
still
poor
all
your
debts
have
been
paid
and
you
see
here
if
you
get
nothing
out
of
this
in
terms
of
the
app
you
see
here's
the
thing
and
you
know
maybe
if
I
keep
going
but
if
there's
only
one
image
what
difference
does
the
gospel
make
in
terms
of
how
you
live
your
life
can
be
seen
in
this
particular
image
because
if
before
the
debt
if
that
widow
and
her
daughter
had
said
you know
I have
a couple
of apples
and we
have
this
tiny
little
bit
of
oats
and
a
tiny
little
bit
of
oil
and
tiny
little
bit
of
sugar
and
maybe
if
I
make
some
apple
crumble
and
walk
up
to
that
powerful
Lord
and
give
him
that
he'll
say
I'll
pay
a
hundred
thousand
dollars
in
debt
that's
religion
and
spirituality
what
does
a
gospel
shaped
life
look
like
the
widow
goes
home
all
she
can
do
she's
just
overwhelmed
with
shock
at
what
the
Lord
has
done
there's
nothing
she
can
do
to
pay
a
Lord
like
that
back
all
of
her
life
if
she
just
gave
every
penny
she
got
she'd
never
be
able
to
pay
him
back
she
would
always
be
in
his
debt
for
what
he's
done
freely
and
graciously
to
her
but
she
might
say
to
her
daughter
I'm
going
to
make
some
apple
crumble
and
in
gratitude
for
what
he's
done
I'm
going
to
give
it
to
him
that's
the
difference
the
gospel
makes
as
the
gospel
grips
your
heart
that's
how
you
serve
at
the
door
that's
how
you
serve
the
coffee
that's
how
you
love
the
kids
in
Sunday
school
that's
how
a
pastor
is
to
understand
his
job
on
a
Sunday
morning
that's
how
Jen
is
to
understand
what
she
does
when
she
leads
the
singing
that's
how
we
understand
bringing
some
apple
crumble
to
our
neighbor
or
giving
some
food
to
the
poor
or
helping
missionaries
in
Africa
or
China
not
hoping
that
our
apple
crumble
will
make
the
Lord
have
favor
upon
us
the
guys
in
the
bar
will
all
be
right
it's
a
waste
of
your
time
but
if
God
acts
with
effective
power
in a
way
which
is
right
which
is
characterized
by
grace
and
mercy
and
love
to
wipe
away
all
of
your
debts
then
maybe
you'll
take
your
apple
crumble
and
ingratitude
operate
and that's
how you
try to
learn to
live
your
life
that's
why
churches
need to
hear
the
gospel
that's
why
religious
people
and
spiritual
people
need to
hear
the
gospel
because
we need
to get
it out
of our
head
that we're
somehow
or another
putting
God
in our
debt
by giving
him
apple
crumble
and
start
to learn
that once
we're
gripped
by the
gospel
and what
Jesus
has done
on the
cross
how can
I not
just offer
him some
apple crumble
and thankfulness
and gratitude
isn't that
just a wise
and freeing
way to
live
so what does
faith look like
very very
briefly
let's we'll just
read through the
text I wanted
to bring a
couple of
things out I'm
mindful of the
time but
how do you
receive that
faith how do
you receive
that like
George are you
saying that I
have to have a
particular emotion
to receive it
do I have to
know the right
things to receive
it do I
like what
how do I
what is this
faith stuff
well let's
look at verse
nine
is this blessing
only then for the
circumcised or
also for the
uncircumcised and
what you do here is
you take out the
word circumcised and
you put in religious
or spiritual
or church
goer
and take in
your own
denomination is
this only for the
the reformed
Presbyterians is
this only for
associated gospel is
this only for
Christian reform is
this only for
Anglicans is this
only for Pentecostals
or is it also for
the people who
wake up every
morning with a
hangover and
and then go to a
bar later on in
the day we say
that faith was
credited
righteousness to
Abraham as
gave a credit of
righteousness to
Abraham how
then was it
counted to him
was it before or
after he had been
circumcised in other
words was it before
after you know what
Abraham was a
worshipper of the
moon God when God
called him up until
God speaks to
Abraham and Abraham
believes God's
promise Abraham
worshipped the
moon
God didn't look
down on the
planet and see
who's the best
living person on
the planet I'm
going to pick him
he picked a guy
who worshipped the
moon
who worshipped the
moon
he can pick a guy
who worships the
moon
he can deal with
you and me
that's what
that's what Abraham
that's what the
Bible is saying
and you know
you can go on and
read it later on
I'm going to sort of
ignore some of my
points Andrew I
think it's just sort of
the right time to do
it but God's grace
and my response to
him if you could put
this next point up
Andrew God's grace
and my response to
him by faith fit
together like a nut
and a bolt
God's grace and my
response to him by
faith fit together
like a nut and a
bolt nothing else
fits with God's
grace nothing else
because you see at the
heart of faith is
this willingness to
come empty handed
you just trust and
believe what God
has done what he's
done for you in
Jesus and you come
to him empty handed
and at the heart of
the Bible's
understanding of
faith is Andrew if
you could put up the
next slide
saving faith believes
God's promise that
he has provided the
way for human beings
to be right with
himself saving
faith believes God's
promise that he has
provided the way for
human beings to be
right with himself
so faith is not a type
of works it's not an
emotion it's not an
illusion it's not
believing in fantasies
so it's not like you're
trying to screw yourself
up and having a
particular emotional
experience or believe
something that's not
true as we'll see in a
moment because we're
going to say this verse
together it's rooted in
history it's rooted in
the truth it's rooted in
reality it's rooted in
a historical event it's
rooted in an
understanding of God
speaking to reveal to
human beings the
significance of the
event and it's not only
about the significance of
the death of Jesus upon
the cross but it's it's
connected to the fact
that he really did rise
from the dead that that
that that lawyers and
others who've gone and
really studied it to try
to disprove the
resurrection from the
dead and they've come
away believing in the
resurrection of the
dead it's something that
engages the mind it's
looking at your life in
the context of the of the
fact that there is a real
God who really exists who
can act in a way because
there's no reason why God
can't be generous to us and
deal with that debt that we
cannot pay ourselves and he
would absorb that debt he
would forgive that debt he
would pay all that's
responsible for it to be
paid and that he would
offer this to you to come
open-handed to be made
right with himself because
of what he's done for us
with his son's death upon
the cross the last verse
and a half of Romans 4
Andrew do you put this up
on the screen I've just
paraphrased the first part
of it to get at what the
Greek is saying and I
would just like you if you
could read this with me
right now accredited right
standing with God will be
given to us who believe in
him who raised from the
dead Jesus our Lord who
was delivered up for our
trespasses and raised for
our justification what is
justification means declared
right with God can you read
this with me again accredited
right standing with God will
be given to us who believe in
him who raised from the dead
our Lord our Jesus our Lord who
was delivered up for our
trespasses and raised for our
justification that's the
gospel message and as this
message grips our heart as we
receive this message and
believe that God is true to his
word and good for his word I am
always ungodly there will never
be a day in my life where I've
accomplished so many good marks
and so many good works that God
looks down and says whoa I owe
George today that'll never
happen every day I don't know
I'm I'm not as loving to my
wife or my kids as I should be
and I I think bad thoughts about
people who drive and you know I
do other types of things and I'm
going to stop right now before I
really get myself in trouble but
every day my I am ungodly but my
faith in Jesus which see this is
the wonderful thing this
justified word this is an end of
time word this is George if Jesus
doesn't come back and George lives
to be a hundred and five that when
I die God then declares me that I am
right with him God then declares me
that all of my debts have been dealt
with on the cross by Jesus all of my
future is covered all of my future is
covered and I can know that
declaration of God today and live in
light of the future declaration of God
today and learn as I'm gripped by the
gospel to live a life of gratitude and
that's that as it as this as this grips
us it it shapes how we view Christian
service it it shapes how we view our
neighbors it it grounds acts of
selflessness it starts to make us less
defensive when people point out our
failings and which are many because we
God knows all about that and they've
all been dealt with on the cross and I
have a credited right standing with God
not an accomplished right standing with
God but accredited and it and it starts
to mean that I can look at these idols
that I put my trust in my faith in and
I can say God I thank you so much for
crediting me with a righteousness
apart from these idols get them off my
heart get them out of our church get
them out of my imaginations dethrone
these idols that as the gospel grips us
we can live a grace-shaped life to the
glory of God let's stand
you know the mission statement of this
church is to make disciples of Jesus
gripped by the gospel who live for your
glory and that's a mission statement you
can pray and if you have never given
your life to Jesus or if you're
uncertain as to whether you have you
know if you just say Andrew could you
put up that scripture sentence back up
again for us the last one that we just
looked at you can just pray that just
say father what those things are I
believe you that you do this grip me
with the gospel I want to be yours
grip me with the gospel and God doesn't
just God I mean one of the wonderful
things about the gospel is when we put
our faith and trust in Jesus God comes
in that declared righteousness is
something that you can know for
yourself today and God doesn't just
declare this righteousness he gives you
his Holy Spirit his Holy Spirit comes and
dwells you and lives within you but
there's no better time than today to
call out to God and say God I want to
stop trying to be religious and
spiritual I believe that what Jesus did
for me on the cross means that my
debts are all gone that you declare me
right with you
and I have no other standing before you
other than that for those of us who've
been Christians for a long time say
father you know the idols that I've been
struggling with you know I'm slipping
into thinking my performance is what
makes me right with you father forgive me
for this make me a disciple of Jesus
gripped by the gospel who lives for your
glory our heads in prayer father for those
using their own words to call out to you to
be your child I ask that your Holy Spirit
would flood into them at this time and
help them as they do that important
business with you
in their own words in their own heart
father may your Holy Spirit flood into
them as they as they call out to you and
trust Jesus and father for for all of us
you you know how we can still be ungodly
you know the idols that beguile us you
know how easily we slip into thinking that
our performance is what makes you love us
so father we ask anew that you would make
us disciples of Jesus gripped by the gospel
so in gratitude and not in presumption but
in confident gratitude humble confident
gratitude we might learn to live our daily
lives for your great glory and this we ask
in Jesus name amen take a posture of prayer as
I think it's Ross is going to lead us in
some intercessions
you