WEBVTT

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 And verses 17 to 29, which is on page 116, 1129, sorry, 1129, if you've got a church

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 Bible, Romans chapter 2, verse 17 to 29.

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 And before we look at that, we are going to pray.

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 So let's do that together.

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 Amen.

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 The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.

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 Man looks at the outward appearance.

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 But the Lord looks at the heart.

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 Father, our prayer is that right now, you would look into our hearts.

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 And you would show us exactly what we are like.

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 And that this morning you would show us how you are going to change us.

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 How you can transform us.

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 And so we pray that by the power of your Holy Spirit, you would speak into our lives.

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 May none of us not miss any word.

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 But may we hear you through your word, speaking into our lives.

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 changing us, changing us to be more like Jesus.

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 May we never be content with the way we are.

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 But may you go on making us more like you.

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 Amen.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, imagine for a moment that you have entered the new X Factor show.

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 I know you all secretly watch it.

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 And I know you all love to perform on stage.

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 Well, if you were in the X Factor show, very soon you would discover that if your performance

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 is not up to scratch, you would not get through to the next round.

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 If you don't tick all the boxes, good voice, good looks, good style, I think I've got all

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 of them.

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 But I haven't got good rhythm.

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 It's going to be a simple fail.

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 The buzzer will sound and you will exit the stage.

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 Or suppose you've entered The Apprentice.

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 If you show good management skills, good leadership, good selling technique, good initiative, then

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 you will be rewarded with a place in the multi-million company of Alan Sugar.

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 And you will watch as those who didn't perform get fired.

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 You see, our culture and our society that we're in condition us into believing that if you

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 perform well, you will get rewarded.

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 If you look good, if you're successful, you're going to go places.

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 But if you don't perform, then you won't get rewarded.

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 You'll be looked down on.

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 Now, religion, I want to suggest this morning, is no different.

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 Religion is all outward performance.

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 It's all a show.

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 And we meet some very religious people in Romans chapter 2.

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 We looked at the first part last week.

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 And this week we follow in from verse 17.

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 And in chapter 2, we meet people who love their Bibles.

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 People who love going to church.

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 Similar to an awful lot of people that are here this morning.

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 Now, before we meet these people in detail, let's remind ourselves of the situation that we are in.

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 Back in chapter 1, verse 18, we read there that the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven.

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 Why?

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 Well, it's against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

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 Literally, they push it out.

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 They live as if God does not exist.

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 Pretend that he's not there.

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 And so God is rightly angry at the road rage incident that we heard about in Dublin this past week.

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 But he is also angry at the hurtful words that we speak to our spouse or to our friends.

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 So how is God going to respond to this?

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 Well, look at chapter 2, verse 6.

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 God says that he will give to each person according to what they have done.

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 Verse 16 of chapter 2.

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 This will take place on the day when God will judge everyone's secrets.

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 Nothing will be off limits.

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 There will be nowhere to hide.

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 God will judge everyone's secrets through Jesus Christ as my gospel declares.

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 So the hard truth that we're faced with in these first couple of chapters of Romans is that we are all under God's fair judgment and deserving of his wrath.

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 Now that's very hard.

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 And the question we need to ask is, is there any way we can escape it or avoid it?

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 Well, there's a very common belief that religion will somehow save you and protect you.

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 The religious people say something like this.

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 If I keep God's law, if I know my Bible really well, then God is going to save me from his judgment.

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 Or somebody else might say, well, if I follow my church's tradition, it's going to protect me from God's wrath.

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 Well, look at the answer that we get in chapter 2, verse 28.

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 We're going to come to this in a little minute, but let's just read verse 28.

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 I'm going to paraphrase it for you.

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 Verse 29.

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 No, a person is a Christian if he is one inwardly.

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 Now that sums up the difference between the gospel and religion.

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 The gospel is all concerned with inward heart change, about changing us on the inside.

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 While religion is all about outward style performance, what other people think of me.

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 And as we will see, religion can't protect you or save you.

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 It will only destroy you and break you.

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 Which leads us to one conclusion that we all need the gospel to change us on the inside.

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 To do that work that no one else can do.

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 Well, let's meet some of these religious people that we have in chapter 2.

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 In verses 17 to 24, we are introduced to, we're going to call him Mr. Law.

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 He's a very proud man.

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 Because in verse 17, we're told that he relies on the law and he writes about his relationship with God.

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 So Mr. Law is really saying, look guys, I'm accepted by God because I know all about the Bible.

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 I rely on the law.

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 Well, let's look at his life in more detail.

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 There's three things we know about him.

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 First, he's somebody who's been instructed by the Bible.

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 Look at verse 18.

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 If you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law.

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 So here's somebody who goes to church every week.

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 He reads his Bible regularly and he even downloads sermons off the internet.

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 He knows what God's will is because he spends his time reading upon it.

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 And he knows what a superior way of living is because he studied it.

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 Mr. Law is no fool.

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 He's very intelligent.

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 He's a very clever person.

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 In fact, he's more than being instructed by the Bible.

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 He is an instructor of the Bible.

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 Look at verse 19.

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 If you're convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth.

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 So he's not just a learner.

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 He's a teacher.

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 He loves nothing more than to sit down with a group of people and to teach them all about what the Bible has to say.

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 He can't wait for Sunday mornings when he can stand in the pulpit and tell people how they should live.

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 Mr. Law is very sharp.

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 He'll pick up on anything that is not right because he knows all about it.

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 However, surprisingly, Mr. Law is incapable of obeying the Bible.

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 There's a question that is posed to him in verse 21.

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 He says,

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 Mr. Law is looking at a tea break when the boss wasn't looking.

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 Ever downloaded songs or films without adhering to copyright rules?

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 Stealing.

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 Ever collected the dole and done a little bit of extra work without declaring it?

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 Stealing.

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 Mr. Law is looking somewhat embarrassed.

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 And yet there's more for him.

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 Verse 22.

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 Verse 22.

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 You who say that people should not commit adultery.

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 Do you commit adultery?

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 Well, I only have one wife and I've never even entertained the thought of having an affair.

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 Okay.

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 But have you ever looked at another woman lustfully?

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 And allowed your mind to imagine?

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 Mr. Law puts his head down.

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 He's become very, very silent.

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 And yet there's more.

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 Verse 22.

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 You who abhor idols.

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 Do you rob temples?

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 Well, no.

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 I don't have any idols or images in my homes.

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 And I would certainly not rob them from any other temple.

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 Because the first and second commandment says that we should never do that.

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 Okay.

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 Okay.

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 But don't you have God's substitutes in your life?

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 Aren't there people and things that you put in place of God?

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 Don't you take all of this wonderful creation and all the good gifts that God has given you?

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 Don't you enjoy it and take pleasure in it?

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 But yet you ignore your creator?

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 Don't you enjoy it and take pleasure in your life?

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 Because of you.

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 Now, for the religious Jew who was listening to this, that was quite a slap in the face.

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 Because verse 24 is a direct quote from Isaiah where God reminds his people that they were taken off into exile because they had continually disobeyed.

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 All the other nations looked in on the nation of Israel.

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 And they saw their behavior and what they were doing.

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 And they were all thinking, what kind of God of you?

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 You just do whatever you like.

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 And when God saw that happening, he says, I'm not putting up with it any longer.

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 You're going to go into exile.

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 And it's no different for those who say, I read the Bible, I love the Bible.

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 But as they walk about town and as they go to work, they ignore it in their lifestyle.

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 Mr. Law, when people look at your life, they don't see a holy man.

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 They see a hypocrite.

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 Now, one day, we're all going to face God's judgment.

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 And we're all going to have to answer for our lives.

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 And what on earth are we going to say?

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 If we include any of these following things or anything similar, we're in deep trouble.

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 If we're to say to God, I went to Sunday school.

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 I learned my memory verses.

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 And I even did my Bible readings at night.

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 I taught at Crusaders, you know.

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 And I even led a quiet time at camp.

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 I attended church quite often.

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 Always paid attention to the sermons.

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 And I was always taking notes.

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 Now, they're all good things by themselves.

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 But they are absolutely useless before God.

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 They cannot save you.

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 Suppose you're coming down Cars Hill.

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 And you're stopped for speeding.

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 The guard comes along and he knocks on your window and he says,

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 Excuse me, you are doing 100 kilometres an hour in an 80 kilometre zone.

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 I'm going to have to find you.

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 Oh, it's alright.

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 I know what the zone is.

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 In fact, I know what all the speed limits are in Carrigaline.

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 I'm sorry, you're fined.

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 But I have the highway code.

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 I even have my very own copy.

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 I'm sorry, you're fined.

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 But don't you realise that I actually teach people?

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 I'm teaching my own son how to drive right now.

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 Now, to think that your knowledge or awareness of the rules of the road would somehow get you off the fine

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 is nothing but ridiculous, isn't it?

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 But that's how many people are going to face God's judgement.

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 They think that somehow their knowledge of their Bible,

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 their ability to teach it,

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 their love for it,

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 their devotion to it,

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 is somehow going to save them.

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 It's absolute rubbish.

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 It can never save you because we can never put into practice

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 everything that it tells us to do.

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 So Mr. Law, or Mrs. Law,

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 are in serious trouble.

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 Now, in verses 25 to 27,

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 we're introduced to another religious person.

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 We'll call him Mr. Tradition.

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 He's related to Mr. Law.

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 And Mr. Tradition is very proud because,

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 if you look in verses 25 to 27,

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 it's all about circumcision.

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 And he's very proud because he has been circumcised.

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 And boastfully, he tells all his friends,

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 I'm accepted by God.

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 God loves me because I follow the tradition of my church.

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 You see, circumcision for the Jew was this outward sign.

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 It was a mark physically on your life

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 that you are part of God's people.

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 And it was treated a little bit like a passport into heaven.

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 And so the Jew thought that if you had this sign,

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 if you had this mark,

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 you were accepted.

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 In fact, his tradition even taught him

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 that no person who was circumcised

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 would go to the place of death.

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 They believed that Abraham,

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 their great father of the past,

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 actually sat at the entrance of hell

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 and stopped every circumcised Jew from going there.

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 So it was most important that you were circumcised.

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 Now, we don't follow the tradition,

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 I don't think, of circumcision.

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 But we've all got our own traditions, haven't we?

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 Ireland is a very religious country

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 and whatever church background you come from,

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 you're full of tradition.

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 We can't escape it.

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 We love our membership and our baptism.

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 We adore communions and confirmations.

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 And somehow we believe that if I'm baptised

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 or if I'm confirmed,

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 I'm going to be accepted.

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 And we treat it like our passport into heaven.

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 You don't believe me?

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 Well, the next time you go to a funeral,

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 and I was at one recently,

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 listen to what the pastor or the priest might say.

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 Let's say something like this.

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 Because they were baptised

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 or marked with the sign of the cross,

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 they're going to be in heaven.

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 But it's all superstition.

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 And Paul has something to say

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 to Mr. Tradition, verse 25.

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 He says, circumcision,

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 baptism if you like,

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 it has value

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 if

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 you obey the Bible.

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 But if you break

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 or don't do what the Bible says,

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 you have become as though

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 you had never been circumcised

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 or baptised.

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 You see, what Mr. Tradition has forgotten

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 is that circumcision is only

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 an outward physical sign,

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 just like baptism and confirmation are.

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 It has no power.

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 It's not some mystical charm

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:32.439
 that's going to protect you

00:19:32.439 --> 00:19:33.519
 from God's judgement.

00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:36.500
 The real or true sign

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:38.160
 that you are part of God's family,

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:40.200
 that you are accepted by God,

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:43.119
 is a heart that is changed

00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.960
 and a heart that wants to

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:47.940
 obey God's word.

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.380
 That's how you know

00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:52.259
 who the true people of God are.

00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:54.599
 Look at verse 26.

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:58.680
 If those who are not baptised

00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:00.200
 keep the law's requirements,

00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:03.380
 will they not be regarded

00:20:03.380 --> 00:20:05.660
 as though they were baptised?

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:11.299
 You see, tradition looks great

00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:12.119
 on the outside.

00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:15.019
 It even provides us

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:16.380
 with a sense of security

00:20:16.380 --> 00:20:17.119
 and assurance.

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:19.019
 But it's all false.

00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:19.960
 It's all empty.

00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:22.160
 It's empty because

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:23.819
 you're still the same person.

00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.039
 You've never changed.

00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:28.539
 Now we love getting together

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:30.539
 for a confirmation.

00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.960
 We love getting together

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.880
 for a baptism.

00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.840
 We love all of these things

00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:36.220
 and we invite all our friends

00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:37.140
 and all our families

00:20:37.140 --> 00:20:38.000
 and uncles and aunts

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.100
 and everybody comes together

00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:40.920
 and we all have a great big party

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:42.540
 and we think it's all wonderful.

00:20:43.300 --> 00:20:45.180
 The child or the person

00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:46.400
 is now okay.

00:20:48.020 --> 00:20:49.160
 And they can go and live

00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.340
 and do whatever they like.

00:20:52.800 --> 00:20:54.060
 It's absolute nonsense

00:20:54.060 --> 00:20:55.160
 because they're exactly

00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.080
 the same person

00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:56.740
 as they were

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:58.100
 before the event.

00:20:58.099 --> 00:21:03.279
 The people that God accepts

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.939
 are those whose lives

00:21:05.939 --> 00:21:07.139
 have been changed

00:21:07.139 --> 00:21:09.399
 on the inside out.

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:12.259
 And sadly,

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.859
 many people put their hope

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:14.519
 in tradition.

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.679
 And when their loved one

00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:18.599
 passes away,

00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.179
 they dig deep

00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:21.579
 for some kind of comfort

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:24.199
 and they remind themselves,

00:21:24.399 --> 00:21:25.159
 well, it's okay.

00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:28.040
 Granny was christened

00:21:28.040 --> 00:21:28.860
 in this church.

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.240
 She'll be alright.

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.420
 She's in heaven now.

00:21:33.040 --> 00:21:33.779
 Don't worry,

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:35.400
 Grandad was baptised.

00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.900
 He's in heaven too.

00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:39.680
 Baptised and buried

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.580
 in the same church.

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.040
 Imagine.

00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.360
 He's alright.

00:21:45.060 --> 00:21:45.900
 How's that?

00:21:47.120 --> 00:21:49.100
 It's all superstition.

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:52.380
 Imagine the scene.

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:55.120
 It's judgment day.

00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.640
 And Mr. Tradition

00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:58.560
 arrives feeling

00:21:58.560 --> 00:21:59.360
 very proud

00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.840
 with his church credentials.

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.700
 He has a list

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.140
 of all of his achievements.

00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:07.140
 Baptised in 1971.

00:22:08.760 --> 00:22:09.760
 First communion

00:22:09.760 --> 00:22:11.660
 in 78.

00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:13.480
 It was a beautiful summer

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.000
 that year.

00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:16.680
 Confirmed when he was

00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:17.320
 a teenager.

00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:19.460
 Became involved

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.680
 in his local church.

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:23.200
 was on the parish team.

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.539
 The list goes on

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.560
 and on and on.

00:22:27.840 --> 00:22:29.100
 And besides him

00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:30.360
 stands an old friend

00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:32.200
 who never went to church.

00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:34.900
 Never even got baptised.

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.980
 Never even had communion.

00:22:38.840 --> 00:22:40.100
 He doesn't have a list

00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:40.920
 to bring with him.

00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:43.240
 But his life

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.500
 speaks for himself.

00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:46.100
 His life

00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:47.799
 is his written record.

00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:49.380
 Because he was obedient.

00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:51.720
 He did

00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:53.460
 what God's word said.

00:22:55.080 --> 00:22:56.000
 And not a word

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.480
 is said

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.800
 between Mr. Tradition

00:22:57.800 --> 00:22:58.500
 and his friend.

00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:00.900
 But very slowly

00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.680
 it all begins

00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.180
 to dawn

00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:03.240
 on Mr. Tradition.

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.540
 His piece of paper

00:23:05.540 --> 00:23:06.800
 counts for nothing.

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.480
 He stands judged

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.340
 and condemned

00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:12.000
 by the person

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.840
 he thought

00:23:12.840 --> 00:23:14.160
 was lost.

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.680
 Look at verse 27.

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:19.840
 the one

00:23:19.840 --> 00:23:20.720
 who is not

00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:22.160
 circumcised physically

00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:24.279
 and yet

00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:25.500
 obeys the law

00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:27.740
 will condemn you

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.360
 who even though

00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:30.880
 you have the written code

00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.580
 even though

00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:32.420
 you know all about

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:32.820
 the Bible

00:23:32.820 --> 00:23:33.560
 even though

00:23:33.560 --> 00:23:34.660
 you've been baptised

00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.380
 and confirmed

00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:39.279
 you're just a lawbreaker.

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:46.519
 So if Bible knowledge

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.559
 can't save you

00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:50.740
 and if church tradition

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:52.119
 can't protect you

00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:54.359
 what on earth

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:56.460
 is going to protect us

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.539
 and save us

00:23:57.539 --> 00:24:00.059
 from God's wrath

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.000
 and God's judgement?

00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:04.119
 It's most important

00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:05.319
 that we've got that right.

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:07.960
 Well look at verse 28.

00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.539
 A man

00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:13.099
 is not a Jew

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:15.240
 if he is one outwardly

00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:17.379
 nor is circumcision

00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:18.319
 merely outward

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.659
 and physical.

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.559
 He's saying there

00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.700
 that the real Jew

00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:25.240
 the true Jew

00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:26.799
 is not known

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:28.000
 by the external

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:29.960
 but by the internal.

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.500
 In other words

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.779
 the true Christian

00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:33.939
 is the one

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.860
 who tries to keep

00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:35.880
 is not the one

00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.640
 who tries to keep

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.240
 all the laws

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:37.940
 and who follows

00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.720
 all the traditions.

00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:40.160
 The true Christian

00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:41.140
 is the person

00:24:41.140 --> 00:24:42.640
 who has been changed

00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.680
 on the inside.

00:24:46.100 --> 00:24:47.340
 Now there's two things here

00:24:47.340 --> 00:24:48.120
 we want to look at.

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.140
 First it's all about

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:50.080
 the internal

00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:51.920
 not the external.

00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:53.140
 Look at verse 29.

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.460
 Now a person is a Jew

00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.640
 he is a Christian

00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:59.620
 if he is one inwardly

00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:01.620
 and circumcision

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.960
 is circumcision

00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:04.539
 of the heart.

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.360
 We don't want to think

00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:09.299
 about circumcision

00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:09.799
 too long

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.740
 that's a bit painful

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.279
 isn't it?

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.039
 It involved

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.200
 cutting away the skin

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:16.460
 it was an external sign.

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.400
 But the gospel says

00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.620
 what we really need

00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:21.740
 is a cutting away

00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.700
 of the heart.

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.640
 Suppose I was to go

00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.880
 to my doctor

00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.860
 following a recent

00:25:28.860 --> 00:25:29.440
 check up

00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:31.460
 and as I wait

00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.200
 in the surgery

00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:33.059
 I'm presented

00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.059
 with this news

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.779
 from the doctor.

00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:36.580
 She comes out

00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.059
 and she says

00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:38.360
 Johnny I have the results

00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:40.180
 and we see that

00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:40.820
 you've got some

00:25:40.820 --> 00:25:41.600
 heart disease

00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.840
 there's some speckles

00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:43.420
 on your heart

00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.920
 you've got disease there

00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:47.299
 and if you want

00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:47.880
 to live

00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:50.120
 we need to operate

00:25:50.120 --> 00:25:51.299
 we need to get in there

00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.940
 and cut away

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.600
 the infection

00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:54.019
 and if you don't

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:56.240
 you're going to die

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.880
 we need to treat it.

00:25:57.880 --> 00:26:01.560
 I look at the doctor

00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.240
 as if she's got

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:03.060
 two heads.

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.420
 Don't be so silly

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.800
 I'm actually quite fine

00:26:06.800 --> 00:26:07.840
 I've walked here

00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:08.900
 I'm alright

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:10.300
 I just ran a marathon

00:26:10.300 --> 00:26:11.320
 there's nothing wrong

00:26:11.320 --> 00:26:11.960
 with me.

00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:15.160
 Well I think we all

00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:16.300
 know that the external

00:26:16.300 --> 00:26:17.940
 signs count for nothing.

00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:21.140
 We need to deal

00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.360
 with the internal

00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:24.360
 and it's the same

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.540
 with our own hearts

00:26:25.540 --> 00:26:26.460
 and our own lives.

00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:28.420
 the centre of our lives

00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:29.700
 the core of our being

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:31.279
 need operated on.

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:34.200
 We need to cut away

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:35.319
 the rotten disease

00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.000
 of sin

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:38.900
 which religion

00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:40.880
 can never deal with.

00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:44.180
 And how's that

00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:44.860
 going to happen?

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.960
 Well it's all about

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.700
 the spiritual

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.759
 and not the physical.

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.480
 Look at the rest

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.279
 of verse 29.

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.600
 It says

00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:55.200
 circumcision of the heart

00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:58.299
 by the spirit

00:26:58.299 --> 00:27:00.480
 not the written code.

00:27:01.580 --> 00:27:02.360
 By the spirit

00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:03.400
 not by religion.

00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.259
 Now suppose

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.980
 with that news

00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.600
 from the doctor

00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:08.460
 I go home

00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:11.620
 and I go into

00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:12.120
 the kitchen

00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:12.920
 and I take out

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:14.039
 the sharpest knife

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.740
 in the drawer

00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:16.819
 and I take off

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.559
 my shirt

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:19.319
 and I begin

00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.440
 to make an incision

00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.440
 into my heart.

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:23.640
 and just as I am

00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:24.380
 about to cut

00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:25.100
 into my heart

00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:26.240
 Kirstie rushes in.

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.620
 She doesn't push it

00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.059
 don't worry.

00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.019
 She says

00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:29.900
 what are you doing?

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.440
 Well the doctor

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:32.940
 said

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.620
 that I've got

00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.460
 heart disease

00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.039
 and I need

00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.940
 to cut it out.

00:27:37.539 --> 00:27:38.320
 Now that would be

00:27:38.320 --> 00:27:39.720
 absolutely stupid

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.220
 wouldn't it

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:41.039
 on our part.

00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:43.380
 We'd kill ourselves.

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.059
 We need the surgeon

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.799
 to do it.

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.680
 The expert

00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:48.820
 the one who knows.

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:51.599
 and anything else

00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:53.139
 and we'll be

00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:54.039
 as good as dead.

00:27:55.659 --> 00:27:56.539
 Now see what it says

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.639
 here in verse 29

00:27:57.639 --> 00:28:00.259
 that this work

00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.200
 the circumcision

00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.240
 the cutting away

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.240
 of the heart

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:05.639
 is done by the spirit

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:07.799
 not by religion.

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.819
 In other words

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:11.460
 God by his Holy Spirit

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.480
 must dig deep

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.439
 into our hearts.

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:14.980
 He's the only one

00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:16.099
 who can change us

00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:17.279
 and transform us.

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:18.599
 He's the one

00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:19.500
 who sees us

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.720
 exactly what we're like.

00:28:21.099 --> 00:28:21.799
 We can put on

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.700
 that great appearance

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.639
 on the outside.

00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:25.399
 We can walk in here

00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:26.019
 this morning.

00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:27.839
 We can look beautiful.

00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.480
 We can go to work

00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:29.920
 tomorrow

00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:30.960
 and nobody knows

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.759
 what's inside.

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:34.059
 But God sees

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:35.240
 and he knows

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.980
 the change

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.099
 that needs to go on.

00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:40.200
 And look what happens

00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.099
 when the spirit

00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:42.119
 goes to work

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:43.339
 in our lives.

00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.579
 Have a look at

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.700
 Romans chapter 8

00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:47.000
 verses 6 to 9.

00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:49.779
 because that theme

00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.519
 of the spirit

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.559
 working in our lives

00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.220
 is picked up

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.059
 in chapter 8.

00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.619
 Chapter 8

00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:57.279
 verse 6.

00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.980
 It talks about here

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:11.279
 the sinful man.

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:13.639
 we can think of that

00:29:13.639 --> 00:29:14.519
 as being the religious

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.180
 person.

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.539
 Chapter 8 verse 6.

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.819
 The mind of the sinful

00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.819
 man is death.

00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.160
 But the mind

00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:23.920
 controlled by the spirit

00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:26.119
 is life and peace.

00:29:27.399 --> 00:29:28.619
 The sinful mind

00:29:28.619 --> 00:29:29.980
 is hostile to God.

00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.660
 It does not submit

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:34.039
 to God's law

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:35.779
 nor can it do so.

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.480
 It doesn't want anything

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.700
 to do with God's word.

00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.380
 Those controlled

00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:42.720
 by the sinful nature

00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:44.480
 they cannot

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.620
 please God.

00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:47.839
 You however

00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.720
 are controlled

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:50.099
 not by the sinful nature

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:51.559
 but by the spirit

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:53.339
 if the spirit

00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:54.500
 of God lives in you.

00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.240
 And if anyone

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.960
 who does not

00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:57.700
 have the spirit

00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:58.299
 of Christ

00:29:58.299 --> 00:30:00.380
 he does not

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:01.920
 belong to Christ.

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:04.420
 You see

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.180
 we do have to

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.820
 come clean

00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:06.660
 before God.

00:30:07.820 --> 00:30:08.759
 We need to ask

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.279
 that he would

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.420
 come into our lives

00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:11.279
 by the power

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:12.220
 of his spirit.

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.200
 Change us.

00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.560
 And that gift

00:30:15.560 --> 00:30:16.120
 is available

00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:16.940
 to us now

00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:18.160
 through Jesus Christ.

00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.279
 He died

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.279
 for all of our sin.

00:30:20.560 --> 00:30:21.740
 He took the judgment

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.620
 that we deserve.

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.720
 He paid the price.

00:30:25.880 --> 00:30:27.279
 And if we trust him

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.240
 he enters

00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:29.259
 into our life

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:31.240
 and he will

00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.879
 change us

00:30:31.879 --> 00:30:32.440
 so that we

00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:33.799
 want to

00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.859
 obey God's word.

00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.660
 That we will

00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.359
 love him.

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.559
 That we will

00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.299
 want to meet

00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:39.039
 with one another

00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:39.819
 in community

00:30:39.819 --> 00:30:41.160
 as an expression

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:42.579
 as our response

00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:44.319
 to everything

00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:44.960
 that God

00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:46.000
 has done for us.

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.740
 So when we

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.460
 come to church

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.299
 it's not because

00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:50.000
 we want to put

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.759
 on a performance.

00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:53.119
 We want to come

00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:54.140
 to give thanks

00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:55.200
 to encourage

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.819
 one another

00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:57.420
 to help

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:57.980
 each other.

00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:59.420
 And when we

00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:00.019
 open up our

00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.940
 Bibles and read

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.440
 it it's not

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.099
 just for head

00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.500
 knowledge.

00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:03.480
 It's because

00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:04.180
 we want God

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:05.539
 to change us

00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:07.059
 to make us

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.880
 more like him.

00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:12.240
 Back in Romans

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.099
 chapter 2

00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:15.099
 the very last

00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:15.759
 line of that

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.380
 section in

00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:17.019
 chapter 9

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.920
 says such a

00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.940
 man's praise

00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:20.660
 is not from

00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:21.059
 men

00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:23.019
 but from God.

00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:25.120
 Now that's

00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:25.680
 the test

00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:27.060
 to see

00:31:27.060 --> 00:31:27.539
 whether we

00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.000
 are living

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:29.120
 a gospel

00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.660
 life

00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:31.100
 or a

00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:31.440
 religious

00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:32.120
 life.

00:31:33.080 --> 00:31:33.779
 If we're

00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.360
 always looking

00:31:34.360 --> 00:31:35.140
 for praise

00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:35.580
 from other

00:31:35.580 --> 00:31:36.000
 people

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.660
 if we're

00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.220
 always wanting

00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:37.680
 to be

00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:38.900
 noted by

00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.500
 other people

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.019
 as people

00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.460
 who do

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:40.980
 well

00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:42.080
 people who

00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:42.480
 read their

00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:42.840
 Bibles

00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:43.299
 oh aren't

00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:43.640
 they good

00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.039
 they always

00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.400
 go to

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:44.900
 church.

00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:46.380
 If we're

00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:46.820
 looking for

00:31:46.820 --> 00:31:47.400
 praise from

00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:47.700
 men

00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:49.560
 we're in

00:31:49.560 --> 00:31:50.600
 serious danger.

00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:53.099
 but if

00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:54.459
 we are

00:31:54.459 --> 00:31:54.959
 people of

00:31:54.959 --> 00:31:55.539
 the gospel

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:57.219
 then God

00:31:57.219 --> 00:31:57.579
 will look

00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:58.159
 at us

00:31:58.159 --> 00:31:59.319
 and our

00:31:59.319 --> 00:31:59.939
 praise will

00:31:59.939 --> 00:32:00.480
 come from

00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:00.959
 God

00:32:00.959 --> 00:32:02.199
 because we

00:32:02.199 --> 00:32:02.559
 are saying

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.079
 we want

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:04.019
 you to

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.819
 change us.

00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.359
 Any effort

00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:06.740
 on our

00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:07.179
 part

00:32:07.179 --> 00:32:08.419
 keeping any

00:32:08.419 --> 00:32:09.000
 law or any

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.480
 traditions

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:11.000
 is going to

00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.639
 leave me in

00:32:11.639 --> 00:32:12.219
 danger of

00:32:12.219 --> 00:32:12.599
 God's

00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:12.919
 judgment.

00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.559
 What we

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.039
 need is

00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:16.099
 inward heart

00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:16.980
 change

00:32:16.980 --> 00:32:18.879
 not outward

00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.539
 styled

00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.379
 performance.

00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:22.759
 let's pray.

00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:43.079
 Our

00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:43.659
 Father God

00:32:43.659 --> 00:32:44.299
 we ask

00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:44.899
 that you

00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:45.259
 would

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.740
 go on

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.179
 changing

00:32:47.179 --> 00:32:47.579
 us.

00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:50.039
 We pray

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.460
 that your

00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.220
 Holy Spirit

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:51.779
 would enter

00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.420
 deep into

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.180
 our lives.

00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:56.659
 Show us

00:32:56.659 --> 00:32:57.119
 the things

00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:57.440
 that we

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:57.779
 need to

00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:58.399
 get right

00:32:58.399 --> 00:33:00.899
 trusting

00:33:00.899 --> 00:33:01.460
 that in

00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:01.619
 your

00:33:01.619 --> 00:33:02.059
 goodness

00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:02.519
 and in

00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:02.680
 your

00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:03.119
 kindness

00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:04.899
 you

00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:05.079
 will

00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.559
 make us

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.000
 more

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.960
 like you.

00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.339
 Thank you

00:33:09.339 --> 00:33:09.720
 that you

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.039
 are a

00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.440
 kind

00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:10.899
 God

00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:12.519
 that you

00:33:12.519 --> 00:33:13.159
 deal with

00:33:13.159 --> 00:33:13.379
 us

00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:13.940
 gently

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:14.759
 that you

00:33:14.759 --> 00:33:14.920
 are

00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:15.480
 patient

00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:15.920
 with us

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:16.240
 that you

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:16.379
 are

00:33:16.379 --> 00:33:16.899
 kind

00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:17.460
 towards

00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:17.720
 us

00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.539
 that you

00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:18.720
 are

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.220
 forgiving

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:21.039
 that you

00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:21.519
 do not

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.240
 treat us

00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.579
 as our

00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:22.880
 sins

00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:23.299
 deserve

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:25.779
 and we

00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:26.339
 pray that

00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:26.680
 you would

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.079
 do that

00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:27.700
 work in

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.319
 us today

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.900
 in Jesus

00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:30.339
 name

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.519
 Amen

00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:33.460
 Amen

00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:35.539
 A

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.339
 Amen

00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:46.059
 to

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.259
 happy

00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:48.180
 good

00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:49.579
 happy

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.319
 people

00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.200
 whole

00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:55.579
 over