WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.740 Please take out your copy of God's Word, which I hope you have with you today, and turn to the book of Romans, chapter 3. 00:00:09.060 --> 00:00:20.420 I'm thankful that you're all here today. I'm thankful that Ruby Lou is here. I have wondered if I had shaky googly eyes and did this a lot, if I would be easier or harder to pay attention to. 00:00:23.420 --> 00:00:25.600 I hope harder because I don't have shaky googly eyes. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:31.700 Romans, chapter 3. Let's read verses 1 through 8 together. 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:44.260 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 00:00:45.040 --> 00:00:51.460 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means. 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:59.340 Let God be true, though everyone were a liar, as it is written, that you may be justified in your words and prevail when you are judged. 00:01:00.179 --> 00:01:03.939 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? 00:01:04.460 --> 00:01:07.620 That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? 00:01:08.180 --> 00:01:09.280 I speak in a human way. 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:10.760 By no means. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:12.680 For then how could God judge the world? 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:18.440 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 00:01:19.020 --> 00:01:26.180 And why not do evil that good may come, as people slanderously charge us with saying, their condemnation is just? 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:27.240 Let's pray together. 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:32.819 Father God, we thank you very much for your holy word. 00:01:33.539 --> 00:01:36.000 As difficult as these words are at times, 00:01:37.119 --> 00:01:43.519 thank you that you've blessed us with its profundity, that we might study it and know you more through it. 00:01:44.679 --> 00:01:51.459 Thank you, Father, for the blessings we have in Christ, the ability to discern your word by your spirit, 00:01:51.819 --> 00:01:53.579 which is bought by Christ on the cross. 00:01:53.579 --> 00:01:54.959 And we pray this in his name. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:56.299 Amen. 00:01:57.239 --> 00:01:57.819 All right. 00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:01.780 So last week we talked about why it is that God inspires hard texts. 00:02:02.179 --> 00:02:05.959 And that idea that was fueled by this text itself, 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:11.680 which many have said is at least one of the most difficult paragraphs in the New Testament. 00:02:12.219 --> 00:02:14.939 But before we begin talking about it, I want to back up just a little bit, 00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:17.840 remind you where Paul has been so far in the book of Romans, 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:21.300 what it is that he's talked about in the first two chapters, the case he's made for us, 00:02:21.819 --> 00:02:27.199 and then show you these objections, these things that, these questions that have been brought up. 00:02:27.859 --> 00:02:28.699 In his mind. 00:02:28.739 --> 00:02:36.379 And I don't believe they're brought up in his mind because he was particularly astute and just could predict what people might say to what he was teaching. 00:02:36.379 --> 00:02:38.180 But that this was a case. 00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:43.060 What he has said in the first two chapters was something he was teaching over and over and over again. 00:02:43.460 --> 00:02:47.340 Paul had preached many sermons before he wrote the book to the Romans. 00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:51.340 And so he knew the questions that the Jews would ask because they had been asked of him. 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:58.080 He even says there in our text, verse eight, as some people slanderly, slanderously charge us. 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:00.140 So this has been happening to him. 00:03:00.139 --> 00:03:06.479 So as he's writing to them, he knows that some listener, somebody who's going to hear the reading of this letter, 00:03:07.479 --> 00:03:09.319 was going to ask this question in their mind. 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:12.479 And he wants to answer those questions before he moves on. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:18.179 He answers them in brief in this spot, but continues later to give us more. 00:03:18.259 --> 00:03:19.659 He unfolds some of this more. 00:03:19.659 --> 00:03:24.120 So this morning, we're going to kind of skip a stone off the answer because it's what Paul does here. 00:03:24.780 --> 00:03:31.019 Later, chapters 11, chapter 9, we're going to get a little bit deeper into the answers to these questions. 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:36.019 But he feels the necessity to deal with them so that he can continue on with his argument. 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:40.740 So if you flip back a page or however many pages for you, in chapter 1, 00:03:41.800 --> 00:03:46.879 kind of to read to you the thesis, the theme of the book of Romans, verses 16 and 17. 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:47.919 Paul says, 00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:53.259 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:56.079 to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:04:01.379 For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith. 00:04:01.739 --> 00:04:04.859 As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith. 00:04:05.519 --> 00:04:10.859 So he had already begun to assert that it wasn't those who had the law and obeyed the law 00:04:10.859 --> 00:04:14.500 under their own power that were righteous before God. 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:21.680 It was those that had righteousness that came from faith in the good news, in the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:24.899 He's laid that out for us very clearly right up front. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:29.660 He goes on in the rest of the chapter to talk about how no one has any excuse. 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:33.600 Everyone in the world is aware of the glory of God. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:35.900 They have seen it in created order. 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:39.240 No excuse whatsoever. 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:45.180 He turns in chapter 2 then to the Jews, those who had the law, had religion. 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:47.760 Chapter 2, verses 12 and 13. 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:48.520 He says, 00:04:48.519 --> 00:05:00.120 Verse 13. 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:00.120 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:06.120 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:17.220 And we know, because we have a survey, we understand our scriptures, that we're only capable of doing good, of being righteous in Christ. 00:05:18.280 --> 00:05:22.459 By our own best efforts, there is no way we can fulfill the law. 00:05:23.019 --> 00:05:27.920 Because that ability in us was utterly spoiled by original sin. 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:29.959 Our nature is corrupted. 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:31.399 We are sinful at heart. 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:34.639 But we cannot please God apart from Christ. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:40.019 So then he takes his argument a little bit further for the Jewish, for the religious. 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:43.860 Verse 25 and then 28 and 29. 00:05:44.339 --> 00:05:48.259 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.959 But if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 00:05:52.479 --> 00:05:53.079 Verse 28. 00:05:53.599 --> 00:05:58.120 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor a circumcision outward and physical. 00:05:58.579 --> 00:06:00.039 But a Jew is one inwardly. 00:06:00.039 --> 00:06:04.319 And circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the spirit, not by the letter. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.459 His praise is not from man, but from God. 00:06:08.019 --> 00:06:13.919 So those outward signs of keeping the law are of no value if you don't actually keep the law. 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:19.640 How does that relate to us as a, I would assume, entirely non-Jewish audience? 00:06:20.580 --> 00:06:24.580 Does coming here to church make you righteous before God? 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:26.640 Absolutely not. 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:32.180 Does sharing your faith or being involved in one-on-one discipleship make you righteous before God? 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:37.960 Does tucking your shirt in and wearing your fanciest shoes make you righteous before God? 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:41.299 None of those things do if we're not actually keeping the law. 00:06:41.379 --> 00:06:43.620 If we're not actually made righteous by Christ. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:44.899 Okay? 00:06:46.799 --> 00:06:47.919 So he turns. 00:06:48.459 --> 00:06:50.399 He knows there's going to be objections to this. 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:53.139 He knows that the Jew is sitting in this audience. 00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:54.579 This book is being read to them. 00:06:54.919 --> 00:06:55.659 They're going, but wait a minute. 00:06:55.719 --> 00:06:56.959 We're God's special people. 00:06:57.060 --> 00:06:58.079 The Old Testament speaks of that. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:59.279 It's everywhere in the Old Testament. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:04.439 We know that God had made a covenant with Abraham for us as a people. 00:07:05.719 --> 00:07:06.819 What are you talking about? 00:07:06.839 --> 00:07:08.299 You've totally nullified all of that. 00:07:08.559 --> 00:07:10.959 We ought to take the Old Testament and throw it away. 00:07:13.559 --> 00:07:16.059 So he addresses the first objection. 00:07:16.799 --> 00:07:17.239 Verse 1. 00:07:17.639 --> 00:07:19.659 Then what advantage has the Jew? 00:07:20.219 --> 00:07:21.819 Or what is the value of circumcision? 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:27.799 These are the questions that he's been asked and he's hearing them being asked at the reading of this letter. 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:33.439 So the first question I want to ask, did Paul attack God's people? 00:07:35.419 --> 00:07:39.619 In his writing so far, did Paul attack God's people? 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:41.239 The answer is no. 00:07:41.379 --> 00:07:43.199 The answer to all the questions I'm going to ask today are no. 00:07:45.019 --> 00:07:45.739 Verse 2. 00:07:46.119 --> 00:07:49.739 He goes on to say, what is the advantage of being a Jew? 00:07:49.879 --> 00:07:51.059 It's much in every way. 00:07:52.379 --> 00:07:54.879 To begin with, which is such an interesting phrase. 00:07:54.939 --> 00:07:56.000 We talked about this last week. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:00.339 To begin with, would imply that he's going to begin to go on and make some sort of a list. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:01.160 Right? 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:03.259 Firstly, and then he would say later. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:04.519 Secondly, he doesn't. 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:05.439 He just says to begin with. 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:13.439 Of most importance, the greatest advantage to being a Jew is that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:18.680 They were given the very words of God. 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:22.579 Now this word oracles is used four times in the New Testament. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:30.160 It's not simply the word logos, what we get our logos questions from, that means word. 00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:32.620 It actually means wisdom. 00:08:33.560 --> 00:08:37.159 The word oracle, translated here in Greek, means wisdom. 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:39.919 And he's not trying to set some kind of different thing. 00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:43.759 Like everyone else, we have the word of God, but the Jews have the oracles of God. 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:46.740 He's not trying to do that, draw a distinction between the two. 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:50.980 But what he's trying to see is point out the importance of what was given to them. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:51.720 Right? 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:56.820 The words of God, which were the very wisdom of God for salvation. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:08:58.519 That's what the Jews had. 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:02.500 What an advantage they have had over the Gentiles. 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:12.360 Now we know, sadly, that many Jews, not as a nation, but many Jews, have rejected the word of God. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:21.019 When the Pharisees tried to back Christ into a corner, a couple occasions, he spoke to this. 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:24.100 Mark chapter 12, verse 24, says, 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:26.580 Is this not the reason you are wrong? 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:30.879 Because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:36.180 You know of them, but you don't understand them or the power of God. 00:09:36.580 --> 00:09:40.899 And then in John chapter 5, verse 39 and 40, he says, 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:44.460 You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:47.379 And it is they that bear witness about me. 00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:50.899 Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:56.220 I imagine that there was desperation in Jesus' voice as he said that to them. 00:09:56.699 --> 00:09:59.779 You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life. 00:09:59.939 --> 00:10:01.220 But they speak of me. 00:10:01.439 --> 00:10:02.860 And I'm standing in front of you. 00:10:02.939 --> 00:10:07.939 And I'm here for you to hold and to learn from and to place your faith in for righteousness, for salvation. 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:10.819 And you're missing the point. 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:15.419 Brings our second objection. 00:10:16.699 --> 00:10:17.460 Verse 3. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:19.480 What if some were unfaithful? 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:22.000 Some Jews were unfaithful. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:27.279 Some Jews did reject the truth of God given to them in the scriptures. 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:31.980 Does their faithfulness nullify the faithfulness of God? 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:39.500 Does the fact that some Jews were unfaithful make God unfaithful in his promises to the Jewish people? 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:44.159 Did Paul attack God's promises? 00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:46.759 That's my question, which the answer to is no. 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:48.620 Look what he says. 00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:49.759 Verse 4. 00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:51.620 By no means. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:54.179 It's an interesting little phrase. 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:58.340 It is the strongest negative Greek expression. 00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:01.159 I'm going to try to pronounce it. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:03.799 Me genoito, I think. 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:08.000 The strongest negative expression possible. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.600 And it literally carried with it a note of impossibility. 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:14.799 So it's as if he says at the beginning of verse 4, they ask this question. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.879 Does their faithfulness nullify the faithfulness of God? 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:17.700 He goes, impossible. 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:19.159 It can't happen. 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:24.659 There's no way that man can affect the faithfulness of God. 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:29.259 And then he says this very interesting, at times frustrating phrase. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:33.459 Let God be true, though everyone were a liar. 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:38.719 Let God be true, though everyone were a liar. 00:11:39.079 --> 00:11:40.899 I'm going to give that to you in Nathan language. 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:50.299 If God were accused as faithless by everyone who had ever lived because they rejected the truth given to them. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:55.120 Everyone who ever lived rejected the oracles of God entrusted to them. 00:11:56.579 --> 00:11:59.579 It wouldn't say that God is faithless. 00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:03.299 God would be found true and everyone else found a liar. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:04.299 That's what he's saying. 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:09.879 If everyone else accused God of being faithless because some were unfaithful. 00:12:10.699 --> 00:12:14.120 They would all be liars, but God would still be true. 00:12:16.219 --> 00:12:17.459 He goes on to say. 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:25.279 As it is written that you may be justified in your words and prevail when you are judged. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:28.439 Psalm 51.4 is what he's quoting there. 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:37.000 Which is, Psalm 51 is David's psalm of repentance after his great sin, Bathsheba killing her husband. 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:40.340 This is his coming back to God. 00:12:40.780 --> 00:12:45.740 And before that, in verse 4, he's talked about his own sinfulness and the evidencing it gives. 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:47.000 What it actually does. 00:12:47.060 --> 00:12:51.220 It makes God a righteous judge because of his actions. 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:53.400 Because of his sinfulness. 00:12:54.520 --> 00:12:56.560 So that's what Paul's getting at when he says that. 00:12:56.559 --> 00:13:03.000 Now the problem with this Jewish question, the what if some were unfaithful? 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:08.539 Does the unfaithfulness nullify the faithfulness of God? 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:11.859 Comes from their understanding of the covenant. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:13.919 God's covenant with Abraham. 00:13:14.839 --> 00:13:17.059 Which was an unconditional covenant. 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.699 We find it in Genesis chapter 12. 00:13:18.819 --> 00:13:19.599 We're not going to go there. 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:21.419 But it was an unconditional covenant. 00:13:21.699 --> 00:13:24.759 God made the covenant and he said, I will accomplish this thing. 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:28.819 But they didn't have a clear understanding of what that thing was. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:31.259 They thought as a nation. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.419 They were God's people. 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:39.819 If I have Jewish heritage in my lineage, therefore, I will be saved. 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:42.559 I am one of God's chosen people. 00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:45.240 We're going to get into this more in chapter 11. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:48.139 I'm honestly dreading it at this point. 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:50.340 I hope I'll be very excited by the time we get there. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.200 We'll get there. 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:56.060 But the promise never was for the individual. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:58.220 It's never for the individual. 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:01.620 Let's look at a conditional phrase. 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:04.019 Isaiah 55, 6 and 7. 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.340 Go ahead and turn there with me. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.440 Give me a break to breathe. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.039 Isaiah 55, 6 and 7. 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:16.779 So we see the unconditional covenant God made with Abraham. 00:14:17.599 --> 00:14:20.219 He would bless the nations through Abraham's lineage. 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:23.139 We know that Christ comes from there. 00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:28.339 The promise of the gospel has extended beyond just the Jewish nation to the church. 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:29.699 We are now Israel. 00:14:32.219 --> 00:14:33.099 Here's a conditional. 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:35.899 Seek the Lord while he may be found. 00:14:36.079 --> 00:14:38.120 Call upon him while he is near. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:41.419 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. 00:14:41.560 --> 00:14:48.179 Let him return to the Lord that he may have compassion on him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:51.259 That's the individual. 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:56.080 So here we have Isaiah, a Jewish prophet, calling the people back to God. 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:59.060 And here's the conditional promise. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.539 God will be what? 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:02.980 Faithful. 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:04.180 He will have compassion. 00:15:04.180 --> 00:15:07.820 He will abundantly pardon the man that returns to him. 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:11.899 That places his faith in him for his righteousness. 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:22.320 So the Jewish people had a poor understanding, generally speaking, a poor understanding of what the promises of God meant for them. 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:26.480 More of that to come in chapter 11. 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:31.039 So it was for the nation of Israel, but never the individual from Israel. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:35.839 So then the third objection, verse 5. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:40.940 So we had, did Paul attack God's people? 00:15:41.160 --> 00:15:41.500 No. 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:43.399 Did Paul attack God's promises? 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:44.480 No. 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:48.879 The last one is, did Paul attack God's holiness? 00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:52.800 He sees the question this way. 00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:53.940 Here's it being asked. 00:15:53.940 --> 00:16:03.460 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, which is what we've seen to be true from the psalmist, what shall we say? 00:16:03.540 --> 00:16:07.120 That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:13.580 And then Paul inserts, I speak in a human way, or I speak with human logic, or I speak insanely. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:16.279 It's another way of rendering that text. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:20.580 I speak as a man, not as one who's spiritually enlightened to the truth of God. 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:21.659 All right? 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:25.779 That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us. 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:27.519 So did Paul attack God's holiness? 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:32.899 And in verse 6, he says once again the same phrase, by no means impossible. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:36.819 How is it possible that God could be unrighteous? 00:16:37.939 --> 00:16:41.159 For then how could God judge the world? 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:47.720 Now, Jesus had a very clear understanding of God as judge. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:52.860 In Genesis 18, 25, he is called the judge of all the earth. 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:57.460 The psalmist repeatedly referred to him as judge. 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:59.539 Psalm 50, 58, 94. 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:06.500 The major theme of nearly all the prophets is that of God's judgment. 00:17:07.360 --> 00:17:13.799 Past, present, the imminent judgment, and out far in the future, the judgment of God. 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:17.799 The Jewish people entirely understood when he said, 00:17:18.019 --> 00:17:21.380 how could God be unrighteous for judging us? 00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:24.480 Because if he is, then he can't be a perfect judge. 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:30.780 That's his very simple response to a very complex question. 00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.520 Verse 7, he goes on. 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:37.980 But if through my lie, God's truth abounds to his glory. 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:41.760 Through my lie, God's truth abounds to his glory. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:45.620 So if my sin shows God faithful in delivering me, 00:17:45.619 --> 00:17:50.779 his grace is abounding when I'm found unfaithful, when I'm a sinner, 00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:53.500 why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:55.679 Isn't it good that I prove God faithful? 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.319 That's what he's saying. 00:17:57.079 --> 00:18:00.279 And why not do evil that good may come? 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.579 A common question there. 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:07.079 We're to glorify God in what we do, 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:11.180 and God is very glorified when he shows grace to sinful man. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.819 Why not continue sinning? 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.779 That's a great idea, right? 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:17.259 We can keep drumming up grace. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:20.960 We can keep on making God look really good and gracious to his people. 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:23.059 What a fantastic idea. 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:26.679 It says then, 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:31.159 As some people slanderously charge us with saying, 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:34.399 their condemnation is just. 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.679 Jude, verse 4, 00:18:38.639 --> 00:18:40.079 Jude writes to the church of Corinth, 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:43.440 For certain people have crept in unnoticed, 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:47.139 who long ago were designated for this condemnation, 00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:51.059 ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality, 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:53.339 sensuality, or licentiousness, 00:18:53.639 --> 00:18:57.000 and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.839 So what is Jude talking about? 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:02.919 He's talking about the very same person that would have this objection, 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:06.639 or use this objection to justify their sin. 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:09.379 He's talking about these people that have slipped in, 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.460 who have snuck themselves in to the church at Corinth, 00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:12.259 and have said, 00:19:12.639 --> 00:19:15.859 If God is so gracious, we can do whatever we want. 00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:18.139 It's fantastic. 00:19:18.659 --> 00:19:20.960 And they've turned it into sensuality or licentiousness. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:22.360 It's basically sexual sin. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.019 So we can do these things. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:26.400 It's good because God will forgive us because we're His children. 00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:33.380 Romans chapter 5, verse 20, 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:35.539 and then chapter 6, 1 and 2. 00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:38.180 Paul writes this, 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:41.640 Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:45.319 Seems to agree with this philosophy. 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:48.759 Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:50.799 Chapter 6, verse 1. 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:51.960 What shall we say then? 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:55.279 Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:57.180 By no means. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:57.900 There's that phrase again. 00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.799 It's impossible. 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:02.940 How can we who died to sin still live in it? 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:09.480 We have been delivered by the grace of God from sin. 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:12.980 As new creatures, why would we continue to sin? 00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:15.559 That's not God glorifying. 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:19.019 When I sin, does God's grace abound in my life? 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:19.460 Absolutely. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:22.299 Do I prove God faithful all the time? 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:22.900 Yes. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:25.240 But should that be my aim? 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.740 Absolutely not. 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:30.240 My aim should be to obey Him. 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:33.000 To walk obediently by His grace. 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:35.579 And honor Him in that way. 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:40.920 There's a great famous debate between John Bunyan, 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:42.319 the writer of Pilgrim's Progress, 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:44.859 and some other guys that were in prison 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.599 for the same reason, 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:48.099 for preaching the gospel without being sanctioned. 00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:50.680 But they had very different theological perspectives. 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:54.120 And they had been thrown kind of into the deepest, darkest parts of the dungeon. 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:57.019 And what's the most intelligent thing to do when you're down there 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.019 is to debate theology. 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:00.559 That's how I would probably pass the time. 00:21:01.699 --> 00:21:03.919 And what they kept saying to him was, 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:07.299 Bunyan, you can't keep telling people how much God loves them. 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:09.259 If you're telling people how much God loves them all the time, 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:10.939 they're going to do whatever they want. 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:15.299 They would have had this objection to Paul's teaching. 00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:17.039 That type of thinking. 00:21:17.159 --> 00:21:19.079 That would have been the objection that's coming up here. 00:21:19.699 --> 00:21:20.319 Wait a second. 00:21:21.239 --> 00:21:22.500 If what you're saying is true, 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.959 then we should actually sin. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:25.980 Because that makes God look great. 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:28.100 Because He's gracious to us as people. 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:31.360 Bunyan's response to them, 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:33.759 which I think was very carefully worded and poignant, 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:34.700 was, 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.539 No. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:39.380 If I tell God's people about God's love for them, 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:42.079 and he's excluding this group of men from this equation, 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:44.720 if I tell God's people about God's love for them, 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:46.960 they'll do whatever He wants. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.900 See the difference there? 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:54.840 See how He excluded them from even being God's people? 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:58.320 Even thinking that that's right and proper? 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:02.400 That it's even okay for a Christian to sin? 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.540 Shoots it down pretty quickly there, doesn't He? 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:09.420 In brief, 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:12.980 He quickly deals with these issues, 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:14.220 these questions that are raised, 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.319 so that He can move on. 00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.399 Glances off of them. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.579 Says, 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:20.000 Nope, nope, nope. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:20.440 Okay. 00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:23.259 Now let's keep reading the rest of chapter 3, 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.680 and on to the end of the book. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.579 Whose condemnation is just? 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:31.879 It would be my last kind of question for you. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:33.179 The last sentence of that, 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:33.559 He says, 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:37.199 Their condemnation is just. 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:42.079 Those who don't believe the Word of God, 00:22:42.179 --> 00:22:44.119 who play light with it, 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:48.439 who ask questions with human wisdom, 00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:50.960 and don't look for scriptural answers, 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:54.179 who flippantly ask questions, 00:22:54.539 --> 00:22:57.960 define who God is by their wisdom, 00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:01.859 are any of us guilty of that? 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.819 I think I have been. 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.480 In the past, 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.839 I can't give you specific examples, 00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:09.439 but I'm sure that at times, 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.819 I've applied my logic and said, 00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:11.859 Well, this doesn't make sense. 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.699 I don't know that God would operate that way. 00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:14.500 So, 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:17.539 I'm going to ignore that passage. 00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:20.559 I'm going to move beyond that. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:22.960 We find this often as we look at the Bible teaching 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.699 the sovereignty of God in all things, 00:23:24.699 --> 00:23:27.799 and the responsibility of man in his actions. 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:30.819 Well, that just doesn't make sense to me. 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:31.619 So, 00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:32.779 that's alright. 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:37.980 What is the argument Paul's made so far, 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:38.799 up to this point? 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.919 That God chose the people, Israel, 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:44.899 to bring them righteousness by faith, 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.079 made a 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:48.919 unconditional promise to bless the nations, 00:23:49.919 --> 00:23:51.119 in Abraham's lineage. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:55.039 And here we see the culmination of that. 00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:57.419 That some of them rejected the gospel. 00:23:58.339 --> 00:24:00.859 And the gospel message is now passing beyond 00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:02.439 the borders of Israel, 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:05.119 and going out to the Gentile people, 00:24:05.239 --> 00:24:06.819 those who weren't Jewish. 00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:07.500 To us. 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:09.379 It's gone beyond that. 00:24:09.439 --> 00:24:10.599 It's accomplishing much more 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:12.799 than the Jews ever even thought was possible. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:17.079 God has a covenantal people 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:19.339 that he's calling, 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.079 that he's reaching, 00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:24.079 that he's involved in bringing into the fold. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:29.279 But that promise is conditional for us, isn't it? 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.359 Unconditional on one hand, 00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:32.740 because it's God's work in our lives, 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:34.960 but conditioned on the fact that we live righteous. 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:38.779 How is it that we do that? 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:41.660 How is it that we live righteous lives 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:43.140 before God? 00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:45.940 Jesus Christ. 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.480 That's the answer. 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.380 With all of our effort, 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.440 and all of our strain, 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:53.759 we should work to do right. 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:56.279 We should read the commandments of God. 00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:58.200 We should be exhorted by them. 00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:59.539 We should be rebuked by them. 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.860 We should strain 00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:02.680 to live holy lives. 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:05.039 And when it happens, 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:07.660 when it actually is happening in our life, 00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:10.960 we should all give all praise and honor to God. 00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:13.279 It is Christ's work, 00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:14.980 the Spirit moving in us, 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.779 to help us accomplish such things. 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:20.680 Praise be to God 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:24.400 that our righteousness before Him 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:27.519 is not dependent on our action. 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.200 So righteousness, 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.920 we're righteous in total 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:32.240 because of Christ. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.720 We are clothed in His righteousness. 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:34.859 We can pray. 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:35.620 Today, 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:37.920 none of us are going to be burned alive 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:39.160 by God's wrath 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.700 because we're seen 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:42.200 as righteous in Christ 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.299 if we place our faith in Him. 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:46.079 No matter what you did this morning, 00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:50.059 while you ought to repent 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.799 and turn back 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:53.039 and strain to do more 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:53.700 and to do better 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.839 and to go harder, 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:57.220 you're still seen as righteous in God. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.319 It's an amazing position 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.240 we stand in 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.200 to be so 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.539 un-perfect 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:04.480 and yet seen as perfect. 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:05.879 To have both this 00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:07.000 unconditional covenant 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:08.659 and a conditional covenant 00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:09.220 applied 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.359 to our living. 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:15.559 I pray that none of us 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:17.299 stand in this place, 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:20.899 this place of objection. 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.719 Because if you do, 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.939 your condemnation is just. 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.399 You can't get on board 00:26:26.399 --> 00:26:26.879 with the fact 00:26:26.879 --> 00:26:27.959 that God is entirely sovereign 00:26:27.959 --> 00:26:28.619 in all things 00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:29.539 and yet you're responsible 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.159 for your actions. 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:30.839 You ought to live 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:32.339 good lives, 00:26:32.459 --> 00:26:32.979 righteous lives 00:26:32.979 --> 00:26:33.559 before Him. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:35.319 Your condemnation is just. 00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:36.719 It's a challenge, 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.199 isn't it? 00:26:37.679 --> 00:26:38.119 Mentally. 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:39.639 It's hard to deal with. 00:26:39.979 --> 00:26:40.859 That's why this text 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.939 is such a strain 00:26:41.939 --> 00:26:43.019 for our minds. 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.959 But it's true, 00:26:45.639 --> 00:26:46.059 nonetheless. 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.119 Later on, 00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:49.519 as Paul deals deeper 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.500 with this issue 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.619 in chapter 9, 00:26:52.739 --> 00:26:54.059 the same question 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:55.479 he brings up once again. 00:26:56.099 --> 00:26:57.239 And his response to it 00:26:57.239 --> 00:26:58.139 is this. 00:26:58.699 --> 00:26:59.859 Who are you, 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:00.939 oh man, 00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:02.179 to ask after God? 00:27:03.959 --> 00:27:05.179 That confusion 00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:06.739 of God's sovereignty, 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.619 my responsibility, 00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.819 that's so confusing to me. 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:10.399 I want answers, God. 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.659 I don't like it. 00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:12.599 I want to figure it out. 00:27:12.699 --> 00:27:13.000 He says, 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.959 who are you, 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:14.679 oh man, 00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:16.559 to ask after God? 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.119 Let's pray. 00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:23.000 Father, 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.419 we thank you 00:27:23.419 --> 00:27:24.119 for the great truths 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.699 of your scriptures. 00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.199 We thank you 00:27:25.199 --> 00:27:25.939 for your sovereignty 00:27:25.939 --> 00:27:26.859 that we can lean 00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:27.919 wholly on. 00:27:30.239 --> 00:27:30.839 I thank you, 00:27:30.939 --> 00:27:31.079 Father, 00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:32.359 that you have shown us 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.419 the great weight, 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:35.059 the cost 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.639 of discipleship, 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.740 the things 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.299 that are required 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.359 of us to do, 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.359 to strive for. 00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.059 I'm afraid, 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.319 Father, 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:45.460 that those of us 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:47.500 who lean heavily 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.000 on the sovereignty 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.460 of God 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:50.500 take very little 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.079 responsibility 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:52.159 for our own actions. 00:27:54.679 --> 00:27:55.079 And, 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:55.259 Father, 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:56.059 I want to be a people 00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:57.859 who takes those truths 00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.359 and sets them 00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.279 in perfect balance 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:02.799 really understands 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.279 what it is 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:03.980 Paul is trying 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.639 to say to us 00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:06.480 that get what it takes 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:08.539 to live righteous lives 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:10.259 in the evidence 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:10.700 of them, 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.079 the things we do, 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.720 the actions 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.639 we carry out, 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.220 that we can also 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.259 fully embrace 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.339 the righteousness 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:19.039 we have 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:19.839 that Christ has 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.920 purchased on our behalf. 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.240 Find us humble 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.720 this morning, 00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:26.379 Lord. 00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:29.780 allowing you 00:28:29.780 --> 00:28:30.620 to probe our hearts 00:28:30.620 --> 00:28:32.920 for the doubts, 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:34.600 the questions 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.120 we ask, 00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.600 that we ask 00:28:35.600 --> 00:28:36.300 in human wisdom, 00:28:36.580 --> 00:28:37.500 and don't look 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:37.880 to the scriptures 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.540 for the answers. 00:28:40.300 --> 00:28:41.180 We pray all this 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:41.800 in Christ's name. 00:28:42.760 --> 00:28:43.060 Amen. 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.380 I'm a part 00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:46.840 of our service 00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:47.420 now where we 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:49.380 celebrate the death, 00:28:50.580 --> 00:28:50.920 resurrection, 00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:51.480 ascension, 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.220 and the eventual 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:54.520 return of Christ, 00:28:54.620 --> 00:28:55.020 our Lord. 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:56.220 We read our 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:57.139 wonderful statement 00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:57.539 of faith 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:59.460 statement this morning 00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:00.099 about that, 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:00.720 about Christ's 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.440 return for his 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:01.759 people. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.779 I just pray 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.000 that you'll 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.059 take it solemnly. 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.400 You will 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:09.319 just be examined 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.099 before you do 00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:11.799 and that ultimately 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:13.660 you'll find joy 00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:13.960 in it. 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:13.960 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:15.960 Amen. 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:45.960 Amen. 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:15.960 Amen. 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:45.960 Amen. 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:15.960 Amen. 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:45.960 Amen. 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.960 Amen. 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.059 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:46.559 to one a fragrance from death to death, 00:32:46.620 --> 00:32:48.960 to the other a fragrance from life to life. 00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:51.160 Who is sufficient for these things? 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:54.059 For we are not like so many peddlers of God's word, 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:55.120 but as men of sincerity, 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:57.660 as commissioned by God in the sight of God, 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:59.019 we speak in Christ.