1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,080 I don’t know a pastor could have a greater joy 2 00:00:03,080 –> 00:00:04,480 than to say to a congregation, 3 00:00:04,480 –> 00:00:07,360 open your Bible at Romans eight, 4 00:00:07,360 –> 00:00:09,580 this is one of the greatest chapters 5 00:00:09,580 –> 00:00:11,580 in all of the Scripture 6 00:00:11,580 –> 00:00:13,820 and we’re gonna share the joy together 7 00:00:13,820 –> 00:00:17,860 of soaking our minds and our hearts and our lives 8 00:00:17,860 –> 00:00:19,280 in its marvelous truth 9 00:00:19,280 –> 00:00:23,080 that is all about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 10 00:00:23,080 –> 00:00:27,900 I have a very clear aim for these four Sunday mornings. 11 00:00:27,900 –> 00:00:32,540 I want us to see together what God has done for us 12 00:00:32,540 –> 00:00:36,099 and what he will do for us in Christ 13 00:00:36,099 –> 00:00:37,740 and through the gospel. 14 00:00:37,740 –> 00:00:40,759 And if you already know the Lord Jesus Christ, 15 00:00:40,759 –> 00:00:44,060 I want you to savor this 16 00:00:44,060 –> 00:00:49,060 because worship grows and the Christian life flourishes 17 00:00:49,139 –> 00:00:52,459 as Christian believers savor 18 00:00:52,459 –> 00:00:55,099 all that is ours in Jesus Christ. 19 00:00:55,099 –> 00:00:56,660 It is so good. 20 00:00:57,340 –> 00:00:59,779 And if you do not yet know Jesus Christ, 21 00:00:59,779 –> 00:01:03,779 I want you to see what Jesus Christ can do for you. 22 00:01:03,779 –> 00:01:05,500 I really want you to see that 23 00:01:05,500 –> 00:01:09,220 because when you see what Jesus Christ can do for you 24 00:01:09,220 –> 00:01:10,860 and you really grasp it, 25 00:01:10,860 –> 00:01:12,540 you will want to come to him. 26 00:01:12,540 –> 00:01:14,599 You’ll find a change going on inside of you. 27 00:01:14,599 –> 00:01:16,860 You have kept at a distance from him. 28 00:01:16,860 –> 00:01:19,620 When you see what he can do for you, 29 00:01:19,620 –> 00:01:23,080 you will find that you want to come to him. 30 00:01:23,080 –> 00:01:25,540 Now, I’ve called the series Rescued 31 00:01:25,599 –> 00:01:28,040 for the very obvious reason that that is the word 32 00:01:28,040 –> 00:01:31,500 that Paul uses in chapter seven and verse 24 33 00:01:31,500 –> 00:01:34,160 that really introduces what this great chapter 34 00:01:34,160 –> 00:01:36,139 of the Bible is all about. 35 00:01:36,139 –> 00:01:37,500 Chapter seven, verse 24, 36 00:01:37,500 –> 00:01:41,080 Paul has been speaking about the human struggle 37 00:01:41,080 –> 00:01:44,320 that we all experience with sin. 38 00:01:44,320 –> 00:01:47,040 And he says, what a wretched man I am. 39 00:01:47,040 –> 00:01:52,040 Who will rescue me from this body of death? 40 00:01:52,419 –> 00:01:57,419 Now, a rescue is something that somebody else does for you. 41 00:01:57,519 –> 00:02:02,519 If you are trapped in a fire or stranded on a boat, 42 00:02:02,959 –> 00:02:06,239 or if you are experiencing a heart attack, 43 00:02:06,239 –> 00:02:08,960 you call 9-1-1 in order, 44 00:02:08,960 –> 00:02:10,979 or someone else calls 9-1-1 for you 45 00:02:10,979 –> 00:02:13,720 in order for you to be rescued. 46 00:02:13,720 –> 00:02:15,479 And the very nature of a rescue 47 00:02:15,479 –> 00:02:18,080 is it is something someone else does for you. 48 00:02:18,080 –> 00:02:21,039 If you can get yourself out of the trouble that you’re in, 49 00:02:21,039 –> 00:02:21,899 then by definition, 50 00:02:21,899 –> 00:02:23,259 you do not need to be rescued. 51 00:02:23,259 –> 00:02:25,880 You’re able to deal with the problem yourself. 52 00:02:25,880 –> 00:02:27,339 But when you call 9-1-1, 53 00:02:27,339 –> 00:02:29,979 you realize and recognize that you’re in a position 54 00:02:29,979 –> 00:02:32,500 that needs external help. 55 00:02:32,500 –> 00:02:35,059 You need someone to come and do for you 56 00:02:35,059 –> 00:02:38,020 what you cannot do for yourself. 57 00:02:38,020 –> 00:02:39,660 Now, think about this. 58 00:02:40,740 –> 00:02:43,800 Calling 9-1-1 doesn’t save you. 59 00:02:45,500 –> 00:02:49,880 It’s the paramedic who comes who saves you. 60 00:02:49,880 –> 00:02:52,660 It’s the fireman who comes who saves you. 61 00:02:52,660 –> 00:02:55,399 It’s the airman who comes who saves you. 62 00:02:55,399 –> 00:02:59,740 Calling 9-1-1 is just the way in which you get in touch 63 00:02:59,740 –> 00:03:02,820 with the one who will actually accomplish the rescue 64 00:03:02,820 –> 00:03:04,639 on your behalf. 65 00:03:04,639 –> 00:03:05,940 Now, that’s important. 66 00:03:05,940 –> 00:03:09,160 The Bible says, and many of us know this verse, 67 00:03:09,160 –> 00:03:12,660 “‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’ 68 00:03:12,660 –> 00:03:14,360 Some folks misunderstand that. 69 00:03:14,360 –> 00:03:17,100 They have the idea that believing is something 70 00:03:17,119 –> 00:03:20,440 that we do in order to save ourselves. 71 00:03:20,440 –> 00:03:21,279 Well, that can’t be. 72 00:03:21,279 –> 00:03:22,720 That would be a contradiction in terms. 73 00:03:22,720 –> 00:03:24,440 If there’s something you can do to save yourself. 74 00:03:24,440 –> 00:03:27,919 By definition, you do not need to be saved or rescued. 75 00:03:27,919 –> 00:03:30,000 No, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ 76 00:03:30,000 –> 00:03:31,220 is like calling 9-1-1. 77 00:03:31,220 –> 00:03:34,039 It is the way in which you are put in touch with. 78 00:03:34,039 –> 00:03:36,919 It is the way in which you lay hold off the one 79 00:03:36,919 –> 00:03:40,279 who comes and who actually accommodates the rescue 80 00:03:40,279 –> 00:03:41,800 on your behalf. 81 00:03:41,800 –> 00:03:44,720 It is the way that you call upon the Lord believing. 82 00:03:44,759 –> 00:03:48,000 It is Christ who rescues you. 83 00:03:48,000 –> 00:03:50,460 And this series over four Sunday mornings 84 00:03:50,460 –> 00:03:54,520 is about what Christ actually does in the rescue. 85 00:03:54,520 –> 00:03:57,199 We’re going to see that ultimately, 86 00:03:57,199 –> 00:03:58,800 Christ’s rescue will involve 87 00:03:58,800 –> 00:04:01,080 the renewing of the whole planet, 88 00:04:01,080 –> 00:04:02,300 a new heaven and a new earth. 89 00:04:02,300 –> 00:04:04,619 That’s in Romans, chapter eight. 90 00:04:04,619 –> 00:04:07,039 We’re going to see that it involves Christ 91 00:04:07,039 –> 00:04:09,699 bringing all his people into the greatest joy 92 00:04:09,699 –> 00:04:12,080 a human being could ever know. 93 00:04:12,080 –> 00:04:13,320 We’re going to see that you can have 94 00:04:13,600 –> 00:04:16,299 absolute, total confidence in Jesus Christ 95 00:04:16,299 –> 00:04:18,600 to accomplish his rescue 96 00:04:18,600 –> 00:04:22,040 in every case where we call upon him. 97 00:04:22,040 –> 00:04:23,799 And, we’re going to begin in Romans, chapter eight 98 00:04:23,799 –> 00:04:25,239 in verse one with what’s surely 99 00:04:25,239 –> 00:04:28,079 one of the greatest verses in all of the Bible. 100 00:04:28,079 –> 00:04:33,079 There is therefore now no condemnation 101 00:04:33,760 –> 00:04:37,119 for those who are in Christ Jesus. 102 00:04:37,119 –> 00:04:39,239 What a marvelous statement. 103 00:04:40,100 –> 00:04:43,920 Now, no condemnation. 104 00:04:45,839 –> 00:04:47,059 Now, the fact that Paul says 105 00:04:47,059 –> 00:04:49,220 that there’s no condemnation now 106 00:04:50,519 –> 00:04:53,839 obviously indicates that for those who are in Christ Jesus, 107 00:04:53,839 –> 00:04:56,559 there was condemnation before. 108 00:04:57,660 –> 00:04:59,059 And I want us to take just a moment 109 00:04:59,059 –> 00:05:00,920 to think about that because some of us 110 00:05:00,920 –> 00:05:05,179 have not come to feel that the gospel is very great 111 00:05:05,179 –> 00:05:07,739 because we’ve not really had a sense of what it is 112 00:05:08,339 –> 00:05:10,279 the gospel saves us from. 113 00:05:11,440 –> 00:05:14,519 You’ve never really thought that there was actually 114 00:05:14,519 –> 00:05:19,519 a real condemnation that was hanging over you. 115 00:05:20,619 –> 00:05:22,320 But Paul makes it very clear that there was, 116 00:05:22,320 –> 00:05:25,359 that that is the position of every one of us. 117 00:05:25,359 –> 00:05:27,640 By the way, our instinct as individuals 118 00:05:27,640 –> 00:05:30,640 is usually to go one of two ways. 119 00:05:30,640 –> 00:05:33,119 Either your natural tendency will be to think 120 00:05:33,119 –> 00:05:34,679 that you’re such a bad person 121 00:05:34,679 –> 00:05:36,959 that you cannot imagine the condemnation 122 00:05:36,959 –> 00:05:38,040 ever being removed. 123 00:05:38,040 –> 00:05:41,279 How could God possibly love a person as bad as me? 124 00:05:41,279 –> 00:05:42,359 That’s how you think. 125 00:05:43,299 –> 00:05:44,820 Or if you don’t think that way, 126 00:05:44,820 –> 00:05:47,799 your natural tendency will be to go the other way 127 00:05:47,799 –> 00:05:49,760 and for you to find it very difficult 128 00:05:49,760 –> 00:05:52,940 that God could ever condemn a person as good as you. 129 00:05:52,940 –> 00:05:54,920 You know I really have lived a very decent life 130 00:05:54,920 –> 00:05:57,519 and how could a good God ever think 131 00:05:57,519 –> 00:06:01,359 about possibly condemning a person like me? 132 00:06:01,380 –> 00:06:06,179 Either way the gospel doesn’t seem to be very great. 133 00:06:07,100 –> 00:06:09,220 And so Paul addresses both these things 134 00:06:09,220 –> 00:06:11,119 at the same time in this verse. 135 00:06:11,119 –> 00:06:14,220 First he wants us to know that the condemnation 136 00:06:14,220 –> 00:06:17,679 on you, on me, on every one of us was very real. 137 00:06:18,760 –> 00:06:21,700 And second he wants us to know that that condemnation 138 00:06:21,700 –> 00:06:26,700 is removed for those who are in Christ Jesus. 139 00:06:27,320 –> 00:06:32,320 Let’s take a moment then to just ponder this condemnation. 140 00:06:34,220 –> 00:06:37,220 Why is there a condemnation over us? 141 00:06:37,220 –> 00:06:40,380 The bible teaches clearly and repeatedly 142 00:06:40,380 –> 00:06:43,299 that we human beings are born in a condition 143 00:06:43,299 –> 00:06:47,799 of alienation from God, rebellion against God, 144 00:06:47,799 –> 00:06:50,899 guilt before God that places us 145 00:06:50,899 –> 00:06:53,519 under the condemnation of God. 146 00:06:53,519 –> 00:06:56,160 That is simply why we need the rescue. 147 00:06:56,239 –> 00:06:59,519 This is what we need to be rescued from. 148 00:06:59,519 –> 00:07:02,399 And, I’ve said on a number of occasions in recent weeks 149 00:07:02,399 –> 00:07:05,019 I’ve kind of taken to asking this question, you know 150 00:07:05,019 –> 00:07:07,980 what is it that we need to be rescued from? 151 00:07:08,920 –> 00:07:11,880 And, I’m finding that there are lots of folks 152 00:07:11,880 –> 00:07:14,820 who are not very clear about that. 153 00:07:14,820 –> 00:07:17,799 Well, Romans chapter eight is very-very clear about that. 154 00:07:17,799 –> 00:07:21,100 We need rescued from this condemnation that is there 155 00:07:21,100 –> 00:07:24,119 because we are all born into a position of alienation 156 00:07:24,140 –> 00:07:26,660 from God, rebellion against God, guilt before God 157 00:07:26,660 –> 00:07:29,559 that places us liable to the condemnation of God. 158 00:07:29,559 –> 00:07:31,779 Now you find this all over the Bible. 159 00:07:31,779 –> 00:07:33,720 In the Old Testament for example, 160 00:07:33,720 –> 00:07:37,459 Psalm 51 and verse five, David puts it this way. 161 00:07:38,440 –> 00:07:43,440 “‘Surely I was sinful,’ he says, “‘at birth’.” 162 00:07:45,059 –> 00:07:47,100 So, he’s not saying, you know, 163 00:07:47,100 –> 00:07:49,700 I was sinful the last time I sinned. 164 00:07:50,500 –> 00:07:52,739 He’s saying, nope, my very nature, 165 00:07:52,739 –> 00:07:56,279 my very constitution as a human being, 166 00:07:56,279 –> 00:07:58,640 I was sinful at birth. 167 00:07:58,640 –> 00:08:01,000 I was born into this alienation, 168 00:08:01,000 –> 00:08:04,079 guilt, and rebellion against God that’s in me by nature. 169 00:08:04,079 –> 00:08:07,459 That’s what the Bible calls the sinful nature. 170 00:08:07,459 –> 00:08:09,359 Here’s how Paul puts it in Romans chapter three 171 00:08:09,359 –> 00:08:11,480 and verse nine, he speaks about 172 00:08:11,480 –> 00:08:13,559 how this is a global phenomenon. 173 00:08:13,559 –> 00:08:17,359 He makes it clear that it crosses all ethnic boundaries, 174 00:08:17,380 –> 00:08:20,420 Jews and Gentiles, Gentiles are everyone else 175 00:08:20,420 –> 00:08:24,239 who’s not a Jew, so across all ethnic boundaries, 176 00:08:24,239 –> 00:08:26,540 it’s all the same, we all alike, 177 00:08:26,540 –> 00:08:29,940 whatever our cultural background, are under sin. 178 00:08:29,940 –> 00:08:31,380 Notice that phrase, we’re under it. 179 00:08:31,380 –> 00:08:33,020 We can’t get out from it, 180 00:08:33,020 –> 00:08:37,179 apart from one who comes to rescue us. 181 00:08:37,179 –> 00:08:38,500 One more Bible reference here. 182 00:08:38,500 –> 00:08:40,780 I wonder if you’ve ever noticed this? 183 00:08:40,780 –> 00:08:43,859 In John chapter three, right at the end, 184 00:08:43,859 –> 00:08:46,599 most famous chapter in the Bible, John three, 185 00:08:48,080 –> 00:08:52,479 John speaks about how whoever believes in the Son of God 186 00:08:52,479 –> 00:08:56,719 has eternal life, but then he says, 187 00:08:56,719 –> 00:09:00,679 whoever rejects the Son of God will not see life 188 00:09:00,679 –> 00:09:05,679 because God’s wrath, notice the word, remains on him. 189 00:09:10,239 –> 00:09:13,200 He doesn’t say, you know, if you reject the Son of God, 190 00:09:13,200 –> 00:09:15,760 then the problem for you is that the wrath of God 191 00:09:15,799 –> 00:09:18,140 will then come upon you. 192 00:09:18,140 –> 00:09:20,919 He says, no, if you’re rejecting the Son of God, 193 00:09:20,919 –> 00:09:24,539 the wrath of God remains on you. 194 00:09:24,539 –> 00:09:25,580 It’s already there. 195 00:09:26,599 –> 00:09:30,299 He’s hanging over every person from the moment of our birth. 196 00:09:31,400 –> 00:09:34,840 We are born in this condition of sin 197 00:09:34,840 –> 00:09:36,080 and alienation from God. 198 00:09:36,080 –> 00:09:39,659 This is simply the teaching of the Bible 199 00:09:39,659 –> 00:09:41,760 and it is critical for us to grasp, 200 00:09:41,760 –> 00:09:44,239 otherwise we will not understand what it is 201 00:09:44,260 –> 00:09:46,320 that we actually need saving from 202 00:09:46,320 –> 00:09:50,280 and why it is that we need this rescue. 203 00:09:52,479 –> 00:09:56,559 How big a crack in your foundation wall 204 00:09:56,559 –> 00:10:00,799 does it take to get moisture in your basement 205 00:10:00,799 –> 00:10:02,780 so that within a very short space of time 206 00:10:02,780 –> 00:10:05,219 you say, this stinks? 207 00:10:06,539 –> 00:10:09,320 It only takes the tiniest crack 208 00:10:10,539 –> 00:10:12,239 and a whole place becomes a place 209 00:10:12,239 –> 00:10:13,520 you no longer want to be. 210 00:10:15,239 –> 00:10:19,859 Now, how much sin do you think 211 00:10:19,859 –> 00:10:21,400 God is gonna let in to heaven? 212 00:10:22,979 –> 00:10:27,099 Not even the tiniest hint. 213 00:10:29,000 –> 00:10:30,640 Remember this, how much sin 214 00:10:30,640 –> 00:10:32,659 did it take to ruin this world? 215 00:10:33,539 –> 00:10:35,380 You read about it in Genesis. 216 00:10:35,380 –> 00:10:38,340 You read that story, there’s one commandment 217 00:10:38,340 –> 00:10:40,400 about a tree and not eating from it 218 00:10:40,400 –> 00:10:41,700 and good and evil and so forth 219 00:10:41,700 –> 00:10:43,700 and they disobey this one command 220 00:10:43,780 –> 00:10:44,580 and we read that and we think 221 00:10:44,580 –> 00:10:46,280 is that really that big a deal? 222 00:10:47,739 –> 00:10:49,419 It took one sin to ruin our world. 223 00:10:49,419 –> 00:10:51,039 Why? 224 00:10:51,039 –> 00:10:53,619 Because sin is like a virus. 225 00:10:53,619 –> 00:10:54,820 It spreads. 226 00:10:55,679 –> 00:10:58,559 Sin is like rabbits. 227 00:10:58,559 –> 00:10:59,799 They multiply. 228 00:11:01,460 –> 00:11:06,460 God will not let the tiniest hint of sin 229 00:11:07,500 –> 00:11:10,140 into His heaven because the nature of sin 230 00:11:10,140 –> 00:11:13,179 is such that it is a deadly disease 231 00:11:13,200 –> 00:11:14,619 that spreads like the flu. 232 00:11:15,820 –> 00:11:18,219 So in order to enter into heaven, 233 00:11:18,219 –> 00:11:19,460 what would a person have to do? 234 00:11:19,460 –> 00:11:20,960 In order not to be condemned, 235 00:11:20,960 –> 00:11:22,140 what would a person have to do? 236 00:11:22,140 –> 00:11:26,260 Well, we would have to live a life of love 237 00:11:26,260 –> 00:11:28,299 filled with the fruit of the Spirit 238 00:11:28,299 –> 00:11:30,880 24-7, 365 239 00:11:30,880 –> 00:11:33,000 every year of our lives. 240 00:11:33,000 –> 00:11:35,219 Which would mean, just to think about it 241 00:11:35,219 –> 00:11:38,539 that you or I would be patient and kind always 242 00:11:38,539 –> 00:11:41,940 without hesitation and without exception. 243 00:11:41,940 –> 00:11:43,919 That we would never boast because 244 00:11:43,919 –> 00:11:46,299 there isn’t a hint of pride within us. 245 00:11:46,299 –> 00:11:47,859 The peace would rule your heart 246 00:11:47,859 –> 00:11:49,580 and you would never give way to anxiety 247 00:11:49,580 –> 00:11:51,559 because you have total confidence in God 248 00:11:51,559 –> 00:11:53,900 as one who trusts him completely. 249 00:11:53,900 –> 00:11:55,260 And you immediately say with me, 250 00:11:55,260 –> 00:11:56,080 that’s impossible. 251 00:11:56,080 –> 00:11:56,919 I can’t do that. 252 00:11:56,919 –> 00:11:59,419 None of us can do that. 253 00:11:59,419 –> 00:12:02,799 Now, we’re getting in touch 254 00:12:02,799 –> 00:12:04,900 with why every one of us needs to rescue. 255 00:12:07,080 –> 00:12:09,419 Now we’re getting in touch 256 00:12:09,440 –> 00:12:13,299 with what we need rescuing from. 257 00:12:14,400 –> 00:12:15,559 Here it is. 258 00:12:15,559 –> 00:12:20,539 We are sinners by nature and by practice, 259 00:12:20,979 –> 00:12:22,599 every one of us. 260 00:12:22,599 –> 00:12:23,460 And you know what? 261 00:12:23,460 –> 00:12:25,719 The better you know yourself, 262 00:12:26,760 –> 00:12:28,719 the more you will realize that is true. 263 00:12:29,619 –> 00:12:32,280 Which is why we become more aware of our own sinfulness 264 00:12:32,280 –> 00:12:34,520 as we move forward in the Christian life, 265 00:12:34,520 –> 00:12:39,039 not less aware of our own sinfulness. 266 00:12:39,059 –> 00:12:41,020 Now notice what Paul says in verse three. 267 00:12:41,020 –> 00:12:44,000 He says that the law was powerless to save us 268 00:12:44,000 –> 00:12:46,799 because it was weakened by the sinful nature. 269 00:12:46,799 –> 00:12:48,919 What that means is really very simple. 270 00:12:48,919 –> 00:12:51,460 The law, which is God’s description 271 00:12:51,460 –> 00:12:53,580 of the life he’s calling us to lead, 272 00:12:53,580 –> 00:12:54,760 it’s a marvelous description. 273 00:12:54,760 –> 00:12:56,440 There’s nothing wrong with the law. 274 00:12:56,440 –> 00:12:59,479 The law would be great if it wasn’t for the flesh. 275 00:12:59,479 –> 00:13:00,679 That’s what he’s saying. 276 00:13:01,479 –> 00:13:04,320 The problem with the description God has given to us 277 00:13:04,320 –> 00:13:06,179 of the life that he calls us to lead 278 00:13:06,179 –> 00:13:07,859 is simply that we can’t do it. 279 00:13:07,919 –> 00:13:09,780 It is our inability, 280 00:13:09,780 –> 00:13:13,020 the disease of sin has taken away the capacity 281 00:13:13,020 –> 00:13:15,080 to live a life that is pleasing to God. 282 00:13:15,080 –> 00:13:19,320 And that is why we need the rescue. 283 00:13:22,700 –> 00:13:24,260 Paul sets out the good news for us 284 00:13:24,260 –> 00:13:26,000 right here in verse three and verse four, 285 00:13:26,000 –> 00:13:27,419 which is gonna be our focus here. 286 00:13:27,419 –> 00:13:29,200 What the law was powerless to do 287 00:13:29,200 –> 00:13:31,640 because it was weakened by the sinful nature. 288 00:13:32,580 –> 00:13:37,400 God did by sending his own son. 289 00:13:38,840 –> 00:13:41,619 Dr. Al Moeller, who is the president 290 00:13:41,619 –> 00:13:44,559 of Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, 291 00:13:44,559 –> 00:13:46,080 he has a wonderful way of saying this 292 00:13:46,080 –> 00:13:47,760 that I found very helpful. 293 00:13:47,760 –> 00:13:50,820 He tries to nail what is the difference 294 00:13:50,820 –> 00:13:54,080 between a foundational message of our culture 295 00:13:54,080 –> 00:13:55,520 and the message of the gospel. 296 00:13:55,520 –> 00:13:58,679 And I found this helpful, I hope you will too. 297 00:13:58,679 –> 00:14:00,280 He puts it like this. 298 00:14:01,280 –> 00:14:05,840 Our culture is always telling us 299 00:14:05,940 –> 00:14:09,280 that the problem is out there 300 00:14:09,280 –> 00:14:12,679 and the answer, the solution, is in here. 301 00:14:12,679 –> 00:14:14,679 That’s the way the culture thinks, you see? 302 00:14:14,679 –> 00:14:15,520 What’s the problem? 303 00:14:15,520 –> 00:14:16,960 Well, the problem’s always other people 304 00:14:16,960 –> 00:14:18,520 or circumstances, things that have 305 00:14:18,520 –> 00:14:19,820 happened to you in your life. 306 00:14:19,820 –> 00:14:20,880 It’s always out there. 307 00:14:22,159 –> 00:14:24,039 And the answer, the culture says to us, 308 00:14:24,039 –> 00:14:24,880 well, it’s in here. 309 00:14:24,880 –> 00:14:27,080 If you can get in touch with yourself, 310 00:14:27,080 –> 00:14:29,859 if you can get in touch with your inner being, 311 00:14:29,859 –> 00:14:32,799 if you can find the goodness within yourself 312 00:14:32,799 –> 00:14:36,020 and tap into that, this will somehow be your salvation. 313 00:14:36,020 –> 00:14:37,919 The culture is always saying that 314 00:14:37,919 –> 00:14:39,799 the problem’s out there, it’s always out there, 315 00:14:39,799 –> 00:14:41,599 and the answer, always in here. 316 00:14:43,479 –> 00:14:45,780 But, says Mohler, the gospel turns that 317 00:14:45,780 –> 00:14:47,900 precisely the other way around. 318 00:14:48,840 –> 00:14:51,419 The gospel says to us that the problem 319 00:14:51,419 –> 00:14:53,440 is in here. 320 00:14:53,440 –> 00:14:54,599 The problem is in me. 321 00:14:54,599 –> 00:14:56,640 The problem is my sinful nature. 322 00:14:56,640 –> 00:14:58,960 That’s Romans, Chapter Eight. 323 00:14:58,960 –> 00:15:01,679 And the answer is, out there. 324 00:15:01,719 –> 00:15:05,119 The answer is in Jesus Christ, in the Rescuer, 325 00:15:05,119 –> 00:15:09,820 who comes and is able to embrace me. 326 00:15:09,820 –> 00:15:11,640 And to deliver me. 327 00:15:11,640 –> 00:15:14,900 And to bring me into an entirely new position 328 00:15:14,900 –> 00:15:18,739 in life and for eternity. 329 00:15:18,739 –> 00:15:19,900 So, here’s the good news. 330 00:15:19,900 –> 00:15:23,219 Since the problem is in here and the answer is out there, 331 00:15:23,219 –> 00:15:27,020 Paul says to us that God has taken the initiative. 332 00:15:27,020 –> 00:15:28,979 What the law couldn’t do because it was weakened 333 00:15:28,979 –> 00:15:30,820 by the sinful nature, God did 334 00:15:30,859 –> 00:15:34,440 by first sending his son, that’s verse three. 335 00:15:34,440 –> 00:15:37,520 And second, sending his spirit, that is verse four. 336 00:15:37,520 –> 00:15:39,599 And these two things will be our focus 337 00:15:39,599 –> 00:15:42,280 for the rest of our time this morning. 338 00:15:43,099 –> 00:15:45,739 Notice, by the way, that the Father, 339 00:15:45,739 –> 00:15:49,159 the son, and the Spirit all operate 340 00:15:49,159 –> 00:15:50,820 together in our salvation. 341 00:15:52,340 –> 00:15:55,020 The Father sends the son. 342 00:15:55,020 –> 00:15:58,140 The son atones for our sins. 343 00:15:58,140 –> 00:16:00,580 The Spirit empowers the new life. 344 00:16:01,479 –> 00:16:04,659 The Father justifies us through the work of the son, 345 00:16:04,659 –> 00:16:06,619 and the Father sanctifies us 346 00:16:06,619 –> 00:16:09,400 through the work of the Spirit. 347 00:16:09,400 –> 00:16:14,099 Absolute unity of purpose, Father, son, Holy Spirit, 348 00:16:14,099 –> 00:16:18,460 together, as one, to rescue you. 349 00:16:19,780 –> 00:16:20,619 It’s the Gospel. 350 00:16:22,280 –> 00:16:24,940 Now let’s look at its two dimensions 351 00:16:24,940 –> 00:16:26,760 and begin with verse three, 352 00:16:26,760 –> 00:16:28,099 and I’m going to call this simply 353 00:16:28,179 –> 00:16:30,960 the atoning death of Jesus. 354 00:16:30,960 –> 00:16:32,440 What has God done to rescue us 355 00:16:32,440 –> 00:16:34,940 from this predicament that we’re in? 356 00:16:34,940 –> 00:16:38,380 Well, Paul sets it out so clearly here. 357 00:16:39,820 –> 00:16:44,500 Number one, God sent his son to rescue us. 358 00:16:44,500 –> 00:16:47,119 Verse three, for what the law was powerless to do 359 00:16:47,960 –> 00:16:51,039 in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, 360 00:16:51,039 –> 00:16:53,080 God did, how did he do it? 361 00:16:53,080 –> 00:16:56,039 By sending his own son 362 00:16:56,900 –> 00:16:59,419 in the likeness of sinful man. 363 00:17:01,179 –> 00:17:06,180 God saw our need, God saw our plight, 364 00:17:07,319 –> 00:17:12,199 God saw the hopelessness of our position as sinners, 365 00:17:12,199 –> 00:17:16,760 he had compassion upon us, and he sent his son. 366 00:17:19,300 –> 00:17:22,660 Some who struggle to feel that God really cares for you, 367 00:17:22,660 –> 00:17:24,800 can you just let this soak in, 368 00:17:24,880 –> 00:17:28,500 you say, I’m not sure God really cares about me, 369 00:17:28,500 –> 00:17:30,479 it seems so distance, so remote. 370 00:17:32,780 –> 00:17:34,780 He sent his son for you. 371 00:17:36,540 –> 00:17:41,219 He had compassion upon you as you were alienated from him, 372 00:17:41,219 –> 00:17:43,439 rebelling against him, guilty before him, 373 00:17:43,439 –> 00:17:45,599 under his condemnation, he had mercy, 374 00:17:45,599 –> 00:17:47,260 he had pity, he had compassion, 375 00:17:48,939 –> 00:17:49,839 and he sent his son. 376 00:17:49,839 –> 00:17:51,800 We often talk about what it cost the son 377 00:17:51,800 –> 00:17:53,099 to come into the world. 378 00:17:54,060 –> 00:17:55,599 How could you begin to get your mind 379 00:17:55,599 –> 00:17:59,619 around what it cost the father to send him? 380 00:18:01,079 –> 00:18:05,300 He sent the son for you, so much he cares for you. 381 00:18:05,300 –> 00:18:07,819 And notice that our Lord Jesus Christ, 382 00:18:07,819 –> 00:18:12,140 the son, came in the likeness of sinful flesh. 383 00:18:12,140 –> 00:18:16,739 Very important phrase, the likeness of sinful flesh. 384 00:18:16,739 –> 00:18:18,099 That’s telling us two things. 385 00:18:18,099 –> 00:18:23,099 First, that he was like us because his humanity was real. 386 00:18:23,619 –> 00:18:27,380 God really became man in Jesus Christ, true humanity. 387 00:18:27,380 –> 00:18:30,339 That’s the incarnation we call it. 388 00:18:30,339 –> 00:18:33,040 Second, he was different from us 389 00:18:33,040 –> 00:18:35,619 in that he was without sin. 390 00:18:35,619 –> 00:18:39,459 He took on humanity, he did not take on sinful humanity. 391 00:18:39,459 –> 00:18:42,780 Not did not take on fallen humanity. 392 00:18:42,780 –> 00:18:43,780 That’s very important. 393 00:18:43,780 –> 00:18:46,459 If you think about the image of a rescue 394 00:18:46,459 –> 00:18:50,300 because a rescuer has to be close enough 395 00:18:50,300 –> 00:18:53,939 to embrace the person needing rescued. 396 00:18:53,939 –> 00:18:57,219 But he also has to be separate enough 397 00:18:57,219 –> 00:18:58,420 to accomplish the rescue. 398 00:18:58,420 –> 00:19:01,380 If the rescuer is just another person stuck in the boat, 399 00:19:01,380 –> 00:19:03,140 he cannot be the rescuer. 400 00:19:03,140 –> 00:19:05,979 He has to be close enough to deliver the rescue, 401 00:19:05,979 –> 00:19:09,160 separate enough to be the rescuer. 402 00:19:09,160 –> 00:19:11,060 And all that is right there telling us 403 00:19:11,060 –> 00:19:14,000 our Lord Jesus Christ, he embraces our humanity, 404 00:19:14,020 –> 00:19:17,099 God becomes man in Jesus, but he is without sin. 405 00:19:17,099 –> 00:19:20,219 He’s different from us and therefore able to rescue us 406 00:19:20,219 –> 00:19:22,479 from the plight and predicament that we are in. 407 00:19:22,479 –> 00:19:23,599 How does he do it? 408 00:19:26,160 –> 00:19:29,160 Jesus became secondly our sin offering. 409 00:19:29,160 –> 00:19:30,880 Say it in the same verse. 410 00:19:31,859 –> 00:19:36,859 God has initiated this rescue by sending His Son 411 00:19:38,020 –> 00:19:43,020 in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. 412 00:19:44,599 –> 00:19:48,699 That is an amazing job description. 413 00:19:50,359 –> 00:19:55,000 Imagine that job description to be a sin offering. 414 00:19:55,000 –> 00:20:00,000 Here’s your job, your job is to be a sin offering. 415 00:20:03,260 –> 00:20:08,000 Jesus, here is what the job of this rescue 416 00:20:08,000 –> 00:20:11,699 for these people looks like. 417 00:20:12,660 –> 00:20:17,660 You will leave heaven and be born as a man, 418 00:20:18,979 –> 00:20:23,979 live a perfect life, 24-7-365, 419 00:20:24,619 –> 00:20:26,099 living the life that none of them 420 00:20:26,099 –> 00:20:28,339 has ever lived or ever can live, 421 00:20:29,479 –> 00:20:33,699 and then, you will offer that life. 422 00:20:35,160 –> 00:20:39,560 You will lay it down, and you will become their sin bearer. 423 00:20:40,319 –> 00:20:43,119 You will take the guilt and the stench 424 00:20:43,119 –> 00:20:46,119 of their sin upon yourself, 425 00:20:46,119 –> 00:20:50,479 you will bear their condemnation in your own body, 426 00:20:50,479 –> 00:20:52,439 you will carry it, utterly alone, 427 00:20:52,439 –> 00:20:55,239 stretched out, staked on a pole, 428 00:20:55,239 –> 00:20:59,420 suspended between heaven and earth, and rejected by both. 429 00:21:02,420 –> 00:21:06,780 And Jesus Christ, in love for you, said I want that job. 430 00:21:06,780 –> 00:21:11,780 I take that job, I do that job, 431 00:21:14,719 –> 00:21:18,599 I will be their rescuer, their savior. 432 00:21:23,319 –> 00:21:27,880 And so, Christ bore our sins in His body on the tree. 433 00:21:27,880 –> 00:21:29,199 He became a sin offering, 434 00:21:31,479 –> 00:21:35,040 He was made sin with our sins, 435 00:21:36,000 –> 00:21:38,180 He became the sin offering 436 00:21:38,180 –> 00:21:40,420 and Paul tells us what happened as a result. 437 00:21:40,420 –> 00:21:41,560 Follow this verse. 438 00:21:41,560 –> 00:21:43,219 It’s all here. 439 00:21:43,219 –> 00:21:46,219 God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh 440 00:21:46,219 –> 00:21:50,640 to be a sin offering and so here’s what happens 441 00:21:50,640 –> 00:21:54,339 as a result of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. 442 00:21:54,339 –> 00:21:59,339 He condemned sin in sinful man. 443 00:22:00,020 –> 00:22:02,060 Wonderful phrase. 444 00:22:02,060 –> 00:22:04,020 What does it mean? 445 00:22:04,880 –> 00:22:09,880 God rescues sinners from our condemnation 446 00:22:10,300 –> 00:22:14,420 by condemning our sin in Jesus Christ. 447 00:22:15,579 –> 00:22:16,640 Say that again. 448 00:22:16,640 –> 00:22:21,640 God rescues us sinners from our condemnation 449 00:22:21,719 –> 00:22:26,439 by condemning our sins in Jesus Christ 450 00:22:26,439 –> 00:22:28,680 through His death on the cross. 451 00:22:28,680 –> 00:22:30,459 That’s how God rescues sinners. 452 00:22:31,640 –> 00:22:32,459 That’s why the Bible says, 453 00:22:32,520 –> 00:22:34,660 He was wounded for our transgressions, 454 00:22:34,660 –> 00:22:37,180 He was bruised for our iniquities, 455 00:22:37,180 –> 00:22:39,219 and the punishment… 456 00:22:39,219 –> 00:22:41,959 See, the condemnation, the punishment 457 00:22:41,959 –> 00:22:43,680 that brought us peace. 458 00:22:43,680 –> 00:22:44,520 Where was it? 459 00:22:44,520 –> 00:22:47,040 It was upon Him. 460 00:22:48,199 –> 00:22:49,900 Now think about this, 461 00:22:49,900 –> 00:22:53,140 if the guilt of your selfishness, 462 00:22:53,140 –> 00:22:56,160 your pride, your impatience, 463 00:22:56,160 –> 00:22:57,119 all your other sins, 464 00:22:57,119 –> 00:23:00,500 whatever sins you might think about today, 465 00:23:00,560 –> 00:23:01,900 if the guilt of these sins 466 00:23:01,900 –> 00:23:05,619 was really moved onto Jesus Christ, 467 00:23:05,619 –> 00:23:07,859 and if He suffered the penalty 468 00:23:07,859 –> 00:23:10,619 for these sins of yours, 469 00:23:12,119 –> 00:23:13,699 then for you, 470 00:23:13,699 –> 00:23:16,719 the condemnation is past. 471 00:23:16,719 –> 00:23:18,300 It is no more, 472 00:23:18,300 –> 00:23:22,140 nor can it ever be again. 473 00:23:23,280 –> 00:23:24,180 It’s gone. 474 00:23:27,180 –> 00:23:28,459 And the reason you see 475 00:23:29,160 –> 00:23:31,540 as a person in Christ, 476 00:23:31,540 –> 00:23:35,699 I can be confident that there is no condemnation for me. 477 00:23:35,699 –> 00:23:36,900 The reason I can be confident 478 00:23:36,900 –> 00:23:38,459 there’s no condemnation for me in Christ 479 00:23:38,459 –> 00:23:40,500 is not that there’s nothing worthy 480 00:23:40,500 –> 00:23:42,199 of condemnation in my life. 481 00:23:43,260 –> 00:23:43,939 Cause there is, 482 00:23:43,939 –> 00:23:46,300 if God was to evaluate this life right now 483 00:23:46,300 –> 00:23:47,359 by His strict justice, 484 00:23:47,359 –> 00:23:49,020 no way I could ever enter heaven, 485 00:23:50,199 –> 00:23:51,280 or you either. 486 00:23:52,380 –> 00:23:55,219 The reason that there is no condemnation for me in Christ 487 00:23:55,219 –> 00:23:56,579 is not that there’s nothing worthy 488 00:23:56,579 –> 00:23:57,939 of condemnation in my life, 489 00:23:57,939 –> 00:24:00,619 but that the condemnation on my life 490 00:24:00,619 –> 00:24:03,140 has passed to Jesus Christ, 491 00:24:03,140 –> 00:24:04,760 been dealt with at the cross, 492 00:24:05,739 –> 00:24:09,739 and therefore cannot every be for me again. 493 00:24:11,660 –> 00:24:12,479 It’s glorious. 494 00:24:15,500 –> 00:24:18,859 John Wesley in his great hymn, 495 00:24:19,760 –> 00:24:21,260 over a 1000 tongues 496 00:24:21,260 –> 00:24:23,339 to sing my great Redeemer’s praise 497 00:24:23,339 –> 00:24:25,540 has a great verse. 498 00:24:25,540 –> 00:24:27,239 We’ll sing the hymn a little later. 499 00:24:28,339 –> 00:24:30,420 And he says in one of his verses, 500 00:24:30,420 –> 00:24:35,420 see all your sins on Jesus laid. 501 00:24:36,500 –> 00:24:38,660 The Lamb of God was slain, 502 00:24:38,660 –> 00:24:41,300 his soul, was once an offering, 503 00:24:41,300 –> 00:24:42,380 it’s what Paul says here, 504 00:24:42,380 –> 00:24:45,579 made for every soul of man. 505 00:24:46,660 –> 00:24:48,180 Now I want to try and press home 506 00:24:48,180 –> 00:24:50,380 what Wesley is saying there. 507 00:24:50,380 –> 00:24:53,560 See all your sins on Jesus laid. 508 00:24:54,719 –> 00:24:56,260 You see, this is how we’re going to savor 509 00:24:56,260 –> 00:24:59,099 what Christ does for us in the Gospel. 510 00:24:59,099 –> 00:25:00,599 Some of us have come here this morning 511 00:25:00,599 –> 00:25:02,839 and you feel weighed down by your own failure 512 00:25:02,839 –> 00:25:03,760 as a Christian. 513 00:25:04,699 –> 00:25:06,780 Your own guilt, your own sin, 514 00:25:06,780 –> 00:25:08,739 your life isn’t what you want it to be. 515 00:25:09,979 –> 00:25:12,660 And you feel sort of at a distance 516 00:25:12,660 –> 00:25:13,660 from the love of God 517 00:25:13,660 –> 00:25:16,020 and how could he ever really be embracing you 518 00:25:16,020 –> 00:25:17,900 with all that’s going on with your life? 519 00:25:17,900 –> 00:25:20,260 And I want to say to you in Wesley’s words 520 00:25:20,260 –> 00:25:25,260 see, see, that guilt 521 00:25:25,599 –> 00:25:27,939 that weighs you down. 522 00:25:27,939 –> 00:25:29,819 See it upon him. 523 00:25:29,819 –> 00:25:31,979 See your sin on him. 524 00:25:31,979 –> 00:25:33,540 See it. 525 00:25:33,540 –> 00:25:35,239 See it moving. 526 00:25:35,239 –> 00:25:36,979 See it passed. 527 00:25:36,979 –> 00:25:38,040 See it condemned. 528 00:25:38,040 –> 00:25:41,300 See it dealt with in the Lord Jesus Christ. 529 00:25:41,300 –> 00:25:43,900 That’s the Gospel that will lift your life 530 00:25:43,900 –> 00:25:45,579 and your face. 531 00:25:46,819 –> 00:25:48,020 It will bring you joy. 532 00:25:48,020 –> 00:25:49,300 It will give you worship. 533 00:25:49,300 –> 00:25:54,300 See all your sin on Jesus, lady. 534 00:25:55,260 –> 00:25:57,180 Isn’t that marvelous? 535 00:25:57,180 –> 00:25:58,880 The lamb of God was slain. 536 00:25:58,880 –> 00:26:03,880 His soul was once an offering made for every soul of man. 537 00:26:04,780 –> 00:26:07,060 And if you have not come to know and follow Jesus Christ, 538 00:26:07,060 –> 00:26:10,020 your sin can be laid on Jesus Christ today. 539 00:26:13,660 –> 00:26:14,660 But that’s not all. 540 00:26:16,640 –> 00:26:18,180 For those who know Wesley’s hymn, 541 00:26:18,180 –> 00:26:19,300 you’ll know there’s another verse 542 00:26:19,300 –> 00:26:20,979 that’s perhaps even better known. 543 00:26:21,900 –> 00:26:22,739 It goes like this. 544 00:26:23,540 –> 00:26:28,540 He breaks the power of canceled sin, 545 00:26:28,660 –> 00:26:31,140 he sets the prisoner free. 546 00:26:32,020 –> 00:26:34,839 His blood has made the foulest clean, 547 00:26:34,839 –> 00:26:38,060 and his blood availed for me. 548 00:26:38,060 –> 00:26:40,920 Now notice that Wesley is pointing us forward here 549 00:26:40,920 –> 00:26:43,500 to something else that happens in the gospel. 550 00:26:43,500 –> 00:26:45,060 And we’re going to find it right now 551 00:26:45,060 –> 00:26:47,459 in Romans chapter eight and verse four. 552 00:26:48,520 –> 00:26:51,020 It’s not just that Christ cancels sin, 553 00:26:51,079 –> 00:26:53,420 removing your condemnation. 554 00:26:53,420 –> 00:26:55,859 Wesley says he does something more than that. 555 00:26:55,859 –> 00:27:00,339 He breaks the power of canceled sin 556 00:27:00,339 –> 00:27:01,900 and he sets the prisoner free. 557 00:27:01,900 –> 00:27:05,099 And I want us to see that in Romans in chapter eight 558 00:27:05,099 –> 00:27:07,819 clearly this morning. 559 00:27:07,819 –> 00:27:11,540 Because some of us have grasped the bible truth, 560 00:27:11,540 –> 00:27:13,420 the wonderful tuth of justification. 561 00:27:13,420 –> 00:27:16,099 Sin’s forgiven, heaven opened. 562 00:27:16,099 –> 00:27:17,780 Guilt removed. 563 00:27:17,780 –> 00:27:20,500 Eternity yours. 564 00:27:20,520 –> 00:27:22,119 But that’s all you’ve grasped. 565 00:27:24,239 –> 00:27:27,619 And you’ve not really seen how Jesus Christ 566 00:27:27,619 –> 00:27:31,859 conducts a rescue that changes your experience of life 567 00:27:31,859 –> 00:27:35,719 and changes the way you actually live right now. 568 00:27:36,859 –> 00:27:39,939 So I want us to see this in Romans chapter eight 569 00:27:39,939 –> 00:27:41,420 and verse four. 570 00:27:41,420 –> 00:27:44,180 Not only has God acted in this rescue 571 00:27:44,180 –> 00:27:46,780 through the atoning death of Jesus 572 00:27:46,780 –> 00:27:48,500 but God has acted in this rescue 573 00:27:48,500 –> 00:27:53,420 secondly through the empowering life of the spirit. 574 00:27:53,420 –> 00:27:54,500 And that is verse four. 575 00:27:54,500 –> 00:27:57,739 Let’s read it, understand it and then apply it. 576 00:27:59,380 –> 00:28:04,380 And so God condemned sin in sinful man 577 00:28:05,180 –> 00:28:07,020 in order that… 578 00:28:07,020 –> 00:28:09,839 So now we’re seeing what comes out of this, 579 00:28:11,099 –> 00:28:14,900 in order that the righteous requirements of the law 580 00:28:15,020 –> 00:28:18,520 might be fully met in us, 581 00:28:19,579 –> 00:28:22,800 who do not live according to the sinful nature, 582 00:28:23,900 –> 00:28:25,699 but according to the spirit. 583 00:28:26,859 –> 00:28:30,739 I need to take a moment to explain what this means, 584 00:28:30,739 –> 00:28:33,219 what it doesn’t mean, what it does mean, 585 00:28:33,219 –> 00:28:37,260 and then to apply its wonderful truth to our lives. 586 00:28:37,260 –> 00:28:38,599 First, the explanation. 587 00:28:39,479 –> 00:28:43,959 Some older writers, centuries back, 588 00:28:43,959 –> 00:28:47,420 thought that when Paul speaks about 589 00:28:47,420 –> 00:28:49,119 the righteous requirements of the law 590 00:28:49,119 –> 00:28:51,859 being fully met in us, 591 00:28:51,859 –> 00:28:53,079 that he was simply making 592 00:28:53,079 –> 00:28:55,660 another statement about justification. 593 00:28:55,660 –> 00:28:56,979 In other words, the righteousness 594 00:28:56,979 –> 00:28:58,400 of the perfect life of Jesus 595 00:28:58,400 –> 00:29:01,540 being counted as ours and imputed to us. 596 00:29:02,819 –> 00:29:03,780 But I want you to notice, 597 00:29:03,780 –> 00:29:04,959 and I do hope you have your Bible open 598 00:29:04,959 –> 00:29:07,839 in front of you, that Paul does not say 599 00:29:07,880 –> 00:29:09,800 that the righteous requirements of the law 600 00:29:09,800 –> 00:29:12,500 may be fully met for us. 601 00:29:12,500 –> 00:29:13,699 He doesn’t say that. 602 00:29:14,800 –> 00:29:17,680 What he does say is that the righteous requirements 603 00:29:17,680 –> 00:29:21,239 of the law might be fully met in us. 604 00:29:22,180 –> 00:29:24,119 And I want you to notice something else, 605 00:29:24,119 –> 00:29:26,619 that the agent of this new life 606 00:29:26,619 –> 00:29:28,540 that is pleasing to God, 607 00:29:28,540 –> 00:29:29,920 that he’s going to go on to speak about 608 00:29:29,920 –> 00:29:32,160 throughout the rest of the chapter 609 00:29:32,160 –> 00:29:34,479 is the Holy Spirit. 610 00:29:34,479 –> 00:29:35,800 Look at it again in verse four. 611 00:29:35,800 –> 00:29:37,380 In order that the righteous requirements 612 00:29:37,380 –> 00:29:40,540 of the law might be fully met in us, 613 00:29:40,540 –> 00:29:42,900 who do not live according to the sinful nature 614 00:29:42,900 –> 00:29:45,540 but according to the Spirit. 615 00:29:47,260 –> 00:29:49,699 Now if Paul had been talking about 616 00:29:49,699 –> 00:29:52,380 justification in verse four, 617 00:29:52,380 –> 00:29:54,280 he would have said, 618 00:29:54,280 –> 00:29:56,359 In order that the righteous requirements 619 00:29:56,359 –> 00:29:59,400 of the law might be fully met for us, 620 00:29:59,400 –> 00:30:01,300 who live by faith in Christ’s death 621 00:30:01,300 –> 00:30:03,060 on the cross or something like that. 622 00:30:03,060 –> 00:30:04,859 That is not what he says. 623 00:30:05,680 –> 00:30:07,900 What he does say is that the Son of God 624 00:30:07,900 –> 00:30:09,560 offered himself as a sin offering 625 00:30:09,560 –> 00:30:12,000 bearing our condemnation in order that 626 00:30:12,000 –> 00:30:13,579 the righteous requirements of the law 627 00:30:13,579 –> 00:30:16,739 might be fully met in us, 628 00:30:16,739 –> 00:30:19,060 in our actual living, 629 00:30:19,060 –> 00:30:21,579 who do not live according to the sinful nature 630 00:30:21,579 –> 00:30:25,280 but according to the Spirit. 631 00:30:26,619 –> 00:30:28,939 So he’s talking about something else here. 632 00:30:28,939 –> 00:30:31,020 He’s talking about the work of the Spirit 633 00:30:31,020 –> 00:30:35,920 changing the actual life, behavior, attitudes, 634 00:30:35,920 –> 00:30:39,800 values of a Christian believer, 635 00:30:39,800 –> 00:30:43,520 of a person who is in Jesus Christ. 636 00:30:43,520 –> 00:30:45,920 He’s talking about the breaking of sin’s power 637 00:30:45,920 –> 00:30:47,520 by the presence of the Holy Spirit 638 00:30:47,520 –> 00:30:50,780 in a person’s life. 639 00:30:51,680 –> 00:30:57,040 Now, if the gospel 640 00:30:57,040 –> 00:31:00,680 simply said to us 641 00:31:00,739 –> 00:31:04,180 God forgives your sin, 642 00:31:04,180 –> 00:31:07,000 cancels your hell, 643 00:31:07,000 –> 00:31:11,060 opens heaven to you forever, 644 00:31:11,060 –> 00:31:12,800 if that was all the gospel is, 645 00:31:12,800 –> 00:31:13,939 it would be fantastic, 646 00:31:13,939 –> 00:31:15,520 and we would rejoice and praise him 647 00:31:15,520 –> 00:31:17,319 all the rest of our lives. 648 00:31:17,319 –> 00:31:20,199 Right? 649 00:31:20,199 –> 00:31:22,839 But what Paul is telling us here is 650 00:31:22,839 –> 00:31:27,099 it’s that and more. 651 00:31:27,260 –> 00:31:31,459 It is even better. 652 00:31:31,459 –> 00:31:33,520 And let me tell you why it is 653 00:31:33,520 –> 00:31:34,920 even more and even better, 654 00:31:34,920 –> 00:31:37,439 and especially I really want to press this 655 00:31:37,439 –> 00:31:39,020 with folks who have the idea 656 00:31:39,020 –> 00:31:40,540 that it’s forgiveness in heaven 657 00:31:40,540 –> 00:31:44,719 and you’ve never seen anything else. 658 00:31:44,719 –> 00:31:47,979 If it was simply forgiveness in heaven, 659 00:31:47,979 –> 00:31:49,780 what would God be saying to a man 660 00:31:49,780 –> 00:31:52,579 with a bad temper? 661 00:31:52,579 –> 00:31:53,780 See, the message would be something 662 00:31:53,780 –> 00:31:55,119 like this. 663 00:31:55,119 –> 00:31:56,180 Here’s this man and he’s just 664 00:31:56,199 –> 00:31:57,739 always angry, 665 00:31:57,739 –> 00:31:59,719 and it spews out, 666 00:31:59,719 –> 00:32:02,000 making his wife’s life miserable 667 00:32:02,000 –> 00:32:03,260 and his kid’s life miserable 668 00:32:03,260 –> 00:32:04,319 and his colleagues miserable, 669 00:32:04,319 –> 00:32:07,640 just always that kind of person, OK? 670 00:32:07,640 –> 00:32:11,599 Now the Gospel to such a person, 671 00:32:11,599 –> 00:32:13,300 if it was only justification, 672 00:32:13,300 –> 00:32:14,300 would go like this. 673 00:32:14,300 –> 00:32:15,300 God would say, 674 00:32:15,300 –> 00:32:16,839 I’ve got good news for you. 675 00:32:16,839 –> 00:32:20,180 I sent my son into the world 676 00:32:20,180 –> 00:32:22,400 and you are not going to go to Hell 677 00:32:22,400 –> 00:32:24,000 because of your temper. 678 00:32:25,000 –> 00:32:26,060 I’m gonna forgive you, 679 00:32:26,060 –> 00:32:27,119 for all of your anger. 680 00:32:27,119 –> 00:32:29,060 I’m not gonna hold it against you. 681 00:32:29,060 –> 00:32:30,459 The condemnation for all that 682 00:32:30,459 –> 00:32:31,900 is cancelled. 683 00:32:33,920 –> 00:32:35,579 Unfortunately, your wife, 684 00:32:35,599 –> 00:32:36,599 your kids, 685 00:32:36,599 –> 00:32:37,599 and your colleagues 686 00:32:37,599 –> 00:32:38,599 are going to have to 687 00:32:38,599 –> 00:32:39,599 continue to live with you 688 00:32:39,599 –> 00:32:40,599 pretty much as you are, 689 00:32:40,599 –> 00:32:42,300 weakened by the sinful nature. 690 00:32:42,300 –> 00:32:43,300 You haven’t done very well 691 00:32:43,300 –> 00:32:45,280 handling your temper up until now, 692 00:32:45,280 –> 00:32:46,439 and I don’t suppose it’ll be 693 00:32:46,439 –> 00:32:47,800 very different from now on either 694 00:32:47,800 –> 00:32:48,800 because my rescue 695 00:32:48,800 –> 00:32:50,140 doesn’t actually include 696 00:32:50,140 –> 00:32:51,800 or cover that area. 697 00:32:51,939 –> 00:32:54,939 What about a guy 698 00:32:54,959 –> 00:32:57,719 who is under the power of lust? 699 00:32:59,040 –> 00:33:02,260 If the gospel was just justification, 700 00:33:02,260 –> 00:33:03,739 God would be coming to you 701 00:33:03,739 –> 00:33:05,359 and He would be saying 702 00:33:05,359 –> 00:33:06,359 something like this, 703 00:33:06,359 –> 00:33:08,359 I want you to know 704 00:33:08,359 –> 00:33:10,760 that I have good news for you, 705 00:33:10,760 –> 00:33:11,819 that your filthy thoughts 706 00:33:11,819 –> 00:33:12,880 and imaginations 707 00:33:12,880 –> 00:33:14,420 and what you’re doing, 708 00:33:14,420 –> 00:33:16,079 I’ll not send you 709 00:33:16,079 –> 00:33:17,979 to hell for that. 710 00:33:17,979 –> 00:33:18,979 I’ll forgive you 711 00:33:18,979 –> 00:33:19,979 because of the shed blood 712 00:33:20,099 –> 00:33:22,020 or Jesus Christ. 713 00:33:23,599 –> 00:33:24,599 But, unfortunately, 714 00:33:24,599 –> 00:33:26,239 what’s going to happen 715 00:33:26,239 –> 00:33:27,699 is you are going to go on 716 00:33:27,699 –> 00:33:28,699 being enslaved 717 00:33:28,699 –> 00:33:29,719 by the same passions 718 00:33:29,719 –> 00:33:30,959 that have always enslaved you 719 00:33:30,959 –> 00:33:32,040 because my rescue 720 00:33:32,040 –> 00:33:34,239 doesn’t actually touch that. 721 00:33:34,239 –> 00:33:35,400 It’s not part of what I do 722 00:33:35,400 –> 00:33:37,199 in this rescue. 723 00:33:38,079 –> 00:33:39,079 It’s forgiveness 724 00:33:39,079 –> 00:33:40,199 and it’s heaven. 725 00:33:41,040 –> 00:33:42,760 But, really, 726 00:33:42,760 –> 00:33:43,760 you remain unchanged 727 00:33:43,760 –> 00:33:45,760 with regards to 728 00:33:45,760 –> 00:33:46,680 still being weakened 729 00:33:46,680 –> 00:33:47,680 by the sinful nature, 730 00:33:47,680 –> 00:33:48,839 still in exactly in the same 731 00:33:48,839 –> 00:33:49,520 position as you were. 732 00:33:49,680 –> 00:33:50,800 I only need to say this 733 00:33:50,800 –> 00:33:51,900 and you’re all saying 734 00:33:51,900 –> 00:33:53,020 that’s not a rescue 735 00:33:53,020 –> 00:33:54,199 that’s worthy of our Lord 736 00:33:54,199 –> 00:33:55,479 and Savior, Jesus Christ, 737 00:33:55,479 –> 00:33:56,479 is it? 738 00:33:56,479 –> 00:33:58,060 Is it? 739 00:33:58,640 –> 00:33:59,640 Or, come on, help me. 740 00:34:01,199 –> 00:34:02,199 That is not 741 00:34:02,199 –> 00:34:03,280 the kind of rescue 742 00:34:03,280 –> 00:34:04,719 our God does, 743 00:34:05,719 –> 00:34:07,199 a rescue that forgives you 744 00:34:07,199 –> 00:34:08,439 and gets you off 745 00:34:08,439 –> 00:34:09,679 the hook with regards to hell 746 00:34:09,679 –> 00:34:10,639 and basically leaves 747 00:34:10,639 –> 00:34:11,439 you the same person 748 00:34:11,439 –> 00:34:12,439 you were. 749 00:34:14,239 –> 00:34:15,239 And, you see, 750 00:34:15,239 –> 00:34:16,239 some of us have not really 751 00:34:16,239 –> 00:34:17,919 got the scope of the gospel. 752 00:34:17,919 –> 00:34:18,919 We’ve… 753 00:34:18,979 –> 00:34:19,979 …actually, that’s what 754 00:34:19,979 –> 00:34:20,979 we think it is. 755 00:34:20,979 –> 00:34:21,979 It’s forgiveness, heaven 756 00:34:21,979 –> 00:34:22,979 and, basically, me as I was. 757 00:34:24,620 –> 00:34:26,179 Now, we need to get hold then 758 00:34:26,179 –> 00:34:27,179 of what God has done 759 00:34:27,179 –> 00:34:29,020 which is sending His Son 760 00:34:29,020 –> 00:34:30,020 was point one, 761 00:34:30,020 –> 00:34:32,840 sending His Spirit 762 00:34:32,840 –> 00:34:35,080 is point number two 763 00:34:35,080 –> 00:34:36,419 this is how He 764 00:34:36,419 –> 00:34:38,419 conducts the rescue 765 00:34:38,419 –> 00:34:39,979 because His rescue 766 00:34:39,979 –> 00:34:41,320 is not only from 767 00:34:41,320 –> 00:34:43,040 the removing of the 768 00:34:43,040 –> 00:34:45,179 condemnation of sins penalty, 769 00:34:45,179 –> 00:34:47,179 His rescue includes 770 00:34:47,179 –> 00:34:48,179 the breaking 771 00:34:48,280 –> 00:34:49,280 of the condemnation 772 00:34:49,280 –> 00:34:50,580 of sins power. 773 00:34:51,280 –> 00:34:52,280 It’s what is offered to us 774 00:34:52,280 –> 00:34:53,280 in the Gospel. 775 00:34:53,280 –> 00:34:54,280 That’s why it’s a real rescue. 776 00:34:54,280 –> 00:34:55,280 That’s why I’m wanting us 777 00:34:55,280 –> 00:34:56,280 to believe 778 00:34:56,280 –> 00:34:57,280 and savor 779 00:34:57,280 –> 00:34:58,280 what is ours 780 00:34:58,280 –> 00:35:01,280 in Jesus Christ. 781 00:35:02,080 –> 00:35:03,080 Now, let’s look 782 00:35:03,080 –> 00:35:04,080 what he says here 783 00:35:04,080 –> 00:35:05,080 in verse four. 784 00:35:05,379 –> 00:35:05,879 He sends His 785 00:35:05,879 –> 00:35:06,879 Holy Spirit 786 00:35:06,879 –> 00:35:07,879 into your heart 787 00:35:07,879 –> 00:35:08,879 giving the power to live 788 00:35:08,879 –> 00:35:09,639 a new life 789 00:35:09,639 –> 00:35:10,639 which is going to be 790 00:35:10,639 –> 00:35:11,639 according to the spirit. 791 00:35:11,639 –> 00:35:13,639 We who do not live 792 00:35:13,639 –> 00:35:14,639 according to the 793 00:35:14,639 –> 00:35:15,639 sinful nature 794 00:35:15,639 –> 00:35:16,639 but according to the spirit. 795 00:35:16,639 –> 00:35:17,639 Now, let’s just pause 796 00:35:17,659 –> 00:35:19,659 for a moment here. 797 00:35:20,659 –> 00:35:22,659 Paul is not saying 798 00:35:22,659 –> 00:35:23,659 that there are 799 00:35:23,659 –> 00:35:25,659 two kinds of Christians. 800 00:35:26,659 –> 00:35:27,659 One kind 801 00:35:27,659 –> 00:35:28,659 who live according 802 00:35:28,659 –> 00:35:29,659 to the sinful nature 803 00:35:29,659 –> 00:35:30,659 and the other kind 804 00:35:30,659 –> 00:35:31,659 who live according 805 00:35:31,659 –> 00:35:32,659 to the spirit. 806 00:35:32,679 –> 00:35:33,679 If you’ve ever 807 00:35:33,679 –> 00:35:34,679 picked up that kind of teaching 808 00:35:34,679 –> 00:35:35,679 from somewhere else 809 00:35:35,679 –> 00:35:36,679 please get rid of it 810 00:35:36,679 –> 00:35:37,679 as soon as you possibly can 811 00:35:37,679 –> 00:35:39,679 because it shrinks 812 00:35:39,679 –> 00:35:40,679 your appreciation 813 00:35:40,679 –> 00:35:41,679 of the Gospel. 814 00:35:41,679 –> 00:35:42,679 Shrivels it. 815 00:35:42,679 –> 00:35:43,679 There are not 816 00:35:43,679 –> 00:35:44,679 two kinds of Christian. 817 00:35:44,679 –> 00:35:45,679 One who is living 818 00:35:45,679 –> 00:35:46,679 according to the flesh 819 00:35:46,719 –> 00:35:47,699 and one who is living 820 00:35:47,699 –> 00:35:48,699 according to the spirit. 821 00:35:48,699 –> 00:35:49,699 There’s only one kind 822 00:35:49,699 –> 00:35:50,699 of Christian 823 00:35:50,699 –> 00:35:51,699 and that’s a person 824 00:35:51,699 –> 00:35:52,699 who is in Jesus Christ. 825 00:35:52,699 –> 00:35:53,699 All our battles 826 00:35:53,699 –> 00:35:55,699 with all our struggles. 827 00:35:56,699 –> 00:35:57,699 The one who lives 828 00:35:57,699 –> 00:35:58,699 according to the flesh 829 00:35:58,699 –> 00:35:59,699 cannot please God. 830 00:35:59,699 –> 00:36:00,699 He’s outside 831 00:36:00,699 –> 00:36:01,699 all together. 832 00:36:01,699 –> 00:36:02,699 That’s why Paul said 833 00:36:02,699 –> 00:36:03,699 later you live 834 00:36:03,699 –> 00:36:04,699 that way you die. 835 00:36:05,699 –> 00:36:06,699 You know there’s a saved. 836 00:36:07,699 –> 00:36:08,699 So there are not 837 00:36:08,699 –> 00:36:09,699 two different kinds 838 00:36:09,699 –> 00:36:10,699 of Christians. 839 00:36:10,699 –> 00:36:11,699 What he’s doing here 840 00:36:11,699 –> 00:36:12,699 is he’s describing 841 00:36:12,699 –> 00:36:13,699 in the other way 842 00:36:13,699 –> 00:36:14,699 what the definition 843 00:36:14,699 –> 00:36:15,699 of someone outside 844 00:36:15,860 –> 00:36:16,860 the definition of someone 845 00:36:16,860 –> 00:36:17,860 inside of Christ 846 00:36:17,860 –> 00:36:19,179 really is. 847 00:36:19,179 –> 00:36:20,179 And he says, 848 00:36:20,179 –> 00:36:21,179 for us who are in Christ 849 00:36:21,179 –> 00:36:22,179 we are not those 850 00:36:22,179 –> 00:36:23,179 who live according 851 00:36:23,179 –> 00:36:24,179 to the sinful nature 852 00:36:24,179 –> 00:36:25,179 but live according 853 00:36:25,179 –> 00:36:26,179 to the spirit. 854 00:36:26,179 –> 00:36:27,179 Now wait a minute 855 00:36:27,179 –> 00:36:28,179 what does that mean then? 856 00:36:28,179 –> 00:36:29,179 Well he tells us clearly 857 00:36:29,179 –> 00:36:30,179 in verse five. 858 00:36:30,179 –> 00:36:31,179 Here’s what it means 859 00:36:31,179 –> 00:36:32,179 to live according 860 00:36:32,179 –> 00:36:33,179 to the spirit. 861 00:36:34,179 –> 00:36:35,179 Those who live 862 00:36:35,179 –> 00:36:36,179 according to the spirit 863 00:36:36,179 –> 00:36:37,179 verse five 864 00:36:38,179 –> 00:36:39,179 have their minds 865 00:36:40,179 –> 00:36:41,179 set 866 00:36:41,179 –> 00:36:42,179 on what 867 00:36:42,179 –> 00:36:43,179 the spirit 868 00:36:44,179 –> 00:36:45,179 desires. 869 00:36:45,179 –> 00:36:46,540 It’s a very simple 870 00:36:46,540 –> 00:36:47,540 definition 871 00:36:47,540 –> 00:36:48,540 of a Christian 872 00:36:48,540 –> 00:36:49,540 You come to embrace 873 00:36:49,540 –> 00:36:50,659 the Lord Jesus Christ 874 00:36:50,659 –> 00:36:51,939 as your saviour 875 00:36:51,939 –> 00:36:53,580 You’ve asked Him 876 00:36:53,580 –> 00:36:54,580 You’ve said 877 00:36:54,580 –> 00:36:55,580 I see my need 878 00:36:55,580 –> 00:36:56,580 I no longer want 879 00:36:56,580 –> 00:36:57,580 to live this life 880 00:36:57,580 –> 00:36:58,580 Yep that’s what 881 00:36:58,580 –> 00:36:59,580 repentance is 882 00:36:59,580 –> 00:37:00,580 I’m embracing 883 00:37:00,580 –> 00:37:01,580 the Lord Jesus Christ 884 00:37:01,580 –> 00:37:02,580 He sends his spirit 885 00:37:02,580 –> 00:37:03,580 to me 886 00:37:03,580 –> 00:37:04,580 My mind is now set 887 00:37:04,580 –> 00:37:05,580 on what the spirit 888 00:37:05,580 –> 00:37:06,580 desires. 889 00:37:06,580 –> 00:37:07,580 Well sure I’m double minded 890 00:37:07,580 –> 00:37:08,580 a lot of the time 891 00:37:08,580 –> 00:37:09,580 and I get pulled 892 00:37:09,580 –> 00:37:10,580 with the power of temptation 893 00:37:10,580 –> 00:37:11,580 But no Christian 894 00:37:11,580 –> 00:37:12,580 at the most 895 00:37:13,580 –> 00:37:14,580 on a certain 896 00:37:14,580 –> 00:37:15,580 fundamental level 897 00:37:15,580 –> 00:37:16,580 really wants 898 00:37:16,580 –> 00:37:17,580 to go and blow 899 00:37:17,580 –> 00:37:18,580 his life on the 900 00:37:18,580 –> 00:37:19,580 sin and the devil 901 00:37:19,580 –> 00:37:20,580 If that’s what 902 00:37:20,580 –> 00:37:21,580 you really want 903 00:37:21,580 –> 00:37:22,580 to do 904 00:37:22,580 –> 00:37:23,580 you’re not 905 00:37:23,580 –> 00:37:24,580 yet a Christian 906 00:37:24,580 –> 00:37:25,580 If that’s really 907 00:37:25,580 –> 00:37:26,580 at the core 908 00:37:26,580 –> 00:37:27,580 of your being 909 00:37:27,580 –> 00:37:28,580 what you really 910 00:37:28,580 –> 00:37:29,580 want to do 911 00:37:29,580 –> 00:37:30,580 you’re not 912 00:37:30,580 –> 00:37:31,580 yet a Christian 913 00:37:31,580 –> 00:37:32,580 How could you 914 00:37:32,580 –> 00:37:33,580 be if the Holy 915 00:37:33,580 –> 00:37:34,580 Spirit has 916 00:37:34,580 –> 00:37:35,580 regenerated 917 00:37:35,580 –> 00:37:36,580 renewed 918 00:37:36,580 –> 00:37:37,580 caused you to 919 00:37:37,580 –> 00:37:38,580 be born 920 00:37:38,580 –> 00:37:39,580 again 921 00:37:39,580 –> 00:37:40,580 from the inside 922 00:37:40,580 –> 00:37:41,580 out 923 00:37:41,580 –> 00:37:42,580 out 924 00:37:42,580 –> 00:37:43,580 within that 925 00:37:43,580 –> 00:37:44,580 holy being 926 00:37:44,580 –> 00:37:45,580 I have my 927 00:37:45,580 –> 00:37:46,580 mind set what 928 00:37:46,580 –> 00:37:47,580 the spirit desires 929 00:37:47,580 –> 00:37:48,580 I say lord 930 00:37:48,580 –> 00:37:49,580 Jesus I 931 00:37:49,580 –> 00:37:50,580 wanna live 932 00:37:50,580 –> 00:37:51,580 that different 933 00:37:51,580 –> 00:37:52,580 life for which 934 00:37:52,580 –> 00:37:53,580 you have come 935 00:37:53,580 –> 00:37:54,580 to me 936 00:37:54,580 –> 00:37:55,580 That’s what it 937 00:37:55,580 –> 00:37:56,659 means to be a 938 00:37:56,659 –> 00:37:57,659 Christian 939 00:37:57,659 –> 00:37:58,659 It’s the evidence 940 00:37:58,659 –> 00:37:59,659 that the spirit 941 00:37:59,659 –> 00:38:00,659 of God lives 942 00:38:00,659 –> 00:38:01,659 within you 943 00:38:01,659 –> 00:38:02,659 Let me just 944 00:38:02,659 –> 00:38:03,659 tell you a 945 00:38:03,659 –> 00:38:04,659 little story 946 00:38:04,659 –> 00:38:05,659 by way of 947 00:38:05,659 –> 00:38:06,659 illustration I 948 00:38:06,659 –> 00:38:07,659 hope will 949 00:38:07,659 –> 00:38:08,659 shine some 950 00:38:08,659 –> 00:38:09,659 light on this 951 00:38:09,659 –> 00:38:10,659 very important 952 00:38:40,780 –> 00:38:41,780 and really 953 00:38:41,780 –> 00:38:42,459 tough part of 954 00:38:42,459 –> 00:38:43,459 the community 955 00:38:43,459 –> 00:38:44,459 the school had 956 00:38:44,459 –> 00:38:45,419 been without a 957 00:38:45,419 –> 00:38:46,580 principal for 958 00:38:46,580 –> 00:38:47,580 quite some time 959 00:38:47,580 –> 00:38:48,580 and if you saw 960 00:38:48,580 –> 00:38:49,580 the school you’d 961 00:38:49,580 –> 00:38:50,580 understand why 962 00:38:50,580 –> 00:38:51,580 they’d been without 963 00:38:51,580 –> 00:38:52,580 a principal for 964 00:38:52,580 –> 00:38:53,580 quite some time 965 00:38:53,580 –> 00:38:54,580 the morale in 966 00:38:54,580 –> 00:38:55,580 the staff was 967 00:38:55,580 –> 00:38:56,580 extremely low 968 00:38:56,580 –> 00:38:57,500 but a few 969 00:38:57,500 –> 00:38:58,500 months after 970 00:38:58,500 –> 00:38:59,500 Karin began 971 00:38:59,500 –> 00:39:00,500 her job in 972 00:39:00,500 –> 00:39:01,500 this school 973 00:39:01,500 –> 00:39:02,500 a new 974 00:39:02,500 –> 00:39:03,500 principal 975 00:39:03,500 –> 00:39:04,500 was appointed 976 00:39:04,500 –> 00:39:05,500 and I want you 977 00:39:05,500 –> 00:39:06,500 to try and imagine 978 00:39:06,500 –> 00:39:07,500 this because she 979 00:39:07,500 –> 00:39:08,500 comes into her 980 00:39:08,500 –> 00:39:09,500 first meeting 981 00:39:09,500 –> 00:39:10,500 and gathers all 982 00:39:10,699 –> 00:39:11,699 her staff 983 00:39:11,699 –> 00:39:12,699 she says 984 00:39:12,699 –> 00:39:13,699 This school 985 00:39:13,699 –> 00:39:14,699 has the reputation 986 00:39:15,899 –> 00:39:16,899 of being the worst 987 00:39:16,899 –> 00:39:17,899 in the area 988 00:39:17,899 –> 00:39:19,899 and I intend 989 00:39:19,899 –> 00:39:22,899 to make it the 990 00:39:22,899 –> 00:39:23,899 BEST 991 00:39:23,899 –> 00:39:24,899 you are all 992 00:39:24,899 –> 00:39:25,899 reacting as 993 00:39:25,899 –> 00:39:26,899 the staff 994 00:39:26,899 –> 00:39:27,899 reacted 995 00:39:27,899 –> 00:39:28,899 and you can 996 00:39:28,899 –> 00:39:29,899 imagine how 997 00:39:29,899 –> 00:39:30,899 some ones who 998 00:39:30,899 –> 00:39:31,899 had been there 999 00:39:31,899 –> 00:39:32,899 for years 1000 00:39:32,899 –> 00:39:33,899 are thinking 1001 00:39:33,899 –> 00:39:34,899 who does 1002 00:39:34,899 –> 00:39:35,899 she think 1003 00:39:35,899 –> 00:39:36,899 she is 1004 00:39:36,899 –> 00:39:37,899 we’ve gone 1005 00:39:37,899 –> 00:39:38,899 through all 1006 00:39:38,899 –> 00:39:39,899 these decline 1007 00:39:40,300 –> 00:39:41,300 and been pained by it 1008 00:39:41,739 –> 00:39:42,739 and demotivated 1009 00:39:42,739 –> 00:39:43,739 by it 1010 00:39:44,179 –> 00:39:45,939 Inside 1011 00:39:45,939 –> 00:39:46,939 my wife was 1012 00:39:46,939 –> 00:39:47,939 cheering 1013 00:39:47,939 –> 00:39:48,939 you know why 1014 00:39:48,939 –> 00:39:49,939 she was cheering 1015 00:39:49,939 –> 00:39:50,540 cause she 1016 00:39:50,540 –> 00:39:51,300 saying 1017 00:39:51,300 –> 00:39:52,300 here is hope 1018 00:39:52,979 –> 00:39:53,899 here is some one 1019 00:39:53,899 –> 00:39:54,899 who actually seems 1020 00:39:54,899 –> 00:39:55,899 like she has 1021 00:39:55,899 –> 00:39:56,899 some kind vision 1022 00:39:56,899 –> 00:39:57,899 for this place 1023 00:39:57,899 –> 00:39:58,899 and seems to 1024 00:39:58,899 –> 00:39:59,899 have some energy 1025 00:39:59,899 –> 00:40:00,899 to do somethign 1026 00:40:00,899 –> 00:40:01,899 about it 1027 00:40:01,899 –> 00:40:02,899 well 1028 00:40:02,899 –> 00:40:03,899 it is one thing 1029 00:40:03,899 –> 00:40:04,899 to speak 1030 00:40:04,899 –> 00:40:05,899 it is another 1031 00:40:05,899 –> 00:40:06,899 thing to act 1032 00:40:06,899 –> 00:40:07,899 I have 1033 00:40:07,899 –> 00:40:08,899 to tell you 1034 00:40:08,899 –> 00:40:09,899 about this 1035 00:40:09,899 –> 00:40:10,899 remarkable woman 1036 00:40:10,899 –> 00:40:11,899 we still keep in 1037 00:40:11,899 –> 00:40:12,899 touch with her 1038 00:40:13,899 –> 00:40:14,899 she was 1039 00:40:14,899 –> 00:40:15,899 as good as 1040 00:40:15,899 –> 00:40:16,899 her word 1041 00:40:16,899 –> 00:40:17,899 with 1042 00:40:17,899 –> 00:40:18,899 extraordinary 1043 00:40:18,899 –> 00:40:19,899 energy 1044 00:40:19,899 –> 00:40:20,899 she said about 1045 00:40:20,899 –> 00:40:21,899 fundraising 1046 00:40:21,899 –> 00:40:22,899 how she got hold 1047 00:40:22,899 –> 00:40:23,899 of the money 1048 00:40:23,899 –> 00:40:24,899 she got hold of 1049 00:40:24,899 –> 00:40:25,899 I have no idea 1050 00:40:25,899 –> 00:40:26,899 but within 1051 00:40:26,899 –> 00:40:27,899 weeks 1052 00:40:27,899 –> 00:40:28,899 new books 1053 00:40:28,899 –> 00:40:29,899 appeared 1054 00:40:29,899 –> 00:40:30,899 equipment 1055 00:40:30,899 –> 00:40:31,899 was donated 1056 00:40:31,899 –> 00:40:32,899 than over months 1057 00:40:32,899 –> 00:40:33,899 classrooms 1058 00:40:33,899 –> 00:40:34,899 where painted 1059 00:40:34,899 –> 00:40:35,899 carpets 1060 00:40:35,899 –> 00:40:36,899 were leave 1061 00:40:36,899 –> 00:40:37,899 morale among 1062 00:40:38,899 –> 00:40:39,899 she went through 1063 00:40:39,899 –> 00:40:40,899 that place 1064 00:40:40,899 –> 00:40:41,899 like a dose 1065 00:40:41,899 –> 00:40:42,899 of salt 1066 00:40:44,899 –> 00:40:45,899 and she 1067 00:40:45,899 –> 00:40:46,899 transformed the 1068 00:40:46,899 –> 00:40:47,899 whole place 1069 00:40:47,899 –> 00:40:48,899 over a period 1070 00:40:48,899 –> 00:40:49,899 of years 1071 00:40:51,899 –> 00:40:52,899 now that’s 1072 00:40:52,899 –> 00:40:53,899 what God’s 1073 00:40:53,899 –> 00:40:54,899 rescue 1074 00:40:54,899 –> 00:40:55,899 looks like 1075 00:40:56,899 –> 00:40:57,899 Romans 1076 00:40:57,899 –> 00:40:58,899 chapter 8 1077 00:40:58,899 –> 00:40:59,899 verse 4 1078 00:40:59,899 –> 00:41:00,899 is telling you 1079 00:41:00,899 –> 00:41:01,899 that when you 1080 00:41:01,899 –> 00:41:02,899 embrace 1081 00:41:02,899 –> 00:41:03,899 Jesus Christ 1082 00:41:03,899 –> 00:41:04,899 and he 1083 00:41:04,899 –> 00:41:05,899 embraces you 1084 00:41:05,899 –> 00:41:06,899 the Holy 1085 00:41:06,899 –> 00:41:07,899 Spirit 1086 00:41:07,899 –> 00:41:08,899 and when the 1087 00:41:08,899 –> 00:41:09,899 Holy Spirit 1088 00:41:09,899 –> 00:41:10,899 moves into 1089 00:41:10,899 –> 00:41:11,899 your life 1090 00:41:11,899 –> 00:41:12,899 he moves in 1091 00:41:12,899 –> 00:41:13,899 to take over 1092 00:41:13,899 –> 00:41:14,899 he moves in 1093 00:41:14,899 –> 00:41:15,899 to do things 1094 00:41:15,899 –> 00:41:16,899 that is why 1095 00:41:16,899 –> 00:41:17,899 Romans eight 1096 00:41:17,899 –> 00:41:18,899 verse 5 1097 00:41:18,899 –> 00:41:19,899 Paul 1098 00:41:19,899 –> 00:41:20,899 speaks about 1099 00:41:20,899 –> 00:41:21,899 what the 1100 00:41:21,899 –> 00:41:22,899 spirit 1101 00:41:22,899 –> 00:41:23,899 desires 1102 00:41:23,899 –> 00:41:24,899 the spirit 1103 00:41:24,899 –> 00:41:25,899 comes in 1104 00:41:25,899 –> 00:41:26,899 like the 1105 00:41:26,899 –> 00:41:27,899 principle 1106 00:41:27,899 –> 00:41:28,899 this 1107 00:41:28,899 –> 00:41:29,899 is in 1108 00:41:29,899 –> 00:41:30,899 a dreadful 1109 00:41:30,899 –> 00:41:31,899 state 1110 00:41:31,899 –> 00:41:32,899 i have 1111 00:41:32,899 –> 00:41:33,899 to clear 1112 00:41:33,899 –> 00:41:34,899 up 1113 00:41:34,899 –> 00:41:35,899 i have 1114 00:42:35,899 –> 00:42:36,899 to make 1115 00:42:36,899 –> 00:42:37,899 a difference 1116 00:42:37,899 –> 00:42:38,899 in 1117 00:42:38,899 –> 00:42:39,899 me 1118 00:42:39,899 –> 00:42:42,899 no let’s 1119 00:42:42,899 –> 00:42:43,899 review what 1120 00:42:43,899 –> 00:42:44,899 we’ve learned 1121 00:42:44,899 –> 00:42:45,899 in these 1122 00:42:45,899 –> 00:42:47,899 last moments 1123 00:42:47,899 –> 00:42:48,899 the condemnation 1124 00:42:48,899 –> 00:42:49,899 on you 1125 00:42:49,899 –> 00:42:50,899 on me 1126 00:42:50,899 –> 00:42:51,899 on all of 1127 00:42:51,899 –> 00:42:52,899 us 1128 00:42:52,899 –> 00:42:53,899 was very real 1129 00:42:53,899 –> 00:42:54,899 on account of 1130 00:42:54,899 –> 00:42:55,899 our sins 1131 00:42:55,899 –> 00:42:56,899 and on some 1132 00:42:56,899 –> 00:42:57,899 of us 1133 00:42:57,899 –> 00:42:58,899 it is still 1134 00:42:58,899 –> 00:42:59,899 real today 1135 00:42:59,899 –> 00:43:00,899 because the wrath 1136 00:43:00,899 –> 00:43:01,899 of god 1137 00:43:01,899 –> 00:43:03,899 John 3 36 1138 00:43:04,899 –> 00:43:05,899 because we are 1139 00:43:05,899 –> 00:43:06,899 weakened by the sinful 1140 00:43:06,899 –> 00:43:07,899 nature there is nothing 1141 00:43:07,899 –> 00:43:08,899 that we are able to 1142 00:43:08,899 –> 00:43:09,899 do about 1143 00:43:09,899 –> 00:43:11,899 it but god 1144 00:43:11,899 –> 00:43:12,899 has announced 1145 00:43:12,899 –> 00:43:13,899 a rescue 1146 00:43:13,899 –> 00:43:14,899 operation 1147 00:43:14,899 –> 00:43:15,899 he has done 1148 00:43:15,899 –> 00:43:17,899 this by 1149 00:43:17,899 –> 00:43:18,899 sending his son 1150 00:43:18,899 –> 00:43:19,899 to atone 1151 00:43:19,899 –> 00:43:20,899 for our 1152 00:43:20,899 –> 00:43:21,899 sins he 1153 00:43:21,899 –> 00:43:22,899 becomes the 1154 00:43:22,899 –> 00:43:23,899 sin bearer 1155 00:43:23,899 –> 00:43:24,899 and god 1156 00:43:24,899 –> 00:43:25,899 condemns our 1157 00:43:25,899 –> 00:43:26,899 sins in the 1158 00:43:26,899 –> 00:43:27,899 death of 1159 00:43:27,899 –> 00:43:28,899 Jesus that’s 1160 00:43:28,899 –> 00:43:29,899 how the 1161 00:43:29,899 –> 00:43:30,899 condemnation 1162 00:43:30,899 –> 00:43:31,899 has passed 1163 00:43:31,899 –> 00:43:32,899 and then 1164 00:44:03,780 –> 00:44:04,780 in christ jesus 1165 00:44:04,780 –> 00:44:05,780 in christ jesus 1166 00:44:05,780 –> 00:44:06,780 the condemnation 1167 00:44:06,780 –> 00:44:07,780 remains if 1168 00:44:07,780 –> 00:44:08,780 you are in 1169 00:44:08,780 –> 00:44:09,780 christ jesus 1170 00:44:09,780 –> 00:44:10,780 the power of 1171 00:44:10,780 –> 00:44:11,780 the spirit 1172 00:44:11,780 –> 00:44:12,780 is yours 1173 00:44:12,780 –> 00:44:13,780 if you are 1174 00:44:13,780 –> 00:44:14,780 not in 1175 00:44:14,780 –> 00:44:15,780 Christ 1176 00:44:15,780 –> 00:44:16,780 Jesus 1177 00:44:16,780 –> 00:44:17,780 you are 1178 00:44:17,780 –> 00:44:18,780 simply 1179 00:44:18,780 –> 00:44:19,780 weakened by 1180 00:44:19,780 –> 00:44:20,780 the nature 1181 00:44:20,780 –> 00:44:21,780 and no 1182 00:44:21,780 –> 00:44:22,780 other 1183 00:44:22,780 –> 00:44:23,780 source has 1184 00:44:23,780 –> 00:44:24,780 yet come 1185 00:44:24,780 –> 00:44:25,780 to you 1186 00:44:25,780 –> 00:44:26,780 so 1187 00:44:26,780 –> 00:44:27,780 being in 1188 00:44:27,780 –> 00:44:28,780 christ Jesus 1189 00:44:29,780 –> 00:44:30,780 so 1190 00:45:00,780 –> 00:45:01,780 many of you 1191 00:45:01,780 –> 00:45:02,780 were 1192 00:45:02,780 –> 00:45:03,780 already in 1193 00:45:03,780 –> 00:45:04,780 very early 1194 00:45:04,780 –> 00:45:05,780 some of us 1195 00:45:05,780 –> 00:45:06,780 came in 1196 00:45:06,780 –> 00:45:07,780 very late 1197 00:45:07,780 –> 00:45:08,780 but 1198 00:45:08,780 –> 00:45:09,780 we came 1199 00:45:09,780 –> 00:45:10,780 in 1200 00:45:10,780 –> 00:45:11,780 there was 1201 00:45:11,780 –> 00:45:12,780 movement 1202 00:45:13,780 –> 00:45:14,780 an intentional 1203 00:45:14,780 –> 00:45:15,780 movement 1204 00:45:15,780 –> 00:45:16,780 on your 1205 00:45:16,780 –> 00:45:17,780 part 1206 00:45:17,780 –> 00:45:19,780 to move 1207 00:45:19,780 –> 00:45:21,780 from outside 1208 00:45:21,780 –> 00:45:22,780 before you 1209 00:45:22,780 –> 00:45:23,780 were outside 1210 00:45:23,780 –> 00:45:24,780 and you 1211 00:45:24,780 –> 00:45:25,780 came in 1212 00:45:25,780 –> 00:45:26,780 now 1213 00:45:26,780 –> 00:45:27,780 faith 1214 00:45:27,780 –> 00:45:28,780 is the 1215 00:45:28,780 –> 00:45:29,780 way in 1216 00:45:30,320 –> 00:45:31,320 to Jesus 1217 00:45:31,320 –> 00:45:32,320 Christ 1218 00:45:32,320 –> 00:45:33,320 well start outside 1219 00:45:33,320 –> 00:45:34,320 but believing 1220 00:45:34,320 –> 00:45:35,320 this gospel 1221 00:45:35,320 –> 00:45:36,320 that we have 1222 00:45:36,320 –> 00:45:37,320 been hearing 1223 00:45:37,320 –> 00:45:38,020 this morning 1224 00:45:38,020 –> 00:45:39,020 that is the 1225 00:45:39,020 –> 00:45:40,020 way you 1226 00:45:40,020 –> 00:45:41,239 be in 1227 00:45:41,239 –> 00:45:42,379 Jesus Christ 1228 00:45:42,379 –> 00:45:43,379 way he 1229 00:45:43,379 –> 00:45:44,379 made for 1230 00:45:44,379 –> 00:45:45,379 your sins 1231 00:45:45,379 –> 00:45:46,379 actually 1232 00:45:46,379 –> 00:45:47,379 becomes yours 1233 00:45:47,379 –> 00:45:48,379 that is 1234 00:45:48,379 –> 00:45:49,379 the way 1235 00:45:49,379 –> 00:45:50,379 you 1236 00:45:50,379 –> 00:45:51,379 condemnation 1237 00:45:51,379 –> 00:45:52,379 is passed 1238 00:45:52,379 –> 00:45:53,379 by coming 1239 00:45:53,379 –> 00:45:54,379 into 1240 00:45:54,379 –> 00:45:55,379 Christ 1241 00:45:55,379 –> 00:45:56,379 through faith 1242 00:45:56,379 –> 00:45:57,379 of us 1243 00:45:57,379 –> 00:45:58,379 believing 1244 00:45:58,379 –> 00:45:59,379 this 1245 00:45:59,379 –> 00:46:00,379 God 1246 00:46:00,379 –> 00:46:01,379 gave his 1247 00:46:01,379 –> 00:46:02,379 spirit 1248 00:46:02,379 –> 00:46:03,379 to empower 1249 00:46:03,379 –> 00:46:04,379 us for this 1250 00:46:04,379 –> 00:46:05,379 jesus 1251 00:46:05,379 –> 00:46:06,379 class 1252 00:46:06,379 –> 00:46:07,379 a new 1253 00:46:07,379 –> 00:46:08,379 kind of 1254 00:46:08,379 –> 00:46:09,379 life 1255 00:46:09,379 –> 00:46:10,399 of faith 1256 00:46:10,399 –> 00:46:11,379 i trust 1257 00:46:11,379 –> 00:46:12,379 you 1258 00:46:12,379 –> 00:46:13,399 for this 1259 00:46:13,399 –> 00:46:14,399 believe 1260 00:46:14,399 –> 00:46:15,399 on 1261 00:46:15,399 –> 00:46:16,399 the 1262 00:46:16,399 –> 00:46:17,399 lord 1263 00:46:17,399 –> 00:46:18,399 Jesus 1264 00:46:18,399 –> 00:46:19,399 Christ 1265 00:46:19,399 –> 00:46:20,399 you 1266 00:46:20,399 –> 00:46:21,399 will 1267 00:46:21,399 –> 00:46:22,399 be 1268 00:46:22,399 –> 00:46:23,399 saved 1269 00:46:23,399 –> 00:46:24,399 believe 1270 00:46:24,399 –> 00:46:25,399 on 1271 00:46:25,399 –> 00:46:26,399 the 1272 00:46:26,399 –> 00:46:27,399 lord 1273 00:46:27,399 –> 00:46:28,399 Jesus 1274 00:46:28,439 –> 00:46:29,439 so the question 1275 00:46:29,439 –> 00:46:30,360 is are you 1276 00:46:30,360 –> 00:46:31,439 ready to believe in the Lord Jesus 1277 00:46:31,439 –> 00:46:32,439 Christ 1278 00:46:34,379 –> 00:46:35,399 you ready to believe in other 1279 00:46:35,399 –> 00:46:36,399 words and for some of us this 1280 00:46:36,399 –> 00:46:37,399 might be for the first time to 1281 00:46:37,399 –> 00:46:38,899 say Lord Jesus I now see I 1282 00:46:39,399 –> 00:46:41,379 cannot rescue myself 1283 00:46:42,379 –> 00:46:43,399 can’t do it 1284 00:46:44,399 –> 00:46:45,379 I really need you I really 1285 00:46:45,379 –> 00:46:46,379 need what you did in the cross 1286 00:46:46,379 –> 00:46:48,399 on the cross for me and I 1287 00:46:48,399 –> 00:46:50,399 need it to become mine and I 1288 00:46:50,399 –> 00:46:51,399 trust you to make it 1289 00:46:51,399 –> 00:46:52,399 mine 1290 00:46:54,399 –> 00:46:55,379 you ready to come and to 1291 00:46:55,379 –> 00:46:56,399 say to the Lord 1292 00:46:56,399 –> 00:46:59,399 I’m ready now to hand over the 1293 00:46:59,399 –> 00:47:00,399 control of my life to you 1294 00:47:02,379 –> 00:47:03,399 I see that I need to move in 1295 00:47:03,399 –> 00:47:05,379 an altogether different 1296 00:47:05,379 –> 00:47:06,340 direction 1297 00:47:07,379 –> 00:47:09,379 and I long for what’s been 1298 00:47:09,379 –> 00:47:10,379 described right here the Holy 1299 00:47:10,379 –> 00:47:12,379 Spirit to be in my life and I 1300 00:47:12,399 –> 00:47:14,379 trust him to come and to do 1301 00:47:14,379 –> 00:47:15,379 for me what is promised right 1302 00:47:15,379 –> 00:47:16,379 here in the Bible I’m 1303 00:47:16,379 –> 00:47:17,379 believing this 1304 00:47:21,379 –> 00:47:22,399 let me bring it to a point 1305 00:47:22,399 –> 00:47:23,399 this way 1306 00:47:23,399 –> 00:47:28,399 if God were to say to you 1307 00:47:29,399 –> 00:47:31,399 what that principal said in our 1308 00:47:31,399 –> 00:47:33,399 first staff meeting how would 1309 00:47:33,399 –> 00:47:38,399 you respond if God said to you 1310 00:47:38,399 –> 00:47:42,379 now look your life is the 1311 00:47:42,379 –> 00:47:47,379 worst under heaven and I intend 1312 00:47:47,379 –> 00:47:48,399 to make it the best 1313 00:47:49,399 –> 00:47:50,399 how would you react 1314 00:47:50,399 –> 00:47:53,399 would you be offended 1315 00:47:56,399 –> 00:47:57,399 because those who are offended 1316