WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.540 I invite you to take your Bibles this morning and turn with me over to the book of Romans. 00:00:03.940 --> 00:00:09.519 We're going to be in Romans chapter 1. We're going to begin in verse 1, work our way through verse 17. 00:00:09.820 --> 00:00:13.400 So Romans chapter 1, verses 1 through 17. 00:00:13.820 --> 00:00:21.179 And this morning, we are going to ask a rather simplistic question of Scripture. 00:00:22.240 --> 00:00:27.359 And that question is, what is the Gospel? 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:38.879 What is the Gospel? I mean, is the Gospel simply walking down an aisle, shaking a pastor's hand, or saying a sinner's prayer, 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:43.719 and then never, ever allowing it to transform you? 00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:49.620 This morning, we're going to look at Romans chapter 1, verses 1 through 17. 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:56.500 And these verses are going to help us answer this question, what is the Gospel? 00:00:56.500 --> 00:01:04.060 I love the way the Apostle Paul concisely answers this question in verses 16 and 17. 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:07.200 Look at it with me. It's going to be up on the screen. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:08.659 He says, 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:27.379 Would you pray with me? 00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:34.159 Father, this is your Word, and we are thankful this morning that we can come together to worship you here in this place. 00:01:34.259 --> 00:01:36.959 Your Word is holy. It is without error. 00:01:37.299 --> 00:01:40.759 It is infallible, and it is authoritative for our lives. 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:45.620 And so, Father, this morning we come to worship you and to be changed. 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:49.120 We pray this in Christ's name. Amen. 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:49.320 Amen. 00:01:50.900 --> 00:01:58.840 My wife, Karen, she loves to buy large toys for our children. 00:02:00.300 --> 00:02:07.840 And children, especially my kids, they love to receive large toys, right? 00:02:07.900 --> 00:02:09.540 They love playing with these things. 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:15.759 And if you come over to our house, you're going to notice all over the place large toys. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:19.959 Because large toys have large price tags, and you don't ever want to throw them away. 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:22.219 So they just kind of pile up in the house. 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:25.019 And so we've got large toys in the bedrooms. 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:27.859 We've got large toys in the garage. 00:02:28.579 --> 00:02:32.479 We've got a large toy called a trampoline out in the backyard. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:39.280 Sometimes these large toys kind of trickle out onto the back patio, but you kind of get my drift. 00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:42.159 They're large toys with large price tags. 00:02:43.099 --> 00:02:49.599 And large toys come with large instruction manuals on how to put these things together. 00:02:50.359 --> 00:02:58.099 About four and a half years ago on Christmas, my wife convinced my parents to buy our daughter a dollhouse. 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:01.019 But not just any old kind of dollhouse. 00:03:01.020 --> 00:03:04.200 This dollhouse was this tall. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:10.439 It is this wide, and it came in a box that narrow. 00:03:11.500 --> 00:03:19.660 And so this box, which weighed about 100 pounds, we couldn't just put this dollhouse together before Christmas and then hide it. 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:22.379 I mean, where are you going to hide a dollhouse that's this tall and this wide? 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:29.120 And so that required me and my dad to kind of put this thing together on Christmas Eve after we put the kids to bed. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:37.659 And so we began putting this big old dollhouse together in the room over the garage, the bonus room, beginning around 830 at night. 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:40.140 And it took us almost five hours. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:47.540 My dad and I, we did not kill each other because sometimes that's what fathers and sons do when they work together on projects. 00:03:47.540 --> 00:03:48.400 They kill each other. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:50.819 But we came out of the room unscathed. 00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:52.340 We got this thing together. 00:03:52.420 --> 00:03:54.400 My dad and I, man, we were proud of ourselves. 00:03:54.939 --> 00:03:56.420 Because this wasn't just any old dollhouse. 00:03:56.520 --> 00:03:59.120 I mean, every single thing in the dollhouse had to be put together. 00:03:59.219 --> 00:04:01.819 Not just the dollhouse, but the furniture in the dollhouse. 00:04:02.140 --> 00:04:03.120 I mean, it had toilets. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:08.360 It had appliances, washers, dryers, you name it. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:09.120 Carpet. 00:04:09.900 --> 00:04:12.439 It was three stories high, so it had steps. 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:17.620 Everything had to be put together according to the instruction manual. 00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:21.639 So my dad and I, we got this thing put together and we were so proud of ourselves. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:26.699 And we've got to take this thing downstairs now and put it under the Christmas tree. 00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:33.939 But one thing we failed to do was to measure just how wide the dollhouse was going to be after we got it put together. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:40.599 And the dollhouse ended up being about that much wider than the door of our bonus room. 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:48.779 And so my dad and I proceeded to take the door off the hinges and get us a little bit more room because we weren't taking this thing apart. 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:56.480 So we got it to the door and, like I said, by this time, now that we've got the door down, we've got about this much room. 00:04:56.699 --> 00:05:01.579 Between the edge of the roof, which is plastic, and the door jam itself. 00:05:01.719 --> 00:05:04.439 And so we just mashed that thing through the door. 00:05:04.620 --> 00:05:06.599 It did nothing to the dollhouse. 00:05:06.719 --> 00:05:08.819 The dollhouse was completely okay. 00:05:09.139 --> 00:05:13.279 But the door jam, on the other hand, yeah, it got scratched up pretty bad. 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:16.779 And so we got this big old dollhouse downstairs. 00:05:16.899 --> 00:05:18.699 We put it next to the Christmas tree. 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:22.259 Christmas Day comes and down comes Ava. 00:05:22.659 --> 00:05:24.680 Michael was just an itty-bitty thing at this point. 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:29.180 Ava comes down and she sees this dollhouse and, man, she's excited. 00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:34.040 And she plays with this dollhouse all day long. 00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:36.560 The next day, she invites her friends over. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:40.319 Her friends come over and they play with the dollhouse all day long. 00:05:40.840 --> 00:05:45.939 And then the next day, on the 27th, she plays with the dollhouse again, but not all day long. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:47.720 Just maybe, you know, three, four hours. 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:52.560 Then the next day, she plays with it for about another hour, maybe two. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:54.260 The day after that, about 30 minutes. 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:55.760 The day after that, about 15 minutes. 00:05:55.860 --> 00:05:57.400 And then the day after that, New Year's. 00:05:57.900 --> 00:06:01.420 Well, it didn't get played with very much after that. 00:06:01.520 --> 00:06:13.620 That dollhouse, four and a half years later, is now sitting in our house in the upstairs hallway next to the laundry room where we throw our dirty laundry on top of it every now and then. 00:06:13.620 --> 00:06:15.759 We don't want to throw it away. 00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:17.120 It costs a lot of money. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:19.319 It took a lot of time putting it together. 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:22.019 And it's just sitting there right now. 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:24.079 Now, I tell you that to say this. 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:29.600 Big toys, large toys, have large instruction manuals. 00:06:30.899 --> 00:06:35.480 This morning, we are going to be looking at the Book of Romans. 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:39.100 And the Book of Romans is much like a large instruction manual. 00:06:39.220 --> 00:06:43.600 It is one of the most systematic of Paul's letters. 00:06:44.259 --> 00:06:49.020 It reads almost like a theology textbook, if you will. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:53.340 Now, the Book of Romans was written by the Apostle Paul. 00:06:53.500 --> 00:06:55.439 He wrote it to the church at Rome. 00:06:55.520 --> 00:06:57.140 And I know that sounds very obvious. 00:06:57.259 --> 00:06:58.280 I mean, the book is called Romans. 00:06:58.279 --> 00:07:06.500 But it's important as we work our way through these 17 verses that we understand that Paul's audience here are Christians. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:08.839 He's writing to the church. 00:07:09.419 --> 00:07:10.759 They know Christ. 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:13.939 And so he's writing to them, to the church in Rome. 00:07:14.039 --> 00:07:21.439 Also, during this time in history, if you know anything about secular history, the whole Mediterranean world was under what was called the Roman Empire. 00:07:22.099 --> 00:07:23.879 They were under the thumb of the Roman Empire. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:28.579 And obviously, the capital of the Roman Empire was none other than Rome. 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:38.100 And so I want you this morning to kind of view the Roman Empire, to view Rome itself as a Washington, D.C. 00:07:38.819 --> 00:07:40.719 Because that's essentially what it was. 00:07:41.480 --> 00:07:41.659 Right? 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:49.699 Every single vice known to mankind could be found in Rome. 00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:57.500 Alcohol, drugs, sexual promiscuity, you name it, it was there. 00:07:58.120 --> 00:08:01.759 Rome was religiously diverse, culturally diverse. 00:08:02.620 --> 00:08:06.980 It was a melting pot, much like Washington, D.C. is today. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:13.939 And so Paul is writing to this church, and it's important for us to understand the culture. 00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:18.360 One secular historian wrote this about Rome. 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:25.300 He said, quote, Rome was a severely overcrowded, loud, and smelly city. 00:08:25.900 --> 00:08:30.240 A place that provided every virtue and vice known to mankind. 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:33.860 The church at Rome came out of this environment. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:39.800 The people that made up the church in Rome came out of this environment. 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:44.319 And since they came out of this environment, naturally, there were questions. 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:48.639 And one of those questions is, what is the gospel? 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:53.939 And so this morning, what we're going to do is we're going to look at these 17 verses, 00:08:54.439 --> 00:09:00.379 and we are going to pull out of it three insights into what the gospel truly is. 00:09:00.379 --> 00:09:06.559 Number one, the gospel was promised in the Old Testament. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.799 The gospel was promised in the Old Testament. 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:11.519 Look what Paul says here, verses 1 through 7. 00:09:11.860 --> 00:09:12.320 He says, 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:24.540 Pete says, 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:35.319 He was descended from David according to the flesh, and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:44.679 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among the nations, 00:09:45.319 --> 00:09:48.699 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:58.080 To all of those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:58.300 --> 00:10:03.320 Now we could literally take the next three weeks and go over these seven verses, 00:10:03.660 --> 00:10:09.600 but for the sake of time, we're going to look primarily at verse 2 because that's what we're concerned with. 00:10:10.060 --> 00:10:14.540 The gospel being promised in the Old Testament, and that's exactly what Paul says here. 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:22.120 He says, look at verse 2 again, he says that the gospel was promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:29.559 In other words, before the New Testament was written, before Jesus Christ was born, 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:35.919 the Father had already promised that a Messiah was coming. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:44.219 And He promised, it said, through His prophets, the authors, if you will, of the Old Testament, 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:47.539 He promised through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:50.319 Now, what scriptures is He referring to? 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:58.019 Well, we know the authors are the prophets, but also Romans wasn't written until 57 AD. 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:03.079 It's a rather early New Testament book. 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:09.520 And so the gospel that He's proclaiming here is not Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:12.060 The book of Romans was written before that. 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:18.759 The gospel He's referring to here, the place that it was proclaimed and promised, 00:11:19.040 --> 00:11:20.879 is none other than the Old Testament. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:26.379 The gospel, ladies and gentlemen, is not an afterthought of God. 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:30.400 It's not like Genesis chapter 3 happened, and then God was like, 00:11:30.400 --> 00:11:32.700 oh, I've got to do something about this. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:35.700 The gospel was already promised. 00:11:36.259 --> 00:11:39.379 Matter of fact, when original sin entered into the world, 00:11:39.520 --> 00:11:42.520 when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, 00:11:42.820 --> 00:11:46.259 right after they sinned, the gospel is proclaimed. 00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:51.560 Genesis 3.15, God is talking to the serpent, otherwise known as Satan, 00:11:51.940 --> 00:11:53.220 and He says to the serpent, 00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:56.779 I will put enmity between you and the woman, 00:11:56.779 --> 00:11:59.600 and between your offspring and her offspring. 00:12:00.160 --> 00:12:04.800 He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:08.480 In other words, God is promising that someone's coming, 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:10.240 right there in Genesis chapter 3. 00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:13.360 Someone is coming who is going to do what? 00:12:13.440 --> 00:12:17.040 He's going to crush the head of the serpent. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:21.099 And as we make our way through redemptive history in the Old Testament, 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:22.980 all the way up into the New Testament, 00:12:23.319 --> 00:12:30.559 it is slowly revealed to us that this Messiah who is coming to crush the head of the serpent 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:32.120 in Genesis chapter 3.15, 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:36.599 is none other than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:38.639 And so the gospel is not an afterthought. 00:12:39.339 --> 00:12:42.539 The gospel was promised in the Old Testament. 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:46.719 It's kind of like this, talking about promises. 00:12:47.719 --> 00:12:52.099 We're on to now the summer days where the kids are out of school, 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:57.559 and people like my wife who work for the school, they're out of school. 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:59.219 They get to stay home with the kids. 00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:00.599 And that's awesome. 00:13:01.099 --> 00:13:04.579 Until about late June, early July, 00:13:05.939 --> 00:13:07.019 where let's just be honest, 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:09.620 we're ready for them to go back to school. 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:12.419 And Karen is there with the kids, 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:15.340 and sometimes, sometimes, 00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:17.799 children test the limits. 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:21.320 They test the limits of their mama. 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:24.860 Let me tell you a very exaggerated story here. 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.799 I'll come home from work one afternoon, 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:29.080 around 4.30, 5 o'clock, 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.320 and I'll pull up into the driveway, 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:33.940 and everything we own 00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:36.019 is out on the front lawn. 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:39.100 Everything we own is out on the front lawn. 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:40.860 And there's our kids running around, 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:42.899 yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, just having a good old time. 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:44.600 And I walk into the house, 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:48.480 and there's my wife sitting on the only piece of furniture left in the whole house, 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.180 on this chair, 00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:51.279 with her hand on her head like this. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.920 And I look at her, 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:53.240 and I say, 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:54.600 sweetheart, what is going on? 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:55.000 And she says, 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:59.320 I only turned my back on the kids for one minute. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.740 One minute is all it took, 00:14:01.800 --> 00:14:04.580 and they got everything we own out onto the front lawn. 00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:06.259 My mom called, 00:14:06.300 --> 00:14:07.120 and I took the phone call. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:07.980 I should have never done it. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.419 And then I said this, 00:14:10.539 --> 00:14:11.120 and gentlemen, 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:13.240 don't ever say this to your wife in this situation, 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:15.419 because you will sleep on the couch that night. 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:17.720 I said, 00:14:18.560 --> 00:14:20.080 why does this happen 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:22.500 when it's only you 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.419 with the kids? 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.039 I'm not there? 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:27.219 Why does this not happen when I'm at home? 00:14:28.959 --> 00:14:30.000 Yeah, wrong thing. 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:31.879 I learned very early on as a dad, 00:14:31.959 --> 00:14:33.480 that's the wrong thing to say to your wife 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.639 after she's been home with the kids 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.919 for the last eight to ten hours. 00:14:36.319 --> 00:14:36.719 And so, 00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:39.279 in all seriousness, 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:42.539 when things start going south, 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:45.179 my wife will often make a promise to our children. 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:47.919 And the promise will go something like this. 00:14:48.719 --> 00:14:50.299 You wait until your daddy gets home. 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:51.740 Right? 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:53.139 You wait until your daddy gets home. 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.539 Everyone in here, 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:56.459 if you've tested the limits of mama, 00:14:56.819 --> 00:14:58.319 you have heard those words. 00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:00.059 You wait until your daddy gets home, 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:01.479 and you know mom's not playing. 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:02.719 You know that's a promise 00:15:02.719 --> 00:15:03.679 that you can take to the bank, 00:15:03.719 --> 00:15:04.959 that when daddy gets home, 00:15:05.339 --> 00:15:05.559 yeah, 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:07.579 it's all like Donkey Kong. 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.579 It's going to get real, 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:10.099 real fast. 00:15:10.819 --> 00:15:12.339 And so Karen will say to the kids, 00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:13.579 and she'll make that promise, 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:15.599 you wait until your daddy gets home, 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.519 because my kids know daddy don't play. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.840 Promises mean something. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:23.240 Now, 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:25.580 people break promises, unfortunately. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:27.040 Your friends will break promises. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.879 Family members will break promises. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:32.240 Sometimes parents, 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:35.240 pastors will break promises. 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.680 But there is one person 00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:39.440 that never, ever, ever 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:41.120 breaks his promise. 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:43.100 And that's God. 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:45.600 God never breaks his promises. 00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:48.000 And one of the promises we see here 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.300 in Romans chapter 1 00:15:50.300 --> 00:15:53.740 is the promise of the gospel 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:57.840 that is rooted in the Old Testament. 00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:59.980 The gospel was promised in the Old Testament. 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:00.560 Number two, 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:04.000 the gospel is a way of life. 00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:06.120 The gospel is a way of life. 00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:08.320 Look at verses 8 through 15. 00:16:09.580 --> 00:16:10.060 First, 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:12.279 and I love the way he says first, 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:14.139 he's just given us seven verses 00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:16.299 of incredibly dense material. 00:16:16.819 --> 00:16:17.319 And then he says, 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:17.519 okay, 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:19.799 now I'm going to say what I meant to say. 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:20.959 He's like a typical preacher. 00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:21.860 First, 00:16:22.199 --> 00:16:23.500 I thank my God 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:25.120 through Jesus Christ 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:26.159 for all of you 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:28.220 because your faith is proclaimed 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.159 in all the world. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:31.019 For God is my witness 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:32.459 whom I serve with my spirit 00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:33.839 in the gospel of his son 00:16:33.839 --> 00:16:35.600 that without ceasing, 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:38.279 I mention you always in my prayers, 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:40.779 asking that somehow by God's will, 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:42.679 I may now at last succeed 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:43.539 in coming to you. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.679 For I long to see you 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:46.740 that I may impart to you 00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.299 a spiritual gift to strengthen you. 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.120 That is, 00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:50.559 that we may be mutually encouraged 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:51.559 by each other's faith, 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.519 both yours and mine. 00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:54.559 I do not want you 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:55.639 to be unaware, brothers, 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.839 that I have often intended 00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:57.480 to come to you, 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.639 but thus far have been prevented. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.360 In order that I may 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:02.439 reap some harvest among you 00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.579 as well as among 00:17:03.579 --> 00:17:04.759 the rest of the Gentiles, 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:06.240 I am under obligation 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.480 both to Greeks and to barbarians, 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.380 both to the wise and to the foolish, 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.720 so I am eager 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:13.079 to preach the gospel 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:14.460 to you also 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:16.299 who is in Rome. 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.539 The gospel 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:20.759 is not something 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:22.420 you just simply 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:25.440 believe to be historically true. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:28.920 I say often to our youth 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:31.579 that just because you say 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:33.819 you believe something to be true 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.559 doesn't mean 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:36.700 you are that 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.439 which you believe. 00:17:38.919 --> 00:17:39.740 For example, 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.740 I believe Hitler lived, 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:43.059 it doesn't make me a Nazi. 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:45.179 I believe Stalin lived, 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.519 and that does not make me 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.319 a communist. 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:47.899 And so, 00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:49.939 just merely affirming 00:17:49.939 --> 00:17:51.939 the historical facts 00:17:51.939 --> 00:17:53.740 of something you say 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.519 you believe 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:57.079 doesn't make you 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.939 a follower 00:17:57.939 --> 00:17:59.539 of that thing 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.859 that you believe. 00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:03.219 I say that because 00:18:03.219 --> 00:18:04.159 I want you to look again 00:18:04.159 --> 00:18:05.000 at verse 8. 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:06.919 Paul says to the Romans, 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.139 to the Christians 00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:09.079 at Rome, 00:18:09.439 --> 00:18:09.959 he says, 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:11.259 your faith 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:12.479 is proclaimed 00:18:12.479 --> 00:18:13.539 in all of the world. 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:15.659 I want you to think 00:18:15.659 --> 00:18:16.359 about the world 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:16.919 at this point. 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:18.559 It's the Mediterranean world. 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:20.259 These people are located 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:20.859 in Rome. 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.479 Their faith is known 00:18:22.479 --> 00:18:23.279 all over 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.839 the Mediterranean world. 00:18:25.439 --> 00:18:26.699 It's 57 AD. 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.659 There are no phones. 00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:30.240 There's no internet. 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:32.500 There's no radio. 00:18:34.179 --> 00:18:35.379 So how did the whole 00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:36.059 known world 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.240 at that period of time 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:38.899 know how big 00:18:38.899 --> 00:18:39.859 the faith was 00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:40.740 of those Christians 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.259 in Rome? 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:43.399 I'll tell you how. 00:18:44.399 --> 00:18:45.179 Word to mouth. 00:18:46.379 --> 00:18:47.299 Word to mouth. 00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:49.099 They believed in Christ. 00:18:49.219 --> 00:18:50.379 They believed the gospel. 00:18:51.219 --> 00:18:51.699 But they didn't just 00:18:51.699 --> 00:18:52.259 believe it. 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:54.359 It impacted their lives, 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:54.939 and it impacted 00:18:54.939 --> 00:18:56.439 their lives so much 00:18:56.439 --> 00:18:58.500 that people saw 00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:59.359 a difference in them. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.240 And that reputation 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:03.519 spread all over 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:05.639 the Mediterranean world. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.279 And so when Paul 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.079 is talking about 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:07.819 faith here, 00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:09.159 he's not referring 00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:10.099 to just that 00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:11.740 initial trust in Christ 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.619 that brings about 00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:13.659 salvation. 00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:15.219 He's talking about 00:19:15.219 --> 00:19:16.859 the persevering trust 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:18.279 that brings about 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:19.319 spiritual strength 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.059 and growth 00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:21.399 which is ongoing. 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.559 And so Paul moves on 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:24.519 into verse 12, 00:19:24.679 --> 00:19:25.759 and he wants to be, 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.319 he says, 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:28.259 mutually encouraged 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.639 by each other's faith 00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:30.559 both yours and mine. 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.259 Paul, 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.519 the Apostle Paul, 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:33.819 knew that it was 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:34.919 important to be 00:19:34.919 --> 00:19:36.339 plugged into a local church. 00:19:37.179 --> 00:19:38.119 He knew it was 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.019 important to be 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.700 worshiping, 00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:41.139 to be fellowshipping 00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:42.339 with a body 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:43.399 of believers. 00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:44.619 I want you to think 00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.639 about who Paul is 00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:46.379 for just a second. 00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:49.099 Paul wrote 13 books 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:49.859 of the New Testament. 00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:51.559 He's the greatest 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.639 missionary this world 00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.419 has ever seen. 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:55.640 He has received 00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:57.180 direct revelation 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:58.000 from Jesus, 00:19:58.580 --> 00:20:00.440 but yet he knows 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.259 it's important 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.640 to be involved 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:04.120 in the life 00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:04.759 of the church. 00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:07.200 He wasn't someone 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:07.820 that just showed up 00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:08.920 once or twice a month 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.539 on Sundays 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:11.460 when he had the time. 00:20:12.560 --> 00:20:13.580 I would argue 00:20:13.580 --> 00:20:14.259 that Paul 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.779 was instrumental 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:17.500 in the churches 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:19.019 that he was involved in. 00:20:19.580 --> 00:20:20.680 It was important 00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.360 to him 00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:22.300 to be involved, 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:23.599 and so I ask this 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:24.779 of you and of I. 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.980 If the Apostle Paul, 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.919 13 books of the New Testament, 00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:30.019 greatest missionary, 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.200 direct revelation 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:31.759 from God, 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:33.339 if the Apostle Paul 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:35.180 knew it was important 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.659 to be plugged 00:20:35.659 --> 00:20:36.539 into the local church 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.579 and to be involved, 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.200 how much more 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.940 you and I? 00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.500 And so Paul 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.720 wants to be encouraged 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:45.159 by each other's faith 00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:46.139 and he goes on 00:20:46.139 --> 00:20:46.680 to say, 00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:47.940 I am eager 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.779 to preach 00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.619 the gospel 00:20:49.619 --> 00:20:50.779 to you 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:52.039 who are at Rome. 00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:53.519 Now when I was 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.720 preparing for this message, 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.619 the first question 00:20:55.619 --> 00:20:56.839 I had when I read that, 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:57.599 I was like, 00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.419 why does Paul 00:20:58.419 --> 00:20:59.180 want to preach 00:20:59.180 --> 00:20:59.839 the gospel 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.960 to the Christians 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:01.639 in Rome 00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:03.200 when their faith 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.680 is already so big 00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:05.899 that the whole 00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:06.980 Mediterranean world 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.720 knows about it? 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.819 Here's the answer. 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:13.039 The gospel 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.680 is not just something 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.799 we say we believe. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.579 It's not just 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.319 affirming 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:20.099 a historical fact 00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:20.559 or saying 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.559 a sinner's prayer. 00:21:22.959 --> 00:21:23.240 Yes, 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:23.779 the gospel 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.659 is that initial 00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:25.519 trust in Christ 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.500 that brings about 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.139 salvation, 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.219 but when we 00:21:28.219 --> 00:21:29.279 receive the gospel, 00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:30.659 when we trust in Christ 00:21:30.659 --> 00:21:31.480 truly as our Lord 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.119 and our Savior, 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.659 it impacts 00:21:33.659 --> 00:21:34.459 our lives. 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.919 The gospel 00:21:35.919 --> 00:21:36.699 is a way 00:21:36.699 --> 00:21:37.179 of life. 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.039 Now, 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:39.939 like any good 00:21:39.939 --> 00:21:40.779 speaker, 00:21:41.199 --> 00:21:41.919 you always want 00:21:41.919 --> 00:21:42.699 to illustrate 00:21:42.699 --> 00:21:43.339 the point 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:43.819 you're trying 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:44.299 to make. 00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:44.759 And the point 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.199 we're trying 00:21:45.199 --> 00:21:45.539 to make 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.059 this morning 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:47.980 is that the gospel 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.539 is a way 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.000 of life. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:49.519 And so what I'm 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:49.859 going to do 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:50.200 is I'm going 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:50.559 to give you 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.220 an illustration 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.599 that just FYI, 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.119 it's going to 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:53.700 break down, 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.180 but I think 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:55.839 we can kind 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:56.399 of put the pieces 00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:56.960 together and 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.639 understand it. 00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.019 The gospel 00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.899 is a way 00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:00.440 of life 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:02.399 in the same 00:22:02.399 --> 00:22:04.079 way that being 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.819 an athlete 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:06.500 is a way 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:06.960 of life. 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.079 For example, 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.240 to become an 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.559 athlete, 00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:09.980 you've got to 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.639 try out for the 00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:10.859 team. 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.379 You make the 00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:11.599 team, 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.139 you become an 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:12.460 athlete. 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:12.539 athlete, 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:13.440 right? 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:14.680 However, 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:15.940 if you don't 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:16.360 show up to 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:16.960 the practices, 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.840 if you don't 00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:19.360 put on the 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:19.680 uniform, 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.079 if you don't 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.660 come to the 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.120 games, 00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.279 if you're not 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.059 a team player, 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.279 if all you 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:26.140 ever do is 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.019 make the team 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.579 and earn the 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:28.299 title athlete 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:30.200 and never do 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.059 anything else, 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.940 are you really 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.440 an athlete? 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.140 No. 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:37.880 What about 00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.420 like a student? 00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.200 The gospel 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.620 is a way 00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:39.980 of life 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.440 in the same 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.460 way that being 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:41.900 a student 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.380 is a way 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:42.800 of life. 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.420 To become 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:44.820 a student, 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.400 you register 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.240 for classes. 00:22:46.580 --> 00:22:47.180 You register 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:47.740 for classes, 00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:48.420 you're now 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.040 a student. 00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:50.260 But, 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.180 if you never 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:51.660 show up to 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.120 class, 00:22:52.360 --> 00:22:52.740 you never 00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:53.180 do the 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.580 work, 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:54.960 you fail 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.360 everything 00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:55.740 and you 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.280 drop out, 00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:56.620 are you 00:22:56.620 --> 00:22:57.340 really a 00:22:57.340 --> 00:22:57.620 student? 00:22:58.780 --> 00:22:59.140 And more 00:22:59.140 --> 00:22:59.580 importantly, 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:00.080 for high 00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:00.840 school students, 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:01.620 it's even 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:02.220 more a way 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.620 of life. 00:23:03.060 --> 00:23:03.480 They go to 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.180 proms, 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:04.400 they've got 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.080 homecoming, 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.180 they go to 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.220 football games, 00:23:07.300 --> 00:23:07.480 they've got 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:07.920 these different 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.860 organizations that 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.360 they're a part 00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:09.500 of, 00:23:09.520 --> 00:23:09.840 it's even 00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:10.380 more of a 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:10.920 way of life. 00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:11.980 If all you 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.500 do is go to 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:12.980 Pickens High 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.200 School, 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:13.759 register for 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.360 classes and 00:23:14.360 --> 00:23:15.039 never show up 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:15.700 ever again, 00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:17.660 are you really 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.140 a student? 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.099 No. 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.819 Because when 00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.559 you're a student, 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.940 it's a way of 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.220 life. 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:26.539 When you're an 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.860 athlete, it's a 00:23:27.860 --> 00:23:28.539 way of life. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:31.579 The gospel is a 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.160 way of life. 00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:33.339 It transforms 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:33.860 us. 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.360 We come to 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:36.380 faith in Christ, 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:36.480 Christ. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.500 We exercise the 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:39.040 spiritual gifts 00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:39.560 that God has 00:23:39.560 --> 00:23:40.240 given us in 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:40.900 his church. 00:23:41.280 --> 00:23:41.520 We are 00:23:41.520 --> 00:23:42.200 involved in 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.620 the church. 00:23:42.760 --> 00:23:43.240 We worship 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:43.760 in the church. 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:44.400 We fellowship 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:44.820 with one 00:23:44.820 --> 00:23:45.120 another. 00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:47.200 We serve 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:47.600 with one 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:47.920 another. 00:23:48.020 --> 00:23:48.360 We go on 00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:48.920 mission trips 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.280 with one 00:23:49.280 --> 00:23:49.600 another. 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.620 Youth go to 00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:52.160 camp with 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:52.640 one another. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.140 It's a way 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:53.560 of life. 00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:53.940 That's what 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.500 the gospel 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.100 is. 00:23:56.780 --> 00:23:57.320 So the 00:23:57.320 --> 00:23:57.900 gospel is 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.440 rooted in the 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.000 Old Testament. 00:23:59.600 --> 00:24:00.300 The gospel is 00:24:00.300 --> 00:24:00.720 a way of 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.060 life. 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:01.420 And then 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:01.960 finally, 00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:03.060 the one point 00:24:03.060 --> 00:24:03.560 that I think 00:24:03.560 --> 00:24:04.340 everyone in here 00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:04.820 is familiar 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.799 with is that 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.619 the gospel 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.279 is the power 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:07.700 of God 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.439 for salvation. 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.559 It's the 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.419 gospel that 00:24:11.419 --> 00:24:12.359 saves us. 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.399 Verses 16 00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:14.039 and 17, 00:24:14.439 --> 00:24:15.079 Paul says, 00:24:16.159 --> 00:24:16.700 For I am not 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.339 ashamed of the 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:17.720 gospel, 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.299 for it is the 00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:19.159 power of God 00:24:19.159 --> 00:24:20.179 for salvation 00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:20.599 to everyone 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.099 who believes, 00:24:21.159 --> 00:24:21.539 to the Jew 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.179 first and also 00:24:22.179 --> 00:24:22.700 to the Greek. 00:24:23.659 --> 00:24:24.259 For in it the 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:24.859 righteousness of 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.740 God is revealed 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.419 from faith for 00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.299 faith as it 00:24:27.299 --> 00:24:27.859 is written, 00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.339 the righteous 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.139 shall live 00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:30.599 by faith. 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:33.359 As we come 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.639 to a close 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:34.980 in this 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.340 message, 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:35.720 I want to 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.200 leave you 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:36.540 with an 00:24:36.540 --> 00:24:37.020 encouraging 00:24:37.020 --> 00:24:37.500 word. 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:38.460 That 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:38.900 encouraging 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.800 word is, 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.180 the gospel 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:41.700 will bring 00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.460 you persecution. 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.320 Praise the 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:44.500 Lord. 00:24:45.040 --> 00:24:45.220 Right? 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.060 The gospel 00:24:46.060 --> 00:24:46.900 will bring 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.960 you persecution. 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.720 All over 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.700 this world, 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:52.080 even today, 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.259 people are 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.980 beaten and 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.300 murdered for 00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:57.800 their faith. 00:24:59.060 --> 00:24:59.540 Now, 00:24:59.600 --> 00:25:00.400 we don't have 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:01.160 that problem 00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:02.500 necessarily here 00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.920 in our country, 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:04.620 but I will 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.100 let you know 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:05.680 you will be 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.440 persecuted for 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:06.860 your faith. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.220 Why? 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.140 Because the 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:08.539 gospel is a 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.019 way of life. 00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:11.019 It alters 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:12.060 the way you 00:25:12.060 --> 00:25:12.519 think. 00:25:13.560 --> 00:25:14.380 Your worldview 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.160 will be different 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.840 than other 00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:16.940 people's worldviews. 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.740 Your priorities 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.420 will be different 00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:19.000 than other 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.860 people's priorities. 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.720 And every now 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:20.940 and then, 00:25:21.100 --> 00:25:21.539 people might 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.000 look at you 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.400 and think, 00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:22.820 man, 00:25:23.320 --> 00:25:23.720 you're a little 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.140 weird. 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:25.580 Right? 00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:27.519 The gospel 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.360 will bring you 00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:29.120 persecution. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.479 And so, 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.159 Paul says, 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.719 in light of 00:25:31.719 --> 00:25:31.939 that, 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:34.139 in verse 16, 00:25:34.439 --> 00:25:34.799 he says, 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.699 I'm not ashamed 00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:36.339 of the gospel. 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.000 In other words, 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.979 I don't care what 00:25:38.979 --> 00:25:39.759 kind of persecution 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.739 comes my way. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:42.219 And think again 00:25:42.219 --> 00:25:42.859 about who Paul 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.319 is. 00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:45.219 Paul was locked 00:25:45.219 --> 00:25:45.599 up, 00:25:46.459 --> 00:25:46.799 beaten, 00:25:47.179 --> 00:25:48.199 often near death. 00:25:48.699 --> 00:25:49.679 He was flogged, 00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:50.359 stoned, 00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:51.299 shipwrecked, 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:52.259 and he was always 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.979 looking over his 00:25:52.979 --> 00:25:53.779 back because his 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.539 countrymen wanted 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.299 to kill him, 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:56.039 and the Roman 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:56.939 government wanted 00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.940 to arrest him 00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:58.900 and execute 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.299 them, 00:25:59.420 --> 00:25:59.880 which they 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:01.400 ultimately did. 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.779 And Paul says, 00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:04.340 in light of all 00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:04.539 of that, 00:26:04.820 --> 00:26:06.080 I don't care. 00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:08.320 I don't care 00:26:08.320 --> 00:26:09.200 what's going to 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.180 come my way. 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:11.320 I am not ashamed 00:26:11.320 --> 00:26:12.000 of the gospel. 00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.019 Why? 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.860 Tells us right 00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:16.900 here in this 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.320 passage. 00:26:17.580 --> 00:26:18.440 Because it's the 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.720 power of God 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.960 for salvation 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:22.900 to everyone 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:24.539 who believes. 00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:26.620 First Baptist, 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:27.439 there is no 00:26:27.439 --> 00:26:28.739 greater decision 00:26:28.739 --> 00:26:29.859 that you will 00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.639 ever make 00:26:30.639 --> 00:26:32.539 than who 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:34.479 is Jesus 00:26:34.479 --> 00:26:34.959 Christ. 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:38.199 Your career 00:26:38.199 --> 00:26:38.779 plans, 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:39.899 your college 00:26:39.899 --> 00:26:40.519 plans, 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:41.919 your family 00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:42.739 plans, 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.239 our vacation 00:26:44.239 --> 00:26:44.759 plans, 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.139 now that we're 00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.659 in the summer, 00:26:46.419 --> 00:26:47.500 don't matter 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.399 at all 00:26:48.399 --> 00:26:50.819 compared to 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:52.339 who is 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:53.559 Jesus Christ. 00:26:53.979 --> 00:26:54.539 It is the 00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.439 greatest decision 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:55.820 that you 00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:56.380 will ever 00:26:56.380 --> 00:26:56.840 make. 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.480 Jesus Christ, 00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.960 God in the 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.420 flesh, 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.160 came to this 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.620 earth and 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:02.680 lived 33 00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.960 years without 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.440 sin, 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:05.799 completely 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.980 fulfilling the 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.440 law. 00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:09.220 He went to 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:09.820 the cross 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:11.279 willingly and 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.940 died. 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.380 He was buried. 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.279 Three days 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:16.559 later, 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.440 He rose from 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:17.820 the dead. 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:17.899 dead. 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.539 And here's 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:20.819 where it 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.480 gets real. 00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.200 Not only 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.419 did He 00:27:23.419 --> 00:27:24.079 just raise 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.539 from the 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:24.939 dead, 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.019 but He 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.779 was seen 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.220 by not 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.960 just one 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.460 person, 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.379 not even 00:27:31.379 --> 00:27:31.819 by His 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.299 eleven 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.960 remaining 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.559 disciples. 00:27:34.919 --> 00:27:35.419 He was 00:27:35.419 --> 00:27:36.700 seen by 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.700 hundreds, 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.819 hundreds of 00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:41.099 people over 00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:41.639 the period 00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:42.179 of forty 00:27:42.179 --> 00:27:42.740 days. 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:44.940 He ascended 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.420 back to 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:45.660 heaven. 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.240 He is 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.759 seated at 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.099 the right 00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:47.500 hand of 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.079 the Father. 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.000 You know 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.279 what He's 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.799 doing right 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.140 now? 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.440 He's 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:52.980 praying for 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.240 you. 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:54.539 He's 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.180 praying for 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.400 me. 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.599 The greatest 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:58.799 decision you 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.220 will ever 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:01.160 make is 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:02.440 who is 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:02.779 Jesus. 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.420 The gospel 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.240 was promised 00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:06.900 way back in 00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:07.140 the Old 00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:07.500 Testament. 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:07.940 It's a 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.880 promise rooted 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.859 in the Old 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:10.259 Testament. 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.460 the gospel 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.420 is a way 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:12.980 of life 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.819 and it's 00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.500 the gospel 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.619 that brings 00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.059 about 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:17.279 salvation. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.019 Would you 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.319 pray with 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:18.500 me? 00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:20.160 Heavenly 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:20.700 Father, we 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.220 come before 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:21.599 you this 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.660 morning humbled 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:25.220 for what 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.539 you have 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.279 done for 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:26.680 us. 00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.359 None of 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:29.680 us in 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:30.319 this room 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.579 are worthy 00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.859 of what 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.140 you have 00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:33.680 done for 00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.039 us. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.700 So this 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.059 morning, 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:37.660 Lord, we 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:38.240 come before 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:38.599 you. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.319 We're 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:40.240 thankful for 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.720 the gospel. 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:41.599 We're 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.460 thankful for 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.180 your grace, 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:44.200 your love, 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:44.859 your goodness. 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.019 And Lord, 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.319 there be 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:47.839 somebody in 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.259 this room 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:48.859 this morning 00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.900 that does 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.380 not know 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:50.740 Christ. 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.279 It is my 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.920 prayer this 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.500 morning that 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:52.880 this would 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:53.380 be the day 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:54.000 of repentance, 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:55.640 the day of 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:57.160 faith, that 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.400 they would 00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:57.980 trust in 00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:59.400 Jesus as 00:28:59.400 --> 00:28:59.759 their Lord 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.039 and their 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.339 Savior. 00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.019 Father, I 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.640 pray as we 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.240 begin these 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:03.859 summertime 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.620 months that 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:05.059 we are 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:07.319 reminded the 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:07.920 gospel is 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.620 just not 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:10.160 simply believing 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:10.680 a series 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.380 of facts. 00:29:12.820 --> 00:29:13.820 The gospel 00:29:13.820 --> 00:29:15.620 impacts our 00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:16.080 lives. 00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:16.920 May we 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.660 leave here 00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:18.940 reflecting that 00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:20.200 in this 00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:20.660 community, 00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:21.100 in the 00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:21.480 people that 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:21.800 we come 00:29:21.800 --> 00:29:22.340 into contact 00:29:22.340 --> 00:29:23.560 with each 00:29:23.560 --> 00:29:23.920 and every 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.180 day. 00:29:25.060 --> 00:29:25.759 We pray 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.160 this in 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:26.420 Jesus' 00:29:26.600 --> 00:29:26.800 name. 00:29:26.800 --> 00:29:27.980 Amen. 00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:35.539 pour 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.539 an 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.460 それ 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.339 into 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:38.620 the 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:45.680 future.