WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:11.599 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:15.280 use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:32.899 Today's scripture reading is from Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 1, verses 16-18, 00:00:33.260 --> 00:00:37.740 and chapter 3, verses 21-31, as printed in the liturgy. 00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:43.280 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:47.340 to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:52.380 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith 00:00:52.380 --> 00:00:56.840 from first to last, just as it is written, the righteous will live by faith. 00:00:57.400 --> 00:01:01.880 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodlessness and wickedness 00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:04.740 of people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 00:01:05.960 --> 00:01:11.439 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the law 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:12.560 and the prophets testify. 00:01:13.300 --> 00:01:17.300 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. 00:01:17.299 --> 00:01:22.399 There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the 00:01:22.399 --> 00:01:26.920 glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:27.700 by Christ Jesus. 00:01:28.459 --> 00:01:33.400 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood to be received 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:34.039 by faith. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:39.179 He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins 00:01:39.179 --> 00:01:40.979 committed beforehand unpunished. 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:45.800 He did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the 00:01:45.800 --> 00:01:48.140 one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 00:01:48.740 --> 00:01:51.079 Where then is boasting, it is excluded. 00:01:51.540 --> 00:01:52.380 Because of what law? 00:01:52.540 --> 00:01:53.640 The law that requires works? 00:01:54.020 --> 00:01:55.939 No, because of the law that requires faith. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:02:00.540 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith, apart from the works of the law. 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:02.460 Or is God the God of Jews only? 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:04.219 Is he not the God of Gentiles too? 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:09.860 Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God who will justify the circumcised by faith 00:02:09.860 --> 00:02:12.540 and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:15.040 Do we then nullify the law by this faith? 00:02:15.320 --> 00:02:15.980 Not at all. 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:17.680 Rather, we uphold the law. 00:02:18.280 --> 00:02:19.580 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:20.200 --> 00:02:21.140 Thanks be to God. 00:02:23.140 --> 00:02:24.900 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:29.640 It is summertime, and that means that it's time for summer reading. 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:33.380 And I wonder if we have any John Grisham fans here. 00:02:33.540 --> 00:02:38.560 People have read John Grisham's books, seen his movies, or just people who generally like 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:39.520 courtroom dramas. 00:02:39.860 --> 00:02:45.060 That's what we should be imagining right now is this courtroom drama. 00:02:46.160 --> 00:02:55.020 And the human race, the whole human race is there in the dock before our maker and our judge. 00:02:55.220 --> 00:02:57.860 And what is the case against the human race? 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:02.680 It's that we've been made with this exalted status. 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:09.819 We've been made to have a relationship with our creator God, and yet we've fallen from glory. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:13.200 We've fallen very short of the glory for which we were made. 00:03:13.260 --> 00:03:14.860 We've fallen from a very great height. 00:03:15.099 --> 00:03:22.480 And the evidence has been stacked up against us to prove that we're all under the power of sin 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:25.119 and the penalty of death and the wrath of God. 00:03:25.119 --> 00:03:30.060 And we're in this position of being condemned and under condemnation. 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:34.479 And the situation seems absolutely helpless and hopeless. 00:03:34.620 --> 00:03:40.599 But if you've seen these John Grisham movies, read the books, you know in these courtroom dramas 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:48.280 that typically there's someone, just before the verdict is rendered, someone bursts through the doors 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:50.740 at the back of the courtroom. 00:03:50.959 --> 00:03:51.599 And what are they? 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:52.280 They're sweaty. 00:03:53.019 --> 00:03:54.359 They're out of breath. 00:03:54.459 --> 00:03:55.240 They're disheveled. 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:56.120 They haven't slept. 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:01.460 It's usually some poorly paid intern, right, that's stayed up all night long, digging up 00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:06.599 new facts about the case, putting together a new brief to overturn the verdict. 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:10.680 And that's what's happening right here in this text. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:16.199 Today we come to this dramatic moment, these joyful words in verse 21, but now. 00:04:17.139 --> 00:04:18.519 But now. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:23.459 We're looking at the Apostle Paul and his magisterial epistle to the Romans. 00:04:23.459 --> 00:04:30.299 And in Romans chapter 1, 2, and 3, he's painted for us this picture of how dark and bleak and 00:04:30.299 --> 00:04:35.139 despairing and hopeless the human condition is apart from the grace of God. 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:37.539 You just heard it in Romans 1, 18. 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:42.639 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:46.019 people who suppress the truth in their wickedness. 00:04:46.019 --> 00:04:53.680 And for three chapters, Paul has been making the case that we cannot provide a righteousness 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.979 that will justify ourselves before God. 00:04:57.079 --> 00:05:01.519 We are convicted of sin and therefore we're helpless and we're hopeless before him. 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:09.299 And so when you hear this but now, it's a word of great relief. 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:15.740 But now, thank God that there's a way out, that God has provided a way out. 00:05:16.520 --> 00:05:22.740 From the very first sentence of this letter, Paul has said that he's here to talk about 00:05:22.740 --> 00:05:23.840 the gospel of God. 00:05:24.740 --> 00:05:30.460 And he's told us in the thesis of this letter in Romans 1, 16, and 17 that the theme of this 00:05:30.460 --> 00:05:32.900 gospel is the power of God for salvation. 00:05:32.899 --> 00:05:39.479 It's a righteousness that comes not from us but from God himself that he gives and that 00:05:39.479 --> 00:05:40.899 we receive by faith. 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:47.000 And now, Paul says, now that you've seen over these first three chapters the utter necessity 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:53.120 of being saved by God, that there's nothing that we could do that would be adequate and 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:56.819 sufficient to save us, Paul says, but now. 00:05:57.539 --> 00:06:01.620 And now I'm ready to unpack for you the gospel, Paul says. 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:06.420 But now, and I want to emphasize the nowness of this but now. 00:06:07.280 --> 00:06:09.399 We should hear that as just now. 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:15.680 Just now in this particular moment because Paul is preaching and he's writing a very short 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:17.819 time after the events of Jesus Christ. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:23.600 The incarnation, the crucifixion, the resurrection, his exaltation to the right hand of God. 00:06:24.259 --> 00:06:30.220 And Paul is saying that just now, just now this event has happened that's changed everything. 00:06:30.220 --> 00:06:33.720 That's the watershed moment in human history. 00:06:33.880 --> 00:06:39.620 This just now thing that's shifted from B.C. to A.D. 00:06:39.700 --> 00:06:42.880 That's put the universe back on its axis. 00:06:43.020 --> 00:06:44.840 That has just now happened. 00:06:46.220 --> 00:06:47.980 Listen to what he says in verse 21. 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:54.400 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known to which the law 00:06:54.400 --> 00:06:56.100 and the prophets testify. 00:06:57.220 --> 00:07:00.640 What has happened just now is not brand new. 00:07:00.860 --> 00:07:02.300 It's actually quite old. 00:07:02.840 --> 00:07:07.540 It was promised to Adam and Noah and Abraham and Moses and David. 00:07:07.700 --> 00:07:10.660 And it's all captured for us in the law and the prophets. 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:15.560 But these promises have just now come to fulfillment in Jesus Christ. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:19.300 And this has just now been made known to us. 00:07:20.420 --> 00:07:21.800 What has been made known? 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:28.800 Paul is shifting the focus now from our human problem of sin to God's provision of salvation. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:35.660 And he's shifting the focus now from human rebellion to God's righteousness. 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:42.939 That what has been made known is God's righteous way of righteasing the unrighteous. 00:07:43.699 --> 00:07:47.920 God's just way of justifying the unjust. 00:07:48.960 --> 00:07:54.139 That this is God's last minute break through the door at the back of the courtroom 00:07:54.139 --> 00:07:58.879 to answer the sorry and solemn situation that we're in. 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:01.680 A situation of absolute condemnation. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:04.360 And God is saying, but now. 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:10.000 There's actually a way to be put right in relationship with me. 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:15.079 And I want you to know that this but now begins a whole new section of this letter 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:18.240 of which our text today is really kind of the executive summary 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:21.879 of one of the most important and central sections in all of scripture. 00:08:21.879 --> 00:08:24.600 And today I'm going to attempt to do the impossible 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:28.819 which is to tackle three really big theological words. 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:30.240 I ran this by my kids last night. 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:31.860 They had no idea what these words meant. 00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:34.840 And I'm assuming that may be some of us as well. 00:08:34.939 --> 00:08:36.919 We're going to hit three really big words. 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:38.379 You ready for these big words? 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:40.059 Like seminary level words? 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:48.139 God sent Jesus to redeem, atone, and justify us by faith. 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:53.699 God sent Jesus to redeem, atone, and justify us by faith. 00:08:53.779 --> 00:08:56.539 Redemption, atonement, and justification. 00:08:56.860 --> 00:09:00.860 I hope you'll at least know a little bit more of what these mean by the end of this sermon. 00:09:01.699 --> 00:09:05.100 First of all, God sent Jesus to redeem us. 00:09:06.519 --> 00:09:10.360 Verse 24 says that all are justified freely by his grace 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:13.779 through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:16.519 And I want you to focus on that key word, redemption. 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.000 Redemption, what does it mean to call God not only our creator, 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:21.159 but to call him our redeemer? 00:09:22.179 --> 00:09:25.299 Why would you as a church, why would you name your church redeemer 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:26.419 or church of the redemption? 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:30.559 It must be a fairly important word if you're going to put it in your name 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:31.720 and in your logo, right? 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:34.319 So it's one of those great New Testament words. 00:09:34.439 --> 00:09:34.980 What does it mean? 00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:38.379 Well, redemption means to be bought out of the slave market. 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:43.460 It means that someone has come and paid the price for your release. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:44.899 It's an economic word. 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:49.240 And in the ancient world, they had no bankruptcy laws. 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:54.000 And so if you were a farmer and you fell into debt and you couldn't pay the debt, 00:09:54.079 --> 00:09:57.319 you would lose your land and you would become an indentured slave. 00:09:57.980 --> 00:10:01.240 Or if you were a soldier in the military and you lost a battle, 00:10:01.340 --> 00:10:02.819 you would be taken as prisoner. 00:10:02.959 --> 00:10:10.059 And this slave or this prisoner needed someone to come and pay a ransom price for their release. 00:10:10.059 --> 00:10:15.119 And many of us can't really relate to being a slave or being a prisoner, 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:19.239 but I think almost all of us in the Bay Area can probably relate to having debt. 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:20.339 Anyone have debt? 00:10:21.239 --> 00:10:23.119 You went for that university degree. 00:10:23.419 --> 00:10:25.719 You tried to buy that house here in the Bay. 00:10:26.199 --> 00:10:29.699 And you know that huge weight and load of debt. 00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:33.879 And your freedom has been massively compromised by your debt. 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:40.060 And there are many things you can't do until you get that weight of debt off of you. 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:45.420 Some of us daydream, at least I daydream, about someone coming from outside, 00:10:45.680 --> 00:10:50.000 you know, just miraculously paying that debt for me and setting me free. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:53.159 Well, Paul says in verse 24, 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:59.080 All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:05.519 Someone has come and paid the ransom for slaves, prisoners, and debtors like us. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:08.539 We were in a helpless situation. 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:16.460 Our position was pretty much like the Israelites in Egypt who were slaves and they were in captivity, 00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:23.160 except our slavery was to sin and to the dark powers of this world and to death itself. 00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:29.360 And we couldn't pay the price to purchase our release and our liberation and our freedom. 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:35.360 But the gospel says that someone else came and paid that price for us. 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:39.840 This is how Jesus even talks about himself. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.820 In the gospel of Mark chapter 10, he says that the Son of Man did not come to be served, 00:11:44.820 --> 00:11:49.540 but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:11:50.560 --> 00:11:55.160 Jesus is saying that he came to ransom us and to deliver us and to pay that price 00:11:55.160 --> 00:12:01.100 so that the prison could be open and our chains could be unlocked and we could be made free. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:05.920 Jesus didn't just come to tell us about the love of God. 00:12:06.400 --> 00:12:08.700 He did come and tell us about the love of God. 00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:18.960 But the totality of Jesus' actual coming and his living and most especially his dying and his rising again, 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:26.040 that is what provides the payment price that's essential for our deliverance. 00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:31.460 And it's his coming and his teaching, those were essential, but they didn't save us. 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:34.580 It was Jesus ransoming us on his cross. 00:12:34.580 --> 00:12:40.040 That is what set us at liberty and it's the only way out for us. 00:12:41.020 --> 00:12:46.660 And I want you to notice that God's grace is what provides this redemption. 00:12:47.040 --> 00:12:48.460 Paul says again, he says, 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:54.740 All are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 00:12:54.740 --> 00:13:01.639 It's God himself and he alone who provided this ransom price for us. 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:06.320 This one that we've been looking at these past three chapters in Romans, 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:10.000 this one that we provoked, this one that we defied, 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:13.700 this one that we ignored and neglected and disobeyed, 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.139 this one against whom we rebelled. 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:21.840 In his grace and in his unmerited favor and his infinite kindness, 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.860 though we had done nothing to deserve it, 00:13:24.220 --> 00:13:29.159 he took action at infinite cost to himself to plan our redemption, 00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:31.419 to initiate our redemption, 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:37.379 and to provide everything we needed to be ransomed and therefore reconciled to him. 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:40.740 And so that's my first question to you today is, 00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:45.320 Do you know God not only as your creator, but as your gracious redeemer? 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:49.620 Do you know him as your merciful deliverer? 00:13:50.419 --> 00:13:52.919 And when you pray, do you spend time saying, 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:57.320 God, thank you for your redemption in my life? 00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:02.840 Now, verse 24 provokes multiple questions, 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:05.779 like how exactly did Jesus ransom us? 00:14:05.820 --> 00:14:08.919 And what was the ransom price? 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:14.740 And how did he secure our redemption from slavery and our deliverance from this captivity? 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:18.839 And that's what brings us to our next big theological word. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.539 You ready for it? 00:14:20.099 --> 00:14:20.759 You got redemption? 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:22.699 We ready to move on from redemption? 00:14:23.579 --> 00:14:25.279 Okay, next big theological word. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:30.079 God sent Jesus not only to redeem us, but to atone for us. 00:14:30.959 --> 00:14:35.439 God sent Jesus not only to redeem us, but to atone for us. 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:36.079 Atonement. 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:38.720 This is verse 25. 00:14:38.900 --> 00:14:39.060 It says, 00:14:39.300 --> 00:14:45.360 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood to be received by faith. 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:49.480 This is one of the most important verses in the whole of scripture, 00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:52.800 and it's a central and essential doctrine for the Christian faith. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:53.460 Paul says, 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:56.300 But now, something new has happened. 00:14:56.400 --> 00:14:58.580 A new redemption has come about. 00:14:58.660 --> 00:15:00.180 And how does that redemption work? 00:15:00.179 --> 00:15:01.399 Paul says, 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:03.500 God presented Christ. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:07.979 God publicly set Jesus Christ forth. 00:15:08.099 --> 00:15:11.779 And on the cross, God made this public declaration. 00:15:11.959 --> 00:15:13.059 And what did God declare? 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:16.879 God declared the atonement through the shedding of blood. 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:25.199 This Greek word can be translated sacrifice of atonement or an old English word that's propitiation. 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:25.839 Okay? 00:15:26.459 --> 00:15:27.179 Propitiation. 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:29.919 And what does it mean to propitiate? 00:15:30.719 --> 00:15:33.219 It means to turn aside someone's wrath. 00:15:33.959 --> 00:15:39.179 Or to satisfy and pacify and absorb someone's wrath. 00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:45.259 And we've been at pains to show these past few weeks that the wrath of God is not his crankiness. 00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:51.539 The wrath of God, rather, is God's settled judicial opposition to evil. 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:51.980 Right? 00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:56.699 There's a reason why God's wrath has been provoked. 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.779 We learn in Romans 1.18, 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.500 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven. 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:00.899 Why? 00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:07.159 Against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who are suppressing the truth by their wickedness. 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:10.179 And we actually know something about wrath. 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:19.339 We know that when we love someone and we see them destroying themselves, or we see them destroying the lives of other people, 00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:23.939 we feel there's something in us that's opposed to their self-destruction. 00:16:24.819 --> 00:16:24.959 Right? 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:30.799 We feel a hostility rising up against us as we see them destroying the lives of other people. 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:36.379 And God's wrath is like that, except it's utterly pure and it's absolutely infinite. 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:43.399 Now think about this, if God tolerated evil, if he didn't feel wrath against evil, 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:48.980 if he winked at everything that opposed what's true and good and beautiful, 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:55.600 if he disregarded the things that deface and damage and destroy his creation and his creatures, 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:59.340 would we be able to call God a good God? 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:03.740 Would we be able to say that he's a just God or a loving God? 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:08.140 And this is really the driving question throughout the whole of the Bible. 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:18.140 How can a just God rightly pour out his wrath on sin without destroying us sinners, 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:19.880 whom he made and whom he loves? 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:28.940 And how could God make unrighteous people like us righteous without overthrowing his entire moral order 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:32.980 and just turning the moral universe completely upside down? 00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:37.460 And the answer to that question is in verse 25, 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:43.839 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood. 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:49.319 You see, propitiation carries with it this idea that someone has been offended 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:55.160 and someone has done the offending and something needs to be done, 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:58.660 something's necessary on both sides to make it right. 00:17:58.660 --> 00:18:07.720 And what Paul is saying is that the God whom we offended has provided a way whereby the offense can be dealt with. 00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:09.960 God presented Christ. 00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:17.820 And if you follow the argument so far, we never could have presented something on our side 00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:21.320 that would have been adequate or sufficient to make things right. 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:28.740 And so God, in his wisdom, in God, in his grace, contrived a way. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:32.579 And he presented Christ on the divine side. 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:36.319 And Jesus Christ presented himself on the human side 00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:41.299 so that the justice and the wrath of God came down not on us, 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:46.200 but on Christ himself, on Christ instead. 00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:49.419 God presented Jesus Christ. 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.779 Is this not brilliant? 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.259 Is this not beautiful? 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:58.079 Jesus absorbed the wrath of God and atoned for our sins 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:00.460 so that sinners like us would not be destroyed, 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.819 as we certainly would have been, 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:05.960 but so that we can be saved. 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:10.279 And I'm belaboring this point because so many Christians and so many churches 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:15.840 are losing this truth of this great substitutionary exchange. 00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:21.100 You see, sin is us substituting ourself for God 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:27.720 and putting ourselves in the place where God deserves to be 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:30.100 and only God deserves to be in charge of our lives, 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.180 in charge of everything else. 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:35.720 But salvation is God substituting himself for you. 00:19:36.620 --> 00:19:39.500 Putting himself where only you deserve to be, 00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:43.360 on that cross, bearing the penalty and judgment for your sins. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:47.200 And what Paul is saying is that in the cross, 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:52.620 the grace of God has propitiated the wrath of God 00:19:52.620 --> 00:19:54.579 through the Son of God. 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:58.640 And this is why Christians cannot stop talking about 00:19:58.640 --> 00:20:01.319 and singing about the cross of Christ. 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:04.180 It's the one symbol of the Christian faith. 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:08.140 It's not the manger at Christmas, though that's so wonderful. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:13.660 And it's not the star of Epiphany, though that's great as well. 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:15.960 And it's not the empty tomb of Easter, 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:18.060 which is absolutely necessary for us. 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:21.120 It's not the dove of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:25.500 Our one symbol is not the hammer and chisel of Jesus, 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.400 the common day laborer. 00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:33.140 It's not the loaves and the fishes by which he fed the hungry. 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.759 Sorry, Bill. 00:20:34.060 --> 00:20:35.240 That's not it. 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:39.759 It's not the boat from which Jesus taught the crowd. 00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:43.980 It's not the basin and the towel with which he washed the feet of his disciples. 00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:47.340 What is the one central symbol of the Christian faith? 00:20:48.060 --> 00:20:50.340 It's that cross of Good Friday. 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:57.039 And for 2,000 years, this ugly, cruel, horrible, detestable symbol 00:20:57.039 --> 00:21:03.339 of death, failure, humiliation, pain, and agony 00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:10.799 has been for Christians a symbol of victory, life, freedom, and glory. 00:21:12.139 --> 00:21:13.779 What have we done with this cross? 00:21:13.939 --> 00:21:16.679 We make the sign of the cross on ourselves. 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:20.019 We make the sign of the cross on one another. 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:24.220 We put this cross on our churches and our signs and our logos. 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:27.680 We engrave this cross on our Bibles and communion tables and tombstones. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:31.880 We wear the cross on our rings and on our necklaces. 00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:33.640 We tattoo the cross on our bodies. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.480 Why do we do this? 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:38.820 Because the Christian faith can be accurately summarized 00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:41.480 as the faith of Christ crucified. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.860 And why is that? 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:47.159 Because here on the cross, according to verse 25, 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:51.579 God presented Christ as the propitiation 00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:55.979 for God's settled judicial opposition to evil. 00:21:56.099 --> 00:22:00.579 God presented Christ to absorb God's wrath through the shedding, 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:04.399 not of our blood, which surely would have been just, 00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:08.479 but through the shedding of God's own blood. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:13.660 God said, wow, this is way beyond me. 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:17.900 But the apostle John says it like this in 1 John 4. 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.339 He says, in this is love. 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:24.660 Not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:29.339 to be the propitiation, to be the sacrifice of atonement for our sin. 00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:35.240 God's own great love propitiated God's own holy wrath 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:38.519 through the gift of his own dear son who took our place 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:42.079 and bore our sin and died our death. 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:45.019 Isn't that astonishing? 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:49.420 We don't seem very astonished by this. 00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:52.140 It's astonishing. 00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:55.920 If you're exploring the Christian faith, 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:59.960 do you see why this propitiation and this atonement 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:01.480 was necessary for you? 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:04.039 To have any hope at all? 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:13.400 And do you see that the cross is both a vivid demonstration 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:16.759 of God's righteous justice against sin 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:20.140 as well as God's righteous love and compassion for you, a sinner? 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:23.099 And if you're a Christian, 00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:28.439 can you see how God amazingly, 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:31.879 wondrously pulled this whole thing off for you 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:34.859 by substituting himself in your place? 00:23:34.959 --> 00:23:38.399 Can you see that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead 00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:41.039 is not merely the reversal of a defeat, 00:23:41.159 --> 00:23:43.299 it's rather the proclamation of a victory 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:45.559 that God came and won for you 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:48.059 that you never could have won for yourself? 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:51.039 If this is true, 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:54.200 if in Christ's resurrection from the dead, 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:57.740 God has proved that this propitiation is sufficient for us 00:23:57.740 --> 00:24:01.159 and his atonement is absolutely adequate for us, 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:03.339 then what more is there to be done 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:06.919 than to fall at the feet of our risen Lord today 00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:08.759 and just worship him and say, 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:11.319 oh my God, thank you. 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:12.919 Thank you. 00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:12.940 Thank you. 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:16.400 All right. 00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:19.200 Two big theological words down. 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:19.799 All right. 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.759 You're about to get a seminary degree. 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.820 You ready for a third? 00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:24.720 A third big theological word. 00:24:24.840 --> 00:24:26.700 God sent Jesus to redeem us, 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:28.680 to atone for us, 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:30.500 but not just to redeem and to atone. 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:34.080 He sent Jesus to justify us by faith. 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:37.180 He sent Jesus to justify us by faith. 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:38.860 And this is what he says in verse 26. 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:41.620 He did it to demonstrate his justice 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:44.319 at the present time so as to be just 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:48.399 and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:50.719 God is the just justifier. 00:24:51.699 --> 00:24:53.059 We've already heard in verse 24 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:55.039 that he justifies us freely. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.799 And in verse 28, 00:24:56.879 --> 00:24:58.559 that we're justified by faith. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:24:59.939 And next week, 00:24:59.979 --> 00:25:02.419 we're gonna hear that God justifies the ungodly 00:25:02.419 --> 00:25:05.599 and that Jesus was delivered over for our sins 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:07.099 and he was raised to life for what? 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:08.299 For our justification. 00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:09.279 There's the word. 00:25:10.159 --> 00:25:11.439 What in the world does it mean? 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.979 What does it mean to be justified? 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:16.619 Well, it means way more 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:18.879 than merely being pardoned or forgiven. 00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:21.279 Now, this is Berkeley, 00:25:21.439 --> 00:25:25.579 so I know that we all appreciate the value 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:28.319 of having a validating performance record 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:30.179 that opens doors for us. 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.019 Amen? 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:33.939 Having a validating performance record 00:25:33.939 --> 00:25:35.779 that opens doors for us. 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:37.919 You know that if you wanna get that advanced degree 00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:40.459 or land that competitive job, 00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.480 what do you have to do? 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:43.960 You gotta send out your academic record. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.819 You gotta send out your vocational resume 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:49.460 and pile up all your grades and your merits, 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:51.799 all that you've achieved and you've accomplished 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:53.160 and all of your experiences. 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:55.279 And you gotta put that together. 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:56.819 You gotta take it out to the institution, 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.900 to the university, the corporation, 00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:00.500 the firm, the practice, whatever. 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.799 And you've gotta say, 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:04.759 this is my validating performance record. 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:07.380 And because of what I've done, 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:09.319 I'm worthy of this position. 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:11.859 So please, oh please, accept me. 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:14.079 And if you're found worthy, 00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:16.920 those doors will swing wide open for you 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:19.680 and you're on your way to pursuing your goals 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.940 and your dreams. 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:24.180 And that's what justification is all about. 00:26:25.120 --> 00:26:26.900 But it's not about the performance record 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:28.279 you put together. 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:31.900 It's about the fact that God has given you 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:33.820 not just a good performance record. 00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:38.180 God has given you not just a great performance record, 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.680 but that God has given you 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:43.779 the performance record of Jesus Christ 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:46.279 who lived the life you were meant to live. 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:49.960 God has given you his very own divine righteousness. 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:52.700 So that if you're justified, 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:57.559 God has declared you to be right with him 00:26:57.559 --> 00:26:59.460 just as Jesus is right with him. 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.740 And you can know now 00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:05.359 what the future verdict is gonna be 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:07.200 on that judgment day. 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.859 You don't have to wait and wonder. 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:11.019 You can know it right now 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.819 that you've been justified. 00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:16.939 That though you are more deeply flawed 00:27:16.939 --> 00:27:18.299 and sinful 00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:20.279 than you ever dared believe, 00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:22.139 you're more profoundly loved 00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:23.460 and accepted by God 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:25.319 than you ever dared to hope. 00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:26.740 That's what it means to be justified. 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:29.299 And if God has already given you 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.679 his acceptance 00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:32.839 and his validation, 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:34.980 then we no longer need to be 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:36.179 running around the world 00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:38.159 looking for everybody else's acceptance 00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:39.500 and validation 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.480 and asking them, 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.460 am I worthy? 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.740 Because God has already said, 00:27:43.120 --> 00:27:43.660 you're worthy. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:46.920 Thank you. 00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:49.600 That is so rare. 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.720 I appreciate that. 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.500 Friends, you see how 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:57.259 this is so much more than being forgiven? 00:27:58.259 --> 00:28:00.240 Because forgiveness is a negative, 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:02.039 but justification is a positive. 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:03.400 Right? 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:05.840 Forgiveness says you have been set free 00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:06.980 from the power of sin 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.759 and the wrath of God, 00:28:07.840 --> 00:28:08.900 but justification says 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:10.759 you've had bestowed upon you 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:12.060 all the status, benefits, 00:28:12.300 --> 00:28:13.140 rights, and privileges 00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:14.860 of Jesus Christ himself. 00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:16.980 Forgiveness says 00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:18.480 you may go, 00:28:18.600 --> 00:28:19.720 but justification says 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.600 you may come. 00:28:21.800 --> 00:28:22.460 Forgiveness says 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.720 you've been let off the penalty 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.800 that your sins deserve, 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:26.040 but justification says 00:28:26.040 --> 00:28:26.600 you're welcome 00:28:26.600 --> 00:28:27.780 into all of my love 00:28:27.780 --> 00:28:28.940 and my presence. 00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:30.440 You know, 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:30.840 if you, 00:28:31.080 --> 00:28:32.299 if any of you ever, 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:33.259 you know, 00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:35.180 wins the Congressional Medal of Honor, 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.500 that means that you've done something 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:40.340 that is above and beyond 00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:41.240 the call of duty, 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:43.580 that you've risked your life 00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:44.820 in unwavering devotion 00:28:44.820 --> 00:28:46.680 and extraordinary heroism 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:48.500 and absolute selflessness 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.440 for a cause 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:51.840 that's way bigger than yourself. 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.380 You know what? 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:54.420 Jesus did all that for you. 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:56.920 He won the Congressional Medal of Honor, 00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:58.720 but to be justified 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:01.460 means that Jesus takes that medal 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.400 off of himself 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:04.480 and he pins it on you 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:06.000 so that you get all the honor 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.380 that he deserves 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:09.080 and all that he won for you. 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.900 This is what Paul is saying 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:14.320 in 2 Corinthians 5. 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:14.660 He says, 00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:17.700 God made him who had no sin 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.940 to be sin for us 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:20.039 so that in him 00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:21.140 we might become 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:22.900 the righteousness of God. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.980 On the cross, 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:26.060 Jesus was treated 00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:27.919 as if he did everything 00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:29.319 that we had done 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:31.359 so that when we believe 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:32.139 we are treated 00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:33.379 as if we did everything 00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:35.419 that Jesus had done. 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:38.240 God grants 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.779 and he credits to me 00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:41.859 the perfect righteousness 00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:42.519 of Christ 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:45.039 as if I had never even sinned 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:46.500 nor ever even been 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.599 a sinner 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:49.419 and as if I had been 00:29:49.419 --> 00:29:50.659 as perfectly obedient 00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.619 as Christ 00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:52.779 was obedient 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:54.200 for me. 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:57.779 That's what justification means. 00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.960 Isn't it amazing? 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.700 If it's true 00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:04.380 and maybe you're wondering 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:05.039 whether or not it's true, 00:30:05.100 --> 00:30:05.860 if it's true, 00:30:06.100 --> 00:30:07.240 it's amazing. 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.640 And Paul says that 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:11.400 the only way to receive 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:12.980 all of these things 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.980 that God has done for us, 00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:14.539 redemption, 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.740 atonement, 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.580 justification, 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.539 the only way to receive 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:17.920 these things 00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:19.960 is simply by faith. 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:22.700 He says in verse 22, 00:30:22.860 --> 00:30:23.680 this righteousness 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.000 is given through faith 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.460 in Jesus Christ 00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.500 to all who believe. 00:30:28.600 --> 00:30:29.759 He says in verse 25 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:31.039 that all this is to be 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.600 received by faith 00:30:32.600 --> 00:30:34.840 and he says in verse 26, 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:36.000 God is both the just 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.980 and the justifier 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.680 of those who have faith 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.640 in Jesus. 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:43.579 Justification is by grace alone, 00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:45.779 it's in Christ alone 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:48.460 and it's also by faith alone. 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:50.700 This is not a cooperative project 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:51.819 between you and God 00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:54.799 where he provides his son 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.920 and he provides the cross 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:57.059 and you provide faith. 00:30:57.160 --> 00:30:58.720 No, faith is not about 00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.819 you contributing. 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:02.079 Faith is always just about 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:03.380 simply receiving. 00:31:04.600 --> 00:31:05.759 Faith is the eye 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.579 that looks to Jesus. 00:31:07.980 --> 00:31:09.960 Faith is the empty hand 00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:11.740 that receives this free gift. 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.819 Faith is the mouth 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:14.079 that just drinks in 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:15.819 the living water. 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:17.599 redemption, 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.259 propitiation, 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.359 justification, 00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.519 all these amazing, 00:31:21.659 --> 00:31:23.139 big, wonderful words, 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:25.079 all the righteousness of God 00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:26.839 has been provided 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:27.980 in Jesus Christ 00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:29.899 as a free gift of grace 00:31:29.899 --> 00:31:31.720 that he sovereignly places 00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.179 where? 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.339 Only in hands 00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:36.319 that are empty 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:37.700 and open 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:39.039 like this. 00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.960 That's what faith 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.399 is all about. 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:43.460 And if that's true, 00:31:44.080 --> 00:31:45.400 if it's true 00:31:45.400 --> 00:31:46.259 that we bring 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:47.320 absolutely nothing 00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:49.720 and God provides 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:51.700 absolutely everything, 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:54.360 then shouldn't we 00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:56.540 be the most joyful people 00:31:56.540 --> 00:31:57.100 on the planet? 00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.460 Can I get an amen? 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.500 Shouldn't we be, 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:02.040 I mean, 00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:02.580 come on, 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:02.880 let's, 00:32:03.300 --> 00:32:03.500 I mean, 00:32:03.560 --> 00:32:04.640 shouldn't we be the most 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.180 free 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:07.259 and liberated people 00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:08.740 in our city? 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:11.200 Should we not be people 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.660 who are worshiping God 00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:14.339 and singing his praises 00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.440 with every ounce 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:16.440 of energy, 00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:18.000 with all of our might 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.200 that we can summon up 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:20.059 from our depths, 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.259 the depths of our being? 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.559 Friends, 00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:24.819 all hope 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:26.039 was lost, 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:29.140 but now. 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.900 All hope was lost, 00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.480 but God. 00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.940 All hope 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.539 was lost, 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:37.220 but God 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.920 has made known 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.740 his righteousness, 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:41.519 but God 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.259 has presented 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.220 Christ, 00:32:44.099 --> 00:32:44.920 but God 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.759 has become 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.819 the just 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.839 justifier 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:49.259 of those 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:50.119 who have faith 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:51.440 in Jesus, 00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.039 but 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:54.139 now, 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:54.779 but 00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.940 God. 00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.500 Thank God 00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:57.980 for that. 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.680 In the name of the Father, 00:32:59.819 --> 00:32:59.940 Son, 00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:00.619 and Holy Spirit, 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:01.539 Amen. 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:01.700 Amen.