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.