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 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 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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Hello, and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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I'm Shelley Quinn.
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And I've got four
other 3ABN family members
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joining me today.
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We are going to be
looking at lesson five,
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the faith of Abraham.
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We're going to be
talking about Abraham today
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in our fourth
quarterly Sabbath school study.
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Now this fourth
quarter, we're talking about
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Salvation by Faith Alone,
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we're studying
the Book of Romans.
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And it is such
an exciting study.
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If you don't have a
copy of your very own
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of this study that is published
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by the Seventh-day
Adventist General Conference,
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then we ask that you go
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to a Seventh-day
Adventist Church.
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They'd love to have you come.
They'll give you a quarterly.
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You can study with them.
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Or you can go online
to ABSG.Adventist.org
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and you can
download your very own copy.
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Let me quickly introduce
our wonderful panel to you.
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We have with us, Jill
Morikone, Mollie Steenson,
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Pastor CA Murray,
and Pastor Kenny Shelton.
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And anything I could
say about one of them,
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I could say about
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all because
they're dear friends.
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They're brothers
and sisters in Christ
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and they're part of my family.
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And we're so glad that
you're part of the family too.
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And we're really excited
to be bringing you this study.
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Before we begin, I
think I would like to ask,
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Mollie, would you
please pray for us.
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Very happy to.
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Holy Father, we are so grateful
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that you've brought
us all together today.
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Thank you,
Lord, for these hearts
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that are submitted
and committed to You.
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We ask, Lord,
that You would anoint.
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Father, anoint us as we
present what You've given us.
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And Lord, I pray for
everyone that's listening,
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everyone that's
watching, Father,
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that their
hearts will be touched,
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that their
hearts will be opened.
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And as this word goes forth,
it will go forth as good seed,
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it will be
planted in our hearts,
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it will take root, it will grow,
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and it will produce.
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And, Lord, we will be
changed from glory to glory
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into Your image
in your likeness.
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Father, we pray
this in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Before we get to Sunday's,
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let me just spend a
moment setting this up
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because this has
been 500 years this week
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since the Reformation began.
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And so this is something that,
Romans 4 as we were studying,
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and this was foundational
to Martin Luther's discovery
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of justification by
faith, righteousness by faith,
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that salvation
was by faith alone.
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And Paul presents
Abraham as having obtained
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righteousness by faith
and salvation by grace.
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It is so amazing
because did you know
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the Jews
commonly believed that...
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They looked at Abraham
as the paragon of virtue,
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the paragon of
somebody, of obedience.
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They looked at him
and believed that he kept
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all of God's commandments
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before they were
given on Mount Sinai.
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And they based
this on Genesis 26:5
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where God renews
His covenant of grace
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that He had made with
Abraham, with Abraham son Isaac.
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And their, He says
to him in Genesis 26:5,
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the reason that
He was renewing it
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is because
Abraham obeyed my voice,
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kept my charge, my commandments,
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my statutes, and my laws.
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But in Romans 4:3,
Paul goes all the way back.
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And he picks, he
plucks the scripture
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out of Genesis 15:6.
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And he says,
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"For what does
the scripture say?
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Abraham believed God
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and it was accounted
to him for righteousness."
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So he's proving his point
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that salvation is
always been by grace,
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justification
always has been by faith.
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And he holds Abraham up
not as the supreme example,
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a virtue and obedience
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but he holds him up to show
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that if Abraham had
to be saved by grace,
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it's true for all of us.
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So Paul's
giving us three main...
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He presents three major
stages in the plan of salvation.
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He presents the
promise of divine blessing,
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the promise of grace,
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the human
response to that promise
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which is of response of faith,
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and the divine
pronouncement of righteousness
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that is credited to
those who accept Christ Jesus.
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So salvation is
always been by grace.
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If it's credited to us
that means it's not owed to us,
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it's not a debt.
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And as Luther...
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Paul broke free as
a Jew from that idea
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of earning your salvation,
and also so did Luther.
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So let's look at
our memory verse,
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Romans 3:31.
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"Do we then,"
let us join together,
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"Do we then make void
the law through faith?
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Certainly not!
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On the contrary,
we establish the law."
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So that is the scripture that
I want to pick up for Sunday.
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And what he is
showing here in this scripture
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is that the only
path to salvation,
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in the Old Testament times
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the pathway to
salvation was by grace.
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When they looked at
the Old Testament sanctuary
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which was the remedy for sin,
that's where the grace came in.
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All of the
services, all of the symbols
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of His sanctuary
pointed to Jesus Christ.
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And so, it's always
been a religion of grace.
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And actually when
they got off into legalism,
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that was a
perversion of their system.
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So when we think about
the law of Moses, what did...
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Let's not talk
about the law of Moses.
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Let's talk about
the Ten Commandments.
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The Ten Commandments
reveal three things.
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One, it revealed God's holiness,
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His character, His
standard of righteousness.
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It also reveals to
mankind our own sinfulness.
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We begin...
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The law reveals the sin
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but it also then
makes us seek our Savior
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because it points us
to the need of our Savior.
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So grace was given to us
that we might fulfill the law.
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When we look at...
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When he says in Romans 3:31,
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"Do we make void
the law through faith?
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Certainly not!
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We establish or
fulfill the law."
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Because, you know,
the Nicolaitans taught
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that faith did away
with the need of obedience.
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That was a
violence to scripture,
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I guess you could say.
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But what happened for
Jesus was that when He came,
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He showed us that we've even...
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He set stricter standards
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because we've
discussed this in the past.
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Jesus said, "It was lust
that was the sin, adultery...
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The thought was the sin,
adultery was the fruit of sin.
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It was hatred that was the sin,
murder was the fruit of sin."
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So He made it even stricter.
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So now let's look at
what Paul goes on to say
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in Romans 4:1-8
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because his point
he's trying to prove
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is that
justification by faith alone
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doesn't destroy
the law, it completes.
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It fills it up to its
fullest and makes it meaningful.
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So in Romans 4, and
we'll start with verse 1,
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"What then shall we say that
Abraham our father has found
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according to the flesh?
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For if Abraham was
justified by works,
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he has something to boast about,
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but not before God."
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So basically, he's
saying here God justifies
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no one on the basis of works.
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And then he says,
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"For what does
the scripture say?"
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Paul knew that the
way to end any argument
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was to go to scripture
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because tradition always
has to yield to scripture.
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Let me repeat that.
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Tradition has to
yield to scripture.
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I believe for so
long that the commandments
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had been nailed to the cross.
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I was taught that.
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It was a tradition that
was taught in the church
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in which I grew up.
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And when I went to scripture,
the truth showed me otherwise.
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So when Paul is
talking to these Jews,
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he knew that this if there's
a clear statement in scripture,
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they had to yield to that.
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And then he goes on and he says,
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"This is what scripture
says, 'Abraham believed God,
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and it was accounted to
him for righteousness.'"
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So this man who was
the model of virtue,
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the model of obedience.
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His faith was an obedient faith,
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but he was still saved by grace.
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Then in verse 4 he
says, "Now to him who works,
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the wages are
not counted as grace
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but as debt."
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I think I told you last time.
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Paul uses 11 times in Romans 4,
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a Greek word that is Logizomai,
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and it means, it's a
commercial accounting term.
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It means too
lay to one's credit.
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So 11 different times
Paul is using this that
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God accounts it
to us, He counts it,
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He imputes it, He reckons it.
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There's just no way to...
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There's no other
way that our heavenly...
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We were overdrawn in
our heavenly bank account.
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And without God giving us
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the
righteousness of Jesus Christ,
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there's no way we
could ever measure up.
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He says in verse 5,
"But to him who does not work
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but believes on Him
who justifies the ungodly,
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his faith is
accounted for righteousness."
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Boy! This is a
shocking statement
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and it was the
focus of the reformation.
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God save sinners,
God saves His enemies,
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God saves the ungodly.
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And it all comes by
faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
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And I want to say this too.
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Sometimes people
say, "I don't know
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if I've got enough
faith to be saved."
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It's not the
strength of our faith,
00:11:16.77\00:11:19.14
it's the
strength of Jesus Christ.
00:11:19.17\00:11:22.01
But I do want to
point out that James said,
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Faith without works is what?
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Dead.
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Abraham's faith
was an obedient faith.
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When God told him to
get out of his homeland
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and He's sending him
somewhere, Abraham followed.
00:11:36.93\00:11:39.59
When God asked him
to sacrifice his son,
00:11:39.63\00:11:42.43
Abraham was
following God's directions.
00:11:42.46\00:11:46.07
So we can't just think that
faith means, "Oh, I believe."
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Even the demons
believe and tremble.
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What faith is, it's
not just a mental assent.
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It's when it gets into our heart
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and it is worked out.
00:12:00.98\00:12:02.68
So actions of
obedience are part of faith.
00:12:02.72\00:12:06.22
Now he says in verse 6,
00:12:06.25\00:12:07.99
"Just as David also describes
the blessedness of the man
00:12:08.02\00:12:12.76
to whom God
imputes righteousness
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apart from works:
00:12:15.93\00:12:17.97
Blessed are those whose
lawless deeds are forgiven..."
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These are David's words,
"And whose sins are covered:
00:12:21.67\00:12:24.64
Blessed is the man
00:12:24.67\00:12:26.01
to whom the Lord
shall not impute sin."
00:12:26.04\00:12:30.91
See, wages are an
obligation, are they not?
00:12:30.95\00:12:33.88
That's the
obligation to the worker
00:12:33.92\00:12:36.02
but grace is the gift.
00:12:36.05\00:12:37.79
When we use...
00:12:37.82\00:12:39.49
I love it that Paul used David.
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Because here we see
someone in scripture who is...
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God calls "a man
after my own heart"
00:12:47.73\00:12:50.70
but David
lusted after Bathsheba.
00:12:50.73\00:12:53.60
He acted on that lust,
00:12:53.67\00:12:55.50
he committed
adultery with Bathsheba.
00:12:55.54\00:12:57.71
He was very deceitful, he lied.
00:12:57.74\00:13:00.08
He then arranged to...
00:13:00.11\00:13:02.11
He deceived her husband,
arranged for his murder.
00:13:02.14\00:13:05.65
But David admitted his guilt.
00:13:05.68\00:13:07.82
And when he prayed to God
and ask God to forgive him,
00:13:07.85\00:13:13.15
to renew a right
spirit within him,
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then when he did
that, God restored David.
00:13:16.32\00:13:22.16
He covered his sin.
00:13:22.20\00:13:24.13
And he restored David
00:13:24.17\00:13:26.03
and He did not take
the Holy Spirit from David.
00:13:26.07\00:13:28.77
So we see that the primary
steps of repentance and baptism
00:13:28.80\00:13:34.18
are needed to be
justified by sin.
00:13:34.24\00:13:37.61
I mean, justified by faith.
00:13:37.65\00:13:39.68
As we accept God's grace,
00:13:39.71\00:13:42.22
just know that God is the one
00:13:42.25\00:13:45.42
who's going to not
only work in us to...
00:13:45.45\00:13:51.06
He's not just going to pardon us
00:13:51.09\00:13:53.13
which is the act of
God is justification.
00:13:53.16\00:13:57.10
But then, He's going to do
00:13:57.13\00:13:59.20
a work of
righteousness by faith in it.
00:13:59.23\00:14:01.97
That's called sanctification
00:14:02.00\00:14:03.71
and that is when God works in us
00:14:03.74\00:14:06.71
to will and to do
His good pleasure.
00:14:06.78\00:14:10.45
So as we look at the law,
00:14:10.48\00:14:12.78
we see that then the law is
still something that is good,
00:14:12.81\00:14:18.42
something that is holy,
00:14:18.45\00:14:20.56
something that points
out all of our shortcomings
00:14:20.59\00:14:27.20
but it is what
brings us to Christ.
00:14:27.23\00:14:29.73
And then we can fulfill
the law as Christ works in us,
00:14:29.76\00:14:35.17
as He lives in us by grace.
00:14:35.20\00:14:39.51
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
00:14:39.54\00:14:40.94
isn't that what
Ephesians 3:20 says
00:14:40.98\00:14:42.98
that when we
have the Spirit in us,
00:14:43.01\00:14:46.15
He lives in our heart...
00:14:46.18\00:14:47.52
Christ lives in
our hearts by faith
00:14:47.58\00:14:49.28
and He works out
His character in us.
00:14:49.32\00:14:52.69
Amen. Amen.
00:14:52.72\00:14:54.22
Thank you so much,
Shelley. Well done.
00:14:54.26\00:14:56.62
Praise the Lord for the
study of the Book of Romans.
00:14:56.69\00:14:59.53
Praise the Lord
that He wants to justify
00:14:59.56\00:15:02.63
you, and I, and each one of us
00:15:02.66\00:15:05.67
with the blood of Jesus.
00:15:05.70\00:15:07.04
Praise God for that. Praise God.
00:15:07.07\00:15:08.44
He wants to sanctify us
00:15:08.47\00:15:10.61
and make us into
the image of Jesus.
00:15:10.64\00:15:13.21
On Monday, we
look at debt or grace.
00:15:13.24\00:15:17.58
And you know, I
think, and we mentioned this
00:15:17.65\00:15:19.58
on previous
lessons, previous studies.
00:15:19.61\00:15:22.28
Many times, it's so easy
00:15:22.32\00:15:24.69
for us to fall into our
works orientated religion.
00:15:24.72\00:15:28.89
It's so easy to think
that salvation is grace
00:15:28.92\00:15:31.96
plus my works
00:15:31.99\00:15:33.90
instead of I'm saved
only by the blood of Jesus,
00:15:33.93\00:15:37.47
justified by faith.
00:15:37.53\00:15:39.53
If you contrast a
works orientated religion
00:15:39.57\00:15:42.37
versus a faith
orientated religion,
00:15:42.40\00:15:45.87
if your works orientated,
00:15:45.91\00:15:47.44
you believe you reach a
certain standard of holiness
00:15:47.48\00:15:51.05
or you need to reach a
certain standard of holiness
00:15:51.08\00:15:54.35
before you can be justified
or before you can be forgiven.
00:15:54.38\00:15:58.25
And I know, just
being honest with you.
00:15:58.29\00:16:00.79
I have done that.
00:16:00.82\00:16:02.16
I have fallen
into that thinking,
00:16:02.19\00:16:03.96
I must need to do some penance,
a few lashes on the back,
00:16:03.99\00:16:07.23
something after sin.
00:16:07.30\00:16:08.96
And before I come back to Jesus,
00:16:09.00\00:16:11.77
I need to somehow become
better before He will accept me.
00:16:11.80\00:16:15.57
But faith
orientated religion says
00:16:15.60\00:16:17.91
you can come to
Jesus just as you are.
00:16:17.94\00:16:21.58
He accepts, He forgives,
He cleanses and justifies,
00:16:21.61\00:16:26.11
and then
empowers you to walk anew.
00:16:26.15\00:16:29.08
Works orientated says,
it's about trying harder,
00:16:29.12\00:16:32.65
gritting my teeth
and trying harder.
00:16:32.69\00:16:34.96
Faith orientated says,
00:16:34.99\00:16:36.32
it's about surrender
to the Lord Jesus Christ
00:16:36.36\00:16:39.43
and allowing Him
to do His work in me.
00:16:39.46\00:16:42.46
Works orientated
really turns inward.
00:16:42.50\00:16:45.13
I look at my own
character virtues,
00:16:45.17\00:16:47.10
my own character flaws
00:16:47.14\00:16:49.24
where faith
orientated turns outward,
00:16:49.27\00:16:52.84
constantly beholding Jesus,
00:16:52.87\00:16:55.11
His love, His
mercy, His character.
00:16:55.14\00:16:58.85
Works orientated is
really self-absorbed
00:16:58.88\00:17:01.12
and faith
orientated is God absorbed.
00:17:01.15\00:17:04.22
Now the passage we have here,
00:17:04.25\00:17:05.99
a couple of verses are
the same ones Shelley read.
00:17:06.02\00:17:08.22
So we're going
to read them again.
00:17:08.26\00:17:10.16
We're in Romans
4:6-12 is the passage I have.
00:17:10.19\00:17:14.63
And I know you already read 6,
00:17:14.66\00:17:16.16
I just want to point
out one thing here in 6.
00:17:16.20\00:17:18.77
"Just as David also describes
the blessedness of the man
00:17:18.80\00:17:23.71
to whom God
imputes righteousness
00:17:23.74\00:17:26.91
apart from works."
00:17:26.98\00:17:28.48
That righteousness from God
00:17:28.51\00:17:29.84
comes without anything
that you or I could do.
00:17:29.88\00:17:33.45
Now you already
mentioned, Shelley,
00:17:33.52\00:17:34.88
that Greek word which I
can't pronounce very well.
00:17:34.92\00:17:38.62
Logizomai maybe.
00:17:38.65\00:17:41.42
Maybe Pastor CA could
have something better for us.
00:17:41.46\00:17:44.03
But to impute, to
take into account,
00:17:44.06\00:17:46.26
you already
mentioned how many times
00:17:46.29\00:17:47.86
it's mentioned in this
chapter here in Romans 4.
00:17:47.86\00:17:52.40
Imputed righteousness,
00:17:52.43\00:17:54.37
justification by faith
00:17:54.40\00:17:56.71
is the work of God outside of us
00:17:56.77\00:17:59.04
crediting to us the
righteousness of Jesus.
00:17:59.07\00:18:02.84
It's credited to us
00:18:02.88\00:18:04.21
enabling the Christian to
stand before God is justified.
00:18:04.28\00:18:07.25
Imparted
righteousness is the work of God
00:18:07.28\00:18:10.42
and the Holy Spirit inside us.
00:18:10.45\00:18:13.39
What God does in Christ by
the power of His Holy Spirit
00:18:13.42\00:18:16.52
after justification,
00:18:16.56\00:18:18.26
working in us and empowering us
00:18:18.29\00:18:20.33
in that process
of sanctification.
00:18:20.36\00:18:23.97
Imputed righteousness,
faith connects us with Christ.
00:18:24.00\00:18:28.34
We talked about being accounted.
00:18:28.37\00:18:30.51
Verse 6, you said
Abraham believed God.
00:18:30.54\00:18:32.71
I'm sorry, verse 3,
00:18:32.74\00:18:34.08
and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.
00:18:34.11\00:18:36.54
Verse 6, "Just as
David also describes
00:18:36.58\00:18:39.28
the blessedness of the man
00:18:39.31\00:18:40.65
to whom God imputes
righteousness apart from works.
00:18:40.72\00:18:43.72
Verse 11, "And he received
the sign of circumcision,
00:18:43.79\00:18:47.69
a seal of the
righteousness of the faith
00:18:47.72\00:18:50.16
which he had while
still uncircumcised."
00:18:50.23\00:18:53.26
Now we'll get to that
part about uncircumcised.
00:18:53.29\00:18:55.63
But right now, I just
want to look at that part,
00:18:55.66\00:18:57.53
"The
righteousness of the faith."
00:18:57.57\00:18:59.70
Faith is not the thing
00:18:59.73\00:19:01.14
that's credited
as righteousness.
00:19:01.17\00:19:03.04
Righteousness is the
thing that God credits to us.
00:19:03.07\00:19:06.84
God credits righteousness
00:19:06.91\00:19:09.61
but it comes
through the vehicle,
00:19:09.64\00:19:11.51
through the avenue of faith.
00:19:11.55\00:19:13.85
By faith, we reach
out and grasp that,
00:19:13.88\00:19:16.05
and God credits His
righteousness to us.
00:19:16.08\00:19:20.32
Let's look at verse 7 and 8.
00:19:20.39\00:19:23.22
Now before we do that,
00:19:23.26\00:19:24.59
I'm sorry, I want to
go to 2 Corinthians 5.
00:19:24.63\00:19:26.59
And then we'll come
back to verse 7 and 8.
00:19:26.63\00:19:29.70
2 Corinthians 5,
00:19:29.73\00:19:33.07
and we talk often about
some of our favorite verses.
00:19:33.10\00:19:36.30
I think chapter 5 is
some of my favorite verses.
00:19:36.34\00:19:40.48
2 Corinthians 5:21.
00:19:40.51\00:19:43.14
And I don't know
if this is a word,
00:19:43.18\00:19:45.51
so I'm going to say the word
00:19:45.55\00:19:46.92
but I don't know if
it's really a word or not.
00:19:46.95\00:19:48.45
I'm going to say
"double imputation".
00:19:48.48\00:19:51.12
So I don't know if
imputation is a word or not
00:19:51.15\00:19:53.66
but I'm going to coin that word.
00:19:53.69\00:19:55.49
I see a double
imputation in this verse.
00:19:55.52\00:19:58.53
2 Corinthians
5:21, "For He made Him
00:19:58.56\00:20:01.43
who knew no sin
to be sin for us,
00:20:01.46\00:20:05.80
that we might become
00:20:05.83\00:20:07.20
the
righteousness of God in Him."
00:20:07.24\00:20:10.57
God imputed our sins
to Christ who knew no sin.
00:20:10.61\00:20:15.88
And at the same time,
00:20:15.91\00:20:17.25
God imputes
Christ's righteousness
00:20:17.31\00:20:20.48
to you and I who have no
righteousness of our own.
00:20:20.52\00:20:24.62
To me, you see almost
that double imputation,
00:20:24.65\00:20:26.82
our sin going to Jesus
00:20:26.86\00:20:28.46
and then His righteousness
being credited to our accounts.
00:20:28.49\00:20:32.53
So let's come back
to Romans 4:7 and 8.
00:20:32.56\00:20:36.30
"Blessed are those whose
lawless deeds are forgiven,
00:20:36.33\00:20:40.47
and whose sins are covered.
00:20:40.50\00:20:42.97
Blessed is the man to whom
the Lord shall not impute,"
00:20:43.00\00:20:45.91
there's our word
again, "impute sin."
00:20:45.94\00:20:48.14
Now he is quoting
actually from Psalm 32:1 and 2.
00:20:48.18\00:20:52.98
And in that scripture,
00:20:53.01\00:20:55.02
I think that's one of
the clearest statements
00:20:55.05\00:20:57.15
of imputed righteousness
in the Old Testament.
00:20:57.22\00:20:59.85
We also have the Genesis 15:6,
00:20:59.89\00:21:01.69
Abraham believed God
00:21:01.72\00:21:03.06
and it was accounted
to him for righteousness.
00:21:03.09\00:21:06.26
This Hebrew word
used in the Psalm 32
00:21:06.29\00:21:08.86
is the same as the Hebrew
word used in the Genesis 15:6,
00:21:08.90\00:21:12.50
hashab, I'm not sure
00:21:12.53\00:21:14.00
but it means to
impute, to reckon, to account.
00:21:14.04\00:21:18.07
God accounts us.
00:21:18.11\00:21:19.64
So we say this concept
of justification by faith
00:21:19.67\00:21:22.54
is New Testament?
00:21:22.58\00:21:23.91
It's not.
00:21:23.95\00:21:25.28
It came from the beginning,
from the very beginning.
00:21:25.31\00:21:27.88
Amen.
00:21:27.92\00:21:29.35
Let's look, there's a quote here
00:21:29.38\00:21:31.02
and then we'll go to
the rest of our scriptures.
00:21:31.05\00:21:32.75
This is from Selected
Messages book 1, page 215.
00:21:32.79\00:21:36.79
"The sinner must
come in faith to Christ,
00:21:36.83\00:21:40.56
take hold of His merits,
00:21:40.60\00:21:42.66
lay his sins
upon the Sin Bearer,
00:21:42.70\00:21:45.63
and receive His pardon.
00:21:45.67\00:21:47.40
It was for this cause
00:21:47.47\00:21:48.80
that Christ came into the world.
00:21:48.84\00:21:51.21
Thus the righteousness of Christ
00:21:51.24\00:21:53.04
is imputed to the
repenting, believing sinner."
00:21:53.07\00:21:57.21
That's you and that's me.
00:21:57.28\00:21:58.91
"He becomes a member
of the royal family."
00:21:58.95\00:22:02.05
So praise God for that.
00:22:02.08\00:22:04.39
Couple more verses, we're
going to read 9 through 12 here.
00:22:04.42\00:22:07.49
Now this is whether
Abraham was justified
00:22:07.56\00:22:09.52
before his
circumcision or after.
00:22:09.56\00:22:11.33
That's what Paul
is addressing here.
00:22:11.36\00:22:13.19
"Does this blessedness,"
00:22:13.23\00:22:14.56
this blessedness of
justification by faith,
00:22:14.56\00:22:16.93
"Does it come upon
the circumcised only,
00:22:16.97\00:22:19.80
or it also upon
the uncircumcised?
00:22:19.83\00:22:23.47
For we say that faith
was accounted to Abraham
00:22:23.51\00:22:26.44
for righteousness."
00:22:26.47\00:22:28.21
Or through faith,
00:22:28.24\00:22:29.68
Abraham received
that righteousness.
00:22:29.71\00:22:32.68
"How then was it accounted?
00:22:32.71\00:22:34.18
While he was
circumcised, or uncircumcised?
00:22:34.22\00:22:37.89
Not while circumcised,
but while uncircumcised.
00:22:37.92\00:22:42.42
And he," meaning Abraham,
00:22:42.46\00:22:43.79
"received the
sign of circumcision,
00:22:43.83\00:22:45.69
a seal of the
righteousness of the faith
00:22:45.73\00:22:47.66
which he had while
still uncircumcised,
00:22:47.73\00:22:51.03
that he might be the
father of all those who believe,
00:22:51.07\00:22:53.57
though they are uncircumcised,
00:22:53.60\00:22:55.30
that righteousness
might be imputed to them also,
00:22:55.34\00:22:59.77
and the father of circumcision
00:22:59.81\00:23:01.44
to those who not only
are of the circumcision,
00:23:01.48\00:23:03.85
but who also walk in
the steps of the faith
00:23:03.88\00:23:06.41
which our father Abraham
had while still uncircumcised."
00:23:06.45\00:23:10.12
Now if you read in Joshua 24:2,
00:23:10.19\00:23:14.26
it talks about Abraham's roots
00:23:14.29\00:23:16.02
and some of his
ancestors worshipping idols,
00:23:16.06\00:23:19.23
worshipping other gods.
00:23:19.26\00:23:20.60
And yet God called him.
00:23:20.63\00:23:22.76
God imputed to him
that righteousness.
00:23:22.80\00:23:25.67
He was justified
00:23:25.70\00:23:27.40
before the time of
when he was circumcised.
00:23:27.44\00:23:31.64
So we see whether
we are Jew or gentile,
00:23:31.67\00:23:35.68
in the world, in the church,
00:23:35.71\00:23:37.88
none of that matters.
00:23:37.91\00:23:39.25
We come before
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:23:39.28\00:23:41.78
And we say,
"Father, I have sinned
00:23:41.82\00:23:44.15
and I have fallen
short of the glory of God.
00:23:44.19\00:23:46.52
And I want to be cleansed.
00:23:46.55\00:23:48.79
I want to be made righteous.
00:23:48.82\00:23:51.83
Will you impute
Your righteousness,
00:23:51.86\00:23:55.06
Your character to me?"
00:23:55.10\00:23:56.43
When the Father looks at
you, He doesn't see that sin.
00:23:56.46\00:23:59.90
He doesn't see
those dirty garments.
00:24:00.04\00:24:02.10
He sees the righteousness
of God in Christ Jesus.
00:24:02.14\00:24:06.88
Praise the Lord for that.
00:24:06.91\00:24:08.24
No matter, this
scripture tells us,
00:24:08.28\00:24:09.61
no matter who we are, no
matter what our background,
00:24:09.64\00:24:12.18
we don't have to belong
to a special people group
00:24:12.21\00:24:14.22
or be a special people.
00:24:14.25\00:24:16.08
God accepts us, justifies us,
00:24:16.12\00:24:18.59
and then He will work
that process of sanctification.
00:24:18.62\00:24:21.46
Amen. Amen and amen.
00:24:21.49\00:24:22.82
Beautifully
said, beautifully said.
00:24:22.86\00:24:24.73
Well, I am looking at Tuesday
and I'm looking at the promise.
00:24:24.76\00:24:30.03
So we ask our self,
00:24:30.07\00:24:31.83
"What promise
are we talking about?
00:24:31.87\00:24:33.80
What promise?
00:24:33.84\00:24:35.64
What is the promise?
00:24:35.67\00:24:37.61
And who was the
promise made to?"
00:24:37.64\00:24:39.94
The promise was made to Abraham.
00:24:39.97\00:24:41.78
And what promise was that?
00:24:41.81\00:24:43.65
That He was
going to make Abraham
00:24:43.71\00:24:46.38
the father of many nations.
00:24:46.41\00:24:49.45
So that's the promise,
00:24:49.48\00:24:51.25
but I want us to
see something in this.
00:24:51.29\00:24:53.66
We have to remember
who Paul is writing to.
00:24:53.72\00:24:58.73
He's writing to
Jewish believers.
00:24:58.76\00:25:00.96
Now in the letter of Romans,
he's writing to the Romans.
00:25:01.00\00:25:07.34
But it's Jewish
believers that are there.
00:25:07.37\00:25:10.24
But they are immersed,
00:25:10.31\00:25:11.94
of course, they are
immersed in Old Testament law.
00:25:11.97\00:25:14.54
The reason is they were
Old Testament believers.
00:25:14.58\00:25:18.38
They were under
the old covenant.
00:25:18.41\00:25:20.62
They heard the gospel
message of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:25:20.65\00:25:23.69
just like you and I
did, and they accepted Jesus.
00:25:23.72\00:25:27.36
Now they are Jewish believers.
00:25:27.39\00:25:31.46
Many of these
believers truly believed
00:25:31.49\00:25:35.36
that their salvation rested
on `how well they kept the law.
00:25:35.40\00:25:41.17
Even though that wasn't
what the Old Testament taught
00:25:41.20\00:25:44.21
which we have made so clear,
00:25:44.27\00:25:46.51
been presented
so beautifully here,
00:25:46.54\00:25:48.64
that's not what the
Old Testament taught.
00:25:48.68\00:25:51.08
However, that was
what they had been taught.
00:25:51.11\00:25:55.92
And so that's
what was true to them.
00:25:55.95\00:26:00.69
So what Paul is facing
00:26:00.72\00:26:04.19
was people that were
living under a misconception
00:26:04.26\00:26:08.60
but it was truth to them.
00:26:08.63\00:26:11.03
And Paul has to try.
00:26:11.07\00:26:13.94
And what Paul is doing is
correcting the misconception
00:26:13.97\00:26:18.74
that they were living under.
00:26:18.77\00:26:20.98
He was bringing them
truth in exchange for the error.
00:26:21.01\00:26:25.48
Now these people
were, they had a...
00:26:25.51\00:26:28.38
Can we say a
performance based mentality?
00:26:28.42\00:26:31.19
Yes. Well said.
00:26:31.22\00:26:32.55
It was so much easier
for them to keep along.
00:26:32.59\00:26:37.46
You know, it's easier
for us to do something
00:26:37.53\00:26:39.69
than to live by faith.
00:26:39.73\00:26:41.16
You know, to live by faith means
00:26:41.20\00:26:43.06
you're putting your confidence
00:26:43.10\00:26:44.70
in something you can't see,
hear, touch, taste, or smell.
00:26:44.73\00:26:48.80
That would be, I
wrote this scripture down.
00:26:48.84\00:26:50.57
It's Romans 5:7,
00:26:50.61\00:26:52.01
"For we walk by
faith and not by sight."
00:26:52.04\00:26:55.54
If you don't
walk by what you see
00:26:55.58\00:26:57.61
that means you're not
walking by your senses.
00:26:57.65\00:26:59.55
You're not going to walk
00:26:59.58\00:27:00.98
by what you see, or
touch, taste, or smell.
00:27:01.02\00:27:02.92
That is faith, when
you put your confidence
00:27:02.95\00:27:06.49
in something that you can't see.
00:27:06.52\00:27:08.69
And so these people
that Paul was teaching,
00:27:08.72\00:27:13.36
are bringing them
up out of their error,
00:27:13.43\00:27:15.80
what they have
been told erroneously.
00:27:15.83\00:27:18.37
They were walking
about what they saw.
00:27:18.40\00:27:22.80
They didn't understand
00:27:22.84\00:27:24.77
the concept of
walking by faith at all.
00:27:24.81\00:27:28.88
To correct the error,
00:27:28.91\00:27:30.45
what Paul had to do
00:27:30.48\00:27:32.31
was he had to
contrast the law with faith,
00:27:32.35\00:27:37.49
so they could see and receive
their need to exercise faith.
00:27:37.52\00:27:43.29
Now when you
correct somebody's error.
00:27:43.32\00:27:48.10
Do people want to be
corrected of their error?
00:27:48.13\00:27:51.10
As a rule, no, they don't.
00:27:51.13\00:27:53.90
You know, it says, "Be not..."
00:27:53.94\00:27:55.70
No, that's not the
scripture that I want.
00:27:55.74\00:27:58.07
"Be a doer of the word
00:27:58.11\00:28:00.51
not a hearer only
deceiving your own selves."
00:28:00.54\00:28:05.01
Now if you're self deceived,
00:28:05.05\00:28:06.65
that's the
hardest person to get,
00:28:06.68\00:28:10.62
to bring into light
00:28:10.65\00:28:12.35
is because
you're in self deception
00:28:12.39\00:28:14.29
you've deceived your self.
00:28:14.32\00:28:16.09
But if you're a
doer of the word,
00:28:16.12\00:28:17.76
if you read God's word,
00:28:17.79\00:28:20.26
Pastor Kenny, if
people read God's word
00:28:20.33\00:28:22.63
and just did what it
said, but we could...
00:28:22.66\00:28:25.10
Just like these
Jewish believers,
00:28:25.13\00:28:27.27
they had such a skewed...
00:28:27.34\00:28:32.01
concept of
God's grace and mercy.
00:28:32.04\00:28:35.01
It had been skewed
by erroneous teaching.
00:28:35.04\00:28:37.68
So the why you correct error,
00:28:37.71\00:28:40.22
it's the same way you
would deal with a child.
00:28:40.25\00:28:45.15
Let's say your child
has got a broken glass jar
00:28:45.19\00:28:48.99
and they're playing with it.
00:28:49.02\00:28:50.36
They're so happy.
00:28:50.43\00:28:51.76
They haven't cut themselves
yet but they will in time.
00:28:51.79\00:28:56.30
That broken glass jar,
00:28:56.33\00:28:58.30
that piece of glass
is going to damage them.
00:28:58.33\00:29:01.34
So what do you do?
00:29:01.37\00:29:02.90
You don't go for
it, "Give me that..."
00:29:02.94\00:29:04.97
You'll cut him, you'll harm him.
00:29:05.01\00:29:06.71
What you do is you bring
him this nice rubber ball
00:29:06.74\00:29:09.88
and you say,
"Honey, here, take this
00:29:09.91\00:29:13.01
and let momma have
that piece of glass."
00:29:13.05\00:29:15.85
And that's how you
would deal with your child.
00:29:15.88\00:29:19.29
So what Paul was
doing was he was saying,
00:29:19.32\00:29:22.36
"Here, give me
00:29:22.39\00:29:24.06
that
misconception concerning the law
00:29:24.09\00:29:27.86
and let me teach you about
grace, and mercy, and faith."
00:29:27.86\00:29:31.40
So that was how Paul was
addressing the situation.
00:29:31.43\00:29:36.04
In so doing, Paul is
arguing that Abraham,
00:29:36.07\00:29:40.88
whom they call
the father of all,
00:29:40.91\00:29:43.04
you know, their father
00:29:43.08\00:29:44.41
and we've talked
about even today,
00:29:44.45\00:29:46.55
what a great high
regard that Abraham was
00:29:46.58\00:29:51.02
and to the children of Israel.
00:29:51.05\00:29:54.69
That father
Abraham walked by faith,
00:29:54.72\00:29:59.16
he received the promise of faith
00:29:59.19\00:30:01.30
even before Mount Sinai.
00:30:01.33\00:30:03.33
He walked by faith.
00:30:03.37\00:30:04.73
Romans 4:13,
00:30:04.77\00:30:06.40
and I think we've probably
read this scripture a few times.
00:30:06.43\00:30:09.74
"For the promise that he
would be the heir of the world
00:30:09.77\00:30:13.38
was not to Abraham..."
00:30:13.44\00:30:14.84
And this is
something I want you to see.
00:30:14.88\00:30:17.45
"Or to his seed through
the law, but through..."
00:30:17.51\00:30:21.15
What is it?
There's that word again.
00:30:21.18\00:30:23.45
"Righteousness by faith."
00:30:23.49\00:30:25.39
In this
scripture, Paul contrasts
00:30:25.42\00:30:28.19
how Abraham received the promise
00:30:28.22\00:30:30.79
that, "He and his heirs
00:30:30.83\00:30:33.86
would be that
heir of the world."
00:30:33.90\00:30:36.06
Now, let's think
about this, "To Abraham."
00:30:36.10\00:30:38.90
So we're reading the
scripture of this Old Testament
00:30:38.93\00:30:44.14
personality, father Abraham
and he's been made a promise.
00:30:44.17\00:30:48.64
How does that affect you?
00:30:48.68\00:30:50.48
And then I would have
you go to Galatians 3:29.
00:30:50.51\00:30:55.25
I know every
time we get together,
00:30:55.28\00:30:57.82
we talk about scriptures
that are our favorites
00:30:57.85\00:31:00.86
but I want you to
look at the scripture.
00:31:00.89\00:31:02.92
Turn to Galatians 3:29,
"And if you are Christ,"
00:31:02.96\00:31:08.00
in the King James it
says, "If you be Christ,
00:31:08.03\00:31:11.37
you belong to the
Lord Jesus Christ."
00:31:11.40\00:31:13.60
If you've made Jesus
Christ the Lord of your life,
00:31:13.64\00:31:16.17
this scripture is to you,
this scripture belongs to you.
00:31:16.20\00:31:20.54
"And if you are Christ
00:31:20.58\00:31:22.68
then are you
Abraham's seed and heirs
00:31:22.71\00:31:26.92
according to the promise."
00:31:26.98\00:31:28.45
That means that this promise
00:31:28.48\00:31:30.79
that was made to father Abraham,
00:31:30.85\00:31:33.12
if you have made Jesus
Christ the Lord of your life,
00:31:33.15\00:31:35.72
this promise is to you.
00:31:35.76\00:31:37.66
Amen.
00:31:37.69\00:31:39.03
He said that this promise
didn't come through the law
00:31:39.06\00:31:43.70
but through the
righteousness of faith.
00:31:43.73\00:31:45.97
You received it
the same way by faith.
00:31:46.00\00:31:48.84
God made a promise to Abraham
00:31:48.87\00:31:51.24
that he was to be
the heir of the world,
00:31:51.27\00:31:54.01
Abraham believed the promise,
00:31:54.04\00:31:56.18
as a result God accepted him
00:31:56.21\00:31:59.31
and worked through
him to save the world.
00:31:59.35\00:32:01.98
Now, I want you to
look at this in Genesis.
00:32:02.02\00:32:04.29
Genesis 15, we're
going to read verses 5 and 6.
00:32:04.32\00:32:09.42
Genesis 15:5-6.
00:32:09.46\00:32:14.30
Now this is God
00:32:14.30\00:32:15.90
and it's
accounting a conversation
00:32:15.93\00:32:19.43
he had with Abraham.
00:32:19.47\00:32:21.67
"Then he brought
him outside and said,
00:32:21.70\00:32:25.41
look now toward the
heaven and count the stars."
00:32:25.44\00:32:28.88
Can you count the stars?
00:32:28.91\00:32:30.91
God brings Abraham and
said, "Look up there, Abraham,
00:32:30.95\00:32:33.42
count those stars
00:32:33.48\00:32:35.18
if you're able to number them
00:32:35.22\00:32:37.15
and he said to him so
shall your descendents be."
00:32:37.19\00:32:42.86
Now at this time, how
many children did Abraham have?
00:32:42.89\00:32:47.03
None. None.
00:32:47.10\00:32:48.40
That would be none.
00:32:48.43\00:32:50.20
Now, let me ask you this.
00:32:50.23\00:32:51.57
How old was Abraham?
00:32:51.60\00:32:53.97
About how old was
Abraham at this time?
00:32:54.00\00:32:56.37
It was about, is he 70...
00:32:56.40\00:32:58.97
Seventy five? Yeah, yeah.
00:32:59.01\00:33:00.88
Too old to be
thinking about children.
00:33:00.91\00:33:04.15
So, he has no children.
00:33:04.18\00:33:06.61
He's getting
old up there in age.
00:33:06.65\00:33:08.62
He got no wife.
00:33:08.65\00:33:09.98
And want to tell you,
00:33:10.02\00:33:11.42
so Sarah is of same age
as he is there and about.
00:33:11.45\00:33:14.16
So here we have
this older couple
00:33:14.19\00:33:16.66
and God says to him, "So
shall your descendants be."
00:33:16.73\00:33:20.63
It's all the stars.
00:33:20.70\00:33:22.00
Well, there's another time
He takes him to the sea shore
00:33:22.03\00:33:24.17
and what does He tell him then?
00:33:24.23\00:33:25.57
Look at the sand.
00:33:25.60\00:33:27.44
Same promise.
00:33:27.50\00:33:28.84
And, but look what Abraham did.
00:33:28.87\00:33:31.64
"And he believed in the Lord
00:33:31.67\00:33:34.51
and He accounted to
him for righteousness."
00:33:34.54\00:33:36.81
Now it reminds me of Peter.
00:33:36.85\00:33:38.58
Remember one night
when he went fishing,
00:33:38.61\00:33:40.58
he came back in
the next morning,
00:33:40.62\00:33:41.98
how many fish had he caught?
00:33:42.02\00:33:43.55
None. None.
00:33:43.59\00:33:45.22
But what did Jesus tell him?
00:33:45.25\00:33:48.42
Cast out.
00:33:48.46\00:33:49.79
And you know what
Peter said to Him,
00:33:49.82\00:33:52.26
"Nevertheless at Your word."
00:33:52.29\00:33:54.66
Amen. Amen.
00:33:54.73\00:33:56.03
That's faith. That's faith.
00:33:56.06\00:33:57.40
That's faith.
00:33:57.43\00:33:58.77
Righteousness by faith.
00:33:58.80\00:34:00.34
He accounted to
him for righteousness.
00:34:00.37\00:34:03.20
Why did God account
righteousness to Abraham?
00:34:03.24\00:34:06.98
Because Abraham believed,
had faith in what God told him.
00:34:07.01\00:34:11.78
How is
righteousness accounted to us?
00:34:11.81\00:34:14.95
How many of you
do want righteousness
00:34:14.98\00:34:16.45
to be accounted to you?
00:34:16.48\00:34:17.82
Amen.
00:34:17.85\00:34:19.19
It's by us, listening
to what God has to say,
00:34:19.22\00:34:23.06
believing what He says
00:34:23.09\00:34:24.49
and then doing
what He tells us to do,
00:34:24.53\00:34:26.70
that's righteousness by faith.
00:34:26.73\00:34:28.66
That's fulfilling the promise.
00:34:28.70\00:34:30.23
And remember, if you be Christ
then are you Abraham's seed
00:34:30.27\00:34:34.34
and you are heirs
to that promise too.
00:34:34.37\00:34:37.57
Amen. Pastor CA.
00:34:37.61\00:34:39.14
Well said. Well said.
00:34:39.17\00:34:43.01
In looking at the times
in which we find ourselves...
00:34:43.04\00:34:48.52
If you're listening to
each of the teachers here,
00:34:48.55\00:34:53.19
one of the things you're hearing
00:34:53.22\00:34:54.56
is a certain
amount of repetition.
00:34:54.59\00:34:57.69
We are repeating ourselves.
00:34:57.73\00:34:59.13
We are repeating ourselves
00:34:59.16\00:35:00.63
because Paul is
repeating himself.
00:35:00.66\00:35:04.17
He is going against centuries
of cultural indoctrination.
00:35:04.20\00:35:09.24
It's in the Jewish mindset,
we've got to help ourselves.
00:35:09.27\00:35:14.41
If we're going to be better,
00:35:14.44\00:35:15.78
we've got to
make ourselves better.
00:35:15.81\00:35:18.65
Even our savior is
going to come to help us
00:35:18.68\00:35:23.25
make ourselves better.
00:35:23.28\00:35:24.62
It's part of the
mindset of a people
00:35:24.65\00:35:27.39
who are used to solving problems
00:35:27.46\00:35:30.23
and doing it for themselves.
00:35:30.26\00:35:32.03
And so Paul is taking times.
00:35:32.06\00:35:34.30
And I tell you
when you're speaking,
00:35:34.36\00:35:36.40
if you can say
something three times
00:35:36.43\00:35:39.17
because the first time
you say, a third will hear,
00:35:39.20\00:35:41.60
a third will be
looking in a pocket book
00:35:41.64\00:35:43.04
or check in their iPad.
00:35:43.07\00:35:45.24
The second time,
another third will hear.
00:35:45.27\00:35:47.04
By the third time pretty much
your audience has gotten it.
00:35:47.08\00:35:49.58
So you see Paul
coming to the same conclusion
00:35:49.61\00:35:52.41
from many different directions.
00:35:52.45\00:35:54.08
So he's saying it over again
and over again and over again.
00:35:54.12\00:35:57.55
And then he pulls out examples
00:35:57.59\00:36:00.22
to try to buttress
the theological points
00:36:00.29\00:36:02.86
that he is making.
00:36:02.89\00:36:04.26
We're about 20 years
00:36:04.29\00:36:05.63
after the death of
Christ on the cross.
00:36:05.66\00:36:08.26
So we're still early in
the Christian dispensation,
00:36:08.30\00:36:11.47
we're not very
far down the road.
00:36:11.50\00:36:13.64
About this time, the Book
of Matthew is being written,
00:36:13.67\00:36:16.20
the Book of Mark
is being written,
00:36:16.24\00:36:17.84
the Jerusalem
Council is convening.
00:36:17.87\00:36:19.74
So the church is
wrestling with the idea
00:36:19.77\00:36:23.85
that everything you,
like you tell us, Shelly,
00:36:23.88\00:36:26.31
when you went to Lord,
00:36:26.35\00:36:27.68
Lord said, "Everything
that's in there, flush it
00:36:27.72\00:36:29.65
because I've got some whole
new stuff to give you now."
00:36:29.68\00:36:31.95
And so he's saying
to the Jewish community
00:36:31.99\00:36:35.46
who are Jewish Christians,
00:36:35.49\00:36:37.03
this is the Jewish
Christian community in Rome
00:36:37.06\00:36:39.09
that he is addressing.
00:36:39.13\00:36:40.50
Everything you saw you knew,
00:36:40.53\00:36:42.56
everything that appertained
00:36:42.60\00:36:44.73
to the way you
used to approach me,
00:36:44.77\00:36:47.24
you've got to get rid of that.
00:36:47.30\00:36:48.64
You've got to jettison that now
'cause I've got a whole new way
00:36:48.67\00:36:51.51
for you to look at
your relationship with me.
00:36:51.54\00:36:53.64
And it is so opposed
to what you had before
00:36:53.68\00:36:58.05
that I've got to
give you this example
00:36:58.08\00:37:00.85
so that you can understand
what I'm trying to say.
00:37:00.88\00:37:02.95
And then as you
mentioned, Jill and Mollie also,
00:37:02.98\00:37:05.59
he goes back to Abraham
00:37:05.62\00:37:07.89
who, I mean, you
couldn't pick a better example
00:37:07.92\00:37:10.46
if you want to
impress a Jewish mind.
00:37:10.49\00:37:12.19
You know that,
let's go to Abraham.
00:37:12.23\00:37:13.73
"Oh, Abraham, that's the guy."
00:37:13.76\00:37:15.83
And he shows that Abraham
had to come through faith,
00:37:15.86\00:37:20.84
had to exercise
the same kind of faith
00:37:20.87\00:37:22.60
that you are now
going to exercise
00:37:22.64\00:37:24.37
because Abraham was
starting a whole new thing,
00:37:24.41\00:37:26.81
a whole new faith,
00:37:26.88\00:37:28.21
he's the father of the faithful.
00:37:28.24\00:37:29.58
You're starting
a whole new thing,
00:37:29.61\00:37:31.01
a whole new faith
00:37:31.05\00:37:32.38
so you've got to use
the same kind of faith
00:37:32.41\00:37:34.35
that Abraham did.
00:37:34.38\00:37:35.72
And then Ellen White says this,
00:37:35.75\00:37:37.09
she compares
Abraham and Zachariah,
00:37:37.12\00:37:41.86
John the Baptist's father.
00:37:41.89\00:37:43.32
She says, they are
parallel in a couple of ways.
00:37:43.36\00:37:45.89
One, they both were too
old to think about children.
00:37:45.93\00:37:49.50
Zachariah says to Gabriel,
00:37:49.53\00:37:52.17
Gabriel says, "I got
some good news for you, man,
00:37:52.20\00:37:55.54
you're going to have a son.
00:37:55.57\00:37:56.91
He's not going to drink wine,
he's going to be a blessing."
00:37:56.97\00:38:00.24
He gave him a list of things
00:38:00.31\00:38:01.64
that John the
Baptist is going to do.
00:38:01.68\00:38:03.88
And Zachariah like, I
guess any old man said,
00:38:03.91\00:38:06.78
"I'm gonna need a sign.
00:38:06.85\00:38:09.38
I'm gonna need some help.
00:38:09.42\00:38:10.82
How will I know?"
00:38:10.85\00:38:12.32
And Gabriel says,
"Well, first of all,
00:38:12.35\00:38:17.19
do you know who I am?
00:38:17.26\00:38:19.03
You know, I am Gabriel."
00:38:19.06\00:38:22.03
Basically he's saying, "I
didn't come here to fool you
00:38:22.06\00:38:27.24
or to clown with you.
00:38:27.27\00:38:28.64
I came here to
give you a message
00:38:28.67\00:38:30.01
that's very, very serious.
00:38:30.04\00:38:31.41
And your sign is gonna be
you're not going to talk again
00:38:31.44\00:38:34.08
until it
happens, that's your sign
00:38:34.11\00:38:37.65
because I don't want
you throwing doubt out."
00:38:37.68\00:38:39.18
So when this
prophecy comes through,
00:38:39.21\00:38:42.18
then you'll be able to
rejoice over the prophecy.
00:38:42.22\00:38:44.79
Well, Paul is doing the
same kind of thing here.
00:38:44.82\00:38:48.89
You people are being exposed
00:38:48.92\00:38:51.43
to something brand
new and radical to you,
00:38:51.46\00:38:54.56
so I'm gonna say
it again and again.
00:38:54.60\00:38:56.67
It's like that old story I
heard, Mollie, the preacher,
00:38:56.73\00:38:59.83
he went to the church
to preach the first sermon
00:38:59.87\00:39:01.40
and people loved
it, brand new church.
00:39:01.44\00:39:03.54
Then next week, he
preached the same sermon,
00:39:03.57\00:39:05.27
the next week he
preached the same sermon,
00:39:05.31\00:39:07.01
the next week he preached
the same sermon and they said,
00:39:07.04\00:39:09.04
"Pastor, it's five weeks now.
00:39:09.08\00:39:10.88
This is the same
sermon, you know."
00:39:10.91\00:39:12.45
He says, "I'm gonna
keep preaching it to you
00:39:12.48\00:39:13.85
till you get it
right," you know.
00:39:13.88\00:39:15.22
So it's that kind of thing.
00:39:15.25\00:39:16.62
Paul says, "I'm
gonna keep saying this
00:39:16.65\00:39:18.59
until you understand
00:39:18.62\00:39:20.19
this brand new way of thinking."
00:39:20.22\00:39:21.72
And it was revolutionary
00:39:21.76\00:39:23.19
to think that all I've got to do
00:39:23.22\00:39:25.83
is surrender my life in faith
00:39:25.86\00:39:28.50
believe in Christ
and He credits me.
00:39:28.53\00:39:31.43
Mercy.
00:39:31.47\00:39:32.87
That's not good accounting,
giving me credit for stuff.
00:39:32.90\00:39:36.47
He credits me
with righteousness?
00:39:36.50\00:39:39.74
So it's not law
as opposed to grace,
00:39:39.77\00:39:41.91
or law as opposed to faith,
or law as opposed to love,
00:39:41.94\00:39:45.11
they all work hand in hand.
00:39:45.15\00:39:46.92
They all work together.
00:39:46.95\00:39:48.38
And this is for people who've
never thought of that before,
00:39:48.42\00:39:51.42
a radical new thought.
00:39:51.45\00:39:52.79
And so the
Jerusalem Council says,
00:39:52.82\00:39:55.19
"We decree that
the gentiles are saved
00:39:55.22\00:39:58.23
just like the Jews are saved.
00:39:58.26\00:40:00.20
It's righteousness
by faith for them,"
00:40:00.23\00:40:02.36
and hallelujah,
00:40:02.40\00:40:03.73
it's righteousness
by faith for us too.
00:40:03.77\00:40:05.87
So even that, even
though that is something
00:40:05.90\00:40:08.27
you never thought of before
00:40:08.30\00:40:09.64
or maybe you
have trouble accepting
00:40:09.67\00:40:11.27
that is the will of God for you.
00:40:11.31\00:40:16.85
The principle and
this is in the lesson.
00:40:16.91\00:40:18.85
The principle of the man can
save himself by its own works
00:40:18.88\00:40:21.68
and layout the foundation
of every heathen religion.
00:40:21.72\00:40:23.85
We talked about that before
00:40:23.89\00:40:25.49
that all heathen
religions are based on this,
00:40:25.52\00:40:27.66
either there's something
00:40:27.69\00:40:29.02
I can do to make
myself acceptable to God.
00:40:29.06\00:40:32.36
There's got to be
something I can do.
00:40:32.39\00:40:34.40
And, you know, if you do
it then you feel you deserve,
00:40:34.46\00:40:39.63
you know, "I did this.
00:40:39.67\00:40:41.50
I deserve my crown," you know.
00:40:41.54\00:40:44.04
And the idea that
you get that crown
00:40:44.07\00:40:46.07
and there's nothing you can do.
00:40:46.11\00:40:47.44
The plan has been set in motion,
00:40:47.51\00:40:49.31
Christ has done it all.
00:40:49.34\00:40:51.05
He calls even the
faith you get is His faith,
00:40:51.08\00:40:53.45
you are saved by His faith.
00:40:53.48\00:40:55.08
So it's nothing
that you can work up
00:40:55.12\00:40:56.82
or put in a blender and
come out with a smoothie.
00:40:56.85\00:41:00.09
It's something that Christ does
00:41:00.16\00:41:01.49
for you, with you,
to you, through you.
00:41:01.52\00:41:03.19
Then for people who are
used to doing it another way,
00:41:03.22\00:41:06.16
it is a radical thing indeed.
00:41:06.19\00:41:09.63
Ellen White asks this question
and it's touched on in lesson,
00:41:09.66\00:41:12.73
there in the book
of Desire of Ages.
00:41:12.77\00:41:14.64
She says, "Why
does this idea of,
00:41:14.67\00:41:19.91
the fact that you
can work your way in,
00:41:19.94\00:41:21.31
why does that
open you up to sin?"
00:41:21.34\00:41:23.55
And that's a
very interesting idea,
00:41:23.61\00:41:25.71
very sort of
esoteric kind of thought.
00:41:25.75\00:41:29.82
If I make a law for Mollie,
00:41:29.85\00:41:33.86
then Mollie is left to
wrestle with my imperfect law.
00:41:33.92\00:41:40.16
It comes from an imperfect mind.
00:41:40.20\00:41:42.26
So even if you kept my
law, it's still imperfect.
00:41:42.30\00:41:47.07
So that opens you up to anything
00:41:47.10\00:41:49.40
that man's
imperfect mind can conjure up
00:41:49.44\00:41:52.61
which is why people thought
that crucifying their children
00:41:52.64\00:41:55.51
and burning babies
was acceptable to God,
00:41:55.54\00:41:58.15
because it comes
from an imperfect mind.
00:41:58.18\00:42:01.28
Which is why if
you take away the law,
00:42:01.32\00:42:06.62
you are left with all kinds of,
00:42:06.65\00:42:09.29
can I say
insanity, spiritual insanity?
00:42:09.32\00:42:12.29
The law gives us the
parameters for righteousness.
00:42:12.33\00:42:16.63
It is not within me
to direct my own steps,
00:42:16.67\00:42:19.20
let alone your steps.
00:42:19.23\00:42:20.60
Mercy.
00:42:20.64\00:42:21.97
So if I begin to
create laws and make laws
00:42:22.00\00:42:26.01
which is why the
United States Constitution
00:42:26.04\00:42:27.61
has so many amendments
00:42:27.64\00:42:29.08
because we
realize that didn't work,
00:42:29.11\00:42:31.05
so let's change it,
00:42:31.08\00:42:32.41
that didn't work
so let's change it,
00:42:32.45\00:42:34.12
that didn't work
so let's change it.
00:42:34.18\00:42:35.92
But God's law is once
00:42:35.95\00:42:38.29
and for all
comprehensive and beautiful
00:42:38.32\00:42:40.82
and needs no change.
00:42:40.86\00:42:42.26
You can't take away from it,
you certainly cannot add to it.
00:42:42.29\00:42:45.09
It is perfect.
00:42:45.13\00:42:46.46
So when we try to keep
our own laws, our own ways,
00:42:46.49\00:42:49.83
we open up ourselves
to degradation and to sin.
00:42:49.86\00:42:52.83
We can only get worse,
we can never get better.
00:42:52.87\00:42:55.27
You know, we can
never rise any higher.
00:42:55.30\00:42:58.87
Plus there's no
divine help to keep that.
00:42:58.91\00:43:01.21
This idea, and
I'll close with this.
00:43:01.24\00:43:03.38
This idea that Christ
came to sacrifice himself
00:43:03.45\00:43:09.22
so that we can be
keepers of the law was so alien
00:43:09.25\00:43:11.85
that in John 6:61,
he explained it to them.
00:43:11.89\00:43:17.56
They said, the disciples
said, "This is a hard saying.
00:43:17.63\00:43:21.30
Who can hear this?
00:43:21.33\00:43:22.66
We're not, no,
we're not doing that.
00:43:22.70\00:43:24.50
We didn't sign on for this."
00:43:24.53\00:43:26.07
And then in John 6:66, it says,
00:43:26.10\00:43:28.64
"From that time
many of them went back
00:43:28.67\00:43:31.57
and walked no longer with him,"
00:43:31.61\00:43:32.94
which shows you how tough
00:43:32.97\00:43:34.81
this new way of
thinking about God was for them.
00:43:34.84\00:43:37.65
So this is why given
this kind of history,
00:43:37.68\00:43:40.62
John, Paul rather takes his time
00:43:40.68\00:43:43.25
to explain and re-explain
00:43:43.28\00:43:45.39
and re-explain and
re-explain and re-explain
00:43:45.42\00:43:49.22
because not only
was it here in Romans,
00:43:49.26\00:43:51.43
we saw it in Galatia
00:43:51.46\00:43:52.79
and we'll see it again in other
church groups in the Bible.
00:43:52.83\00:43:56.23
So this is something,
00:43:56.26\00:43:57.60
when you get a
radical new idea like this,
00:43:57.63\00:43:59.43
it takes time to kind
of get it into the mind,
00:43:59.47\00:44:01.94
but once it comes,
00:44:01.97\00:44:03.30
Martin Luther saw it
00:44:03.34\00:44:04.67
as a totally freeing experience.
00:44:04.71\00:44:06.68
It was enormous, the energy
for the Protestant Reformation,
00:44:06.71\00:44:10.95
and of course,
it is the foundation
00:44:10.98\00:44:12.38
upon which we live,
00:44:12.41\00:44:13.75
which we move and
which we have our being,
00:44:13.82\00:44:15.32
the fact that
Christ has done it all
00:44:15.35\00:44:17.92
and all I've got to do
is accept Him by faith,
00:44:17.95\00:44:21.49
surrender to Him and let
Him be the Lord of our life.
00:44:21.52\00:44:24.96
Radical but the
greatest of all doctrines
00:44:24.99\00:44:28.10
and the basis of the
Protestant Reformation.
00:44:28.13\00:44:30.07
Amen.
00:44:30.13\00:44:31.67
That's just good news, you know.
00:44:31.70\00:44:33.74
People who are here
00:44:33.80\00:44:35.14
if each one who is explaining
their portion of the lesson,
00:44:35.17\00:44:37.94
how well it fits, you know.
00:44:37.97\00:44:40.34
You're in a construction,
you go out in the worksite
00:44:40.38\00:44:42.78
and, you know, you have
so many blocks that fits,
00:44:42.81\00:44:45.11
you know, here
and there and so on.
00:44:45.15\00:44:46.72
They have to fit
00:44:46.78\00:44:48.12
and they have to
fit perfectly and right.
00:44:48.15\00:44:50.25
And that's how God
would have it in His Word.
00:44:50.29\00:44:53.22
I was thinking about
00:44:53.25\00:44:54.59
what you're talking about there.
00:44:54.62\00:44:55.96
Let's say, I go out
to the construction site.
00:44:55.99\00:44:58.73
I'm used to having
hammer, nails and jumping in
00:44:58.76\00:45:00.76
and working with
the boys, you know.
00:45:00.83\00:45:03.03
What if every time I
went over there, they say,
00:45:03.06\00:45:05.57
"You don't have
to do any of that.
00:45:05.60\00:45:07.90
You don't have to do
this now, you don't have..."
00:45:07.94\00:45:10.41
Pretty soon you
would feel kind of like,
00:45:10.44\00:45:12.24
if you're kind of
little prideful and so on is,
00:45:12.27\00:45:14.38
"I'm not needed."
00:45:14.41\00:45:15.88
And I'm wondering in
our spiritual aspect,
00:45:15.91\00:45:18.05
you know, of it is
somehow I've got to play
00:45:18.08\00:45:21.75
a vital part or
role in my salvation
00:45:21.78\00:45:25.29
or this was always
part of our thinking
00:45:25.32\00:45:29.42
when I grew up
early in the church.
00:45:29.46\00:45:31.66
So I don't know
about anyone else
00:45:31.69\00:45:33.03
but when you've
been there a long time,
00:45:33.06\00:45:35.46
there's a lot of
things that you do experience,
00:45:35.50\00:45:38.33
and good and bad.
00:45:38.37\00:45:40.44
But part of ours was...
00:45:40.50\00:45:43.47
There was certain things,
00:45:43.51\00:45:45.64
let's say, needed to be done
00:45:45.67\00:45:47.54
and there was, you
can understand that.
00:45:47.58\00:45:49.81
But needed and if you
weren't doing that you,
00:45:49.84\00:45:52.95
"I'm not sure you really need
to be a member of this church,
00:45:52.98\00:45:55.42
you know, because
you're not working.
00:45:55.45\00:45:56.79
You're not doing what
the others are doing."
00:45:56.85\00:45:59.25
I'm so thankful that we
grow and we learn and we realize
00:45:59.29\00:46:03.66
through these lessons
here that God is saying to us,
00:46:03.69\00:46:06.56
"I have this
beautiful free gift."
00:46:06.59\00:46:09.13
And I'm thankful
for that free gift
00:46:09.16\00:46:11.10
and every day I thank Him for,
00:46:11.13\00:46:12.73
you know, just the
life and health and strength
00:46:12.77\00:46:15.34
that He gives and the
blessings that He sends,
00:46:15.37\00:46:17.67
you know, my way as
well as everyone else.
00:46:17.71\00:46:19.74
And I know it's through Him
00:46:19.77\00:46:21.11
that we live and
move and have our being
00:46:21.14\00:46:23.01
and I never want
to shortchange that.
00:46:23.04\00:46:25.75
Since we talk about
Thursday's lesson Law and Sin,
00:46:25.78\00:46:28.38
I mean, this is all
what we've been talking about
00:46:28.42\00:46:30.69
and each one
has put it very well
00:46:30.72\00:46:32.12
as far as we're going
over some of the same things.
00:46:32.15\00:46:34.79
But let's just do it again
00:46:34.82\00:46:36.19
because this can
be very elementary
00:46:36.22\00:46:39.39
to some who have been
over but it can be very complex
00:46:39.43\00:46:42.46
to those who maybe
have not studied before
00:46:42.50\00:46:44.87
but who have never
heard this question
00:46:44.90\00:46:47.00
because when
you say law and sin,
00:46:47.04\00:46:49.00
it's good to kind
of look at definitions
00:46:49.04\00:46:51.51
and just look at
from the beginning
00:46:51.54\00:46:53.98
because when I say the
law, what comes in our minds?
00:46:54.04\00:46:56.75
What comes in your
mind when you say the law?
00:46:56.81\00:46:58.95
I think several
different things could come.
00:46:58.98\00:47:00.95
Ten Commandments.
Yeah, Ten Commandments.
00:47:00.98\00:47:03.42
Law of Moses. Go ahead.
00:47:03.45\00:47:05.29
The law of Moses.
Yeah, the law of Moses.
00:47:05.32\00:47:07.39
It could be ceremonial,
could be moral, radical,
00:47:07.42\00:47:09.32
all kinds of different things.
00:47:09.36\00:47:10.69
But law is one thing
I think the Holy Spirit,
00:47:10.76\00:47:13.73
he keeps putting
in my mind, Kenny,
00:47:13.76\00:47:15.20
it's just not some
ordinary thing, it's not this.
00:47:15.23\00:47:17.60
It says that the law
is spiritual and we are...
00:47:17.63\00:47:21.77
Carnal.
00:47:21.80\00:47:23.14
Well, that sounds
like opposite here.
00:47:23.17\00:47:24.84
I sound like I've got a problem
already to start with here
00:47:24.87\00:47:27.11
and it needs to be work out,
maybe you feel that way too.
00:47:27.18\00:47:29.98
Romans 7:14, the
law is spiritual.
00:47:30.05\00:47:33.62
So number one, it
tells me that the law is good
00:47:33.65\00:47:36.99
and how the law is...
00:47:37.02\00:47:38.35
If I can't explain,
I need more than that,
00:47:38.39\00:47:40.06
how can something
that's spiritual be bad?
00:47:40.09\00:47:42.66
So it must be good.
00:47:42.69\00:47:44.03
So I must set it over
here on the table and say,
00:47:44.06\00:47:45.76
"Okay, now this
says it's spiritual,
00:47:45.79\00:47:47.73
so something is spiritual.
00:47:47.76\00:47:49.06
It must be good,
it must harmonize
00:47:49.10\00:47:51.03
with the rest of the Bible."
00:47:51.07\00:47:53.40
And then, you know,
you read that you use
00:47:53.44\00:47:55.17
in your Bible study
so often in Romans 7:12
00:47:55.20\00:47:59.77
talking about the law.
00:47:59.81\00:48:01.21
It says, "It's holy and
it's just," and what is it?
00:48:01.24\00:48:04.91
Good. It's good.
00:48:04.95\00:48:06.65
Even as a young
person I looked at this
00:48:06.68\00:48:08.92
because I heard older
folks debating this, Pastor.
00:48:08.95\00:48:12.45
I know, they debate this here,
00:48:12.49\00:48:14.22
I don't know how
good must be good,
00:48:14.29\00:48:16.56
or how much good isn't good.
00:48:16.59\00:48:20.83
It just said, it's
holy, it's just and is good.
00:48:20.86\00:48:24.97
I just said, what
more could I add to that?
00:48:25.00\00:48:28.20
How can I debate
those words in scripture?
00:48:28.24\00:48:31.74
So I need to,
just been said here,
00:48:31.77\00:48:33.27
read those things and
say thank you Lord for those
00:48:33.31\00:48:35.74
because it's holy,
it's just and the good,
00:48:35.78\00:48:37.38
that's the law.
00:48:37.45\00:48:38.78
And then, of course,
Romans 7:7 talks about the law,
00:48:38.81\00:48:42.68
is law a sin?
00:48:42.72\00:48:44.09
I mean, it is such
bad because, you know...
00:48:44.12\00:48:47.46
no, I said, God
forbid, you know, it's not bad.
00:48:47.49\00:48:49.82
I had not
known, talk about lust,
00:48:49.86\00:48:51.99
not known sin except by the law.
00:48:52.03\00:48:55.86
So these things maybe elementary
00:48:55.90\00:48:57.33
but when you put them
one, two, three, A, B, C
00:48:57.37\00:49:00.30
to me in my simple thinking,
00:49:00.37\00:49:02.64
it begins to make sense to me
what God is saying about that.
00:49:02.67\00:49:06.91
Romans 2:13,
00:49:06.94\00:49:09.18
"Be doers, the doers of
the law will be justified."
00:49:09.21\00:49:13.95
We're looking for,
00:49:13.98\00:49:15.32
so there's something
about the doing, right?
00:49:15.35\00:49:17.22
There's something
about we keep saying,
00:49:17.25\00:49:18.89
"Well, it's free
and it's all good."
00:49:18.92\00:49:20.29
But there's something
about our love for Christ,
00:49:20.32\00:49:22.69
if we have it in
our hearts and in mind,
00:49:22.72\00:49:24.66
it's going to motivate
me to want to do something.
00:49:24.69\00:49:27.66
Does that make sense?
Do something for Jesus...
00:49:27.66\00:49:30.57
It's called love.
00:49:30.60\00:49:31.93
Yeah, I want to
give a Bible study,
00:49:31.97\00:49:33.74
I want to pray with someone,
I want to witness to someone.
00:49:33.77\00:49:37.67
Sometime, you
want to witness so bad,
00:49:37.71\00:49:39.11
you want to get him by
the nap of the neck and say,
00:49:39.14\00:49:41.54
"You know, this is
for your own good."
00:49:41.58\00:49:43.78
That's what I heard at
home when I got corrected.
00:49:43.85\00:49:45.38
"This is going to
be for your own good."
00:49:45.41\00:49:47.25
But you don't do it that way.
00:49:47.32\00:49:48.65
Christ never operate that
way, those that are out there,
00:49:48.68\00:49:50.99
he says, "It is free, take it.
00:49:51.02\00:49:52.85
It's going to change your life.
00:49:52.89\00:49:54.26
It's going to make you
a new creature in Christ."
00:49:54.29\00:49:56.12
And we read so
many times Romans 3:20.
00:49:56.16\00:49:59.93
The law gives what? Knowledge.
00:50:00.00\00:50:01.36
This is what it is.
00:50:01.40\00:50:02.73
"By the law is
the knowledge of sin."
00:50:02.76\00:50:04.13
Romans 3:21, "We make
void the law through faith."
00:50:04.17\00:50:06.63
Once again, I've people after,
00:50:06.70\00:50:08.64
I mean, dozens will come
up and say, "I live by faith.
00:50:08.67\00:50:12.37
I just live by faith,
don't need anything else."
00:50:12.41\00:50:14.78
You give him this passage,
00:50:14.81\00:50:16.14
what are you
going to do with it?
00:50:16.18\00:50:17.51
God forbid we
establish that law.
00:50:17.55\00:50:20.18
Now, if you have your Bibles,
you might want to turn with me
00:50:20.22\00:50:22.18
and I think it's 1 John.
00:50:22.22\00:50:23.95
Very interesting, 1
John 2 and those you at home
00:50:23.99\00:50:25.89
need to be following along with
00:50:25.92\00:50:27.32
because I know this for sure,
regardless of what time it is
00:50:27.36\00:50:32.73
somebody is going to say,
00:50:32.76\00:50:34.10
"Why didn't they
bring this point up?"
00:50:34.13\00:50:36.70
Well, now is your
choice and your chance
00:50:36.73\00:50:38.77
to be able to
get in and say now,
00:50:38.80\00:50:40.30
at least I'll
read along and I can,
00:50:40.37\00:50:41.97
you know, my own home I
can bring this thing up.
00:50:42.00\00:50:45.01
1 John 2:3-6. 1 John 2:3-6.
00:50:45.04\00:50:50.28
Now Pastor CA, if I say
it three times, will it work?
00:50:50.31\00:50:54.25
We praise the Lord.
00:50:54.28\00:50:56.38
1 John 2:3-6, and it says,
00:50:56.42\00:50:59.59
"Hereby we do
know that we know Him."
00:50:59.62\00:51:02.99
Here's, here it is,
we're considering this thing
00:51:03.02\00:51:05.66
and we're looking
at it and it said,
00:51:05.69\00:51:07.10
"Okay, now this,
we know for sure now
00:51:07.13\00:51:08.86
that you know him, if," what?
00:51:08.90\00:51:11.33
"If we keep His commandments."
00:51:11.37\00:51:12.70
So how can someone
turn around and say,
00:51:12.73\00:51:14.10
"Well, we don't worry
about keeping, we don't..."
00:51:14.14\00:51:16.24
This is how we know,
it's what scripture says.
00:51:16.27\00:51:19.07
This is how we know.
00:51:19.11\00:51:21.11
"He that saith, I
knoweth him, and,"
00:51:21.14\00:51:23.08
oh, this is heavy.
00:51:23.11\00:51:24.45
"And keepeth not
his commandments,
00:51:24.48\00:51:25.85
is a liar, and the
truth is not in him."
00:51:25.88\00:51:30.05
So a person can read that
and you can read it to them
00:51:30.09\00:51:33.36
and they will turn
and look at you and say,
00:51:33.42\00:51:34.76
"No, I know I still don't
have to worry about these."
00:51:34.79\00:51:37.66
And it makes you
want to come back and say,
00:51:37.69\00:51:39.09
"Well, the Bible
just said you're liar."
00:51:39.13\00:51:41.00
It could be a
little contentious,
00:51:41.03\00:51:42.86
could be a little problem.
00:51:42.90\00:51:44.50
I'm one likes to get down to it,
00:51:44.53\00:51:46.27
let the rubber hit
the road, let there be,
00:51:46.30\00:51:49.30
Sister Mollie, I
can agitate sometime.
00:51:49.34\00:51:51.67
Not you, no.
00:51:51.71\00:51:53.11
I might learn that
from my brother a little bit
00:51:53.14\00:51:54.48
but anyway we can agitate
00:51:54.51\00:51:56.14
and it's not bad
to be an agitator.
00:51:56.18\00:51:58.01
Ellen White says, we
are to agitate these truths.
00:51:58.05\00:52:00.82
That means I can agitate.
00:52:00.85\00:52:02.18
Anybody know the old washing
machine that used to have,
00:52:02.22\00:52:04.09
what they call them?
00:52:04.12\00:52:05.45
The agitators.
00:52:05.49\00:52:07.39
And it was to get the dirt out.
00:52:07.46\00:52:08.79
Get the dirt out
and that's what it is.
00:52:08.82\00:52:10.63
You work it and you get
the dirt out and you go over,
00:52:10.66\00:52:13.53
you talk about
it, you discuss it
00:52:13.60\00:52:15.40
and all of a sudden
people are starting to hear it
00:52:15.43\00:52:17.77
and what, we
become clean by the word.
00:52:17.80\00:52:21.00
Agitated, keep before the people
00:52:21.04\00:52:24.17
because many times
00:52:24.21\00:52:27.34
and honestly, it's
about, I'm still learning,
00:52:27.38\00:52:28.88
I'm in the school
of Christ, you know.
00:52:28.91\00:52:30.61
How little we know
sometime as a people
00:52:30.65\00:52:33.38
about this
beautiful, beautiful message
00:52:33.42\00:52:35.25
righteousness by faith.
00:52:35.28\00:52:37.15
Any typical Adventist,
anyone tap down and say,
00:52:37.19\00:52:40.92
you give me
something about the 2300 days.
00:52:40.96\00:52:43.63
Sometime they had difficult
time talking about 2300.
00:52:43.69\00:52:46.29
It doesn't make you good
or bad, it's the knowledge.
00:52:46.33\00:52:48.06
But I think we should
be studying these things
00:52:48.10\00:52:50.03
because that
supports our gospel message.
00:52:50.10\00:52:53.13
"He that saith, I know him,
keepeth not his commandments,
00:52:53.17\00:52:55.07
is a liar, and the
truth is not in him."
00:52:55.10\00:52:59.17
It goes on, read that, we
don't have time to read that.
00:52:59.21\00:53:01.51
Verse 6, "He that
saith he abideth in him
00:53:01.54\00:53:03.65
ought to himself also," what?
00:53:03.68\00:53:06.38
"Walk, even as he walked."
00:53:06.41\00:53:07.75
There again, there's
the example of my Lord
00:53:07.78\00:53:10.19
and my Savior Jesus Christ.
00:53:10.22\00:53:11.59
I can do that to Him, I
can follow in His footsteps.
00:53:11.62\00:53:15.42
Grace, when someone says,
"Oh, I live by grace now."
00:53:15.46\00:53:19.46
We've heard all that, right?
00:53:19.49\00:53:21.36
I live by, I don't
worry about no laws.
00:53:21.40\00:53:23.20
I live by grace."
00:53:23.23\00:53:24.57
I just simply
say, "You know, grace
00:53:24.60\00:53:25.93
must not be made an
excuse for continuing in sin."
00:53:25.97\00:53:29.87
Many times grace
is used as an excuse
00:53:29.90\00:53:31.94
to continue on in sin
00:53:31.97\00:53:34.04
because they don't know.
00:53:34.08\00:53:35.41
You say, well, I'm
not sure about that,
00:53:35.44\00:53:36.91
I think we have time
to read quickly, Romans 6,
00:53:36.95\00:53:40.92
I think it brings it
out rather quickly here.
00:53:40.95\00:53:42.45
Romans 6:1-2.
00:53:42.48\00:53:44.89
Romans 6:1-2,
that's twice I've said it.
00:53:44.92\00:53:49.19
Romans 6:1-2 and
that's three, I love it.
00:53:49.22\00:53:51.83
It's all right, it's
all good, makes sense.
00:53:51.86\00:53:54.86
Roman 6:1-2,
"What shall we say then?
00:53:54.93\00:53:57.97
Shall we continue in
sin, that grace may abound?
00:53:58.00\00:54:02.67
God forbid.
00:54:02.70\00:54:04.04
How shall we,
that are dead to sin,
00:54:04.11\00:54:06.37
live any longer therein?"
00:54:06.41\00:54:08.61
You know, that sound
like part of our lessons
00:54:08.64\00:54:10.55
coming up to is
victory, victory in our life
00:54:10.58\00:54:13.82
and because of
righteousness by faith,
00:54:13.85\00:54:15.75
because someone
mentioned down here,
00:54:15.78\00:54:17.29
Christ living in you and me,
then we should have His mind.
00:54:17.32\00:54:22.49
It should be Him
making decisions for us,
00:54:22.52\00:54:24.66
should be Him
living His life through us,
00:54:24.69\00:54:27.40
us walking as He walked.
00:54:27.50\00:54:29.70
No longer I but Christ, no
longer my mind but His mind.
00:54:29.73\00:54:33.34
So this is what to
me is what it's a about
00:54:33.40\00:54:36.14
as we study this lesson.
00:54:36.17\00:54:37.91
It's not about
Kenney, never has been.
00:54:37.94\00:54:40.08
It's about Jesus
Christ. Amen, amen.
00:54:40.14\00:54:42.48
Thank you so much,
Kenny, You know, as you said,
00:54:42.51\00:54:45.38
there are people who misconstrue
00:54:45.41\00:54:49.05
the meaning of grace.
00:54:49.08\00:54:50.45
And if we think
about it, grace is God's...
00:54:50.49\00:54:53.82
If you think about
His three greatest gifts,
00:54:53.86\00:54:55.89
it's grace, Jesus Christ,
He gave His only begotten Son,
00:54:55.92\00:55:00.23
the Holy Spirit that
He gave to empower us,
00:55:00.26\00:55:03.23
and all scripture
was given as a gift to us
00:55:03.26\00:55:06.84
so that we can live godly lives.
00:55:06.87\00:55:10.01
So you think the power in those
three greatest gifts of grace
00:55:10.04\00:55:14.08
and you see that
grace is the unearned,
00:55:14.11\00:55:17.38
undeserved gifts of God
00:55:17.45\00:55:19.91
that provide His
supernatural assistance
00:55:19.95\00:55:23.69
and divine power for salvation
00:55:23.72\00:55:25.85
because He
didn't come to save us
00:55:25.89\00:55:28.59
in our sins but from our sins.
00:55:28.62\00:55:30.83
So we see then
the covenant of grace
00:55:30.86\00:55:33.50
began with Abraham who
fathered the Hebrew nation.
00:55:33.53\00:55:38.97
Just very quickly, if you
can take about 15 seconds each,
00:55:39.00\00:55:42.74
just one single thought
00:55:42.77\00:55:44.61
that hits you
from your day's lesson.
00:55:44.64\00:55:49.34
Mine is a quote
from Martin Luther,
00:55:49.38\00:55:51.18
his understanding of
imputed righteousness.
00:55:51.21\00:55:54.02
"It was like entering a
paradise of peace with God."
00:55:54.08\00:55:58.05
And praise the Lord,
that's what He wants to do
00:55:58.09\00:55:59.69
for you and for me.
00:55:59.72\00:56:01.12
Amen. Mollie Sue?
00:56:01.16\00:56:02.49
I think quite touched me
the most from the scriptures
00:56:02.52\00:56:05.03
that I have covered
was that, if we are Christ,
00:56:05.06\00:56:09.13
if we belong to
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:56:09.16\00:56:11.13
then we are heirs
with, joint heirs with Christ
00:56:11.17\00:56:14.57
and heirs
according to the promise.
00:56:14.60\00:56:16.30
Amen. Amen. Praise God.
00:56:16.34\00:56:17.67
When I think of
God's creative power,
00:56:17.71\00:56:22.21
what this affirms to me
00:56:22.24\00:56:23.58
is that we are also
the creation of God.
00:56:23.65\00:56:26.28
God created us
by fiat, by command,
00:56:26.31\00:56:29.85
He recreates us
by fiat, by command
00:56:29.88\00:56:32.69
and says that we are
righteous in His eyes.
00:56:32.72\00:56:34.59
Amen. Amen. Kenney?
00:56:34.62\00:56:35.99
One of the things sticks
out in my mind is in the lesson,
00:56:36.02\00:56:38.49
the last few
lines, this part here.
00:56:38.53\00:56:40.93
Is talking about the law.
00:56:40.96\00:56:42.60
Biggest argument,
the best argument we have
00:56:42.63\00:56:45.00
that have not been
changed is Calvary,
00:56:45.03\00:56:47.94
is the cross of Calvary.
00:56:47.97\00:56:49.64
If it could have been it
been better have a change
00:56:49.67\00:56:51.71
before He had to go
through what He went through
00:56:51.74\00:56:53.68
but it could not be.
00:56:53.74\00:56:55.14
Absolutely.
00:56:55.18\00:56:56.51
And God did not
relax His standards
00:56:56.54\00:56:58.48
by giving us
righteousness by faith
00:56:58.51\00:57:00.35
but, you know, sending His son,
00:57:00.38\00:57:01.75
in fact, He
increased His standards.
00:57:01.78\00:57:04.05
Well, I hope you've
enjoyed this wonderful study
00:57:04.12\00:57:06.79
on the faith of Abraham
00:57:06.82\00:57:09.12
and understand
that Abraham's faith
00:57:09.16\00:57:11.76
was an obedient faith.
00:57:11.79\00:57:13.53
He believed God and he obeyed
00:57:13.56\00:57:16.23
and God counted it
to him as righteousness.
00:57:16.26\00:57:19.40
Our prayer for you
00:57:19.43\00:57:20.77
is that the grace of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
00:57:20.84\00:57:22.90
the love of the Father
00:57:22.94\00:57:24.31
and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
00:57:24.34\00:57:25.74
will be with you always.
00:57:25.77\00:57:27.61