WEBVTT

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 Romans 8 and looking at verse 33.

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 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?

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! It is God who justifies.

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!

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 It is important for us to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Particularly if we have been following the Lord for a long time,

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 it is important for us often to just stop and to reflect and to remember

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 what it is that God the Father did

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 and what it is that God the Son did for us

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 and what God the Holy Spirit continues to do for us

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 and Christ interceding for us.

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 And this chapter is one of these chapters that brings before us in a very, very clear way.

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 It is a chapter, and particularly this latter part,

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 it is a tremendous encouragement of assurance

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 because it is something that quite often we can grapple with,

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 our assurance, being assured of our faith.

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 Sometimes we are so assured,

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 we are absolutely sure that we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 no doubt whatever.

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 And for some Christians,

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 they spend a lot of their lives like that.

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 But many don't.

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 Many struggle at different times

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 with a whole sense of assurance.

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 And at the heart of all that the Apostle is reminding of us here

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 is that God is for us.

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 That God is not against us.

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 That as a believer, God is for us.

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 And that is an incredible statement in itself.

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 If God be for us, who can be against us?

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 So that means God is for us.

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 The creator of this world,

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 the one who brought all things into being by the word of his power,

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 he is for you.

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 You are precious to him,

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 far more precious than you or I ever realize.

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 He will never forget you.

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 He will never fall out with you.

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 He'll never disown you.

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 He'll never not be there for you.

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 He's committed to you completely.

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 And every day we should remember that,

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 because there are times in our experience

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 when we say, like Jacob said,

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 remember,

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 he said,

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 all these things are against me.

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 And yet,

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 Jacob was to discover by the end of his life,

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 far than being against him,

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 they were actually all working together

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 for his good

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 and for God's people's good.

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 But sometimes when we're going through the difficult times

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 and things aren't working out

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 and God's providence is mysterious

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 and we're struggling,

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 we kind of echo Jacob's sentiments

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 and say,

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 all these things are against us

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 or against me.

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 Well,

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 it certainly wasn't.

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 As the Lord says in Jeremiah,

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 I know the plans that I have for you,

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 plans for peace

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 are not of evil

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 to give you a future and a hope.

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 Now,

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 Paul is arguing here and saying,

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 he's displaying how much God is for us

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 and he's saying,

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 if God has done the greatest thing possible for us,

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 it is inconceivable

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 but that he will do the lesser things as well.

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 And the greatest thing that he did

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 was in giving his son.

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 Giving his son

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 to a life

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 that ended up in pain,

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 in torture,

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 in abuse,

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 in crucifixion,

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 in abandonment,

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 in the full experiencing

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 of the wrath of God

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 and death itself.

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 That's what the father gave the son up to.

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 That's what God gave his son up to

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 for you and for me.

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 And that's what the son gave himself up to

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 for you and for me.

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 So,

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 if God has done this for us,

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 the greatest thing possible,

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 then,

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 obviously,

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 that's the argument here,

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 he will do the lesser things as well.

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 That was Jesus' own argument,

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 remember,

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 when he was talking about how God cares for us.

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 He even cares for the lilies,

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 for the birds in the air.

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 He cares even for the lilies.

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 And if God cares about the grass

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 that grows on the ground,

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 how much more will he

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 but care for you as well?

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 And so,

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 Paul then goes on to ask this question,

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 who shall bring,

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 that's what he's saying,

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 who shall bring any charge

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 against God's elect?

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 The election of God

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 is one of the most wonderful

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 statements,

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 truths,

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 that we have

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 in the word of God.

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 And it's hard for us,

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 we cannot,

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 to even begin to imagine,

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 but before ever we were,

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 God has set his love upon us.

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 Now,

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 I know our minds can't process that.

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 It is beyond human comprehension

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 because we're dealing

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 from where we are

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 here in time

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 into eternity.

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 And it is beyond

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 our understanding.

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 But faith

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 believes it.

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 You have no problem

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 with your faith

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 in accepting that

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 and believing

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 that from all eternity,

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 God

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 has set his love upon you.

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 And he knows

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 everything about us,

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 all our yesterdays

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 and every yesterday

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 of our life.

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 Because as the scripture

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 tells us,

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 that a thousand years

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 are but as yesterday

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 and as a watch

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 in the night.

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 So God knows

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 everything about us

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 in intimate detail.

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 But going way back

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 into the councils

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 of eternity,

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 we find that God

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 set his love

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 upon us.

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 And I find this

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 one of the most

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 comforting truths

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 that we can ever find

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 in scripture.

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 Because you see,

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 part of our problem

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 is that we often

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 wonder,

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 did I start right?

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 I'm here tonight

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 as a Christian,

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 you're saying,

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 but did I start right?

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 And if I didn't

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 start right,

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 maybe I have been

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 mistaken all the way

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 along.

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 Because you look

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 at your life

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 and you see

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 all the inconsistencies,

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 you see the failures,

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 you're aware of

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 who you are

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 and what you are

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 and so often

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 we say,

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 well maybe,

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 maybe,

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 maybe it was simply

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 because of a very

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 difficult providence

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 that I was going through

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 and I said to the Lord,

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 Lord,

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 you've got to help me here

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 and you've asked the Lord

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 to come in

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 to your life.

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 But then you're saying

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 as the time goes on,

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 maybe I didn't

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 ask Christ

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 to come in,

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 maybe I didn't,

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 maybe I didn't

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 make a decision,

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 maybe,

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 and sometimes

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 we can torment

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 ourselves

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 with all these

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 kind of thoughts,

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 maybe,

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 maybe I didn't

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 start right.

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 Have you ever

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 asked yourself that

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 and you're thinking,

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 here I am

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 all these years later

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 and what if I,

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 what if,

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 what if it's not

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 real faith?

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 Well,

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 here's the beauty

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 of it.

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 It didn't start

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 with you.

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 It started

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 with the Lord.

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 And the Lord

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 is in charge

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 of the providences

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 and all the different

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 things in our lives.

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 And every person

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 here has a different

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 experience

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 of how you came

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 to start

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 following the Lord.

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 And following

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 is a lovely

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 biblical expression

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 of what a Christian

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 is,

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 to follow the Lord.

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 Jesus says that

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 often,

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 to follow me.

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 Follow me.

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 And that's what we do

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 as Christians,

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 we follow the Lord.

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 And you began

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 to follow the Lord

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 because the Lord

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 had set his love

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 upon you.

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 He had always

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 set his love,

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 but there was a

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 particular point

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 in your life

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 when he said

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 he began to work

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 in your heart

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 and in your life.

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 And it might be

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 through lots

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 of different experiences.

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 And the reason

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 that you're still

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 following tonight

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 is because

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 you are

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 following the Lord

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 because of his love.

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 And you can't

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 turn back,

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 you can't go away,

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 you've experienced,

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 there's been lots of things

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 that have happened

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 in your life

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 which could,

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 from a natural

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 point of view,

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 would cause shipwreck

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 and cause you

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 to go back,

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 but you haven't

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 because you're rooted

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 to him

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 and you're grounded

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 in him

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 because of his love.

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 And it's his love

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 to you

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 that is at the

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 start of it all.

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 You notice

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 when in verse 35

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 the apostle says,

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 who shall separate us

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 not from,

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 who shall separate

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 us

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 our love

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 for Christ,

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 but no,

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 it's his.

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 Who shall separate us

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 from the love

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 of Christ?

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 If it was looking

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 simply at our love,

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 then you'd put,

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 but whatever love

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 we have

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 is as a result

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 of his love

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 to us.

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 And that is

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 an incredible comfort

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 because it gets rid

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 of all the problems

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 that we have

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 about,

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 maybe I didn't

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 start right

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 or what.

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 It's because of

00:09:36.179 --> 00:09:36.859
 his love

00:09:36.859 --> 00:09:38.279
 that worked

00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:39.139
 in your heart

00:09:39.139 --> 00:09:40.239
 and produced

00:09:40.239 --> 00:09:41.239
 a love for him

00:09:41.239 --> 00:09:41.919
 and the things

00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:42.479
 of God

00:09:42.479 --> 00:09:43.779
 that you tonight

00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:45.179
 are following him.

00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:46.199
 And so this is

00:09:46.199 --> 00:09:47.339
 where the great

00:09:47.339 --> 00:09:48.419
 encouragement is

00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:49.179
 because Jesus

00:09:49.179 --> 00:09:49.739
 had said,

00:09:50.839 --> 00:09:51.299
 all that the

00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:52.339
 Father gives me,

00:09:52.959 --> 00:09:53.379
 everyone,

00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:54.719
 all that the

00:09:54.719 --> 00:09:55.599
 Father gives me

00:09:55.599 --> 00:09:56.979
 will come to me

00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:58.420
 and him that

00:09:58.420 --> 00:09:59.320
 cometh to me

00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:00.759
 I will in no

00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:02.259
 wise cast out.

00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:03.800
 So we have

00:10:03.800 --> 00:10:05.220
 the two sides

00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:05.840
 of it there.

00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:06.980
 We have

00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:08.139
 the Father's

00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:09.539
 giving of the

00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:10.420
 people to Christ

00:10:10.420 --> 00:10:11.759
 and in time

00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:12.720
 they come to

00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:13.159
 Christ

00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:14.399
 and Christ

00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:15.000
 will turn

00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:16.139
 none of them

00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:16.500
 away.

00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:18.039
 Now some people

00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:18.300
 say,

00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:19.620
 you've got to be

00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:20.279
 careful about

00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:21.340
 mentioning election

00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:22.100
 because people

00:10:22.100 --> 00:10:22.620
 will say

00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:23.580
 they'll hide

00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:24.379
 behind and we

00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:24.980
 know that some

00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:25.820
 people do hide

00:10:25.820 --> 00:10:26.340
 behind the

00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:26.899
 doctrine of

00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:27.459
 election and

00:10:27.459 --> 00:10:27.679
 they say,

00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:28.079
 well if I'm

00:10:28.079 --> 00:10:28.459
 going to be

00:10:28.459 --> 00:10:28.779
 saved,

00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:29.559
 I'll be

00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:30.199
 saved anyway

00:10:30.199 --> 00:10:30.639
 and if I'm

00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:31.019
 not going to

00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:31.379
 be saved,

00:10:31.439 --> 00:10:31.699
 well there's

00:10:31.699 --> 00:10:32.139
 nothing I

00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:32.840
 can do about

00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:33.079
 it.

00:10:34.439 --> 00:10:35.179
 Well scripture

00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:36.120
 certainly is not

00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:36.879
 silent on the

00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:37.419
 doctrine of

00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:38.840
 election and

00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:39.559
 we find that

00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:40.659
 the great

00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:41.500
 apostles who

00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:42.840
 preached the

00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:43.459
 doctrine of

00:10:43.459 --> 00:10:44.379
 election saw

00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:45.919
 thousands coming

00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.079
 to faith under

00:10:47.079 --> 00:10:47.699
 their preaching.

00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.519
 You'll see how

00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:50.419
 much Peter talks

00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:51.299
 about election and

00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:52.120
 yet Peter was a

00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:52.600
 very one,

00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:53.840
 thousands were

00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:54.720
 converted as he

00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:55.079
 preached.

00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:56.620
 And of

00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:57.320
 course when we

00:10:57.320 --> 00:10:58.040
 preach we have

00:10:58.040 --> 00:10:58.740
 to give both

00:10:58.740 --> 00:11:00.379
 sides because we

00:11:00.379 --> 00:11:00.860
 have our

00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:02.180
 responsibility as

00:11:02.180 --> 00:11:02.440
 well.

00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:03.900
 And we're told

00:11:03.900 --> 00:11:05.160
 that what we are

00:11:05.160 --> 00:11:05.860
 to do, we're

00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:06.560
 never told to

00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:07.259
 just sit and

00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:08.200
 fold our arms and

00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:09.060
 wait for God to

00:11:09.060 --> 00:11:09.340
 work.

00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:10.420
 We're told to

00:11:10.420 --> 00:11:11.259
 search and to

00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:12.980
 seek and we're

00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:13.560
 told we're given

00:11:13.560 --> 00:11:15.080
 great promises to

00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:16.520
 knock, to ask, to

00:11:16.520 --> 00:11:17.460
 search, to seek,

00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:18.020
 to pray.

00:11:18.900 --> 00:11:19.920
 And if we do so

00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:21.339
 sincerely and

00:11:21.339 --> 00:11:21.939
 with all our

00:11:21.939 --> 00:11:23.219
 heart God will

00:11:23.219 --> 00:11:24.639
 honour that and

00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.860
 respond to that.

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.439
 So the question

00:11:28.439 --> 00:11:29.199
 is asked here,

00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:30.179
 who shall bring

00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:31.139
 any charge

00:11:31.139 --> 00:11:32.899
 against God's

00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:33.759
 elector, against

00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:34.360
 the believer?

00:11:35.099 --> 00:11:35.919
 Now in order to

00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:37.139
 understand this we

00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:37.620
 have to put

00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:38.659
 ourselves into the

00:11:38.659 --> 00:11:39.819
 courtroom because

00:11:39.819 --> 00:11:41.019
 we're talking legal

00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:42.079
 terms here.

00:11:43.199 --> 00:11:44.120
 Here's the court

00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:44.639
 in session.

00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:46.539
 And the call is

00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:46.879
 made.

00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.799
 And here you

00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:49.259
 are in the

00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:49.899
 box.

00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:51.960
 And the call is

00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:52.939
 made, can anybody

00:11:52.939 --> 00:11:54.100
 bring any charge

00:11:54.100 --> 00:11:55.960
 against this

00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:56.559
 person?

00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:57.659
 There you are as

00:11:57.659 --> 00:11:58.159
 a believer.

00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:59.059
 So as we say,

00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:00.240
 it's a legal

00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:01.279
 term.

00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:02.220
 We're talking

00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:03.879
 legally in God's

00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:04.139
 sight.

00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.039
 And we know

00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:06.500
 that there are

00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:07.120
 many who can

00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:07.799
 bring charges.

00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:09.700
 We know that

00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.500
 Satan brings

00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:11.500
 charges all the

00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:11.720
 time.

00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.799
 If we could see

00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:13.919
 behind the scenes

00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.379
 and see how many

00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:16.399
 charges Satan

00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:17.019
 is bringing

00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:18.360
 about us

00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:19.159
 before God.

00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:19.919
 We're told that

00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:20.579
 in Revelation.

00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:21.639
 For the accuser

00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:22.240
 of the brethren

00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.139
 is cast down

00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:24.379
 which accused

00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.319
 them before our

00:12:25.319 --> 00:12:26.860
 God day and

00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:27.299
 night.

00:12:29.939 --> 00:12:30.399
 Now we know

00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:30.879
 it's an awful

00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:31.799
 thing to stand

00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:32.480
 accused.

00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:33.059
 And the devil

00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:34.019
 is an expert

00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:35.360
 at accusing

00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:35.639
 us.

00:12:35.699 --> 00:12:36.379
 And he brings

00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:37.959
 up before us

00:12:37.959 --> 00:12:39.120
 so much.

00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:40.939
 He'll bring

00:12:40.939 --> 00:12:41.620
 your past.

00:12:41.819 --> 00:12:42.240
 And he'll bring,

00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:43.019
 particularly since

00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:43.600
 you became a

00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:43.939
 Christian.

00:12:44.079 --> 00:12:44.500
 You may not

00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:45.259
 bother too much

00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:46.299
 about your life

00:12:46.299 --> 00:12:46.840
 before you

00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:47.399
 were a Christian.

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:47.899
 I'll bother

00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:48.500
 with that as

00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:48.659
 well.

00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:49.679
 But particularly

00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:50.179
 since you

00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:50.720
 became a

00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:51.039
 Christian.

00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:51.460
 You'll say

00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:52.039
 call yourself

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.620
 a Christian.

00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:54.139
 You remember

00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:54.840
 what you said.

00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:55.659
 You remember

00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:56.439
 what you did.

00:12:56.740 --> 00:12:57.299
 Remember these

00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:57.620
 times.

00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:58.000
 Remember.

00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:58.379
 Remember.

00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:00.840
 And all these

00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:01.639
 things can

00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:02.779
 really, really

00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:03.620
 bring you down.

00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:05.799
 But you know

00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:06.299
 the wonderful

00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:07.600
 thing is that

00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:08.720
 not one

00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.439
 accusation that

00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:11.059
 is brought

00:13:11.059 --> 00:13:12.019
 against the

00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:12.819
 Christian will

00:13:12.819 --> 00:13:13.259
 stick.

00:13:13.939 --> 00:13:14.500
 Who shall

00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:15.460
 bring any

00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:16.120
 charge?

00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:17.480
 Well, as you

00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.120
 say, the world

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:18.460
 can.

00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:21.639
 There are five

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.259
 things in

00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:22.819
 operation.

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:24.419
 There's sin.

00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:26.159
 There's Satan.

00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:27.659
 There's the law

00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:28.220
 of God.

00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:30.139
 There's death.

00:13:30.699 --> 00:13:31.319
 And there's hell.

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.240
 And these five

00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:34.220
 things bring us

00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:35.360
 into condemnation.

00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:36.840
 These five things

00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:38.079
 are what are going

00:13:38.079 --> 00:13:39.179
 to destroy us.

00:13:39.179 --> 00:13:41.620
 because we're

00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.219
 regarding the

00:13:42.219 --> 00:13:42.959
 law of God.

00:13:43.319 --> 00:13:44.099
 Not that the

00:13:44.099 --> 00:13:44.839
 law of God is

00:13:44.839 --> 00:13:45.179
 evil.

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:45.799
 It is anything

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.399
 but it is

00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:46.979
 perfect.

00:13:47.339 --> 00:13:48.359
 But we are all

00:13:48.359 --> 00:13:49.799
 required to

00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:50.879
 adhere every

00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:52.379
 single day in

00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:53.219
 thought, word,

00:13:53.339 --> 00:13:54.139
 and deed to

00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:54.839
 God's law.

00:13:54.959 --> 00:13:55.419
 To live it

00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:55.899
 perfectly.

00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.839
 And if we fail

00:13:57.839 --> 00:13:58.759
 at any point,

00:13:58.839 --> 00:13:59.679
 we are guilty of

00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.159
 failing in

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:00.579
 everything.

00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:02.239
 And that means

00:14:02.239 --> 00:14:04.319
 nobody, nobody

00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:05.079
 can fulfill

00:14:05.079 --> 00:14:05.799
 God's law.

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:06.659
 We are all

00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:07.779
 under condemnation.

00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:08.539
 We are all

00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:10.339
 naturally under

00:14:10.339 --> 00:14:10.980
 the wrath of

00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:11.339
 God.

00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:12.639
 We are all

00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.860
 standing accused.

00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:15.659
 But of course

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:16.839
 this is what

00:14:16.839 --> 00:14:18.000
 the Lord Jesus

00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:18.620
 has done.

00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:21.039
 Because Jesus

00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:21.539
 came.

00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:23.000
 Jesus came and

00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:23.879
 he fulfilled the

00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:24.120
 law.

00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.059
 And Jesus is

00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:26.819
 the one who

00:14:26.819 --> 00:14:29.339
 experienced all

00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:30.139
 the wrath and

00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:30.639
 all the

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:32.159
 condemnation of

00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:32.500
 God.

00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:33.860
 And the thing

00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.559
 is this, at the

00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:35.299
 moment that we're

00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:36.879
 born again, we

00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:37.719
 are justified.

00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:39.179
 Remember,

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.699
 justification is a

00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:43.599
 legal act.

00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:45.679
 We don't become

00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:47.679
 more justified than

00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:48.360
 the very first

00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:49.279
 moment we become

00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:49.839
 justified.

00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:52.339
 It means that as

00:14:52.339 --> 00:14:53.480
 God looks on us,

00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:54.799
 when we come to

00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:56.019
 accept Christ,

00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:58.799
 God looks on us

00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:00.299
 as somebody whose

00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:01.839
 sins have been

00:15:01.839 --> 00:15:02.939
 forgiven and

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:03.539
 pardoned.

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:04.980
 That's part of what

00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:05.399
 he does.

00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:07.379
 says, your sins

00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:07.959
 and your

00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:08.919
 iniquities, I

00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:09.840
 will remember

00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.600
 no more.

00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:11.360
 It's like the

00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.319
 slate is wiped

00:15:12.319 --> 00:15:12.779
 clean.

00:15:13.659 --> 00:15:13.980
 There's none

00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:14.299
 there.

00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.579
 Oh, there's all

00:15:16.579 --> 00:15:17.379
 the accusations

00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.980
 and God says,

00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:21.039
 no, they've all

00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.600
 been wiped

00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.860
 clean by my

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:23.120
 son.

00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:25.799
 But God goes

00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:26.519
 even further

00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.039
 than that.

00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:28.579
 He now accepts

00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:30.399
 us as righteous

00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:32.399
 because of what

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.360
 Christ has done.

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.399
 And you see,

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:35.539
 it's an amazing

00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:36.439
 transaction that

00:15:36.439 --> 00:15:37.220
 takes place because

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.500
 God, who is

00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:40.600
 absolutely just,

00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:42.860
 and in order to

00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:43.679
 retain his

00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:45.159
 justice, he

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.980
 cannot overlook

00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.919
 sin or bypass

00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:47.919
 it or ignore it

00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:48.659
 in any shape or

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:48.879
 form.

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:49.720
 It has to be

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:50.079
 punished.

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:50.160
 punished.

00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:52.500
 And because

00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.320
 Christ was

00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:54.360
 punished in

00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:56.460
 our place, it

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.220
 is impossible

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:59.240
 for God to

00:15:59.240 --> 00:15:59.840
 punish us

00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.120
 now.

00:16:00.540 --> 00:16:01.180
 Christ has been

00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:01.660
 punished.

00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:03.379
 Because of his

00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.400
 justice and who

00:16:04.400 --> 00:16:05.680
 he is, it's

00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:06.980
 once and for

00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:08.120
 all upon the

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:08.680
 Lord Jesus

00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:09.240
 Christ.

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.680
 And that means

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.379
 that we are as

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.360
 justified as we

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.480
 will ever be.

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:15.920
 Now, justification

00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:18.000
 doesn't mean that

00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.740
 all of a sudden

00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.860
 we become perfect.

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:20.840
 Sinless

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.600
 creatures, not

00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.120
 at all.

00:16:23.420 --> 00:16:25.100
 Justification is

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:26.240
 not what

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.259
 affects, we

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:27.800
 know that there

00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:28.540
 are two great

00:16:28.540 --> 00:16:29.740
 terms that we

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.420
 remember it from

00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.120
 our catechism

00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.560
 days.

00:16:32.540 --> 00:16:33.080
 And remember

00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:33.800
 how there's

00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:34.860
 justification and

00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.600
 adoption and

00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:36.440
 sanctification.

00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:36.820
 And if you

00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:37.200
 remember,

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.300
 justification was

00:16:38.300 --> 00:16:39.420
 an act and

00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:40.540
 adoption is an

00:16:40.540 --> 00:16:40.960
 act and

00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.040
 sanctification was

00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:42.520
 a work.

00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:43.720
 And in a sense

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.780
 sanctification is

00:16:44.780 --> 00:16:45.640
 both an act

00:16:45.640 --> 00:16:46.480
 and a work

00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:48.280
 because there

00:16:48.280 --> 00:16:49.360
 is a once and

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:49.860
 for all

00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:50.580
 sanctification

00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.320
 because to

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.320
 sanctify simply

00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:53.039
 means to set

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.419
 apart.

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:54.379
 And that's

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:54.960
 what God has

00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.220
 done.

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.159
 The moment

00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.659
 you're born

00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:57.240
 again, you're

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.039
 set apart to

00:16:58.039 --> 00:16:58.240
 him.

00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:59.220
 You belong to

00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.419
 him.

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:00.759
 Don't belong to

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.419
 anybody else.

00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.240
 You belong to

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.560
 him.

00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:04.059
 So in one sense

00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:05.000
 you're sanctified

00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.559
 right away.

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:07.399
 but there's

00:17:07.399 --> 00:17:09.079
 this ongoing work

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:10.339
 and sanctification

00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.639
 is changing

00:17:11.639 --> 00:17:13.339
 us bit by

00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.519
 bit so that

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.039
 we become

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:15.839
 more and

00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:17.240
 more resembling

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.059
 the Lord

00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:19.179
 Jesus Christ.

00:17:19.179 --> 00:17:19.859
 That's not

00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.740
 what justification

00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.419
 does.

00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:22.240
 That's what

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.899
 sanctification

00:17:22.899 --> 00:17:23.599
 does.

00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:25.019
 So always

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:26.399
 remember that

00:17:26.399 --> 00:17:27.759
 no claim,

00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.539
 no charge

00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.339
 will ever

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:30.819
 stand.

00:17:30.819 --> 00:17:32.200
 The world

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:32.819
 makes plenty

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.679
 charges against

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.299
 the Christian

00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:35.539
 because as the

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.139
 world looks at

00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:36.720
 the Christian,

00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:38.039
 we make the

00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:38.579
 mistake, I

00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:39.960
 can remember it

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.159
 myself, of

00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:42.919
 thinking whenever

00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.759
 you see a

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.700
 Christian doing

00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:46.279
 or saying

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:46.980
 something that

00:17:46.980 --> 00:17:47.279
 you think,

00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:47.759
 that's not

00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.259
 right, or

00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:48.859
 doing something

00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.339
 that's not,

00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:50.059
 you say,

00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.319
 call themselves

00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:51.919
 a Christian.

00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:52.799
 Hypocrite.

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.019
 I remember

00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:54.299
 it.

00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:57.200
 Because back

00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:58.440
 then, I

00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:58.919
 thought that a

00:17:58.919 --> 00:17:59.619
 Christian became

00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.240
 perfect.

00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:01.899
 But a Christian

00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:02.299
 isn't.

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.500
 There's not one

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.139
 Christian who's

00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:05.000
 perfect in this

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.220
 world.

00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:06.819
 We're full of

00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.220
 sin.

00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.519
 Our hearts are

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.579
 just a

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.639
 cogmire of

00:18:11.639 --> 00:18:13.299
 deceit, the

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.200
 hardest deceitful

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:15.039
 above all things

00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.779
 and desperately

00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.079
 wicked.

00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.039
 Not till glory

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.319
 will we be made

00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.039
 perfect in

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.419
 holiness.

00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:22.120
 So the

00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:22.940
 world's charges

00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.560
 against the

00:18:23.560 --> 00:18:24.220
 Christian don't

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:24.680
 stand.

00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:26.620
 Because even as

00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:27.680
 we live out our

00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.620
 days in this

00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.680
 world, all our

00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:30.519
 faults, all our

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.320
 sins, all our

00:18:31.320 --> 00:18:33.120
 blemishes, they

00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:34.120
 have been pardoned

00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:35.019
 and forgiven in

00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:35.420
 Christ.

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.340
 And that's the

00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:38.519
 wonderful thing.

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:40.039
 What a liberty,

00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:41.220
 what a freedom

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.300
 it gives a

00:18:42.300 --> 00:18:42.700
 Christian.

00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.500
 Once we discover

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:46.960
 this, that is all

00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:47.480
 of grace.

00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:50.099
 we didn't do

00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.420
 anything.

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:51.680
 We just

00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.279
 received.

00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:53.519
 And I think

00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.360
 sometimes when

00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:55.059
 you're trying to

00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:56.319
 share the gospel

00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.319
 with somebody, one

00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:57.920
 of the hardest

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:58.940
 things for them to

00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:01.000
 grasp is that

00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.000
 salvation is a

00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:02.339
 gift.

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.299
 That you don't

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.839
 earn it.

00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:05.660
 There's nothing

00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:07.000
 you can do to

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.779
 earn it.

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:09.360
 All you can do

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.039
 is just come

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:10.740
 falling on your

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.400
 knees and say,

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.240
 Lord, you've

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:12.880
 got to help me.

00:19:13.319 --> 00:19:13.980
 I can't do this

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.440
 myself.

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:15.980
 It's the greatest

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.579
 discovery.

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.899
 Because that's

00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:18.599
 the place where

00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:20.039
 the Lord will

00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:21.699
 come and deal

00:19:21.699 --> 00:19:22.839
 with you and

00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:24.079
 bring you that

00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.159
 salvation, that

00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:26.319
 light, that life

00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:27.399
 that you need.

00:19:28.439 --> 00:19:29.279
 So we find who

00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:31.460
 shall bring any

00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:32.259
 charge against

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.500
 God's elect?

00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.039
 Nobody.

00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:34.879
 Because God

00:19:34.879 --> 00:19:35.539
 justifies.

00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.299
 And that follows

00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:38.139
 on very simply

00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:38.779
 who is to

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.199
 condemn.

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:40.799
 Well, it says,

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:42.000
 if you were to

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:42.980
 say, you could

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.159
 put this question,

00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.359
 will Christ

00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:46.279
 Jesus condemn?

00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:47.359
 Well, Christ

00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.199
 Jesus can't

00:19:48.199 --> 00:19:48.599
 condemn.

00:19:49.679 --> 00:19:50.759
 Jesus is the

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.339
 one that we're

00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:51.919
 going to have to

00:19:51.919 --> 00:19:52.799
 appear before

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.599
 the judgment.

00:19:53.639 --> 00:19:54.579
 Remember, judgment

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.579
 seat of Christ.

00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:57.659
 We stand before

00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:57.899
 him.

00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:00.799
 Is he going to

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.579
 condemn us

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:03.139
 having died for

00:20:03.139 --> 00:20:03.379
 us?

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.240
 Of course not.

00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:06.199
 He can never

00:20:06.199 --> 00:20:07.819
 condemn anybody

00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:08.819
 that he has

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.519
 died for.

00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:10.859
 In fact, at the

00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:11.479
 opening of the

00:20:11.479 --> 00:20:12.939
 chapter, it tells

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.920
 us there is

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.100
 now no

00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:17.000
 condemnation to

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.039
 those who are

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.920
 in Christ

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.420
 Jesus.

00:20:20.580 --> 00:20:21.259
 So that's why

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.080
 tonight I want

00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:22.660
 us just to

00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:23.820
 simply look

00:20:23.820 --> 00:20:24.920
 back on what

00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:26.000
 it is to be a

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.360
 Christian.

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.039
 Because sometimes

00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:27.799
 we forget.

00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.039
 Sometimes we

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.660
 just drift along

00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:31.360
 and we take it

00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:31.920
 for granted.

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.259
 And it's

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.940
 important for

00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:34.840
 us to remind

00:20:34.840 --> 00:20:36.700
 ourselves just

00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.539
 what the Lord

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.059
 has done.

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:39.460
 and to

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.720
 remember that

00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:41.899
 you're following

00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:42.519
 the Lord

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:44.200
 because he

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:46.139
 set his love

00:20:46.139 --> 00:20:47.119
 upon you.

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.419
 That's where it

00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:48.839
 began.

00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:50.460
 And that is the

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.599
 greatest encouragement

00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:52.359
 to us.

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.279
 And try and get

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:55.039
 rid of all these

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.399
 things.

00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:57.179
 Did I start

00:20:57.179 --> 00:20:57.419
 right?

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.000
 Because you know

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.220
 sometimes you go

00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:00.039
 through all that

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:00.960
 in your mind.

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:02.259
 And I've done it

00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.659
 myself.

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.759
 I remember

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.700
 sometimes going

00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:06.159
 back and I'd

00:21:06.159 --> 00:21:06.740
 come to the Lord

00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.559
 and say Lord if I

00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:09.299
 have never come

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.059
 right I'm coming

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:10.720
 to you tonight.

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:11.740
 There's nobody

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.620
 else I want in

00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:13.440
 my life but you

00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:13.660
 Lord.

00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.380
 But you're already

00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:16.799
 there.

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.279
 This is Satan

00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:18.660
 again.

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.779
 Satan is tempting

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:21.120
 us and the sin

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.859
 of our heart and

00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:22.799
 all these things.

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.960
 We love him

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.059
 tonight because he

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.880
 first loved us.

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:29.900
 That's it.

00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:30.779
 Let's pray.

00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.480
 Lord our God

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:34.640
 we give thanks

00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.299
 for the wonderful

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:36.079
 news that the

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.879
 gospel brings.

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.779
 We give thanks

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.500
 that it's light

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:40.339
 and life and we

00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.359
 pray that we may

00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.579
 rest upon the

00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:43.559
 finished work of

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:43.960
 Christ.

00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:45.579
 And we give

00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.319
 thanks that you

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.659
 turn no one

00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:48.519
 away that comes

00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:49.079
 to you.

00:21:50.139 --> 00:21:50.819
 Irrespective of

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.779
 our past it's

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.579
 for sinners that

00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:53.339
 Christ came.

00:21:53.699 --> 00:21:54.179
 Christ didn't

00:21:54.179 --> 00:21:54.720
 come for the

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.039
 righteous.

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.279
 He came for

00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:57.699
 sinners.

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.859
 This man eats

00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:01.279
 with publicans

00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.119
 and sinners was

00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:03.019
 how the Pharisees

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:04.000
 they were trying

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.779
 to condemn him

00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.619
 and how thankful

00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:06.940
 that he sat

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.879
 with the publicans

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.399
 and sinners.

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.019
 This man

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.259
 received sinners.

00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:12.639
 They mocked him

00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:13.420
 with these words

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:14.839
 but how thankful

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:16.700
 that Jesus Christ

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.740
 received sinners

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.740
 because that's what

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.480
 we all are.

00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:20.879
 And so help us

00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:21.680
 tonight and help

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.220
 us here.

00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.259
 As we heard

00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.160
 we pray Lord

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.720
 to direct us

00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.700
 in light of

00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:29.039
 the congregational

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.899
 meeting which will

00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:30.879
 take place soon.

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:32.200
 and we ask

00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.080
 Lord to guide

00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:34.480
 Calamurdo

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.220
 in the decision

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.000
 that he has to

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.620
 make and we

00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:37.920
 pray that you

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.600
 will guide him

00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:39.160
 that it will be

00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:39.960
 heavenly wisdom

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:40.540
 that will be

00:22:40.540 --> 00:22:41.320
 given because

00:22:41.320 --> 00:22:42.020
 that's the only

00:22:42.020 --> 00:22:43.380
 direction that

00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.020
 we can know.

00:22:44.760 --> 00:22:46.000
 We pray to bless

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.800
 this world that

00:22:46.800 --> 00:22:47.780
 we are part of

00:22:47.780 --> 00:22:48.840
 and Lord what a

00:22:48.840 --> 00:22:50.580
 world of upheaval.

00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:51.940
 There's so much

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:53.100
 pain and heartache

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:53.680
 all over.

00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:56.460
 It's devastating

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.720
 when we see of

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:59.000
 all the carnage

00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.160
 all the deaths

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.660
 when we think of

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.559
 all that's happening

00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:03.440
 in the Middle East

00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.120
 and all that's

00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:05.779
 happening in Iran

00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.860
 and all that's

00:23:06.860 --> 00:23:09.220
 happening in Ukraine

00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:09.920
 and in all

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:11.259
 just so many areas

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:11.940
 of this world

00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:12.819
 and we pray for

00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:13.380
 your people.

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.279
 Your people are

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:16.640
 suffering unbelievably

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:18.400
 and we ask Lord

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.420
 for their protection

00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.680
 for their help

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:22.100
 and we pray Lord

00:23:22.100 --> 00:23:22.600
 that you will

00:23:22.600 --> 00:23:23.120
 intervene.

00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.980
 Lord bring peace

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.559
 to reign.

00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.539
 Sometimes we don't

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.180
 know how that is

00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:27.640
 possible.

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:29.220
 But all things

00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.180
 are possible with

00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:30.440
 you.

00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:32.240
 And so we pray Lord

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.319
 for your intervention.

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.079
 Bless us all then

00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.039
 we pray and grant

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.640
 us your grace.

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.519
 Take us all to our

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.700
 home safely we pray

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.559
 for giving us our

00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:40.620
 sin in Jesus name.

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.039
 Amen.

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.120
 Amen.