Voice: Declaring the Praise of Christ

Romans 4:17-21
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Pastor Colin focuses on Romans Chapter 4, discussing how Paul uses the story of Abraham and Sarah to illustrate how one can be right with God through faith. He explains that God’s promise to Abraham, amidst seemingly impossible circumstances, is a testament to how true faith faces reality, relies on God’s promises, and glorifies Him in the process.

He notes that faith is not about positive thinking or self-belief but about recognising one’s own limitations and relying on God’s power. Faith involves embracing the hope in God’s promise and rejoicing in what He has done for us, specifically through Jesus Christ.

Pastor Colin concludes by encouraging Christians to face the reality of their own condition, embrace God’s promise through faith, and rejoice in the righteousness credited to them in Jesus Christ. This faith, he says, brings joy and glorifies God, distinguishing it from mere duty or perfectionism.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,400 now we’re pursuing a series that’s called the anatomy of faith. And for all those of you 2 00:00:04,400 –> 00:00:10,320 who are visiting us today, I want you to know that we’re learning together from the scriptures. That 3 00:00:11,040 –> 00:00:16,320 faith is really more than believing certain things about God or Jesus Christ. 4 00:00:17,360 –> 00:00:22,080 The devil knows that Jesus is the Son of God. The devil knows that Jesus died on the cross, 5 00:00:22,080 –> 00:00:29,120 and the devil certainly knows that Jesus rose from the dead. So faith must be more than knowing 6 00:00:29,120 –> 00:00:35,759 these things or even believing that they are true. What we’re discovering in the bible is that faith 7 00:00:35,759 –> 00:00:44,400 is the bond of a living union in which the believer comes to love and trust and serve Jesus 8 00:00:44,400 –> 00:00:53,680 Christ. Faith unites us to Jesus Christ. It is a life-giving union by which he is in us and his 9 00:00:53,680 –> 00:01:01,119 life is in us. Now as we explore what God is telling us about faith in the bible we’re using 10 00:01:01,119 –> 00:01:09,360 an analogy – a picture – to help us better understand what faith does. That analogy is the 11 00:01:09,360 –> 00:01:14,879 analogy of the human body. We’re thinking about the fact that faith has ears, hearing the word 12 00:01:14,879 –> 00:01:22,800 of Christ. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. We need to be careful about 13 00:01:22,800 –> 00:01:27,760 how we hear the word of God because that’s how faith comes and that is how faith grows and is 14 00:01:27,760 –> 00:01:34,160 sustained. But we saw that faith not only has ears faith has hands. The scripture tells us that those 15 00:01:34,160 –> 00:01:41,199 who serve well gain great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. So faith will grow for us, 16 00:01:41,199 –> 00:01:45,519 not only as we are hearing the word of God – that’s very important – but also as we are 17 00:01:45,519 –> 00:01:52,080 serving in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And last time we looked at this wonderful truth 18 00:01:52,080 –> 00:01:59,919 that faith has a, as it were, a mouth, feeding on the bread of Christ. Jesus said in John chapter 6 19 00:01:59,919 –> 00:02:07,760 that the one who feeds on me will live because of me. That makes it very clear, doesn’t it, 20 00:02:07,760 –> 00:02:12,960 that faith is more than simply believing that Jesus died and rose. Faith is a communion, 21 00:02:12,960 –> 00:02:19,360 a fellowship with the Jesus who died and who rose in which we draw strength from Him, 22 00:02:19,360 –> 00:02:29,919 we find joy in Him and we receive life through Him. The one who feeds on me will live because 23 00:02:30,639 –> 00:02:39,520 of me. So faith has a mouth feeding on the bread of Christ. Now today we take a step further. Faith 24 00:02:39,520 –> 00:02:48,880 has a voice declaring the praise of Jesus Christ. In other words faith glorifies God, 25 00:02:48,880 –> 00:02:55,520 that is what faith does and what we seek to do together. Now please turn with me would you to 26 00:02:55,520 –> 00:03:02,240 Romans and Chapter 4. This may well be the most important chapter in the entire Bible on the 27 00:03:02,240 –> 00:03:13,679 subject of faith. Paul is explaining how a man or a woman can be right with God through faith 28 00:03:13,679 –> 00:03:22,479 in Jesus Christ. He begins that theme in chapter three and verse 21 and he gives us the teaching 29 00:03:22,479 –> 00:03:29,119 in chapter three and then like any good teacher he illustrates what he has taught. He gives us 30 00:03:29,119 –> 00:03:38,000 an extended illustration in Romans and Chapter 4 and the illustration that Paul uses to help 31 00:03:38,000 –> 00:03:47,119 us grasp the true meaning of faith is the story. Wait for it. Of how Sarah became 32 00:03:48,000 –> 00:03:51,679 a mother! That’s marvelous for Mother’s Day. What could be better? 33 00:03:53,839 –> 00:03:59,679 And how Abraham became a father. It’s a great scripture for us on this marvelous day. 34 00:04:00,639 –> 00:04:07,759 Abraham was an old man – 99 years old – pushing a hundred! 35 00:04:08,960 –> 00:04:11,080 But he had married a younger woman, 36 00:04:11,080 –> 00:04:17,720 and Sarah was clipping along at a sprightly 90 years of age. 37 00:04:17,720 –> 00:04:22,660 They had no children. 38 00:04:22,660 –> 00:04:27,959 God had appeared to Abraham, in fact – on multiple occasions God had made this promise – 39 00:04:28,160 –> 00:04:32,019 God had said, and Paul quotes it in Romans 4, 17, 40 00:04:32,019 –> 00:04:35,980 I have made you a father of many nations. 41 00:04:35,980 –> 00:04:38,480 Amazing statement. I have made you a father of many nations. 42 00:04:38,480 –> 00:04:42,679 He does not have one child with Sarah. 43 00:04:43,220 –> 00:04:47,540 So, you know the story from the Old Testament of this great miracle of God 44 00:04:47,540 –> 00:04:52,920 by which a son, Isaac, was given to Abraham and to Sarah 45 00:04:53,100 –> 00:04:58,100 in these late years of their lives. 46 00:04:59,239 –> 00:05:03,820 Now, Paul takes that story that was perhaps one of the best known stories 47 00:05:03,820 –> 00:05:07,040 in the Old Testament and he puts it right into Romans chapter 4 48 00:05:07,040 –> 00:05:10,220 because he wants to use it to illustrate for us 49 00:05:10,220 –> 00:05:13,579 the teaching in chapter 3 which is about how a person 50 00:05:13,579 –> 00:05:20,579 can be right with God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 51 00:05:21,299 –> 00:05:24,500 Now, it is very important to understand what this story 52 00:05:24,500 –> 00:05:29,100 of Abraham and Sarah and the Child is about. 53 00:05:29,100 –> 00:05:36,359 It is not the story of an aging couple longing for a child. 54 00:05:36,359 –> 00:05:39,640 Very important to understand this. 55 00:05:39,640 –> 00:05:44,399 Children are a gift and a blessing from the Lord. 56 00:05:44,660 –> 00:05:52,519 Having children is a blessing in life, but it is not the purpose of life, and the same 57 00:05:52,519 –> 00:05:57,260 is true in marriage, and I think it is very important to say this on Mother’s Day to 58 00:05:57,260 –> 00:06:03,959 all those today in the congregation who are not married, to all who are not mothers, to 59 00:06:03,959 –> 00:06:10,920 all who are not fathers, I want to say today that the purpose of your life does not derive 60 00:06:10,920 –> 00:06:14,160 from marriage or from children. 61 00:06:14,160 –> 00:06:19,579 The great purpose for which you have been created by God is that you should glorify 62 00:06:19,579 –> 00:06:25,440 him, and that you should enjoy him forever, and you do not have to be married, nor do 63 00:06:25,440 –> 00:06:29,559 you have to have children for that. 64 00:06:29,559 –> 00:06:35,299 This story is not about a couple who desperately long for a child. 65 00:06:35,299 –> 00:06:40,859 It is much bigger than that. 66 00:06:40,859 –> 00:06:47,440 When God gave his great promise to Abraham and repeated that promise over many years, 67 00:06:47,440 –> 00:06:51,859 he said—I’m quoting Genesis 17—your wife Sarah will bear you a son and you will 68 00:06:51,859 –> 00:06:57,399 call him Isaac and I will establish my covenant with him. 69 00:06:57,399 –> 00:07:04,299 It will be an everlasting covenant for his seed—a very important word in the Old Testament—a 70 00:07:04,299 –> 00:07:14,059 covenant will be established with the Son and for his seed, who will come after him. 71 00:07:14,059 –> 00:07:20,500 Now in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul explains exactly, with crystal clarity, what 72 00:07:20,500 –> 00:07:22,220 that means. 73 00:07:22,220 –> 00:07:29,019 Galatians chapter 3, verse 16, the apostle says, the promises were spoken to Abraham 74 00:07:29,019 –> 00:07:32,279 and to his seed. 75 00:07:32,320 –> 00:07:42,100 The scripture does not say, and to seeds plural, meaning many people but and to your seed singular 76 00:07:42,100 –> 00:07:49,500 meaning one person who is Christ. 77 00:07:49,500 –> 00:07:54,559 So you see what Paul is reminding us of and you see now what is at stake in the story. 78 00:07:54,559 –> 00:07:59,420 This is not simply about whether an aging couple are going to have descendants. 79 00:07:59,420 –> 00:08:02,200 Seeds, plural. 80 00:08:02,380 –> 00:08:07,260 This is about whether the Redeemer will come into the world. 81 00:08:07,260 –> 00:08:13,299 A savior has been promised and God has made this commitment, this covenant that He will 82 00:08:13,299 –> 00:08:18,480 be born into the line that has descended from Abraham and from Sarah. 83 00:08:18,480 –> 00:08:24,040 So if Sarah dies without a child or if Abraham dies without a child through Sarah there will 84 00:08:24,040 –> 00:08:28,500 be no Redeemer, there can be no Redeemer because He is to come into the line. 85 00:08:28,500 –> 00:08:35,820 He will be the seed of Abraham and He will be a savior for all nations. 86 00:08:35,820 –> 00:08:41,820 All people’s, God had said to Abraham, all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. 87 00:08:41,820 –> 00:08:47,299 So this is not a story folks about the personal happiness of an aging couple. 88 00:08:47,299 –> 00:08:55,900 In fact at age 190 they had long since got past the idea that it was a good time to be 89 00:08:55,900 –> 00:08:58,940 raising children. 90 00:08:58,940 –> 00:09:03,780 No what is at stake in this story is the promise of a Redeemer. 91 00:09:03,780 –> 00:09:12,820 And here for all the times the promise has been given to Abraham, here he is now at 100 92 00:09:12,820 –> 00:09:20,219 and Sarah, at 90 and they have no children. 93 00:09:20,219 –> 00:09:27,859 And so the question is pressing in, how will the one who brings God’s blessing to all nations 94 00:09:27,859 –> 00:09:29,900 come into the world? 95 00:09:29,900 –> 00:09:32,820 Because look at us. 96 00:09:32,820 –> 00:09:35,159 And Abraham knew what was at stake. 97 00:09:35,159 –> 00:09:37,619 It’s not like we’re just reading back into the story. 98 00:09:37,619 –> 00:09:39,760 Abraham knew what was at stake. 99 00:09:39,760 –> 00:09:46,719 Our Lord, Jesus tells us in John chapter eight and verse 36 he says, Abraham. 100 00:09:46,719 –> 00:09:47,719 Seeing statement. 101 00:09:47,719 –> 00:09:50,440 Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day. 102 00:09:50,440 –> 00:09:53,340 He saw it and was glad. 103 00:09:53,340 –> 00:09:55,200 Jesus said that. 104 00:09:55,200 –> 00:10:02,659 Jesus, 2000 years after Abraham, our Lord himself says, look way back 2000 years ago, 105 00:10:02,659 –> 00:10:04,460 Abraham sought my day. 106 00:10:04,460 –> 00:10:07,799 Abraham saw that the Redeemer would come into the world. 107 00:10:07,799 –> 00:10:10,900 That was his faith. 108 00:10:10,900 –> 00:10:15,059 And more than that, Paul tells us in Galatians chapter three and verse eight that the scripture 109 00:10:15,059 –> 00:10:23,099 foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles, that is all the non Jewish nations by faith 110 00:10:23,099 –> 00:10:28,219 and announced the gospel, notice that word, in advance to Abraham. 111 00:10:28,219 –> 00:10:30,200 All nations will be blessed through you. 112 00:10:30,200 –> 00:10:32,840 So Abraham saw that Christ would come. 113 00:10:32,840 –> 00:10:35,820 Abraham saw what Christ would accomplish. 114 00:10:35,820 –> 00:10:41,900 Abraham saw that people from all nations all over the globe would come to faith in Jesus 115 00:10:41,900 –> 00:10:44,380 Christ and be right with God through him. 116 00:10:44,460 –> 00:10:50,780 He knew the Redeemer would come into the world and he knew that the Redeemer would come into 117 00:10:50,780 –> 00:10:57,340 his line of descent but that line of descent did not exist. 118 00:10:57,340 –> 00:11:06,059 And here he is, Abraham, Sarah, look at the two of us and I am 100, she’s 90. 119 00:11:06,640 –> 00:11:08,580 Now back to Romans, chapter 4. 120 00:11:08,580 –> 00:11:10,219 Now we know what the story is all about. 121 00:11:10,219 –> 00:11:12,140 We can apply it to ourselves. 122 00:11:12,179 –> 00:11:19,820 Paul says, Romans, chapter 4 and verse 20, Abraham was strengthened 123 00:11:19,820 –> 00:11:22,020 in his faith. 124 00:11:23,299 –> 00:11:30,260 In the situation that we just described, he was strengthened in his faith and he 125 00:11:30,260 –> 00:11:34,179 gave glory to God. 126 00:11:34,179 –> 00:11:38,960 That’s the heart of what I want us to grasp that we’re learning what faith does, 127 00:11:38,960 –> 00:11:40,380 faith glorifies God. 128 00:11:40,460 –> 00:11:48,179 Faith exalts the Lord Jesus Christ, it declares his praise. 129 00:11:48,179 –> 00:11:52,080 That’s what faith does, I want us to see from the illustration that Paul gives us 130 00:11:52,080 –> 00:11:57,979 of Abraham and Sarah, how this happens and how it can happen through us. 131 00:11:57,979 –> 00:12:02,320 Three things then this morning, here’s the first, faith glorifies God, 132 00:12:02,320 –> 00:12:06,979 by facing the reality of our own condition. 133 00:12:07,880 –> 00:12:11,500 Look with me at verse 19, here’s the first way in which faith 134 00:12:11,500 –> 00:12:16,539 glorifies God, by facing the reality of our own condition. 135 00:12:16,539 –> 00:12:22,979 Verse 19, without weakening in his faith, so here’s an expression of faith, 136 00:12:22,979 –> 00:12:24,320 not an absence of faith. 137 00:12:24,320 –> 00:12:31,700 Without weakening in his faith, Abraham faced the fact, 138 00:12:31,700 –> 00:12:36,299 not just the words, that his body was as good as dead. 139 00:12:36,359 –> 00:12:37,239 He faced the fact. 140 00:12:39,239 –> 00:12:46,460 And more than that, since he was 100 years old, and Sarah’s womb was also dead, 141 00:12:46,460 –> 00:12:47,580 now think about this. 142 00:12:48,960 –> 00:12:57,940 When God said to Abraham, you will be the father of many nations, 143 00:12:57,940 –> 00:13:03,559 the response of faith was not, I can do that. 144 00:13:04,400 –> 00:13:06,840 That is not the response of faith. 145 00:13:08,640 –> 00:13:19,159 No, Abraham faced the fact of his own inability, that’s what faith does. 146 00:13:22,119 –> 00:13:25,940 Now, I say this and it’s very important in our day, especially in this 147 00:13:25,940 –> 00:13:31,780 country, because many people have the idea today that faith is 148 00:13:31,780 –> 00:13:33,979 basically positive thinking. 149 00:13:35,219 –> 00:13:37,599 That it’s kind of believing in yourself. 150 00:13:38,419 –> 00:13:40,940 That it’s telling yourself, you can do it. 151 00:13:41,640 –> 00:13:44,479 That it’s kind of being like your own cheerleader. 152 00:13:45,179 –> 00:13:49,020 That it’s telling yourself, you know, you can be whatever you want to be and if 153 00:13:49,020 –> 00:13:51,260 you really believe that, that’s sort of faith. 154 00:13:52,280 –> 00:13:57,619 Now, I want us to see from the Bible today that Christian faith is precisely the 155 00:13:57,619 –> 00:13:58,380 opposite. 156 00:13:59,359 –> 00:14:04,940 Abraham’s faith faced the fact that his body was as good as dead. 157 00:14:05,739 –> 00:14:08,260 In other words, faith is not escapism. 158 00:14:09,380 –> 00:14:11,739 Faith is not telling yourself what’s not true. 159 00:14:12,739 –> 00:14:17,140 It’s not a retreat into a kind of spiritual world to protect yourself from the harsh 160 00:14:17,140 –> 00:14:18,140 realities of life. 161 00:14:18,140 –> 00:14:19,700 No, it’s the opposite of that. 162 00:14:19,880 –> 00:14:24,219 Faith brings you to face the harsh realities of life. 163 00:14:24,239 –> 00:14:29,099 Well people all around us are avoiding the realities of life in a thousand ways. 164 00:14:29,820 –> 00:14:36,500 Endless films, games, virtual worlds, a few hours to retreat from reality, drink, 165 00:14:36,599 –> 00:14:42,719 drugs, making money, spending money, avoid the reality of life, but faith brings you 166 00:14:42,719 –> 00:14:45,380 to face the reality of life. 167 00:14:46,299 –> 00:14:51,000 Abraham faced the fact that what God has said was completely beyond him. 168 00:14:51,520 –> 00:14:58,039 He faces the fact that his own body is as good as dead and he glorifies God by 169 00:14:58,059 –> 00:15:03,080 facing the reality of His own condition. 170 00:15:04,219 –> 00:15:10,280 Now when you have faith, as soon as you have faith you will begin to see that 171 00:15:10,280 –> 00:15:16,200 what God is calling you to do is beyond your ability as well. 172 00:15:16,200 –> 00:15:19,679 You know if you didn’t know the God of the Bible you might be tempted to think 173 00:15:19,679 –> 00:15:24,479 that God is somehow mocking Abraham and Sarah. I mean here they are ready for the 174 00:15:24,479 –> 00:15:29,640 geriatric ward and God is talking to them about children, but God is not 175 00:15:29,640 –> 00:15:36,619 mocking them. When God calls us to something that is impossible it is so 176 00:15:36,619 –> 00:15:40,719 that he will be glorified in the world around him. 177 00:15:41,520 –> 00:15:47,260 is impossible it is so that he will be glorified in the way that it comes about. 178 00:15:47,260 –> 00:15:52,760 That’s the point of the story, God is not mocking them. When God calls us to 179 00:15:52,760 –> 00:15:58,919 something that is impossible it is so that he will be glorified in the way 180 00:15:58,919 –> 00:16:06,400 that it comes about. Now remember that in Romans 4 Paul is using this whole story 181 00:16:06,440 –> 00:16:12,559 as an illustration and what is being illustrated what does this say to us 182 00:16:12,559 –> 00:16:19,080 What does God say to us? Very simple and it’s stated in a number of ways what does 183 00:16:19,080 –> 00:16:30,200 God say to us he says this be holy as I am holy or to put it the way our Lord 184 00:16:30,200 –> 00:16:36,159 Jesus put it in the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5 verse 48. Here’s what God says 185 00:16:36,159 –> 00:16:47,840 to us be perfect as your heavenly father is. Perfect. Let’s stop and take that in 186 00:16:47,840 –> 00:16:56,859 what is God calling you to be perfect? Now folks when God says that the 187 00:16:56,859 –> 00:17:02,460 response of faith is not to say all right Lord I’ll do it or I’ll die 188 00:17:02,659 –> 00:17:15,819 trying guess what you’ll die trying not gonna do it. It may be on this mother’s 189 00:17:15,819 –> 00:17:22,239 day that there are some moms in the congregation today and you have set your 190 00:17:22,239 –> 00:17:30,939 heart on being the perfect mom and you’re killing yourself trying. You think 191 00:17:30,939 –> 00:17:39,420 that this pursuit of perfection arises out of faith but actually what you’re 192 00:17:39,420 –> 00:17:44,699 attempting is the opposite of faith can you see that today? Perfectionism is 193 00:17:44,699 –> 00:17:50,900 always a sign either of the absence of faith or the weakness of faith because 194 00:17:50,900 –> 00:17:56,140 the first mark of authentic faith is that you face the reality of your own 195 00:17:56,900 –> 00:18:04,660 condition. Faith faces the fact of your own inability to do what God has said so 196 00:18:04,660 –> 00:18:12,979 when God speaks to us of that which is impossible be perfect as your father in 197 00:18:12,979 –> 00:18:18,420 heaven is perfect. Faith does not say all right Lord I’ll give it my best shot 198 00:18:18,420 –> 00:18:24,540 this is something I’m up for give me another challenge 199 00:18:24,579 –> 00:18:33,640 no faith faces the facts this is beyond me. You see, all this is illustrated in 200 00:18:33,640 –> 00:18:41,579 in the story of Abraham. Without wavering in his faith Abraham faced the 201 00:18:41,579 –> 00:18:52,000 fact that his body was as good as dead. Folks the first step of faith is to 202 00:18:52,020 –> 00:18:59,880 recognize that you cannot do what God is calling you to do. When Jesus Christ 203 00:18:59,880 –> 00:19:07,719 says, be perfect, He’s not mocking you. He is bringing you to face the reality of 204 00:19:07,719 –> 00:19:14,640 your own condition. So that in calling you to something impossible God may be 205 00:19:14,640 –> 00:19:21,219 glorified in the way that it comes about. That’s the very heart of the gospel. You 206 00:19:21,219 –> 00:19:26,540 say how is God glorified by me recognizing my own inability? Well 207 00:19:26,540 –> 00:19:31,020 because the very essence of sin is that we try to be God. Try to be our own God. 208 00:19:31,020 –> 00:19:37,680 And when I recognize my own inability to do what God has called me to do I’m 209 00:19:37,680 –> 00:19:42,979 saying, and perhaps you’ll say for the first time today, you know I can’t be 210 00:19:42,979 –> 00:19:50,859 God. You have to be God. And that’s the first step in beginning to glorify God 211 00:19:50,979 –> 00:20:00,520 in your life. See, faith cuts the root of pride. It excludes boasting. Faith 212 00:20:00,520 –> 00:20:08,880 glorifies God by facing the reality of your own condition. Now perhaps this 213 00:20:08,880 –> 00:20:12,979 comes to some of us as like a complete Copernican Revolution from what we’ve 214 00:20:12,979 –> 00:20:16,099 been thinking. You’ve been thinking that faith is all about making this great 215 00:20:16,140 –> 00:20:21,380 great effort and the pursuit of perfection and suddenly God wants to 216 00:20:21,380 –> 00:20:28,260 cut the root of pride right here. And to say no, faith begins right here. You face 217 00:20:28,260 –> 00:20:36,260 the reality of your own condition, you cannot do what God calls you to do or to 218 00:20:36,260 –> 00:20:41,459 be. Now that leads to the second thing, because we can’t end there. Faith 219 00:20:41,459 –> 00:20:46,500 glorifies God first, by facing the reality of our own condition. Faith 220 00:20:46,500 –> 00:20:52,619 glorifies God second, by embracing the hope of His promise. 221 00:20:52,619 –> 00:20:58,979 Now look at what it says in verse 20 please. Abraham did not waver through 222 00:20:58,979 –> 00:21:05,219 unbelief, regarding the promise of God. So verse 19’s about Abraham himself, verse 223 00:21:05,219 –> 00:21:09,420 20 is about God’s great promise. He did not waiver in unbelief regarding the 224 00:21:09,420 –> 00:21:19,459 promise of God, but was strengthened in faith and gave glory to God. 225 00:21:19,459 –> 00:21:25,540 Now, the promise of God was so great, a Redeemer bringing people from all 226 00:21:25,540 –> 00:21:31,380 nations to a right relationship with God through faith in himself and this 227 00:21:31,380 –> 00:21:35,479 Redeemer coming into the line of descent that would come from this elderly couple 228 00:21:35,540 –> 00:21:40,939 didn’t have a single child, I mean, it was a staggering promise. 229 00:21:40,939 –> 00:21:43,760 But Abraham, we’re told, was strengthened in his faith. 230 00:21:43,760 –> 00:21:48,719 He did not waver, in his confidence, that God would actually do this. 231 00:21:48,719 –> 00:21:51,939 He was strengthened in faith and he glorified God in this way. 232 00:21:51,939 –> 00:21:53,760 How was he strengthened in faith? 233 00:21:53,760 –> 00:21:56,319 Because he was fully persuaded that God had the 234 00:21:56,319 –> 00:22:01,280 power to do what he had promised. 235 00:22:01,280 –> 00:22:04,500 Only God could have done this. 236 00:22:04,579 –> 00:22:10,260 God had said, I will make you the father of many nations. 237 00:22:10,319 –> 00:22:12,599 Only God could do that. 238 00:22:13,979 –> 00:22:15,060 Now, remember again, 239 00:22:15,060 –> 00:22:17,560 that Paul is using this throughout chapter four 240 00:22:17,560 –> 00:22:21,420 as an illustration of the great truth of the gospel 241 00:22:21,420 –> 00:22:24,660 that is set out for us in chapter three. 242 00:22:25,459 –> 00:22:28,819 And here’s the point, as we use the illustration 243 00:22:28,819 –> 00:22:32,359 to help us understand the message of Romans. 244 00:22:32,520 –> 00:22:37,520 The righteousness, the holiness, 245 00:22:38,839 –> 00:22:43,839 the perfection to which God calls you and me, 246 00:22:44,959 –> 00:22:47,640 it’s impossible for us. 247 00:22:50,780 –> 00:22:52,719 But when God calls us to something 248 00:22:52,719 –> 00:22:55,540 that is impossible, it is, 249 00:22:55,540 –> 00:22:57,800 the story of Abraham illustrates for us, 250 00:22:57,800 –> 00:22:59,760 so that he will be glorified 251 00:22:59,760 –> 00:23:02,180 in the way in which it comes about. 252 00:23:03,760 –> 00:23:06,839 So there must be another way 253 00:23:07,900 –> 00:23:11,300 in which God will bring about the righteousness, 254 00:23:11,300 –> 00:23:15,760 the holiness, the perfection to which he calls us 255 00:23:15,760 –> 00:23:18,380 and which is impossible for us. 256 00:23:20,099 –> 00:23:21,680 And so the great question here is, 257 00:23:21,680 –> 00:23:23,959 well, now, since it’s impossible for Abraham, 258 00:23:23,959 –> 00:23:25,119 how’s God going to do it? 259 00:23:25,119 –> 00:23:26,560 That’s illustrating the point, 260 00:23:26,560 –> 00:23:29,640 since this perfection, holiness, and righteousness 261 00:23:29,640 –> 00:23:32,520 is impossible for us, we cannot be perfect, 262 00:23:33,479 –> 00:23:35,319 how is God going to bring about 263 00:23:35,319 –> 00:23:37,280 that which is impossible for us 264 00:23:37,280 –> 00:23:40,479 in a way that glorifies him. 265 00:23:42,680 –> 00:23:45,099 Memory came back to me really some years ago now. 266 00:23:45,099 –> 00:23:46,219 Back in Scotland, 267 00:23:47,140 –> 00:23:48,800 it’s the only occasion I’ve ever done this, 268 00:23:48,800 –> 00:23:53,699 but I went to one of these leadership training courses. 269 00:23:53,699 –> 00:23:56,040 I’m sure many of us in this congregation 270 00:23:56,040 –> 00:23:57,239 will have done something like this, 271 00:23:57,239 –> 00:23:59,459 and probably some of you many times, 272 00:23:59,459 –> 00:24:00,660 and you’ll have many stories 273 00:24:00,660 –> 00:24:01,760 about your experience. 274 00:24:01,760 –> 00:24:03,459 It was one of these things where they took, 275 00:24:03,459 –> 00:24:05,880 I think it was about 15 leaders, 276 00:24:05,880 –> 00:24:07,699 and we were in a retreat center 277 00:24:07,699 –> 00:24:10,219 for three days or so, 278 00:24:10,219 –> 00:24:13,060 and during that time we had individual mentoring 279 00:24:13,060 –> 00:24:17,300 and we received teaching and lectures. 280 00:24:17,300 –> 00:24:19,060 Right in the middle of this course 281 00:24:19,060 –> 00:24:20,900 on a Wednesday afternoon, 282 00:24:20,900 –> 00:24:24,119 we had to play a game. 283 00:24:25,780 –> 00:24:28,319 Yeah, you’re reacting the same way as I did. 284 00:24:29,719 –> 00:24:31,439 Frankly, I don’t go for these things, 285 00:24:31,439 –> 00:24:33,300 but here’s the strange thing. 286 00:24:33,300 –> 00:24:38,300 I have to admit that nearly 15 years later, 287 00:24:38,599 –> 00:24:41,979 it is the thing that I remember about these three days. 288 00:24:43,300 –> 00:24:46,560 The course leader divided us into groups of four 289 00:24:46,560 –> 00:24:49,819 and gave each group a box of scrabble. 290 00:24:50,900 –> 00:24:52,540 You know, the tiles and the board 291 00:24:52,540 –> 00:24:54,540 and all the rest of the stuff, 292 00:24:54,540 –> 00:24:56,300 and then he gave us this instruction. 293 00:24:56,300 –> 00:24:57,520 He was very precise. 294 00:24:57,520 –> 00:25:02,520 He said, produce as many words as you can in five minutes. 295 00:25:06,119 –> 00:25:08,459 Well, the guys in my group were pretty sharp, 296 00:25:08,459 –> 00:25:09,560 I got to tell you, 297 00:25:09,560 –> 00:25:13,800 and so we got out the board and spread out the tiles 298 00:25:13,800 –> 00:25:15,359 and we got ourselves organized. 299 00:25:15,359 –> 00:25:16,640 We thought, you know, this is clearly, 300 00:25:16,640 –> 00:25:20,079 it’s about organization and so we had, 301 00:25:20,079 –> 00:25:22,520 two of us were doing words that were across 302 00:25:22,520 –> 00:25:24,819 and two of us were doing the words that were down 303 00:25:24,819 –> 00:25:26,979 and we would get them all arranged on the board 304 00:25:27,180 –> 00:25:29,420 and after five minutes, 305 00:25:29,420 –> 00:25:31,839 I don’t know, we must have had about 20 words, 306 00:25:31,839 –> 00:25:32,680 something like that 307 00:25:32,680 –> 00:25:34,479 and we come back to the leader to report 308 00:25:34,479 –> 00:25:37,619 and he didn’t seem very impressed. 309 00:25:37,619 –> 00:25:41,640 He said, okay, 310 00:25:41,640 –> 00:25:45,140 double the number of words in the next five minutes. 311 00:25:45,140 –> 00:25:47,400 So we go back and we think now, wait a minute, 312 00:25:47,400 –> 00:25:51,500 we went flat out to produce 20, he wants us to double it. 313 00:25:51,500 –> 00:25:52,339 What are we gonna do? 314 00:25:52,339 –> 00:25:55,599 Well one of the bright guys in our group said, 315 00:25:55,619 –> 00:25:58,060 now wait a minute, he said produce the words. 316 00:25:58,060 –> 00:26:00,880 He did not say that the words have to connect 317 00:26:00,880 –> 00:26:01,719 so it’d be much easier 318 00:26:01,719 –> 00:26:03,900 if we just out words with the tiles 319 00:26:03,900 –> 00:26:05,280 so let’s forget the board 320 00:26:05,280 –> 00:26:06,920 so we just got going on the carpet 321 00:26:06,920 –> 00:26:09,760 and we worked with the tiles to produce as many as we can 322 00:26:09,760 –> 00:26:12,239 then we called him over, we said after five minutes, 323 00:26:12,239 –> 00:26:13,579 he said, how many words have you got? 324 00:26:13,579 –> 00:26:16,359 He said, 40? 325 00:26:16,359 –> 00:26:17,979 He didn’t look very impressed. 326 00:26:20,319 –> 00:26:22,880 He said in the next five minutes, 327 00:26:22,880 –> 00:26:24,920 I want you to double the number of words. 328 00:26:26,280 –> 00:26:27,760 So at this point we’re beginning to think, 329 00:26:27,760 –> 00:26:29,060 oh there’s a catch in this. 330 00:26:29,060 –> 00:26:30,640 We always knew there was a catch in this. 331 00:26:30,640 –> 00:26:32,540 We just got to work what it was 332 00:26:32,540 –> 00:26:35,300 and one of the guys said, wait a minute, 333 00:26:35,300 –> 00:26:37,920 he just said produce the words. 334 00:26:39,339 –> 00:26:42,040 Maybe we don’t even use the the tiles. 335 00:26:42,040 –> 00:26:44,280 Maybe we just start writing words. 336 00:26:45,160 –> 00:26:48,040 Then another guy said, we can do better than that. 337 00:26:49,000 –> 00:26:51,400 He said there’s a library next door. 338 00:26:51,400 –> 00:26:54,479 And so off he went and he came back 339 00:26:54,479 –> 00:26:56,479 with a dictionary. 340 00:26:56,479 –> 00:26:57,880 And at the end of the five minutes 341 00:26:57,880 –> 00:26:59,359 we produced it to the course leader 342 00:26:59,359 –> 00:27:01,800 and he says how many words have you got? 343 00:27:01,800 –> 00:27:04,339 And we said 40,000. 344 00:27:05,800 –> 00:27:06,640 What? 345 00:27:06,640 –> 00:27:07,859 We won, we won! 346 00:27:07,859 –> 00:27:09,520 cartoons laughing 347 00:27:15,119 –> 00:27:17,359 Many of you have been in exercises like that 348 00:27:17,359 –> 00:27:21,020 that are to try and open closed minds 349 00:27:22,099 –> 00:27:24,280 to the possibility that there might be 350 00:27:24,800 –> 00:27:27,500 another completely different way 351 00:27:28,500 –> 00:27:33,060 of doing what has to be accomplished. 352 00:27:34,560 –> 00:27:37,800 And that is exactly the point 353 00:27:38,719 –> 00:27:41,680 that Paul is making in Romans chapter three. 354 00:27:42,959 –> 00:27:45,079 Because all through the first three chapters 355 00:27:45,079 –> 00:27:47,160 of Romans he’s been making this one point 356 00:27:47,160 –> 00:27:49,079 that culminates in chapter three. 357 00:27:49,079 –> 00:27:51,319 Verse 23 if you see it there. 358 00:27:51,359 –> 00:27:56,400 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 359 00:27:56,400 –> 00:27:58,079 Chapter three and verse 10. 360 00:27:58,079 –> 00:28:03,079 There is no one righteous, not even one. 361 00:28:03,839 –> 00:28:05,640 Chapter three verse 20. 362 00:28:05,640 –> 00:28:09,079 No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight 363 00:28:09,079 –> 00:28:10,640 by observing the law. 364 00:28:10,640 –> 00:28:12,880 Therefore there must be another way 365 00:28:12,880 –> 00:28:14,800 of doing what God has said. 366 00:28:17,239 –> 00:28:19,619 And it’s right there in chapter three and verse 21. 367 00:28:19,619 –> 00:28:21,359 You see these marvelous words. 368 00:28:21,359 –> 00:28:26,359 But now our righteousness from God, 369 00:28:27,920 –> 00:28:32,920 apart from law has been made known. 370 00:28:33,420 –> 00:28:34,579 Verse 22. 371 00:28:34,579 –> 00:28:36,859 This righteousness from God comes 372 00:28:36,859 –> 00:28:41,859 how through faith in Jesus Christ. 373 00:28:41,979 –> 00:28:45,439 It comes to all who believe. 374 00:28:45,920 –> 00:28:50,920 God has provided a whole other way of being righteous. 375 00:28:53,660 –> 00:28:56,540 The righteousness holiness and perfection 376 00:28:56,540 –> 00:28:59,560 to which he calls you, to which he calls me, 377 00:28:59,560 –> 00:29:02,079 which is beyond you, which is beyond me, 378 00:29:02,079 –> 00:29:05,520 which is impossible for us, which we cannot do. 379 00:29:05,520 –> 00:29:07,880 There is another way of being right with God, 380 00:29:07,880 –> 00:29:12,260 and it is in Jesus Christ through faith 381 00:29:12,260 –> 00:29:14,020 for all who believe. 382 00:29:15,920 –> 00:29:18,939 This is the very center of the message 383 00:29:18,939 –> 00:29:22,400 that we want to declare on this Mother’s Day, 384 00:29:22,400 –> 00:29:26,459 that God sent his Son into the world to do for you 385 00:29:26,459 –> 00:29:29,280 what you cannot do for yourself, 386 00:29:29,280 –> 00:29:32,439 and faith glorifies God 387 00:29:32,439 –> 00:29:35,040 by embracing this promise 388 00:29:35,040 –> 00:29:38,359 in Jesus Christ in his death for you 389 00:29:38,359 –> 00:29:41,520 when you are joined to this Christ by faith 390 00:29:41,520 –> 00:29:44,400 in this life giving union, this bond, 391 00:29:44,459 –> 00:29:46,040 Here is what God will do. 392 00:29:46,040 –> 00:29:49,839 God will credit to you 393 00:29:49,839 –> 00:29:52,959 the perfect righteousness 394 00:29:52,959 –> 00:29:55,199 of Jesus Christ. 395 00:29:55,199 –> 00:29:57,359 And Paul is saying in Romans four 396 00:29:57,359 –> 00:30:02,359 that that’s just what God did for Sarah and Abraham. 397 00:30:05,800 –> 00:30:07,739 You say, well, I’m not yet the person I want to be. 398 00:30:07,739 –> 00:30:10,079 Listen, you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 399 00:30:10,079 –> 00:30:12,619 He will credit the righteousness of Christ to you. 400 00:30:14,719 –> 00:30:15,680 So well, you don’t know Pastor, 401 00:30:15,680 –> 00:30:17,140 I’ve done some terrible things. 402 00:30:17,140 –> 00:30:20,199 Listen, you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 403 00:30:20,199 –> 00:30:24,859 He will credit the righteousness of Jesus Christ to you. 404 00:30:26,300 –> 00:30:27,239 Someone is saying I’m not sure 405 00:30:27,239 –> 00:30:28,339 I’m the mother that I want to be. 406 00:30:28,339 –> 00:30:30,400 I’m surrounded by many difficulties in my home. 407 00:30:30,400 –> 00:30:32,199 I’m very perplexed about it today. 408 00:30:32,199 –> 00:30:34,900 Listen, you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 409 00:30:34,900 –> 00:30:36,839 The biggest thing in your life. 410 00:30:36,839 –> 00:30:40,479 And he will credit the righteousness 411 00:30:40,479 –> 00:30:43,660 of Jesus Christ to you. 412 00:30:44,920 –> 00:30:46,839 Faith glorifies God by embracing 413 00:30:46,839 –> 00:30:49,239 the reality of our own condition. 414 00:30:49,239 –> 00:30:50,579 It really starts here. 415 00:30:50,579 –> 00:30:52,839 As long as you’re thinking that you can somehow 416 00:30:52,839 –> 00:30:54,880 do the impossible thing that God has said, 417 00:30:54,880 –> 00:30:56,719 you’ve not yet come to the place of faith. 418 00:30:56,719 –> 00:30:59,239 Faith says, Lord, you know, I cannot do that. 419 00:30:59,239 –> 00:31:00,339 I cannot be perfect. 420 00:31:01,500 –> 00:31:02,540 Now, I need a savior. 421 00:31:03,500 –> 00:31:05,680 And I now see that you have provided that savior. 422 00:31:05,680 –> 00:31:07,180 Your son, Jesus Christ. 423 00:31:07,180 –> 00:31:09,619 And I embrace the hope of the promise in him 424 00:31:09,719 –> 00:31:13,599 so that his righteousness will be credited to me. 425 00:31:15,979 –> 00:31:18,140 Faith glorifies God by facing the reality 426 00:31:18,140 –> 00:31:21,380 of our own condition, by embracing the hope of his promise. 427 00:31:21,380 –> 00:31:23,780 Here’s the last thing in these remaining minutes. 428 00:31:23,780 –> 00:31:27,920 Faith glorifies God by rejoicing 429 00:31:28,939 –> 00:31:29,979 in what he has done. 430 00:31:30,939 –> 00:31:33,380 Folks, when you see your own inability 431 00:31:33,380 –> 00:31:36,199 to do what God has called you to do, 432 00:31:36,199 –> 00:31:38,439 and when you see the way in which he has done 433 00:31:38,939 –> 00:31:41,420 everything for you in the Lord Jesus Christ, 434 00:31:41,420 –> 00:31:44,800 and you can be righteous before him, 435 00:31:44,800 –> 00:31:48,020 perfect before him, holy before him 436 00:31:48,020 –> 00:31:50,380 in and through Jesus Christ. 437 00:31:51,300 –> 00:31:53,219 When you come to believe that and to know that, 438 00:31:53,219 –> 00:31:58,219 and when that gift is yours, great joy will be yours. 439 00:32:00,099 –> 00:32:02,880 Faith glorifies God by rejoicing in all that he has done, 440 00:32:02,880 –> 00:32:05,359 and of course this is again illustrated 441 00:32:05,359 –> 00:32:07,660 in the story of Abraham and Sarah. 442 00:32:07,680 –> 00:32:11,020 It’s beyond where Paul takes it in Romans chapter four, 443 00:32:11,020 –> 00:32:13,339 but it is where the story goes in Genesis 444 00:32:13,339 –> 00:32:17,219 and it’s where the story goes in Romans chapter five, 445 00:32:17,219 –> 00:32:19,020 and that’s why I’ve included it. 446 00:32:20,140 –> 00:32:24,219 When God gave the promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah, 447 00:32:24,219 –> 00:32:26,020 those of you who know the story will know 448 00:32:26,020 –> 00:32:28,640 that on different occasions they both laughed. 449 00:32:29,660 –> 00:32:32,760 Sarah laughed because she didn’t believe it, 450 00:32:32,760 –> 00:32:34,319 though of course she did later. 451 00:32:34,800 –> 00:32:38,000 Abraham laughed because he did believe it. 452 00:32:38,000 –> 00:32:39,280 That’s what Romans is telling us. 453 00:32:39,280 –> 00:32:41,680 He did not waver in his faith, 454 00:32:41,680 –> 00:32:43,959 he just laughed at the very thought 455 00:32:43,959 –> 00:32:46,719 that God would actually do this. 456 00:32:46,719 –> 00:32:48,680 He’s confident that he would. 457 00:32:48,680 –> 00:32:51,280 So it wasn’t surprising that when the little boy was born 458 00:32:51,280 –> 00:32:54,520 they named him Isaac, which means he laughs, 459 00:32:54,520 –> 00:32:56,839 nd Sarah said, God has brought me laughter 460 00:32:56,839 –> 00:33:01,680 and everyone who hears about it will laugh with me. 461 00:33:01,739 –> 00:33:04,520 Now as you follow where Paul is going in Romans 462 00:33:04,520 –> 00:33:07,540 you’ll see that he’s going exactly to the same place 463 00:33:07,540 –> 00:33:10,680 because Romans 5 in verse one 464 00:33:10,680 –> 00:33:13,839 that pulls out of the illustration, what’s he saying? 465 00:33:13,839 –> 00:33:17,239 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, 466 00:33:17,239 –> 00:33:20,859 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 467 00:33:20,859 –> 00:33:25,640 And then what, verse 2, and we rejoice 468 00:33:25,640 –> 00:33:28,959 in the hope of the glory of God. 469 00:33:28,959 –> 00:33:31,619 And he comes back to it again in verse 11. 470 00:33:31,640 –> 00:33:36,640 Not only is this so but we rejoice in God 471 00:33:36,739 –> 00:33:39,699 through our Lord Jesus Christ 472 00:33:39,699 –> 00:33:41,959 by whom we have received the reconciliation. 473 00:33:41,959 –> 00:33:46,959 So faith glorifies God by rejoicing in what he has done. 474 00:33:49,739 –> 00:33:51,920 Folks, let this be clear today. 475 00:33:53,859 –> 00:33:56,760 Some folks misunderstand Christianity 476 00:33:56,760 –> 00:33:59,760 because they think it is escapism. 477 00:33:59,760 –> 00:34:01,000 It’s not. 478 00:34:02,300 –> 00:34:06,520 Faith faces the reality of our own condition. 479 00:34:08,199 –> 00:34:10,479 Some people misunderstand Christianity 480 00:34:10,479 –> 00:34:12,520 because they think it is perfectionism. 481 00:34:13,620 –> 00:34:14,739 It’s not. 482 00:34:15,600 –> 00:34:19,360 Faith embraces the hope that is given to us 483 00:34:19,360 –> 00:34:21,040 in Jesus Christ. 484 00:34:23,280 –> 00:34:26,800 And some people misunderstand Christianity 485 00:34:26,800 –> 00:34:28,679 because they think 486 00:34:29,620 –> 00:34:34,280 it is a boring life of endless duties, 487 00:34:34,280 –> 00:34:36,000 dos and don’ts, 488 00:34:36,000 –> 00:34:37,780 burdens and guilt, 489 00:34:37,780 –> 00:34:41,379 and long faces and heaviness. 490 00:34:42,840 –> 00:34:46,300 And if you have thought that’s what Christianity is about, 491 00:34:46,300 –> 00:34:48,020 I have good news for you. 492 00:34:48,020 –> 00:34:49,320 It’s not. 493 00:34:50,239 –> 00:34:53,520 No, faith glorifies God by rejoicing 494 00:34:54,800 –> 00:34:55,780 in what he has done. 495 00:34:56,639 –> 00:34:59,860 You cannot come to the knowledge of your own inability 496 00:34:59,860 –> 00:35:03,199 and then see the gracious gift of God to you 497 00:35:03,199 –> 00:35:05,679 in Jesus Christ 498 00:35:05,679 –> 00:35:08,439 and embrace that and for it to become yours 499 00:35:08,439 –> 00:35:10,780 and not know joy in Jesus Christ. 500 00:35:11,899 –> 00:35:16,300 And God is more glorified by delight 501 00:35:16,300 –> 00:35:18,639 than by duty. 502 00:35:18,639 –> 00:35:21,800 You know, mothers, 503 00:35:21,800 –> 00:35:24,639 if your son or your daughter 504 00:35:24,659 –> 00:35:28,379 brings you a Mother’s Day card or a gift 505 00:35:28,379 –> 00:35:30,600 and when you smile at him or her 506 00:35:30,600 –> 00:35:32,399 and you say oh, thank you, 507 00:35:33,340 –> 00:35:37,620 he turns to you and standing straight up and down says 508 00:35:37,620 –> 00:35:39,879 it’s my duty. 509 00:35:43,020 –> 00:35:45,139 Are you honored by that? 510 00:35:46,419 –> 00:35:49,379 Is your heart filled with joy by that? 511 00:35:50,780 –> 00:35:53,020 Kids, that’s not the right answer. 512 00:35:55,399 –> 00:35:58,000 When your mom says oh, thank you for the card, 513 00:35:58,000 –> 00:36:03,000 you say it’s a pleasure, that’s what you say. 514 00:36:03,020 –> 00:36:05,080 Because, you know what? 515 00:36:05,080 –> 00:36:08,800 Your joy will become her joy. 516 00:36:08,800 –> 00:36:09,879 That’s exactly how it is with God. 517 00:36:09,879 –> 00:36:11,560 Do you really think that God is looking 518 00:36:11,560 –> 00:36:13,560 for a lot of people saying I’m in church 519 00:36:13,560 –> 00:36:14,959 because it’s my duty? 520 00:36:16,639 –> 00:36:18,379 I pray because it’s my duty. 521 00:36:19,379 –> 00:36:23,120 Faith glorifies God by rejoicing, 522 00:36:24,439 –> 00:36:29,439 delighting, enjoying today and every day 523 00:36:32,360 –> 00:36:35,280 what He has done for us in Jesus Christ 524 00:36:35,280 –> 00:36:37,419 our Savior and our Lord. 525 00:36:37,419 –> 00:36:39,719 I was reading Spurgeon and just in these last moments, 526 00:36:39,719 –> 00:36:41,979 let me quote him, he speaks so beautifully. 527 00:36:41,979 –> 00:36:45,439 He’s talking about Abraham, he says the old man 528 00:36:45,439 –> 00:36:48,479 laughed and laughed again. 529 00:36:49,399 –> 00:36:52,800 And if you believe, you will laugh too. 530 00:36:52,800 –> 00:36:54,840 We have too much crying among us. 531 00:36:54,840 –> 00:36:57,580 Oh, for a little more filling of the mouth with laughter 532 00:36:57,580 –> 00:37:00,040 and the tongue with singing for the Lord 533 00:37:00,040 –> 00:37:02,959 has done great things for us of which we are glad. 534 00:37:02,959 –> 00:37:05,179 That’s worth an amen, isn’t it? 535 00:37:05,179 –> 00:37:08,639 The Lord has given us eternal life in His son, 536 00:37:08,639 –> 00:37:10,320 Jesus Christ our Lord. 537 00:37:10,320 –> 00:37:12,879 Let us laugh and laugh again 538 00:37:12,879 –> 00:37:17,879 for an unutterable joy of heart floods our spirit. 539 00:37:18,639 –> 00:37:20,620 Folks, honestly, us, 540 00:37:22,399 –> 00:37:24,120 with all our sins, 541 00:37:24,120 –> 00:37:25,479 with all our weakness, 542 00:37:25,479 –> 00:37:26,959 with all our compromise 543 00:37:26,959 –> 00:37:28,959 and with all our failure, 544 00:37:28,959 –> 00:37:33,199 us being presented without fault 545 00:37:33,199 –> 00:37:35,739 in the presence of the Father. 546 00:37:35,739 –> 00:37:37,879 It would make you laugh, wouldn’t it? 547 00:37:37,879 –> 00:37:40,699 And it’s unbelievable except that it is 548 00:37:40,699 –> 00:37:45,580 what God has promised to us in Jesus Christ, 549 00:37:45,580 –> 00:37:46,739 our savior and our lord. 550 00:37:46,739 –> 00:37:48,959 No wonder Peter says, 551 00:37:48,959 –> 00:37:50,219 therefore to believers, 552 00:37:50,219 –> 00:37:52,239 he says you’ve not even seen Jesus, 553 00:37:52,239 –> 00:37:54,120 not seen him with your eyes yet, 554 00:37:54,120 –> 00:37:58,179 but you are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 555 00:37:58,179 –> 00:37:59,020 Why? 556 00:37:59,020 –> 00:38:02,659 Because you right now are receiving the salvation 557 00:38:02,659 –> 00:38:03,860 of your souls, 558 00:38:03,860 –> 00:38:08,760 which is the very goal of your faith. 559 00:38:10,860 –> 00:38:12,699 Folks what do you know of this faith? 560 00:38:14,379 –> 00:38:17,459 Have you faced the reality of your own condition? 561 00:38:19,419 –> 00:38:23,199 Have you embraced seeing your need of a savior? 562 00:38:24,179 –> 00:38:27,120 God’s promise to you in Jesus Christ? 563 00:38:29,179 –> 00:38:32,580 Do you know what it is today to rejoice 564 00:38:32,580 –> 00:38:35,959 that his righteousness is credited to you 565 00:38:35,959 –> 00:38:39,260 so that despite all the many failures and weaknesses 566 00:38:39,300 –> 00:38:40,979 and inadequacies of your life 567 00:38:40,979 –> 00:38:43,020 and all the incompleteness of your life 568 00:38:43,020 –> 00:38:44,820 that you may be able to think of even now 569 00:38:44,820 –> 00:38:46,479 if you choose to do it. 570 00:38:47,820 –> 00:38:50,500 You in Jesus Christ will on the last day 571 00:38:50,500 –> 00:38:55,500 be presented faultless in the presence of the father 572 00:38:56,300 –> 00:38:59,820 and with great joy. 573 00:39:01,340 –> 00:39:04,580 Will you bow with me in prayer? 574 00:39:04,580 –> 00:39:06,139 And if these things are not yet yours 575 00:39:06,139 –> 00:39:07,500 I do invite you right now 576 00:39:07,580 –> 00:39:10,300 as we pray to take a step of faith today. 577 00:39:12,620 –> 00:39:15,479 Lord Jesus I’ve been hiding from reality. 578 00:39:17,060 –> 00:39:19,540 I’ve been pretending to be something I’m not. 579 00:39:20,780 –> 00:39:22,899 I’ve not been facing the facts. 580 00:39:24,260 –> 00:39:27,639 Today I see I cannot do what you have called me to do. 581 00:39:29,540 –> 00:39:32,399 Cut the root of my pride and my vanity 582 00:39:33,260 –> 00:39:35,060 and all my pretense 583 00:39:35,800 –> 00:39:38,659 as I bow now humbly 584 00:39:40,300 –> 00:39:43,120 at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ 585 00:39:43,120 –> 00:39:44,959 who died and rose for me 586 00:39:46,540 –> 00:39:49,679 so that I may receive from him 587 00:39:49,679 –> 00:39:52,100 a righteousness, holiness, and perfection 588 00:39:52,100 –> 00:39:54,760 that I could never achieve on my own. 589 00:39:56,659 –> 00:40:00,540 Lord Jesus I look to you for that right now. 590 00:40:00,540 –> 00:40:02,120 I trust in your promise. 591 00:40:02,219 –> 00:40:05,959 You have said that this righteousness 592 00:40:05,959 –> 00:40:09,060 in Jesus Christ is for all those who believe. 593 00:40:09,060 –> 00:40:13,439 I believe that you died and rose 594 00:40:13,439 –> 00:40:17,719 that this great gift may be credited to me. 595 00:40:19,760 –> 00:40:21,639 And so with wonder as I think 596 00:40:21,639 –> 00:40:24,239 of that gift becoming mine right now I thank you. 597 00:40:25,719 –> 00:40:26,560 I praise you. 598 00:40:28,040 –> 00:40:29,120 I rejoice in you. 599 00:40:29,860 –> 00:40:33,120 Hear my prayer in Jesus’ name. 600 00:40:33,120 –> 00:40:34,199 And everyone said. 601 00:40:35,260 –> 00:40:36,080 Amen.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Biblical faith is more than using your head. It involves your ears, your hands, your mouth, your voice, and your knees—all of you. Using the analogy of the human body, you’ll discover not only what faith is, but what faith does. This very practical look at Christian faith is simple enough for a child to

Colin Smith

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