WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.500 Good morning, Church. The reading is taken from Romans, chapter 8, verses 1 to 17. You find it on page 1134 of the Church Bible. 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:31.679 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of the sin and death. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:47.679 For what the law was powerless to do, because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:01:06.039 And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:21.200 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:29.120 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:42.560 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 00:01:43.780 --> 00:01:47.380 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:55.620 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, but are in the realm of the Spirit. 00:01:55.620 --> 00:01:59.260 If indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. 00:02:00.380 --> 00:02:06.200 And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 00:02:06.900 --> 00:02:18.560 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:35.460 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 00:02:35.460 --> 00:02:40.920 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation. 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:46.700 But it is not in the flesh to live according to it. 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:51.000 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:58.600 But if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:05.079 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:13.219 The Spirit you receive does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again. 00:03:13.979 --> 00:03:20.639 Rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. 00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:25.780 And by him we cry, Abba, Father. 00:03:25.780 --> 00:03:31.860 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:41.039 Now, if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. 00:03:41.740 --> 00:03:47.340 If indeed we share in his suffering, in order that we may also share in his glory. 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:48.580 Amen. 00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:49.920 Thank you, Yvonne. 00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:56.219 I'm very conscious in mornings like this morning that the sermons on the book of Romans can sometimes be quite heavy-going. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:00.279 Maybe you're not used to listening to sermons like this. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:06.399 And I know, because I've been sat where you are sat, that you come to church with lots of different things going on in your minds. 00:04:07.079 --> 00:04:09.000 Maybe lots of different things that have happened in the week. 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:11.279 Lots of different troubles that are going on in your minds. 00:04:11.319 --> 00:04:16.419 And you're wondering, you know, what's going to come out of the Bible that's going to speak to my situation? 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:19.220 I have a conviction. 00:04:19.460 --> 00:04:29.840 I believe it's a conviction from the Bible, which is that my job as a teaching pastor here is not so much just to give you kind of life tips vaguely from the scriptures, 00:04:29.840 --> 00:04:34.280 but rather to expose you to the rich truths of God's words. 00:04:34.900 --> 00:04:38.819 My job to stretch you, not like physically, but like mentally. 00:04:38.819 --> 00:04:51.439 Yeah, because I think it's as our minds and our hearts grapple with the great truths of God's word that we find joy and growth and help for us as Christians, whatever situation we're in. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:52.079 So let's pray. 00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:54.319 Let's ask for the Lord's help this morning. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:02.980 Heavenly Father, we are so very conscious this morning of our need of your help and your mercy and your blessing. 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:08.280 We know, Lord, that there are many things to distract us. 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:11.560 There are many things going on in our minds and our hearts already. 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:14.360 And Lord, we want to hear you from your word. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:16.700 We want you to address us and speak to us. 00:05:17.400 --> 00:05:18.920 We want to hear and understand. 00:05:19.080 --> 00:05:20.280 So, Lord, please be at work. 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:25.020 Help me, help all of us for the sake of your glory and for our good. 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:25.860 In Jesus name. 00:05:26.460 --> 00:05:26.780 Amen. 00:05:26.780 --> 00:05:26.980 Amen. 00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:36.819 I think there are two lies that the Christian hears whispered in their ears on a frequent basis. 00:05:36.980 --> 00:05:40.480 If you're a Christian this morning, you'll recognize these lies, I'm sure. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:48.980 The first lie is a concern that Jesus couldn't possibly save someone like you or like me. 00:05:49.840 --> 00:05:51.300 The lie goes something like this. 00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:52.700 I mean, really, Steve? 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:55.980 Jesus knows everything that you've done. 00:05:55.980 --> 00:05:59.520 Jesus knows every secret thought that you've had. 00:05:59.640 --> 00:06:02.379 He knows every hidden desire of your heart. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:04.000 He knows every dark ambition. 00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:08.140 He knows things about you that nobody else in the world knows. 00:06:08.620 --> 00:06:12.060 And you think he would forgive you. 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:13.420 Really? 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:14.819 Says the lie. 00:06:15.740 --> 00:06:16.800 With all your sin? 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:18.580 Surely not. 00:06:19.280 --> 00:06:20.060 Surely not. 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:24.500 Now, if you manage to get past that thought, then the other lie comes. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:25.240 It's slightly different. 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:26.480 And it goes something like this. 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:31.259 Okay, maybe I grant you that Jesus is sufficient even to save somebody like you, Steve. 00:06:31.699 --> 00:06:34.060 Even somebody as bad as you could be saved by Jesus. 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:38.900 But I'm pretty sure he regrets it. 00:06:40.900 --> 00:06:42.740 You know, you're a terrible Christian. 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:53.300 I'm sure when God was choosing you, like Andrew started our service with, to be one of his chosen people, I'm sure he wished that you were better than you actually turned out to be. 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:55.920 You know, you pray so little. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:57.199 You give so little. 00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:58.560 You secretly harbour bitterness. 00:06:58.819 --> 00:07:01.780 You've missed opportunities to share the gospel all the time. 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:04.720 You're so slow to feel the joy of the gospel. 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:07.620 Well, I mean, really, you might not even be a Christian the way you feel. 00:07:08.580 --> 00:07:12.180 You might perhaps scrape into heaven, but I'm sure God is annoyed by you. 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:13.620 Disappointed. 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:14.440 Despairing. 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:21.319 Now, listen, I guarantee that if you've been a Christian any time at all, you will have heard those lies, one or both of them. 00:07:21.399 --> 00:07:25.779 They might even be being whispered in your ear right now as we look at God's word. 00:07:25.779 --> 00:07:31.479 And that is why Romans chapter 8 verse 1 is so important and loved by Christians. 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:39.759 Because it says, to those lies, therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:07:40.799 --> 00:07:42.679 Now, just hear that with me for a moment. 00:07:42.779 --> 00:07:43.919 Just listen to that. 00:07:44.099 --> 00:07:45.839 No condemnation. 00:07:46.119 --> 00:07:51.219 It doesn't say slightly less condemnation than you might be expecting. 00:07:52.159 --> 00:07:54.459 It says no condemnation. 00:07:54.459 --> 00:07:59.739 It doesn't say, okay, some condemnation because you were a little bit of a letdown. 00:07:59.859 --> 00:08:02.539 It says no condemnation. 00:08:04.819 --> 00:08:06.000 I've been so wicked. 00:08:06.699 --> 00:08:08.620 I've wandered so far from the Lord. 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:10.259 My thoughts are all over the place. 00:08:10.359 --> 00:08:12.019 No condemnation, it says. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:13.519 No condemnation. 00:08:14.099 --> 00:08:15.399 But I struggle so much. 00:08:15.459 --> 00:08:16.359 I'm a terrible Christian. 00:08:16.459 --> 00:08:17.679 My holiness is in tatters. 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:21.219 No condemnation, it says. 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:24.299 Now, in a way, we could just stop there. 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:30.819 We could just sit there and just bask in that thought. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:31.600 Me. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:32.180 You. 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:34.100 With all my weakness. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:35.100 All my sin. 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:36.139 All my brokenness. 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:36.940 All my frailty. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:40.560 With all the slow progress in the battle against sin. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:42.320 I am not condemned. 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:44.240 Not by God. 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:46.539 God is not my accuser. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:52.139 But the thing is, with a statement like this, it actually gets better and better the more 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:54.940 you think about it and the deeper that you understand it. 00:08:55.340 --> 00:09:00.519 And so I want us to try and dive deep on this and understand exactly what he means by no condemnation 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:02.680 and exactly how that works out in our lives. 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:08.199 So let's think together a bit more about what condemnation means or no condemnation. 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:12.579 Think with me about what kind of condemnation Paul is talking about. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:16.199 I think you can identify at least two kinds of condemnation. 00:09:16.359 --> 00:09:21.059 So firstly, think about somebody in the dock in a criminal court. 00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:21.439 Right. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:23.060 They've been found guilty. 00:09:23.800 --> 00:09:28.200 And they are about to be condemned to be punished for the crimes that they have committed. 00:09:29.380 --> 00:09:34.200 Now in our new TV era, if it's a particularly heinous crime, you get to watch the judgment 00:09:34.200 --> 00:09:38.280 on TV as the judge in his funny wig pronounces judgment on the guilty. 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:43.280 He will read out a list of the crimes which they've committed and will tell them how many 00:09:43.280 --> 00:09:47.180 years they are due to spend in jail and how long it will be before they are eligible 00:09:47.180 --> 00:09:47.900 for parole. 00:09:48.780 --> 00:09:51.400 That is condemnation. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:51.740 Right. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:53.980 The condemnation of a judge. 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:56.120 That's the most common one, isn't it? 00:09:56.300 --> 00:09:58.020 But there is another kind of condemnation. 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:02.280 So think not so much now about a courtroom, but think about a school room. 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:03.220 Right. 00:10:03.260 --> 00:10:08.540 This school, they've got a student who pays no attention, who never does their homework, 00:10:09.040 --> 00:10:10.220 who messes around. 00:10:11.020 --> 00:10:12.440 They fall in with a bad crowd. 00:10:12.560 --> 00:10:13.520 They fail their exams. 00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:18.800 They bounce out of school with no experience, no references, no qualifications, no sense of direction. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:21.519 They find it almost impossible to get a job. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:23.399 They have no clue what to do with themselves. 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:41.039 Now, you might say, you probably wouldn't put it this way, but you might be able to say that their bad performance at school has condemned them to a life of frustration and lostness, that they could have been spared if they'd only changed their ways at school. 00:10:41.039 --> 00:11:11.019 They are condemned. 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:12.240 They're condemned for ourselves and not for him. 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:14.179 Romans put it like this in chapter one. 00:11:14.299 --> 00:11:17.779 Although we knew God, we neither glorified him nor gave thanks to him. 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:20.699 But in our thinking, we became futile. 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:29.139 And for that, we are condemned, condemned to die, condemned to be eternally separated from the blessings and kindnesses of God. 00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:34.039 But we also face another kind of condemnation that Romans talks about. 00:11:34.539 --> 00:11:47.639 God not only pronounces a future judgment in the court of God, but he also talks about a present judgment, about a being handed over to the futility of life lived without him. 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:58.899 So he says that we are condemned to live a futility where we are unable even to live up to our own moral standards and expectations, let alone God's. 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:03.419 We find ourselves thinking and behaving in all sorts of ways of which we're ashamed. 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:10.319 Over time, we find that bitterness and anger grow in our hearts more easily than patience or kindness. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:17.140 You know, life becomes frustrating and we're sort of condemned to live in the mess that we make. 00:12:18.540 --> 00:12:21.120 We know only too well, don't we, what that feels like. 00:12:21.940 --> 00:12:28.100 And the question for us as we come to Romans chapter eight, verse one is when Paul says no condemnation, what kind of condemnation is he talking about? 00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:35.600 Does he mean, listen, you are free in the court of God from final judgments? 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:37.060 That's justification. 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:44.680 Or does he mean you are free to live a life now today in a way that pleases God? 00:12:45.040 --> 00:12:48.420 That would be holiness or sanctification. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:49.820 Which is it? 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:57.320 If you've been with us for any time in the series on the book of Romans, you'll know that the first one is certainly true. 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.620 We've seen it over and over, haven't we? 00:12:58.700 --> 00:13:00.660 Romans chapter three, verse 23 says, 00:13:00.940 --> 00:13:09.720 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:12.260 Right at the heart of the book of Romans. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:19.520 That God the Son in human flesh takes our sin and bears its punishment while gifting to us his righteousness. 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:25.580 So that in the dock before God, we are declared not guilty instead of guilty. 00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:28.300 Because Jesus has taken our punishment. 00:13:29.300 --> 00:13:31.060 Even our passage this morning, look down at it. 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.780 Verse three describes this. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:36.100 Jesus making the sin offering, he says. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:42.360 Dying in our place so that verse four, the righteous requirement of the law, the standard for judgment day might be met. 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:44.639 We are justified. 00:13:44.639 --> 00:14:03.840 But, and here's the thing for us this morning, I want to suggest to you that really Paul's focus, not his sole focus, but his emphasis at least, is not just freedom from this future condemnation, but is a freedom now, no condemnation to live a pointless, fruitless life. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:08.540 It's freedom to live a life that pleases God. 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:12.960 He's taking his aim, if you like, at that second lie that we were talking about. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:17.259 In other words, Romans 8 is saying to you and me, hey, listen, struggling Christian. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:21.540 Hey, Christian who's losing battles day in, day out with sin. 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:26.060 Listen, Christian who's gone cold and who feels weary and distant from God. 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:31.519 You, yes, you, whoever you are this morning, no condemnation. 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:42.479 Now, if you look at the passage carefully, you'll see that Paul makes that point by perpetually contrasting life before being a Christian with life after becoming a Christian. 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:47.859 So he describes life before as being life according to the flesh, he calls it. 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:53.379 Where flesh is not supposed to be your skin and bones, it's rather shorthand for life lived for ourselves. 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:56.340 It's the life of selfish sin, if you like. 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:03.700 And he contrasts life in the flesh with new life by the spirit, a life that's led by God and lived to please him. 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.820 Look at verse five. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:05.840 This is how he puts it. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:10.439 Those who live according to the flesh have their mind set on what the flesh desires. 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:15.799 But those who live in accordance with the spirit have their mind set on what the spirit desires. 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:21.480 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace. 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:25.159 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God. 00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:27.759 It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:31.580 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:36.860 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, but are in the realm of the spirit. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.220 Notice the contrast there. 00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:43.440 Life of the flesh is controlled by sinful selfishness. 00:15:43.539 --> 00:15:44.340 It leads to death. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.240 It's hostile to God. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:47.279 It cannot submit to God's law. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:56.360 In the flesh, it's not possible to please God because we're so turned in on ourselves that any action that we do is away from God and towards ourselves. 00:15:56.500 --> 00:16:01.899 So even our finest moral performance is really only ever for its own glory and gain. 00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:03.959 Condemned to futility. 00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:07.579 But, says Paul, the Christian isn't in that realm anymore. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:08.559 They're not in the flesh. 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.519 They're in the spirit. 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:13.059 Their minds are set on what God the spirit desires. 00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:15.360 They are governed by life and peace. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:21.639 In other words, the Christian is not only justified from judgment to come. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:27.000 They are sanctified and made holy to live a life that pleases God now. 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:31.700 Not as we saw last week that we are instantly morally perfect. 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:34.060 We are, Romans 7, in a battle, aren't we? 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:36.080 Romans 7 is really clear on that. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:46.020 Rather, the point is that everything that is needed to make you holy is yours already in Christ Jesus. 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:48.200 And you have him. 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:49.900 And you have the spirit. 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:53.939 I want to slow down on this for a moment. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.620 And I know I've spoken about this before. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.299 And I know maybe you've got a really clear grasp of this, right? 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.659 In which case, I'm wasting my time. 00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:08.139 But I cannot, honestly, I cannot overstate to you how important it is in your Christian life to be able to distinguish these two things and hold them together. 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:08.599 Right? 00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:18.059 To distinguish justification, the declaration of not guilty in the face of final judgment, and sanctification that you are set free to live a holy life. 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:22.199 Both of those are yours in Christ Jesus if you're a Christian. 00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:24.799 Both are through him and not you. 00:17:25.179 --> 00:17:27.059 Both are achieved by the cross. 00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:36.099 The grace that saved you in Christ Jesus from the penalty of your sin through his death on the cross, that grace also makes you holy. 00:17:37.159 --> 00:17:38.059 Sanctifies you. 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:40.139 Sets you apart as holy to God. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:45.819 Not condemned to fight a losing battle with sin, but no condemnation to live a life that pleases him. 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:48.619 Now, you cannot separate these two. 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:53.859 You cannot be justified without also being sanctified. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.899 Look at the end of verse 9. 00:17:55.900 --> 00:18:03.580 And you'll see how Paul describes that and saying it's impossible to be a Christian and not to have the spirit who sets you free, who makes you holy. 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:05.240 Listen to how he puts it. 00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:15.240 And if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, if they don't have the spirit enabling them to live a life that pleases God, if they're not like that, they're a second class Christian. 00:18:15.580 --> 00:18:15.840 No. 00:18:16.040 --> 00:18:16.640 What does he say? 00:18:17.120 --> 00:18:20.000 If they don't have the spirit of Christ, they don't belong to Christ. 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:21.040 They're not his. 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:25.540 Because without the spirit who enables you to live for Christ, well, you're not a Christian. 00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:29.460 You have not been justified if you're not also being sanctified. 00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:35.580 You are either a spirit-filled Christian free to please God or you're not a Christian. 00:18:36.040 --> 00:18:37.340 Those are the two options. 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:45.939 Now, even though you can't separate justification and sanctification, it's still really important that you do distinguish them from one another. 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:46.819 They're not the same. 00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:53.179 Being declared not guilty in the face of final judgment is not exactly the same as life by the spirit. 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:58.580 Now, let me try to underline this with an impossible but kind of fun story, right? 00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:01.400 I want you to imagine that you have two sons, right? 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.560 Two sons. 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:07.140 And you give them the names justification and sanctification. 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.380 Those are great names, by the way. 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:13.539 If you ever have two sons and you want to think of names, call one justification and one sanctification. 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.380 Right? 00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:20.840 Now, you ask these two sons, you say, listen, boys, I want you to clean the bathroom for me. 00:19:21.280 --> 00:19:21.380 Right? 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:24.140 Justification decides to go first. 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.860 Justification loves you. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:26.260 Right? 00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:29.660 Your relationship with justification is absolutely brilliant. 00:19:30.040 --> 00:19:32.000 There's no unspoken tension. 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.220 There's no past hurts. 00:19:33.300 --> 00:19:34.440 There's no unresolved issues. 00:19:34.780 --> 00:19:35.920 Everything's been dealt with. 00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:36.240 Right? 00:19:36.860 --> 00:19:39.540 You're completely, you know, at one with each other. 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:44.559 But justification on his own seems totally incapable of doing anything you ask him to do. 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.279 He's hopeless. 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:48.079 You know, he cleans the bathroom and does a terrible job. 00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:49.639 The mirror is smeared. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.899 There are still marks on the toilet. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:53.420 The shower looks like a dog's been bathed in it. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:53.579 Right? 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.759 And you're shocked. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.240 Wait, this makes no sense. 00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:56.920 You love me. 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:58.319 We have no unresolved issues. 00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:02.359 You walked out of the bathroom and gave me a great big hug. 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:06.019 Yet you seem to have made zero attempt to actually clean the bathroom. 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:09.220 It's like you're incapable of doing what I've asked. 00:20:10.399 --> 00:20:11.980 Then sanctification has a go. 00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:12.299 Right? 00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:14.299 Sanctification is a great worker. 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:14.819 Right? 00:20:14.899 --> 00:20:15.559 Brilliant worker. 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:19.480 But he doesn't really love you. 00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:19.839 Right? 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:21.220 He's pretty self-interested. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:24.619 So he cleans the bathroom and he does a brilliant job. 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:27.440 You know, you could eat a dinner off the shower. 00:20:27.659 --> 00:20:27.779 Right? 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.200 You could drink the toilet water. 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.339 That's how clean it is. 00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:32.119 It's amazing. 00:20:32.639 --> 00:20:35.779 But when he comes out of the bathroom, he says, that's 150 quid, please. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.220 What? 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.359 What? 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.079 What do you mean? 00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:42.839 I don't pay you to clean the bathroom that you use. 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:46.500 You know, you should clean it because you're my son and because we live in the same house 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.579 and because you love me. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:51.319 Now that you've asked for money, really, it's kind of no better than if you'd not cleaned 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:52.000 it at all. 00:20:53.579 --> 00:20:54.859 Now, of course, that's an impossible story. 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:56.180 Why is that an impossible story? 00:20:56.180 --> 00:21:02.080 Well, because, listen, the son who loves you is also the son who wants to please you. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:05.799 And the son who wants to please you is also the son who loves you. 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:12.299 So, really, justification and sanctification, they're conjoined twins, aren't they? 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.299 They do it together. 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.359 They do it together. 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:17.200 They are distinct from one another, but they are inseparable. 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:22.659 They clean the bathroom without seeking payment because they love you and they want to do a good job. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.940 Now, that's the point here. 00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:29.659 You are justified and you are sanctified and those two are joined together. 00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:34.960 There is no condemnation in judgment, no condemnation in life by the Spirit. 00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:40.080 Now, some of you are thinking, wow, you've made something that was really great, really confusing. 00:21:40.540 --> 00:21:42.180 Why are you making it so complicated, Steve? 00:21:42.320 --> 00:21:45.740 Well, listen, if you get this, this is the joy of this sentence, right? 00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.900 This is the joy of it. 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:52.220 If you thought, listen, this no condemnation is just about final judgment, right? 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:54.240 It's not really about my life now. 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.340 It's just about final judgment. 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:58.759 Let me tell you, you would be missing the joy of this. 00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:05.079 Because if it's only saying that there's no condemnation in final judgment, but you're condemned to live a life of futile pointlessness, 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:08.180 where you just lose the battle with sin over and over and over again, 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:11.099 then actually the Christian life is miserable and terrible. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:17.779 If you thought that no condemnation was just about being liberated to live a life that pleased God, 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:23.220 you might think that the point of living a life to please God was to justify yourself, right? 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:27.740 As if, if only I do enough things to please God, then he will justify me. 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:31.500 But that is also the recipe for misery, right? 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:35.059 That's why so many religious people are desperately sad. 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:39.319 Because they are trying by their sanctification to earn their justification. 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:41.720 But actually they have both together. 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.220 They are conjoined twins. 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:45.720 You can distinguish them, but you cannot separate them. 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.079 They are yours together. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:50.180 No condemnation, he says. 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:52.320 Praise God. 00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:55.740 Paul is a brilliant pastor here, right? 00:22:56.519 --> 00:23:02.299 He's got his arm on your shoulder and he's saying to you, listen, Christian friend, he says, 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:05.220 I can see that it's tough for you, right? 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:07.180 I can see your battle scars. 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.420 I know your mistakes. 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:15.860 But you do know, don't you, brother, sister, you do know there's no condemnation in Christ Jesus. 00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:18.960 And you say, oh yeah, yeah, I know, Paul. 00:23:19.060 --> 00:23:20.640 I know I'm forgiven of my sins. 00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:22.039 I learned that in Sunday school. 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:23.500 That's Christianity 101, isn't it? 00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:25.480 I know I'll be safe on judgment day. 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:28.340 And he says, no, you know it. 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.000 There's more to it than that, right? 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:32.880 You know also in Christ you're made holy. 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.840 You're sanctified. 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:41.679 You know that the spirit is making you into what you already are in him, don't you? 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:47.699 You can see, can't you, that your great achievements in life are not your fancy car or your great reputation. 00:23:48.399 --> 00:23:52.799 Actually, the great achievement in your life is that you're ongoingly repentant and putting your faith in Christ. 00:23:52.919 --> 00:23:54.659 And you know that's not you doing that, don't you? 00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:56.500 That's the spirit at work in you. 00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:59.240 Your passion to live for Jesus. 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.399 You didn't do that. 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.980 Change is possible. 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:05.039 Progress is possible. 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:06.579 Everything you need is yours. 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:11.319 And ultimately, perfection in the presence of the Lord in glory is inevitable. 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.519 Look at how he summarizes it. 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:13.240 Verse 10. 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:21.799 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the spirit gives life because of righteousness. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:28.660 And the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you. 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:35.700 He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his spirit who lives in you. 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:41.420 Perhaps you can just imagine two alternative futures, right? 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:45.660 One is outside of the Lord Jesus Christ, where you're not a Christian. 00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:47.740 Maybe this is you this morning. 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.200 Perhaps you're not a Christian. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:54.340 If you're not a Christian, you know, don't you, that the best saviour that you have is only yourself, right? 00:24:54.339 --> 00:25:01.699 And you know, if you're really honest with yourself, that you're not really that good a saviour because you cannot change yourself. 00:25:02.899 --> 00:25:04.480 Not more than superficially. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:08.720 So you face the prospect, don't you, of growing sin. 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:15.099 Not just lifelong struggles with bitterness or anger or impatience or unkindness or selfishness or lovelessness. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:18.460 You know, those are not just your temporary enemies for now. 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:20.539 Those are your eternal enemies, aren't they? 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:23.120 They will grow and grow in you. 00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:29.799 It's worse, isn't it, than becoming a grumpy old man or a bitter old man. 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:35.579 You become an eternally grumpy, bitter old man. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.299 And that's condemnation. 00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:39.839 But it's nothing less than all of us deserve. 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:42.500 But here's the no condemnation alternative. 00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:44.879 Turn from your sin. 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.879 Turn to Christ. 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:48.379 Put your faith in him and his grace and mercy. 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:52.139 Receive forgiveness from him and new life by the Spirit. 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:57.960 And then, yes, you face a lifetime of struggle against sin in the battle that we described last week. 00:25:57.960 --> 00:26:00.980 Fighting selfishness and bitterness and impatience and unkindness. 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:04.140 But not in your strength, but in the Spirit's strength. 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:06.940 By the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you. 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:10.360 And your path will be a path of real change and transformation. 00:26:10.840 --> 00:26:16.259 As bit by bit, he works within you to make you the person that you already are by his grace and his mercy. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:18.340 Not a bitter old man. 00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:20.579 Not an eternally bitter old man. 00:26:20.579 --> 00:26:22.939 But a joyful man or woman. 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.220 Eternally safe. 00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:26.839 Eternally perfect. 00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:29.659 In the presence of the God who loves us. 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:32.339 So we sing that old hymn, don't we? 00:26:32.439 --> 00:26:35.259 Oh, that day when freed from sinning. 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:37.919 I shall see thy lovely face. 00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:40.439 Full arrayed in blood-washed linen. 00:26:40.699 --> 00:26:42.519 How I'll sing thy sovereign grace. 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:44.899 Come, my Lord, no longer tarry. 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.539 Bring thy promises to pass. 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:51.559 For I know thy power will keep me till I'm home with thee at last. 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.599 No condemnation. 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:57.399 Let's just end by thinking about how this works out in practice for us. 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:59.519 With a new obligation at the end of the passage. 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:02.420 We're going to deal with this more briefly. 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:08.019 But if you look down at verse 12, you'll see that there's a second therefore in the passage. 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:11.119 This marks out a division in the passage. 00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:13.559 So he started with a therefore at the beginning. 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:15.200 And now there's one in verse 12. 00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:22.099 So if you're not condemned to a futile life of growing sin, but are genuinely being changed by the Spirit, 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:24.379 what should life look like for you? 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:26.180 What are you supposed to be doing? 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.460 Look down at verse 12. 00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.899 Let me read the verses to you again. 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:32.119 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation. 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:35.139 But it's not to the flesh to live according to it. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:37.079 If you live according to the flesh, you will die. 00:27:37.659 --> 00:27:41.720 But if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.200 Here it is then. 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:45.680 This new life is ours. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:48.700 We have a new obligation because of it. 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:52.340 The obligation is to live the new life that is ours. 00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:59.880 And living the new life involves killing off the twitches of the old sinful nature, the misdeeds of the body, as he puts it. 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:05.920 It's as if in becoming a Christian you're handed the keys to a whole new way of living. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:18.320 And you're encouraged, aren't you, not just to stare at the keys and go, oh, that's a nice set of keys, but actually to put them in the ignition, start the car, enjoy the ride, leaving behind the desires of the flesh at the side of the road. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:22.279 So if you're a Christian this morning, can I encourage you to do this? 00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:24.619 This is the life that is yours by the Spirit. 00:28:25.159 --> 00:28:29.460 You have been enabled by the Spirit to kill the flesh's desires. 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:31.939 You don't have to follow them anymore. 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.679 You can live by the Spirit. 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.399 You can repent. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:34.980 You can believe. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.140 You can take up your cross. 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.200 You can lay down your life. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.860 You can follow Christ. 00:28:39.840 --> 00:28:42.519 You can enjoy this new desire to please God. 00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:43.480 You can live by it. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:44.240 You can feed it. 00:28:44.300 --> 00:28:45.019 You can follow it. 00:28:45.300 --> 00:28:47.180 You can find great joy in it. 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:57.980 And in doing that, what you will find is that not only do you have a new life, but you also have a new identity. 00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.840 Look down at verse 14. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:05.820 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:10.560 The Spirit you receive does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again. 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:15.539 Rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:20.440 And by him we cry, Abba, Father. 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:22.480 This is brilliant. 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.879 No condemnation. 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:28.539 No condemnation means you are justified and you are sanctified. 00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:33.659 And being justified and being sanctified means you are adopted. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:36.659 You are a child of God. 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:43.019 So the Spirit doesn't make you a slave to God in the way that we were slaves to sin, but makes us sons of God. 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.940 Adopted into his family. 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:48.120 Crying out to him, Abba, Father. 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:53.100 Not in a kind of childlike daddy kind of way, but in the confidence of a child who knows he belongs. 00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:56.180 Who knows he's loved. 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:58.820 Look at verse 16. 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:03.900 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:06.700 Now if we are children, then we are heirs. 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:08.920 Heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. 00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:13.340 If indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:16.080 This is how this works, right? 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:24.140 The Spirit of God speaks to our hearts, our spirit, telling us that the gospel promises are ours. 00:30:25.360 --> 00:30:29.440 This isn't the Spirit kind of just whispering weird stuff in your head, right? 00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:37.039 No, this is God by the Spirit saying, listen, that no condemnation stuff, that's yours. 00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:39.720 That promise, it's yours. 00:30:39.860 --> 00:30:41.100 It belongs to you. 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:48.460 That word of reassurance, that future glory of Jesus Christ, that's yours, he says. 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:52.539 You're a co-heir with Christ. 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:55.680 You see, here we've come full circle, haven't we? 00:30:55.720 --> 00:31:00.159 We started, didn't we, with these lies that are whispered in our ears by the devil himself. 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.559 You a Christian, really? 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.240 You a Christian? 00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:03.940 Heaven, but are you sure? 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:06.480 Yes, I'm sure, says the Spirit. 00:31:07.159 --> 00:31:08.740 The promise of God says so. 00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:11.279 But you're a terrible Christian. 00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.920 I am not a terrible Christian. 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:17.039 The Spirit tells me I'm a saint. 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.359 Glory bound. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.119 Spirit led. 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:23.419 I'm a child of the King. 00:31:24.119 --> 00:31:25.959 There's no condemnation for me. 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:29.419 Shouts the Spirit to my spirit. 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:32.079 Let's pray as I close. 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:56.199 Heavenly Father, it is hard to imagine that there could be any better news for us to hear this morning. 00:31:56.200 --> 00:32:02.240 That in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation. 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:07.079 How we thank you and praise you for all that that means. 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:21.960 That not only are we and will be safe in final judgment, but we are now given a new life by the Spirit so that we, even us, even me, can live a life that pleases you and brings you glory. 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:23.960 That you look at us. 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:26.180 That you look at us and you're not frustrated. 00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:28.180 You're not annoyed. 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:28.180 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:36.980 But you see us wrapped in the righteousness of Jesus, filled with your Spirit, repenting and believing the gospel. 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:40.799 And you say, that is my child. 00:32:41.600 --> 00:32:42.660 I love them. 00:32:44.560 --> 00:32:47.620 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for these great truths. 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:52.380 Help us, we pray now, to rejoice in them and delight in them. 00:32:52.860 --> 00:32:53.700 In Jesus' name. 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:54.500 Amen. 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:57.180 Amen.