The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
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It says to receive with meekness
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the implanted Word,
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which is able
to save your souls.
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And to be diligent
to present yourself
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approved to God
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rightly dividing
the Word of Truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is
Salvation by Faith Alone,
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the Book of Romans.
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Hi, we welcome you once again
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to the 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel.
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I'm CA Murray.
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And it is my privilege
and pleasure to welcome you
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to this study
of the Word of God.
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Let me encourage you even
now, grab a Bible, pen, pencil,
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iPad, iPhone, whatever you have
to take notes on and join us
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because I rather suspect
something good and inviting
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is going to be
said this very day.
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If you do not have a
Sabbath School Lesson
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and that's very, very
important for our study.
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May I encourage
you to go to ABSG,
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which is Adult Bible
Study Guide.Adventists.org.
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And you can
download one of those
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and then you can
follow along with us,
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very, very handy
for keeping notes,
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taking notes
hopefully, prayerfully
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something will be said
that you will want to refer to
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if you are a
Sabbath School teacher.
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It will help you
in your teaching.
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If you are a
Christian, it will help you
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in your Christian walk.
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If you are leader in the church,
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it will give you
something to share.
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As we look at this
wonderful book of Romans
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and as we have
been dipping our toe
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as it were in the
water of the book of Romans,
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we have found it is a
deep and fascinating study.
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A wonderful
book that we will try
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by the grace of God to unpack it
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just a little bit more today.
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The family is
here, Shelley Quinn,
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followed by
Pastor John Lomacang,
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followed by Jill
Morikone, and Ms Molly Steenson.
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Each having a
day of their very own
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to wade into and to share.
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I'm going to ask Jill, if
you would now pray for us,
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please and then we'll launch out
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into our study together.
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Let's pray.
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Holy Father, we come
before you in the name of Jesus
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and we just thank
you for the privilege
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of coming together
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as likeminded
brothers and sisters,
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opening up your Word and seeing
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what you have for
us today just now.
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And, Lord, we ask that
you would open up our minds
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and hearts to
receive what you have for us
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and we thank you in the precious
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and holy name of Jesus.
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Amen.
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Amen. Amen.
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One of the
things that excites me,
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as we enter into the study
is the idea and understanding
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that the
Adventist Church Worldwide
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is all studying the
same thing together.
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That's sort of a thrilling thing
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that all together,
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20 million strong
around the world...
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and really, our
Sabbath School numbers
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are larger than
our church numbers.
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So 20 million plus are studying
this lesson on Romans together
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as we understand again
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and a new the idea of
righteousness by faith,
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that it is all centered
and wrapped up in Christ Jesus.
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And so we wait further
into that this very day.
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One cannot really
get an understanding
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of what Christ had to go through
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to be the Redeemer
of the human family,
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unless you get a true
and accurate understanding
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of the human condition.
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It's true.
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You need to see how
far Christ had to come
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to redeem us from sin.
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And we need to be
very honest about ourselves
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as to our need of a savior
and the fact that we could not,
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no matter how hard we try
even if we died for ourselves,
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we could not save
ourselves from sin
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and from the
consequences thereof.
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And so today's lesson we
wade into The Human Condition
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and we deal with that.
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I want to read some things
as we sort of set the stage
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for what we're
going to talk about
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in the next little bit
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from the
beginning of the lesson.
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Early in the book of Romans,
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Paul seeks to
establish a crucial truth.
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One central to the
Gospel and that is the sad state
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of the human condition.
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And in the ensuing
centuries, my dear sister,
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couldn't, we
haven't gotten any better?
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No.
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Thanks by the grace of God,
we've gotten a whole lot worse.
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And there are things
happening now in the world
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that have never happened before.
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The truth is there
are mere ways to get hurt,
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there are more ways to get sick,
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and there are more ways to die.
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Every time God invent...
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man invents something new,
it seems like it can be used
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for good and so many
times is used for evil.
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So...
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And I've said this
before, I don't think...
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I'd like to be a
few years younger,
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but I wouldn't want
to be a child today,
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I wouldn't want to
be a teenager today.
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There's so much
that they have to face
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and so much that
they have to go through.
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So Paul early on, seeks
to establish the condition
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that the world finds itself
in at the time of his writing.
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This truth exists
from the fall onward,
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we have all been
contaminated by sin
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and we can all say Amen to that.
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It's wired in our genes,
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as is the color of our eyes.
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So we're in a bad state. Yes.
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And if we were left to
think about our bad state,
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brothers and sisters, I
think we would be depressed
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and of all men, most miserable.
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But praise God, we've got Jesus.
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That's right.
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And we've got an answer to
our problems in this world.
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And so Paul sets out
some things very early on.
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I'm in Romans chapter one.
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And we're going to look
at this very powerful text
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which we actually ended
on in last week's study.
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But Paul says,
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"I am not
ashamed of the gospel."
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Hallelujah.
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Amen. Amen.
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"I'm not ashamed of the gospel,
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it is the power of
God for salvation."
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Now of course, this
usage of power is dunamis,
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this is the physical
ability to get the job done.
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It is also speaking of,
Molly, miracle working power.
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This is the dynamite
power to get the job done.
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Of course, in, I'm
thinking of John 1:12,
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where we have the
power to become sons of God,
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that's the
authority or the right
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to become sons of God.
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But this is a
little more earthy,
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this a little more
kinetic, a little more physical.
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This is the physical
ability to get the job done.
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The Gospel gives us
power, a miracle working power.
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Remember the
song we used to sing?
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"There is power, power,
wonder working power..."
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This is wonder working
power. This is miracle power.
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And Paul says, "I'm
not ashamed of the Gospel,
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it is the power of
God for salvation."
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That's what it's
all about getting saved,
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getting out of this
world and into the next.
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"To everyone who has," what?
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Faith. Belief.
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"Who has faith or who
believes to the Jew first
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and also to the Greek."
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I don't mind it
being to the Jew first
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as long as it gets to the Greek.
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You know, I don't...
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it's all right if
the Jew gets it first
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as long as that doesn't stop
with him it gets to the Greek.
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So that gets you and me in.
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"For in it, the
righteousness of God is revealed
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through faith for
faith, as it is written."
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And I love this translation.
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I don't use the
term, "I love" too much
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when I saw this one...
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This is good.
Yeah, this is real good.
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This explanation,
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"He who through faith
is righteous shall live."
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That does it for me.
That's the Revised Standard.
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Yeah, that's the RSV.
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And I really like
that little slant on it.
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"He through faith is
righteous shall live."
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That is beautiful. The
just shall live by faith.
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So now we sort of move
into what we want to talk about
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the human condition
and the power of God
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to arrest change
readdress that human condition.
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The lesson brings out the point
and I think it is important
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that there are
certain key words,
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one gospel which we have
said for years is the good news
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or the good message,
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given where we are
and what we are doing,
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it is good news.
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Amen.
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And in this world of bad news,
you need a little good news.
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Well, if you need
good news, open the word
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because the Bible says,
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we are born in
sin, shaped in iniquity,
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but it doesn't leave us there.
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Amen. That's right.
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God says there is good
news, God has given us a way
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to get out of that and
to get that sin out of us.
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In fact, we've got
to get it out of us
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before we get out of that,
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they go hand in hand
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one
sequentially after the other.
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So we are in
bad spiritual shape,
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but God finds us
in bad spiritual shape
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and then he
begins to clean us up
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through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
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Let this mind be in you,
which is also in Christ Jesus.
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And then Romans 12:1.
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Romans is such a
good book. Oh boy, amen.
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It's such a good book.
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Where He calls us to be
living sacrifices in 8:1,
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everything 1 in
Romans 1, something 8:1, 7:1,
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12:1 is good,
there's no condemnation
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or in Christ Jesus.
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So yes, we are in bad shape,
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but God doesn't
leave us in bad shape.
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He doesn't leave
you in bad shape,
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on your worst day,
you're still a child of God.
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You surrender yourself to Him
and God begins to clean you up,
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it's like, I got
this, real quick,
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when my mother is come visit
me when I was a single pastor,
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wasn't marriage yet,
and my mother was is a...
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she worked at a
hospital X-ray room,
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neat freak, clean freak,
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and I would
always clean the house
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before she came.
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My mother would
take off her hat,
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she is a good Adventist
with Panamanian, West Indian,
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Canadian, British
background always got a hat on.
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Take off that hat,
take off her gloves,
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take off her coat,
go into the kitchen
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and begin cleaning.
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And it would aggravate me
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because I'd clean
the kitchen already.
00:10:02.23\00:10:04.17
And she would find
places to clean that I didn't...
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on top of the refrigerator,
up on top of the cabinets,
00:10:06.94\00:10:09.50
you know, she would move
things and start cleaning.
00:10:09.54\00:10:12.64
And that's how the
Holy Spirit is, you think,
00:10:12.67\00:10:14.24
"Yeah, I'm pretty clean."
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Holy Spirit says,
"No, you missed a spot."
00:10:15.64\00:10:17.25
There you go.
00:10:17.31\00:10:18.65
You know, you missed a spot here
00:10:18.68\00:10:20.08
and so Holy Spirit
begins to clean and clean.
00:10:20.12\00:10:22.12
So the gospel is good news
that a cleaning takes place
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with the entrance of
Jesus Christ into your life.
00:10:25.52\00:10:28.26
And let me move
forward just a little bit.
00:10:28.29\00:10:32.69
The word Christ,
00:10:32.73\00:10:34.36
the translation
of the word Messiah,
00:10:34.36\00:10:38.00
the transliteration about
what it says of the Greek word
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which means the
Messiah, He is our Savior
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and He is our Lord
and He is our example
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and He is our judge
and He is our defender
00:10:48.68\00:10:51.38
and he is our king
and he is our redeemer.
00:10:51.41\00:10:54.65
We wear a lot of hats
down here, He wears more.
00:10:54.68\00:10:57.12
It's true. That's right.
00:10:57.15\00:10:58.49
He wears all of
those hats. Righteousness.
00:10:58.52\00:11:01.99
Ellen White says,
righteousness is doing right.
00:11:02.02\00:11:04.46
And there are some people
who tend to rebel against that
00:11:04.49\00:11:07.00
because they think that's works.
00:11:07.03\00:11:09.76
But
righteousness, James takes time
00:11:09.80\00:11:11.90
to say is right
doing but it is right doing
00:11:11.93\00:11:15.74
that is an out
working of a relationship
00:11:15.77\00:11:18.07
with Jesus Christ.
00:11:18.11\00:11:19.44
You don't work to be saved,
you work because you are saved.
00:11:19.47\00:11:23.08
And when you put
down the cigarette
00:11:23.11\00:11:24.45
and when you put
down those bottle
00:11:24.48\00:11:25.98
and when you
put on the carousing
00:11:26.01\00:11:27.58
and when you give
your life to Christ,
00:11:27.62\00:11:30.55
those are works of righteousness
00:11:30.59\00:11:33.02
motivated by the
enduring Jesus Christ.
00:11:33.05\00:11:35.82
So that mind is in
you and it is worked out
00:11:35.86\00:11:39.26
through you and
it reveals itself
00:11:39.29\00:11:42.10
in works of righteousness.
00:11:42.13\00:11:44.00
So you're not trying
to work to save Jesus,
00:11:44.03\00:11:46.20
you're working
00:11:46.23\00:11:47.57
because you've got a
relationship with Jesus.
00:11:47.60\00:11:49.44
Just like when
Brother Quinn says,
00:11:49.47\00:11:51.01
"Shelley, give me
a glass of water."
00:11:51.04\00:11:52.37
Or vice versa,
when Shelley says,
00:11:52.41\00:11:54.01
"J.D., give me
a glass of water."
00:11:54.04\00:11:55.61
You don't say,
"Oh, you making me work
00:11:55.64\00:11:57.71
just because I said I do,
00:11:57.75\00:11:59.08
I don't have to do
for the rest my life."
00:11:59.11\00:12:00.52
No, he does it willingly. Why?
00:12:00.55\00:12:03.25
Because of an
existing love relationship.
00:12:03.28\00:12:06.42
And since all
of you are married,
00:12:06.45\00:12:07.79
all of you can say,
Hallelujah and Amen.
00:12:07.82\00:12:09.19
Amen.
00:12:09.22\00:12:10.83
And that's the
way that love works,
00:12:10.86\00:12:12.93
it works through because
of an existing relationship
00:12:12.96\00:12:16.53
and of course, faith.
00:12:16.56\00:12:17.93
Ellen White says,
00:12:17.97\00:12:19.43
"Prayer is the key
in the hands of faith
00:12:19.47\00:12:22.67
to unlock heaven's
storehouse where are treasured
00:12:22.70\00:12:25.77
the boundless
treasures of omnipotence."
00:12:25.81\00:12:27.84
So faith is the fulcrum,
it is the key that brings
00:12:27.88\00:12:32.35
all of this stuff to
you that opens the door
00:12:32.38\00:12:34.65
that allows Christ to come in
00:12:34.68\00:12:36.02
because He
doesn't kick down doors,
00:12:36.05\00:12:37.39
Christ is not a bully,
00:12:37.45\00:12:38.79
He's not going to
bang the door down.
00:12:38.82\00:12:40.16
He will knock and
knock and knock and knock,
00:12:40.22\00:12:42.16
you got to open the
door from the inside
00:12:42.19\00:12:44.36
and then Christ will come in.
00:12:44.39\00:12:46.06
And faith is that
and that in truth.
00:12:46.09\00:12:49.26
So we've got a
condition, but praise the Lord,
00:12:49.30\00:12:52.53
we are not left
to our condition,
00:12:52.57\00:12:54.30
there is an
answer to our condition,
00:12:54.34\00:12:56.04
there is a remedy
for our condition.
00:12:56.07\00:12:57.94
And that's what Paul is trying
to show the community at Rome
00:12:57.97\00:13:04.31
that once you lock on to Jesus,
once you by faith accept Jesus,
00:13:04.35\00:13:09.52
then the whole world
of brand new possibilities
00:13:09.55\00:13:12.29
becomes yours.
00:13:12.32\00:13:13.66
You don't have to
work your way to it,
00:13:13.69\00:13:15.02
you don't have to
work your way through it,
00:13:15.06\00:13:16.59
you simply have to
accept Jesus by faith
00:13:16.62\00:13:19.29
and then you become just,
00:13:19.33\00:13:20.80
and then this
world opens up to you
00:13:20.83\00:13:23.53
and Christ lives out in
you, he lives through you,
00:13:23.57\00:13:27.10
he blesses you,
00:13:27.14\00:13:28.47
and then you become
a blessing to others.
00:13:28.50\00:13:30.37
Amen. Sister Shelley.
00:13:30.41\00:13:31.74
Amen.
00:13:31.77\00:13:33.11
Well, I have Mondays
00:13:33.14\00:13:34.48
and the title
of Monday's lessons
00:13:34.51\00:13:35.88
is all have sinned
based on Romans 3:23.
00:13:35.91\00:13:39.98
So let's read Romans 3:23.
00:13:40.02\00:13:42.92
Paul writes and
says, "For all have sins
00:13:42.95\00:13:47.02
and fall short of
the glory of God."
00:13:47.06\00:13:50.93
I remember when I was in college
00:13:50.96\00:13:56.06
and really developing
a personal relationship
00:13:56.10\00:13:59.67
with Christ and
studying the Word a lot.
00:13:59.70\00:14:03.10
And I remember
reading in Luke 18,
00:14:03.14\00:14:06.21
where the young ruler
comes to Jesus and says,
00:14:06.24\00:14:09.44
"Good Teacher, what
must I do to be saved?"
00:14:09.48\00:14:11.58
Well, of course,
what did Jesus tell him?
00:14:11.61\00:14:13.82
"Keep the commandments."
"Keep the commandments."
00:14:13.85\00:14:15.62
Now, the Ten
Commandments were given
00:14:15.65\00:14:18.32
to reveal the character of God,
show his righteous standards,
00:14:18.35\00:14:24.36
but they were
given to show our sins,
00:14:24.39\00:14:27.60
so that we could see our own sin
00:14:27.60\00:14:30.13
and point to our
need for a Savior.
00:14:30.17\00:14:33.34
But the part that I
left out there is Luke 18:19,
00:14:33.40\00:14:37.61
where Jesus said
to the young man,
00:14:37.64\00:14:39.64
"Why do you call me good?"
00:14:39.67\00:14:41.48
And I thought, I'm
reading my Bible and I thought,
00:14:41.51\00:14:44.05
because he says, "No
one is good but God."
00:14:44.11\00:14:46.98
And I thought,
now wait a minute.
00:14:47.02\00:14:48.62
You are God, now
why would you say,
00:14:48.65\00:14:51.09
no one's good but God.
00:14:51.12\00:14:52.85
Why would He ask that?
00:14:52.89\00:14:54.96
And I came to the
point of understanding
00:14:54.99\00:14:58.43
Jesus was trying to see
if he was recognizing Him
00:14:58.46\00:15:01.13
as the Messiah.
00:15:01.16\00:15:02.50
Why do you call me good?
00:15:02.53\00:15:03.87
Are you
recognizing that I am God
00:15:03.90\00:15:05.23
because there's
no one good but God?
00:15:05.27\00:15:07.34
But I remember sitting
and arguing with the Lord
00:15:07.37\00:15:09.60
that night and saying,
00:15:09.64\00:15:11.01
"Everybody's always told
me what a good person I am.
00:15:11.04\00:15:14.08
I'm always doing this and
that the other for people,
00:15:14.11\00:15:17.15
am I not good?"
00:15:17.18\00:15:18.65
And I said, "Lord, if
I'm not good, show me."
00:15:18.68\00:15:21.22
He kept me up all
night long, I mean,
00:15:21.25\00:15:23.05
it was just kind of like
a panoramic view of my life,
00:15:23.08\00:15:26.76
showing me different
things where I would do things,
00:15:26.79\00:15:29.59
good things for recognition
or to get a pat on the back,
00:15:29.62\00:15:33.33
just the wrong
motivations, you know.
00:15:33.40\00:15:35.36
And I came to understand,
00:15:35.40\00:15:37.33
"Okay, I'm not as
good as I thought I was."
00:15:37.37\00:15:39.87
And I remember once,
Cheri Peter had a lady
00:15:39.90\00:15:41.84
who came with
her for an interview.
00:15:41.87\00:15:44.87
And you know what
she said, she said,
00:15:44.91\00:15:47.04
"I used to think
what's the big deal
00:15:47.08\00:15:50.21
about Jesus dying for us.
00:15:50.25\00:15:52.61
I'm a good person. I
don't break the big ten."
00:15:52.65\00:15:55.55
And the reason, I
mean, it took her a while
00:15:55.58\00:15:57.92
to understand
what sin was all about.
00:15:57.95\00:16:01.09
And the reason I'm
telling you this story is
00:16:01.12\00:16:03.32
because if we don't
understand our sinfulness,
00:16:03.36\00:16:08.06
we'll never understand
our need for a Savior.
00:16:08.10\00:16:10.20
Yeah, that's right.
00:16:10.27\00:16:11.60
And basically, it's what sin is.
00:16:11.63\00:16:15.47
Let me just run
through a few things.
00:16:15.50\00:16:17.67
Sin is to miss the mark of
God's righteous requirements
00:16:17.71\00:16:21.54
like you're
missing the bull's eye.
00:16:21.58\00:16:23.88
James 4:17 says, "To
him who knows to do good
00:16:23.95\00:16:26.95
and does not do it
to him, it is sin."
00:16:27.02\00:16:29.75
So there's sins of omission.
00:16:29.78\00:16:32.29
Romans 14:23, Paul says,
"Whatever is not from faith
00:16:32.32\00:16:36.86
is sin, sin is to transgress
00:16:36.93\00:16:40.90
or to trespass to
step off your line."
00:16:40.93\00:16:42.93
Proverbs 24:9 says,
00:16:42.96\00:16:45.10
"The devising of
foolishness is sin.
00:16:45.13\00:16:47.20
Perverse silliness is
sin, naughty little jokes."
00:16:47.24\00:16:50.91
We need to start
stifling our laughter
00:16:50.94\00:16:53.34
at these naughty little jokes
00:16:53.38\00:16:55.18
because that's the
devising of foolishness
00:16:55.21\00:16:58.55
to commit iniquity lawlessness,
that's an intentional
00:16:58.58\00:17:03.42
or even an unintentional offence
00:17:03.45\00:17:05.82
against God's Law.
00:17:05.85\00:17:07.59
1 John 3:4 says,
"Whoever commits sin,
00:17:07.62\00:17:10.46
commits lawlessness,
and sin is lawlessness."
00:17:10.49\00:17:13.46
But it goes on
00:17:13.53\00:17:14.83
the different categories of sin,
00:17:14.86\00:17:16.20
it can be unclean, impure,
00:17:16.23\00:17:18.27
commit wickedness which is evil.
00:17:18.30\00:17:21.14
And I think Jeremiah 4:14 says,
00:17:21.17\00:17:23.41
"Wash your
hearts from wickedness
00:17:23.44\00:17:25.74
that you may be saved.
00:17:25.77\00:17:27.11
How long shall
your evil thoughts
00:17:27.18\00:17:29.31
lodge within you?"
00:17:29.34\00:17:31.38
But the one that
gets me, look at ourselves
00:17:31.41\00:17:35.05
as being pretty good
say, "Oh, I don't do this,
00:17:35.08\00:17:36.82
I'm not wicked,
I'm not doing this."
00:17:36.89\00:17:39.05
But here's the one
that's the clincher.
00:17:39.09\00:17:43.53
It says in 1 John 5:17,
00:17:43.56\00:17:48.03
"All unrighteousness is sin."
00:17:48.06\00:17:51.07
To be unrighteous means
any deviation from God's holy
00:17:51.10\00:17:57.07
and righteous character.
00:17:57.11\00:17:58.51
That's right. So
any deviation is sin.
00:17:58.54\00:18:02.78
When we contrast our character
with God, what happens?
00:18:02.81\00:18:06.78
You're sitting here feeling
pretty good about yourself,
00:18:06.85\00:18:10.05
looking at your
neighbor and thinking,
00:18:10.12\00:18:11.45
"Yeah, I got it
together like they do."
00:18:11.49\00:18:13.62
But you start contrasting
your character with God's
00:18:13.69\00:18:16.99
and you're filled with
self-loathing and disgust,
00:18:17.06\00:18:19.86
are you not?
00:18:19.89\00:18:21.83
I found this
quote from Handley Mole
00:18:21.86\00:18:24.40
or Mole here's what it says.
00:18:24.43\00:18:27.24
The harlot, the
liar, the murderer
00:18:27.27\00:18:29.90
are short of God's
glory but so are you.
00:18:29.94\00:18:34.44
Perhaps they stand
at the bottom of a mine
00:18:34.48\00:18:37.28
and you are on
the crest of an Alp,
00:18:37.35\00:18:39.91
but you are as little able
00:18:39.95\00:18:43.15
to touch the stars as they are."
00:18:43.18\00:18:46.05
So it doesn't matter,
big sins, little sins,
00:18:46.09\00:18:48.82
they all separate us from God,
but they can all be forgiven.
00:18:48.86\00:18:53.03
And we must remember, you know,
is murder worse than hatred?
00:18:53.06\00:18:59.37
Not according to Jesus.
00:18:59.40\00:19:01.04
Hatred is the equivalent
of spiritual murder, isn't it?
00:19:01.07\00:19:04.94
So we all miss the
mark of Christ's character.
00:19:04.97\00:19:08.18
And what Jesus can't do
00:19:08.21\00:19:10.48
is to restore the
character of God in us.
00:19:10.51\00:19:14.15
So that he could
restore the glory
00:19:14.18\00:19:16.52
when he says
that we've all sinned
00:19:16.55\00:19:19.05
and fall and short
of the glory of God.
00:19:19.09\00:19:22.99
You just think
about when Moses said,
00:19:23.02\00:19:25.29
"Oh Lord, show me your glory."
00:19:25.33\00:19:26.73
What did God do?
00:19:26.76\00:19:28.13
In Exodus 34, He
walked before Moses,
00:19:28.16\00:19:31.20
He put him in the cleft
of the rock, what did he do?
00:19:31.23\00:19:34.47
He declared his
righteous ways, his character.
00:19:34.50\00:19:39.54
He said, "The Lord, the
Lord God merciful and gracious,
00:19:39.57\00:19:42.81
long suffering,
abounding in goodness and truth,
00:19:42.84\00:19:46.18
keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity
00:19:46.21\00:19:48.92
and transgression and sin."
00:19:48.95\00:19:51.32
So to fall short, in the
Greek this is a continual,
00:19:51.35\00:19:56.09
we're always falling
short of the glory of God.
00:19:56.12\00:19:59.26
It means that you're coming
like your behind, your just...
00:19:59.29\00:20:04.47
fall coming up
short because none of us
00:20:04.50\00:20:07.20
can measure up
to the glory of God.
00:20:07.24\00:20:09.74
But John tells us in 1:14.
00:20:09.77\00:20:14.68
"The glory of God rest
in the person of Jesus."
00:20:14.71\00:20:18.25
It says, "The Word
became flesh and dwelt among us,
00:20:18.28\00:20:22.42
we beheld his glory,
00:20:22.45\00:20:24.29
the glory as of
the only begotten
00:20:24.32\00:20:27.02
of the Father, full
of grace and truth."
00:20:27.06\00:20:30.83
And II Corinthians 4:6 tells us
00:20:30.89\00:20:33.06
that Christ is the
complete revelation
00:20:33.09\00:20:35.80
of the glory of God.
00:20:35.83\00:20:37.50
It says, "For it is
the God who commanded light
00:20:37.53\00:20:40.37
to shine out of darkness
who has shown in our own hearts
00:20:40.40\00:20:44.84
to give the
light of the knowledge
00:20:44.87\00:20:46.91
of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus."
00:20:46.94\00:20:51.68
So we fall short
of the glory of God
00:20:51.71\00:20:54.05
when we do not live up
00:20:54.08\00:20:55.42
to the
sinlessness of Jesus Christ.
00:20:55.45\00:20:58.39
That's where we praise God
for grace and justification
00:20:58.42\00:21:01.96
that his perfect righteousness
is credited to our account.
00:21:01.99\00:21:07.66
But now let me quickly,
00:21:07.66\00:21:09.00
I don't know if
we've got time to do this.
00:21:09.03\00:21:10.63
The lesson says to
read Romans 3:10-18,
00:21:10.67\00:21:14.97
we'll get through
as much as we can.
00:21:15.00\00:21:16.44
But see, the Jews
received an advantage from God
00:21:16.47\00:21:19.77
and that they
received the Word from God.
00:21:19.81\00:21:21.48
But now Paul in Romans
3:10-18, quotes from the Psalms,
00:21:21.51\00:21:25.81
I say Ecclesiastics and Proverbs
00:21:25.85\00:21:28.62
as a witness against them.
00:21:28.65\00:21:30.25
And he says, Romans 3:10.
00:21:30.29\00:21:32.45
"As it is written,
there is none righteous,
00:21:32.49\00:21:34.22
no, not one."
00:21:34.26\00:21:35.59
We're all entitled as guilty.
00:21:35.62\00:21:37.63
There's no one in
proper standing with God."
00:21:37.66\00:21:40.36
Verse 11 here says,
00:21:40.40\00:21:41.70
"There's none who understands,
none who seeks after God."
00:21:41.73\00:21:44.30
We don't have
spiritual discernment
00:21:44.33\00:21:46.13
really till we are born again
00:21:46.17\00:21:48.07
and it's not until
God woos us with His love,
00:21:48.10\00:21:51.04
that man seeks after God.
00:21:51.07\00:21:53.64
He goes on to say,
"They've all turned aside,
00:21:53.71\00:21:55.74
they've come together
and become unprofitable.
00:21:55.78\00:21:59.01
There's none who
does good. No, not one."
00:21:59.05\00:22:02.22
We've gone off of the
path, we've gone out of the way,
00:22:02.25\00:22:05.79
we're like a caravan that's
crossing across the desert
00:22:05.82\00:22:11.46
and we're lost, we
just get off that path.
00:22:11.49\00:22:14.56
We're very corrupted
when we compare ourselves
00:22:14.56\00:22:16.83
to Christ Jesus.
00:22:16.87\00:22:18.20
So we can't do
anything without Him
00:22:18.23\00:22:20.64
that is of
eternal, spiritual value.
00:22:20.70\00:22:23.47
It goes on to say,
"Their throat is an open tomb,
00:22:23.51\00:22:26.74
when their tongues...
00:22:26.78\00:22:28.11
with their tongues they practice
00:22:28.14\00:22:29.51
to seek the poison of
asps is under their lips."
00:22:29.54\00:22:34.42
We're like an open
sepulcher in the stench of sin
00:22:34.45\00:22:39.12
is displayed by our mouth
and the asp had little sacks
00:22:39.15\00:22:42.82
that's a
poisonous venomous snake
00:22:42.86\00:22:45.06
had little sacks from
where he stored his poison.
00:22:45.09\00:22:49.60
So he's comparing
human speech to that.
00:22:49.63\00:22:52.77
He said, "Whose mouth is
full of cursing and bitterness
00:22:52.80\00:22:56.74
their feet are
swift to shed blood."
00:22:56.77\00:22:59.04
Did you know in
the last century,
00:22:59.07\00:23:03.04
39 million
people were lost in war?
00:23:03.08\00:23:07.12
And then conservative
estimates governments
00:23:07.15\00:23:10.19
have killed an
additional 125 million.
00:23:10.22\00:23:13.22
So it's just destruction
and misery are on their way
00:23:13.25\00:23:15.66
to path and peace,
00:23:15.69\00:23:17.03
the way of peace
they've not known
00:23:17.06\00:23:19.09
and there's no fear
of God before their eyes.
00:23:19.13\00:23:21.43
So that's the
condition of mankind.
00:23:21.46\00:23:24.77
And we can't find true
peace apart from Jesus.
00:23:24.80\00:23:28.27
So when he says,
"All who've sinned
00:23:28.30\00:23:30.57
and fallen short
of the glory of God,
00:23:30.61\00:23:32.74
we indeed are falling
short, but we can confess."
00:23:32.77\00:23:37.88
Confession is a
clearing house of the conscious
00:23:37.91\00:23:40.48
and God will raise us up again.
00:23:40.52\00:23:42.48
Thank you, Shelley. Amen.
00:23:42.52\00:23:43.85
Thank you, Shelley.
00:23:43.89\00:23:45.22
Progress, the title
of Tuesday's lesson.
00:23:45.25\00:23:48.92
Very important
title because I believe
00:23:48.96\00:23:51.93
as I study the lesson,
the more things change,
00:23:51.96\00:23:55.03
the more they stay the same.
00:23:55.06\00:23:56.83
And the wise man Solomon said,
00:23:56.90\00:23:58.43
"There is nothing
new under the sun."
00:23:58.47\00:24:00.74
And the Apostle
Paul, in unfolding to us
00:24:00.77\00:24:04.31
the chapter of
Romans 1, and by the way,
00:24:04.34\00:24:07.84
it's an extensive
chapter, we're going to...
00:24:07.88\00:24:09.31
I think deal with
this in two parts.
00:24:09.34\00:24:12.05
Romans 1 brings the
past and the present together
00:24:12.08\00:24:18.19
in a very striking
manner, what it does...
00:24:18.22\00:24:21.06
and the writer of the lesson
pointed out that education
00:24:21.09\00:24:24.23
and moral
training is not sufficient
00:24:24.26\00:24:26.93
to remedy the issue of sin.
00:24:27.00\00:24:28.53
Amen. That's right.
00:24:28.56\00:24:29.90
People, you know,
get very well educated,
00:24:29.93\00:24:31.73
get positions to
climb the ladder in society
00:24:31.77\00:24:35.34
and whatever the
position they may be in,
00:24:35.37\00:24:37.74
but we'll discover
that no matter how high
00:24:37.77\00:24:39.84
or how low they are the
moral fiber is the same,
00:24:39.87\00:24:43.04
all have sinned and fallen short
00:24:43.08\00:24:44.61
of the glory of God.
00:24:44.65\00:24:45.98
And, Shelley, thank
you for pointing that out.
00:24:46.01\00:24:47.48
Romans 3:23.
00:24:47.52\00:24:49.65
But as I go to Romans 1,
00:24:49.68\00:24:52.59
I'd like you to
turn there with me
00:24:52.62\00:24:54.46
because Romans 1 outlines...
00:24:54.49\00:24:57.29
Romans one, Jill,
sounds like today.
00:24:57.33\00:25:00.86
Yes, it does.
00:25:00.93\00:25:02.23
I mean, Panel,
it sounds like today
00:25:02.26\00:25:03.97
because the things
that Paul talked about,
00:25:04.00\00:25:06.74
he takes a page out of the past,
00:25:06.77\00:25:10.21
he goes back to
the antediluvian world,
00:25:10.24\00:25:12.71
he takes a page
out of the present,
00:25:12.74\00:25:14.51
he takes a page
out of Noah's day,
00:25:14.54\00:25:16.54
he pulls it all together,
00:25:16.58\00:25:17.91
and then he talks
about how this is still
00:25:17.95\00:25:19.95
a prevalent issue
in the Church of Rome.
00:25:20.02\00:25:22.45
And we find thinking that well,
00:25:22.48\00:25:24.72
if it was so many
thousands of years ago,
00:25:24.75\00:25:27.26
it could be resolved by
now, but it's still today
00:25:27.29\00:25:30.13
and the thing that
connects the past to the present
00:25:30.16\00:25:32.03
is human nature is the
same in every generation.
00:25:32.06\00:25:34.60
That's true. Well said.
00:25:34.63\00:25:35.96
It doesn't change.
Human nature is the same.
00:25:36.00\00:25:37.77
But let's look at
some of the symptoms
00:25:37.80\00:25:39.30
and I want to point this out
because I would lead into that
00:25:39.33\00:25:42.64
by saying there
is no depth to which
00:25:42.67\00:25:44.94
we can fall
when sin reigns in us
00:25:44.97\00:25:47.48
but I would also tag that
by saying there is no height,
00:25:47.54\00:25:51.55
there's no limit to the
height which we can rise
00:25:51.58\00:25:54.08
when righteousness reigns in us.
00:25:54.12\00:25:56.15
So we're looking at the
depth of human degradation
00:25:56.18\00:25:58.75
but the height of
Christ's righteousness.
00:25:58.79\00:26:01.49
But the ladder between the
two is the condition of the mind
00:26:01.52\00:26:04.53
and how we
receive the things of God.
00:26:04.56\00:26:06.43
Notice, he
points out in verse 22,
00:26:06.46\00:26:08.80
and this has often
been the Achilles' heel,
00:26:08.83\00:26:11.87
when a person becomes
intellectually recharged
00:26:11.90\00:26:17.01
or when a person comes to
the place where they have...
00:26:17.04\00:26:22.11
Excuse me, for saying
this and I have to say it,
00:26:22.14\00:26:26.05
intellectually constipated.
00:26:26.08\00:26:29.55
We've got to clear our minds
00:26:29.58\00:26:30.92
of the things
that we put in there
00:26:30.99\00:26:32.92
to make room for what
Christ wants to put in there.
00:26:32.95\00:26:37.46
Romans 1:22 says it so clearly.
00:26:37.53\00:26:41.20
Professing themselves,
as the King James Version,
00:26:41.23\00:26:43.97
I want to quote that,
00:26:44.03\00:26:45.37
"Professing
themselves to be wise
00:26:45.40\00:26:46.94
they became fools,
professing to be wise."
00:26:47.00\00:26:50.87
In other words,
wisdom of this age,
00:26:50.91\00:26:52.87
the Bible uses, as Paul said,
00:26:52.91\00:26:55.54
Jesus uses the
simple things of the world
00:26:55.58\00:26:58.95
to profound the
minds of the wise.
00:26:58.98\00:27:02.22
He uses the base
things of the world
00:27:02.25\00:27:04.92
to bring a quandary to
the very highly educated.
00:27:04.95\00:27:08.72
And so there is nothing
that's simple in God's sight
00:27:08.76\00:27:11.56
but sometimes when
people gain understanding
00:27:11.59\00:27:13.73
and knowledge, they
think that the Word of God
00:27:13.76\00:27:16.43
can be replaced
now with a wiser mind.
00:27:16.46\00:27:19.03
And today, it almost
seems out of step, Jill,
00:27:19.07\00:27:24.61
to not question God.
00:27:24.64\00:27:26.68
People, I've heard people say,
00:27:26.71\00:27:28.44
"Well, the reason
why you're a Christian
00:27:28.48\00:27:29.81
is because you don't
question what you believe."
00:27:29.84\00:27:31.98
Well, the reason
why I am Christian
00:27:32.01\00:27:34.35
is because I've questioned
it and I've discovered
00:27:34.38\00:27:36.89
that God's wisdom
is higher than mine.
00:27:36.92\00:27:38.85
Amen.
00:27:38.89\00:27:40.26
So not a lack of
question but what happens
00:27:40.29\00:27:42.52
when you look at God's truth
and you choose to reject it,
00:27:42.56\00:27:46.09
look at verse 23,
then all of a sudden
00:27:46.13\00:27:48.63
transitions begin to take place.
00:27:48.66\00:27:50.13
And we'll see in
verses 24 down to 32,
00:27:50.17\00:27:52.90
that the conditions of today
are a direct result of people
00:27:52.93\00:27:56.97
challenging and
ignoring the plain Word of God.
00:27:57.01\00:28:00.34
It says, "And changed the
glory of the uncorruptible God
00:28:00.41\00:28:04.38
into an image made
like corruptible man,
00:28:04.41\00:28:07.08
and birds, and
four footed beasts,
00:28:07.15\00:28:09.82
and creeping things."
00:28:09.85\00:28:11.19
In other words,
the creature is now
00:28:11.22\00:28:14.19
the creator is now
subpar to the creation,
00:28:14.22\00:28:18.39
they change his glory.
00:28:18.43\00:28:20.26
I could use an example today.
00:28:20.33\00:28:21.63
One firefighter
made this comment
00:28:21.66\00:28:23.67
when he was called to
rescue a kitten from a tree.
00:28:23.70\00:28:27.34
Everybody was up in arms,
00:28:27.37\00:28:28.70
this kitten got stuck
in a tree, and he said,
00:28:28.74\00:28:32.24
"What would happen in society
00:28:32.27\00:28:34.11
if we had the same
compassion towards each other
00:28:34.18\00:28:36.88
as we had toward a
kitten caught in tree?"
00:28:36.95\00:28:39.11
Amen.
00:28:39.15\00:28:40.52
If a duck got caught in a
drain and it made the news,
00:28:40.55\00:28:43.99
but the person
laying on the sidewalk
00:28:44.02\00:28:45.75
who is down and
out and has lost hope
00:28:45.79\00:28:48.69
is often ignored by those of
us who pass them by as the story
00:28:48.72\00:28:52.46
of the Good
Samaritan also points out.
00:28:52.49\00:28:54.63
What else happened?
Look at Romans 1:24.
00:28:54.66\00:28:58.33
So this is a transitional stage
00:28:58.37\00:28:59.77
because we've read in the Bible.
00:28:59.80\00:29:01.20
The Bible says, "I
will never leave you
00:29:01.24\00:29:03.07
nor forsake you."
00:29:03.10\00:29:04.57
But now as we read
these verses here coming up,
00:29:04.61\00:29:07.34
I want to prophesy by saying,
00:29:07.41\00:29:08.91
what's happening
in our world today,
00:29:08.94\00:29:10.41
and let's just go to
put the issue on the table
00:29:10.48\00:29:12.35
that I want to address,
00:29:12.38\00:29:13.75
with this push
for same sex marriage.
00:29:13.78\00:29:17.02
There is a transitional
stage because God made man
00:29:17.05\00:29:20.09
and made woman
00:29:20.12\00:29:21.46
that one man and
woman are joined together
00:29:21.49\00:29:23.32
in a Godly
relationship in marriage.
00:29:23.36\00:29:25.59
They are to reveal the
image of God in the human race.
00:29:25.63\00:29:29.53
But one man and
man are joined together
00:29:29.56\00:29:31.30
and woman and woman
are joined together,
00:29:31.33\00:29:33.07
you cannot
complete the image of God
00:29:33.10\00:29:35.67
because He made
the maleness of man
00:29:35.70\00:29:37.87
and the femaleness of
woman to reflect his divinity.
00:29:37.91\00:29:42.61
What happened?
00:29:42.64\00:29:43.98
And when men choose to ignore
00:29:44.05\00:29:45.55
the reflection of God's divinity
00:29:45.58\00:29:47.12
by same sex, same
sex, what does God do?
00:29:47.15\00:29:51.02
Look at verse 24,
"Therefore God also gave them up
00:29:51.05\00:29:55.62
to uncleanness in the
lust of their own hearts
00:29:55.66\00:29:59.63
to dishonor their
bodies among themselves
00:29:59.66\00:30:02.83
who exchanged the
truth of God for the lie."
00:30:02.86\00:30:07.24
Male and female, they changed it
00:30:07.30\00:30:09.17
for male and male
and female and female.
00:30:09.20\00:30:12.04
And it says, "And
worship and serve the creature
00:30:12.07\00:30:15.18
rather than the creator
who is blessed for ever.
00:30:15.21\00:30:18.05
Amen."
00:30:18.08\00:30:19.41
But let's go on further.
00:30:19.45\00:30:21.22
"For this reason, God
gave them up to vile passions,
00:30:21.25\00:30:24.52
for even their women
exchanged the natural use
00:30:24.55\00:30:28.69
for what is against nature.
00:30:28.72\00:30:30.89
Likewise also,"
verse 27. Excuse me.
00:30:30.93\00:30:33.76
"The men leaving the
natural use of the woman,
00:30:33.80\00:30:37.00
burned in their
lust for one another,
00:30:37.03\00:30:39.90
men with men committing
what is shameful and receiving
00:30:39.97\00:30:43.64
in themselves the penalty
of their error which was due."
00:30:43.67\00:30:47.91
Is that today
or not? Absolutely.
00:30:47.94\00:30:50.08
That's the
condition of our world today.
00:30:50.11\00:30:51.78
And so in our society...
00:30:51.81\00:30:53.21
I was recently
doing a series of meetings
00:30:53.25\00:30:55.18
and I said to the congregants,
00:30:55.22\00:30:57.52
"Never should the
church get to the place
00:30:57.55\00:30:59.49
where we are
conciliatory with sin.
00:30:59.52\00:31:03.09
We should not
teach acceptance of sin,
00:31:03.12\00:31:08.16
we should continue to
teach deliverance from sin."
00:31:08.20\00:31:11.47
Amen. Amen.
00:31:11.50\00:31:12.87
Because acceptance of
sin brings us to the place
00:31:12.90\00:31:15.64
where we bring God
down to the creature
00:31:15.67\00:31:19.31
rather than exalt
him to the creator
00:31:19.34\00:31:21.31
who is blessed
forever, but it goes on.
00:31:21.34\00:31:23.95
And here's the reason
why this condition exists.
00:31:24.01\00:31:27.52
Paul calls it progress
00:31:27.58\00:31:29.32
and I think
with a question mark.
00:31:29.35\00:31:30.79
"Progress?"
00:31:30.85\00:31:32.19
Let's look at this, verse 28,
"And even as they did not like
00:31:32.22\00:31:38.56
to retain God in
their knowledge."
00:31:38.59\00:31:41.36
In other words,
they knew about them
00:31:41.40\00:31:42.90
but they didn't want to keep
his thoughts in their minds.
00:31:42.93\00:31:45.60
"God gave them
over to a debased mind
00:31:45.63\00:31:49.80
to do those things
which are not fitting."
00:31:49.84\00:31:52.44
What's not fitting?
Verse 29, "Being filled."
00:31:52.47\00:31:56.81
And I want you to notice
how now it expands the category.
00:31:56.88\00:31:59.65
Yes, amen.
00:31:59.68\00:32:01.08
Because the earlier verses
talk about sexual immorality
00:32:01.12\00:32:03.28
and perversion but
the Lord is saying now,
00:32:03.32\00:32:06.05
"If you think that
that's the only thing
00:32:06.09\00:32:07.66
that I'm upset
about," let's keep going.
00:32:07.69\00:32:09.52
Yes.
00:32:09.56\00:32:10.93
"Being filled with
all unrighteousness,
00:32:10.96\00:32:13.80
sexual immorality,"
00:32:13.83\00:32:15.50
reiterate it from
the verses before,
00:32:15.53\00:32:17.83
but look at this, "Wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness,"
00:32:17.87\00:32:23.51
that's greed, "full of envy,
00:32:23.57\00:32:28.28
murder, strife, deceit,
00:32:28.31\00:32:30.85
evil mindedness,
they are whisperers,
00:32:30.91\00:32:35.45
backbiters, haters of
God, violent proud boasters,
00:32:35.48\00:32:41.09
inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents."
00:32:41.12\00:32:45.73
Somebody tell
me to stop already.
00:32:45.76\00:32:48.00
I mean, this list is
just, it's concentrated.
00:32:48.03\00:32:50.83
See, this is sin in God's sight.
00:32:50.90\00:32:53.67
Verse 31, "Undiscerning."
00:32:53.70\00:32:55.94
That means they don't have
understanding, "Untrustworthy,
00:32:55.97\00:32:58.51
unloving,
unforgiving, unmerciful
00:32:58.54\00:33:01.01
who knowing the
righteous judgment of God
00:33:01.04\00:33:04.31
that those who
practice such things
00:33:04.35\00:33:06.21
are worthy of death
not only do the same,"
00:33:06.25\00:33:08.95
but here's, I want to
point this out as I transition,
00:33:08.98\00:33:11.99
"But also approve of
those who practice it."
00:33:12.02\00:33:14.26
Now let me tell
what that means to me.
00:33:14.29\00:33:17.36
You may not do
any of these things
00:33:17.43\00:33:19.19
in a practicing way
but if you watch it...
00:33:19.23\00:33:22.26
Amen. It's good.
00:33:22.30\00:33:24.27
If you support it,
00:33:24.30\00:33:26.17
if this becomes
your entertainment,
00:33:26.20\00:33:28.44
you are in the same category.
00:33:28.47\00:33:30.17
That's right.
00:33:30.21\00:33:31.54
I may not do it, but I'm
going to pay money to see it.
00:33:31.57\00:33:34.08
I'm going to watch it.
00:33:34.14\00:33:36.24
So the Lord is
saying we can't even approve
00:33:36.28\00:33:38.45
of those practices by
lending our support in any way.
00:33:38.48\00:33:42.82
Progress, the only
way we get progress, Jill,
00:33:42.85\00:33:45.89
is by keeping our eyes fixed
on the righteousness of Christ.
00:33:45.92\00:33:49.06
Amen. Well done, Pastor John.
00:33:49.09\00:33:51.76
On Wednesday, we look at
00:33:51.79\00:33:53.13
what Jews and
Gentiles share in common.
00:33:53.16\00:33:56.70
And when we get
to the end of it,
00:33:56.73\00:33:58.40
we're going to
discover it's the sin problem
00:33:58.43\00:34:01.04
that Shelley talked
about, all have sinned
00:34:01.07\00:34:03.44
and fallen short
of the glory of God.
00:34:03.51\00:34:05.37
But first, before
we jump into that,
00:34:05.41\00:34:07.48
let's look at the
advantages that the Jews had.
00:34:07.51\00:34:09.98
Let's look at Romans 3:1.
00:34:10.05\00:34:13.72
What was the
advantage that they had?
00:34:13.75\00:34:15.88
And when I read here, I know
00:34:15.92\00:34:17.29
Paul is
specifically talking to the Jews
00:34:17.32\00:34:19.85
but I think in a
special sense, we could say
00:34:19.89\00:34:22.52
he's also referring
to us as Christians.
00:34:22.56\00:34:24.23
That's right.
00:34:24.26\00:34:25.59
Romans 1 talks about
the judgment on the gentiles
00:34:25.63\00:34:28.33
and what they did specifically
in that whole list of sins
00:34:28.36\00:34:32.53
which is really heavy.
00:34:32.57\00:34:33.90
But we're
looking now at the Jews
00:34:33.94\00:34:35.37
or you could say the Christians.
00:34:35.40\00:34:36.77
We like to think we're
above that a little bit.
00:34:36.81\00:34:38.81
So Romans 3:1,
00:34:38.84\00:34:41.61
"What advantage
then has the Jew?
00:34:41.64\00:34:44.65
Or what is the
profit of circumcision?
00:34:44.68\00:34:47.72
Much in every way, chiefly
because to them we're committed
00:34:47.75\00:34:53.66
the oracles of God."
00:34:53.72\00:34:55.92
The Jews had an
advantage, a huge advantage
00:34:55.96\00:34:58.76
over the gentiles at that time.
00:34:58.79\00:35:01.53
And what was their advantage?
00:35:01.56\00:35:02.93
They knew the Word of God.
00:35:02.96\00:35:04.30
The Old Testament scriptures,
they had studied and they knew.
00:35:04.33\00:35:09.00
They had the
advantage to them was entrusted.
00:35:09.04\00:35:11.34
What's she say,
the oracles of God,
00:35:11.37\00:35:14.18
the Word of God
was entrusted to them.
00:35:14.21\00:35:16.78
But with much responsibility,
with much advantage,
00:35:16.85\00:35:21.62
comes much responsibility.
00:35:21.65\00:35:24.09
Turn the Bible
to Luke chapter 12.
00:35:24.12\00:35:26.59
And then we'll
come back to Romans.
00:35:26.62\00:35:27.96
Luke chapter 12,
they had great advantages
00:35:27.99\00:35:31.26
because they
had the Word of God.
00:35:31.29\00:35:33.26
But with that
advantage, comes responsibility.
00:35:33.29\00:35:36.10
Luke 12:48.
00:35:36.13\00:35:42.00
You have that, Pastor? Yes.
00:35:42.04\00:35:43.87
Oh, which one? Either Pastor.
00:35:43.91\00:35:45.77
Okay, CA, go for it.
00:35:45.81\00:35:48.41
Luke chapter 12,
I'm reading verse 48.
00:35:48.44\00:35:50.41
The Bible says,
"But he who did not know,
00:35:50.45\00:35:53.52
yet committed things
deserving of stripes,
00:35:53.58\00:35:56.28
shall be beaten with few.
00:35:56.32\00:35:58.22
For everyone to
whom much is given,
00:35:58.25\00:36:00.69
from him much will be required,
00:36:00.72\00:36:03.86
and to whom much
has been committed,
00:36:03.89\00:36:06.06
of him they will ask the more."
00:36:06.09\00:36:09.73
You know, as Seventh Day
Adventist Christians today,
00:36:09.76\00:36:13.44
God has committed to
us much light, much truth.
00:36:13.47\00:36:17.87
We could say we
have a knowledge of sin
00:36:17.91\00:36:20.48
and salvation.
00:36:20.51\00:36:21.84
We have a knowledge
of Jesus and His Word.
00:36:21.88\00:36:24.38
We have a knowledge of
God's grace in his law.
00:36:24.41\00:36:26.82
Or we should have a
knowledge of all these things.
00:36:26.85\00:36:28.98
We should have a knowledge
of His high priestly ministry
00:36:29.02\00:36:32.19
in the heavenly sanctuary
right now interceding for us
00:36:32.22\00:36:36.06
in his work since 1844,
with the day of atonement,
00:36:36.09\00:36:39.56
with that work.
00:36:39.59\00:36:40.93
We should have a
knowledge of the Sabbath
00:36:40.96\00:36:42.50
and the sanctuary truth
and the state of the dead
00:36:42.53\00:36:45.03
that when we die, we
sleep until resurrection
00:36:45.07\00:36:49.30
and God calls us forth.
00:36:49.34\00:36:50.67
We have this advantage.
00:36:50.71\00:36:52.04
But with that, to
whom much is given,
00:36:52.07\00:36:54.44
much will be required.
00:36:54.48\00:36:56.95
Let's jump back to Romans.
00:36:57.01\00:36:59.68
Romans chapter
2, we're looking at
00:36:59.71\00:37:03.82
what Jews and
gentiles share in common.
00:37:03.85\00:37:05.92
So we know that the
Jews had a great advantage
00:37:05.95\00:37:08.89
because they possess
knowledge of the Word of God.
00:37:08.92\00:37:11.86
And then Romans 2:24.
00:37:11.89\00:37:14.93
But with that
knowledge of the Word of God,
00:37:14.96\00:37:17.40
look at verse 24,
"For the name of God
00:37:17.47\00:37:20.14
is blasphemed among the
Gentiles because of you."
00:37:20.17\00:37:25.37
That's heavy, Pastor John.
00:37:25.41\00:37:27.08
When I read that, that's heavy.
00:37:27.11\00:37:28.44
The name of God been
blasphemed because of them.
00:37:28.48\00:37:32.48
So I want to look
what is the sin of Jews
00:37:32.51\00:37:34.58
in particular.
00:37:34.62\00:37:35.95
In our time, I want to
look at four sins of the Jews.
00:37:35.98\00:37:38.82
And this is just
from Romans chapter 2.
00:37:38.85\00:37:41.29
The first sin is, Romans 2:1.
00:37:41.32\00:37:43.83
Now in the first
part of Romans 2,
00:37:43.86\00:37:45.36
this can refer to
Jews and gentiles.
00:37:45.39\00:37:47.30
I know specifically Paul
gets to the Jews in verse 17
00:37:47.40\00:37:50.97
so this first one
could refer to either one.
00:37:51.00\00:37:53.40
Romans 2:1, "Therefore
you are inexcusable, oh, man,
00:37:53.44\00:37:59.91
whoever you are who
judge, for in whatever you judge
00:37:59.94\00:38:04.18
another you condemn yourself,
00:38:04.21\00:38:07.05
for you who judge
practice the same things."
00:38:07.08\00:38:10.35
Have you ever
noticed, Miss Mollie,
00:38:10.42\00:38:11.75
that if you're
irritated at a behavior
00:38:11.79\00:38:14.19
in someone else usually...
00:38:14.22\00:38:16.42
It's right out of you.
00:38:16.46\00:38:18.39
It's because you
do the same behavior.
00:38:18.43\00:38:21.16
If something bugs
me, usually it's because
00:38:21.20\00:38:24.07
I'm doing the very same thing
00:38:24.10\00:38:25.97
that bothers me in someone else.
00:38:26.00\00:38:31.04
Paul says, "You are
inexcusable, O man,"
00:38:31.07\00:38:34.94
that word for
inexcusable occurs twice.
00:38:34.98\00:38:38.08
And actually once it
occurs in Romans 1:20
00:38:38.11\00:38:41.32
and the second
time in Romans 2:1.
00:38:41.35\00:38:43.32
In Romans 1:20, I know,
you did that, Pastor John.
00:38:43.39\00:38:46.76
But it says that, Romans 1:20,
00:38:46.79\00:38:49.06
since the creation of the world,
00:38:49.09\00:38:50.73
his invisible
attributes are clearly seen,
00:38:50.76\00:38:52.96
been understood by
the things that are made,
00:38:52.99\00:38:55.30
even his eternal
power in God had,
00:38:55.33\00:38:57.17
so that they are without excuse.
00:38:57.23\00:39:00.27
That word is the same
as used in Romans 2:1.
00:39:00.30\00:39:03.97
You are inexcusable.
00:39:04.04\00:39:06.37
It means without
rational or convincing argument.
00:39:06.41\00:39:09.94
It describes
really the helplessness
00:39:09.98\00:39:11.71
of trying to
defend that case in court
00:39:11.75\00:39:14.88
where lacking in
adequate defense.
00:39:14.92\00:39:17.69
So the first sin of Jews
00:39:17.72\00:39:19.29
and this could
be Jews or gentiles,
00:39:19.32\00:39:21.19
is the sin of
judging other people,
00:39:21.22\00:39:23.96
the sin of
looking at what they think
00:39:23.99\00:39:26.96
is the sin in someone
else and not seen as it says.
00:39:27.03\00:39:30.57
And the Sermon on the Mount,
the mote in your own eyes,
00:39:30.60\00:39:34.14
not seeing the
beam in your own eyes,
00:39:34.17\00:39:35.90
and judging someone else.
00:39:35.94\00:39:37.41
The second sin we
find in Romans 2:17,
00:39:37.44\00:39:41.68
now this is
specifically to the Jews.
00:39:41.71\00:39:43.98
Romans 2:17, "Indeed
you are called a Jew,
00:39:44.05\00:39:47.95
and rest on the law,
and make your boast in God."
00:39:47.98\00:39:52.32
The second sin is favoritism,
thinking they would get a pass
00:39:52.35\00:39:56.29
or get favoritism
from God in the judgment.
00:39:56.32\00:40:00.13
They mistakenly believed
00:40:00.20\00:40:01.63
that since they
were God's chosen people,
00:40:01.66\00:40:04.23
He would show them
favoritism in the judgment.
00:40:04.27\00:40:07.77
Romans 2:11, though, says what,
00:40:07.80\00:40:09.84
"There is no
partiality with God."
00:40:09.87\00:40:14.48
All are equal, Jew,
Greek. Jew, gentile whatever,
00:40:14.51\00:40:19.41
we are equal before God.
00:40:19.45\00:40:20.78
There is not partiality.
00:40:20.82\00:40:22.55
We would not get a favoritism
or a pass in the judgment
00:40:22.58\00:40:25.35
because we have
the oracles of God
00:40:25.39\00:40:27.42
or because we know the truth.
00:40:27.46\00:40:29.02
Number three is not
practicing what they preach.
00:40:29.06\00:40:33.09
Now Paul, in the
book of Romans, of course,
00:40:33.13\00:40:35.90
is an incredible document,
00:40:35.93\00:40:38.60
theological
treaties you could say.
00:40:38.63\00:40:41.50
We mentioned on
our previous program
00:40:41.54\00:40:43.64
that Romans is one of the...
00:40:43.67\00:40:46.61
It was written about the
time of two of the gospels,
00:40:46.64\00:40:48.68
I believe.
00:40:48.71\00:40:50.08
But Paul is really
00:40:50.11\00:40:51.45
one of the first
New Testament writers
00:40:51.48\00:40:52.81
if you look at
all the other books
00:40:52.85\00:40:54.18
in the New
Testament, now I know,
00:40:54.22\00:40:55.55
this is written about the
time of a couple of the gospels
00:40:55.58\00:40:57.65
but you think at that
time, they had people going out
00:40:57.69\00:41:00.46
and preaching,
sharing the gospel,
00:41:00.49\00:41:03.36
the message of the
Messiah, the message of Jesus,
00:41:03.43\00:41:06.09
but they did not have a lot
of written down theological...
00:41:06.13\00:41:11.53
what's the word I'm looking for,
00:41:11.57\00:41:12.90
theological
scripture, documentation.
00:41:12.93\00:41:15.24
They had the Old Testament.
00:41:15.27\00:41:16.71
But I think
Paul, in special way,
00:41:16.77\00:41:18.57
pulled from the Old
Testament scriptures
00:41:18.61\00:41:20.58
trying to lay our foundation
for the Christian church
00:41:20.64\00:41:23.71
and for what they believed.
00:41:23.75\00:41:25.08
And we see that in
the book of Romans,
00:41:25.11\00:41:26.68
but not only does it
lay it out theologically,
00:41:26.72\00:41:29.22
but Paul is a great writer
just in the way he writes.
00:41:29.25\00:41:33.15
And he uses something
called diatribe in here.
00:41:33.19\00:41:36.22
He uses it
several different times
00:41:36.26\00:41:38.63
in the book of Romans.
00:41:38.66\00:41:40.30
And diatribe is
creating dialogue
00:41:40.36\00:41:42.66
with a fictitious opponent.
00:41:42.70\00:41:45.60
It can be violent
or bitter criticism
00:41:45.63\00:41:47.84
but really it's a
rhetorical device.
00:41:47.87\00:41:50.07
He used against the group
or a person or an institution
00:41:50.14\00:41:53.41
or behavior, trying
to create that dialogue.
00:41:53.44\00:41:56.08
So what he's doing here,
he's creating that diatribe.
00:41:56.11\00:41:59.28
We're in Romans 2:18
00:41:59.31\00:42:04.49
although it
doesn't pick up till 21,
00:42:04.52\00:42:06.12
but let's do 18.
00:42:06.15\00:42:07.49
"And know His will, and approve
the things that are excellent,
00:42:07.56\00:42:11.16
being instructed out of the law,
00:42:11.19\00:42:12.86
and are confident that
you yourself are a guide
00:42:12.89\00:42:15.23
to the blind, a light to
those who are in darkness."
00:42:15.26\00:42:18.07
So they thought
we have the truth,
00:42:18.10\00:42:19.50
we the oracles of God, we
know what we're talking about.
00:42:19.53\00:42:22.74
"An instructor of the
foolish, a teacher of babes,
00:42:22.77\00:42:25.34
having the form of
knowledge and truth in the law."
00:42:25.37\00:42:27.84
They said we
really have it together.
00:42:27.88\00:42:29.84
And then, here
comes the diatribe.
00:42:29.88\00:42:31.81
They're not
practicing what they preach.
00:42:31.85\00:42:33.82
"You, therefore,
who teach another,
00:42:33.88\00:42:35.88
do you not teach yourself?
00:42:35.92\00:42:38.32
You who preach that a man
should not steal, do you steal?
00:42:38.35\00:42:42.02
You who say do
not commit adultery,
00:42:42.06\00:42:44.29
do you commit adultery?
00:42:44.33\00:42:46.33
You who abhor
idols, do you rob temples?
00:42:46.36\00:42:49.56
You who make
your boast in the law,
00:42:49.60\00:42:51.53
do you dishonor God through
the breaking of the law?"
00:42:51.57\00:42:55.80
So number one for the sin
of the Jews was judging others.
00:42:55.84\00:42:58.74
Number two,
thinking they'd get a pass
00:42:58.77\00:43:00.78
or favoritism in the judgment.
00:43:00.81\00:43:02.54
Number three, not practicing
what they themselves preached.
00:43:02.58\00:43:06.55
And number four was
outwardly obeying the law
00:43:06.58\00:43:09.28
but not obeying from the heart.
00:43:09.32\00:43:11.22
We see then in Romans 2:28.
00:43:11.25\00:43:12.95
"He is not a Jew
who is one outwardly
00:43:12.99\00:43:16.12
nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh,
00:43:16.16\00:43:18.59
but he is a Jew
who is one inwardly,
00:43:18.63\00:43:21.30
and circumcision is that
of the heart, in the Spirit,
00:43:21.33\00:43:24.43
not in the latter, whose praise
is not from men but from God."
00:43:24.47\00:43:28.47
So Wednesdays is what the Jews
and gentiles share in common.
00:43:28.50\00:43:32.37
They share the problem with sin.
00:43:32.41\00:43:34.44
They share the problem with sin.
00:43:34.48\00:43:35.81
But praise the Lord, our lesson
this week does not end there
00:43:35.84\00:43:39.21
because when we have sin,
00:43:39.25\00:43:41.22
we can repent
and go to the Savior.
00:43:41.25\00:43:43.18
And I think that's
where you have, Molly.
00:43:43.22\00:43:44.55
Yes.
00:43:44.59\00:43:45.92
Thursday is the
gospel and repentance.
00:43:45.95\00:43:48.26
Now Shelley
brought out the scripture,
00:43:48.29\00:43:51.06
"All have sinned
and fall in short
00:43:51.09\00:43:53.90
of glory of God."
00:43:53.96\00:43:55.26
And I think you've
mentioned it as well.
00:43:55.30\00:43:57.50
And I can
remember so many times,
00:43:57.53\00:44:02.10
I have prayed, "Oh, God,
00:44:02.14\00:44:03.61
give me a fresh
revelation of the person
00:44:03.64\00:44:05.47
of Lord Jesus Christ."
00:44:05.51\00:44:07.61
Remember when you first make
Jesus the Lord of your life,
00:44:07.64\00:44:10.08
how really was to
you and how your heart
00:44:10.15\00:44:12.78
just would sing and
rejoice before the Lord.
00:44:12.81\00:44:15.55
And so I've prayed that...
00:44:15.58\00:44:16.92
But you know, I
think I might need to pray,
00:44:16.99\00:44:18.92
"God, give me your
fresh revelation of my heart."
00:44:18.95\00:44:22.66
Oh, Lord, that my heart...
00:44:22.69\00:44:25.63
what is your
heart? It's deceitful.
00:44:25.66\00:44:28.96
And so, "Lord, don't
let my heart deceive me.
00:44:29.00\00:44:32.13
Show me,"
because if you don't know
00:44:32.17\00:44:36.54
you need to repent,
you're not going to repent.
00:44:36.57\00:44:39.47
And what I'm looking at
is the gospel and repentance.
00:44:39.51\00:44:42.38
And I want us to start
out, go to II Peter 3:9.
00:44:42.41\00:44:46.88
I want us to start
with that scripture.
00:44:46.92\00:44:49.18
We're going to
start with II Peter 3:9.
00:44:49.22\00:44:52.82
And my intention is
to end with II Peter 3:9.
00:44:52.85\00:44:56.26
II Peter 3:9 says,
00:44:56.29\00:44:58.53
"The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise,
00:44:58.56\00:45:02.56
as some count slackness.
00:45:02.60\00:45:04.37
But is longsuffering toward us,
00:45:04.40\00:45:07.64
not willing that
any should perish,
00:45:07.67\00:45:09.94
but that," what?
00:45:10.01\00:45:11.37
"All should come to repentance."
00:45:11.41\00:45:13.48
So what is God's
perfect will for everybody?
00:45:13.51\00:45:16.24
Oh, He doesn't
want anybody to be lost.
00:45:16.28\00:45:18.35
He wants us all to
come to repentance.
00:45:18.38\00:45:21.35
That's right. Now, Romans 2:24.
00:45:21.38\00:45:25.12
Oh, talking about repentance.
00:45:25.15\00:45:27.36
Romans 2:4...
00:45:27.39\00:45:28.92
I'm sorry, it's Romans 2:4.
00:45:28.96\00:45:32.59
And we talk about
scriptures we love.
00:45:32.63\00:45:35.06
And see, I think there are times
00:45:35.10\00:45:37.57
when we need to love this word.
00:45:37.60\00:45:39.67
This word, oh, is the
person, the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:45:39.70\00:45:42.70
I love this scripture.
00:45:42.74\00:45:44.07
"Or do you despise the riches
of His goodness, forbearance,
00:45:44.11\00:45:48.71
and longsuffering, not
knowing that the goodness of God
00:45:48.74\00:45:54.22
leads you to repentance?"
00:45:54.28\00:45:56.45
Oh, God, first show me
the condition of my heart
00:45:56.48\00:45:59.39
so that I'll
know I need to repent.
00:45:59.42\00:46:01.49
Oh, Father, you wouldn't
have any of us to be lost.
00:46:01.52\00:46:04.26
Now, Father, oh,
it's your goodness
00:46:04.29\00:46:06.76
that leads me to repentance.
00:46:06.83\00:46:08.43
See, God uses no
coercion, no force.
00:46:08.46\00:46:12.40
He is patient and
draws us by His love.
00:46:12.43\00:46:16.44
Amen.
00:46:16.47\00:46:17.87
The biblical
definition of repentance
00:46:17.91\00:46:20.78
is to change one's mind.
00:46:20.81\00:46:24.65
The Bible tells us
that when a person repents,
00:46:24.68\00:46:28.35
his or her actions change.
00:46:28.38\00:46:31.85
Acts 3:19 says,
"Repent then and turn to God,
00:46:31.89\00:46:37.03
so that your sins may
be wiped out that times
00:46:37.06\00:46:41.16
of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord."
00:46:41.20\00:46:47.14
There's a difference
in confessing our sins
00:46:47.20\00:46:50.87
and repenting of our sins.
00:46:50.91\00:46:52.24
Absolutely. That's right.
00:46:52.27\00:46:53.64
The word confession, I
may give you the definition.
00:46:53.68\00:46:56.31
Confession: a formal
statement admitting that
00:46:56.34\00:47:01.12
one is guilty of a crime.
00:47:01.15\00:47:02.82
"Yes, I did that."
00:47:02.85\00:47:04.22
Sometimes, we
say, "Yes, I did that
00:47:04.25\00:47:05.99
and I'm glad that I did."
00:47:06.02\00:47:07.62
That is not
repentance, that's confession.
00:47:07.69\00:47:10.96
If we confess our
sins, you knew, I'd say this,
00:47:10.99\00:47:14.00
He is faithful and just
to forgive us of our sins
00:47:14.03\00:47:17.57
and then cleanses
from all unrighteousness.
00:47:17.60\00:47:21.10
But that cleansing process
requires something on our part.
00:47:21.14\00:47:25.11
Did you all know
that? That's right.
00:47:25.14\00:47:26.47
That's the
repentance. That's right.
00:47:26.51\00:47:28.28
Repentance, here's the
definition of repentance.
00:47:28.31\00:47:31.35
"To turn from sin
and dedicate oneself
00:47:31.38\00:47:35.65
to the amendment of one's life,
00:47:35.68\00:47:37.99
to feel regret or contrition
to change one's mind."
00:47:38.02\00:47:44.43
Amen.
00:47:44.46\00:47:45.79
So you can go before the Lord,
00:47:45.83\00:47:47.20
and this is an
experience I've had.
00:47:47.23\00:47:49.93
Go before the Lord
and confessed my sin,
00:47:49.96\00:47:52.60
"Oh, Father, I
confess that I did this."
00:47:52.63\00:47:56.24
"Good, now repent."
00:47:56.27\00:47:58.24
"Well, I confessed my sin."
00:47:58.27\00:47:59.71
"Good, now
repent." That's right.
00:47:59.74\00:48:01.64
So I confessed my
sin, He wants me to change.
00:48:01.68\00:48:04.18
Amen.
00:48:04.21\00:48:05.55
See, confession is just
acknowledge that I did it.
00:48:05.58\00:48:08.55
Repentance is a
broken heart because of that.
00:48:08.58\00:48:12.85
That's where we need God.
00:48:12.89\00:48:14.62
See, it's the goodness of God
that brings us to repentance.
00:48:14.66\00:48:17.16
We need God to touch our hearts.
00:48:17.19\00:48:19.89
It says, "To change one's mind."
00:48:19.93\00:48:23.00
Do you know you
can't change your own mind?
00:48:23.03\00:48:25.17
No.
00:48:25.20\00:48:26.60
It takes that drawing power,
00:48:26.63\00:48:28.87
that convicting
power of Almighty God.
00:48:28.90\00:48:31.81
Nobody can change your mind.
00:48:31.84\00:48:35.01
Have you ever heard,
00:48:35.04\00:48:37.08
"A man
convinced against his will
00:48:37.15\00:48:40.42
is of the same opinion still"?
00:48:40.45\00:48:42.85
So you go before
God, oh, Father...
00:48:42.88\00:48:45.15
It's just not forgiveness,
that's that repentance.
00:48:45.19\00:48:49.56
"Oh, God, you see my heart,
I'm not really sorry I did it,
00:48:49.59\00:48:54.00
but Lord, I know
that I mist repent of this
00:48:54.10\00:48:56.53
or I will never stand before you
00:48:56.56\00:48:58.53
with clean hands
and a pure heart.
00:48:58.57\00:49:00.50
I must be
cleansed of this thing.
00:49:00.57\00:49:02.70
Father, oh, give me repentance.
00:49:02.74\00:49:05.37
Let that repentance
touch my heart, Father,
00:49:05.41\00:49:08.31
that I would have a broken heart
00:49:08.34\00:49:10.38
that I am standing
before you with unclean hands
00:49:10.41\00:49:13.25
and an impure heart."
00:49:13.28\00:49:15.65
Repentance must be
an act of the free will
00:49:15.68\00:49:18.92
responding to the Holy
Spirit's convicting power.
00:49:18.95\00:49:22.19
Let me tell you the difference
in consequences and reward.
00:49:22.22\00:49:28.20
If you put a Biblical
principle into operation,
00:49:28.23\00:49:32.00
you are going to
reap the benefits.
00:49:32.03\00:49:34.80
That's right.
00:49:34.84\00:49:36.17
If you put a Biblical principle,
00:49:36.20\00:49:38.24
like repentance,
00:49:38.27\00:49:40.38
you're going to
reap the benefits of it.
00:49:40.41\00:49:43.55
But if you reject
a Biblical principle,
00:49:43.58\00:49:48.22
if you put an ungodly
principle into effect,
00:49:48.25\00:49:51.59
do you know what
you're going to do?
00:49:51.62\00:49:53.46
Suffer the consequences.
00:49:53.49\00:49:55.66
So consequences, reward.
Let me finish reading this.
00:49:55.69\00:49:59.69
"Repentance must be
an act of the free will,
00:49:59.73\00:50:03.20
responding to the Holy
Spirit's convicting power."
00:50:03.23\00:50:06.30
Who convicts our
heart, Jill? Holy Spirit.
00:50:06.33\00:50:08.10
It's the Holy Spirit,
but we must respond to it.
00:50:08.14\00:50:11.91
And if you don't want to ask God
00:50:11.94\00:50:13.84
to put the want too in,
00:50:13.88\00:50:15.21
you just like you don't
want to forgive somebody.
00:50:15.24\00:50:17.21
If you don't forgive
somebody, you're standing there
00:50:17.25\00:50:19.38
binding your own hands
for God to forgive you.
00:50:19.41\00:50:22.82
So you ask God,
00:50:22.85\00:50:24.19
"Put your
forgiveness in my heart,"
00:50:24.25\00:50:26.32
God will honor that
and He will do that.
00:50:26.35\00:50:28.59
"It's a gift from God,
but we have to be ready
00:50:28.62\00:50:32.13
and open to receive it.
00:50:32.16\00:50:34.13
And if we don't,
there are consequences."
00:50:34.20\00:50:37.73
Again, do you
want the consequences
00:50:37.77\00:50:40.37
or do you want
to reap the reward?
00:50:40.40\00:50:42.00
Let's look now in Romans 2:5-6.
00:50:42.04\00:50:47.74
"But in
accordance with your hardness
00:50:47.78\00:50:51.68
and your impenitent..."
00:50:51.71\00:50:53.75
Impenitent, now
that's an interesting word.
00:50:53.78\00:50:56.28
You know what
impenitent is talking about
00:50:56.32\00:50:58.35
in impenitent heart,
00:50:58.39\00:51:00.96
not feeling regret
about ones sin or sins.
00:51:00.99\00:51:06.59
So, "In
accordance with your hardness
00:51:06.63\00:51:09.40
and your impenitent heart,
00:51:09.43\00:51:11.30
you are
treasuring up for yourself
00:51:11.33\00:51:15.04
wrath in the day of
wrath and revelation
00:51:15.07\00:51:19.27
of the righteous
judgment of God."
00:51:19.31\00:51:21.58
You are
treasuring up for yourself
00:51:21.61\00:51:24.75
wrath and judgment.
00:51:24.78\00:51:27.42
That's what an
impenitent heart is.
00:51:27.48\00:51:29.95
"Who will render to each
one according to his deeds."
00:51:29.98\00:51:34.16
But now, look in verse 10.
00:51:34.22\00:51:38.16
It goes on to
say, "But glory, honor,
00:51:38.19\00:51:42.80
and peace to everyone
who works what is good,
00:51:42.83\00:51:46.80
to the Jews first
and also to the Greek."
00:51:46.87\00:51:49.50
So, is there
honor, is there reward,
00:51:49.54\00:51:53.51
is there peace to
everyone that does good?
00:51:53.54\00:51:57.41
Do we want to do
that which is good?
00:51:57.48\00:51:58.81
Oh, yes, definitely. Amen.
00:51:58.85\00:52:00.25
Oh, we can't do it of our
own, we can't do it by ourselves
00:52:00.28\00:52:03.15
but with the help
of the Holy Spirit.
00:52:03.18\00:52:05.62
You know, even if we
don't want to ask God
00:52:05.65\00:52:10.23
to put the want in you,
I can stress that enough.
00:52:10.26\00:52:13.09
Paul is good to emphasize
the place of good works.
00:52:13.13\00:52:16.53
Although our
justification is only by faith,
00:52:16.56\00:52:20.70
good works are necessity
in the Christian's life.
00:52:20.74\00:52:23.57
Amen.
00:52:23.61\00:52:24.94
Now, Ephesians 2:8,
"For by grace are you saved
00:52:24.97\00:52:28.01
through faith, not of works,
lest any man should boast,"
00:52:28.04\00:52:33.58
It is the gift of
God, not of works,
00:52:33.62\00:52:35.72
lest any man should boast.
00:52:35.75\00:52:37.09
Did I butcher that one?
00:52:37.15\00:52:38.49
But it's for grace through faith
00:52:38.52\00:52:40.92
that you are saved.
00:52:40.96\00:52:42.29
But Ephesians 2:10
says, "We are His workmanship,
00:52:42.32\00:52:46.29
created in Christ
Jesus for good works."
00:52:46.33\00:52:49.90
We are created for good works.
00:52:49.93\00:52:51.83
Our good works don't
save us, the good works
00:52:51.87\00:52:54.70
or a natural out
flowing of a heart
00:52:54.74\00:52:57.27
that's in love with Jesus.
00:52:57.34\00:52:58.91
You are saved through faith,
00:52:58.94\00:53:00.68
but it's through that
grace and mercy of God.
00:53:00.71\00:53:05.61
"True repentance: the
kind that comes willingly
00:53:05.65\00:53:09.05
from the heart
will always be followed
00:53:09.08\00:53:12.82
by a life that reflects
a change in your actions,
00:53:12.85\00:53:16.76
bad works to good works."
00:53:16.83\00:53:18.86
Who gets to make that choice,
00:53:18.89\00:53:20.50
we make that choice.
00:53:20.53\00:53:21.96
I'm going to go
back to Romans 2:4,
00:53:22.00\00:53:24.73
"It's the goodness of God
that leads us to repentance."
00:53:24.77\00:53:28.94
Who all does God want to
repent to that first scripture
00:53:28.97\00:53:33.17
that we started with.
00:53:33.21\00:53:36.54
II Peter 3:9,
"The Lord is not slack
00:53:36.58\00:53:39.58
concerning his promise,
00:53:39.61\00:53:40.98
as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering us-ward,
00:53:41.02\00:53:45.49
not willing that
any should perish,
00:53:45.52\00:53:48.16
but that all should
come to repentance."
00:53:48.19\00:53:52.03
Amen. Amen.
00:53:52.06\00:53:53.40
Amen. Amen.
Well done, well done.
00:53:53.46\00:53:55.40
I see from that,
Molly, a couple of things.
00:53:55.43\00:53:58.53
One, the
necessity of change. Yeah.
00:53:58.57\00:54:02.17
And also the
methodology of change.
00:54:02.20\00:54:06.04
Change cannot be
forced, it cannot be coerced.
00:54:06.07\00:54:08.78
"By beholding,"
II Corinthians says,
00:54:08.81\00:54:10.85
"We become change."
00:54:10.88\00:54:12.21
As you contemplate
Christ's love for you,
00:54:12.25\00:54:14.02
that love
motivates you to change it.
00:54:14.05\00:54:17.92
It drives you from within,
it constrains you to change.
00:54:17.95\00:54:21.26
Even if you change outside,
I could stand on, Shelley,
00:54:21.29\00:54:23.83
with a whip and make
you do certain things.
00:54:23.86\00:54:26.59
But I can't, that
doesn't change your heart,
00:54:26.63\00:54:28.33
in fact, it pushes you against.
00:54:28.36\00:54:30.43
So that's very, very important.
00:54:30.47\00:54:33.07
If you would all
prepare in your minds a little
00:54:33.10\00:54:35.07
30 second bow to
put on your statement.
00:54:35.10\00:54:39.07
I'm looking at
the time, in fact,
00:54:39.11\00:54:40.44
we've got to do that right now.
00:54:40.48\00:54:41.81
So let's start with
Shelley and go right down.
00:54:41.84\00:54:43.81
I'd like to bow up
something that Molly said
00:54:43.85\00:54:46.18
and that is in Acts
5:31, the Bible says that,
00:54:46.21\00:54:49.98
"God has exalted
Christ to His right hand
00:54:50.05\00:54:54.12
to be prince and
savior to give forgiveness
00:54:54.16\00:54:57.89
and repentance."
00:54:57.93\00:54:59.26
Repentance is a gift
and what we need to do
00:54:59.29\00:55:02.36
is as we're
praying, as you said,
00:55:02.40\00:55:04.67
is when you
confess your sin, pray,
00:55:04.70\00:55:07.34
"Lord, give me
the power to repent.
00:55:07.37\00:55:09.84
I cannot change myself." Amen.
00:55:09.87\00:55:11.54
"There's nothing I
can do to change myself
00:55:11.57\00:55:13.68
but by the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:55:13.71\00:55:15.78
Christ can change me."
00:55:15.81\00:55:17.45
Amen. Pastor John?
00:55:17.48\00:55:19.38
The major fall was
caused by those who did not like
00:55:19.41\00:55:24.29
to retain God
in their knowledge.
00:55:24.32\00:55:27.26
So let me reverse that.
00:55:27.29\00:55:28.89
Our rise in Christ would be
on the heels of retaining God
00:55:28.92\00:55:33.90
in our knowledge.
00:55:33.93\00:55:35.30
When the Word said,
"Let this mind be in you,"
00:55:35.33\00:55:36.97
which is also the
apostle Paul in Philippians,
00:55:37.03\00:55:38.87
"Let this mind be in you,"
the only way is the daily diet
00:55:38.90\00:55:42.34
of the Word of God.
00:55:42.37\00:55:43.71
Somebody recently asked me,
00:55:43.77\00:55:45.11
"How do we walk
the Christian life?
00:55:45.14\00:55:46.47
How we have to desire the
sincere milk of the Word?"
00:55:46.51\00:55:49.08
Peter says that, daily
die to self and invite God
00:55:49.11\00:55:53.31
into our hearts by
the reading of His Word,
00:55:53.38\00:55:55.25
by the committing
of our lives to Him,
00:55:55.28\00:55:57.75
by the work of the Holy Spirit.
00:55:57.79\00:55:59.32
And if you do
these things, Peter says,
00:55:59.35\00:56:01.02
"You will not
fall," and Paul says,
00:56:01.06\00:56:03.12
"You will make that mark."
00:56:03.16\00:56:04.79
But don't forget,
it's not by your work,
00:56:04.83\00:56:06.73
it's by grace
through faith and the work
00:56:06.76\00:56:08.56
that Christ does
inside of your life.
00:56:08.60\00:56:10.20
Amen. Jill?
00:56:10.27\00:56:12.00
If I can say, I think of
the four sins of the Jews
00:56:12.03\00:56:14.90
that I talked about.
00:56:14.94\00:56:16.27
I think the biggest
one was outward conformity
00:56:16.30\00:56:19.01
to the law without
having Jesus inside.
00:56:19.04\00:56:21.64
And a scripture that I
think of, Hebrews 8:10,
00:56:21.68\00:56:24.91
God says, "This is a covenant.
00:56:24.95\00:56:26.58
I will make with the house
of Israel after those days,
00:56:26.61\00:56:29.02
I will put my laws in their mind
00:56:29.05\00:56:31.62
and write them on their
hearts and I will be their God,
00:56:31.65\00:56:34.09
and they shall be my people."
00:56:34.16\00:56:36.46
So God wants to call you
as His son, as His daughter.
00:56:36.49\00:56:39.79
So allow Him, give Him access
to your heart and allow Him
00:56:39.83\00:56:43.43
to write His law in your mind.
00:56:43.47\00:56:45.10
Amen. Amen. That's right.
00:56:45.13\00:56:46.47
And, Molly, one last thought.
00:56:46.50\00:56:47.84
Ephesians 2:8, "For by
grace you have been saved
00:56:47.87\00:56:51.57
through faith and
that not of yourselves,
00:56:51.61\00:56:53.84
it is the gift of
God, not of works,
00:56:53.88\00:56:56.24
lest anyone should boast."
00:56:56.28\00:56:57.65
Amen, amen.
00:56:57.68\00:56:59.01
And I page over to
in the last 30 seconds,
00:56:59.05\00:57:02.22
1 John 1:7.
00:57:02.25\00:57:05.62
"But if we walk in the
light as He is in the light,
00:57:05.65\00:57:08.36
we have
fellowship with one another,
00:57:08.39\00:57:10.16
and the blood of Christ
cleanses us from all sin."
00:57:10.19\00:57:14.23
It is God's desire
to cleanse you from sin.
00:57:14.30\00:57:17.67
And you can be
cleansed from sin,
00:57:17.70\00:57:19.53
your life can be
made white and beautiful
00:57:19.57\00:57:22.07
through the power of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:57:22.10\00:57:25.01
This book of Romans has much
to say, stay with us each week,
00:57:25.04\00:57:28.64
God's got
something to say to you.
00:57:28.68\00:57:30.65
We'll see you
again next Sabbath.
00:57:30.68\00:57:32.98
Amen.
00:57:33.01\00:57:34.55