It has stood the test of time.
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God's book.
00:00:12.20\00:00:13.43
The Bible.
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Still relevant in
today's complex world.
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It Is Written,
sharing hope around the globe.
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Thanks for joining me today.
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A true story.
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A certain pilot - who we will
call him Dave - had been flying
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commercial airliners in
the United States for almost
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20 years.
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In that time he had
seen just about everything.
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And that was just as well.
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To start with, the plane he was
piloting this night was delayed,
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the weather was bad, and
although the crew were all
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experienced they'd never worked
together before, and that slowed
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things down a little bit more.
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And then Dave was given word
that a passenger on his plane
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was gravely ill - he'd
had a severe heart attack, and
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although a doctor on board was
helping, it was obvious the man
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needed urgent medical care.
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The pilot radioed the tower
at a nearby airport seeking
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permission to land,
but due to the bad weather,
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permission was denied.
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So what should he do?
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If they stayed flying,
the passenger would almost
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certainly die.
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It was true the weather was a
problem, but Dave was confident
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he could land the plane safely.
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He'd been flying for years, not
just for the airlines but in the
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military as well.
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But he didn't feel like he
should risk the lives of his
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crew and
passengers by trying to land.
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News came again - the
passenger was failing.
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And although not everybody
on board the plane knew what was
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happening, those who did were
unanimous: land the plane and
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try to save the man's life.
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Now Dave had a choice - defy the
control tower, risk everyone's
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safety and likely save a man's
life, or follow instructions,
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and let the man die.
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A dilemma.
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What would you do?
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I'm going to tell you today that
every Christian, every person in
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the world faces a very real
dilemma - and far more serious
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than that faced by our pilot.
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Let me tell you what
a dilemma is and is not.
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Having to choose between vanilla
and strawberry isn't a dilemma,
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that's a choice.
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Running out of gas isn't a
dilemma, its a problem (although
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it could introduce a dilemma).
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A dilemma is this: "a problem
offering two solutions or
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possibilities, of
which neither is acceptable.
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The two options are often
described as the HORNS OF A
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DILEMMA, neither of
which is comfortable."
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You've got two options, neither
of them is really very good.
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You're choosing
between bad and bad.
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Or maybe between bad and worse.
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Which brings us
to our subject today.
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The Bible begins with these
famous words, "In the beginning
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God."
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(Genesis 1:1) And when God
created, he crowned creation by
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making the human family.
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A small family to begin
with, just Adam and Eve, and God
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intended this family to grow.
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But both family members
ate the forbidden fruit.
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That failure to trust God and
obey His will was SIN - and Adam
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and Eve discovered that sin, as
Isaiah said, separates from God.
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They lost their perfection, and
they became subject to death.
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Now, as a result, the image of
God in them was marred, and now
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if they were to have children
those children would not be born
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with the perfect nature
their parents were created with.
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Instead, their any of Adam
and Eve's children would be born
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with a FALLEN nature - they'd
be bent towards sin, they'd have
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tendencies to sin their
parents didn't originally have.
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They would naturally lean
in the direction of wrong.
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That's the nature Adam
and Eve's descendants have.
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That's us.
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We are born leaning
towards doing wrong.
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Naturally selfish.
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Inclined not to want to do
God's will, but our own will.
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And that explains a lot, very
possibly about things that might
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happen in YOUR life, when you
want to live a certain way, but
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find yourself falling
into the same old traps.
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There's a reason.
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It's due to the way
you were born - fallen.
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This is what is behind the
high-profile scandals that rock
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churches and lead many people to
be highly critical of Christians
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and Christianity.
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A prominent minister, a promoter
of family values, caught in the
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middle of a disgraceful scandal.
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A televangelist jailed
for this or that misdeed.
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A ministry leader loses
his ministry owing to very
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unministerial behaviour.
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Someone high-profile goes
off the deep end and you say, "I
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never imagined that
he/she was capable of that."
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Well, he or she IS
ENTIRELY CAPABLE of that.
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As a matter of fact, that's
about all they are capable of!
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Because at a person's core,
there isn't much that's any good
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at all.
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Christians often look like
hypocrites, because that's all
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they are capable of being.
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Without some serious help.
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Thankfully, there
is help available.
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But that's where we begin
to understand our dilemma.
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We'll come to grips with our
dilemma, and find out what our
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solution is, in just a moment.
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Here's today's Bible question:
I've often wondered, How come
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there are four gospels?
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That's right.
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The word 'gospel' means 'good
news', but when we talk about
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the ágospelsá we're talking
about the books of Matthew,
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Mark, Luke and John - they're
accounts of the life of Christ,
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almost like a
biography if you like.
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If there was only one gospel,
just one account of Jesus' life
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and ministry, that would
probably be a very narrow look
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at the life of the Son of God.
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But four gospels give us a more
complete, a more rounded view of
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who Jesus was and what His life
and ministry were all about.
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And if Jesus really did come to
the earth to show us the Father,
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as He said He did, then 4
gospels instead of just one or
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two or three give us a more
complete picture of the Father.
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The different gospels are
written to different audiences,
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appealing more to Jews in
one case and more to Gentiles in
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another.
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You know, God could have just
created tulips and not roses,
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but He knew I'm sure that not
everybody would be too fired up
00:07:02.46\00:07:05.23
by simply tulips.
00:07:05.23\00:07:08.03
Hence variety, and a greater
chance that more people would be
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blessed.
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A similar
principle with the Gospels.
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Four different historical
perspectives offer us a fuller
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understanding of Jesus.
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Now - are there other gospels we
should consider to be important
00:07:18.16\00:07:21.63
for us today?
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You know, I've heard of the
gospel of Judas and the gospel
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of Thomas, and every now
and then someone will make some
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noise about how
important these writings are.
00:07:31.56\00:07:33.16
But neither of them are
trustworthy, and they don't
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offer us anything, really, of
any value - except evidence that
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they're not to be trusted.
00:07:35.80\00:07:37.03
We're blessed to have four
slightly different perspectives
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on the life and
ministry of Jesus.
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One from Matthew, one from Mark,
one from Dr Luke and one from
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the beloved disciple John.
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If you read them, read them
carefully, you'll be greatly
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blessed.
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If you have a Bible question
for pastor John Bradshaw, please
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write to It Is Written, Box O,
Thousand Oaks, California 91359
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or visit our website
itiswritten.com and send us your
00:08:03.16\00:08:07.60
questions on-line.
00:08:07.60\00:08:08.96
We have a dilemma.
00:08:08.96\00:08:13.16
Let's look at Romans 7:14.
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Paul caught in the vice-like
grip of something Adam and Eve
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never knew anything about.
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And as he explains his
situation, it might resonate
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with you.
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You might find yourself groaning
a weary 'Amen' to what Paul is
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saying.
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Rom 7, v 14.
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14 For we know that the law is
spiritual: but I am carnal, sold
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under sin.
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The law of God is
spiritual in nature.
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It is not a mere letter.
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It is given by
God, who is Spirit.
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But Paul says that he is carnal,
that means fleshly, and not
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spiritual.
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And he says he
is 'sold under sin'.
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That is, he's a slave to sin.
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He is under its power.
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Paul said that the carnal mind
is enmity with God, because it
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is not subject to the law
of God, and it can not be.
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[That's Rom 8: and - I'm
paraphrasing that.] Paul is
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describing a real bind here.
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How can a fallen
person obey a spiritual law?
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You can't do it
with a fallen nature.
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(Now this is not a dilemma,
simply a major problem.) Now
00:09:18.03\00:09:22.03
let's look at Verse 15.
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For that which I do I allow not:
for what I would, that do I not;
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but what I hate that do I.
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(The RSV translates this
passage, "I don't understand my
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own actions.)" The things I want
to do I'm powerless to do, but
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the things I don't want
to do I find myself doing.
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It is like the man who says
to his wife, "I'm sorry, I don't
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want to speak to you that way,
but sometimes I just lose it
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even though I'm trying not to."
00:09:52.46\00:10:00.33
It's like the drinker saying, "I
don't want it, but before I know
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what's going on
I'm drinking again."
00:10:03.53\00:10:09.00
You're not wanting to fall, but
your best efforts are no match
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for the power of sin.
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Romans 7:16 If then I do that
which I would not, I consent
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unto the law that it is good.
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I'm recognizing that sin is
wrong, and I'm recognizing God's
00:10:24.63\00:10:29.16
law is right.
00:10:29.16\00:10:30.56
Now verse 17 Now then it is no
more I that do it, but sin that
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dwelleth in me.
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No, Paul isn't saying he's
not responsible, simply that the
00:10:38.36\00:10:41.60
power of sin in his life is
greater than the power of his
00:10:41.60\00:10:45.43
best efforts to defeat it.
00:10:45.43\00:10:47.53
Have you ever felt that way?
00:10:47.53\00:10:49.20
Verse 18 For I know that in me
(that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth
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no good thing: for to will
is present with me; but how to
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perform that which
is good I find not.
00:10:58.10\00:11:02.53
The spirit is willing
but the flesh is weak.
00:11:02.53\00:11:05.26
There's no good thing in me.
00:11:05.26\00:11:07.03
Paul says that - of oneself -
it is impossible for a person to
00:11:07.03\00:11:11.66
live like a Christian should.
00:11:11.66\00:11:13.73
It's impossible for a person
to resist evil of himself or
00:11:13.73\00:11:17.43
herself, even if one wants to.
00:11:17.43\00:11:20.10
What's going to come clear
is that Paul is describing the
00:11:20.10\00:11:24.93
experience of someone who is
under conviction, who wants to
00:11:24.93\00:11:28.13
do what is right, but hasn't
fully yielded or surrendered to
00:11:28.13\00:11:31.60
Jesus.
00:11:31.60\00:11:33.53
This is someone who may even be
trying hard, BUT IS RELYING ON
00:11:33.53\00:11:37.73
HIS OWN EFFORTS and hasn't
yet found the key to spiritual
00:11:37.73\00:11:42.10
success and victory.
00:11:42.10\00:11:43.73
I'm glad he's about to
reveal to us what that key is!
00:11:43.73\00:11:47.10
Romans 7:19 For the good that
I would I do not: but the evil
00:11:47.10\00:11:54.36
which I would not, that I do.
00:11:54.36\00:11:58.63
That's verse 15 again - my will
is no match for the power of
00:11:58.63\00:12:02.30
sin.
00:12:02.30\00:12:04.23
This is the nature I
inherited from Adam and Eve.
00:12:04.23\00:12:07.46
Verse 20 is essentially a repeat
from earlier, so we'll go to
00:12:07.46\00:12:10.26
verse 21.
00:12:10.26\00:12:11.83
21 I find then a law, that, when
I would do good, evil is present
00:12:11.83\00:12:16.00
with me.
00:12:16.00\00:12:18.16
What he's saying is there's
a principle that this fallen
00:12:18.16\00:12:21.50
nature I have overpowers even my
strongest desires to do right.
00:12:21.50\00:12:26.36
Why is it that the research
tells us that a person's
00:12:26.36\00:12:29.96
Christianity often has little
bearing on his moral thoughts
00:12:29.96\00:12:33.40
and behaviours?
00:12:33.40\00:12:35.70
That's the reality - even
professed Christians often live
00:12:35.70\00:12:39.26
lives that are not discernibly
different to people of no faith.
00:12:39.26\00:12:44.00
Fundamentally decent people live
fundamentally indecent lives.
00:12:44.00\00:12:49.16
And this is why.
00:12:49.16\00:12:50.56
22 For I delight in the law
of God after the inward man:
00:12:50.56\00:12:57.23
Really, I want to serve God.
00:12:57.23\00:12:59.56
The problem is...
00:12:59.56\00:13:00.90
Verse 23 But I see another law
in my members, warring against
00:13:00.90\00:13:06.76
the law of my mind, and bringing
me into captivity to the law of
00:13:06.76\00:13:12.16
sin which is in my members.
00:13:12.16\00:13:14.80
In my mind I agree
that God's law is good.
00:13:14.80\00:13:18.00
But I'm stuck like a fly on
one of those sticky fly traps.
00:13:18.00\00:13:21.80
I'm desperate now.
00:13:21.80\00:13:23.90
I want to be free, but
this sin thing is more powerful
00:13:23.90\00:13:26.86
than I am.
00:13:26.86\00:13:28.46
So many people are
affected by this today.
00:13:28.46\00:13:31.26
They say,
Christianity doesn't work.
00:13:31.26\00:13:34.30
They're slaves to
bad habits and pet sins.
00:13:34.30\00:13:37.00
And they're tired of it.
00:13:37.00\00:13:38.70
Romans 7:24 O
wretched man that I am!
00:13:38.70\00:13:43.10
who shall deliver me
from the body of this death?
00:13:43.10\00:13:48.00
There's the
question we've all asked.
00:13:48.00\00:13:50.70
And here's the answer!
00:13:50.70\00:13:52.26
25 I thank God
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
00:13:52.26\00:13:58.56
So then with the mind I myself
serve the law of God; but with
00:13:58.56\00:14:02.76
the flesh the law of sin.
00:14:02.76\00:14:06.60
Now Paul brings us around.
00:14:06.60\00:14:08.66
Jesus Christ can deliver
us from this body of death.
00:14:08.66\00:14:13.76
There is power in Christ, power
in Jesus, to deliver us from the
00:14:13.76\00:14:17.13
penalty of sin, and from the
power of sin, and then from the
00:14:17.13\00:14:22.53
presence of sin.
00:14:22.53\00:14:24.66
God is so good!
00:14:24.66\00:14:27.06
But where's the dilemma in that?
00:14:27.06\00:14:30.36
Romans 8:1 says this, "There is
therefore now no condemnation to
00:14:30.36\00:14:36.50
them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh,
00:14:36.50\00:14:42.16
but after the Spirit."
00:14:42.16\00:14:45.13
(Romans 8:1)
Wouldn't a person want that?
00:14:45.13\00:14:47.00
But I'd like you to think
about how this actually works.
00:14:47.00\00:14:50.13
In Romans 6 Paul speaks of the
person who walked in newness of
00:14:50.13\00:14:54.43
life as having "died",
as having been crucified.
00:14:54.43\00:14:58.80
That person has died.
00:14:58.80\00:15:00.66
The Bible refers to the
old man and the new man.
00:15:00.66\00:15:04.26
Jesus talked to Nicodemus
and said people ought to be born
00:15:04.26\00:15:06.60
again.
00:15:06.60\00:15:08.86
And here's the dilemma.
00:15:08.86\00:15:11.00
Remember what a dilemma is.
00:15:11.00\00:15:12.80
It is a situation where the
problem offers two solutions,
00:15:12.80\00:15:17.30
and neither of
them is comfortable.
00:15:17.30\00:15:20.23
Paul is faced with two options.
00:15:20.23\00:15:21.30
No. 1, he yields to his fallen
00:15:21.30\00:15:24.73
nature and simply allows it
to govern his life, and he'll be
00:15:24.73\00:15:27.76
lost.
00:15:27.76\00:15:29.63
We would agree
that would not be good.
00:15:29.63\00:15:31.80
So what is option two?
00:15:31.80\00:15:33.03
Option 2 is to
accept Jesus and let
00:15:33.03\00:15:37.63
Jesus be the Lord of your life.
00:15:37.63\00:15:40.40
Therein lies the dilemma: to
surrender fully to Jesus is to
00:15:40.40\00:15:45.56
DIE: it's to DIE THE DEATH
TO SELF and let Jesus govern our
00:15:45.56\00:15:51.40
lives just like we
died and we were reborn.
00:15:51.40\00:15:56.53
So why is that an
uncomfortable choice?
00:15:56.53\00:15:59.26
Listen: JESUS
compares it to crucifixion.
00:15:59.26\00:16:03.00
And that's not pretty.
00:16:03.00\00:16:04.80
You can tell it isn't pretty
because so few experience it and
00:16:04.80\00:16:09.00
so many people
resist it - but that's what
00:16:09.00\00:16:12.83
God is calling us to.
00:16:12.83\00:16:14.03
So often people find themselves
in that Romans 7 situation -
00:16:14.03\00:16:17.50
they know what is right, they
want to do right, but before
00:16:17.50\00:16:20.86
they know it
they're back into that sin.
00:16:20.86\00:16:24.36
And they don't want to die the
death because they've grown to
00:16:24.36\00:16:27.93
love the sin more than they like
the thought of Jesus removing it
00:16:27.93\00:16:32.30
from the life.
00:16:32.30\00:16:34.10
So here's the dilemma.
00:16:34.10\00:16:35.90
It's death, or death.
00:16:35.90\00:16:39.96
Find out how to make the
right choice straight ahead.
00:16:39.96\00:16:47.43
In Matthew 4:4 the Word of God
says "It is written 'Man shall
00:16:47.43\00:16:52.43
not live by bread alone but by
every word that proceeds out of
00:16:52.43\00:16:55.43
the mouth of God'."
00:16:55.43\00:16:57.13
Every Word is a one minute
Bible-based daily devotional
00:16:57.13\00:17:00.53
presented by Pastor John
Bradshaw and designed especially
00:17:00.53\00:17:03.66
for busy people like you.
00:17:03.66\00:17:05.56
Look for Every Word on selected
networks or watch it on-line
00:17:05.56\00:17:08.90
everyday on our
website itiswritten.com.
00:17:08.90\00:17:12.56
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:17:12.56\00:17:14.70
Watch Every Word.
00:17:14.70\00:17:16.06
You'll be glad you did.
00:17:16.06\00:17:21.06
Two choices - carry on in the
old life, or let Jesus make the
00:17:21.06\00:17:26.23
old life new.
00:17:26.23\00:17:28.93
The old life leads to death,
because the wages of sin is
00:17:28.93\00:17:31.73
death.
00:17:31.73\00:17:33.00
To get to the new
life means death also.
00:17:33.00\00:17:36.53
And that option is so
unattractive that most people
00:17:36.53\00:17:39.53
choose against it.
00:17:39.53\00:17:41.80
Only one thing can free a
person to live a true Christian
00:17:41.80\00:17:45.36
experience: choosing Jesus
as the Lord of one's whole life.
00:17:45.36\00:17:50.66
If self lives we must die.
00:17:50.66\00:17:52.93
If self dies, then
we can live - forever.
00:17:52.93\00:17:58.20
What we are by nature ensures
that we are lost without a daily
00:17:58.20\00:18:01.36
connection with Jesus.
00:18:01.36\00:18:03.13
Once you're Christ's there'll
still be hard, stern battles
00:18:03.13\00:18:07.10
with self to fight.
00:18:07.10\00:18:08.63
The sinful nature needs to
be kept subject to the spiritual
00:18:08.63\00:18:11.60
nature guided by Jesus.
00:18:11.60\00:18:13.66
If you're wanting the spiritual
nature to remain in the
00:18:13.66\00:18:17.13
ascendancy, you need to
feed that and not feed the old
00:18:17.13\00:18:20.03
nature.
00:18:20.03\00:18:22.16
What are you doing to yourself
if you're encouraging and
00:18:22.16\00:18:25.80
feeding the old nature?
00:18:25.80\00:18:27.90
Starve it and it will die.
00:18:27.90\00:18:29.66
Feed it and it will get
strong and rule your life.
00:18:29.66\00:18:34.16
Paul asked the question, Who
shall deliver me from this body
00:18:34.16\00:18:37.40
of death?
00:18:37.40\00:18:38.50
He gave the answer in a
different way in 2 Corinthians
00:18:38.50\00:18:42.60
5:17: "If any man be in
Christ he is a new creature.
00:18:42.60\00:18:49.00
Old things are passed away,
behold all things are become
00:18:49.00\00:18:52.80
new." (2 Corinthians
5:17 KJV) Before Jesus,
00:18:52.80\00:18:55.86
the Bible says we are,
"By nature, the children of
00:18:55.86\00:18:58.53
wrath."
00:18:58.53\00:18:59.70
That's Ephesians 2:3, KVJ.
00:18:59.70\00:19:01.86
We inherited that sinful
nature from Adam and Eve.
00:19:01.86\00:19:05.36
When youind yourself full
of hate, remember you are just
00:19:05.36\00:19:09.03
doing what comes naturally.
00:19:09.03\00:19:10.70
That's who and
what you are, by nature.
00:19:10.70\00:19:13.93
People say, "Oh Mac, he's a
good-natured sort of a guy."
00:19:13.93\00:19:17.96
I know what they're
getting at, but No he's not!
00:19:17.96\00:19:20.86
Mac, by nature,
is a child of wrath.
00:19:20.86\00:19:23.86
When you're yelling at somebody,
you're doing what comes
00:19:23.86\00:19:25.86
naturally.
00:19:25.86\00:19:27.06
That's who you are, by nature.
00:19:27.06\00:19:28.36
When you're looking for a way
to rip someone off, when you're
00:19:28.36\00:19:33.13
shaking your fist at someone
in traffic, when you're seeking
00:19:33.13\00:19:35.66
everyone's attention, when
you're flirting or arguing or
00:19:35.66\00:19:39.56
leaving the house without
praying in the morning, you're
00:19:39.56\00:19:43.23
just letting
nature take its course!
00:19:43.23\00:19:46.63
It surprised me to learn that
in this country it is quite easy
00:19:46.63\00:19:49.83
and really rather inexpensive
to buy yourself a pet lion or
00:19:49.83\00:19:52.83
tiger.
00:19:52.83\00:19:54.93
People buy them as
babies - not terribly cheap.
00:19:54.93\00:19:57.83
But those babies get
big, and they're man-eaters!
00:19:57.83\00:20:01.43
So folks sell them, cheap.
00:20:01.43\00:20:03.23
For a reason!
00:20:03.23\00:20:04.56
By nature they want to eat you.
00:20:04.56\00:20:07.86
But you can't
blame them, can you?
00:20:07.86\00:20:10.43
That's just how
they are, by nature.
00:20:10.43\00:20:14.26
But you don't have
to have the lion nature.
00:20:14.26\00:20:17.83
Instead, you can
have the Lamb nature.
00:20:17.83\00:20:21.36
Through the power of Jesus,
God promises to give us a new
00:20:21.36\00:20:24.63
nature.
00:20:24.63\00:20:27.80
If you surrender to Him, God
will bring you to the place that
00:20:27.80\00:20:32.33
when you're obeying Him you'll
be just carrying out your own
00:20:32.33\00:20:36.26
impulses.
00:20:36.26\00:20:37.86
You see, when God really
gets hold of you, your highest
00:20:37.86\00:20:40.96
delight will be
doing God's will.
00:20:40.96\00:20:44.03
When we know God as it is our
privilege to know God, our lives
00:20:44.03\00:20:48.33
will be lives of obedience, and
sin will become hateful to us.
00:20:48.33\00:20:53.70
That's the new
nature God has given us.
00:20:53.70\00:20:56.46
It says this in Galations 2:20,
Galations 2:20, and Paul says
00:20:56.46\00:21:05.00
the same thing when it says,
"I am crucified with Christ,
00:21:05.00\00:21:07.83
nevertheless I live.
00:21:07.83\00:21:09.00
Yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me."
00:21:09.00\00:21:12.23
Some people are
ready to give up.
00:21:12.23\00:21:14.23
They can't keep their mind
clean, can't keep certain things
00:21:14.23\00:21:17.53
out of their lives, can't
stop saying certain things.
00:21:17.53\00:21:21.03
It's a battle
they're tired of fighting.
00:21:21.03\00:21:23.46
Slaves to
addictions, servants of sin.
00:21:23.46\00:21:26.96
Ready to quit.
00:21:26.96\00:21:28.23
"I'm just a bad mother".
00:21:28.23\00:21:29.60
"I guess I'll
always be this way.
00:21:29.60\00:21:31.33
I'll never be good enough."
00:21:31.33\00:21:32.93
But you forget something.
00:21:32.93\00:21:35.76
God doesn't fault
anyone for being bad or bent!
00:21:35.76\00:21:40.23
You're forgetting
what the Bible says!
00:21:40.23\00:21:42.03
Back in the Psalms, Psalms 103.
00:21:42.03\00:21:46.13
Here is what God said: "The Lord
is merciful and gracious, slow
00:21:46.13\00:21:52.26
to anger and
plenteous in mercy."
00:21:52.26\00:21:58.66
(Psalm 103:8) And a few verses
later, we read this: "For He
00:21:58.66\00:22:01.56
knoweth our frame, He
remembereth that we are dust."
00:22:01.56\00:22:05.50
(Ps 103:14).
00:22:05.50\00:22:06.80
God knows exactly what you
are, and what you're made of.
00:22:06.80\00:22:11.06
And He doesn't expect
the impossible from you.
00:22:11.06\00:22:17.10
No way, instead, He'll
do the impossible in you.
00:22:17.10\00:22:22.06
He doesn't fault
you for being dirty.
00:22:22.06\00:22:24.40
Grandpa Adam was made from dirt.
00:22:24.40\00:22:26.40
But God says, You come to
me and I'll make you clean.
00:22:26.40\00:22:31.60
Come to me and I'll
give you a new heart.
00:22:31.60\00:22:34.40
If you give it all to
me, I'll make it all new.
00:22:34.40\00:22:39.40
You see, the Christian's
life is not a modification or an
00:22:39.40\00:22:43.50
improvement of the old, but
a complete transformation of
00:22:43.50\00:22:45.36
nature.
00:22:45.36\00:22:47.53
There is a death to self and
sin, and a new life altogether.
00:22:47.53\00:22:52.73
Instead of feeling hopeless
about what you are, it is time
00:22:52.73\00:22:55.83
to feel hopeful about what
Jesus wants to do in your life.
00:22:55.83\00:23:01.56
Remember He died for
people with a fallen nature.
00:23:01.56\00:23:04.50
Remember when
Jesus was about to die?
00:23:04.50\00:23:06.70
He died, and someone went free.
00:23:06.70\00:23:08.43
Remember that man's name?
00:23:08.43\00:23:11.26
Barabbas.
00:23:11.26\00:23:14.50
"Bar" means "son".
00:23:14.50\00:23:16.40
"Abba" means "father".
00:23:16.40\00:23:19.06
It is likely his name
means "Son of the Father."
00:23:19.06\00:23:23.10
Son of the Father?
00:23:23.10\00:23:25.16
That would be all
of us, wouldn't it?
00:23:25.16\00:23:27.46
We're all someone's son or
daughter - Barabbas represents
00:23:27.46\00:23:31.80
all of us.
00:23:31.80\00:23:33.43
Jesus died, Barrabas went free.
00:23:33.43\00:23:36.10
Jesus died for
us, so we can go free.
00:23:36.10\00:23:40.33
So we can be free, free from
sin and its power, and free from
00:23:40.33\00:23:45.46
that old nature that embarrasses
us and causes us pain...
00:23:45.46\00:23:50.13
Would you like to be fretoday?
00:23:50.13\00:23:51.50
Free from slavery to an
old nature that doesn't want to
00:23:51.50\00:23:58.73
follow God?
00:23:58.73\00:24:00.30
Would you like a new nature
today - and deliverance from
00:24:00.30\00:24:02.30
that old person who
can't keep things straight?
00:24:02.30\00:24:04.33
God can give you that.
00:24:04.33\00:24:07.66
And he will give you that
and you'll be free and you'll
00:24:07.66\00:24:11.96
experience power and you'll be
new and you won't feel terrible
00:24:11.96\00:24:15.53
about who you are when
you put your pillow at night.
00:24:15.53\00:24:17.63
You'll be able to put your head
on the pillow and say "I am the
00:24:17.63\00:24:20.26
child of God and he
has given me a new nature".
00:24:20.26\00:24:30.30
Let's pray and ask
for that right now.
00:24:30.30\00:24:32.00
Our Father in heaven, we thank
you that you would give us a new
00:24:32.00\00:24:35.40
nature and free us from the
grip of slavery to an old nature
00:24:35.40\00:24:41.80
determined to go against you.
00:24:41.80\00:24:44.36
Free us Lord by coming
into our lives and living in us.
00:24:44.36\00:24:49.16
Free us, Lord, by giving us a
new heart, a new nature and new
00:24:49.16\00:24:52.10
desires.
00:24:52.10\00:24:55.33
We have tried to beat our sins
on our own, we have tried to get
00:24:55.33\00:25:01.13
the victory on our own
and we keep on falling flat.
00:25:01.13\00:25:03.96
Lord, give us a new nature.
00:25:03.96\00:25:07.03
Implant in us a desire that your
will be done and then come and
00:25:07.03\00:25:13.33
live your life in us.
00:25:13.33\00:25:15.53
Thank you for doing that.
00:25:15.53\00:25:16.53
We pray this by faith, we pray
in Jesus' name and we say Amen.
00:25:16.53\00:25:49.93
Perhaps our program today has
touched your heart and impressed
00:25:49.93\00:25:53.30
you with a personal
need for deeper Bible study.
00:25:53.30\00:25:56.33
Do you desire to listen to
God and follow where he leads?
00:25:56.33\00:25:59.33
We've got a wonderful resource
that can help you do that in a
00:25:59.33\00:26:02.46
systemic way, the
Discover Bible Guides.
00:26:02.46\00:26:05.36
These study guides will take
you through the essential truths
00:26:05.36\00:26:08.66
taught in Scripture.
00:26:08.66\00:26:09.96
They give you the big
picture showing how it all fits
00:26:09.96\00:26:12.36
together.
00:26:12.36\00:26:13.53
The Discover Bible Guides are a
wonderful way for you to become
00:26:13.53\00:26:16.70
grounded in the Word of God and
to see how Jesus Christ relates
00:26:16.70\00:26:20.40
to all the areas of our lives.
00:26:20.40\00:26:22.16
So please call or write us and
the Discover Bible Guides will
00:26:22.16\00:26:26.36
be on their way to you and
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00:26:26.36\00:26:28.90
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00:26:28.90\00:26:30.16
For even easier access, you
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00:26:30.16\00:26:33.66
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00:26:33.66\00:26:35.53
Here's the information you need.
00:26:35.53\00:26:37.76
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00:26:43.46\00:26:46.53
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00:26:47.90\00:26:50.40
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00:26:50.40\00:26:53.76
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00:27:04.86\00:27:08.73
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00:27:08.73\00:27:12.10
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00:27:12.10\00:27:15.23
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00:27:15.23\00:27:18.46
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Thanks for joining me today.
00:27:36.10\00:27:43.30
I hope you'll join me again next
time and until then, remember
00:27:43.30\00:27:48.00
the Bible says: "It Is Written:
man shall not live by bread
00:27:48.00\00:27:52.40
alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God."
00:27:52.40\00:27:57.73