WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.379 You may be seated. 00:00:04.940 --> 00:00:05.780 Good morning. 00:00:07.140 --> 00:00:12.240 My name's Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:15.400 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you this morning. 00:00:16.219 --> 00:00:19.000 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:19.960 We're glad that you're here. 00:00:20.620 --> 00:00:23.660 And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:27.879 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:28.519 --> 00:00:32.920 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good, 00:00:32.979 --> 00:00:36.719 they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:37.100 --> 00:00:42.019 which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word. 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:47.219 This morning, we're continuing our series in the book of Romans. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:53.899 You'll remember that the book of Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul in the 50s A.D., 00:00:53.899 --> 00:00:56.799 and it is called Romans for a very simple reason, 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:00.299 which is that it's written to the churches in the city of Rome. 00:01:00.959 --> 00:01:02.759 This letter is about the gospel. 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:06.700 It's about the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:11.420 And Paul's hope, as we saw back in verse 11, his hope in writing this letter, 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:14.079 is that they would be established in the gospel, 00:01:14.539 --> 00:01:17.099 that they would be strengthened in it more and more. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:21.620 We're going to explore many different topics in this book, many applications, 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:26.180 but there's a special focus on the mission and the unity of the church. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:31.000 And while there are many spokes, many little side quests we're going to go on, 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:35.760 they are going to return constantly to the hub of the gospel. 00:01:37.140 --> 00:01:39.380 And we're continuing in Romans chapter 2. 00:01:39.540 --> 00:01:41.540 You'll remember, as I mentioned earlier today, 00:01:41.740 --> 00:01:46.880 there's this larger argument that's happening between chapter 1 and chapter 3, 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:50.159 the main point of which is that everyone is a sinner. 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:53.039 Chapter 1 is telling us Gentiles are sinners. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:56.219 Chapter 2 is telling us Jews are also sinners. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:01:58.959 Chapter 3 is going to bring it all together 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:02.959 and remind us if we miss anything of that truth again. 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:07.379 There's a lot happening in this passage this morning in verses 5 through 11. 00:02:08.019 --> 00:02:10.180 And so in many ways, we're just going to be able to skim 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:12.900 the surface of what Paul is telling us here. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:15.000 And we're going to focus really on one thing, 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:22.099 which is the danger of presuming on religious identity or activities. 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:27.280 The danger of presuming on religious identity or activities. 00:02:27.860 --> 00:02:30.620 Paul here is warning Jews who think that, 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:34.159 hey, just because I'm a Jew, I'm right before God. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:39.159 And so it's with that that I'm going to invite you now to turn with me in God's Word. 00:02:39.719 --> 00:02:41.360 You can turn in your Bible. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:43.220 You can turn on your phone. 00:02:43.820 --> 00:02:45.420 You can turn in your worship guide. 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:48.840 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's Word. 00:02:49.600 --> 00:02:52.360 And God tells us that His Word is more precious than gold, 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:53.700 even the finest gold. 00:02:54.440 --> 00:02:55.800 And it's sweeter even than honey. 00:02:56.440 --> 00:02:59.940 Sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:04.140 And so that's why we read now Romans chapter 2, starting at verse 5. 00:03:04.139 --> 00:03:20.279 Verse 8. 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:27.319 to his works. To those who by patience and well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:35.139 he will give eternal life. Verse 8, but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:43.060 but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:51.560 every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek. But glory and honor and peace 00:03:51.560 --> 00:04:01.640 for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:09.340 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. Our Father in heaven, we do 00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:16.959 thank you and we praise you again that you haven't left us as orphans alone in a merciless universe, 00:04:17.780 --> 00:04:23.040 but that you have given us your Word and you've spoken clearly to us. And so we ask simply this 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:28.259 morning that you would do that by your Holy Spirit, that you would help us to see and understand and 00:04:28.259 --> 00:04:34.420 believe everything you've written for us in your Word. And most of all, you would help us to see 00:04:34.420 --> 00:04:41.780 Jesus Christ in all His power and glory and authority and majesty and mercy and grace and love. 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:47.000 We admit this morning that we haven't earned or deserved any of these things, 00:04:47.420 --> 00:04:51.759 so instead we simply ask for them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:05:03.039 Amen. You may be aware that for the last year or so, since the summer of 2023, Harvard University has 00:05:03.039 --> 00:05:10.219 come under enormous pressure, and this pressure has been a push, a movement for Harvard to end 00:05:10.219 --> 00:05:18.839 what is called legacy admissions. And legacy admissions is simply a fancy way of saying it is a lot easier 00:05:18.839 --> 00:05:30.099 to be admitted to Harvard if your parents also went to Harvard. In 2020, 14% of students entering Harvard 00:05:30.099 --> 00:05:37.239 University had parents who had also gone to Harvard University. And so part of the protest over this is 00:05:37.239 --> 00:05:45.299 that relationships appear to be more important than performance or merit. Privilege maybe isn't given to 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:52.040 those who have earned it or deserved it, but instead those who come from the right family. And so there's 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:58.000 this argument that on the one hand, this hurts us as a society, and it may even go against what Harvard 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:05.199 claims that it stands for. I mention this because as we come to this portion in Paul's argument in Romans, 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:11.400 remember Romans chapter 1 was highlighting the fact that Gentiles, those who are not Jews, 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:18.319 deserve God's wrath and punishment. Chapter 2 is turning from Gentiles to Jews and saying, look, 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:26.519 the same thing is true of you all. And the reason Paul has to bring this up is because Jews of his day 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:33.859 thought that when it came to God and his kingdom, there was in fact legacy admissions. 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:47.500 We're Jews, so of course God is going to bless us, right? Jewishness is enough. It's the Gentiles who 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:53.500 need to worry about that judgment stuff. It's the Gentiles who need to be concerned about their standing 00:06:53.500 --> 00:07:00.620 before God. We don't have to worry about anything. Jews are God's people, right? We have favor, 00:07:00.620 --> 00:07:06.100 and so we can do what we want. We don't need to worry. That, by the way, is the reason that Paul 00:07:06.100 --> 00:07:13.800 says in verse 9, there will be tribulation and distress, the Jew first and also the Greek. Paul 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:20.019 is saying, oh, you think you have preference? You think you come first as Jews? Guess what? You're 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:25.959 going to come first when God's judgment falls. And so that's the background here. That's the problem 00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:32.579 that Paul is dealing with. And in this passage, then he is saying emphatically, look, there is no 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:40.159 legacy admission for Jews. It is not that God is coming with his judgment and his wrath on the Gentiles, 00:07:40.159 --> 00:07:46.219 but that you're going to get a pass because of the ethnic group, the religious group that you belong to. 00:07:46.919 --> 00:07:52.339 That is why, and I'm going to jump to the end of the passage here, that is why verse 11 says, 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:59.379 for God shows no partiality. In what sense does God show no partiality? We might say, by the way, 00:07:59.419 --> 00:08:05.899 that's the point of these verses. He shows no partiality in the sense that he does not give 00:08:05.899 --> 00:08:12.019 special treatment, special preference to Jews. They don't get to skip the line, right? There's no TSA 00:08:12.019 --> 00:08:21.199 pre-check when it comes to God's judgment. No, they both, Jews and Gentiles, stand before God in the 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:27.719 same way. In other words, no partiality means this. You're not getting a pass because you're a Jew. 00:08:29.060 --> 00:08:35.639 You're not skipping the line because you're a Jew. And it's part of this larger argument that Paul is 00:08:35.639 --> 00:08:42.379 making that sin is universal. Remember the quote last week from the Russian author, Alexander 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:50.600 Solzhenitsyn, where he says, the line separating good and evil passes through every human heart. 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:59.200 Now, you might be thinking at this moment, well, that's great, Matthew. I'm glad that Paul had to 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:08.399 deconstruct that idea in the Jews' minds. I'm actually not a Jew. So this has truly no relevance to me. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:15.360 There's a larger principle here, though, that Paul is making that applies to us as well, 00:09:15.819 --> 00:09:25.139 which is this. Group membership, belonging to the right party, belonging to the right group, 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:37.199 will not save you. Group membership, especially religious group membership, will not save you. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:45.740 Calling yourself a Christian, going to church every Sunday, does not mean you have true faith. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:54.759 Hanging out with Christians does not give you a pass. Being in religious groups, participating 00:09:54.759 --> 00:10:05.240 in religious activities does not make you a child of God. It's the principle for us this morning is this, 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:14.279 God will examine your life to see whether you have true faith. God will examine your life to see 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:22.340 whether you have true faith. If it is not group membership that makes you a child of God, 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:30.060 what is it? What's the answer? Well, Paul tells us here in verse 6, he will render to each one 00:10:30.059 --> 00:10:36.319 according to his works. Now, you may hear that word works and red flags are going off in your mind, 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:43.539 right? No, it's not. Works don't matter at all, right? It is justification by faith in Christ. So 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:49.019 why is Paul bringing up this idea of works? If you have those red flags, that's legitimate. We're going 00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:54.119 to come back to that. Before we come back to it, though, I want to look with you at verses 7 through 10. 00:10:54.120 --> 00:11:03.840 In verses 7 through 10, Paul very simply says, there are two ways to live. There are two ways to live. 00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:12.080 The first way to live here is in verse 7, those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:19.539 and immortality. Now, we could go into the meaning of each of those words and dig deep this morning. We 00:11:19.539 --> 00:11:25.219 don't have time for all of that, and so I'll simply say this. Paul is saying there are a group of people 00:11:25.219 --> 00:11:34.219 who live towards heaven. There are people whose desire more than anything else is for God's approval. 00:11:34.699 --> 00:11:41.079 They want God's approval more than man's approval. They want heaven more than they want this earth. 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:47.659 That is what consumes their heart and their desire and their passion. They want to be present with God. 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:53.539 They want life and peace with God. Then when we talk about heaven, you might think of this sort of 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:58.480 sentimental place where there are angels playing harps. The Bible actually presents us with something 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:04.799 very different. Heaven is the place that is free from sin and disease and evil and sickness. 00:12:06.319 --> 00:12:12.059 And not only is heaven the place that is free from all of those things, heaven is the place where we are 00:12:12.059 --> 00:12:21.579 finally and fully with God. We're able to experience the level of joy and intimacy and connection that we can 00:12:21.579 --> 00:12:29.500 only dream of in this life. And so that's one way to live. This person longs to be with God. 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:39.759 This person loves what God loves, and they hate what God hates. That's one way to live. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:47.299 Paul tells us in verse 8, there is another way to live. There are some who live for heaven. There are 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:54.919 also those who live for themselves. He says that very explicitly. Those who are self-seeking. 00:12:56.899 --> 00:13:04.819 Self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness. And that self-seeking phrase there is 00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:12.580 key. They may do many good things, this person who lives away from God. They might do many things that 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:18.720 we would find praiseworthy, that would read extremely well in an obituary. The problem is this, though. 00:13:19.260 --> 00:13:27.920 None of those things are directed towards God and His kingdom. At their heart, those things are 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:34.839 self-seeking rather than God-seeking. And so this person's heart is pointed in the wrong direction. 00:13:35.339 --> 00:13:42.299 There are many things necessary for a work to be truly good and right and pleasing in God's sight. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:50.360 One of those things is that they're done for the right reasons. Nothing that this person does is for 00:13:50.360 --> 00:14:00.080 the right reason. They are self-seeking. And so there's consequences for each. We're told in the very next 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:06.980 verse, for the person who's self-seeking, there will be wrath and indignation. That wrath and indignation will 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:18.320 lead to tribulation and anguish. In other words, the person who seeks life apart from God gets life apart 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:35.680 from God. The person who seeks hell, which is the definition of life apart from God, will get hell. 00:14:37.020 --> 00:14:44.580 That will be the end of their story. When we think of hell, often we have the wrong idea about that as 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:52.080 well. Hell is not going to be this place where you and your buddies are finally free of the goody-good 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:57.340 religious people and you get to drink beers together. Often people will say, man, I'm glad I 00:14:57.340 --> 00:15:02.560 get to go to hell. I'll be there with my friends. Paul tells us it's actually going to be very different 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:09.060 from that. Hell is going to be an active punishment. We will be experiencing God's wrath and punishment. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:13.480 Not only is it this active punishment, but it's going to be a separation from 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:19.879 everything that's good. There are all sorts of things that you experience in this life that are 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:28.240 a wonderful gift from God, whether you believe in Him or not. Matthew chapter 5 says, the rain falls on 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:34.659 the righteous and the unrighteous, which is Jesus' way of saying, hey, you're going to experience God's 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:40.899 blessings now whether you acknowledge Him or not. You're going to get the gifts regardless of what you 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:52.100 think about the giver. In hell, that will no longer be true. All goodness, joy, peace, happiness will be 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:59.919 removed. It will be not full and final presence with God. It will be separation from the goodness 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:02.000 and blessings of God. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:11.480 Then in verse 10, He tells us how the first person's life will end. They're going to get glory and honor and peace. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:15.419 In other words, that person's going to experience heaven. 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:22.159 That person will get what it is that they've been looking forward to, what they've desired. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:31.559 We could say it this way, the person who seeks heaven gets heaven. And so there's this great irony 00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:37.419 here as Paul lays out these two ways to live because he's really saying this, everyone is going to get 00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:44.759 what they want. Those who are self-seeking and want to live life apart from God, those people are going 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:53.179 to get life apart from God. Those people who are living towards heaven and that's what they long for and 00:16:53.179 --> 00:17:00.799 desire, that is what they're going to get. The people who want life with God are going to get God. 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:05.220 Everyone is going to get what they want. 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:11.279 Matthew chapter 6, Jesus Himself tells us the same thing. 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:15.619 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:19.940 and all these things will be added to you. 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:24.500 And so there's one primary question 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:28.759 that comes out of this passage and it's this. It's from verses 7 and 8. 00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:32.599 What are you seeking? 00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:36.059 What are you seeking? 00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:40.539 Paul tells us we're seeking something. We're going to have to choose. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:47.000 Verse 7, those who are patient, they seek for glory and honor and immortality. They are 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:52.000 seeking heaven. Verse 8, there's the other people. They are self-seeking. 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:59.559 Notice that Paul does not give us a third option. Those are the directions that a human life can take. 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:04.859 He's raising another question here. What do you want? 00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:12.679 And then verse 6, does your life show that you're a Christian? 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:18.159 In other words, does your life show that you want heaven? 00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:23.159 What does your life reveal about what you're seeking? 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:29.060 Is there evidence that the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:31.160 that that same power is at work in you? 00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:35.320 Is there some indication that that's true of your life? 00:18:36.820 --> 00:18:39.680 Or are you presumptuous? 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:45.160 Do you think being part of the right religious group is enough? 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:49.840 And so you coddle your anger and you nurse your wounds. 00:18:51.840 --> 00:18:56.600 You live for power and lifestyle and safety. 00:18:58.220 --> 00:19:02.420 You live a life based around your pleasure and your consumption. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.120 And as you go about that life, you do things. 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:08.480 Maybe you do good things, right? 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:10.660 But you do them for yourself. 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:18.839 As you raise kids, are you doing that so that you look good? 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:24.980 Or are you doing it because you have hope in the future of this world 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:27.420 because God is a good God? 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:30.740 What's your reason? 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.980 What are you seeking after? 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.460 Paul is warning us. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.700 He's saying, look, don't presume. 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:39.819 Don't presume on being a church member. 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.080 Don't presume on being baptized. 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:48.180 Don't presume on saying a prayer five or 20 or 30 years ago. 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:52.259 When it comes to the end of time, 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:55.819 God is not going to want you to hear you say, 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.819 look, I'm good. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:59.620 I was a member at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:02.400 I believed the right things. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.180 I checked the right boxes. 00:20:04.340 --> 00:20:06.200 I was on the right team. 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:09.400 And then I lived life for myself. 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:13.580 And? 00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:17.400 Where's the proof, right? 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:20.500 Where's the proof that you've been redeemed, that God saved you? 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:25.120 Does your life show that you love what God loves and you hate what God hates? 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:26.459 Not that you're perfect. 00:20:26.459 --> 00:20:29.159 Not that you believe that salvation is based on works. 00:20:29.159 --> 00:20:33.019 But instead that you do in fact have a new life. 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:37.959 That you are in fact a new creation in Christ. 00:20:38.159 --> 00:20:45.519 That you did at one time have a heart of stone and that was really and truly and fully changed to a heart of flesh. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:51.480 And if you think this is just an invention of Paul, 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:55.200 I'd remind you that not only is this taught throughout Scripture, 00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:57.579 it's taught by Jesus himself. 00:20:58.859 --> 00:21:01.519 Jesus gives us this warning, Matthew chapter 7. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:19.039 In other words, there are people who claim Christ. 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:23.059 There are people who show up to church every single Sunday. 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:28.000 But they are living for themselves. 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:31.099 They're self-seeking. 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:35.639 When I was growing up, preachers would ask, 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:40.399 Hey, if you were accused of being a Christian and you were brought to court, 00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:43.359 would there be enough evidence to convict you? 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:47.359 Paul's actually not posing that as a hypothetical. 00:21:48.199 --> 00:21:49.919 He's saying there is going to be a day. 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:53.159 There's going to be a day when God looks at everyone's lives. 00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:54.740 He's going to say, 00:21:55.159 --> 00:22:00.659 Is there evidence that you had true faith? 00:22:01.679 --> 00:22:05.139 Older generations would call this self-examination, 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:07.240 the process of looking at your life and saying, 00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:09.719 Man, is God actually at work here? 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:16.420 Do I have reason to believe that what I confess is actually true? 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:22.140 Jesus tells us the same thing again in Matthew chapter 16. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:25.539 If anyone would come after me, 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:31.539 let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:36.120 For whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:42.019 But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 00:22:43.439 --> 00:22:49.519 Man, that sounds an awful lot like being heaven-focused, self-focused. 00:22:50.679 --> 00:22:53.219 Whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:22:53.699 --> 00:22:57.699 But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:03.759 Christian, what are you seeking? 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:11.720 Are you seeking glory and honor and immortality? 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.440 Are you living towards heaven? 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:17.000 Or are you self-seeking? 00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:19.660 What does your life show? 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:26.920 Calling yourself a Christian is not enough. 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:31.980 Now, I promised you we would get back to verse 6. 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:35.940 If red flags went off in your head because of that, this is your moment. 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.360 Okay? 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:38.759 You might be thinking, Matthew, what do you mean? 00:23:39.840 --> 00:23:43.600 Doesn't that contradict salvation through Christ alone? 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:49.820 Isn't the point of chapters 1 through 3 that no one is righteous, right? 00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:52.580 That all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:23:52.579 --> 00:24:00.220 Aren't you contradicting the doctrine of justification by faith alone? 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:07.480 The concept here is one that's not taught very often in my experience in the church, 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:09.699 but is all throughout Scripture, and it's this. 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:13.579 There is no justification based on works. 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:16.839 There's no salvation based on works. 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:22.480 There is a judgment based on works. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:26.839 There's no justification based on works. 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:29.159 There's no salvation based on works. 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:33.000 There is a judgment based on works. 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:39.699 In other words, at the end of the age, the book of our lives will be opened. 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:46.920 And the question will be, was this the life of a Christian? 00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:50.000 Was this the life of a Christian? 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:55.799 Yes, we believe in justification by faith alone, in Christ alone. 00:24:56.279 --> 00:25:03.039 Does this life show that this person had faith alone in Christ alone? 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:08.079 Martin Luther said this, at least people say he said this, 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:15.139 We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone. 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:19.980 Those that God saves, he sanctifies. 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:25.059 Put another way, this is on page 7 of your worship guide. 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:36.359 To find acquittal from God on the last day, there must be evidence flowing out of us that grace has flowed into us. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:39.399 Page 8 of your worship guide. 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:46.599 Because those who are justified by faith alone are also sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:55.819 the final judgment will confirm that the justified were not saved by a faith devoid of any fruits. 00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:59.779 There is not a justification based on works. 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:02.359 There is no salvation based on works. 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:06.899 There is a judgment based on works. 00:26:08.379 --> 00:26:12.779 Paul tells us even more bluntly and directly in 2 Corinthians 5. 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:14.180 He says, 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:28.660 And again, Jesus teaches the same thing. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:33.119 One of the most famous passages on the resurrection, John chapter 5, 00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.960 John Stott points this out. 00:26:35.160 --> 00:26:38.899 Jesus breaks people not into those who are saved and those who are not saved, 00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:40.700 although ultimately that is the category, 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:44.640 but he talks about those who have done good and those who have done evil. 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:47.660 These are Jesus' words, John chapter 5. 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:54.819 An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out. 00:26:55.779 --> 00:27:00.279 Those who have done good to the resurrection of life. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:06.019 Those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:18.759 Some people say that the job of a preacher is to disturb the comfortable and to comfort the disturbed. 00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:24.579 And so if you're feeling a little disturbed this morning, that's good. 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:30.599 That's actually the feeling Paul wants people to have as they're reading verses 5 through 11. 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.099 Right? 00:27:31.939 --> 00:27:33.579 You have people who are very comfortable. 00:27:33.719 --> 00:27:34.539 These Jews who think, 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:37.259 My religious identity is enough. 00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:38.819 My Jewishness is enough. 00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:40.879 I've checked the right boxes. 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.859 That's all that matters. 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:43.779 And Paul's trying to rattle them a little bit. 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.740 He's trying to shake them and say, 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.459 No, wake up. 00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:49.740 What does your life reveal about your heart? 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:54.440 So if you're comfortable, I hope you're disturbed. 00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:59.299 If you're disturbed, I want you to be comforted. 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:03.440 We don't walk away from this passage thinking, 00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:06.359 Man, I've really got to pull myself up by my bootstraps. 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:08.599 I'm not sure if I meet this standard. 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:12.880 And I've got to get really busy doing good works for God. 00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:16.880 No, actually one of the things we learn, I think it's Matthew chapter 26. 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:19.240 Jesus talks about the sheep and the goats. 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:21.840 The sheep are actually surprised that they were doing the right thing. 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.880 They didn't realize that's what was happening. 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.340 Right? 00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:26.920 Because God's work, his spirit was at work in them. 00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:29.580 And the comfort also comes from Jesus. 00:28:30.260 --> 00:28:32.600 Remember John chapter 15, Jesus says, 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:36.780 Look, there's actually nothing good that can happen apart from me. 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:39.780 He compares himself to the vine and he says, 00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:42.920 Abide in me and I in you. 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:48.740 As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:53.360 neither can you unless you abide in me. 00:28:55.320 --> 00:29:00.060 How is it that some people are seeking for glory and honor and immortality? 00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:02.840 They abide in the vine. 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:06.900 They have God's spirit at work in their lives. 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:13.019 Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:17.720 For apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:23.160 When Jesus talks, John chapter 5, about those who have done good, 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.940 how have they done that good? 00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:28.019 They've abided in the vine. 00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:35.040 Apart from Jesus, they were able to do nothing. 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:38.059 And so the comfort is this. 00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:43.559 Christian, God sanctifies those he saves. 00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:46.259 Notice who's active in that verb. 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:48.559 God is the one sanctifying. 00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:53.299 Jesus tells us, John chapter 10, he's not going to lose anyone who's been given to him. 00:29:54.659 --> 00:29:58.420 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. 00:29:58.420 --> 00:30:06.360 I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 00:30:09.300 --> 00:30:15.160 If God's at work in your life by his spirit, he's truly saved you. 00:30:15.800 --> 00:30:22.420 If you are seeking glory and honor and immortality, 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:27.560 no one and nothing can snatch you out of God's hand. 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:32.819 There is no justification by works. 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:35.240 There is no salvation by works. 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:38.720 There is a judgment by works. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.960 And so that leads us to our final song, 00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:44.720 which talks about giving our whole lives to Christ. 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:47.839 Not one piece or another piece, but all of the pieces. 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.220 Take my life and let it be. 00:30:49.339 --> 00:30:52.059 Talks about giving our life, our hands, our feet, our voice, our lips, 00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:57.339 our silver, our gold, our intellect, our will, our heart, our love, our whole person. 00:30:59.159 --> 00:31:00.859 And it reminds us of our helplessness. 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:04.980 The hymn does not say, I take my life and I let it be. 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:07.440 No, it's a request. 00:31:07.659 --> 00:31:10.059 Take my life and let it be. 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:13.859 Consecrated, Lord, to thee. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:17.259 Take my moments and my days. 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:21.359 Let them flow in ceaseless praise. 00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:23.319 Let's pray. 00:31:25.139 --> 00:31:29.079 Our Father in heaven, we do praise you and thank you 00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:32.679 that not one of your sheep will be taken from your hands. 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:36.799 We thank you for telling us what's true, even when it's hard. 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:39.579 We ask that you would, by your spirit, 00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:42.179 cause us to abide in you more and more. 00:31:42.899 --> 00:31:47.240 That you stir up our love and our trust in you. 00:31:47.319 --> 00:31:51.259 That we would seek for honor and glory and immortality. 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:54.500 That we would live lives that are pointed towards heaven. 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:57.960 We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:58.779 Amen. 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:58.920 Amen. 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:00.539 Amen. 00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:07.660 Amen. 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:07.840 Amen. 00:32:07.880 --> 00:32:08.200 Amen. 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:09.560 Amen. 00:32:09.560 --> 00:32:17.620 Amen. 00:32:17.880 --> 00:32:18.180 Amen. 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:20.100 Amen. 00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:21.940 Amen. 00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.120 Amen.